Storm in a teacup reaches boiling point By Sunimalee Dias View(s): View(s):

The Government has mooted plans to draw up a wage structure for estate workers; an all-inclusive over Rs.1000 with increases made over a 3-year period.

Plantation Minister Navin Dissanayake and Labour Minister Daya Gamage, during a meeting held on Thursday, have proposed to both the Regional Plantation Companies (RPCs) and the estate sector trade unions to agree to a proposal to be paid with increases over a 3-year period.

Under this plan the basic increase would be upto Rs. 625 in the first year adding up to an all-inclusive wage of over Rs.1000; later in the second and third years the increases would be to Rs.650 and Rs.675, respectively, Minister Dissanayake told the Business Times on Friday.

He noted that this would also include the productivity incentives as well offered to the workers explaining that the increases in pay would improve according to the amount of teas plucked on the estates.

Minister Dissanayake wanted the unions to become more reasonable in working out a solution to the current impasse.

He noted that CWC leader A. Thondaman on Thursday during their meeting had rejected the proposal put forward by the government and was still insisting on the increase in the basic wage of upto Rs.1000.

The minister pointed out that they also needed to be concerned about the industry and noted that it was not possible to add pressure on the companies.

The unions and RPCs have been sitting over a string of meetings since the past few months however the matter continues to remain unresolved.

RPCs have been complaining that so far due to the low tea prices they were unable to give increased pay checks to workers and that their business was hampered more so due to a number of reasons beyond their control.

Sri Lankan tea has been having issues over the past few years with the ban on weedicide glyphosate that caused problems in the sale of the product to Japan due to high residue levels found in the teas as a result of the use of other types of weedicides. In addition the recent sanctions on Iran have hampered trade with them.

The RPCs as a result were unlikely to yield to any compromises that would hamper efforts to sustain their long term growth even during discussions held between the companies on Friday.
Public procurement guidelines now in the Presidents court By Bandula Sirimanna View(s): View(s):

Sri Lankas much awaited public procurement guidelines with necessary amendments to the relevant gazette have been forwarded to President Maithripala Sirisena enabling him to present it in Parliament via the leader of the house in accordance with the Constitution, a top official disclosed.

Sri Lankas National Procurement Commission (NPC) which was formed after the 19th Amendment to the Constitution and passed in Parliament in 2015 has devised a new set of procurement guidelines to usher in more transparent, fair, equitable, competitive and cost effective public procurement process, replacing the earlier guidelines.

The new guidelines formulated following an extensive consultation process is aimed at increasing efficiency, effectiveness, and productivity in the public procurement system which would eventually save millions of tax rupees.

Chairman of the NPC Eng. B. Nihal Wickramasuriya told the Business Times that the Commission has already gazetted the new procurement guidelines in mid-2018 and these are subject to Parliament approval.

The relevant gazette and other documents were submitted to Presidential Secretariat for the consent of the President and later to be presented to Parliament.

However the President submitted the gazette to Cabinet of Ministers for its approval before presenting it in Parliament, he said.

Several Ministers including the Finance Minister requested more time to review the guidelines and accordingly the Finance Ministry has made several observations relating to certain terms in the gazette.

The NPC has taken measures to include some of the suggestions made by the Treasury and made necessary amendments to the gazette once again and finalised by the working committee, legal personalities and the members of the commission in September 2018.

The latest gazette containing public procurement guidelines has been re-submitted to the Presidential Secretariat for the endorsement of the President and present it in Parliament via the leader of the house, he revealed.

According to the gazette, the new procurement guidelines will replace all previous procurement guidelines, circulars and directives within 30 days following Parliamentary approval to become law.

He noted that the 30-day period will provide sufficient time to make any further amendments relating to these guidelines.

It promotes effective competition among bidders, establishes the level playing field for all bidders to compete on equal ground and a level playing field ensuring cost effectiveness quality and efficiency as a part of objective of achieving value for money.

A level playing field will be ensured in the application of guidelines for state owned enterprises and local government institutions. The introduction of procurement information systems and formal work agreements is another novel addition to the new guidelines while addressing the delay in multiple supplies for common user items.

Sri Lanka will soon roll out an e- government procurement platform to streamline public procurement, Mr. Wickramasuriya said pointing out that it will improve efficiency, transparency, competition and fairness.

Bids and procurement information will be widely accessible, which will allow more suppliers to participate, he claimed.

An open contracting data standard is on the cards to improve the transparency and stakeholder confidence in the public procurement process, he disclosed.

Digitalisation of information in public procurement and adherence to the Right to Information Act were among the new inclusions under the new guidelines.
New sugar tax on confectioneries By Bandula Sirimanna View(s): View(s):

A new sugar tax is just around the corner, and this time it will target sweets and confectionery in addition to a fizzy levy on sugary beverages.

Despite the assurance given by President Maithripala Sirisena to the Sri Lanka Confectionery Manufacturers Association (SLCMA), this tax based on sugar content is likely to be introduced from the upcoming budget 2019, Health Ministry sources confirmed.

The move could affect 50,000 direct and 150,000 indirect employees in the confectionery industry, the SLCMA said.

Leading confectioners will have to increase the price of their products for its sustenance to compete with low cost imported sweets and it will eventually drain much needed foreign exchange, a spokesman of the Association pointed out.

The present import levies on confectionery fats and other ingredients are already exerting an impact on the industry, he said, adding that it has hit companies exporting sweets to over 55 countries overseas.

Health Minister Dr. Rajitha Senaratne has made a proposal to the Finance Ministry to increase the sugar tax which was reduced during the recent 52 day-government.

This tax was introduced last year with the aim of minimising sugar consumption to prevent non communicable diseases, he has disclosed.

With Sri Lanka reaching one of Asias highest per capita consumption level of confectionery items which is close to 4kg per person, sugar reduction has become the health trend under the spotlight of the government.

In the earlier proposal, the Budget 2018 had estimated Rs. 5 billion from the imposition of the Sugar Tax in Sri Lanka to the state coffers.

Fruit drinks, juices and nectar produces were feeling the brunt of the sugar tax which came into effect from July 25, 2018, an official from a producing company said adding that they were relieved by the recent reduction of tax during the 52-day period.
Committees and committees View(s):

If you go through the daily newspapers, the Sri Lankan government fancies appointing committees and committees for this problem and that problem. Like balm for the soul, it appears as if appointing committees to resolve a crisis or problem is the way out.

Our attention was drawn to this when Kalabala Silva, the often agitated academic, called on Wednesday morning to discuss the usual political happenings.

I say, they have gone and appointed another committee, he said.

What do you mean? I asked. Why, the committee to restructure SriLankan Airlines, he said, adding: This is another waste of time and money.

On Monday, President Maithripala Sirisena appointed a 12-member committee headed by State Minister of Finance Eran Wickramaratne to make recommendations to restructure the national carrier. The other members of the committee are State Minister of National Policies and Economic Affairs Dr. Harsha de Silva, Central Bank Senior Deputy Governor Dr. Nandalal Weerasinghe, Dr. Dharmaratne Herath, Prof. D.B.G.H. Disa Bandara, V. Kanagasabapathy, L.S.I. Jayaratne, Viraj Dayaratne, Mahen Gopallawa, Vasantha Kumarasiri, Ajith Amarasekara and Thisuri Wanniarachchi. While there are few academics in the committee, its unclear whether its members have any experience in the airline industry  which would have helped in making recommendations.

Whether the committee will consider representations from airline experts on restructuring the airline, remains to be seen.

Appointing committees it seems is the Kokatath Thailaya (medicinal oil for all ills) for every problem we have, continued Kalabala Silva. Youre right, I said.

The committee then makes recommendations and thats it. End of story. Nothing happens after that, he said, noting that: This is a Koheda yanne malle pol-kind of situation.

Adding fuel to the fire, Kalabala Silva continued: The President has reportedly said that new heads of state organisations must be qualified and have degrees. Then he goes and appoints two former governors to head state institutions who do not have these qualifications.

Like money that was poured into the national carrier over the past few years to keep it afloat, money is also poured into the many committees to come up with solutions to a problem and then these recommendations fade into oblivion.

While it is possible that this new committee may come up with doable recommendations and take the airline out of the mess that it is in, public frustration is growing over the state of governance. A Business Times-Second Curve poll on the Presidency and Parliament today reveals that the public is fed up with the recent 52-day impasse when Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe was sacked and the country descended into the current crisis of governance. The results of the poll are on Page 1.

Committees, committees and committees..Sri Lankans will never see the end to these mechanisms which are intended to make things better in solving a problem or crisis. Another failed example: The President appoints a committee to examine the Sri Lanka-Singapore Free Trade Agreement (SLSFTA) which then makes recommendations that include a re-examination of some of its contents. In the first place, this report has not been made public (like many other reports of committees) which is another issue.

Having said that, when the government now needs to review the agreement, the Minister of Development Strategies and International Trade Malik Samarawickrama goes on record saying that the agreement continues as it stands and is in force.

Back to the SriLankan Airlines scenario  consider the number of committees that have been appointed since 2015 pertaining to the affairs of the airline.

Since President Maithripala Sirisena was installed in office in January 2015, there have been at least five committees or structures to resuscitate the airline.

The first was the J.C. Weliamuna one-man committee appointed to examine the operations of the airline during the tenure of President Mahinda Rajapaksas government.

This committee passed several strictures on the airline and blamed several personnel for its losses including airline chairman Nishantha Wickramasinghe. None of its recommendations has been followed and even if they were, the public is unaware.

Then there was an internal committee at the national carrier to examine and report on the Weliamuna probe. No one, apart from senior management officials at the airline, knows what happened to that.

Another committee under the ambit of Kabir Hashim, Minister-in-charge of state enterprises, was also appointed to restructure the airline. What happened to that is anybodys guess.

Then came the Presidential Commission of Inquiry which is currently in session. The kind of revelations by witnesses before this body is mind-boggling  losses by the airline running into billions of rupees due to bad decisions, losses from improper leases of aircraft and other bad decisions. Every day, newspapers are reporting the proceedings with shocking details on how public money was squandered away.

And now the new committee, appointed on Monday, to restructure the airline. Wouldnt it have been better to wait till the report of this commission of inquiry is ready before appointing such a committee?

When the Business Times ran a poll some years ago asking the public whether the airline should be sold or retained in state control, most respondents from the street survey said while they acknowledge that the airline has been run to the ground, they were insistent that ownership should lie in state hands. Its improper management that they were unhappy about.

While revelations at the ongoing Presidential Commission of Inquiry have shown losses totalling billions of rupees on bad decisions and other major flaws, the last annual report of the airline available on the airline website also paints a dismal picture.

According to the 2016-2017 annual report, the airline (including subsidiaries) suffered a net loss of Rs. 28.3 billion in 2017 against Rs. 12 billion in 2016. Operating expenditure during this period was Rs. 146 billion (2016  Rs. 136 billion), while revenue rose to Rs. 138 billion from Rs. 132 billion. Randomly, taking a year when the Mahinda Rajapaksa-led government was in power, net loss in 2009 was Rs. 9.9 billion against a profit of Rs.4.9 billion in 2008.

The daily revelations at the Presidential Commission hearing is often more demoralising news on how a bad decision was made or how a proper business plan was prepared only months after decisions were implemented on a particular route, than good news.

The governments and Presidents penchant for appointing a committee for everything needs to stop at some point. There is a need to take stock of the situation and implement whatever has already been recommended and proposed without throwing it out of the window or into limbo.

As Kussi Amma Sera brought in the morning tea, she smiled as if to say todays discussion was too technical for her and her friends to make a judgement call. This also applies to the public at large whose main concern is that there is a breakdown in government and the absence of not only honest and trustworthy politicians but also honest and trustworthy officials whose interest for the public good must rise above anything else.
Access Engineering calls for consistent policy, coherent taxation View(s):

Access Engineering PLC (Access), after battling economic depression and volatility last year, is looking forward to sound policy and saner politicking.

The company whose equity holders profit surged by nearly 106 per cent year on year (YOY) to Rs. 630.6 million in 2QFY19 owing to a good performance in its core construction segment which saw net profit up six fold (YoY), didnt have it easy last year in terms of taxation and policy, as was the case with many firms.

Sumal Perera, Chairman Access told the Business Times that prices of main resources in his industry such as steel and cement along with exchange rate fluctuations impacted badly on firms in this sector. Its difficult to budget in such an unstable setting, Mr. Perera stressed.

Access topline improved by nearly 14 per cent YoY to Rs.7.8 billion in 2Q19 with contributions from contracting projects (nearly 55 per cent), subsidiary Sathosa Motors (nearly 25 per cent) and construction related material (nearly 18 per cent).

Access recognised revenue from Central Expressway (thus far nearly Rs. 4 billion received), 608 unit Housing Project  Borella, Anuradhapura Water Supply Project, Kadawatha Nittabuwa Road, Nanotechnology building project and work done at Cinnamon Life, according to latest data.

Analysts say that Access recurrent earnings could grow more than 30 per cent YoY to Rs.1.6 billion in FY19E reinforced by a solid order book in construction driven by the ongoing projects (Central Expressway, buildings and water projects), incremental other income from sale of Horizon Properties (thus far received nearly Rs.375 million) and possible recommencement of halted other large ticket government-led projects during 2H19 in the wake of regained political stability.

Mr. Perera noted that another major issue the construction industry faces is adequate labour. If the country wants to achieve growth, we need to open the construction sector labour market. Right now our resources are totally inadequate to cope with the current demand  especially in the skilled and semi-skilled worker categories, he said. This, he says is the primary reason that Access two flagship projects (Marina Square in Mutwal and Capital Heights in Rajagiriya) were given to two large Chinese contractors  China State Engineering and China Harbour Engineering. Their ability to access resources is far greater.

He said that as a company Access is training workers and its trying to build a better base in-house. But with the demand that was hoisted upon all construction companies after 2009, one cannot build resources in the short term, Mr. Perera explained. Also training workers in-house became a double edged sword at one point when the projects were slow in the recent past. We had to retrench some of these workers at the time, Mr. Perera said.

When asked whether Access was moving out of construction and concentrating more on real estate development, Mr. Perera stressed that it is not so, but the company is doing things that have synergy with the construction industry. Now we are building 1,500 rural bridges. The funding for these projects is primarily coming from European countries like the Netherlands, UK, etc and Canada.

Mr. Perera added that Access Marina Square project will be completed within three to four years and the Capital Heights project in Rajagiriya done with a West Asian investor will be completed next year.

Access was slapped with higher income taxes (owing to hiked tax rate to 28 per cent against the 12 per cent before) and the slowness in the local construction industry only grew by 1.4 per cent YoY in 2Q2018 against the 7 per cent in 2Q201) and these have hit hard on the companys revenue. Mr. Perera stressed that if the private sector is to be the engine of growth, this sector should be profitable. He noted that a portion of the profits that the private sector makes would be ploughed back into the economy. This makes the private sector the engine of growth. This is how the economy benefits. So its important to realise that it is dangerous for the private sector growth to be totally dependent on debt. While it is important that taxation is required for government budgets, it must be done on a win-win basis where growth is encouraged and it contributes to higher taxes in absolute terms.

Mr. Perera also highlighted the importance of investment relief for certain sectors to encourage investment.

Analysts say that a negative impact in the bottom-line growth of Access in the short term may occur due to the political instability which prevailed last year, coupled with the higher raw material import costs due to a weakening of the rupee against the US dollar.

Data showed better performance in construction related material (net profit up nearly 131 per cent YoY) and owing to healthy Other Income which stemmed from the sale of Horizon Properties and also exchange gains. As a result, despite profits in 1Q19 dipping by nearly 39 per cent YoY, Access net earnings for 1HFY19 increased nearly 11 per cent YoY to Rs.995.6 million predominantly due to better performance in 2Q19.

Mr. Perera reiterated that today the global economy is ever-changing and one has to be vigilant and proactive in reacting to these changes.

Otherwise as a country we will be in a lot of trouble going forward.
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.
Similarly, Israel refused to take responsibility for the inadequate training, supervision and actions of his deputies at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School last Feb. 14, when 17 people died and 17 more were wounded by a former student armed with a military-style assault rifle. Some would have died regardless of what his deputies did or didnt do, but others might have lived. Another issue, properly cited by DeSantis, was the departments failure to act on credible warnings that Nikolas Cruz was a potential danger to the school.
That puts it at the heart of the most Democratic-leaning demographic in the most Democratic-leaning county in Florida. With their back against the wall, Democratic politicians have often come to the New Mount Olive Baptist Church to rally the black community in Broward County. Hillary Clinton stopped by just before the 2016 election, after a late announcement by then-FBI Director James Comey put her email servers back into headlines. Andrew Gillum stopped in after his own campaign, during the recount process.
Barron County Sheriff Chris Fitzgerald said investigators are trying to figure out what happened to Jayme during her captivity and why she was seized, and gave no details on how she escaped except to say Patterson was not home at the time. He said there is no evidence Patterson knew Jayme or her family or had been in contact with her on social media.
The big concern from family members now is where all the money raised for Preslie is, since it's all in Nikki's name. Preslie's paternal grandmother wants Nikki to show proof of where it is since the money will be needed for Preslie's continued care and medical bills. In the meantime, they are shutting down the GoFundMe account, which raised over $17,000.
In his remarks, the sheriff boasted of his accomplishments while at the helm of an agency with more than 5,400 employees, including deputies and firefighters. He cited his efforts to keep juveniles out of jail for misdemeanors and non-violent crimes, his outreach to the homeless, and his creation of specialized units for better police tactics that led to a reduction in crime.
To the community stakeholders, those in attendance, those that are watching, you have voted and expressed the rights to select your Broward County sheriff. So I also understand that there may be some concerns there. And so to you, I say this: I have served you once before, oftentimes in the dark, away from the public light, simply doing my job to enforce the laws of this great state.
The service will be led by Rabbi Bradd Boxman, the synagogue's spiritual leader, and Cantor Malcolm Arnold. Arnold said that instead of using a lot of the English readings in the prayer book for this service, the synagogue replaces them with quotations from King. He also said the synagogue will intersperse different pieces of music than it normally would do. He also feels people will be moved by the service's emphasis on social action in addition to memorializing King as an exemplar of someone who made America a better place.
ASHTABULA [emdash] Vincent John Collise, 77, passed away unexpectedly, Monday, June 14, 2021 at ACMC. His is survived by wife, Nancy and daughter, Kimberley. No services will be held. Ducro Funeral Services and Crematory is handling arrangements. www.ducro.com
According to analysis by the Korean Educational Development Institute published Monday, out of 6,285 elementary schools nationwide, some 1,437 or 20 percent have fewer than 60 students. In South Jeolla Province the proportion is a whopping 49 percent, in Gangwon Province 48 percent, in North Gyeongsang Province 44 percent and in North Jeolla Province 43 percent.

One out of every five elementary schools in Korea has not enough pupils to stay open. The main reason is the low birthrate and the hollowing out of rural areas.

The Education Ministry sees 60 students as the minimum a school needs to stay open. Any fewer than that and it recommends either closing the school or merging it with another one nearby.

Only if these minuscule schools happen to be the only one left in the region does the ministry allow them to stay open.

But their number is expected to grow. Statistics Korea forecasts the number of children aged six to 17 to fall to just two-thirds of the present level two generations from now, from 12 percent of the total population in 2017 to just eight percent in 2065. That means many children in villages or small towns will have to go to school more than 10 km from their homes and classrooms consist of different graders, making teachers' jobs more difficult.
Medford, NJ (08055)

Today

Rain showers early, then sunny by the afternoon. High around 80F. Winds NW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 40%..

Tonight

Clear to partly cloudy. Low 52F. Winds light and variable.
Nancy Madsen has written for newspapers in Watertown, N.Y., and Mankato, as well as for PolitiFact Virginia at the Richmond Times-Dispatch in Richmond, Va. Nancy is a graduate of Wheaton College in Wheaton, Ill., and Syracuse University in Syracuse, N.Y.
Ghosn, former Representative Director Greg Kelly and Nissan itself were also charged for understating Ghosn's income for three years through March 2018. The three parties have been indicted for the same charge covering the years 2010-2015. Ghosn and Kelly have denied all charges. Nissan said it regretted any concern caused to its stakeholders.

The former executive, lauded for rescuing Nissan from the financial brink two decades ago, was charged with aggravated breach of trust for temporarily transferring personal investment losses to Nissan in 2008.

Ghosn was the overlord of an alliance that included Nissan Motor, Mitsubishi Motors and France's Renault, until his surprise November arrest and removal as chairman of both Japanese automakers sent shockwaves through the industry.

Nissan's former Chairman Carlos Ghosn has requested his release on bail after being indicted in Tokyo Friday on two new charges, his lawyers said, as the once-feted auto executive awaits a lengthy criminal trial that could be as long as six months away.

 Bail Is Rare

It is rare in Japan for defendants who deny their charges to be granted bail ahead of trial. Kelly posted bail on Christmas Day and is unable to leave Japan without special permission.

Ghosn's lawyer, Motonari Otsuru, expects his client to be held until trial, which he said could begin in about six months. If bail is granted, Ghosn, who is suffering from fever, according to his lawyer, would not likely be released until Tuesday given that Monday is public holiday.

Kelly, a Ghosn ally, was hospitalized for treatment of a pre-existing neck problem after his release and has since been discharged, said his lawyer Yoichi Kitamura. "This second indictment for Kelly comes as no surprise as it merely makes what was a five year period for the first into eight years," Kitamura said.

Kitamura said he expects Ghosn and Kelly to be tried together on the two charges of understating income, and that he will work closely with Ghosns legal team.

 Nissan complaint

Also Friday, Nissan said it had filed a criminal complaint against its former leader. The automaker, in a statement, said it filed the complaint "on the basis of Ghosn's misuse of a significant amount of the company's funds. Nissan does not in any way tolerate such misconduct and calls for strict penalties."

Ghosn, 64, appeared in court Tuesday for the first time since his arrest, looking thinner and grayer. He denied the allegations, calling them "meritless" and "unsubstantiated."

He said he had asked Nissan to temporarily take on his foreign exchange contracts after the 2008-2009 financial crisis prompted his bank to call for more collateral. He said he did so to avoid having to resign and use his retirement allowance for collateral.

Ghosn's lawyer Otsuru on Tuesday said Nissan had agreed to the arrangement on condition that any losses or gains would be Ghosn's. Ghosn said the contracts were transferred back to him and that Nissan did not incur a loss. On Thursday, the boards of Nissan and controlling shareholder Renault, where Ghosn remains chairman, met for an update on the matter. Nissan later said it remained committed to the alliance.
Northfield students pack meals at Feed My Starving Children as part of a serve project program of the Northfield Healthy Community Initiative. (Photo courtesy of Northfield HCI)
Taiwan is upgrading a fleet of American-made fighter jets, but may scrap ambitions to acquire the more advanced F-35 models, showing the limits of U.S.-Taiwan military cooperation despite a common interest of resisting China.

The Air Force should get its first four upgraded F-16 A/B fighter jets in early 2019. The upgrades are part of a broader overhaul that began a year ago to convert the planes into the equivalent of higher-end F-16Vs, the government-funded Central News Agency said.

But the Taiwanese armed forces, ranked as the world's 24th strongest, probably won't get F-35 planes from the American developer Lockheed Martin despite expressions of interest in the past, defense analysts say.

Taiwan would then rely in any war with China, a military rival of some 70 years, on tactical advantages rather than trying to match its firepower.

"One main thing I think that Taiwan has sort of come to the realization that the talk of F-35s is more likely to be a long-ranging solution, more so than being able to get them on an immediate basis, so they have been toying around with various other options," said Collin Koh, a maritime security research fellow at Nanyang Technological University in Singapore.

China claims self-ruled Taiwan as part of its own territory. Last week Chinese President Xi Jinping reiterated in a speech that his government could use force against the island 160 km away if needed to force unification of the two sides. China maintains the third strongest military after the United States and Russia.


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Can't call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25. Trace begun at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Exceptions.pm line 129 HTML::Mason::Exceptions::rethrow_exception('Can\'t call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25.^J') called at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 160 HTML::Mason::Component::run_dynamic_sub('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x7fbff4d85da0)', 'main') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 951 HTML::Mason::Request::call_dynamic('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7fbff4d86988)', 'main') called at /var/cache/mason/obj/1784076917/main/smetimes/dhandler.html.obj line 17 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 138 HTML::Mason::Component::run('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x7fbff4d85da0)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1305 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1295 HTML::Mason::Request::comp(undef, undef, undef) called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 958 HTML::Mason::Request::call_next('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7fbff4d86988)') called at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/autohandler_template.html line 149 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 138 HTML::Mason::Component::run('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x7fbff4cef600)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1303 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1295 HTML::Mason::Request::comp(undef, undef, undef) called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 484 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 484 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 436 HTML::Mason::Request::exec('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7fbff4d86988)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/ApacheHandler.pm line 165 HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler::exec('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7fbff4d86988)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/ApacheHandler.pm line 831 HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler::handle_request('HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7fbff441b618)', 'Apache2::RequestRec=SCALAR(0x7fbfcc8c28c8)') called at (eval 487) line 8 HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler::handler('HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler', 'Apache2::RequestRec=SCALAR(0x7fbfcc8c28c8)') called at -e line 0 eval {...} at -e line 0
System error

error: Can't call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25.

context: ... 21: </%method> 22: 23: % foreach my $c (@categories) { 24: <%perl> 25: my $category_id = $c->get_id(); 26: my @stories = Bric::Biz::Asset::Business::Story->list ( { element_type_id=>1148, category_id=>$category_id , Order=> 'cover_date', publish_status => 't' , OrderDirection=> 'DESC' , Limit=>10 } ); 27: </%perl> 28: <table width="90%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"> 29: <tr> ... code stack: /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html:25

/usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm:951

/var/cache/mason/obj/1784076917/main/smetimes/dhandler.html.obj:17

/usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/autohandler_template.html:149



Can't call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25. Trace begun at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Exceptions.pm line 129 HTML::Mason::Exceptions::rethrow_exception('Can\'t call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25.^J') called at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 160 HTML::Mason::Component::run_dynamic_sub('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x7fbff4dcbf10)', 'main') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 951 HTML::Mason::Request::call_dynamic('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7fbff4dc8720)', 'main') called at /var/cache/mason/obj/1784076917/main/smetimes/dhandler.html.obj line 17 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 138 HTML::Mason::Component::run('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x7fbff4dcbf10)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1305 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1295 HTML::Mason::Request::comp(undef, undef, undef) called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 958 HTML::Mason::Request::call_next('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7fbff4dc8720)') called at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/autohandler_template.html line 149 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 138 HTML::Mason::Component::run('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x7fbff4dbe998)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1303 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1295 HTML::Mason::Request::comp(undef, undef, undef) called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 484 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 484 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 436 HTML::Mason::Request::exec('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7fbff4dc8720)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/ApacheHandler.pm line 165 HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler::exec('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7fbff4dc8720)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/ApacheHandler.pm line 831 HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler::handle_request('HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7fbff441b900)', 'Apache2::RequestRec=SCALAR(0x7fbff4dd2420)') called at (eval 487) line 8 HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler::handler('HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler', 'Apache2::RequestRec=SCALAR(0x7fbff4dd2420)') called at -e line 0 eval {...} at -e line 0
New Delhi : The Bharatiya Janata Party-led government in Manipur has decided to urge the Centre to exempt the state from the jurisdiction of the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, the latest voice from the north-east against the proposed legislation.

Meanwhile, the Meghalaya Democratic Alliance cabinet, which has two BJP ministers, has passed a resolution opposing the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, as the saffron party's leadership in the state asserted they were with the indigenous people on the proposed legislation.

The cabinet passed the resolution during a meeting on Thursday.

The BJP, which has two MLAs in the MDA government, backed the Cabinet decision.

"We are with the people of the state. The state cabinet had unanimously passed a resolution to oppose the Bill and we are part of the government," Health Minister and BJP MLA A L Hek said.

Asked if he would resign from the BJP on the issue, he said, "No question".

"People have voted for me. They have entrusted me with responsibilities as their representative and I will continue to serve in that capacity."

However, defending the controversial bill, Assam's Finance Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Friday said its implementation is a must for the state to ensure it does not face a Kashmir-like situation in the future.

He claimed the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill can be an opportunity for not just Assam but the entire Northeastern part of the country.

In Guwahati, BJP leader Pradip Dutta courted controversy by threatening Assamese speaking students in Bengali dominated Barak Valley that their admission in the Assam University at Silchar would be barred if they protest against the citizehsip bill.

Students union of another university in Guwahati filed an FIR against Dutta for his provocative statement.

Dutta, a local leader of the saffron party known for making controversial statements, issued the threat after a section of students of the Assam University raised their voice against the Citizenship Amendment Bill.

"I warn the Assamese (speaking) students of the university that you study only and don't indulge in politics. Think about the future. We then will be forced to bar admission of Assamese students in the university," Dutta was heard saying in local news channels.

Three persons, including a woman and a police officer, were injured in a clash between students, women vendors and the police at the Khwairamban Bazaar, the main market in Imphal, during a mass rally against the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2016.

The police had to fire teargas shells to disperse the agitators, who joined the mass rally jointly organised by six students' organisations and the women vendors of the Khwairamban Bazaar.

A police officer, who did not want to be quoted, told PTI that some unidentified student agitators threw mineral water bottles at the police personnel, in which a sub-divisional police officer (SDPO) got injured on his face and he was hospitalised.

Two injured civilians were also admitted to the RIMS hospital in Imphal as they were injured after the police lobbed teargas shells.

At a meeting chaired by Chief Minister N Biren Singh, the state cabinet on Thursday decided to appeal to the Centre to allow it not to implement the proposed legislation, which was recently passed by the Lok Sabha, a press release issued by the chief minister's secretariat said.

The Bharatiya Janata Party is heading a coalition government in Manipur with the National People's Party, the Naga People's Front and the Lok Janshakti Party.

In Meghalaya, the ruling NPP, the United Democratic Party, the BJP and the Hills State Peoples Democratic Party, as well as the opposition Congress, have voiced their opposition to the Bill, reflecting strong dissent prevailing in the state against the proposed legislation, cleared already by Lok Sabha.

The ruling UDP (having nine MLAs) has aired its opposition to the Bill and party president Donkupar Roy slammed the BJP at the Centre for going against the voices of the people, particularly in the frontier states of the northeast region.

Roy, who is also the speaker of the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly, told PTI, "There is a great danger in accepting the Bill in its current form, and if it's implemented in the frontier states of the North East, particularly in Meghalaya."

The speaker demanded the state and the northeast region be exempt from implementing the proposed legislation 'going by the sentiments of the indigenous people'.

Meanwhile, the Gauhati high court on Friday granted bail to senior journalist Manjit Mahanta and interim relief to Assamese litterateur Hiren Gohain and Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti leader Akhil Gogoi in a sedition case filed by Assam Police for their alleged remarks against the citizenship bill.

Justice H K Sarma granted interim bail to Gohain and Gogoi, RTI activist and chief of the KMSS, against a surety of Rs 5,000 each.

The Judge also directed police to file the case diary by January 22.

Mahanta was granted absolute bail as there is no specific allegation against him in the FIR.

Police had filed a suo motu case under Indian Penal Code sections, including 121 (waging or attempting to wage war, or abetting waging of war, against government), 123 (concealing with intent to facilitate design to wage war) and 124(A) (sedition), at the Latasil police station in Guwahati.

The case was filed on the basis of comments made by the three during a meeting on January 7 to protest against the Citizenship Amendment Bill.

Assam Congress president Ripun Bora Friday visited Gohain and expressed the party's solidarity with him.

Former chief minister Tarun Gogoi told reporters that the case against Gohain, Gogoi and Mahanta is a blatant misuse of power by the BJP government in the state.

"The entire episode reflects Hitler and Mussolini type rule in the state and misuse of power by the BJP. The government cannot stop spontaneous protests by such high-handed measures. The protests will continue," he said.

One person at Jorhat also held a strip protest against the sedition charge slapped on Gohain on Friday.

Akhil Gogoi has announced that he will hold a 24-hour hunger strike on the coming Magh Bihu festival, of which community feast is an integral part, to protest against the bill.

"I will not celebrate Magh Bihu this time and will not eat anything on 'Uruka'. I will observe a 24-hour hunger strike with other representatives of 70 organisations from afternoon of January 14 to protest against the Bill," he told a press conference.

In Shillong, a bus carrying a team of rescuers from Odisha, headed to aid the operations to trace 15 miners trapped in a rat-hole coal mine in Meghalaya, was attacked in East Jaintia Hills district allegedly by people protesting against the bill, police said on Friday.

District Superintendent of Police Sylvester Nongtynger said while there was no injuries to any personnel when the bus was targeted Thursday night on the National Highway in the Khasi-Jaintia Hills region, the vehicle was partially damaged.

Meanwhile, Sarma, who is also the convener of BJP-led North East Democratic Alliance, said, People of Assam need to understand that this is not an Assam specific bill and the burden of these refugees will be shared by the entire country.

In fact, it will protect 17 important assembly seats of Assam from going to the All India United Democratic Front led by Badruddin Ajmal. We need to win the fight of civilisation as we cannot surrender Assam like we surrendered Kashmir," he said.

Accusing the Congress of misleading the people of Assam over the bill, he said nearly 20 lakh of the 40 lakh people left out during the process of National Register of Citizens update were Hindus.

He also said the Narendra Modi government's recent decision to grant constitutional status to clause 6 of the Assam Accord that ensures protection of indigenous Assamese from demographic invasion is a boon for the people of the state.

Sarma argued that tribal status given to six communities of Assam will make it a forte of indigenous Assamese people.

He also thanked Modi for transforming the socio-economic status of the entire Northeast region and improving the much needed infrastructure.
Trump said in an early morning tweet: "H1-B holders in the US can rest assured that changes are soon coming which will bring both simplicity and certainty to your stay, including a potential path to citizenship. We want to encourage talented and highly skilled people to pursue career options in the US."

New York: Singalling his support for legal immigration, US President Donald Trump said on Friday he will change the H1-B visa system for professionals to ensure "certainty" and a path to citizenship for those on the visa.

Indians are the biggest beneficiaries of the temporary H1-B visas, 76 per cent of which went to professionals from India last year, according to government statistics.

Caught in a controversy over his plans to stop illegal immigration that has been made to appear he is anti-immigrant, Trump appeared to be sending a message that he supports legal immigrants and opposes only those coming in illegally.

Limiting H1-B visas has been a matter of concern for India and New Delhi has taken it up with Washington as a trade-related issue.

Major US companies have warned that the limiting of H1-B visas and the long waits for permanent residence seriously affect their ability to get and retain talented staff.

Since it was only a tweet, there were no details about how he would go about making the changes.

An immigration expert expressed scepticism about Trump's show of concern for H1-B visa-holders.

"Trump's tweet is a distraction from the fact that the administration's H-1B policies and its actions more broadly are actually making everything more difficult for legal immigrants across the board," said Doug Rand, the president of Boundless Immigration, a technology company helping people navigate the immigration process.

Rand, who was the assistant director for entrepreneurship in the former President Barack Obama's White House, said that Trump "is probably talking about two already known regulatory plans."

These relate to a changeover to online filing of H1-B applications each April and redefining the jobs that qualify for H1-B visas, which could make it "much more difficult for lower-salary skilled workers to obtain these visas," Rand said.

Trump announces many plans and ideas through tweets but not all of them get implemented. Trump's tweet came the morning after his visit to the US-Mexico border on Thursday to promote his plan for building the wall to prevent illegal immigration, crime and drug-smuggling.

The border wall or barrier is opposed by Democrats, who have refused to allocate funds for it in the budget.

This has led to a standoff with Trump, who has refused to accept a budget without funding for the wall and as a result there has been a partial shutdown of non-essential parts of the federal government now in its 20th day.

The media, the Democrats and activists blur the distinction between illegal and legal immigrants and assert that Trump is anti-immigrant, which his tweet appears to aim to dispel.

Addressing the nation on Tuesday to build support for the wall, Trump mentioned an Indian-American police corporal, Ronil Singh, who was killed by an illegal immigrant.

One of the immediate concerns for H1-B visa-holders is the Trump administration's plan to end permission for their spouses - who are on H-4 visas - to work, which had been granted by the administration of former President Barack Obama.

Another is the path to permanent residence and eventual citizenship because of the current minimum wait of 10 years for Indian professionals to get their green cards.

Trump may need the support of Congress, where the Democrats control the lower chamber, to make these changes.

The Democrats are likely to demand concessions for illegal immigration in return for supporting the changes.

Trump has called for abolishing the immigration quotas for relatives of citizens and moving to a merit-based system similar to that of Canada and Australia.

There is a 20,000 limit on the number of green cards that can be given each year to people from India and most countries.

In November, the Trump administration announced changes to the H1-B visa system to give preferences to applicants with advanced degrees.

A total of 85,000 H1-B visas are available each year under regulations imposed by the Congress. Of these, 20,000 are reserved for those graduating with advance degrees from US universities.

Immigration authorities have reportedly intensified their crackdown on H1-B visa fraud and some Indians as well as Indian companies have been caught in it.

The authorities are also reported to be closely examining applicants from India and demanding more documentation.

Rand said that under Trump, request for more evidence for H1-B applications has increased by 45 percent and the number of denial rate by 41percent.

He added, "It's no wonder that many companies and immigrants believe that the H-1B program is under siege."

(Arul Louis can be reached at arul.l@ians.in and followed on Twitter @arulouis)
Press Release

January 12, 2019 Legarda Urges Public to Cooperate in Planned Manila Bay Rehab Senator Loren Legarda today welcomed the proposed rehabilitation of the Manila Bay and urged the public to be part of such efforts. Legarda said that while the government should take the lead, all sectors must work together to ensure not only the immediate and successful rehabilitation but also to ensure continuity. "I fully support the government in its planned rehabilitation of the Manila Bay. It is long overdue and I hope we can all work together to ensure its success," said Legarda. "We should have a sustainable restoration program for the Manila Bay which should include the strict enforcement of laws such as the Clean Water Act and the Ecological Solid Waste Management (ESWM) Act. We must ensure that the liquid waste from households and other establishments are treated before disposal and that solid waste are not thrown into its waters," she added. The Senator said that all local government units (LGUs) in the Manila Bay area should enforce the ESWM Law and have a materials recovery facility (MRF) and sewage system. In 2013, Legarda conducted a Senate briefing on the status of compliance to the Supreme Court's Writ of Continuing Mandamus issued in 2008 ordering various government agencies to clean up Manila Bay. Since then, she has been urging concerned agencies to fast track the much-needed rehabilitation of Manila Bay. Legarda also noted the evident habitat loss and degradation around the Bay area, such as diminishing mangrove forests, coral reefs and seagrass beds, affecting the capability of the Bay to sustain marine life. Records from the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) show that in 1890, about 54,000 hectares of mangrove surrounded the bay. A hundred years later, or in 1990, only 2,000 hectares of mangrove remained; and in 1995, only 794 hectares remained. The Senator stressed that, "Mangroves are one of the most important ecosystems because they serve not only as nursery grounds for various fish species but also as shield from storm surges and rising sea levels." Legarda also stressed the economic benefits of the Manila Bay. A humble estimate of the economic value of selected major uses of the Bay, such as offshore fisheries, aquaculture, ports and harbors, and tourism, is placed at P8.7 billion annually. "Let us reclaim Manila Bay's stunning beauty and proclaim its significance. And let us, above all, work towards a healthy, sustainable and disaster resilient future through concerted cleanup efforts," said Legarda.
Gatchalian to MMDA: Be more vigilant vs. hazardous billboards

Senator Win Gatchalian is urging the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) to enforce stricter guidelines for billboards and outdoor advertising signs along major metropolitan thoroughfares pending the passage of a law on billboard regulation.

The lawmaker issued the call after the Automobile Association Philippines (AAP) expressed concern over the presence of giant LED projector billboards along EDSA, which they said may distract drivers and cause road accidents.

"The MMDA should be more vigilant in enforcing the guidelines on billboards and outdoor advertising signs they implemented beginning in 2012. Mukhang nagiging overcrowded na naman kasi ang mga daan natin with giant billboards," Gatchalian said.

The senator also renewed his call for the passage of Senate Bill No. 995 or the Billboard Regulation Act, which he filed in August 2016 to set setback requirements and minimum distance between structures and limits the size of the display surface and height of billboard structures. The proposed measure also prohibits the obstruction of traffic signs and landscapes. Moreover, the bill also designates billboard-free zones, including in areas of historical sites, tourist destinations, and parks.

Gatchalian has been very active in campaigning for the regulation of billboards since he was a local chief executive and congressman, having filed a similar measure during the 16th Congress.

"There is as definite need to restore order in our streets and in our properties and we can start by correcting mistakes spawned by the liberal interpretations of laws on buildings and structures as these apply to billboards," he said.
Press Release

January 12, 2019 Dispatch from Crame No. 448:

Sen. Leila M. de Lima on Duterte calling HRDs as "Enemies of the State" 1/12/19 Duterte once again displayed his patent disdain for human rights when he called human rights defenders (HRDs) as "enemies of the State." Combine this label with his previous threats and this will most likely make human rights advocates targets for harm, harassment or even liquidation. Expectedly the spokesperson clown Panelo would justify Duterte's statements as a mere "hyperbole" or even joke. But no amount of rationalization would undo this conditioning of the President and his lackeys that could endanger the lives of HRDs once his fanatical followers, misguided security forces and death squads take Duterte's cue seriously. Even before this ominous pronouncement, human rights groups report that 85 HRDs have been murdered under the Duterte regime, including Benjamin Ramos, lawyer of farmer victims of the Sagay Massacre in Negros Occidental. Sino ba ang mga HRDs? Bakit tulad ng mga pari, galit na galit sa kanila si Duterte? Ano ba ang papel nila sa lipunan? Human rights defenders are those who selflessly fight for the rights of others. They arduously and persistently check and speak out against abuses of power of those in government, safeguarding people's rights to live in dignity. HRDs exist to fight and counter usurpers and aspiring dictators like Duterte, the real enemies of the State. Duterte is, after all, the instigator of thousands of extra-judicial killings and crass misogyny. He has undermined and co-opted key democratic institutions to persecute critics like myself. Even plunderers were resurrected under Duterte's watch. He even resorts to blasphemies and incitements to kill bishops in his intensified attacks versus the Church and the Catholic faith. His constant insults and threats versus UN functionaries have jeopardized our standing in the community of nations. Worst of all, he has treasonously sold us out to China for refusing to assert the Hague ruling in exchange for dubious loans. Since the restoration of democracy in 1986, only President Duterte has managed to single-handedly ruin the social and moral fiber of the Philippine society. Dahil mga HRDs, ang oposisyon at ang simbahan ang patuloy na nagsasalita laban sa mga pag-abusong ito sa kapangyarihan ng kasalukuyang administrasyon, sila rin ang patuloy na inaatake ni Duterte at laging malalagay sa peligro. Given Duterte's incessant and dangerous tirades against human rights workers, the push for the enactment of the Human Rights Defenders Bill becomes even more urgent and compelling. But what is even more pressing is for the Filipino people not to be intimidated and continue to assert their democratic rights and dignity since they are the ultimate HRDs.
Press Release

January 12, 2019 De Lima hails 4 judges for courage to uphold judicial independence Opposition Senator Leila M. de Lima has lauded four judges who were named Filipinos of the Year 2018 by the Philippine Daily Inquirer for their courage to uphold judicial independence despite the worsening culture of impunity in the country under Mr. Duterte. De Lima, a lawyer by profession, said these four courageous judges serve as an inspiration to public sector workers to fulfill their mandate without allowing extraneous influence or pressure to get in the way of their job. "The Philippine Daily Inquirer honored four courageous judges as Filipinos of the Year 2018. No accolade is more fitting for the 'Fearless Four,'" De Lima said in her recent Dispatch from Crame No. 445. "Patunay sila na sa gitna ng dilim at lagim ng kasalukuyang panahon at pamumuno ay may ningas pa rin ng pag-asa mula sa ilang nananatiling malalaya at matatapang na instrumento ng katarungan. Babala rin sila sa mga abusado at mapaniil. Inspirasyon naman sila sa iba pang mabubuting kawani ng pamahalaan," she added. Called as the "Fearless Four," the Filipinos of the Year 2018 are Regional Trial Court Judges Rodolfo Azucena, Jr. of Caloocan City, Arlene Lirag Palabrica of Tagum City, Alexander Tamayo of Malolos City, and Andres Soriano of Makati City. Citing their laudable work, De Lima recalled that Judge Azucena convicted three police officers for the murder of teen Kian delos Santos, while Judge Tamayo convicted former Major General Jovito Palparan and two subordinates for the kidnapping and serious illegal detention of UP students Karen Empeno and Sherlyn Cadapan. She likewise noted that Judge Palabrica ordered the immediate release of the group of activists who were arrested by the military after bringing food and supplies to the beleaguered teachers and pupils in a "Lumad" school in Davao del Norte, while Judge Soriano denied the DOJ's applications for arrest warrant and hold-departure order on Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV. The Lady Senator from Bicol reminded that a society can only call itself truly just and free if it has an independent judiciary - "which relies largely on the integrity, competence and uprightness of its judges." "On the freedom of the courts depends so much the exercise of our liberties. On the moral authority of the judiciary relies so much of the quality of justice that we pursue," she said. De Lima pointed out that judicial independence is not only a requirement for the maintenance of public order, but it also assures freedom to the individual, guarantees the right of determination and development of people, and safeguards against abuses by the different branches and functionaries of government. "Sa isang malaya at matatag na hudikatura ay makakaasa ng patas na pagtrato ang lahat -- maging ang mga magbubukid, manggagawa, katutubo, babae, kabataan, mahihirap, aktibista, kritiko at iba pang naisasantabi at inaapi," she said. De Lima praised the four judges for "striving to regain public confidence in our institutions" while the independent branches of government - including the judiciary - are slowly collapsing under the rule of a looming authoritarian who seeks to entrench himself in power.
Congratulations to Stu Hamel for winning the top spot this week. He will receive Steve Breens signed original in the mail. Thanks to all those who participated.

Next weeks cartoon is below. Please remember to limit your submissions to three and keep em brief. Good luck!

Winner

Stop right there. This is the No Spin Zone. Stu Hamel, Carlsbad

Finalists

Whoa, there, big guy. Did you wipe your feet? Doris Boruszewski, San Diego

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An interspecies marriage means both sides have to compromise. Biting my head off wont solve anything. Jamo Jackson, Rainbow

Look, buddy  theres room in here for only one daddy with long legs. Roger Cornell, San Diego

No, I dont want to watch A Bugs Life. Carl Kruse, online submission

I asked for insecticide, not an insect inside. Tom Roycraft, San Diego

No, weve never tented the house. Tiny Sluka, San Diego

You have to stop eating the dogs food. Tim Harrington, Encinitas

That does it. Im changing pest control companies. Jeff Shure, online submission

Ive got my eye on you, too. Dan Collins, San Diego

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Yes, I love you as my support animal, but no  youre not climbing on my lap. David Smollar, online submission

Im just listening to old Curtis Mayfield. There is no superfly here. Chris Manard, San Marcos

I told you the curds and whey were fattening. George Gildred, San Diego

Ok, Charlottes Web again, then straight to bed. Grant Goodson, online submission

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Sorry, but itsy bitsy sounds better than giant mutant. Holly Hamel, online submission

Wheres that silk robe you promised me? Rob Cohen, San Diego

Youre just not yourself right now, Martha  eat a Snickers bar. Arthur Pammenter, online submission

K-12

You spent too much time on the Web. Adam de la Houssaye, seventh grade, Correia Middle School

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Honey, could you please get me some flies? Tess Finley, seventh grade, Correia Middle School

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(Steve Breen)

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One of the best ideas in the budget Gov. Gavin Newsom unveiled Thursday was his plan to give $3 billion to the California Public Employees Retirement System and $2.9 billion over four years to the California State Teachers Retirement System to pay down unfunded pension liabilities for state workers and teachers estimated to be $162 billion.

Instead of using the states projected $21.5 billion surplus to launch new programs that would be unaffordable when a recession hit and revenue plunged, Newsom wants to use a huge chunk to strengthen the states long-term fiscal picture. Thats smart. Its akin to a family that came into a windfall choosing to use part of it to pay down its credit-card debt.

But Newsoms proposal to also give school districts $3 billion to directly meet their pension obligations isnt a policy slam dunk at all. It amounts to a back-door increase of $3 billion in future state education budgets. It could set a precedent under which districts struggling with the enormous cost of pensions would expect additional help year after year. As tight as many school district budgets are now, they will be even harder hit in the 2019-20 and 2020-21 fiscal years when two more increases kick in for required CalSTRS contributions.

Those increases were part of the bailout of CalSTRS enacted in 2014 by the Legislature and Gov. Jerry Brown. It required school districts, the state and teachers to steadily increase their contributions from 2014-15 to 2020-21. But 70 percent of the additional annual $5 billion its expected to create when fully phased in must come from districts, with the state paying 20 percent and teachers 10 percent. This requirement already has by far the states largest district  Los Angeles Unified  in dire straits, on track to spend $2 billion more than it takes in from July 2018 to June 2021. This backdrop is key to the teachers strike expected to begin Monday.

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Lawmakers were right to focus on CalSTRS long-term health in 2014. But they should have also tried harder to limit the costs of pensions and retiree health care. The bailout may need a bailout.

Twitter: @sdutIdeas

Facebook: San Diego Union-Tribune Ideas & Opinion
Asylum-seeking families and individuals entering the United States through San Diego need, and deserve, our support. Humanity should have no borders.

An influx of Central American families applying for asylum from the deadly violence in their countries has overwhelmed the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency (ICE). To make room for more asylum applicants, ICE has been releasing asylum seekers who have legal permission to stay in the U.S. while their applications are processed.

Unfortunately, the federal government is releasing these families onto the streets with no plan to safeguard their public health and more importantly no plan to connect them with their family sponsors who will house and shelter them. Some have arrived at temporary shelters, but others, like those featured in recent news reports, are left to fend for themselves on San Diegos streets.

Over the holiday, we visited the temporary shelter operated by the San Diego Rapid Response Network (SDRRN). We witnessed firsthand the outstanding work thats been happening by the two dozen-plus nonprofits who have selflessly volunteered their time and leveraged their resources and relationships to help families seeking asylum.

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It is important for people to understand that asylum seekers are law-abiding. They are following federal immigration laws.

The majority of families only need 24-48 hours of assistance until they are reunited with relatives who in most cases reside outside San Diego County. The problem is that federal agencies are overwhelmed. San Diego County and other local groups  without adequate support at the federal and state levels  are trying to fill the gap, even though immigration activities do not fall under local authority.

SDRRN has been doing benevolent work, but its not sustainable without support from others.

San Diego County stepped up last month with vaccines, nurses and other health-care professionals, and social workers to address immediate needs. But after seeing the issue up close and knowing the existing shelter will soon close, we determined more needed to be done.

So earlier this week we introduced legislative solutions  that were approved by our colleagues  to help asylum seekers, prevent a health crisis and ensure this issue doesnt exacerbate our already-overloaded homeless shelters.

As part of the new legislation, we will co-chair a subcommittee to establish a regional working group comprised of federal, state, county and local elected officials and stakeholders to work on short-term and long-term solutions for the migrant crisis. It is time everyone starts working together.

With the new legislation, the county will also:

Identify county property for a potential temporary shelter that the state or another entity could operate to shelter asylum-seeking families.

Work with federal and state delegations on legislative policy, including funding resources, to reimburse the county for providing health services and support to asylum-seeking families, since immigration regulations are not under local authority.

Continue to pursue armories or other state properties with the governors office for assistance in sheltering this population.

These are the first steps of a more collaborative effort to assist asylum seekers.

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We look forward to having federal and state leaders join us in addressing this situation.

Fletcher and Cox are members of the San Diego County Board of Supervisors. Fletcher, a Democrat, was elected to the board in November. Cox, a Republican, joined the board in 1995.
Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, commonly referred to by his initials (AMLO), won a landslide election in July 2018 and took office in December as the countrys first president from the independent left. Over the past few months, Lopez Obrador has been constructing his new government, and recently put forward an ambitious policy agenda to help grow Mexicos economy.

After decades of free trade and increased economic integration with the United States, Lopez Obradors pro-market critics have openly worried that he would bring a return to the heavy-handed statist policies and fiery economic nationalism that characterized Mexican political economy for the better part of the mid-20th century.

Related: How Mexicos border plan aims to spur investment, economic growth

Related: Why economic border plan could be costly for Mexico

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However, AMLOs new economic agenda appears to offer a little something for everyone. To encourage domestic and foreign private sector investment and help create jobs, his new government plans to cut individual and corporate income taxes from 30 to 20 percent  and cut value-added taxes on imports from 16 to 8 percent in the six states along the northern border. By doing so, AMLO hopes to boost cross-border commerce, production and trade. At the same time, to help address the higher-than-average costs of living for Mexican border residents, Lopez Obrador has also promised to boost the minimum wage and peg fuel costs to prices on the U.S. side.

Combined, this set of policies is being described as a new free zone for northern Mexico, one of Mexicos most important engines of economic growth. This is an idea that has roots as far back as the mid-19th century, when the ideas of economic liberals like Adam Smith and David Ricard were taking hold around the world. During that era, duty-free zones were established in AMLOs home state of Tamaulipas and along Mexicos southern border starting in the 1850s.

Similar free zones were introduced in the then-territory Baja California beginning in the 1930s, with experimental free perimeters in Tijuana and Ensenada for importing duty-free foreign goods. Given the relative isolation of the Baja California peninsula from the mainland-Mexican economy, the practice was almost a necessity to facilitate industry and commerce.

The practice was gradually extended to the entire state of Baja California, Baja California Sur and much of the rest of Mexicos northern border region. During the 1960s, the policy helped ensure that migrant workers or braceros returning from the United States could find jobs near the border without disrupting communities in the Mexican interior, and also laid the groundwork for a thriving in-bond assembly or maquiladora sector. The policy was finally discontinued in the early 1990s, when free trade became the norm throughout the country with the adoption of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA).

Since NAFTA, U.S. and Mexican free traders have promoted general economic openness and greater cross-border integration as a way to facilitate trade and economic growth on both sides. Today, the United States and Mexico now regularly exchange over half a trillion dollars in cross-border trade, with as much as 40 percent of content involving production sharing among companies on either side of the border.

In this sense, Lopez Obrador understands something that Donald Trump does not. The U.S.-Mexican border is an asset, not a liability. Investing in the border region offers real potential not only for Mexico to improve living standards and promote economic growth, but for U.S. companies, workers, and consumers to benefit from the dramatic increases in production sharing that have made the two countries increasingly interdependent over the last quarter century.

The downside of Mr. Lopez Obradors economic plan is that other parts of Mexico may lose out as Mexican businesses and workers flock to the border to take advantage of newfound economic incentives. At the same time, firms along the border may wind up paying more but demanding greater productivity (and tougher working conditions) as they try to squeeze more from individual workers to balance out the costs. From a fiscal standpoint, AMLO has yet to clarify how the federal government will make up lost tax revenue while simultaneously subsidizing fuel costs in the border region.

Still, Mexicos new president deserves credit for viewing the border as an opportunity, and for trying to build bridges, not walls.

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Shirk is a professor of political science and international relations at the University of San Diego.
Sometimes it feels as though the Russia investigation led by special counsel Robert S. Mueller III has been one bombshell after another. Hes successfully prosecuted some of President Trumps closest aides and provided a detailed blueprint of Moscows attempts to interfere in U.S. politics.

But theres still a lot we dont know about the investigation, and some of the biggest questions of the case remain unanswered. Heres where major issues in the case stand and what were still waiting to learn.

What exactly was Moscow doing during the 2016 campaign?

This story line is the clearest part of Muellers investigation at this point since his team has used indictments to outline in detail a two-pronged effort by Russia to interfere with the U.S. election and boost Trumps candidacy.

The first involved the Internet Research Agency, a so-called troll farm based in St. Petersburg, Russia, that spread misinformation on social media.

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The second utilized officers of the GRU, Russias military intelligence agency. They hacked Democratic Party emails and, posing as a Romanian hacker, provided them to WikiLeaks. The messages were released at several points during the campaign, starting shortly before the Democratic National Convention and continuing into the final weeks before the election, dominating news coverage at key moments.

Was there a connection between WikiLeaks and Trump?

Its clear that Trump was eager to capitalize on WikiLeaks during the campaign, even though considerable evidence existed at the time that the emails being released by the organization had been hacked by Russian operatives. Whether a more conspiratorial connection existed is an open question.

Most attention has centered on Roger Stone, a longtime advisor to Trump, who may have tried to contact WikiLeaks. According to a draft court filing prepared by Muellers office, Stone asked Jerome Corsi, a right-wing writer, to reach out to the organization.

The filing does not say whether that effort was successful, and Corsi and Stone have denied any wrongdoing. But Mueller appears to have been building a criminal case involving WikiLeaks, including grand jury testimony from Stones associates.

Paul Manafort, President Trumps former campaign chairman, arrives for a hearing at federal court in Washington last year. (Mandel Ngan / AFP/Getty Images)

What was Paul Manafort trying to do?

An important and unexpected revelation became public a few days ago when defense lawyers for Manafort, Trumps former campaign chairman, inadvertently disclosed that prosecutors believed he provided polling data to a Russian colleague in Ukraine. The colleague, Konstantin Kilimnik, has been accused of having ties to Russian intelligence.

Manafort, who was convicted last year of bank fraud and tax evasion involving his work as an overseas political consultant, has denied any wrongdoing related to the election. But we know prosecutors began investigating him because they suspected he might have served as a back channel to Russia during the campaign. And we know Manafort was working for Trump for free at a time when Manafort was deeply in debt.

Did the polling data find their way into the hands of Russian military intelligence or the Internet Research Agency? And was that Manaforts intention in providing the information to Kilimnik? He hasnt explained his actions.

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What else is Rick Gates telling prosecutors?

Gates worked for Manafort in Ukraine and later served as his deputy on Trumps campaign. He testified against Manafort during his trial last year, providing the jury with detailed information on a scheme to avoid taxes and obtain fraudulent mortgages. But prosecutors havent moved forward with sentencing Gates, who pleaded guilty to lying and conspiracy. That suggests Gates cooperation with the investigation hasnt ended.

Its unclear what hes been telling the special counsels office, but Gates could shed light on a variety of issues. Not only did he serve at top levels of Trumps campaign, but he also worked for Trumps inaugural committee, which is reportedly under investigation as well.

Could the Trump Tower meeting lead to charges?

One of the most infamous episodes to come to light during the investigation was a meeting at Trump Tower in New York a few weeks before the Republican convention. It involved top campaign officials and a Russian lawyer who had promised to provide damaging information about Hillary Clinton. Before accepting the meeting, Donald Trump Jr. was told by an intermediary that the offer was backed by the Russian government.

I love it, he responded.

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But the encounter has not been referred to in any of the court filings from Muellers office, and no one has been charged in connection with it. (The Russian lawyer has been charged with obstruction in a separate investigation involving money laundering.)

Among the investigations unanswered questions: Will Mueller determine that any laws were broken with that meeting? And will he confirm that the meeting actually represented a quasi-official outreach by the Russian government?

Michael Cohen, former personal lawyer to President Trump, leaves federal court in Manhattan in August. (Mary Altaffer / Associated Press)

What about that plan for a Trump Tower in Moscow?

Michael Cohen, Trumps longtime lawyer and fixer, pleaded guilty to lying to Congress about his pursuit of a Moscow real estate deal that had been a goal of Trumps for decades. He admitted to speaking with a Russian government office about the proposal, which he previously had denied, and downplayed how often he discussed the initiative with Trump or his family. Cohen had claimed the idea was abandoned before the Iowa caucuses in January 2016, when it actually remained in the works until after Trump secured the Republican nomination.

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The disclosure shed new light on Trumps push for closer relations with Moscow while he was a presidential candidate  his personal business would have benefited. But its unclear how the proposal might factor into other questions involving the election: Did Russians wield some kind of financial leverage over Trump? Was the project discussed in conjunction with Moscows support for Trumps candidacy?

Did anyone else lie to Congress?

Cohens guilty plea could be an ominous sign for others who have testified on Capitol Hill. Democrats say they believe some people who appeared before the House Intelligence Committee werent honest with lawmakers, and they want to provide the full transcripts to Mueller. Since the special counsel has already proved willing to press charges when people lie to Congress, more charges could be on the way if prosecutors decide there are additional crimes.

President Trump speaks to reporters after leaving the White House on Thursday. (Jacquelyn Martin / Associated Press)

Did the president obstruct justice?

We know that Mueller has been examining whether Trump obstructed justice by trying to influence the outcome of the Russia investigation. So far that review hasnt produced any criminal charges or public statements from the special counsel implicating the president.

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This part of the investigation could end up being one of the most serious threats to Trumps presidency. Obstruction was one of the charges against President Clinton when he was impeached. President Nixon was expected to face the same charge before he resigned, avoiding impeachment.

Some of the key episodes that could factor into an obstruction case are already public knowledge, most notably Trumps decision to fire James B. Comey as FBI director and his subsequent explanation that this Russia thing was on his mind at the time.

White House lawyers argue that a president cant be accused of obstruction for acts that fall within his constitutional powers, including firing senior officials.

chris.megerian@latimes.com

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Twitter: @chrismegerian
President Trump saluted a Blackhawk helicopter hovering over the Rio Grande on Thursday, seeking to highlight the need for $5.7 billion for his trademark border wall to stop what he calls an invasion.

Next to the president stood a Customs and Border Protection officer and a Border Patrol agent. Both were working unpaid during the partial government shutdown, which on Friday tied the record for the longest in U.S. history.

Among the roughly 800,000 federal employees whove gone without pay in the three weeks since the shutdown began are tens of thousands of Border Patrol agents, Customs and Border Protection officers, immigration judges and Coast Guard crews  the workers on the front lines of the border security problems that the White House and Congress have been fighting over.

That irony is not lost on workers such as Terence Shigg, a Border Patrol agent at a checkpoint in San Clemente. Shigg took on a second job as a private contractor years ago, learning from his mothers experience raising four kids on her own on a federal salary.

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One thing Ive learned working for the federal government is always have a backup plan, Shigg said. He supports more miles of fencing on the border along with other resources, he says, but I am not in favor of a shutdown.

That one paycheck is a big deal, he said. Its not something that you just can lightly dismiss.

The president insists he has federal workers support for doubling down on the shutdown, saying they will make adjustments.

I appreciate their service to the country, theyre incredible people, but many of them agree with what Im saying, he said Friday after a White House session on border security.

But as government employees grapple with growing financial stress, pressure is mounting to resolve the impasse. Two unions have filed suit against the Trump administration so far, including the one that represents Customs and Border Protection officers.

Vice President Mike Pence told Customs and Border Protection personnel in a Friday afternoon meeting to focus on the mission.

I want to assure you that were going to figure this thing out, he said.

On Friday, however, there were few signs of that happening. Members of Congress left Washington for the weekend after passing a measure to ensure that federal workers will get backpay once the shutdown ends. No new negotiations to end the standoff have been scheduled.

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Humanitarian Crisis at our Southern Border. I just got back and it is a far worse situation than almost anyone would understand, an invasion! I have been there numerous times - The Democrats, Cryin Chuck and Nancy dont know how bad and dangerous it is for our ENTIRE COUNTRY....  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 11, 2019

In a tweet Friday, Trump repeated his call for a border wall. The Democrats, Cryin Chuck and Nancy dont know how bad and dangerous it is for our ENTIRE COUNTRY. he said. He continued in a subsequent tweet, The Steel Barrier, or Wall, should have been built by previous administrations long ago. They never got it done - I will. Without it, our Country cannot be safe. Criminals, Gangs, Human Traffickers, Drugs & so much other big trouble can easily pour in. It can be stopped cold!

In fact, previous administrations have built hundreds of miles of fencing along the border. When Trump took office, about one third of the border, 654 miles, was fenced. No additional mileage has been added during his tenure, although some existing fences have been upgraded.

Democratic lawmakers have approved $1.3 billion for border security in the current fiscal year; Trump initially asked for $1.6 billion, before insisting that $5.7 billion was the minimum he would accept.

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Overall, roughly 420,000 government employees are working unpaid with the equivalent of a federal IOU. In addition, nearly 350,000 are furloughed at home.

A significant number of them are workers who have supported Trump in the past, especially Border Patrol agents. In his campaign, Trump was endorsed by the unions that represent agents and Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers. On Jan. 3, he abruptly displaced a public briefing by Kevin McAleenan, commissioner of Customs and Border Protection, the Border Patrols parent agency, in order to bring several leaders of the border agents union, the National Border Patrol Council, to speak at the White House in support of a wall.

Josh Wilson, a Border Patrol agent stationed in east San Diego and spokesman for the council, which represents about 1,900 agents in the city, said its members continue to like Trump.

The agents are certainly not happy about the prospect of missing paychecks, mortgages, car payments, childcare, everything else we have to pay for along the way, Wilson said. But we are glad to finally have a presidential administration willing to take border security seriously  the wall is not a be-all-end-all, but its a necessary component.

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But Carlos Favela, a spokesman for the Border Patrol agents union in El Paso, said the shutdown has had a negative effect on their work. The Border Patrol, whose members are among the lowest paid in federal law enforcement, already had trouble retaining agents before the shutdown, he said. Many parts of the operation are understaffed.

Our agents are being stretched thin, he said.

Tony Reardon, president of the National Treasury Employees Union, which represents roughly 30,000 Customs and Border Protection officers, is suing the administration over the shutdown on behalf of several officers stationed at the southern border, arguing the work-without-pay order violates labor law. Customs and Border Protection personnel work in 328 ports of entry along the border, as well as airports and seaports overseas to process people seeking to enter the United States and facilitate trade.

Federal employees dont go to work wearing red and blue; they go to work wearing red, white and blue, Reardon said in an interview. So leave us out of the politics, is what they say. And get us our paychecks. 

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Nearly 45,000 Coast Guard military and civilian personnel charged with intercepting migrants and drugs are also working without pay. In 2018, the Coast Guard intercepted more than 1,500 migrants and interdicted more than 200,000 kilograms of cocaine, according to spokesman Barry Lane.

A one-time action allowed Coast Guard personnel to be paid Dec. 31, but more than 55,000 Coast Guard active-duty, reserve and civilian employees will not receive their pay and benefits Jan. 15, Lane said.

The shutdown is also being felt far beyond the border, in federal courts and by immigration judges already drowning under a backlog of nearly 810,000 pending immigration cases. All of the Justice Departments roughly 400 immigration judges have been furloughed. The Executive Office for Immigration Review said that while hearings will proceed for immigrants currently held in detention, all other hearings will be rescheduled, exacerbating wait times that currently stand at an average of 718 days.

Many of these cases are scheduled years in advance  its not like you can magically roll over cases, said Ashley Tabaddor, president of the National Assn. of Immigration Judges. That means most likely, theyll fall to the back of the line.

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Asked for comment, a Justice Department spokespersons email account responded automatically: The appropriation that funds my salary has lapsed, and as a result I have been furloughed and am currently out of the office, the message said. I will respond after funding has been restored. Thank you.

Times staff writer Molly Hennessy-Fiske in McAllen, Texas, contributed to this report.

molly.otoole@latimes.com

Twitter: @mollymotoole
Lewis L. Judd, a pioneering UC San Diego psychiatrist who became the nations top mental health official and helped convince the government to invest in the study of brain biology as a way of figuring out how to treat diseases like depression, died on Dec. 16 in San Diego. He was 88.

Judd, who served as chair of the universitys psychiatry department for 36 years, passed away from natural causes, said his wife, Patricia Judd, a UC San Diego psychiatry professor.

The late Judd was a forceful advocate for pushing psychiatry beyond its decidedly charismatic, but often controversial, past to its empirical present as a data-driven, hard-charging neuroscience, said David Brenner, the universitys vice chancellor for health sciences.

He was an early and vocal leader of the idea that mental disorders, such as depression, were the result of neurological and biological dysfunction, and argued that they could be effectively treated with appropriate, rigorously developed psycho-pharmaceuticals.

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Judds viewpoint represented a break with the days when psychiatrists focused on psychoanalysis as a way treating mental health issues rather than examining what might be wrong biologically, UC San Diego said in a remembrance of his career and life.

The university pointed to a moment in 1988 when Judd told Parade magazine that depression is a real disease, just as a heart attack is real. Depression produces physical, emotional and thinking symptoms. Without treatment, depression can last for years and can even end in suicide.

At the time, many people considered depression to be an act that could be vanquished by will power.

Judd was born in Los Angeles on Feb. 10, 1930. His father was an obstetrician-gynecologist, and his mother was a homemaker.

The young Judd earned his medical degree at UCLA in 1958, went on to service in the military, then joined the UCLA psychiatry faculty. He stayed there until 1970, when researcher Arnold J. Mandell persuaded him to join the faculty of UC San Diegos one-year old psychiatry department.

They became great friends, Patricia Judd said. There was real synergy.

Lewis Judd prided himself on seeing the department of psychiatry as a family, said Igor Grant, the departments current chairman.

In keeping with that he knew all the faculty by name, and tried to also to be familiar with their families. He was a caring mentor to junior faculty and prided himself of their successes. And in his family life he was a caring, loving father and grandfather. It is uncommon in deed that such qualities of leadership and humanity are combined in one person. We miss him for all these many attributes.

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Judds wife says her husband was also Renaissance man, with interests ranging from gourmet cooking to fine wine to running to music to the tragi-comedy that was the former San Diego Chargers.

But the department was the center of Judds life  except from 1987-90, when he served as director of the National Institute of Mental Health, where he expanded many programs, including efforts to understand schizophrenia and mental disorders in children and adolescents.

He returned to UC San Diego after leaving NIMH, and resumed serving as chair, a position he held until he stepped down in 2013.

At the time, he told an interviewer, The thing Im most proud of is how psychiatry is becoming increasingly recognized as a real biomedical science. It used to be disdained. A broken mind wasnt as real as a broken bone.

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We lionized physical medicine, but dismissed brain biology, which has an enormous affect upon not just our behavior, but our bodies as well.

The university said in a statement that Judd is survived by his wife, Patricia, daughters Stephanie Judd, a clinical psychologist; Catherine Judd, a professor of English literature; and Allison Fee, an occupational therapist; sons-in- law Cliff Greenblatt and Frank Fee; and grandchildren Helena, Henry, Spencer, Miles and Jack.

Campus officials also said the Lewis L. Judd Recognition Fund has been established to explore mental disorders:. https://go.ucsd.edu/2QIhc0a

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Amid a 21-day government shutdown, Rep. Scott Peters, D-San Diego, delivered the Democrats Weekly Address Friday afternoon expressing his support for border security and strongly criticizing President Donald Trumps demand for an extended border wall.

He called on the president and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell to reopen the government while both sides discuss other border security measures.

When President Trump says Democrats are against border security and for open borders, hes lying, Peters said in the five-minute video. We do not support a multi-billion dollar wall that will destroy sensitive lands, take private property and can be tunneled under, climbed over or cut through, all while illegal border crossings have steadily declined over the past two decades.

No, thats not border security. Thats borderline crazy, he continued.

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Peters pointed to bipartisan legislation proposed last session that would have directed Homeland Security to conduct a mile-by-mile assessment of the entire southern border, then propose a strategy to Congress for each section of the border. He said that this strategy could have been state-of-the-art technologies to detect tunnels, cameras mounted on drones, sensors, radar and even physical barriers in some places if Homeland Security could justify the cost.

Republican House leadership never brought that legislation  supported by 193 Democrats and 23 Republicans  to the floor for a vote.

Peters also further channeled his own direct experience as a border representative, highlighting the bipartisan effort from San Diegos delegation several years ago that led to investment in modernizing the San Ysidro Port of Entry  a measure he said helped the regions economic activity and safety.

Our nations investments in Ports of Entry support a thriving international economy...They also provide critical border security, Peters said while praising the work customs agents do inspecting vehicles and bags, verifying identification and visas and screening people before they enter the U.S. Agents at our ports everyday arrest criminals, seize narcotics and guns and deny admission to people they identify as a threat to national security.

Thats what real border security looks like, and I can tell you that San Diegans want that border security. But we do not want a wall, he continued.

Peters claimed the president wasted millions of taxpayer dollars by sending troops to the border as a political stunt and worsened the challenges for asylum-seeking families by ending a policy of assisting them in connecting to their sponsors in the U.S.

There is a humanitarian crisis created by him And there is a crisis, when a government shutdown means that 800,000 federal workers are denied a paycheck this week, and now cant pay their mortgage or rent, student loans, or medical expenses, hurting their credit rating because our President wont budge on his impossible wall, Peters said. Mr. President, Senator McConnell, Democrats have laid out for you several border security measures we can all get behind Lets re-open the government and talk about these ideas and quit holding the paychecks of 800,000 federal workers hostage to a wall that is never going to get built.

In recent history it is common practice for each party to have a prominent party figure deliver their own weekly address while their party is not in control of the presidency. Traditionally, this was delivered in response to a presidents weekly address  a practice started regularly by Ronald Reagan but halted all together by Trump in June.

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Democrats have however continued the practice and this weeks address  occurring amid ever-growing concern around the government shutdown over Trumps demand for border wall funding  saw party leaders tap Peters to offer his perspective.

Peters was comfortably re-elected in November to a fourth-term representing Californias 52nd Congressional District, which encompasses parts of coastal and central San Diego including downtown, La Jolla, Point Loma, Coronado and Poway. The district is the most evenly split of San Diegos congressional districts in terms of registration numbers with 122,879 registered Republicans and 149,141 registered Democrats as of the end of December.
New policies adopted Friday by San Diegos pension board accelerate paying off the citys $2.76 billion pension debt and rein in a controversial policy that has allowed the city to significantly delay paying off increases in the debt.

The changes follow moves by the board in 2016 and 2017 to more accurately project the citys pension debt by adjusting life expectancy assumptions for pension-eligible employees and making the pension systems projected investment returns less optimistic.

The new policies are all part of a comprehensive effort to avoid repeating the pension underfunding schemes from the early 2000s that earned San Diego the nickname Enron by the Sea.

The board voted unanimously on Friday to set a minimum annual pension payment for the city of about $350 million until the debt shrinks to zero, a significant departure from previous plans to let the annual payment drop to $250 million in 2029.

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The more aggressive approach seeks to reduce the debt to zero by 2037, 11 years earlier than projected under the previous plan.

The boards actuary will still calculate each year what the citys payment should be based on a variety of factors.

If the number is above the floor of about $350 million, the city will pay that amount. But if the number is below the floor, the city still must pay the minimum contribution set by the board on Friday.

Given the new approach, the city will have more predictable annual pension payments, which will make it easier to craft an annual budget and negotiate contract extensions with labor unions.

It gives the city a set payment they know theyre going to be making every year, board member Bill Haynor said during the boards Friday morning meeting in downtown San Diego.

While future pension boards have the discretion to veer from the new policy and revert to a less aggressive approach, board members said such a move would likely face harsh criticism.

It would shine a light on some very bad policy, board president Valentine Hoy told his colleagues.

The board also voted unanimously on Friday to prohibit softening the impact of increases in the debt caused by changes in long-term projections, such as how well the stock market will perform in coming years or how long retirees will live.

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Lower investment returns hike pension debt because the greater the return on pension system investments, the less taxpayer money the city needs to spend in the long haul covering pension payments to retired employees.

The city has previously been allowed to spread the impact of higher employee longevity or lower investment returns over 30 years, but the board voted on Friday to shrink that to 20 years in all future instances.

The change brings the city in line with best practices throughout the state for delaying such impacts, which is called smoothing. Officials said most pension systems in California use 20 years, and that only four systems use 30 years.

Multiple organizations made up of actuaries and government finance officials also recommend 20 years as the maximum length for smoothing efforts.

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Critics have blamed the citys use of 30-year smoothing for San Diegos previous pension problems, contending it has allowed city officials to falsely contend that they are adequately funding the system when they are not.

Officials said the new approach also boosts the pension systems intergenerational equity because employees working for the city when new debts are incurred will now be more likely to still be with the city when those debts are being paid off.

The board, however, rejected on Friday a proposal to get even more aggressive by retroactively amending some previous debt smoothing efforts.

The proposal would have required all ongoing smoothing efforts to conclude by 2038, and any subsequent smoothing efforts would also have needed to conclude by that date.

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Pension system officials said the policy had the potential to create high volatility in the citys annual pension payments.

Board members said that despite the appeal of saying the debt will be gone in 20 years, they are reluctant to tie any policies to a specific target date, such as 2038, because there is so much uncertainty in the economic factors affecting pensions.

They also said a future board would likely veer from the proposed new policy if it forced an extreme spike in the citys pension payment, which would be likely if there is a significant economic recession before 2038.

An economic recession wouldnt affect the new policy setting a minimum annual pension payment, because a recession would push the citys payment higher than the minimum, making the policy a non-factor.

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The citys projected pension debt has increased from $1.2 billion to nearly $2.8 billion since 2007.

Because of that increase and other factors, the citys annual pension payment is projected to range from $337 million to $355 million over the next 10 years, about $100 million more than usual.

The first spike was the stock market crash of 2008 and 2009, which accounts for $754 million of the increase in pension debt  formally called unfunded actuarial liability.

The second spike was a new demographic study in 2016 showing that city employees with pensions are projected to live longer than expected, which accounts for $568 million.

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The third spike was two recent decisions to lower the citys investment return projections based on long-term concerns about stock market performance, which accounts for $549 million.

The city lowered the expected investment return rate from 7 percent to 6.75 percent, and then to 6.5 percent, the lowest in the entire state.

While such increases in debt could be characterized as bad news, officials have said its a positive thing to have a more accurate and realistic projection of what long-term financial challenges the city faces.

The new policies come as the city waits for a state appeals court to determine how to deal with a state Supreme Court ruling in August that pension cuts approved by city voters in 2012 were not legally placed on the ballot.

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The ballot measure replaced guaranteed pensions with 401(k)-style retirement plans for all new hires except police officers, but the court could force the city to allow those employees into its pension plan.

The new policy adopted Friday that sets a minimum pension payment actually only sets a minimum for the part of the payment earmarked for pension debt.

For example, the citys pension payment this budget year is $350.5 million, which includes $275.5 million to pay off debt and $75 million to cover the normal costs of providing benefits to eligible retirees.

The new policy mandates that the $275.5 million number not decrease until the debt is paid off. That means the overall payment mandated by the new policy will be about $350 million each year, because the normal costs typically remain similar from year to year.

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david.garrick@sduniontribune.com (619) 269-8906 Twitter:@UTDavidGarrick
The superbug that infected nearly a dozen Americans who recently underwent weight-loss surgery at a Tijuana hospital had a particularly nasty genetic mutation that set off alarm bells after patients began showing up in hospitals and doctors offices with painful wounds.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued a travel warning this week, notifying the public that 11 Americans who traveled to Tijuana hospitals for weight-loss surgery had become infected with drug-resistant pseudomonas aeruginosa infections during their stays.

Dr. David Cal Ham, a CDC medical officer, said Friday that the particular strain of pseudomonas bacteria involved in 11 confirmed cases had metallo-beta lactamase genes. Often called VIM by the epidemiological community, Ham explained that these genes cause the microbes that carry them to excrete enzymes that destroy carbapenems, a workhorse class of antibiotics with some of the broadest efficacy in medicine.

The pseudomonas strains that caused the Tijuana outbreak were already drug resistant, Ham said. Picking up carbapenem-fighting chops made an already serious threat more deadly.

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VIM makes this more concerning than your run-of-the-mill, drug-resistant pseudomonas, Ham said.

One patient with an outbreak-linked infection has died, the physician said, though its impossible to say that it was just pseudomonas that caused that outcome.

The patient who died did have a number of other underlying medical conditions, so we cant say for sure if this infection was the primary cause of death, Ham said.

Though six of the cases underwent bariatric surgeries at Grand View Hospital just south of the U.S. Mexico border, Ham said that so far not a single sickened patient was a California resident. Infected medical tourists came from seven states: Arkansas, Arizona, Oregon, Utah, Texas, Washington and West Virginia.

Some of the patients, Ham said, have received treatment with other antibiotics and have seen their infections subside while others are still in hospitals suffering as doctors work down a dwindling list of available options.

There are still active infections, unfortunately, Ham said. Several of the isolates involved are susceptible only to a couple of, I would say, less-than-optimal antibiotics that have significant side effect profiles.

Patients involved in the outbreak underwent surgeries from August through November with one case subsequently identified in 2015. Two additional suspected cases, Ham said, remain under investigation.

The CDC is urging doctors across the United States to report any cases of pseudomonas so that specialized testing can determine whether VIM or a handful of other problematic mutations that confer carbapenem resistance are present.

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It was the CDCs own Antimicrobial Resistance Laboratory Network that first sounded the alarm in the Tijuana outbreak. Pseudomonas samples are routinely sent to network-affiliated hospitals for analysis, and thats where the VIM mutation became visible. But its necessary for doctors to report positive pseudomonus tests to the network in order for it to take analysis to the necessary next level.

Pseudomonas is relatively new to the VIM party. As of Sept. 30, 2017, only 84 cases nationwide have shown the mutation, Ham said. But other types of bacteria, especially enterobacteriacae and E.coli, have shown significantly higher rates of mutation.

Infectious disease specialists seek to isolate and treat patients infected with extra carbapenem resistance as quickly as possible because the genes that confer this extra protection are stored on structures called plasmids, which can easily move between different bacteria species. The idea is to kill these critters quickly before they have a chance to share their resistance genes with other types of bacteria.

Its important that we learn about these infections as quickly as possible so that very specific control measures and containment responses can be implemented, Ham said.

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When the CDC first issued its Tijuana travel warning this week, it said that the Mexican Government temporarily closed Grand View hospital, though it was apparent that the facility was still open Thursday evening. Mexican officials issued a short written statement Friday clarifying that the hospitals surgery department, but not the entire facility, had been shut down pending an investigation.

Ham said the CDC has no access to the health records of patients involved, so it is difficult for American investigators to learn which surgical practices might have caused the infections.

So far, the CDC has said only that three other hospitals or clinics in Tijuana cared for the five patients out of 11 not cared for by Grand View. Those other hospitals were not mentioned by name in the CDCs travel warning, Ham said, because they operated on only one or two outbreak patients, and the CDC could not determine that the number of cases was significantly greater than the facilitys normal rate of pseudomonas infection.

Correction: A previous version of this story misspelled pseudomonas. We apologize.

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Health Playlist On Now Video: Why aren't Americans getting flu shots? 0:37 On Now Video: Leaders urge public to help extinguish hepatitis outbreak On Now San Diego starts cleansing sidewalks, streets to combat hepatitis A On Now Video: Scripps to shutter its hospice service On Now Video: Scripps La Jolla hospitals nab top local spot in annual hospital rankings On Now Video: Does a parent's Alzheimer's doom their children? On Now Video: Vaccine can prevent human papillomavirus, which can cause cancer 0:31 On Now 23 local doctors have already faced state discipline in 2017 0:48 On Now EpiPen recall expands On Now Kids can add years to your life

paul.sisson@sduniontribune.com

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Some of the issues that are driving Los Angeles Unified teachers to strike next week apply to San Diego Unified schools too.

Like L.A. Unified, San Diego Unified schools have fewer resources than they once did, such as support staff. More than half of San Diego Unifieds schools have a district-funded school nurse present only one day a week, according to the districts formulas that assign nurses to schools based on enrollment. San Diego Unified gives high schools one counselor for every 459 students while it gives no elementary school a counselor for more than three days a week.

But despite this, San Diego Unified doesnt have quite the same factors that are motivating teachers to strike in Los Angeles. Perhaps more than anything else, its because San Diego Unified has a school board that has been friendly to unions, for better or worse.

On Friday, leaders from the teachers unions for San Diego Unified, Chula Vista Elementary and Sweetwater Union High School Districts announced their support for the L.A. Unified teachers union, United Teachers Los Angeles. The organization of more than 35,000 teachers and other school employees is expected to launch the largest strike yet seen in a recent wave of teacher activism.

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The San Diego Education Association represents more than 7,000 educators in the San Diego Unified School District. San Diego Unified enrolled about 104,000 students last school year in district-run schools versus roughly 467,000 students in L.A. Unified-run schools.

In the unions most recent bargaining negotiations that finished in April, the union got a 2 percent pay increase for teachers for this school year and an additional 1 percent payment. San Diego Unifieds current starting teacher salary is $46,600.

The L.A. teachers are striking about issues of a lack of staff and resources, which public schools are dealing with across the country. But Kisha Borden, president of the San Diego Education Association, attributes the strike to what she says is a disconnect between L.A. Unifieds school board and superintendent and teachers.

Los Angeles and San Diegos superintendents come from different worlds. L.A. Unified Superintendent Austin Beutner was a former investment banker who had no experience running a school or school system, while San Diego Unified Superintendent Cindy Marten was a district principal and teacher with 25 years of education experience.

L.A. Unified School Board members said they chose Beutner, an outsider, because they wanted to break from the status quo.

We need new, creative solutions to tackle old, seemingly intractable problems. Austin Beutner is the right person at this time to help us forge a new path for success in a climate of financial uncertainty, pervasive achievement gaps and severe underfunding of our public schools, L.A. Unified School Board member Nick Melvoin said at the time of Beutners hiring, according to a district statement. To ensure success for our kids, adults must acknowledge that the status quo is not working, Melvoin said.

Marten, on the other hand, was a district insider. Meanwhile, all of San Diego Unifieds school board trustees have strong ties to traditional public schools or unions. Trustee Kevin Beiser is a teacher in the Sweetwater Union High School District, while Trustees Michael McQuary, Sharon Whitehurst-Payne and John Lee Evans are all former public education teachers. The fifth trustee, Richard Barrera, has been active with the United Commercial and Food Workers Union Local 135.

I just think that we have the attitude that we need to work together, said Whitehurst-Payne, who is the school board president.

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Still, Borden said the board has not always agreed with the union, adding that the union has gone to impasse with the board in its last two rounds of bargaining. The union wants smaller class sizes and more counselors, nurses and librarians for schools.

Keeping teachers unions happy with frequent pay raises and other benefits helps protect school districts against teacher strikes. But some say that catering too much to unions is driving districts like San Diego Unified into financial ruin.

They pretty much are kind of walking in lock-step with what the unions want, said Tom Keliinoi, a former Qualcomm executive who ran unsuccessfully for a spot on the school board last year. Its a very powerful internal organization in my view. When you see an automatic 2 percent increase just for showing up, its an indication that somethings wrong. They dont push back. Theyre running into a deficit.

The San Diego Unified board approved pay raises for teachers at the same time its facing declining enrollment, which means declining revenue, and increasing pension costs being handed down by the state. The district expects to have to make $37 million in cuts next school year and $73 million in cuts the following year in order to make ends meet.

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Two business professionals  Marcia Nordstrom, a real estate broker, and Keliinoi, who also sits on the board of Elevate Elementary Charter School  were the only challengers in Novembers school board election for San Diego Unified. Both ran on the idea that San Diego Unifieds board needs a change in the status quo and is lacking needed business voices, as the district faces financial problems.

If you look at the unfunded pensions, thats causing the deficit each year that they recognize but they dont have an answer for. Its creating a perfect storm that at some point, its unsustainable, Keliinoi said. Whats going to give? Salaries arent giving. Whats going on? Were not talking about that. Were praising ourselves for a 91 percent graduation rate.

Board trustees spoke of the pressure they feel to keep San Diego Unified teacher salaries competitive with those of other school districts in the county and to pay teachers enough to afford San Diegos high cost of living.

Obviously we want to get the best teachers, weve been more competitive lately in terms of that, Trustee Evans said. But we certainly havent been overly generous and the unions have certainly not gotten anywhere near what they want.

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Whitehurst-Payne said she doesnt think the board is necessarily trying to please the teachers union.

I dont think about it in terms of keeping the teachers union happy, Whitehurst-Payne said. I think about it more in terms of, this board has spelled out what its priorities are in terms of student achievement and where we want to see this district going. We recognize that the teachers are a big partner in that process.

Kristen Taketa

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Email: kristen.taketa@sduniontribune.com

Twitter: @Kristen_Taketa
They reach out through Facebook, Instagram or Snapchat. Or maybe they text. They say theyre a friend of a friend. They say youre cute. Or that you both like the same bands. Or that they hate school, too.

They keep checking in to chat. They compliment your clothes. Say you have a great body. They ask you to send them a photo. Then they ask you to send another one. Maybe a close-up of your stomach or chest this time.

At some point, they convince you to reveal your address or meet them in person. You think theyre a potential boyfriend or girlfriend. Or maybe just some harmless creeper.

You think you can handle it. And if you are a young person who has been targeted by a human trafficker, you are probably wrong.

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Kids today are technically savvy, but that doesnt mean they are savvy about the messages they are receiving, said Carla Vallone, president of the board of directors of Girls Inc. of San Diego County, the local affiliate of the national girls empowerment and education organization.

They can work all of these devices better than us, but because they are kids and they are naive, they feel they are indestructible. They think they can protect themselves from anything. But they cant. They can be easily duped.

Friday is National Trafficking Awareness Day, so here are some things San Diegans need to know. Human trafficking  where traffickers profit from the sexual exploitation and/or forced labor of its victims  is San Diego Countys second-largest underground economy after drug trafficking. San Diego is one of the FBIs top 13 highest child sex-trafficking areas, with thousands of victims a year.

Many of these victims are girls who come from the communities that Girls Inc. of San Diego County serves. Girls living in low-income households, where parents work multiple jobs and arent home much. Girls who live in high-crime areas. Girls who have immigrant or refugee status or who have families who are in the country illegally.

These are the girls who are particularly vulnerable to human traffickers. So when the national Girls Inc. organization urged its affiliates to tackle local issues, Girls Inc. of San Diego County asked their participants about the troubling issues in their lives.

What they heard was frightening. And motivating.

We quickly saw that girls were being contacted by unsavory individuals through their email or through texts or on social media, and they werent grasping what this meant or what it would lead to, Vallone said. It was clear they needed education in this area.

On Friday, Girls Inc. of San Diego County marked National Trafficking Prevention Awareness Day with the announcement it will be providing trafficking prevention training to at least 150 of the 300-plus girls it serves in its seven San Diego sites beginning in the spring.

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The trafficking prevention training will be part of Girls Inc. programs that already focus on gender violence, healthy relationships and leadership. But the information  what trafficking is, what factors make young people vulnerable, signs that you are being targeted and who to talk to if you think someone is targeting you  is important for all young people and their parents to know.

Any social media that my daughter is allowed to be on I have access to, and I regularly monitor who she is in contact with, Vallone said. I say, If you dont personally know them in real life, you are not allowed to be in contact with them on social media.

Warning signs that a child might be involved with human trafficking include chronic absenteeism, social-media or phone secrecy, the sudden appearance of expensive clothes or other items they could not have purchased for themselves or references to a mysterious new boyfriend.

Once kids have their own cell phones, parents only have a certain amount of control. Which is why prevention education is so important.

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Young men and women need to be wary of strangers who reach out to them online. They need to watch out for offers of gifts or favors. They have to guard their home address and other personal details like they are guarding Fort Knox.

They need to know people arent always who they say they are online, Vallone said. They arent always the age they say they are. They need to know that flattery and over-emphasis on looks and pictures and things arent always genuine.

And they need to know it goes a lot deeper than creepy behavior.

If you or someone you know is a victim of human trafficking, call the National Human Trafficking Hotline at (888) 373-7888 or text BeFree. Excellent online resources are available at ProtectSanDiegoKids.org and the City of San Diego Public Librarys Sex Trafficking Awareness Program (sandiego.gov/public-library/services/sex-trafficking-awareness).

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Twitter: @karla_peterson

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karla.peterson@sduniontribune.com
A citrus worker in the Central Valley has died after a 600-pound blade from a wind machine broke loose and hit him.

The Fresno Bee says 53-year-old Richard Escobedo was fatally injured on Jan. 3 in an orchard near Visalia.

Wind machines circulate warmer air to prevent orchards from freezing.

Escobedos brother, George, says he was told his sibling was shutting down the machine when it began vibrating badly and the propeller snapped off and struck him.

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Escobedo worked at Wonderful Citrus, a division of the Wonderful Co., the nations largest citrus grower. The Bee says the company was cited for two accidents in 2016.

Wonderful says its investigating the accident and will take any steps necessary to prevent a recurrence.

State regulators also are investigating.
A long-awaited effort to relocate Vistas oldest fire station is still in the works, officials with the Vista Fire Protection District said this week.

The Vista Fire Protection District is a special district that oversees fire services for 19 square miles of county land located outside city boundaries.

Vistas Fire Station 3, on Old Taylor Street and East Vista Way, was built in 1963 and remodeled in 1996, said Fire Chief Jeff Hahn. Despite those upgrades more than 20 years ago, the structure is too small for modern equipment, and the location poses traffic problems.

It has definitely exceeded its 50-year life expectancy, Hahn said. The hangar, where we park the apparatus, we were unable to expand to make that bigger. Weve got to the point now where were having to buy special fire trucks to fit the building, because of the height and width of the doors.

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In addition, he said, fire trucks exit Taylor Street to an uncontrolled intersection on East Vista Way, where poor visibility delays emergency responses.

Its a slow egress to get out safely, he said. It really slows down the response on each call... to get control of that intersection and get going.

Hahn said a newer station would include signalization to automatically clear the way for fire engines to exit, potentially shaving 15 to 30 seconds off average response times.

Councilman John Franklin said while the site isnt ideal, he doesnt think there is an immediate need to replace it.

The response times to the City and District are still within our approved standards; however, it would be great to be able to improve upon them, he said.

Fire officials have sought to relocate the station to a larger space with better street access, and identified a corridor of East Vista Way as their desired location. Finding the right site, however, has been a slow process.

Some (properties) are not for sale, some are part of larger development plans, some look attractive but are not suitable because of sewer hookups or such, said Fire District Board member James Elliott.

Elliott said he and board member Jerry Hill plan to meet with Vista City Manager Patrick Johnson this month to discuss possible locations for the station, and hope to identify more options at that time.

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A new station is expected to cost between $7 million and $8 million, Franklin said. The fire protection district will fund construction through its general fund, while the city will pay to maintain and operate it.

Franklin said city and fire officials should be more flexible in their requirements for the site in order to move the project along.

I think weve been in search of the perfect for far too long, and we should be in search of the good, Franklin said. When were ready to do this, well make progress.

The board also reviewed fire prevention activities within the district at this weeks meeting. Fire Inspector Mike McFadden said that in December, fire officials inspected 823 parcels for brush clearance and fire safety, issued 11 hazardous fire area inspection reports, and conducted four face-to-face meetings in the field with residents.

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He also told the board that the emergency evacuation routes which provide exit routes out of brushy areas of the city have been inspected and are in good shape in case theyre needed during potential wildfires.

The evacuation routes are typically gravel roads that have been built over the past 15 years in brushy, rural areas of the city that dont have two-way access, Hahn said. The city maintains them in event of an emergency, and reports on their condition.

Every month, we have an inspector go out and check for brush, vegetation, rain, or stuff that needs maintenance, he said.

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deborah.brennan@sduniontribune.com Twitter@deborahsbrennan
In 2011, Apple began talks with Qualcomm about using the San Diego companys chips in iPhones for the first time.

But there was a catch, said Qualcomm Chief Executive Steve Mollenkopf in testimony Friday in federal court in San Jose.

Apple proposed switching from Infineon Technologies  which had supplied iPhones since 2007  to Qualcomm cellular modem chips for the next three years, but they wanted us to pay them $1 billion to get that opportunity, said Mollenkopf.

The U.S. Federal Trade Commission has accused Qualcomm of violating anti-monopoly laws  in part by entering into de facto exclusive supply deals with Apple that froze out Intel and other competitors.

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Mollenkopfs testimony before U.S. District Judge Lucy Koh attempted to give Qualcomms perspective on these supply deals that the FTC and Apple have called out as anti-competitive.

Mollenkopf said Qualcomm wanted to make sure that if it agreed to pay what Apple wanted, it would receive enough chip orders to make money.

But Apple refused to provide a volume guarantee. So the companies came to an agreement where Apple would receive the incentive payment, but only if it used Qualcomm cellular modem chips. If Apple added a second supplier, the incentive payment would be revoked.

There was a lot of negotiations and essentially we got to an agreement, said Mollenkopf. It worked out for both parties.

Testimony continued near the half-way point of the 10-day trial, with the FTC continuing to make its case that Qualcomms business practices violate anti-trust laws.

There is a lot at stake. The FTCs case strikes at the heart of Qualcomms unusual business model of licensing its huge portfolio of cellular patents and selling smartphone chips as separate products.

The agency has called a steady stream of Qualcomm customers  ranging from Samsung to Lenovo to Motorola to Apple  that contend that Qualcomm threatened to cut off supply of its top-tier 4G and 3G CDMA chips during patent license negotiations.

Because they need the chips to launch high-end devices, smartphone makers dont negotiate as hard as they otherwise would to reduce Qualcomms high patent licensing rates, according to the FTC.

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Qualcomm collects patent royalties based on the wholesale price of smartphones  with rates running from 3.25 percent to 5 percent of the device costs up to a cap of $400.

Since the FTC is presenting its evidence, much of the testimony supports its allegations, including from tech heavyweights Intel and Apple.

Tony Blevins, Apples vice president of procurement, testified that the two companies entered into a second supply deal in 2013 where Apple would receive rebates if it bought all of its chips from Qualcomm.

Apple was free to add a second supplier, but it would no longer receive the rebates, said Blevins.

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They made it very unattractive for us to choose a different chipset supplier, said Blevins. I wont mention any numbers but these rebates were very, very large.

Mollenkopf said the 2013 agreement was similar to the 2011 deal.

Judge Koh questioned Qualcomm lawyers about whether the $1 billion figure was public information or confidential. Qualcomms outside lawyer Bob Van Nest said he believed the amount had not been sealed.

Blevins said the agreement led Apple to scrap plans to use Intel cellular modem chips in an iPad Mini tablet model that was launching in 2014.

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On cross examination by Qualcomm lawyers, Blevins said Apple decided to add Intel as a second chip supplier for certain iPhones anyway in 2016 -- before its agreement with Qualcomm expired.

Apple sued Qualcomm over its business practices in January 2017. Apple ditched Qualcomm as a supplier for all new 2018 iPhones and now uses modem chips solely from Intel.

Blevins said Apple wanted to negotiate a chip supply deal with Qualcomm, but the relationship soured after it filed its lawsuit.

At the time we made this challenge, they were no longer willing to sell us chips, he said. We were right back to no license, no chips.

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But Blevins conceded that Qualcomm continues to supply modem chips for older model iPhones today  despite the fierce legal battle.

Aicha Evans, Intels chief strategy officer, said supplying a chip to the iPad Mini in 2014 would have helped the company break into the market and pave the way for supplying iPhones. Not getting the deal was a significant setback, she said.

Asked if she respected Qualcomm, Evans said As a technology company, yes. As a business model, no. They are excellent engineers. That does not give them the right to be the only ones (by) using unfair business practices.

Mollenkopf said that he wasnt aware of Qualcomm threatening to cut off chip supply during licensing negotiations, saying the company has never stopped shipping chips to any smartphone maker during a licensing dispute.

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The trial continues next week. It is now scheduled to wrap up on Feb. 1

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mike.freeman@sduniontribune.com;

Twitter:@TechDiego

760-529-4973

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This story was updated at 6 p.m. on Saturday.
PARIS (AP)  Thousands of yellow vest protesters marched Saturday through Paris and other French cities for a ninth straight weekend to denounce President Emmanuel Macron's economic policies, and repeated tensions broke out with police.

Sporadic violence broke out during protests in Paris, Bourges, Bordeaux, Rouen, Marseille and Toulouse.

Protesters walked peacefully through central Paris from the Finance Ministry in the east of the French capital to the Arc de Triomphe in the west.

Scuffles between police and activists then broke out near the monument at the end of the march. Police used tear gas, water cannon and flash-balls to push back some people throwing rocks and other objects at them.

French security forces equipped with armored vehicles blocked protesters from going onto nearby Champs-Elysees Avenue. The neighborhood was reopened to car traffic later Saturday evening.

The Interior Ministry said more than 100 people had been arrested in Paris and other French cities, including 82 who were kept in police custody, primarily for carrying potential weapons or taking part in violence.

The movement demanding wider changes to France's economy to help struggling workers appeared to gain new momentum this weekend. The French Interior Ministry said about 32,000 people turned out for yellow vest demonstrations across France at midday.

Several thousand protesters marched in the central city of Bourges, a provincial capital with a renowned Gothic cathedral and picturesque wood-framed houses.

French authorities deployed 80,000 security forces nationwide for the anti-government protests and Interior Minister Christophe Castaner threatened tough retaliation against any who rioted.

Paris police deployed armored vehicles, horses and attack dogs around the city on Saturday. Subway stations and some shops closed, notably around government buildings and the Champs-Elysees, the sparkling avenue whose luxury boutiques have been hit by repeated rioting in past protests.

The movement for greater economic equality waned over the holidays but appears to be resurging, despite Macron's promises of billions of euros in tax relief and an upcoming "national debate" to address demonstrators' concerns that Macron is expected to launch with a "letter to the French" on Monday.

The protests started in November with drivers who opposed fuel tax increases, which is why participants wear the fluorescent vests that French motorists must keep in their vehicles. But it has mushroomed into a broad-based revolt against years of shrinking purchasing power and Macron's pro-business policies.

Some yellow vest groups hope to translate that anger into votes in the European Parliament elections in May.
Think a minute These are the names of some of the most famous lawyers in U.S. history. Only one of them dropped out of law school. See if you can guess which one?

John Jay became a successful lawyer and later the first Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, the highest judge in the land.

William Wirt was barely 20-years-old when he passed his law exams in Virginia. He later became the United States Attorney General.

Remember, one of these famous lawyers was a law school dropout.

Roger Taney started as a lawyer and worked his way up to become the first U.S. Secretary of the Treasury and then the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court.

Daniel Webster became a lawyer in Boston where he built a great legal record and reputation. He then became a highly respected Senator and was later appointed Secretary of State.

Salmon Chase became well known as a defense attorney helping slaves. Later he became a U.S. Senator and then the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court.

Abraham Lincoln, the 16th president of the United States, actually started as a lawyer, which helped prepare him for his exceptionally wise and diplomatic leadership that kept the States of America united through its terribly divisive and devastating Civil War.

Clarence Darrow became possibly the most famous lawyer of all, particularly for his case of the Scopes or so-called Monkey trial of 1925.

Of these seven successful and famous lawyers, which one do you think was the law school dropout? It was Clarence Darrow: the one name which is so often associated with the practice of law. Clarence Darrow attended law school for only one year and then dropped out to study law on his own. But what is more amazing is those other six successful lawyers could not drop out because they never even went to law school! They all studied law on their own.

Actually, for every one of us the school of life is always in session. We are designed never to stop learning our Creators laws and ways of life. In fact, the word disciple means a lifelong learner or lifetime student of Jesus, the Maker and Master of life. Once and for all, wont you ask Him to become the Maker and Master Teacher of your completely new life with Him today? Just think a minute
Seiuli Dwayne Johnson has slammed young people for looking for a reason to be offended.

The 46-year-old actor and professional wrestler has hit out at the younger generation, claiming they are ruining the hard work of people who fought for freedom and equality, by trying to find more reasons to be offended.

He said: So many good people fought for freedom and equality - but this generation are looking for a reason to be offended. If you are not agreeing with them then they are offended - and that is not what so many great men and women fought for.

The Rampage star says the world has come a long way in terms of equality and acceptance, but believes generation snowflake is doing more harm than good to the movement.

Speaking to the Daily Star newspaper, Seiuli added: We thankfully now live in a world that has progressed over the last 30 or 40 years. People can be who they want, be with who they want, and live how they want.

That can only be a good thing  but generation snowflake or, whatever you want to call them, are actually putting us backwards.

He has expressed an interest in politics in the past, and was the subject of rumours last year that he might be looking to run for president of the United States, after he was reported to have had under-the-radar meetings with experts from across the political spectrum.

The Baywatch star then said that whilst he was flattered by the rumours, he was on a mission to gain more information about politics before he made any kind of formal commitment.

He said: This is where you get me in trouble. [The meetings are] just really to understand more and to learn more ... The idea of running for president has been very flattering that a good amount of people have been wanting me to run and, honestly, its so flattering, but I feel like the most respectful thing I could do is just learn as much as I could possibly do.

Like, to become president, that is a skill set that I feel like you have to know. You have to put in the time - like years and years of service, so anyway, thats where Im at. I just want to learn as much as I possibly can.
Samoan woman Tulsi Gabbard wants to become the next President of the United States of America. She is running for the 2020 Democratic Presidential nomination, she confirmed yesterday.

I have decided to run and will be making a formal announcement within the next week, Gabbard told CNN.

There are a lot of reasons for me to make this decision. There are a lot of challenges that are facing the American people that I'm concerned about and that I want to help solve, she said, bringing up health care access, criminal justice reform and climate change as her key platform issues.

There is one main issue that is central to the rest, and that is the issue of war and peace.

Gabbard was elected to Congress in 2012 and currently serves on the House Foreign Affairs Committee.

She served in a medical unit of the Hawaii National Guard and was deployed in Kuwait and Iraq.

Her profile on her website says Tulsi Gabbard spent her life growing up in Hawaii. As a teenager, she co-founded an environmental non-profit called Healthy Hawaii Coalition, focused on educating children about protecting Hawaiis environment.

An advocate for environmental policy, Tulsi was elected to the Hawaii State Legislature in 2002 when she was just 21 years old, becoming the youngest person ever elected in the state.

A year later, she joined the Hawaii Army National Guard to serve Hawaii and our country. In 2004, Tulsi volunteered to deploy with her fellow soldiers, becoming the first state official to voluntarily step down from public office to serve in a war zone.

Tulsi served two tours of duty in the Middle East, and she continues her service as a Major in the Army National Guard. Tulsis 2005 deployment was a 12-month tour at Logistical Support Area Anaconda in Iraq, where she served in a field medical unit as a specialist with a 29th Support Battalion medical company. She was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal at the end of this tour.

In between her two tours, Tulsi served in the U.S. Senate as a legislative aide to Senator Daniel Akaka (D-HI), where she advised him on energy independence, homeland security, the environment, and veteran issues.

While working for Senator Akaka in 2007, Tulsi graduated from the Accelerated Officer Candidate School at the Alabama Military Academy, where she was the first woman to finish as the distinguished honor graduate in the Academy's 50-year history. Tulsi was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant and again assigned to the 29th Brigade Special Troops Battalion of the Hawaii Army National Guardthis time to serve as the Military Police Platoon Leader.

Tulsi continued to work for Senator Akaka until 2009, when she again voluntarily deployed with her unit to the Middle East. During this second deployment, in addition to leading her platoon on a wide variety of security missions, she also conducted non-military host-nation visits and served as a primary trainer for the Kuwait National Guard. Tulsi was one of the first women to set foot inside a Kuwait military facility and became the first woman to ever be awarded and honored by the Kuwait National Guard for her work in their training and readiness program.

In 2010, Tulsi was elected to the Honolulu City Council, serving as Chair of the Safety, Economic Development, and Government Affairs Committee and Vice Chair of the Budget Committee. In 2011, she visited Indonesia as part of a peacekeeping training with the Indonesian Army. Tulsi was elected in 2012 to the United States House of Representatives, serving Hawaiis 2nd District. She is one of the first two female combat veterans to ever serve in the U.S. Congress, and also its first Hindu member.

Now in her fourth term in Congress, Tulsi brings with her a broad range of real world experience, a storehouse of personal strength, and tested leadership as she represents the people of Hawaii and our nation in Congress.

As she works on the challenges that face our country, she remains focused on bringing her pragmatic approach to working in a collaborative, bipartisan fashion to find real solutions that best serve the people.

Tulsi serves on the House Armed Services Committee and House Foreign Affairs Committee where she is a strong advocate for veterans, our service members, and making smart strategic decisions that best secure our nation. Tulsi is working every day to make sure we have a sustainable economy that works for all families, with access to affordable health care, good jobs, and a quality education.
The Government has come under fire for the lack of consultation over the proposed Hydropower dam at Alaoa.

Since September, Papalii Malietau Malietoa, has been trying to get answers from the Electric Power Corporation (E.P.C.) around the building of the Alaoa Flood Control Multi-Purpose Dam, which is supported by the Asian Development Bank (A.D.B) through technical assistance to the project.

I believe that the consultative process for something so important that could pose a huge danger has not been adequate, Papalii said.

In fact I believe that the process thus far has more to do with building a case for a dam rather than the meaningful consultations of affected communities and parties and the importance of their voices in the process.

Plans for the dam began in 2016, and community consultations kicked off in July last year.

But it was not until later Papalii realised his family could be in danger.

It wasnt until Fiu (Mataese Elisara) wrote to the Observer about the dam we learned about it at all, he said.

Its only via our continuous emailing to the A.D.B offices in Manila and Fiji did we manage to get some answers to our questions, and yet under the A.D.B Safe Guard Policy as affected people we should be consulted.

As beneficiaries of the estate of Malietoa Laupepa, myself and family members have not had an easy time with the project team.

The land proposed for the multipurpose dam spans four million cubic metres, and allegedly encroaches on customary land, not formally registered or surveyed  so affected families may not even know about it.

Papalii said of the proposed land, at least 400 to 500 acres of Malietoa Laupepa Estate land is inside the project boundary, and includes gravesites of family members at risk of desecration if the dam goes ahead.

The major concern is the size of the dam, and the amount of water it will contain. According to a response by Civil Society leader Fiu Mataese Elisara, when compared to the hydro project at Afulilo, Alaoa presents a daily safety concern.

This Alaoa initiative is a relatively massive undertaking with the proposed hydro dam constructed in a much lesser area, more confined space, and with immense water pressure that need to be safely contained in a dam structure, Fiu said.

At least the 600 acres of land area taken up by the Afulilo hydro project is expansive enough for water to be distributed rather safely throughout, he said.

How to safely manage the immense pressure of damming four million cubic meters of water in a dam with such constraints will undoubtedly be a human nightmare for E.P.C but especially a daily safety concern for those residing close to it in the likelihood of failure.

In Samoa it is difficult for citizens to participate in the early stages of a process because they dont know their rights, especially in regard to international organisations like the A.D.B, Papalii said.

They need to have their safeguard policies translated in to the Samoan Language to fully give effect to their meaningful consultation standard, he said.

They have indicated that they will speak to the Government of Samoa on that issue, however its my viewpoint that its not a Government of Samoa issue, its an A.D.B issue.

When consultation did finally take place with a meeting well attended by people from the eight affected villages on the 23 October last year, Papalii found the minutes distributed after did not accurately represent the meeting.

It took over a month for him to receive amended minutes.

Viewpoints expressed by participants were not recorded so the minutes did not reflect what was actually said at that consultation, [but] this has been corrected.

Papalii is still not satisfied with responses to what compensation would be offered, if any at all to families needing to relocate from the land, or for any land value diminishing as a result of the dam.

The A.D.B in light of this situation has moved swiftly to recruit a consultation expert to draw up a consultation plan for this project, Papalii said.

This is great news but something that should have been in place at the start of the project rather than an ad hoc response to our expressed concerns.

Papaliis full concerns to both E.P.C and A.D.B were published on the Samoa Observer in September 2018. Fiu, also waiting months for E.P.C to respond to detailed concerns about the dam said he does not trust the consultations were done in good faith.

Promised response and record of meetings with villages have not been shared.

I am therefore disappointed and unable to further contribute and concerned that E.P.C may have used the N.G.Os to tick their program delivery boxes.

I implore on Program Manager and E.P.C that it is imperative for all concerned that they be more transparent on the Alaoa Multi-Purpose Project as it is indeed a risky undertaking where the safety concerns on peoples lives and property are fundamental, Fiu said.

Papalii said there is too much happy happy talk about the benefits of the multi-purpose dam, and not enough about the potentially risks.

They are just interested in telling us there going to be a dam and no more flooding, but what about when something goes wrong? Acts of God happen all the time.

It was not possible to get a comment from E.P.C. before press time yesterday.
Seiuli Dwayne Johnson has denied ever giving an interview to a UK newspaper, The Daily Star, where he criticised young people for "looking for a reason to be offended."

The interview was picked up by all the major news agencies in the world, leading to a story titled Seiuli slams generation snowflake, published on page 15 of the Sunday Samoan.

But Seiuli took social media today to set the record straight, posting a video where he denied everything.

"Settin' the record straight. The interview never happened. Never said those words. 100% false, he said.

If I ever had an issue with someone, a group, community or a generation  I'd seek them out, create dialogue and do my best to understand them. Criticizing ain't my style. I don't cast stones and we all get to be who we are.

In the video, he added: "The interview never took place, never happened, never said any of those words ... So, millennials, it never happened."

On Saturday, U.K.s Daily Star posted a story alleging Seiuli said that generation snowflake or, whatever you want to call them, are actually putting us backwards.

He story allegedly quoted him as saying: "So many good people fought for freedom and equality - but this generation are looking for a reason to be offended. If you are not agreeing with them then they are offended - and that is not what so many great men and women fought for."

The story went on to say that Seiuli said the world has come a long way in terms of equality and acceptance, but believes "generation snowflake" is doing more harm than good to the movement.

"We thankfully now live in a world that has progressed over the last 30 or 40 years. People can be who they want, be with who they want, and live how they want.

"That can only be a good thing  but generation snowflake or, whatever you want to call them, are actually putting us backwards."

Seiuli denied saying any of this.

The interview never took place. Never happened. Never said any of those words. Completely untrue. One hundred percent fabricated.

The Titan Games host added that hes gained such a great trust and equity with millennials and didnt even know where the term snowflake generation came from.

You know its not a real DJ interview if Im ever insulting a group, a generation or anyone because thats not me and its not who I am and its not what we do.

Addressing millennials, boomers and everyone else, Seiuli said: I always encourage empathy. I always encourage growth. But most importantly, I encourage everybody to be exactly who they want to be.
What do Prime Minister Tuilaepa Dr. Sailele Malielegaoi and the U.S. President Donald Trump have in common?

After the events of the past couple of days in Samoa, we can confidently say they love the use of the term fake news. Lets just park this here for now, well come back to it later this in this piece.

What we want to say is that there are always two sides to a story.

And so goes the ongoing wonderful controversy about customary lands and fears about land alienation.

The visit by the President of the Asian Development Bank, Takehiko Nakao, this past week provided the perfect opportunity for the issue to be debated and brought to the fore.

Which is precisely what happened. With the protests and everything that followed, its been quite a week, certainly an interesting way to start 2019.

Whats been said and written this past week, are only the latest in a long history of different and contradicting opinions expressed by experts and ordinary members of the public, about this issue.

Which is great because it shows that the people of this country are concerned enough about whats happening, and they are taking a stand. Its a healthy development and a normal part of democracy.

Of course no one likes a protest  especially if you are the target. As you would have seen, Prime Minister Tuilaepa Dr. Sailele Malielegaoi and his administration have not reacted too kindly to the issue. They have stuck to their guns, doing the best they can to quash the concerns, calling them fake news. Hed in fact have taken a further step by saying the concerns are stupid, all garbage and are being promoted by individuals who refuse to understand.

Who these individuals are he did not say.

In yesterdays Weekend Observer though, two people stood up, as if to offer themselves as sacrificial lambs.

First was Fiu Mataese Elisara, the spokesperson for the group of matai who have taken on the A.D.B., through a formal complaint they have lodged. Fiu did not want to stoop to the level of using derogatory and disparaging words, saying its important that it is best to be factual as possible.

Weve always said that we support the laudable objective of the use of customary land for economic purposes, there is no one questioning that, Fiu said. The only thing we are questioning is the way its being done and the way customary lands are being used for those purpose.

And then there was lawyer and Samoa First leader, Unasa Iuni Sapolu.

That the constitution prohibits the sale, prohibits mortgages of customary land, prohibits the alienation of customary land does not mean the sale and alienation of customary land is not happening, because it is, she said.

The Crimes Act says you cannot assault a woman, you cannot kill a woman, but they are still being assaulted and killed.

That the most powerful man in Samoa, the Prime Minister, says theres no sale  does not mean customary land is not being alienated. Please speak to customary land owners who are victims of customary land alienation.

Unasa added there were many ways Samoans can be alienated from customary land, including long-term leases, mortgages of customary land leases, as well as fraudulent registration of customary land as freehold land.

There was one view though that Fiu and Unasa explicitly shared, it was their reaction to Prime Minister Tuilaepas constant reference to the term fake news.

For Fiu, he said hes amazed to see the language of United States President Donald Trump being used in Samoa.

Its just amazing, you know, the kind of leadership that is actually influencing the mind-set of our own leaders, they end up using the same kind of unfortunate language, Fiu said. And they are pointing the fingers at themselves with the language that they use. Its unfortunate.

Unasa did not mince her words.

To his fake news: what about Sasina, what about Salelologa, what about Nofoalii, what about Asau, Tiavea? she responded, adding that Prime Minister Tuilaepa reference to fake news aligns himself with Trump.

The term fake news was stated and popularized by President Trump of the United States of America, said Unasa. Trump of course is a well-documented sexist, misogynist who supports white supremacistshe consistently calls C.N.N fake news. What does that make the Prime Minister?

Well thats an interesting question.

What do you think?

Have a peaceful Sunday Samoa, God bless!
The race for UnS presidency in next year's election is likely to see a Hindu representative and a senator of part-Indian-American descent vying for the Democratic Party's nomination.

Tulsi Gabbard, 37, the first Hindu elected to the US Congress, announced on Friday that she will be running for president.



Kamala Harris, 54, who is of Indian and African-Jamaican descent and is identified as a member of the Christian Baptist sect, is expected to announce her candidature for the Democratic Party nomination next week, according to several news reports quoting sources close to her.



Adding to the mix, there is speculation that Nikki Haley, who quit as US Permanent Representative to the UN at the end of last last may seek the Republican Party nomination in the event that President Donald Trump is not up for re-election next year.



The former South Carolina Governor was the first Indian American to be a member of the US cabinet and has received some Republican Party grassroots support for a 2024 run.



Gabbard is not of Indian descent but comes from a Hindu family in Hawaii and took her oath office on the Bhagavad Gita when she was first elected to the House of Representatives in 2011 and after her three re-elections.



An independent-minded Democrat who has defied party leadership, Gabbard said in an interview on CNN: "I have decided to run and will be making a formal announcement within the next week."



A combat veteran who has served in Iraq, Gabbard said of her reason for running for president: "There is one main issue that is central to the rest, and that is the issue of war and peace."



She continues to be a member of the Army National Guard with the rank of major and while serving in Congress has been mobilised for emergency duties.



Despite - or because of - her military background, she has opposed US involvement in Syria and faced criticism for visiting that country and meeting President Bashar al-Assad.



Gabbard has been a strong supporter of India and closer US-India ties as well as of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.



She has advocated cutting US aid to Pakistan and pressuring it to end its support international terrorism.



Soon after Trump was elected in 2016, Gabbard met him amid rumours that she may be offered a job in his administration.





But this year she harshly criticised Trump for not taking a strong stand against Saudi Arabia for the killing of Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi.



She is on the populist left in the Democratic Party and supported Bernie Sanders, the maverick progressive senator, for the party's nomination in 2016.



She accused the party leadership of being partial to former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and against Sanders and resigned as a vice president of the party.



Sanders himself may run for the party nomination and another candidate from the party's left, Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren, has announced her candidature.



Former Vice President Joe Biden, who comes from the party's centrist wing, is also likely to join the fray.



Gabbard, who was elected to Hawaii state legislature when she was only 21, is the youngest person running for the presidency so far for 2020.



She had a run-in with Harris this week, accusing her of religious bigotry for her opposition to a nominee for federal judgeship because he belonged to a Catholic organisation called the Knights of Columbus.



"While I oppose the nomination of Brian Buescher to the US District Court in Nebraska, I stand strongly against those who are fomenting religious bigotry, citing as disqualifiers Buescher's Catholicism and his affiliation with the Knights of Columbus," Gabbard wrote in a newspaper op-ed.


BJP President Amit Shah on Saturday said although the party lost in the Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh Assembly polls, it has not been defeated yet.

Addressing the Bharatiya Janata Party National Council on the second day of its session, Shah said: "In 2014, people gave full majority to the BJP. And since 2014, every year elections came and we won.



"Recently, three election results were not good. But I want to tell party workers that our opponents have won but we have not been defeated."



Shah went on to say: "The media will debate our losses but I want to make them understand that what is defeat. In Uttar Pradesh, the Congress have been cleaned and one has look for it with the help of a binocular."





The Rajya Sabha MP also said that in politics, there was constant victory and defeat.



"But the BJP has not lost its ground in these three states. Our workers have to keep the faith and they have the opportunity in 2019 to form a foundation for a strong government."



Slamming the Congress for nepotism, casteism and appeasement, Shah said that due to these three issues, the country's development was being halted.



He asserted that the Narendra Modi government will keep on moving ahead with its pro-poor schemes to take development to every person of the country.



The BJP chief also said that for party workers, elections were not only to form government, but it was a festival of democracy and an opportunity to showcase the party's ideology.


First exhibition of folklore opened in Ibb city [12/January/2019] IBB, Jan. 12 (Saba) - The first exhibition of folklore was inaugurated on Saturday at the Shaab school in Ibb city.



The exhibition included models of old folk costumes, paintings and sculptures, all of which reflect the style, ancient architecture, pottery, folk dishes, agriculture tools and others.



At the opening of the exhibition, the Under-Secretary of the province, Dr. Ali Al-Zanem, hailed all efforts exerted to produce this exhibition, which expresses the originality of Yemen civilization and its popular heritage.



He stressed on the importance of preserving heritage and folklore as an important aspect of the history and civilization of peoples and identity.



For her part, the exhibition organizer Rabab Aklan explained that the proceeds of this exhibition will return to the benefit of cancer patients through the National Cancer Foundation.



He called on all to contribute effectively to the success of the exhibition, which lasts three days and to achieve the desired goals.



The opening ceremony featured a theatrical exposition on the importance of preserving old archaeology and folklore.



An old Yemeni fashion show was presented by female students.





AA

Saba
Coalition kills 2 civilians, injures 4 others in violation to Sweden agreements : Report [12/January/2019] PROVINCES, Jan. 12 (Saba)  The US-backed Saudi-led aggression coalition's mercenaries continued over the last 48 hours to target the civilians killing two and injuring four others in flagrant violation to the Sweden agreement, a security official told Saba.



The force of artillery of the enemy shelled areas east of Hays district and failed to infiltrate toward army's fighters' sites in the west Hays.

The mercenaries fired artillery at Khamseen street in Haly and bombarded intensively using artillery and gun machines 7 July area in the same area.



The enemy conducted a sweeping operation in Tisaeen Street in Shabab city.



The mercenaries fired rockets on the houses of civilians in 7 July area which led to damages in the prosperities and houses of the citizens.

The mercenaries' artillery force shelled areas in the west of Safina area and around Odi factory.



The mercenaries shelled Shajan village and areas nearby , Durihimy district.



They bombarded using a guided missile a civilian's house in Durihimy and the fire broke out inside.



The enemy artillery fired three flash grenades toward Faza area in Tuhayta district and more than 25 shells on several areas in the south and west of this district.



The mercenaries conducted sweeping operation using artillery and machine guns at Shajan and Kouai in Durihimy district and fired 68 shells and six Katyusha missiles on Zaafran and Mahal Sheikh areas in Kilo 16 district.

Two civilians martyred and four others were wounded in air attack on their house in Farsh village of Haradh district.



Three other Saudi-led airstrikes hit the same district.



In Saada, an airstrike hit Talan in Haidan district, ten others targeted Boka, Al Joubara valley in Kitaf while another airstrike hit border area of Shada, which was also shelled by the force of rocketry and artillery of the Saudi enemy.



In Bakim three airstrikes hit the district while the enemy rocketry and artillery shelled civilians' houses and farms.



A Saudi-led airstrike hit a network of telecommunication in Rahoub area in Jawf province.





AA



Saba
Amid the ongoing dispute over President Donald Trump's controversial plan to build a border wall, Pink Floyd co-founder Roger Waters is considering a performance of the band's popular The Wall album along the U.S. border with Mexico.

Waters spoke about the idea of performing The Wall somewhere along the border during a rare public appearance in London to promote an exhibition of Pink Floyd memorabilia and archived footage.

"But before this can happen, there will first need to be an awakening against these far-right policies," Waters told AFP. "The sewers are engorged by greedy and powerful men as I speak to you."

Waters called The Wall "very relevant" in light of Trump's talk of building walls, noting the album is about "how detrimental building walls can be on a personal level, but also on broader levels."

For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com

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Espanola, NM (87532)

Today

Except for a few afternoon clouds, mainly sunny. A stray afternoon thunderstorm is possible. High 99F. NE winds at less than 5 mph, increasing to 15 to 25 mph..

Tonight

Partly to mostly cloudy. Low 63F. Winds ESE at 10 to 15 mph.
Greenville, NC (27833)

Today

Sunshine and a few clouds. A stray afternoon thunderstorm is possible. High near 85F. Winds light and variable..

Tonight

A few passing clouds, otherwise generally clear. Low 61F. Winds light and variable.
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 Rev. Ronald L. Bobo greeted congregants of West Side Missionary Baptist Church at the celebration of his 25th anniversary as senior pastor in June 2011. He preaches his last sermon as senior pastor on Sunday.  photo/the st. louis american
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On Friday evening, nearly a week after a gunman in Pittsburgh turned the Jewish Sabbath into a day of death worldwide, veterinary student Shira Rosenblum will host a Shabbat meal in her Center City apartment for friends and strangers.

Arizona lawyer Joshua Offenhartz will visit Philadelphia for a cousin's wedding, but also seek out a synagogue in which to pray.

Rabbi Jerome David will stand at the bimah  the platform from which the scriptures are read  of Temple Emanuel in Cherry Hill for a special service observing the pain of the tragedy.

For Jews and their interfaith allies, the Sabbath will be more than a day of rest ushered in by lighted candles and a blessing. It will be a statement about commitment, unity, and fearlessness in the face of terror  the message carried on a gathering wave of calls to worship following the carnage at the Tree of Life synagogue.

The American Jewish Committee (AJC), an international advocacy organization, is urging not only Jews but people of all faiths, elected officials, and religious and civil rights leaders to #ShowUpForShabbat, to flood synagogues on Friday and show that "when hate raises its ugly head anywhere in our country, we will rise to confront it with solidarity and determination," it said in a statement. The group also has posted online a solidarity statement for signing, and has created a prayer that can be recited during services.

"If you can't be safe in an institution of faith, where can you be safe?" said Marcia Bronstein, director of the regional AJC Philadelphia/Southern New Jersey. "We refuse to be afraid and we are standing together."

READ MORE>> After Pittsburgh shooting, clients ask HIAS PA: 'Am I safe?'

The Jewish Federations of North America, an umbrella organization partnering with AJC, has created the #SolidarityShabbat hashtag to encourage those who attend Friday services to post photos, said Steven Rosenberg, chief marketing officer of the Greater Philadelphia federation.

Rosenberg grew up in the Squirrel Hill neighborhood, the scene of last Saturday's massacre, and knew several of the 11 people killed. "Awful, brutal," he said, his voice shaking.

Since launching Sunday, the hashtags have been used thousands of times on Twitter and have been seen by millions around the world.

The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) and OneTable, a nonprofit that brings together young adults for Shabbat dinners, have joined up to encourage more people to host the Friday night meals in a show of unity. The campaign was originally launched last summer by OneTable after Heather Heyer was killed while protesting against white nationalists rallying in Charlottesville, Va. On Monday, the ADL also started a digital vigil for those unable to attend commemorations of the Pittsburgh dead.

Organizations including the Jewish Federations of North America, the Orthodox Union, the U.S. Conference of Mayors, and the Jewish Community Center Association of North America have signed on to support the efforts. Jewish communities in countries including England, South Africa, and China have pledged to participate.

At 6 p.m. Friday, Rabbi Adam Zeff of the Germantown Jewish Centre in Mount Airy will lead interfaith services during a weekend the synagogue reserves to celebrate the legacy of its former rabbi, Elias Charry, who was instrumental in persuading Jewish families to remain in Mount Airy in the 1960s and '70s, when many Jews  and synagogues  were moving to the suburbs.

"He thought it was a religious duty to engage with different communities, and that we would learn more about what it means to be Jewish when we are in close contact with people who are not Jews," said Zeff, noting that members are likely to be surrounded by an interfaith and interracial show of support from neighbors on Friday.

READ MORE>>Pittsburgh shooting suspect to be arraigned Thursday

In Cheltenham, Rabbi Leah R. Berkowitz will lead Congregation Kol Ami's "First Friday" service, during which blessings are offered for birthdays and anniversaries and other special occasions.

"It is typical of spiritual spaces, that communities are often celebrating and mourning at the same time," Berkowitz said.

Temple Emanuel in Cherry Hill has fielded a plethora of calls about #ShowUpForShabbat and is anticipating that its usual attendance of 150 for Friday night services will double.

The synagogue usually hosts two Friday evening services, a family gathering and a traditional service. This week, they will be combined, to memorialize those killed in Pittsburgh.

"We have to show everybody that we will assemble. We will be together," said Andy Katz, the synagogue's executive director.

Rosenblum, 25, who usually attends Mekor Habracha Center City Synagogue, won't be in services on Friday, but instead will assemble about 10 people at the dinner table in her apartment for chicken, salad, and roasted vegetables. The third-year veterinary student at the University of Pennsylvania will host the dinner as part of a Jewish Graduate Student Network initiative promoting home-based Shabbat dinners.

The network partners with area Hillels and the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia to encourage Jewish graduate students to connect and build community. The group provides funding for the dinners.

When introduced in September, the initiative had difficulty gaining traction, said Tslil Shtulsaft, the network's executive director. But after the call this week to #ShowUpForShabbat, offers to host spiked. By Thursday, Shtulsaft had at least 19 volunteers for this weekend or next.

The Pittsburgh murders are the first time, Rosenblum said, that she has felt the full force of an anti-Semitic act so personally.

"I think we just all want to be together as a community," she said, "now more than ever."

Offenhartz, 30, is flying into Philadelphia with that resolve. His cousin's wedding is Saturday evening, but before he celebrates, he plans to find a synagogue in which to pray and remember.

He and his family, he said, frequently have been the targets of anti-Semitic bigotry in Arizona  his first time was when he was 6  and while the Pittsburgh attack was a shock, it was no surprise. He will attend services Friday and Saturday morning in a show of solidarity.

"I feel a personal obligation as a millennial to make sure that I am standing up, because so many before me have had to stand up in more difficult times and circumstances," Offenhartz said. "Now it's my time to say, 'We won't allow you to intimidate us, or deter us from practicing our faith.'"
The first time Nicki Saccomanno used fentanyl, she overdosed.

It was 2016, and the 38-year-old from Kensington hadn't known that the drugs she'd bought had been cut with the deadly synthetic opioid. She just remembers injecting herself with a bag, and then waking up surrounded by paramedics frantically trying to revive her.

Saccomanno, who has been addicted to heroin for 10 years, was shaken. But, before long, there was barely anything else to take but fentanyl to stave off the intense pain of withdrawal. Every corner, it seemed, was selling it. Saccomanno and other longtime heroin users found themselves forced to adapt.

For younger users, like the twentysomethings who live in the camps off Lehigh Avenue, fentanyl is all they've ever known. Like others before them, many graduated from using legal painkillers to illicit opioids in the last few years  except when they turned to the streets to feed their addictions, they were buying a drug much more powerful than their older counterparts had started on.

Young and old are paying for it with their lives. Fentanyl was present in 84 percent of Philadelphia's 1,217 fatal overdoses last year, and in 67 percent of the state's 5,456 overdose deaths in 2017, according to a wide-ranging report on the state of the opioid crisis in Pennsylvania released this month by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration.

The report shows how, over the last five years, the opioid crisis ballooned into an overdose crisis  how fentanyl contaminated the state's heroin supply, overwhelmed county morgues with overdose victims, and shocked advocates, people in addiction, and law-enforcement officials alike with its sudden ubiquity.

But to all of them, the explosion of fentanyl makes a kind of terrible sense: Fentanyl is significantly cheaper to produce than heroin. It draws a significantly larger profit. It's significantly more powerful and more addictive than heroin, even Kensington's supply, which has long been known as the cheapest and purest in the country.

These days, Saccomanno uses a combination of heroin and fentanyl, even though she hates it.

"You get sicker," she said. "You need to get more fentanyl more often. It makes being able to get well and stay well even harder. But you can't find anything else."

A dramatic shift

Pure economics.

That's what law-enforcement officials say is driving the rise of fentanyl in Pennsylvania.

It has legitimate use as a drug to treat serious pain, like that in cancer patients, and has been on the illicit drug market for at least 15 years, said Pat Trainor, spokesman for the Philadelphia branch of the DEA. But it mostly turned up in unusual overdose rashes and would disappear from the scene again.

"Two or three years ago, we really saw a pretty dramatic shift," Trainor said. "It was initially seen as a cut or an adulterant in low-quality heroin, and it's really shifted now that it's pretty much largely  but not completely  replaced most of the heroin supply in Philadelphia."

In Philadelphia, he said, a kilogram of heroin, or 2.2 pounds, sells for $50,000 to $80,000, and a drug trafficker can make about $500,000 in profit off it. A kilogram of fentanyl sells for $53,000 to $55,000, is 50 to 100 times stronger, and can turn a profit of up to $5 million.

"For a lot of drug-trafficking organizations, it's that simple," said Trainor.

Most of the fentanyl that ends up in Pennsylvania is manufactured in China and smuggled through Mexican drug-trafficking organizations into the United States along the same routes used to traffic heroin, according to the DEA report.

People have also tried to make it closer to home, however. Unlike heroin, which is derived from opium poppies, fentanyl and its analogues can be produced in a lab. Earlier this year, DEA agents raided what they thought was a methamphetamine lab in a hotel room in western Pennsylvania. To their surprise, it turned out that the room's occupant had been trying to make fentanyl.

Seeking out fentanyl

Earlier this year, researchers from the Philadelphia Department of Public Health, conducting a survey of opioid users at Kensington's needle exchange, posed a question to 400 people in active addiction.

They knew that most of the city's heroin supply had already been tainted with fentanyl, and wanted to know how people in addiction were reacting. And so they asked drug users what they would do if they knew that fentanyl was in the drugs they were buying.

The answers they received shocked them. Of the drug users the Health Department surveyed, 45 percent told researchers that they weren't trying to avoid fentanyl at all  that they would be more likely to use a bag of fentanyl.

"There was more acceptance  it had become part of the community in a way it hadn't been initially. It was actually something people were going for because it was an enhanced high," said Kendra Viner, manager of the department's Opioid Surveillance Program. "And people between 25 and 34 years old were significantly more likely to say they would seek out fentanyl."

In interviews on Kensington Avenue in recent weeks, drug users said they felt they didn't have much choice: Though the rush of a fentanyl high might have initially felt stronger and better than heroin, it also made returning to heroin difficult. Even though fentanyl was more dangerous, they said, their tolerance for opioids has become so high that heroin was not enough to stave off withdrawal.

"Before, people were scared of fentanyl, people wouldn't do it  but now my body is hooked on it," said Kia, a 23-year-old interviewed near the Emerald Street encampment last week. "If I wake up and don't do heroin cut with fentanyl, I'm still sick."

Physicians and addiction researchers have been advocating for some time for more research on how common medication-assisted treatments used to treat heroin addiction work for people who are now accustomed to a drug much stronger than heroin. Viner said more research on fentanyl trends in general is needed  for example, her survey focused only on drug users in Kensington who use the neighborhood's needle exchange. It's harder to track the habits and preferences of the hundreds of people from around the city and suburbs who fly under the radar, coming to the neighborhood just to score.

Still, the DEA wrote in its report, the findings in Philadelphia  echoed by treatment providers and people in addiction across the state  are deeply alarming. They're a sign that a tainted drug supply is driving demand  not the other way around.

William, a Bensalem man who came to Kensington earlier this week for fentanyl, as he has for the last four months, said he felt trapped by a drug he hadn't necessarily sought out  one that he now needs to function, one that is killing his friends and loved ones.

"Withdrawal  imagine the worst flu you've ever had," he said  then increase that pain by 10. "And you know that that one thing you hate  the thing that makes you feel this way  is the only thing that will make you feel better."
Just as it is in Philadelphia, the synthetic opioid fentanyl is driving the overdose crisis throughout Pennsylvania, new data from the Drug Enforcement Administration show.

Fentanyl was present in 67 percent of the state's 5,456 overdose deaths in 2017  up from 52 percent of overdose deaths in 2016, when 4,642 people died.

Since 2015, overdose deaths across the state have risen by 64 percent, the DEA said. But the rate of that increase slowed last year: from 2015 to 2016, deaths rose by 38 percent; from 2016 to 2017, deaths rose by 18 percent.

In Philadelphia, which has the worst opioid death rate of any major city in the country, 1,217 people died of a drug overdose in 2017  about 22 percent of the state's total overdose deaths. Fentanyl was present in 84 percent of those cases.

Thomas Farley, Philadelphia's health commissioner, said the new state-level data suggest that Pennsylvania's opioid crisis is no longer confined to urban areas.

"We've always had a bigger heroin problem than the rest of the state," he said. "What I'm struck by is how much of a problem we have in the rural areas that were previously untouched by this. The opioid crisis is raging through Pennsylvania like the wildfires are raging through California."

He said the rise in fentanyl-related overdoses was particularly concerning.

"That's the top drug here  and it's 50 times as potent as heroin, much more likely to get people addicted, much more likely to cause an overdose," he said. "It's changed the entire nature of the problem."

The DEA will issue a more detailed report on the state's overdose death rate this month. But it released these preliminary numbers as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released its own provisional data on the overdose crisis nationwide, predicting data will show 71,568 overdose deaths between January 2017 and January 2018.

It's difficult to say what's driving the national spike in overdoses  up from 64,000 overdose deaths in 2016  because county coroners often don't report the types of drugs that killed overdose victims on death certificates, which is the only way for the CDC to track such information, said Bob Anderson, chief of the mortality statistics branch at the CDC's National Center for Health Statistics.

Still, he said, the increases since 2016 were alarming, although some states in the West and New England reported declines in overdose deaths.

"The fact that we are seeing some declines in some states is certainly encouraging," Anderson said. "But the numbers continue to rise in several of the other areas. I'm hopeful that what we're seeing here in the most recent months is kind of a peak in the problem for the nation, and we'll start to see some declines here. But it's impossible to know for sure until we get some more data. It could be just a stall and then start going up again."

Farley said the statewide data show the enormity of the task ahead for local health departments.

"Now every small town and every city in Pennsylvania need to do all the steps that are important: reduce overprescribing of opioids, make drug treatment available, and distribute naloxone," the overdose-reversing drug, he said.
Aaron Nola and the Phillies might be headed to trial.

The Phillies reached agreement on 2019 salaries with all but one of their arbitration-eligible players before Fridays deadline. Nola was the holdout, and with the sides now having exchanged figures, a source said its unclear whether talks will continue before a hearing date next month. Nola is seeking a $6.75 million salary, while the Phillies are offering $4.5 million.

Its also more likely at this point that the Phillies will sign their 25-year-old ace for one year rather than working out a multiyear agreement. Nola, who had a breakout season last year and finished third in the National League Cy Young Award voting, isnt eligible for free agency until after the 2021 season.

The Phillies did strike one-year deals with second baseman Cesar Hernandez ($7.75 million), third baseman Maikel Franco ($5.2 million), right-hander Vince Velasquez ($2.249 million), lefty relievers Jose Alvarez ($1.925 million) and Adam Morgan ($1.1 million), and outfielder Aaron Altherr ($1.35 million). On Thursday, they agreed to one-year deals with reliever Hector Neris ($1.8 million) and right-hander Jerad Eickhoff ($975,000).

Over the past few years, many teams have taken a file and trial approach to arbitration, meaning they stop negotiating once salary figures are exchanged and agree to settle the situation with a hearing in which a three-person panel of judges determines the players value by choosing either the players salary request or the teams offer.

According to the projections at MLB Trade Rumors, Nolas annual salary is due to rise to approximately $6.6 million from $573,000 based largely on the strength of his 2018 season. He finished second in the league with a 2.37 ERA, third in WHIP (0.975) and innings (212 1/3), fourth in fielding-independent pitching (3.01), and fifth in strikeouts (224). But the only starting pitcher ever to exceed $6 million in his first year of arbitration-eligibility was lefty Dallas Keuchel, who had just won a Cy Young Award with the Houston Astros.

Other arbitration-eligible pitchers who didnt reach agreements Friday include New York Yankees ace Luis Severino and Astros right-hander Gerrit Cole.
In May 2017, Philadelphia Narcotics Bureau supervisors Inspector Raymond Evers and Chief Inspector Anthony Boyle called staff into a police conference room in Germantown for a mandatory meeting. Evers would later describe it as a pep talk to "get better-quality investigations.

But what he outlined, according to a 177-page August 2018 Internal Affairs report obtained by the Inquirer, was a scheme to flip low-level suspects into off-the-books confidential informants through a process that would evolve into falsifying paperwork, as well as hiding information from the District Attorneys Office.

Some officers at the meeting described the system that Evers outlined  and that he, in at least three cases, personally oversaw  as illegal and a violation of police directives, according to the report. It sustained allegations Evers abused his authority, failed to supervise subordinates, and then lied during the course of the investigation about it. Internal Affairs also sustained charges against Boyle for failure to supervise, and against two officers for false paperwork.

The Police Board of Inquiry, the department panel that ultimately determines guilt and administers discipline, has not yet held a hearing.

I was shocked by what the inspector and chief said.  These officers were provided improper instructions involving illegality, narcotics Capt. Laverne Vann told investigators.

Narcotics Staff Inspector Debra Frazier said the recipe was simple: Inspector Evers was encouraging the officers to obtain informants by flipping. Persons with a small amount of drugs, he said to put it on a property receipt and say you found it on the highway.

The Internal Affairs investigation was launched in response to an anonymous letter from stressed black personnel of the Narcotics Unit. It echoes claims in a lawsuit against Evers, Boyle, and the city filed by the Guardian Civic League, an organization representing black police officers, and three African American narcotics officers, including Vann and Frazier, who claimed they suffered retaliation for resisting.

In a Thursday interview, Boyle said that he adhered to legitimate and long-standing law-enforcement procedures, and that any informant activity he was aware of was properly logged and reported to the DA. He called the allegations baseless, and said he believed Evers, too, had acted properly.

It is 100 percent about attempts to get nonproductive members of the bureau to become productive or to get rid of them, and definitely a large portion of it, if not the total impetus, is an antiwhite sentiment among some of the minority officers.

Evers said he would not comment based on his attorneys advice.

The internal rift could have far-reaching consequences, according to Michael Mellon at the Defender Association of Philadelphia, who said hundreds of arrests made during and after Evers' yearlong tenure in leadership at Narcotics could be tainted.

We believe that for close to two years the Philadelphia police narcotics units adopted an explicit policy and culture of altering and destroying evidence, hiding witnesses and suspects, and fabricating police paperwork, in an effort to coerce people into acting as confidential informants, he said. We have uncovered additional evidence of such activity beyond what is reported in the Evers investigation. This practice clearly violates the law, police protocol, and often the constitution.

The concern with off-book flipping is it can produce informants motivated to lie in order to evade arrest, and it sidesteps any type of oversight by the DA or police Internal Affairs. But, more than that, it raises questions about what evidence may be obscured in drug busts that involved flipping  for example, if police are hiding that there was a second suspect in a house who may have been in possession of drugs.

Its impossible to know what the police destroyed or never recorded," Mellon said. How can the citizens of the city trust that we have not been convicting innocent people?

Alexandra Natapoff, professor of law at the University of California, Irvine, and author of the book Snitching: Criminal Informants and the Erosion of American Justice, said theres nothing illegal about a police officer declining to arrest a suspect in hopes of extracting information. But falsifying documents and deceiving prosecutors often leads to injustice, she said.

The famous problems with the use of criminal informants are that they lead to wrongful convictions because they lie to get a good deal or to avoid arrests themselves," she said. They continue to commit crimes themselves, because they obtain a kind of impunity as a result of collaborating with the government, so they escape liability and accountability for their own crimes and then the whole process generates a secretive culture in which rule-breaking, cutting corners, and sometimes corruption is more likely to occur, because everyone knows that its very unlikely that anyone will find out what the deal was.

Previous Philadelphia police narcotics scandals have led judges to reverse at least 1,500 cases after it was learned that police lied. More than 890 cases were tossed out since 2012 after a group of narcotics officers were accused of planting evidence, falsifying records, and even committing robberies on the job. Another 125 cases were dropped in connection with Chris Hulmes, an officer who lied about narcotics arrests. More recently, the Defender Association has filed a petition for review of 6,400 cases involving officers on a District Attorneys Office do-not-call list of problem cops whose testimony wasnt considered reliable.

Civil rights lawyer David Rudovsky, who reviewed the key points of the Internal Affairs report, said the investigation seemed incomplete, because it failed to establish how widespread the practice Evers outlined was, or how many cases were affected.

A police spokesperson declined to comment.

Rochelle Bilal, president of the Guardian Civic League, said the District Attorneys Office should also consider whether criminal charges are warranted, given that investigators found that Evers lied and presented false evidence.

If it was an average person, they would be locked up, said Bilal, who is also a candidate for Philadelphia sheriff. They should not treat them differently.

Bilal also said the District Attorneys Office may need to put Boyle and Evers on the do-not-call list.

The District Attorneys Office declined comment.

Evers  a 25-year veteran who rose through the ranks despite news-making scandals including a couple of public fistfights  was transferred out of Narcotics in March 2018. Boyle remains at the bureau, but has been on desk duty since October when Vann accused Boyle of assaulting her, an incident she said arose when Boyle sought to prevent Vann from arresting a defendant.

The damning Internal Affairs report highlights three cases in which arrests were averted to obtain cooperation and drug seizures were mislabeled.

Just a month after Evers' May meeting, Narcotics Strike Force Officer Nathanial Harper caught a crack cocaine buyer with drugs in his front pocket.

But thats not the way the bust was recorded.

Harper told Internal Affairs investigators that Evers told me the male would not be charged, because the male provided information.

The next day, Harper said, a corporal told him Evers wanted the paperwork resubmitted, and gave him written instructions. Critically, he said, Evers did not want the case submitted to the DA for charges.

On the incident report, Harper noted that the suspect provided information on a stolen gun, and as a result of this info the defendant was not charged. On the property receipt, he logged the drugs as recovered from the highway.

The Internal Affairs investigation sustained the allegations Harper violated police policy. Harper has been transferred out of the Narcotics Bureau. He did not respond to messages requesting comment.

Harper told the investigators that he worried about the new practice: There would be no official documentation that the person was arrested and in custody for possession of illegal narcotics.

However, Harper said that, due to Evers' rank, he dared not question him.

But in at least one case, Evers was stymied by resistant staff.

In August 2017, alarmed to learn a defendant he had targeted to flip was set to be put into the electronic reporting system for charging, Vann said Evers told her to make a phone call to the 25th District to keep the arrest from being reported.

Vann resisted. I tried explaining to [Evers], by him interfering with the arrest process it waters down the integrity of the overall arrest, the report quoted her as saying. She advised Evers to follow proper procedure: wait until the preliminary hearing and speak with the DA about it, but Evers insisted.

So, Vann secretly called 25th District Sgt. Wali Shabazz, who was processing the bust, and did just the opposite: I told him to hurry up and submit the [charges]," she told Internal Affairs.

Vann hung up when a reporter called. Shabazz declined to comment.

Use of off-book informants is by nature difficult to uncover. Yet, since the Guardian Civic League lawsuit was filed in September 2017, public defenders have in several cases sought the Internal Affairs report as impeachment evidence against Narcotics Field Unit officers, and sought information on the use of informants as exculpatory material the DA was legally required to turn over.

To Brian Mildenberg, whos representing the black personnel in the civil suit, it was all an elaborate plan to avoid scrutiny by the district attorney and the highest level of the police department.

They were falsifying police documents to avoid compliance with police directives  and therefore oversight of their activities, he said. To comply with the directives, you would have had to notify the district attorney.
BARRON, Wis. (AP)  A 21-year-old man shot a Wisconsin couple to death at their home in a scheme to kidnap their teenage daughter, then held the girl captive for three months before she managed to escape in an isolated north woods town, authorities said Friday.

Jayme Closs, 13, was skinny, disheveled, and wearing shoes too big for her when she approached a stranger and pleaded for help Thursday in the small town of Gordon, where Jake Thomas Patterson lives.

Patterson was apparently out looking for her when he was arrested and jailed on kidnapping and homicide charges, Barron County Sheriff Chris Fitzgerald said.

The news that Jayme was safe set off joy and relief 60 miles away in her hometown of Barron, population 3,300, ending an all-out search that gripped the state, with many people fearing the worst the longer she was missing.

"My legs started to shake. It was awesome. The stress, the relief  it was awesome," Fitzgerald said, describing the moment he learned Jayme had been found.

Jayme told one of the neighbors in Gordon who took her in that she had walked away from a cabin where she had been held captive.

"She said that this persons name was Jake Patterson, he killed my parents and took me, " said another one of the neighbors, Kristin Kasinskas. She did not talk about why or how. She said she did not know him.

The sheriff said investigators are trying to figure out what happened to Jayme during her captivity and why she was seized, and gave no details on how she escaped except to say Patterson was not home at the time. He said there is no evidence Patterson knew Jayme or her family or had been in contact with her on social media.

"I know all of you are searching for the answer why any of this happened," Fitzgerald said. "Believe me, so are we."

The sheriff said that he did not know if Jayme had been physically abused but that she was hospitalized overnight for observation and released after an exam. Investigators were still interviewing her, and she was "doing as well as circumstances allow," he said.

Kasinskas called 911 to report the girl had been found after another neighbor out walking her dog encountered Jayme and brought her to Kasinskas' house. Minutes later, Patterson was pulled over by a sheriff's deputy based on a description of his vehicle Jayme provided, authorities said.

He was scheduled for an initial court appearance Monday. It was not immediately known whether the unemployed Patterson had an attorney.

Jayme's grandfather, Robert Naiberg, said he had been praying for months for the call he received about his granddaughter.

I thought, Good for her, she escaped,  he said.

Jayme disappeared from her home near Barron after someone broke in and shot her parents, James and Denise Closs, on Oct. 15. The sheriff said investigators believe Patterson killed them in order to abduct the girl.

Patterson tried to avoid leaving evidence at the scene of the killings, taking such steps as shaving his head beforehand, the sheriff said. A shotgun similar to the one used was recovered from the home where police believe Jayme was held, the sheriff said.

Property records show that the cabin belonged to Patterson's father at the time of Jayme's disappearance.

Patterson worked for one day in 2016 at the same Jennie-O turkey plant in Barron as Jaymes parents, Jennie-O Turkey Store president Steve Lykken said. Patterson quit the next day, saying he was moving from the area, Lykken said. But the sheriff said it did not appear Patterson interacted with them during his brief time working there.

Patterson had no criminal record, according to the sheriff. He graduated in 2015 from Northwood High School, where he was on the quiz bowl team and was a good student with a "great group of friends," said District Superintendent Jean Serum.

Kasinskas said she taught Patterson science in middle school, but added: "I don't really remember a ton about him."

"He seemed like a quiet kid," she said. "I don't recall anything that would have explained this, by any means."

The woman who first spotted Jayme on Thursday, Jeanne Nutter, said she was walking her dog along a rural road when a disheveled girl called out to her, grabbed her and revealed her name.

I was terrified, but I didnt want to show her that, Nutter, a social worker who spent years working in child protection, told the Associated Press. She just yelled, Please help me! I dont know where I am! Im lost! 

Nutter took her to the home of Peter and Kristin Kasinskas. Jayme was quiet, her emotions "pretty flat," Peter Kasinskas said.

Jayme told the couple she didn't know where she was or anything about Gordon, a town of about 644 people in a heavily forested region where logging is the top industry. From what she told them, they believed she was there for most of her disappearance.

After Jayme vanished, detectives pursued thousands of tips, watched dozens of surveillance videos and conducted numerous searches. Officials recruited 2,000 volunteers for a huge ground search Oct. 23, but it yielded no clues.

Fitzgerald said in November that he kept similar cases in the back of his mind as he worked to find Jayme, including the abduction of Elizabeth Smart, who was 14 when she was taken from her Salt Lake City home in 2002. Smart was rescued nine months later after witnesses recognized her abductors from an Americas Most Wanted episode.

Smart said in a telephone interview that Jayme's story is "why we can never give up hope on any missing child."

"It was only a few months ago that we as a community gathered to pray for Jayme's safe return at Barron High School," Barron County District Attorney Brian Wright said at a news conference. "God has answered those prayers."

___

For the latest updates on the story: https://apnews.com/c529a15d30f845c6adf6ccd478df3a5a

___

Associated Press writers Todd Richmond, Scott Bauer, Brady McCombs, and Amy Forliti contributed to this article, along with AP news researcher Rhonda Shafner.
A 37-year-old North Jersey man has been charged with vehicular homicide for the death of his 9-year-old daughter in a November crash in Burlington County.

Prosecutors said Marcelo Rizzo, of Elizabeth, had consumed multiple drinks at an establishment in Camden County prior to the Nov. 25 crash on Interstate 295 in Mount Laurel, the Burlington County Prosecutors Office announced Friday.

Madelynn Rizzo was ejected from his Ford Focus into a wooded area and pronounced dead at the scene. Marcelo Rizzo and an older daughter were not seriously injured.

Rizzo, who was arrested at his home Thursday, was released after his appearance Friday in Superior Court in Mount Holly.
Most academics like to brag about their successes. Doug Webber touts his failures.

He was rejected by the majority of Ph.D. programs he applied to. There were at least a dozen academic projects he started that went nowhere. Most of the research papers he eventually got published were rejected multiple times.

And along the way, there were all those cutting comments from anonymous peer reviewers.

The bar for new and innovative work required for publication in a good journal is pretty high," wrote one. "This paper does not reach that bar.

Webber, an associate professor of economics at Temple University, has laid bare these shortcomings and more, all which came along the road to success. He posted them in August on his Temple web page in a Failure CV. In academia, CV stands for curriculum vitae, an academic resume of sorts.

On the same page, Webber has a regular CV that highlights his successes: All the papers he has had published. His doctorate from Cornell, an Ivy League university. His 2016 Teacher of the Year award from Temples economics department; his research in progress; and his congressional testimony.

The economist hopes his brutal honesty in the alternate CV shows graduate students and junior faculty that they shouldnt get discouraged by the inevitable failures that will come in their careers. Its a rite of passage in academia.

Its really easy to forget that everyone fails, Webber, 33, said. Its perfectly normal to struggle and not get something on the second, third, or fourth time.

Hes not the first one to undertake such an exercise or suggest it. Melanie Stefan, a lecturer at the Edinburgh Medical School in Scotland, floated the idea in a piece published in 2010 in the scientific journal Nature. Subsequently, Johannes Haushofer, an assistant professor of psychology and public affairs at Princeton, put out his CV of Failures, and apparently it got a lot of views.

This darn CV of Failures has received way more attention than my entire body of academic work, he notes at the bottom, under Meta Failures.

Joshua Goodman, 40, an associate professor of public policy at Harvards Kennedy School of Government, recounted his failures in a tweet string. He said he wanted to be part of a culture change where people talk about their struggles and break down the isolation and frustration that he has seen in younger faculty members.

What I came to realize is almost everyone goes through a lot of failures for each visible success, and thats something that younger scholars dont know, said Goodman, who joined Harvard in 2009. They dont know the peer review process is largely focused on criticism.

And the acceptance rate for papers at the top academic journals, Webber notes, is something like 5 percent.

These are what you need to get tenure, he said.

Job rejection also poses a harsh reality for beginning academics. Webber said his department got 562 applications for a job it posted this year.

One place where Webber appears to have had nothing but success is in reaction to his failure CV.

At conferences and seminars, "I have people come up to me who I have never met and say, I love your failure CV, said Webber, who also directs Temples graduate program in economics.

Temple student Fatima Mboup felt more at ease after she read it. Webber had told students about it in her graduate class last semester.

It puts everything in a more reachable reality," said Mboup, 28, who is working toward her Ph.D. in economics.

Unlike many academic projects that can take months, even years, Webber put the CV together in a weekend, with his wife, Catherine Maclean, also a Temple economics professor, and four rescue dogs there for support.

Webber acknowledged it was easier as a tenured professor to unveil his earlier failures. And he wasnt quite as zen about failure when he was experiencing it.

But hes certainly not unused to challenges.

Webber is legally blind. His elementary school in Floridas Tampa Bay area, he recalled, tried to send him to a school for the blind, but his parents successfully fought to keep him mainstreamed.

His father, a nursing home administrator, also took him to the University of Florida to meet his former calculus professor, who was blind.

He wanted to show me that there are people with really, really bad vision who can really excel academically, Webber recalled.

The professor soon became a role model for Webber, and he knew he, too, wanted a career as a professor. Webber uses thick glasses to read and carries a monocular, a little telescope, to view things at a distance. At times, his vision made an already challenging path to a doctorate even more challenging.

His adviser at Cornell was impressed with how he met those challenges.

He has certainly made the most of his abilities, said Ronald G. Ehrenberg, an economics professor and director of Cornells Higher Education Research Institute. Hes extraordinary.

It was from Ehrenberg that Webber first recalls hearing about the importance of acknowledging failures, how he told students he never thought hed have another idea worth publishing after his dissertation, and that was more than 100 publications ago.

Most of Webbers Failure CV focuses on research and journal article-related hiccups. But Webber also includes an awkward classroom mishap. In quickly labeling a graph on the board that was supposed to be titled Annual Earnings, he accidentally left an "n" and the "u" out of annual. There was a bit of nervous laughter from the undergraduates.

I very quickly said, Thats not how you spell annual, and completely erased it, he said.

It was one failure quickly flushed.
When Jessica McClelland was a Neshaminy High School senior and managing editor of the school paper, the Playwickian, she was the lone member of the editorial board who argued for using the name of the students Mr. Redskin pageant in print  and was harassed, she said, on social media for that stance.

On the fifth and final day of a Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission hearing on whether Neshaminys Redskins sports-team nickname is racially offensive, McClelland said that as a high school student, she never considered the word a slur. Now that shes taking education classes at Kutztown University, shes changed her mind.

Based on my education, I do not agree with the word Redskins anymore, McClelland, 20, said Friday during the hearing at Bucks County Community College in Newtown. She said she now considers the word a wrongful appropriation of Native American culture.

The college students change of heart echoed the larger questions at stake in the PHRC hearings before a state hearing officer: Can this public airing bring closure to years of controversy over the Bucks County districts continued use of a nickname that many consider a racial slur, or is the community more divided than ever?

Officials say it will be at least several months before the hearing officer and then the full commission determine if the nickname is discriminatory and, if necessary, any remedies are required. Then the losing side could appeal to Commonwealth Court.

But Donna Fann-Boyle  a woman of Cherokee descent whose son was a Neshaminy High student when she complained to the commission about the nickname in 2013  said she believes the hearings showed that more people in the lower Bucks County community are coming around to her view that the districts nickname and related tribal imagery of the last 60 years is offensive to Native Americans like herself.

I think from the discussion that people are starting to see it  and maybe change their opinion of the word, Fann-Boyle, who testified earlier in the week, said Friday.

However, the hearing officer, Carl Summerson, said that while he has presided over other sessions where the sides came to a quick settlement, that hasnt happened in Neshaminy.

Summerson outlined a tentative timetable in which it would likely take three weeks for a transcript and then a couple of months for lawyers to file briefs before he makes any findings. The full commission would then vote on Summersons recommendation. He said the commission could go to Bucks County Court to enforce its order if it was not obeyed.

The 8,600student district has continued to press its case that the name is a cherished local tradition that honors the bravery of Native Americans and doesnt offend any students.

On Friday, school board member Stephen Pirritano of Feasterville, one of the more vocal advocates for keeping the name, testified that it goes to the culture of our area  no matter where you look, Indian culture is a part of Neshaminy. He added, I dont think its a racial slur.

Pirritano was crossexamined by commission lawyer Lisa Knight, who asked if he knew that Redskins referred to practices of scalping and harming Native Americans. He responded that a lot of groups have been harmed through history.

On Friday afternoon, two Neshaminy officials testified  superintendent Joseph Jones and secondary schools head Robert McGee, who was Neshaminy High School principal at the height of the controversy. Commission attorney Morgan Williams pressed the former principal on whether he considered Redskins a racial slur.

Said McGee: I havent decided yet.
David Butler is an award-winning author born and raised in Penticton. His experience and knowledge in wildlife and tourism inspired the successful "Jenny Willson Mystery" series. The second book of the series, No Place for Wolverines was released this month and the third novel is set to hit bookstores in September.
Professor Aaron Mike Oquaye, the Speaker of Parliament will on Monday, January 14, open the 70th Annual New Year School and Conference at the University of Ghana.



The week long programme being held under the theme: Building Strong Institutions for Democratic Consolidation in Ghana, is being organised by the School of Continuing and Distance Education of the College of Education, University of Ghana in collaboration with the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development.



Professor Ebenezer Oduro Owusu, Vice Chancellor, University of Ghana, the host of the programme, would deliver the welcome address, while the keynote address would be delivered by Professor Atsu Ayee of the Department of Political Science, University of Ghana.



Sub-themes of the 70th Annual New Year School and Conference include: Legislative Powers and Strong Oversight: Dealing with Corruption and Consolidating Democracy, and Judiciary Independence and Democratic Consolidation.



Others are Building Strong Institutions and strengthening Anti-corruption State Institutions, and 25 years of Decentralization: Challenges and Prospects.



Promoting Active Citizenship through Civic Education: The Role of National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) in Consolidating Ghanas Democratic Gains.

Source: GNA









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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The Electoral Commission (EC) on Friday gave its consent to Mr Delali Kwasi Brempong, the National Democratic Congress Member of Parliament Aspirant for Ayawaso West Wuogon Constituency to contest the by-election, slated on January 31, 2019.



The EC gave the green light to the aspirant after he filed his nomination form with the Ayawaso District Office located at the Electoral Commissions headquarters in Accra.



The seat became vacant after the death of Mr Emmanuel Kyeremanteng Agyarko, the sitting member of Parliament on Wednesday, November 21, 2018.



Mr Brempong arrived at the premise of the Commission at 1215 hours, with the party executives and supporters to present the forms.



Mr Charles Kwame Osei, the Deputy Returning Officer, Ayawaso West Wuogon who received the forms, told the Ghana News Agency that, the Commission was satisfied with the provisions on the nomination forms after its assessment.



We have gone through all the forms to cross check and make sure that the forms are in order, and I can tell you that the NDC aspirant has met the needed requirements by EC to contest for the by-election.



He said as required, the NDC Aspirant submitted a cheque for GHc10,000 as filing fee, two registered voters signatures on the forms as a proposer and seconder, respectively.



This was supported by 18 other registered voters in the Constituency as assenting to the nomination.



Other documents are two copies of a recent post card-size photograph taken against a red background, revealing the full face and ears of the candidate.



The Deputy Returning Officer thanked the NDC Aspirant and the Party for contributing to the democratic endeavours of the country, adding: The candidate has been given the green light to campaign.



In an interview with GNA after submitting the forms, Mr Brempong said the process was smooth because he had gone through it before, explaining, It is a repetition of the 2016 procedures for me.



He said his campaign message would touch on security, sanitation and health, education and youth employment because he had realised there were a lot of opportunities in the Constituency, which when tapped would lead to the economic development of the people.



Mr Brempong said would focus on a house-to-house campaign to send the message across to the people, adding that he was most popular candidate in the Constituency.



He urged the electorates in the Constituency to vote for him to advance development in the area, saying that his chances for victory was 60 per cent because of the positive response he was receiving.



The EC on Thursday, January 10, opened nominations for the aspirants in Constituency.



The nomination would open until Saturday, January 12, 2019.



Madam Lydia Alhassan, a mother of the children of Mr Agyarko, the former MP for the area, won the primary of the ruling New Patriotic Party.



Source: GNA









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A German pastor thinks he may have found an effective way to approach the men in his community and it involves one of his greatest passions, whisky.



Thomas Eschenbacher, 53, a Franconian pastor from Hammelburg, in Bavaria, has long been looking for ways to approach men and talk to them about God and the Christian faith.



Its not the easiest thing to do, especially in this day in age, but Eschenbacher thinks whisky may just be the solution to his problem.



A big fan of the Scottish spirit, the pastor noticed how easy it was to start a conversation about whisky during a leisurely whiskey tasting evening with friends, and decided to use the same catalyst to get through to men in matters of religion.



He recently announced that he was organizing a whisky retreat for men and all the 30 available spots were sold out almost instantly.



Bible reading events dont really work, but with whisky can I reach the men, its a topic that interests them, he said.



During the three-hour whisky retreat scheduled for January 11, the pastor hopes to use the spirit to not only start a conversation about faith, but also help participants slow down their life and reflect on their existence.



He said our time is so crowded. We always want to clarify everything in eight hours. A whiskey needs at least ten years to be good, and so my message is not short-term,.



Five different whiskeys will be served during the retreat  four from Scotland and one Bavarian  four of which will be discussed among the participants and one enjoyed in silence.



Although Bible passages will be read by Eschenbacher during the three-hour event, the pastor says that he wont try to force the Faith onto the participants.

Source: odditycentral.com









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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Three mining companies have received validation and mining concessions from the Minerals Commission to begin small scale mining in the Dormaa Central Municipality of Brong-Ahafo Region.



Their certification came following government's lifting of the ban on small scale mining based on an institution of a workable plan to streamline activities of small scale miners in the country.



The ban on galamsey- illegal mining activities still remains in force.



The companies are Peter Oteng Mining Company Limited, Richever Mining Company Limited and Cosado Mining Company Limited.



Mr. Drissa Ouattara, the Dormaa Central Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) announced at the end of 2018 general meeting of the Municipal Assembly at Dormaa-Ahenkro.



He appealed to the chiefs and residents in the Municipality to help government to permanently halt illegal mining operations by exposing both indigenes and foreigners engaged in it.



"With the lifting of the ban on small scale mining, we ask our traditional rulers to team up and confer with us for the necessary cross-checks to be done first if any person surfaces in their areas, wanting to do small scale mining," he stressed.



The MCE added that to give expression and commitment to government's determination to fight and eliminate illegal mining, 20 mining companies were also sent to George Grant University of Mines and Technology (GGUMaT) at Tarkwa in the Western Region to receive training on how to apply appropriate and recommended operational methods for sustainable mining in the Municipality.



He indicated that a Municipal Mining Committee with a mandate similar to the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Mining had been established to help supervise activities of miners in the Municipality.



The Committee is chaired by Mr Ouattara, and the membership included; representatives each of Municipal Assembly, Bureau of National Investigation, Forestry Commission, the Dormaa Traditional Council, Ghana Immigration Service, Environmental Protection Agency, the Municipal Police Command and the National Commission for Civic Education.



The MCE later presented certificates to the 20 mining companies that were trained on best mining practices at GGUMaT.





Source: GNA









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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There are an estimated 1.2 million of them who are eligible to join the rolls, or nearly 10 percent of the 13 million registered voters in the state. Thats way more than enough to make a difference in the next presidential election in two years  that is, if enough of them register and turn out to vote.
I get a kick out of people being surprised  Im surprised hes doing this, and doing this  because I think people get so used to people running campaigns saying whatever it takes to get elected, and as soon as they get in there, they act as if none of that ever happened, DeSantis said.
His first victim, according to authorities, was Ramirez, who he picked up on September 3. Days later he picked up Luera, who became suspicious when she realized Ortiz was the last person to see Ramirez alive. When she exited his car, the border agent allegedly shot her multiple times in the head.
Christopher Baird, of Chuluota, bought the winning Monopoly Jackpot Scratch-Off game ticket at RaceTrac gas station at 1600 South John Young Parkway in Kissimmee. He opted to receive his winnings all at once, in a lump-sum payment of $715,000, officials said.
On Dec. 8, Fleming locked himself in a bedroom with the boy before the teens mother unlocked the door with her nail and found them sitting next to each other on a couch. She said her son ran to the bed and covered himself with a blanket but wouldnt say what was happening between them, the report shows.
In 1919, German architect Walter Gropius founded Bauhaus, the most influential art school of the 20th century. Bauhaus defined modernist design and radically changed our relationship with everyday objects. Gropius wrote in his manifesto Programm des Staatlichen Bauhauses Weimar that There is no essential difference between the artist and the artisan. His new school, which featured faculty that included the likes of Paul Klee, Laszlo Moholy-Nagy, Josef Albers and Wassily Kandinsky, did indeed erase the centuries-old line between applied arts and fine arts.









Bauhaus architecture sandblasted away the ornate flourishes common with early 20th century buildings, favoring instead the clean, sleek lines of industrial factories. Designer Marcel Breuer reimagined the common chair by stripping it down to its most elemental form. Herbert Bayer reinvented and modernized graphic design by focusing on visual clarity. Gunta Stolzl, Marianne Brandt and Christian Dell radically remade such diverse objects as fabrics and tea kettles.

Nowadays, of course, getting one of those Bauhaus tea kettles, or even an original copy of Gropiuss manifesto, would cost a small fortune. Fortunately for design nerds, typography mavens and architecture enthusiasts everywhere, the good folks over at Monoskop have posted online a whole set of beautifully designed publications from the storied school.

Click here to pick out individual works or here to just get all of them. Sadly, though, you cant download a teakettle.

The list of Books in the Monoskop Bauhaus archive includes:

And here are some key Bauhaus journals:

bauhaus 1 (1926). 5 pages, 42 cm. Download (23 MB). bauhaus: zeitschrift fur bau und gestaltung 2:1 (Feb 1928). Download (17 MB). bauhaus: zeitschrift fur gestaltung 3:1 (Jan 1929). Download (17 MB). bauhaus: zeitschrift fur gestaltung 3:2 (Apr-Jun 1929). Download (15 MB). bauhaus: zeitschrift fur gestaltung 3:3 (Jul-Sep 1929). Download (16 MB). bauhaus: zeitschrift fur gestaltung 2 (Jul 1931). Download (15 MB).

Get more in the Monoskop Bauhaus archive.

Related Content:

The Homemade Hand Puppets of Bauhaus Artist Paul Klee

Time Travel Back to 1926 and Watch Wassily Kandinsky Create an Abstract Composition

Bauhaus, Modernism & Other Design Movements Explained by New Animated Video Series

Jonathan Crow is a Los Angeles-based writer and filmmaker whose work has appeared in Yahoo!, The Hollywood Reporter, and other publications. You can follow him at @jonccrow. And check out his blog Veeptopus, featuring lots of pictures of vice presidents with octopuses on their heads. The Veeptopus store is here.
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Yes. I would be the first in line.

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I plan to, but I want to wait to see effects of first doses.

Not sure.

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I walked out into the hallway and I was assaulted by the gaggle, with pieces of equipment hitting me in all sorts of my anatomy and it was an off-hand comment just to get them to move back, he explained the next day. The physical assault was overwhelming.
Nowhere is this more glaring than in our rickety registration system. As New York voters, we must jump through more hoops to register than in just about any other state  we are required to print, stamp, and mail paper forms, and resubmit those forms every time we move. We have to remember to do so at least 25 days (and up to 13 months) before an election, or we are barred from voting.
Even though 800,000 federal employees are going without paychecks due the shutdown induced by President Trumps border wall obsession, Treasury officials worked behind the scenes to make sure mortgage lenders are still able to have their forms processed by the IRS, allocating revenue from fees to bring back and pay wages for hundreds of furloughed tax clerks.
In particular, Gabbard stoked outrage after she met with Syrian dictator Bashar al Assad in 2017  a meeting she claimed in an interview was important in the mission to achieve peace for the Syrian people. Assad stands accused of killing hundreds of thousands of his own citizens by having his military launch chemical attacks.
The bill, if passed into law, will shift the cost of the abuse from their shoulders to the ones who caused it, identify the predators hidden in our midst, and further reveal to the public the ways in which child abusers and enabling institutions endanger New Yorks children, Hamilton said.
When my grandmother got here almost 100 years ago, Im sure she could have never imagined just two generations later one of her grandsons would be serving as a member of United States Congress and the other would be standing with you here to day to say these words: I am a candidate for the President of the United States, he said to cheers.
What do you predict for the Middle East during the year that has just begun? What do you think will be the major currents that will govern this year and that will continue to flow into the next? Are there certain countries that offer the hope we seek?

Often scholars seeking answers to questions of this sort have homed in on Iraq. The reason is that, despite all the upheavals, violence and bloodshed, that country managed to hold national elections twice and it now stands at a crossroads.

Will it continue the state-building process, mend ethnic and sectarian rifts and gulfs, and build a state of all its citizens? The challenges are many, from the continued existence of the Islamic State (IS) group, even if it has lost its territorial base, to pressures from the overbearing influence of Iran.

But by preserving unity and drawing on the heritage and capacities of the state, Iraq can recover from being the sick man of the Middle East and become one of the most active and effective players in the region and in the Levant in particular.

We have frequently, in this column, indicated that the national state in the Middle East is recuperating to varying degrees. Although still weak and feeble and dependant on foreign powers, the hard times in which the very survival of the state was in question are over.

We are now in the process of reconstruction and gluing things back together. Much has changed in the game of nations which, during this decade, was based on confrontations between ideologies and sects, and on the clash between the beleaguered nation state and transnational extremist organisations operating regionally and, sometimes, globally.

Now, as we approach the threshold of the third decade of this century, such face-offs have begun to fade. They may not have ceased entirely, but the rules of political geography have taken a lead and made it possible to translate national boundaries into behaviours governed by new options that have roots in the past but that must take the costs paid into account.

For example, the actions and behaviours of Iran, Turkey and Russia, especially in light of the apparent withdrawal of the US, are governed by the opportunity to invest in their already existing military presence in Syria and to translate it into geographic assets.

Iran wants as broad a corridor as possible from Iraq to the Mediterranean via Lebanon. Turkey wants to establish a permanent presence in northern Syria that will put an end to its Kurdish problem once and for all, not just in Syria and Iraq, but inside Turkey as well.

Russia sees the story of victory over IS and its sisters as a Russian narrative that began with its direct military intervention and ended with the US departure.

Translated geographically, Russian presence on Mediterranean shores heralds the revival of the global status and influence the Soviet Union had in this region, including in Libya, Yemen and Palestine.

But opportunity generally does not come without risks. The three abovementioned countries have entered the new year politically and economically fatigued at home, burdened by long and heavy military expenditures and many casualties.

Their regional and international roles have become part of their domestic politics, a way of offsetting mounting anger at leaders who have lost their way, spent exorbitantly with no tangible returns for the people, and ultimately wreaked boundless attrition on their countries.

Under such conditions, how much help can these three countries give to Iraq and Syria for the processes of reconstruction or the return of refugees? Not all that much, it would appear.

Moreover, further expenditures abroad might exacerbate the anger and dangers at home, especially as long as oil prices remain low for Russia and Iran and there are alternatives to Russian gas and its Turkish pipelines to Europe.

The signs and manifestations of all the foregoing will not be limited to a year, but they are worth keeping track of during 2019, especially if forecasts are correct and Saudi modernisation and Egyptian economic reform processes sustain their dynamism as the two countries grow closer together through their overlapping interests from the Red Sea to Sinai, the Gulf of Aqaba, the Suez Canal and the eastern Mediterranean.

As this vitality burgeons, it will yield new equations in the Middle East. These will initially manifest themselves domestically, but their results will be seen in foreign policy, signalled in particular by a way out of the Yemeni crisis, an opportunity for Iraq and Syria to return to the Arab fold, and a concrete Arab role in the management of the Lebanese and Palestinian crises.

It is clear that the modernisation process in Saudi Arabia is moving forward by the day. This is as evident ideologically through the rediscovery of the history of Saudi state as it is in the progress being made in the development of the national economy between the Red Sea and the Arab Gulf.

It is equally clear that the economic reform process in Egypt is proceeding on the course charted by international financial agencies. Economic growth is expected to reach six per cent in 2019 and increased flows of investment into modern infrastructure will attract even more.

The modernisation and economic reform of the Arab order, beginning with Cairo and Riyadh, offers the Middle East a new promise for development, stability and peace.

However, the game of nations in the Middle East is also shaped by human thought and the decisions of political leaders. We can see these factors at play in the return of Arab embassies to Damascus, the natural outcome of which will be Syrias return to the Arab League in the next few months.

We can also expect a more active Iraqi role in the League. Although both Syria and Iraq are encumbered by the heavy toll exacted by the decade that is due to expire in a year, the forthcoming decade will offer them greater room for choice and more alternatives to choose from.

Lets recall that Egypt too returned to the Arab fold and the Arab league after a hiatus following the peace agreement with Israel. It then played important roles in the war to liberate Kuwait, in the Madrid peace process and other steps towards a solution to the Arab-Israeli conflict.

Neither Syria or Iraq need a whole decade to recover their regional status and influence. 2019 may be the year of preparation and discovery so that they can turn the page on the second decade of the 21st century, with all its pains and sorrows, and open new pages to a more promising and brighter future.

What we must continue to bear in our minds and hearts is that the region has changed a lot and it is both impossible and folly to turn back the clock and try to make things as they were before.

Ultimately, where the region heads will depend not only on actual capacities and realities on the ground, but also on imagination, the power to seize the initiative, the ability to keep options open and the power of faith to believe that as we enter the heart of the 21st century, we should not do so as aliens from bygone centuries or from extinct planets.

* The writer is chairman of the board, CEO and director of the Regional Centre for Strategic Studies.

* A version of this article appears in print in the 10 January, 2018 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly under the headline: Prospects for 2019

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Liu is particularly concerned about the city Department of Educations contracting procedures  which he described as a vestige of the first iteration of mayoral control from 2002 to 2009, when the city comptrollers office did not have any say over the departments contracts.
Cant believe I have to say this, but: PLEASE DO NOT HURT YOURSELVES WITH THIS BIRD BOX CHALLENGE. We dont know how this started, and we appreciate the love, but Boy and Girl have just one wish for 2019 and it is that you not end up in the hospital due to memes, the company tweeted.
I told her we sent (all the paperwork), Jessy Hernandez said of the Jan. 2 phone call. I told her he was in the intensive care unit, that he cannot go on a commercial flight, that he is on oxygen and dialysis and everything is getting worse.
Things headed up against us, Buscemi had said after her return before adding, If she ever leaves me, maybe Ill start writing songs again. But Id much rather be happy with her than writing sad songs about her.
In their rush to get out of the home, police said Wright bumped into the front door and accidentally discharged his weapon, striking Butler in the back. She can be seen falling to the ground in the body cam video, with Wright immediately dropping down beside her to provide medical assistance.
Booras was suspended with pay from the state Supreme Court last March after the Post published allegations from a California man who claimed to be her former lover, including that she stalked him after he ended their decade-long affair.
From the beginning, we have alleged that Alex Jones and his financial network trafficked in lies and hate in order to profit from the grief of the Sandy Hook families, said attorney Chris Mattei, representing the seven plaintiff families who sued Jones.
On Dec. 29, Whipple, who had received a manicure at Crystal Nails and Spa, told workers at the Las Vegas salon that she needed to retrieve cash from her car after her credit card declined, said cops.
Police said Fair took the girl to a local hospital after she passed out from the attack, but Skylar died a few days later at Lurie Childrens Hospital in Chicago following a failed attempt to relieve the swelling in her brain.
Police identified the two shot men as Gerald Harris, 29, and Jahlil Holmes, whose age was not given. One of the men was shot in the abdomen, and the other in the arm.
One year ago, the Korean Peninsula had a rendezvous with history. After almost 12 months of threats of an impending doomsday, North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un surprised the world with a conciliatory message to South Korea on the occasion of the new year, 2018.

One month and a half later, the sister of the supreme leader of North Korea travelled to South Korea as head of the North Korean national team taking part in the Winter Olympics.

It was a repeat of what is known as ping-pong diplomacy that paved the way, four decades earlier, to the normalisation of relations between the United States and China.

Many had thought that the same dynamics would apply to relations between Washington, Pyongyang and Seoul.

This turn of events in the Korean Peninsula was made possible by the election of Moon Jae-In as president of South Korea in 2017.

From the outset, he left no doubt that he would work for peace and security in the Korean Peninsula by engaging the young and assertive leader of North Korea.

In the first half of last year, he brought about something that never happened before since the end of the Korean War in 1953, that is, an American-North Korean summit on 12 June in Sentosa, Singapore. It was the first summit ever between a sitting US president and a North Korean leader.

The summit raised hopes that a peace process for the Peninsula would begin in earnest and that the world was about to see the end of the last vestige of the Cold War.

However, many, especially the hawks in the United States and South Korea, were very sceptical of the true intentions of the leader of North Korea. Most of them have believed that he was just manoeuvring in order to alleviate the effects of the sanctions regime imposed on his country.

Still, the North and South Korean leaders met in three summits in the course of last year and agreed on a roadmap for the future normalisation of inter-Korean relations.

From following developments in these relations, there is no doubt that the two sides are looking forward to the day when sanctions would be alleviated on the North and wont be an obstacle towards the fulfillment of the hopes of the peoples of the two Koreas for peace and security on the Peninsula, and ultimately the reunification of Korea.

The major stumbling block in this respect has been the US definition of denuclearisation. While North Korea thinks in terms of the denuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula as a whole, and that the process should not be limited to the North, American leaders have insisted on a narrow definition; namely, denuclearisation applies only to North Korea.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo was scheduled to travel to Pyongyang in October to hold talks with the leaders of North Korea and prepare the grounds for a second American-North Korean summit.

For various reasons, mainly public American insistence that denuclearisation means the nuclear disarmament of the North without specifying what the United States would give in return, in terms of security guarantees to Pyongyang and bringing to an end the state of war on the Korean Peninsula, the trip was postponed.

It goes without saying that the North Korean leader needs to achieve a breakthrough in American positions concerning the future security architecture in the Peninsula.

It is highly doubtful that he would agree to the complete denuclearisation of his country and willingly lose the formidable deterrence capabilities that Pyongyang already has in return for sanctions relief and economic assistance.

Short of such a breakthrough, North Korea sees no advantages in pursuing a limited peace process in which it becomes the party that makes major concessions without anything concrete in return.

The strategic cost is too high to be contemplated from the perspective of the North. In this, no sensible mind could fault them.

On 31 December, Kim Jong-Un addressed his nation, and the world, in a New Years Eve speech. He was quoted as saying: We have announced that we will not produce, test nor proliferate any more nuclear weapons, and have taken practical measures accordingly.

 He stressed that, if the United States responds to our pre-emptive and autonomous efforts with credible measures and corresponding actions, the relationship between the two countries will accelerate for the better.

The message could not be clearer to American negotiators. It says no nuclear disarmament in North Korea without ending the deployment of American nuclear assets in South Korea, as well as the necessary delivery systems. And an official end to the state of war on the Korean Peninsula.

The North Korean interpretation of such a political and legal declaration would entail the withdrawal of American troops from South Korea, or at least a drawdown of American forces, including nuclear arms, so that it ceases to pose an existential threat to a nuclear-free North Korea.

Lest he be misunderstood, he warned that if the United States does not keep the promises it made in front of the world, misjudges the patience of our people, forces a unilateral demand on us and firmly continues with sanctions and pressures on our republic, we might be compelled to explore new ways to protect our autonomy and interests, and establish peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula.

During the outgoing year, the North Korean leader met Chinese President Xi Jinping three times in China. It is expected that a return visit by President Xi to Pyongyang would take place in 2019.

In the meantime, there are press reports that Kim Jong-Un would pay an official visit to Moscow, which would be his first trip to Russia since he came to power in 2011.

These visits prove that Kim Jong-Un has played his diplomatic cards quite intelligently with both China and Russia, something that would help him in an upcoming summit with President Donald Trump.

2019 could prove to be a decisive year for the two Koreas, and expectedly the South Korean president would spare no efforts in trying to bridge the gaps in American and North Korean positions with respect to the question of denuclearisation and its linkage to ending the state of war between North and South Korea.

* The writer is former assistant foreign minister.

* A version of this article appears in print in the 10 January, 2018 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly under the headline: The year of decision

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After the NYPD on released this photo of Medina to the media in an effort to find him, Medina shaved his beard and the next day left his US Postal Service job early by claiming he had a family emergency. (NYPD)
One of them said, I know youre OK, but my orders are to come get you, she recalled. Hes being harassed because of the complaints he made, first by that woman then by everybody in the department. The stress is killing him.
My client was without a weapon when he was shot in the neck and then when he was on the floor, in his foot, while his hands were up, Russo said.
Brewer also wants to see what changes to Manhattan streets can be salvaged going forward, like the 14th St. busway, because of large crowds that pack onto the L train overnight and on weekends.
Santana  who was then 21 years old  decided to leave the building to buy a new phone charger. He did not realize that Blake, who was headed out to begin his NYPD shift, trailed him out of the building, the suit says.
The new controversy comes about a year after Paul garnered criticism for filming what appeared to be a dead body in a Japanese forest known for its high suicide rate. He also expresses his shock after seeing the body and giggles toward the end of the video.
The Egyptian ambassador to Serbia Amr Aljowaily met with Serbian Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management Branislav Nedimovic on Thursday ahead of the ministers visit to Cairo, following up on the meeting between the meeting between Foreigb Minister Sameh Shoukry and Prime Minster of Serbia Ana Brnabic which took place on 28 November 2018, where the pair discussed ways to strengthen cooperation between the two countries in the field of agriculture.

During the meeting, Aljowaily highlighted the recent successes of Egyptian agricultural exports in a number of new markets, reflecting the implementation of phytosanitary standards at the production and export stages.

He also reviewed the scholarships offered by the Egyptian International Centre for Agriculture, encouraging the participation of experts from Serbia in these courses as an opportunity for direct communication between the two ministries and the exchange of technical expertise.

Nedimovic expressed his interest in his first visit to Egypt. He also reviewed opportunities for exports of grains and an invitation to participate in the Novi Sad Agricultural Exhibition in May, which is the largest in eastern and southern Europe.

The pair also discussed potential cooperation in the field of agricultural mechanisation and the use of information technology in agriculture and water resources management.

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Partial federal shutdown not likely to affect local schools  for now
Atiku Abubakar, presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), says the attempt to force Walter Onnoghen, chief justi...





Atiku Abubakar, presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), says the attempt to force Walter Onnoghen, chief justice of Nigeria (CJN), out of office has a negative meaning.





He said this in response to the charges filed against Onnoghen at the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB).





Ibraheem Al-Hassan, head of press and public relations unit of the Code of Conduct Tribunal, had disclosed that Onnoghen will be arraigned before the tribunal on Monday over alleged non-declaration of assets.





This followed a petition written against him.

Reacting in a statement, Atiku said the move against Onnoghen fuels his suspicion of President Muhammadu Buharis growing desperation concerning the forthcoming elections.





He added that if Onnoghen is found guilty, he should be tried by a competent court of law and not by Buharis administration.





I have received the news of the sudden charges about to be filed against the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Walter Onnoghen, with apprehension and suspicion especially as such a move against the head of an arm of our government is coming so close to an election in preparation of which the Buhari administration has shown growing desperation, he said.





My suspicions are further exacerbated by the fact that the Buhari government is pressuring an independent and self governing arm of government with the aim of getting CJN Walter Onnoghen to resign or be pushed aside.





I stand on the side of the rule of law and believe that a person is innocent until proven guilty.





If Justice Walter Onnoghen is guilty of the charges about to be preferred against him, let his guilt be determined by a competent court of law and not by the Buhari administration. The executive cannot usurp the role of the judiciary. Nigeria is still a democracy and not a fascist dictatorship as President Buhari may wish.





Any attempt to force Justice Walter Onnoghen to vacate his office, 4 weeks to an election for which the unpopular Buhari administration has shown every intention to manipulate, is a move pregnant with negative meaning.





I see no reason whatsoever for the ongoing pressure by the Buhari government to force Justice Walter Onnoghen to vacate office when he has not been convicted for any offence.





The PDP candidate called on the president to abide by the rule of law and stop his interference in the case against the CJN.





He said: I therefore call on the President to respect the principle of separation of powers and abide by the rule of law on this matter and stop any interference or pressure on Justice Walter Onnoghen or the judiciary and allow the law and the constitution take its full course.




The Department of State Services has denied that its operatives abducted Sen. Dino Melaye as alleged in some media. A statement by...





The Department of State Services has denied that its operatives abducted Sen. Dino Melaye as alleged in some media.





A statement by the Public Relations Officer of the service, Mr Peter Afunanya, said that the police brought Dino to its medical facility.





The Service wishes to state that the information, as being misrepresented by sections of the media, is far from the truth,he said.





Afunanya added that there was no time Dino was abducted by the service.

The fact is that it was the Police that brought him to the DSS facility after obtaining a 14-day detention warrant with effect from Jan.9.





The aim of bringing him to the Services facility is to complement Police efforts in giving the Senator a deserved medical attention, he said.





He explained that the Service accepted him in line with medical ethics and spirit of inter-agency cooperation.





The spokesman said the clarification became necessary to address the allegation that hooded men suspected to be DSS operatives abducted him from the Police hospital.





The DSS, therefore, reiterates and assures the public of its commitment to professionalism and respect for human rights in its operational engagements, he said.





Also, Force Spokesman, acting DCP Jimoh Moshood had earlier explained in a statement that Dino was moved to the DSS facility in Abuja, for further medical attention.








The police have accused Senate President Bukola Saraki of peddling falsehood, asking the public to disregard his claims. This foll...





The police have accused Senate President Bukola Saraki of peddling falsehood, asking the public to disregard his claims.





This follows Sarakis claim that his life is under threat and that the police had not made efforts to protect him.





At a press conference in Abuja, Saraki alleged that suspected thugs working for the All Progressives Congress (APC) invaded his family compound in Kwara state and destroyed a lot of things.





He said some policemen provided cover for the suspects while the attack lasted.

But reacting in a statement, Jimoh Moshood, force spokesman, denied the allegations. He said the senate president had not lodged complaint to the police as of the time he held the press conference.





Moshood said the force would not be distracted and would remain neutral.





The Nigeria Police Force did not give any protection to any political thug or shield any APC thug to go to family quarters of the Senate President in Agbaji, Ilorin and vandalize houses, shops and inflict wounds with machete on three people as claimed by the Senate President, he said.





The Police did not receive any complaint or report of gunshot and wounding as claimed by the Senate President in other areas he mentioned such as Adewole/Adeta, Ile-otan and ubandawaki/pakata.





For avoidance of doubt, there was no complaint reported at any Police division within Ilorin metropolis or any other Police Division on the 10th January, 2019 till today 11th January 2019 of any attack, wounding, shooting and destruction of any property by any individual(s) or any political party on their members.





However, Security within Ilorin metropolis and other locations in kwara State has been beefed-up to ensure security of all Nigerians living in the State.





It is pertinent to state that all Police personnel attached to the person of the Senate President, his office and family are intact and all the statutory security protection on the person of the Senate President are also accorded him all the time and there was no complaint from the Senate President before now to the Police on this.





It is incumbent on the Force to set the record straight and correct the wrong impressions that must have been created in the minds of the general Public and the International Community from the misinformation and misleading account from the Senate President.





The Inspector General of Police did not try any trick to implicate the Senate President in some criminal charges; the facts are in the public domain about the suspects of the Offa Bank Robbery now being prosecuted who implicated the Senate President in the matter.





The Nigeria Police Force is hereby assuring all Nigerians that the Nigeria Police Force has no any undisguised hostility to the Senate President or his supporters in Kwara State or to jeopardise or undermine his personal security and that of his immediate and larger family.




Whether as a way to relax, hang out with friends and family, or get a crush to spend time with you, the cinema culture is getting increa...

Whether as a way to relax, hang out with friends and family, or get a crush to spend time with you, the cinema culture is getting increasingly popular among Nigerians.

Cinemas across the country offer a diverse selection of movies.





Here is a serving of movies you can watch this weekend:





Second Act

Synopsis: Struggling with frustrations from unfulfilled dreams, 40-year-old Maya gets a chance to prove to Madison Avenue that street smarts are as valuable as book smarts. : Struggling with frustrations from unfulfilled dreams, 40-year-old Maya gets a chance to prove to Madison Avenue that street smarts are as valuable as book smarts.

Starring: Jennifer Lopez, Milo Ventimiglia, Vanessa Hudgens : Jennifer Lopez, Milo Ventimiglia, Vanessa Hudgens

Runtime: 103 mins : 103 mins





Power of 1

Synopsis: Power of 1 is aimed at entrenching in the hearts of Nigerians, the acceptance of the power of an individual effort, to make a significant difference in our society. : Power of 1 is aimed at entrenching in the hearts of Nigerians, the acceptance of the power of an individual effort, to make a significant difference in our society.

Starring: Alexx Ekubo, Annie Idibia, Gabriel Afolayan, Jibola Dabo, Jide Kosoko, Ramsey Nouah : Alexx Ekubo, Annie Idibia, Gabriel Afolayan, Jibola Dabo, Jide Kosoko, Ramsey Nouah

Runtime: 120 mins : 120 mins





Green Book

Synopsis: A working-class Italian-American bouncer becomes the driver of an African-American classical pianist on a tour of venues through the 1960s American South. : A working-class Italian-American bouncer becomes the driver of an African-American classical pianist on a tour of venues through the 1960s American South.

Starring: Linda Cardellini, Mahershala Ali, Viggo Mortensen : Linda Cardellini, Mahershala Ali, Viggo Mortensen

Runtime: 130 mins : 130 mins





Aquaman

Synopsis: Arthur Curry learns that he is the heir to the underwater kingdom of Atlantis, and must step forward to lead his people and be a hero to the world. : Arthur Curry learns that he is the heir to the underwater kingdom of Atlantis, and must step forward to lead his people and be a hero to the world.

Starring: Amber Heard, Dolph Lundgren, Jason Momoa : Amber Heard, Dolph Lundgren, Jason Momoa

Runtime: 143 mins : 143 mins





Up North

Synopsis: The heir to a construction empire is brought back from America to begin preparations for leadership of the family business. However, the boy, a rebel, defies the family. : The heir to a construction empire is brought back from America to begin preparations for leadership of the family business. However, the boy, a rebel, defies the family.

Starring: Bankole Wellington, Adesua Etomi, Rahama Sadau, Ibrahim Suleiman : Bankole Wellington, Adesua Etomi, Rahama Sadau, Ibrahim Suleiman

Runtime: 97 mins : 97 mins





The Call

Synopsis: Woli Arole, looking for a fast means of making money in order to have a birthday celebration, receives an unexpected call that he would never forget. This then leads him down paths of a call he was always destined to answer. : Woli Arole, looking for a fast means of making money in order to have a birthday celebration, receives an unexpected call that he would never forget. This then leads him down paths of a call he was always destined to answer.

Starring: Woli Arole, Yinka Quadri, Segun Arinze, Saka, Samuel Ajibola, Kevin Ikeduba : Woli Arole, Yinka Quadri, Segun Arinze, Saka, Samuel Ajibola, Kevin Ikeduba

Runtime: 103 mins : 103 mins





Sista Sista

Synopsis: Katherine and Ranti two sisters orphaned from childhood, born to eloped childhood lovers and thus have no links to any familys struggles and poor with Katherine taking on the role of mum and angel until their fortune turned suddenly, as they discovered they have come into a huge inheritance from their grandfather. : Katherine and Ranti two sisters orphaned from childhood, born to eloped childhood lovers and thus have no links to any familys struggles and poor with Katherine taking on the role of mum and angel until their fortune turned suddenly, as they discovered they have come into a huge inheritance from their grandfather.

Starring: Ayo Bahdmus, Belinda Effah, Candy J Coker, Charles Efe Lawson, Cordelia Emeh, Enyinna Nwigwe, Jide Kosoko, Remi Surutu : Ayo Bahdmus, Belinda Effah, Candy J Coker, Charles Efe Lawson, Cordelia Emeh, Enyinna Nwigwe, Jide Kosoko, Remi Surutu

Run time: 96 mins : 96 mins





God Calling

Synopsis: God Calling is a movie about obedience and faith, exploring drug abuse, suicide, and the difficulty of marriage on ones journey with God. : God Calling is a movie about obedience and faith, exploring drug abuse, suicide, and the difficulty of marriage on ones journey with God.

Starring: Zainab Balogun, Richard Mofe-Damijo, Onyeka Onwenu, Nkem Owoh : Zainab Balogun, Richard Mofe-Damijo, Onyeka Onwenu, Nkem Owoh

Runtime: 110 mins : 110 mins





BumbleBee

Synopsis: On the run in the year of 1987, Bumblebee finds refuge in a junkyard in a small Californian beach town. Charlie, on the cusp of turning 18 and trying to find her place in the world, discovers Bumblebee, battle-scarred and broken. : On the run in the year of 1987, Bumblebee finds refuge in a junkyard in a small Californian beach town. Charlie, on the cusp of turning 18 and trying to find her place in the world, discovers Bumblebee, battle-scarred and broken.

Starring: Dylan OBrien, Hailee Steinfeld, Justin Theroux : Dylan OBrien, Hailee Steinfeld, Justin Theroux

Runtime: 113 mins : 113 mins





Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse

Synopsis: Spider-Man crosses parallel dimensions and teams up with the Spider-Men of those dimensions to stop a threat to all reality. : Spider-Man crosses parallel dimensions and teams up with the Spider-Men of those dimensions to stop a threat to all reality.

Starring: Hailee Steinfeld, Mahershala Ali, Nicolas Cage : Hailee Steinfeld, Mahershala Ali, Nicolas Cage

Runtime: 117 mins : 117 mins




The Regional Center for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (RCREEE) signed a new cooperation agreement with Egypts housing ministry aimed at encouraging investments in renewable energy and energy efficiency applications in the countrys construction sector.

The agreement was signed on Thursday by RCREEE Executive Director Ahmed Badr and First Undersecretary of the Ministry of Housing and Head of Construction and External Relations Mohamed Hesham Darwish.

The centre describes itself on its website as an intergovernmental organisation with diplomatic status that aims to enable and increase the adoption of renewable energy and energy efficiency practices in the Arab region. It is based in Cairo.

The agreement facilitates the two parties efforts in research, capacity development and technical assistance for renewable energy and energy efficiency applications in the construction sector, according to a press release.

The centre will provide technical support through its experts to the Egyptian ministry in the fields of renewable energy and energy efficiency in the construction sector, as per the agreement.

The two parties will also jointly undertake funded projects as well as encourage cooperation with all relevant national stakeholders to develop, implement and follow up policies, strategies and action plans for renewable energy and energy efficiency applications in the construction sector, in line with Egypts priorities.

This agreement reflects RCREEE and the ministrys efforts to encourage private sector investments in renewable energy and energy efficiency projects in the construction sector in Egypt, the statement said.

The use of energy in the construction sector in the country represents about 40 percent of total electricity consumed locally.

The demand for the usage of energy in the construction sector is expected to increase by 50 percent by 2050 due to population growth and rapid growth in purchasing power, according to the centre.

Short link:


The Ohaneze Ndigbo, the apex pan-Igbo socio-cultural group, says it is not in a haste to endorse any presidential candidate for the Feb....

The Ohaneze Ndigbo, the apex pan-Igbo socio-cultural group, says it is not in a haste to endorse any presidential candidate for the Feb.16 Presidential Election.









The prominent among the contenders are incumbent President Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and former Vice President, Alhaji Abubakar Atiku, of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).









Deputy National Publicity Secretary of Ohanaeze, Chucks Ibegbu, who spoke on Saturday in Enugu, said the group would soon take a stand.









Ibegbu was explaining the delay in the groups adoption of a presidential candidate barely 34 days to the presidential election.









In a few days, probably after a week, our highest decision making organ, the Imeobi, will meet during which it will decide the political direction Ndigbo will follow.









However, the resolution might not be made public for obvious reasons, he said.









Ibegbu explained that since adoption of any of the presidential candidate borders on the political future of the Igbo people and, indeed, the entire Nigerians, such decision should not be taken in a haste.









He, however, revealed that the group would likely resolve to strongly support any presidential candidate whose key agenda is to genuinely restructure the country so that it could make sufficient progress.









On the recent advice by the Gov. Rochas Okorocha of Imo, that Ohanaeze should not endorse or adopt any candidate, Ibegbu said that Okorochas advice could not be easily dismissed.









We cannot dismiss that view because of so many existing factors; so many experiences of the past.









You cant dismiss Okorochas view on that, and that is why I told you that if we dont endorse openly it gives us room, a corridor to negotiate.









But if we do it openly, probably the expectation fails to work out, it might have an unintended effect, he noted.













(NAN)
Olagunsoye Oyinlola, chairman of the Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP), says President Muhammadu Buhari should allow Bola Tin...

Olagunsoye Oyinlola, chairman of the Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP), says President Muhammadu Buhari should allow Bola Tinubu, national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), contest the president election.





Addressing journalists at a news conference in Abuja on Friday, Oyinlola said Buhari would go down in history as the first president to hire a proxy in a presidential contest.





He said Buhari must debate against other presidential candidates and account for his stewardship to Nigerians.





President Buhari has indeed said senator Bola Tinubu would do the campaigns on his behalf. We hope he was misquoted. Otherwise, Nigerians should simply ask him to step back from the contest and let his party put Tinubu forward as its candidate, he said.

Buhari would go down as the first candidate in history to hire a proxy in a presidential contest. He is the one contesting, he should not be afraid to be the one to interface directly with Nigerians.





We urge Nigerians to insist that President Buhari must show that he is fit and able for the nations top job by leading his own campaign and by being at the presidential candidates debate.





Oyinlola also accused the APC of plotting to rig the 2019 elections by refusing to sign the electoral bill.





He noted that the amendments were made in order to have better legal frameworks for delivery of free and fair elections.





He said: We, therefore, see the presidents decision not to sign the bill as a direct, open threat to the integrity of the elections and it is not funny.





We call on him, therefore, to have a rethink and sign the bill into law without any further delay.




A civil society group, Anti-Corruption and Research Based Data Initiative (ARDI), has launched a legal move to remove Walter Onnoghen ...





A civil society group, Anti-Corruption and Research Based Data Initiative (ARDI), has launched a legal move to remove Walter Onnoghen as the chief justice of Nigeria.





ARDI has petitioned the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB), listing a number of allegations against Onnoghen  notably false declaration of assets.





The group said its petition, dated January 7, 2019, became necessary bearing in mind the imminence of the 2019 General Elections and the overwhelming roles of the Judicial Arm both before and after.





The petition was stamped received by the office of the CCB chairman on January 9, 2019.





The CCB is empowered by the constitution to investigate public officers, after which it would forward its findings to the appropriate body for trial if the allegations are confirmed.





What are the core allegations?





ARDI said Onnoghen is the owner of sundry accounts primarily funded through cash deposits made by himself up to as recently as 10th August 2016 which appear to have been run in a manner inconsistent with financial transparency and the code of conduct for public officials.





In the petition, the group said Onnoghen made five different cash deposits of $10,000 each on March 8, 2011, into Standard Chartered Bank Account 1062650; two separate cash deposits of $5000 each followed by four cash deposits of $10,000 each on June 7, 2011; another set of five separate cash deposits of $10,000 each on June 27, 2011, and four more cash deposits of $10,000 each the following day.





The campaigners said Onnoghen did not declare his assets immediately after taking office, contrary to section 15 (1) of Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act; and that he did not comply with the constitutional requirement for public servants to declare their assets every four years during their career.













Also alleged against him is that his Code of Conduct Bureau Forms (Form CCB 1) for 2014 and 2016 were dated and filed on the same day and the acknowledgement slips were issued for both on December 14, 2016  at which point, they said, Onnoghen had become the CJN.





Onnoghen assumed office as CJN on March 6, 2017.





ARDI alleged that prior to 2016, Onnoghen appeared to have suppressed or otherwise concealed the existence of these multiple domiciliary accounts owned by him, as well as the substantial cash balances in them.





These account balances were listed against his name by ARDI:





dollar account 1062650 with a balance of $391,401.28 on January 31, 2011 The Standard Chartered Bankdollar account 1062650 with a balance of $391,401.28 on January 31, 2011

The Standard Chartered Bank Euro account 5001062686 with a balance of EURO 49,971 .71 on January 31, 2011

The Standard Chartered Bank pound sterling account 5001062679 with a balance of GBP23,409.66 on February 28, 2011.

It is curious that these domiciliary accounts were not declared in one of the two CCB Forms filed by Justice Onnoghen on the same day, 14th December 2016, the group said.





ARDI said it believed its petition had established cases of suspicious financial and other transactions against His Lordship, collusion between His Lordship and various banks related to Suspicious Transactions Reporting (STR) and financial transactions not justifiable by His Lordships lawful remuneration at all material times.





What happens next?





The Code of Conduct Bureau, according to section 3 (e) of the Third Schedule (part 1) of the 1999 constitution, shall receive complaints about non-compliance with or breach of the provisions of the Code of Conduct or any law in relation thereto, investigate the complaint and, where appropriate, refer such matters to the Code of Conduct Tribunal.





However, since judicial officers are disciplined by the National Judicial Commission (NJC), it is unlikely the CCB will refer his case to the Code of Conduct Tribunal if the allegations are found to have substance.













It could be referred to NJC, of which Onnoghen is the chairman, but he would have to recuse himself in the process.





If found guilty, he could be asked to vacate his office as CJN, in addition to other punishments.





No chief justice of Nigeria has ever been subjected to trial, although the President Muhammadu Buhari administration has charged judges to court over allegations of graft and money laundering.





An early morning raid was conducted by the secret police on the residences of some judges in 2016 and substantial amounts of money in local and foreign currencies were recovered.





What is the link to elections?





ARDI linked its petition to the elections and the role the judiciary plays in the final outcome, and this could lead to speculation that it is a preemptive move against the bench.





The group said it is inevitable that His Lordship is also by these acts a likely hostage to the sources of these funds and beholden to or generally corrupted by their clandestine interests which might prove injurious to the Judiciary which he heads, and by extension the nation.





ARDI in the past defended actions by Buhari  including the alleged purchase of $496 million aircraft from the US without due process.





The presidents only sin is that he did not seek the approval of NASS for the release of the fund; he did not embezzle it. For anyone to think of impeachment process against him is not right. We have many problems at hand. Violation of a constitutional provision is bad but it is worse to act in an immoral manner, Dennis Aghanya, the executive secretary, said at the time.





What does Onnoghen think?





When contacted, Awassam Bassey, media aide of Onnoghen, said he had not seen the petition and would not want to comment on the issue.





I have no comment whatsoever to make on this issue. If the petition was sent to the Code of Conduct Bureau, then they are in the best position to state if the CJN declared his assets or not, he told TheCable via telephone.





Asked to react to the allegations of foreign accounts, Bassey said: I have just told you that I havent seen the petition. How can I comment on an issue that I dont know the genesis? I have no comment whatsoever. Thank you.





In September 2017, Bassey had said Onnoghen had nothing to hide and was open to investigation.





It is the first time he is being aware of any allegations or intelligence against him, neither has he been invited or called upon to offer any explanation on any impropriety. However, the Hon. CJN wishes to assure the public that he has nothing to hide and is open to investigation, he had said.





As a committed patriot who has spent all his adult life in the temple of justice, the Hon. CJN is ready to pay the required price to make the nation a better place.





A senior lawyer revealed that the ruling party does not trust Onnoghen to do their bidding in rigging the elections and giving judicial affirmation to their shenanigans, as you can see in the court cases that have gone against APC in recent weeks.





A former governor from the south-south is allegedly behind the petition.




The Minister of Transportation, Chibuike Amaechi has attested to insecurity in the present administration of President Muhammadu Buhari....

The Minister of Transportation, Chibuike Amaechi has attested to insecurity in the present administration of President Muhammadu Buhari.





Amaechi, in an audio tape shared by the former aide to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, Reno Omokri, said his monthly salary is not enough for him to pay for accommodation in secured areas in Abuja.





Amaechi, who alleged in the video that his party, the All Progressives Congress, APC, was taking N100,000 from his N960, 000 salary, said he cannot live in Gwarimpa or Utoko, where, according to him, armed robbers could easily attack him.





Amaechi was heard saying: My salary is N960,000 and APC takes N100,000. It wont pay any of all my kids are oversees. All. My first son is in Dublin, my second son is in Canada and my third son is in Britain.

It will not pay any of their fees. Out of that [money] three hundred thousand is for accommodation per month. Multiply by 12 is N4 million per where? You want me to go and live in Gwarimpa so that armed robbers will visit there? or Utako?





VIDEO:
Senate President, Bukola Saraki has raised alarm that the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Ibrahim Idris was after his life. S...





Senate President, Bukola Saraki has raised alarm that the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Ibrahim Idris was after his life.





Saraki, who is the Director General of the PDP Presidential Campaign Organisation (PPCO), raised the allegation at a press conference this evening in Abuja.





He called on the international authorities to hold Idris responsible if anything bad happened to him or members of his family.





Saraki also alleged the IGP had tried several tricks to implicate him in some criminal charges, the first being the arrest of some cultists who were being compelled to claim they worked for him.





He has also not succeeded with that plot. Who knows what else he may have planned? he asked.





Saraki, a former governor of Kwara state, continued, We need to make it clear to the entire world that now that ward to ward campaigns is about to begin in the state and I am set to participate in that grassroots campaign as I have always done.





Nobody is sure what instructions Mr. Idris has given to the police command in the state.





Thus, the entire world should hold the IGP responsible if anything untoward happens to members of my family and myself.
Babachir Lawal, former secretary to the government of the federation (SGF), says he did well while in office. President Muhammadu ...





Babachir Lawal, former secretary to the government of the federation (SGF), says he did well while in office.





President Muhammadu Buhari sacked Lawal in October after he was accused of corruption.





A senate ad hoc committee accused him of giving contracts worth hundreds of millions of naira to a company he owns to remove invasive plant species from the Yobe state water channels.





But in an interview with TheSun, the former SGF said he did not have any regrets serving in Buharis government.

Why would I regret? I did well, he said.





Lawal, who is working for Buharis re-election, said he does not know anything about the report that indicted him.





I dont know the report. Have you seen the report? I have not seen the report. So, I dont know what is in the report. They didnt give me, the ex-SGF said.





I didnt have access to President Buhari because he was president. I had access to President Buhari long before he became president. In fact, I am a family member.





So, whether he is president or not is immaterial. I can walk into his house and ask for food and I will get food long, long, long before there were talks of Buhari being president. Long, long before then! So, being a president doesnt mean I have no access to him again.





When asked if he is ready to face trial, the ex-SGF said: What do you think I should do if they decide to prosecute me? I do Dino Melaye or what do you want me to do?





We will go to court. Let them go to court. If they take me to court, we will meet in court.





Lawal said Buhari will defeat Atiku Abubakar, presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), whom he described as a Facebook politician.





Atiku is a Facebook politician. He gets all these smart boys and gives them laptop or smart phone and they write. They write anything they like. And then you go back and say ah, I am very, very popular or they organise bogus survey, he said.





Look, those who vote dont have smart phones, they dont have TV, and they just have in their minds that it is Buhari they want. The voter does not watch television.





He doesnt have time even if there is electricity in his village or even if there is GSM network in his village. He doesnt have the money to buy data bundle. So, they are just deceiving people and just deceiving themselves, thinking that PDP has something and I think PDP, their campaign structure has disintegrated.




The Coalition of United Political Parties has expressed concern over the Federal Governments alleged silence over Leah Sharibu who is...

Leah Sharibu who is still being held captive by Boko Haram. The Coalition of United Political Parties has expressed concern over the Federal Governments alleged silence overLeah Sharibu who is stillbeingheld captive by Boko Haram.





of Government Girls Science and Technical College, Dapchi, Yobe State, abducted by the insurgents in 2018. Leah Sharibu was one of the 110 pupilsof Government Girls Science and Technical College, Dapchi, Yobe State, abducted by the insurgents in2018.





Sharibu because she refused to renounce her Christian faith. The terrorists freed others but held on toSharibu because sherefused to renounce herChristian faith.





PUNCH on Friday that she might be released a few days to the elections to score a political point. The Deputy National Spokesman for the CUPP, Mark Adebayo, told SaturdayPUNCHon Friday thatshe mightbe released a few days to the elections to score a political point.





He said, As a parent, I am personally saddened by the manner of the abduction of the Dapchi girls. Politics apart, it was such a poor and fatal attempt at image laundering for a clearly failed government. Till date, the government has not been able to dispel the rumour of its collaborative culpability in the abduction of those helpless kids.





days after the abduction. Any doubts about the authenticity of that allegation and suspicion were removed when the terrorists returned the kids in a convoy ride back into Dapchi exactly 30days after the abduction.





He added, I have a feeling that Leah is being used as a political bait. The government may arrange her f





The Muhammadu Buhari government treats Leah Sharibus case as closed. That is an extremely unthinkable treachery against a citizen of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.





Adebayo also faulted what he described the precarious security situation in Nigeria and governments cluelessness.





He said, The question you should ask yourself is, why do our soldiers have to always be on the defensive while Boko Haram is often on the offensive?





He added, Instead of the military high command to launch a massive attack against the terrorists, they are organising a python dance across the country, which is a poorly concealed ploy to use the military to rig the presidential election through voter apathy.





The open rigging of the Ekiti and Osun states elections is still fresh in our memories, especially the instigated violence that accompanied those elections.

reedom a few days to the election to score a political point. But it matters not, just get her released and stop behaving like Leah Sharibu doesnt exist.
The police have moved Dino Melaye, senator representing Kogi west, to the federal special anti-robbery squad (FSARS) office in Guzape ...





The police have moved Dino Melaye, senator representing Kogi west, to the federal special anti-robbery squad (FSARS) office in Guzape district, Abuja.





On Friday, the police transferred the senator from their hospital to a Department of State Service (DSS) health facility for treatment after he complained that he was not getting better.





The police hospital had certified him fit for trial.





An associate of the senator revealed on Saturday that the next action of the police is unknown.





They moved him to SARS office in Guzape. The police moved him without any word. We dont know what they want to do now, the associate said.





Last week, the senator surrendered to the police following a 8-day siege laid to his Abuja residence.





The police accused Melaye of culpable homicide and alleged that his supporters shot one Danjuma Saliu, a police officer, in Kogi state on July 19.





Jimoh Moshood, police spokesman, said they have a warrant to keep Melaye for 14 days.




A former Secretary to the Government of Federation, Babachir Lawal has lambasted the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, presidential candi...





A former Secretary to the Government of Federation, Babachir Lawal has lambasted the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, ahead of the February 16 election.





Lawal described Abubakar as a Facebook Politician, who was no match for President Muhammadu Buhari in the upcoming 2019 election.





Speaking with The Sun, the former SGF said Buhari will trumph over Abubakar in all aspects including height, looks and integrity.





He said: Atiku is a Facebook politician. He gets all these smart boys and gives them laptop or smart phone and they write. They write anything they like. And then you go back and say ah, I am very, very popular or they organise bogus survey. Look, those who vote dont have smart phones, they dont have TV, and they just have in their minds that it is Buhari they want. The voter does not watch television.

He doesnt have time even if there is electricity in his village or even if there is GSM network in his village. He doesnt have the money to buy data bundle. So, they are just deceiving people and just deceiving themselves, thinking that PDP has something and I think PDP, their campaign structure has disintegrated.





Everywhere all over the country, if it is a matter of choice, you place Atiku side by side with Buhari, it is doubtful if anybody will pick Atiku. Is it experience? Buhari has more experience.





He was head of state, Atiku was only vice president. Is it height? Buhari is taller. Is it looking fine? Buhari looks a fine man. So, whatever it is. Is it integrity?




President Muhammadu Bahari, on Saturday, said that the agricultural programme embarked upon by his administration had produced the desir...

President Muhammadu Bahari, on Saturday, said that the agricultural programme embarked upon by his administration had produced the desired result.









Buhari stated this in Bauchi at a political rally organized to receive some prominent Peoples Democratic Party members in the state who had defected to All Progressives Congress.









The last two rainy seasons recorded in the past two years in the country as a result of which farmers recorded bumper harvest, were gifts from God.





Nigerians who heeded to my call for them to go back to farm, had no cause to regret, he said.









Buhari promised that if re-elected for a second term, he would ensure that all existing agricultural programmes initiated by his administration, were sustained to ensure food security.









He expressed delight that the agricultural programme had reduced mass importation of food items.









He also expressed satisfaction with the outcome of the anti-graft war embarked upon by his adminstration, saying it had yielded dividends.









The president reiterated the commitment of his administration to protect public treasury and ensure that looters were prosecuted according to the law of the land.









In his remarks, National Chairman of APC, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, cautioned the people against giving their mandate to someone else.









He urged Nigerians to thoroughly scrutinize presidential aspirants, adding that some of them that had boasted of being rich, owed it a duty to explain their sources of wealth.









Governor Muhammed Abubakar while addressing the gathering, called on voters in the state to vote massively for President Muhammad Buhari.





Abubakar enumerated programmes and projects undertaken by both the Federal and State governments, adding that the projects touched the lives of the people of the state.









He said that such projects and programmes would go down the drain if politicians who did not have the interest of the people at heart, were elected into offices.













(NAN)
Shareholders and workers at the Nile Cotton Ginning Company (NCGC) are continuing to wait for a solution to their dispute with the government in what has been a drawn-out process that has seen the company enter a kind of legal limbo.

The company was a public company that was privatised in 1997, but a court order in 2013 nullified its privatisation and ordered the owners to return it to the government.

In 2015, the Administrative Court rejected an appeal by the Holding Company for Construction and Development (HCCD) on behalf of the government to suspend the earlier verdict.

The cabinet presented a request to the Supreme Administrative Court (SAC) asking about the verdicts implementation. The SAC recommended holding negotiations between the two parties, namely the government and the companys shareholders, to reach an acceptable settlement.

Several years later, the negotiations remain ongoing. Work has been halted at the company, its shares are no longer traded on the stock exchange, losses are being reported every year, and shareholders are complaining.

In an attempt to solve the problem, the Ministry of Public Enterprise has prepared a law currently being discussed in the legislative and economic committees of parliament. The law is expected to be finalised within the coming weeks.

The draft law states that the prime minister has the authority to refer cases of the nullification of the privatisation of public companies to dispute settlement committees formed in accordance with Investment Law 72/2017.

The government says that this will protect shareholders rights and send a message of confidence to local as well as foreign investors.

Mokhtar Al-Sherif, a member of the Federation of Economic Development Associations, said that the law, if it passes in parliament, will not solve the problem since the government cannot select a dispute settlement authority or committee when it is a party to the dispute.

This would not be fair for shareholders, as members of these investment dispute committees are representatives of the government. The committees are formed of members from the ministries of justice, investment, finance and public enterprise, Al-Sherif added.

The new investment law states that when concluding any contract the parties must agree on a dispute settlement authority that they will refer to in case of disputes, according to Al-Sherif.

The government should be committed to its privatisation, and the companys ownership should remain in its shareholders hands, he said.

The companys shareholders blame the government for what they say is neglecting their interests, adding that it has no desire to solve the problem. They have been badly affected by the freeze placed on their capital over recent years, they add.

In November 2018, the Ministry of Public Enterprise started a comprehensive evaluation of the companys assets as a step towards facilitating procedures when reaching a final settlement.

Minister of Public Enterprise Hisham Tawfik has held several meetings with NCGC shareholders during the last two months and asked them to present suggestions in order to reach a fair settlement for all the parties.

The meetings ended with two ideas: either that the company returns to the public sector and the government pays compensation to shareholders following the evaluation of company assets, or that the shareholders pay the government 10 per cent of the value of the companys land, which will be revaluated for real estate activity, and the company remains in private ownership.

Foreign shareholders, who own 30 per cent of the stock, have been looking to enforce a mandatory tender offer on their stake by the Holding Company for Construction and Development.

The shareholders, who include investors from Saudi Arabia, the UK, Syria and others, plan to launch an arbitration case over their dispute with the parent company. They will ask for compensation after the eight years of unresolved disputes with the government.

Anwar Al-Naqeeb, a professor of economics at the Sadat Academy for Management Sciences, said that the foreign shareholders would likely win the case and the government would be obliged to pay large sums to them because of problems in the previous contracts.

Such cases make foreign investors afraid to invest in Egypt, and thats why Egypt stands at number 128 in attracting investments according to the latest World Bank Doing Business report, he explained.

He added that the government should bear its responsibility even if there are financial losses when selling the company in order to help protect Egypts reputation and attract more foreign direct investments.

He agreed with Al-Sherif that the new law would not put an end to the problem since it would only apply to cases following its issuance and not retroactively.

Al-Naqeeb suggested that the companys assets be reevaluated and sold off. The liquidation of the company is the best solution. The government could then use the revenue to pay the shareholders their capital and suitable interest to cover the past eight years. The workers should receive compensation, he said.

Ehab Al-Dessouki, head of the Sadat Academy for Management Sciences, said the government must find an acceptable solution since the investors had had nothing to do with problems in the privatisation process.

If the government had the will to solve the issue, Al-Dessouki said, it should buy 51 per cent of the shares from the shareholders at a fair price. The company can then resume its activities and shares can be traded on the exchange. he added.

The NCGC was established in 1965 and is based in Giza. It works in the ginning and import and export of cotton in addition to other activities. It was put under the umbrella of the Holding Company for Spinning and Weaving in 1996 and was listed on the stock exchange in 1997.

* A version of this article appears in print in the 10 January, 2018 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly under the headline: Cotton company in limbo

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The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), presently on a nationwide strike, has rejected the offers made to it early this w...





The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), presently on a nationwide strike, has rejected the offers made to it early this week by the Nigerian government.





This was made known by the President of ASUU, Biodun Ogunyemi, who revealed that upon reviewing the offers made by the government, members of the union across various campuses and zones rejected it.





Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, had stated that the labour dispute with the university teachers was on the verge of being resolved after the seventh meeting with the leadership of ASUU on Tuesday.





However, in a report by PREMIUM TIMES on Saturday, the President of ASUU, Biodun Ogunyemi, disregarded the claim of Chris Ngige and stated that they had rejected the offer.

Mr. Ogunyemi, who described governments offer on the outstanding revitalization fund of N1.1 trillion as tokenism, said members are insisting that government should release at least a tranche of N220 billion spread over four quarters of 2019.





He added that on earned allowances, governments proposal should not be lesser than the total amount released the last tim





Mr Ogunyemi said; Our members have rejected tokenism with respect to outstanding revitalization fund of N1.1 trillion. They are insisting that government should release at least one tranche of N220 billion spread over four quarters of 2019.





On earned academic allowances, our members said governments proposed amount out of the verified balance should not be less than the total amount released last time, while evidence of mainstreaming the allowances into the 2019 budget should be shown. Also, timeline should be attached to payment of the balance of the arrears.




Apple Inc. is planning to release three new iPhone models again this fall, including a successor to the struggling XR, the lower priced ...

Apple Inc. is planning to release three new iPhone models again this fall, including a successor to the struggling XR, the lower priced 2018 device with a liquid-crystal display that has fallen short of Apples sales expectations, people familiar with the matter said.
Boss Mustapha, secretary to the government of the federation (SGF), says he believes the All Progressives Congress (APC) has won the 2...





Boss Mustapha, secretary to the government of the federation (SGF), says he believes the All Progressives Congress (APC) has won the 2019 elections.





According to PUNCH, Mustapha said this on Thursday during the Gombe state governorship campaign rally at the Olusegun Obasanjo Stadium in Kaltungo, Gombe.





He reportedly said the APC is only waiting for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to announce the results.





We are only waiting for the announcement of the results. Just make sure you come out with your PVCs (permanent voter cards) and cast your votes because the Peoples Democratic Party cannot deceive again, he was quoted to have said.

Today, the lies of PDP have finished because we are here in Kaltungo to uproot the roots of the PDP. In 2015, the PDP deceived you that our party, the APC was a Boko Haram party, they told you that if you voted for the APC, all of you would be Islamised, there was nothing they didnt tell you.





If Buhari plays politics of religion, he wouldnt have appointed me the SGF because I am a Christian. If he were to be a religious politician, he wouldnt have taken (Yemi) Osinbajo, a pastor, and made him the vice-president.





You people of Gombe South, come out and vote for the APC from the top down to the bottom.





A former governor of the state, Danjuma Goje, said Christians in the north did not enjoy key national appointments until the coming of Buhari.





Although (Yakubu) Dogara has left the APC, he benefited from the party. He became the Speaker of the House of Representatives, he said.




At least 61 political parties have kicked against the draft released by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on elec...





At least 61 political parties have kicked against the draft released by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on election guidelines.





Ikenga Ugochinyere, publicity secretary of the inter-party advisory council, said in a statement that the 61 parties made their displeasure known in a petition submitted to INEC on Friday.





According to Ugochinyere, the parties disagreed with INEC on eight clauses which they said will ruin the 2019 elections.





Among the clauses is the simultaneous accreditation and voting processes which INEC introduced for the elections.

Political parties demand retention of 2011 and 2015 separate accreditation time and separate voting time to help forstall rigging with the presence of voters at the polling unit instead of INEC 2019 simultaneous accreditation and voting, he said.





Political parties demand announcement of accreditation figures by 12 noon on election day and recorded in a signed form and given to party agents before voting starts to forstall doctoring of election figures during collation.





The statement added that the parties demanded end of PVC collection 10 days to election and the disclosure of the total number of PVCs collected based on various polling units.





Political parties rejects the clauses in the guideline which allows unduly accredited voters to vote especially the clause that allows voters with PVC whose name is not in the register of voters to vote, it further read.





Political parties demand transparency in collation and transmission of results with accredited representatives of election observers and political parties monitoring.





Political parties reject the creation or usage of secret polling units called voting point settlement and demand full list and location of such units.





The parties also demanded the redeployment of Amina Zakari, a national commissioner at INEC, as head of the collation centre.





They sought her replacement with Okechukwu Ibeanu, federal commissioner in charge of operations, to ensure credibility and balancing.





Parties threaten to pass vote of no confidence on INEC chairman if he goes ahead to release the contentious guideline on Monday without further consultation with Political Parties Chairmen, the statement read.




The All Progressives Congress in Bauchi State on Saturday received no fewer than 18 prominent members of the Peoples Democratic Party w...

The All Progressives Congress in Bauchi State on Saturday received no fewer than 18 prominent members of the Peoples Democratic Party who had defected to the ruling party.





The event was part of activities marking the visit of President Muhammadu Buhari to the state.









Alhaji Uba Nana, APC chairman in the state handed over the defectors to the National Chairman of APC, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole.





Nana commended the defectors for taking the right decision at the appropriate time, urging them to contribute their quota to the development of the state and the party.









Receiving the defectors, National Chairman of APC, Oshiomhole, presented the broom to them as the logo and identity of the ruling party.









Speaking on behalf of the defectors, one of them, former governor of Bauchi, Alhaji Isa Yuguda, revealed that they would ensure the success of the party during the forthcoming elections.









He urged the leadership of the party to pardon their shortcomings.









The defectors were former Governor Isa Yuguda, former deputy governor Abdulmalik Mahmood, as well as senators Abubakar Maikafi and Babayo Gamawa, among others.













(NAN)
Thanks to early budget approvals, the USDA has succeeded in keeping at least some of its local offices open despite the lingering federal government shutdown.

Grover DePriest, area conservationist for the agencys Natural Resources Conservation Service, said the wing of the USDA Service Center on Oakland Avenue that contains his office and that at the county level remains open because of earlier budget approvals. Thats not the case for the agencys Rural Development and Farm Service offices in the same building.

For some reason, we had appropriations to carry us through for a while, DePriest told News-Press Now, adding he doesnt know how long that status can be maintained.

We are open for business, he said. Were still working with producers, developing farm plans and providing technical assistance, with our technicians surveying conservation practices and designing those, hopefully getting those back out to those producers that need them.

The full staff of employees with NRCS in St. Joseph are not considered to be on furlough and still are receiving their pay, he said. The responsibilities include those of an area engineer and an area soil scientist.

A shutdown kept the agency from transacting its business for two weeks in 2013, said DePriest, who has been with the department for about 36 years. His area covers 27 counties in Northwest Missouri, with 75 employees.

Despite the reprieve, staff members still are unable to handle contracts with clients, since program timelines have been realigned by the shutdown.

A lot of that has to do with money, he said.

Charlie Rahm, a spokesman for the NRCS statewide office, said Rural Development and the Farm Service Agency staffs have been laid off since late December.

We know we have money to fund us for a while, Rahm said. We have scaled back some things, some travel and conferences.

Funding for the NRCS was included in the new Farm Bill, which was signed into law before the shutdown began.

The National Agriculture Statistics Service, which produces crop and weather reports vital to Missouris farming interests, also is closed.
A job report published by the Missouri Department of Economic Development shows promising trends for St. Josephs economy.

Highlights of the November report include a growing labor force, increasing wages and an upward trend in employment growth.

St. Josephs total employment increased by 2.1 percent from November of 2017, the highest increase in the state of Missouri. The finding goes along with a 1.6 percent increase in the civilian labor force, which is also the highest in the state.

People who are either employed or looking for employment make up the civilian labor force; an increase in this number can indicate job seekers are moving to the area or people who have been out of the workforce are actively looking for employment again. St. Joseph Chamber of Commerce CEO and President Patt Lilly said after the recession of 2008, a 1.6 percent increase is good news.

After the recession, the number of people in the workforce had dropped to lows that hadnt been seen in several decades, Lilly said.Youre beginning to gradually see that go up. There are more jobs, there are better-paying jobs because employers are looking for people, it has caused job wages to go up. So, youre seeing some people now coming back into the job market that may have been out for a period.

The average hourly wage was $22.20 in St. Joseph in October of 2018, up from $21.10 in October 2017. St. Joseph places third in hourly wages in the state, after St. Louis ($27.76) and Kansas City ($25.75) but above Springfield ($21.93) and Columbia ($20.86).

Especially expansions of existing companies like Altec and Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica have helped the economy, according to Lilly.

That has helped our local economy quite a bit, Lilly said. Aside from the jobs that go along with the construction project, theyre also adding jobs that correspond to the new facilities.

New companies coming to St. Joseph play another important part in growing the economy. In 2018, Yellow Frog Graphics announced the construction of a $3.9 million facility and the addition of 50 jobs over the next five years. Lilly said the community has been working to create an atmosphere that lets new companies thrive.

St. Joseph has a very friendly business community. One of the things that we sell St. Joseph on is being a big fish in a small pond. You can be in Kansas City and my guess is most people in town dont even know who you are. But in St. Joseph, youre important. Youre a big deal, Lilly said.

Lilly said the report shows a promising future and the next step is concentrating on filling good-paying jobs that might go unfilled because there is not enough labor to support it.

Its a challenge for us, but its a good challenge, he said.
A local small business owner caught the attention of Facebook and is now headed to Silicon Valley.

Nicole Radke was selected for her work as a community leader through Friedrichs Market and her social media community activity. Radke co-owns the local business at 1139 Frederick Ave., with her husband, Dan. She has been heavily involved in the grassroots group, the Historic Frederick Ave District, where the market is located, and the Downtown community.

Theres so many things in our community that needs attention, Radke said. Whether its an online or offline community, I think that we need to be involved to feel like we have a purpose in life, to be happy and to know that youre not alone out there.

Radke will join about 350 other small business owners, nonprofits and community leaders for a two-day summit at Facebooks headquarters in Menlo Park, California. There are more than 100 million Facebook groups and about 6,000 were interviewed to possibly attend the summit. The goal is to network and learn from each other.

From Facebooks point of view, the event is used to help gain feedback to roll out tools that would be useful, Radke said. When (Facebook) initially started groups, there wasnt an intention for it to become a community. But people are connecting in that way, so they are noticing that there are features that people need.

Radke said from a user standpoint, there is a need to learn how to problem solve, market to a younger generation who may not be on Facebook, administer groups, handle disgruntled people and even take orders.

We need tools on the back end to help with, she said.

This is the second summit for the social media giant.

Radke found out Friday she will be speaking on a panel. She will have a 15-minute presentation that will be live-streamed on Facebook during which she will talk about the art of meaningful connections in a community.

I just feel like if I speak from the heart and talk about things that matter to me, thats part of why I think I was picked for that, she said. Whether its business or personal life or online community, its being able to see potential in another person and bring that out.
The European Union and NATO should work on a joint position on whether to exclude Chinese telecommunications equipment maker Huawei from their markets, Poland's internal affairs minister, Joachim Brudzinski, said on Saturday.

Poland has arrested a Chinese employee of Huawei and a former Polish security official on spying allegations, officials and sources told Reuters on Friday, a move that could fuel Western security concerns about the telecoms equipment maker.

However, a spokesman for the Polish security services told Reuters the allegations related to individual actions, and were not linked directly to Huawei Technologies Cos Ltd.

On Saturday, Brudzinski told private broadcaster RMF FM that Poland wanted to continue cooperating with China but a discussion was needed on excluding Huawei from some markets.

"There are concerns about Huawei within NATO as well. It would make most sense to have a joint stance, among EU member states and NATO members," he said. "We want relations with China that are good, intensive and attractive for both sides."

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A little piece of Northwest Missouri makes its way to church services all over the country each Sunday.

The Benedictine Sisters of Perpetual Adoration have been making altar bread for more than 100 years. The sisters, located in Clyde, Missouri, began making the communion product in 1910.

The nuns, who came from Switzerland to Clyde in 1874, initially made their living as teachers before realizing there was a need for altar bread in religious communities.

So our altar bread department is a main income source for the Benedictine sisters, but we also sell wholesale to other religious communities who then resell, and thats a source of income for their communities, says Margaret Branner, manager of the altar bread department.

Since beginning the service in 1910, the nuns in Clyde have become one of the largest producers of altar breads in America. The ministry has grown and now produces more than 2 million baked breads weekly.

We make the hosts that are used during religious ceremonies, Catholic Masses and other denominations, Branner says. We make peoples breads that the people consume during Mass, and we make the presiders bread that the priest or minister will use in Catholic Mass during the consecration.

The altar bread department even ships to locations outside of America.

Every couple months we sell to Australia and to England, Branner says.

While the altar bread department has customers overseas, others are much closer to home.

We serve most of the churches in this area, we serve about four churches in St. Joseph. Sometimes itll change depending on if new pastors come or go, Branner explains.

The altar bread department in Clyde also is the first producer of the gluten-sensitive breads for those who suffer from celiac disease.

Here we make white and wheat breads and the celebrant breads and then we also do make a low-gluten, Branner says. That was developed here by the sisters in 2003.

To learn more about the altar bread ministry, visit the Benedictine Sisters of Perpetual Adoration website, benedictinesisters.org, or check their page on Facebook.
The Japanese talent company that runs the popular AKB48 band and its numerous spin-off groups is in hot water over its handling of the assault of a member of one of its local girls units, with the victim having to apologize in public for "the trouble caused" after coming forward with her ordeal.

Maho Yamaguchi, a member of Niigata-based idol group NGT48, a sister group of AKB48, revealed on social media earlier this week that she was attacked by two men at the entrance to her home in December and that "I was trapped in my home and thought I was going to be killed."

Investigative sources said the two men, both in their 20s, grabbed Yamaguchi's face. The two were arrested the next day and were quoted as saying they had "just wanted to talk with her." The police released them without pressing charges.
Norwegian Air Shuttle said yesterday one of its Boeing 737s has been stuck in Iran for three weeks after an unscheduled landing due to engine problems, as US restrictions reportedly create headaches for the airline and possibly passengers. The aircraft was en route from Dubai to Oslo with 192 passengers and crew members on board when it carried out a safety landing in Shiraz in southwestern Iran because of engine trouble on December 14, a Norwegian Air Shuttle spokesman, Andreas Hjornholm, told AFP.

While passengers were able to fly on to Oslo the following day on another aircraft, the Boeing 737 Max has been stuck on Iranian soil where the airlines mechanics are trying to repair it, Hjornholm said. According to specialised sites such as www.airlive.net, the repair work has encountered problems because international sanctions bar the airline from sending spare parts to Iran. With the US withdrawal from the Iran nuclear deal, the Trump administration decided to reimpose sanctions on Tehran.

Norwegian Air Shuttle refused to comment on those reports. I can only say that we are working with several options to get the plane back on the wings, and right now we are waiting for our technicians to be able to service the plane and to get it working, Hjornholm said. The incident has fuelled jokes on social media. Iran has become a Bermuda Triangle that feeds on planes, one Iranian Twitter user wrote. It could also pose problems for the planes passengers and crew members if they want to travel to the US in future.

Since 2015, anyone who has travelled to seven countries considered at risk (Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen) since March 2011 is excluded from the US visa waiver programme applied to most Europeans. According to Hjornholm, the passengers and crew on the Dubai-Oslo flight officially entered Iran and stayed overnight at a hotel on December 14-15. The US embassy in Oslo was not available for comment.
A Houthi communications centre controlling drones has been destroyed, the Arab coalition supporting the legitimate government in Yemen said yesterday. The location of the drone control centre was formerly occupied by a Yemeni communications company but was then taken over by Houthi militia who turned it into an operations centre.

On Thursday, six people were killed when the Houthis exploded a drone above a military parade in Lahaj province. The United States on Friday strongly condemned the attack at Al Anad Air Base, which jeopardises a ceasefire for the port of Hodeidah agreed at talks in Sweden last month. This attack contravenes the spirit of the Hodeidah ceasefire and the progress made last month at the UN-led talks in Sweden, the State Department said.

We urge all sides to honour the commitments they made in Sweden to their fellow Yemenis by refraining from violence and provocative acts. The escalation came after the UN envoy to Yemen, Martin Griffiths this week warned: substantial progress was needed on the ground before full-blown negotiations could be launched on ending the civil war. Britain on Friday presented a UN Security Council draft resolution that would expand the international observer mission monitoring the Hodeidah ceasefire and allow humanitarian aid to reach millions.
His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa affirmed Bahrains deep pride in its close relations and strong partnership with the United States of America, which extends over 120 years of co-ordination and co-operation to achieve shared interests at all levels. HM the King made the statement as he received yesterday in the presence of His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander and First Deputy Premier, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo who is on a visit to the Kingdom of Bahrain.

His Majesty welcomed the visit of the US Secretary of State to the Kingdom of Bahrain and stressed the importance of exchanging such visits to develop cooperation at all levels, especially in the political, economic and defence areas. His Majesty expressed the Kingdoms keenness to consolidate its relations with the US in order to serve the common aspirations and interests of the two friendly peoples, noting the active role of the US community and its contribution to the Kingdoms comprehensive progress. He stressed that the US community is always hailed and appreciated by the people of Bahrain.

The talks covered developments in the region in addition to the most important regional and international issues. HM King Hamad praised the historic US global role and its contribution to the consolidation of security, stability and international peace and its keenness to cooperate with Bahrain and friends in the region in order to build on accomplishments and achieve further progress and prosperity.
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(Newser)  The campaign of US Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has been fined $1,500 for not having the required workers' compensation for a month last year, the AP reports. A spokeswoman for the New York state Workers' Compensation Board, Melissa Stewart, said Friday that Ocasio-Cortez's Democratic campaign lacked coverage from March 31 to April 30. She says the fine, first reported by the New York Daily News, has been paid.

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Stewart says the coverage is "vital to ensuring workers are protected for on-the-job injuries." The 29-year-old Ocasio-Cortez, a democratic socialist, made bettering the lives of working people and the poor in her Queens-Bronx district a key component of her successful campaign to upset longtime incumbent Joseph Crowley in the 2018 Democratic primary. A message left with her Washington office wasn't returned. (Meanwhile, her recent comments on Trump have caused a ruckus.)
A Greek prosecutor on Saturday ordered an investigation into alleged threats to lawmakers over a name deal with Greece's neighbour Macedonia, a judicial source said.

Macedonia's parliament on Friday passed an amendment to the constitution to rename the country Republic of North Macedonia, in line with an agreement with Greece to put an end to a 27-year-old dispute.

Many Greeks are irked that their Balkan neighbour is assuming a name linked to Greek heritage and identical to a northern region of Greece.

The countries struck the deal in June, but Macedonia will start using the new name only after the parliament in Athens also ratifies the agreement. A vote is expected later this month.

The order for a preliminary investigation came after two Greek news websites reported that lawmakers had received threatening text messages to vote against the deal, the source said.

The probe will seek to determine whether there has been a violation of personal data and inducement to commit a crime, the source added.

The Macedonia accord has strained relations between Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras and his junior coalition partner Panos Kammenos.

Kammenos, defence minister and head of the right-wing Independent Greeks (ANEL) has vowed to reject the deal but at least one of his deputies has said publicly he will support it. It is unclear how other ANEL lawmakers will vote.

The left-right governing coalition has a razor-thin majority with 153 seats in the 300 member parliament. Seven of those seats belong to ANEL.

The main opposition New Democracy party has said it will block the deal. The government hopes the deal will pass with the support of centre-left and independent lawmakers.

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(Newser)  Chalk up another one for Sandy Hook families. A Connecticut judge ruled Friday that six families of people killed at Sandy Hook Elementary School in 2012 can review legal documents of conspiracy peddler Alex Jones' website, InfoWarswhich claimed the school shooting was a hoax, per ABC News. The ruling allowed most of the families' discovery requests to proceed in a lawsuit against Jones and the site. The families say they've been harassed and threatened since Jones portrayed the shooting as a conspiracy intended to inspire tighter gun-control laws, per Newsweek. No evidence of a conspiracy has arisen, but Fortune says such "crisis actor" theories emerge after most US mass shootings. (This isn't Jones' first legal setback against Sandy Hook parents.)
(Newser)  A federal jury has found a suburban North Texas couple guilty of enslaving a Guinean woman for 16 years. Jurors found Mohamed Toure and his wife, Denise Cros-Toure, guilty Thursday of forced labor, per the AP. They face up to 20 years in prison, but no sentencing date was immediately set. Toure is the son of a former president of the West African country of Guinea. The Southlake, Texas, pair was accused of bringing the 5-year-old girl from her rural Guinean village in 2000 and forcing her to work without pay in their home for years. Authorities began investigating after the victim fled the couple's home in 2016. The defense attorneys said they would appeal the verdict. (Meanwhile, a website made a holiday joke about holding women as sex slaves.)
(Newser)  There's a new sheriff in Broward County, Fla. That's because Scott Israel, the one in that job during the February shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, has been suspended by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, per the Hill. Israel was removed from his post for "repeated failures, incompetence and neglect of duty," DeSantis tweeted Friday afternoon, adding in a statement that Israel "has repeatedly failed and has demonstrated a pattern of poor leadership.  The families of the victims deserve accountability." Israel, 62, had been criticized by both lawmakers and families of the shooting victims after reports emerged that his office had received nearly 20 tips on the accused gunman before the shooting. Many in Parkland also faulted Israel for the way his deputies responded during the shooting itself, crouching behind cars and trees instead of rushing into the school, per the Sun Sentinel.

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HuffPost notes DeSantis has the right under state law to suspend elected officials for misfeasance, neglect of duty, criminal activity, or incompetence. Israel, who was said to have been aware that a suspension might be coming down the pike, issued his own statement (read it in full at the Sun Sentinel) in which he says DeSantis' actions lack "both legal merit and a valid factual basis. There was no wrongdoing on my part.  I understand it is easier to say 'Suspend Sheriff Israel' than it is to address the real problem of gun violence." Israel, who'd been sheriff for six years, per Fox News, says he'll take his case both into the courts and to the Florida Senate, which will hold a trial and either restore his job or take him out of it permanently. The new acting sheriff: 40-year-old Gregory Tony, an ex-Coral Springs police sergeant with active-shooter training who will be Broward's first African-American sheriff. (Read more Parkland school shooting stories.)
(Newser)  Lin-Manuel Miranda reprised his lead role in the hit musical Hamilton on Friday night to start a two-week run in Puerto Rico expected to raise thousands of dollars for artists and cultural groups struggling in the wake of Hurricane Maria. Miranda took the stage for the first time since his last appearance in the Broadway version in July 2016, when he played the role of US founding father Alexander Hamilton, per the AP. It's the first time in nine years that Miranda has performed in Puerto Rico. Opening night drew more than 1,000 people, who bought tickets ranging from $10 to $5,000. The crowd gave Miranda a standing ovation before the show even started, and during the curtain call he wiped away tears and wrapped himself in a large Puerto Rican flag as he briefly addressed the crowd in Spanish and English.

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During the show's intermission, accountant Zoraida Alvira sat absorbed; it was the first time she'd seen a musical and was transfixed. "Here in Puerto Rico, we are not too exposed to theater, let alone musicals," she said as she praised the performance. "I didn't move, and I'm a fidgety person." After the show, Miranda spoke with reporters, who asked him questions about how the White House was exploring diverting money for border wall construction from a range of accounts, including using some of the $13.9 billion allocated to the Army Corps of Engineers after last year's deadly hurricanes and floods. "I think that's absolutely monstrous," Miranda said. Miranda, composer and creator of Hamilton, won a Tony Award and Pulitzer Prize for the musical.

(Read more Lin-Manuel Miranda stories.)
(Newser)  Think Democrats are running the same old faces in 2020? Try Rep. Tulsi Gabbard of Hawaii, who revealed her candidacy Friday: "I have decided to run and will be making a formal announcement within the next week," said the 37-year-old Army National Guard veteran on CNN's The Van Jones Show, per Politico. The three-term congresswoman says she's running for "a lot of reasons," but the "main issue that is central to the rest ... is the issue of war and peace." Gabbard may be "one of the lesser known" possible candidates, per the New York Times, but she turned heads in 2016 by quitting as vice chairwoman of the DNC so she could support Sen. Bernie Sanders at a time when most party officials were backing Hillary Clinton.

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She also met with Syria's president, Bashar al-Assad, in January 2017a step other US officials refused to take after he was known to use chemical weapons on civilians. But it fit with Gabbard's desire for diplomatic solutions over "regime change" and military intervention abroad. The Iraq war veteran was also one of the few Democrats to meet with President Trump during the transition period of 2016, which drew criticism from fellow Dems, but the Washington Post notes that in 2017 she said "Trump's so-called populism has been a fraud." The first Hindu woman to serve in the House, Gabbard would be the youngest US president ever if she wins; she'll be 39 on Inauguration Day 2021. (Trump has reacted to Sen. Elizabeth Warren's interest in running for president.)
Finance and Economic Development Minister Professor Mthuli Ncube yesterday said the country will have its own currency within the next 12 months, as Government is frantically working on raising enough foreign currency to anchor it.



Addressing delegates at a Road to Davos townhall meeting held in the capital yesterday, Prof Ncube said adopting the United States dollar or the South African rand would not solve the countrys macro-economic problems.



On the issue of raising enough foreign currency to introduce the new currency, we are on our way already, give us months, not years, he said.



Asked to give a timeline on when currency reforms would be implemented, Prof Ncube said it would be done in less than 12 months.







He said separating the parity between the real time gross settlement accounts (RTGS) and foreign currency accounts (FCA) was the beginning of currency reforms which are necessary for pushing the countrys economy in the right direction.





There is a balance between preservation of value and removing price distortions, said Prof Ncube. The separation of accounts between the FCA and RTGS accounts was the beginning of currency reform.





Prof Ncube said he was no longer in favour of adopting the rand as that would still depend on the availability of US dollars.





I also hear that the citizens are pushing towards adopting the rand, I even argued for it years ago and there was a reason, you know, if we are going to assume the rand as our currency we first of all have to acquire the rand and we need US dollars first to purchase the rand, in the long term Zimbabwe needs its own currency, he said.





Our job is to introduce a currency that will be stable and less volatile. Dealing with the fiscal side is the first order to move towards a stable currency, after all what we have now is fiscal policy and now monetary policy and we have to tighten the belt on the currency volatility.

Adopting the United States dollar as the countrys sole legal tender is not the way to solve Zimbabwes macro-economic challenges, said Prof Ncube.





This comes as different companies and individuals have been pushing for the re-dollarisation of the countrys economy, with claims that the shortage of hard currency is choking business operations.





Recently, beverages giant Delta Corporation announced that it would start selling its products in hard currency, citing that operations were being adversely affected by foreign currency shortages.





The decision was later reversed after consultations with Government.

Instead, Prof Ncube said Zimbabwes solution lay in currency reforms.





The issue is shortage of forex with the corporates, the silver bullet is about currency reform, if we get that right the corporates can access foreign currency whenever they need it, the currency reform agenda is also impeding foreign investment, if investors cannot take their money out of the country then we cannot attract investors, he said.





A long term solution to the crisis is, currency reforms, currency reforms, and currency reforms; and ending arbitrage opportunities in the market, accepting the US dollar as the only legal tender is not currency reform, its submission.





As a nation if we accept US dollar as our sole currency, then it means that we are afraid of currency reform and thats capitulation.





This also comes at a time when industry has also raised a red flag towards re-dollarisation.

Confederation of Zimbabwe Industries (CZI) president Sifelani Jabangwe is on record saying re-dollarising the economy is counter-productive as it stifles growth and could halve the size of the economy.





We see more companies wanting to sell in US dollars, but the issue is that we dont need dollarisation as an economy, said Mr Jabangwe. The economy will shrink by as much as 50 percent if we dollarise, so for me it is not the right way to go.

We have seen it with US dollars in the past that we wont be competitive when using the US dollar.





An economist with a local commercial bank Joseph Mverecha has on countless times weighed in, disapproving the re-dollarisation of the Zimbabwean economy.





Re-dollarisation will sustain disintermediation and dislocation in the economy, to the extent that foreign exchange access is non-existent for the vast majority of Zimbabweans who are non-exporters and constitute the largest segment of the population, said Dr Mverecha. Herald
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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).
U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Saturday he was optimistic that a "good outcome" could be reached between Turkey and Syrian Kurdish groups, after speaking to the Turkish foreign minister.

"We recognize the Turkish people's right to defend their country from terrorists, but we also know that those ... who are not terrorists and fighting alongside us for all this time deserve to be protected," Pompeo told reporters.

"There are many details to be worked out but I am optimistic we can achieve a good outcome," he said.

Kurdish-led groups who control swathes of northern Syria fear an attack from Turkey in the wake of U.S. President Donald Trump's decision to withdraw troops from their region. Turkey sees the Kurdish YPG militia so close to its border as a security threat. Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan has vowed to crush the group.

Speaking in the United Arab Emirates capital Abu Dhabi as part of a regional tour, Pompeo also said the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Syria is a "tactical change" and does not alter U.S. military capacity to counter Islamic State and Iran.

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Reporter

Mary Schenk is a reporter covering police, courts and breaking news at The News-Gazette. Her email is mschenk@news-gazette.com, and you can follow her on Twitter (@schenk).
By Online Desk

In its new advertising campaign in Japan, American hair care product company, Pantene, will feature Japanese social-media sensation baby Chanco. The one-year-old will become the youngest model for the brand which already has ambassadors like Priyanka Chopra, Selena Gomez and Ellie Goulding.

Chanco gained fame after her mother's social media posts showed off her thick hair on May 2018. Her account, which is managed by her mother, gained 3,00,000 followers after her first post. "I'm so surprised with the reaction, but also very proud of the praise from many countries," Mami Kano, Chancos mother, told People magazine.

However, the news has received mixed reviews, with some on Twitter claiming Chanco giving #hairgoals', while others question the ethics of the ad. "We went straight to her mother because Chanco's personality and special character matches our image for women we want to support," said Yoshiaki Okuraa, Brand Manager (Asia), Procter & Gamble, the parent company of Pantene.

"The company felt that Chancos hair exhibited strong power which would make people positively move forward. We also support her mother's positiveness to post wonderful moments with Chanco," Okuraa added.

Although Chancos hairstyle is a result of her mothers blow drying, the routine of her hair care is unknown.
By AFP

PARIS: A powerful gas explosion tore through a building in central Paris on Saturday, killing two firefighters and a Spanish woman, injuring dozens of people and badly damaging nearby apartments, officials said.

Around 200 firefighters were mobilised to battle the fire that broke out after the blast and evacuate victims and residents in the area, Interior Minister Christophe Castaner told reporters at the scene.

The explosion came with the city on edge during the latest "yellow vest" anti-government demonstrations, which have often degenerated into violence and vandalism in Paris and other cities in recent weeks.

Cars were overturned by the blast and glass and rubble was strewn across large swathes of the street after the explosion gutted the lower part of the building. Dozens of residents were treated by rescue workers on the street.

"I was sleeping and was woken up by the blast wave," Claire Sallavuard, who lives on the Rue de Trevise where the explosion occurred, told AFP. "All the windows in the apartment exploded, doors were blown off their hinges, I had to walk on the door to leave the room, all the kids were panicking, they couldn't get out of their room."

"Firefighters advised us to leave but the elevator shaft had been blown out, there was no railing, nothing, and there was too much smoke," she said.

Besides the two dead firefighters, 47 other people were injured in the blast, 10 of them seriously, the Paris prosecutor's office said.

A source in the Spanish foreign ministry said a woman who was holidaying with her husband in Paris died in hospital after the blast while another Spanish national was also injured.

Around 100 police officers blocked off several streets in the area, home to restaurants and tourist attractions including the Musee Grevin wax museum and the popular Rue des Martyrs.

Police also closed off streets in front of the Garnier Opera house as emergency services landed two helicopters in front of the historic building to evacuate victims.

The explosion occurred shortly after 9:00 am (0800 GMT) in building that housed a bakery as well as a restaurant on the ground floor in the Ninth Arrondissement.

"It happened when there were people in the street, and firefighters inside," the interior minister said.

Like an earthquake

The shockwave was felt as far as four blocks away, Commander Eric Moulin of the Paris fire service said, adding that rescuers were still searching for other victims.

Firefighters had been responding to an alert of a gas leak at the site when the explosion occurred, Paris prosector Remy Heitz said at the scene.

"First there was a gas leak and the firefighters arrived, then there was an explosion that caused the fire," Heitz said.

Dozens of tourists, suitcases in hand, were evacuated from the many nearby hotels in the area, a popular weekend shopping destination for locals and visitors alike.

Other residents were in bathrobes or quickly dressing in the street as police helicopters circled overhead.

"We were sleeping when we heard the noise, it sounded like an earthquake," a teenager who lives on a nearby street told AFP.

"We came downstairs and we saw a building on fire," her brother said.

Many homes and buildings in Paris use gas for heating and cooking, though explosions due to leaks are relatively rare.
By AFP

KINSHASA: Parties supporting outgoing Democratic Republic of Congo president Joseph Kabila won a majority in long-delayed legislative elections, according to an AFP tally of results released Saturday, as the opposition sought a recount of the disputed presidential poll.

Pro-Kabila parties had passed the 250-seat threshold required to secure a majority in the 500-seat national assembly, according to collated results from the Independent National Election Commission (CENI).

More than 15,000 candidates were running in the poll, which determines who will control parliament for the next five years.

Pro-Kabila candidates had secured 288 of the 429 seats so far declared, with 141 going to the opposition.

The huge central African country, which straddles an area the size of western Europe, has been in the grip of a two-year political crisis triggered by Kabila's refusal to step down when his two-term constitutional limit expired at the end of 2016.

A presidential election to choose a successor was delayed three times before finally taking place on December 30, the same day as the legislative poll.

The poll's runner-up Martin Fayulu, an opposition candidate tipped by pollsters as the likely winner of the vote, told supporters on Friday he would demand a recount.

He said he would challenge Corneille Nangaa, head of the election commission "to produce the tally reports from polling stations in front of witnesses" and Congolese and international observers.

Provisional results released on Thursday gave Felix Tshisekedi, a rival opposition candidate, 38.57 percent of the vote, just ahead of Fayulu with 34.8 percent.

Emmanuel Ramazani Shadary, the candidate backed by Kabila, came a distant third with 23.8 percent.

The declared result was a surprise to many observers of the mineral-rich but poverty-stricken country, which has suffered two major wars in the past 22 years, as well as bloodshed in elections in 2006 and 2011 that saw Kabila returned to office.

Pre-election opinion polls had flagged Fayulu as clear favourite while Kabila critics predicted an outcome rigged in favour of Shadary.

The powerful Roman Catholic church bluntly said CENI's provisional result "does not correspond" with data that its 40,000 election monitors had collected at polling stations.

Fayulu's bloc on Friday said he was the true victor, claiming he had garnered 61 percent of the vote.

Candidates have 48 hours after the result to file any appeal, and the Constitutional Court has a week in which to deliberate.

"We don't expect the election to be annulled, but (a decision in favour of) a recount," Fayulu said.

- Unstable giant -

Polling day had unfolded relatively peacefully, but suspicions over the count have deepened.

The turmoil has darkened hopes that the country will have its first peaceful handover of power since it gained independence in 1960.

International reactions to the results have been guarded.

Most leaders issued statements calling for any disputes to be resolved peacefully, but notably lacking any congratulations for Tshisekedi.

Competing appeals in the dispute were pitched to the UN Security Council on Friday.

CENI chief Nangaa, speaking by video conference, pleaded for "the new authorities to be supported by the international community".

Bishop Marcel Utembi, head of the Catholic church's conference of bishops, urged the Security Council to ask CENI to release the records of vote-counting at polling stations to allow for verification.

- Tshisekedi-Kabila deal? -

Analysts said they believed Kabila, 47, had sought to avoid the expected backlash and international condemnation that would have followed had Shadary -- the candidate he publicly supported -- been declared winner.

According to this scenario, he therefore struck a deal with Tshisekedi, head of the country's oldest and biggest opposition party.

Some commentators suggested Kabila would have sought immunity from prosecution for his iron-fisted 18-year rule, and protection from assets seizure in return for offering his support.

Thursday's pre-dawn announcement brought thousands of Tshisekedi supporters onto the streets in celebration, while others who had backed Fayulu came out to protest.

The authorities late Friday imposed an 8pm-5am curfew in Kikwit, a Fayulu stronghold in the west of the country, city mayor Leonard Mutangu told AFP.

Five civilians were killed there on Thursday in a police operation to curb post-election violence, said National Police spokesman Colonel Pierrot-Rombaut Mwanamputu.

Seventeen police were injured, he said, denying earlier reports of police fatalities. A relay station of the national radio and television broadcaster, RTNC, was also ransacked, he added.

In the eastern city of Goma, at least one person was killed, officials said.
By AFP

WASHINGTON: The US government shutdown that has left 800,000 federal employees without salaries as a result of President Donald Trump's row with Democrats over building a Mexico border wall entered a record 22nd day Saturday.

The Democrats' refusal to approve $5.7 billion demanded by Trump for the wall project has paralyzed Washington, with the president retaliating by refusing to sign off on budgets for swaths of government departments unrelated to the dispute.

As a result, workers as diverse as FBI agents, air traffic controllers and museum staff, did not receive paychecks Friday.

The partial shutdown of the government became the longest on record at midnight Friday (0500 GMT Saturday), when it overtook the 21-day stretch in 1995-1996, under president Bill Clinton.

Trump on Friday backed off a series of previous threats to end the deadlock by declaring a national emergency and attempting to secure the funds without congressional approval.

"I'm not going to do it so fast," he said at a White House meeting.

Trump described an emergency declaration as the "easy way out" and said Congress had to step up to the responsibility of approving the $5.7 billion.

"If they can't do it. I will declare a national emergency. I have the absolute right," he insisted.

Until now, Trump had suggested numerous times that he was getting closer to taking the controversial decision.

READ HERE | Can Trump declare emergency to build his wall?

Only minutes earlier, powerful Republican ally Senator Lindsey Graham tweeted after talks with Trump: "Mr. President, Declare a national emergency NOW."

It was not clear what made Trump change course.

But Trump himself acknowledged in the White House meeting that an attempt to claim emergency powers would likely end up in legal battles going all the way to the Supreme Court.

Opponents say that a unilateral move by the president over the sensitive border issue would be constitutional overreach and set a dangerous precedent in similar controversies.

The standoff has turned into a test of political ego, particularly for Trump, who came into office boasting of his deal making powers and making an aggressive border policy the keystone of his nationalist agenda.

Democrats, meanwhile, seem determined at all costs to prevent a president who relishes campaign rally chants of "build the wall!" from getting a win.

Both Democrats and Republicans agree that the US-Mexican frontier presents major challenges, ranging from the hyper-violent Mexican drug trade to the plight of asylum seekers and poor migrants seeking new lives in the world's richest country.

There's also little debate that border walls are needed: about a third of the frontier is already fenced off.

But Trump has turned his single-minded push for more walls into a political crusade seen by opponents as a stunt to stoke xenophobia in his right-wing voter base, while wilfully ignoring the border's complex realities.

For Trump, who visited the Texas border with Mexico on Thursday, the border situation amounts to an invasion by criminals that can only be solved by more walls.

READ HERE | Kamala Harris criticises Trump over government shutdown

"We have a country that's under siege," he told the local officials in the White House.

Some studies show that illegal immigrants generally commit fewer crimes than people born in the United States, although not everyone agrees on this.

More certain is that while narcotics do enter the country across remote sections of the border, most are sneaked through heavily guarded checkpoints in vehicles, the government's own Drug Enforcement Administration said in a 2017 report.

It said that most smuggling is done "through US ports of entry (POEs) in passenger vehicles with concealed compartments or commingled with legitimate goods on tractor trailers."

Nancy Pelosi, the Democratic leader in the House of Representatives and a key figure in opposing Trump's agenda, said money should be spent in many areas of border security, but not on walls.

"We need to look at the facts," she said.

But Trump accused the Democrats of only wanting to score points against him with a view to the 2020 presidential elections.

"They think, 'Gee, we can hurt Trump,'" he said.

"The Democrats are just following politics."
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced Friday that Canada was taking in an 18-year-old Saudi asylum seeker who fled her family and harnessed the power of Twitter to stave off deportation from Thailand.

Rahaf Mohammed al-Qunun was already en route to Toronto late Friday when the prime minister made the surprise announcement, after officials had previously given heavy hints she was bound for Australia.

"Canada has been unequivocal that we'll stand up for human rights and women's rights around the world," Trudeau said. "When the United Nations made a request of us that we grant al-Qunun's asylum, we accepted."

The move is sure to further strain Canadian relations with the kingdom that went sideways last August over Ottawa's rights criticism of Saudi Arabia, prompting Riyadh to expel the Canadian ambassador and sever all trade and investment ties in protest.

Canada also sparked fury in Riyadh by demanding the "immediate release" of jailed rights campaigners, including Samar Badawi, the sister of jailed blogger Raif Badawi, whose family lives in Quebec.

Qunun's attempt to flee the ultra-conservative kingdom was embraced by rights groups as a beacon of defiance against repression.

Thai authorities initially threatened to deport her after she arrived in Bangkok from Kuwait last weekend.

But armed with a smartphone and hastily opened Twitter account, she forced a U-turn from Thai immigration police who handed her into the care of the UN's refugee agency as the #SaveRahaf hashtag bounced across the world.

- 'Precarious situation' -

"Ms. al-Qunun's plight has captured the world's attention over the past few days, providing a glimpse into the precarious situation of millions of refugees worldwide," UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi said.

"Refugee protection today is often under threat and cannot always be assured, but in this instance international refugee law and overriding values of humanity have prevailed."

Raif Badawi's wife Ensaf Haidar also praised Canada, calling Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland on Twitter "the real hero" behind efforts to prevent Qunun's repatriation to Saudi Arabia.

Qunun alleged that she was abused by her family -- who deny the allegations -- and rights groups also said she had renounced Islam, risking prosecution in Saudi Arabia.

Qunun first said she was aiming for Australia where officials had suggested they would give serious consideration to her claim for asylum, which was endorsed as legitimate by the UNHCR on Wednesday.

But late Friday Thailand's immigration police chief said a smiling and cheerful Rahaf was bound for Toronto and had left on a flight after 11:00 pm (1600 GMT).

"She chose Canada... Canada said it will accept her," Thai immigration chief Surachate Hakparn told reporters at Bangkok's main airport.

"She is safe now and has good physical and mental health. She is happy."

Qunun left from the same airport where her quest for asylum began less than a week ago in a swift-moving process that defied most norms.

- Death threats -

On Friday afternoon Qunun posted a cryptic tweet on her profile saying "I have some good news and some bad news" -- shortly afterward, her account was deactivated in response to death threats she had faced, her friends said.

But she was back online later in the day, tweeting: "I would like to thank you people for supporting me and saiving my life. Truly I have never dreamed of this love and support."

Qunun's swift use of Twitter saw her amass more than tens of thousands of followers within a week, highlighting her plight at a time when Saudi Arabia's human rights record is under heavy scrutiny following the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi last year.

Her deployment of social media allowed her to avoid the fate of countless other refugees who are quietly sent back home or languish in Bangkok detention centers.

She refused to see her father ,who traveled to Thailand and expressed opposition to her resettlement.

Surachate said her father and brother were due to return home on a flight in the early hours of Saturday.

Although her asylum case moved fast the final maneuvers that led to her flight to Canada remain largely a mystery.

Australia had dropped strong hints it would accept her after the UN urged the country to do so and it remains unclear why the resettlement location changed.

On Thursday its foreign minister said Canberra was still assessing the request.

Thailand's immigration chief Surachate had earlier told reporters Friday that "two or three" countries were ready to offer her asylum.

The Southeast Asian country is not a signatory to a convention on refugees and asylum seekers must be referred to a third country.

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By Express News Service

KENDRAPARA: Tourism sector in the district has taken a hit after the tragic Hukitola boat mishap which claimed lives of 10 persons, including eight children, on January 2.

Following the mishap, the administration has banned fishing boats which were used to ferry tourists to Hukitola, Batighar, Agaranasi, Madali and other islands in the Bay of Bengal. This being the peak tourist season, the move has hit the tourism industry in the district.

The ban has also affected many seaside marine fishermen and locals of Kharinashi, Batighar, Jamboo, Ramanagar and other nearby areas who depend on tourism activities during winter season.

Divisional Forest Officer of Bhitarkanika National Park Bimal Prasanna Acharya said the Forest department is in charge of Hukitola island. It is mandatory for tourists to wear life jackets on boats. We have also made it mandatory for all private boat owners to get fitness certificates from the Inland Water Transport department to ferry tourists in their vessels, he said.

Hukitola and the 182-year-old lighthouse at Batighar island in Mahakalapada block are major attractions for tourists in winter season. I was forced to cancel the trip of some tourists to Hukitola on Sunday after the authorities banned fishing boats. Though it is a welcome step on the part of the administration to ban unsafe boats, it is also the duty of authorities to deploy proper and safe boats for tourists, said Bhaskar Chandra Das, a tour operator of Kendrapara.

The boat tragedy has affected the flow of tourists to Hukitola and Batighar. Both the islands witness a huge footfall of tourists from October to March, said Arjun Das of Batighar.

Two years back, the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) completed the restoration and renovation work of century-old colonial building at Hukitola at a cost of around `2 crore to draw more tourists to the island. The building was constructed in 1888 to store rice from Burma and other places after the infamous famine in Odisha in 1866. Hukitola island was also used as a harbour during the British Raj.
By Express News Service

KOZHIKODE: Though the Congress and the BJP have stated to be with the believers in the Sabarimala issue, the approach of both the parties towards the issue is entirely different, said Congress MP Shashi Tharoor while attending a session at the Kerala Literature festival in Kozhikode on Friday.

The rule of law is being disrespected by the BJP and Sangh Parivar outfits. They have taken to the streets, vandalising and causing much damage. We (the Congress) believe in constitutional solutions. Not like the BJP. If there is a legislative solution to the issue, the Congress will stand by that, said Tharoor.

Making his stand clear in the Sabarimala issue, Tharoor said: Equality is not the problem in Sabarimala. It is an issue concerning the rituals and beliefs of the temple. Now, it is a question of whether faith must be respected as faith or not.

I initially spoke up for the rights of women to enter Sabarimala. But I spoke with the people, especially a large number of women and I understood they didnt see this. I am looking to the people I am representing. It is my responsibility to respect the faith and beliefs of my people, he said.

The Congress MP also threw several brickbats at Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the session The Paradoxical Prime Minister.
Ajay Kanth By

Express News Service

KOCHI: Its been two years of deafening silence since Express outed a police probe into an organ trade racket that harvested vital organs from a 23-year-old accident victim in Kochi. First came the reprieve for the alleged accused. Then came the twist. The reprieve, it seems, was built on falsehood.

It is now emerging that despite a senior doctor revealing in September 2017 that her name and signature were forged by a medical board to give clean chit to the doctors accused of organ harvesting, the state health department and the apex medical board continue to pass the buck.

Speaking to Express, Director General of Prosecution Manjeri Sreedharan Nair, who heads the apex board, said the Health Department has not yet placed the case before the board. We have not received any such case so far, he said.

This came close on the heels of Health Secretary Rajeev Sadanandan responding to this reporter that the apex medical board under Director General of Prosecutions looked into such cases. On being asked about this specific case, he said, We cannot comment about one specific case.

I have not attended a single board meeting: Doctor

It was in 2014 that the medical board, which did not have a single neuro-surgeon, submitted a report absolving the doctors. It is about this report that Dr P Rema, senior professor of forensic medicine with Thiruvananthapuram government medical college, made a disclosure on September 15, 2017 to the police that she had never attended the medical board which met under the then Ernakulam District Medical Officer (DMO) Haseena Mohammed between 2012 and 2014.

It is evident that the signature shown above my name is not my signature. I have not attended a single board meeting during the tenure of DMO Haseena Mohammed in Ernakulam, Dr Rema has said in her statement.

The police trashed the medical board report following Dr Remas revelation and forwarded the matter to Apex Board Committee for perusal. But the file has been on hold for the last one year. As per records, police have been writing to state health department since November 4, 2017 about the need for the apex board to look into the matter urgently. But these missives have been met with stony silence.

The police findings said the doctors and the hospitals flouted the Human Organ Transplantation Act as the liver was given to a Malaysian citizen for crores of rupees.

The CASE

Abhin V J of Vazhaparambil House, Muvattupuzha, was denied treatment by two private hospitals for a head injury he suffered in a bike accident on December 2, 2009. After he was declared braindead, his liver and two kidneys were harvested by a private hospital. The fraud came to light when the police surgeon, during autopsy, found that doctors had failed to treat a blood clot inside his head, leading to his death. The cops started cracking after Express, on July 1, 2016, came out with the report, Patient: Mr X. Status: Braindead; Where are his vital organs, doctor?. Post this report, the police probed into the case which got buried under the carpet in 2011, a good two years after Abhin died.
Express News Service

BENGALURU: To promote Electric Vehicles (EVs), the Centre has called upon all state governments to exempt vehicle owners from payment of Registration Fee and Road Tax. This is part of the Centres initiative to popularise usage of electric vehicles in the country.

The governments policy think tank, Niti Aayog, on Thursday organised a joint video conference from New Delhi with all state governments in line with its goal of having at least 30% of the vehicles plying in the country in 2031 as e-vehicles. Top transport and Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) officials took part in the conference beamed live at Vidhana Soudha.

Speaking to The New Indian Express, a senior government official who took part in the deliberations said, The Centre has asked all states to do away with both Registration fee as well as Road Tax to incentivise the public to purchase them. The state is yet respond to it, he added.

Niti Aayog officials also urgently called upon all states to put in place an e-mobility policy at the earliest which Karnataka has already done, he added. Karnataka became the first state in India to adopt the State Electric Vehicle and Energy Storage Policy 2017. While Karnataka does not levy any Road Tax on e-vehicles, the state levies Rs 500 as a one-time registration fee for four-wheelers and Rs 300 for two-wheelers, an official from the transport department said.

In line with its rigorous pursuit of switching over to e-vehicles, an official statement from the state government this week announced that it would purchase 640 electric vehicles under the Central governments Faster Adoption of Manufacture of Hybrid and Hybrid and Electric Vehicles (FAME) India.
Namita Bajpai By

Express News Service

LUCKNOW: Political compulsions might have forced BSP chief Mayawati to forget 1995 guesthouse episode in which she was allegedly held hostage and assaulted by SP workers after BSP pulled out of alliance government in UP, her pain surfaced when she did not forget to mention it twice during the joint press conference while announcing the alliance with SP chief Akhilesh Yadav in Lucknow on Saturday.

"We have stitched up this alliance keeping June 2, 1995 guest house episode behind in the national interest," said Mayawati and later Akhilesh balmed her by reassuring her that he will save her honour in future and that her insult would amount to be his own insult.

ALSO READ | Akhilesh Yadav, Mayawati have a right to do what they want: Rahul Gandhi

In 1993, SP-BSP had cobbled up an alliance to defeat BJP then riding high on Ram temple wave. The then SP chief Mulayam Singh Yadav and BSP founder Kanshi Ram had come together winning 176 of 425 Assembly seats. The BSP had got 67 seats and SP 109.

BJP had got 177 failed to form the government as other 'secular' parties including Lok Dal and Congress had backed the alliance. But clash of egos and interests wronged the tie-up and it ended in 1995. Going back to June 2, 1995, Mayawati, while addressing a public rally, had announced withdrawal of support to Mulayam government which came into minority.

ALSO READ | How sworn enemies became friends again

After withdrawing from the alliance, as Mayawati was holding a meeting with the BSP MLAs in room no 1 of state guest house in Lucknow, suddenly, infuriated SP workers barged into the room and surrounded Mayawati misbehaving with her in worst possible manner and were on a rampage with an intent to assault her. Scared Mayawati locked herself in the room.

ALSO READ | SP-BSP alliance will get its math right, BJP will be defeated in 2019 Lok Sabha polls

Getting the wind of it, senior BJP leader and party MLA from Farrukhabad Brahm Dutt Dwivedi rushed to the state guest house with his party workers and rescued Mayawati. This gesture of the BJP was followed by its extension of support to the BSP which formed the government in the state and Mayawati became the first Dalit chief minister of Uttar Pradesh.
By PTI

NOIDA: Hundreds of workers of the Samsung mobile company Saturday protested here, demanding salary hike and change in shift timings, police said.

The workers assembled on the premises of the company's office in Noida Phase-II in the morning and remained there till around 10 pm, they said.

Samsung representatives could not be contacted immediately for a response. "The protestors were demanding that their work timings which have been changed since January, be restored to the previous pattern. They were also peeved over changes in holidays, food and other such issues. These issues were reportedly discussed with the management and resolved," Circle Officer, Noida 3rd, Shwetabh Pandey, said.

"The workers were also demanding a hike in their salaries, which the management has reportedly said was a policy issue and needed more discussion," he told PTI Saturday night.

Pandey said there did not arise a law and order situation and no disruption to traffic happened as the protestors had assembled within the premises of the private company.



The Samsung plant, inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in July 2018, has witnessed similar protests in the past also.

Nearly 500 farmers, belonging to different outfits such as Sanyukta Kisan Parishad, Kisan Sabha, had staged a protest outside the company's office in October demanding "more jobs for the local youth".

In August, at least 80 people were arrested during a protest at the plant for similar reason, according to officials.
By PTI

LUCKNOW: Burying their two-and-a-half decade long hatchet, Bahujan Samaj Party chief Mayawati and Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav on Saturday announced their grand alliance in Uttar Pradesh sharing 38 seats each and leaving two for other smaller allies, if any, for upcoming Lok Sabha elections. Both the regional parties agreed not to field candidates on two seats -- Amethi and Rae Bareli-of Gandhi bastion without keeping the Congress in the tie-up.

UP sends 80 members to Lok Sabha. Addressing a joint press conference to announce the tie-up along with Akhilesh, BSP chief Mayawati said the SP-BSP alliance was set to give sleepless nights to both PM Narendra Modi and his disciple, the BJP chief Amit Shah.

"Yeh Pradhan Mantri Narendra Modi tatha unke shishya Amit Shah, matlab dono guru-chele ki neend udane wali atii mahatvapoorna press conference hai (This press conference is very important as it will take the sleep of both PM Narednra Modi and Amit Shah away)," claimed Mayawati.

Given the exclusion of Congress the upcoming big battle, Uttar Pradesh could be expected to witness a triangular contest - BJP, Congress and SP-BSP alliance - making it equally tricky for all the sides. The given seat distribution can also mean that the seats to be left for RLD and other prospective partners will be spared from the Samajwadis chunk. In fact, during the joint press conference both Mayawati and Akhilesh cautiously avoided naming RLD as ally despite Chaudhary Ajit Singh's claim of being very much a part of grand alliance on Friday evening.

Notably, RLD has been demanding six seats - Baghapt, Mathura, Amroha, Bijnor, Hathras and Muzaffarnagar --to contest in western UP. The RLD chief had claimed that the decision on number of seats to be given to his party was yet to be decided. But the figure spelt out by Mayawati on Saturday reflects that RLD would not be given more than two seats, in case, SP was willing to spare one more to it.

On a pointed question on seat-sharing with the RLD in western UP, Akhilesh Yadav said the media would be informed about it in due course. In 2014, the BJP had won 71 seats in Uttar Pradesh while its ally Apna Dal bagged two. The Samajwadi Party won five seats and the Congress two, while the BSP drew a blank. Calling the SP-BSP alliance a strong message about a political revolution of 2019, Mayawati, while reading out her statement, said: "This tie-up will lead the nation ahead on path guided by the constitution."

ALSO READ | SP, BSP came together for their survival, they cannot take on Modi alone: BJP

On the other, Akhilesh Yadav said that the alliance was imperative to bring down the soaring arrogance and haughtiness of the ruling BJP by ensuring its ouster."We have come together to rid the state and country of BJP's religion and caste politics.

This alliance was a must to destroy BJP, to defeat their arrogance. BJP can go to any extent to create differences in our workers, we must be united and counter any such tactic," he added. Taking an aggressive approach over Congress' exclusion, Mayawati said it was not of any benefit to either the SP or BSP as Congress failed to transfer its vote to the allies in toto. However, SP and BSP transferred their respective votes to each other with full honesty in totality.

However, the BSP chief called both Congress and the BJP birds of the same feather equally responsible for the exploitation of poor and downtrodden. The BSP chief could not hide the pain of guesthouse episode as she was seen overemphasising the fact that the SP-BSP alliance was stitched in national interest keeping the infamous 'guesthouse kand' aside.

"The 1993 alliance between the two parties could not survive due to some grave reasons, but, now in national interest, we have kept those issue, especially, June 2, 1995 guest house episode aside, and have again come together to defeat the divisive political powers who have created an atmosphere of intolerance in the country," maintained the BSP chief.

READ HERE | Akhilesh Yadav, Mayawati have a right to do what they want: Rahul Gandhi on SP-BSP alliance in UP

However, SP chief Akhilesh Yadav cautioned his party men to respect BSP chief at every cost saying any amount of disrespect to Mayawati would amount to his own insult. Both the leaders said that the alliance, though cobbled up for Lok Sabha elections, it would be a long term political understanding going even beyond 2022 UP Assembly polls. It may, however, usher the politically most crucial state into an ear of coalitions again after a decade and a half of single-party rule.

"Yeh lamba chaleyga, aagey bhi chaleyga, Lok Sabha chunav ke baad, UP Assembly mein bhi hum sath sath ladenge. Yeh sthayee chalega (This will last long, even beyond LS polls and in UP Assembly elections)," hoped Mayawati.

When asked if he would support Mayawati as the future Prime Minister of India if such a scenario cropped up, Akhilesh remained evasive saying: "Everyone knows whom I am going to back. There have been a number of PMs from UP. I will like that this time also UP makes the PM," he stated. Akhilesh's statement assumes significance that till last year he had been projecting his father and SP patriarch the Prime ministerial candidate of any grand alliance.

Meanwhile, reacting to the SP-BSP alliance, while UP CM Yogi Adityanath claimed it to be an alliance being stitched up by those unprincipled forces who were scared of the BJP success, UP Deputy CM Keshav Maurya called it an alliance of 'opportunism and goondism'.

"Let me make it clear that people are solidly behind Modi and the BJP will do better than it did in 2014. The backward community is backing PM Narendra Modi,-" he said at the national convention in Delhi.
By UNI

BHADOI: At least 12 school going children received burn injuries including eight critically when a school van turned into a ball of fire in Gyanpur area of the district on Saturday morning.

Police sources here said the van was ferrying children to a private school when the illegal LPG used as a fuel of the vehicle blasted near Nathaipur village.

Of the injured children, three were rushed to Varanasi for treatment while rest were being treated at the district hospital.

The driver of the van escaped after the incident.

Police have registered an FIR against the driver and owner of the vehicle.
By Express News Service

CHENNAI: Swaminathan Gurumurthy, a chartered accountant, an economist and a well known commentator on political and economic affairs, has sent a legal notice to The Economist for publishing defamatory content about him in a recent article questioning his credentials to be on the board of Reserve Bank of India (RBI) directors.

The article titled The person who is doing most to undermine the Reserve Bank of India, published in the web edition of The Economist on November 11, 2018, quotes economist Mohan Guruswamy as saying Gurumurthy is a fixer who gets his things done.

The notice dated January 6 sent to the Economist Group, its Chief Editor, the author of the article and Mohan Guruswamy, seeks an unconditional apology and withdrawal of the libellous remarks within two weeks.

According to the notice, the article, which did not have a byline, mocked his knowledge of economics and incorrectly attributed statements to him on the collapse of economic theories.

The Economist story quotes Gurumurthy as saying the subject of economics is collapsing and should be replaced by an Indian economics based on Swadeshi (self-reliance).

While Gurumurthy had made some of the statements mentioned in the article, he was only quoting from The Economist itself, the notice pointed out.

To clarify this misrepresentation of facts, he also issued a series of tweets. Mr @TheEconomist, your cover story July 19-24, 2009 issue said Modern Economic Theory has collapsed. I only approvingly quoted you. But you have charged me as saying that I say the subject of economics is collapsing. So refresh your institutional memory, he had tweeted on November 18.

Gurumurthy says Daniel Knowles, the publications South Asia Correspondent, had reached out to him for his comments on the debate about RBI.

In his reply to the journalist, Gurumurthy said he always rejected all government positions offered to him as he wanted to remain independent of governments.

The only exception I made was to accept the directorship of RBI under some pressure. That I did for the reason it was an independent board and no one in the government can tell me do this or that, he says in the reply. He had also attached his profile carrying detailed information on his work and credentials.

The article, however, does not reflect the essence of Gurumurthys response and in fact shows him in poor light. In the event that you elect not to pay heed to the present notice, we will be constrained to institute appropriate legal proceedings, both civil and criminal, and it would be entirely up to you to risk the consequences, the notice warns.
Rajesh Asnani By

Express News Service

JAIPUR: With the BJP leadership appointing Vasundhara Raje, along with Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Raman Singh, as the partys national vice-president, it seems the former Rajasthan chief ministers grip over the partys state unit will finally loosen.

For the past one-and-a-half decades, BJPs politics in the state has revolved around Raje. With her moving into a new role at the Centre, the path is clear for a new leadership to take over in the state.

This also implies that Raje is not in the running for the post of the Leader of Opposition in the Assembly. The contenders for the coveted post now are former Assembly speaker Kailash Meghwal, former panchayati raj minister Rajendra Rathod and former home minister Gulab Chand Kataria.

The name will be decided in Delhi and is expected to be announced at the BJP legislative party meeting in Jaipur in the presence of Union Minister Arun Jaitley on January 13.

Party sources said a young leader could be given the command. Though the BJP lost the Assembly election, it will remain in the role of a strong opposition with 73 MLAs. Therefore, the party will need a leader who can not only keep the Congress government on its feet, but also take along all the partys legislators.

Known to be an aggressive leader, Raje has not bowed down in front of the formidable Narendra Modi-Amit Shah duo, with whom her equations have been far from cosy.

A section within the BJP feels the party leadership believes peoples anger against Raje was the reason for the BJPs defeat in the Assembly polls and wants to distance her from the state politics so as not to damage its prospects in the Lok Sabha elections.

BJP spokesperson Mukesh Pareek denies that. This is not the case. All the three losing CMs have been given the responsibility at the centre. Although we lost, there was only a minor difference in our vote percentage and that of the Congress. The decision has been taken keeping the popularity and the support these leaders garner and it will surely help in the Lok Sabha polls.

Raje, on her part, tweeted, The BJP central leadership has given me the responsibility as the national vice president and I will fulfill it with complete devotion. A heartfelt gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP President Amit Shah for this confidence.
Once again, Erdogans political and territorial ambitions in the geography to the south of Anatolia are eluding his grip. No sooner had Trump announced, in December, his intention to withdraw US forces from Syria than the Turkish president dispatched Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu, Defense Minister Hulusi Akar, Intelligence Chief Hakan Fidan and his spokesman, Ibrahim Kalin, to Moscow with hopes to fill the void.

They came back emptyhanded writes noted journalist Nazim Dastan. Erdogan then pinned his hopes on a series of meetings in Washington, planned for this month, to prepare for the US troop withdrawals which Ankara is eagerly awaiting so that it can pounce on the predominantly Kurdish Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) that Washington has regarded as its main ally in Syria in the fight against the Islamic State (IS) group, but which Ankara alleges is an extension of the Turkish-based PKK.

But the whimsical winds blowing from across the Atlantic switched direction, once again, tossing Erdogan another setback in his designs to establish a permanent foothold across the 900-kilometre border with Turkeys southern neighbour. Instead of the immediate withdrawal of some 2,000 American troops that Trump had signalled several weeks ago, the withdrawal now will be slow and smart, according to his more recent tweets.

Moreover, only hours before arriving in Ankara, US National Security Adviser John Bolton made it clear that the troop withdrawal would be contingent on Turkish reassurances that those who have fought with us in Syria, particularly the Kurds would not be put in jeopardy. He also indicated that the US needed to ensure that measures were in place to protect US forces when they leave.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo was much blunter when affirming the shift in US policy in Syria. In remarks to the press, he stressed the importance of ensuring that the Turks dont slaughter the Kurds and the protection of religious minorities there in Syria during the troop withdrawal.

He also refused to give a timeframe for the process, stressing that the US did not want to let its enemies know when exactly US forces would be pulled out of Syria.

Pompeos remarks came as a below the belt blow to the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) who would have read it as a reference to their Ottoman ancestors genocidal campaign against the Armenians during World War I.

Then came another punch. The Turks should not undertake military action [in Syria] thats not fully coordinated with and agreed to by the United States, Bolton said Sunday, adding that US troops would remain in northeast Syria until Turkey agrees not go after the Kurdish forces.

That this edict was issued from Israel sharpened the sting felt in the presidential palace in Ankara. Only a few weeks ago, Erdogan called Netanyahu the head of a state of terror to which the latter responded by calling Erdogan a dictator and the occupier of northern Cyprus, whose army massacres women and children in Kurdish villages, inside and outside Turkey.

Bolton also said that Trump wanted to destroy the [IS] caliphate and that this would be done in collaboration with the SDF. These forces, the major component of which is the Kurdish Peoples Protection Units (YPG), have proven very successful in driving back the terrorist organisation for which reason it has won international sympathy and support for its protection against Turkish military threats.

To complicate matters further for the neo-Ottomans in Ankara who, following Trumps troop withdrawal announcement, had begun a countdown to their march into northern Syria, the Kurds in Syria had already begun to take exigency measures.

Most significantly, they moved to conclude a Russian-brokered agreement with the Bashar Al-Assad regime. If it goes into effect, it will reunify the two largest parts of the war-torn country, leaving the northwest, for the time being, in the hands of the Turkish-supported militias opposed to Al-Assad.

At the same, the agreement will safeguard the autonomous status of the Kurdish controlled areas in the northeast. True, a similar dialogue last year failed to bear fruit.

But much has changed since then and in ways that should encourage both sides to work out an arrangement that will be mutually beneficial and that will simultaneously prevent a direct confrontation which they have so far averted during the long civil war.

An agreement between them might also be the last step in sending Erdogan back to square one in his meddling in the Syrian crisis.

* A version of this article appears in print in the 10 January, 2018 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly under the headline: Erdogan stymied on Syria

Short link:


By PTI

NEW DELHI: Dubbing the anti-BJP grand alliance as a "failed experiment", Prime Minister Narendra Modi said Saturday the opposition parties are coming together as they want to form a 'majboor' (helpless) government to promote nepotism and corruption, whereas the BJP wants a strong dispensation for all-round development.

Modi also attacked the Congress over the Ram Temple issue, saying it doesn't want a solution to the Ayodhya dispute and is creating hurdles through its lawyers.

Addressing the BJP's National Convention, the prime minister said the parties that were formed primarily to oppose the Congress and its culture have now join hands with it.

ALSO READ: Upper caste reservation welcome, but there is political motive: Sikkim MP

"We want a strong government so that we can put an end to corruption. These days there is a failed experiment taking place in the country which is known as the grand alliance. They have all gathered together to make a helpless government. They don't want a strong government which will lead to shut down of their shops," Modi said.

His comments come after the BSP-Samajwadi Party announced their alliance in the politically crucial Uttar Pradesh, in which the BJP had won maximum seats in the 2014 Lok Sabha polls.

ALSO READ: Upper caste reservation: Don't know Manmohan Singh's caste, says LJP chief Ram Vilas Paswan

"They want a helpless government so that they can indulge in corruption. We want a strong government so that we can put an end to corruption. They want a helpless government so that they can do good for their relatives. We want a strong government so that we can usher development for everyone (sabka saath, sabka vikas)," he said.

He also slammed the governments of Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal, Chhattisgarh for withdrawing general consent to the CBI in their respective state and asked why they were afraid and what irregularities they have done.

At the same time, he mentioned about his experiences with the central agencies during the UPA rule.

"Despite being harassed by the UPA government for years when I was Gujarat CM, we didn't ban entry of CBI in state," he said.

The prime minister said 10-per cent reservation in education and government jobs for the youth from economically weaker sections will enhance the confidence of 'New India' and asserted that the new arrangement will not encroach upon anyone's rights.

Modi said that for the first time in the country's history, there has not been any charge of corruption against a government.

The BJP rule has proved that the country can be run without corruption, he added.

He said earlier governments saw farmers (annadata) as only 'matdata' (voters), while his government was constantly trying to address challenges faced by them.

"We are working day and night to double farmers' income by 2022," he said.
By PTI

BENGALURU: Karnataka Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy Saturday said he was "amused" at Prime Minister Narendra Modi's "clerk" comment referring to him and clarified that he had never made such a statement.

"I am amused to see Hon'ble Prime Minister @narendramodi reacting to a statement which I never made. After farmers loan this is the second time he is reacting tofalse information/statement. Such statements won't deter our coalition government from the development agenda," Kumaraswamy said in a tweet.

The "farmers' loan" was a reference to Modi's statement at a rally in Ghazipur in Uttar Pradesh in December 29 last year that Congress promised loan waivers to lakhs of farmers, but the JD(S)-Congress coalition in Karnataka did not deliver.

"Lollipops" were handed out. The loan waiver was given to only 800 farmers, Modi had claimed.

Addressing the BJP's National Convention in New Delhi Saturday, Modi referred to a reported statement of Kumaraswamy about functioning like a clerk.

"In Karnataka, where there is a coalition government, what is the Chief Minister there saying? Karnataka Chief Minister, who is the Chief Minister of a coalition government. It has been a just few months, but he is worried so much that he is saying that instead of (being treated as) Chief Minister, he is being treated like a clerk," Modi said.

According to some media reports, Kumaraswamy, during the recent meeting with party legislators, had told them that he was working under pressure.

The reports had also quoted the Chief Minister as having told them that he was functioning like a clerk and accusing the JDS coalition partner Congress of interference.

Kumaraswamy had on Thursday rubbished the media reports, terming them as "speculative" and "imaginary".

Reacting to the Prime Minister's comments, JD(S) supremo and former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda asked "Will he praise the coalition government and not criticise?" No one should speak lightly about anybody. I don't have the practise of talking lightly about anyone. Idon't want its advantage also", he said.

The state Congress too has hit back at Modi, calling him a "leader of failures".

"Respected Narendra Modi, you have called the Chief Minister of a democratically elected government a clerk. You, a leader of failures, lord of lies, have diminished the position of Prime Minister," Karnataka Congress said in a tweet in Kannada.

It attacked the Prime Minister for not coming to Parliament and responding to the charges against him.

Noting that the matter was something between Congress and JD(S), the coalition coordination committee chief and former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah asked what Modi has to do with it.

He said "Modi doesn't know anything. He is trying to instigate."

Karnataka BJP leaders Prahlad Joshi and Jagadish Shettar defended Modi's remark, saying that he was only quoting Kumaraswamy.
Anand ST Das By

Express News Service

PATNA: When a section of the councillors of Patna Municipal Corporation (PMC) wanted to rename the busiest crossing and commercial site in the Bihar capital, it looked like another confrontation in the making between the states ruling parties and the Opposition. But the renaming bid swiftly died as Chief Minister Nitish Kumar intervened.

It was Kabi Guru Rabindra Chowk, named after Nobel Prize-winning Bengali poet Rabindra Nath Tagore by the erstwhile RJD government led by Rabri Devi in 2002. The BJP-backed councillors of PMC, led by mayor Sita Sahu, had planned to move a proposal to rename the crossing after former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee recently. After Nitish Kumars objection, the proposal was dropped from the agenda of a scheduled meeting of PMCs empowered standing committee headed by the mayor.

But few in Patna know where Kabi Guru Rabindra Chowk stands in the city. The site is popularly known by its British-era name of Dak Bungalow Chowk. This centrally located main intersection of the city was officially renamed after the Nobel Laureate following a demand from the Bihar Bengali Association (BBA). During his visit to Patna in March 1936, Tagore had stayed at the grand Dak Bungalow for two days while his dance troupe presented Chitrangada, a dance drama he wrote. The Dak Bungalow was later razed to make space for Lok Nayak Jayaprakash Commercial Complex.

While the BBAs protest against erasing Tagores name from the site played a role behind the renaming bid being quashed  Bengali-speakers account for a mere 0.78 per cent of the states population  it was Nitish Kumars desire to avoid a major political controversy on the issue that effectively did it, said sources.

PMC commissioner Anupam Kumar Suman said the civic body would shortly erect a statue of Tagore at the crossing and begin an effort to make Dak Bungalow crossing popular as Kavi Guru Rabindra Chowk.

Many major streets in Patna are still known by their British-era names even though they were renamed after freedom fighters by successive state governments. The two main roads joining at Rabindra Chowk  Jawaharlal Nehru Marg and Mazharul Haque Path  are still known popularly as Bailey Road and Fraser Road respectively.

The old names fail to go away from peoples memory and popular use despite all efforts. We will begin a fresh exercise to popularise the new names of the roads, said the PMC commissioner.
By Express News Service

MUMBAI: The Maharashtra government has made it compulsory for doctors and hospitals to administer first aid to victims of crimes against women and girls and said that any doctor or the hospital failing to follow directives in this regard would be liable for action under criminal act.

The state has issued fresh guidelines for the first aid to be provided to the victims of violence against women, acid attacks and under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act in line with the central government directives. But, several more clauses too have been added to it like seeking permission for treatment, understanding the back history, complete medical examination, collect samples for forensic investigation, putting the police administration on alert and administering psychological treatment as well as social support to the victims.

The doctors have been entrusted with the responsibility to fill in the information in a prescribed format and the Government Resolution says that cases would be filed against any doctor or hospital failing to do so under article 166 (b) of Indian penal code (Punishment for non-treatment of victim). An offender under this article can be punished for a year and fine or with both.

India has been beset with the problem of acid attacks on young women and sexual crimes and often they are turned away by unscrupulous hospitals.
By PTI

SRINAGAR: The National Conference president and MP Farooq Abdullah on Saturday said if voted to power, their government on the very first day would set up Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) to probe the killings in Valley and asserted that his party does not support "Operation All Out" launched by security forces against militants in restive Kashmir.

"We hope that Allah brings our party into power strongly and we don't have to stand on crutches (indirectly referring to coalition). We will on the very first day of our government announce setting up of TRC to probe the killings in Kashmir," Abdullah told reporters on sidelines of party function in Anantnag in south Kashmir.

He said his son and NC vice president Omar Abdullah has already made it clear that there should be Truth and Reconciliation Commission. "He has already asked for it".

"The setting up TRC will be a great thing. We will see to it that results are brought before the people -- not only of J&K people but before the entire world," Abdullah said. Asked whether his party supports "Operation All Out" launched by security forces against militants in Kashmir last year, the three-time J&K Chief Minister said,

"How can we support something where there is suppression. We don't want our people to suffer. We don't want people to be beaten in their homes. It was never part of NC policy. We are not going to support any violence or violation of human rights," he said.

81-year-old Abdullah said everyone is free and "we live in free country. We as a government will have to see that freedom of people and expression is not curbed."Stressing on dialogue, he said, "We cannot think of winning hearts of people by unleashing torments. The hearts of people can only be won if New Delhi accepts Kashmir as political issue and re-start time-bound and result-oriented dialogue with all stakeholders within and outside J&K".

Abdullah asserted that there cannot be peace till dignity of Kashmir is restored. "Till the time they don't talk to everybody including Pakistan, there cannot be peace in J&K. Even if they use entire force of country in Kashmir, peace can't be restored in the State," he said. The NC president hopes that new government at centre after parliamentary elections initiates dialogue with all stakeholders.

"If Delhi can be part of unconditional talks with Taliban, why can't it initiate an unconditional dialogue in Kashmir? The centre previously held unconditional talks with different stakeholders in Kashmir during the tenure of late Atal Bihari Vajpayee but unfortunately the tempo could not be maintained," he said."The new government at the centre must initiate dialogue on J&K both internally and externally," added Abdullah.
By PTI

NEW DELHI: The Congress Saturday accused the government of removing CBI director Alok Verma by "misusing" the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) and demanded that a high-powered committee convene another meeting and reinstate the officer.

Party spokesperson Abhishek Singhvi alleged that the government stood exposed after Justice (retd) A K Patnaik claimed that he had not seen the CVC recommendations against Verma and not accorded his assent.

He said the Selection Committee removed Verma based on CBI special director Rakesh Asthana's charges, whose plea to quash the FIR against him was dismissed by the Delhi High Court.

"Is it not strange that Rakesh Asthana, who himself is under investigation, was the basis of Verma's removal?" Singhvi told reporters here.

Taking on the government, the Congress leader said the full basis for the removal of the CBI director was the CVC report.

"But the CVC can neither appoint nor remove the CBI chief. The office of the CVC has been compromised by the government," he alleged.

The Congress spokesperson said the Modi government was trying to save itself from Rafale and other charges.

READ | Here's why Justice AK Sikri backed Alok Verma's ouster

"The Congress demands that the high-powered committee be reconvened immediately and Alok Verma be reappointed till the panel hears him out. And the 77 days lost by him (Verma) in his fixed two-years tenure term be compensated," Singhvi added.

Former CBI director Alok Verma had on Friday asked the government to treat him "deemed superannuated" with immediate effect.

Refusing to take on his new assignment as Director General, Fire Services, Civil Defence and Home Guards, Verma wrote to Secretary, Department of Personnel and Training, stating the selection committee has not provided him an opportunity to explain the details as recorded by the CVC before arriving at the decision of transferring him.
Harpreet Bajwa By

Express News Service

CHANDIGARH: In what seems to be a real-life remake of the Bollywood film Veer-Zaara, a man from New Delhi fell in love with a Pakistani woman, crossed the border to be with her, and eventually got arrested. More than 17 years later, Afzal Ahmad, now 54, set foot on Indian soil again on Friday.

Ahmad, who once was a salesman for a footwear company, fell in love with Masrat Khureshi and married her in 1997, by reading the Nikah contract over the phone. Four years later, he got a one-month visa and hopped on a Delhi-Lahore bus to meet his wife.

But by then, Khureshi was married to a man in the United Kingdom, and held a British-Pakistani dual citizenship, sources said.Ahmad, however, met her in Karachi, and stayed on in Pakistan even after his visa expired. He said Khureshi lived in Britain, but would often come to visit him for three-four months a year.

This, sources said, continued till 2014, when she didnt come over, but said she wouldnt be able to meet him ever again.In September 2015, Ahmad was arrested and awarded four months in jail. Though his term at the Kot Lakhpat jail in Lahore ended in 2016, he was not released, and was only handed back to India on Friday.Ahmads case is simliar to that of Hamid Ansari, who also crossed the border to meet his lover, but was arrested.
By PTI

BEED/MUMBAI: "The Accidental Prime Minister" director Vijay Gutte's mother has lodged a complaint of domestic violence against her husband at Parli in Beed district of Maharashtra, an official said Saturday.

Sudamati Gutte lodged the complaint against Ratnakar Gutte and his six family members, they said.

"In her complaint filed on Friday, she (Sudamati) alleged that her husband and his family members subjected her to mental and physical torture over a family dispute.

READ: The Accidental Prime Minister review

They also threatened her to transfer a property to their name," the official said.

Based on her complaint, a case was registered against Ratnakar and his family members, he said.

They have been booked under IPC sections 498A (husband or relative of husband of a woman subjecting her to cruelty), 323 (punishment for voluntarily causing hurt) 504 (intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of peace) and others.

READ: 'The Accidental Prime Minister' director Vijay Gutte gets bail in Rs 34 crore GST fraud

In the complaint, Sudamati alleged that her husband had the habit of drinking and visiting dance bars, and used to subject her to physical and mental torture, saying he did not like her, police said.

No arrest has been made in this connection so far, the official said, adding investigation was underway.

In August last year, Vijay Gutte, the director of the "The Accidental Prime Minister", was arrested for alleged Goods and Services Tax (GST) fraud of over Rs 34 crore.

He had been booked under section 132 (1)(c) of the CGST Act, which pertains to "wrongful availment" of input tax credit using bills and invoices that have been issued without any supply of goods or services.

The film based on a book of the same name on former prime minister Manmohan Singh was released on Friday.
By IANS

NEW DELHI: Bangladeshi author and women rights advocate Taslima Nasrin launched 'Besharam', her sequel to the controversial 'Lajja', in Hindi at the ongoing New Delhi World Book Fair here on Saturday.

She was present at the Rajkamal Prakashan's Jalsaghar stall, along with Ashok Maheshwari, the MD of Rajkamal Prakashan and author Alpana Mishra, Dastango Himanshu Bajpai.

The novel has been translated from Bengali to Hindi by Utpal Banarjee.

'Lajja' revolves around the Hindu families who had to leave Bangladesh to seek exile in India because of the religious violence in the country. 'Besharam,' portrays the aftermath life of Suranjan, Maya and her parents after leaving Bangladesh and how it impacted them.

Bangladeshi author Taslima Nasrin releases her book 'Besharam' at World Book Fair in New Delhi Saturday. (Photo | PTI)

"This is not a political story but a social story about their lives, families and relationships. I could visualize myself in this novel as I was living in Calcutta while writing this book," Nasrin said.

Sharing her personal experience about the exile, Taslima confessed that people who migrated from Bangladesh to India still have the opportunity to go back to their country, but she did not have that opportunity.

"After writing 'Lajja' I was banned by the Bangladeshi government. My suffering is different from the people who can visit, but there is no compensation or comparison for any suffering," she said.
Kiran Narayanan By

Express News Service

KOCHI: Treading a new path is a tough task. And, in an eco-system where new endeavours often find too many hurdles, the challenges are manifold. That is where Maker Village, the electronic hardware incubator, scripts a success story.The joint venture of Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), Government of Kerala and Indian Institute of Information Technology and Management Kerala (IIITMK) and based at Kerala Technology Innovation Zone, KINFRA Hi-Tech Park, Kalamassery, Maker Village is a launch pad for many innovative ventures.

On Sunday, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan will officially inaugurate the Integrated Startup Complex.

The story so far

The project started with just four startups in 2015 now boasts of 65 companies and of them, 17 have bagged purchase orders in last one year. In addition, 25 patents are also filed.

"The primary aim was to create a sustainable hardware eco-system. As a hardware startup's project cycle is a bit long and complex, we have to ensure various resources like labs, equipment, materials and mentoring. We are helping the entrepreneurs to make prototypes out of their ideas, gain patents, bring the products to markets and win purchase orders," said Prasad Balakrishnan Nair, CEO, Maker Village.

While most ventures get an extravagant launch at the nascent stage, Maker Village was different. "We made significant groundwork, development and contributions before the official launch. We aimed at establishing a comprehensive one-roof facility for electronic hardware startups," he said.

A collective effort of the stakeholder also proved helpful for the Maker Village in three years.

NIDHI PRAYAS - Department of Science and Technology's project to facilitate early-stage startups and Kerala IT department's proactive role in removing hurdles helped Maker Village. "As it is a 52-crore project by MeitY, the state government has given us full support. Though it is implemented in other centres like IIT-Delhi, IIT-Patna and IIT-Hyderabad, we have achieved great results among all," said Prasad Balakrishnan Nair.

A different approach

Compared to a software startup, resource requirement, funding, product life cycle are completely different in hardware. "A comprehensive approach encompassing public institutions, market and corporates are required to build up a successful venture. Ensuring the availability of all these is the biggest challenge and the lack of it is what pulled us back till date," said Prasad.

Maker village hasn't had any outsourced work till date. It was all about nourishing fresh ideas through cutting edge technologies. "Every Maker Village ventures have gone through the painstaking process of realising the entrepreneur's dream. Considering the usual period of four years to receive a purchase order, achieving them within a short span of time has gained us recognition," said Prasad.

Future plans

Aiming at the future, Maker Village has grand plans at its arsenal. The institution is preparing to establish international centres of excellence with special focus areas. The institution is also reaching out to international markets to place its products. "We want to make this institution at par with international counterparts. As a start, we are partnering with global giant Altair Engineering to establish a centre of excellence in Engineering and Design. We are reaching out many such multi-national players for future tie-ups," he added.

Attracting outside companies

When many complain about entrepreneurs moving out of the state, Maker village sets a new benchmark by attracting many to Kerala. "Three companies have shifted their base to Maker Village from outside India and 10 companies from other states have also moved into the institution. Though it isn't a significant figure, we are transforming the going out brigade into coming back brigade," asserted Prasad.

IN A NUTSHELL

Established in 2015

65 startup companies within four years

17 companies bagged purchase orders

25 patents filed Centres of excellence and Market collaborations on the anvil
In the two weeks since the US announced it would withdraw its military forces from Syria, there have been fierce battles among major military factions in northwest Syria between those viewed as part of the Syrian opposition and others affiliated with the terrorist Al-Qaeda group.

The latter has declared it will fight the armed opposition and support the Syrian Kurdish militias that are now supporting the regime led by Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad in what threatens to be the stamping out of the last stronghold of the opposition.

The military confrontations between the two camps indicate that there will also be ramifications for the region, and even those who could have played a mediating role to end the activities of the terrorist Islamist factions are indirectly fighting them.

Last week, the Nureddin Al-Zinki forces, one of the largest armed opposition groups, battled the Hayat Tahrir Al-Sham (HTS) (formerly the Al-Nusra Front), which is listed as a terrorist group by the international community, in an attempt to annihilate Islamists that want to take control of the roads connecting Turkey with central and southern Syria.

Al-Nusra overran several towns and villages in the area and defeated the opposition troops of the Free Syria Army (FSA). There is now concern that the armed opposition will lose the fight in favour of the Islamists.

The regime is the main victor in these battles among the military groups in northwest Syria, and it has fanned these confrontations through agents that have infiltrated all sides.

The aim has been to create a pretext for it to take control of the area, which is part of the de-escalation zone decided at the Russian-sponsored Sochi Conference on Syria.

Battles have focused around the Aleppo-Damascus and Aleppo-Latakia highways. The Al-Nusra Front wants to take control of these main arteries due to their strategic importance, especially after information was leaked about Russian mediation with Turkey to re-open them.

The Al-Nusra Front, which the opposition accuses of doing the bidding of the regime and Iran, has been bringing military reinforcements into the area to take control of the highways.

It wants to isolate the opposition factions backed by Turkey to put pressure on Ankara and prevent it from attacking east of the Euphrates River against Kurdish militias affiliated with the Democratic Kurdish Union, which Turkey lists as a terrorist organisation.

Abul-Yaqzan Al-Masri, a leader of Al-Nusra Front, issued a religious edict (fatwa) banning opposition groups from participating in military operations against the Kurdish militias that have asked the regime to take their place in the area.

This has prevented attacks against the Kurdish militias that have decimated the opposition in northern Syria and is in line with the Russian position pressuring Turkey to stop attacks against the Kurds. It is also in line with the regimes aim of peacefully taking over the direction of the Kurdish militias.

The opposition believes that the Al-Nusra Front has vowed to protect the transit highways in the northwest with Russian blessing, since Moscow wants to create a safe environment before re-opening them.

It began preparing in April 2018 and deployed military forces there. The opposition was not prepared for the new fighting after battling the Kurdish militias, and the National Liberation Front (NLF), backed by Turkey, did not state it would fight alongside the Al-Zinki forces, even though the latter is one of the factions in the opposition coalition.

Perhaps Turkey has decided not to intervene or has given its blessing to eliminate this faction.

The Al-Nusra Front has deployed its forces to eliminate any group that has fought against it in the past, and a green light has apparently been given to Abu Mohamed Al-Jolani, its leader, to attack any faction that stands in the way of its goal of controlling the roads through the region.

Al-Zinki is one of the factions that has received orders from US intelligence in northern Syria, but cooperation ended after it killed a prisoner associated with the regime. It has fought against other military groups loyal to the FSA and helped Aleppo to fall into the hands of the regime.

Its relationship with Turkey improved when the armed group agreed to partner with Ankara in the fight against the Kurds, with Turkey then restoring its funding of the group.

Many believe that the campaigns by the Al-Nusra Front will lead to a Russian campaign in northwest Syria that will expel the opposition from its last stronghold.

But Russias and Turkeys manner of dealing with the reborn Al-Nusra Front implies that it has made concessions and will implement the Sochi Agreement to pave the way for a larger deal.

There is a new stage in the struggle of the armed groups in northwest Syria, especially since the area is the subject of understandings made at Sochi between Turkey and Russia in September 2018 and overlaps with developments east of the Euphrates.

Al-Nusra seems to be imposing itself in northern Syria as a main player that can negotiate with Ankara and Moscow over the regions fate. It is entrenching its presence, and it formed a salvation government in early 2018 that took control of local councils.

The regime is watching similar scenarios unfold in other regions in Syria. In many areas, it has infiltrated factions through intelligence agencies that instigate battles among the opposition. It has created new pretexts to attack them and to violate truce agreements under the pretense of fighting terrorism.

Its Russian and Iranian allies support it militarily in many areas, and the regime will likely ask Moscow to pressure Turkey to annul the Sochi Agreement and agree to its retaking control of the area.

In-fighting among the various factions since the start of the Syrian Revolution has played a fatal role for the opposition, impacting its political and military path and giving Al-Assad and his allies important victories.

The so-called legitimate factions, whose members were mostly released from regime prisons at the start of the revolution, were also a hindrance after the armed opposition took control of some areas.

They frustrated the creation of a single body to represent the revolution, as the regime and the various factions pursued their own interests and those of their benefactors.

Moscow now seems likely to reorganise the north of Syria after the US withdrawal, and it will likely pressure Turkey to achieve this. The repercussions will go beyond the Sochi Agreement, and if Russia succeeds it will mark the defeat of the armed opposition in Syria.

* A version of this article appears in print in the 10 January, 2018 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly under the headline: Elimination of Syrias armed groups

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Ritwika Mitra By

Express News Service

NEW DELHI: Of the 49 sewer deaths recorded in the capital, compensation has not reached the families in over 50 per cent of the cases, according to data available with the National Commission for Safai Karamcharis (NCSK).

Of the number of sewer deaths recorded in the capital, 20 people received a compensation of Rs 10 lakh and four people received compensation less than Rs 10 lakh. Twenty-five people have not received compensation, according to the data.

This is an ongoing exercise where we are documenting deaths from across the country. We are surveying states through ground visits to record the number of deaths, said Manhar Valjibhai Zala, NCSK chairperson.

We will be visiting Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry this month to take stock of the ground situation of manual scavenging, he added.

The Commission is compiling data from across states on the number of deaths since 1993. The total number of deaths recorded by the NCSK across India is 709 which experts said is an underestimation of the figures.

Of the 709 deaths recorded, a compensation of Rs 10 lakh has been paid in 367 cases and over 90 families have received less than Rs 10 lakh. The data shows there was no payment in 204 cases and in another 46 cases, the legal heir were not traceable.

From the data compiled so far, Tamil Nadu has recorded over 190 cases, Gujarat 132 cases, Karnataka 69, Uttar Pradesh 61, Punjab 33, and Haryana 52 among other states.

Families not receiving full payments is common. The other problem is the delay in payment of compensations. There are several cases dating back to 2013/2014, in which families have not received compensations. Local-level officials often do not know how to go about with the procedure of payments of compensation. The other thing is the government is in denial of the number of deaths taking place, said Ashif Shaikh, convenor, Rashtriya Garima Abhiyan.

The National Commission for Safai Karamcharis (NCSK) has recommended all states across India should have individual state safai karamchari commissions in order to end the practice of manual scavenging.

Despite the Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act, 2013 outlaws manual scavenging, people continue to be employed for the manual cleaning of dry toilets, sewer and septic tanks.

In a recent report submitted to the Social Justice and Empowerment ministry, the NCSK had recommended all states should have individual state safai karamchari commissions in order to end the practice of manual scavenging.
By Express News Service

BENGALURU: With strong deal wins and order pipeline, Indias second largest IT exporter Infosys revised its FY19 revenue guidance upward to 8.5-9 per cent from the earlier given guidance of 6-8 per cent. The Bengaluru-based company also announced a share buyback from the open market amounting to Rs 8,260 crore, at a price not exceeding Rs 800 per share.

Infosys also announced a special dividend of Rs 4 per share that would result in a payout of approximately Rs 2,107 crore. With the execution of buyback and special dividend, and Rs 2,633 crore paid in June 2018, Infosys would complete the distribution of Rs 13,000 crore that was announced as part of the capital allocation policy.

Earlier, the company said its net profit for the quarter ended December 31, 2018, stood at Rs 3,610 crore, registering a year-on-year decline of about 29.62 per cent, primarily due to higher income tax expense. The companys net profit stood at Rs 5,129 crore in the third quarter of FY18. The revenue of the company for the October-December period (Q3) stood at Rs 21,400 crore, registering a growth of 20.3 per cent as against the corresponding quarter last year. The operating margin was 22.6 per cent.

With increased client relevance, we saw double-digit growth in Q3. We also had another strong quarter in our digital business with 33.1 per cent growth and large deals at $1.57 billion, which gives us confidence entering 2019, said Salil Parekh, CEO and MD of Infosys.

On Thursday, Indias largest IT services company TCS posted a 24 per cent jump in its net profit and 20.8 per cent increase in revenue for the December quarter. Infosys has positively surprised the street on revenue growth for the second successive quarter, and has grown well ahead of TCS again. Higher guidance and robust deal wins signify improving revenue visibility, even as cost pressures are reflecting on margins, said Harit Shah, Senior Research Analyst (IT), Reliance Securities.

Infosys, which had classified its subsidiaries Skava and Panaya as held for sale, has decided to declassify it and plans to repurpose Skavas microservices-based business, as well as refocus Panayas suite of products on declassification. The company recognised additional depreciation and amortisation expenses of Rs 88 crore and reduction of Rs 451 crore in the carrying value for Skava.

We saw significant currency volatility during the quarter and managed it effectively by our hedging strategy, said Jayesh Sanghrajka, Interim CFO, Infosys. During the quarter, Infosys made a net addition of 7, 762 employees, taking the total headcount to 225,501 in Q3.

Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw gets second term as Infosys lead independent director

New Delhi: Technology giant Infosys, in a regulatory filing to stock exchanges on Friday, said its board has reappointed Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw as the lead independent director for a second term from April 1, 2019, to March 22, 2023, subject to shareholders approval. Infosys chairman Nandan Nilekani said Mazumdar-Shaws continuity, experience and insights are greatly valued by the board as it guides the company in executing its strategy in the coming years. She also serves as the chairperson and MD of biopharmaceutical company Biocon.
HARTFORD  Gov. Ned Lamont on Friday announced special elections will be held on Feb. 26 for five seats vacated by lawmakers who accepted Executive Branch appointments.

The races are for three Senate seats, including the 6th Senate District that includes Berlin, New Britain, and part of Farmington, and two House districts. The five lawmakers, all Democrats, accepted the appointments ahead of Wednesdays start to the legislative session, meaning they resigned before taking the oath of office.

Sen. Terry Gerratana, of New Britain, is among those five lawmakers, taking an appointment as an advisor in the Office of Health Strategy. Gerratana, herself, won the 6th Senate District seat for the first time in a February 2011 special election.

The other appointments are:

--Rep. Chris Soto, of New London, will become Lamonts director of legislative affairs, resigning from the 39th House District.seat.

--Rep. James Albis, of East Haven, will become senior advisor to Katie Dykes, Lamonts pick as commissioner of environmental protection. He resigned from the 99th House District seat.

--Sen. Tim Larson, of East Hartford, resigned from the 3rd Senate District to become executive director of the Office of Higher Education.

--Sen. Beth Bye, of West Hartford, resigned from the 5th Senate District to head the Office of Early Childhood Education.

Candidates will be nominated at conventions on Jan. 22, which is also the date nominating petitions are due, according to Secretary of the State Denise W. Merrill. Democrats currently hold majorities of 23-13 in the Senate and 92-59 in the House and are expected to retain the vacated seats.

Gerratanas role will have her working with other state officials on policies relative to health care systems and hospitals, medical and prescription costs, marijuana, and other health care issues. She had served as co-chair of the legislatures Public Health Committee.

Larson and Bye will need legislative approval for their appointments, as will Dykes.

Lamonts administration chose to retain Gov. Dannel P. Malloys agency heads for the departments of Revenue Services; Banking; Rehabilitative Services; Veterans Affairs; Developmental Services; Consumer Protection; Labor; and the Office of Health Strategy, but some other positions remain open.

msavino@record-journal.com

203-317-2266

Twitter: @reporter_savino
In the battle of wealthy gubernatorial self-funders in 2018, there was no contest as to who was willing and able to spend more of their own money: On that score, Democrat Ned Lamont outspent Republican Bob Stefanowski, $11 million to $1 million after the August primaries.

Stefanowski was able to offset the advantage of Lamonts wealth with the help of an independent-expenditure group and the contributions that flowed to his campaign once he won the Republican nomination. But the resources under his direct control paled in comparison to those of the Lamont campaign.

End-of-the-year campaign finance reports filed Thursday show Lamonts campaign spent nearly $15.8 million to win the nomination and general election, and only $813,000 came from individual contributions not named Ned Lamont.

Stefanowskis campaign spent $6.5 million on the primary and general, with half the money coming from the candidate and half from individual contributors. But his spending was front-loaded on television advertising to buy name-recognition for the first-time candidate, a former global finance executive.

Of his own funds, Stefanowski spent $2.3 million to win a five-way primary, but only $1 million on the general election. Contributions from others totaled $635,000 before the primary, then blossomed to $2.6 million once he became the GOP nominee.

The Republican Governors Association made $7.4 million in independent expenditures supporting Stefanowski once he won the GOP nomination on Aug. 9, most of it on television ads attacking Lamont. Other than some token early spending on research, the Democratic Governors Association skipped the race, knowing Lamont had deep pockets.

Lamont, who was seeking statewide office for the third time, personally spent about $4 million before the Democratic primary and $11 million on the general election, including a final investment of $1.7 million on Oct. 30 to counter a late Republican television blitz.

The latest filings cover spending and fundraising from Oct. 29 through Dec. 31.

The third-place finisher, petitioning candidate Oz Griebel, spent a half-million dollars, with $300,000 from individual contributors and rest from the candidate. Griebel is the former leader of the MetroHartford Alliance, the regions chamber of commerce.

Lamont defeated Stefanowski, 49.37 percent to 46.9 percent. Griebel had 3.89 percent.

The 2018 campaign was first in which no gubernatorial candidate on the November ballot sought public financing under the states voluntary Citizens Election Program.

Three of the four Republicans defeated by the Stefanowski in the GOP primary  Mark Boughton, Tim Herbst and Steve Obsitnik  had qualified for a public grant. Had one of them won in August, they would have received $6.5 million the next day.

This story originally appeared at ctmirror.org, the website of The Connecticut Mirror.
SOUTHINGTON  Uncle Jack Thai Restaurant is looking to offer unique and authentic dishes in its downtown Plantsville location.

Phangphan Phatphongvet and his wife Nutchai Kumsalia, formerly of New Jersey, are serving recipes from Phatphongvets mother. The restaurant at 13 W. Main St. opened late last month.

So far so good, Phatphongvet said. Customers keep talking about my food. They like it.

The restaurant name is eaiser to say than Phatphongvets name, he said, and conveyed the familiar atmosphere he is trying to create. Thus far, soups and noodles have been among the most popular dishes, along with duck. Curry and basil duck meals are among his unique offerings, Phatphongvet said.

The restaurant also offers rice dishes, soups, salads, curries, meat and seafood entrees and specials such as Uncle Jacks fried rice.

The location, at the intersection of Route 10 and West Main Street, was formerly occupied by Vnam Kitchen. Phatphongvet renovated some of the interior and redecorated last year when getting ready to open.

On Friday afternoon Nathan Huang, who works next door, stopped in for a taro bubble tea. The restaurant has a number of unique drinks that hes been trying since Uncle Jack opened.

They have a lot more variety, Huang said.

Phatphongvet said he offers dine-in and take out. Hes looking for drivers for delivery. He considered Uber Eats but decided against it because he felt the company took too large a percentage of the order.

Dinner has been his busiest time.

Dean Michanczyk owns the building as well as other nearby property and businesses such as Deans Stove and Spa. Hes renovating several nearby buildings as part of an expansion for his business.

jbuchanan@record-journal.com

203-317-2230

Twitter: @JBuchananRJ
MERIDEN  A new restaurant focusing on Asian cuisine is slated to open soon on East Main Street.

A sign posted in the window of the 1371 E. Main St location, states that the restaurant, The Asian Invasion, will serve Thai, Japanese, Chinese, and Korean food.

According to Building Official Don Angersola, there is currently no sales permit on file for the location. The owners could not be reached for comment.

The location was formerly the Mexican eatery Cucaramacara, which closed in August of 2018. According to a sign that was posted at the time, the closing was due to the suspension of the restaurants sales tax permit.

Representatives for FeFrost LLP, listed as the owner of the plaza, could not be reached for comment.

Sean Moore, Midstate Chamber of Commerce president, said although the restaurant would not be the first of its kind in the area there is always room for one more.

Its certainly becoming a nice little dining destination in the area, More said. When people go out to eat the destination is not a restaurant but a district.

jroman@record-journal.com

203-317-2420

Twitter: @JenieceRoman
BERLIN  Dozens of positions on town boards and commissions are set to open when terms expire at the end of the month, leaving town officials concerned that some boards may be left without enough members to conduct business.

Its an amount Im concerned about, said Town Manager Jack Healy.

Though many members are expected to be reappointed, even a few vacancies can make it difficult for smaller boards to have enough members present to take action.

Out of the 62 spots which are open, 15 are currently vacant. Others have told Healy they dont intend to seek reappointment.

Many of these people have been on for many years  and are getting on in years and are saying its time for someone else, Healy said.

Interested residents can submit an application to Healys office, which will then be forwarded to the Town Council for consideration. The council is expected to make appointments at its Jan. 22 meeting.

Mayor Mark Kaczynski said serving on the Planning and Zoning Commission and Town Council has been rewarding.

Certainly volunteering is a great thing to do, he said.

Healy emphasized applicants dont need to be experts to qualify for a board or commission because each panel has town staff to handle technical work and provide advice.

You dont have to be a wetlands specialist to be on the inland wetlands board, Healy said. If you are willing to sit and listen  you are qualified.

William Jackson, vice chair of the Inlands Wetlands and Watercourses Commission also encouraged residents to volunteer.

We have the ability as citizens to be involved, to share in the review of decision-makings, he said.

dleithyessian@record-journal.com

203-317-2317

Twitter: @leith_yessian
Egypts parliament is scheduled to discuss and vote on laws related to a number of issues next week, including new measures aiming to fight monopolistic practices and other issues that affect the price of consumer goods.

On Sunday, parliament is expected to take a final vote on laws fighting monopolistic practices, regulating the medical profession and the education sector, and establishing a higher council for the physically challenged.

Parliament is also expected to begin discussing a government-drafted law aimed at setting up a body regulating national and international land transport in Egypt.

Other laws regulating public shops and the inspection and handling of food products on the local market are also expected to be debated on Sunday or Monday.

On 8 December, parliament approved most of the amendments to law no.3 of 2005 on the protection of competition and the prevention of monopolistic practices.

Speaker Ali Abdel-Aal decided that the final vote on the amended version of the law was postponed due to the lack of a quorum. "This is a law which requires a quorum of a two-third majority of MPs as it represents a basic part of the constitution and because it tackles the issue of free trade," he said.

A report prepared by parliaments legislative and constitutional affairs committee and the economic affairs committee said the flotation of the Egyptian pound and the elimination of a large amount of fuel, power, and water subsidies had led to monopolistic practices and the manipulation of the prices of essential products on the local market.

The new amendments introduce the crime of hoarding strategic goods such as petroleum products, with the aim of driving up prices. Those found guilty could face a jail sentence ranging from one to five years and a fine of EGP 100,000 to EGP 1 million.

The changes also impose penalties on smuggling petroleum products, and other products prohibited for export, that amount to jail sentences ranging from three to seven years and fines of EGP 100,000 to EGP 2 million.

Amendments to anti-monopoly law

The cabinet decided at its weekly meeting on Wednesday to introduce additional amendments to the anti-monopoly law (law no.3 of 2005) and refer them to parliament.

A cabinet statement said the additional amendments aim to give greater powers to the apparatus on the protection of competition and the prevention of monopolistic practices.

"The apparatus will be directly affiliated with the cabinet and prime minister himself, in order to give it the power and flexibility enough to address harmful monopolistic practices on the market," said the statement, indicating that "the amendments also prohibit rival competitors in the market  individuals or entities  from concluding an agreement or contract or joining other forces in a direct or indirect way, with the harmful purpose of raising or lowering or stabilising the prices of certain products on any market, or with the intent of dividing the market among them."

"It is also prohibited that market competitors join forces to abstain from submitting bids in a public tender, or work together to restrict the manufacture, production, distribution and marketing of certain products, with the objective of manipulating the market and manipulating the prices of these products," said the statement.

It also indicated that the apparatus will be tasked with receiving reports and complaints on certain monopolistic practices.

"The apparatus will inspect them, collect information on them, and decide whether the practices are monopolistic, and if yes, it will move to take the necessary measures to contain such harmful activities," said the statement, adding that "the amendments also entrust the apparatus with preparing an integrated database on economic activities and businesses, as well as research reports that all should help safeguard the local market against harmful monopolistic and shady practices."

On 9 December, Abdel-Aal said the amendments to the anti-trust law are very important to help discipline the local market and crack down on those who tamper with subsidised products and ensure that ordinary citizens get essential goods at reasonable prices.

The report prepared by parliament's committees says that the new amendments aim to stem the tide of high prices on the local markets."

"Watchdog authorities have noticed that a handful of importers and merchants have exploited the liberalisation policies to double their profit margins in an illegal way and exaggerated way," read the report, indicating that "the amendments give greater powers to inspectors affiliated with Ministry of Supply, the Consumer Protection Agency, and the Ministry of Interior's Supply Control Department to help them discipline the local market, contain high prices, ensure that limited-income consumers get essential goods and products at reasonable prices, and tighten the grip on monopolistic practices."

It said that these legislative initiatives come in response to parliament and MPs who have always pressured the government to check monopolistic practices and give consumers all needed protection."

On Monday, Agriculture Minister Ezzeddin Abu Steit will be required to answer 65 questions and information requests submitted by MPs.

"Minister Abu Steit will answer questions on monopolistic practices in the sugar market, and indicate the government's strategy in standing up to rampant monopolies in the area of trade of fertilisers, pesticides, and seeds, containing prices of certain major agricultural crops, and helping safeguard farmers against private monopolisers and manipulators," said a parliamentary statement.

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Russiagate disciples are squealing with joy after the New York Times wrote about the FBI apparently probing if Trump was secretly working for the Russians. In fact, the article states there is no evidence to support the theory.

In what appears to be a last-ditch Russiagate Hail Mary, the New York Times breathlessly reported on Friday  of course, citing people 'familiar with the investigation'  that the FBI began looking into whether the president was a covert Kremlin agent, after Trump fired then-FBI Director James Comey in May 2017. According to the Times, "agents and senior FBI officials had grown suspicious of Mr. Trump's ties to Russia during the 2016 campaign," but were reluctant to launch a formal probe into the matter. This all changed, the Times tells us, after Comey got the boot.

Also on rt.com Collusion with Ukraine? NY Times corrects its bombshell Russiagate report

The investigation was quickly handed over to special counsel Robert Mueller, who continues to lead a probe into alleged Russian meddling in the 2016 election and collusion with Trump's presidential campaign.

According to the Times, counterintelligence investigators "had to consider whether the president's own actions constituted a possible threat to national security." Agents were also tasked with determining whether Trump "knowingly work[ed] for Russia or had unwittingly fallen under Moscow's influence."

The decision to secretly investigate the president for possibly threatening national security triggered a "vigorous debate" within the Justice Department. The FBI, however, apparently felt vindicated after Trump remarked that Comey's firing had helped relieve Russia-related political pressure.

Among Russiagate's devout faithful, the report was treated as an earth-shattering revelation that reinforced their core dogma  i.e., that Donald Trump is a Kremlin agent installed in the White House by Vladimir Putin to destroy democracy.

Unfortunately, even the Times begrudgingly admitted  albeit buried in the ninth paragraph  that "no evidence has emerged publicly that Mr. Trump was secretly in contact with or took direction from Russian government officials."

Also on rt.com Former NYT editor calls out paper of record for anti-Trump bias in new book

Indeed, Twitter was swamped with indignant comments accusing the paper of cooking up a massive nothingburger. One observant netizen pointed out that in October 2016, the New York Times even ran a headline that stated unequivocally: "Investigating Donald Trump, the FBI sees no clear links to Russia."

Trump himself took to Twitter to mock the report.

"Wow, just learned in the Failing New York Times that the corrupt former leaders of the FBI, almost all fired or forced to leave the agency for some very bad reasons, opened up an investigation on me, for no reason & with no proof, after I fired Lyin' James Comey, a total sleaze!" he wrote.

The White House said in a statement that the notion that Trump was in bed with Russia makes little sense, given the administration's hardline policies directed at Moscow.

"Unlike President Obama, who let Russia and other foreign adversaries push America around, President Trump has actually been tough on Russia."

The report also raises questions about whether Comey was being entirely truthful when he testified to Congress in December that Trump wasn't among the "four Americans" targeted by the FBI counterintelligence probe into Russian meddling.

As one political pundit observed, the Times' story raises more questions about the FBI than it does about Trump and his still unproven ties to Russia.

"Is NYT story about Trump, or about FBI malfeasance?" Fox News contributor Byron York asked in a tweet.
In a worrying and awkward story for airport security, a woman managed to board a flight from the US to Japan whilst packing a handgun and some bullets.

The woman, who swears she didnt know she was carrying the lethal weapon, realized she had her gun on her during the flight, after she had managed to get through airport security in Atlanta International Airport on January 4, Japan Times reports.

Also on rt.com Pilot arrested for carrying loaded gun in his carry-on in St. Louis airport

She alerted Delta cabin crew as soon as she realized and the staff took her weapon and ammo for safekeeping for the rest of the flight from Atlanta to Narita airport near Tokyo.

The woman was refused entry to Japan and got a flight back to the States later that day.

A similar incident took place at Narita airport on December 14, when, during a security inspection, an American co-pilot was found to be in possession of live bullets.

Following the two mishaps, Japans transport ministry asked US transportation security authorities to take preventative measures to ensure no more serious incidents, occur.

Also on rt.com Delta flight forced to make emergency landing after engine blaze (VIDEOS)

Bizarrely, yet another similar incident involving bullets and a Japanese airport took place in July 2017.

An American woman in her 60s arrived at Tokyos International Haneda Airport and realized she had 100 bullets in her bag. Although she threw them in the bin, she was arrested for violating Japans Firearm And Sword Control Law.

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European envoys to the US backed plans to drop the sanctions against Rusal and En+, linked to Russian businessman Oleg Deripaska, reports say. It would save thousands of jobs and curb serious damage to the aluminum industry.

The ambassadors of Austria, France, Germany, Italy, Sweden, the UK as well as the head of the EU mission in the US addressed the American lawmakers, calling on them to push forward the potential lift of Washingtons penalties against the companies.

The diplomats believe some 75,000 workers will have means of existence and Europe aluminum industry will be kept afloat, according to their letter to Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Foreign Affairs Chairman Eliot Engel obtained by media, including Bloomberg and Tass, late on Friday.

Also on rt.com Shares in Russian aluminium giant Rusal surge as US lifts sanctions

By preventing serious damage to the European aluminum industry, the de-listing will help preserve existing supply chains which would otherwise likely be rerouted to China, further strengthening its global market position in the industry, the envoys reportedly wrote on January 4.

Washington introduced the sanctions in April 2018, targeting Russian businessman Oleg Deripaska among others, and companies in which he owns stakes, including Russian aluminum giant Rusal and En+ Group. After the tycoon reduced his stake in the companies, the Trump administration proposed to remove the measures in December.

The envoys also said that since the sanctions were imposed, the alumina and aluminum enterprises in their home countries faced price hikes and difficulties in their business activities.

Also on rt.com German car producers could fall victim to US sanctions against Russian aluminum

On Friday, US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin briefed the lawmakers on his departments bid to lift the restrictions as House Democrats expressed concern about it.

They [En+, Rusal, and ESE] have committed to provide Treasury with an unprecedented level of transparency into their dealings to ensure that Deripaska does not reassert control. As a result, these entities will no longer be designated for sanctions, Mnuchin said before the closed meeting. However, the Democrats have apparently remained unconvinced, and the US Treasury will possibly delay the move which was initially set to be introduced next week.

European companies have previously warned that bite of anti-Russian sanctions would affect them. For example, German-based firms told RT that they fear disruptions worth hundreds of millions of euros and production losses because of US embargo.

For more stories on economy & finance visit RT's business section
Egypt's Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry on Saturday discussed with Greek Deputy Foreign Minister Terens Quick preparations for holding the third round of the Roots Revival initiative bringing together Egypt, Greece and Cyprus, to be held in Australia later in the year.

During the meeting in Cairo, the two sides discussed means of boosting Egypt-Greek relations within the framework of friendship ties and strategic partnership.

They also exchanged views about regional issues of mutual concern, foreign ministry spokesman Ahmed Hafez said in a statement.

The first round of the initiative was held in Alexandria last April and the second in London in October, the spokesman said, noting that the initiative reflects the strength of historic and cultural relations among the three countries.

The two sides also held consultations on Egypts chairmanship of the African Union in 2019 in light of the ministerial meeting that will bring together officials from the African Union and the European Union on 21-22 January.

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Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi will visit Jordan on Sunday, his spokesman Bassam Rady has said on Saturday.

El-Sisi is expected to discuss bilateral cooperation with Jordans King Abdullah, Rady said.

According to the latest figures, Egypt's trade exchange with Jordan stands at $587 million.

El-Sisi's spokesman also said that the pair will discuss regional developments, especially the situation in the Palestinian territories, as well as efforts to reach political settlements.

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First, according to IRS data, only about 16,000 people receive $10 million or more per year in so-called earned income, such as wages and salaries, that would be subject to AOCs proposed tax increase. Income from capital, such as stock dividends or gains from sales of financial assets, would still be taxed at much lower rates, while most interest on municipal bonds would still be exempt from taxation.
Given the recent volatility in the stock market, we asked voters in our December survey to tell us which of the following statements best described the personal impact of the market downturn. Twenty-eight percent said they had been personally impacted; 32 percent said they had not been affected but were seriously concerned they might be; and 29 percent called the Wall Street decline seriously concerning but said it would not likely impact them.
George Hopkins, the former director of the Allentown Cadets drum and bugle corps charged with sexually assaulting two women and accused of sexual misconduct by nine others, called the claims an orchestrated smear by those who disagreed with his management, in an online post Thursday.

In 12 paragraphs posted to the online publishing platform Medium.com, Hopkins called the accusations untrue and said hes sat by silently listening as others assassinated his character. Hopkins said when he reads what people write about him in chat rooms and the news, he assumes it must be about someone else.

They couldnt be talking about me because this George Hopkins has never done any of the things that they said, Hopkins wrote.

Ive been living a nightmare because of these attacks and I cannot simply be quiet any longer, Hopkins said, adding that he hoped to tell his side of the story for those interested in hearing both sides.

Hopkins was accused of sexual assault and harassment by nine women in an article published in April in The Philadelphia Inquirer. The women ranged in age from 16 to 37 at the time of the alleged incidents, which dated to 1980.

The Lehigh County district attorneys office confirmed it was investigating allegations against Hopkins the following month and in November filed two sexual assault charges against him.

Prosecutors allege Hopkins, 62, of Mechanicsburg, Cumberland County, assaulted an employee of the Cadets' parent organization in 2008 in his home on the 4100 block of Primrose Drive in Allentown. The woman said after she had a glass of wine, she began to feel like she was "floating on the ceiling, " the complaint said. She told investigators she was unable to resist Hopkins as he undressed her, although she repeatedly told him, No.

A second woman employed by another drum corps alleged Hopkins assaulted her in 2010 after they had drinks at a bar, the complaint said. After they went to Hopkins' apartment on the 200 block of North Third Street in Allentown, he ripped her shirt open and carried her over his shoulder to his bedroom, where he allegedly had sexual intercourse with her, it said. She also claimed to be unable to resist and to have said, No, repeatedly.

Hopkins, who also served as CEO of the Cadets parent organization, Youth Education in the Arts, said he has received messages of support from friends and fans but added that others are afraid to come forward in such an attack prone atmosphere.

This entire series of attacks are the result of a small group of Cadets alumni having a vendetta against me because I did not run the drum corps the way they may have preferred, Hopkins said, adding that some have worked for years to get him fired while others joined the effort more recently.

Hopkins attorney, Thomas Bergstrom of Philadelphia, on Friday confirmed the post was written by Hopkins and said he discussed it briefly with his client. Hopkins told Bergstrom he needed to vent, the attorney said.

There was a whole host of social media that was making wild accusations, dangerous accusations, untruthful accusations, Bergstrom said.

Bergstrom did not discount Hopkins assertion that the case against him is fueled by tensions among former members of the group.

Im going to follow the facts, and I think some of the facts in this case would support that there was a vendetta out for him for reasons known only to the people who were involved in the YEA program, Bergstrom said. The facts will be brought out in a courtroom.

After The Inquirer story broke, Hopkins, who led the Cadets for decades, resigned. The YEAs board and executive director also resigned. The new board said Hopkins was fired, since he never submitted a letter of resignation. Hopkins sued the organization over that dispute and other issues.

Doug Rutherford, chairman of the YEA board, declined to address Hopkins comments but said the organization remains focused on providing safe and financially sound programs, and that YEA is an excellent place to work and volunteer.

Kimberly Carter, a former youth member of the Cadets who returned to work for the organization as an adult, dismissed Hopkins assertion that he is a victim.

Thats not the case at all, whatsoever, said Carter, who was involved in a sexual relationship with Hopkins she described as a quid pro quo tied to her job at YEA.

If those are the type of allegations hes claiming, I will let it play out in the court, Carter said.

When The Morning Call reported Carters allegations in April, Hopkins did not return a reporters calls. Until Thursday, Hopkins had denied the allegations against him through attorneys but hadnt addressed them directly.

In his online post, Hopkins acknowledged that he was a tough person to work with at times, but denied the accusations, calling them consensual acts or denying that they happened.

My passion for my work spilled out into the way I treated some people, and obviously in reflection I am sorry that was the case. But make no mistake, I have never acted inappropriately with a woman, Hopkins wrote.

peter.hall@mcall.com

Twitter @phall215

610-820-6581
LNP reports Gabrellen Pfarr has a few months to live after deciding not to pursue further treatment for cancer. Now, the 83-year-old wants to find a caring home for the sprawling plant she's been nurturing for 10 years in her Lancaster apartment.
'Bird Box Challenge' Causes Blindfolded Driver to Crash The 'Bird Box Challenge' is a viral internet trend that challenges people to navigate the world while blindfolded just as the characters did in Netflix's hit film, 'Bird Box.' Netflix issued a plea for people to be careful. A driver in Layton, Utah, did not take Netflix's advice.

'Bird Box Challenge' Causes Blindfolded Driver to Crash The 'Bird Box Challenge' is a viral internet trend that challenges people to navigate the world while blindfolded just as the characters did in Netflix's hit film, 'Bird Box.' Netflix issued a plea for people to be careful. A driver in Layton, Utah, did not take Netflix's advice.
The upper floors are used for storage, which can be difficult for employees because there is no elevator, Kaplan said. Although there is a conveyor belt, it can only carry smaller parcels and isnt much help when workers have to lug customers awnings to the top floors for storage in the winter, she said.
Grim, 59, said his last day will be Feb. 28. He said his replacement will be announced at a later date. His four-year term as coroner, an elected position, ends Dec. 31. The county board of commissioners will have 45 days to appoint an interim replacement to serve out the remainder of Grims term, according to Edward Hozza Jr., the countys director of administration. The home rule charter requires the appointee come from the same political party as the person being replaced  in this case, a Democrat.
Authorities say Merena fled into Pennsylvania where police had laid out spike strips to help stop him. Pennsylvania State Police say Merena's car hit the strips and its tires were deflated, but the car only stopped when it crashed into a trooper's cruiser near the Philadelphia International Airport.
Layton police Lt. Travis Lyman said Friday that the 17-year-old drifted into oncoming traffic and hit another car after she pulled a hat over her eyes to emulate "Bird Box," a Sandra Bullock movie on Netflix where characters must be constantly blindfolded to avoid visions that urge them to die.
EgyptAir flight MS986 from New York to Cairo made an emergency landing on Saturday in Munich, Germany after one of the passengers onboard had a medical emergency, according to a statement by EgyptAir.

Flight attendants administered first aid to the female passenger, the statement read, but she needed more advanced care.

Upon arrival at Munich airport, an ambulance was called and the passenger was taken for immediate treatment.

The plane resumed its journey to Cairo International Airport several hours later.

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A: Lampert's ESL has said it will strive to keep Sears in business if it wins the bid. But even if the company liquidates, the Sears Home Services business or brands like Kenmore and DieHard could live on. ESL also has said it would bid on some pieces of the business individually. It's also possible that someone could buy Sears' intellectual property and try to bring the brand back online or in bricks-and-mortar stores.
Les membres du cabinet ont pris note que conditions concernant la gratuite des etudes tertiares dans les universites publiques, de la promulgation de la Merchant Shipping (Prevention of Pollution by Oil and Noxious Liquid Substances in Bulk), que el gouvernement va commemorer la disparition de Kaya au mois de Fevrier

1. Cabinet has agreed to the modalities for the implementation of a Scheme to provide free higher education in public Tertiary Education Institutions (TEIs) as from year 2019. The objectives of the Scheme are to:

(a) better prepare young people for the challenges of the future;

(b) further democratise access to tertiary education;

(c) set a solid base for the development of a knowledge economy;

(d) address the problem of skills mismatch in the labour market, especially as Mauritius pursues its ambition to become a digital economy as well as a Fintech Hub for Africa;

(e) create capacity to foster the development of Artificial Intelligence technologies; and

(f) catch up with countries like Singapore in terms of enrolment at tertiary level in order to lift up our national productivity.

The Scheme would cover the following public TEIs, namely:

(a) University of Mauritius;

(b) University of Technology, Mauritius;

(c) Universite des Mascareignes;

(d) Open University of Mauritius;

(e) Mahatma Gandhi Institute and Rabindranath Tagore Institute;

(f) Mauritius Institute of Education;

(g) Fashion and Design Institute;

(h) Mauritius Institute of Training and Development; and

(i) Polytechnics Mauritius Ltd.

The Scheme would apply for courses, whether part-time or full time, leading to the obtention of a first certificate, diploma or an undergraduate degree only. Beneficiaries would be newly-enrolled students as well as existing cohorts following programmes up to the undergraduate level.

2. Cabinet has agreed to the setting up of a New Scholarship Scheme for postgraduate studies in Digital Technologies, including Artificial Intelligence and Blockchain, as announced in Budget Speech 2018/2019. A new Postgraduate Scholarship Scheme would be set up at the level of the Ministry of Education and Human Resources, Tertiary Education and Scientific Research in February 2019. The Scheme would provide for 15 Masters level scholarship slots that would be of one-year duration if tenable overseas or of two years duration if studies are undertaken in a local higher education institution. It would also make provision for five PhD level scholarship slots of up to four years duration. A two-year full time Scholarship Scheme to support Mauritian students for a Masters Level Degree course in Artificial Intelligence and Robotics would also be set up at the Universite des Mascareignes. Enrolment is planned for August 2019, with an annual cohort capacity of 25 students.

3. Cabinet has agreed to the appointment of a High Level Committee of Experts under the chairmanship of Lord Phillips to review the Law Practitioners Act and other relevant enactments concerning the legal profession in Mauritius such as the Mauritius Bar Association Act, the Mauritius Law Society Act, the Notaries Act and any enactments related thereto. The objects of the Committee would be to propose amendments to the enactments pertaining, inter alia, to:

(a) the running of courses and examinations, including recognition of foreign qualifications, for admission to practice law in Mauritius; and

(b) the legal framework pertaining to:

(i) the institution and conduct of disciplinary proceedings against law practitioners; and

(ii) the efficient and effective functioning of the Mauritius Bar Association, the Mauritius Law Society and the Chamber of Notaries.

4. Cabinet has taken note that the Prime Minister would make the Gambling Regulatory Authority (Personal Management Licence) (Amendment) Regulations 2019 under the Gambling Regulatory Authority Act to define the term officer insofar as it relates to the issuance of Personal Management Licence for people involved in horseracing activities.

5. Cabinet has agreed to the Minister of Ocean Economy, Marine Resources, Fisheries and Shipping promulgating the Merchant Shipping (Prevention of Pollution by Oil and Noxious Liquid Substances in Bulk) Regulations under the Merchant Shipping Act 2007. The Regulations would, inter alia, :

(a) ensure that every ship is surveyed and issued with an International Oil Pollution Prevention Certificate and prohibit the discharge of oil or oily mixture into the sea;

(b) ensure that every Mauritius tanker of 150 gross tonnage and above and every Mauritius ship other than 400 gross tonnage and above, would have to carry on board a shipboard oil pollution emergency plan and an oil record book;

(c) categorize and regulate the carriage of noxious liquid substances in bulk and ensure that every Mauritius ship of 150 gross tonnage and above, approved to carry noxious liquid substances in bulk, has a shipboard marine pollution emergency plan for noxious liquid substances; and

(d) provide for the conduct of initial, periodical and annual surveys followed by the issue of an International Pollution Prevention Certificate for the carriage of Noxious Liquid Substances in Bulk.

The Regulations would be effective on 01 February 2019.

6. Cabinet has taken note of the setting up of the Mauritius Research Repository by the Mauritius Research Council. The aim of the Mauritius Research Repository, which would be an online open access collection of research projects, reports, presentations, publications, scholarly contents, media and other research works related to the Republic of Mauritius or produced by an author of Mauritian origin, would be to create awareness, disseminate and increase visibility of research works to a wider audience, including the general public. Individual researchers, innovators, local and overseas companies would be able to search for researchers or institutions/companies, based on their expertise and previous research work. The repository would be made accessible to the public in due course.

7. Cabinet has taken note that the Ministry of Technology, Communication and Innovation would, in collaboration with the World Bank, carry out a Cybersecurity Capacity Assessment in Mauritius, based on the Cybersecurity Capacity Maturity Model for Nations developed by Oxford University. The Cybersecurity Capacity Maturity Model review process would be carried out by the World Bank based on consultations with different stakeholders including Ministries and Departments, law enforcement agencies, international organisations, academia and private sector. The aim of the exercise is to gain an understanding of the countrys cybersecurity capacity in order to strategically prioritise further developments in the area of cybersecurity and cybercrime.

8. Cabinet has taken note of the results of The African Report on Child Wellbeing 2018: Progress in the child-friendliness of African governments where Mauritius ranked first in the 2018 edition.

9. Cabinet has taken note that Government will pay tribute to the memory of Kaya who passed away in February 1999.

10. Cabinet has agreed to Mauritius hosting the World Travel Awards Gala Ceremony for the Africa and Indian Ocean Category in 2019. The World Travel Awards has been rewarding success across all sectors of the tourism industry since 25 years. Some 300 industry leaders, professionals from the regional tourism and hospitality industry as well as high ranking Government representatives would attend the event. Such events are widely regarded as providing excellent networking opportunities as well as enhancing international visibility for the host country.

11. Cabinet has taken note of the activities that would be organised to mark the 184th Anniversary of the Abolition of Slavery in Mauritius, commemorated on 1 February. In this context, HE Filipe Nyusi, President of the Republic of Mozambique, would be the Chief Guest. The activities would include:

(a) a symbolic wreath laying ceremony at the Monument aux Esclaves, Pointe Canon, Mahebourg; and

(b) a wreath laying ceremony on 1 February 2019 at the International Slave Route Monument, Le Morne Public Beach, followed by an official programme at Le Morne Village.

12. Cabinet has taken note of the various activities being organised for the celebration of the Spring Festival at national level, including:

(a) a Chinese Spring Festival Parade in the streets of Port Louis on 3 February 2019. Shows with the participation of local and foreign artists and demonstrations of Chinese handicraft and cuisine would also be held;

(b) a Gala Show on 5 February 2019 at the J&J Auditorium, Phoenix comprising performances by the Shaanxi Provincial Acrobatic Troupe Co. Ltd from China; and

(c) a Cultural Show on the occasion of the Lantern Festival on 16 February 2019 at the Mahatma Gandhi Institute, Moka.

13. Cabinet has taken note that the Ministry of Youth and Sports, in collaboration with the Comite dOrganisation des 10emes Jeux des Iles de lOcean Indien, would organise a major activity each month with the view to rallying the population around the forthcoming Indian Ocean Islands Games scheduled from 19 to 28 July 2019. The activity would comprise a grand musical show, PS4 games, face painting and fun games for children and the public in general. The activities would be organised at Port Louis Waterfront, Mahebourg Waterfront, Flacq Coeur de Ville, Flic en Flac Public Beach, Municipality of Curepipe, Plaza, Rose Hill and Grand Baie.

14. Cabinet has taken note that Mauritius has been selected by the International Maritime Organization as a Lead Partnering Country under the GEF-UNDP-IMO GloFouling Partnerships Project. The GloFouling Partnerships Project is a collaboration between the Global Environment Facility, the United Nations Development Programme and the International Maritime Organization. The aim of the GloFouling Project is to build capacity in developing countries for implementing the International Maritime Organization and other relevant guidelines for biofouling management and to catalyse overall reductions in the transboundary introduction of biofouling-mediated invasive species with additional benefits in the reduction of Greenhouse Gas emissions from global shipping.

15. Cabinet has taken note of the recent mission of the Vice-Prime Minister, Minister of

Local Government and Outer Islands, Minister of Gender Equality, Child Development and Family Welfare to Ethiopia where she participated in the High Level Dialogue on the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa. The event was organised by the African Union Commission to commemorate the 15th anniversary celebration of the Maputo Protocol. The objectives of the High Level Dialogue were to:

(a) take stock of progress made so far in implementing gender equality and womens empowerment as provided under the Articles of the Protocol;

(b) raise awareness about critical gaps that must be addressed and identify creative ways to improve the status of women across Member States; and

(c) develop strategies for promoting universal ratification, domestication and implementation of the Protocol.

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16. Cabinet has taken note of the outcome of the recent mission of the Minister of Education and Human Resources, Tertiary Education and Scientific Research to South Africa where she participated in the Harvard Ministerial Roundtable for Human Development Policy Innovation. The key objective of the Roundtable was to inform about opportunities and inspire Ministers present to think through and work out steps to implement and scale-up innovative human development policy initiatives. Following the Roundtable, participating Ministers were called upon to develop and present an agenda of innovative policy ideas that are relevant to their specific challenges and map directions as to how to implement same. The Roundtable produced a set of policy briefs providing options and recommendations for innovative inter-sectoral human development policies applicable to different African contexts.

17. Cabinet has taken note of the outcome of the 17eme Colloque VIH/SIDA Ocean Indien which was recently held in Mauritius. The theme of the Colloque was Une Region, Des Evolutions, Des Solutions . Ensemble!. The main objectives of the Colloque were to:

(a) update the knowledge and management of the HIV infection among the scientists, the medical and paramedical personnel and the service providers;

(b) share best practices and experiences between health personnel and civil society of the Region; and

(c) reinforce cooperation amongst Member States of the Indian Ocean Region with regard to HIV and AIDS and harm reduction strategies.

Eminent and renowned experts in the field of HIV and AIDS from France, Reunion Island and Mauritius participated in the Colloque and shared their experiences with some 300 participants.

18. Cabinet has taken note of the reconstitution of:

(a) the Discharged Persons Aid Committee with Mr Serge Roland Montille as Chairperson; and

(b) the Jewellery Advisory Council with Mr Teswar Rai Ramkhalawon as Chairperson.

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Devastating Investment Losses Are Coming: What Is Your Advisor Doing About It?

I hold financial professionals who recommend monetary gold to their clients in the highest esteem. It is their sage advice that will protect investors from the unprecedented dangers they face today in the markets. However, many advisors are no longer permitted to recommend physical gold or precious metals in client portfolios as a result of the new rules defining risk in mutual funds. Many clients who had been holding gold for years were forced to reduce their positions last year by their investment advisors dealer. The timing for this couldnt have been worse, as the resulting rise in their gold holdings would have reduced the losses in their portfolios from the market carnage we have witnessed since late September.

The equity selloff that began in October is intensifying and threatens advisors, MFDA dealers and investors with a high probability of a 50-70% loss of capital and a corresponding loss of income in 2019. A decline of this magnitude will have devastating effects on retirement portfolios. Many investors will not recover in their lifetimes. This could snowball into advisors and investment dealers no longer being viable. The Everything Bubble appears to be bursting and, as history has shown, investors fears can easily grow into a panic.

The final quarter in 2018 is a textbook display of why investors must own gold. There is no liquid asset more negatively correlated to the financial markets. Investors who do not own monetary gold may find themselves dangerously exposed to market volatility without the much-needed diversification/portfolio insurance that gold offers. If the current downturn in the market continues, as the worlds leading financial experts predict this asset may be the only form of wealth preservation that works

Experienced financial professionals understand that gold bullion is an alternative to cash. Ray Dalio, chairman of the largest hedge fund in the world (Bridgewater & Associates), once stated that, If you dont own goldthere is no sensible reason other than you dont know history or you dont know the economics of it.

Referencing the above metrics, securities regulators have made a grave mistake in re-rating monetary gold to a medium-high risk relative to Know Your Client (KYC) forms. These regulators, fund dealers and, by extension, their various compliance enforcement departments have ignored the fact that the Bank for International Settlements (BIS) that sets the rules for central banks and commercial banks has stated that monetary gold is a risk-free asset on par with US Treasuries and US dollars. They have also hamstrung investment professionals and their clients from protecting themselves with an asset that has done just that for over 3,000 years. In spite of nothing having changed in BMG funds, the new rules mandated by the provincial regulators across the country raised our official risk rating, making BMG funds unsuitable to many clients who have held these funds for years. An investor in a typical balanced portfolio should be concerned with not being properly diversified. For example, an equity portfolio can be diversified by style, capitalization and sector  but all equities are categorized as the same asset class. Gold, however, is an asset class unto itself with no substitute, no counterparty risk, no management risk and no default risk. Therefore, concentration limits in the traditional sense do not apply to monetary gold.

There is no issue if a client chooses to hold 100% of his or her portfolio in a money market fund. It should be equally risk rated for an investor to hold 100% of their portfolio in the BMG Gold Fund (BMG230). Currently investors would be prevented from holding more than 20% in their MFDA portfolio. The only choice investors would have is to move their account to a Discount Brokerage account, and purchase Class D units. Class D units have a 1.5% management fee instead of the retail fee of 2.25%, which includes a 1% trailer fee to the advisor. Investors that require additional investment information can go to the BMG DIY Investor site. Financial advisors are under the microscope for the unpalatable commission fees they receive. Many investors have already left their advisors due to this and switched to a Do-It-Yourself (DIY) discount brokerage account. They switched into fund classes (i.e., D-class) where they arent paying high commissions to an advisor. When an investor is told that they cannot hold the investments they want because of obtuse rules and are compelled to pay high fees to an advisor for financial products they dont want (or, alternatively, should have a greater allocation to), it leaves the investor wondering why they have an advisor in the first place.

In addition, the last year has been infuriating for investors and financial professionals due to the arbitrary, misguided and potentially disastrous rule changes relating to measuring investment risk. Essentially, many investors were told they were no longer in control of their own wealth and were barred from holding monetary gold. In summary, the regulators mandated that the sole criterion for measuring an investments level of risk was Standard Deviation. This elementary investment tool measures both upside and downside moves, over a ten-year period, and finds an average of the two. The irony is, of course, that investors do not consider positive returns as risk  that is the objective. Investors only worry about downside risk. Investors are now being penalized for above-average returns even if the downside risk is extremely low. I am not alone in holding the view that downside risk is the best way to gauge the level of risk in an investment. Gold has a very low risk when measured this way.

This presents an irreconcilable paradox for an advisor who had recommended this asset for years as an essential component of a balanced and diversified approach to wealth preservation. Golds ability to off-set losses in traditional asset classes (i.e., stocks and bonds) in times of uncertainty, like we see today, is a key reason to own it. These rules were implemented with protecting the investor but are actually the exact opposite, and now put the investor at risk.

The unfortunate timing of last years rule change flies in the face of reason as we witnessed an equity bull market achieve three times the size of the last two bull markets and global debt reach an alarming $241 trillion  over three times global GDP. Mean reversion is inevitable, and the magnitude of an unwind is unthinkable to the average investor today.

Financial professionals were told that if they did not comply with the new risk-rating rules that they could be terminated  meaning that they would lose their clients and livelihood. In many instances, this was the case. In conjunction with the financial professionals dilemma, many investors were livid upon being told that they had to reduce or redeem all of their physical precious metals investments. Some investors, who were forced to switch to another advisor, or a discount brokerage account after theirs had been forcibly terminated, had their entire gold position liquidated. These activities have the makings of class action lawsuit, as investors portfolios were made less diversified and left investors more exposed to market risks and losses.

The advisors position, and rightly so, was that one of the tenets of modern portfolio theory is predicated on the notion of diversification  i.e., a blend of assets that move in different directions. Investors who were forced to sell their gold remained in overvalued stocks and bonds, which studies suggest are more positively correlated now than ever.

Gold is well known as a safe-haven asset during times of uncertainty. Since late September, it has outperformed all traditional asset classes. This trend is likely to continue for the foreseeable future, as the worlds central banks seek to unwind the effects of their unprecedented and deleterious monetary policies introduced after the last financial crisis. Those who ignore what is happening right now are placing their financial well-being in harms way.

If your financial advisor, in addition to recommending monetary gold for diversification purposes, continues to advise on estate planning, tax planning, insurance options and other financial recommendations, then you are being guided by a true financial professional and they are worth their trailing commission compensation. If you dont feel like your advisor offers you any real value, then why do you continue to pay them out of your funds management fee?

Investors need to be very wary of financial advice that does not follow, or runs contrary to, these empirically proven risk management practices. You have a choice. If your investment advisor, as a result of these new restrictions, cannot implement an effective risk management strategy, or fails to grasp the basics of Modern Portfolio Theory, then I strongly recommend that you contact us about Do-It-Yourself (DIY) investing and BMG Class D funds.

The headwinds investors and advisors face regarding the outlook for 2019 and beyond is daunting enough. They dont need the added problem of restricted advice not based on financial acumen but in arbitrary rules and faulty logic.

You have worked your entire life for your vision of a retirement lifestyle. Dont let the regulators and fund dealers tell you that you arent in charge of your own money and leave you unprotected against the greatest threat to your retirement dreams in 2019.

Email us at info@bmg-group.com, or call us at (888) 474-1001.

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By Nick Barisheff

www.bmgbullion.com

Nick Barisheff is the founder, president and CEO of Bullion Management Group Inc., a company dedicated to providing investors with a secure, cost-effective, transparent way to purchase and hold physical bullion. BMG is an Associate Member of the London Bullion Market Association (LBMA).

Widely recognized as international bullion expert, Nick has written numerous articles on bullion and current market trends, which have been published on various news and business websites. Nick has appeared on BNN, CBC, CNBC and Sun Media, and has been interviewed for countless articles by leading business publications across North America, Europe and Asia. His first book $10,000 Gold: Why Golds Inevitable Rise is the Investors Safe Haven, was published in the spring of 2013. Every investor who seeks the safety of sound money will benefit from Nicks insights into the portfolio-preserving power of gold. www.bmgbullion.com

 2019 Copyright Nick Barisheff - All Rights Reserved Disclaimer: The above is a matter of opinion provided for general information purposes only and is not intended as investment advice. Information and analysis above are derived from sources and utilising methods believed to be reliable, but we cannot accept responsibility for any losses you may incur as a result of this analysis. Individuals should consult with their personal financial advisors.

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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
Matthew Pelkki is associate director of the University of Arkansas System Division of Agricultures Arkansas Forest Resources Center in Monticello.
Egypts police killed six terrorists in a dawn raid on a hideout in Upper Egypt on Saturday, a statement by the interior ministry read.

The ministry said the terrorist elements were killed in a shootout as the forces attempted to raid their hideout, which was located in a gorge in one of the mountainous areas along the western Assiut-Sohag desert highway.

They were found in possession of ammunition, weapons, and an improvised explosive device.

The raid came following combing operations by the ministrys national security bureau and others in remote areas of Upper Egypt.

The ministry said that the raid is a a continuation of the ministry's efforts in confronting terrorist organisations which aim to undermine peace and security and chasing elements which aim to execute hostile operations in the country.

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Saudi Arabia stumbled to the finish line in 2018. Its war in Yemen got messier. Its reputation was severely damaged by the death of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. Its regional rival Iran solidified its power in Syria.

But as the old year gave way to the new, the desert kingdom could count at least one success: the joint naval maneuvers known as Red Wave 1.

These exercises, conducted in the Red Sea by Saudi Arabia and six other countries, were the first tangible product of a new Saudi-led alliance designed to encourage regional cooperation around the sea  and project Saudi power into the Horn of Africa.

(Chris Keller / Los Angeles Times)

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Though they garnered little attention, the military maneuvers were the kingdoms latest bid at establishing its dominance in a region  and a body of water  increasingly fractured by regional rivalries.

The killing of Khashoggi, which was widely blamed on the kingdoms leaders and spurred its worst diplomatic crisis since the attacks on the United States on Sept. 11, 2001, has strained relations with its once reliable ally in Washington.

That has pushed Saudi Arabia to turn to the Horn of Africa to protect its western flank and develop its own security doctrine.

Working in concert with the United Arab Emirates, it has joined the scramble for influence in Africa, where the two Persian Gulf partners have built multiple military bases, portents of how they intend to project power in the future.

Those considerations have become more urgent as Saudi Arabias rivals  Iran, Turkey and Qatar, not to mention global powers such as China  have engineered their own footholds in countries ringing the Red Sea and especially in the Horn of Africa region.

Saudi Arabias then-foreign minister, Adel Jubeir, said as much during the initial announcement last month of the Red Sea alliance with Jordan, Egypt, Sudan, Somalia, Djibouti and Yemen.

The more cooperation and coordination that you have among the countries of this region, the less negative outside influence will be on this region, said Jubeir, without naming the source of this outside influence.

This is part of the kingdoms efforts to protect its interests and those of its neighbors and ... to stabilize the region that we live in and to try to create synergies between the various countries.

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As it stands now, the alliance does not include Eritrea, with its approximately 715 miles of Red Sea coastline, or Ethiopia, which, though landlocked, is the Horn of Africas economic heavyweight. (Both are expected to join future exercises.)

Israel, ostensibly the most powerful actor on the Red Sea, was also not invited to take part, despite evidence of its growing ties to Saudi Arabia. It remains a polarizing presence in the region.

For decades, nations on the coast of the Red Sea had little need for a common security mechanism for the simple reason that major world powers saw it as too essential to be subject to upheaval.

The waterway handles some 13% of the worlds global trade. Its bound from the south by the Bab al-Mandeb strait, an 18-mile-wide choke point between the Middle East and the Horn of Africa through which an estimated 4.8 million barrels a day of crude oil and refined petroleum products flowed toward Europe, the United States and Asia in 2016, according to U.S. government figures.

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To the north lies the Suez Canal, which connects the Red Sea to the Mediterranean and in 2016 handled 3.9 million barrels a day of crude oil and refined products, according to data published by the Suez Canal Authority.

Threats to that trade have spurred countries to work together to ensure the Red Sea remained open for shipping despite conflicts and instability.

One example was the issue of Somali pirates, whose activity on the Red Sea (which peaked between 2007 and 2012 but has been since on the wane) brought in NATO as well as 17 non-NATO nations in a joint operation to end the threat.

But in recent years, the Red Sea, and especially the coast off the Horn, has become a chessboard for Gulf states newfound assertiveness.

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Their ATM diplomacy, buttressed by billions in petrodollars, has only intensified in the face of flaring tensions in the region. Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates fear that turmoil from adversaries Iran, Qatar and Turkey could clog the Strait of Hormuz, their top conduit for most of their exports.

Another concern is the war in Yemen, where a Saudi-led coalition fights  with U.S. support  against Iranian-backed Houthi rebels.

These rising threats come at a time of waning U.S. engagement in the region, forcing Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates to focus on their own security needs, said Elana Delozier, a Gulf expert at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy.

The Yemen crisis, the Somalia issues, Turkey coming into Sudan, piracy,  all of these things are worrisome to the Emirates and Saudi Arabia, Delozier said. And whereas before they could count on the [U.S. Navys] 5th Fleet and a U.S. presence, they may not feel like they can anymore.

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Meanwhile, both blocs  the Saudi-Emirati alliance and its adversaries  have played a game of geopolitical checkers with the Horn of Africas Red Sea ports.

Last year, Qatar signed a $4-billion agreement to develop the Sudanese port of Suakin, a mere 200 miles southwest of the Saudi port of Jidda.

Turkey is there too, with a 99-year lease to restore Suakins Ottoman-era port, revive the area as a tourist destination for pilgrims bound for Mecca and build a naval dock that could provide the basis for military cooperation in the future, according to Sudans foreign minister, Ibrahim Ghandour.

The United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia have also been active in the area, with the former forging its own path in Africa for almost a decade.

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The Emirates were the driving force behind a peace deal ending a long-running dispute between Eritrea ad Ethiopia. After Emirati forces were evicted from Djibouti in 2015, it switched its military operations to a base in Eritrea.

Over in Somalia, the Emirates took over management of the port of Bosaso in October 2017, several months after it had signed a 30-year lease for the port of Berbera in Somaliland.

Saudi Arabia, meanwhile, has agreed with Djibouti to establish a base in the small African state, the kingdoms first foreign military outpost.

Both blocs have also dangled millions of dollars of aid before African countries in a bid to win their allegiance and expel the other sides forces. Saudi Arabia now stands as Africas fifth largest investor, and more than 20 African heads of state have traveled to Riyadh to meet Saudi leader King Salman.

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The establishment of the Red Sea alliance comes at a time when Saudi Arabia is pursuing mega-scale development plans on its 1,120-mile coast on the sea, part of its Vision 2030 plan aimed at weaning itself off its oil addiction and diversifying its economy.

One of those initiatives, the Red Sea Project, seeks to transform some 13,000 square miles of land near the kingdoms western coast into a luxury tourism destination. Another is Neom, a $500-billion mega-city that will encompass land located within Jordans and Egypts borders.
Less than six weeks after taking office, Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador is facing a crisis of his own making  one that threatens to cut into his popularity and worsen the nations already-sluggish economy.

A gasoline shortfall arising from his decision to shut down pipelines to fight fuel theft has left hundreds of service stations closed and resulted in blocks-long gas lines, triggering desperation among citizens in much of the country.

Dominating the news here are images of people in their vehicles queuing up for petrol  in some cases, motorists waiting overnight at filling stations in faint hopes that the facilities may open.

Some scattered protests and road blockages have broken out in a country where oil is viewed as an essential component of national patrimony. Two years ago, gas-price hikes here sparked riots and looting.

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Nerves are fraying anew and edgy business leaders are warning of long-term damage to an economy mired in slow-growth mode.

Police are escorting fuel trucks in Mexico City, while thousands of troops have been dispatched to guard refineries, fuel depots and other energy infrastructure facing threats of sabotage from organized gangs of fuel thieves.

Now we are lining up for gasoline, and I hope in the future, we wont be on line to buy bread, sugar, milk, said Julia Rendon, 41, a real estate agent found on a gas line in the capital. This situation is very worrying and I hope we dont become another Venezuela.

While lauded for going after black-market fuel profiteers, Lopez Obrador  who took office Dec. 1 with popularity ratings of 65% or more  has been widely assailed for abruptly shutting down pipelines without an effective alternate distribution plan. That left much of the country without gasoline, even though he insists there is no shortage  just a temporary bottleneck.

It is a magnificent decision to combat the robbery of fuel, wrote Alejandro Hope, a security analyst and columnist at the El Universal newspaper. But not at any cost--not putting entire regions of the country on the edge of paralysis, not generating a collective psychosis that threatens social stability and the march of the economy.

Critics long skeptical of Lopez Obradors populist, left-wing agenda have portrayed the episode as the hasty, ill-planned actions of a president known for his stubbornness and almost evangelical belief in the righteousness of his decisions.

The crisis in gasoline supplies is only the first of many that will come, said Jorge Suarez-Velez, an economist, in Reforma newspaper.

Opposition politicians have seized the opportunity to attack a president who was elected in landslide fashion last year and now effectively controls both houses of the Mexican congress  making him the countrys most powerful leader in a generation.

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We welcome the battle against the robbery of gasoline, Silvano Aureoles, opposition governor of western Michoacan state, told reporters. But not at the cost of shutting down the economy and causing worse problems. The remedy is costing us more than the illness.

For his part, Lopez Obrador has declined to provide a timetable for when the pipelines might reopen. He has urged motorists not to fill tanks needlessly or make panic purchases at the pump, while encouraging people to report fuel theft.

Lets see who backs down first, a typically combative Lopez Obrador told reporters Friday, issuing a challenge to the fuel thieves. Because we are going to stop them from robbing gasoline.

The president, who has vowed a national transformation, has made fighting corruption his No. 1 priority and singled out fuel theft  which, authorities say, involves an alliance between organized crime and complicit officials, including politicians, police and employees and contractors of Petroleos Mexicanos, Pemex, the state energy behemoth.

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The paradox of a nation where the president insists there are abundant reserves of fuel  We have supplies for the long term, Lopez Obrador has said repeatedly  but where lines for gas have suddenly become the norm is an irony not lost on Mexicans.

Without gasoline, I dont have a way to make a living and feed my family, said Arturo Diaz, 54, a taxi driver who had been waiting for two hours in Mexico City to fill his cars tank. If I cant find gasoline here, Im going to buy it on the black market. I cant waste more days without working.

The crisis arose from the presidents decision in late December to alter the national fuel distribution process in a bid to cut down on massive fuel theft  which the government said represented a $3 billion loss last year for Pemex.

Much of the pilfering stems from organized criminal bands  known as huachicoleros  who systemically tap into pipelines, siphoning off product to be sold on the black market. The long-time problem has gotten worse in recent years, resulting in occasional shootouts between well-armed gas thieves and authorities.

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Last year, Pemex detected more than 12,500 illegal pipeline taps, almost four times as many as in 2014.

But ending the huachicolero racket, experts say, may prove as difficult as dismantling the drug cartels that hold sway over much of the country.

Mexicos extensive pipeline network traverses isolated zones where the ducts are easy targets for gangs  some linked to drug trafficking rings  with specialized knowledge of how to tap into the ducts. Fuel theft and black market sales of gasoline are said to sustain entire communities in states such as Veracruz, Puebla and Hidalgo.

In late December, the government shifted much of the countrys gasoline distribution to the roads, where tanker-trucks  less vulnerable to theft than pipelines  were to transport gas to filling stations.The point of the pipeline shutdown, the president said, was to identify leaks and vulnerable points in the network.

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However, there werent enough tanker-trucks ready to cover the volume of fuel normally moved through pipelines. How this essential fact was overlooked remains a source of scorn in the press and in social media.

The most incredible thing about the crisis of [gasoline] supply is that it is auto-generated, Mario Campos, a professor at the Ibero-American University in Mexico City, wrote on Twitter. Didnt it occur to anyone on the presidents team  that they had to resolve the distribution problem BEFORE closing the pipelines?

Last weekend, gasoline shortages began emerging in places such as the Pacific Coast state of Jalisco, the automobile-manufacturing hub of Guanajuato, and the Gulf state of Tamaulipas. The shortages soon spread to other states and to metropolitan Mexico City, home to some 25 million people.

The president has dispatched more than 4,000 troops to guard supply routes, refineries and other Pemex facilities. Authorities have accused fuel gangs of sabotaging Pemex infrastructure.

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But, once the pipelines reopen  which they inevitably will, experts say, since there is no cost-effective alternative  there are not nearly enough troops and police to defend almost 1,000 miles of pipelines against illegal tappers.

The soldiers cant stay [forever], and its too expensive to use tanker-trucks, Gonzalo Monroy, an energy consultant, wrote on Twitter. We are going to return to the pipelines. And  once again they [thieves] are going to target them, puncture them, and tap into them. Its a perpetual game of cat and mouse.

Cecilia Sanchez in the Times Mexico City bureau contributed.

patrick.mcdonnell@latimes.com

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Twitter: @PmcdonnellLAT
The last time a Guatemalan president tried to cut off a United Nations-backed anti-corruption commission that was investigating him, the United States quickly intervened.

In 2015, Vice President Joe Biden flew to Guatemala to meet with then-President Otto Perez Molina, who was accused of being part of a customs corruption scheme. Biden threatened to withdraw U.S. aid from Guatemala if Perez refused to extend the two-year mandate of the commission, which the U.S. funded and viewed as a successful crime-reduction model that could be replicated around the world.

But this week, when current President Jimmy Morales abruptly expelled the commission while it was in the middle of investigating him for illicit campaign financing, the Trump administration wavered.

While Canada, Germany and the European Union have fiercely condemned the commissions expulsion, an act that defied rulings from the countrys highest court, the U.S. offered a four-sentence statement from the State Department that expressed vague support for Guatemalas anti-corruption efforts but didnt mention the commission at all.

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The U.S. has maintained an ambivalent attitude, said Helen Mack, a Guatemalan human rights advocate who supports the International Commission Against Impunity in Guatemala, known as CICIG. The whole world is asking: Where are they?

The feeble U.S. response may be linked to multiple factors.

For one, Guatemala has gone to lengths to curry favor among Washington conservatives in recent years. The Central American nation was one of only a handful of countries worldwide to follow the U.S. in moving its Israeli embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem last year. Since 2017, the year the CICIG opened its investigation into Morales, Guatemalas government and business leaders had contracts worth at least $2 million with D.C. lobbyists, according to U.S. government documents.

At the same time, criticism of the CICIG has been growing among Republican lawmakers who are angry about its investigation into a Russian family that obtained false passports from a Guatemalan crime ring. After a prominent critic of the Russian government questioned whether the CICIG had acted at the behest of Russian President Vladimir Putin, U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) announced a hold on $6 million in funding for the commission until questions about the incident were addressed, helping strengthen claims by President Morales that the commission was politically motivated and violated Guatemalan sovereignty.

Demonstrators opposing the government of Guatemalan President Jimmy Morales show their support for the International Commission Against Impunity in Guatemala, or CICIG. (Esteban Biba / EPA-EFE/REX)

On Tuesday, Rubio tweeted his support for the Guatemalan governments decision to expel the CICIG.

Ive had concerns about CICIGs abuse of power and its role in the mistreatment of the Bitkof family, he said. Guatemala, a strong ally of the US, has every right to terminate this agreement with the UN.

In a letter sent to U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Friday, Ivan Velasquez, the Colombian jurist who heads the CICIG, defended the commissions handling of that case and others. The CICIG has never strayed from its mandate of providing information from its investigations to local prosecutors, he said. It was a Guatemalan judge, not associated with the CICIG, who had convicted and sentenced members of the Bitkof family, he pointed out.

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Velasquez said the commission had, since 2007, exposed 60 criminal organizations and had helped send 300 people to jail. One of them was the ex-president, Perez, who eventually resigned under pressure and was imprisoned.

Still, pro-democracy activists say the recent political developments in Guatemala concern much more than just the controversial commission.

In recent days, allies of Morales in Guatemalas Congress have sought to impeach several judges on the countrys highest court who have in the past ruled in favor of the commission.

Were talking about this crisis at the border without talking about what is causing it Jo-Marie Burt, George Mason University professor

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Jo-Marie Burt, a Latin American studies professor at George Mason University, said such actions call into question the Guatemalan governments respect for the rule of law and the independence of the judiciary.

This is a slow-motion coup, Burt said. What youre seeing is a systematic attack against every individual institution that is trying to defend the rule of law and the constitution.

She said the Trump administration is short-sighted if it doesnt appreciate how political instability in Guatemala could spark more migration northward.

Were talking about this crisis at the border without talking about what is causing it, which is crises like the one that is playing out in Guatemala, Burt said.

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U.S. Rep. Norma Torres (D-Pomona), one of several Democrats in Congress who have called for a reduction in U.S. funding to Guatemala unless the anti-corruption commission is revived, agreed.

The real crisis that is causing people to come to our southern border is in the Northern Triangle, she said, referring to the northern Central American countries of Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador. We are looking at another Venezuela or Nicaragua.

Torres knows first-hand how political unrest can fuel migration. She was a child in rural Guatemala in 1970 when her family sent her to California to escape the countrys violent civil war.

They didnt see a future for me in Guatemala, she said.

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A similar phenomenon has happened more recently in other neighboring countries rocked by political conflict, such as Honduras, where a contested presidential election sparked massive street protests and helped fuel outward migration last year. The Trump administration supported the results in that vote, in which President Juan Orlando Hernandez declared victory, even as the head of the Organization of American States called for new elections.

Political drama in Guatemala is likely to hurt the economy, which pushes people out, said Claudia Escobar, a legal scholar and former Guatemalan judge.

The countrys main airport in Guatemala City was temporarily shut down last weekend after the government refused entry to an investigator who worked with the CICIG who was returning from winter vacations. The credit rating agency Moodys released a statement warning about the potential impact of the expulsion of the CICIG on the economy, though it has not downgraded the countrys rating.

Investors wont invest in the country that doesnt respect the rule of law, Escobar said.

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kate.linthicum@latimes.com

Twitter: @katelinthicum
One benefit of having winter break in the middle of the school year is that it provides an opportunity for fresh starts.

And those of us who work at Hoover High School sure could use a cleansing of last semesters turmoil that slammed our campus like a tornado: the student brawl, the walkout, the negative press.

A feeling of unfinished business hung over us like a fog for a good part of the fall.

With this in mind, I began the first day back by passing out neon red squares of paper to my students and having them write last semesters grades along with a short reflection.

I told them this would not be shared with anyone, including me.

Once students finished, I had them fold the paper in half twice into tiny squares.

We are locking away the past forever and  I said, as trash cans were distributed down each row,  throwing the grades and any negative feelings out. Not the lessons learned, just the grade itself. Its a new year and a new semester, time for a new beginning.

I dimmed the lights.

First, lets get reacquainted with Room 11202. Did you miss this room during the break? Its been a while, so in your new seat, place your hands in front of you on the table to have a physical connection to the environment, close your eyes and think positive thoughts. In order to give you ideas on what to think about, I will share mine, I said.

Dear Room 11202. Thank you for being here for my students and I. For being a sanctuary of learning. We look forward to wonderful memories the rest of the way, I said.

Now, Im going to ask you to close your eyes for at least one minute. You may begin.

I played meditative music at low volume.

Once most students eyes had opened, I passed out pastel blue squares of paper.

Write down a favorite memory you have from winter break that brought you joy. It could be a gift, a song, a text, a sunset. Write down what the memory is and why it brought joy to you, I said.

Fold it once and put it inside a safe place in your binder. Now you have something that makes you feel good each and every day. Some of the approaching days will be pleasant ones, but some will not. For that darkest day that may surface, when it seems everything has gone wrong, open up your binder and look at this piece of paper and be reminded of what gives you joy.

By happenstance, principal Jennifer Earl walked into my classroom right at the time I was beginning this lesson. Usually, she stays for a few minutes then continues on to other rooms in making her rounds.

This time I asked her to stay for the entire lesson because I wanted her to experience this for herself. She even threw away her own red piece of paper with great enthusiasm.

Well, she was so inspired by what she saw, she asked me to do the lesson with the entire staff at that afternoons faculty meeting.

When I demonstrated the activity with my peers, I sensed a calmness in the room. Reconnecting with our workplace felt like the right thing to do coming back after the break. We all needed closure. How serendipitous that Earl walked into my room when she did, as if it was meant to be.

And all of this happened in just the first day. I cant wait to see what will unfold the rest of the year.

Brian Crosby is a teacher in the Glendale Unified School District and the author of Smart Kids, Bad Schools and The $100,000 Teacher. He can be reached at www.brian-crosby.com.

BRIAN CROSBY is a teacher in the Glendale Unified School District and the author of Smart Kids, Bad Schools and The $100,000 Teacher. He can be reached at www.brian-crosby.com.
More than 500 students at Woodland Elementary School became a living piece of art Thursday.

The Costa Mesa school hosted an Art for the Sky project, a team-building exercise in which the children, under the direction of artist Daniel Dancer, were grouped by the colors of their clothing to create the image of a dragon on the school field  discernible only from above.

Once you see what he does, its like Wow, thats totally different, said Tiffany Lewis, Woodlands principal.

Lewis received an email about Art for the Sky and invited Dancer to direct the three-day program after receiving support from the schools Parent Faculty Organization.

The creation of the art piece on Thursday was Day 2. Dancer, a former photojournalist, took pictures and videos of the process.

For the last day of the program Friday, he planned to present a musical video of the final product during an assembly.

On Wednesday, Dancer conducted assemblies with each grade level  transitional kindergarten through second grade  to share a multimedia presentation about the art forms history and logistics.

Students wearing green shirts form the body of a dragon for an Art for the Sky event Thursday at Woodland Elementary School in Costa Mesa. (Photo by Raul Roa / Staff Photographer)

Dancer said sky art has been around more than 3,000 years, offering the example of Nazca lines  giant motifs that can still be seen etched into the plains of Peru.

He includes six philosophical teachings in his presentation: intention, collaboration, interconnection, skysight, gratitude and impermanence.

According to Charlee and London, second-graders at Woodland, skysight is what helps us visualize new ideas.

We close our eyes and think that were flying over everything, London said.

Charlee demonstrated by placing two fingers to her forehead. The third eye is the area of the brain that houses skysight, according to Dancers teachings.

So you could imagine that youre flying over and youre trying to help get the pollution away  like imagine that theres no pollution, Charlee said.

Artist Daniel Dancer directs Woodland Elementary School students to their spots to form the image of a dragon for their Art for the Sky project Thursday at the school in Costa Mesa. (Photo by Raul Roa / Staff Photographer)

Lewis said the program also teaches students about peoples relationship with Earth and how to take care of it.

[Dancer] didnt scare away from talking about climate change and global warming, she said. Its going to be the students reality for their whole lives.

London said his favorite part was seeing what the project looked like as students got together.

I didnt even think the whole school could fit in there, he said, eyes wide.

Students were asked to wear green shirts to school to create the body of the dragon. Community donations made up other details, including blue jeans to create the dragons wings and bags of mulch to form dark lines around the image.

Students at Woodland Elementary School in Costa Mesa form an image of a dragon during an Art for the Sky project Thursday at the school. (Raul Roa / Staff Photographer)

charity.lindsey@latimes.com

Twitter @CharityNLindsey
A Huntington Beach family recently became the owners of a $600,000 18th-century home believed to have ties to a victim of the Salem witch trials.

The chocolate-brown single-family home with red doors sits on about a half-acre at 348 Lowell St., a prominent road in Peabody, Mass., near Salem. The house includes six bedrooms, seven fireplaces, an attic, a spiral staircase and a pool.

Its dubbed the John Proctor house.

Fans of literature and witchcraft may recognize the name from Arthur Millers The Crucible. It tells a partially fictionalized story of Salems witch trials in 1692-93 with historical figures such as Proctor. Actor Daniel Day-Lewis portrayed Proctor in the 1996 movie adaptation.

Proctor was a puritanical patriarch of New England who ran a tavern from his home. He was falsely accused and convicted of witchcraft and was hanged in 1692.

The Peabody home garnered online and media buzz in October when it was placed on the market. The previous owners, who had the property since the late 1960s, felt it was time to pass the torch to a new family to help restore and maintain the home, according to the Peabody Historical Society and Museum.

A TV segment featuring the home caught the attention of longtime Huntington Beach resident Barbara Bridgewater.

With support from her husband, Christopher Mendez, she jotted down the real estate agents information and spoke to him later that day.

I was like Wow, thats really neat,  Bridgewater said. It seemed like a great opportunity to purchase a piece of American history and for our daughters as well, kind of a neat thing to leave to them once were gone.

Bridgewater said the family was lucky to get the home after a first buyer fell out of escrow. They got a virtual tour of the house by FaceTiming the Realtor.

It seemed like a great opportunity to purchase a piece of American history and for our daughters as well, kind of a neat thing to leave to them. Barbara Bridgewater

Amid online chatter about the homes sale, some historians took to social media to help set the record straight about the complexity of the houses history, which the agent shared with the family.

Though a white plaque on the home reads 1638 John Proctor House, Kelly Daniell, curator for the Peabody Historical Society and Museum, says evidence shows otherwise.

For one thing, Daniell said, the original house on the site burned down. The historical society believes Proctor occupied a second house there that was leased to him by a farmer named Emmanuel Downing.

Based on architecture, property records and museum archives, the historical society believes one of Proctors sons, Thorndike, built a third house on the property  the one that was sold to the Huntington Beach family.

A dendrochronology exam on a sample of a beam from the house dated it to 1726, more than 30 years after John Proctor was executed, Daniell said.

Like anything in history, its never simple, she said. We dont know exact answers, but we can take the best educated guesses. John Proctor never rubbed his face on those walls, but he absolutely lived on that plot of land.

Despite the houses convoluted history, Bridgewater and Daniell agree about its value, even though John Proctor never lived in it. Theyre partnering to open the house to the public when the family isnt using it as a vacation home.

Plans are being made to hold Halloween parties and book club meetings there.

Bridgewater and Mendezs youngest daughter, Gabby, created an Instagram account where she is sharing facts and photos about the house.

During the familys first stay at the home in December, everything felt normal and cozy  almost.

On the first night  my daughter heard it on the first floor  we heard someone coughing and laughing at 3 a.m., Mendez said. Take that for what you want.

Priscella.Vega@latimes.com

Twitter: @vegapriscella
A Korean Air flight arrived at Cairo International Airport from Seoul on Saturday for the first time in seven years, state-run MENA agency reported.

Representatives from the tourism ministry and the Egyptian tourism authority received 209 tourists from Seouls Incheon International Airport, welcoming them with roses and souvenirs.

South Koreas flagship airline suspended flights in 2012 due to Egypts political unrest.

The trip is one of six charter flights from Seoul scheduled for January and February.

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A long-awaited new home for the Orange County Museum of Art in Costa Mesas Segerstrom Center for the Arts could move closer to reality Monday, when city planning commissioners review a proposed master plan for the facility.

As envisioned, the new museum would be 53,875 square feet and located next to the Renee and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall. A 10,000-square-foot expansion also is planned at some point down the line, according to the master plan.

The building would include permanent and special exhibit space, a glass-fronted exhibition corridor facing a walkway along Avenue of the Arts, a cafe, museum shop and a landscaped outdoor terrace.

Designed by architect Thom Mayne and his firm, Morphosis, the structure would more than double the exhibition capacity of OCMAs longtime home at 850 San Clemente Drive in Newport Beach  which closed in June.

As a museum dedicated to art of the 20th and 21st century, our exhibitions will be able to span the major developments of both modern and contemporary art, OCMA Director and Chief Executive Todd Smith wrote in a letter to the city.

Our ability to host major international traveling exhibitions will position OCMA as the venue between LA and San Diego to experience and enjoy masterpieces from the last 125 years of art history, he continued. We will be able to tell the story of [20th and 21st] century art, design and architecture in new and exciting ways.

The new museum is expected to be completed in 2021. In the meantime, OCMA is operating out of a temporary space at South Coast Plaza Village in Santa Ana.

OCMA originally planned to sell its Newport Beach property to Related California  a developer that proposed building a 25-story, 100-unit condominium tower called Museum House on the site  and use those proceeds to help pay its relocation costs. Previous estimates have placed the price tag of the new museum in the neighborhood of $50 million.

However, the Newport Beach City Council revoked its approval of the project in February 2017 rather than face a public referendum challenging the development. OCMA later agreed to sell the property and an adjoining parcel to Vivante Newport Center LLC, a subsidiary of Nexus Development Corp.

Mondays Costa Mesa Planning Commission meeting starts at 6 p.m. in the Costa Mesa Senior Center, 695 W. 19th St.

luke.money@latimes.com

Twitter @LukeMMoney
Rose Quinn has long been a fixture at the Costa Mesa Chamber of Commerce  often seen bustling around hotel conference rooms or skillfully circumnavigating banquet tables to make sure the organizations latest shindig goes off without a hitch.

Its work thats kept her busy and, more often than not, out of the public eye.

But on Wednesday, the woman who jokes her middle name should be behind the scenes found herself in the spotlight as dozens of well-wishers and community leaders gathered at Plums Cafe + Catering in Eastside Costa Mesa to celebrate her retirement after almost 30 years at the chamber, most recently as its director of operations.

During her time with the business-advocacy group, Quinn, 64, has worn just about every hat imaginable  sales, collections, event planning, public relations, even helping spearhead its early internet and social media efforts.

I told him, I like the chamber, I like the people, but I dont think Id want to make a career of it. And the rest is history. Rose Quinn

While it hasnt always been the easiest or most lucrative work, its been plenty rewarding in her mind.

Its been a great run  I love the sense of neighborhood and the sense of community and the sense of belonging, she said Wednesday, her last day on the job. The chamber always provided me that.

Chamber Chief Executive Eileen Benjamin described Quinn as a local icon and called her the wind beneath the organizations wings.

Shes someone whos made a huge difference, I think, in business development, Benjamin said Wednesday. And theres no one that cares more about the city and cares more about our work ... she took care of us and our businesses. She really cared.

Former Costa Mesa City Council member Gary Monahan shares a laugh with Rose Quinn, right, at her retirement party. At left is chamber Chief Executive Eileen Benjamin. (Photo by Don Leach / Staff Photographer)

A native of Washington, Quinn spent many of her formative years in Spokane and Seattle.

It was by happenstance that she came to live in California. On one visit to the Southland, she met Ray, the man who she would later marry. The two eventually settled in Huntington Beach and have been married for 32 years.

Her chamber career also started largely by chance. At the urging of a friend, she applied for a job and was hired as a receptionist. That was 28 years ago. Over time, she worked her way up to become a full-time office manager and later moved into her current role.

Looking back, Quinn said she never could have imagined things would turn out as they did. She recalled the time she met with Ed Fawcett  the chambers longtime leader  and that he asked her what her future plans were.

I told him, I like the chamber, I like the people, but I dont think Id want to make a career of it,  she said. And the rest is history.

During her tenure, shes seen the chambers stature in the community ebb and flow. As social media started to grow in popularity, she recalled hearing people dismiss chambers of commerce as relics of the past.

But, she said, that tide appears to be turning once more.

People come to us now  they join on our website, they join on the city website because the good, old-fashioned, eye-to-eye networking will never be replaced, she said. Relationships, relationship marketing, thats what I like about the chamber.

Jennifer Christ, community liaison for the city of Costa Mesa, said Quinn is going to be so dearly, incredibly missed.

On behalf of the entire city staff, I just thank you for your dedication and your commitment to the city, Christ said during the retirement party.

While the decision to leave was difficult, Quinn said she knows its the right time to step away. She and her husband are planning to move to Spokane in the next few months and shes excited for a new beginning  like fresh, powdered snow, which Im hoping to get.

I will have lots of fond memories and Im proud of my tenure, she said.

luke.money@latimes.com

Twitter @LukeMMoney
Pauline Maranian has been teaching drama at Estancia High School in Costa Mesa since 1996, staging shows like Guys and Dolls, Letters from Sala and High School Musical.

But this is the first time Maranian has asked her theater students to write and perform their own, full-length drama.

Raise your hand if you thought I was a whackadoodle for suggesting this, Maranian said on a recent weekday to her class of sophomores, juniors and seniors.

Most of the students laughed, as their hands shot up.

To Whom it May Concern  co-directed by Maranian and Estancia alumnus Carlo Odicino, with creative consulting from social studies teacher Jon Williams  debuts on Jan. 17 for a three-day run at the schools Barbara Van Holt Theater in Costa Mesa.

[I knew that] if nothing else, they will have learned so much about writing, about themselves, about each other, said Maranian. And this is educational theater, after all.

Last year, Maranian was inspired to stage a different type of show, after she saw Lauren Yees play Cambodian Rock Band at South Coast Repertory. She called it the single most profound experience shes ever had in the theater.

I had to ask myself why, Maranian, whose parents are immigrants from Lebanon and Syria, wrote in her directors note. The answer was quite simple: It spoke to me personally and helped me understand not only myself, but also my family. Thats what I wanted to create with my students.

I didnt think we would do this, said student Taylor Steadman, who plays two characters in the show. And now seeing that we have a script, we have dance numbers, were doing run-throughs, its, like, crazy.

Before they started writing, Maranians class circulated a school survey, asking two questions: What do you think people around you are struggling with? And what are you struggling with?

They picked the four most-common answers (immigration issues, money, anxiety/depression and fear of the future). They got into four groups and, using Google Documents, started writing four separate short stories that would eventually tie together.

It was important to the students to show aspects of their lives that they dont usually see in stories about teenagers in the media.

For example, the first act Under Pressure, which features a dance number set to the Queen and David Bowie song of the same name, tells the story of a mixed-status immigrant family.

There are a lot of lines in the scene in Spanish or Spanglish, said Andy Herrera, who plays an undocumented father, John, who doesnt understand why his kids want to go to college. [We] want to give the audience members who dont speak Spanish the real experience of a Hispanic household.

Theres this moment where [my character] is just devastated, and she says shes sorry for being born in the wrong country, said Jimena Pedraza, who plays Julie, and it really gets to me.

Katrina Kostruckoff, the child of Russian and Thai immigrants, was at first cautious about writing about a Hispanic family, because she is not.

But once we got deeper, I got more comfortable writing because theres a dynamic among immigrant families thats really familiar, she said. Someone would say something, and Id be like, Thats me.

The second act, Easy Street, is about two classmates who come from different economic backgrounds. Kai, played by Sarah Reich, is from a wealthy family, though her divorced parents are never around. Joey (Ashley Frias) is the daughter of Kais family maid. She comes from a loving family, but they struggle with money.

In Act 3, Dream, Jess (Katherin Hernandez) and Jack (Makai Walker) bond over their struggles with anxiety and depression when Jess accidentally discovers Jacks suicide note. Justin Marroquin plays Michael, a peer who is able to help Jess and Jack, by telling them that hes dealt with mental illness in the past and hes gotten help.

He represents [the fact] that youre not alone, said Marroquin, referring to the entire plays core message of hope. Hes a survivor.

And the last act, Connection, brings all the characters together.

The students are both excited and nervous to debut To Whom It May Concern, because in so much of the fiction, they lay bare their own real-life struggles, whether its their experience as undocumented immigrants, their own family dramas or struggles with emotional issues.

I feel like my parents are going to be like, Thats me, said Sydney Corrigan, laughing. She plays a mother of teenagers. Im scared.

But most of all, they are proud.

This is really for us, by us: our generation, our school, our community, said Hernandez, who came up with the title of the show. Were saying, We need to tell this story, so To whom it may concern, if you have one of these problems too, were trying to help you and get this out to you.

At least if our parents hear it and our friends know that we could be going through the same things, it might make them feel like I can talk to you and open some new doors, Steadman said.
The entire community is invited to our free, informative and fun lecture on the Native Americans who lived in this area long before its discovery by European explorers. Its a fascinating topic that will open your eyes to our countrys mesmerizing history.

Please join us on Saturday, Jan. 12, from 2 to 3 p.m., at 115 N. Lomita Street. Admission is free.

Were located next to the Creative Arts Center in George Izay (Olive Rec) Park and there is parking behind the museum off Clark Street. Wed love to see you there!

Susan Hodgson

The Burbank Historical Society

Burbank
Burbanks crime rate went on the decline during last year for the first time in three years  down by about 10.79%.

Year-end crime statistics from the Burbank Police Department showed that the number of property and violent crimes in the city dropped from 3,197 instances in 2017 to 2,852 last year.

Sgt. Derek Green, a spokesman for the police department, described the drop as a nice refreshing change. While no one factor can be attributed to the lower crime rate, he said the increase in department personnel over the last month certainly helped.

Weve been finally able to increase our staffing  especially in patrol, meaning more officers out in the city, he said. But we do have a ways to go before were fully staffed.

Currently, the department has 149 sworn officers but is authorized to have as many as 160.

While the crime rate is down, the calls for service are still consistent with the previous year, according to Green. He said it may mean more people are calling in suspicious activity they see, thereby deterring a crime from actually occurring.

Its important to report suspicious activity to police, and we always encourage people to contact us, he said. That extra set of eyes is helpful.

The statistics divide criminal activity into two categories  property crime and violent crime.

Property crimes saw the larger drop, by 10.77%, going from 2,942 reported cases in 2017 to 2,625 last year.

Property crimes are split into three subcategories by the department  burglary, theft and auto theft.

Burglaries saw the largest reduction out of both property and violent crimes, going from 353 reported incidents to 276, a 21.81% drop.

Green said there has been a noticeable increase in residents installing home-security cameras and more frequent communication about crimes on social media websites such as Nextdoor and Facebook, which has played a part in reducing the burglary rate.

With this heightened level of awareness online  technology has allowed us to capture people committing these crimes, and it helps us solve these cases much quicker, he said.

Thefts were the most reported crime in Burbank and saw an 8.91% drop, going from 2,344 reported incidents to 2,135. Auto thefts reduced by 12.65%, going from 245 to 215.

A significant portion of thefts in the city are the result of unlocked vehicles being burglarized and shoplifting, according to Green.

Violent crimes dropped by 10.27%, going from 253 reported incidents in 2017 to 227 in 2018. Violent crimes are comprised of murder, rape, robbery and aggravated assault.

Aggravated assault was the most reported violent crime and saw the smallest drop, going from 147 incidents in 2017 to 138 incidents in 2018, a change of 8.84%.

We know a lot of these types of cases of physical violence require or necessitate an intervention, whether theres a drug, alcohol or mental-health element, Green said. We work with our [mental health evaluation team] to try and mitigate these incidents.

Robberies saw the biggest decrease of violent crimes, with a 12.79% drop, going from 86 reported incidents to 75.

Rapes declined by 10%, going from 20 incidents reported in 2017 to 18 last year.

No homicides have occurred in Burbank since 2015, when a woman was stabbed to death in a Richard Street home.

andy.nguyen@latimes.com

Twitter: @Andy_Truc
Julian Castro, the former mayor of San Antonio and housing secretary under President Obama, launched an uphill bid for president Saturday, promising a youthful push behind a progressive agenda of environmentalism, economic equality and a more humane immigration policy.

Speaking at a sun-soaked rally in his hometown, Castro lashed out at President Trump and declared a crisis of leadership in the country, now mired in the longest government shutdown in history.

Donald Trump has failed to uphold the values of our great nation, Castro said, then went on to enumerate a number of pledges, including  as his first executive order  recommitting the United States to the worldwide effort to fight climate change.

His checklist fit squarely in the leftward reaches of the Democratic Party: Medicare for all, a higher minimum wage, a Green New Deal creating jobs through public works, expanding access to higher education, protecting legal abortion and gay and lesbian rights.

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Castro, whose grandmother came to the U.S. from Mexico, grew most animated in discussing immigration policy, which is at the center of the stalemate shuttering portions of the federal government.

Yeah, we have to have border security, he said, then raised his voice to a shout. But theres a smart and a humane way to do it. And there is no way in hell that caging babies is a smart or a good or a right way to do it. We say no to building a wall and yes to building community.

After visits last week to Iowa and Nevada, two early-voting states, Castros inaugural foray as a candidate will take him to a less-conventional stop, Puerto Rico, where he planned to address Latino activists and visit with residents still struggling to recover from Hurricane Maria in 2017.

Castro, 44, brings diversity and a shot of youthful charisma to the nascent Democratic contest; hes been called, in political shorthand, a Latino Barack Obama.

A native of San Antonio, Castro was elected to the City Council in 2001 at age 26  its youngest member in history  and became mayor eight years later. (His identical twin, Joaquin, joined him on an educational path through Stanford and Harvard Law School and for the last six years has represented part of San Antonio and its suburbs in Congress.)

After twice winning reelection, Julian Castro stepped down as mayor in 2014 to become secretary of Housing and Urban Development during Obamas second term.

His previous turns in the national political spotlight included delivering the keynote address at Democrats 2012 national convention and mention in 2016 as a possible vice presidential running mate for Hillary Clinton.

The presidential bid is Castros first attempt for office beyond the confines of Texas second-most populous city. He enters the contest with little name recognition or political base beyond his home state. He does, however, enjoy the distinction of being the only Latino in the Democratic field  for now, at least; Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti, whose paternal grandfather was born in Mexico, is also contemplating a 2020 run for president.

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So, too, is former El Paso Rep. Beto ORourke, who poses potentially the greater challenge. His near-miss 2018 Senate race against Republican incumbent Ted Cruz has turned ORourke into a national Democratic celebrity. If he runs, he would vie with Castro for Texas campaign cash and political support.

There is, local political observers say, also the question of whether Castro has the temperament to appeal to Democrats who fairly seethe with their loathing for Trump.

His normal personal political style is friendly, affable, smiling, comfortable, approachable, said Cal Jillson, a political science professor at Southern Methodist University in Dallas. Whether or not hes got a sharper edge when he needs it is something people will work to figure out.

San Antonio leans Democratic, but Castro got on well with Republicans and the conservative-leaning business community, said David Crockett of the citys Trinity University. Among Castros achievements was successful promotion of a 2012 ballot measure that boosted sales tax to expand pre-kindergarten education.

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He was not someone who came in as a rabble-rouser to shake thing up. He was not in the Bernie Sanders mold of trying to revolutionize the city, said Crockett, who teaches political science and wrote a book on insurgent presidential candidates. He was more of a nuts-and-bolts mayor, trying to run things efficiently. And he was pretty successful in that.

Castros launch follows Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warrens entry in the race on New Years Eve and Hawaii Rep. Tulsi Gabbards announcement Friday that she plans to run. A spate of further announcements is expected soon, including from Sen. Kamala Harris of California and independent Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont, who are among more than two dozen prospects eyeing a Democratic White House bid.

mark.barabak@latimes.com

@markzbarabak
Law enforcement officials became so concerned by President Trumps behavior in the days after he fired FBI Director James B. Comey that they began investigating whether he had been working for Russia against U.S. interests, the New York Times reported.

The report Friday cited unnamed former law enforcement officials and others familiar with the investigation.

The inquiry forced counterintelligence investigators to evaluate whether Trump was a potential threat to national security, the newspaper said, and they also sought to determine whether Trump was deliberately working for Russia or had unintentionally been influenced by Moscow.

The Times reported that FBI agents and some top officials became suspicious of Trumps ties to Russia during the 2016 presidential campaign but didnt launch an investigation at that time because they werent sure how to approach such a sensitive and important probe, according to the sources. But Trumps behavior in the days around Comeys May 2017 firing, specifically two instances in which he seemed to tie Comeys ousting to the Russia probe, helped trigger the counterintelligence part of the investigation, according to the newspaper.

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Trump tweeted early Saturday that the report showed that the FBI leadership opened up an investigation on me, for no reason & with no proof after he fired Comey.

Heres where major issues in the Russia investigation stand (and what were still waiting to learn) 

Robert S. Mueller III took over the investigation when he was appointed special counsel soon after Comeys firing. The overall investigation is looking into Russian election interference and whether Trumps campaign coordinated with the Russians. The Times said it was unclear whether Mueller is still pursuing the counterintelligence angle.

Trumps lawyer Rudy Giuliani told the Times that he had no knowledge of the inquiry but said that since it was opened a year and a half ago and the Trump camp hadnt heard anything, apparently they found nothing. Trump has also repeatedly and vociferously denied collusion with the Russians.
To the editor: After watching President Trumps prime-time address to the nation on the alleged border crisis, as well as Wednesdays very personal admonishments by both congressional Democratic and Republican leaders following another unsuccessful meeting with the president, one thing is clear: The issue of the proposed wall and the debate over how to end the government shutdown are not genuine public policy disputes.

They are better characterized as two competing public relations campaigns  a rhetorical war, if you will. Regardless of ones political stances on these issues, for both sides, arguably the Republicans more so, this seems to boil down to a concern for winning and losing, where controlling the narrative supersedes finding a solution.

As someone who has studied and taught political communication and argument for more than 40 years, for me this is a sad realization in a democracy that was founded and premised on the practice of thoughtful deliberation, reason and compromise. If this state of affairs does not change, our nations great experiment may not survive.

Richard Cherwitz, Austin, Texas

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The writer is a professor of rhetoric at the University of Texas.

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To the editor: It is an absolute fact that on Dec. 14, 1999, Ahmed Ressam, an Al Qaeda operative, was arrested trying to cross the border into the U.S. with a large amount of explosives hidden in the trunk of his car. His intent was to cause death and destruction at Los Angeles International Airport.

If Trump wants to use actual incidents of terrorists being caught at the border as justification to build his wall, he should use the example of Ressam. Of course, Ressam was caught trying to enter the U.S. from Canada.

If Trumps motive is truly the safety of the U.S. and not another bigoted gesture, he should build his wall on the northern border.

Brian Lipson, Beverly Hills

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To the editor: Every nation has the right to secure its borders and determine who is allowed to enter.

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Its amazing to me that our politicians could squander trillions of dollars fighting wars in the Middle East, the former Yugoslavia, Libya and elsewhere, but they do not wish to spend $5 billion to go toward protecting our nations territorial integrity.

Now, government agencies are being held hostage by very strong-willed and fickle personalities on both sides of the aisle.

Though any border wall can ultimately be circumvented or otherwise crossed, the key point here is to create a deterrent that will at least reduce the traffic of illegal immigrants and even spare them the grave danger of traversing the desert regions of our border.

Our nation is in crisis with illegal immigration. We need to do something to resolve it.

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Michael Pravica, Las Vegas

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To the editor: Shutting down parts of the federal government as a negotiating strategy is wrong and should be an impeachable offense. The havoc wreaked by Trump also ought to be impeachable.

The government of the United States is at a standstill, and nothing can be accomplished with Trump at the helm.

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Marcia Barnett, Laguna Beach

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To the editor: Democrats should agree to fund a wall in any area where it is the most efficient solution. How could Trump refuse this?

Just end the shutdown.

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Bob Gould, Palm Desert

Follow the Opinion section on Twitter @latimesopinion and Facebook
To the editor: Your editorial on Gov. Gavin Newsoms push for single-payer healthcare in California is spot on when it states, Once the state becomes the only insurer, it raises more pointed questions.

Those questions are both ethically as well as economically the most difficult to answer.

Currently, Medi-Cal is the 49th lowest (of all the states) payer to hospitals and care providers, creating essentially a hidden tax on everyone who purchases healthcare. About one-third of all Californians and 40% of Los Angeles County residents are eligible for Medi-Cal coverage.

If the federal government approves Newsoms request to mingle federal dollars and create one purchasing pool for healthcare, basic economics will pose a massive dilemma, as there will be nowhere near enough money in this pool. Either we dramatically increase our taxes, we dramatically ration medical services, or do some combination of the two.

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Howard C. Mandel, MD, Los Angeles

The writer is vice president of the Los Angeles City Health Commission.

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To the editor: Shouldnt Newsom first check with some veterans and those of us on Medicare if were OK with mingling federal healthcare dollars with the states money?

I dont know why anyone of right mind would agree to turn over their healthcare dollars to California willingly. Medicare has been around and functioning well for a long time; veterans have had some problems that seem to have been worked out.

The idea of turning my medical insurance dollars over to a California bureaucracy that would determine my level of care and subsidize  or just plain gift  healthcare coverage to residents in this country illegally is enough to make me ill.

Jeff Rupp, Pasadena

Follow the Opinion section on Twitter @latimesopinion and Facebook
To the editor: In his dismissal of the Green New Deal proposed by Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.), columnist Jonah Goldberg missed the big points for trivial ones.

The large spending programs in Western economies following the Great Depression vindicated the proponents of an expanded role for government over conservatives who advocated a minimal role. Evidence abounds that economies fail and abuses of the environment expand in societies where governments role as a watchdog and spender is excessively curtailed.

Green spending is as effective a boost to incomes and quality of life as war spending, and without the negative consequences of armed conflict. The art of politics is to take ideas that work and place them in a contemporary context, as Ocasio-Cortez has done in discussing the Green New Deal.

More than just a coat of new paint, the Green New Deal is a compelling reassertion that environmental initiatives create jobs and boost the economy just as well as war spending, but with far more desirable results.

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S. Craig Justice, Tujunga

The writer is a retired professor of economics.

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To the editor: Goldberg complains that the Green New Deal just recycles the old ideas of a movement that prefers an authoritarian organization of domestic affairs. He ignores the fact that a basic goal of the Green New Deal and of progressives in general is greater participation of everyday Americans in deciding the issues that shape their lives.

We see our society moving toward domination by wealth and power. Job and retirement security are things of the past. Looming above all is the threat of climate change and the imperative to get off fossil fuels as soon as possible.

We are dealing poorly with these challenges. Why not take an unbiased look at a Green New Deal?

Grace Bertalot, Anaheim

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To the editor: Goldberg is more interested in pedantry than punditry. His column avoids any relevant context with regard to Ocasio-Cortezs actual proposal.

It is on a level equivalent to that of the grammar police that plague social media.

Gary Gegan, Culver City

Follow the Opinion section on Twitter @latimesopinion and Facebook
Two rounds of national dialogue on amending Egypts controversial NGOs law were held last week. Minister of Social Solidarity Ghada Wali told the media on 5 January that a third round is expected in the coming period.

There will be a dialogue with foreign NGOs which operate in Egypt, Wali said, indicating that local Egyptian NGOs, human rights organisations, businessmen associations and the General Union of NGOs participated in the first two rounds.

Wali said amendments presented by the groups will be part of a report to be submitted to the cabinet and parliament.

She said the national dialogue on the existing NGOs law (70/2017) came upon the request of President Abdel-Fattah Al-Sisi who asked during a World Youth Forum meeting on 5 November for revisions to be made to the 89-article law which was passed by MPs in November 2016 and ratified by the president in May 2017.

Talaat Abdel-Qawi, head of the General Union of NGOs, also told the media on 5 January that the national dialogue recommended a number of radical amendments.

Once these pass by parliament, I think we will then have a new NGOs law, and not just an amended version of the current one which has not yet been implemented, Abdel-Qawi said.

First of all, the dialogue recommended that NGOs be formed upon notification, Abdel-Qawi said. This goes in tandem with Article 75 of the constitution and meets a basic demand of the NGO community. Currently, state authorities can investigate for up to 60 days pending the issuing of a licence.

Wali, however, indicated it was recommended that only local NGOs will be formed under notification.

Foreign NGOs or local NGOs which comprise foreign founders or members, as recommended by the dialogue, will be set up only upon approval from state authorities, Wali said.

Abdel-Qawi revealed that the national dialogue also recommended that the high licensing fees  LE10,000  required for setting up an NGO should be reconsidered.

All participants agreed that this high financial demand stands as an obstacle in the way of forming NGOs, Abdel-Qawi said, adding, it was also recommended that the documents required for establishing NGOs will be enshrined in the former NGO law passed in 2002.

There is a kind of consensus among NGO activists that the 2002 NGO law, particularly in the area of licensing conditions, was very permissive and liberal, and all now want to return to this list rather than the current restrictive one, Abdel-Qawi said.

As for foreign NGOs, Abdel-Qawi said it is recommended that the licensing fees be reduced from LE300,000 to LE100,000.

This is important and attractive for NGOs to come and exercise activities inside Egypt, while giving the administrative authority  the Ministry of Social Solidarity  the right not to license them or freeze their activities in case they become embroiled in activities harmful to national security and interests, Abdel-Qawi said.

As for foreign funding of NGOs, Abdel-Qawi said there has been a lot of debate on this highly sensitive issue. The current law, drafted by parliaments Social Solidarity Committee, adopted a very sceptical view and so it was very restrictive on this point, Abdel-Qawi said.

The current law stipulates that a national council regulating the performance of NGOs be set up to supervise their licensing, work and activities, as well as supervising foreign money going to local NGOs.

Abdel-Qawi said the proposed amendments recommend that NGOs should get approval on foreign funding within a maximum of 30 days, and if there is no response within this period of time, the approval should be automatically granted.

Supervision of this money will be exercised by the Ministry of Social Solidarity  instead of the current national council  at a later stage. But if the foreign money was rejected, NGO activists would be allowed to appeal to the Administrative Court, Abdel-Qawi said.

He indicated that there is also some form of consensus among participants in the national dialogue that all articles related to the National Council on Regulating the Performance of NGOs in Egypt should be revoked.

All agree that this will be a very bureaucratic council that could intimidate NGOs from performing in Egypt, Abdel-Qawi said. All recommend that the Ministry of Social Solidarity should be the only one authorised to regulate the performance of all kinds of NGOs in Egypt and that this will take us back to Egypts liberal 2002 law on NGOs.

As for the current laws section on penalties, which has been sharply criticised because it includes prison sentences, Abdel-Qawi indicated that the two rounds of the national dialogue recommended that all custodial sentences for administrative offences be removed.

They also recommended that the conditions necessary for dissolving NGOs have to change or at least be clearly defined, Abdel-Qawi said, adding that all agree that the dissolution of an NGO should come only by judicial order, and not by an administrative decree.

They, however, agreed that NGOs cant be involved in any clandestine activities such as joining armed militias or illegal political entities or performing discriminatory practices based on gender, race or colour, Abdel-Qawi said.

Wali said the states philosophy on NGOs is that they should help in achieving national development plans. As long as NGOs aim to help Egypt move forward, I think we should give them all the facilities necessary to do their job, Wali said, agreeing that NGOs should be exempted from any kind of taxes.

Abdel-Qawi said the second round of the national dialogue on the NGOs law was held in Alexandria, drawing representatives from as many as 150 NGOs affiliated with the governorates of Beheira, Gharbiya, Kafr Al-Sheikh, Marsa Matrouh, Daqahliya, and Damietta.

In this meeting, participants recommended that 20 per cent of NGO boards should be composed of young members and that women should make up 30 per cent, Abdel-Qawi said.

Hafez Abu Seada, secretary-general of the Egyptian Organisation for Human Rights, told Al-Ahram Weekly that most human rights activists agreed that articles 70 to 77 of the National Council of Regulating the Performance of NGOs should be annulled

We also asked that other articles be repealed in order for the new NGO law to go in line with international conventions and charters in this respect, particularly those imposing prison sentences and others dealing with the dissolution of NGOs, Abu Seada said.

All in all, we want 11 articles revoked and 33 articles amended, Abu Seada said. In general we want a new liberal NGO law, or to adopt the draft law issued by former minister of social solidarity Ahmed Al-Boraai in 2013, Abu Seada said.

The role of NGOs is very important in achieving Egypts ambitious 2030 sustainable development plan, and attracting adequate foreign investments to help meet this end.

* A version of this article appears in print in the 10 January, 2018 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly under the headline: An overhaul of the NGOs law

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President Trumps threat to declare a national emergency and build a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border may not be sound policy, but the presidents critics are wrong when they say he cannot constitutionally do it. If Trump makes good on his plans, he would almost certainly win in court.

Speaking for Trumps Democratic opponents, Rep. Adam B. Schiff (D-Burbank) has called Trumps idea a nonstarter and said point-blank that this president doesnt have the power to declare an emergency and build a multibillion-dollar wall on the border. Some conservatives have objected as well: National Reviews David French judges Trumps plan a lawless abuse of power.

These attacks ignore the very design of the American presidency and the way Congress has amplified it. The Founders wisely didnt try to limit the governments power to deal with crises and emergencies. Because the circumstances that endanger the safety of nations are infinite, Alexander Hamilton warned in Federalist 23, no constitutional shackles can wisely be imposed on the power.

The Supreme Court has never overturned a national emergency declaration, even in cases less dire than the situation at the southern border.

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Instead, the Constitution creates a single, independent executive who can immediately respond with decision, activity, secrecy and dispatch, in Hamiltons words. Thomas Jefferson during the Aaron Burr controversy, Andrew Jackson during the nullification crisis, Abraham Lincoln in the Civil War, and FDR during the Great Depression and World War II all called upon these executive powers during emergencies.

And through our history, Congress and the courts have largely cooperated. The 1976 National Emergencies Act, for example, does not define a national emergency or limit the presidents right to declare one. The Supreme Court has never overturned a national emergency declaration, even in cases less dire than the situation at the southern border (Barack Obama declared an emergency out of fear of swine flu; Ronald Reagan declared one when an export control law expired).

Congress has even added to the presidents powers once a national emergency has been declared. Under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, presidents regularly impose economic sanctions  such as those enacted against North Korea and Iran  after announcing an emergency.

If Trump declares a border emergency, Section 2808 of Title 10 of U.S. law provides authority to build a wall: When a national emergency requires use of the armed forces, the Defense Department may undertake military construction projects . . . not otherwise authorized by law that are necessary to support such use of the armed forces.

As commander in chief, Trump has already ordered 3,000 troops to defend the nations territorial integrity at the southern border. A wall, arguably, would support those troops by protecting them and reducing the need for more troops. Andother, similar laws would allow Trump to redirect funds from civil works projects and drug interdiction programs toward construction of a wall he decided was needed during a national emergency.

The counterargument to all of this relies on the 1952 Supreme Court case Youngstown Sheet & Tube vs. Sawyer.

During the Korean War, President Truman ordered U.S. steel mills to operate despite a nationwide strike because he wanted to keep materiel flowing to the front. The court concluded that seizing the mills was a legislative act that could only be authorized by Congress. The link between the Korean battlefield, where the court acknowledged presidential power was at its height, and the steel mills in Ohio was just too attenuated.

The Youngstown case doesnt apply closely to the border situation; the facts are different. First, the court didnt question the presidents right to declare an emergency, just the constitutionality of seizing the mills. And Trump need not rely on any constitutional power to move from the emergency declaration to building the wall because Congress has already delegated military construction power to him.

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

Legal arguments, of course, do not settle the matter. Just because Trump could declare an emergency and order and pay for construction of a wall doesnt mean he should. Migrants at the border may not create a real crisis, and invoking such an emergency to solve a political dispute over government funding and shutdowns wastes valuable executive capital that might be needed for an undeniable crisis in the future.

Any power, no matter how reasonable in design, can be abused. But it is Congress, not the courts, that should check the president. Supreme Court justices are unlikely to substitute their judgment on the use of troops and military necessity for that of the commander in chief and our elected representatives. Congress can use its appropriations powers to specifically prevent the president from reallocating military and civil funds to build a border wall. And it can resort to impeachment to counter anything it considers to be abuse of power.

Opponents of Trumps use of emergency powers should look to where the final responsibility lies  the Senate and the House of Representatives  rather than to legal arguments that will not stop the construction of a border wall.

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John Yoo is a law professor at UC Berkeley, a visiting scholar at the American Enterprise Institute and a visiting fellow at the Hoover Institution.

Follow the Opinion section on Twitter @latimesopinionand Facebook
Not long after the inauguration of President Trump in 2017, I ran into a discussion of the Doomsday Clock on Facebook.

That year, the clock, that midcentury modernist data-viz illustrating the imminence of global catastrophe, showed 11:57:30 p.m. Two and a half minutes to midnight, two and a half minutes to doom.

This was the closest the world had been to ending, in the opinion of the atomic scientists who keep the clock, since 1953, when the U.S. and the Soviet Union first tested hydrogen bombs. (In 2018, the Doomsday Clock ticked ahead to 11:58. The 2019 Doomsday Clock will be unveiled on Jan. 24.)

Republicans are cutting off their noses to spite  everything. Throw the nation into massive debt to own the libs. Align with fascism to own the libs.

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Most people discussing the clock on Facebook were, to say the least, concerned. The topic wasnt politics but fear; doom isnt partisan. But one commenter who repped MAGA consoled himself with his own calculus. Better nuclear winter than more letters in LGBTQ, he wrote.

Suddenly, the whole internet seemed to hold its breath. I hope its all you dreamed, I typed in a fury.

I signed off Facebook then, and, soon after, I signed off it for good.

Since that exchange, Ive made mental reference many times to the terrifying aphorism of that Facebooker. It was, looking back, scarier than the Doomsday Clock ticking away.

His words laid bare the Death Logic that suffuses the philosophy of Trump and his supporters. The idea is that even the annihilation of humankind is worth it if it owns the libs.

This thinking is now regularly satirized in memes that illustrate how Republicans are cutting off their noses to spite  everything. Throw the nation into massive debt to own the libs. Align with fascism to own the libs. Crash the government to own the libs.

With the Trump-owned government shutdown set to be the longest in U.S. history, exposing Americans to diverse and serious dangers related to everything from national park sanitation to airport security to food safety, Trump announced Friday he would not right now fulfill his cartoonish Boss Hogg threat to declare a national state of emergency, but the government is still closed and hes still waiting for Congress to give him billions for his harebrained steel-slat wall.

No kings dominion for Trump yet, then. Government shutdowns used to be one of the things called a nuclear option; a state-of-emergency declaration over a political appropriation disagreement would have to be something beyond nuclear.

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But, as the shutdown wears on, political nukes are evidently not enough for Trump. Hes mad as heck that the Democratic leadership unmanned him in front of sages like Rush Limbaugh and Ann Coulter. So hes still snorting around looking for something to destroy. California? Better nuclear winter than a minutes success for House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

And so later on Friday Trump threatened to loot disaster-relief funds, earmarked for Puerto Rico and Texas, to get his slats. Better to pound hurricane-pounded Americans harder than let Sen. Chuck Schumer do his job.

More Death Logic. We might have predicted that Trump and his Republican henchmen would end up sounding suicidal back in September 2016, when an essay called The Flight 93 Election was published. The author was Michael Anton, a mens fashion writer turned far-right gadfly, who until April served as a deputy national security advisor to Trump.

Antons hair-on-fire essay argued that Republicans needed to give their lives to defeat presidential candidate Hillary Clinton because she, like the terrorists who commandeered United Flight 93 on 9/11, was bent somehow on killing them.

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How, when, why? You couldnt tell from Antons ramblings, but he clearly thought the Clinton reign of terror was related to censorship practiced by the Davoisies social media enablers. I guess this means sinister stuff done online by people who attend the World Economic Forum. Better to kamikaze this plane than endure any infringement on Michael Antons Snapchat freedoms!

This is the logic of suicide (or a school shooter or mass murderer), willing to kill and be killed over something so petty that pettiness is almost the whole point.

Enter the Fray: First takes on the news of the minute 

And its a pretty good explanation for why a record-breaking government shutdown has put 380,000 government employees on furlough and made 420,000 work without pay. Trumps shutdown disabling the whole country, sea to shining sea, to save the presidents vanity, right? Stealing from the afflicted in Puerto Rico or from flood control efforts in Houston would be worth it too.

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In this line of reasoning, as I learned on Facebook two years ago, nuclear annihilation can be just another form of trolling. For the lulz  or however many lulz a human body can muster as its turned into nuclear soot.

The first time I said it, I was just snapping at a Trumpite troll. But this time I mean it sincerely: About the way you have devastated this country, I hope its everything you dreamed, Mr. President.

Twitter: @page88
The state Department of Finance just delivered a little-noticed blow to Los Angeles schools. Its updated projections showed that the population of school-aged children is declining even faster than previously expected. The strike thats likely to start on Monday cannot overcome this kind of trouble.

Los Angeles County stands to lose more than 161,000 students over the next decade, the new analysis shows. According to Alexander Alvarado, the Finance Departments education demographer, the Los Angeles Unified School District generally bears more than half of the losses, which would mean an enrollment drop of 80,000-plus students in the district. Each student lost represents thousands of dollars that wont flow to the district.

L.A. Unified enrollment has been declining for several years. Though the teachers union focuses its blame on independent charter schools, which enroll more than 100,000 students within district boundaries, at least an equal portion has been lost to simple demographic change. And for too long, the district ignored the numbers. It actually increased its administrative staffing by about 20% during years of enrollment decline. And it continued funding the same level of retiree benefits for teachers even as the number of students fell.

L.A. Unified enrollment has been dropping for several years, though for too long the district acted as though this wasnt happening.

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The school-age population is declining statewide because of an aging population and lower birth rates, but far more quickly in L.A County. In fact, though the county has one-fourth of the states population, most of the student loss is occurring here. Alvarado suggests that the loss might be fed in part by movement to less expensive areas, such as the Inland Empire or Kern County, where enrollment is increasing.

This isnt just depressing news for L.A. Unified finances. It should be part of the planning for the district, for the teachers union and for charter schools as well. There will be too many seats for too few students, and steadily reduced revenue. Yes, fewer teachers will be needed for fewer students, but schools also have fixed costs for administration and facilities and will have less money to pay for them.

This is the backdrop for the current labor troubles in the district. One of the main issues is added staffing sought by United Teachers Los Angles  more teachers, counselors, librarians and nurses  with the unions distaste for charter schools as an important subtext. UTLA sees charter schools as robbing the school district of funding that would pay for more staff.

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

But even if the school district could stop charter-school growth, the enrollment picture would continue to be bleak, and one of the key issues isnt even under discussion right now: the districts heavy retiree-benefits obligations. How will the L.A. Unified of 2028, when it is expected to have perhaps 450,000 students or possibly fewer, pay for the tremendous obligations incurred when it had an enrollment of more than 700,000? Benefits arent negotiated on the same cycle as pay, staffing and working conditions, which makes no sense. District finances encompass all of these factors; retiree obligations cant be left out of the picture as though they have no effect on other expenditures.

The charter sector also should be considering the ramifications of this longer-term picture. Charter schools are already scrambling to keep their enrollment numbers up. At least one charter school in the district closed last year because it couldnt attract enough students. Some charters that used to have waiting lists are running with reduced enrollment. Leaders of the highly regarded Alliance College-Ready Public Schools, a network of 25 charter schools that once had thousands of students on waiting lists, say that they were able to fill their seats this school year, but that doing so required more extensive marketing. As the district converts more of its schools to popular magnet campuses, the region might reach a saturation point for charters, which would make the financial future of individual charter schools less stable.

L.A. Unified needs better funding from the state  all California schools do. It needs more counselors and smaller class sizes. But neither the district nor the union can expect the state to lavish money on the schools as though they have 250,000 more students than they actually enroll.

The state has been loath to intercede in local district affairs. But at the rate things are going, it will either get involved sooner, to establish reasonable policies around charter growth, per-pupil funding and retiree benefits, or be forced to get involved later, to bail the district out of insolvency.

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The gunman who fatally shot a Davis police officer ambushed her while she took down a routine accident report, rolling up on a bicycle and waiting in the shadows before opening fire, Police Chief Darren Pytel said Friday.

After firing at Officer Natalie Corona, 22, once, causing her to fall, the gunman continued to shoot her multiple times and expended all the rounds in the weapon, Pytel said.

This clearly to us looks like an ambush, he said Friday evening during a news conference at the Davis Police Department.

Corona was wearing a bulletproof vest Thursday evening when she responded to a three-vehicle collision on one of the main thoroughfares through the college town. Pytel said that Corona was shot in the neck but that he has yet to get a more detailed report of her injuries from the Yolo County coroners office.

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This was basically just a routine traffic collision, Pytel said. We have witnesses who are reporting that the suspect rode up on a bicycle and was in some shadows on the sidewalk, and Officer Corona was in the street and between two vehicles involved in the collision, and the suspect just basically opened fire.

After shooting Corona, the gunman reloaded and began shooting in another direction, hitting a firetruck, a house, a bus and a backpack being worn by a person. After reloading a second time, the gunman approached a fire rescue squad, prompting a firefighter to run. The suspect fired, and a bullet struck the firefighters boot, Pytel said.

No one besides Corona was injured.

The shooting, which occurred just a few blocks from UC Davis, set off a massive response, with federal, state and local law enforcement agencies converging on this small city west of Sacramento. The Sacramento County Sheriffs Department is the lead investigative agency.

Corona started at the Davis Police Department as a part-time employee in 2016, when she was a junior college student. The daughter of a retired Colusa County sheriffs deputy, Corona finished her training in December and had been on the job for a few weeks.

This has been just absolutely devastating to the Davis Police Department, said Pytel, who briefed officers about the shooting two hours earlier.

She had a personality that was just energizing. And it didnt matter who it was in the department. It didnt matter whether they were the janitors that take care of the building for us or me as the police chief and everyone in between  she was the most friendly, outgoing and just wanted to be everyones friend. And was.

Profile: Davis police Officer Natalie Corona, 22, was gunned down, but first she lived her dream 

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Pytel said that after the shooting, the gunman fled, circling the area, before returning to his apartment, which was within shooting range of the crime scene. He met up with a roommate, who was unaware of what had happened, and watched as police and emergency crews responded.

Investigators found the suspects backpack at the crime scene and surrounded his apartment, the chief said. The gunman barricaded himself inside, placing a couch against the front door.

Pytel said police heard a gunshot, which they determined was the gunman shooting himself in the head. They found his body after breaching the apartment with a robot. The roommate was unharmed and was being questioned by police.

Pytel said the gunman had had a few minor brushes with authorities, including a case in which he reported being a victim of a crime. But there was nothing to indicate he had any grudge against the police or Corona, he said. Authorities have not released his name.

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Pytel said investigators have a significant amount of video from the camera inside Coronas patrol car. She was also wearing a body camera, he said.

Were speculating she never even saw him, Pytel said.
For more than a decade, complaints have rolled into the Department of Building and Safety about broken cars cluttering the street around an auto repair shop on West Adams Boulevard.

Again and again, Los Angeles city inspectors have ordered the shop to clean up its act.

And again and again, the problems have come back.

In February, the owner of Union General Auto Repair and the owner of the building were ordered  again  to stop leaving cars outside. Inspectors had already handed out more than a dozen orders to fix violations at the West Adams property, according to city records.

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Antonio Diaz Partida, who operates the shop, argues that his business has been unfairly blamed for problems caused by several repair shops in the neighborhood. Yet residents say that despite the stack of orders from the city, little has changed at his shop.

Its so blatant, its unreal, said Cheryl Johnson, a Jefferson Park resident who regularly drives past the shop on her way to visit family. How can people live next to this?

Pushing for better enforcement of parts of the Los Angeles Municipal Code  from addressing junky storefronts to cleaning up peeling paint  has become a mission for residents in this stretch of South Los Angeles, a gentrifying, racially and economically diverse neighborhood of stately mansions and Craftsman bungalows.

The Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety, which oversees such violations, said the West Adams shop is inspected annually under a city program that targets certain types of businesses, including repair shops and junkyards  one reason Union General Auto Repair has been cited so often. If problems are fixed each time, department spokesman Jeff Napier said, there is no need to escalate enforcement.

But Johnson and other residents say the perennial problems at the shop are an example of how the city has failed to aggressively confront junk and blight in their neighborhood.

Many have grown aggravated as they call in complaint after complaint and track problem businesses on spreadsheets. The neighborhood council has repeatedly met with the city building department to go over problem properties. One resident, Gage Tucker, compared it to having a second job.

I go back and forth between thinking, This is never going to get any better. I should just leave this neighborhood, and thinking, I have to stay here and make a difference,  he said.

Tucker got involved after he moved to the neighborhood and found that shop owners on nearby Venice Boulevard were cluttering the sidewalks with junk and wares: an old piano, a used sofa, an armada of office chairs. One shop in the building, which includes several businesses, was so stuffed with odds and ends that you wouldnt be able to open the door, he said.

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City records show that after an inspector slapped the building owner with an order to eliminate pack rat conditions in December 2017, code enforcement returned months later to find things had only gotten worse. In April 2018, the inspector found that all the violations remain unabated. Little changed, Tucker said, until the owner of the building evicted one of the shops last year.

Tucker still worries about other problems laid out by city inspectors nearly two years ago  including plaster tumbling from the ceiling and exposed electrical wiring  that cannot be solved by simply ejecting a business. As of early January, the Department of Building and Safety said that violations had yet to be fully resolved.

These citations arent worth the paper they are written on, Tucker said. There are no consequences in our neighborhood. And the building owners know it.

A family walks down the sidewalk on West Adams Boulevard on Dec. 11. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)

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Complaints about code enforcement are not new. More than a decade ago, then-City Controller Laura Chick found in an audit that the Department of Building and Safety was relying on building owners to start following the rules voluntarily, allowing scofflaws to repeatedly and consistently flout the law.

Chick found that the department was inconsistent in imposing penalties for violating city rules and that, even when it did, the fines were often too low to make a difference. Very few cases were referred to the City Attorney, her audit noted.

Four years later, City Controller Wendy Greuel found that the building department had made many recommended improvements, such as coming up with policies for more consistent enforcement. But it still had thousands of orders for building and business owners to fix violations that had been outstanding for a year or more.

The Times analyzed city data on how code enforcement complaints were resolved across the city between 2011 and midway through 2018 and found that roughly 40% of complaints triggered a case. Almost 30% were deemed to be no violation, roughly 12.5% were deemed to be duplicates, and 17% were referred to other city departments or divisions.

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In West Adams, residents point to properties that have generated years of complaints. More than a decade ago, the city ordered the owner of an aging home on 9th Avenue to tidy up its peeling paint. The department later discovered that rooms also had been added to the house without permits and deemed it substandard. When new complaints rolled in that the house looked dangerous and was a blight on the neighborhood, they were simply marked as duplicates.

Two years ago, the case was referred to city prosecutors, who gave the homeowner deadlines to take specific steps to remedy the situation, according to the building department. As of September 2018, the department said those deadlines had passed and it was preparing the case so that the City Attorney could weigh criminal charges.

But after part of the home was finally repainted, the department said it was holding off on pursuing a case. Napier, the building department spokesman, stressed that the homeowner was elderly and that the house is located in a historic zone, which presents some added challenges to completing the required work.

We want to make sure weve exhausted all efforts to try to get compliance at the lowest level before pushing charges, Napier said, adding later that the department is, looking for substantial improvement by this spring.

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When asked why the work had gone so slowly, the homeowner  a UCLA program director  told The Times that it cost a lot of money and declined to comment further.

More than a decade has passed since the city first ordered the owner of this 9th Avenue home to fix its peeling paint. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

In some cases, West Adams residents complain that the city has concluded there is no violation despite serious complaints.

Two years ago, four people were killed in a gun battle at an eatery that was operating in the neighborhood without permission from the city. Residents said it was no secret that a neighbor was doing a brisk business in Jamaican food out of a house on Rimpau Boulevard, long before the gunshots made the cafe infamous. It even had online reviews, praising its jerk chicken and oxtails.

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You can get a beer while you wait to be served and service here is fast since they are always cooking, one blogger wrote.

When a building inspector checked on a complaint about an illegal business a year and a half before the shooting, he found there was no violation. Occupant/owner allowed full access to the house and all yards, front and back. House was not converted to a cafe, inspection records state.

It is unclear exactly what time the inspector stopped by. Napier said the inspection likely occurred during normal business hours, from 7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

After the shooting, inspectors returned to the house in reaction to new complaints. One was unable to get inside. Two others returned later and observed possible violations, but said more research was needed before they could issue an order to resolve any violations. Later, inspections turned up nothing. One year after the shooting, when the house was sitting vacant, the city closed the case.

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If we dont witness the violation, Napier said, were not able to take action.

Four people died after a gun battle at an underground restaurant being run out of this home in October 2016. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

Los Angeles City Council President Herb Wesson, who represents the neighborhood, said his office was working directly with the department to address complaints.

Were the mouthpiece of the community, he said. So when the community has concerns, we have concerns.

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But Wesson said he had no specific proposals to change how code enforcement is handled.

Tucker said that talks with the city continue to be about specific properties.

But were trying to have a bigger conversation than that, he said. Were trying to understand whats wrong with the system.

emily.alpert@latimes.com

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Twitter: @AlpertReyes
Los Angeles County is considering what amounts to a voluntary ban on electric scooters as it develops regulations for companies to operate them safely in unincorporated areas.

The Board of Supervisors is scheduled to vote Tuesday on a plan that would, for now, halt their operations in neighborhoods that are home to more than 1 million county residents.

The plan would ask companies not to deploy the scooters until rules for their use, safety and distribution are established  although the county hasnt crafted any penalties to impose if the companies dont comply.

The county has an obligation, especially in the unincorporated areas, to protect the taxpayers, said Supervisor Kathryn Barger, whose Fifth District includes many unincorporated residents in central and northern sections of the county.

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Use of motorized scooters, which can be rented with a smartphone app, has exploded across California in the last year, as Bird, Lime and Jump and other companies have deposited them in Santa Monica, Venice and other neighborhoods and cities across Los Angeles.

Recently, some of the battery-powered, dockless scooters have surfaced in unincorporated places, including East Pasadena and Altadena. Their appearance prompted residents to bombard Bargers office with complaints, she said, and raised concerns about whether there was a potential liability for the county to motorists on an unregulated road.

Now county officials are following other cities in trying to control the scooters.

In this case, my goal is to regulate  more to protect the taxpayer from being sued, but also to make sure that this is done to address the sensitivities in the community, she said.

Bargers motion initially called on county officials to inform scooter companies to cease and desist operations  with the exception of Marina del Rey  until regulations are adopted by the board.

That language has since been softened and is still being written as county officials say they are proceeding collaboratively with the scooter companies.

The measure still would create a process for establishing county procedures related to scooter parking, data sharing and distribution, among other issues. The goal is to roll out a regulatory policy within 45 days.

Both Bird and Lime issued written statements to The Times indicating their desire to help county regulators craft a policy that would let residents in unincorporated areas continue using their scooters.

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We look forward to continue working together to define a framework that can work for everyone in the hopes that this process will not disrupt access to our transportation solution  one that Angelenos have come to rely on, according to Birds statement.

Lime struck a similar tone.

As we have done with surrounding communities, Lime looks forward to working with the county to create a program that meets the mobility needs of the community while also ensuring that any concerns that they have, its statement read.

It remains unclear how widespread scooter use has become in unincorporated areas. Scooters are heavily concentrated in Westside cities and neighborhoods, such as Santa Monica, Venice and Marina del Rey, and sprinkled throughout parts of L.A.

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The countys move comes a few months after the city of Los Angeles unanimously approved its own rules. The City Council established a yearlong program to allow companies to apply for permits and deploy as many as 10,500 scooters.

The citys program imposed a 15-mph speed limit on scooters and required that users leave them parked upright, on the outer edge of sidewalks, near bus benches, parking meters and advertising kiosks.

The rules were designed to be temporary, giving city regulators time to develop a formal plan for the industry, which has evolved quickly, and prompting complaints about haphazard parking and dangers to pedestrians and motorists. There also have been concerns about the safety of riders, who scoot along on streets, bike lanes and sidewalks, and occasionally get involved in crashes.

In addition to scooters, the countys regulations will consider opening the unincorporated areas streets and sidewalks to electric bicycles that can be rented for short-term rides and returned anywhere, rather than at a kiosk or a dock. The systems, called dockless bike-sharing, are already in use on a small-scale basis at Cal State Northridge and in San Pedro and Wilmington.

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Separately, the countys Department of Beaches and Harbors has been working with scooter companies to establish a pilot program to regulate the use of electric bikes and scooters in Marina del Rey. The ban under consideration next week wouldnt extend there for now.

Barger, who has discussed the motion with Bird officials, said she believes the ban will be temporary while the county develops its rules  and that someday soon, the companies will be able to help with transportation needs in unincorporated areas, especially around stations along the Metro Gold Line.

I have every faith that they are going to be responsible as it comes to operating them in the unincorporated areas, she said.
Federal authorities have launched a criminal investigation into the potential misuse of a $19.2-million federal grant by two administrators at Los Angeles Trade-Technical College, The Times has learned.

Leticia Barajas, a vice president over workforce development, was placed on paid administrative leave Thursday pending investigation, according to a document from the Los Angeles Community College District obtained by The Times.

The action follows a subpoena served last month for her payroll, tax and work records in connection with the U.S. Department of Labor investigation, district sources said. Investigators also sought records for Kaneesha Tarrant, who was L.A. Trade-Techs vice president of student services before taking a leave of absence and an interim post at Norco College last fall.

The Times reported last year that Barajas and Tarrant had failed to justify more than $157,000 in payments they received through a Labor Department grant from 2014 to 2017, according to an internal investigation prompted by a whistleblower.

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The grant was intended to help students gain skills for the fast-growing healthcare industry. L.A. Trade-Tech  the most prominent of nine campuses in the nations largest community college district  was selected to lead the effort on behalf of other schools and industry partners.

As instructors on special assignment, Barajas was paid $100,882 from the grant over three years and Tarrant got $56,609, the districts internal investigation found. The payments came on top of the administrators annual salaries: $188,000 for Barajas and $185,000 for Tarrant.

The extra work the administrators said they did, which they claimed merited the grant payments, was, in fact, part of their regular college duties, according to a memo written by Arnold Blanshard, the districts internal audit director. Blanshard found they wrote very general descriptions of the work they said they performed and failed to get required approvals for their special assignments.

Tarrant continued to receive grant money while on maternity leave. Barajas compensation increased even after the district hired a director to do most of the work that she said she was doing, according to the memo.

In interviews with The Times last year, district and college officials defended the payments as proper. Albert J. Roman, the districts vice chancellor of human resources, said Barajas and Tarrant had helped develop curriculum  tasks, he said, that went beyond their administrative duties.

L.A. Trade-Tech President Laurence Frank said he had approved the assignments for Barajas and Tarrant, and that they had helped prepare hundreds of high school and college students for healthcare jobs.

They picked up major additional work in their separate roles as faculty on special assignmentand were appropriately compensated, he said last year. I am proud of the work we did and continue to accomplish.

Barajas and Tarrant did not respond to interview requests this week. Barajas, in a written statement last year, said only that the program had improved our ability to prepare hundreds of students for in-demand jobs. Tarrant did not respond to an interview request at that time either.

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Frank, through a college spokesman, referred inquiries from The Times to the district.

District Chancellor Francisco Rodriguez declined to speak with The Times but said through a spokesman that the district has been and will continue to be fully cooperative with federal officials in regards to any inquiry.

District spokesman William Boyer confirmed that Barajas was placed on leave Thursday and that Tarrant formally left Tuesday.

A spokesman for the U.S. Department of Labors Office of Inspector General told The Times in August that he could neither confirm nor deny an investigation into L.A. Trade-Tech. He was not available for comment this week.

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Sources who spoke to The Times said they were first contacted by federal investigators last fall. One was Rita Weingourt, who wrote the curriculum for the healthcare program. She said she told investigators that Barajas and Tarrant played no part in developing the syllabi, lectures, quizzes and tests for the grant program, and lacked the expertise to do so. Another was Dorothy Smith, a former L.A. Trade-Tech dean of student services, who said she gave investigators background on the college, including problems with morale and trust.

Board President Mike Fong referred interview requests to the district.

Trustee Scott Svonkin declined to comment on any federal investigation. But he said he tried to convince district officials a year ago to place the executives involved on administrative leave.

I am very disappointed these things were not addressed, Svonkin said.

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Barajas also was questioned in a separate internal investigation last year, which found that a pilot program that she ran in English and math had falsified grades, according to a memo prepared by Blanshard.

In an interview with The Times in 2017, Barajas acknowledged some errors  such as using the wrong form to record the grades  and said they were corrected in subsequent semesters.

Like any innovation, we pilot it, we learn from it, we actually made adjustments, she said. We acknowledge the mistake.

Problems arent new for L.A. Trade-Tech, in general. It has been the focus of grade fraud and embezzlement at an affiliated nonprofit foundation. And in 2009, a regional accrediting agency placed the campus on probation for one year because of academic and staffing issues.

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But in recent years, Trade-Tech has improved educational outcomes for many of its 12,700 students, three-fourths of whom are the first in their families to attend college. The percentage of students who have achieved certificates, degrees or transfer status increased from 32.5% in 2011 to 38.6% in 2017, according to state data.

teresa.watanabe@latimes.com

Twitter: @TeresaWatanabe
Memo to L.A. Unified, the teachers union and all concerned:

Can a strike, which could begin Monday, be averted?

Absolutely, and about half a million families in greater Los Angeles would be grateful.

But the adults still have some homework to complete.

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I know and respect lots of L.A. Unified teachers, and I count many of them among my closest friends. But I dont see how they or anyone else will benefit from a short strike that does not address large ongoing concerns; I see only losers, deeper foxholes, more contempt. I dont see how anyone benefits from a protracted strike, either, which could cripple the region and harm hundreds of thousands of Southern Californias poorest families.

Theres an optimistic theory that if a strike were to endure, the public would rise up in defense of the children and justice would prevail. But nobody will rise up to rescue a long-dysfunctional district in which warring parties have sharp philosophical divides and too little appetite for exploiting shared interests. In a long strike, families will opt out, might not return, and the district may never recover.

Ive lived in Los Angeles for 20 of the last 21 years, and Ive visited dozens of schools. Ive been inspired by the service of teachers and principals, aghast at the decline in resources and facilities, irritated by the politicization of public schools.

In that tumultuous time, the number of students has shrunk and administrative turnover has been constant. Over the last two decades, heres the LAUSD superintendent roster: Zacarias, Cortines, Romer, Brewer, Cortines, Deasy, Cortines, King, Ekchian, Beutner.

Different strategies and leadership styles have produced intractable disputes over testing, new teaching methods, teacher evaluations, charters. Weve endured the iPad debacle, the student tracking system fiasco, the student molestation scandals.

And how does the report card look in a district where both union and administration officials claim to have the answers, if only the other side would see it their way?

In the last round of standardized tests, only 42% of LAUSD students met or exceeded standards in reading and 32% in math.

If you think teachers are responsible for that, youre missing the big picture.

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If you think district administrators are the culprits, youre wrong again.

If you think a strike will help, youre 0 for 3.

LAUSD teachers strike all but certain as union rejects districts latest offer 

The districts several hundred thousand students, most of whom are children of color, have the same brain capacity and learning potential as students attending private schools and better-funded public schools.

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But they start at a big disadvantage, with the majority of them coming from homes at or below the poverty line here in one of the richest places in the world, where middle-income jobs were once plentiful but are now scarce, and where thousands of students live in garages, motels, shelters, vehicles and shared apartments.

Rather than give these kids the best chance to rise above it all, we stuff more than 40 of them into classrooms at schools short on nurses, schools where teachers buy supplies, schools in a district with literally thousands of maintenance calls that go unanswered for months and sometimes years.

We dont need a strike. We need a unified front, with teams of union members and district officials demanding to know why it was OK to let California fall in national funding-per-pupil rankings, and why its OK for school libraries to be closed in the states largest district when Sacramento has a projected $21-billion budget surplus.

Brand-new Gov. Gavin Newsom has proposed a big boost for schools, but delivering on his promise could be a long and complicated process, and local teachers and administrators should be hand in hand, cheering him on, rather than taking shots at each other.

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As for local leadership, weve gone from a mayor (Antonio Villaraigosa) who wanted to commandeer the entire district to a mayor (Eric Garcetti) who seems barely aware that it exists.

Will no one speak up for the second largest school district in the nation, with its 90% minority population and 80% of students living in poverty?

USC, one of the wealthier educational institutions in the nation and referred to by some as the University of Spoiled Children, raised billions of dollars it didnt really need way ahead of schedule.

Weve got no shortage of wealthy liberals tripping over themselves to shell out for photo ops with big-name Democratic office holders and candidates who swing through L.A. like its a drive-through bank. Couldnt a few of them speak up for local students, or cut checks to school donation funds that help pay for supplies, student gear and after-school programs?

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To be fair to those on the sidelines, the district might draw more support if it could demonstrate that it can manage its own affairs and avoid the trench warfare that keeps sabotaging progress.

The district has to acknowledge that the growth of charter schools  some of them good and some of them not so much so  is draining resources from traditional schools and the neediest students.

The teachers union has to acknowledge that if a charter offers students a better option, students deserve to take full advantage.

The district needs to find more ways to cut costs, shrink class sizes and pay teachers what they deserve.

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The teachers union has to admit the district is on track to go broke, and either start contributing toward healthcare premiums or find ways to trim retiree healthcare costs.

Parents can help by learning English, so they can better monitor their childrens progress in school and open more doors for them.

And everyone has to recognize that whether or not our children are in LAUSD, we all have a stake, if not a moral duty. A well-educated army of future taxpayers serves all of us, and there are great costs ahead for not developing all that potential.

Last fall I spent several weeks at Telfair Elementary School in Pacoima, where nearly a quarter of the students are classified as homeless, and many eat most of their meals on campus. I was impressed by what was accomplished each day by the principal, teachers and staff despite all the resource shortages, and Im certain the results would be even better with more support.

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The adults on both sides insist their first interest is the students, which has the right ring, but it looks at times as if power and ego come first.

On Monday, if schools are closed, the biggest losers are the kids.

So get it together, keep the doors open, and teach. The children are hungry to learn, and capable of great things.

Get more of Steve Lopezs work and follow him on Twitter @LATstevelopez
One of the most arresting sequences in Spike Lees BlacKkKlansman  based on the true story of an African American cop who infiltrated the Ku Klux Klan in 1970s Colorado  comes right at the beginning of the movie.

It involves Alec Baldwin, as a fictional white supremacist academic, filming a kind of segregationist infomercial. As he delivers his increasingly hateful diatribe, images from D.W. Griffiths notorious The Birth of a Nation are projected onto his face, eventually obscuring Baldwin almost entirely  a powerful visual metaphor for the way racism can span generations.

Yet part of why this juxtaposition plays is because the sequence employs a third element: the lush strings of Terence Blanchards music, which lends the scene a strangely moving quality seemingly at odds with what were seeing.

Its a signature tactic in Blanchards work with Lee, which stretches back to the late 80s, when the revered jazz trumpeter appeared on the soundtracks of School Daze and Do the Right Thing; since Jungle Fever in 1991, Blanchard has scored every one of the filmmakers many movies, including Malcolm X, 25th Hour and Inside Man.

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The device is there at the end of 2000s Bamboozled, where a stirring orchestral theme accompanies an ugly montage of performers in blackface. And its there again as BlacKkKlansman closes with still-horrific footage from the deadly 2017 white nationalist rally in Charlottesville, Va.

In each instance, the pictures are telling a disturbing story thats complicated, and ultimately deepened, by the beautiful music.

As crucial as his contributions to Lees movies are  emotionally, theyre up there with the directors famous dolly shot  Blanchard has never won an Academy Award for original score. In fact, hes never even been nominated, which feels almost as crazy as the fact that Lee has never received a nod in the director category.

Blanchard, 56, is philosophical about the lack of recognition.

You never miss something you never had, he said with a laugh over the phone this week from New York, where he had a gig as part of Winter Jazzfest with his group, E-Collective.

But Im less understanding. Blanchards having been overlooked for more than two decades is downright inexcusable  a clear sign, one of so many, that too many Oscar voters are paying attention only where they want to. (Consider that while Blanchard was whiffing, John Williams racked up 21 nominations. Twenty-one!)

Fortunately, the drought could finally end this year. Blanchards BlacKkKlansman music is on the short list of 15 works being considered for the original score category; film academy members have until Monday to cast their ballots to narrow that group to the final slate of nominees set to be announced on Jan. 22.

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If Blanchard does indeed make the cut, you could look at the nod as a de facto lifetime-achievement thing  the kind of belated honor that a show-biz organization will occasionally bestow to make up for years of neglect.

Last year, for example, the late Leonard Cohen won a Grammy for rock performance, of all things, after garnering scant notice from the Recording Academy during his most vital years.

And as a Blanchard admirer, I wouldnt even mind that; the guy deserves praise in whatever form it might take.

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But BlacKkKlansman is worthy of being singled out.

With its inventive use of electric guitar and its knowing echoes of American military music  particularly effective in a scene Lee borrows from Gone With the Wind  Blanchards score stands up easily next to the years other most interesting movie music, including Ludwig Goranssons from Black Panther and Ben Salisbury and Geoff Barrows from Annihilation. (Both of those scores are on the Oscars short list, along with music from Crazy Rich Asians, First Man, If Beale Street Could Talk, Mary Poppins Returns and others.)

When I asked Blanchard about his trademark moments in BlacKkKlansman  those scenes where his stately music is reaching us in tandem with Lees starkly troubling images  the New Orleans native chuckled.

Spike is a New Yorker, he said. And New Yorkers, they go about telling you whats on their mind. They dont hold back. But the thing Ive come to understand about Spike, which admittedly took me a minute to grasp, is that hes really a humanitarian.

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Hes trying to pull at heartstrings to change minds. In scenes like that, hes saying, Look at what one group of human beings is doing to another group of human beings. And based on what? The color of your skin? Where youre from? Who you love? 

According to Blanchard, the overall thing of Lees movies is how we need to come together as people, and his music is meant to help us along toward that realization.

Of the guitar, which plays a prominent role throughout the movie, the composer said it came from hearing blues bands in New Orleans and playing in pop bands in the 70s.

But he also was drawn to the instrument to give a sense of strength to the main character, Ron Stallworth (played by John David Washington), who becomes the first black man to join the Colorado Springs Police Department.

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Remember when Jimi Hendrix played the national anthem at Woodstock? Blanchard asked. Come on, bro  thats one of the most beautiful moments in musical history! For me, its like an African American dude screaming, Yo, our people fought and died for this country just like everybody else.

I dont think its too dramatic to say that Blanchards music for BlacKkKlansman strikes a similar note regarding the need to open up ideas of greatness in Hollywood.

mikael.wood@latimes.com

Twitter: @mikaelwood
Controversial actress, Rosemond Alade Brown, has caused yet another stir on social media in a latest video in which she claimed to have purchased a new car

In a video spotted by YEN.com.gh on the Instagram account of the actress, she was heard saying that the car was mine and that she bought it out of her 'fooling',

The actress went on to reval that she did not car about what her fans had to say about her and equally paid no attention to the insults coming her way.

READ ALSO: Photo: PMMC boss and former MP Opare Hammond dead

Rosemond Brown captioned the video, "Hahaha 2019 no jokes."

"The new car Honda in the system..You said I am fooling but I don't just fool. This is mine. You dey on social media you are insulting me but me I am doing big things," were some of her words as she flaunted her new Kia Forte.

Rosemond Alade Brown who has christened herself Akuapim Poloo, was recently in the news after she won some awards and took to social media to 'praise herself'.

Not too long ago she was 'all over the place' over claims she made that she slept with veteran actor, Prince Yawson who many know by the nickname, Waakye.

READ ALSO: Photo of NAM1 managing a single room before rising to fame and riches pops up

She was interviewed by Deloris Frimpong Manso on the Delay Show where she revealed that she had already dated 24 men in the space of four years.

The actress is also noted to have revealed that she was once in a relationship with veteran actor, Fred Amugi who she had grown to fall in love with.

Rosemond Brown has come to be associated with controversial videos in which she calls out other celebrities for some of their actions.

Among the celebrities she has called out over their actions include Shatta Wale, Shatta Michy, John Dumelo, Wisa Greid, Medikal and embattled former boss of GFA, Mr. Kwesi Nyantakyi.

READ ALSO: We still have money to sponsor Ghana Premier League  Zylofon Media

Watch: Yenkasa: What Did You Do Before, During and After Christmas?| #Yencomgh

Click here to get the latest exciting English Premier League news. Get match highlights, reports, photos & videos all in one place.

Source: Yen.com.gh
Zylofon Media, one of the companies owned by embattled CEO of Menzgold Company Limited, Nana Appiah Mensah, has disclosed that it is still in the position to sponsor the Ghana Premier League.

This disclosure was made by a public relations officer of Zylofon Media, Halifax Ansah Addo, according to a report monitored by YEN.com.gh on GHone Television.

According to Halifax, the company was still in the position, and also had money to sponsor the premier league.

Nana Appiah Mensah, the embattled CEO of Menzgold. Photo credit: Instagram

Source: Instagram

READ ALSO: Photo of NAM1 managing a single room before rising to fame and riches pops up

His revelation comes at a time that Menzgold, a sister company to Zylofon Media, and its CEO, NAM1, are in deep trouble over not being able to repay funds invested in the company by many Ghanaians.

According to Halifax, the company had already met some obligations and would continue to sponsor the league.

Earlier, YEN.com.gh reported how Nana Appiah had promised to inject over 1 million cedis into the premier league, just before Nyantakyi was exposed by Anas Aremeyaw Anas Number 12 investigation piece.

However, following the crises Menzgold is facing, people thought the sponsorship would not hold anymore because Menzgold has not even been able to pay its debts.

READ ALSO: Lady behind Thosecalledcelebs account runs away from Instagram after Michys expose

Meanwhile, NAM1 has been declared wanted by INTERPOL for his inability to repay funds invested with Menzgold.

He had allegedly breached his bail condition and run away together with his wife, Rose Tetteh, who has also been named as one of Menzgolds directors.

The two other directors are Benedicta Appiah, and Abigail Mensah, reported to be younger sisters of NAM1.]

READ ALSO: Husband and wife dying after secret GH84,000 Investment with Menzgold

In a related development, a mother of three called Jane, has revealed how she and her husband took loans from the bank to invest with Menzgold.

Until Menzgolds woes begun, both husband and wife had kept their investment a secret from each other.

YEN.com.gh has also published a video containing NAM1s gold mansion and expensive cars at Trassco.

Another report of how he lived in a single room before his rise to fame and riches has been published.

READ ALSO: Woman power: Nollywoods Genevieve Nnaji is Nigerias richest actress

Yenkasa: What Did You Do Before, During and After Christmas?| #Yencomgh

READ ALSO: Amount of money top celebs allegedly invested into Menzgold pops up

Have national and human interest issues to discuss?

Know someone who is extremely talented and needs recognition?

Your stories and photos are always welcome. Get interactive via our Facebook page.

Click here to get the latest exciting English Premier League news. Get match highlights, reports, photos & videos all in one place.

Source: Yen.com.gh
- Former President Rawlings has called on Martin Amidu to ensure that criminals are dealt with as fast as possible

- He passed the comment when the leadership of the Assemblies of God Church called on him to inform him of the death of Rev. Dr. Simon Asore.

- Rev. Dr. Simon Asore was a member of the Council of State from 1996 to 2000

Former President Jerry John Rawlings, has urged the special prosecutor, Martin Amidu, to hasten in dealing with criminals in Ghana.

He expressed wonder at the fact that Amidu appeared to be slow in performing his duties as special prosecutor.

He passed the comments on Wednesday, January 8, 2019, when the leadership of the Assemblies of God Church called on him.

READ ALSO: Court orders Movenpick Hotel to compensate a dismissed employee

Their visit was to inform him of the demise of the former General Superintendent of the church, Rev. Dr. Simon Asore.

According to Graphiconline.com.gh, Rawlings stated that men like Asore who upheld a very high level of integrity cannot die in vain.

He added that a delay in identifying and prosecuting corrupt acts by public figures will lead to impunity and the further perpetuation of crime and corruption.

I wonder what is holding him up. We do not want to see the perpetuation of crime. We dont want to see crimes being committed with impunity. The power of virtue must override the power of vice, he said.

READ ALSO: Popular Ghanaian business executive arrested for fraud

Rawlings went ahead to say that President Akufo-Addo has also emphasized on the need for Amidu to deliver on his mandate whenever he is ready.

Former President Rawlings paid tribute to Rev Asore, who was a member of the Council of State from 1996 to 2000, describing him as a quiet and self-respecting man of serious integrity and discipline.

Recalling why Reverend Asore was invited into the Council of State, he said we were searching for somebody with honour. Some of the tools needed to take out the rustiness were themselves rusty then, but he was a refreshing man of integrity whose spirituality was very high.

The leader of the delegation, Rev. Dr. Harry Insaidoo, also expressed gratitude to Rawlings for the role he played in bringing Rev. Asore to the public limelight.

He also thanked the government for arranging a state funeral for the departed former General Superintendent.

READ ALSO: DPS to take over ECG from February 1, 2019

Ghana News Today: The Aftermath of Owusu Bempahs Prophecy #Yencomgh

Click here to get the latest exciting English Premier League news. Get match highlights, reports, photos & videos all in one place.

Source: Yen.com.gh
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Would the Academy Awards make smarter choices if film critics were given a ballot? In my entirely biased opinion, yes, they would  though I hasten to add that this has less to do with our superior taste than with our superior access.

Or perhaps those go hand in hand. It is, after all, the full-time reviewers obligation (and occasional pleasure) to see a wide array of movies year-round, far more than most Oscar voters do. Critics are thus more likely to make choices that take the entirety of the year in cinema  from the U.S. and from other countries, from the mainstream to the art-house  into consideration.

Im not lobbying the academy for such an outcome, mind, just speculating. But while Im at it, and ahead of the nominations reveal early in the morning on Jan. 22, here are my own personal preferences in the big eight Oscar categories (picture, director, the acting and screenplay races), plus a few other races in which Ive taken a specific interest.

In the interests of preempting a few indignant emails:

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1. Yes, I saw that movie.

2. No, I didnt forget that movie.

3. Because this is my imaginary Oscar ballot, not yours.

Brady Jandreau as Brady Blackburn in a scene from The Rider. The film was recently named best picture by the National Society of Film Critics. (Sony Pictures Classics)

PICTURE

Black Panther

Burning

The Favourite

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First Reformed

Hereditary

If Beale Street Could Talk

Private Life

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The Rider

Shoplifters

Zama

DIRECTOR

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Ryan Coogler, Black Panther

Tamara Jenkins, Private Life

Lee Chang-dong, Burning

Lucrecia Martel, Zama

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Chloe Zhao, The Rider

The academys preferential voting system allows for anywhere between five and 10 best picture nominees. Im settling on 10, but this year, it could easily have been 20.

My favorite directors created wholly realized worlds. The East Village apartment in Private Life is as enveloping, in its own way, as the 18th century South American backwater in Zama or the vibrant African utopia of Black Panther. As for Burning and The Rider, they effortlessly bridged character and environment, transfiguring the natural world itself into a psychological landscape.

Regina Hall was named best actress by the New York Film Critics Circle for her role in Support the Girls. (Magnolia Pictures)

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ACTRESS

Toni Collette, Hereditary

Olivia Colman, The Favourite

Kathryn Hahn, Private Life

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Regina Hall, Support the Girls

Melissa McCarthy, Can You Ever Forgive Me?

ACTOR

Bradley Cooper, A Star Is Born

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Ben Dickey, Blaze

Ethan Hawke, First Reformed

Joaquin Phoenix, You Were Never Really Here

Yoo Ah-in, Burning

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I had to settle on five, but my imaginary motion-picture academy would allow 10 actress nominees this year, so brilliant and numerous were the female leads who commanded our attention. Expanding the field would allow me to accommodate Yalitza Aparicio (Roma), Juliette Binoche (Let the Sunshine In), Elsie Fisher (Eighth Grade), Helena Howard (Madelines Madeline) and Michelle Pfeiffer (Where Is Kyra?).

The pickings seem slimmer in the actor race, though five minute ago Willem Dafoe (At Eternitys Gate), Nicolas Cage (Mandy), Daniel Gimenez Cacho (Zama), Brady Jandreau (The Rider) or John C. Reilly (The Sisters Brothers) might have made the cut. As for Hawke, hes in the unusual position of not only giving one of the years best performances but directing one of them, too (Dickey in Blaze).

Michael B. Jordan and Chadwick Boseman in Marvel Studios Black Panther. (Marvel Studios)

SUPPORTING ACTRESS

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Sakura Ando, Shoplifters

Kayli Carter, Private Life

Elizabeth Debicki, Widows

Jeon Jong-seo, Burning

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Regina King, If Beale Street Could Talk

SUPPORTING ACTOR

Adam Driver, BlacKkKlansman

Philip Ettinger, First Reformed

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Josh Hamilton, Eighth Grade

Michael B. Jordan, Black Panther

Steven Yeun, Burning

For what its worth, I also loved Emma Stone in The Favourite and Thomasin McKenzie in Leave No Trace, but they both clearly belong in the lead actress race, regardless of what their awards strategists might be saying.

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When lead performances sneak into the wrong categories, it makes it all the harder for an organization to recognize a genuinely supporting turn  like, for example, Ettingers galvanizing work in First Reformed, which lasts all of one scene and continues to stay with me.

Eighth Grade writer-director Bo Burnham and star Elsie Fisher on the set. Burnham was recently nominated for a Writers Guild Award for original screenplay. (Linda Kallerus / A24)

ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY

Patrick Wang, A Bread Factory

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Bo Burnham, Eighth Grade

Paul Schrader, First Reformed

Tamara Jenkins, Private Life

Hirokazu Kore-eda, Shoplifters

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ADAPTED SCREENPLAY

Ryan Coogler and Joe Robert Cole, Black Panther

Lee Chang-dong and Oh Jung-mi, Burning

Nicole Holofcener and Jeff Whitty, Can You Ever Forgive Me?

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Claire Denis and Christine Angot, Let the Sunshine In

Lucrecia Martel, Zama

I suppose A Bread Factory represents my cheat of an entry in original screenplay, since Patrick Wangs four-hour epic about the waning life of a New York community arts center is really two movies  two fleet, beguiling, wonderfully inventive movies  in one. But I couldnt leave it off.

Some of the best adaptations this year were also some of the freest and most exploratory. Black Panther vigorously reimagined its Marvel source material, Burning departed dramatically from Haruki Murakamis original short story, and for Let the Sunshine In, Claire Denis and Christine Angot beautifully melded Roland Barthes 1977 text A Lovers Discourse: Fragments with swatches of their own lived experience.

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Stephan James as Fonny and KiKi Layne as Tish star in Barry Jenkins If Beale Street Could Talk. (Tatum Mangus / Annapurna Pictures)

CINEMATOGRAPHY

Hong Kyung-pyo, Burning

Robbie Ryan, The Favourite

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James Laxton, If Beale Street Could Talk

Michael McDonough, Leave No Trace

Bradford Young, Where Is Kyra?

ORIGINAL SCORE

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Ludwig Goransson, Black Panther

Justin Hurwitz, First Man

Keegan DeWitt, Golden Exits

Nicholas Britell, If Beale Street Could Talk

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Scott Walker, Vox Lux

Not much overlap here, with one exception: The richly saturated colors of Laxtons photography and the ecstatic crescendos of Britells music made If Beale Street Could Talk perhaps the years single most ravishing aesthetic object.

Steven Yeun in a scene from Burning. (Well Go USA)

FOREIGN-LANGUAGE FILM

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Burning (South Korea)

Happy as Lazzaro (Italy)

Let the Sunshine In (France)

Shoplifters (Japan)

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Western (Bulgaria-Germany)

Burning and Shoplifters happily made the official Oscars shortlist, and if Burning makes it in, it will be the first South Korean picture to do so. My other three favorites were not chosen by their respective countries, but my ballot is happily unbound by the academys draconian submission policies.

DOCUMENTARY FEATURE

Amazing Grace

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Bisbee 17

Hale County This Morning, This Evening

Minding the Gap

Shirkers

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Two formally intricate puzzles about life in small towns marked by tragedy (Bisbee 17, Hale County), two intensely personal journeys through time and memory (Minding the Gap, Shirkers) and one glorious artifact (Amazing Grace) whose mere existence before us represents some kind of miracle.

Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse won the Golden Globe for animated film earlier this month. (Sony Pictures Animation)

ANIMATED FEATURE

Incredibles 2

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Mirai

Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse

My Times colleague Charles Solomon would give me hell if I didnt include animation this year, and happily, these three terrific movies made it not just easy but a pleasure to do so.

justin.chang@latimes.com
A total of 191 telecom and Internet fraud suspects were brought back from Laos to central China's Henan Province on two chartered airplanes under escort of Chinese police officers Friday, according to authorities.

They were linked to more than 800 fraud cases in various provinces and regions of China that involved more than 60 million yuan (8.9 million U.S. dollars), the Ministry of Public Security said.

A telecom and Internet fraud suspect is brought back from Laos to central China's Henan Province on Friday, January 11, 2019. [Photo: cri.cn]

Henan Province has reported a slew of telecom fraud cases since last year. According to the police, the victims were conned into believing they could earn money by faking orders to help merchants increase online sales, only to find out that they could not make any money or get their own money back. They were allegedly defrauded out of between 5,000 and 30,000 yuan (741 to 4,447 U.S. dollars) each.

Thanks to cooperation between Chinese and Lao police, the fraudsters' hideouts were located in Laos and raided, resulting in the arrest of 191 suspects from 11 fraud groups.

In December 2012, the ministry started a year-long campaign against telecom and Internet fraud.
Venice, FL (34285)

Today

Scattered thunderstorms. High 84F. Winds SW at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 60%..

Tonight

Cloudy skies early with scattered thunderstorms developing late. Low 76F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 40%.
GAIL ONDRESKY, from left, Marsha Fairfield and Gregg Jennings are among those wrapping their arms around an old-growth white pine tree Friday during an ICORE hike near Mercer.

By RICHARD JENKINS

[email protected]

MERCER, Wis. - A group of hikers got a chance to see some of Wisconsin's remaining old-growth timber Friday as the Iron County Outdoor Recreation Enthusiasts organized a hike into a stand of remnant old-growth white pines near Mercer.

Local naturalist John Bates led around 30 snowshoers and hikers to the small stand of timber mixed with other, younger trees off County J, roughly four miles from U.S. 51.

Bates told the Daily Globe the definition of old-growth is complex and varies by species of tree.

"What I'm looking at for an old-growth pine i...
On Friday, April 22, 1977, Officer Richardson worked the 1500 to 2300 hours shift. At about 2230 hours, just a half hour from going off duty, Officer Richardson was responding to a report of shots fired in the 1400 block of North Blackburn Avenue. The shooter was shooting at his own residence with a .22 caliber rifle from the parking lot of the Arbor Drive Baptist Church, just across the street. Officer Richardson parked on the west side of the street across from the residence where the gunfire was reported. Officer Richardson exited his cruiser and was on foot in the front lawn of the Arbor Drive Baptist Church. When Sergeant Ron Dickerson responded as back up, Officer Richardson was already lying on the lawn, having been shot by a .22 caliber hollow point round fired by the shooter. Officer Richardson was struck a half inch above his bullet proof vest and succumbed to his wound swiftly. Officer Richardson was about to begin his training for state certification on the Monday after the shooting.
SATURDAY 1/12

>> Alcoholics Anonymous - Fresh Start Group meets Saturday at 11 a.m. at First Presbyterian Church located at 414 Delaware Ave. in York.

MONDAY 1/14

>> Alcoholics Anonymous - Fresh Start Group meets Monday at 12 noon at First Presbyterian Church located at 414 Delaware Ave. in York.

>> OB Enrollment is Monday, Jan. 14 at 8 a.m. in the Lower Level of the Medical Office Building. Please attend class as soon as possible after your positive pregnancy test. For more information or to enroll in the online Childbirth Preparation class, contact OB Director Nancy Hengelfelt, RNC, at 402.362.04573.

TUESDAY 1/15

>> AL-ANON meets Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. at Emmanuel Lutheran Church. Use the East door.

>> Sexaholics Anonymous, a 12 Step recovery group for those dealing with addiction to pornography, sex, and other forms of lust, meets Tuesday nights at 5:45 p.m. For more information call our toll free number 1-877-889-8071 .or visit sanebraska.org.

>> Alcoholics Anonymous meets Tuesday at 8 p.m. at Emmanuel Lutheran Church. Use the East door.

WEDNESDAY 1/16
A rocket launched from the Gaza Strip on Saturday night landed in an open area in the Sdot Negev Regional Council.

No one was hurt and no damage was caused.
Hamas said Saturday that in the botched Israeli raid in Khan Yunis two months ago, which claimed the life of IDF officer Lt. Col. M., its military wing has "obtained technical measures that would give us an strategic advantage in future conflicts" against Israel.

In a press conference to mark what the terror organization said was the end of its investigation into the incident, a Hamas spokesman said the Israeli operation's objective was to "plant espionage measures in the Gaza Strip."

Hamas' military wing also released video from security camera in the strip showing the Israeli force traveling in Gaza in a truck and an old Volkswagen Transporter van.
The Syrian Foreign Ministry filed a complaint with the United Nations against Israel on Saturday following an airstrike in Damascus the night before, which the Syrians say the IAF is responsible for.

"The attack was part of the ongoing attempts to prolong the war in Syria and raise the morale of terrorists, and is an attempt by the Israeli government to escape its own internal issues," the letter of complaint said.

Syria called on the UN Security Council to act to prevent further attacks and to "implement the decisions concerning the control over the Golan Heights."
While there is no official freeze of the Qatari money transfer to Hamas, Israel will likely not allow the funds into Gaza in the coming week as well in the wake of Palestinian rioting on the strip's border over the weekend, a senior Israeli official said Saturday night.

The money, which was supposed to be transferred into Gaza last week, was halted after a booby-trapped model airplane was flown into southern Israel from the strip with the help of balloons.
Labor leader Avi Gabbay called on Israel Resilience Party leader Benny Gantz and Yesh Atid Party leader Yair Lapid on Saturday not to join a government headed by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

"It's important that all of the candidates in our camp commit in advance and in a clear manner to only join a coalition that is committed to change," Gabbay said at a cultural event in Netanya.

"The citizens of Israel are split in two: Those who want change and want a government that is busy with their lives, and those who believe this is all we have and this is how it will remain," he said.
Syrian air defenses intercepted missiles reportedly fired by Israeli fighter jets on Friday night, according to state news agency SANA, causing damage but no casualties.

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SANA reported that "over eight targets" exploded over the capital of Damascus, saying Syrian air defenses intercepted most of the Israeli missiles.

An ammunition warehouse at the Damascus airport was reportedly hit, but a Syrian Transport Ministry official said to SANA airport activity continues as normal.

Explosions over Damascus

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"At 11:15 before midnight Israeli warplanes coming from Al-Jalil area launched many missiles towards Damascus area and our air defenses intercepted them and downed most of them," a Syrian military source said to SANA.

Syrian state media broadcast footage of what it said were the air defenses firing, with bright lights seen shooting across the night sky. Explosions were heard in one of the videos.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that the attack targeted missile depots that belong to Hezbollah in the Al-Kiswah area as well as the Damascus airport.

Explosions over Damascus

Hezbollah's Al-Manar TV said the attack was broader than usual, targeting areas ranging from the eastern Damascus suburb of Dmeir to Al-Kiswah south of capital all the way to the village of Dimas in the west near the Lebanon border. It also said Israeli fighter jets were also operating in Lebanese airspace.

Israel has mounted attacks in Syria as part of its effort to counter the influence carved out there by Iran, which has supported President Bashar Assad in the war that erupted in 2011.

The last Israeli attack reported by Syrian state media was on December 25, when a missile attack wounded three Syrian soldiers. It was the most extensive airstrike since a Russian intelligence plane was accidentally shot down during an Israeli strike.

An Israeli official said the air force had attacked several Iranian targets in three main locations. He said the targets were primarily storage and logistics facilities used by Iran to ship weapons to Hezbollah.

Russia criticized Israel's "provocative" strike, saying it directly threatened two civilian flights. Russia's Ministry of Defense, which did not specify which flights had been threatened, added that Syrian air defenses had destroyed 14 of 16 Israeli missiles launched by six F-16 jets against unspecified targets near Damascus.

Lebanon's acting Transport Minister Youssef Fenianos confirmed Russia's account, saying the two airplanes in Lebanese airspace "narrowly" escaped Israeli warplanes, averting a "human catastrophe." Fenianos said Lebanon will present a complaint to the UN Security Council.

Russia said the Syrian military didn't fully engage its air defense assets to avoid accidentally hitting the passenger jets, adding that Syrian air traffic controllers redirected the Damascus-bound plane to a Russian air base in Syria's coastal province of Latakia.

An Israeli official said it was Syrian air defenses that endangered the civilian planes, by firing 30 missiles in response to the airstrike. He also said that Iranian forces are operating less than 80 kilometers (50 miles) from the Israeli border, contrary to Russian assurances.

A senior Israeli official said in September Israel had carried out more than 200 attacks against Iranian targets in Syria in the last two years.
The new year is cooking with a forgotten ballet, a musical tribute to David Bowie and a comedic riposte about the U.S. in the O.C. Im Carolina A. Miranda, staff writer at the Los Angeles Times, with this weeks essential arts news:

GLASS AND BOWIE

Composer Philip Glass has created two symphonies inspired by David Bowie albums. This week, he debuted a third: Symphony No. 12, Lodger, from the music of David Bowie and Brian Eno, at Walt Disney Concert Hall. Glass tells Times music writer Randall Roberts that at first the music on Bowies album didnt interest me at all. But in subsequent listens, he found that the record contained something remarkable: the writing. It was someone who had created a political language for themselves. Los Angeles Times

Times music critic Mark Swed, naturally, was in attendance at one of the shows, conducted by John Adams. Lodger is a stupendous symphony, he writes. It adds a new dimension to symphonic thought by expansively expounding on the essence of the lyrics written by Bowie and Brian Eno that the music of the 1979 album only hints at. Los Angeles Times

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Composer Philip Glass and soloist Angelique Kidjo shake hands as conductor John Adams looks on. (Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times)

ACTOR AND WRITER

Tracy Letts is known for his acting  he scored a 2013 Tony Award for his performance in Whos Afraid of Virginia Woolf? He is also known for his writing, with a Pulitzer and Tony to his name for August: Osage County. Now his latest work, Linda Vista, has landed at the Mark Taper Forum. Times contributor Barbara Isenberg talked with Letts about Dick Wheeler, the plays thoughtless 50-something lead character. My friend [director] Anna Shapiro said to me that Wheeler is a version of a man I might have become if I made different choices in my life, he tells her. I think theres probably some truth to that. Los Angeles Times

Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Tracy Letts is presenting Linda Vista at the Mark Taper. (Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times)

INCREDIBLE COSTUMES

Times contributing reviewer Laura Bleiberg previews the wondrous costumes that will be employed by American Ballet Theatre in Harlequinade, which lands Jan. 17 at Segerstrom Center for the Arts. The ballet, choreographed by the influential Marius Petipa in 1900, was one of his last. ABT artist in residence Alexei Ratmansky did a lot of sleuthing to come up with functional yet resplendent designs. Los Angeles Times

American Ballet Theatres production of Harlequinade is reviving a largely forgotten ballet from 1900. (Rosalie OConnor)

HYBRID DANCE

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Bleiberg was also at the kickoff of the Odyssey Dance Festival, in which dancer Shade Theret teamed up with artist Lukas Paneks for Maybe, a performance that fused dance and visual arts. The duo turned a black-box space into a gallery and asked the audience to take to the stage. With the audience invited to ignore the normal rules of drama, Maybe became an experiment in human psychology, she writes. What would everyone do? Los Angeles Times

Shade Theret, foreground, in Maybe. (Ron Sossi)

Bleiberg also reviewed Hubbard Street Dance Chicagos recent performance at the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts. The group has demonstrated a penchant for humongous physicality and established a repertory thats edgy but still pleasing to audiences, she writes. Even pieces that fail to land their punch still exhibit an infectious brio. Los Angeles Times

PRODIGAL SON

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Zubin Mehta, the conductor who led the Los Angeles Philharmonic in the 1960s, was back in L.A. to lead the orchestra in a Brahms cycle. Times classical music critic Mark Swed says the concerts offered a reconsideration of both composer and conductor: At Mehtas first Brahms concert last month, it felt like time to rethink that standard Mehta wisdom of an imperious conductor strong on bravura and drama, less heralded for depth. After the full cycle, there is no question. Los Angeles Times

Zubin Mehta leads the Los Angeles Philharmonic at Walt Disney Concert Hall. (Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times)

RIGHT AT HOME

HomeLA, an art project that takes dance and other performance into private homes, will stage two events at the Sowden House in Los Feliz this weekend. The house, designed by architect Lloyd Wright in 1926, was always intended as a stage for performance  though it is often better known as the rumored site of the Black Dahlia murder. The event is a culmination of months of research, says homeLA founder Rebecca Bruno. Each of the artists stretch a little bit and relate to the home space and we create a performance out of that. We spend a lot of time in the home. Los Angeles Times

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Choreographer Cheng-Chieh Yu, from left, with Sarah Jacobs and Darrian O'Reilly at the Sowden House. (Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times)

BRUTAL IS BEAUTIFUL

Times contributor Mimi Zeiger sat down with Phaidons hefty 560-page Atlas of Brutalist Architecture, which features 878 works in more than 100 countries  a volume she describes as part reference tool, part coffee table book. But she notes that the book is not for purists: For every building that clearly falls within canonical parameters, theres another that provoked me to yell a stream of -isms at the page: Thats not Brutalism; its Constructivism, Late Modernism, Metabolism  Los Angeles Times

Architect Oscar Grigorievich Havkins Poplavok Cafe in Dnipro, Ukraine, featured in Atlas of Brutalist Architecture. (Frederic Chaubin)

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AMERICA AT THE FRINGES

Culture Clash, the comedic, politically incisive trio, is back with Culture Clash (Still) in America, through Jan. 20 at South Coast Rep. It is born of the actors interviews with Americans of all stripes: a Muslim man caught between worlds, a blue-collar couple, a transgender social worker and a father and daughter separated by ICE agents. Some bits are funny, reports reviewer Margaret Gray. Others, she notes, have teeth, and their bite cuts deep. Los Angeles Times

Richard Montoya, left, and Ricardo Salinas in a sketch from Culture Clash (Still) in America. (Jordan Kubat / South Coast Repertory)

READY FOR THE WEEKEND

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Matt Cooper has the week ahead in theater, classical music, museums and dance, as well as his weekend picks  including dance premieres by choreographers Dimitris Papaioannou and Benjamin Millepied.

Margaret Gray has her picks for the 99-Seat Beat, which includes three new plays, as well as the classic Driving Miss Daisy. Los Angeles Times

And I round up the weeks art openings in my weekly Datebook, which includes a new show by L.A. painter Lisa Adams. Los Angeles Times

IN OTHER NEWS

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 All eight border wall prototypes fail a basic penetrability test. Architects Newspaper

 Innovation is all good, but in an age of crumbling infrastructure, maintenance has taken on a new resonance. A good long read from Shannon Mattern. Places Journal

 Climate change is affecting cities  to the point where rebuilding as-is will not always be an option. Alissa Walker says its time to think long and hard about how we build. Curbed

 A great overview of what happened when the Norwegian architecture firm Snhetta attempted to redo 550 Madison, an important work of Postmodernism by the late architect Philip Johnson. Real Deal

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 A bus designed to look like the Bauhaus school in Dessau, Germany, will travel to four international schools to help people unlearn Eurocentric attitudes in architecture. Dezeen

 Google has leased the Westside Pavilion, which will become tech offices. Los Angeles Times

 Outgoing Getty Foundation director Deborah Marrow looks back. Art Newspaper

 When the dance critic doesnt quite retire. Dance Magazine

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 Lin-Manuel Miranda has come to the rescue of a Manhattan bookstore devoted to theater. Los Angeles Times

 Digging this essay by Joanne McNeil on why Alex Riveras 2008 border sci-fi flick remains wildly underrated. Filmmaker Magazine

 The trailer for Velvet Buzzsaw, the Netflix art world horror film is heeeeere. YouTube

AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST.

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I spent my last trip to Mexico City eating pizza smothered with chiles rellenos. Los Angeles Times

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carolina.miranda@latimes.com | Twitter: @cmonstah
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is proud of the fact that he raised Israels prestige on the international stage. It is difficult to separate his actions as prime minister from those of his position as foreign minister as well. After four years in the position, Netanyahu has accumulated quite a few achievements, as well as some failures, as Israels top diplomat.

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Some of his accomplishments are controversial, such as the tightening of relations with right wing populist world leaders including Hungarys Viktor Orban, the Philippines Rodrigo Duterte and Brazils Jair Bolsonaro. Netanyahu has managed to strengthen ties with many world leaders, most from the less-than-liberal side of the political spectrum.





Netanyahu with Omani Sultan

Some of the right-wing leaders Netanyahu is close to have been known to edge towards anti-Semitism, which might explain his conciliatory stance towards the Polish Holocaust Law and his refusal to condemn the Hungarian governments campaign against Jewish billionaire, Holocaust survivor and activist George Soros.

With Viktor Orban (Photo: Kobi Gideon/GPO)

Netanyahu has strengthened relations, behind the scenes, with Saudi Arabia and the Sunni Gulf states, including issuing public support for Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman over the murder of Jamal Khashoggi. So far, relations have peaked with the prime ministers official and public visit to Oman.

Netanyahu has also strengthened relations with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, especially in matters relating to security; the IDF has reportedly launched strikes against ISIS targets in the Sinai in coordination with Egypt.

Netanyahu with Sisi (:  , ")

The most prominent example is Netanyahus good relationship with US President Donald Trump, highlighted by presidents decision to move the US Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. Despite the achievement, few countries have followed in Trumps footsteps, namely Guatemala and Paraguay. Only Paraguay reversed the decision three months later, returning its mission to Tel Aviv, and prompting Israel to shutter its embassy in Paraguay.

The Old City walls following Trump's recognition of Jerusalem as capital

As for the United States, only Ambassador David Friedman, his secretary and assistant have moved to Jerusalem. All the other embassy staff remain in Tel Aviv, although the US has started renovating the building, seemingly with the intention of eventually moving its staff to the capital.

Netanyahu's with Trump daughter and son in law (:  , ")

Relations between Israel and the US in the Trump era are better than they have been for a long time. The US backs Israel at the traditionally hostile United Nations, and pulled out of the Iran nuclear deal and renewed sanctions against the regime to Israels delight. On the other hand, Israel was less than pleased when Trump announced the withdrawal of US troops from Syria, and even more displeased when he said that Iran could do whatever it wants in the country.

Netanyahu has also mamanged to maintain good relations with Russian President Vladimir Putin, making possible the military coordination that allows Israel to avoid conflict with Russian forces when operating in Syria to prevent Iranian entrenchment.

With Putin

The ties have even survived the crisis sparked by the accidental downing by Syrian anti-aircraft missiles of a Russian plane during an Israeli strike. Russia does not view favorably Israels actions in Syria, yet they continue the intermilitary coordination. After conducting a number of meetings in the past, Netanyahu continues to maintain contact with Putin by telephone, although he may have to sweat a little to obtain another meeting with the Russian president.

Israel has improved relations with India , under its Hindu nationalist president Narendra Modi, including a series of defense sales. For the first time, India has abstained from UN votes hostile to Israel.

With India's Narendra Modi (Photo :GPO)

Netanyahu conducted an historic state visit to Brazil recently and established ties with its new right wing President Jair Bolsonaro, ushering in a new era in relations between the two countries after a low point marked by Brazils refusal to accept the appointment of Dani Dayan as ambassador on the grounds that he is a resident of a West Bank settlement.

In Brazil with President Jair Bolsonaro (Photo: GPO)

The relationship with Jordan has known ups and downs with the expulsion of the Israeli ambassador following an incident during which an Israeli security guard shot and killed two Jordanians . Jordan has been annoyed with Israels lack of progress on the delay in constructing the Red Sea-Dead Sea canal project and recently announced that it will not renew the lease on several agricultural parcels of land near Naharayim in the eastern Negev, effectively reneging on a clause in the 1994 peace treaty between the two countries.

Jordan's King Abdullah with PA leader Abbas (Photo: Getty Images)

Israel can also chalk up some partial diplomatic achievements under Netanyahu, with Russias declaration of recognition of West Jerusalem as Israels capital. Australia also issued a similar declaration , but to Jerusalems dismay did not follow up with an embassy move. Brazils Bolsonaro also stated his intention to move his countrys embassy but it is not expected to happen in the near future owing to pressure from Arab states.

At the start of 2019, Israel and the US withdrawal from UNESCO took effect. The departure is not viewed as a diplomatic achievement as the UN organization has made some changes and is headed by a French Jewish diplomat.

Audrey Azulay, UNESCO Chairwoman (Photo: Reuters)

There was a breakthrough in relations between Israel and the central African nation of Chad. Its President Idriss Deby visited Israel recently and Netanyahu is expected to visit Chad soon, although the country has yet to fully reinstate diplomatic relations and has failed in its effort to convince Sudan to allow Israeli flights to overfly the country, shortening flight time between the Middle East and Latin America.

With Chad President Idriss Deby (Photo: GPO)

The relationship with Turkey has also known ups and downs, although perhaps more of the latter. Following the Mavi Marmara incident of 2010, Israel agreed to pay $20 million in compensation for the killing of nine Turkish citizens. But instead of reconciliation, Netanyahu received further inciting rhetoric from Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

After reinstating ambassadors, Turkey again expelled the Israeli envoy, and recalled its own, due violent clashes along the Gaza border between Israeli troops and Palestinians. The two leaders continued to trade verbal barbs on Twitter, as is the new political trend.

Netanyahu conducted three historic visits to African nations and tightened relations with the leaders of Nigeria, Kenya, Chad and others. However, the prime minister has not taken any concrete steps to further improve relations in the diplomatic and economic spheres.

Netanyahu being welcomed in Kenya (Photo: Haim Tzach, GPO)

Israel has also improved relations with Asian countries, but the anticipated windfall of mutual investment has not followed, despite visits by leaders from India, Japan and China , and Netanyahus visit to India, China , Japan and Australia, other than private financial investment in Israel and defense contracts with India.

With Chinese Premier Li Keqiang

The problem seems to be that the Foreign Ministry is currently at a historic low point with a budget deficit of NIS 350 million, diplomats are leaving and the ministrys powers have been usurped and redistributed to six other ministries. Consequently, the ministry has not formulated a plan to increase relations with African and Latin American countries.

With Japanese PM Shinzo Abe (Photo: AFP)

Israel failed in averting the recognition of the State of Palestine by many nations, the latest of which, Columbia , is considered to be a friend of the Jewish state.

No African country has agreed to absorb any significant amount of migrants and asylum workers from Israel, and a summit initiated by Netanyahu and planned to take place in Togo was cancelled. Relations with South Africa are at a historic low as well.

Netanyahu in Nairobi, Kenya (Photo: Haim Tzach, GPO)

Relations with the European Union are also at a record low point, but Netanyahu managed to befriend Eastern European countries and break the unions consensus to prevent the passing of anti-Israel resolutions.

Relations with the Jewish Diaspora are also said to be at a low point due to the cancellation of agreements concerning the Western Wall and conversions that would have chipped away at the Orthodox monopoly on religious matters.
When departing IDF Chief of Staff Gadi Eisenkot on Tuesday told the residents of the Israeli communities near the Gaza border that the probability of a military confrontation with Hamas in the near future is low to moderate, maybe he was depending on stormy weather. This winter is a harsh one, and people are in no rush to leave their homes and run towards the fence in blistering cold.

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But the weather aside, and despite the two installments of Qatari funds delivered to Palestinian civil servants in the Gaza Strip in November and December, there is no indication that Hamas has renounced the continuation of the conflict with Israel. On the contrarythe fact the Qatari cash infusion has since been halted only motivates Hamas to put pressure on Israelis in the south, who in turn put pressure on the government.

Hamas celebrates 31 years (Photo: AFP)

Moreover, Hamas officials say that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has just recently conveyed a message through Egypt, warning them not to create a provocation during election time due to its sensitivity, threatening that the retaliation would be harsh.

As far as Hamas is concerned, there is no better opportunity than election time to cause trouble for Israel, when the Jewish State is easy to extort. Those who are willing to launch a military campaign against Hamas would subject the residents of the center to rockets launched from Gaza and might well pay for it with their Knesset seat.

All the factors that led to the outbreak of violence along the Gaza border fence at the end of March 2018, are still there and have even exacerbated. Since Egypt reopened the Rafah crossing several months ago, those who could escape did so. More than 20,000 professionals, most of them academics, left the Strip. The terror organization cannot ignore this fact, just as it cannot ignore the outcry of the 13,000 Palestinians who were wounded during clashes with the IDF along the fence.

Gaza border riots (Photo: Reuters)

The protests by the wounded and their families over the poor medical treatment they had received in the Strip even prompted Hamas to call on Arab countries to provide treatment for some of the casualties.

And those are only two of the symptoms of the disease of violence that erupted in Gaza in March, and not only was the disease not wiped out in the months since then, it reached peaked over the past few days.

This illness, according to Eisenkot, is embodied by the rift between rival Fatah and Hamas movements, which pushed the Palestinian Authority to impose sanctions on Hamas-ruled Gaza and cause a severe economic and leadership crisis.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has recently made a series of decisionsincluding completely ending the Palestinian Authority's financial commitments to Gazawhich mean a total detachment from the Strip. Abbas formally dismantled the largely defunct Palestinian Parliament, erasing any sign of partnership with Hamas, whose members he dubbed traitors, spies and Satan's emissaries in a public speech.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas (Photo: Reuters)

In practice, Abbas threw out every reconciliation agreement between Hamas and Fatah that had been achieved over the past few years.

The terror organization's response is clearly evident in the Israeli communities near the Gaza bordera bomb-laden styrofoam airplane attached to a cluster of balloons, mortar shells, and thousands of Palestinian demonstrators running at the fence in an attempt to breach it, while throwing explosive devices at IDF soldiers.

So whether the weather improves, the chiefs of staff changes, Israel turns its gaze to elections, the security situation in Gaza will remain as it is nowunstable.
Bill Lipsey lives a comfortable life in the United States. He has a large family, a thriving business and a prominent status in his local Jewish community. But the monopoly on religious services by the Orthodox Rabbinate in Israel disturbed him enough to try to put an end to the marginalization of alternative streams of Judaism.

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A few years ago, Bill and his wife Amy decided to invest part of their wealth (accumulated via insurance and management ventures and investments) in the establishment of the Honey Foundation for Israel, a Jewish pluralistic foundation seeking to revoke the monopoly of the Orthodox on religious matters in Israel and to make Judaism accessible for all the citizens of Israel.





Bill and Amy Lipsey (Photo: Limor Rubin)

We began investing in pluralistic, spiritual, community leadership in Israel two years ago, following the passing of my dad, says Lipsey. I am a Conservative Jew and all my life I contributed to the Conservative movement in the US and Israel.

He added that he is interested in creating a spiritual and community leadership even for those who are not associated with any stream of Judaism.

A year in Raanana

A decade ago, the couple moved to Raanana for a year and they say it was a very meaningful 12 months for them.

During that year I searched for my place within Israeli Jewish society. It was only natural for us to join the large Conservative community in Kfar Saba where we had friends who were among the founders. Their members took turns leading the community," Lipsey says.

They chose not to hire a rabbi and as new members we felt the absence. The community model in the United States is that the rabbi ensures participation by all the members, he continued. In the meantime we continued searching for belonging and a community and we found ourselves part of an Anglo-Saxon modern Orthodox community in Raanana.

A new York synagogue (Photo: AFP)

He describes that community as one where his family felt at home, where other members would visit their home and invite them to meals and their children would play together. It was a very strong experience for me.

Whats missing in Israeli Judaism?

I think that Israelis are not familiar with the non-Orthodox streams of Judaism. They arent familiar with the spiritual, theological and humane richness of other streams. The biggest price I believe is in the (absence of) community. I think that the greatest harm caused by the Orthodox monopoly is the secular and traditional publics lack of community institutions and spiritual leadership.

Many Israelis dont feel a connection to their Judaism because they dont find themselves among the Orthodox. They lack variety outside of orthodoxy, not because the other streams are not fit for the Israeli reality, but because they dont receive any funds and they have been struggling to survive for years.

Israelis not free to choose

Lipsey points out that despite all the above, there exists thriving communities and amazing spiritual leadership among the secular, Reform and traditional population. I cannot bear the thought that if you live among the Orthodox, you will have a community, belonging, meaningfulness and spiritual guidance, but if not, it is a huge struggle. It isnt right.

I dont believe that Israelis are truly free to choose. One who chooses not to be part of Judaism because he isnt aware of all the other amazing options isnt really choosing; it is ignorance and a travesty. If people are exposed to the rich variety of communities and means of living rich Jewish lives but they choose another way, I fully respect that. But lack of knowledge and state preference and billions of shekels in funding for one faction for 70 years is not free choice.

The pluralist section of the Western Wall (Photo: David Shechter)

One of his main goals in establishing the foundation is confronting the lack of equality with regards to funding and support for Jewish matters in Israel. Most Israelis only encounter the issue when they need religious services such as weddings, funerals etc Only Orthodox and institutions leaders receive salaries and funding. Jewish cultural funding has become Torah cultural (funding). All this affects the lives of Israelis in ways they cannot fathom. Being part of a community of bicyclists is great but (it isnt) the thousands-years-old Jewish culture and tradition. I believe that we all have spiritual and community needs. We are human, and meaning and belonging are basic human needs.

What is the solution?

Allowing Israelis to build communities and develop professional quality spiritual and community leadership that will allow them to thrive. I am a Jewish American who believes in the free market. I believe that the community must choose its own leadership and be built in an organic grassroots manner.

Who upholds Torah?

Lipsey points out that just like the Orthodox, the Conservative and Reform movements, as well as the modern Orthodox, believe that they are maintaining Torah and true Jewish tradition. I personally believe that a variety of thriving Jewish communities are crucial When the Rabbinate takes control (of community life, education and culture) that is when there are instances of corruption, inequality, and lack of transparency.

Lipsey says that he supports any spiritual leadership, whether Conservative, Reform, Orthodox or secular, as long as it contributes to the richness of Judaism in the country.

How do you feel about the Western Wall and conversion controversies?

"I think these measures are destructive to the connection with the Diaspora, but I decided to stop being angry and translate the frustration into creative work and support for the wonderful Israelis we work with who want to create the change from the bottom up."

Among other things, he contributed to the recent Z3 conference in Palo Alto, attended by 1,000 Jewish and Israeli leaders and representatives from France and Britain, dealing with the future of the connection between Israel and the Jewish world. The conference was initiated by the JCC and the Reut Institute (a policy think-tank), led by Gidi Grinstein.

"David Brooks of The New York Times says we now live in a world of unlimited options. This is the most amazing time to be a Jews. We have a strong Israel and a strong Jewish Diaspora for the first time in the history of the Jewish people. I believe that if Israeli society is more pluralistic and inclusive of all Jewish streams, it will undoubtedly strengthen the connection with the Jews of the Diaspora," Lipsey says.
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Capsule reviews are by Charles McNulty (C.M.), Philip Brandes (P.B.), F. Kathleen Foley (F.K.F.), Margaret Gray (M.G.) and Daryl H. Miller (D.H.M.).

Openings

Driving Miss Daisy Michael Learned (The Waltons) stars in Alfred Uhrys decades-spanning, Pulitzer Prize-winning drama about a Jewish woman and her black chauffeur in the South. Laguna Playhouse, 606 Laguna Canyon Road, Laguna Beach. Sun., 5:30 p.m.; Wed.-Fri., 7:30 p.m.; Sat., 2 and 7:30 p.m.; next Sun., 1 and 5:30 p.m.; ends Jan. 27. $55-$85. (949) 497-2787.

Hamlet California Shakespeare Company performs the Bards tragedy of the melancholy Dane. Simi Valley Cultural Arts Center, 3050 E. Los Angeles Ave., Simi Valley. Sun., next Sun., 2 p.m.; Thu., 7 p.m.; Fri.-Sat., 8 p.m.; ends Jan. 27. $18-$25. (805) 583-7900.

Have You Met Miss Jones? Writer-performer Ivy Jones solo show about a veteran actress forced to change her stage name; part of Portraits of Humanity 2, a Solo Series. Theatre West, 3333 Cahuenga Blvd., L.A. Sun., 7 p.m. $25. (323) 851-7977.

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Soul Crushing Disco Ball An all-male cast performs Travis Perkins and Chambers Stevens new coming-of-age tale. Hudson Backstage Theatre, 6539 Santa Monica Blvd., L.A. Sun., next Sun., 3 p.m.; Fri.-Sat., 8 p.m.; ends Jan. 20. $30. (323) 960-7822.

Story Pirates Musical sketch comedy show geared for ages 5 and up. Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts, Promenade Terrace, 9390 N. Santa Monica Blvd., Beverly Hills. Sun., 11 a.m. Free. (310) 746-4000.

Bernadette Peters The three-time Tony winner sings show tunes, standards and more. Walt Disney Concert Hall, 111 S. Grand Ave., L.A. Tue., 8 p.m. $59-$132. (323) 850-2000.

Company Creation Festival Showcase features unconventional new works by various ensembles, performed in repertory; details at www.sonofsemele.org. Son of Semele Theater, 3301 Beverly Blvd., L.A. Wed.-Sat., 8 p.m.; next Sun., 5 p.m.; ends Feb. 10. $18; passes available. (213) 351-3507.

Linda Vista A divorced man in his 50s must come to terms with past mistakes if he is to move forward in this Steppenwolf Theatre Company production of Tracy Letts comedy-drama. Mark Taper Forum, 135 N. Grand Ave., L.A. Wed.-Fri., 8 p.m.; Sat., 2:30 and 8 p.m.; next Sun., 1 and 6:30 p.m.; ends Feb. 17. $30-$99. (213) 628-2772.

Dark Dark Ride Ride All-new horror-themed pop-up theater experience; for ages 15 and up. Zombie Zoes Underground Theatre Group, 4850 Lankershim Blvd., North Hollywood. Thu.-Sat., 8 p.m.; next Sun., 6 p.m. $15. (818) 202-4120.

Flaco Navaja: Evolution of a Sonero The Bronx-born writer-performer explores his creative evolution in this full-length show featuring live music by the Razor Blades; part of the Off Center Festival. Segerstrom Center for the Arts, Samueli Theater, 600 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa. Thu.-Sat., 8 p.m. $25. (714) 556-2787.

It Is Done Three disparate people  a bartender, a troubled drifter and a mystery woman  are trapped in a remote roadside bar during a windstorm in Alex Goldbergs drama; includes adult language and content; for ages 16 and up. Theatre 40, Reuben Cordova Theatre, 241 S. Moreno Drive, Beverly Hills. Thu., 8 p.m.; Fri., 7 p.m.; Sat., 8 p.m.; next Sun., 2 and 7 p.m.; ends Feb. 17. $35. (310) 364-0535.

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Brilliant Traces Red Sage Productions stages Cindy Lou Johnsons Alaska-set tale about a runaway bride who finds herself on a hermits doorstep. Lounge Theatre, 6201 Santa Monica Blvd., Hollywood. Fri.-Sat., 8 p.m.; next Sun., 7 p.m.; ends Feb. 10. $20. (440) 465-8878.

Death House A chaplain and his young replacement encounter an enigmatic Death Row inmate in Jason Karasevs drama. The Road on Lankershim, 5108 Lankershim Blvd., North Hollywood. Fri.-Sat., 8 p.m.; next Sun., 2 p.m.; ends March 10. $15, $34. (818) 761-8838.

Last Call Open Fist Theatre Company stages Anne Kenneys new dramedy about aging parents who hatch a scheme to avoid being sent to a retirement home. Atwater Village Theatre, 3269 Casitas Ave., L.A. Fri.-Sat., 8 p.m.; next Sun., 2 p.m.; ends Feb. 23. $25-$55. (323) 882-6912.

Nude/Naked Lightning Rod Theater stages Paul Hoan Zeidlers new drama about a famous photographer and his daughter caught up in controversy. McCadden Place Theatre. 1157 N. McCadden Place, L.A. Fri.-Sat., 8 p.m.; next Sun., 4 p.m.; ends Feb. 17. $25. (310) 204-4883.

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6th Annual Powers New Voices Festival Includes readings of work by San Diego residents plus new American plays by established playwrights; schedule at www.theoldglobe.org. Old Globe Theatre, 1363 Old Globe Way, San Diego. Fri., 7:30 p.m.; Sat., next Sun., 4 and 7:30 p.m. Free; reservations required. (619) 234-5623.

Spiders Web A diplomats wife uncovers murder most foul in Agatha Christies comedic thriller. Long Beach Playhouse, 5021 E. Anaheim St., Long Beach. Fri.-Sat., 8 p.m.; next Sun., 2 p.m.; ends Feb. 9. $14-$20. (562) 494-1014.

Carmen Miranda Tribute Brazilian vocal group Ordinarius celebrates the sound and style of the legendary entertainer in this stage show. Moss Theater, New Roads School, 3131 Olympic Blvd., Santa Monica. Sat., 7:30 p.m. $40. (818) 566-1111.

Chemo Barbie Writer-performer Heather Keller shares the story of her battle with cancer; part of Solofest 2019. Whitefire Theatre, 13500 Ventura Blvd., Sherman Oaks. Sat., 8 p.m. $20. (800) 838-3006.

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An Evening with John Wilkes Booth Stephen Spiegel portrays the actor who assassinated Lincoln in Lloyd J. Schwartz and Clinton Cases solo drama; part of Portraits of Humanity 2, a Solo Series. Theatre West, 3333 Cahuenga Blvd. West, L.A. Sat., 8 p.m. $25. (323) 851-7977.

Family Secrets Jewish Womens Theatre presents personal stories of indiscretions, inappropriate behavior, etc. The Braid, 2912 Colorado Ave., #102, Santa Monica; other locations. Sat., 8 p.m.; ends Feb. 13. $45, $50. (310) 315-1400.

Hir A soldier returns from Afghanistan to find his mother has revolted against the patriarchy and his sibling has come out as transgender in the L.A. premiere of Taylor Macs darkly comic fable; Bart DeLorenzo directs. Odyssey Theatre, 2055 S. Sepulveda Blvd., West L.A. Sat., 8 p.m.; next Sun., 5 p.m.; ends March 17. $32-$37. (310) 477-2055.

The Marriage Zone Return engagement of Jeff Goulds comedy about three couples who interact at an open house. Santa Monica Playhouse, 1211 4th St., Santa Monica. Sat, 8 p.m.; next Sun., 3 p.m.; ends March 31. $40. (800) 838-3006.

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More Guns! Musical satire about the NRA. Second City, Studio Theater, 6560 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood. Sat., 8:30 p.m.; ends April 27. $12. (323) 464-8542.

Popovich Comedy Pet Theater Moscow Circus star and juggler Gregory Popovich and his menagerie perform in this family-friendly show. Irvine Barclay Theatre, 4242 Campus Drive, Irvine. Sat., 2 and 7 p.m. $25, $35. (949) 854-4646.

Red Hot Mama  The Sophie Tucker Songbook Writer-performer Sharon McNight salutes the legendary entertainer in this solo show. Rubicon Theatre Company, 1006 E. Main St., Ventura. Sat., 8 p.m.; next Sun., 2 p.m. $30-$55. (805) 667-2900.

The 39 Steps A cast of four portrays multiple characters in this comedic adaptation of Hitchcocks 1935 mystery thriller. Morgan-Wixson Theatre, 2627 Pico Blvd., Santa Monica. Sat., 8 p.m.; next Sun., 2 p.m.; ends Feb. 10. $20, $23. (310) 828-7519.

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24th Annual Hollywood Performance Marathon Benefit show features performance art, poetry, puppetry, comedy, juggling, dance, music, monologues and more. Theatre of NOTE, 1517 N. Cahuenga Blvd., Hollywood. Sat., 3 p.m. to 2 a.m. $20. www.theatreofnote.com.

The Empty Nesters A couple take a road trip after dropping their youngest child off at college in the L.A. premiere of Garret Jon Groenvelds new comedy-drama. Zephyr Theatre, 7456 Melrose Ave., L.A. Next Sun., 3 p.m.; Thu.-Sat., 8 p.m.; ends Feb. 17. $35-$45. www.EmptyNestersPlay.com.

Etta Mae Mumphries Writer-performer Karen Bankheads solo comedy about an elderly African American woman and her encounters with various celebrities and historical figures; part of Portraits of Humanity 2, a Solo Series. Theatre West, 3333 Cahuenga Blvd. West, L.A. Next Sun., 2 p.m. $25. (323) 851-7977.

Critics Choices

Dear Evan Hansen Under the aerodynamic direction of Michael Greif, this beautifully acted touring production of Tony-winning musical reveals the true reason the show has become such a cultural phenomenon: Its one of the most evocative portraits of the inner turmoil of adolescence ever put on stage. The book by Steven Levenson and the score by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul capture not only the emotional challenges of those arduous adolescent years but also the moral tests we sometimes flunk as we fumble toward adult graduation in this rich tale about a high school outcast who becomes under false pretenses a social media hero. Ben Levi Ross, a 20-year-old actor who grew up in Santa Monica, is bound for the theatrical big-time with his searing performance as Evan. (C.M.) Segerstrom Hall, Segerstrom Center for the Arts, 600 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa. Ends Sun., 1 and 6:30 p.m. $35.75 and up. (714) 556-2787.
Central Washington University is looking at the possibility of moving its flight training program from Ellensburg to McAllister Field in Yakima, university officials said Friday.

Linda Schactler, CWUs chief of staff, said theres no schedule for a possible move, which will depend on state funding to build and equip facilities in Yakima.

We dont want to move. Wed rather stay here, she said about Ellensburg. It will not happen overnight.

She said CWU also has looked at airports in Moses Lake and Wenatchee.

We got a really, really warm welcome in Yakima, she said, adding that CWU has a university center nearby.

CWU has been working to expand its aviation program as the regional demand for pilots has increased. Enrollment jumped at the same time Ellensburgs airport began struggling to find funding for improvements. Kittitas County shut down the airports secondary runway in 2017 because of pavement and safety issues.

More than 90 percent of the takeoffs and landings at Ellensburgs airport are tied to CWUs program, according to the countys airport master plan. CWU took over some fixed-base operations at Bowers Field in 2018.

Central plans to ask the Legislature for $5 million to acquire and renovate facilities in Yakima, and another $9 million to build a hangar, Schactler said.

As of early 2018, CWUs Aviation Department had 265 students, with 165 of them flight majors and 100 majoring in management. CWU acquired five Piper Archer aircraft in late 2017 for students.

The CWU Board of Trustees approved a resolution in November 2017 asking staff to research options at Bowers Field and McAllister Field.

The university has been working with Kittitas County commissioners on a joint operations agreement for Bowers Field, but ran into some financial and regulatory roadblocks, said Kittitas County Commissioner Cory Wright.

For one, state law does not allow a non-municipality to run an airport, Wright said. In addition, having CWU run a flight school while concurrently co-managing the airport could be a problem under Federal Aviation Administration rules.

Independent of CWUs actions, Kittitas County commissioners plan on hiring an airport manager in the coming months and work with a consultant on a business plan for the airport, he said.

Wright said the county is planning to continue talks with Central on a tenant agreement that could lead to Central retaining some or all its flight school operations at Bowers Field.

CWU will continue to run most fixed-base operations at the airport through the end of March. The new airport manager likely will decide whether to have the university run those operations in the future.

We want to do our best to support what CWU is doing while making sure were doing right by the citizens of the county at the same time, Wright said.

The school needs a reliable, predictable and safe place for students to train, Schactler said. CWU has spoken with officials at Perry Technical Institute about possible partnerships, and plans to meet with the Legislatures aviation caucus in about two weeks to discuss plans, she said.

Yakima Airport Director Rob Peterson, in a phone interview Friday, declined to comment on Centrals plans to relocate the aviation program to the Yakima airport. However, he said the airport was well-equipped to house any flight training program.

The runway can accommodate from 100,000 to 125,000 flights a year, but it only sees about 38,000, he said. The airport also has plenty of general aviation aircraft parking available.

Central students are already familiar with the Yakima airport, as all students complete low-visibility flying training there, Peterson said.

CWUs aviation program is the only accredited public university aviation program in the Northwest, according to the school.
Washington (AFP) - US lawmakers from both parties, friends of murdered journalist Jamal Khashoggi and press freedom groups on Thursday marked 100 days since the Saudi dissident's assassination.

Featuring a portrait of Khashoggi against a back drop of American flags, the ceremony began with a moment of silence.

"The murder of Khashoggi is an atrocity and an affront to humanity," said Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi during the event in Washington.

Khashoggi, a Washington Post contributor who lived in the US, was killed in October at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul, where he had gone to pick up paperwork needed for his upcoming marriage to his Turkish fiancee.

Over three months later, his body's whereabouts remain unknown. Turkish and US officials accuse Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman of orchestrating the killing -- an allegation Saudi authorities categorically refute.

In Washington, US President Donald Trump's response to Riyadh -- a key trade partner -- provoked outrage among lawmakers across the political spectrum.

"If we decide that commercial interest should override the statements that we make and the actions that we take, then we must admit that we have lost all moral authority to talk about any atrocities anywhere, any time," Pelosi added.

The newspaper's CEO Fred Ryan said Khashoggi's death had "touched his Washington Post colleagues deeply."

"Yet this story is not just about the murder of one innocent journalist," he added.

"Jamal's killing is part of an escalating attack against press freedom that is being waged by tyrants around the world."

Meanwhile Margaux Ewen, North America director for Reporters without Borders, warned that "journalists, bloggers, and media workers are under threat" every day.

"Together, let's make sure the sacrifices of those like Jamal who have paid the ultimate price have not been in vain," she said.

Amnesty International had earlier on Thursday appealed for a United Nations-led investigation into Khashoggi's death.
Washington (AFP) - The United States called Saturday for Venezuela to begin an "orderly transition" to a new government, days after Nicolas Maduro was sworn in to a disputed second term as president.

"The people of Venezuela deserve to live in freedom in a democratic society governed by the rule of law," the State Department's deputy spokesman said.

"It is time to begin the orderly transition to a new government," spokesman Robert Palladino said.

"The United States government will continue to use the full weight of US economic and diplomatic power to press for the restoration of democracy in Venezuela," he said.

It was the most specific US call yet for a change of government in crisis-torn Venezuela, where Maduro has presided over a virtual economic collapse in what was once Latin America's wealthiest nation.

The United States, the European Union, Canada and 12 Latin American countries have said they do not recognize Maduro's re-election.

The May presidential vote was boycotted by the opposition -- whose most prominent leaders were barred from running, under house arrest or in exile -- and condemned internationally amid reports of fraud and voter intimidation.

Maduro, who was sworn in Thursday to a second six-year term, has accused Washington of encouraging a coup d'etat.

In its latest statement, the United States reaffirmed its support for the opposition-controlled but so far toothless National Assembly, whose new president Juan Guaido on Friday called for a mass protest against Maduro and in favor of a "transitional government."

The US statement said, "We stand with the Venezuelan people, and we praise the fierce commitment to democratic principles of the elected members of the Venezuelan National Assembly."

It urged "the security forces and the armed forces to respect all protections the constitution affords to Guaido and the other members of the National Assembly, especially their safety and welfare."
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States plans to jointly host a global conference focused on the Middle East, particularly Iran, next month in Poland, the U.S. State Department said on Friday. The meeting will take place in Warsaw on Feb. 13-14, it said in a statement. Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif dismissed the planned event as a "desperate anti-Iran circus." U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo told Fox News in an interview to air on Friday that the meeting would "focus on Middle East stability and peace and freedom and security here in this region, and that includes an important element of making sure that Iran is not a destabilizing influence." Pompeo, who is on an eight-day visit to the Middle East, said the meeting would "bring together dozens of countries from all around the world, from Asia, from Africa, from Western Hemisphere countries, Europe too, the Middle East of course." Pompeo has said during the tour that the United States is "redoubling" its efforts to put pressure on Iran and sought to convince allies that it is committed to fighting Islamic State despite President Donald Trump's decision to pull U.S. troops out of Syria. Trump last year withdrew the United States from the 2015 Iran nuclear accord and moved to reimpose sanctions on Tehran. Other partners in the deal - including Britain, France, Germany, Russia and China - have sought to keep the agreement from unraveling, although in a shift earlier this week, the European Union moved to impose some sanctions on Iran. Polish Foreign Minister Jacek Czaputowicz said in a statement that while his country supported the EU's efforts to maintain the nuclear deal, the agreement "does not stop Iran from activities destabilizing the region" and he hoped the conference would bring closer the EU and U.S. positions. He said more than 70 countries were invited to the conference, including all EU members. Writing on Twitter, Iran's Zarif said, "Reminder to host/participants of anti-Iran conference: those who attended last U.S. anti-Iran show are either dead, disgraced, or marginalized. And Iran is stronger than ever." He went on to write that "while Iran saved Poles in WWII, it now hosts desperate anti-Iran circus." The U.S. State Department said there were strong shared interests in Middle East stability. "The ministerial will address a range of critical issues including terrorism and extremism, missile development and proliferation, maritime trade and security, and threats posed by proxy groups across the region," its statement said. On his Middle East tour, Pompeo is trying to shore up support in the region on a number of fronts, from the U.S. troop withdrawal from Syria to the rift between Saudi Arabia and Qatar to the killing of U.S.-based Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi. (Reporting by Susan Heavey and David Brunnstrom in Washington, Lesley Wroughton in Cairo and Marcin Goclowski in Warsaw; Editing by Jonathan Oatis and James Dalgleish)
Washington (AFP) - President Donald Trump blasted the FBI on Saturday, insisting it acted "for no reason & with no proof" when it opened an investigation into whether he was acting on Russia's behalf after he fired the agency's director, James Comey, in May 2017.

The New York Times reported that the FBI launched the previously undisclosed counterintelligence investigation to determine whether Trump posed a national security threat, at the same time that it opened a criminal probe into possible obstruction of justice by the president.

The FBI investigation was subsequently folded into the broader probe by Special Counsel Robert Mueller into Russia's meddling in the 2016 election and possible collaboration by the Trump campaign.

No evidence has publicly emerged that Trump was secretly in contact with or took direction from Russian officials, the Times said.

"Wow, just learned in the Failing New York Times that the corrupt former leaders of the FBI, almost all fired or forced to leave the agency for some very bad reasons, opened up an investigation on me, for no reason & with no proof, after I fired Lyin' James Comey, a total sleaze!" Trump tweeted.

According to Trump, "the FBI was in complete turmoil... because of Comey's poor leadership" and the way he handled the investigation into Hillary Clinton's use of a private server to send some government emails.

"My firing of James Comey was a great day for America," Trump said, describing the former FBI director as "a Crooked Cop who is being totally protected by his best friend, Bob Mueller."

Asked in a late Saturday interview with Fox News whether he had ever worked for Russia, Trump replied: "I think it's the most insulting thing I've ever been asked... I think it the most insulting article I've ever had written and if you read the article, youd see that they found absolutely nothing."

Story continues

- 'Increasingly unhinged attacks' -

Such standard reactions from Trump "do nothing to address the incredibly serious nature of these allegations," said Democratic Congressman Jerrold Nadler, Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee.

"There is no reason to doubt the seriousness or professionalism of the FBI," Nadler said in a statement which said his committee "will take steps to better understand both the president's actions and the FBI's response to that behavior, and to make certain that these career investigators are protected from President Trump's increasingly unhinged attacks."

The Times said that the FBI had been suspicious of Trump's ties to Russia during the 2016 campaign.

But it held off on opening an investigation until the president sacked Comey, who refused to pledge allegiance to Trump and roll back the nascent Russia investigation.

Trump has repeatedly criticized the Mueller probe as a "witch hunt" and views it as an attempt to besmirch the legitimacy of his presidency.

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, who was CIA director at the time the investigation was launched, declined to comment on The New York Times report, but insisted in an interview with CBS that "the notion that President Trump is a threat to American national security is absolutely ludicrous."

Mueller has indicted 33 people, including members of Russia's GRU military intelligence, and chalked up convictions against some of the president's close associates.

Trump's ex-national security advisor, Michael Flynn, pleaded guilty to lying to investigators about his Moscow ties.

His former personal lawyer, Michael Cohen, has been sentenced to three years in prison for multiple crimes, including felony violations of campaign finance laws that prosecutors allege were carried out under Trump's direction.

Trump's former presidential campaign chairman, Paul Manafort, has been convicted in one case brought by Mueller and pleaded guilty in another, over financial crimes related to his work in Ukraine before the 2016 campaign, and for witness tampering.

Cell phone records show that Cohen was near Prague during the summer of 2016, supporting claims that he met there with Russian officials during the presidential election campaign, McClatchy news service has reported.

Cohen, who will testify in Congress on February 7, insists that he has never been to Prague, but added in a tweet: "#Mueller knows everything!"
Photo credit: Max Mumby/Indigo - Getty Images

From ELLE

While Meghan Markle made her first public appearance at her new patronage Smart Works, the Duchess of Sussex low-key made royal fashion history. Hello! points out that she is the first royal to ever wear crawler earrings at a royal engagement, a trendy style of earring that climbs up the ear. Meghan's are from Kimai, and with their three dangles attached to the base, they made it look like Meghan was wearing three earrings instead of one from afar.

Photo credit: Max Mumby/Indigo - Getty Images

Photo credit: Max Mumby/Indigo - Getty Images

Get Meghan's Exact Pair:

Meghan paired the earrings with a very classic Oscar de la Renta coat and black Hatch dress. She also had on animal print and transparent Giovanetti Rossi heels:

Photo credit: Karwai Tang - Getty Images

Meghan's visit yesterday comes after the Palace announced her first four patronages: Smart Works, the Mayhew, the National Theatre, and the Association of Commonwealth Universities. The Duchess is delighted to become patron of both national and grassroots organizations that are part of the fabric of the UK and is very much looking forward to working with them to bring wider public attention to their causes," Kensington Palace announced in a statement. Her Royal Highness feels she can use her position to focus attention on, and make a particular difference to these organizations and, more widely, the sectors they each represent.

She'll be visiting each of the four organizations over the next weeks. The Duchess of Sussex already has three engagements announced for next week. On Wednesday, Meghan will start her day by visiting the Mayhew, an animal welfare charity, and end it with Prince at the Cirque du Soleils Totem premiere in support of the Sentebale charity that evening at Royal Albert Hall.

Meghan and Harry will visit Birkenhead on Monday, where they will visit a number of local organizations that support and empower groups within the local community, the Palace announced.

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Khartoum (AFP) - As angry protests pile pressure on Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir to step down, key powers are standing by his regime to ensure stability in a strife-torn region, analysts say.

Demonstrations that erupted in the provinces last month after the government tripled the price of bread have escalated into nationwide protests that analysts say pose the biggest challenge to Bashir since he took power in an Islamist-backed coup in 1989.

But despite bloodshed that Sudanese authorities say has claimed 22 lives, outside players ranging from Gulf rivals Qatar and Saudi Arabia to major powers China, Russia and the United States all see an interest in the 75-year-old staying at the helm.

"All camps in the region are at each other's throat, but somehow they agree on Bashir," said Abdelwahab al-Affendi, author and an academic at the Doha Institute for Graduate Studies.

"They seem to favour continuity. They believe that any other alternative might not be favourable to them and to the region."

Egypt, which has deep historical ties with Sudan, has called repeatedly for stability in its southern neighbour, with its commanding position on the Nile on whose waters they both depend.

"Egypt fully supports the security and stability of Sudan, which is integral to Egypts national security," President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi told a top Bashir aide who visited Cairo last week.

Days earlier, Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry expressed confidence that Sudan would "overcome the present situation".

Relations between Cairo and Khartoum had deteriorated sharply in 2017 over territorial disputes, but in recent months the two governments have ironed out their differences, with Sudan even lifting a 17-month ban on Egyptian agricultural produce.

- Memories of Arab Spring -

Arab governments have scrambled to provide support, anxious to avoid any repetition of the upheavals that rocked the region in 2011.

Story continues

"There has been evidence of tangible support to Bashir... be it from Egypt, Saudi or Qatar," said Affendi.

"These allies are against any kind of successful uprising. They feel that if it happens, then they will be next," he said, adding that the Arab Spring has not been forgotten.

Qatar's ruler, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, called Bashir just days after the protests erupted to offer his support.

During his long years in power, Bashir has built up relations with all of the region's bickering diplomatic players, through a string of sometimes spectacular foreign policy twists.

Just days before the protests erupted, he travelled to meet Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in the first visit to Damascus by any Arab leader since the Syrian civil war erupted in 2011.

"His foreign policy is in all directions driven by economic pressures," said a European diplomat on condition of anonymity.

The regime hosted Al-Qaeda founder Osama bin Laden in the 1990s, and then developed ties with Shiite Iran before severing them in 2016.

In October 2017, increased cooperation with Washington helped Khartoum get a decades-old US trade embargo lifted.

Washington has still kept Sudan on its blacklist of "state sponsors of terrorism" along with Iran, North Korea and Syria.

And although the US and the European Union do not openly back Bashir, who is wanted by the International Criminal Court on war crimes charges including genocide in Darfur, they work with Khartoum to ensure that "Sudan remains stable", the diplomat said.

Any kind of instability in Sudan could trigger a new wave of Sudanese migrants headed towards Europe, he added.

- Gateway to Africa -

Sudan's strategic location in the Horn of Africa is a blessing for Bashir, said Amal el-Taweel of the Cairo-based Al-Ahram Center for Political and Strategic Studies.

"I think the international and regional powers will not allow Sudan to fall," she told AFP.

"But a lot depends on how the balance of power shifts on the streets," she added.

"The world also doesn't want to see another new bastion of hardliners that might be created if something like this happens."

Bashir surprised the West when he dumped Tehran for Riyadh in 2016.

The shift was not just diplomatic. The Sudanese leader also sent hundreds of troops to join the Saudi-led coalition battling Iran-linked Shiite rebels in Yemen, in what he called an "ideological" decision.

By doing so, Bashir signalled to Gulf Arab monarchies that he was an asset in their struggle against Shiite Iran.

"In return Saudi and the United Arab Emirates have given Bashir just about enough to stay afloat, although no announcements have been made," said Affendi, referring to financial aid to Khartoum.

For international powers like China, which has reportedly invested billions of dollars in Sudan, the country offers a gateway to the rest of the continent.

"For countries like China and Russia, Sudan is an entry gate to Africa," the foreign diplomat said.

"Be it them or the West, nobody wants Sudan to crumble."
After an intense lobbying campaign by the mortgage industry, the Treasury Department this week restarted a program that had been sidelined by the partial government shutdown, allowing hundreds of Internal Revenue Service clerks to get paid to process forms vital to the lending industry that help home buyers verify their incomes.

The intervention to restore the IRS income-verification service by drawing on revenue from fees  even as 800,000 federal employees across the country are going without their salaries  has intensified questions about the Trump administrations unorthodox efforts to bring certain government functions back online to contain the shutdowns impacts.

Critics, including many former IRS officials, described the move as an act of favoritism to ease the burden on a powerful industry.

It seems crazy to me that a powerful bank or lobby gets to bring their people back to do their work, said Marvin Friedlander, who served as a senior IRS official in the mid-2000s. How about the normal slob who cant even pay his rent?

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Administration officials said they are simply seeking to minimize the harm caused to the public by the budget standoff, which on Saturday will become the longest in modern U.S. history.

Because of the shutdown, the IRS was unable to process a key form that lenders use to confirm borrowers incomes before they can grant home loans  a roadblock that threatened to bring the mortgage industry to a halt.

The IRS said it was able to restart the program by using fees paid by companies that provide the transcripts to lenders.

We were advised by various parties that the shutdown of [the program] was creating significant issues for certain borrowers, the Treasury Department said in a statement. We are pleased to help taxpayers by ensuring this service continues despite the lapse.

Craig Phillips, a counselor to Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, was among the officials who heard the concerns of the mortgage industry directly, but he said in an email to the Washington Post, This action was not taken to benefit the industry. It benefits the consumers that have made loan applications.

The IRS clerks, who are paid $13-$18 an hour, process 400,000 tax transcripts a week.

The effort to restart the processing of those transcripts came after direct appeals by the trade association that represents credit reporting companies and top mortgage industry officials. The lobbying was led by Robert Broeksmit, chief executive of the Mortgage Bankers Assn., who took the matter to Phillips, Mnuchins senior adviser.

I said, Look, this is starting to be a problem for the lending industry,  Broeksmit said. His group, one of the most influential trade associations in Washington, represents 2,300 mortgage companies, brokers, commercial banks and other financial institutions.

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Broeksmit said he asked whether the IRS clerks could come back to work, saying: Could you make these guys essential?

Phillips declined to comment on their exchange.

The answer came the next day, Broeksmit said: The IRS employees would be called back to work.

On Monday, 400 furloughed IRS clerks in Fresno, Cincinnati, Kansas City, Mo., and Ogden, Utah, were called back to work, according to employees and union officials.

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Unlike the vast majority of the 420,000 federal employees who have been required to work during the shutdown because they are essential to national security or public safety  among them airport screeners, food inspectors and Border Patrol agents  the IRS clerks are being paid, to their surprise.

Their salaries  normally funded by congressional appropriations  are being financed by industry user fees, an unorthodox strategy that the administration is also using to put some National Park Service employees back on the job.

Some legal experts questioned the IRS maneuver.

Theyre only allowed to keep open essential activities, and processing mortgage applications is valuable and appreciated, but do not rank with air traffic controllers, said Charles Tiefer, a former deputy general counsel in the U.S. House of Representatives. The administration is playing fast and loose with the shutdown to prevent it from becoming unpopular with their own base.

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Tiefer, a professor at the University of Baltimore School of Law, said he believed the Trump administration would lose a lawsuit on the issue if someone could find standing to bring a case, which he said was unlikely.

The Office of Management and Budget approved shifting the fees to the IRSs salary account because those funds are designated for a variety of agency operations, a senior administration official said.

In announcing the return of IRS employees who process the tax transcripts, the IRS also said it was restarting other fee-based services, including one that provides letters certifying residency for taxpayers in the United States.

Theres nothing unusual about it, because the account has this flexibility, said the official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to describe internal discussions. We are doing whatever we can, consistent with the law, to keep government programs running as long as possible under the lapse.

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Some agreed, saying the IRS, unlike other federal agencies, has broad leeway.

It appears that the IRS has quite a bit of legal flexibility to use money it raises from user fees, said Timothy Westmoreland, a professor at Georgetown Law who has studied federal budgets and legislation. I cant say for sure, but it looks like theres legal ground for this.

In recent days, the Trump administration has sought ways to keep some government services going as the shutdown has dragged on, directing furloughed employees to extend food stamp benefits, provide flood insurance, maintain parks and reinstate other services that were prohibited during past shutdowns.

Every time you turn the corner around here, they are finding another way to somehow appease their pressure points by finding these gimmicks, said William Hoagland, who was Republican staff director for the Senate Budget Committee during a shutdown in the 1990s.

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Under federal law, the government is not allowed to spend money that has not been appropriated by Congress, and agencies are allowed to retain only employees who perform essential functions critical to public health or national security.

That means the IRS has been largely shuttered. The tax agency sent home about 90% of its workforce without pay. Call centers used by taxpayers across the country are closed. Audits have been halted, according to the agencys shutdown contingency plan. Theres no training for thousands of employees to prepare for this years tax filing season, which is expected to be particularly complicated as the new tax law fully takes effect.

This week, the administration announced it would bring back furloughed employees who process early tax refunds, but they are not being paid.

The IRS contingency plan, which was updated in December, requires staffers in the income verification program to be furloughed in the event of a shutdown, as they were during a similar 2013 budget impasse.

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Shannon Ellis, president of Local 66 of the National Treasury Employees Union, which represents 4,300 IRS employees in Kansas City, said she was happy our employees are getting paid, but noted, this one little area is the only area in the agency where its happening.

Across the industry, there was relief that the transcripts were moving again. Leonard Ryan, founder and president of the mortgage compliance firm QuestSoft, said his company would have had to lay employees off without a fix.

We had a severe backlog  now its down to two days, Ryan said. Its kind of amazing what theyve done to get back up. . . . Theyve figured a workaround  but thats what the mortgage industry does.

Members of the Mortgage Bankers Assn. originate the vast majority of loans in the real estate financial market, valued last year at $1.6 trillion. The group spent $2.2 million on lobbying in 2018, according to lobbying records filed with the House Clerks Office.
By Lesley Wroughton ABU DHABI (Reuters) - U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Saturday he was optimistic that a "good outcome" could be reached between Turkey and Syrian Kurdish groups, after speaking to the Turkish foreign minister. "We recognize the Turkish people's right to defend their country from terrorists, but we also know that those ... who are not terrorists and fighting alongside us for all this time deserve to be protected," Pompeo told reporters. "There are many details to be worked out but I am optimistic we can achieve a good outcome," he said. Relations between the two NATO allies have been strained over U.S. backing for the Kurdish YPG, which Turkey views as an extension of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) waging a decades-long insurgency on Turkish soil. Pompeo said his phone call with Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu involved several elements of U.S.-Turkey relations, including Syria and the detention of Americans in Turkey. He said the U.S. envoy for Syria, Jim Jeffrey, had traveled to northeast Syria this week and would soon go to Ankara for talks, including on moving forward a UN-led political process to end the eight-year long conflict in Syria. He suggested that talks between Damascus and the Syrian Kurds could be part of a broader political solution in Syria. "We hope we can turn the corner here," Pompeo added. Kurdish-led groups who control swathes of northern Syria fear an attack from Turkey in the wake of U.S. President Donald Trump's decision to withdraw troops from their region. Turkey sees the Kurdish YPG militia close to its border as a security threat. Trump's decision to withdraw the troops hinges on Turkey's cooperation to secure the northern border. But Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan has vowed to crush the Kurdish groups that have been effective in defeating Islamic State in Syria. Speaking in Abu Dhabi as part of a regional tour, Pompeo said the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Syria was a "tactical change" but the mission to destroy Islamic State and counter Iran's influence remained the same. In a speech in Cairo on Thursday, Pompeo vowed that the United States would "expel every last Iranian boot" from Syria, where Tehran is supporting Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. "It's an ambitious objective, but it is ours, and it is our mission," he added. The speech sought to lay out the Trump administration's strategy for the Middle East and criticized former U.S. President Barack Obama, without naming him, for "fundamental misunderstandings" about the Middle East. Pompeo said on Saturday the speech had not taken aim at individuals but rather the ideas of the previous administration, adding that the Obama-era policies opened the way for Islamic State and the spread of Iran's influence in the region. (Reporting by Lesley Wroughton; Writing by Lisa Barrington; Editing by Hugh Lawson and Ros Russell)
Abu Dhabi (AFP) - Washington's top diplomat said Saturday he was "optimistic" a way could be found to protect Syrian Kurds while allowing Turks to "defend their country from terrorists" following a US pullout from Syria.

"We are confident we can achieve an outcome that achieves both of those," Secretary of State Mike Pompeo told journalists in Abu Dhabi.

The Gulf emirate is his latest stop in a regional tour aimed at reassuring allies after a shock December announcement by President Donald Trump that US troops would be withdrawn from Syria.

Pompeo's remarks follow tensions between the US and Turkey over the fate of Washington's Syrian Kurdish allies in the fight against Islamic State group jihadists.

Turkey had reacted angrily to suggestions that Trump's plan to withdraw troops was conditional on the safety of the US-backed Kurdish fighters, seen by the Turkish government as terrorists.

US-led operations against IS in Syria have been spearheaded on the ground by the Kurdish-dominated Syrian Democratic Forces.

Ankara sees the backbone of that alliance, the Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG), as a terrorist group linked to the Kurdistan Worker's Party (PKK) which has fought a decades-long insurgency against the Turkish state.

Pompeo said that Washington recognised "the Turkish people's right and (Turkish President Recep Tayyip) Erdogan's right to defend their country from terrorists".

But, he added, "we also know that those fighting alongside of us for all this time deserve to be protected as well".

Pompeo said he had spoken to Turkey's Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu.

"Many details (are) still to be worked out but I'm optimistic that we can achieve a good outcome," he said.

- Threatened assault -

Multiple operations including American-backed assaults have ousted IS jihadists from most of the swathes of Syria and Iraq they captured in 2014.

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But Trump's announcement raised fears of a long-threatened Turkish assault against the Kurds.

On Thursday, Cavusoglu repeated that threat, telling NTV television: "if the (pullout) is put off with ridiculous excuses like Turks are massacring Kurds, which do not reflect the reality, we will implement this decision."

That came after a tense meeting between Turkish officials and Trump's national security adviser John Bolton in Ankara, aimed at coordinating the pullout process after Bolton set conditions that appeared to postpone it indefinitely.

The terms included the total defeat of IS -- still active in some parts of Syria -- and ensuring protection for Kurdish fighters.

The US-led coalition launched operations against IS in September 2014, forming the SDF a year later with some 25,000 Kurdish fighters and 5,000 Arabs -- all Syrian.

Backed by US arms and air support, the YPG-dominated group has overrun the de facto Syrian capital of IS, Raqa, and a large part of Deir Ezzor province.

But that stirred Turkish fears of a breakaway Kurdish state on its border.

As well as fighting IS, the YPG has also battled pro-Ankara forces in northwestern Syria, pulling SDF forces away from the battle against jihadists in the east of the country.

Trump's announcement last month prompted the YPG to call on Syrian government troops to deploy alongside their own forces in the north to help counter a potential Turkish offensive.

A spokesman for the US military said Friday it had begun "the process of our deliberate withdrawal from Syria".

But US defence officials quickly sought to clarify that while gear was being pulled out, "we are not withdrawing troops at this stage".

In an interview with US broadcaster CBS on Saturday, Pompeo said "the president's guidance is incredibly clear" on the withdrawal.

Syria's devastating conflict began in 2011 with anti-government demonstrations that were brutally crushed, sparking a complex war involving multiple foreign militias and jihadist groups, as well as regional and international powers including the US.

The withdrawal announcement had also sparked concerns among Arab states and Israel that it could open the way to growing Iranian influence.

Pompeo has pledged to "expel every last Iranian boot" from Syria, and on Saturday sought to downplay the impact of the US pullout on this goal.

"The fact that a couple of thousands of uniformed personnel in Syria will be withdrawing is a tactical change," he said.

"It doesn't materially alter our capacity to continue to perform the military actions that we need to perform."

The US is looking to create an anti-Iran front -- the Middle East Strategic Alliance -- bringing together Gulf countries as well as Egypt and Jordan.

Washington is set to convene an international summit in Poland next month focusing on stability in the Middle East, including Iran's influence.
By Maha El Dahan and Rania El Gamal

ABU DHABI (Reuters) - Oil producer group OPEC is not the enemy of the United States, United Arab Emirates Energy Minister Suhail al-Mazrouei said on Saturday in Abu Dhabi.

"We are complementing each other, we are not enemies here," Mazrouei told an industry conference in Abu Dhabi, addressing the relationship between the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and the U.S., a major oil consuming country.

OPEC and other leading global oil producers led by Russia agreed in December to cut their combined oil output by 1.2 million barrels per day from January to prevent a supply glut and boost sagging prices.

The decision came despite U.S. President Donald Trump's call for the oil exporters' club to refrain from cutting production, saying it would trigger higher oil prices worldwide.

Mazrouei said the average oil price in 2018 was $70 a barrel. His Omani counterpart Mohammed al-Rumhi, addressing the same event, said he expected a price of between $60 and $80 a barrel in 2019.

The 1.2 million bpd cut should be enough to balance the market, Mazrouei said, expecting the correction to start this month and to be achieved in the first half of the year.

"We are assuming no changes in the cut that we have," he said.

Mazrouei also said he did not expect OPEC members Venezuela, Libya or Iran, who effectively have exemptions from the cuts, to increase their oil output in 2019, rather it was more likely their production would decline.

Both Mazrouei and Rumhi said there was no need for OPEC and its allies to meet before April when they are set to decide their output policy for the rest of 2019.

"Things are working well," said Rumhi, whose country is taking part in the supply reduction agreement but is not an OPEC member.

(Reporting by Rania El Gamal and Maha El Dahan; Writing by Maher Chmaytelli and Lisa Barrington; Editing by Kirsten Donovan)
Dry weather will be rare in California in the coming days, with an onslaught of storms expected to keep rain and mountain snow around through at least the middle of next week.

"The cumulative nature of the storms has the potential to bring well over a foot of rain to the west- and southwest-facing slopes of the Coast Ranges and at least a couple of yards of snow to the high country of the central and southern Sierra Nevada into next Friday," according to AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Alex Sosnowski.



CA storm Jan 12

"As the pattern evolves and the storms hit with additional moisture, dangerous, damaging and life-threatening situations may arise due to the magnitude of flooding and mudslides unleashed," Sosnowski said. "This type of situation could escalate quickly."

One storm will bring rain to coastal areas of Southern and Central California into Saturday afternoon.

While Los Angeles has received around 0.5 of an inch of rain from this storm, it is not expected to be the heaviest rainfall of the week.

Regardless, one person was killed in a multi-vehicle crash on the rain-slicked 101 Freeway on Saturday morning. The six-vehicle accident occurred in Hollywood Hills, according to KABC.



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Conditions should largely dry out around Los Angeles as the Rams take on the Cowboys in the NFL playoff game during Saturday evening.

All three of the main systems moving into the West Coast this weekend and early next week are expected to bring periods of heavy rain to coastal Southern California.



SW regional 1.12 AM

As with recent storms, flash flooding, mudslides and resulting travel delays can be expected. While a strong wind event is not in the works, periods of gusty winds could lead to downed trees and some property damage.

California Department of Transportation is warning motorists that the Pacific Coast Highway (Route 1) may be shut down at anytime due to the risk of flooding and mudslides around the Woolsey Fire burn area in Ventura and Los Angeles counties.

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By Sunday night, a second system is on track to move into the state. This one will follow a similar track, mainly impacting central and southern portions of the state.

While the first storm will have a tough time moving far enough inland to reach the higher terrain of the Sierra, "the storm on Sunday through Tuesday will be strong enough to bring heavy snowfall into the Sierra Mountains," according to AccuWeather Meteorologist Brett Edwards.

Overnight Sunday and throughout the day on Monday, the Los Angeles area could receive another 0.75 of an inch of rain.

"This rainfall can lead to mudslides and localized flash flooding, especially around burn scar areas," Edwards warned.

Coastal roadways from San Diego through Los Angeles, Santa Barbara, San Jose and San Francisco could face major delays or close altogether as a result.

Another storm is expected to roll onshore during the middle of the week. This storm is expected to impact the entire span of California and deliver another heavy dose of snow to the Sierra Nevada.

"This additional snowfall will be beneficial for the ski resorts up in the mountains," Edwards said.

Vehicle restrictions are likely in high-elevation passes, so anyone planning travel through the Sierra should check their route and road conditions before heading out.

In terms of travel over the mountains in Southern California, freezing levels are forecast to remain above Cajon and Tejon passes through most of next week.

Standing water and low visibility during rainy weather can lead to slick roadways and slowed traffic, which will impact the commute on a nearly daily basis next week.

Download the free AccuWeather app to keep track of when rain is expected to impact your area.


Belgrade (AFP) - Major opposition protests in Serbia have been relatively rare over the past decade, but the icy January air has ushered in a swelling mood of revolt.

Since last month, thousands of demonstrators have rallied each Saturday through Belgrade's frozen streets against President Aleksandar Vucic, accusing him of stifling media freedoms and cracking down on the opposition.

This Saturday, for the sixth time in a row, the marchers will again hoist their flags and banners in a united display of discontent against Vucic's increasingly controversial rule.

"Dictator!" cried the crowd at a recent demonstration in the capital.

More than a dozen people carried a giant banner reading: "Stop bloody shirts" -- a reference to opposition politician Borko Stefanovic's bloodstained shirt after he was beaten up last November.

It was that incident that triggered the first protests.

The assault was reminiscent of the violent attacks on political opponents in the 1990s under the rule of late strongman Slobodan Milosevic.

The authorities denied involvement in the attack on Stefanovic, but the Alliance for Serbia, an umbrella group of opposition parties from across the political spectrum, blamed Vucic's Serbian Progressive Party (SNS).

Then youth activists, who insist they are not affiliated with any political party, decided to step in.

"We realised that the time had come to do something on the street," one of the protest organisers, Jelena Anasonovic, told AFP.

"The violence, both physical and verbal" in everyday Serbian life, had become "the norm", Anasonovic said.

Vucic, a former ultra-nationalist who now says he favours Serbia joining the EU, has rejected claims he has become autocratic.

And despite the protests, opinion polls suggest Vucic's SNS party dominates the political arena. Serbia's divided opposition that has little in common other than an aversion to the president.

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The opposition does not offer "a viable alternative to the autocracy of Vucic" even though "he is unbearable", said protester Milos Banjanin, a 27-year old economist.

The next national vote is expected in 2020 but Vucic, who served as premier from 2014 and became president in 2017, has hinted he could call early elections.

Observers and polls suggest he would likely win.

- 'One in five million' -

The first anti-Vucic protest on December 8 drew several thousand people, but the numbers quickly grew due to two unrelated events -- the reaction of the president and a report by a pro-government TV journalist.

Speaking after the first demonstration, Vucic told the nation "even if there were five million people in the street" he would not agree to the protesters' demands.

That acted as a catalyst for the demonstrators, who adopted the slogan "one in five million".

Then TV reporter Barbara Zivotic, from the pro-government private channel said that "very few people" were demonstrating. Those who were, she said, "calling for lynching, rape, violence and a coup d'etat".

Video of the report went viral and was widely mocked online.

"Thank you Barbara" protesters wrote on Twitter, as thousands of people were inspired to brave the heavy snow and freezing temperatures to join the protests.

The latest protests brought out 40,000 people on to the streets say organisers, although police have not confirmed the figure.

- 'Break media blockade' -

The scale of the demonstrations "caught many people by surprise, including some (opposition) politicians," said Dragan Djilas, an opposition leader.

Although opposition parties hope to capitalise on the protests, which now include celebrities and prominent activists, some protesters are wary of politicians trying to cash in on their success.

"Only when the opposition does something to prove itself in fighting" the authorities "will it get the right to speak," said actor Branislav Trifunovic, one of the most prominent protesters.

"For the moment they can walk with us and shut up," he said.

Protesters have called for the head of the public broadcaster RTS to step down. They want "at least five minutes of air time each day" to "break the media blockade", Trifunovic added.

The European Commission last year raised concerns about media freedoms in Serbia, denouncing threats, intimidation and violence against journalists.

But Vucic has rejected such criticism.

According to Serbian media, the president could use the next week's visit of Russia's President Vladimir Putin to show off the strength of his national support.

"These are protests of all opposition voters who are unhappy with the authorities. At some point it will have to be politically articulated," said independent political analyst Boban Stojanovic.
Here's a list of the 31 national emergencies that have been in effect for years originally appeared on abcnews.go.com

According to the Federal Register, 58 national emergencies have been declared since the National Emergency Act of 1976 was signed into law by President Gerald Ford.

And 31 have been annually renewed and are currently still in effect, as listed in the Federal Register.

Here's a list of the presidents who declared still ongoing national emergencies.

President Jimmy Carter

PHOTO: Former President Jimmy Carter speaks as Democratic gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams listens on during a news conference to announce her rural health care plan in Plains, Ga., Sept. 18, 2018. (John Bazemore/AP, FILE)

Nov 14, 1979: The National Emergency With Respect to Iran, in response to the Iran hostage crisis.

President Bill Clinton

PHOTO: President Bill Clinton walks out to make a statement to the media in the Rose Garden at the White House on Feb. 12, 1999. (AFP/Getty Images, FILE)

Nov 14, 1994: The National Emergency With Respect to the Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction, that combined two previous national emergencies focused on weapons of mass destruction.

Jan. 2, 1995: The National Emergency With Respect to Prohibiting Transactions with Terrorists Who Threaten to Disrupt the Middle East Peace Process placed economic sanctions in response to the Jerusalem bombing.

March 15, 1995: The National Emergency With Respect to Prohibiting Certain Transactions with Respect to the Development of Iranian Petroleum Resources was an effort to prevent potential deals between oil companies.

October 21, 1995: The National Emergency With Respect to Blocking Assets and Prohibiting Transactions with Significant Narcotics Traffickers Centered in Colombia was declared after increased reports of drug cartels laundering money through American companies.

March 1, 1996: The National Emergency With Respect to Regulations of the Anchorage and Movement of Vessels with Respect to Cuba was after civilian planes were shot down near Cuba

November 3, 1997: The National Emergency With Respect to Blocking Sudanese Government Property and Prohibiting Transactions with Sudan implemented economic and trade sanctions.

President George W. Bush

PHOTO: President George W. Bush addresses the nation aboard the nuclear aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln as it sails for Naval Air Station North Island, San Diego, Calif. (Stephen Jaffe/AFP/Getty Images, FILE)

June 26, 2001: The National Emergency With Respect to Blocking Property of Persons Who Threaten International Stabilization Efforts in the Western Balkans imposed sanctions on those aiding Albanian insurgents in Macedonia

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Aug 17, 2001: The National Emergency With Respect to Export Control Regulations renewed presidential power to control exports in a national emergency since the Export Administration Act of 1979 lapsed.

Sept 14, 2001: The National Emergency with Respect to Certain Terrorist Attacks was in response to the terrorist attacks of 9/11 and the continuing and immediate threat of further attacks on the United States.

Sept 23, 2001: The National Emergency With Respect to Persons who Commit, Threaten to Commit, or Support Terrorism was in response to the terrorist attacks of 9/11.

March 6, 2003: The National Emergency With Respect to Blocking Property of Persons Undermining Democratic Processes or Institutions in Zimbabwe was an effort to punish associates of Robert Mugabe.

May 22, 2003: The National Emergency With Respect to Protecting the Development Fund for Iraq and Certain Other Property in Which Iraq has an Interest was issued following the U.S. invasion of Iraq.

May 11, 2004: The National Emergency With Respect to Blocking Property of Certain Persons and Prohibiting the Export of Certain Goods to Syria was in response to Syria supporting terrorist activity in Iraq.

June 16, 2006: The National Emergency With Respect to Blocking Property of Certain Persons Undermining Democratic Processes or Institutions in Belarus was in response to charges of fraud in the Belarus presidential election.

Oct 27, 2006: The National Emergency With Respect to Blocking Property of Certain Persons Contributing to the Conflict in the Democratic Republic of the Congo was in response to violence around the Congolese presidential election runoff.

Aug 1, 2007: The National Emergency With Respect to Blocking Property of Persons Undermining the Sovereignty of Lebanon was in response to a breakdown of the rule of law in Lebanon.

June 26, 2008: The National Emergency With Respect to Continuing Certain Restrictions with Respect to North Korea cited the risk of proliferation of weapons-usable fissile material. President Trump renewed this June 22, 2018 citing the existence and risk of proliferation of weapons-usable fissile material on the Korean Peninsula and the actions and policies of the Government of North Korea continue to pose an unusual and extraordinary threat.

President Barack Obama

PHOTO: President Barack Obama signs the Every Student Succeeds Act, Dec. 10, 2015, in Washington, DC. (NurPhoto via Getty Images)

April 12, 2010: The National Emergency With Respect to Blocking Property of Certain Persons Contributing to the Conflict in Somalia was in respect to threats posed by Somali pirates.

February 25, 2011: The National Emergency With Respect to Blocking Property and Prohibiting Certain Transactions Related to Libya froze the assets of Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi.

July 25, 2011: The National Emergency With Respect to Blocking Property of Transnational Criminals was in response to the rise in crime by specific organizations: Los Zetas (Mexico), The Brothers Circle (former Soviet Union countries), the Yakuza (Japan), and the Camorra (Italy).

May 16, 2012: The National Emergency With Respect to Blocking Property of Persons Threatening the Peace, Security, or Stability of Yemen addressed political unrest within the Yemen government.

March 16, 2014: The National Emergency With Respect to Blocking Property of Certain Persons Contributing to the Situation in Ukraine was in response to the Russian invasion of Crimea.

April 3, 2014: The National Emergency With Respect to Blocking Property of Certain Persons With Respect to South Sudan was in response to the ongoing civil war.

May 12, 2014: The National Emergency With Respect to Blocking Property of Certain Persons Contributing to the Conflict in the Central African Republic was in response to violence towards humanitarian aid workers.

March 8, 2015: The National Emergency With Respect to Blocking Property and Suspending Entry of Certain Persons Contributing to the Situation in Venezuela was in response to human rights violations.

April 1, 2015: The National Emergency With Respect to Blocking the Property of Certain Persons Engaging in Significant Malicious Cyber-Enabled Activities was in response to Chinese cyber attacks on the U.S.

Nov 23, 2015: The National Emergency With Respect to Blocking Property of Certain Persons Contributing to the Situation in Burundi was declared after a failed coup.

President Donald Trump

PHOTO: President Donald Trump speaks from the Oval Office of the White House as he gives a prime-time address about border security, Jan. 8, 2018, in Washington. (Carlos Barria/AP)

Dec 20, 2017: The National Emergency With Respect to Blocking the Property of Persons Involved in Serious Human Rights Abuse or Corruption imposed sanctions on the Myanmar general for his role persecuting Rohingya Muslims.

Sept 12, 2018: The National Emergency With Respect to Imposing Certain Sanctions in the Event of Foreign Interference in a United States Election attempted to prevent any meddling with the 2018 midterm elections amid the ongoing investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election.

Nov 27, 2018: The National Emergency With Respect to Blocking Property of Certain Persons Contributing to the Situation in Nicaragua was declared by President Trump in response to violence and the Ortega regimes systematic dismantling and undermining of democratic institutions and the rule of law that constitutes an unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security and foreign policy of the United States.
Gaza City (Palestinian Territories) (AFP) - The military wing of Gaza's Hamas rulers said Saturday that the aim of a botched undercover Israeli operation in the Palestinian enclave aimed to plant spying devices in their communications network.

The November 11 special forces operation, which Israel said was an intelligence-gathering mission, turned deadly when the undercover soldiers were spotted near Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip.

The ensuing firefight claimed the lives of an Israeli army officer and seven Palestinian militants, including a local Hamas military commander.

A spokesman for the Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades said that 15 members of an elite Israeli military unit had infiltrated Gaza via the border fence and travelled in the enclave using cars disguised as vehicles belonging to a local charity.

Their goal was "establishing a spy system to eavesdrop on the communications network of the resistance in the Gaza Strip", Abu Obeida said, showing video footage of what he said was the soldiers in action.

Hamas also managed to capture equipment used by the group, Abu Obeida added, promising a million dollars to any local "collaborator" who would supply Hamas with information about the operation.

On Tuesday, Hamas said it had arrested 45 Gazan "collaborators" with Israel following the Khan Yunis incident.

Hamas had already published photos of eight people and two vehicles it said were linked to the operation, prompting the Israeli army censor to appeal to the public and media not to republish the images.

The incident prompted Hamas to vow revenge and sparked the deadliest flare-up between the two sides since a 2014 war.

A November 13 ceasefire brokered by Egypt ended the fighting that had raised fears of another war between Israel and Palestinian militants in Gaza.

Hamas and its allies have fought three wars with Israel since 2008 and the Gaza Strip has been under an Israeli blockade for more than a decade.

Israel says the measure is necessary to isolate Hamas and prevent it from obtaining weapons, though critics say it amounts to collective punishment of the territory's two million residents.
Jerusalem (AFP) - Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip fired a rocket at Israel late Saturday, Israel's army said, prompting retaliatory strikes on the territory's Islamist rulers Hamas as tensions rose after another day of violent border clashes.

"Earlier tonight, a rocket was launched from Gaza towards Israeli territory. In response, IDF fighter jets targeted two of Hamas' underground structures in the Gaza Strip," Israel Defense Forces tweeted.

"We will continue operating to defend Israeli civilians," it added.

Two targets in Gaza City were hit by the Israeli strikes and no one was harmed, security sources in Gaza said.

The clashes come a day after a Gaza woman was shot dead by Israeli forces during weekly protests and clashes along the Gaza border.

The health ministry named her as Amal al-Taramsi, 43, saying she was the third woman to die in months of clashes that have seen at least 241 Palestinians killed.

Another 25 Palestinians were wounded along the Israeli border in Friday's violence.

The Israeli army said that around 13,000 Palestinians had gathered in multiple sites along the border.

"The rioters have burned tyres and hurled blocks, explosive devices and grenades towards (Israeli) troops and at the Gaza Strip security fence," an army statement read.

The army also struck two positions belonging to Gaza's Islamist rulers Hamas on Friday, it said.

At least once a week since March, Palestinians have taken part in often violent protests with backing from Hamas.

Most of the Palestinians killed were shot in weekly clashes, but others have been hit by tank fire or airstrikes.

Protests have calmed in recent months amid an informal truce between Israel and Hamas.

Under the unwritten agreement, Israel has allowed Qatar to provide money and fuel to Hamas's government in Gaza in exchange for relative calm.

An expected delivery of new funds by Qatar did not arrive this week, sparking speculation Israel was holding it up.

On Monday, a rocket fired from Gaza hit Israel, prompting the Jewish state to carry out a series of air strikes against Hamas targets in the Palestinian enclave.
GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip (AP)  Israeli forces killed a Palestinian woman during mass protests on the Gaza frontier Friday, according to Palestinian medics, and the Israeli military said aircraft struck two Hamas posts in response to the violent demonstrations.

The violence at the protests, in which more than two dozen Palestinians and an Israeli soldier were wounded, threatened to complicate efforts by Egyptian mediators, who are trying to shore up a two-month-old cease-fire.

Ashraf al-Kidra, a spokesman for Gaza's Health Ministry, said Amal al-Taramsi, 43, was shot in the head during the protests. He said another 25 Palestinians were wounded by gunfire.

A witness, identifying herself only as Umm Yazan, said al-Taramsi was standing about 150 meters (yards) away from the fence. "She took a flag from a youth and before she moved, three gunshots rang out... she fell down," the woman told reporters at Gaza's al-Shifa hospital, where relatives of the woman gathered.

The Israeli military said some 13,000 protesters and rioters participated in several demonstrations along the fence, with some hurling rocks and firebombs at troops on the other side. The military said an Israeli soldier was struck by a rock and lightly wounded.

The military said protesters briefly crossed the frontier into Israel on three occasions before returning to Gaza. In one of the instances, the military said it fired toward them. It said it struck two Hamas posts in response to the violence.

There were no reports of casualties from the airstrikes.

Hamas has led mass demonstrations along the frontier every Friday since March, calling for the lifting of an Israeli and Egyptian blockade imposed on Gaza when the Islamic militant group seized power in 2007. The protesters burn tires and hurl rocks and firebombs at Israeli forces dug in behind sand berms on the other side of the fence.

More than 185 Palestinians and an Israeli soldier have been killed since the protests began. Israel says it only uses live fire to defend against attacks, but the Palestinians and rights groups accuse it of using excessive force.

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A botched Israeli commando operation ignited hostilities in November, with Hamas firing hundreds of rockets and Israel responding with a wave of airstrikes, in the most intense exchange of fire since the 2014 Gaza war.

Egypt brokered a cease-fire and has been trying to restore calm after a rocket attack earlier this month that caused no casualties. Israel responded to the attack by delaying the delivery of $15 million in Qatari aid, which is intended to pay Hamas civil servants and help preserve the calm.

In the occupied West Bank, meanwhile, the Israeli military said its forces shot and wounded a Palestinian who attempted to stab soldiers near a Jewish settlement outside the city of Hebron. The army said it evacuated the assailant for medical treatment.

The Palestinian Health Ministry said the man was in critical condition. No Israeli soldiers were harmed.

_____

Associated Press writer Isabel DeBre in Jerusalem contributed.
Megyn Kellys turbulent two-year run at NBC News is over as both sides reached an agreement Friday night on her exit from the network.

Terms of her departure were not disclosed, but people familiar with the negotiations said the former morning show host is leaving with the money she was owed on her contract, which is said to be about $30 million. Kelly is free to work for an NBC competitor.

The parties have resolved their differences, and Megyn Kelly is no longer an employee of NBC, a representative of NBC said.

The split follows 2 months of negotiations. The exit talks commenced after the TV news personality caused a furor with remarks she made on her now canceled show Megyn Kelly Today, in which she defended the use of blackface as a Halloween costume.

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Kelly apologized for her remarks, which were condemned online and on the air by NBC News colleagues. But Oct. 24 was her final day on air as the host of the 9 a.m. hour of the Today franchise that carried her name.

Today regulars, Al Roker, Craig Melvin, Dylan Dreyer and Sheinelle Jones have taken over the programs third hour, which has seen its audience grow since Kellys departure.

Kellys relationship with the network had deteriorated in recent months as Megyn Kelly Today lost viewers and brought negative coverage and reviews. The program had difficulty attracting big-name celebrity guests after Kelly made actress Jane Fonda uncomfortable with a question about her plastic surgery during her second day.

NBC News made a big bet on Kelly becoming its next signature star. The division poached her from Fox News in January 2017 with an annual salary reportedly in excess of $20 million a year.

The news division also took the extraordinary step of putting Kellys name in the title of her hour of the Today franchise. That has happened only one time in the programs 67-year history, when it was called The Dave Garroway Today Show in 1960. Garroway was the programs first host and one of televisions earliest superstars.

Kelly stumbled right out of the box for NBC when she tried a Sunday night prime-time magazine in the summer of 2017 that was intended to rival CBS vaunted 60 Minutes.

The program failed to draw audiences and generated controversy as well when it used breezy promos and social media posts to promote a segment on Alex Jones, the right-wing internet provocateur who espoused the false notion that the 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting in Connecticut was a hoax created to stir sentiment for stronger gun laws.

Kelly gained prominence at Fox News channel, where polarizing opinions and provocative views are a strong draw for audiences. But the conflict-driven conversation she specialized in was at odds with the feel-good atmosphere of morning television.

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Kelly tried to show a softer side on Megyn Kelly Today, by featuring human interest stories and presenting segments on food, consumer advice and health. When she was promoting her new program she proclaimed she was done with politics, even though that was what brought her to prominence at Fox News.

Despite her attempts to adjust her image, the host appeared to be most engaged when discussing provocative news topics on Megyn Kelly Today, especially the #MeToo movement. While she earned kudos for providing a platform for harassment victims, she began to rankle Today colleagues when she aggressively pursued segments on the sexual misconduct allegations against fired Today co-anchor Matt Lauer and the news divisions elder statesman Tom Brokaw.

But many in the TV news industry believe Kelly was a bad fit with Today from the start. Her high-profile flameout will be added to the litany of snafus NBC News has experienced over the last 15 months, which include the firing of Lauer and its public dispute with journalist Ronan Farrow over the decision not to run his reporting on the sexual harassment and assault allegations made against movie mogul Harvey Weinstein.

While the incidents have generated headlines and speculation about the leadership at NBC News, they have had no discernible effect on the business side of the division.

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Even with the big payout to Kelly, NBC News had a strong year financially in 2018 thanks largely to the continued audience growth of its cable channel MSNBC. The signature NBC News broadcast properties  Today, NBC Nightly News With Lester Holt and Meet the Press,  are all leaders in the 25-to-54 age group that advertisers covet.

Today accounts for $500 million annually in advertising revenue for NBC and was the most-watched morning program during the November sweeps rating period, with an average of 4.21 million viewers, topping ABCs Good Morning America (4.18 million).

NBC News Chairman Andy Lack championed Kellys hiring because she was the first big star to emerge in TV news in recent years, a status achieved largely because of her willingness to spar with President Trump at the first debate for the Republican presidential nomination in 2015. But the move also had strong support in the executive suite at NBC parent Comcast Corp.

Kelly had become the glamorous favorite in the mainstream press, which usually expresses disdain for the lineup of conservative Fox News personalities. Part of NBCs motivation for hiring her was that it could weaken Fox News and keep her away from competitors such as CNN or ABC, which had engaged in discussions with her.

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But Fox News did not miss Kelly when she left for NBC News. The channel remains a dominant ratings leader in cable news. Any interest CNN or ABC had in hiring Kelly waned before NBC became serious about pursuing her when she reached the end of her contract at Fox News.

While many news industry observers are questioning Lacks ability to hold onto his job after Kellys high-profile flop, there is no discussion about any imminent change in leadership at NBC News. Lack, 71, has at least two more years remaining on his contract with the network.

After failing to connect with NBCs audience, Kelly is not likely to land on another network anytime soon. She has been under contract at NBC and has not been on the market until the deal made Friday. But Fox News has already dampened speculation that she could return.

One veteran news executive who works for an NBC rival and spoke on the condition of anonymity speculated she could find opportunity at Sinclair Broadcast Group, the TV station owner that runs conservative-leaning commentary on its local outlets. But she would likely have to do it for the love of being on TV as the Maryland-based company is notoriously parsimonious.

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stephen.battaglio@latimes.com

Twitter: @SteveBattaglio
Paris (AFP) - Thousands of demonstrators turned out across France on Saturday for new protests against President Emmanuel Macron, amid a marked decline in violence despite dozens of arrests and clashes with police in Paris and other cities.

The ninth round of "yellow vest" rallies since November began calmly amid a heavy police deployment of some 80,000 officers nationwide, including 5,000 in the capital.

Many sang the "Marseillaise" national anthem, while others shouted "Macron resign!" or "Free Christophe," a reference to the ex-boxer filmed viciously beating two officers during last week's protest.

For the first time organisers of the Paris march deployed teams wearing white arm bands to corral the march that began near the Place de la Bastille.

"We're guiding the march to make sure they keep to the route and avoid confrontations, so they don't respond to police provocations," one of the "white bands," who gave his name as Anthony, told AFP.

But scores of protesters later clashed with riot police at the Arc de Triomphe in Paris, prompting volleys of tear gas and water cannon as security forces prevented them from reaching the heavily fortified Champs-Elysees.

The protesters began to disperse as night fell, however, and police began removing armoured vehicles and trucks in an atmosphere of relative calm -- TV images later showed a guitarist crooning not far from the police lines.

- 'Macron resign!' -

Around 32,000 people had hit the streets nationwide as of 2:00 pm (1300 GMT), the interior ministry said, up from 26,000 last week but still far below the nearly 300,000 when the "yellow vest" protests began two months ago.

And in Paris the prosecutor's office said 74 people had been detained for questioning by the afternoon, well above the 35 detained last Saturday, as participation rose to some 8,000 protesters from 3,500 last week.

Dozens were also arrested elsewhere including the central city of Bourges, the site of another major rally aimed at drawing people farther from the capital.

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"I get by on 1,200 euros ($1,380) a month, and taxes eat away at my savings every day. They're taking away everything we have," said "Vercingetorix," a 74-year-old retired archeologist dressed as the legendary Gallic resister to Roman rule.

"We want parliament dissolved. Macron has to stop ignoring us and realise how bad things are," said William Lebrethon, a 59-year-old construction worker amid signs saying "Macron resign!" and "France is angry."

A few hundred protesters later burned trash cans amid cat-and-mouse clashes with police in Bourges' historic centre, and skirmishes also broke out in Toulouse, Bordeaux, Lille and other cities.

The demonstrations also spilled over the border into eastern Belgium late on Friday, where one of around 25 protesters manning a blockade died after being hit by a truck, Belgian media reported.

And in London hundreds wearing yellow vests took to the streets as well, demanding a general election and an end to austerity programmes.

- 'Condescending and arrogant' -

The yellow vest movement, which began as protests over high fuel taxes, has snowballed into a wholesale rejection of Macron and his policies, which are seen as favouring the wealthy at the expense of rural and small-town France.

Officials had feared bigger and more violent protests than last week, when demonstrators rammed a forklift truck through the main doors of a government ministry in Paris.

But many demonstrators say the violence cuts both ways, pointing to social media footage of a police officer repeatedly striking an unarmed man on the ground during a protest last week in Toulon.

Macron has called for a national debate starting next week to hear voters' grievances, hoping to sate demands for more of a say in national law-making and tamp down the protesters' anger.

He has already unveiled a 10-billion-euro ($11.5 billion) financial relief package for low earners, and axed the planned fuel tax hike.

But the public consultations risk being hobbled by record levels of distrust towards politicians and representatives of the state.

A poll by the Cevipof political sciences institute released Friday showed 77 percent of respondents thought politicians inspired "distrust", "disgust" or "boredom".

And Macron may not have endeared himself to many voters on Friday, when he told a gathering at the Elysee Palace that "too many of our citizens think they can get something without making the necessary effort."

"I work 60 hours a week and don't even make the minimum wage!" said Maurice, a 60-year-old carpenter at a protest in Strasbourg.

"Macron goes too far, he's condescending and arrogant. We want the system to change," added his wife, declining to give her name.

burs/js/har

Video: Yellow Vest Protests Continue In France For 8th Straight Week
By Fatos Bytyci PRISTINA (Reuters) - A court examining war crimes against ethnic Serbs in Kosovo has asked several ex-commanders of the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) to attend a preliminary hearing next week, part of a process that could help calm tensions between Belgrade and Pristina. But the process also has the potential to trigger a political crisis in Kosovo, whose leaders are mostly ex-KLA commanders. Kosovars mostly view the former fighters as heroes for battling Serb forces in the 1998-99 independence war and fear they could be indicted. The Specialist Chamber was set up in The Hague in 2015 to handle cases of alleged crimes by KLA guerrillas during the war that led to Kosovo's secession from Serbia. Kosovo's Western allies have insisted that Pristina cooperate with the court. "I never went to Belgrade to fight but I did fight to protect my country," Sabahajdin Cena, one of the ex-KLA commanders asked to testify next week, told Reuters. "This court is trying to equate the victim with the aggressor," said Cena, who will testify in Pristina. Ex-KLA commanders Sami Lushtaku and Rrustem Mustafa confirmed they would travel to The Hague to testify next week. Local Kosovo media said one veteran KLA fighter had gone into hiding when he received his invitation to attend. "HUGE IMPACT" Kosovo's President Hashim Thaci, Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj and parliamentary speaker Kadri Veseli are all former KLA commanders and could potentially be indicted by the court or called as witnesses, Kosovo media have reported. A 2011 report that led to the creation of the court linked Thaci and some other leading Kosovo figures to gruesome wartime crimes against Serbs, including trade in organs harvested from prisoners of war. Thaci has denied any wrongdoing. "Any eventual invitation to the main leaders will have a huge impact on the image of the country," said Imer Mushkolaj, a political analyst in Pristina. It was not clear how many ex-fighters have been asked to testify in the first hearing and how many of them would travel to the Netherlands to do so. The special prosecutor's office in The Hague, contacted by Reuters, declined to comment on this or future hearings or to say whether they might result in any indictments. The office has the authority "to request the presence of and to question suspects, victims and witnesses, if necessary summonsing these persons, collect and examine information and evidence", spokesperson Christopher Bennett told Reuters. As well as the killing of Serbs, the court will also investigate the killing of some Albanians who were seen as collaborating with the Serbian authorities at that time. The Specialist Chamber is governed by Kosovo law, but is staffed by international judges and prosecutors. It is funded by the European Union, which both Kosovo and Serbia hope to join. The court sits in The Hague partly to help ensure protection of witnesses. Previous cases involving high-ranking former KLA officers have seen witness intimidation. The KLA rose up against Serbian strongman Slobodan Milosevic in the last 1990s, eventually winning crucial NATO air support that halted the killing and expulsion of Kosovo Albanian civilians during a brutal counter-insurgency campaign. Kosovo, with a 90 percent ethnic Albanian majority, declared independence from Serbia in 2008 and has been recognized by over 110 states, but not by five EU member states, Serbia or Russia. Relations between Kosovo and Serbia remain tense, but the EU has told both countries they will not be allowed to join the bloc unless they normalize relations. (Reporting by Fatos Bytyci; additional reporting by Stephanie van den Berg in the Hague; Editing by Ivana Sekularac and Gareth Jones)
By Alex Dobuzinskis (Reuters) - Florida Governor Ron DeSantis pledged on Thursday to speak about government accountability at the headquarters of the Broward County sheriff, following speculation he would suspend the official over the police response to the Parkland mass shooting. DeSantis planned to speak about "holding government officials accountable" on Friday in Fort Lauderdale, at the offices of Broward County Sheriff Scott Israel, DeSantis' office said in a statement. The website Politico and the Miami Herald newspaper, citing unnamed sources, reported on Thursday that DeSantis planned to suspend Israel and replace him with a former police sergeant from the Broward County city of Coral Springs. DeSantis, a Republican, while campaigning last year, had expressed interest in suspending Israel over the massacre at the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, in which 14 students and three adults were shot to death by a lone gunman. A spokesman for DeSantis declined to comment on media reports that the governor planned to suspend Israel. DeSantis was scheduled to visit Broward County on Friday with the lieutenant governor and the state attorney general, who is the top law enforcement official in Florida. The Parkland massacre on Feb. 14, 2018 was the deadliest mass shooting at a high school in U.S. history. Some parents of students at the high school have criticized Israel and called for his removal, according to local media. Some Broward County sheriff's deputies held back too long as shots were fired at the school in the massacre, instead of rushing toward the gunfire, according to a 485-page report released last week by a state-appointed commission. Broward County Sheriff's Office training on active shooters was inadequate, according to the report, which also recommended arming teachers and spending more on school security and mental health to prevent similar mass shootings. A spokesman for Israel could not be reached for comment on Thursday. The sheriff, a Democrat, on Thursday tweeted a photo of himself at a desk, saying "still doing the job the voters of Broward County elected me to do!" Broward County sheriff's deputy Scot Peterson, who was assigned as the school's resource officer, resigned last year. He was captured on video staying outside the school during the shooting, which lasted several minutes. Israel, in an interview with CNN less than two weeks after the shooting, described himself as "disgusted" with Peterson's performance but defended himself. "It's not the responsibility of the general or the president if you have a deserter." (Reporting by Alex Dobuzinskis in Los Angeles; Editing by Jacqueline Wong)
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP)  New Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis suspended Broward County Sheriff Scott Israel on Friday over his handling of February's massacre at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, saying he "repeatedly failed and has demonstrated a pattern of poor leadership."

The Republican governor flew to Fort Lauderdale three days after taking office to remove the Democratic sheriff, appointing a former police sergeant to serve as acting sheriff. Gregory Tony, 40, worked for Coral Springs police for 12 years before leaving in 2016 to start a company specializing in active-shooter training. He is the first African-American to serve as Broward's sheriff.

DeSantis said during a news conference outside the sheriff's office headquarters that Israel failed to keep families and children safe before and during the Feb. 14 shooting that left 14 students and three staff members dead inside the three-story freshman building.

"The neglect of duty and incompetence that was connected to the massacre at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School has been well documented, and I have no interest in dancing on Scott Israel's political grave," DeSantis said. "Suffice it to say, the massacre might never have happened had Broward had better leadership in the sheriff's department."

During the shooting, then-Broward Deputy Scot Peterson, who was assigned to the school, drew his gun but took cover instead of charging inside. Seven other deputies who arrived within minutes also failed to enter, even as officers from neighboring Coral Springs went into the building.

Israel earlier changed the office's policy from saying deputies "shall" confront active shooters to "may." He said he didn't want to deputies to undertake suicide missions. Deputies also received two calls about suspect Nikolas Cruz in the months before the massacre saying he had amassed an arsenal and was a potential school shooter, but took no action.

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Minutes after DeSantis' announcement, Israel said he "wholeheartedly" rejected the governor's order and would fight it in court, arguing that DeSantis was making a "power grab" against the will of the county's people who elected him. He said DeSantis was acting on behalf of the National Rifle Association, which quickly blamed the sheriff's office after the shooting.

"There was no wrongdoing on my part. I served the county honorably," he said. "False narratives may continue, but not in a court of law. In a court of law, only the facts matter."

Under Florida law, the governor can suspend elected officials for criminal activity, misfeasance, incompetence or neglect of duty. If Israel challenges the suspension, the state Senate would hold a trial and could either fire or reinstate him. DeSantis' Republican predecessor, now-U.S. Sen. Rick Scott, refused to suspend Israel, saying he wanted to wait until investigations were completed.

Fred Guttenberg, whose 14-year-old daughter Jaime was fatally shot as she ran down a third-floor hallway, inches from the safety of the stairwell, said she and other third-floor victims could have been saved if Peterson or other deputies had gone inside immediately.

"One more second and she makes it," Guttenberg said. "If anybody wants to know what failure means and lack of response (means), my daughter would have lived if someone had given her one more second."

Andrew Pollack, whose 18-year-old daughter Meadow died on the third floor trying to protect a younger student who also died, said "when eight BSO deputies listened to shots fired in a school and stayed outside they were following Sheriff Israel's policies."

A 15-member state commission that recently completed its initial report on the shooting said deputies also had about 20 contacts with Cruz as a juvenile  mostly over arguments with his now-deceased mother. Israel has said none of those contacts warranted an arrest. Law enforcement members of the state commission investigating the shooting have agreed with that conclusion.

But commissioners also concluded that the department's active shooter training had not been effective. Still, Pinellas County Sheriff Bob Gualtieri, the commission's chairman, and other law enforcement officials on the panel have said they didn't think Israel should be suspended.

Israel, 62, was elected sheriff in 2012 after a long career in law enforcement. After taking office, Israel, a Republican until changing parties shortly before running in 2008, received criticism over his friendship with notorious GOP operative Roger Stone, for promoting Stone's inexperienced stepson to detective and for accepting gifts from a wealthy benefactor.

However, community leaders praised his work with the homeless, minority and gay communities. Violent crime went down, and he easily won re-election in 2016 to oversee the county's 2,800 deputies.

Shortly after Israel's second term began, a man retrieved a handgun from his luggage at Fort Lauderdale's airport and opened fire, killing five. While Israel's deputies apprehended him within 72 seconds, the draft of a county report said Israel and others didn't control the chaos, leaving passengers huddled in fear for hours. He criticized the draft, and the final version was less harsh  but many of the same communications problems that plagued the airport response were repeated at Stoneman Douglas.
Reuters

GENEVA/MOSCOW (Reuters) -Don't expect a major breakthrough at a summit on Wednesday between U.S. President Joe Biden and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin, a U.S. official said on Tuesday, given relations between Washington and Moscow are their most strained in years. The two leaders are expected to talk for four of five hours, the U.S. official said. Both leaders say they hope the Geneva meeting, their first in-person encounter since Biden became president in January, can lead to stable and predictable relations, even though they remain at odds over everything from Syria to Ukraine.
It was billed as a Capitol Hill memorial to honor Jamal Khashoggi on the 100th day since his murder at the hands of Saudi government operatives, and other journalists killed or imprisoned in the line of duty.

But as U.S. lawmakers and others took turns Thursday evening in issuing generic condemnations of dictators with checkbooks and to hail freedom of speech, it became apparent that, even at an event commemorating Khashoggis life, criticism of the House of Saud remained just as treacherous a political minefield as it was throughout his career.

I know were not supposed to talk about Saudi Arabia here, Rep. Michael McCaul, R-Texas, told the invite-only crowd in one of the Capitols ornate meeting rooms, before vowing that he and his House Foreign Affairs Committee colleagues stand committed to protect the rights of the press.

Then Rep. Tom Malinowski, D-NJ, stepped to the lectern and excoriated Saudi leadership, singling out Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for his suspected lead role in Khashoggis murder and the chaos this man has sown, from the war in Yemen to the blockade of Qatar.

As the author of the crime, the man who ordered it, [he] must be held accountable, said Malinowski, a firebrand former human rights advocate and State Department official. If we decide that he is too powerful or that our relationship with him is too important to speak the truth, then he owns us, and Saudi Arabia owns America, and I cannot accept that as a member of Congress.

Malinowski then called on the White House to use the Global Magnitsky Act to warn the House of Saud that while you may choose your own leaders, you might want to consider the consequences of giving the keys to your kingdom for the next 50 years to someone who will be forever tainted by this crime.

And if the administration wont do whats right, Congress can and I think Congress will, Malinowski told the assembled GOP and Democratic lawmakers and human rights activists. We can and should wipe the smug smile of impunity off Mohammed bin Salmans face, and restore proper balance to our relationship with Saudi Arabia.

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Afterward, as the VIP guests mingled and went out into a mostly shut-down Washington, several approached Malinowski to congratulate him for being the only one to call out MBS, as the de-facto Saudi leader is known. I didnt get the memo, he replied to one friend and a reporter.

Malinowski was joking, he said. It turns out, though, that there was such an edict, or rather an informal but mostly honored request that speakers refrain from criticizing Saudi Arabia or engaging in related geopolitical commentary.

Rep. McCaul declined to comment on who initially made the request, as did some event organizers and participants on Friday. They did say it didnt come from the office of Rep. Adam Schiff, a key Democrat from California praised Thursday for helping organize the event. It also didnt come from the two initial organizers, Khashoggi friend and author Lawrence Wright and former FBI Special Agent Ali Soufan, numerous participants said.

Wright, the author of the acclaimed book The Looming Tower: Al-Qaeda and the Road to 9/11, said some of the initial concerns may have arisen when The Washington Post, which published Khashoggis columns, wanted to participate but was initially worried that it would turn into a Saudi-bashing. Ultimately, though, the Post ran a full-page newspaper ad Thursday honoring the 100 days with a huge photo of MBS. And in remarks at the event itself, Post Publisher Fred Ryan said the brutality of Jamals murder  extends to Saudi efforts to cover it up, and our governments apparent willingness to accept these repeated lies

But several people involved in planning and promoting the event confirmed that speakers were asked to steer clear of Saudi Arabia and keep their remarks non-political.

We all wanted the focus of the event to be on Mr. Khashoggis life, his work and his legacy as well as on journalists that are under threat worldwide, said one congressional staffer. Ultimately, the event was a celebration of his life and a call to protect freedom of the press.

Another participating Hill staffer said event hosts wanted the focus to be on press freedom and protecting journalists, and that it not turn into a debate on U.S.-Saudi policy.

I didnt see anything coming close to an edict,' the second staffer said, just a respectful request to that end. Both staffers spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the event.

For Malinwoski, the irony of celebrating a martyr to press freedom with an event that called for self-censorship was hard to ignore. In an interview Friday, he said he singled out MBS and other Saudi leaders because he believes it is impossible to condemn the silencing of journalists without also condemning those responsible for it.

Killing Khashoggi inside a Saudi consulate in Istanbul last Oct. 2 wasnt just another in a long line of attacks on journalists, he said, but rather something very different, and particularly dangerous to all of us  an attack on the sovereignty of another country and an outrageous misuse of the diplomatic status of a foreign embassy.

During the event, lawmakers from both sides of the aisle presented no new information about their inquiries into the Khashoggi case, or their efforts to hold Saudi Arabia accountable.

But many pledged to take forceful action to protect and defend journalists, including several senior House Democrats who are now leading influential committees with oversight of issues related to the oil-rich Gulf kingdom.

As incoming chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, Schiff has expressed a keen interest in getting more answers from Riyadh about Khashoggis case. But he did not raise the issue in detail Thursday, focusing instead on journalists.

Khashoggi was just one of at least 53 journalists targeted and killed in 2018, with many other cases largely unknown, said Schiff, who co-founded the International Freedom of the Press Caucus in 2006.

We will not stand idly by, he added. Not when Jamal Khashoggi is lured to a ruthless death. Not when journalists in Mexico are shot in the streets. Not when an American journalist, Austin Tice, is believed alive and held hostage in Syria for six years.

Rep. Eliot Engel, the New York Democrat now chairing the powerful House Foreign Affairs Committee, also vowed to protect and defend journalists and the cause of free speech.

He too steered clear of criticizing Saudi Arabia for a murder for which it has admitted responsibility, saying instead that, there needs to be accountability for his murder. His loved ones deserve justice. And we lawmakers have an obligation to push for that justice.

Like other speakers, Engel provided no specifics of what steps Congress might take to achieve such ends.

Privately, however, Engel has committed to a top-to-bottom review of U.S. policy toward Saudi Arabia, one of the congressional staffers told TIME on Friday. The staffer added that they were not 100 percent sure what that will look like, but stay tuned.
Khartoum (AFP) - Anti-government protests that have rocked Sudan since last month have left 24 people dead, an official said on Saturday, without specifying how they died.

Demonstrations that erupted in the provinces on December 19 after the government tripled the price of bread have escalated into nationwide anti-government rallies, with protesters calling for President Omar al-Bashir to resign.

"The total number of people who have died in incidents from December 19 until now is 24," Amer Ibrahim, head of a panel set up by the prosecutor's office to investigate the violence during these rallies told reporters.

Authorities had earlier said that 22 people, including two security personnel, had been killed in the unrest.

Ibrahim said that two additional protesters who were being treated in hospital in Gadaraf, an impoverished agricultural town, had passed away, taking the overall death toll to 24.

He did not give details on the cause of the protesters' deaths.

Rights groups have put the overall death toll much higher, with Human Rights Watch saying that at least 40 people have been killed in clashes during the demonstrations, including children and medical staff.

Protesters have staged hundreds of demonstrations so far but riot police and security agents have broken up their rallies with volleys of tear gas.

Rights groups and the European Union have said that security forces used "live ammunition" on protesters.

The European Union said Friday that the "use of force by security forces against civilians - including the use of live ammunition - has led to further casualties over the last few days".

Sudan's own human rights body has condemned the killing "by bullets" of protesters, but stopped short of saying who fired the deadly rounds.

Bashir has blamed the violence during the protests on "conspirators" without naming them.

The protests first erupted in towns and villages before spreading to the capital, with angry crowds calling for an end to Bashir's three decades in power.
Hodeida (Yemen) (AFP) - Clashes erupted between Huthi rebels and government forces in Yemen's flashpoint port city of Hodeida on Saturday, dealing a new blow to a fragile truce, an AFP correspondent reported.

Artillery and machine-gun exchanges rocked the southern part of Hodeida in early morning before tapering off later in day, the correspondent said.

The rebel-held port city, which is a lifeline for the delivery of desperately needed humanitarian aid, was for months the main front line in the Yemeni conflict after government forces supported by Saudi Arabia and its allies launched an offensive to capture it in June.

But last month the warring parties agreed a ceasefire for Hodeida during UN-sponsored talks in Sweden.

The United Nations has said the truce has largely held since it came into force on December 18 but there have been delays in the agreed pullback of rebel and government forces.

The Huthis control most of Hodeida while government forces are deployed on its southern and eastern outskirts.

Since the Saudi-led military coalition intervened in support of the government in March 2015, the conflict has killed nearly 10,000 people and unleashed the world's worst humanitarian crisis, according to the United Nations.

UN aid officials say 80 percent of the population -- 24 million people -- are in need of aid and nearly 10 million are just one step away from famine.

UN aid coordinator Lise Grande visited Hodeida on Friday and met local officials, the head of Yemen's National Authority for the Administration and Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, Jaber al-Razahi, said.

"The reason for the visit of UN humanitarian coordinator Lisa Grande to Hodeida is to see the humanitarian situation... and ensure the arrival of aid through the port," Eazahi said.
China is seeking consular access for Huawei employee Wang Weijing who was arrested in Poland over espionage allegations, state media reported on Saturday.

Citing China's foreign ministry of affairs, state broadcaster CCTV said Beijing is "closely following" the detention of Wang Weijing and has asked to arrange a consular visit "as soon as possible".

The Chinese embassy in Poland has also asked Warsaw to "effectively ensure the legitimate rights and interests, and humanitarian and safe treatment of the person involved."

A Polish man was also arrested for alleged espionage along with Wang on Tuesday. Both men are suspected of having "worked for Chinese services and to the detriment of Poland," said Polish special services spokesman Stanislaw Zaryn.

He said their apartments and workplaces were searched, adding that the Polish suspect had worked "for several state institutions".

According to the LinkedIn profile of "Stanislaw Wang" -- Wang's Polish name, according to Polish media TVP -- the detained Huawei employee worked at the Chinese consulate in Gdansk, Poland prior to his tenure at the Chinese tech firm.

At Huawei, Wang worked as a public relations director for more than five years before moving into his current role as sales director in 2017.

He is a graduate of the Beijing University of Foreign Studies.

The arrest of Wang is the latest setback for Huawei.

The firm's chief financial officer Meng Wanzhou, was arrested in Canada last month on request from the United States, who have accused her of violating Iranian sanctions.

Following her arrest two Canadians were detained in China on grounds of national security, in what has largely been seen as retaliation for the case.

The incident has also sparked a surge of patriotism in China with companies encouraging staff to buy Huawei smartphones -- and several companies even offering employee subsidies to buy phones from the home-grown company.

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Huawei in December said it expects to see a 21 percent rise in revenue for 2018 despite what it called "unfair treatment" around the world, as several countries have banned Huawei telecommunications technology.

Last month, Britain's largest mobile provider BT said that it would remove Huawei equipment from its cellular network after the foreign intelligence service called the company a security risk.

Australia and New Zealand have also enacted similar bans, leaving Canada the only country in the "Five Eyes" intelligence network not to take steps against the Chinese firm.
By Dan Whitcomb

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - A California man has been arrested in connection to rapes committed in the 1990s after his DNA was linked to the crime scenes through commercial genealogy websites, which initially turned up the both the suspect and his twin, police said on Friday.

Kevin Konther, 53, was taken into custody on Thursday at his home in Southern California and booked on suspicion of rape, kidnapping and child sexual abuse, Orange County Sheriff's spokeswoman Carrie Braun said. One of the victims was nine years old at the time of the attack.

Konther was identified as a suspect by sheriff's detectives using techniques similar to those used in recent years to help solve a number of older crimes. Last year, a 73-year-old former police officer was arrested over the 'Golden State Killer' string of murders and rapes across California in the 1970s and 1980s.

In investigating the 1990s rapes, which were committed in Orange County, investigators working with the Federal Bureau of Investigation compared DNA samples collected at two crime scenes to that found on the websites used by consumers to trace their ancestry, Braun said.

Detectives use the sites to follow the family trees of matches, seeking blood relatives who roughly fit the profile of the suspected criminal.

Both Konther and his twin brother were taken into custody on Thursday before investigators identified Konther as the suspect and released his brother, who has not been publicly identified, Braun said. She declined to name the website used or the family member whose DNA led to the suspect.

Konther was being held in lieu of $1 million bail pending an initial court appearance scheduled for Monday, where he will be arraigned on two counts of felony rape, oral copulation on a child under the age of 14, lewd and lascivious acts on a child under 14 and aggravated sexual assault.

The sheriff's department asked the public to come forward with any information about the case. It was not immediately clear if Konther had retained an attorney.

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The nine-year-old victim was walking home from a Lake Forest, California convenience store on the evening of October 21, 1995, when a man pulled her into a wooded area and raped her, according to the sheriff's department.

Three years later, a 31-year-old woman jogging on a trail in Mission Viejo, California, was pulled her into the bushes by a man who raped her before fleeing.

Both victims reported the attacks to police but for more than two decades the DNA collected did not match any suspects in an FBI database, Braun said.

(Reporting by Dan Whitcomb, Editing by Rosalba O'Brien)
Teaching in Seoul circa 1955.



By Robert Neff





Fred Dustin as a young soldier in Korea circa 1952.

In 1952, Frederic H. Dustin, a young American soldier, arrived in Korea and served for 13 months. Despite the destruction and hardship he witnessed, he found a beauty that drew him in.



Years later, when asked when and why he fell in love with Korea, he would bristle and deny he had, but his actions dispelled his claims. His photographs from the Korean War rarely contained images of despair or destruction but concentrated on the innocence of youth (Korean children and young soldiers  Korean and American) while others captured the efforts of civilians to go about their daily lives despite the war.



After the war, Dustin returned to the United States, completed his degree in education, and came back to Korea in 1955 to teach at what is now Yonsei University. Like many young men, he was adventurous and flittered through several occupations seeking himself. He worked at a gold mine in the southern part of the country, tried his hand as a copy editor for a newspaper, raised poultry, worked for an NGO group and even sold fish.



Dustin confided to me on several occasions (and then later denied  depending on his mood) that one of the reasons he had become a gold miner was to escape the attentions of a girl from back home who had followed him to Korea in hopes of marrying him. Dustin was not ready for marriage and quickly introduced her to a friend and then made good his escape to the isolated mountains where the mine was located. He didn't return until the young lady was married to his friend.





The wedding of Fred and Marie-Louis Dustin, May 1, 1971.





Marie-Louis and their old truck, circa September 1972.

He always claimed he valued his freedom but his own words in his letters and diaries convey a deep lonesomeness  a feeling of always being on the outside.



This all changed one morning in August 1968. While strolling along a beach in southern Korea he met Marie-Louis Gephardt. She was, according to Dustin, a lanky girl and not overly beautiful but there was something special about her. They were certainly an odd couple. He was a rough adventurer  heavy smoking and hard drinking  seeking a way to make a living in Korea while she was a Lutheran missionary  devoted to her faith (Dustin always liked to remind me that she was a "moderate Lutheran" and so she accepted him even with all his faults).



They dated a couple of years before Dustin proposed marriage. It is a shame he never deigned to tell me how and where he proposed  perhaps it was too personal or special to share.



They were married in Seoul on May 1, 1971. The smiles of happiness they wore masked the fears and sadness they held in their hearts. Marriage is always filled with sacrifices and challenges but few people are forced to face them before the wedding.



During her pre-marriage physical, Marie-Louis was diagnosed with terminal cancer. The doctor believed that, at best, she had two years to live.



Despite the dire prognosis, the two decided to go on with their wedding with the stipulation that they move to Jeju Island where Dustin owned 30 acres of stone and grass. Here he would build her a "dream house in the country" where she could concentrate on her writing during her finals days.





Marie-Louis in front of their house on Jeju, circa September 1972.



They arrived on Jeju Island in June 1971. The land was covered with nothing but stones and grass and they were forced to live in a tent "with no water except what we carried from the village or found after rain; no food except after an hour bus ride to Jeju City's market." It was a life filled "with hardships and challenges as only an adventure can be."



Over the next two years the homestead improved. An old truck was purchased for a couple of hundred dollars, the exterior of the house was completed, trees were planted and a wall of stone placed around a neat little yard of grass. But Marie-Louis' health did not improve and grew worse daily.



Marie-Louis never got to see the house completely finished before she died in August 1973  she had returned to the United States in her final few months for treatment and to be near her father. For her father, a Lutheran minister, it must have been extremely difficult. His own wife, Marie-Louis' mother, had died at the same age as his daughter from the same type of cancer.





The house with the pecan tree  it has been trimmed in this picture. Circa 2015



For Dustin, it was devastating. "I was pretty much a wreck relying on magnums of soju and [makgeolli] to get me through the days and nights," he confessed. And yet, he still had to go on.



His father-in-law, realizing the pain, sent Dustin several pecan tree seeds to plant in her memory in front of the house. Most of them died but one thrived and over the next four decades grew so much that it towered over the house.



It was the first thing that greeted him in the morning as he left for the maze and was a constant reminder of the loss of his wife. Many of his guests seemed unaware of the significance it played in his life.



Dustin never remarried. His loneliness was kept at bay by the thousands of guests at the maze, friends and employees, and his legions of feline friends. He amused himself with acts of philanthropy  too many to mention  and pet projects. And, fortunately for me, sharing tales of his past.





The path leading to the house  all of the trees were planted by Dustin. Circa 2015.



Several years ago, I wrote: "Like the pecan tree in his yard, Dustin's roots on Jeju Island run deep and he will long be remembered not just for the success of the maze but for his successful role as a member of his community."



Not too long after I wrote that, the tree's towering height was deemed a threat to the home. There was a real possibility that one of the frequent storms would cause it to fall onto the house and destroy it  possibly killing Dustin and his beloved cats. So, it was decided to cut most of it down.



After the tree was trimmed down, Dustin expressed the feeling that it seemed wrong  that perhaps it was a portent of something. He didn't use the word evil, but instead just let his voice fall off.



Last year, on May 5 (Children's Day), Jeju lost a long-time foreign resident and philanthropist and I lost a friend and mentor. Today (January 12) would have been his 89th birthday and I will remember him by eating popcorn and drinking grape juice (one of his favorite snacks) and remembering all the tales he told me while we sat in front of his wood stove.



Rest in peace my old friend.





Dustin loved books, his library was filled with them. Circa 2015





The old wood stove that provided heat and a setting for memories of the past to be retold. Circa 2015.
OUAGADOUGOU (Reuters) - Burkina Faso's parliament voted on Friday to extend a state of emergency by six months in several northern provinces where attacks by Islamist militants have surged in recent months, including one on Thursday that killed 12 people. The government said the latest attack was carried out by three dozen jihadists on the town of Gasseliki in Soum province near the Malian border. Two Gasseliki residents told Reuters that the men opened fire and set fire to shops in town. Burkina Faso imposed the state of emergency on Dec. 31 after militants killed 10 gendarmes in a single attack. Security has deteriorated in Burkina as jihadists - including many based in Mali - seek to increase their influence across the poorly policed scrublands of the Sahel region just south of the Sahara Desert. An attack last week set off a bout of ethnic violence that killed dozens of civilians, raising fears the militants are looking to replicate a tactic they have employed in Mali to bolster their support among certain communities. (Reporting by Thiam Ndiaga; Writing by Juliette Jabkhiro; Editing by Aaron Ross)
Myriad challenges face educators, especially those working in public schools: low and stagnant pay, benefits that dont cut it, and contending with a challenging political climate. Now, after years of a national teacher shortage, it looks like those challenges are coming to a head. The wave of high-profile teacher strikes that rocked the country in 2018 is showing no signs of receding, with a strike by thousands of teachers in the Los Angeles Unified School District already slated for next Monday. And according to new data from the US Department of Labor, more US educators left their jobs in the first 10 months of 2018 than ever before.

Each month, an average of 83 of 10,000 teachers and other public school employees (including staff like school psychologists, janitors, and community college instructors) quit during the first 10 months of 2018  a 10 percent increase from 2017. Its also a sizable jump from 2009, when the average monthly rate at which education workers left their jobs was 48 per every 10,000.

The Wall Street Journal notes that while a competitive labor market has bumped job mobility across industries, the fact that its happening in education to its current extent is notable; people tend to be attracted to jobs in schools because of the relative stability these roles offer and are thus less likely to move around. But teachers were laid off in droves during the Great Recession, and while theres been an uptick in teacher hirings in recent years, it hasnt been enough to make up for all the teachers who lost their jobs, according to two 2016 reports from the nonprofit and nonpartisan Learning Policy Institute.

Teaching has long been a resource-strained and underpaid profession, so additional financial constraints on school districts over the last decade have hit hard and are giving teachers more cause for apprehension. Joe Gondolfi, a high school English teacher for Chicago Public Schools (CPS), tells Brit + Co that his number-one worry for the teaching profession right now is the erosion of labor rights.

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Really since the beginning of education in the US, the profession of teaching has been somewhat embattled in a variety of ways, and because of that, its important that we have that collective power, Gondolfi says. My biggest concern is the risk of teachers unions going the way of other big unions, which is to say theyll be basically non-existent and lose all their power.

These fears are well-founded. Teachers unions have been subjected to aggressive union-busting around the country in recent years. An infamous recent example of this was when the state of Wisconsin passed legislation that decimated the collective bargaining rights of unions in 2011. In the years after this legislation, Act 10, passed, teachers salaries have fallen and benefits declined sharply. The rate of teachers who left the profession between 2010 and 2011 rose drastically (from 6.4 percent to 10.5 percent) compared to the previous academic year, according to CNN.

Teachers in Wisconsin are now also slightly less experienced than they were before Act 10. In the 2010-2011 school year, the average Wisconsin teacher had 14.6 years of experience on the job, whereas during 2015-2016, teachers had an average of 13.9 years of experience. Gondolfi says that politicians like to talk a big game about how important it is to have qualified, excellent teachers in classrooms, but when it comes down to footing the bill, they want a body in a room. Concern over the shortage of qualified teachers was also raised by Learning Policy Institute president Linda Darling-Hammond in a 2016 interview with NPR.

The Trump administration has compounded the vulnerability of teachers unions by implementing, or attempting to implement, a large swath of measures that inhibit workers rights. Notably, Trump signed a bill in September that cuts funding for the National Labor Relations Board, the government body that has traditionally enforced unions legal rights.

Inside classrooms, the volatile political climate under Trump has posed additional challenges. Evelyn Rebollar, an English teacher at the Bronx Arena High School in New York, tells us that the day after Trump was elected to office, she wrote a letter to her students in order to reassure them that they would remain safe and respected in her classroom, regardless of factors like their sexual orientation, immigration status, race, or religion.

[A]s en educator I feel like I constantly have to remind them through both classroom structures and built relationships that they have no need to worry about that within the schools walls, Rebollar says.

At a school where 97 percent of the student body belongs to a racial minority group, and nearly three-quarters come from economically disadvantaged households, the presidents racist jargon and policy measures have put many of Rebollars students on edge. Rebollar, who has been a teacher for eight years, has altered her curriculum as a response.

In past years, I tended to shy away from explicitly political texts, focusing on fiction or informational scientific pieces in my classroom, she says. But this school year, Rebollar is implementing a political reading list and an emphasis on research and analysis so [students] know which information to trust and how it applies to the country and themselves.

While teachers like Rebollar make changes in the classroom to meet new demands imposed by political discourse, other teachers across the country have taken action to pursue better treatment.

In February 2018, some 20,000 teachers and public school employees in West Virginia went on a wildcat strike (a strike that is not officially condoned by a unions leadership) as they demanded higher wages and improved health care benefits. West Virginia was the first state to see teacher strikes last year, and other teachers unions soon took actions of their own. Strikes spread around the country, leading to teacher walkouts and demonstrations in Oklahoma, Arizona, Colorado, and North Carolina.

Additional school districts, besides Los Angeles, are prepared to go on strike in 2019. According to Education Week, Oakland school teachers may also go on strike this year; some teachers in the district already participated in a wildcat strike at the end of 2018.

Amid strikes and political threats, teachers are still contending with the day-to-day challenges that come with the profession. Gondolfi tells us that, while its thought of as a bit of a cliche, teachers really do play many roles in the classroom that exceed teaching content to students. He says that he also regularly plays the role of a counselor to students who are struggling with issues that arent necessarily related to school. This is the work teachers sign up for, which is made harder by the reduction of rights and compensation.

Despite some teachers decision to leave the profession this past year, many who remain are continuing to fight to maintain their union rights, demand better pay, and defend their students safety and opportunity to learn. After the streak of successful teachers strikes in 2018, and with more policy challenges surely in store, teachers are poised to once again make bold stands for themselves and the entire profession.

What do you think? Tell us on Twitter @BritandCo.

(Photos via iStock + Ronen Tivony/NurPhoto for Getty Images)

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Alone at UN, Pompeo blasts Iran nuclear deal, but searches for common ground on missile threat originally appeared on abcnews.go.com

The U.S. was alone at the United Nations Security Council in blasting the Iran nuclear deal Wednesday, as the U.N., European Union, and several European allies praised the agreement for preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon and expressed disappointment in the U.S. decision to withdraw, one month after all of its sanctions snapped back into place on Iran.

Speaking before the Security Council, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo urged the U.N. to reimpose a ban on Iran on all ballistic missile activity, saying afterwards, "Now it's time for the Security Council to get serious about this real risk from proliferation from the Iranian regime."

"We clearly see that the JCPOA didn't succeed in stopping this malign activity," he added, using an acronym for the deal's formal name, the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action.

(MORE: Trump announces US withdrawing from Iran nuclear deal )

But while almost all 15 other members expressed concern with Iran's ballistic missiles, they mostly voiced continued support for the deal and criticized the U.S. "challenges" to it.

"The JCPOA faces considerable challenges following the withdrawal by the United States and the re-imposition of sanctions against Iran. The E.U. and all 28 member states deeply regretted these U.S. decisions," said Serge Christiane, a senior diplomat with the E.U. delegation at the U.N. who went on to "express sincere thanks" to Iran "for their unwavering commitment to the nuclear deal."

PHOTO: A long-range S-200 missile is fired in a military drill in the port city of Bushehr, on the northern coast of Persian Gulf, Iran, Dec. 29, 2016. (Amir Kholousi, ISNA via AP, FILE)

Pompeo dismissed the differences as confined to the nuclear deal and said the U.S. could still act with allies and partners to deal with the threat of Iran's ballistic missiles, even while they remain in the deal.

But that difference could also set up an economic showdown between the U.S. and its allies, with a new European mechanism to allow transactions to skirt U.S. sanctions coming online soon. Pompeo wouldn't preview any U.S. action against what's called the "special purpose vehicle," but said, "To the extent that there are violations of our sanctions, we intend to enforce them with great rigor against any party who is a participant in those violations."

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(MORE: US to impose 'far tougher' sanctions on Iran Monday )

The meeting was the first open session after Iran test-fired a ballistic missile on December 1. But it was convened after the U.N. Secretary-General issued his regular update on the deal's implementation, which found Iran continues to abide by the agreement in the face now of "considerable challenges" from U.S. withdrawal and its sanctions.

The report, the sixth by the Secretary-General, also praised Europe for "their initiatives to protect the freedom of their economic operators to pursue legitimate business with the Islamic Republic of Iran, in full accordance with resolution" that oversees the Iran deal.

Despite the united front by other countries and institutions, Pompeo said the justification for withdrawing from the deal was "self-evident," including that "Iran's missile testing and missile proliferation is growing."

PHOTO: Secretary of State Mike Pompeo speaks during a Security Council meeting on Iran's compliance with the 2015 nuclear agreement, Dec. 12, 2018, at United Nations headquarters in New York. (Mary Altaffer/AP)

The U.N. had banned Iran from having nuclear-capable missiles from 2010 to 2015, but as part of the nuclear deal, it softened its Security Council resolution to "call upon" Iran not to undertake that kind of activity, instead of completely outlawing it. Pompeo said it was time to restore that as part of the U.N. members' "responsibility to work for the peace and security of their own people and a stable international order."

"Iran has exploited the goodwill of nations and defied multiple Security Council resolutions in its quest for a robust ballistic missile force. The United States will never stand for this," he told the body, blasting the JCPOA for having "shielded" Iran "from accountability to the risks it presents to the world" and provided it "more money to achieve" its "destructive, revolutionary goals."

Among other things, he said those funds have allowed Iran to develop "largest ballistic missile force in the Middle East," with more than 10 ballistic missile system in its inventory or in development.

Several European allies echoed those concerns, including Germany, the United Kingdom, and France -- all three of which Pompeo thanked in his remarks. The European Union's current, outgoing, and incoming Security Council members also gave a statement before the session began, saying, "We call on Iran to refrain from such activities, which deepen mistrust and increase regional tensions and are in non-conformity with" the U.N. Security Council resolution.

But they each criticized the U.S. for "throwing out the baby with the bath," as Germany's ambassador to the U.N. said, by withdrawing from the nuclear deal because of concerns over ballistic missiles.
ABC News

Just days before the U.S. Olympic track and field trials begin, Shelby Houlihan, the American record holder in the 1,500 and 5,000-meter runs, announced on Instagram that she has been banned for four years because of a positive test for the anabolic steroid nandrolone. In the post, the 2016 Olympian said she was notified on Jan. 14 from the Athletics Integrity Unit, an independent body created by World Athletics that manages integrity issues in the sport, that a sample she provided on Dec. 15, 2020, came back as an "adverse analytical finding" for the steroid and she was subject to an immediate provisional suspension. Houlihan said she had never heard of the drug and subsequently found out from the World Anti-Doping Agency that eating pork can lead to a false positive since certain types of pigs have a naturally high level of nandrolone, which a study published in Drug Testing and Analysis last year confirmed.
A dream vacation has turned into a travel nightmare for the guests on one Royal Caribbean cruise ship.

The ship has been struck by an outbreak of norovirus that has left 277 passengers and crew members gravely ill, Royal Caribbean confirms to PEOPLE. Its now returning to port after, cutting its 7-day journey short.

Oasis of the Seas will return to Port Canaveral a day early after an episode of gastrointestinal illness, a representative for the company said.

The boat departed from Florida on January 6, with an itinerary that included several stops in the Caribbean and Mexico, but shortly after departing, people began to experience symptoms similar to food poisoning, including vomiting.

RELATED: What to Know About the Highly Contagious Norovirus  and How to Avoid It

The Oasis made its first scheduled stop in Haiti for a buffet lunch, but when it arrived for its second, in Jamaica, crew members did not allow passengers to disembark.

One passenger, Abby Perrin, told ABC that she and her mother began experiencing symptoms after the lunch.

The boat started heading towards its next destination, Cozumel, Mexico, but a decision was made en route to turn back to Port Canaveral after more passengers began to fall ill. Royal Caribbean confirms that 3.3% of the ships passengers were affected.

WATCH THIS: Cruise Ship Battered by Rough Waters Due to Hurricane Michael

It was pretty upsetting that we werent able to get into Jamaica at all, Perrin said. Then we were supposed to be in Mexico tomorrow, which we were really excited about, and it turns out were going back to Florida instead.

We think the right thing to do is to get everyone home early rather than have guests worry about their health, the Royal Caribbean representative said. Returning on Saturday also gives us more time to completely clean and sanitize the ship before her next sailing. Our guests sail with us to have great vacations, and we are sorry this cruise fell short.

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All of the ships guests will receive full refunds.

Norovirus outbreaks are not all that uncommon on land and at sea. The virus causes vomiting, diarrhea and stomach pain. It causes inflammation of the stomach or intestines or both, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

RELATED: Pure Chaos Erupts on Cruise Ship When Technical Issue Makes Boat Roll to Side for 1 Minu

Because the bug is extremely contagious, it can spread easily in places like schools, daycare centers, nursing homes and cruise ships.

You can become infected through contact with stool or vomit of infected people. This can happen through eating food or drinking liquids that are contaminated, touching surfaces or objects containing with the virus, or having contact with someone who is infected.
President Donald Trumps firing of FBI Director James Comey triggered an FBI investigation as agents feared the president was working on behalf of the Russian government, the New York Times reported late Friday, citing law enforcement and others familiar with the investigation.

This new reporting reveals that the investigation into Trump was much bigger than we knew and that it was two-pronged, with both counterintelligence and criminal components. The counterintelligence part was concerned with whether Trump, knowingly or unknowingly, was working as an agent of the Russian government against American interests. The criminal aspect of the probe regarded whether Trump obstructed justice by firing Comey.

Not only would it be an issue of obstructing an investigation, but the obstruction itself would hurt our ability to figure out what the Russians had done, and that is what would be the threat to national security, former FBI general counsel James A. Baker testified to House investigators in October, according to the Times.

Special Counsel Robert Mueller inherited both parts of the investigation, which became his probe into Russias meddling in the 2016 election and Trumps role in it.

While the bureau had decided not to investigate Trumps Russia ties directly during the campaign, focusing on his associates instead, they did become suspicious when Trump exhibited behavior that seemed friendly to Russia. For example, during a press conference, Trump spoke directly to the camera and addressed Russia, asking them to hack Hillary Clintons emails. The FBI also noticed Trump refused to criticize Russian leader Vladimir Putin and that the GOP softened and removed language from its platform supporting Ukraine, which Russia had recently invaded.

White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders, unsurprisingly, responded with a strong denial of the Times reporting.

This is absurd, Sanders said in a statement. James Comey was fired because hes a disgraced partisan hack, and his deputy Andrew McCabe, who was in charge at the time, is a known liar fired by the FBI. Unlike President Obama, who let Russia and other foreign adversaries push America around, President Trump has actually been tough on Russia.

Member of the House Intelligence Committee Rep. Jim Himes (D-Conn.) said in an interview with the Washington Post that the news is especially revealing because it means Trump was still acting on behalf of Russia five months into his presidency: A lot of the behavior which has sent people to jail  largely about lying about Russia  occurred before the firing of Comey. So if the FBI had concerns that the president was wittingly or unwittingly acting in the Russians interests as late as the firing of Jim Comey, thats a pretty scary thought  especially since we dont know what else they [the investigators] know.
Pohang Coast Guard in North Gyeongsang Province search for three missing sailors from a vessel that caught a blaze 81.5 kilometers off southeastern coast of Pohang in Saturday morning. Yonhap



Three people went missing after a fishing boat capsized off South Korea's southeastern coast Saturday, the Coast Guard.



Around 8:20 a.m., officers received a report that the 9.77-ton boat with a crew of six was found capsized after catching fire about 81.5 kilometers east of Pohang.





A Pohang Coast Guard vessel searches for the three missing sailors from a capsized fishing boat that caught fire in waters off Pohang on the southeastern coast, Saturday. Yonhap
Jake Jarvis can be reached by phone at 304-935-0144, on Twitter at @JakeJarvisWV or by email at jjarvis@statejournal.com.
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Officials have released the name of a man that was shot and killed in a shootout with law enforcement in Putnam County, WV




South Korea and the United States will hold their third "working group" meeting on North Korea next week, diplomatic sources in Seoul said Saturday. Seoul's top nuclear envoy, Lee Do-hoon, and his American counterpart, Stephen Biegun, will co-chair a video conference on the denuclearization issue after months of silence, they said.







"The two sides are fine-tuning the details for the meeting slated for the latter half of next week," one of the diplomatic sources said.







The two envoys are expected to discuss details regarding inter-Korean relations as Washington and Pyongyang are poised to resume talks.







Officials from the White House, and Cheong Wa Dae and the Ministry of Unification will also join the talks.







The talks were reportedly postponed due to the partial shutdown of the U.S. federal government after the White House and Congress failed to reach a compromise over budget spending. (Yonhap)


The designers posed for selfies but did not make any comments. AFP



Dolce and Gabbana mixed checks, furry gloves and shimmering dressing gown-style coats on Saturday at Milan Fashion Week, branding it Italian oomph.

The Sicilian duo were making their first presentation after the fashion house was forced to apologise to Chinese customers in November 2018 for posting short clips on Instagram showing a Chinese woman eating pizza, spaghetti and a cannoli with chopsticks.

The uproar escalated when Stefano Gabbana allegedly used poop emojis to describe China and hurled insults at the country and its people.

But the pair steered clear of controversy at their Autumn-Winter 2019-2020 collection named Eleganza, or Elegance in Italian.

The backdrop oozed 1930s Berlin decadence with giant red curtains, jazz and a master of ceremonies (shades of Joel Grey!) recreating a Cabaret ambience.

But to highlight Italy's mastery of cloth, an atelier was also recreated with tailors and fitters taking measurements and cutting and stitching as the models walked up and down the ramp.

Models showcased quirky styles, teaming tailcoats with plaid trousers, matador suits with sparkling bow ties and a ginger velvet suit with black lapels.

D&G did not skimp on the lame Hollywood-level glamour incorporating colours such as midnight blue, burgundy and deep purple.

'We made mistakes'

Although there were some Chinese people at the show, Chinese online retailers are boycotting D&G despite a public apology in which Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana capped a 1 minute 30-second mea culpa by saying "sorry" in Mandarin in an attempt to salvage their reputation in the world's most important luxury market.

"Our families always taught us to respect different cultures across the world and because of this we want to ask for your forgiveness if we have made mistakes in interpreting yours," Dolce said in Italian.

"We want to say sorry to all Chinese people across the world, of which there are many, and we are taking this apology and message very seriously," Gabbana added.

The Chinese-subtitled video was posted on Weibo, the popular Chinese Twitter-like social media platform where they have close to one million followers.

The controversy marked the latest backpedalling by a foreign company for offending Chinese consumers or authorities.

Earlier in 2018, German automaker Mercedes-Benz apologised for "hurting the feelings" of people in China after its Instagram account quoted Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama, seen as a separatist by Beijing.

And under pressure from Beijing, a growing number of international airlines and companies have edited their websites to refer to the self-ruling democratic island of Taiwan as "Taiwan, China" or "Chinese Taipei".

Hotel chain Marriott's website in China was also shut down by the authorities for a week in 2018 after a customer questionnaire listed Taiwan, Tibet and Hong Kong as separate countries, prompting the hotel chain to apologise and change the wording. (AFP)
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Update 01/11/19 10:02 p.m.

Miguel Villasana, 18, was captured Friday afternoon, according to Chickasaw County Sheriff Jim Meyers.

See the original post below.

HOUSTON, Miss. (WTVA) - Deputies in Chickasaw County are searching for a teenager wanted in connection to a grocery store burglary.

The teenager is identified as Miguel Villasana, 18.

Sheriff Jim Meyers says Farr's Grocery was broken into in the early morning hours of Sunday, Jan. 6.

This store is located at 1996 County Road 406.

The sheriff says two juveniles have been arrested for this burglary. Their names are not being released due to their ages.

Villasana is still wanted.

The trio is accused of stealing a cash register and some money.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Chickasaw County Sheriffs Department at 662-456-2339
GRENADA COUNTY, Miss. (WTVA) - A 70-year-old woman has died after she was attacked by six dogs on Thursday, according to Sheriff Alton Strider.

Diane Reves died in her backyard along Carpenter Road when the mutt-lab-mixed dogs attacked her, he said. The dogs belong to someone who lives down the street from Reeves.

At this time, the dogs are at a pound and their owner has not been cited, Strider said. This is an ongoing investigation. The dogs will be analyzed by a veterinarian.

"It's really awful," Reves' co-worker and friend Shirley Holiday said. "She retired about five years ago and she was just looking so forward to it. She had plans."

Holiday described her friend as sweet and well-respected. She added Reves worked as an "infection control nurse" at a local hospital.
ECRU, Miss. (WTVA) - Two big checks were donated to two hospitals by employees from several Ashley Furniture locations.

Through Ashley Furniture's "A Dollar A Week" program, employees collected more than $70,000.

On Friday, a $43,000 check was presented to Le Bonheur's Children's Hospital and a $31,000 check was presented to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.

"Families at St. Jude never receive a bill for their treatment, travel, housing or food, so all mom and dad need to worry about is just spending time with their families," said Colby Maxwell with St. Jude.

"All of us at Ashley Furniture are just honored to take part in 'A Buck a Week' program," said Ashley Furniture Representative Brent Koslo. "It enables us to contribute money to organizations that we feel very very strongly about."

"Le Bonheur is just so grateful for the support of the Ashley Furniture employees and the fact that they give through payroll deduction and they give from their hearts," said Connie Haygood of Le Bonheur.

Employees from Ashley Furniture's Ecru, Verona, Ripley and Saltillo locations participated in the program.

This is the thirteenth year they have contributed to the cause.
TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTHI) -- Indiana State University is offering help to students displaced after an apartment fire Friday.

It happened at Sycamore Place Apartments.

Fire officials say 6 of the 14 apartments were damaged in the electrical fire.

Sadly, a puppy also died.

ISU is trying to help.

Students can go to the residential life office, or contact the Dean of students to find a temporary home.
TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTHI)- After a deadly flu season last year, we could be in for another tough flu season. That's according to health officials.

Indiana has seen three flu-related deaths so far. That number was 25 this time last year. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates 80,000 people died of the flu and it's complications last season.

The number of children who have died because of the flu this season is up to 13. The CDC reports about half of the children who have died from the flu at healthy. 80% of the children who died last season did not get a flu shot.

Officials say children are particularly vulnerable to H1N1--otherwise known as the "swine flu." Local doctors says H1N1 is this year's pre-dominant flu strain.

"The Indiana Department of Health had listed three deaths in the state of Indiana due to influenza," Dr. John Bolinger, chief medical officer at Union Hospital said. "All of them except one was over the age of 65."

The CDC reports the flu season began in October and runs through May. With months of flu season left, officials say it's not too late to get vaccinated.

Dr. Bolinger says the best tip to battle the flu is washing your hands thouroughly. He says to avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth. If you're sick, stay at home and get better in order to prevent yourself from spreading it more. If you have a fever, sore throat, body aches, see your primary doctor sooner rather than later.

"Most risk for flu and high number of cases of flu are in areas where people congregate or people live in the same living situations," Dr. Bolinger said.

He says he sees the most flu activity in nursing facilities, jail populations, restaurants, schools--anywhere where there is a large amount of people together. Dr. Bolinger says he highly recommends the flu vaccine. It's always better than no vaccine. He says, if you get the flu, you have a higher risk if you didn't get vaccinated.
American astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson has become one of the most recent targets of the #MeToo campaign, the sexual witch hunt sweeping the professional middle classes in the US and beyond.

Nothing that has come to light so far demonstrates that Tyson is guilty of any wrongdoing. On the contrary, the published material suggests he is the victim of a virulent strain of political and psychological hysteria.

Tyson has been the Frederick P. Rose Director of the Hayden Planetarium at the Rose Center for Earth and Space in New York City since 1996. The Rose Center is part of the American Museum of Natural History, whose Department of Astrophysics Tyson founded in 1997.

Tyson hosted the PBS television show NOVA ScienceNow from 2006 to 2011. In 2014, he hosted the television series Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey, a sequel to Carl Sagan's 1980 series Cosmos: A Personal Voyage. He has also been the host of a television talk show, StarTalk, since April 2015.

Despite the unproven and flimsy character of the charges against him, StarTalk has been pulled off the air by the National Geographic Channel while Fox Networks Group investigates the allegations against Tyson.

The reader may judge for him or herself the seriousness of the accusations:

A woman by the name of Tchiya Amet El Maat, formerly Staci Hambric, with whom Tyson was a graduate student at the University of Texas in 1984 and with whom he had a brief relationship, started accusing the scientist in 2010 of having raped her three decades previously.

Buzz Feed News, which posted a lengthy, sensationalized article about the case against Tyson in December, notes that in 2014 Amet traveled to Austin [Texas] to file a police report against him [Tyson]. Amet told the police she had waited so long, the report stated, because numerous people had said that Tyson was a high profile person and that no one would believe her.

A week later, the police department reviewed the case and cleared it, finding that it surpassed the 10-year statute of limitations for sexual assault.

(Of course, Tyson was not a high profile person in the 1980s, but a mere graduate student, for whom, in fact, the University of Texas experience was a failed experiment, in his words. He dropped out of the program after several years. Tyson later joined a PhD program at Columbia University.)

BuzzFeed notes that after leaving the University of Texas, where without an astronomy background, she did poorly in her introductory classes, Amet sang in a reggae band, and fully adopted a New Age way of thinking about the universerooted in energy, astrology, and ancient teachings, rather than science. In 1995, as part of what she calls her spiritual healing, she changed her name to Tchiya Ametwhich means rebirth and truth in Hebrew. I did not want to identify with StaciI wanted her to be dead, Amet said.

The publication observes that on October 8, 2014, Amet wrote a rambling blog post, as fragmented and disjointed as her memories of the incident, titled I Survived RAPE by Neil de Grasse Tyson; The Blue Lotus Speaks!

Rambling is a polite term. This is how the blog post begins, without corrections: Today is October 8, 2014. 30 years. Today there was an eclipse, during the Ra Aspolia Pi Cot Sahu (Full Moon and Portal of Djehuty (Sun in Sidereal Virgo, Moon in PIsces, Mercury Retrograde). Kinda intense when you really sit bak and take it all in. Tomorrow, Set (Mars, Ego) has an appointment with Master healer Imhotep (Mars enters Ophiuchus: tome for healing from sexual trauma, time for conquering lower nature, etc).

All this to say that this posting is in alignment with the Divine Natural Right Order. Although I know this is the right decision, it has been difficult to take action, because I know this monster [i.e., Tyson] is loved by so many of you. However, in order to maintain my own well being, peace of mind, sanity, longevity, positivity, peaceful relationships, health, happiness, self love and self trust, in order to elimnate blocks to my own abundance and prosperity, it has become impossible to keep silent anymore.

On the basis of this sort of incoherent nonsense, a leading scientist is undergoing public humiliation and faces the threat of the loss of professional status and positions.

In a Facebook post, On Being Accused, Tyson responded to Amets allegations: More than thirty years later, as my visibility-level took another jump, I read a freshly posted blog accusing me of drugging and raping a woman I did not recognize by either photo or name. Turned out to be the same person who I dated briefly in graduate school. She had changed her name and lived an entire life, married with children, before this accusation.

For me, what was most significant, was that in this new life, long after dropping out of astrophysics graduate school, she was posting videos of colored tuning forks endowed with vibrational therapeutic energy that she channels from the orbiting planets. As a scientist, I found this odd. Meanwhile, according to her blog posts, the drug and rape allegation comes from an assumption of what happened to her during a night that she cannot remember. It is as though a false memory had been implanted, which, because it never actually happened, had to be remembered as an evening she doesnt remember. Nor does she remember waking up the next morning and going to the office. I kept a record of everything she posted, in case her stories morphed over time. So this is sad, which, for me, defies explanation.

Tyson noted that Amets allegation was used as a kind of solicitation-bait by at least one journalist to bring out of the woodwork anybody who had any encounter with me that left them uncomfortable.

Appropriately, in fact, it was David G. McAfee on the non-denominational religion website Patheos who posted an article October 25, 2017 repeating Amets entirely unsubstantiated charges. McAfee concluded his piece with this solicitation: If you have any more information on this alleged incident, or you have a similar story involving Tyson, please feel free to leave it in the comments or email me at david@davidgmcafee.com. It is hard to suppress ones indignation and disgust in the face of this kind of journalism.

Some 13 months later, on November 29, 2018, McAfee posted another piece, which included allegations from two more women. In these cases, the individuals seem more reliable, but the incidents are almost too trivial to repeat.

Ashley Watson, a onetime driver for Tyson on his television series, claims the latter made inappropriate sexual advances toward her in the summer of 2018. (Generally speaking, sexual advances are inappropriate only when the individual in question is not interested in them. Otherwise, sexual advances are simply sexual advances.)

Watson accuses Tyson in an email of trying to seduce me into having sex with him and it was super messed up and I had to quit my job.

This is McAfee on Watsons claims about some of Tysons other crimes: Specifically, Watson said Tyson occasionally made  misogynistic comments , and that he kept a list of overweight actresses on his phone to prove that women arent inhibited by portrayals in the media when it comes to health and fitness. He allegedly said it was untrue that women feel pressured to be skinny based on societal standards. One gasps.

In his Facebook statement, Tyson acknowledges that he invited Watsonwith whom during the course of shooting, he writes, he had spent upwards of a hundred hours in one-on-one conversationto his place for wine and cheese. Production days are long. We arrived late, but she was on her way home two hours later. Afterwards, she came into my office and told me she was creeped out by the wine & cheese evening. She viewed the invite as an attempt to seduce her, even though she sat across the wine & cheese table from me, and all conversation had been in the same vein as all other conversations we ever had. Watson left her job a few days before it was going to end anyway, with the completion of production.

We have no way of knowing whether, at the very worst, Tyson attempted to seduce Watson, who was 28 at the time, or not. To the best of our knowledge, such things have happened before in human history without public outcry and disgrace. One would think this was some stock distressed damsel in a Victorian melodrama.

Dr. Katelyn N. Allers, Associate Professor of Physics and Astronomy at Bucknell University, also a grown woman, told the ever-vigilant McAfee that she was felt up by Tyson at a party following a meeting of the American Astronomical Society (AAS) in 2009.

Tyson was there, and he was dancing and drinking and all of that at the party, so a friend and I decided to get pictures with him, she told McAfee. Allers apparently has a tattoo of the solar system that stretches from her arm to her back and collar bone area.

McAfee included two photographs, one of Tyson and Allers smiling for the camera, the other of Tyson looking at the tattoo on Allers upper arm.

This is Allers: After we had taken the picture, he noticed my tattoo and kind of grabbed me to look at it, and was really obsessed about whether I had Pluto on this tattoo or not and then he looked for Pluto, and followed the tattoo into my dress.

This is McAfee: Dr. Allers said her experience was public and didnt rise to the level of assault, but that it did show Tyson was capable of some creepy behavior. My experience with him is hes not someone who has great respect for female bodily autonomy, she told me in a phone interview. (Emphasis added.)

The Watson-Allers allegations against Tyson, on the face of it, are petty, absurd and vindictive.

In his Facebook post, Tyson writes, For a variety of reasons, most justified, some unjustified, men accused of sexual impropriety in todays me-too climate are presumed to be guilty by the court of public opinion. Emotions bypass due-process, people choose sides, and the social media wars begin.

In any claim, evidence matters. Evidence always matters. But what happens when its just one persons word against anothers, and the stories dont agree? Thats when people tend to pass judgment on who is more credible than whom. And thats when an impartial investigation can best serve the truthand would have my full cooperation to do so.

We urge the strongest public support for Tyson and denounce the National Geographic Channel for their unwarranted and cowardly decision to suspend his program.
On Monday morning, more than 33,000 school workers in Los Angeles are set to strike the nations second largest district. In waging a fight against school privatization and attacks on public education, teachers are joining a growing movement of workers in the US and around the world.

There is broad support throughout California and beyond for a united struggle. Just last week, hundreds of parents and students packed a school board meeting in Oakland to oppose plans to close nearly one-third of the districts schools. After being forced to work without a new contract since July 2017, about 100 teachers in Oakland carried out a wildcat sickout in December, demanding a statewide and national strike.

A decisive strike by LA teachers would be enthusiastically supported by educators nationally and by workers everywherefrom the Yellow Vest struggles in France (joined by protesting teachers this weekend) and striking workers in India, to Dutch teachers preparing their own walkout and the furloughed and unpaid federal workers in the US.

As the Monday deadline approaches, however, an urgent warning must be made. The United Teachers Los Angeles (UTLA), in league with the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) and the National Education Association (NEA), has no intention of waging a genuine struggle. Just the opposite: they are seeking to prevent or isolate a strike.

Teachers should be prepared to walk out, regardless of any last-minute delaying tactics by the UTLA. They should fight for the immediate strike action of all school workers and charter school teachers alongside those in the LAUSD. An appeal should be issued to teachers in Oakland and across the state.

To wage a struggle requires the formation of school and neighborhood rank-and-file committees to formulate demands and mobilize the full support of all workers behind a statewide teachers strike.

It is essential that teachers take stock of the record of the UTLA. The union kept teachers on the job for 19 months, dragging them through an interminable series of legalistic hoops, only to abandon last week the most critical demands opposing the expansion of charter schools, unlimited standardized tests and other privatization policies. Then the strike date was suddenly postponedall this despite a nearly 100 percent strike vote many months ago.

AFT President Randi Weingarten (annual salary $514,000) and UTLA President Alex Caputo-Pearl, together with the rest of the union hierarchy, are at work frantically conspiring to prevent a walkout and, in the event they cannot, to limit its scope and block it from sparking a broader struggle.

Weingarten admitted as much, tweeting this week, This is not about a strike wavethis is a specific fight for the kids & public schools of LA. Weingarten has made a lucrative career of betraying struggles and is highly sensitive to the increasingly tenuous hold of the unions over teachers.

Teachers should recall that the strike in West Virginia only occurred because rank-and-file teachers organized through social media independently of the unions. To continue their struggles, West Virginia educators defied the unions injunction to return to work on the basis of a rotten agreement with the billionaire governor.

The response of the unions was to redouble their efforts to impose an agreementan operation repeated in Oklahoma, Arizona and other states. The tragedy was the fact that teachers in these states did not yet have independent organizations to take their struggle forward.

The unions are not workers organizations, but pro-corporate syndicates. They work not to unify workers, but to isolate them. They are controlled by wealthy executives who live in a different worldand have completely different interestsfrom the workers they claim to represent.

The organization of independent rank-and-file committees must be combined with a new political strategy to mobilize the working class against the capitalist system and both big business parties.

The operations of the unions are bound up with their political alliance with the Democratic Party, which no less than the Republicans and the Trump administration is controlled by the rich. It is the Democrats that have spearheaded the attack on public education in California, just as it was the Obama administration that paved the way for Trump.

Under the Democrats, the once-renowned education system has been targeted by years of budget cuts that have left schools starved for resources, with the state now ranking 43 out of 50 in per-pupil spending. Newly elected Governor Gavin Newsom has, in his budget proposal, predictably added no new funding for K-12 aside from that which was already constitutionally mandated.

The UTLAs endless support for the Democrats has emboldened LAUSD Superintendent Austin Beutner, a former Wall Street investment banker. Beutner and the billionaire privatizers are working to dismantle the Los Angeles schools into portfolio schools. The UTLA has given credence to the lies of Beutner that there is no money, with Caputo-Pearl promoting a 2020 ballot initiative. He pleaded, Theres a movement to address state funding in California and we need Austin Beutner to be a part of it.

The 2018 strike in Arizona was shut down by the unions with similar promises to gain education funding on a ballot proposal, Invest in Ed, which was unceremoniously removed from the November vote by big businesses in the state. Caputo-Pearl himself has gone on record advocating for higher property taxes, seeking to foist the burden further onto the working class.

There is no lack of resources. Three individuals in the US now own more wealth than half of the population. If even a fraction of the $71 billion private fortune of Facebooks Mark Zuckerberg, the richest of Californias 144 billionaires, were confiscated and used for public needs, the number of public-school teachers in California could be doubled overnight and their annual salaries raised to $100,000.

This is capitalism, a social and economic system that sacrifices all social needs, including the right to public education, to the profit interests of the rich. Trillions are funneled into Wall Street at the drop of a hat, and hundreds of billions spent on war, with the support of the Democrats and Republicans. And the ruling class is demanding endless cuts to the living standards of workers and the social services on which millions depend.

Teachers should declare that the full funding of education is non-negotiable. Classes should be no larger than 20. Every school requires adequate full-time support staff, counselors and nurses. Teachers must have a 30 percent wage increase and fully-paid healthcare and retirement benefits.

None of this can be achieved without a frontal attack on the wealth of the corporate and financial elite and reorganization of economic life based on the principle of social need, not private profit.

The World Socialist Web Site Teacher Newsletter appeals to teachers to contact us today at teachers@wsws.org and take up this fight.
Written by Jukki Hanada; directed by Kenichi Kawamura

Steins;Gate 0 is a 24-episode anime television series that aired in Japan between April and September 2018. It is a sequel, of sorts, to Steins;Gate (2009).

Both are based on a science-fiction visual novel series, which is a type of computer-game version of a Choose-Your-Own-Adventure novel genre that is popular in Japan. In the latter genre, the story consists of multiple branches, which lead the player to different endings.

It must be said, prior to discussing Steins;Gate 0 in particular, that there is a major contradiction present in Japanese anime and manga generally: namely, the considerable gap between the remarkable technological capabilities and imaginative art work of the creators involved, on the one hand, and their limited social and historical views, on the other.

Here we find talented individuals, studios and production companies equipped with the most sophisticated means of communication, but who have a very confused understanding of the world. This contradiction is expressed in virtually every artistic creation that comes out of the anime industry each year, particularly in those stories where social and historical questions take center stage.

The first Steins;Gate series aired in 2011 and told the story of Rintaro Okabe (voice actor Mamoru Miyano), an 18-year-old self-proclaimed mad scientist who, along with his friends, creates a cell-phone-operated microwave that can send text messages, which they call D-mails, back through time. His initial careless use of the device alters the lives of his friends, including in ways that lead to their deaths, and sets into motion the conditions for an arms race over time travel technology between the United States and Russia that results in World War III.

(Apparently, the title Steins;Gate has no specific meaning, but is meant to bring to mind the German word Stein, meaning stone, and the figure of Albert Einstein.)

The original series therefore follows Okabes journey to undo the D-mails and find a timeline where his friends can live and the war can be averted. This is made possible when one of his friends creates a device that allows Okabes memories to be sent back through time using the microwave oven, effectively allowing his consciousness to time travel into his earlier body.

Steins;Gate 0 takes up one of the alternate endings to the original series, one where Okabe had to choose between the deaths of one of his two friends to avert war, and one in which his world is much darker and gloomier. Kurisu Makise (Asami Imai), the young physicist who made time travel possible and Okabes love interest, is dead, but Okabe soon learns that one of her colleagues has been at work developing a new artificial intelligence software that captured Makises memories and persona before she died. Okabe is recruited as a tester of the system, called Amadeus, and begins to interact with his lost love through his cell phone on an everyday basis.

It soon becomes clear that the existence of Amadeus provides a renewed threat of world war, since the time travel theories Makise developed did not completely die with her physical body. The situation is exacerbated when a strange girl, Kagari (Megumi Han), from the future shows up who looks strikingly like Makise and who has been brainwashed by some nefarious, unknown government agency.

Both Steins;Gate and Steins;Gate 0, arguably two of the more interesting anime series created over the last decade, are limited in how they confront politics and social life. The themes the series attempt to treat, such as world war and government spying, are highly relevant today but poorly understood by many, including the artists involved.

One glaring problem is that the plots of both series are rooted in the notion that world war can be averted so long as time-travel technology ceases to exist! Such a plot is at the level of comic-book material and would not be out of place in one of the more critical Marvel comics or films. The roots of imperialist war are neither objectively understood nor addressed by the writers and creators of Steins;Gate 0 .

Furthermore, the US and Russia are depicted simply as rival bourgeois states who compete over time-travel technology, going to equally ruthless methods to murder and spy and hack into computer systems to get a leg up on one another.

While the Russian regime is an authoritarian and reactionary one, it is hardly equal to the United States in geopolitics. American imperialism is the universal aggressor. This position of the series creators is not disconnected from their overall outlook, and it speaks to the ubiquitous problems that exist within these middle-class artistic layers.

The series is generally restricted to what it can do with and say about the immediate characters in and around Okabes circle of acquaintances. The most popular Japanese anime and manga series tend to spend more time on character development and explicitly present individuals with moral dilemmas and personal defects that must be overcome, but too often these are embedded in stories with high melodrama, wild plot convolutions, violence and mere visual spectacle.

As in many anime series, there is a heavy emphasis in Steins;Gate 0 on morality and the consequences of individual failures. One of the morals emphasized in both series is that time travel is not a solution to real problems. Again, this may not come as an earthshaking insight.

In the first series, when Okabe tries to prevent his childhood friend, Mayuri (Kana Hanazawa), from dying, he finds that no matter how many dozens of times he goes back and tries to alter the situation, she still inevitably dies (brutally) in one way or another. Here, Steins;Gate is another well-meaning fable telling adolescents to confront life and death rather than trying to hide from it.

Steins;Gate 0 also includes a lot of comedy, but, as in many anime series, much of this is low-brow, relying on cheap gags and adolescent humor. Okabes sidekick and hacker friend, Daru (Tomokazu Seki), is an overweight, perverse young man constantly berated by the females of the group for his frequently naive and inappropriate observations. Sometimes the banter between Makise and Okabe is clever and entertaining, but much of the humor, unfortunately, is more embarrassing than funny.

There is no doubt that the artists involved are quite imaginative and visually gifted, but works such as this are better suited to adolescent audiences who crave escapism and adventure. The actual concrete world hardly pokes its head into this kind of material, and when it does it is confused and distorted by extreme violence and overcooked morality.

The author also recommends:

Darling in the FranXX: Japanese anime series about fighting for the survival of humanity

[20 August 2018]
Defendants in a federal case that involves pounds of meth and thousands of dollars in drug money being transported between Georgia and Kokomo have requested a delay in their pretrial and trial dates.

A motion filed in the Southern District of Indiana federal court shows that attorneys for 11 defendants have agreed to request a delay for a scheduled final pretrial conference and a jury trial.

The dates are currently listed as May 15 for the pretrial conference and June 3 for the jury trial.

But the motion, submitted to federal judge James Sweeney II, requests a push back of the trial date until Oct. 28.

Leading the charge is the attorney for former Kokomo alleged drug kingpin Reggie Balentine.

Balentine, nicknamed Pudge, was the head of Kokomos end of the drug-dealing operation, say investigators.

He faces a litany of drug, gun and murder-for-hire charges after allegedly running an organization that trafficked drugs throughout the city and once commissioned two hitmen to kill a confidential informant.

The drugs were often transported by mules who traveled to Georgia and collected them from dealer Pierre Riley before riding back to Indiana, in many cases, on Megabuses.

Along with Riley and Balentine, the court motion lists defendants Michael OBannon; Michael Jones; Jason Reed; Derrick Owens; Deshoun Everhart; Perry Jones; Shaun Myers; Melissa Baird; Antwon Abbott; and Thomas Jones.

Counsel is in the process of conferring with Defendant and reviewing discovery. Additional time is needed to property prepare for trial, or adequately explore the possibility of resolution by plea agreement, wrote Balentines attorney, Joseph Cleary.

Cleary notes that Assistant U.S. Attorney Michelle Brady has agreed to the delay, along with attorneys for all defendants except Perry Jones, whose attorney has not had the chance to consult with Jones, according to the document.

The case against Balentine, Riley and the others started in late 2017, when the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency began investigating a drug ring that stretched from Kokomo to Georgia. In 2018, investigators received court authorization to begin intercepting multiple cellphones.

Investigators soon learned Balentine was distributing drugs, including meth, to various people also arrested in what was called Operation Law and Order, according to court documents.

Overall, 14 people were charged in a third superseding indictment filed on Sept. 18 in the federal Southern District of Indiana.

Two of those defendants, Kristin Kinney and Bradley Clark, have entered into plea agreements.

Before that, a citizen tip set into motion a drug investigation that culminated in around 130 local and federal law enforcement officers conducting multiple raids in the early morning hours of May 1, dismantling the alleged drug and firearms ring.

Starting at 6:05 a.m., federal agents from multiple agencies, alongside local law enforcement, executed warrants at 13 locations across Kokomo and Macon, Georgia.

That action followed a multi-agency, four-month-long investigation involving wiretaps and remote cameras.

Officers ultimately seized more than 17 pounds of meth, 2 pounds of cocaine, 2 ounces of heroin, 122 grams of Fentanyl, 6 ounces of marijuana, two money counters, 12 vehicles, $37,000 in drug money and 24 firearms  including a sniper rifle and two assault rifles.

Notably, the recent motion also points out other prominent upcoming trials that require the attention of the defendants attorneys.

One of those involves Buster Hernandez, a Bakersfield, California, man charged in 2017 with making online threats to blow up two Indiana high schools and extorting underage girls for sexually explicit photos and video, federal authorities said.

Hernandez is believed to have used the online moniker Brian Kil to contact random individuals  typically minors  through private messages and threatening to send sexually explicit images to their friends and families if they failed to send him more of the images, according to a criminal complaint.

A Plainfield girl was threatened via Facebook in December 2015 after she refused to send sexually explicit photos of herself over the internet. The threats prompted the Dec. 17, 2015, closings of Plainfield and Danville high schools and a shopping center.

Also cited in the motion is the Grundy case.

That case involves an Indianapolis drug organization, headed by Richard B. Grundy III, which obtained meth, cocaine, heroin and marijuana from Phoenix and distributed the drugs in Indianapolis, according to the Indianapolis Star.

Ten defendants, including Grundy, are set to go on trial in July.

At the time of his alleged federal crimes, Grundy was in the process of resolving state criminal cases that included five murder-related charges. The murder and conspiracy to commit murder charges were dismissed, and Grundy ultimately pleaded guilty to a single count of dealing marijuana, reported the paper.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.
Chinese Vice President Wang Qishan (R) meets with Alie Kabba, Sierra Leone's minister of foreign affairs and international cooperation, in Beijing, capital of China, Jan. 11, 2019. (Xinhua/Ding Haitao)

BEIJING, Jan. 11 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Vice President Wang Qishan met with Alie Kabba, Sierra Leone's minister of foreign affairs and international cooperation, on Friday in Beijing.

Noting that mutual respect was the premise of the state-to-state ties and the friendship between the two peoples, Wang said that China had always respected other countries' cultures, development paths and systems.

Wang said China and Sierra Leone should continue to consolidate traditional friendship, enhance communication and coordination on bilateral and multilateral affairs, and promote the implementation of the eight major initiatives, proposed at the 2018 Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, in Sierra Leone "in a faster way and in more projects."

Kabba said that Sierra Leone highly valued friendship with China, and thanked the Chinese side for its sincere and selfless help.

He said Sierra Leone is ready to learn from China's development experience, and deepen bilateral cooperation and the coordination in multilateral affairs, to enhance the development of bilateral ties.

On Friday, Director of the Office of the Foreign Affairs Commission of the Communist Party of China Central Committee Yang Jiechi met with Kabba. State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi also held talks with Kabba.
Locked out and unpaid federal workers seethed with anger Friday as the partial government shutdown headed for a record 22 days with no end in sight, and paychecks failed to go out to some 800,000 employees who have been furloughed or forced to work without compensation.

In addition, many tens of thousands of federal contract workers could be losing a combined $200 million in lost pay per day, according to Bloomberg Government, and most will never be repaid after the lockout ends.

The mounting resistance of federal workers, muzzled by the government unions, is finding increasing expression in sickouts and demands on social media for strike action against the government.

On Friday, Miami International Airport announced it was closing one of its terminals for part of the weekend due to a shortage of available screeners at Transportation Safety Administration (TSA) checkpoints.

An airport spokesman told the Miami Herald that federal screeners were calling in sick at "double the normal rate for Miami." He said other checkpoints might be closed if the shutdown continued and additional screeners called in sick.

A TSA screener at LaGuardia Airport in New York City told the WSWS, I know my co-workers have high rents, mortgages to pay. They dont know what theyre going to do. A lot of the people, theyre the primary source of income for their household.

You get a federal job thinking it would be secure, but then they shut down the whole government and who knows when it will be open again. A lot of these jobs youre putting yourself at risk, for what? You'll get back your pay eventually, but no one wants to hear eventually when it comes to your pay.

Another TSA worker at LaGuardia, on the job for one year, explained, Some people dont have the funds to even make it to work because of the shutdown. They dont have money for gas to put in their vehicle, basic things no one thinks about until you dont have an income.

Especially Congress, her colleague added, I think they forget what it's like to lead a normal life. There are people that are up there in their offices, nice and cozy in their leather seats, totally out of touch with what its like to be down here. You can have the rest of the population sympathize with us, which is nice. I think passengers have been nicer to us. I appreciate that. And if theyre not, they do a 180 as soon as they realize were not getting paid.

Asked about reports of sickouts, the screener explained, They're calling it the blue flu. Its nothing organized, just people saying I dont want to come in.

In contrast to the refusal of the federal employee unions and AFL-CIO to take any serious action to fight the shutdown, the union Facebook pages are bristling with angry demands for a massive fight-back.

The tenor of the bulk of the comments on the Facebook page of the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) is indicated by the following posts:

Its about time the workers stage a walk out. No pay no work!. Take the power to the people and demand action now!

Everyone call in sick on Monday and shut the airlines and everything else down! Lets strike and create our own national emergency before President Dummy does!!!

From the AFL-CIO Facebook page:

WALK THE HELL OUT!! Shut down the airports. The shutdown would end in 2 hours.

Total bullshit to expect anyone to work without an expectation of getting paid.... What do they call that? Oh yeah, slavery!

Shut down a couple airports. Workers have the powersick out days!!

Have everyone go to sick-out days for about a week. Then demand a raise.

As hundreds of thousands of families are unable to meet rent or mortgage payments, cover health bills or put food on the table, and the government fails to carry out basic social functions such as food and drug inspection, road, bridge and mass transit maintenance, housing and nutrition assistance, the entire political system and all of its official institutions become increasingly discredited in the eyes of the working class.

Among the 420,000 "essential" workers forced to work without pay are 13,000 air traffic controllers, some of whom posted on Twitter pay stubs listing $0.00 for the pay period ending January 10. Their plight sums up the reality of class relations and the role of the state as the repressive arm of the ruling class.

The government presses them into unpaid labor with total impunity. Yet when 11,000 air traffic controllers went on strike in 1981 to fight for their basic needs--wages, benefits, decent working conditions--the Reagan administration fired every one of them and blacklisted them for life. Local PATCO union leaders were jailed in a witch hunt that launched four decades of social counterrevolution in America.

Meanwhile, Trump on Friday reiterated his threat to declare a national emergency to circumvent Congress and the US Constitution, seize what amount to dictatorial powers and order the military to build his border wall between the US and Mexico. Reviving his fascistic fear-mongering, he once again called the attempt of impoverished immigrants from Central America to apply for asylum an "invasion," and he restated his demand that the Democrats agree to allocate billions of dollars for the wall as the precondition for ending the shutdown.

The Democrats for their part joined their Republican counterparts in closing down Congress for the weekend and leaving town, guaranteeing an indefinite continuation of the shutdown. They had been negotiating behind the scenes for a deal that would trade billions more to militarize the border--effectively ceding to Trump's demand for a "barrier"--in return for limited protection from deportation for so-called "Dreamers," but Trump scotched any such deal.

The Democrats, petrified at the prospect of an eruption of working class protest, are either silent or openly supportive of Trump's threatened national emergency, which would mark an irreversible and permanent arrogation of unchecked executive power. It would set a precedent for emergency powers to break strikes and jail opponents of the government's policies.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi refused to answer questions about the Democratic response to such a development. But Democratic Congressman Jamie Raskin of Maryland, a member of the House Judiciary Committee, said, Declaring it an emergency, I suppose, serves a political function for him, but then it relocates the whole controversy into the courts. If thats what it takes to reopen the government, most of us will probably stomach our misgivings about it and hope that the rule of law will prevail.

Since the Judiciary Committee oversees impeachment proceedings, his statement underscores the opposition of the Democratic leadership to any discussion of impeachment for what would clearly be a crime against the Constitution. This is consistent with the Democrats' leading role in the campaign for internet censorship and the witch hunt against Russia spearheaded by the Mueller investigation.

The New York Times reiterated its support for emergency rule to end the lockout, writing in an editorial Friday: You know the system has broken down when the clearest way out of a government shutdown may be for the president to declare a fake national emergency. It went on to downplay the significance of a national emergency requiring military intervention by calling it constitutionally suspect and a mere tactic.

The growing opposition of federal workers comes together with the preparations of teachers in Los Angeles, Oakland, Virginia, Denver and other areas to strike and protest against the destruction of public education, the mounting opposition of auto workers to plant closures and layoffs, and a rising wave of class struggle internationally, including the Yellow Vest protests in France and the two-day general strike in India.

It is to this movement of the working class that federal workers must turn to mount a struggle against the shutdown and the drive of the ruling class toward dictatorship. No democratic or progressive opposition to Trump will come from any section of the corrupt political establishment. The fight must be waged independently of both big business parties and the trade unions, which function as an arm of the corporate elite against the working class.

The Socialist Equality Party urges workers to establish new, genuinely democratic organizations of strugglerank-and-file workplace and neighborhood committeesto link up the disparate struggles of workers and young people in the US and around the world. The logic of the deepening crisis of the capitalist system, the immense growth of social inequality, the turn by the ruling elite toward dictatorship and the rising wave of working class resistance is the conscious preparation of a general strike aimed at bringing down the government of the oligarchs and replacing it with a workers government and socialism.

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Trump at the Rubicon

[11 January 2019]
Overloaded with lies, hypocrisy and absurdities, the speech delivered by US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo at the American University in Cairo, Egypt on Thursday signaled to the collection of monarchs and despots that count as Washingtons allies in the Middle East that US imperialism is committed to a continued escalation of war in the region, particularly against Iran.

He insisted that despite Donald Trumps December 19 announcement of a decision to withdraw US troops from Syria, there would be no change of mission.

For our part, airstrikes in the region will continue as targets arise, he said. We will keep working with our partners in the Coalition to Defeat ISIS. We will continue to hunt down terrorists who seek safe havens in Libya and in Yemen.

He vowed that the US would continue its intervention in Syria to expel every last Iranian boot from the country and spelled out an unwavering agenda of regime change in both Damascus and Tehran.

Reflecting US imperialisms priorities in the region, Pompeo mentioned Iran 25 times in his speech, compared to a mere dozen references to terrorism.

Universally described as a keynote speech, Pompeos address was as crude and thuggish as the man himself.

Titled A Force for Good: America Reinvigorated in the Middle East, it represented an unabashed celebration of the decades of US military interventions, occupations and bombings that have decimated entire societies.

Pompeo introduced himself as the personification of Washingtons role in promoting goodness in the Middle East, noting in his opening remarks that the visit to Egypt was especially meaningful for me as an evangelical Christian and sharing with his audience that In my office, I keep a Bible open on my desk to remind me of God and His Word and The Truth.

He went on to insist that because Im a military man by training, Ill be very blunt and direct today: America is a force for good in the Middle East.

Taking these self-descriptions together, it was as if Pompeo had crafted his remarks to substantiate the Islamists portrayal of Americas role in the Middle East as that of crusaders.

It was notable that even in the audience of handpicked functionaries, businessmen and vetted flunkies of Egypts dictatorial regime, only a single line in Pompeos delusional presentation was interrupted by applausewhen he thanked the Egyptian dictator Gen. Abdel Fattah el-Sisi for his courageand at the end, the response was at best tepid.

The rhetoric about the US as a force for good is so at odds with the reality of a quarter century of unending US wars in the region that even this audience found it tough to swallow.

The war in Iraq, launched on the basis of lies about weapons of mass destruction with the criminal invasion of 2003, claimed well over 1 million lives and left the society in shambles, torn by sectarian divisions. It saw massacres in Fallujah and other cities and the degrading spectacle of torture at Abu Ghraib

In Syria, the attempt by the US and its allies to effect regime change through a CIA-orchestrated insurgency by Al Qaeda-linked militias has claimed hundreds of thousands more lives and turned millions into refugees. Similarly, the US-NATO war for regime change in Libya left the country in a shambles, with continuous fighting between rival militias, a government that exists in name only and a hell on earth for migrants trapped in a network of prisons and slave markets.

Meanwhile, in Yemen, the Pentagon continues to arm and aid a near-genocidal Saudi-led war that has claimed well over 60,000 lives and brought some 20 million people to the brink of famine in what the United Nations has described as the worlds worst humanitarian catastrophe.

To attribute such mass slaughter and suffering as the workings of a force for good is obscene.

Driving this rhetoric was a puerile attempt by Pompeo to contrast his speech to one given by then-president Barack Obama 10 years earlier from the same podium at Cairos American University. Not mentioning the former president by name, referring to him only as another American who stood before you in 2009, Pompeo excoriated Obama for offering even a hint of an apology for the crimes carried out by US imperialism in the Middle East and claimed that the message he delivered resulted in the US becoming too timid in asserting ourselves and a reluctance to wield our influence.

In reality, the speech delivered this week and the one given by Obama ten years ago have more in common than Pompeo let on.

As the World Socialist Web Site noted at the time, Obama and his speech were merely a means of presenting a new face for imperialism.

While Obama voiced support for democracy and human rights, he said nothing about the actual conditions in Egypt under the US-backed dictator Hosni Mubarak, or Saudi Arabia, which he had just visited, under the tyrannical House of Saud. He defended the ongoing US wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and said nothing about the Israeli slaughter of Palestinians in Gaza.

The vague and flowery rhetoric, the verbal tributes to Islamic culture and the equal rights of nations, constitute an adjustment of the language being used to cloak the policy of US imperialism, not a change in substance, the WSWS stated. Obama made not a single concrete proposal to redress the grievances of the oppressed peoples of the Middle East. That is because the fundamental source of this oppression is the profit system and the domination of the world by imperialism, of which American imperialism is the most ruthless.

Pompeo has ditched the flowery rhetoric as Washington pursues a naked policy of aggression against and demonization of Iran. He boasted of Trumps scrapping of the Iran nuclear treaty and the ever-escalating economic sanctions that have been imposed against the country, punishment tantamount to an act of war.

He vowed that US sanctions would only keep getting tougher until Iran starts behaving like a normal country.

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif responded on Twitter: The day Iran mimics US clients  to become a normal country is the day hell freezes over  Best for the US to just get over loss of Iran.

Noting that Obama had declared that the relationship between the US and the Middle East needed a new beginning, Pompeo insisted that only with the advent of Trump had the real new beginning become possible. As evidence of this, he pointed to the two US cruise missile attacks on Syriaemphasizing that Washington is willing to do it again. He cited the airstrikes that leveled the cities of Mosul in Iraq and Raqqa in Syria and the unfettered relations with the monarchical dictatorships of the Persian Gulf and the police state regime of General Sisi in Egypt.

The good news is this: The age of self-inflicted American shame is over, Pompeo declared.

He added: For those who fret about the use of American power, remember this: America has always been, and always will be, a liberating force, not an occupying power. Weve never dreamed of domination in the Middle East.

Somehow, Pompeos listeners contained their laughter. US domination of the Middle East and its oil wealth has been a cornerstone of US foreign policy for over 70 years. US imperialism has always masked its predatory interests by the liberating myth. As Leon Trotsky noted wryly in 1924: America is always liberating somebody. That is her profession.

The US secretary of state went so far as to brag about the role being played by the Pentagon in the slaughter of the Yemeni people, declaring, In Yemen, weve assisted our coalition partners as they take the lead in preventing an Iranian expansion

The main thrust of his speech was the call for the building of an anti-Iranian coalition that he referred to as the Middle East Strategic Alliance (MESA) based upon the Sunni oil sheikdoms, the Egyptian dictatorship and Israel.

To that end he praised the regime of General Sisi, the former army commander who came to power through a coup against Egypts first elected president, Mohamed Morsi, which saw the massacre of some 1,600 of Morsi's followers and the subsequent imprisonment of an estimated 60,000 Egyptians for political reasons, in prisons where torture is routine. Pompeo presented the generals regime as a beacon of tolerance and freedom in the Middle East.

While General Sisi has enthusiastically embraced Washingtons war on terrorismlabeling all of his opponents as terroristsit is less clear that Cairo is anxious to enlist in a US-led war on Iran.

Pompeos speech served only to underscore the continuing catastrophic role played by US imperialism throughout the Middle East and the threat that a new and even bloodier war is being prepared in the drive for US hegemony over the region.
Tens of millions of workers across India joined a 48-hour strike this Tuesday and Wednesday to voice their opposition to the pro-investor policies of the countrys rabidly right-wing government.

The strike involved vast sections of the working class from mines and manufacturing to banking, transport and other government servicesand cut across the caste and communal divisions the Indian ruling class has incited for decades as part of a deliberate divide and rule strategy.

This weeks general strike in India, one of the largest strikes in history, is part of a growing upsurge of the world working class.

In neighboring Bangladesh, tens of thousands of poverty-stricken garment workers mounted strikes and demonstrations this week in the face of escalating state repression and violence. On Tuesday, a 22-year-old worker was killed when police assaulted protesting workers.

In Sri Lanka, off Indias southeast coast, plantation workers have been mounting a months-long agitation against poverty wages. This included a nine-day strike by 100,000 workers in December launched in defiance of the state-supported unions.

Hundreds of thousands of workers have taken part in Frances Yellow Vest movement against the austerity policies of President Emanuel Macron.

In the US, the United Teachers Los Angeles union is desperately maneuvering to avert a strike by more than 30,000 educators against the dismantling of public education by the union-backed, Democratic Party-led school district and California state government.

Among autoworkers in North America and Europe support for a militant challenge to the plans of the transnational auto companies to slash jobs and shutter plants is growing. Acting independently of the corporatist Unifor union apparatus, workers at the GM plant in Oshawa, Canada staged a series of job actions this week after the automaker reaffirmed its decision to close the plant and four others in the US.

After decades in which the class struggle was artificially suppressed by the phony establishment leftthe trade unions, social-democratic and Stalinist parties, and their pseudo-left appendagesthe working class is beginning to assert its own independent interests.

India exemplifies the brutality of 21st-century capitalism. Seventy percent of Indias population or upwards of 900 million people eke out an existence on less than $2 per day. Meanwhile, the elite and its media celebrate the exponential growth of Indias billionaires, from two in the mid-1990s with some $3 billion in assets to 131 today, gorging on wealth equivalent to 15 percent of Indias GDP.

Narendra Modi and his Hindu supremacist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) were brought to power in 2014 to subject Indias workers and toilers to even harsher exploitation. The Modi government has implemented savage austerity, promoted contract labour, and accelerated privatization while stoking communal reaction and transforming India into a frontline state in US imperialisms military-strategic offensive against China.

But as this weeks strike palpably demonstrated, the Indian working class is not just an object of exploitation. It wields immense social power.

The re-emergence of the international working class provides the objective foundations for a counter-offensive against world imperialismits globally-organized transnational corporations, its wars and intrigues, and its turn to authoritarian methods of rule and the cultivation of ultra-right and fascist forces.

The task now is to politically arm this insurgent movement of the working class with an international strategy and new organizations of struggle so it can create a new social order, free of want and warinternational socialism.

A key element in blazing a new political path for the working class is the merciless exposure of the pro-capitalist organizations that claim to speak in the name of the working class, whether it be the United Auto Workers (UAW) in the US, the CGT in France or the Left Party in Germany.

The all-India protest strike was politically led by the Stalinist Communist Party of India (Marxist), or CPM, and its trade union affiliate, the Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU). Also playing significant roles were the union federation of the CPMs sister Stalinist party, the CPI, and the trade union appendages of the big business Congress Party and the DMK, a right-wing Tamil Nadu-based party.

All these parties have played a pivotal role in implementing the Indian bourgeoisies drive to make India a cheap-labour haven for global capital. Between 1991 and 2008, the CPM and CPI sustained in power a succession of governments, most of them Congress Party-led, which spearheaded the neo-liberal agenda and pursued closer ties with Washington.

Workers joined this weeks strike to oppose the social devastation wrought by more than a quarter-century of pro-market reforms. However, for the Stalinists it was a grubby political maneuver aimed at corralling the working class behind the bringing to power of an alternative capitalist governmentwhether led by the Congress Party or a series of smaller, right-wing regional partiesafter the April-May general election.

The Stalinists seek to justify their systematic subordination of the working class to the parties and institutions of the bourgeoisie by pointing to the crimes of the BJP and its Hindu-right allies.

To be sure, Modi and his BJP are bitter enemies of the working class. But if the Hindu right has been able to grow into such a menace, it is because the Stalinists have fertilized the ground for reaction to grow. With the Stalinists preventing the working class from advancing its own socialist solution to the social crisis, the BJP has been able to demagogically exploit popular anger over the ruinous impact of the pro-market policies implemented by the various Stalinist-backed secular governments.

The only viable strategy to defend democratic rights and defeat reaction in India, as in the United States, France and around the world, is one based on the international class struggle and the independent political mobilization of the working class against the decrepit capitalist order.

Indian workers must prepare for struggle against the Modi regime and the next government, which, whatever its composition, will be tasked by its bourgeois masters with dramatically intensifying the exploitation of Indias workers and toilers. This requires the building of new organizations of struggle.

In this, Indian workers should follow the example of the Abbotsleigh tea plantation workers in Sri Lanka, who, under the guidance of the Socialist Equality Party, have established a rank-and-file action committee completely independent of the trade union apparatuses that have connived in their brutal exploitation for decades.

Such rank-and-file workplace committees must develop a working class counteroffensive by unifying the struggles of workers across India and by reaching out to workers around the world, with whom they are closely interlinked by the very process of global capitalist production.

These committees should take up the fight to free the 13 Maruti Suzuki workers jailed for life on frame-up murder charges. These workers, whose only crime is to have fought against poverty wages and contract-labour jobs, have been scandalously abandoned by the Stalinists and the unions because they fear their militant example. A campaign linking the fight for the freedom of the Maruti Suzuki 13 to the broader struggle against sweatshop conditions and precarious employment would galvanize the widespread support that exists for these class-war prisoners in the working class and serve as a rallying point for class struggle.

Indian workers and youth must join with workers across South Asia and around the world in building an international movement against imperialist war on the basis of a resolutely socialist program. By aligning itself with Washington, the Indian bourgeoisie has recklessly encouraged US imperialism in its war drive against China. Moreover, Indias ruling elite systematically manipulates its reactionary military-strategic conflicts with Pakistan and China to stoke communalism and jingoism, with the aim of intimidating and splitting the working class.

Above all, Indian workers need a revolutionary party, based on an internationalist socialist program and strategy and embodying all the strategic lessons of the struggles of the world working class, to prosecute the struggle for workers power. That party is the International Committee of the Fourth International (ICFI) and its national sections, such as the Socialist Equality Party (Sri Lanka).

Founded by Leon Trotsky in 1938, the ICFI has defended and developed the program of Permanent Revolution, which is the program that animated the 1917 Russian Revolution and the struggle against its Stalinist bureaucratic degeneration. Among its key teachings is that, in countries of historically belated capitalist development, the tasks of the democratic and socialist revolutions have become intertwined. None of the fundamental aspirations of the oppressed massesfrom the liquidation of landlordism and casteism to the social rights of the working class and genuine social equalitycan be secured outside of the working class forging its political independence and rallying the rural masses behind it on an anti-capitalist program and in the struggle for workers power.

We urge Indian workers and youth to spearhead the fight against social inequality, capitalist reaction and war by joining the fight to build the Indian section of the ICFI.
Jaguar Land Rover (JLR), the UKs biggest car maker, has confirmed that 4,500 jobs will be lost in Britain.

The redundancies represent around a tenth of its 44,000 strong UK workforce. The company, owned by Indian-based Tata Motors, has UK plants in Halewood, Solihull, Castle Bromwich and Wolverhampton. Internationally it employs a total of 53,000 workers, with operations in India, Ireland, Austria, Slovakia, Brazil, China and the United States.

The job losses are part of restructuring plans by the firm to cut costs by 2.5 billion. The announcement was made Thursday, the same day that the Ford Motor Company announced it would shed thousands of jobs in Europe. BBC Wales reported yesterday that this includes plans to slash 370 jobs at the Ford Bridgend engine plant in south Wales, which employs 1,700 workers, in a first phase of up to 1,150 job losses by 2021.

As with all car producers, JLR operates in a cut-throat environment and is constantly reducing its costs and increasing productivity. Last year, JLR shed 1,000 roles at its flagship plant in Solihull and reduced working hours at other sites amid falling demand for its diesel vehicles and saloon cars. Costs have been reduced further, with the company opening a plant in Slovakia employing 1,500 workers.

Last October, JLR posted losses of 90 million and has seen a collapse in sales by nearly 50 percent in its main and most profitable market, China. Reflecting growing trade tensions between the US and China, and a marked slowdown in its economy, last year the Chinese car industry recorded its first fall in sales for more than 20 years. The China Passenger Car Association reported that 22.7 million units were sold last year, a decline of six percent.

JLR manufactures a range of vehicles in Britain, with Castle Bromwich producing the Jaguar XE, XF and F-type models. Solihull makes the Jaguar F-Pace, Land Rover Discovery and Range Rover models. The Ryton and Halewood operations manufacture the Jaguar XE SV Project 8, Range Rover SV Coupe, Land Rover Discovery Sport and Range Rover Evoque. JLR is to shift production of its Land Rover Discovery model to Slovakia.

The company said the losses were the next stage of its transformation programme to be imposed over the next 18 months, resulting in cashflow improvements and a leaner, more resilient organisation with a flatter management structure.

By the end of 2019, it is estimated that JLRs UK workforce will be down to 38,000. The company have not yet announced which positions will be lost, but it is expected that managerial, research, sales and design staff will be hit. Job losses in the car industry have a massive knock-on effect in the many linked sectors. Five other jobs are dependent on each manufacturing job at an auto plant. Around 800,000 jobs in the UK are bound up with the car industry, with 170,000 involved in production.

Announcing the redundancies, JLR chief executive Ralf Speth said, We are taking decisive action to help deliver long-term growth, in the face of multiple geopolitical and regulatory disruptions as well as technology challenges facing the automotive industry.

Central to these geopolitical disruptions is Brexit and the widespread fear among car manufacturers over its impact. The UK is scheduled to leave the European Union in less than three months, on March 29. If Prime Minister Theresa May is unable to get her deal with the UK accepted by parliament, the real possibility exists of a no-deal Brexit threatening the auto industry with unprecedented turmoil.

Over half of UK car exports are destined for the EU and two-thirds of car imports come from the EU. UK car industry bosses all supported a Remain vote in the 2016 referendum and lobbied May to opt for a soft Brexit, including tariff-free access to the single market. Losing access to the EUs Single Market and Customs Union would disrupt supply chains and brings the spectre of queues of lorries choking up the ports. With something like 15,000 components going into the production of a single car, these factors are life and death issues for the industry.

Speth voiced these concerns again this week. When asked by Sky News if a no-deal Brexit could be problematic, he responded, It would be a huge problem for the company because [of]  the physical logistics to produce 3,000 cars in the UK daily... if we miss a part, we have to stop production, and stopping production costs between 80 million and 100 million per day.

Amid growing economic crisis, workers fear that implications of the loss of some of the last decent paying jobs in the declining manufacturing sector that now represents less than 10 percent of the UK economy.

There is a widespread sentiment to fight job losses. The BBC cited one worker, speaking anonymously, who works at JLRs plant at Whitley near Coventry. He said, Its not clear whats going on, adding, Ive got a young child, so I could really do with not losing my job right now. He insisted, Im fighting for my job... Its not worth the risk for me to take voluntary redundancy.

This willingness to fight was expressed in the wildcat strike by an entire shift last November of Vauxhall car workers at Ellesmere Port near Liverpool, just a few miles from JLRs plant in Halewood, Merseyside. After being told by local Unite trade union representatives that 241 jobs were to be lost, workers immediately walked out. Vauxhall is owned by PSA, who also own Peugeot and Citroen.

This sentiment pits workers into direct conflict with the trade unions, who have never lifted a finger to defend jobs in the car industry. The main union, Unite, which has around 95,000 members in the industry, has done nothing to oppose job losses at Ellesmere Port and only called for urgent assurances over the plants future. It would instead be pressing for guarantees of no compulsory redundancieswhich as every worker knows is code language for accepting job losses.

The unions at JLR and Ford operate no differently. In response to JLRs announcement, Unite national officer Des Quinn said, Unite will be scrutinising the business case for these global job cuts, and Unite expects that any UK redundancies will be on a voluntary basis amongst affected employees.

The central concern of Unite, as a trusted partner of the company, was to ensure the continued competitivity of JLR, with Quinn stating that the companies UK workforce have had to endure a great deal of uncertainty over recent months as they continue to work hard to ensure the carmaker remains a global leader.

He added, With record levels of new investment and models set to come on stream in its UK factories we look for Jaguar Land Rover to continue to be a global success and the jewel in Britains manufacturing crown.

Autoworkers in Britain cannot fight job losses and further attacks on their pay, terms and conditions unless they adopt a perspective in opposition to that of the nationalist, pro-capitalist trade unions. The tens of thousands of JLR workers and 13,000 Ford workers in Britain must turn to building rank-and-file committeesindependent of the unions.

These committees must establish the closest links with workers who face the same onslaught at auto plants across Europe, Asia, the United States and Canada to organise an internationally coordinated struggle. Autoworkers from the Big Three auto companies in the US, hostile to the constant sell-outs by the United Auto Workers union, have begun this fight by voting at a meeting in Detroit in December to establish independent rank-and-file committees to oppose General Motors planned layoffs of 15,000 workers internationally. The meeting was organised by the WSWS Autoworker Newsletter and the Socialist Equality Party (US).

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Security staff at three airports across Germany went on strike again Thursday for better pay and working conditions. Security personnel at Stuttgart, Cologne/Bonn and Dusseldorf airports took part in the all-day protest strike. Protest strikes had already taken place at Berlin Tegel and Schoenefeld on Monday. A further strike by security is expected to disrupt flights Tuesday at Frankfurt Airport, the largest airport in the country.

Almost 650 flights, well over half, had to be cancelled Thursday: 131 of them at Cologne/Bonn (out of 199), 370 at Dusseldorf (out of 570) and 142 flights (out of 275) planned at Stuttgart.

The workers, who are employed by different companies, including Fraport Security and Securitas Aviation, started their strike at 3:00 a.m. with the early shift. At Cologne/Bonn airport, the strike began at midnight, as there is no ban on night flights at this location.

The work stoppages make clear the enormous anger of security staff and their willingness to fight. They confront extremely stressful working conditions combined with meagre salaries.

There is a great deal of sympathy and solidarity with the strike among the wider population. Everybody wants to earn his or her money, so I think the strike is right, said one person in Dusseldorf, even though he lost a lot of time due to the strike and had to travel by bus from Dusseldorf to Paderborn.

Virtually all those affected who were interviewed by TV reporters expressed their understanding for the strike. One traveller said, You have to see the big picture. We have had a miserable wage development here in the last year and a half. This is the result now. Another says, I have nothing against the strike, I can understand their anger.

A woman who had to put up with a longer wait said, People have to get their money too. Of course, its daft that its us who are affected. But when they achieve their goal, it should be okay. A business traveller in Stuttgart said that although he was experiencing great difficulties due to the strike, he sympathized with the aim of the strikers.

There is no doubt that the security staffand many other airport workers who have recently gone on strikeare prepared to take up a serious fight for a fundamental change in their miserable situation.

However, they cannot effectively defend their interests if the Verdi union controls their industrial action.

Verdi already conducted four negotiations last year with the German Air Security Association (BDLS), most recently on December 20 and 21. The employers are not prepared to raise wages by more than two percent per yearfor many workers that is just forty cents more per hour.

The companies who work as subcontractors of the Federal Police at the airports formed BDLS in 2018. This is why Verdi is now, for the first time, negotiating a nationwide contract with this new employers association in Berlin. Nevertheless, according to the employers, East German workers should not receive the same salary as their colleagues in the West for another five years.

A discussion with two representatives of Verdi in Baden-Wurttemberg was very illuminating. Both made it clear that Verdi had no intention of mobilizing workers together to effectively push through the goal of a 20 euros hourly wages for all.

Questioned whether it would not make sense to strike together for a uniform nationwide wage, Verdi secretary Dominik Bollinger said this was not possible. There were clearly defined negotiation procedures, we must adhere to them... There is the Friedenspflicht [a union-agreed pledge of industrial peace]. Theres no point in escalating a negotiation.

We are conducting negotiations with the employer with a view to reaching agreement, Bollinger continued. He made clear that Verdi had never seriously accepted the aim of 20 euros for all, when he added that one must also be able to lose.

Eva Schmidt, head of the services department in Baden-Wurttemberg, explained, We are only in the protest strike phase and not an all-out strike. Verdi wanted to give employers the chance to call us back to the negotiating table with a better offer before 23 January.

A reporter from the World Socialist Web Site raised the question of a joint strike by all airport workers. He pointed out that strikes had been happening at airports for several years: among ground staff, against exploitation at Ryanair, among Lufthansa crewspilots and flight attendants, against dismissals following the Air-Berlin bankruptcy, etc. Wouldnt a joint strike make sense?

The Verdi officials immediately sought to play down the issue. Schmidt said that these were all different areas, different collective agreements with different terms. She was only responsible for security personnel, but not for the other areas.

The WSWS reporter then confronted the Verdi functionaries with the fact that the yellow vests protests in France had originated outside the trade unions and independently of them. Neither Schmidt nor Bollinger wanted anything to do with this and spoke out against the yellow vest demonstrations.

The protest in France takes place in completely different conditions, declared Bollinger, there was a completely different legal basis in France. His colleague argued, France has a very different strike culture.

Significantly, both immediately resorted to the slanders that were spread in the bourgeois media about the yellow vests. Schmidt said that she generally did not think it good to use violence, and Bollinger stressed that violence against police officers was unacceptable.

These statements alone make clear that the security staff cannot achieve their demands through the negotiations that Verdi is conducting with the BDLS. While the workers are willing to strike and conduct a real struggle for higher wages and better working conditions, Verdi is trying to prevent just that.

Verdi is on the side of the employers association and is conducting the fifth round of negotiations in the spirit of agreement. This means that Verdi will make sure a compromise is reached that secures the profits and competitiveness of the companies.

Security staff can only effectively fight for their concerns if they begin to organise independently of Verdi. Like autoworkers in the US, who took the first steps at a December 9 meeting in Detroit, they must build action committees linking up with all workers, including those in other areas, establishing contact with airports across Europe and fighting for the international unity of the working class.
Autoworkers and other sections of workers and young people will be marching in front of the General Motors headquarters in Detroit on February 9 to oppose the companys plans to shut five factories in the US and Canada and eliminate nearly 15,000 hourly and salaried workers.

The demonstration will begin at 2:00 pm EST. GM headquarters is located at 300 Renaissance Center in downtown Detroit, Michigan. (To sign up for updates, go to wsws.org/auto.)

The demonstration has been called by the Steering Committee of the Coalition of Rank-and-File Committees, and it has been endorsed by the WSWS Autoworker Newsletter. The steering committee, which is made up of autoworkers from Michigan and Indiana, along with workers from Amazon and other companies, was established at the December 9 Emergency Meeting to Fight GM Closings, organized by the World Socialist Web Site and the Socialist Equality Party (US).

In a statement circulated on social media, the steering committee called for support for the demonstration.

The statement says: General Motors plan to close five plants in the US and Canada and wipe out 15,000 jobs is an attack on all workers that must be stopped.

Calling the plant closings a corporate crime, it asserts: The workers and young people of Detroit, Lordstown, Oshawa and others targeted by GM must declare with one voice that these plants will not close! Their closure will have devastating consequences for tens of thousands of autoworkers, their families, and the communities in which these plants are located.

The actions by GM are part of a global restructuring of the auto industry and an attack on the international working class, driven by the demands of Wall Street for ever greater profits that will worsen record levels of social inequality.

The steering committee was formed to organize workers independently of the corporate-controlled unions, the UAW in the US and Unifor in Canada. These organizations, the statement declares, are businessescheap-labor contractors and an industrial police force, controlled by executives that are in the top 3 percent of income earners."

It continues: For four decades, these organizations have pushed through concessions, claiming they would save our jobs. While the givebacks enriched the auto bosses, 600,000 jobs were wiped out, and we were robbed of our wages and benefits. Thanks to the UAW and Unifor, an entire generation of autoworkers has been turned into low-paid temps.

The statement urges workers and young people to build rank-and file committees in every factory, workplace and community to advance the interests of workers in opposition to corporate management, independent of the UAW and Unifor.

The statement makes a particular appeal for the unity of all workers, in the United States and internationally, opposing the nationalism promoted by the unions. The struggle of autoworkers must be connected to the struggles of all workersincluding auto parts workers, teachers, Amazon workers, service workers and othersand fight for the unity of American workers with our class brothers and sisters in Canada, Mexico and the rest of the world.

All workers face the same fight, from teachers in Los Angeles, to federal employees being locked out, to the Yellow Vest protesters in France. The billionaires who rule society want to steal our wages, pensions and health benefits and turn every worker into an industrial slave.

The call for the demonstration takes place as the transnational auto companies are engaging in a global jobs massacre. Ford has just announced that it is reviewing its factories in Germany, France and Russia as part of a cost-cutting plan that could eliminate up to 25,000 jobs. The company is now preparing an alliance with Volkswagen in a move that could lead to even more job cuts. UK automaker Jaguar is also slashing 5,000 jobs.

And while GM is on its way to make at least $10 billion in profits and has squandered $25 billion on stock buybacks and dividend payments over the last few years, the company is not done with its job-cutting. The Detroit Free Press cited an industry analyst who said several engine and engine component plants will likely be hit by layoffs in Flint, Romulus and Bay City, Michigan, along with one in Ohio and western New York.

While the UAW and Uniforalong with the Trump administration and politicians in both the Democratic and Republican partiesare claiming the job cuts in the US and Canada are due to the company producing cars in Mexico and China, workers in both these countries are also being hit with plant closings and layoffs.

We need to demonstrate our working class power as a united global force, said Nick, an autoworker from Detroit who is on the steering committee. We see what happens to communities after plant closings. Look at Flint and Youngstown, Ohio, near the Lordstown plant. They are industrial wastelands. We have to come together and say: No, GM, you dont have the right to shut these plants.

I want to especially urge my brothers and sisters in Oshawa, Canada, who are starting to fight on their own, to join our demonstration, Nick added. Form your own rank-and-file committees, list out your objectives and fight for them. We cant let these giant companies and unions use a divide-and-conquer strategy against us. Working class people are one global people, and we have to unite. Together we can fight to end our exploitation and oppression, and the tyranny of this system.

Were calling on the working class to stand up and join the fight back against GM plant closings, said Angela, another steering committee member who works at Fiat Chrysler in Kokomo, Indiana. This could just as easily be happening to workers at Chrysler and Ford. Our brothers and sisters at GM need our collective strength to fight to defend our jobs and lives. All workers have to unite. Join me on February 9!
News broke at the beginning of January that personal and political data from German politicians, well-known musicians, and journalists was stolen and published online. According to current figures, 994 active or former politicians have been affected by the hack.

The main content of the leaks was personal contact information, including phone numbers and addresses, as well as internal party documents like application letters to party congresses. In a few cases, highly sensitive personal information was made public, including pictures from personal ID cards, documents confirming direct debit payments from bank accounts, chats with family members, and credit card details of relatives. Some of the documents are several years old.

The data was published before Christmas on Twitter in the style of an advent calendar. The account which published the data has more than 17,000 followers. Personal details from celebrities have been repeatedly published there since 2017. Media reports have noted that multiple copies have been made of the data, making it almost impossible to delete.

At a press conference on Tuesday, federal Interior Minister Horst Seehofer (Christian Social Union, CSU) announced that the security agencies would take tougher measures in response to the hack. The investigators responsible are working at top speed, he said. A suspect has already been questioned and is cooperative, he added. The suspect is a 20-year-old student from the state of Hesse. The Interior Minister praised the swift investigation, and thanked the security agencies for good and rapid cooperation.

In the future, the cyber-security sector would be a focus around the clock, Seehofer declared. A new draft security law is almost complete and will be presented in the first half of 2019, he added. The Federal Agency for Security (BSI) will hire more personnel. The qualifications of BSI workers will also be reviewed more closely and improved in the future.

Seehofer said nothing about the fact that signs point to far-right forces around the Alternative for Germany (AfD) being involved in the attack. And it is well known that the right-wing party enjoys strong support from the security agencies.

A glance at the facts suggests that the data hack was part of the political conspiracy which the federal government has used to impose its policies of militarism and the strengthening of the repressive state apparatus to suppress all opposition in the population.

Firstly, it is noteworthy that of all the parties represented in parliament, only politicians from one remained unaffected by the hack: the AfD. 56 percent of parliamentary deputies, or a total of 398, have been affected, including 204 from the CDU/CSU, 90 from the SPD, 47 from the Left Party, 31 from the Greens, and 26 from the Free Democrats, but not a single one of the AfDs 91 deputies.

The source of the attack also points to far-right circles. Die Zeit has carefully examined the case, and came to the conclusion, It is not yet possible to say who exactly was responsible for stealing the data. But the people associated with the accounts provide further indications that those responsible are active in right-wing politics. The main account, 0 rbit, participated in right-wing extremist discussions on Twitter.

According to Die Zeit, other far-right accounts have ties to the main account, including AN_Ofiziell (anonymousness), which is active in right-wing politics and presents itself as part of the Anonymous hacker group. The twin account anonymousnews.ru was also connected to the main account. The suspected person behind the account is a right-wing extremist from Erfurt who was sentenced to two years and ten months in prison in December 2018 due to illegally trading weapons. The man filed an appeal against the ruling and is currently free under strict police surveillance.

Julian Reichelt, editor-in-chief of the Bild newspaper, pointed to another aspect of the case Tuesday that undermines the official narrative of a lone 20-year-old student living out his fantasies of unlimited power online. It concerns the huge set of data he is currently reviewing and analysing with a trained team of specialist investigative reporters. This wasnt one or two boys eating pizza and drinking cola in a basement. It must have been a larger structure. The most likely explanation is that there was state support for this hack, regardless of where it came from, Reichelt explained.

The Bild editor-in-chief indicated that a state possibly with subversive intent, tried to undermine the Federal Republic, but then wrote, According to the investigators, there is no political motivation, nobody pulling the strings from Russia, China, or another country.

The question is therefore posed: was the data hack organized by the AfDs far-right network, which reaches deep into the states security apparatus and is used by the government to enforce its right-wing, anti-social, and militarist policies?

The right-wing extremist networks, which are present in all parts of the state apparatus, are well known.

Last summer, the head of the domestic intelligence agency, Hans-Georg Maassen, was removed from his post after defending neo-Nazi marchers in Chemnitz.

In its latest report, the domestic intelligence agency neglects to mention the AfD, even though it regularly agitates against immigrants, promotes racism, and trivialises the Nazis crimes and the Wehrmacht. By contrast, the Socialist Equality Party (SGP) is named in the report as a left-wing extremist party, with the justification that it criticises the capitalist system.

In the army, a neo-Nazi network was discovered when the terrorist plans of Franco A. were accidentally revealed. The army officer, who had procured firearms and apparently planned attacks on high-ranking politicians, had registered himself as a Syrian refugee. He seemingly planned to blame his crimes on refugees. Nonetheless, the Frankfurt Court of Appeals saw no reason to press charges against him.

When Focus magazine published new details in November about the conspiratorial network of around 200 soldiers in the army, other media outlets ignored the revelation and the issue was quickly dropped.

A far-right cell in the police in Frankfurt was recently exposed, which described itself as NSU 2.0a reference to the neo-Nazi National Socialist Underground terrorist group.

The existence of a right-wing conspiracy within the state apparatus is thus not the product of conspiracy theories, but bitter reality.

This is the context within which the political campaign to defend the AfD which began immediately after the data leak must be understood. A violent attack on the leader of the right-wing party in Bremen served as the pretext for politicians to line up with statements of solidarity for the AfD. On Tuesday morning, contrary to all the facts, a report was spread claiming that the AfD member was beaten severely by three masked individuals with a wooden baton.

Later, after footage from security cameras was reviewed, it was confirmed that the AfD politician was pursued by three men, who attacked him from behind. A spokesman for the Bremen state prosecutor stated that the pictures showed nobody kicking someone lying on the ground, and nobody striking the victim with an object.

Despite this, media outlets have reported the attack as an attempted murder, and all parties have declared their support for and solidarity with the AfD.
Todays Peoples Assembly against Austerity demonstration in London declares that a Labour government led by Jeremy Corbyn is the only alternative to a Conservative government bent on destroying jobs, wages and vital social services.

Its central organisers include the pseudo-left groups, Counterfire, the Socialist Workers Party, Socialist Party and the Communist Party of Britainall of which were advocates of a so-called left Brexit, claiming that the nationalist, neo-liberal and xenophobic agenda of the Conservative right-wing and UK Independence Party could become the starting point for a new British Road to Socialism.

Amid the wreckage of that perspective, with tens of thousands of jobs under threat, they now state that a Corbyn government is the means of overcoming the dangerous division they played a central role in fostering between workers and youth who voted to leave the European Union (EU) and those who voted to remain within it. The consequences of a Corbyn victory will be far greater than any possible deal over Brexit, insists Counterfire. The whole labour movement therefore has every interest in uniting to ensure that from this crisis the Tories are forced to leave office and a general election is called.

The Socialist Party adds that Corbyn should call on the trade unionsthe largest democratic organisations of the working classto step up to the plate 

Such demands, even when accompanied by calls to take to the streets, are aimed at suppressing the class struggle by tying workers to bureaucratic institutions whose goal is to rescue British capitalism at the expense of the working class.

The Brexit crisis is only one expression of a global crisis of capitalist rule, rooted in the conflict between the rival imperialist bourgeois powers over who controls the worlds market. It is this which has produced the intractable divisions between pro-Brexit Tory advocates of a trade war alliance with the US against Europe and the pro-Remain advocates of maintaining the UKs position within the EU.

This same crisis of the capitalist system has led to an unprecedented social polarisation between the financial oligarchy and the mass of working people, whose livelihoods and essential social services are being sacrificed on the altar of global competitiveness. The capitalists austerity offensive has led to a resurgence of the class struggle in Britain, Europe and throughout the world, which finds its most significant expression in Europe in the Yellow Vest demonstrations against French President Emmanuel Macrons pro-market labour and tax reforms.

The pseudo-left groups acknowledge this by appealing for todays protesters to don Yellow Vests, but they insist that Britain must be viewed as a separate case. Unlike the French we have a strong left-led opposition that has the potential to smash the Tories in a General Election, Counterfire writes. And Jeremy Corbyn leads on a manifesto that is just about radical enough to help transform society 

This is a political fraud. Labour is a party of British imperialism and continues to be so under the leadership of Corbyn. He and his Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell have spent months seeking to convince the major corporations and the City of London that Labour can be trusted to uphold the national interest, not the interests of the working class. To this end, Corbyn has repeatedly delayed calling a vote of no confidence in the government while making securing tariff-free access for business to the Single European Market his own central concern.

This follows the pattern of his three years as party leader, in which he capitulated to the demands of the Blairite right and the mediaincluding on Trident, NATO and his insistence that Labour councils impose Tory austerity and that a Labour government would impose a fiscal credibility rule on public spending. At the same time, he has opposed all popular moves to expel the right-wing in the name of maintaining party unity.

But this is only a down-payment on what the ruling class would expect of a Labour government should it come to power. None of Corbyns minimal social pledges would survive demands that he make the necessary cuts and other attacks to ensure Britains ability to compete against its rivals. And neither would his personal declarations of pacifism and anti-imperialism stand in the way of the ratcheting up of military tensions with Russia and China.

Corbyn would work with the trade unions, not to defend the working class but to impose the dictates of the banks and corporations. The trade union bureaucracy has spent decades stifling industrial action to the point where last year saw a series of strikes pitting workers directly against the union leaders and prompting motions of no confidence by lecturers, nurses and railway guards. These well-paid corporate functionaries will oppose nothingas evidenced by Unites latest response to 5,000 job losses at Jaguar Land Rover that it would scrutinise the business case for these global job cuts.

The Peoples Assembly demonstration draws a veil of silence over the stance of Corbyn on Brexit, which is to advance Labour as a means of averting social conflict and re-unifying the nationeither by securing a better deal with Brussels or, if a confidence vote on the government fails, supporting a second referendum on EU membership.

This leaves workers and youth with no independent alternative to two right-wing capitalist factionsboth pro-austerity and pro-war who disagree only over how best to defend the interests of British imperialism. It has now handed the political initiative back to the dominant Remain section of the imperialist bourgeoisie, including the Blairites and pseudo-left groups such as Another Europe is Possible, Socialist Resistance and Left Unity, who cite the reactionary implications of Brexit to hold out the prospect of a return to social and economic progress within the EU.

This too is a dangerous fraud. The vote against the EU was fuelled by legitimate hostility to an instrument of big capital that has imposed savage austerity against the working class, while bringing Greece and other countries to the brink of ruin. The EU and its constituent governments continue to slash living standards, abrogate democratic rights, develop plans for a European army and erect razor-wire fences around Europe while thousands of refugees drown in the Mediterranean. Far-right forces grow stronger every day, not just in Eastern Europe, but in the core countries of Italy, Austria, France and Germany, facilitated first by the tacit support of the ruling elite and its state apparatus but also by the sheer rottenness of the so-called left and the trade unions.

The Socialist Equality Party insists that the answer to austerity in the UK is not the election of a pro-capitalist Labour government, but the class struggle for socialism. The stark choice faced by workers and youth is between the continued growth of right-wing reaction, austerity, militarism and war or waging the fight against the destruction of workers livelihoods, the National Health Service, public housing and education, and in defence of democratic rights and immigrant workers based on a revolutionary socialist, anti-imperialist and internationalist perspective.

The working class must create independent organisations of class struggle, free of the suffocating grip of the bureaucracy to mobilise against the Tory government and the corporations for a workers government.

In this fight, the ally of British workers is not the EU but the European and international working class that is now coming into struggle.

In every country, strike activity is building after years of suppression by the bureaucracy. Protests are erupting which, like the Yellow Vests in France, are socially and politically heterogeneous but which are fuelled above all by the devastating impact of rising social inequality that has left millions struggling to survive. Unifying this immense and powerful social force means building the political leadership of the SEP and its sister parties in the International Committee of the Fourth International to take forward the fight for the United Socialist States of Europe.
Top officials from the Unifor union used a rally Friday in Windsor, Ontario, ostensibly called to oppose GM plant closings, as a platform to spout Canadian nationalism. The gathering took place across the Detroit River from General Motors world headquarters in Detroit where a stockholders meeting was taking place.

The rally came in the wake of a wildcat job action by workers at the Oshawa, Ontario GM plant slated by GM for closure. Workers staged a sitdown protest Tuesday, stopping production at the facility which employs 2,600, following an announcement by GM reaffirming its plan to close the plant later this year, once one of the largest car plants in the world.

While press accounts claimed more than 1,000 were in attendance at the Windsor rally, there appeared to be far short of that number. It was evident Unifor did little to promote the protest in a city where there are thousands of Ford and Fiat Chrysler autoworkers, including 6,000 at the Chrysler minivan plant alone, which was on shutdown this week.

Unifor has adopted the slogan Sell in Canada, build in Canada as its mantra. The union printed up hundreds of jackets with the slogan Canada didnt bail out GM to move our jobs to Mexico. In an evident racist gibe at Mexican workers, a woman festooned in stereotyped Mexican clothing, including a large sombrero, stood near the speakers platform.

Further underscoring its nationalist orientation, Unifor made no appeal for a common struggle with US autoworkers on the other side of the Detroit River who face the closure of the Detroit-Hamtramck plant.

Unifor bused in perhaps 300 Oshawa workers to Windsor for the protest. Indeed, the holding of a rally in Windsor, hundreds of miles from the Oshawa factory, seemed to be a calculated move to dissipate workers anger and direct it away from the facility, especially in the wake of the wildcat action.

As the main speaker, Unifor President Jerry Dias combined demagogic tub thumping with groveling appeals to GM stockholders and federal and provincial politicians, who he asked to look in the mirror to see if they were doing enough to oppose the Oshawa closure. He went on to demand a meeting to discuss the closure with Doug Ford, the ultra-right-wing Conservative Ontario premier, Liberal Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and GM CEO Mary Barra.

Dias made no appeal to American autoworkers, barely mentioning that four of the five GM facilities slated to close were in the US along with the bulk of salaried workers facing the loss of their jobs. Nor did he mention Fords announcement that it is cutting thousands of jobs in Europe. He neither called for any industrial action by Unifor nor did he mention the job action by Oshawa workers.

Indeed, in the previous weeks, Unifors focus has been convincing GM that the union can assist in slashing production costs in Canada, including by driving out older, better paid workers and bringing in lower-paid multi-tier workers.

A Socialist Equality Party campaign team distributed copies of the WSWS Autoworker Newsletter with the call by the Steering Committee for Rank-and-File Factory Committees for a demonstration uniting US and Canadian autoworkers February 9 at GM headquarters in Detroit. It also contained an appeal to Canadian autoworkers to reject Unifors nationalism and join with their US and Mexican brothers and sisters by forming independent rank-and-file factory committees.

In contrast to Unifor officials, Canadian autoworkers warmly welcomed the call for united international action.

A GM Oshawa worker said that after stopping work Tuesday the workers had been told by management to go home, but everyone decided to stay. Then the next day Unifor had come and asked workers to sign up to come down on a bus to Windsor.

He said he absolutely 100 percent agreed with uniting US and Canadian workers in a common fight against GM. I think that is the next step. Its about keeping jobs. People cant live unless they have a job to support their families in some way or another.

Lisa, a worker from Leamington, Ontario came to support the fight of GM workers. She spoke out against the demonizing of immigrant workers. Where I am from we have thousands of immigrant workers who are brought in from all over the Caribbean and South America and the companies abuse the hell out of them.

These workers are forced to accept extremely low wages and bad working conditions and there is nothing they can do about it. The problem is not Mexican workers. They are exploited as hell, worse than us.

Recalling the promises made in the aftermath of the auto bail-out she noted, This year they made $6 billion in profits. Could they have done with $5 billion or $4 billion? How much profit is enough? When does it come back to the workers? Ill tell youits never enough. There is so much corporate greed, meanwhile workers are just trying to get by, send their kids to college and you cant anymore. You cant live a normal life anymore.

While Lisa said she considered herself pro union she agreed that Unifor did not seem to be acting in the interests of the workers.

She also agreed with the call by the WSWS Autoworker Newsletter for the unification of workers across borders in a common struggle against the plant closures. These guys [the union officials] are not militant. What we need are some of those Yellow Vests over here, she said referring to ongoing protests by French workers. We need to show them that the workers are united and militant, like they did there.

The WSWS Autoworker Newsletter also spoke to a number of Fiat Chrysler workers employed at the minivan plant in Windsor who came to show their support for their fellow workers at GM. Windsor Chrysler workers are currently on short time as the company adjusts its inventories.

One young worker said he had worked at the plant for just five months, after working at a feeder plant for five years prior.

We are not working full eight-hour days any more. I was hoping it would stop, but it looks like its not supposed to. No one wants to lose their job. I dont want GM to pull out, thats for sure.

When asked about fighting for the international unity of autoworkers he said, Thats why we are here.

A veteran Windsor Fiat Chrysler worker said, I am afraid for my job. We need to be able to feed our families. They are just leaving people high and dry. We have to do everything we possibly can to oppose this.

When asked about the claim by Unifor that Canadian workers jobs were being taken by Mexican workers she said, I dont think they are stealing our jobs. We shouldnt be pitted against each other.

Another Chrysler worker said she was concerned by the low turnout at the rally, There is no reason there shouldnt be 6,000 people down here. We are laid off this week. When it happens to us, who will stand up for us?
Isaiah Gardenhire is accused of stabbing a 13-year-old girl to death and committing other crimes while out on bond. He is in the Isabella County jail on a litany of felony charges and was out on bond in a case in Mason County.
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. (WLFI)  In 2018, Purdue University reached a milestone with the creation of more than 223 start-up companies.

The university has been monitoring this since 2013 when Mitch Daniels became Purdues President and created an initiative to ensure students and faculty gain the rights to their inventions and ideas.

Purdue Senior Vice President of Innovation and Entrepreneurship Greg Deason said it was a step in the right direction for the university.

We needed to distinguish ourselves by creating start-ups and the ability to commercialize our technologies, said Deason.

President Daniels said more than 60 of the 223 start-ups were founded and owned by Purdue students.

We are out to be entrepreneur U, where we encourage and help students think about being job creators, job makers and not just takers but secondly to be a driver of growth for the Greater Lafayette area, said Daniels.

These start-ups have brought more than 300 jobs to the community. Many of those through the Wabash Heartland Innovation Network, which focuses on agriculture in the area. President Daniels and Deason said reaching a milestone like this is a good sign for a thriving community.

This is a region that stretches from Chicago to Indianapolis and Purdue is right in the middle of it. West Lafayette is right in the middle of it so yeah, start-up city. We want you to come here fulfill your dreams and to make an impact, said Deason.

Major international companies have acquired nine Purdue based start-ups for a total of $2.3 Billion.

According to a Purdue Press release, these are the some of the biggest companies acquired:

Endocyte Inc., a drug development company, was acquired in 2018 by Novartis AG for $2.1 billion.

DATTUS Inc., a leader in industrial Internet of Things, sold for an undisclosed price in 2018 to Michigan based Plex Systems.

Spensa Technologies, a digital ag technology company, was sold for an undisclosed amount in 2018 to DTN, a global insights and analysis company based in Minneapolis.

Griffin Analytics, a mass spectrometry company, merged with ICx Technologies in 2006 and was later purchased as part of a package by FLIR Systems Inc. in 2010 for about $274 million.
At the same time the FBI opened a probe into President Donald Trump for possible obstruction of justice after he fired FBI Director James Comey, counterintelligence agents were investigating why Trump was acting in ways that seemed to benefit Russia, according to a source familiar with the matter.

As CNN first reported, the FBI opened the Trump probe, in the hectic days after the President fired Comey, after considering various options for dealing with the firing.

It was a tense time. In addition to the Comey dismissal in May 2017, the President had raised concern in the FBI for comments he made to Russian officials in the Oval Office about firing his FBI director, according to the source familiar with the matter.

The source spoke to CNN after The New York Times reported Friday that law enforcement officials were so concerned they began investigating whether the President was working on behalf of Russia against US interests.

In a strongly worded reaction, White House press secretary Sarah Sanders said, "This is absurd. James Comey was fired because he's a disgraced partisan hack, and his Deputy Andrew McCabe, who was in charge at the time, is a known liar fired by the FBI. Unlike President Obama, who let Russia and other foreign adversaries push America around, President Trump has actually been tough on Russia."

In a flurry of tweets Saturday morning, Trump slammed Comey, arguing that his firing of the former FBI director "was a great day for America" and accused him of being a "crooked cop" protected by Mueller.

"Wow, just learned in the Failing New York Times that the corrupt former leaders of the FBI, almost all fired or forced to leave the agency for some very bad reasons, opened up an investigation on me, for no reason & with no proof, after I fired Lyin' James Comey, a total sleaze!" Trump wrote Saturday, adding in a separate tweet that he's been far tougher on Russia than his predecessors.

FBI agents and senior officials began to suspect connections between Trump and Russia during the 2016 campaign but pushed off an investigation partially because they were unsure how to execute such a massive and sensitive operation, sources told the Times.

But when Trump then tied Comey's firing to the Russia investigation two separate times, the FBI opened the probe, the people said to the Times.

The case was then referred to special counsel Robert Mueller as part of his investigation into whether Russian agents interfered with the 2016 election, the Times reported, adding that it is not clear whether the special counsel has continued that part of the investigation.

Comey was dismissed, the White House said at the time, on the recommendation of Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein and Attorney General Jeff Sessions. They cited Comey's handling of the probe into Hillary Clinton's use of a private email server while she was secretary of state, a controversy that many believe helped Trump defeat the Democratic nominee in the 2016 presidential election.

CNN reported last month that the dismissal set off a flurry of activity by Rosenstein and top FBI officials.

They discussed a range of options, including Rosenstein wearing a wire while speaking with Trump, which Rosenstein later denied. Ultimately, then-acting FBI Director McCabe took the extraordinary step of opening an obstruction of justice investigation even before Mueller was appointed, sources told CNN.

The obstruction probe was an idea the FBI had previously considered, but it didn't start until Comey was fired. The justification went beyond Trump's firing of Comey, according to the sources, and included the President's conversation with Comey in the Oval Office asking him to drop the investigation into his former national security adviser Michael Flynn.
(Photo/Crionline.com)

The latest round of vice-ministerial level trade talks between China and the United States, which concluded on Wednesday, have laid a foundation for addressing each other's concerns, the Ministry of Commerce said on Thursday.

Both sides have actively implemented the significant consensus reached by their heads of state and conducted extensive, in-depth and detailed exchanges on trade and structural issues of common concern, Gao Feng, the ministry's spokesman, said at a news briefing on Thursday.

The meetings between China and the US began on Monday in Beijing.

According to a statement released by the ministry on Thursday morning, the two sides improved mutual understanding.

Both sides agreed to continue to keep in close contact, the statement said.

On Dec 1, the top leaders of China and the US met on the sidelines of the G20 Leaders' Summit in Buenos Aires, Argentina. They agreed to continue negotiations, suspend the imposition of new tariffs and exchange visits at an appropriate time.

The US delegation was led by US Deputy Trade Representative Jeffrey Gerrish.

Craig Allen, president of the US-China Business Council, said he was pleased that the two governments have had substantive discussions over the past three days and looked forward to hearing details about the negotiations.

Any agreement between the governments should include positive incentives, such as a mechanism for removing tariff hikes the two countries have imposed on each other, as progress is made in the talks, Allen said.

He said removal of those tariffs should be a priority to address the damage that has been done to US companies that depend on trade with China and to the US economy as a whole. The council will continue to work with both governments to encourage that result, he said.

China has already shown its determination to put its foreign trade on a firmer footing, said Wei Jianguo, vice-president of the China Center for International Economic Exchanges. The country also has increased moves to accelerate the pace of its reform and opening-up, especially to further safeguard intellectual property rights, expand market access, increase imports from the US and make the business environment even more transparent and fairer, Wei said.

"These moves are not only to respond to concerns from the US but also to realize the potential of high-level opening-up to the rest of the world," he said. "China has always adopted an open stance toward solving trade disputes with the US. It has shown its sincerity in settling disputes through concrete measures."

Trade volume between China and the US amounted to $582.8 billion between January and November last year, up 10.9 percent year-on-year, according to the General Administration of Customs.

To further improve the business environment, China has already removed the import license requirement for 118 products and 29 product restrictions on imports, said Song Xianmao, deputy director-general of the Foreign Trade Department at the Ministry of Commerce. It also has suspended export quotas for phosphorus ore and silver starting Jan 1, he said.

China's imports are expected to exceed $2 trillion in 2018, which would be a record, Song said.
Shenandoah, IA (51601)

Today

Mainly sunny. Hot. High 96F. Winds SSE at 10 to 20 mph..

Tonight

A few clouds from time to time. Low 73F. Winds SSE at 10 to 15 mph.
Abbondanza, Philip Capone proclaimed Friday, as he dipped his ladle into a pot of pasta fagioli soup.

Guests at the inaugural soup kitchen at St. John the Baptist Episcopal Churchs Couper Hall would need only to look into the pot  teeming with tomato-based broth and al dente pasta  to know that abbondanza is the Italian word for abundance.

As serving time (11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.) drew near, about a dozen diners had trickled in and made themselves at home at one of the long tables.

While volunteers were preparing three tall stockpots of Capones special recipe of the meatless soup, guests nibbled from the baskets of Italian bread laid out on each table.

And volunteer Mark Goldsworthy regaled them with stories of his stint as Capones sous chef, or assistant.

I spent hours cutting onions, he said. My hands still smell like onions.

And when Goldsworthy hinted that his knife slipped at one point, and I put a little of myself in the soup, guests joked about the possibility of finding meat in the vegetarian soup.

When guests tried to slip a dollar bill or two into the pocket of Goldsworthys apron, Goldsworthy made it clear the meal is free for all.
Information is taken from the records of the Portage Police Department and does not represent a comprehensive list of police activity. Each individual named in this report is presumed to be innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

Between 8:53 a.m. Monday and 7:38 a.m. Friday, the Portage Police Department responded to 121 calls, including the following:

Dunn Street: Police at 8:53 a.m. on Jan. 7 cited Tevin E. Eggros, 23, of Wisconsin Dells for an eighth offense of operating a motor vehicle after suspension. A vehicle was towed by Joe's Auto & Truck Center.

New Pinery Road: Police at 9:23 a.m. on Jan. 7 referred a 13-year-old boy to Health and Human Services for possession of a dangerous weapon by a person under the age of 18 at Bartels Middle School.

West Slifer Street: Police at 11:13 a.m. on Jan. 7 responded to a report of a rear license plate missing from a vehicle parked in a lot. Police reported the license plate missing or stolen.
When Lt. Wayne Smith heard Thursday night that Jayme Closs had been found alive, he felt a tremendous sense of relief for her family and his fellow law enforcement officers.

Im pretty sure everyone is excited and happy that they were able to bring Jayme home, Smith said.

Closs, 13, of Barron, went missing Oct. 15. She was not seen or heard from for nearly three months until she was found Thursday in Gordon, a small town in northwestern Wisconsin.

Authorities have arrested suspect Jake Thomas Patterson, 21, of Gordon, in connection with Closs disappearance. Her parents, James, 56, and Denise, 46, were found dead of gunshot wounds in their home, and the front door had been shot to gain entry.

Smith, a lieutenant with the Columbia County Sheriffs Office, had responded along with two other local sheriffs officials to a statewide request from Barron County for help with the investigation in late October.

As many as 2,000 volunteers, including scores of law enforcement members, conducted a ground search in Barron County. Detective Sgt. Ben Oetzman and then-Detective Sgt. Jason Kocovsky joined Smith in an expedition north to Barron County from Oct. 24-26 to help alleviate staffing shortages there.
Audition, rehearse, perform  kids can do it all next week at Beaver Dam Area Community Theatre.

BDACT, along with Compass Creative Dramatics, is hosting a week-long theater camp for students in first through eighth grade, culminating with two performances of Beauty and the Beast.

Aspiring actors and actresses will audition Monday, rehearse each night for three hours, and present their show Saturday at 2 and 7 p.m. at Beaver Dam Area Community Theatre, 219 N. Spring St., Beaver Dam.

BDACT Managing Director David Saniter said this will be the final production at the old theater building.

In this unique version of Beauty and the Beast, beloved books disappear off the shelves. Beauty and her team of local librarians embark on a quest to rescue them from the city sewers. There, they find the Beast and his henchmen searching desperately to cure the curse that has transformed them all into animals of the lowest degree. Amidst dancing pigeons, ticklish books and enchanted blue roses, Beauty and the Beast learn that its only by working together that they can save the day.
The knock on divided government is that it creates gridlock. Witness, for example, the tedious standoff between Republican President Donald Trump and the new Democratic House majority. Their dispute over money for a symbolic border wall has partially shut down the federal government. But more often  especially here in Wisconsin  split power between the two political parties forces both sides to give and take, which leads to better, more pragmatic and lasting public policy decisions.

Neither partisan side gets to push the state to extremes. Instead, shared responsibility for decisions creates a strong incentive to find reasonable agreement.

Thats what voters should expect and demand, now that Democratic Gov. Tony Evers has ended eight years of Republican rule at the statehouse. The GOP still controls both houses of the Legislature, but any bill lawmakers approve must get past the governors powerful veto pen. Evers set a positive tone during his inaugural address Monday, saying hell work to bridge the partisan divide by encouraging civility and cooperation. Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald, R-Juneau, also had good things to say. Fitzgerald told fellow GOP lawmakers to prepare for a slower pace to governing.
Like other Dodge County Board members, District 26 Supervisor Thomas Nickel represents roughly 2,600 people.

However, theres something different about Nickels constituents. About 41 percent of them are prisoners at the Dodge Correctional Institute who cant vote and come from other communities.

Nickel said he doesnt consider that large demographic when governing. The prisoners dont contact him, and he doesnt reach out to them.

Youre the first one who has ever brought up that there are inmates in my district, he said in a phone interview.

Packed closely together in the northern part of Dodge County are four state prisons with a combined population of more than 6,000 inmates.

The U.S. Census Bureau counts prisoners as residents of the communities in which their detention facilities are located, rather than their hometowns. States and local governments must use that data every 10 years to redraw political district boundaries.

During the last redistricting process, Dodge County spread its state inmates among six of the countys 33 supervisory districts. However, four of those six districts still wound up with prison populations that made up more than one-third of the constituency.

Critics say this method of counting prisoners distorts political influence, giving increased representative power to people who live near prisons.

For example, in all but one Columbia County supervisory district, supervisors are chosen by voters among a population of roughly 2,000 people.

However, the same is not true of the 5th district, where the Columbia Correctional Institution is located. In that district, more than 800 residents are prisoners who are barred from casting ballots. Voters among the districts remaining 1,200 people get to pick a county board member.

Ongoing practice

Nearly all of the 77,863 people who submitted comments to the U.S. Census Bureau since its last 10-year census have urged a change in policy to count prisoners as residents of their hometowns. However, the federal agency has no plans to make such a change in 2020.

They just kind of turn a blind eye to the facts on the ground, said Aleks Kajstura, legal director with the Easthampton, Massachusetts-based nonprofit Prison Policy Initiative, which says the counting method leads to prison gerrymandering.

Aside from the issue of skewed representative power, Kajstura said, the Census Bureaus policy isnt practical.

Lawmakers whose constituents are incarcerated at a disproportionate rate are more likely to champion issues prisoners care about  such as criminal justice reform  than politicians with prisons in their districts.

And when prisoners reach out to elected officials, Kajstura said, they often contact the ones from their hometown districts.

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The Census Bureau uses a concept called usual residence  established by the Census Act of 1790  to count prisoners.

A persons usual residence is defined as the place where they live and sleep most of the time. It may not be the same as their legal or voting residence.

Therefore, counting prisoners anywhere other than the facility would be less consistent with the concept of usual residence, since the majority of people in prisons live and sleep most of the time at the prison, Census Bureau spokeswoman Kristina Barrett said in an email.

The concept of usual residence was more important in 1790, when ensuring equal representation in Congress was all that mattered, according to the Prison Policy Initiative.

Today, census data is used to redistrict all levels of state and local government, making the specific location of residents more important.

Solutions sought

Communities have searched for ways around the problems that result from how the Census Bureau counts prisoners.

In Columbia County, officials received permission from the state to split the prisons population into two census blocks. The intent was to spread the inmates among multiple political districts to dilute the problem of skewed representation.

However, the prisoners wound up being counted entirely within the countys 5th supervisory district and the city of Portages 8th aldermanic district, said Brian Zirbes, an analyst with the Columbia County Land Information Department who worked on the countys redistricting plan after the last census.

He said incorporating a prison into local political boundaries is not an easy task. District populations must be nearly equal in population, regardless of whether one of them includes a significant number of inmates.

Theres a whole bunch of different rules youre trying to please, Zirbes said. It gets more complex than most people realize.

Even jails can skew representation. Although inmates in those facilities are different than state prisoners because some of them retain voting privileges, most arent actual residents of the communities in which they are incarcerated.

The Sauk County jail in Baraboo houses inmates from all parts of the county and elsewhere. Nevertheless, all the inmates counted there were considered Baraboo residents for the purposes of redistricting.

Baraboo city engineer Tom Pinion said the citys 4th aldermanic district was drawn up to include 237 jail inmates. Thats about 17 percent of the districts total population.

Inmates within the jail who do exercise their right to vote likely arent voting for 4th district alderman race. The state requires inmates to vote by absentee ballot in the district they lived in immediately prior to their incarceration.

So you have people counted as though theyre constituents of the alderman from the 4th district, but theyre voting in different races, said Kajstura of the Prison Policy Initiative. If they try to register in Baraboo, chances are theyd be committing voter fraud.

Barrett, the Census Bureau spokeswoman, said the agency will offer a product to states after the 2020 census that will assist them in reallocating prisoners if they wish. It will be up to states to submit a data file showing how the prisoners were redistributed.

She said states will have the option of using the adjusted data for their own purposes, but it will not be incorporated into the Census Bureaus counts.

Follow Tim Damos on Twitter @timdamos or contact him at 608-745-3513.

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Aldrich hopes that his passion can stir some wind of enthusiasm with others.

The hobby of kite flying is on the decline, Aldrich said.

He goal, especially with the exhibit and workshops, is to help people see kite flying with new eyes.

Another way hes doing that is by carrying around extra kites while hes flying his own.

I have a bag of extra kites to give away, he said enthusiastically.

For Aldrich, half of the satisfaction of his hobby is interacting with others and seeing them smile as they look up at the colorful displays.

The other half is in the relaxation and stress relief it gives him.

Aldrich explained that he used to have a different hobby.

I used to do model railroading, he said. But that brought me more stress!
In addition to the $8 million from the state, the $18 million project will be funded through a capital campaign led by the Eagle Center. That campaign, which has started out with donations from 33 individuals and two foundations, has already raised $2.7 million, Thompson said. The campaign will continue for the next two to three years until it reaches its goal, he said.

The city is working with Milestone Real Estate Partners out of the Twin Cities to develop its plan before construction begins in 2020 or 2021.

Were looking for them to steer us in the right direction, because we dont have a lot of experience in Wabasha with $8 million bonding projects, Springer said.

In addition to the changes to the Eagle Center, there would be docking space for paddlewheelers adjacent to the Eagle Center, docking space for private boats and places for other riverfront recreation like fishing, Springer said.

Springer said there would be several opportunities during the pre-design process for the public to share ideas on the project. And, as the project progresses, the city will apply for other grants that can help fund amenities to the project as seen now.
More than half of Winona County residents who smoke want to quit, according to the 2016 Community Health Needs Assessment. The good news is, they can, and there is help available.

Healthcare professionals can play an important role in motivating patients to quit and in connecting those people who use tobacco with resources to help.

Eight members of the Winona community gathered on Dec. 6 to learn about trends in tobacco use, why tobacco use is a risk factor for multiple diseases, and how healthcare professionals can support their patients who want to quit using tobacco.

Presenter Lynn Sprain of Winona Health shared personal and professional experiences to emphasize how challenging nicotine addiction can be. She gave attendees valuable resources and support options for patients and clients, including the Fagerstrom Test, which assesses the intensity of physical addiction to nicotine, as well quitting aids and treatments, and a form to help customize a quitting plan.

Smoking can damage nearly every part of your body, Sprain said. Over 28 cancer-causing chemicals are found in smokeless tobacco alone. As healthcare professionals we can offer support and resources for quitting, but ultimately its up to the patient to make the decision to quit.
Loren McDougall said the yard space at 5221 Portage Ave. caught his attention.

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This article was published 11/1/2019 (886 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Loren McDougall said the yard space at 5221 Portage Ave. caught his attention.

McDougall, founder of McDougall Auctioneers Ltd., headquartered in Emerald Park, Sask., was scouting for a new Manitoba location on the outskirts of Winnipeg with frontage on a major highway.

The property at 5221 Portage Ave. owned by Kyle Heerah, who operates All Seasons Powersports, is situated next to the Trans-Canada Highway and is just a few kilometres west of Winnipeg in the RM of Headingley. McDougall is leasing part of the building and the yard from Heerah.

"I thought it would be a dream location," McDougall said. "We try to get all our locations on a major highway."

He applied to Headingley council for a conditional use permit and council voted in favour of his application with some landscaping requirements following a public hearing at councils Jan. 8 meeting.

McDougalls son-in-law Jay Francis, Manitoba sales manager, operates the companys Brandon, Man. location which opened last May. McDougall said he wanted to have a second Manitoba site that will be his sixth overall, with five in Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta and one in New Brunswick.

McDougall started the company in 1982 and about seven years ago switched from conducting live auctions to online auctions that now make up about 98 per cent of the companys annual $40 million in sales. The company has 50,000 registered bidders from across North America and some from overseas.

McDougall said hes even sold heavy equipment to buyers in Africa.

Their inventory typically turns over every two to three weeks with auction items such as vehicles, trucks, trailers, farm equipment, jewelry, tools and other items coming from private individuals, bailiffs, lawyers, private and public corporations, governments, banks, insurance and trust companies, among others.

Would-be bidders can visit the McDougall locations to see some of the items in the two-week period before an auction is held, however most customers view items online. Three or four sales are held each day.

McDougall said the new Headingley location will provide four new jobs. Overall, the business is a real family affair with his sons-in-law Riley McChesney acting as vice-president of sales and Ben Harrison as vice-president of operations, respectively.

Now that he has received municipal approval, McDougall hopes to soon start construction of a secure fenced area to act as a temporary holding compound for vehicles, equipment and other auction items.

"Our goal is to be active this spring."

He hopes that local residents will take advantage of his companys services as well. "Its like eBay, but its in your backyard."

For more information, see http://mcdougallbay.com/index.php




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This article was published 12/1/2019 (886 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Opinion

The map of happy cat companionship is, as most owners know, drawn in a thousand small punctures.

My arms, flecked by tiny scabs, where pointed paws knead skin in rhythm with satisfied purring. "Ouch," I might whisper, "youre hurting me," but I am smiling, and make no moves to remove the pleased offender from my lap.

Or, there is the couch corner, where an 18-year-old feline once paused to sharpen her claws before hopping up to take her reserved spot on the cushion. Over time, her diligent attentions left the spot ragged, trailing tufts of fabric.

She died in October, taking a chunk of my heart with her. She left that lasting mark on my home. At night, when the house is quiet, I long to hear the sound of her claws plucking at the couch again. It was the music of her life with us.

And I have watched the long sessions where a cat tends to its claws, marvelling at the focus they bring to that work. Cleaning the points with their tongue, teeth prying out dirt from the sickle curve underneath. Spitting out the worn-out husk of the old keratin sheath.

Which is all to say: claws are a cats everyday tools, as innate to how they navigate the world as our fingers. A deep well of instinct, instilled over millennia of survival, compels them to keep their tools in fine condition. Scratching is not a flaw, or a behavioural problem; it is as fundamental to how a cat exists as eating or grooming.

So who are we to decide that they are better off without?

On Feb. 1, members of the Manitoba Veterinary Medical Association will consider this issue when they debate a proposed ban on declawing cats at their annual general meeting. Once the wording is finalized, a vote will follow, likely within the next few months.

To understand the issues at play, one must first understand the procedure. The Latinate words preferred by science, though useful for precision, sometimes sanitize the publics view of what exactly occurs. An onychectomy doesnt sound so bad; the alternate term "partial digital amputation" may raise a shiver, but no more than that.

In a surgical declawing, the cats toes are sliced off at the last joint, as if lopping the fingertips off a human. It takes with it both the claws, and the hunk of bone from which they develop. With that, the cat loses its ability to scratch, along with its primary tools, self-defence methods and trusted climbing anchors.

Animals are resilient. They adapt; they endure. A dog, struck by a car, may soon learn to speed around on three legs; some pets, suffering worse injuries, have even figured out how to get by with just two. And so too do cats adjust to the sudden loss of their claws, the permanent disruption of their instinctive habits.

Yet that doesnt mean they will thrive. For years, experts have debated the prevalence of negative outcomes to cat declawing, sometimes over conflicting data. Then, in 2017, a study appeared in the Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery that raised a giant red flag over the procedure.

In the study of 274 cats  half of them declawed, half not, some living in shelters and others in homes  researchers found that the declawed cats had significantly higher rates of back pain, biting, peeing outside the litter box and excessive grooming. The differences persisted even in cats that had received the best surgical technique.

The reasons for these effects are still being studied, but some possible answers are obvious. Cats walk on their toes; the amputation may result in persistent pain, forcing them to shift their gait or avoid normal behaviours that aggravate tender feet. Without claws, they are left with only their teeth to defend against a threat.

There are medical reasons to declaw that may outweigh these concerns  cancer of the nail bed, for instance  but for the most part, the surgery is cosmetic. In North America, one of the few regions of the world where declawing remains common, it is usually done not to save a cats health, but to save furniture.

Yet even here, things are changing. For years, veterinarians and allies in the United States and Canada have lobbied to end non-medical declawing. One large chain of 93 Canadian veterinary hospitals stopped performing the procedure last year, with the chains medical director declaring the surgery to be "inhumane."

Today, many Manitoban vets refuse to perform it. Others will agree to do so, often believing its better than risking the owner surrendering the animal to one of the citys often-overwhelmed animal shelters.

But does that actually happen? Cosmetic declawing is now banned in 22 countries, including Australia, Japan and much of Europe. In Canada, four provinces moved to ban the procedure just last year, including British Columbia, Prince Edward Island, Newfoundland and Nova Scotia.

As those bans rippled over the world, negative effects did not materialize. In Californian cities that enacted declaw bans  including Los Angeles and San Francisco  rates at which cats were surrendered to shelters actually dropped in the following years. There was no sudden surge of families giving up cats for scratching, as some feared.

Underneath all of this, there is a deeper question. This is not just a debate about a feline surgery, or its effects. It is also a discussion about our relationship to the animals that, by our own invitation, share our spaces. Generations of domestication have made them amenable to this arrangement, but where should our power end?

In my eyes, it ends with this: animals bodies are not ours to manipulate as we wish, without reason or restriction. Animal cruelty laws recognize that distinction. Our role is one of caretakers only: to guide pets into doing the right things, to make decisions for their well-being and that of their species, to fix them when they are hurting.

Its one thing to put sticky tape on a couch to teach a cat that it would, perhaps, have more fun scratching a hunk of corrugated cardboard instead. Or to affix soft caps to the ends of its claws, so that it can indulge in its urge without ravaging the drapery. Its quite another to lop off the ends of its toes to make the problem go away.

The cat sleeping at my feet now is made as she was meant to be; the tiny points at the end of her toes are as much a part of her as her ears, which perk at every sound, or the tail she unfurls to communicate how shes feeling. There is no furniture more valuable than the boundaries of her body; upholstery is a thing. She is a living being.

The final decision on declawing belongs to veterinarians. Yet the public should also have a voice in this discussion; this is our province, and we have a stake in changes that affect members of our community, on two legs or four.

So if this issue moves you, talk to your veterinarian. Let them know that, as a client, an animal companion or just someone who cares, you want to see Manitoba join the ranks of jurisdictions that have banned elective cat declawing. A wave of change is washing over Canada; let us not be the ones left behind.

melissa.martin@freepress.mb.ca
Manitoba government departments and agencies received 2,191 requests for records under freedom of information legislation in 2017, a marked increase over the 1,716 requests in 2016, a newly released report says.

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This article was published 12/1/2019 (886 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Manitoba government departments and agencies received 2,191 requests for records under freedom of information legislation in 2017, a marked increase over the 1,716 requests in 2016, a newly released report says.

Of the requests made under the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FIPPA), 1,900 were for general information while 291 were for personal information.

While the number of requests was up significantly in 2017, it fell far short of the record. In the previous five years, the number of requests ranged from 1,716 in 2016 to 2,849 in 2014.

The government departments that received the most requests in 2017 were Health (266) and Families (233).

Political parties filed nearly half (48 per cent) of all FIPPA requests, followed by private individuals (25 per cent) the media (13 per cent) and other organizations (14 per cent).

The number of requests made by political parties increased to 1,048 in 2017 compared with 684 the previous year, while the number of media requests more than doubled.

Of the 1,917 access requests that were completed, 25 per cent were granted full access to the information requested, down from 35 per cent in 2016, according to the annual FIPPA report.

In 13 per cent of FIPPA requests (11 per cent in 2016), the information was denied.

In 23 per cent of the cases in 2017, applicants were told the information they sought didnt exist.

Of those who were denied access to information under mandatory sections of the law, the two most common reasons were protection of a third partys privacy (468 instances) or a third partys business interests (172).

Where departments and agencies used discretionary powers to deny a request, the most common reason (420 instances) was that the information constituted "advice to a public body," such as advice to the provincial cabinet.

The report said that in 79 per cent of instances, requests received by government departments and agencies were completed within the required time in 2017, compared with 89 per cent in 2016.
OTTAWA  The federal government is putting the onus on rail companies to craft rules on how long staff can safely be on-shift, with Ottawa giving vague guidelines on how to update the rules it deems outdated, during a historic increase in oil being transported by train.

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This article was published 11/1/2019 (886 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

OTTAWA  The federal government is putting the onus on rail companies to craft rules on how long staff can safely be on-shift, with Ottawa giving vague guidelines on how to update the rules it deems outdated, during a historic increase in oil being transported by train.

The plans railways have submitted to Transport Canada over the past eight years "do not reflect present-day fatigue science," reads a Dec. 20, 2018, letter obtained by the Free Press, adding to "the risk for occupational injuries and incidents."

A recent series by the Free Press revealed workers driving trains through Manitoba are often exhausted due to over-capacity bunkhouses, supervisors counting 90-minute trips to hotels as part of employees sleep periods, and a fear of retaliation for calling in unfit to work.

Some of those concerns are addressed in the letter, in which Brigitte Diogo, the departments rail-safety director, outlines eight areas for improvement.

The most specific request is for rail workers who have completed 10 hours of work to be given 12 hours rest  instead of the current eight  when theyre relieved of duties at home. Thats to account for "commuting, social demands, nutrition and hygiene needs," so they actually sleep eight hours.

When workers finish long shifts away from home and are sleeping in guesthouses, they should be entitled to eight hours off the clock, instead of the current six, Transport Canada wrote.

Other changes are far less specific, such as split shifts. The letter acknowledges workers undertaking two shifts often cant sleep during the break in between, because they cant find accommodation, and its harder to fall asleep during daylight.

"Therefore, a maximum duty-time limitation must be established," Diogo wrote, one that includes the rest period between shifts -- but she did not offer any example of what time frame would be acceptable.

Similarly, there is no change to the total amount of time railways can have someone working in a single day. The existing rules cap shifts at 12 hours, but allow for additional shifts, up to a total of 18 hours.

The letter notes performance decreases after 12 hours of work, as well as at night, and humans are effectively drunk in terms of their operating capacity after 17 hours awake. The letter advises "consideration should be given to fatigue-management methods to counteract this risk."

Clinton Marquardt works as fatigue specialist for various companies, after a decade with the Transportation Safety Board, the federal arm's-length watchdog.

He said Transport Canada is getting companies to set the actual rules because theyre more likely to follow them, instead of imposing regulations.

"TC wants industry to solve the problem themselves," he said. "If industry comes up with their own solution, then it's kind of difficult for industry to critique their solution, as they're the ones who designed it."

He said the letter could make Canadas railroads safer, depending on how industry responds.

Marquardt noted the letter doesnt explicitly cite the risk of "circadian rhythm desynchronization," when constantly changing sleep schedules upset how the body regulates temperature, digestion and other systems, leaving someone perpetually fatigued. However, he said together, the proposed changes could avoid workers from getting the condition.

For example, the letter suggests railways should pay attention to employees travel time to and from a shift. However, it doesnt prescribe new rules on whats called "deadheading." Existing regulations say traveling to a shift from a railway guesthouse must count as being on-duty under fatigue rules -- but the same commute at the end of the day isnt tabulated as duty time.

CN Rail workers have previously complained their bunkhouse in Rivers, Man., is often over-capacity, leaving them to sleep on couches and kitchen floors. Some are billeted 40 kilometres away in a Brandon hotel, with the round trip counted as part of their sleep time.

Diogo admits the current rules "do not fully account for additional hours of wakefulness," adding "consideration needs to be given" to research around fatigue, but she stops short of factoring the end-of-day commute as part of how fatigue is calculated.

Railways must undertake two months of consulting with those impacted by whatever policies companies come up with, before sending those rules to Ottawa by May 19 for approval.

Transport Minister Marc Garneau started consultations in November 2017 on updating railway fatigue rules.

Marquardt saw "probably zero progress in any fatigue approach" in his time at the TSB, from 2003 to 2012, but says industry has taken the made more progress in the past two years.

He hopes railways implement the rules before the May deadline, which will mark 18 months in this process.

"It think this is a reasonable timeline, given the speed of government, he said. "From a risk perspective, I'd like to see it happen in the next couple of months."

dylan.robertson@freepress.mb.ca
The lineup snaked out the downtown Winnipeg Law Courts Building doors almost to Kennedy Street. We were here on a surprisingly balmy January morning, awaiting our fate at jury selection, or to visit the probate office, divorce court or to file any manner of documents.

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This article was published 12/1/2019 (886 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The lineup snaked out the downtown Winnipeg Law Courts Building doors almost to Kennedy Street. We were here on a surprisingly balmy January morning, awaiting our fate at jury selection, or to visit the probate office, divorce court or to file any manner of documents.

First up, screening by the sheriffs officers who operate the body scanners and X-ray machines.

"Do you have a laptop in here?" one asks.

"No." I did not.

"Just like the airport," another person in line quips.

In the 34 years since reaching the age of majority, nobody in my personal circle of influence had been summoned to jury duty. Today was my day. The letter arrived in late October.

After we all file into Courtroom 210, were greeted with a few courtesy announcements.

"Well be starting in 15 minutes," a court officer says, "so if you have to use the bathroom, use it now, because the doors will be sealed once the court begins."

Half the group heeds the warning, hence the next lineup. Theres a reason: there are nearly 150 people here, after 1,500 summonses were mailed out.

Taking pity, and perhaps sensing the process may take longer than they thought, officers open up the jury room and let some people use its washrooms.

Once everyone is back, the jury manager announces we have to leave the courtroom. Apparently, there were procedural questions to answer that would taint jurors.

Two trials, 24 jurors and four alternates: both cases are for homicide.

The first, set to begin Jan. 21, is for Brian Kyle Thomas, accused of killing Winnipeg Transit bus driver Irvine Jubal Fraser in February 2017.

The second, starting Jan. 7, has a pair of defendants, Jason Michael Meilleur and Christopher Matthew Brass, who face manslaughter charges in the killing of Jeanenne Chantel Fontaine in March 2017.

A Manitoba residents journey to the jury box begins in August, when the jury office requests blocks of health-card numbers from Manitoba Health.

The process is random, but basically, if you have a Manitoba health card, you could be chosen for jury duty. Summons are generated by picking those numbers randomly and then correlating the number with the holder.

Theres a list of reasons to be excluded from initial consideration: being a member of Parliament or a member of the legislative assembly, having almost any job related to the justice department, including being a sheriff, corrections officer or even just an employee of Manitoba Justice. Police, convicts, those with mental infirmities and those who cannot understand the language in use at trial are also among those excluded.

Everyone else had better show up.

Were told to arrive at 9 a.m., with selection to start at 10 a.m. The reason being, regularly, at least one person fails to show up. This day is no exception, the panel is two short. Sheriffs officers are issued to arrest them. Yes, handcuffs and all.

"The worst case was a pharmacist who put out hands for a prescription and, Here are your cuffs, lets go," jury manager James Krilyk says.

A shortly time later, our panel  those arriving to be considered as jurors form whats called a jury panel  is full.

Once the accused has been arraigned  his or her charges read in court  the process begins. We have all been assigned juror numbers, and those numbers go into a box for a random drawing until 18 candidates have been selected.

"Before we begin," says presiding Justice Richard Saull, just before the first number is called, "I just want to tell you people have tried all sorts of things to try to get out of jury duty. They dont work."

Theres a nervous chuckle from the gallery as the clerk draws the first number.

"Juror 136, please come forward," the court clerk reads. As potential jurors reach the jury box, all are asked if they have something theyd like to tell the judge. A few do; many dont.

JOHN WOODS / THE CANADIAN PRESS Jury selection begins every August, when blocks of Manitoba health-card numbers are sent to the jury manager, who randomly chooses numbers and issues summons to the holders. Failure to appear will result in a warrant for your arrest.

Still, some people try.

My number was called in the first trial, set to run from Jan. 21 to Feb. 1.

My son and I are going to the Vegas Shoot indoor archery tournament in Las Vegas. Pre-paid travel arrangements are one of few excuses that work.

"Out of an abundance of caution," I tell Saull, "I just want to let you know we leave on pre-paid travel Feb. 7."

Saull confers with both the defence and Crown attorneys, and seems confident the trial will not go long. I thank him and take a seat in the back row of the jury box, 15th of 18 chosen, initially.

As the process goes on, some people approach the microphone to plead their case to the judge. One fellow is unemployed, with mounting child-care bills. He needs to finish his exams and find work, he says.

For his and similar cases, Saull stands them down, which means they return to the gallery but their number is retained, just in case.

It turns out, for only two trials, 150 potential jurors is "a very healthy panel," Saull says. Its often only 48 panelists for each jury of 12, but two of the trials for which this panel was assembled have either been resolved or postponed.

For the Fontaine case, one woman, a teacher in the North End, comes to the microphone. "I knew the victim," she tells the court.

Such a personal connection to a case is grounds for immediate exclusion. Still, Saull is required to confer with counsel on both sides. "Youre excused," he says. "Youre free to leave."

Knowing any of the witnesses is also grounds for exclusion, so that list is read prior to selection.

Once the box of 18 is full, the court clerk instructs each, in order, to stand and face the accused. Its a pillar of Canadas justice system that the accused gets to face each juror.

After a few moments, the Crown attorney and defence counsel weigh in.

"Content, mlord."

"Content, mlord."

That person is now a juror.

"Challenge, mlord," utters either the Crown or the defence. If either says "challenge," that person is removed from consideration for that trial. If theres another selection process that day, the panelist returns to the gallery.

Each side gets 14 peremptory challenges (21 for first-degree murder trials), or opportunities to exclude jury panelists for any reason. None is given.

"Its important to know that a challenge is not a reflection on your character, reputation or integrity," Krilyk tells us before selection begins. Perhaps jokingly, he adds: "Ive had counsel say they arent choosing anyone wearing red that day. And they dont."

Im in the 15th seat, and when my turn comes, the Crown uses one of its challenges.

I return to my seat in the gallery: theres a chance my number will be drawn again for the second selection. Indeed, at least four people had lightning strike twice.

No reason is given, but I speculate its my career as a journalist. Or maybe because I was wearing blue. Ill never know.

Sometimes, counsel on either side will have identified others in later-filled seats theyd rather select, for any number of reasons, and simply want to minimize the threat of the jury being full before those others are chosen.

For both trials, the number of challenges plus the number of jurors chosen exceeds the 18 chosen initially, so the clerk calls more until the box of 18 is full again.

After a few more rounds of counsel saying "content, mlord" or "challenge, mlord," the slate of 12 jurors and two alternates is chosen.

The process is repeated for the second trials selection, and less than four hours after we started, both jury panels are full.

Im not on either of them.

kelly.taylor@freepress.mb.ca
On Monday, the RCMP arrested 14 citizens of the Wetsuweten First Nation and dismantled Gidimten camp, a checkpoint on a road in northwestern B.C.

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This article was published 11/1/2019 (886 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

On Monday, the RCMP arrested 14 citizens of the Wetsuweten First Nation and dismantled Gidimten camp, a checkpoint on a road in northwestern B.C.

The citizens, standing on their traditional territory, were arrested for defying a court order injunction and being in the way of workers building a $6.2-billion natural gas pipeline for Coastal GasLink, a subsidiary of TransCanada Corp.

About one kilometre south is Unistoten camp. (The Gidimten and Unistoten are two of five clans of the Wetsuweten First Nation.)

Fearing violence was days away, leaders reached an agreement with the RCMP to allow pipeline workers to access the route.

Most media outlets called the Wetsuweten "protesters" and the camps "blockades." But they were not protesting nor blockading.

These camps are decade-long non-violent occupations of traditional and ancestral territories the Wetsuweten have held since time immemorial. They were protecting their home from invasion, while ensuring their families and communities can live sustainably and safely.

Calling people "protesters" and a site a "blockade" when they are protectors and occupants of homes is a crucial matter of perspective only learned when spending time talking and sharing perspectives.

This didnt happen until there was a national outcry and the Wetsuweten were forced to accept a pipeline project.

Then, a national conversation started. News spread on social media. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was condemned by pundits and applauded by others. Activist gatherings sprung up in downtowns across Canada, including Winnipeg's iconic Portage Avenue and Main Street intersection.

The Wetsuweten situation is a microcosm of the biggest challenge facing healthy relationships between Indigenous nations and Canada.

CHAD HIPOLITO / THE CANADIAN PRESS Todd Nelson and Christy Brown from the Nisga'a Nation arrive in support of the Unist'ot'en camp and Wet'suwet'en First Nation gather at a camp fire off a logging road near Houston, B.C., on Wednesday.

You might say this has to do with land, and you would be mostly right. Canada primarily views land as something to extract and profit from, while Indigenous peoples view land as something to live with and protect.

This is a fundamental difference -- one that means everything if you cant explain your differences and, hopefully, find middle ground.

The non-violent actions of Indigenous peoples at Unistoten and Gidimten camps is an invitation to conversation.

It is Canada who orders police and guns and ends any dialogue.

It is Canada perpetrating violence and arresting people on their land.

It is Canada forcing people to accept what they dont want.

Thats not a "nation-to-nation" relationship. It is one nation enforcing its will without any interest or regard for others. Wars have been fought over such actions.

The biggest challenge facing reconciliation is how Canada and Indigenous peoples share and listen to the other's perspectives. This presumably is done by leaders, but even determining who they are in the B.C. situation is a stumbling block.

The Wetsuweten Nation has five clans. A clan is a group of "houses," or cultural families, headed up by hereditary leaders. These are different leaders then those recognized as "chief" and "council," voted in by elections held under the Indian Act.

Many First Nations have two basic types of leadership: traditional and Indian Act. Sometimes, the two coalesce, but usually are different.

Traditional leaders -- particularly with the Wetsuweten -- are hereditary, meaning the role is passed down through families and cultural protocols. They govern things such as ceremonies and spiritual activities, which necessarily and critically involve land, relationships, and protocols for how the nation operates.

PHIL HOSSACK / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Protestors dance at Portage and Main Thursday.

As in most Indigenous traditional leadership systems, there are multiple layers. The Gidimten and Unistoten have some five hereditary chiefs each.

Traditional leadership in Indigenous communities is always contextual and based in specificity. There is no one "chief." Instead, there are clan chiefs, drum chiefs, water chiefs, elder chiefs, fire chiefs, history chiefs, medicine chiefs, war chiefs

The Indian Act, introduced in 1876, was intended to replace all traditional leadership (even passing laws to outlaw cultural forms of governance) and instill the chief and council model.

This is based on population, and with positions often elected democratically. Chiefs and councils basically deliver programs and policies of the federal government, mostly on reserves, and are recognized by Canadian lawmakers as those who make decisions for a First Nations community.

Like Parliament or a provincial legislature -- but with about as much power as a municipal government -- chiefs and councils purport to recognize the citizens of First Nations but often come into conflict with traditional leaders.

The question is: who speaks for the Wetsuweten?

TransCanada has signed agreements with its elected leaders. The hereditary leadership from all five of its clans say, however, these contracts dont apply.

Canada views Indigenous leadership as one thing; Indigenous peoples view it another way.

Canada wants to tell Indigenous peoples who should sit at the negotiating table. When Indigenous peoples send representatives Canada doesnt want to speak to, the RCMP is dispatched.

Understanding perspectives is impossible without conversations, listening, and learning.

Who, this week, was ready to talk -- and who brought the guns to the meeting?

niigaan.sinclair@freepress.mb.ca
Lloyd Friedman wasnt just a member of the greatest generation  the people who fought in the Second World War  he was one of the greatest gentlemen you could know.

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Lloyd Friedman wasnt just a member of the greatest generation  the people who fought in the Second World War  he was one of the greatest gentlemen you could know.

Friedman, who lived just over two months past the century mark, died on Oct. 9.

Lloyd Friedman (Supplied photos)

Veteran lawyer Harvey Pollock, Friedmans brother-in-law, calls Friedman "my hero."

"He was an outstanding human being. He was a teacher. He was an institution."

Pollock said he learned about his future brother-in-laws kindness when his future wife, Sylvia, took him home to Regina to meet her family and friends at the family owned Empire Hotel.

Friendman was a pilot during the Second World War.

"It was hot and the air conditioner was on in the bedroom," he said. "That morning I remember Lloyd tiptoeing into my room checking to see if I was comfortable and pulling the blankets up tucking me in.

"I will never forget his kindness and acceptance. If I was to be Sylvias husband, then he would be my brother and for all of his life he was, with love and respect."

Friedman was born in Southey, Saskatchewan, on July 29, 1918, to Nathan Friedman and his wife Sarah, the oldest of two boys and three girls. His father was a homesteader in 1907, who later became a merchant, rancher and hotel operator. Nathan Friedman Bay in Northern Saskatchewan is named after him.

Lloyd was a teenager through the Depression years and became a teacher in Saskatchewan, but in the summer of 1940 at age 22, he joined four other Jewish guys to drive to Regina and enlist in the Second World War effort.

Andy, Friedmans son, said he once asked his dad why he enlisted when he could have stayed safe teaching through the war.

"He explained to me that they went because they were Jews," Andy said. "They had known about Hitler since 1933."

Friedman with his Lancaster bomber crew which flew 58 missions.

Friedman, who grew up in a province far from any ocean, decided he wanted to join the Royal Canadian Navy, but his family said he was rejected  he couldnt swim.

Pollock said Friedman decided that if he couldnt be on the water, hed be above it and he joined the Royal Canadian Air Force. He trained in Brandon, and by 1943, he was flying a Lancaster bomber with a crew of six other men in Squadron 405.

"His crew loved him," Pollock said. "They wanted to be with him because they thought he had a closer relationship to God because he was a Jew.

"On this first mission he was to drop pamphlets over Paris... they were hit and their navigational system was knocked out and they got lost. They were over Spain and a plane found them and showed him the way back. He landed with little fuel left."

Friedman and his crew flew 57 more missions over two tours of duties, the last ones being part of the pathfinder force, the planes that went ahead of the main bomber group, flying extremely low to drop flares at targets to make it easier for the Bomber crews to aim at.

"Though many did not make it through the war, dad and his crew did and formed very close friendships during the intense time they spent together," Andy said. Friedman and his crew had reunions with each other every two years, with Friedman being the last to die.

Friedman at the controls.

Andy said when he asked his dad about his wartime experiences, Friedman wouldnt tell him at first. But when he asked his dad about what he won all his medals for, he responded "Oh, just staying alive."

When Friedman was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross the citation called him "an exceptional leader and organizer who, by his own personal example of fearlessness and extreme devotion to duty, has inspired his crew with the same unquenchable spirit.

"Undoubtedly, this officers fine record of achievement and keenness to take part in offensive action will be difficult to surpass."

When Friedman returned from the war he received a job offer from Trans-Canada Airlines, which later became Air Canada, to come fly for them on the companys Atlantic route to England.

Pollock said Friedmans mother put an end to that.

"She told him I have lain awake nights worrying about you flying and now that you are home safe, please refuse."

From left: Sister Sylvia Pollock, Lloyd, sister Pearl Kredentser, and brother-in-law Harvey Pollock.

Friedman did and soon he was teaching again, first in British Columbia, until his dad took ill in the late 1950s and he came home to help look after the hotel. He then went back to teaching, coming to Winnipeg to work at St. Johns High School from 1962 until he retired in 1983.

He was 45 when he met Lola and he became father to her two children. She died 15 years later.

Martin Pollock said his uncle was like a loving grandfather to him and his love went to all around him.

"He and Aunty Lola received their dishwasher as a gift," Martin recalled.

"They used it twice. They missed time shared washing and drying dishes at the sink so they resumed their evening manual labour bathing in each others presence as the new dishwasher sat idle for years listening to their love.

"From cradle to grave, he was a poster boy of selflessness," Martin added.

"The needle of his life compass faced true north  with decency, integrity, valour, with unbendable duty to the principles and values he cherished."

At his passing, Friedman was the oldest parishioner at the Adas Yeshurun Herzlia synagogue in River Heights.

After his retirement, Friedman became the consummate volunteer, being a founding member of the Reh-Fit Centre, delivering meals on wheels, driving people to doctor appointments and grocery stores, and helping his synagogue.

Friedman also had a love for poetry, which is fitting given the community he was born in, Southey, was named after poet Robert Southey and the town has named several streets after poets including Keats, Browning, Burns and Byron.

His favourite poem, I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud, also known as Daffodils, by William Wordsworth, includes the lines:

"For oft, when on my couch I lie

In vacant or in pensive mood,

They flash upon that inward eye

Which is the bliss of solitude;

And then my heart with pleasure fills,

And dances with the daffodils."

Besides Friedmans son, he is also survived by a daughter, Francine, five grandchildren, 12-great-grandchildren, and his sister Pearl.

kevin.rollason@freepress.mb.ca
TORONTO - A Saudi teen described as a "brave new Canadian" by an official from the government that granted her refugee status as she fled her allegedly abusive family is en route to her new home, Canada's Foreign Affairs Minister said Saturday.

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This article was published 12/1/2019 (886 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

TORONTO - A Saudi teen described as a "brave new Canadian" by an official from the government that granted her refugee status as she fled her allegedly abusive family is en route to her new home, Canada's Foreign Affairs Minister said Saturday.

Chrystia Freeland appeared alongside 18-year-old Rahaf Mohammed Alqunun with her arm around the teen as she appeared briefly at Toronto's Pearson International Airport.

Alqunun, fresh off a flight from Seoul, South Korea, and sporting a grey "Canada" hoodie and a blue hat emblazoned with the logo of the organization that arranged her resettlement, smiled and waved at a group of reporters, but offered no comment on her arrival.

Freeland, however, heaped praise on the young woman who shot to fame through her social media campaign to flee her family.

"It was a pleasure for me this morning to welcome to her new home a very brave new Canadian," Freeland said. "... she wanted Canadians to see that she's here, that she's well, and that she's very, very happy to be in her new home, although she did comment to me about the cold."

"It does get warmer," Freeland said she told her.

She was off to get winter clothes, said Mario Calla, executive director of COSTI Immigrant Services, which is helping her settle in temporary housing and applying for a health card.

Calla said Alqunun has friends in Toronto who she will be meeting up with this weekend.

Alqunun gained international prominence when she fled her family last week while visiting Kuwait and flew to Bangkok, where she barricaded herself in an airport hotel and launched a Twitter campaign outlining allegations of abuse against her relatives.

Alqunun said her father physically abused her and tried to force her into an arranged marriage.

Her father, who arrived in Bangkok not long before she left, has denied those allegations.

"I'm the girl who ran away to Thailand. I'm now in real danger because the Saudi Embassy is trying to force me to return," said an English translation of one of her first posts to Twitter. Alqunun also wrote that she was afraid and that her family would kill her if she were returned home.

The Twitter hashtag #SaveRahaf ensued, and a photograph of her behind a door barricaded with a mattress was seen around the world.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced Friday that the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees asked the federal government to allow Alqunun to settle in Canada, and Ottawa agreed.

Saudi teenager Rahaf Mohammed Alqunun, centre, stands with Canadian Minister of Foreign Affairs Chrystia Freeland, right, as she arrives at Toronto Pearson International Airport, on Saturday, January 12, 2019.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chris Young

"That is something that we are pleased to do because Canada is a country that understands how important it is to stand up for human rights, to stand up for women's rights around the world," Trudeau said.

The UNHCR said Alqunun's plight has captured the world's attention and provided a glimpse into the situation of refugees worldwide.

Spokeswoman Lauren La Rose praised Canada's willingness to step up and assist in this case, but noted that Alqunun's situation highlights a need for more interventions around the world.

"Canada has been a great ally and leader in this area, but there needs to be more spaces so that women and girls or anyone that is vulnerable can find a safe third country to resettle in," La Rose said.

Calla said there may be an increase in asylum seekers using social media as a tool to reach out to governments and agencies to make their case for being granted asylum.

"There are many, many people in desperate situations  desperate in the sense that their lives are in danger," he said. "They will do anything to get out of those situations to safety so it may be a tool that some will use."

The move to accept Alqunun could serve to heighten tensions between Canada and Saudi Arabia.

In August, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman expelled Canada's ambassador and withdrew his own envoy after Freeland used Twitter to call for the release of women's rights activists who had been arrested in the country.

The Saudis also sold Canadian investments and recalled their students from universities in Canada.

But Trudeau appeared unfazed by the possibility that the move could have ill effects, repeating that Canada stands up for human rights regardless of diplomatic consequences.

"This is part of a long tradition of Canada engaging constructively and positively in the world and working with our partners, allies and with the United Nations," he said Friday.

At least one observer of middle-east politics predicted minimal fallout from Canada's decision to welcome Alqunun.

Bessma Momani, a professor at the University of Waterloo and analyst of middle-eastern international affairs, said the relationship with the Saudi government has deteriorated to the point where such actions pose little political risk.

Momani said Saudi Arabia could theoretically pursue stiffer measures such as imposing full sanctions or shutting down the Canadian embassy entirely, but said the existing measures have already achieved virtually the same effect.

Sanctioning Alqunun's resettlement and appearing to stand on principle, moreover, could bolster Trudeau's image domestically at a time when he's under fire from the left and the right on such issues as immigration policy and Indigenous relations, she added.

"There are a lot of gulf countries that you could ... poke in the eye," she said. "This one's already in such an abysmal state of relations that there's no real political or diplomatic harm to do."
Theres been lots of grumbling in the stockyards and farmsteads across the country this past year, as the livestock industry prepared for new restrictions on how producers can access antibiotics for the animals in their care.

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This article was published 12/1/2019 (886 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Opinion

Theres been lots of grumbling in the stockyards and farmsteads across the country this past year, as the livestock industry prepared for new restrictions on how producers can access antibiotics for the animals in their care.

As of Dec. 1, virtually all antibiotics used in animal production are only available via prescription, which means producers must have a formal relationship with a veterinarian to obtain them. Depending on the province in which they operate, they may also be required to purchase those drugs from a vet.

While the change was widely acknowledged as necessary to help curb the growing problem of antimicrobial resistance, there are also fears it will raise the costs of production, slow treatment and limit access to drugs that were in the past available off the shelf.

There are also worries about putting vets in charge both as the prescribing authority and the sales. Again, in the past, the availability of products through other venues, and in some cases by importing from the U.S., helped contain the cost of drugs used in the animal industry.

But, by far the biggest shift this has required is in the treatment culture. Producers know their herds, and if they see an animal thats looking a bit peaked, the first line of treatment  long before a vet was called in  would be to give it a shot of penicillin and then wait and see. If the animals condition improved, the cost of bringing in a vet for a diagnosis could be avoided.

As well, its standard practice in some areas of animal production to use antibiotics in feed or water as a prophylactic against illness, but also to promote growth.

While these practices have become increasingly controversial and are gradually being phased out, its not because they could contaminate the food we eat.

Claims by processors and restaurants that their foods are "antibiotic-free" are a bit misleading, as no consumer-ready foods should contain antibiotics  provided proper withdrawal protocols are followed. Foods are routinely sampled to ensure that happens.

The antibiotic-free claims relate only to whether antibiotics were used either as a growth promoter or to treat sickness while the animal was being raised. That doesnt mean producers supplying to these value chains allow sick animals to suffer. It only means that if they have been treated with antibiotics, that animal is marketed through conventional channels.

The frightening rise of disease organisms that affect human health, and that no longer respond to commonly used antibiotics, are driving these changes. Overuse in human medicine and the animal industry share the blame.

The National Collaborating Centre for Infectious Diseases, a federally funded agency based out of the University of Manitoba, reported in 2016 that approximately 1.4 times more antimicrobials were distributed for use in animals than for humans in Canada, after adjusting for both population and weight.

However, when researchers with the Canadian Beef Research Council looked at the risk of resistant organisms in livestock transferring to humans, they found the risk was low. On the contrary, in some environments, human-adapted strains were more likely to be transferred to the livestock or meats.

All that said, researchers have had a hard time finding new sources of medicine to tackle these resistant strains, which raises the risk of more people dying from what were previously treatable infections. It makes sense to better manage the antimicrobials we have.

A report released this past month by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, which has pursued a similar path to Health Canada on this front, indicates the promotion of better stewardship, combined with increased monitoring and now, increased oversight, is having an effect.

In its annual update of antimicrobials sold or distributed for use in food-producing animals for North America, it reports that domestic sales dropped 43 per cent between 2015 and 2017. Over-the-counter sales of these products have dropped 96 per cent by weight.

The issue of antimicrobial resistance still looms large on the public health agenda, but when it comes to addressing it, the livestock sector is doing its share.

Laura Rance is editorial director at Glacier FarmMedia. She can be reached at lrance@farmmedia.com
WASHINGTON - Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin says the next round of trade negotiations with China will likely occur later this month in Washington.

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WASHINGTON - Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin says the next round of trade negotiations with China will likely occur later this month in Washington.

Mnuchin told reporters that Vice Premier Liu He was expected to lead a delegation to Washington "later in the month."

The Treasury secretary says that the partial government shutdown "would have no impact" on the efforts to reach a trade deal by March 1.

The Trump administration has suspended the imposition of planned tariff increases on $200 billion of Chinese goods until March 1 to give negotiators time to reach a wide-ranging agreement.

Mnuchin did not provide a specific date for the talks, but The Wall Street Journal quoted unnamed sources as saying the tentative date for the meeting was Jan. 30-31.
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The government shutdown has suspended federal cleanups at Superfund sites around the nation and forced the cancellation of public hearings, deepening the mistrust and resentment of surrounding residents who feel people in power long ago abandoned them to live among the toxic residue of the country's factories and mines.

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Charlie Powell stands outside one of the industrial sites at the 35th Avenue Superfund site in Birmingham, Ala., Wednesday, Jan. 9, 2019. The EPA has been removing contaminated soil from yards in the neighborhoods within the site. The partial government shutdown has forced suspension of federal work at the nationAos Superfund sites unless it is determined there is an Auimminent threatAu to life or property. (AP Photo/Kimberly Chandler)

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The government shutdown has suspended federal cleanups at Superfund sites around the nation and forced the cancellation of public hearings, deepening the mistrust and resentment of surrounding residents who feel people in power long ago abandoned them to live among the toxic residue of the country's factories and mines.

"We are already hurting, and it's just adding more fuel to the fire," says 40-year-old Keisha Brown. Her home is in a community nestled among plants that turn coal into carbon-rich fuel and other factories on Birmingham's north side.

The mostly African-American community has been forced to cope with high levels of arsenic, lead and other contaminants in the soil that the Environmental Protection Agency has been scraping up and carting away, house by house.

As President Donald Trump and Congress battle over Trump's demand for a wall on the southern U.S. border, the 3-week-old partial government shutdown has stopped federal work on Superfund sites except for cases where the administration deems "there is an imminent threat to the safety of human life or to the protection of property."

EPA's shutdown plans said the agency would evaluate about 800 Superfund sites to see how many could pose an immediate threat. As an example of that kind of threat, it cited an acid leak from a mine that could threaten the public water supply. That's the hazard at Northern California's Iron Mountain mine, where EPA workers help prevent an unending flow of lethally acidic runoff off the Superfund site from spilling into rivers downstream.

Practically speaking, said Bonnie Bellow, a former EPA official who worked on Superfund public outreach at the agency, the impact of the stoppage of work at sites across the nation "wholly depends" on the length of the shutdown.

"Unless there is immediate risk like a storm, a flood, a week or two of slowdowns is not going to very likely affect the cleanup at the site," Bellow said.

In north Birmingham, Brown said it's been a couple of weeks since she's spotted any EPA crews at people's houses. It was unclear if state workers or contractors were continuing work.

But long before the shutdown began, Brown harboured doubts the cleanup was working anyway.

"My main concern is the health of the people out here," said Brown, who has asthma. "All of us are sick, and we've got to function on medicine every day."

In terms of time, the federal government shutdown is a chronological blip in the long history of the site  which includes ethics charges in a local bribery scandal to block federal cleanup efforts  but adds to the uncertainty in an area where residents feel forgotten and betrayed.

At the EPA, the shutdown has furloughed the bulk of the agency's roughly 14,000 employees. It also means the EPA isn't getting most of the daily stream of environmental questions and tips from the public. Routine inspections aren't happening. State, local and private emails to EPA officials often get automated messages back promising a response when the shutdown ends.

In Montana, for instance, state officials this month found themselves fielding calls from a tribal member worried about drinking water with a funny look to it, said Kristi Ponozzo, public-policy director at that state's Department of Environmental Quality. The EPA normally provides tribes with technical assistance on water supplies.

With most EPA colleagues idled, Ponozzo said, her agency also had to call off an environmental review meeting for a mining project, potentially delaying the project.

But it's the agency's work at Superfund sites  lessening the threat from old nuclear-weapons plants, chemical factories, mines and other entities  that gets much of the attention.

Absent imminent peril, it would be up to state governments or contractors to continue any cleanup during the shutdown "up to the point that additional EPA direction or funding is needed," the EPA said in a statement.

"Sites where cleanup activities have been stopped or shut down will be secured until cleanup activities are able to commence when the federal government reopens," the agency said.

For federal Superfund sites in Michigan, the shutdown means there are no EPA colleagues to consult, said Scott Dean, a spokesman for that state's Department of Environmental Quality.

At Michigan Superfund sites, day-to-day field operations were continuing since private contractors do most of the on-the-ground work, Dean said.

Bellow, the former EPA official, said the cancellation of hearings about Superfund sites posed immediate concerns.

In East Chicago, Indiana, for example, the EPA called off a planned public hearing set for last Wednesday to outline how the agency planned to clean up high levels of lead and arsenic in the soil.

The EPA has proposed a seven-month, $26.5 million cleanup that includes treating and removing tainted soil from the area, where a lead smelter was located.

During a public meeting Nov. 29, some residents complained that the EPA's approach would leave too much pollution in place. Others didn't get a chance to speak and were hoping to do so at the meeting this week, said Debbie Chizewer, a Northwestern University environmental attorney who represents community groups in the low-income area.

The EPA announced the cancellation in an online notice and gave no indication that it would be rescheduled.

Leaders of the East Chicago Calumet Community Advisory Group asked for a new hearing date and an extension of a Jan. 14 public comment deadline in a letter to the EPA's regional Superfund division.

Calls by The Associated Press to the agency's regional office in Chicago this week were not answered.

Local critics fear the EPA will use the delay caused by the shutdown as justification for pushing ahead with a cleanup strategy they consider flawed, Chizewer said, even though the agency has designated the affected area as an "environmental justice community," a low-income community of colour that has been disproportionately harmed by pollution.

The EPA has a "special obligation" when dealing with such communities, Chizewer said. "This would be an example of shutting them out for no good reason."

In North Birmingham, former longtime neighbourhood resident Charlie Powell said most of the people living in and around the Superfund site had already "just got tired and fed up."

Powell left the area but started a group called PANIC, People Against Neighborhood Industrial Contamination. He said he believes money would be better spent helping residents move away from the pollution.

"Can I say hell?" Powell said when asked what residents have been through.

This story has been corrected to reflect that Keisha Brown's home is not a wood-frame home.

Knickmeyer reported from Washington. Associated Press writers John Flesher in Traverse City, Michigan, and Matthew Brown in Helena, Montana, contributed to this report.

For AP's complete coverage of the U.S. government shutdown: https://apnews.com/GovernmentShutdown
In ORDER to gain the benefits from proper dental care, you must be diligent (doing each task regularly), and have discipline (doing it properly). You must also visit the dentist regularly to be checked by an expert. A dental hygienist can always tell if youre not brushing properly, flossing, using a proxy brush and using a dental rinse. The hygienist sees signs of tartar buildup and bleeding gums. Why would you think that focusing on these activities in the two weeks before your appointment would undo five months of average or inconsistent dental care?

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This article was published 12/1/2019 (886 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

In ORDER to gain the benefits from proper dental care, you must be diligent (doing each task regularly), and have discipline (doing it properly). You must also visit the dentist regularly to be checked by an expert. A dental hygienist can always tell if youre not brushing properly, flossing, using a proxy brush and using a dental rinse. The hygienist sees signs of tartar buildup and bleeding gums. Why would you think that focusing on these activities in the two weeks before your appointment would undo five months of average or inconsistent dental care?

Successful marketing requires an organization to apply the same rigour. First, your organization should assess all your marketing activities regularly, make the necessary adjustments and ensure a disciplined customer-first focus in all your product or service decisions.

When you fail to act with discipline, you run the risk of having a "marketing cavity" arise soon.

When was the last time that you undertook a structured approach to everything that you do to find and keep a customer? And who conducted this review? There are so many small items that can cause long-term problems, such as losing customers, if you do not pay attention to the marketing details. Conversely, taking care of these details can build customer loyalty and leave positive lasting impressions.

The following examples emphasize the importance of regular attention to detail. We had a new furnace installed last year, and the company was terrific. Every detail was properly taken care of, and the installation occurred in December when the outside temperature was -35 C. The installers were not only professional, but neat and respectful of our home. Their truck was also clean and served as fantastic advertising while parked on our driveway all day. Would you ever refer a company to a friend or family member if the companys service people left your home in a bigger mess than when they arrived?

If you are a service company, do you always inspect your fleet for the overall readiness of your vehicles? Do your employees and/or contractors represent your organization well? As a consumer, do you have confidence to call the company with the banged-up truck?

A client of mine has a fleet of vehicles. Their corporate culture and focus on the customer is exemplary. When I saw one of their drivers on a cellphone, I called the owner right away because I knew she cared enough to want to know. She thanked me for calling.

How often have you walked into a retail store and seen cigarette butts around the entrance? Are the shelves stocked? Are the floors clean? Do the staff take you to the aisle with the product you are looking for or do they just point and say, "I think its in aisle 5 or 12?" Is there any wonder why online sales continue to rise?

Brick-and-mortar stores can separate themselves from online competitors by taking care of details that an impersonal, digital experience can never replicate. If you own a store, please look at every aspect of purchasing from your store, and also returning a product to your store. How easy have you made it for people to do business with you? And more importantly, what have you done to delight your customers, so they will proactively tell their friends about their experience with your store?

With less than 10 per cent of total retail sales in Canada being made online (according to Statista), there must still be a need for physical stores. However, different categories are being more seriously affected by online sales than other categories.

When you assess all the elements of your marketing plan, are you looking to be really good or just good enough? If your marketing plan is reviewed infrequently and incompletely, its effectiveness will diminish if not attended to quickly and with the right expertise. The customer will vote with their wallet, and you will quickly learn that just good enough now may simply not be enough in the long run.

Tims bits: Your marketing preventive maintenance should also assess your competitors, and other consumer trends to determine the possible impact on your sales. Your product line should be analyzed regularly for items that may need to be dropped because there is diminishing demand that cannot be recovered.

Brushing up on your messaging is another important activity that requires regular attention. Are you relevant to your customers? Are you truly showing how you are helping improve some aspect of their business or personal life?

Diligence and discipline in regularly assessing all of your marketing activities will allow you to avoid costly major marketing repairs to fix the cavity you created with improper care.

Tim Kist, CMC, a certified management consultant by law, works with organizations to improve their overall performance by being be truly customer-focused.
Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 12/1/2019 (885 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Hey, hey, my, my, rock and roll can never die.

Sporting a loose-fitting plaid, flannel shirt, sensible footwear and 1950s-style, browline specs, Jon Krocker comes across more as a genteel grandfather-type than an avant-garde, experimental dance music artist whose debut album Monolog was recently released on Dark Entries Records, a San Francisco-based label specializing in "coldwave, synth, Italo and beyond."

Truth be told, when the soft-spoken sexagenarian begins fumbling with his phone, muttering, "I really dont understand this Twitter stuff," or, in very un-rock-n-roll-like fashion, instructs our server that "water will be just fine, thanks" (wait, what, no jello shots?), this writer briefly considers sneaking a peek under the table, to see if anybodys pulling his leg in regards to this whole dance music thing.

Jon Krocker with Wild Planet owner Roman Panchyshyn, Monologs original producer. (Mike Deal photos / Winnipeg Free Press)

Heres the catch: the 12 instrumental tracks that comprise Monolog were originally recorded between July 1981 and December 1982, around the same time Krocker  "it rhymes with joker," he says, were guessing, for the bazillionth time  and his childhood chum Victor Shkawrytko were performing as Dialog, a synthesizer-dominated duo heavily influenced by electronic music pioneers such as Kraftwerk and Tangerine Dream.

In September 1983, Monolog came out as a cassette-only release on Contagious Records, a tiny, independent label run by Roman Panchyshsyn, present-day owner of Wild Planet, a pop culture store now located in Osborne Village, steps away from Confusion Corner.

Given the fact only 50 or so copies of Monolog ever sold, imagine its creators surprise when Josh Cheon, founder of Dark Entries Records, contacted him to say he was interested in reissuing it on high-quality vinyl, coupled with an in-depth, eight-page booklet and digital download.

"To say the message from Josh came from out of the blue is putting it mildly," says Krocker, a retired manufacturing engineer who toiled at Boeing Canada for almost four decades, and was instrumental in helping develop that companys fleet of long-range, twin-engine, 777 liners.

"I had a copy of my old cassette and listened to it every now and again, so its not like Id forgotten about it completely. But to have somebody want to release it  on vinyl no less  after all this time? Yeah, nobody could have seen that coming."

Monologs original cassette case.

Krocker, 62, grew up in East Kildonan. While his two older brothers were into guitar-heavy acts such as Led Zeppelin and Jimi Hendrix in the latter half of the 1960s, Krocker, a classically-trained organ player, was drawn more to the keyboard-driven riffs of the Doors and Procol Harem.

He vividly recalls hearing Lucky Man, the prog-rock staple by English supergroup Emerson, Lake and Palmer, on the radio for the first time in 1971.

"Initially, I couldnt stand it. But I gave it another shot and was like, what the heck is that noise in the background?" he says, referring to Keith Emersons soaring, Moog synthesizer solo that closes the near-five minute track.

"I wanted to know how they made that sound, what instrument they were using; I remember having so many questions, all of a sudden."

I had a copy of my old cassette and listened to it every now and again, so its not like Id forgotten about it completely. But to have somebody want to release it  on vinyl no less  after all this time? Yeah, nobody could have seen that coming.

A member of Miles Macdonnell Collegiates jazz band, Krocker spent much of his spare time the next three years building his own keyboard units. Admittedly, his first few attempts were "pieces of junk." He kept at it, mind you, and by the time he graduated high school, he and Shkawrytko were landing the odd gig around town, playing what he describes as "totally electronic weird stuff."

"We werent your typical bar band, hell no," he replies, when asked to describe his combos sound.

"Lots of times Victor would start playing, then I'd bounce stuff off him and we'd just keep going for 20 or 30 minutes, building the piece up on the fly until we finally figured a way to get out of it," he continues, mentioning a particularly memorable performance that occurred at Plug In Gallery (now Plug In Institute of Contemporary Art), a live show that involved a strobe light, disguises and a gas-powered chainsaw. (OK, then.)

In 1981, by which time he had successfully completed Red River Colleges aircraft maintenance course and was about to pursue a bachelor of film studies degree at the University of Manitoba, Krocker began renting studio space on a regular basis.

His routine, he says, was to head into the studio once or twice a week after supper, at which point he would proceed to play keyboards "for the next four or five hours, leaving the tape recorder running the entire time, to save whatever it was that came into my brain."

Having gotten to know Panchyshsyn through his then-downtown record shop, Impulse Records, Krocker figured, "Hey, why not?" when Panchyshsyn proposed releasing some of those recordings, one part Soft Cell, two parts Klaus Schulze, in album form in 1983.

Given the fact Krocker was hired by Boeing soon after the cassettes release, a career move that effectively ended any long-term musical ambitions he may have entertained, that probably would have been the last the world ever heard of Monolog, if it hadnt been for a Winnipeg filmmaker named Damien Ferland.

In 2014, Ferland, creator of the autobiographical web series Hyper-Distracted, began tossing around the idea of recreating an experimental short film Krocker made in 1982 called 38 Jansky Units, a three-and-a-half minute work the arthouse cinema website www.mubi.com describes as an "early, new wave classic."

"Winnipeg is well-known for its bizarre film-making and 38 Jansky Units is a beautiful example of that," says Ferland when reached by phone. "I talked about my idea to redo it with my friend Dane Goulet, who used to work at Into the Music. He told me that besides the film, Jon had put out an album, too. I was like, Huh? I need to hear this!"

It turned out Into the Music had a used copy of Monolog, which Ferland was only too happy to purchase. After taking it home and giving it a whirl, he told himself there had to be a label somewhere that would be interested in re-releasing it.

On Oct. 17, 2014, Ferland fired off an email to Dark Entries Records that read, in part, "I should send you guys a digital copy of a tape by Jon Krocker. Its called Monolog. Its pretty hypnotic."

A few weeks later, Dark Entries owner contacted Krocker directly, inquiring about master tapes, photos and liner notes; anything, pretty much, associated with his original, decades-old project.

One thing led to another and in September 2018, a package arrived in Krockers mailbox, the contents of which included five, shrink-wrapped copies of his "new" album, Monolog.

"I promptly fainted. I mean, what more can I tell you?" says Krocker, who didnt own a turntable when the records arrived and actually spent a few minutes at a big-box store later that afternoon, debating whether he wanted to drop $200 on a record player or not. ("Jon!" shouts a reporter, leaning across the table. "This is your fricking debut album on vinyl! Who cares if you have to spend $200 $300 $1,000, for pitys sake!")

"That night, sitting back and hearing it again, I was just amazed," Krocker goes on, grinning from ear to ear.

"Sure, there were a couple cuts where I was a bit like, ugh, I can hear my mistakes. But overall? If I had to redo it again, I probably wouldnt change much, if anything. Obviously Im biased but if youre asking for my critique it would be fabulous so great."

Promotional material for Monologs 1983 release.

When pressed about his plans going forward  "Howzabout a Monolog album release party? Maybe a Q&A at the Park Theatre?"  Krocker admits putting needle-to-vinyl has definitely rekindled his interest in music.

"Its funny because at this stage in my life, Im actually able to afford the kind of gear I always wanted to own when I was in my 20s. So yeah, making more music is something Id like to do, for sure," he says, polishing off his last piece of pizza.

And although Krocker wont see a cent from new sales of Monolog  all rights now belong to Cheon (for further information go to www.jonkrocker.bandcamp.com)  thats beside the point, he says.

For me the most amazing thing is that I have a record and its out there and people are listening to music I made almost 40 years ago."

"For me the most amazing thing is that I have a record and its out there and people are listening to music I made almost 40 years ago," he continues, adding his one regret is Gloe Cormie, his partner for 32 years and the person to whom the vinyl version of Monolog is dedicated, didnt live long enough to see its release.

"She was a writer and poet in her own right and it absolutely tore me to pieces when she passed away in 2015. No doubt about it, she would have gotten a bigger kick out of this than anyone else."

Jon Krocker never dreamed his 1983 cassette-only release Monolog would be reissued 35 years later on high-quality vinyl. Nobody could have seen that coming, he said.

david.sanderson@freepress.mb.ca


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Willmar, MN (56201)

Today

Sunny skies this morning. Scattered showers and thunderstorms developing during the afternoon. High 92F. Winds SSE at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 40%..

Tonight

Partly cloudy skies. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low around 70F. Winds S at 10 to 15 mph.
A company that donated $25,000 to a reward for the return of Wisconsin teen Jayme Closs says it will give her the money now that she has been found.
DUBLINS GAIN: As Wexford reels from news of the likely cancellation of the 2019 service from Rosslare Europort to France, the new Irish Ferries ship W.B. Yeats arrives into Dublin Port. The company will operate up to four sailings per week from Dublin to France, starting mid-March and running into September

Wexford County Council is to set up an all-party taskforce committee in response to an announcement by Irish Ferries that it is 'unlikely' to operate a ferry service between Rosslare Harbour and France this summer.

Councillors decided on the action at an emergency meeting of Wexford County Council which was attended by port manager Glenn Carr who came in for criticism over Irish Rail's longstanding neglect of Rosslare Harbour but was also asked by members how the local authority could support him in securing new business and developing the port.

According to councillors, the announcement by Irish Ferries that it is pulling out of Rosslare Harbour after 40 years, sent shock reverberations not just throughout the county but the south east region which has benefited from the tourism spin-off.

Glenn Carr revealed that Irish Rail was only informed of the decision an hour before the announcement and said 'the news has been very disappointing for us'.

He defended a decision to bring the new Irish Ferries WB Yeats ship to Rosslare Harbour on a trial, a day after the announcement, which many local people felt added insult to injury.

'I thought it was important that the ship be brought in, to show that Rosslare Harbour could handle the vessel and the trials were successfully completed. There is nothing in Rosslare to restrict the vessel. I thought it was important that the vessel be brought in to allay any fears', he said.

Mr. Carr who attended a Council meeting in November to outline Irish Rail's 15 million development plan for the port, also stressed that at no point, did Irish Ferries raise an issue about port fees. He said the reality is that Irish Ferries are going to burn four hours of extra fuel on the journey from Dublin to France, compared to Rosslare.

'The rationale given to us is that from a commercial point of view, it will be easier to fill a huge ship like this from Dublin', he said.

The port manager said that while the news is disappointing, it does not detract from Irish Rail's investment plan and in relation to replacement business -'we are negotiating with other shipping lines as we speak.'

He said he did not wish to say any more as it was commercially sensitive but added that on Christmas Eve, he was contacted by a firm in London, enquiring about the availability of slots in Rosslare.

However, he said Irish Rail needed to ensure that they are not 'cannabilising the existing business that is there'.

'We are working with parties in the best interests of the port to try and generate additional business with the UK, France and Spain but not in a way that dilutes the exising business there'.

Mr. Carr said he had informed Irish Ferries and Stena Line which is continuing to operate a Rosslare service to Cherbourg, that he will be actively pursuing additional business.

County Council chairman Keith Doyle who called the special meeting, said that before this happened, Rosslare Harbour wasn't getting the attention it deserved. He was delighted with the turn-out at the meeting and acknowledged the attendance of Labour leader Brendan Howlin, seated in front of the public gallery.

In response to Cllr. Larry O' Brien who wondered where the other TD's were, Cllr. Doyle said no invitations were issued. ' I would be delighted to see them', he said, adding to Deputy Howlin: 'If only they had the interest to be here'.

Cllr. Lisa McDonald called on Irish Ferries to clarify their plans in relation to Rosslare Harbour. 'If they are not interested, let's deal with people who are interested. The selling point we have is that we offer the shortest route from Ireland to mainland Europe.'

'We have a lot going for us but the problem we have is that Iarnrod Eireann are not a port authority, they are a rail company. There is something amiss here, something wrong, when you have Irish Ferries giving up as Brexit is coming in'.

'What is wrong in Rosslare Europort and how exactly can we fix it', she asked, adding that

Rosslare needs Tier 1 status as a port and needs to be made a border customs point, with Brexit just 12 weeks away.

'All councillors need to stand united on this. Rosslare could be the commercial driver of the south east', she said.

Cllr. Ger Carthy wondered why Irish Ferries had not been tied in to a contract as it is in Pembroke and said he would have concerns that a port authority in Dublin was able to secure the services of Irish Ferries and a new ship and Irish Rail knew nothing and said nothing.

He said a taskforce was needed to address the issue, to talk to Irish Ferries and to secure another company to take up the route, otherwise Rosslare is facing a summer with 500 less cars coming in every second day.

He described as 'a load of nonsense', the claim by Irish Ferries that customers indicated a preference to sail from Dublin.

Cllr. David Hynes said the announcement showed 'the complete disrespect they have for Wexford'.

'It doesn't seem to be the case that the Government is interested in Rosslare Harbour. There was no mention of Rosslare in the national plan. We have two Government ministers and five TD's and nothing seems to be happening. Rosslare should be taken over as a stand-along port', he said.

Glenn Carr replied that in order to qualify for Tier 1 status, a port must receive 15% of the national tonnage as set out y the EU.

He wasn't here to dwell on the past and the port ownership issue had nothing to do with Irish Ferries deciding to operate the ship from Dublin. 'I'm not here to say that Irish Rail will give up the port', he said.

In relation to Irish Ferries having a 30-year contract in Pembroke, he said they are the dominant player there. 'Are you saying we should offer an exclusive deal wo one shipper'.

Cllr. Carthy replied: 'They should have been contracted in the harbour. They're free to come and go and destroy the local economy'.

'Have you as an organisation met with Irish Ferries and said don't leave the port'.

Mr. Carr said Irish Rail met with Irish Ferries eight weeks before and at no stage during that meeting did Irish Ferries indicate that they were planning to withdraw any service.

After Mr. Carr criticised councillors for quoting incorrect figures in relation to planned Irish Rail investment in Rosslare, Cllr. McDonald said Mr. Carr went on the radio and outlined different figures than those he presented to the Council, so they should publish a report and make it clear.

'You took profits from the port during the recession to support the train and bus service. You now want us to forget about the past. We need to strategically develop the port and with your plan that is not going to happen', she said.

Cllr. Michael Whelan said Rosslare is one of very few places where you have a passenger rail line going into the port. Wexford County Council should focus on what it can do to help Rosslare Harbour.

'As a Council, we need to get involved and show the economics of this and how we can change it'.

Cllr. Martin Murphy asked how advanced the negotiations are in relation to a ferry link with Spain and said this could be the way to go with over a million people living in the south east corner of Ireland.

Cllr. Michael Sheehan said 'all of us across the county were shocked to hear the news'.

'When you gave that presentation to us, it was very upbeat, very positive. We didn't know this news was going to come down the line. They knew it was coming but never said, that was very disgenuous of them'.

'I think what we should be doing is establishing a cross-party taskforce, to sit down and say this is what Rosslare needs. We should be asking the Director or the CE0 to come forward with plans, setting down what incentives we need from the government, for the development of Rosslare, rather than criticising someone who had no hand, act or part in the decision. I formally propose we do that and get working on a plan for Rosslare'.

Cllr. Fionntain O' Suilleabhain said he attended a meeting 20 years ago about the need for development in Rosslare Harbour. He wanted to know what the TD's and the ministers have been doing, what pressure they have applied and what vision they have outlined.

Cllr. George Lawlor told Glenn Carr that he respresented an organisation, that in the view of the chamber, had neglected Wexford and drained Rosslare or resources and profits to pour it into 'the black hole of Irish Rail'.

'It's a strategic location not just in County Wexford but on the island of Ireland.'

Cllr.Lawlor said he sensed there was a desire not to upset Stena and keep them happy but he believed the focus should be on Rosslare and on getting 'as much traffic on as many days as we can' in the port.

Asking about the Irish Rail investment, he asked if this was money the company was hoping to get or was it money in the bank.

Cllr. Johnny Mythen said investment is the key to growth but Rosslare has been neglected over the past 15 years, an approach he described as 'disgraceful'.

'We have to have a business plan so that we know exactly where we are going. 65,000 people are not going to be coming through our port this year'.

Mr. Carr said: 'we are absolutely out there trying to chase new shipping business'.

Cllr. Lawlor: If someone asked to go on the same day as Stena, would you say that they can't.'

Mr. Carr replied 'No' and said one of the key findings of a market survey was a lack of frequency from Rosslare for hauliers whereas Dublin has 11 sailings a day going to the UK.

'If I'm a truck driver and I miss a sailing in Rosslare I have to wait around all day to get another sailing to the UK.'

Mr. Carr refuted the suggestion that Irish Rail was influenced by Stena. 'I am not wedded to Stena, Irish Ferries, Sea Truck or whatever'.

'The suggestion that there is some sort of cosy relationship with Stena - I want to absolutely refute that. 'We are in negotiations with three companies in relation to additional sailings.'

He said there is no Government funding for investment in the port and 'all the funding will have to be raised on a commercial basis'.

He said Rosslare has been nominated as a border inspection post which is due to be designed and built on a four-acre site over the next few years by the OPW. 'There is no port in Ireland, the UK or Europe that has all its facilities and is sitting there waiting for Brexit.'

Cllr. Tony Dempsey remarked: 'If anyone here thinks Irish Ferries is going to Dublin to lose money, they are in the wrong place. If it was more profitable to stay in Rosslare, they wouldn't be going to Dublin'.

'What we can do is ask the Minister to set up an autonomous body to manage Rosslare. What we can do is focus on the facilities in Rosslare that are within our control such as access roads, to make it more attractive for international traders to trade in our port'.

Cllr. Paddy Kavanagh said they were told for years that Rosslare wasn't being used as much as it should because it didn't have the infrastructure. Now the infrastructure is there with the imminent opening of two major by-pass roads. 'I though once the by-passes were done, we would get more throughput in Rosslare. That is why the announcement was so shocking but I don't think it's as bleak as it's made out to be. I think it was the initial shock of the news'.

Cllr. Larry O' Brien said there has been a vast improvement in Rosslare since Glenn Carr took over, 'at least you can get a cup of tea'.

Agreeing about the need for increased frequency, he said two sailings leaving Wexford at the same time don't work.

'What we need here today is to support Glenn Carr in his efforts. It's a commercial decision made by a company. there's nothing we can do about it. Let's ask Glenn Carr what we can do to help him get more business in there. We are not going to change a commercial decision no matter how much we talk here today.'

Cllr. Pip Breen said Dublin Port is at capacity and the only viable alternative is Rosslare. 'We need the Minister for Transport to take note of what is happening in Rosslare'.

Cllr. Willie Kavanagh asked about Rosslare's ability to accommodate container traffic while Cllr. Mary Farrell described it as a 'very emotinal issue'.

Cllr. Farrell asked Mr. Carr what can the Council do to help him, if there is no docking issue, no rise in port fees and the Rosslare route is shorter with good access roads.

'What are the underlying issues. What can we do in your opinion'.

Cllr. tony Walsh said it was a 'unifying concern' as 'Wexford is unthinkable without Rosslare Port' and he encouraged long-term thinking.

Cllr. John Fleming asked if it was port charges or a shortage of footfall while Cllr. Barbara Ann Murphy asked the chairman to 'please do not accept any proposal for a deputation because since I came back to the Council, we have not had a single deputation accepted by a minister. We are being totally ignored'.

Glenn Carr said he was not afraid of criticism and he fully understood the target wasn't him but the company he worked for. 'I certainly don't take any offence. It's very heartening to see the passion and the commitment of everyone. I fully recognise the importance of the port to the region.'

He said roads are critically important, and the newby-pass roads are very welcome. One of the customers he is speaking to has been critical of the congestion in Dublin Port.

He said Waterford Port caters for container traffic and putting lift-off facilities in Rosslare would be expensive.

He said there is a gap in the market for Spain as only 5% of tonnage from the country at the moment is going to Spain but he wasn't sure it would work from a passenger point of view as the journey is 32 hours.

'I have issued an invitation for Brittany Ferries to come and talk to us', he said.

'We will do everything that gives us a commercial return for the port. I don't think we will be found wanting when it comes to finding business for the port. We are talking to a number of shipping lines at the moment'.

'It hs been a shock but there is a danger in talking it down too much. There is a danger of putting off potential new customers. My ambition is to make Rosslare easy to get into and easy to get out of'.

'I remain optimistic in relation to the future of Rosslare Harbour and the role it can play in the region'.

The chairman concluded the meeting by asking the Deputy Chief Executive Tony Larkin to come up with a formula for an all-party taskforce which would speak with one voice. 'This is an opportunity to put Rosslare at the heart of what should be a national issue, for the benefit of the region and the country', he said.
The Bank of Ireland branch on the quay in Wexford has launched a new community hub initiative specifically aimed at enhancing the branch's overall local role.

The launch comes in the wake of major refurbishment work taking place at the premises.

A significant aspect of the new development is that an events room has been added to the branch which will be available to local clubs, charities, societies and business organisations to host meetings and events free-of-charge.

The space can cater for up to 50 people and has state-of-the-art technology facilities that can be used for a wide variety of presentations.

Commenting on the new hub the Head of Bank of Ireland, Wexford, JJ Keyes, said the new events room is part of the organisation's overall aim to introduce products and services in keeping with changing wishes of customers in how they want to bank.

'With more than 250 branches nationwide we are proud to have the largest branch network of any bank in Ireland,' said Mr Keyes.

'We are delighted to be able to provide the people of Wexford town with this new facility to enable them to host meetings and events,' he added.

To book the space for an event of meeting contact the branch manager, Andrew Owen, on 086-8590937 or email: andrew.owen@boi.com.

Alternatively, contact the bank's Customer Service Manager, Karen Edwards, on 087-1142119 or karen.edwards@boi.com.
The first Wexford Chamber Business After Hours event of the year will take place at Coast Hotel in Rosslare Strand on Thursday, January 17 from 5.30 p.m. to 7.30 p.m.

Chamber members are encouraged to attend this free event, enjoy some food tastings and network with other businesses and potential clients in a casual setting.

The evening will open with registration and a welcome drink, followed by short addresses from Paul Neuman, Operations Manager at Coast Hotels and Resorts, and Wexford Chamber President Graham Scallan.

Following this, guests will have the chance to sample some of the restaurant menu with a special tasting menu, and take a tour of the hotel. The prize draw on the night will be for one night Bed and Breakfast, plus dinner for two people.

The Rosslare venue is one of two Coast hotels in Wexford. Coast Kilmore Quay opened in August 2017 while Coast Rosslare Strand opened in April 2018.
GREENWICH  When social studies teacher Joseph Baske decided the presenting order for the senior Innovation Lab projects, he thought he would start on the heaviest note and end on the lightest.

That meant first up was a video called The People of Jonestown, a look at the infamous massacre and what can be learned from the event, remembered by many today from the slogan: Dont drink the Kool-Aid.

Students in Greenwich Highs Innovation Lab approach learning through a multi-discipline exploratory model. For their 11 projects Baske gave one overriding direction: Look at topics from the perspective of the conventional wisdom regarding them and research whether these commonly held opinions are sound. In addition to the mass suicide at Jonestown, students examined a range of subjects from religion and ethics to the school start time change at Greenwich High School.

Students screened, spoke about and displayed their conclusions on a recent evening at the Greenwich Historical Society, which Baske considered a fitting location given the social science learning on display.

In the Jonestown film, Lucas Brien and Sam Baird argued that those who were attracted to Jim Jones message were not passive, easily manipulated people, but civil rights activists fighting racism and discrimination. Little by little, however, Jones brainwashed and controlled them.

I think they did a really good job with a horrible, difficult subject, and the truth is more complicated than a simple slogan, Baske said.

Jody Bell wanted to know if religion is necessary for forming ethical codes. For her research, she spoke to a New York University professor and studied trends in religious practices in the 20th and 21st century.

People used religion to form and enforce laws, she said. At one point religious, ethical mandates such as Do not kill became engrained into how humans think, and have become common sense.

Human morality is borderline universal, she said. If you begin to realize that, it will break down this group-think, us-versus-them mentality, and create a more cohesive, less divided society in regards to religious, and religious versus non-religious thoughts.

For their exhibit, Jessica Neri and Alexandra Cid thought the best way to present their research into the beauty industry, called A Reflection of Beauty, would be on a vanity.

Too many companies in the industry, they found, still cling to outdated beliefs regarding what is considered beautiful.

Currently, they said, two make-up lines are championed in the media for their inclusive products and marketing: Fenty, which has a wider skin tone range for women of color, and Cover Girl, which has made a septuagenarian woman, a man and a woman wearing a hijab each a Cover Girl.

Most of Fentys sales come from women of color, showing that the company succeeded by identifying a previously untapped market, Cid said.

People always see coverage of Fenty and Cover Girl, and while thats so great, there are still companies that have yet to do so, Cid said. If we talk about what Fenty and Cover Girl did correctly, we could raise awareness for other companies to expand their lines.

The night ended with Shiv Vaid, a self-effacing humorist who argued music tech companies should use objective evaluations, not aesthetic preferences, to curate listening experiences for music streamers.

Spotify, a widely used music streaming service, uses subjective algorithms and nonsensical key words such as non-violent to create playlists, Vaid said. No software engineers for Spotify can read sheet music, he said.

He even sent his findings to Francisco Vico, a professor at the University at the University of Malaga in Spain who created a computer program that can compose music.

First of all, I must confess my surprise, after reading this bulk of ideas, and your skills to put them into words, considering that youre now supposed to be more concerned with American history or basic algebra than telling big tech companies what to do, Vico responded. Thats bold, and I like it.

jo.kroeker@hearstmediact.com
SPRINGFIELD, MA (WGGB/WSHM) -- A grandmother in Springfield is asking for help from the community to help find two missing teenagers - one of them her granddaughter. Police said the two are runaways, who were last seen at Commerce High School on June 1.
The Town of Annetta City Council and Planning and Zoning Commission held a special meeting Thursday night and heard from Planning Consultant Karen Mitchell., left, as well as the public about changes to its building ordinance. The council tabled the motion for further review.
ACCRA, Jan. 11 (Xinhua) -- China on Friday pledged its support to help Ghana expand the University of Health and Allied Sciences located at Ho, 180 km northeast of the capital, Accra.

At a brief ceremony, Chinese Ambassador to Ghana Wang Shiting and Ghana's Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta signed a formal note on behalf of their respective country for the grant support.

Wang said the signing of the document was an indication that "the Chinese government will support the construction of the second phase of the project for the University of Health and Allied Sciences."

"This is a gift from the Chinese government and its people to the Ghanaian government and its people. It is also a milestone in the friendship between our two countries," he said.

The first phase of the project covering a land area of 10,386 square meters was also funded by the Chinese government. The project which was handed over to the government of Ghana in September 2015 consisted of equipment for the school of basic and biomedical science, lecture halls, libraries, student housing facilities and senior staff residential area.

The second phase, to be situated on a land area of 29,200 square meters, will include a new administration building, College of Nursing and Midwifery, duty and equipment room, and other supporting facilities.

"We have reason to believe that after the project is completed the University of Health and Allied Sciences will become one of the most beautiful and modern universities in Ghana," Wang said.

The diplomat assured the Ghanaian government that the cooperation between the two countries in the area of education would not end with this project since China stands ready to share its experience with Ghana as education is the key to any country's development.

On his part, Ofori-Atta lauded the Chinese government for surpassing the amount agreed upon for the project. "China has been one of Ghana's allies supporting the government of Ghana to promote sustainable growth and reduce poverty," the minister said.

He said Ghana was vigorously pursuing the vision of growing beyond aid on four major pillars of revenue and domestic resource mobilization, expenditure management, finance and treasury management, creating opportunities which will all require further resources.

One key aspect of the vision, Ofori-Atta said, was in the area of education and human capital development to ensure that the country had the capacity to leverage its resources.

The project is expected to enhance tertiary education in the country and also create employment opportunities for the teeming youth, Ofori-Atta added.

"We wish to work together to enhance the already strong and cordial relations between Ghana and China," he said.
Washington: US President Donald Trump has tamped down expectations that he is close to declaring a national emergency to get the money to build his long-promised border wall as the three-week impasse closing parts of the government continues.

About 800,000 federal employees, more than half still on the job, have missed their first pay under a stoppage that has set the record for the longest government shutdown. With the closures growing impact on the economy, national parks and food inspections, some Republicans are becoming uncomfortable with Trumps demands.

Politicians tried to reassure federal employees that Congress was aware of the financial hardship they are enduring. By a vote of 411-7, the House passed a bill requiring that all government workers receive retroactive pay after the partial shutdown ends. The Senate approved the bill unanimously Thursday. The President is expected to sign the legislation.

Trump visited McAllen, Texas, and the Rio Grande on Thursday to highlight what he calls a crisis of drugs and crime along the border. He suggested that if he cannot reach an agreement with House Democrats on funding the border wall, he would declare a national emergency.
Barron: A 21-year-old man has been charged with murdering a Wisconsin couple because he wanted to kidnap their teenage daughter, US investigators say.

Jake Thomas Patterson was taken into custody shortly after 13-year-old Jayme Closs sought help from a woman walking her dog in a rural, heavily wooded neighbourhood near the small town of Gordon, about 96.5 kilometres north of Barron.

Jayme disappeared from her family's home near Barron after her parents were killed on October 15.

Barron County Sheriff Chris Fitzgerald said during a news conference on Friday that Jayme was taken against her will. He said investigators believe Patterson killed Jayme's parents because he wanted to abduct her, and that Patterson "planned his actions and took many steps to hide his identity".
Chinese Millennials are insatiable content-sharers because they are only children who rely on social media to express themselves, says his co-founder at FEED Tech, Joy Dong, who sold her last internet video start-up for $US370 million. They have a huge desire to communicate, to be recognised and to let the world know they exist, she says. Loading They are always looking for something new, says Melbourne University graduate Jing Shen, FEED Techs chief product officer. The trends change so fast here. Jack Mas Alibaba, WeChat creator Tencent and search engine Baidu are among the worlds most valuable tech companies, and household names in China. They have broken the image of China as a technology copycat, creating unique businesses that meet the needs of Chinas 800 million internet users. Peng is among the next wave of innovators, who have left key positions at these Chinese tech behemoths to strike out on their own. We have seen Jack Ma do it, and we look at him and think, why cant I do that too? he says.

Peng and Dong are in the right place at the right time. Chinese President Xi Jinping has set a goal for China to close the gap with the United States in the field of artificial intelligence by 2030. Loading Chinese government policies are very beneficial to tech entrepreneurs, says Peng, and venture capitalists are willing to invest in people with experience at the top Chinese technology brands. A report by French business school INSEAD found Chinese unicorns overtook those from the US in attracting the most venture capital globally  raising $US56 billion  with five of the worlds top 10 most valuable unicorns now Chinese. The success of the red unicorns has spurred a culture of entrepreneurship in China, inspiring millions of young Chinese to follow suit, the report said. Angel investor Joanna Wei, who set up the technology incubator Beijing Makerspace nine years ago, compares the leapfrog China has made in digital technology to its swift upgrade from dirt roads to national highways.

Craig Zeng, an executive at finance portal LexinFintech, told a Harvard Business School conference that in the past, the most common question a Chinese company like his received from US investors was, who is your counterpart in the US? It meant who did you copy from the US? But things have started to change. Last year, over 10 Chinese companies were listed in the US, and only a few of them could answer that question. They have been creating their own business models. From fishing village to the world stage Shenzhen in China has been transformed from fishing village to the country's Silicon Valley. Here, bulidings in the city were lit up to celebrate the 40th anniversary of economic reform in China. Credit:Sanghee Liu To understand Chinas transition from copycat to innovator, you need to understand Shenzhen. Forty years ago it was a fishing village bordering Hong Kong. But Deng Xiaopings 1978 economic reforms  designating Shenzhen as a special economic zone within China that welcomed foreign investment  saw its rapid growth as the worlds factory. Today, Shenzhen is Chinas Silicon Valley. It is the biggest consumer electronics manufacturing base in the world. This is the supply chain that Trump wants to break with his trade war tariffs, vainly urging US companies like Apple to move their factories out.

But Shenzhen is also now home to Chinas national technology champions  Huawei, the worlds second-biggest smartphone maker, DJI, the worlds biggest drone maker, and BYD, the biggest electric vehicle company. To visit the public museum at the headquarters of Tencent, tourists must book a week in advance. It is Chinas internet shrine, one local explains. The Shenzhen government spends 90 billion Chinese yuan ($18 billion), or 4.13 per cent of its GDP, on research and development  on a par with world-leader Israel. 'Innovation is the only way that we can win' Jasen Wangs company Makeblock sells educational robotics kits to 5 million users in 160 countries worldwide. Credit:Sanghee Liu There is a toy unicorn on Jasen Wangs desk and a bunch of international trophies for design excellence on a shelf above it. The 37-year-old recently presided over 3000 school children from around the world competing to build the best robot.

His company, Makeblock, sells educational robotics kits to 5 million users in 160 countries worldwide, and is integrated into the French school curriculum. Wang has been profiled by the magazine Fast Company, and counts American venture capital firm Sequoia Capital as a backer. While most of Makeblocks sales are to overseas schools, the Chinese domestic market is growing fast, after the Ministry of Education announced robotics and coding lessons would become compulsory. Wang studied aircraft design at university in the northern Chinese province of Xian, but spent most of his time making robots. He came to Shenzhen in 2012 with the idea to make robotics easy. Shenzhen was a magnet not only because it had easy access to all of the hardware components  or robot bits  he needed, but it was easy to find good engineers with so many software companies there. And while the shanzhai, or copycat bandits, have largely cleared out of Shenzhen, Wang says they have left behind a useful resource  there are so many factories.

"Several years ago these factories were creating fake phones, but now we can use their supply chains to make innovative products. We can use their people to quickly manufacture our product. China still lags the US on basic fundamental technology, such as microchip design, he says, but Chinese companies have become very good at applying technology in new ways. We know that several years ago most Chinese companies acted like copycats, but the situation has changed a lot. Young entrepreneurs like me, we know that innovation is the only way that we can win the competition. Competitors at the 2018 MakeX Robotics Competition, which is hosted by Makeblock and attracts thousands of students. Credit:Makeblock Of his 500 staff, half work in research and development. To foster an innovation culture, Makeblock holds a Makeathon every two months, where staff form teams and have 36 hours to turn an idea into the real thing. On a much larger scale, Makeblock hosts an international schools robotics competition, attracting 1000 international children and 2000 Chinese children last year.

Chinese traditional education is focused on how to pass an exam and get a high score. Our society is changing very fast and technology is very important. We want to help kids learn not only about technology but to have the ability to create and solve problems, he says. Joining the competition the children really learn how to face pressure, how to face failure and how to do team work. The race for intellectual property rights According to the World IP Organisation (WIPO), Chinese companies led the world in patent applications last year, lodging 40 per cent of all applications, or 1.38 million patent requests. Most covered electronic devices, computing, telecommunications and artificial intelligence. Patent certificates line the wall of Canbots Shenzhen research and design centre. Ranked among Chinas top 10 robotics companies, Canbot sells 100,000 humanoid robots a year to Chinese hotels, banks, hospitals, airports, shopping malls and schools. Optus has two in its Sydney flagship store. There are very few humanoid robots being mass produced  most exist only in labs, says Canbots Simon Wang.

He says China is three to five years ahead of the US and Japan in being able to bring all the ingredients of a service robot  flexible hands for gripping, facial and speech recognition to interact verbally, touch sensors and navigation so they dont get lost  into one package. Simon Wang introduces Canbots robot family to visitors at Canbot headquarters in Shenzhen. Credit:Sanghee Liu UU has cartoon-like eyes to overcome human fears of being usurped, and converses in Chinese or English. UUs developers have noticed a Western aversion to robots that is not shared in Asia, so UU tones down the smutty jokes in English. Loading A shorter robot with a pot belly is designed for school children  it can be taken apart into 30 pieces and reassembled, and is loaded with the entire Chinese middle school curriculum.

The company was founded by a roboticist who had an elderly family member who fell ill and required constant care  he created a robot who could monitor and call emergency services. The Chinese government is now looking to the robot industry to assist with the healthcare of an ageing population. Robot sales are also boosted by government tax and legal offices, even train stations, which receive financial subsidies to buy robots to increase their efficiency, says Wang. The government actively promotes AI technology and the robotic industry to help China to grow faster, to save labour and to be more efficient. China was a little bit behind in mechanics or automobiles, but in AI technology and robotics we have the advantage. [Shenzhen] has the most efficient supply chain, the cheapest labour and manufacturing cost, says Wang, who heads Canbots overseas sales department. Meanwhile, small cats zoom around the floor in preparation for the launch in China of an officially licensed Hello Kitty robot. And behind a closed door, Canbots 30-year-old chief robot designer is tinkering with a design the company hopes will be a breakthrough in the competitive industry. The project is top-secret - to guard against IP theft. Inventors heaven

A shop owner at the electronics and comupter market in Shenzhens Huaqiangbei. Credit:Sanghee Liu Walking through Shenzhens famous Huaqiangbei electronics market can feel like a scene from Bladerunner - retro holograms and flashing lights compete for attention across crowded floors of small booths. Thousands of tiny components spill across countertops. This is inventors heaven, where everything is possible. Customers come from across the globe  both foot traffic and online  to source components for their supply chain. Entrepreneurs are frequent customers. Li Feng, 30, hands a custom-designed circuit board to a stallholder for advice. He is creating an automated prayer wheel for use in Buddhist temples. He has a customer in Taiwan who wants several hundred made, and Li is at the market to find parts for his prototype. It is secret, he exclaims when we take a photograph.

Li Feng buying electronic parts in Shenzhens Huaqiangbei Commercial Street. Credit:Sanghee Liu Queenslander Mike Reed, 26, works above the markets as an engineer at the HAX Accelerator, which has offered mentoring to more than 250 technology start-ups. There is a queue of North American hardware start-ups who want a place in HAX's workshop. They get seed funding from American investors and, crucially, close proximity to the Shenzhen factories that can help develop their prototypes more quickly. "You can change your designs four times in a week. You get things cheaper, you get things faster to market," he says of why Shenzhen is the best place in the world to develop technology products. HAX will take on more Chinese teams next year, and he is particularly interested in robotics start-ups. We are seeing opportunities pop up everywhere, he says. "You get things cheaper, you get things faster to market": Australian Mike Reed works as an engineer in Shenzhen. Credit:Sanghee Liu
Meanwhile, an 8K television can "upscale" 4K to help it look a bit sharper, but realistically you'll struggle to see the improvement on anything smaller than a 65-inch screen. Sony unveiled only one 8K TV; an 85-inch LCD. While there's no rush to upgrade your television this year for 8K alone, the TV makers are sweetening the deal with a range of enhanced smart features to help you get more from the big screen in your lounge room. Sony, Samsung and LG are including built-in support for Apple's AirPlay 2 streaming in some of their 8K and 4K 2019 models. This lets users stream video from their iPhones or iPads, or mirror the screen, without the need to shell out for an Apple TV set-top box. Even better, Samsung is the first TV maker to offer direct access to the iTunes store from a smart TV app.

Loading The app will let Apple users access their existing iTunes library directly through the television. More significantly, it's the first time that movie lovers can access the iTunes store  to buy or rent movies and TV episodes in 4K  without the need to own any Apple hardware. Samsung and LGs smart assistants, Bixby and ThinQ, are built into their smart TVs; plus the new models both also feature Amazon's Alexa and Google Assistant. On top of this, LG and Sony are adding support for Apple's HomeKit, to let owners control their television by talking to Siri on an iPhone, iPad or HomePod smart speaker. Sony relies on Googles Android TV to power its sets, with Google Assistant and Chromecast streaming built in, so the addition of Apples AirPlay and HomeKit means its TVs work with the two major tech giants. Meanwhile, LG adds Amazons Alexa into the mix but in return isnt as tightly integrated with the Google ecosystem as Sony.

This kind of integration means more than the luxury of controlling your television without reaching for the remote control on the coffee table. It also means that you can use your television to control all the other smart devices around your home, from light bulbs and wireless speakers to kitchen appliances. LG's new onscreen Home Dashboard turns your television into a command centre for your smart home. You can see every Google, Amazon and Apple-compatible smart device and even control them using the TV's remote. This is handy when you want to dim your lights from the couch late at night without the need to argue with the smart speaker in the corner. Loading With most of the great new features in today's smart TVs relying on software rather than hardware, you'd think you might get away with buying a new television less often. Unfortunately it doesn't tend to work that way, as television makers can be rather frugal when it comes to software updates adding new features to old televisions. Neither LG or Sony are adding Apple's AirPlay 2 streaming or HomeKit to last year's televisions, even if you spent top dollar on their flagship Ultra HD OLEDs. Samsung is a little more generous, promising to add AirPlay 2 and iTunes to last year's televisions but nothing older.
On December 18, the member for the federal seat of Mallee, Andrew Broad, announced his retirement. Immediately, the name Peta Credlin appeared towards the end of reports on who will replace him.

Most assumed it would be a National Party member. Since its creation in 1949 Mallee has had just four members  all Nats. But the Coalition agreement permits both parties to contest a vacant seat and unlike NSW, the Victorian Liberals exercise that option. If Credlin took the seat, it would re-energise a dispirited conservative movement. She would be the "great right hope".

Peta Credlin, former chief of staff for Tony Abbott, is considered by some in the Liberal Party as its 'great right hope'. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen

Credlin has fierce critics but great leaders do. It strengthens them. Attacks on Credlin the political staffer were vague and just another front in the campaign to bring down her boss, Tony Abbott. The slights against her at that time are cancelled out by the electoral scoreboard. She was chief of staff to an opposition leader who was derided as unelectable. Within a year, Credlin played a leading role in helping Abbott almost defeat a first-term government, which hadnt happened since 1931.

Indeed, Abbott morally won in 2010 but lost thanks to two ex-Nat independents who betrayed their electorates. At the next election Abbott crushed Labor and in his victory speech he thanked Credlin above all other politicos.
At nine weeks, we had our first ultrasound and saw the sack and the heart beating. The doctor was surprised and asked if I had my dates right, as I looked more like six weeks pregnant to her. I said I hadnt been sure about the exact time of my last period, so maybe. Two days later, I started bleeding. I called the hospital and spoke to a nurse who told me some bleeding is normal and to stay lying down so that gravity wouldnt become a factor in it. I wasnt sure if that was actually relevant advice, but I did what she said. I called all my friends and family who had children and asked them if this was normal. The next day, on our first wedding anniversary, the bleeding got heavier and I started having contractions. Miscarrying was one of the most intense, sad and physically painful experiences of my life.

When the physical pain part of it ended, I realised with horror that now I was going to have to tell all the people that Id told I was pregnant that Id miscarried. This is why women dont tell anyone before 12 weeks, I realised. I was too sad to call, so I began the texting, emailing and WhatsApping. I started each off with, "Im so sorry I made this is so awkward by telling you so early, but Im no longer pregnant." But no one found it awkward. Everyone messaged me back with stories of their own miscarriages, their wives or sisters miscarriages, their mothers miscarriages. My aunt and cousin, who Im very close with, told me about their miscarriages that theyd never told me about before.

I got pregnant again at the end of the year. Credit:Katie Collins I had to cancel a meeting with a theatre director and I didnt want her to think I was flaky, so I just told her the truth, "Im so sorry, I cant meet today, Im having an unexpected medical emergency. Actually, Im having a miscarriage." She wrote me back that shed had one herself if I ever wanted to talk to her about it. Everyone made themselves available to talk. And I needed to. The next two weeks were hard, but with the support of my husband and this new-found community (made up actually of all the people I already knew) who had experience with miscarriages, I was lifted. I got pregnant again at the end of the year. My husband said he didnt think we should tell anyone this time. Little did he know, Id already told my parents, brother, sister-in-law and two friends.

I agreed to try to keep it under wraps because I felt he should have some say in it, but when he accidentally told our friend Josh, the floodgates were open and I told everyone again. I decided that I would rather have a chance to tell people the good news, even if it meant I might have to tell them bad news later. Again, on the nine week mark, I had an ultrasound. This one showed that the fetus wasnt developing. The doctor told me that I could either wait to miscarry naturally, or take a drug that induces it. Its so ironic to me that you go as a pregnant woman from wondering what kind of birth youll have, to suddenly wondering what kind of miscarriage youll have. We decided to wait a week and get one more ultrasound to be sure. During that week, I went down an internet hole about misdiagnosed miscarriages and became briefly convinced this is what had happened to me. I talked to two friends who Id found out had also had miscarriages and they told me they went through the same denial. They gently let me know I needed to let go.
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It may look like something straight out of Buck Rogers in the 25th Century or Tintin's Destination Moon but, according to Elon Musk, the photographs he posted of his latest SpaceX creation are very much real.

Musk, CEO of SpaceX and electric car-maker Tesla, revealed that assembly of the "Starship Hopper" rocket was complete and that images of the shimmering, stainless steel construction were "not a rendering".

Followers on social media were quick to point out the similarity to Tintin's space rocket.

The Tintin comparison is not an accident. In September last year, SpaceX revealed the new design of the "Big Falcon Rocket", now simply know as "Starship", stating, "I love the Tintin rocket design, so I kind of wanted to bias it towards that."
Lake County Sheriff Willis McCall (far left) and an unidentified man stand next to Walter Irvin, Samuel Shepherd and Charles Greenlee in Florida in 1949. The men, along with Ernest Thomas, came to be known as the Groveland Four.
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
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The FBI sees [these actions] and it has two jobs: It needs to try to figure out why the person is behaving that way  thats the counterintelligence part  and it needs to suss out whether that behavior is criminal in nature, one official said. It is hard to overstate how devastated the leadership of the bureau was when Comey was fired  not because they loved him, although many in the FBI did love him  but because it completely broke so many norms and appeared to be a move that had nothing to do with Comey and everything to do with the presidents own interests.
If Poland wants to damage ties with China over the Huawei case, which is obviously groundless, it will be the biggest loser, Zhao Junjie, a research fellow for the Institute of European Studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, was quoted as saying. China has the upper hand in their trading relationship, Zhao said, according to the Global Times, suggesting that China could retaliate against Polish companies.
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Gabbard won the 2012 race with the support of veterans groups and by Emilys List, which supports female candidates who support abortion rights, and arrived in Congress as a star  a female Iraq War veteran and the first Hindu woman to serve in the body. She quickly established herself as a voice for her partys left on domestic issues and a critic of foreign military intervention. By the middle of her second term, she was getting asked if she might one day run for president.
Donoghue wouldnt change a thing. I grew up here; its a wonderful place, he said in an interview last month just before leaving the Senate. His final wish is for young aides to have nearly as much fun as he had: Get an appreciation for it and learn to love it. Theres no place like it in the world.
The shutdown standoff also is a prelude to what is likely to be many clashes between the White House and congressional Democrats over access to documents and information, with expected claims of executive privilege. Another confrontation looms over the fate of the Mueller report: Will it be released in full to Congress and the public or partially released with heavy redactions? Will the administration seek to withhold it in its entirety? Anything short of a full release will produce fireworks and a legal battle royal. The threat of impeachment proceedings will hang over everything.
During negotiation sessions, Trumps attention has veered wildly. At one such meeting with Pelosi and Schumer in the White House Situation Room earlier this month, the president went on a long diatribe about unrelated topics. He trashed the Iran nuclear deal, telling Democrats they should give him money for the wall because, in his view, they gave President Barack Obama money for the agreement with Tehran. He boasted about his wisdom in ordering the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Syria. And he raised the specter of impeachment, accusing Pelosi of wanting to try to force him from office  which she denied.
Look, an emergency cannot be whatever a president says an emergency is, said Rep. Jamie B. Raskin (D-Md.), a House Judiciary Committee member and former law professor who has studied the issue in recent days. If Congress gives President Trump a red light on his border wall, he cannot pretend that there is a green light existing in the administrative machinery of government. But this is a legal question, and were very happy to relocate it from the halls of Congress into the courts.
D.C. Council members may wish to review the lawsuits and the transcripts of Indianapolis school board hearings regarding the plaintiffs and decide for themselves whether Ferebee is a central figure in the ongoing dispute. Did he, as one of the fired administrators has charged, set up the employees as scapegoats, though they had only followed IPS policy and the direction of their superiors in their handling of the sex scandal? Why, as was raised during the plaintiffs school board hearings, was there no punishment for Ferebee?
Some members of Congress  both Republicans and Democrats  appear to believe that the only way to end the shutdown standoff is for Mr. Trump to declare an emergency, try to start building his wall, face an immediate court challenge and reopen the government as the lawyers argue. This is a depressing conclusion about the nations leaders. The blame lies squarely with the president, who has nixed seemingly every effort at compromise. But that does not change the fact that the only sound way out of the crisis is to craft a deal. With Mr. Trump saying there will be no emergency declaration for now, members of Congress should get on with it.
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Amid a backlash to his tax cuts during the blistering 1982 midterm election season, President Ronald Reagan reluctantly negotiated with Democrats to produce a bill that raised government revenue by nearly $100 billion over three years. Facing deficits more severe than he expected when he took office, President Bill Clinton abandoned both the middle-class tax cuts that he had promised during the 1992 campaign and the economic stimulus package that had been his first fiscal-policy proposal. To keep the health insurance companies on board with his health-care legislation, President Barack Obama dropped the Medicare-like public option that many on the left had considered a central component of the Affordable Care Act.
We saw Trump place similar faith in the other malign actor Mattis cited, Russia, when Trump, in Helsinki in July, sided with Russian President Vladimir Putin over the U.S. intelligence community concerning Moscows election interference. Trumps claim this week that China is actually much easier to deal with than the opposition party, likewise echoed his remarks before meetings last summer with NATO , our British allies and with the Russian dictator: Frankly, Putin may be the easiest of all.
Of course not. This is because Build the Wall and Mexico will pay for it were campaign slogans created by a guy who never expected to become president. Now that he faces possible rejection, the wall has become a metaphor for his identity, his very being-ness. To fail would be to suffer narcissistic injury, which, given Trumps immaturity and predilection to punch back, could lead to a real national crisis. As he said, hed be proud to shut down the government  and keep it shut down for months or years if need be.
If advertisers  and political campaigns  want to persuade you, first they need to really get to know you. For this purpose, marketing departments at big companies spend hundreds of millions of dollars and employ thousands of people in pursuit of data: generating it, managing it, and developing insights and implications from it. Its very expensive, labor-intensive and takes a lot of time. Anyone who works for a major company knows that big data is the business battle of our time, and data and analytics operations are mission-critical to a companys profitability and survival. Data is one of the most valuable resources a company has. Its also one of its most guarded secrets.
But the Republican president is Donald Trump. If ever there were a time for a serious intraparty challenge, its now. He has strong support from elements of the Republican base, but he has alienated virtually everyone else, especially those segments of the electorate that are growing the fastest. The ideal challenger would be a committed, articulate conservative  maybe a governor, such as Marylands Larry Hogan, or a senator, such as Nebraskas Ben Sasse  who would make a case for limited government that will otherwise go unmade, and who would show voters that conservatism and Trumpism are not one and the same.
Sister Norma had written an open letter to Trump, which was published by The Post, imploring the president to see her respite center for himself, and to meet some of the people who come through: Some days, we see 20 people. Other days, its closer to 300. In recent weeks, it has been very busy. Some stay a few hours, but many spend the night before heading on to new destinations. Since we opened, more than 100,000 have come through our doors.
This was my familys second Christmas without our Bijan. Through all of our pain we have been carried by the love of others. I like to think Bij is doing his share from heaven to help us through this and put these angels in our paths. We would not have survived this past year without our family and friends, including those who have been brought into our lives because of this tragedy, not to mention our elected officials, who have reached out and showed up to our vigils and demonstrations to remember Bijan and demand justice.
The District recorded 160 homicides in 2018, an increase of nearly 40 percent over 2017 and a counter to the national trend of fewer murders. Violent crime in the city overall declined, but authorities said the surge in homicides was driven by the more frequent use of guns in crimes such as robberies and the growing lethality of shootings. Most of the killings are concentrated  as long has been the case  in the citys poor, struggling neighborhoods; Wards 7 and 8 are the epicenter of violence that mainly affects young black men. Police said many of the killings stem from petty disputes between people who know each other and that many of the victims, as well as the perpetrators, have had contact with the criminal-justice system, often for crimes involving guns.
It is dismaying that most of the binding law in Britain comes from the European Commission in Brussels. But why, with its primacy at stake, did Parliament punt one of the most momentous decisions in British history to a referendum? The bedrock principle of representative government is that the people do not decide issues, they decide who shall decide. And once a legislature sloughs off responsibility and resorts to a referendum on the dubious premise that the simple way to find out what people want is to ask them, it is difficult to avoid recurring episodes of plebiscitary democracy.
Corruption trial urged for France's Fillon and wife: France's financial prosecutor's office has asked that former prime minister Francois Fillon and his wife be tried on corruption charges. Fillon, who at one point was the front-runner in France's 2017 presidential race, saw his bid unravel over allegations that he paid his wife, Penelope, and two of their children $1.1 million over many years for jobs as parliamentary aides that involved no sustained work. Fillon, 64, has denied wrongdoing. He contends the allegations were a smear campaign to undo his presidential bid. An official in the financial prosecutor's office confirmed press reports that a demand to send the pair to

trial was made. The official wasn't authorized to speak publicly.
Jury strips motorcycle gang of its logo: A California jury decided Friday that the Mongols motorcycle gang should be stripped of its trademarked logo in a first-of-its-kind verdict, federal prosecutors said. The jury in U.S. District Court in Santa Ana previously found Mongols Nation, the entity that owns the image of a Mongol warrior on a chopper, guilty of racketeering and conspiracy. The verdict caps an unusual decade-long quest by prosecutors to dismantle the gang, responsible for drug dealing and murder, by seizing control of a trademark they said was core to the gang's identity.
The message kids may get from this kind of treatment is that theyre the ones in control of their happiness, and that they should be able to fix their own mistakes. At the same time, when kids are expected to pursue gratification, they may be more likely to impulsively seek immediate rewards  whether its eating candy before dinner or grabbing a toy off a shelf at a store  before getting permission.
Seizures are the result of abnormal electrical activity in the brain. Epilepsy can be caused by a head injury, illness or abnormal development; in many cases, Devlins included, the cause is unknown. It is common for people with epilepsy to experience strange emotions or sensations. Those with temporal lobe epilepsy may experience auras, which can cause a feeling of foreboding, an odd smell or taste, or a rolling sensation similar to being on a roller coaster.
While public anger fixated on Peterson, the state commission reported that several deputies did not properly respond to the shooting. Since the April 1999 Columbine school shooting in Colorado, it has become common law enforcement practice for officers to pursue attackers and eliminate the threat. But in Parkland, the commission said, several deputies were seen or described as taking too much time to put on their ballistic gear or preparing to go inside, all while shots were being fired, or had been recently fired. Others arrived on a nearby road, heard shots and remained there rather than going to find the shooter.
One of advantages of Appropriations is I can pick up the paper in the morning, go in and do something about it, he said. As a subcommittee chairman, he said, you can get the cabinet secretary on the phone and say, We got to move on this. 
NATCA would not condone or endorse any type of activity like that. We have taken an oath and we provide service to the American public, said Trish Gilbert, NATCAs executive vice president. We know were important to the United States economy, and we are going to work. Were just not getting paid. So, even if this drags on, people will continue to come to work.
But come July, that will probably change. That month, city officials plan to start handing out fines to restaurants and businesses that still offer straws, which means soon we will see them disappear and have to face our own plastic-use habits. The disappearance of straws elsewhere has already caused grumbles from critics who argue that straws make up only a small percentage of our overall waste and outrage from consumers who dont want to lose that convenience. In Florida, a man attacked a McDonalds employee after he was told there were no straws.
In Maryland, a tune began to run through the head of Kimberly Leasure: Let it snow, let it snow. She said she just felt the rush and eagerness of wanting to welcome the snow. Another snow partisan was Jeffrey Bennett, who grew up in Utah, and said theres just something magical about falling snow. Tongue in cheek, someone else claimed on Twitter that the tradition of raiding groceries on the eve of a snowfall was her favorite local group activity.
I quickly learned the problems I had with my bodys alignment, balance and posture  and it echoed out to other parts of my general well-being, said Jamison, 26. Yoga helps me to focus in a more targeted way and to tackle my daily challenges better. You feel different when youre able to sit and breathe properly.
Dancers spend a lot of time chasing perfection. We never arrive there, because the standards keep changing and getting further away. More dang
The thing that stands out to me about Michael is that he is really a community engagement type of person, you get that from the moment you have a conversation with him, Pugh said in an interview. His knowledge of the consent decree process and his ability to move it forward, to be, is all of the ingredients necessary for success.
She became an assistant attorney general under President Jimmy Carter, who in 1979 appointed her to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit  often described as the countrys most important bench after the U.S. Supreme Court. She was the first woman to serve on the D.C. Circuit and was its chief judge from 1986 to 1991. Later, she was a member of the United Nations tribunal on war crimes and genocide in the former Yugoslavia.
Dr. Judd agreed, he once told the Associated Press, that a physician must look at patients as a whole individual, with all their worries, concerns, aspirations and needs, and not resort to simply popping a pill in their mouth. But he found the long-prevailing psychoanalytic approach too limiting to explain or treat afflictions such as depression, bipolar disorder, severe anxiety and schizophrenia  these serious mental disorders that have defied our understanding for centuries, he once told the Chicago Tribune.
She has borrowed money from her sister to get by. But the last paycheck from her State Department job as a language and culture instructor arrived earlier this month. And she doesnt know when the next will arrive.
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She consulted with new advisers hoping to resolve her problems with NBC, according to two people familiar with her discussions. Soon after, Kelly spoke out forcefully on her show about the need for an external investigation into NBC Newss decision not to air a report by Ronan Farrow and his producer, Rich McHugh, that looked into sexual assault allegations leveled against Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein. She had previously featured women who alleged former Today show host Matt Lauer harassed them on her show. Kelly also spoke about widespread support inside NBC News for Tom Brokaw, who was accused of sexual harassment, by saying: You dont know what you dont know.
The meeting and follow-up email, obtained by The Washington Post under a public records request, are the first public indications that officials with the Justice Department in Washington were made aware of the allegations against Dowless. Dowless has emerged in recent weeks as a key figure in the absentee ballot scandal in Republican Mark Harriss 2018 congressional bid. State elections officials and some voters have expressed frustration that federal prosecutors with the U.S. attorneys office in North Carolina did not act more aggressively to pursue earlier complaints against Dowless and potentially stop him from working on campaigns.
My Mothers Split Personalities (Lifetime at 8) Julie Price returns home after her father dies to find that her mother is not herself.
Gracing the stage of the Hylton Performing Arts Centers Merchant Hall theatre this weekend is Pied Piper Theatres dynamic production of Disn
In a January 2018 interview with the Wall Street Journal, Trump repeatedly referred to the wall as 32 feet tall. He bristled at the idea that his planned wall had shrunk. I saw on television, Donald Trump is going to make the wall smaller; no, the walls identical, he said. The other thing about the wall is weve spent a great deal of time with the Border Patrol and with the ICE agents and they know this stuff better than anybody, theyre unbelievable. He would do so again days later, following a statement by then-Chief of Staff John F. Kelly that Trumps thinking on the wall had evolved.
Decatur, IL (62521)

Today

Some clouds this morning will give way to generally sunny skies for the afternoon. High near 85F. Winds NE at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Clear skies. Low 59F. Winds light and variable.
The Nigerian police has said that senator Dino Melaye is under investigation and is currently in Police custody, where a fourteen (14) day remand warrant was obtained from the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court.

Police had earlier stated that the senator was under investigation for criminal conspiracy and attempted culpable homicide.

In a statement signed by police Public Relations Officer, Jimoh Moshood, Senator was taken this afternoon to another government hospital, DSS Medical Facility in Abuja for further medical attention by police investigating team, after be complained of being unwell.

Senator Dino Melaye under investigation and currently in Police custody on a fourteen (14) day remand warrant obtained from the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court on 9th January, 2019, for the offence of criminal conspiracy and attempted culpable homicide, committed on 19th July, 2018, when Senator Dino Melaye and his armed thugs attacked Police personnel, shot and wounded SGT Danjuma Saliu on stop and search duty along Aiyetoro Gbede, Mopa Road in Kogi State, has been taken to another Government hospital for further medical attention. Senator Dino Melaye was taken for medical attention at the Police Clinic, Abuja, after he surrendered himself for arrest on 4th January, 2019. The Police medical team at the Police Hospital, Abuja certified that Senator Dino Melaye is well and healthy to stand trial after treating him. However, due to the complaint from Senator Dino Melaye that he is not well, the Police Investigation Team has taken him this afternoon to another government hospital, DSS Medical Facility in Abuja for further medical attention. The Police Investigation Team obtained a Fourteen (14) day Remand Warrant from the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court on 9th January, 2019, to keep Senator Dino Melaye in Police Custody for investigation into the case of criminal conspiracy and attempted culpable homicide against him till 23rd January, 2019.

Police further some media reports claiming that Melaye was moves by masked armed men to an undisclosed location.

It is incorrect as reported in some sections of the media that Senator Dino Melaye was moved by masked armed policemen to an undisclosed location and that his where about is unknown.

The police statement added also that the lawmaker, will be prosecuted alongside other suspects as soon as investigation is completed.
Nancy Pelosi wisely chose to pass the very same Republican legislation that Trump and the congressional Republicans previously agreed to before the government shutdown. Beyond that, what else can she reasonably be expected to do?

The U.S. Constitution contains a clear procedure for negotiating and resolving issues such as this. The House passes an appropriation bill and sends it to the Senate. The Senate can either pass the bill and send it to the president, or the Senate can amend it and send it back to the House.

By tradition, if the House disagrees with Senate amendments, a conference committee of five members from each chamber is convened to work out the differences. Then the legislation is passed by both chambers and sent to the president.

Upon receiving a bill passed by Congress, the president can sign the bill, veto the bill or allow the bill to become law without his signature. If the president vetoes the bill, the House and Senate can override that veto by a two-thirds vote in each chamber.

This is the procedure established by the framers of the U.S. Constitution for negotiating differences such as this. This is how to negotiate an end to the current government shutdown.
Delivery of services at the Salvation Army in Waco have not been affected, but the shutdown has delayed payment of federal grant money to the organization, according to a Salvation Army statement. The grants that have been delayed are paid out as reimbursements as the Salvation Army provides services and documents the costs.

While the receipt of funding has been delayed, The Salvation Army Waco remains steadfast in our commitment to continue providing these services, in anticipation that funds will be reimbursed retroactively, according to the statement. We join the nation in prayer that our government leaders will find resolution soon.

Despite the closure of the U.S. Department of Agriculture Service Center at 5040 S. Loop 340, local farmers are not yet feeling the burdens of the shutdown, Texas Farm Bureau spokesman Gene Hall said.

Deadlines to sign up for federal programs and apply for loans will be extended by the number of days the shutdown lasts.

Thats not to say at some point this could get serious, Hall said. But right now, it hasnt risen to the level of a crisis.
This council learned about the relationship through an anonymous letter in November 2017, according to the report. Miles did not deny it but indicated the letter was from someone he fired, according to the report.

In June 2018, Fortenberry and former council member Alex Snider told the Tribune-Herald the council had long been aware of Miles and Allgoods relationship and that no one raised an issue with it.

Weve known that Katie and Adam were dating, and he brought that out early on and all we did was speak to our lawyer and made sure everything was on the up and up, Snider said at the time.

Snider, who served on the council six years, also said the council at the time reviewed Allgoods compensation to ensure it was even with similar positions and there was no appearance of impropriety.

Though council members at the time decided it was OK, Fridays report asserts the relationship did in fact violate the citys personnel policies and the city managers code of ethics.
The finished bike also will feature a video touchscreen for karaoke, LED lighting and a water mister system for hot weather.

Were going to nerd out on this thing, Springer said.

It should be in action by late spring, but Springer and his students have several weeks worth of work ahead to install seats, the drivetrain, an electric engine assist, roofing, painting and trim.

In a case where a problem led to opportunity, Waco Pedal Tours found itself plagued with business interruptions last year when its one pedal bike broke down and parts were hard to come by. Company partners Cory Dickman, Jake Cockerill and Daniel Abarca met informally with Springer to see if he could help fix it locally with his design skills and mechanical expertise.

As he looked at it, he realized one could be built locally. And, a STEM teacher always looking for work-related, hands-on education for his students, he saw how building a pedal bike would mirror some of the hands-on learning in Rapoports robotics classes.

Every little aspect of it is what we do in robotics, he said.
The Special Olympics Texas Heart of Texas Area will have its annual Polar Plunge Jan. 26, at the Waco Family YMCA, 6800 Harvey Drive. Registration will start at 10 a.m., and the plunge will start at 11 a.m. at the outdoor pool.

Awards will be presented to the person who raises the most money and those with the best costumes. For more information, go to sotx.org/polarplunge or call the area office at 230-4824.

Calligraphy Guild

The Waco Calligraphy Guild will meet at 10 a.m. Saturday at St. Matthew Lutheran Church, 800 N. New Road.

Members Suzi Ickles and Amy Taylor will demonstrate making and printing with gelli plates, a method of creating background papers for mixed media.

For more information, call 848-4165.

Democratic women

The Texas Democratic Women of Central Texas will meet at 11 a.m. Saturday at the South Waco Library, 2737 S. 18th St.

Alan Northcutt will discuss Climate Advocacy & Go Renewable Campaign. Members can pay dues and receive an update on the current legislative session.

The public is welcome.
Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Atiku Abubakar has said that women are the heart of families, businesses and communities and that his why, his first campaign event was to discuss with women.

According to the former vice President, he had to discuss with women the plans and policies he has for them.

Atiku further noted that mothers are more concerned with the direction of the economy, as they are the ones, who are unable to sleep when the children cant get jobs.

Speaking via his twitter handle on Saturday, Atiku said his job will be to provide jobs for the children, that way mothera allover the country can have peace.

In his words:

Women are at the heart of our families, businesses and communities. This is why, one of my first exclusive events this campaign was with the women of our party today, to discuss my policy and plans for them.

Mothers are most concerned about the direction of our economy. If our children cannot get jobs, mothers cannot sleep. My job as president will be to bring peace of mind to mothers all over Nigeria, by ensuring their children can find jobs.
Left part of the combo photo shows the lander of the Chang'e-4 probe taken by the rover Yutu-2 (Jade Rabbit-2) on Jan. 11, 2019, and right part shows the rover Yutu-2 (Jade Rabbit-2) taken by the lander of the Chang'e-4 probe on Jan. 11, 2019. (Xinhua/China National Space Administration)

BEIJING, Jan. 11 (Xinhua) -- China announced Friday that the Chang'e-4 mission, which realized the first-ever soft-landing on the far side of the moon, was a complete success.

With the assistance of the relay satellite Queqiao (Magpie Bridge), the rover Yutu-2 (Jade Rabbit-2) and the lander of the Chang'e-4 probe took photos of each other.

The scientific instruments aboard the probe worked well, and the images taken by the probe and detection data have been sent back to ground control, said the China National Space Administration (CNSA).

At 4:47 p.m. Beijing Time on Friday, the images of the lander and rover appeared on a large screen at the Beijing Aerospace Control Center, showing the Chinese national flag on both the lander and the rover with landscape dotted with craters in the background.

A congratulatory message sent by the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, the State Council and the Central Military Commission hailed the Chang'e-4 mission as a remarkable achievement in China's space program, which marks an important stride toward China being a strong country in space exploration.

The Chang'e-4 probe touched down on the Von Karman Crater in the South Pole-Aitken (SPA) Basin on the far side of the moon on Jan. 3, with the rover driving onto the lunar surface late that night.

The lander, the rover and the relay satellite are in good condition. After the lander and the rover photograph each other, the probe will start scientific detection, the CNSA said.

Named after Chinese moon goddess "Chang'e," China's lunar exploration program, which began in 2004, includes orbiting and landing on the moon and bringing samples back to Earth.

The program has achieved five continuous successes, said CNSA, referring to Chang'e-1, Chang'e-2, Chang'e-3, a test craft for Chang'e-5 and Chang'e-4.

THRILLING EXPLORATION

One of the images published by CNSA earlier on Friday is a 360-degree panorama, which was pieced together from 80 photos taken by a camera on the lander.

"From the panorama, we could see the probe was surrounded by many small craters. It was really thrilling," said Li Chunlai, deputy director of the National Astronomical Observatories of China and commander-in-chief of the ground application system of Chang'e-4.

"The rugged terrain will pose great challenges for planning the route of the rover," Li said.

"Compared with the landing site of the Chang'e-3, which was sent to the Sinus Iridum, or the Bay of Rainbows, on the moon's near side, fewer rocks can be found in the area surrounding Chang'e-4, indicating the landing area of Chang'e-4 might be older."

The CNSA also released a video of the landing process of the Chang'e-4, which was produced by processing more than 4,700 pictures taken by a camera on the probe.

The video, lasting about 12 minutes, showed that the probe adjusted its altitude, hovered and avoided obstacles during the descent.

As a result of the tidal locking effect, the moon's revolution cycle is the same as its rotation cycle, and it always faces Earth with the same side.

Many lunar orbiters had shown that the moon's two sides are very different: the near side is relatively flat, while the far side is thickly dotted with impact craters.

"We hope Chang'e-4 could carry out unprecedented and more challenging tasks," said Wu Weiren, chief designer of China's lunar exploration program.

"The far side of the moon has unique features, and has never been explored on site, so Chang'e-4 might bring us breakthrough findings," said Zou Yongliao, director of the lunar and deep space exploration division of the Chinese Academy of Sciences.

The scientific tasks of the Chang'e-4 mission include low-frequency radio astronomical observation, surveying the terrain and landforms, detecting the mineral composition and shallow lunar surface structure, and measuring neutron radiation and neutral atoms.

INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION

The Chang'e-4 mission embodies China's hope to combine human wisdom in space exploration, with four payloads developed by the Netherlands, Germany, Sweden and Saudi Arabia.

The radioisotope heat source, a collaboration between Chinese and Russian scientists, will support the probe through the lunar night, when the temperature falls to about minus 180 degrees Celsius.

The ground station that China built in Argentina has played an important role in the monitoring and control of the mission, and ground stations run by the European Space Agency will also offer support.

The scientists of the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter of NASA have also cooperated with Chang'e-4 mission team to study the landing of the Chang'e-4 probe, according to the CNSA.

"International cooperation is the future of lunar exploration. The participating countries will share the costs, risks and achievements, and learn from each other. We hope to have more international cooperation," said Wu Weiren.

GOING DEEPER INTO SPACE

China is becoming a major player in lunar exploration and contributing to scientific discovery.

The next step of its lunar program is to launch the Chang'e-5 probe to collect 2 kg of samples and bring them back to Earth.

As China's moon exploration progresses, its space experts are considering going deeper into the solar system -- to Mars, asteroids and Jupiter -- as well as a manned lunar mission.

China plans to launch a probe in 2020 that will orbit, land and rove on Mars the following year.

"Exploring the unknown is human nature. The moon is a mysterious world to us. We have a responsibility to explore and to understand it. Exploration of the moon will also deepen our understanding of Earth and ourselves," Wu said.
School health professionals have some valuable training this afternoon. They just wrapped up a seminar where they learned how to prevent teen suicide.

Today 285 counselors, nurses, and school resource officers were able to gather to learn more information about how to prevent substance abuse and bullying in their schools.

Doctor Aparna Vuppala said those go hand-in-hand with suicides along with mental illness. Vuppala said teen suicide is on the rise for a variety of reasons. The goal of Friday's event was to give school health professionals everything they need to know, to spot the signs. The training is put on by SPEAK which stands for Suicide Prevention Empowerment Awareness Knowledge. One speaker explained how teachers can stop bullying in the classroom.

"We had another speaker talk about trends in substance abuse. Looking at how things are different from 10 years ago, 20 years ago," said Vuppala.

If you're in need of a resource to help you talk to your students speak does have an app. All you have to do is search for SPEAK North Alabama in your app store and then download it. It's available on both iOS and Android devices.

High school students can apply to be speak ambassadors to help raise suicide awareness in their schools. They can email anna4speak@gmail.com for an application.
An approaching storm system will bring widespread rain to the Tennessee Valley on Saturday.

The morning will be the most salvageable part of the day, so if you have things you need to get done outside the morning is the best time. Rain will begin increasing over Northwest Alabama around Shoals between 10 AM and noon. The rain will spread eastward throughout the day arriving around Huntsville, Madison, Athens, and Decatur around noon, then arriving in Sand Mountain around 2-3 PM. Rain will fall through the afternoon and evening.

Rain will begin breaking up between 10 PM and midnight, but spotty areas of light rain will linger through Sunday morning. Rain will diminish through noon Sunday, but Sunday afternoon and Monday will stay cloudy and gray.

Rainfall amounts will average between a half-inch and inch through Sunday. Some rivers and creeks are already running high, though they are all below flood stage Friday afternoon. Rivers may rise, but latest forecasts indicate they will stay below flood stage.

Temperatures will be slightly warmer, but that doesn't mean warm. This evening will cool into the mid-30s, then we will warm into the lower 40s after midnight. Saturday afternoon will warm into the mid-to-upper 40s beneath the rain. The cool weather will hold on with highs in the 40s and lows in the 20s and 30s through Tuesday. Gradual warming Tuesday through Friday next week will set the stage for our next weather maker to bring another round of rain by Friday.
UPDATE: Eastbound lanes of Interstate 565 at Exit 19A are back open.

---

The left two lanes of Interstate 565 eastbound right before Exit 19A were shut down Friday around 4 p.m. due to a wreck. Don Webster with HEMSI said one person was transported to Huntsville Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
Former Aviation minister, Femi Fani-Kayode and Bayelsa East senator, Ben Murray Bruce have reacted to the order given by President Muhammadu Buhari led Federal Government that Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Walter Samuel Nkanu Onnoghen to vacate office immediately.

According to the federal government, the CJN breached of the provision of the Code of Conduct Bureau Act, by not declaring his assets.

On Monday January 14, 2019, the government will arraign the CJN before the Justice Danladi Yakubu led-Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) in Abuja. Speaking via twitter on Saturday, the former Aviation minister said the order is all part of a well-crafted script.

Buhari has directed the CJN to vacate his seat and prepare for arraignment on criminal charges on Monday. This is all part of a well-crafted script. The bitter truth is that democracy is dead in Nigeria.If anyone thinks that Buhari intends to leave power they need to think again.

Buhari has directed the CJN to vacate his seat and prepare for arraignment on criminal charges on monday.This is all part of a well-crafted script.The bitter truth is that democracy is dead in Nigeria.If anyone thinks that Buhari intends to leave power they need to think again.  Femi Fani-Kayode (@realFFK) January 12, 2019

Also dropping his opinion, the lawmaker said that if theres anyone that needs to be pressured to leave his position, is Kano state governor, Abdullahi Ganduje, caught on video, allegedly collecting kickbacks from contractor and not the chief justice.

If the government wants to pressure anyone to resign then they should start with Governor Umar Ganduje and not CJN Walter Onnoghen. Ganduje is guilty but patronised. Onnoghen may or may not be guilty but is persecuted. Double standards # LeaveJusticeOnnoghenAlone
Some neighbors in Limestone County are on edge after a big drug bust on their street.

WAAY 31 spoke with those neighbors about what investigators found in a home on Elk River Mills Road in Athens.

It upsets me that you cant have a decent neighborhood anymore, and its dangerous for children to be out by themselves," one neighbor said.

Thats what a neighbor told WAAY 31 when we told her about a drug bust that happened just down the road from her homea home shes lived in for nearly half a century.

Things have changed since 47 years ago," she said.

And shes not the only neighbor who thinks so.

Its very scary," another neighbor said. "Im concerned about my grandchildren living out here close to it.

Llimestone County deputies tell WAAY 31 they arrested five people after finding heroin, meth, oxycontin, marijuana, $15,000 in cash, two stolen pistols, and body armor.

Im very happy that they have been arrested and caught and are out of the neighborhood," one neighbor said. "I hope they dont return.

Another neighbor says its not the first time something has gone down at that particular home.

My husband and I were out on the porch back in the summer and this guy just walks out and starts shooting.

Both neighbors agree on one thing.

We always keep our doors locked.

Deputies tell WAAY 31 the stolen guns will be returned to their rightful owners.

The five people who were arrested are listed below:

Travis Yerby, $14,500 bond

Jeremy Tucker, $2,500 bond

Lorna Mitchell, $500 bond

Lauren Gatlin, $500 bond

Amelia Hargrove, $2,500 bond
Photo: Drew Angerer/Getty Images

White House advisers Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner somehow found time in their busy schedule of taking spin class in the dark, incorrectly filling out forms, and experiencing tremendous personal growth from whatever it is they do all day, to go see  and walk out of  Vice during their recent holiday vacation. Per People, Ivanka  whose father, Donald, is currently holding the U.S. government hostage as he continues to demand funding for a border wall  and her haunted doll husband had a date night while spending the holidays at the familys Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida in late December. That night, the couple opted to go to the movies to see the film Vice. You know, the one about former vice-president Dick Cheney, who once shot a guy.

Anyway, despite the romance of an Adam McKay film about a person who insists he was right about Iraq, Ivanka and Jared reportedly walked out before the film was over. A witness told People that toward the end of the screening, the couple and their Secret Service detail abruptly left the theater.

Now, why exactly Jared and Ivanka walked out of the film is unclear, but Vanity Fair notes that they likely stayed in the theater long enough for a split-second cutaway to a young Donald Trump. So, did that scene annoy them enough to make them leave? Were they simply over the film and didnt need to see the end? Or did they perhaps suddenly remember that a number of government employees have been wondering how they will be able to pay their rent during the shutdown and leave to try to help out? Either way, we trust they had a nice time.
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Some of Zimbabwe's school children from 29 rural districts get brand new bikes to ride to school, thanks to Britain's Department of International Development (DFID), which donated 3, 000 bicycles. Ministry officials applaud the donation saying it will help advance children's education.
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Camfed director Faith Nkala says many school children, especially girls, are struggling to attend lessons in schools due to long distances they travel. Mrs. Nkala was speaking Friday in Harare at the official handover of 3,000 bicycles donated by the British government.
The Democratic-controlled U.S. House of Representatives voted on Friday to restore funding for federal agencies that have been shut down by a fight with President Donald Trump over border wall funding, as some 800,000 government workers, from tax collectors to FBI agents, missed their first paycheck.

But a full resumption of government operations did not appear in sight because Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell has said he will not bring the House bill up for a vote.

Republicans who control the Senate have so far stood with Trump and insisted that any spending bills include money for his wall.

The House bill, which passed 240-179 with only a handful of Republicans supporting it, would restore funding for the Interior Department and the Environmental Protection Agency, two of the agencies that have been without funding since December 22 amid the standoff over the proposed wall along the U.S.-Mexico border. The bill provides $35.9 billion in discretionary funding, $6 billion above Trump's budget request and $601 million above the fiscal year 2018 enacted level.

Facing the prospect of the longest U.S. government shutdown in history, Trump has said he might declare a national emergency to bypass Congress to get funding for his wall, which was a central promise of his 2016 presidential campaign.

"Humanitarian Crisis at our Southern Border," Trump said on Twitter on Friday, a day after he visited the Texas-Mexico border. "I just got back and it is a far worse situation than almost anyone would understand, an invasion!"

Entering its 21st day, the partial shutdown on Friday tied the record for the longest in U.S. history. Some 800,000 federal workers did not receive paychecks that would have gone out on Friday. Some have resorted to selling their possessions or posting appeals on online fundraising outlets to help pay their bills.

"Most of them are living from paycheck to paycheck and now they approach this day on Friday having moved from paycheck to no check," Democratic Representative Elijah Cummings said in debate on the House floor.

The head of the U.S. Secret Service, which is responsible for protecting Trump, warned employees that financial stress can lead to depression and anxiety. "Keep an eye out for warning signs of trouble," Director R.D. "Tex" Alles wrote in a memo seen by Reuters. House approves back pay

The House also passed a bill by a bipartisan vote of 411-7 that would provide back pay to federal workers once the shutdown ends. That legislation, which has already been passed by the Senate, now heads to Trump's desk to be signed into law.

Separately, Senator Rob Portman and eight other Republican senators introduced legislation that would permanently outlaw the closing of government operations during budget fights, underscoring the growing frustration in Washington.

During his presidential campaign, Trump repeatedly pledged that Mexico would pay for the wall, which he says is needed to stem the flow of illegal immigrants and drugs. But the Mexican government has refused and Trump is now demanding that Congress provide $5.7 billion in U.S. taxpayer funding for the wall.

Democrats in Congress call the wall an ineffective, outdated answer to a complex problem.

With no Capitol Hill compromise in sight, Trump publicly ruminated on Thursday during the Texas trip about declaring an emergency.

A close Trump confidant judged the time for such a step had come. Republican Senator Lindsey Graham said in a statement: "It is time for President Trump to use emergency powers to fund the construction of a border wall/barrier. I hope it works."

Critics of the national emergency strategy have said it may be illegal. In any case, it was almost certain to trigger an immediate court challenge from Democrats, including an accusation of trying to circumvent Congress' power over the national purse strings.

An emergency declaration would come with risks. Even some of Trump's fellow Republicans in Congress have signaled worries about such an action. Given that the Constitution gives Congress the power to set spending priorities and appropriate money, they worry about a tough legal fight and an unwise precedent. "I don't think he should do that. It's a bad precedent," Republican Senator Chuck Grassley said on CNBC.

An emergency declaration, however, would allow the government to be fully reopened while the judges weigh the case, which could take months.

Before the shutdown began, Trump said he would be "proud" to close the government over the issue of border security and would not blame Democrats, although he later did.
U.S. ambassadors from around the world are flying to Washington next week for a State Department "chiefs of mission" conference despite the partial U.S. government shutdown, U.S. officials said on Friday.

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo decided to go ahead with the Jan. 16-17 meeting "because it is essential to the conduct of foreign affairs essential to national security," a State Department spokesman said on condition of anonymity.

"The timing of this conference is crucial to the safety, security, and prosperity of the United States," the spokesman added, saying the conference would "review the immediate global threats and challenges that affect all American citizens."

Current and former U.S. officials who spoke on condition of anonymity were skeptical that the conference, which was last held in 2016, is vital to national security but said the agency had to make that internal determination so as to hold it during the shutdown.

The partial shutdown, which entered its 21st day on Friday, has left U.S. government departments ranging from Justice, Agriculture and Treasury to Commerce, Homeland Security and State without money to operate programs and pay their workers.

The shutdown is now tied for the longest such closure to date, and many of the 800,000 employees who have been furloughed or are working without pay missed their first paychecks on Friday.

The State Department spokesman said the agency was working to limit conference costs by using department facilities and staff and inviting speakers chiefly from within the government, adding travel "was arranged and funded" before the shutdown.
U.S. Rep. Steve King says he's not a racist, but the Iowa Republican faced intensifying criticism Friday over his remarks about white supremacy, including from a black GOP senator who said such comments are a blight on the nation and the party.

For the second time in two days, King insisted that he is an advocate for "Western civilization,'' not white supremacy or white nationalism. But he didn't deny remarks published a day earlier in The New York Times in which he was quoted saying: "White nationalist, white supremacist, Western civilization  how did that language become offensive?''

Within hours Thursday, the House's top three Republicans condemned his remarks, and on Friday, GOP Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina published his disapproval in an op-ed column.

King, who has denied being racist, appeared on the House floor after most lawmakers had left town.

'My mistake'

"One phrase in that long article has created an unnecessary controversy. That was my mistake,'' King told his colleagues. King said terms describing bigotry, such as racism, are unfairly applied to "otherwise innocent'' people.

King, in his ninth House term, spoke as key members of his party publicly took issue with his remarks and as a Republican from back home lined up to challenge him in a GOP primary.

Scott, who is black, cast King's remarks and those like them as a blemish on the country and the Republican Party, which has long had a frosty relationship with black voters.

"When people with opinions similar to King's open their mouths, they damage not only the Republican Party and the conservative brand but also our nation as a whole,'' Scott wrote.

King's views, Scott added, are separate from the conservative movement and "should be ridiculed at every turn possible.''

"Some in our party wonder why Republicans are constantly accused of racism  it is because of our silence when things like this are said,'' Scott wrote.

In fact, House Republican leaders swiftly condemned King's remarks as racist. And on Wednesday, King drew a 2020 primary challenger: Randy Feenstra, a GOP state senator.

But King's position in the GOP had been imperiled even before then.

In 2017, he tweeted: "We can't restore our civilization with somebody else's babies.'' Then he doubled down on CNN, telling the network, "I'd like to see an America that's just so homogeneous that we look a lot the same.''

Shortly before the 2018 midterm elections, in which King was running, Rep. Steve Stivers, R-Ohio, then the head of the GOP campaign committee, issued an extraordinary public denunciation of him.

King on Friday suggested he's been misunderstood. He said the foundation of the Times interview was partly a Sept. 12 tweet in which he wrote: " 'Nazi' is injected into Leftist talking points because the worn out & exhausted 'racist' is over used & applied to everyone who lacks melanin & who fail to virtue signal at the requisite frequency & decibels. But...Nazis were socialists & Leftists are socialists."

On Friday, King said on the House floor that the interview "also was discussion of other terms that have been used, almost always unjustly labeling otherwise innocent people. The word racist, the word Nazi, the word fascist, the phrase white nationalists, the phrase white supremacists.''

King said he was only wondering aloud: "How did that offensive language get injected into our political dialogue? Who does that, how does it get done, how do they get by with laying labels like this on people?''
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Permanent Secretary Tumisang Thabela in Zimbabwe's Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education said the donation of 3,000 bicyles by Britains DFID will greatly help advance education in the country.
A young lady reportedly died following a cooking gas explosion which took place on Thursday, December 27, 2018.



Amadi was a fresh Computer Science graduate from the University of Calabar (UNICAL). She reportedly died on Saturday morning, January 12.

According to her cousin, Amadi, who was meant to go for her NYSC in March, had gone to braid her hair at a multipurpose hall in Rukpokwu Rumuiwechiorlu, Port Harcourt, Rivers state.

While there, a boy was said to have turned on a camp gas and stepped out to get a lighter.

Upon his return, he was warned against igniting the burner of the camp gas, since so much gas had already escaped.

However, the boy ignored the warnings and told them that nothing would happen. But immediately he ignited it, there was an explosion and late Amadi was badly affected.

She was rushed to Bridgestone Hospital in Port Harcourt, where she died this morning.

Her cousin further disclosed that the deceased was the only daughter of her mom, never wanted to make her hair but her mom persuaded her to, so that she would look good.
President Donald Trump on Friday called the situation at the U.S. southern border "an invasion," but he indicated that he would not be declaring a national emergency that could give him the legal authority to begin building his long-promised wall.

Trump, according to the Associated Press, said he was not looking to declare an emergency to build a wall "right now," contending that "this is something Congress can do."

Democrats have refused to vote on a budget that would include the president's request for more than $5 billion to begin construction of a permanent barrier along the Mexican border. Trump has refused to sign any government budget unless it has the funds. The standoff has led to a partial government shutdown that has now lasted 21 days, tying the record for the longest in U.S. history.

The lapse in funding has hit roughly a quarter of the federal government, including the Department of Homeland Security and the State Department. An estimated 800,000 federal workers are now going without paychecks.

'A win for everybody'



Trump had said Thursday, during a visit to the border town of McAllen, Texas, that he might declare a national emergency.

"We're either going to have a win, make a compromise, because I think a compromise is a win for everybody, or I will declare a national emergency," he said.

A declaration would allow Trump to spend the money without congressional approval. It would likely bring an immediate court challenge from Democrats who say there is no emergency at the border and that the president would be overstepping his constitutional authority.

Trump is blaming the government shutdown and impasse on wall funding on the Democrats, especially House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer. He says they are oblivious to national security threats and will not compromise.

Pelosi and Schumer say the president is obsessed with the wall and has manufactured a crisis, in part, to distract the country from his other problems.

They have proposed reopening the government and negotiating the wall issue separately.
Congolese presidential candidate Martin Fayulu plans to demand a recount of election results that showed him losing to fellow opposition leader Felix Tshisekedi.

Speaking Friday by phone to Eddy Isango of VOA's French to Africa service, Fayulu said he will go to the Constitutional Court on Saturday and ask judges to order the recount.

"We ask for a manual recount, polling station by polling station, before the CENI, before the African Union, before the United Nations, and in front of everyone else ... so that everyone can see what the Congolese people achieved on December 30, 2018," Fayulu said.

The commission said Thursday that Tshisekedi, the son of a longtime opposition leader, won the presidential election by more than 600,000 votes over Fayulu.

However, Fayulu's campaign says it has tallies showing he won the election with 61 percent of the vote.

The Catholic Church and foreign diplomats have also questioned the outcome of the poll. The church said Thursday that the official figures do not correspond to vote tallies collected by its 40,000 election observers around the country.

UN Security Council discusses vote

VOA United Nations correspondent Margaret Besheer reports the U.N. Security Council held a meeting in New York Friday to discuss the Congolese election.

The head of the election commission, Corneille Nangaa, told the council via satellite that Congo has two options: accept the results or nullify the election. He said if the vote is nullified, the country would not have a new president until new elections are organized.

Current President Joseph Kabila has already remained in office two years past the end of his mandate. He was set to step down this month after 18 years in power, once a new president was elected.

In the election, Kabila backed his former interior minister, Emmanuel Shadary, who finished a distant third. Supporters of Fayulu  a businessman backed by a coalition of opposition parties  have accused Kabila of making a deal with the electoral commission to deny their candidate the presidency, and in order to retain influence in the next administration.

The U.S. State Department said Thursday that it is important that President Kabila sticks to his decision to abide by term limits and transfer power to a successor. The statement from deputy spokesman Robert Palladino said the U.S. is awaiting "clarification of questions which have been raised regarding the electoral count."

The Democratic Republic of Congo has never experienced a peaceful transfer of power since winning independence from Belgium in 1960.

Eddy Isango of VOA's French to Africa Service and VOA correspondent Margaret Besheer contributed to this story.
WASHINGTON - Minorities in northeastern Syria are concerned the withdrawal of U.S. troops from the country without putting in place a sustainable alternative would lead to a security vacuum that could be filled by remnants of extremist groups, including the Islamic State (IS) in the country.

The Free Yezidi Foundation, a Netherlands-based group advocating for justice for Yazidis  a religious minority in Iraq and Syria  warned in an official statement the Yazidis would face an existential threat from several militant groups hostile to them and other religious and ethnic minorities in the country after the departure of U.S. troops.

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. This is an existential threat to minorities like the Yazidis, the Free Yezidi Foundation said in a statement, using an Arabic acronym for the Islamic Static terror group.

FILE - In this March 24, 2018 file photo, Turkish FILE - Turkish soldiers atop an armored personnel carrier secure the streets of the northwestern city of Afrin, Syria, March 24, 2018. FILE - Turkish soldiers atop an armored personnel carrier secure the streets of the northwestern city of Afrin, Syria, March 24, 2018.

?Potential for Turkish incursion

Pari Ibrahim, the founder and executive director of the foundation, told VOA that minority groups, including Yazidis, are concerned about a potential Turkish military incursion into northeastern Syria, and also in the last pockets held by IS that still are being cleared by U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF).

The coalition, and not only the U.S., can combat this by making sure that SDF remains a multi-ethnic, multicultural force that will protect that part of Syria, prevent [the] rise of extremism, and absolutely ensure no jihadist forces or their allies can be bombing in the area, Ibrahim said, making a reference to Turkey and its anticipated military operation, including a potential aerial campaign.

Christian Suryanis, an ethnic religion whose members live in northeastern Syria, Damascus and Aleppo, also have voiced concerns and urged the international community to protect Christians and prevent them from being displaced from their homes.

A state of chaos and vacuum would occur in the area after the U.S. withdrawal, therefore, there is a need for long-term security arrangements that secure a free and democratic state for all in northeastern Syria, the group said in a statement last week.

Christian Suryanis speak the Syriac language.

Syria is home to several ethnic and religious minority groups. There is no recent official census on the exact number of minorities in the country. The last Syrian government census was in 1985.

According to estimates from Minority Rights Group International, a U.K.-based human rights group serving minorities around the world, Sunni Muslims make up 75 percent of the Syrian population, followed by 10 percent Christians, and the remaining groups are other religious minorities, including Druze, Ismailis, Shiites, Sufis, Alawites and Yazidis.

FILE - A convoy of US military vehicles is seen in FILE - A convoy of U.S. military vehicles is seen in Syria's northern city of Manbij, Dec. 30, 2018. FILE - A convoy of U.S. military vehicles is seen in Syria's northern city of Manbij, Dec. 30, 2018.

?Beginning of withdrawal

The warnings from minority groups in Syria come at a time when the U.S.-led coalition in Syria on Thursday officially began the removal of equipment from the country.

The coalition has begun the process of our deliberate withdrawal from Syria, said Col. Sean Ryan, a spokesman for the U.S. coalition fighting IS.

Out of concern for operational security, we will not discuss specific timelines, locations or troop movements, Ryan said.

There are roughly 2,000 U.S. military personnel in Syria.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported the equipment withdrawal began late Thursday, when about 10 armored vehicles and other equipment were pulled from a U.S. base in Rmeilan in Hassakeh province.

Turkeys offensive

Minority groups also are concerned about the prospect of a possible Turkish military incursion into Syria.

In December 2018, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced his countrys intention to plan a military operation against the Syrian Kurdish Peoples Protection Units (YPG), which are among the SDF.

Erdogan later delayed the planned offensive, citing talks with U.S. officials, including President Donald Trump, following the U.S. decision to withdraw its troops from Syria.

Turkey views the YPG as an extension of the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), a U.S.- and EU-designated terror group, but Washington differs with Ankara and considers the YPG a crucial ally in the fight against IS.

WATCH: Why Turkey Is Attacking YPG

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, during his weeklong trip to Middle East, assured allies Thursday that despite the U.S. decision to withdraw its forces from Syria, it remains committed to fighting IS and preventing the group from growing.

We are going to do it in a way in one particular place  Syria  differently, Pompeo said. The United States decision  President Trumps decision  to withdraw our troops has been made. We will do that.

VOAs national security correspondent Jeff Seldin contributed to this report from Washington.
A partial shutdown of the U.S. federal government began Dec. 22, after President Donald Trump and Congress failed to agree on funding for the presidents long-sought wall along the U.S.-Mexico border. About 800,000 federal employees and some government services across the United States have been affected.

What is closed? What is open?

Closures

Visitors walk past a sign for Everglades National Visitors walk past a sign for Everglades National Park as they enter from overflow parking, Jan. 2, 2019, in Everglades National Park, Fla. Human feces, overflowing garbage, illegal off-roading and other damaging behavior were beginning to to overwhelm some of the national parks, as a partial government shutdown drags on. Visitors walk past a sign for Everglades National Park as they enter from overflow parking, Jan. 2, 2019, in Everglades National Park, Fla. Human feces, overflowing garbage, illegal off-roading and other damaging behavior were beginning to to overwhelm some of the national parks, as a partial government shutdown drags on.

National Parks, Historic Sites and Monuments

The National Parks Service (NPS) website says 388 of the 737 parks, historic sites and national monuments it oversees are closed. The ones that remain open have limited staffing and have closed access to various park facilities, including restrooms.

At Yellowstone National Park, located mostly in Wyoming, private tour companies have performed some maintenance, enabling them to continue operating throughout the winter.

Some states are paying to keep their national parks open, including Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona, and Zion, Bryce Canyon and Arches national parks in Utah.

Joshua Tree National Park in Southern California narrowly avoided a temporary closure Thursday. The NPS used revenue from recreation fees to hire maintenance crews for cleanup, and to reopen campgrounds and hiking trails.

The historic clock tower at the Old Post Office building in Washington is one of the few government-owned tourist attractions that remains open during the shutdown. The building is owned by the U.S. government but is leased to Trump International Hotel. Three park rangers guide visitors to the observation deck at the top of the tower.

The figure of a panda is seen behind a sign tellin The figure of a panda is seen behind a sign telling the public that the National Zoo is closed due to the partial government shutdown in Washington, Jan. 2, 2019. The figure of a panda is seen behind a sign telling the public that the National Zoo is closed due to the partial government shutdown in Washington, Jan. 2, 2019.

Museums and Cultural Centers

All 19 of the Smithsonian Institution museums and galleries, as well as the National Zoo, have been closed since Jan. 3. Also closed are the National Archives, Arboretum and White House Visitor Center.

The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts will have no tours and have reduced hours, but performances will be unaffected.

Courts

The federal courts have enough funding to remain open until Jan. 18. After that date, civil cases may be suspended or postponed, but criminal cases will proceed.

Immigration courts are closed. Cases have been postponed indefinitely.

Federal agencies

The Food and Drug Administration has stopped all routine inspections, except for domestic meat and poultry. It has also suspended most research activities and stopped accepting applications for new drug approvals.

The Environmental Protection Agency has furloughed 95 percent of its employees.

U.S. Internal Revenue Services employee holds sign U.S. Internal Revenue Services employee holds signs in front of the federal building at a rally against the ongoing U.S. federal government shutdown, in Ogden, Utah, Jan. 10, 2019. U.S. Internal Revenue Services employee holds signs in front of the federal building at a rally against the ongoing U.S. federal government shutdown, in Ogden, Utah, Jan. 10, 2019.

The Internal Revenue Service has furloughed most of its employees. The Trump administration, however, announced this week that the IRS would issue tax refunds during the shutdown.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency has asked all of its contractors to immediately stop all work.

The National Science Foundation has stopped reviewing all grant proposals and postdoctoral fellowship applications.

The Federal Communications Commission has suspended most operations, including the Consumer Complaint Center.

The Department of Agriculture will not release domestic and world crop reports. It will continue providing food stamps through January.

The National School Lunch and School Breakfast programs would also be disrupted if the government remains closed through January.

Tourists and visitors are unable to visit the Nati Tourists and visitors are unable to visit the National Christmas Tree near the White House in Washington because of its closure by the National Park Service, Dec. 22, 2018. The closure was made necessary by a partial federal government shutdown. Tourists and visitors are unable to visit the National Christmas Tree near the White House in Washington because of its closure by the National Park Service, Dec. 22, 2018. The closure was made necessary by a partial federal government shutdown.

?The White House

The White House public comments line at (202) 456-1111 plays a recorded message, explaining, We look forward to taking your call as soon as the government reopens.

Transportation

The Federal Aviation Administration suspended all aircraft safety certification, and safety reporting and oversight systems.

All training of air traffic controllers and pilots has been suspended.

Highway construction projects across the country have dramatically slowed, as states worry about the loss of federal funding for highway projects.

Transportation Security Administration officers wo Transportation Security Administration officers work at a checkpoint at O'Hare airport in Chicago, Jan. 11, 2019. This weekend the government shutdown likely stretches on to become the longest in American history. Transportation Security Administration officers work at a checkpoint at O'Hare airport in Chicago, Jan. 11, 2019. This weekend the government shutdown likely stretches on to become the longest in American history.

Federal agencies and services that remain open

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs continues to provide benefits and hospital services.

Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid remain operational, though new Medicare and Medicaid applicants may experience delays.

The U.S. Postal Service continues mail delivery.

U.S. Citizen and Immigration Services, which deals with naturalization and citizenship, remains operational.

Transportation Security Administration (TSA) agents are considered essential and are expected to work without pay. Some TSA workers have begun calling in sick, causing potential logjams at airports.

Active duty members of the military are exempt from shutdowns.
WASHINGTON - The United States on Friday signaled it would not bow to the European Union's request to keep agriculture out of planned U.S.-EU trade talks, publishing negotiating objectives that seek comprehensive EU access for American farm products.

The objectives, required by Congress under the "fast-track" trade negotiating authority law, seek to reduce or eliminate EU tariffs on U.S. farm products and break down non-tariff barriers, including on products developed through biotechnology, the U.S. Trade Representative's (USTR) office said.

Agricultural issues were among the major sticking points in past negotiations for a major U.S.-EU trade deal, the Trans-Atlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP), before talks were shelved after Donald Trump was elected president in 2016.

EU trade commissioner Cecilia Malmstrom told U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer in Washington on Wednesday that the 28-country bloc could not negotiate on agriculture in a new, more limited set of negotiations expected to start this year.

"We have made very clear agriculture will not be included," Malmstrom told reporters after meeting Lighthizer, adding that the two sides had not yet agreed on the scope of the talks.

U.S. President Donald Trump, right, talks with Eur U.S. President Donald Trump, right, talks with European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker, left, before a working session at the G-20 summit in Hamburg, Germany, July 8, 2017. U.S. President Donald Trump, right, talks with European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker, left, before a working session at the G-20 summit in Hamburg, Germany, July 8, 2017.

Trump and EU president Jean-Claude Juncker agreed last July to re-launch negotiations to cut tariffs on industrial goods, including autos, and also discuss ways for Europe to buy more U.S. soybeans.

Trump told Juncker that he would refrain from levying threatened 25-percent tariffs on EU-produced cars and auto parts, which he is considering imposing worldwide on national security grounds.

Trump has long complained about Europe's 10-percent import tariff on autos. The U.S. passenger car tariff is only 2.5 percent, although U.S. tariffs on pickup trucks and other commercial trucks are 25 percent.

The U.S. negotiating wish list does not specifically mention autos, but pledges to seek duty-free market access for U.S. industrial goods that eliminate non-tariff barriers such as "unnecessary differences in regulation."

USTR's decision to push for a full-fledged trade negotiation on agricultural goods follows a hearing in December at which U.S. farm, food and beverage groups argued for their products to be included.

Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, speaks during a news Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, speaks during a news conference on Capitol Hill, Dec. 19, 2018, on prison reform legislation. Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, speaks during a news conference on Capitol Hill, Dec. 19, 2018, on prison reform legislation.

Influential lawmakers such as Senate Finance Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley, an Iowa farmer, have warned they might not support an EU deal that did not include agriculture. Now that the U.S. objectives have been published, the USTR may be ready to formally launch negotiations in as little as 30 days.

But the EU's own negotiating mandates on industrial goods and regulatory cooperation need to be cleared by the European Commission, the bloc's executive branch, and approved by member states, and it is unclear how long that process will take.

The United States had a $151 billion goods deficit with the EU in 2017, despite two-way annual trade of about $1.1 billion. USTR also said it will seek commitments by Europe not to impose duties on any digital downloads of U.S. software, movies, music and other products nor any rules that restrict cross-border data flows or require data localization, USTR said.

In an objective aimed at Europe's efforts to tax products and services from U.S.-based internet giants, including Alphabet Inc's Google, Facebook and Amazon.com, USTR said it would seek a "guarantee that these products will not face government-sanctioned discrimination based on the nationality or territory in which the product is produced."
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TORONTO - Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Friday that Chinese officials are not respecting the diplomatic immunity of one of the Canadians detained in China last month as he ramped up efforts to get them released.

China arrested former Canadian diplomat Michael Kovrig and entrepreneur Michael Spavor on vague national security allegations.

Huawei executive's arrest

The arrests came after a top Chinese executive was arrested in Canada on Dec. 1 at the request of Washington, which wants Huawei chief financial officer Meng Wanzhou extradited to face charges that she misled banks about the companys business dealings in Iran. She is out on bail in Canada and awaiting a bail extradition proceeding next month.

In this image made from a video taken on March 28, In this image made from a video taken on March 28, 2018, North East Asia senior adviser Michael Kovrig speaks during an interview in Hong Kong. In this image made from a video taken on March 28, 2018, North East Asia senior adviser Michael Kovrig speaks during an interview in Hong Kong.

Kovrig is an analyst on northeast Asia for the International Crisis Group think tank who took a leave of absence from the Canadian government.

Canadian authorities havent previously said he was protected by diplomatic immunity. But Trudeau asserted that Friday.

It is unfortunate that China has arbitrarily and unfairly detained two Canadian citizens, and indeed in one of the cases is not respecting the principles of diplomatic immunity, Trudeau said.

He did not elaborate on why Kovrig is entitled to it.

China sees 'white supremacy'

But the prime minister reiterated that Canada was operating under the rule of law. He noted that Meng was arrested because of an extradition request and she is out on bail and living in her Canadian home. He said all countries need to respect the rule of law.

Chinas ambassador to Canada accused the country this week of white supremacy in calling for the release of the two Canadians detained in China last month, while describing the detentions as an act of self-defense.

Canada calls on allies

Canada has embarked on a campaign with allies to win the release of the detained Canadians. The United States, United Kingdom, European Union and Australia have issued statements in support.

Trudeau called U.S. President Donald Trump about it and the White House called the arrests of the Canadians unlawful.

On Friday, Poland arrested a Huawei director and one of its own former cybersecurity experts and charged them with spying for China.

The development comes as the U.S. is exerting pressure on its allies not to use Huawei, the worlds biggest maker of telecommunications network equipment, over data security concerns.
BEIRUT - The Syrian state news agency said Israeli warplanes fired a number of missiles toward the Damascus area Friday, triggering Syrian air defenses that shot down most of them.

The results of the aggression so far were limited to a strike on one of the warehouses at Damascus airport, the SANA news agency cited a military source. The attack took place at 11:15 p.m. (2115 GMT), it said.

Syrian state media broadcast footage of what it said were the air defenses firing, with bright lights seen shooting across the night sky. Explosions were heard in one of the videos.

Damascus Damascus, Syria Damascus, Syria

Israel has mounted attacks in Syria as part of its effort to counter the influence carved out there by Iran, which has supported President Bashar al-Assad in the war that erupted in 2011.

The last Israeli attack reported by Syrian state media was Dec. 25, when a missile attack wounded three Syrian soldiers.

A senior Israeli official said in September that Israel had carried out more than 200 attacks against Iranian targets in Syria in the last two years.

Iranian and Iran-backed groups including Lebanons Hezbollah have deployed into Syria in support of al-Assads government during the war.
Canada's Foreign Minister said Saturday, after a young Saudi women fled to Canada out of fear for her life, that Canada believes "very strongly that women's rights are human rights."



Eighteen-year-old Rahaf Mohammed Alqunun was greeted by Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland as she arrived from Thailand in the Canadian city of Toronto Saturday morning via Seoul, South Korea.



Canada granted Alqunun asylum after she fled her family out of fear for her life.



"It is absolutely the case that there are many women, far, far too many women who are in dangerous situations, both in Canada and around the world," Freeland told reporters at a Toronto airport shortly after Alqunun's arrival. "For a single woman or girl to be in a dangerous situation is one too many."



Freeland added that granting asylum to Alqunun "is part of a broader Canadian policy of supporting women and girls in Canada and around the world."



Alqunun made a brief appearance before reporters after her arrival, but Freeland said she declined to speak because she was "very tired after a long journey" and preferred to "get settled."



Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau confirmed earlier that his country had granted Alqunun asylum and said the teenager had chosen to live in Canada.



Several other countries, including Australia, had been in talks with the U.N.'s refugee agency to accept Alqunun's bid for asylum.



Trudeau said that Canada was "pleased" to grant Alqunun asylum because "Canada is a country that understands how important it is to stand up for human rights and to stand up for women's rights around the world."



Alqunun arrived in Bangkok, Thailand on January 5 on a flight from Kuwait after running away from her family. After initially being denied entry into Thailand, she barricaded herself in an airport hotel room and posted pictures and texts of herself on Twitter, drawing global attention to her plight. The attention prompted Thai immigration authorities to reverse their earlier decision to send her back to Saudi Arabia.



Alqunun has accused her family of abuse, and had refused to meet her father who traveled to Bangkok to try take her back to Saudi Arabia.



"My family is strict and locked me in a room for six months just for cutting my hair. I am 100 percent certain they will kill me as soon as I get out of the Saudi jail," she tweeted while in Thailand.



Saudi Arabia's human rights record has come under heavy scrutiny since the brutal murder of dissident journalist Jamal Khashoggi last year at its consulate in Turkey. The ultra-conservative kingdom has strict restrictions on women, including a requirement that they must have the permission of male family members to travel.



Another Saudi woman, Dina Lasloom, flew to the Philippines in 2017 while trying to escape Saudi Arabia.



An airline security official reported seeing her dragged out of the airport with her mouth, hands and feet bound with duct tape. Human rights activists have seen no trace of her since.
WASHINGTON - The New York Times is reporting that FBI officials were so alarmed by President Donald Trumps behavior after he fired former FBI Director James Comey that they started investigating whether he was working against American interests.

The Times cited anonymous former law enforcement officials and others familiar with the investigation Friday who said counterintelligence investigators looked into whether Trump was knowingly working for Russia or had unwittingly fallen under Moscows influence.

The officials told the newspaper that after Comey was fired in May 2107, they become concerned when Trump tied the firing of Comey to the Russia investigation.

Trump actions questioned

Law enforcement officials have previously confirmed that after the firing the FBI opened an investigation into whether the action constituted obstruction of justice. However, what has not been made public is that law enforcement officials also sought to determine whether the presidents own actions constituted a possible threat to national security, according to the Times.

The entire investigation was taken over several days later when special counsel Robert Mueller was appointed to investigate Russias attempts to influence the 2016 election as well as possible ties between Russia and the Trump campaign.

Trump reacted to the New York Times report in a post on Twitter early Saturday: "Wow, just learned in the Failing New York Times that the corrupt former leaders of the FBI, almost all fired or forced to leave the agency for some very bad reasons, opened up an investigation on me, for no reason & with no proof, after I fired Lyin' James Comey, a total sleaze!"

Wow, just learned in the Failing New York Times that the corrupt former leaders of the FBI, almost all fired or forced to leave the agency for some very bad reasons, opened up an investigation on me, for no reason & with no proof, after I fired Lyin James Comey, a total sleaze!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 12, 2019

There has been no public evidence that Trump was in contact with Russia during the election campaign and Trump has long denied any illicit connection. Russia has also denied the allegations.

Giuliani: Nothing found

A lawyer for Trump, Rudolph Giuliani, told the Times that if FBI officials had concluded Trump was working against American interests, the public would have heard about it.

The fact that it goes back a year and a half and nothing came of it that showed a breach of national security means they found nothing, Giuliani told the paper.

Two days after Trump dismissed Comey in May 2017, he told NBC News anchor Lester Holt that he was going to fire Comey regardless, knowing there was no good time to do it, but was thinking of the Russia investigation when he decided to dismiss him.

When I did this, now I said to myself, You know, this Russia thing with Trump and Russia is a made-up story. Its an excuse by Democrats for having lost an election that they should have won, Trump said.

Comeys firing, rather than ending the Russia investigation, led directly to the appointment, over Trumps objections, of Mueller, another former FBI director, to take over the Russia probe. Trump has repeatedly called the Russia probe a witch hunt.
By Craig Murray

January 11, 2019 " Information Clearing House " - When Sir Richard Dearlove was Head of MI6, the Blairites adored him as he approved the lying Dossier on Iraqi WMD which led to wars, invasion, the death of millions and the destabilisation which continues to wreck the entire Middle East. Now, as he writes to Tory constituency chairman advocating the hardest of hard Brexits, had they any capacity for self-reflection the Blairites would probably be thinking it was after all not such a great move of Tony to appoint the hardest of hard right nutters to head our overseas intelligence service.

In my last post, I noted how evidence against me was actually manufactured when I opposed the policy of torture and extraordinary rendition. I have explained ad nauseam that, having been in a senior position in the FCO at the time, I know that Blairs dossier on Weapons of Mass Destruction was a tissue of deliberate lies, and not just an honest mistake; furthermore it is impossible to read the Chilcot report without coming to that conclusion.

The UK has security services which operate dishonestly and illegally. Interestingly, I cannot say that they are currently out of the control of the UK government; the evidence is rather they are willing to engage in every dirty and dishonest trick at the behest of corrupt politicians like Blair.

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Dearlove regularly features in the media shilling for maximum Cold War. His letter yesterday on the dangers of intelligence and security co-operation with the EU, as undermining NATO and the UK/US/Five Eyes intelligence arrangements, is simply barking mad. There is no evidence of this whatsoever. He makes no attempt to describe the mechanism by which the dire consequences he predicts will follow. Amusingly enough, although those consequences are dire to Dearlove, to me they are extremely desirable. If I thought that Mays withdrawal agreement would undermine NATO and the CIA, I would be out on the streets campaigning for it.

But there is a very serious point. There is something very wrong indeed with the UK security services, which are most certainly not a force for freedom or justice. That MI6 can be headed by as extreme a figure as Dearlove, underlines the threat that the security services pose to any progressive movement in politics.

If Scotland becomes independent, it must not mirror the repressive UK security services. Furthermore it must be very chary indeed of employing anybody currently working for the UK security services. If Jeremy Corbyn comes to power in Westminster, he will never achieve any of his objectives in restoring a basic level of social justice and equality to society in England and Wales, without revolutionary change in major institutions including the security services.

My own view on Brexit is that the best deal for England and Wales would be EEA and customs union, essentially the Norway option. It seems that the Labour leadership have essentially got that right, but are making a complete pigs ear of articulating it, presumably because of their desire not to antagonise their anti-immigrant voters.

Scotland demonstrably has a strong and strengthening pro-EU majority and this is the logical time for Scotland to move to Independence, with the assurance of strong international support. I trust the Scottish government is finally going to move decisively in that direction inside the next month.

Craig Murray is an author, broadcaster and human rights activist. He was British Ambassador to Uzbekistan from August 2002 to October 2004 and Rector of the University of Dundee from 2007 to 2010. https://www.craigmurray.org.uk
EUGENE, OREGON - Police shot and killed a man who showed up Friday with a gun at an Oregon middle school amid a custody dispute, authorities said. No one else was injured.

The man had been escorted from Cascade Middle School in Eugene when he began struggling and pulled a gun, police Lt. Jennifer Bills told reporters. She initially said the shooting was inside the school.

Students were locked in classrooms, and the school was locked down for nearly four hours.

By Friday afternoon, officers were escorting small groups of children to a nearby church where parents had gathered.

Yellow crime scene tape surrounded the school's main parking lot and a yellow tarp covered the suspect's body just a few feet from an entrance. His name was not immediately released.

No students were harmed whatsoever. All the students are safe,'' Bills said.

Eugene police officers stand outside the Cascade M Eugene police officers stand outside the Cascade Middle School in Eugene, Oregon, Jan. 11, 2019, following an officer-involved shooting. Eugene police officers stand outside the Cascade Middle School in Eugene, Oregon, Jan. 11, 2019, following an officer-involved shooting.

Parent Stephanie Martin waited for her two children at the church in Eugene, the home of the University of Oregon about 110 miles (177 kilometers) south of Portland.

She said her son, a sixth-grader, called her to say he and his sister, a seventh-grader, were OK.

The kids are all safe, that's all we know. But that's all I care about,'' Martin said. It's crazy, the world is crazy.''

Andrew Ramos-Aguirre, a sixth-grader at the school, said that when word of the shooting spread, his physical education classroom quickly followed a drill they had practiced.

We had to lock down the room, we had to be really quiet, no movement,'' Ramos-Aguirre said after he was reunited with his mother, who teared up as she heard her son's account.

I felt afraid and nervous because there was an intruder at my school,'' the boy said.

The area saw one of the first school shootings to seize the national spotlight.

More than 20 years ago, then 15-year-old Kip Kinkel killed his parents before fatally shooting two students and wounding 26 others at Thurston High School in nearby Springfield. Kinkel remains in prison.
No one is sure about how many migrant children are living in Spain without their parents  and that's part of the problem.



Three months ago, Spanish officials estimated there were 10,000 unaccompanied minors living in the country  70 percent of them Moroccan. But more than 11,000 migrant children were recorded having arrived in Spain in 2018 alone, and previous migrant influxes had already swept in at least 4,000, say civil-society groups.



"The registry of unaccompanied minors is not working properly," says the non-profit Fundacion Raices, which promotes the rights of migrant children. Not knowing the actual numbers is "very worrying, because it speaks of the mismanagement that prevails in our country in the protection policies of minors," the non-profit has warned.

The plight of child migrants in Spain is being highlighted once again, this time in the run-up to a possible snap election later this year that Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, who leads a fragile minority government, may decide to call. Populist right wing parties are following the playbook of their counterparts in neighboring Italy and have focused on migrants as a possible vote-winning issue in pre-election campaigning.

Spain's Far-Right Vox Party Allies With Mainstream Rivals Spain's far-right Vox party has staked its claim to a place in the political mainstream, dropping its more extremist positions to help form a regional government in Andalusia as far-right parties build their influence across Europe. The anti-migrant, anti-feminist and euroskeptic party played kingmaker by supporting an alliance of the conservative Popular Party and the center-right Citizens party that is poised to end 36 years of center-left Socialist party rule in Spain's most populated region. Vox Spain's far-right Vox party has staked its claim to a place in the political mainstream, dropping its more extremist positions to help form a regional government in Andalusia as far-right parties build their influence across Europe. The anti-migrant, anti-feminist and euroskeptic party played kingmaker by supporting an alliance of the conservative Popular Party and the center-right Citizens party that is poised to end 36 years of center-left Socialist party rule in Spain's most populated region. Vox

Last month, Vox became the first far-right party in four-decades to win seats in a regional assembly in Spain, partly on the back of its call for illegal immigrants to be repatriated and for walls to built around Ceuta and Melilla, two Spanish enclaves in North Africa, to stop illegal migrants who have been climbing over the border fences.



The leader of Spain's conservative opposition Popular party, led by Pablo Casado, is hardening its anti-immigrant rhetoric, prompting Sanchez to accuse it of fueling "the politics of fear."



And there's plenty of fear and frustration to go around. In Barcelona, locals cite lawlessness as their biggest headache, ahead of affordable housing or the intractable Catalan independence issue. With petty theft, violent robberies and burglaries all increasing as well begging and illegal street selling, many neighborhood associations in the Catalan capital blame asylum-seekers  among them migrant children.



Thousands of unaccompanied children in Spain are housed in overcrowded migrant centers and hundreds are living in squalid and dangerous conditions on the streets as potential prey for sexual exploitation.



Last month, police in Barcelona  as they do in some other Spanish cities  periodically clear the youngsters off the streets, taking them to already strained centers, which aren't allowed under the law to detain them, if they want to leave, as many do.



For civil-society groups the primary concern shouldn't be about crime when it comes to minors, but about their safety and well-being. With Spain now the main gateway into Europe for irregular immigration from Africa, surpassing Italy, Greece, Cyprus and Malta, the problem of what to do with migrant children is only going to get sharper, they warn.

Italian Mayors, Lawmakers Call Security Decree Unconstitutional Opposition is rising among Italian mayors and regional governors who are against the central government's crackdown on asylum-seekers. They are planning court challenges to the new measures in defiance of the populist government and Interior Minister Matteo Salvini.A controversial security decree, backed by Salvini and recently approved by parliament, has significantly tightened the criteria for migrants requesting humanitarian protection. Opposition is rising among Italian mayors and regional governors who are against the central government's crackdown on asylum-seekers. They are planning court challenges to the new measures in defiance of the populist government and Interior Minister Matteo Salvini.A controversial security decree, backed by Salvini and recently approved by parliament, has significantly tightened the criteria for migrants requesting humanitarian protection.

Under Spanish law migrant children cannot be sent back to their country against their will, if their families can't be tracked down. When they reach 18,they are entitled to Spanish nationality, if they have been in a center for atleast two years.



Last year, the Spanish government prompted an outcry from rights groups when it started negotiating with the Moroccan government an arrangement to repatriate Moroccan children and explored possible agreements with Algeria and other African states. Many migrant children, rights groups say, flee their countries of origin because of poverty, family and social violence and terrorism.



Last month, the U.N.'s child agency highlighted the story of Sabba, a 17-year-old girl who fled her native Morocco to escape abuse. She decided at the age of 14 to get married to a 27-year-old because her farther was violent.



"At first it was good, before we got married, then my husband began to treat me badly, he would ask me for disgusting things that I did not want to do, and he would force me. It was worse than when I lived with my parents," she says in an interview released by UNICEF.

A migrant child get assistance upon arriving aboar A migrant child get assistance upon arriving aboard "Lifeline", a vessel for the German charity Mission Lifeline, in the harbour of Valletta, Malta. A migrant child get assistance upon arriving aboard "Lifeline", a vessel for the German charity Mission Lifeline, in the harbour of Valletta, Malta.

Non-governmental organizations say aside from the issue of whether children should be returned or not to their native countries  the system for handling and protecting them in Spain is chaotic. Children are transferred haphazardly from center to center without proper planning and "overlooking the best interests of the children," says Fundacion Raices. The NGO has demanded the assignment of independent legal guardians for migrant children to protect their legal rights.



Last year, hundreds of migrant children were moved from the southern region of Andalusia, where most migrants arrive, to Barcelona and other northern cities with little advance notice.



With reception centers packed, the Mossos d'Esquadra, the Catalan police force, was forced to shelter temporarily as many as they could, turning police stations into makeshift dormitories. Many kids, though, were turned away. In a statement, the Catalan police union complained that officers had in effect been "blackmailed" into accommodating the minors.
In the wake of Bangladesh's recent general election, opposition coalition and pro-democracy activists expressed disappointment with alleged episodes of vote manipulation going largely unreported in the local media. But several journalists argue that fear of government reprisals led many media outlets to avoid publishing stories about the alleged wrongdoing.

"The level of vote robbery in the December 30 general election was unprecedented in world history. Ahead of conducting the massively rigged election, the government introduced some black laws, like the Digital Security Act, to shackle the media," BNP senior joint secretary Ruhul Kabir Rizvi Ahmed told VOA.

"In different ways the government issued threats to the domestic media outlets to keep them away from reporting freely and not to let the outside world know of the massive vote manipulation," he said.

A Dhaka-based national TV channel news producer said many media outlets could not exercise their freedom during the election.

"Ahead of the general election, the Election Commission issued new guidelines strictly limiting the coverage-related activities of the journalists during the polling. In a first ever such move, it banned photography, videography or live telecast of the polling-related activities inside voting centers," said a Dhaka-based national TV channel news producer who requested anonymity for fear of reprisal by the government.

'Chilling message'

"Journalists got a chilling message that if they flouted the guidelines they would face serious retribution from the government. In such a terrifying situation, the rigging-related activities went largely unreported."

Other journalists who told VOA similar stories did not want to be quoted, saying they feared reprisals from the government.

"They are facing severe pressure on many fronts, including arbitrary arrests and beating by police, forced disappearances and tough criminal defamation and online security laws that have put many in jail," said Steven Butler, Asia Program coordinator of the New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ).

FILE - Activists of the leftist alliance join in a FILE - Activists of the leftist alliance join in a rally to demand a new election under caretaker government, in Dhaka, Bangladesh, Jan. 3, 2019. FILE - Activists of the leftist alliance join in a rally to demand a new election under caretaker government, in Dhaka, Bangladesh, Jan. 3, 2019.

"They also endure repeated intimidating advisory phone calls from police, army intelligence and the government. The net result is a siege mentality. So, it's not surprising they are afraid to report on election irregularities they have witnessed," Butler added.

Vote fraud allegations

After the schedule of the general election was announced by Bangladesh's election commission in early December, the government reiterated that the election would be free, fair and all-inclusive.

But hours before the polling began on Dec. 30, the opposition alliance alleged that activists of the ruling Awami League (AL) were illegally stuffing ballot boxes at many voting centers across the country in the presence of election and security officials.

On the day of the polling, the alliance also alleged that tens of thousands of its polling agents, intimidated by AL supporters, had been driven away from the voting centers across the country.

After the election commission announced that the Awami League and its allies had overwhelmingly won 288 of the 300 parliamentary seats in the election, the Jatiya Oikya Front (JOF), the main political opposition coalition, rejected the results, saying it was a "massively rigged, farcical" election.

FILE - Bangladeshi President M. Abdul Hamid admini FILE - Bangladeshi President M. Abdul Hamid administers the oath of office to Prime Minister-elect Sheikh Hasina in Dhaka, Bangladesh, Jan. 7, 2019. The new government is Hasina's third in a row and fourth overall. FILE - Bangladeshi President M. Abdul Hamid administers the oath of office to Prime Minister-elect Sheikh Hasina in Dhaka, Bangladesh, Jan. 7, 2019. The new government is Hasina's third in a row and fourth overall.

AL leaders, however, said the charge of rigging was baseless.

"Can they show any evidence of any booth being captured by force or some people casting votes fraudulently? They cannot present any evidence in support of their charge. Yet, they are claiming that votes have been rigged," senior AL leader Mahbubul Alam Hanif told VOA.

JOF leader Iqbal Hasan Mahmud Tuku said there was far less evidence of vote manipulation in this election largely because many journalists were not allowed to work freely during the polling.

"While rigging was going on at almost all voting centers in the presence of the election and security around, we asked some reporters to go and cover the incidents. But they all said they were too scared to report on those wrongdoings and stayed away from the voting centers," Tuku told VOA.

Social media activity

Although the mainstream media largely refrained from reporting on the allegations of fraud, social media remained very active. Many users wrote on Facebook about their experiences at the voting centers.

Hundreds of video clips, in which people claimed that they had been stopped by AL activists from casting their votes, circulated across social media. Video clips that claimed to show AL activists casting illegal votes also surfaced on Facebook and Twitter.

Pro-democracy activist Pinaki Bhattacharya said the threat of the Digital Security Act also kept many journalists away from the election.

"Journalists in Bangladesh fear of being framed in multiple cases under the Digital Security Act. So, they are refraining from reporting the truth in many cases as it happened during the December 30 election. This act has robbed the spirit and freedom of journalism in Bangladesh," Bhattacharya, who is also known as a popular online activist, told VOA.



The Dhaka-based activist, who has been in hiding since August after a military intelligence agency reportedly began hounding him, used his Facebook and Twitter pages to report on alleged malpractice during the election.

FILE - Activists of the leftist alliance cover the FILE - Activists of the leftist alliance cover their mouths with black cloths as they join in a rally to demand a new election under caretaker government, in Dhaka, Bangladesh, Jan. 3, 2019. FILE - Activists of the leftist alliance cover their mouths with black cloths as they join in a rally to demand a new election under caretaker government, in Dhaka, Bangladesh, Jan. 3, 2019.

The election was not sufficiently documented, with most mainstream media outlets largely staying away from reporting the alleged rigging, Bhattacharya said.

"No independent international election observer group operated during this election. In such a situation, reports in the mainstream media in Bangladesh would have played a key role to document the election. In 95 percent or more voting centers, votes were rigged. But such malpractices have now remained largely undocumented in the absence of proper journalistic reporting," Bhattacharya said.

'Immeasurable' suppression

Hong Kong-based rights activist Mohammad Ashrafuzzaman of the Asian Legal Resource Centre, said the media "blackout" during the election was "immeasurable and irreparable."

He said the charge of election fraud "should have been independently investigated by the mainstream media outlets that have extensive networks across the country. It would have helped the world to know how a government is being installed in Bangladesh via a massively rigged election."

Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury, media adviser to Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, said that "few" journalists might have "faced restrictions" in Bangladesh.

"But, if you generalize the comment like this, that the journalists in Bangladesh are working under some sort of threats or restrictions, that will not be fair because it may have happened to just one, two, three or four journalists," Chowdhury told VOA.

If any journalist received a threat from police or a military intelligence agency he should have filed an official complaint within the country, he said.

"[In Bangladesh] there are professional bodies like the Editors' Council, Press Institute and Press Council. If it is so that they have been restricted, they have been threatened by the intelligence agencies or police, I don't know whether they have complained to these bodies. I don't think that there is any complaint received by these bodies. Also, here they can file any case against these [security] agencies in the court," he said.

He added, "I would not comment on what these reporters and journalists said to people or bodies outside the country [to VOA or CPJ]. At least if we do not receive any complaint from any reporter, we cannot comment on this."
WASHINGTON - Republican Senator Lindsey Graham has all but given up efforts to negotiate a compromise to end the U.S. government shutdown that would fund a U.S.-Mexico border wall in exchange for extending legal protections for thousands of young undocumented immigrants and others who recently have lost legal status under the Temporary Protected Status program.

As late as Wednesday, Graham expressed hope that such a grand bargain could be reached.

There is a deal to be had. Its always been there. I think I have been boring you all for a month about how this movie ends. Its got to be wall plus something else, said Graham, the Republican senator from South Carolina and close ally to Trump.

FILE - Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) waits for Presid FILE - Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) waits for President Donald Trump to enter the room to speak about the "First Step Act" in the Roosevelt Room at the White House in Washington, Nov. 14, 2018. FILE - Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) waits for President Donald Trump to enter the room to speak about the "First Step Act" in the Roosevelt Room at the White House in Washington, Nov. 14, 2018.

But on Thursday, Graham admitted that a legislative resolution to this standoff is likely out of reach, and indicated that President Donald Trump may soon invoke emergency powers to build the wall without congressional approval.

Theres no pathway forward that I can see. The president believes thats his power, seems to me the only way left is for him to exercise that authority. I dont see any action in the Congress, Graham said.

DACA and TPS

Grahams proposal would have given President Trump the $5.7 billion he wants to build the border wall at the U.S.-Mexico border, along with giving Democrats a significant concession by reaffirming former President Barack Obamas Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program that granted legal status to more than 700,000 undocumented immigrants who came to the U.S. as young children.

Demonstrators rally in support of Deferred Action Demonstrators rally in support of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) outside the Capitol, in Washington, Jan 21, 2018. Demonstrators rally in support of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) outside the Capitol, in Washington, Jan 21, 2018.

The Trump administration attempted to terminate DACA in 2017, but the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals subsequently blocked the presidential rescission order, saying it was arbitrary and capricious under settled law.

The administration has appealed the matter to the Supreme Court, which is expected to decide in the coming days whether it will take the case.

TPS is in similar limbo. The program, which grants temporary legal status and work permits to citizens of countries suffering from natural disasters or armed conflict, was canceled by the Trump administration for about 400,000 people.

But a federal court ruled in October the U.S. government violated the law when it ended TPS for people from El Salvador, Haiti, Nicaragua and Sudan. This case, too, may be taken up by the Supreme Court.

Last year, the Senate attempted to pass a similar bipartisan plan to extend the DACA population legal status and authorize $25 billion over the next decade for southern-border-security construction projects, including $18 billion for the wall. Various versions of proposed legislation ultimately were rejected, as some Democrats opposed the tough immigration restrictions included and many conservative Republicans objected to any form of amnesty being granted.

From left, House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, Sena From left, House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and Senator Dick Durbin speak after meeting on the 19th day of a partial government shutdown with President Donald Trump at the White House. From left, House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and Senator Dick Durbin speak after meeting on the 19th day of a partial government shutdown with President Donald Trump at the White House.

?Uncompromising Democrats

The sharp political divide in Washington has only deepened since Democrats took control of the House of Representatives this month, following the partys gains in midterm elections. And neither the Democrats nor Trump seem willing to compromise to end the government shutdown.

Many Democrats dont want to link support for legal status for young immigrants known as Dreamers, a position that most Americans support, to funding the border wall, which remains a highly controversial issue.

That is not the negotiation we should be having. It doesnt make any sense at all, to trade something that absolutely can and should be done for good policy and moral reasons, for something that actually should not be done for policy or moral reasons, said Tom Jawetz, an immigration policy analyst at the Democratic leaning Center for American Progress policy institute.

WATCH: US Veterans Feel the Pinch, Weigh Cost of Government Shutdown

The Democratic leadership, Jawetz says, does not trust Trump to support any deal, and believes the president wants to keep immigration and border security as divisive issues to energize his core supporters in the 2020 election.

Immigration opposition

Trumps demand for border wall funding to end the government shutdown, after earlier indicating he would sign a short-term funding bill with no money for the wall, is seen by many as a reaction to conservative media criticism that he was capitulating on his central campaign promise to build the wall.

But some hard-line anti-immigration groups that support Trump, like the Center for Immigration Studies, view the wall as more symbolic than essential to significantly restrict illegal immigration. Granting a mass amnesty in exchange for the wall is a deal they would not support.

A wall is not the most important enforcement procedure, and its also not the thing we want most in terms of immigration reform. So to give away something big like an amnesty for people who arent even supposed to be in the country, we would want some significant concession, said Steven Camarota, director of research at the Center for Immigration Studies.

Increasing the number of agents, judges and detention facilities at the border, reforming the immigrations system to quickly deport most asylum-seekers that critics say are actually economic migrants, and increasing enforcement efforts to ensure U.S. businesses do not hire undocumented immigrants, Camarota says, would more effectively deter illegal immigration.

But the Trump administration may not have liked the linkage either. Vice President Mike Pence told reporters Thursday that DACA is not up for negotiation until the Supreme Court weighs in.
SAN JUAN, PUERTO RICO - Lin-Manuel Miranda reprised his lead role in the hit musical Hamilton Friday night to start a two-week run in Puerto Rico expected to raise thousands of dollars for artists and cultural groups struggling in the wake of Hurricane Maria.

The audience giggled, hooted, clapped and tapped their feet throughout the performance as Miranda took the stage for the first time since his last appearance in the Broadway version in July 2016, when he played the role of U.S. founding father Alexander Hamilton.

I have never felt anything like that, he said of the crowds energy, adding that singing the song Hurricane was a challenge.

It was very hard to sing that here in Puerto Rico because you know better than I what it is to survive a hurricane. I feel like Im going back to Maria a little bit every time I sing it, he said.

Actors of the the award-winning Broadway musical, Actors of the the award-winning Broadway musical, "Hamilton," including its composer and creator Lin-Manuel Miranda, center, receive a standing ovation at the premiere in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Jan. 11, 2019. Actors of the the award-winning Broadway musical, "Hamilton," including its composer and creator Lin-Manuel Miranda, center, receive a standing ovation at the premiere in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Jan. 11, 2019.

?Diverting hurricane funds

After the two-hour show, Miranda spoke with reporters, who peppered him with questions about how the White House was exploring diverting money for border wall construction from a range of accounts, including using some of the $13.9 billion allocated to the Army Corps of Engineers after last years deadly hurricanes and floods.

I think thats absolutely monstrous, Miranda said as he apologized that he didnt have further comment. Its the first time Im hearing that. Ive been a little busy.

Its the first time in nine years that Miranda has performed in Puerto Rico. Opening night drew more than 1,000 people who bought tickets ranging from $10 to $5,000.

The crowd gave Miranda a standing ovation before the show even started, and during the curtain call he wiped away tears and wrapped himself in a large Puerto Rican flag as he briefly addressed the crowd in Spanish and English.

Lin-Manuel Miranda, composer and creator of the aw Lin-Manuel Miranda, composer and creator of the award-winning Broadway musical, "Hamilton," receives a standing ovation with tears at the end of the play's premiere in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Jan. 11, 2019. Lin-Manuel Miranda, composer and creator of the award-winning Broadway musical, "Hamilton," receives a standing ovation with tears at the end of the play's premiere in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Jan. 11, 2019.

?Audience members transfixed

During the shows intermission, accountant Zoraida Alvira sat absorbed as she read the three-page synopsis since she struggles a bit with English. It was the first time she had seen a musical and was transfixed.

Here in Puerto Rico we are not too exposed to theater, let alone musicals, she said as she praised the performance. I didnt move, and Im a fidgety person.

Alvira, like several other Puerto Ricans who attended opening night, snapped up her ticket thanks to a lottery launched by Hamilton organizers who are selling 275 tickets for every performance at $10 each.

Among those expected to attend the show in upcoming days are several federal lawmakers visiting the U.S. territory for the weekend to learn more about reconstruction efforts following Hurricane Maria, which caused more than $100 billion in damage when it hit Sept. 20, 2017.

Even people who didnt have tickets showed up at the venue.

This is a very important moment for Puerto Rico right now, said Vivian Rodriguez, a student who lives in Puerto Rico but is from New York. She noted that Friday is Hamiltons birthday, and she said Puerto Rico has suffered from what she described as its colonial status.

Change of venue

Hamilton was initially going to be staged at the University of Puerto Rico from Jan. 8 to 27, but producers announced in December that it was moving to the Centro de Bellas Artes following the threat of protests by university employees upset over enrollment changes at the islands largest public university.

The change forced some people on the U.S. mainland to forgo their Hamilton tickets because they were unable or could not afford to change their airline tickets to accommodate the shows new dates. Others were upset when they did not hear back from the agency responsible for reassigning new dates for previously purchased tickets.

It has been such a nightmare for me, said Myla Ruiz, who lives in the northern coastal town of Toa Baja and had gotten tickets for the original opening night.

Her husband is now unable to go because he will be on a work trip, and then she struggled to get a response from the agency selling the tickets. She is now reluctantly attending the shows last night.

Im originally from New York, so Im a huge fan of Broadway, she said. This to me is huge. Theres nothing like Broadway here. When they said this was coming, its all Ive been talking about.

Jimmy Fallon greets people in the entrance plaza o Jimmy Fallon greets people in the entrance plaza of the Santurce Fine Arts Center moments before the premiere of the award-winning Broadway musical, "Hamilton," starring its creator, New York native of Puerto Rican descent Lin-Manuel Miranda, in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Jan. 11, 2019. Jimmy Fallon greets people in the entrance plaza of the Santurce Fine Arts Center moments before the premiere of the award-winning Broadway musical, "Hamilton," starring its creator, New York native of Puerto Rican descent Lin-Manuel Miranda, in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Jan. 11, 2019.

The show also drew the attention of Jimmy Fallon, whose Tonight Show will air its Jan. 15 episode from Puerto Rico with Miranda and the new touring cast.

Miranda, composer and creator of Hamilton, won a Tony Award and Pulitzer Prize for the musical.
CAIRO - As violent anti-government protests enter their fourth week, Sudan appears headed toward political paralysis, with drawn-out unrest across much of the country and a fractured opposition without a clear idea of what to do if their wish to see the countrys leader of 29 years go comes true.

Even for a country that looks unwieldy when its not tearing itself apart, President Omar al-Bashirs years at the helm have turned Sudan into a cautionary tale, from genocide and bloody rebellions to ethnic cleansing, starvation and rampant corruption.

But Sudan has been hard to rule way before al-Bashir seized power in a 1989 military coup. Protest leaders say a whole new start is needed if the country is to stand any chance of progressing.

There may be very few people out there who still support this regime, the way it governed or its use of an Islamic narrative, said Othman Mirghani, a prominent Sudanese analyst. The conclusion reached by the people is that this regime must be brought down and the search started for a modern Sudanese state based on contemporary values.

People run as tear gas canisters are thrown at the People run as tear gas canisters are thrown at them during an anti-government protest in Omdurman, Sudan, Jan. 9, 2019, in this still image taken from social media. People run as tear gas canisters are thrown at them during an anti-government protest in Omdurman, Sudan, Jan. 9, 2019, in this still image taken from social media.

Here is a look at where things stand after more than three weeks of protests, which claimed at least 40 lives.

Politics vs. military rule

The military and democratically elected governments have taken turns ruling Sudan since independence in 1956, with coups bringing the generals to power, only to be brought down eventually by popular uprisings. The only exception was in 1986 when the army honored its promise to hand over the reins to an elected government a year after it seized power.

The military has been the dominant force in Sudan since independence, analysts and activists say. Al-Bashir hails from the military, but he has sidelined the army as the countrys main fighting force, replacing it with loyal paramilitary forces he created.

That has frustrated middle- and lower-ranking officers, in large part because the states largesse has gone to the paramilitary forces and security agencies, not them.



Since the current protests began Dec. 19, the military twice stated its support for the countrys leadership and pledged to protect the peoples achievements. Neither time did it mention al-Bashir by name.

A member of the Sudanese security forces attends a A member of the Sudanese security forces attends a rally for the supporters of President Omar al-Bashir in the Green Square in the capital Khartoum, Jan. 9, 2019. A member of the Sudanese security forces attends a rally for the supporters of President Omar al-Bashir in the Green Square in the capital Khartoum, Jan. 9, 2019.

Army troops have deployed to protect vital state installations but have not tried to stop protests and, in some cases, appeared to offer a measure of protection for the demonstrators.

All that raises the possibility the military could take over again and remove al-Bashir. But many fear the Sudan Rapid Forces, a 70,000-strong, well-armed paramilitary force of tribesmen allied with al-Bashir, could respond by stepping in, whether to protect the president or install someone of their own.

Curiously, the 74-year-old al-Bashir said Tuesday he would not mind if he is replaced by someone from the military.

Egyptian Sudan expert Hany Raslan said that in any normal country, al-Bashirs comments would have been interpreted as part of a transfer of power, but that is Sudan and he is most likely just trying to curry favor with the military.

If Sudans stretches of military rule brought suppression of freedoms and human rights violations, its brief democratic spells  1956-1958, 1964-1969 and 1986-1989  were defined by their ineffectiveness. Traditional parties like the Umma and Democratic Union governed, but their failure to build a modern state and put the economy on solid footing paved the way for the next military takeover.



Al-Bashirs Islamic model

Al-Bashir seized power with the backing of the military and Islamists, who then formed the bedrock of his rule. For the past three decades, his National Congress Party, dominated by hard-line Islamists, has had a lock on government and dominated the economy.



The leadership has styled itself as bringing Islamic rule by Shariah to Sudan and styled its past wars as jihad, whether against southerners or against insurgents in the western Darfur region. Al-Bashir often denounces secularists as Sudans worst enemies and touts his long rule as proof of Gods support.



Critics, however, say the Islamist ideology has largely become a veneer for a political machine that allows al-Bashirs relatives, loyalists, politicians and businessmen to amass wealth by their links to the government.



It is not an Islamic experiment, it is an experiment that uses religious slogans as a cover for practices that have nothing to do with Islam, said Mirghani, the Sudanese analyst.

But even if al-Bashir goes, his cadres and other loyalists will still have considerable power and are likely to resist major change, backed by a religious rhetoric that can still rally some in the population to their side.

FILE - Sudan's President Omar al Bashir walks to t FILE - Sudan's President Omar al Bashir walks to the stage before a group photo session at the Organization of Islamic Cooperation summit in Jakarta, Indonesia, March 7, 2016. FILE - Sudan's President Omar al Bashir walks to the stage before a group photo session at the Organization of Islamic Cooperation summit in Jakarta, Indonesia, March 7, 2016.

?Protesters hopes

When past popular uprisings succeeded, the elected governments that followed were chiefly built around the Umma and Democratic Union parties.



These two traditional parties are now weak and fractured. Moreover, their political discourse is also immersed in religion, something that does not resonate with many in the new generation of mainly young street activists loyal to liberal parties and professional unions or those acting independently.

It will be a misguided step if we publicly describe ourselves as liberals or secularists, but what we are looking for is policies that are essentially liberal while not blatantly contrary to Islamic teachings, said a 26-year-old protester. We need a government of technocrats. We are done with the traditional parties, she said, speaking on condition she not be named for fear of reprisals.

The activists and analysts say the weakness of opposition groups is a direct product of al-Bashirs divide-and-rule tactics, constantly luring senior politicians away from their parties with lofty promises of national unity and a shot at positions that they can abuse for personal gain.

The protesters often chant freedom, peace and justice and the people want to bring down the regime  the latter the chief slogan of the Arab Spring revolts of 2011. But there isnt a clear path for reaching their ambitions.



There is no doubt that there will be big changes as a result of these protests, but they will never be of the magnitude that Sudan needs,  said another activist, who also did not want to be named.



Al-Bashir could resign or be removed by the army, but the Islamists have the power to reorganize and regain power, she said.
Democratic Republic of Congo presidential runner-up Martin Fayulu has challenged the outcome of the country's election in court, claiming he defeated opposition candidate Felix Tshisekedi by a wide margin.



Fayulu's opposition coalition said Friday he captured 61 percent of the vote, citing figures from the Catholic Church, which placed 40,000 election observers across the Central African country. The coalition said Tshisekedi won 18 percent of the vote. By law, only the electoral commission can announce election results in Congo.



Fayulu, who has members of the Republican Guard deployed outside his home, called for a manual recount of the election.

Congolese police officers hold back members of the Congolese police officers hold back members of the media as Congo opposition candidate Martin Fayulu leaves the constitution court in Kinshasa, Congo, Saturday Jan. 12, 2019. Congolese police officers hold back members of the media as Congo opposition candidate Martin Fayulu leaves the constitution court in Kinshasa, Congo, Saturday Jan. 12, 2019.

On Thursday, the United States demanded the Democratic Republic of Congo release "accurate" election results and warned of sanctions against anyone who tries to undermine Congo's democracy.



Election commission head Corneille Nangaa told reporters in Kinshasa that results of the Dec. 30 presidential vote may be delayed because of a slow vote-counting process.



Nangaa said only about 20 percent of ballots have been collected from polling stations across the vast central African country, which lacks a well-developed road network. He also said the system of manually collecting and compiling vote totals is not helping the process.



The electoral commission had planned to use the internet to collect vote totals. But it gave up those plans after the opposition alleged the system was vulnerable to fraud.

Congo's Fayulu to Challenge Election Results in High Court Congolese presidential candidate Martin Fayulu plans to demand a recount of election results that showed him losing to fellow opposition leader Felix Tshisekedi.Speaking Friday by phone to Eddy Isango of VOA's French to Africa service, Fayulu said he will go to the Constitutional Court on Saturday and ask judges to order the recount. "We ask for a manual recount, polling station by polling station, before the CENI, before the African Union, before the United Nations, and in front of everyone else ...  Congolese presidential candidate Martin Fayulu plans to demand a recount of election results that showed him losing to fellow opposition leader Felix Tshisekedi.Speaking Friday by phone to Eddy Isango of VOA's French to Africa service, Fayulu said he will go to the Constitutional Court on Saturday and ask judges to order the recount. "We ask for a manual recount, polling station by polling station, before the CENI, before the African Union, before the United Nations, and in front of everyone else ... 

Election results are due to be published by Sunday, with the new president set to be inaugurated on Jan. 15.



Pre-election polls indicated that Fayulu was the favorite to replace outgoing President Joseph Kabila. Kabila backed another candidate, his former interior minister, Emmanuel Shadary.

Western Powers Voice Skepticism, Concern Over DRC Election Results Western skepticism is growing over the Democratic Republic of Congos announced presidential election results, with France bluntly calling them inconsistent with other findings, and former colonial power Belgium planning to raise the matter at the United Nations Security Council on Friday.France was quick to react to the surprise win of opposition candidate Felix Tshisekedi in the Democratic Republic of Congos presidential election.  Western skepticism is growing over the Democratic Republic of Congos announced presidential election results, with France bluntly calling them inconsistent with other findings, and former colonial power Belgium planning to raise the matter at the United Nations Security Council on Friday.France was quick to react to the surprise win of opposition candidate Felix Tshisekedi in the Democratic Republic of Congos presidential election. 

Congo has never seen a peaceful transfer of power since winning independence from Belgium in 1960.



Last week's election was originally scheduled for 2016 but was delayed as Kabila stayed in office past the end of his mandate, sparking protests that were crushed by security forces, leaving dozens dead.
ISLAMABAD - A global watchdog demanded Saturday international donors impose sanctions against Afghanistan's new defense minister, Asadullah Khalid, saying there is "credible evidence" linking him to serious rights abuses.



Khalid's appointment in December was part of a shake-up President Ashraf Ghani ordered amid sustained countrywide battlefield setbacks inflicted on embattled Afghan government forces by Taliban insurgents.

Afghan President Ashraf Ghani speaks during a news FILE - Afghan President Ashraf Ghani speaks during a news conference in Kabul. FILE - Afghan President Ashraf Ghani speaks during a news conference in Kabul.

The defense minister, who previously had governed volatile Kandahar and Ghazni provinces and served as the Afghan spy chief, is also accused of ordering the killing of five United Nations workers in a roadside bombing in April 2007 in Kandahar,



"Credible evidence of serious human rights abuses and war crimes linked to Khalid have followed him throughout his government career," Human Rights Watch noted. There is also strong evidence directly implicating him in acts of sexual violence against women and girls when he was governor of Ghazni and Kandahar, it added.

Ghazni Afghanistan Ghazni Afghanistan Ghazni Afghanistan

The HRW report denounced Khalid's appointment as an "opportunistic and callous move" by President Ghani to score to "short-term gains" in the upcoming Afghan presidential election.



The move should have rung alarm bells not only in Kabul, but in the capitals of Afghanistan's major donors, lamented HRW.



"That it didn't says a lot about how little human rights matter to an increasingly shaky government, and to donors looking for an exit from the long Afghan war," the group noted.



The Afghan government has not immediately commented on the scathing report.



In a bid to preempt the criticism, officials invited among others the head of Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission to Khalid's inauguration as the country's new defense minister two weeks ago.



"My expectation from my soldiers is that while they would be rough and rude against enemy, they would do their best to reduce civilian casualties and demonstrate good behavior with war prisoners under their legal and religious obligation," Khalid told the ceremony.



President Ghani's government has proved unwilling to criminally investigate Khalid but the United States and Canada have the authority under their respective laws to impose financial and travel sanctions on him, asserted the HRW report.



"The European Union and other donors should impose similar sanctions to send a clear message that returning a known human rights abuser to a position of authority is simply unacceptable."

Kandahar province, Afghanistan Kandahar province, Afghanistan Kandahar province, Afghanistan

The allegations against Khalid initially stemmed from his stint as the governor of Kandahar a decade ago - a time when thousands of Canadian troops were based in the province as part of the U.S.-led military coalition.



The HRW noted that Canadian diplomat Richard Colvin testified to a Canadian parliamentary commission in 2009 that Khalid perpetrated enforced disappearances and held people in private prisons. The testimony included evidence of Khalid's personal involvement in the torture of detainees.
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U.S. At War





By Smithsonian Magazine

Infographic reveals for the first time that the U.S. is now operating in 40 percent of the worlds nations

January 11, 2019 " Information Clearing House " - Less than a month after the September 11 terrorist attacks on the United States, U.S. troopswith support from British, Canadian, French, German and Australian forcesinvaded Afghanistan to fight Al Qaeda and the Taliban. More than 17 years later, the Global War on Terrorism initiated by President George W. Bush is truly global, with Americans actively engaged in "countering terrorism" in 80 nations on six continents.

This map is the most comprehensive depiction in civilian circles of U.S. military and government antiterrorist actions overseas in the past two years. To develop it, my colleagues and I at Brown Universitys Costs of War Project at the Watson Institute for International and Public Affairs, along with Smithsonian magazine, combed through U.S. and foreign government sources, published and unpublished reports, military websites and geographical databases; we contacted foreign embassies in the U.S. and the militarys United States Africa Command; and we conducted interviews with journalists, academics and others. We found that, contrary to what most Americans believe, the war on terror is not winding downit has spread to more than 40 percent of the worlds countries. The war isnt being waged by the military alone, which has spent $1.9 trillion fighting terrorism since 2001. The State Department has spent $127 billion in the last 17 years to train police, military and border patrol agents in many countries and to develop antiterrorism education programs, among other activities.

Are You Tired Of The Lies And Non-Stop Propaganda? Get Your FREE Daily Newsletter

Because we have been conservative in our selections, U.S. efforts to combat terrorism abroad are likely more extensive than this map shows. Even so, the vast reach evident here may prompt Americans to ask whether the war on terror has met its goals, and whether they are worth the human and financial costs.

Research assistance by Rachel McMahon, Emily Rockwell, Dacus Thompson

Sources: ABC News; AFRICOM; Al Jazeera; American Chamber of Commerce in Egypt; Arab News; Army Times; Asharq Al-Awsat; azcentral.com; BBC; The Bureau of Investigative Journalism; Caravanserai; Country Reports on Terrorism, U.S. Department of State (2017); CNN; The Daily Beast; Daily News Egypt; Defense News; The Diplomat; The Economic Times; ekathimerini.com; Emirates News 24/7; Eurasianet; globalresearch.ca; The Guardian; Gulf Times; Haaretz; The Jakarta Post; Marine Corps Times; Menastream; Military.com; Military Times; Adam Moore; The Nation; The National Herald: Greek News; The National Interest; Navaltoday.com; the New Republic; The New York Times; North Africa Post; NPR; Politico; RAND Corporation; Reuters; The Rwandan; The Star (Kenya); Stars and Stripes; Straits Times; Telesur; the Times of Israel; TomDispatch.com; Nick Turse; U.S. Army; U.S. Army Human Resources Command; U.S. Central Command; U.S. Department of Defense; U.S. Embassies of Various Countries; U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa /U.S. 6th Fleet; David Vine; The Wall Street Journal; war on the rocks; The Washington Post

This article was originally published by " Smithsonian Magazine " -

Do you agree or disagree? Post your comment here

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Retno L.P. Marsudi, Minister of Foreign Affair of Indonesia, delivering the press statement

Retno said 2018 is a special year for Indonesian-Vietnamese bilateral relations. President of the Republic of Indonesia Joko Widodo paid a state visit to Hanoi from September 11-12, 2018 and attended the World Economic Forum (WEF) on ASEAN. This visit coincided with the fifth anniversary of the Indonesian-Vietnamese strategic partnership, which was established in 2013.

Retno was also happy to inform that in 2018, Indonesia and Vietnam agreed to accept the principle of non-single line, which differentiates the Continental Shelf Line from the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) line.

Regarding trade relations, in 2018 the two-way trade turnover between the two countries reached over $8.2 billion, up $1.7 billion or 26 per cent compared to 2017. The main products Indonesia exported to Vietnam were coal and charcoal ($789 million), oil (nearly $300 million), computers and electric products (nearly $283 million), while Vietnams largest export categories to Indonesia were steel and iron ($533 million), rice ($363 million), and spare parts ($267 billion).

In early January this year, the Indonesian Embassy welcomed the placement of a Trade Attache in Hanoi as one of the concrete efforts to achieve the bilateral trade target of $10 billion by 2020.

In addition, in line with Indonesias foreign policy priorities, Retno said Indonesia is looking forward to cooperate with Vietnam in accelerating the negotiations on the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), protecting Indonesian citizens living in Vietnam, boosting economic cooperation, as well as maintaining regional security and stability.
The launching ceremony of Xuan Tho 1 and Xuan Tho 2 solar power plants in Phu Yen province

Phu Khanh Solar Power JSC launched construction of its Xuan Tho 1 and Xuan Tho 2 solar power plants in Song Cau district in the north-central coastal province of Phu Yen on January 8, 2019.

The project has a total investment capital of nearly VND2.48 trillion ($107.8 million) consisting of two stations covering an area of 120 hectares, each station having a total designed capacity of 49.6 megawatts, with the combined annual production output of approximately 76.2 million kWh.

The Xuan Tho 1 and 2 solar power plants are expected to be plugged into the national power grid in June 2019.

Phu Khanh Solar Power JSC engages in building two solar power plants in Phu Yen provinces Xuan Tho 1 and Xuan Tho 2 communes in pursuit of the prime ministers commitment to encourage renewable energy and clean energy development in Vietnam.

The project aims to contribute to enriching the local power mix with clean energy, promoting Phu Yens social and economic development, creating more jobs, and improving the infrastructure of the region, said Tran Minh Tien, general director of Phu Khanh Solar Power JSC, at the plants ground-breaking ceremony.

With its hot and humid weather, as well as sunshine averaging 2,467 hours and average solar radiation surpassing 1,700kWh per square metre, Phu Yen boasts abundant advantages to court clean energy projects.

Earlier, on October 30, 2018, Phu Khanh Solar Power JSC signed the electricity supply contracts of the two plants with state-owned Electricity of Vietnam (EVN).

After commencement, the investor will focus on accelerating the construction and installation process to ensure the plants commercial operation on June 30, 2019, as scheduled.

According to Tran Huu The, Vice Chairman of the Phu Yen People's Committee, there are seven solar power projects in the province approved by the Ministry of Industry and Trade in the Power Development Plan VII.

Six of these projects have a total investment value surpassing VND10 trillion ($434.7 million) and a total combined capacity of 463MWp. They have been granted guidelines for investment by the province.

At the ceremony, the investor offered VND120 million ($5,200) to representatives of Xuan Tho 1 and Xuan Tho 2 communes as scholarships to support poor local students with good scholastic achievements.
Test Kitchen Vietnam 2019 once again awaits customers with a good selection of Japanese cuisine

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Hironobu Kitagawa, chief representative of JETRO, expressed the hope that the event will help bring the two countries closer and bring opportunities for the Japanese company to invest in Vietnam.

JETRO held this event for the second time in Vietnam at AEON Mall Long Bien to support the promotion of Japanese food culture with the participation of five Japanese enterprises working in the food industry and restaurant services.

Coming to Test Kitchen Vietnam 2019, Vietnamese consumers can buy and enjoy traditional Japanese dishes such as Miso Ramen, Tanmen noodles, and Japanese grilled food.

In addition, this is also an opportunity for Japanese enterprises to learn about the local restaurant business as well as sources of raw materials, tools, and market prices. Besides, the owners of Japanese restaurants participating in this event can understand more about the tastes and culinary habits of Vietnamese people, how to recruit staff, and serve Vietnamese customers before deciding to invest in Vietnam.

Such events have been held in many big cities, such as Bangkok in February 2014, Ho Chi Minh City in March 2016, Jakarta in November 2016, and once before in Hanoi in January 2018.

Last year, three times as many Japanese businesses registering to participate in the event than expected. Therefore, following the success of the previous year, Test Kitchen Vietnam 2019 will be held for 10 days on January10-20, 2019.

Hidekazu Kitagawa making Miso Ramen, a special food of the brand Zenryokunomoto

A Japanese chef using his own flavour to cook

Japanese ramen at the event
5G has ripple effects across human life and is an constituent of the digital economy

At a recent workshop on innovations in the telecommunications field, Vietnamese Minister of Information and Communications Nguyen Manh Hung unveiled that the ministry (MIC) will allow 5G test runs in major metropolises in 2019, primarily Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi.

We are planning to grant 5G frequency for test runs in 2019. In 2020, when 5G starts to be rolled out in the world, Vietnam will be one of the first to deploy the service, Hung said.

According to Tao Duc Thang, deputy general director at military-run telecom giant Viettel, the company will engage in the test drive launched by the MIC, which involves intensive preparations in network infrastructure, and expect the related information about frequency requirements could be soon released to allow design work and the preparation of equipment.

We are planning to grant 5G frequency for test runs in 2019. In 2020, when 5G starts to be rolled out in the world, Vietnam will be one of the first to deploy the service, said Nguyen Manh Hung, Vietnamese Minister of Information and Communications.

Thang also said Viettel has joined hands with other suppliers to engage in the study and the manufacturing of 5G equipment.

They have set the target of completing the trial production of 5G base transceiver station version 1 in 2019, striving to begin base station network tests by 2020 to be ready for commercial in the same year.

According to Tran Manh Hung, chairman of leading state-owned telecom group VNPT, in late 2018 the group had submitted its plan to the MIC to test 5G services this year, and they have also embraced the test production of 5G network equipment.

We are ready to provide 5G services to our customers in the shortest time after receiving the license from the MIC, Hung said.

As for MobiFone, last year the company signed an agreement on enhancing cooperation between MobiFone Global and Samsung Electronics on technical and commercial activities related to 4G and 5G technologies in Vietnam.

In a series of meetings with the MIC, MobiFone representatives asked for permission to engage in 5G test runs and have been working with relevant equipment suppliers for test deployment plan.

From the side of manufacturers, Huawei, a leading 5G transmission network supplier, unveiled that they have secured 26 5G commercial contracts and have supplied more than 10,000 5G base station sets to markets around the world.

According to Fan Jun, Huawei Vietnams CEO, the company is ready to support Vietnam in the 5G era both in the experiment and test use of 5G equipment.

As for 5G equipment, the company representative said that they will launch 5G smartphones powered with 5G chips in the first half of 2019, which will be put into use on a large scale in the latter part of this year.

Qualcomm, another major supplier, has just launched its flagship Snapdragon 855 5G chipset.

Dozens of equipment manufacturers are working with Qualcomm on the launching of terminal equipment that supports 5G in the second quarter of this year based on our companys 5G platform, said a company representative.

Regarding the 5G implementation roadmap in Vietnam, Thieu Phuong Nam, director of Qualcomm Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia claimed that it is totally feasible for Vietnam to begin 5G commercialisation in 2020 after making 5G trials in 2019.

In the eyes of experts, 5G could cause a ripple effect across human life. By 2035, 5G technology could make major contributions to the global digital economy which is valued at $12,000 billion.
Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc (right) and Samsung group chairman Shim Won Hwan met to discuss expansion plans

On January 11, Shim Won Hwan, chairman cum general director of Samsung group, attended a meeting with Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc. The PM encouraged Samsung to implement its plan to expand operations in Vietnam, while simultaneously committing that Vietnam will provide favourable conditions and support the group to achieve further success in the country.

Hwan, who used to be general director of Samsung Vietnam, expressed his admiration for Vietnams socioeconomic growth and was proud about Samsungs contributions to this growth.

The PM promised full support for Samsung success in Vietnam

Samsung Vietnam reported the fastest growth in comparison among all of Samsungs manufacturing bases around the globe. At present, Samsung Vietnam is trying to accelerate the development of their local research and development (R&D) centre. Besides, the group is implementing technology transfer for this R&D centre.

The Vietnamese government expects that in this year, Samsung Vietnams complex will see soaring business results. Vietnam has also committed to creating a stable microeconomy and improve the investment environment to support Samsungs plans to expand in the country, said PM Phuc.
Convenience store chains have been spreading like wildfire, with all major developers putting the pedal to the metal to gain market share Photo: Le Toan

Vietnam has been one of the worlds most attractive markets for retail investment, ranking sixth in the Global Retail Development Index (GRDI) of A.T. Kearney, an American global management consulting firm. This has attracted M&A deals from both foreign and domestic businesses.

Looking back on 2018, there have been great retail deals and great upheavals in the market shares of players. The local retail market has seen fierce competition, and domestic companies have had to adopt new strategies to regain their market share and improve their reputation to compete with international competitors who have the advantage in capital, technology, experience, and personnel.

VinCommerce, the owner of the largest Vietnamese retail outlet chain VinMart, has bought out rival supermarket chain Fivimart. The movement is part of its plan to expand the number of Vingroups stores to 200 VinMart supermarkets and 4,000 VinMart+ convenience stores by 2020. Following the acquisition, all Fivimart supermarkets will be renamed to VinMart.

VinMart+ is racing ahead with store openings as it said that it will open more than 50 new stores every month across the nation. Vingroup currently has more than 1,000 stores nationwide.

These deals serve as perfect examples for the frenetic M&A activity characterising the Vietnamese retail and consumer goods space in 2018. Nguyen Huy Hoang, commercial director of market research firm Kantar Worldpanel Vietnam said that M&A arises as the forefront strategy for businesses to increase their market presence and buyer base as well as save costs.

In particular, M&A with domestic businesses allows foreign giants to quickly and more effectively penetrate the market to approach target local consumers. These types of union are on the rise, with no sign of slowing down, especially among investors from Asian countries such as Thailand, Singapore, South Korea, and Japan, he said.

The Vietnamese retail market has been on the radars of foreign investors and private equity funds in recent years. Fan Li, executive director of Warburg Pincus, said that the fund has been active in the Vietnamese M&A market, which provides sufficient information to evaluate target companies. The country has a golden opportunity with a large group of mid-income earners emerging recently, especially in the field of retail. Thus, Warburg Pincus has been co-operating with Vincom Retail to develop it into the largest retailer in Vietnam, with a record pace of development in the last three years.

At the same time, BRG Group teamed up with Sumitomo Corporation to launch the Fujimart Vietnam Retail chain last December in Hanoi. The supermarket chain would use its modern Japanese-style retail expertise to draw increasingly well-off middle-class consumers in a country still dominated by traditional markets. Two more are expected to open in the city in 2019.

VinCommerces Fivimart buyout and BRG Groups tie-up with Sumitomo reflect the growing competitiveness of domestic retailers amid the aggressive expansion of foreign retailers.

The Ministry of Industry and Trade said that the retail market is not completely in the hands of foreign companies as local counterparts have been more active in M&A to regain market share.

Similarly, Jacob Won, founding partner at Locus Capital from South Korea, told VIR that most large-scale South Korean companies in the retail and consumer sector continued showing strong interest in Vietnam. The reasons for such strong interest include the countrys overall economic growth potential and geographic proximity to South Korea. Vietnamese consumers are partial to this nation and its products.

Despite the strong interest, he also pointed out that it has been difficult to find a suitable acquisition target as most of the available companies in the sector are too small for South Korean companies to consider. In addition, these companies generally look for opportunities to acquire a controlling stake from day one, while Vietnamese owners are reluctant to give up management control and only look for growth capital.

Speaking at the Vietnam M&A Forum 2018 held in August, Dominic Scriven, executive chairman of Dragon Capital Group, said that Vietnam is the market for M&A, however, one of the most important things is setting a price tag on a transaction. In many cases, sellers offer a very high price, while the buyers always want to go lower. These things make negotiations difficult, and that is why the two sides must make in-depth research and understand each other, otherwise they cannot agree on any issue.

Many M&A deals in Vietnam take place in the fast moving consumer goods segment, despite the fact that the number of successful deals in this field has been getting lower. In general, I see that we will move from foreign direct investment and foreign indirect investment to strategic investment in the coming time, he added.

Market outlook

The Vietnamese retail sector is forecast to remain stable, attracting investment from many foreign investors thanks to its large population, brighter economic outlook, and greater purchasing power in the coming years, but it will witness fiercer competition in the retail market.

Peter Christou, expert solutions director at Kantar Worldpanel Vietnam, noted that the consumer demand is expected to change significantly towards high-quality products with smarter spending, which will also pose difficulties for retailers. Retailers need to pay attention to product diversification to meet the needs of different customer groups. In fact, compared to other Southeast Asian countries, Vietnam has the most traditional retail landscape with modern trade still two to three times smaller than in other countries like the Philippines and Thailand, but this represents a huge opportunity for future growth.

According to Vietnam Report JSCs online survey, the majority of consumers said it was the diverse goods on offer that attracted them to certain retailers. Retailers are changing the way they sell goods  from traditional to modern and online channels  to serve growing consumer needs. Targeting the customer and developing a compatible business strategy requires retailers to invest a lot of resources.

However, with proper investment, retailers can take advantage of opportunities, as well as build and protect their reputation.

Accordingly, Big C, VinMart and Co.op Mart are the three most frequently mentioned retailers. Saigon Co.op has the largest supermarket chain in Vietnam, but concentrates heavily on developing in the south, while Big C is expanding its brand in all three regions and developing equally. VinMart, a new entrant, is developing impressively, opening hundreds of convenience stores and dozens of supermarkets in just over two years after entering the market.

The retail landscape is being re-terraformed with the rising omnichannel trend, prompting retailers to adapt so as to satisfy consumers shopping experience whenever and wherever. The fusion of offline and online shopping is gaining prominence. Thus, more foreign investors have been acquiring stakes in and formed joint ventures with Vietnams e-commerce companies to make in-roads into the market.

Christou said local players are proactively stretching their retail portfolio to meet omnishoppers. For example, the likes of Saigon Co.op stretching their retail portfolio to meet omnishoppers as they defend themselves against foreign-owned stores. They now have supermarkets, hypermarkets, online, convenience stores, and even the new Co.op Smile: a hybrid store format somewhere between medium-sized street shops and convenience stores looking to bridge the gap between traditional and modern trade  a step mirrored by Vingroups hyper-aggressive tactics in the market.

Foreign players are also continuously pouring money into developing multi-format shopping channels and are expected to bring new things to Vietnamese shoppers, and it remains to be seen how much the government can or is willing to protect local retailers.

Until now, one way for local players to succeed was to respond to demographic change  smaller households need smaller items, bringing convenience and community together and demonstrating values and social purpose by supporting high-quality local products from local manufacturers for a win-win relationship.
The Vietnam Cross-Border Investment conference discussed outward foreign direct investment

On January 10, 2019, Oxfarm in Vietnam, in collaboration with the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) and People and Nature Reconciliation (PanNature) held a seminar on cross-border investment in Vietnam, outlining the risks and challenges in legal compliance.

According to the Ministry of Planning and Investment, as many as 149 projects were granted certificates for OFDI with the total investment of $376.1 million and total additionally-registered capital of $56 million. Vietnam is investing in 38 countries and territories. Of these, Laos ranks first with $81.5 million of total investment, making up 18.8 per cent, followed by Cambodia and Myanmar.

In addition to contributing to the socioeconomic development of Vietnam and recipient countries, OFDI, especially in the agricultural sector, carries risks, particularly related to the environment and social affairs due to the high demand for land funds and labour.

Sharing his experiences about investing in Laos and Cambodia, Nguyen Thi Hai, deputy general director of Dak Lak Rubber JSC (DAKRUCO), said that the company faced a lot of difficulties. They had to research legal policies and translate all documents by themselves because consultancy services in these countries are not yet available, along with numerous challenges in technical infrastructure and cultural differences.

At the seminar, Voluntary Guidelines on reducing environmental and social risks for Vietnamese OFDI businesses in the agricultural sector at Mekong Sub-Region area has been introduced. This is the first guideline in this sector, which was built by a bottom-up approach through practical experience from pioneering business groups, including six companies and two associations. This guideline also referred to the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights.

Dau Anh Tuan, head of VCCI's legal department, said, "We have built these voluntary guidelines in order to provide information on the steps of the OFDI process, as well as warn of the environmental and social risks in relevant legal policies. These guidelines will reduce risks in investment activities and provide useful information and connect involved parties and strengthen investment performance."

These Voluntary Guidelines have been applied by Vietnam Rubber Group (VRG) and Dak Lak Rubber JSC (DAKRUCO). They have been checked and implemented in line with social-environmental policies, as well as strengthened their community activities in Laos and Cambodia.

Trinh Le Nguyen, director of PanNature, said, "These guidelines are used for Vietnamese businesses investing in the agricultural sector in Mekong Sub-Region countries, especially Laos and Cambodia. However, its content draws on international experiences and documents, particularly the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, so it could be applied in other regions."

Lauding these guidelines, Dinh Trong Thang, head of the Investment Policy Department of the Central Institute for Economic Management (CIEM) of the Ministry of Planning and Investment, said that it is necessary to make these processes the new standards in the time coming, and even put these principles into law to promote the sustainable development of OFDI enterprises. Agencies should disseminate this information among businesses, as well as recognise enterprises outstanding achievements in order to strengthen the participation of others.
PVGas and PV Power signing the framework agreement to develop Nhon Trach 3 and 4 thermal power plants

On January 10, PetroVietnam Power Corporation (PV Power) and PetroVietnam Gas Joint Stock Corporation (PVGas) signed a framework agreement to supply LNG for the two thermal power plants.

Previously, in April 2018, the prime minister assigned PV Power to develop these thermal power plants, which cover an area of 34 hectares and have a total investment capital of VND33.3 trillion ($1.45 billion), with the production capacity of 750-800MW each. They will use LNG imported from the Thi Vai storage terminal.

PV Power operates Nhon Trach 1 and 2 thermal power plants. At present, PV Power can use the existing infrastructure of Nhon Trach 1 and 2 to operate Nhon Trach 3 and 4.

PVGas is the investor of the Thi Vai storage terminal, which plays an important role in offsetting the lack of LNG from 2020 onwards. With the designed annual capacity of one million tonnes of LNG once the terminal comes into operation in 2021-2022 and 3 million tonnes by 2025, the terminal is considered an important gas source for Nhon Trach 3 and 4.

Besides, as local demand for gas mounts, it is forecast that supply will be short of demand by more than two billion cubic metres of gas by the end of 2023, and this will increase to seven billion cu.m by 2030 and 9 billion cu.m by 2035. Thus, LNG will be a critical solution to offset this shortage.

In addition, during the past ten years, PV Gas provided 12.7 billion cubic metres of gas for Nhon Trach 1 and 2.

Thus, the co-operation between PVGas and PV Power will mark a new development milestone for the petrol and gas segment in Vietnam. Being large shareholders of PVGas and PV Power, PetroVietnam committed to support and created favourable conditions for these companies to develop Nhon Trach 3 and 4 on schedule.

After completing the necessary procedures, PVGas and PV Power will sign the official contract to connect Nhon Trach 3 and 4 to the national grid.
It seems difficult to build a franchise on traditional local dishes in Vietnam Photo: Le Toan

A day like everyday, from 7 to 9am, a long line of people wait in front of Pho Cham, a pho (a traditional Vietnamese soup) vendor on Hang Bun street in Hanoi in order to be able to enjoy the specialty.

The scene is completely contrary to the poor sales of the Pho Ong Hung high-end restaurant chain also in Hanoi, whose owner  Ho Chi Minh City-based Huy Vietnam received $15 million investment capital from Templeton Strategic Emerging Markets Fund IV in 2015. This restaurant only had a few customers drop by. The number of customers remains poor everyday and the restaurant at 179 Hue street stays mostly empty.

Pho Ong Hung is just among a number of franchise businesses in Vietnam with high-end pho chains that might be a spectacular swing and a miss.

Competition

In 2011, Pho 24, which once dominated the Vietnamese food chain business with 60 restaurants in the country and 20 restaurants overseas, finally agreed to the acquisition by Viet Thai Limited, the owner of the Highland Coffee chain.

In his first public appearance after the deal last January, Pho 24s founder Ly Qui Trung, who comes from the south, stated that at the time, Pho 24 needed a lot of money to refresh its image, brand, and marketing strategy. He also affirmed that before the acquisition by Viet Thai, Pho 24 had not suffered losses and did not take up loans to maintain operations.

Trung may have foreseen a rather gloomy future where Pho 24 is constricted by fierce competition from international food giants with long experience in the franchising business and professional marketing skills like KFC, McDonalds, Lotteria, and others. He decided to leave the sinking ship.

In fact, after the ownership change, the number of Pho 24 restaurants fell to 16 in Ho Chi Minh City and a single restaurant in Hanois Noi Bai International Airport, according to its website. In addition to the competition with international food brands, regional differences also contributed to the failure of Pho 24 and Pho Ong Hung.

Discussing the issue with VIR, Sean Ngo, CEO of VF Franchise Consulting, said that one of the major challenges in the country is the cultural difference between northern and southern Vietnam.

Some chains are seeking to dominate one part of the country before they seek to venture into the other parts of Vietnam. Perfecting their business model in one part of the country will help them when they wish to expand to other parts of Vietnam, since expansion to places farther away from your home base is incredibly difficult due to these challenges as well as issues with supply chain, people, real estate, and logistics, Sean said.

Furthermore, the different local tastes also make it difficult for franchises  which thrive on offering uniform flavour and service quality  to develop. For instance, northern Vietnamese people prefer their pho more salty, while the southern people enjoy it sweet with a topping of bean sprouts.

These regional variances are a headache to franchises because if each restaurant under one brand have their own different flavour for the same product, then they are no longer a restaurant chain, according to Hoang Tung, CEO of Pizza Home.

Local dishes and franchises

The diversity of local dishes and delicacies are a point of pride in Vietnamese culture, which makes franchising seem like a good idea to broaden the appeal of Vietnamese cuisine and culture to the world.

In fact, franchising has led to the spectacular growth of many foreign businesses and local dishes in their home markets. McDonalds and Burger King from the US are probably the first to come to mind, which have made hamburgers oh-so-popular around the globe. Similarly, Gong Cha and Yi Fang from Taiwan made bubble tea popular all across Asia and most of the world.

In addition, Vietnamese prospects in franchising are not bad at all. Vietnam ranked 9th among the top 12 markets identified by the members of the International Franchise Association as the most valuable markets for international expansion. Along with foreign brands, local Vietnamese brands such as Trung Nguyen Coffee, Highlands Coffee, Golden Gate, and Red Sun-ITI Corporation have also started franchising with significant success.

Nguyen Phi Van, chairwoman of Retail & Franchise Asia, founder and manager of the World Franchise Association, said that local food franchises often account for 70-80 per cent of the total franchises in developed countries in North America, Western Europe, and North Asia. These countries have highly-developed markets and extensive knowledge and experience in local food business franchising.

On the contrary, about 80-99 per cent of franchises in Vietnam are international and regional brands.

The difference lies in the fact that Vietnamese firms lack the capability and experience to build franchise brands and models. Thus, it is expected to take another 10 years for Vietnam to develop successful local franchises by applying the best practices of international franchise brands, Van said.

Similarly, Ngo of VF Franchise Consulting also told VIR that in the short-term, the Vietnamese franchising sector remains challenging due to highly price-sensitive consumers, high rental costs, and limited supply of adequate modern retail space and fast-rising labour costs. The availability and quality of local suppliers, from raw materials to equipment, remains limited and thereby drive higher the costs of doing business in Vietnam. Infrastructure also requires significant improvement, including ports, roads, and utilities, according to Ngo.

In his view, the Vietnamese franchising sector is still quite young compared with other countries in the region, like the Philippines, Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Singapore. In all of these countries, there are already healthy and growing franchise associations, and their governments provide significant financial and other kinds of support to help grow their franchise industries. Vietnam has a ways to go, and with further support from the industry and government, we will likely see more franchise success stories, Ngo said.

In Vietnam, several businesses like Golden Gate and Redsun have been successful in franchising, with 277 and 50 restaurant franchises, respectively, all specialised in South Korean, Japanese, and Thai cuisine. This suggests that applying the franchise business model to things external in origin to the market is much easier than building a franchise on a dish that is part and parcel of the countrys culture and gastronomy. Thus, the lesson could be that Vietnamese dishes should be taken abroad where they are a novelty to broaden the appeal of local cuisine, according to experts.

Challenges

However, the majority of enterprises in Vietnam are of small and medium size. Hoang Tung from Pizza Home told VIR that many firms get used to running medium- and small-scale business, so extending their reach to other areas makes it difficult for them to manage the larger number of staff in multiple locations.

Regarding solutions to deal with the challenges, Van of Retail & Franchise Asia said that Vietnamese startups and small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) still face countless difficulties in building successful franchise businesses. Thus, the government needs to provide training and professional development for startups and SMEs in the field.

Meanwhile, the market will develop better if mid- and large-scale companies can jump on the bandwagon. With their strong financial capability, the companies can invite top-notch experts to build the chains, thereby facilitating the development of Vietnamese franchise brands. On the other hand, strict adherence to product specifications such as taste and quality of ingredients at each restaurant in a chain is absolutely necessary when expanding to other markets.

It is because the power of branding can help firms create sustainable business development and lure in suitable personnel, Tung said.
Home Search ICH Bordering on Fascism: Scholars Reflect on Dangerous Times By Paul Street Drawing by Nathaniel St. Clair January 11, 2019 " Information Clearing House " - My fellow U.S.-Americans, we stand at a moment of no small peril. Contrary to much of what one hears from liberals, Donald Trumps insane border-wall gambit may be something of a winning play for him. Yes, the whole stunt is built on a fetid pile of falsehoods. The level of bullshit emanating from Trumps mouth and Twitter feed on this matter is remarkable even by his standards. There is NO reasonable argument for constructing a 1000-mile steel (or concrete) wall along the U.S. border with Mexico  a boundary already possessing 654 miles of existing barrier. There is NO national security crisis at the U.S.-Mexican border. There is NOTHING remotely like an influx of terrorists across the border. The U.S. did NOT detain nearly 4000 suspected terrorists at the southern border in 2018.There is NO increase in attempted illegal entry, which is at a 20-year low. Building such a wall will do NOTHING to make the United States safer from terrorist attacks, dangerous drugs, and gang violence. The federal government is NOT currently building the wall. A lot of the wall is [NOT] already built. Existing southern border barriers have NOT in fact caused declining illegal entry. The two migrant children who died in federal custody near the border were NOT already very sick when U.S. officials became responsible for them. Migrants from Mexico and Central America are NOT more likely to commit crimes than naturalized U.S. citizens. The truth is the opposite. Illegal aliens from Mexico and Central America are NOT especially prone to rape and murder U.S.-Americans. There is NO epidemic of violent crime on the part of illegal immigrants. Are You Tired Of The Lies And Non-Stop Propaganda? Get Your FREE Daily Newsletter The federal workers being furloughed and told to work without pay are NOT able to easily make adjustments to make ends meets during the federal government shutdown Trump has forced based on his concocted border crisis. Most federal workers do NOT support Trumps shut-down. The four living former U.S. presidents (Carter, Clinton, Bush, and Obama) have NOT expressed support in any way for Trumps big and beautiful wall. The Democrats have NOT been trying to bring in a Caravan of illegal immigrants into the U.S. Trumps rhetoric on the border one is epic high-state deception on steroids. But so what? One of the presidents nicknames ought to be Orange Truth-Crush (OTC). Trump has been lying about these and countless other matters on a scale that is simply off the historical charts from the beginning of his presidency and before. Thats because he is at heart a totalitarian. And totalitarians dont just lie about a one or a few things on occasion. They lie about almost everything they can pretty much all the time. They do this to advance their own political agenda and  most dangerously of all  to undermine and exhaust the publics ability to separate fact from fiction and truth from deception. Think Big Brother in Orwells Nineteen Eighty-Four: he informs the masses over and over that 2+2=5, that Love is Hate, and the War is Peace. Because he says so. Hedges: The Permanent Lie OTC is an outwardly clumsy, yet deceptively skilled master of what Chris Hedges has called the permanent lie. As Hedges explained two Decembers ago: The permanent lie is different from the falsehoods and half-truths uttered by politicians such as Bill Clinton, George W. Bush and Barack Obama. The common political lie these politicians employed was not designed to cancel out realityClinton did not continue to pretend that NAFTA was beneficial to the working class when reality proved otherwise. Bush did not pretend that Iraq had weapons of mass destruction once none were foundThe permanent lie is not circumscribed by reality. It is perpetuated even in the face of overwhelming evidence that discredits itThe iron refusal by those who engage in the permanent lie to acknowledge reality, no matter how transparent reality becomes, creates a collective psychosis. Hedges quoted the German philosopher and political theorist Hannah Arendt, an emigre from Nazi Germany. The result of a consistent and total substitution of lies for factual truth, Arendt wrote in her classic volume The Origins of Totalitarianism, is not that the lie will now be accepted as truth and truth be defamed as a lie, but that the sense by which we take our bearings in the real worldand the category of truth versus falsehood is among the mental means to this endis being destroyed. A Method to His Mendacious Madness Theres a method to Trumps mendacious Mexican wall madness. What does Herr Donald hope to achieve with his deranged deceit and dishonesty on this issue of his own making? Three things. First, he needs to keep his white-nationalist base and its right-wing media organs on board by not appearing to back down from his Nativist campaign promise to build the wall. With his approval rating ranging from the low 40s to the high 30s, with the House of Representatives having recently shifted to Democratic Party control, and with Robert Mueller poised to unload blockbuster, impeachment-worthy revelations on Trumps corruption and, perhaps, (Russia) collusion, the FOX News, Breitbart, and talk-radio right has Trump over the barrel. Ann Coulter, Rush Limbaugh and other proto-fascistic media-politicos cracked their whips when it looked like the president was trying to cut a deal with the Democrats at the expense of the wall. Trump responded by turning on a dime. He went Mussolini on the Dems to shore up his base. Theres no turning back, thanks to the outsized power creeping fascist white-nationalists hold in a wildly polarized American political system that grossly inflates the power of right-wing extremists and rural, red-state voters. Second, Trump hopes to divert mainstream (corporate) media operatives and viewers away from the latest Mueller revelations, including recent reports that the presidents former campaign manager shared internal Trump polling data with a Russian intelligence operative. Who can properly focus on Trump collusion and corruption when the soul-numbing shut-down story and the Donald vs. Chuck and Nancy Reality Show is sucking up all the telescreen energy and sadistically freaking out millions who depend directly and indirectly on federal government salaries, programs, and operations? Third, Trump is looking to drop a fascist-style presidential hammer by declaring a National Emergency over the fake border crisis and ordering the U.S. military to construct the border. Hes made a deceptive show of appealing rationally to the public with his nationally televised address (never mind that his fib-soaked was straight out of Joseph Goebbels) and of holding a serious meeting with Democratic Party wall opponents in Congress (never mind that he quickly stormed out of the summit and quickly called it a waste of time). Now he will claim that Democratic stubbornness and intransigence have left him with no choice but to make the dreaded emergency declaration to deal with the concocted border drama. Goiten: A Parallel Legal Regime A National Emergency declaration will permit Trump to take credit for re-opening the government and thereby returning paychecks to federal workers (so what if he created the shut-down on false pretexts in the first place?) It will also grant him a series of chilling executive branch powers that make a shameless mockery of U.S. constitutional checks and balances. Elizabeth Goitien of New York Universitys Brennan Center for Justice explains some harsh and widely unknown deep state policy realities in a recent Atlantic essay titled What the President Could Do if He Declares a State of Emergency: It would be nice to think that America is protected from the worst excesses of Trumps impulses by its democratic laws and institutionsThose who see Trump as a threat to democracy comfort themselves with the belief that these limits will hold him in checkBut will they? a parallel legal regime allows the president to sidestep many of the constraints that normally apply. The moment the president declares a national emergencya decision that is entirely within his discretionmore than 100 special provisions become available to him. While many of these tee up reasonable responses to genuine emergencies, some appear dangerously suited to a leader bent on amassing or retaining power. For instance, the president can, with the flick of his pen, activate laws allowing him to shut down many kinds of electronic communications inside the United States or freeze Americans bank accounts. Other powers are available even without a declaration of emergency, including laws that allow the president to deploy troops inside the country to subdue domestic unrest. This edifice of extraordinary powers has historically rested on the assumption that the president will act in the countrys best interest when using them. With a handful of noteworthy exceptions, this assumption has held up. But what if a president, backed into a corner and facing electoral defeat or impeachment, were to declare an emergency for the sake of holding on to power? In that scenario, our laws and institutions might not save us from a presidential power grab. They might be what takes us down. (emphasis added) Goitien thinks Trump could even deploy U.S. troops to impose martial law against citizens who resist his power grab. An American president has the power to do that under the 1807 Insurrection Act. And Trump is just the kind of demented president to look for an opportunity to try that power out. What about the courts? House Democrats addressing the potential for an Emergency Declaration seems to believe that the bogus nature of Trumps crisis will lead to any such declaration being shot down by the federal judiciary, with Trump badly humiliated and politically wounded along the way. Goitien argues that things arent quite that simple. Should he opt to employ them, Trump has a vast array of repressive powers granted him by Congress, that supposed great check on executive branch overreach. Goitien lays out a sadly believable scenario in which Trump seizes dictatorial control and is supported in doing so by the Supreme Court with the recent right-wing appointee Brett Kavanaugh writing the majority opinion in a 5-4 decision. The one thing Trump has done in a sort of systematic fashion is refashion the courts, the left historian and journalist Terry Thomas wrote me yesterday. We are living in dangerous times, Thomas says. Feffer: A Reichstag Moment? With Trump responding harshly to protests of emergency declaration, the nation could go, writes John Feffer, from a state of emergency at the border to martial law throughout the country. Does any of this remind you of the rise of Hitler and the Nazi Party in the 1930s? It should. As Feffer reminds us in Foreign Policy in Focus: In the Weimar Republic of the 1920s and 1930s, the German constitution contained the controversial article 48, which granted the president the right to rule by decree in the case of a national emergency. German leaders invoked this right several times between 1930 and 1933But the most momentous decree came in the wake of the Reichstag fire, six days before German elections in 1933. Hitler, already appointed chancellor at that point, persuaded German President Paul von Hindenburg to pass the Reichstag Fire Decree. No doubt inspired by Benito Mussolini and his use of emergency powers to establish fascism in Italy in the 1920s, the Nazis then took full advantage the authority granted them by Hindenburgs decree to remake Germany into a dictatorship. Trumps public support remains low and his political influence is on the decline. Hes surrounded almost exclusively now by advisors who favor his most autocratic impulses. Its not inconceivable that Trump will use his standoff with Congress over the border wall as his Reichstag moment. DiMaggio: The Concern with Fascism in Trumps America is Warranted Is there any support for such a Hitler- and Mussolini-like Reichstag move on Trumps part in the U.S. populace? Yes, as the left political scientist Anthony DiMaggio recently noted on CounterPunch, there is. Commenting on key polling data from the last three years, DiMaggio reports that a considerable portion of Trumps base backs fascist-style authoritarianism in the U.S. today: the concern with fascism in Trumps America is warranted. Twenty-one percent of Trump supporters agreed in 2017 that the use of violence against civilians was acceptable in pursuit of political, social, and religious goals  in line with the longstanding embrace of such acts on the Christian reactionary right and among right-wing militia groups in America. Twenty-eight percent of Trump supporters in 2017, and 30 percent in 2018 agreed that the president should be freed from Constitutional checks and balances imposed by Congress and the courts in order to pursue his political agenda19 percent of supporters agreed that freedom of the press is not too important or not at all important, contrary to longstanding First Amendment protections for journalists against media censorship. Other measures outside those considered here suggest that Trump supporters and Republicans authoritarianism is even more severe, with about half of Republicans agreeing that the 2020 election should be postponed in light of Trumps claims of widespread voter fraud, that the news media are the enemy of the people and that news outlets should be shut down if they are perceived to be trafficking in inaccurate or fake news (emphasis added). No, nothing close to most U.S.-Americans are ready to back a fascist-style declaration of a national emergency and martial wall. Still, the percentages DiMaggio cites translate into millions of people (many of whom are armed). The president and his supine, Trump-whipped party have shown repeatedly that they dont need anything like majority support to go forward against majority public opinion. The best examples, perhaps, are the giant oligarchic tax-cut they passed in December 2017 and their stubborn refusal to permit any significant gun- control legislation despite an ongoing epidemic of mass shootings. Giroux: Neoliberal Fascism Would the wealthy Few really care about a fascist-style Trump power grab? Some ruling-class elites would but many would not, given all the tax cuts and de-regulation Trump has showered on them  a perfect illustration of the neoliberal fascism that the prolific left scholar Henry Giroux sees developing atop the American system over the last four-plus decades. As Giroux says, this neoliberal fascism is more than willing to exercise cruel power in the interest of accumulating capital and profits without any consideration of social costs to humanity or the planet itself.Neoliberal fascism, as a form of extreme capitalism, views democracy as the enemy, the market as the exclusive arbiter of freedom, and the ethical imagination as an object of disdain. Neoliberal fascism is consistent with a vicious government shutdown that puts millions of working Americans at grave economic risk in the name of funding a nativist blood and soil wall that trumps civic nationalism with racial nationalism. It is consistent also with the absurdly unnecessary declaration of a national emergency and the possible imposition of martial law. The Real Problem is the Corporate State Are the liberal and left concerns with authoritarianism, totalitarianism, and fascism expressed in the reflections Ive give above excessive? I think not. Nobody really knows for certain, of course. We are in uncharted territory that has developed over many years of a long corporate and financial coup that has been systemically shredding the last remnants of democracy in U.S.-American culture and society. The remarkable authoritarian powers that the American imperial presidency has accrued over the last seven-plus decades have fallen into the lap of a malignant narcissist and creeping fascist without the hint of moral conscience and respect for democracy. But Trump himself is but a noxious symptom of what Sheldon Wolin identified as the inverted totalitarianism of corporate-managed democracy during the George W. Bush administration. That corporate-totalitarian disease is deeply rooted in the history of American capitalism going back to before the turn of the 20th century, As Hedges reminded us last year: The Trump administration did not rise, prima facie, like Venus on a half shell from the sea. Donald Trump is the result of a long process of political, cultural and social decay. He is a product of our failed democracy. The longer we perpetuate the fiction that we live in a functioning democracy, that Trump and the political mutations around him are somehow an aberrant deviation that can be vanquished in the next election, the more we will hurtle toward tyranny. The problem is not Trump. It is a political system, dominated by corporate power and the mandarins of the two major political parties, in which we dont count. We will wrest back political control by dismantling the corporate state, and this means massive and sustained civil disobedience. If we do not stand up, we will enter a new dark age. Paul Streets latest book is They Rule: The 1% v. Democracy (Paradigm, 2014) This article was originally published by " Counterpunch " - Do you agree or disagree? Post your comment here ==See Also== Note To ICH Community We ask that you assist us in dissemination of the article published by ICH to your social media accounts and post links to the article from other websites. Thank you for your support. The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Information Clearing House.
French President Emmanuel Macron. (File photo: AFP/Ludovic Marin)

The Elysee office said Macron would also be holding the second edition of his own forum with business leaders in Versailles on Jan 21, dubbed "Choose France".

Earlier this week, US President Donald Trump canceled his own visit to the Davos forum in Switzerland, as he wrestles with political opponents over the federal government shutdown.
The number of migrants attempting to cross the Channel rose to over 500 last year, up from a mere 13 in 2017. (Photo: AFP/PHILIPPE HUGUEN)

On the ground, a three-man gendarmerie patrol - part of the French police force - tramps through sand dunes, searching an 11-kilometre stretch of beach near Oye-Plage, between the ports of Calais and Dunkirk.

Carrying electric torches and thermal-detecting binoculars to pick up any sign of life, the gendarmes inspect the dunes where people-smugglers sometimes hide rubber dinghies and other equipment prior to launching migrants on their way across the Channel.

The number of those attempting to sail the treacherous waters, braving strong tides in the world's busiest shipping route, rose to over 500 last year, up from a mere 13 in 2017.

The phenomenon has sparked concern in Britain, where the conservative government, eager to be seen as tough on immigration, has appealed to France to prevent the attempted crossings.

"The objective is to stop them putting out to sea," said Marie-Laure Pezant, who commands the gendarmerie unit in nearby Saint-Omer, adding that many of those who manage to slip past the authorities "get into trouble and call on us for help".

HIDE-AND-SEEK

The migrants, many of them Iranian, are helped by people-smuggling gangs who organise the crossings, but who do not themselves board the boats.

They either attempt to steal boats, including fishing vessels moored in ports such as Boulogne-sur-Mer, or launch rubber dinghies from beaches at night.

Pezant's team inspect a metre-deep hole in the sand, likely used by smugglers to stock equipment.

The patrol then heads inland, along a path where rubbish got caught in the brambles. One gendarme picks up a discarded notice on how to use a jerrican.

"Obviously it was dropped here during transportation. That shows it was new equipment," says chief warrant officer Sebastien Hotin.

Further up a dune, in a wartime German-built bunker, the patrol recently found a sleeping bag, broken razor blades, and empty condom packets believed to be used by migrants to keep their valuables waterproof.

But it's rare they make any arrests.

"Given how big the area is we have to control, it's a lot easier for them to hide than for us to find them," said Didier, another gendarme who declined to give his surname.

The people traffickers are believed to regularly switch points of embarcation between Wimereux, south of Oye-Plage and the Belgian border, 80km away.

France earlier this month announced it would step up police patrols around ports and beaches following consultations with Britain.

London for its part has ordered a navy ship to join coastguard boats in patrolling the Channel, especially the 33km of sea that separate France and Britain at its narrowest point.

BREXIT CONNECTION?

Explanations for the sudden spurt in sea crossings vary.

Some experts believe that Britain's impending exit from the European Union in late March could be playing a role, prompting a rush by migrants to enter the country before immigration controls are tightened.

The weather in recent months has also been unusually calm, coastguard and security officials say.

But Fabien Sudry, a top security official in the northern Pas-de-Calais region, has linked the increase to the arrival in the Calais area of large numbers of Iranians.

They have attracted, or led to the creation of, a new people-smuggling network which packs migrants into boats rather than trying to hide them on trucks.

Stowing away on lorries remains however the preferred route for migrants attempting to cross the Channel, especially for those with little money to pay smugglers.

On Monday night, a trucker in Calais drove his vehicle through a roadblock of burning pallets built by migrants hoping to hitch a ride to Britain.

The Bulgarian driver was slightly injured, officials said.
Bamboo Airways staff ready for the official take-off

The Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam (CAAV) officially granted the Aircraft Operator Certificate (AOC) to Bamboo Airways, which will allow the airlines to officially operate aircrafts and provide related services in the Vietnamese aviation market.

Bamboo Airways has passed the five-phase initial AOC application process including pre-application discussion, formal application, document evaluation, demonstration and inspection, and certification.

According to Dang Tat Thang, Bamboo Airways general director, it took four years to achieve the AOC with the efforts of all Bamboo Airways staff.

Bamboo Airways expects to operate 37 routes connecting all major cities and popular tourist destinations in Vietnam with international destinations in 2019.

The first domestic routes are Hanoi-Quy Nhon, Hanoi-Dong Hoi, Ho Chi Minh City-Quy Nhon, Hanoi-Ho Chi Minh City, and Ho Chi Minh City-Van Don, among others, with the goal of reducing pressure on aviation infrastructure in big cities, and at the same time strengthening regional links, raising the international status of the Vietnamese tourism industry.

Bamboo Airways will operate 60 domestic flights a day. It also scheduled to launch international flights in 2019 to Asian countries, starting with Japan, Korea, Singapore, and then to European countries.

To prepare for this plan, from March to June 2018, the firm signed two agreements worth $8.8 billion to buy A321 NEO and 787-9 Dreamliner aircrafts from two major international partners, Airbus and Boeing. While waiting for the new aircrafts to be delivered, Bamboo Airways plans to rent 20 aircrafts, expected to be delivered in the first quarter of 2019.

An Air Operator Certificate (AOC) is an Aviation Safety Instrument (ASI) that authorises an operator to carry out specified commercial air transport operations, and is issued by CAAS under the aviation safety subsidiary legislation.
Agriculture: new engine for growth

Two weeks ago, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Nguyen Xuan Cuong worked with Paul Jansen, Belgiums Ambassador to Vietnam, and Marc Stordiau, chairman of Asian Infrastructure Engineering and Investment, a sister company of the investment group Rent-A-Port, on a project to produce and export safe fruit and vegetables to Europe and the Middle East.

Stordiau suggested co-operation with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) to establish a team to undertake the task. High-tech production would be the responsibility of the Vietnamese side, whilst the Belgian side would be in charge of buying products, transportation, and logistics. Rent-A-Port currently has two partners from Belgium and the Netherlands who are interested in joining the project.

Stordiau also asked Cuong to allow his group to study a venture to transport fruit and vegetables from the Mekong Delta region to Europe and the Middle East. The minister agreed to the proposal and wants the task to be implemented as soon as possible.

Two weeks prior, Cuong worked with Huang Jun, general director of a farm produce distribution and consumption group in Chinas Liaoning province. Jun told the minister that his group wants to build a 150 million ($21.8 million) plant to produce 120 tonnes of high-quality mushrooms a day with modern technology.

In the groups business strategy, Vietnam would be a key market which could help the group produce and export agricultural products not only to China, but further afield to markets in Europe and Africa.

It is expected that this project, which has received the green light from the Vietnamese side, will be implemented in 2019.

New propellant for growth

According to the MARD, these two new foreign investors will be among a host of those now seeking to increase their investments in the Vietnamese agro-forestry-fishery sector in 2019. Vietnam currently has a great potential to develop its agro-forestry-fishery sector with import tariffs being cut under commitments from free trade agreements, as well as incentives to lure investment.

The MARD is expected to welcome more delegates from foreign businesses seeking investment opportunities in the sector during 2019.

In his New Year report on the countrys economy, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc stated that the high-tech agro-forestry-fishery sector will be considered one of the key impetuses for economic growth in 2019, something not seen in previous years.

Great importance must be attached to luring more businesses into rural and agricultural development, the prime minister stressed. In 2018, the economys strong growth propellants came from the manufacturing and processing sector (up 12.98 per cent on-year), agriculture (up 3.76 per cent), and a strong 11.7 per cent increase in retail revenue.

The MARD reported that in 2018, the total export turnover of agro-forestry-fishery products hit a record $40.02 billion, up 9.6 per cent against 2017, and far higher than the initial target of $36-37 billion.

The sector enjoyed a record trade surplus of $7.82 billion, far higher than the $7.2 billion average enjoyed by the rest of the economy. It is expected that the total export turnover of agro-forestry-fishery products for 2019 will be $42-43 billion.

It is understandable for the agro-forestry-fishery sector to be regarded as a new key driving force for the economys growth in the future. In 2018, it grew to its highest level of 3.76 per cent on-year in the 2012-2018 period, said Nguyen Bich Lam, director of the General Statistics Office. This sector has been strongly restructured, with expansion in export markets and a growing number of enterprises engaging in agro-forestry-fishery investment.

Growing investment

As of late 2018, there were nearly 500 valid foreign-invested agro-forestry-fishery projects registered nationwide at over $3.5 billion.

Over the past few years, many foreign companies have entered the Vietnamese market to engage in agricultural investment projects, such as Cargill, CJ, CP, and Mavin Austfeed. Agricultural foreign investment is largely focused on producing and processing animal feeds, and farm produce. Currently, about 60 foreign investors owning over 70 animal feed mills account for 65 per cent of the Vietnamese animal feed market share.

However, foreign direct investment (FDI) in the agro-forestry-fishery sector accounts for only 1 per cent of the countrys total FDI.

Recently, Yutaka Yamamura, vice president of Food Company at Itochu Corporation, worked with Minister Cuong. The vice president said Itochu is conducting a market study in Vietnam, looking for opportunities to buy agricultural products, distribute them in Japan, and then in other foreign markets.

Currently, the Japanese company is importing frozen Vietnamese vegetables and wants to increase trade.

Itochu has also been co-operating with Thailands CP Group from early 2015. CP, which is boosting the import of Vietnamese agricultural products to export to Thailand and other overseas markets, is planning to export chicken from Vietnam to Japan.

We and Itochu will organise more meetings to discuss the export of Vietnamese chicken and pork, along with other farm produce like vegetables and fruit to foreign nations, Cuong said.

A number of other foreign companies, including the US Global Food Importers, Japans Ota Floriculture Auction, and South Koreas Korea Agro-Fisheries & Food Trade Corporation have also inked import deals with local businesses.

For instance, after importing mango produced in the Mekong Delta province of Dong Thap, Global Food Importers is considering a $100 million deal with Vietnamese enterprises in Dong Thap to import frozen fruit and vegetables.

We particularly like frozen mango and other types of frozen vegetables and fruits in Vietnam, said Global Food Importers general director David Roberts. In the future, we will also import dried fruit. Vietnam is a large supplier as it has many modern processing facilities.

In another case, Chinas Greenland Business Group recently signed a $500 million deal with the domestic partner Lavifood Company to export assorted agricultural products in 2019.

Gi Bog Song, regional director of Korea Agro-Fisheries & Food Trade Corporation, said that South Korea has only 2.5 million farmers, while its consumption demand has been soaring.

We depend to a great extent on imported products. Our consumers are shifting from Chinese to Vietnamese products which are cheaper and of higher quality, Song said.

Awaiting new policies

PM Phuc recently assigned the Ministry of Planning and Investment (MPI) to submit a draft directive on agricultural investment attraction to the government. He also requested ministries, agencies, and localities to strictly implement Decree No.57/2018/ND-CP issued in April 2018 on mechanisms and policies to attract investment in agricultural and rural development.

He asked the MPI to issue a guide to the implementation of Decree 57 so that companies can be incentivised. The decree covers many types of new incentives regarding the rental of land and water surfaces, land concentration, the transfer and the application of technology, human resources training, and investing in manufacturing agricultural machinery.

Specifically, under the decree, the government will finance 60 per cent of investment costs and a maximum of VND15 billion ($652,173) for an agricultural product processing project to build infrastructure systems for waste treatment, transport, electricity, and water. Investors will also be funded with 60 per cent of their investment cost and a maximum of VND5 billion ($217,391) for an equipment-manufacturing factory to build the same infrastructure systems.

In addition, PM Phuc also ordered that 50 per cent of agricultural and rural administrative procedures be removed in favour of people and businesses.

Further fueling the agricultural sector, the prime minister also requested the amendment of Decree No.55/2015/ND-CP on credit policies for agricultural and rural development, so as to increase maximum loans without collateral for individuals and households.

The amendment must expand the beneficiaries of the credit policy in the field of hi-tech agriculture, and allow for the use of assets made from the loans of high-tech agricultural projects as collateral.

It is urgent to complete the legal framework for the sector as agriculture has the enormous potential for growth, the prime minister stressed.

According to Minister Cuong, if these policies come into force, they will greatly attract foreign investors like Rent-A-Port and Huang Jun from China.

We are awaiting new incentives and new waves of investments into the agro-forestry-fishery sector. Despite difficulties, the sector boasts great potential for further development, Cuong stressed.
The history of the Army Nurse Corps (ANC) in Vietnam began in April, 1956 when three Army nurses arrived in Saigon, Republic of Vietnam. These nurses were on temporary duty assignments attached to the United States Army Medical Training Team, United States Military Assistance Advisory Group (MAAG), Saigon. The Army sent them to train South Vietnamese nurses in nursing care procedures and techniques, not care for U.S. servicemen.Instead, the American Embassy Dispensary in Saigon provided care for the American Community and the MAAG advisers. By 1959, however, that facility could no longer meet its mounting requirements. Medical and dental personnel of the U.S. Army, Navy and Air Force augmented a team redesignated as the American Dispensary, Saigon. This tri-service staffing arrangement, including two Army Nurse Corps officers, continued for the next three years.The expansion of the war in the Republic of Vietnam placed greater burdens on the Army Nurse Corps. Over 11 years from March, 1962 (when the 8th Field Hospital opened in Nha Trang) to March, 1973 (when the last Army nurses departed the Republic of Vietnam), more than 5,000 Army nurses served in Americas longest war.The buildup in Vietnam taxed the Corps. Army nurses had to provide full peacetime nursing services in the continental United States and Europe yet simultaneously meet the far different requirements of combat forces fighting in Southeast Asia. In January, 1965 the Army had 113 hospital beds and 15 nurses in Vietnam. The buildup of medical units was completed in 1968 and included 11 Reserve and National Guard medical units. By December 1968, 900 nurses in Vietnam worked in 23 Army hospitals, and one convalescent center with a total of 5,283 beds.Army nurses volunteered for duty in Vietnam for a variety of reasons. Many felt it was their patriotic duty; others thought of Vietnam as an adventure. One nurse veteran remarked: We arent angels, We are simply members of the nursing profession who have seen the need in Vietnam and are here to do our part. Another said: I wanted to be an army nurse and combat is where the soldier is. Thats where I wanted to be. And a third: My reason for going was that there were American troops there that needed help. They needed the things that I could give them in my nursing profession.
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As we kick off the New Year with cooler temperatures across the valley, Double Helix Wine & Whiskey Lounge invites guests to stay warm and cozy with specially-priced hot cocktails available now through January 31.

While January presents three observed drink holidays, guests can sip on the following concoctions for only $8 each all month long.

DH Hot Toddy (in honor of National Hot Toddy Day, Jan. 11): Get Toddied at Double Helix and enjoy the DH Hot Toddy, a hot mixture of liquor, water, honey herbs and spices.

Get Toddied at Double Helix and enjoy the DH Hot Toddy, a hot mixture of liquor, water, honey herbs and spices. DH Hot Buttered Rum (in honor of National Hot Buttered Rum Day, Jan. 17): Butter me up, buttercup and sip on Double Helixs Hot Buttered Rum, containing rum, butter, hot water, sweetener and various spices.

Butter me up, buttercup and sip on Double Helixs Hot Buttered Rum, containing rum, butter, hot water, sweetener and various spices. DH Hot Irish Coffee (in honor of Irish Coffee Day, Jan. 25): Feel the luck of the Irish with Double Helixs Hot Irish Coffee, a combination of hot coffee, sugar and Irish whiskey.
Everyone who has followed this Presidential election must admit, they've never seen anything like Donald Trump as a candidate.

First and foremost he is not a politician, and many of his surrogates overuse that excuse. If he didn't want to feel the heat he should have stayed out of the kitchen.

He certainly knows how to use the media to get free TV time and have his name all over the press. Good or bad, it doesn't matter to him, it's all publicity.

The statement of his political skills being less than his opponents is well known. Just in staffing and offices throughout the country, he just didn't establish a ground game, essential to producing votes.

Did you watch the debates?

The debates were a complete atrocity. Trump acted like a stalker in the second debate, hovering over Hillary Clinton in a creepy kind of way.

His antagonistic manner of interrupting his opponent was much more obvious than when he debated a crowded stage of eight or more candidates. It's his method, it's what he does.

By all accounts (except the Trump campaign and followers) he lost all three debates by large margins...yet he wasn't out of the race by much.

How can he still be so close in the polls?

Let's review some of the hurdles Trump has leaped over, and with one week to go until the election, he's still not behind by much, or at all depending on which poll you read.

He has overcome:

1.) Not releasing his taxes, even though every candidate in modern times has done so. To his credit, he learned when Mitt Romney finally released his taxes, he fell in the polls.

2.) His bogus Trump University is under fire, with many complaining of being duped out of their money. The trial will be later this month AFTER the election. This is the same trial which Trump made remarks that U.S. District Judge Gonzalo Curiel, who was assigned to the case was a Trump hater, and was a Mexican (when in fact he was born in Indiana) and therefore not capable of deciding the case.

3. The bombshell Access Hollywood tape of Trump and Billy Bush discussing how Trump would have his way with women, how he would hit on them, and in no uncertain terms, his language was not "locker room" talk or "boy talk" as it was described by his surrogates and wife. It was crude, disgusting language, and spoken as if he actually did things he described.

Then, the women came forward two weeks before the election to verify one by one (with the latest count being 13) that they indeed were assaulted by him, giving details.

Trump apologized (sort of) and classified it as locker room talk. He put down the women who came out against him as liars who had something to gain for coming forward, and that he would sue them. As of yet, not one woman has gained a thing, except clearing the air about Trump's vulgar behavior, and Trump has backed down on suing them. As usual, Trump makes threats, talks big, but doesn't follow through.

4.) Trump has described his opponent's issues if she were elected, but he has plenty of his own, including a rape trial in December involving a then 13-year old girl who was viciously raped at Trump's friend, John Epstein's sex party. The woman filed a federal lawsuit in June alleging that Trump raped her in 1994 when she was 13 and threatened to harm her and her family if she talked.

Epstein, a financier who was also friends with Bill and Hillary Clinton, was convicted in 2008 of soliciting an underage girl for prostitution and served 13 months of an 18-year prison term.

5.) Trump's attraction to many voters is his stance on immigration. A topic which needs attention, but not the type of attention Trump has put forward. He actually thinks he can build a massive wall, which would cost millions or more to construct and get the Congress to go along with the idea, with the ridiculous clause that the Mexican government would pay for the wall. The concept is quite laughable, but it fires up his base and incites his followers.

6.) Trump's economic platform would certainly bring tax cuts, but to the upper one percent, like himself. He would literally destroy all the positive results which President Obama has worked so hard to accomplish after he was left with a huge mess from the George Bush destructive economic policies.

7.) Trump claims he's going to create jobs, that his businesses have employed thousands of workers. He also is against raising the minimum wage and eliminating it completely.

November 8th will determine the outcome

Yet, with all this baggage Trump surprisingly has survived. His support amongst Republicans wavers at about 75 percent when past GOP Presidential candidates like John McCain and Mitt Romney had support in the 92-94 percent range.

The main reason Trump has survived is due to the weak candidacy of Clinton, and the endless attacks towards her. Had Bernie Sanders gathered the Democratic nomination, Trump would be losing by a larger margin.

So, the American voter has the choice of two very disliked candidates to choose from, and there is really only one candidate with the experience and background to be President.

Good try Donald, but you're run is over, and we won't have to listen to all the mud-slinging by both candidates much longer.

The only question remaining is will Clinton capture normally red states like Arizona, Texas, and North Carolina?

If Trump loses in large margins, the down-state elections will be affected. Clinton may have a Democratic Senate to work with, but will more than likely not enjoy a majority in Congress due to her recent continued email issues.
Ambassador Grace Relucio-Princesa of the Philippines to the Holy See spoke to Vatican News about some of the issues that Pope Francis raised in his address to the diplomatic corps on Jan. 7.

By Robin Gomes

According to Grace Relucio-Princesa, the Philippine ambassador to the Holy See, some of the issues raised by Pope Francis are issues that affect the Filipinos. In an interview to Vatican News on the Popes state-of-the-world address to the diplomatic corps on Monday, Jan. 7, to exchange New Years greetings with the ambassadors, she said what appealed to her most in the Popes speech were the issues of migration, the environment and inter-faith dialogue.

Listen to Ambassador Grace Relucio-Princesa

Relucio-Princesa pointed out that the Philippines, that is home to Asias largest Catholic community, has migration, environmental as well as inter-faith issues.



The 62-year old diplomat expressed satisfaction that the Pope commended the Global Compact on Migration that was signed in Marrakech, Morocco, December 10 and 11. She said the diplomats and countries were together in supporting the Compact and felt it was important for her to focus on what the Pope is talking about so they can synergize.

Migration

Ambassador Relucio-Princesa, who is a widow and mother of 5 children, pointed out that with almost 200,000 Filipinos in Italy, migration is also a Filipino issue. She mentioned that when she began her diplomatic mission to the Holy See on Sept. 1, she told the Holy Father that migration can lead to development. And in this regard, she said, she hopes to deepen the 5 Fs that she has formulated for Filipino migrants - faith, family,  filipinoness , fitness and finance.

Faith, inter-faith issues

A devout Catholic, Relucio-Princesa is engaged with several Church movements. She said faith is needed if Filipinos consider themselves as new missionaries of the world to both Christians and Muslims.

She attends inter-faith events. She said that during her several years in the Middle East, particularly as ambassador to the UAE (2009-2015), she observed that without the presence of Filipino and Indian Christians, churches would become bars, restaurants and museums. Because the Indians and the Filipinos are there in the diaspora, we keep the Church alive.

The Philippine ambassador said that migrant Christians should realize their call to spirituality. She said that in her talks to Filipino communities she tries to help deepen this knowledge and awareness. In this, she also tried to involve priests, nuns, religious and the whole migration sector. This multi-sectoral approach, she said, involves the migrants, the government, the NGOs, faith-based groups, the academics, the private sector and the media. Together they can find out whether they are really walking the faith because the Gospel says if we love God we have to love others, especially the least, the last and the lost.

Family

She believes that Filipino migrants have a particular challenge in life because it affects the family, which is the second of the 5 Fs that she has formulated for migrant Filipinos, namely, faith, family,  filipinoness , fitness and finance. And if they are able to strengthen the first F, faith, they would understand that as new missionaries they should take care of themselves, learn how to save money, show their  filipinoness  and culture so they are able to stand tall.

Environment and migrants

Commenting on the protection of the environment, an issue of great concern of Pope Francis, the Philippine ambassador said her country ranks No. 3 in the world in terms of vulnerability to climate change, global warming, typhoons and natural disasters that affect the people, their livelihood and the economy. She feels people should listen to Pope Francis on these issues, starting with the migrants.

Relucio-Princesa said that migrants are exposed to new ideas and additional amounts of money. She is advising Filipino migrants to build disaster-resilient homes with abaca, or Manila hemp, an exceptionally strong natural fibre that is water-resistant and has a variety of uses. For this reason, she wears a wristband made of what she describes as the strongest natural renewable fibre in the world.

She said the Filipino community has to define itself in the context of the world, migration, disaster and also in the context of inter-faith relations because the Philippines is a predominantly Catholic nation that also has 10 million Muslims and other communities among its population.

The ambassador concluded saying that some of the issues that Pope Francis raised are also issues that affect the Filipinos.
Home Search ICH By Finian Cunningham January 11, 2019 " Information Clearing House " - European Union officials are up in arms over the Trump administrations demotion of its US ambassador. The downgrade is viewed as yet another slight from a president who has contempt for supranational bodies like the EU. But, strictly speaking, in terms of diplomatic protocol, the Trump administration is correct. The conventional position of ambassador is a representative envoy between two states. The EU gained an ambassadorship to the US  in addition to envoys from its 28 member states  at the discretion of former President Barack Obama, who created the position in September 2016. Why should the EU have such a privilege? For example, the African Union, which comprises twice as many states and more than double the population of the EU, is classed as an international organization in Washingtons ranking of diplomatic relations. If the EU were given an ambassador role, then why shouldnt the AU, or any other regional bloc, such as the Commonwealth of Independent States that includes Russia, or the Asian group ASEAN? Trumps downgrade of the EU from ambassador to international organization with a head of delegation is therefore a step to normalize diplomatic protocol, by reverting to the status quo ante that existed before Obamas questionable decision to bestow the European bloc with exceptional privilege. Are You Tired Of The Lies And Non-Stop Propaganda? Get Your FREE Daily Newsletter Trumps diplomatic downgrade of the EU is seen as another snub what else do vassals expect? Having said that, it was the way Trump did it that irked the Europeans. The US side forgot to notify the EU of the demotion when it went into effect at the end of October. Brussels reportedly only found out about the change of status when its ambassador David OSullivan was left out of official invitations. Apparently, the conspicuous occasion was the state funeral for President H.W. Bush on December 5, when the EU diplomat was not on the usual roll call of ambassadors. He found himself ranked with the African Union. It was then that European querying led to the news that the EU no longer had an ambassador. The furore has reportedly spurred the Trump administration to reverse its decision and reinstate the EU ambassador. Thats not the end of the matter, however. Brussels is said to be still formulating an official response to what it views as an extraordinary snub from the Trump White House. Several EU politicians and diplomats have voiced outrage over the fact that the diplomatic demotion even occurred. The US Congress has been sent an open letter by EU parliamentarians fuming over the sidelining of the EUs mission in Washington, reports Deutsche Welle. The MEPs again accuse President Donald Trump of eroding transatlantic relations. Daniela Schwarzer, of the German Council on Foreign Relations, is quoted by the New York Times as saying: The downgrade symbolizes the contempt the US president has shown for the EU and its supranational nature. There has been criticism too in American official circles. Nicholas Burns, a former diplomat in the G.W. Bush administration, described Trumps decision as a gratuitous, unreasonable swipe at the EU. Whats peeving the Europeans is that the move seems to have been an arbitrary political decision. If Trump was merely normalizing diplomatic ranking of the EU, then he should have made the call when his administration took over from Obama. But it was almost two years in office before Trump downgraded the EU ambassador. That smacks of a whimsical decision laden with an uncomplimentary political message. Over the past year, Trump has been ramping up the rhetoric deriding the EU. Back in July, he even called the European bloc a foe alongside China and Russia in terms of international trade. Trump has been haranguing the Europeans for taking advantage of the US with alleged unfair trading practices. His venom is particularly reserved for Germany, which he accuses of dumping cars into the US market. And, of course, the EU members of NATO are constantly lambasted by this American president for not spending enough on military budgets and freeloading on US protection. At times, he has even warned he might pull the US out of NATO. (Thats an idle threat for several strategic reasons to do with Americas military power projection over Europe, but thats another story.) Trumps tearing up of US participation in the Iran nuclear accord in May last year was also another poke in the eye for European allies. He brushed off their appeals to uphold the international agreement, ignoring their concerns about regional security and multi-billion-dollar trade investments. In his first cabinet meeting of the new year, Trump let loose on a question about his low poll ratings among the European public. He retorted: I dont care! Then last month, on December 4, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo delivered a remarkable speech in Brussels in which he openly questioned the relevance of multilateral institutions, specifically the EU and United Nations. Pompeo, like his boss in the White House, is a self-declared nationalist with a derogatory view of supranational bodies. The top diplomat is also seen as a cipher for Trump, so when he mouths criticism, its as good as Trump speaking. With this background, its no wonder the EU has reacted with alarm over Trumps downgrading of the blocs diplomatic status. The notion of a special transatlantic partnership is rudely dispelled under Trump. The move resonates with the cynical old saying: theres no such thing as allies, only interests. Nevertheless, its hard to have any sympathy for the Europeans. Trump may be offending them, but all their protesting is just so much whining. How many putdowns, how many slights, how many slaps in the face does the European political class need before it goes beyond whining and actually take decisive action to chart a policy direction independent from Washington? For nearly eight decades since WWII, European governments and the EU bloc have served as nothing but vassals to Washington. They are subservient to US neoliberal capitalism privileging big banks and business over the democratic needs of people; they are subservient to US militarism, allowing its NATO machine to roll all over Europe, while indulging Washington in its criminal overseas wars, killing millions of people, unleashing terrorism and mass refugee flows. Tragically, too, the European vassals have allowed Washingtons anti-Russia ideology to poison relations with Europes biggest neighbor, and arguably, most natural political, economic and cultural partner. The nadir is how European territory is turned into a launching pad for US missiles against Russia. It is only the pathetic obeisance of European governments that permit such an obscenity  an obscenity which offends the rights of European citizens as much as it does Russians. Trumps slap in the face to the EU over its privileged ambassador position is well deserved. European self-importance is overblown and full of effete flatulence. Until EU leaders really begin to stand up to Washingtons hegemonic arrogance and truly assert the rights of their people  especially in regard to peaceful relations with Russia  then European officialdom should be treated with the contempt that vassals deserve. Finian Cunningham has written extensively on international affairs, with articles published in several languages. He is a Masters graduate in Agricultural Chemistry and worked as a scientific editor for the Royal Society of Chemistry, Cambridge, England, before pursuing a career in newspaper journalism. He is also a musician and songwriter. For nearly 20 years, he worked as an editor and writer in major news media organisations, including The Mirror, Irish Times and Independent. This article was originally published by " RT " - Do you agree or disagree? Post your comment here ==See Also== EU furious after Trump administration quietly demotes European ambassadors diplomatic status Note To ICH Community We ask that you assist us in dissemination of the article published by ICH to your social media accounts and post links to the article from other websites. Thank you for your support. The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Information Clearing House.
St. John Paul II at the World Youth Day in Manila, the Philippines, in January, 1995.

Young people from around the world are converging on Panama City for the Catholic Churchs World Youth Day (WYD) January 22-27.

By Robin Gomes

Young people from around the world are getting ready to join the Catholic Churchs World Youth Day (WYD) in less than a fortnight in Panama city, including a contingent from the Philippines.

At least 70 young Filipinos, including some priests and bishops, are set to attend the event that takes centre stage in the capital of the Central American country from Jan. 22 to 27. However, many more are expected to register before the big event begins.

I am the servant of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word, is the theme of the world event which the Pope is scheduled to join on January 23.

Father Conegundo Garganta, executive secretary of the Episcopal Commission on Youth of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) said at least 70 youth pilgrims have registered for the event.

There are still other groups that have yet to send the names of their delegates, he said.

He estimated that there would be at least 250 Filipino delegates attending the international gathering.

This year, the WYD coincides with the Year of the Youth in the Philippines.

The special year was declared by the countrys bishops conference as part of preparations to mark the 500th anniversary of the arrival of Christianity in the Philippines in 1521.

WYD Manila, 1995

The Philippines was the first Asian country to host the WYD from January 1015, 1995 in Manila. St. Pope John Paul who established the WYD in 1985, joined the event exactly 24 years ago on Jan. 12.

The concluding papal Mass at Luneta Park was estimated to have drawn more than 5 million people, a record for WYD.

WYD and Popes

The presence of the Pope has been a special feature of World Youth Days.

During his WYD in Panama, Pope Francis will meet with young people not able to attend the festivities such as those in jail and some living with HIV.

He also will dedicate the altar of Panamas newly renovated 400-year-old cathedral, meet with bishops from Central America and have lunch with some of the young participants.

During his 26th trip outside Italy, the Pope is scheduled to deliver 7 speeches, celebrate 2 Masses and lead a penitential service.
The Conference of Catholic Bishops of India (CCBI), that comprises the countrys Latin-rite bishops, elected new leaders on January 12, during its 31st Plenary Assembly.

By Robin Gomes

Indias Latin-rite bishops on Saturday elected new office bearers.

Archbishop Filipe Neri Ferrao of Goa and Daman was elected the president of the Conference of Catholic Bishops of India (CCBI) during the 31st Plenary Assembly of the CCBI that is taking place at the seaside town of Mahabalipuram, in southern Indias Tamil Nadu state.

143 Latin-rite bishops from 132 Latin-rite dioceses are participating in the plenary meeting, January 7-14.

Arch. Ferrao takes over from Cardinal Oswald Gracias, Archbishop of Bombay, who served as president for three terms of two years each from 2013 to 2019.

Archbishop George Antonysamy of Madras and Mylapore has been re-elected vice president and Archbishop Anil Couto of Delhi has also been re-elected as secretary-general.

President

Archbishop Ferrao, 65, served as vice president from 2011 to 2017. He was appointed Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Goa and Damao at the age of 40, on 20 December, 1993. He was installed as the Archbishop on 21 March, 2004.

He also served as vice president of the Catholic Bishops Conference of India (CBCI), the apex body of the Catholic Church of India that brings together the bishops of the CCBI and the 2 eastern-rite Churches of India  the Syro-Malabar and the Syro-Malankara.

Archbishop Ferrao is currently the chairman of the Office of Education and Faith Formation ( OEFF ) of the Federation of Asian Bishops Conferences (FABC).

Vice President

Archbishop Antonysamy, 66, has held various responsibilities in the Holy Sees diplomatic missions in Africa, Asia and the Baltic nations. He served as Apostolic Nuncio to Guinea, Gambia, Liberia and Sierra Leone from 2005 to 2008. He was also Charge Daffaires of the Apostolic Nunciature in Jordan. In 2012 he was appointed the 6th Archbishop of Chennai-Mylapore Archdiocese.

Secretary-General

Archbishop Couto was appointed Auxiliary Bishop of Delhi in 2000 and was later transferred to Jullundur as bishop in 2007. Pope Benedict XVI appointed him Archbishop of Delhi in 2012.

The CCBI plenary assembly is deliberating on the theme The Joy of the Gospel to chart a detailed action plan to revitalize the ministry of love and compassion for the Church at the diocesan and parish levels.

Pope Francis

Pope Francis sent his blessing to the participants at the start of the CCBI plenary meeting praying that their discussions bear much fruit in their service of God's people, as they strive to grow in faith and charity. In a message sent by Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Pope urged that the faithful in India live out their vocation joyfully and generously.

Stocktaking

The Secretaries of the fourteen Commissions and the three Departments of the CCBI presented their biennial reports of the activities for the year 2017 and 2018.

The Bishops evaluated the programmes of the CCBI Commissions of Bible, Catechetics, Canon Law and Other Legislative Texts, Ecumenism, Family, Laity, Liturgy, Migration, Proclamation, Theology and Doctrine, Vocations, Women and Youth and the Departments of Pontifical Mission Organizations (PMO), Conference of Diocesan Priests of India (CDPI) and the Association of Rectors of Major Seminaries (ARMS).

Well-known theologian and preacher, Father Anil Dev IMS from Varanasi, conducted a one-day recollection for the plenary participants.

Until recently, Card. Gracias headed 3 important bishops conferences of Asia at the same time. He was president of the Federation of Asian Bishops Conferences (FABC) for 2 terms until December 31. He just ended his presidency of CCBI but continues to head the CBCI as president.

The CCBI is the largest bishops conference in Asia and the fourth largest in the world. It consists of 132 dioceses with 189 bishops.
With provisional results announced and opposition leader Felix Tshisekedi, declared winner of DRC's presidential vote, the National Episcopal Conference of Congo, CENCO, has said that the "the provisional results did not correspond to the data collected by observers of the Catholic Church in the Democratic Republic of the Congo."

Africa Service  Vatican City

DRCs election runner-up, opposition leader Martin Fayulu who was widely expected to win the vote described Tshisekedis victory as an 'electoral coup.'

The DRC remained mostly quiet since the announcement of a provisional winner. There were no significant protests in the capital, Kinshasa. Limited violence and some deaths were, however, reported elsewhere in the vast Central African country.

An uneasy calm

Tshisekedi supporters took to the streets to celebrate. Elsewhere was a sense of dismay coupled perhaps with a sense of pragmatism. To some, a Tshisekedi win is still better than a victory for the Governments candidate, Shadary. Nonetheless, there is still tension in the air, and a Constitutional challenge to the results could change the uneasy calm.

On Thursday night, Vatican News French Africa Service spoke with the Secretary-General of CENCO, Fr. Donatien Nshole.

"We note that the results of the presidential election as published by the National Independent Electoral Commission do not match the data collected by our observation mission from the polling and counting stations," Fr. Nshole told Vatican News.

CENCO urges citizens to show civic maturity

The Congolese Bishops Conference fearing widespread violence and repression and also because the law does not allow them to do so, has refused to say publicly who won according to its findings. Fr. Nshole instead urged Congolese citizens to "show civic maturity" and especially "avoid the use of violence."

He said, "In the event of a possible challenge to the provisional results by a party, we urge it to use legal means by the Constitution and the electoral law. CENCO opts for a peaceful procedure to challenge these provisional results. She invokes "Christ, Prince of Peace," so that He "illuminates the spirits and accompanies the country in this election period," Fr. Nshole said.

If all goes well, DRCs outcome of this election could be the first electoral transfer of power in 59 years since its independence.

(Additional reporting AP)
CNHI Deputy National Editor Jim Zachary is vice president of the Georgia First Amendment Foundation, regional editor for CNHI newspapers in Georgia, Florida, Mississippi, Alabama and Texas and editor of the Valdosta Daily Times. He can be reached at jzachary@cnhi.com
January 11, 2019 " Information Clearing House " - A number of prominent Jewish-American leaders are funding covert, anonymous campaigns targeting pro-Palestinian student activists, The Forward has found. The Jewish daily newspaper, which has been publishing valuable information concerning the source of funding for these hyper-aggressive and shadowy groups  which spearhead coordinated hate campaigns against critics of the Zionist state  has uncovered the identities of those behind hidden social media accounts.

Community heads and prominent Jewish organisations with a carefully-crafted, respectable public profile have donated millions to fund secret projects targeting students and lecturers, the report has found. On a number of occasions, their blind support for Israel has seen them bankroll far-right and anti-Muslim hate groups.

The latest pro-Israeli group to be exposed by The Forward is the campaign targeting the pro-Palestinian campus network Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP). SJP is said to be the most well-known advocate of the Palestinian cause on US campuses. It has been the target of a pro-Israel group known as SJP Uncovered, which anonymously attacks student activists affiliated with SJP across the country. With more than 100,000 followers on Facebook, SJP Uncovered has gone after pro-Palestinian students by maintaining a veil of anonymity that is said to be all-but impenetrable.

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Until now, the source of funding for SJP Uncovered had been a mystery. The Forward has now been able to shed light on the organisation to reveal that the site is a secret project of the Israel on Campus Coalition (ICC), a Washington DC-based pro-Israel organisation tied to most mainstream funders and organisations in the Jewish community.

On its official website, the ICC says that its vision is to create a campus environment where dialogue and ideas are freely exchanged about Israel. Publicly, the ICC presents a respectable face typical of nearly all pro-Israeli groups, but privately it is funding one of the most aggressive and shadowy student groups responsible for hateful campaigns against critics of the Zionist state. The Forward revealed that the ICC paid over $1 million in the 2016/2017 fiscal year to SJP Uncovered, in that time also running vicious campaigns against students with the aid of political consulting firms.

Until around 2014, the ICC is said to have been a standard pro-Israel advocacy group receiving donations from the largest and most mainstream Jewish-American foundations. In 2015, its operations changed to covert, anonymous campaigns targeting pro-Palestinian student activists, often with the help of top-tier paid professional political consultants, according to the investigative report.

Describing the change in focus, one former pro-Israeli campus official said: It was clear that the old way of doing business [] was not making the cut, and was not enough, and there was a totally new offensive approach to things. He added:

The overall framing was [that] the pro-Israel community is no longer going to sit back and let things happen, they are going to go on the offense [] It was very clear that going on the offensive to them meant going after students and the organizations that were bringing BDS.

With the change in emphasis in 2015 towards more aggressive campaigns, the ICC began hiring paid political consultants  including opposition researchers  to work on campuses. It transformed itself into a cog in what is often described as Israels secret global war against pro-Palestinian activists, which is operated by a dedicated ministry in Tel Aviv known as the Ministry of Strategic Affairs. Its main function is to spearhead Israels overt and covert efforts to smear the nonviolent Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement that is modelled on the global campaign that helped end Apartheid in South Africa. In November, the Electronic Intifada published in full an undercover Al Jazeera documentary that revealed some of the ministrys tactics. The documentary was censored, allegedly after Israel lobby pressure on Qatar, which funds Al Jazeera.

SJP Uncovered is one of many pro-Israel organisations to emerge from a new consensus within sections of the Jewish-American community. They believed that defeating the global BDS movement was a key priority, which could only be achieved through aggressive means. Such tactics, however, not only risked falling foul of the rules of respectable public institutions, it was bad for their image. The solution for Zionist and pro-Israel groups, both in the US and Israel, was to adopt secretive and clandestine tactics against their targets in an effort to protect their reputation. One of the best known of these operations is the formerly-anonymous website Canary Mission, which posts political dossiers on college students. The site went live in 2015, and has since grown to include dossiers on thousands of students.

A series of Forward exposes in October revealed that a foundation controlled by the Jewish Community Federation of San Francisco, a major Jewish charity with an annual budget of over $100 million, had donated $100,000 to the website, whose work has drawn comparisons to a McCarthyite blacklist. An Haaretz profile of the Canary Mission found that, for three years, the website had spread fear among undergraduate activists by posting more than a thousand political dossiers on student supporters of Palestinian rights. At the same time, the website had gone to great lengths to hide the digital and financial trail connecting it to its donors and staff. Registered through a secrecy service, the site had been untraceable until recently.

While the federation had assured that it was a one-time grant that would never happen again, the uncovering of a publicly respectable pro-Israel organisations giving funds to operate clandestine hate campaigns against pro-Palestinian activists triggered further investigations. The Canary Mission was just the tip of the iceberg, as tax filings seen by the magazine +972 showed that there was a pattern of systemic financing of radical right-wing and anti-Muslim groups.

Why was 2015 pivotal to this shift in strategy? Jewish leaders in the US, says Forward reporter Josh Nathan-Kazis, decided to spend significant communal resources attacking college students in that year because there was a coming-together of Israels spy culture and Jewish-American mega donors like Sheldon Adelson and Haim Saban. Both felt that the work being carried out by mainstream Jewish organisations was unsatisfactory. Wanting to shift the entire tenor of the Jewish communal approach to fighting anti-Semitism and BDS, major Jewish organisations were called to a secret meeting in Las Vegas, Nevada.

During this 2015 meeting, there was a consensus for a push towards more aggressive responses to BDS. A new initiative, named after Jewish guerrilla warriors Maccabees, was formed. On its website, the Maccabee taskforce  which claims that the BDS movement is spreading anti-Semitism across the world  says it is determined to help students combat this hate by bringing them the strategies and resources they need to tell the truth about Israel.

Strategies developed by Israeli think tanks like the Reut Institute became the playbook for the aggressive tactics that is said to have come into maturity during that period. These tactics, Nathan-Kazis explains, called for pro-Israel advocates to out, name and shame harsh critics of Israel, and to frame them [] as anti-peace, anti-Semitic, or dishonest purveyors of double standards. They talked about establishing a price tag for attacks on Israel and isolating advocacy groups that attack Israel, while organizing regular meetings of pro-Israel networks.

This article was originally published by

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File PhotoThe Federal Building in Valdosta is seen in this 2017 photo. Many federal operations in and around Lowndes County are still operating despite a partial federal government shutdown, though federal civil trials in the Middle District of Georgia  which includes Valdosta  have been postponed.
Improved survival? Improved staging (prognosis)

Longer recovery Increased complications

Hilar lymph nodes skipped in 1/3 of patients Only 20% of positive node disease is in an ipsilateral predictable location 30% are suprahilar (increases morbidity) 60-70% with positive node disease have concurrent distant metastases

It is impossible to predict which patient will develop lymph node-positive disease It is also impossible to predict the spread of the disease More than 50% of patients with positive node disease have distant metastases LND has not been shown to improve survival.

Toronto, Ontario (UroToday.com) The concept of lymph node dissection (LND) in renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is controversial. Past studies have reported mixed results. Population-based studies demonstrate that LND rates during surgery are decreasing in the US.However, some of the larger more experienced centers report an increased rate of LND.Recent data from the national cancer database (NCDB) demonstrate an LND usage of 5%, 23%, 31%, 47%, of T1, T2, T3, T4, respectively receiving LND.The likelihood of lymph node metastases varies by stage and grade with 1.1-5.1% of T1 disease and up to 12.3-37.1% in T4 disease.The potential benefits of LND include:The potential harms include:CT scans which are the most commonly used diagnostic imaging for identification of suspicious lymph nodes (with a cutoff of 1 cm) have a positive predictive value of 56% and a negative predictive value 90%. This means that half the positive lymph nodes on CT are actually not metastases.There is only one randomized controlled trial (EORTC 30881  Blom 2009) that assessed the correlation between LND and survival in these patients. There are, however, several systematic reviews that attempted to answer this question as well, and many retrospective studies with limited adjustment for biases and confounding. In the EORTC 30881 prospective randomized controlled study, 772 patients were randomized to either radical nephrectomy + LND or radical nephrectomy alone.The results showed no difference in survival between the two arms with a lymph node metastases rate of 4%, and similar complication rates in both arms. Although this is the best quality evidence we have, the trial was limited by a low rate of lymph node metastases, and unknown lymph node template/completion. Additionally, the surgeons were not blinded, and the LND was not standardized. Similarly, in the most recent systematic review, LND was not associated with improved mortality either.Lastly, in retrospective propensity score-adjusted data, LND did not improve metastases or survival rates.This was consistent in higher risk groups including those with clinical adenopathy.Dr. Lavallee moved on to discuss the possible reasons for the recurring outcomes, demonstrating no survival benefit in LND. Possible reasons include the fact that the spread of RCC is unpredictable, as opposed to other cancers such as testicular cancer. Additionally, the spread is both lymphatic and hematologic. Lastly, studies of patients with node-positive disease report:Figure 1 demonstrates the lack of predictability of lymph node metastases in different patients with RCC.If LND does not improve survival is it still worthwhile doing? That was the next question discussed by Dr. Lavallee. The EORTC 30881 randomized controlled trial demonstrated that LND is not without complication with a significant increase in the rate of bleeding, and a two-fold increase in the rate of embolism (9.4% vs. 6.5%, and 2.2% vs. 1.1%, respectively).An increased rate of complications associated with LND was also shown in retrospective data.LND was shown to be associated with a 40% increase in complications, especially in LND performed in metastatic patients. Importantly, the reporting of complication is not performed well in most studies with a considerable rate of under-reporting. Furthermore, most studies are published by centers of excellence, with high-volume surgeons. Whether this data could be generalized to all medical centers in the community as well, is not intuitively straight forward.Dr. Lavallee summarized his talk stating a few take-home messages:Therefore, for patients with clinical T1-T4 N0 disease  no LND is required, and for TxN1 disease, the evidence suggests that no LND is needed to improved survival.Presented by: Luke Thomas Lavallee, Associate Scientist, Clinical, Epidemiology Program, Ottawa Hospital Research InstituteUrologic Oncologist, Division of Urology, Department of Surgery, The Ottawa Hospital, General Campus, Assistant Professor, University of Ottawa
Further cytoreduction (reduce tumor burden) Potential to improve response to systemic therapy The presence of lymphadenopathy is associated with poor response to immunotherapy.

Metastasectomy offers potentially curative treatment for metastatic RCC Rendering patients with a no evidence of disease status may delay or avoid additional recurrence.

In non-metastatic RCC, resection of all sites of disease (including nodal disease) may be curative. LND should be performed in very High risk N0M0 RCC, and for most N1M0 RCC. In metastatic RCC, cytoreduction of nodal disease may improve response to systemic therapy and reduce tumor-mediated immunological suppression, although no survival benefit was demonstrated. The current practice is to not perform LND in clinical N0M0 mRCC and to perform LND in most cN1 mRCC cases. In recurrent RCC  metastasectomy of retroperitoneal recurrence is associated with durable survival in many patients.

Toronto, Ontario (UroToday.com) Dr. Rendon presented on the role of lymph node dissection (LND) in renal cell carcinoma (RCC). The rationale for LND in RCC is due to several factors including improved staging, improved prognostication, and improved oncologic outcomes.The performance of LND was discussed in several settings  M0 disease, M1 disease, and in recurrent retroperitoneal disease. As far back as 1990, retrospective studies were published to ascertain the role of LND in RCC, showing that 58% of the patients who underwent LND had benign nodes.Recent data showed that imaging remains a poor diagnostic test in the differentiation of malignant nodes, with only 42% of nodes larger than 13.7 mm being malignant.An important question to answer in the setting of non-metastatic RCC is to ascertain whether a durable disease-free survival can be achieved with surgical resection in patients with non-metastatic node-positive RCC. A study assessing this specific question demonstrated a 5-year disease-free survival of 39% for these patients. The favorable prognostic factors were: ECOG status 0, a single positive node, papillary histology (As opposed to clear cell), and absence of sarcomatoid features.Adverse prognostic features included older age, higher grade, Clear cell histology, inferior vena cava thrombus, tumor necrosis, and stage pT3/T4.Only a subset of patients with positive lymph nodes experiences a durable survival with surgery and node removal. In a study assessing these patients, with a median follow-up of 12.6 years, it was shown that only patients with low grade and low stage disease benefited from the removal of the nodes. A more recent study, assessing retroperitoneal lymph node dissection (RPLND) in high-risk non-metastatic patients demonstrated that out of 1943 patients, 36% underwent LND, and 24% of the patients who underwent LND had positive involved lymph nodes. The median follow-up was 67.9 months with the median number of nodes being removed being 3.The results demonstrated no difference in overall survival between patients who underwent RPLND vs. those who didnt.Patient selection is extremely important when deciding when to perform LND. In a study attempting to predict which patients would have positive lymph nodes, the following were found to be predictors: Tumor size >= 10 cm, pT3-T4, Grade 3-4, sarcomatoid features, and histologic tumor necrosis.When assessing the templates of LND during surgery, it was seen that there is no crossover to the contralateral great vessel. In other words, there were no isolated para-aortic positive lymph nodes for right tumors, and no isolated para-caval positive lymph nodes for left-sided tumors, as can be seen in figure 1. In summary, removing all lymph nodes in non-metastatic RCC may be curative, but prospective evidence is lacking. This is supported by the European Association of Urology (EAU) and National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) guidelines stating that LND is not recommended for localized tumors without clinical evidence of lymph node invasion. When Lymph nodes are enlarged, LND can be performed for staging purposes.Crispen PL et al. Eur Urol 2011Dr. Rendon moved on to discuss the role of RPLND in cytoreductive nephrectomy. The rationale for RPLND in this setting includes:One retrospective study demonstrated improved survival with LND in patients with node-positive metastatic RCC treated with immunotherapy.However, another more recent study assessing 305 patients who underwent cytoreductive nephrectomy with a median follow-up of 8.5 years, demonstrated that 24% had node-positive disease.However, in this study, LND was not associated with improved cancer-specific mortality. In summary, LND in metastatic RCC may improve response to systemic therapy and reduce tumor-mediated immunological suppression. However, no survival benefit was demonstrated in performing LND in this setting. Therefore, for N0 metastatic RCC LND should not be performed, while for node-positive metastatic RCC  LND should probably be performed.Lastly, Dr. Rendon discussed the role of RPLND in isolated RCC recurrence. The rationale for RPLND in this setting included:In a meta-analysis assessing the role of RPLND in this setting, eight studies were included with over 2200 patients, with the majority having clear cell histology. In this study, metastasectomy was shown to be associated with a durable response in some patients, but it did also improve staging and prognostication.In summary:Presented by: Ricardo Rendon, MD, FRCSC, Director of Clinical Trials Chair, Research CommitteeProfessor, Department of Urology, Dalhousie UniversityWritten by: Hanan Goldberg, MD, Urologic Oncology Fellow (SUO), University of Toronto, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, Twitter: @GoldbergHanan at the CUOS  Canadian Uro-Oncology Summit 2019, #CUOS19 January 10-12, 2019 Westin Harbour Castle, Toronto, Ontario, Canada References:1. Studer UE. Et al. J Urol 19902. Gershman B et al. BJU Int 20163. Delacroix SE et al. J Urol 20114. Trinh QD et al. BJU Int 20125. Gershman B. et al. Eur Urol 2017 6. Blom JHM et al. Eur Urol 20097. Ristau BT et al. J Urol 20188. Blute MJ et al. J Urol 20049. Pantuck AJ et al. J Urol 200310. Gershman B. et al. J Urol 2017 11. Zaid HB. et al. J Urol 2016Further Related Content:
Toronto, Ontario (UroToday.com) There is ample evidence demonstrating that immunotherapy works well in urothelial cancer with multiple phase 1,2, and three studies resulting in fast FDA approval of several immunotherapy agents in urothelial carcinoma. These agents are generally well-tolerated. Overall survival rates with these agents have been shown to improve when given in the 2line setting. Not all patients respond, but those that do, generally do quite well. Immunotherapy is progressively being given at earlier stages of the disease, and the results of these studies will be coming out soon. However, immunotherapy does not work in all patients, and although toxicities are rare, they can be quite severe. To date, no good predictive biomarker exists to differentiate which patients will respond well to this treatment, and which wont.Due to this, the authors of the presented study, led by Dr. Bernie Eigl decided to pursue several projects to develop predictive biomarkers for immunotherapy in urothelial carcinoma. The first research project presented, assessed whether circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) profiling can predict for immunotherapy response in urothelial carcinoma. The authors attempted to answer several questions in this study:1. Whether they can even sequence ctDNA from metastatic urothelial carcinoma (MUC) patients?2. Whether the metastatic landscape is similar to the tissue-based analyses?3. Does ctDNA profile match patient tissue profile?4. Is there a pre-treatment profile that predicts response/failure to immunotherapy?The authors collected 85 plasma samples to date from 51 muscle-invasive bladder cancer patients (14 patients had localized muscle-invasive bladder cancer, and 37 patients had nodal and/or distant metastatic disease). The ctDNA yields were lower in patients with localized disease, compared to patients with metastatic disease. The authors concluded from the sampling made so far, that the sequencing of ctDNA from MUC patients is feasible, and that the metastatic landscape is similar to that of tissue-based analyses. Lastly, the ctDNA profile matched the patient tissue profile. This project is still ongoing, and we look forward to seeing the final published results.The 2project presented was ascertaining whether T-cell population profiling by mass cytometry can predict for immunotherapy response in urothelial carcinoma. It is known that T-cell infiltration or high-PD-L1 in tissue can predict for response to immunotherapy, but not well enough. The authors tried to discover a circulating T-cell profile that correlates well with response to immunotherapy. They are using the mass cytometry to distinguish different CD8+ population T-cells and various metabolic parameters. This study is still in very early stages, but the authors are quite optimistic, citing a study that demonstrated that T cell invigoration to tumor burden ratio was associated with the anti-PD-1 response.We look forward to seeing their results, as they mature.Presented by: Bernie Eigl, MD, FRCPC, Medical Oncologist, Provincial Director, Systemic Therapy Clinical Trials, Vancouver, British Columbia, CanadaWritten by: Hanan Goldberg, MD, Urologic Oncology Fellow (SUO), University of Toronto, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, Twitter: @GoldbergHanan at the CUOS  Canadian Uro-Oncology Summit 2019, #CUOS19 January 10-12, 2019 Westin Harbour Castle, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

References:1. Huang AC et al. Nature 2017
Toronto, Ontario (UroToday.com) In this discussion, Dr. Bellmunt presented the standard of care in second-line management of advanced bladder cancer and gave an update on targeted therapies. He also discussed some of the phase 2 and phase 3 trials with PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors, and associated biomarkers.Up until recently, there had been no treatment changes in the last 30 years for second-line therapy for metastatic urothelial carcinoma (MUC). There had been no 2line FDA approved treatments for this entity for a significant period. However, in the last year aside from the discovery of the important role of immune checkpoint inhibitors, there have been several additional novel agents that have demonstrated promising results. One of those novel agents is Enfortumab vedotin (EV), which is an antibody-drug conjugate that delivers a microtubule-disrupting agent to tumors expressing Nectin-4 (which is mostly overexpressed in urothelial cancers). It was found to be expressed in 93% of MUC samples.The EV-101 phase 1 study was a dose escalation and expansion study, with EV administered on days 1,8, and 15 of a 28-day cycle. This drug showed promising results and phase 2/3 studies are ongoing.Another novel agent is Erdafitinib in FGFR altered MUC. It is an experimental small molecule inhibitor of FGFR. A phase 2 study evaluating multiple doses and schedules of this drug demonstrated an impressive objective response rate (ORR) of 40%. There are studies evaluating the effect of other FGFR inhibitors (Rogaratibin), and active agents in the RTK/RAS pathway, and PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway.Dr. Bellmunt moved on to discuss the role of immune checkpoint inhibitors in MUC. There are currently 7 US FDA, and 5 EAU approved treatments for use in urothelial carcinoma (Figure 1). The immune checkpoint inhibitors used in the platinum-refractory setting are shown in figure 2, and those used as the first line in cisplatin-ineligible patients are shown in figure 3. The significantly fast approval of this agents by the FDA and EAU is quite impressive. However, the FDA had recently issued an alert (May 2018) that monotherapy with pembrolizumab or atezolizumab given in a trial to patients with low PD-L1 status had decreased their survival compared to patients who received cisplatin or carboplatin-based chemotherapy. Therefore, the recommendation had changed, and in the ongoing trials, these treatments should be offered only to patients with high PD-L1 status. For the low PD-L1 status patients, carboplatin based-chemotherapy should continue to be given.There have been two second-line phase 3 trials in MUC: The Keynote-045 trial , comparing pembrolizumab to the standard of care, and IMvigor211 trial, comparing atezolizumab to the standard of care. These trials demonstrated improved overall survival for the immune checkpoint inhibitors in the intention to treat analyses. Figure 4 nicely demonstrates the evolution of systemic therapy for urothelial cancer as of 2019. Figure 5 demonstrates all the ongoing trials for all stages of urothelial carcinoma: including non-muscle invasive, muscle-invasive, treatment-naive metastatic patients, and pretreated metastatic patients.An important trial to mention is the PURE-01 ( NCT02736266 ) trial of neoadjuvant pembrolizumab before radical cystectomy for muscle-invasive bladder cancer.This trial showed a complete pathologic response to pembrolizumab in 39.5% of patients. Another trial in the same setting is the ABACUS phase 2 single-arm trial of neoadjuvant atezolizumab before radical cystectomy.This trial demonstrated 29% pathological complete response in all patients together, 40% complete response in PD-L1 positive patients only, and 16% complete response in PD-L1 negative patients only. There are currently other risk-adapted neoadjuvant studies in development.Lastly, for the setting of non-muscle invasive BCG refractory bladder cancer, the KEYNOTE-057 single arm phase 2 trial was developed ( NCT02625961 ).In this study, pembrolizumab demonstrated a promising complete response rate of 38.8%.The last topic discussed by Dr. Bellmunt was the need for biomarkers in all various bladder cancer disease settings. One such suggested biomarker is the tumor mutational burden, which correlates with response to immune checkpoint inhibitor blockade in multiple solid tumors.Dr. Bellmunt concluded his talk describing the new consensus molecular classification of muscle-invasive bladder cancer, which now demonstrates six distinct subtypes of bladder cancer (basal/Squamous, Luminal Papillary, Luminal Unstable, Stroma-rich, Luminal Non-Specified, and Neuroendocrine-like), as seen in figure 6. These would help direct proper treatment for the right subtype of bladder cancer. According to Dr. Bellmunt, in the future we will see that the combination of various immunotherapy agents will be the key to improving outcomes. An enormous challenge in the field is to find which combination works best in which tumor, and which patient within that tumor type. There is still a need to better understand the biology behind immunotherapy and discover effective biomarkers that would aid diagnosis and treatment decisions.References:Presented by: Joaquim Bellmunt, MD, Associate Professor of Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical SchoolWritten by: Hanan Goldberg, MD, Urologic Oncology Fellow (SUO), University of Toronto, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, Twitter: @GoldbergHanan at the CUOS  Canadian Uro-Oncology Summit 2019, #CUOS19 January 10-12, 2019 Westin Harbour Castle, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
(@FahadShabbir)

MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 12th January, 2019) UN Special Envoy for Yemen Martin Griffiths praised in an interview with Sputnik Russia's role in the Yemeni crisis settlement, claiming that all the parties to the conflict were listening to it.

Griffiths commended his "close and continuous" contacts with officials working in the Russian Embassy in Yemen, particularly with Russian Ambassador to Yemen Vladimir Dedushkin. He said that Dedushkin, along with all other ambassadors from the UN Security Council member states, had helped the Yemeni warring parties to achieve such an agreement during their talks in Sweden in December that the council would support.

"So Russia is a full part of the process, and Vladimir [Dedushin] is a very active ambassador, which is extremely welcome ... Russia is listened to by all parties, and that gives it a very special role, that's why for me as a UN envoy, it's very important to come here to meet the Russian officials," Griffiths said, emphasizing that the Yemeni-Russian partnership made a "huge difference."

Griffiths voiced belief that the Yemeni conflict was not a "minor local" one, since the country was the scene of "the biggest humanitarian problem in the world." The envoy emphasized that Yemen was a "strategically important" country in terms of regional stability.

"My Primary role, of course, [is] to make sure the Yemenis ... make the decision to end this war .

.. and secondly that the diplomacy  of Russia and others  is marshaling in the most useful way ... So, diplomacy and mediation have to work in sync of each other," Griffiths said.

According to Griffiths, parties involved in the crisis settlement need to make sure that the sides of the conflict receive support when they are making decisions.

"The Security Council is united, and that it extremely important, because what diplomacy can do, what [Security Council] member states can do  Russia included  is to make sure that the parties are supported when they make an agreement. For example the [UN] monitors that we want to deploy, that's a Security Council decision. And you know, we all notice, when the Security Council makes a decision ... the parties particularly do," Griffiths said.

In December, the UN-mediated discussions in Sweden between Yemen's warring parties concluded with an agreement to cease hostilities in and withdraw forces from the port of Al Hudaydah. The parties also agreed to create a UN-chaired monitoring committee in addition to establishing humanitarian corridors to the city of Taizz, as well as exchange more than 4,000 prisoners of war.

Earlier in the day, Griffiths met with Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Vershinin in Moscow to discuss the situation in Yemen with a focus on perspectives for the Stockholm agreement implementation.
Those who sent three Russian journalists to their death in the Central African Republic (CAR) ignored basic safety rules, Russian Journalists' Union Secretary Timur Shafirov told Sputnik on Saturday

MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 12th January, 2019) Those who sent three Russian journalists to their death in the Central African Republic (CAR) ignored basic safety rules, Russian Journalists' Union Secretary Timur Shafirov told Sputnik on Saturday.

The Investigations Management Center (TsUR) of Russian opposition figure Mikhail Khodorkovsky sent Orkhan Dzhemal, Kirill Radchenko and Alexander Rastorguyev to the war-torn country in the summer of 2018 to film a documentary about Russian military instructors working in the country.

"The murder of our colleagues .

.. is a tragedy that was set in motion when planning began for their trip to this most dangerous country for journalists. What we know points to a failure by the organizers to follow basic safety rules during preparations and the trip itself," Shafirov said.

Russia has been conducting a criminal probe into the triple murder. Investigative Committee spokeswoman Svetlana Petrenko said on Friday the journalists had been traveling by car at night when they had been ambushed by Arab-speaking gunmen in a robbery attempt.
Minister of State for Climate Change Zartaj Gul Wazir Friday said that every year around 54,000 children die of diarrhea across the country

KARACHI, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 11th Jan, 2019 ) :Minister of State for Climate Change Zartaj Gul Wazir Friday said that every year around 54,000 children die of diarrhea across the country.

Addressing, as the chief guest, the inaugural ceremony of the 5th international conference on "Environmental Horizon, Sounding the Alarm! Environment, Climate Change and Health" at Professor Salimuzaman Siddiqui Auditorium, International Center for Chemical and Biological Sciences (ICCBS), University of Karachi (KU), she said that Pakistan, as a great nation, had to battle with the dilemma of climate change and environmental degradation, said a press release issued here.

The minister asked the citizens to follow the vision of the Prime Minister, and plant trees in the metropolis to make it green, clean and beautiful.

The international event was jointly organised by the Karachi University's Department of Chemistry, ICCBS, and the University's Office of Research Innovation and Commercialization.

She said that her ministry was following the vision of Prime Minister Imran Khan to make the county green and beautiful. She regretted that untreated waste water was being released into ocean.

The minister stated that the student, listening to her in the auditorium, were her target audience, and said that Pakistan had the largest population of youth. She maintained that the nation needed to make the youth aware about the importance of forests and clean and green environment for human survival.

She appreciated the KU for organizing such a useful international conference.

Meanwhile, ICCBS Director Professor Dr. Iqbal Choudhary pointed out that Pakistan was the seventh most vulnerable country to climate change.

He said that climate change and environmental degradation should be treated as a communal problem.

Quoting statistics issued by international organizations, he said that the country was suffering from many ecological challenges posing severe threats to the human health and life.

In Pakistan environmental issues included deforestation, air pollution, water pollution, noise pollution, climate change, pesticide misuse, soil erosion, natural disasters and desertification, Professor Choudhary said.

Special Secretary Health Dabeer A. Khan said that the provincial government was fighting against various health issues and diseases which were directly associated with the environmental degradation and climate change.

Speaking on the issue, World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) Director General Pakistan Hammad Naqi Khan said that it was the right time to take concrete measures to address environmental challenges in the country. He said that deforestation and the reduction of freshwater resources were the major environmental issues in Pakistan which were adversely impacting the environment, health and economy of the country.

Chairman Chemistry Department Professor Dr. Majid Mumtaz, and two American delegates including Dr. James Schauer also spoke on the occasion. The event will conclude on Sunday.
(@FahadShabbir)

H.H. Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, today met with Yusuf bin Alawi bin Abdullah, the Sultanate of Oman's Minister Responsible for Foreign Affairs, to review ways of further boosting relations between the two sisterly countries across all fields

ABU DHABI, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News / WAM - 12th Jan, 2019) H.H. Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, today met with Yusuf bin Alawi bin Abdullah, the Sultanate of Oman's Minister Responsible for Foreign Affairs, to review ways of further boosting relations between the two sisterly countries across all fields.

The meting, which took place at the Abu Dhabi Presidential Airport, addressed a series of regional issues of common interest.

H.H. Sheikh Abdullah commended the brotherly relations binding the two countries, under the leadership of President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, and Sultan Qaboos bin Said of Oman, underlining the UAE's determination to develop cooperation across all fronts.

The Omani minister commended the historical relations between the two countries under the support and wise vision of the two countries' leadership.

Attending the meeting were Ahmed Ali Al Balooshi, Director of the GCC Affairs Department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and Dr Khalid bin Said bin Salim Al Jaradi, Ambassador of the Sultanate of Oman to UAE.
(@rukhshanmir)

Since the eruption of massive protests in Nicaragua in April, 2018, the country has suffered losses amounting to some $1.1 billion, President of Nicaraguan Central Bank Ovidio Reyes said

MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 11th January, 2019) Since the eruption of massive protests in Nicaragua in April 2018 , the country has suffered losses amounting to some $1.1 billion , President of Nicaraguan Central Bank Ovidio Reyes said.

"Foreign investment has halved ... by $700 or $800 million. Not to mention tourism, we were the first to warn that tourism would be paralyzed ... We expected $960 million of income from tourism, but only $540 million were received, and only because the first three months were profitable," Reyes said, as quoted by the TN8 broadcaster on Thursday.

Moreover, some 130,000 people in the Latin American country have lost their jobs since the beginning of the crisis, according to the official.

Nicaragua has been in the international focus since April when people took to the streets to protest unpopular social security reforms announced by Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega. After several days of protests, Ortega canceled the reforms, but the protests, which were accompanied by violence and clashes, have nevertheless continued.

In November, the Nicaraguan Foreign Ministry said 198 people were killed, including police officers, and more than 1,200 others were injured during the protests, although the Organization of American States' figures indicated that some 300 people killed and 2,000 others injured.
A celebration of the life for John Robert "Bobby" Brown, 72, will be held at his residence on Wednesday, June 16, 2021, at 10 a.m. Bobby was born in Dublin, but his home was Baldwin County. He was predeceased by his parents, John Preston "Pete" Brown and Virginia Watson Brown. He was retired
Beyond the Stigma, a series exploring solutions to the states addiction and mental health challenges, is sponsored by the New Hampshire Solutions Journalism Lab at the Nackey S. Loeb School of Communications and funded by the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation, Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, NAMI New Hampshire, and private individuals. Contact reporter Shawne K. Wickham at swickham@unionleader.com. To read previous stories in this series, visit: unionleader.com/stigma.
Commenting on the violent attack of riot police forces against a school teachers' demonstration on Friday in downtown Athens, the General Secretary of the CC of the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) Dimitris Koutsoumbas pointed out:

"Today's vicious attack by police forces against educators, which also resulted in the serious injury of KKE's MP Giannis Delis who is hospitalized, proves that the SYRIZA-ANEL government is ruthless. Seems that through this way Mr. Tsipras - like his predecessors- intends to "tie up his loose ends", that is to complete the dirty job he has undertaken".

In a statement , the Press Office of the CC of the KKE,

apart from the condemnation of police brutality against the protesters,

underlines that "this attack shows that the SYRIZA-ANEL government has no hesitation at all in order to impose its policy which, in the sector of teachers, is expressed through the hostageship and unemployment of thousands of contract-based and unappointed teachers, as well as with the thousand of vacant placesa at schools".
UNITED NATIONS, Jan. 11 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese envoy on Friday asked the international community to continue to assist the government of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in maintaining peace and stability in the country at a crucial juncture after elections.

The international community should show full respect for the national sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of the DRC and the authority of the national electoral commission, Ma Zhaoxu, China's permanent representative to the United Nations, told the Security Council.

"We see elections as a country's internal affair. We believe that the people of the DRC have the ability and wisdom to resolve relevant issues in their own way. We hope that parties in the DRC can stay calm, exercise restraint and resolve differences through dialogue and negotiation so as to maintain peace and stability."

A peaceful handover of power is in the interests of the DRC people, and is conducive to peace, stability and development of the DRC and the African continent as a whole, he said.

The Chinese envoy also asked the international community to keep up humanitarian assistance. The Ebola epidemic in the northeast of the DRC also requires continued support from the international community, he said.

China has been a staunch supporter of DRC's peace process and will continue to provide medical, food and other assistance, remain engaged in the country's social and economic development, he said.

Presidential, legislative and provincial elections were held in the DRC on Dec. 30 after long and repeated delays. Provisional results were released on Wednesday.
Jayme Closs, the 13-year-old girl missing since her parents were found shot to death in their Barron, Wis., home three months ago, was found alive in northern Wisconsin on Thursday evening and was being reunited with her family.
A public hearing on two bills filed by Democrats to reverse election law changes made in the past two years by Republicans drew a capacity crowd to the State House on Thursday.
Winchester Fire Chief Barry Kellom and Winchester Police Lt. Mike Tollett said the probe confirmed that Joseph Champagne had shot off his 12-gauge slug-style shotgun and that the shell traveled through the exterior wall of nearby 156 Keene Road and went across Route 10 and into the Stateline Fireworks store, setting off the immediate ignition of fireworks stored inside.
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But Maas said he had told U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo that sanctions targeting Nord Stream 2 would not be appropriate.

Germany will try to protect German and European companies from some potentially "massive collateral damage" if Washington levies further sanctions against Russia, Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said on Friday.

Maas, speaking on Friday at a new year reception of the German Committee on East European Economic Relations, an industry group, said he expected the newly elected U.S. congress to move swiftly to bring new sanctions against Moscow, Reuters reported.

Read alsoU.S. may impose new sanctions on Russia, arm Ukraine after Kerch  Ex-ambassador Herbst

"Our aim is to reach agreement (with the U.S. on sanctions) and protect German and European companies from the in some cases massive collateral damage," he said.

He did not give further details but his remarks are likely to cheer German exporters hard hit by European Union and U.S. sanctions imposed after Moscow invaded and annexed parts of Ukraine in 2014.

Washington has led the way in demanding tougher measures against Moscow, while Germany, which has deep trade ties with Russia and depends on it for much of its imported gas, has been far more cautious.

"For us sanctions ... only make sense when, as with the EU's sanctions, they are tied to clear, fulfillable conditions," said Maas, in an apparent softening of his more hawkish tone on Russia when he took office last year. "Sadly, that is no longer the case for U.S. sanctions."

Earlier, the industry group's chairman Wolfgang Buechele had criticized the U.S. sanctions for being too vague and unclear for German exporters to adhere to, pleading for German government backing if they were further tightened.

The EU last month extended for a further six months sanctions targeting Russia's financial, energy and defense sectors. They were originally imposed in July 2014 after Russia's annexation of Ukraine's Crimean peninsula.

The U.S. expanded its sanctions in December, adding 15 members of Russian military intelligence and four entities involved in alleged election interference to a blacklist that allows for their assets to be frozen.

The new Democrat majority in the U.S. House of Representatives, incensed by allegations of collaboration between President Donald Trump's campaign team and Russian lobbyists, is preparing congressional hearings on Trump's alleged Russia ties.

A particular focus of both their and Trump's ire is the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline, which, by supplying Germany with Russian gas directly under the Baltic Sea, will cut Ukraine out of lucrative transit fees even as it fends off a Russian-backed insurrection in its east.

But Maas said he had told U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo that sanctions targeting Nord Stream 2 would not be appropriate.

"(Russian President Vladimir) Putin agreed last year to continue gas transit through Ukraine," he said. "Nord Stream 2 isn't Germany and Russia going it alone. I say to critics of the project: questions of European energy policy must be decided in Europe, not the U.S."
The Ukrainian side to the Joint Control and Coordination Center says Russian proxies target UAVs to conceal their fire on the positions of Ukraine's Joint Forces.

Russian occupation forces in Luhansk region have gunned down an unmanned aerial vehicle of OSCE Special Monitoring Mission.

Conducting a mini-unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) flight to observe a snow removal operation near Popasna over the T-0504 road, the OSCE SMM "heard six bursts of small-arms fire approximately 1.5-2km east of its position, which it assessed as aimed at the UAV. The mini-UAV lost altitude and the SMM lost control over the UAV and was unable to recover it," according to the OSCE SMM spot report of Jan 10.

Read alsoDonbas warzone: Ukraine reports two WIAs as Russian proxies violate truce seven times in past day

According to the Ukrainian side to the JCCC, provocative actions of Russian army's mercenaries intend to conceal their fire in the direction of the Joint Forces.

The Ukrainian side to the JCCC considers the actions of Russian occupation forces against the OSCE SMM patrols inadmissible and irresponsible, qualifying them as a gross violation of Minsk agreements.

With such armed attacks, the occupiers are trying to intimidate OSCE mission officials and force them to curtail their operations in Luhansk region, the report reads.
On January 15, the trial will start in their "illegal border crossing" case.

Wounded Ukrainian sailors who were captured by Russia's FSB in neutral waters in the Kerch Strait area and are now being held in the Matrosskaya Tishina pre-trial detention facility in Moscow have not been given any medication since the beginning of 2019, that's according to Liudmyla Denisova, the Verkhovna Rada human rights envoy.

"We already have information from our consuls who visited our wounded men yesterday. Unfortunately, I have to say that, since the new year start, no medications have been provided to our wounded. At the same time, they still require treatment, support, rehabilitation, and some actions on the part of the doctors," told Denisova.

She added that the three men will soon be transferred to the Lefortovo remand center.

The trial in their "illegal border crossing" case will start January 15.

Read alsoOver 80 Russian lawyers ready to defend 24 captive Ukrainian sailors

The Ombudsperson also reported on the state of health or Ukrainian sailors held in the Matrosskaya Tishina: Artemenko's left hand is not yet moving poorly. Another x-ray showed there's a fragment inside. Something needs to be done; he needs rehabilitation."

Andriy Eider, the youngest of detainees, is able to walk without assistance as his injured leg's mobility has been restored. However, he requires more treatment.

Vasyl Soroka's wrist is not yet working properly, according to Denisova.

As UNIAN reported earlier, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Pavlo Klimkin said Russia would exploit the issue of the release of Ukrainian sailors and political prisoners captured by Moscow in the context of the upcoming Ukraine elections.

Read alsoEU urges Russia to immediately release Ukrainian sailors, Pavlo Hryb, Edem Bekirov, other political prisoners

On November 25, Russia blocked the passage to the Kerch Strait for the Ukrainian tugboat "Yany Kapu" and two armored naval boats "Berdyansk" and "Nikopol," which were on a scheduled re-deployment from the Black Sea port of Odesa to the Azov Sea port of Mariupol.

The Ukraine Navy Command noted that the Russian side had been informed of the plans to re-deploy the vessels in advance in accordance with international standards to ensure the safety of navigation.

As the Ukrainian boats were heading back in the Odesa direction after being rejected passage via the Kerch Strait, Russian coast guards opened aimed fire on them.

All 24 crew members on board were captured and later remanded in custody for two months, being charged with "illegal border crossing" (the sailors are facing up to six years in prison).

Three crewmen were wounded in the attack.

All detained sailors have declared themselves prisoners of war.
The enemy did not employ artillery and mortars.

On January 11, two servicemen of the Joint Forces were injured as a result of the attacks of Russian occupation forces in eastern Ukraine's zone of hostilities, the JF Operation Headquarters reports.

"Pro-Russian militants violated the ceasefire seven times. At the same time, they did not shell positions of the Armed Forces of Ukraine from weapons prohibited by Minsk Agreements (artillery and mortars)," the report said.

Read alsoThursday "shelling of utility truck" in Donbas Russia's staged provocation  OSINT group

It is noted that the enemy opened fire from grenade launchers of various types, large-caliber machine guns, and small arms on Ukraine Army's fortified positions in the area of the Kriakivka village on the Luhansk line, Novomykhailivka in the Donetsk direction, and also near Vodiane, twice outside Lebedynske and twice near Hnutovo in the Mariupol direction.

Joint Forces returned fire in response to enemy provocations.

According to intelligence data, on January 11, two invaders were killed and another two were injured.
Activists and human rights defenders in Ukraine were outraged by the extradition of Russian citizen Tumgoev to Russia in September 2018.

Ukraine has decided not to extradite a citizen of Russia who was a member of Ukraine's Right Sector organization fighting against Russian-led forces in Donbas, eastern Ukraine.

"Today Deputy Prosecutor General Eugene Enin has decided not to extradite to the Russian Federation a citizen of the Russian Federation, a member of the Right Sector organization, whom Russia holds criminally liable for participation in the war for independence of Ukraine," Press Secretary of the Prosecutor General of Ukraine Larysa Sargan wrote on Facebook on Friday, January 11.

Read alsoKyiv court frees ex-CEO of Ukrainian agro holding extradited from Switzerland to Ukraine

"Not a single real volunteer will ever be handed over to the aggressor," she added.

According to UNIAN, Ukraine on September 12, 2018, extradited resident of Ingushetia, the Russian Federation, Timur Tumgoev to Russia. The extradition was sanctioned by the Prosecutor General's Office of Ukraine (PGO). Russia charged him with participating as a member of an illegal armed formation, which was part of the Islamic State organization and participated in hostilities against Syria's government forces.

The PGO insisted that the extradition was held in compliance with the requirements of Ukrainian legislation and international treaties. Activists and human rights defenders in Ukraine were outraged by the decision. They said Tumgoev was a volunteer who fought on the side of Ukraine against Russian's hybrid military forces.

Commander of the Ukrainian Volunteer Army Andriy Herhert (nom de guerre "Cherven") said that Russia might eliminate Tumgoev, as he is a personal enemy of Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov.

On September 20, a criminal case was opened under Part 2 of Article 367 (breach of a duty) of the Criminal Code of Ukraine to verify the circumstances of the extradition of Tumgoev to Russia. The PGO's inspection jointly with the main investigation department of the SBU Security Service of Ukraine conducted a pretrial investigation into the actions of officials of the PGO, the SBU, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the State Migration Service.
Denisova is convinced it is love for their Homeland that will help Ukrainian political prisoners "live through all tortures and win."

More than 80 Ukrainians are being illegally held in Russian prisons, according to Verkhovna Rada Commissioner for Human Rights Liudmyla Denisova, who recalled that today Ukraine marks Day of Ukrainian political prisoner.

The Russian regime, surpassing Soviet totalitarianism, once again launched terror campaign against the Ukrainian people. It seeks to completely eliminate the linguistic, cultural, and national identity in the occupied territories of our state. This is happening massively in the occupied Crimea. People are being abducted, searched, arrested, tortured, indicted on trumped up charges. In reality, Ukrainians can become political prisoners in Russia only for their civil stance, the Ombudsperson noted.

She recalled that among modern political prisoners are Oleh Sentsov, Stanislav Klykh, Pavlo Hryb, Roman Sushchenko, Kazim Ametov, Asan Chapukh, Bekir Degermendzhi, Remzi Memetov, and Nuri Primov.

Read alsoEU urges Russia to immediately release Ukrainian sailors, Pavlo Hryb, Edem Bekirov, other political prisoners

In total, over 80 citizens of Ukraine are being held in Russian prisons for their political views, added Denisova.

She also quoted political prisoner Volodymyr Balukh as saying at his show trial: Everyone chooses the price for their love for Homeland.

At the same time, the Ombudsperson is convinced it is love for their Homeland that will help Ukrainian political prisoners "live through all tortures and win."

Denisova reminded that deputy leaders of the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar people Ilmi Umerov and Ahtem Chiygoz had not broken down in Russian prisons, and now they are free.

The Ombudsperson assured that she would make every effort to ensure the release of all compatriots.
Russia has been abusing its veto power in the organization, paralyzing its work.

Volodymyr Yelchenko, Chairman of Ukraine's Permanent Mission to the United Nations, has stressed Ukraine's position in favor of phasing out veto powers in the UN Security Council.

It is important to find an active model of UN participation in addressing the complex challenges Ukraine is facing in the context of the ongoing Russian aggression  in the political, security, and humanitarian dimensions, Yelchenko wrote in an op-ed for the Dzerkalo Tyzhnia weekly.

The Ambassador has added that Ukraine has taken a pro-active position on the issue of reforming the UN Security Council.

The diplomat is convinced there should be more Eastern European states in the body.

Read alsoRussia, being aggressor state, cannot veto Ukraine's accession to EU, NATO  Poroshenko

Also, our state consistently supports the phased abolition of the veto right, which is especially important against the background of aggression against Ukraine waged by Russia, one of the permanent UNSC members, wrote Yelchenko.

Due to Russia abusing the veto, the Council  be it during hearings on the Russia-Ukraine conflict, the downing of the Malaysian MH17 aircraft, or the Salisbury issue, or Syria  is paralyzed, Yelchenko stressed.

The envoy added that, if a permanent member of the Security Council is a party to a conflict, like the Russian Federation is in regards to Ukraine, they should be limited in its ability to use the veto on matters in which they are a party of interest.
Presently it is impossible to legally bury pets in Kyiv.

Kyiv's authorities plan to open the first official pet cemetery by the end of 2020.

In 2019, it is planned to build 60% of the facility with UAH 2 million, or about US$71,000, to be allocated from this year's budget, according to the online magazine Novoe Vremya (NV).

"We've planned only UAH 2 million in 2019," Taras Panchiy, the head of the municipal development department, told Radio NV. "The facility requires full evaluation, as it is an unfinished construction project. And when we have a full inventory, full evaluation indicating what needs to be dismantled, we will be able to launch the project. This means that its active phase will begin late in 2019 or in 2020.

Read alsoAnimal rights activists hold rallies in 20 Ukrainian cities (Photos, video)

It is impossible to legally bury pets in Kyiv now. Locals have to bury their pets on their own at one of the unofficial cemeteries in the city.

The local authorities first addressed the question of building a pet cemetery almost 15 years ago, and in 2007, Kyiv City Council passed a decision according to which pets should be buried only in specially designated areas, but the cemetery has never been built.

The local authorities estimated the project at more than UAH 20 million (US$4 million at a forex rate in 2007). The facility was expected to occupy four and a half hectares of land. They also planned a crematorium (a cremation facility) and a columbarium (repository for animal ashes). Now there are several unfinished facilities there. As of 2008, some UAH 13 million (US$1.7 million at a forex rate in 2008) was spent the construction, and two years later the project was frozen.

The official pet burial site will be built in the Troyeshchyna area in the city's Desniansky district, where one of the unofficial cemeteries is located. Another big unofficial cemetery is in the Rusanivka area, Dniprovsky district. Single pet burial sites can be found in the center of Kyiv as well.
We left everything in Venezuela. We dont have a place to live or sleep and have nothing to eat. Nayebis Carolina Figuera, a 34-year-old from Venezuela who fled to neighbouring Brazil

In the past, Venezuela hosted thousands of refugees from the region and other parts of the world. Now the number of Venezuelans compelled to leave their homes continues to increase, and a significant number of them are in need of international protection. Over 4 million Venezuelans have left their country to date, according to data from governments receiving them, making this among the worlds biggest recent displacement crises.

There has been an 8,000 per cent increase in the number of Venezuelans seeking refugee status worldwide since 2014, principally in the Americas. Many Venezuelans who would meet the criteria are not registering for refugee procedures and are instead opting for alternative legal forms of stay, which are easier and faster to obtain and allow access to work, education and social services.

However, hundreds of thousands of Venezuelans remain without any documentation or permission to stay regularly in nearby countries, and therefore lack guaranteed access to basic rights. This makes them particularly vulnerable to labour and sexual exploitation, trafficking, violence, discrimination and xenophobia.

The majority of refugees and migrants from Venezuela arriving in neighbouring countries are families with children, pregnant women, elderly people and people with disabilities. Often obliged to take irregular routes to reach safety, they may fall prey to smugglers, traffickers and irregular armed groups. As more and more families arrive with fewer and fewer resources, they are in immediate need of documentation, protection, shelter, food and medicine.

Host countries and communities in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Mexico, Panama, Peru and the southern Caribbean have been generously welcoming them, but are increasingly overstretched and some are reaching a saturation point.

We walked for 11 days and had to sleep outside. We left because they threatened to kill us. My brother was killed They almost killed me. Ana, Venezuelan woman in Ecuador

What is UNHCR doing to help?

Throughout the region, UNHCR has stepped up its response and is working closely with host governments and partners, particularly IOM, to support a coordinated and comprehensive approach to the needs of refugees and migrants from Venezuela. Concretely, we are collecting data to better understand the specific needs of Venezuelans; supporting States to improve reception conditions, coordinate the provision of information and assistance to meet Venezuelans immediate basic needs including shelter; and combating discrimination and xenophobia through awareness campaigns.

Notably, we have strengthened our presence along key borders to limit to the extent possible risks, in particular with regard to access to territory, trafficking, exploitation, and to identify people who may require dedicated protection and services, such as unaccompanied and separated children and pregnant women. UNHCR also provides support and legal orientation on arrival and distributes drinking water, and hygiene kits for women and children at border areas. Our teams also provide cash assistance to the most vulnerable Venezuelans.

UNHCR is also supporting government registration efforts in Aruba, Brazil, Colombia, Curacao, Ecuador, Guyana, Peru and Trinidad and Tobago. In Peru, asylum requests from Venezuelans have increased more than five-fold, from 33,100 in 2017 to 190,500 in 2018. In Brazil, 61,600 asylum claims were submitted, up from the 17,900 reported in 2017.

Across the region, UNHCR complements government efforts to provide emergency shelter for Venezuelans arriving in the border states and main cities. In Brazil, we are providing site planning, tents, relief items, drinking fountains, registration through biometrics, community mobilization, information dissemination and site management. So far, 13 temporary shelters have opened in Boa Vista and Pacaraima, hosting over 6,000 Venezuelans. In Maicao, Colombia, a temporary reception centre opened in March 2019, set up at the request of national and local authorities, with an initial capacity to host 350 individuals.

UNHCR has also installed child-friendly spaces and spaces for breast-feeding mothers at border crossing points and is advocating with host governments to facilitate access to education for Venezuelan children. UNHCR has established networks of volunteers to improve our links with the communities and ensure two-way communication and accountability, while working with different population groups, including women, children, elderly people, young people and people with disabilities as well as indigenous and LGBTI groups. In addition, UNHCR is coordinating with partners on the establishment of a regional Support Spaces initiative to ensure that refugees and migrants receive updated and reliable information and a minimum package of services in key locations across the region.

To promote the integration of refugees and migrants in their host communities, UNHCR works closely with local authorities and the private sector and supports the provision of vocational training to Venezuelans. UNHCR is also supporting the relocation of Venezuelan refugees and migrants in the Brazilian state of Roraima to other parts of the country where there are more employment opportunities and services.

It took us over seven days to reach Peru. We had nothing to eat at the end. We tried to spare all for our son, but he also went over 24 hours without a bite. He is only three. Gerardo, Venezuelan father in Peru

In an effort to curb xenophobia against Venezuelans and promote solidarity, UNHCR, in coordination with partners, has launched several campaigns in Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Panama and Peru.

Humanitarian assistance, as well as increased support for socio-economic inclusion, need to be urgently scaled-up to complement government efforts and ensure communities continue to accept refugees and migrants in a safe and welcoming environment. To ensure a comprehensive UN-wide response, and to support the efforts of main receiving governments, the Regional Inter-Agency Coordination Platform for the Venezuela situation  led by UNHCR and IOM  launched the Regional Response Plan for Refugees and Migrants (RMRP) from Venezuela on 13 November 2019. The plan, developed with some 137 partners, aims to support refugees and migrants from Venezuela as well as its host communities. It is the first of its kind in the Americas: a strategic and operational blueprint, a coordination template, and a funding mechanism for responding to the needs of Venezuelans on the move.

Reports and Links
The Finance Minister says that while construction workers are to be included in the Covid relief grant system, he needs to get a proper estimate of how many persons are in that sector.
Despite the fact that Oklahomas congressional delegation is mostly Republican and the U.S. House of Representatives isnt anymore, the states clout in the U.S. Capitol seems to be growing.

Fourth District Republican Rep. Tom Cole was recently named ranking member of the House Rules Committee. Every piece of House legislation has to go through the Rules Committee prior to floor consideration, and the ranking minority member is a very influential person within the House and the minority conference.

The Democratic takeover of the House short-circuited Coles attempt to become chairman of the Appropriations Committee, which is one of the ultimate power positions in Washington, but he remains a viable candidate for that plum in the future.

Meanwhile, Sen. James Lankford, R-Oklahoma, was named to the tax-writing Finance Committee. He remains on the budget-writing Appropriations Committee, giving him a rare position of double influence to guide national policy ... and bargain in the states interest.

The states senior Republican senator, Jim Inhofe, remains chairman of the important Armed Services Committee and a senior member of the Environment and Public Works Committee. Both are important power bases for the state.
The assistant position would have been slotted for elimination because of her resignation as clerk, to which the assistant would have reported. Kay Lang said a previous town mayor signed a check made out to her for about $79 in July 2014.

Im concerned, Kay Lang said of the audits findings. Im also concerned about myself because I know I havent done anything illegal. Me personally, I wouldnt take any money from the town. That is not something that I would do. Its just the timing was wrong when I got hired.

She said she wasnt fully aware of applicable laws at the time because she hadnt taken an Oklahoma Municipal League class that explained proper procedure for towns of Boyntons size. Although she didnt deny accepting the money identified in the audit, she said she would never intentionally defraud Boynton or its citizens.

We didnt know this kind of money was missing until we requested an audit, Kay Lang said, referencing the audit the town requested from a private firm in 2016. The state audit says the results of the private audit werent officially filed with its agency as required by state law.
In an effort to help federal employees impacted by one of the longest government shutdowns in U.S. history, the Pawnee Nation of Oklahoma is launching a GoFundMe page to provide groceries for families in need.

We can only imagine the stress this shutdown has been on the federal employees and their families who in some cases live paycheck to paycheck and as of today now are expected to work for no pay till the government reopens, Pawnee Nation President Bruce Pratt said in a news release. This unfortunate situation is having an adverse impact across the country and this effort is our small way to assist those families of federal employees who serve in the Pawnee Nation."

Pawnee Nation will receive donations through the GoFundMe page, which will be used to purchase groceries and make them available for pick up.

The goal, said Jim Gray, Pawnee Nation executive director, is to raise at least $10,000 to provide $100 in groceries for each family.

The Pawnee Business Council and Pawnee Nation Employee Club is expected to assist in the fundraising effort.
The city of Tulsa was ordered Friday to pay $342,046 to attorneys for a black Tulsa police officer who sued the city after he was told by a superior to march in the 2010 Martin Luther King Jr. Day Parade.

U.S. District Judge John Dowdell, in an opinion issued Friday in Tulsa federal court, upheld a magistrates recommendation that attorneys for Police Capt. Walter Busby were due from the city fees totaling $336,682.50 and expenses totaling $5,363.84.

Dowdell ruled Jan. 25 that the city violated Busbys civil rights when it retaliated against the officer after he objected to being ordered by a superior to march with other officers in the city parade.

Busby was the only police captain so ordered. Two white captains in Busbys division volunteered to march, while another white captain was allowed to take holiday leave during the parade.

City officials denied that the order was race-based. But the superior officer, who was also black, wrote in a memo to Busby regarding his refusal that he was embarrassed that few African American officers participate in Department-sponsored ceremonies, including the parade.
Rather, Chickasaw Governor Bill Anoatubby called the shutdown a disruption in federal funding.

However, he said tribes are better prepared for this shutdown compared to ones in years past.

There are some programs that we operate that are at risk because of the shutdown, Anoatubby said. But by and large, the last time we had a major shutdown that lasted as long as this one, it was more devastating for us.

We depended more greatly on the federal funding than we do today. We didnt have the backup that we have.

Seminole Nation Chief Greg Chilcoat said the shutdown was definitely devastating to the tribe.

It hurts us in a lot of different ways, and it is a serious concern to us, Chilcoat said.

The resolution notes that the shutdown has caused the furloughs of government workers in several federal agencies that interact with tribal governments.

The shutdown has left tribal governments without critical federal government support staff and has cut off vital lines of funding that sustain tribal programs, according to the resolution.
Federal workers in Oklahoma say theyve put a lockdown on personal spending and begun to contemplate other work options as they anxiously await any signs of an end to the federal governments partial shutdown, which was in its 21st day Friday.

Jason Perkins worked 80 hours the last two weeks in his job as an air traffic controller at Tulsa International Airport but wont see any pay until the shutdown ends and backpay comes through.

He has worked for the federal government for 20 years, the first seven in the Navy and the last 13 for the Federal Aviation Administration.

Twenty years of government service, and this is the first time I havent been paid. Fortunately, my wife works, so were not going to go hungry, but its a strain, said Perkins, who is the local union representative for the National Air Traffic Controllers Association, which on Friday sued the federal government for failure to pay its members for work performed during the shutdown.

Perkins said his co-workers turn to him for answers, but he said there simply are none at this stage.

Its an everyday conversation at work. The anxiety is the unknown. The politicians are the only people who do know anything, and it just feels like there is no end in sight.
- The boat was made from plastic bottles collected during beach clean ups

- It will make it's first voyage to Zanzibar later in January 2019

- The boat highlights the potential for plastic waste to be recycled into meaningful use

In an effort to raise awareness about plastic waste, a boat has been made entirely from plastic waste collected from Kenyas beaches and coastal towns.

The boat is scheduled to make its maiden voyage later in January 2019, from Lamu to Zanzibar, Tanzania.

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READ ALSO: Uhuru bypasses Ruto, lets Defence CS Omamo read his speech during Anyolos installation in Kisumu

The inaugural expedition will be seeking to engage communities along the East African coast in marine plastic pollution.

Source: UGC

READ ALSO: Controversial gospel star Ben Githae accused of eating, impregnating and abandoning baby mama with twins

In a press statement seen by TUKO.co.ke, the 9-metre boat is made from 10 tonnes of discarded plastic and highlights the potential for plastic waste to be recycled into meaningful use.

The inaugural expedition will be seeking to engage communities along the East African coast in marine plastic pollution.

The 50km voyage is supported by the UN Environments Clean Seas global campaign on plastic pollution.

READ ALSO: Ruto gifts new Kisumu Archbishop Philip Anyola with posh car in ceremony attended by Raila

The voyage organised by a lobby group seeking to stem the flow of plastic waste comes nearly two years after Kenya enacted one of the worlds toughest laws on single-use plastic bags.

According to Ben Morison, the co-founder of the project dubbed Plastic Revolution, the voyage was inspired by the need to create a visually engaging tool for communities living along the coast.

The Flipflopi project is about encouraging change in a positive way, making people smile first and then sharing the very simple message that single-use plastics really dont make sense, he explained.

READ ALSO: Ruto, Raila toss away differences, unite in preaching peace in Kisumu

He hopes people around the world will be inspired by the beautiful multi-coloured boat and find their own ways to repurpose already-used plastics.

The Flipflopi project team pioneered new techniques to craft the various components of the boat.

The plastic waste was melted, shaped and carved by the team of traditional boat builders exactly as they would do with wood.

READ ALSO: Ben Githae releases pro-Uhuru song 'Wembe Ni Ule Ule' ahead of repeat poll

Every single element of the boat has been constructed by hand and the whole boat has been clad in colourful sheets of recycled flip-flops," said Morison.

"These flip-flops have been collected [during] beach clean-ups on Lamus beaches, where they are among the most prolific items found, he added

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Ringtone Wants A New Wife | Tuko TV

Source: Tuko
- The governor was urgently taken to Aga Khan hospital where he was immediately admitted

- He fell ill shortly after arriving at Kisumu Catholic Church for a mass to install region's new Catholic Diocese Archbishop Philip Anyolo

- Doctors at Aga Khan assured the governor was in stable condition

Kisumu Governor Anyang' Nyong'o has been taken to Aga Khan hospital where he is admitted in Intensive Care Unit (ICU).

The governor fell ill when he was attending a mass to install new Kisumu Catholic Diocese Archbishop Philip Anyolo on Saturday, January 12.

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READ ALSO: Raila, Ruto, Wetang'ula share same platform in Kisumu as 2022 succession politics rages

Kisumu Governor Anyang' Nyong'o fell ill shortly after arriving at Kisumu Catholic Church in a mass to install new region's Catholic Diocese Archbishop Philip Anyolo. Photo:UGC.

Source: UGC

READ ALSO: Wetangula wants constitution changed to create seats for election losers

Sources on the ground told TUKO.co.ke that the governor was urgently whisked from Uzima University during the ceremony after he reported he was not feeling well.

According to the governor's communication team, he was admitted to the ICU ward at Aga Khan hospital but doctors assured he was in a stable condition.

He was expected to address the public during the event held at Kisumu Catholic Church which was graced by among others, ODM party leader Raila Odinga, Deputy President William Ruto and FORD-Kenya leader Moses Wetang'ula.

The Governor Anyang' Nyong'o was admitted to Aga Khan Kisumu hospital. Photo:UGC

Source: Getty Images

READ ALSO: Kisumu governor jets back into the country after successful surgery and 2 month stay in the US

Nyong'o was previously diagnosed with prostrate cancer and had flown to the US in 2018 where he underwent a successful hip replacement surgery.

Kisumu County Executive Committee (CEC) member in charge of finance Nerry Achar was expected to read Nyong'os speech.

Additional reporting by Fred Okul, Correspondent, Kisumu.

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We are not guests in this country - On Tuko TV

Source: Tuko.co.ke
- Started in 2017, Somalia Annual Business Awards aims at boosting best business practices and nurturing leadership

- Over 90 companies participated in the 2018 awards, an increase from the previous 60 that participated in 2017

- The awards mark an increase in investor confidence in the country that has experienced insecurity in the past years

After several years of instability in Somalia, the country has slowly started regaining in the business sector as several entrepreneurs move in to invest.

The Somalia Annual Business Awards that took place on Friday, January 11, with a record of 90 companies taking part in the competition is a clear indication of the investor confidence in the country that has suffered several Al Shabaab attacks in the recent past years.

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READ ALSO: Eugene Wamalwa's meeting ends prematurely as Baringo MPs battle over microphone

The Somalia Annual Business Awards (SABA) were held on Friday, January 11, at the Jazeera Palace Hotel in Mogadishu. Photo: UGC

Source: UGC

READ ALSO: Mike Sonko fails to name deputy governor, cites request from Raila Odinga

In a report by All Africa newspaper, the ceremony which was graced by the Minister for Commerce Mohamed Maareey at the Jaazera Palace Hotel in Mogadishu saw several companies receive awards for their exploration of opportunities in the country.

The companies were judged based on overall leadership, technology, human resources practices and corporate social responsibility.

Hass Petroleum Somalia emerged the best overall company while Bandir Logistics' Mohamed Ahmed was voted the CEO of the year. Sagal Travel and Tours emerged the best in the youth SME category.

READ ALSO: Blogs: Nairobi county missing revenue targets due to chaotic leadership

Started in 2017 by a Mogadishu based Somalia Investor Magazine consortium, the award aims at boosting best business practices, nurturing leadership and boosting the country as an investment portal.

"There are a lot of hidden potential in the Somalia business sector. We have to wake up and build we must show that we want to be the best. So far some of the parameters we used to access the companies have pushed some of the participants to change the way they are doing business," said chief judge of the awards Sultan Omri.

In the recent past years, investor confidence had reduced over insecurity concerns with majority of the buildings in Mogadishu riddled by bullet holes.

However, the image has changed following interventions from the international community in restoration of peace in the war zone and investors are slowly changing the image of the city.

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Kikuyu Council of the Elders message to the nation | Tuko TV

Source: Tuko
Commentary

After Trump's dud, it's up to the Senate GOP
Superintendent Jeff Simons addresses parents, staff and community members in the Bell Top gymnasium regarding the proposed boundary changes.
There are various ideologies guiding the function of countries around the world. Countries in the western world, in general, enjoy large measures of freedom, originally based on a Judeo-Christian worldview.

The foundational tenets in such societies derived from the Ten Commandments, and honouring parents, the elderly in society, was sacrosanct. Even if token, state pension provisions were indicative of that regard.
The Senate unanimously passed a bill yesterday which gives the public the right to access a sex offender website providing names, photographs and date of birth of convicted sex offenders.

All present in the chamber supported the Sexual Offences Amendment which was passed 28 for, none against.
rchopra@tribunemail.com

United Nations, January 12

UN president Maria Fernanda Espinosa will travel to Pakistan next week with an aim to strengthen the world bodys ties with the country to promote multilateralism.

Espinosa will travel to Pakistan from January 18-22 at the invitation of the Pakistan Government, the United Nations General Assembly spokesperson said in a statement.

This will be her first official visit to the Asia-Pacific region since she took office in September.

Espinosa, Ecuadors former Minister of Foreign Affairs, was in June elected president of the 73rd session of the UN General Assembly, becoming only the fourth female president of the organisation in its 73-year history.

The General Assembly president is looking forward to strengthening the ties between Pakistan and the UN, promoting multilateralism and continuing my work with Pakistan on the priorities for the 73rd Session of the GA.

During the visit, Espinosa will meet Prime Minister Imran Khan, President Arif Alvi, Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, as well as representatives of the UN and of civil society and womens organisations, her office said. PTI
monicakchauhan@gmail.com

Paris, January 12

A powerful gas explosion tore through a building in central Paris on Saturday, killing two firefighters and a Spanish woman, injuring dozens of people and badly damaging nearby apartments, officials said.

Around 200 firefighters were mobilised to battle the fire that broke out after the blast and evacuate victims and residents in the area, Interior Minister Christophe Castaner told reporters at the scene.

The explosion came with the city on edge during the latest "yellow vest" anti-government demonstrations, which have often degenerated into violence and vandalism in Paris and other cities in recent weeks.

Cars were overturned by the blast and glass and rubble was strewn across large swathes of the street after the explosion gutted the lower part of the building. Dozens of residents were treated by rescue workers on the street.

"I was sleeping and was woken up by the blast wave," Claire Sallavuard, who lives on the Rue de Trevise where the explosion occurred, told AFP. "All the windows in the apartment exploded, doors were blown off their hinges, I had to walk on the door to leave the room, all the kids were panicking, they couldn't get out of their room." "Firefighters advised us to leave but the elevator shaft had been blown out, there was no railing, nothing, and there was too much smoke," she said.

Besides the two dead firefighters, 47 other people were injured in the blast, 10 of them seriously, the Paris prosecutor's office said.

A source in the Spanish foreign ministry said a woman who was holidaying with her husband in Paris died in hospital after the blast while another Spanish national was also injured.

Around 100 police officers blocked off several streets in the area, home to restaurants and tourist attractions including the Musee Grevin wax museum and the popular Rue des Martyrs.

Police also closed off streets in front of the Garnier Opera house as emergency services landed two helicopters in front of the historic building to evacuate victims.

The explosion occurred shortly after 9:00 am (local time) in building that housed a bakery as well as a restaurant on the ground floor in the Ninth Arrondissement.

"It happened when there were people in the street, and firefighters inside," the interior minister said.

The shockwave was felt as far as four blocks away, Commander Eric Moulin of the Paris fire service said, adding that rescuers were still searching for other victims.

Firefighters had been responding to an alert of a gas leak at the site when the explosion occurred, Paris prosector Remy Heitz said at the scene.

"First there was a gas leak and the firefighters arrived, then there was an explosion that caused the fire," Heitz said.

Dozens of tourists, suitcases in hand, were evacuated from the many nearby hotels in the area, a popular weekend shopping destination for locals and visitors alike.

Other residents were in bathrobes or quickly dressing in the street as police helicopters circled overhead.

"We were sleeping when we heard the noise, it sounded like an earthquake," a teenager who lives on a nearby street told AFP.

"We came downstairs and we saw a building on fire," her brother said.

Many homes and buildings in Paris use gas for heating and cooking, though explosions due to leaks are relatively rare.  AFP
ROBINSINGH@TRIBUNE.COM

Bangkok, January 11

A Saudi asylum seeker who fled alleged abuse by her family is leaving Bangkok on Friday and will fly to Canada, Thailands immigration police chief said.

Police Chief Surachate Hakparn said the 18-year-old girl, Rahaf Mohammed Alqunun, would leave late Friday evening. He gave no other details. He earlier said several countries, including Canada and Australia, were in talks with the UN refugee agency on accepting Alqunun.

A spokesman for Canadas foreign minister said he could not confirm she was coming to Canada.

Alqununs case has highlighted the cause of womens rights in Saudi Arabia. Several women Saudis fleeing abuse by their families have been caught trying to seek asylum abroad in recent years and returned home.

If Canada is taking Alqunun, it could further upset Saudi-Canada relations. In August, Saudis expelled Canadas envoy and withdrew its own after Canadas foreign ministry tweeted support for the arrests of womens right activists. The Saudis also ordered their citizens studying in Canada to leave.  AP
monicakchauhan@gmail.com

Lahore, January 12

Pakistan's jailed former premier Nawaz Sharif's health condition has deteriorated, his daughter claimed on Friday and alleged that authorities are not letting his cardiologists examine him in the jail here.

Maryam Nawaz on Friday said that Sharif, who has been serving a seven-year jail term in Lahore's Kot Lakhpat jail in the Al-Azizia Steel Mills graft case, is suffering from a pain in his arm, "which is most likely to be angina".

A jail spokesman, however, said jail doctors examined Sharif thoroughly and his health is fine.

"Nawaz Sharif is in good health," he said.

Taking to Twitter, Maryam complained that Sharif's cardiologists "have been trying to get access to him all day but (the) permission (has) not (been) granted".

"He needs to be examined by the doctors who are privy to his complicated medical history," Maryam said.

Sharif, 69, had undergone an open-heart surgery about three years ago in London.

Maryam, who had visited her father in the jail on Thursday, said his father had a "complicate medical history" and he needed special health care.

PML-N president Shahbaz Sharif warned that if anything happened to his elder brother, Prime Minister Imran Khan and the Punjab government will be responsible.

He demanded the jail authorities to immediately allow Sharif's cardiologist to examine him and provide him the best health facilities.

An anti-corruption court in Pakistan on December 24 sentenced the ousted premier to seven years in jail in the Al-Azizia Steel Mills graft case, concluding a series of three court cases against the Sharif family in the high-profile Panama Papers case.

The Al-Azizia Steel Mill case was about setting up steel mills in Saudi Arabia allegedly with corruption money. PTI
rajivbhatia82@gmail.com

Toronto, January 12

An 18-year-old Saudi woman who fled her family this week saying she feared for her life arrived in Toronto on Saturday after Canada granted her asylum, according to a Reuters witness.

Rahaf Mohammed al-Qunun grabbed international attention this week after she barricaded herself in a Bangkok airport hotel room to resist being sent home to her family, which denies any abuse.

Qunun refused to meet her father and brother, who arrived in Bangkok to try take her back to Saudi Arabia.

Instead, she took a Korean Air flight from Bangkok to Seoul on Friday and then a connecting flight to Toronto.- Reuters
uttara@tribuneindia.com

Karachi, January 12

Pakistan will not approach the IMF for a new bailout package and is considering alternative options to tide over its economic crisis, Finance Minister Asad Umar said on Saturday.

Minister Umar made the remarks during a meeting with businessmen at the Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI).

Umar told the participants that the Imran Khan-led government had decided against entering into any new bailout programme with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for now and was exploring other possible avenues to help Pakistan's struggling economy get back on track.

Cash-strapped Pakistan is negotiating $8 billion bailout package from the IMF to overcome a severe balance-of-payments crisis that threatens to cripple the country's economy.

The government reached out to some "friendly countries" for economic assistance including Saudi Arabia, China and the UAE since Prime Minister Khan assumed office in August.

Umar said different alternative options were being explored instead of rushing into a new IMF programme that would bring more stringent economic conditions for Pakistan.

He told the Karachi businessmen that the government would be announcing a mini-budget on January 23.

The finance minister said he was meeting with businessmen in Karachi and Lahore to discuss the amended finance bill, which he said will facilitate businessmen.

Umar indicated that the amended bill will also carry "some good news" for the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX).

He also made it clear that the government had signed several agreements to bring investment to the country instead of just borrowing from friendly countries.

"The impact of these investment agreements will become known from next week," he said.

Pakistan and the UAE finalised the terms and conditions of a $6.2 billion support package for Islamabad this month.

Last month, the UAE said it will soon give $3 billion to Islamabad.

In October, Saudi Arabia agreed to provide Pakistan $3 billion in foreign currency support for a year to address its balance-of-payments crisis.

During Prime Minister Khan's visit to Saudi Arabia on October 23, it was announced that the oil-rich country will provide a USD 6 billion package to Pakistan to support its ailing economy.

The package included $3 billion balance of payments support and $3 billion in deferred payments on oil import.

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.

Pakistan apprehends the IMF will come with stringent conditions of austerity besides scrutiny of $60 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor projects whose terms till now remained confidential.

The Trump administration is making all efforts to ensure that any IMF loan to Pakistan is not used to repay its Chinese debt. PTI
ROBINSINGH@TRIBUNE.COM

Islamabad: The Pakistan government has decided to continue the travel ban on former president Asif Ali Zardari, his son Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari and Sindh CM Murad Ali Shah among other Pakistan Peoples Party leaders. The decision, which prevents them from flying abroad, was taken during a Cabinet meeting chaired by PM Imran Khan on Thursday, Dawn news reported. On December 27, the Cabinet placed Zardari and his sister Faryal Talpur on the Exit Control List (ECL) to prevent them from flying abroad after they were named in a Supreme Court-appointed joint investigative team probing fake bank accounts. PTI

We accept responsibilty for Nazi crimes in Greece: Merkel

Athens: Germany recognises its historical responsibility for crimes committed by the Nazis in Greece, Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Friday on her first visit to Athens since 2014. We recognise our historical responsibility. We know how much suffering we, as Germany in the time of Nazism, have brought to Greece, she said. That is why its a lesson for us to do everything to have good relations with Greece, and to lend each other support for the prosperity of both countries. Tensions linger over wartime reparations for the World War II Nazi occupation of Greece, with Berlin arguing the issue was settled in 1960. AFP
rchopra@tribunemail.com

Washington, January 12

The FBI has opened an inquiry into whether Donald Trump was working for Russians in the days after the American President fired James B Comey in 2017 as the top investigative agencys director, according to a report.

In May 2017, the US President abruptly removed the 56-year-old Comey, Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), who was overseeing a criminal probe into whether the Trump campaign colluded with the Russian government to influence the 2016 presidential election that was won by the real estate mogul.

The New York Times, based on unnamed sources, said such an investigation against Trump that was started by the FBI carried explosive implications, as the law enforcement agents sought to determine if the President was knowingly working for the Russians or had unwittingly fallen under Moscows influence.

Investigators have to consider if Trumps own actions constituted a possible threat to the national security, the paper reported on Friday.

No evidence has emerged publicly that Trump was secretly in contact with or took direction from Russian government officials, The New York Times said.

Agents and senior FBI officials had grown suspicious of Trumps ties to Russia during the 2016 campaign but held off on opening an investigation into him, the people said, in part because they were uncertain how to proceed with an inquiry of such sensitivity and magnitude, the paper reported.

The White House has described The New York Times story as absurd.

This is absurd. James Comey was fired because hes a disgraced partisan hack and his deputy Andrew McCabe who was in charge of the time is a known liar fired by the FBI. Unlike former president (Barack) Obama who let Russia and other foreign adversaries push America around, President Trump has actually been tough on Russia, the White House Press Secretary said.

The FBI did not respond to a query on the alleged investigation against Trump.

But according to the daily, the FBI investigation was taken over by the Special Counsel Robert Muller who has been tasked to investigate into the allegations of Russian interference in the 2016 presidential elections.

The inquiry is part of Muellers broader examination of how Russian operatives interfered in the 2016 election and whether any Trump associates conspired with them.

Trump has, however, denied of having any collusion with the Russians and repeatedly criticised the Mueller investigation as a witch hunt and views it as a stain on the legitimacy of his presidency.

If the president had fired Comey to stop the Russia investigation, the action would have been a national security issue because it naturally would have hurt the bureaus effort to learn how Moscow interfered in the 2016 election and whether any Americans were involved, according to James A Baker, who served as FBI general counsel until late 2017, the report said.

Baker privately testified in October before House investigators who were examining the FBIs handling of the full Russia inquiry, it said.

Not only would it be an issue of obstructing an investigation, but the obstruction itself would hurt our ability to figure out what the Russians had done, and that is what would be the threat to national security, Baker said in his testimony, portions of which were read to The New York Times.

He did not explicitly acknowledge the existence of the investigation of Trump to congressional investigators.

The report casts pressure on the White House, which is already feeling the heat from months of investigations.

Trumps former campaign chairman Paul Manafort in August 2018 was convicted of financial crisis and later pleaded guilty to conspiring to defraud the US and conspiring to obstruct justice.

Trumps longtime lawyer and aide Michael Cohen is set to begin a three-year prison sentence in March after pleading guilty to fraud, campaign finance violations and lying under oath. PTI
laxmi@tribune.com

Kuldeep Chauhan

The winter chill and snowfall in higher reaches push birds and wild animals to the lower and warmer areas.

With the annual migration of these animals to wildlife sanctuaries, national parks and forests, poachers and wildlife traders are on a rampage, hunting rare and endangered wildlife species that make them their easy targets.

Their prized hunt are pheasants including cheer, monal, jungle fowls and others and musk deers, ghorals, bears and leopards.

Though hunting is banned in Himachal, poaching remains rampant among local hunters, who kill wild species for meat delicacies and hides, while poachers shoot them down for wildlife trade that picks up pace during the winter months every year in the Himalayas from Churah in Chamba district to Churdhar in Chopal and Chanshal in Rohru and hills of Uttarakhand.

Wildlife crime wing a non-starter

The Wildlife Crime Control Wing (WLCCW) was set up in Shimla to check the illegal wildlife trade that threatens endangered and rare species such as snow leopard, pheasants, musk deer and bears. But the wing remains as good as non-existing, say wildlife conservationists.

The forest and police teams have only managed to catch an odd poacher or two in Chamba, Solan and Mandi over the years. But nothing substantial has been done to nab wildlife traders in the state, as the wildlife wing neither has staff, nor checks poaching in state.

A flourishing trade

Poaching is flourishing right under the nose of the wildlife wing.

People can be spotted hunting rare jungle fowls when they come for nesting sites in the evening, tweets BS Chauhan, a wildlife lover of Nawar valley, while tagging Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur and Forest Minister Gobind Thakur. We do not know whether anyone was caught or any poacher convicted in the state, he expressed on social media.

Poachers are on a hunt for pheasants, musk deer and other animals and birds in and around national parks and wildlife sanctuaries, said Ranjiv Bharti, convener of the NGO that aims at protecting wild life and trout in Tirthan valley near the Great Himalayan National Park (GHNP).

Though no one knows the exact dimension of the wildlife trade, experts suspect that snow leopards, monal and western tragopan remain a prized hunt for poachers and the banned wildlife trade runs in crores of rupees every year in the state.

Main exit routes

The main exit point for smugglers are border areas of Chamba and Pathankot, Leh-Ladakh, Tiuni-Vikasnagar in Uttarakhand, which is a gateway to the porous border of Nepal, the main trade centre for wildlife, revealed a wildlife expert requesting anonymity. Even meat delicacies are served in high-end resorts in Manali, beaches of Goa and Tamil Nadu and Kerala, he said. Bird and wildlife watchers hope they keep spotting cheer pheasant in Bandli wildlife sanctuary in Mandi district and western tragopan in the GHNP and snow leopard in the Pin Valley National Park. Cheer, snow leopard and musk deer have entered the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of threatened species. These species are prized targets of the GHNP, Kullu and Pin Valley National Park, Spiti, and other wildlife sanctuaries in the state.

No to wildlife trade

GHNP authorities burnt around 30 leopard hides, monal kalgis, antlers and other hides, ceased by the forest officials and police over the years on World Environment Day in 2015-16 saying no to wildlife trade.

We burnt all wildlife materials ceased in the presence of villagers in GHNP and took a vow not to harm wild animals, said BS Rana, a wildlife expert and former director, GHNP.

The wildlife wing has been spreading a strong message among the public that they would neither kill wild animals, nor spare traders and people supporting lifestyle that use leopard skins and hides, furs and masks and pheasant kalgis as status symbols or decorations.

We need to activate the WLCCW and set up CCTV cameras in key locations to nab poachers, experts said, adding: As per its mandate, the wing is attached to the national wildlife crime control wing of the Ministry of Environment and Forest (MOEF). Its aim is to check and investigate all wildlife crime cases in the state. Besides, the number of snow leopards has increased in Pin Valley as their sightings have been captured by cameras set up in the valley. Experts from Sweden are called for radio collaring snow leopards to ascertain their exact number, they said.

Reward for those who nab poachers

The news of cheer pheasant, now found in abundance in Bandli Wildlife Reserve, notified in 1974, has come as a shot in the arm for environmentalists and bird watchers at a time, when residents in Sundernagar town are opposing a controversial cement plant being set up just 5 km away from this sanctuary.

Apart from conserving cheer, the sanctuary is home to the Himalayan Black Bear, Common Palm Civet, Barking Deer, Goral, Indian hare and Rhesus Macaque, but has become a free hunting ground for poachers and hunters, sources said.

Even the World Pheasant Association and Bird Conservation has been gaining support for protection of pheasants. Pheasants are killed for their beautiful hides and meat delicacy and need protection. Those who report should be rewarded if they catch a poacher, said bird watchers.

Prized hunt

Pheasants including cheer, monal, jungle fowls etc. and musk deers, ghorals, bears and leopards are a prized hunt for paochers.

A resident on social media...

Jungle fowl is being ruthlessly #hunted in #himachal. Hunting happens mostly at night. Wonder if a single person has been booked by the wildlife staff. Who cares while this beautiful bird is being wiped out. #Shimla @WWFINDIA @jairamthakurbjp @B_K_AGARWAL
shalender@tribune.com

THIS is one thing that distinguishes the present idea from the idea of those in the 18th and earlier centuries whose vision did not go beyond that of Kaunitz, the Austrian Minister, who spoke of Europe as a single family of nations, the idea that found expression, first, in the Holy Alliance and then in the famous European Concert, which lasted for eight years. The idea of President Wilson is that the whole world is a family of nations, and to ensure peace it is not enough only to form a confederation of several States of Europe, especially the great ones, but that all nations should be incorporated into the League. So long as there were large tracts of country and large populations in other continents which were conceived for the purpose of Europe as objects of exploitation, it is obvious that there could be no peace in Europe itself, for the simple reason that the economic and other causes, that had in the past led to European wars, would remain.
editorial@tribune.com

Rajmeet Singh

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, January 11

The illegal felling of 24,777 trees under a project to widen the 800-km-long Bist-Doab canal during the SAD-BJP rule in 2016 is back to haunt the states Forest Department.

A Division Bench of the Supreme Court, comprising Justice AK Sikri and S Abdul Nazeer, today dismissed a civil appeal filed by state Department of Water Resources (erstwhile Irrigation Department) against a five-month-old order of the National Green Tribunal (NGT) that had directed it to pay for afforestation on an area equivalent to the forest area destructed through the illegal felling.

In the same order, the NGT had held officers of state Forest Department responsible for allowing the felling in violation of the Forest Conservation Act (FCA), 1980.

Anita Shenoy, the counsel who appeared on behalf of Delhi resident Nishant Kumar Alag, the petitioner in the original case before the NGT, said while dismissing the civil appeal filed by the Irrigation Department  the agency that widened the irrigation canal, the apex court has given it the liberty to give its view point before inquiry officer to be deputed by the state to investigate the violation of the Act.

The inquiry officer, not below the rank of Additional Chief Secretary, has also been asked to fix responsibility of the officers responsible for the violation of the Act and take strict action. This means the state government and the Forest Department would have to implement the orders of the National Green Tribunal, said the counsel.

The tribunals double bench, comprising Justice Raghuvendra S Rathore and member Satyawan Singh Garbyal, in its orders (August 16, 2018) had stated that officers of the department had deliberately ignored the fact that the trees were demarked as part of a protected forest and there was willful violation of the Forest Conservation Act. The Act required the department to take permission from the Ministry of Environment.
editorial@tribune.com

Sanjeev Singh Bariana

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, January 11

Examination centres of students appearing in the annual examinations of Classes X and XII of the Punjab School Education Board (PSEB) this year will continue to be outside their schools.

Introduced last year with the aim to check copying, which was allegedly allowed in certain schools to make their results better, the planners will be asked to ensure that the distance of allotted centres to students did not cross 3 km. Last year, a number of students had to travel for longer distances.

Official sources said a sizable fall in cheating cases last year was evident, particularly in the border belt of five districts which had centres that facilitated cheating. Senior officers, including secretary Krishan Kumar, had camped in the field themselves and faced the wrath of education mafia in areas like Tarn Taran. Official results showed that the border districts of Gurdaspur, Tarn Taran, Amritsar, Pathankot and Ferozepur had shown a 30 per cent dip in results. Approximately, 51.63 per cent students from the belt passed this year (2017-2018) against 81.23 per cent in 2016-2017.

Talking to The Tribune, Education Minister OP Soni said, In principle, a decision with regard to continuing with the changed examination centres has been taken. A formal communication will soon be forwarded to all those involved in drafting the examination details shortly. Reacting to the proposed move, certain schools, mostly private, showed their objection to centres being shifted outside. Our children complain about lack of comfort and even basic amenities like drinking water and clean toilets, a Principal said.

At the same time, Anil Chopra, president of the St Soldier Management Association (Jalandhar), said, We have no problem in changing the examination centres of students. In fact, this saves school from pressure, from certain quarters, seeking favour for their wards. Rama Mahajan, Principal of Ajit Vidyalaya (Amritsar), said Changed centres posed no problem except some minor hiccups last year.

Celebrate students bdays, schools told

Jalandhar: Teachers of government schools have been told to celebrate birthdays of all students and make them feel special on their birthdays. Notice boards and morning assemblies at all government schools shall now be marked with achievements/names of the birthday child at government schools. In a letter issued to schools on Friday, the Education Department has instructed government schools to discuss the birthday child's personality, achievements, sports achievements, educational activities, etc. with other children during the morning assembly. The letter asked schools to put the names of the birthday child on the notice boards or common place where the school's thought for the day or news bulletin is posted. TNS
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monicakchauhan@gmail.com

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, January 12

The Punjab government will implement the online building plan approval system in all municipal bodies in the state from January 15.

This was announced by Minister for Local Bodies Navjot Singh Sidhu at a press conference here on Saturday.

The proposed Building Plan Management System would automate the end-to-end process from empanelment of architect, Online Documents Submission, Online Fee Payment, Architect Registration, Building Plan Approval, and Plinth Level Approval to Completion/Occupation Certificate across all Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) in Punjab, the minister said.

Speaking about the potential from advertisement revenue, which he claimed remained unutilised during the previous governments, Sidhu said that the tender for advertisement in Ludhiana had gone for 27.54 crores for the first year.

Which essentially means that for the nine year duration of the contract would fetch us 289 crores, he said, adding that the revenue from advertisement contracts in Ludhiana was only 31 crore since 2007 till date.

Sidhu said compared to 18 crores that the government made from all the 168 local governments in Punjab last year, the government this year expects revenue between 150 to 200 crores.

Sidhu said the tender for Jalandhar Municipal Corporation has been floated for 18 crores while Moga civic body that generated revenue of 30 lakh last years was expected to fetch a crore this year.

Also, Pathankot civic body tender, which went for Ra 20 lakh last year, fetched Rs 67 lakhs.

Out of 27.54 crore, Rs 23.34 crore is the amount for bidding and the remaining will be the interest.

Sidhu said these figures pertained only to areas within the municipal limits of towns and did not reflect on the untapped rural areas adjoining towns, which too witnessed big advertisement posters, banners, unipolar and other forms of advertisement.

He said the department has closed advertisement on roof-top wraps and also roof-tops.
editorial@tribune.com

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, January 11

Prior to 2019 Lok Sabha elections, Sukhpal Singh Khaira, president of the newly formed Punjabi Ekta Party, on Friday met SAD (Taksali) president Ranjit Singh Brahmpura, indicating a possibility of forming an alliance against the traditional parties. Former MLA Ravinder Singh Brahmpura, son of Ranjit Singh Brahmpura, was also present in the meeting.

Earlier, Khaira paid obeisance at the Golden Temple and Durgiana Mandir and said the meeting was necessitated to formulate a common roadmap in the interest of Punjab.

Both leaders held discussions for two hours. Khaira said in a democratic set-up, there could be no restraint on uniting like-minded opposition parties, irrespective of their political differences. AAP MP Bhagwant Mann had also met Brahmpura on Janaury 7 to explore similar possibilities.

This model was successful in Bihar where different parties united to topple the government. This could be tried here too. We might have differences with AAP but to avoid division of votes, it would be beneficial for Punjab if all the like-minded parties fight together to oust the traditional parties, Khaira and Brahmpura said after the meeting.

Brahmpura said both Congress and SAD had done huge damage to the state and a political change was only possible when all opposition parties came on a common platform.

Contest from Sangrur: Mann to Bholath MLA

Sangrur: Sangrur MP Bhagwant Mann has asked Bholath MLA Sukhpal Khaira to contest the forthcoming Lok Sabha polls from Sangrur to prove his popularity. He also accused Khaira of working to divide AAP on the directions of their political opponents. If Khaira thinks that he is popular across Punjab, he should contest the forthcoming elections from Sangrur against me. If he announces to contest from Sangrur, I will be the first person to welcome him, Mann said. TNS
editorial@tribune.com

Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, January 11

Union Food Processing Minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal today charged the state government led by Capt Amarinder Singh for the delay in submission of proposal for the Kartarpur Corridor and levelling baseless allegations against the Centre.

Addressing a conference at Ladhowal, she said on one hand the state government was blaming the Centre for delay in providing funds for acquisition of land for the corridor while on the other hand, the minutes of a joint meeting of senior officials from the state and the Union Government on the issue were sent to the Centre with a months delay. This attitude shows the extent of seriousness on the part of the state government, she said. On delay in providing funds for acquisition of land, Harsimrat said the state government was unnecessarily raising a hue and cry.

The Centre would not release funds to the state government, but money would be paid directly to land owners once the process for the acquisition of land was complete, she maintained.

On the part of the Union Government, the proposed route (for the corridor) has been finalised and has been declared a national highway. The final design from those submitted by the state has almost been finalised and khasra numbers of the land needed for the project will be sent to the state government within the next 48 hours, she said.

Harsimrat alleged that the state Congress government was creating hurdles in the way of early execution of the proposed mega food parks in Bathinda and Ludhiana.
editorial@tribune.com

Tribune News Service

Patna, January 11

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar laid the foundation stone of Guru Nanak Sheetal Kund Gurdwara at Rajgir on Friday, in the memory of Guru Nanak, whose 550th birth anniversary is being observed this year.

Kumar said the state government had already announced a holiday on November 12. He, however, added that the government would extend help in the preparations for the celebrations as devotees from around the world would visit the state on the occasion.

Guru Nanak had visited Rajgir 512 years ago. Expressing his reverence for the founders of the Sikh sect, Kumar recited many anecdotes from the lives of Guru Nanak and his disciple Jaitamal, who lived close to the Ganges in Patna.

The Bihar CM said, Malmas fair is organised every three years coinciding with Makar Sakranti. It is believed that 33 crore gods and goddess come during this fair in Rajgir.

He added that tent cities were built each year for visiting Sikh devotees at Kangan Ghat in Patna City.

A permanent community centre will be constructed so that it can be vacated for Sikh devotees during Prakash Utsav, said Kumar.
rchopra@tribunemail.com

Washington, January 12

President Donald Trump attaches great importance to the US-India ties, Indias new Ambassador to America Harsh Vardhan Shringla said.

Shringla, a 1984-batch Indian Foreign Service diplomat, presented his diplomatic credentials to the US President at the Oval Office of the White House on Friday.

He succeeded Navtej Sarna who retired on December 31. Shringla is the youngest Indian ambassador to the US.

Reflective of the growing trust and warmth between India and the US, the new Indian envoy presented his credentials to Trump in less than 50 hours after arriving in Washington.

Such a quick credentials ceremony for a foreign diplomat is rare in the American capital, given that in the past, envoys of other countries, including those from India, have waited for weeks to formally present their diplomatic credentials.

Diplomatic credentials is a letter that formally appoints a diplomat as the ambassador to another country. The letter is addressed from one head of state to another. It is presented by the ambassador to the receiving head of state in a formal ceremony.

The ceremony further marks the beginning of the official period of ambassadorship.

At a post-credentials ceremony attended by senior officials of the Indian Embassy, the State Department and the White House, Shringla said, Clearly the President attaches great importance to our bilateral relationship.

He referred to his recent telephonic conversation with our prime minister (Narendra Modi) and he said he looked forward to speaking to our prime minister again in the near future.

Shringla said Trump referred to a very wide gamut of cooperation that the two countries are engaged in, not just at the bilateral level but also as strategic partners involving the region and global areas of interest, particularly the vision of the Indo-Pacific region envisioned by the leaders of the two countries during the June 2017 visit of Prime Minister Modi.

Trump highlighted the broad range of strategic interests and fundamental democratic values shared between India and the US.

The new Indian envoy said he is amazed at the amount of progress that the US-India relationship has made in the last few years.

It is absolutely momentous and unparalleled, he said.

Shringla assured President Trump of his commitment to expand key pillars of the bilateral relationship, including economic relations and trade ties, defence and security, energy, science and technology and global issues, among others.

He was Indias High Commissioner to Bangladesh till early this week, before replacing Sarna.

Graduated from the St Stephens College in Delhi, Shringla speaks French, Vietnamese and Nepalese apart from English and Indian languages.

During his 35-year-long diplomatic career, he held a variety of positions in New Delhi and abroad.

Apart from being the High Commissioner of India to Bangladesh, he had also been the ambassador to Thailand.

Shringla also served in France (UNESCO), Permanent Mission of India to the United Nations in New York, Vietnam (Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City), Israel and South Africa. PTI
amansharma@tribunemail.com

New Delhi, January 12

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Saturday left for a two-day visit to Uzbekistan to attend the first India-Central Asia Dialogue which is expected to focus on a plethora of regional issues, including enhancing connectivity to war-ravaged Afghanistan.

The Dialogue, being held in Samarkand, will be co-chaired by Swaraj and Uzbekistan's Foreign Minister Abdulaziz Kamilov.

The Foreign Minister of Afghanistan will also participate in the dialogue as a special invitee for the session dedicated to connectivity issues in the region, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said.

Foreign ministers of Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan and the First Deputy Foreign Minister of Kazakhstan will also participate in the dialogue.

"Building upon shared history & culture. EAM @SushmaSwaraj emplanes for Samarkand to participate at 1st India-Central Asia Dialogue. EAM will co-chair Dialogue with Uzbek Foreign Minister Kamilov. Foreign Ministers from other Central Asian countries and Afghanistan will attend," MEA Spokesperson Raveesh Kumar tweeted minutes before Swaraj left for Uzbekistan.

Bound together by shared history and cultural linkages, India and the Central Asian states look forward to the Dialogue as an important initiative to enhance their cooperation in wide-ranging spheres including exploring ways to substantially enhance India's economic involvement in business and development sector of Central Asia, the MEA had said on Wednesday.

With Afghanistan joining, the participants of the Dialogue will also deliberate on developing viable connectivity options between India and Afghanistan and Central Asia to further facilitate trade and economic activity in the region, it said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had visited five Central Asian countries in 2015 with an aim to deepen India's engagement with the hydrocarbon rich region.

Swaraj visited the region last August.

Officials said the India-Central Asia Dialogue, with the participation of Afghanistan, is expected to take India's engagement with all the countries of the region to a new level. - PTI
ROBINSINGH@TRIBUNE.COM

Lucknow/New Delhi, Jan 11

Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav and BSP chief Mayawati will Saturday announce their alliance for the Lok Sabha polls, appearing set to keep the Congress out of the pact in UP.

The Congress described this likelihood as a very dangerous mistake and said it was ready to fight the parliamentary polls alone in the state.

SP national secretary Rajendra Chaudhary and BSP national general secretary SC Misra Friday sent out the invitation for a joint press conference at a hotel in Lucknow.

Akhilesh confirmed in a TV interview that the press conference is on the alliance in UP, while parrying questions on seat-sharing with the Congress. At a meeting in Kannauj, he also said, Our coming together has not only created fear in the BJP, but also in the Congress. Smaller parties like the RLD and the Nishad Party are also likely to be part of the alliance, but were not mentioned in the announcement on the press conference.

RLD's state unit president Masood Ahmed said the party national vice president Jayant Chaudhary will be in the state capital on Saturday and, if invited, could be a part of the joint press conference. His party chief Ajit Singh evaded questions from the media on the two seats expected to be set aside for the RLD, saying the discussions were in an early stage.

In Delhi, Congress spokesperson Abhishek Singhvi said the objective of all opposition parties should be to defeat the ruling BJP and eliminate autocracy, misgovernance at the Centre. We may have fallen on difficult times. But I think to ignore us can prove to be a very dangerous mistake, he said on the possible SP-BSP alliance. Since everybody realises that, I think we will have a happy and harmonious solution sometime in the near future, he said.

UP Congress spokesperson Rajiv Bakshi said the party was ready to fight the coming elections alone in the state. We alone have 45 seats in the LS and it is any day many more than the regional players, he said. A mahagathbandhan needs to be built around the party having a national face.  PTI
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Shahira Naim

Tribune News Service

Lucknow, January 12

Formally announcing their alliance in Uttar Pradesh today, giving each 38 Lok Sabha seats, the Bahujan Samaj Party and the Samajwadi Party have vexed both the BJP and the Congress.

At a press conference, BSP supremo Mayawati and SP national chief Akhilesh Yadav ended speculation about the arch rivals joining hands to defeat the BJP.

In the 2014 Lok Sabha polls, the SP had won five of the 80 seats, the BSP none. In the 2017 Assembly elections, the SP and BSP got 22 per cent votes each.

Mayawati admitted that she had forgotten and forgiven the 1995 guest house episode in the interest of the electoral agreement, which is in the interest of the country, beleaguered by the BJP and its policies.

Explaining the rationale behind leaving only two seats of Amethi and Rae Bareli, represented by Congress president Rahul Gandhi and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi, Mayawati said it was the experience of both BSP and SP that while their votes were transferred to the Congress, the move was not reciprocated, leaving them high and dry and reducing their vote share as well.

While two seats have reportedly been left for Rashtriya Lok Dal and the remaining two for likely partners like Nishad Party and Peace Party, there was no mention of these parties at the press conference.

According to the BSP chief, it was the proposed alliance which had made the BJP nervous, making it resort to misusing the CBI against Akhilesh in the alleged illegal mining case. This has only strengthened the alliance, she claimed.

Announcing that his party was ready to take a few steps backwards in the interest of the alliance with BSP, Akhilesh said he was doing so as the alliance was crucial to dislodge the BJP.

Urging his party cadre to refer to Mayawati with respect, he said any disrespect shown to her would be construed as disrespect shown to him.

Earlier, the two leaders in their first public appearance together greeted each other warmly by exchanging bouquets. Akhilesh had visited Mayawati in New Delhi last week to give the final touches to the alliance.

Reacting to the formal announcement of the alliance, AICC general secretary Ghulam Nabi Azad said that UPCC president Raj Babbar and leaders Pramod Tewari and Sanjay Singh will speak to the media tomorrow.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said the BSP-SP alliance was an attempt of these parties to save their own existence and nothing more. Ahead of the joint press conference, the entire city had been decked up with posters of Akhilesh Yadav and Mayawati, indicating the new bonhomie.

Political revolution

SP-BSP tie-up is a natural alliance, a political revolution. This will last long, even beyond LS polls and in UP Assembly elections. Mayawati, BSP Supremo

We will stop BJP

The path of Delhis power traverses through Uttar Pradesh and our alliance will be able to stop the BJP for sure. Akhilesh Yadav, SP National Chief
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Vibha Sharma

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, January 12

After much speculation, BSP supremo Mayawati and Akhilesh Yadavs Samajwadi Party on Saturday announced their alliance for the Lok Sabha election. The BSP chief said both the parties are joining hands to defeat communal forces and protect peoples rights.

The first time the two Uttar Pradesh leaders spoke about the alliance was around March last year. They then experimented with it in three Lok Sabha and a state Assembly bypolls. The BJP lost all these seats to the alliance.

However, on Friday, dismissing the anti-BJP alliance at the national convention of the party, BJP chief Amit Shah had termed it a desperate attempt by disparate groups with the sole aim of ousting Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

He claimed that the BJP would win more number of seats than it had in 2014.

But the fact is that the SP-BSP alliance can be a formidable opposition to the BJP which had won 71 Lok Sabha seats in UP in 2014, so believe observers.

The Samajwadi Party claims that the BJP is scared of their alliance in UP, which is why the government was misusing the CBI against former CM Akhilesh Yadav.

It is an allegation saffron leaders pooh-pooh along with the possibility of the alliance impacting their electoral prospects in UP.

However, according to political observers, the alliance may spell tough times for the BJP in the state that sends as many as 80 members to the Lok Sabha. And the Congress not being a part of it could make matters even worse.

For the BJP, an SP-BSP alliance minus the Congress is a nightmare it would not like to relive after the Gorakhpur, Kairana and Phulpur experience. Had the Congress joined in, the BJP had a better chance of upper castes votes, this even though the BJP believes its masterstroke of providing reservation to economically weaker sections among upper castes will take care of all the issues now.

Brahmins would have preferred to vote for the BJP had the Congress tied up with the SP. The grand old party would make a better partner by staying out rather than being a part. No wonder the Congress was not seen making much of an effort to join in, is the argument being given.

Though there is another angle to this: that of the crucial minority vote bank.

A section believes that by remaining out the Congress will split the Muslim votes of the BSP/SP. Also, for the BJP it would be easier to manage the BSP-SP combine in case it falls short of numbers, which would not have been possible if the Congress was also a part.

For the BJP, holding on to minor regional allies in UP Apna Dal and SPSP is crucial.

Om Prakash Rajbhar, who heads the SBSP and is also part of the Yogi Adityanath-led UP government, has been openly challenging Modi reminding him of his partys demands regarding rights of backward people in the past 21 months. But the Modi government has given reservations to the upper caste within two days, Rajbhar was quoted as saying.

Earlier, he also questioned the timing of the reports that the CBI might quiz Akhilesh Yadav in connection with an illegal sand mining case.

Apna Dal leader and Union minister Anupriya Patel and her husband, party president Ashish Patel, have also been voicing frustration over treatment to smaller NDA allies by the BJP.

Senior BJP leaders, who claim no anger or ill will among NDA allies, say all issues will be resolved before the elections. Political posturing is expected during election time. After the Bihar seat-sharing arrangement with the

LJP, it was expected that the NDA constituents in UP will also try for a bigger share, they say.
amansharma@tribunemail.com

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, January 12

Terming the decision to remove CBI Director Alok Verma as "hasty", former Supreme Court judge AK Patnaik - who supervised the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) probe against him - has said there was no evidence of corruption against the IPS officer.

Repeated attempts to reach Justice Patnaik failed as he didn't take calls. But sources close to him said the findings in the CVC report were not his and he had submitted his report to the court in November last year.

The Centre had on October 23 divested Verma of all his powers as CBI chief and sent him on leave and the decision was challenged by him before the Supreme Court.

Two days after the top court ordered his reinstatement, a high-powered committee of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Supreme Court judge AK Sikri and Congress leader in the Lok Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge had on January 10 removed Verma as CBI director and transferred him to the post of Director General, Fire Services, Civil Defence and Home Guards after it found that he had not been functioning with integrity expected of him. Kharge had opposed the decision and given a dissent note.

Verma - who was due to retire on January 31 -- chose not to take up the new assignment and resigned from service.

"As a career bureaucrat, it is the idea of my integrity that has been the driving force for four decades in public service," Verma said in his resignation letter denying allegations of corruption.

In the process, he earned the dubious distinction of being the first CBI director in 55 years of the probe agency's history who faced such an action.

Verma has been at loggerheads with CBI special director Rakesh Asthana who had written to Cabinet Secretariat levelling serious allegations of corruption against him. It was the allegations in Asthana's complaint against Verma which was being probed by the CVC.

The CBI under Verma had registered a corruption case against Asthana and the Delhi High Court on Friday refused to quash it.
monicakchauhan@gmail.com

New Delhi, January 12

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will release a commemorative coin on Guru Gobind Singh on Sunday to mark the birth anniversary of the 10th Sikh Guru.

The Prime Minister will also address a select gathering on the occasion at his residence, a statement from his office said.

Modi had attended 350th birth anniversary celebrations of Guru Gobind Singh in Patna on January 5, 2017.

He had also released a commemorative postage stamp to mark the occasion.

In his address, the Prime Minister had underlined how Guru Gobind Singh made a unique attempt to unite the country through the Khalsa sect. PTI
amansharma@tribunemail.com

Patna, January 12

Union Minister Ram Vilas Paswans estranged daughter Asha Paswan on Saturday criticised him for making a veiled attack on Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Rabri Devi over the partys opposition to the Centres quota bill and demanded an apology from him.

She also threatened to stage a dharna at the office of his Lok Janshakti Party (LJP).

Paswan, whose party will contest the upcoming general election along with JD(U) and BJP in Bihar, had at a press conference on Friday attacked the opposition RJD for opposing the NDA-led governments bill to provide 10 per cent reservation for the economically backward in general category.

They (RJD) believe in merely raising slogans and making angootha chhap (illiterate person) the chief minister, he had said, without naming anybody.

The remark was seen as a reference to the events of 1997 when RJD chief Lalu Prasad had to step down as Bihar chief minister as he faced arrest in the fodder scam cases and his wife, Rabri Devi, who has little formal education, was appointed as his successor.

She remained in office for eight years, longer than her husband, who was in power from 1990 to 1997.

Papa has insulted Rabri Devi. My mother too was uneducateda reason why he abandoned her. He must apologise or else I will stage a dharna in front of the LJP office, Asha said.

She is Paswans daughter from his first marriage. Her husband, Arun Sadhu, had joined the RJD last year.

Paswan is separated from his first wife Raj Kumari Devi who lives alone at Samastipur district. He has anointed his son from his second marriage, Chirag Paswan, as his political successor and lives with his second wife Reena Paswan.  PTI
ROBINSINGH@TRIBUNE.COM

Dubai, January 11

Taking a jibe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Friday told Indian workers here that he wants to listen to their problems instead of telling his Mann ki Baat.

Rahul, who is in the UAE on a maiden visit, was accorded a warm welcome by the Indian diaspora at the Dubai airport on Thursday. He lauded the Indian workers here for making the country proud by their hard work in the UAE.

The Congress chief said his party was aware of the difficulties faced by the labourers and wants to help them. I realise you face several hardships. You work all day, send money to your family back home. We want to talk to you, Rahul said.

Main yahan apne mann ki baat kahne nahi aaya hun... main yahan aapke mann ki baat sunane aaya hun, he said in his address at the Jabel Ali labour colony. He was referring to Prime Minister Modi's monthly radio broadcast Mann ki Baat' where he addresses the nation on various issues.

All these developments you see here, tall buildings, large airports and Metro, would not have been built without your contribution. You have given your sweat, blood and time for the development of this city and you have made Indians of all backgrounds proud. You have illuminated the names of every religion, every state and every caste, Rahul said while praising them.  PTI

We have been witnessing intolerance

At here (in the UAE), it is Year of Tolerance, but back home (in India), we have been witnessing intolerance for the past four-and-a-half years.  Rahul Gandhi, Congress President
rchopra@tribunemail.com

Kathmandu, January 11

Nepals Chief of Army Staff Purna Chandra Thapa is slated to leave for a five-day visit to India on Friday where he will receive the honorary chief title of the Indian Army.

President Ram Nath Kovind will hand the insignia to Thapa during an investiture ceremony at his official residence in New Delhi on Saturday, reports The Kathmandu Post.

It is customary between Nepal and India to award honorary titles to each others army chiefs.

Thapa will lead a seven-member team.

Invited by Army chief Bipin Rawat, Thapa is scheduled to meet Defence Minister Nirmala Sitaraman and National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, among others.

According to Nepal Army spokesperson Brig Gen Yam Dhakal, Thapa will also visit the Armys Jaipur-based South-western Command and the Lucknow-based Central Command.

The team will return on January 16. IANS
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Smita Sharma

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, January 11

Nepal sought an assurance from India that if another round of demonetisation happens, Indian currency in circulation in the Himalayan nation wont be stopped from exchanges.

This is a key apprehension stemming from recent reports that India would stop printing the new Rs 2,000 notes. Nepal stopped use of the new Indian Rs 200, Rs 500 and Rs 2,000 notes in December 2018. Nepalese Foreign Minister Pradeep Gyawali raised the issue during his meeting with External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Thursday. We are telling Indian banks that in future there should be no problems. We want an assurance from the Indian side, Gyawali said today.

Nepal faced a crisis with note ban announced in 2016, as Rs 7crore in old Indian currency in its banking system and an unaccounted sum in individual possession are yet to be exchanged.

Gyawali also batted for revival of the SAARC Summit to be hosted by Islamabad which was derailed following the India-led boycott in 2016 in wake of the Uri terror strikes. Nepal is the current Chair of SAARC and has been advocating regional dialogue.

There are problems for which the summit was postponed. But there is no alternative except sitting together and mitigating the differences. Problems we are facing now cannot be addressed alone. Terrorism cannot be fought alone. Poverty cannot be tackled single handedly, Gyawali said.

He cited US reach out to North Korea. We need broader regional cooperation. We are requesting all members to sit together and talk. If Trump and Kim can sit together in Singapore to resolve differences, why not us? In every forum we talk about it, the minister added.

Honorary rank for Army Chief
rchopra@tribunemail.com

Aditi Tandon

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, January 12



In a major setback to the Congresss proposal of a national-level anti-BJP coalition by way of pacts in states, the BSP and SP on Saturday declared their own understanding for the 2019 Lok Sabha polls leaving just two seats for the grand old party.

After announcing an equal share of 38 seats which the SP and BSP will fight in Uttar Pradesh, BSP chief Mayawati said the policies of the BJP and Congress were both rooted in corruption and, therefore, the two parties had decided to contest between themselves.

Mayawati and SP chief Akhilesh Yadav have left four seats for smaller parties, including two for CongressRae Bareli which UPA chief Sonia Gandhi represents and Amethi which Congress president Rahul Gandhi holds in LS.

Congress sources said they were ready to go it alone in the state though an official announcement and decision of the issue could take long.

The Congress has been hoping for about 12 to 15 seats in a grand alliance with the SP and BSP but that hasnt worked out.

The Congress has argued that it should get the Lok Sabha seats where its candidates finished second in the 2014 general election, among some others.

The party was keen on Kanpur, Saharanpur, Allahabad, Kushinagar, Dhaurahra and Agra.

The unilateral declaration of an alliance by the BSP and SP in the state which sends the maximum number of MPs to the Lok Sabha is being seen as a snub to the Congress which, insiders say, may be forced to go it alone now.

The snub came days after MP Chief Minister Kamal Nath failed to accommodate as minister the MLA which the SP loaned to him to reach a majority in the state Assembly after the Congress fell short of some seats.

The BSP was also upset with the Congress for failing to reach an understanding for the MP and Rajasthan polls.
ROBINSINGH@TRIBUNE.COM

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, January 11

Taking cognisance of a compensation scheme proposed by the Centre, the Supreme Court on Friday disposed of a PIL alleging faulty hip implants manufactured by US-based pharma company Johnson and Johnson that got fitted into bodies of 14,525 Indian patients.

A Bench headed by Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi perused the response of the Union Health Ministry, which said that a scheme had been formulated by it to ensure proper compensation to the victims of faulty hip implants.

The PIL filed by one Arun Goenka alleged that faulty and deadly hip implants had been fitted into the bodies of 14,525 Indian patients who underwent replacement surgeries since 2005.

The Bench, also comprising Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul, said in view of the Centres decision to provide compensation between Rs 3 lakh and 1.22 crore to the victims, there was no need to keep the PIL alive.

Disposing of the PIL, the top court said the government should give adequate publicity to the scheme to ensure that its benefits were reaped by victims. The court had in October 2018 asked the Union Health Ministry about the actions, if any, taken after an expert committee found the pharmaceutical giant guilty of medical negligence.

The petition sought directions to the Centre and Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation to take effective measures to save lives of those who had undergone DePuy ASR hip implant surgeries and would be unknowingly living a life in hell, if alive or may be dead, due to the negligent acts of respondents.

It had demanded an SIT probe into the matter and effective measures for implementation of immediate actions to save lives of patients of DePuy ASR Implants. It had highlighted that the company had to pay $4.40 billion to over 9,000 victims of faulty implants in the US while there was nothing of that sort in India.
rajivbhatia82@gmail.com

New Delhi, January 12

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's office has received an anonymous email that threatened to kidnap his daughter, sources said Saturday.

They said the Chief Minister's Office received an anonymous mail on January 9 following which the mail was forwarded to Delhi Police Commissioner Amulya Patnaik.

A Protective Service Officer has been deployed for Kejriwal's daughter by North district Police.

A Delhi Police official confirmed that an email was received and said it has been handed over to the Cyber Cell of the Special Cell, which is analysing it and trying to ascertain the IP address from which the email originated.

A government official said, "Delhi government had forwarded the threat email to Delhi Police Commissioner three days ago."

The official said the Delhi government has not been given any information so far by the police. - PTI
amansharma@tribunemail.com

Tribune Web Desk

Chandigarh, January 12

In an embarrassment to the Uttar Pradesh police, a deputy supreintendent of police, who died some time back, figured on the list of officers to be transferred.

After the goof-up came to light, Uttar Pradesh DGP OP Singh apologised on twitter and said strict action will be taken against whosoever is responsible for the lapse.

Its a matter of deep regret that in todays transfer list of Dy.SPs a cancellation order has been issued for late Dy.SP Sri Satya Narain Singh.

Such blunder is unpardonable and i apologise for it as HOD. Ill take strict action & remedial measures for better sync of information  DGP UP (@dgpup) January 11, 2019

"Its a matter of deep regret that in today's transfer list of Dy.SPs a cancellation order has been issued for late Dy.SP Sri Satya Narain Singh. Such blunder is unpardonable and i apologise for it as HOD. I'll take strict action & remedial measures for better sync of information," he wrote on twitter.
vinaymishra188@gmail.com

New Delhi/Kolkata, January 11

Alleging that she entered into a criminal conspiracy to receive Rs 1.4 crore from Saradha group of companies, the CBI has filed a chargesheet against Nalini Chidambaram, the wife of former Union Finance Minister P Chidambaram, the agencys official spokesperson said.

The Saradha group of companies is embroiled in a chit fund scam. The CBi alleged that Nalini received money as part of a criminal conspiracy with Sudipta Sen, proprietor of Saradha group, and other accused persons with an intention of cheating and misappropriation of funds, CBI spokesman Abhishek Dayal said. The CBI alleged that Manoranjana Sinh, the estranged wife of former Union Minister Matang Sinh, introduced Sen to Nalini to manage probes by various agencies such as SEBI, ROC against him for which she had allegedly received Rs 1.4 crore during 2010-12 through his companies, he said.

The chargesheet was filed in a special court in Kolkata.

Nalini was first summoned in September 2016 as a witness in the Saradha chit fund scam case. She was the counsel for Saradha Group and allegedly received a legal fee of Rs 1.26 crore for her appearances in court over a TV channel deal.  TNS
shriaya.dutt@tribuneindia.com

Kolkata, January 12

A 25-year-old woman and her two daughters in West Bengal's East Medinipur district were injured in an acid attack for which her husband has been detained, police said on Saturday.

"We have detained Dinesh Manna, 28, a tea stall owner for visiting his wife's maternal house in Talla village on Friday and throwing acid on her following years of domestic turmoil," a police officer said.

He said that the woman, who has suffered major burns and her minor daughters are being treated in a state-run hospital. IANS
rchopra@tribunemail.com

Vibha Sharma

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, January 12

Presenting himself and the BJP as the best options before the country, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said it was for the country to decide what kind of sevak it wants.

The choice is between stability and instability, an honest and courageous leader and a leaderless opportunistic alliance, a 'majboot' government and a mazboor government, the party's political resolution at the concluding day of its two-day National Convention, possibly the last before the country to elect its next government, also said.

The Prime Minister said the country should decide if it wants a pradhan sevak (he prefers to call himself that) who spends months on vacation abroad or one who works tirelessly without taking a break, in an apparent veiled attack against Congress president Rahul Gandhi, who is considered as his major challenger in the upcoming polls.

The Prime Minister spent a considerable time enumerating the demerits of the Congress and "failed alliances" like the BSP-SP forged today. The resolution also said a "comical alliance known as Maha-Gathbandhan of desperate, contradictory and opportunistic political formations is being sought to be raised to take on the Prime Minister the BJP and the NDA".

Stressing on instability that such alliances may usher at the Centre if elected to power, he also referred to short tenures of prime ministers, from four months to a year, during the 1990s like that of Chandrashekhar, H D Deve Gowda and I K Gujral to stress his point. "The country has to decide where it has to go," he said.

Opposition parties are coming together as they wanted to form a 'mazboor' (helpless) government to promote nepotism and corruption, he said.

"The BJP wants a strong dispensation for all-round development. We want a strong government so that we can put an end to corruption. These days there is a failed experiment taking place in the country which is known as the grand alliance. They have all gathered together to make a helpless government.

"They don't want a strong government which will lead to shutdown of their shops," Modi said, putting onus on voters, especially the new and young ones to make the right choice.

Modi said for the first time in the country's history, there has not been any charge of corruption against a government.

Presenting a detailed report card of his governments achievements, he called the 10 per cent reservation to economically weaker sections as one that had filled the people with new hope. Like partys other leaders, including chief Amit Shah and Yogi Adityanath, he also attacked the Congress over the Ram Temple issue, saying it doesn't want a solution to the Ayodhya dispute and was creating hurdles through its lawyers. "The Congress does not want resolution of the Ayodhya issue," Modi said, referring to remarks of senior Congress leader Kapil Sibal who had said the Supreme Court should hear the matter after conclusion of general elections.
Shiv Sethi

Shiv Sethi

Change is the law of nature. In these fast-changing modern times, our ways of living have also changed, as have the colours and contours of our festivals. The saga of festivals does not retain the same glory. The festivals that brought us immense joy are no more celebrated with customary fanfare. They have been reduced to perfunctory ritualism sans any real traditional values. I have observed the changing face and dying spirit of Lohri.

Basking in the sun one afternoon in our street, I observed that some street urchins rang our doorbell, crooning folk songs and asking for money and eatables as Lohri (part of the custom to go door to door asking for small gifts without any sense of shame). But they were disdainfully shooed away by my sister-in-law. I was instantly transported to my own childhood. Those were the bubbly days when we friends would get together a few days before Lohri to painstakingly rehearse Dulha Bhatti vala. We would knock at every door in the neighbourhood to collect money and eatables. Unlike today, there was no stigma attached to the custom of seeking small monetary favours. It used to be that time of the year when our pockets were filled with coins. We would carefully spend that treasure to buy kites for the succeeding festival of Basant Panchami.

Modern kids of the digital age have not inherited the folk culture of Dulha Bhatti vala, who was also popularly known as the Robin Hood associated with the harvest festival. Dulha Bhatti also represented the glorious secular tradition of the Lohri bonfire. But now only some urchins go from one place to another, singing folk songs in praise of Dulha Bhatti, a thief who helped the poor and fought oppressors. There are hundreds of stories associated with this legendary figure. One such medieval folklore claims that he was the contemporary of yet another superhuman, poet divine Guru Arjan Dev, who sacrificed his life at the altar of humanity in Lahore.

The festival of Lohri, in a way, extends a very cordial welcome to the spring season. The harsh winter gives way to sunny days, coaxing the blooms back to life. Those were innocent days when wandering, singing and stuffing pockets with the collected dividends was a joyful symbol. Unlike today, the kids were never shooed away. Unfortunately, this beautiful custom has now become synonymous with beggary. It is a big shock to our rich cultural heritage. Certainly, we have lost the fervour of festivals.
gspannu7@gmail.com

Johnson Thomas

First time director Vijay Guttes attempt to adapt Sanjaya Barus The Accidental Prime Minister appears far more malicious than informative. Baru (played here by Akshaye Khanna), as we read from his memoir, had issues with the Advisory Council led by Sonia Gandhi, and the members of the PMO and his angst appears to be a by-product of that disgruntlement.

Guttes film goes one step further and lampoons the Gandhi family in unfair caricature while making out politicos like Ahmed Patel (Vipin Sharma) and Prithviraj Chouhan (Ramesh Bhatkar) look like sneaky players. Neither Baru nor Gutte manage to substantiate their impressions with fact.

They merely pander to gossip and idle chatter while connecting dots that dont exactly add up to what is being suggested.

The allegation that Manmohan Singh was merely warming the throne for PM in waiting, Rahul Gandhi, for 10 years on-the-trot, is so fallacious that it puts into question the entire electoral system, intelligence of the Indian people, as well as conjures up a Congress party as a behemoth with all-pervasive power over the masses. That obviously cant be true given the turn of events.

The film also lays the blame for corruption on Sonia and Rahuls doorstep when it was in fact the UPA allies who were actually caught in the crosshairs of notional loss-making by CAG. It was a faux narrative carried forward by the Anna gang, Kejriwal, IAC and the BJP in opposition and resulted in Narendra Modi getting elevated to power.

The truth as we know it today is way different from what we were persuaded to believe then. Guttes film basically panders to an anti-Gandhi family narrative while portraying Sonia (Suzanne Bernett), Rahul (Arjun Mathur) and Manmohan Singh (Anupam Kher) in derogatory light.

The performances by the actors resembling the three main characters is so undermining that it seems intentional and therefore unpardonable. Anupam Kher is unforgivably toonish, Suzanne Bernett struggles with her Sonia Gandhi impersonation while Arjun Mathur doesnt even manage a favourable look. None of the cast makes an impression here.

The writing is perverse while the narrative fails to find cohesive entreaty. Guttes selective use of stock TV footage to buttress the negative implications here makes for a terribly biased perspective. This is certainly not cinema, its propaganda of the worst kind!
ROBINSINGH@TRIBUNE.COM

It was an iconic day for Bollywood on Thursday as several young stars came together and met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi. This young delegation was headed by Karan Johar and included Ayushmann Khurrana, Vicky Kaushal, Ranveer Singh, Ranbir Kapoor, Alia Bhatt, Rajkummar Rao, Bhumi Padnekar, Sidharth Malhotram, Varun Dhawan, Ekta Kapoor, Rohit Shetty amongst others. The actors spoke about various issues concerning the Industry and thanked and acknowledged PM for GST change and giving space to the industry to connect. Karan Johar took to Twitter to share an epic selfie of these young actors along with PM Modi.

Karan wrote, Powerful and timely conversations can bring about change and this was one of what we hope will become a regular conversation. Meeting the Honorable Prime Minister @narendramodi today was an incredible opportunity. He added, As a community, there is a huge interest to contribute to nation building. There is so much that we want to do. And can do and this dialogue was towards how and what ways we can do that. When the youngest country (in demography) joins hands with the largest movie industry in the world, we hope to be a force to reckon with.
editorial@tribune.com

Vishal Joshi

Tribune News Service

Jind, January 11

With movable and immovable assets worth Rs 23 crore, 27-year-old Jannayak Janta Party (JJP) leader Digvijay Singh Chautala is the richest candidate contesting the Jind bypoll.

Digvijay is contesting the election for the first time. He is contesting as an independent candidate as the newly formed JJP has not been accorded certificate of registration by the Election Commission of India (ECI).

A political novice, Digvijay studied up to Class XII from the DPS, Mathura road. As per election papers, the youngest and richest contestant is an agriculturist, but does not own any vehicle. He has no criminal background.

The value of his movable assets is reportedly Rs 12.23 crore, including investment of Rs 95.96 lakh in non-listed companies and more than Rs 20 lakh in insurance schemes.

He owns jewellery worth Rs 10 lakh, including 5-kg silver, diamonds and stones. His immovable assets worth Rs 11.18 crore include farmland in Sirsa and Karnal and residential buildings in Panchkula and New Delhi.

The annual income of political heavyweight and Congress nominee Randeep Surjewala has dipped by Rs 38 lakh compared to 2014, when he had won from Kaithal.

In 2018-19, his annual earnings were Rs 49.73 lakh, sourced from legal practice, interest and rentals. His earning in 2013-14 were Rs 88.57 lakh.

The value of his movable assets was Rs 87.04 lakh. In 2013-14, it was Rs 1.28 crore. This time, the value of his immovable assets was Rs 1.81 crore. During the Kaithal election, it was Rs 1.67 crore.

He has no vehicle or bullion on his name. In the last election, he had a liability of Rs 50 lakh towards Varinder Kumar of Panipat. This time, he has declared no financial liability.

BJP candidate Krishan Middha, an ayurvedic practitioner, has an annual income of Rs 5.66 lakh. He owns movable assets worth Rs 56.50 lakh.

He has a commercial structure and a residential building in the city worth Rs 1 crore. He does not own any farmland.

The INLD candidate from Jind, Umed Singh Redhu, who is a businessman, earned Rs 3 lakh in the last financial year.

His movable and immovable assets are worth Rs 2 crore. He has taken a bank loan of Rs 13.84 lakh and owns two cars.

After scrutiny of papers, 27 in fray
ROBINSINGH@TRIBUNE.COM

Sushil Manav

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, January 11

A common perception about journalists publishing local newspapers in small towns is not too good in this part of the country, as it is believed many of them are in the profession to further their business and vested interests.

But Ram Chander Chhatrapati, editor of Poora Sach published from Sirsa, was not of that kind. For him, journalism was a mission to take on the high and the mighty who misused their position to the detriment of the common people.

He started exposing Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh when he found out incriminating evidence of activities inside the sects headquarters and publishing stories fearlessly till shooters sent by the sect chief killed him on the evening of October 24, 2002.

Chhatrapati, born on March 19, 1950, was a law graduate. He started as a stringer for a national Hindi daily before he started his own eveninger Poora Sach from Sirsa in February 2000.

A logo written on the masthead of Poora Sach read as Sach aur jhooth ke beech koi teesri cheez nahi hoti, aur main sach ke saath hun (It is either truth or falsehood; nothing in between, and I stand by the truth).

Chhatrapatis heart bled whenever he came across instances of exploitation of the common people at the hands of politicians or sect leaders such as Gurmeet Ram Rahim. He never hesitated to take up the cudgels against them.

He published an anonymous letter written by a sadhvi of the dera that talked about her sexual exploitation by Gurmeet Ram Rahim. This letter eventually led to his murder.

Making money is not important. Even a prostitute earns enough money. What is important is to stand by the truth whatever be the circumstances, Chhatrapati used to tell his fellow journalists.

The mans reputation as a fair and fearless scribe can be gauged from the fact that noted journalists of the country such as Kuldeep Nayyar, Ravish Kumar and Urmilesh felt honoured to receive Ram Chander Chhatrapati Journalism Award instituted by his friends and family after his death.

A sea of people from the media fraternity had participated in a Patratkaar Panchayat in Sirsa held a few days after he was shot at and on Chhatrapatis cremation on November 22, 2002.

They all pledged support to the family till Chhatrapati got justice. But the support started getting to waver gradually because of Ram Rahims influence and largesse.

While noted journalists of the country felt honoured to receive the award named after him, very few from his town Sirsa even attended the events.

His son Anshul Chhatrapati, who took over as editor of Poora Sach after his fathers murder, continued a lone battle  both on the legal and the journalistic front. And finally, the day of justice came today.
editorial@tribune.com

Deepender Deswal

Tribune News Service

Hisar, January 11

The police on Friday registered a case against 11 members of a social panchayat, which issued diktat against the family of a youth who married a woman belonging to another caste in Prabhuwala village of the district.

Upset over the decision of the youth to marry the woman from a different caste in the same village, the social panchayat has asked the family to leave Prabhuwala, stating their presence in the village was causing tension. The newlywed couple left the village in December and has been staying elsewhere since.

A social custom in Haryana prohibits marriage of men and women from the same village.

Sanjay Chauhan, a social activist who lodged a complaint with the police in the case, said he met the family members of the youth. They said they have been getting threats from some people in the village. The social panchayat that issued the diktat against them at a meeting on January 6 has formed an 11-member committee, which has been assigned the task to implement the diktat to evict the family by January 31, said Chauhan. He alleged the panchayat had asked the family to settle at least 50 km away from the village.

Krishan Lal, SHO, said a case under Sections 141 (by means of criminal force, or show of criminal force, compel any person to do what he is not legally bound to do, or to omit to do what he is legally entitled to do), 143 (unlawful assembly), and 506 (criminal intimidation) against 11 members of the social panchayat and others who were present at the meeting. They have been identified as Parminder Singh (husband of village sarpanch), Thakur Balbir Ajmera, Rajkumar Bedi, Gyanchand Sharma, Gyanchand Bhatia, Prem Nain, Rajkumar Jangra, Krishan Kumar, Ramkishan Bhaat, Surjeet Bishnoi and Bhoop Singh. The police had started investigation after the registration of the case, he said.

A day after the panchayat issued the diktat, the police had visited the village and called a meeting of villagers to resolve the issue. The villages elected panchayat and some other prominent persons had given in writing to the police that nobody would be threatened or asked to leave the village.

The case
shalender@tribune.com

The Indian Army currently has its hands full with two restive borders, internal insurgencies and the need to trim its fat. It has done a good job of all the three. When the Army Chief dwells on these aspects, and even if some observations step on civilian toes such as the one about J&Ks school education system, he still operates within his envelope of expertise. His concern on the two-map system in J&K schools, for instance, hints that this perception of separateness opens the door for radicalisation. Social scientists can contest the perception, but for an Army combating recurring bouts of militancy, the Chief cannot be faulted for airing his conceptual worldview about the root of the trouble.

However, Gen Bipin Rawat left his crease by seeking to draw a distinction between the traders of violence in Kashmir and Afghanistan. Talks with the Taliban are at a fragile juncture and India is treading a very fine line; which the Army Chief sought to enlighten the audience about and ended up sending a tangential message. Dissimulation has never been a soldiers forte; it is a task best left to the diplomat. India needs a course correction in its approach towards Afghanistan, which has witnessed some forward movement. It demands complex political manoeuvring and also picking and choosing of allies, which are beyond the pale of an institution that has less to do with international relations.

General Rawat was on familiar turf when he dealt with the restructuring of the Indian Army to make it a weapon-intensive, manpower-lean force. The Army also has the more painful task of integrating the command and control of all the three services for the armed forces to integrate with the times. By all accounts, the General is up for the task. His men have also performed uniformly well in manning the borders and tamping down on insurgencies. The Army needs to retain focus on its task in Kashmir and leave the categorisation of militancy in faraway lands to domain specialists.
editorial@tribune.com

Sandeep Rana

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, January 11

The BJP core group will decide the partys candidate for the post of Mayor during a meeting in Delhi tomorrow. Councillor Rajesh Kalia leads the race among four contenders for the ticket to the post, which has been kept for reserved candidates.

Sources confirmed that Kalia, who belongs to the city BJP president Sanjay Tandons camp, has been able to convince MP Kirron Kher of the warring faction. The two leaders are likely to propose his name in the meeting.

Bharat Kumar, Farmila and Satish Kainth from the party are the other contenders for the post. Earlier, Bharat and Farmila were said to be leading the race, but things are now said to be falling in place for Kalia, who represents Maloya, EWS Colony, Maloya, Sector 39 (West) and the Grain Market area.

One of the major factors working for him is that he hails from Valmiki community, which has a good chunk of votes in the city. Party leaders said the community comprises 70 per cent of the total SC population in the city. By picking up Kalia for the post of Mayor, the BJP would try to impress on Valmikis ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. His closeness with Tandon is another reason.

Sources said Kirron too agreed to Kalias request for recommending his name for the post. The MP had little choice this time. Only four councillors, out of the 20 BJP councillors, are in the fray as the seat was for councillor from reserved category.

Last time, Davesh Moudgil, who was Kirrons choice, was selected as the partys nominee for the post. Before that, Asha Jaswal from the Tandon group was named for the post.

Leaders confirmed the city BJP core group members, including city incharge Prabhat Jha, organisation secretary Dinesh Kumar, Tandon and Kirron, are already in Delhi for the National Council. They will hold a meeting to zero in on the mayoral candidate tomorrow.

Jha is expected to make a formal announcement on this here on Sunday.

Speaking to Chandigarh Tribune, both Kirron and Tandon maintained, Nothing has been decided about the candidature yet. The candidate will be decided during the core group meeting at Delhi.

The BJP, which has absolute majority in the MC House, wants to avoid embarrassment it faced last year when the core group meeting saw differences between the two factions coming out in the open. Then, the party had announced Moudgil as its nominee for the post of Mayor. However, the then sitting Mayor Asha Jaswal revolted along with certain councillors and decided to contest as independent.

The ruling party also wants to quell any possible cross-voting attempt, which could benefit the Congress.

The Congress has one contender, Sheela Devi, for the reserved post.
harinder@tribunemail.com

Sanjay Bumbroo

Tribune News Service

Panchkula, January 11

Apparently taking a cue from the treatment at the hands of the police and paramilitary forces in August 2017, no dera follower turned up in Panchkula today where the special CBI court pronounced the judgment in the journalist Ram Chander Chhatrapati murder case.

Even Naam Charcha Ghar in Sector 23 across the Ghaggar wore a deserted look as no follower turned up there. Only three caretakers of Naam Charcha Ghar were seen along with a few policemen, who had been posted there to keep tabs on any possible gathering of dera followers.

One of the supporters of the dera said on condition of anonymity that they were followers of the dera and not of any individual. He said the law should take its own course, adding that they would not support those who had done anything wrong.

He said dera followers were not ready to risk their lives again as families of those killed in the violence in 2017 had not received any compensation from the dera or the government.

At least 36 persons had been killed during the violence after the pronouncement of the judgment against Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh.

Though there were reports from the security agencies that no dera follower from the tricity or from neighbouring states would come to the city, the police were not taking any chances. Besides imposing Section 144 in the city, the police had made elaborate arrangements to thwart any move of dera followers to disturb peace in the city. The police had deployed personnel in plainclothes to keep tabs on mischievous elements.
China to push ahead building of Xiongan, Beijing's sub-center

09:20, January 12, 2019 Xinhua

Cai Qi, secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Beijing Municipal Committee, attends an unveiling ceremony at the new office building of the Beijing Municipal Committee of the CPC in Tongzhou District in Beijing, capital of China, Jan. 11, 2019. Four key municipal organs of Beijing moved their offices from the downtown area to the eastern suburb of Tongzhou District, the city's sub-center, on Friday. The four organs are the Beijing Municipal Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC), the Standing Committee of the Beijing Municipal People's Congress, Beijing Municipal People's Government and the Beijing Municipal Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference. (Xinhua/Ju Huanzong)

BEIJING, Jan. 11 (Xinhua) -- China is pressing ahead with the building of Xiongan New Area and Beijing's sub-center following strict standards, officials said Friday.

The top-level design for the Xiongan New Area has been generally completed, with the planning and policy systems both established, Lin Nianxiu, deputy head of the National Development and Reform Commission, told a press conference.

In April 2017, China announced the establishment of Xiongan New Area, spanning three counties in Hebei Province about 100 km southwest of downtown Beijing.

The development and construction have begun in Xiongan New Area, as work has been started on projects including intercity railway between Beijing and Xiongan and the afforestation project, and the public service center has been put into use.

However, other than some basic projects and temporary constructions, not a single brick has been laid to "avoid leaving historic regrets," Lin said.

Earlier this month, China's central authorities approved the 2018-2035 master plan for Xiongan. According to the plan that stresses high-quality development, Xiongan will become a modern city that is green, intelligent and livable, with "relatively strong competitiveness and harmonious human-environment interaction by 2035."

In order to turn the plan into reality, the government should adopt a holistic approach and take environmental protection, resource use, space layout and construction management into consideration, experts suggest.

On Friday, four key municipal organs of Beijing moved their offices from the downtown area to the eastern suburb of Tongzhou District, the capital city's sub-center.

Sui Zhenjiang, deputy mayor of Beijing, said that the municipality should steer the sub-center onto a path of sustainable development, building it into a district without "urban diseases."

"Next, Beijing should further improve the planning and design of the sub-center, and build the framework of the area with focus on major projects," Sui said.

The municipality will also seek active progress in the coordinated development of the sub-center with the adjacent counties in Hebei Province, with a slew of measures on transport, industries and facilities to be rolled out in 2019.
MCKINNEY, Texas - Velma Lynn Yettman passed away on June 4th, 2021 in Mckinney, Texas. She was born on October 25th, 1951 in Terre Haute, Indiana. She was predeceased by her sister Valeta May in 2018, and her parents Lloyd and Frances Zenor. Velma is survived by her brother Steve (Becky) Zen
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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.
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A production version of this concept would be exhilarating in many different ways. You would see its dynamic lines as you approach, hear its engine when you started it up and feel everything around you once on the road. It would engage the senses in a way that is unique and exciting every time you got behind the wheel, said Tadao Mori, Chief Designer of the LC Convertible concept.

The transformation of the LC coupe into a convertible seems like a no brainer. While we did hear rumors on the matter, now we have a confirmation (sort of). This is the Lexus LC Convertible Concept - a roofless concept car scheduled to debut at the 2019 North American International Auto Show in Detroit on Monday (14th, January). As it is based on top of the Lexus LC Coupe, the LC Convertible Concept looks gorgeous. Well, at least I think it does. As Lexus prioritized the development of the convertible version of the F branded LC, I believe we will see the production version sometime in 2020. Interestingly enough, Lexus did not confirm the production version of the LC Convertible Concept, but I guess it is likely to happen.

LC Convertible Concept Is A Bit Rouchy

Based around the Lexus LC Coupe, the LC Convertible Concept comes without a roof. I mean, like for real. The car you see in the photos and that will make a debut in Detroit does not have a roof at all. Not a folding hardtop or a soft top.

"Its just an open top concept at this point, so theres no roof yet," Lexus Spokesperson Ed Hellwig told journalists.

It looks basically identical to its coupe brother, but I must say that the slant front windshield and front pillars look amazing. Its a sexy car for sure.

The major change compared with the coupe is the rear deck.

It is a bit redesigned so it accepts a folding roof (I would guess it will get a soft top because thats the trend right now). Honestly, the car looks production ready. Like Lexus is just waiting for the right moment to release it into the wilderness.

I actually like this car a lot. Think about it. Clean lines, only shattered with unique 22-inch wheels and exposed interior give the LC a somewhat playful and raspy character. Imagine the burble of the 5.0-liter, V-8 with all this sexiness and I think you will be more than enchanted by this one.

Possible Weight and Performance Issues

Now, the Lexus LC Coupe is a heavy car at 4,266 pounds.

The LC Convertible will add at least 100 to 150 pounds on that. Heck, it could be a 2-ton convertible.

This will make it a bit slower to 60 mph and slash a few mph of its top speed. I will show you how fast the LC 500 and the LC 500h actually are.

2018 Lexus LC 500 2018 Lexus LC 500h 0-60 MPH 4.8 5.3 Quarter Mile 13.2 sec @ 110.2 mph 14.0 sec @ 101.3 mph Braking 60-0 MPH 114 ft 112 ft

Not exactly supercar (or Aston Martin DB11) numbers, are they? Well, the convertible will be even slower. This, obviously, can be a problem among average Joe gearheads, but not exactly within the customer base that Lexus will target with the possible LC Convertible Concept.

This is, after all, a luxury cruiser and the expression of ultimate luxury, as Lexus would say. So, insane performance numbers arent the most important here. Generous dimensions show that as well. This is how big the Lexus LC Convertible Concept is:

mm inches Length 4770 187.8 Width 1920 75.6 Height 1340 52.8 Wheelbase 2870 113

Final thoughts

The Lexus LC Convertible Concept shows how the Japanese plan to attack the likes of the Mercedes-Benz S-class Convertible, or the BMW 8 Series Convertible. Optimistic folks would even compare it with the DB11 Volante. I would not go that far though.

Further reading

Read our full speculative review on the 2020 Lexus LC Convertible.

Read our full review on the 2018 Lexus LC 500.

Read our full driven review on the 2018 Lexus LC 500.
In the light of recent events, one thing is clear  not all people are ready to adopt new technologies. We have been hearing the ICEing cases where Bro trucks block the supercharging stations and not allow EV owners to charge their vehicles. Now, people in Arizona are showing their anger towards Waymos autonomous cars in Arizona by attacking them.

Are People Getting Insecure?

Autonomous cars are coming; whether we like it or not, and are set to become a major part of the motoring landscape. However, many people remain wary of the new technology and despise it so much so that they resort to violence. A series of disturbing incidents have been reported involving Waymos self-driving cars in Arizona. The New York Times has investigated this matter and found out that more than 20 cases have occurred involving Waymos test vehicles throughout the last two years.

Although some can be ignored, some are not so docile. There have been attacks where rocks have been thrown at the vehicles, tires have been slashed, and drivers have even tried to run them off the road. In one such incident police asserted that a man pulled alongside a Waymo vehicle and threatened the safety driver behind the wheel with a PVC pipe.

In another horrific instance, and the most serious one reported to date, a man waved a .22-caliber gun at a Waymo employee in the drivers seat.

When arrested, the man said he despises cars without drivers while referring to the death of a pedestrian hit by one of Ubers autonomous test vehicles in March last year.

There is certain disdain from people who are not ready to move on with the changing times. An Arizona resident, Erik OPolka, was issued a warning by the police after multiple reports that he tried to run Waymo prototypes off the road with his Jeep Wrangler. OPolkas wife, Elizabeth, admitted to the publication that she, too, may have forced them to pull over in the past before yelling at the safety drivers to leave their neighborhood.

What They Had To Say

Douglas Rushkoff, a media theorist from City University of New York, said, Theres a growing sense that the giant corporations honing driver-less technologies do not have our best interests at heart. Just think about the humans inside these vehicles, who are essentially training the artificial intelligence that will replace them,

Waymo spokeswoman, Alexis Georgeson, said in a public statement that other than these one-off cases, people of Arizona have generally been welcoming.

She said, Safety is the core of everything we do, which means that keeping our drivers, our riders, and the public safe is our top priority. Over the past two years, weve found Arizonans to be welcoming and excited by the potential of this technology to make our roads safer.

Conclusion

Even though the technology is developing at a fast pace and is getting safer by the day, some people are still skeptical about the whole concept of autonomous vehicles. How do you think companies like Uber and Waymo can go about this? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.

Further reading

Waymo All Set To Launch Self-Driving Taxi Service Next Month

Waymo and Honda May Develop an Autonomous Delivery Vehicle After All

Chrysler to Send Thousands of Pacifica Minivans to Waymo

Source: AZ CEntral
An unarmed teen driver is killed by police, followed by a year with few answers January 11 at 6:00 AM When 17-year-old John Albers backed the family van out of his garage one evening last January, it's not clear whether he knew that Officer Clayton Jenison of the Overland Park, Kan., Police Department was moving toward the right rear corner of the vehicle.

Roundup of this suicide call gone horribly wrong as the middle-class confront the very same problems and deadly circumstances faced by po'folk . . . Which is mostly the source of the anger. Read more:
Claire McCaskill On The State Of The Democratic Party In Missouri And DC. As she bids farewell to her seat in Congress, tension has followed Missouri's former senior senator. Since her defeat in the midterms, Claire McCaskill has been criticized for her comments about abortion rights advocates, a certain new member of the House of Representatives, and those she wished were more critical of the president.

The former Senator wraps up her angry farewell tour with a Kansas City conversation wherein she seems a bit exhausted after burning just about every bridge connecting her to the NEXTGEN of the Democratic Party. Checkit:
CES 2019 is coming to a close. Companies are packing up their booths, journalists are preparing for their flights home, and Las Vegas is getting ready to return to whatever passes for normalcy in the city of sin. It won't be long before the week-long celebration of consumer electronics is but a fading memory--at least until it comes time to wonder when companies actually plan to release the gadgets and gizmos they revealed this week.

Catch up on all the coverage you missed from earlier this week at these links--Day 1, Day 2, Day 3, and Day 4--then check out today's news:

Let's Get a Little Weird

Companies announce new systems, components, and peripherals all the time. But CES is often where they decide to do something a little crazy--and we aren't talking about what happens at some of the after-hours parties. Read through some of these stories to see what we mean:

A Case of the...Cases

For anyone who hasn't been to CES before, the show floor is actually divided between several buildings, with the major companies getting the most space at the main location, and smaller companies sent over to satellite buildings. Once you get to those buildings, you're guaranteed to see more phone cases than any one person should ever behold. There are PC cases around, too, of couse.

The Best of the Rest

Here's our usual list of items that don't neatly fit into the other categories:

You can keep track of everything we produce from and about CES here on our CES 2019 tag page, and of course follow us on Twitter and Facebook to keep apprised via social media.
This year will see the 10th version of Samsung's Galaxy S smartphone. And as the tech giant prepares for a Feb. 20 event where it's expected to unveil the latest edition of the mobile device, the stakes couldn't be higher.

(Image credit: Samsung Galaxy S9. Credit: Tom's Guide)

The global smartphone market has cooled off considerably from a few years ago, when the latest models released by Samsung and Apple would slug it out for smartphone supremacy. These days, though, people are holding out longer between smartphone upgrades, and that's having an impact on sales.

"This hits Samsung twice," said Avi Greengart, research director for consumer devices at GlobalData. "It makes the most popular Android phones, and it builds smartphone components that it uses and it sells to its competitors. Samsung really needs to make a phone that entices consumers to upgrade."

That much became clear in the last week, when Samsung put out a warning that revenue and profits will be down for the holiday quarter due in part to "intensifying competition in the smartphone business." Translation: Samsung is selling fewer phones, with other Android device makers siphoning off the shoppers who are looking to upgrade.

It's not that last year's Galaxy S9 and S9+ were disappointing phones. They featured bright screens, improved cameras and solid performance powered by what was Qualcomm's best mobile processor at the time. But the phones didn't look any different from the Galaxy S8, and new features such as AR Emoji failed to excite.

Samsung will have to up its game if it's looking to reignite smartphone sales with the Galaxy S10. Here's how the company can make a bigger splash when the new phone makes its debut on Feb. 20.

Get a new look

Samsung's Infinity Displays helped usher in the current trend toward expansive smartphone screens with minimal bezels. There's no need to abandon that design, though a tweak here or there could freshen things up while also potentially squeezing in a little extra screen real estate.

(Image credit: Samsung Galaxy S9. Credit: Tom's Guide)

Based on rumors surrounding the S10, Samsung may be planning on doing just that. The upcoming phone is expected to debut a punch-hole look for the front display with a small opening in the upper right corner of the phone's screen to house the front camera. That would let Samsung continue to offer expansive screens on its phones without having to use a notch like some phone makers have resorted to in order to accomodate a front camera.

MORE: Galaxy S10 Launch Event Is Feb. 20: Here's What to Expect

"Design is definitely an area of focus," Greengart said. "Samsung was actually the first vendor with an edge-to-edge display, but now that's not enough."

Samsung could slip something else under the AMOLED display of its next phone  a fingerprint sensor. Reportedly, Samsung will follow the lead of other phone makers like Vivo and OnePlus and go with an in-display sensor capable of reading your fingerprint when you place your finger on the phone's display. For a company that's struggled with where to put the fingerprint reader on its phones  don't get us started on the Galaxy S8 and its camera-lens adjacent fingerprint reader  it'd be a welcome, forward-looking step.

Improve the cameras

By introducing a variable aperture with the Galaxy S9, Samsung dramatically improved the performance of its cameras, particularly in low light settings. But even then, when we compared the S9's picture-taking prowess that of the Pixel 2, we preferred the camera on Google's phone. And that was before Google further advanced the Pixel's camera with the AI-fueled software improvements introduced with last fall's Pixel 3.

(Image credit: Samsung Galaxy S9+. Credit: Tom's Guide)

It sounds like Samsung will fight Google's software advances with more hardware. Rumors suggest the S10 will feature three rear lens. Depending on the setup, three cameras would help the S10 capture more colorful photos with less noise in low-light settings. A third lens might also enhance portrait mode pictures. Up front, the S10 could take a page out of the Pixel's book by adding a second selfie-cam for wide angle shots. If you're scoring at home, that's at least five lenses on the S10 (and potentially six, if a separate report of a four-camera setup on the back of the S10 is accurate).

MORE: Samsung Galaxy S10 Rumors: Release Date, Specs, and More

Samsung may also turn to software to improve the cameras on its upcoming phones. Some lines of code linked to the Galaxy S10 mention a feature called Bright Night, which seems to point to a software-powered way of enhancing photos shot in low light. Any improvements to cameras would help out the S10, especially given the importance of photo-taking to today's flagship phones.

Better AI, and not just Bixby

It's not unfair to say that Bixby, the digital assistant Samsung introduced two years ago, hasn't taken off the way Samsung might have hoped. The assistant still feels like a work in progress, even on the Galaxy S10.

(Image credit: Samsung Galaxy S9. Credit: Tom's Guide)

We're likely to hear about improvements to Bixby when the S10 arrives, and Samsung was showing off a smarter version of its assistant at CES this past week (though those features were designed specifically for Samsung's appliances). But we hope Samsung's going to focus on improving the artificial intelligence on board its phone in another way.

Specifically, the Snapdragon 855 chipset that's all-but-certain to power the Galaxy S10 models that ship in the U.S. introduces a new fourth-generation AI engine. Improvements to the digital signal processor on the Snapdragon 855 as well as its CPU and GPU should help phones powered by Qualcomm's latest processor perform more calculations faster. And we're hoping the S10 can take advantage of that with a new set of AI-powered features.

5G, though maybe later

As phone makers and network carriers keep telling us, 2019 is going to be the year of 5G. And Samsung is already on the record as saying that it will make phones capable of working with 5G networks for both Verizon and AT&T.

Could that phone be the Galaxy S10? Possibly, though if the new phone arrives in March, it will be well before mobile 5G networks are available. A 5G-ready phone would still work on LTE networks just fine, though it's hard to get people excited about a feature they won't be able to take advantage of right away.

MORE: Surprise! Samsung Quietly Showed a 5G Phone at CES

A more likely scenario  and one that's supported by assorted S10 rumors  is that a 5G version of the Galaxy S10 is one of several models Samsung comes out with. And that range-topping model could ship after the other S10 versions to time its release with wider availability for 5G.

Is the price right?

Now that we're in the era of $1,000 smartphones, it may be too much to ask for Samsung to go against the tide and roll back prices on its next smartphone. So it's a pretty safe bet that the S10 will cost about the same as the Galaxy S9 did when it debuted at prices ranging from $720 to $820.

(Image credit: Samsung Galaxy S9. Credit: Tom's Guide)

However, Samsung might get creative on pricing by introducing an entry-level model of the S10 that scales back on some of the premium features found in other versions of the phone in the name of a lower price tag. By giving up the in-display fingerprint sensor and going with a flat display instead of a curved one, Samsung might be able to offer a version of the S10 that costs less than $700.

Apple tried that strategy last fall with the $749 iPhone XR, which doesn't feature an OLED screen or a second rear camera, and reportedly, sales haven't been robust. But maybe things will work out better for Samsung.

Outlook

Samsung may have already tipped its hand about which features are coming to the Galaxy S10. Carolina Milanesi of Creative Strategies notes the phone maker already includes its Infinity O display and three-camera setup in other phones. Bringing both of those to the S10 would "add functionalities on the two biggest purchase drivers as well as making the phone look clearly different from the [S9]," she said.

"At the end of the day, we know many consumers want a different look as well as new features," Milanesi added. "For less tech-savvy buyers, the former matters more."

Whatever Samsung has up its sleeve on Feb. 20, don't expect the company to play it safe. Given the state of the smartphone market and the company's own balance sheet, it can't really afford to.

"There is a tricky balance that Samsung must hit," Greengart said. "It needs radical designs and bleeding edge technologies like folding displays and 5G that push the envelope for early adopters, but it also must make more traditional 4G phones exciting enough to entice mainstream consumers to upgrade as well."
[January 12, 2019] Leaders, Parliamentarians Praise UAE's Commitment to International Security, Stability

Participants of the 'From Humanitarian Aid for Stability: UAE and EU together' seminar noted that the UAE has gained a prominent position in humanitarian and development work as the largest donor of development aid in the world relative to GDP. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190112005010/en/ From Humanitarian Aid for Stability UAE and EU together seminar (Photo: AETOSWire) Organized by the UAE Federal National Council (FNC) in cooperation with the EU-UAE Parliamentary Friendship Group at the European Parliament and the Emirates Red Crescent, the event took place at the headquarters of the European Parliament in Brussels. Speaking at the seminar, Her Excellency Dr Amal Al Qubaisi, Speaker of FNC, said: "Heping those in need is deeply rooted in our culture, and we feel responsible for underprivileged and vulnerable groups. Instability provides fertile ground for terrorism and extremism, therefore our commitment to development involves a commitment to stability - a priority that we share with the EU."



Highlighting the efforts of the Emirates Red Crescent in saving lives and supporting stability in crises and disaster zones around the world, she added: "The UAE houses some 45 humanitarian organizations that are active internationally. Between April 2015 and December 2018, the country disbursed US$4.91 billion in aid to Yemen, and has provided a safe haven for more than 127,000 Syrians since the outbreak of the Syrian crisis." His Excellency Antonio Lopez-Isturiz White, Member of the European Parliament, stressed the importance of the EU and the UAE unifying efforts in the economic and investment domains as well as in the fight against terrorism, humanitarian aid and risk control. He commended the UAE for its unwavering dedication to achieving security and stability in the world, and praised the role of the Emirates Red Crescent and other humanitarian organizations in the country.

His Excellency Christos Stylianides, European Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Management, said: "Increasing global challenges require sustained humanitarian efforts. We thank the UAE, a global model of humanitarian commitment, for demonstrating steadfast solidarity, significantly contributing to crisis resolution, playing an influential role in development cooperation and actively supporting international aid organizations." His Excellency Denis Haveaux, Director of the Red Cross EU Office, confirmed that the Red Cross and the Red Crescent are partners in providing humanitarian aid, and stressed the importance of safe access to services, particularly for victims of forgotten crises. * Source (News - Alert) : AETOSWire View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190112005010/en/

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[January 11, 2019] LOMA NEGRA SHAREHOLDER ALERT: ClaimsFiler Reminds Investors with Losses in Excess of $100,000 of Lead Plaintiff Deadline in Class Action Lawsuit against Loma Negra Compania Industrial Argentina Sociedad Anonima - LOMA

ClaimsFiler, a FREE shareholder information service, reminds investors that they have until February 4, 2019 to file lead plaintiff applications in a securities class action lawsuit against Loma Negra Compania Industrial Argentina Sociedad Anonima (NYSE: LOMA), if they purchased the Company's American Depositary Shares ("ADS") in connection with the Company's November 2017 initial public stock offering (the "IPO"). This action is pending in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York. Get Help Loma Negra investors should visit us at https://www.claimsfiler.com/cases/view-loma-nega-compania-industrial-argentina-sociedad-anonima-american-depositary-shares-securities-litigation or call toll-free (844) 367-9658. Lawyers at Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC are available to discuss your legal options.



About the Lawsuit Loma Negra and certain of its executives are charged with failing to disclose material information in registration statements issued for its IPO, violating federal securities laws, specifically (i) the extent of exposure to a corruption scandal involving its majority owner; (ii) true demand for products and growth potential; (iii) risks forecasted had actually occurred by the time of the IPO; and (iv) as a result, Loma Negra's financial statements were materially false and misleading at all relevant times.

The case is Carmona v. Loma Negra Compania Industrial Argentina Sociedad Anonima et al, 18-cv-11323. About ClaimsFiler ClaimsFiler has a single mission: to serve as the information source to help retail investors recover their share of billions of dollars from securities class action settlements. At ClaimsFiler.com, investors can: (1) register for free to gain access to information and settlement websites for various securities class action cases so they can timely submit their own claims; (2) upload their portfolio transactional data to be notified about relevant securities cases in which they may have a financial interest; and (3) submit inquiries to the Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC law firm for free case evaluations. To learn more about ClaimsFiler, visit www.claimsfiler.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190111005470/en/

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[January 11, 2019] APHRIA SHAREHOLDER ALERT: ClaimsFiler Reminds Investors with Losses in Excess of $100,000 of Lead Plaintiff Deadline in Class Action Lawsuit Against Aphria Inc. - APHA

ClaimsFiler, a FREE shareholder information service, reminds investors that they have until February 4, 2019 to file lead plaintiff applications in a securities class action lawsuit against Aphria Inc. (NYSE: APHA), if they purchased the Company's securities between July 17, 2018 and December 4, 2018, inclusive (the "Class Period"). This action is pending in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York. Get Help Aphria investors should visit us at https://www.claimsfiler.com/cases/view-aphria-inc-securities-litigation or call toll-free (844) 367-9658. Lawyers at Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC are available to discuss your legal options



About the Lawsuit Aphria and certain of its executives are charged with failing to disclose material information during the Class Period, violating federal securities laws.

On December 3, 2018, Hindenburg Research reported in an article entitled "Aphria: A Shell Game with a Cannabis Business on the Side," that an extensive investigation revealed that "Aphria is part of a scheme orchestrated by a network of insiders to divert funds away from shareholders into their own pockets" and detailing the questionable value of its investments. On this news, the price of Aphria's shares plummeted. The case is Gloschat v. Aphria Inc. et al, 18-cv-11427 About ClaimsFiler ClaimsFiler has a single mission: to serve as the information source to help retail investors recover their share of billions of dollars from securities class action settlements. At ClaimsFiler.com, investors can: (1) register for free to gain access to information and settlement websites for various securities class action cases so they can timely submit their own claims; (2) upload their portfolio transactional data to be notified about relevant securities cases in which they may have a financial interest; and (3) submit inquiries to the Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC law firm for free case evaluations. To learn more about ClaimsFiler, visit www.claimsfiler.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190111005477/en/

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[January 11, 2019] FOOT LOCKER INVESTIGATION INITIATED by Former Louisiana Attorney General: Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC Investigates the Officers and Directors of Foot Locker, Inc. - FL

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 Foot Locker, Inc. (NYSE: FL). On August 18, 2017, the Company revealed negative financial results for the second quarter of fiscal year 2017, including revenue significantly below expectations, attributed in part to lower same-store sales, that it was closing 100 more stores than previously announced, and that weaker sales were expected for the rest of the fiscal year. Thereafter, the Company and certain of its executives were sued in a securities class action lawsuit, charging them with failing to disclose material information during the Class Period, violating federal securities laws, which is ongoing. KSF's investigation is focusing on whether Foot Locker's officers and/or directors breached their fiduciary duties to Foot Locker's shareholders or otherwise iolated state or federal laws.



If you have information that would assist KSF in its investigation, or have been a long-term holder of Foot Locker 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-fl/ 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/20190111005460/en/

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[January 11, 2019] DXC TECHNOLOGY SHAREHOLDER ALERT: CLAIMSFILER REMINDS INVESTORS WITH LOSSES IN EXCESS OF $100,000 of Lead Plaintiff Deadline in Class Action Lawsuit Against DXC Technology Company - DXC

NEW ORLEANS, Jan. 11, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- ClaimsFiler, a FREE shareholder information service, reminds investors that they have until February 25, 2019 to file lead plaintiff applications in a securities class action lawsuit against DXC Technology Company (NYSE:DXC), if they purchased the Companys shares between February 8, 2018 and November 6, 2018, inclusive (the Class Period). This action is pending in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia.

Get Help DXC investors should visit us at u>https://www.claimsfiler.com/cases/view-dxc-technology-company-securities-litigation or call toll-free (844) 367-9658. Lawyers at Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC are available to discuss your legal options.



About the Lawsuit DXC and certain of its executives are charged with failing to disclose material information during the Class Period, violating federal securities laws.

On November 6, 2018, the Company revealed a range of adverse financial news including the loss of sales to significant customers, quarterly revenue shortfall in the hundreds of millions of dollars, and an $800 million reduction to its 2019 revenue outlook as well as a lack of growth in the digital space and ineffective sales strategies. On this news, the price of DXCs shares plummeted. The case is City of Warren Police and Fire Retirement System v. DXC Technology Company, et al., No. 18-cv-1599. About ClaimsFiler ClaimsFiler has a single mission: to serve as the information source to help retail investors recover their share of billions of dollars from securities class action settlements. At ClaimsFiler.com, investors can: (1) register for free to gain access to information and settlement websites for various securities class action cases so they can timely submit their own claims; (2) upload their portfolio transactional data to be notified about relevant securities cases in which they may have a financial interest; and (3) submit inquiries to the Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC law firm for free case evaluations. To learn more about ClaimsFiler, visit www.claimsfiler.com .

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[January 11, 2019] ALLERGAN SHAREHOLDER ALERT: CLAIMSFILER REMINDS INVESTORS WITH LOSSES IN EXCESS OF $100,000 of Lead Plaintiff Deadline in Class Action Lawsuit Against Allergan plc. - AGN

NEW ORLEANS, Jan. 11, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- ClaimsFiler, a FREE shareholder information service, reminds investors that they have until February 19, 2019 to file lead plaintiff applications in a securities class action lawsuit against Allergan plc. (NYSE: AGN), if they purchased the Companys shares between February 24, 2017, and December 19, 2018, inclusive (the Class Period). This action is pending in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York.

Get Help Allergan investors should visit us at https://www.claimsfiler.com/cases/view-allergan-plc-securities-litigation-1 or call toll-free (844) 367-9658. Lawyers at Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC are available to discuss your legal options.



About the Lawsuit Allergan and certain of its executives are charged with failing to disclose material information during the Class Period, violating federal securities laws.

On December 19, 2018, the Company announced that it had halted the sale of its textured breast implants in the European market following a compulsory recall request from the French regulatory authority, Agence Nationale de Securite du Medicament, after the products CE Mark certification expired, amid concerns of a link to a rare form of cancer. On this news, the price of Allergans shares plummeted. The case is Cook v. Allergan Plc et al, No. 18-cv-12089. About ClaimsFiler ClaimsFiler has a single mission: to serve as the information source to help retail investors recover their share of billions of dollars from securities class action settlements. At ClaimsFiler.com, investors can: (1) register for free to gain access to information and settlement websites for various securities class action cases so they can timely submit their own claims; (2) upload their portfolio transactional data to be notified about relevant securities cases in which they may have a financial interest; and (3) submit inquiries to the Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC law firm for free case evaluations. To learn more about ClaimsFiler, visit www.claimsfiler.com .

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Doris Jean Ice, 85, of Fairview, passed away Sunday, June 13, 2021. She was born February 10, 1936 in Pine Grove, WV, a daughter of the late Clarence LeMasters and Jesse Anderson LeMasters. Doris enjoyed quilting and crocheting. Doris is survived by her sons, William Ricky Ice and his wife K
(TNS)  U.S. Rep. Doug Collins (R-GA) introduced a bill Thursday that would help rural communities access broadband services.The bill , named the Connect America Fund Accountability Act of 2019, outlines additional guidelines for the Connect America Fund, a Federal Communications Commission program that incentivizes broadband carriers to provide service to underserved or rural areas.For years, Northeast Georgians have consistently struggled to gain access to reliable broadband speeds. Congress has taken significant steps toward expanding rural broadband infrastructure in recent years, including securing federal funding to providers in rural areas, Collins said in a statement. However, some carriers  particularly in Northeast Georgia  have failed to provide adequate broadband speeds to consumers despite collecting taxpayer dollars.The bill would require recipients of fund dollars to provide additional information about how they test their services, mandating that the carrier report their testing method and choose a sample that is representative of their consumers.This legislation institutes specific tools to hold providers accountable for accurate reporting while ensuring households and businesses throughout our rural communities have access to the broadband services required to compete in the 21st-century economy, Collins said.In May 2018, Collins and FCC Chairman Ajit Pai hosted a forum in Dahlonega, Ga., to discuss the challenges of providing Internet for rural communities.All of us agree on the importance of a free and open Internet. Nobody wants to see blocking or throttling or other kinds of anti-competitive behavior, Pai toldin 2018. It would be great if Congress could speak, ideally in a bipartisan way, to enmesh those principles in legislation so its not this back-and-forth about the issue.Collins has also sponsored the Gigabit Opportunity Act, which would provide tax incentives to any business that provides high-speed service in rural areas. Versions of that bill are currently in House and Senate committees.
Washington

The U.S. military has started withdrawing some equipment, but not yet troops, from Syria as part of President Donald Trump's order to wind down that battleground against the Islamic State group, two Defense Department officials said Friday amid continuing confusion over plans to disengage from one of the Middle East's most complex conflicts.

The officials said the number of U.S. troops might actually increase slightly in Syria, to help protect the final process of pulling out  an operation that is still expected to take at least four to six months to complete.

There are currently about 2,000 troops  mostly Army soldiers and Marines  in northeast Syria or in the Middle Euphrates River Valley to oust the remaining pockets of Islamic State fighters and secure newly liberated areas from their return. A vaguely worded statement from the U.S. military headquarters in Baghdad, which is overseeing the fight against the Islamic State, said the withdrawal process from Syria had begun.

Last month, officials said, Trump said he intended to pull out U.S. troops within 30 days. But as recently as Sunday, the White House national security adviser, John Bolton, had said the pullout was conditional  based on circumstances that could leave U.S. forces there for months or even years.

The surprise announcement Friday, from Col. Sean Ryan, spokesman for the U.S.-led coalition against the Islamic State, gave no indication of whether any troops were being pulled out or whether the United States was taking other measures that could be considered a withdrawal.

Ryan said the coalition had "begun the process of our deliberate withdrawal from Syria," adding he would provide no further information about "specific timelines, locations or troop movements."

The announcement, coming days after Bolton's remarks, added to a climate of chaos surrounding Washington's policy on Syria at a time when Turkey has threatened to invade the country.

Trump has made no secret of his desire to bring the troops home, saying that they were sent to fight the Islamic State and that their mission has nearly been accomplished. In an apparently snap decision after a telephone call with the Turkish president, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, he said last month that he wanted the troops out within a month.

That decision prompted the resignation of two top aides  Defense Secretary Jim Mattis and Brett McGurk, the special presidential envoy to the coalition fighting the Islamic State  and the reformulation by Bolton, a hawkish adviser whose principal Middle East aim is to contain the ambitions of Iran, which is entrenched in Syria.

Reflecting the confusion, Interfax reported that the spokeswoman for the Russian Foreign Ministry, Maria Zakharova, said in Moscow on Friday that the U.S. military's announcement added to the Kremlin's growing doubts that the United States would soon withdraw from Syria.

It seems like Washington "is looking for a reason to stay," she said. "I cannot share your confidence that they are leaving there because we never saw an official strategy."

After Trump's call for a rapid pullout, discussions with others in his administration led to the timeline being lengthened as diplomats sought to find a way to protect the United States' Kurdish allies from a Turkish attack and to get Turkey to take over the fight against the jihadis.

The possible swift withdrawal of the U.S. military in northern and eastern Syria alarmed many analysts, who warned that could threaten to hinder the Islamic State and unleash a potentially violent scramble between the other forces in Syria to fill the void.
Washington

President Donald Trump's pick to be attorney general will assure lawmakers he supports a recent criminal justice overhaul that eases federal sentencing rules, even though he pushed tough-on-crime policies for decades, a person close to the confirmation process told The Associated Press.

William Barr is likely to face questions during his confirmation hearing Tuesday about his rhetoric during and after his first stint as attorney general in the early 1990s. At the time, Barr argued that the government needed to build more prisons, make penalties more severe and swift and use laws to keep criminals behind bars longer. That would put him squarely at odds with today's reformers.

"The only way to reduce violent crime in our society is to incapacitate chronic violent offenders through a tough policy of incarceration," Barr said in a 1992 speech. "We cannot permit ourselves to backslide into a system of revolving door justice."

Fast forward to next week's hearing and Barr will tell the Senate Judiciary Committee that he supports the recently passed First Step Act, according to the person, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss private conversations. Trump has touted the law as a bipartisan effort to address concerns that too many Americans were imprisoned for nonviolent crimes as a result of the drug war.

Barr's tough-on-crime thinking was common among law enforcement officials in the early 1990s but the view of many in the criminal justice field has shifted toward rehabilitation instead of incarceration.

Yet advocates fear that Barr's views have not significantly changed. He's seldom discussed criminal justice reform publicly in recent years, but in 2015, Barr joined other former law enforcement officials in signing a letter to Senate leaders Mitch McConnell and Harry Reid, urging them not to advance a sentencing reform bill. Many of the changes in that legislation were also included in the First Step Act.

Barr's opposition to prior sentencing bills could put him at odds with some senators, including Republican Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa, who was instrumental in passing the recent criminal justice overhaul.

Still, any such differences seem unlikely to torpedo Barr's nomination. Grassley met with Barr on Wednesday and said he believes Barr's experience "ought to make his nomination very easy." Democrats so far have raised more concerns about Barr's views on executive powers and the Russia investigation than on the sentencing overhaul.

If confirmed, Barr could return to the top Justice Department post by February. Though the First Step Act is now law, its advocates fear Barr could undermine it. The law gives sweeping discretion to the attorney general and his subordinates, including the director of the Bureau of Prisons.

Ames Grawert, senior counsel at the Brennan Center for Justice, said voting to confirm an attorney general with tough-on-crime views sends a "really mixed message" after passing the First Step Act.

"It seems likely that he still holds those views and unlikely that he's had any major rethinking since the 1990s," Grawert said.

In another speech from his prior service, Barr argued that most violent crimes were committed by repeat offenders who he said fit a typical "profile": They start out committing crimes as juveniles, and "go right on committing crimes" if they are released before trial.

"In fact, the only time that we are sure these chronic offenders are not committing crimes is when they are locked up in their prison cell," Barr said.

Advocates are eager to hear Barr questioned about whether his views have changed since then, and if he believes the prison expansion of recent decades was necessary.
ROTTERDAM -- Several hours after the Pioneer Bank branch on Altamont Avenue was robbed Friday, police arrested the man they suspect of the crime.

Robert P. Turner, 34, of Christian Court in Niskayuna, is accused of entering the branch just after 10 a.m. and passing a note to the teller demanding cash, town police said. Turner's note implied he had a weapon but none was displayed. No one was hurt.
ALBANY -The fate of a 64 percent raise for state lawmakers may depend on an inside peek into Albany's opaque "three-men-in-a-room" negotiations.

The salary increase, which was implemented by a special compensation committee last month and phased in this month, is being challenged in state Supreme Court, where arguments in Albany on Friday centered on stopping the state from paying out raises until their constitutionality can be decided.

On Wednesday, state legislators began receiving their new bi-weekly gross salary of $4,230.77, as their annual income rose from $79,500 to $110,000. It is scheduled to increase to $120,000 in 2020 and $130,000 in 2021.

The committee's actions have caused a rift between Assembly Speaker Carl E. Heastie and Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo, who, along with then-Senate Majority Leader John J. Flanagan last March, had crafted the language in the budget that would allow lawmakers and executive agency heads to receive raises.

Heastie has raised issues with the committee's imposition of a limit on outside income and the reduced number of legislative stipends, arguing they go beyond the bargain that was struck.

"I don't care what the governor says publicly - the three of us agreed that the commission's purview wasn't really stipends and it wasn't really outside income," Heastie told the Capitol Pressroom last month.

Cameron MacDonald, the attorney for the plaintiffs challenging the committee, is interested in finding out more about those private negotiations, and he maintains there is ambiguity in the state law that created the committee.

"Maybe it would be necessary to take depositions of the governor, and the Senate leader and the speaker to see what happened when the three of them were in the room talking about this," he said outside the courtroom. "The only legislative history ... is those three guys who were sitting in a room somewhere."

"I think everyone is curious about what the deal was," MacDonald added.

Regarding the legislative intent, Cuomo spokesman Jason Conwall said: "The last time we checked, more than 130 legislators voted to enact the pay commission and its intent was crystal clear."

If a judge allowed the political leaders to be deposed  Flanagan's GOP party is no longer the majority in the Senate  it would provide an unprecedented glimpse inside a secretive Capitol negotiating tradition that has long blocked from view by the public and members of the Legislature.

At the heart of the legal challenge is whether legislators have the constitutional authority to delegate control of their salaries to an outside committee.

Helena Lynch, an attorney with the state attorney general's office defending the validity of the committee and its actions, stressed in court that a vast body of case law has established the Legislature's ability to delegate policy administration when the policy is defined and standards are in place.

"The policy is adequate compensation. Its as clear as day, that's the policy," Lynch said. "The standards are all of the factors that the committee is instructed to take into account."

She added that the same standards were applied to a previous commission that approved salary increases for judges, and recently had its decision validated in the courts.

MacDonald maintained that the wording of the state's Constitution made the process for raising legislative and judicial salaries completely separate.

He also challenged the idea "adequate compensation" for legislators is clearly defined, as most lawmakers claim the job is full-time and the state Constitution outlines a part-time legislative function.

Additionally, MacDonald has contended the committee exceeded any mandate from the Legislature and Cuomo when it imposed outside income limitations.

Committee members have acknowledged their work might be legally questionable, but ultimately decided they were on firm ground to act the way they did.

Legislators could have returned to Albany in the final weeks of the year to undo the work of the committee, but they declined and Heastie said last month "the courts will figure it out."

An attorney for the speaker filed an amicus brief this week, and was in court on Friday, making it clear that he didn't oppose striking down aspects of the committee's work while keeping the salary increases in place.

Heastie has also said previously it's the Legislature's right to "fix" what they felt were technical problems with the committee's actions, and MacDonald speculated that a revised deal could be tucked into this year's budget.

A spokesman for Heastie did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

David.Lombardo@timesunion.com - 518.454.5427 - @poozer87
Albany

A low lit room in the Albany Institute of History and Art features landscape paintings from the Hudson River School wrapped around the room's four walls  each beautiful on the surface, but perhaps holding a message wrapped within historical context, or artistic technique.

"What draws your attention?" asks Colonie Central High School senior Melena Andrade, pointing to one particularly vibrantly-colored painting. "Not many other pieces are this vibrant and bright, and that's one of the characteristics I like to point out. And then we just continue talking about ... what the themes and inner meanings are about."

This painting is one of several each of the Institute's "Junior Interpreters" learn and research about as part of a program put on by the museum. A total of 20 Capital Region students aged 13 to 18 participate in the museum program, now in its second year, which runs the length of the school year.

"We talk about each painting, we try to engage the audience a lot and ask them questions and make it more interactive, so it's basically them sort of leading their own tour, but you also provide information," Andrade said.

The interpreters study the history and intent behind pieces featured throughout the museum's longer-term exhibits, like the Hudson River School, ancient Egypt or colonial Albany exhibits.

Interpreters craft their own guided, interactive tours through the exhibits, often asking museum patrons questions to uncover a message an artist may be conveying, or give additional context into historical items, like an Egyptian sarcophagus or even a 500-year-old loaf of bread.

"It's not something where a museum staff member writes something and then hands it to them and says 'here's what you're supposed to say.' They look at from their own perspectives, and provide tours through their own voices," said Patrick Stenshorn, director of interpretive programs for the institute.

"It's a way to get sort of a younger person's voice out in public and also develop some of the skills that hopefully will let them, as they go off to college or the workforce, succeed," he said.

Throughout the program, the students are taught about history and art, but also public speaking and interaction with visitors, something John Ezra Malibago, a Colonie Central senior, said has translated to the rest of her daily life.

"A big lesson I've learned was that it's OK to make mistakes and still own up to it," Malibago said. "It really kind of made an impact for our future tours because obviously you don't know everything, but you can still ask for help. And you can still learn from not knowing everything."

The interpreters also write and record their own curation of particular paintings or items on display, which visitors can listen to at home or as they tour the museum via recordings posted at aiha.oncell.com.

Alaina March and Adeline Weatherwax, both students at Tech Valley High School, joined the program after their social studies teacher encouraged them to.

The two practice their tours through the Egyptian exhibit together, but because each interpreter creates their own tour and highlights different items on exhibit, their two tours in the same room may be significantly different, they said.

"You could stay here today and here Kimaya, Adeline and Alaina all do something slightly different," Stenshorn said. "They all have probably some overlapping, but in some way shape or form, their voice is all different."

Thirteen of the students currently in the program are in their first year and began in September. Another seven participated last year and through last summer.

For Andrade, the experience has helped expand her love of art, which she hopes to study.

She also said its helped with her college applications  and, apparently, made her stand out in the college admissions process.

"I included (the interpreter experience) in all my applications," Andrade said. "One school sent me a pair of socks because they said my involvement knocked their socks off."
These three cases were among those handled recently by the Albany County District Attorney's office:

Jury convicts in child rape case

ALBANY - A jury Friday found a 39-year-old Cohoes man guilty in a child rape case, Albany County District Attorney David Soares said.

Derrick Rosa was found guilty of multiple counts of criminal sexual act, rape and endangering the welfare of a child. Between 2014 and 2017, on a number of occasions, Rosa had sexual contact with a teenager and physically abused the child, Soares said.

Rosa faces up to 50 years in state prison. He will be sentenced Feb. 8.

Coeymans car chase conviction

ALBANY  A jury convicted a Coeymans Hollow man of several charges arising from his car chase of a woman he was supposed to be avoiding, Albany County prosecutors said.

In the Sept. 27, 2017, incident, Robert Laduke, 31, used his car to follow a woman along Coeymans roads, repeatedly ramming the car she was in, then when she stopped and got out of the car he threatened to kill her, the district attorney's office said. At the time there was a "no illegal contact order of protection" against Laduke on behalf of the woman.

A police officer saw some of the incident and tried to place Laduke in custody. But Laduke sped off, at times going 25 mph over the speed limit, and ignoring another officer's command to pull over. He was later taken into custody.

Laduke was found guilty of attempted assault, reckless endangerment, criminal mischief, criminal contempt, unlawful fleeing a police officer in a motor vehicle and attempted criminal contempt, officials said.

Sentence ordered in treatment plant case

ALBANY  The Bolton wastewater treatment superintendent who falsified pH and phosphate levels in 2017 and sent those records to the town and a state agency was sentenced to three years of probation.

Thomas French, 37, of Bolton Landing, also will be subject to a revocation of his certification

license to operate a wastewater treatment plant. He had pleaded guilty to offering a false instrument for filing, a misdemeanor. The improper entries to the town of Bolton and state Department of Environmental Conservation were made with the intent to defraud the state, prosecutors said.
ALBANY  A former Albany County jail guard who was accused of sexually abusing two female inmates will not face prosecution.

The charges against Brandon Austin were dismissed in April after his defense attorney discovered a victim's family member had served on the grand jury that indicted him. The Albany County District Attorney's Office then had six months to re-present their evidence to a new grand jury but that deadline passed in October and Austin resigned in December.

"We concluded that we could no longer prove the case beyond a reasonable doubt," Cecilia Walsh, a spokeswoman for the district attorney's office, said Wednesday. "Based on this, and given that the defendant is no longer employed by the Albany County Correctional Facility, we declined to move forward."

Austin was indicted in August 2017 on two counts of felony sexual abuse, two counts of misdemeanor sexual abuse and one count of misdemeanor attempted criminal sexual act for allegedly forcing two female inmates to have sexual contact with him.

Austin's defense attorney, James Knox, said Friday that the grand jury was improperly impaneled by the district attorney's office but "it wasn't done intentionally." Knox said he uncovered the juror's relation to a victim while preparing for trial and filed a motion with the judge to dismiss.

The prosecutor  Assistant District Attorney Shannon Sarfoh, who is the bureau chief of the office's Special Victims Unit  ultimately decided not to re-present the case to a grand jury.

Generally, sexual crimes can be some of the most difficult for prosecutors to secure convictions on  especially given that survivors are asked to testify before both a grand jury and a trial jury, which can be re-traumatizing.

Out of every 1,000 instances of rape, only 13 cases get referred to a prosecutor and only seven cases lead to a felony conviction, according to FBI statistics compiled by the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network.

"When there are allegations like that, we take them seriously," Albany County Sheriff Craig Apple said.

Sixty percent of all sexual violence against inmates is perpetrated by jail or prison staff, according to U.S. Department of Justice statistics compiled by RAINN.

In 2017, the sheriff said Austin's arrest was the result of a monthlong sheriff's office investigation into the separate incidents. Austin was moved from the women's unit, which he had requested to cover, and reassigned to a male unit while officials conducted the investigation, Apple said.

The alleged abuse occurred between April 1 and June 17, 2017, for one victim and between June 16 and 17, 2017, for the other. Austin had been a guard since 2014, and the correction officers union negotiated his resignation, according to Apple.

Council 82 of the New York State Law Enforcement Officers Union did not return a call for comment.

Austin's arrest was the second time in 2017 a correction officer was accused of inappropriate behavior while on the job.

In late March, Correction Officer Thomas W. Bellow, 42, of Green Island, was charged with forcibly touching another employee at the jail. He was suspended from the job, which he'd held since 2013.

Bellow was convicted of misdemeanor forcible touching by a jury in Colonie Town Court on March 5, 2018, and sentenced to six years of probation. His license to carry a weapon was also suspended. Apple said Friday that Bellow is no longer employed by the sheriff's office.

More recently, a federal lawsuit was filed in Manhattan claiming that young inmates were transferred from Rikers Island in New York City to the Albany County jail, where they were beaten, Tased and sexually assaulted by a dozen local jail guards.

The New York Times reported the young men were thrown in solitary confinement for long stretches following the alleged assaults.

Read more: Lawsuit: Inmates abused at local jail

Apple has previously declined to comment on the lawsuit, but when asked about it on Friday, he said, incredulously: "It's absolutely ridiculous to think that is going on in the county jail."

He said cameras have been installed inside the facility and officers are properly trained but declined to discuss the case further, citing ongoing litigation.
She first saw the play as a child, when her famous father adapted it from a Henry James novella and played the male lead. Decades later, Vanessa Redgrave acted the role of Miss Tina on stage.

Now she is playing the forbidding grande dame Juliana Bordereau in a movie version of "The Aspern Papers" with her daughter Joely Richardson cast in the younger woman's role.

Redgrave, at 81, still radiates the outspoken intelligence that has characterized her film and stage work.

It is the fourth time the two have paired, a sequence that includes Redgrave joining her daughter on the popular TV series "Nip/Tuck" in a number of episodes.

Richardson worried that her mother might not cope well with the demands of weekly television.

Her mom thrived.

For Richardson, working with her mother highlights what she calls "that Mom-Vanessa thing." It's what happens when your mother has been famous your entire life  and has set a standard in the profession you chose.

Working with her mother has been revelatory.

"Sometimes I see her as Vanessa," says Richardson, 54. "Being on stage with her, it was like, oh my God, this is where it happens. It's in these moments, these magic moments, when she's truly more present than I've ever seen her be, probably, in real life. It's an extraordinary thing."

Redgrave is similarly impressed with her daughter's performance in "The Aspern Papers."

Redgrave is the matriarch of a venerable British acting dynasty that includes her late father Michael Redgrave; her late siblings Lynne and Corin Redgrave; and her children  Natasha Richardson, who died in a ski accident in 2009, Joely Richardson and writer and director Carlo Nero.

She recently worked with Nero on a documentary, "Sea Sorrow," a personal look at the migrant crisis motivated in part by her belief that the lessons of World War II have been forgotten.

 Associated Press

Kimmel puts federal employees to work

Jimmy Kimmel is sticking to his vow to help employees who won't be receiving paychecks during the partial government shutdown, which entered its 21st consecutive day Friday.

Each night of "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" this week has featured a new face temporarily filling in on set. A prison guard sat with the stage band as a tambourine player on Monday; a firefighter worked security with comedian Guillermo Rodriguez on Tuesday; a TSA worker helped search guests for weed on Wednesday, and an air traffic controller stood in as the greenroom bartender on Thursday.

"We're gonna give you a paycheck here from our show. It's not a full-time job, but hopefully it will hold you over," Kimmel told his new bartender, Nathan Steinhubel, during Thursday's episode.

Kimmel isn't getting picky with qualifications for his temporary hires. As long as they're one of the nearly 800,000 federal workers going without paychecks during the government shutdown, they're eligible for the late-night gig.

"Tonight, and every night until the shutdown is over, we're gonna put a federal employee to work here at the show," Kimmel said, kicking off his four-night run with extra stagehands.

The partial shutdown began on Dec. 22 after the president and Congress failed to agree on funding for Trump's $5 billion border wall. It impacts the Departments of Homeland Security, Transportation, and several other agencies.

Kimmel's first guest, John Kostelnik, a law enforcement prison guard at the Federal Correctional Complex in California, admitted he "absolutely" objects to "being used as a pawn in this fight over the wall."

 Tribune News

Bader Ginsburg on path to recovery

The Supreme Court says Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg's recovery from cancer surgery is "on track" and no further treatment is required. But the justice will miss court arguments next week.

Court spokeswoman Kathy Arberg says doctors for Ginsburg confirmed an initial evaluation that found no evidence of remaining cancer following surgery.

The court's oldest justice had surgery three weeks ago to remove cancerous growths on her left lung. She was released from the hospital in New York four days later and has been recuperating at home since then.

Ginsburg, 83, missed three days of arguments this week, the first time she missed days since she joined the court in 1993.

 Associated Press
FINANCIAL

SARATOGA NATIONAL BANK AND TRUST COMPANY

Philip Carr joined the residential lending team as residential mortgage originator. Carr will assist clients in southern Saratoga County and the greater Capital Region with their mortgage needs.

BST & CO. CPAS LLP

Jim Hogan was appointed director of business development. Hogan has more than 20 years of sales, marketing and business development experience in the financial services industry.

HEALTH CARE

ST. PETER'S HEALTH PARTNERS

Elizabeth Oommen joined St. Peter's Diabetes and Endocrine Care. Board-certified in internal medicine, Oommen practices specialty care in endocrinology.

Lulu Zhang joined St. Peter's Medical Oncology/Hematology. Board-certified in internal medicine, Zhang practices specialty care in medical oncology and hematology.

Mimi Tharian joined Albany Associates in Cardiology as a family nurse practitioner. Tharian previously worked at Albany Medical Center.

Ernest Enzien joined St. Peter's Internal Medicine. Enzien practices family medicine.

Mary Grace Mendoza joined St. Peter's Urgent Care in Clifton Park as a family nurse practitioner. Mendoza previously worked at Lenox Health Greenwich Village.

Heather Riordan joined Albany Associates in Cardiology as a family nurse practitioner.

THE CENTER FOR NURSING AND REHABILITATION AT HOOSICK FALLS

Melissa J. Reed was named director of nursing services. Reed previously served as clinical reimbursement coordinator.

NONPROFITS

CENTER FOR DISABILITY SERVICES

Gregory J. Sorrentino was named president and CEO. A New York State-certified public accountant and licensed nursing home administrator, Sorrentino has been an executive for 25 years, serving most recently as president and chief financial officer.

TRINITY ALLIANCE OF THE CAPITAL REGION

Addy Waldie joined as director of development and marketing.

CAPITAL REGION CHAMBER

Laura Mann joined as vice president, business growth. Mann, who founded FuzeHub in 2012, has experience with economic development organizations and in the private sector.

ENVIRONMENTAL ADVOCATES OF NEW YORK

Kate Kurera joined as deputy director. An environmental policy and law expert, Kurera is admitted to practice law in New York and Victoria, Australia, and has expertise in environmental, climate change and water law.

SHELTERS OF SARATOGA (SOS)

Karen A. Gregory joined as executive director. A veteran of nonprofit leadership at the Columbia-Greene Domestic Violence Program, Gregory has held roles in the public and private sector for more than 20 years.

PROFESSIONS

TULLY RINCKEY PLLC

Daniel T. Kane joined the Albany office as director and lead counsel of the TR Business Navigator, helping entrepreneurs and business owners navigate the legal challenges that come with launching, growing and strengthening their business. Kane previously served in various roles at the U.S. Small Business Administration.

TOPS FRIENDLY MARKETS

James Rutherford was promoted to store manager in Warrensburg. Rutherford previously served as the assistant store manager in Rutland, Vt.

ARCHITECTURE+

Stephen P. Kervin was named an associate. Kervin joined in 2004 and has worked on a variety of projects for higher education and commercial clients.

Casey J. Crossley was named an associate. Crossley joined in 2006 and has designed projects for higher education, health care and community clients.

 Jennifer Patterson
After more than six years as Iowas chief information officer, Robert von Wolffradt has stepped down from the position.As Iowas top tech administrator, Wolffradt helped the state expand broadband access to more than 4,000 homes and 700 businesses, including $114 million worth of industry investment and more than 550 miles of fiber laid by providers. His office also updated the states Web portal for citizen engagement and started preparing Iowans for future tech jobs through cybersecurity training and apprenticeships, recording a 30 percent uptick in apprenticeship applications in the first quarter of 2018 and an average of 10,000 visitors to the site each month.From 2007 to 2011, Wolffradt also served as CIO for Wyoming, where he led significant IT consolidation efforts and oversaw the installation of the first statewide cloud-based email system in the U.S. Prior to that he spent five years as IT director of Snohomish County, Wash.He did immediately not respond to a request for comment for this story.Wolffradt holds a masters degree in computer resources and information management from Webster University, and a bachelors degree in computer science from the University of Maryland.In his stead, recently re-elected Gov. Kim Reynolds appointed Jeff Franklin as interim director of the Office of the Chief Information Officer, effective Jan. 3. According to a news release , Franklin previously served as the deputy CIO, as an information security officer and administrator for the Department of Natural Resources, and worked at the Department of Administrative Services. He received his masters degree in management information services from Iowa State University in 2006.I look forward to serving Governor Reynolds administration by leading the Office of the Chief Information Officer, Franklin said in a statement. As interim director, it will be my continued goal to provide accountability for the IT resources our state government uses, ensuring productivity for all our agencies.
Many times, the new year kicks off with a huge financial hangover. But this year, we're looking at even more reasons to keep an eye on our money.

All sorts of economic headwinds will influence everything from how much we pay for gas to how much we take home in our paychecks to the size of our tax refunds in 2019.

Gas prices may rise

Before you plan any cross-country trips for spring break, though, consider that gas prices are forecast to head higher in the weeks ahead.

Traditionally, gas prices can be at their lowest in January and sometimes that trend can continue into February, according to Nancy Cain, a spokeswoman for AAA Michigan.

"AAA Michigan forecasts prices will start and end the year low, with at least a 30-cent to 40-cent increase in between," Cain said.

Prices generally go up in the spring when consumers start to take their vacations and refiners begin seasonal maintenance and switch to higher-cost, summer-blend gasoline.

Long-term forecasts are greatly influenced by shifts in the economy, global supply and demand, as well as tropical weather, such as a possible hurricane in the Gulf of Mexico.

"The party at the pump will likely wrap up in the next month or two," predicted Patrick DeHaan, senior petroleum analyst at GasBuddy.com.

The national average price could rise as much as $1 a gallon to a possible peak in May, according to GasBuddy.

If the U.S. economy continues to be strong, gas prices are expected to be headed higher. Yet economic jitters are increasingly causing worries.

If the economy stalls out or slows down in 2019, gas prices could go lower at some point after a spring bounce.

The trade war with China is one of the great unknowns for 2019.

Some maintain that both the United States and China have strong incentives to reach some sort of agreement, given the latest volatility in the U.S. stock market and the deepening economic slowdown in China.

If China and the United States reach some sort of a deal, the U.S. economy could get a boost and consumers would see a jolt in gas prices, DeHaan said.

"Without a deal, it could drag the economy down and keep gas prices lower," he said.

DeHaan said consumers may need to "buckle up for the extra volatility."

Minimum-wage raises

The minimum wage is going up in 20 states and dozens of cities in 2019. Some wage hikes went into effect Jan. 1; others will be staggered through the year.

A key tip to remember, though, is that workers do have bargaining power in many areas because the labor market is very tight in most parts of the country and in most industries, according to Mark Zandi, chief economist for Moody's Analytics.

One of the best ways for workers to tap into that bargaining power is to find another job.

"With another job offer in hand they could either take the new job, or if they like their current job, use it to ask for a bigger wage increase from their existing employer. There won't be a better time to ask for a raise," Zandi said.

Trade talks with China

Wall Street is increasingly focused on what might happen next with trade talks with China.

President Donald Trump told reporters that there was a glitch in the stock market in December. But he said stocks should rebound after trade negotiations are settled.

But your 401(k) isn't all that's at risk here.

The outcome of the trade war with China could have a great impact on the prices you pay at the mall, as well.

Talks between China and the United States began this week with all eyes focused on an early March deadline for a truce set by Trump.

If no agreement is reached, tariffs are scheduled to rise to 25 percent from 10 percent on $200 billion in Chinese goods, including many consumer products.

"Tariffs are taxes paid by American consumers and businesses," Charles Freeman, U.S. Chamber of Commerce senior vice president for Asia, said.

"Tariffs also threaten to raise the price of everyday items, from textiles to tablet computers," he said. "Having the U.S. and China at the negotiating table is encouraging."

Thinner tax refunds

Dramatic changes in the tax rules will show up when we file our 2018 returns this year.

We're looking at changes in individual tax rates as well as a sizable increase in the standard deduction that will cause some people to no longer itemize their deductions. Another key change for some families: State and local income tax deductions for individuals will be limited to $10,000 each tax year.

A key point: We started receiving more money in our paychecks last February because of changes in the payroll withholding tables under the new federal tax law.

The change in withholding tables might accurately reflect your tax bill. But some people might not have had enough money withheld, so they could owe more in taxes than they'd typically expect when they file their 2018 returns. Or they might receive a much smaller tax refund.

About 30 million Americans  or 21 percent of taxpayers  are not withholding enough to cover the taxes due, according to a simulation listed in a report by the U.S. Government Accountability Office. That's up from 18 percent if the tax laws had not changed.

But 73 percent of taxpayers with wages are having too much withheld and would receive a refund, based on simulations run by the Treasury Department. That's down from 76 percent if the tax laws had not changed.

For many families, it may be far safer not to bank on the same type of tax refund that they received in 2018. And you might only truly understand where you stand once your tax return is completed in the spring.

Volatile mortgage rates

The average 30-year mortgage rate was hovering around 4.75 percent as 2018 drew to a close, up from 4.1 percent a year ago, according to Bankrate.com.

But mortgage rates have been trending down in recent weeks, along with the stock market, on worries about a possible economic slowdown.

In general, mortgage rates are expected to be volatile in 2019  possibly rising above 5.25 percent before falling sharply later in the year to 4.35 percent, according to Bankrate.com's forecast.

"Mortgage rates are pulling back now because of the nervousness about economic growth, so now is a good time to be looking for a mortgage," said Greg McBride, chief financial analyst for Bankrate.com.

"I do expect that as worries subside in the next couple months  due to good economic news or a trade agreement with China  that mortgage rates will rebound," McBride said.

"If the economy shows evidence of slowing later this year as I suspect, then mortgage rates will fall  but I don't expect that until the last few months of the year."
Schenectady

Sometimes second acts are better in Hollywood  and also in the entrepreneurial world.

Think of Steve Jobs and Lee Iacocca.

Maybe think of Sinclair Schuller, the former CEO of Apprenda, the Troy-based software company that dramatically went out of business over the summer.

Schuller, who has since started a new software consulting company called Nuvalence, says he had no regrets about his 11 years leading Apprenda, which was shut down after its biggest investor, the Philadelphia area venture capital firm Safeguard Scientifics, unexpectedly pulled its $24 million commitment to the company.

But Schuller, who attended Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and lives in Troy, says he's never been happier and more excited about the future. He says that's because he's able to take all the lessons he learned from leading Apprenda and use them for his second time around, something that a new startup CEO is rarely afforded.

"You really don't know much of anything," when starting the first business, Schuller said during a talk this past week at the New York BizLab in Schenectady during its Lunchtime Entrepreneurship Series with Clarkson University. "You conflate a lot of your skills."

What Schuller means is that a skill that someone has that is good in life in general, such as being a good people person, doesn't always mean you are good with people in a managerial setting.

"You might think I'm good with people, so that must mean I'm a good manager," Schuller said. "But they have nothing to do with one another. Being good with people and being a good manager are two very different things."

At one point, Apprenda employed dozens of people at its offices in Hedley Park Place on the Hudson River in downtown Troy.

Schuller, who is hiring software engineers for the new company in Troy, says that he doesn't plan on going the venture capital route. But that is because the new company is focused on consulting, helping companies build their own cloud computing systems rather than selling one they built. Apprenda auctioned off its assets in the wake of its closing, needing to pay off a $6 million loan with a Silicon Valley Bank.

"One is a service business, while the other one was focused on selling a product," Schuller said.

Schuller didn't really say what led to Apprenda's downfall, although Safeguard Scientifics officials hinted that the market dramatically changed and the company couldn't find a buyer in time.

Schuller was asked if he has ever been tempted to change careers entirely.

"I love wine and food, and so I could start a restaurant. It would be kind of fun in its own way, sure," Schuller said. "There's always interest and temptation to do something new. But this (the software industry) is my passion."
Dorothy Eleanor Mercer passed away on June 9, 2021 at Archbold Memorial Hospital. She was born on December 18, 1932, in Pavo to the late Early Byrd Wood and to the late Nellie Deen Wood. She was married to Eugene Mercer who precedes her in death. Survivors include her children, Leon David Mc


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(TNS) - Ron DeSantis hasnt even finished his first week as Florida governor and he already appears to be on a collision course with the man who helped him get the job: President Donald Trump.On Friday, DeSantis said that it would not be acceptable for Trump to take funds from hurricane relief to be used toward the border wall.We have people counting on that, he told reporters. If they backfill it immediately after the government opens, thats fine but I dont want that to be where that money is not available for us.DeSantis comments came after news broke Thursday night that Trump, his political benefactor, was considering using disaster funding intended for storm-damaged Florida, Texas, Puerto Rico and for wildfire recovery in California to pay for the wall at the border. Trump has mentioned several times that hes considering declaring a national emergency so he can bypass the standoff with Congressional Democrats over the $5.7 billion in wall funding.Such a Plan B for Trump would almost certainly put him at odds with DeSantis.A former Navy lawyer, DeSantis said hes unsure of the legality of Trumps national emergency Hail Mary.In all my years in Congress we never dealt with this idea of an emergency so I just need to look at the law, he said. My sense, just as somebody who studied the Constitution, the president wouldnt be able to just appropriate his own money under any circumstances. You may be able to repurpose some money. Im not sure how that works.DeSantis added that hes not spoken to Trump about this matter, and did not say if he has plans to do so. One of the hallmarks of his campaign last year was that Florida would have a close relationship with the White House because of his political relationship with Trump, whose endorsement helped DeSantis beat a more established candidate in Adam Putnam in the GOP primary.DeSantis comments Friday struck a different tone than when he was asked about the shutdown on Thursday  before news broke that Floridas hurricane funding could be in sacrificed for the border wall. DeSantis said then that he has his hands full down here, indicating he didnt want to get involved in all the political posturing in Washington.DeSantis toured some of the worst of Hurricane Michaels damage in Mexico Beach on Wednesday, a trip he said was really, really powerful. On Thursday, he announced a sweeping executive order to address toxic algae blooms aimed at cleaning up Floridas water.But progress on both the issues of hurricane recovery and environmental cleanup have been stunted by the partial federal government shutdown, which began at midnight on Dec. 22.The shutdown has meant federal scientists researching Red Tide are at home instead of in their labs tracking the toxic algae as it has subsequently popped back up near the beaches of Sarasota and Manatee counties.And as the New York Times reported, its intensified the hardships in the Panhandle where government employees who were already struggling post-hurricane are now making due without paychecks. Meanwhile, the website for the Federal Emergency Management Agency is not being actively managed during the shutdown, per a disclaimer on the site, which adds: We will not be able to respond to inquiries until after appropriations are enacted.2019 Tampa Bay Times (St. Petersburg, Fla.)Visit the Tampa Bay Times (St. Petersburg, Fla.) at www.tampabay.comDistributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
(TNS)  The Macomb County, Mich., Health Department's name and phone number is being used to try to scam folks.The department said it has received hundreds of calls from all over Michigan and outside the state during the past week inquiring about the spoof calls.But the department said the calls were not made by anyone on its staff.The callers are falsely displaying the department's information on caller IDs and trying to obtain Medicare insurance information and other sensitive information from the public, according to a news release.Anyone receiving one of these calls is urged not to provide personal or financial information over the phone and to use caution if being pressured for information immediately.The health department is working with the county's IT department to resolve the matter and has been "assured that no data breach has occurred" and records haven't been accessed. Officials said Thursday that they haven't had reports of anyone turning over the requested information.Health department officials said they have seen various numbers being used  at least six numbers that have been recorded by consumers  and the scam hasn't been limited to one office site or program.The senior population has received the majority of the calls, they said, with folks being asked financial information, medication lists and Medicare, Medicaid and other health insurance information.This isn't the first time people may have been scammed by callers claiming to be from a county department.In September, the county treasurer issued a warning to county taxpayers of a phone scam involving a caller claiming to represent the county's verification department, which doesn't exist. That caller demanded credit card information to process a payment for unpaid taxes.In June, the sheriff's office reported that a resident was contacted by phone by someone saying they were with the law enforcement agency and that the resident had an arrest warrant. The number showed up as the sheriff's office main line.At that time, the sheriff's office said there had been several similar reports of the fraudulent phone calls.Sheriff's Sgt. Renee Yax said Thursday that people receiving suspicious calls should not release their Social Security number or financial information over the phone."If you feel it's not right, look up a number to the company specifically. Ask for documentation, ask for them to send you something," she said, adding that people should also be watching for calls that include scammers saying a family member is in trouble.Folks receiving a call from someone claiming they represent a company or a government agency should verify the authenticity of the caller by confirming their phone number in the phone book or on the company or agency's website, according to the health department release.Anyone with questions or concerns regarding the recent scam using the health department name and number can visit health.macombgov.org or call the department at 586-469-5235.
Sunday 13 January marks a year since the launch of open banking but experts predict 2019 will make more of a meaningful difference to how people manage their money.

The so-far quiet revolution has pushed major British banks into sharing customer data securely and quickly with third parties.

The aim is for people to easily access better financial deals with help from these third-party firms, based on personal financial information. Banks must comply by law.

Open banking: The so-far quiet revolution has pushed major British banks into sharing customer data securely and quickly with third parties.

It happens only when a customer demands their details be shared and if they give permission through online or mobile banking.

Separate European law has enabled much of the same, but from a wider choice of financial firms, not just banks.

One example of how it works is money app Yolt, owned by Dutch bank ING. It has more than half a million registered users and allows them to see their bank, credit card, savings and investment details using just one app rather than several. It also offers tools to track spending and budget more effectively.

Leon Muis, chief operating officer at Yolt, says: This year is set to be an exciting one for open banking as we see the legislation take hold and move into the next phase.

Imran Gulamhuseinwala, trustee of the organisation delivering open banking, also says the emergence of new technologies and products will ramp up.

He adds: We have seen some impressive early signs of new technologies powered by open banking, with lots more to come. Consumers are gradually being offered products and services which will securely help them move, manage and make more of their money.

Meanwhile, online advice service OpenMoney is partnering with comparison website uSwitch to offer savings on household bills.

Its new app launches next month and will allow users to sync their details to find cheaper deals across the market. Initially it will focus on energy, broadband and mobile phone tariffs. Credit card and insurance deals are expected to follow.
Debenhams' shares fell to all-time lows after a dramatic boardroom coup that saw its chairman Sir Ian Cheshire ousted.

The embattled retailer's shares plunged nearly 19 per cent as critics suggested chief executive Sergio Bucher is on 'borrowed time'.

Analysts said Bucher and the management team are under immense pressure to rescue the business.

Debenhams shares plunged nearly 19 per cent as critics suggested chief executive Sergio Bucher is on 'borrowed time'

Sports Direct tycoon Mike Ashley teamed up with another major Debenhams investor to drum up the votes needed to vote Cheshire and Bucher off the board.

Debenhams has chosen to keep Bucher on to run the business for the time being with board member Terry Duddy stepping in as interim chairman following Cheshire's departure.

Analysts at Jefferies said: 'Bucher is on borrowed time. The company is under pressure to secure stakeholder support to enable a much faster turnaround.'

Debenhams is locked in talks with its lenders about refinancing.

The High Street retailer has put on hold plans to sell its Danish department store Magasin du Nord, which is thought to be worth up to 250million.

Debenhams shares had plunged 18.9 per cent, or 0.91p, to 3.91p by the close yesterday.
Majestic swung from a 3.1m profit to a 152,000 loss in its most recent half-year results

What is it? Bulk booze retailer Majestic has been going since 1991. With 210 retail branches in the UK, it is the country's largest specialist wine retailer.

What's the latest? Majestic swung from a 3.1million profit to a 152,000 loss in its most recent half-year results, which battered shares.

But despite gloom in the retail sector, sales over the Christmas period were up more than 6 per cent on the previous year.

Who backs it? John Apthorp, a co-founder of Wizard Wine, is the largest shareholder with an 18 per cent stake.

Why you should invest: Majestic's torrid trading last year, which pushed the shares down by 45 per cent, creates an interesting proposition for investors.

The company had explained the losses were due to a large investment in its business.

And why you shouldn't: Brexit is putting a significant question mark over the business.

Majestic has been stockpiling imported wine to try to make sure it can get customers their chosen tipple.

But investors may well be cautious about the short-term impact of a no-deal Brexit for the company.
British tourists will now pay up to 21 per cent less for goods in a number of countries around the world compared to a year, according to a new report.

In good news for bargain hunters, the price of tourist essentials has plummeted in nearly half of resorts and cities abroad, with holiday destinations in Singapore and St Lucia seeing the biggest drops, the Post Office Travel Money report shows.

It analysed 42 destinations in the last year, including 12 European locations - six of which have seen costs fall.

Bargain hunt: The Caribbean island of St Lucia has seen one of the biggest drops in local prices

The report analyses the prices of eight items  a three course meal for two with wine, cup of coffee, bottle of local beer, can of Coca-Cola, glass of wine, bottle of still water, suncream and insect repellent  which were selected as items that tourists are most likely to buy on a foreign holiday.

The Post Office added up these items, compiling a total price for each country in December of last year and compared them to prices for the same time in 2017, with a January exchange rate applied.

Prices in China Town, Singapore have dropped the most since last year, falling 21.5 per cent  making a total barometer basket cost of 120.66, down from 153.72 in 2018.

This drop is thought to be down to local market forces, such as increased competition.

It was followed by Montego Bay in St Lucia, which saw a reduction of 19.6 per cent, creating a basket total of 80.09 - down from 105.53 last year.

The island of St Lucia proved to be much cheaper for the goods than other Caribbean destinations including Antigua, Barbados, Jamaica and Tobago.

Plummet: China Town in Singapore saw the biggest drop in prices for tourists - a massive 21.5%

However, figures released by the Post Office suggest that 2018 was a good year for all of the Caribbean islands, reporting strong sales for the currencies.

The Jamaican dollar recorded a 29 per cent increase from the year previously, making it the second fastest growing currency in 2018.

Barbados also came just behind in third place, with sales of its dollar seeing a hike of 16 per cent.

Rio de Janeiro, the Brazilian city, had the third biggest drop in prices in goods for tourists

Rio de Janeiro had the third biggest drop in prices, as they fell 19.5 per cent, with tourists paying a total of 111.19, down from 138.59 in 2018.

The sharp rise in the value of sterling against the Brazilian real is the main factor for prices plummeting in the Brazilian capital.

Three other European locations also saw a significant year-on-year reductions, include Sliema, Malta, which was down nine per cent to 71.41, Nice, France, down 13.7 per cent to 91.86 and Corfu, Greece, down 7.8 per cent to 96.06.

On the other end of the scale, the most expensive of the 12 European destinations analysed was Sorrento, Italy, with a price increase of 30 per cent, coming in at 119.03  twice as high as the top three cheapest locations.

Andrew Brown of Post Office Travel Money, said: 'It is good news that prices are down in many destinations this year, but it is still very important to be aware of the huge variation in costs we found across the 42 countries surveyed.

'For example, barometer costs in the six cheapest resorts and cities are less than half those in the 15 priciest destinations.

'That's why we advise holidaymakers to draw up a destination shortlist and do their homework by comparing the prices for meals, drinks and other tourist items before booking.'

Strong performance: Sterling has seen biggest gains against currencies such as the lira, real and rand

Long haul

For holidaymakers who are on budget but also looking to go a bit further afield, Cape Town could be an option.

The South African city has overtaken Japan as the cheapest long haul option for 2019 after attracting an increasing number of UK visitors due to its low cost of living and favourable exchange rate.

The total cost of goods have dropped by almost nine per cent to just 50.23, further building on the drop of 16 per cent last year.

Biggest growers: Indonesia has grown in popularity as a holiday destination

Bali and Mombasa, Kenya were also long haul destinations that entered into the best value top 10.

Bali just pipped Hoi An, Vietnam to take 10th place, with only three pence in it.

The Indonesian resort had a basket total of 69.49, as opposed to Hoi An at 69.52, reaping the benefits of a weak currency and cheap local prices.

There has been a 483 per cent surge in currency sales over the past decade, on the back of the Indonesian rupiah falling 18 per cent against the sterling in the last 10 years.

This is a clear sign that tourists are becoming increasingly aware that the value comes from choosing destinations where the sterling is strong and local prices are low.

Mombasa also rose from 13th place to number seven this year, with a sharp fall of 16.3 per cent, now totalling 55.87.

The Kenyan shilling is one of the currencies that has strengthened the most against sterling, meaning that competitive pricing in the hospitality industry for tourists is the reason for its rise in position.
Fresh leadership in Louisianas third largest city is ushering in a new era where technology will be used to leverage improvements in economic development, public safety and education, among other areas. Adrian Perkins , the newly elected 33-year-old mayor of Shreveport, has announced the appointment of the citys first chief technology officer to help boost this north Louisiana city of 192,000 residents onto a more level playing field with peer communities with the help of technology and foundational infrastructure such as improved access to broadband and fiber-optic communications.Perkins appointed Keith Hanson, also a Shreveport native and private-sector technology leader, as the citys first CTO. In the next week or so the mayor expects the City Council to easily confirm Hansons appointment.The chief technology officer will be able to leverage the staff and his resources to make sure the city is pursuing those tech concepts that Ive presented to the public, said Perkins, speaking witha week into his new administration.A next step will be the drafting of a technology strategy to take to the council and the city, which will lay out goals and benchmarks. Some of those goals will include the development of better communications infrastructure, in support of two of the mayor's campaign pillars: economic development and public safety.We want to showcase that Shreveport is tech savvy and open for business, Perkins said.Today, Shreveport, a city that has long sat at the crossroads of industries like agriculture and the oil and gas sectors, is a patchwork of technology. Perkins describes the citys fiber infrastructure as fragmented, unconnected silos.For example, the parish government is fiber connected, as well as the schools. Fiber is also at the backbone of private-sector organizations like AT&T, local utilities and others.Theres fiber everywhere in our city right now. And I think step one is going to be to evaluate exactly where that fiber is, and again, how do we have public access to it, said Perkins.Understanding connectivity across the city and how to grow it may be one aspect of Hansons job, while another will be articulating how to put that connectivity to use for both residents and the citys internal staff through smart city projects that collect and analyze data.Ive seen over and over ways that technology can save money across the city, and open up more budgets for other departments, and things like that, said Hanson.Hanson  who said hes been writing code since he was 12 years old  stresses what he will bring to City Hall is not just a techie sensibility, but leadership. As a young professional in tech, Shreveport offered few opportunities. That's why he went to Dallas to search out jobs there. By the time he was 25, Hanson was leading teams and developing software projects in the private sector.He returned to Shreveport eight years ago and launched his own software development company called Twin Engine Labs, which merged with Lunabyte  another north Louisiana technology consulting firm  to form Ruby Shore in 2017. Hanson credits his ability to work closely with private-sector technology firms as a strength as he transitions into his public role in City Hall.One of the exciting things to me, is I can bring that insight into the administration, he explained. I understand how contract terms operate, what they like, what they dont like, where some of the gaps may be when we contract with them, etc. And then I also helped recruit 50 people over the eight years in my company.Perkins and Hanson, who is also 33, are not unlike the many young political newcomers to emerge in 2018, elected to local, state and congressional positions. Perkins is a graduate of West Point, where he was the first African-American to serve as class president. He went on to lead multiple tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, before entering Harvard Law School, where he was again elected student body president. While at Harvard, Perkins focused his study in areas like innovation in small and mid-sized cities as well as criminal justice reform.After graduation from Harvard, Perkins returned to his hometown for a run at the mayors office. He handily beat incumbent Ollie S. Taylor, 74, capturing more than 64 percent of the vote.I think I brought a lot of energy to the campaign, in general, remarked Perkins. But it wasnt just me that was a political newcomer. There were people around me who were political newcomers as well. And I think it said a lot to our community, that the people  millennials, and some younger and older  people who werent typically engaged in the political process, were now engaged and they were passionate.Perkins predicts Hanson will be one of the strongest, if not the strongest hires, that I make. He wants tech to weave its way into not only City Hall, but also work to make Shreveport safer and more efficient.Hanson said he hopes to work tech education and training into local schools, teaching students how to code mobile apps and other skills.Out in the community, a big mission of mine was to start building a pipeline of talented developers in our area, said Hanson.Im really looking forward to all of the initiatives that were working on, and just bringing those things to our school administrators and saying, Hey, what can we do to work together? Let's partner on grants. Let's partner on initiatives that we all benefit on, and bring everybody to the table, he added.
Kolkata, Jan 12 (PTI) A 24-year-old youth was shot dead near Park Circus rail station in the southern parts of the city on Saturday night, the police said.

The youth identified as Minaz was shot at during an argument with another youth at around 8.30 pm, an official at the city police headquarters said.

Minaz was rushed to National Medical College and Hospital by locals, where he was declared as brought dead.

The assailant, whose identity was not known, was absconding, the official said. PTI SUS SMJ

SMJ
Kolkata, Jan 12 (PTI) A fire broke out in an empty pandal late Saturday night where devotees had gathered for a Bhagwat Gita recitation programme in Salt Lake area, the satellite township in northern parts of Kolkata, officials said.

Two fire tenders were pressed in to douse the fire at the pandal, erected on a park at around 10:30 pm, an official from the fire brigade said.

No casualty or serious injury was reported, he said, adding the cause of the fire was not known yet. PTI SUS DPB

DPB
Jammu, Jan 12 (PTI) Jammu and Kashmir Governor Satya Pal Malik Saturday said Indian forces are giving a befitting response to Pakistan which is "frustrated" because it is not able to push "infiltrators".

Malik expressed happiness over the successful conduct of Panchayat elections in the state and said despite attempts by Pakistan and terrorists to vitiate the atmosphere here there is complete peace in the valley.

"Our forces are responding appropriately to any provocation but the news does not come here. Pakistan is frustrated because it is not able to push infiltrators. It (Pakistan) was against the Panchayat polls and is unhappy over its successful conclusion," Malik told reporters on the sidelines of a function here.

Speaking on the martyrdom of an Army Major and a Soldier in an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) explosion along the Line of Control (LoC) in Rajouri district on Friday, the governor said such acts demonstrate Pakistan's frustration.

"Frustrated Sallahuddin (Supremo of Hizbul Mujahideen in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir) asked terrorists to do something but they failed as the forces with the help of people, who are supporting us, foiled their plans. There is complete peace in the valley," he said.

On the resignation of IAS officer Shah Faesal and his plan to join politics, the governor said had Faesal continued in government service it would have been good as he had taken the oath of service. However, the governor wished Faesal well.

On the rehabilitation of Kashmiri pandits in the valley, Malik said the government is concerned about them but did not elaborate any further.

Earlier in the day, the governor paid rich tributes to Swami Vivekananda on the Hindu monk's 156th birth anniversary at a function organised by Swami Vivekananda Medical Mission Charitable Hospital, Jammu. He asked the people to learn from the teachings of Vivekananda and work for the betterment of society.

The country's rich indulge in extravagant weddings without a thought to the poor or any charitable work, Malik said. He also expressed shock over reports of some sadhus committing heinous crimes.

"My problem is that I am from a political background and in politics one is free to say anything. But my position does not allow me to speak freely and mostly the governor's read from the written speeches. I do not like that and speak extempore with conviction and experience of about 50 years in politics," he said.

On the day, the governor inaugurated a newly constructed ENT block with an independent 'eye and ENT operation theatre' in the hospital premises.

General Secretary of SVMMCH Atma Sarup Gupta said the hospital had treated 72,894 patients last year compared to 61,641 in the year previous to that. He said the hospital has conducted 1,969 surgeries in 2018 against 1,760 in 2017. PTI TAS IND

IND
PM reacting to a statement I never made, says Kumaraswamy

Bengaluru, Jan 12 (PTI): Karnataka Chief Minister H D

Kumaraswamy Saturday said he was "amused" at Prime Minister

Narendra Modi's "clerk" comment referring to him and clarified

that he had never made such a statement.

"I am amused to see Hon'ble Prime Minister @narendramodi

reacting to a statement which I never made.

After farmers loan this is the second time he is reacting

tofalse information/statement.

Such statements won't deter ourcoalition government from

the development agenda," Kumaraswamysaid in a tweet.

The "farmers' loan" was a reference to Modi's statement

at a rally in Ghazipur in Uttar Pradesh in December 29 last

year that Congress promised loan waivers to lakhs of farmers,

but the JD(S)-Congress coalition in Karnataka did not deliver.

"Lollipops" were handed out. The loan waiver was given

to only 800 farmers, Modi had claimed.

Addressing the BJP's National Convention in New Delhi

Saturday, Modi referred to a reported statement of Kumaraswamy

about functioning like a clerk.

"In Karnataka, where there is a coalition government,what

is the Chief Minister there saying? Karnataka Chief Minister,

who is the Chief Minister of a coalition government...

It has been a just few months, but he is worried so much

that he is saying that instead of (being treated as) Chief

Minister, he isbeing treated like a clerk," Modi said.

According to some media reports, Kumaraswamy, during the

recent meeting with party legislators, had told them that he

was working under pressure.

The reports had also quoted the Chief Minister as having

told them that he was functioning like a clerk and accusing

the JDS coalition partner Congress of interference.

Kumaraswamy had on Thursday rubbished the media reports,

terming them as "speculative" and "imaginary".

Reacting to the Prime Minister's comments, JD(S) supremo

and former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda asked "Will he praise

the coalition government and not criticise?"

No one should speak lightly about anybody. I don't have

the practise of talking lightly about anyone. Idon't want its

advantage also", he said.

The state Congress too has hit back at Modi, calling him

a "leader of failures".

"Respected Narendra Modi, you have called the Chief

Minister of a democratically elected government a clerk.

You, aleader of failures, lord of lies, have diminished

the positionof Prime Minister," Karnataka Congress said in a

tweet inKannada.

It attacked the Prime Minister for not coming to

Parliament and responding to the charges against him.

Noting that the matter was something between Congress and

JD(S), the coalition coordination committee chief and former

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah asked what Modi has to do with it.

He said "Modi doesn't know anything...he is trying to

instigate..."

Karnataka BJP leaders Prahlad Joshi and Jagadish Shettar

defended Modi's remark, saying that he was only quoting

Kumaraswamy. PTI KSU RA APR

APR APR
TN CM rejects allegations against him in Kodanad break-in case

(Eds; adds Chief Minister's quotes, Opposition reaction)

Chennai, Jan 12 (PTI): Tamil Nadu Chief Minister K

Palaniswami Saturday rejected allegations made against him by

those accused in the Kodanad estate break-in case, saying the

police would probe the matter.

Referring to former Tehelka editor Samuel Mathew

releasing a video in Delhi on Friday, in which the accused

allegedly linked him to the break-in, Palaniswami denied his

involvement.

The All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK)

Joint Coordinator further said that a police case had been

filed in the matter and that "strong action" would be taken

against those who released the video.

He suspected a "political" motive behind the matter,

even as the opposition DMK demanded that he step down to

facilitate a 'fair' probe.

"Yesterday (Friday), former Tehelka editor Samuel

Mathews had released a video which links me to an incident

(break-in) that happened in Amma's Kodanad estate on April 24,

2017. This (charge) is completely contrary to facts and there

is no iota of truth in it," he said.

Making a statement before the media here, Palaniswami

said the probe who reveal who was behind the incident, even as

he charged that it was an attempt to "malign Amma", referring

to late chief minister J Jayalalithaa.

In April 2017, the security guard of the Kodanad

estate, Jayalalithaa's retreat home in the hilly district of

the Nilgiris, was found dead.

It emerged during the probe that Jayalalithaa's former

driver C Kanagaraj and K V Sayan had allegedly plotted the

crime.

A total of 10 people had been arrested in the case,

with a charge sheet also being filed later.

However, Kanagaraj and Sayan's wife and daughter were

killed in separate road accidents during the probe, even as

another employee of the property was found dead, in a case of

suspected suicide.

On Saturday, Palaniswami said the accused people, some

of whom reportedly spoke in the video, had appeared in court

22 times in connection with the case so far, and questioned

why they did not share the same in the court.

"They are saying such new things in an attempt to

divert the case,"he said,adding that some of them were already

facing other cases, including under POCSO, besides robbery.

He also denied Jayalalithaa had stored documents

received from party functionaries in the estate as purportedly

claimed by them in the video on Saturday, saying she never

obtained any such papers.

"Those unable to take us on politically are resorting

to such cheap cowardice," he said and asserted that a probe

would reveal those doing so.

"I believe there is a political motive. So a case has

been filed and only it will reveal the truth. The truth will

emerge," he said.

Responding to the developments, the DMK demanded that

Palaniswami step down to ensure a 'fair' probe, since the

police comes under the Home portfolio held by him.

"In order to ensure a fair investigation, the Chief

Minister should first step aside, or at least part with the

Home portfolio," DMK Propaganda Secretary and former Telecom

Minister A Raja said.

Speaking to reporters, he said the party could seek a

CBI probe later, if required.

He claimed that there was lack of police presence on

the night the guard at the estate was killed and that power

was snapped, despite the presence of a dedicated power line.

The CCTVs were also not working, he claimed, adding,

"all these create suspicion."

Meanwhile, Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam founder T T V

Dhinakaran called for a court monitored probe into the entire

case.

The CPI (M) state unit demanded that the Kodanad guard

murder and break-in probe be transferred to the CBI, while

MDMK founder Vaiko wanted the chief minister to step down

following the accusations against him. PTI SA APR

APR APR
Muslim couple get married in hospital after suicide bid

Hyderabad, Jan 12 (PTI)This is a love story that could

have gone awry, but all's well that ends well.

The protagonists-- a Muslim couple in Vikarabad district

of Telangana-- tied the knot in a hospital after their

parents, who initially did not agree to their wedding, came

around when they allegedly attempted suicide.

Police Saturday said 21-year-old Nawaz and Reshma, 18,

were related and wanted to get married.

However, their parents did not agree,they said.

Dejected, Reshma attempted suicide on January 8 by

consuming pesticide, police sources said. She was rushed to a

government hospital. On hearing the news, Nawaz also allegedly

consumed pesticide.

Both were later shifted to another hospital.

Realising that they could not live without each other,

their parents solemnised their marriage in the presence of a

'Qazi' (cleric) on January 10, the sources said.

Both the man and woman are out of danger, the sources

said. PTI SJR BN

BN BN
Chennai, Jan 12 (PTI) Tamil Nadu Chief Minister K Palaniswami Saturday rejected allegations made against him by those accused in the Kodanad estate break-in case, saying the police will probe the matter.

Referring to former Tehelka editor Samuel Mathew releasing a video in Delhi on Friday, in which the accused allegedly linked the CM to the break-in, Palaniswami denied his involvement.

The All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) joint coordinator further said that a police case had been filed in the matter and that "strong action" will be taken against those who released the video.

"Yesterday (Friday), former Tehelka editor Samuel Mathews had released a video which links me to an incident (break-in) that happened in Amma's Kodanad estate on April 24, 2017. This (charge) is completely contrary to facts and there is no iota of truth in it," he said.

Making a statement before the media here, Palaniswami said the probe will reveal who was behind the incident, even as he charged that it was an attempt to "malign Amma", referring to late chief minister J Jayalalithaa.

In April 2017, the security guard of the Kodanad estate, Jayalalithaa's retreat home in the hilly district of the Nilgiris, was found dead.

It emerged during the probe that Jayalalithaa's former driver C Kanagaraj and K V Sayan had allegedly plotted the crime.

A total of ten people had been arrested in the case, with a charge sheet also being filed later.

However, Kanagaraj and Sayan's wife and daughter were killed in separate road accidents during the probe, even as another employee of the property was found dead, in a case of suspected suicide.

On Saturday, Palaniswami said the accused people, some of whom reportedly spoke in the video, had appeared in court 22 times in connection with the case so far, and questioned why they did not share the same in the court.

"They are saying such new things in an attempt to divert the case," he said.

He also denied Jayalalithaa had stored documents received from party functionaries in the estate as purportedly claimed by them in the video on Saturday, saying she never obtained any such papers.

"Those unable to take us on politically are resorting to such cheap cowardice," he said, and asserted a probe will reveal those doing so. PTI SA SS RHL
Jammu, Jan 12 (PTI) Hailing Shah Faesal as an "efficient" and "dedicated" IAS officer, Jammu and Kashmir Governor Satya Pal Malik Saturday said although the former's decision to join politics was personal, he could have served people better as an officer rather than as a politician.

"Faesal was an efficient and dedicated officer who rendered his services with great zeal and enthusiasm for the welfare of the state and its people particularly belonging to weaker sections of the society.

"In case, he would continue his service as an IAS officer, he could serve the people of society in a better way," the Governor said in a statement here.

Faesal, who has been in the limelight since becoming the first Kashmiri to top the civil services exam in 2009, resigned on January 9, protesting the "unabated" killings in Kashmir and the marginalisation of Indian Muslims.

In a brief statement on Facebook, the 35-year-old said his resignation was also to protest "the marginalisation and invisiblisation of around 200 million Indian Muslims at the hands of Hindutva forces reducing them to second-class citizens; insidious attacks on the special identity of the state and growing culture of intolerance and hate in mainland India in the name of hyper-nationalism".

The Jammu and Kashmir Governor said Faesal could have delivered better as an officer rather than as a politician.

"As far as his feelings about Kashmiris are concerned, he could be posted in the region for extending his fullest support in eradicating poverty and creating job opportunities for the youth of the Valley," he said.

"He (Faesal) should consult the youth to know their aspirations and try to create a new platform for the redressal of problems and grievances of youth," Malik said.

The Governor, however, observed that it was not necessary for him to suggest Faesal on what to do even though his best wishes were always with the former IAS officer.

"I would love to meet him if he comes to me for the redressal of problems of the youth," Malik added.

PTI TAS SRY
(TNS)  A panel formed by Gov.-elect Brian Kemp voted Thursday to replace Georgias electronic voting machines with a computerized system that prints paper ballots, despite opposition from a crowd of voters who said paper ballots filled out by hand are more secure and less expensive.The endorsement of ballot printers over hand-marked paper ballots will carry weight with the Georgia General Assembly when it considers buying a new statewide voting system during this years legislative session, which begins Monday.The Secure, Accessible & Fair Elections (SAFE) Commission voted 13-3 to recommend a voting system with touchscreens and printers, called ballot-marking devices, that would cost taxpayers well over $100 million. A system using paper ballots bubbled in with a pen would cost around $30 million.The vote came the same week Kemp announced he was hiring former state Rep. Chuck Harper, a lobbyist for the states current election vendor, Election Systems & Software, as his deputy chief of staff. The company sells the same kind of voting system that the commission recommended.Georgias 16-year-old electronic voting system has come under fire from critics who say it could be hacked , and theres no way to check election results for accuracy without a paper backup. Some voters reported that the machines flipped their votes from one candidate to another in Novembers election, and a lawsuit blames the machines for suspiciously low vote totals in the lieutenant governors race.Except for election officials and lobbyists, every voter who made public comments Thursday supported hand-marked paper ballots . County election supervisors backed ballot-marking devices, saying theyre similar to the touchscreens that voters are accustomed to.Voters told the SAFE Commission that ballot-marking devices wouldnt be much of an improvement over the states current voting machines. Ballot-marking devices could still be hacked, they said, and paper printouts dont reflect voters choices as well as hand-marked ballots.Why dont you pick the most trustworthy and economic voting system: hand-marked paper ballots? asked Jacqueline Elsner, an Athens-Clarke County voter.But members of the commission said ballot-marking devices will produce a paper record that can be used for audits and recounts, helping ensure election integrity.Ballot-marking devices with verifiable paper ballots ensure that a voters selection in each contest is captured in a manner that will be accurately counted, according to the SAFE Commissions report. The Commission believes that moving from one form of touchscreen voting to another will be an easier transition for Georgia voters than it would be to move to hand-marked paper ballots.Georgia is one of four states nationwide that relies entirely on electronic voting machines that lack a verifiable paper ballot. About 70 percent of voters across the United States use paper ballots, according to Verified Voting, a national election integrity organization.Kemp, a Republican, created the SAFE Commission last summer when he was secretary of state, an effort to prepare for the General Assemblys upcoming decision on a new statewide voting system. The commission is made up of legislators, election officials, political party representatives and voters.The three dissenting votes Thursday came from the commissions two Democratic Party legislators, state Rep. James Beverly and state Sen. Lester Jackson , as well as its only cybersecurity expert, Georgia Tech professor Wenke Lee.Hand-marked paper ballots are more secure because they dont rely on machines to print them, and voters dont always review their printed ballots to ensure accuracy, Lee said.Some of the election officials say that paper ballots are not perfect because a voter can make mistakes. But the point is that those mistakes are individual mistakes, not widespread, large-scale mistakes, Lee said. When you use a ballot-marking device, if that device has a malfunction or has been hacked, then youre going to affect every single vote, so that would be a large-scale catastrophic error. We should always use the solution thats the most secure rather than the most convenient.Incoming Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, a member of the commission who voted for ballot-marking devices, said he listened to county election officials with experience in election security and administration.If you look at just age alone, we need to upgrade, said Raffensperger, a Republican. When the counties weighed in, they thought about their costs  and also the ease of voting.The Democratic Party of Georgia opposed the SAFE Commissions vote.Rebecca DeHart, the executive director for the Democratic Party of Georgia, said the SAFE Commission should have delayed making a recommendation because of Kemps hiring of Harper. She said that move created a conflict of interest.Members of the SAFE Commission didnt address her concern before voting on its proposal for a new voting system.The commissions recommendations arent binding, but they will be a guide for state legislators. Several Democratic legislators, including House Minority Leader Bob Trammell , said they will insist on hand-marked paper ballots when bills are debated.Voters said that after fears of Russian hacking and inaccurate results, state lawmakers should choose the most reliable and secure voting system.When citizens lose confidence and faith in our elections, when we the people doubt that our vote is accurately recorded and counted, and when we believe that people are disenfranchised, our very democracy and indeed our country is grievously wounded, said Regina Smith of Athens. The threats and the realities of hacking and electronic vote manipulation are real.
New Delhi, Jan 12 (PTI) India on Saturday replaced an Advanced Light Helicopter at the Gan Addu Atoll of Maldives, the Coast Guard said.

A Coast Guard Ship also entered Hitadhoo port of Maldives for joint Exclusive Economic Zone patrol with the Maldivian Coast Guard from January 13-17, it tweeted.

"#CoastGuard ship also carried an Advanced Light Helicopter #CG853 onboard and disembarked it at #Gan Addu Atoll as replacement for #CG852," the Coast Guard said.

India has given two helicopters to Maldives, one of which has been supplied by the Coast Guard.

Last month, Maldivian President Mohamed Solih had visited India during which the two countries resolved to deepen their maritime cooperation.

Last year, during the tenure of the then president Abdulla Yameen, relations between India and Maldives had deteriorated after he imposed emergency. Following the unease in the ties, Maldives had asked India to take back the helicopters. PTI PR AAR

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New Delhi, Jan 12 (PTI) Taking on the Congress over the Ram temple issue, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said the opposition party was trying to impede the judicial process for resolution of the matter.

He also asked BJP workers to remind the masses about the Congress' stand on the issue.

In his concluding address at the BJP national convention here, Modi briefly touched on the Ram temple issue, drawing cheers from thousands of party workers gathered at Ramlila Maidan, but remained confined to targeting the Congress.

"In the Ayodhya issue, the Congress is trying to impede the judicial process through its lawyers. The Congress does not want resolution of the Ayodhya issue," Modi said.

"We should not forget its attitude and (also) not let others forget it," he told party workers.

He was apparently referring to remarks of senior Congress leader Kapil Sibal who had said that the Supreme Court should hear the matter after conclusion of general elections this year.

Sibal is representing one of the litigants in the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid title dispute case.

Modi alleged that the Congress even tried to impeach former chief justice of India, Dipak Misra, to delay the hearing in the case.

Earlier this month, the prime minister had said that any decision on passing an executive order on the Ram temple issue cannot be made unless the judicial process is over.

His reaction came amid growing clamour by right-wing organisations like RSS and VHP to bring an ordinance to construct the Ram Temple in Ayodhya.

The matter is pending in the Supreme Court and is scheduled to come up for hearing on January 29. PTI KR JTR JTR DIV

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New Delhi, Jan 12 (PTI) BJP chief Amit Shah Saturday asked party workers not to lose hope due to adverse results in recent Assembly elections in the three states, saying the upcoming parliamentary polls were "very important" for the party.

He also asked all party workers to ensure that the votes of their families and friends are cast by 10.30 AM on the polling day.

He mounted an attack on the Congress, saying the "cancer" of casteism, nepotism and appeasement policy was its contribution, which, he said "weakened the democracy and halted development".

"In the elections in the three states (Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh) our opponents won but we were not defeated. The results were not good but we have not lost our ground. The workers need not lose their hope," he said in his address at the BJP's national convention at Ramlila Ground here.

The BJP lost power to the Congress in the three Hindi heartland states in assembly polls held recently.

The meaning of "defeat" is reflected by the Congress which has vanished from states like Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and West Bengal, he said.

"Lok Sabha elections are very important for us. If we manage a massive victory, the BJP will rule the country from Panchayat to Parliament for a long time," he said.

He asked his party workers to ensure that every voter is contacted in an intensive campaign for the elections.

Shah asked them to go back to their respective states with a pledge to ensure BJP's victory in the parliamentary elections and make Narendra Modi prime minister for a second term. PTI VIT KR JTR TIR

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Patna, Jan 12 (PTI) RJD national president Lalu Prasad Saturday took to Urdu poetry for sending across a message that he has not lost his nerve despite failing health and his incarceration.

Prasad, who is serving sentences in a number of fodder scam cases and lodged in a Ranchi hospital for a number of debilitating ailments, shared the verse on Twitter along with a video and a post by a leading English magazine.

The video talks about the various challenges faced by Prasad, whose bail plea was rejected by the Jharkhand High Court earlier this week. The accompanying post also questions if the RJD chief would be an absentee kingmaker in 2019.

"I belong to a tribe of revolutionaries, a small army of those who stand for truth. It is not for nothing that I am in a fight with the order of the day, I have taken a stand for a cause," his tweet said.

Reacting to the the RJD chief's attempt at poetry, JD(U) spokesman Sanjay Singh tweeted with a verse wherein he accused Prasad of corruption, lies and deceit.

Yadav's party, RJD, which is the largest constituent of the opposition in Bihar, faces the tough task of taking on the formidable alliance ruling the state which comprises Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's JD(U), the BJP and Ram Vilas Paswan's LJP.

Leaders of the opposition alliance here, comprising RJD, Congress, RLSP and some other smaller parties, look up to the wily leader for finalising seat-sharing for the upcoming general elections

The former Bihar chief minister has been away from active politics since his conviction in December, 2017 in the Deoghar treasury case, which was followed by conviction in two more cases of the multi-crore fodder scam.

His official Twitter handle is operated by his close aides. PTI NAC SNS AAR
Guwahati, Jan 12 (PTI) The pro-talks faction of the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) threatened to pull out of the ongoing peace parleys with the Centre on Saturday if the controversial Citizenship Amendment Bill was passed in Parliament.

Besides, a government lobby was backing certain people to fan communalism among the Assamese and Bengali-speaking people of Assam, it claimed.

"The ongoing peace talks are likely to be discontinued if the Centre goes ahead with the citizenship bill, against which protests have erupted in Assam with all sections of the society participating in the agitation," prominent ULFA leader Mrinal Hazarika told reporters here.

The issue was raised on the organisation's platform that the talks would be redundant if the bill was passed, he said.

The bill seeks to amend the Citizenship Act, 1955 to grant Indian citizenship to the Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis and Christians, who fled religious persecution in Bangladesh, Pakistan and Afghanistan and entered India before December 31, 2014.

Protests have erupted in Assam and the other north-eastern states after the bill was passed in the Lok Sabha on January 8.

ULFA general secretary Anup Chetia claimed that attempts to get the bill passed in Parliament had induced youngsters in the state to go to the jungles for taking up arms.

Senior police officials of Assam, in November last year, had said a growing public sentiment against the Centre's move to amend the Citizenship Act had given a "fresh lease of life" to the ULFA, which had recruited eights youngsters in the previous two months.

Besides, Chetia alleged that Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders like Pradip Dutta Roy were backed by a government lobby to fuel the "feelings of communalism" among the Assamese and Bengali-speaking people.

Dutta Roy courted controversy on Friday by threatening Assamese-speaking students in the Bengali-dominated Barak valley that their admission in the Assam University at Silchar would be barred if they protested against the citizenship bill.

"I am writing to the vice-chancellor of the university, asking him what step he is taking against the students for opposing the bill," he had said.

On Saturday, the university authorities banned protests on the campus without prior permission.

"We always want to live peacefully with the Bengali, Bihari and Marwari people. But the government is always after us. They arrested us for making communally instigating remarks but spared people like Pradip Dutta Roy," Chetia said.

Chetia and Hazarika were at the Dispur police station, responding to a summons on the charge of gheraoing a BJP office here on January 6.

On the summons, Chetia said, "Three women, who had joined the BJP's office-gherao programme, had come to our office to use the washroom and a bus carrying the protesters was parked outside our office. This made the police believe that the gherao was planned by us."

Chetia was deported to India from Bangladesh in 2015 after 18 years of imprisonment. PTI ESB NN RC
Khandwa (MP), Jan 12 (PTI) A 15-year-old boy committed suicide after being allegedly beaten up by his teacher in a school in Madhya Pradesh's Khandwa district, police said Saturday.

Aman Rathore was a Class-IX student of the privately-run M H Public School at Sulgaon village -- around 230 km south of Bhopal -- in Punasa area.

While a case of suicide has been registered, nobody has been named as an accused yet, police said.

The teenager hanged himself from a ceiling fan at his home on Friday evening when other members of the family were away in the fields, said Dhangaon police station in-charge Harish Rawat.

A suicide note, purportedly written by the student, blamed his teacher for his death. The boy's father, Vijay Rathore, shared the suicide note with the media on Saturday.

According to the deceased's father, the teacher had called him on Friday afternoon to complain about Aman Rathore and threatened to expel latter from school for indiscipline.

Vijay Rathore alleged that, after he left, the teacher thrashed his son with wooden rulers with so much force that two rulers broke.

District Superintendent of Police (SP) Ruchi Vardhan Mishra said the school authorities had admitted that Aman Rathore was beaten up.

The teacher, who is not traceable, had objected to the teenager carrying mobile phone to the school, the SP said.

Police are recording the statements, the officer added. PTI CORR ADU KRK

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Dubai, Jan 12 (PTI) Hours after the SP and BSP announced their alliance without the Congress in Uttar Pradesh for the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Saturday said his party will fight the elections in the state with "full capacity".

Addressing a press conference in Dubai, Gandhi said he has a "tremendous respect" to the leaders of the two parties and "they have a right to do what they want to do".

"BSP and SP have made a political decision. It's on us on how to strengthen the Congress party in Uttar Pradesh and we will fight with our full capacity," he said.

"Congress party has tremendous to offer to the people of Uttar Pradesh. On BSP and SP I have tremendous respect to the leaders of BSP and SP, they have a right to do what they want to do," he said.

Once arch-rivals Samajwadi Party and Bahujan Samaj Party announced Saturday their tie-up in Uttar Pradesh for the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, sharing 38 seats each and keeping the Congress out of the alliance.

The parties, however, said they would not field candidates in Amethi and Rae Bareli, represented by Congress president Rahul Gandhi and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi. PTI PMS ASH PMS

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Paris, Jan 12 (AFP) A powerful gas explosion tore through a building in central Paris on Saturday, killing two firefighters and a Spanish woman, injuring dozens of people and badly damaging nearby apartments, officials said.

Around 200 firefighters were mobilised to battle the fire that broke out after the blast and evacuate victims and residents in the area, Interior Minister Christophe Castaner told reporters at the scene.

The explosion came with the city on edge during the latest "yellow vest" anti-government demonstrations, which have often degenerated into violence and vandalism in Paris and other cities in recent weeks.

Cars were overturned by the blast and glass and rubble was strewn across large swathes of the street after the explosion gutted the lower part of the building. Dozens of residents were treated by rescue workers on the street.

"I was sleeping and was woken up by the blast wave," Claire Sallavuard, who lives on the Rue de Trevise where the explosion occurred, told AFP. "All the windows in the apartment exploded, doors were blown off their hinges, I had to walk on the door to leave the room, all the kids were panicking, they couldn't get out of their room." "Firefighters advised us to leave but the elevator shaft had been blown out, there was no railing, nothing, and there was too much smoke," she said.

Besides the two dead firefighters, 47 other people were injured in the blast, 10 of them seriously, the Paris prosecutor's office said.

A source in the Spanish foreign ministry said a woman who was holidaying with her husband in Paris died in hospital after the blast while another Spanish national was also injured.

Around 100 police officers blocked off several streets in the area, home to restaurants and tourist attractions including the Musee Grevin wax museum and the popular Rue des Martyrs.

Police also closed off streets in front of the Garnier Opera house as emergency services landed two helicopters in front of the historic building to evacuate victims.

The explosion occurred shortly after 9:00 am (local time) in building that housed a bakery as well as a restaurant on the ground floor in the Ninth Arrondissement.

"It happened when there were people in the street, and firefighters inside," the interior minister said.

The shockwave was felt as far as four blocks away, Commander Eric Moulin of the Paris fire service said, adding that rescuers were still searching for other victims.

Firefighters had been responding to an alert of a gas leak at the site when the explosion occurred, Paris prosector Remy Heitz said at the scene.

"First there was a gas leak and the firefighters arrived, then there was an explosion that caused the fire," Heitz said.

Dozens of tourists, suitcases in hand, were evacuated from the many nearby hotels in the area, a popular weekend shopping destination for locals and visitors alike.

Other residents were in bathrobes or quickly dressing in the street as police helicopters circled overhead.

"We were sleeping when we heard the noise, it sounded like an earthquake," a teenager who lives on a nearby street told AFP.

"We came downstairs and we saw a building on fire," her brother said.

Many homes and buildings in Paris use gas for heating and cooking, though explosions due to leaks are relatively rare. (AFP) PMS

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Local governments may feel disappointed by a recent court ruling which sided with the Federal Communications Commissions rollback of regulations related to the deployment of 5G communications technology.The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit on Jan. 10 turned down a motion to stay the FCCs revised rules related to the rollout of small-cell 5G technologies. The FCCs Declaratory Ruling and Third Report and Order was released in September 2018 and was challenged by a coalition of local government entities, led by San Jose, Calif.The Declaratory Ruling, which is set to take effect Jan. 14, 2018, will make it easier for telecom industries to deploy small-cell 5G equipment  often mounted on city streetlights  by easing local regulations, limiting fees and streamlining the review process.This story is far from over, said Brian Namey, a spokesperson for the National Association of Counties, which has sided with local officials, stressing each city and county should be allowed to set their own rules related to the placement of telecom equipment on publicly owned infrastructure.We support timely, successful deployment of 5G technology across the country, Namey added, in an email. We are concerned that the FCCs ruling overlooks community decision-making and significantly impedes counties ability to ensure public safety and well-being. We share the FCCs goal of expanding broadband access for every American; however, a one-size-fits-all approach will not achieve that goal.The Tenth Circuit concluded that the cities motion to stay the ruling did not adequately demonstrate that they would suffer irreparable home without putting the ruling on hold. Its not yet clear what legal action the coalition of cities will take next.The FCCs ruling  which has been criticized for siding too closely with industry  aims to make it easier for communications companies like cellphone providers to roll out 5G. For example, one of the new provisions sets time limits for cities to approve the applications. If they do not meet the time limits  60 days if the units are to be mounted on existing infrastructure and 90 days if the equipment will be mounted on new poles  the city can face legal challenges from the telecom. Critics say this could lead to rubber-stamping applications rather than studying them closely.The FCC also set limits on how much government entities can charge in fees. Jurisdictions, for their part, would rather set their own fees.The FCC and the telecom industry argue that the relaxed regulations are needed to more easily ensure the rollout of 5G, particularly in rural areas.Due to the partial government shutdown, the FCC could not be reached for comment. Officials with San Jose did not immediately return a request for comment.
Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, addresses the third plenary session of the 19th Central Commission for Discipline Inspection of the CPC in Beijing, capital of China, Jan. 11, 2019. (Xinhua/Li Tao)

BEIJING, Jan. 11 (Xinhua) -- Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, on Friday called for efforts to advance Party building, and demanded "greater strategic achievements" in full and strict governance over the Party.

Xi, also Chinese president and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the remarks at the third plenary session of the 19th Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI) of the CPC.

He called for consolidating and developing a "sweeping victory" in the fight against corruption.

Efforts should be made to make sure officials don't dare to, are unable to and have no desire to commit corruption, to improve Party and state oversight systems, and to ensure the spirit of the 19th CPC National Congress and major decisions of the CPC Central Committee are resolutely implemented, so as to greet the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China (PRC) with great achievements, Xi said.

Members of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee Li Keqiang, Li Zhanshu, Wang Yang, Wang Huning and Han Zheng attended the meeting.

The meeting was presided over by Zhao Leji, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and head of the CCDI.

Noting achievements in Party building since the 19th CPC National Congress that included the "sweeping victory" in fighting corruption, Xi said the Party is now "radiating with more vitality in the new era."

He summed up some of the invaluable experience in disciplinary inspection and supervision over the past 40 years of reform and opening-up.

The authority of the CPC Central Committee and its centralized, unified leadership must be firmly upheld, and the governance over the Party must precede the governance of the country and it must be strict, Xi said.

The people-centered approach must be upheld, Xi continued, adding that it was also necessary for cadres to continue innovating, keep working hard, and fight against inaction and corruption.

SIX TASKS

Xi called for continuous efforts to advance full and strict governance over the Party as this year marks the 70th anniversary of the founding of the PRC and is key in finishing building a moderately prosperous society in all respects to achieve the first centenary goal. He laid out six tasks:

-- The spirit of the 19th CPC National Congress needs to be further implemented.

-- The Party's political work must be strengthened to ensure unity of the whole Party and strict implementation of its orders.

-- Excellent conduct must be encouraged to ensure joint efforts for building a moderately prosperous society.

-- Fight corruption with strong resolve to consolidate and develop the "sweeping victory."

-- Improve the supervision systems and strengthen the sense of responsibility.

-- Address corruption and malpractices that occur on people's doorsteps to safeguard the people's immediate interests.

HEALTHY COMRADESHIP

Xi urged officials to correctly uphold the authority of the CPC Central Committee, and firmly resist illicit intervention and profit-seeking by central-level leaders' family members, their work staff, and people who claim to have connections with them.

He stressed maintaining healthy comradeship within the Party and enforcing the system of democratic centralism.

Officials should also take the lead in establishing a healthy working relationship and not use public resources as a tool of building clout or underhand connections to seek illicit gains.

Those who play a key role in this regard, Xi said, are members of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and the CPC Central Committee.

Xi also stressed building an "iron army" of disciplinary inspection and supervision officials who are loyal, clean and have strong sense of responsibility and removing the "bad apples" from them.

Presiding over the meeting, Zhao called on Party organizations at all levels to unify their thinking and action with the spirit of Xi's speech.

On behalf of the CCDI standing committee, Zhao delivered a work report titled "faithfully fulfil the obligations stipulated in the CPC Constitution and the Constitution of the country, and strive for high-quality development of disciplinary inspection and supervision work in the new era."

FIGHT NOT END

"Although China's campaign against corruption has made sweeping victory, it is not the time to lie back," said Xin Ming, a professor at the Party School of the CPC Central Committee.

Last year, the list of "tigers" -- referring to senior officials taken down on corruption charges -- continued to expand.

Fifty-one officials at or above the provincial/ministerial level were among a total of 621,000 people punished by CCDI and the National Supervisory Commission.

And increasing attention was paid to minor offenses of officials. About 1.1 million officials were interviewed and cautioned for slight violations, about 63.6 percent of the total cases disciplinary inspectors handled in 2018.

Last year, 1,335 fugitives were sent back to China. Among them, 307 were former Party members and officials, mostly involved in graft cases.

"The tough stance against corruption should not and will not ease," Xin, the professor, said.
New Delhi, Jan 12 (PTI) Following are the top foreign stories at 2000 hours:



FGN17 RAHUL-LD UAE

Intolerance, anger reign supreme in India: Rahul

Dubai: Congress President Rahul Gandhi said here Saturday that India has witnessed a great deal of intolerance and anger in the last four and a half years which stemmed from the "mentality of the people in power".



FGN6 US-INDIA-LD ENVOY

Trump attaches great importance to US-India ties: New Indian envoy

Washington: President Donald Trump attaches great importance to the US-India ties, India's new Ambassador to America Harsh Vardhan Shringla said.



FGN5 US-FBI-TRUMP

FBI opened probe into whether Trump working for Russians: NYT

Washington: The FBI has opened an inquiry into whether Donald Trump was working for Russians in the days after the American President fired James B Comey in 2017 as the top investigative agency's director, according to a report. By Lalit K Jha



FGN3 US-PAK-HOUSE

Bill to terminate Pak designation as major non-NATO ally introduced in Congress

Washington: An influential US lawmaker has introduced a legislation in Congress to terminate the designation of Pakistan as a major non-NATO ally. By Lalit K Jha



FGN15 PAK-ECONOMY

Pak not approaching IMF for new bailout programme, considers alternative options: Finance Minister

Karachi: Pakistan will not approach the IMF for a new bailout package and is considering alternative options to tide over its economic crisis, Finance Minister Asad Umar said Saturday.



FGN13 US- SYRIA-TROOPS

Implementing orderly withdrawal of US troops from Syria with no arbitrary timeline: Pentagon

Washington: The US is implementing an orderly withdrawal of its troops from Syria based on operational conditions on the ground, including talks with its allies, and with no arbitrary timeline, the Pentagon has said. By Lalit K Jha



FGN11 US-2NDLD GABBARD

Tulsi Gabbard announces 2020 presidential run to take on Trump

Washington: Tulsi Gabbard, the first Hindu elected to US Congress and a four-time Democratic lawmaker, has said she will run for President in 2020, becoming the latest member of her party to challenge Republican President Donald Trump. By Lalit K Jha



FGN8 US-SHUTDOWN-LONGEST

Government shutdown becomes longest in US history

Washington: The US government shutdown that has left 800,000 federal employees without salaries as a result of President Donald Trump's row with Democrats over building a Mexico border wall entered a record 22nd day Saturday.(AFP)



FGN22 FRANCE-4THLD EXPLOSION

Two firefighters killed as gas leak explosion rocks central Paris

Paris: A powerful explosion tore through a building in central Paris on Saturday, killing two firefighters, injuring dozens of people and causing extensive damage to nearby buildings, officials said.(AFP)



FGN23 POLAND-CHINA-HUAWEI

China's Huawei 'fires' employee arrested in Poland

Beijing: Chinese telecom giant Huawei has fired a Chinese employee who was arrested in Poland over espionage allegations, saying he had harmed the company's global reputation, a state-run newspaper said Saturday. (AFP)

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New Delhi, Jan 12 (PTI) Following are the top foreign stories at 1700 hours:



FGN9 RAHUL-UAE

Intolerance, anger reign supreme in India: Rahul

Dubai: Congress President Rahul Gandhi said here Saturday that India has witnessed a great deal of intolerance and anger in the last four and a half years which stemmed from the "mentality of the people in power".



FGN6 US-INDIA-LD ENVOY

Trump attaches great importance to US-India ties: New Indian envoy

Washington: President Donald Trump attaches great importance to the US-India ties, India's new Ambassador to America Harsh Vardhan Shringla said.



FGN5 US-FBI-TRUMP

FBI opened probe into whether Trump working for Russians: NYT

Washington: The FBI has opened an inquiry into whether Donald Trump was working for Russians in the days after the American President fired James B Comey in 2017 as the top investigative agency's director, according to a report. By Lalit K Jha



FGN3 US-PAK-HOUSE

Bill to terminate Pak designation as major non-NATO ally introduced in Congress

Washington: An influential US lawmaker has introduced a legislation in Congress to terminate the designation of Pakistan as a major non-NATO ally. By Lalit K Jha



FGN15 PAK-ECONOMY

Pak not approaching IMF for new bailout programme, considers alternative options: Finance Minister

Karachi: Pakistan will not approach the IMF for a new bailout package and is considering alternative options to tide over its economic crisis, Finance Minister Asad Umar said Saturday.



FGN13 US- SYRIA-TROOPS

Implementing orderly withdrawal of US troops from Syria with no arbitrary timeline: Pentagon

Washington: The US is implementing an orderly withdrawal of its troops from Syria based on operational conditions on the ground, including talks with its allies, and with no arbitrary timeline, the Pentagon has said. By Lalit K Jha



FGN11 US-2NDLD GABBARD

Tulsi Gabbard announces 2020 presidential run to take on Trump

Washington: Tulsi Gabbard, the first Hindu elected to US Congress and a four-time Democratic lawmaker, has said she will run for President in 2020, becoming the latest member of her party to challenge Republican President Donald Trump. By Lalit K Jha



FGN8 US-SHUTDOWN-LONGEST

Government shutdown becomes longest in US history

Washington: The US government shutdown that has left 800,000 federal employees without salaries as a result of President Donald Trump's row with Democrats over building a Mexico border wall entered a record 22nd day Saturday.(AFP)



FGN14 FRANCE-LD EXPLOSION

Several injured in powerful blast at Paris bakery: police

Paris: A powerful explosion badly damaged a bakery in central Paris on Saturday, injuring several people and smashing nearby windows after a suspected gas leak, police and AFP journalists said.(AFP)

RUP

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New Delhi, Jan 12 (PTI) The Delhi Sikh Gurudwara Prabandhak Committee on Saturday objected to the "facetious" portrayal of former prime minister Manmohan Singh in the biopic 'The Accidental Prime Minister' and appealed to the Sikh community to boycott the film.

In a video message, Delhi Sikh Gurudwara Prabandhak Committee general secretary Manjinder Singh Sirsa said Manmohan Singh made the Sikh community and India proud during his 10-year tenure as prime minister and the movie "spoils" his image.

"The Congress inflicted atrocities on Sikhs. The party committed sins... Maligning Manmohan Singh's image...is unacceptable. The Delhi Sikh Gurudwara Prabandhak Committee expresses serious concern over facetious portrayal of the former prime minister in the film," Sirsa said.

"Manmohan Singh made the community and the entire country proud at the global level. We are against any such movie which demeans the Sikh community," he said.

Sirsa, in his "capacity as the general secretary of the DSGPC", appealed to community members to boycott the movie.

The film, based on the book by the same name by Sanjaya Baru who served as Manmohan Singh's media advisor from 2004 to 2008, was released on Friday.

The movie shows Singh as a victim of the Congress's internal politics ahead of the 2014 general elections. PTI GVS ABH

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Beed/Mumbai, Jan 12 (PTI) "The Accidental Prime Minister" director Vijay Gutte's mother has lodged a complaint of domestic violence against her husband at Parli in Beed

district of Maharashtra, an official said Saturday.

Sudamati Gutte lodged the complaint against Ratnakar Gutte and his six family members, they said.

"In her complaint filed on Friday, she (Sudamati) alleged that her husband and his family members subjected her to mental and physical torture over a family dispute. They also threatened her to transfer a property to their name," the official said.

Based on her complaint, a case was registered against

Ratnakar and his family members, he said.

They have been booked under IPC sections 498A (husband or relative of husband of a woman subjecting her to cruelty), 323 (punishment for voluntarily causing hurt) 504 (intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of peace) and others.

In the complaint, Sudamati alleged that her husband had the habit of drinking and visiting dance bars, and used to subject her to physical and mental torture, saying he did not like her, police said.

No arrest has been made in this connection so far, the

official said, adding investigation was underway.

In August last year, Vijay Gutte, the director of the

"The Accidental Prime Minister", was arrested for alleged

Goods and Services Tax (GST) fraud of over Rs 34 crore. He had been booked under section 132 (1)(c) of the CGST Act, which pertains to "wrongful availment" of input tax credit using bills and invoices that have been issued without any supply of goods or services.

The film based on a book of the same name on former prime minister Manmohan Singh was released on Friday.

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Noida (UP), Jan 12 (PTI) Hundreds of workers of the Samsung mobile company Saturday protested here, demanding salary hike and change in shift timings, police said.

The workers assembled on the premises of the company's office in Noida Phase-II in the morning and remained there till around 10pm, they said.

Samsung representatives could not be contacted immediately for a response.

"The protestors were demanding that their work timings which have been changed since January, be restored to the previous pattern. They were also peeved over changes in holidays, food and other such issues. These issues were reportedly discussed with the management and resolved," Circle Officer, Noida 3rd, Shwetabh Pandey, said.

"The workers were also demanding a hike in their salaries, which the management has reportedly said was a policy issue and needed more discussion," he told PTI Saturday night.

Pandey said there did not arise a law and order situation and no disruption to traffic happened as the protestors had assembled within the premises of the private company.

The Samsung plant, inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in July 2018, has witnessed similar protests in the past also.

Nearly 500 farmers, belonging to different outfits such as Sanyukta Kisan Parishad, Kisan Sabha, had staged a protest outside the company's office in October demanding "more jobs for the local youth".

In August, at least 80 people were arrested during a protest at the plant for similar reason, according to officials. PTI KIS ABH

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Spread across 11,573 Acres the Tourism City will generate employment for more than 2.2 lakh people in Andhra Pradeshs New Capital City, Amaravati



New Delhi, Delhi, India - Business Wire India







Image Caption: The Distinguished Panel at the Tourism City Workshop



A workshop on Andhra Pradesh: Building a Global Tourism Destination was organised at VigyanBhawan, New Delhi by Centre for Strategy and Leadership (CSL) in association with Andhra Pradesh Capital Region Development Authority (APCRDA), Government of Andhra Pradesh. Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Mr. Chandra Babu Naidus dream project, Amaravati is aimed to become a world class capital and a tourism hub.



The Amaravati Tourism City is planned in proximity to the historic Undavalli caves along the river Krishna water front with the objective of boosting leisure, business, eco, health as well as religious tourism. APCRDA is the nodal agency which is developing the states new capital city of Amaravati.



Mr Praveen Prakash, IAS, Resident Commissioner, Andhra Pradesh Government, underlined the state governments focus on making Amaravati the worlds most iconic riverine tourism destination offering a compelling mix of rejuvenation, heritage, spirituality and nature amidst a vibrant and modern setting. He said, The Tourism city of Amaravati is a synergy between culture, heritage and world class facilities. Under the leadership of Chief Minister ChandrababuNaidu, the Tourism City is poised to become a world-class destination and the face of Indias vibrant tourism industry.



Mr. S. Shaanmohan, Additional Commissioner, IAS, APCRDA shared the vision of Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Mr N. Chandrababu Naidu, of creating a Tourism city with world class facilities which at the core retains the culture, heritage and essence of Andhra Pradesh.







Photo Caption - The August Gathering at the Andhra Pradesh Workshop at VigyanBhawan, New Delhi



We are developing a Tourism City in Amaravati which will be built on the pillars of river front development, health and wellness, nature-based experiences, and, heritage and culture. Spread over 11,573 acres with an estimated population of 2.7 lakh, the Tourism city is expected to generate employment for more than 2.2 lakh people, said Mr. S. Shaanmohan.



Underlining the state governments seriousness in engaging with genuine investors and calling for investments in Amaravati Tourism City, Ms. Bhavna Saxena, IPS, Special Commissioner, Economic Development Board, Government of Andhra Pradesh promised to extend full support to those interested in investing in the state. She shared opportunities featuring extensive river front-development for hotels, resorts, MICE (meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions) centres, theme parks, religious and cultural centres.



Mr Suman Billa, IAS, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Tourism, Government of India talked about the potential in Andhra Pradeshs Tourism sector. He also informed the audience that development work and focus on safety of visitors is at the core of building Andhra Pradesh as a global tourist destination.



MrHimanshu Shukla, IAS, Director Tourism, Government of Andhra Pradesh apprised the audience about a plethora of enchanting yet unexplored tourist destinations in Amaravati and rest of Andhra Pradesh. To promote MICE tourism in the state, he shared that the state government plans to develop Mega Convention Centres in Visakhapatnam, Tirupati and Vijayawada.



The state government has taken several progressive steps towards creating world class infrastructure such as further augmenting the rail and road network, adding more national highways along with a beach corridor. To attract more visitors, the state is working towards creating six tourist hubs - Visakhapatnam, Srisailam, Rajahmundry-Konaseema-Kakinada, Vijayawada-Amaravati, Tirupati and Ananthapur-Puttaparthi, said Mr Shukla and invited investors to partner with the state.



Speaking at the workshop, Mr Nakul Anand, Chairman, Federation of Associations in Indian Tourism and Hospitality (FAITH), and, Executive Director, ITC highlighted the opportunities in Amaravati for the Tourism industry and urged associates to visit Amaravati and also take advantage of the opportunities there.



According to Centre for Strategy and Leaderships Chief Executive and Director Vikas Sharma, Amaravati, as well as the entire state of Andhra Pradesh has immense potential with good return on investments. This Tourism City and the states hospitality will be a thrilling and joyful experience for tourists with adventure, leisure and eco-tourism at the core. He shared with the audience the experience of investors post recent investor meets and subsequent delegation visit to Amaravati and how progressive and welcoming the state is for visitors and investors.



The workshop was attended by approximately 600+ senior representatives of hospitality and allied industries  hotels and restaurants; resorts, lodges and spas; airlines and cruise lines; tour, travel and vehicle rental agencies; amusement and theme parks; adventure tourism companies; start-ups; training institutes and skill development agencies; associations; architects and infrastructure developers; international agencies; diplomats; as well as print and electronic media. PWR

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Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh, India  Business Wire India



 Worlds first 100% renewable powered data center parks to be created in Visakhapatnam



 Positions Andhra Pradesh as the East Coast Data Center hub for India & SE Asia



 Adani Group to invest Rs. 70,000 crores, potentially creating over 100,000 jobs over 20 years



In a development that will boost the countrys technology infrastructure and vitalize the concept of green data centers, the Government of Andhra Pradesh (GoAP) on Wednesday signed a MoU with the Adani Group to build Data Center Parks up to 5 GW capacities in and around Visakhapatnam over the next 20 years. This ambitious project would be a first-of-its-kind 100% renewable energy powered project in the world.



The GoAP along with the integrated infrastructure conglomerate Adani Group will develop the hyper-scale data center market in the state, positioning AP as the east coast data center hub for India and South East Asia. It will also be integrated with a cable landing station that will take advantage of the states long coastline to help provide the needed global connectivity and redundancy that the country needs to manage its exponential growth of data.



In line with the State Governments visionary, IT policy and focus on promoting data centers, cloud infrastructure, and allied technology industries as well as renewable energy, the Adani Group will support the development of the digital and energy infrastructure in the state by investing over Rs.70, 000 crore, over a period of 20 years which in turn is expected to create in excess of 100,000 direct and indirect jobs across the state.



The parks shall be developed across three different campuses, with each campus offering complementing value and together providing required redundancy and reliability to Data Center operators. The Data Center parks will be powered with 100% Renewable Energy that will be generated within the State of Andhra Pradesh thereby accelerating the renewable target goals put forward by the state.



Speaking on the occasion Honble Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, Shri Nara Chandrababu Naidu said, The State of Andhra Pradesh continues to raise the bar and set benchmarks as it strives tirelessly to become one of the top digital destinations in the world. From agriculture to financial markets to smart cities to healthcare, digitization is the future and will soon be a critical component of everything that we do. Efficient and eco-friendly Data Centers are the key to enabling this futuristic digital ecosystem. We are very pleased to see that the Adani Group believes in the vision of Andhra Pradesh as one of the most progressive states in India and hence, has decided to partner with the GoAP on this exciting journey.



The Honble Minister of Informational & Technology, Andhra Pradesh, Shri Nara Lokesh also said, All the next generation technologies like artificial intelligence, machine learning, analytics, big data, image processing are changing the world around us and driving innovation in every single activity we do. Complementing the mobile revolution that we are witnessing, India needs data storage, data processing and data networking. This is precisely why the partnership between the GoAP and Adani Group is critical to lay the foundation of a digital revolution that every citizen and every business can benefit from.



Mr. Gautam Adani, Chairman Adani Group said, It is a very proud moment for us to collaborate with GoAP to develop the worlds first green data center parks. Data centers are fundamental building blocks for enabling every aspect of the critical technology infrastructure that India needs to further accelerate its growth. In addition, the Adani groups ability to provide 100% renewable power and its experience in energy management is a critical aspect towards lowering the carbon footprint for an industry that is now the worlds largest and growing power consuming industry.



The move also marks, the Adani Groups foray into the digital infrastructure sector that is now of significant national importance. Critically, it leverages the Adani Groups vast experience in full stack energy management (renewable, baseload, transmission, and distribution) and strong project execution thereby making it uniquely qualified to deliver a practical 100% renewable data center infrastructure with a world class PUE.



This network of parks will be flexibly designed to adapt to emerging technology trends in the Data Center industry and will be scaled modularly to meet the customer demands. It will offer a unique energy supply value proposition to its customers. In addition, the data center parks will be transformational in enabling an entire ecosystem system of hardware suppliers, software application providers, start-up companies, and telecom ecosystem players thereby catalyzing innovation and creating the multiplier effect leading to tens of thousands of new jobs and generating increased tax collections.



About Adani



Headquartered in Ahmedabad, India, Adani Group is one of Indias largest integrated infrastructure conglomerates with interests in Resources (coal mining and trading), Logistics (ports, logistics, shipping and rail), Energy (renewable and thermal power generation, transmission and distribution), and Agro (commodities, edible oil, food products, cold storage and grain silos), Real Estate, Public Transport Infrastructure, Consumer Finance and Defence. Adani owes its success and leadership position to its core philosophy of Nation Building. The Group is committed to protecting the environment and improving communities through its CSR programme based on the principles of sustainability, diversity and shared values.



To View the Image Click on the Link Below:



Shri Nara Chandrababu Naidu, Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh (4h from left); Mr. Gautam Adani, Chairman Adani Group (3rd from left) and Shri Nara Lokesh, Minister of Informational & Technology, Andhra Pradesh (2nd from right) at the launching ceremony in Vijayawada PWR

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New Delhi, Jan 12 (PTI) Director General of World Intellectual Property Organisation Francis Gurry has praised the Centre's health scheme Ayushman Bharat and congratulated Prime Minister Narendra Modi on its success.

"WIPO Director General Gurry meets CEO of #AyushmanBharat @Ibhushan, lauds ambitious health scheme that is bringing free health care to hundreds of thousands, underlines importance of innovation to health and congratulates PM @narendramodi on this incredible success," WIPO tweeted.

The ambitious healthcare scheme, touted as the world's largest, aims to benefit more than 10 crore poor families in the country.

On January 1, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley termed Ayushman Bharat a "game changer" in healthcare and said on an average 5,000 claims are being settled every day since its rollout on September 23, 2018.

The total number of hospitals covered by this scheme is 16,000 and increasing steadily. More than 50 per cent of the implementing hospitals are in private sector.

Jaitley had said in the first 100 days, 6.85 lakh patients have been provided hospital treatment and 5.1 lakh claimants have availed the scheme, for which payment has been released.

All states and Union territories, barring Delhi, Telangana and Odisha, have signed agreements with the health ministry for implementing the scheme. PTI PLB PLB ABH

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Mahinda Rajapaksa

The 278km-long expressway connecting Colombo in the east with Kataragama in the south is lined by idyllic beaches and imposing mountains. It runs south from Colombo, tracing Sri Lankas southwestern coastline till it reaches Tangalle in Hambantota district, from where it arches inward to Kataragama, about 30km inland.

Tangalle is a small fishing port. A narrow road off the expressway takes you past posters of President Maithripala Sirisena and former president Mahinda Rajapaksa, to a bronze statue of Dudley Senanayake, Sri Lankas second prime minister and founder of the ruling United National Party. Senanayake stands tall on a pedestal, pointing at Carlton House, a manor house across the street painted forest green.

It is 8am on a Sunday, and a crowd has gathered outside the Carlton House gates. As they wait to go in, people turn in their cellphones and take tokens, and are frisked by armed guards and policemen. The visitors do not seem to mind the security measures; they are here to see their favourite leader.

Carlton House has long been the seat of the Rajapaksas. Mahinda Rajapaksas grandfather, father and uncle were headmen and prominent politicians in Hambantota, but the former president towers over all of them in popularity and charisma.

There was a plot to assassinate not only the president but also my brother Gotabaya. I cannot say anything about any involvement of the R&AW in that conspiracy, because I have not got any information to that effect. Rajapaksa is still the most powerful man in Sri Lankan politics. His next mission is winning the parliamentary election. The Sirisena-Wickremesinghe government has failed the country, he tells THE WEEK. I am determined that I should save the country and the people. What do you have to say about the government run by Maithripala Sirisena as president and Ranil Wickremesinghe as prime minister? Were they on the right path in serving the country after they came together in 2015? There is no reason why Sirisena and I cannot work together. We worked together before 2015 and we will work together after 2018. India is a close relative and China is a friend. I think our bilateral relationship with India has improved enormously.

Rajapaksa is all smiles as he enters the visitors hall at Carlton House. He is clad in a white dhoti and kurta, with his trademark brown shawl around his neck. The shawl is a legacy from his uncle. It was Don Mathew Rajapaksa, who was state councillor in the 1930s, who first took to wearing the shawl to represent the main crop of Hambantotathe earthy-brown finger millet.

Earthy, however, is not the word one would use to describe Mahinda Rajapaksa. He sits on a huge, burgundy sofa and greets visitors with clasped hands, showing the gold rings that adorn almost all his fingers. He smiles as young men pump their fists and cry, Mahinda mahtya [Mahinda, my boss]. Beside him is G.L. Peiris, who was minister of foreign affairs when Rajapaksa was president. Even as the duo is deep in talks, men and women come and fall at Rajapaksas feet, and receive gentle smiles of acknowledgement.

Last October, Rajapaksa tried to return to power by toppling Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe with the help of Sirisena. The attempt failed, but Rajapaksa still remains the most powerful man in Sri Lankan politics. His next mission is winning the parliamentary election, expected to be held later this year. The Sirisena-Wickremesinghe government has failed the country, he tells THE WEEK. I am determined that I should save the country and the people.

He invites us for breakfast. Milk rice cake, string hoppers, pol sambol and seeni sambol are served. Its pure vegetarian, as it is poya today, he says. In Sri Lanka, every full moon day is known as poya, and it is a time for temple visits and religious observances. At Carlton House, poya involves opening the gates for the public, serving them food and giving them an audience with Rajapaksa. Later, the Rajapaksas would listen to an hourlong bana (Buddhist sermon) and offer prayers with the public.

Rajapaksa gets up from his sofa as he sees a BMW approaching the portico. He walks down the steps with his hands folded and welcomes the mahanayake thero (a high-ranking monk) of the Asgiriya chapter. A narrow white carpet is rolled out from the portico to the small Buddha temple behind the house. Led by the mahanayake, Rajapaksa walks to the temple. A traditional music band flanks him and a huge, colourful umbrella is held above his head by a band member. Rajapaksas wife, Shiranthi, and his son and political heir Namal Rajapaksa join him at the temple. They, too, are dressed in white.

The mahanayake takes his chair on a pedestal. Shiranthi, Namal and others sit on the floor. A floor-level sofa is laid for Rajapaksa. Hands folded and eyes closed, he begins chanting as the mahanayake begins the prayer.

Mahinda Rajapaksa

Rajapaksa is our hero, says Bandini Sisira, who is a regular at the poya programmes at Carlton House. Peace returned in Sri Lanka because of him. I believe he alone can rebuild the country now. Without him, there is no Sri Lanka.

Rajapaksa was born at Weeraketiya in Hambantota on November 18, 1945, as the third of nine siblingssix brothers and three sisters. He studied at Richmond College in Galle, and Nalanda College and Thurstan College in Colombo. After graduating from Colombo Law College, he began practising law.

In 1970, when he was just 24, Rajapaksa was elected to parliament from Beliatta, which was once represented by his father, Don Alwin Rajapaksa. In 1977, when he lost a parliamentary election, he shifted his legal practice to Tangalle, which helped him build a support base. He was reelected to parliament from Hambantota district in 1989, and has never lost an election since.

Rajapaksa led the Sri Lanka Freedom Party in the 2015 elections, and is now part of the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramunwea, formed in 2016 by his younger brother Basil Rajapaksa. The SLPP swept the local body polls in February last year.

Mahinda is the only charismatic leader in our country. He is the leader of the masses and he can lead anyone to victory, says Dilip Fernando, a Rajapaksa loyalist who recently became municipal councillor in Colombo.

Rajapaksa values loyalty and, despite his charm and pleasing manners, does not tolerate betrayals. A case in point is what happened to Sarath Fonseka, the former army chief who challenged Rajapaksa in the 2010 elections. Fonseka was stripped of his rank, pension and medals, and was jailed after being barred from contesting elections for seven years. Sirisena, who had joined hands with Wickremesinghe in 2015 to keep Rajapaksa out of power, seems to be the only one who has managed to mend fences with the strongman from Hambantota.

Lankas white knight?: Rajapaksa on his way to take part in the poya ceremony at the Buddha temple behind his residence.

In an extensive interview to THE WEEK, Rajapaksa spoke about the political troubles in Sri Lanka, how he plans to resolve them, and what his priorities would be if he returns to power. Excerpts:

That was certainly not a successful government. The UNP (Wickremesinghes United National Party) was running the show and the UPFA (Sirisenas United Peoples Freedom Alliance) was mostly a passive partner. After leaving that government on October 26 this year, the president explained to the public how frustrated he was with the UNP. Even when he was in partnership with the UNP, we could see from the outside that there were serious disagreements between the partners in the government. The appointment of a commission of inquiry to probe the Central Bank bond scam of 2015 and the abolition of the UNPs economic affairs committee were signs of that. The president has publicly said that he is writing a book about his failed political marriage with Ranil Wickremesinghe. That says it all.

In your speech in parliament on November 15, you said the UNP had actually failed the country, citing the rupees fall and the increase in prices. Do you think these factors have affected the country more than any other issue in the recent past?

Of course. In January 2015, what we handed over to the UNP was a very stable economy. Between 2006 and 2014, my government increased the per capita income of this country threefold in US dollar terms. The economic troubles that the country faces now is due to the foreign currency borrowings of the past three and a half years. They borrowed $20.7 billion, and got caught in a cycle of borrowing, repaying and borrowing to repay. There has been very little development work in this country since 2015, except for what has continued from our times. So what Sri Lanka experienced after 2015 was an economic catastrophe. The LMD-Nielsen Business Confidence Index shot up the moment I was appointed prime minister on October 26, because the business community is well aware of the difference in the way my government managed the economy.

Do you think that Wickremesinghe let down the country and its people?

Very badly. There was a palpable feeling of relief in this country after he was removed from power on October 26. The president broke up with the UNP because they were ruining the country. If he had remained in that coalition, the president, too, would have had to shoulder the responsibility for what was happening to the country.

You have been demanding elections, saying the UNP fears elections. Are you sure of a comeback?

The result of the local government elections in February this year made it clear that the SLPP (Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna) was by far the largest political party in the country and a coalition with the SLPP will win any future election. That is the very reason the UNP and its allies are so reluctant to face an election. No self-respecting political party will go to court against the holding of a general election that has already been declared. But that happened in Sri Lanka.

In the recent local government polls, your party won majority votes. Does it mean that the people are with you?

Absolutely. You have to realise that the SLPP defeated established political parties to come out on top. Together with the SLFP (Sri Lanka Freedom Party) and our allies in the north and the east and the hill country, we command a very comfortable majority.

Why did you choose to walk away from the SLFP, although Sirisena appointed you prime minister? Are we going to witness a three-way fight between you, Sirisena and Wickremesinghe?

Waiting in the wings: Namal, Rajapaksas eldest son and political heir.

In 2015, after the majority group of the UPFA (United Peoples Freedom Alliance) decided to sit in the opposition, almost all of them were removed from their constituencies and replaced with other organisers. So there was a need for a different setup, with new constituency organisers and a party machine to face the next election. In any case, the SLFP has, since the 1990s, contested as part of a coalition. There will be no three-way contest. It will be between the UNP-led coalition and our alliance of political parties, including the SLPP and the SLFP.

Will you lead the SLPP in elections in 2019?

Of course. I intend to spearhead the election campaign of the coalition in which the SLPP will be the major partner.

You completed two terms as president. Will the SLPP make you its presidential candidate?

The SLPP and the joint opposition will make the final decision as to who will contest the next presidential election.

Do you plan to announce a presidential candidate acceptable to all?

Yes. The next presidential election will have to be held before December 9, 2019, according to our constitution. We have less than a year for the election process to start.

Will the candidate be from your family or an outsider?

It could be either. As I said, the party will select the best candidate.

Your return to power in Sri Lanka seems imminent. What do you have to say?

The people are waiting for us to come back to power. After an election, that is. The government that was formed after October 26 was just an interim arrangement [tasked to serve] until the conclusion of the general election. Since that election cannot be held, a change of government will take time, but it is inevitable.

What do you have to say about the UNP fighting Sirisenas decision to dissolve parliament?

That shows how shameless they are. Once a general election is declared, any self-respecting political party would contest the election, instead of petitioning court to have it halted. They delayed the local government election by more than three years and tried to put them off indefinitely by approaching the courts, but that was prevented by the intervention of the chairman of the election commission. Elections to the provincial councils have been delayed by more than one year and three months. Now they have managed to prevent a general election.

What is your opinion on Sirisena as president? He once betrayed you, but you seem to have accepted him now despite his shortcomings.

Maithripala Sirisena has been a friend and colleague for decades. We shared the same political ideology. He left us over certain differences. These things do happen in politics. He has now rejoined his original camp, which is more in alignment with his own political outlook. Both sides will forget the past and look to the future.

What do you think about rumours that Indias Research and Analysis Wing was plotting Sirisenas assassination? Do you feel that the lives of Sri Lankan political leaders are under threat?

The evidence seems to show that there certainly was a plot to assassinate not only the president but also my brother Gotabaya. I cannot say anything about any involvement of the R&AW in that conspiracy, because I have not got any information to that effect. But, it was supposed to be carried out by the underworld, which became very powerful in this country after 2015.

Will the SLPP join hands with the SLFP to fight the elections?

Sirisena had already hinted at this possibility.

Yes, an alliance will most probably be formed. In any case, both groups were part of the same political party not so long ago.

Are you willing to work with Sirisena?

Yes, there is no reason why we cannot work together. We worked together before 2015 and we will work together after 2018.

Most Sinhala people in Sri Lanka say the country needs a strong leader like you to take it forward in terms of development.

Every country needs a strong leader. The reason why we have a large support base is because of what we achieved in the nine years.

The minorities are worried that you represent Sinhala-Buddhist majoritarianism.

That is a label pasted on us by our political rivals. Of all those who have led this country since independence, my family is the most multicultural. There are people of all major religions and ethnicities in my family circle. One of the reasons why this majoritarian label has stuck is because we defeated the LTTE (Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam) militarily. But in that, we had no choice. We cannot allow terrorism in this country.

Do you think there has always been a campaign against you to bring you down politically?

Yes. There are elements, both local and foreign, who do not want to see me coming back to power. These are elements that seek to control Sri Lankas destiny. The people of this country see me and the political movement that I lead as the only force capable of preventing foreign domination. We are now in a struggle against neo-imperialism.

What are your plans for Sri Lanka when you return to power?

Our main concern is the economy. There is a need to control the debt crisis that the UNP-led government created. The next priority will be to consolidate, and to make operational, the development projects that we initiated when I was in power.

You recently visited India. Was it to smoothen your relationship with India?

I think our relationship with India is now beginning to look more like what it should be. In 2014, certain misunderstandings emerged between the newly elected governments [in both countries]. That is something that should not have happened.

In your speech in parliament, you said the speaker is influenced by western forces. Is India also part of this? Is India in anyway influencing Sri Lanka politics?

I think India kept away from the recent crisis. We are neighbours. We have to work with each other with whatever government that may happen to be in power. I think that was the stand adopted by India. The fact that some western powers were heavily involved in the recent political crisis in Sri Lanka was quite obvious. They never tried to hide the fact that they are interfering in the internal affairs of Sri Lanka.

A few years ago, you said in an interview that India played a major role in bringing the opposition together in Sri Lanka. Does that stand true even now?

No, I dont think India would be involved in anything of that nature now.

In the past, you were perceived to be closer to China than India. Your September visit to India was a success. Although your visit was unofficial, you had a meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Has anything changed?

I have always said that India is a close relative and that China is a friend. I think our bilateral relationship with India has improved enormously. It is not correct to say that I have been closer to China than to India. Even when it came to the building of the Hambantota port, I first put the proposal to India and turned to China only when India did not show any interest.

Do you think you could have done much better in the deal for Hambantota and Colombo port projects?

Absolutely. My government never had any plans to privatise the Hambantota port. I can tell you authoritatively that China never asked Sri Lanka for the Hambantota port on lease. It was Ranil Wickremesinghe who went to China and pleaded with them to take the port. Wickremesinghe has a compulsive tendency to sell government property. Around 2003, he sold a part of our petroleum corporation to the Indian Oil Company for no logical reason. Now he has sold the Hambantota port. One of the main reasons why President Sirisena withdrew his MPs from that government in desperation was because he thought there would be no government property left in the country if things had continued the same way.

Wickremesinghes dismissal was criticised by several world powers, including the US and the European Union. Was not the move against the spirit of democracy?

When the UPFA group left the government on October 26, the cabinet stood dissolved because that cabinet was formed under special provisions in the constitution relating to national governments. When this national government ceased to exist, some government MPs came over to our side and we became the largest single group in parliament. Since 1994, we have had a practice where the president invites the leader of the largest group in parliament to form a government, if no one has a clear majority. So, on October 26, I was the natural choice to become prime minister. Wickremesinghe was not really sacked. His government ceased to exist because the UPFA withdrew from the partnership. Some western powers back Wickremesinghe because he is completely subservient to them. Wickremesinghe does not seek the approval of the people of Sri Lanka; he seeks approval from the western embassies in Colombo.

Is Wickremesinghe too close to India? Do you think India is overtly interested in Sri Lankan politics?

I do not know what Wickremesinghes relationship with India is. If he is as close to India as some people say he is, how is it that he gave the Hambantota port to a Chinese company on a 99-year lease, knowing fully well that it would cause anxiety to India? We have had situations where India did get involved in Sri Lankan politics. According to my understanding, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru and his successors and others who led India right up to the beginning of the 1980s had a policy of noninterferencewhich is why the bilateral relationship was quite sound during the first three decades after independence. I think we should study the past and see how our predecessors on both sides of the Palk Strait succeeded at that time, and make that our guide for the future.
AN AWE-INSPIRING sight greets you as you step out of Kandy railway stationan 88-foot-tall, white statue of the Buddha. It is 6km away from the railway station, atop the Bahirawa Kanda (Devils Hill) and shows the Buddha seated in the nirvana pose. A smaller golden-coloured statue of the Buddha sits below it. It has white lotuses and purple flowers etched on it; photos of the most important Buddhist temples in Sri Lanka flank it. Near the statues, a boy with a tonsured head, clad in a maroon robe, is folding a flag that represents the aura that is believed to have emanated from the Buddha when he attained enlightenment. The young monk touches the flag gently and seems to have been transported to a world of peace and tranquility.

As per our constitution, Buddhism should be given high priority. Dilantha Withanage, spokesperson, Bodu Bala Sena Though westerners suggest that you can have a secular state, in this part of the world, we cannot have a secular state. Charitha Herath, senior lecturer at the University of Peradeniya

At the same time, near the President Secretariat in Colombo, burly monks dressed in robes similar to the boys were up in arms. The police were forced to use tear gas and water cannons to disperse the mob. These monks were part of the hardline Sinhalese Buddhist nationalist organisation Bodu Bala Sena (BBS). They were demanding the release of their leader Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara Thero (thero is the title for head priests). He had been sentenced to six years in jail on charges of intimidation; during the trial, the court had also held him in contempt.

Our organisation supports the majority people in Sri Lanka, says Dilantha Withanage, spokesperson of BBS. As per our constitution, Buddhism should be given high priority. A clause in the Sri Lankan constitution gives Buddhism the foremost place and charges the state with the duty to protect and foster the Buddha Sasana. In fact, Sri Lanka has a ministry of Buddha Sasana. Like the 88ft Buddha which dominates the Kandy skyline, Buddhism dominates the political and cultural discourse in Sri Lanka. Just a few months ago, President Maithiripala Sirisena, while commenting on communal violence, said hatred and violence bring shame to a Buddhist country like Sri Lanka. The hardline Buddhists want Sri Lanka to be a country of the Sinhalese, particularly the Sinhala Buddhists.

Hardline Buddhism is thought to have had its beginnings in Sri Lanka in the early 20th century, when Buddhist revivalist Anagarika Dharmapala said that colonialists had destroyed the Aryan Sinhalese paradise that was. He also said Sinhala Buddhists were the sons of the soil and that Muslims in Sri Lanka thrived at the expense of the Sinhalese. In 1959, the militant monks took an upper hand by assassinating then prime minister (of Ceylon) S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike. Many reasons were attributed to the assassination, but the main issue is believed to be the governments failure in ensuring the rights of the Sinhalese people.

Dilantha Withanage

Unlike in India, where Buddhism was born, it is the majority religion in Sri Lanka. And its roots in the island country are perhaps stronger than in other countries where it is the majority religion, such as Thailand. Buddhism was introduced in Sri Lanka in the second century BCE by Mahinda, son of Emperor Ashoka. His sister Sanghamitra brought a sapling of the bodhi tree under which the Buddha had attained enlightenment and planted it in Anuradhapura, a major town around 200km from Colombo. The Tripitakathe discourses of the Buddhawas written in the country in the first century. Only the compilation of the Theravada school of Buddhism survives in its entirety. The more conservative Theravada tradition is the one practised in Sri Lanka.

Charitha Herath, senior lecturer at the University of Peradeniya and former secretary of mass media and information, says he does not believe in the textual part of any religion, but, practically, Sri Lankan Buddhism has its own cultural approaches, practices, parameters and history. Though westerners suggest that you can have a secular state, in this part of the world, we cannot have a secular state, says Herath. As Yatawatte Dhammananda Thero, chief of the Bhairawa Kanda Buddhist Temple, Kandy, says: Buddhism is the power of our country. Over the years, Buddhism in Sri Lanka split into chapters. The chiefs of the chapters, called the mahanayake, are highly influential in determining the leadership in Colombo. The mahanayake of the Malwathu and Asgiri chapters, both in Kandy, are considered the most important chief monks in the country. What they say on the political situation in Sri Lanka often acts as advice to the political leaders. In February 2018, the two mahanayake urged the president, Sirisena, and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, to resolve the political crisis that followed the local government elections (most local authorities were hung, leading to horse-trading).

Charitha Herath

The Malwathu Chapters mahanayake, The Most Venerable Thibbotuwawe Sri Sumangala Thero, said the government had a responsibility to rule without creating confusion. The Asgiri Chapters mahanayakeThe Most Venerable Warakkagoda Sri Gnanarathana Therosaid that he hoped the politicians would not undermine the mandate of the people. While the Malwathu Chapter is close to the corridors of power, irrespective of who is in power, the Asgiri Chapter, according to highly placed sources in Sri Lanka, is close to the Rajapaksas. In fact, the Asgiri mahanyake leads the prayer meetings in Mahinda Rajapaksas hometown, on every Poya day (lunar monthly Buddhist holiday; normally the full moon day).

While the sangha, the official Buddhist community, does not get involved in politics directly or even comment on political issues, most monks in Sri Lanka are known for their activism, from staging massive demonstrations to conducting marches. Here, Buddhist practice is always based on the state apparatus, says Herath. This is why, in 1972, our constitution recognised Buddhism as heritage in this country. [In] our history, major roles [played by Buddhism] in development projects have a kind of hegemonic influence. [Involvement in] state affairs has been there from the Buddhist sangha. We have been trying to differentiate between hegemony and power. After the clash between Buddhists and Muslims in Kandy and Ampara in April 2018, a nationalist Sinhala Buddhist mentality has set in, according to religious and political observers. The riots were triggered in part by various hate-filled Facebook posts by a nationalist Sinhala Buddhist group. It led to the death of one Muslim, apart from destruction of property. The clash was not the first. Muslims, mosques and Muslim-owned businesses have come under attack in 2014 and 2017 also. However, the majority of Buddhists do not even have sympathy for the Muslims. Nor for the Tamils.

I like Buddhism, says 13-year-old Kahatagasdialiye Dheera Nandha, a monk at the Malwathu Chapter. My parents wanted me to be a monk. I have been here (at the Malwathu Chapter) for the past three years, learning about the Buddha and his teachings. Dheera Nandha is currently learning Pali scriptures, Urdu and Sanskrit, along with other subjects. With him at the Malwathu Chapter, are around 450 boys learning the lessons of Buddhism, while their country is aflame with Buddhist rage.
Startup in Residence (STiR) has announced the 40 companies that will be making up its 2019 cohort.The companies were selected by the 22 government agencies from across the country participating in STiR this year, pared down from a list of 700 total applicants, said Jay Nath, executive director for STiRs managing organization, City Innovate. Those companies will now work with government agencies over a four-month period, volunteering their time in exchange for an opportunity to help tackle civic challenges. The idea behind the program is that the opportunity will enable the companies to potentially create products that can go to contract, not just with the agency they work with but with other governments as well. STiRs ultimate goal since its inception in 2014 is to foster better cooperation between entrepreneurs and the public sector.This years projects will focus on a range of governmental issues, including disaster response efficiency, helping low-income renters get quicker access to their security deposits and facilitating better public transportation on city streets. The governmental agencies also feature more diversity than in previous classes. Whereas STiR once focused entirely on cities in Northern California, it now includes governmental agencies all across the country. In addition to cities, the program also now includes regional authorities and other broader groups.A full list of teams can be found on STiRs website . Some examples of pairings include Civis Analytics , a company helping the local government in Norfolk, Va., build flood data analytics tools with decision support for residents, as well as a broader effort in which the company Palmos will help the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) create water infiltration sensors that also explore potential for long-term planning tools aimed at limiting water damage.One thing Nath emphasized during a recent call about this years class was the programs application process, which doubles as an actual RFP. Nath described them as rapid RFPs, noting that it generally takes a company less than an hour to complete one as well as a correspondingly short time for a public agency to respond.Nath joked that this years program may have set a world record for simultaneous RFPs being issued, evaluated and scored. Nath also re-iterated that the programs goal when it was founded back in 2014 remains the same to this day, to be a bridge to the startup community, both locally and globally.Sarah Daniels, who is one of the founders of the company GovRock , is participating again in 2019 after her company worked with West Sacramento, Calif., last year. Daniels company worked with the Northern California city to build a volunteer matching and engagement tool that city officials could use to recruit and organize volunteers for events. Daniels described some of the reasons she and her team liked the program enough to return.We had access to a lot of fantastic government workers who were able to tell us what their needs were so we could build the product in record time, she said.This year, GovRock will be partnering with the city and county of San Francisco on a project aimed at creating easy access to real-time supply chain info, which emergency response leaders could use to quickly procure and distribute supplies.STiRs impact is not going unnoticed among larger government agencies. Shortly after taking office this month, new California Gov. Gavin Newsom issued an executive order aimed at modernizing tech procurement for the nations most populous state, doing so in a way that resembled the RFP process STiR has designed.Were really thrilled to see the work weve done in Startup in Residence, the model, the approach were taking being adopted by the state of California, Nath said.
Often idle: Fishing boats harboured in Pasaiyoor, a village in a suburb of Jaffna.

ON A SUNNY MORNING, Sangarapillai Naguleswaran is busy overseeing production at his small factory in Kopay, 10km from Jaffna town. Yam, drumstick leaves, neem flowers, bitter gourd and fruits shrivel in several solar greenhouse dryers, to be turned into instant rasam mix and ready-to-fry vadas, or simply powdered for use in soups and curries. Packaged, the products are sold in grocery stores in Colombo. The factory, set up with assistance from international agencies, employs a few local people, including the owners two daughters.

In the 1970s, agribusiness boomed here, and Jaffna was a leader in exporting mango products, says Naguleswaran, who learnt the art of preservation in Kerala in the early 1980s. Jaffna led the way in food preservation technology, he says, claiming that a popular fruit juice brand in Sri Lanka was started in the 1960s by a Jaffna food preservation expert, who later sold the company to a Sinhalese businessman who rebranded it.

The 26-year Civil War, which began in 1983, killed Jaffnas industries. After the war ended in 2009, small businessmen like Naguleswaran have worked to pick up the pieces, hardly bothering about political cataclysms in Colombo or Jaffna.

A key factor in the rapid development of the east is the creative entrepreneurial stimulus that comes with close cohabitation of all three ethnic communities: Tamils, Muslims and Sinhalese. A.R. Jeyamanon, senior deputy director, Board of Investments, Jaffna

Almost every person one meets in Jaffna is least interested in discussing politics, their conversations veering towards economic growth and development. Tamil politicians, they say, are keen on continuing the Sinhala-Tamil divide for political gains.

Politics in Jaffna is largely dominated by C.V. Vigneswaran, whose term as chief minister of the Northern Province ended in October; the province is under presidents rule. He has been toeing an ultranationalistic line, even objecting to business affiliations with the south, and his party, the Tamil National Alliance, campaigns for wartime accountability, the release of Tamil political prisoners, and a new constitution to devolve power to the Tamils. There is a general feeling that the TNA politicians live luxurious lives and are not really interested in the development of the province.

In Jaffna town, Santhan (name changed), a retired government official, is holding a meeting to float a political party that will think of the prosperity of Jaffna rather than stress ethnic divisions. Somewhere, we have got it all wrong, says Santhan. We blindly trusted our leaders and lost out on economic and human development.

A solar greenhouse dryer at Naguleswaran's factory.

In contrast, the easthome to a large Muslim population, also considered a minority like the Tamilshas been developing rapidly.

A key factor in the rapid development of the east is the creative entrepreneurial stimulus that comes with close cohabitation of all three ethnic communities: Tamils, Muslims and Sinhalese, says A.R. Jeyamanon, senior deputy director at the Jaffna branch of Sri Lankas Board of Investments. (Jaffna is mostly Tamil.) I was posted in Trincomalee 15 years ago, and on a recent visit, I was amazed at how developed it is, with an extremely robust private sector propelled by the Muslims, Tamils and Sinhalese, says Jeyamanon. There is healthy competition and interaction, which boosts initiatives.

He says that politicians in the north should promote the economy and welcome investment and business affiliations from the rest of the country. We have opened the doors to investors and welcomed southern investment, says Jeyamanon. Doing business with the south is the best way to promote reconciliation.

In the fishing village of Pasaiyoor in the Colombathurai suburb of Jaffna, fishermen are playing cards after a hard days work in the lagoons. One of them, Augustine Francis, 67, says that since the war ended, there has been an increasing pressure on natural resources in the area. Twelve years ago, there were only 35 boats; now there are 350 boats, says Francis. We used to bring boatloads of fish, especially prawns. Now we catch only small quantities, which are sometimes too meagre to be sold. We really do not know why there are no fish anymore. It could be because of excessive trawling, or climate change, but our incomes are continuously decreasing. He says that from his village, like most villages in Jaffna, at least one member from almost every family, fled to Europe during the war. Most of them are struggling financially in their new homes abroad. he says. However, every small assistance from them helps.

Old hand at food preservation: Sangarapillai Naguleswaran.

In Jaffna town, I join a group of young women for tea. They work in a government institution. All of them are college graduates, most of them postgraduates. They are discussing dowries. Several of them have lost their parents or brothers in the war or to illness. One of them says she has collected Rs15 lakh towards her dowry, by saving the bulk of her salary and stinting on food. But, she says, prospective grooms expect Rs50 lakh and a car.

Her colleagues have similar stories. Those who have brothers say the pressure is on them to collect dowries for their sisters. Their boss, a Sinhalese man, walks in and jokingly asks if it is the usual conversation. Come to the south and marry our Sinhalese boys; they dont expect dowries, he tells them. They smile shyly, saying that their relatives would never agree.

They say things were different during the war. When the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam ruled the north with an iron fist, dowries were banned, as was caste segregation. Now, most men insist on dowries, and a persons caste is of pivotal importance, says one of the women. We have graduates, but no jobs. The politicians are unaware of our problems. They want to hold on to power, and talk about what they want, not what we want. The women stress the need for more female Tamil politicians.

As the sun sets, they hope for harmony and opportunities to grow.
AT 10AM ON October 26, 2018, when the telephone rang at his residence in Colombo, Mahinda Rajapaksa was not prepared for what was to follow. On the line was his nemesis President Maithirpala Sirisena (formerly a minister under Rajapaksa, Sirisena turned on him ahead of the 2015 presidential elections). Rajapaksa was utterly surprised when Sirisena asked him to come to the presidents home in the evening to take oath as the prime minister of Sri Lanka, replacing Sirisenas coalition partner Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe.

Though the Rajapaksas are popular in the country and among the majority Sinhalese, international forces are believed to be opposing their return.

Rajapaksa had his doubts. His brothers, too, were shocked. Gotabhaya, former defence secretary, younger to Rajapaksa by two years, was busy in a meeting. So, Basil, former cabinet minister, younger to Gotabhaya, accompanied Rajapaksa. Gotabhaya, who did not at first believe what he heard about his elder brothers return to the centre of Sri Lankan politics, was convinced when the visuals of him being sworn in were beamed on TVs across the country. But the bubble burst quickly.

Wickremesinghe refused to accept his dismissal; after about two months of turmoil, Rajapaksa resigned on December 15. It was a disappointing end to the drama as far as the Rajapaksa camp was concerned. But Sri Lankas political strongman and his current party, the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP)previously a minor political party, relaunched by Basil in 2016are confident of a massive comeback in the next elections. In fact, just three days after resigning as prime minister, Rajapaksa was made leader of opposition by the speaker. He replaced Tamil National Alliance (TNA) leader Rajavarothiam Sampanthan. The TNA and the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress reportedly objected to Rajapaksas appointment. Sampanthan told THE WEEK: He tried to become prime minister by force by disturbing parliament proceedings. Now he is the opposition leader. This is an attempt to grab power through undemocratic means.

As per protocol, Rajapaksa is now behind only the president and the prime minister, but his inability to retain the premiership has led to a diminution of his political stature and his reputation as Medamulana Machiavelli. SLPP insiders even believe that Sirisena renewed his relationship with Rajapaksa only to place the latter in a predicament. Rajapaksa had explained, a few days after being sworn in, that he accepted Sirisenas invitation because the fate of the country and the future of the younger generation were at stake and it made sense to assume office before further damage was inflicted upon the country.

Wickremesinghe told THE WEEK that Sirisena renewed his relationship with Rajapaksa only because he wanted a second term. But, the recent happenings where Mahinda tried to grab power will not work with the people, he said. It will have a huge impact whenever the elections [are held]. With all this, he cannot imagine a comeback. While Rajapaksa is a popular peoples leader among the Sinhalese, the Tamil and Muslim population fear his return. The LTTE is no more. There is no terrorism in the country, as they claim. But he (Rajapaksa) will not allow us to live in peace, said Kanagasabapathi, a Tamil cab driver in Colombo.

But the SLPP is the most popular party in the country at present. It won 239 out of 340 local bodies in the civic polls held in February 2018 and its membership recently crossed one crore. The writing is on the wall, said S.B. Dissanayake, a senior leader in the Rajapaksa camp. We are coming back soon. Mahinda Rajapaksa will soon lead the country. The people want him to come back and lead the country. Basil is said to be the architect behind the resurrection of the Rajapaksas in Sri Lankas political arena. He had been slowly nurturing the party since 2016; Mahinda was a member of Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP, now led by Sirisena) till October 2018. Basil is now focusing on building the SLPP and leading it to success in the upcoming elections in 2020. Most SLFP members, except the parliamentarians, have now become members of the SLPP. Basil said his party lost in the Northern Province in the civic polls because it did not work well in that region. Otherwise our numbers would have been much higher, he said. Rajapaksa said that the SLPP had defeated established political parties to come out on top in the local body elections. He added that along with the SLFP and other allies in the Northern and Eastern provinces (where majority voters are Tamils), the SLPP would command a very comfortable majority in the next elections.

Sources said the Rajapaksas sat down in March 2018 to sort out issues among the siblings. As Rajapaksa cannot become president again, it was discussed who from the family could contest for the top post. Rajapaksass elder brother Chamal opted out because of age, and Basil is busy with his plans for the SLPP. The only option was Gotabhaya. He (Gotabhaya) is a well-organised person, said Palitha Kohona, former UN ambassador and permanent represntative to the UN from Sri Lanka.

People accuse him of war crimes. But he made a thorough study on the Sri Lanka security forces and the LTTE before launching any military [offensive]. Sources close to the Rajapaksas said that Gotabhaya has been accepted by all as the presidential candidate for the next elections. But Mahinda told THE WEEK that the joint opposition would decide who the candidate would be.

Though the Rajapaksas are popular in the country and among the majority Sinhalese, international forces are believed to be opposing their return. There are elements, both local and foreign, who do not want to see me coming back to power, said Rajapaksa. These are elements that seek to control Sri Lankas destiny. The people of this country see me and the political movement that I lead as the only force capable of preventing foreign domination. We are now in a struggle against neo-imperialism.
Londoners are loosing their head over Mundill Mahil, the 'honeytrap' beauty who lured a young man to his grisly death, but is now set to become a mayoress.

Mahil became infamous for her involvement in the murder of Gagandip Singh, 21, whom she had lured to her university bedroom in Brighton. Singh was then beaten and knocked unconscious by Harvinder Shoker, her friend, and Darren Peters, Shoker's friend. Singh was bundled into the boot of his car after being tied up using electrical chords. It was then driven to Blackheath, south east London, and set on fire. Singh is said to have been still alive when the car was set on fire.

Gagandip Singh

During the trial it had emerged that Singh had raped Mahil. She then approached Shoker for getting revenge. Shoker who was said to have been infatuated with Mahil recruited Peters to help in the plot against Singh.

Mahil, Shoker and Peters were found guilty. Though Mahil was cleared of murder, she was convicted for causing grievous bodily harm. She was sentenced to six years in jail while Shoker received 22 years for murder and Peters was jailed for 12 years for manslaughter.

Mahil was released from jail after three years. She built her life and trained to become a personal trainer, aromatherepist and masseuse. She then went on to marry Varinder Singh Bola, a rising star of the Labour Party, in 2016.

This week, Bola announced that he is mayor-elect of London Borough of Redbridge. "I'm over the moon to be confirmed as the Mayor-Elect for the London Borough of Redbridge. It's an incredible privilege to step into the role of Mayor following the incredible Cllr @DebbieThiara and represent the Borough I love and have lived in my whole life," he tweeted.

Mundill Mahil with husband Virender Singh Bola

This has led to much distress not only to her victim's family but also many who have followed the case.

Singh's sister Amandip Kaur, according to a report in Daily Mail, said: "That woman lured my brother to a horrible death and yet served just three years in prison for it. She has only been out for four years and is now going to be a mayoress, through her husband, but will be afforded as much respect as him."

Kaur said her family had been struggling to deal with her brother's death ever since the incident. "Yet she's served a meagre prison sentence, married a high-flying politician and is now trying to ingratiate herself into polite society. Not once has she ever admitted her guilt or apologised to us. She's moved on and is trying to pretend nothing ever happened."

With media houses reporting on the latest developments in Mahil's life, Varinder Singh seems to have deleted his account. After his tweet about being made mayor elect, he received lot of criticism over the fact that he was married to Mahil.

"You can't take a position like that when your wife was involved in a murder! She should not be allowed to be associated with a privileged position. What was he thinking when he married her?" tweeted @AlexStillMe.

"So your election allows you[r] wife, sentenced to twelve years in jail for playing her part in the violent murder of a man, to involve herself in a role in local politics by becoming mayoress..." tweeted @rog_doge.
Rahaf Mohammed Alqunun, who fled her family in Saudi Arabia and feared for her life if deported back from Thailand where she had barricaded herself in an airport hotel room, has been offered asylum in Canada.

The 18-year-old reportedly left for Canada on Friday night from Bangkok. Rahaf had used the power of social media to her advantage and had managed to gather international attention on her plight.

She fled her family while visiting Kuwait and flew to Bangkok. After Thai authorities stopped her, she barricaded herself in her airport hotel room and demanded to meet the representatives of the office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees.

She broadcast her ordeal on Twitter and documented her standoff with the authorities real time. Thousands immediately followed her Twitter account, with many of her friends and activists bolstering the social media campaign using the hashtag #SaveRahaf, allowing her to to stave off deportation.

Thailand officials, who were initially on the attack mode, changed their tactics as the world started noticing Rahaf's ordeal and promised to help her soon.

She was admitted to Thailand on Monday while the UN refugee agency processed her request. Though Australia had come forward to offer her asylum, Rahaf preferred Canada.

"The story ends today," said the head of Thailand's immigration bureau, Surachate Hakparn. "Ms. Rahaf is going to Canada as she wishes"

He said Rahaf left Thailand on a flight en route to Toronto. She was in good health and spirits, he said, and had a "smiling face."

Rahaf's case highlights the cause of women's rights in Saudi Arabia, where even now women are required to take permission from their male guardians to travel abroad, marry or even work.

According to human rights activists, many such incidents have taken place earlier too, but went unreported and most of the women who flee their abusive families are forced to return to them.

Rahaf is flying to Toronto via Seoul, South Korea, according to Thai immigration Police Chief Surachate Hakparn. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau confirmed his country had granted her asylum.

It wasn't immediately clear what prompted Rahaf to choose Canada over Australia. Australian media reported that UNHCR had withdrawn its referral for Rahaf to be resettled in Australia because Canberra was taking too long to decide on her asylum.

Rahaf's father arrived in Bangkok on Tuesday, but his daughter refused to meet with him. Surachate said the father, whose name has not been released, denied physically abusing Rahaf or trying to force her into an arranged marriage, which were among the reasons she gave for her flight. He said Rahaf's father wanted his daughter back but respected her decision.

"He has 10 children. He said the daughter might feel neglected sometimes," Surachate said.

Canada's decision to grant her asylum could further upset the country's relations with Saudi Arabia.

In August, Saudi Arabia expelled Canada's ambassador to the kingdom and withdrew its own ambassador after Canada's Foreign Ministry tweeted support for women's right activists who had been arrested. The Saudis also sold Canadian investments and ordered their citizens studying in Canada to leave.

No country, including the U.S., spoke out publicly in support of Canada in that spat with the Saudis.

On Friday, Trudeau avoided answering a question about what the case would mean for relations with the kingdom, but he said Canada will always unequivocally stand up for human rights and women's rights around the world.
The US government shutdown that has left 800,000 federal employees without salaries as a result of President Donald Trump's row with Democrats over building a Mexico border wall entered a record 22nd day Saturday.

The Democrats' refusal to approve $5.7 billion demanded by Trump for the wall project has paralysed Washington, with the president retaliating by refusing to sign off on budgets for swaths of government departments unrelated to the dispute.

As a result, workers as diverse as FBI agents, air traffic controllers and museum staff, did not receive pay checks on Friday.

The partial shutdown of the government became the longest on record at midnight Friday, when it overtook the 21-day stretch in 1995-1996, under president Bill Clinton.

Trump on Friday backed off a series of previous threats to end the deadlock by declaring a national emergency and attempting to secure the funds without congressional approval.

"I'm not going to do it so fast," he said at a White House meeting.

Trump described an emergency declaration as the "easy way out" and said Congress had to step up to the responsibility of approving the $5.7 billion.

"If they can't do it... I will declare a national emergency. I have the absolute right," he insisted.

Until now, Trump had suggested numerous times that he was getting closer to taking the controversial decision.

Powerful Republican ally Senator Lindsey Graham tweeted after talks with Trump: "Mr. President, Declare a national emergency NOW." It was not clear what made Trump change course.

But Trump himself acknowledged in the White House meeting that an attempt to claim emergency powers would likely end up in legal battles going all the way to the Supreme Court.

Opponents say that a unilateral move by the president over the sensitive border issue would be constitutional overreach and set a dangerous precedent in similar controversies.

The stand-off has turned into a test of political ego, particularly for Trump, who came into office boasting of his deal making powers and making an aggressive border policy the keystone of his nationalist agenda.

Democrats, meanwhile, seem determined at all costs to prevent a president who relishes campaign rally chants of "build the wall!" from getting a win.

Both Democrats and Republicans agree that the US-Mexican frontier presents major challenges, ranging from the hyper-violent Mexican drug trade to the plight of asylum seekers and poor migrants seeking new lives in the world's richest country.

There's also little debate that border walls are needed: about a third of the frontier is already fenced off.

But Trump has turned his single-minded push for more walls into a political crusade seen by opponents as a stunt to stoke xenophobia in his right-wing voter base, while wilfully ignoring the border's complex realities.

For Trump, who visited the Texas border with Mexico on Thursday, the border situation amounts to an invasion by criminals that can only be solved by more walls.

"We have a country that's under siege," he told the local officials in the White House.

Some studies show that illegal immigrants generally commit fewer crimes than people born in the United States, although not everyone agrees on this.

More certain is that while narcotics do enter the country across remote sections of the border, most are sneaked through heavily guarded checkpoints in vehicles, the government's own Drug Enforcement Administration said in a 2017 report.

It said that most smuggling is done "through US ports of entry (POEs) in passenger vehicles with concealed compartments or commingled with legitimate goods on tractor trailers." Nancy Pelosi, the Democratic leader in the House of Representatives and a key figure in opposing Trump's agenda, said money should be spent in many areas of border security, but not on walls.

"We need to look at the facts," she said.

But Trump accused the Democrats of only wanting to score points against him with a view to the 2020 presidential elections.

"They think, 'Gee, we can hurt Trump,'" he said. "The Democrats are just following politics."
An Indian Army Major with Kerala roots and another soldier were killed in an IED blast along the LoC in Jammu and Kashmir's Rajouri district Friday, officials said. An improvised explosive device was planted by suspected militants in the foot-track along the LoC to target army soldiers patrolling the

borderline in Laam belt of Nowshera sector of Rajouri district, they said.

The blast resulted in injuries to two soldiers, including Major Shashidharan V. Nair, 33, the officials said, adding they were rushed to a hospital where they succumbed to injuries.

Army soldiers have been alerted against IED blasts and attacks by the Border Action Teams (BATs) of the Pakistan Army, they said. Major Nair was part of the 2/11 Gorkha rifles. Nair, who hails from Pune, is survived by wife Trupti Shashidharan Nair.
The removal of Alok Verma from the post of CBI director has created a huge controversy.

The Supreme Court had earlier restored Verma to the post on the ground that only the three-member High Powered Committee, consisting of the prime minister, the leader of opposition and the Chief Justice of India ( or their nominees), could have passed the order to send him on leave.

Subsequently, that defect was cured as the said committee met and ordered the removal of Verma from the post of director, CBI, and his transfer to some other post of equivalent rank.

Since the prime minister was in favour of transferring Verma and Mallikarjun Kharge (representing the opposition) was not, the decisive decision was that of the third member, Justice Arjan Kumar Sikri, the nominee of the CJI, who agreed with the prime minister.

Many relatives and friends asked me whether Justice Sikri's decision was correct.

I replied that I had known Justice Sikri since 2005 when I was the Chief Justice of Delhi High Court, and he was a puisne judge there. He has always had an impeccable reputation and I do not believe he could be influenced or pressurised by anyone. So, it is absolutely false and unfair to say that he acted as Modi's puppet or to get some favour. Also, there must have been some strong prima facie material against Verma on the basis of which Justice Sikri took his decision, though what precisely that material was, I do not know (except from what I read in some newspapers about trying to shield some big defaulters and influence the proceedings against them).

I said this on a Facebook post, on which many people commented why Verma was not given a hearing by the committee. I telephoned Justice Sikri the next morning and asked his response to this. He replied:

1. The Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) had given Verma a hearing and then recorded some strong prima facie findings against Verma regarding his integrity.

2. The committee, including Justice Sikri, had read the CVC report as well as the material on which its prima facie findings were based.

3. Justice Sikri was of the opinion that in view of these prima facie findings, Verma should not continue as director, CBI, as it was a sensitive post and the person holding it should be absolutely above suspicion. Hence he should be transferred to some other post of equivalent rank and pay, which was not so sensitive.

4. As regards the question of not giving a hearing to Verma, it is well settled in service law that a hearing is necessary before a government servant is dismissed, but there is no legal requirement to give him a hearing before suspending or transferring him. Verma was neither being dismissed nor suspended, but only transferred. Moreover, the CVC had heard him.

I posted Justice Sikri's reply to me also on Facebook.

Today, I came to know that Justice Patnaik, who had been appointed by the Supreme Court to supervise the enquiry by the CVC against Verma, had given some statement saying there was no evidence of corruption against Verma. So, I telephoned Justice Patnaik and had a long discussion with him on the issue. He has asked me not to share with others what we discussed and what he told me. But he did permit me to mention that no journalist sought an appointment with him to discuss the matter, and only one lady journalist from The Indian Express had telephoned him, and they spoke for less than a minute. On the basis of that perfunctory telephonic talk with a single journalist, several long stories were published in newspapers and on social mediaall (except the one of that lady journalist) by journalists and persons who had never contacted, or perhaps never even tried to contact Justice Patnaik.

For instance, one lady journalist wrote in Hindustan Times that the decision by the High Powered Committee was too hurried. Perhaps, she did not even bother to read the Supreme Court judgment which said the committee must decide within a week. She also wrote that the committee should have heard Verma. Had she bothered to contact Justice Sikri (on his email id aksikrij@gmail.com and phone no. 23016022/23016044 which I posted on Twitter) she would have got the answer.

Journalists have been commenting on the issue, but not one person bothered to contact Justice Sikri for his version, and no one (except that lady journalist who had a telephonic talk of less than a minute ) bothered to contact Justice Patnaik.

Stories and comments by journalists without proper investigation is fake news. The expression by Donald Trumpmedia is true enemy of the peoplemay not be true for the American media, but it is certainly true for most of the Indian media which largely believes in creating sensations and providing masala to the public. It is no surprise then that the people do not hold most of the media and journalists in high regard.

Markandey Katju is a former judge of the Supreme Court of India

The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author's and do not purport to reflect the opinions or views of THE WEEK
Issue has got complicated after India failed to get FEO tag for him
A 17-year-old female driver crashed into another vehicle in Utah in the US while driving blindfolded as part of the 'Bird Box challenge'.

Layton Police Department shared images of two badly damaged vehicles on Twitter citing that the collision was the predictable result of the challenge.

Bird Box Challenge while driving...predictable result. This happened on Monday as a result of the driver covering her eyes while driving on Layton Parkway. Luckily no injuries. pic.twitter.com/4DvYzrmDA2  Layton Police (@laytonpolice) January 11, 2019

Based on the recent Netflix film, Bird Box, starring Sandra Bullock, the challenge involves people wearing a blindfold while attempting everyday tasks. After the challenge went viral on social media last week, Netflix posted a message urging people to be careful and not attempt the challenge.

Honestly, Im almost embarrassed to have to say Dont drive with your eyes covered, but you know apparently we do have to say that, Travis Lyman of the Layton police told media. The stakes are just so high and its just such a potentially dangerous thing as it is: to try and do it in that way is inexcusable. It really puts everybody at risk. The 17-year-old driver, her 16-year-old male co-passenger and passengers in the other car escaped without serious injuries, according to reports.

In Bird Box, directed by Susanne Bier, Sandra Bullock plays a mother who wears a blindfold to keep herself from making eye contact with mysterious forces that push you to kill yourself. As the film opens, we see Bullock blindfold two little children and warning them to not open their eyes if they wanted to stay alive. The film goes on to shows blindfolded Bullock row down a turbulent river with the children. The fans of the film took on the #BirdBoxChallenge, performing everyday tasks blindfolded, sharing videos of the same on social media. Some of the videos even have blindfolded children in seemingly dangerous situations.

This is inspiration gone the wrong way.
A few minutes before the scheduled interview, Damodar Mauzo answered a phone call in an undertone. It was the policeman, he later told me. They want to know my location and where I plan to go. This scene, that could have been straight out of Salman Rushdies Joseph Anton (Mauzo smiles at the comparison), is now the reality of the Konkani authors life. While questioning the alleged culprits in the murder of journalist Gauri Lankesh, investigation agencies discovered that Mauzos name figured in a hit list of a right-wing organisation headquartered in Goa. State police protection was soon to follow. The affable 74-year-old writer was unmoved by the threats. According to media reports, he later called Sanatan Sanstha a cancer that needs to be removed immediately for peaceful life in Goa. I am not scared by the threats, far from it, he says.

Mauzo is one of the most renowned Konkani authors of his generation. His 1991 novel Karmelin, of an orphaned girls tribulations while working in Kuwait, won the Sahitya Akademi award. Even more prolific was Teresas Man and Other Stories from Goa, a diverse short story collection that included the Coinsnavs Cattle, a tender tale of a family considering giving away their beloved cows, and the wickedly entertaining A Writers Tale. In In the Land of Humans, a dalit cattle herder tries to cross into Goa to sell them to a butcher, but is faced with an irate mob of animal lovers. Looking back at it objectively, muses Mauzo, it does seem very prophetic, given the spate of lynchings that are happening now across the country.

Excerpts from an interview at the Kerala Literature Festival, organised by DC Books:

What was the first thing that went through your mind after you heard that you were a target?

I was a little surprised that it was me. There were many others who were more vocal than me, more active. I hail from Goa, and Sanstha is headquartered in the state. Their existence did not matter for the people of Goa until the Diwali bomb blast in Margao [2009]. I was not scared at all. When the intelligence contacted me, they were a little apprehensive that I would be scared. I started laughing. I was told that after the culprits in the Gauri Lankesh case were arrested, there was a hit list and that my name featured in it. They told me that I should stop visiting Karnataka and Maharashtra in particular. I said no. I would not take any curbs on freedom of movement.

I feel there is derangement in the soul of Goa. There is the outside perception of sandy beaches and glittering rave parties, a lived experience of harmonious co-existence, and smack dab in the midst of all this are the roots of an organisation that you likened to 'cancer'.

It is very paradoxical. In 2015, we had a symbolic Dandi march, mainly 500-600 writers, artists and filmmakers. Addressing the crowd, I said: I am proud of my state for the exemplary harmony that prevails, but I am also ashamed that an organisation like Sanatan Sanstha has its roots there.

The history of Goa is the history of Konkani [the state language]. It has gone through so many tribulationsa ban during Portuguese inquisition, a hugely fractured diaspora, and is currently the only language in India written in five different scripts (Devanagari, Roman, Kannada, Malayalam and Persian).

It is true. Let us take the history of Konkani: [George Abraham] Grierson who conducted the first linguistic survey of India said that Konkani was the first language to branch off Maharashtri Prakrit, even before Marathi. He wrote: In my opinion, it stopped growing because of historical and geographical reasons. The homeland of Konkani is Goa. Present Goa has political boundaries. If I talk about a Konkani state, it goes up to Ratnagiri and more. The reason: After Portuguese colonisation and threats of conversion, people left the shores and landed in Mangalore, Cochin, parts of Maharashtra and beyond. When they landed in Karnataka, they took the language with them. The next generation learned Kannada, and they adopted Kannada script to their speech. The same for Muslims in Bhatkal, who wrote in Perso-Arabic. I write in Devanagari script. Catholics in Goa write in Roman script.

I have heard an anecdote that your translator [Xavier Kota, from Konkani to English] could not understand the Devanagari script and you had to read out and record what you had written.

It happens. He had difficulty in reading, so he would record, note down and translate. The biggest issue here is that, since we have so many scripts, our readership gets affected. One day, we will have to come to a unified script.

It is hard to locate Goa, geographically, in some of your stories. Instead, you rediscover your home state in characters that are thousands of kilometres away, say in the middle of the Arabian desert [Teresas Man and Other Stories from Goa].

I do not want to restrict my works to Goa alone. If I conceive any story, it can be set in any place, in any location. If you want to look for Goa in my stories, there is [short story] Teresas Man, and there are others in which I speak about the people and their lives.

You do not see pictorial Goa in my stories. You have to look out for Goa in my works. I do not want to describe sceneries, or any locations. The beauty of a short story lies in its precision, its brevity. I do not have to make an outward effort to project Goa and its people in my works, it comes automatically.

Goa and Kerala are, in a way, very similar. Be it the geography, history of diversity, mixed demography, the migration connect to West Asia [Arabic countries], high literacy rate and more. But its current political realities are so very different.

I think it has something to do with the history. In Goa, lives ran parallel to each other. The Catholics live a lifestyle that is very Westernised. The Hindus, though they now follow the same path, were generally traditional. Politically, we were naive until Goa was liberated. After the Portuguese left, it took some time for us to face that reality.

Then, there were many expansionist forces in Maharashtra who wanted to make Goa a part of their state. When the referendum came [1967], we had to convince almost 70 per cent of the population that Goa would lose its distinct identity. We won it by a narrow margin.

You have written from the perspective of Catholic families in Goa. It seems a testament to how intertwined your lives were. Ten years down the line, with the kind of polarisation we are witnessing now, and societies shrinking into silos, will the mutual understanding cease to exist? Can/would a Hindu write as a Catholic or vice-versa.

There is a story I heard in my childhood. I was a baby and my mother had fallen ill with high temperature. My Catholic neighbour who was passing by, who also had a son four days younger than me, heard about it. I was crying because I was not breastfed. She did it for me.

Yes, polarisation is happening in the state. If there is majoritarianism on one part, a minority communalisation is sprouting up as a reaction. That should not be.
What works against him are the below average dialogues and a sloppy script
I start with a sad story. It has been a month since the Kochi-Muziris Biennale, South Asias biggest contemporary art festival, began successfully. However, a lump in the throat still remains. Soon after the biennale had started, I was told that one of my dearest friends had passed away in his sleep. Tushar Joag was always an artist interested more in being an educator than in his practice. He was always socially conscious and politically critical.

Talking about Tushar is very difficult because our bond goes back a long way to our days in the Sir JJ School of Arts, Mumbai. He was couple of years senior to me in college and was pleasant and handsome. His time at an artist-residency in Amsterdam changed his perception of contemporary art. Tushar co-founded Open Circle, an artist collective that sought to engage with contemporary socio-political issues via an integration of theory and practice. Tushar was a good soul and I will always miss him. He was supportive ever since Riyas and I made the proposal for a biennale in Kochi. In fact, after he joined Shiv Nadar University as a professor of arts, he brought students from the university to the last biennale.

Tushar Joag/Photo Sanjay Ahlawat

Amid the despair about a dear departed friend, something else cheered me up. This happened in the middle of the opening of the fourth edition of the Kochi-Muziris Biennale. This was the invitation to be a member of the International Biennale Association (IBA). Top biennale functionaries from across the world came to Kochi for three days of official deliberations. The IBA, based in Sharjah, the United Arab Emirates, and founded in 2012, also held its fifth general assembly in Kochi. The board meetings on the first two days and the general assembly were closed-door. The final days conference was open to the public.

The public conference, titled Shifting Borders: Biennials in Transforming Landscapes, was held at the Biennale Pavilion in Cabral Yard, Fort Kochi. The Kochi Biennale Foundation co-hosted the four-hour meet. The keynote address was delivered by Yuko Hasegawa, chief curator of the Museum of Contemporary Art, Tokyo, who shared her experiences and work at numerous biennials. It was followed by panel discussions to further explore the role of biennials and their ability to connect art with communities.

IBA president Hoor al Qasimi, who also heads the Sharjah Art Foundation, spoke on the occasion. Select IBA members from around the world gave presentations about their biennials and institutions with a view to increase representation while offering opportunities for collaboration. Aichi Triennale, Ballarat International Foto Biennale, Biennale of Sydney, Land Art Mongolia, Manifesta, Media Arts Biennial Chile, Rencontres de Bamako and the Atlantic Project gave interesting thoughts. I was overwhelmed and, also, informed for the better. It was great to have them all here. That is what Kochi is all about. We aspire to be good hosts and the biennale is a way to educate, entertain and emancipate.

There are new initiatives with this biennale, like every time. This year the Students Biennale expanded and included students from the SAARC countries. It was a great experience to see them work here. It reaffirmed the fact that art, and only art, can bring people together. We are one and nothing can separate us. The evidence lies in the fact none of the hartal calls had any effect on the footfalls at the biennale. This biennale, so far, has been as the famous Ornette Coleman songs go: Open to The Public; Check Out Time. Just as Tushar reminded us.

editor@theweek.in
One of the most progressive voices in the Supreme Court, Justice Dhananjaya Chandrachud, recognised that gender and sexuality defy simple binaries and lazy labels. An individuals sexuality cannot be put into boxes or compartmentalised, he wrote in the seminal Right to Privacy judgment, it should rather be viewed as fluid, granting the individual the freedom to ascertain her own desires and proclivities.

But that fundamental right to privacyand the individuals freedom to identify and experience her/his own genderis now under grave legal threat.

Illustration: Bhaskaran

The transgender community of India is deeply concerned about the new Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Bill that has been hurriedly pushed through the Lok Sabha, albeit with 27 amendments. One of the biggest problems in an earlier draft of this proposed legislation was how it defined transgenderone who is neither wholly male nor female. After sharp criticism of this regressive, limiting and incorrect language, an amendment has ensured that the definition is now much more encompassing. But, in legal terms, the bill falls drastically short of the key principle of sexual autonomyself determination. The bill acknowledges the fluid and subjective nature of genderhow it can be amorphous and escape the male-female binary altogether at times. Yet, it stipulates that legal status as a transperson can only come from a certificate issued by a magistrate. To imagine how outrageous this is, think for a moment how it would feel if each one of us had to procure a piece of paper for us to be recognised as either a man or a woman. To allow officials of the state to sanction your gender is to pave the way for not just the violation of privacy, but also the harassment of the poorer and more vulnerable sections of the trans community. We must allow the principle of self determination to drive gender identity, and not invasive bureaucratic procedures or proofs of surgeries. To authorise district-level screening committees to determine an individuals gender is to set the stage for the grossest sort of prying and bullying.

The other problematic proviso in the proposed law is the criminalisation of begging by transpersons. Given that many people in the trans community are already struggling to make ends meet and given their well-documented lack of access to economic opportunities, this clause must be removed. To send transpeople to prison for begging is to punish them for systemic and social injustices.

Also, we must remember that in its NALSA (National Legal Services Authority) judgment, the Supreme Court recognised the historical persecution of the trans community and the need to recognise them as a socially disadvantaged group. But the current bill makes no mention of affirmative action and only talks in terms of rehabilitation.

Bizarrely, the bill appears to cap the punishment for mental and physical abuse of transpeople at two years. This would mean that the rape of a transperson could mean lighter punishment than that of cis women. There is simply no excuse for this kind of abhorrent discrimination in the law.

There are other issues in the bill that have disturbed the trans community, including a lack of understanding of traditional family and livelihood structures of the hijra community.

In its present form, the would-be law ignores the entrenched social, cultural and financial inequities of transgender Indians. The Rajya Sabha needs to address these tone-deaf insensitivities before it is too late.

editor@theweek.in
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
A California college student is turning taxidermy on its head.

Within the ever-expansive taxidermy community, Kady Rose, a biology student at California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, is what they call a "rogue taxidermist," one in a growing contingent of artistic and subversive taxidermists who want to move beyond the traditional form of taxidermy  petrified animals mounted like trophies to a wall.

Instead, Rose's animals are soft and arrangeable, like teddy bears. Most of them are sourced from people in her network of animal lovers around the U.S.  grieving pet owners who don't want to say goodbye to their animals, veterinarians, petting-zoo employees, and the intrepid roadkill pundits in other states where it's legal.

Rose had never imagined herself a professional taxidermist, but around three years ago, she found herself engrossed in show where a woman was doing taxidermy on roadkill mice.

"I thought that it was just the coolest thing," Rose said. "I didn't know that you could use animals that you didn't kill and give them new life."

Animals and art already held a lot of real estate in Rose's heart. She grew up drawing and painting, and as child, she said, her mother would take in stray birds that had fallen out of nests and nurture them at home. As soon as Rose got her own place, she started doing the same. She now lives with two rescues and a special-needs pitbull.

Her studies at Cal Poly Pomona introduced her to a new way of looking at animals, through anatomy and dissections. But it was watching the woman on TV  the handiwork and attention to detail  that sparked her urge to start a practice of her own in the apartment she shares with her boyfriend.

Her Instagram serves as an online gallery of her art pieces  animals with faces that are so lifelike and expressive it's hard to believe they're no longer breathing. One commissioned piece she worked on was a crystal fox, a stunning incarnation of the Vulpex in "Star Wars: The Last Jedi." The fox was adorned with real quartz and amethyst.

Check out more photos of her artwork in the gallery above.

Almost all of her pieces sell within an hour of her posting them, she said.

"The demand is almost too hard for her to keep up with," she said. She's able to fully sustain herself through her art. It's her only job.

What helps, though, is that she outsources a lot of the preparation to a friend and creative partner in Ohio; most of the donations are sent directly to him. From there, he takes care of the skinning, removes the internal organs  the bones are sent to another friend whose art form is bone articulations  and soaks the pelt in a chemical belt.

When the pelt is ready, he sends it Rose, who gets to work on the mount.

"There's a lot of sculpting involved, but I don't think people realize it," Rose said. "You have to essentially build the animal from the inside out."

This is where Rose's work starts to break away from the traditional forms of taxidermy. Many taxidermists buy these foam forms (or mounts) online, which could be compared to mannequins that the pelt is then stretched over.

But Rose works mostly on babies or young animals, two age groups that are not sold on taxidermy sites. She also frequently works on domestic animals, whose forms are also not sold online.

"It's definitely atypical," she said of her practice. Rose builds the mounts herself. She typically gives the animals' heads a traditional (hard) mound, but the rest of their bodies she constructs through an armature built out of wire and stuffs with polyfill, the material used inside pillows.

After she stretches the pelt over the mount, there's a lot of downtime waiting for the craft to dry, so she tries to have multiple projects going at once. Then she gets to work on the details of the animals' faces. She takes great care to paint the realistic details around their faces, their now-glass eyes, the bridges of their noses, and around their mouths.

"I try to get it as close as I can to what it would have looked like in real life," she said. "A lot of the animals, too, they kind of dictate their own personality. I can't fully foresee what the animal is going to look like when it's done."

The current projects in her rotation include two foxes, a dwarf Nigerian goat (formerly named Spots), and a jackalope, which she just finished. She's worked on foxes, raccoons, skunks, possums, cats, dogs, bunnies, weasels, pine martens, coyotes, goats, sheeps, and even crocodiles.

She estimates she's worked on close to 80 pieces. Her pieces start at around $200 and can go up to $2,000 or more, depending on the rarity of the animal, the size, and the cost of the other materials. Sometimes she rolls out a piece in as fast as three days. Other times she works on them for several weeks.

"I like to think that my pieces of art will last many, many years," she said. "I do my best to breathe new life into these animals that would have otherwise been forgotten or discarded. It feels good to put these animals to good use instead of just tossing them aside."

You can check out more of her artwork in the gallery above.

Read Annie Vainshtein's latest stories here. Email her at avainshtein@sfchronicle.com. Twitter:@annievain
Riverbend residents will be waking up Saturday morning to snow-clogged routes and cars vaguely visible under layers of white.

For those lucky enough, itll be a throw-away day to catch up on over-hyped Netflix picks. And for the kids, itll be an ideal day to blow off some built-up winter steam as the temperatures rise, and the snow takes on a perfect level of pack.

For anyone else who must venture out to take care of business, its going to be a hassle. But a short one. Rising temperatures will clear the mess in fairly short order, if the forecast is correct.

For those looking for solace, some may come in recalling the winter storm of late January, 1982.

It was bad, it was unexpected and the pain lasted for weeks.

Snow blitz paralyzes Telegraph area the headline across the front page of the Feb. 1, 1982, issue screams.

A snow-emergency was declared after early official estimates marked the accumulation level in the Alton and Edwardsville areas at 17 inches. Melvin Price Lock and Dam 26 reported 14 inches. Other southern Illinois towns reported 22 inches within the 24-hour period  bested on record only by the blizzard of 1912.

Citizens with snowmobiles were praised for helping to get doctors and nurses to understaffed area hospitals, and deliver vital medications to those who needed them. Edwardsville Mayor Kenneth Evers told The Telegraph his city was close to being crippled.

In Brighton, the Betsy Ann Fire District reported a house fire they were unable to get to, but apparently the family who lived there was able to extinguish it themselves.

Plows were of little use has winds continued a howling pace well after the snow had stopped falling.

It was terrible out there,John Gabriel, a supervisor at the Illinois State highway garage, Wood River, said. The wind was blowing so hard. You could only see three feet ahead of the truck.

National Weather Service spokesman Bill Bryant had an equally discouraging take.

You might as well hibernate until late March and get on high ground to do it, he told Telegraph reporter Sanford Schmidt.

And then, there was a cold snap. Schools in the area remained closed Feb. 5, with roads still snow packed, snow plows being run into disrepair, and temperatures bottoming out at 5 degrees below zero.

Area hospitals continued to see patients with weather-related injuries  mostly from falls.

By then, the storm began to take a mental toll, apparently.

While the big snow(s) of 82 are providing some terrific time out of school for thousands of kids, we have reports of adults who by now have cabin fever, The Telegraph wrote. After youve watched the soaps, and maybe caught up on the mending and mopped up the 101st puddle from the snow, how do you cope?

There was little reprieve. On Feb. 8, another storm dropped 6 more inches on the area.

Were getting to the point of wondering where to put it all, Mayor Evers quipped.
EDWARDSVILLE  Madison Countys Animal Control Department achieved save rates of more than 90 percent for both dogs and cats in November, a big milestone as the department works toward being a no-kill shelter.

Animal Control Manager Katherine Conder said 92 percent of the 79 dogs and 96 percent of the 77 cats brought in to Animal Control in November were saved. One of the goals of a no-kill shelter is a save rate of 90 percent or above.

Its extremely important, she said, adding that they did not final December statistics.

She also said they are starting several new programs, including a foster program for cats and kittens awaiting placement with one of the pet rescue organizations the county works with.

We have so many cats and kittens that come in during the spring and summer time, she said. I thought it would be better if the cats were not staying in our facility for long periods of time.

She said they would like to start an adoption program, rather than relying solely on animal rescue organizations.

We have a lot of people who call us on a regular basis, who say I would like to adopt this dog, or I would like to adopt this cat, so wed like to get that started, she said.

Conder said they have also started working with animal rescue agencies throughout the state.

Because of the humane societies being so full here, we have to look at other options, she said. It also takes some of the heat off of partners for pets and metro east humane society. We rely on heavily on them to pull animals from us.

However, that is potentially controversial, because in the past some County Board members have objected to the expense of Conder traveling to Northern Illinois to drop off an animal.

The county wants to be no-kill, she said, adding the cost to transport the animals are offset by reduced food and veterinary care costs.

If I can get a rescue in Chicago to take an animal that another rescue here is not interested in, then it cuts our cost down, she said. The majority of our dogs are pit bulls. There are so many its hard to get them placed around here.

The County Boards Public Safety Committee continues to work on a new ordinance dealing with the Animal Control Department. One of the issues will be fees. There is a consensus among many board members that the countys fee structure is too low, and encourages too many people and municipalities to dump animals with them. However, that could be controversial as it would increase costs for municipalities, or require them to find alternative ways to deal with cats.

It has been noted that the fee charged to municipalities to accept stray cats is less than the food Animal Control would spend to feed the animal, or the cost of euthanizing them if necessary.

Becoming a no-kill operation was one of Board Chairman Kurt Prenzlers campaign issues, and Animal Control has had a number of issues in the past few years.

For information about the department, visit the Madison County website at www.co.madison.il.us, the departments Facebook page at Madison County Animal Care & Control, email Conder at keconder@co.madison.il.us or call 618 296-4950.

Reach reporter Scott Cousins at 618-208-6447.
Jacksonville City Council is scheduled to meet in regular session no later than 7 p.m. today in the Municipal Building, 200 W. Douglas Ave.

The meeting will begin after a 6 p.m. workshop.
Joshua Tree National Park has stayed open through the government shutdown, despite a lack of funding and staffing. But it reportedly hasn't made it through unscathed.

A post by National Parks Traveler details the extent of the damage the park has sustained during the past several weeks. Beyond the overflow of human waste and garbage, visitors have also cut down Joshua trees, left graffiti, and gone off-roading through "pristine desert," according to park superintendent David Smith.

In some cases, Joshua trees were reportedly cut down so off-roaders could get around barriers. The spiky-leaved Joshua tree, or Yucca brevifolia, is found in the southern California national park that bears its name, as well as other parts of the American southwest.

"We have two new roads that were created inside the park. We had destruction of government property with the cutting of chains and locks for people to access campgrounds. We've never seen this level of out-of-bounds camping," Smith told the nonprofit news organization.

"They would just go out into the country, and then once 20 or 30 cars would go over it you would essentially have a new road created in pristine desert," Smith explained.

ALSO: Marin County to pay to solve shutdown-induced poop crisis at Point Reyes

With far fewer rangers patrolling the park's 1,200 square miles of desert landscape, preventing vandalism and damage has been a challenge. According to National Parks Traveler, only eight law enforcement rangers have been working through the shutdown.

"While the vast majority of those who visit Joshua Tree National Park do so in a responsible manner, there have been incidents of new roads being created by motorists and the destruction of Joshua trees in recent days that have precipitated the closure," the park said in a statement announcing it planned to close Thursday morning.

But late Wednesday, Joshua Tree changed course and announced the park wouldn't be closing after all. The national park said it had freed enough money from recreation fees to prevent the closure of outdoor areas, although most visitor centers won't operate. Some campgrounds, a road, a trail and a picnic area that were closed due to damage are set to reopen.

Authorities say the money will allow them to bring back maintenance staff to deal with problems.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Read Alix Martichoux's latest stories and send her news tips at amartichoux@sfchronicle.com.

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Researchers have discovered a 408-year-old tree amid a stretch of old-growth forest in Algonquin Park, located in an unprotected zone open to logging, the Star has learned.

The Ancient Forest Exploration and Research group  a non-profit, charitable educational organization  recently made the find west of Cayuga Lake.

It also identified three trees that are more than 300 years old, and five that are more than 200 years old, out of the 10 trees examined.

Based on mapping were pretty sure significant tracts of very old forest have also been logged in the past 10 years, or are currently being logged, senior ecologist Mike Henry told the Star. The group is now calling on the provincial government to safeguard the area.

We are confident that there are many more trees older than 200 years located in the Cayuga Lake area  and likely more that are twice that age, said Peter Quinby, the research groups founder who completed his doctorate at the University of Toronto studying habitat and vegetation in Algonquin.

The hemlock located last fall is estimated to be more than 408 years old, and we can only know the ages of the remaining trees by coring trees and counting rings, Quinby added. This should be done as soon as possible. We now know that old-growth forests are carbon sinks  so by protecting and restoring them, we can help to maintain our climate.

In Algonquin Park, roughly 24,000 hectares of old-growth forests are believed to be in zones open to logging. Overall, 65 per cent of the sprawling park in cottage country, about three hours north of Toronto, is unprotected.

In 2000, under Progressive Conservative premier Mike Harris, the Living Legacy initiative expanded and protected parks, including areas inside Algonquin.

Then, in 2014, the provinces environmental commissioner at the time, Gord Miller, recommended an end to all logging in Algonquin, noting it was the only provincial park in Ontario where its allowed.

In fact, Algonquin is believed to be just one of two provincial parks in the entire country where logging occurs.

The Ministry of Natural Resources should bring the management of the provinces flagship park into alignment with the important role of provincial parks today and afford Algonquin Park the same level of protection as the rest of Ontarios protected areas, Miller wrote, adding he strongly urges (the ministry) to end commercial logging in Algonquin Provincial Park.

Miller said the Liberal government of the day should live up to its commitment to the conservation of biodiversity by ensuring that all provincial parks and conservation reserves receive appropriate protection.

The Algonquin Forestry Authoritys management plan for the park will soon be updated for 2020-30, and several groups will be pressing to expand protected zones.

At the same time, the Ontario government under Premier Doug Ford has begun consultations to kick-start the forestry industry, given 51,000 job losses in the past 10 years  although it has said standards will not be watered down. A report is expected this summer or fall.

The office of the minister of the environment, conservation and parks did not provide comment when asked for its response to the finding of ancient trees in a logging area.

The ancient forest group says the 408-year-old tree is part of four neighbouring old-growth forest tracts near Cayuga Lake, totalling 1,845 hectares, about half of which are open to logging.

Its pretty rare, said Dave Pearce, forest conservation manager for environmental group CPAWS Wildlands League. Its significant old growth.

His group has lobbied for a wind-down of logging, and says it can be done with no loss to timber supply.

Algonquin is an important park because old trees store more carbon than younger forests, and are incredibly important for biodiversity, Pearce added.

A number of species dependent on old-growth are becoming more rare as that type of forest disappears.

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Algonquin is extra valuable because it could be a considered a refuge for hemlocks, which have been hard hit in other areas by the woolly adelgid. The invasive pest is not in Algonquin as yet, possibly because of the colder climate.

Algonquin Park is well-managed in terms of separating recreational use from logging activities, but the whole premise of Algonquin being a park is a joke  parks are places where you dont log, Quinby said.

Forests are not just for cutting trees down to get two-by-fours and plywood, he said, adding that the typical approach to forestry is not to let trees get any older than 100 to 150 years, when their growth slows.

We need legislation that says some ecosystems are endangered, and we should protect them.

Henry said he has cored two hemlocks more than 400 years old  the one in Algonquin and another outside Peterborough.

There are very few of these old, pristine forests in Ontario, he said.

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When first arriving in Santa Monica, the city seems like a vision of the future depicted in Sci-Fi films, with people zipping about on electric scooters in the California sun.

One of the companies behind the scooters, Bird, has recently begun lobbying Toronto city councillors and the mayors office, so this future may be on its way to Toronto and other Canadian cities.

Recently I rode a scooter in Santa Monica, a city dubbed The E-Scooter Capital of the World as there are multiple start-up companies populating the oceanside citys sidewalks. City administrators there have been willing to pilot them while other jurisdictions have not.

I downloaded the app for Lime, one brand of scooters, but I could have also used my Uber or Lyft apps as those ride-hailing companies have also started providing e-scooters. Once registered, the app provides a map showing the nearest scooters and how much farther they can go before running out of power.

When first stepping on one it doesnt start by simply squeezing the throttle: it requires a little push with your leg before the motor starts. Its like a reminder that able-bodied people can get around on their own power, as weve done forever. When the motor does kick in it really zips.

Since riders stand upright on scooters the closest equivalent might be standing on an escalator or moving sidewalk, but those move much slower. With top speeds of around 23 kilometres per hour, the speed is substantial so theres volatility to riding them, though that feeling probably fades with more experience.

The scooter wheels are quite small though and I felt all the bumps even though Santa Monica streets, free of salt and snowploughs, are quite smooth. As any cyclist knows, Toronto streets are often jarring, with potholes that can sprain wrists and streetcar tracks that can catch even a conscientious rider at the wrong angle, so the experience here will be quite different.

Toronto skateboarders seem to manage all right but theyre a hearty bunch and, most importantly, self-propelled. With e-scooters a lot of casual riders will be on these motorized devices. Predictably, in some places scooters are being piloted, injuries are way up.

As a mobility device, I cant envision many older folks using them, or anybody even a little nervous about moving around quickly while standing upright. Admittedly I did feel a little old riding one as theres something infantilizing about these scooters, perhaps because they look so much like the kind kids ride. This is a subjective feeling of course, perhaps as wrong as opponents of bicycles who say they are just for kids.

Santa Monica has some rules for scooters that include no sidewalk riding and a requirement for helmets, though there was much flaunting of them.

Even when theyre not moving, you see the scooters everywhere. Sometimes theyre lined up orderly on the sidewalk inside painted boxes the city has reserved for them. More often than not though theyre haphazardly parked on sidewalks, sometimes lying on their sides in a pile with others. Occasionally, theyre in bushes and on lawns.

At one point I saw a man leave his battery-depleted scooter on the wheelchair ramp that led down to the beach in a place that would prove troublesome for anybody trying to use the ramp for its intended purpose. Any random person can also easily move a locked scooter, so keeping them corralled will be difficult.

This is where the futuristic feeling of the scooters gives way to annoyance at all the clutter. With a few exceptions, Toronto has notoriously narrow sidewalks so its easy to envision e-scooters immediately blocking them here.

Theres also the unseen issue of how the scooters are charged up. Like with Uber or food delivery companies, theres an army of contract workers who collect depleted scooters in their car, take them home, charge them up and return them to designated spots. Though there are reports of it being a lucrative part-time job for high school students, its yet another aspect of the precarious gig economy that is marketed as urban infrastructure.

Riding the scooters was undeniably fun and a single 30-minute, 3.7-km ride around Santa Monica cost me US $6.39, but is it a mobility solution to some of Torontos problems?

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Our streets and sidewalks here are already so crowded that another mode of transportation vying for the scarce real estate seems destined for problems. Walking is community and built-in exercise, but human nature will usually pick the easier way to get around. Those who do walk also face the prospect of people moving much faster than them sharing the same or nearby space.

Finding a balance for e-scooters in the city will be a challenge.
The unconscionable gap between CEOs and workers, Wells, Jan. 8

Its interesting that Jennifer Wells thinks an American firebrands ideas to fight for workers, consumers, the middle class and the disaffected should work in Canada, when the majority of American voters rejected them in November.

When the government of Canada tried this year to reform tax rules, business cried foul. Many of the companies whose CEOs make exorbitant salaries and bonuses in Canada have head offices in the U.S. Does Wells not think that if big changes are made here they would just pack up and head south, since this has happened for decades.

With the turmoil in Washington under President Donald Trump, the American example is not one I want imported. Unfortunately, it looks like Ontario will be a wasteland for workers and the disaffected.

The Justin Trudeau Liberals are the first party in a long to help the middle class, it needs to do more. I look forward to seeing what the federal government will do to help all of us become better off.

Ill save my fire branding until the election campaign.

Janice Isopp, Toronto

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WASHINGTONThe U.S. military says it has started pulling equipment, but not troops, out of Syria as a first step in meeting U.S. President Donald Trumps demand for a complete military withdrawal.

The announcement is fuelling concern about how quickly the U.S. will abandon its Kurdish allies, amid contradictory statements recently by Trump administration officials on an exit timetable.

The withdrawal began with shipments of military equipment, U.S. defence officials said. But in coming weeks, the contingent of about 2,000 troops is expected to depart even as the White House says it will keep pressure on the Daesh group. Once the troops are gone, the U.S. will have ended three years of organizing, arming, advising and providing air cover for Syrian, Kurdish and Arab fighters in an open-ended campaign devised by the Obama administration to deal Daesh a lasting defeat.

The fact that a couple thousand uniformed personnel in Syria will be withdrawing is a tactical change. It doesnt materially alter our capacity to continue to perform the military actions that we need to perform, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Saturday in the United Arab Emirates.

Uncertainty over the timing and terms of the Syria pullout have raised questions about the Trump administrations broader strategy for fighting Islamic extremism, including Trumps stated intention to reduce U.S. forces in Afghanistan this summer.

U.S. airstrikes against Daesh in Syria began in September 2014, and ground troops moved in the following year in small numbers.

Read More:

The Latest: US withdrawal from Syria so far limited to cargo

A timeline of the US involvement in Syrias conflict

While Trumps decision to withdraw from Syria stalls, U.S official says process has already begun

The U.S. military has a limited network of bases inside Syria. Troops work mostly out of small camps in remote parts of the countrys northeast. Also, U.S. troops are among 200 to 300 coalition troops at a garrison in southern Syria known as al-Tanf, where they train and accompany local Syrian opposition forces on patrols to counter Daesh. Al-Tanf is on a vital road linking Iranian-backed forces from Tehran all the way to southern Lebanon  and Israels doorstep.

Trumps decision to leave Syria, which he initially said would be rapid but later slowed down, shocked U.S. allies and angered the Kurds in Syria, who are vulnerable to attack by Turkey. It also prompted the resignation of Defence Secretary Jim Mattis and drew criticism in Congress. Sen. Jack Reed, a Rhode Island Democrat, called the decision a betrayal of our Kurdish partners.

The U.S. military command in Baghdad, which is managing the counter-Daesh campaign in Iraq and Syria, said Friday that it has begun the process of our deliberate withdrawal from Syria, adding that, for security reasons, it would not reveal timetables, locations or troop movements. In Washington, a Pentagon spokesman, Navy Cdr. Sean Robertson, said in a statement, We will confirm that there has been no redeployment of military personnel from Syria to date.

The withdrawal plan, whose details are classified, includes bringing hundreds of additional troops into Syria temporarily to facilitate the pullout. These include troops to provide extra security for those who are preparing to leave. The full withdrawal is expected to take several months.

The USS Kearsarge amphibious assault ship is now in the region and could provide troops and equipment to support the withdrawal.

U.S. troops are still working with a partner known as the Syrian Democratic Forces to stamp out the last Daesh holdouts in the Middle Euphrates River Valley near the Iraqi border. Trump has asserted that the Daesh group in Syria is defeated, but others have said a continued U.S. military presence is necessary to prevent a resurgence of the group. Two weeks before Trump announced he was ordering a pullout, Gen. Joseph Dunford, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said the U.S. still had a long way to go in training local Syrian forces to stabilize areas ridden of Daesh. He said it would take 35,000 to 40,000 local forces in northeastern Syria to maintain security, but only about 20 per cent had been trained.

Another complication is the fate of hundreds of foreign Daesh fighters being held in Syria. The U.S. doesnt want these prisoners to be released once U.S. forces are gone, since they could rejoin the militant cause in Syria or elsewhere.

There has been confusion over plans to implement Trumps pullout order amid threats from Turkey to attack the Kurdish fighters, who are seen by Ankara as terrorists because of their ties to insurgents within Turkey.

On a visit to Turkish troops stationed near the Syrian border Friday, Turkeys defence minister, Hulusi Akar, reiterated that Ankara is determined to fight Kurdish militias it considers terrorists and said military preparations were ongoing.

When the time and place comes, the terrorists here will also be buried in the ditches and trenches they have dug, he said.

Earlier this week, Trumps national security adviser, John Bolton, said American troops will not leave northeastern Syria until Daesh is defeated and American-allied Kurdish fighters are protected, signalling a slowdown in Trumps initial order for a rapid withdrawal.

In Cairo on Thursday, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said that although Trump has decided to bring troops home, he will keep up the fight against Daesh more broadly.

Let me be clear: America will not retreat until the terror fight is over, Pompeo said.

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The distinctive feature of the U.S. military campaign in Syria is its partnership with the Kurds and Arabs who were willing to act as American proxies by fighting Daesh without U.S. troops having to take the lead combat role. U.S. forces took a similar approach in neighbouring Iraq, starting in 2014, but in that case, they had a willing partner in the Iraqi government, whereas in Syria, the U.S. is present without the blessing of President Bashar Assad.

Syria also is complicated by the presence of Russian troops who are, in effect, propping up the Assad government, and by Iranian support for Assad. American and Russian warplanes have shared the skies over Syria, carrying out separate and in some cases, conflicting  missions against Daesh and other targets.

The U.S. has about 5,200 troops in Iraq to assist its security forces, and Trump has given no indication he intends to withdraw them any time soon. He has, however, asserted that the U.S. must bring an end to the Mideast wars that began after the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks. He has questioned the wisdom of continuing the 17-year war in Afghanistan and recently demanded that about half of the 14,000 U.S. troops there be sent home.

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WASHINGTONSouth Korea is resisting a Trump administration demand for sharply higher payments to defray the cost of basing U.S. forces on its territory, raising fears that U.S. President Donald Trump might threaten a troop drawdown at a time of sensitive diplomacy on the Korean Peninsula.

U.S. negotiators have sought a 50 per cent increase in Seouls annual payment, which last year was about $830 million (U.S.), or about half of the estimated cost of hosting 28,500 U.S. troops, according to two U.S. officials familiar with the discussions.

The U.S. stance reflects Trumps view that U.S. allies have taken advantage of American military protection for decades a view resented by many South Korean officials, who say they already pay more to the U.S. than almost any other American ally except Japan.

Talks that began last March on a five-year funding agreement were suspended after negotiators did not agree on a new by the end of 2018, when the last agreement expired.

South Korea, which initially called for adjusting annual payments only to account for inflation, is expected to make a counter-offer this month, but it is unlikely to satisfy the White House, U.S. officials said.

The Koreans want to keep the status quo, said one U.S. official who discussed the deliberations on the condition of anonymity. But the president had made clear, not just to Korea but to other allies, that the status quo wont do.

Read more:

FBI opened inquiry into whether Trump was secretly working on behalf of Russia

Congress breaks for weekend, all but ensuring longest government shutdown in U.S. history

Trump lies his way through a visit to the border with Mexico as he escalates his emergency threat

The standoff is straining the long-standing alliance as Trump plans a second summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un to renew the U.S. push for elimination of Pyongyangs nuclear arsenal, and South Korean President Moon Jae-in is pursuing his own rapprochement with Kim.

South Korea in anxious about a potential withdrawal of U.S. troops if an agreement cant be reached, and umbrage over hardest bargaining from its closest ally since the Korean War, which ended 66 years ago.

If it was reasonable, wed go along, said Song Young-gil, a member of the National Assembly. But the Trumpian way of ... accusing us of free riding we cant cave to that. ... Whether its Korean money or American money, its taxpayer funds.

Song, who belongs to the same party as Moon and supports engagement with North Korea, said he believed that threats to remove U.S. troops are a negotiating tactic and would not happen given Americas broader strategic interests in northeast Asia.

Bruce Klingner, a former CIA analyst on Asia at the Heritage Foundation, a Washington think tank, called the dispute worrisome.

President Trump could again threaten to reduce troops, either as a negotiating tactic or to fulfil his campaign promise that Seoul has to pay 100 per cent of U.S. troop costs or he would remove them, Klingner said. Conversely, President Moon could insist he wont pay any higher reimbursement costs even if it means ... fewer U.S. forces. Either scenario could lead to a premature reduction of U.S. forces in South Korea, he said.

Trumps ability to withdraw troops is limited, however. Congress last year passed a law barring the Pentagon from reducing troop levels in Korea below 22,000 unless the president certifies to Congress that doing so is in U.S. national security interest.

Negotiators are considering various ideas to break the impasse, including having South Korea pay a portion of the U.S. cost of joint military training exercises, or to help defray costs of deploying U.S. bombers, warships, missile defence batteries and other military assets when tensions with North Korea are high, according to one of the U.S. officials.

A commitment by Seoul to pick up some of those costs could help Trump claim that he succeeded in forcing a key ally to pay more for the cost of U.S. military protection.

But major U.S.-South Korean military drills have been suspended since June, when Trump stopped them after his first summit with Kim in Singapore. In addition, the cost of such exercises is tiny compared with what South Korea pays every year for hosting U.S. troops.

The last funding agreement, signed in 2014, increased Seouls contribution to more than $830 million a year. Thats about half the annual cost of keeping 28,500 U.S. troops in South Korea, not counting salaries and other personnel costs the Defense Department pays no matter where the troops are posted.

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The money doesnt go to Washington, however. Its used to pay salaries of Koreans working on U.S. bases in South Korea, or is in the form of noncash contributions of services and construction at U.S. installations there.

South Korea also is funding more than 90 per cent of a $10.8 billion construction project that will allow U.S. troops to move from bases near Seoul and the Demilitarized Zone along the border with North Korea to new installations farther south.

Song, the South Korean legislator, said that such favourable terms ensured that Trump would not pull out in the end.

The U.S. will never give up a base theyre keeping under these great terms, he said. They wont be able to give it up.

Song said he viewed the haggling over cost-sharing as a practical matter that wouldnt influence the U.S.-South Korean alliance.

Many conservatives in South Korea, though, worry that the stalled talks are signs of a fraying relationship.

Park Hwee-rhak, a Kookmin University professor who has researched military cost-sharing agreements, said the dispute was threatening the foundation of the alliance.

He said South Korea could easily pay the increase given that its defence budget tops $42 billion this year.

Park said he believed that Trump was seriously considering removing the U.S. troops in Korea while Moon was forced to cater to a political base that includes student activists who have historically opposed U.S. military presence in Korea.

In a news conference this week, Moon said he believed that Kim Jong Un understood that the presence of U.S. troops on the Korean Peninsula was not directly tied to whether North Korea gives up its nuclear arsenal.

U.S. troops in Korea, or strategic assets the U.S. has in Guam or Japan, ... dont exist only in relation to North Korea but for the overall security and peace of Northeast Asia, Moon said. My perspective is that there isnt a high possibility they will be used as a condition in the denuclearization talks between the U.S. and North Korea.

Mike Bosack, a U.S. air force captain who worked on cost-sharing negotiations with Japan from 2014 to 2016, said the Trump administration was jeopardizing its alliance with South Korea.

Bosack said the brinkmanship would benefit North Korea by potentially making the U.S. military less popular in South Korea and driving a wedge between Washington and Seoul.

If the two allies are not in lockstep, they could undermine each other or rush into agreements with the Kim regime that have negative long term outcomes, he wrote in an email. North Korea would be foolish not to exploit this seam.

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HELSINKIA mining company truck has crashed into a minibus in northern Sweden, and Swedish media are reporting that six people have died and one person is injured in the crash.

The Swedish mining company Kaunis Iron said one of its trucks crashed head-on with another vehicle north of the village of Masugnsbyn, in the Kiruna municipality close to the border with Finland just before 2 a.m. Saturday.

The company said the lorrys driver escaped unharmed from the crash. Swedish newspaper Aftonbladet said the crash left six of the seven passengers dead in the minibus, which was carrying foreigners. One person was dispatched to a hospital by helicopter.

Swedish police confirmed the accident but did not provide details on the casualties. The Norwegian news agency NTB said the victims were not from neighbouring Nordic countries.
PARISThousands of yellow vest protesters marched Saturday through Paris and other French cities for a ninth straight weekend to denounce President Emmanuel Macrons economic policies, and repeated tensions broke out with police.

Sporadic violence broke out during protests in Paris, Bourges, Bordeaux, Rouen, Marseille and Toulouse.

Protesters walked peacefully through central Paris from the Finance Ministry in the east of the French capital to the Arc de Triomphe in the west.

Scuffles between police and activists then broke out near the monument at the end of the march. Police used tear gas, water cannon and flash-balls to push back some people throwing rocks and other objects at them.

French security forces equipped with armoured vehicles blocked protesters from going onto nearby Champs-Elysees Avenue. The neighbourhood was reopened to car traffic later Saturday evening.

The Interior Ministry said more than 100 people had been arrested in Paris and other French cities, including 82 who were kept in police custody, primarily for carrying potential weapons or taking part in violence.

Read More:

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2019s first yellow vest event brings tear gas, fires to Paris

The movement demanding wider changes to Frances economy to help struggling workers appeared to gain new momentum this weekend. The French Interior Ministry said about 32,000 people turned out for yellow vest demonstrations across France at midday.

Several thousand protesters marched in the central city of Bourges, a provincial capital with a renowned Gothic cathedral and picturesque wood-framed houses.

French authorities deployed 80,000 security forces nationwide for the anti-government protests and Interior Minister Christophe Castaner threatened tough retaliation against any who rioted.

Paris police deployed armoured vehicles, horses and attack dogs around the city on Saturday. Subway stations and some shops closed, notably around government buildings and the Champs-Elysees, the sparkling avenue whose luxury boutiques have been hit by repeated rioting in past protests.

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The movement for greater economic equality waned over the holidays but appears to be resurging, despite Macrons promises of billions of euros in tax relief and an upcoming national debate to address demonstrators concerns that Macron is expected to launch with a letter to the French on Monday.

The protests started in November with drivers who opposed fuel tax increases, which is why participants wear the fluorescent vests that French motorists must keep in their vehicles. But it has mushroomed into a broad-based revolt against years of shrinking purchasing power and Macrons pro-business policies.

Some yellow vest groups hope to translate that anger into votes in the European Parliament elections in May.

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WASHINGTONIn the days after U.S. President Donald Trump fired James Comey as FBI director, law enforcement officials became so concerned by the presidents behaviour that they began investigating whether he had been working on behalf of Russia against American interests, according to former law enforcement officials and others familiar with the investigation.

Counter-intelligence investigators had to consider whether the presidents own actions constituted a possible threat to national security. Agents also sought to determine whether Trump was knowingly working for Russia or had unwittingly fallen under Moscows influence.

The investigation the FBI opened into Trump also had a criminal aspect, which has long been publicly known: whether his firing of Comey constituted obstruction of justice.

Agents and senior FBI officials had grown suspicious of Trumps ties to Russia during the 2016 campaign but held off on opening an investigation into him, the people said, in part because they were uncertain how to proceed with an inquiry of such sensitivity and magnitude. But the presidents activities before and after Comeys firing in May 2017, particularly two instances in which Trump tied the Comey dismissal to the Russia investigation, helped prompt the counter-intelligence aspect of the inquiry, the people said.

Special counsel Robert Mueller took over the inquiry into Trump when he was appointed, days after FBI officials opened it. That inquiry is part of Muellers broader examination of how Russian operatives interfered in the 2016 election and whether any Trump associates conspired with them. It is unclear whether Mueller is still pursuing the counter-intelligence matter, and some former law enforcement officials outside the investigation have questioned whether agents overstepped in opening it.

The criminal and counter-intelligence elements were coupled together into one investigation, former law enforcement officials said in interviews in recent weeks, because if Trump had ousted the head of the FBI to impede or even end the Russia investigation, that was both a possible crime and a national security concern. The FBIs counter-intelligence division handles national security matters.

No evidence has emerged publicly that Trump was secretly in contact with or took direction from Russian government officials. An FBI spokesperson and a spokesperson for the special counsels office both declined to comment.

Read more:

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A missing man with dementia has been located and will be returning home Saturday night, Toronto police say.

Alber Marbena, 74, from Brampton, was last seen in the area of Humberline Dr. and Finch Ave. W. at around 9:30 p.m. on Thursday.

After Toronto police and Peel Regional police informed the public of the search, a resident in the area of Kipling Ave. and Westhumber Blvd. spotted him on home security footage at around 3 p.m. on Friday.

Marbena was found on a bus by a resident he knew in the Jane and Finch area. Police say the resident saw the 74-year-old on the news and called police.

Both Toronto police and Peel Regional police called a level-three search, the highest level of importance. This status enables police to use any of their resources, including mounted units, K9s and drone aircraft in the area.

Marbena will be checked by emergency crew officials and will be going home shortly after, police say.

Marjan Asadullah is a breaking news reporter, working out of the Stars radio room in Toronto. Follow her on Twitter: @marjanasadullah

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A male victim in his 20s is suffering from serious injuries after a shooting downtown Friday night, Toronto police say.

Police received a call at around 9 p.m. near Bathurst St. and Fort York Blvd. for reports of shots fired, said Toronto police spokesperson Const. Steve Hammond.

Once police were on the scene they found a male victim suffering from gunshot wounds, Hammond said.

Paramedics said the victim has been transported to a trauma centre to be treated for his possibly life-threatening injuries.

Hammond said there will be a heavy police presence in the area as police investigate. There is no information on any possible suspects yet.
Her whirlwind first day in Canada began in front of dozens of photographers and reporters at Pearson airport, as she was escorted by one of the countrys top officials.

But after that high-profile welcome, Saudi teenager Rahaf Mohammed Alqunun now faces the challenges encountered by any refugee: finding warm clothes, looking for a place to live, obtaining ID and a bank account. Alqunun must also adjust to a society far different from the one she fled.

We believe very strongly that womens rights are human rights, said Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland after welcoming a smiling Alqunun, who made a brief appearance before media on Saturday, wearing a grey Canada hoodie, following her flight to Toronto.

The oppression of women is not a problem that can be resolved in a day. But rather than cursing the darkness, we really believe  I believe  in lighting a single candle, Freeland said. And where we can save a single person, where we can save a single woman, thats a good thing to do.

The 18-year-old Alqunun attracted international attention last week after sharing on Twitter how she escaped her allegedly abusive family by fleeing to Bangkok during a visit to Kuwait. When Thai officials confiscated her passport, Alqunun barricaded herself in an airport hotel room with a table and a mattress and launched her social media appeal for help.

Canadian diplomats in the Thai capital were seized with her plight, and though Alqunun originally said she wanted to reach Australia, it soon became clear that Canada represented her quickest path to freedom.

Read more:

Canada grants asylum to Saudi woman who escaped to Thailand

Australia praises Thai action on Saudi woman seeking asylum

Editorial | Canada should welcome Rahaf Mohammed Alqunun

Alqunun, who comes from Hail in northwestern Saudi Arabia, had said she feared she might be killed if forced to return to her family.

Im rahaf mohmed, formally seeking a refugee status to any country that would protect me from getting harmed or killed due to leaving my religion and torture from my family (sic), reads a posting on Alqununs Twitter account from Jan. 6.

Alqununs brother and father, who denied any allegations of abuse, had travelled to Thailand to take her back to Saudi Arabia. The head of Thailands immigration bureau, Surachate Hakparn, said Alqunun refused to meet family members and that the two men were to return to Saudi Arabia early Saturday.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced during a press conference in Regina on Friday that the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) had asked Canada to take Alqunun as a refugee, and Canada agreed.

That is something that we are pleased to do because Canada is a country that understands how important it is to stand up for human rights, to stand up for womens rights around the world, Trudeau said.

Lauren La Rose, a spokesperson for UNHCR Canada, said the agency took notice of Alqununs social media campaign and sent representatives to Thailand to assist the teenager in finding a country to take her in. She said the UNHCR considered Alqununs case to be an emergency because her life was in danger.

Ultimately it boiled down to an issue of timing in the end, said La Rose. Canada was able to guarantee and certify that they could handle this quite swiftly, and thats why Rahaf was brought to Canada.

In her remarks to the media at Pearson airport, where Alqunun arrived Saturday morning on a flight from Seoul, South Korea, Freeland thanked Canadas diplomats, in particular the embassy in Thailand.

Calling Alqunun a very brave new Canadian, Freeland said the teenager was tired after her ordeal and would not be speaking to media, but did say it was Alqununs decision to make an appearance before the cameras.

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She wanted Canadians to see that shes here, that shes well and that shes very happy to be in her new home, although she did comment to me about the cold. I told her it does get warmer, the foreign affairs minister said.

The cold weather (Torontos temperature hovered around -7 C Saturday morning) prompted a shopping trip for warm clothes for the teenager, who will be staying in temporary lodgings before more permanent housing can be found for her, said Mario Calla, executive director of COSTI Immigrant Services, an agency working with Alqunun.

He said Alqunun was anxious Saturday afternoon to meet friends in Toronto that she had made through social media.

Calla said her current living arrangements and whereabouts are being kept confidential, although Alqunun is not considered to be in danger.

There is concern, Calla told the Star on Saturday, noting his organization has not received any threats. We have advised her about being careful not to disclose her location and things like that  Im saying its just a question of caution more than anything else.

With files from The Canadian Press

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BATHURST, N.B.Police in Bathurst, N.B., say a male is in custody after a shot was fired at a local bar early Saturday morning.

The Bathurst Police Force say they responded to a complaint of a gunshot at Toms Karaoke Bar around 1:30 a.m.

Officers arrived and arrested a lone male suspect.

Police say no injuries were reported.

The investigation is ongoing, and police say the male is being held to appear in court at a later date, and criminal charges are anticipated.

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Migrant workers abused on the job will soon be able to break free from the restrictive work permits that tie their status in Canada to the very employers doling out the abuse.

Ottawa has announced it is planning to allow migrant workers, with proven allegations of mistreatment, to find employment elsewhere in Canada without fear of being penalized or sent home.

With an open work permit, the worker would be able to look for new work immediately and escape the situation they had been facing, immigration department spokesperson Peter Liang told the Star in an email.

These proposed regulations, if adopted, are expected to reduce the likelihood that migrant workers would choose to endure mistreatment or abuse, and encourage employers to treat workers with respect.

Of the 302,500 temporary foreign workers employed in Canada in 2017, according to the immigration department, about half, or 153,460, were on employer-specific work permits, issued primarily to caregivers and labourers in agriculture.

Advocates for migrant workers have long complained restricted work permits expose workers to employers abuse and exploitation, because workers fear that if they complain, they will lose their job, and, without an open permit allowing them to find work elsewhere, they must return to their home country.

Read more:

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Migrant caravan in Tijuana hunkers down for the long haul

Currently, immigration officers do not have the power to issue new work permits to migrant workers in abusive circumstances and a complaint will trigger only an inspection of the employer.

Under the new plan, immigration officers will be allowed to issue open work permits to temporary foreign workers who can prove abuse. The proposal also exempts these workers the $155-processing fee for the new permit. Officers would determine when each new permit would expire, at which point, a worker would then have to secure a new restricted permit or leave the country.

Officials expect to receive around 500 open work permit applications each year from abused workers.

However, the proposed reforms dont address the root cause of migrant workers vulnerability, which is their lack of job mobility, say some critics who urge Ottawa to offer open permits to all temporary foreign workers.

Under the proposed changes, critics say, the chances of obtaining an open permit would hinge on the whims of one immigration officer, and such uncertainty might dissuade abused workers from coming forward.

This is not going to make a difference to most of the workers facing exploitation and rights violations, says University of Windsor professor Vasanthi Venkatesh, who specializes in labour, immigration and citizenship laws, and chairs IAVGO, a workers compensation legal clinic.

Immigration officers are not trained to adjudicate violations of labour law and human rights in the context of migrant workers and are ignorant of precarious work and realities on the ground. Theres no appeal process, (and so this is) giving undue power to a single officer.

Syed Hussan of the Migrant Workers Alliance said that while the proposed changes are a step in the right direction, they need strengthening.

It is deeply concerning that the regulations do not define abuse and risk of abuse. This is dangerous, because it leaves it up to the discretion of the person deciding the application. It could be defined very narrowly, he said.

It is concerning that the open work permit would not be renewable. If it expires, the worker would need to get a new permit. Employers are known to blacklist workers that speak out... Speaking out, and then getting a non-renewable permit therefore has a significant economic impact for workers who are already in debt to come work in Canada.

Hussan said the plan must include a multilingual and comprehensive communication strategy to educate workers about access to the open permits, and offer relief for abused workers within 48 hours of a complaint because of the risk that an employer might quickly and forceably send them on a plane home.

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Immigration officials said there is a low risk that migrant workers would fake a claim against employers in exchange for an open work permit because breaking an employment would still come at a cost financially and socially, and, if caught lying, a worker would be stripped of legal status in Canada.

Since 2017, 91 employers have been found non-compliant with the foreign worker program and slapped with a fine and/or banned from hiring these workers. The department said in most cases, the transgressions were over payroll.

The new regulation is expected to take effect later this year, pending any further amendments following a 30-day public consultation that ends Tuesday.
Sibelius Symphony 2

Toronto Symphony Orchestra with violinist Leila Josefowicz. Ludovic Morlot, conductor. Repeats Jan. 12 at Roy Thomson Hall and Jan. 13 at George Weston Recital Hall. tso.ca or 416-593-1285

The Toronto Symphony Orchestra presented a strong program spanning the first three decades of European music on Thursday night. It was good for feeding and feeling the tug of war between tradition and experimentation. But it fell short of that potential in its execution.

The most significant disappointment was the opening, which did little to set a fine mood. The program began with the Suite From The Threepenny Opera by German composer Kurt Weill. The jaunty selection of tunes from the Weimar-era musical stage hit gives the orchestras wind players a chance to shine. And how often do we get to hear a banjo on a symphony stage?

But instead of serving the music and the audience by placing the TSO wind players at the front of the stage, conductor Ludovic Morlot stood on a podium surrounded by the empty chairs of the string players. The brass and woodwinds had been abandoned at the back of the stage, where they usually sit.

I can appreciate the logistical challenge of moving chairs and stands around well before intermission. But if you are going to showcase a section of the orchestra while the others sit in the green room, leaving a visual vacuum makes very little sense.

The interpretation of Weills acerbic music itself lacked verve. The sound of the physically scattered players did not always cohere.

Morlot, who is the music director of the Seattle Symphony, was joined by Mississauga-born, U.S.-based violinist Leila Josefowicz when the full orchestra arrived onstage. Since making her stage debut as a teenager, she has grown as a powerful, charismatic performer. She certainly was on fire in Igor Stravinskys D Major Violin Concerto.

As we can expect from Stravinsky, its pretty spiky music. But unlike most violin concertos, where the soloist gets the full spotlight, this piece has the violinist engaging in a sort of dialogue with the orchestra over four movements.

Josefowicz was an electric presence, doing things with her bow that might put many other virtuosi to shame. But Morlot was a meek collaborator and the orchestra did not rise to the soloists razor-sharp interpretation. The result felt lopsided and uneven.

The featured piece of the evening was the Symphony No. 2 by Jean Sibelius, a dramatic, sweeping appeal to early 20th-century Finnish nationalism. It is a classical, four-movement symphony in form but realized in a starker musical esthetic that gives the woodwinds and brass more weight to carry.

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As usual, the TSOs winds did not disappoint. The strings, which acquired a full, lush sound under Peter Oundjians musical leadership, were in great form as well.

Sibeliuss Second is one of those masterpieces that has a momentum of its own. But remembering the magnificent work conductor Thomas Dausgaard has done with this piece in Toronto made Morlots workmanlike take sound as pale as a snowbird getting on a post-Christmas flight to sunnier climes.

This particular program offers interesting juxtapositions of style and content that complement each other. I suspect that the place to better appreciate it might be the more intimate George Weston Recital Hall on Sunday, which will give the TSOs sound a stronger presence.
Across three floors of Manhattans Javits convention centre, about 37,000 retail-industry professionals will come together this weekend to revolutionize the shopping experience with virtual reality, artificial intelligence and facial recognition.

But after this weeks series of lackluster holiday sales reports, retailers might want to ditch the VR goggles and focus instead on the stark reality that many arent even getting the basics right. A selloff in retail stocks Thursday showed just how much pressure companies are under to compete in a digital world, and how little margin for error they have.

At Macys Inc., Black Friday went well, but changes to a holiday promotion backfired and the stream of shoppers coming in the doors dwindled during December. Fellow department store J.C. Penney Co. admitted that it still has too many under-performing locations and pledged to close more. Bed Bath & Beyond Inc.s new app-based membership program, which offers discounts and free shipping, dragged down margins, while its stores remain crammed full of products that are mostly obtainable elsewhere  such as on Amazon.com.

This is Retail 101, Neil Saunders, an analyst at GlobalData Retail, said. You have to get the foundations right before you do the fancy things. It drives me mad.

Fancy things were all the rage among retailers this week: Supermarket chain Kroger Co. and Microsoft Corp. unveiled a partnership to build futuristic stores with digital shelves and data-gathering sensors, all powered by the software companys cloud network, while Walmart Inc. added another autonomous car company to its roster of driverless delivery vendors.

Many more announcements will follow over the weekend and into next week at the National Retail Federations so-called Big Show, the industrys largest conference, where attendees will test-drive the latest tech and watch solutions come alive, according to the shows website. Attendees can hear presentations on the artificial intelligence revolution or find out why is there a robot in my store?

Big Investments

Its not just talk: Retailers are investing billions on new technologies like mobile apps and automated warehouses, acquiring Silicon Valley startups to gain tech-savvy talent and partnering with companies like Microsoft and Google to hone their digital chops.

This is also spooking investors, however. Retailers stocks have fallen as spending to create mobile apps and improve e-commerce increasingly eats into profit margins that are already being pressured by rising labour and transportation costs.

According to researcher Gartner Inc., worldwide retail technology spending will increase 3.6 per cent to more than $200 billion (U.S.) in 2019. One survey of 115 retail professionals found that new technology was the most likely area to get a budget increase last year.

We want to invest smartly, Jeremy King, Walmarts Chief Technology Officer, said in an interview with Bloomberg Television on Friday. Weve always had a good balance between profitability and investment. Its not a blank check.

Retailers have always been entranced by finding new ways to improve the ancient art of hawking goods to shoppers. Fifteen years ago, the industry went gaga over radio-frequency identification, or RFID. The tiny wireless tags aimed to create a retail world where shelves were always full, shoplifting was eradicated and supply chains hummed smoothly. But RFID deployments were costly and benefits slow to emerge, so retailers focused instead on using it only for high-value items, like luxury goods.

To be sure, some retail tech is paying off and improving performance. Targets investments in supply-chain software and analytics allowed shoppers to order last-minute gifts on Christmas Eve and pick them up in stores. Walmarts redesigned website helped boost online sales revenue by 86 per cent in December compared with a year earlier, according to researcher Edison Trends.

In those cases, the technology made a clear difference for consumers. Too often, though, it doesnt. Costco Wholesale Corp. has outperformed its retail peers for decades by sticking with the basics  selling stuff customers want, and even stuff they didnt know they wanted, at low prices. And forget digital shelves: Most of Costcos price tags come from an HP printer in the back room. It hasnt hurt Costco any, as December sales beat estimates once again thanks to new items like Apple laptops.

Creepy

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Sometimes, technology can even be detrimental: A survey by RichRelevance shows that seven out of 10 shoppers say the use of artificial intelligence to choose and order products on their behalf is creepy. Only 14 per cent found it cool. Also, a majority of shoppers prefer human cashiers to self-checkout kiosks, according to analysis provider eMarketer.

Its not using technology for technologys sake, Walmarts King said. Its about turning that into something that customers will love.

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This time its political, say angry condo buyers, who are warning Vaughan politicians against approving another development application from the company that cancelled the Icona condos in September.

Gupta Group, which cited financial reasons for Iconas cancellation, has applied to build a nearly identical development at the same site at Highway 7 and Edgeley Blvd. near Vaughan Metropolitan Centre. But Icona buyers say a restrictive covenant prevents the developer from building residential units on the site  a restriction they say still exists.

How can the city even entertain a variance or application of any kind to resurrect this project when it hasnt been resolved with us and the covenant is still there, said Patricia DeBartolo, a spokesperson for a group of hundreds of Icona buyers, who have hired a lawyer to seek a legal avenue to sue the developer.

The new project is in addition to another development application Gupta filed in August just ahead of the Icona cancellation for three towers at Yonge St. and Steeles Ave.

The Icona buyers signed purchase agreements in early 2017. When the development was cancelled more than a year later it was a major setback on the regions high-priced property ladder, say the purchasers.

On Thursday evening, they told the Vaughan committee of adjustment that a legal issue they believe led to the Icona cancellation still exists.

The city says that was the first time its committee became aware of the restrictive covenant on the property that prohibits the owner from developing homes on the site. The committee put the matter over until Jan. 24 pending legal advice.

The restrictive covenant dates back to Guptas purchase of the land in 2005. The legal condition prohibits Gupta, which bought the property under its Icona Hospitality Group, from building anything other than a hotel and banquet facilities there. It also gives the numbered company that sold the land the right to approve any development on the site.

Last March, more than a year after the Icona towers went on the market, a judge upheld the covenant even though that area of Vaughan has been approved for intensification.

The city is continuing its review of the application, which remains active, an official told the Star on Friday. A Vaughan staff report calls the latest application for three condo towers, townhouses and a hotel good planning, saying it represents the type of development that is intended by the Official Plan and zoning bylaw.

Council has approved the development subject to receiving approval of the variances which are supported by city council and staff, says the report.

Gupta Group CEO Reetu Gupta, who also heads the companys Eastons Group of Hotels, did not respond to the Stars request for an interview on Friday. A media relations representative, who previously acted for the company, said she no longer works for Gupta and a lawyer representing the company at Thursdays Vaughan committee hearing also failed to respond to the Stars requests for comment Friday.

Its not just about us. We dont want another 1,600 people to fall into the same situation we were in a year from now or two years from now, said DeBartolo of the buyers group.

Carla Gravina, a purchaser in Liberty Developments cancelled Cosmos condos last year, said she and others in her group will be out to support the Icona buyers.

We need someone from the city to wake up and remember they do work for us, she said.

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In an emailed statement, Vaughan Mayor Maurizio Bevilacqua said he will continue to demand urgent action that protects people and their dreams of home ownership.

He said the province is responsible for consumer protection and the city issued a formal request in May asking that the legislation around pre-construction condos be reviewed.

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Et Tu, Tiffany & Co.?

Thats the question that appears to be on investors minds as the upscale retailer gets ready to update Wall Street on its holiday sales. Short sellers have been increasing their bets that shares will decline. In the options market, the total number of put contracts exceeds calls by a ratio of 1.4-to-1, and investors are positioned for an outsize move in the wake of the report.

Tiffany, known for its fine jewelry packaged in robins-egg blue boxes, is set to unveil its sales results for the November-December holiday period on Jan. 18. The report comes as U.S. retail stocks have already fallen under pressure after results from Macys, Kohls, Barnes & Noble and others showed the season wasnt as strong as some had expected.

Short interest in Tiffany has been building even as the stock extended its plunge to a two-year low. As of Dec. 31, 8.4 million shares, or 7.3 per cent of the total available for trading, were sold short. That has since risen to around 10 million shares, or 8.3 per cent of the float, according to data compiled by IHS Markit.

The increase in bearish sentiment has likely coincided with a decline in hedge-fund long positioning (which has prompted prime brokers to borrow all shares required for short positions), Markit analyst Samuel Pierson said by email.

Tiffanys shares are trading around 40 per cent below their record high reached six months ago. The decline was driven in large part by concern that luxury retailers are going to be particularly hard hit by Chinas economic slowdown. Tiffany gets about 40 per cent of revenue from the Asia Pacific region, including China and Japan.

Last year, the companys constant-currency comparable-store sales rose 3 per cent for the two-month holiday season. Telsey Advisory Group analyst Dana Telsey said in a research note that she expects a similar result for 2018 in the companys report on Friday.

Tiffany may also comment on its full-year outlook, which currently calls for worldwide net sales to increase by a high-single-digit percentage and net earnings in a range of $4.65 (U.S.) to $4.80 per diluted share. David Schick, an analyst at Consumer Edge Research, wrote Friday that his model suggests further softening in the Americas and Europe, while his analysis of Hong Kong travel data suggests more resilience in Asian markets is possible.

Schick said the share price may already reflect a more cautious global outlook. Telsey said Tiffanys valuation looks attractive, citing the companys brand value and real estate positioning. Both analysts have the equivalent of a buy rating on the shares.

Meanwhile, Tiffanys implied volatility is elevated heading into next weeks holiday sales report, with January trading around 55 per cent versus a three-month historical volatility of around 43 per cent. The January at-the-money straddle shows that options investors are expecting a 6.3 per cent move in the shares over the next week.
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Elisa Sand

Dakota Media Group

Hemp is no longer a controlled substance in South Dakota, but that doesnt mean farmers can rush out to plant it.

The 2018 Farm Bill doesnt include hemp as a controlled substance, North Dakota Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring said. But north of the border, farmers will still need to be licensed and pass a background check before they can grow it. And once the crop is in the ground, he said, regular testing is required to ensure tetrahydrocannabinol levels do not exceed the minimum threshold of 0.03 percent.

Tetrahydrocannabinol, commonly called THC, is the psychoactive ingredient in marijuana.

Hemp is a cousin to marijuana, the plant that has higher levels of THC and, in most states, is an illegal drug.

North Dakota has a program to license farmers interested in growing hemp. South Dakota does not.

Goehring said North Dakota also approves of the number of acres of hemp farmers can plant.

States have had the option to allow the growing of industrial hemp since the passage of the 2014 Farm Bill, although that has been restricted to research purposes only.

Hemp-related bills have been introduced in the South Dakota Legislature, but none have passed.

Dani Hanson, policy adviser for the South Dakota Department of Agriculture, said with the passage of the 2018 Farm Bill, South Dakota has two options:

 Leave the oversight to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

 Set up a program in South Dakota.

Either will need to include licensing and inspection, Hanson said. USDAs program will need to be developed through the agencys rule-making process, she said. South Dakotas program would have to meet with USDA approval.

Now, Hanson said, the state Department of Agriculture has more questions than answers. And, she said, there are no answers from USDA with the partial federal government shutdown.

But District 28A Rep. Oren Lesmeister, D-Parade, said hes confident there will be a bill before the Legislature this year.

What were doing is deciphering what we need to put in for language, he said. There will be a bill brought so we can open up hemp production.

Lesmeister said he already recognizes that the South Dakota Department of Agriculture isnt staffed to handle crop testing, which means it might be overseen by another agency. But hes encouraged by what hemp could mean for South Dakota.

Its still a huge win for the nation and the state of South Dakota, but it doesnt quite throw the door wide open, Lesmeister said.

He has championed past hemp-related bills, partially succeeding in 2017 when one was passed in the House, but was tabled when it reached the Senate.

If a bill can be passed quickly, Lesmeister said, its possible farmers could get hemp planted yet this year. It is a short-season crop, he said, best planted in June when the soil is warm.

Goehring said the new federal regulations are less invasive and, while states need to continue to track how much is grown, the crop and seed that are produced can cross state borders, which wasnt allowed under the previous regulations.

Both Lesmeister and Goehring point out hemps versatility. The seed can be crushed to make flour or other edible products, Goehring said. The oil has uses for cosmetics and cooking, he said, and the fiber can be used to not only make fabrics, but also a lighter, stronger concrete called hempcrete.

Lesmeister said theres also a fair amount of research into the protein levels of hemp seed and its use as cattle feed.

Im hoping (South Dakota State University) takes this on, Lesmeister said. I think it could be very interesting to see.

But he and Goehring caution that this is just another commodity option for farmers.

We could, at the end of the day, flood the market so bad it could kill it for a while, Lesmeister said.

Goehring said its like any other commodity  there needs to be demand.

While Lesmeister said hemp is a fairly hardy crop once its established, Goehring said there have been fields in North Dakota where it did not take hold.

It doesnt handle drought well at all, Goehring said.

Lesmeister said hemp wont germinate if its planted when the ground is too cold or too wet.

District 1 Rep. Steve McCleerey, D-Sisseton, said he knows the Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate is interested in growing and processing hemp in South Dakota.

They are looking forward to it, he said. Its a progressive industry program. To me, its almost an appetite like ethanol was a few years ago.
Bart Pfankuch

S.D. News Watch

The pending closure of ShopKo department stores may have devastating effects on six South Dakota small towns that will suffer job losses, decreased access to basic necessities and reductions in sales-tax collections that could limit municipal services.

The announcement that the retail chain will close several stores has stunned city and chamber of commerce officials in Chamberlain, Custer, Dell Rapids, Redfield, Wagner and Webster who say their economies and residents will suffer from the closures. They say shoppers will soon have to drive up to an hour each way to buy home and living products, and they worry that opportunities for future growth of their towns could be hampered.

The Wisconsin-based retail chain said in December that as part of a restructuring strategy it will close more than three dozen ShopKo stores across the Midwest. The closures in South Dakota will take place in six towns under 4,000 in population that do not have another department store. Five of the towns are geographically isolated.

Analysts say the closures are being driven by the increased ease of online shopping and the growth of mega-stores like Walmart that combine a traditional department store with a full grocery. Furthermore, some experts say the explosive growth of discounters like Dollar Tree, Dollar General and Family Dollar  all of which operate in the South Dakota towns losing their ShopKos  have squeezed mid-sized retailers that cannot compete on price.

In previous press statements, the chain that has 363 stores in 24 states said it chose locations for closure based on a review of the long-term outlook on profitability, sales trends, and potential growth. The chain announced four South Dakota closures in December and added Chamberlain and Custer to the list in early January.

A spokeswoman for the retail chain said Thursday that it will begin liquidating merchandise at its stores in Chamberlain and Custer this week in advance of closure in the next three months. The other four stores are slated to close in February.

As of yesterday, Custer and Chamberlain were announced [for closure], Michelle Hansen, a spokeswoman for ShopKo, said Thursday. They will begin liquidation tomorrow and will close on April 7.

Hansen said there are no plans at this time to close the any of the remaining 14 ShopKo stores operating in South Dakota.

Chamberlain Mayor Chad Mutziger said he heard from the local ShopKo manager that the store was performing well and also had been told recently by ShopKo corporate officials that the Chamberlain store was safe.

But this week, he and others in town were alerted that the ShopKo Hometown store on King Avenue, near the eastern exit into Chamberlain off Interstate 90, would be closing soon.

Its obviously terrible news for our community, Mutziger said. Not just the community of Chamberlain but for our whole area.

In isolated rural areas of South Dakota, the pending closure of the ShopKo stores  all of which opened within the past four years  has exposed the fragility of small-town economies. The store closures are taking both an economic and emotional toll on residents, business owners and those who work to ensure a vibrant future for their communities.

I was born and raised here and I have a passion about my community and small towns in general, said Kelsey Doom, director of economic development for Wagner Area Growth. But Im starting to wonder, How are we going to make it as a small town?

Major trickle-down effect expected

The shifting nature of retail has led to store closings and financial concerns in both urban and rural areas of the country. Sioux Falls and Rapid City have been hit by the downfall of Sears, Herbergers and K-Mart, which is about to close its last South Dakota location in Rapid City.

Consumers in larger cities are protected by the diversity and depth of remaining retail offerings. However, the closure of a single business, particularly one with a wide variety of merchandise, can cause a ripple effect through the economy of a small town.

It definitely hurts more than it would in a larger city, said Gianna Lantero, executive director of Grow Spink, an organization that pushes economic development in Spink County, of which Redfield is the county seat. Its a huge deal when you have something like this close because it affects a lot of people and other parts of the community.

In the six South Dakota towns losing a ShopKo, the closures are causing concern on several levels.

Each closure will cost about 15 to 25 people their jobs in communities where skilled labor positions are plentiful but decent-paying retail positions are hard to come by.

The towns will each lose their only major retail outlet and access to the wide variety of clothing, toys, small appliances, food and other home goods typically sold by ShopKo. Though all six communities are home to dollar stores, residents in Chamberlain, Custer Redfield, Wagner and Webster will have to drive roughly an hour and those in Dell Rapids about 20 minutes to shop at a comparable retail outlet. The lack of access to retail goods may cause a hardship for some populations, particularly lower-income and elderly residents.

People dont want to travel all the way to Aberdeen, and some just cant, said Lantero. We serve a good-sized elderly population in Redfield, and some dont drive but they knew they could shop for those goods right here in town.

Inconvenience, however, is only part of the problem.

The closures, officials say, could also inhibit future growth by limiting retail options that entice new residents and businesses that are critical to long-term economic stability in small towns. Having a large building sitting vacant at the entry point to their downtowns wont help encourage growth, either.

While overall the economy has been strong in Webster, a town of about 1,900 along U.S. 12 in Day County, losing a prominent, highly visible retail outlet is a significant setback.

With our businesses, it all adds up to a well-rounded community, which attracts people to come here for a job, to move here or for an industry to locate here because the more you have, the better off you are, said Webster Mayor Mike Grosek. It gives you an uneasy feeling, and its a big downer when a corporation comes down and just says, Thanks for everything, but see you later.

The towns losing their stores also will see the evaporation of a sizable chunk of sales tax revenue that could affect municipal operations ranging from police and fire protection to upkeep of streets and parks.

In all these small communities, we live and die on the sales tax, said Justin Weiland, city administrator of Dell Rapids in northern Minnehaha County. You strip away some of that sales tax and you strip away the ability to pay for your police department or your park system or the street projects you planned for next year.

Towns worked hard to land ShopKo stores

Officials and residents of Dell Rapids were surprised and disappointed that ShopKo had targeted the store in their community for closure.

The ShopKo opened in a flourishing business plaza about 2 1/2 years ago on the northwest side of the city, said Weiland.

Sales at the store likely were hampered by an invasive 3-year road project that tore up Highway 115 in front of the store and between Dell Rapids and Interstate 29, Weiland said.

The ShopKo closure and the road construction project highlight the fragility of small-town economies across South Dakota and the country.

It was a 3-year project that really disrupted the traffic pattern in the region, Weiland said. All of our retailers on that corridor, the entrance to Dell Rapids, said the traffic problems really affected them.

Several small businesses saw a slowdown and the city experienced a corresponding decline in sales tax collections, Weiland said.

A down year for agriculture or another major industry can also hurt a local economy. With ongoing trade wars and losses due to tariffs, heavy rains that made harvesting difficult and low commodity prices, many rural South Dakota small towns took a hit in 2018.

Local officials and business leaders fear the ShopKo closures will have a significant economic ripple effect as patrons who now must leave town for clothes and other basic goods are likely to do more shopping in larger cities nearby.

In Wagner, a reservation town of about 1,600 people in Charles Mix County, losing ShopKo is likely to entice even more people to make the hour drive to Mitchell or Yankton to shop for basic necessities and more, said Doom.

She also worries that the towns dozen or so retailers, as well as its service providers and two grocers, will lose money when shoppers leave town. Doom said some residents are connecting on social media to car pool or plan for multiple purchases when a friend or relative announces they are heading to a bigger city to shop.

Its going to be a huge trickle-down effect, said Doom, who also heads the Wagner Chamber of Commerce. When theyre at Walmart in Mitchell or Yankton, theyre going to grab all their groceries and have dinner and spend money that theyre not going to spend locally.

Mayor Grosek of Webster seems like someone who might see an upside to ShopKo closing since he runs the towns full-service grocery store, Mikes Jack and Jill. The loss of ShopKo, which sold some dry goods and frozen foods, could at first buoy some businesses in Webster, including his own.

But ultimately, the closure will hurt his store and others when people leave town to shop for home goods, Grosek said.

Its nothing for individuals to hop in a car and drive 50 miles out and back, Grosek said. They may get out of town for an outing, but more times than not theyll buy other things rather than get them here.

The towns where ShopKo is closing are also losing out on investments made to lure the stores to locate there.

In Wagner, Doom said she worked with a local landlord to get ShopKo a favorable lease on an existing building. The city also entered into a deal to give ShopKo a sales tax rebate of up to $25,000 a year for five years, which saved the company about $70,000 in sales taxes over the past three years, Doom said.

In Webster, the city and local economic development group ponied up $50,000 in incentives to upgrade the building ShopKo inhabited, and in Dell Rapids a land swap between a private landowner and the local development corporation helped that city attract a ShopKo.

One town in North Dakota was able to save its ShopKo through the power of social media.

The day after ShopKo announced the pending closure of four ShopKo stores in North Dakota, including in Stanley, N.D., local bank branch manager Jenny Pummel-Gaaskjolen began an online petition to save the store. The petition drew nearly 1,600 signatures from in and around the town of about 1,500 people located 60 miles west of Minot.

About two weeks later, after the landlord of the ShopKo store agreed to reduce the rent and the petition drew regional media attention, ShopKo reversed course and announced the Stanley store would remain open.

Expert sees closings as opportunities

Officials in the six South Dakota towns losing a ShopKo all expressed some optimism that their local economies will survive and may even thrive if something new and exciting can replace the shuttered stores.

A positive, proactive approach to planning may help that process, said Rand Wergin, an associate professor of marketing in the business school at the University of South Dakota.

Wergin specializes in understanding small-town economies with a focus on how those municipalities can attract spending by both locals and visitors.

Two keys to retail success in isolated small towns, Wergin said, are to push hard for locals to spend locally but also for businesses and development officials to create an experience and an emotional connection to their town that makes it a destination for visitors.

Wergin said Sioux Falls has used its art walk and a diverse offering of unique shops and eateries to make its downtown a destination, just as Rapid City has used its Main Street Square and presidential statues to create a place where visitors will spend both time and money.

In an isolated small town like Wagner, Wergin said the community could focus intently on its connection to hunting and fishing opportunities along the nearby Missouri River and Lake Francis Case to create a mix of retail and dining options that capitalize on and cater to that population of visitors.

Its either a threat or an opportunity for Wagner, Wergin said of the ShopKo closing. If they do nothing, they could shrivel up and die. But its a really interesting place because of its proximity to the lake and river, so they need to ask themselves, What can we do to brand that?

Wergin has created an economic index called the Small Town Retail Pull Factor, which uses state population and sales tax revenue data to determine if a town pulls in more revenue from locals and visitors than it loses to other nearby cities and towns. If everyone in a town shopped locally only, the factor would be 1.0. A town with a factor higher than 1.0 is luring more outside spending and a town with a factor below 1.0 is losing local revenue to other areas.

Wagner, for example, is losing sales to outside communities and has a factor of .91, while Webster appears to be more of a regional hub and has a positive pull factor of 1.84.

For comparison, the small town of Lake Andes loses significant local spending and has a pull factor of only .29, and similarly Dell Rapids has a pull factor of .73 because shoppers have the easy option to head into Sioux Falls, Wergin said.

As the ShopKo liquidation sales go on, economic officials in South Dakota are working feverishly to find replacement businesses to inhabit the soon-to-be-vacant buildings before they become worn.

Grosek said he and others in Webster are trying to lure a new, similar retailer to the ShopKo site to replace the merchandise, convenience and jobs that will be lost.

Were not just letting this thing close up and do nothing about it, Grosek said. Were making some calls and knocking on doors to see if theres something comparable that we can get in there.
Dan Crisler

Public Opinion Staff Writer

The recent post-Christmas storms brought plenty of snow, cleanup challenges and misconceptions in Watertown.

Appearing before the Watertown City Council during the Public Works, Finance and Safety Committee meeting Monday, Watertown Street Department Supt. Rob Beynon spent approximately 45 minutes detailing the challenges that came with cleaning up the 42-hour snowfall amounting to 12 inches just after Christmas as well as the icy precipitation that fell around New Years Day.

From Dec. 26 to Dec. 28, it was all crews could do to keep the citys three highways and numerous emergency snow routes  which are generally major roads branching off the highways  passable by plowing and re-plowing the roads. In addition to the snowfall, the highways and emergency snow routes were often compromised by blizzard winds.

As per department policy, non-emergency snow route residential streets and avenues were not plowed until after the major snow event passed through.

During a snow event when its snowing with wind, our focus is to keep the emergency snow routes open. We wont start any residentials, unless its an emergency route, until after the snow has slowed down and the winds have decreased, Beynon said.

With crews working all day during the post-Christmas blizzard, including a 14-hour day Thursday, Dec. 27 and an 18-hour day Friday, Dec. 28, the small department was quite taxed after working 58 total hours.

Although praising his crew, in addition to the departments outside contractors, for the tireless work they did, Beynon said working that many hours in a condensed period of time can be dangerous.

My concern there is when we have guys running these motor graders  and we have six of them  18 hours in a motor grader is too long, he said. Its dangerous. These motor graders weigh over 40,000 pounds. If you bump into somebody, it could be more than just a little fender bender. That does concern me when were working such long hours.

The crews efforts also received praise from Mayor Sarah Caron.

I think thats remarkably good for a storm of that magnitude, she said to Beynon. You guys completely cleared it within a day and a half after the snow stopped.

Still, Caron, Beynon and other city officials recognize its a lot to ask for Street Department crews to remain on top of the snow removal with their current level of staffing especially as Watertown continues to expand.

To that end, city officials are considering adopting a practice utilized by the City of Sioux Falls by pulling qualified employees from other city departments to assist in snow removal.

If people are demanding better service, how do we get that? You need more bodies and more equipment, Caron said to Beynon. Youre pushing your guys when theyre working 14- and 16-hour days.

To cover the cost of pulling those staffers without blowing a hole in the budget, the city may, in the future, look into adding a tax onto property owners.

In a limited pool of citizens asked informally by Caron, she said she has received unanimous approval for such a tax. Sioux Falls already imposes the tax by assessing the frontage of a property amounting to about $1.25 per foot. The tax is levied annually.

Snow gates prove challenging in use and explanation

When the Watertown Street Department purchased three snow gates at abut $7,500 each for its motor graders more than two years ago, the optimism surrounding them was high.

As the years go on, that optimism increasingly appears to have been too high.

Although designed to keep snow mostly clear of driveways while being plowed, the snow gates are only effective under certain conditions, mainly for a light, fluffy snow of up to about five inches.

The guys use them when they can. If theres a wind blown area with a couple of inches of snow, the guys might be able to use a gate there. Or if theyre crossing a very short distance  across an alley or a narrow driveway, Beynon said.

The snow gates are not designed to handle the wet, heavy snows and/or high amounts that often hit Watertown and the surrounding area, including the storm after Christmas. Those snows can either spill out over the top of the gates, and thus render the gates useless and hinder snow plow drivers, or even damage the gates.

Snow gates also create additional work for Street Department crews. Each time the snow gates are used, an additional motor grader with the snow gate attached must accompany the standard three-vehicle plowing unit that already includes a motor grader not attached with a snow gate. Beynon said using the snow gates means it takes longer to clear the roads.

The snow gate causes more issues than anything, Beynon said.

None of the citys outside contractors possess snow gates.

With each snow-blocked driveway that is cleared manually by the property owner, questions and misconceptions have remained for how the gates are deployed.

I like snow gates for low snows. People expect them to work on high snows. They do not work on high snows, Beynon said. Like in this last 12-inch event, the snow gate is pretty much worthless.

They are absolutely not the cure-all.

To help clear up continued misconceptions about the gates, Beynon hopes to shoot some videos using a GoPro camera showing exactly when and how snow gates work and dont work. Once those videos are filmed, Beynon plans to post them on the citys website at watertownsd.us.

(Snow gates have) been most of our calls from this last event. People were upset that we did not use the snow gates, Beynon said.

Having received some of those calls, council member Mike Danforth agreed with Beynon about the confusion people have expressed surrounding the snow gates.

There is a complete misunderstanding about snow gates altogether, Danforth said.

Although city officials fielded some criticism of the snow removal process, they have also fielded praise for the Street Department.

Relaying a text message from council member Beth Mantey, who wasnt at Mondays meeting but watched online, Caron told Beynon, She got more compliments on your snow removal from this event than she got complaints. Her feeling was that people recognize this was not your typical little snow storm.
Tracey Erickson

Extension Dairy Field Specialist

Think about thishow often do you say thank you throughout the day? Is it important? Absolutely!

I am reminded of the famous Wal-Mart employee, Marty, who took the time as he checked you out, taking your money, with a smile and his warm hand shake, followed by his thank you. Notoriously, he always had the longest check-out line, which I could personally attest to being in several times. Why? Simply stated, he made you feel appreciated. A lesson we all need to remember.

So how do we, as employers in agriculture, recognize and treat our employees? First, lets start by remembering that non- financial motivators are equally or even more effective than financial motivators in valuing employees. The top non-financial motivators, according to a McKinsey Quarterly survey include:

 Praise or commendation from an immediate supervisor.

 Attention from leaders.

 Giving the opportunity to lead whether it is a project or task force.

Similarly, Dr. Gerald Graham, Wichita State University found that the most-often mentioned employee incentives are free. They include a verbal personal thank you from the boss, a written thank-you or public praise. However, it is important to note that for them to be effective, it must be delivered with meaning behind it and genuine in nature.

Lets focus on the first motivator, which is giving praise or commendation. Saying thank you shows your appreciation for an employees hard work and contributions. There are many non-financial ways to say thank you to help create a positive workplace. These may include some of the following:

 Spoken words  just saying thank you any time, anyway, anyhow, for any reason.

 Written words  these may include a hand written thank you note, a letter of appreciation in an employee file, recognition on the employee bulletin board, or contributions noted in the company newsletter.

 Positive attention  employers who take the time to stop by the persons workstation to talk informally, or to provide positive performance feedback either personally or in a group setting are valued by employees.

 Encouraging personal employee development  which can be done by encouraging people to partake in personal development opportunities. These may include an employee development plan or career development plan with time committed by the employer to be able to have the employee partake in the opportunity.

 Work opportunities  give the employee the opportunity to cross train, provide input into the decision making process, represent the company at external meetings, or have the employee represent the department at internal meetings, and allow them to determine their own goals within the organization.

 Work Environment  improving the work environment through improved work conditions or equipment is always appreciated.

 Work Flexibility  giving workers flexibility in working hours or location in their job is also always appreciated.

Obviously, there are many other ways to say thank you which also involve a financial commitment by the employer and could include: bonuses, treats, gifts, drawings, and additional benefits.

Saying thank you as an employer and giving that employee the appreciation they deserve is critical in retaining valued employees.
Staff reports

Watertown Public Opinion

PIERRE  The South Dakota Chamber of Commerce & Industry announces the recent election of officers to the State Chamber Board of Directors. Serving as Chairman of the Board is Dana Dykhouse, CEO of First PREMIER Bank, Sioux Falls.

Dykhouse has served in the roles of President and Chief Executive Officer of First PREMIER Bank since March 1995. Under Danas leadership, First PREMIER Banks total assets and assets managed have grown from $250 million to more than $1.5 billion.

With over 30 years of banking experience, Dana has served in a variety of positions with other financial institutions.

In response to his election as chairman of the board, Dykhouse stated, It is an honor to be selected to provide leadership to an organization that has the foundational mission to advocate for South Dakota businesses, large and small. Workforce development, business-friendly tax and regulatory environment, as well as economic growth are all priorities I will be focusing on during my Leadership tenure. Thank You!

In addition to Dykhouses election as Chairman of the Board, Brian Sandvig, CFO, Valley Queen Cheese Factory, Inc., Milbank, joins the Executive Committee at Chairman-elect.

State Chamber President David Owen stated, The South Dakota Chamber of Commerce & Industry is proud to have a Board of Directors that is made up of proven leaders in communities across South Dakota; people who are accomplished and successful in their industries. Dana Dykhouse is a proven leader whose insights about South Dakotas economy and dedication to both higher education and the technical institutes will help the Chamber in its role as a leading advocate in the public arena.
Two suspects in Pattani school slayings killed

PATTANI: Two insurgents believed to be tied to Thursdays fatal shooting at a school in Pattani were shot dead on Saturday (Jan 12), police said, as Unicef warned of trauma for children near the scene of the lunchtime violence.

violencedeathmilitary

By Bangkok Post

Sunday 13 January 2019, 12:23AM

Security forces surround a house in Yaring district of Pattani on Saturday. Two suspected insurgents were killed and a volunteer and a girl were wounded in a subsequent shootout. Photo: Bangkok Post / Abdullah Benjakat

A volunteer ranger and an 8-year-old girl were also slightly wounded on Saturday in the exchange of gunfire during a raid on a suspected insurgent hideout in Yaring District.

Security forces surrounded a house in Tambon Talorkapor at 5am, after receiving information that some insurgents involved in Thursdays deadly shooting at Bukoh School in Yaring were hiding there.

During the raid, both sides clashed for more than five hours. Two suspected insurgents were later found shot dead inside the house. Two AK-47 assault rifles and a 9mm pistol were seized.

The dead men were identified as Abdulloh Samae, 30, wanted on eight arrest warrants; and Abdulloh Jaelong, 38, wanted on one warrant.

Abdulloh was said to have sustained injuries in an earlier clash with officers and was hiding inside the house before security forces surrounded it.

During the operation, Islamic leaders and prominent local figures were called in to persuade the two suspects to surrender. However, the two men refused and opened fire, authorities said.

The injured ranger, Tida Bua-ngam, 40, was sent to Pattani Hospital, while the girl was sent to Yaring Hospital. A military source said she had been grazed by a bullet but not seriously injured.

Authorities believed one of the dead men was involved in the school shootout on Thursday in which four defence volunteers were shot dead.

The four men killed on Thursday were all Muslims and were guarding the school when attackers riding motorcycles opened fire just before lunchtime with students mere metres away.

Pattani provincial police commander Piyawat Chalermsri told AFP on Saturday that he was confident that [the two slain men] are the same group who carried out the attack on Thursday.

Authorities have also detained one suspect and are questioning five others.

Unicef Thailand representative Thomas Davin said on Friday that one child in the Bukoh school attack was reportedly injured by debris and some who may have witnessed the attack could face long term psychological trauma.

This attack has undoubtedly put the school children, the teachers and school personnel in harms way. It has put children at grave risk of injury or death, he said.

Such violence could also affect parents willingness to send their children to school  potentially to the detriment of many childrens learning and future development.

More than 100 teachers have been killed during the 15-year-old southern insurgency that has taken an estimated 6,700 lives in total. Many teachers have been slain for their perceived collaboration with the central government, which has led to the use of armed guards at schools.

The death toll in the conflict dropped to a record low last year as the military government tightened security operations. But there has been an uptick in violence in recent weeks, as rebels show they remain able to carry out more targeted operations.

In a rare statement dated Jan 4 the main rebel group  Barisan Revolusi Nasional (BRN)  swore to keep fighting while warning people not to help or support the state.

But Thai authorities, as well as the Malaysian facilitator of peace talks, have recently expressed confidence they will make progress soon.

Former 4th Army commander Udomchai Thammasarorat said at the Foreign Correspondents Club in Thailand on Friday that he wants to find a solution to exit from the violence and he has urged the southern army commander to try and ensure public safety.

Read original story here.
Saudi teen runaway leaves for Canada

OTTAWA: Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced Friday that Canada was taking in an 18-year-old Saudi asylum seeker who fled her family and harnessed the power of Twitter to stave off deportation from Thailand.

immigrationpolitics

By AFP

Saturday 12 January 2019, 10:35AM

Rahaf Mohammed al-Qunun shakes hands with Immigration Bureau chief Pol Lt Gen Surachate Hakparn. The 18-year-old Saudi left for Canada just before midnight on Friday (Jan 11).

Rahaf Mohammed al-Qunun was already en route to Toronto late Friday night (Thailand time) when the prime minister made the surprise announcement, after officials had previously given heavy hints she was bound for Australia.

Canada has been unequivocal that well stand up for human rights and womens rights around the world, Trudeau said. When the United Nations made a request of us that we grant al-Qununs asylum, we accepted.

The move may further strain Canadian relations with the kingdom that went sideways last August over Ottawas rights criticism of Saudi Arabia, prompting Riyadh to expel the Canadian ambassador and sever all trade and investment ties in protest.

Canada had already sparked fury in Riyadh by demanding the immediate release of jailed rights campaigners, including Samar Badawi, the sister of jailed blogger Raif Badawi, whose family lives in Quebec.

Qununs attempt to flee the ultra-conservative kingdom was embraced by rights groups as a beacon of defiance against repression.

She deleted her entire contentious Twitter account hours before departure for Canada. Others reconstituted it and back-filled it with old and new messages, but the account no longer has her name or photo.

Thai Immigration Bureau authorities initially threatened to deport her after she arrived in Bangkok from Kuwait last weekend.

But armed with a smartphone and hastily opened Twitter account, she forced a U-turn from Thai immigration police who handed her into the care of the UN's refugee agency as the #SaveRahaf hashtag bounced across the world.

Qunun alleged that she was abused by her family  who deny the allegations  and rights groups also said she had renounced Islam, risking prosecution in Saudi Arabia.

Rahaf first said she was aiming for Australia where officials had suggested they would give serious consideration to her claim for asylum, which was endorsed as legitimate by the UNHCR on Wednesday.

But late Friday Thailands immigration police chief said a smiling and cheerful Rahaf was bound for Toronto and had left on a flight after 11pm, Thailand time.

She chose Canada... Canada said it will accept her, immigration chief Surachate Hakparn told reporters at Suvarnabhumi.

She is safe now and has good physical and mental health. She is happy.

Rahaf left from the same airport where her quest for asylum began less than a week ago in a swift-moving process that defied most norms.

On Friday afternoon Rahaf posted a final cryptic tweet on her profile saying I have some good news and some bad news  shortly after her account was deactivated in response to death threats she had faced, her friends said.

Rahaf received death threats and for this reason she closed her Twitter account, please save Rahaf life, tweeted supporter @nourahfa313, who has flanked Rahaf's social media campaign with her own updates on Twitter.

Rahafs swift use of Twitter saw her amass more than 100,000 followers within a week, highlighting her plight at a time when Saudi Arabias human rights record is under heavy scrutiny following the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi last year.

Her deployment of social media allowed her to avoid the fate of countless other refugees who are quietly sent back home or languish in Bangkok detention centres.

She refused to see her father who travelled to Thailand and expressed opposition to her resettlement.

Gen Surachate said her father and brother were due to return home on a flight in the early hours of Saturday.

Although her asylum case moved fast the final manoeuvres that led to her flight to Canada remain a mystery.

Australia had dropped strong hints it would accept her after the UN urged the country to do so and it remains unclear why the resettlement location changed.

On Thursday its foreign minister said Canberra was still assessing the request.

Earlier, Gen Surachate told reporters Friday that two or three countries were ready to offer her asylum.
Prayut marks Childrens Day with launch of National e-Library

BANGKOK: Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha celebrated Childrens Day today (Jan 12) with the announcement of the launch of a National e-Library so students could download textbooks and other educational materials  and access information from government agencies  free of charge.



By The Phuket News

Saturday 12 January 2019, 03:45PM

PM Prayut today also entertained youngsters at Government House, where as is tradition he even let children sit the Prime Ministers chair in the the Prime Ministers Office. Photo: NNT

PM Prayut today also entertained youngsters at Government House, where as is tradition he even let children sit the Prime Ministers chair in the the Prime Ministers Office. Photo: NNT

The National Electronic Library Project is this years National Children's Day gift, the Prime Minister said in an announcement through the public Relations Department. (See here.)

The National e-Library project was organised under the King's Science Program for Sustainable Development and developed by the Ministry of Education for the benefit of every child in the country, he added.

We invite all children, grandchildren and students to experience a new learning experience so that they can learn from anywhere, anytime, like the world is in our hands, he said.

The Prime Minister said that in the academic year 2019, the Ministry of Education will create an electronic learning form so that students can download without having to pay for the purchase of a textbook.

In addition, information from various agencies will be available in electronic form through the system that will be easy to read and searchable, he noted.

An Online Librarian Team will check the integrity of information before importing it into the system, he added.

The National e-Library will be developed to link together data from agencies from all ministries and various educational institutions so that the it becomes an e-Learning system for the development of students and teachers to comply with the Digital Thailand policy, he said.

PM Prayut today also entertained youngsters at Government House, where as is tradition he even let children sit the Prime Ministers chair in the the Prime Ministers Office.
Phuket kids honoured on Childrens Day

PHUKET: Phuket Governor Phakaphong Tavipatana at Phuket Provincial Hall this morning (Jan 12) honoured children for their efforts in being good examples of what society is striving for as part of the Childrens Day celebrations being observed around the country.

culture

By The Phuket News

Saturday 12 January 2019, 01:54PM

Activities were held at Phuket Provincial Hall this morning to celebrate national Childrens Day. Photo: PR Dept

Activities were held at Phuket Provincial Hall this morning to celebrate national Childrens Day. Photo: PR Dept

Activities were held at Phuket Provincial Hall this morning to celebrate national Childrens Day. Photo: PR Dept

Activities were held at Phuket Provincial Hall this morning to celebrate national Childrens Day. Photo: PR Dept

Certificates of achievement were handed out to 100 students at the Childrens Day activities at Phuket Provincial Hall this morning (Jan 12). Photo: PR Dept

Certificates of achievement were handed out to 100 students at the Childrens Day activities at Phuket Provincial Hall this morning (Jan 12). Photo: PR Dept

Certificates of achievement were handed out to 100 students at the Childrens Day activities at Phuket Provincial Hall this morning (Jan 12). Photo: PR Dept

Certificates of achievement were handed out to 100 students at the Childrens Day activities at Phuket Provincial Hall this morning (Jan 12). Photo: PR Dept

Certificates of achievement were handed out to 100 students at the ceremony, held under the governments slogan this years Childrens Day, Youth, Volunteer, Volunteer for National Development.

As is tradition on Childrens Day, Governor Phakaphong opened the doors at Provincial Hall so that youngsters could tour the halls of power of provincial administration.

A host of other activities are being held today as part of the national Childrens Day celebrations, with municipalities across the island hosting fun activities, games live shows and displays for the development of children  and for fun.
Man faces charges after car accident leaves girl, 15, injured

PHUKET: A man is facing reckless driving charges for an acident that saw his car slam into a street light* and leaving a 15-year-old girl unconscious and rushed to hospital in Cherng Talay on Thursday night (Jan 10).

Saturday 12 January 2019, 11:35AM

The 15-year-old girl, Waew Phawong, was rushed to hospital unconscious. Photo: Eakkapop Thongtub

The driver of the car, Mr Krittipong, 27, from Ubon Ratchathani, already faces one charge for the accident. Photo: Eakkapop Thongtub

The driver of the car, Mr Krittipong, 27, from Ubon Ratchathani, already faces one charge for the accident. Photo: Eakkapop Thongtub

Lt Suporn Muangkai of the Thalang Police was notified the accident at 9:30pm.

Police and rescue workers arrived at the scene, near Wat Thepkrasattri in Moo 4, Tambon Thepkrasattri, Thalang, to find a white Mitsubishi Attrage registered in Ubon Ratchathani still jammed against the street light* and the girl unconscious in the vehicle.

Rescue workers with the assistance of local residents recovered to the girl, Waew Phawong, from the car and sped her Thalang Hospital.

The driver of the car, named by police so far as Mr Krittipong, 27, from Ubon Ratchathani, told police that he was driving to Cherng Talay to pick up his girlfriend when the accident happened.

Another male, not yet named by police, was also in the car at the time. He suffered no serious injuries in the accident.

Mr Krittipong simply said that he lost control of the vehicle and slammed into the street light*, Lt Suporn noted.

Mr Krittipong has already been charged for causing damage to government property for the damage done to the power pole, Lt Suporn confrimed.

For that the cost is about B70,000 approximately, Lt Suporn said.

Other charges may be pending depending on further developments, he added.

Correction: Not a power pole, as initially reported.
KBank expects 10 times digital lending

BANGKOK: Kasikornbank (KBank) has set an ambitious goal of 10 times growth in digital lending this year, targeting low-income earners who are not bank customers.

economicstechnology

By Bangkok Post

Saturday 12 January 2019, 10:00AM

KBank estimates that its digital lending volume will grow by 10 times this year as low-income users come on board. Photo: Bangkok Post / Pattarapong Chatpattarasill

The bank expects its digital lending outstanding to expand aggressively to B10 billion in 2019 from B1bn last year, said president Kattiya Indaravijaya.

KBank plans to reach new borrowers through the partnership model, Ms Kattiya said.

A full array of consumer lending products, including mortgages, auto loans, credit cards and personal loans, will be available via K-Plus, KBanks mobile banking app, this year, she said.

For digital mortgages, the bank will prioritise homes priced below B3 million per unit, shifting focus from units B3mn and higher.

The self-employed and freelance buyers are the new target customers.

Take KBanks collaboration with Grab Thailand as an example. The partnership is a springboard for the bank to access taxi drivers, a new customer base, Ms Kattiya said.

With the expansion to low-income earners, a group considered a higher risk, the bank expects an increased level of payment defaults initially.

KBank hopes it can use artificial intelligence and machine learning to analyse data and learn consumer behaviour, providing more accurate lending predictions in the future, Ms Kattiya said.

The move underscored a recent remark by Patchara Samalapa, another KBank president, that the bank is shifting its customer acquisition focus to the lower-income segment, where strong demand for financial services remains.

Ms Kattiya said KBank plans to recruit 100-200 local and foreign IT staff, in accordance with its plan to adopt a wide range of digital banking services. The bank is hunting for new employees from tech bases such as Silicon Valley, Israel and China.

The banks China network is helping support IT staff recruitment, she said.

As part of the intensified headhunting for IT staff, the bank is offering new recruits living overseas job options, Ms Kattiya said. For instance, they can work overseas and engage in jobs on a case-by-case basis.

The banks technology subsidiary, Kasikorn Business Technology Group (KBTG), has a total staff of 1,200.

KBank aims to increase users of its K-Plus app to 100mn in the near future from 10mn now, developing it as a business platform and expanding to the regional market. The main tool to accomplish that goal will be partnerships, Ms Kattiya said.

The bank has 14mn customers, of which 10mn are K-Plus users.

Amid the exponential growth of mobile banking transactions, transactions at branches, ATMs and cash deposit machines have grown by 5% a year on average, Ms Kattiya said.

KBank plans to shut down fewer than 50 brick-and-mortar branches this year, she said.

Moreover, the bank wants to open additional outlets under its new touch-point model to keep pace with changing consumer lifestyles.

Read original story here.
HM The King issues special message for Childrens Day

PHUKET: His Majesty King Maha Vajiralongkorn (Rama X) has delivered a special message for National Childrens Day for the Year 2019, which is being celebrated across Thailand today (Jan 12).

culture

By The Phuket News

Saturday 12 January 2019, 08:00AM

His Majesty King Maha Vajiralongkorn (Rama X) has delivered a special message for National Childrens Day today (Jan 12). Photo: Royal Household Bureau

Childrens Day, in Thai called Wan Dek, is celebrated throughout the country on the second Saturday of January every year.

The national day, although not a public holiday, is celebrated to give children the opportunity to have fun and to create awareness about their significant role towards the development of the country. The day was set as a national day to be observed in 1955.

Every child should keep studying and behave as a good person and good discipline because these things will help each person to experience happiness and prosperity in life in the future, HM King Maha Vajiralongkorn noted in his special message.

Also to mark Childrens Day this year a special National Childrens Day Book, called Outside the Small Window, created by the Office of the Basic Education Commission (Obec), will also be published, His Majesty noted.

HM King Maha Vajiralongkorn reiterated his vision towards children, youth and education by having a policy that focuses on developing the potential of Thai people through four qualities: having a good and correct attitude; having a stable standard of living; having a vocation; and being a good citizen by observing good discipline.

His Majesty has shown his interest in education for a long time and established the Scholarship Foundation in 2009 (now called the Kings Scholarship), which every year gives poor children the chance to study all the way through to graduating with a bachelor's degree.

In addition, His Majesty continues to support all of the projects created his father, King Bhumibol Adulyadej (Rama IX) and his mother Queen Sirikit, including the projects supporting the development of education.

The things that His Majesty King Rama IX has done for 70 years are the most valuable contributions. They must be maintained and must not deteriorate. King Maha Vajiralongkorn said.

The Supreme Patriarch, His Holiness Somdet Phra Ariyavongsagatanana IX, has also issued a special Childrens Day message for today.

Children and youth are the main force that will bring the country to prosper, the Supreme Patriarch said.

Therefore, adults have to cultivate and create children and youth to be strong in virtue, and in faith, in particular faith in the right reasons to decide what should be believed or anything that should not be believed in three respects, namely:

1. Considering your wisdom to see, manifest themselves first.

2. Relying on the opinions of the wise, including parents and teachers; and the most important aspect is

3. Consider the consequences of actions that will cause you harm or punishment.

If the result is not good, the behaviour should cease. Behaviours that bring good results should be continued.

Ask all children and youth to train themselves and encourage them with faith in virtue from now on. Please keep the characteristics of the right person for your own future and all of our Thai society, he said.
Family friend, tutor, admits sex with runaway girl

BANGKOK: A 52-year-old family friend accused of taking a 14-year-old runaway Bangkok schoolgirl to Chiang Mai has confessed that he had sex with her last year, police say.

sexcrimepolice

By Bangkok Post

Sunday 13 January 2019, 12:31AM

Suspect Ronnachit Bamrungjit is escorted to the South Bangkok Criminal Court on Saturday to face charges related to his relationship with a runaway teenager. Image: Screengrab from Channel 8 TV

Ronnachit Bamrungjit, of Bangkok, appeared on Saturday (Jan 12) in the Southern Bangkok Criminal Court, which ordered him detained for the next 12 days pending further investigations in the case that has shocked the country.

Criminal suspects can be detained for a maximum of 84 days, or seven 12-day periods, before being formally indicted.

Mr Ronnachit, who is married, was caught with the girl on Thursday night in a Chiang Mai hotel and taken to Bangkok to face charges.

Phlap Plachai 1 police investigators opposed bail, saying he was a flight risk because the crimes he is accused of carry harsh punishment, Thai media reported. He was later taken to the Bangkok Remand Prison.

The girl is now under the care of officials from the Chiang Mai branch of the Social Development and Human Security Ministry. She was examined by doctors on Friday for signs of possible abuse, which would determine the course of legal action against the suspect.

A Mathayom Suksa 2 student at a Bangkok school, the girl failed to come home after taking a midterm examination on Dec 27 and her parents could not reach her. They alerted officers at the Phlap Plachai 1 station and later sought help from the Crime Suppression Division.

Police investigators focussed their attention on Mr Ronnachit after learning that he was close to the family of the girl. He also tutored the girl, who called him uncle. Mobile phone records led them to zero in on Chiang Mai.

They later discovered that the pair had travelled on the suspects motorbike from Bangkok to the northern province, stopping at some attractions along the route. They reportedly arrived in Chiang Mai on Tuesday (Jan 8).

A cash withdrawal from a bank in Chiang Mai on Wednesday provided a further clue, as did closed-circuit television video that showed the suspect and the girl walking at a department store in Chiang Mai. Officers then sought court approval to arrest Mr Ronnachit and found him in a local hotel around 8.30pm on Thursday.

During the interrogation, police said, the suspect confessed that last June he had taken the girl to a department store in Bangkok where he gave her a tutoring lesson. Afterward, he had sex with her inside his car before driving her home.

Mr Ronnachit was charged with depriving a minor aged below 15 for obscene purposes, depriving her of parental care for obscene purposes, and having sex with a girl aged below 15 who was not his wife, regardless of whether the girl consented.

The offences are in violation of Sections 277, 283 and 317 of the Criminal Code. The suspect confessed to all charges, police said.

Read original story here.
Employee returns B100,000 to Brazilian tourist

SAMUT SONGKHRAM: An employee of a convenience store at a petrol station in Samut Songkhram has been praised for returning 100,000 baht in cash to a Brazilian woman who left an envelope containing the money at the counter before travelling on a van to a tourist venue.

tourismpolice

By Bangkok Post

Friday 11 January 2019, 11:44AM

Ms Pornpailin Seesod (left), 33, an employee of PT petrol stations convenience store in Samut Songkhrams Muang district, returns 100,000 baht in cash to Brazilian tourist Paula De Freitas Ballarin Spindler at the Immigration Bureaus operations centre, Suvarnabhumi airports passenger terminal on Thursday (Jan 10). Photo: Bangkok Post

Pornpailin Seesod, 33, employee of PT petrol stations convenience store on Rama II Road in tambon Bang Kaew of Samut Songkhrams Muang district, on Thursday (Jan 10) handed 100,000 baht, both in US and Thai currencies, to Ms Paula De Freitas Ballarin Spindler at the Immigration Bureaus operations centre on the fourth floor of Suvarnabhumi airports passenger terminal.

The tourist was delighted to get the money. With tears of joy, she hugged Ms Pornpailin and thanked her for her honesty. The tourist gave some money to the woman.

Tourist police, immigration officers and members of the media who witnessed the return of the money applauded.

Ms Spindler said it was her seventh visit to Thailand.

Before she lost the money, she left a hotel in Bangkok for the Amphawa floating market in Samut Songkhram province on Jan 5.

On the way, a van she and her friends were travelling in stopped at the petrol station. She went to the convenience store there to buy a raincoat. She paid money and left, unaware that she left an envelope containing the cash there.

She later found out she lost the envelope after returning to the hotel. She examined footage of closed-circuit television cameras at the hotel and found no clues.

On the same day, Ms Pornpailin filed a report with police at Muang police station in Samut Songkhram province, asking them to help find the owner of the lost envelope containing the cash. The officers then examined the footage of CCTVs at the petrol station that shed light on the owner of the money.

Ms Pornpailin said she was glad the money was returned to its owner. Since childhood, her parents had taught her not to take other peoples valuables.

Read full story here.
Development of Yachting in Asia: The Asia Marine story

South East Asia is rapidly becoming a premier Superyacht destination with increasing interest from Asian clients and new infrastructure developing in the region. The South East Asia region is now recognized as the cruising ground with the largest potential worldwide. Traditional charterers are requesting to spend their holidays in new and exotic destinations and the Asian nouveaux riches are turning to yachting.

marine

By Sponsored

Saturday 12 January 2019, 09:00AM

Asia Marine can now offer a global network of knowledge and experience from leading Yacht Brokers around the world, with a huge outreach.

Asia Marine can now offer a global network of knowledge and experience from leading Yacht Brokers around the world, with a huge outreach.

Asia Marine can now offer a global network of knowledge and experience from leading Yacht Brokers around the world, with a huge outreach.

Will yachting businesses in Asia have the same growth that the established destinations experienced in the 70s? How has Phuket adapted to the Luxury Yachting experience promising new opportunities?

We talked with Asia Marine, one of the longest established marine tourism companies in South East Asia involved in Yacht Charter, Yacht Brokerage, Yacht Services and Boat Management.

Established in 1987 and initially working with The Amanpuri and Pansea Hotel, Asia Marine has surfed the waves, adapting to the various phases of the yachting development in Phuket.

Phuket Island was a backpackers destination in the 80s and is now the Riviera of the East with luxury villas and millions of visitors, explained Vincent Tabuteau, Founder and CEO of Asia Marine. We started with a few traditional wooden tour boats, and in 1992 we partnered with Sunsail operating the very first bareboat yacht charter fleet in Asia. Since then Asia Marine has grown substantially and now manages a larger and newer fleet of both sailing and motor yachts operated from Phuket Yacht Haven Marina.

The type of boats permanently-based in Phuket has changed in nature and their quality, number and size are on the increase, claims Paul Stamp, Senior Broker. Two years ago, Asia Marine (Phuket) became a joint venture with AsiaMarine Yacht Services (Hong Kong) and together we have developed regionally, a successful sales division looking after both the new build and pre-owned sectors in sailing and motor yachts. We are the proud dealer of Numarine and Galeon, an award-winning motor yacht builder, and we also operate a growing fleet of Fountaine Pajot sailing Bare Boats.

Eric Noyel CEO of AsiaMarine Hong Kong added, I think a feel-good factor has returned to boating in South East Asia, and Phuket in particular. All brokers, associated contractors and agents are commenting on an upturn in business. Sales have definitely shown an increase in the last year.

The Superyacht: A new chapter for Asia Marine

Most recently Asia Marine has established a partnership with FRASER, the worlds leading yacht brokerage and charter company for superyachts. This new partnership gives Asia Marine a huge worldwide network of expertise and global coverage to purchase, sell and charter large yachts too.

Fraser has an amazing range of Superyachts available for charter in all corners of the globe, and Asia Marine now has the opportunity to not only send Asian clients to the likes of the South of France and Florida/Caribbean, but also to bring charter clients to SE Asia too.

Asia Marine can now offer a global network of knowledge and experience from leading Yacht Brokers around the world, with a huge outreach. Frasers Head Office is in Monaco and now has 20 offices worldwide. For the past eight years Fraser has sold more yachts over 24m in length than any other broker worldwide.

Asia Marine can be reached at:

Phuket Boat Lagoon Marina

Email: info@asia-marine.net

TEL : +66 (0) 76 239 111

FAX: +66 (0) 76 238 974

Asia Marine are on show at the Thailand Yacht Show & RendezVous 2019, being held at Royal Phuket Marina. The show is open from 2pm to 8pm daily until Sunday (Jan 13), when the show will close at 7pm.

The Phuket News and Live 89.5 are proud media partners of the Thailand Yacht Show & RendezVous 2019.
ANY SHIPMENT ANY WHERE

DID YOU KNOW: Mac-Nels have been extending shipping and freight services in South East Asia since 1975 when they first established their current Head Office in Singapore.



By Sponsored

Saturday 12 January 2019, 03:00PM

This was later joined in 1988 with the opening of the Bangkok office and subsequently followed by owned offices in : USA, Bangladesh, Cambodia, Dubai, India, Indonesia, Korea, Malaysia, Pakistan, Philippines, Vietnam and a newly established joint-venture company in France.

In Thailand, offices in Bangkok, Chiang Mai and Phuket with intentions to expand to other regional hot spots in the near future.

Yet, Mac-Nels remains a privately owned family business.

Historically Mac-Nels corporate profile has been dedicated to the wholesale market whereby facilitating the shipping need of other freight forwarders and removalist companies, especially in the area of consolidated part container loads (LCLs).

The consolidation services meant a heavy demand has been required to develop a strong network of like-minded agents and service providers worldwide.

This in turn has developed a strong two-way trade between Mac-Nels and agents worldwide.

Mac-Nels through their corporate volumes with shipping lines have been able to negotiate volume-based rate agreements resulting in very competitive pricing being extended to our customer base.

Mac-Nels Phuket in particular have been able to use this corporate buying power to offer lower shipping rates to Phuket based clients A significant bonus!

PHUKET BUSINESS

Mac-Nels Shipping Phuket is a relatively new identity but it comes with a wealth of local experience backed up by the corporate strength of the organisation.

Whilst corporately Mac-Nels have a profile focused at wholesale, we in Phuket are 100% dedicated to the retail sector of business, whether it be commercial of personal shipments.

The advantage of course is Phukets ability to extend wholesale charges through all levels of the freight and transport chain.

Mac-Nels staff in Phuket have been involved in local shipping matters for many years.

Karachut Lapparat (Kwang) - PH: 084-0910393 Senior Freight Manager - has over 10 years experience dedicated to Phuket clients and is especially well know for professional handling of import shipments including personal goods.

Peter Bricknell - PH: 086-3645862 Logistics And Relocation Specialist - has in excess of 45 years in the shipping industry with major involvement in South East Asia trade lanes. Is well known locally, having lived in Phuket for many years offering professional shipping services to both commercial and private customers.

Mac-Nels staff are especially dedicated to the boating fraternity in Thailand catering to urgent spare parts, general freight from around the world, yachting crew relocations and of course boat imports and exports.

We have access to like-minded agents for the professional handling of boats including breakbulk, over dimensional flat racks and containerised shipments.

Mac-Nels Singapore have a dedicated team within their project shipping division to cater to any enquiry

ONE STOP SHOP

Mac-Nels offers seamless shipping outcomes for all clients from door at origin to door at destination (and anything in between) whether it be import or export freight.

For household or personal goods relocations we offer a dedicated packing team plus packing materials, container consolidations, part container loads, air and sea freight options plus local transport.

Our 80 agents and owned offices worldwide contribute to the offering of professional services.

In addition Mac-Nels are members of the following professional groups

 THAILAND INTERNATIONAL FREIGHT FORWARDERS ASSOCIATION

 MOVERS POE: This group is covered by worldwide membership dedicated to the professional handling of personal and household goods including customs formalities, door services, packing and unpacking and set up in residence through to disposal of waste.

THINGS TO REMEMBER ABOUT MAC-NELS:

 Corporate strength of Mac-Nels as a group

 Dedicated Phuket staff with profile and experience to solve any logistics issue

 Experience in support to the marine industry

 Offering worldwide freight options air and sea freight

 Customs clearance and customs issue solving

 Specialist handling of personal goods whether full or part container

 Storage and distribution

 Door to door services

 Full removalist services including local, domestic and international

 Able to offer marine insurance including professionally packed household goods

 Strong network of like minded agents and owned offices world wide

 Free inspections and quotations on all freight opportunities

 Professional pre approval and handling of free trade documentation (all countries)

 Able to negotiate over dimensional freight rates for boating fraternity

MacNels Shipping (Phuket) Co., Ltd.

58/24 Moo 6 , Rassada , Muang Phuket

PH: 076-603907

MOBILE: PETER 086-3645862

This article was featured in 'Set Sail', the companion guide published for the Thailand Yacht Show & RendezVous 2019, being held at Royal Phuket Marina. The show is open from 2pm to 8pm daily until Sunday (Jan 13), when the show will close at 7pm.

The Phuket News and Live 89.5 are proud media partners of the Thailand Yacht Show & RendezVous 2019.
Kathryn Houghtaling, a former Rochester High School teacher, was arraigned Friday morning on six counts of criminal sexual conduct after alleg
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The 15-year-old boy accused of writing a threat to shoot up Stoney Creek High School has been suspended and could face a juvenile court case, 
Zhao Leji, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and secretary of the CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI), delivers a work report titled "faithfully fulfil the obligations stipulated in the CPC Constitution and the Constitution of the country, and strive for high-quality development of disciplinary inspection and supervision work in the new era" on behalf of the CCDI standing committee at the third plenary session of the 19th CCDI of the CPC in Beijing, capital of China, Jan. 11, 2019. (Xinhua/Wang Ye)
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Through grant funds and donations the St. Louis Area Fire Department has been able to purchase $29,500 worth of new battery powered extricatio
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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Sat, January 12, 2019 12:29 886 75e76da2d15e495661b6357e2e68104e 1 City South-Jakarta,quran,recital,mosque,Islam,teenagers Free

Amid rising conservatism in the country, South Jakarta Mayor Marullah Matalio wants the teenagers in his area to be more religious to prevent them from getting involved in deliquency.



He decided to initiate a program called Maghrib Mengaji (Quran recital after maghrib prayer) in order to promote local mosques for teenagers. The program aims to increase peoples religious spirit and prevent social maladjustments from happening, with mosques serving as safe houses for the people.



Young people may get involved in brawls and drug abuse. This program aims to invite them to mosques where they can be safe, he told The Jakarta Post on Friday.



Marullah said the program, which he started in August last year, was part of a mental and spiritual counseling program directed not only at teenagers, but also adults. He claimed to have had the idea following a message conveyed by Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan to revive local traditions.



Quran recitals after maghrib prayer are actually a long-time tradition among our people. The spirit of the Quran recital tradition has died down these past few years, so we are reviving it, he said.



Although there has been no direct order from the city administration, the program, through which recitals are held once a week in 65 subdistricts in South Jakarta, has received funding support starting this year.



The Jakarta administration allocated Rp 500,000 (US$35.52) from its city budget for each of the 65 subdistricts every week, totaling Rp 1.43 billion for the program this year. Marullah said the funds were used to employ ustad(Islamic teachers).



Mosques located within a subdistrict take turns hosting the program.



The program had started to bear fruit, claimed 60-year-old West Cilandak subdistrict resident Agus Salim. He noticed there were no longer crowds of young people racing with motorcycles or hanging around the streets of West Cilandak in the past months.



At least 200 people have joined the program. Not only teenagers, but parents can also join, said Agus, a caretaker of Darul Ihsan Mosque, commending the recital program.



Similar activities such as subuh (dawn prayer) at mosques have also gained popularity in recent years, with local clerics encouraging people to go to mosques and perform subuh together.



Anies expressed his support for the Maghrib Mengaji program.



Morally, every good action is worth supporting. We will support any morally good activities, he told reporters at City Hall on Friday.



Anies support for the program can be tracked back to conservative Muslim groups who threw their weight behind him during the 2017 Jakarta gubernatorial elections. In politically charged Islamic movements, such as the 212 movement, which arose during the campaign period, many Islamic preachers encouraged voters to elect a Muslim leader, which was a direct jab at then- Jakarta governor Basuki Ahok Tjahaja Purnama, a Christian of Chinese descent.



Observers had also highlighted that Anies and his running mate Sandiaga Uno claimed victory in the election by riding the waves of religious conservatism.



In an apparent move to appease his voters, Anies had also revoked a previous ban to hold religious gatherings at the National Monument (Monas) Park in Central Jakarta.



Jakarta Mental and Spiritual Education Bureau head Hendra Hidayat, however, insisted that the Maghrib Mengaji program was not created based on Anies order, but solely the initiative of the South Jakarta mayor.



There is no governor instruction for the program. So this depends on residents awareness in each area. This is actually an old program that is being revived, he said on Friday. (ars)

This article was originally published in The Jakarta Post's print edition on Jan. 12, 2019, with the title "S. Jakarta encourages teenagers to be more pious".
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Linkedin Rizal Harahap (The Jakarta Post) Pekanbaru  Sat, January 12, 2019 19:12 885 75e76da2d15e495661b6357e2e689773 1 National forest-fires,Riau,Dumai Free

Dumai Police arrested a resident for allegedly starting a forest fire in Purnama subdistrict in Dumai, Riau, after he threw a lighted cigarette butt onto peatland.

Police chief Comr. Restika P. Nainggolan said the suspect, identified as 49-year-old Sabri, had attempted to put out the fire when the fire brigade arrived.

"Apparently he is one of the land owners," Restika said on Friday.

According to him, Sabri admitted that the fire was caused by his carelessness.

"He admitted that he threw the cigarette butt away, which ignited the dry bush," Restika said.

Sabri then allegedly tried to put out the fire. Unfortunately, his actions caused the fire to spread into the dry peat grass around him, added Restika.

Dumai Police officially named Sabri a suspect after questioning him.

"The suspect was charged under Article 69 of Law No. 32/2009 on environment protection and management, and could face over five years in prison," Restika added.

Meanwhile, the Riau Disaster Mitigation Agency (BPBD Riau) recorded that as of the second week of January, over 66.5 hectares of land have been destroyed by fires across the province.

BPBD Riau head Edward Sanger said the worst fire happened in Mumugo village, Rokan Hilir, when the village lost at least 40 ha to a forest fire.

"The forest fire was hard to control because of dry peatland combined with strong winds. Thankfully, heavy rain fell in the area and it helped put out the fire," he added.

Aside from Dumai and Rokan Hilir, forest fires also occurred in Bengkalis, Kampar and Pelalawan regencies. (dpk)
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Linkedin Riza Roidila Mufti (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Sat, January 12 2019

Meals on wheels: Couriers for Go-Food, a food delivery service operated by Go-Jek, collect customers orders in Jakarta on Aug. 4, 2018.(Bloomberg/Dimas Ardian)

Purchasing food has never been this easy. Today, people can have their favorite dishes from a particular restaurant delivered to their home by convenient food-delivery services such as Go-Food or GrabFood.



Maghfira, a 25-year-old resident of Surabaya, East Java, for example, relies heavily on the online delivery services for her meals.



Online food delivery services like Go-Food are special to me because I am reluctant to go out to buy food, she said, referring to the service provided by homegrown ride-hailing app Go-Jek.



During 2018, Maghfira made 167 food and beverage orders, with chicken and duck items listed as her favorites.



I am also a picky person who dislikes going around the...
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Linkedin Gemma Holliani Cahya and Dyaning Pangestika (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Sat, January 12, 2019 13:49 886 75e76da2d15e495661b6357e2e6832dd 1 National HIV-AIDS,HIV,drugs,drugs-distribution,#health,health,health-ministry Free

Indonesia Positive Women Association (IPPI) national coordinator Baby Rivolas cell phone has been buzzing day and night over the past two weeks.



Women, mostly mothers with human immunodeficiency virus infection and acquired immune deficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) from across the archipelago, have been telling her about their concerns after they heard that the nation was running out of a fixed-dose combination (FDC) antiretroviral drug (ARV), a tablet containing tenofovir, lamivudine and efavirenz (TLE).



Most of them have used FDC for years. But they said hospitals in their respective regions had ran out of FDC months ago and they had to start using single doses of those three drugs instead of the FDC, Baby said on Thursday.



The women were worried about their condition without the drug. They were also wondering about their treatment.



It is important for the mothers to take the pill regularly not only to save their lives but also to prevent the virus from infecting others, she said.



Taking TLE regularly is deemed the most effective treatment to reduce the HIV viral load in the body to an undetectable level.



However, the tender to procure the drug recently fell through after the government and state-owned pharmaceutical companies PT Kimia Farma and PT Indofarma, the authorized producers of the drug in the country, disagreed on the pricing.



TLE is the most used drug among people with HIV/AIDS in Indonesia. Around 48,000 people, or 42 percent of people with HIV/AIDS, rely on TLE.



Aditya Wardhana, the executive director of the Indonesia AIDS Coalition (IAC), said even though the government had made an emergency procurement financed by the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, the current supply of TLE would only last until April at most.



Honestly, we can die in less than a year if we do not take the drug. Our lives are at stake. What should I say to my children, because I really dont know whether Ill still be around them by the end of the year, she said.



The nation has pledged to reach the 90-90-90 target in 2027; 90 percent of people with HIV/AIDS will be aware of their HIV status, 90 percent of them get ARV treatment, and 90 percent of them have their viral load suppressed.



The budget allocated for ARV treatment has also increased every year. In 2017, the Health Ministry allocated Rp 1.19 billion (US$84,673) to fund ARV treatment for 112,054 people with HIV. The allocation increased from Rp 243 million in 2015, and is predicted to reach 1.8 trillion by 2020.



HIV/AIDS treatment currently has the second biggest budget allocation from the ministry, after the allocation for vaccine procurement.



While lauding the governments commitment to HIV/AIDS treatment, Aditya of the IAC said the nation should not spend that much money on ARV treatment because based on the coalitions survey, the drugs could be purchased almost 400 hundred percent cheaper outside Indonesia.



Compared to other countries in the world, ARV in Indonesia is the most expensive one, Aditya said, adding that he hoped Kimia Farma and Indofarma, as state-owned pharmaceutical companies, were not only seeking profit.



Even for a reasonable profit they could sell it for Rp 175,000 but instead they sell it at around Rp 400,000 per bottle. It is too expensive. One bottle only lasts for a month, so imagine how much money must be spent for that in a year for every person, he said.



The coalition also encouraged President Joko Jokowi Widodo to immediately call on related ministries to help with the negotiation.



When asked about the IACs view on the price of ARV, Kimia Farma president director, Honesti Basyir, said he never heard about that statement and do not know how did the IAC compared the price with other countries.



We always make our best effort to support the government program, as long as we are able to do it [..] since 2005, Kimia Farma has provided ARV for people living with HIV, even though the population of people taking ARV remains very small, he said.



The ministrys director general for pharmacy and medical equipment, Engko Sosialine Magdalene, admitted that the tender had failed and explained that the price of locally produced ARV was higher in Indonesia as a result of the additional costs to produce the medicine.



We have to consider many costs, such as the import tax as well as cargo and transportation fees. When they [IAC] calculate the price, they should add these costs into their calculation as well, Engko told The Jakarta Post on Thursday.



Engko also said the country had enough ARV supplies for the next 10 months.



According to Engko, people with HIV/AIDS can still take fixed-dose drugs until this April and continue their medication with a single-tablet regimen as an alternative.



Data from the Health Ministry show that over 2 million Indonesians have taken an HIV test. Of those, 314,143 were declared positive, with 212,240 having started ARV therapy since 2018.

This article was originally published in The Jakarta Post's print edition on Jan. 12, 2019, with the title "People with HIV/AIDS at risk after drug tender falls through".
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Linkedin (The Jakarta Post)  Sat, January 12 2019

President Joko Jokowi Widodo has spoken. We cannot continue like this, the former Jakarta governor told a coordination meeting on Greater Jakarta traffic earlier this week.



He ordered Vice President Jusuf Kalla, known to be a decisive, can-do leader, to deliver the task to reduce traffic congestion in the sprawling metropolis by integrating all modes of public transportation. Jokowi aims to further promote public transportation in place of private cars, the growth of which far eclipses that of Jakartas streets.



Jokowi is aware of one big obstacle to integrating the public transit modes: There are too many stakeholders defending different, if not conflicting, interests and policies. This year, two new systems  the MRT and the light rapid transit (LRT)  will begin serving the public.



Indeed, Jakarta has never crafted an overarching master plan o...
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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Sat, January 12, 2019 10:27 886 75e76da2d15e495661b6357e2e67f2a5 1 Business Indonesia,Manpower-Ministry,working-women,working-hours,workforce,women-empowerment Free

The Manpower Ministry is planning to issue a regulation that will make it possible for women to work more flexible hours and thus increase their participation in the labor market.



Flexible working hours will also help businesses keep up with rapid industrial changes.



Speaking at a national coordinating meeting on manpower recently, Manpower Minister Hanif Dhakiri said the rigid regulations stipulated in Law No. 13/2013 had led to the relatively low participation of women in the labor market.



The law states that workers who work for five days a week should complete at least eight hours a day and 40 hours a week.



Quoting Statistics Indonesia data, Hanif said the participation rate of women in the labor force as of August 2018 was 51.88 percent, far lower than 82.69 percent for men.



The rigid regulation is not beneficial for women as they have double pressures related to their tasks in nurturing their families and developing their careers, he said.



Hanif said if women, especially mothers, work for such a long period of time during the week, they would have to choose one of two options  caring for their families or pursuing their careers  which hampers their participation in the labor market.



Therefore, the minister expressed hope that this year the ministry could introduce a regulation on more flexible working hours.



Under the current regulation, who would hire people who could only work limited hours per week? he added, This is why I believe everything has to start from the revision of the regulation.



The minister said a new regulation with more flexible working hours was also needed to accommodate technological developments so that Indonesia could keep up with the vast changes of the industrial world.



In retail, for example, employees could work on weekends or without having to go to their office, he said.



In relation to Law No. 13/2013, the Indonesian Employers Association called it outdated, saying it had yet to regulate employer obligations, including on wages and protections for workers who were employed under partnership contracts or on a freelance basis.



Besides flexible working hours, Hanif also said at the meeting that all Manpower Ministry staff should promote to the public the importance of social security for workers through their participation in the Workers Social Security Agency insurance scheme.



He said better awareness on the insurance and flexible working hours would help improve the quality of the countrys workforce.



At the same event, Manpower Ministry secretary-general, Khairul Anwar, revealed that the ministry, under its 2019 program, would focus on the development of human resources.



We, for example, are working for the inclusivity and competitiveness of the countrys human resources through job training for migrant workers, internships and infrastructure development for vocational training centers, he said.



Minister Hanif added the government had allocated Rp 5.7 trillion (US$403 million) for the programs this year, which was higher than last years Rp 3.9 trillion. (aak)

This article was originally published in The Jakarta Post's print edition on Jan. 12, 2019, with the title "Ministry plans more flexible working hours for women".
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Linkedin (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Sat, January 12 2019

The Jakarta Smart Card Plus (KJP Plus) is not being used only to assist in educational costs, as designed, but rather to provide cash for everyday expenses, activists have said.



It can [now] be used to buy many things, not only school needs, Jakarta Residents Forum activist Azas Tigor Nainggolan said as quoted by wartakota.tribunnews.com on Thursday during a discussion on Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedans one-year performance in Central Jakarta.



Sumiati, an East Jakarta resident who also attended the event, said the parents of cardholders in her area used the education subsidy for various purposes, such as to buy cosmetics or clothing.



Many stores accept payment using the KJP, including clothing shops, she said, adding that several stores provided fast-cash using the scheme.



Moreover, Sumiati said, parents of the KJP holders could conspire ...
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Linkedin Gemma Holliani Cahya (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Sat, January 12, 2019 13:07 886 75e76da2d15e495661b6357e2e68125d 1 National skincare,beauty-industry,beauty-products,beauty-influencer,fake-products,influencer,BPOM,Food-and-Drug-Monitoring-Agency Free

Angelina Merlyana, 31, found the skin on her face burning not long after she applied aloe vera soothing gel from a famous Korean skin care brand that she had bought online. Later, she found out that she had bought a fake product. The packaging, she said, looked strikingly similar to the original.



Angelina is among many beauty enthusiasts who have joined the skin care and makeup frenzy and often purchased products, mostly of foreign brands, online for their lower-than-counter price or other practical reasons. Just like Angelina, some of them ended up getting fake products.



The Food and Drug Monitoring Agency (BPOM) seized illegal cosmetic products worth Rp 127 billion (US$9 million) in 2018. The number increased from Rp 52 billion in 2017 and Rp 115 billion in 2016.



Indonesia has joined the global beauty trend that has seen an increasing number of so-called beauty influencers: beauty bloggers or vloggers who gain popularity by reviewing beauty products on their platforms. Apart from signing celebrities to become their ambassadors, beauty brands also pay beauty influencers to endorse and review their products. Enthusiasts often find their reviews even more convincing because beauty influencers typically share their subtle transformation using a certain line and may sound more genuine than an ad.



Every time I come across a new it product, I go straight to YouTube to check out what beauty influencers say about it, Angelina said recently.



With 6,000 followers on Instagram and 65,000 subscribers on YouTube, Jakarta-based beauty vlogger Saddy Aulia said she had been careful in maintaining her integrity as an influencer.



I only endorse a product after carefully trying it on my skin for at least a month and make sure that the product is BPOM-approved, she said.



Meanwhile, another beauty influencer, Hestia Melani, from Bandar Lampung said she endorsed and reviewed at least three beauty brands a month on her platforms, which have thousands of followers and subscribers.



I always check a product before reviewing it. I dont want to fail my followers, she said.



BPOM deputy for health and cosmetic supplements, Mayagustina Andarini, acknowledged that endorsement on social media was among the reasons that boost demand for beauty products.



The agency also saw the number of listed cosmetic products surge to 53,000 products in 2018 from 9,310 in 2010. The number of illegal beauty products, unfortunately, concurrently increased, she said.



The authorities have intensified monitoring and law enforcement to address the issue.



This week, the BPOM and Samarinda Police in East Kalimantan raided an illegal cosmetics factory in the city. The factory used hazardous mercury and other irregular ingredients in its products.



They had been operating since 2017. They said they could get Rp 80 million a day, Mayagustina said.



To curb the distribution of illegal products, the BPOM created a new deputy position tasked with acting against such illegal activities last year.



In a recent case, model and presenter Olla Ramlan was summoned by the police after she endorsed an allegedly illegal cosmetic brand, Derma Skin Care Beauty.



Celebrities Via Vallen and Nella Kharisma were also questioned by the police after endorsing the same brand.



The number of reported illegal products is increasing because we have intensified our operations to seize illegal cosmetics. We also have a cyber division to monitor online stores, she said, adding that the agency had also been promoting its app Cek BPOM (check with BPOM) and hotline 1500533 to the public.



The BPOM warned that illegal beauty products potentially contain hazardous substances that may cause cancer, fetal abnormalities and skin irritation.



The business owners may be charged under Article 197 of Law No. 36/2009 on health that carries a maximum of 15 years imprisonment and Law No. 8/1999 on consumer protection, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison.

This article was originally published in The Jakarta Post's print edition on Jan. 12, 2019, with the title "Illegal products pose threat to beauty trend".
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Linkedin (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Sat, January 12 2019

State-owned lender Bank Mandiri has signed a cooperation agreement with state-owned postal company PT Pos Indonesia to enable its customers to top up their prepaid e-money cards at all outlets of the postal company across the country.



Bank Mandiri will also cooperate with other organizations to give customers more alternatives to top up their cards, Mandiri senior executive vice president for consumer and transaction Jasmin said on the sidelines of the recent signing ceremony in Jakarta.



Currently, customers can top up their e-money cards at the banks ATMs and at Indomart convenience stores.



Jasmin claimed that Mandiri was a pioneer in the use of prepaid cards in Indonesia. As of December 2018, the bank had issued 16.4 million e-money cards, which can be used with more than 45,000 merchants.



The bank has opened 60,000 top-up locations at its own br...
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Linkedin Kharishar Kahfi (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Sat, January 12, 2019 15:01 886 75e76da2d15e495661b6357e2e684eac 1 National KPK,graft,Democratic-party Free

The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has accepted the verdict against publicly listed construction company PT Duta Graha Indah -- now rebranded as PT Nusa Konstruksi Enjiniring (NKE) -- in a graft case pertaining to several government infrastructure construction projects.

We will execute the Rp 85.49 billion [US$6 million] restitution fee as ordered by the court. It will be better if NKE takes the initiative and transfers the fee immediately into the state coffers, KPK spokesman Febri Diansyah said in a statement on Friday.

On Jan. 3, the Jakarta Corruption Court found NKE guilty of accepting Rp 240 billion in illicit money from eight construction projects -- including a state university hospital in Bali and the Jakabaring athletes village that was upgraded for the Asian Games, in Palembang, South Sumatra -- through rigged tenders with the help of former Democratic Party lawmaker Muhammad Nazaruddin.

NKE is the first company to be found guilty of corruption in the antigraft bodys history since the 2016 Supreme Court Regulation on directives in managing corporate crime, which paved the way for law enforcement officials to prosecute companies for crimes, including corruption.

The court also ordered the company to pay a fine of Rp 700 million and Rp 85.4 billion in restitution to the state. It also banned the firm from tendering for government projects over the next six month.

KPK prosecutors had demanded that the company should be fined Rp 1 billion, Rp 188.7 billion in restitution as well as a two-year government project tender ban.

In punishing corporations, we focus on asset recovery. We also dont want the tender ban to cause employees to lose their livelihoods, Febri said.

Several individuals convicted in connection with the case include Nazaruddin and former NKE president director Dudung Purwadi.
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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Sat, January 12, 2019 16:17 886 75e76da2d15e495661b6357e2e688028 4 City anies-baswedan,Bawaslu,Gerindra-Party,presidential-election Free

Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan has criticized the Elections Supervisory Agency (Bawaslu) and demands that it be more selective in responding to reports after being cleared of allegations of having breached election laws for giving the two-finger salute.

There are many things that can be reported and if every single report is responded to without considering the importance, then our election will focus on trivial things, Anies told reporters on Friday as quoted by kompas.com.

Anies was reported by the National Guard for the People to Bawaslu for attending a Gerinda Party national conference in Sentul, Bogor, West Java and giving the two-finger salute.

He was accused of campaigning for Prabowo Subianto and running mate Sandiaga Uno, the presidential candidate pair listed as number two on the ballot.

Regional leaders are prohibited from campaigning for candidates unless they are on leave.



After being questioned on Monday, Bawaslus Bogor office chairman, Irvan Firmansyah, declared Friday that Anies had not breached any laws.

During the questioning I told them to use common sense in responding to every report, Anies added. (fac)
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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Sat, January 12, 2019 08:01 886 75e76da2d15e495661b6357e2e67b021 1 City park,South-Jakarta,green-space Free

The Jakarta administration plans to create nine open green spaces in several residential areas of the capital this year under a program it calls Taman Maju Bersama (Move Forward Together Parks).

A budget of Rp 1 billion (US$71,151) would be allocated for each park. The [parks] would have a lot of greenery. We avoid concrete. Where [concrete] is used, it will not be a dominant feature, South Jakarta Forestry Agency head M. Yuswardi said as quoted by kompas.com on Thursday. The parks are to be ready by August.

Unlike the integrated child-friendly public spaces (RPTRA), the Taman Maju Bersama parks would be dominated by plants and green zones.

Yuswardi explained that the previously built RPTRAs had buildings to accommodate lactation rooms and libraries.

He said this years nine parks would be built in the following locations: Jl. Wika and Jl. M Kahfi II, Srengseng Sawah subdistrict; Jl. Jagakarsa II, Jagakarsa subdistrict; Jl. Menteng and Jl. Camat Gabun, Lenteng Agung subdistrict; Jl. Tanjung Barat, Pasar Minggu subdistrict; Jl. Waru, Kebagusan subdistrict; Jl. Gintung, Tanjung Barat subdistrict; Jl. Poncol Pusdiklat PLN, Ragunan subdistrict.

Previously, the administration has also earmarked Rp 140 billion to revitalize five existing parks. Jakarta Forestry Agency head Suzi Maristawati argued the hefty budget was needed given the large size of the parks. (gis)
Tintin will mark his 90th birthday this year with a return to controversy as his Belgian creator's heirs release a new edition of "Tintin in the Congo", a work from 1930 that draws accusations of racism.

The boy reporter's adventure in the then Belgian colony was among the first Tintin stories to be serialized by the artist Herge, and his widow's firm is launching a remastered digital version in color to celebrate 90 years since the strip cartoon character first appeared in a Brussels newspaper in 1929.

The publishers dismissed suggestions that the story, which features charicatural black Africans with fat, red lips and wearing loincloths, was problematic: "Dialogue is most important and the work of deconstruction, decolonization, is just as important," Robert Vangeneberg told reporters on Thursday.

Read also: Blistering barnacles! Tintin rides again... aged 90

However, one Congolese, noted Brussels-based comic book artist Barly Baruti, told Reuters that he felt that bringing out a new edition of the work at a time when nationalist and racist groups appear to be on the rise in Europe was questionable: "We really ask ourselves if it is the right moment," he said.

First issued as a complete album in book form in 1946, "Tintin in the Congo" features Tintin and his faithful dog Snowy grappling with diamond smugglers and big game hunters.

A Belgian court rejects an attempt by Congolese campaigners a decade ago to have the book banned. The judges said it reflected the colonial attitudes of its time and there was no evidence that Herge -- who died in 1983 aged 75 -- had held racist views.
Bollywood filmmakers are seeking to cash in on this year's Indian general election with a host of political movies, some of which smack of propaganda according to critics.

The Hindi film industry has a long tradition of producing politically tinged flicks but industry watchers say 2019's offerings are more partisan than ever before.

"What we have this year are quite a few films, some of which are biopics, that appear to be uncritical and unabashedly push the agenda of a particular party, its policies and political philosophies," said reviewer Nandini Ramnath.

"The Accidental Prime Minister" and "Uri: The Surgical Strike" are released on Friday. Films about the lives of two prominent politicians air later in January while a biopic on Prime Minister Narendra Modi is also in the works.

The silver screen and politics have often intertwined in India. Many actors have become politicians while Bollywood has not shied away from tackling political issues in its plotlines.

"Jaane Bhi Do Yaaro" (Let it be, friends) became a cult classic in 1983 for its satirical takedown of corruption while 2010's "Peepli Live" was praised for tackling the difficult subject of farmer suicides.

Political movies have also fallen foul of the government. "Kissa Kursi Ka" (Story of the Chair) and "Aandhi" (Storm) were both banned by then prime minister Indira Gandhi in the 1970s.

The former (1977) was viewed as satirising her politics while the latter (1975) was allegedly based on her relationship with her estranged husband, who died several years earlier.

- 'The real and the reel' -

Supporters of Gandhi's party, Congress, have tried to stir up controversy around the "The Accidental Prime Minister", holding protests and even going to court, unsuccessfully, to try to block its release.

They claim it portrays senior Congress members in a bad light and is propaganda for Modi and his ruling Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) -- allegations the director denies.

The Hindi-language film sees veteran actor Anupam Kher, a vocal supporter of Modi, play the leader's predecessor Manmohan Singh, also of the Congress party, as premier.

It is based on a memoir written by Sanjaya Baru, a former advisor to Singh.

"This film is not about politics but about the relationship between Dr Singh and Sanjaya Baru through Baru's eyes. They are both heroes of the film. It's not propaganda," director Vijay Gutte told AFP.

Some social media users and film critics have accused Kher of comically mimicking Singh's slow and measured way of walking and talking but the actor believes he has captured his mannerisms perfectly.

"It will take you a little time to distinguish between the real and the reel," Kher tweeted last month when posting a photo of Singh alongside one of himself in character.

"That is the authenticity and the sincerity one has applied in portraying #DrManmohanSingh," he added.

Read also: #MeToo has brought fear and respect to Bollywood, says star

- 'Spread ideas' -

Several movies touching on politics were released during India's last election year in 2014, notably "Youngistan" and "Bhoothnath Returns" in which superstar Amitabh Bachchan played a ghost running against an evil candidate.

Filmmakers say it makes good business sense to release movies with a political backdrop in the run-up to an election while others may be secretly hoping that they translate into votes as well.

The nationalistic, all-guns-blazing "Uri: The Surgical Strike" which celebrates the Indian army's strikes on militants in 2016 in response to a raid that had killed 19 Indian soldiers, is likely to be popular.

Modi was widely lauded for the operation and the film sees Vicky Kaushal play an army major in charge of avenging the attack -- which India blamed on its arch enemy Pakistan -- on the Uri base.

"Thackeray", a biopic about divisive Mumbai politician Bal Thackeray, who died in 2012, is tipped to be a hagiography designed to boost support for the Shiv Sena -- a Hindu chauvinist party he led and founded.

A Shiv Sena politician has written the screenplay of the movie which is scheduled to hit screens on January 25, around what would have been Thackeray's 93rd birthday.

January will also see the release of the first of a two-part Telugu-language biopic on actor-turned Andhra Pradesh politician N.T. Rama Rao.

"... Popular cinema has emerged as an arena for propaganda, with a greater ability to sway opinion and spread ideas than other media," said Ramnath, a critic for Scroll.in.
With artificial intelligence to detect falls, virtual reality to combat isolation and "powered" clothing to assist the incapacitated, the tech world is stepping up its effort to "disrupt" aging.

At the Consumer Electronics Show this week in Las Vegas, exhibitors were showcasing new ways to help the elderly remain independent, mentally fit and connected.

Some systems took a page from the gaming world of youngsters to help seniors "travel" to new places and connect with loved ones.

"Everyone knows seniors get lonely but that isolation can also lead to a lot of medical problems, including the acceleration of dementia," said Kyle Rand, founder and chief executive of Rendever, a startup which works with assisted living homes to give seniors a way to virtually visit remote locations.

"They can stand atop the Eiffel Tower, they can go on an African safari, or revisit their childhood home."

Rendever was launched in the Washington DC tech incubator created by the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP), which in recent years has been funding efforts to develop new technologies for seniors.

In the consumer space from the AARP incubator, Alcove VR enables seniors to be part of a virtual world with loved ones who may be far away.

"You can step into a virtual living room (with a friend or family member and just hang out," said Cezara Windrem, the AARP product manager for Alcove.

Alcove was launched this week as a free application on Oculus, the Facebook-owned virtual reality unit.

The AARP exhibit also included VRHealth, which offers cognitive behavioral therapy using virtual reality, and Pillo, a device which serves as a personal assistant and medication dispenser focused on health for seniors.

- Virtual caregivers -

Other exhibitors showcased technology that could help seniors remain in their homes, and give family members peace of mind by monitoring their condition, in some cases using predictive analytics to determine if they are at risk.

Walabot, a wall-mounted monitoring system developed by the Israeli startup Vayyar, uses radio waves and three-dimensional imaging to keep tabs on seniors living alone.

"You don't need to wear anything, there are no cameras," said Ofer Familier, head of business development for Vayyar.

The company, which makes a range of sensor equipment, says Walabot can detect subtle changes in gait, movement or breathing which could signal a risk of a fall or other problem.

Read also: L'Oreal unveils wearable skin sensor for measuring pH levels

"We can detect falls, but the predictive aspect of it is to monitor changes in behavior so we can alert family members," Familier said.

Also launched at CES was the Addison Virtual Caregiver, a video-based assistant with a female avatar which can converse, offer reminders on medication and detect potential health issues.

With the data gathered from the device, "we can classify people as high-risk or low-risk fallers," said David Keeley, research director for Addison parent firm SameDay Security.

"We can predict the rate of functional decline."

Alicia Mangram, a Phoenix-based trauma surgeon who is an advisor to Addison, said the system can be useful in helping seniors remain independent.

"Right now when we send people home (from a hospital) we don't know what happens to them," Mangram said. "This allows us to check on them."

Florida-based startup CarePredict exhibited its system based on a wearable band that helps monitor seniors in assisted living facilities.

"We can passively and unobtrusively monitor the daily activities of seniors, and our predictive tools can help identify if they are at risk of falls, depression, malnutrition or urinary tract infections," said CarePredict's Jerry Wilmink.

Tech firms see a promising market in these kinds of devices, with public attention focused by the Apple Watch's feature of fall detection.

According to research firm eMarketer, Americans of age 55 and older are the fastest-growing group of electronic wearable users in the US, largely due to the devices' enhanced health features.

- Artificial muscles -

For those with mobility issues, the California startup Seismic unveiled its wearable tech body suit which can augment a user's muscles and help them maintain posture.

The "core wellness suit," which weighs under five pounds and can be worn under street clothes, has robotic components that provide up to 30 watts of power to each hip and the lower back to support sitting, standing, lifting, or carrying -- similar to an exoskeleton but without the bulk.

Sarah Thomas, a Seismic vice president and advisor to tech startups, said the new product is designed not only for the elderly but for factory workers to ease fatigue and anyone with mobility issues.

Thomas said tech products for seniors should not be "stigmatized" with unsightly products.

"We should be designing with age in mind but without the ageist perspective," Thomas told a CES panel.
The world's oceans are heating up at an accelerating pace as global warming threatens a diverse range of marine life and a major food supply for the planet, researchers said Thursday.

The findings in the US journal Science, led by the Chinese Academy of Sciences, debunk previous reports that suggested a so-called pause in global warming in recent years.

The latest technology shows no such hiatus ever existed, raising new concerns about the pace of climate change and its effect on the planet's main buffer -- the oceans.

"Ocean heating is a very important indicator of climate change, and we have robust evidence that it is warming more rapidly than we thought," said co-author Zeke Hausfather, a graduate student in the Energy and Resources Group at the University of California, Berkeley.

About 93 percent of excess heat -- trapped around the Earth by greenhouse gases that come from the burning of fossil fuels -- accumulates in the world's oceans.

The latest report relied on four studies, published between 2014 and 2017, that gave more precise estimates of past trends in ocean heat, allowing scientists to update past research and hone predictions for the future.

A key factor in the more accurate numbers is an ocean monitoring fleet called Argo, which includes nearly 4,000 floating robots that "drift throughout the world's oceans, every few days diving to a depth of 2,000 meters (yards) and measuring the ocean's temperature, pH, salinity and other bits of information as they rise back up," said the report.

Read also: Hotter seas threaten marine wildlife with extinction: Researchers

Argo "has provided consistent and widespread data on ocean heat content since the mid-2000s," it said.

The new analysis shows warming in the oceans is on pace with measurements of rising air temperature.

And if nothing is done to reduce greenhouse gases, "models predict that the temperature of the top 2,000 meters of the world's oceans will rise 0.78 degrees Celsius by the end of the century," it said.

The thermal expansion -- water swelling as it warms -- would raise sea level 12 inches (30 centimeters), above any sea level rise from melting glaciers and ice sheets.

"While 2018 will be the fourth warmest year on record on the surface, it will most certainly be the warmest year on record in the oceans, as was 2017 and 2016 before that," Hausfather said.

"The global warming signal is a lot easier to detect if it is changing in the oceans than on the surface."
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Linkedin Editorial Board (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Sat, January 12, 2019 08:37 886 75e76da2d15e495661b6357e2e67c271 1 Editorial Jakarta-administration,anies-baswedan,traffic,MRT-Jakarta,LRT,public-transportation,congestion,Joko-Widodo,urban-development,#Editorial Free

President Joko Jokowi Widodo has spoken. We cannot continue like this, the former Jakarta governor told a coordination meeting on Greater Jakarta traffic earlier this week.



He ordered Vice President Jusuf Kalla, known to be a decisive, can-do leader, to deliver the task to reduce traffic congestion in the sprawling metropolis by integrating all modes of public transportation. Jokowi aims to further promote public transportation in place of private cars, the growth of which far eclipses that of Jakartas streets.



Jokowi is aware of one big obstacle to integrating the public transit modes: There are too many stakeholders defending different, if not conflicting, interests and policies. This year, two new systems  the MRT and the light rapid transit (LRT)  will begin serving the public.



Indeed, Jakarta has never crafted an overarching master plan on public transit. Operators of Transjakarta buses, commuter trains, the MRT and LRT have their own plans that do not necessarily connect with each other. Coordination between the Jakarta administration and Greater Jakarta cities like Bekasi and Tangerang is absent.



Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan was quick to claim he would take a leading role in the giant task. Jakarta, he said, would take over 13 national roads in his bid to reduce traffic across the capital city.



Jokowis command sums up the will of policymakers under him. That the head of government has ordered all to be brave in tackling Jakartas traffic madness should mark an auspicious beginning of what many believe to be a new era.



Last month, Jakarta Transportation Agency head Sigit Widjatmiko promised that 2019 would be transformational. We call it the year of integration, he said.



Another authority, the Greater Jakarta Transportation Agency (BPTJ), also announced that 2019 would be special. People in the metropolitan city and its surroundings will witness a giant leap with the start of the MRT, the LRT and the electronic road pricing (ERP) system. BPTJ head Bambang Prihartono said the MRT would serve as the backbone of future transportation in Jakarta, while other systems, including the popular commuter train and Transjakarta buses, play supporting roles.



Bambang, too, has integration in mind. He said modes of transportation older than the MRT and LRT would need to be rerouted to avoid overlapping with the new services. The smaller modes of transportation should serve as first- and last-mile public transportation providers, connecting residential areas with the stations.

The BPTJ is trying to make sure all modes of public transportation adopt the same e-money ticketing system to realize the integration policy.



This year, Transjakarta, a public transportation system Jakartans were slow to accept, will celebrate its 15th anniversary. In 2004, when then-governor Sutiyoso introduced the busway, many doubted people would leave their cars at home to take Transjakarta buses. Even after 15 years, and with hundreds more buses having strengthened the fleet, Transjakarta has yet to convince all doubters, but it is hard to imagine Jakarta without the buses.



Of course, Transjakarta cannot do it alone, but the integration of all public transportation hopefully can.
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GLEN CARBON  Two men have been charged with multiple felony counts in a Thursday incident involving a stolen vehicle and a subsequent foot pursuit.

Lamont C. Johnson III, 26, of the 3600 block of Bamberger Ave., St. Louis, and Christopher V. Johnson, 26, of the 1200 block N. 15th St., St. Louis, were both charged with unlawful possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, criminal damage to government supported property, unlawful possession of a stolen license plate, and offenses relating to motor vehicle. Both men also had outstanding warrants from outside of Illinois which resulted in the fugitive from justice charges.
On a recent cold morning at the Lemp Brewery complex, Ace, an Australian cattle dog, stood sentinel in a red sweater over a ridiculous stockpile of stage props.

Try to imagine thousands of period pieces  anything from a gargoyle on a telephone booth to a toy Tommy gun in a violin case  strewn across 13,000 square feet of storage space on two floors.

Other than a piano thats too heavy to move, Ace is the only item not for rent.

Repertory Theatre of St. Louis accumulated the collection through donations and producing some of the regions leading musicals and plays since 1966. Its prop warehouse is now a side business for the nonprofit organization that reported $9 million in total revenue in 2016.

This is not a big, professional rental company, said Sheila Lenkman, 51, warehouse and rentals manager. This is an active producing theater that rents things when they are not using it. We are not Western Costume. We are not a big Chicago prop house. We are the Repertory Theatre, and this is our stuff.

Some 30,000 hanging costumes have been available for a long time. Until recent years, prop stock was an unorganized mess, squirreled away in darkness at the 14-acre former brewery, whose own collection of more than 100 tenants is equally eclectic. In addition to the Rep warehouse, theres a private wrestling club, a paranormal investigations firm, an architectural parts dealer and artist studios.

Sensing a niche market and an opportunity to help other theaters, Lenkman brought in her friend Jennifer Horton and other volunteers to sift through the prop arsenal. First, they aired the space out and had boards taken off the windows to allow more light.

We wore masks over our faces because it was just so musty, said Horton, 49. Everything was scattered to the four winds. It was just piled everywhere. You had no idea what you were going to find in every pile.

She said organizing the collection resembled grown women playing show-and-tell at the end of every day.

Surprises lingered in each area. A silver teapot and sugar bowl buried in silk flowers in one box. A crystal chandelier hidden below others.

This went on for about three years. Now that almost everything has been discovered, display is the challenge.

Large appliances and furniture are on the bottom floor, including Greek goddess statues, hospital beds, 1930s refrigerators, Oriental rugs, stools, tables and a pile of chaise lounges. A 1920s dental chair off in a corner was used at four high schools in 2017 for productions of Little Shop of Horrors. Nearby, a custom-made Sweeney Todd barber chair was ready to slide the next murder victim under stage.

Smaller items are on the second floor, including Victrolas, bottles of fake whiskey, transistor radios, colorful suitcases, pill bottles and dishes. A set of hair spray shields were ripe for Steel Magnolias.

If you needed a stage to look like a whole entire store, we have just about everything you need, said Horton. Or we could do a whole house.

Horton was eventually hired to help run the warehouse part time. She said her talent for prop supply, design and maintenance was honed by being a stay-at-home mother with a splash of creative DNA.

Theres something about this place, she said. It gets in your pores and just sinks in.

So much so that she says good morning to a foam rubber dummy she named Manny Quinn that was recently used in a Mercy Hospital commercial.

I accidentally pulled his thumb off the other day, she said. I need to fix him.

She also originates items. Her son, now 15, and his friends have learned not to question whats in her vehicle.

One day it could be a giant spinning wheel, the next day it could be body parts, she said.

Without an electronic database, she helps clients find what they are looking for. Items have been shipped across the country. A recent call came in from a community theater in Maine for Lego models of London used for The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time.

Most customers are local. At least 50 professional theaters put on plays and musicals in 2018 in the St. Louis region. There are also numerous community theaters, high schools and colleges, as well as photographers and filmmakers, who need props.

On the day Ace stood guard in his red sweater, Sean Gartner, 32, an artistic director and production designer, pulled up in a moving truck. He loaded a large rug, wooden barrels and other things for a farmhouse den he was creating for a beer commercial.

Previously, he helped make a music video for the Struts, an English rock band, and the artist Kesha. He picked up a few skulls from Blue Coyote Design Studio in Granite City and rented an old telephone and a large throne from the Rep. The Body Talks video has 11 million views on YouTube.

Its pretty epic, he said of the throne. I think they use it for Santa.
Because of the expected severity of the winter storm that roared into west-central Illinois this weekend, delivery of Monday's Journal-Courier might be significantly delayed, especially in rural locations.

The newspapers staff will make every effort to deliver to home customers, but must also ensure the safety of employees and contracted carriers.
NEW CANTON  Pike County law enforcement officials say a New Canton man was taken to a Quincy hospital after being shot accidentally early Saturday.

Sheriffs deputies were called to a residence on Walnut Street about 2 a.m. Saturday. Deputies said they found a 24-year-old man with a gunshot wound to his head.
A hearty Saturday Salute goes this week to Kathy Ripp of Cairo and Rowdy, a Healing Hearts therapy dog.

They are making weekly visits to CHI Health St. Francis, where they brighten the day for patients, visitors and employees.

Ripp is one of the many St. Francis volunteers and she has been taking Rowdy to the hospital every Monday since Nov. 5.

The 3-year-old dog began his training with Dog Stars, an obedience training business. Ripp is an assistant trainer at Dog Stars. Later, the dog received training from Healing Hearts Therapy Dogs, based in Crete.

Ripp sometimes takes Rowdy to Tiffany Square Rehabilitation and Care Center as well.

She used to own a therapeutic massage business. Now, in retirement, she keeps busy taking Rowdy around the community.

At the hospital, Ripp also does Eucharistic ministry. She has been taking Communion to patients there five times a month for more than a year.

Ripp is obviously a person who likes to socialize and provide whatever service she can to brighten peoples day. Our community is stronger because of people like her.

Hornady Manufacturing
LINCOLN  A controversial electric transmission line planned through the Nebraska Sand Hills now has a contractor, but construction wont start until it gets an OK from federal wildlife officials.

Directors of the Nebraska Public Power District voted Thursday in Columbus to approve a $265 million bid by Forbes Brothers Timberline Construction of Rapid City, South Dakota, to build the 225-mile, 345-kilovolt R-Project transmission line.

But NPPD officials said construction will not begin until the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service completes its review on the projects impact on the endangered American burying beetle.

NPPD Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Tom Kent said he expects that the utility will get its so-called incidental take permit in the first three months of the year.

A staunch opponent of the project, State Sen. Tom Brewer of Gordon, said he is still working to convince the Fish and Wildlife Service to also require an incidental take permit for the endangered whooping crane. Brewer said a recent report, not considered by the wildlife agency, warns of greater deaths of the migrating birds.

That might cause a delay, but its the right thing to do, Brewer said Thursday evening.
LINCOLN  Gov. Pete Ricketts announced that he will visit Grand Island on Tuesday, January 15, to discuss his State of the State address, which he will deliver earlier that day to the Legislature.

The governor will hold a press conference from 1 to 1:30 p.m. at the Central Nebraska Regional Airport. The governor invites the public to attend.

Nebraskans are invited to join Gov. Ricketts on the governors annual State of the State fly around, said Taylor Gage, the governors director of strategic communications. This is a great opportunity to hear an update on how Nebraska is growing, and how the governor is working with the Legislature on key priorities like balancing the budget and property tax relief this legislative session.
A five-page story in this months edition of Scientific American magazine praises the successful efforts of Dr. M. Sitki Copur in extending the lives of people with cancer.

The story talks about the clinical trials Copur conducted at CHI Health St. Francis in Grand Island, and his plans to build a similar clinical trial program at the Morrison Cancer Center at Mary Lanning in Hastings.

The magazine story says the newest and best medicine is first offered to patients in clinical trials, and cancer patients in trials often do better than those on standard treatments.

Written by Boston science writer David Freedman, the story opens with a look at Jean Reimers of Grand Island, a 75-year-old retired supermarket cashier. Almost two years ago, Reimers found out that she had late-stage metastatic lung cancer. Freedman notes that such cancer is hard to treat and has a dismally low survival rate.

Today not only is Reimers still around, but she says she feels great, the story says.

Reimers credits the experimental drugs she received as part of a clinical trial. She received a combination of two immunotherapies not yet approved for lung cancer by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
A 28-year-old Grand Island man, facing two charges of third-degree sexual assault of a child, was found guilty of one count and not guilty of the other in a Hall County District Court Jury trial this week.

Luke G. Hulme will be sentenced for the crime, a Class 3A felony, at 10 a.m. Feb. 27.

He was found guilty of an offense that occurred between Sept. 1, 2015, and May 31, 2016, in Hall County. The victim was 14 or younger.

He was found not guilty in a case that involved another person. That crime was alleged to have happened between Jan. 1, 2012, and Dec. 31, 2017.

Judge Mark Young ordered that a presentence investigation be done before sentencing. The trial ran from Monday through Wednesday.

The prosecutor in the case was Sarah Hinrichs. The defense attorney was James Wagoner.
Over the past two years, Republicans have focused on spreading opportunity, and it has paid dividends: From the creation of opportunity zones in some of our nation's most distressed communities to amazing job-creation statistics and low unemployment rates, there's no doubt that the future is brightening for many Americans.

However, we are often still struggling when it comes to civility and fairness. This was driven home once again Thursday as Rep. Steve King, R-Iowa, wondered aloud: "White nationalist, white supremacist, Western civilization - how did that language become offensive?"

I will admit I am unsure who is offended by the term "Western civilization" on its own, but anyone who needs "white nationalist" or "white supremacist" defined, described and defended does lack some pretty common knowledge.

Three months ago, a white supremacist killed two black people in a parking lot in Kentucky. We are only 18 months from Charlottesville, where white nationalists killed a white woman with a car and severely beat multiple black people. Almost four years ago, a white supremacist murdered nine African Americans in a church in Charleston, South Carolina. In 1998, white supremacists dragged James Byrd Jr., behind a pickup truck through Jasper, Texas, decapitating him in the process.

These are just a sliver of the havoc that white nationalists and white supremacists have strewn across our nation for hundreds of years. Four little girls killed in a bombing in Birmingham, Alabama, thousands lynched and countless hearts and minds turned cruel and hateful.

When people with opinions similar to King's open their mouths, they damage not only the Republican Party and the conservative brand but also our nation as a whole. They want to be treated with fairness for some perceived slights but refuse to return the favor to those on the other side.

Some in our party wonder why Republicans are constantly accused of racism - it is because of our silence when things like this are said. Immigration is the perfect example, in which somehow our affection for the rule of law has become conflated with a perceived racism against brown and black people.

I do support border security not because I want to keep certain ethnicities out of our nation, but because I support enforcing our laws. I do not care if you come from Canada, France or Honduras, if you break our laws, there should be consequences. But it has become almost impossible to have a reasonable conversation along those lines. That's in part why I laid out my agenda on civility, fairness and opportunity on Thursday on the floor of the Senate.

King's comments are not conservative views but separate views that should be ridiculed at every turn possible. Conservative principles mean equal opportunity for all to succeed, regardless of what you look like or where you are from. It is maddening to see so many folks who believe this and have only good intentions in their hearts tarnished by these radical perspectives.

That is why silence is no longer acceptable. It is tempting to write King - or other extremists on race issues, such as black-nationalist Louis Farrakhan - as lonely voices in the wilderness, but they are far more dangerous than that. They continue to rip at the fabric of our nation, a country built on hope, strength and diversity. It is the opposite of civility and fairness and will lead only to more pain and suffering.

We have made significant progress in our nation, and while there is still work to do, we cannot let these intolerant and hateful views hold us back. This is a uniquely fractured time in our nation's history, not our worst but far from our best, and it is only together that we will rebuild the trust we seem to have lost in each other.

We must work to lead our nation forward. In the future, I hope Steve King takes the opportunity to join us.

- - -

Scott, a Republican, represents South Carolina in the U.S. Senate.
Since the Hearst Connecticut Editorial Board has discarded the presumption of innocence in its Jan. 8 editorial, let me provide some balance and a possible path forward.

Michael Skakels wrongful conviction for the murder of Martha Moxley is now finally overturned. Michael was freed from prison in 2013 because a credible non-family witness confirmed he was miles away when Martha was killed 43 years ago in 1975.

The State of Connecticut has the option to go to trial once again. But the states circumstantial case has evaporated. Michaels alibi is now rock solid. Their star witness  deceased heroin addict Greg Coleman  has been fully discredited by his own family attorney and his confession allegations proven false. The deceitful PowerPoint media at closing arguments that falsely linked Michaels recorded voice with gruesome crime scene photos is not going to work against a competent defense attorney.

Its time for the state to come clean about the forensic evidence in its possession and face the reality that forensic science can and should solve this case with certainty.

Prior to the 2002 trial, prosecutors demanded DNA samples from Michael hoping to make a media spectacle of him stonewalling. When he agreed they quickly withdrew the demand, knowing that the only genetic evidence they had at the time  two non-Caucasian hair samples found at the crime scene  did not belong to Michael. Both the state and the media ignore this critical evidence and the fact that a match has never been found.

Yale professor David Cameron wrote an Op-Ed in May calling for a re-investigation of all the physical evidence in this case using touch DNA, which can reveal skin cells left behind on clothing. Dozens of cold cases have been solved across the country since Camerons article in what is being calling the biggest crime-fighting breakthrough in decades. A Boston case nearly 50 years old was solved in November. The unexplained hairs that do not belong to any Skakel and the physical evidence including Marthas clothing must be re-examined using these DNA advances to seek a match.

DNA advances have definitively solved cold cases this past year in Arkansas, California, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maryland, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah and Washington. Why not Connecticut and why not this case?

We know of at least three teenagers who visited the Belle Haven neighborhood on the day Martha was killed but have never been interviewed by police. Martha mentions one of them multiple times in her diary. Unlike Michael, all three are a potential match with the hair evidence. Why not use the advances in forensic science that are readily available and producing stunning results in many other states and let the evidence bring closure and an outcome that can be trusted?

John Skakel is one of Michael Skakels brothers and lives in Portland, Oregon.
A group of Senate Democrats says the Environmental Protection Agency may be violating spending laws by preparing the agency's acting chief, Andrew Wheeler, for his confirmation hearing during a partial government shutdown.

Four members of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee - Thomas Carper of Delaware; Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island; and Benjamin Cardin and Chris Van Hollen, both of Maryland - sent a letter to the agency questioning whether it is improperly using resources to help Wheeler get ready for his confirmation hearing before them next Wednesday.

The move underscores the extent to which Senate Democrats are ready to fight President Donald Trump's second pick to run the EPA after the former chief, Scott Pruitt, and now Wheeler have sought the reversal of many environmental regulations implemented under President Obama.

In response to the letter, the EPA told The Washington Post it is well within its rights under Justice Department guidelines to work toward getting the agency a Senate-confirmed leader.

The EPA is one of the agencies that isn't receiving funding as the partial government shutdown drags into its 21st day over the standoff surrounding President Trump's border wall. Only about 800 of the EPA's 14,000 employees have been deemed essential to work through the shutdown. The vast majority of those remaining at work are "necessary to protect life and property."

Only a handful of other employees - six top-level political appointees and a dozen others "necessary to the discharge of the President's constitutional duties and powers" - are still allowed to work during a shutdown, according to the agency's Dec. 31 contingency plan.

But according to the Democratic senators, five EPA employees have been involved in coordinating meetings with senators, who will have to approve Wheeler to serve as the agency's permanent chief after President Trump this week formally tapped him for the position.

An EPA notary also worked to certify an ethics form for Wheeler, who worked for years as a lobbyist.

"It is difficult to understand how preparing you for next week's confirmation hearing credibly falls within any of the categories listed in EPA's Contingency Plan, particularly the category of employee that is 'necessary to protect life and property,' " the senators wrote in their letter to Wheeler, sent Thursday.

"Using EPA resources in this manner may also run afoul of the Antideficiency Act," they added, referring to the law requiring a federal agency's expenditures not exceed the amount appropriated by Congress.

Matt Leopold, the EPA's top lawyer, told The Post by email that the Justice Department's Office of Legal Counsel has "clearly" already deemed participating in a confirmation hearing as essential work.

Leopold added: "Additionally, the Constitutional appointment power allows for EPA to take the steps necessary to ensure the Acting Administrator is prepared for his hearing."

Jeffrey Lubbers, an administrative law professor at American University, wondered whether helping Wheeler get ready for his Senate confirmation falls under that category.

"It's unclear what those are, but one of them might be the nomination of an agency head," he said.

The EPA has been without a Senate-confirmed chief since the White House forced Pruitt to resign in July amid investigations into his ethical and managerial decisions.

While happy to see Pruitt gone, many environmentalists are fiercely oppose to Wheeler's nomination after he spent years representing coal mining and nuclear energy firms in Washington.

They have long been critical of the EPA under both Pruitt and Wheeler for pursuing the rollback of Obama-era rules. During the shutdown, however, much of that work rewriting regulations has been put on pause.

But activists still take issue with Trump and Senate Republicans working to advance Wheeler's nomination while other EPA employees are furloughed, such as those working to inspect factories for pollution or prepare cleanup plans for toxic waste sites.

"It's a shocking waste of precious resources to spend any staff time preparing Andrew Wheeler's nomination," Collin O'Mara, president and chief executive of the National Wildlife Federation, said while calling for a delay in the hearing.
Contributed photo / Hamden Police

Hamden Police arrested Justin Soto, 21 of New Haven on multiple charges, including burglary in the first degree and assault in the third degree, they announced Friday in a press release.

According to the release, Soto forcibly entered his girlfriends residence on Thursday, January 10th.
With just one week left in open enrollment, Access Health CT has seen overall high levels of customer engagement and turnout, but a decline in its black and Hispanic base, a health insurance exchange official told Connecticut policymakers Tuesday.

Connecticuts Affordable Care Act marketplace expanded its enrollment period for people seeking coverage in 2019 to Jan. 15. Those who missed the Dec. 15 deadline wont have coverage under a new policy until Feb. 1.

Access Health CTs Robert Blundo, the exchanges director of technical operations and analytics, told members of the states Health Care Cabinet open enrollment turnout has so far reached 108,698.

An update on the health insurance exchanges open enrollment period came during a meeting of the advisory group, which provides guidance to the governor and lieutenant governor on health care reform.

Its actually a tremendous enrollment year given everything thats been going on in the context of the Affordable Care Act, state health care advocate Victoria Veltri said. To retain this number of enrollees is a very, very big accomplishment.

Blundo said officials extended the deadline by an additional 30 days to allow our customers to have a little more time to evaluate their plan options, and they expect to see a small bump in registration once open enrollment closes.

The health insurance exchange has counted more than 300,000 website users during the open enrollment period, while more than 25,000 customers have used the new live chat feature on the website. Blundo said 1,600 of those customers who reenrolled have changed their plans since Dec. 16.

The change in requirements for plan designs this year created some pretty significant price changes across plans, so as a result weve seen quite a bit of product selection and product change with our customer base, Blundo said. Forty-one percent of the population reenrolling changed their plan for 2019 in comparison to last year [when] only 18 percent of those [who reenrolled] actually changed their plan.

Blundo said the black customer base made up 6.9 percent of the health care exchanges population last year compared to 6.6 this year, and the Hispanic customer base went from 14.9 percent to 14.78 percent.

Patricia Baker, president and CEO of the Connecticut Health Foundation, said looking at the breakdowns in enrollment by demographics and trend lines will be important in evaluating the decline in enrollment among blacks and Hispanics.

Access Health CT CEO James Michel said officials at the health care exchange will work on developing a strategy to combat these declines.

We need to find out why they are going down and more importantly what do we do about it, Michel said.
Texas Rancher Thanks Trump for Supporting Wall by Gifting Belt Buckle to Barron

A Texas rancher has shown appreciation for President Donald Trumps border security efforts by offering his belt buckle as a gift to the commander-in-chiefs son Barron, 12.

The touching moment happened during the roundtable discussion of immigration and border security where Trump met with border patrol officials and local residents in McAllen, Texas, on Jan. 10.

Rancher Monty Awbrey handed the large belt buckle as a gesture of thanks, showing his appreciation for the presidents efforts to build a wall at the southwest border.

Texas landowner gives @realDonaldTrump his belt buckle after border security roundtable. "You can give it to your son Barron." pic.twitter.com/QvVUe43zEo  Charlie Spiering (@charliespiering) January 10, 2019

You can give it to your son, Barron, Awbrey said as he handed the president the buckle.

Trump, wearing a white Make America Great Again hat, replied in jest, hes bribing the president!

I dont know if this is worth 10 cents or if its worth $50,000 but thats very nice of you, Trump said.

Earlier Awbrey, who grew up in the Rio Grande Valley, shared his story about encountering illegal immigrants on his ranch, many of whom were in distress or had been sexually assaulted after being brought in by people smugglers.

These [illegal immigrants] pay $3,000 a piece to come across. Its everything that they garnish up, you know, wage wise, to pay these people, Awbrey said.

He claimed the people smugglers then walk them 10 miles across the border, walk them around in a brush, and disappear on them.

Theyre lost. Theyre hopeless. They dont know what to do. So they give up and they say, Can you call Border Patrol for me?' he said.

Building a Common Sense Wall

At the start of the roundtable, the president addressed border patrol agents and immigration officers, thanking them for their hard work. He used the opportunity to express the importance of building a wall while slamming the Democrats and mainstream media for calling the immigration situation a manufactured crisis.

Democrats have refused to listen to the border agents, and they say this is a manufactured crisis, he said. All over, I turn the television. You know, I call it the opposition party. Its called the fake-news media, and what happens is every network has [reported]: manufactured crisis.'

There is GREAT unity with the Republicans in the House and Senate, despite the Fake News Media working in overdrive to make the story look otherwise. The Opposition Party & the Dems know we must have Strong Border Security, but dont want to give Trump another one of many wins!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 10, 2019

Trump described building a wall as common sense because it works, likening it to wheels on a car.

They say a wall is medieval. Well, so is a wheel. A wheel is older than a wall, the president said. And I looked, and every single car out there, even the really expensive ones that the Secret Service usesand believe me, they are expensiveI said, Do they all have wheels? Yes. Oh, I thought it was medieval  a wheel works and a wall works.

Trump warned the Democrats open border agenda threatens all American families. He also praised the work of ICE officers in arresting criminal aliens, charged with or convicted with about 100,000 assaults, 30,000 sex crimes, and 4,000 violent killings in the last year.

When they talk about how unfair, how this, how thatnobody talks about how unfair it is to the victims of the brutal killings, the president said.

From the Southern Border. pic.twitter.com/Vgsf5nEZUH  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 10, 2019

From NTD News
Suspect Who Killed Nail Salon Owner Arrested in Arizona

Detectives have found the suspect who ran over and killed a nail salon owner in Las Vegas on Dec. 29, 2018. Led by the FBI, the Criminal Apprehension Team (CAT) found and arrested Krystal Whipple, 21, in Phoenix, Arizona.

Press release regarding the arrest of Krystal Whipple. https://t.co/rrvBAskKwE

The booking photo is courtesy of the Maricopa County Sheriffs Office. #LVMPDnews pic.twitter.com/LOoF6DiEyU  LVMPD (@LVMPD) January 12, 2019

On the day of the incident, at about 3:45 p.m., Whipple walked out of a nail salon after she tried paying with a fraudulent credit card, according to a video by the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (LVMPD). After the card was rejected, Whipple told Nhu Nguyen, the female nail salon owner, that she would get cash from her car, which the owner agreed to.

But when Whipple entered her car, Nguyen noticed that Whipple started it, so she ran out with her husband following behind. In trying to stop Whipple, Nguyen stood in front of the car after it pulled out of the parking space. Whipple did not stop and struck Nguyen. Nguyen was then dragged under the car as she fled the scene.

Other media have reported that the car Whipple was driving was a stolen rental vehicle and that the manicure fee she was dodging was $35.

Nguyen later died at the University Medical Center. Lt. Ray Spencer of the LVMPD, requesting the publics help in finding Whipple, provided a video of the incident.

Information of Whipples whereabouts was developed by the LVMPD and later given to the FBI Phoenix Violent Crime Task Force. She was then found in Arizona. The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department released a report updating the public on the arrest (pdf).

A GoFundMe for Mom

Christy Le, the youngest daughter of Nguyen, started a campaign on GoFundMe a day after her mothers death. Le describes her mother as hardworking and selfless.

She had been constantly putting in 12-14 hrs a day, 7 days a week to send her daughters to college and to support her mother, siblings, and grandchildren.

The campaigns goal was $10,000, but over the past 12 days, the goal was surpassed by $26,500 with the help of more than 1,000 donors, for a total of $36,500 on Jan. 12.

Le stated that she would be transparent with her donors, telling them that the funds will be used to pay for funeral expenses and any debts she may owe. Any money left over will be placed in her savings account, which will go toward her college tuition.

I am currently on my third year as an undergraduate at UC Berkeley and my mom has been supporting me by paying for my rent and utilities, school fees, and other costs.

Her mothers funeral will be held in Orange County, California.

One Mothers Apology

In an interview with Good Morning America, Whipples mother and grandmother apologized to Le for the death of her mother.

Im so sorry that you lost your mom, and I couldnt imagine how you feel, and I hope that you find it in your heart to forgive my daughter and my family, Whipples mother said sobbing.

Whipples mother took the chance to tell her daughter to turn herself in.

You cant run, baby. You cannot run! You have to come forward, baby.
Scott Bradley, then senior vice president of corporate affairs at Huawei Canada outside a bail hearing for Huawei CFO Meng Wanzhou in Vancouver, Canada, on Dec. 10, 2018. (Jonathan Hayward/The Canadian Press)

Senior Executive of Huawei Canada Leaves Post as Company Faces Increasing Scrutiny

TORONTOA senior executive with Huawei Canada is leaving his post after more than seven years at the Chinese telecom giant, which has recently been facing increasing scrutiny over its close ties to Beijing.

Scott Bradley, who was Huawei Canadas senior vice president for corporate affairs, indicated in a LinkedIn post that he no longer holds that position. He couldnt be immediately reached for comment.

Huawei, founded by Ren Zhengfeia former officer at Chinas Peoples Liberation Armyhas been cited as a security risk in intelligence circles, due to having close ties to the Chinese Communist regime. Western intelligence officials have raised concerns that Beijing could use the companys equipment for espionage.

The company is also at the center of a diplomatic spat between China and Canada as its chief financial officer and Rens daughter, Meng Wanzhou, was arrested in Canada on an extradition request from the United States. Following Mengs arrest, China warned Canada of grave consequences, and has since detained two Canadians on charges of endangering national security.

In a previous interview with The Epoch Times, Bradley denied that Huawei is connected to the Chinese regime.

Huawei and Espionage Concerns

On Jan. 11, Reuters reported Polish officials had arrested a Huawei employee and a former Polish security official on spying allegations. Poland is now calling on the European Union and NATO to work toward forming a joint position on whether to exclude Huawei from their markets.

Last year, The Australian newspaper reported that officials in Australia had received reports about Chinese spies using Huawei to infiltrate a foreign network.

Former CIA head Michael Hayden said in an interview with the Australian Financial Review that there is hard evidence that Huawei spies for Beijing.

At a Senate Intelligence Committee hearing in 2017, FBI Director Chris Wray referred to Huawei and ZTE, another Chinese telecom giant, as beholden to foreign governments, urging against allowing them to gain positions of power inside our telecommunications networks.

Heads of six major U.S. intelligence agencies, including the CIA, FBI, and NSA, as well as former heads of the Canadian Security Intelligence Service, have all warned about the national security threats posed by Huawei.

Most of Canadas allies in the Five Eyes intelligence alliance have banned Huawei from their emerging 5G networks, the next evolution in wireless internet technology.

Advisory Role

Bradley served as a key spokesperson for Huawei Canada, which is a major supplier for Canadas major telecom companies.

Going forward, he will serve as special adviser to the company, assisting as required, Huawei Canada President Eric Li said in a memo to staff obtained by Reuters.

We are saddened to see him leave but grateful for the tireless work he has put in to help us grow our brand and public image, and build various relationships with government, Li said.

Bradley ran as a federal Liberal candidate for Ottawa Centre in the 2011 general election but was defeated.

With files from Reuters

Watch Next:

Huawei Exposed: How the Media is Getting it Wrong
Montana Lawmaker to Propose Giving $8 Million to Help Build Border Wall

A Montana lawmaker says that the state should help pay for the southern border wall.

Scott Sales, a state Senator and president of the Senate, said that hes going to sponsor a bill to appropriate $8 million in state money to help build the wall.

I think this is such a critical issue at a critical time that it behooves us to take a look at maybe prompting Congress to do what they should do, Sales told MTN News. And, in a small token way, providing a little bit of financial resources to get that job done.

President Donald Trump is seeking $5.7 billion in funding for the border wall, but Democrats have refused to give him any money for the wall, leading to the current partial government shutdown.

Sales said that the $8 million Montana would send to the federal government is an equal fraction of $5 billion, accounting for Montanas share of the national economy.

He added that he calculated Montanas share of the cost of the wall by dividing the states gross domestic product by the national GDP and multiplying it by $5 billion.

No other states have proposed helping fund the wall through state monies but a GoFundMe fundraiser for the wall, collecting funds from private citizens who want to help build the barrier, raised more than $20 million. That money was slated to be refunded after the fundraiser organizer said his team discovered the federal government couldnt accept the money in a timely fashion and that hed formed a nonprofit to use the funds.

The South Dakota Senate on Thursday passed a resolution that urges the construction of the barrier in support of Trump.

Sales said that he would introduce the legislation despite a likely veto by Democratic Gov. Steve Bullock if it passes the Senate.

If the governor just wants to veto it, out of hand, thats his prerogative. But he has ideas that he thinks that are of state importance, and I happen to think this does, too, he told MTN. Its a sincere effort. This isnt something Im doing on a whim to try to garner a headline. Ive supported this concept (and) I think a lot of Americans voted for President Trump, and Montanans, on this one concept alone.

Bullock said he respects Sales, but I dont know that he has ever strongly advocated for or supported infrastructure investments in Montana, so its a little bit of a puzzle for me why he would even consider spending taxpayer dollars on construction projects in California.

The wall would span parts of California, Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas. Bullock would not commit to vetoing the bill if it lands on his desk.

Montanas House Minority Leader Casey Schreiner, a Democrat, said the Legislature should focus its spending on Montanas roads, building, water and sewer projects.

State dollars are a finite resource; we had draconian cuts for human services, he told MTN. Yet were going to send money out-of-state for some unknown reason. It just doesnt make any sense.

Thats a lot of school roofs and boilers, added Democratic Rep. Laurie Bishop about the proposed $8 million.

Trump defeated Hillary Clinton in Montana by 20 (Herica Martinez/AFP/Getty Images)oints but the state re-elected Sen. Jon Tester (D-Mont.) in the midterm elections despite Trumps multiple rallies for Testers opponent across the state.

Tester is one of at least four Democrats who said while campaigning for the midterms that they support the wall.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

From NTD News
President Donald Trump speaks with Border Patrol agents next to Sen. John Cornyn near the Rio Grande, Texas, on Jan. 10, 2019. (Jim Watson/AFP/Getty Images)

Is Mexico Paying for Trumps Wall or Not?

President Donald Trump has many times promised that Mexico will pay for his signature campaign promisea wall along the southern border.

Since taking the office, hes been pressing Congress to appropriate money for the wall, eventually reaching an impasse with Democrat lawmakers that resulted in a partial government shutdown that has continued for weeks.

Since December, Trump has been saying hes already delivered on his promise and that Mexico is already paying for the wall through a rebalancing of trade stemming from the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement negotiated earlier in 2018.

I often stated, One way or the other, Mexico is going to pay for the Wall, Trump said in a Dec. 13 tweet. This has never changed. Our new deal with Mexico (and Canada), the USMCA, is so much better than the old, very costly & anti-USA NAFTA deal, that just by the money we save, MEXICO IS PAYING FOR THE WALL!

On Jan. 10 he clarified: Obviously, I never said this and I never meant theyre going to write out a check. I said theyre going to pay for it. They are. They are paying for it with the incredible deal we made.

The deal, not yet ratified by Congress, takes back some trade advantage from Mexico, including a requirement that car manufacturers have to use more U.S.-made parts. Such an adjustment could be expected to produce a tax revenue gain for the United States and a tax revenue loss for Mexico, giving Trump the basis for saying that Mexico is paying for the wall.

This justification is also consistent with what Trump promised voters.

Check or Trade

In his campaign materials, Trump outlined several options of how to make Mexico pay for the wall, some of which included the option for Mexico to write a check, such as his threat to impound remittances to Mexico from illegal immigrants.

Its an easy decision for Mexico: make a one-time payment of $5-10 billion [toward the wall construction] to ensure that $24 billion [in remittances from Mexican nationals working in the United States] continues to flow into their country year after year, his campaign document reads (pdf).

But he didnt say this was definitely the way Mexico would pay.

The document listed three more options for how to compel the southern neighbor to pay: Threatening to cancel visas for Mexicans, increasing visa fees, and renegotiating trade.

There is no doubt that Mexico is engaging in unfair subsidy behavior that has eliminated thousands of U.S. jobs, and which we are obligated to respond to, the document reads. The impact of any tariffs on the price imports will be more than offset by the economic and income gains of increased production in the United States, in addition to revenue from any tariffs themselves. Mexico needs access to our markets much more than the reverse, so we have all the leverage and will win the negotiation.

The document didnt make it clear if the tariff threat was supposed to prompt Mexico to write a check for the wall or whether a more balanced trade itself would be satisfactory for Trump.

But on the campaign trail, Trump elaborated further, suggesting he would settle for trade concessions.

You dont expect that [the Mexican President is] going to write a check, but what youre saying is that they will have to make concessions, Fox News Sean Hannity said, interviewing Trump during a town hall in North Carolina on March 9, 2016.

Well, theres many different ways. Yea, Trump responded.

You dont expect Mexico to say, Yes Mr. Trump, heres a check for $10 billion? Hannity asked.

No. No. Because politically its not feasible. It would not look good, Trump replied.

You think that the deals that you make will more than compensate for the wall? Hannity continued.

Yea. Even if we tax them. We may tax them, ok? Trump said. It doesnt make any difference.

He wouldnt take the check option off the table completely, though.

A month later in Pittsburg, Hannity probed Trump on the issue again.

Theyre not going to write us a check, Hannity said.

Theyll pay, Trump responded. Theyll pay. In one form or another. They may even write us a check by the time they see what happened.

Dealmaking

Trump has been vocal about his ability to negotiate a dealplaying a strong hand, but leaving a door open to a compromise.

Im ok to making a compromise, he commented on Jan. 10 on his wall-funding negotiations with the Democrats. Compromise is in my vocabulary, very strongly.

He also made it clear hes not one to pass on leverage.

Remember the principal strategy of negotiation: The side that needs the deal the most is the one that should walk away with the least, he said in his 2015 book Crippled America: How to Make America Great Again.

He further summed up his business approach in the book: I think big. I aim very high, and then I keep pushing and pushing toward that goaland beyond it. In the end I may not get everything I wantI understand thatbut I never compromise on the basic goals I set out for.
Iraq War Veteran Helps Others Realize Their Dreams

Monroe Mann wants you to reach your full potential

NEW YORKSometimes, our greatest dream can seem like a daunting, impossible undertaking. You want to be a successful actor or novelist, but the journey to get there looks too difficult.

One Iraq War veteran is creating a community of people called Break Diving to help you get there. No Rules, No Excuses, No Regrets.

Monroe Mann has an impressive life resume, which started when he was a combat team leader and an intelligence officer in Iraq. After graduating from college in 1999, Mann decided to join the U.S. Army. His father had been a World War II veteran, so Mann had a nascent interest in the military. He also wanted to pursue a career as an actor, but felt he needed to serve his country first before going after his own dreams.

Mann looks back on his time in Iraq fondly. He was a combat patrol leader on 96 missions, served as an intelligence officer, was largely responsible for locating his units second-highest-level target who was in the custody of the Iraqi Army.

He also helped train the Iraqi army during his deployment. He also navigated a convoy of 60 vehicles to Tikrit, Iraq, from Kuwait, without a single wrong turn or being ambushed on the 550-mile journey, which earned him a nomination for a Bronze Star.

I just loved the fact that there was such a wonderful mission, and I felt like I was doing something really important, Mann told The Epoch Times.

Battle Scars

Understandably, Mann returned to the United States with some psychological scars that manifested as post-traumatic stress disorder and depression. When he initially returned, he found that he would be looking for improvised explosives on the side of the road as he drove, and was convinced in some instances that hed spotted one. He still jumps if someone drops a glass or slams a door. On a few occasions, hes called the police after mistaking firecrackers for gunfire.

My life hasnt been the same since Ive been back. Nothing can match that adrenaline rush and the danger that was there for a year. Its a hard thing to describe, Mann explained. Its an uneasy situation to be in because every day, youre hearing about people dying.

Upon returning home, Mann experienced depression. He didnt know who he was or what he wanted to be after his deployment, which partially motivated him to earn a doctorate in psychology, because he wanted to figure out as much as he could about himself and to help others. His craved the exhilaration and purpose he experienced in Iraq, and wanted to be a part of something larger than himself.

No Rules

Earning his doctorate in psychology was just part of a decade of learning and academia. Mann previously earned an MBA, a law degree, and two Masters degrees. He also produced, directed, and starred in a film called You Cant Kill Stephen King, one of the many productions he has been involved in, which allowed him to realize his dream as a filmmaker and actor.

Instead of waiting for opportunities in show business, he created them. Hes also written nine books. For his entire acting career, before and after Iraq, people had been telling him what to do and how to do it. Instead, Mann forged his own path.

Mann wanted to create a community that believed in his creed of No Rules, No Excuses, No Regrets. No Rules refers to his belief in bucking the trend and the rules dictated upon you to achieve your dream; No Excuses came from his experience in basic training, and having his drill sergeant yelling the phrase at him to encourage him to finish an arduous march; and No Regrets means if you follow the No Rules and No Excuses facets of his mantra, you wont have any regrets.

He thought about creating a new type of social network that employed this philosophy, and that would bring people together to help one another find success in reaching their life dreams. Mann believes that current social-media platforms not only fall short of meeting this goal, but actually bring people down.

In an effort to build a helpful, caring, and collaborative community, Mann has launched a social media nonprofit called Break Diving. Mann and a group of volunteers began coding for the site about a year ago, and the platform is almost finished. If all goes to plan, it will launch March 1.

Break Diving

When users join the site, they can join the dive or passion they want to pursue. For example, if you want to learn French or you want to become an actor, you join the site and become connected with people who are pursuing the same goal, and others who have experience in those fields. Users have certain levels, depending on their experience, and the idea is that users at a higher level help and mentor those at lower levels. Consequently, people cant join without helping others succeed, as well.

We want to create this culture of we will help you if you help others, Mann explained.

Furthermore, part of the terms of service mandates that users must refrain from any type of bullying or down-talking, as the purpose of the social media platform is to provide a space where people can encourage each other to achieve their dreams.

Right now, there is somebody giving up on their dream and giving up on their life, and it kills me that Im not there to give them a pick-me-up. So Im hoping what Im doing and what were doing through BreakDiving is going to be that solution that keeps people from giving up, Mann said.

People underestimate what they are capable of. Thats what the military taught me, that your mind and body trick you into thinking you cant do something. I want Break Diving to be that reminder to others that Yes. you can!'
Chinese People's Armed Police responsible for the security of Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City gather for a ceremony to mark the handover of guard duties on Tiananmen Square in Beijing on November 23, 2009. (STR/AFP/Getty Images)

How Communist China Steals American Secrets and Endangers US Security

At a press conference held on Dec. 20, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) announced the prosecution of two hackers from communist China. According to the DOJ, they were members of the hacking unit APT10, which is affiliated with the Chinese regimes Ministry of State Security (MSS).

The MSS is Chinas only official intelligence agency, and is relatively new given the long history of communist Chinese espionage. It was established in 1983 by the merger of the former Political Security Department of the Ministry of Public Security (MPS, Chinas police force), the Investigation Department or Central Investigation Department (CID), and other intelligence agencies.

Following the creation of the MSS, the MPS Political Security Department was left vastly understaffed and underfunded until after the 1989 Tiananmen Square Massacre, when it began a gradual comeback.

Things changed when the CCP launched its persecution of the Falun Gong spiritual practice in 1999.

The Political Security Department was renamed the Domestic Security Bureau (DSB), abbreviated Guobao in Chinese. Following rapid expansion, the Guobao became notorious for its role in the persecution of not just Falun Gong adherents but all kinds of dissent and religious faith in China.

The MSS and MPS carry out different roles in conjunction with one another. Operations involving foreign countries are the domain of the MSS, while the DSB carries out comparable tasks within Chinas borders.

The MSS and the United States

In 1985, two years after the establishment of the MSS, its ex-ministerial assistant Yu Qiangsheng defected to the United States. The knowledge he revealed resulted in the arrest and suicide of top Chinese spy Larry Wu-Tai Chin.

Yu Qiangsheng was the elder brother of Yu Zhengsheng, former Politburo Standing Committee member and the fourth-highest-ranked man in the Communist Party from 2012 to 2018.

Since the defection, the MSS seemed to be at peace with the Americans; at least, no more scandals were made publicuntil now, that is. The DOJ tried Chinese spy Ji Chaoqun, his handler Xu Yanjun, who was extradited from Belgium, and several other agents. The MSS has re-entered the public spotlight.

The defendants in these three cases were all from the State Security Department of Chinas Jiangsu Province (JSSD), a regional arm of the MSS. They all targeted departments and contractors with connections to American aviation technology.

The three cases demonstrate how the Partys various intelligence departments cooperate in different ways to accomplish the same goal. Stealing American aviation technology is clearly the task of the Jiangsu branch. The JSSD used a variety of methods to carry out its task, including traditional espionage practices such dispatching agents, recruiting experts for direct acquisition of classified information, and hacking.

Of note is the fact that the three men arrested were spies sent abroad by Chinese regional intelligence departments, which shows that not only the national-level MSS engages in overseas espionage.

Military Intelligence

In 2014, the United States prosecuted five Chinese military hackers belonging to APT1, a hacker group ranked number one in advanced persistent threat (APT), a stealthy computer network attack in which a person or group gains unauthorized access to a network and remains there undetected.

Significant here is the Communist Partys military intelligence force, which traces its roots back to the days when the CCPs Red Army was fighting the civil war. Before the reform of the military system, it was mainly comprised of the Second and Third departments of the Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) General Staff Department (GSD). The Second Department of the GSD was responsible for traditional espionage; following military reforms, it became the Intelligence Bureau of the Central Military Commission Joint Staff Department.

The five hackers tried by the U.S. judiciary belonged to the former Second Bureau of the GSDs Third Department in Shanghai. After reforms, the Third Department (Technical Investigation) and the Fourth Department (Radar Division of Electronic Countermeasures) were merged into the Network System Department of the PLA Strategic Support Force (PLASSF or SSF). The reformed department is responsible for cyberwarfare and gathering intelligence.

Chinese military intelligence also has its Intelligence Department of the Central Military Commission Joint Staff Department.

Building an Infrastructure of Espionage to Facilitate Persecution

The CCP has some non-traditional intelligence agencies that also engage in intelligence work. For example, the public security authorities originally focused on repression inside China. After the persecution of Falun Gong in 1999, at least nine provincial and municipal public security departments were authorized to dispatch agents to other countries for the purpose of gathering information about Falun Gong.

Another organization related to the anti-Falun Gong campaign that gathers intelligence for the CCP is the 610 Office.

On June 7, 1999, the then General Secretary of the CCP, Jiang Zemin, said at the Politburo meeting that the Party would set up a Central Leading Group on Dealing with Falun Gong. Informally, this organization is called the 610 Office after the date of its creation three days later that year on June 10.

While the 610 Office, which operates outside the scope of Chinese law, is infamous for its role in the persecution of Falun Gong adherents, its global reach is not well understood. Few know that by setting up channels to surveil Falun Gong practitioners around the world, the 610 Office established a broad network for overseas intelligence.

Before the Beijing Olympics, French investigative reporter Roger Faligot published his book The Chinese Secret Service, From Mao to the Olympic Games. The author interviewed experts from many countries, Chinese defectors, and counterintelligence agencies of various countries. The book specifically describes how under Luo Gan, the hardliner former secretary of the Central Political and Legal Affairs Commission (PLAC or Zhengfawei, one of the CCPs most powerful organizations) and director of the 610 Office, spies from the 610 Office were dispatched around the globe to fight the so-called five poisons of Taiwan independence, Tibetan and Xinjiang activism, Falun Gong, and the Chinese democracy movement.

Germanys counterintelligence agency has also discovered that the 610 office recruited spies to monitor the activities of Falun Gong practitioners in Germany. Though the 610 Office has the specific purpose of attacking Chinese dissidents, the resources it has built up can be repurposed for other forms of intelligence.

Another organization that carries out intelligence functions is the CCPs United Front. Unlike the professional intelligence agencies such as the MSS and the PLA intelligence departments, the United Front uses amateur or non-professional agents to gather information and run operationsa kind of intelligence via mass movements that covers a broad spectrum.

The main method of United Front work is to identify specific targets and build relationships. When a target is befriended, he or she can be co-opted to represent the political interests of the CCP. The target can also become a conduit for professional spies to collect information or provide information directly through the United Front.

United Front activities cover such a broad scope that its mission is relatively vague. Its overall task is to build relationships so as to interfere in another countrys internal affairs by manipulating individuals and institutions in local politics, business, academia, and the like. It takes the characteristics of a mass movement, using many informal and loosely linked operatives. This makes it difficult for counterintelligence agencies to deal with the threat posed by United Front activity.

At the center of these operations is the United Front Work Department of the CCP Central Committee (UFWD), which some Western experts consider a bona fide intelligence agency. Some organizations that are linked to the United Front, such as the Thousand Talents Program, aid in intellectual property theft from the United States as it recruits scientists and other high-value individuals to work in China. ,

For example, Hongjin Tan, who was arrested in Oklahoma on Dec 20, probably belongs to this category. Hongjin Tan allegedly stole trade secrets related to a product worth more than $1 billion from his U.S.-based petroleum company employer, to use for the benefit of a Chinese company where he was offered employment, said Assistant Attorney General Demers.

Another typical case is Yang Chunlai, former president of the Association of Chinese Scientists and Engineers (ACSE). The ACSE was founded in Chicago in 1992 and has members in more than 20 states in the United States. At the end of May 2006, Yang attended the third year of Study Workshop for Young and Middle-aged Chinese Persons in Charge of Overseas Chinese Associations in Beijing, organized by The Overseas Chinese Affairs Office of the State Council (OCAO).

The OCAO is a branch of the United Front operating within Chinas State Council. In the institutional reform of 2018, it was openly transferred to the UFWD. In 2007, Yang spoke at the 4th World Overseas Chinese Association Conference held by the OCAO, saying that its not necessary to return to China to serve for the country.

We now have 1,500 registered members, and about one third have American citizenship. Through the connection between friends and family members, we estimate that we can affect 500 votes. Yang himself was also a member of the Overseas Expert Advisory Committee of the OCAO, indicating his connection to United Front work.

On July 1, 2011, Yang was arrested by the FBI when he had already bought a ticket to China scheduled for a week later. He pleaded guilty to the charge of stealing trade secrets from Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME), where he had worked for 11 years. He planned to cooperate with the Chinese company, Zhangjiakou Chemical and Electronic Commodity Exchange.

It was initially estimated that his theft could result in a loss of $50 million in CME. In the end, the judge made passed a more lenient verdict on the grounds that the initial estimated loss was too high, and because of Yangs supposed long-term contributions to the community, including the Chinese community.

In fact, as a representative of the United Front, Yangs purpose in serving the Chinese community was only to build intelligence and political assets for the Communist Party.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
In this undated image released by the State Library and Archives of Florida, Lake County Sheriff Willis McCall, far left, and an unidentified man stand next to Walter Irvin, Samuel Shepherd and Charles Greenlee, from left, in Florida. (State Library and Archives of Florida/AP)

Florida Pardons 4 Black Men Falsely Accused of 1949 Rape

TALLAHASSEEAfter a dramatic, hourlong meeting that recalled events from nearly seven decades ago, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and the states three-member Cabinet granted posthumous pardons on Jan. 11, to four African-American men accused of raping a white woman in a 1949 case now seen as a racial injustice.

The case of the men known as the Groveland Four has been documented in a book and is considered a blight on Floridas history. One of the four was killed before he could be charged and the other three were convicted on dubious evidence.

The families of the men accused of the assault told DeSantis and the Cabinetmeeting as the clemency boardthat there is overwhelming evidence the men were innocent and there was no rape. The woman who was 17 when she said she was raped, sat in a wheelchair and later told Gov. DeSantis and the Cabinet the rape did indeed happen, saying she was dragged from a car, had a gun put to her head and was told not to scream or they would blow your brains out.

At one point, the two sides briefly clashed. Beverly Robinson, a niece of one of the Groveland Four, was speaking to the governor and the Cabinet when she turned to the woman and her sons.

It never happened. You all are liars, Robinson said.

Thats enough out of you, the woman said.

I know its enough out of me. Its always enough when youre telling the truth, Robinson replied.

The unanimous vote to pardon came almost two years after the state House and Senate voted to formally apologize to relatives of the Groveland Four and to ask then-Gov. Rick Scott to pardon the men. Scott, now a U.S. senator, never took action. DeSantis replaced Scott on Tuesday and made the pardons a priority.

I dont know that theres any way you can look at this case and think that those ideals of justice were satisfied. Indeed, they were perverted time and time again, and I think the way this was carried out was a miscarriage of justice, DeSantis said.

The ordeal began in Lake County in 1949, when the then-17-year-old said she had been raped. Three of the men were arrested and severely beaten; a fourth, Ernest Thomas, fled.

A posse of about 1,000 men was formed to hunt down Thomas. He was shot 400 times when they found him sleeping under a tree. White residents also formed a mob and went to a black neighborhood, burning houses and firing guns into homes in a disturbance that took days to quell.

Charles Greenlee, Walter Irvin, and Samuel Shepherd were convicted by an all-white jury. Other evidence that could have exonerated themsuch as a doctors conclusion that the teen probably wasnt rapedwas withheld at their trial. Greenlee was sentenced to life, and Irvin and Shepherd to death.

Thurgood Marshall, later the first African-American justice on the U.S. Supreme Court, took up Irvin and Shepherds appeals for the NAACP, and in 1951 the U.S. Supreme Court ordered new trials.

Just before those trials began, Lake County Sheriff Willis McCall shot Irvin and Shepherd, claiming the handcuffed men tried to escape as he transferred them from prison to a jail. Shepherd died. Irvin was shot in the neck and survived despite an ambulance refusing to transport him because he was black. He was again convicted, even though a former FBI agent testified that prosecutors manufactured evidence against him.

Florida Lake County Sheriff Willis McCall stands over Walter Irvin and Samuel Shepherd after shooting them in custody in 1951, while they were awaiting retrials. (State Library and Archives of Florida) https://t.co/DURGqCFiwt #GrovelandFour pic.twitter.com/ZcUMQ6M7lr  Ian Young (@ianjamesyoung70) January 11, 2019

Charges were never brought against any white law enforcement officers or prosecutors who handled the cases.

Irvin was paroled in 1968 and found dead in his car while returning to Lake County for a funeral a year later.

Greenlee was paroled in 1960 and died in 2012.

Greenlees daughter, Carol Greenlee, told DeSantis and the Cabinet that there was overwhelming evidence that her father was innocent.

He was accused, put in jail and tortured for something he didnt do, she said.

It took 70 years for justice to prevail. Florida's governor and clemency board Friday posthumously pardoned the so-called Groveland Four, four African American men who were falsely accused of raping a white woman in 1949. Heres @BojorquezCBS https://t.co/BoVc57SPZi pic.twitter.com/swj7otLatK  CBS Evening News (@CBSEveningNews) January 11, 2019

The woman who said she was raped disputed the families stories.

Yall just dont know what kind of horror Ive been through for all these many years, she said. I dont want them pardoned, no I do not, and you wouldnt neither. I know (Robinson) called me a liar, but Im not no liar.

Afterward, state Sen. Gary Farmer, who sponsored the 2017 resolution apologizing to the families, said the womans comments were disappointing.

Shes now here at the end of her life and she had a chance to come clean, to seek forgiveness for herself and to support the justice these four families and these four men deserve, Farmer said. Its very said that she lost this opportunity and continues to perpetuate this lie. This crime did not happen. The evidence is overwhelming.

Members of the Greenlee family met with reporters after the vote. Carol Greenlee said while the family is grateful for the pardon, she wants her father exonerated.

I started out with two goals in mind. One, for the world to know the truth, and that is my father is not a rapist. The second was to clear his name, so his children, his grandchildren and nieces, and nephews would not continue to walk around with this stigma, with the shame, she said. Those two things were accomplished. And the complete exoneration will close the gap. Thats our mission.

Despite the pain the family went through, Greenlees brother, Wade, said his parents always taught their children to love and not hate.

If I had an opportunity this morning, I would have told the accuser that the Greenlee family has forgiven her a long time ago. We have no hate against her because we were taught differently, he said.

By Brendan Farrington
Jayme Closs, 13, right, with her aunt Jennifer Smith, in a photograph taken on Jan. 11, 2019, one day after Closs escaped from captivity in Gordon, Wis. (Jennifer Smith)

First Picture of Jayme Closs After Rescue Shows Her Reunited With Aunt, Dog

The first picture of previously-missing Wisconsin teenager Jayme Closs following her escape from captivity shows her with her aunt and her dog.

Closs emerged from some woods in the small community of Gordon on Jan. 10, appealing for help from locals, who kept her safe at a house while police officers rushed to the scene.

Her alleged captor, 21-year-old Jake Patterson, was soon captured driving nearby.

The image of Closs was taken just one day after rescuers described her as dirty and wearing shoes too big for her. It shows her with Jennifer Smith, one of Closss aunts, and the girls dog Molly. Closs is smiling and has both hands on her dog, holding up the canine so she fits in the selfie picture.

Smith, a sister of Closss mother Denise Closs, will act as the teens legal guardian since both her parents were killed.

Jennifer Havorson, a close friend of Closss aunts and one of the administrators for the Facebook group Light the Way Home for Jayme, told People magazine that the teen is so glad to be home.

And she is obviously thrilled to have her dog. Her dog was everything to her, Haverson said. She wanted a dog forever. She had begged and begged [her mother] Denise to get a dog. And finally, Denise caved. That dog was super important to her.

While the girls parents are gone, Havorson said that the teen is close to both of her aunts.

Shes glad to have her dog back and get settled. Shes very close to her two aunts, Jennifer and Sue. Jennifer babysat for her all the time in her daycare that she ran. And they had daily contact. Her aunts were almost second moms, she said.

A Ghost

Closs went missing on Oct. 15, 2018. Law enforcement officers responding to a 911 call found her parents shot dead and the girl missing from the familys home in Barron.

Despite the search expanding nationwide and tips pouring in, officials had few leads in the case and said the town of Gordon wasnt on their radar.

Closs escaped from imprisonment on Thursday and found dogwalker Joanne Nutter, a social worker.

This lady immediately went to a nearby house and notified that neighbor of the claim and this neighbor called 911 and my deputies responded en masse immediately and identified Jayme as the person who approached the neighbor, Douglas County Sheriff Tom Dolbeck said at a press conference on Friday.

Nutter said she was scared but knew she had to act. I was terrified, but I didnt want to show her that, Nutter told The Associated Press. She just yelled please help me I dont know where I am. Im lost.

She said she took the girl to a home other than her own because her own house was too close to the house at which shed been held. My only thought was to get her to a safe place, she added.

Nutter took Closs to the home of Kristin and Peter Kasinskas. Kristin Kasinskas, a teacher, was at home around 4 p.m. when Nutter frantically knocked at their door.

Kasinskas saw the woman standing with a skinny, dirty girl. This is Jayme Closs! Call 911! the neighbor said. Kasinskas did.

Peter Kasinskas said that Jayme was quiet, her emotions pretty flat, while the family waited with her for about 20 minutes inside their home as police officers rushed to the scene.

Kristin Kasinskas said that the couple offered her water and food but she declined both. They introduced her to their new puppy. Jayme told them she didnt know where she was.

I honestly still think Im dreaming right now. It was like I was seeing a ghost, Peter Kasinskas said. It was scary and awesome at the same time. My jaw just went to the floor.

From NTD News
Film Review: Rust Creek: Red Riding Hood Knows Jiu-Jitsu

R | 1h 48min | Drama, Thriller | 4 January 2019 (USA)

Rust Creek is Little Red Riding Hood set in the Kentucky Appalachians, where instead of wearing a red cloak, she drives a red SUV, and the big, bad wolf is a couple of hairy, backwoods meth-cooking hicks.

Red Riding Hood, in this telling, is Sawyer (Hermione Corfield), a college student, who is off to visit her grandmother. Im sorryoff to a job interview in Washington, D.C.

Too much highway traffic! Take the shortcut! The GPS cant deal with the detours and reroutes her hither and thither, deeper into the somber maze of Kentucky hill country.

No good can come of this, obviously; its the standard hillbilly-horror opening gambit, and here its hugely boring for a good 25 minutes, coupled with the weighty dread of meeting the inevitable wolf, er, wolves. Red Riding Hood is so pretty and blond, after all.

But, theres a nice little surprise. Allow me a quick tangent: I recall the time I was asked by a fellow staffer of the Mankind Projects New Warrior Training Adventure to come and give a talk at his daughters graduation ceremony about the miseries of trying to be an artist in Manhattan. (She had artistic dreams, and he was a hedge-fund accountant.)

Afterward, a pretty little blond female person came up to me and told me she might also want to be an actor. I asked, What other hobbies do you have? Her 18-year-old self said, I have a second-degree black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu. I immediately thought, Aha! You go, girl-child!

Girls today are not so Little Red Riding Hood-ish. Some of them can seriously kick your behind (like the lovely, kind, beautiful, sweet Holly HolmUFC bantamweight champion). Which is a good, fun, new aspect to the telling. And logical, since the makers of this movie are all women.

Ive always said, had I had some daughters, I would have, instead of sitting on the porch with a shotgun on prom night, had my girls in jiu-jitsu classes at age 3, and theyd have been extremely proficient with a side arm come high school graduation.



More Synopsis

So when Sawyer Riding Hood gets out of the SUV to spread an old-school paper map on the hood, a couple of local yahoosHollister (Micah Hauptman) and Buck (Daniel R. Hill)in the classic pickup stop to help, and end up inviting her back to their shack to party.

Lets just say they dont manage to get their filthy paws on her, and soon shes running away from the wolves. She might be limping from a massive leg wound, but theyre plenty dinged up too. I enjoyed that.

Unfortunately, Sawyers dad didnt have the foresight I do; he didnt also enroll his girl-child in Tom Brown Jr.s tracking, wilderness survival, and nature awareness courses. And so there she is in the freezing Kentucky woods, with no knowledge of how to build a leaf hut or make fire with a hand drill.

As luck would have it, she happens upon Lowell (Jay Paulson), a Kentucky-holler manufacturer of controlled substances. Hes not a talkative dude. He fixes her leg wound. He also ties her to the steam pipe. Out of the frying pan, into the meth lab? Maybe.

Everybody knows everybody in the holler (mountain hollow), so her two would-be rapists eventually show up and sniff around, noting (in that scary, smarter-than-you-think-they-are fashion) that Lowell usually invites them in for a beer, but for some interesting reason, hes now greeting them on his porch.

So Sawyer and Lowell kinda become friends; hes essentially kind, displays great courage, stoicism, ingenuity, and protection, and is an endearing backwoods monastic seeker of sorts. Lowell basically steals the whole movie.

A good example is when hes questioned about whether he would prefer a room full of pennies or a stack of pennies as high as the Empire State Building. He would choose the stack, because what a sight that would be: a stack of pennies, reaching into the heavens. Nobodyd ever have witnessed such a thing. People would come from miles around just to see it.

What else? Oh yeah, dont trust the local constabulary.

Should You Go See This Movie?

As mentioned, the first 25 minutes is watching grass grow and paint dry. Its a testament to director Jen McGowan, the degree to which shes able to get some fairly decent storytelling going after such a bad start. But its this bad start that requires me to advisewait for it on Netflix. Its not any kind of bang for your buck.

Whats good is the landscape portrait of bleak, November-ish Kentucky woods. Thats not particularly exciting, but if you get yourself in a visual appreciation mode, youll raise a glass to the cinematography.

On the downside, if youre sensitive to details such as the protagonist, dressed in jeans and a thin sweater, not shivering even a little bit in the freezing-enough-to-form-icicles woods, then its a tad disappointing.



Then theres the aspect of Red Riding Hood having an ever-so-slightly entitled, snotty attitude. Just a trace. There are tears, but one senses a sort of Ugh! If only my stupid GPS hadnt messed up, I wouldnt be here with these stupid people! attitude. Which makes her ever so slightly less easy to root for than if she was more like the real Red Riding Hood.

But then, apparently, the whole thesis of this telling is: Girls dont have to be helpless and apologetic anymore; they can have a smartphone calendar, GPS, and an ambitious agenda. They can head-butt you in the face if you get in the way. Good for them.

Director McGowan has definitely herewith put herself on the map. And much like Jennifer Lawrences debut in Winters Bone (about a similar, down-and-out, scraping-by hill community in late November-ish southwest Missouri) Hermione Corfield is going to get noticed.

Winters Bone is the superior work, and Lawrence is the superior actress, not to mention the portrayals of a pack of brutal, clannish women therein, headed up by actress Dale Dickey, and John Hawkess truly scary turn as a coke-dealing uncle.

But Rust Creek is a companion piece and readily joins its hillbilly horror/thriller, illicit Appalachian drugs/moonshine kin, along with Deliverance (1972), Lawless (2012), Out of the Furnace (2013), Child of God (2013), and The World Made Straight (2015), to name a few.

Rust Creek

Director: Jen McGowan

Starring: Hermione Corfield, Denise Dal Vera, Jeremy Glazer, Micah Hauptman, Daniel R. Hill, Jay Paulson, Sean OBryan

Rated: R

Running time: 1 hour, 48 minutes

Release Date: Jan. 4

Rated 3 stars out of 5
DALLASMichael Keegan, a business owner in realty development and brokerage, was given a ticket by a friend to see Shen Yun Performing Arts in Dallas, Texas.

It is very nice treat, Keegan said on Jan. 11 at the Winspear Opera House. I have wanted to see it for sometime.

Shen Yun was formed in 2006 in New York with the mission of reviving the true culture of China, almost lost in China itself, and sharing it with the world. Each year they tour with a new production and all new stories drawn from Chinas vast and rich history.

Through classical Chinese dance, a live symphony orchestra with Chinese and Western instruments, and solo musical performances, Shen Yun brings a civilization to the stage that has was once almost lost.

I like the stories, said Keegan. I like the culture, how they took us through a time period over many hundreds of years. And I also think it was very relevant today how such great culture is oppressed to some degree, where they can not even enjoy their own culture.

Chinese people in China cannot see Shen Yun. In its 13 years of touring, Shen Yun has never traveled there. It would be too dangerous given that China is currently ruled by the Chinese Communist Party, which has persecuted and smothered the traditional 5,000-year culture, its spirituality and values, in the land where they originated. The art company members, including many young performers, could face imprisonment, torture, and even death if they were to go China, because of their dedication to their traditional culture. Each year, Shen Yun includes a story or two set in modern China to help audience members understand the situation.

I mean, you know, you hear, but to be told in story form, it really touched my heart, said Keegan, because it is such a wonderful culture.

Keegan enjoyed exploring the culture through Shen Yun.

I liked the aspect that there is a tribute to the art, but also to the deity, and also to the culture. It is telling the complete story of people, through dance, and through music, and comedy.

For the long expanse of Chinese history, the spiritual values of the culture found shape through each dynasty, and Shen Yun shows this via music and dance. Keegan resonated with the spirituality he saw.

I am a strong believer in my faith, and I also noticed that when theyve talked about the deity, He was capitalized, which I see in my faith also, where we capitalize Gods name. And so, it is a form of a worship as well, the dance, I saw that.

Keegan searched for the perfect word, and said that Shen Yun was inspiring.

It brought what I refer to as a peace that could pass all understanding through, no matter which you are going through, he said.

Something to focus on and look forward to and look for greater answers.

With reporting by Diane Gao and Carrie Gilkison.

The Epoch Times considers Shen Yun Performing Arts the significant cultural event of our time and has covered audience reactions since the companys inception in 2006.
Brave New Canadian: Runaway Saudi Woman Reaches New Home

TORONTOTired but smiling, an 18-year-old Saudi runaway who said she feared death if deported back home arrived on Jan. 12, in Canada, which had offered her asylum in a case that attracted global attention after she mounted a social media campaign.

This is Rahaf Alqunun, a very brave new Canadian, Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland said arm-in-arm with the Saudi woman in Torontos airport.

Rahaf Mohammed Alqunun smiled broadly as she exited an airport arrival door sporting a Canada zipper hoodie and a U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees hat, capping a dramatic week that saw her flee her family while visiting Kuwait and before flying to Bangkok. From there, she barricaded herself in an airport hotel to avoid deportation and tweeted about her situation.

She's here! But she wasn't allowed to meet her friends. I couldn't even hand her the bouquet, which I had to fling at her. Minister @caFreeland took a good catch. Good luck girl and thanks again to Minister Freeland & PM @JustinTrudeau. #FreeRahaf  Video @A_Shahz pic.twitter.com/C18urtKV7v  Tarek Fatah (@TarekFatah) January 12, 2019

On Friday, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced that Canada would accept Alqunun as a refugee. Her situation has highlighted the cause of womens rights in Saudi Arabia, where several women fleeing abuse by their families have been caught trying to seek asylum abroad in recent years and returned home.

Freeland said Alqunun preferred not to take questions Saturday.

It was a pleasure for me this morning to welcome her to her new home, Freeland said. She is obviously very tired after a long journey and she preferred to go and get settled. But it was Rahafs choice to come out and say hello to Canadians. She wanted Canadians to see that shes here, that shes well and that shes very happy to be in her new home.

Freeland said Alqunun commented about the cold weather and she responded that it gets warmer in Canada.

Alqunun flew to Toronto via Seoul, South Korea, according to Thai immigration Police Chief Surachate Hakparn. Alqunun tweeted two pictures from her plane seatone with what appears to be a glass of wine and her passport and another holding her passport while on the plane with the hashtag I did it and the emojis showing plane, hearts and wine glass.

Canadas decision to grant her asylum could further upset the countrys relations with Saudi Arabia.

Saudi teen Rahaf Mohammed Al-Qunun has been granted asylum in Canada. "We have accepted the UN's request that we grant her asylum," Canadian PM Justin Trudeau said pic.twitter.com/SosA0GsE9f  TicToc by Bloomberg (@tictoc) January 11, 2019

In August, Saudi Arabia expelled Canadas ambassador to the kingdom and withdrew its own ambassador after Canadas Foreign Ministry tweeted support for womens right activists who had been arrested. The Saudis also sold Canadian investments and ordered their citizens studying in Canada to leave.

No country, including the United States, spoke out publicly in support of Canada in that spat with the Saudis. Freeland didnt address what Alqununs case would mean to Saudi relations.

Canada believes very strongly in standing up for human rights throughout the world. We believe very strongly that womans rights are human rights, Freeland said.

Canada is gravely concerned about additional arrests of civil society and womens rights activists in #SaudiArabia, including Samar Badawi. We urge the Saudi authorities to immediately release them and all other peaceful #humanrights activists.  Foreign Policy CAN (@CanadaFP) August 3, 2018

There was no immediate Saudi government reaction, nor any mention of her arrival in state media.

Freeland said the U.N. refugee agency found she was in a dangerous situation in Thailand and that Canada is glad they were able to act quickly to offer her refuge.

Alqununs father arrived in Bangkok on Tuesday, but his daughter refused to meet with him.

The office of the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees welcomed Canadas decision.

The quick actions over the past week of the government of Thailand in providing temporary refuge and facilitating refugee status determination by UNHCR, and of the government of Canada in offering emergency resettlement to Ms. Alqunun and arranging her travel were key to the successful resolution of this case, the agency said in a statement.

Several other countries, including Australia, had been in talks with the U.N.s refugee agency to accept Alqunun, Surachate said.

She chose Canada. Its her personal decision, he said.

Australian media reported that UNHCR had withdrawn its referral for Alqunun to be resettled in Australia because Canberra was taking too long to decide on her asylum.

When referring cases with specific vulnerabilities who need immediate resettlement, we attach great importance to the speed at which countries consider and process cases, a UNHCR spokesperson in Bangkok told The Associated Press in an email reply on condition of anonymity because the person wasnt authorized to discuss the case publicly.

Canadas ambassador had seen her off at the airport, where Alqunun thanked everyone for helping her. She plans to start learning more English, though she already speaks it passably well.

Alqunun was stopped Jan. 5 at Bangkoks Suvarnabhumi Airport by immigration police who denied her entry and seized her passport.

She barricaded herself in an airport hotel room where her social media campaign got enough public and diplomatic support that Thai officials admitted her temporarily under the protection of U.N. officials, who granted her refugee status Wednesday.

Surachate said her fatherwhose name has not been releaseddenied physically abusing Alqunun or trying to force her into an arranged marriage, which were among the reasons she gave for her flight. He said Alqununs father wanted his daughter back but respected her decision.

He has 10 children. He said the daughter might feel neglected sometimes, Surachate said.

Phil Robertson, deputy Asia director of Human Rights Watch, cited Alqununs courage and perseverance.

This is so much a victory for everyone who cares about respecting and promoting womens rights, valuing the independence of youth to forge their own way, and demanding governments operate in the light and not darkness, he said in a statement.

By Rob Gillies
Professor Warren may be a frequent beer drinker  her favorite is Michelob Ultra, which alone may cost her some votes  but Harvard professors would appear more natural holding a glass of pinot noir.

Progressives are drawn to Sanders because he seems genuine; Warrens efforts to appear genuine only make her appear less so.

Third, her claim to be part Native American, which has been largely dismissed and widely ridiculed, may not be her only exaggeration.

For better or worse, every serious presidential candidate becomes the target of opposition research, examining every detail of a candidates background.

Warren was once a Republican. Will researchers discover actions or statements that contradict her claims to progressivism?

If she handles future revelations as poorly as she has her Native American claim, she may be done for.

Elizabeth Warren is a successful, intelligent woman who worked her way up from a lower-middle class childhood. She has a good narrative.

But presidential campaigns are about energizing voters and attracting hundreds of millions of dollars in campaign contributions. If a candidate cant do those things, then he or she needs to bow out early.
October 28, 1929 - January 9, 2019

Joy Childs Davison was born in Marlin, Texas on October 28, 1929. She was one of 9 children. When asked what Joy was like as a girl her mother would smile, shake her head and say "That Joy!" Joy was a sparkler, a cheerleader, and a jitterbug queen.

She married the love of her life, Dick Davison, in July of 1951. The love and romance they sustained were practically legend for their nearly 57 years of marriage.

The young couple moved to Snyder, Texas where they had their first two children. Snyder wasn't Joy's vision of heaven, but she supported Dick who was an engineer for Lyon Oil Company. When Dick began graduate school at Texas A&M, they moved to Bryan, Texas, where they had their third child. Joy treasured and nurtured her young children and ran the home while Dick was in graduate school. She typed his thesis and dissertation for his Master's and Phd in Chemical Engineering and most probably corrected his memorable spelling.
A Navasota High School teacher has been placed on administrative leave following accusations of improper conduct with a student.

According to Navasota ISD Superintendent Stu Musick, a tip had been submitted late Thursday regarding a female Navasota High School teacher having an improper relationship with a high school student.

The district placed the teacher on paid leave, contacted local police and began conducting an investigation of their own.

I can go ahead and share with you that this teacher will not be back at Navasota High School or Navasota ISD, Musick said.

Navasota police have opened a criminal investigation, though as of Friday afternoon no charges had been filed or arrests made.

Musick said the districts preliminary review suggests that if any inappropriate acts occurred between the two, the events happened off campus and after school hours.

Details of the investigation are yet to be released.
"I'll have to start making minimal payments on it, things like that. Honestly, it's kind of scary. I don't really know what's going to happen."

Though funding for disasters is done differently than the rest of the Department of Homeland Security, he said, if the shutdown lasts a year, there may not be funding for disasters, either. Much of that response will be up to FEMA partners, many of which are nonprofits that rely on federal support for disaster relief.

"Right now, 800,000 federal workers, they're seeing the brunt of it, but as this progresses, more and more of the general public are going to start seeing it too, and it's not going to be good," he said, citing unpaid TSA employees and citizens who depend on government aid for basic needs, such as food and housing.

Easterwood Airport

The Transportation Security Officers seen by travelers at the security checkpoint at Easterwood Airport are also among the government employees considered "essential."

They may get back pay, said Joshua Abramson, manager for Easterwood Airport Management, but there is not any payroll for those 10 to 15 officers to receive.
"The Gatesville explosion led us to assist with the San Marcos apartment fire," Bjune said. "Some of it's because of our education... We can provide technical assistance on these smaller jobs. Those deployments were just a couple of days long, as opposed to Hurricane Harvey, which lasted weeks. We were able to keep those [fellow first responders] safer."

TX-TF1 can be deployed both by Texas leadership or by the U.S. president as an extension of the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

Bjune said the expected 2019 weather patterns will keep the group busy this year. Bjune also pointed out that the government shutdown in Washington, D.C., won't stop TX-TF1 boots from hitting the ground this year if needed.

Each year, when the task force performs federally funded missions, they operate on funding saved from the year prior. FEMA will remain operational for the duration of the year, he said, and the shutdown could theoretically only affect the 2020 year. Additionally, TX-TF1 is also backed by the Texas Legislature.

"We have responded to events during every month of the year, including tornadoes in December and flooding in April," TX-TF1 director Jeff Saunders is quoted as saying in the TEEX release. "Eighty percent of our deployments are water-related, and at least a third of our deployments have been outside hurricane season. For this reason, we train year-round so we can respond at a moment's notice, regardless of the 'season.' When we respond, our goal is to do the most good for the most people in the least amount of time."

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According to the Texas A&M University Police, officers responded to two theft reports on the afternoon of Oct. 18. One person reported a cellphone had been stolen from the Memorial Student Center, while another reported a stolen bicycle from apartments near campus. As police took the reports, dispatchers were contacted by a cellphone repair shop on Texas Avenue.

The employee said a man entered the shop and asked to have a phone repaired. As the employee was working on the device, he noticed several missed calls. The employee returned one of the calls and spoke with the phone's owner, who said it had been stolen. Police arrived at the repair shop and spoke with the man who had brought in the phone, later identified as Sangaray, who said he found the device. As police spoke with him, Sangaray ran into the parking lot. He was tackled by two officers who received scrapes, cuts and bruises as they wrestled him into submission, police said. Sangaray and the two officers were taken to the hospital and treated. It was later determined Sangaray had been in possession of the stolen bicycle, a report notes.
A Bryan man has been sentenced to 15 years in prison in a crash that left a mother of two dead, officials said.

According to the Brazos County District Attorneys Office, Juan Hernandez, 25, pleaded guilty to intoxication manslaughter.

On March 11, 2018, he was driving nearly 100 miles per hour while intoxicated on Texas 21 near the intersection of Texas 6 when he collided with a car driven by 23-year-old Mayte Gaitan, who was attempting to enter a McDonalds parking lot, officials said. She died at the scene.

Despite being injured and having heavy damage to his vehicle, officials said he drove away from the scene, but a witness pursued him until Hernandezs car broke down about a mile away. Analysis of Hernandezs blood showed his blood alcohol limit was about twice the legal limit of 0.08.

He had been charged in 2015 on a driving while intoxicated charge out of Robertson County, and had finished probation on that charge in February 2017.
Melanie joined The Daily Times in the early 90s and has served as the Life section editor since 1993. A William Blount and UT alum, Melanie is generally the early arriver who turns on the lights in the newsroom.

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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
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo told Fox News in an interview to air on January 11 that the meeting would "focus on Middle East stability and peace and freedom and security here in this region, and that includes an important element of making sure that Iran is not a destabilizing influence."

The State Department said there were strong shared interests in Middle East stability.

"The ministerial will address a range of critical issues including terrorism and extremism, missile development and proliferation, maritime trade and security, and threats posed by proxy groups across the region," it said.

US President Donald Trump's top diplomat is visiting a number of Middle Eastern countries this week in an effort to shore up support in the region amid a number of ongoing fronts, from the US troop withdrawal from Syria to the Saudi-Qatar rift to the killing of US-based Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi.

Pompeo, in the midst of his eight-day trip through the region, has said that the United States is "redoubling" its efforts to put pressure on Iran and sought to convince allies in the region that it was committed to fighting the Islamic State despite Trump's recent decision to pull US troops out of Syria.

Pompeo told Fox News the summit would include representatives from countries around the world to address Iran's regional influence as the Trump administration has sought to pressure Tehran.

Trump withdrew the United States from the 2015 Iran nuclear accord and moved to reimpose sanctions on Tehran, even as other partners in the deal, including China, France, Germany, Russia and the United Kingdom, have sought to maintain the deal.

In a shift earlier this week, the European Union moved to impose some sanctions on Iran.
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Washington: The US military has started withdrawing some equipment, but not yet troops, from Syria as part of President Donald Trump's order to wind down that battleground against the Islamic State group, amid continuing confusion over plans to disengage from one of the Middle East's most complex conflicts.

Two Defence Department officials said on Friday the number of US troops might actually increase slightly in Syria, to help protect the final process of pulling out  an operation that is still expected to take at least four to six months to complete.

There are about 2000 troops  mostly Army soldiers and Marines  in north-east Syria or in the Middle Euphrates River Valley to oust the remaining pockets of Islamic State fighters and secure newly liberated areas from their return. A vaguely worded statement from the US military headquarters in Baghdad, which is overseeing the fight against the Islamic State, said the withdrawal process from Syria had begun.

Last month, officials said, Trump said he intended to pull out US troops within 30 days. But as recently as January 6, the White House national security adviser, John Bolton, had said the pullout was conditional  based on circumstances that could leave US forces there for months or even years.
Bucharest: European Union officials are working with Britain on ways to help Prime Minister Theresa May avoid a no-deal departure, although an EU leader insists his helping hand won't include any renegotiation of the Brexit divorce deal.

As speculation grew that Britain might have to delay its exit beyond the March 29 deadline, European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker said "we are checking with Downing Street what the clarifications could amount to" that might help May get her Brexit deal approved by Britain's parliament.

Juncker added: "They should not be confused with a renegotiation." He is, however, reported to have promised to try to limit the highly contentious Irish "backstop" to one year.

The government is also said to be attempting to win round support from Northern Irelands Democratic Unionist party by warning that a no-deal Brexit could lead to a referendum on Irish reunification  the outcome the anti-independence DUP most fears.
Yangon: A Myanmar court has rejected the appeal of two Reuters reporters sentenced to seven years in jail on charges of breaking the Official Secrets Act, saying the defence had not provided sufficient evidence to show they were innocent.

Wa Lone, 32, and Kyaw Soe Oo, 28, were convicted by a lower court in September in a landmark case that has raised questions about Myanmar's progress towards democracy and sparked an outcry from diplomats and human rights advocates.

"It was a suitable punishment," said High Court Judge Aung Naing, referring to the seven-year prison term meted out by the lower court.

The defence has the option of making a further appeal to the country's supreme court, based in the capital Naypyitaw.
Summertime, and the living seems easy. But the fish arent jumping in the Darling River basin and the cotton is not as high as it would normally be in central-northern NSW and southern Queensland as horrendous drought conditions grip much of eastern Australia.

How bad is it? Eighty per cent of NSW is officially in drought. Concerns about severity have moved well beyond the obvious and substantial impact on grazing and cropping industries. The big worry now is the critical impact on water reserves, riverine habitats and sub-soil moisture content.

The Bureau of Meteorology says nine of the 10 warmest years have occurred since 2005. Credit:AP

Drinking water is being trucked into Walgett because there is almost no flow in the nearby Barwon and Namoi. South-east of Broken Hill, the Menindee Lakes, an extraordinary chain of freshwater lakes fed by the Darling, contain just three per cent of their capacity  and will probably fall dry this week as temperatures soar above 40 degrees. Near Weir 32, a crucial water-holding and measuring station near the town of Menindee, many thousands of fish perished in recent weeks after extreme temperature changes and toxic algae blooms depleted already low oxygen levels in the water.

Fingers are being pointed up river and down in a bid to lay blame. Cotton irrigators draw too much water, many say. The cotton industry rejects any blame. The water management system is a mess, say others, blaming water authorities for poorly timed and excessive releases from water-holding areas along the Darling.

Think weve been here before? Youre right. It was less than a decade ago. The 2012 Murray-Darling Basin Plan, which was intended to resolve the complex tussle for precious water resources, has failed at its first drought, as a senior water researcher at the Australian Institute aptly noted.

The Bureau of Meteorology last week released data showing 2018 was Australias third-warmest year since a national records database was established in 1907. The bureau says nine of the 10 warmest years have occurred since 2005.
The Holden sedan landed on it's roof after losing control on the Prince's Highway. Credit:Facebook

Police are investigating if speed or illegal racing was involved in a serious Narre Warren crash on Sunday morning.

A Holden sedan carrying four people flipped and landed on its roof after the driver lost control travelling east down the Princes Highway.

The driver, a man aged in his forties, sustained serious injuries and was taken to hospital.
Scientology describes itself as the worlds fastest-growing religion but the organisation's numbers in NSW are dwindling with the church reliant on overseas devotees, defectors claim.

The organisation has properties worth millions across the CBD, Chatswood and Dundas and in 2017, doubled its national revenue to nearly $40 million, the latest published financial records show. But it is struggling to find new recruits in Sydney, defector Paul Schofield said.

"Australian recruits have dwindled to virtually zero as media coverage and access to the Internet has ensured the truth about the cult is well-known here," Mr Schofield said.

The Church of Scientology headquarters in Chatswood.

The church, which was founded by American science fiction writer L. Ron Hubbard, also has a history of altering its membership figures, the defector who spent 30 years in the church rising to become an ordained minister of Scientology said.
The low ATAR scores required to enter university are the foundation of our crumbling education system.

Higher performing, ATAR-focused students are competitive, enjoy learning and work extremely hard. Credit:Joe Armao

It is ironic that universities deny that ATAR scores are a primary measure of academic competency. Those demanding high ATAR scores for teaching in line with law, commerce and medicine have got it right.

These professions require little room for error, good memory, quick ability to adapt and a commitment to professional development. Their aim is to attract the readied mind.

A high ATAR simply weeds out those who are not up to the challenge.
We know the news media love bad news. Sometimes the news really is bad. Sometimes it is overstated to attract attention in a crowded landscape. Sometimes you wonder whose bidding it is doing. Compare these 2018 headlines: Housing crisis deepens as Australian market rated severely unaffordable; Australia faces worsening housing and homelessness crisis; Victorian public housing waiting list at 82,000 and growing by 500 a month, with this weeks ... House prices set to take a beating!

Last year the international thinktank Demographia ranked Sydney and Melbourne among the five most unaffordable major housing markets in the world. Credit:Ken Irwin

Last year the international thinktank Demographia ranked Sydney and Melbourne among the five most unaffordable major housing markets in the world. On the basis of median house price to median household income, Sydney and Melbourne are less affordable than London, New York and San Francisco, on a par only with Hong Kong and Vancouver.

A modest and much-needed price corrective is finally bringing some calm into a two decade-long investor frenzy in Australias major cities. The sustained combination of loose lending practices, low interest rates, unlimited negative gearing and capital gains tax discount on sale had created unprecedented local demand for investment properties.

Added interest from global elites and a burgeoning Chinese middle class was producing in effect an infinite demand for Australian property. No amount of new supply could meet that demand, though this is still lost on those states trying to build their way out of unaffordability.
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Not making us feel bad about our messes is a huge part of her appeal and hits at the basic truth that no one can learn our lessons for us. What doesn't seem necessary is the pseudo-ritual she's concocted to go along with cleaning, which involves holding each item to see if it brings you a "zing!" of joy (Kondo is at her most animated when describing this zing), then thanking each holey sock and sprung-elastic bathing suit before consigning them to rapidly filling garbage bags.

I'm all for gratitude, and I get the notion of revisiting the memory of the great concert you went to as you are bidding fond farewell to the ragged concert T-shirt. Applying that to every item you own seems like a little bit of magical thinking that is bound to ring false when you're looking at your 25th pair of pilled, black underwear. And it's likely to make your cleanup take seven times longer than it needs to.

Kondo's theories also hit a snag when it comes to her main sorting criteria. "Does this item spark joy?" is an OK question to ask, but there's also "does this item replicate the 2000 other Christmas nutcrackers in our rumpus room?" and "does this item represent the tipping point into insanity?"

Kondo nods at the idea that we'd all be better off with less stuff, but she's most intent on building in a way to let ourselves off the hook when we hang on to too much  leaving us to wonder whether some of her subjects are headed for a serious relapse into clutter. (I'd bet on it.)
A large portion of Convention Center Boulevard in New Orleans will be closed for several hours Monday as President Trump visits to deliver a speech at the Farm Bureau convention.

LIVE UPDATES, VIDEO

Convention officials said Trump's speech should start between 11:15 a.m. and 12:45 p.m.

Follow live updates and video of the speech below, as well as updates from a protest planned nearby.

No need to refresh your page. The module below will automatically update when the video goes live.

Can't see video below? Click here.

STREET CLOSURES

Convention Center Boulevard -- from Julia to Henderson streets -- will be closed from 5 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

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BACKGROUND ON VISIT

The visit comes amid a partial shutdown of the federal government and a continued standoff between Trump and Democratic Party leaders in Washington over funding for Trump's proposed barrier along the U.S.-Mexico border.

Developer Joe Canizaro, who served as Louisiana finance co-chair for Trumps 2016 campaign, said a Trump official told him Wednesday the presidents trip to New Orleans will be a quick in-and-out, with no fundraisers planned because of sensitivity around the partial government shutdown.

A number of federal offices have shuttered and hundreds of thousands of federal workers furloughed without pay after Trump and members of Congress couldn't strike a deal on funding for several major agencies, including the Department of State, the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Department of Homeland Security.

Trump is demanding more than $5 billion for the barrier and other border security measures. The president repeatedly pledged to build a wall during campaign rallies but hasn't been able to secure the necessary funding from Congress. Democratic leaders have repeatedly criticized Trump's proposal as ineffective and a symbol of exclusion.
The Catholic Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux on Friday identified 14 priests who have admitted or are suspected by church officials of a wide range of sexual misconduct with minors, from possession of child pornography to rape.

Bishop Shelton Fabres disclosure marked the third time in as many months that a diocese or religious order has published what amounts to an official church roster of alleged abusers in Louisiana ministries.

The Archdiocese of New Orleans released a similar list of 57 disgraced clergymen in early November, while the Jesuit order that oversees priests and other order members in Louisiana released its own list of 42 names last month, including 19 who worked in the New Orleans area.

The disclosures are part of a nationwide reckoning by Catholic leaders attempting to restore trust with parishioners whose faith in the church has been strained by a sexual abuse scandal well into its second decade.

The latest wave of the scandal hit the U.S. with the July release of a Pennsylvania grand jury report that identified hundreds of credibly accused Catholic priests and thousands of victims there  revealing a problem many times larger in scope than previously documented.

Four of the names revealed Friday by the Houma-Thibodaux diocese had previously appeared on the list published by the Archdiocese of New Orleans. Several other priests named on Fridays list were subjects of earlier news accounts about their alleged crimes against children and teens.

Four of the clergymen named have died. The whereabouts of two are unknown, and the rest are not in current active ministry in the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux, according to church officials.

Fabre apologized in a letter addressed to the 42-year-old dioceses flock of about 90,000 Catholics, writing that egregious sins" occurred and that there had been a failure to adequately respond.

I am fully aware that the words Im sorry ring hollow in light of what you have endured, but I apologize on behalf of the Church for damages caused by any cleric who has sinned, said Fabre, who was previously an auxiliary bishop in New Orleans and now leads the fourth-largest of Louisianas seven dioceses.

I apologize if victims and their families ever felt shunned by the church or if any bishop at any time failed to listen to them, Fabre said.

But, as has been common with these releases, the churchs mea culpa Friday quickly came under fire over what the list didnt include.

+4 Houma-Thibodaux names 14 priests accused of sexual misconduct involving children; see list The Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux on Friday named six Catholic priests who admitted or were convicted of sexual misconduct with children as well 

Missing from the list are specifics about the number of victims who had lodged credible accusations against each cleric, or when the alleged abuse occurred.

Though a number of the cases had previously been documented in lawsuits, media reports and the watchdog website bishopaccountability.org, information on other clergy wasnt readily available.

Victims' advocates argue that such omissions complicate efforts to determine whether all victims who require help have gotten it, failing the spirit of transparency that the church says it has embraced since the clergy abuse scandal erupted in earnest in Boston in 2002.

They are continuing the practice of not completely informing parishioners, of being inconsistent by not being fully transparent, and not informing or helping or ensuring the safety of the community, said Tim Lennon, president of the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests.

Lennon on Friday pointed to a scathing report by Attorney General Lisa Madigan in Illinois, who found that Catholic officials there undercounted the number of clergy with credible allegations against them by about 500 priests.

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Fabres letter invited anyone who has suffered unreported abuse to contact victims assistance coordinator Sister Carmelita Centanni.

+11 List of clergy sex abusers in New Orleans archdiocese leaves gaps, questions for survivors The list of alleged clergy sex abusers that New Orleans Archbishop Gregory Aymond released on Friday has foisted difficult questions on local 

Additionally, Fabre said his diocese compiled its list in consultation with a lay review board headed by retired state 1st Circuit Court of Appeal Judge Morris Lottinger Jr. and composed of other law enforcement, legal, medical and social service professionals.

The bishops of all five of the state's other dioceses  including those based in Baton Rouge, Lafayette, Alexandria, Lake Charles and Shreveport  have said they plan to release similar lists.

At least six of the clergymen on the list spent time at Morgan Citys Holy Cross Catholic Church.

They include Lawrence Cavell, who admitted to church leaders that he solicited a minor for sex; Alexander Francisco, who admitted to inappropriately touching a child; and the late Dale Guidry, who pleaded guilty to soliciting a minor online.

The others are Patrick Kujawa, convicted of child pornography possession; Etienne LeBlanc, accused of raping an altar boy; and Daniel Poche, accused of unspecified misconduct with at least one minor.

Four were at St. Francis de Sales Cathedral in Houma: Cavell, Kujawa, Poche and Gerald Prinz, who was also accused of raping a boy.

Of the allegations in the litany of complaints, the most harrowing included testimony by the late Rev. Robert Melancon, a priest ordained in 1962 who served at Annunziata Church in Houma, Sacred Heart in Cut Off and St. Genevieve in Thibodaux before being convicted of molestation in 1996 after prosecutors accused him of a pattern of abuse.

Melancon was convicted of aggravated rape after a jury found him guilty of repeatedly molesting an altar boy of Annunziata, allegedly raping him once a month or every couple of months over a period of nearly six years, starting when the boy was 9.

During the highly publicized trial, Melancon admitted to having an active sexual relationship with another 12-year-old boy while serving as a pastor of St. Genevieve in Thibodaux in the late 1970s and early 80s, according to several reports.

At the time, the case involving the Thibodaux youth was too old to be prosecuted in court. However, the boys mother settled a civil claim made with the diocese for $30,000 before Melancon was transferred  a move that critics at the time said placed other children in danger, according to a report in the Houma Times.

Some of the priests listed Friday had parishioners who supported them even after the allegations arose.

Kujawas flock paid his $100,000 bail after his arrest in 2000 on 62 counts of possession of child pornography. He went on to plead guilty to 15 counts, receiving a suspended sentence.

But four years later, federal investigators searched Kujawas home and found hundreds of photos and videos containing hardcore child pornography, court records show.

He pleaded guilty in the federal case, too, and has remained behind bars since then. He currently lives at Dixon Correctional Institute in Jackson and is due for release in 2022.
Organizers plan to protest U.S. immigration policies and threats of a multi-billion dollar wall construction on the U.S.-Mexico border during President Donald Trump's scheduled stop at the American Farm Bureau's convention in New Orleans on Jan. 14.

The New Orleans Workers Center for Racial Justice and the New Orleans Peoples Assembly plan to declare their own "national emergency"  in the face of Trump's threat to declare a national emergency to build the wall, bypassing Congressional approval  with a protest at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center during Trump's appearance.

His Louisiana stop follows reports that Trump could divert U.S. Army Corps of Engineers flood control funding for several projects in the state to fund the wall's construction.

Organizers point to the irony of potentially pulling billions of dollars earmarked for desperately needed flood control projects to fund the wall, based on a "manufactured crisis" on the border and illegitimate national security threats stoked by Trump's "anti-immigrant vendetta."

The protest also will feature testimony from post-Hurricane Katrina reconstruction workers, who'll discuss the impacts of Trump's policies on their safety and economic security and "break out their clean up gear to remind the American public what happens when the response to a national disaster is negligent."

Another protest also has been planned that day to call on Trump to end the government shutdown.

Convention Center Boulevard from Julia Street to Henderson Street will be closed to traffic from 5 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Trump plan could divert funding from long-sought Louisiana project to build border wall Updated Friday, Jan. 11, with comments from Sen. John Kennedy, R-La., and Rep. Garret Graves, R-Baton Rouge.

Cassidy, Kennedy reintroduce legislation to spend billions on border wall that Mexico was supposed to pay for After President Donald Trump's televised Oval Office address last night in which he repeated his call for a physical border wall separating th
Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, center, comforts flood victim Olive Gordan with her husband Jimmy, right, during tour of their flood damaged home in Denham Springs, Aug. 19, 2016.
President Donald Trump speaks from the Oval Office of the White House as he gives a prime-time address about border security Tuesday, Jan. 8, 2018, in Washington. (Carlos Barria/Pool Photo via AP)
The East Baton Rouge Parish School Board on Thursday advanced guidelines for handling requests for industrial tax exemptions after dropping a controversial provision that would have provided exemptions to projects with a positive impact on the environment but failed to produce at least 15 new permanent, full-time jobs.

The board voted 7-1 in favor of the revised guidelines, with only board member Connie Bernard voting no. Board member Dawn Collins was absent.

A final vote is now set for the boards Jan. 17 meeting.

Bernard sought unsuccessfully to amend the guidelines to give the board the option of not holding a public hearing on future exemption requests, though she said it was unlikely the board would do that. Not scheduling a hearing would have the effect of allowing a tax exemption to take effect without public debate.

My change is only to give us more flexibility, Bernard said.

Other board members disagreed, worried that not holding a debate, even on unopposed requests, would spark a public outcry.

+8 Amid sharp criticism, East Baton Rouge School Board defers new guidelines for tax breaks The East Baton Rouge Parish School Board voted unanimously Thursday to put off for a month guidelines for handling requests for industrial tax

The guidelines are the culmination of years of debate over how best to remake Louisianas decades-old Industrial Tax Exemption Program, or ITEP, which gives property tax breaks to manufacturers that plan to spend money on expansions or improvements.

Under new state rules that took effect on Aug. 20, approved projects receive an 80 percent property tax abatement  down from 100 percent previously  over 10 years, instead of eight in an earlier version.

But, in a big change from the past, local taxing authorities now have an opportunity to say yea or nay to the portion of the tax breaks that applies to them. In East Baton Rouge Parish, that includes the School Board as well as the Metro Council and Sheriff's Office.

The changes have sparked intense public and behind-the-scenes debate, pitting business groups favoring fewer restrictions on the exemptions against community activists and school employee organizations that want more limits on when exemptions are granted.

East Baton Rouge Metro Council agrees to hard-fought compromise on industrial tax exemption guidelines The debate over what guidelines the East Baton Rouge Parish Metro Council will use on future industrial tax break requests was settled Wednesday.

The School Boards proposed guidelines are modeled on, but not identical to, guidelines approved Nov. 14 by the Metro Council.

Last month, the faith-based group Together Baton Rouge attacked the School Board's initial draft, saying the differences between it and the Metro Councils language served to "gut the measure entirely and transform it into a rubber stamp."

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The proposed no-new-jobs-needed for environmental projects provision sparked pointed criticism, with Together Baton Rouge arguing that companies could repackage routine upgrades as projects that benefit the environment. Local teacher unions allied with Together Baton Rouge on this issue had similar criticisms.

The reaction on Thursday to the revised guidelines was more positive.

We appreciate that you have taken leadership on this and have addressed our concerns, Edgar Cage, a leader with Together Baton Rouge, told board President Mike Gaudet. We think these standards are now much stronger.

Cage, however, urged the board to make two more changes to the guidelines:

Apply them to ITEP applications submitted after June 24, 2016  the day Gov. John Bel Edwards issued an executive order revamping the program  not Aug. 20, 2018, when a second set of rules went into effect, supplanting Edwards order.

Allow the board to waive the guidelines and reject all ITEP applications if the school system is facing financial difficulty or is in a deficit as is currently the case."

Cage noted that Edwards 2016 order grandfathered in all outstanding requests. He said there are 23 potential ITEP requests in the pipeline that seek to take hundreds of millions of dollars in property off the local tax rolls. These requests could still reach the School Board since they were submitted between Edwards original order and the new rules taking effect, he said.

ExxonMobil drops two tax break applications, wins go-ahead on three others saving it $6.6 million After facing months of opposition from organizers that included a walkout threat from local teachers, ExxonMobil dropped two applications for 

ITEP critics have trained their fire on two Exxon exemption requests that the School Board is scheduled to debate Jan. 17.

In mid-December, the state Board of Commerce and Industry approved the requests over objections from schoolteachers and organizers with Together Baton Rouge, who urged rejecting them because the work was completed in 2017.

Teacher union leaders who spoke Thursday argued that its a bad time to issue any new ITEP exemptions given the school systems poor financial condition. Superintendent Warren Drake has a team looking now for $30 million to $40 million in savings to stave off future red ink.

It makes absolutely no sense to me to approve an exemption for a company like Exxon that is operating in the positive, and were operating in the negative, said Angela Reams-Brown, president of the East Baton Rouge Federation of Teachers.

East Baton Rouge school spending could see 'really painful' cuts of $30-$40 million from budget next year East Baton Rouge Parish Schools Superintendent Warren Drake said Thursday he is looking for ways to trim $30 million to $40 million next schoo

Glenda Pollard, a real estate agent in Baton Rouge, urged caution, saying that if they feel bullied, industrial companies will forego new investment in favor of more welcoming places.

These are wonderful jobs and we need them here and we need them buying houses, not leaving and going to Texas, Pollard said.
Three members on the board that enforces State Police rules are under an internal investigation over possible illegal political donations, allegations that come just a few years after three other members were ousted under similar circumstances.

The three commissioners, including the chairman of the seven-member board, are accused of collectively contributing more than $5,000 to political campaigns during their terms, either personally or through their businesses. State law and board rules prohibit commissioners, along with all state troopers who are classified as state employees, from participating and engaging in political activity, directly or indirectly.

Those constraints, however, have become a reoccurring issue for the board. In 2016, three former commissioners resigned amid an investigation that they had participated in political activity during their terms, namely thousands of dollars in political donations.

The commission, which acts as the civil service board for State Police, has seen significant turnover in recent years as it's been steeped in controversy, most recently amid accusations that former Commissioner Calvin Braxton had fixed tickets and intimidated a trooper.

State Police Commission Chairman Eulis Simien, Jr., and commissioners Jared J. Caruso-Riecke and Chief Harold Pierite, Sr., were accused at the board's monthly meeting on Thursday of making donations that violate the same rules the board is tasked with investigating and reviewing for troopers.

Simien and Caruso-Riecke immediately denied any wrongdoing at the meeting. In an interview on Friday, Pierite said his campaign contributions don't violate commission rules or state law.

+3 Two more State Police commissioners resign over unlawful campaign contributions Three members of a state board in charge of enforcing State Police rules have resigned, two of them on Thursday, because they made campaign co

Former State Police trooper Leon "Bucky" Millet raised concerns about the campaign contributions made by the three commissioners at the board's meeting Thursday.

He asked that they resign or, if they failed to do so, that the governor hold a public hearing on the matter. All three of those accused by Millet were appointees of Gov. John Bel Edwards, whose office did not return request for comment Friday.

While Simien and Caruso-Riecke have not personally made campaign contributions during their terms, contributions were made by their companies, according to Louisiana Ethics Administration records.

Simien and Simien LLC, which Simien listed on his financial disclosure form as holding a 50 percent interest in, donated $4,917 for the food and drink for an Edwards fundraiser in 2017. The company also donated $250 to East Baton Rouge Council Member Erika Green in 2017, records show.

Caruso-Riecke's company Riecke & Associates, for which Caruso-Riecke is listed as the agent in Louisiana Secretary of State's records, donated $500 in 2017 for catering services for an event for State Rep. Mark Wright, a Republican from St. Tammany Parish.

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I will happily, happily respond to this commission to this false allegation against me," Caruso-Riecke said after he heard the allegations.

Simien asked that each of the members implicated, including himself, do the same.

Three members of Louisiana State Police Commission may be ousted over campaign contribution issue In the latest twist to allegations that a group funded by Louisiana state troopers personal money used a straw donor to bankroll political ca

Pierite's donations are in his name and show donations totaling $120 to the Tunica-Biloxi Indian Political Action Committee in 2017, according to Louisiana Ethics Administration records.

"It's nothing I'm doing wrong," Pierite said in an interview Friday. "I've been doing it for years. It's to a PAC, not a candidate."

While he admitted the PAC does political work, he said it is not against the rules of the commission. All three commissioners said they do not plan to resign.

Simien tasked the commission's Executive Director Jason Hannaman to conduct an investigation into the allegations and report back with the findings. Hannaman, a civilian administrator for the board, said Thursday he hoped to complete the report by next month's meeting.

In 2016, the commission's former executive director hired an outside attorney to investigate prior claims of political donations by commissioners.

Amid loud arguments, Louisiana State Police Commission member resigns, another storms out of meeting At a Louisiana State Police Commission meeting marked by loud arguments Thursday morning, one member tendered his resignation and a second sto

Millet also filed a complaint with the board over an $800 check that the Louisiana Ethics Administration reported came from Louisiana Troopers Charities to the Acadiana Strong Political Action Committee. However, the check is listed on the Ethics Administration's website as void.

"I couldn't believe that would have happened," said Floyd Falcon, the attorney for the Louisiana Troopers Association. "We have trooper charities, we give money away, (but) not to politicians."

He said they are looking into the check, but haven't been able to find its origin as of Friday. The commission plans to address that allegation at February's meeting.
POTTSBORO [ndash] Thelma Irene Toney passed away on June 11, 2021, in Denison, Texas. She was born on Feb. 28, 1924, in Francis, Oklahoma to John Franklin and Essie Akins Scroggins. She attended grade school at Cedar Grove School and then attended and graduated from Francis High School. She 
Earth's magnetic field is constantly moving, and because it is used to properly navigate the planet, scientists need to regularly update the World Magnetic Model (WMM) to account for the shifts in the field.

World Magnetic Model

Scientists update the WMM every five years. WMM is behind modern navigation used by Google Maps, planes, and ships in the sea

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) maintains the key role of the WMM in modern navigation. While GPS is helpful for navigation, it has limitations in that it only provides the position. The magnetic field provides the orientation and the direction one is facing.

The U.S. National Geophysical Data Center released the current version of the WMM in 2015. This should mean that an update is not due until next year.

Erratic Behavior Of Earth's Magnetic Field

For reasons that still baffle scientists, however, the magnetic north pole is acting up. It has been increasingly moving away from Canada and toward Siberia at an erratic rate.

Ciaran Beggan, of the British Geological Survey in Edinburgh, said it moves at about 30 miles per year.

"It didn't move much between 1900 and 1980 but it's really accelerated in the past 40 years," Beggan said.

Earth's magnetic field is generated by unpredictable changes in molten iron deep at the core of the planet. It is not yet clear what is behind the erratic changes in the magnetic field, but some scientists think it has something to do with high-speed jet of liquid iron underneath Canada.

"The location of the north magnetic pole appears to be governed by two large-scale patches of magnetic field, one beneath Canada and one beneath Siberia. The Siberian patch is winning the competition," University of Leeds geomagnetist Phil Livermore said at a meeting of the American Geophysical Union in Washington DC last month.

Rapid Changes In Magnetic Field Call For Earlier Revision Of WMM

The magnetic field is changing so fast researchers have to fix the model soon because navigation error is increasing all the time.

The magnetic field's strange behavior prompted scientists to fix the map earlier. The updated WMM was supposed to be released on Jan. 15, but this was moved to Jan. 30 because of the ongoing government shutdown.

 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Narbonne goes on a late charge to pull out a victory over the Poly boys, while the Poly girls advance to the regional semifinals.
During the Tahlequah Area Chamber of Commerce A.M. Live networking event Friday morning at the First United Methodist Church, Kelly Callaway, business development officer with First State Bank and TACC membership development chair, left, and Gena McPhail, tourism director, announced upcoming events. Some of the 40 attendees brought information about their organizations or businesses.
WASHINGTON - President Donald Trump cast fresh doubt Friday on whether he would declare a national emergency to build a wall along the southern border, leaving lawmakers waiting for the president's next move as the government shutdown was poised to become the longest in U.S. history.

"What we're not looking to do right now is national emergency," Trump said Friday afternoon, surrounded by law enforcement officials at a White House roundtable. "I'm not going to do it so fast."

Trump reasserted his right to build border walls via an emergency declaration, a move that would bypass a deadlocked Congress in which Democrats have blocked any new wall money. But he said he wanted to give lawmakers more time to act and did not offer a timetable for a decision.

The comments marked a shift from earlier Friday when Trump appeared on the brink of declaring a national emergency. The president has said repeatedly in recent days that he might do so, and his administration had asked agencies to begin preparations.

Lawmakers from both parties had speculated that a national-emergency declaration could clear the way for an end to the shutdown that, at 22 days long Saturday, would become the lengthiest the nation has ever endured.

Before the shutdown and since, Trump has floated numerous strategies and potential solutions, only to reverse himself within days, hours or minutes - making it unclear whether his stance Friday would hold or for how long.

But for now, Trump's apparent retreat on the emergency declaration leaves the impasse in place, with no obvious way to resolve it and no real efforts underway to do so.

The Senate adjourned for the weekend on Thursday and House lawmakers left town Friday, with no new negotiations scheduled.

Large parts of the federal government have been without funding since Dec. 22, and the partial shutdown's effects have multiplied as the lapse has dragged on. Friday marked the first missed paycheck for many of the approximately 800,000 federal employees who are furloughed or working without compensation. And the White House has scrambled to find ways to keep the partially shuttered government functioning, a rapidly shifting and often improvised process that has seen the administration reverse past precedent and enter into legally murky territory.

Trump's seeming ambivalence over an emergency declaration mirrors disagreement within his own party.

Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., said he met with Trump on Friday and emerged from the meeting with a clear directive for the president.

"Mr. President, declare a national emergency now," Graham said in a statement. "Build a wall now."

But Trump has gotten sharp pushback from the idea, even from Republicans.

"I think the president should not do it," Sen. Charles Grassley, R-Iowa, told reporters Friday. "I think as a member of Congress I ought to be very selfish about the constitutional powers that we have to appropriate money. I think it might be a bad precedent."

Other prominent Republicans on Friday expressed alarm that Trump might try to divert funds from disaster-recovery projects in places such as Texas and use it to build the border wall. Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, said he vigorously opposed using any of the money that had been appropriated by Congress to clean up damage caused by Hurricane Harvey in 2017.

"We worked very hard to make sure that the victims of Hurricane Harvey, their concerns are addressed and Texas is able to rebuild. And I think we are all together on that," Cornyn said.

Trump's lawyers have also privately warned the president he could be on shaky footing with an emergency declaration, according to people familiar with the discussions who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss private White House communications.

With a White House decision in flux, Congress made no progress toward a deal.

The Democratic-led House held its final votes of the week Friday, including on a measure to ensure that federal workers who are furloughed or working without compensation receive back pay once the government reopens. The bill, which passed the Senate on Thursday, now goes to Trump for his signature. But it would do nothing to direct immediate help to the 800,000 federal employees who are going unpaid, and the thousands of federal contractors who have been impacted by the shutdown may never recoup their losses.

The House also passed another bill that would reopen more shuttered government departments - but it had already been declared dead on arrival in the GOP-controlled Senate because of a veto threat from Trump.

Absent meaningful negotiations, Trump and top Democrats have traded increasingly acerbic public criticisms.

After an event to formally sign off on the legislation to ensure back pay to furloughed federal workers, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., was asked about Trump's comments suggesting an emergency declaration may not be imminent after all. "Let's give him time to think it through," Pelosi said. "Oh, think? Did I say 'think'? Let's see what happens next."

Pelosi has said that Democrats do not feel any political pressure to give in to Trump's wall demands, saying instead that supporters were urging the party to hold the line.

"I'm a mother of five, grandmother of nine - I know a temper tantrum when I see one," she said.

The jab echoed criticisms from Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., including his contention that Trump had a "tantrum" when he abruptly walked out of a White House negotiation Wednesday and dismissed it as a "total waste of time."

At his event Friday, Trump rebuffed Pelosi's repeated claims that a wall is "immoral," saying, "What's immoral is what's going on" at the border, where Trump has focused on illegal drugs and criminals entering the United States.

Trump said that as long as the wall is built, Democrats could call it anything they want, suggesting they dub it "peaches."

"The Democrats have to help us. . . . It will take us 15 minutes . . . and then we will get onto much bigger immigration reform," said Trump, who claimed repeatedly throughout his presidential campaign that the wall would be paid for by Mexico, an assertion he still periodically makes, though without a clear explanation of how that would happen.

House Republicans accused Democrats of going through the motions Friday by passing the latest of four bills to reopen parts of the government unrelated to border security. The bill taken up Friday would reopen the Interior Department, the Environmental Protection Agency, the National Park Service and several other agencies.

The bill passed 240 to 179, with 10 Republicans joining all Democrats in the chamber supporting it.

Rep. Tom Cole, R-Okla., called the exercise "a charade" because Senate leaders had already indicated they did not plan to vote on the bill and Trump has said he would not sign it.

"If anybody thinks this is accomplishing anything, it's not," Cole said.

"We've wasted the week because our friends can't sit down and split the difference," he added. "I don't think anyone looks particularly good in this. . . . This will end another sad week in this chamber."

The bill to ensure workers receive back pay passed 411 to 7. All those who opposed it were Republicans.

Amid the stalemate, the White House has been laying the groundwork for a declaration of a national emergency to build Trump's border wall, eyeing various pots of unused money, including funds in the Army Corps of Engineers budget that had been directed toward flood-control projects in areas affected by recent natural disasters.

Democrats had condemned the approach, although it is no longer clear whether the administration will seek it.

Sens. Tim Kaine and Mark Warner, Democrats from Virginia, both objected to the use of military funding for the wall while speaking with reporters Friday after a meeting in Alexandria with furloughed workers.

Kaine, who sits on the Armed Services Committee and is the only U.S. senator with a child on active duty, said military construction dollars are used for things such as removing lead from the water supply in troops' housing and hardening overseas bases to better resist a terrorist attack.

"Let's face it," Warner said. "This is an attempt to basically go around the law, to go around the rules. That's why you even see pushback from some in his own party."

Puerto Rico Gov. Ricardo Rossello also strongly objected to the idea of diverting money intended for hurricane mitigation.
Justins Grill at Carrier Circle will close in February following a dispute with the restaurants landlord, according to one of the restaurants owners, Neal Pascale.

The Pascale family will continue to operate Pascale Italian Bistro at Drumlins, which can also host banquets. Justins staff is working with banquet customers to either move their events to the Drumlins Country Club location or find another location, Pascale said in an email. The Drumlins location has two separate banquet rooms, according to the Bistros website. The ballroom can seat up to 600.

All deposits will be honored, Pascale wrote in an email this morning. We have been in the restaurant business over 35 years and will continue at Drumlins. We will also honor all payables to all vendors. We are departing in as a professional manner as when we started there 18 years ago.

On Friday, Pascale said Justins was open for catering and banquets only. Brothers Neal and Chuck Pascale own the restaurant and banquet facility at 6400 Yorktown Circle, DeWitt, N.Y.

During its nearly two decades, the restaurant was known first as a steakhouse, then for its Tuscan-style Italian menu and more recently for contemporary American cuisine. The Pascales first opened Justins in 2000. They bought the building at 6400 Yorktown Circle from Fred Grimaldi, whose G is still etched in the glass near the dining room. The restaurant is named after Justin Wright, a chef and the Pascale brothers' long-time partner. He died in 2016.

Today, the owner of the building is listed as NCJB Restaurant LLC, according to Onondaga County tax records. It was not immediately clear who the owners of the LLC are, or what the landlord dispute involves.

After consulting our attorney regarding the potential legal action we have decided to close Justin's Grill, Neal Pascale wrote today in response to questions. We have tried unsuccessfully for several months to settle our dispute with our landlord.

Neal and Chuck Pascale first opened Pascale Restaurant on Hawley Green in 1982. Since then, theyve had restaurants in downtown Syracuse and Fayetteville. They also currently own Pascales Liquor near Liverpool and Liquor Square in DeWitt.
Barbers made 185 youths look sharp for Christmas

To the Editor:

About 185 Syracuse youths looked sharp for Christmas this year, thanks to the barbers and others who supported the annual Christmas Cut-a-Thon Dec. 19, 2018, at the Southwest Community Center.

I founded the event, now in its 25th year, as a way to give back to the community.

We also gave away 70 new bicycles to youths. I insist on giving new bikes because growing up, my sibling and I never had a new bike, only hand-me-downs and discards.

Thanks to all the volunteers and sponsors who helped cook and serve the food, and provided the music, haircuts and contests.

Special thanks to Syracuse Mayor Ben Walsh, Deputy Mayor Sharon Owens and police Chief Kenton Buckner for attending.

Allen Lyda

Owner

Ebony Paving

Syracuse

Sen. DeFrancisco championed arts in the public square

To the Editor:

State Sen. John DeFrancisco has retired from a long and accomplished career in the New York State Legislature and in other public and community organizations. He has been a tireless advocate for the arts in the public square, bringing much-needed grant support to arts initiatives in Central New York and articulating the importance of excellent and accessible arts programming to any thriving region and municipality. In November 2016, on the occasion of our 90th Anniversary celebration at the Onondaga Historical Association, our CNY Branch, National League of American Pen Women, presented DeFrancisco with our Friend of the Arts Award in recognition of his distinguished service.

We wish Senator John happy and healthy years ahead and the pleasure of satisfaction in whatever pursuits he may engage. And, most assuredly, we hope that others in legislative positions will take up the responsibility of advocacy for the arts he so faithfully pursued.

Mary Gardner

Skaneateles

President, CNY Branch

National League of American Pen Women

Food pantry provided 19,000 meals for holidays

To the Editor:

The volunteers at St. Matthews Food Pantry, which serves the ESM School District, have been very busy distributing your donations. During the month of November, the pantry provided 213 households with five days' worth of food. We also gave 176 of these households the fixings for Thanksgiving dinner, including a turkey or a gift certificate for the meat of their choice.

During December, we had 101 families receive five days' worth of food in the pantry. On Dec. 15 in the school gym, 178 families received the fixings for Christmas dinner, along with a turkey or meat certificate. These families also received extra food such as cheese, crackers and fresh fruit. Two hundred ninety-three children in these households were given a minimum of two gifts each, with many also receiving hats and mittens. Another 34 households received Christmas food at the pantry.

During November and December, the pantry distributed over 19,000 meals.

We were able to provide coats, shoes, winter clothing and blankets to folks in need through your generous donations of gently used items to The Second Time Around Store, also in the basement of St. Matthews Day Care.

We thank you for all the donations of food, turkeys, gifts and money. We thank all the volunteers who show up to haul, sort, package and distribute these items.

We have to thank the ESM students, teachers and staff for all their help. The local businesses and service organizations are very generous and helpful.

The Spirit of Christmas shines brightly in this community!

Barbara Hemmerlein

Pantry coordinator

St. Matthews Food Pantry

East Syracuse
The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and Wells Fargo Securities said in a joint court filing yesterday that they have agreed to settle a lawsuit over 38 Studios.

The studio, known for developing Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning, was founded by former Boston Red Sox pitcher Curt Schilling and shut down back in 2012 after running out of money, and has been the subject of a long-running legal battle with the state.

Final approval has been delayed due to the current government shutdown, but lawyers for both parties asked a federal judge to put the case on hold until after the shutdown is over to give the SEC and its relevant divisions and offices time to consider and approve the settlement-in-principle."

As reported by the Boston Herald, details of the proposed settlement have not been disclosed.

Schilling moved the company from Massachusetts to Rhode Island in 2010 after the Rhode Island Commerce Corp. agreed to give the studio a $75 million loan guarantee.

The SEC said Wells Fargo and the Commerce Corp. allegedly failed to disclose that 38 Studios needed at least $75 million, but would receive only $50 million of proceeds from the bond offering, leaving a $25 million gap.

The complaint filed in 2012 claimed that many of the "defendants knew or should have known, but failed to inform the EDC Board, that 38 Studios was destined to fail according to 38 Studios' own financial projections."

38 Studios filed for bankruptcy less than two years after the move, prompting investigations and lawsuits into the company.
Mary Elizabeth Evans was one of the greatest business people the city of Syracuse has ever produced.

In 1973, the New York Times described her as a Horatio Alger heroine who helped lift her genteel family from poverty by making and selling candy.

And it all started with a conversation with her Sunday School teacher.

She was born in Syracuse in 1884, into a family of prestige. Her maternal grandfather was Judge Henry Riegel, who was the longest serving judge in Onondaga County. The judge had many real estate investments in the area which made up for much of the familys wealth.

The judges daughter, Fannie, married an Englishman, William Evans, who was a professor of voice at Syracuse University. Mary Elizabeth was the oldest of the couples four children.

A 1902 Syracuse Herald profile described Marys childhood this way:

Mary Elizabeth began life as one of the fortunate babies who are born to comfort and luxury. She was reared in an atmosphere of culture and refinement, and never knew what it was to have a reasonable wish ungratified.

But around the time she was 8 years old, her situation began to change.

Her father found it difficult to support his growing family on a professors salary and, in 1892, took off for the Gold Rush in the Klondike. He died in New York City as his journey was just getting started.

A drawing of Mary Elizabeth Evans from the Feb. 20, 1900 edition of the Syracuse Evening Herald.Heritage Microfilm

Her mother did the best she could to raise her family, taking over a small grocery store from one of her fathers tenants.

More bad news arrived five years later. Judge Riegel died leaving the family an estate with a lot of property to maintain, but little money.

With a depressed real estate market, high maintenance costs and tenants who, at rent payment time, were less responsive to refined widows, than they had been to a prominent male judge the family was plunged into poverty and virtual homelessness with a couple of years, the Onondaga Historical Associations Gregg Tripoli wrote in Good Life magazine in 2013.

A couple of cheap cottages in one of the poorer quarters of the city, which were seldom tenantednow became the home of the family, an article in the Herald said.

Armed with a strong business sense and wise beyond her years, Mary took it upon herself to save her three siblings and her widowed mother and grandmother from a life of poverty.

At only the age of 15, she was about to become the nations youngest businesswomen.

An advertisement for Mary Elizabeth Candy, from the June 17, 1902 Syracuse Post-Standard.Heritage Microfilm

She borrowed some money and opened a small shop inside her cottage, selling her neighbors such household items as tea, sugar, bread and canned goods.

But the little store only paid for itself, but not much more.

There must be something to do that would really succeed, she said one day in frustration.

She repeated that line one day to her Sunday School teacher, Anna Merrill, at the May Memorial Church, and Merrills response would change Mary Elizabeth Evans life.

Merrill asked Evans what she liked to do, and she responded that her favorite hobby was making candy.

The very thing! Merrill exclaimed. I am sure you can make a real success of that. Tomorrow I going to a luncheon. Will you make up a nice box of candy for me to take?

Mary rushed home and that afternoon the family made a five-pound box of molasses candy.

The candy was a hit at the lunch and Merrill said her friends were interested in purchasing some for themselves.

For $4 a month, Mary Elizabeth delivered a one-pound box of candy to their home every Saturday, in a hand-me-down buggy donated by a neighbor pulled by an old horse given to her by a farmer.

She packaged the candy herself and wrote on each box, Candy by Mary Elizabeth. A business was started.

With the popularity of her candy on the rise, she thought about opening her own shop. But the rent was high, and she could not afford to have any of her family members, her workforce, dealing with customers.

She decided to rent a small space under a stairway at the University Building on Washington Street, and then put her faith in the goodness of the people of Syracuse.

She filled a cabinet that was given to her by the Stickley brothers with candy and put on it a sign which read:

Open these doors

Take what you wish

Leave cost of goods taken

Make your change from my till

Respecting customers honor

Mary Elizabeth Evans

Please close the doors.

Her unattended on your honor shop made news across the country and she was profiled in newspapers in New York City, Chicago and Kansas City.

Oh, yes. Its hard; but you see Im earning money and helping mamma, she told the New York World in 1900. I was sorry to leave school, but I keep up some of my studies myself, when I get a chance between customers.

She would not have much time to study. She sold 16,000 boxes of candy in her first six months in operation.

(Her honor system of selling candy had an amazing record of success. A scan of the Post-Standards archives found only two recorded instances of either money or candy being stolen. In August 1904, she reported to police that $18 had been stolen from her till. In March 1906, a group of boys stole several dollars worth of candy from her candy kitchen on Salina Street. When some of the boys shared their stolen loot with some other children, a couple of the kids went and told Mary Elizabeth who had stolen it.)

The small business grew and soon it was the fashionable thing to serve Mary Elizabeths chocolate and molasses candies at most Syracuse social functions.

The family of six, once facing an uncertain future, moved out of the small cottages into a home on Warren Street and the business was relocated into the first floor of the Clark Building on South Salina Street.

Isnt it all like a fairy tale? she asked the Kansas City Star in 1902. I never dreamed that our work could branch out like this and make a living for the six of us.

The Syracuse community rallied around her and her endeavors.

In 1902, a collection was taken up and $225 was raised to provide her with a candy-mixer or anything else that Mary Elizabeth needed in her business.

In 1905, she was selected to be queen of the Ka-Noo-No Karnival, a week-long festival of balls, concerts and parades which attracted people to Syracuse during the New York State Fair.

Mary Elizabeth Evans in 1905 when she was selected to the the queen of the Ka-Noo-No Karnival during the New York State Fair.

And in 1910, the Syracuse Herald called her business and candy one of the great features of Syracuse.

By then, Evans was looking to expand her business, and had already traveled to New York City and New England looking for potential markets to sell her candy in.

In a few years, she was opening shops from Boston to Bermuda.

Her shop in Newport, Rhode Island, was patronized by the wealthiest families in America, like the Vanderbilts, the Goulds and the Astors.

In 1914, she signed a lease to open a two-story shop and restaurant on Fifth Avenue, named the Mary Elizabeth Tearoom, and moved into a luxury apartment not far away.

In 1916, at the age of 32, the Chicago Herald marveled about the young woman from Syracuse, who has a yearly income which is twice that of many a bank president and no less than the President of the United States.

But her business was threatened with the coming of World War I. Important ingredients like butter and sugar were rationed to support the war effort.

Evans traveled to Washington D.C. in 1917 for a meeting with Herbert Hoover, then the head of the United States Food Administration.

I just went right down to Washington, myself, she told the Syracuse Herald. I told him that I wanted to help, and I showed him where I thought I could be of service.

Mary Elizabeth Evans in 1917, at the age of 33, in her Red Cross uniform,

She wrote a cookbook, War Time Recipes, where she showed readers how to replace non-rationed ingredients for rationed ones, adjusted her recipes at her restaurant and candy shops and held demonstrations for women at her shops.

In 1918, she volunteered to run a Red Cross kitchen in Paris, bringing candy, pies, doughnuts and ice cream to wounded American soldiers in hospitals, while her sister and brother ran her businesses.

When she asked one wounded soldier if he would like some chocolate ice cream, the man did not believe her.

Aw, quit yer kiddin, he said to her just as she produced a bowl.

I didnt reckon there was any real United States ice cream short of 3,000 miles from here, he said in amazement.

There is nothing like it, she told Syracuse Heralds Edward OHara in December 1918. No money or property in the world would I exchange for the privilege of being here at this time to help the boys that are showing such wonderful spirit.

After the war, in 1920, she married Henry Sharpe, a wealthy businessman from Providence, Rhode Island. They lived there, in a 20,000-square-foot estate, named Rochambeau. The couple had one son, Henry Jr, born in 1924.

After her marriage, she ended much of her active participation in her candy business.

Mary Elizabeth's candy is handmade by Lune Chocolate in Manlius using the original recipes of Mary Elizabeth Evans. The Onondaga Historical Association sells the chocolates. Photo courtesy of Onondaga Historical Association.

In 1928, she got involved in politics and served as a delegate from Rhode Island at the 1928 Republican National Convention, helping Herbert Hoover win the nomination.

In her later years, Evans became a philanthropist in Providence, a patron of the arts and interested in historic preservation.

She never forgot her roots in Syracuse. She was a major contributor to Memorial Hospital, which later became Crouse Hospital, the Syracuse Symphony Orchestra and the Everson Museum, where she has donated more than 40 pieces of art.

She died in 1985, at the age of 101.

The candy, which lifted her and her family out of poverty, can still be purchased today at the gift shop of the Onondaga Historical Association on Montgomery Street.
In Noel Cowards Blithe Spirit, now on the boards at Central New York Playhouse, a comely ghost comes back from the other side to upend the happy life of her still living and now remarried spouse. Its a familiar premise. Variations of his spooked-out plot line have been the rickety vehicle for countless movies and sitcoms. However, Cowards drawing room farce, first produced in London in 1941, is a Cadillac of the genre.

There's not a lot of wiggle room in staging this show. The play is firmly placed in time (1940s), place (England) and social stratum (upper). Luckily, the CNY Playhouse company and director Peter Fekete have done their homework and this "Blithe Spirit" is an intoxicating exercise in style. Barbara Toman's sleek costumes for the female cast members also add to the Noel Cowardly feel.

As in most of his work for the stage, Coward's sophisticated characters lounge in striking poses, light their cigarettes with a flourish, and down more dry martinis in the course of one drawing room encounter than the average person can handle over a boozy weekend. Yet they are still standing and hurling bon mots with dizzying acuity.

Coward took delight in creating sexy romantic triangles. This time, one of the participants is really out of this world. Successful novelist Charles Condomine (Derek Potocki) lives relatively peacefully in an English country home with Ruth, his second wife (Jodi Halczyn). As research for a book about a fraudulent spiritualist, he invites local medium Madame Arcati ( Anne Fitzgerald) to conduct a seance. The eccentric Arcati succeeds in raising the spirit of Charles' "morally untidy" first wife, Elvira (Amy Prieto), who proceeds to make his life miserable. She wants him all to herself.

Coward himself called the characters in "Blithe Spirit" heartless, which frees us to enjoy the cruelty in what might have been a sentimental situation, but puts an extra burden on the actors. The play is also dialogue heavy, a reminder of a time when audiences with longer attention spans enjoyed long stretches of clever talk.

Although on opening night, a handful of lines got lost in mumbles or wobbly English accents, blunting the humor, the CNY Playhouse cast is clearly up to the challenges. Potocki amusingly takes Charles from confusion to amusement and finally panic as he juggles the demands of two wives, one of which is invisible to the other. Halczyn finds something appealing in Ruth, who is written as matter of fact, steady and not as exciting as Elvira. Prieto is a striking Elvira, gliding about the stage with spectral grace and a twinkle in her eye. In the classic role of zany Madame Arcati Fitzgerald is a hoot. Jessie Dobrzynski is very funny as Edith the new maid, racing about the house desperate to please. She pleases. So does this "Blithe Spirit."

The Details

What: Blithe Spirit by Noel Coward.

Where: CNY Playhouse, Shoppingtown Mall, DeWitt.

When seen: Jan. 11.

Attendance: About 35.

Length of performance: 2 hours 30 minutes with intermission.

Family guide: Fine from middle school on, but it is longish and dialogue heavy.

Runs through: Jan. 26.

Information: 315-885-8960, cnyplayhouse.org, email rsvp@cnyplayhouse.org.
NEDROW, N.Y. -- A Nedrow man faces charges after a shots fired incident earlier this month in the city of Syracuse, according to Detective George Hack, a spokesman for the Syracuse Police Department.

Keith Hackett, 35, of 107 Kenneth Ave., had loaded handguns in his possession when he was taken into custody this morning, Hack said. He was taken into custody without incident with the help of New York State Parole.

At about 9:35 a.m. Jan. 4, Syracuse police officers were called to the 100 block of Dudley Street for a call of shots fired. Upon their arrival, they met with a 27-year-old man who said that he had been shot at, Hack said.

During the course of the investigation, Hackett was identified as one of the suspects. He was charged with second-degree criminal possession of a weapon and first-degree reckless endangerment. Hackett was also charged with two counts of second-degree criminal possession of a weapon and fourth-degree criminal possession of stolen property for the loaded handguns that were in his possession this morning, Hack said.

Hackett was taken to the Onondaga County Justice Center. The investigation is continuing.
LIVERPOOL, N.Y. -- An Indiana man is accused of pointing a gun at another driver on the New York State Thruway Friday during a road rage incident, according to New York State Police.

Chad A. Rickard, of Fort Wayne, was charged with second-degree criminal possession of a weapon, a felony, and second-degree menacing, a misdemeanor, state police said.

Rickard was observed by Thruway troopers and stopped at Exit 38 in Liverpool. He was taken into custody without incident, state police said.

Rickard was transported to the Onondaga County Justice Center for arraignment.
A missing Grundy teenager has been found and is safe and the man she was with is in custody.

The Grundy police department and the Buchanan County Sheriffs Office had asked for assistance in locating 15-year-old Madeline, Maddie Wells. She was last seen with Mike Newman, 21, of Gibsonville North Carolina.

A press release from the sheriffs office said they followed up several leads and located the pair in Pikeville. Newman was arrested and is being held in Pikevillle on an abduction charge. He will be extradited to Buchanan County where he could face additional charges since the investigation is ongoing.

The sheriffs office received assistance from the U.S. Marshalls Service, the Pikeville police department and law enforcement in five other states in searching for Wells.

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Numbers were down a bit but Hunters for the Hungry showed their appreciation to the donors Jan. 12.

The Tazewell County Chapter held its annual breakfast at Main Street Methodist Church in Tazewell. They received 62 deer that were processed into 1,917 pounds of meat this year.

Last years 65 deer donated produced 2,000 pounds of meat. The organization pays the cost of processing deer that are donated and goes the meat to local food pantries to help feed the hungry.

Rick Kinder and his family handle the processing locally at their shop in Baptist Valley. The deer are collected during the period between Nov. 17 and Jan. 5 which encompasses the deer season in Virginia.

Hunters for the Hungry raises the money to cover the cost of processing the deer that are donated through seminars, raffles, grants and donations.

The group handed out awards at the Jan. 12 program with Allen Youther, Jimmy Cornettt taking home the top three spots for killing the biggest bucks with a gun. B.J. Lawson, Alexandria Gallagher and Billy Cordle took the top three spots in the bow category.
A Max Meadows man charged last year with being an accessory after the fact in a machete attack has now been accused of shooting his ex-girlfriend multiple times with a pellet pistol.

Nathan Andrew Wilson, 48, was arrested on Jan. 6 and charged with malicious wounding and assault and battery of a family member in a reported attack on Alta Arnold Alford.

Virginia State Police Trooper D.D. Dunford filed the charges after responding to a Sunday afternoon shooting call at 5246 Peppers Ferry Road.

According to the trooper and his criminal complaint, Dunford found Alford at a 166 Cleveland Avenue residence in Max Meadows.

She advised me that she had went to the Peppers Ferry Road address to retrieve her belongings from the residence where her ex-boyfriend was staying, Dunford wrote in a criminal complaint. While she was getting her clothes she was shot multiple times in the leg by Mr. Andrew Nathan Wilson with an unknown handgun.

On Wednesday, Dunford said the weapon was a pellet pistol and that Alford was hit an estimated 10-15 times in both legs and her buttocks while she was outside loading items into her car.

She was taken to Wythe County Community Hospital where she was treated and released, he said.
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TALLAHASSEE (AP)  Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis began following up on a campaign promise to make the environment a priority by signing an order Thursday seeking to tackle Floridas problems with blue-green algae in its rivers and red tide off its coast.

DeSantis signed the order in Bonita Springs, one of the areas where slimy algae have coated waterways because of pollutants flowing downstream from Lake Okeechobee.

I pledged I would take action, and today we are taking action, DeSantis said. What weve done is really, really strong  I think this is something that can unite all Floridians.

DeSantis said he will seek $2.5 billion over the next four years for Everglades restoration and water resources. The order not only touches on algae problems, but rising sea levels and the ongoing battle with Georgia over water diverted for Atlantas use instead of flowing downstream to Apalachicola Bay. The reduction of fresh water entering the bay has hurt the regions oyster industry.

He didnt say where the money would come from, and his office didnt immediately respond when asked about the funding. Late in the day, DeSantis demanded the resignations of all nine members of the South Florida Water Management District, which oversees the Everglades area. The board in November extended a lease with sugar farmers for land needed for a reservoir that is key to water purification efforts, angering DeSantis.

While critics often said DeSantis predecessor, U.S. Sen. Rick Scott, ignored science and rising sea levels, DeSantis addressed it on his second full day in office. He is creating an Office of Resiliency tasked with protecting coastal communities and wildlife from sea level rise.

As weve seen things like increased flooding (and) rising waters, we want to make sure that Florida is doing what it needs to do to protect its communities, DeSantis said.

The order also directs the Department of Environmental Protection, Department of Health and the tourism agency Visit Florida to work together to address algae problems. He is creating the Blue-Green Algae Task Force and the Office of Environmental Accountability and Transparency and a new position called chief science officer. It wasnt immediately clear whether the new offices and position would be under the umbrella of another agency and when and how theyd be filled.

One of the priorities will be to reduce nutrients flowing into Lake Okeechobee and to treat them before they flow downstream, where algae feeds off the pollutants.

Senate Democratic Leader Audrey Gibson had several questions about the DeSantis order.

Will he turn to the Trump Administration? Or will he be seeking help from the Legislature? Can our state budget handle this increase? Is the plan to cut into other programs to raise the needed funds? Will Floridians lose services in one area to offset the costs for water cleanup? Gibson said in a press release.

She did, however, praise the intent behind the order.

We share the urgency for cleaning up our water and our environment; its been a top priority of ours for many years. The policies of the past administration have taken a terrible toll on our natural resources, to say nothing of the impact on our marine life, Gibson said. But an executive order has to have more than just lofty goals, or admirable pursuits. It has to have the details we need to judge whether these goals are doable.



Associated Press writer Terry Spencer in Fort Lauderdale contributed to this report.
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An air of calm pervaded the passenger area of the Cathay Pacific flight which returned to Auckland after birdstrike on Thursday.

But one passenger, Beth Nunn of Manchester, says she was disappointed the flight crew were not around to reassure passengers who may have been concerned.

Flight CX198s nose was stoved-in mid-flight as it left Auckland for Hong Kong.

Beth was returning to the United Kingdom after a brief holiday in New Zealand, lodging with friends at Papamoa.

She says the extent of the damage was a shock especially assuming it was a small amount.

The captain had really downplayed the damage, says Beth.

While the return trip home was calm, flight crew, however, was pretty much non-existent.

I asked for water at one point but no drinks or food were offered in the almost two hours we were flying (we took off at about 3.05pm and landed about 4.40pm).

If anything, I was very disappointed with the service, reassurance and advice offered by the crew.

They were not visible or particularly accessible after the initial announcements. They were certainly not around to reassure passengers who might have been concerned.

Initially, passengers were told the aircraft was returning to Auckland and would land in 20 minutes. The time was extended to 45 minutes as the plane looped from east to west to dump fuel.

It was played down and implied that they hoped the damage would be repaired [so] we could restart the journey on that aircraft.

The captain was excellent in his manner to reassure passengers  its a shame his crew were not the same.

The stoved in nose of the plane.

On landing, the aircraft and passengers sat on the runway for half an hour with no updated information or refreshment.

After being told the flight had been cancelled and would be rearranged for the next day, passengers were still calm and mostly happy with the decision to turn back. I think after seeing the damage we were even more relieved! says Beth.

She says airport service was also disappointing and instructions were confusing and business class passengers were given preference over those in economy.

I almost went through customs without claiming my bag after being told to just get in this line if youre from the cancelled flight, says Beth.

By 11pm last night, I still had no news on my replacement flight.

Though a re-booking was confirmed at midnight, Beth did not learn of it until she rang the airline this morning.

She is booked on a flight this afternoon to return via Dubai.

The former teacher, who owns and operates a social enterprise in the UK, working with young people from disadvantaged backgrounds, says she was looked after with regards to a hotel and food but there was much confusion and I am still unsure as to when my mammoth return journey to the U.K. will begin.

I was told to come to the hotel and would receive more info but felt unable to settle for the night not knowing when I am supposed to be boarding two long haul flights home.

Beth says other passengers were also frustrated.

I know many other passengers are feeling the same as me  frustration.

When at the desk trying to sort my inward journey, it was also frustrating to see first class passengers being quickly reassigned flights and economy being partly dismissed; understandably, an element of service is expected for first class but maybe airlines need to be more mindful of how this is managed so not to cause more frustration.

SunLive has contact Cathay Pacific for comment and will post any updates to our site when we get them.
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A reduction in anti-social and criminal behaviour in Rotoruas CBD has resulted from a tougher line in policing the area.

Stung late last year by pointed comments from business leaders, the Rotorua Lakes Council and local police joined forces to clamp down on unsavoury activities which included intimidation and begging.

Vigilance has increased through the imposition of safety patrols and CCTV camera operations to catch miscreants.

A safety campaign augmented by the two bodies is having a positive impact, the council says in an end of week statement issued on Friday.

Peoples safety is paramount, Rotorua mayor Steve Chadwick says.

And people should not have to put up with anti-social and criminal behaviour while theyre going about their day-to-day business.

Its really pleasing to hear that this initiative is having a positive effect and people are feeling safer.

The council is aiming for a safe and friendly inner city environment for businesses, staff and the public through increased patrols and CCTV monitoring to deter anti-social and criminal behaviour and to deal promptly with emerging issues or incidents.

Since December 11, police, security staff and the Safe City Guardians have increased their presence in the inner city and are patrolling together whenever possible with patrols constant between 8am and 4am daily.

Feedback from members of the public and businesses has contributed to the pattern of improved behaviour.

Police and Council jointly launched the summer safety initiative in December following increased concern about CBD safety; a police survey revealed many people felt unsafe in the inner city at night.

Increased monitoring of the councils CCTV footage from Thursdays to Sundays enabled more potential issues to be prevented and/or people who do engage in anti-social or criminal behaviour to be identified, the council said.

Daily briefings were held to share information.

With locals on holiday and visitors, the number of people in our CBD swells during the busy summer period so its important to ensure everyone feels safe, Chadwick says.

Rotorua Police Area Commander, Inspector Anaru Pewhairangi, says working more closely with Councils Safe City Guardians and having security staff in the CBD is providing additional support for sometimes stretched police resources.

It means if we are having to deal with issues elsewhere, we know we still have eyes and ears on the ground in the CBD who can deter bad behaviour and/or alert us if something does develop.

The joint initiative will continue until at least the end of February. It will be reviewed earlier to determine if a need exists for it to continue. Cost considerations will be taken into account.
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Courtesy of Indian Health Service - Indian Health Service employees of the Pawnee Indian Health Clinic are now working without pay as the federal government shutdown continues. The clinic is gathering supplies like non-perishable food, laundry and personal supplies and diapers for its federally-funded workers, who missed their fist paycheck on Friday. The Pawnee Nation has also launched a GoFundMe account to buy groceries for the families of all federal employees living in the Pawnee area who are working without pay.
TICKERS: AR

Source: Streetwise Reports (1/11/19)

Changes to this Colorado-based company's 2019 projections were reviewed in a Stifel report.



In a Jan. 8 research note, analyst Jane Trotsenko reported that Antero Resources Corp. (AR:NYSE) revised its 2019 guidance to reflect a more dour outlook, lowering expected production and raising cash costs and marketing expenses.

As for projected commodity prices for 2019, the company decreased projection for natural gas liquids (NGL) as a percent of West Texas Intermediate to 62.5% from 72%. It increased the anticipated differential for crude oil prices to $7.50 per barrel from $5.50.

Trotsenko explained that less favorable NGL pricing looking forward led the company to lower its expected 2019 production by 3% to 3.2 billion of cubic feet equivalent per day from 3.3 at the midpoint. In 2019 versus 2018, Antero's NGL production is forecasted to increase 28% year whereas crude oil production is expected to decrease 5%, ultimately resulting in a "slightly higher amount of revenue in 2019 than in 2018," the analyst wrote.

Regarding capex in 2019, Antero guides to about $2 billion, consistent with that of 2018. However, Trotsenko commented, "the company plans to continue to focus on liquids-rich assets, as those still deliver stronger economics despite the recent decline in liquids pricing."

Not all the news is negative, Trotsenko indicated. For one, Antero expects to garner a greater premium to Henry Hub pricing, $0.150.20 per million cubic feet as opposed to its previous $0.000.10 per million cubic feet, due to its now greater Gulf Coast and Midwest exposure.

Also, two of Antero's peers, Cabot and EQT, also revised production guidance downward, Trotsenko pointed out. "Should other natural gas (and crude oil) producers follow suit, the natural gas (crude oil and NGL) macro outlook for 2019+ could improve substantially."

Stifel has a Buy rating and a $21.60 per share target price on Antero. The company's share price (currently about $10.58) could face pressure, Trotsenko noted, when consensus decreases its estimates on the company.

[NLINSERT]

Disclosure:

1) Doresa Banning compiled this article for Streetwise Reports LLC and provides services to Streetwise reports as an independent contractor. She or members of her household own securities of the following companies mentioned in the article: None. She or members of her household are paid by the following companies mentioned in this article: None.

2) The following companies mentioned in this article are sponsors of Streetwise Reports: None. Click here for important disclosures about sponsor fees.

3) Comments and opinions expressed are those of the specific experts and not of Streetwise Reports or its officers. The information provided above is for informational purposes only and is not a recommendation to buy or sell any security.

4) The article does not constitute investment advice. Each reader is encouraged to consult with his or her individual financial professional and any action a reader takes as a result of information presented here is his or her own responsibility. By opening this page, each reader accepts and agrees to Streetwise Reports' terms of use and full legal disclaimer. This article is not a solicitation for investment. Streetwise Reports does not render general or specific investment advice and the information on Streetwise Reports should not be considered a recommendation to buy or sell any security. Streetwise Reports does not endorse or recommend the business, products, services or securities of any company mentioned on Streetwise Reports.

5) From time to time, Streetwise Reports LLC and its directors, officers, employees or members of their families, as well as persons interviewed for articles and interviews on the site, may have a long or short position in securities mentioned. Directors, officers, employees or members of their immediate families are prohibited from making purchases and/or sales of those securities in the open market or otherwise from the time of the interview or the decision to write an article until three business days after the publication of the interview or article. The foregoing prohibition does not apply to articles that in substance only restate previously published company releases.

Disclosures from Stifel, Antero Resources Corp., January 8, 2019

I, Jane Trotsenko, certify that the views expressed in this research report accurately reflect my personal views about the subject securities or issuers; and I, Jane Trotsenko, certify that no part of my compensation was, is, or will be directly or indirectly related to the specific recommendations or views contained in this research report. Our European Policy for Managing Research Conflicts of Interest is available at www.stifel.com.

For a price chart with our ratings and any applicable target price changes for LBRT click here.

Prior to March 22, 2017, a different Stifel research analyst provided research coverage of Antero Resources Corporation and its securities. Antero Resources Corporation's price chart for the period prior to March 22, 2017 reflects the rating and price target history of the former Stifel research analyst for such issuer and its securities.

Prior to May 22, 2018, a different Stifel research analyst provided research coverage of Antero Resources Corporation and its securities. Antero Resources Corporation's price chart for the period prior to May 22, 2018 reflects the rating and price target history of the former Stifel research analyst for such issuer and its securities.

Stifel or an affiliate expects to receive or intends to seek compensation for investment banking services from Antero Resources Corporation in the next 3 months.

Stifel or an affiliate is a market maker or liquidity provider in the securities of Antero Resources Corporation.

The equity research analyst(s) responsible for the preparation of this report receive(s) compensation based on various factors, including Stifels overall revenue, which includes investment banking revenue.

As a multi-disciplined financial services firm, Stifel regularly seeks investment banking assignments and compensation from issuers for services including, but not limited to, acting as an underwriter in an offering or financial advisor in a merger or acquisition, or serving as a placement agent in private transactions.
President Duterte promised to crack down on corruption, something other new presidents also do but tend to forget about once sworn in. Duterte acted and dismissed over 30 senior officials suspected of corruption. Few were prosecuted because making a legal case is difficult. Some of those Duterte fired were later rehired after they were able to demonstrate the suspicions about them were unfounded. Duterte also discovered that a lot of the corruption, especially when it comes to import taxes (customs fees), would be much less of a problem if the methods for handling imports were changed so corruption was not so easy to carry out and get away with. Nevertheless, a lot of lower-ranking officials (from customs, as well as the security services) have been caught and prosecuted. In some cases, entire local police forces were fired or transferred. Duterte realized that its the senior offenders who have the most impact on removing the culture of impunity that has made corruption so pervasive.

One bright spot has been the economy. Even without the promised Chinese investments (from deals China signed but has been slow to implement) GDP growth in 2018 was 6.6 percent and continuing to increase. If enough investments are made in areas like agriculture and oil exploration growth could his 8 percent in a few years. The anti-corruption and anti-drug program also has a positive impact as does the reduction in terrorist and separatist violence. Reductions in these areas mean the military can turn to the growing threat from China in the South China Sea. The defense budget has already been spending more on weapons and equipment for defending Filipino portions of the South China Sea that China is claiming ownership of.

Armed disputes inside the Philippines are on the decline. The Islamic terror and leftist rebel groups suffered major losses in the last two years and show no signs of recovering. ISIL (Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant) organizing efforts were largely destroyed. The drug gangs, which had become very powerful simply because of the amount of cash they handled and the number of gunmen (and corrupt officials) on their payroll also took heavy losses for the first time when a newly installed president (Duterte) went after the drug gangs in 2016 and is still at it. The drug gangs, leftist rebels and Islamic terror groups were all major components in the criminal underground provided all manner of essential illegal services (weapons, false documents, smuggling, money laundering, information) that are now much less available and more expensive to use. This sort of thing does not make headlines but the police and military intel analysts can measure the impact and its an important factor in the continued decline of all three sources of criminal activity.

January 7, 2019: In the south (Sultan Kudarat province), twenty NPA men took over a rural construction site before dawn and set fire to eight large construction vehicles. The leftist rebels were retaliating against a road building company that would not meet the NPA extortion (for protection) demands. This puts a lot of locals out of work but the NPA needs cash to keep operating.

December 31, 2018: In the south (Cotabato city), ISIL was believed responsible for setting off a bomb outside a mall, killing two and wounding 30. ISIL manpower is much reduced since 2017 and the major ISIL activity (aside from avoiding detection and arrest) is continuing to carry out high profile attacks like this. There are fewer and fewer of these attacks. More common are money raising activities like kidnapping, piracy, extortion and smuggling. All these are more difficult to get away with which is not the kind of trend criminal organizations thrive, or even survive on.

December 26, 2018: The CPP (Communist Party of the Philippines) observed its fiftieth year of existence with three more ceasefire violations by its armed wing; the NPA. There was also an incident were 19 NPA members surrendered, which is an increasingly common event but rarely noted in CPP press releases. There are a lot of other things the CPP does not like to dwell on. Cold War era political rebels like the NPA were found to have more links with the other outlaw groups than expected, given the fact that NPA was always anti-religious and Moslem political and religious groups were militantly anti-communist. By documenting NPA connections to Islamic terror groups NPA loses more of what little political credibility it still has. This is being seen in Europe where several senior NPA leaders have obtained political asylum and openly continue working for the NPA. Some of these leaders are already facing efforts to cancel their asylum.

NPA has suffered heavy losses since 2016 and that led to internal disagreements over strategy. Because of that NPA has split into several factions. There is no one who can accurately represent all of NPA and resume negotiations and continue to work out a peace deal. The government has responded by ordering the security forces to concentrate on NPA and shut them down. One result of the NPA problems is that more NPA members surrendering or deserting the organization. Since mid-2017 many NPA members who surrendered provided information indicating that losses from desertion were more than twice what the government was reporting. In addition, there were medical losses (because so many camps had been destroyed) as well as fewer new recruits. Those losses increased since late 2017 and judging from the reduced presence of NPA in areas they have long terrorized it is having quite an impact. There are still a few factions willing to fight on but they are facing more armed resistance (especially from local defense groups) and much less popular support. In 2017 nearly a thousand NPA rebels surrendered, were captured, killed or known to have deserted (and are sometimes being sought to major crimes). Less than a third of these losses were from combat. Most were surrenders or deserters. Also important is the capture or surrender of nearly 700 firearms and much stockpiled ammo and bomb-making materials. In many areas where the NPA has long operated the locals have come to view the NPA as bandits and turned against them. Those loss rates continued into 2018 and the military expects that those NPA losses to increase in 2019 and if the trend continues the NPA will end up as scattered groups of commie gangsters.

December 23, 2018: In the south (Maguindanao province), two rival MILF factions opened fire on each other during a land dispute. Each faction lost two dead (and several wounded) before soldiers arrived and intervened.

December 22, 2018: Two clashes between the army and the NPA left two soldiers dead and four wounded. The NPA suffered some wounded. The clashes took place in the north (Kalinga province) and in the south (Northern Samar province).

December 20, 2018: In the north (Manila), police arrested a key Abu Sayyaf member who was on the national most wanted list. Many notorious Islamic terrorists will hide in plain sight between major operations. The works better in large cities like Manila.

December 19, 2018: In the south (Agusan del Sur), NPA gunmen kidnapped twelve local defense volunteers and two soldiers, an incident that led the army to halt peace negotiations with the NPA leadership.

December 18, 2018: In the south (Sulu province), the army activated the new 11th Infantry division. This does not add any troops to the counter-terror operations in Sulu but does gather over a dozen battalions already there, usually on temporary duty from the permanent bases elsewhere in the country. Having the eight infantry and six support (Intel, civil affairs, training, recon, communications and logistics) battalions under one command makes it easier to support and command all these units whose main job is finding and eliminating Abu Sayyaf personnel in the province.

December 13, 2018: In the south (Sulu province), marines clashed with a large (about fifty) group of Abu Sayyaf on Minis island. The Islamic terrorists lost seven dead, ten surrendered and the others fled, taking many wounded with them. One marine was killed and three wounded. Since the clash took place on one of the smaller (two square kilometers) islands (Minis) in Sulu province helicopters and patrol boats were called in to prevent the Islamic terrorists from escaping, or receiving reinforcements from other islands. If the surviving Abu Sayyaf can be confined to the island, especially through the night (when smugglers and Abu Sayyaf like to move around by boat) they will be easier to hunt down and capture, even though most Abu Sayyaf members have no problems blending in with local civilians.
At the end of last year, on December 5, Baghdad was the venue of an intriguing conference when the recently established NATO Mission in Iraq (NMI) conducted an Introduction Event at the Iraqi Ministry of Defence. According to the press release issued by the NATOs Allied Joint Force Command in Naples, the conference was attended by key leaders from across the Iraqi Security and Defence sector, including the Iraqi Chief of Staff, General Othman Al-Ghanimi and by representatives coming from various international partner missions, organizations and entities such as the Combined Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve, the European Union Advise Mission in Iraq, the United Nations Assistance Mission Iraq, and the Office of Security Cooperation-Iraq and Diplomatic Missions.

The NMI Commander, Canadian Army Major General Dany Fortin, introduced the missions mandate, vision and aim as a "new iteration of a long-standing relationship between NATO and Iraq, one that will bring together "expertise and best practice in security/defence sector reform, institution building and training and education from the entire Alliance and its partners.

After a series of presentations and a Q&A session, the Iraqi army chief General Othman Al-Ghanimi concluded with a clear endorsement of NMI and stressed the importance of a long-term cooperation between the Republic of Iraq and the NATO Mission.

That event took place just a fortnight before the US President Donald Trump made his dramatic announcement on the withdrawal of American troops from Syria. Exactly three weeks after the NMI appeared in Baghdad, Trump proceeded to make a surprise visit to al-Asad Air Base, situated in western Iraq between Baghdad and the Syrian border, which was also highly symbolic, being his first trip to troops stationed in a combat zone.

Of course, the most important remark made by Trump during the visit was that he has no plans to withdraw American forces from Iraq. He added, In fact, we could use this (Iraq) as the base if we wanted to do something in Syria.

That these three developments through December are inter-related is not yet sinking in among analysts who are caught up in the cacophony of Trumps withdrawal decision from Syria and the subsequent shifting US statements, especially the combustive remark by National Security Advisor John Bolton ostensibly rolling back the POTUS decision, which he made while on a visit to Israel.

The NMI is a potent vehicle for the US regional strategies. But first and foremost, the NMI is important for transatlantic relations. It addresses one of the main causes of tension between the US and Europe since the very inception of NATO  the alliances engagement in the Middle East. Historically, the Alliances command structure and military capabilities were developed to ensure effective deterrence of the former Soviet Union. The European states feared that NATO involvement in the Middle East would have negative consequences for security in Europe. This led to the development of flexible mechanisms in the post-Cold War era that support so-called out-of-area operations that rely on European structures, coalitions of the willing, and cooperation with partner countries. Yet, the European countries efforts were scattered, and were often overlooked by the US, leading to greater pressure on NATO involvement.

The NMI, on the contrary, is a full-bodied mission, similar to the Resolute Support Mission in Afghanistan in some ways but actually much more than that potentially. To an extent, NMI also may lead to a more even distribution of security-related costs between the European members of the alliance and the US. This is indeed a particularly important consideration for Trump. Since 2014, NATO allies are expected to increase their national defence budgets to at least 2% of GDP by 2024 but only half are projected to meet the target. Meanwhile, US has significantly stepped up its spending to strengthen its military presence in Europe  from $1 billion in 2015 to a planned $6.5 billion in 2019. The NMI means more support from the US allies to stabilize the situation in the Middle East (which impacts Europes security, too.)

Above all, although some NATO members perceive terrorism and uncontrolled migration as major threats, one of the principal objectives of the NMI  from the US perspective, most certainly  will be to provide a platform for building consensus within the western alliance on further adaptation to the foreign and security policy challenges emanating from Russia. Indeed, from 2014, NATO has set up a hub at its Naples headquarters to coordinate regional activities crucial for maintaining security in its southern operation area (which includes the Mediterranean and the Middle East, although this hub has not been operational for lack of necessary personnel). Prima facie, the NMI may be presented as additional support for the fight against terrorism and uncontrolled migration so as to avoid divergent opinions within the alliance regarding its raison detre, and instead to strengthen political cohesion amongst members who would have different threat perceptions.

There is a saying that every US president in modern times has started a war. (Actually, out of 12 Republican presidents in the 20th century, only Warren Harding and Gerald Ford were the only two noble exceptions who managed to stay away from initiating military aggression.) Does the NMI become the harbinger of a war that Trump is starting?

Indeed, this is what makes Trumps recent visit to Iraq in the backdrop of the NMI rather strange. The Iraqi Prime Minister Adil Abdul-Mahdi said he was informed about Trumps impending visit in the morning and set out two conditions. "First, he (Trump) shall land on Iraqi land and be given an Iraqi reception like any other foreign official. Second, there shall be an agenda with specific matters and a short meeting." The Americans initially agreed to the terms, but later backed out. Trump arrived at al-Assad air base in the evening and stayed about three and a half hours. He had no face-to-face meeting with Iraqi officials, but held a phone call with Abdul-Mahdi.

Irans top general Maj. Gen. Mohammed Hossein Baqeri wasnt far off the mark calling it a humiliating and sneaky trip. Interestingly, Abdul-Mahdi also corrected reports that implied Trump had visited an American military base. "There are talks about the visit of President Trump to a US base. This is wrong. There is no US base in Iraq. There are only Iraqi bases where some US and non-US soldiers are present, he said.

Suffice to say, the current discourses regarding Trump and Syria stem from what one can only call a tunnel vision. The big picture remains elusive unless the ramifications of the NATO Mission in Iraq are properly understood. Reports suggest that the US is stepping up deployments to Iraq. The US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo just made surprise visits to Erbil and Baghdad. He was plainly dismissive that "there's no contradiction whatsoever" in the shifting US strategy on Syria. Simply put, Trump hopes to expand the scope of the Syrian war by bringing Iraq into it and drawing the western alliance system into the enterprise.

No doubt, chancelleries as far apart as Paris, Berlin and Moscow  and, most certainly, Ankara, Tel Aviv and Tehran  would be sensing that a paradigm shift is under way.
Its a new year and the American cold civil war has shifted to its next phase with the Petrograd Soviet (formerly the Smolny Institute for Noble Maidens), a/k/a Speaker Nancy Pelosis Democrat-controlled House of Representatives ensconced at one end of Pennsylvania Avenue. Pelosi leads the revolutionary second pivot and rival center of authority to the embattled Provisional Government headed by President Donald Trump, headquartered 16 blocks to the northwest.

As of this writing Trump is fighting for his political life. If he loses the Mexican standoff over the government shutdown and his border wall, hes essentially finished. At this juncture, it looks as though he is prepared to declare a state of emergency and use Pentagon or FEMA funds to order the emplacement of a barrier as a military construction project. This is something for which he has the clearest black-and-white statutory authority under 10 US Code  2802.

Nonetheless, if he goes that route, any such effort will be gummed up in the courts, just like his use of his plenary authority under 18 US Code 1182(f) to exclude any aliens or  any class of aliens whose entry into the US would in his judgment be detrimental to the interests of the United States  the germ of his campaigns promised Muslim ban  was wimped down into supposedly extreme vetting of aliens from a handful of countries without much indication of what the vetting is supposed to filter. Its likely such litigation would delay the wall or prevent its being built at all.

As of now, Trump states his preference to let the Democrats stew. After all, those immediately inconvenienced, such as federal workers and beneficiaries of some federal programs, are primarily Democrat constituencies. Lets see how many more hysterical bleeding hearts like Cher pressure Pelosi to throw in the towel: NANCY YOU ARE A HERO LET HIM HAVE HIS FKNG MONEY.

In any case, as even Senator Lindsay Graham recognizes, if Trump loses this battle  one he should have fought a year and a half ago  its probably the end of his presidency. If Trump wins, or more properly he avoids losing, he only lives to fight another day.

And, fight he must, despite his defenders truthful and entirely irrelevant bleating that there was no Russian collusion. Notwithstanding Democrats tap-dancing during the 2018 campaign on whether or not they would seek to impeach Trump, right out of the box articles of impeachment were filed within days of the Houses changing hands. Trumps disgraced lawyer and fixer Michael Cohen will testify before the House Government Oversight Committee in February. While the weight of opinion suggests that Grand Inquisitor Robert Mueller will wrap up his auto-da-fe in a few months if not weeks, that would seem to be throwing away a powerful synergy with a House that is just beginning to gear up for multiple investigations into every aspect of Trumps private and professional life, as well as his kids. Add to that New York State Attorney General Letitia James on the warpath against Trump and anyone associated with him. Given Trumps years in the sharp-elbowed world of high-end New York real estate and numerous business enterprises, as well as the Trump Foundation, theres no limit to the number of regulatory, tax, and other violations the putsch plotters will construe as federal and state crimes, the latter of which cant be pardoned by the President.

In short, its now a question not if Trump will be impeached but when and on what accusations. Adding fuel to the Democrats determination to bring him down before hes up for reelection is the fear that if Trump survives until then he might well win, something no other Republican is likely to be able to do given the GOPs tin ear to working class concerns, especially in the Rust Belt states that were Trumps margin of victory. If Trump is successfully removed before 2020, whomever the Democrats nominate will beat Mike Pence or any other Republican nominee in a romp. After that, especially if Trumps wall hasnt gotten built, a sufficient number of imported new voters, many of them illegal, will ensure a permanent Democratic lock hold on power.

When Trump is impeached there may not be enough GOP votes in the Senate to remove him  as things stand now. But never underestimate Republicans propensity to cut and run when the going gets tough. It is suggested that any Republican who votes against Trump would seal his own political fate. Dont be so sure. Those not up for reelection until 2022 and 2024 (like Utahs newly elected Senator Mitt Romney, who didnt even wait to be sworn in to volunteer for the role of Brutus) will feel insulated. Besides, when the crunch comes establishment Republicans fear a harsh word from the Washington Post and New York Times editorial pages more than they do their own voters.

This is not to say that after impeachment Trump will be removed, just that it is well within the realm of possibility. But if it does happen, then what?

One anti-Trumper (who prides himself on poking Trumps meth-addled, under-educated fans with a pointy stick. No elite contempt for the Deplorables there!) ponders whether there would be 

a civil war if Trump is driven from office  e.g., conviction after impeachment, resignation, 25th Amendment -that depends on what happens after, and there is no denying there is a chance of it, but it is highly unlikely. Many  possibly a great many  would believe they were wronged by this outcome, but how many would take up arms, and start shooting? Very few, if any at all. Trump would leave, Pence would become President, and Pence would be given credit for calming and healing the nation. There would be no civil war. But what happens after? Suppose Trump is put on trial for criminal charges, and then convicted? Or suppose he is pardoned or let off the hook, and then begins a sore-loser populist campaign all over the country, complaining that the Presidency was stolen by the deep state and that Hillary and fake news are responsible? That is when we should reopen the question of civil war.

Of course if Trump is forced out, it would be precisely a stolen election  in effect, a regime change operation of the sort the same US-UK Deep State has staged in so many other countries  abetted by the lying, fake news (no need for sarcasm quotes) worthy of the former USSR and the Democratic establishment, with the collusion of a substantial element of the GOP. But the improbable suggestion of Trumps leading a post-White House rebellion one raises a valid point: if Trump were removed, either politically or physically, what  or who  would be the Deplorables rallying point? What or who would constitute the second pivot in what would then aspire to leadership in a new revolutionary situation?

The answer is not obvious. Those threatening various degrees of violent or even gruesome responses if the ongoing, anti-constitutional soft coup were to succeed never seem to address the question of what, exactly, the revolt would intend to achieve. Reinstate Trump, assuming thats even possible? If not him, who  Ivanka? Where and how would pathologically law-abiding middle class Americans, many of them older and in questionable health, vent their rage? March on Washington  and do what when they got there? Torch the local post office?

Sure, devotees of the Second Amendment own more private weapons, so Trump supporters are better armed. But that may change as the violent Left gears up its own paramilitary capabilities secure in the knowledge that authorities turn a blind eye to their violence while regarding even non-violent civic nationalism as subversive.

Unlike the circumstance when the Constitution was adopted and private firearms were as good or better than military ones, there is no comparison today in delivery of devastating, deadly force. Trump himself seems to anticipate that the military would come out on his side:

These people, like the Antifa  they better hope that the opposition to Antifa decides not to mobilize, Trump said recently. Because if you look, the other side, its the military. Its the police. Its a lot of very strong, a lot of very tough people. Tougher than them. And smarter than them  Potentially much more violent. And Antifas going to be in big trouble. [] Some on far-right social media sites are all excited about what theyre calling Civil War 2.0. As documented by Dave Neiwert, there are various Proud Boys and Patriots living a fantasy version of Hank Williams Jr.s Country Boys Can Survive almost entirely online. If they succeed in impeaching President Trump, then we will back President Trump, one Georgia militiaman told reporters. With a use of force if need be.

Well, maybe. In a conflict that would look nothing like Americas organized and relatively polite War Between the States (1861-1865) and more like the brutal communal conflicts in Yugoslavia (1991-1995), Spain (1936-1939), or Russia (1917-1922) estimates vary widely on how the military would divide. The same can be said for police forces, some of them heavily militarized.

Or perhaps the historic American nation, whose last-chance champion Trump was elected to be, would give up without a fight and submit to a tyranny that would, eventually, result in some even more fundamental societal collapse. Americans like to imagine ourselves as rough-hewn, freedom-loving, don't-tread-on-me rebels. But after decades of corruption and conditioning by politicians, judges, bureaucrats, educators, entertainers, media, advertising, pharmaceuticals, processed foods, etc., todays Americans may well be among the most docile people on earth.

Maybe thats how America ends: not with a bang but a whimper. Lets hope we dont have occasion to find out.
As a private citizen and as a proud local officer of the American Federation of Government Employees, I would like to inform your readers about the value government employees bring to our community.

I am a retired employee of the St. Louis HealthCare System. Every day, the employees provides much-needed services to the American taxpayer, Yet, they face constant attacks from political insiders looking to cut government workers' pay, retirement and jobs.

Now, thanks to a shutdown that began last month, more than 800,000 federal workers and their families are wondering how they will put gas in the car, pay the rent and feed their children. More than 85 percent of federal government employees live outside the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area  including many of them who live in St. Louis and the Metro East. This shutdown is causing pain in every corner of our nation. It is wasteful and very harmful. It will also prove to be very costly with backpay issues.

When the American people who live in close proximity to the borders report that much of the rhetoric is not true, they must be heard. The ones exclaiming the rhetoric do not share their experiences.
More to the point, where do you suppose the speed-demons would congregate?

A huge majority of Americans, including gun owners, support universal background checks. Really, could any rational person oppose it? No  but the NRA does.

So-called universal background checks will never be universal because criminals do not comply with the law, said a spokeswoman.

We cant stop every criminal, so dont bother trying to stop any, says the NRA. Shall we apply that standard to illegal immigration, too?

And where does the NRA think criminals get their guns? Largely through this loophole, of course. Close it, and those who cant pass background checks will  of course!  have fewer options for getting their hands on weapons they shouldnt have.

The NRA notes that in the worst recent mass shootings, background checks wouldnt have impeded the killers. But most gun violence isnt the unhinged mass shooter who attacks a school; its the career criminal who holds up a gas station. And theres the NRA, ensuring that guy can continue quietly buying his guns from any private seller he can find, with no requirement that anyone look into his past.
The government shutdown has set a new record for duration, giving President Donald Trump a new item to add to his list of firsts, bests and biggests. Hundreds of thousands of lives and livelihoods are in upheaval  all because Trump insists on $5.7 billion in congressional funding for an unnecessary border wall.

And soon he might have a new claim to fame, as the first president to declare a national emergency over an imagined crisis of immigration.

The U.S. Border Patrol typically measures its performance on immigration enforcement by the number of apprehensions of illegal crossers at the border. From 2010 through 2018, apprehensions have fluctuated but never exceeded 480,000 a year. The annual average for the past nine years is only 387,000. Contrast that with the 1.64 million who illegally crossed in 2000, or the 1.62 million who crossed in 1986, and its safe to say todays problem doesnt come close to being classified an emergency. The decade-long trend suggests crossing attempts are going down.

Fences have helped in highly populated areas like San Diego, Tucson and El Paso, but even hard-liners in immigration enforcement believe a coast-to-coast wall is unworkable and unnecessary. No one in authority along the border calls the current situation an emergency.
St. Louis city and county are floundering like two shipwreck survivors fighting over the same life jacket. Instead of sharing resources and energies for the sake of survival, they claw and compete, making it harder and harder to continue treading water. Or they talk endlessly about coordinating, then do nothing.

Outsiders watching the city-county struggle over dwindling revenue resources and business investment would immediately identify this arrangement as a formula for disaster. Given the years of local inaction and frustrated efforts to consolidate city and county government operations, maybe its time for outside intervention to shake things up.

The nonprofit group Better Together is preparing to launch a $25 million campaign aimed at putting a merger on the statewide ballot in 2020. Missourians from across the state would have a chance to see the regional dysfunction for themselves and hear the best arguments from both sides. Were normally reluctant to invite outside intervention in local matters, and the natural local inclination is to tell the rest of Missouri to butt out.
The high costs of MetroLink are not affordable for St. Louis given the fact that other transit technologies can be built privately instead. Lets get straight to the part everyone is waiting for: the numbers. The price tag on MetroLinks scaled-back North-South line is $667 million, and cant be built until about 2030. The cost of the full line is $1.3 billion, and who knows when that could be built?

The route would run at street-grade, just like the Loop Trolley, which would be a hazard. People have to wait for it to arrive, then sit there at every stop on their way to their destination as it slowly takes them to where they need to go. Then, we will wait another 25 years for the next one to be built. And all the while people will be choosing to live in cities that already have an expansive mass transit system over St. Louis as we continue to fall behind. These problems are not without a solution, however.

Emerging technologies have led to the creation of potential new systems that could replace these outmoded forms of transit in the very near future, even as soon as the early 2020s. Everyone has heard of things like driverless cars and Hyperloop, but there is one coming much sooner, and is privately financed. Transit X, one of several companies developing competing solar pod technologies right now, offers one viable solution to all aforementioned problems with MetroLink.
Whether 400,000 or 10 million, the walls defenders are all going to need chain armor. And many must be trained in the most fearsome weapon of medieval times: the trebuchet. This monster, 100 feet tall and thousands of pounds, can hurl huge projectiles 1,000 feet.

Cancel the F-35 contract. Lockheed Martin is going to have to build these suckers by the thousands. On the positive side, my experts said it will not be necessary to stock the moats with alligators (this was a Hollywood invention) nor to hurl diseased animal carcasses at the migrants (ineffective).

This is all going to cost well more than the $5.7 billion Trump has requested for the wall and requires mass conscription of civilians. But if we dont win the medieval arms race, we risk a bloody repeat of the Sassanian Siege of Amida in 359, when Romans holding the city were overrun and killed (much as Trump claims illegal immigrants are doing to Americans).

Of course, there is an easier way to protect our wall. We could use drones, ground-penetrating radar and that newfangled invention called gunpowder. But this would defeat the very purpose of building a wall in the first place: the frivolous novelty of using a fifth-century solution to a 21st-century problem.
When a woman who has been in a vegetative state for years suddenly gave birth at an Arizona care facility, caregivers were taken completely by surprise, telling 911 dispatchers, "We had no idea she was pregnant." CNN's Sara Sidner reports.

Hacienda HealthCare says it will turn over all records related to the patient in a vegetative state who gave birth inside its facility last month.

As part of its internal review, the Arizona facility will also divulge all operational procedures related to the unit where she was a patient, according to a statement from the Hacienda HealthCare board of directors.

The board announced Sunday the hiring of former Maricopa County Attorney Rick Romley to lead the internal review. The facility's employees will continue to cooperate with the Phoenix Police Department, whose investigators have begun to gather DNA from men who work at the facility.

"We will do everything we can to aid this review and, once it is complete, to make sure this unprecedented situation never, ever happens again," the board's statement said. "As an organization, our top priority is to quickly identify the perpetrator and to make sure that person is brought to justice."

The patient, 29, gave birth December 29 at the facility for people in need of long-term medical care. Caregivers were taken by surprise at the birth, telling 911 dispatchers, "We had no idea she was pregnant."

Police have said the baby was in distress when it was born, but they haven't said whether the woman had a full-term pregnancy.
A Wisconsin teenager missing for nearly three months after her parents were killed in the family home was found alive barely an hour's drive away, by a woman who said she was walking her dog along a rural road when a disheveled teenage girl called out to her for help, quickly grabbed her and told her she was lost.

Then the girl revealed her name: Jayme Closs, the 13-year-old Wisconsin girl who vanished three months ago after her parents were fatally shot in the family's home.

Jeanne Nutter, a social worker who spent years working in child protection, told The Associated Press on Friday that the girl approached her Thursday afternoon in a heavily wooded, rural neighborhood near the small town of Gordon, about 60 miles south of where Jayme disappeared on Oct. 15.

Jayme told the woman said she had walked away from a cabin where she'd been held captive, a cabin not far from Nutter's home.

"I was terrified, but I didn't want to show her that," Nutter told the AP. "She just yelled please help me I don't know where I am. I'm lost."

Nutter said she didn't want to bring Jayme to her nearby home because it was too close to where she'd been found, and she didn't want them to be alone. She said: "My only thought was to get her to a safe place."
Houwzer, a Philadelphia, Pa.-based real estate tech company, raised $4.5m in an extension of its seed funding.

Backers included:

 Ben Franklin Capital Partners,

 Admiral Capital Group, and

 Ira Lubert, founder of private equity firm LLR Partners.

The company will use the funds to continue to expand operations and its business reach.

Led by Mike Maher, Co-Founder & CEO, Houwzer is a real estate brokerage agency reimagining every aspect of the home buying and selling experience by providing homeowners a full service at a fair price.

The companys brokerage model leverages technology and a team of listing agents, who support sellers from consultation to closing, and salaried realtors, who support buyers to find home for them.

FinSMEs

12/01/2019
But Castro, whose grandmother, Victoria Castro, was born in the Mexican border state of Coahuila, and crossed into the United States at Eagle Pass, Texas, in 1922 after her parents died during the Mexican Revolution, added that at no time in his life, from growing up on San Antonio's impoverished West Side to his run for mayor in 2009, was he considered the favorite to get ahead.

"I am not a frontrunner in this race, but I have not been a frontrunner at any time in my life," Castro said, adding that people who grew up in the neighborhoods he grew up in were never considered frontrunners. "I am going to go speak to them in a way that resonates with them."

He added: "My family's story is a testament to what is possible when this country gets it right."

Castro's personal story, along with that of his twin brother, Joaquin, has been central to his rise on the national stage and made up the bulk of his 2012 convention speech.

Castro was raised primarily by his grandmother -- who he called Mamo -- and Rosie Castro, his Chicana political activist mother, eventually excelling enough to attend Stanford University and, eventually, Harvard Law School. He returned home and served as a member of the San Antonio City Council and, from 2009 until 2014, the mayor of the city. Obama picked him to be housing secretary in 2014.
We haven't seen a snow like this since you were in third grade, St. John told his son.

The family had been there about an hour, but as snow turned to rain, and then rain to ice, they packed up.

Heidi, their 9-year-old and 90 pound Bernese Mountain Dog, whined. She didn't want to go.

Traffic tie-ups

It certainly wasn't fun for drivers on area roads. Perhaps the Illinois State Police said it best in a tweet about 5:30 a.m. Saturday, advising drivers to stay off the roads:

The message was echoed by the Missouri Department of Transportation at a 6:30 a.m. news conference on Saturday. Bob Becker, district maintenance engineer, said: "If you can stay home, you probably should."

One of the worst points of gridlock Friday and into Saturday was Interstate 44, which turned into a parking lot where motorists were stranded for as long as nine hours in some cases, and Becker was peppered with questions and stories about why conditions were so bad.

"I'm sorry they got stuck and we wish it wouldn't have happened," he said. "St. Louis unfortunately was the bullseye of this storm."
The organizers of 500 Women in Medicine, an offshoot of 500 Women Scientists, see parallels between their work and the #MeToo and Times Up movements against sexual harassment and gender discrimination in Hollywood and other industries.

More than 40 percent of women medical students experience sexual harassment from faculty or staff, according to a study from the University of Texas. A 2018 report from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine says universities have not done enough to reduce sexual harassment on campus.

You cannot have sexual harassment and assault if there is no perceived power difference, Salles said.

Along with supporting the 500 Women in Medicine project, Washington University is working harder to include networking and career development programs for women and minorities, said Dr. Victoria Fraser, head of the department of medicine who also advises the project.

Theres an increasing awareness and visibility about the unconscious bias and system structures that can hold women back from leadership positions and recognition and full success in multiple career paths, said Fraser, one of two female chiefs among 21 academic departments in the medical school.
In a statement issued to the Post-Dispatch, Todd said that firewall policies were utilized as prescribed by federal election regulations.

Todd called Fridays story fiction that was written not by a journalist but by an anti-gun liberal activist on the payroll of Michael Bloombergs outfit.

But Campaign Legal Center spokesman Brendan Fischer said the Mother Jones-The Trace report bolstered its complaint against Hawley and the NRA.

Here you have the exact same person buying ads on behalf of both the NRA and the Hawley campaign, in some instances on the same day, so it is impossible to understand how that vendor could have established a firewall, Fischer said.

This piece shows that the NRAs pro-Hawleys ads and the Hawley campaigns own ads were placed in a very complementary fashion, in some instances running shortly after one another, he said. Political advertisers would say that that is a useful strategy because (listeners) are bombarded with consistent messages within a short period of time.

The NRA did not respond by late Friday to verbal and written requests for a comment. The NRA endorsed Hawley in September.

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Leaders plan to announce at the end of this month an initiative to gather at least 160,199 signatures and place on the November 2020 statewide ballot a measure to merge St. Louis and St. Louis County  and combine under one megacity the police departments, court systems, roadways and economic development arms of the city, county and all 88 county municipalities.

The quick backlash from Missouri mayors shows just how difficult the task will be, and how fervent the opposition already is. Mayors argue that their cities are well-run, their police departments excellent and their residents happy with small-town and suburban St. Louis County. But more than anything, they called the statewide vote an unreasonable, undemocratic attempt to bypass local voters that will ultimately be ineffective.

This is a local issue that needs to be decided locally, said Richard Sheets, deputy director and lobbyist for the Missouri Municipal League. If statewide voters can say one particular area would have to take on this form of government, why couldnt you do that to Springfield and Greene County and Jackson County?

Its contrary to logic and good government.
Devlin kept Shawn tied up for a month in his Kirkwood apartment. At one point, he tried to strangle the boy but stopped after Shawn promised he would never tell anyone.

For the next four years, with Shawn believing his family would be harmed if he fled, the two lived alternately as father and son or just family friends.

Devlin eventually let Shawn hang out with buddies, get a cellphone and go on dates. He didnt go to school. Shawn said nothing, and nobody in Kirkwood noticed he was the missing boy from Richwoods, 50 miles away. Inside the apartment was a childs hell of sexual abuse.

His parents created the Shawn Hornbeck Foundation to help search for missing children. On Oct. 6, 2006, the fourth anniversary of their sons disappearance, they circulated a computer-generated photo of what an older Shawn might look like.

Devlin would later tell FBI agents that he began looking for another boy because Shawn was getting too old. That led him on Jan. 8, 2007, to Beaufort, in western Franklin County, where he kidnapped Ben Ownby from the bus stop. Shawn was with him in the pickup.

Mitchell, a truck enthusiast who happened to be nearby, got a good look at the 1991 Nissan, giving Toelke and the FBI a solid lead.
He got up here, and he started to cry, Venn says. This building evokes things like that.

The hotels outdoor pool wasnt added until 1954, when a big convention that used to meet at the hotel threatened to move downtown, where newer hotels had pools. Jamaican-American pop star Harry Belafonte broke the color line in the pool when he first used it that decade. He told Venn this himself, with tears in his eyes, she says.

Lena Horne, who was African-American, once told Venn that she would always have a soft spot for the Chase. Harold Koplar, then manager and son of the builder, let her stay there when nobody else would. Horne reportedly said, If Im good enough to sing there, Im good enough to stay there.

Venn tells tales of other memorable guests. Sammy Davis Jr. had a huge entourage and huge demands, she says: requests for strawberry soda in his suite and a late-day request to have his suits cleaned. Venn remembers carrying the suits down the street in her heels, having to persuade a dry cleaner to open.

Former President George H.W. Bush was as kind and down-to-earth as people say, Venn says. During one visit, he greeted each of the politicians and donors who had gathered and then sauntered up to Venns desk, rubbing his hands together. Whats for lunch? he asked cheerfully.
The time to speak up is past. Now it is time for all of us to shout together, support victims and eliminate rape culture. Discussions of sexual violence should be deeply grounded in intersectionality. We must care for victims and survivors from all ethnic and religious backgrounds, gender identities and sexual orientations. These books offer a window into that broader understanding.

The Round House, by Louise Erdrich (Harper)  Erdrichs 2012 novel explores the complicated search for justice and the roots of violence after a sexual assault on a reservation in North Dakota. This powerful National Book Award winner will linger in your heart.

Not That Bad: Dispatches from Rape Culture, edited by Roxane Gay (Harper)  These devastating personal essays from survivors of sexual violence cover a range of topics connected to rape culture. The result is both eye-opening and insightful.

The Way I Used to Be, by Amber Smith (Margaret K. McElderry Books)  This young adult novel is an unflinching look at the struggles of a rape victim to process her trauma and find the strength to rebuild her life.
Last year saw the release of Michelle Wolf: Nice Lady, her debut stand-up special for HBO. Because HBO (and/or Netflix) specials are still the gold standard for comedians, Wolf took special pains to prepare for hers.

I felt like I was planning my wedding, she says with a laugh. I had to learn some of the production stuff and think about everything from what I was going to wear to what the background was going to look like, the music, and all that stuff.

She worked especially hard on the material itself. I was really trying to make every joke as good as it could possibly be, she says. I have a rule where I do a hundred hourlong sets before I tape my specials so that I explore every single nook and cranny.

But you know, she adds with a laugh, Im a little bit Type A.

Last year also saw Wolf get her own Netflix series, The Break With Michelle Wolf, a weekly talk show that attempted to stand out from a crowded field by, for the most part, avoiding politics. But it was only given a 10-week run and in that time never really found its audience.
The partial federal government shutdown is complicating the already complicated process of getting and managing a mortgage. For one thing, the political storm is like severe weather at a major airport: You can expect minor delays or worse. And if youre among the 800,000 federal employees going without a regular paycheck, it could mean trouble making a house payment.

Heres how the shutdown is affecting homebuyers and homeowners  and what you can do about it.

If youre getting an FHA, VA or USDA loan

If youre getting a Federal Housing Administration or Department of Veterans Affairs loan, its likely you can expect delays in the underwriting process, and its possible your closing date will be pushed back as well.

Theres good news for most FHA-qualified homebuyers: Single-family FHA loans are being funded, even during the shutdown. FHA home equity conversion mortgages (known as reverse mortgages) and FHA Title I loans (financing for permanent property improvements and renovations) are the exception  and wont be processed during the shutdown. The processing of VA loans will continue, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association, but you may have to wait.
The endowment programme of the Romanian Army represents both a national and a international priority, since we undertook to contribute to the defence of the NATO and EU borders, the USR (Save Romania Union) Deputy Bogdan Rodeanu, deputy head of the Committee for defence, public order and national security, said on Saturday.

USR also claimed in a post on Facebook that "the new scandal related to the tender organised by the Ministry of National Defence for the corvettes proved that PSD (Social Democratic Party) and Dragnea (Liviu Dragnea, the leader of PSD and Speaker of the Deputies Chamber - editor's note) are incapable of finalizing any agreement, including the most important ones, that have to do with the Army."

"This blockage, simultaneously with the attack against the chief of the Army, does nothing else but destabilizes the Eastern flank of NATO, while directly serving the Russian interests instead, in the context in which Russia is fighting to take control of the Black Sea," said the abovementioned source.Thus, the USR Deputy Bogdan Rodeanu stated that: "Dragnea's PSD must understand that the Army's endowment programe is not an objective from their colour book named "Governing Programme," but a national and international priority, since we undertook to contribute to the defence of the NATO and EU borders."
She gave a joint statement to the press with Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras.

"We have been through difficult years. What we have achieved was to strengthen the European spirit," the German leader stressed during the remarks broadcast by Greek state television ERT.

Merkel praised Greece for its achievements despite the difficulties of the recent years of the debt crisis, such as the historic agreement reached last summer for the resolution of the Macedonia name dispute.

The deal, which is currently in the process of ratification by the parliaments of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) and Greece, will benefit the entire Europe, the chancellor stressed.

She reiterated Germany's support to Greece's efforts to stand on its feet, noting the need to continue on the path of reform in the post-bailout era.

"Today you are coming to a different Greece, which after many challenges has managed to overcome the crisis and enter the path of growth," the Greek prime minister said.

"I believe that Greece is not only gradually exiting the crisis but is turning from part of the problem into part of the solution," the Greek leader said, underlining that his country is a pillar of stability in a region suffering from destabilization.

The German chancellor's visit marks the end of a difficult period in bilateral relations, opening new prospects, Tsipras noted, referring to past differences regarding the way to address the Greek debt crisis, which was overcome through compromises.

He also stressed the need for closer cooperation in finding solutions to more problems as Europe faces more challenges, like the rise of the populist far-right.

The leaders also highlighted the need to establish a comprehensive European migration and asylum policy to deal with the refugee-migrant crisis, which has also tested the EU in recent years.

During the meeting at the prime minister's office, police used tear gas to disperse leftist and far-right protestors who held two different demonstrations against the chancellor's visit.

"We are here to protest against Merkel's visit. She came indeed to check what the entire EU leadership has created in Greece. We are against and we demand that our country be liberated from the shackles of the

EU and the debt load," Nikos Adamopoulos, one of the leftist protestors, told Xinhua.

The German leader is scheduled to hold a meeting with Greek President Prokopis Pavlopoulos and main opposition New Democracy party leader Kyriakos Mitsotakis on January 11 before departing from Athens.
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Its disturbing that some U.S. senators have chosen to inject religion as a factor in deciding on the nomination of Omaha attorney Brian Buescher for a Nebraska federal judgeship.

The U.S. Constitution states directly that no religious Test shall ever be required as a Qualification to any Office or public Trust under the United States. Yet, two lawmakers  Sens. Kamala Harris, D-Calif., and Mazie Hirono, D-Hawaii  have chosen to put Bueschers Catholic affiliation in the forefront of consideration.

The senators claim Bueschers membership in the Knights of Columbus, a Catholic fraternal organization, raises concern about how he would conduct himself as a judge. The organization holds traditionalist positions on abortion and same-sex marriage with which the senators disagree.

The senators stance is troubling and irresponsible, since it indicates the Senate should make membership in religious organizations a major disqualifier for a federal nominee. Its ironic that Democratic lawmakers would approach federal qualifications in that way, given that one of the hurdles that John Kennedy (a member of the Knights of Columbus, incidentally) had to overcome in his 1960 presidential bid on the Democratic ticket was suspicion from part of the electorate that he wouldnt approach his presidential duties properly due to his Catholic faith.
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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 
A t least 53 people in Paris have been arrested at the yellow vest protests as demonstrations enter their ninth consecutive week.

Repeated scuffles broke out between French anti-government protesters and police near the Arc de Triomphe.

They are demonstrating against Emmanuel Macrons economic policies which some claim are favouring the rich.

Paris brought in armoured vehicles and the central French city of Bourges shuttered shops to prepare for possible violence between police and protesters.

Interior Minister Christophe Castaner threatened tough retaliation against rioters and their backers, warning of increasing radicalization among the largely peaceful demonstrators.

Demonstrators march on rue Saint Antoine, near Saint Paul, in Paris / AFP/Getty Images

Online groups mounted calls through the week for actions in Bourges, a provincial capital with a renowned Gothic cathedral and picturesque wood-framed houses, and the suburban Paris business district of La Defense.

But authorities warned that could be a ploy to draw police away from key sites in the capital, which epitomizes the power and wealth that's the target of the provincially driven protest movement.

So Paris police said they wouldn't let down their guard, and deployed armoured vehicles, horses and attack dogs around the city.

Subway stations and some shops closed, notably around government buildings and the Champs-Elysees, the sparkling avenue whose luxury boutiques have been hit by repeated rioting in past protests.

Mounted police patrol in the streets of Paris, on January 12 / AFP/Getty Images

Paris police said in a statement they made several arrests before Saturday's actions, notably in France's historic traveller community, which has called for protests in support of a boxer caught on video punching police last weekend in central Paris.

That incident dominated French media over the past week, and prompted fears of resurgent tensions between protesters and police.

Boxer Christophe Dettinger turned himself in to police and is in custody pending trial.

Demonstartors wave a giant French national flag as they march on rue de Rivoli, in Paris / AFP/Getty Images

Other protests are planned in several French cities Saturday, but many actions aren't officially declared in advance and pop up in unexpected places.

Last Saturday, authorities estimated 50,000 people protested nationwide, including 3,500 in Paris.

The protests started with drivers opposing fuel tax increases, which is why participants wear the fluorescent vests French motorists must keep in their vehicles. But it has mushroomed into a broad-based revolt against years of shrinking purchasing power and Macron's pro-business policies.

Some yellow vest groups hope to translate that into votes in the European elections in May.
T he partial shutdown of the United States government has become the longest closure in the country's history as it entered its 22nd day.

The milestone was passed as the clock ticked past midnight into Saturday in Washington DC.

President Donald Trump has refused to approve a budget unless it includes funds for his long-promised wall on the Mexican border.

But Democrats have rejected his request for $5.7bn (4.5bn).

President Donald Trump has requested funding for his Mexican border wall / REUTERS

Mr Trump and nervous Republicans have been scrambling to find a way out of the deadlock, which left federal workers without pay on Friday.

Earlier the House and Senate voted to give federal workers back pay when the government reopens, although the chambers are not sitting over the weekend.

Mr Trump is said to have privately considered declaring a national emergency to build a wall between the US and Mexico without a new stream of cash from Congress.

However members of his own party have been fiercely debating that idea, and the president has urged Congress to come up with another solution.

Anger: federal workers in Ogden, Utah, protest against the US government shutdown / AP

"What we're not looking to do right now is national emergency," Mr Trump said.

He insisted that he had the authority to do that, adding that he is "not going to do it so fast" because he would still prefer to work a deal with Congress.

Around 800,000 workers missed pay on Friday, with many receiving blank pay statements.

Some posted photos of their empty earnings statements on social media as a rallying cry to end the shutdown, a jarring image that many in the White House feared could turn more voters against the president as he holds out for billions in new wall funding.

A construction crew works as new sections of the US-Mexico border barrier are installed / Getty Images

With polls showing Mr Trump getting most of the blame for the shutdown, the administration accelerated planning for a possible emergency declaration to try to get around Congress and fund the wall from existing sources of federal revenue.

The White House explored diverting money for wall construction from a range of other accounts, Associated Press reports.

One idea being considered was diverting some of the $13.9 billion allocated to the Army Corps of Engineers after last year's deadly hurricanes and floods.

That option triggered an outcry from officials in Puerto Rico and some states recovering from natural disasters, and appeared to lose steam on Friday.

The White House also was eyeing military construction funds, another politically difficult choice because the money would be diverted from a backlog of hundreds of projects at bases around the nation.

Mr Trump has been counseled by outside advisers to move toward a national emergency declaration, but many in the White House are trying to put on the brakes.

Senior aide Jared Kushner, who traveled with the president to the Texas border on Thursday, was among those opposed to the declaration, arguing to the president that pursuing a broader immigration deal was a better option.

Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who has signaled moral opposition to the wall and vowed to oppose any funding, said the president is seeking to divert attention from special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation and other White House problems.

"This isn't a wall between Mexico and the United States. This is a wall between his failures of his administration," Ms Pelosi told reporters. "This is a big diversion, and he's a master of diversion."

In a Friday morning tweet, Mr Trump called illegal immigration on the southern border "an invasion," even though border crossings have declined in recent years.

Later, he tried to blame Democrats for the shutdown, claiming he's flexible about the needed barrier.

"I don't care what they name it," Mr Trump said. "They can name it `peaches."'

Mr Trump has told advisers he believes the fight for the wall - even if it never yields the requested funding - is a political win for him.

But some of his outside advisers have urged him to declare a national emergency, believing it would have two benefits: First, it would allow him to claim that he was the one to act to reopen the government.

Second, inevitable legal challenges would send the matter to court, allowing Mr Trump to continue the fight for the wall - and continue to excite his supporters - while not actually closing the government or immediately requiring him to start construction.

Many Democrats, meanwhile, say they have little reason to give into Trump's demand for border wall funding since taking control of the House in the midterm elections.
A teenage girl in Utah crashed into another car when she covered her eyes as part of the so-called "Bird Box Challenge", US police said.

Police have taken the unprecedented step of urging residents not to drive blindfolded following the incident.

Layton police lieutenant Travis Lyman said on Friday that the 17-year-old drifted into oncoming traffic and hit another car after she pulled a hat over her eyes to emulate the film "Bird Box".

The craze was sparked by the Sandra Bullock movie on Netflix, where characters must be constantly blindfolded to avoid visions that urge them to die.

Videos of people trying to do things while blindfolded have attracted widespread attention online, and Netflix tweeted a warning about the challenge last week.

No one was hurt in the Monday crash north of Salt Lake City.
S audi teenager Rahaf Mohammed al-Qunun has arrived in Canada after being stranded in Bangkok Airport.

The 18-year-old was granted asylum by Canada after she claimed she feared that she would be killed by her family.

The 18-year-old barricaded herself in an airport hotel room, launching a social media campaign via Twitter and drawing global attention to her case.

Saudi teenager Rahaf Mohammed al-Qunun (centre) is welcomed by Canadian Minister for Foreign Affairs Chrystia Freeland / AFP/Getty Images

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Canada would accept Rahaf Mohammed al-Qunun as a refugee.

"Canada has been unequivocal," Mr Trudeau said. "We will always stand up for human rights and women's rights around the world."

al-Qunun , the 18-year old Saudi woman who fled her family to seek asylum, has since arrived in Canada / AP

The office of the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees welcomed Canada's decision.

"The quick actions over the past week of the government of Thailand in providing temporary refuge and facilitating refugee status determination by UNHCR, and of the government of Canada in offering emergency resettlement to Ms. Alqunun and arranging her travel were key to the successful resolution of this case," the agency said in a statement.

Ms Qununs case has highlighted the cause of womens rights in Saudi Arabia, where womens freedoms are severely restricted under the countrys guardianship laws.

Several female Saudis fleeing abuse by their families have been caught trying to seek asylum abroad in recent years and returned home.
T wo firefighters and a Spanish woman have died and 47 were injured in a huge explosion at a bakery in Paris, officials have said.

It is believed that the powerful blast and fire, on Rue de Trevise in the 9th arrondissement of north-central Paris, was caused by a gas leak.

French Interior Minister Christophe Castaner told reporters at the scene that "unfortunately the human toll is particularly serious."

He said 10 people are fighting for life and 37 others are less seriously injured.

The Paris prosecutor's office said that two firefighters have been killed in the bakery blast, correcting the overall figure of four dead given earlier by France's interior minister.

The Spanish foreign minister later said that a Spanish woman was among those killed.

Firefighters extinguish a fire after the explosion / AFP/Getty Images

Firefighters pulled injured victims out of windows and evacuated residents as smoke billowed out of the building after the incident at 9am local time (8am GMT).

Mr Castaner paid tribute to the courage of rescuers who saved the life of one firefighter who was buried under the rubble for two and a half hours.

Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo, who was also at the scene, extended a "message of affection and solidarity" to the victims.

Fire burns at the site of an explosion at a bakery shop in Paris / REUTERS

Paris prosecutor Remy Heitz said that the cause appears to be an accidental gas leak.

He said that Paris firefighters were already at the scene to investigate a suspected gas leak at the bakery when the explosion happened.

A vehicle is overturned amid debris after the explosion / AFP/Getty Images

An investigation was opened to determine the exact cause of the blast, he said.

Witnesses described the overwhelming sound of the blast and people trapped inside nearby buildings.

Emergency workers and firefighters work at the scene after the explosion in Paris / AFP/Getty Images

Charred debris and broken glass covered the pavement around the apartment building housing the bakery, which resembled a blackened carcass.

Mr Castaner said "the situation is under control" but warned the explosion had caused a "heavy toll."

Several people were injured in the blast / EPA

After visiting the scene, he described his "shock" at seeing the damage, and said around 200 firefighters and police were involved in the operation.

A helicopter landed in the area to evacuate the wounded. Silver-helmeted firefighters and red fire engines filled the street and inspected adjoining courtyards. A vehicle from gas company GRDF was stationed nearby.

Large amounts of debris and wreckage were at the scene

Pedro Goncalves, an employee at the Hotel Mercure opposite the bakery, said he saw firefighters enter the bakery in the morning but he and his co-workers "thought maybe it's a joke, a false alarm" and they went back to work. About an hour later, he said a blast rocked the surrounding streets.

"In the middle of nothing, I heard one big explosion and then a lot of pressure came at me (and) a lot of black smoke and glass," he said. "And I had just enough time to get down and cover myself and protect my head."

Firefighters intervene after the explosion / AFP/Getty Images

Mr Goncalves said he "felt a lot of things fall on me" and that he was struck by shattered glass. He had a few cuts on his head, and spots of blood on his sweater and shirt.

"Thank god I'm OK," he said, saying that the blast was so powerful that he heard whistling in his ears in the aftermath.

Mr Goncalves said that he ran for the exit and then went to check on the hotel's clients, adding that some of them had head injuries and were bleeding. He said that the hotel was "destroyed" in the blast.

Another witness told reporters that she was awakened by the blast, and feared it was another terrorist attack.

The bakery is around the corner from the Folies-Bergere theater and not far from the shopping district that includes the famed headquarters of Galeries Lafayette.
W elsh assembly member Steffan Lewis has died aged 34 after he was diagnosed with terminal bowel cancer in 2017.

The Plaid Cymru politician, who was the youngest member elected in the 2016 assembly election, died in hospital in Ystrad Mynach, Caerphilly, on Friday.

He is survived by his wife, Shona, and three-year-old son, Celyn.

In a tribute, his family said he "fought his disease with courage, the same courage and determination that he applied to his politics" and continued to serve even when "he was in great pain and discomfort.

Mr Lewis is survived by his wife, Shona, and three-year-old son, Celyn / PA

They said: "To lose Steff is the greatest possible blow to our family and we know that there are people throughout Wales who share our sense of loss.

"Steff inspired us every day. He was our rock, he was our anchor and most certainly, our hero.

Above all Steffan was a loving husband, father, son and brother."

The family vowed to ensure his "legacy will live on forever", adding: "Wales will not forget his contribution and his determination to make a difference to people's lives."

Plaid Cymru Leader Adam Price said it was clear Mr Lewis was someone who would have a big impact on Welsh life when he first addressed a party conference aged just 14.

Mr Lewis spoke at Plaid Cymru's party conference in 1997 aged just 14 / PA

He said: "Steffan was beloved by his friends in Plaid Cymru and we are in a state of shock and grief at losing our very brightest star.

"He will be remembered as a politician of rare talent who achieved an incredible amount during his time in elected office, which has been cut short in such harrowing circumstances.

"His powers of reasoning and intellect were matched only by his capacity for compassion - even while suffering illness, Steffan persisted in prioritising the welfare of other people by speaking openly about his difficult experiences while all the time continuing to work on behalf of his nation and constituents.

"I cannot begin to express our sense of loss and how much we will miss having Steffan in our lives."

First Minister of Wales, Mark Drakeford, added: "I would like to express my own deep and personal sorrow at the loss of Steffan Lewis AM, one of the most decent and able politicians of his generation.
T he founder of "Kiss a Ginger Day" has hailed the event's role in beating bullies as it marked its 10th birthday.

Derek Forgie joined other red heads in Dublin on Saturday to rejoice in the hair colour they share.

Mr Forgie organised the first Kiss a Ginger Day in 2009, in response to the emergence of "Kick a Ginger Day". This was a fictional event in satirical cartoon South Park which was subsequently linked to a spate of school bullying incidents targeting red-headed children.

Young and old gathered in Dublin's Phoenix Park for the event's landmark anniversary.

Nell Mercier, from Galway, takes part in the annual Kiss a Ginger day at Phoenix Park in Dublin / Niall Carson/PA

Fellow gingers posed for selfies, swapped hairdressing tips and joked about their need for sun cream on a biting cold Irish winter day.

In keeping with the name of the day, there were also a few kisses shared.

People with red hair take a selfie to celebrate Kiss a Ginger Day / Clodagh Kilcoyne/Reuters

There was even a quiz on red head trivia, with the winners receiving ginger nuts, oranges and jars of ginger spice.

There was an international flavour to the celebration, with attendees from as far afield as the US and Poland.

Hollie Herridge, aged 10, laughs as the wind blows her hair in her face as she poses to celebrate Kiss a Ginger Day / Clodagh Kilcoyne/Reuters

Mr Forgie said the impact of the event had been "overwhelmingly positive" in the last decade.

"It's a push back against some of the bullying we have seen and some of the marginalisation we have seen, and I think some people really resonate with something that's positive."

People with red hair celebrate Kiss a Ginger Day on the 10-year anniversary of the anti-bullying event / Clodagh Kilcoyne/Reuters

Denise Steward travelled from Mallow in Co Cork with her two red-headed daughters.

"We decided we would have some fun and come on up and see some other gingers," said Ms Steward, who is originally from America.

"It's a big part of our life so we just thought we'd come up and check it out and have some craic."
B locking Brexit could open the door to extremist political forces in the UK, Chris Grayling has warned.

The transport secretary said that putting a stop to exiting the European Union would make millions of those who voted to leave feel cheated.

He urged his Conservative colleagues to back Theresa Mays Brexit deal just days ahead of a critical commons vote.

Mr Grayling told the Daily Mail: "People have to think long and hard about how they are going to vote. This is too important for political game-playing and I urge Conservative MPs who back Brexit and others to back the deal.

"If not, we risk a break with the British tradition of moderate, mainstream politics that goes back to the Restoration in 1660.

"MPs need to remember that Britain, its people and its traditions are the mother of Parliaments. We ignore that and the will of the people at our peril."

He said there would be a "different tone" in British politics if Britain failed to leave the EU, and predicted a "less tolerant society" and a "more nationalistic nation".

"It will open the door to extremist populist political forces in this country of the kind we see in other countries in Europe," Mr Grayling told the paper.

"If MPs who represent seats that voted 70% to leave say 'sorry guys, we're still going to have freedom of movement', they will turn against the political mainstream."

His comments came after Northern Ireland Secretary Karen Bradley warned a no-deal exit would create a "feeling of unrest".

She told BBC News NI: "I have been clear that I believe no deal is bad for the United Kingdom, it's bad for the whole United Kingdom because it does put in jeopardy some of those constitutional arrangements.

"I'm sure it will create feeling of unrest with people in all parts of the United Kingdom who didn't want to see us leave the European Union."

It comes amid reports that some Cabinet ministers believe Mrs May has run out of time to get crucial exit legislation through Parliament before March 29 - even if she wins the critical vote next week.

Meanwhile, two of the biggest donors to the Leave campaign said they believed Brexit would eventually be abandoned by the Government and that the UK would stay in the EU.

Billionaire businessman Peter Hargreaves, who pumped more than 3 million into the exit campaign, told Reuters: "I have totally given up. I am totally in despair, I don't think Brexit will happen at all."

And hedge fund manager Crispin Odey, who donated more than 870,000 to pro-Leave groups, said: "My view is that it ain't going to happen. I just can't see how it happens with that configuration of Parliament."

They attributed a lack of direction from Brexiteers as one of the reasons for their pessimism.

Amber Rudd has highlighted cabinet divisions / Getty Images

Elsewhere, Work and Pensions Secretary Amber Rudd highlighted Cabinet divisions by suggesting it was wrong to criticise Commons Speaker John Bercow over his controversial decision to allow MPs a vote on an amendment to the timetable of the Brexit deal.

She told BBC Two's Newsnight: "I'm less inclined to blame the speaker. I think that what we are seeing is the house asserting itself in the face of its concerns about no deal. I'm not really surprised about that.

"A majority of MPs are likely to come forward and say they want to stop no deal. I understand that. The real difficulty...is there doesn't seem to be a coalescence around an alternative. The only deal we have is the withdrawal agreement.
From the bottom of our hearts, we want them to stay.

Without your great nation, this Continent would not be what it is today: a community defined by freedom and prosperity.

After the horrors of the Second World War, Britain did not give up on us. It has welcomed Germany back as a sovereign nation and a European power.

This we, as Germans, have not forgotten and we are grateful.
F ormer Brexit secretary Dominic Raab has called for MPs to vote down Theresa Mays deal when it goes before the Commons on Tuesday.

Mr Raab, who resigned from the Cabinet in November in protest against Mrs Mays deal, said Britain can do better than her Withdrawal Agreement, which he said would keep us locked into EU laws.

Writing for the Daily Telegraph, Mr Raab said: It is a bad deal, and Britain can do better. Its time to stop treating Brexit as a gloomy book-keeping exercise in risk-management.

MPs should vote against the deal, send a clear message to Brussels that the UK will not be bullied  and deliver the optimistic vision that, in 2016, fired up the biggest democratic mandate for change weve ever seen."

Dominic Raab pictured outside Parliament last month / EPA

Mr Raab added the current deal would "keep us locked into swathes of EU laws without any democratic say".

Mrs May faces the fight of her political life to force her much-criticised deal through Parliament.

Jarvis Cocker compares Brexit result to 'a single entering the chart at no 19'

And on Friday, Cabinet ministers told the Standard that Brexit looks increasingly likely to be delayed beyond the scheduled leaving date of March 29.

Mr Raabs comments came as fellow Tory Brexiteer Iain Duncan Smith said leaving the EU without a deal is the only way Britain can fully take back control of its borders.

Key Brexit moments of 2018: in pictures 1 /23 Key Brexit moments of 2018: in pictures Prime Minister Theresa May speaks during a Cabinet meeting at Chequers in July PA The Cabinet thrashed out a Brexit blue print PA The away day meeting PA Boris Johnson leaves Carlton House Terrace in Westminster after he resigned as Foreign Secretary PA David Davis pictured after quitting the government, resigning his post as Brexit Secretary AFP/Getty Images New role: Jeremy Hunt was appointed as Foreign Secretary in July Getty Images Dominic Raab took over the role of Brexit Secretary in July AP/Matt Dunham Exotic spresm: Liberal Democrats Leader Sir Vince Cable following his speech at the party conference PA More than half a million protesters descended on London for the People's Vote March in October Sky News Demonstrators called for a People's Vote on Brexit during a march in Liverpool earlier this year Getty Images Chancellor of the Exchequer, Philip Hammond, presented the red Budget Box as he revealed the government's financial plans in October Getty Images It was the last Budget before Brexit AFP/Getty Images Mr McDonnell and Jeremy Corbyn listen as Chancellor Philip Hammond delivers his Budget statement AFP/Getty Images New Brexit Secretary Stephen Barclay after Dominic Raab quit the post in November Getty Images Esther McVey also resigned as Work and Pensions Secretary Sir Keir Starmer opened the debate on a motion to hold the Government in contempt of Parliament on December 4 AFP/Getty Images Sir Graham Brady (centre), chairman of the 1922 Committee, announces that Theresa May has survived a confidence vote on December 12 PA Theresa May in Downing Street after winning the confidence vote Jeremy Selwyn The Prime Minister confronts Jean-Claude Juncker at an EU summit in December 'You called me nebulous' Philip Sime/Twitter Jeremy Corbyn was accused of mouthing the words "stupid woman" during the last PMQs of the year Jeremy Corbyn responds in the Commons amid the row PA Jeremy Corbyn denied reports he muttered the words "stupid woman" AFP/Getty Images

The former Tory leader described Mrs May's Withdrawal Agreement as "flawed", and instead proffered the benefits of leaving under World Trade Organisation (WTO) terms.

Mr Duncan Smith said: "Only by leaving the EU on WTO terms can the UK fully take back control of its borders and deal with these issues. In taking back control of our migration policy we are also giving notice to industry that we will have to invest and train to a far greater degree than they have for some time.

"The greatest benefit of leaving under no deal is that our country can start to enjoy the benefits of Brexit from March 29, 2019, rather than being left in the BRINO [Brexit In Name Only] purgatory of Mrs May's deal. The British people have already waited for almost three years - they should not have to wait any longer."
H undreds of protesters from the left and right wings of British politics inspired by the so-called "yellow vest" movement in France today marched on the streets of London.

Demonstrators gathered in central London and across the country for an anti-austerity march organised by The People's Assembly Against Austerity, which is calling for a general election.

Separately a group of pro-Brexit campaigners assembled outside St James Tube station for a protest on Saturday.

Leading campaigner James Goddard was reportedly arrested by police ahead of the event on a public order offence relating to incidents in Westminster earlier this week.

Anti austerity protesters march in London on Saturday / AFP/Getty Images

Mr Goddard's supporters were marching in London in yellow vests to demand Britain leaves the European Union.

The protesters marched on Westminster, later blocking Westminster Bridge as speakers addressed the crowd, according to reports on social media.

Last week, it was reported that around 100 demonstrators took part in a similar protest in which they set off smoke bombs and stopped traffic around Parliament.

Austerity campaigners wearing yellow vests with slogans such as 'Britain is Broken' written on the back also marched in London today.

A demonstrator waves a smoke flare as protesters make their way to Westminster / Getty Images

People taking part met outside the BBC's Broadcasting House before marching to Trafalgar Square later.

Temporary stalls lined the road up from Oxford Circus station, where organisations such as Stand Up to Racism and the Socialist Party were handing out leaflets and placards.

People carrying drums prepared to march and political songs were being sung and large trade union banners were being held up in the crowd.

Protesters wearing yellow vests also participated in a pro-Brexit demonstration / REUTERS

National organiser Ramona McCartney said the protest was an attempt to "take back the political space taken up by Brexit".

Ms McCartney said protesters also wanted to show "solidarity with the left and working class in France by wearing the yellow vests today".

Protesters travelled over from France to join the march in the capital.

Pro-Brexit demonstrators in Whitehall / PA

Laurie Martin, 26, and Erick Simon, 57, arrived from Normandy on Friday night.

Ms Martin said she came "to support the British because our demands are the same as those fighting austerity across Europe".

"All European countries must join up in this battle against austerity," added Mr Simon.

Yellow vest protests continue in France 1 /15 Yellow vest protests continue in France Demonstrators wave a French national flag and a flare as they gather in the place de la Bastille, in Paris AFP/Getty Images A man walks his dog on the rue de Rivoli by the Louvre museum while French police block the street with their vehicles AFP/Getty Images Carpenters install wooden planks to protect the window of a bank, on the eve of a Yellow Vest (gilet jaune) protest AFP/Getty Images A picture taken on January 11, 2019 shows a placard indicating that the city hall will be closed during the Yellow Vest (gilet jaune) protest the next day in Bourges AFP/Getty Images Mounted police patrol in the streets of Paris, on January 12, 2019, as 'Yellow Vest' (Gilets Jaunes) protests are scheduled across the country AFP/Getty Images Demonstrators march on rue Saint Antoine, near Saint Paul, in Paris, on January 12, 2019 AFP/Getty Images People demonstrate during a 'Yellow Vests' protest in Nimes, France, 12 January 2019 EPA Demonstartors wave a giant French national flag as they march on rue de Rivoli AFP/Getty Images Riot police officers stand in line as yellow vest protesters demonstrate peacefully in the streets of Paris AP People march in the streets of center Paris, on January 12, 2019 AFP/Getty Images Demonstartors wave a giant French national flag as they march on rue de Rivoli, in Paris AFP/Getty Images A protester prepare shields on the eve of a Yellow Vest (gilet jaune) protest AFP/Getty Images People gather during an anti-government demonstration called by the Yellow Vests "Gilets Jaunes" movement, in Bourges AFP/Getty Images People gather past a French national flag and a banner reading "France is angry" during an anti-government demonstration AFP/Getty Images People gather during an anti-government demonstration called by the Yellow Vests "Gilets Jaunes" movement, in Bourges AFP/Getty Images

France has seen weeks of national anti-austerity demonstrations as part by the "gilets jaune" movement.

The march slowly made its way down Haymarket, ahead of speeches in Trafalgar Square by figures including Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell.

A man with a megaphone at the front of the march repeatedly led protestors in calls for a general election.

Pro-Brexit protesters confront police during the demonstration / AFP/Getty Images

Addressing protesters in Trafalgar Square, Mr McDonnell said eight years of austerity was "tearing apart the very social fabric" of the country.

He told the crowd he expected MPs to defeat Prime Minister Theresa May's Brexit deal at Tuesday's vote.

Mr McDonnell said that then, when "the time is right", his party would move a motion of no confidence to "bring this government down".

Shadow Labour party Chancellor John McDonnell speaks to protesters / AFP/Getty Images

"It's now here before us, we could have a socialist prime minister," he said.

Mr McDonnell read out a message from Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn to the crowd.

He said: "We need a general election now to bring about the fairer, more equal society we all want to live in and we stand ready to take power."

Meanwhile pro-Brexit yellow vest campaigners demonstrated in Westminster for the second week.

A large group of protesters marched through Vauxhall in support of Britain's exit from the European Union.

Demonstrators were pictured blocking traffic next to Parliament Square and burning the EU flag.

It came after Mr Goddard was allegedly arrested at St James Park Tube station before 12pm on suspicion of a public order offence.

It is understood the arrest is in connection with remainer MP Ms Soubry being harassed outside Parliament during live television interviews in College Green on Monday.

The Met said a man in his 30s had been arrested at St James Park tube station at 11.42am on Saturday on suspicion of a public order offence.

A spokeswoman said the arrest related to an incident which took place in Westminster on Monday January 7.
P olice have released images of two men they wish to speak to after a man was sexually assaulted in Camden.

A man in his 20s was sexually assaulted by two men at 2.45am on October 24 on Flitcroft Street.

Detective Constable Robin East said: This was a sexual assault on a man in a public street and we appeal for anyone who thinks they can help us with the investigation to come forward.

We are interested in speaking to the two men in these images, so if you recognise them, please dont delay in calling the police.

The victim in this case continues to receive support from specially trained officers.

Officers confirmed that there have not been any further reports of similar assaults and it is being treated as an isolated incident.

Both suspects were described by the victim as white. One man was thought to be between 35 to 40 years old. He is short around 5ft fin tall. He was wearing a dark puffer jacket and had big ears.

The other man was believed to be slightly younger, between 30 and 35 years of age, of skinny build, clean shaven and had light brown hair. He was wearing a blue Superdry jacket and thought to be around 5ft 8 ins tall.
A new film has been released documenting the swimming community at Hampstead Heaths ponds.

Film The Ponds follows the three open swimming areas at Hampstead Heath for 12 months, through the blistering summer and freezing cold winter.

Tickets for screenings are already selling out with swimming groups from all over Europe requesting their own viewings.

Patrick McLennan, co-producer/ director told the Standard that the film introduces audiences to characters that use the ponds throughout the year.

The documentary follows the swimming areas for 12 months / The Ponds

He said: I think the fact that people are prepared to get up on a January or February morning and go down, cycle, drive or walk to the pond and jump into four degrees water makes them interesting straight away because not everyone is prepared to do that.

One character who plays a prominent role in the film is Tom Kearney. He started going to the ponds to aid his recovery following an accident in 2009 where he was hit by a bendy bus on Oxford Street.

Mr McLennan said: He almost died and was in a coma for two and a half weeks. When he got through that, he was rehabilitating at home, his neighbour said youve got to go in the water because if a bendy bus isnt going to kill you then the cold water certainly wont either and I think it would make you better.

So Tom became a really important part of our documentary because he talks about how the mens pond aided his recovery and allowed him to recover from devastating trauma.

People come to the Ponds all year round including in winter / The Ponds

Mr McLennan said that the film touches on the history of the ponds, showing footage of men and women using the facilities in years gone by.

Swimmers there are very mindful of the fact that they have a very precious facility and that they want to keep it as the way it is currently. Its got a very loyal regular community.

Its not just the community that want to see the film. Screenings in the local area have sold out with people as far afield as Belgium requesting to hold their own screening.

The film introduces members of the local community who use the facilities / The Ponds

When Samuel Smith and I started filming, we started it and thought that it was turning out to be a worthwhile and interesting project.

When you start something like this, youre not aware if theres going to be an audience for it. Weve been absolutely delighted to find that there is a big audience for it. Not only in London.

There are swimming groups and people around the country who have heard about it and are getting in touch. People in Hampshire, Newcastle, Brussels and Ireland. Theyve seen the trailer and getting in touch and asking us how they can see it.

The response has been remarkable.
' Yellow vest' campaigner James Goddard has reportedly been arrested by police in London on suspicion of a public order offence.

The Metropolitan Police confirmed that a man was arrested outside St James Park tube station at around 11.45am on Saturday.

Mr Goddard's supporters claimed he was about to hand himself in at Holborn police station at midday, according to BBC journalist Daniel Sandford.

The arrest is said to be in connection with remainer MP Anna Soubry being harassed outside Parliament during live television interviews in College Green on Monday.

A group of protesters wearing yellow vests were pictured outside the underground station around the time of the arrest.

A spokeswoman for the Met said in a statement: "We can confirm that a man in his 30s was arrested at 11.42hrs on Saturday, January 12 outside St James Park tube station on suspicion of a public order offence.

"He is currently in police custody and is being taken to a central London police station."

Sky News journalist Kay Burley shared footage of the arrest.

The UK yellow vest group had called for a national day of action on Saturday, with protests starting in London and elsewhere at midday.

The People's Assembly Against Austerity had organised an anti-austerity march to Parliament, inspired the yellow vest movement that had sprung up in France.

Since the group formed last year demonstrators have verbally abused MPs, journalists and Remain campaigners outside Parliament.

Police were investigating after some of its supporters were filmed shouting "Nazi" and "liar" at the pro-EU MP Ms Soubry outside the House of Commons on Monday.

A cross-party group of more than 50 MPs signed a letter to Metropolitan Police Commissioner Cressida Dick to express their "serious concerns" about the "deteriorating public order and security situation" outside Parliament.
A 21-year-old Wisconsin man has been charged with holding a 13-year-old girl captive and murdering her parents, a day after the teen managed to escape and was discovered by a woman walking her dog.

Thousands of volunteers and hundreds of law enforcement officers had searched around the clock around the small town of Barron after Jayme Closs' parents were found shot dead in their home, the front door open and the girl gone.

Relying on what Barron County Sheriff Chris Fitzgerald called "the will of a kid to survive," Jayme escaped a house in the tiny town of Gordon where she had been held captive for three months, about 60 miles north of Barron.

A woman walking her dog who found Jayme hurried her to a neighbour's house to call authorities.

"This is Jayme Closs!" the woman said when the neighbour opened the door, according to the Star Tribune of Minneapolis. "Call 911!"

Jayme Closs, 13, was found three months after she disappeared / AP

Both the woman and the neighbour recognised the teenager immediately due to the enormous public campaign after her disappearance, Mr Fitzgerald said.

Less than 15 minutes later, Jake Patterson, 21, was in custody, after police pulled over his vehicle, based on Jayme's description.

Patterson, an unemployed resident of Gordon, has been charged with kidnapping and with murdering James and Denise Closs, whose bodies were discovered on October 15.

He was being held in the Barron County jail and it was not yet clear whether he had a lawyer.

Jake Thomas Patterson, 21, suspected of kidnapping Jayme Closs,13 / AFP/Getty Images

More than 200 law enforcement officials were on the ground around the clock in the days after Jayme's disappearance, sifting through thousands of tips but finding little to go on.

The search that stretched across cornfields and wooded areas drew 1,500 volunteers, nearly half as many people as the entire 3,400-person population of Barron, which sits about 90 miles northeast of Minneapolis.

Hundreds of locals had attended a Christmas tree-lighting ceremony at Riverview Middle School, which Jayme attended, in her honour last month.

The "tree of hope" was decorated with messages and lighted in blue, Jayme's favourite color, and green to symbolise missing child awareness, the Star Tribune reported.

Jayme was speaking to investigators on Friday after spending a night in the hospital for evaluation. Authorities did not offer details about the conditions of her captivity or how she managed to escape.

She was due to be reunited with her extended family later Friday.

Barron County Sheriff Chris Fitzgerald holds up the booking photo of Jake Thomas Patterson / AP

"I just cried ... lots of happy tears," Jen Smith, Jayme's aunt, told ABC's Good Morning America.

Authorities have released few details about Patterson, who has no previous criminal record in Wisconsin, saying they were unsure whether he knew Jayme.

Attempts to reach Patterson's relatives and neighbours on Friday were unsuccessful.

The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, citing neighbours, reported that Patterson was raised in Gordon.

The superintendent of the local school district, Jean Serum, said Patterson was a nice kid who was a member of his high school's quiz bowl team. He graduated in 2015.

Jayme is not the first kidnapping victim to survive months in captivity.

Elizabeth Smart, who was held captive for nine months as a teenager after her 2002 abduction, posted a photo of Jayme on Instagram, praising the "miracle" that she had been found.

"No matter what may unfold in her story let's all try to remember that this young woman has SURVIVED and whatever other details may surface the most important will still remain that she is alive," Ms Smart wrote.
A 15-year-old boy has been arrested after police seized a 24-inch sword at a busy London train station.

The boy was detained at Kings Cross on Saturday.

Police said the suspect was removed from a train service, and that the sword had been concealed in a trouser leg.

In a tweet, the Kings Cross and St Pancras branch of British Transport Police said: Officers were called to Kings Cross earlier and removed a 15 year old Male off a @GNRailUK service.

"This was concealed down his trouser leg. Arrested & currently being dealt with in custody.

It comes days after 14-year-old Jayden Moodie was rammed off a moped, chased and stabbed at least seven times by three men in a targeted attack in Leyton.
E nglish photographer John Hinde made his name from turning vibrant photographs of the UK into postcards.

Hinde was a key figure in using a coloured photograph as a postcard, using highly-saturated colours to make attractive images for the everyday person.

In 1956, Hinde started his own business, John Hinde Ltd in Ireland and over the following 16 years travelled through the UK, Ireland, across Europe and Africa taking photos to act as postcards. When the company was sold in 1972, it was the worlds most successful postcard company with annual sales of over 50 million postcards.

Now, over two decades after his passing in 1997, Hindes restored original transparencies have been printed in a book for the first time.

The above gallery shows a selection of images from the 1960s, documenting Britains post-war leisure boom  which were all scanned and digitally restored over the past decade.

While the book of previously unpublished photographs is now sold out, copies of the photos as postcards are available to purchase.

Pentewan Sands, Cornwall / Elmar Ludwig

Prints available from The Photographers Gallery Print Sales, London thephotographersgallery.org.uk
STAMFORD  Abby Wexler is an ambitious junior at Stamford High School. The 16-year-old takes all honors and Advanced Placement courses with no study halls in between.

Wexlers course load is already daunting, but she worries its about to become even more challenging as Stamford High prepares to transition from six 50-minute classes a day to four 85-minute classes.

To have four long periods a day, even though its only four classes, its too much, Wexler said of the new schedule, which will be adopted by Stamford High for the 2019-20 school year. I dont think Id be able to focus on that much material for that long a time, especially with AP material. Its intense material with a lot of thinking and I dont think all that time would be productive.

Students at Stamford and Westhill high schools currently take seven classes, within a rotating schedule of six-period days. In each seven-day cycle, they have each class six times. The new four-period schedule will alternate every other day so students can take eight total courses.

Discussions of a new schedule began about two years ago. A new law going into effect this year requiring students to earn 25 credits to graduate high school (instead of the 20 Stamford students are currently earning) meant Stamford had to look at changes, according to Associate Superintendent for Teaching and Learning Brian White. Under the new schedule, students will be earning 25 credits with the possibility to earn up to 32 to comply with the new requirements.

Stamford High School will be the first to try the new schedule this fall, followed by Westhill in the 2020-21 school year. The Academy of Information Technology and Engineering has used longer class periods for more than a decade.

The new state credit requirement will begin with the incoming freshmen class in the fall of 2020. But the new schedule will be enacted for all high school grades. The new system allows more opportunities for students, said Associate Superintendent of Intervention and Student Support Services Michael Fernandes.

We wanted to support student-centered instruction, Fernandes said of the change. A longer block lends itself to that naturally.

Fernandes said the change offers more work-based opportunities for students (like time for internships and job shadowing), supports the districts scientific research based intervention work and reduces passing time when students are in the hallways.

What we heard from research is it slows the pace of the school down, which makes the culture and the climate seem much more positive and calm, Fernandes said.

Teachers will have significant professional development, he said, to adjust to planning and teaching for a longer period. According to Megan Staples, an associate professor of math education at the University of Connecticut, training is crucial in transitioning to longer class blocks.

Youre going to need to think about students: when do they have a lot of agency and thinking? When is the burden on them? Theres time when theyre in a slightly more controlled mode, Staples said. Teachers need to mix it up. Elementary schools do this all the time where they do physical breaks during class. Teachers need to think about that as well.

Activities involving walking around, class time breaks and asking engaging questions can help keep students endure longer classes, she said.

The time itself doesnt matter nearly as much as what you do with that time, she said. You have just opened up space for a broader range of pedagogical strategies and innovation.  It opens up space for guest speakers, it opens up space to not be rushed through your curriculum.

Despite the many benefits touted with the change, some students have expressed apprehension  about both the new schedule and the way they discovered it was going into effect. White, along with Westhill Principal Michael Rinaldi and Stamford High Principal Ray Manka, introduced to the plan to the public and the Board of Education for the first time at a meeting last week while simultaneously announcing the change would be happening.

I first heard about it as a rumor last year and then I started to hear more and more people talking about it, Wexler said. In the last month, it was a brought up again like, Oh, this is a real thing happening. I was a little surprised. I wish the students input would be taken more into consideration,and teachers as well, because it came very abruptly. But I understand its the schools decision and I really dont feel I have a voice in it.

Others. meanwhile, are trying to make sense of what the change will mean.

Talking to my friends, they kind of have different opinions on it, said 16-year-old junior Joe Nathanson. I think itll be good to be able to focus on a topic all at once in one long period. (But) it might get annoying because were all used to having 45-minute classes, six periods a day.

erin.kayata@stamfordadvocate.com; (203) 964-2265; @erin_kayata
While it seems the movie element of the "Star Trek" universe is dead in space, the TV side of things is prospering.

Fans have been clamoring to know more about the new series starring Patrick Stewart as Jean-Luc Picard ever since it was announced in August of last year.

In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Alex Kurtzman  the showrunner on "Star Trek: Discovery," who was rumored to also be among the executive producers of this new series  said Picard will be living a very different life than the one he knew on the Enterprise. Apparently, this is thanks to a traumatic and life-changing calamity dating all the way back to the events of J.J. Abrams' "Star Trek" movie, a film Kurtzman co-wrote. (The timeline of the new movies is known as the "Kelvin timeline," referring to the USS Kelvin flown by Kirk's father and destroyed in the first of those reboot movies.) [New 'Star Trek' Picard Series: Here's Some Bold Ideas We'd Love to See]

The destruction of the Romulan homeworld in 2009's film "Star Trek," Kurtzman said, was a defining event in Picard's career, one that sets up the role Stewart will play on the still-untitled new show.

"Picard's life was radically altered by the dissolution of the Romulan Empire," Kurtzman explained. He added that Stewart himself loved the show's new premise once he saw how different his reprised role would be.

"He [Stewart] threw down an amazing gauntlet and said, 'If we do this, I want it to be so different, I want it to be both what people remember but also not what they're expecting at all. Otherwise, why do it?'" Kurtzman said.

According to Kurtzman, after reading the creative team's 34-page pitch for the new show, Stewart "walked into the room and he had a huge smile on his face and said, 'This is wonderful.' He knew if he was going to go back to Picard, it needed to be for the greatest reason ever."

Details about the new series are scarce, but it already appears as if Picard won't be overseeing the personal and political problems facing his crew and the cosmos in the style of "The Next Generation." Kurtzman did add, however, that "anything could happen," when asked whether some of the old "TNG" cast would show up on the new show for a cameo or two.

Quite how the Kelvin timeline will be woven into the prime timeline still baffles us.

Other events in the prime timeline, such as the Dominion War, could have similarly impacted Picard's life. effects. Picard's involvement in that conflict was really covered only in the novels (the 1998 "TNG" novel "Behind Enemy Lines," in particular), but it was nonetheless a significant event in Federation history.

Picard certainly has history with the Romulans, the race that split from Vulcan society thousands of years ago and founded a separate civilization. During the 24th century, the Romulan Empire controlled much of the galaxy and the Federation's relationship with them was rocky at best. [6 'Star Trek' Captains, Ranked from Worst to Best]

During the "TNG" two-part episode "Unification" (S05, E07 & 08), Picard teamed up with Ambassador Spock, and together they learned that the Romulans' claimed effort at peace with the Vulcans was actually an attempt at a coup d'etat. Later in Trek history, in the movie "Star Trek: Nemesis," Picard must do battle with a clone of himself (Tom Hardy) who was created by the Romulans.

In other Trek news, Kurtzman also told The Hollywood Reporter that there will be two new installments of "Star Trek: Short Treks," as well as another animated series.

Back in October of last year, CBS announced plans for "Star Trek: Lower Decks," a half-hour animated comedy series about the lowest-ranking crewmembers on one of the least notable ships in Starfleet. That series will come from Mike McMahan ("Rick and Morty").

The two new "Short Treks" will also be animated and will premiere in the spring, once the second season of "Star Trek: Discovery" is over.

"Our goal is to not only expand the definition of 'Star Trek' and what has qualified as traditional 'Star Trek,' but also to tell stories that are both self-contained in a very short period of time [and] that also connect to the larger picture of what we're doing, not only in 'Discovery' but in the world building of Trek in general," Kurtzman told THR.

"And you get to tell these very intimate, emotional stories that are side stories to characters. So, you get the benefit of the experience in and of itself, but then when you watch 'Discovery,' you'll see that these were all setting up things in the world of Season 2."



There's no word on whether the shorts will be available on any services in the U.S. other than CBS All Access.

"Short Treks" is being shown in the U.S. on CBS All Access. In Canada, it's available on the channel Space and the online service Crave as well as the Snackable TV app. Sadly, fans in the U.K. and Europe miss out, as there are no plans for Netflix to show the shorts as yet.

The first season of "Star Trek: Discovery" is available to stream in its entirety on CBS All Access in the U.S. and on Netflix in the U.K. "Star Trek: Discovery" Season 1 is available on Blu-ray now.

The second season of "Star Trek: Discovery" will consist of 13 episodes, with no midseason break. It will premiere on Thursday, Jan. 17, in the U.S. and Canada, and it will be released in the rest of the world on Friday, Jan. 18.

Follow Scott Snowden on Twitter. Follow us on Twitter @Spacedotcom and on Facebook. Original article on Space.com.
A Lego model of the Large UV Optical Infrared Surveyor (LUVOIR), a proposed mission concept that NASA might launch in the mid-2030s, was on display at the 233rd meeting of the American Astronomical Society in Seattle on Jan. 6 to 10, 2019.

SEATTLE  A Lego model of NASA's Large UV Optical Infrared Surveyor (LUVOIR), a proposed mission that could one day succeed the James Webb Space Telescope, has landed here at the 233rd meeting of the American Astronomical Society (AAS).

LUVOIR is one of four big astrophysics missions that NASA is thinking about launching in the mid-2030s. The homemade Lego space telescope was assembled by LUVOIR team member Christopher Stark, an astronomer with the Space Telescope Science Institute (STScI) in Baltimore, Maryland, who has worked on the proposal for the LUVOIR mission. He spent five months designing and building it in his home.

Constructed with about 4,200 pieces, the LUVOIR space telescope model has movable segments that tip, tilt and click into place in just the way the actual telescope would unfold in space after launch. [LEGO Space: Building the Future With Toy Bricks (Gallery)]

The Lego LUVOIR also has a fully deployable and stowable sunshade. The sunshade on the Lego model was too big to fit on the display table at NASA's booth here at AAS, so Stark had to remove half of it for the conference. "Even if this was completed around the other side, that would still only be half a sunshade," because the real sunshade would also have to extend even farther outward, Stark told Space.com.

"The scale is roughly 1 inch to 1 meter, so it's pretty close to scale with the minifigure" of the late Nancy Grace Roman, an astronomer known as the "Mother of Hubble," Stark said. Roman was about 5 feet tall, and it just so happened that the Lego minifigure was in the same proportion to the Lego LUVOIR as Roman would have been to the life-size telescope.

A Lego minifigure of Nancy Grace Roman, the "Mother of Hubble," stands on top of the Lego LUVOIR model for scale. (Image credit: Space.com)

Stark said NASA's LUVOIR team was inspired by a Lego model of the Extremely Large Telescope, which was on display at a previous AAS meeting a few years ago. Even though Stark said he's "not really a Lego fanatic or anything," he ended up being in charge of the project.

He came up with a Lego LUVOIR schematic using special Lego design software, then ordered the specific pieces online. For some parts of the telescope, he abandoned the software and "built it on the fly," he said. Stark spent about $500 on Legos for the entire project and was left with about $100 worth of extra, unused pieces.

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Because the Lego LUVOIR is not entirely complete  its science instruments and half of its sunshield have not yet been built  perhaps Stark will be able to put a few of those spare pieces to use in the future. "I may work on the instruments a little bit if I can get the lead engineers to give me a schematic to show me what they look like," Stark said. "I will probably finish off the sunshade and eventually, I'll probably just hang it in my office."

But before he gives LUVOIR all its bells and whistles, Stark is working on a separate Lego project for NASA  a model of the James Webb Space Telescope.

Email Hanneke Weitering at hweitering@space.com or follow her @hannekescience. Follow us on Twitter @Spacedotcom and on Facebook. Original article on Space.com.
The spacecraft element of the James Webb Space Telescope is moved from one facility to another at Northrop Grumman in December for vibration testing. That work is continuing despite the ongoing government shutdown.

SEATTLE  The ongoing partial government shutdown has upended aspects of a major astronomy conference this week but has not, for now, affected operations of NASA astrophysics missions.

The partial government shutdown triggered Dec. 22 when funding lapsed for a number of agencies, including NASA and the National Science Foundation, has prevented civil servants from those agencies from attending the 233rd Meeting of the American Astronomical Society (AAS) here. The AAS estimated prior to the conference that about 10 to 15 percent of its expected 3,200 registrants would not be able to attend the meeting, the largest annual gathering of astronomers in the United States, because of the shutdown.

Those absences led to the cancellation of a NASA town hall here scheduled for Jan. 7 as well as a separate town hall on the James Webb Space Telescope Jan. 8. That deprived attendees from formal updates on the status of JWST, six months after an independent review led NASA to delay the flagship mission's launch to the spring of 2021.

However, Ken Sembach, director of the Space Telescope Science Institute, responsible for science operations for JWST, assured astronomers that the shutdown is not further delaying work on the mission.

"Work on JWST at Northrop Grumman and at Space Telescope continues despite the government shutdown," he said at an institute town hall Jan. 7. He said that vertical axis vibration testing of the spacecraft element of JWST had finished in the last week, with preparations for additional vibration testing underway this week. "Things are progressing well with the hardware."

The institute, he added, is continuing its own science planning for the mission. "Our goal, as always, is to make sure that everybody is ready to do science on day one," he said. However, he noted the call for proposals for Cycle 1 observations would not be reopened for about a year. That request for proposals was opened last year but put on hold after the latest mission delays.

Near the opposite end of the spectrum of astrophysics missions, the Explorer-class Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) spacecraft is continuing to collect data despite the government shutdown, said George Ricker, principal investigator for the mission at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, in a Jan. 7 interview. NASA's shutdown plan calls for operations of spacecraft already in space to continue during the shutdown as part of its requirement to protect property and life.

"We think we're still going to be able to stay on target for the monthly deliveries of data that we have," he said. One of two "pipelines" used to process that data does involve resources at NASA's Ames Research Center, he said, that may not be available if the shutdown continues. The other data processing pipeline, at MIT, is not affected.

"We may have to figure out ways to bypass some of those things to make the data available," he said. "If the shutdown goes on for more than a month or two, there would probably be an impact."

The shutdown may also delay planning for an extended mission for TESS. Proposals for extended missions, as part of NASA's next senior review of astrophysics missions, are due to the agency Feb. 1, but could be delayed. "We have no information as to when that will actually occur," he said.

The absence of civil servants from the AAS meeting because of the shutdown has affected the conference in sometimes unexpected ways. One plenary talk Jan. 7 on the life of astronomer George Ellery Hale had to be given by another attendee because of the original speaker, historian David DeVorkin of the National Air and Space Museum, was prevented from attending because of the shutdown. The Smithsonian Institution is among the organizations shuttered by the shutdown.

While NASA employees could not attend the conference, the agency did have a presence in the exhibit hall as its booth was shipped prior to the shutdown. The exhibit is staffed primarily by contractors who are "forward funded" and thus can be at the conference.

Employees of NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory are also able to attend the conference since JPL is operated by the California Institute of Technology for the agency, and its staff are Caltech employees rather than NASA civil servants.

"The shutdown will impact us, but on a longer timescale," said Gary Blackwood at a Jan. 5 meeting of NASA's Exoplanet Exploration Program Analysis Group here ahead of the AAS meeting. Blackwood, program manager for the exoplanet exploration program at JPL, said the lab's contracts are forward funded by about four to eight weeks. "I think we're good through January."

An NSF town hall planned for the AAS meeting Jan. 8 will go ahead despite the shutdown thanks to something of a loophole. The director of the NSF's Division of Astronomical Sciences, Richard Green, is not a civil servant but rather a "rotator" on loan to the NSF from the University of Arizona. Because of that status, he is able to work but cannot travel, so he will run the town hall by phone from his home, according to meeting officials.

Despite the workarounds, AAS leadership lamented the absence of government employees at the meeting. "To them I say we miss you, and we wanted you here," said Megan Donahue, a Michigan State University professor of physics and astronomy who is president of the AAS, in remarks opening the conference Jan. 7.

The conference is taking steps to accommodate them, such as streaming plenary sessions and allowing co-authors to present papers. The cancelled NASA and JWST town halls will be rescheduled after the shutdown ends, she said, as webinars rather than in-person events.

Donahue got a standing-room-only audience at the opening session to offer a message to the missing attendees  "Thank you. We miss you."  that she recorded and posted to Twitter.

"Hashtag resist," she added in a stage whisper.

This story was provided by SpaceNews, dedicated to covering all aspects of the space industry.
SEATTLE  The ongoing partial government shutdown has grounded a NASA aircraft used for astronomical observations amid reviews about how to operate that program in the future.

The Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA), a Boeing 747 with a 2.5-meter telescope mounted in its fuselage, has been unable able to perform any science flights since the shutdown started Dec. 22, project officials said during a town hall session about the program Jan. 8 during the 233rd Meeting of the American Astronomical Society (AAS) here.

"We know we've lost flight opportunities in Cycle 6, and I apologize to the [principal investigators] who are going to suffer because of this," said Harold Yorke, director of SOFIA science mission operations at the Universities Space Research Association, at the meeting, referring to the ongoing program of observations that SOFIA was carrying out.

The situation with SOFIA stands in contrast with NASA spacecraft missions, which are able to continue operations. The agency's shutdown plan states that "tracking, operation, and support" of satellites is excepted from the shutdown "for safety and protection of life and property." That doesn't apply to an airborne program like SOFIA, which can meet the safety and protection requirements by simply remaining on the ground.

The shutdown, besides grounding science flights, also prevented SOFIA from making an appearance at the AAS meeting. Prior to the shutdown, the program planned to fly SOFIA to Boeing Field in Seattle and host tours for conference attendees.

Once the shutdown ends, Yorke said it will take about a week to resume SOFIA science flights because of the time needed to prepare both the aircraft and the telescope's instruments. "We will be rethinking the rest of Cycle 6 to see how we can replan and perhaps recover some of this lost time," he said.

The shutdown is not the first recent interruption of SOFIA science operations. Maintenance of the aircraft in Germany, scheduled to be completed last January, took months longer than anticipated because of additional repairs and inspections triggered by a fuel leak.

"That played havoc with Cycle 6. We lost a number of flight opportunities," Yorke said. An adjusted schedule of flights helped the program rebound from that delay. "We were able to recover basically all of the lost targets."

The shutdown comes as the program was carrying out two reviews of its science and operations. NASA mandated the reviews last year after Congress forbid the agency in fiscal year 2018 from spending any money on a senior review of astrophysics missions that included SOFIA. With conflicting language in House and Senate bills for fiscal year 2019 about including SOFIA in a senior review, NASA opted instead to conduct separate reviews of the program.

The first of those reviews, called the SOFIA Operations and Maintenance Efficiency Review (SOMER), is nearing completion. "They're looking at alternate models for operating SOFIA and maintaining SOFIA," Yorke said, that would reduce costs or increase its flight rate. That report is scheduled for completion in February.

That will be followed by the Flagship Mission Review (FMR), which will focus on SOFIA science. That review will be completed under what he termed a "compressed schedule" for delivery to NASA in the spring. "NASA needs the results to formulate its future plan for SOFIA based on both the SOMER and FMR reports," he said, which he anticipated to come in May.

This story was provided by SpaceNews, dedicated to covering all aspects of the space industry.
Georgetown, SC (29440)

Today

Sunny to partly cloudy. A stray afternoon thunderstorm is possible. High 86F. Winds ENE at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Mainly clear. Low 63F. Winds light and variable.
Virginias energy needs must be met with renewable energy and efficiency
Patrick A. Pierce

South Bend Tribune

I write in response to the Viewpoint, Can thoughts be a crime? (Tribune, Jan. 2). The authors and collaborators  all members of the Indiana General Assembly  engage in some of the most outrageous distortion of hate crimes legislation I have ever seen. In fact, many readers may not have even realized the column addressed such legislation. The authors never even use the phrase hate crimes. But this omission simply starts the cavalcade of distortion and exaggeration committed in the editorial.

Our elected representatives (including the authors) should remember that they owe their election to our democratic system of government. Candidates and officeholders must communicate to citizens their positions on issues, allowing us to hold them accountable. That communication requires truthfulness about the representatives position and the nature of the issue or policy. The Viewpoint fails spectacularly in that regard.

The proposed hate crimes legislation does not plunge Indiana into a surveillance state, nor judge their political and religious beliefs, nor polic(e) thought. And the legislation would certainly not give prosecutors  the ability to treat the holding of unpopular political views as criminal actions. Hate crime laws involve acts that are already criminal, but are motivated by prejudice or bigotry. Compare this definition to how the Viewpoint characterized the legislation to be considered by the General Assembly. The viewpoint deceptively claimed the policy concerned privacy and freedom of speech.

As a consequence, the authors make claims about hate crime policy that bear no relationship to the truth. Such policies do not shift the burden of proof to the accused and they do not lead to an article of clothing be(ing) the determining factor for a prosecutor or judge. The act is already criminal and the motivation allows the state to impose a heavier penalty on the perpetrator. You can wear your MAGA hat with impunity  but if you assault someone, thats a crime.

Even the most charitable reading would not allow you to say that the authors were characterizing the proposed policy accurately. If one of the authors represents you in the General Assembly, you could not possibly hold them accountable in 2020 on the basis of this issue. Importantly, they engaged in an action (their Viewpoint) that limited your ability to hold them accountable. And thats just not democratic.

A less charitable reading would note the inflammatory language used by the authors. Theres a reason the authors throw around such language. If you cant win an argument on the facts, where else can you turn? Emotions. If you can (mis)characterize hate crimes legislation as an assault on citizens freedom, you can arouse anger and fear toward the bills supporters. Manipulating citizens emotions may have become so commonplace that we have lost our ability to recognize it, but we should remember that it harms our ability to hold representatives accountable. And again, thats just not democratic.

So heres how these legislators ought to think about hate crime policy. Hate crimes differ from ordinary crimes because they arent personal. If I assault you because you have said something offensive to me or someone I care about, its personal. I am assaulting you as an individual person. However, a hate crime isnt personal; thats part of its dehumanizing nature. If I assault you because you are African American, or transsexual, or gay, then my crime isnt simply directed to you as a person; its directed to every African American, transsexual or gay person. And that means that hate crimes aim to punish (additionally) crimes that are directed at a whole category of people rather than simply an individual. Thats not a radical idea, in fact Indiana is one of only five states to lack any hate crime law.

So I would urge the members of the Indiana General Assembly to speak with their constituents about hate crime legislation. More importantly, I would urge our representatives to discuss the issue more responsibly than in the Viewpoint written by these members of the General Assembly.
Caleb Bauer

South Bend Tribune

SOUTH BEND  Inside the first floor of the historic South Bend Maennerchor Club on Friday, trustee Kendall Griffey stood among the ruins, recalling the decades of memories since he became a club member there at the age of 21.

We were devastated when we got the call, Griffey said, looking inside the clubs former bar, where ceiling tiles had fallen to the floor after absorbing water used to fight Thursday afternoons fire on the second story. Weve been here almost as long as the city of South Bend has been a city.

The club itself is a long-standing institution in South Bend, founded in 1875 by German immigrants as a mens choir the direct translation of the name Maennerchor from German. The choir is gone and theres no longer a requirement that members be German, but the club and its roughly 250 members  many whose families have maintained membership over the course of generations  still remain here in South Bend.

Amid the ruins of the building, Griffey and others found old German-language sheet music from the days the club had an active choir.

Despite substantial damage to the second floor of the building, Griffey and fellow trustee Jeff Young say the club isnt letting this setback stymie hopes of continuing its historic presence here.

Weve been here for 145 years, Young said, we dont plan on closing our doors.

Thursdays fire burned through the roof of the clubs main building, closing down LaSalle and Colfax Streets for a period of time as firefighters battled the flames.

According to South Bend Fire Department Capt. Gerard Ellis, the department has no new information on the cause of the fire Friday.

Its an ongoing investigation, Ellis said.

The blaze also left roughly 2,150 Indiana Michigan power customers without power for about an hour Thursday afternoon, after the utility de-energized lines for precautionary safety reasons, according to Schnee Garrett, spokeswoman for the company. Some customers didnt have power restored until around 6 p.m., but no damage was reported to the electric substation across Sycamore Street from the fire.

The club was one of many institutions in South Bend founded by German immigrants, first founded by 18 men who wanted to start a singing club in 1875, according to German Settlers of South Bend by Gabrielle Robinson.

At first, it was located above a shoe store, but moved to its current East Bank location on Sycamore Street and LaSalle Avenue in 1879 and began organizing balls, card parties and financial support for members who fell ill in a time predating substantial social services, wrote Robinson. The membership held its meetings in German until 1942.

In 2006, when the club considered selling its location, Robinson told The Tribune that the Maennerchor is the only remaining German organization left in South Bend.

Now, the clubs commitment to singing has waned, but Griffey said the group still makes collections for members in need and volunteered as a location for annual motorcycle rides for Dollars Against Diabetes until the organizing members moved away.

Its a really tight group, Griffey said. Theres a lot of tradesmen. Weve got plumbers, electricians, carpenters who are members.

The north side of the building, undamaged by the fire, contains the remnants of a once-operational bowling alley that has been mothballed in recent years.

Were going to continue to operate, hopefully in this location, Griffey said. I think right now we are going to be OK.
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Norman D. Levine, 84, of Eubank, passed away Monday, June 14, 2021 at the Lake Cumberland Regional Hospital Jean Waddle Care Center. Arrangements are pending and will be announced later by Morris & Hislope Funeral Home. Condolences may be expressed to the family at: www.morrisandhislope.com.
No evidence has emerged publicly that Trump was secretly in contact with or took direction from Russian government officials. An FBI spokeswoman and a spokesman for the special counsel's office both declined to comment. Rudy Giuliani, a lawyer for the president, sought to play down the significance of the investigation. "The fact that it goes back a year and a half and nothing came of it that showed a breach of national security means they found nothing," Giuliani said on Friday, though he acknowledged that he had no insight into the inquiry. The cloud of the Russia investigation has hung over Trump since even before he took office, though he has long vigorously denied any illicit connection to Moscow. The obstruction inquiry, revealed by The Washington Post a few weeks after Mueller was appointed, represented a direct threat that he was unable to simply brush off as an overzealous examination of a handful of advisers. But few details have been made public about the counterintelligence aspect of the investigation. The decision to investigate Trump himself was an aggressive move by FBI officials who were confronting the chaotic aftermath of the firing of Comey and enduring the president's verbal assaults on the Russia investigation as a "witch hunt". A vigorous debate has taken shape among some former law enforcement officials outside the case over whether FBI investigators overreacted in opening the counterintelligence inquiry during a tumultuous period at the Justice Department. Other former officials noted that those critics were not privy to all of the evidence and argued that sitting on it would have been an abdication of duty.

The FBI conducts two types of inquiries, criminal and counterintelligence investigations. Unlike criminal investigations, which are typically aimed at solving a crime and can result in arrests and convictions, counterintelligence inquiries are generally fact-finding missions to understand what a foreign power is doing and to stop any anti-American activity, like thefts of US government secrets or covert efforts to influence policy. In most cases, the investigations are carried out quietly, sometimes for years. Often, they result in no arrests. Trump had caught the attention of FBI counterintelligence agents when he called on Russia during a campaign news conference in July 2016 to hack into the emails of his opponent, Hillary Clinton. Trump had refused to criticise Russia on the campaign trail, praising President Vladimir Putin. And investigators had watched with alarm as the Republican Party softened its convention platform on the Ukraine crisis in a way that seemed to benefit Russia. Other factors fuelled the FBI's concerns, according to the people familiar with the inquiry. Christopher Steele, a former British spy who worked as an FBI informant, had compiled memos in mid-2016 containing unsubstantiated claims that Russian officials tried to obtain influence over Trump by preparing to blackmail and bribe him. In the months before the 2016 election, the FBI was also already investigating four of Trump's associates over their ties to Russia. The constellation of events disquieted FBI officials who were simultaneously watching as Russia's campaign unfolded to undermine the presidential election by exploiting existing divisions among Americans. "In the Russian Federation and in President Putin himself, you have an individual whose aim is to disrupt the Western alliance and whose aim is to make Western democracy more fractious in order to weaken our ability, America's ability and the West's ability to spread our democratic ideals," Lisa Page, a former bureau lawyer, told House investigators in private testimony reviewed by The Times.

"That's the goal, to make us less of a moral authority to spread democratic values," she added. Parts of her testimony were first reported by The Epoch Times. And when a newly inaugurated Trump sought a loyalty pledge from Comey and later asked that he end an investigation into the president's national security adviser, the requests set off discussions among FBI officials about opening an inquiry into whether Trump had tried to obstruct that case. But law enforcement officials put off the decision to open the investigation until they had learned more, according to people familiar with their thinking. As for a counterintelligence inquiry, they concluded that they would need strong evidence to take the sensitive step of investigating the president, and they were also concerned that the existence of such an inquiry could be leaked to the news media, undermining the entire investigation into Russia's meddling in the election. After Comey was fired on May 9, 2017, two more of Trump's actions prompted them to quickly abandon those reservations. The first was a letter Trump wanted to send to Comey about his firing, but never did, in which he mentioned the Russia investigation. In the letter, Trump thanked Comey for previously telling him he was not a subject of the FBI's Russia investigation.

Even after the deputy attorney general, Rod Rosenstein, wrote a more restrained draft of the letter and told Trump that he did not have to mention the Russia investigation  Comey's poor handling of the Clinton email investigation would suffice as a fireable offense, he explained  Trump directed Rosenstein to mention the Russia investigation anyway. He disregarded the president's order, irritating Trump. The president ultimately added a reference to the Russia investigation to the note he had delivered, thanking Comey for telling him three times that he was not under investigation. The second event that troubled investigators was an NBC News interview two days after Comey's firing in which Trump appeared to say he had dismissed Comey because of the Russia inquiry. "I was going to fire Comey knowing there was no good time to do it," he said. "And in fact, when I decided to just do it, I said to myself  I said, you know, this Russia thing with Trump and Russia is a made-up story. It's an excuse by the Democrats for having lost an election that they should've won." Trump's aides have said that a fuller examination of his comments demonstrates that he did not fire Comey to end the Russia inquiry. "I might even lengthen out the investigation, but I have to do the right thing for the American people," Trump added. "He's the wrong man for that position."
This deal sets out the terms of that divorce  a complicated and necessary unbinding of the extensive economic, bureaucratic and legal ties that have developed over decades. The divorce deal must pass Parliament before it can come into effect. Pro-European demonstrators protest outside parliament in London on Friday. Credit:AP It includes a (roughly) 39 billion ($70 billion) payment from the UK to the EU, to cover obligations it had promised to fund (such as superannuation payments to EU employees). It covers the status and rights of the millions of EU citizens living and working in the UK and UK citizens living and working in the EU.

It covers things such as "geographical indicators"  the EU wont be able to sell Welsh lamb unless it comes from Wales, and Parma Ham will still have to come from Italy. It covers security and nuclear co-operation. It sets out a 21-month "transition" period to follow Brexit, as a cushion for UK businesses and to allow time for a trade and customs deal to be negotiated, during which the UK will be treated as if it had never left the EU, except without any voting rights in EU institutions. And  most controversially  it includes a "backstop" to kick in if the transition period ends without a trade deal, which will keep Britain and Northern Ireland in a customs union with the EU in order to keep the Irish border open and frictionless. A banner reading "Vote Again" using branding from the Britain Stronger in Europe campaign hangs on an architect's office in London on Friday. Credit:Bloomberg

What's different this time? The deal the government has done with the EU remains unchanged since it was agreed in November. However it is now even closer to the March 29 deadline, and if a deal isnt done pretty soon then there may not be enough time to get everything in place to avoid a chaotic Brexit. This could focus minds among dissenters. The government has also come up with extra "assurances" on the deal:

It has promised Northern Ireland a strong role in determining how the backstop would work in practice

It has accepted a greater role for Parliament in deciding on alternatives to activating the backstop, such as extending the transition

It expects, some time before Tuesday, to present a "clarification" from the EU on how the backstop would work, if it was required The government also hopes to get ultra-Brexiters back on side by suggesting that if its deal is rejected, the most likely alternatives would be a delay to Brexit or even a new referendum. But most commentators are still predicting a solid loss by the government. What's the sticking point? Various MPs oppose the deal for different reasons. Opposition falls into three broad camps:

The "thats not a real Brexit" camp believe Mays deal doesnt deliver the kind of Brexit promised during the 2016 referendum. They are especially opposed to the backstop, which they say will leave Britain following EU rules it lacks any say in, and leave Northern Ireland too closely enmeshed in and regulated by the EU. A sign in a parking lot of a cemetery reads: "No EU border in Ireland" near Carrickcarnan, Ireland. Credit:AP The "Brexit is bad" camp say this deal is simply bad for the UK and should be voted against for that reason. This includes Remainers who have always opposed Brexit in any form. The "Labour would do it better" camp want to use the Brexit vote to bring down the May government, trigger a general election and negotiate a different deal  one which would probably leave the UK much more closely tied to the EU. What happens if Mays deal is voted down?

Very good question. In a nutshell, the government will have until the following Monday to provide an answer. The Prime Minister may resign rather than deal with the consequences of her defeat, but this would be quite out of character. Theresa May has said repeatedly she will not cancel or delay Brexit, or hold another referendum. Parliament appears to have a majority opposed to a "no deal" Brexit.

Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May prepares to welcome Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to Downing Street. Abe has expressed concerns about the effects of a no-deal Brexit. Credit:AP May could, technically, keep bringing her deal back to Parliament until Brexit day, which would force a binary choice between her deal or no deal. However, Parliament passed a law in early January that  though legal opinions differ  might allow it to decide the kind of Brexit (or otherwise) it prefers, and order the government to deliver it. This would lead to an exciting and unpredictable showdown between parliament and the government. What is a 'no-deal Brexit'?

Loading If Parliament doesnt pass Mays deal, there probably isnt time to negotiate any alternative one with the EU, even if it were open to a renegotiation, which it insists it isnt. In that case, unless the UK and EU agree to extend Brexit  which is a legal option although the government insists it doesnt want to  then the UK will leave the EU on March 29 without any agreement on how that would work. This would have major, serious ramifications for the UK and EU. It would leave EU and UK citizens in legal limbo if they want to move abroad to live or work.

The UK would be a "third country" with much more limited access to the EU single market. It would mean new border customs checks between the EU and UK, leading to long queues at the border and major disruption to trade and industry. UK industries that rely on "just in time" supply chains that cross the border would take a major hit and could have to relocate. It could even mean food and medicine shortages in the UK (the government and industry have been working to build up stockpiles against this scenario). The return of a hard border in Ireland could lead to a renewal of sectarian violence. UK car or truck drivers would need new permits and licences to drive in the EU.

What are people saying about it? If the government cannot pass its most important legislation then there must be a general election at the earliest opportunity.  Opposition Leader Jeremy Corbyn I dont think the British public are served by fantasies about magical, alternative deals that are somehow going to spring out of a cupboard in Brussels. - Cabinet Office Minister David Lidington Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn gestures as he delivers a speech on Brexit during a visit to OE Electrics in Wakefield, England, on Thursday. Credit:AP "When the Prime Minister's deal is defeated, what else can we possibly offer to the British public which has any coherence at all but to go back and ask them to reconsider their decision?"  Tory Remainer Dominic Grieve MP
Beijing: So there we were, togged up, in the front rows for the ballet. A dark hush descended on the National Centre for Performing Arts, a futuristic dome in Beijing's most exclusive neighbourhood.

Dancers tip toed across a stage transformed into a magical backdrop for the mischief of A Midsummer Night's Dream.

And out came the smartphones. Bright white light shone from a dozen devices whipped out of the handbags of young Chinese women in the audience more interested in taking selfies to record their presence in the cultural temple than the spectacle on stage.

Queensland Ballet principal artist Laura Hidalgo in A Midsummer Night's Dream. Credit:David Kelly

Dazzled by the light, serious ballet fans hissed at the women to put the phones away. "Don't!" demanded one western man, pushing his neighour's hand back inside her handbag. "Turn it off," I pleaded with three young women in baseball caps.
A star Labor candidate contesting one of the state's most marginal seats is under investigation for allegedly assaulting his female flatmate.

NSW Labor has directed its candidate review committee to investigate an anonymous complaint it received about the mayor of Muswellbrook, Martin Rush, who is running in the seat of Upper Hunter.

The Mayor of Muswellbrook Martin Rush is under investigation over an alleged assault. Credit:Wolter Peeters

Upper Hunter is one of the Nationals' most marginal seats and one that Labor is expected to win in the March state election.

But the emergence of the anonymous letter outlining details of the alleged incident throws Labor's chances in the must-win seat into doubt.
Funding for an as-yet-to-be finalised plan to divert stormwater to sewer pipes before it flows into the ocean at Coogee beach - the fourth water quality project there - was announced on Saturday, in the second-most marginal NSW Liberal Party seat, two months ahead of the state election.

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian, Minister for Energy and Utilities Don Harwin and Coogee MP Bruce Notley-Smith announced "up to" $2.5 million to take the "first flush" of stormwater via sewer pipes to Malabar.

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian and Member for Coogee Bruce Notley-Smith are seen prior to addressing media at Coogee Beach. Credit:AAP

Mr Notley-Smith, who holds the seat of Coogee by a margin of about three per cent, said "it's a problem that's been kicked down the road far too many times".

"Stormwater that pours into the ocean at both ends of the beach has been an enormous concern to locals for many, many years," Mr Notley-Smith said.
A widespread problem of corrupt migration agents poses a high risk threat, and may require greater investigative powers to combat, according to the Department of Home Affairs.

Disciplinary investigations by Home Affairs found some migration agents have swindled hundreds of thousands of dollars from desperate clients, while others regularly falsify documents to obtain visas which should never have been issued.

Newly released findings from the probes show eight migration agents were suspended or barred from the profession in the final two months of last year alone, and 34 faced penalties in 2018 for inappropriate conduct.

Assistant Home Affairs Minister Linda Reynolds said she would "not tolerate this kind of behaviour by migration agents who think it is acceptable to defraud clients".
A man who died while in police custody on the Great Ocean Road on Friday night was a 35-year-old fugitive wanted over a violent knife attack in St Kilda less than 24 hours earlier.

On Saturday night, Victoria Police confirmed the man who had died shortly after he was arrested in Bellbrae had been formally identifed as David Perry.

On Friday afternoon, police issued a warrant for Mr Perry, for the charge of attempted murder, after a St Kilda resident was stabbed inside his Wellington Street apartment.

The victim, 32, was with a woman, and the pair were returning home to their apartment about 4am, when they were confronted by a knife-wielding intruder.
A bus driver was allegedly attacked by a teenage passenger with a machete in Blacktown on Saturday afternoon.

A witness told Nine News that she was sitting at the front of the bus talking to the driver at Blacktown train station when she saw a teenager run from the back of the bus and attack the driver who suffered cuts to his face and ear.

A bus driver, who was attacked outside Blacktown Train Station. Credit:Nine News

This guy just ran up from the back of the bus and started machete-ing this poor bus driver, about seven to eight times, just whack, whack, whack, the witness said.

The driver, aged 30, managed to flee the bus and the attacker then walked away calm, cool and collected, the witness told Nine.
Six teenagers are in hospital with stab wounds - some to their neck, throat and abdomen - after a bloody brawl on Sydneys upper north shore on Saturday, when they were allegedly stabbed by a 34-year-old man.

Police say emergency services were called to a park on Gilroy Road, Turramurra, shortly before midnight on Saturday.

Six teenagers and a 34-year-old were taken to hospital. Credit:Channel 9

At the park they found six teenagers with stab wounds and a 34-year-old man with head and upper body injuries.

Police have been told the man allegedly stabbed the teens during a fight.
More than 90 per cent of the seafood sold at the Sydney Fish Market arrives by truck, yet both the operator and NSW government are adamant that a new facility should retain its harbourside location.

Being located on the harbour is not only critical to the survival of the Sydney fishing fleet, but it is also central to the visitor experience, said general manager Bryan Skepper.

An artist's impression of the new-look Sydney Fish Market.

Our local and international visitors want to enjoy their meal on a harbourside setting with the atmosphere of the fishing boats.

A new Fish Market will be built over the water at Blackwattle Bay, while its current site in Pyrmont, where it has been located since 1966, will be redeveloped into a residential area.
A NSW Police inspector has been charged with sexual assault after an alleged incident at a home in Sydneys inner-west last year.

The officer, who worked in a specialist command role, was arrested and charged on Thursday at Burwood Police Station.

The alleged crime was referred to the NSW Police Professional Standards Command for investigation in November, after the assault was alleged to have happened inside a house in the inner west in September.

The officer was released on conditional bail and has had an Apprehended Violence Order placed against him. The officers employment status is also under review.

He will face Burwood local court on Thursday, January 24.
This week, magistrate Dominique Burns joined a short and unenviable list of judicial officers who have been referred to NSW Parliament.

The former Newcastle family law barrister, who was appointed as a magistrate in February 2015, was the subject of a complaint to the Judicial Commission over her handling of 17 different cases in the Port Macquarie circuit between June 2016 and February 2017.

The complaint, which progressed to a public hearing last year, alleged Ms Burns misused her detention powers, denied procedural fairness, imposed sentences which exceeded the maximum penalty, and improperly encouraged police prosecutors to lay further charges.

Magistrate Dominique Burns. Credit:AAP

In a report of inquiry revealed by Parliament this week, 16 of the 17 complaints were upheld and Ms Burns was found to have engaged in "serious instances of misbehaviour".
Students need a little gentle encouragement to put their smart phones away. Credit:Not for syndication

It's difficult to imagine a human invention that will ever supplant the personal phone. Many times more powerful than the computers that sent men to the moon 50 years ago, it has made such amazing advances that it is now an indispensible part of our lives. If only we could be so sure of comparable advances in human physiology.

At least we have been getting smarter. In fact, over the past century, the average Australian IQ has dramatically increased. Better nutrition, healthcare and habits, and the complexity of modern life has been good for our brains.

But as Liam Mannix reports today, that improvement has stopped in its tracks, and a mysterious trend has emerged. In Norway, Denmark, Finland, Britain and France, IQ scores that once kept rising now seem to be dropping. Australia is not part of this study, but there is no reason to believe we would be tracking any differently.

There is no definitive culprit, but the mobile phone is under suspicion. Clearly, a machine that ''thinks'' for us might, on the face of it, make us think less. As Mannix reports, there is a ''Google Effect'' and it has taken hold. How many of us still pull out a street directory, or even plot a unfamiliar journey by use of a map? Some old party tricks no longer carry the same potency. Sporting stats? The 45 US presidents? The computer makes a nerd of anyone who wants to be one, while saving countless nerd training hours.
Were we to test people today using IQ tests from the 50s, 75 per cent of the population would be classified as gifted (to cope with this, IQ tests are regularly made progressively harder). That has had significant benefits. Australian polymath and future MP Barry Jones (left) during his record run on quiz show Pick-a-Box in the 1960s. Credit:John Dabinett We know were less violent  by a long shot. We seem to be living longer and being healthier. We have more complex lives, more complex skills. We can drive cars, we can do all sorts of things. Were accelerating and becoming smarter, says Dr Tony Florio, a clinical psychologist and senior lecturer at the University of NSW. The same increase in IQs over the last century has happened in nearly every other developed nation. Its known as the Flynn effect after James Flynn, the New Zealand researcher who discovered it.

There are several theories for why this has happened: were better educated, modern education systems mould our brain in ways IQ tests tend to like, and many of us will do cognitively-taxing things like play video games during our leisure hours. But as a society, we also got healthier. We eat better. Modern medicine means childhood diseases are less likely to stunt brain development. Some even suspect the phasing out of lead in fuels played a role. For the same reasons that successive generations are taller, they are probably smarter, too. Going backwards But something strange and troubling appears to be happening. In several countries  Norway, Denmark, Finland, Britain and France  IQ scores that rose for so long now seem to be dropping, at a rate of about 2.4 points per decade in recent decades. Given those countries all mirrored our IQ rise, its plausible Australian IQs are heading downward too.

Whats going on? Scientists first suspected that, because people with higher IQs tend to have fewer children, average intelligence would slowly fall over time. But a recent paper, published in PNAS in June, appears to rule this out by showing that IQs are declining even within families. After 1975, on average, older brothers tended to be more intelligent than younger brothers  a reversal of the trend up to that point. So its not genes, or natural selection. The rise of the smartphone. Could it be that our smartphones are making us dumber?

We can look up any fact in an instant. We never need to remember facts or directions or friends phone numbers. Is that making us more stupid? The picture is complicated, and there is not enough evidence yet to really say one way or another. But several interesting studies point to smartphones having at least some effect on cognition. Studies have linked smartphone use with a decreased ability to exert high levels of focus and poorer attention control  although video games seem linked to better multitasking abilities. In one influential study, volunteers were asked to type newly-learned trivia facts into a computer. Those who were told the computer would remember the facts for them performed much worse on a later memory-recall test. The researchers dubbed it the Google Effect. In another study, volunteers were given a series of questions that pushed the limits of their brain. Those who said they were heavy smartphone users tended to perform worse and be less analytical. Poor academic performance has also been linked to heavy smartphone use. More dramatic was a 2013 experiment in which volunteers were given a camera and asked to take pictures of various objects in a museum, while just looking at other objects. A day later, they were able to better-recall seeing the objects they hadnt photographed.

Smarter  or better adapted? Does that make us dumber? Or are our brains just adapting to the demands of the modern world? Loading Flynn himself argues that his namesake effect does not necessarily show were getting smarter  its just that our brains have become more modern. We used to have a lot more common sense, and understood things more from our own common experience, says Dr Florio.
On the Thursday after new years, I drove to the airport to pick up my cousin and his adult son who are visiting Australia for the first time from Budapest.

Its so good to be here, the son beamed, as if hed already spent weeks thawing out from the Hungarian winter.

We ate lunch in a cafe. We made errands to the bank and supermarket. The population is so diverse, the son said later in the afternoon, Everything feels so peaceful  and everyone is so friendly. He didnt need to complete the sentence, not like in Hungary.

Viktor Orban, Hungary's prime minister, delivers a speech. Credit:AKOS STILLER

We have our problems, I assured them. A punishing housing market, anxieties about immigration, politicians stoking racial tension  I petered out.
It's a trade so secretive many in the field are unwilling to divulge their practice out of fear their techniques would be stolen by others.

For more than 30 years, Scott Keogh has worked as a taxidermist. When he started out as a 17-year-old it was hard to know where to begin.

Scott Keogh has been a taxidermist for more than 30 years. Credit:Elesa Kurtz

"It was all trial and error because no one tells you anything about it," Mr Keogh said.

"Everyone keeps it close to their chest, because no one wants to tell people how to do it. Taxidermy is one of the most secretive trades you can do."
When asked about the best part of his job, Peter Child's answer was simple.

"Dude, I own a zoo," he said.

Peter Child, founder of and handler at Canberra Reptile Zoo, with Chopper the saltwater crocodile. Credit:Jamila Toderas

"I work six days a week, and on the seventh day I still end up working, but I wouldn't give it up for the world. It's a kid's dream come true."

Mr Child is the founder of Canberra Reptile Zoo. He looks after hundreds of animals including snakes, lizards and crocodiles on a daily basis.
A Department of Education review of smartphone policies around the world has found that students manage to find "workarounds" when devices are banned at school - yet the NSW government has prohibited phones in primary schools.

The Department's review of the evidence on phones in classrooms notes that schools across Australia and around the world have taken opposing stances, reflecting the local debate between the NSW government, and parents groups and teachers' unions, which say they are necessary learning and communication tools.

A new review of the evidence on the impact of phones in classrooms has found that schools have taken opposing stances. Credit:Craig Abraham

The review considered a number of studies that have associated increased screen time with "lower levels of psychological wellbeing", "decreased social interaction" and higher levels of "mental health issues including depression, suicide and suicide-related outcomes".

However, it notes that other research has found that nearly two hours of device use on weekdays and about four hours on weekend days, which is classified as moderate screen time, is "unlikely to present a material risk to mental well-being".
Australia's network of free trade agreements with the United States and China should help protect local exporters, Trade Minister Simon Birmingham believes while cautioning a full trade war between the world's two largest economies would still cause trouble at home.

Following last week's meeting between Chinese and American officials aimed at heading off a trade battle, Senator Birmingham said there were positive signs that the two nations were finding common ground.

The Trump administration is threatening to impose additional tariffs on $US200 billion ($A277 billion) worth of imported Chinese goods from March 1. The US is looking to lift to 25 per cent its tariff on selected Chinese goods from 10 per cent.

The higher tariffs would come amid signs of a slowdown in China, which is Australia's largest export market.
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STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  New York is quickly moving toward legalizing marijuana for recreational use.

How about magic mushrooms too?

No, youre not tripping. Shrooms could be the next link in the chain when it comes to legalizing drugs across the country.

Supporters of psychedelic mushroom legalization in Denver got enough petition signatures to put the question on the ballot this spring. A similar effort is underway in Oregon, where the question could be put to voters in 2020.

Advocates are looking to decriminalize the possession of mushrooms containing the psychoactive ingredient psilocybin. California supporters failed in their effort to get the mushroom question on the ballot in 2018.

The Oregon Psilocybin Society says that shrooms could aid in the treatment of depression and anxiety, PTSD, and addiction to drugs and nicotine. Others say it can help repair brain cells.

So tripping is a balm for your mental health.

Who knew? I thought mushrooms just enhanced your listening experience to those half-hour versions of Dark Star. Well, these days it wouldnt be the Grateful Dead that hopheads listen to, I guess. It would be Phish, right? Trying to stay on the cutting edge here.

In any event, the feds still consider shrooms a Schedule 1 drug, with pretty much no medicinal value. But marijuana is also still Schedule 1 and that hasnt been a barrier to legalization.

The whole drug legalization/normalization effort thats been going on in the U.S. for the last number of years has followed a very predictable path.

First comes legalizing marijuana for medical purposes. To help people with terminal cancer, or kids with seizures. The medical program is then expanded to include other conditions, like PTSD or chronic pain.

And who could argue with any of that? Who could disagree with helping your terminally mom, or little kids, or soldiers? And isnt weed better for pain sufferers than giving them those evil, addictive opioids to take?

Thats the normalization process. Before long comes the bid to legalize for recreational purposes. Because, hey, we have medicinal, and thats hasnt been bad, right? And theres a lot of tax money to be made in weed, yknow?

This is where New York finds itself just a few years after legalizing medicinal weed. Its been a pretty quick journey.

Denver and Oregon were among the legal weed trailblazers. So what happens there could happen elsewhere when it comes to other drugs. Could that include mushrooms?

Because its just another high, right? And mushrooms arent as intense as mescaline. And certainly not as heavy as acid. The ancients used shrooms in sacred rituals. The doors of perception!

Shrooms may be comparatively more benign than the harder psychedelics, but theyre in the same neighborhood. People who take mushroom hallucinate. They get those trails behind moving objects. Surfaces seem to ripple. All the fun mind distortions.

And as with mescaline and acid, your surroundings and fellow travelers are very important to the journey. Any negativity creeps in and you could have, yes, a bad trip. It could really rip the sewer lid off your psyche. Hows that supposed to be good for my mental health?

And the million-dollar question remains the same as with weed: Would you want your 12-year-old tripping on mushrooms? Or the motorist behind you? Or the person piloting your ferry? Because it could happen if you legalize. The genie would be out of the bottle. And mushrooms are a far cry from weed, no matter what advocates say.

Cant happen here, you say? Thats what we thought a couple of years ago about legal weed. Something to keep a dilated eye on.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Police are continuing to search a Pennsylvania landfill for a missing Staten Island dad who is believed to be a victim of a homicide, authorities said Saturday.

We will be searching the landfill until something turns up, an NYPD detective told the Reading Eagle.

NYPD units were spotted Monday searching the Conestoga Landfill in New Morgan, trying to locate Michael Stewart, 40, who disappeared a few days before Christmas. Click here for footage from their search.

Surveillance footage obtained by the Advance places Stewart inside Back 2 Life barbershop near the intersection of Forest and Richmond avenues in Graniteville around 7 p.m. on Dec. 20.

Afterward, at about 7:30 p.m., Stewart, the father of two young children, is thought to have entered EZ Does It barbershop a few blocks away on Forest Avenue.

His subsequent whereabouts are unknown.

Angelo Nesimi, 33, spotted with Stewart at the Back 2 Life shop, has been identified by police as a person of interest in Stewarts disappearance, according to sources.

Nesimi has not been charged in connection with Stewarts disappearance.

He was arraigned Wednesday on assault and weapon charges stemming from an unrelated domestic incident several days later.

According to a criminal complaint, Nesimi hit a woman with a metal object, injuring her. The episode occurred inside Nesimis North Mada Avenue apartment in West Brighton at about 7 p.m. on Dec. 26 , said the complaint.

Court papers dont specify the object.

Sources have identified the alleged victim as Zammara Sanchez and said shes Nesimis girlfriend.

Police confronted Nesimi on Dec. 29.

Officers had gone to his home to speak to him about statements his girlfriend allegedly made to an EMT days earlier saying her boyfriend had killed someone, said a source with knowledge of the case.

The woman had called 911 to report an accident, but EMTs found no sign of a wreck, said the source.

At some point afterward, one of the responding EMTs heard Stewart was missing and reported the womans statement to cops, prompting the police response on Dec. 29, the source said.

Nesimi barricaded himself in a bathroom for about four hours until Sanchez opened the door for authorities, according to sources and information prosecutors disclosed at his Criminal Court arraignment after his arrest.

Police allegedly found Nesimi next to an open vent with a large amount of cash and his cell phone in a toilet. Upon further investigation, police also seized a scale with drug residue, prosecutors said.

After the barricade incident, the woman reported Nesimis alleged Dec. 26 attack on her, said the source.

Nesimi was indicted on felony charges of second-degree assault and third-degree criminal weapon possession.

Hes also accused of misdemeanor counts of assault, weapon possession and criminal mischief.

The latter charge alleges Nesimi pulled a soundproof board off the wall of the 120th Precinct stationhouse on Dec. 30 while he was being processed.

Nesimi is being held in lieu of $105,000 bail.

He has pleaded not guilty to the charges and is due back on court in February.
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Thai police were today searching for a foreign backpacker nicknamed 'AK' who was caught on CCTV spray painting a shop front.



The tourist was seen carrying a bottle of beer while he vandalised buildings in Chiang Rai, northern Thailand, in the early hours of Thursday (10/01) morning.



He left the tags ''OPENS CLEAR'' and ''LPC. OPEN. AK'' on the front of buildings in a former bus station.



Police have now appealed for more information to identify the suspect, who faces a fine up of to 6,000 Baht (150GBP).



Police Inspector of Chiang Rai Tourist Police, Chantarit Laopirodjaree, said: ''A civilian reported the man walking by a guesthouse in Soi Sanpanard at 2.00 AM on the same day.



''We are still investigating to find the hotel or the guesthouse he is staying.



''He will certainly be prosecuted for vandalism, and the fine would be maximum 6,000 baht.''



Police believe that the vandal's nickname, or tag, is AK. They are reviewing CCTV in the area and checking at local hostels.



The case has echoes of Liverpool backpacker ''Scouse Lee'' who daubed his name on an 800-year-old temple wall in the neighbouring region of Chiang Mai.



Lee Furlong was caught and threatened with up to ten years in a Thai prison but was later released after spending several weeks awaiting a court appearance, in which he had to pay a 2,400GBP fine.
BAGHDAD After days of conflicting statements about a timeline for President Trumps decision to withdraw American forces from Syria, a U.S. defense official said Friday the process has begun with the removal of some military cargo.

The official said the movement of equipment is part of what the military calls a deliberate withdrawal from Syria, where some 2,000 troops have been working with a coalition of Syrian Kurdish and Arab fighters to defeat the remnants of the Islamic State.

The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss details that have not yet been publicly announced, provided no numbers, but said the equipment withdrawal is under way and that an unspecified number of additional U.S. troops have been brought into Syria to assist with the process, including by providing additional security.

Hours earlier, Col. Sean Ryan, spokesman for the U.S.-led coalition fighting the Islamic State, said the process of our deliberate withdrawal from Syria has started. He said the U.S. would not discuss a specific timeline, locations or troop movements out of concern for operational security.

There has been confusion over plans to implement Trumps pullout order and threats from Turkey to attack the Kurdish fighters, who Ankara views as terrorists because of their ties to insurgents within Turkey.

Earlier this week, the U.S. National Security Adviser John Bolton said American troops will not leave northeastern Syria until Islamic State is defeated and American-allied Kurdish fighters are protected, signaling a slowdown in Trumps initial order for a rapid withdrawal.

The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which monitors the conflict in Syria through a network of activists on the ground, said the withdrawal began Thursday night. It said a convoy of about 10 armored vehicles, in addition to some trucks, pulled out from Syrias northeastern town of Rmeilan into Iraq.

A senior Kurdish politician said the Kurds are aware of the U.S. beginning the withdrawal, describing it as Americas decision.

There are 2,000 American troops in Syria. Trumps abrupt decision in December to pull them out, declaring in a tweet the defeat of Islamic State, sent shock waves across the region and prompted a flurry of criticism from some of his generals and national security advisers.

Philip Issa and Zeina Karam are Associated Press writers.
Andrew Caballero-reynolds / AFP / Getty Images

CAIRO  Secretary of State Mike Pompeo brought the Trump administrations anti-Iran message to Gulf Arab states on Friday, arriving in Bahrain to continue a nine-nation tour of the Middle East aimed at reassuring Americas partners that withdrawing troops from Syria does not mean Washington is abandoning the region.

In Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates, Pompeo will call for increasing pressure on Iran and push for unity among Gulf neighbors still embroiled in a festering dispute with Qatar. Hell also be promoting a U.S.-backed initiative to form what some have termed an Arab NATO that would bring the region together in a military alliance to counter threats from Iran.
YANGON, Myanmar  A court in Myanmar on Friday rejected the appeal of two Reuters journalists convicted of violating the countrys Official Secrets Act during their reporting on the countrys crackdown on Rohingya Muslims, maintaining the seven-year prison terms they were sentenced to last year.

Judge Aung Naing of the Yangon High Court said in his ruling that lawyers for Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo failed to submit enough evidence to prove they were innocent.

The convictions have drawn condemnation from rights groups, Western governments and global press associations and has raised questions about press freedom in Myanmar as it transitions from decades of military rule.

Although the military has kept control of several key ministries, Nobel peace laureate Aung San Suu Kyis rise to heading the government had raised hopes for more democratic freedoms.

Todays ruling is yet another injustice among many inflicted upon Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo, Reuters Editor-In-Chief Stephen Adler said Friday. They remain behind bars for one reason: Those in power sought to silence the truth. Reporting is not a crime, and until Myanmar rights this terrible wrong, the press in Myanmar is not free, and Myanmars commitment to rule of law and democracy remains in doubt.

The two journalists were convicted of violating the colonial era Official Secrets Act after they were found with government documents in their possession. They were arrested on Dec. 12, 2017, in the countrys main city, Yangon, immediately after having a meal to which police officers had invited them.

One police officer, despite being called as a prosecution witness, testified that his superiors had ordered the men to be entrapped with documents planted on them. The officer, Capt. Moe Yan Naing was dropped from the force after his testimony and jailed for a year for breaking police regulations.

Supporters of Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo contend they were framed because of official displeasure over their reporting on the brutal crackdown by security forces on minority Rohingya in Rakhine state.

More than 700,000 Rohingya have fled to neighboring Bangladesh following a crackdown that began in August 2017. Critics have described the campaign as ethnic cleansing, or even genocide, on the part of Myanmar security forces.

Wa Lone, 32, and Kyaw Soe Oo, 28, had worked on one of the most detailed accounts of official abuses, an investigation of the killing of 10 Rohingya villagers in Inn Din village, for which seven soldiers were eventually sentenced to up to 10 years in prison with hard labor.

Aung Naing Soe is an Associated Press writer.
GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip  Israeli forces killed a Palestinian woman during mass protests on the Gaza frontier Friday, according to Palestinian medics, and the Israeli military said aircraft struck two Hamas posts in response to the violent demonstrations.

The violence at the protests, in which more than two dozen Palestinians and an Israeli soldier were wounded, threatened to complicate efforts by Egyptian mediators, who are trying to shore up a two-month-old cease-fire.

Ashraf al-Kidra, a spokesman for Gazas Health Ministry, said Amal al-Taramsi, 43, was shot in the head during the protests. He said 25 other Palestinians were wounded by gunfire.

A witness, identifying herself only as Umm Yazan, said al-Taramsi was standing about 150 yards away from the fence. She took a flag from a youth and before she moved, three gunshots rang out... she fell down, the woman told reporters at Gazas al-Shifa hospital.

The Israeli military said some 13,000 protesters and rioters participated in several demonstrations along the fence, with some hurling rocks and firebombs at troops on the other side. The military said an Israeli soldier was struck by a rock and lightly wounded.

The military said protesters briefly crossed the frontier into Israel on three occasions before returning to Gaza. In one of the instances, the military said it fired toward them. It said it struck two Hamas posts in response to the violence.

There were no reports of casualties from the air strikes.

Hamas has led mass demonstrations along the frontier every Friday since March, calling for the lifting of an Israeli and Egyptian blockade imposed on Gaza when the Islamic militant group seized power in 2007. The protesters burn tires and hurl rocks and firebombs at Israeli forces dug in behind sand berms on the other side of the fence.

More than 185 Palestinians and an Israeli soldier have been killed since the protests began. Israel says it only uses live fire to defend against attacks, but the Palestinians and rights groups accuse it of using excessive force.

A botched Israeli commando operation ignited hostilities in November, with Hamas firing hundreds of rockets and Israel responding with a wave of air strikes, in the most intense exchange of fire since the 2014 Gaza war.

Egypt brokered a cease-fire and has been trying to restore calm after a rocket attack earlier this month that caused no casualties. Israel responded to the attack by delaying the delivery of $15 million in Qatari aid, which is intended to pay Hamas civil servants and help preserve the calm.

In the occupied West Bank, meanwhile, the Israeli military said its forces shot and wounded a Palestinian who attempted to stab soldiers near a Jewish settlement outside the city of Hebron. The army said it evacuated the assailant for medical treatment.

In another development Friday, missiles fired by Israeli warplanes struck a warehouse at Damascus International Airport, causing damage but no casualties, a Syrian military official said.

The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the air strikes targeted an area near the airport while others hit the area of Kiswa, which is home to positions and storage sites for Iranian and Hezbollah forces allied with Syrias government.

Fares Akram is an Associated Press writer.
KINSHASA, Congo  Congo runner-up Martin Fayulu announced on Friday he will file a court challenge to the presidential election results, while his opposition coalition asserted he actually received 61 percent of the vote according to the findings of the influential Catholic Churchs observers.

Fayulu spoke to hundreds of supporters who gathered in the capital, Kinshasa, to denounce what they called the peoples stolen victory.

A heavy police presence was on hand. A businessman and vocal campaigner against Congos widespread corruption, Fayulu accuses outgoing President Joseph Kabila of making a backroom deal with the surprise declared winner, largely untested opposition leader Felix Tshisekedi.

The Catholic Church, the rare authority that many Congolese find trustworthy, has said its 40,000 election observers in all polling stations found a different winner from the official results but it has not given details. Diplomats briefed on the findings say they found Fayulu won easily.

The churchs findings showed Tshisekedi received just 18 percent of the vote, just ahead of ruling party candidate Emmanuel Ramazani Shadary, Fayulus coalition asserted.

Fayulu urged that Congos electoral commission publish detailed results, polling station by polling station, and said he would file his court challenge on Saturday morning. He blew kisses to the crowd.

Those who have been silly enough to publish false results, we will challenge them, he said.

Congolese face the extraordinary situation of an election allegedly rigged in favor of the opposition after Kabilas preferred candidate, Shadary, did poorly in the polls.

The electoral commission early Thursday announced that Tshisekedi had won with 38 percent of the vote while Fayulu received 34 percent.

Change cannot be negotiated behind closed doors and power only comes from the ballot, there is no other way, said Fayulu supporter Jean Otaba, 28. You can see there is no massive celebration despite the announcement. Thats because it is not the truth.

This could be Congos first peaceful, democratic transfer of power since independence in 1960, but observers have warned that a court challenge could spin the long-troubled country into chaos. Some Fayulu supporters have worried that the constitutional court could invalidate the results, keeping Kabila in power until a new election.

There are two options, electoral commission president Corneille Nangaa told the U.N. Security Council on Friday: The official results are accepted or the vote is annulled.

Congos 80 million people have been largely calm, though police said three people were killed in Kikwit city on Thursday as people protested the results. Some students protested in the city of Mbandaka on Friday.

Mathilde Boussion is an Associated Press writer.
Behind the vision to make the world a better place is leadership  and who could better recognize this quality than a group of local trailblazers who have impacted the Bay Area and beyond?

This year's VisionSF nominating committee knows all about these qualities and more because of their rich experience, sharp world view and their willingness to try different things.

"There is a reason why [the Bay Area] is the epicenter of innovation, not just for California and the United States -- but the entire world," said Audrey Cooper, the Chronicle's editor in chief.

"If you name a public policy initiative in the last 100 years that has really made an impact, at one point somebody thought it was a ridiculous idea  and a dedication to pursuing truth and pursuing innovation is going to drive our whole society forward."

Cooper, who came to the Chronicle in 2015, has brought her own unique way of "driving forward" to the publication. Her visionary feats include prioritizing a greater concentration on investigative journalism -- as well as spearheading a collaboration of 80+ news organizations for an initiative called the SF Homeless Project, which is dedicated to reporting on solutions to end homelessness.

Helping to select nominees for the five-year anniversary of the Chronicle's VisionSF award  which honors visionaries who are making change across our region  is Daniel Lurie, the founder of Tipping Point Community charity. Lurie, who was born in San Francisco, has been a leader in philanthropy, ultimately establishing Tipping with the mission of breaking the cycle of poverty. Through grants and concurrent support, the organization has helped raise over $150 million for Bay Area families. With his leadership as Chair of the Super Bowl 50 Host Committee in 2016, Lurie helped raise a record-breaking $13 million for the community.

"When I think of visionaries, especially in the nonprofit sector, I think of people that are changing lives every single day," Lurie said.

"People that are in the community, that understand the needs of our community and are willing to make sure those needs are met. The only way we are going to overcome our biggest obstacles and our biggest challenges is if we come together  if we are all in on the solutions. The public sector can't do it alone, they need everyone to come to the table."

According to nominating committee member and former U.S. Secretary of State George Schultz, the potential of Bay Area visionaries is unmatched. With a long career in business and politics  and serving as a Distinguished Fellow at Stanford's Hoover Institute since 1989  Schultz' insight poured into the pages of his 2016 book Learning from Experience. Now, he's applying his own knowledge and experience to honoring the next generation of changemakers.

"A visionary sees things that others don't necessarily see right away and does something about it; creates something new. What did the first people who sailed in through the Golden Gate, long before the bridge, think about this beautiful set up? It's wide open and encouraging. We have great intellectual resources around here," Schultz said.

"The place is bustling."

Joining Schultz on the nominating committee is his wife of 21 years, Charlotte Schultz.

Having served under eight mayors as the Chief of Protocol for the City and County of San Francisco, Schultz is known for her passion for arts and culture. She has served on the San Francisco Special Events Committee, the War Memorial Board of Trustees, the boards of the San Francisco Opera, the San Francisco Symphony, San Francisco Ballet, and San Francisco Museum of Modern Art  to name a few. Her social events are often the talk of the City, as she takes great pride in planning and hosting events that often include not only local movers and shakers, but international dignitaries.

"People that are visionary are in education, science, cultural affairs  but they care and they look at the world and say, 'How can I make it better?'" Shultz said.

"If you just look around the city, look around the Bay Area, look around the world, the visionaries are the ones that have produced the quality of life that we have. There's not enough awards to go around to all the visionaries that are in this wonderful Bay Area that attracts people from all over the world to do wonderful things."

The Chronicle's 5th annual VisionSF program:

Mission statement: "Visionary leaders are paradigm changers  individuals who strive to make the world a better place by employing new, innovative business models and practices. As the world faces an increasing number of widespread social and economic challenges, visionary leaders understand the broad impact of the business community and recognize its potential to drive great change."

How nominees are selected: A group of prominent Bay Area leaders is selected by The Chronicle to identify visionaries who are making a difference across our region. Each of the nominees will be profiled in a series of stories, in the newspaper and on SFChronicle.com/VisionSF, beginning January 2019.

How a Visionary of the Year is selected: Chronicle Publisher Bill Nagel, Editor in Chief Audrey Cooper and Editorial Page Editor John Diaz will select the winner from six honorees. The winner, who will receive a grant, will be announced at the end of March 2019.

LEARN MORE ABOUT VISIONSF
In airline route news, Hawaiian phases out its final 767; Air Tahiti Nui puts brand-new Dreamliners into service at LAX; United rolls out its 787-10s; Delta drops a Seattle route and Alaska will add one; low-cost carriers Sun Country and Frontier add a bunch of new markets; and Air Italy will add a new U.S. gateway.

Hawaiian Airlines this week said it would take its last 767 out of service, ending the aircraft's 20-year run with the carrier. But for some reason, we've found the old bird still flying from San Jose. The company has largely replaced the Boeing wide-bodies with Airbus A330s on transpacific routes, and more recently has been actively phasing in new single-aisle Airbus A321neos. In fact, the airline's most recent schedule update indicates Hawaiian will use an A321neo for its new service from Sacramento to Kahului, Maui, starting in April, and will replace the A330-200 it currently operates from San Francisco to Maui with an A321neo beginning September 3.

Another airline that's overhauling its fleet is Air Tahiti Nui, which flies to Papeete from Los Angeles International. The carrier recently put a brand-new 787-9 Dreamliner into service on that route three days a week and will increase that to four days a week in February. Air Tahiti Nui is acquiring a total of four Dreamliners, which are being phased in this year to replace its aging A340-300s on all its international routes, including Papeete-Auckland, Papeete-Tokyo and Papeete-Paris via LAX. The 787-9s carry 294 passengers, including 30 in a business cabin with 2x2x2 fully-reclining seats and 32 in a new premium economy class configured 2x3x2. The regular economy seating is nine across (3x3x3).

In case you missed our story the other day, United has put its first brand-new 787-10  the largest in the Dreamliner series  into service between LAX and Newark on one flight a day. It will deploy the new plane on one daily San Francisco-Newark flight starting February 14 and will phase it in this spring on several transatlantic routes out of Newark. The 787-10 is equipped with United's new Premium Plus premium economy seating, as well as lie-flat Polaris business class seats. You can read all about it here.

In addition to its newly announced service from San Francisco to Honolulu starting May 18, Twin Cities-based low-cost carrier Sun Country Airlines is also planning to launch a number of other new routes. In fact, the airline is calling it the largest expansion in its history, adding a total of 19 seasonal routes for the summer and flying to seven new airports. Sun Country will start operating four flights a week from Minneapolis-St. Paul to eight cities this spring, including Providence (April 8), Newark (April 11), Philadelphia (April 18), Chicago O'Hare (April 19), Washington Dulles (April 25), San Antonio and Sacramento (May 23), and St. Louis (June 7). The Dulles, Chicago, Newark and Philadelphia routes will increase to daily frequencies within weeks of their start. The carrier will also add new service this spring from Nashville to Portland, Los Angeles and Providence; from Portland to St. Louis and San Antonio; from Dallas/Ft. Worth to Montego Bay, Jamaica and to St. Kitts & Nevis; and from Las Vegas to Anchorage, Los Cabos and Puerto Vallarta.

Not to be outdone, low-cost Frontier Airlines this week also unveiled a bunch of new routes, most of them beginning in late April and early May and offering three or four flights a week. From Las Vegas, new Frontier routes include service to DFW, Houston Bush Intercontinental, San Diego, Detroit and Philadelphia. At Raleigh-Durham, the airline will begin service to Albany, Boston, Columbus, Hartford, Jacksonville, Islip (Long Island, N.Y.), Philadelphia and Tampa. New Orlando routes include Boston, Baltimore/Washington, DFW, Hartford, Houston and Punta Cana, Dominican Republic.

Sun Country Airlines

Delta is planning to drop its daily E175 service from Seattle to Edmonton on March 1, but the carrier said it will kick off new daily E170 service to Hilton Head Island, S.C. from Atlanta starting May 23 and from New York LaGuardia June 8. Meanwhile, Alaska Airlines will add a new Seattle route, inaugurating daily flights to San Antonio on July 16.

In other route news, JetBlue this week started new daily flights between Boston and Rochester, N.Y.; American on May 4 will add twice-weekly E175 flights from LaGuardia to Daytona Beach, Florida and from Washington Reagan National to Melbourne, Florida; Icelandair has decided not to offer its previously planned summer service from Baltimore/Washington to Reykjavik; and Air Italy will add another U.S. gateway in May when it begins three flights a week from Chicago O'Hare to Milan  the only non-stop service between those two cities.

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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.
Editor's note, Jan. 12, 2019: Rep. Jackie Speier's office has since clarified that she is having her pay withheld until an appropriations agreement has taken effect. She will not be donating her salary as she previously stated via social media.

The bulk of federal workers may not be getting paid during the government shutdown, but the same can't be said for the most visible employees of the federal government: The 538 members of Congress, who continue to collect paychecks as normal as the shutdown drags into its 21st day.

Congresswoman Jackie Speier, D-Calif., announced Friday that she'll be donating her salary for the duration of the shutdown in solidarity with those going without pay.

ALSO: Kamala Harris describes being blindsided by shutdown

"Standing in solidarity with the more than 800,000 federal government employees furloughed or forced to work without pay and refusing my salary during the #TrumpShutdown," Speier wrote on Twitter late Friday morning. "I am donating my pay, as I have done during previous shutdowns."

SFGATE has reached out to Speier's office to find out where she plans to donate the money and will update when we hear back.

Members of Congress keep getting paid when the government shuts down because their salaries aren't funded through annual appropriations, but instead through permanent law (their staff, on the other hand, will earn retroactive pay at best). Former Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-Calif., and Sen. Bob Casey, D-Penn., proposed a law requiring Congress and the president forego pay during a shutdown back in 2011 and again in 2013, but it died in the House both times.

Other members of Congress who have chosen to give away their pay during the shutdown include Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., Rep. Max Rose, D-NY, Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., and Rep. Kevin Hern, R-Okla.

MORE: How the shutdown is hurting small towns outside Yosemite

Speier has also gone to some creative lengths to make a statement about the shutdown's effects. Earlier in the week, she teamed up with Rep. Jared Huffman, D-Calif. to deliver trash that had accumulated in NorCal parks to the White House.

Filipa Ioannou is an SFGATE staff writer. Email her at fioannou@sfchronicle.com and follow her on Twitter
In order to help disadvantaged communities obtain safe and affordable drinking water, California Governor Gavin Newsom is proposing a new statewide water tax.

In the newly-released 2019-20 budget, Newsom calls for the creation of a "safe and affordable drinking water fund" that would "enable the State Water Resources Control Board to assist communities, particularly disadvantaged communities, in paying for the short-term and long-term costs of obtaining access to safe and affordable drinking water."

A McClatchy investigation from 2018 found that 6 million Californians rely on water providers that violated state standards at some point in the last six years. According to the report, the majority of Californians that lack safe drinking water live in the Southern San Joaquin Valley and the Mojave Desert.

The details of the proposed tax are unknown, but a similar proposal was abandoned by then-Governor Jerry Brown last year after failing to garner enough support in the legislature.

California residents would have been taxed 95 cents a month, or $11.40 a year, under that plan.

On Friday, Newsom took his Cabinet on a trip to the Central Valley to hear from residents who lack clean drinking water.

"We met with residents who cannot drink or bathe with the water in their homes  while paying more for it than those in Beverly Hills," the governor tweeted.

The Association of California Water Agencies, a group that represents more than 400 water suppliers across the state, announced its opposition to the latest proposed water tax from Newsom.

"The vast majority of the state's residents have access to safe drinking water, but a small percentage of the population does not," the association said in a statement. "This unacceptable reality is a social issue for the State of California. ACWA believes that making access to safe drinking water for all Californians should be a top priority for the State. However, a statewide water tax is highly problematic and is not necessary when alternative funding solutions exist and the state has a huge budget surplus."

Orange County Republican Travis Allen, who ran for governor in 2018, took to Twitter to blast the new tax.

"In one of his first official acts @GavinNewsom wants to TAX YOUR WATER," Allen tweeted. "There is no limit to what @TheDemocrats will tax or excuses they'll make to TAKE YOUR MONEY. It's time Republicans start fighting and TAKE BACK CALIFORNIA!!"

Jon Coupal of the Howard Jarvis Taxpayer Association told the Sacramento Bee that he believes the state should fund water systems without implementing a new tax.

He cites the fact that the state has a $14.8 billion budget surplus, and called the proposed tax an example of "California's knee-jerk reaction to default to a new tax whenever there's a new problem."

Eric Ting is an SFGATE staff writer. Email him at eting@sfchronicle.com and follow him on Twitter

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Announced by the Vietnamese Ministry of Science and Technology and the Australian Government, the AUD10 million (US$7.2 million) programme also aims to strengthen Vietnam's innovation ecosystem, and assist the Vietnamese Government and people in grasping the opportunities brought about by the fourth Industrial Revolution.

It will help Vietnam explore emerging areas, such as the transformation of technology and digital constructs, test new partnerships among organisations in the public and private sectors, increase the capacity for Vietnam in the field of trend forecasting, commercialise scientific research, and boost planning for policies related to innovation.

Aus4Innovation consists of four components, including digital future forecasting, a partnership on the commercialisation of scientific research, competition funding mechanisms, and policy exchanges on innovation.

Speaking at the launch, Minister of Science and Technology Chu Ngoc Anh said the Vietnam - Australia friendship and cooperation relations in general and on science, technology and innovation in particular have developed strongly over the past few years, with the highlight being the official establishment of the partnership on innovation between Vietnam and Australia.

The Aus4Innovation project will help Vietnams key sectors, such as agriculture and industrial production to step by step modernise on the basis of the commercialisation of research results and capture economic benefits, while ensuring job opportunities for Vietnam's workforce in the future, especially in the context of the fourth Industrial Revolution, Minister Anh stated.

Australian Ambassador to Vietnam Craig Chittick said that Aus4Innovation is a good opportunity for Australia to support Vietnam in exploiting its experiences and skills, while creating new and long term links in science and technology.
OAKLAND (BCN)



The union that represents Oakland teachers is conducting actions to seek higher wages and to stand in solidarity with Los Angeles teachers who are mobilizing for a potential strike on Monday.



Before school on Friday, members of the Oakland Education Association joined other Bay Area educators in taking part in statewide solidarity events called the "California Teachers Association's California RedForEd Walk-In Day."



Many teachers wore red and joined parents and students in starting the school day by walking in together.



OEA President Keith Brown said hundreds of East Bay educators from many school districts will converge for a rally at noon on Saturday at Frank Ogawa Plaza in front of Oakland City Hall to support Oakland and Los Angeles teachers and to call for more funding for California's public school system.



The rally is being organized by the East Bay Coalition of Public Educators, a group of at least 13 chapters of the California Teachers Association union that will be joined by parents and students.



Brown said Oakland teachers will gather at the Lake Merritt Amphitheater at 11 a.m. on Saturday and then march to Frank Ogawa Plaza to meet with teachers from other cities who will be participating in the rally there.



The OEA said it is escalating its own contract fight and is strongly considering a strike authorization vote by the end of the month.



The union said it is seeking living wages to end high teacher turnover rates, smaller class sizes and more resources for the district's 37,000 students.



"Educators in Oakland are ready to fight for the public schools our students and our community deserve," Brown said in a statement.



Brown said, "We are tired of being undervalued and disrespected at the bargaining table. We are being loud and clear about our priorities. We demand a living wage, lower class sizes and the resources our students want and need."





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It's never too soon to start planning for Valentine's Day - especially for couples using the date to get married.



The Santa Cruz County Clerk's Office is encouraging couples to sign up for its Valentine's Day wedding festivities.



The wedding ceremony costs $100 and is held in the "Peace, Love and Happiness Wedding Room." The weddings will be broadcast on the county's "WedCam" if the couples agree to it.



Desserts, refreshments and flowers will be donated from local businesses.



The ceremonies will be held every 30 minutes until 8 p.m. Couples can reserve a spot online at www.sccoclerk.com or by calling (831-454-2060.



Couples will need a marriage license and a witness to be married at the clerk's office.





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SANTA ROSA (BCN)



The Sonoma County Sheriff's Office misidentified a man who was found dead Monday in Santa Rosa Creek.



The man was misidentified as Kenneth Anderson, 57, a transient with family in Iowa, sheriff's Sgt. Spencer Crum said.



The identification of Anderson as the deceased man was made from visual confirmation by a peace officer who has arrested Anderson on prior occasions, Crum said.



Fingerprint results received Friday identified the deceased man as someone other than Anderson, Crum said.



"As far as the newly identified decedent, the Coroner's Office is attempting to notify his next of kin and his name will be released when that is complete," Crum said.



"We have notified Mr. Anderson's family in Iowa of the error and we will be attempting to locate Mr. Anderson to advise him of our mistake as well," Crum said.



Crum said there was a "remarkable resemblance" between the two men.



"This was a human error and we apologize for our mistake," Crum said.



The Santa Rosa Police Department was informed around 9:30 a.m. Monday about a body in the creek west of Pierson Street. Santa Rosa police and the sheriff's office responded to the death.





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OAKLAND (BCN)



The sentencing for a Livermore man who's been convicted of gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated for the death of a 20-year-old woman who was a passenger in his car in a crash in Oakland four years ago was postponed on Friday at the request of his attorney.



Travis Maresca, 24, didn't even show up at his scheduled sentencing hearing on Friday.



Defense attorney Robert Byers told Alameda County Superior Court Judge James Cramer that Maresca couldn't make it to court because his father went out of town with the family's car.



The California Highway Patrol said Maresca was under the influence of alcohol and drugs in a crash near the High Street exit of eastbound Interstate Highway 580 in Oakland at about 3:20 a.m. on Jan. 1, 2015, in which his 2009 Toyota Scion struck a pole and came to rest blocking the highway's MacArthur Boulevard/High Street on-ramp.



Maresca's passenger, Kayla Turner, 20, of San Jose was pronounced dead at the scene.



Maresca pleaded no contest Aug. 24 to gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated.



Judge Kevin Murphy told Maresca at that hearing that he could be placed on probation for three to five years when he's sentenced or face up to four years in state prison.



Murphy said the plea was "an open agreement," which means that it will be up to Cramer, the sentencing judge, to determine Maresca's punishment.



"We'll just have to wait until the sentencing to see how all that unfolds," Murphy told Maresca.



Prosecutor Nick Homer said he's spoken to Turner's family and "they have very strong feelings about what happened but their feelings about what should happen to the defendant (Maresca) are somewhat nuanced, as one can imagine in a case like this."



However, Homer said he hadn't been able to reach Turner's family before the plea agreement was reached.



Homer said, "It's quite possible they will be attending the hearing and will have some very strong feelings to voice to the court at the sentencing. I don't know what those feelings would be."



Maresca's sentencing is now scheduled for Feb. 15.





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SAN RAFAEL (BCN)



San Rafael police arrested a man Thursday afternoon on suspicion of possessing and distributing child pornography.



Police said they received a notification in July from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children about an image of child pornography that was uploaded to the internet by a person.



Police said detectives worked with the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force in San Jose to investigate the case and were able to determine where the image was uploaded.



Detectives searched a location in the 100 block of C Street in San Rafael in October and found and seized electronics and data storage devices and sent them to the Northern California Computer Crimes Task Force for analysis.



According to police, the analysis uncovered hundreds of child pornography videos and thousands of child pornography images. An arrest warrant was issued for Paul Ebbert, 50, and he was arrested at his home at 150 C St. Thursday, police said.



Ebbert was booked on $100,000 bail and on suspicion of felony sending of obscene matter to persons over 18 for sale, according to the Marin County Jail booking log.





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A new team of overnight workers is trying to help homeless people who end up sleeping on BART trains or in stations because they have nowhere else to go.



The team is based in Contra Costa County, where two of BART's five lines begin or end. The county workers are working with the BART Police Department to connect homeless people with clean beds and mental health services.



Workers are especially focused on the end of line stations in Richmond and Antioch, according to Armando Sandoval, crisis intervention coordinator and community outreach liaison for the BART Police Department.



Contra Costa County's Coordinated Outreach, Referral and Engagement team has already been working to help homeless people at BART stations during the daytime hours, but this is the first time CORE outreach workers have been focused on BART stations overnight, according to BART officials.



"Those are key times because they're typically when individuals are entering the BART system at the start of the day or on the system without a place to go at the end of the night," Sandoval said in a statement.



Officials hope their efforts will not just help the homeless, but also make the commute easier for BART customers. The pilot program started this week.



The initiative is part of BART's Homeless Outreach Program that began in San Francisco in 2017, according to BART officials.



Sandoval didn't say how much the pilot program costs or who is funding it. It's also unclear how long it is expected to last.





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SAN FRANCISCO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT (BCN)



Hundreds of flights are delayed and 17 have been canceled as rain enveloped the San Francisco International Airport Friday evening.



Airport Duty Manager Russell Mackey said the airport is on a ground delay program through 11 p.m.



"That's always flexible though," he said.



Mackey said 280 flights have been delayed and the average delay is about an hour, though some are as short as a few minutes and others as long as two hours.



The airlines most affected are Alaska Airlines and SkyWest Airlines. SkyWest Airlines uses mostly smaller planes to fly to regional destinations, Mackey said.



Rain is expected to continue Friday night and into Saturday morning before it dries out ahead of a storm on Sunday, according to the National Weather Service.





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The Sonoma County Sheriff's Office misidentified a man who was found dead Monday in Santa Rosa Creek.



The man was misidentified as Kenneth Anderson, 57, a transient with family in Iowa, sheriff's Sgt. Spencer Crum said.



The identification of Anderson as the deceased man was made from visual confirmation by a peace officer who has arrested Anderson on prior occasions, Crum said.



Fingerprint results received Friday identified the deceased man as someone other than Anderson, Crum said.



"As far as the newly identified decedent, the Coroner's Office is attempting to notify his next of kin and his name will be released when that is complete," Crum said.



"We have notified Mr. Anderson's family in Iowa of the error and we will be attempting to locate Mr. Anderson to advise him of our mistake as well," Crum said.



Crum said there was a "remarkable resemblance" between the two men.



"This was a human error and we apologize for our mistake," Crum said.



The Santa Rosa Police Department was informed around 9:30 a.m. Monday about a body in the creek west of Pierson Street. Santa Rosa police and the sheriff's office responded to the death.







Authorities believe a woman struck and killed by a train in Redwood City Friday morning may have been trying to commit suicide.



"While it is early in the investigation, this incident appears to have been an intentional act," San Mateo County Transit District spokeswoman Tasha Bartholomew said in a statement.



Authorities haven't released the woman's name.



A southbound Caltrain hit the woman at the Whipple Avenue crossing around 5:45 a.m.







An Oakland man was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole Friday for fatally shooting a San Francisco Municipal Railway bus driver outside a bar in unincorporated San Leandro in 2016.



Sophy Kong, 36, was convicted on Sept. 20 of first-degree murder for the shooting of Sukia Jackson, 43, of Foster City outside the Shooter's Bar in the 1500 block of 150th Avenue in unincorporated San Leandro at about 2 a.m. on June 4, 2016.



Kong was also convicted of the special circumstance of lying in wait and two counts of premeditated attempted murder for shooting at two other men and wounding one of them.







A 37-year-old man was hospitalized Thursday night after four suspects allegedly robbed him and then shot him in San Francisco's Candlestick Point area, police said.



Around 10:40 p.m., officers responded to a report of a shooting in the 600 block of Jamestown Avenue.



There they learned that the male suspects robbed the victim of his cellphone and cash and then shot him. Afterward, they fled in a vehicle, police said.



The victim was hospitalized for his injuries, which were not considered life threatening, according to police.







The Sonoma County Sheriff's Office arrested three suspects in connection with several thefts from truck tool boxes in December.



The tools were taken from at least six victims' locked and unlocked tool boxes in Windsor, the sheriff's office said.



A Windsor resident called the sheriff's office at 4:15 a.m. Thursday to report someone was trying to break into his truck tool box before fleeing in a vehicle.



Sheriff's deputies stopped the suspect's vehicle a mile away and arrested three of its occupants. Tools and other property from the victims were found in the vehicle, the sheriff's office said.



Crystal Manjarrez, 20, of San Pablo, Minerva Razo-Venegas, 39, of Vernalis in unincorporated San Joaquin County and David Coyt Jr., 24, of Richmond were arrested and booked in the Sonoma County jail for burglary, receiving stolen property and conspiracy, the sheriff's office said.







A retired Irvine police officer died in a rollover truck crash on U.S. Highway 101 in San Jose on Wednesday, according to police and the Santa Clara County medical examiner's office.



Richard Bartolo, a 64-year-old from San Dimas, was a passenger in a box truck that overturned after the driver fell asleep at the wheel, according to the California Highway Patrol.



Bartolo worked for Irvine police from 1984 to 2005, when he retired, according to police spokeswoman Kim Mohr.



"Rich was an incredible man who was loved by everyone at the Irvine Police Department," Police Chief Mike Hamel said in a statement. "We thank him for his dedicated service to his community. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family."



The crash happened shortly after 3:45 a.m. on northbound Highway 101 north of McKee Road. The truck driver allowed the truck to leave the road, drive up a slight embankment on the right shoulder and overturn, according to the CHP.



The truck hit a concrete box on the right shoulder, slid on its side and hit a guardrail before stopping. The 67-year-old driver suffered major injuries. Bartolo was sleeping in the back of the truck and wasn't properly restrained, according to the CHP.







A man who was killed on Sunday afternoon when he lost control of his motorcycle while riding in heavy rain on Interstate Highway 580 in eastern Alameda County has been identified by the Alameda County coroner as 21-year-old Cristo Garcia of Livermore.



California Highway Patrol Officer Tyler Hahn wrote in a report that witnesses say that Garcia was driving at high speeds and splitting lanes just before he lost control of his 2018 Harley Davidson between Livermore and Tracy on Highway 580 a mile west of the Grant Line Road exit at about 1:05 p.m. on Sunday.



Hahn said a man driving a 2017 Jeep Wrangler struck Garcia after he was on the ground.







A pedestrian fatally struck by a vehicle Monday night in Martinez has been identified as 72-year-old James Kendrick from Crockett, according to the Contra Costa County coroner's office.



Kendrick was hit around 8:45 p.m. at the intersection of Berrellesa and Green streets.



Police responding to the scene found Kendrick on the ground in the roadway. He was transported to a hospital and declared dead, despite efforts to save his life.









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MOUNTAIN VIEW (BCN)



A union for federal workers at the NASA Ames Research Center in Mountain View is offering emergency loans to assist employees who have not been paid during the partial government shutdown.



The Ames Federal Employees Union is giving members $100 and has arranged for up to $2,500 in loans through the Menlo Survey Federal Credit Union.



The loans are available to union members in good standing and no interest will be charged if the amount is paid back in full within 60 days.



"Politicians in Washington are treating federal workers as pawns in a big chess game, while research critical to maintaining our nation's edge in science and technology is stalled, and dedicated scientists and researchers are locked out without a paycheck," NASA research scientist David Schwenke said in a news release. Schwenke is president of the Ames Federal Employees Union.



The government shutdown was brought about by President Donald Trump's demands to fund a $5 billion plus border wall. It is currently on its 21st day, after beginning on Dec. 22, and is tied for the longest in U.S. history.



After House Speaker Nancy Pelosi was sworn into her position on Jan. 3, the newly Democratic-controlled House of Representatives voted to fund the government and end the shutdown.



National members of the union participated in a protest march to the White House on Thursday and called for Trump and the Senate to follow the House's lead. Workers from the union were also present at a protest in front of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in San Francisco.





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BANGKOK  An 18-year-old Saudi woman who said she was abused by her family and feared for her life if deported back home left Thailand on Friday night for Canada, which has granted her asylum, officials said.

The fast-moving developments capped an eventful week for Rahaf Mohammed Alqunun. She fled her family while visiting Kuwait and flew to Bangkok, where she barricaded herself in an airport hotel to avoid deportation and grabbed global attention by mounting a social media campaign for asylum.

Her case highlighted the cause of womens rights in Saudi Arabia, where several women fleeing abuse by their families have been caught trying to seek asylum abroad in recent years and returned home. Human rights activists say many similar cases go unreported.

Alqunun is flying to Toronto via Seoul, South Korea, according to Thai immigration Police Chief Surachate Hakparn. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau confirmed his country had granted her asylum.

That is something that we are pleased to do because Canada is a country that understands how important it is to stand up for human rights and to stand up for womans rights around the world and I can confirm that we have accepted the U.N.s request, Trudeau said.

Several other countries, including Australia, had been in talks with the U.N.s refugee agency to accept Alqunun, Surachate said earlier in the day.

She chose Canada. Its her personal decision, he said.

Canadas ambassador had seen her off at the airport, Surachate said, adding that she looked happy and healthy.

She thanked everyone for helping her, he said, and added that the first thing she would do upon arrival in Canada would be to start learning the language. She already speaks more than passable English, in addition to Arabic.

Alqununs father arrived in Bangkok on Tuesday, but his daughter refused to meet with him. Surachate said the father  whose name has not been released  denied physically abusing Alqunun or trying to force her into an arranged marriage, which were among the reasons she gave for her flight.
IOWA FALLS  One hundred twenty-eight students were named to the Fall 2018 (August to December) Deans List at Ellsworth Community College.

To be eligible for the Deans List, students must have taken 12 or more credit hours during the semester (a full-time class load) and have earned at least a 3.5 grade point average while attending classes at ECC or ECC online. (Note: Developmental courses do not count towards GPA.) Part-time students are not included in this list.

Some students asked to have their name withheld from media and the public in keeping with their rights under the Family Education Rights & Privacy Act of 1974 (Buckley Amendment).

The staff and administration congratulate these students for their academic excellence.

Students are listed below by hometown; those with an asterisk (*) after their name earned a perfect 4.0 GPA.

West Bend

Abigail Hoffman
Idaho artist Scott Pentzer first had the idea to make a T-shirt that combined the states of Idaho and California in 2014, but didn't actually begin printing it until recently.

"I didn't think it would sell, so it just laid dormant," Pentzer told SFGATE. "But recently I've been talking to people, and I noticed California resentment was coming up in conversations a lot more than it used to."

Pentzer, who lives in Nampa, Idaho (a city 20 miles west of Boise) decided to move forward with his "Idafornia" T-shirts to provide a "humorous social commentary," on the number of Californians moving to Idaho. In 2017, 21,000 Californians moved to Idaho as hundreds of thousands of Californians attempted to flee the state's high cost of living.

The artist shared images of his children wearing the "Idafornia" T-shirts on Facebook, not thinking it would garner much of a reaction.

After just two hours, there were already 200 comments on a post in the Boise Buy Sell Trade Facebook group advertising the shirts.

"I took pictures of my kids wearing [the shirts], and thought nothing of it," he said. "I checked back in a couple of hours, and everyone was fighting each other."

Pentzer said the most vocal people were Idaho natives who thought he was a Californian, and the shirt was designed to celebrate transplants.

"They were angry at Californians, saying, 'F California,' and the Californians were saying 'F you' right back, and called Idahoans ignorant," Pentzer recalled. "I had to tell people I wasn't a Californian, I've lived in Idaho my whole life."

He added that some Californians thought the T-shirt was intended to mock them, and the comment section turned into a "huge brawl."

The Facebook post reached 700 comments within a few hours before it was quickly deleted, but the conversation continued on the Boise Reddit page and other forums.

"It tapped into a nerve or something," Pentzer said. "I know [California transplant resentment] is out there a bit, from some of the stories I heard. But I never knew Idahoans hated Californians that much."

"I know a lot of Californians, and 98 percent of them are great," he later added. "They leave California, they come to Idaho, and make Idaho beautiful."

Pentzer detailed how California transplants are changing the dynamics of Idaho.

"A lot of [Idahoans] don't make a lot of money, and we're seeing housing prices driven up," he said. "But things look nicer so there's good and bad, but more good than bad, I think. But some people liked Idaho little, rural and run-down. Everywhere there were farms there are now shopping malls."

He also shared the story of one person who moved from California and feels unwelcome in Idaho.

"I heard a story from one woman who said she was seeking car service, and had California plates on her car," he said. "She said no one would give her service, even though she had a kid in the car."

This is consistent with the stories of other California residents who have been met with consternation at their new homes.

"I'm sorry there's so much resentment out there and my shirt became a symbol of the clash," Pentzer said. "Maybe it's good for people to figure out their feelings."

Eric Ting is an SFGATE staff writer. Email him at eting@sfchronicle.com and follow him on Twitter

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Chung said the treatment of waste and sewage, and reduction in environmental pollution are major challenges that the city is focusing its efforts on.

Therefore, the city hopes to receive more active assistance from the Japanese Ministry of Environment in the field, he said, adding that Hanoi is willing to partner with the Japanese side to address relevant problems.

For his part, Takaaki Katsumata said his ministry will coordinate with Vietnams Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment to organise the Vietnam-Japan Environmental Week.

A number of workshops and seminars will be held during the week to introduce Japans fuel technology in Vietnam as well as promote investment and connect businesses of countries that are interested in environmental issues, he added.

The vice minister added that within the framework of the environmental week, the two sides will set up a committee responsible for waste treatment and management.

There will also be programmes introducing bilateral cooperation activities, he said.

Chairman Chung said Hanoi put into operation Vietnams first waste-to-energy facility in Nam Son Waste Treatment Complex, Soc Son district, in May 2017.

The factory applies Japans most advanced technology with a waste treatment capacity of 75 tonnes per day.
WASHINGTON  The Department of Veterans Affairs is preparing to shift billions of dollars from government-run veterans hospitals to private health care providers, setting the stage for the biggest transformation of the veterans medical system in a generation.

Under proposed guidelines, it would be easier for veterans to receive care in privately run hospitals and have the government pay for it. Veterans would also be allowed access to a system of proposed walk-in clinics, which would serve as a bridge between VA emergency rooms and private providers, and would require co-pays.

Veterans hospitals, which treat 7 million patients annually, have struggled to see patients on time in recent years, hit by a double crush of returning Iraq and Afghanistan veterans and aging Vietnam veterans. A scandal over hidden waiting lists in 2014 sent Congress searching for fixes, and in the years since, Republicans have pushed to send veterans to the private sector, while Democrats have favored increasing the number of doctors in the VA.

If put into effect, the proposed rules  many of whose details remain unclear as they are negotiated within the Trump administration  would be a win for the once-obscure Concerned Veterans for America, an advocacy group funded by billionaire industrialists Charles and David Koch and their network of donors.

For individual veterans, private care could mean shorter waits, more choices and fewer requirements for co-pays  and could prove popular. But some health care experts and veterans groups say the change, which has no separate source of funding, would redirect money that the current veterans health care system  the largest in the nation  uses to provide specialty care.

Critics have also warned that switching vast numbers of veterans to private hospitals would strain care in the private sector and that costs for taxpayers could skyrocket.

Supporters argue that the new rules would streamline care available to veterans and also prod the veterans hospital system to compete for patients, making it more efficient.

Most veterans chose to serve their country, so they should have the choice to access care in the community with their VA benefits, said Dan Caldwell, executive director of Concerned Veterans for America.

Jennifer Steinhauer and Dave Philipps are New York Times writers.
LOS ANGELES  On Californias freeways, in biker bars and during not-infrequent clashes with other outlaw motorcycle clubs, members of the Mongols are easily identified.

They are the ones in the leather vests and jackets adorned on the back with the distinctive image of a Genghis Khan figure in sunglasses riding a motorcycle beneath the groups name, spelled out in large block letters.

Since the group was formed in the late 1960s, the logo has been a potent element of the Mongols identity, which over the years has included an unmistakable penchant for drug dealing and violence by many members. Only those who have been admitted to the inner ranks of the insular group are allowed to stitch the large patches of the insignia onto their riding apparel. And in the closed-off world of motorcycle clubs, built largely around rivalries and alliances with other groups, the logo is an unmistakable totem.

The ability of Mongols leaders to use their image was dealt a blow Friday when a federal jury in Santa Ana decided the club should be stripped of the trademarks it holds on its coveted logo as punishment in a racketeering case.

The verdict, however, sets up a First Amendment showdown over the right of the clubs members to express themselves.

Last month, at the end of a lengthy trial, the same jury convicted the Mongols motorcycle club of racketeering and conspiracy charges, finding the group shared responsibility for murder, attempted murder and drug crimes committed by individual members.

The verdict allowed prosecutors from the U.S. attorneys office to pursue something they had long sought: a court order forcing the Mongols to forfeit the trademarks as part of its sentence.

The jury returned last week to hear a day of testimony and arguments from prosecutors and the Mongols defense attorney on the forfeiture issue. The panel had to decide whether the logo was linked closely enough to the crimes for which the Mongols organization had been convicted to warrant forcing the club to forfeit the trademarks to the U.S. government.

After two days of deliberating, it decided there was, in fact, a tight nexus between the image and one of the criminal charges the club faced  conspiracy to commit racketeering.

Calling the verdict the first of its kind in the nation, U.S. Attorney Nicola Hanna said seizing the Mongols trademarks would serve to attack the sources of a criminal enterprises economic power and influence.

But the case is not over. U.S. District Judge David Carter declined to immediately order the trademarks forfeited and instead set a hearing for next month to address, among other things, thorny First Amendment issues raised by the verdict.

The governments pursuit of the trademarks is a novel legal strategy, based on the idea that control of the trademarks would not only cut off the stream of money that Mongols leaders collect from selling patches and other merchandise to members but would also empower government officials to stop Mongols members from wearing any clothing with the potent Mongol image.

An effort to bar Mongols members from displaying the logo, trademark experts and constitutional scholars said, would run the risk of crossing constitutional lines set out by the First Amendment, which protects peoples rights to associate freely and express themselves.

Just because youre found to be a criminal, you dont lose your First Amendment rights, said Jeffrey Pearlman, interim director of the Intellectual Property & Technology Law Clinic at the University of Southern Californias Gould School of Law. What the government seems to be trying to do is prevent these people from associating with each other.

It is not the first time concerns over the First Amendment have been raised in the governments pursuit of the Mongols. A decade ago, in an earlier case, prosecutors sought authority to seize clothing bearing the Mongols insignia. A member of the club sued, saying his rights under the First Amendment were at risk, and prevailed.

The plaintiffs hardship in not being able to express his views and public interest in protecting speech outweigh the governments interest in suppressing an intimidating symbol, the judge in that case wrote.

At the forfeiture hearing last week, Joseph Yanny, the Mongols defense attorney, repeatedly told jurors that taking the trademarks from the Mongols would amount to a death penalty for the group. And on Friday, after the verdict, he said in an interview that he would argue to Carter that the jurys decision should be set aside in light of the First Amendment issues.

Individual members of the Mongols, he added, are likely to file their own challenges as well. It should be a cold day in hell when the judge signs that order of forfeiture, Yanny said.

The Mongols were formed in the 1970s in Montebello (Los Angeles County) by a group of mostly Latino men who reportedly had been rejected for membership by the Hells Angels motorcycle gang. It has expanded over the decades to include several hundred members in chapters across Southern California and elsewhere.

The federal government has pursued the Mongols for years, along with several other biker clubs that authorities have identified as outlaw gangs. Despite their claims of being innocent social clubs, the groups, which include the Hells Angels, Vagos and the Outlaws, have long track records of warring with one another and, according to authorities, operate as criminal organizations that subsist on the drug trade.

Joel Rubin is a Los Angeles Times writer.
John Carl DAnnibale / Albany Times Union 2018

Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand of New York has hired several senior aides for an expected presidential campaign, a sign that she is all but certain to join the race against President Trump and that her entry may be imminent.

Gillibrand has recruited Meredith Kelly, formerly the top spokeswoman at the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, to serve as communications director for her prospective 2020 campaign, two people familiar with the decision said. Kelly was part of the team at the House committee that helped the party capture the majority in 2018, overseeing the groups media strategy during midterm elections.
SAN ANTONIO  Julian Castro, a veteran of the Obama administration, joined the 2020 presidential race Saturday as the rush of Democrats making early moves to challenge President Trump accelerates, while anticipation grows around bigger names still considering a White House run.

Im running for president because its time for new leadership, because its time for new energy and its time for a new commitment to make sure that the opportunities that Ive had are available to every American, he told cheering supporters.

Castro, who could end up being the only Latino in what is shaping up to be a crowded Democratic field, officially kicked off his campaign with a rally in his hometown of San Antonio, where he was mayor for five years. The ex-housing secretary became the second Democrat to formally enter race, after former Maryland Rep. John Delaney.

Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts also has started an exploratory committee for president, and four other Democratic senators  including Californias Kamala Harris  are taking steady steps toward running. Hawaii Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, the first Hindu elected to Congress, is planning a bid, too.

Castro, the 44-year-old grandson of a Mexican immigrant, made the campaign announcement at Plaza Guadalupe on San Antonios middle-class west side, less than 200 miles from the U.S.-Mexico border.

Castro is aware he lacks the name recognition of potential 2020 rivals or the buzz surrounding former Texas Rep. Beto ORourke, whose flirtations with 2020 have tantalized donors and activists after a close race last year against Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas.

But Castro, who has repeatedly dismissed talk that an ORourke candidacy would complicate his own chances, has framed the neighborhood and his upbringing as the story of an underdog.

Castro was raised by a local Latina activist. After a brief career in law, he was elected mayor of the nations seventh-largest city at 34. It wasnt long before Democrats nationally embraced him as a star in the making, particularly one from Texas, where a booming Latino population is rapidly changing the states demographics and improving the partys fortunes.

Castro delivered the keynote speech at the 2012 Democratic National Convention. Two years later, President Barack Obama picked him to lead the Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Paul J. Weber is an Associated Press writer.
WASHINGTON  In the days after President Trump fired James Comey as FBI director, law enforcement officials became so concerned by the presidents behavior that they began investigating whether he had been working on behalf of Russia against American interests, according to former law enforcement officials and others familiar with the investigation.

The inquiry carried explosive implications. Counterintelligence investigators had to consider whether the presidents own actions constituted a possible threat to national security. Agents also sought to determine whether Trump was knowingly working for Russia or had unwittingly fallen under Moscows influence.

The investigation the FBI opened into Trump also had a criminal aspect, which has long been publicly known: whether his firing of Comey constituted obstruction of justice.

Agents and senior FBI officials had grown suspicious of Trumps ties to Russia during the 2016 campaign but held off on opening an investigation into him, the people said, in part because they were uncertain how to proceed with an inquiry of such sensitivity and magnitude. But the presidents activities before and after Comeys firing in May 2017, particularly two instances in which Trump tied the Comey dismissal to the Russia investigation, helped prompt the counterintelligence aspect of the inquiry, the people said.

Special counsel Robert Mueller took over the inquiry into Trump when he was appointed, days after FBI officials opened it. That inquiry is part of Muellers broader examination of how Russian operatives interfered in the 2016 election and whether any Trump associates conspired with them. It is unclear whether Mueller is still pursuing the counterintelligence matter, and some former law enforcement officials outside the investigation have questioned whether agents overstepped in opening it.

The criminal and counterintelligence elements were coupled together into one investigation, former law enforcement officials said in interviews in recent weeks, because if Trump had ousted the head of the FBI to impede or even end the Russia investigation, that was both a possible crime and a national security concern. The FBIs counterintelligence division handles national security matters.

If the president had fired Comey to stop the Russia investigation, the action would have been a national security issue because it naturally would have hurt the bureaus effort to learn how Moscow interfered in the 2016 election and whether any Americans were involved, according to James Baker, who served as FBI general counsel until late 2017. He privately testified in October before House investigators who were examining the FBIs handling of the full Russia inquiry.

Not only would it be an issue of obstructing an investigation, but the obstruction itself would hurt our ability to figure out what the Russians had done, and that is what would be the threat to national security, Baker said in his testimony, portions of which were read to the New York Times. Baker did not explicitly acknowledge the existence of the investigation of Trump to congressional investigators.

No evidence has emerged publicly that Trump was secretly in contact with or took direction from Russian government officials. An FBI spokeswoman and a spokesman for the special counsels office both declined to comment.

Rudy Giuliani, a lawyer for the president, sought to play down the significance of the investigation. The fact that it goes back a year and a half and nothing came of it that showed a breach of national security means they found nothing, Giuliani said Friday, though he acknowledged that he had no insight into the inquiry.

The decision to investigate Trump himself was an aggressive move by FBI officials who were confronting the chaotic aftermath of the firing of Comey and enduring the presidents verbal assaults on the Russia investigation as a witch hunt.

A vigorous debate has taken shape among some former law enforcement officials outside the case over whether FBI investigators overreacted in opening the counterintelligence inquiry during a tumultuous period at the Justice Department. Other former officials noted that those critics were not privy to all of the evidence and argued that sitting on it would have been an abdication of duty.

The FBI conducts two types of inquiries, criminal and counterintelligence investigations. Unlike criminal investigations, which are typically aimed at solving a crime and can result in arrests and convictions, counterintelligence inquiries are generally fact-finding missions to understand what a foreign power is doing and to stop any anti-American activity, like thefts of U.S. government secrets or covert efforts to influence policy. In most cases, the investigations are carried out quietly, sometimes for years. Often, they result in no arrests.

Trump had caught the attention of FBI counterintelligence agents when he called on Russia during a campaign news conference in July 2016 to hack into the emails of his opponent, Hillary Clinton. Trump had refused to criticize Russia on the campaign trail, praising President Vladimir Putin. And investigators had watched with alarm as the Republican Party softened its convention platform on the Ukraine crisis in a way that seemed to benefit Russia.

Other factors fueled the FBIs concerns, according to the people familiar with the inquiry. Christopher Steele, a former British spy who worked as an FBI informant, had compiled memos in mid-2016 containing unsubstantiated claims that Russian officials tried to obtain influence over Trump by preparing to blackmail and bribe him.

In the months before the 2016 election, the FBI was also already investigating four of Trumps associates over their ties to Russia. The constellation of events disquieted FBI officials who were simultaneously watching as Russias campaign unfolded to undermine the presidential election by exploiting existing divisions among Americans.

In the Russian Federation and in President Putin himself, you have an individual whose aim is to disrupt the Western alliance and whose aim is to make Western democracy more fractious in order to weaken our ability, Americas ability and the Wests ability to spread our democratic ideals, Lisa Page, a former bureau lawyer, told House investigators in private testimony reviewed by the Times.

Thats the goal, to make us less of a moral authority to spread democratic values, she added. Parts of her testimony were initially reported by the Epoch Times.

And when a newly inaugurated Trump sought a loyalty pledge from Comey and later asked that he end an investigation into the presidents national security adviser, the requests set off discussions among FBI officials about opening an inquiry into whether Trump had tried to obstruct that case.

But law enforcement officials put off the decision to open the investigation until they had learned more, according to people familiar with their thinking. As for a counterintelligence inquiry, they concluded that they would need strong evidence to take the sensitive step of investigating the president, and they were also concerned that the existence of such an inquiry could be leaked to the news media, undermining the entire investigation into Russias meddling in the election.

After Comey was fired on May 9, 2017, two more of Trumps actions prompted them to quickly abandon those reservations.

The first was a letter Trump wanted to send to Comey about his firing, but never did, in which he mentioned the Russia investigation. In the letter, Trump thanked Comey for previously telling him he was not a subject of the FBIs Russia investigation.

The second event that troubled investigators was an NBC News interview two days after Comeys firing in which Trump appeared to say he had dismissed Comey because of the Russia inquiry.

Trumps aides have said that a fuller examination of his comments demonstrates that he did not fire Comey to end the Russia inquiry. I might even lengthen out the investigation, but I have to do the right thing for the American people, Trump added. Hes the wrong man for that position.

Adam Goldman, Michael S. Schmidt and Nicholas Fandos are New York Times writers.
SpaceXs long-stated plans to reach the Red Planet could take a big step forward in February with a hopper test of the companys Mars spaceship prototype.

During next months test, the prototype will launch and briefly go up in the air before coming back down to Earth, CEO Elon Musk revealed last week. But in line with typical Musk timelines, he gave himself a buffer, tweeting recently that four weeks probably means eight weeks, due to unforeseen issues.

The vehicle, called Starship, is being assembled in South Texas, about 23 miles east of Brownsville. It is intended to launch on top of a massive rocket booster called Super Heavy.

Starships planned hopper test is similar to those that SpaceX conducted from 2012 to 2014 with its Grasshopper and F9R test rockets, precursors to its workhorse Falcon 9 rocket.

The 10-story Grasshopper rocket, which was basically a Falcon 9 first-stage booster with one engine and landing legs, completed eight test flights and landings at the companys McGregor, Texas, facility. After Grasshopper, the Southern California company tested the F9R test vehicle, which had three engines and went as high as 3,200 feet in the air before landing back on Earth.

SpaceX has so far successfully landed its first-stage Falcon 9 booster 32 times, either at sea or on the ground.

During the last few weeks, Musk has relied on his favorite medium to release more details about Starships development. In late December, Musk tweeted that Starship would have a stainless mirror finish because the spaceships skin would get too hot for paint. Later that day, he said the spaceship would look like liquid silver because a side would be cooled with cryogenic liquid methane.

Then last weekend, Musk tweeted an illustration of a bullet-shaped stainless-steel spaceship, saying the Starship test vehicle would look similar when finished, though it would obv(iously) have windows.

Starship is intended to carry as many as 100 passengers to the moon and Mars. In September, the company announced that Japanese e-commerce billionaire Yusaku Maezawa would be the first paying customer to travel around the moon on the vehicle. Maezawa has said his flight would occur in 2023.

Musk said the first hopper engine to be fired is almost finished assembly in California and predicted that it would probably have a test fire next month. The engines currently on the prototype are a mix of operational parts and Raptor development  the liquid methane-fueled rocket engine that will power the vehicle.

The company plans to build the Super Heavy booster and Starship spaceship at a 19-acre site at the Port of Los Angeles.

Starship development is not the only project SpaceX has planned this year. This summer, the company is set to launch NASA astronauts to the International Space Station in its Crew Dragon capsule, which would mark the first time NASA astronauts have taken off from U.S. soil since the space shuttle program ended in 2011.

Samantha Masunaga is a Los Angeles Times writer.
LAS VEGAS  The latest gadgets want even greater access to your lives.

This weeks CES tech show in Las Vegas was a showcase for cameras that can live-stream the living room, a bathroom mirror that captures your face to offer beauty tips and a gizmo that tracks the heartbeat of an unborn child.

These features can be useful  or at least fun  but they all open the door for companies and people working for them to peek into your private lives. Just this week, the Intercept reported that Ring, a security-camera company owned by Amazon, gave employees access to some customer video footage.

Youll have to weigh whether the gadgets are useful enough to give up some privacy. First, you have to trust that companies making these devices are protecting your information and arent doing more than what they say theyre doing with data. Even if a company has your privacy in mind, things can go wrong: Hackers can break in and access sensitive data. Or an ex might retain access to a video feed long after a breakup.

Its not like all these technologies are inherently bad, says Franziska Roesner, a University of Washington professor who researches computer security and privacy.

But she said the industry is still trying to figure out the right balance between providing useful services and protecting peoples privacy in the process.

Amazons video feeds: As with other security cameras, Rings can be mounted outside the front door or inside the home to give you a peek, through an app, of whos there. But the Intercept said the Amazon-owned company was also allowing some high-level engineers in the U.S. to view customers video feeds, while others in the Ukraine office could view and download any customer video file.

Ring said some Amazon employees have access to videos that are publicly shared through the companys Neighbors app, which aims to create a network of security cameras in an area. Ring also says employees get additional video from users who consent to such sharing.

At CES, Ring announced an internet-connected video doorbell that fits into peepholes for apartment dwellers or college students who cant install one next to their doors. Though it doesnt appear Ring uses facial recognition yet, records show that Amazon recently filed a patent application for a facial-recognition system involving home security cameras.

Living room live-stream: Its one thing to put cameras in our own homes, but Alarm.com wants us to also put them in other peoples houses.

Alarms Wellcam is for caretakers to watch from afar and is mostly designed to check in on aging relatives. Someone who lives elsewhere can use a smartphone to peek in anytime, says Steve Chazin, vice president of products.

The notion of placing a camera in someone elses living room might feel icky.

Wellcam says video isnt recorded until someone activates it from a phone and video is deleted as soon as the stream stops. Chazin says such cameras are becoming more acceptable because loved ones want to know that the ones they care about are safe.

Just be sure you trust whom youre giving access to. You cant turn off the camera, unless you unplug it or cover it up with something.

Bathroom cameras: French company CareOS showcased a smart mirror that lets you try on different hairstyles. Facial recognition helps the mirrors camera know which person in a household is there, while augmented-reality technology overlays your actual image with animation on how you might look.

CareOS expects hotels and salons to buy the $20,000 Artemis mirror  making it more important that personal data is protected.

We know we dont want the whole world to know about whats going on in the bathroom, co-founder Chloe Szulzinger said.

The mirror doesnt need internet to work, she said. Even if it is connected, all information is stored on a local network. The company says it will abide by Europes stronger privacy rules, which took effect in May, regardless of where a customer lives. Customers can choose to share their information with CareOS, but only after theyve explicitly agreed to how it will be used.

The same applies for the businesses that buy and install the mirror. Customers can choose to share some information  such as photos of the hair cut they got last time they visited a salon  but the businesses cant access anything stored in user profiles unless users specifically allow them to.

Bodily data: Some gadgets, meanwhile, are gathering intimate information.

Yo Sperm sells an iPhone attachment that tests and tracks sperm quality. To protect privacy, the company recommends that users turn their phones to airplane mode when using the test. The company says data stays on the phone, within the app, though theres a button for sharing details with a doctor.

Owlet, meanwhile, plans to sell a wearable device that sits over a pregnant belly and tracks the heartbeat. The companys privacy policy says personal data gets collected. And you can choose to share heartbeat information with researchers studying stillbirths.

Though such data can be useful, Forrester analyst Fatemeh Khatibloo warns that these devices arent regulated or governed by U.S. privacy law. She warns that companies could potentially sell data to insurance companies who could find, for instance, that someone was drinking caffeine during a pregnancy  potentially raising health risks and hence premiums.

Rachel Lerman and Joseph Pisani are Associated Press writers.
Juul Labs, the company behind the insanely popular vaping device, has a message for the nations estimated 37.8 million adult smokers:

It really, really, really cares about them. And it wants them (and only them  got that, teens?) to try vaping instead.

For smokers. By design, blares the San Francisco companys website. A new $10 million TV ad campaign called Make the Switch echoes that theme, featuring testimonials from ex-smokers, all comfortably above the legal smoking age, who have swapped their cigarettes for a Juul.

This benevolent-sounding mission  helping nicotine-addicted adults switch to something far less likely to kill them  is Juuls new pitch, and the way it hopes to rehabilitate its image as one of the Bay Areas most problematic startups.

You cant fault Juul for trying. The company, which is valued at $38 billion, has been through the wringer lately  with regulators, public health advocates and concerned parents accusing it of fueling an epidemic of teenage nicotine addiction by marketing to young people with fruit-flavored pods, colorful youth-filled ads and social media campaigns. It has been sued by users and lambasted by lawmakers, and the Food and Drug Administration, which is investigating whether Juuls marketing practices deliberately targeted underage users, conducted a surprise inspection of the companys headquarters last year. (In November, Juul announced it would shut down its Instagram and Facebook accounts, and stop selling most flavored pods in stores.)

Adding to the concern is that last month, Juul took a $12.8 billion investment from Altria, the tobacco giant behind Marlboro and other popular brands, in exchange for 35 percent of the company.

Now, after making billions of dollars and joining forces with Big Tobacco, Juul is billing itself as a public-health crusader.

Juul is far from the first company to attempt a humanitarian makeover. Facebook, an outgrowth of a Harvard students juvenile attempt to quantify the attractiveness of his classmates, now claims to have been motivated by a virtuous impulse to connect the world; Uber, created by two tech entrepreneurs who wanted to zoom around San Francisco in luxury cars, later tried to convince people that it wanted to provide affordable mobility to the masses.

But in Juuls case, revisionist history is particularly important, because the way Juul markets itself is central to the question of how it should be treated. Many consumers, investors and ethical technologists would rightly shun a company that knowingly targeted minors with harmful products and cleaned up its act only after public pressure. But if you believe that Juul had a noble anti-cigarette mission all along, its easier to excuse its missteps as the product of innocent naivete.

Unfortunately for Juul, plenty of evidence suggests the company didnt always take its public health agenda so seriously.

In 2015, in an interview with the Verge, Ari Atkins, a research and development engineer who helped create the original Juul, said that we dont think a lot about addiction here because were not trying to design a cessation product at all.

He added that anything about health is not on our mind.

In other early interviews, James Monsees, Juuls co-founder and chief product officer, played down the idea of a public health mission.

Were not an activist company, he said in a 2014 interview. If you dont like what were making better than cigarettes, then have a cigarette, thats fine.

In an interview the next year, Monsees called Juuls predecessor, a tobacco vaporizer known as Pax, the dystopian future of tobacco, and said the companys vaporizing technology might someday find a market beyond cigarette smokers.

In a statement last week, Monsees said the company had been forced to be careful about its marketing. Under federal regulations, the company is allowed to bill its device as a switching product for smokers, but not as a smoking cessation tool or a health device. He said that while Juul initiated campaigns in the past that we would not do today, it was always focused on eliminating cigarettes.

Since 2005, we have been focused on creating a product to help people switch away from smoking combustible cigarettes  the number one cause of preventable death in the world, Monsees said. That focus has been clear in the key milestone moments in the creation of the company  it is what we said in our 2005 Stanford graduation thesis and our first fundraising letter in 2007.

Juuls founders did, in fact, talk about improving health as a motivating factor early in the companys existence. In a 2007 email sent to potential investors, Adam Bowen, Juuls other co-founder, mentioned wanting to offer a new alternative for health-conscious smokers. The pairs graduate thesis presentation, done when they were studying at Stanford in 2005, pitches vaping as a healthier substitute for cigarettes.

But the marketing told a different story. Few of the early Juul ads made any mention of cigarettes risks or advocated that smokers switch; most played up vapings cool factor. As recently as 2017, the front page of the companys website said nothing about switching from cigarettes at all, only that the Juul offered an intensely satisfying vapor experience.

Recently, Juul  now equipped with an army of lobbyists and a slick communications team that includes a former White House spokesman  has studiously revamped its image. Glossy profiles have been written about the companys lifesaving mission, and new CEO Kevin Burns has gotten on message, emphasizing the companys focus on adult smokers.

This abrupt about-face has drawn skepticism from critics. Matthew Myers, the president of Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, characterized Juuls new ad campaign as little more than a public-relations effort aimed at lawmakers and regulators.

Juul has engaged in all the traditional tactics of a company that is trying to fend off meaningful regulation, rather than actually change their behavior, Myers said. That is classic Big Tobacco.

For all the hand-wringing, no one is suggesting that Juuls nicotine pods are less healthy than cigarettes, or that the company should stop marketing itself as a smoking alternative. Theres every reason to believe that vaping is significantly less harmful than smoking.

But motives matter. And Juuls shifty self-presentation suggests that the company may not be entirely on the level.

Juul wants you to believe that it became a teenage sensation entirely by accident, that its products were only ever meant for adult smokers and that taking billions of dollars from Big Tobacco is consistent with the values of a company that has always put a priority on health over profits.

The truth is much hazier than that.

Kevin Roose is a New York Times writer.
Steven G. de Polo / Getty Image

Two teenagers were killed Friday evening and four others were injured when their vehicle crashed into a tree in Antioch, authorities said.

The collision occurred about 7 p.m. at the intersection of Lone Tree Way and Indian Hill Drive, said Sgt. Matthew Harger, a spokesman for Antioch police.
DAVIS  Natalie Corona was ambushed. The gunman rode up on a bicycle, inexplicably opened fire, and when Corona collapsed, unloaded his semiautomatic pistol on the young rookie police officer.

The gunman reloaded and then began shooting all around him. He hit a nearby fire truck, a passing bus and a womans backpack. Then he chased a firefighter who showed up to the scene  and shot at him, striking the emergency responders boot.

Thats the account given by Davis Police Chief Darren Pytel in a news conference on Friday night.

Police still are not releasing the name of the suspect, who they say shot himself to death inside a home he lived in near where the shooting took place at 5th and E streets in downtown Davis.

This clearly looks to us like an ambush, Pytel said. Based on how dark it was, we are speculating that she never even saw him.

The attack occurred as Corona responded to a three-car crash at around 6:45 p.m. Thursday.

Witnesses told detectives that Corona was returning the involved motorists drivers licenses when the man opened fire. Her uniform was outfitted with a body-worn camera, but officials said they are unsure if the shooting was caught on video.

The suspect fled from the scene, prompting a large-scale manhunt by multiple law enforcement agencies.

Pytel said police were able to locate the mans residence located at 5th and E streets by materials found inside a backpack that was dropped at some point after the shooting.

The mans roommate later told detectives that the suspect returned to the residence after the shooting  after circling the block at least once while fleeing from police  but did not appear to act out of the ordinary. He even joined his roommate outside to watch police swarm the area searching for the shooter, Pytel said.

When officers finally surrounded the suspects residence, the man walked outside wearing a bullet-proof vest before returning inside the home. When he went back outside a second time, he yelled something at officers and was armed with a semiautomatic pistol. Police did not fire their weapons.

After going back inside the house the second and last time, he pushed a couch against the front door and blocked entry with a dead bolt. Officers heard a gunshot inside the home.

Officers navigated a robot inside the residence and found him dead of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head.

Detectives have not determined a motive in the attack on Corona. She died hours after the shooting at UC Davis Medical Center in Sacramento.

Police did not immediately provide additional details, pending the ongoing investigation conducted by the Sacramento County Sheriffs Office. The California Department of Justice is investigating the mans suicide.

Corona completed her field training just two weeks ago and graduated from the police academy six months ago, officials said.

What really hits us with Natalie is she started with us as a temp employee, Pytel said. She had a personality that was just energizing. She was the most friendly, outgoing, and just wanted to be everybodys friend and she was.

Residents, police officers and local leaders in the college town mourned Coronas death on Friday, dropping bouquets of flowers at the crime scene and tying blue balloons on the branches of nearby trees.

Sarah Ravani and Lauren Hernandez are San Francisco Chronicle staff writers. Email: sravani@sfchronicle.com and lauren.hernandez@sfchronicle.com
In 2014, Donald Trump was the host of a reality show on television. Snapchat was the hottest social media platform around.

Instead of worrying about Russian misinformation on Facebook, everyone was there to perform the Ice Bucket Challenge.

Meanwhile, an elfin organizing expert from Tokyo named Marie Kondo published her book The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up in English for the first time.

I expected a few things to stay with this country after the Obama administration left office. Marie Kondos KonMari organization method  which I tried, with mixed results, three years ago  was not one of them.

Yet Kondos star just keeps rising. The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up was a best-seller that spawned a series of sequels and a worldwide consultancy company. On Jan. 1, she launched her own reality show  Tidying Up With Marie Kondo, an exclusive series on Netflix.

Netflixs publicity team told me that they dont release ratings but that the network was very happy with the reaction to the show. Its certainly been a hit on social media and elsewhere  over the past couple of weeks, Tidying Up has been credited with possibly spiking sales at the Container Store and possibly spiking drop-offs at consignment stores.

Curious about the persistence of the Kondo phenomenon, I started watching it this week. In each episode, Kondo pays a series of visits to a family in the Los Angeles area and gently leads them toward a tidier home through the KonMari method.

Kondo is a sweet, comforting presence. She always cheers a familys progress and never criticizes their shortcomings.

The show also follows a rhythm that I found soothing to watch. Watching a space progress from cluttered to chaotic to neat is the nesting equivalent of The Great British Bake-Off. It allows you to entertain the brief fantasy that domestic rigor can provide you with a direct route to calmness and happiness.

Of course, this is only a fantasy. As weve learned through multiple waves of the feminist movement, it can also be an oppressive trap.

The economic struggles of the past several decades have created another twist. Todays struggling, overworked households have neither the time nor the money to create the idyllic homes they wish they could have. These realities are what creates the tension in Tidying Up. (Like all good reality show producers, these recognize that social sensibilities and family dynamics are far more interesting than the shows presumed subject.)

The grim labor divisions of todays heterosexual families are a recurring theme  the figure of the overburdened mother, weeping over the uselessness of her husband and offspring, pops up over and over again. Kondo never mentions the word feminism, but its there in the way she always comforts the mother and tenderly insists that each member of the household take responsibility for their own space.

While overt discussion of economic stress would ruin the softness of the Kondo mood, it, too, hovers like a storm cloud.

Rachel and the kids are definitely not getting the best of me, says Kevin Friend, the father in the first episode, after complaining about his long work hours and the frustration they create at home.

The third episode, The Downsizers, is about the delightful Mersier family, who are struggling to contain their possessions in reduced circumstances. The show whizzes right past their anxiety.

But then, Kondo is focused on making the best of things. Sometimes thats necessary, too, and to her credit, Kondo keeps returning to a message about possessions that Americans rarely hear: gratitude.

The ultimate goal of tidying is to appreciate what you have, she says.

Its a simple sentiment that Kondo applies to both things and people. Couples can deepen their ties through tidying, she says.

It sounds hokey, but she means it. After watching family after family trash heaps of their useless possessions and come to a greater understanding of each other through what they chose to keep, I started to believe it too.

Kondos message is also a welcome  and potentially radical  one for us to hear in a moment when hate dominates our political atmosphere and our desire for more and more possessions is creating ecological havoc.

Maybe thats the reason why her audience keeps getting bigger and bigger.

With grace, empathy and a deft sense of what not to say, Kondo has found a way to talk about what we need to change about ourselves  before the world changes it for us.

Caille Millner is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: cmillner@sfchronicle.com Twitter:@caillemillner
A homeless man died after an encounter with San Francisco police at a Mission District hospital, prompting an investigation by the Police Department and district attorneys office, officials said Friday.

The man was identified by the city medical examiners office as 31-year-old Christopher Kliment, a transient from Pleasanton who had been living in San Francisco in recent years.

San Francisco police did not elaborate on the circumstance of the deadly encounter and did not say whether the officers used force or restrained Kliment during the incident.

The episode began around 8 p.m. last Saturday when medical staff at California Pacific Medical Center Mission Bernal Campus summoned police officers, who were already at the hospital for an unrelated matter, for assistance with a subject, said David Stevenson, a spokesman for the Police Department.

During their encounter with the subject, the subject displayed symptoms of medical distress, Stevenson said. The officers initiated CPR and summoned medical assistance from the hospital staff.

Kliment was brought into the emergency room for treatment. He was hospitalized and died two days later, police said.

The incident is being investigated by the Police Departments Internal Affairs Division and Homicide Unit along with the district attorneys Independent Investigations Bureau, which investigates all in-custody and use-of-force deaths involving law enforcement.

Officials with Sutter Health, which owns California Pacific Medical Center, said the hospital is cooperating with police in the investigation and referred all other inquiries to police. The Mission Bernal campus, at Cesar Chavez and Valencia streets, opened in August.

Hospital staff said they could not comment on the incident because of patient privacy laws. Kliments family declined to comment Friday. A friend of the family said his parents are aware that his death is under investigation.

Kliment was well known to Bay Area law enforcement. He was arrested as recently as Jan. 3 and booked in San Francisco Jail on suspicion of driving the wrong way on a highway and having an outstanding warrant.

BART police arrested Kliment in March for allegedly throwing his 4-year-old pit bull named Juicy against a wall and repeatedly hitting her at Powell Street Station, officials said.

In April 2015, Kliment was arrested after allegedly brandishing a knife and threatening to kill his parents in Pleasanton, according to a report in Pleasanton Weekly from the time.

Erin Allday and Evan Sernoffsky are San Francisco Chronicle staff writers. Email: eallday@sfchronicle.com, esernoffsky@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @ErinAllday. @EvanSernoffsky
President Trump could get his wall in a minute. All he needs to do is stop calling it the wall.

Politics is the art of ambiguity mixed with sleight of hand.

The wall is a symbol that Democrats cant live with. Even Republicans know that by itself, it wont stop illegal immigration on the southern border. So you rebrand it as border security.

Then you reach into the federal budget for hidden pockets of funding that no one will miss and use it to pay for whatever you like  more guards, more cameras and, yes, even a wall. In strategic places.

Trumps problem is that by taking a vocal all-or-nothing position, hes backed himself up against a wall of his own making.

Unlike conventional politicians, however, Trump has the ability and willingness to reverse himself on a dime and still claim he is moving forward.

If Democrats are really concerned about the federal workers who arent getting paid during this shutdown, theyre going to need to back off as well and give Trump an out.

Most presidents would blink when confronted with the likelihood that theyre causing a financial disaster for hundreds of thousands of people. Trump could double down.

After all, this is a guy who, throughout his business career, has considered bankruptcy a viable option.

Overkill: Inaugurations were once solemn and quick. Now, theyve turned into full-blown rallies.

I attended a half-dozen swearing-ins last week, and all of them opened with an invocation by a minister, followed by a youth choir, followed by far too many speeches.

Gov. Gavin Newsoms swearing-in was the most elaborate. Youd have almost thought he was taking the oath of office as president.

When his 2-year-old son, Dutch, wandered onto the stage and stole the show, it reminded me of what my mother told me years ago: If your child stands up during your speech, its time for you to sit down.

Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis had House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, farmworkers union co-founder Dolores Huerta and former Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm as speakers. Keep an eye on Kouanalakis, the states first female governor lite. Shes already looking to lose the lite part.

For my money, the most heartfelt swearing-in ceremony was Fiona Mas as state treasurer. She held it at the rebuilt Booker T. Washington Community Service Center in San Francisco, a building that now includes 50 apartments for young adults coming out of foster care.

Fat fun: When the break for lunch came on swearing-in day in Sacramento, everyone headed for Frank Fats.

Former Gov. Jerry Brown and San Francisco Mayor London Breed shared a table. Breed spent much of her time lobbying anyone who would listen to support Kimberly Ellis as the next state Democratic Party chair.

Ellis narrowly lost the race for party chair last year to Eric Bauman. Then Bauman had to quit because of a sexual misconduct scandal, so the job is open again.

Judging by how former state Senate President Pro Tem Kevin de Leon was working the crowd at every inaugural event, I think he has his eye on the job as well.

Another first: Congratulations to Norman Yee, the new president of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors.

You can bet Mayor London Breed is going to make a point of inviting Yee and another Asian American officeholder, city Assessor-Recorder Carmen Chu, to every event she attends in the next few months.

Theyll make great photos for the Chinese media and a great pitch for the Chinese vote in this years mayoral election.

Ronen rising: San Francisco Supervisor Hillary Ronens very public attempt to win the board presidency, and her less-than-graceful loss to Norman Yee, made for quite the show.

I cant help but think that Ronens bid was intended to be the first step in a progressive challenge to London Breeds re-election.

New life: After all the inaugurations were done, I spied Jerry Brown standing in the Capitol garage.

What are you doing here? I asked.

Looking for a ride, he said.

I know the feeling.

One minute you have a car and a police escort. Then the minute your successor says I do solemnly swear, all the trappings of the office fall away.

It is one of democracys greatest and most humbling experiences.

But hey, life goes on. Besides, you meet the most interesting people on the bus ride home.

Want to sound off? Email wbrown@sfchronicle.com
The waterfront, from just past the ballpark south almost to 22nd Street, is San Franciscos new coast of dreams. It starts along Terry A. Francois Boulevard with the Mission Bay neighborhood and the new Warriors arena on one side and a view of a mothballed ship repair yard on the other.

Six big, old shipyard cranes stand on the horizon, like a kind of industrial Stonehenge. The shipyard has been closed for nearly two years, but just south, at Pier 70, the bones of a related industrial area are being transformed into something entirely new and different.

When its finished, you will be able to see the past, present and future all in one place, said Jack Sylvan, a vice president of Brookfield Properties Development, which is building a major part of the Pier 70 project.

All this waterfront land belongs to the citizens of San Francisco and is managed by the Port Commission, which leases it out. Nowhere else is it possible to see such a contrast between the old and new San Francisco.

The past is always with us in this city by the bay. The city grew up isolated on the West Coast from the rest of the country. In the Gold Rush year of 1849, Peter Donahue started a blacksmith shop at the corner of First and Mission streets. It grew into a forge, then a foundry, and then the mighty Union Iron Works. In 1884, Donahue moved the operation south to Potrero Point, on the edge of Mission Bay.

The Union Iron Works developed into arguably the largest industrial complex in the West. The first steel-hulled ship ever built on the Pacific Ocean came out of its yard. It built barges, cargo ships, tankers, ferryboats, warships, including battleships, cruisers and two of the first four U.S. Navy submarines. Bethlehem Steel acquired the complex, and as many as 18,000 people worked at the Pier 70 facility during World War II, building and repairing ships.

It was big for years. San Francisco always had a soft edge  an office city, a city of poets and writers  but it had a steel heart. It was a working stiffs town.

Things began to change. Perhaps you noticed. The last big ship to be built in the city was the destroyer escort Bradley, launched in 1965. And then all the commercial ships moved to Oakland.

The repair yard hung on for years, a familiar sight and sound at the foot of Potrero Hill  the blue flash of welders at work at night, the toot of the steam whistle echoing off the hills when the shifts changed.

The city bought the yard from Bethlehem for $1 to keep the blue-collar industry in business. For a while it worked. Even giant cruise ships used the yards dry docks. There were several tenants. British-owned BAE Systems was the last. BAE sold its lease to Puglia Engineering, but the deal went sour and the yard closed  maybe for good  in May 2017.

The port has been looking for a new operator ever since. Gerry Roybal, the ports maritime marketing manager, said the city is in discussions with possible tenants to revive the shipyard.

Im optimistic, he said. I think something will turn up, and well turn a corner in six months or so.

But just south of the old shipyard gates, they really have turned the corner. Twentieth Street has become a historic district, with upscale bars like the Third Rail (cocktails with fresh, seasonal ingredients) and hip restaurants.

The classic red brick 1896 shipyard headquarters building now houses Juul Labs, which makes vapor cigarettes. Up the block, Uber tests advanced technologies in a building converted from a big machine shop.

Not far from there, a company called Gusto has found a new home in an old Union Iron Works building. Gusto provides payroll, HR and benefits services for small, modern companies. Gusto says its mission is to create a world where work empowers a better life. Somewhat different from building ships. The old building retains its industrial bones  like steel girders  but the floor is as highly polished. as an ice rink. Visitors to Gusto are asked to remove their shoes.

The 20th Street historic core is only one part of the Pier 70 project. Just south, crews are at work on Brookfield Developments area. Brookfield acquired Forest City, the former developer, and plans a new neighborhood of 1,500 to 3,000 residential units, more than a million square feet of commercial offices and 9 acres of new parks and open space.

Old buildings will be reused. One is a steel structure that will be turned into a Makers Market, a combination manufacturing and retail space that Brookfields Sylvan calls a funky version of the Ferry Building.

We are not trying to freeze-dry the past, he said.

Carl Nolte is a San Francisco Chronicle columnist. His column appears every Sunday. Email: cnolte@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @carlnoltesf
No matter how many cranes pierce the sky, the most intriguing changes to our urban landscape often involve acts not of addition but subtraction  small tweaks that in turn enlarge the potential of our surroundings.

Such as the removal of a concrete wall from the ground floor of a Chinatown housing tower. Or the discovery of the fire-scarred brickwork that can now be glimpsed behind the bottles lining one wall of a bar on Bush Street.

As different as they are in purpose and scale, theres a similarity in what has been accomplished at the Ping Yuen North complex on Pacific Avenue in Chinatown and the new Sams Tavern on Bush Street at the edge of the Financial District. Each makes big-city San Francisco a bit more intimate, offering nook-like eddies that could be nowhere else.

The most visible transformation of the two is at Ping Yuen North.

The 12-story U-shaped slab was built in the early 1960s by the San Francisco Housing Authority and is now owned by the Chinatown Community Development Center, which hired Gelfand Partners to design a long-overdue upgrade. As part of the effort to modernize and humanize what from day one was bleak, the architects sought to add casual spaces that residents of the 200 apartments could use for gatherings and events.

Gelfand Partners found the solution in an unlikely place  at ground level facing Pacific Avenue. The space had been designed to serve as a bomb shelter, complete with 20-inch-thick concrete walls, solid except for a few slivered openings that would look at home on the guard tower of a prison.

Jessica Christian / The Chronicle

After confirming that the gravel-studded wall wasnt a structural element, what Lisa Gelfand describes as the biggest circular saw youve ever seen was brought in for the deconstruction.

Workers cut an 81-foot-wide, 13-foot-high gap to remove the middle three bays along the base, then inserted glass walls. The interior space, last used for storage, was converted into a light-filled meeting room with a kitchen on one end and a redone lobby on the other. Outside is a new landscaped terrace.

Ping Yuen North now opens onto Pacific, a welcome contrast to the car-filled paved space that was situated between the building and the sidewalk when the entrance to the lobby was on the side of the tower behind a stark metal gate. The terrace has movable chairs and is separated from the sidewalk by bunch grasses and a low retaining wall, part of the larger redo of the exterior spaces by landscape architecture firm SWA.

Were trying to change the interface with the community, Gelfand said. In order to do that, we had to change the attitude of a building that was bunkered and inward-looking.

The overall tower remains overbearing, a cliff-like imposition despite a new paint job that uses blocks of colors to dilute the monotony.

But Ping Yuen North no longer seems so depressingly aloof. Just off busy Stockton Street, Chinatowns hectic commercial heart, theres now a softened hint of daily life that feels almost domestic. Passersby take advantage of the retaining walls to sit and rest. Seniors on sunny days emerge from their apartments to enjoy the terrace, even during the winter.

The sense of connection at Sams Tavern at 368 Bush St. is more subtle.

This offshoot of the venerable Sams Grill fills a narrow storefront that last held a stamp dealer and is entered by ascending three aged terrazo steps from the sidewalk. Your first impression might be the dark woodwork of the bar and floor, or the veritable showroom of flat-screen televisions above them. But the payoff is on your right  a structural wall of bricks that wears a mottled black char.

According to Peter Quartaroli, managing partner of Sams Grill who oversaw the expansion, the walls scars date to the fabled 1906 earthquake and fire. More startling still, nobody knew the wall was there until Quartaroli picked up a 4-pound sledgehammer and started pulverizing the aged plaster that covered it.

Jana Asenbrennerova / Special to The Chronicle 2018

As we cleared away plaster, I couldnt figure out why the bricks were so sooty, recalled Quartaroli, who filled in the backstory with the help of a historian whos also a regular. They really dictated everything we did, designwise, from that point.

Rather than cover the bricks back up or erase history by scrubbing them clean, Quartaroli and his investors smartly chose to honor the past. Excess soot and plaster were removed with soap and water, and the wall was given a light clear seal.

Nothing more. Just right.

The clubby design by Mary Anne Sayler is a nod to tradition as well, with wide-plank oak floors, an oak bar and two counters fashioned from reclaimed redwood. The warm tones are enriched by the back-lit whiskeys and ryes that line several shelves set against the blackened brick wall.

The new bar remains a work in progress. The neon sign that will go above the bay window hasnt yet arrived. Nor has the sandblasted glass for the front door.

As for the abundance of LED screens, Id thin them out. But thats my bias  how many teams besides the Giants and Warriors do you need to watch?  and at least one that was perched above the cash register blocking the brickwork was removed this week.

Again: Subtraction often beats addition.

What I like about each of these projects is how they nudge us to notice elements of our surroundings that we otherwise might miss.

Ping Yuen North places the residential aspect of Chinatown on full view, rather than confining it to fenced-off playgrounds or the laundry strung from upper-floor windows. The masonry at Sams Tavern bears witness that San Franciscos current dramas arent the first ones this tumultuous city has endured.

Neither of these projects is perfect. But they add new strains to familiar settings while also feeling like they belong. In an era where it can seem as if all bets are off, thats no small feat.

John King is The San Francisco Chronicles urban design critic. Email: jking@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @johnkingsfchron
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Mike Olson made his first snowboard at Sylvester Middle School in Burien as a project for his shop class.

Back then -- 1977 -- the industry didn't really exist, he said.

"I was trying to make projects that the teacher had never seen before to get an 'A,'" he said. "Everything I made that year was something I could ride."

His initial design, Olson said, was primitive, but over the years he tinkered with different concepts. In 1984 Olson dropped out of college to become a full-time snowboard maker.

"I quit on my third day of junior year," he said. "I thought, 'The timing's right.' It seemed like a golden opportunity."

A year later, Olson talked his friend Pete Saari into joining him, and together the two built Mervin Manufacturing, a profitable business that now has almost 90 employees and turns out 56,000 handmade snowboards a year.

Mervin is one of just a handful of major snowboard makers that still manufacture in the United States, according to Dave Wray, West Coast field manager for SnowSports Industries America, a McLean, Va.-based trade organization.

"Of those companies that do produce boards in the United States, no one is producing them at nearly the capacity that Mervin is," Wray said.

"Mervin's production technique and technology are completely unique to the snowboard industry."

At Mervin's Seattle facility, a sprawling collection of low-rise buildings near the Ballard Locks in Lower Magnolia, Chris Crittenden, who supervises production, proudly showed off the company's equipment.

"When we started making snowboards, the tools that we needed didn't exist," Crittenden said.

"The sport didn't exist. We built and designed all of our equipment ourselves from the ground up -- the molds, the presses, everything."

During a tour through Mervin's production floor, some of the company's quirks -- and it has many -- are obvious.

For example, the company's employees use bright orange fishing weights to hold the steel edge to the board's base material while the glue dries, rather than using a piece of specialty equipment.

But Crittenden and Saari say the company's quirks help it run more efficiently.

The fact that Mervin has stuck with high-end boards helps make domestic production more affordable, Saari said.

The company's boards, sold under the brand names Gnu and Lib Technologies, retail for between $300 and $499.

Last year, the company began manufacturing a third brand, Supernatural.

The average snowboard sold for $290 at specialty retailers and about $170 at a big chain stores last year, according to SnowSports Industries America.

After spending a few hours with Saari and the Magnolia-based crew -- the company has a second facility near Port Angeles on the Olympic Peninsula northwest of Seattle -- it's clear that Mervin is not your average business.

The company offers its employees, almost all of whom are snowboarders themselves, a package of perks, including free lunch on Thursdays and $200 to use toward a season's pass at a local ski area.

The company has a distinct culture, and it's one that has been recognized by others in the industry, including SnowSports Industries America President David Ingemie.

"These are real passionate people, real fanatical people, in a very positive sense," Ingemie said. "They eat, sleep and breathe snowboarding and making their products."

That passion, and the company's cutting-edge technology, Ingemie said, helped the company survive during the mid-1990s, when many other snowboard makers collapsed.

After Preston-based Ride Inc., which has since been acquired, sold its shares to the public in 1994, snowboarding was suddenly in the spotlight, Ingemie said. He estimates that as many as 400 companies were making snowboards, though he says some of them were small, garage businesses.

In 1997, Mervin sold out to Quiksilver Inc., a publicly traded company headquartered in Huntington Beach, Calif., for $4.4 million and the assumption of some debt.

Still, Saari said little has changed at the company, which also makes skateboards, since the acquisition.

"We approached them because we needed a new financial partner," Saari said. "They've pretty much left us alone. We're a profitable business, and we achieve the things we say that we're going to achieve."

As snowboarders and skiers are getting ready to hit the slopes, Mervin is winding down its production of this year's models.

Saari said the company ships most of its boards between August and November.

At Snowboard Connection, a specialty store in Pioneer Square, owner John Logic says Mervin's boards finish as top sellers every year.

"They have a sublimation process that makes their graphics come out brighter and clearer than any other boards," Logic said. "Their artwork really connects with their customers."

And Logic, who is familiar with the company's management team as well as its products, said Saari and Olson have managed to succeed in the industry even though they've gone against the tide.

"I'll put it this way," he said. "I don't think either Mike or Pete colored inside the lines as children."
In the new year, will South Carolinas abnormally judiciary dilemmas finally disappear in one fell swoop?

With Sen. Lindsey Graham, one of the Palmetto States own, taking over the Senate Judiciary Committee this week, it certainly appears so. Or, at least, thats what one would hope.

Many South Carolinians remain concerned about the continued assault on freedom of speech from local government, social media giants and public universities alike.

In early October, Summerville attorney Tom Fernandez criticized the South Carolina Department of Transportation (SCDOT) by making a satirical video of himself filling potholes with pizzas and commenting on the agencies Facebook page. Following his criticism, Fernandez found himself banned from the SCDOT Facebook page and subsequently filed a lawsuit alleging a breach of his First Amendment rights. Why no one on the Judiciary Committee has yet to call on him, or the many others across the nation who have experienced similar situations, to testify remains to be seen, but as of this month, Graham can make it happen in no time at all.
FLORENCE, S.C.  McLeod Health on Friday honored one America's greatest artists and one of Florence's own by naming one of the main streets into the hospital campus William H. Johnson Street.

"It's so awesome. You know this is where we grew up, all of us grew up in this neighborhood," said Isla Myers, niece of William H. Johnson who was on hand with her brother, William Cooper, for the ceremony.

Myers said she grew up on Cox Street  now a brief portion of a dirt road between Cheves and Palmetto streets.

"When I look around, first I looked down the hill. Every day we would walk up and down these streets every day, walk around Florence city. This is just an awesome opportunity for our family," Myers said of the street naming.

Another brother, Deacon James Henry Johnson, knew his uncle and played a key role in having the street named in William H. Johnson's honor, Myers said. James Henry Johnson died Jan. 7, 2019.

"When you think about William H. Johnson and what he means to American culture, he should be ranked among the top 10 artists, American artists, in our history," said McLeod Senior Vice President Dale Locklair.
FLORENCE, S.C.  Florence One Schools will begin a drone-pilot-certification program in all three district high schools for the spring semester of the 2018-19 school year.

The 16-week program iFly will be embedded in an engineering class at West Florence and South Florence high schools and a coding class at Wilson High School.

During an announcement on Thursday, Florence One Schools STEM director Chris Rogers said the program will provide the students with more work opportunities, as well as open doors to them while in college.

Its just an excellent opportunity for our students, Rogers said.

One day each week, students will learn about drone piloting during their coding or engineering class.

According to a media advisory from Florence One Schools almost 60 students will be able to take the Federal Aviation Administrations (FAA) pilot examination for an unmaned aircraft to receive their FAA remote pilot license.

Chris Williams, the director of partnership development for iFly, said the course will provide students will learn industry specific information behind the drone industry that will prepare them for the exam. After finishing the exam, the program will provide them with internship opportunities, Williams said.
A University of Wisconsin-Madison researcher and his collaborators at the University of California, San Francisco have repurposed the gene-editing tool CRISPR to study which genes are targeted by particular antibiotics, providing clues on how to improve existing antibiotics or develop new ones.

Resistance to current antibiotics by disease-causing pathogens is a growing problem, one estimated to endanger millions of lives and cost over $2 billion each year in the U.S.

"What we need to do is to figure out new weaknesses in these bacteria," says Jason Peters, a UW-Madison professor of pharmaceutical sciences, who developed the new system.

The technique, known as Mobile-CRISPRi, allows scientists to screen for antibiotic function in a wide range of pathogenic bacteria.

Using a form of bacterial sex, the researchers transferred Mobile-CRISPRi from common laboratory strains into diverse bacteria, even including a little-studied microbe making its home on cheese rinds. This ease of transfer makes the technique a boon for scientists studying any number of bacteria that cause disease or promote health.

Peters worked with Carol Gross, Oren Rosenberg and other colleagues at UCSF and other institutions to design and test Mobile-CRISPRi. The system reduces the production of protein from targeted genes, allowing researchers to identify how antibiotics inhibit the growth of pathogens. That knowledge can help direct research to overcome resistance to existing drugs.

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The researchers published their findings Jan. 7 in the journal Nature Microbiology. They took advantage of the increasingly popular molecular tool CRISPR, but in a unique way.

"Most people, when they think about CRISPR, think about gene editing," says Peters, who earned his doctorate at UW-Madison and recently joined the School of Pharmacy as an assistant professor. "But that's not what I do."

Normally, the CRISPR system gets targeted to a gene where it cuts the DNA in two. The gene can be edited while the cell repairs the damage.

But Peters and his collaborators worked with a defanged form of CRISPR known as CRISPRi. CRISPRi has been engineered to be unable to cut DNA. Instead, it just sits on the DNA, blocking other proteins from gaining access to and turning on a particular gene. The result is lower expression of the gene and a reduced amount of the protein it codes for.

The researchers showed that if they decreased the amount of protein targeted by an antibiotic, bacteria became much more sensitive to lower levels of the drug -- evidence of an association between gene and drug. Thousands of genes at a time can be screened as potential antibiotic targets this way, helping scientists learn how antibiotics work and how to improve them.

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To make CRISPRi mobile, the researchers developed methods to transfer the system from common lab models like E. coli to disease-causing species, which are often harder to study. Peters' team turned to one of the natural ways bacteria link up and exchange DNA, a kind of bacterial sex called conjugation. Former UW-Madison Professor of Genetics Joshua Lederberg discovered conjugation, which earned him a Nobel Prize in 1958.

"You basically mix the bacteria together and it happens," Peters says of conjugation. "It doesn't get much easier than that."

Using conjugation, Peters' team transferred Mobile-CRISPRi to the pathogens Pseudomonas, Salmonella, Staphylococcus and Listeria, among others.

"What that means is that you can now do studies on how antibiotics work directly in these pathogens," says Peters. "That could give us a better clue about how these drugs work in the different organisms and potentially what we can do to make them better."

The real test of Mobile-CRISPRi's mobility came from cheese.

As cheese ages, it curates its own landscape of microbes. Scientists are just starting to investigate the immense diversity of bacteria and fungi on cheeses, which contribute to their complex flavors. One of those bacteria, Vibrio casei, was found on the rind of a French cheese in 2010 by Peters' collaborator Rachel Dutton of the University of California, San Diego.

Manipulating genes is simple in established laboratory bacteria such as E. coli, but there is often no way to study genes in bacteria recently isolated from the environment, such as V. casei. But Mobile-CRISPRi was easily transferred into the strain, opening up new avenues for understanding how the bacteria colonizes and helps age cheese. As a proof-of-concept, V. casei suggests that Mobile-CRISPRi should be useful for any number of previously understudied bacteria, both those that harm us and those we rely on.

Now Peters is offering up Mobile-CRISPRi to other researchers to study their germs of choice.

"So now it's going to be completely available to the community," says Peters. "Now this gives people a path forward."

This work was supported by the National Institutes of Health (grants F32 GM108222 and R01 GM102790) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture National Institute of Food and Agriculture Hatch Project NYC-189438.
Fishing for information

USC Aiken fisheries biologist researches fish populations in Caribbean

Since 2011, the Office of Research has invested $20.9 million in internal grants for University of South Carolina researchers at every level, and in every field of study, through a system of merit-based research funding programs. Among the offices chief internal grant programs are the ASPIRE awards, which help faculty develop new lines of exploration and acquire multi-user equipment while also encouraging interdisciplinary research. And the investment pays off  frequently leading to additional external funding and fueling more ambitious research. This story first appeared in USC Times Fall 2018 Issue No. 2.



If youre going to regulate someones livelihood, you first need data to understand whats going on and base those regulations on scientific data.  Virginia Shervette, USC Aiken fisheries biologist

When Virginia Shervette hangs a GONE FISHING sign on her door, its more than an afternoon jaunt. The USC Aiken fisheries biologist investigates the health of commercial and recreational fish populations in the Caribbean basin in hopes that fisheries managers will use the information when developing accurate assessments of which species are being overfished.

She has worked hard to build the trust of sport and commercial fishers whose livelihoods depend on adequate fishing stock and sensible regulations.

They dont think Im trying to come in and shut them down, says Shervette, who used two ASPIRE grants to acquire equipment, supplies and data that enabled publishing her findings. That established her reputation for being able to conduct research on data-poor fisheries species, a skill that has led to more than $1 million in externally funded grants for Caribbean research.

The way fisheries are managed in the Caribbean is super different compared to the U.S. mainland coastal states, where there is a lot more infrastructure to monitor offshore fishing, Shervette says. Theres not a lot of data in the U.S. Caribbean on most of the fisheries species to do the modeling that would determine if overfishing is occurring. So fisheries managers base regulations on best judgment, not actual data.

That lack of data makes it difficult to justify certain regulations to fishers and also leads to misguided perceptions about fishing populations. In St. Croix and St. Thomas, for example, there are seven species of parrotfish commonly caught in commercial fisheries, although some of those species have been overfished in other parts of the Caribbean, according to Shervette, but each species has different life history characteristics that cant be lumped together as if they are one species.

Our data on parrotfishes in the U.S. Virgin Islands show that the populations of all seven species are healthy, so when managers use our data to assess these species, they will most likely determine that they are not experiencing overfishing, says Shervette. If youre going to regulate someones livelihood, you first need data to understand whats going on and base those regulations on scientific data.

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Chandigarh, January 12: Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh on Saturday extended his heartiest greetings to the the countrymen and people living across the globe on the Prakash Purb of Dashmesh Pita Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji. In his message, the Chief Minister said that the Sikh community would always remember the great saint soldier for creating the Khalsa Panth at Sri Anandpur Sahib in 1699, thus promoting the undying spirit of well-being (Chardi Kala) amongst the Sikhs.

The life and philosophy of Sri Guru Gobind Singh ji were a unifying force to bind the entire country in an unbreakable social fabric, said the Chief Minister, adding that Guru Gobind Singh ji's universal message of peace, humanity, love and brotherhood continued to be relevant even in the contemporary national and international scenario.

Captain Amarinder Singh paid his tributes to the Gurus unparalleled contribution to upholding the age-old traditions of secularism, besides safeguarding human rights and ensuring religious freedom, for which he sacrificed everything including his own family.
Chandigarh, January 12: Niel Bhalinder Singh: The Outdoor Advertisement Policy framed by the Local Government Minister, Punjab, Mr. Navjot Singh Sidhu for the economic self dependence of the Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) and according uniform beautified look to the cities, has paved the way for a substantial increased in the income of cities during the first year itself and is a gold mine spelling massive economic boom.

Interacting with the mediapersons here today, Mr. Sidhu said that the Municipal Corporation Ludhiana has under the new policy seen it's income rising by unprecedented 1473 percent in comparison with the previous year. He also said that as per the new policy, the tender was opened yesterday which yielded a windfall of Rs. 27.54 crore to the Municipal Corporation Ludhiana in the first year itself whereas during the previous year sans any the policy this income stood at a meagre Rs. 1.75 crore thus multiplying the increase by whopping 1473 percent.

Besides this, during the previous regime of 10 years, the total income was a mere Rs. 30 crore whereas with the opening of the new tender Ludhiana would be richer by Rs. 289 crores in the coming 9 years which is 800 percent increase in comparison with the previous government. The average annual income would be Rs. 32 crore.

Press Conference of Navjot Singh Sidhu

Divulging more, the minister said that during the tenure of the SAD-BJP government, the 167 cities saw only Rs.11.97 crore coming their way in 2015-16 through outdoor advertisement policy whereas during the present government in 2017-18 this income has risen to Rs. 32.50 crore. He also said that though during the tenure of the present government the income has jumped threefold but still this sector has great potential which would see this increase going further up.

He also added that it was in order to increase the income that a comprehensive outdoor advertisement policy was framed on 21st March, 2018 in the aftermath of which the decks have been cleared for the economic self dependence of the cities. Mr. Sidhu further elaborated that after the new policy, the annual income of Municipal Corporation Moga has increased to Rs. 1 crore from previous Rs. 30 lakh while that of Pathankot increased to Rs. 67 lakh from Rs. 20 lakh.

Similarly, the annual income targets pertaining to Amritsar and Mohali have been set at Rs. 20 crore each and the minimum base price concerning Jalandhar has been fixed at Rs. 18.15 crore. He also informed that in accordance with the policy the target of the income through outdoor advertising in excess of Rs. 150 crore has been fixed in respect of all the 167 ULBs. He also said that the increased income would be spent on the development centric works of the concerned cities which in turn would lead to all the ULBs being self dependent from financial point of view.

Press Conference of Navjot Singh Sidhu

Mr. Sidhu also congratulated the officers of the department for the successful implementation of the new policy. Among others present on the occasion included Principal Secretary, Local Government, Mr. A. Venu Prasad, CEO of PMIDC Mr. Ajoy Sharma, Joint Commissioner of the Municipal Corporation Ludhiana Mr. Kulpreet Singh and the Advisor to Mr. Sidhu Mr. Angad Singh Sohi.
UPDATE 12:20 PM, 1/12/2019: A large area of light to moderate snow has spread over much of the region, edging into the Roanoke Valley. This has already whitened the ground at many locations to the southwest of Roanoke, and some spots may get up to an inch this afternoon. locally 2. The main area of precipitation is still over middle and western Tennessee, and will arrive this evening, with potentially heavy snow and sleet for a few hours. 3-7 inches continues to look like a good general median expectation in the core of the Roanoke Times circulation area -- Rocky Mount, Floyd and Wytheville on the south, Bedford and Smith Mountain Lake on the east, Lexington, Buena Vista and Covington on the north, the West Virginia state line west of New Castle and Pearisburg on the west -- with a little less south and possibly some spots a little more north. There is forecast guidance both above and below these amounts -- everything depends on where and how fast the sleet mix spread this evening and overnight. Travel conditions will deteriorate through the afternoon and evening -- gradually this afternoon, and more rapidly tonight. END UPDATE

UPDATE 7:50 AM, 1/12/2019: Patchy snow, most of it light, is moving across some parts of western Virginia this morning, mostly west and north of Roanoke, but it appears drier air aloft with the cold wedge will east most of this initial phase of the storm, as has been well modeled. So don't be surprised if you see some flakes this morning, but it probably won't amount to much. We may see some pickup in precipitation in the afternoon, with the bulk of the storm arriving this evening. Most forecast guidance points to cold air being just deep enough to support 3-8 hours of mostly to all snow in our region east of I-77, with an encroachment of sleet from the south and southwest overnight, and some freezing rain as well into the southernmost counties and along and just east of I-77. 3-7 inches has been my working range for a couple days, and we'll go with that for now, though it appears likely to be closer to the 3 side south of Roanoke, 3-6 along the U.S. 460 corridor (Pearisburg-Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Roanoke Valley-Bedford-Lynchburg) and northward, with some greater than 6-inch amounts in spots to the north. It is worth noting that one computer forecast model, the North American Model or NAM, is departing from the pack in its early morning run and depicting almost an entirely sleet and freezing rain event from the U.S. 460 corridor southward, with the mix reaching I-64 fairly easily. From a travel impact perspective, whatever we get in whatever proportion will be a mess this evening into Sunday morning, with periods of light snow and some light additional accumulation continuing into Sunday night. From a snow lovers' enjoyment perspective, this is looking like an imperfect sleety snowfall at best, with some chance of an icky, mucky bust if the outlying NAM is on to something. I will be monitoring thermal profiles and correlation coefficients/differential reflectivities on radar through the afternoon and evening to see how it looks like we stand on the snow vs. sleet vs. ice spectrum. END UPDATE
The New River Valley Chapter of the 100+ Women Who Care is pleased to announce it has awarded last quarters donation to Pulaski Grow. With more than $11,000 raised by the members and an additional $5,000 provided by The Secular Societys generous match, Pulaski Grow received a total of more than $16,000 following the October meeting.

Pulaski Grow is a 5013 committed to ensuring NRV youth are job-ready through a training and aquaponics program. Pulaski Grow operates a farm and produce business that supports a hands-on workforce readiness training program for youth to learn what is involved in raising and selling quality organic produce, while growing a skilled and drug-free workforce. Fresh produce is offered year-round to the community through community-supported agriculture (CSA) memberships. To learn more about Pulaski Grow, please visit their website http://www.pulaskigrow.org/.

Director Lee Spiegel stated that through the generous act of giving from this amazing organization, our youth training and aquaponics program will continue the mission of helping youth to be job-ready and hopefully productive members of our community. These fundswill [also] fund an alternative energy project in conjunction with a senior design team for Virginia Tech to supply heat and begin construction on the next phase of growing and training infrastructure.
BEDFORD  Jenny Shutt said it is a simple equation: A fed child is a learning child.

Proper nutrition is vital for growing bodies and learning minds, Shutt said Thursday night during a meeting of Local Action Against Student Hunger (L.A.A.S.H.). In order for our students to be successful we must provide them with the building blocks for that success. One of those building blocks is nutritious food.

Shutt  whose son is a student in Bedford County  said some students there do not always have access to a hot breakfast or lunch due to policy changes school divisions in Virginia have made regarding school cafeterias.

The current program runs more or less like a restaurant, Shutt said. The nutrition program is expected to pay for itself and be profitable. It must pay for all staff, food, supplies and repairs to equipment. The program receives no local tax funding or funding from the school system and funds are generated from the sales that are made each day in the school cafeterias.

Shutt said according to the current policy, a student that does not have money in their lunch account can charge up to three hot meals. After that, the hot meal is replaced with an alternate cold meal that usually consists of a sandwich and other items.
James Hardie Industries has trimmed about 30 jobs from its Pulaski factory, the Australia-based company confirmed Friday.

The layoffs occurred after a regular review of staffing needs, a company spokesman wrote in an email.

Decisions, like this one, that affect individuals and their families are never easy and this was not one we took lightly, the spokesman added.

After the cuts, the company still employs more than 300 workers in the town.

James Hardie first announced a plant in Pulaski to manufacture fiber-cement building materials  such as siding for houses  in 2005. At first, the company promised to hire 200 workers.

But by the time the company announced an expansion in 2014, employment had swelled closer to 400. James Hardie promised that year to invest $25 million into the facility and to hire 69 new employees.

The more recent slump comes as James Hardie is in the process of a leadership change.

The companys 13-year CEO, Louis Gries, announced in September that he would step down and Jack Truong would take over as CEO.

In the meantime, the companys stock price has fallen more than 25 percent over the past year.
The first major sign of trouble came May 21, when state inspectors were called to Franklin County after heavy rains triggered a landslide on a steep construction zone, covering nearby Cahas Mountain Road with nearly a foot of mud.

About 100 yards south of the pipeline right of way, inspectors found a stream with a layer of sediment 1 to 11 inches deep, extending for more than 1,000 feet. In the coming months, similar discoveries were made along other streams in the Roanoke and New River valleys.

For months, pipeline opponents have been calling on state and federal officials to order a stop to construction.

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, the lead agency overseeing construction, issued a stop-work order last summer after a federal appeals court struck down a permit from the U.S. Forest Service that allowed the pipeline to cross through the Jefferson National Forest.

But construction on most parts of the pipeline was allowed to resume a month later. Since then, a second court ruling has put a stop to all work on stream crossings until new permits are issued by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

In a recent letter to FERC, Giles County resident Steven Hodges asked why there had been no mention of the states lawsuit in filings with the regulatory agency.
NOTE: Alejandro Escovedos show set for Harvester Performance Center on Sunday night has been reset to May 15. UPDATE: Don Antonio will not be his backing band on the rescheduled show.

More than six years have passed since rocker Alejandro Escovedo played in Southwest Virginia. It was 2012 at Kirk Fest, outside the old Kirk Avenue Music Hall (now The Spot on Kirk). He had played the music hall the year before.

These days, the guy who booked those shows, Gary Jackson, is general manager at Harvester Performance Center, in Rocky Mount. He booked Escovedo, whose early days in the punk world inform his often Americana-leaning later work, for a Sunday show.

Escovedo hits the venue with an Italian band called Don Antonio, with which he collaborated on his latest album, The Crossing, released in September to as much fanfare as he has received in recent years. Don Antonio was supposed to be his backing band for a European tour, but they hit it off so well that he brought the group back to the states, and collaborated on the new album with the bands Antonio Gramentieri, according to Rolling Stone magazine.
Prosecution implements all five in Playa del Carmen bar shooting

Playa del Carmen, Q.R.  Five people arrested for the murders of seven in a bar shooting in Playa del Carmen earlier this month have been found linked to the crime.

A Playa del Carmen judge reportedly found sufficient evidence was provided by the prosecution to hold all five detainees on charges of homicide. The evidence provided by the Attorney Generals Office implicates Jose N, Luis N, Jorge N, Ricardo N and Edgar N.

In a public statement, la Fiscalia General del Estado says the five will face criminal proceedings for qualified homicide as well as drug charges for the possession of cocaine.

The judge granted the five detainees justified preventive detention for a term of no more than two years or the duration of the process, while the social representation granted two months to close the complementary investigation.

On January 6, seven people were gunned down inside a Playa del Carmen bar. The deceased have been identified only by their initials, IGLG, YEPA, JLUP, JVDJ, RND, LGSM and ECB. The attack occurred inside Las Virginias bar when five people opened fire.

Six died on scene, while the seventh died in hospital.
Cozumel skipped after norovirus outbreak on Oasis of the Seas

Cozumel., Q.R.  The island of Cozumel was left off the itinerary after a norovirus outbreak on a Royal Caribbean ship sickened almost 500 of its passengers.

Oasis of the Seas of Royal Caribbean had to suspend its voyage through the Caribbean after hundreds became ill due to a norovirus outbreak. The ship was forced to head home early after nearly 500 of its 8,000 passengers fell ill.

A spokeswoman for Royal Caribbean said that as of Friday, nearly 500 had become infected, a large swell in numbers from the initial 277 that were diagnosed only one day before. She reported that the last figure was 475 sick passengers.

Reports say that passengers began feeling sick after the ship departed from Port Canaveral in Brevard County, Florida on Sunday. Oasis of the Seas was scheduled to travel through the Caribbean including Cozumel, however, the cruise has been cut short as the ship is set to return to Florida today.

The cruise ship, which was coming from Jamaica, was expected in Cozumel Friday before returning to Florida Sunday. The company says all of the ships passengers will be refunded due to the outbreak.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, norovirus is a type of gastrointestinal illness and is very contagious, easily caught from infected people or by touching contaminated surfaces or eating or drinking contaminated foods.
City council to create regulations saying rave parties not part of Tulums image

Tulum, Q.R.  Members of Tulums city council says the rave parties held in the town do not fit with the tourism image of Tulum, adding that they are working on regulating these types of activities.

The director of tourism, Eugenio Barbachano Losa, say that the electronic music festivals that have gone hand-in-hand with Tulum in the past are not compatible with the type of tourism they promote for the town.

He says it is for this reason they are going to work on regulating these types of activities.

He explained that the raves began in December, having obtained their permits from the previous administration. He says that these parties have generated a lot of conflict between tourists and businessmen pointing out that the parties generate a lot of light and noise in the natural jungle environment.

With these festivals came a tourism that we had never seen before in Tulum, he said. Our tourism is barefoot luxury, one of the most expensive on the planet and unique in Mexico.

Barbachano Losa says that festivals approved to be held inside the national park are questionable, explaining that that area is managed by Fernando Orozco, director of the park of the National Commission of National Protected Areas (Conanp).

It is counterproductive and illogical to have thousands of people at a festival of lights and sounds in an area where the species are supposed to be protected. As usual, Fernando Orozco manages the park at his whimhe is a harmful presence for Tulum, he said.

Barbachano Losa says they will work with the city to create the necessary regulations to limit these types of activities, that he adds, are more typical for other destinations in the state, but not Tulum.

In January 2, the body of an unidentified man was found in the Zamna Cenote south of Tulum. The night before, the cenote was host to a large New Years Eve rave party.
After another night in the 20s for Richmond, Wednesday's sun will bump the highs close to normal in the mid 40s. A cold front will pass through, but it will be a dry one.

Thursday will remain chilly beneath a mix of sun and clouds and highs in the mid 40s.

We could make it back to the 50s on Friday once winds come back in from the south. That will also bring in our next chance for rain. If it comes in early while temperatures are still cold, we could see some snowflakes before a switch to rain. At this time, it doesn't look like a significant snow threat for the area.

Weekend forecast

A robust low pressure system will track from the Tennessee Valley to the Northeast and deliver quite a bit of rain to Virginia from Saturday night into Sunday.

Though Saturday could bring some mild 50s or 60s to the region, a bigger cold snap will move in right on the heels of the low pressure.

Wintry weather can't be ruled out next weekend if that moisture mixes with arriving cold air, but uncertainty is high at this point.

Beyond that, below normal temperatures are favored for much of the Eastern U.S. during the final two weeks of January.

Whether the snow and ice was a hit or a miss for your neighborhood over the weekend, it seems there's still a lot of winter left.

Check Richmond.com/weather for John Boyers videos and forecast updates. Contact him at JBoyer@timesdispatch.com.
Nguyen Van Binh, who is Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Central Committee and head of the CPV Central Committees Economic Commission, made the statement at the meeting with Ambassador Xiong Bo in Hanoi on January 10.

The Vietnamese Party official congratulated Xiong Bo for being appointed as the new Chinese Ambassador to Vietnam. Politburo member Binh expressed his belief that, with a lot of experience and enthusiasm, the Ambassador will definitely fulfill the tasks entrusted by the Party and Government of China, contributing to fostering the traditional friendship and comprehensive cooperation between the two Parties and two countries.

He noted that the regular exchanges and substantial cooperation between the two Parties and two countries are of significant importance amid the complicated developments in the region and the world.

The host affirmed that the CPV Central Committees Economic Commission is willing to cooperate with the Chinese Embassy to boost the bilateral relations between the two countries.

Chinese Ambassador to Vietnam Xiong Bo also asserted that the Party, Government and people of China attach great importance to relations with Vietnam. He expressed his wish that senior leaders of the two countries will continue to direct ministries, sectors and localities to strengthen exchanges and cooperation for mutual political trust and healthy and stable bilateral relations in the future.
If he wants to heal broken hearts and bruised souls, Trump can start by owning up to his inhumane policy of punishing migrants and refugees by kidnapping their children.

South of the border, this is a familiar story. Kids are often snatched to encourage parents to pay debts or commit crimes. But, it turns out, the narcos have nothing on the Trump cartel.

The president packed an hours worth of fear into about 10 minutes of air time. Although, he didnt offer anything new.

He demanded that House Democrats give him what House GOP budget hawks refused to give him for two years: $5.7 billion to pay for new barriers along a portion of the border.

He also wants additional funding for the latest technology, more Border Patrol agents, new immigration judges, and some humanitarian relief for refugees and migrants.

The big-ticket item is what Trump promised supporters would be a big, beautiful wall paid for by Mexico, which now wont be big, beautiful, or paid for by anyone but U.S. taxpayers.

Talking about how wealthy people have walls and fences around their homes, Trump said: They dont build walls because they hate the people on the outside, but because they love the people on the inside.
It is not a mere coincidence that all the talk about multiple Americans is occurring at a time when there are profound disagreements about the persuasiveness of the reasoning that informs the Declaration. Appeals to nature as a standard for assessing human behavior are dismissed by some persons as quaint or old-fashioned and by other persons as dangerous.

The argument that Jeffersons reasoning is dangerous, the most troublesome source of division among Americans, arises out of the conviction that appeals to nature stand in the way of progressive policies and specifically the right of Americans at any given historical moment to decide for themselves what it means to be an American.

Significantly, it is not possible to challenge the credibility of the natural rights reasoning of the Declaration without also challenging the reasoning that supports the Constitution of the United States  the Declaration and Constitution are rooted in fundamentally similar reasoning. The reasoning of the Declaration, for example, points to the connection between human freedom (as well as human happiness) and limited government, while the Constitution sets out the framework for a limited government.
Without stable shelter, everything else falls apart, writes Matthew Desmond in his Pulitzer Prize-winning book, Evicted. So true. Imagine trying to hold down a job and focus on the tasks at hand, while not knowing where you will sleep that night and in what conditions. Imagine raising your child in a car rather than a home. Imagine making a monthly choice between paying the rent, paying the doctor, or putting food on the table.

For thousands of Virginians, these scenarios require no imagination; they live this reality every day. In March of 2018, researchers at Princeton University released data indicating that of Americas large cities with the highest rates of eviction, five were located in Virginia. The city of Richmond had the second highest rate of evictions in the country, followed by Hampton at No. 3, Newport News at No. 4, Norfolk at No. 6, and Chesapeake at No. 10. The commonwealth did not fare much better when it came to its midsize cities, placing three in the top 10; with Petersburg, Hopewell, and Portsmouth ranking second, fourth, and fifth, respectively.
On Wednesday, the Virginia General Assembly gaveled its latest session  400 years after its first. Happy anniversary to the oldest continuous lawmaking body in the Western Hemisphere. The first assembly, then the House of Burgesses, met in a church at Jamestown in 1619. Guidance from the Virginia Company of London instructed the body to introduce just Laws for the happy guiding of the settlements people. The new legislative body proved a very successful experiment in self-governance based on democracy and the rule of law.

The 2019 General Assembly has a full agenda. Among a wide range of issues expected to dominate this years session, legislators will have a clear opportunity to expand freedom and reduce discrimination in the commonwealth. The Assembly will once again consider legislation to provide protection from discrimination in housing and public employment to Virginians who are part of the LGBT community. These are libertarian measures that should appeal to everyone who values fairness and individual liberty. The bills seem likely to pass the Senate and the House this year  if they are able to make it to the House floor for a vote. The governor appears certain to sign them. A handful of Republican House members, including several from Virginia Beach, may decide the fate of this legislation. If the bills make it out of committee, they will become law, as is right and proper.
It also proposes to manage a cemetery on the CVTC grounds in return for a lower lease cost as long as it is agreed there will be no new burials on the site, documents state. Horizon does not anticipate any major renovations to the five buildings and would modify a residential buildings kitchen to add cooking stoves.

The project would assist in providing services to current CVTC residents and bring additional services and supports to individuals in one centralized location, according to the proposal.

Martha Bryant, an Amherst County resident whose late son, Tyler Bryant, was removed from CVTC in January 2017, said she always is hopeful the center where he lived for most his life has a future. Tyler was forced out of the facility, Bryant said, and died more than a month later in a Richmond hospital at age 23.

Her other son, Taylor, is currently at Hiram W. Davis Medical Center in Petersburg, where she said the family celebrated his 25th birthday last week.

I would love Taylor to come back, said Bryant, adding the five buildings Horizon proposes to lease have plenty of capacity.
MANASSAS  Alexis Botto didnt meet her sisters ex-boyfriend until the funeral. Christopher Sorensen was the one who, for the first year Jeanette was using heroin, pushed needles into her arm because she was afraid to do it herself. He had forged a check in her fathers name to pay for drugs and hid out in their house to avoid a warrant.

But when she died a little over two years ago at age 24, Jeanette had bought the drugs herself. She was alone in her bedroom at her familys suburban Virginia home when she injected what she thought was heroin into her vein.

It was fentanyl, and she died almost instantly, although no one knew until her father found her bloody and cold three nights after Christmas in 2016. Down the same staircase police had once led her boyfriend in handcuffs, Jeanette was carried in a white body bag.

The Bottos invited Sorensen to the funeral, thinking it would be a wake-up call  that, as her cousin Krystal Botto put it, changing the man she loved could be the sacrifice of her life.

He was just an average-looking man, Alexis Botto recalled in Alexandria federal court in December. The true monster was the heroin.
Jennifer Boysko, D-Fairfax, was sworn in on Friday as a state senator, succeeding fellow Democrat Jennifer Wexton, who was elected to Congress in November. The addition of Boysko, who won a special election on Tuesday, means the Senate continues to have 21 Republicans and 19 Democrats.

Speaker of the House Kirk Cox scheduled the special election for Boyskos House seat for Feb. 19, four days before the legislature is to adjourn. With Boyskos departure, the House will have 51 Republicans and 48 Democrats for most of the session.

Boysko, first elected to the House of Delegates in 2015, praised her House colleagues Friday in a farewell speech. She recalled that in orientation, she was told that some delegates have sharp elbows.

Luckily, I have older brothers who put me through my paces when I was a kid, practicing karate on me, so I feel like I was able to handle that, but I also want to acknowledge the big hearts that everyone in this room has, Boysko said.

I know that each of us are here to serve Virginia and our communities, and it has been my great honor to be here with you all in this oldest [governing] body in the Western Hemisphere.

Del. Charniele Herring presented a brief tribute to Boysko, and delegates gave Boysko a standing ovation.
Ronald Gray was unconscious and not breathing when two Richmond police officers found him lying in the parking lot of a 7-Eleven in South Side.

On Friday, 16 months later, the Smithfield man visited Richmond Police Departments 2nd Precinct to thank the officer who saved his life. The department's public affairs team captured the reunion and posted photos of Gray hugging officers Robert Taylor and Kevin Knudsen on social media. Gray was joined by his wife and his brother.

Officers Robert Taylor and Kevin Knudsen perform CPR on Gray back in 2017, bringing him back to life shortly before Richmond Fire & EMS crews arrived to the scene off Jefferson Davis Highway.

"According to fire personnel, Gray would likely not have survived without the quick actions of these officers," the department said in its posts.

The officers received a Richmond Life Saving Award for their response last year, but Friday was the first opportunity they had to talk to Gray since the incident, the department said.
A former Patrick Henry High School science teacher was sentenced to serve two years in prison on Friday on an indecent liberties conviction involving a student.

Miranda Nicole Pauley, 35, of Hanover County, pleaded guilty in October to four counts of taking indecent liberties with a minor while serving in a custodial role. Pauley also pleaded guilty to a charge of using a communications system to solicit a minor. The former teachers pleas were part of a deal with prosecutors under which she would serve two years in prison.

Judge Herbert C. Gill Jr., a substitute judge in Hanover Circuit Court, formally accepted the plea agreement at a brief court hearing on Friday.

Gill sentenced Pauley to serve five years behind bars on one of the indecent liberties charges but suspended three years of that sentence, leaving the two-year active term. Gill sentenced Pauley to 20 years on the remaining four charges but suspended all 20 years for those remaining charges.

This is a most difficult case, the judge said before issuing the sentence.

James C. Driggs, Pauleys defense attorney, provided the court with a half-dozen letters of support for the defendant from family members and others who wrote that Pauley has taken responsibility for what happened and has shown remorse.
The second time, he took a bullet in the arm and was treated in a field hospital for a few weeks.

Back then when you are 21 years old and you have trained as a marine, you cant wait to get back into action because you want to be with your buddies, he said.

In the third incident, a booby trap again went off, but Ashmore was the only one hit by shrapnel. In that incident, the wound itself wasnt serious, but infection set in and laid him up for about a week.

Each time he was awarded a Purple Heart, it was while he was in the hospital, Ashmore said. While he doesnt remember exactly how he felt at the time, Ashmore remarked it wasnt an award he would have hoped to receive at the time. Looking back though, his memories of that time are still strong.

It has been over 50 years for me being out of there but you still have feelings and thoughts about it. There is not a day that goes by that I dont think of something that reminds me of my time there, he said.

Now that the local proclamation has been issued, Ashmore said the Purple Heart chapter will organize a more formal presentation. He hopes many local veterans, especially those who have received the Purple Heart, their families, and community members will attend.
WASHINIGTON -- Congressman Troy Balderson (OH-12) sent a letter Friday to Chief Administrative Officer of the U.S. House of Representatives, Philip G. Kiko, requesting his paycheck be withheld for the duration of the ongoing partial government shutdown.

The Republican representative shared the following letter with Richland Source:

Jan. 11, 2019

The Honorable Philip G. Kiko

Chief Administrative Officer

U.S. House of Representatives

HB-28, The Capitol

Washington, DC 20515

Dear Mr. Kiko,

I am writing to request that my pay be withheld during the partial government shutdown until an appropriations agreement that fully funds the federal government has taken effect.

Securing the United Statess southern border is of the utmost importance in safeguarding our nations citizens. As an elected representative, Americans safety and wellbeing must be at the forefront of my decision-making. Concurrently, the effects of the partial lapse in funding have begun to negatively impact the lives of Americans across the country, including in my home of Ohios Twelfth Congressional District. Many of my constituents are fellow public servants whose pay is being withheld. As their Representative in Congress, I cannot accept pay while they go without.

Please feel free to contact my office at (202) 225-5355 with any additional questions you should have. Thank you.

Sincerely,

Troy Balderson

Member of Congress
MADISON TOWNSHIP -- Madison Comprehensive students are more safe than ever thanks to the employment of deputy Bryce Ernsberger as the district's new school resource officer.

It's a job the 24-year-old deputy considers his most meaningful position yet.

"As a deputy sheriff, that was a pretty meaningful job, but now it's protecting kids," Ernserger said, "and being here for them."

Ernsberger's first day on the job was Thursday, Jan. 10 -- shortly after Sheriff Steve Sheldon and Madison Schools Superintendent Lee Kaple announced his appointment as the first SRO assigned to a county school.

"Deputy Ersnberger is a graduate of the NC State Police Academy and has done a great job carrying out his patrol duties, having the highest activity in the uniform division." Sheldon said. "This will be a huge responsibility with a student population of over 3,000 students.

"I support Bryce in his new endeavor. Crestview and Lucas superintendents were impressed with the process and are in hopes of adding an SRO for their school districts in 2019."

In this role, Ernsberger is responsible for being a presence in all the districts' buildings and building a positive relationship with students, high school principal Rob Peterson said.

Ernsberger will be the acting liaison with other law enforcement and will be asked to present information to students at assemblies.

"I enjoy being a leader," Ernsberger said. "This is a good way to impact student's lives and not just going call to call to call -- not always having time to impact their lives."

Peterson said his experience with Ernsberger makes him believe the new SRO will do well in his new position.

"He has been in and around the high school on a few occasions," Peterson said. "I think he has conducted himself in a professional manner and has a good way of connecting with students."

Peterson said having a law enforcement presence in the district is vital for a positive learning community.

Madison has agreed to pay 100 percent of the deputys salary while assigned to the school. Richland County Commissioners will pay for the deputys wages when he is not assigned during the summer months -- when he will return to patrol. The position pays a salary of $43,831.20. The new SRO said because he is in a new position, there is no way to know of the effect on safety for the school district or buildings, but he expects less incidents to happen and less charges to be made with his presence. "It's a big responsibility, there are almost 3,100 kids in the six buildings. That's a lot of kids to talk to and more teachers, principals and administrators to deal with as well," he said. "I think we'll see the number of kids charged now that they'll see me here. I'm 30 seconds away instead of dealing with another call and it might be half an hour before I can get here. I think (students) are going to know to keep in it check." Ernsberger has been with the Richland County Sheriff's department for 1 1/2 years. He graduated from Mansfield Christian High School in 2013 and later from the police academy at North Central State College. Ernsburger said he's wanted to be in law enforcement since he was a child. "Same reason, to impact people's lives," he said. "I've wanted to do this since I was a little kid. So, here I am."
I remember as a kid, reading about how our town got the name Mansfield, and being somewhat underwhelmed that it was named after a guy who never even set foot here. And the history went on to say that it was given that name by the founders of the town because Mr. Mansfield was their boss.

So it seemed likely to me they were simply schmoozing for more work, and the whole Mansfield element of our being was rather random.

But then one day I started researching the man, and came to discover that Jared Mansfield was actually an amazing person, and that fate and history had combined quite appropriately to memorialize him on the US map.

And we can be very proud to wear his name.

The Founding Fathers

When you think of all those immortal names from American history who shaped the founding of our nation and its government, you will find them clearly memorialized in the ongoing government of Richland County. We have townships for Washington, Jefferson, Franklin, Madison and Monroe.

Behind every one of those great men, there were dozens of brilliant and talented people upon whom they relied for guidance, support, and the implementation of their ideals.

One of these talented individuals, starring in a supporting role, was Jared Mansfield. He had no pretensions to politics or leadership, but he came to know most of these founders. He was particularly friendly with Thomas Jefferson.

Jared Mansfield had no particular aspirations to inspire history: he lived a humble life in his community as a teacher. He had a mind that never quit however, working the angles of math, and while he earned his living at a school in New Haven CT, he wrote a series of Essays, Mathematical and Physical.

Jefferson got a copy of Jared Mansfields book, and kept it in his library; and he admired the scholar so much, he asked him to take a major role in the unfoldment of Americas western destiny and growth.

Think for a moment about what a brilliant man Jefferson was, and how his reputation in early colonial America characterized him as a ceaseless scholar, a dedicated scientist and man wholly devoted to logic; how he had already met all the greatest minds of his generation on both sides of the Atlantic; and then read what he called Jared Mansfield after he read Mansfields Essays: a masterful intellect, praising the clarity of logic he evinced, a mind of most orderly dimensions.

Jefferson was a fan. At the end of his life, he was still writing to Mansfield, I assure you of my great & continued esteem & respect.

The Man and his Field

So this is the string of events that led to us being Mansfield, Ohio:

Thomas Jefferson was President, and he had recently acquired a half-billion acres of the North American continent where the United States was about to expand.

The first, most critical step in getting this land into the hands of American farmers, was to have it all surveyed, mapped, platted and defined.

He had inherited a Surveyor General from previous administrations when he took office in 1801, but that surveyor was having problems drawing straight lines across the landscape. It was a huge headache for the new nation because property claims were so unclear, it was costing the federal government millions in lawsuits.

Jefferson knew the absolute authority on drawing Earth lines was Jared Mansfield, because he had read Mansfields book.

So he asked Mansfield to step into the role of Surveyor General.

Empirical, Spherical Logic and GPS

The problem for surveyors graphing huge swaths of the continent, was that they needed to draw a nice flat map in a plat book with nice squared lines, but the Earth upon which they took their measurements and drove their stakes, was neither flat nor square. The planet is a sphere, and as you draw parallel lines south to north across the continent, these lines spread farther apart at the south and bunch up in the north.

If youre making squares on a sphere, they dont fit together right.

Jared Mansfield was a born mathematician. He had a genius for describing a sphere in numbers, angles, tangents; and he understood innately how to deal with all the difficulties inherent in defining squares on a round surface. One of his Essays covered navigating the oceans by using only the curve of the planet, the stars overhead, and basic equations. To him, it was simple math: a few lines on paper with a table of numbers, and he could locate anywhere on Earth.

So, with Jeffersons blessing, Jared Mansfield literally wrote the book on surveying America.

As Surveyor General, he created the instruction plan for surveyors in the field, and it worked so well it became standard practice for the entire western expansion, clear to the Pacific coast. Then he hired the chain-men and map-makers who went out into the wilds of Ohio and Indiana.

Mansfield was the one who hired James Hedges and Joseph Larwill to survey the hills of Ohio that were to become Richland County.

When Hedges & Larwill founded a town in the wilderness, they named it after the man who was not merely their boss, but also their mentor, their hero: the man who they admired most, because he forged their way through the wilderness with only the power of his mind.

Its not often that the hero of the story is a quiet math nerd, but in this case, it is absolutely true. The proof stretches from here all the way to the Pacific Ocean.
Swarthmore, PA (19081)

Today

A mainly sunny sky. High 78F. Winds NW at 10 to 15 mph..

Tonight

Clear to partly cloudy. Low around 55F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph.
The Unites States has welcomed the decision by Macedonia's parliament to approve a constitutional amendment that renames the country the Republic of North Macedonia.

In a statement released on January 12, U.S. Secretary of State Michael Pompeo said that "Macedonias leaders demonstrated vision, courage, and persistence in their pursuit of a solution to the name dispute, which will allow Macedonia to take its rightful place in NATO and the EU as the Republic of North Macedonia."

The United States sees this as a "historic opportunity to advance stability, security, and prosperity throughout the region," the statement added.

The name change will help resolve a decades-long dispute with neighboring Greece -- opening the way for Skopje to join NATO and the European Union.

In a parliamentary session on January 11, 81 deputies in the 120-seat parliament voted in favor, securing the required two-thirds majority.

It came after three days of negotiations between Prime Minister Zoran Zaev and lawmakers that opposed the change.

The governments of Macedonia and Greece both struggled to secure the political support required to ratify the agreement reached last June in the border region of Prespes.

Opponents of the proposal say they are defending Macedonia's name, identity, and history, as well as the traditions of the Macedonian people, against what they call "the greatest national treachery."

Athens argues that use of the term "Macedonia" implies territorial claims on Greece's northern province of the same name and on its ancient heritage.

Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras said earlier this week that Greece's parliament would also be asked to ratify the agreement by the end of the month.

With reporting by RFE/RLs Balkan Service
Thousands of people have gathered in Belgrade for the sixth week of street protests against Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, whom they accuse of stifling media freedoms and suppressing the opposition.

As they marched through central Belgrade on January 12, the protesters shouted slogans such as "Betrayal, betrayal!" And "Vucic is a thief." Some carried banners reading "Rise Serbia" or "It's started."

Smaller protests were held in the cities of Novi Sad, Kraguejevac, Kursumlija, Krusevac, Uzice, and Pozega, RTS state television reported.

Demonstrations first started after thugs beat up opposition politician Borko Stefanovic in November, prompting calls for more democracy and an end to political violence in Serbia.

An umbrella group of opposition parties called the Alliance for Serbia blamed Vucic's Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) for the attack on Stefanovic. Authorities deny involvement.

Critics say Vucic has fostered an atmosphere of fear and hate speech against opponents, while seeking to tighten his rule. They accuse the SNS of being corrupt. Vucic denies the allegations.

Officially, the president in Serbia plays a largely ceremonial role, but Vucic's SNS 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 in 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 party's strength.

Based on reporting by AP, dpa, and AFP
A prominent Tajik journalist has been sentenced to eight months in prison for breaching a court order and illegally leaving the country, his lawyer says.

Khayrullo Mirsaidov was sentenced in absentia by the Khujand city court on January 11, the lawyer told RFE/RL.

Mirsaidov was released from prison in August 2018, after his 12-year sentence was converted to a $8,500 fine and community service in a case widely seen as politically motivated.

He was ordered to pay the state 20 percent of any official salary he receives in Tajikistan for the next two years.

"I told the court that Mirsaidov had left the country to get medical treatment abroad," defense lawyer Bakhtiyor Nasrulloev told RFE/RL on January 12.

"But the officials protested that he had left without telling the authorities. They said he was required to provide medical documentation and obtain the authorities' permission to go abroad," Nasrulloev said.

Mirsaidov's December 2017 arrest on financial charges brought condemnation from domestic and international groups -- including Reporters Without Borders, the National Association of Independent Mass Media in Tajikistan, Human Rights Watch, and Amnesty International.

Mirsaidov said the charges were filed in retaliation for his critical reporting about government corruption.

His arrest came shortly after he had published an open letter accusing senior officials of corruption in his native Sughd Province.

Amnesty International at the time described him as "a prisoner of conscience who is being punished solely for exercising his right to freedom of expression."

He was sentenced on July 11 after being found guilty of embezzling and misusing state funds and of making false reports to police.

After his release under international pressure in August, Mirsaidov said he was unhappy with the court's ruling and insisted he should be acquitted of all charges, rather than having to face a fine and restrictions on his ability to earn a living in the future.

Mirsaidov is an independent journalist and a former correspondent of Asia-Plus and Germany's Deutsche Welle radio.

He also led the Tajik team for KVN, a stand-up comedy competition that originated among university students in the Soviet Union and is still popular in many former Soviet republics.
Opposition protesters are girding for more demonstrations in Serbia, targeting President Aleksandr Vucic whom they accuse of stifling media freedoms and suppressing the opposition.



The January 11 action is the latest in a series of protests against Vucic.



The demonstrations were triggered last month when thugs beat up opposition politician Borko Stefanovic.



Last week, an estimated 15,000 protesters marched in Belgrade, chanting "Vucic, thief!" and waving banners that read "Stop the Treason, Defend the Constitution and Back the People."



For many protesters, the assault on Stefanovic echoed attacks on political opponents in the 1990s under the rule of late Serbian leader Slobodan Milosevic.



An umbrella group of opposition parties called the Alliance for Serbia blamed Vucic's Serbian Progressive Party for the attack on Stefanovic.



Authorities denied involvement.



A former nationalist, Vucic now is guiding Serbia toward membership in the European Union. He has also sought to maintain ties with traditional ally Russia and to develop relations with China.



The European Commission last year raised concerns about media freedoms in Serbia, denouncing threats, intimidation and violence against journalists.

With reporting by RFE/RL's Balkan Service and AFP


The former head of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) is downplaying the fact that Russia missed the latest deadline to allow international inspectors access to a Moscow laboratory.



Dick Pound told the AFP news agency on January 11 that he opposed any move to impose new sanctions against Russia.



Inspectors from WADA traveled to Russia this week, and on January 10, began to access data at a tainted testing center.



It was the second attempt after an earlier visit in December. Moscow missed the December 31 deadline to give WADA full access to lab data.



Russian sport has been under a cloud for years, after revelations of a state-sponsored doping effort involving hundreds of athletes during the 2014 Sochi Olympics.



Critics of WADA have called for Russia to be punished again for missing the deadline. Pound said he didn't think it was a major issue.



"It's not the end of the world," he was quoted as saying.



"I think it's more important to concentrate on the information and test it to make sure that it's complete and it's not been altered and then to see if there are cases of anti-doping that need to be followed up by disciplinary process," he said.



In September, WADA called for lifting sanctions against Russia and its own national anti-doping agency, RUSADA, citing improvements. Pound defended that decision.



Travis Tygart, the head of the U.S. anti-doping agency, has described Russia missing the December 31 deadline as a "total joke and an embarrassment for WADA and the global anti-doping system."

Based on reporting by AFP
The New York Times is reporting that the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation opened a counterintelligence probe in 2017 into whether President Donald Trump was working for Russian interests.



The newspaper, citing unnamed former law enforcement officials and others, reported on January 11 that the counterintelligence investigation was initially separate from an ongoing criminal investigation.



The criminal probe had focused on interactions between Russian officials and Trump associates, and was originally in the summer of 2016, during the presidential election campaign.



The probe later expanded into whether Trump committed a felony crime of obstruction of justice when he fired FBI Director James Comey in May 2017.



Special Counsel Robert Mueller took over the FBI probe after Comey's firing.



According to the Times, FBI officials also opened a counterintelligence investigation around the time of Comey's firing, after officials were alarmed by comments Trump made suggesting Comey's firing was due to the original Russia investigation.



A counterintelligence investigation typically concerns national security matters, as opposed to criminal matters.



According to the paper, both lines of inquiry are now under Mueller's purview.



Mueller's probe has brought indictments against 34 people including Trump's former campaign chairman, Paul Manafort; Trump's first national security adviser, Michael Flynn, as well as a series of Russian intelligence officers and Kremlin-connected officials.



Trump and his allies have repeatedly criticized Mueller's investigation, calling it a "witch hunt" and questioning the political motivations of his investigators.



Recent news reports and court filings suggest that Mueller may be nearing the end of his investigation, at which point he is supposed to turn over a confidential final report to the Justice Department.



At least three different congressional committees, including the Senate Intelligence Committee, have also been probing various aspects of Russia's alleged interference in the 2016 election.



The U.S. intelligence community has concluded that Russia engaged in a campaign of hacking and propaganda to sway voters during the 2016 election, largely aimed at bolstering Trump's chances at the presidency.



Russian officials have repeatedly denied any such effort.

With reporting by The New York Times
A company owned by Russian billionaire oligarch Arkady Rotenberg has been awarded a state grant to conduct training on civil-society development and combating corruption.

Russian media, citing public state-tender documents, reported on January 11 that Rotenberg's company Granat had been given 46 million rubles ($688,000) by the Public Chamber advisory board to hold roundtables, public discussions, and conferences on the topics.

Rotenberg is a childhood friend and former judo partner of Russian President Vladimir Putin. After Putin became president in 2000, Rotenberg was made head of the state-controlled vodka distillery Rosspirtprom.

Later he increased his fortune by controlling companies that sold pipes to the state-controlled gas giant Gazprom. Anticorruption activists, including opposition figure Aleksei Navalny, have charged that Rotenberg's firms grossly overcharged Gazprom.

He also controlled lucrative contracts to build Russian federal highways, to publish school textbooks, and to prepare infrastructure for the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi.

Rotenberg was sanctioned by the United States in 2014 for his role in Moscow's occupation and annexation of the Ukrainian region of Crimea.

His personal fortune is estimated at $3.1 billion. His brother, Boris, and his son, Igor, are also billionaires.

Based on reporting by Novaya Gazeta and Kommersant
MAYMANA, Afghanistan -- Bibi Fatemah hunches on the cold concrete floor of a basement, hand-knotting an Afghan carpet.

The 75-year-old is frail, and the work is exhausting. But the grandmother has no other option but to work after becoming the sole breadwinner in her family of 10.

"I weave a carpet every week," Fatemah says as she combs the threads of the colorful carpet. "We sell each carpet in the market for about 500 afghanis [around $7]. That's how we survive through each day and night."

Fatemah's family is among thousands in Afghanistan struggling to survive chronic poverty that has been fueled by a deadly 17-year war between the Western-backed Kabul government and the Taliban.

Several months ago, Fatemah was forced to flee her village in the Pashtun Kot district of the northern province of Faryab, one of the most violent areas in the country. The remote province on the border with Turkmenistan has long been the scene of intense fighting between the Taliban and government troops. Islamic State (IS) militants have also recently established a presence.

Fatemah moved to Faryab's capital, Maymana, where the family rented out space in the dusty basement of an unfinished two-story building. Most of the basement, where the family lives and Fatemah works, is occupied by lumber.

"There's no work for the men here," says Fatemah, who supports her two daughters-in-law and seven grandchildren. Most of the men in the family paid smugglers to take them across the border to Iran to find work, she adds.

An estimated 1.5 million-2 million undocumented Afghans live in Iran, working menial jobs. But with a worsening economic crisis hitting the Islamic republic, some 800,000 Afghans returned to their homeland last year.

Extreme Poverty

Fatemah, who has been weaving carpets since she was a child, has since taken on the mantle of breadwinner.

She admits it is an unusual situation. Men are usually the breadwinners in families in Afghanistan, a deeply conservative country where many women do not work outside their homes. Carpet weaving is an ancient craft and one of the biggest industries in northern Afghanistan.

Female contribution to household income is increasing in Afghanistan. The Asia Foundation, in its 2018 survey, found that 19 percent of Afghans say that female members contribute to their household income, an increase of more than 5 percent since 2009.

Afghanistan's official national unemployment rate is 24 percent, although it is believed to be much higher. Around 55 percent of Afghans live below the poverty line. The country is also heavily dependent on dwindling foreign aid, and is in the midst of the worst drought in decades.

Despite her best efforts, Fatemah admits the family is barely making ends meet. "What can you buy with 500 afghanis?" she asks, referring to the around $7 a week she brings home. "Thread for the carpets? Food? Clothes?"

The annual per capita income in Afghanistan is around $2,000, meaning Afghans make on average around $5.50 a day, according to the CIA World Factbook.

Dangerous Faryab

The family has few possessions. Several mattresses, cushions, and blankets rest against the concrete wall. Pots and kitchen utensils lie on the ground.

Fatemah, surrounded by her grandchildren, says the family fled their village with little more than the clothes on their backs. She does not know when they can return to their village. "We had to get out," she says. "I didn't even have enough time to take my weaving equipment."

Faryab is one of the most deadly and violent provinces in the country. Pashtun Kot, a district of more than 200,000, is contested between Afghan forces and Taliban militants. IS militants have also gained a foothold since appearing in the province in 2015. There are also numerous illegal armed gangs involved in kidnappings-for-ransom, extortion, and drug smuggling in the remote province.

On January 8, a police chief was among five officers killed in Faryab's Garziwan district as the Taliban kept up the pressure to seize control over parts of the province.

Local officials say the Taliban is now in full control of two of 15 districts in Faryab, while they are active or contesting government control in many of the other districts.

The provincial government estimates that more than 17,000 families have been internally displaced due to the fighting in Faryab.

Over 1 million Afghans are internally displaced, driven from their homes by violence and a devastating drought. Hundreds of thousands of Afghan refugees have returned from Pakistan and Iran in recent years but many stay in makeshift refugee camps inside Afghanistan because they are unable to go back to their homes due to the war.
A court in Myanmar on Friday rejected the appeal of two Reuters reporters sentenced to seven years in prison for possessing classified government documents in violation of the Official Secrets Act, drawing widespread condemnation from the international community, rights groups and media watchdogs.



Wa Lone, 32, and Kyaw Soe Oo, 28, were arrested on Dec. 12, 2017, after two police officers handed them papers about security forces in northern Rakhine state, where a military crackdown targeting Rohingya Muslims was underway. The campaign of violence prompted an exodus of more than 720,000 Rohingya across the border and into Bangladesh.



After months of court hearings in Yangon, the reporters were convicted in September last year of violating Myanmars colonial-era Officials Secrets Act while reporting on the extrajudicial killings of 10 Rohingya by soldiers in a Rakhine village.



On Friday, during proceedings attended by international diplomats, members of the media, and friends and family, the Yangon Regional High Court threw out their appeal, saying their defense team had failed to provide sufficient evidence of their innocence.



Reuters quoted High Court Judge Aung Naing as calling the seven-year sentence suitable because the reporters behavior showed they intended to harm the country, and citing a notebook found at Wa Lones home that contained the phone number of a member of the Arakan Army (AA)an armed ethnic rebel group he had reported on several years earlier.



The reporters, neither of whom were present at the hearing, maintain that they were set-up by police, and an officer has testified that he was instructed by higher-level authorities to plant documents on the men.



Than Zaw Aung, a lawyer representing the reporters, said his clients are innocent and noted that prosecutors cannot prove that the [telephone] numbers  are the numbers of AA members.



Wa Lones wife Pan Ei Mon said after the hearing that her family is devastated by the decision.



We expected they would be freed today, and planned to pick them up at the jail to go home together, she said.



Still, we believe they will be freed soon.



The defense has the right to request a further appeal from Myanmars Supreme Court, which is based in the countrys capital Naypyidaw.



In a statement, Reuters Editor-in-Chief Stephen J. Adler called Fridays ruling yet another injustice among many inflicted upon the two reporters.



They remain behind bars for one reason: those in power sought to silence the truth, Adler said.



Reporting is not a crime, and until Myanmar rights this terrible wrong, the press in Myanmar is not free, and Myanmar's commitment to rule of law and democracy remains in doubt.



Chit Su Win (L) and Pan Ei Mon (R), the wives of jailed Myanmar journalists Kyaw Soe Oo and Wa Lone, leave the Yangon Regional High Court in Yangon, Jan. 11, 2019. Credit: AFP Government weighs in



Myo Nyunt, a spokesman for the ruling National League for Democracy (NLD), told RFAs Myanmar Service that the countrys judiciary is independent, and that no one should view the Justice Departments actions as a reflection of government policy, despite the sensitive nature of the reporting work by Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo.



We believe that [the judiciary] has adhered to a due legal process so far, and we will step in if legal experts point out anything that is not in accordance with the law. Otherwise, the administration has no say in the judiciary process.



But Ye Htut, Myanmars former Information Minister, suggested that the government had a hand in steering the High Courts decision.



Im sorry to hear that their appeal was rejected by the upper court, and I think this could harm relations between the domestic media and the government, and damage the image of media reform as a whole, he said.



In my view, there were so many inconsistencies in the case since the very beginning, when the police first opened it. Thats why I believed from the start that the case should be reviewed.



Myint Kyaw, the secretary of Myanmars Press Council, went further, saying the government had orchestrated the case against Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo.



We now have doubts about whether the regional level [courts] can make decisions independently or have the authority to do so, he said.



I dont think that even regional level courts have the ability or courage to make their own decisions on cases, so this could only be a political decision  I believe decisions are just handed down with a political point of view.



Ye Mon Tun, a reporter from Frontier Myanmar, said that judges from both the original ruling and the appeal hearing spoke of respecting journalistic ethics when explaining why Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo should be convicted, but believes neither reporter acted unethically.



All judges should read carefully about journalistic ethics, he said. Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo were just doing their jobs and they never violated ethics.



Thiha Thwe, a locally based foreign correspondent, said he was frustrated that the Higher Court parroted the earlier decision against the reporters without considering arguments presented by the defense.



It's very depressing to learn that the case wasn't thoroughly reviewed from a different perspective and the court just repeated the original ruling, he said.



I think the judge didnt want to be accountable for the consequences [of reversing the conviction].



International condemnation



Fridays decision drew concern from the international community, with the U.S. State Department issuing a statement that said Washington is deeply disappointed that the convictions were upheld.



Todays ruling casts doubt not only on freedom of expression in [Myanmar], but also raises questions about [Myanmars] commitment to the rule of law, the statement said, adding that the U.S. will continue to advocate for the release of the two reporters.



British Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt told the BBC that his government is very worried about due process in this case and calling on Myanmars defacto leader Aung San Suu Kyi to investigate.



As someone who fought for democracy in [Myanmar], she should be taking a personal interest in the future of these two brave journalists, he said of the former opposition leader who spent decades under house arrest during the rule of the countrys military junta.



Rights groups and media watchdogs also decried the decision, with New York-based Human Rights Watch saying the case should never have proceeded, much less resulted in a conviction.



The appeals court process looks like it was just a rerun of the previous injustice done to these two reporters who dared investigate what the military wanted to keep hidden, Phil Robertson, the deputy Asia director for Human Rights Watch, said in a statement made available to the news media.



Paris-based Reporters Without Borders (RSF) said in a statement that it was appalled by the decision to uphold the sentences of Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo and called on the government to end their nightmare.



Everything about this case, both the substance and its conduct, called for their convictions to be overturned, but Myanmars justice system has shown its determination until the very end to punish Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo although they just did their job as reporters, said Daniel Bastard, the head of RSFs Asia-Pacific desk.



This decision constitutes yet further evidence, if any were needed, of the judicial systems unacceptable manipulation by the executive and dramatically signifies the end of Myanmars democratic transition. We now call on its highest political officials to pardon these journalists as quickly as possible so that they can be reunited with their families.



RSF ranked Myanmar 137th out of 180 countries in its annual World Press Freedom Index last year and said in October that the countrys position is at risk of falling even further in 2018.



Reported by Htet Arkar, Kyaw Zaw Win and Thet Su Aung. Translated by Nandar Chann and Khet Mar. Written in English by Joshua Lipes.
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MEDIA  Delaware County's most senior medical official issued recommendations pertaining to the 2019 Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV), which has killed more than 100 people and sickened thousands in China.
The Republican Party might have until June to choose its next leader, but the behind-the-scenes politics of filling the role are already well under way.

Current party chairman J.R. Romano has yet to decide if hell seek re-election, and speculation has already begun on who else might step in. Former state Sen. Joe Markley and Ben Proto, a GOP strategist from Stratford who was Donald Trumps campaign coordinator in Connecticut in 2016, have both been named as possible successors.

This is a lot of work and its not easy, Romano said. In politics like anything else, theres a lot of people talking. Ive just been quietly doing the work of a chairman.

While Proto is interested, Markley, who gave up his state Senate seat to run for lieutenant governor, has made it clear: he is not.

Im not surprised Im getting encouragement. I was interested in it four years ago, and I thought it was the right moment for it. Its not right now. I dont have any intention of running, said Markley, who recently took a part-time job doing public relations for Farmington-based Companions and Homemakers, a home care organization.

Being the state party chairman is a very difficult job and I have great sympathy for J.R, Markley said. I think that very few people realize how much falls to him and how tough it is. Even though I ran against him for the position in the first place, Ive always been hesitant to criticize him. When you have a disappointing election like we did, hes the first person thats going to get blamed. I think hes done a great job, he hasnt done a perfect job, but I havent seen anyone do a perfect job.

Proto said hes been approached by a number of people to consider the chairmanship.

Right now what Im doing is just talking to people about the party, where the party is at, different things we can do to improve our structure and our organization and share our message, Proto said.

He believes the partys message could have been better presented, but Proto would not explicitly criticize Romano. He praised the series of five debates Romano hosted prior to the party convention, though he does not think participation in the debates should have been tied to monetary thresholds raised by the candidates excluding some of the early hopefuls including New Britain Mayor Erin Stewart.

While the concept of what he wanted to do was good, I think it created more belief with second- and third-tier candidates that they were first-tier candidates because they had a stage that they normally would not have had, Proto said. State campaigns at the end of the day is about herding kittens and its very difficult to do. They all want to run off and find their own little ball of yarn to play with. Its not easy.

Romano said hes heard that several people might have an interest in his job  which he made clear is not a walk in the park  but none as seriously as Proto, who he knows has had many conversations with party insiders about the role.

Sen. Len Fasano, the top Republican in the Senate, blamed the partys losses on the Trump factor, which he said no party chairman could have overcome.

J.R. has always had the best interest of the party at heart, Fasano said. Bob Stefanowski got 100,000 more votes than (Tom) Foley did (in 2014), and I think the larger turnout had a lot to do with Trump. To say J.R. failed, I look back and say, What else do you want him do to? I think he did a fine job. I have an open mind about chairmen, but I dont think we should make a change just to make a change.

kkrasselt@hearstmediact.com; 203-842-2563; @kaitlynkrasselt
MILFORD  A local resident brought a grenade he found in a house outside of the city to the Milford Police Department on Friday, forcing the closure of the departments lobby and front lot for about half an hour.

Officer Mike DeVito, the Milford police spokesman, said the man went to the police station in Milford because he lives in the city. DeVito said the grenade was found in another area of Connecticut.

The man was, as part of his job, cleaning out a house in another town where no one was home.

He came across an ancient grenade, DeVito said. So he brings it out, puts it in his car and drives it  not to the town he was in, but he takes it to Milford Police Department.

The man told Milford officers what he had in his car and the officers decided it looked like a grenade and called in the Connecticut State Police Bomb Squad, DeVito said.

While this was unfolding, around 12:40 p.m., police announced that the front lot and lobby of the police department was closed to the public as they dealt with what was called a suspicious item.

By 1:05 p.m., the police station was deemed safe and reopened to the public after members of the bomb squad took the grenade and planned to safely dispose of it, he said.

The man didnt break any laws bringing the grenade to police, DeVito said. But the department is still investigating to ensure there are no additional devices in the home where the grenade was found.

He didnt indicate that there were, DeVito said. He said it was the only item that he found, but wed like to be sure.

In Aug. 2018, a contractor hired by homeowners to do work in the backyard of their home in the 40 block of Cornell Street in Bridgeport found a World War II-era hand grenade buried under the ground.

Exactly one year ago Friday, on Jan. 11, 2018, a grenade from World War I or World War II ended up at Stratfords All American Waste at 80 Garfield Ave.

In Feb. 2015, a Darien man brought a grenade to the police station after he found it in a house he was working on.

Any residents that come across a grenade, or something that resembles a grenade, are urged to call 911.
TORRINGTON  The bundling of electrical service contracts through a consortium of municipalities is saving the city money .

The city is in its first year of a five-year contract brokered through the Connecticut Council of Municipalities. Much like buying in bulk, by joining with a number of other towns and cities represented by the municipalities council, Torrington is guaranteed a locked-in price until 2023, Mayor Elinor Carbone said.

The citys new rate until 2023 is 7 cents per kilowatt hour, according the municipalities councils contract. The decreased rate will save the city $130,000 over last years cost Purchasing Agent Pennie Zucco said in an email.

We believe its the lowest price we could have found, Carbone said. The bid process makes it clear what the price will be.

The citys contract also includes the Board of Education for the first time.

More for you News Connecticut may force utilities to give Trump tax...

Its unique in being able to bring in (the school district), Carbone said.

The agreement offers a percentage of the purchased electricity to be provided by clean energy, Carbone said. Constellation of New Jersey provides the electrical supply for the contract.

Towns seeking the best price when they renegotiate their energy contracts will find a new company is ready to bid on their contract.

Carbone met with an executive from PowerOptions of Massachusetts, who is working to bring the companys business to Connecticut. She invited company president Derek Howell to a recent Northwest Hills Council of Government meeting, where he shared details of the companys operations.

Barkhamsted First Selectman Don Stein said his towns contract expires next year, and asked Howell how the companys contracts differ from that of the municipalities council.

Stein said the town usually signs an electrical contract for 18 months to two years. He said the shorter contract time allows Barkhamsted to get better rates if theyre not locked in for a longer period

Its too variable. You have to consider world events and the price of oil and gas, Stein said. When told that Torrington has a 7 cent rate for five years, he said Thats phenomenal. If they (Torrington) can get it, and we could get 7 cents, I might lock it in for five years.

Barhamsted pays up to 11 cents per kilowatt hour, Stein noted.

According to Howell, contracts through PowerOptions allow members to choose the length of the contract from five years or less, and to lock in a price, or purchase 25 percent of their energy needs at a time.

Spokesman Liam Sullivan of Power Options said Friday that the nonprofit company is the largest energy consortium in New England, with more than 400 members. Power Options has provided solar energy as an energy option since 2011, he said.

We have an innovative purchase agreement, Sullivan said. One member last year chose to have 100 percent of their electrical supply come from green energy (for Earth Day).
Womans club offers scholarships

HARWINTON  The Harwinton Women's Club, on behalf of the General Federation of Women's Clubs in Connecticut, is accepting applications for both the Phipps Memorial Scholarship and the Dorothy E. Schoelzel Scholarship, which are intended to help state women pursue advanced courses of study in accredited institutions of learning.

Phipps Scholarship candidates must have completed two or more years of undergraduate work, matriculating for a bachelor's degree or a post-graduate degree with a 3.0 grade point average or better. Candidates for the Schoelzel Scholarship must have completed three or more years of undergraduate work in an accredited institution of higher learning with a 3.0 grade point average or better. The scholarship is intended for those matriculating for a bachelor!s degree or a post-graduate degree in the field of education.

For applications, call Pam at 860-485-9683 by Feb. 1, 2019.

Scholarship applications now available

WINSTED  The Greenwoods Scholarship Foundation, Inc. is a non-profit corporation that manages funds from individual and corporate donors in northwest Connecticut and makes awards to recipients in the names of individual scholarship accounts. Students who are residents of Barkhamsted, Colebrook, Hartland, New Hartford, Norfolk and Winchester, as well as students at Northwestern Connecticut Community College, are eligible to receive a Greenwoods Scholarship. High school graduates and those already matriculated in a college or university may apply.

Application forms and instructions may be obtained online at www.gsfct.org or from The Gilbert School, Northwestern Regional #7, Explorations, Oliver Wolcott Technical School, the Hartland Town Hall, and the Financial Aid Office at NCCC.

Last year the Greenwoods Scholarship Foundation distributed scholarships valued at $128,250 to 87 recipients. In addition, the foundation also gave a $12,000 Allied Health Grant to Northwestern Connecticut Community College.

All applications must be returned to the high school counseling office, mailed to Greenwoods Scholarship Foundation, P.O. Box 834, Winsted, CT 06098 or faxed to Mrs. DePaoli at 860.379.0618 by Feb. 15.

Foundation set application deadlines

SHEFFIELD, MA  Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation recently announced the first round of deadlines for competitive grants in 2019. Regional nonprofits, students, individuals and schools are invited to apply for funding during the winter grants cycle. Apply online at www.berkshiretaconic.org/SearchGrants and www.berkshiretaconic.org/SearchScholarships.

The Margaret Derwin Scholarship offers a junior at Housatonic Valley Regional High School up to $100,000 over four years for college tuition and other costs, and up to $5,000 for an overseas community service program. Applications are due Jan. 18.

The Andrea Wagner Women in Science Scholarship Fund awards $1,500 scholarships to female residents of the Berkshire Taconic region who are currently enrolled at a four-year college and majoring in natural or physical science or engineering. Applications are due March 15.

The Ferris Burtis Scholarship Fund sponsors graduating high school seniors who have been accepted at a conservatory or school of music to pursue a career in classical music. Scholarships of $2,000 will be awarded. Applications are due March 15.

The George and Lucille Buterbaugh Scholarship Fund awards $1,000 annually to graduating seniors who are residents of Salisbury. Applications are due March 15.

The Teddy Lee Drumm Memorial Scholarship Fund awards $1,500 annually to residents of Sharon who have been accepted at an accredited college, university, vocational-technical or professional institute, as well as prior Drumm recipients. Applications are due March 15.

The Alice and Richard Henriquez Memorial Fund and Youth World Awareness Program provides grants to students ages 14 to 22 for international travel and service. Grants range from $500 to $1,500 for individual applicants; larger grants may be considered for groups. Applications are due Feb. 1.

The Simple Gifts Fund awards grants to young people ages 13 to 19 for participation in cultural or creative summer programs. Grants range from $200 to $800. Applications are due March 15.

Learn more at www.berkshiretaconic.org.
HARTFORD  With the clock ticking, Access Health CTs latest statistics show they are closing in on last years numbers.

As of Friday afternoon there are now 109,126 Connecticut residents enrolled in insurance plans through the exchange. The deadline for enrolling was extended to Jan. 15.

Last year 114,000 Connecticut residents enrolled in plans sold on the exchange.

The deadline for Connecticut residents to enroll was originally Dec. 15, but it was extended. Coverage starts Feb. 1 for anyone who enrolled in a plan after Dec. 15.

On Friday, U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy was in Hartford where he was encouraging those who havent signed up yet to enroll.

Weve only got a couple days to get the message out, Murphy said at an unrelated event earlier in the day in New Haven before heading to Hartford. Im going to Hartford to try and get the word out.

Access Health CT has spent about $4 million in its marketing efforts this year, which is similar to amounts theyve spent in past years.

Consumers had an additional month to choose plans as they experience bigger increases in monthly premiums even though the increases approved by insurance regulators were lower.

Officials and politicians have been thrown a curveball this year by a Texas judges ruling late last year that threw out the 2010 Affordable Care Act.

The judge agreed with a group of 20 Republican attorneys general who felt a change in tax law last year that eliminated the penalty for not having health insurance invalidated the entire law.

Former Gov. Dannel P. Malloy, whose administration oversaw implementation of the ACA, said the decision defies logic and puts health coverage for millions of people and tens of thousands of Connecticut residents at risk.

He said if this decision is allowed to stand people with pre-existing conditions will once again be denied coverage when they get sick.

The White House has said they expect the judges ruling to be appealed to the Supreme Court and in the meantime the law remains in place.

Connecticut, along with other states, have filed an appeal.

Access Health CT has worked hard to let Connecticut residents know that the Texas ruling does not affect their ability to sign up for and use 2019 health insurance plans through Access Health CT.

Access Health CT is the official marketplace under the Affordable Care Act in Connecticut and we are committed to upholding the ACA and the support it provides to the residents of our state, CEO James Michel, has said. We will not let this news get in the way of fulfilling our mission to reduce the rate of the uninsured and help Connecticut residents get health insurance coverage for them and their families.

Murphy said part of his message in Hartford on Friday would be to reiterated that Access Health and the Affordable Care Act are alive and well in Connecticut.

We have to beat back Trumps sabotage campaign, Murphy said.
The November edition of the New Haven Register Economic Scorecard would seem to indicate the regions economy continues to chug along at a slow but steady pace.

Five of the eight indicators that make up the scorecard  total employment, labor force, the regions unemployment rate, consumer price index and median single-family home price  were headed in a positive direction. Two of the three remaining indicators  housing permits and real disposable income  were headed in a negative direction while consumer confidence was stuck in neutral.

The good news is that in the crucial areas, the numbers were stronger than expected, said Donald Klepper-Smith, chief economist and director of research for New Haven-based DataCore Partners and author of the scorecard.

But Klepper-Smith said he is concerned the region and the state could be headed for a fall economically.

My sense is that this could be the last big hurrah for a while, he said.  I expect further weakness from here on out because the current economic expansion is getting a little long in the tooth.

For starters, Klepper-Smith said, if the economic recovery continues through the end of June, it will become the longest one on record. That has heightened expectations among Connecticut consumers that the state and the New Haven area may be headed for a recession.

Falling sales paired with the rising single-family home price continues to highlight the unique relationship between supply and demand in Connecticut real estate, said Cassidy Murphy, associate publisher and media relations director of The Warren Group, a Massachusetts real estate trade publication.

So while the $4,700 increase in the median single-family home sale price in the New Haven area might normally prompt people to tap into their home equity, Klepper-Smith said there is evidence that isnt happening as expected.

Spending power has been tempered, he said. People are less likely to spend when they are uncertain.

Among the positives in the November scorecard was the consumer price index.

The index is a weighted average of prices of a basket of consumer goods and services, such as transportation, food and medical care. It is calculated by taking price changes for each item and averaging them.

While the index rose 2.18 percent in November, Klepper-Smith said anything under a 3 percent increase means were doing OK .

Food prices and energy prices have been kept moderate, he said. Gasoline prices are a function of supply and demand. And the U.S. is producing more oil, so we are less reliant on the Middle East.

Employment related indicators dominated the positives in the economic scorecard.

Total employment in the New Haven Labor Market Area was up 1.3 percent in November while the size of the labor force increased by one percent. The labor force represents the number of people who are employed plus the number of people actively looking for work.

The unemployment rate for November for the New Haven area was down 1.1 percent from the same period a year earlier.

luther.turmelle@hearstmediact.com
WASHINGTON  Litchfield County resident Susan Mellis has joined Klemm Real Estate, and is working out of Klemms Litchfield Office.

Mellis has been an interior designer based in Westchester County, N.Y., for many years. Beyond her skills as an interior designer, she is a national award winning kitchen and bath specialist who has ghosted for architects and has worked with many clients, architects and builders on both large and small scale additions and remodels.

Mellis work with clients in Westchester has led to work on additional properties all over the metro New York area. From Brooklyn brownstones and New York City apartments to Westchester homes of all sizes and styles, she has worked hands on with a multitude of different clients and in many instances has become a long time friend and confidant. A testament to her work ethic and boundless energy is the fact that she never advertised her services and built her client base solely through referrals and repeat business. Mellis now lives in Litchfeld County full time.

I got into interior design by learning construction from an architect I worked with for many years. He owned a design firm in Armonk, Mellis said in a statement. From there I kept being asked to do more and I did! I have no formal schooling - all on-the-job learning. I look at joining becoming an agent at Klemm as a new phase of my life - a normal progression.

Mellis can be reached at 914-589-7440, the Litchfield Office 860.567.5060, ext 3 or by email susan.mellis@icloud.com.

Klemm Real Estate has offices in Washington Depot, Woodbury, Litchfield, Roxbury, Lakeville/Salisbury and Sharon, staffed by 40 associates serving Litchfield County for almost 35 years.

For more information contact Graham Klemm, 860-488-6635, g@klemmrealestate.com; or www.klemmrealestate.com.

Food for Thought pantry receives bank grant

WINSTED  Food For Thought Student Food Pantry at Northwestern Connecticut Community College, was recently awarded a grant for $1,500 from The Thomaston Savings Bank Foundation, Inc.

The Thomaston Savings Bank Foundation has established a new giving campaign called Act to Impact Employees Giving Grants. This initiative was developed to allow Bank employees to give back to the communities they serve. This award to Food For Thought was presented on behalf of the Thomaston Savings Bank Foundation, Inc. and the Thomaston Savings Bank employees.

We are proud of the well-established Thomaston Savings Bank Foundation, Inc. and are happy to be able to contribute to Northwestern Connecticut Community Colleges Food For Thought, stated Stephen L. Lewis, President of Thomaston Savings Bank Foundation, Inc., when he made the announcement that the food pantry was the recipient of the award.

Food for Thought Student Food Pantry was founded and is operated by Northwestern Connecticut Community Colleges chapter of Phi Theta Kappa.

Geer Nursing receives funding for new facility

xxx

CANAAN  Geer Nursing & Rehabilitation Center was among the 92 awardees and will receive $2.2 million to provide initial funding for the construction of a new skilled nursing facility from the State of CT, Office of Policy & Management, according to a recent statement.

Governor Dannel P. Mallow announced Jan. 3 that approximately $30.8 million in state grants are being awarded to 92 nonprofit organizations throughout Connecticut as a part of the states Nonprofit Grant Program, which assists organizations with the costs associated with one-time infrastructure improvements that improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the services provided by the organizations.

Geers Skilled Nursing & Rehabilitation Center was built in 1969 and is licensed for up to 120 people for acute nursing care and short-term rehabilitation. Significant changes in the industry have occurred since the facility opened and although Geer consistently is rated a 4 or 5-star facility for the quality of the care, the lack of modern facilities and an aging infrastructure are a struggle. The complexity of patient care, the type of equipment and patient expectations have all changed, while the facility has not, officials said in a statement. Extensive planning determined that the cost of renovating the existing facility would not achieve the desired efficiencies and meet the long-term needs of patients. In June 2018 Department of Social Services approved a Certificate of Need which provides permission to build of a new facility. The new facility is expected to cost between $22 to $27 million and is still in the early stages of development and financing.

This has been a dream for quite a while and while this is exciting news it is also just the beginning of an intensive process to make the dream a reality. We are extremely thankful for everyone that helped to make it happen. said Kevin OConnell, CEO. We will continue to need the input and support from the community and look forward to working together for the health the northwest corner.

Foundation announces first 2019 application deadlines

SHEFFIELD, MA  Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation recently announced the first round of deadlines for competitive grants in 2019. Regional nonprofits, students, individuals and schools are invited to apply for funding during the winter grants cycle. Apply online at www.berkshiretaconic.org/SearchGrants and www.berkshiretaconic.org/SearchScholarships.

Nonprofits:

Harvard Business Schools Performance Measurement for Effective Management of Nonprofit Organizations (PMNO) program is designed for senior nonprofit leaders who are committed to implementing effective performance measurement and management in their organizations. The program is valued at $4,750 and runs May 28-31 on the Harvard Business School campus in Boston, Mass. Applications are due Feb. 1.

The Green Pastures Fund supports nonprofit organizations or public entities that encourage or preserve small, community-based agricultural ventures. Grants range from $1,000 to $3,000. Applications are due March 1.

Harvard Business Schools Strategic Perspectives in Nonprofit Management (SPNM) program is an intensive one-week course for nonprofit CEOs, presidents or executive directors who are responsible for shaping the direction, mission policies and major programs of their organizations. The program is valued at $6,500 and runs July 14-20 on the Harvard Business School campus in Boston, Mass. Applications are due March 1.

Student scholarships:

The Margaret Derwin Scholarship offers a junior at Housatonic Valley Regional High School up to $100,000 over four years for college tuition and other costs, and up to $5,000 for an overseas community service program. Applications are due Jan. 18.

The Andrea Wagner Women in Science Scholarship Fund awards $1,500 scholarships to female residents of the Berkshire Taconic region who are currently enrolled at a four-year college and majoring in natural or physical science or engineering. Applications are due March 15.

The Ferris Burtis Scholarship Fund sponsors graduating high school seniors who have been accepted at a conservatory or school of music to pursue a career in classical music. Scholarships of $2,000 will be awarded. Applications are due March 15.

The George and Lucille Buterbaugh Scholarship Fund awards $1,000 annually to graduating seniors who are residents of Salisbury. Applications are due March 15.

The Teddy Lee Drumm Memorial Scholarship Fund awards $1,500 annually to residents of Sharon who have been accepted at an accredited college, university, vocational-technical or professional institute, as well as prior Drumm recipients. Applications are due March 15.

Students, summer service and cultural programs

The Alice and Richard Henriquez Memorial Fund and Youth World Awareness Program provides grants to students ages 14 to 22 for international travel and service. Grants range from $500 to $1,500 for individual applicants; larger grants may be considered for groups. Applications are due Feb. 1.

The Simple Gifts Fund awards grants to young people ages 13 to 19 for participation in cultural or creative summer programs. Grants range from $200 to $800. Applications are due March 15.

Schools

The James C. Kapteyn Endowment Fund honors excellence in teaching with a $10,000 prize for study or travel. The successful candidates school will also receive a $2,000 grant. Nominations from school principals or chief administrators are due Feb. 9. Nominees must complete their applications by March 30. Contact grants@berkshiretaconic.org to nominate an educator.

Learn more at www.berkshiretaconic.org

Price Chopper, Market 32 raise money for St. Jude

Price Chopper and Market 32 hosted a month-long pin-up campaign where customers and teammates made donations of $1 or $5 at checkout for St. Jude Childrens Research Hospital. The campaign raised $97,219 including a $5,000 Golub Corporation match. St Jude Childrens Research Hospital is the worlds premier hospital-research center for pediatric catastrophic diseases. Price Chopper/Market 32 has supported the hospital in various ways for nearly 30 years, in addition to coordinating and promoting an annual community-wide fundraising campaign in all of its stores each October.
Beckley, WV (25801)

Today

Some clouds this morning will give way to generally sunny skies for the afternoon. High 71F. Winds NW at 10 to 15 mph..

Tonight

Mainly clear. Low 47F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph.
January 12, 2019 16:47 IST

The night before Sheena was allegedly killed, 'Indrani Madam instructed me to not send anyone up to her flat.'

'She told me to especially not allow Rahul Mukerjea.'

Vaihayasi Pande Daniel reports from the Sheena Bora murder trial.

Illustration: Dominic Xavier/Rediff.com

Marlow, the handsome, upmarket building where the Mukerjeas lived in Worli, south central Mumbai, entered as a witness on Friday, January 11, in the Sheena Bora murder trial, via the building manager, its flat ownership details and patterns telling their own tale.

As they say if houses could talk, oh the stories they would tell...

Madhukar Kilje has been the manager of the 19 flat Marlow building, located on Pochkhanwala Road for the past 15 years.

The most prominent flat owners in the building were/are Indrani and Peter Mukerjea who once owned the multi-crore INX Services Pvt Ltd and INX Media.

They owned Flat 19, the terrace flat on the fifth floor. And another smaller flat too, Flat 18, on the fourth floor.

The flats in this building are said to be valued at between Rs 15 crores to 20 crores (Rs 150 million to Rs 200 million) today, as per current speculation. Peter had apparently been living in the building since 2000 when he was the CEO of Star India, and Indrani ever since they married in 2002.

In the year Sheena Bora was killed, 2012, Peter was the chairman of the building society. And Indrani was on the committee. Peter flew in that year on April 26 to attend the AGM scheduled for April 27, the date for which had been scheduled from days in advance.

This high-power couple might have moved to Bristol, Britain, with daughter Vidhie Mukerjea (Indrani's daughter from her earlier marriage to Sanjeev Khanna and Peter's adopted daughter) in the interim, spending time also in homes in Betim, Goa and Marbella, on the Costa del Sol, southern Spain. But both of them would also visit Marlow off and on, individually.

For the earnest Kilje, even after an absence of three years from the society, they are still Indrani Madam and Peter Sir/Sahib.

Brought in by the CBI as Witness No 28 in the trial, at Courtroom 51, at the sessions court at Kala Ghoda, south Mumbai, Kilje's role was merely to:

1. Confirm the various particular instructions Indrani had given the society and thus the building's security in the aftermath of Sheena's murder.

2. To verify that Indrani had introduced Sheena as her sister.

And lastly to underline, for whatever reason, the fact that Indrani and Peter arrived, in later years, separately to Marlow from the UK.

Kilje -- who was hard to read, but by character seemed an obliging cog-in the-wheel sort, ready to oblige, perhaps, everyone/anyone -- occupied the witness stand for maybe an hour longer than he needed, through no fault of his.

Sometimes, as one stands in court, viewing the unhurried, unenergetic proceedings one wonders why certain procedures take so long and ponders what could possibly be a shorter route for dealing with a witness especially, if there are 200 odd in a case.

Wearing a cream shirt, tan trousers, black shoes, three silver rings on his right hand (why do Mumbai men wear so many rings?), several sacred threads and black glasses, the Mahim, north central Mumbai, resident, through his 'examination in chief' given in Marathi and later his cross examination, outlined his visits to the CBI to give evidence.

He neglected to mention in his testimony, that was guided by CBI Special Prosecutor Bharat B Badami, the visit/s to the Khar police station, north west Mumbai, who were handling the investigation at the outset.

The two most salient answers made in Marathi by Kilje:

"On 23/4/2012 I was approaching the society office at Marlow at 9.30-10 am when I ran into Indrani Madam. She instructed me to not send anyone up to her flat in her absence. She also told me to especially not allow Rahul (Mukerjea, Peter Mukerjea's son from his earlier marriage, who was in a relationship with Sheena)."

The sequence of this was later disputed by the defence because Kilje had apparently not specified a date in earlier statements.

"On 25/26 April Rahul came to the gate and I instructed the watchmen not to let Rahul in because he was not allowed to go to the flat."

Kilje, who was mumbling initially and was asked to speak in a "mota" (forceful) voice, knew Rahul and Sheena were in a relationship and he loudly emphasised the word "affair" to the court, so no one was in doubt that he could have been ignorant of the matters of the heart affecting the residents and former residents of Flat 19 at Marlow.

It was a chilly/pleasant day in court by Mumbai's thin-skinned standards. Peter was wearing a grey coat. Indrani, by contrast, was clad in a summery, crisp white shirt and brown, leg-hugging tights and was monitoring this cross-examination very alertly attempting to direct the flow from her perch in the rear accused box, via the junior lawyers.

Kilje, a typical Mumbai man, who sometimes answered with just noisy clicks of his tongue, added a few odds and end facts to the case's entire narrative, during his testimony and later cross-examination by Indrani's lawyer Sudeep Ratnamberdutt Pasbola:

Like how over the years Peter had gifted a 50 percent share of one flat to Indrani and they were joint owners of the other flat. Both or one flat was to be gifted to Vidhie Mukerjea. That the Mukerjeas were looked after by a staff of five in Marlow (and that Kilje effortlessly reeled out the names from memory, "Shikha, Prashant...").

Curiously, Kilje told the court: "On 24-08-2015 (a day before Indrani was arrested) a gift deed was given to him for the flat (perhaps Flat 18) in the name of Vidhie Mukerjea with the condition that she would attain ownership when she became 18. A letter was give signed by Indrani Mukerjea and Peter Mukerjea to the society to pass a resolution (at the Marlow AGM) on 27-08-2015 to transfer said flat to Vidhie Mukerjea. Vidhie had also signed on the letter.'

Later it was revealed by Kilje that Peter gave a fresh letter to the society asking that the transfer be deferred and the flat today stands in the name of Rabin Mukerjea, Peter's eldest son from his earlier marriage, Rahul's brother. It is not clear in whose name Flat 19 stands.

Peter's advocate Shrikant Shivade got up to ask a slew of miscellany questions that did not have much to do with Kilje's testimony. They were perhaps all-weather facts he had confirmed that he could use for Peter's defence at a later date.

He established that Garage 1, where the Mukerjeas parked their cars, even rented/borrowed ones -- the alleged scene of much activity in the early am of April 25, 2012, the day after the murder, when Sheena's body was allegedly moved around between suitcases and seats etc -- was visible from the building gate, where watchmen were on duty around the clock and the watchmen's cabin was next to that gate.

Peter's garage could be viewed from the windows of Marlow and adjacent building Clifton and was also adjacent to the wall that separated Clifton and Marlow. Additionally, the area was well illuminated and a dhobi had his little kharkhana (laundry) near Garage 1.

The lawyer asked if Kilje owned a flat at Marlow.

Kilje looked at him as if he was daft and laughed heartily. "I am a manager."

Shivade checked if Kilje had the ability to recognise the cars of the residents of Marlow by "size, number, colour design." Kilje confirmed he did.

Then followed the day's main confusion/controversy and hullabaloo in Marathi. Kilje said he had been asked about the car by the "Magistrate Sahiba" to whom he first gave his testimony (in probably 2016).

It seemed like Kilje acknowledged that he had told the magistrate that the Mukerjeas had a black car. But the prosecution and Kilje later stated that he had said he told the magistrate that it was a car with "black glasses" (tinted windows).

Much finger pointing, heated accusations and raised tempers ensued with CBI Special Judge Jayendra Chandrasen Jagdale trying to placidly, like a potential Nobel Peace Prize winner, steer a calm, unaffected middle course by recording all the various objections.

By then the witness has stepped down from the box and was sitting in the chair behind the stand.

As he interestedly watched the defence-prosecution dynamics, he tenderly stroked the court cat, who had been sitting under the lawyers's table during the hearing and had promptly jumped into Kilje's lap, when he was done testifying.

The said cat, a dirt-brown female tabby of about three, a fixture in Courtroom 51, has been affectionately nicknamed Sheena. Apparently, there are often creatures that stick around various courtrooms during the duration of a trial in this court building, leading to various beliefs, like the crow that hung out at the window, off and on, of the courtroom where the Mumbai 1993 blasts trial was taking place.

As one exited the building, which is still under renovation, causing the closure of one entrance, a collapsed bench lay in pieces in the landing of the staircase. The policemen and policewomen who handle security have no table/counter on which to place phones, walkie-talkies, scanners, next to the X-ray machine and are using an unpainted upturned crate for that at the entrance of the building.

Broken-down chairs whose innards unhappily sag to the ground populate so many corridors outside.

The rubbish, dirt and inoperative furniture this court collects has nothing to do with the revamp job.

There is just no authority, it seems, that looks into the vital task of maintaining the physical sanctity and dignity of the hallowed Mumbai city civil and sessions court, that plays a role in hundreds of lives daily, though it is one of the five main courts in the city of Mumbai, India's commercial hub, even as the city is supposed to be gaining coastal highways, centre-of-the-sea statues and shiny bullet trains.
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Last updated on: January 12, 2019 21:43 IST

IMAGE: BSP supremo Mayawati and Samajwadi Party President Akhilesh Yadav during a joint press conference, in Lucknow, on Saturday. Photograph: Nand Kumar/PTI Photo

Once-arch rivals Samajwadi Party and Bahujan Samaj Party announced on Saturday their tie-up in Uttar Pradesh for the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, sharing 38 seats each and keeping the Congress out of the alliance.

The parties, however, said they would not field candidates in Amethi and Rae Bareli, represented by Congress president Rahul Gandhi and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi.

They also left two seats out of the 80 in the state for smaller allies, without naming them. But there have been talks with Ajit Singh's Rashtriya Lok Dal.

Making the announcement at a joint press conference with SP president Akhilesh Yadav in Lucknow, BSP chief Mayawati said, "This...will rob guru-chela -- Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Bharatiya Janata Party president Amit Shah -- of their sleep."

"I have full confidence that just as our alliance defeated the BJP in the Lok Sabha bypolls, we will crush the saffron party in the general elections," she said, referring to the BJP's defeat in Phulpur, Gorakhpur and Kairana parliamentary bypolls.

In Varanasi, senior Congress leader P Chidambaram hoped the Lucknow announcement wasn't the last word and a broad-based alliance would be formed in the state as polls approach. But he also asserted the Congress was ready to fight alone.

Senior Congress leaders including the UP in-charge at All India Congress Committee, Ghulam Nabi Azad, will be in Lucknow Sunday to discuss the party's strategy, a spokesperson said.

Reacting to the alliance announcement, the Bharatiya Janata Party's Ravi Shankar Prasad said the two parties had came together just for their own survival.

In his address at the BJP national convention a little after the UP development, Modi didn't refer directly to the SP-BSP deal but dismissed opposition efforts at coalition-building as a 'failed experiment' to bring in a 'helpless government'.

In 2014, the BJP had won 71 seats in Uttar Pradesh while its ally Apna Dal bagged two. The Samajwadi Party won five seats and the Congress two, while the BSP drew a blank.

At the press conference at a posh Lucknow hotel, Mayawati asserted that the two parties were entering into a long-term understanding.

IMAGE: To a question as to whether Mayawati could be the possible prime minister face of the alliance, Akhilesh said, 'UP has given PM a number of times in the past and once again the next PM will be from UP.' Photograph: Nand Kumar/PTI Photo

"This will last long, beyond Lok Sabha polls and in the UP assembly elections," the BSP leader said.

Akhilesh Yadav avoided a direct reply when asked if he would support Mayawati for the prime minister's post if the situation arose.

"You know whom I will support," he said. "I have said in the past that UP has always given the PM (to the country) and I will be happy if it gives a PM again."

To a question on seat-sharing with the Rashtriya Lok Dal in western UP, the SP leader said the media would be informed in due course.

RLD spokesperson Anil Dubey later said as far as his party is concerned, the alliance talks are still on.

Yadav and Mayawati did not make it clear whether they will themselves contest the polls, which are to be held by May.

Mayawati accused the BJP of spending a massive amount of money on Shivpal Yadav, saying his recently floated Pragatisheel Samajwadi Party-Lohia was being 'run by the BJP'.

"The money will go down the drain," she said, even as Shivpal Yadav, the estranged uncle of Akhilesh Yadav, rejected her allegation later in the day.

Mayawati said in the national interest, she had moved passed the 1995 Lucknow guest house incident, in which some SP supporters had attacked her. The last state-level alliance between the two parties had ended around that time.

Yadav asked SP workers to ensure Mayawati gets the respect due to her.

"Mayawati's respect is my respect. An insult to her is an insult to me. If any BJP men or others say anything against her, it will be against me," Yadav said, seeming to warn against a repeat of the 1995 incident.

He asked party workers to be on guard against the BJP, alleging that the party could orchestrate riots and create differences between the two opposition parties.

West Bengal chief minister and Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee welcomed the SP-BSP alliance.

BJP leader and Union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said the SP and the BSP had not allied for the sake of the country or Uttar Pradesh.

"They know they cannot fight Modi on their own and their opposition to him is the sole base for their alliance," he told reporters on the sidelines of the party's national convention in Delhi.
January 12, 2019 20:44 IST

IMAGE: US and Turkish soldiers during a combined joint patrol outside Manbij, Syria. Photograph: Courtesy Arnada Jones/US Army/Handout via Reuters

The United States is implementing an orderly withdrawal of its troops from Syria based on operational conditions on the ground, including talks with its allies, and with no arbitrary timeline, the Pentagon has said.

It asserted that it is implementing the withdrawal of forces from northeast Syria within a framework coordinated across the US government.

"Operation Inherent Resolve is implementing the orderly withdrawal of forces from northeast Syria within a framework coordinated across the US Government. The withdrawal is based on operational conditions on the ground, including conversation with our allies and partners, and is not be subject to an arbitrary timeline," Pentagon spokesman Commander Sean Robertson said on Friday.

The US will continue to provide support to the coalition's operation in Syria while withdrawing troops in a deliberate and coordinated manner in order to ensure the safety and protection of US forces. The United States currently has some 2,000 troops in Syria.

Last month, Trump had ordered withdrawal of troops from Syria. The then Defense Secretary James Mattis resigned in protest.

In recent weeks, Trump has said that the withdrawal would be slow and gradual.

The Pentagon has taken a number of logistical measures to support an ordered withdrawal.

"For purposes of operational security, we will not discuss specific troop movements or timelines. However, we will confirm that there has been no redeployment of military personnel from Syria to date," Robertson said.

Noting that the mission of 'Operation Inherent Resolve' has not changed, the Pentagon spokesman said that the US and its regional partners continue to pursue ISIS in the last remaining space the terror outfit currently holds.

Partner forces recently liberated the town of al-Kashmah while facing a fierce and determined ISIS force who employed complex attacks, improvised-explosive devices and booby-trapped buildings.

Throughout the fight, forces continued to rescue civilians as they fled while ISIS continued to hide in residential areas and public facilities to protect themselves, he said.

"We will continue to work with partners and allies to ensure the enduring defeat of ISIS by sustaining military gains and promoting regional security and stability. We thank every member of the Coalition for their contributions to the fight against ISIS," Robertson said.

On Friday, Indian-American Congressman Ro Khanna said that the US needed to make sure that its withdrawal from Syria is based on human rights.

"That means making sure that we get Turkey's commitment not to annex the Kurds, commit humanitarian assistance to rebuilding Syria, and accept Syrian refugees," he said.

Senator Jeanne Shaheen said that the President's hasty withdrawal of US troops from Syria jeopardises justice for Americans murdered by Islamic State.

"I are urging the admin not to lose sight of the goal of holding these terrorists accountable," he said.

In a joint op-ed in The Washington Post, Senators Jeanne Shaheen and Diane Foley urged the president to continue prioritising justice for the Americans lost in Syria and not lose sight of the momentous opportunity that lies ahead of him.

The president's unexpected decision to withdraw US troops from Syria has betrayed the trust the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) put in the United States, they said.

"Without US support, the SDF will be in a battle for survival, degrading the group's ability to oversee the detention of these Islamic State fighters or complete the mission to eradicate the terrorist group in the region," the Senators said.

"This not only puts the lives of Syrian Kurds in jeopardy but also risks a resurgence of Islamic State violence around the globe. Among the many ramifications, the prospect of justice for James and other Americans murdered by the group could disappear," they wrote.
Source:

January 12, 2019 20:27 IST

Launching his campaign to return to power, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday asked the country to choose as its next 'pradhan sevak' either an honest and a hardworking man or those who are on vacation when needed at home and are corrupt.

In the concluding address at the Bharatiya Janata Party national convention, Modi was unsparing in attacking his rivals, especially the Congress, saying they are joining hands as they want a 'majboor' (helpless) government to do corruption while people want a 'majboot' (strong) government that the only BJP can give.

He ridiculed the likely grand alliance of opposition parties as a 'failed experiment in Indian politics', saying a campaign to give publicity to this idea is on.

The fear of chowkidar (watchman), a reference like 'pradhan sevak' he often uses to describe himself, and his campaign against black money and corruption have led to a churn in politics, he said.

Rivals are uniting against one person, he said.

Modi's remarks came on a day the Samajwadi Party and the Bahujan Samaj Party, bitter rivals for over two decades, announced in Lucknow their alliance for the Lok Sabha elections against the saffron party.

In his over 80-minute-long speech, the prime minister spoke at length about his development agenda, made a brief mention of the Ram temple issue blaming the Congress for delaying its resolution and projected his rivals as 'corrupt' against his government's 'spotless' record in office.

He claimed that for the first time in the country's history, there has not been any charge of corruption against a government.

This is now for the country to decide what kind of 'pradhan sevak' (main servant) it wants, he said.

Will the people like a servant who puts one member of the family against another, who steals household goods and distribute them among his relatives, tells neighbours about the internal matters, he asked.

"Will anybody want a servant that who is on vacation when needed at home? And nobody knows where he is," he continued.

The BJP has often taken digs at Rahul Gandhi over his vacations abroad. The prime minister, though, did not name anybody.

Modi then made a pitch for himself, presenting himself as someone who works hard day and night, is concerned about the future generation, sticks to honesty and keeps everyone united.

"The county will decide what kind of servant it wants," he said, drawing loud cheers from thousands of BJP members. Party leaders have described this as one of its biggest conventions.

He also cautioned the BJP against any complacency, saying it is said at times that 'Modi will come and deliver victory' and asked its workers to campaign like farmers work at their land.

Seeds may be good, rains may arrive and everything else may be supportive but crop would not be good if farmers do not till the land, he said, adding that the party reached where it is due to 'collective leadership'.

Targeting the Congress over corruption, he referred to the National Herald case in which Rahul and his mother Sonia Gandhi are on bail and accused them of 'grabbing land and people's money'.

The opposition party believes in protecting its 'sultanate' at any cost and its 'first family' has no respect for the country's institutions, he said, claiming that the BJP believes in the Constitution.

In this context, he hit out at the Congress over the decision of its governments in Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh to withdraw the general consent given to the CBI for probing cases in their state, asking what irregularities they have done that they fear it.

He said when he was Gujarat chief minister for 12 years, the United Progressive Alliance government used all institutions with an aim to put him in jail, adding that they sent BJP president Amit Shah, who was then a minister in the state government, behind bars.

He still presented himself before a district level police official for questioning for nine hours because he had faith in law and considered it above him, Modi asserted, apparently referring to cases of riots and alleged fake encounters.

"Despite being harassed by the UPA for years, I didn't ban entry of CBI in state... We believed in law. We had faith in truth," he said, targeting the Congress for its 'attack' on institutions like the Central Bureau of Investigation, the Comptroller and Auditor General and the Election Commission.

"These leaders on bail have no trust either in law or in truth... Can they (Congress) be trusted with power," he asked and also blamed it for crisis in banks, saying that there was 'common process' and 'Congress process' of loans when it was in power.

While the common process was for the common man, the 'Congress process' was used by 'scamsters' closed to its leadership to swindle public money from banks, Modi said.

In an apparent reference to Rahul Gandhi and his charge of corruption against him over the Rafale issue, he said one cannot make somebody understand a point if he deliberately does not want to understand it.

The prime minister said he was being 'abused' after an accused in a defence deal -- a reference to Christian Michel -- was brought to India from abroad for the first time.

He said he would not claim that his government achieved everything but it has made honest efforts to work for all sections of society.

'Congress doesn't want resolution of Ram temple issue'

Taking on the Congress over the Ram temple issue, Modi said the opposition party was trying to impede the judicial process for resolution of the matter.

He also asked BJP workers to remind the masses about the Congress' stand on the issue.

"In the Ayodhya issue, the Congress is trying to impede the judicial process through its lawyers. The Congress does not want resolution of the Ayodhya issue," Modi said.

"We should not forget its attitude and (also) not let others forget it," he told party workers.

He was apparently referring to remarks of senior Congress leader Kapil Sibal who had said that the Supreme Court should hear the matter after conclusion of general elections this year.

Sibal is representing one of the litigants in the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid title dispute case.

Modi alleged that the Congress even tried to impeach former chief justice of India, Dipak Misra, to delay the hearing in the case.

Earlier this month, the prime minister had said that any decision on passing an executive order on the Ram temple issue cannot be made unless the judicial process is over.

His reaction came amid growing clamour by right-wing organisations like Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh and Vishwa Hindu Parishad to bring an ordinance to construct the Ram Temple in Ayodhya.

The matter is pending in the Supreme Court and is scheduled to come up for hearing on January 29.



'Previous govts treated farmers as vote bank, BJP working to solve their problems'

The BJP government is sincerely working to solve the problems faced by farmers, who were treated merely as vote bank by previous governments, Modi said at the saffron party's national convention.

Not only were the recommendations of the Swaminathan Commission implemented by the BJP government, but its also working day and night to double their income by 2020, he said.

The condition of farmers and agriculture at present is a result of decades of 'neglect' by those (previous governments) who believed in 'shortcuts' and treated the peasants as mere vote bank, Modi said.

"The 'annadata' (provider of food) was turned into a 'matadata' (voter). We are making sincere efforts to empower them. We want to make farmers the carriers of new energy of a new India," he said.

Modi alleged that the demand to provide farmers a minimum support price (MSP) 1.5 times the production cost was buried in the files earlier.

"We are making all efforts with the help of the state governments to clear the hurdles in providing farmers MSP 1.5 times the cost of production," he said.

The prime minister further claimed that his government had procured 95 metric tonnes of pulses during 4.5 years of its rule compared to only 7 metric tonnes of pulses and oilseeds procured by the previous dispensation in five years.

"Now you do not find any breaking news on soaring prices of pulses. It's because we adopted a long-term policy," Modi said.

There is so much more needed to be done, he said citing issues like loans of farmers and rising input costs.

"I won't say all the problems have been solved. I realise so much more is to be done," he said.

'Quota for general category poor will boost confidence of new India'

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said the bill to give 10 per cent reservation in jobs and education to the general category poor will boost the 'self-confidence of new India', asserting that existing quota policy for SCs, STs and OBCs is as strong as it was and will remain so.

In an apparent attack on some opposition parties, he said that they are trying to light a 'fire of discontent' by spreading 'confusion' over the issue and asked party workers to foil such a conspiracy.

He seemed to be referring to reported claims of some BJP rivals that the general category quota may harm the reservation meant for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes besides Other Backward Classes.

"Without taking away the existing quota and without any tinkering with it, this 10 per cent reservation has been given," the PM said in his concluding address at the BJP convention.

"This will further boost the confidence of new India," he said, adding that it will give a new dimension to the aspirations of the general category poor who were not getting equal opportunity.

"The general category poor cannot be neglected," he said.

The number of seats in education institutions will also be increased by 10 per cent, he said. It is done to ensure that the increased quota does not eat into the share of those from the unreserved category.

*****

Choice is between stability & instability for voters in LS polls, says BJP resolution

The choice for voters in the Lok Sabha polls will be between 'stability' and 'instability' with an 'honest and courageous' leader in Prime Minister Narendra Modi challenged by an 'opportunist alliance' whose leader is unknown, says the BJP political resolution passed on Saturday.

The resolution, which was passed at the party's national convention held in New Delhi, noted that party workers should draw the 'right lessons' from the recent results of state assembly elections.

Briefing reporters about the resolution, Union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said the only glue binding the likely alliance of opposition parties was their 'hatred for Modi'.

The resolution speaks of instability that the opposition alliance may usher at the Centre if it is elected to power, he said referring to short tenures of prime ministers, from four months to a year, in the 1990s, such as that of Chandra Shekhar, H D Deve Gowda and I K Gujral.

"The country has to decide where it has to go," Prasad said, adding the Modi government had ushered in stability, development and growth with India now seen as an emerging global power and the prime minister as a global leader.

The resolution also said people have to chose between stability and instability.

'Choice is between stability or instability, between an honest and courageous leader, and a leaderless opportunistic alliance, 'majboot' (strong) government or a 'majboor' (helpless) government,' the party said in the document.

On the outcome of the assembly polls in Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh, the political resolution said the party saw the same with 'a mixed feeling', and that the National Council compliments the hard work of party workers in each state.

'All the BJP state governments have given exemplary record of development and good governance. We shall surely draw the right lessons, but surely this will serve as an inspiration for the party workers and cadres to work with renewed vigour in the Lok Saha elections,' the resolution said.

Describing the 'mahagathbandhan' (opposition alliance) as a 'comical alliance', the saffron party said it was a grand alliance of 'desperate, contradictory and opportunistic' political formations which were being raised to take on the prime minister, Bharatiya Janata Party and National Democratic Alliance.

'They neither have any agenda for India and its people nor any leader. The only glue is the hatred against Narendra Modi. This in many ways also exposes the limitations of the constituents of this opportunistic alliance,' the resolution stated.

Exuding confidence that the people of the country will re-elect Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the BJP appealed the voters, especially the first timers, to participate in the coming elections with full enthusiasm and support the vision of the prime minister to make India a great country.

*****

LS polls a fight between dictatorship and democracy: Cong on PM 'majboor-vs-majboot sarkar' remark

Hitting back at Modi over his remarks that people have to chose between a 'majboor' (helpless) and a 'majboot' (strong) government in the upcoming general election, the Congress on Saturday said the 2019 Lok Sabha polls would be a fight between dictatorship and democracy.

On Modi's attack on states ruled by opposition parties for withdrawing the general consent to the CBI and his remarks that he had not resorted to such a measure when he was targeted by central agencies under the UPA rule, Congress spokesperson Manish Tewari retorted, saying investigating bodies were not used as a political tool under his party's rule to target rivals.

Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal and Chhattisgarh have withdrawn the general consent to the Central Bureau of Investigation in these states.

Tewari said, while in his over-an-hour-long speech, Modi spoke on a host of issues, including launching several attacks on the Congress, he skipped key 'achievements' like demonetisation, the employment he had promised to generate and the agrarian distress across the country.

"Lok Sabha 2019 will not be a battle between a majboor sarkar and a majboot sarkar, it is a fight between dictatorship and democracy. It is a battle between 'bhashan' (speeches) and 'prashasan' (administration) and it is going to be a test of 'jumla' versus impeccable track record of service which the Congress has delivered for years," he said.

Targeting the government over the state of internal security, he said Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman had stated that there was no big terror attack during the BJP rule.

"If this was to be true, then what was the Uri attack, where 19 soldiers were killed in a terror strike, and the Pathankot terror strike?" Tewari asked.

Both the terror attacks had taken place in 2016.

The Congress leader said the situation in the Kashmir Valley was bad and wondered what was the progress of the Naga Peace Accord, signed between the Centre and the Nationalist Socialist Council of Nagaland (Isak-Muivah) in 2015.

"What is the government's policy towards Pakistan? Why is it so that our trusted friend Russia has been selling arms to Pakistan? The way American President Donald Trump has been mocking you and India's diplomacy...why is there no response from the government or the BJP?," he asked.

Last week, Trump took a jibe at Modi for funding a 'library' in Afghanistan, saying it was of no use in the war-torn country, as he criticised India and others for not doing enough for the land-locked nation's security.
January 12, 2019 08:39 IST

ISRO has to select astronauts, training them to withstand the space environment, and then bring them back to earth and rehabilitate them.

Peerzada Abrar reports.

IMAGE: Then Squadron Leader Rakesh Sharma, the first Indian in space, with Ship Commander Yury Malyshev, right, and Flight Engineer Gennady Strekalov, left.

The cosmonauts were launched from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in present day Kazakhstan in a Soviet rocket Soyuz T-11. Photograph: Kind courtesy Spacefacts.de

The Indian Space Research Organisation is setting up a Human Space Flight Centre in Bengaluru, which will support its quest of making the country's maiden manned space mission a success.

"This centre will help in carrying out the job related to all the human space programmes," said ISRO Chairman K Sivan.

Gaganyaan, an Indian crewed orbital spacecraft, is intended to be the foundation of the Indian Human Spaceflight Programme.

On its maiden mission, it will send three astronauts to orbit the earth at an altitude of 400 km, for up to seven days.

Gaganyaan is a Rs 10,000 crore (Rs 100 billion) project and the space agency has kept a target to conduct the manned mission by December 2021. It will, however, conduct two unmanned missions before that.

The Human Space Flight Centre will have senior scientist Unnikrishnan Nair as the director, while the Gaganyaan project will be headed by R Hutton at the centre.

ISRO said it has to select astronauts, training them to withstand the space environment, and then bring them back to earth and rehabilitate them.

The centre will support that. Sivan said the initial training will be done in India and advanced training outside the country, mostly in Russia.

"We want women astronauts too. In my opinion, we have to train both men and women," said Sivan.

Last November, Jean-Yves Le Gall, president of the French space agency CNES, and Sivan announced the creation of a French-Indian working group on human spaceflight. This was the follow-up of a major commitment made by French President Emmanuel Macron after his visit to India.

CNES and ISRO will combine their expertise in space medicine, astronaut health monitoring, life support, radiation protection, space debris protection and personal hygiene systems.

Engineering teams have also begun discussions and it is envisioned that infrastructure such as the CADMOS centre for the development of microgravity applications and space operations, or the MEDES space clinic, will be used for training of future Indian astronauts, as well as exchange of specialist personnel.

At a time when the country is giving rise to cutting edge technology start-ups, Sivan said ISRO is open to collaborating for space missions including Gaganyaan.

ISRO aims to achieve this through setting up six incubation centres across the country. Last September, it already opened a space technology incubation centre at Agartala. ISRO will throw up problems to young ventures to solve them.

"Once the prototype is useful for us, we will (utilise) that," said Sivan. He said the organisation is also encouraging Indian students to work on projects at ISRO.

"Why do our Indian fellows have to go to NASA? They can come here."
January 12, 2019 17:48 IST

IMAGE: SP and BSP members celebrate after their parties alliance, in Allahabad, on Saturday. Photograph: Photograph: PTI Photo

Call it political compulsion or an eye on maximum number of seats in the upcoming Lok Sabha polls, the coming together of Samajwadi Party and Bahujan Samaj Party only proves the adage that in politics, there are no permanent friends or foes.

The once-arch rivals announced their tie-up in Uttar Pradesh for the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, sharing 38 seats each and keeping the Congress out of the alliance.

The parties seem to have forgotten their two decade-old antagonism for a 'political revolution' which they hope would 'last long'.

"I am moving ahead of the 1995 guest house incident in the interest of the country and to serve the people, who are upset with the BJP's 'anti-people' policies," BSP supremo Mayawati said Saturday at a press conference here which was also attended by SP chief Akhilesh Yadav.

"The SP-BSP tie-up is a natural alliance. Yeh lamba chaleyga, aagey bhi chaleyga, Lok Sabha chunav ke baad, UP assembly mein bhi yeh sthayee chalega (This will last long, even beyond LS polls and in UP Assembly elections)," she said, adding it was a 'political revolution'.

In 1993, SP-BSP had formed an alliance to stop the BJP's winning spree after the Ram temple movement.

Then SP chief Mulayam Singh Yadav and BSP founder Kanshi Ram had joined hands and succeeded in leaving a mark in the state politics by winning 167 assembly seats. The BSP had got 67 seats and SP 109.

The alliance, however, did not last and ended in 1995 after the infamous Meera Bai Marg guest house incident wherein SP workers misbehaved with Mayawati.

An unruly mob of SP workers had stormed into the Meerabai Guest House here where Mayawati was huddled in a meeting with her MLAs.

Mayawati's room was vandalised, she was abused and allegedly beaten up. When the BSP MLAs failed to protect her, BJP MLA Brahm Dutt Dwivedi took her out of the guest house to safety.

It was then that the BSP joined hands with the BJP to form the government in the state.

The incident had left an indelible mark in the relationship between the two parties. It was said Kanshi Ram made numerous efforts to revive the coalition, but Mayawati held the fort in her opposition to a possible tie-up.

However, 23 years later, it seems Mayawati has moved on.

The BSP-SP came close during the parliamentary by-polls in Gorakhpur and Phulpur recently wherein the BSP supported SP candidates who succeeded in winning both the seats -- Gorakhpur vacated by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and Phulpur by his deputy Keshav Prasad Maurya.

In the 2014 Lok Sabha polls, the SP had won five seats, while the BSP failed to win any seat.

In the 2017 assembly polls, SP and BSP got 22 per cent votes each.

Come to 2019, if both the parties continue to have a say in their traditional vote bank, the combine can create hurdles for the Bharatiya Janata Party.

In the politically-crucial Uttar Pradesh, there are about 22 per cent Dalits, 45 per cent OBCs and 19 per cent Muslims, whose vote share will be decisive in the general elections this year.

"The SP-BSP alliance will certainly clear the dilemma of Muslim voters who are anti-BJP and with no division of their votes between SP and BSP, our alliance will get their votes in the major chunk," a senior SP leader said.

Commenting on how the new alliance will be a show stealer, SP president Akhilesh Yadav said, "The path of Delhi's power traverses through Uttar Pradesh and our alliance will be able to stop the BJP for sure."

"The alliance with BSP was founded in my heart when the BJP conspired and got BSP candidate Bhim Rao Ambedkar defeated during the Rajya Sabha biennial polls. I had said that if I had to take two steps backward for the alliance, I will do it," he said, thanking Mayawati.

Although Akhilesh Yadav's estranged uncle Shivpal Yadav, who recently floated the Pragatisheel Samajwadi Party (Lohia), claimed that he would emerge as a 'strong force' in the polls, Mayawati asked people 'not to waste their vote on his (Shivpal's) party funded by the BJP'.

"BJP's money will go down the drain as it is running Shivpal's party," she said. Akhilesh, however, did not comment on Shivpal's claim.
Source:

January 12, 2019 21:28 IST

IMAGE: BSP supremo Mayawati and SP president Akhilesh Yadav during a joint press conference, in Lucknow, on Saturday. Photograph: Nand Kumar/PTI Photo

Any grand alliance of opposition parties against the Bharatiya Janata Party for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections will bring in anarchy, corruption and political instability, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said on Saturday.

"Those who who did not like each other are talking about a maha gathbandhan (grand alliance). This is an alliance for corruption, anarchy and political instability," Yogi said as the Samajwadi Party and the Bahujan Samaj Party announced their alliance to fight Lok Sabha elections.

The BJP has respected 'Ram and roti' through its emphasis on development of all sections of the society and respect to the faith of the people, Yogi said at the party's national council meeting in New Delhi.

The UP chief minister also attacked the Congress, saying the party furthered the interests of a family, promoted casteism, regionalism and kept the country in limbo for 50 years.

"Under the leadership of Narendra Modi, the BJP brought the country out of this state of limbo through welfare schemes for all sections of the society and good governance," he said.

Yogi asserted that in the upcoming Lok Sabha polls, the BJP will perform better than it did in 2014 and a "strong and capable" government under Modi's leadership will be formed again.

"Ask any impartial person -- a rural woman, a solider, a farmer or youth -- they will all say 'Kaho Dil Se Modi Phir Se' (they will vouch for bringing in Modi once again)."

Listing out the achievements of the Modi government, Yogi said the country has gained confidence under the leadership of the Prime Minister and nationalism, development and good governance have charted a new direction in the four years of his government.

Terming the SP-BSP tie-up as 'gunaah bandhan', UP BJP chief Mahendra Nath Pandey on Saturday said it was a means to cover up crimes and an attempt to save each other's identity.

In a statement issued in Lucknow, Pandey said, "This is a 'gunaah bandhan', which has been forged to cover up crimes, while attempting to save each other's identity. This is an alliance of opportunistic forces, who had thrown Uttar Pradesh in the fire of misgovernance, corruption and crime."

He also said under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the BJP government at the Centre had worked for all sections of the society and given a new identity to good governance.

"By raising questions on EVMs today, Mayawati has admitted her defeat," Pandey said.

He claimed that the alliance will face defeat in Uttar Pradesh in the coming Lok Sabha polls, irrespective of the election method.

"Mayawati shook hands with the SP, which is guilty of unleashing atrocities on Dalits and the poor, deprived, exploited sections of the society," Pandey said.

He claimed that the alliance, which was a 'fallout of the fear of a Modi Tsunami', would have 'no impact on the BJP'.

BJP leader and UP Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya termed the SP-BSP joining hands as an 'alliance of corruption and goondaism'.

"And let me make it clear that people are solidly behind Modi and the BJP will do better than it did in 2014. The backward community is backing Modi," he said at the national convention.

The parties kept the Congress out of the alliance, but said they will not field candidates in Amethi and Rae Bareli, represented by Congress president Rahul Gandhi and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi.

The alliance left two more seats for smaller allies.

In the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, the BJP had won 71 out of the 80 Lok Sabha seats in the state.
Source:

January 12, 2019 21:01 IST

IMAGE: BSP supremo Mayawati and Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav during a joint press conference in Lucknow on Saturday. Photograph: Nand Kumar/PTI Photo

Left out of the Samajwadi Party-Bahujan Samaj Party alliance in Uttar Pradesh, the Congress is likely to contest the Lok Sabha polls on its own in the crucial Hindi heartland state, sources said.

The Congress leadership maintained a stoic silence and refused to comment on being left out of the alliance of regional rivals SP and BSP for the high-stakes general election, which is only months away.

Asked to comment on the tie-up announced by BSP chief Mayawati and SP leader Akhilesh Yadav, All India Congress Committee general secretary in-charge of Uttar Pradesh Ghulam Nabi Azad said the party would not react immediately and would come out with a detailed reaction in Lucknow on Sunday.

Meanwhile, the Rashtriya Lok Dal kept its hopes alive, saying the talks for finding a place in the alliance were continuing.

"The alliance of the two parties has been announced today...as far as we are concerned, our talks for the same are continuing," RLD national spokesperson Anil Dubey told PTI.

On the SP and the BSP deciding to contest 38 Lok Sabha seats each in Uttar Pradesh and leaving two seats for the Congress, thereby sparing only two seats for other parties, Dubey claimed that seats were not an issue and if any party had to be included in the alliance, a way could always be found.

"If anyone has to be adjusted, there will be no problem with seats as those can be found," he stressed.

The RLD leader said his party's intention was to defeat the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party, for which like-minded parties had to join hands.

"To achieve this, we are prepared for both dedication and sacrifice, but our honour should not be compromised," he added

Uttar Pradesh RLD president Masood Ahmed said the party was confident of getting its rightful share.

"We have not lost hope. The RLD is still in the alliance...the vice-president of the party, Jayant Chaudhary, has talked to (SP chief) Akhilesh Yadav and demanded six seats...Chaudhary will talk to the leaders (of the tie-up)...we will get our rightful share," he said.

"Things will be clear in a week's time...we are confident that the leaders (of the tie-up) will think over our demands," Ahmed added.

Earlier, Azad met Uttar Pradesh Congress chief Raj Babbar, Congress Legislature Party (CLP) leader and Rajya Sabha member Sanjay Singh and former MP Pramod Tiwari at his residence.

Azad and UP Congress leaders have been meeting leaders from the western parts of the state for the past two days. The veteran leader said he, along with other leaders, would be meeting the leaders and workers of the party from central and eastern Uttar Pradesh on Sunday.

"We heard the press conference of the BSP and SP leaders. The party will come out with its stand in Lucknow on Sunday," Azad merely said, while refusing to react on the Congress being left out of the alliance.

He said the party would not react on the announcement on Saturday and any leader commenting on the issue would be putting forth his personal view.

Asked whether the tie-up was a setback for the Congress, he refused to comment.

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister and Congress leader Kamal Nath said there was a need for alliances in the entire country to defeat the BJP.

He also said the saffron party got only 31 per cent votes in the 2014 Lok Sabha polls and claimed that it had the people's mandate, adding that even this happened because votes were split.

However, party insiders felt that the SP-BSP tie-up was a blow to the Congress's efforts to unite all the opposition parties.

Others saw a silver lining in this, saying the party might win more seats if it went it alone in Uttar Pradesh. They said this would also see further strengthening of the party at the grassroots level and would give a moral boost to its workers in the state.

One of the Congress leaders admitted that the party now had no choice but go it alone in Uttar Pradesh in the Lok Sabha polls.

Congress spokesperson Manish Tewari said Azad would give a structured response to it on Sunday.

"Insofar as alliances are concerned, we have always believed that state-specific alliances, which further the progressive and pluralistic ideals, which further consolidate the liberalised idea of India, are the way forward and I think there is space for that," he said.

Opposition leaders downplayed the announcement of a pre-poll tie-up between the SP and the BSP.

Asked if it was a setback for the opposition unity efforts, an opposition leader admitted it but claimed that the opposition parties were united in all the states to ensure that the secular votes were not divided.

Opposition leaders like Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee, Communist Party of India-Marxist general secretary Sitaram Yechury and the Rashtriya Janata Dal's Tejashwi Yadav welcomed the SP-BSP tie-up, saying the two parties would be able to defeat the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party in the upcoming polls in Uttar Pradesh.

The Congress has been seeking to stitch an alliance in Uttar Pradesh, but its efforts suffered a dent as the SP-BSP left the Grand Old Party out of their poll tie-up but left the two seats of Amethi and Rae Bareli, currently represented in the Lok Sabha by Congress chief Rahul Gandhi and United Progressive Alliance chairperson Sonia Gandhi respectively.

The SP-BSP alliance will not field candidates in these two seats.
C arbon dioxide, the most important greenhouse gas produced by combustion of fuels, has become a cause of global panic as its concentration in the Earth's atmosphere has been rising alarmingly.

This devil, however, is now turning into a product that helps people, countries, consultants, traders, corporations and even farmers earn billions of rupees. This was an unimaginable trading opportunity not more than a decade ago.

Carbon credits are a part of international emission trading norms. They incentivise companies or countries that emit less carbon. The total annual emissions are capped and the market allocates a monetary value to any shortfall through trading. Businesses can exchange, buy or sell carbon credits in international markets at the prevailing market price.

India and China are likely to emerge as the biggest sellers and Europe is going to be the biggest buyers of carbon credits.

Last year global carbon credit trading was estimated at $5 billion, with India's contribution at around $1 billion. India is one of the countries that have 'credits' for emitting less carbon. India and China have surplus credit to offer to countries that have a deficit.

India has generated some 30 million carbon credits and has roughly another 140 million to push into the world market. Waste disposal units, plantation companies, chemical plants and municipal corporations can sell the carbon credits and make money.

Carbon, like any other commodity, has begun to be traded on India's Multi Commodity Exchange since last the fortnight. MCX has become first exchange in Asia to trade carbon credits.

So how do you trade in carbon credits? Who can trade in them, and at what price? Joseph Massey, Deputy Managing Director, MCX, spoke to Managing Editor Sheela Bhatt to explain the futures trading in carbon, and related issues.

What is carbon credit?

As nations have progressed we have been emitting carbon, or gases which result in warming of the globe. Some decades ago a debate started on how to reduce the emission of harmful gases that contributes to the greenhouse effect that causes global warming. So, countries came together and signed an agreement named the Kyoto Protocol.

The Kyoto Protocol has created a mechanism under which countries that have been emitting more carbon and other gases (greenhouse gases include ozone, carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide and even water vapour) have voluntarily decided that they will bring down the level of carbon they are emitting to the levels of early 1990s.

Developed countries, mostly European, had said that they will bring down the level in the period from 2008 to 2012. In 2008, these developed countries have decided on different norms to bring down the level of emission fixed for their companies and factories.

A company has two ways to reduce emissions. One, it can reduce the GHG (greenhouse gases) by adopting new technology or improving upon the existing technology to attain the new norms for emission of gases. Or it can tie up with developing nations and help them set up new technology that is eco-friendly, thereby helping developing country or its companies 'earn' credits.

India, China and some other Asian countries have the advantage because they are developing countries. Any company, factories or farm owner in India can get linked to United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and know the 'standard' level of carbon emission allowed for its outfit or activity. The extent to which I am emitting less carbon (as per standard fixed by UNFCCC) I get credited in a developing country. This is called carbon credit.

These credits are bought over by the companies of developed countries -- mostly Europeans -- because the United States has not signed the Kyoto Protocol.

How does it work in real life?

Assume that British Petroleum is running a plant in the United Kingdom. Say, that it is emitting more gases than the accepted norms of the UNFCCC. It can tie up with its own subsidiary in, say, India or China under the Clean Development Mechanism. It can buy the 'carbon credit' by making Indian or Chinese plant more eco-savvy with the help of technology transfer. It can tie up with any other company like Indian Oil [ Get Quote ] , or anybody else, in the open market.

In December 2008, an audit will be done of their efforts to reduce gases and their actual level of emission. China and India are ensuring that new technologies for energy savings are adopted so that they become entitled for more carbon credits. They are selling their credits to their counterparts in Europe. This is how a market for carbon credit is created.

Every year European companies are required to meet certain norms, beginning 2008. By 2012, they will achieve the required standard of carbon emission. So, in the coming five years there will be a lot of carbon credit deals.

What is Clean Development Mechanism?

Under the CDM you can cut the deal for carbon credit. Under the UNFCCC, charter any company from the developed world can tie up with a company in the developing country that is a signatory to the Kyoto Protocol. These companies in developing countries must adopt newer technologies, emitting lesser gases, and save energy.

Only a portion of the total earnings of carbon credits of the company can be transferred to the company of the developed countries under CDM. There is a fixed quota on buying of credit by companies in Europe.

How does MCX trade carbon credits?

This entire process was not understood well by many. Those who knew about the possibility of earning profits, adopted new technologies, saved credits and sold it to improve their bottomline.

Many companies did not apply to get credit even though they had new technologies. Some companies used management consultancies to make their plan greener to emit less GHG. These management consultancies then scouted for buyers to sell carbon credits. It was a bilateral deal.

However, the price to sell carbon credits at was not available on a public platform. The price range people were getting used to was about Euro 15 or maybe less per tonne of carbon. Today, one tonne of carbon credit fetches around Euro 22. It is traded on the European Climate Exchange. Therefore, you emit one tonne less and you get Euro 22. Emit less and increase/add to your profit.

We at the MCX decided to trade carbon credits because we are in to futures trading. Let people judge if they want to hold on to their accumulated carbon credits or sell them now.

MCX is the futures exchange. People here are getting price signals for the carbon for the delivery in next five years. Our exchange is only for Indians and Indian companies. Every year, in the month of December, the contract expires and at that time people who have bought or sold carbon will have to give or take delivery. They can fulfill the deal prior to December too, but most people will wait until December because that is the time to meet the norms in Europe.

Say, if the Indian buyer thinks that the current price is low for him he will wait before selling his credits. The Indian government has not fixed any norms nor has it made it compulsory to reduce carbon emissions to a certain level. So, people who are coming to buy from Indians are actually financial investors. They are thinking that if the Europeans are unable to meet their target of reducing the emission levels by 2009 or 2010 or 2012, then the demand for the carbon will increase and then they may make more money.

So investors are willing to buy now to sell later. There is a huge requirement of carbon credits in Europe before 2012. Only those Indian companies that meet the UNFCCC norms and take up new technologies will be entitled to sell carbon credits.

There are parameters set and detailed audit is done before you get the entitlement to sell the credit. In India, already 300 to 400 companies have carbon credits after meeting UNFCCC norms. Till MCX came along, these companies were not getting best-suited price. Some were getting Euro 15 and some were getting Euro 18 through bilateral agreements. When the contract expires in December, it is expected that prices will be firm up then.

On MCX we already have power, energy and metal companies who are trading. These companies are high-energy consuming companies. They need better technology to emit less carbon.

Is this market also good for the small investors?

These carbon credits are with the large manufacturing companies who are adopting UNFCCC norms. Retail investors can come in the market and buy the contract if they think the market of carbon is going to firm up. Like any other asset they can buy these too. It is kept in the form of an electronic certificate.

We are keeping the registry and the ownership will travel from the original owner to the next buyer. In the short-term, large investors are likely to come and later we expect banks to get into the market too. This business is a function of money, and someone will have to hold on to these big transactions to sell at the appropriate time.

Isn't it bit dubious to allow polluters in Europe to buy carbon credit and get away with it?

It is incorrect to say that because under UNFCCC the polluters cannot buy 100 per cent of the carbon credits they are required to reduce. Say, out of 100 per cent they have to induce 75 per cent locally by various means in their own country. They can buy only 25 per cent of carbon credits from developing countries.

Tell us what's the flip side of your business?

Like in the case of any other asset, its price is determined by a function of demand and supply. Now, norms are known and on that basis European companies will meet the target between December 2008 and 2012. People are wondering how much credit will be available in market at that time. To what extent would norms be met by European companies. . .

As December gets closer, it is possible that some government might tinker with these norms a little if the targets could not be met. If these norms are changed, prices can go through a correction. But, as of now, there is a very transparent mechanism in which the norms for the next five years have been fixed.

Governments have become signatories to the Kyoto Protocol and they have set the norms to reduce the level of carbon emission. Already companies are on way to meeting their target.

Other than this, it's a question of having correct information. How much will be the demand for carbon credit some years from now? How much will the supply be? It is a safe market because it is a matter of having more information on the extent of demand and supply of carbon credit market.

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By Steven Rogers, 01/12/2019



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Steven Rogers is a senior entertainment reporter for Reality TV World and been covering the reality TV genre for two decades.

star Colt Johnson has filed for divorce from Larissa Christina Dos Santos Lima following their violent Thursday night fight that left both parties bloodied and resulted in Larissa later being arrested for domestic violence.Colt filed for divorce in Clark County Court on Friday, according to court records obtained by Reality TV World. Colt's filing did not list an attorney and was filed "Pro Se," which means he is currently representing himself in the case.Colt's mom Debbie Johnson -- who ironically, had just publicly gushed about Larissa a few days ago -- is also listed in the court records as having paid the filing's $299.00 court fee.Larissa was released from jail on bond on Saturday using funds her friend Carmen raised after she created a GoFundMe account and used Larissa's Instagram account to ask the star's followers to contribute to the fund, which will also be used to pay her legal expenses."Hi John," Larissa wrote blogger John Yates in an Instagram direct message he shared on his Instagram account on Saturday morning. "I'm out"Larissa's next court appearance in the case has been scheduled for February 12, according to court records obtained by Reality TV World.According to Larissa -- who updated her Instagram followers as well as John via text messages on Thursday night in real time as her fight with Colt was transpiring -- the disturbing incident began when she allegedly found email receipts for pornographic videos Colt had allegedly purchased.Larissa posted screenshots of one receipt in particular on Instagram, trying to prove Colt had bought a "Jacuzzi Sex" video for $59.99.Colt's alleged purchases sparked an argument, which then escalated into bloody injuries -- including a large gash on Larissa's cheek, scratches on Larissa's torso, blood smears on Larissa's face, and a cut on the inside of Colt's lip -- and Larissa's eventual arrest."Colt called the cops on me we argue," Larissa posted Thursday night on her own Instagram account alongside two photos of her face which had a nasty scratch down her cheek.In an Instagram Stories video, Larissa showed off her injuries and admitted she scratched Colt, but only in alleged self defense."Colt called the cops on me. I am going to be deported. I just scratched him because he was hurting me. As you see, I am really hurt," Larissa said. "But he called the police first."Larissa continued on Instagram Stories, "Colt argued because many vids he tortured me I need one attorney he called the cops. Please help me he will lie."Larissa later deleted most of the material she had posted about her altercation with Colt.Larissa apparently wanted fans to know her side of the story because she also begged John to publicly share information she had provided him with."The cops are here. Please let people know," Larissa apparently told John in a text message.John said Larissa asked him to post their private text messages."I found him buying pornography. John he's pedophile too," Larissa apparently told John in a text. "He cut off my [signal]."John also received a photo from someone claiming to be Colt's friend. The picture showed Colt holding his lip down and showing a bleeding cut on inside his mouth.John then shared a video on Instagram in which Larissa was recording herself to prove her husband had sprayed shaving cream all over her arms and clothing.Larissa alleged in the video Colt had sprayed her with the shaving cream in order to provoke a reaction and make her "crazy." She called him "abusive" as Colt stood in a doorway and repeatedly asked his wife to "stop."Larissa eventually told John that she had left her shared home with Colt and found safety at her close friend Carmen's house, where she received medical treatment from an EMT.John revealed Carmen later informed him that Larissa had been arrested.On Friday, TMZ reported, citing law enforcement sources, that police initially visited the couple's Las Vegas home after Larissa called the police around 11PM. However Colt was no longer at the home when they arrived.Officers then reportedly returned to the scene a couple of hours later and spoke with both Colt and Larissa and determined she had a single deep cut and blood spatter on her face.However, Colt reportedly denied being responsible for the scratches on Larissa's torso and claimed to be a nail-biter, resulting in the police deciding Colt could not have caused the scratches and they had been self-inflicted by Larissa.Then, after also seeing Larissa already had two previous domestic violence arrests, the officers arrested Larissa.Before her arrest, Larissa actually took to Instagram and wrote, "I was nervous thinking that I would be arrested today because when I tried to call the cops, Colt [took] my phone and called the cops on me. Thank God, this life of abuse and manipulation is over. I received medical help and I am safe at my friends house."In addition to the new altercation, John released some disturbing screenshots of alleged text messages between Colt and Larissa on Instagram. Although it's unclear when the messages were exchanged, they show how unhealthy the couple's relationship is.Colt allegedly told Larissa that she has no control over what he does or whether he cheat on her. Colt also allegedly swore at Larissa and called her a "c-nt" and "piece of sh-t" among other horrible names.As viewers are well aware, Larissa previously accused Colt of cheating on her and flirting with multiple women on social media. Colt subsequently owned up to his mistakes and claimed he was going to try to be a better man and fight for his marriage.Larissa said she will likely be deported back to Brazil because she had already been arrested twice before during her time in the United States.Larissa was taken into custody back in November 2018 for domestic violence after another huge fight with Colt.Larissa had also been arrested in June 2018 for domestic battery under similar circumstances -- an off-screen incident that Colt was shown mentioning in the final minutes of 's sixth-season finale when it aired on December 30.While Larissa was charged in the June 2018 incident, the charge was eventually dismissed in October 2018.
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During last Saturdays Yellow Vest protests in Paris, a group of toughs used a hijacked construction vehicle to break into the courtyard of the building where the government spokesman has his office. Benjamin Griveaux, the spokesman, was hustled out amid the threat of violence. The incident shocked people across France. The Gilets Jaunes protests that have attracted wide supportthroughout the country seemed this time to have crossed a line.

Officials including President Emmanuel Macron denounced the violence as an assault on the Republic, an overused cliche that needlessly dramatizestensions. Still, a prominent Yellow Vest leader a few months ago did raise the idea of trying to break into the Elysee Palace.

This latest twist in the Yellow Vest plot made me think of a conversation I had in the Elysee some 30 years ago, when I was writing a book on President Francois Mitterrand. I was interviewing Hubert Vedrine, at the time Mitterrands chief of staff.

We were in Vedrines office in the Elysee, 55 rue du Faubourg St. Honore, in the 8th arrondissement, not far from the American Embassy and the Place de la Concorde. In short, the presidency sits directly in the elegant center of historic Paris on a narrow city street. This is not the most secure site for a presidential palace. Moreover, fears of terrorist attacks were acute in that era.

The doors to Vedrines office were ornate wood, about 15 feet high -- typical for an early 18th Century Parisian noblemans mansion. I looked at them and imagined the similar doors to Mitterrands office just across the grand staircase. (This had been De Gaulles old office, and I had once interviewed Mitterrand there.) There were a couple of elegant ushers to show visitors around, but no one who looked mission-capable.

I asked Vedrine, What protection have you got against terrorist attacks? It seems possible that a terrorist group could rush the Elysee, break through the gate, run up the staircase and take the President of France hostage.

I imagined hidden steel doors able to close in a few seconds, a secret passage down to some underground bunker. Remarkably, Vedrine looked at me and said, Quest-ce que vous voulez quon fasse? That is, what do you suggest we do about it? The Elysee as a fortress is hopeless.

It seemed a stupefying fatalism unless Vedrine was putting me on. But I think he was serious.

Perhaps today the Elysee is armed with hidden steel doors and other forms of protection, but the building remains a sitting duck. Is number 10 Downing St. better protected? The German chancellery is. Then theres the White House, highly protected yet still vulnerable. In Cameroons capital Yaounde, the presidential palace sits literally atop a hill, with a kind of terraced set of barriers protecting it on the way up. One thinks of Machiavellis advice on protecting the Prince and the State.

On returning to power in 1958, during the Algerian War, Charles de Gaulle considered moving the presidency to Versailles. Its not merely more magnificent, its also more defensible, as De Gaulle, a military man, was well aware. Today, Macron may envisage moving the presidential palace to a new construction out of central Paris, where it could be better organized and protected.

Nevertheless, imagine that in todays France, a few dozen rioters were able to get into the presidential palace. Or imagine a couple of helicopters landing in the Elysee courtyard with terrorist squads.

France has always been overcentralized politically. A famous essay on Frances political arrangement has the title Paris and the French desert. Most government buildings, many of them dating from one or two centuries ago, are centralized as well. Even in 2019, peaceful Yellow Vest demonstrations accompanied by uncontrolled thugs smashing stores and attacking the police on the Champs-Elysees can terrorize a crucial part of the city and intimidate the government to the point that it fears overthrow -- as it did in 1968.

This concentration of effect is one reason the Yellow Vest movement, the latest avatar of France's tradition of going into the street, has been so effective. It helps explain why this unexpected, spontaneous uprising of genuinely aggrieved citizens has impacted the country for eight weeks now and has attracted so much media attention in the United States.

There are plenty of other countries with a tradition of massive street marches that sometimes descend into violence. But for Americans, Frances inability despite its thousands of police to deal with the demonstrations and keep rioters away from sensitive targets seems incomprehensible. The French states vulnerability to the violence of social protest is an anachronistic weakness that needs fixing. Its endurance appears to represent a kind of fatalism or incompetence.
Every year in November and December the Russian government releases substantial information about the Defense Ministrys yearly accomplishments and its plans for next year. A main focus of the information release is military intimidation of the West. I did not expect much this year because at the November meetings in Sochi President Putins public speeches provided virtually no new information.[1] Also, Russia was then trying to moderate its threat profile in the West in an effort to end sanctions, end NATO defense preparations and exercises against Russian aggression and terminate U.S. nuclear modernization.[2] I was wrong. Russia turned on a dime (apparently because of the Trump administrations effort to enforce Russian compliance with the INF Treaty) and went back into high nuclear threat mode. This is President Putins default response when the West does or says things he doesnt like.

In 2007, the Russian nuclear missile targeting threat was first employed by the then-commander of the Russian Strategic Missile Force Colonel General Nikolay Solovtsov who said that if need be, our missiles would be targeted on the new [U.S.] ABM facilities, if they are built.[3] Then and now, there is no indication in open sources that the Russian ICBM force has anything other than a nuclear capability. Putin unleashed new nuclear threats, including a targeting threat in October 2018.[4] By late December 2018, five more targeting threats were made by President Putin and his senior military leadership  two more by President Putin, and one each by the Chief of the General Staff General of the Army Valery Gerasimov, by the Strategic Missile Force Commander Colonel General Sergei Karakayev and by Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov.[5] Additionally, there were also chilling statements by President Putin about the enhanced risk of nuclear war.[6] Significantly, senior Russian officials threatened a nuclear arms race,[7] gloated about Russias new super nuclear weapons,[8] and warned about the end arms control.[9] Moreover, Russia conducted bomber provocations, including the deployment of Tu-160s nuclear-capable bombers to Venezuela, with its implied threat of a new Cuban Missile Crisis.[10]

In December 2018, Russia released a great deal of information concerning its military accomplishments and plans with emphasis on the nuclear superweapons revealed by Putin in his infamous March 1st Duma address, particularly those that are now operational or will soon become operational (the Kinzhal and the Avangard hypersonic missiles, the bomber upgrades including their new nuclear-capable cruise missiles and the Sarmat heavy ICBM with a 2021 IOC.).[11] Russian Defense Minister General of the Army Sergey Shoigu stated that: 1) The modernity level of the Strategic Nuclear Forces has reached 82%...: 2) the new Sarmat heavy ICBM had been successfully tested in a pop-up test; 3) in 2019 the first missile regiment equippedwith [the] Avangard hypersonic glide vehicle would become operational; 4) in 2019 a total of 31 Yars and Avangard nuclear ICBMs would be put combat duty; 5) in 2019 the first Borey A ballistic missile submarine would become operational; 6) four Tu-95 nuclear-capable bombers would be modernized, and 7) Russia had conducted a salvo launch of 12 nuclear capable Kh-101 cruise missiles from a Tu-160 heavy bomber.[12] This adds up to the modernization in a single year of about 10 percent of the declared Russian strategic nuclear force under the New START Treaty.[13] TASS also reported that the new version of the Tu-160 (the Tu-160M2), which will add 500 additional deployed warheads to the Russian strategic nuclear force, is now being manufactured.[14]

On December 24, Defense Minister Shoigu said Russia had achieved an unprecedented level of equipment with modern weapons, surpassing all other nations.[15] Two days later, President Putin presided over a successful test of the Avangard hypersonic glide vehicle and stated that We will continue to work according to the plans that were designed for this system and other promising systems for equipping the army and the fleet.[16]

One of the most important of the December revelations, but one that has been completely ignored in the West, was the statement by General Karakayev that the nuclear potentials of the sides have [been] reduced more than 66% since the signing of START I.[17] This is a major departure from the Russian position. At the United Nations in April 2018, First Deputy Permanent Representative of the Russian Federation to the U.N Dmitry Polyanskiy declared that Russia cut its nuclear arsenal by over 85 percent as compared to its stockpiles at the height of the Cold War.[18] If one uses the late Soviet declared number of over 10,000 deployed strategic nuclear warheads for the calculations,[19] the difference between an 85% reduction and a 66% reduction is almost 2,000 strategic nuclear warheads above the supposed New START Treaty allowed level of 1,550. This is much higher than any previous unclassified Western estimate of currently deployed Russian strategic nuclear warheads. For example, in 2018, Hans M. Kristensen and Robert S. Norris estimated that Russia has 2,522 deployed strategic nuclear warheads.[20]

While the New START Treaty warhead limit is not real because of loopholes, a force of over 3,300 Russian deployed strategic nuclear warheads (a two-to-one and growing Russian advantage in strategic nuclear weapons) is very significant and could impact Putins future decisions regarding war or peace. To deploy more than 3,300 strategic nuclear warheads, it takes more than simple exploitation of the New START Treaty bomber weapon counting rule which counts a bomber load of nuclear weapons as one warhead.[21] The Kristensen and Norris number already does this. A current level of over 3,300 warheads requires a substantial covert force of heavily MIRVed mobile ICBMs and/or cheating on warhead numbers on declared delivery vehicles.

The existence of a covert mobile ICBM force is consistent with General Karakayevs repeated statements that he has about 400 operational ICBMs when he cannot legally have more than about 300 consistent with Russias declared New START Treaty data on delivery vehicles.[22] He was very explicit about this in 2014 when he said the Strategic Missile Force has around 400 missiles with warheads on combat duty.[23]

During the Cold War, there were covert Soviet mobile missile deployments detailed in State Department reports to the Congress. This included the SS-16 mobile ICBM banned by the SALT II Treaty and the SS-23 mobile short-range missile banned by the INF Treaty.[24] Recently, the Russian Federation has attempted to covertly deploy the SSC-8/9M729 intermediate-range nuclear capable ground-launched cruise missile.[25] Thus, there is no apparent reason why there could not be a covert Russian deployment of the heavily MIRVed mobile SS-27 Mod 2/RS-24 Yars ICBM.[26] Cheating with mobile ICBMs is facilitated by the fact that the New START Treaty omitted almost the entire START Treaty verification regime for mobile ICBMs.[27] Most significantly, permanent on-site monitoring of mobile ICBM production has not happened since the expiration of the START Treaty in 2009. Even with the comprehensive START Treaty verification regime, the Senate Select Committee report on the monitoring of the START Treaty concluded that U.S. intelligence will have less than high confidence in its monitoring of such areas as non-deployed mobile ICBMs.[28] It is much easier to cheat with mobile ICBMs than with INF-range missiles because production and testing of mobile ICBMs were allowed by the START Treaty (with an extensive verification regime) and is allowed by the New START Treaty without any significant verification regime.

Another problem pointed out by the Senate Select Committee on Intelligences START Treaty report was counting the number of warheads on deployed missiles.[29] Subsequent to this report, there were Russian violations of START Treaty verification provisions related to counting the number of warheads on deployed missiles as detailed in a State Department report.[30] The New START Treaty made the situation worse by increasing the time allowed to get inspectors to an inspection site from nine hours in the START Treaty to 24 hours in the New START Treaty, [31] thus reducing the value of the inspections at mobile ICBM bases, making cheating easier by providing the Russians more time to remove the offending missiles.

If Russia now has over 3,300 deployed strategic nuclear warheads and programs underway to increase this number, Russia has obtained a substantial strategic nuclear advantage over the U.S made worse by the decade-old advantage they have had in non-strategic nuclear weapons.[32] The Russians believe this is very important. Indeed, then-Kremlin Chief of Staff Colonel General Sergei Ivanov linked Russias refusal to engage in new strategic nuclear arms control negotiations after 2010 to the asymmetry in nuclear modernization: When I hear our American partners say: lets reduce something else, I would like to say to them: excuse me, but what we have is relatively new. They [the U.S.] have not conducted any upgrades for a long time. They still use Trident [missiles].[33] If General Karakayev is correct, they now have a 2-to-1 advantage in deployed strategic nuclear weapons. This could encourage a Russian belief that the U.S. will back down in a future confrontation with Russia, and hence, result in more aggressive behavior by Russia.

Dr. Mark B. Schneider is a Senior Analyst with the National Institute for Public Policy. Before his retirement from the Department of Defense Senior Executive Service, Dr. Schneider served in a number of senior positions within the Office of Secretary of Defense for Policy including Principal Director for Forces Policy, Principal Director for Strategic Defense, Space and Verification Policy, Director for Strategic Arms Control Policy and Representative of the Secretary of Defense to the Nuclear Arms Control Implementation Commissions. He also served in the senior Foreign Service as a Member of the State Department Policy Planning Staff.

Notes:

[1] Even when Russian leaders are on relatively good behavior with regard to official high-level nuclear threats, the they still use the state media to make nuclear threats.

[2] Mark B. Schneider, Putins Arms Control Gambit, Real Clear Defense, October 18, 2018, available at https: //www.realcleardefense.com/articles/2018/10/13/putins_arms_control_gambit 113891.html.

[3] Senate Committee on Appropriations, Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development, Examining the Proper Size of the Nuclear Weapons Stockpile to Maintain a Credible U.S. Deterrent, 112th Congress, 2nd sess., July 25, 2012, Statement of Keith B. Payne, PhD., p. A-1, available at https://www.appropriations.senate.gov/imo/media/ doc/hearings/07_25_12% 20E& W%20Nuclear%20Weapons%20Stockpile%20as%20Deterrent%20GPO%20rec ord.pd.

[4] News conference following Russian-Italian Talks, Kremlin.ru, October 24, 2018, available at http://en.kremlin. ru/events/president/news/58889.

[5] Russia to target any US missiles deployed in Europe after INF treaty terminated  Kremlin, TASS, December 21, 2018, available at http://tass.com/defense/1037260.: Russia Threatens to Target U.S. Allies If Trump Exits Treaty, Bloomberg.com, December 5, 2018, available at https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-12-05/russia-touts-combat-lasers-amid-u-s-missile-treaty-ultimatum.; Russian Missile Forces Taking Into Account US Possible Withdrawal INF Treaty, Sputnik News, December 17, 2018, available at https://sputnik news.com/military/201812171070744334-russia-missile-forces-us-withdrawal/.; Putin: Russia has enough missiles without violating treaty, and nobody has hypersonic weapons like, The Associated Press, December 18, 2018, available https://www.militarytimes.com/ news/your-military/2018/12/18/putin-russia-has-enough-missiles-without-violating-treaty-and-nobody-has-hypersonic-weapons-like-theirs/.

[6] Putin Issues Chilling Warning on Rising Nuclear War Threat, Voice of America, December 20, 2018, available at https://www.voanews.com/a/putin-issues-chilling-warning-on-rising-nuclear-war-threat/4709008.html.

[7] U.S. withdrawal from INF Treaty to trigger new arms race - Deputy FM Morgulov (Part 2), Interfax, October 26, 2018, available at https://dialog.proquest.com/professional/docview/2125593811?Accounted=155509.: Russian to boost armed forces amid escalating arms race, BBC Monitoring Former Soviet Union, December 4, 2018, available at https://dialog.proquest.com/professional/docview/2148818944?Accounted=55509.

[8] Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Federation attends extended session of the Russian Defence Ministry board session, Russian Federation Defense Ministry, December 18, 2018, available at http://eng.mil .ru/en/news_page/country/more.htm?id=12208613@egNews.: Russian Defence Ministry Board Session -- Activity of Russian Defence Ministry in 2018, Russian Federation Defense Ministry, no date (late December 2018), available at https://itogi2018.mil.ru/eng.html.; Defence Ministry Board meeting, Kremlin.ru, December 18, 2018, available at http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/59431.

[9] Corridors of Power; Foreign Ministry warns of uncontrollable arms race if U.S. withdraws from INF Treaty, Interfax, October 29, 2018, available at https://dialog.proquest.com/professional/docview/212688 2547? accountid=155509.: Russian to boost armed forces amid 'escalating arms race, BBC Monitoring Former Soviet Union, December 4, 2018, available at Interfax news agency, Moscow, in Russian 0803, 0810 and 0815 gmt 4 Dec 18/BBC.

[10] Russian Tu-95MS strategic bombers of the Aerospace Forces and Tu-142 long-range ASW airplanes of the Russian Naval Air Force have successfully completed a scheduled flight over neutrals waters of the Arctic Ocean, Bering Sea and Sea of Okhotsk, Russian Federation Defense Ministry, December 5, 2018, available at http://eng. mil.ru/en/news_page/country/more.htm?id=12175129@egNews.: Norway says Russian bombers increased activity amid Nato drill, BBC Monitoring European, November 8, 2018, available at https://dialog. proquest.com/ professional/docview/2130767820?accountid=155509 .; Two Russian Tu-160 bombers, now in Venezuela, perform 10-hour flight over Caribbean Sea - Russian Defense Ministry, Interfax, December 13, 2018, available at https:// dialog .proquest.com/professional/docview/2127832404?accountid=155509.

[11] Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Federation attends extended session of the Russian Defence Ministry board session, op. cit.: Defence Ministry Board meeting, op. cit.; Chief of General Staff General of the Army Valery Gerasimov holds briefing for foreign military attaches, Russian Federation Defense Ministry, December 5, 2018, available at http://eng.mil.ru/en/news_page/country/more.htm?id=12206849@egNews.; Delivery of Sarmat ICBM to Russian Strategic Missile Forces to begin in 2021  commander, Interfax, December 17, 2018, available at https://dialog.proquest.com/professional/docview/2157713053?Accounted=155509.

[12] Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Federation attends extended session of the Russian Defence Ministry board session, op. cit.: Meeting with Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu, Kremlin.ru, December 8, 2015, available at http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/50892.

[13] New START Treaty Aggregate Numbers of Strategic Offensive Arms, (Washington D.C.: U.S. Department of State, September 1, 2018), available at https://www.state.gov/t/avc/newstart/286466.htm.

[14] Russia launches production of upgraded Tu-160 strategic bombers, TASS, December 20, 2018, available at http: //tass.com/defense/1037133.

[15] Russias Armed Forces Surpass All World Armies in Modern Weapons, Russian Federation Defense Ministry, December 24, 2018, available at http://eng.mil.ru/en/newspage/country/more.htm?id=12209498 @egNews.

[16] Russian authorities to take additional measures to develop new weapon systems, says Putin, TASS, December 26, 2018, available at http://tass.com/defense/1038018.

[17] U.S. to seek ways of leveling capacities of Russian strategic nuclear forces - Gen. Karakayev, Interfax, December 17, 2018, available at https://dialog.proquest.com/professional/docview/2157713172?Accounted=1.

[18] Statement by Mr. Dmitry Polyanskiy, First Deputy Permanent Representative of the Russian Federation to the

UN, during General Debate at the UN Disarmament Commission 2018, Permanent Mission of the Russian Federation to the United Nations, April 2, 2018, available at http://russiaun.ru/en/news/desarm0204.

[19] FACTBOX  Strategic Missile Forces Day in Russia, Sputnik, December 17, 2018, available at https://dialog .proquest.com/professional/ docview/2157472585?accountid=155509.

[20] Hans M. Kristensen & Robert S. Norris, Russian nuclear forces, 2018, Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, April

30, 2018, p. 186, available at https://thebulletin.org/2018/05/russian-nuclear-forces-2018/.

[21] New START, (Washington D.C.: U.S. Department of State, no date), available at https://www.state.gov/t/avc/ newstart/index.htm.

[22] Pavel Podvig estimated 311 ICBMs were deployed in January 2014. See Pavel Podvig, Russian strategic forces in January 2014, RussianForces.org, January 15, 2015, available at http://russianforces.org/blog/2014/01/russian_ strategic_forces_in_20.shtml. Regarding General Karakayevs statement that he has about 400 ICBMs on combat duty, see Some 400 ICBMs are on combat duty in Russia  RVSN commander, Interfax, December 16, 2014, available at https://dialog.proquest.com/professional/docview/1636603843?accountid=155509.: Russian Strategic Missile Troops have about 400 ICBM launchers  commander, BBC Monitoring Former Soviet Union, December 17, 2003, available at https://dialog.proquest.com/professional/docview/1468597532? accountid=155509.; Russias RVSN has some 400 ICBMs on duty  commander, Interfax, December 15, 2016, available at https://dialog. proquest.com/ professional/docview/1849129740?accountid=155509.; Ordnance; Russian Strategic Missile Forces comprise approx. 400 ICBMs  commander. Interfax, December 17, 2017, available at https://dialog.proquest.com/ professional/docview/1975954122?accountid=155509.; Mark Schneider, Russian Violations of the INF and New START Treaties, Information Series Issue No. 410, Natioanl Institute for Public Policy, August 15, 2016, available at http://www.nipp.org/2016/08/15/schneider-mark-russian-violations-of-the-infand-new-start-treaties/.

[23] Some 400 ICBMs are on combat duty in Russia  RVSN commander, op. cit.

[24] The Presidents Report to the Congress on Soviet Noncompliance with Arms Control Agreements, (Washington

D.C.: The White House, January 23.1984), p. 5.: Case Study: SS-23 Missiles in Eastern Europe, U.S. Department of State Fact Sheet, October 1, 2005, available at http://2001-2009.state.gov/t/vci/rls/prsrl/57238.htm.

[25] Director of National Intelligence Daniel Coats on Russias INF Treaty Violation, November 30, 2018, available at https://www.dni.gov/index.php/newsroom/speeches-interviews/item/1923-director-of-national-intelligence-daniel-coats-on-russia-s-inf-treaty-violation.

[26] Charles P. Vick, A Highly Modified Topol-M/SS-27, Globalsecurity.org, October 10, 2013, available at http:// www.global security.org/wmd/world/russia/rs-24.htm.

[27] The New START Working Group, New START: Potemkin Village Verification, The Heritage Foundation, June 24, 2010, available at http://www.heritage.org/research/reports/2010/06/new-start-potemkin-village-verification.

[28] Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, CAPABILITY OF THE UNITED STATES TO MONITOR

COMPLIANCE WITH THE START TREATY, (Washington D.C.: Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, September 29, 1992), p. 3, available at https://www.intelligence.senate.gov/sites/default/files/publications/102431. pdf.

[29] Ibid.

[30] Adherence to and Compliance with Arms Control and Nonproliferation Agreements and Commitments, (Washington D.C.: U.S. Department of State, August 2005), pp 12-13, available at http://www.state.gov/t/ avc/rls/rpt/c15720.htm.

[31] The New START Treaty, Protocol, Section 5, paragraph 7.

[32] Obama Advisor Gary Samore, The Ball is Very Much in Tehrans Court, Radio Free Europe, April 14, 2011, available at http://www.rferl.org/content/interview samore_russia_iran_us_policy/3557326.html.

[33] Russia not interested in U.S.-proposed arms reduction - Russian presidential chief-of-staff, Russia Beyond the Headlines, March 5, 2013, available at https://www.rbth.com/news/2013/03/05/russia_not_interested_in_us-proposed_arms_reduction_-_russian_presidenti_23504.html.
This was no ordinary shipment of tanks.

The Russian Defense Ministry greeted it with a display of public pride, sending a crew from its official television channel to record the delivery's departure from the far-eastern port of Vladivostok to a military base near Moscow, a trip that will take days along the Trans-Siberian Railway.

They weren't there to celebrate the latest advance in military technology. These tanks, dispatched from more than 2,700 miles away by the Lao People's Army, are destined never to see combat again. They are T-34s, the design used by the Soviet Union in World War II and for decades after, returning home to star in military parades, museum shows and film shoots.
US local TV station group Nexstar has signed a multi-year agreement with comScore for delivering local cross-platform audience insights across local linear TV, mobile, desktop and over-the-top platforms.





As part of the deal, comScore will also be expanding its over-the-air survey to measure local OTA and OTT viewing behaviours.Over our eight-year relationship, comScore has proven to be a valuable partner in providing trusted currency and measurement data and our expanded relationship will provide Nexstar with access to comScores combined linear and digital platform data and its advanced audience targeting capabilities, said Timothy Busch, president of Nexstar.Our expanded relationship with comScore will enable Nexstar to deliver unparalleled data with scale in measurement and combined audience data across all platforms in all Nexstar markets, Busch said. As consumer content consumption evolves, comScores ability to deliver enhanced data -- and ultimately universal media measurement -- will support Nexstar and our go to market approach as we advance our strategies to best serve local and national advertising clients, particularly at the agency level, with qualified linear and digital viewing data.The news comes as Nexstar is in the process of acquiring Tribune Media in a multi-billion dollar deal. comScore also recently announced deals to provide local measurement for E.W. Scripps and Gray Television stations.
The humble Kiwi pie has made it across the world to Prague as a delicacy.

Lawrence Allen from Haka Pies explains what inspired the idea and if they enjoy our humble Steak and Cheese overseas.


If you're interested in submitting a Letter to the Editor, click here.

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With 23 Native American tribes in New Mexico, the only surprise is that it took so long for someone to launch a bookstore dedicated to indigenerdsor Native Americans obsessed with comics, games, and pop culture. Lee Francis, a member of the Laguna Pueblo tribe, opened Red Planet Books & Comics in Albuquerque a year and a half ago; it is one of the only indigenous-focused bookstores in the country.

Its a novel kind of space, Francis says. There are books that you wouldnt normally be able to find or that get crowded out by all the other books. Popular titles include Rebecca Roanhorses Trail of Lightning, the first book in the Sixth World series, Traci Sorells We Are Grateful: Otsaliheliga, and Deer Woman: An Anthology, based on the Deer Woman comic, which features works by more than a dozen Native American women.

After spending 15 years as an educator, Francis opened the store as part of a series of initiatives for indigenerds. He founded a comic book publishing house, Native Realities, in 2015. One year later, he launched Indigenous ComicCon, an annual convention promoting Native American pop culture creators. Next year, the Con will expand into a larger event called Indigenous Popular Culture Expo at venues around the city.

Red Planet has become a part of the community fabric with regular poetry readings, book clubs, community meetings, and visits from school kids. Month over month, weve kept the doors open, Francis says. In small businesses, if you can make it a year, youre doing good!

Return to the main feature.
The Authors Guild this week said its most recent survey of writing-related earnings reveals a crisis of epic proportions for American authors. According to the survey, writing-related incomes in the U.S. declined 42% since 2009, with the median author income now at a lowly $6,080 per year. And, it seems guild leaders think libraries bear at least a little responsibility.

Among a handful of policy recommendations released with the survey last week, guild leaders suggest that the U.S. should establish a federally funded Public Lending Right (PLR) for U.S. libraries. Such a right would pay authors a small fee for library lends. About a dozen or so countries currently support a public lending right, including Canada, and the U.K. The guild pushed for such a right in the 1980s without success, and its never really been seriously discussed since.

In a post on the guild survey over at Boing Boing, bestselling author Cory Doctorow suggests that a U.S. public lending right would be a terrible idea. If were going to fund authorship through state grants (which I totally, absolutely support), let's break up the digital (and publishing!) monopolists, make them pay their fair share of taxes, and fund the NEA and other institutions, he writes, adding that librarians are authors' class allies.

Doctorow makes a good point. Seeking more federal support for writers is a good idea, but tying those funds to library lends is not. A PLR in the U.S. would disproportionately reward popular and bestselling authors, while the guilds own data suggests that it is literary writers who are struggling the most.

Given the state of our politics, extracting more money for a public lending right in the U.S. is almost certainly a non-starter, just as it was in the 1980s. Nevertheless, by highlighting library lends in connection with their report on declining author incomes, one gets the impression the Authors Guild is still invested in the kind of thinking that drew them into a decade of ill-conceived, unsuccessful litigation over Googles scanning of out-of-print library books, a program that in fact fundamentally helps authors.

Are writers today are facing some unprecedented challenges? Yes, but let's be clear: libraries are not one of them. American libraries spend hundreds of millions of public dollars every year buying books, and millions more hosting authors, promoting books, literacy, and a reading culture in America.

Will 'Controlled Digital Lending' Spark the Next Big Copyright Lawsuit?

In addition to its headline-grabbing author survey, the Authors Guild this week began circulating a petition against Controlled Digital Lending (CDL)a nascent service being pioneered by a handful of libraries and nonprofits, most prominently the Internet Archives Open Library.

CDL works like this: a library scans a copy of a legally acquired print book, removes that print copy from circulation, and then lends the PDF copy on a one copy/one user model like it would the print book.

Controlled Digital Lending has been on authors and publishers radar for some time, and the Association of American Publishers has been keeping a close eye on it as well.

If [the] Internet Archives plan to expand Open Library broadly to all libraries are realized, it would eventually decimate the market for library e-books, put a massive dent in the e-book market in general, and usurp authors rights to bring their older works back into the market, guild officials say.

The issue is heating up following a recent appeals court decision in a closely watched copyright case, Capitol Records vs. ReDigi. In that case, the courts held that ReDigi, a commercial service that enabled the resale of iTunes files, was unlawful largely because the program fundamentally relied on the creation of unathorized copies. And while ReDigis model is significantly different from how CDL operates, its clear that parts of the decision that shut ReDigi down raise serious questions for CDL proponents.

In a policy paper last month, Jonathan Band, a lawyer for the library community, conceded that libraries should reevaluate the prospect of Controlled Digital Lending programs. To be sure, a library would engage in CDL for noncommercial educational purposes, in contrast to ReDigis clearly commercial motivation, Band writes. Nonetheless, libraries cannot ignore the long shadow cast by the decision.

Reserve Reading

The Authors Guild survey on writing incomes has garnered a number of interesting takes: In a post on his Whatever blog, bestselling author John Scalzi thoughtfully parses the survey, and contrasts the guilds data with the latest stats from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (which put the 2017 median income for its category of writers and authors at $61,820 annually). The BLS would tell you its not a horrible time to be in the category of writers and authorswhile the Authors Guild is sending up red flags all over the place, Scalzi notes. And dont just read Scalzis take, read the comments, too, which are excellent. (Yes, I am seriously encouraging you to read the comments on an online article).

A piece in Forbes also questions the Guilds suggestion that its harder than ever for authors these days, including comments from blogger and consultant Jane Friedman, who says she is not convinced incomes are on the decline on the whole.

The New York Times uses the survey to question whether it pays to be a writer these days. Writing for magazines and newspapers was once a solid source of additional income for professional writers, the Times writes, but the decline in freelance journalism and pay has meant less opportunity for authors to write for pay.

The library e-book market is setting up to be hot issue in 2019, and not just in America. Over at ReadersFirst, Michael Blackwell reports that Canadian libraries are taking the issue to the public, "calling upon citizens to call out publishers on library pricing and availability," and urging Canadian libraries "to post links on their websites and use social media to engage readers to demand better access for themselves through libraries."

From American Libraries, a status report on the American Library Association's finances, as the organization powers through a transformation. "After two years of challenging fiscal results for the Association, FY2018which ended in Augustwas a year of progress. The American Library Associations (ALA) total net assets increased by $7.3 million, and total membership grew by almost 3% from the prior fiscal year. Membership and Publishing department revenues either met or beat budget. And ALAs Endowment Fund continued to grow by a healthy 9%, to $47 million."

A report in Science Daily highlights a study that concludes "Americans are happier in states where governments spend more on public goods, among them libraries."

If the above is true, then the residents of Marlbourough, MA, are about get happier: The MetroWest Daily News reports that an expanded and renovated library is coming to Marlborough after city councilors Monday approved a $23.7M bond to pay for the project.

And, more happiness, this time in London, as Smithsonian has a piece on how a successful crowdfunding campaign saved a major feminist library from closure.

While we were on break, you've probably read that for the first time in 20 years (when the copyright term was extended) a huge cache of works are now entering the public domain. Librarian Barbara Fister has an interesting take in her column in Inside Higher Ed, in which she cites Duke Universitys Center for the Study of the Public Domain, which estimates that only 2% of works between 55 and 75 years old continue to retain commercial value. For the other 98% of works, no one benefits from continued copyright protection, while the entire public loses the ability to adapt, transform, preserve, digitize, republish, and otherwise make new and valuable uses of these forgotten works.

Elsewhere in copyright news, The World Intellectual Property Review reports that the U.S. Supreme Court is set to weigh in on a case that could decide whether copyright registration is necessary to pursue an infringement claim.

And via Gary Price at InfoDocket, a journal article explores the behavior of Canadian higher education institutions following a controversial 2012 copyright reform that publishers say has decimated their permissions revenue.

Also via InfoDocket, IFLA offers a tribute to the work of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, which, after 21 years, is ending it's global library program. "IFLA, on behalf of the entire global library field, would like to give thanks not only for its contributions to date, but for the immense impact it will continue to have into the future."

In Europe, Science offers the latest on Plan S, the controversial plan to require open access to scientific research, in which Robert-Jan Smits, the European Commission's OA envoy and one of the architects of the plan, says publishers are trying to stall. "The big publishers told me: Listen, we can only flip our journals [to OA] if this is signed by everyone. So first go on a trip around the world and come back in 20 years. Then we can talk again."

Meanwhile, in America, the UCLA Daily Bruin reports on the University of California's ongoing negotiation with Elsevier. "The contract cost the U.C. more than $10.5 million in 2018. This is a significant portion of the UCs approximately $40 million yearly budget for journal subscriptions, according to an email statement from Ivy Anderson, the co-chair of the UCs Publisher Negotiation Task Force."

And a note of good news to close this week, via the Philadelphia Inquirer. In what's being called a "miracle," an elementary school in Philadelphia is opening a school library. "It is a rarity in Philadelphia, where in a school district of 220 schools, just seven have certified librarians."
The Life-Changing Magic of Netflix

The eight-episode series Tidying Up with Marie Kondo premiered on January 1, sending sales of the 2014 book that launched the KonMari phenomenon soaring. After the Netflix program dropped, The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up sold more than 14K print copies, its best week of sales since December 2016. The title has sold 2.3 million copies since its release.

(See all of this week's bestselling books.)

Claiming His Inheritance

The #4 book in the country is The Fork, the Witch, and the Worm, a collection of three short stories set in the fantasy world of Eragon, the book that in 2003 kicked off Christopher Paolinis Inheritance Cycle.

Though very little occurs in these stories, our review said of the new collection, established fans may enjoy checking in on favorite characters and a world they enjoy. Those fans are legion: Paolinis quartet of novels has sold 7.5 million print copies in conventional hardcover and trade paper editions.

Instant Gratification

Amid the many new-year, new-you books, two titles debuting on our lists are by bloggers who made their names using everyones favorite multi-cooker.

In Instant Loss Cookbook, #4 in trade paper, Brittany Williams shares the low-sugar, dairy-free, and grain-free recipes that helped her lose 125 pounds. Today covered her story and other mainstream outlets followed; 80.7K people follow Williams on Instagram.

Urvashi butter-chicken lady Pitres latest, Instant Pot Fast & Easy, lands at #13 in trade paper. Our review called it a terrific addition to the ever-expanding Instant Pot library, and one that readers with global palates are sure to appreciate. Pitres Indian Instant Pot Cookbook has sold 99K print copies since its 2017 release.

New & Notable

The Boy

Tami Hoag

#10 Hardcover Fiction

In this thoughtful, character-driven sequel to 1997s A Thin Dark Line, our review said, husband-and-wife police detectives Nick Fourcade and Annie Broussard investigate the murder of a seven-year-old boy in Bayou Breaux, La.

The Library Book

Susan Orlean

#18 Hardcover Nonfiction

Orleans inquiry into the massive 1986 fire at the Los Angeles Central Public Library is a persuasive reminder of the importance of such institutions, our review said. It debuts on our list three months after its publication and is Reese Witherspoons first book club pick of 2019.

Top 10 Overall

Rank Title Author Imprint Units 1 Becoming Michelle Obama Crown 158,623 2 Brawl of the Wild (Dog Man #6) Dav Pilkey Graphix 61,556 3 Girl, Wash Your Face Rachel Hollis Nelson 42,409 4 The Fork, the Witch, and the Worm Christopher Paolini Knopf 24,255 5 Educated Tara Westover Random House 22,378 6 The Meltdown (Diary of a Wimpy Kid #13) Jeff Kinney Amulet 22,018 7 Its Not Supposed to Be This Way Lysa TerKeurst Nelson 21,856 8 The Wonky Donkey Smith/Cowley Scholastic 19,886 9 The Tattooist of Auschwitz Heather Morris Harper 18,936 10 Verses for the Dead Preston/Child Grand Central 18,814

All unit sales per NPD BookScan except where noted.
Sales of print books got off to a good start in the first week of 2019, with units up 9.3% over the week ended January 6, 2018, at outlets that report to NPD BookScan. The juvenile fiction category had the strongest performance and was up 16.4%, boosted by sales of more than 61,000 copies of Brawl of the Wild (Dog Man #6) by Dav Pilkey, which was the top seller in the juvenile fiction category. A new release, The Fork, the Witch, and the Worm by Christopher Paolini, sold more than 24,000 copies, landing it in second place on the category list. The juvenile fiction category also had a solid week, with units up 14.3%. P Is for Pterodactyl by Raj Haldar jumped to #1 on the category list, followed by a new release from National Geographic Kids, 5,000 Awesome Facts, which sold more than 6,000 copies. The adult nonfiction books that were selling well for most of December continued to be popular in the new year, and the category saw solid gains in the week ended January 5. Becoming by Michelle Obama has been the top-selling overall title since its release in November, and the memoir held on to the spot last week, selling more than 158,000 copies. Girl, Wash Your Face by Rachel Hollis was in second place on the adult nonfiction list, with more than 42,000 copies sold. Adult fiction, which had a decline in print sales in 2018, managed to increase sales by 2% in the first week of 2019. The Tattooist of Auschwitz by Heather Morris was in first place on the category list, selling nearly 19,000 copies. Douglas Prestons newest, Verses for the Dead, was close behind, selling more than 18,000 copies.

Total Sales of Print Books

(in thousands)

Jan. 6, 2018 Jan. 5, 2019 Chge Week Chge YTD Total 12,286 13,434 9.3% 9.3%

Unit Sales of Print Books by Category

(in thousands)

Jan. 6, 2018 Jan. 5, 2019 Chge Week Chge YTD Adult Nonfiction 5,647 6,060 7.3% 7.3% Adult Fiction 2,447 2,495 2.0% 2.0% Juvenile Nonfiction 758 887 14.3% 14.3% Juvenile Fiction 2,172 2,528 16.4% 16.4% Young Adult Fiction 381 428 12.2% 12.2% Young Adult Nonfiction 32 36 12.4% 12.4%

Unit Sales of Print Books by Format

(in thousands)
Deal of the Week: Editorial Assistant Lands Six Figures for Debut Novel After a six-figure preempt, Putnams Sally Kim and Gabriella Mongelli nabbed world rights to Emily Neubergers debut novel, A Tender Thing. The 1950s-set work, sold by Christy Fletcher and Sarah Fuentes at Fletcher & Company, follows the mounting of the Great White Ways first integrated musical. Inspired, as Putnam put it, by the history of radically shifting norms on Broadway at the time, the book follows a fictional production created by a famed composer who is determined to cement his legacy by depicting a taboo romance between a white woman and black man. The author, who is an editorial assistant at Viking, has more than a fans passion for musical theater: she has a degree in music from NYU and, per Putnam, sang for Stephen Sondheim at the Music Institute of Chicago.

FROM THE U.S.

Harper Pays Up for Claytons London

Harpers Sara Nelson bought world rights, in a two-book deal, to Meg Waite Claytons Last Train to London. Noting that she paid a healthy six figures for the novel, Nelson described it as an immersive work about two precocious children in Vienna on the eve of Kristallnacht. Their story is intertwined with that of Gertruuda Wijsmuller-Meijer, who was behind the Kindertrain, which helped Jewish children flee Nazi-occupied areas of Europe for England. Harper is comparing London to novels such as All the Light We Cannot See and The Nightingale. Clayton, who was represented by Marly Rusoff at Marly Rusoff & Associates, is the author of six previous books.

Curtis Sells Picture Book

For his eponymous imprint at Holiday House, Neal Porter bought world rights to a picture book by Jamie Lee Curtis titled I Saw, He Saw. The book will be illustrated by Barney Saltzberg whose agent, Rosemary Stimola at Stimola Literary Studio, explained that it relies on photos taken by Curtis to create unexpected surprises, proving two friends can look at the same things, see them differently, and still remain friends. Curtis was represented by Phyllis Wender. The book is slated for a fall 2020 publication.

Cult Survivors Memoir to Morrow

Los Angeles attorney Faith Jones sold her currently untitled memoir, about being raised in a cultlike religious group, to William Morrows Liz Stein at auction. The world rights deal for the book, which is slated for 2021, was handled by Becky Sweren at Aevitas Creative Management. Joness grandfather founded the Children of God, an extremist religious organization that she fled in order to attend college and then law school. Jones, who has a BA from Georgetown and a JD from Berkeley, found in her education, Stein said, a way to discover self-ownership through the pursuit of truth.

Auletta Pens Weinstein Bio

For Penguin Press, Scott Moyers took North American rights to Ken Aulettas currently untitled biography of Harvey Weinstein. The press said the book will be a frank work that will reckon with the long arc of his career, from Queens to Miramax, to his movie legacy, to his impact on the larger culture, in Hollywood, New York, and Washington, D.C.a culture that tolerated his darker side until that became impossible. Auletta was represented by Sloan Harris at ICM Partners.

SMP Nabs Canadian Booksellers Austen Society

After a six-bidder auction, Keith Kahla at St. Martins Press won Natalie Jenners debut historical fiction, The Jane Austen Society. Kahla took North American rights from Mitchell Waters at Curtis Brown Ltd. after what SMP described as a heated contest. Set in the English town of Chawton, where Austen actually lived, the novel follows a group of locals who, after WWII, come together out of their mutual passion for Austens work to preserve what remains of Austens legacy. SMP is comparing the book, which is set for a spring 2020 release, to historical fiction bestsellers such as Major Pettigrews Last Stand and The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society. Jenner, who was born in England and raised in Canada, is the owner of Archetype Books, an indie bookstore in Ontario.

Rutenberg Book to Godoff

In a North American rights sale, Ann Godoff at Penguin Press bought a currently untitled book by Jim Rutenberg about the forces behind the publics low regard for the mainstream media. Rutenberg, the media columnist for the New York Times, will, Penguin elaborated, offer a sweeping narrative that serves as a deep dive into the maelstrom of forces, some coincidental, some orchestrated, that resulted in the rise of alternative facts and the death of common sense. The author was represented by Elyse Cheney at the Cheney Agency.

Behind the Deal

Mark Greaney, an emerging star of the thriller space, re-upped with Berkley in a three-book deal. The Penguin Random House imprint called the authors Gray Man series the fastest-growing franchise in the male-thriller genre. (Berkley said sales, of late, have been particularly strong; the most recent book in the series, Agent in Place, hit both the PW hardcover fiction and New York Times combined e-book and hardcover fiction bestseller lists, at #8 and #7, respectively.) Through his new North American rights agreement, brokered with Berkleys Tom Colgan by Scott Miller at Trident Media Group, Greaney will write three more Gray Man titles.

The series, which launched in 2009, follows a hitman named Courtland Gentry. To date, seven Gray Man books have been released, with #8 set to drop in February.

For Greaney, the Gray Man success is a nice solo validation, since he honed his chops working on another authors franchise, cowriting the final three books in the Jack Ryan series with Tom Clancy. Then, after Clancys death, he penned four more Ryan titles.

INTERNATIONAL

Tina Frennstedts Cold Case Sweden: Taken has been acquired by Bastei Lubbe (Germany), Gyldendal (Denmark), and Like (Finland). Alisabet Brannstrom at Bonnier Rights, who handled the sales, said the thriller focuses on a 16-year-old unsolved case involving the disappearance of a teenager in south Sweden. Now, she went on, a killer attacking women in their own homes is terrorizing Malmo.

British Labour politician and former actor Michael Cashman sold his memoir, One of Them, to Bloomsburys Alexandra Pringle in a U.K. and Commonwealth rights (excluding Canada) deal. Cashman was representd by Robert Caskie at Caskie Mushens. [The Bookseller]

PAGE TO SCREEN

CBS TV Studios, PatMa Productions, and Keshet Studios have bought a spec script by Michael Chabon and his wife, author Ayelet Waldman, based on Chabons 2007 novel, The Yiddish Policemans Union. According to Deadline, the project will be taken out shortly to premium cable and streaming networks. [Deadline]

Screenwriter Eric Heisserer (whose film credits include Bird Box and Arrival) closed an option on his short story Simultaneous with Hulu for potential series adaptation. The story, Deadline said, has been described as a cerebral detective thriller involving regenerative past lives. [Deadline]

Correction: Due to publisher error, Emma Browns How to Raise a Boy: Rethinking Gender in America Post #MeToo, was incorrectly listed with the title Boys Will Be Men.
Valeria Luiselli, whom Ive been following since The Story of My Teeth (I can still see that all-white book jacket), has a new novel, Lost Children Archive, coming in February. When I learned that Knopf v-p. and editorial director Robin Desser had acquired it from agent Nicole Aragi, I could only think, trifecta.

Lost Children Archive takes on several themes in a quintessential American road novel (although, as Aragi says, Its a road novel in a completely Valeria waya road trip for 2018). Its the story of a family and family relationships, immigration and migrant children, and the work of documenting sounds and imagesall present in a form that employs all of Luisellis inventiveness. Each family member takes one box on the trip, and Luiselli intersperses lists of the boxes contents (notebooks, reference books, photos) between chapters, revealing the progress of the trip and the characters inner lives.

The unnamed husband and wife of the story meet while documenting the sounds of New York City for an oral history and fall in love, blending families; he has a son, she a daughter. Luiselli writes: Moving in together had been a rash decisionmessy, confusing, urgent, and as beautiful and real as life feels when youre not thinking about consequences. We became a tribe. Then came the consequences.

Luiselli tells me she wanted to explore the fragility and strength of family bonds (the road trip inevitably impacts the family) and also the way we archive events and the world around us and why. Documenting is an old theme for meits taken on different shapes, she says. This is an age of overdocumentation: pictures, Instagrambut this book is about sound. Sound goes deep into our fibers. As she writes: Our mothers teach us to speak, and the world teaches us to shut up.

In the novel, the road trip from New York to the Southwest is motivated by the husband undertaking a project about the ghosts of Geronimo and the last Apaches, while the wife, after becoming involved with a woman whose children are missing at the U.S.-Mexico border, begins a project of recording childrens stories and their hearings in the New York immigration court.

Aragi notes that Lost Children Archive follows the trend of auto fiction: This book incorporates what Valeria has done as a journalist, but here she looks at the selfs responsibility to the world. The novel looks at a big political subject, but its intimate, personal, to her and to all of us.

Desser concurs: Valeria melds the political and the emotional; she takes migration and makes it a human story. She speaks to the moment we are all in. Shes an activist, and her activism informs everything else.

Lost Children Archive is a first for all three women. Its Luisellis first novel written in English. From a diplomatic family, she grew up all over the world and attended an American school in South Korea. She now lives in New York and says she writes in the language that naturally dictates the story. For Lost Children Archive, she took notes in both English and Spanish (she also speaks Italian and French) and one day it became clear which language to write in. She started working on the novel in summer 2014, when the childrens immigration crisis erupted.

In late 2015, Luiselli wrote Tell Me How It Ends: An Essay in 40 Questions, in which she translated interviews with undocumented Latin American children facing deportation from the U.S. The essay was published by Coffee House in 2017, and she says that at that point she turned the novel into a vessel for a different kind of political rage. She adds, I was so angry with the news. I was stuffing the novel, not letting it breathe so I needed to write the essay. Then I went back to the novel. I had to distinguish between them, the novel had to reach deeper.

Luiselli claims the road novel is not a particular genre I adore but notes that the road trip is a tradition of the great American novel, which traditionally moves from east to west. The Hispanic community, she says, moves from south to north; Lost Children Archive intersects both of those trajectories.

Alongside the family trip from New York to Arizona is the story of seven migrant children traveling north in boxcars. I did not want to duplicate the childrens stories from the essay, but to use my imagination, Luiselli tells me.

Luiselli met Aragi through Granta editor John Freeman, Aragis partner. John published one of my first pieces in English for Granta, and he is to blame for the essay. I didnt want to write it, but he said, You must. He was one of my first readers for Lost Children Archive and asked if he could show it to Nicole. There was a dinner at Aragi and Freemans loft in Manhattan. Aragi asked to represent Luiselli; Luiselli said she would love that.

Aragi had read Luiselli before, when Freeman published her in his magazine, Freemans. Valeria sent me the manuscript for Lost Children Archive on Feb. 13, 2017. I think of it as a birthday presentmy birthday is February 12and I thought, Good Heavens, this is long! And then I gulped it down. And kept marking the margins: Excellent! Perfect! 

Aragi sent it to Desser as an exclusive on March 24, and Desser preempted it a few days later. Who says things dont happen fast in publishing? Desser asks. She had met Luiselli briefly at a reading and, in her unabashed enthusiasm, says, I stalked her for years. I pined. Because I had been following her, Nicole sent me the manuscript and I read it right away. Everyone here felt as I did about it: Lost Children Archive is innovative, beautiful, important. Its set in America but brings the reader the world. I had hoped for a book by her, and this exceeded all my expectations.

Dresser says she remembers picking up The Story of My Teeth and wondering, What is this? And then she began reading Luisellis work. Still, she says, I was unprepared for the genius and range of this new bookthe scope of it and how it combines everything she does.

Luisellis U.K. agent, Laurence Laluyaux at Rogers, Coleridge & White in London, has represented her for 10 years. I knew from her first book, Sidewalks, that she would become a significant writer, she says. Laluyaux uses the same vocabulary as Aragi and Desser to describe Luisellis writing: humane, intelligent, inventive, risk taking.

Desser tells me about Luisellis fan base in the indie bookstore community. Theyre asking, Why cant I sell this book right now? And my response is that I wish I could have published it last Thursday!

After Knopf publishes Lost Children Archive in February, Fourth Estate will publish it in early March in the U.K., and foreign rights have been sold in 12 other territories to date.

Desser is so excited about Lost Children Archive that, even after two interviews, she sent me an email: I wish I had said she employs a dazzlingly polyphonic style or that she has a polymathic imagination.

You just did, Robin. How could I let that comment pass?
In Horizon (Knopf, Mar.), Lopez recalls his travels to six continents and meditates on the environment.

Among your adventures, you explore ancient Inuit ruins on Skraeling Island in the Canadian Arctic and search for hominin fossils in Africas Great Rift Valley. Do you feel a kinship with these long-ago peoples?

Yeah! On Skraeling Island, for example, these guys made things work in a really brutal environment. That is inspiring. A lot of contemporary culture is ephemeral. iPhones are not as interesting to me as how people survived on Skraeling.

Youve spent decades traveling to polar regions. Have you seen the effects of climate change?

Oh, my god, yes. In Alaska, for example, the sea ice has dwindled so much that the wind has fetch: with all that open water the wind builds up big waves that crash on shore, and buildings that have stood for centuries are flooded or knocked down. I was on a ship coming into [northern Canadas] Peel Sound, and saw no ice there, which is unprecedented; in all the historical literature, Peel Sound is a place you just cant get to, its jammed with ice even in summer. Its infuriating when newscasters say the jury is still out on climate change. Were dealing with this criminal delay in facing up to global warming because people who are making a lot of money with the way things work now are reluctant to change.

You write about explorers like James Cook and Robert Scott. Which expeditions would you have liked to tag along on?

Id get in my own way if I thought like that. I was up in a place called Bull Pass in the Trans-Antarctic Mountains, thinking that I might be the first person ever to be there. Then I found a camera case! You should never think youre the first guy to go anywhere; you should just pay attention to the world.

You ponder the submersion of indigenous cultures by Western colonialism. What have we lost because of that?

We dont know, because we destroyed it so quickly that there was never a chance to ask. My sadness about this is that once you set aside the notion of primitive peoples and advanced peoples, you understand that civilizations develop in response to the places where people live. Aboriginal people had been living in these places for up to 60,000 years. So why didnt we ask them, how did you do that, given the climate and the difficulty of hunting in this area? How do you get comfortable here, where, wow, I couldnt stand this heat or this cold 24 hours a day? How did they manage adultery, or the need to banish destructive people? Would their solutions help us? I think so. But instead of asking, we just killed them.
"We are excited to partner with a longstanding, reputable organization like WJR to bring women information on health, wellness, and current events. In addition, we will have a variety of special guests including community healthcare leaders and patients from Womens Excellence."

Womens Excellence Obstetrics and Gynecology announces an exciting new partnership with Detroit AM radio station, WJR-760.

Dr. Jonathan Zaidan, President of Womens Excellence, will co-host WJRs "Health Women Show" with WJRs Marie Osborne and Ann Thomas airing on the third Wednesday of each month at 7pm.

"We are excited to partner with a longstanding, reputable organization like WJR to bring women information on health, wellness, and current events. In addition, we will have a variety of special guests including community healthcare leaders and patients from Womens Excellence. Stay tuned!" - Dr. Jonathan Zaidan, President of Womens Excellence

Tune into the "Healthy Woman Show" on WJR-760 AM on the third Wednesday of each month at 7pm. For more information and show podcasts, visit http://www.wjr.com/healthy-woman/.

For more information on Womens Excellence Obstetrics and Gynecology or to schedule an appointment, visit http://www.WomensExcellence.com. Online Patient Support Specialists are available Monday through Friday from 8am-5pm to assist new, current, and prospective patients. The chat is located at the bottom right corner of your computer or mobile device screen at http://www.WomensExcellence.com. During offline hours, all chats sent will be messaged directly to a Womens Excellence team member. Offline messages will receive a response within 24 hours. Messages received during the weekend will be answered the next business week.

Womens Excellence is the most comprehensive obstetric and gynecologic office in Michigan. Additionally, they specialize in menopause, weight control, bladder control, endometriosis, robotic surgery, oncology, and midwifery services. Womens Excellence is committed to staying at the forefront of innovation with cutting edge technologies utilizing robotic surgery and minimally invasive surgical options when possible. The knowledgeable, compassionate physicians and healthcare providers of Womens Excellence focus on patient-centered processes to deliver the highest quality of care. They are affiliated with most insurances. They offer seamless medical record access via a state-of-the-art patient portal and use the latest technology for record keeping and sharing, making the patient experience easier and more efficient. Womens Excellence is taking new patients and is conveniently located throughout southeastern Michigan in Birmingham, Lake Orion, Clarkston, Rochester, and West Bloomfield. Coming soon, Womens Excellence will open locations in Royal Oak and Lapeer, Michigan. For more information, visit http://www.WomensExcellence.com.
As winter storm Gia threatens to spread snow from the Rockies through the Midwest and to the mid-Atlantic, Home Instead Senior Care is encouraging families to help senior loved ones and neighbors stay safe in the snow and extreme cold temperatures.

Winter weather creates additional hazards for seniors and can increase worry for families, said Lakelyn Hogan, gerontologist at Home Instead Senior Care. Cold temperatures can increase the risk of hypothermia, as well as accidents and falls due to slick conditions. Families should take extra precautions to make sure loved ones are safe, warm and have all the necessities.

Home Instead Senior Care offers the following tips to help older adults stay safe during winter storms:

Stay Warm



Keep the thermostat at 65 degrees, at least. Consistently check it to make sure the home is sufficiently warm. Even as heating costs rise, safety should be a priority. Be sure to install a carbon monoxide detector near where your loved one sleeps.

Minimize drafts by filling old socks with sand and using them in drafty windowsills and door jambs. Weather-strip around windows and doors. Keep doors to unused rooms closed and draw curtains at night.

Add an extra blanket and warm the bed in advance with a hot water bottle. Never use an electric blanket  it may be difficult to operate the controls if the temperature needs to be adjusted in the night.

Dress in layers of loose fitting clothing. If an older adult must go outside, make sure to wear a hat or hood to keep the head covered.

Prevent Falls

Stay inside  make arrangements for someone to shovel and salt driveways and walkways. Professional caregivers can assist with to-do items, such as bringing in the mail or picking up groceries.

Have handrails installed on outside walls for frequently used walkways and wear shoes or boots with a non-skid sole.

If an older adult uses a cane or walker, check the rubber tips to make sure they are not worn smooth.

Build a network

Stay in touch with family, friends and neighbors. Schedule phone calls, or enlist the help of a professional caregiver to check in on a loved one.

Make arrangements for assistance in case of a blizzard or power outage. Keep important numbers in an emergency kit, along with non-perishable foods, water and medications.

Be familiar with local resources. Visit http://www.ready.gov/seniors, http://www.noaa.gov or http://www.redcross.org for more information about cold weather.

To learn how Home Instead Senior Care can help older adults stay safe, visit http://www.homeinstead.com.

ABOUT HOME INSTEAD SENIOR CARE

Founded in 1994 in Omaha, Nebraska, by Lori and Paul Hogan, the Home Instead Senior Care network provides personalized care, support and education to help enhance the lives of aging adults and their families. Today, this network is the world's leading provider of in-home care services for seniors, with more than 1,100 independently owned and operated franchises that provide more than 60 million hours of care throughout the United States and 11 other countries. Local Home Instead Senior Care offices employ approximately 70,000 CAREGiversSM worldwide who provide basic support services that enable seniors to live safely and comfortably in their own homes for as long as possible. The Home Instead Senior Care network partners with clients and their family members to help meet varied individual needs. Services span the care continuum  from providing personal care to specialized Alzheimers care and hospice support. Also available are family caregiver education and support resources.
Mahendra Vora, CEO of Vora Ventures Our mission is to accelerate go-to-market strategies for brands, manufacturers, retailers and distributors, and to accelerate rapid sales growth on premier B2C distribution channels, said Fred Killingsworth, Founder and CEO of Hinge.

The acquisition provides Hinge with a multitude of services to help expand their portfolio and grow both nationally and internationally.

Vora Ventures, a U.S. based private equity firm specializing in building B2B information technology companies, announced today that it has acquired Cincinnati based Hinge (http://www.HingeGlobal.com), a digital commerce company that works with Fortune 1000 brands to increase their eCommerce revenues. Hinge provides market information, strategy, technology and expert teams to manage overall marketplace business. The investment will support Hinge with continued global expansion, as well as access to data and technology support and services. The acquisition makes Hinge the industry leader and only choice for brands looking to significantly grow their digital eCommerce sales.

Hinge is a true technology enabled commerce company. Hinge is known for its business value to its clients, measured strictly by the growth of clients eCommerce sales through Amazon and other eCommerce sites, the companys private distributor network or its direct to consumer offerings.

Our mission is to accelerate go-to-market strategies for brands, manufacturers, retailers and distributors, and to accelerate rapid sales growth on premier B2C distribution channels, said Fred Killingsworth, Founder and CEO of Hinge. The proven success of our customers over the last few years and the demand for digital commerce strategies, services and solutions are significant. The partnership with Vora unlocks an opportunity for Hinge to dramatically increase our investment in commerce technologies and rapidly expand the business footprint globally to better serve our customers. We plan to immediately expand our presence in Seattle, Chicago, San Francisco, London and India.

Hinge offers a unique paid for performance business model where its primary revenue comes only from the success and growth of their clients eCommerce sales. Hinge also provides strategy, technology and execution services for global brands and companies across 25 different industries. Hinge has grown rapidly with more than 30x increase in revenues over the past three years.

We are thrilled to have Hinge as part of our portfolio, which is our second acquisition in B2B commerce space in the last year, said Mahendra Vora, Executive Chairman of Vora Ventures. We believe that the B2B2C commerce market is poised for explosive growth globally. Hinges proven value to its clients, trusted brand and committed team will benefit from our global resources, strategic and infrastructural support, and business development expertise. We expect Hinge will continue its double digit CAGR for the foreseeable future.

In 2018, Vora Ventures acquired Shakedeal.com, Indias premier B2B bulk sourcing online marketplace for industrial goods, supplies and raw materials. In 2017, Vora Ventures acquired SourceBits, a leading digital agency based in San Francisco, London and India. With Hinge, it adds tremendous expertise and real-life experience on managing leading digital commerce channels like Amazon, Jet.com and other eCommerce sites.

About Vora Ventures

Founded by industry veteran Mahendra Vora, the Vora Ventures portfolio encompasses a range of companies in the B2B software, services and infrastructure space. Built over 25 years, the Vora Group has an impeccable track record of success and a unique reputation for its values, business savvy and speed of execution. With more than 2,000 employees worldwide, the group provides resources, advice and state-of-the-art infrastructure to its portfolio companies. Vora is also known for its commitment to corporate social responsibility and community support initiatives.

AssureCare, Ascendum, CenterGrid, Zakta, cFirst, TalentNow, SourceBits, Shakedeal and Vora Labs are some of prominent Vora holdings. More information at http://www.VoraVentures.com.

About Hinge Consulting, LLC

Hinge is a leading digital commerce company that specializes in helping companies and brands increase their eCommerce presence, reach and sales. Hinge provides end-to-end solutions to brand owners, including market analysis, business intelligence, competitive insights, strategy, and execution expertise to effectively manage vendor and seller businesses. Hinge works with companies of all sizes, from global conglomerates to high flying start ups. More information at http://www.HingeGlobal.com.
Weve already seen a significant uptick in homebuyer inquires as the future of the immediate neighborhood becomes more and more clear  the excitement is building, says Moira Holley, Sales Director for Gridiron Condominiums and a co-founder of RSIR.

Executives of Daniels Development and Realogics Sothebys International Realty (RSIR) will host a community reception at the recently completed Gridiron Condominiums in Pioneer Square in recognition of the closure of the two-level viaduct structure on January 11th after 66 years of service. Market observers suggest this is the most transformative event to take place in downtown Seattle since the 1962 Worlds Fair.

Local residents and our real estate community are going party like its the end of Hwy 99, muses Dean Jones, President and CEO of RSIR. This celebration starts the countdown to the takedown of the Alaskan Way Viaduct and Seattles much anticipated reconnection to Elliott Bay.



WHAT: Countdown to Takedown Celebration. Community residents, real estate brokers and prospective buyers will gather for a front row view of the Alaskan Way Viaduct closure and learn about the many changes taking shape in the immediate neighborhood and transportation routes.

WHERE: Gridiron Condominiums Penthouse Club  590 1st Avenue South, Seattle.

WHEN: Friday, January 11th from 7pm to 11pm (celebration at 10pm sharp).

WHY: The removal of the Alaskan Way Viaduct will commence a Seattle waterfront renaissance, dramatically enhancing the desirability and value of residential and commercial real estate along or adjacent to Alaskan Way and its surrounding parks and open spaces.

HOW: Event guests will enjoy a preferred view of the final vehicle driving across the Alaskan Way Viaduct at 10pm while enjoying hosted catering, libations and celebration revelry.

Jones says Seattles waterfront will evolve from a noisy, disconnected and commercial environment to become a world-class amenity rivaling other West Coast cities like Vancouver, BC and San Francisco, CA.

Waterfront Seattle is a multi-year program to rebuild Seattles waterfront following the removal of the Alaskan Way Viaduct. The program spans the waterfront from Pioneer Square to Belltown and includes a rebuilt Elliott Bay Seawall, a new surface street providing access to and from downtown, and new parks, paths, and access to Elliott Bay. Waterfront Seattle is led by the City of Seattle's Office of the Waterfront, working closely with civic leaders, stakeholders and the broader Seattle public to create a "Waterfront for All." For more information, visit http://www.WaterfrontSeattle.org.

While the vision and potential for the Seattle waterfront will take several years to be fully realized, the Waterfront Seattle Program Area has already influenced redevelopment in the neighborhood, including the 107-unit Gridiron Condominiums that delivered in early 2018. Approximately three dozen new listings available for sale priced from $576,900 to $1,149,900 remain available for immediate sale with special financing starting at just 2.5% interest (see agent for details).

Weve already seen a significant uptick in homebuyer inquires as the future of the immediate neighborhood becomes more and more clear  the excitement is building, says Moira Holley, Sales Director for Gridiron Condominiums and a co-founder of RSIR. Id suggest our existing buyers are feeling very good about their investment.

Gregg Lynn, a top-selling real estate broker with Sothebys International Realty in San Francisco agrees. Lynn had a front row seat to watch the transformation of The Embarcadero after the elevated Golden Gate Freeway (Interstate 480) was demolished following the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake.

This is a total gamechanger for local real estate, adds Lynn. Living along or near The Embarcadero in San Francisco is cherished and today constitutes some of the most prized real estate in the city. The removal of the Alaskan Way Viaduct appears to be just another example of how Seattle and San Francisco continue to mirror each other.

To help prospective homebuyers visualize the changes, a virtual realty flyover tour of the new waterfront was commissioned by Daniels Development. The tour illustrates Gridiron Condominiums as the very doorstep of the waterfront promenade known as Railroad Way, a pedestrian gateway linking the waterfront to Pioneer Square and the stadiums. Railroad Way will encourage new circulation and activities throughout the year and on game days at CenturyLink Field and Safeco Field. The initiative is the first listed among 18 direct and related projects in the future waterfront.

In acknowledgement of the transformation a temporary banner hanging on Gridiron Condominiums aptly states, SEATTLES WATERFRONT STARTS HERE.

For more information on Gridiron Condominiums, visit: http://www.GridironCondos.com

About Realogics Sothebys International Realty (http://www.RSIR.com)  Artfully uniting extraordinary homes with extraordinary lives, Realogics Sothebys International Realty is a leading global sales and marketing brokerage firm in the Pacific Northwest. The boutique real estate firm of 225+ brokers service branches in downtown Seattle, Bainbridge Island, Kirkland, Issaquah and Madison Park. RSIR is a leading project marketing specialist currently representing more than $1 billion in new condominium developments planned throughout the Puget Sound region.

About Daniels Development (http://www.DanielsRE.com)  Daniels Real Estates mission is to create places that help communities thrive. Combining preservation, sustainability, and great architectural design, their projects strive to provide a building block for stronger and more vibrant communities. With the same senior management team that redeveloped local Seattle iconic buildings such as The Sanctuary, Starbucks Center, Union Station, Frye Art Museum, Merrill Place, and currently St. Edward Seminary in Kenmore, the team has a depth of experience unapparelled in the Pacific Northwest with three National Preservation Awards, as well as many local and state awards for our work in historic preservation and reuse.

EDITORS NOTE: Digital flyover illustrations, property photography and market statistics are available upon request.
GoldCube - The Worlds First Gold-trading Kiosk Coming Together is a Beginning; Keeping together is progress; Working together is success." -Henry Ford

Gold Cube proudly announces that its highly-acclaimed Gold For Cash ATM is available at Miami International Mall. Customers can pawn or sell gold and silver through Gold Cube, knowing that their items will be appreciated at their true value.

The volume of gold and silver transactions across the United States is constantly growing and Florida makes no exception. To meet this demand, Gold Cube has created a state-of-the-art mobile kiosk that allows customers to evaluate and sell gold. It acts like a fully automated pawn shop, with very a user-friendly interface.

The Miami, Florida Gold Cube ATM accepts a wide variety of jewelry and coin, including necklaces, chains, pendants, bracelets, rings and wedding bands. Safety is at its highest standard. Customers use digital signatures and email receipts to confirm transactions and receive money for their items; whether they pawn or sell.

How It Works

The automated Cash for Gold machine uses the latest Intels 3D XPoint Optane Memory technology to perform spectral analysts and weight the products placed by shoppers. The ATM is able to determine the purity of silver/gold and provide the real-time value price in a matter of minutes.

Each terminal is connected to a server that constantly monitors the market pricing in the United States, Europe, and China in order to give customers the precise real-time value of their gold or silver jewelry and coin.

In 2019, Gold Cube plans to accept cryptocurrency as a payment option. Customers will also have the ability to convert popular cryptocurrencies into cash at Gold Cube ATM locations.

About Gold Cube

The Melbourne-based company was founded by brothers Nakia and Caleb Geller. Nakia has more than 17 years of experience as a startup entrepreneur, and Caleb has more than nine years of experience in gold buying. To overcome the difficulties associated with the old way of determining the gold items proper value, they came up with a solution: a machine that will fully automate the process.

After many months of testing, the worlds first gold-trading kiosk, Gold Cube made its public debut in June 23rd, 2017 at the Merritt Square Mall in Merritt Island, FL

The company has recently announced the opening of one more location in South Floridas Miami International Mall.

Corporate Contact: Gold Cube

325 5th Ave, Suite 103

Indialantic FL 32903

info(at)thegoldcube.com

About Miami International Mall

Miami International Mall provides a unique family-friendly shopping experience and a place for consumers to shop, dine and relax. Situated near the Miami International Airport, the shopping mall is a top commercial attraction for both residents and tourists. It is estimated that the mall, which spans more than one million square feet, is visited by more than 12 million guests each year

Address:

445 NW 107th Ave, Suite 596

Doral Florida 33172

United States
Lynx Technology Partners (Lynx), one of Inc. Magazines fastest-growing private companies and ranked among the top US security companies for consecutive years, proudly announces their selection as a National Best and Brightest Companies to Work For winner. This award recognizes companies that excel at employee relations, use innovation to motivate employees, implement creative compensation programs and more. Winners will be recognized by National Association for Business Resources (NABR) at the National Best and Brightest Summit  Illuminate 2019 symposium and awards gala on September 15-17, at the Renaissance Chicago Downtown Hotel, located at 1 W Wacker Drive, in Chicago, IL.

We are excited and honored to be selected as a National Best and Brightest Companies to Work For winner for the second year in a row, said Gina Mahan, Lynx CEO. This award is a validation of our commitment to People, Process and Technology which is a motto we live by. We strive to execute flawlessly, and that success reflects our team. This distinction highlights our commitment to our employees, our customers and all other stakeholders who support and fuel our growth and development as an organization.

The 2018 national winning companies were assessed by an independent research firm which reviewed a number of key measures relative to other nationally recognized winners. The Best and Brightest Companies to Work for Winners are not ranked.

The Best and Brightest Program honored 512 national winning organizations from across the country out of 2,400 nominations. With over 20 years of experience conducting the Best and Brightest competitions, the National Association for Business Resources (NABR) have identified numerous best Human Resource practices and provided benchmarking for companies that continue to be leaders in employment standards.

Profitability and stability is essential for businesses in todays economic climate. Companies that recognize that their employees are the key to their success achieve staying power. Our 2018 winners create their human resource standards to ensure employee satisfaction and they set standards for every business to aspire toward, said Jennifer Kluge, President and CEO, National Association for Business Resources. We are proud to honor this years winners and cant wait to celebrate them in September.

The companies that have been selected to be recognized nationally as a Best and Brightest Company to Work For will be featured in the January online edition of Corp! Magazine. National Association for Business Resources (866) 321-1822 * http://www.nationalbiz.org The winning companies will also receive additional recognition as a national winner at the National Best and Brightest Summit  Illuminate 2019 awards symposium and gala on September 15-17 at the Renaissance Chicago Downtown Hotel, located at 1 W Wacker Drive, in Chicago, IL. Early bird tickets are currently on sale for $1,300 per ticket until February 25th. General Admission pricing will be available afterwards for $1,400. The Best and Brightest is pleased to honor keynote speaker Patrick Lencioni during this conference, as well as Dr. Gustavo Grodnitzky, and John OLeary. To view the full schedule of the conference and register online please visit http://www.thebestandbrightestsummit.com

About Lynx Technology Partners

Lynx Technology Partners is the trusted Information Security and Risk Management Advisor that customers in highly-regulated industries worldwide depend on to improve security posture, facilitate compliance, reduce risk, and refine operational efficiency. With world-class skills and knowledge capital built over 30 years, Lynx security experts help customers recognize and control IT-related risks and maintain compliance with major industry and government standards. Through consulting, security and risk assessments, penetration testing, managed security services, cyber ranges and immersive training, and an award-winning GRC solution, Lynx supports many critical projects for security-conscious leaders in Financial Services, Federal, Energy, Healthcare, State Government, and Higher Education. For more information, please visit LynxRiskSolutions.com.

About the Best and Brightest Programs

The Best and Brightest Companies to Work For competition identifies and honors organizations that display a commitment to excellence in operations and employee enrichment that lead to increased productivity and financial performance. This competition scores potential winners based on regional data of company performance and a set standard across the nation. This national program celebrates those companies that are making better business, creating richer lives and building a stronger community as a whole. There are numerous regional celebrations throughout the country such as Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Detroit, Grand Rapids, Houston, Milwaukee, San Diego and San Francisco. Nominations are now being accepted for all programs. Visit http://www.thebestandbrightest.com to nominate your organization.


The investment in the quality of our product has resulted in an offering we are proud to put up against any competitor in the eCommerce space, particularly as applied to manufacturing B2B and aftermarket parts.

GenAlpha Technologies LLC has announced a major new release of its flagship product PartSpot, an eCommerce and eCatalog solution for the B2B sales in the manufacturing aftermarket. The release features a completely revised and optimized user interface as well as several new functional features. Changes to the system were driven by a comprehensive study of customer use of the product, and analysis by independent third-party software interface and usability experts.

We knew that we had an excellent product for B2B sales, but we wanted it to be best of breed, particularly with respect to how buyers interact with the system. Rather than be colored by our own technical teams perceptions, we hired an independent study team made up of former user interface designers from Apple. We then had them observe people using the system and analyze their feedback. This effort led us to develop a true understanding of what buyers want in an eCommerce interface designed specifically for B2B transactions, particularly for manufacturing. Armed with this information, our software designers produced a complete facelift of the system. The investment in the quality of our product has resulted in an offering we are proud to put up against any competitor in the eCommerce space, particularly as applied to manufacturing B2B and aftermarket parts., said Kathleen Shea, GenAlphas Chief Technology Officer.

The upgraded PartSpot system is currently being deployed to manufacturing firms who have contracted with GenAlpha to improve their aftermarket part sales and B2B relationships. The system has been very well received and customers are pleased with the many improvements made.

Stan Eames, GenAlpha CEO went on to comment, Manufacturing firms are becoming increasingly aware of the need to embrace technologies that can improve their bottom line, and eCommerce for their aftermarket business is at the top of the list. Our team is seeing a great deal of activity and interest in PartSpot and what it has to offer. Its an exciting time for us and the manufacturers that we provide B2B services to.

Headquartered in Brookfield, Wisconsin, GenAlpha Technologies LLC is an innovative provider of eCommerce, eCatalog and customer portal solutions specifically for manufacturers looking to digitize their aftermarket sales efforts. Their software offerings are complimented by very strong domain expertise in manufacturing and the aftermarket. Visit the GenAlpha web site at http://www.genalpha.com for more details.


Crashmeal is a Vancouver based food and beverage delivery service, now launching in Metro Vancouver area and soon to all of Canada delivering from the best restaurants and stores in the locality. Crashmeal offers a vast range of innovative features along with food and beverage delivery services to its Canadian consumers.

The past decade has seen a remarkable growth of the food industry and dining experience in Canada. People have been more inclined to welcome the latest trends in delivery services and hugely embraced the recent advances in online food and beverage delivery services. The brilliant choice to order meals and drinks online through food delivery apps especially marked a revolutionary advancement in the delivery industry.

The company is a locally run establishment which is based in Vancouver, Canada with a mission to deliver high-quality customer service to the food and beverage lovers across Canada. Crashmeal is a fast-growing company with significant market expansion and is also prepared to launch its delivery service in USA and India soon.

Crashmeal is unique with its huge range of menu options and super swift delivery service. A good meal and a fine drink are just a click away. One of the most salient features of Crashmeal is that we integrate our logistics with optimization algorithms to give the best routing options so that our delivery teams perform the best. We are constantly upgrading ourselves with AI and machine learning expertise to give a wonderful food delivery experience. We are excited to bring Crashmeal to you, said a spokesperson from Crashmeal.

The online platform provides a wide range of menu selections from all the top restaurants and stores where people have the choice of home delivery or pick up for all their orders. Customers have easy payment methods to choose from and can even track their orders with GPS live-tracking on the website or in the mobile app.

The company is also slated to release more features and exclusive services to the customers soon.
Corsairs announcement is the latest milestone in our efforts to extend MIAs reach throughout Europe, said Lester Sola, MIA Director and CEO.

French airline Corsair will launch service at Miami International Airport on June 10, 2019, with four weekly flights to Paris Orly Airport, giving South Florida travelers another option to one of the worlds most popular tourist destinations.

The new flights will be served by 352-seat A330-300 aircraft featuring business, premium and economy class. The business cabin offers seats that can be converted into beds, as well as menus designed by double-Michelin-starred chef Michel Rostang and Petrossian.

We look forward to welcoming Corsair and its passengers to Miami-Dade County, said Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos A. Gimenez. France already generates more than 400,000 travelers annually to and from our community, and we expect to see that number grow because of their new flights.

Corsairs announcement is the latest milestone in our efforts to extend MIAs reach throughout Europe, said Lester Sola, MIA Director and CEO. With Corsairs Miami launch, we will soon have nonstop service to Frances two busiest airports, adding more strength to our current network of 21 European destinations.

Created in 1981, Corsair is a subsidiary of TUI France and the TUI Group, a world leader in tourism serving 180 countries worldwide. Each year, nearly 1.3 million passengers travel on Corsair lines worldwide.

Pascal de Izaguirre, CEO of Corsair International, gave the following statement: Corsair is delighted to open flights to Miami, a destination with high business and tourist potential that is perfectly aligned with our companys DNA. We will have the pleasure of operating four flights a week to Florida with a high-quality offering in each of our three cabins, while maintaining highly competitive prices. In order to facilitate access to our flights, we have launched a new commercial website dedicated to our U.S.-based customers. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank the airport team for their valuable collaboration in preparing the opening of this new route.

About Corsair International

A scheduled French airline specialising in international long-haul, Corsair International, a subsidiary of TUI France, the French leader in tourism, employs 1,200 people and transports 1,300,000 passengers per year. Corsair International operates scheduled flights to the Caribbean (Guadeloupe and Martinique), the Indian Ocean (Reunion, Mauritius, Mayotte and Madagascar), Africa (Senegal, Ivory Coast and Mali), Canada (Montreal) and Cuba (Havana).
Corridor 3 at The National Memorial for Peace and Justice (Photo credit: Equal Justice Initiative  Human Pictures) BackStory celebrated ten years of American history audio storytelling by establishing an important new prize - the BackStory Prize for Public History.

BackStory, an American history podcast produced by Virginia Humanities, releases The BackStory Prize: Our Choice for the Best Public History Project in America.

BackStory celebrated ten years of American history audio storytelling by establishing an important new prize - the BackStory Prize for Public History  and made a show about it. In the episode, Ed Ayers, Brian Balogh, Joanne Freeman, Nathan Connolly and special guest judges Margot Lee Shetterly (author of Hidden Figures) and actor Chris Jackson (who played George Washington in Hamilton on Broadway) discuss the exhibitions, books, websites and museums that competed to become the winner of the first ever BackStory Prize.

The BackStory Prize: Our Choice for the Best Public History Project in America, is available now. Find it and every episode of BackStory on the website (http://www.BackStoryRadio.org) or on popular podcatchers including Apple Podcasts, Spotify and Google Podcasts. BackStory publishes every week at noon and is available for free.

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About BackStory: BackStory brings historical perspective to the America of today. Each week, U.S. historians Ed Ayers, Brian Balogh, Joanne Freeman and Nathan Connolly look at current issues and trace them back to their roots in American history. From the days of the Early Republic to the 21st century, BackStory reveals the connections (and disconnections) between the past and the present. BackStory makes history accessible for listeners  not only in the United States, but around the globe.

BackStory is available for free on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Spotify, Stitcher and other apps. Get new episodes delivered directly to your device by following BackStory on your preferred podcatcher. New to podcasts? Just search for BackStory (and look for the blue logo in the Society and Culture category) and then click Subscribe.

About Virginia Humanities: Virginia Humanities connects people and ideas to explore the human experience and inspire cultural engagement. As the state humanities council, Virginia Humanities reaches millions in its estimated annual audience through festivals, grants, fellowships, digital initiatives, teacher institutes, radio programs, podcasts, apprenticeships, and school programs. Headquartered at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville, Virginia Humanities endeavors to serve Virginians in every corner of the Commonwealth. To learn more visit VirginiaHumanities.org.

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Dubai, Jan 12 : Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Saturday said the Samajwadi Party (SP) and Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) leaving the Congress out of the alliance in Uttar Pradesh was not a "setback" for his party, and stressed that the poll results "would surprise people".

"The SP and BSP have every right to have an alliance. It's their political decision. They might have taken it after due consideration. I won't call it a setback because the BJP is anyway not going to win any seats in Uttar Pradesh," Gandhi said at a press conference here.

"The Congress party has tremendous amount to offer to the people of Uttar Pradesh, so we will do our best. We will fight with full aggression for our ideology. And the result will surprise people," he added.

Gandhi said the results of the coming parliamentary elections will surprise Prime Minister Narendra Modi who "will not understand what has happened".

However, Gandhi refused to open up on possibility of a post-poll alliance with the two dominant parties in Uttar Pradesh. Notably, the SP-BSP alliance will not field its candidates on the Lok Sabha seats of Amethi and Rae Bareli, the constituencies of Rahul and Sonia Gandhi respectively.

"I have tremendous respect for Mayawati ji, Mulayam Singh ji and Akhilesh. The BSP and SP have said a few wrong things about us, but we accept it. That's our way of doing things," Rahul Gandhi said.

He said the Congress "might give a surprise or two to the people" about what it was capable of doing in Uttar Pradesh.

Uttar Pradesh is considered the most crucial as it has 80 in the Lok Sabha seats, the maximum for any state. Political pundits hold that the road to 7, Lok Kalyan Marg, the Prime Minister's office, goes from Uttar Pradesh.

Gandhi also emphasised that the equation in Uttar Pradesh will not affect alliances in others states.

"The situations are different in different states. In Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Jharkhand, Bihar and others states, alliances are being sealed smoothly one after another. So I don't think it should be any problem," he said.

Asked what will be his priorities if his party comes to power, Gandhi said the Congress government would take "rational economic decisions" and would restructure the Goods and Services Tax (GST).

He accused the Modi government of vitiating the atmosphere of the country, undermining "every single constitutional institution" of the country and taking rash economic decisions such as demonetisation and multi-layered GST which warded off big business from India.

He said unlike Modi, he would fulfil all his commitments made to the people and restore the credibility of institutions.

Gandhi was on a two-day tour of the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
New Delhi, Jan 12 : The office of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal reportedly received an email from an anonymous account threatening to kidnap his daughter, sources said on Saturday.

The threat was received on the official email of the Chief Minister on Wednesday.

"The Delhi government had forwarded the threat email to Delhi Police Commissioner three days ago. The Delhi Government has not been given any information so far by the police," the CM office said on Saturday.
New Delhi, Jan 12 : The Congress on Saturday said that 2019 general election will be a fight between "dictatorship and democaracy" and between "empty sermons" of the ruling party and its own "impeccable" record of service over the years.

"2019 is not a battle between a 'Majboor Sarkar and a Mazboot Sarkar' (helpless government and strong government).

"It is a fight between 'dictatorship and democracy'. It is a struggle between 'Bhashan and Prashasan' (empty sermons and good governance) and it is going to be a test between 'jumlas' and an impeccable track record of service which the Congress has delivered over the years," Congress leader Manish Tewari told media.

Tewari attacked the NDA-led government over several issues including agriculture distress, unemployment, security situation in Kashmir and GST and demonetisation.

"If there is any achievement that you have scored, it is one of banning notes. If there is any government which has oppressed 124 crore Indian citizens in one go during the last 70 years, it was the current government which did it through its decision of demonetisation," he said.

The leader lambasted the government for claming that country has been terror-attack-free since 2014, and reminded it of attacks in Pathankot and Uri in state of Jammu and Kashmir in 2016.

He also accused the government of not respecting the democratic institutions and asked the Modi-led dispensation why two heads, Reserve Bank of India -- Raghuram Rajan and Urjit Patel-- had to resign their posts under its watch.
New Delhi, Jan 12 : Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad on Saturday refused to comment on the BSP and SP leaving the party out of their alliance in Uttar Pradesh for the coming Lok Sabha elections and said the party will give its response on Sunday in Lucknow.

Azad told reporters here that the party is preparing for the elections and district-wise meetings were being held.

"We will convey our party's response to the press conference of BSP and SP in Lucknow tomorrow. We have been meeting workers from western UP for the past two days and will meet those of central and eastern UP on Sunday," Azad said.

The BSP and SP announced on Saturday that they will contest the coming Lok Sabha polls together in Uttar Pradesh sharing 38 seats each of the 80 in the state, while leaving Rae Bareli and Amethi for Congress, which has been kept out of the alliance.
New Delhi, Jan 12 : President Ram Nath Kovind on Saturday approved a constitutional amendment that provides 10 per cent reservation to economically weaker general category people in education and government jobs.

The Constitution (One Hundred and Third Amendment) Act, 2019 was passed by Parliament on the last day of the winter session this week with daylong discussions and voting in both Houses.

The Act amends Articles 15 and 16 of the Constitution to provide quota to the general category people with a family income of up to Rs 8 lakh per anum.

"Nothing in this Article shall prevent the State from making any provision for the reservation of appointments or posts in favour of any economically weaker sections of citizens other than the classes mentioned in clause (4), in addition to the existing reservation and subject to a maximum of ten per cent of the posts in each category," the Amendment of Article 16 read.

"For the purposes of this Article and Article 16, 'economically weaker sections' shall be such as may be notified by the State from time to time on the basis of family income and other indicators of economic disadvantage," the notification by the Union Ministry of Law and Justice said.

The 10 per cent quota is in addition to the 22.5 per cent reservation for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes and 27 per cent reservation for castes identified as the Other Backward Classes (OBC). The fresh provision does not tinker with the existing 49.5 per cent of this quota.

With the new 10 per cent quota becoming a law with the President's assent, the total reservation in jobs and education now stands at 59.5 per cent.

The Opposition, while voting in favour of the Bill in Parliament, questioned the legality of the legislation as the Supreme Court has already fixed the upper cap of reservation at 50 per cent.
New Delhi, Jan 12 : President Ram Nath Kovind on Saturday conferred the honorary rank of 'General of the Indian Army on General Purna Chandra Thapa, chief of the Nepalese army at a special investiture ceremony held at Rashtrapati Bhavan.

The President conferred the rank for General Thapa's "commendable military prowess and immeasurable contribution in fostering Nepal's long and friendly association with India", an official release said.

General Thapa also called on Indian Army chief General Bipin Rawat, who presented him a memento.

Earlier, General Thapa laid a wreath at Amar Jawan Jyoti and inspected a guard of honour at South Block.
Kolkata: Youth Congress workers stage a demonstration against the film "The Accidental Prime Minister" at Hind Cinema near central Kolkata's Chandni Chowk area on Jan 11, 2019. (Photo: Kuntal Chakrabarty/IANS) Image Source: IANS News

Kolkata: Youth Congress workers stage a demonstration against the film "The Accidental Prime Minister" at Hind Cinema near central Kolkata's Chandni Chowk area on Jan 11, 2019. (Photo: Kuntal Chakrabarty/IANS) Image Source: IANS News

Kolkata, Jan 12 : Following vandalism at a Kolkata multiplex and a series of protests over the screening of 'The Accidental Prime Minister', a number of city auditoriums on Saturday stopped screening the film, based on former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's tenure.

Shows of the film have been cancelled in north Kolkata's Star Theatre, central Kolkata's Roxy and Prachi theatre and south Kolkata's Menoka Cinema Hall along with Inox Hind theatre, where a show had to be cancelled on Friday due to security reasons following an agitation by the state Youth Congress activists.

"We sold moderate number of tickets for the afternoon show of the film yesterday. Viewers were also present at the theatre but soon after we got a call from the police asking us to stop the film for security reasons. We followed it and refunded the money to the viewers," an official from Hind Cinema said.

"We have decided to withdraw the film after the agitation in Hind cinema and the incident of vandalism in Quest mall yesterday. We will be showing a different movie in that slot. If there is public outrage over a particular film, we cannot jeopardise the security of our viewers," said Bidisha Basu, an official of Prachi Cinema Hall.

Meanwhile, nine people have been arrested for allegedly entering forcibly and vandalising an auditorium of a posh Kolkata multiplex and damaging the screen, police said.

The agitators carrying Congress flags allegedly entered an auditorium in central Kolkata's Quest Mall round 8 pm on Friday while the screening of the film was about to start and damaged the screen, causing the show to be cancelled.

Senior state Congress leaders, however, dissociated themselves from the agitation and said they do not promote or support such form of protest.

The film, released on Friday, is based on a book with the same title written by Sanjaya Baru, former Prime Minister Singh's media advisor. Baru's book was published in April 2014.
New Delhi, Jan 12 : The Congress on Saturday demanded reinstatement of CBI Chief Alok Verma, terming his ouster from the investigating agency by the Prime Minister-led selection committee, a negation of "natural justice" and a decision taken to derail the Rafale probe.

Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi referred to the statement given to a newspaper by retired Supreme Court Justice A.K. Patnaik, who supervised the selection committee meetings, to accuse the ruling party of removing Verma from the CBI post in "haste and anxiety" and with a view to "hide matters of public interest".

"This is very serious, it is urgent, it is very important because ultimately the issues are the same, the issues have not changed. But, the issues highlight a tearing hurry, anxiety and urgency to hide vital matters of public interest. This government is running scared... I think, it is very clear... that there is much to hide, it is not a cupboard full of skeletons, it is only skeletons, there is no cupboard," Singhvi said in a press conference.

"Was it that the CBI Director was deep into the investigative stage of Rafale? Was it that he had evidence, witnesses, documents which would nail the multiple lies of this government, the Prime Minister, the ruling party president?" he wondered.

Apart from Verma's reinstatement, the party also demanded reconvening of the selection committee and giving him back the 77 days out of his two years' tenure which he lost due to the probe.

Earlier, Patnaik had told a newspaper that there was "no evidence" of corruption against Verma and that the committee took the decision in "very, very haste".

"There was no evidence against Verma regarding corruption. The entire enquiry was held on (CBI Special Director Rakesh) Asthana's complaint. I have said in my report that none of the findings in the CVC's report are mine," he had told The Indian Express.

Verma was transferred by the three-member selection committee -- including Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge, who dissented against Verma's removal -- from the CBI Chief's post to the post of Director General of Fire Services on Wednesday, two days after the Supreme Court had reinstated him.

Verma on Friday quit the government service, alleging in a letter that "natural justice was scuttled" in inquiry involving him.
Mumbai, Jan 12 : Veteran actress Shabana Azmi has reacted to Pakistan's Supreme Court's decision to ban Indian content in their country terming it as unfortunate, saying it is the decision of Pakistan's politicians and bureaucrats and not their audience.

Shabanaz Azmi was interacting with the media as she hosted a painting competition for children to celebrate 100th birth anniversary of acclaimed poet, lyricist and her father, Kaifi Azmi, on Saturday in Mumbai.

Pakistan's Chief Justice Saqib Nisar on Wednesday said the country's supreme court will not allow Indian content to be shown on Pakistani TV channels as it "damages our culture".

"It's an unfortunate decision because I feel that art connects and not divides people. People of Pakistan don't want a ban on Indian content in their country, but it is their politicians who want it. In our country too, politicians want to ban their art and artists," Azmi said.

She said people-to-people contact is necessary. "(by banning), We lose an opportunity to create a large pool of talent in our subcontinent."

"When we visit Pakistan, we get so much of respect from their citizens and when artists from that country visit our land, they say they feel like being in their our own country. So, people-to-people connect is really necessary when it comes to encouraging any kind of art form," Azmi said.
New Delhi, Jan 12 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi will on Sunday release a commemorative coin on the 10th Sikh Guru, Guru Gobind Singh, to mark his birth anniversary. Modi will also address a select gathering.

Modi attended the 350th birth anniversary celebrations of the Guru in Patna on January 5, 2017. He had released a commemorative postage stamp to mark the occasion.

Modi had also recalled Guru Gobind Singh in his monthly radio address 'Mann Ki Baat' on December 30 last year, and lauded his heroism, sacrifice and devotion.
Mumbai, Jan 12 : Politician and film producer Sanjay Raut, who is also the writer of the forthcoming film "Thackeray" based on Bal Thackeray, says that though there is a perception that the late politician was "anti-Muslim", it is not true.

The producer was present along with the cast and crew of the film for the launch of the song album here.

Asked if Thackeray disliked and maintained a distance from the Muslim community, Raut told the media: "Bala saab was never an anti-Muslim man. He was a true patriot. He was one of those lovers of the nation and people's person that never allowed caste and religion to come in between...

"People asked us why we cast Nawazuddin (Siddiqui) bhai as saab in the film. I would say that this is the biggest salute from us to the ideology of Bala saab. Also, note that Nakash Aziz sang the title song of 'Thackeray' because we believe that saab kept merit beyond religion."

Calling Thackeray the "biggest nationalist", Raut mentioned that "his vision was to bring people together for the development of the nation".

The event was also attended by Nawazuddin, actress Amrita Rao, Nakash, composers Rohan-Rohan and lyricist Manoj Yadav, among others.

The film is releasing before the election. Asked if the story will influence people's mind to vote for a particular political party, Raut said: "Look that film 'The Accidental Prime Minister' is made based on Sanjaya Baru's book. But our film is not based on any book, it is a life story. This is not a propaganda film. Like the way we watched films on Gandhi, Nelson Mandela, we will watch this film on Thackeray saab."

Bala saab's son Uddhav Thackeray and grandson Aaditya Thackeray were also present at the event.

"We are releasing it between 1200 and 1300 screens in India. It includes Marathi and Hindi. Overseas...we are attempting around 400 screens," said Ajit Andhare, chief operating officer of Viacom18 Studios.

"Thackeray" is releasing on January 25.
Madrid, Jan 12 : Atletico Madrid's France defender Lucas Hernandez was on Saturday given medical clearance to play as the team concluded its preparations for its upcoming La Liga game against Levante.

Lucas has been on the sideline for five games since sustaining a right knee injury during Atletico's 3-0 La Liga win over Alaves on December 8, but it seemed to be a thing of the past as he trained normally with the team.

"Lucas Hernandez received the medical green light on Saturday following the team's training session. Our defender will be available for Sunday's game against Levante at the Wanda Metropolitano," the club said in a statement, reports Efe news.

Atletico hopes to get back to winning ways when it hosts Levante at the Wanda Metropolitano stadium after playing to a draw in two consecutive games.

In La Liga, Atleti was held 1-1 by Sevilla in their most recent league clash, before playing to a 1-1 draw against Girona in the first leg of the Spanish Cup round of 16.
Over 200 senior leaders and officials from ministries, sectors and agencies of both countries, as well as representatives from military regions, legions and border provinces of Vietnam and Cambodia attended the event.

At the end of the conference, both sides issued a report and a joint declaration.

Delegates expressed their pleasure at witnessing that the cooperation and development in localities along the joint border of the two countries since the 9th Conference (on March 2017) have achieved substantial results.

The related authorities from the two sides have set up multiple policies and measures, while signing various documents to create favourable frameworks for border cooperation. The border localities and their neighbouring locales have actively exchanged delegations, while implementing specific cooperation activities. Defence and security in the border areas have been maintained, border trade is growing steadily, and the economy and living conditions of locals are increasingly improving.

The two sides highlighted the importance of security-defense cooperation in maintaining the peace, stability and security environment of each country. They agreed to implement specific cooperation plans, regularly exchange information and coordinate to prevent cross-border crimes in order to ensure security and order across the border.

Vietnamese Deputy PM and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh (R) and Cambodian Deputy PM and Interior Minister Sar Kheng. (Photo: VNA)



The two sides also expressed their determination to promote the connection of the two economies, especially the connection among border provinces, attaching importance to connecting transportation, electricity, tourism, telecommunications and banking routes; promoting trade at border gates toward an early signing of a Border Trade Agreement; and promoting a joint border market model in Da commune, Memot district, Tbong Khmum province; in addition to boosting the signing of a protocol to amend the Protocol on implementing the Vietnam - Cambodia Road Transport Agreement and a Memorandum of Understanding on the supplement and amendment to the Vietnam - Cambodia Waterway Transport Agreement.

They vowed to use their determination to increase investment and further support border provinces, including through multilateral cooperation programmes under sub-regional frameworks in mainland Southeast Asia, while strengthening cooperation in the field of irrigation planning, management and sustainable and effective use of water sources from the Mekong River.

Both sides praised the efforts of the relevant functional forces in carrying out the border demarcation work and agreed to focus their efforts to soon complete and sign two legal documents to recognise the completion rate of the border demarcation reaching 84% of the work volume.

On the occasion of the 40th anniversary of the January 7 Victory to overthrow the Pol Pot genocidal regime, the two Deputy PMs agreed to continue building and embellishing the Vietnam-Cambodia Friendship monuments, while accelerating the search, collection and repatriation of remains of Vietnamese voluntary martyrs and experts who died in the war in Cambodia.

On behalf of the Governments of the two countries, Deputy PM Pham Binh Minh and his counterpart Sar Kheng proposed that the delegates from the relevant ministries, agencies and border localities of the two countries in attendance at the conference thoroughly grasp and actively coordinate in implementing the specific directions and measures proposed by the 10th Conference, contributing to continue building a Vietnam - Cambodia joint border for peace, friendship, cooperation and development.
Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call(WASHINGTON) -- Ahead of a potential announcement by President Donald Trump to declare a national emergency and reallocate billions of dollars to pay for a border wall, House Republicans representing congressional districts that are still recovering from hurricanes say theyre opposed to the plan.

Our district is still recovering from Hurricane Harvey, Rep. Brian Babin, R-Texas, told ABC News. I hope that they can get those [funds] from somewhere else.

Rep. Buddy Carter said that theres no question Georgians are still recovering from Hurricane Michael, and urged the president not to redirect any disaster relief money from the Peach State to cover the border wall.

As a result of Hurricane Michael, in southwest Georgia in particular, weve had devastating impact on our crops and in order for the farmers to recover and to start planning for the next cycle, then they need that disaster relief as soon as possible, Carter, R-Georgia, said. Theres a need for disaster relief. No question about it.

Another Texas Republican, Rep. Roger Williams, defended the Houses constitutional power of the purse and urged congressional leaders to negotiate an agreement with the president.

Im not for that idea right now. Im for getting back to negotiations, Williams said. I think Congress should have a hand in it. I represent Fort Hood, the largest military base in the country, and were doing a lot of great things down there with our motor pools, with our runways, with our barracks that sorely need to be done to, you know, create an environment for our soldiers. So I dont want any money taken from there. Weve got a lot of momentum going there, so I would hope that we could negotiate this thing.

Rep. John Rutherford, R-Florida, said it remains to be seen whether Trump has the authority to fund the wall without congressional approval, but he is also very supportive of getting that wall built.

Carter also agreed there is some question as to whether Trump has the power to reprogram disaster relief to pay for the border wall.

I hope it doesnt come to that, Carter said. I hope that we can get this worked out and that we can fulfill our obligation and that is to secure our borders.

While hed like Trump to pursue alternate funding options, Babin  who is refusing his congressional salary until the government reopens  stressed that the president is doing the right thing by refusing to reopen government over his $5.7 billion demand.

Ill tell you, we need to have border security. That is something else that is pressing hard on the state of Texas right now, he said. It is a crisis beyond most peoples imaginations and weve got to have some relief there.

Williams, who served as secretary of state of Texas prior to his election to Congress, said that border patrol has told him that they need a physical barrier at the border to control illegal immigration.

We have a real, real problem, okay? Williams said. They need some sort of barrier to improve whats going on.

Im total[ly] for border security. Its a real thing. If you live in Texas, you get it. We want people to realize the American dream, but they need to do it legally, Williams continued. A lot of things can happen there, but I totally support the president on border security.

Carter said hes visited the southern border and believes a solution will require additional border security measures beyond a physical barrier.

Its going to take more than just the wall, more than just a fence, Carter said. A fence works perfect in some areas, such as San Diego, but in other areas like Arizona, you need boots on the ground, you need technology. You need blimps, drones. All those types of things.

The money for the wall could possibly be drawn from the Army Corps of Engineer's Long Term Disaster Recovery Investment Plan Construction Account, which totals about $13.9 billion and is comprised from more than 50 projects  mainly from Puerto Rico, as well as Texas, Florida, California  and to a lesser degree projects in Georgia, Hawaii, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Kentucky, Louisiana, New Mexico, South Carolina, Tennessee, and West Virginia.

The White House has specifically asked the Army Corps of Engineers to examine what funds could be redirected to the border wall from an emergency supplemental that passed in February 2018.

One U.S. official said the money could be used to build as much as 315 miles of border wall under the direction of the Army Corps of Engineers.

Copyright  2019, ABC Radio. All rights reserved.
New Delhi, Jan 12 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday made a strong pitch for his re-election in the next Lok Sabha elections as he launched a scathing attack on the Congress saying it had pushed the country into darkness, bled banks and had created road blocks to an early judicial solution to the Ayodhya dispute.

Winding up the two-day BJP National Convention, he cautioned people about who they chose as their "pradhan sevak" (principal servant), one who worked 18 hours a day tirelessly and one who would not go on holidays.

In his valedictory address in which he set the tone for the BJP's bid to come back to power again, Modi said he had led a government whose track record was "spotless", which had worked with honesty for all sections, ended despondency, raised people's confidence, accelerated the pace of development and enhanced India's stature.

"For the first time it has happened that there is no allegation of corruption against the government. We can be proud that we have a spotless record," he said.

Modi made several veiled attacks on Rahul Gandhi, saying he had met those who were talking of breaking India, had met the Chinese envoy during the Doklam stand off and had alleged "khoon ki dalali" over surgical strikes.

He said the governments of Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal and now Chhattisgarh had barred the CBI but he never did so as Gujarat chief minister though the Congress did not leave any opportunity to harass him through probe agencies.

Modi said he faced the SIT questioning for nine hours as chief minister (over the 2002 Gujarat riots) as he had faith in the law, institutions and truth.

"But they are scared of their misdeeds. You have faith on institutions. They do not have faith in the CBI, CAG. Can we hand over the country to them. We have faith in the constitution, they have on the sultanate," he said.

Referring to the National Herald case without naming Rahul Gandhi and his mother Sonia Gandhi, he said members of the "first family" of the Congress were on bail and the case pertained to 2012 when the UPA was in power.

He said they had been repeatedly called by the probe agencies, 44 times overall and six times in six months, but they had not presented themselves.

"We are `naamdars', how can we go, how can we be asked questions. The fact is that they have problem with truth. What are they hiding, we do not know. People on bail do not respect institutions, what respect they will give to the country. They have faith on 'rajshahi' (feudalism) and we on 'lokshahi' (democracy)," he said.

"Do people want a `sevak' who provokes family members, steals from the house, distributes the goodies among his family members and talks ill of the family with neighbours, goes on long leave or a sevak who works day and night, works more than the owners of the house and always thinks of their welfare.

"The way you will choose a sevak, you decide what kind of pradhan sevak you want," he said.

He accused the Congress of disrespecting institutions. "They do not respect the Election Commission, investigating agencies, Supreme Court, even our foreign ministry."

Modi said the Congress had bled the banks as two processes prevailed during its rule for availing - "common process" and "Congress process."

"Public money had become private wealth," he said. "People's money was given away in loans. The betrayal that Congress did, that needs to be told repeatedly."

He said loans of Rs 18 lakh crore were given by banks from Independence till 2008. "But from 2008 to 2014, loans of Rs 34 lakh crore were given and the total amount went to Rs 52 lakh crore."

He said there were two process of getting loan - "common process and Congress process".

In the normal process, people took loans to the tune of Rs 10 to Rs 20 lakh and were required to provide documents, answer all questions and the loan was to be returned.

"In the Congress process, loans were given on a phone call of `naamdar', no question was asked and more loans were sanctioned to pay the previous loan and then the whole amount was gobbled up.

"It hurt the common man, the poor. The banks were left bleeding. It was a dangerous situation. If I had disclosed it in 2014, it would have caused panic. We gradually changed the rules and ended the Congress process. Earlier thousands of crores were going out, now they are coming back. The insolvency code process has brought back Rs 3 lakh crore. The earlier government would have looted this money," he said.

Referring to the issue of the Ram Temple at Ayodhya, he said Congress sought to create "obstacles" in the judicial process through a partyman who is a lawyer.

"They wanted to impeach Chief Justice of India. Don't let all this be forgotten. We have to repeatedly remind people how they created roadblocks in development."

Referring to Christian Michel, the alleged middleman in the AgustaWestland helicopter deal, he said it is the first time that such a person has been extradited to India.

He said reports in the media about "raazdar" (Michel) have indicated that there was misdoing not only in the helicopter deal but in the deal to purchase fighter jets. "The layers are slowly unfolding. There were middlemen in defence deals earlier."

Modi took a veiled dig at Gandhi over the Rafale deal, saying that he was not prepared to understand the issue.

Referring to an answer given during the debate in Parliament on the issue, he said it had been explained citing an example that a bag filled with different ingredients will have different price. "You can wake up a sleeping person but one who pretends to be asleep when he is awake, nothing can be done."

Modi said he was being abused and conspiracies were being hatched through an eco system linked to the Congress.

"Speak lies but the chowkidar is not going to stop. It is just the beginning. Whether it is within the country or outside, chowkidar is not going to spare anyone.

He said the Congress had ridiculed Swachh Bharat, efforts to propagate Yoga, GST, Make in India and `Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao.'

Modi said that ten years of the UPA government were lost in scams and allegations of corruption.

Targeting the Congress which has often accused him of changing the names of its projects, Modi said he had not changed the names of old schemes. He said no initiative of the NDA government including Ayushman Bharat, Sagarmala or Ujjawala is named after him.

He said the "Congress and its allies" had opposed the triple talaq bill, enemy property bill, bill to give constitutional status to OBC commission, Citizenship amendment bill and reservations over NRC.
Lucknow, Jan 12 : On a day the SP and BSP sealed an alliance for the Lok Sabha polls in Uttar Pradesh, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) also concluded a deal with the Apna Dal (Krishna Patel) on Saturday.

Announcing the alliance, AAP's Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh said the alliance has been agreed upon in principle and that seat-sharing talks were under way.

Singh, who is in Ayodhya as part of a yatra, said the two parties will contest all Lok Sabha seats in the state.

Apna Dal (Krishna Patel) is the faction of the party led by its founder Sone Lal Patel's widow while the other being the Apna Dal (S) led by Anupriya Patel, who is a minister in the Narendra Modi government.

Vaibhav Maheshwari, AAP spokesman in Uttar Pradesh, told IANS that talks had been going on for a long time with Apna Dal (Krishna Patel) and that the ideology of zero corruption and secularism had brought the two parties together.

"We both are against corruption and against communal forces," he added.
Tokyo, Jan 12 : A top Nissan Motor Co. executive and ally of Carlos Ghosn has resigned, the company said, in a first shake-up at the Japanese auto maker since the arrest of the former Chairman.

Jose Munoz, who went on leave of absence a week ago, oversaw business strategy for Nissan's seven regional and business units and had direct oversight of the company's China operations, Efe news reported.

His future had been in question following the November 19 arrest of Ghosn in Japan and criticism from current Nissan Chief Executive Hiroto Saikawa, who had blamed the company's recent profitability struggles on its US strategy.

Munoz had been considered a potential successor to Saikawa.

Munoz, in a statement posted on LinkedIn and confirmed by his spokesman, said he would continue to assist Nissan in its investigation into alleged financial misconduct involving Ghosn and colleague Greg Kelly.

Ghosn and Kelly have denied any wrongdoing.

"Unfortunately, Nissan is currently involved in matters that have and will continue to divert its focus," Munoz said in the statement.

Nissan's investigation into alleged financial misdeeds by Ghosn expanded since his ouster as Chairman at a November 22 board meeting. The team looking into Ghosn's actions grew to include over 100 people around the world, according to Nissan.

Ghosn, who was charged on December 10 with failing to report his compensation accurately in Nissan's financial statements, has remained in a Tokyo jail since his arrest. Prosecutors on Friday hit him with fresh charges of abusing his position at the auto maker for personal gain.

Munoz, a native of Spain, joined Nissan in 2004 and was named President of Nissan's Mexico operations five years later. Taking over as Chairman of Nissan's North American operations in 2014, he led the car maker through robust growth and record US sales.

He was appointed to the role of chief performance officer in 2016. Munoz said in his statement he would explore new opportunities and was looking forward to remaining a part of the auto industry.
Patna, Jan 12 : The traditional 'Makar Sankranti' feast will not be held at RJD chief Lalu Prasad's residence this year as he was not granted bail in the fodder scam case and was undergoing treatment at a Ranchi hospital, a party official said on Saturday.

"The Rashtriya Janata Dal is upset after Laluji was denied bail two days ago. The party would have celebrated the 'chuda-dahi' festival next week if he was around. He has been deliberately framed under false charges by the BJP-controlled CBI," party spokesperson Bhai Virender said here.

'Chuda-dahi' is a staple dish in Bihar during Makar Sankranti. It is curd poured on top of flattened rice served with jaggery.

Lalu Prasad's family did not celebrated Makar Sankranti in 2018 also after he was jailed in December 2017.

RJD leaders recalled that the feast has always been a big time for party workers across Bihar as they used to visit the former Bihar Chief Minister's residence to enjoy delicacies.

"Laluji personally served us 'chuda-dahi' and Rabri Devi and her two sons, Tej Prarap Yadav and Tehaswi Yadav, used to request all to enjoy delicacies," RJD leader Shakti Yadav said.
Lucknow, Jan 12 : Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Saturday greeted the people of the state, especially the youth, on the 156th birth anniversary of Swami Vivekanand.

Recalling the immense contribution made by Vivekanand, Adityanath said that as a young seer, he contributed immensely in propagating the culture and heritage of India in far-off foreign lands.

He said Vivekanand was a great repository of literature, philosophy and history.

As the main disciple of Saint Ramkrishna Paramhans, Vivekanand presented the entire philosophy and ethos of India with logic and irrefutable evidence, Adityanath said.

The Chief Minister also exhorted the youth to read his speeches and writings as much as possible and tread on the path shown by him.

Vivekananda's birthday is also celebrated as National Youth Day.
Lucknow, Jan 12 : Arch rivals for over 25 years, the BSP and SP announced on Saturday that they will contest the coming Lok Sabha polls together in Uttar Pradesh sharing 38 seats each of the 80 in the state, while leaving Rae Bareli and Amethi for Congress, which has been kept out of the alliance.

"The Bahujan Samaj Party and Samajwadi Party will each contest 38 seats while two seats have been left for one or two parties. We have also decided to leave Amethi and Rae Bareli seats for Congress though we do not have alliance with it," Mayawati said at a joint conference here with SP chief Akhilesh Yadav.

Answering questions, Mayawati called the alliance a "permanent phenomenon" that would not only sound the "end of the dictatorial, arrogant and anti-people the BJP" but one that would last beyond the 2019 general election and also go in the 2022 state Assembly polls.

The two parties will keep their personal differences aside to end "the monstrous rule" of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), she said.

On his part, Akhilesh Yadav hinted at supporting Mayawati as a Prime Ministerial candidate.

"Uttar Pradesh has produced numerous prime ministers in the past. You know whom I will support. I will be happy if another prime minister comes from the state."

Mayawati described the alliance also as a "new political revolution" taken in national interest to stop the BJP from coming to power again.

The four-time Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister started her address by saying that what she was about to say and announce would give anxious and sleepless moments to the "guru-chela" duo of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP National President Amit Shah.

She also said that the BJP was rattled at the fact that the two regional parties had buried a long-standing animosity and that it was letting loose government agencies to thwart the alliance.

"But here we are formally coming together, to ensure that at all costs, the BJP is not allowed to return to power but also to give relief to the teeming millions who were suffering at the hands of the faulty and anti-people policies of the BJP government at the Centre and in many states", the Dalit leader announced.

Making it clear that the deep differences and simmering hostility between the BSP-SP were "now things of the past", Mayawati also said that in "larger public interest she had even decided to overlook the infamous June 1995 murderous attack on her by SP workers".

Listing a host of problems like demonetisation, rolling out of the GST, agrarian distress, marginalisation of the poor, Dalits, downtrodden and farmers, Mayawati, who looked very much in control at the conference, also said that the alliance was set to knock out the BJP as they successfully did in the 1993 state Assembly polls when the late Kanshiram and Mulayam Singh Yadav came together to form the government.

She went on to bracket the BJP and the Congress on the same page, saying their "ideology and the working style" was similar.

The BSP supremo also alleged that while the people did not profit in governments of both the Congress and BJP, even defence scams took place under their watch.

"If Bofors was responsible for the ouster of the Congress government at the centre in the 90's, the BJP will go down soon due to the Rafale jet fighter scam" she said.

Explaining the reason for keeping the Congress out of the alliance, Mayawati said it was because of past experiences and electoral history showed that while the vote of the BSP and SP shifted to the Congress in toto, it did never happen vice versa.

"Both the BSP (1997) and SP (2017) tied up with the Congress, but the results were not in our favour because of this very reason."

The coming together of the two parties, which were swept away by the Modi wave in the 2014 Lok Sabha and the subsequent Assembly polls in 2017, has been viewed by analysts as a possible game changer.

In the 2014 Lok Sabha polls, the BJP won 71 seats on its own while its ally Apna Dal picked up two. The BSP drew nil, while the SP won five and Congress two -- all family pocketboroughs.

Mayawati said the seat-sharing between two parties was decided at a meeting in Delhi on January 4 and the distribution of seats has also been broadly worked out.

It will be made public through a press release.

She said Amethi, which is represented by Congress President Rahul Gandhi and Rae Barelli, represented by UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi, have been left for Congress as they do not want BJP to "complicate" matters.

Mayawati said ever since reports of the tie up between the two parties had appeared, the BJP got "scared" and conspired to weaken the alliance as part of its strategy.

It was "misusing" state machinery and targeting Akhilesh Yadav, whose name cropped up in the media in the alleged mining scam.

"The BJP should know that after this the alliance has got further strengthened," she said and appealed to people not to waste their votes on outfits like Shivpal Yadav, Akhilesh Yadav's estranged uncle, on whom "the BJP is splashing money like water".

She suggested that as part of this strategy, parties may be floated to attract Muslim votes.

Akhilesh Yadav said that he decided to have an alliance with the BSP ever since the BJP leaders "drunk with power" abused her. In future, any insult to Mayawati will be his personal insult, he said appealing to SP workers to work in the spirit of brotherhood with BSP cadre.

The Dalit leader also compared the current situation in the country to that in 1977 and said while the Congress had imposed the Emergency then, now it is a state of "undeclared emergency".

Mayawati however parried questions on whether she would contest the Lok Sabha polls or not.

"In due time, you will be informed of this also," she said smiling.
New Delhi, Jan 12 : Noted novelist, essayist, poet and musician Amit Chaudhuris new poetry collection "Sweet Shop" has arrived at the stands.

The collection of 31 poems makes a fresh, spiritual accommodation with the world. The poems often take their themes from sweets named and eaten, meals remembered, and matches these with meditations on culture, people, time and identity that slowly unfold as much in the mouth as in the mind.

What the readers discover are the hesitations, assessments and uncertainties that in their totality make us human. Those quiet moments of revelation and rediscovery that create our lives as much as reflect their circumstances, locating and healing us in their intimate pleasures, are also reflected in the surreal poems by Chaudhuri.

"Chaudhuri's experiments in poetic alchemy turn sweet nothings into ontological reflections. These odes to the pleasures of 'faltu' -- the unnecessary -- are pungent, chewy, and succulent," American poet, essayist and scholar Charles Bernstein has written in his endorsement of the book.

Published by Penguin Random House India, "Sweet Shop" is priced at Rs 299.
Los Angeles, Jan 12 : The publisher of the "Choose Your Own Adventure" book series has sued Netflix, alleging that the film "Black Mirror: Bandersnatch" infringes on its trademarks.

Netflix is facing a $25 million lawsuit filed by the publisher in a federal court on Friday, reports variety.com.

The film debuted last month on the streaming service. Like the "Choose Your Own Adventure" books, the film allows viewers to direct the character's action, leading to a variety of possible endings.

Chooseco LLC, the Vermont-based publisher of the book series, alleges that Netflix deliberately exploited the brand awareness of its book series to launch the show.

The "Choose Your Own Adventure" books were popular among young readers in the 1980s and 1990s, and publishers have sold 265 million copies, according to the suit, which seeks at least $25 million in damages.

According to the suit, Netflix sought a license to use the "Choose Your Own Adventure" trademark over the last couple of years. However, the negotiations never resulted in a deal. The suit also notes that 20th Century Fox recently optioned the rights to develop an interactive film series based on the books.

The suit notes that early in the film, the main character refers to the book series. The character plans to pitch a video game based on a book he is reading, and the character's father asks about the book. "It's a 'Choose Your Own Adventure' book," the character states.

The suit also contends that the film is violent and disturbing -- including references to murder, decapitation, drug use, and the mutilation of a corpse -- which is inappropriate for the young adult readers of the book series. The suit claims that the violent imagery tarnishes the "Choose Your Own Adventure" brand.

R.A. Montgomery, the original publisher and author of the "Choose Your Own Adventure" series, died in 2014. His widow, Shannon Gilligan, now leads the company. She issued a statement on Friday about the trademark suit, in which she sought to clarify that the film has nothing to do with the books, and that the film does not "adhere to the 'Choose Your Own Adventure' rules about successful interactive storytelling".

"The misappropriation of our mark by Netflix presents an extreme challenge for a small independent publisher like Chooseco," she said.

"The use of 'Choose Your Own Adventure' in association with such graphic content is likely to cause significant damage, impacting our book sales and affecting our ability to work with licensing partners in the future. We would prefer not to resort to litigation, but given the damage that we will suffer as a result of the use of our mark we've been left with no other option."
San Francisco, Jan 12 : The year just-ended was terrible for smartphone maker Sony amid dwindling sales and the company is now contemplating to restructure and introduce a fresh strategy for its mobile division.

"We've been undergoing a lot of change. Every component of our business has been touched," Don Mesa, Vice President of Marketing, Sony Mobile, was quoted as saying by the Digital Trends late on Thursday.

The reshuffle heralds a fresh strategy for Sony Mobile. Kimio Maki is the new head of development and comes in from Sony's very successful camera division, the report added.

Maki was part of the brains behind making the Tokyo-headquartered company as a top camera maker.

"We are going to be announcing products at MWC. What we present there will be a first step showing the direction we are going," Mesa added in the report.

Even as Sony Mobile is set to reshuffle in the right direction, the company has maintained users should not expect drastic changes.

Apart from introducing new devices at the Mobile World Congress 2019 (MWC), the company is also likely to update the line-up again at IFA, six months later.
New Delhi, Jan 12 : The BJP on Saturday hit out at the opposition alliance, saying their coming together was because of the "fear" of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and claimed that the saffron party was the real "kingmaker" behind the "mahagathbandhan".

The saffron party, in its political resolution passed here at the last day of the two-day BJP National Convention, said no matter how many parties join the opposition alliance, their defeat is inevitable in the coming Lok Sabha polls and the Bharatiya Janata Party's victory was for sure.

"Those, who never wish 'namaste' to each other, are today coming together. In fact we are the real kingmaker of their friendship. They have come together due to our fear. They don't have any principle even though they are making alliances. They are opportunist. They don't have any shame. Those, whose defeat is evident, want to defeat us. We are courageous people and would ensure their defeat," Union Minister Nitin Gadkari said while presenting the party's political resolution.

"No matter how many parties join the opposition alliance. No matter how many baseless allegations they level against us, they are the people indulged in corruption and the politics of casteism. We will defeat them," he added.

Gadkari slammed the Congress and its President Rahul Gandhi for attacking the Modi-government on the Rafale fighter jet deal and using "foul" languages against the Prime Minister, saying the opposition parties were not able to digest the achievements of the BJP-led government.

"The country is changing. We are the fastest growing economy. The Congress is not able to digest this situation. They are resorting to baseless allegations. The Supreme Court has given a clean chit to the government on Rafale. Nirmalaji (Sitharaman) has spoken at length in Lok Sabha. But despite that the Congress is levelling baseless corruption charges.

"The Prime Minister belongs to no political party. He represents crores of Indians. The way the Congress President has been attacking him, does not behove him. They cannot digest the fact that a man from a poor background, who used to sell tea, has become the prime minister of the country. That is why they are resorting to baseless allegations and this has been thier policy," he said.

Referring to the government's major pro-poor initiatives, the former BJP President urged the intellectual class of the society to audit the performance of the Modi government while claiming that what could not be achieved in the last 60 years were achieved in the past four-and-a-half years.

"When the BJP-led NDA government came to the Centre, the country was in bad shape. The corruption was at an all time high. We were among the five fragile countries. There was a non-performing and visionless government.

"Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, we have transformed the country on many fronts. Social and economic equality were our commitments and we have delivered on these fronts. Without disturbing the reservation for SCs/STs and OBC, we have provided 10 per cent reservation to the the poor and economically backward of upper castes. It was a revolutionary decision," he said.

The Minister also referred to Triple Talaq Bill, saying that it will ensure justice to "our Muslim sisters".

Accusing the Congress and its Prime Minister of ruining the poor of the country, Gadkari said that their leaders only gave slogans to remove poverty but did nothing for them except making 20-point agendas.

"Our schemes like gas and power connections, and other reform measures have transformed the life of the poor. The number of people above poverty line has gone up. Over 60 crore people have benefited fron Direct Benefit Transfer scheme. We implemented in letter and spirit what we had said," he said, adding that the first time country has seen no difference in saying and deeds.

Gadkari also mentioned the Goods and Service Tax and demonetisation as major achievements of the Modi government and urged the party cadres to take a resolve to make Modi the Prime Minister again.
Las Vegas, Jan 12 : In line with its drive to make virtual reality (VR) content more accessible to people around the world, Google has entered into a partnership with South Korean mobile carrier LG Uplus Corp.

LG Uplus on Friday said that it would set up a fund with Google to invest in VR content, Yonhap news agency reported.

The agreement, made during the annual Consumer Electronics Show (CES) held here from January 8-11, is aimed at investing in the development of VR content during the first half of the year, LG Uplus said.

The content will be viewed through LG Uplus platforms and Google-owned global video streaming service YouTube.

LG Uplus will be responsible for the planning and production of the VR content and commercialisation rights in South Korea, while Google will acquire global distribution rights through YouTube, company officials said.

Over the past few year, Google has taken several initiatives to make VR content more popular on YouTube.

To make it easier and less expensive to create in VR, the tech giant introduced the VR180 format.

Google partnered with with YouTube and immersive media company VR Scout to launch a global series of VR180 training academies - known as VR Creator Lab.

It launched the first "VR Creator Lab" in Los Angeles in June 2018, and soon brought to Europe.
San Francisco, Jan 12 : Facebook considered selling users' data to companies some years ago but later decided to act against it, the media reported.

According to Arstechnica.com that viewed an unredacted court document, Facebook staff in 2012 considered charging companies at least $250,000 for "access to one of its primary troves of user data -- the Graph API".

"In April 2014, Facebook changed the way the previously permissive Graph API works.

"The social media giant restricted some data access and eliminated all access to the earlier version by June 2015," the report said on Friday.

The Wall Street Journal also reported that "Facebook employees discussed pushing some advertisers to spend more in return for increased access to user information".

A failure on Facebook's part to adequately redact a public court document revealed this information.

According to Arstechnica.com, Facebook gave "extended access to the v1.0 of Graph API to numerous companies not only including Nissan and Royal Bank of Canada but now also to Chrysler/Fiat, Lyft, Airbnb, and Netflix, among others".

A Facebook spokesperson, however, was quoted as saying that Chrysler/Fiat and the other companies, besides Nissan and Royal Bank of Canadaa, were listed erroneously in the court document.

The news comes on the heel of the British Parliament obtaining a set of internal Facebook documents from US software company Six4Three that has sued the social media giant over what it claims are fraudulent breaches of contract.

Facebook, however, defended itself, saying that Six4Three's "claims have no merit, and we will continue to defend ourselves vigorously".

Now defunct, Six4Three in a new filing to a California lawsuit in May 2018 alleged that Facebook collected information on users and their friends through its apps.

The filing was part of a suit brought against Facebook in 2015 by Six4Three.

To collect the information, Facebook used several methods including tracking users' locations, reading their text messages and accessing their photos on phones, according to the allegations as reported by the Guardian.

In March, Facebook admitted it collected data from people's calls and texts but said it had prior consent.

However the Guardian reported that it logged some messages without explicitly notifying users.

Six4Three sued Facebook over its app Pikinis, which allowed users to zoom in on bikini photos.

It alleged that Facebook tracked users, sometimes without their express consent.
Washington, Jan 12 : US President Donald Trump has halted his plan to declare a national emergency over immigration at the southern border, saying it was an "easy way out", but he remained open to declaring it at a later time.

"It's the easy way out," CNN quoted the President as saying on Friday.

"Congress should do this. This is too simple. It's too basic. And Congress should do this... If they can't do it, I will declare a national emergency. I have the absolute right to do it," Trump said.

One of the reasons Trump is reluctant to declare a national emergency is because he believes that his administration will be sued and that his actions will be blocked by the 9th Circuit.

"I'll be sued. It'll be brought to the 9th Circuit and maybe even though the wording is unambiguous... We'll probably lose there, too," Trump said, adding he would "hopefully win" at the Supreme Court.

Earlier in the week, White House lawyers began laying the groundwork for the legal defence of a national emergency declaration on the southern border, informed sources told CNN.

Earlier Friday, Trump continued to bolster his case about the need to build a wall.

"I just got back and it is a far worse situation than almost anyone would understand, an invasion!" Trump tweeted following his Thursday trip to the border town of McAllen in Texas.

"I have been there numerous times - The Democrats, Cryin' Chuck (Schumer) and Nancy (Pelosi) don't know how bad and dangerous it is for our entire country.

"The Steel Barrier, or Wall, should have been built by previous administrations long ago. They never got it done - I will. Without it, our country cannot be safe. Criminals, gangs, human traffickers, drugs and so much other big trouble can easily pour in. It can be stopped cold!"

Later during his roundtable, Trump reiterated his belief that the country is "under siege.

"We have a country that is being invaded by criminals and by drugs and we're going to stop it," Trump said, offering no evidence to back up his claims.
New Delhi, Jan 11 : The Delhi government will open six world class skill centres (WCSCs) in the national capital in March, with a total capacity of 720 seats, to prepare students to acquire different professional skills, Education Minister Manish Sisodia announced on Friday.

The admission process for the March 2019 batch in the six WCSCs -- to be located in Institute of Basic Business Studies (Pusa); IIT, Dwarka; Delhi Pharmaceutical Sciences and Research University; Society for Self Employment (SSE), Wazirpur; SSE, Jhandewalan; and RIT Rajokari -- will start soon, with the advertisement likely to be published next week.

Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had in 2017 announced setting up of 25 WCSCs in Delhi, after the success of the first WCSC at ITI, Vivek Vihar, started in 2013.

All the new WCSCs will open in the existing ITIs, polytechnics, engineering colleges and universities of the Department of Training and Technical Education.

"Availability of unutilised space in the existing buildings of ITIs, polytechnics, degree colleges and universities was explored by the Department. Accordingly, 25 institutes were identified where the opening of Wbaat', but I am here to listen to your mann ki baat".

"Leaving your families behind in India, you all are here working hard to earn for your family. I am here to assure you that we are with you... I am here to listen to your problems. Whatever help we can extend, we are ready," said Gandhi amid loud applause.

Accompanied by former Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy and Indian Overseas Congress chairman Sam Pitroda, Gandhi interacted with the workers, enquiring about the problems faced by them in Dubai and their families back in India.

With several workers complaining about not getting their full salaries and getting cheated by touts, Gandhi asked them to inform their grievances to Pitroda so that they are accommodated in the Congress manifesto.

"Share all your problems and issues with Pitroda, we will have them in our manifesto. We want to know about all your problems and what the Indian government should do to them. Not this government (Modi government) but the one which is coming to power after the elections," he said.

"I assure you the government will work for you and your families back in India".

Replying to a worker from Amravati in Andhra Pradesh, Gandhi assured the state of a special category status if the Congress came to power at the Centre.

As part of his global outreach programme ahead of the Lok Sabha elections, Gandhi also interacted with representatives of the Indian Business and Professional Council (IBPC), Dubai and met the Punjabi community.

He is also slated to hold talks with UAE Ministers.
New Delhi, Jan 12 : In context to the recent safety-related issues faced by P&W engine-powered Airbus A320 Neo aircrafts, Union Minister for Civil Aviation Suresh Prabhu has said that there is zero tolerance on any violation of the aviation safety guidelines.

Answering a question during the Twitter livestream event on "Flying for All: Global Aviation Summit" on Friday, Prabhu said the aviation regulator DGCA has been directed that "... at any cost, safety has to be paramount. (There is) zero tolerance on any violation of safety issues".

Recently, India's civil aviation regulator said it would issue an "additional directive" on safety protocols for P&W engines, which power Airbus A320 Neo aircraft.

The DGCA's decision to issue additional directive came after the Ministry of Civil Aviation held a meeting with IndiGo, GoAir, engine manufacturer P&W and aircraft maker Airbus on last Tuesday.

The government has taken a serious note of the incidents with the aircraft's engines and called the meet to review the safety issues.

At present, there are 97 Airbus A320 Neo aircrafts operating in the country which are powered by P&W engines.

The meeting follows last week's incident with budget airline IndiGo, when its Kolkata-bound flight had to return to Chennai, and the airline said that it was the result of "technical caution" noted by the crew.
New Delhi, Jan 12 : India and the US on Friday discussed cooperation in defence, foreign policy and the Indo-Pacific region during the course of a 2+2 inter-sessional meeting here on Friday.

According to a statement issued by the External Affairs Ministry here, the inter-sessional meeting was set up following the first ever India-US 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue held last year to make continued progress on bilateral cooperation on cross-cutting defence and foreign policy issues of interest to both sides.

"The two sides also exchanged views on regional developments as partners and stakeholders for a free, open, inclusive, peaceful and prosperous Indo-Pacific," the statement said.

India, the US, Japan and Australia are part of a quad revived in 2017 that seeks to work for peace and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific, a region that spreads from the east coast of Japan to the east coast of Africa.

The 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue held here in September last year was attended by External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and then Defence Secretary Jim Mattis.

In Friday's meeting, the India side was led by Gourangalal Das, Joint Secretary (Americas) in the Ministry of External Affairs and S Kumaran, Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Defence while the US delegation was led by Alice Wells, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State and Randall Schriver, Assistant Secretary of Defence.
New York, Jan. Jan 12 (IANS) The race for UnS presidency in next year's election is likely to see a Hindu representative and a senator of part-Indian-American descent vying for the Democratic Party's nomination.

Tulsi Gabbard, 37, the first Hindu elected to the US Congress, announced on Friday that she will be running for president.

Kamala Harris, 54, who is of Indian and African-Jamaican descent and is identified as a member of the Christian Baptist sect, is expected to announce her candidature for the Democratic Party nomination next week, according to several news reports quoting sources close to her.

Adding to the mix, there is speculation that Nikki Haley, who quit as US Permanent Representative to the UN at the end of last last may seek the Republican Party nomination in the event that President Donald Trump is not up for re-election next year.

The former South Carolina Governor was the first Indian American to be a member of the US cabinet and has received some Republican Party grassroots support for a 2024 run.

Gabbard is not of Indian descent but comes from a Hindu family in Hawaii and took her oath office on the Bhagavad Gita when she was first elected to the House of Representatives in 2011 and after her three re-elections.

An independent-minded Democrat who has defied party leadership, Gabbard said in an interview on CNN: "I have decided to run and will be making a formal announcement within the next week."

A combat veteran who has served in Iraq, Gabbard said of her reason for running for president: "There is one main issue that is central to the rest, and that is the issue of war and peace."

She continues to be a member of the Army National Guard with the rank of major and while serving in Congress has been mobilised for emergency duties.

Despite - or because of - her military background, she has opposed US involvement in Syria and faced criticism for visiting that country and meeting President Bashar al-Assad.

Gabbard has been a strong supporter of India and closer US-India ties as well as of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

She has advocated cutting US aid to Pakistan and pressuring it to end its support international terrorism.

Soon after Trump was elected in 2016, Gabbard met him amid rumours that she may be offered a job in his administration.

But this year she harshly criticised Trump for not taking a strong stand against Saudi Arabia for the killing of Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi.

She is on the populist left in the Democratic Party and supported Bernie Sanders, the maverick progressive senator, for the party's nomination in 2016.

She accused the party leadership of being partial to former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and against Sanders and resigned as a vice president of the party.

Sanders himself may run for the party nomination and another candidate from the party's left, Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren, has announced her candidature.

Former Vice President Joe Biden, who comes from the party's centrist wing, is also likely to join the fray.

Gabbard, who was elected to Hawaii state legislature when she was only 21, is the youngest person running for the presidency so far for 2020.

She had a run-in with Harris this week, accusing her of religious bigotry for her opposition to a nominee for federal judgeship because he belonged to a Catholic organisation called the Knights of Columbus.

"While I oppose the nomination of Brian Buescher to the US District Court in Nebraska, I stand strongly against those who are fomenting religious bigotry, citing as disqualifiers Buescher's Catholicism and his affiliation with the Knights of Columbus," Gabbard wrote in a newspaper op-ed.

( can be reached at arul.l@ians.in and followed on Twitter @arulouis)
It is fast  capable of speeds in excess of 40 knots.

 capable of speeds in excess of 40 knots. It is automated  with the most efficient staffing of any combat ship.

 with the most efficient staffing of any combat ship. It is lethal  standard equipped with Rolling Airframe Missiles (RAM) and a Mark 110 gun, capable of firing 220 rounds per minute.

 standard equipped with Rolling Airframe Missiles (RAM) and a Mark 110 gun, capable of firing 220 rounds per minute. It is flexible  with 40 percent of the hull easily reconfigurable, integrating capabilities like the Longbow Hellfire Missiles, 30mm guns, and manned and unmanned vehicles targeted to meet today's and tomorrow's missions.

"We are confident that LCS 13 will be what the Navy needs, when the fleet needs it, and we are proud to mark this day with her crew as the Navy welcomes its newest combat ship," said Joe DePietro, vice president, Small Combatants and Ship Systems, Lockheed Martin. "We remain focused on delivering these ships as quickly as possible with increasing capability and lethality."

The LCS is a highly maneuverable, lethal and adaptable ship, designed to support focused mine countermeasures, anti-submarine warfare and surface warfare missions. It is enabled with the COMBATSS-21 Combat Management System, built from the Aegis Common Source Library, which drives commonality among the fleet. The Freedom-variant LCS integrates new technology and capability to affordably support current and future mission capability from deep water to the littorals.

"Like a proud parent, I am so excited to share with you how awesome this ship really is," said LCS 13's Commanding Officer, Commander Nathan Rowan. "People ask me about Littoral Combat Ship. Is it a new cruiser or destroyer? Actually it's neither. It's an entirely new category of warship. The LCS packs quite a hefty punch for such a small package."

There are seven ships in various stages of production and test at Fincantieri Marinette Marine in Wisconsin, where the Freedom-variant LCS is built. The next Freedom-variant in the class is LCS 15, the future USS Billings, slated for delivery this spring.

"We consider it a privilege to support the men and women who will sail this great ship, protecting the United States and our allies," said Jan Allman, President and CEO of Fincantieri Marinette Marine. "On behalf of the two thousand individuals that crafted the LCS 13, we congratulate the U.S. Navy and the outstanding crew of the USS Wichita."

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For more information, visit www.lockheedmartin.com/lcs.

About Lockheed Martin

Headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland, Lockheed Martin is a global security and aerospace company that employs approximately 100,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration and sustainment of advanced technology systems, products and services.

About Fincantieri Marinette Marine

Fincantieri is the leading western shipbuilder with a rich history dating back more than 230 years, and a track record of building more than 7,000 ships. Fincantieri Marine Group is the American subsidiary of Fincantieri, and operates three Great Lakes Shipyards: Fincantieri Marinette Marine, Fincantieri Bay Shipbuilding, and Fincantieri ACE Marine. Fincantieri Marine Group's more than 2,100 steelworkers, craftsman, engineers and technicians in the United States specialize in the design, construction and maintenance of merchant ships and government vessels, including for the United States Navy and Coast Guard.

SOURCE Lockheed Martin

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SALEM, Ore., Jan. 12, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Japanese Taiko drums, a jazz choir, and an acting class will perform at the Options in Education Fest featuring a wide variety of schools from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 19 at the Salem Convention Center.

Nearly 1,000 people are expected to attend the National School Choice Week celebration.

Dozens of schools from every sector  public charter, public magnet, private, virtual, and homeschool  will be represented, helping hundreds of families find the right school or educational setting for their children.

This event is planned to coincide with the history-making celebration of National School Choice Week 2019, which will feature more than 40,000 school choice events across all 50 states.

"School choice is the pathway to success," said Bobbie Jager, school choice outreach coordinator at School Choice for Oregon. "Helping all children and parents find the right fit builds confidence and gives students the power they need to become their greatest selves."

School Choice for Oregon is hosting the event. School Choice for Oregon is a project of Cascade Policy Institute, a nonpartisan, nonprofit research and education organization based in Portland. Cascade Policy Institute has promoted educational choice for all Oregon families since 1991.



As a nonpartisan, nonpolitical public awareness effort, National School Choice Week shines a positive spotlight on effective education options for students, families, and communities around the country. From January 20 through 26, 2019, more than 40,000 independently-planned events will be held in celebration of the Week. For more information, visit www.schoolchoiceweek.com.

SOURCE National School Choice Week

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ATLANTA, Jan. 11, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- TerraCap Management LLC, a privately held investment firm with its headquarters in Naples/Estero, Florida, announced today the acquisition of 200 Ashford Center in Atlanta, GA for $24,620,000.

200 Ashford Center in Atlanta, GA

200 Ashford is a multistory Class A office building with 159,000 rentable square feet and structured parking. The property offers many tenant amenities including a cafe, fully renovated fitness center and state-of-the-art conference center in a lush, park-like setting. 200 Ashford was 85% occupied at acquisition with approximately 30 tenants who office at the property.

"It's a great property in a great location, in our opinion," said Steve Good, Partner and Acquisitions Director for TerraCap. "We see it as a value-add investment with a quality and diversified roster of tenants already in place. We're excited about the opportunity."

The property is ideally located within Central Perimeter, which is Atlanta's largest and most sought-after location for suburban office. Recent corporate relocations to the immediate area include Mercedes Benz and State Farm Insurance, with Cox Communications also recently expanding their corporate campus in the area.

Founder and Managing Partner Steve Hagenbuckle said, "We remain demand-market focused at TerraCap. Our research shows the drivers for growth in the South/Southeast are strongest in sub markets like the Atlanta central perimeter. With long term historic and projected demand, we can continue to create value for our investors. We believe Ashford is an excellent add to our holdings."

The seller was represented by Samir Idris and David Meline of Cushman Wakefield. Chicago based NXT provided financing for TerraCap, who was represented by CJ Kelly of CBRE in Atlanta.

About TerraCap Management LLC

TerraCap Management, LLC considers thematic factors such as business formation, employment growth and population growth on a market-by-market basis, as most metros and submarkets have different economic-based industries and therefore move through their economic cycles differently. TerraCap makes moderate strategic overweighting or underweighting to markets, depending on the specific economic drivers influencing supply and demand.

The Investment Manager has been in operation since 2008 with offices located in Naples/Estero, FL, Tampa, FL, and the Atlanta, GA metro area. As operators, TerraCap believes it can make decisions more efficiently while leveraging expertise from property to property.

More information can be found at terracapmgmt.com.

For More Information, Contact:

Steve Good

239.898.4454

TerraCap Management LLC

SOURCE TerraCap Management

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SEATTLE, Jan. 11, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Southern Explorations, specializing in crafting custom small-group trips and itineraries to Latin America, has freshly completed an in-depth scouting mission of Costa Rica's most underappreciated and underexplored regions with the goal of crafting new custom trips and itineraries to the rugged, rain-forested country.

"Most tourism activities have only scratched the surface of what's actually out there in Costa Rica," explains Justin Laycob, Founder & CEO, Southern Explorations. "Particularly when it comes to regions like Nosara and Santa Teresa. You get a genuine sense of adventure just getting into these places. They have a real rustic, bohemian feel. Nosara has been named one of the 20 best surf cities in the world, while those in the know believe Santa Teresa's potential could very well make it the next great Latin America destination."

At times the roads were rough and there were potential challenges throughout the trip, however, it was all part of the appeal to the Southern Explorations scouting team, which was led by Laycob. They discovered unspoiled beaches, witnessed awesome wildlife action, took part in rich gastronomical experiences, and even got in some incredible surfing during the scouting mission. They are now compiling their collective field notes in order to craft self-drive, culinary, and beach/national park explorations.

In addition to going deep on Nosara and Santa Teresa, the scouting team rafted the Pacuare River while staying at Pacuare Lodge, already available on their Luxury Costa Rica and Costa Rica Adventure itineraries, but now with added enhancements, including new villas and a swimming pool.

"We're really impressed by the enhancements at Pacuare Lodge," notes Laycob. "It was already one of our favorite lodges in all of Latin America and the changes they've made have only served to elevate the whole experience further. It's no surprise National Geographic has identified it as one of their Unique Lodges of the World."

For those travelers looking to get a feel for what the newest Costa Rica offerings will have in store for them, the Southern Explorations team recommends checking out their recently introduced Undiscovered Costa Rica itinerary.

To learn more, visit www.southernexplorations.com

Media Contact: Eric Bartanen, [email protected]

SOURCE Southern Explorations

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MILWAUKEE, Jan. 11, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Ademi & O'Reilly, LLP reminds investors in Snap, Inc. (NYSE: SNAP) of the lead plaintiff deadline of January 31, 2019.

If you lost money in your Snap investment, you are encouraged to join the action: http://ademilaw.com/case/snap or call Guri Ademi toll-free at 866-264-3995. There is no cost or obligation to you. The time period covered by the lawsuit is for purchases of Snap stock between March 2, 2017 and May 15, 2017.

The lawsuit alleges that Snap made false and misleading statements in its IPO and thereafter about its reported user growth. As a result, the price of Snap shares (including its IPO) was inflated before falling more than 20%.

The deadline for joining the lawsuit as a lead plaintiff is January 31. If you purchased Snap stock and wish to obtain additional information, please contact Guri Ademi either at [email protected] or toll-free: 866-264-3995, or http://ademilaw.com/case/snap.

Ademi & O'Reilly, LLP specializes in protecting investor rights throughout the country. For more information, please feel free to call us. Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.

Contacts

Ademi & O'Reilly, LLP

Guri Ademi

Toll Free: (866) 264-3995

Fax: (414) 482-8001

SOURCE Ademi & O'Reilly, LLP

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DUBLIN, Jan 11, 2019 /PRNewswire/ --

The "Multiplay Service Market Trends in Europe" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

"Multiplay Service Market Trends in Europe" a new Telecom Insider Report, provides an executive-level overview of the multiplay market in Europe. It delivers deep qualitative and quantitative insight into the multiplay market in the region, analyzing key trends and strategies adopted by service providers.

Western European markets have traditionally exhibited some of the highest mobile broadband penetration levels worldwide thanks to their extensive broadband infrastructure coverage and higher per capita income levels. In addition, aggressive discounted pricing adopted by most operators in the region and the inclusion of value-added services as part of multiplay bundles have also played an important role, helping to rise adoption levels historically.

At 71.6% estimated for year-end 2018, Western Europe (WE) features the highest multiplay household penetration worldwide, followed by Americas, Asia-Pacific and Central and Eastern Europe.

With an 88% multiplay household penetration rate estimated for year-end 2018, UK is the country with the highest multiplay household penetration in Europe. A position that it will maintain through the forecast period, with the total number of multiplay households set to grow to 26.1 million by 2023, which translates into a penetration of households of 90.9%.

Central and Eastern Europe, meanwhile, has been lagging behind Western Europe in terms of multiplay service adoption, mainly because of its relatively low broadband penetration levels. Moving forward, however, it is expected that Russia, Central and Eastern Europe's largest multiplay market, to exhibit the regions fastest growth rate in terms of adoption.

WE operators such as Orange and Telefonica have been investing in the expansion of their fiber-optic networks in order to deliver gigabit Internet speeds to every household. These European operators look to leverage their widespread FTTH network to drive multiplay adoption, aimed at reducing churn and improving revenue generating units (RGUs).

Scope

Europe in a global context; looks at the multiplay market in a global context, focusing on penetration and service adoption trends.

in a global context; looks at the multiplay market in a global context, focusing on penetration and service adoption trends. Multiplay market in Europe ; provides a detailed description of the multiplay market in Europe , looking at subscriber growth, penetration trends, and service adoption by type of package.

; provides a detailed description of the multiplay market in , looking at subscriber growth, penetration trends, and service adoption by type of package. Multiplay revenue evolution in Europe ; analyzes the average monthly spends on three different type of packages and revenue trends over 2018-2023.

; analyzes the average monthly spends on three different type of packages and revenue trends over 2018-2023. Country Profiles; analyzes main ARPU and revenue trends in the Spain and the UK for the 2017-2023 period.

and the UK for the 2017-2023 period. Key findings: the Insider concludes with a number of key findings for multiplay service providers in Europe .

Reasons to Buy

This Insider Report provides a comprehensive examination of the main trends taking place Europe multiplay market, helping executives fully understand market dynamics, determine what works and what doesn't, formulate effective product development plans, and optimize resource allocation and return on investment.

multiplay market, helping executives fully understand market dynamics, determine what works and what doesn't, formulate effective product development plans, and optimize resource allocation and return on investment. The report includes examples on strategies adopted by multiplay service providers that illustrate the findings of the report; this will help the reader understand both the challenges confronted in the real world and the strategies employed to overcome those challenges.

With more than ten charts, the report is designed for an executive-level audience, to help to understand the multiplay market, analyzing key trends and strategies.

Key Topics Covered:



Executive summary



Section 1: Europe in a global context

Europe's demographics at a glance

Europe in a global context



Section 2: Multiplay market in Europe

Multiplay market in Europe



Section 3: Multiplay revenue evolution in Europe

Multiplay household spend in Europe

Multiplay service revenue evolution in Europe



Section 4: Country profiles

Multiplay service evolution in Spain

Multiplay service evolution in UK



Section 5: Key findings and recommendations



Companies Mentioned



BT

Orange France

Telefonica Spain

Virgin Media UK

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/4gc76b/european?w=5



Research and Markets also offers Custom Research services providing focused, comprehensive and tailored research.

Media Contact:

Research and Markets

Laura Wood, Senior Manager

[email protected]



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A successful final Iridium NEXT launch delivered the remaining 10 AireonSM payloads to orbit

MCLEAN, Va., Jan. 11, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Aireon announced today a successful eighth and final launch and deployment of the Iridium NEXT satellite constellation hosting the Aireon space-based Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) payloads. At 7:31:33 AM PST (15:31:33 UTC) a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket lifted off from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California and placed the final 10 Iridium NEXT satellites into low earth orbit (LEO). This launch brought the total number of Aireon payloads in orbit to 75 (66 operational payloads and 9 spares), completing the historic launch program and passing one of the last remaining milestones before Aireon ushers in a new era of global air traffic surveillance and aircraft tracking.

Aireon is the world's first 100 percent global air traffic surveillance system and is revolutionizing the way the world travels with space-based technology. Unlike existing aircraft surveillance and tracking infrastructure, the Aireon system uses space-based ADS-B technology, which enables the automatic and real-time collection of aircraft position data. The Aireon technology gives air traffic controllers and airlines a complete and comprehensive view of the entire sky, like never before. With this upgraded insight into the world's flight paths, including those in remote and oceanic airspace, the entire industry will experience significant direct and indirect benefits such as, increased safety, more efficient flight routes, more accurate arrival and departure predictions, faster emergency response times, reduced aircraft separation, a decrease in CO 2 emissions and more.

"Today we passed a major milestone on our journey to revolutionize air traffic surveillance and are just weeks away from a fully operational system," said Don Thoma, CEO of Aireon. "Now that the launches are complete, final integration and testing of the recently launched payloads can commence, after which the world's first, real-time, truly global view of air traffic will be a reality." Thoma continued, "It's difficult to contain the excitement until we are formally operational, especially since from a performance standpoint, our technology has far exceeded expectations. Many think this is the end of a journey, being the last Iridium NEXT launch, but for us, this is the beginning of a new way air traffic will be managed."

Thus far, the Aireon system has out-performed all predictions and is processing more than 13 billion ADS-B messages per month, with that number expected to grow upon full deployment. Air traffic controllers rely on the best and most accurate surveillance data possible to separate aircraft, which is often achieved through multiple redundant layers. Aireon's data will provide air traffic controllers with a fully redundant data feed that covers the entire airspace, increasing the availability and reliability of a critical component in air traffic management, with a positive impact on safety and efficiency. This will in turn, help improve flight optimization by eliminating gaps in fleet data reports, and ultimately enhance the overall safety, accuracy and efficiency of worldwide air travel.

"Aireon's space-based ADS-B network is just what the aviation industry needs," said Marion Blakey, former Administrator at the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). "During my time at the FAA, extensive work was done to promote ADS-B technology for global air traffic management efforts. Today's successful launch is not only a victory for Aireon but for the aviation industry, as we are now one step closer to having a clear, accurate and complete picture of the world's airspace, including over the oceans and remote areas."

Blakey now serves on the Aireon U.S. Advisory Board alongside its Chairman, The Honorable Norman Mineta and Vice-Chairman, Russ Chew.

A total of 81 Iridium NEXT satellites have been built, all of which have the Aireon payload onboard. There are now 75 satellites deployed, with nine serving as on-orbit spares and the remaining six as ground spares. Today's launch marks the completion of the Iridium NEXT launch campaign, successfully deploying the full Aireon system.

For more information about Aireon LLC, visit www.aireon.com

For more information about Iridium NEXT, visit www.IridiumNEXT.com

About Aireon LLC

Aireon is deploying a space-based air traffic surveillance system for Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) equipped aircraft throughout the entire globe. Aireon will harness next-generation aviation surveillance technologies that are currently ground-based and, for the first time ever, extend their reach globally to significantly improve efficiency, enhance safety, reduce emissions and provide cost savings benefits to all stakeholders. Real-time ADS-B surveillance will cover oceanic, polar and remote regions, as well as augment existing ground-based systems that are limited to terrestrial airspace. In partnership with leading ANSPs from around the world, like NAV CANADA, the Irish Aviation Authority (IAA), Enav, NATS and Naviair, as well as Iridium Communications, Aireon will provide a global, real-time, space-based air traffic surveillance system to all aviation stakeholders in early 2019.

For more information, please visit www.aireon.com

Press Contact:

Jessie Hillenbrand

Aireon

+1 (703) 287-7452

[email protected]

SOURCE Aireon

Related Links

http://www.aireon.com


Zero Hedge

January 12, 2019

Contrary to assurances from Trumps National Security Advisor, neocon John Bolton, and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, who suggested earlier this week that US troops would remain in Syria for at least a little while longer, the Associated Press reported on Friday that the US has begun the process of removing the 2,000 soldiers based in northeastern Syria.

Citing information provided by activists with the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, the withdrawal officially began Thursday night local time. A convoy of about 10 armored vehicles and some trucks left the town of Rmeilan into drove into Iraq. Col. Sean Ryan, spokesman for the coalition fighting the Islamic State group, later confirmed that the US has started the process of our deliberate withdrawal from Syria.

Trumps abrupt decision last month to order US troops out of Syria angered former Defense Secretary James Mattis, who resigned over the decision, and stoked fears that Trump was abandoning the Kurds to a massacre by Turkish forces, who have vowed to pick up the slack in Syria when it comes to fighting ISIS.

These have been folks that have fought with us and its important that we do everything we can to ensure that those folks that fought with us are protected, Pompeo said of the Kurds while visiting Irbil, the capital of Iraqs semi-autonomous Kurdistan region, after talks in Baghdad.

After launching a campaign of airstrikes against ISIS in 2014, President Obama deployed troops on the ground the following year to combat ISIS, which at the time controlled large swaths of northeastern Syria. Since then, the group has been beaten back, and now control only 1% of their former territory.

Initially, Trump had said the pullout would be complete within a matter of weeks, but plans became murky after the Pentagon requested four months to complete the withdrawal. Last night, the Wall Street Journal reported that the withdrawal would begin immediately.

Scores of ground troops are headed toward Syria to help move troops out, and a group of naval vessels headed by the amphibious assault ship USS Kearsarge is headed to the region to back up troops at the vulnerable moment they are leaving the country, the officials said. The Kearsarge carries hundreds of Marines, helicopters and other aircraft. Nothing has changed, one defense official said. We dont take orders from Bolton. To account for shifts in plans, the military will stage the personnel and equipment needed for a possible withdrawal, rather than move the U.S. forces out. Troops tasked to help with the eventual withdrawal already are in the area, in places like Kuwait and al-Asad air base in western Iraq.

After expressing his immense displeasure with the USs walk-back of its withdrawal plans, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan  who recently resorted to threatening the US over their plans to linger in Syria  will no doubt be glad to hear about this.

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Zero Hedge

January 12, 2019

After House Democrats pushed through a series of spending bills in a doomed attempt to end the shutdown (or at least crystallize their virtue-signaling in the Congressional record), the Senate decided to adjourn for the weekend on Friday without taking up debate on any of the bills (which had approximately zero chance of passing the upper chamber and being signed into law by the president), virtually guaranteeing that the partial government shutdown that is currently in its 21st day will surpass a shutdown that ended in December 1995 to become the longest in American history.

The Senate just adjourned til Monday, ensuring this will be the longest U.S. government shutdown in history  Manu Raju (@mkraju) January 11, 2019

The shutdown is the third since the dawn of the Trump administration, but while the earlier shutdowns lasted for days or hours, this one has dragged on for three weeks already. And with Democrats refusing to accede to Trumps demands for $5.7 billion in border wall funding, its possible that it could persist until Trump decides to declare a national emergency to begin construction on the border wall.

Roughly 800,000 federal workers have either been furloughed or are working without pay and have now missed a round of paychecks that were supposed to go out on Friday. Congress has passed a bill to guarantee back pay to all federal workers affected by the shutdown, and its awaiting a signature from the president.

But that wont stop hundreds of thousands of workers from missing rent or mortgage payments, or falling behind on their bills or foregoing groceries.

After struggling on for weeks, the TSA said Friday that it would begin limiting security checkpoints at airports around the country, with Miami International Airport preparing to close an entire concourse. A union representing TSA employees has filed a lawsuit arguing that its illegal for the government to ask employees to work without pay, Bloomberg reported.

Separately, a union representing more than 10,000 air-traffic controllers filed suit in federal court in Washington on Friday, charging that its illegal to force them and other aviation employees to work without compensation. The Transportation Security Administration plans to begin closing a handful of security checkpoints at airports around the U.S. as soon as this weekend in response to staff shortages triggered by a partial federal government shutdown now in its third week. Miami International Airport expects to shut one of its concourses for several days starting Saturday afternoon and will move flights to other gates, according to a statement by the airport.

Ahead of their first missed paycheck this week, the TSA saw a spike in employees calling out sick, as more than 50,000 workers have been going without pay since Dec. 22, the day the shutdown began.

But thats not all: Hundreds of affordable housing contracts that have expired during the shutdown mean that thousands of low-income senior citizens will go without essential services like repairs to HUD-funded homes, according to NBC News.

The few federal employees left at HUD have been scouring the books, looking for a last-minute solution to fund hundreds of affordable housing contracts that have expired under the shutdown. More than 200 of the contracts that expired in December are for properties, like San Jose Manor II, that provide rental assistance for the elderly, according to LeadingAge, an association for nonprofit providers of aging services. Known as Section 202, the program houses about 400,000 low-income elderly people as part of HUDs Section 8 Project-Based Rental Assistance.

Though its worth noting that HUD has found money to service other low-income housing contracts. Meanwhile, as volunteers have flocked to national parks to pick up trash and attend to the routine upkeep, CNN reported that vandals cut down a protected Joshua Trees in Joshua Tree national park in California.

As the fallout from the shutdown worsens, President Trump is reportedly considering a plan to use disaster-relief funding earmarked for California and Puerto Rico to order the Army Corps. of Engineers to begin building a large swath of the wall  though Congressional Republicans are split on whether this is a good idea (WSJs editorial board recently opined that using a national emergency as a subtext to build the wall would set a bad precedent).

Still, theres at least one silver lining: Stocks have climbed more than 10% since the shutdown began  defying analysts warnings, though Fed Chairman Jerome Powell warned yesterday that it could negatively impact GDP growth for Q1.

In fact, according to an estimate from S&P Global Ratings, if the shutdown persists for another two weeks, the cost to the US economy will exceed $6 billion  more than the $5.7 billion Trump is asking of Congress, CNBC reported.

This article was posted: Saturday, January 12, 2019 at 7:12 am

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Zero Hedge

January 12, 2019

Chinas notorious crackdown on internet activity has resulted in the arrest, imprisonment and interrogation of people posting over Twitter, according to the New York Times.

A growing number of users who have been using the blocked platform through Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) have been swept up in a sharp escalation of Beijings censorship effort, as authorities tighten their grip over Chinese citizens online lives. There are an estimated 3.2 million Twitter users in China  or around 0.4 percent of those who use the internet.

If we give up Twitter, we are losing one of our last places to speak, said human-rights activist Wang Aizhong, who said the police told him to delete messages critical of the Chinese government.

When he wouldnt, 3,000 of his tweets mysteriously disappeared.

Mr. Wang refused to take down his tweets. Then, one night last month while he was reading a book, his phone buzzed with text messages from Twitter that contained backup codes to his account. An hour later, he said, 3,000 of his tweets had been deleted. He blamed government-affiliated hackers, although those who were responsible and the methods they used could not be independently confirmed. NYT

Wangs experience is far from unique  as The Times reports that one Twitter user spent 15 days in a detention center, another person had their family threatened, and a third was chained to a chair for eight hours of interrogation.

Beijings war against internet freedom reveals its vision of internet control over the user of social media  while the CHinese government has stepped up their demands that Google and Facebook take down content deemed offensive despite the fact that both companies sites are blocked in China.

Whats more, Facebook and Twitter suspended the accounts of exiled Chinese billionaire Guo Wengui after he used the platforms to criticize top Chinese leaders. The companies cited user complaints and the disclosure of personal information.

And while people in China are prevented from using American social media platforms, Beijing has been more than happy to use them to spread news through outlets like the Communist Party-controlled Peoples Daily newspaper and the Xinhua news agency.

On the one hand, state media takes advantage of the full features of these platforms to reach millions of people, said Sarah Cook, a senior analyst covering East Asia at the pro-democracy DC think tank Freedom House. On the other hand, ordinary Chinese are risking interrogation and jail for using these same platforms to communicate with each other and the outside world.

Meanwhile, what few foreign platforms are allowed in China have acquiesced to Beijings demands for censorship.

LinkedIn, the business networking service and one of the few American social media outlets allowed in China, has long bowed to the countrys censors. It briefly took down the Chinese accounts of Peter Humphrey, a British private investigator who was once imprisoned in China, last month and Zhou Fengsuo, a human-rights activist, this month. The company sent emails to both containing language similar to the messages it sends users when it removes posts that violate censorship rules. What weve seen in recent weeks is the authorities desperately escalating the censorship of social media, Mr. Humphrey said. I think its quite astonishing that on this cloak-and-dagger basis, LinkedIn has been gagging people and preventing their comments from being seen in China. Both accounts have been restored. In a statement, LinkedIn apologized for taking the accounts down and said it had done so by accident. Our Trust and Safety team is updating our internal processes to help prevent an error like this from happening again, the statement said. NYT

According to nine interviews with Twitter users questioned by Chinese police as well as a review of a four-hour interrogation revealed a similar pattern: The police would produce printouts of tweets and advise users to delete either the specific messages or their entire accounts. Officers would often complain about posts that were critical of the Chinese government or that specifically mentioned Mr. Xi, according to The Times.

Users say the police used threats and sometimes physical restraints. Activist Huang Chengcheng, for example, who has over 8,000 Twitter followers, said his hands and feet were manacled to a chair while he was interrogated for eight hours.

Another user, 47-year-old Pan Xidan shared a comic with his 4,000 followers drawn by a dissident cartoonist known as Rebel Pepper, and criticized human-rights crackdowns. This earned him 20 hours of questioning, and Pan was forced to delete several tweets. Then, police showed up to his workplace and tossed him in a car, after which he was forced to sign a document that said he had disturbed the social order. He signed it and was then shown a second document which said he would be detained  after which he spent two weeks in a cell with 10 other people for reeducation via propaganda videos.

In this era, we certainly know fear, but I cant control myself, said Pan  crying during a telephone interview with The Times. Weve been living a very suppressed life.

Were like lambs, Pan added. Theyre taking us one after another. We have no ability to fight back.

The crackdown is unusually broad and punitive. When censoring domestic social media in the past, officials have targeted prominent users. People were questioned or detained less frequently and more haphazardly. The current push appears to be well coordinated between local and national law enforcement authorities, said Xiao Qiang, a professor at the School of Information at the University of California, Berkeley. Actually taking nationwide action, physically calling in all of these people, weve never seen that before, he said. The new approach involves broad action by Chinas powerful Ministry of Public Security, which oversees law enforcement and political security. Several Twitter users said local authorities had specifically cited the internet police, a branch of the security ministry that monitors online activity. The agency, which refers to such local enforcement as touching the ground, was taken over last summer by a hard-liner known for a crackdown on telecom fraud in Xiamen, a city on the southeast coast. NYT

Chinese police have told activists that they can see posts made outside Chinas great censorship wall.

Delete all your tweets, and shut down your account, an officer told one Twitter user after a four-hour grilling. Everything on the internet can be monitored, even the inappropriate comments in WeChat groups, he said.

This is truly wholehearted advice for you, added the officer. If this happens a second time, it will be handled differently. It will affect your parents. You are still so young. If you get married and have kids, it will affect them.

This article was posted: Saturday, January 12, 2019 at 6:56 am

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Ghana Assoc. of Bankers to hold an emergency meeting The Ghana Association of Bankers is expected to hold an emergency meeting to

NLC to meet TUTAG today The National Labour Commission, NLC and the leadership of the Technical

Court to hear case against #fixthecountry convenors today The Criminal Division of the Accra High Court presided over by Justice Ruby
While they were living together in the hotel, Saber would sometimes jump up on the counter while Schultz was brushing his teeth. But Schultz didnt want to yell at him for that so he wouldnt hesitate to get on counters while on the job.
84, of Dannemora, passed away peacefully Tuesday, June 15, with her loving family by her side. Arrangements are incomplete at this time and will be announced when available by the R.W. Walker Funeral Home in Plattsburgh.
Careful with Tax Amnesty

Before applying for the New Jersey Tax Amnesty program, people should make sure they really owe back taxes. For years, the N.J. Division of Taxation has been using a system called Tax Data Warehouse in which they check income reported on state income tax returns with that on federal returns. When more is reported to the feds than the state, the division recalculates the taxpayers N.J. return and bills them for unpaid taxes and interest.

There is a huge problem with this: (1) they send out the tax bills without first requesting an explanation from the taxpayer, and (2) many retirees participating in certain retirement plans would expect to see a difference in their returns because money contributed and then withdrawn from such plans has already been taxed by the state, but not the feds.

I am well aware of this problem because four times since 2013 I have been targeted by the Division of Taxation. All four times the division acknowledged I did not owe back taxes.

I fear that many of my fellow retirees may have also been sent unwarranted tax bills, and they should be very careful before signing up for Tax Amnesty.

Dave Gruber

Mays Landing

Lost prescription found
Is there a benefit for the parties to enter into some type of mediation? Is it something that should be explored? Atlantic County Superior Court Judge Julio Mendez asked.

The DEP has been pushing for the site's cleanup since the agency received reports of fuel oil being dumped there 40 years ago. For a century, the facility produced gas from oil and coal.

The plants former owner, John Deull, acknowledged in 1986 that oil discharges occurred at the lots he owned, according to the suit. Chemicals entered the ground and into the water, according to the DEP.

Contaminants at the site include benzene, arsenic, cyanide and lead, which are known to cause blood disorders and other health problems.

+10 South Jersey Gas celebrates opening of new Atlantic City headquarters ATLANTIC CITY  With gamblers patronizing two reopened casinos and students attending classe

There have been discharges on those properties, but they havent remained on those properties, said state attorney Thomas Lihan. Theyve migrated to various places around the water.

The state wants a complete cleanup of the site and public restitution.

Monetary damages the state is seeking havent been calculated. Gibson said the case cannot be resolved until the scope of the environmental harm is determined.
A lot of community leaders and residents are not very happy (with Gilliam), said Devlin. The perception is that Atlantic City is in a bad place right now. But were going to wait it out until we pull the trigger (on a recall).

The City Clerks Office said a recall petition had not been submitted.

Any petition effort would be done without Craig Callaway, the former City Council president who spent time in prison for bribery but has since re-emerged as a prominent Democratic party operative partially responsible for engineering a handful of political wins in Atlantic City with an aggressive get-out-the-vote and absentee ballot operation. Callaway helped Gilliam defeat former Republican Mayor Don Guardian in 2017 and said he regrets his role in getting the Democrat elected.

Hes a bad fit for now, he was a bad fit from the beginning, said Callaway. But, no, I would not (be involved in a recall effort).

Marc Pfeiffer, assistant director of Rutgers Universitys Bloustein Local Government Research Center, said there is a good body of work detailing successful recall efforts in New Jersey. But, he said, the outcome depends on the motivation of citizens and attention to detail because the process must be followed strictly.
MAYS LANDING  The Philadelphia man charged in Atlantic Citys second fatal shooting of the year was held for court Wednesday.

Avery Bracey, 36, charged with robbery and murder after allegedly killing KyLee Haynes, 21, of Atlantic City, on Jan. 4, was remanded to the Atlantic County jail after a first appearance before Superior Court Judge Bernard E. DeLury Jr., according to court records.

Bracey is also charged with felony murder, aggravated assault and unlawful possession and use of a handgun in the slaying and another shooting incident during the early morning hours of Jan. 5.

Philadelphia man charged in 2nd Atlantic City murder of 2019 ATLANTIC CITY  Authorities have arrested a Philadelphia man in two shooting incidents, incl

At 8:44 p.m., police received a 911 call about a man shot at the Sunset Inn on Absecon Boulevard and found Haynes, who was transported to the Trauma Center at AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center, City Campus, where he was pronounced dead.

Multiple people inside the room where Haynes was staying said a man had forced his way in brandishing a weapon and demanding money, accusing the room occupants of robbing him and saying he was a cab driver, according to the affidavit of probable cause.

The man pointed the gun at the people in the room and fired one round, striking Haynes, according to the document. A single, .40-caliber spent casing was found at the scene.
Of course it was a surprise, but my reaction was positive, said Miss Coastal Shores 2019 Christa Steiner, 20, of Beach Haven.

Steiner competed for Miss New Jersey last year and will be in this years pageant. She said Ocean City was a great hosting town, but Atlantic City is synonymous with pageant glitz.

Atlantic City is so famous and has so much they can provide us. For us girls competing in Miss New Jersey, well get to experience a bit of what Miss America feels like, Steiner said.

Gillian said the city supported the Miss America franchise at a time when the pageant was struggling financially.

We rolled out the red carpet. We made some great strides for the pageant, including their own Show Us Your Shoes parade, Gillian said. We made sure the hotels were offering good rates and had the expertise of the Music Pier facility for the pageant and publicity for the event. We used a lot of resources, and the businesses opened their doors.

During last years pageant week, the 28 Miss New Jersey candidates made appearances at several city restaurants, including the Promenade Food Court, Pisa Pizza, Uncle Bills Pancake House and Yiannis Cafe.

+6 Miss New Jersey competition leaving Ocean City ATLANTIC CITY  While the future home of the Miss America Competition remains unclear, the M
Its been a tradition for artist David Holtzman since 2013 to paint every Miss New Jerseys shining crown and smiling face against a red-white-and-blue backdrop.

In fact, he said these pop-art style portraits  which started with a rendering of friend Cara McCollum  are what first drew the Miss New Jersey Education Foundation to offer him a position as a board member.

Now that Holtzman has been named the groups executive director, he has the power to design its future.

Im going to take it up a couple notches, he said.

+3 As state licenses are reinstated, Miss America is headed to court While the Miss America Organization has reinstated licensing and named new leadership for se

Holtzman was appointed last week after the Miss America Organization agreed to reinstate the state organizations license for a year. Miss New Jersey was one of three state organizations whose licenses were revoked last month after breaking from the central organizations new vision.

Previous Miss NJ Executive Director Sally Johnston could not be reached for comment.

Holtzman, who has been a board member since it was formed in 2015, plans to make changes to the local competition to bring it in line with the larger Miss America Organizations new direction, such as eliminating the swimsuit competition, a decision Holtzman was struck by at first but now fully supports.
"Honestly, I just wanted to have the forum because this isn't the first incident that ODU has had," said ODU junior Taylor Clark, who helped to organize the forum. "Every incident we've had, it gets on the news and talked about for a little bit, then goes away."
Ginnetti estimated it will cost the city $15 million to create the 80 units before the 2025 deadline.

The concept is to create new units that will be indistinguishable from other homes in the area, which will boost property values, McCrosson said.

For the remaining 13 units needed to meet its obligation, the city plans to develop 10 family rental units on city-owned property at 224 Simpson Ave., 240-244 Haven Ave. and 36th Street and the bay. They also plan to purchase three homes through a market-to-affordable program. Under the program, the city would purchase a home at market price, placing a deed restriction that would allow sale only to a qualified buyer.

They will be funded by the $5 million trust that has been collected from developers fees for over a decade.

These 13 units were created instead of allowing Flood Development LLC to build a 100-unit, seven-story condo on a parking lot at Eighth Street and Atlantic Avenue and up to 18 affordable units at 16th Street and Haven Avenue, McCrosson said, adding officials didnt agree with the development so close to the Boardwalk.
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Three persons lost their lives while eleven others sustained various degrees of injury in a road accident when a Mazda bus somersaulted, near Makun city on the Lagos/Ibadan expressway on Friday.

Clement Oladele, the Sector Commander, Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Ogun, who confirmed the incident, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abeokuta on Saturday that the somersault was preceded by excessive speed, tyre burst, and the drivers subsequent loss of control.

Mr Oladele further explained that the bus, with registration number FST 578 XM, somersaulted many times, leading to the death of three persons, while 11 others sustained various degrees of injury.

Three male adults, eight female adults were injured, while one male adult and two female adults were killed in the accident, he said.

The FRSC official said the injured victims had been taken to Idera Hospital in Sagamu, while the bodies of the three people who lost their lives had been deposited at the morgue in Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital (OOUTH), Sagamu.

Oladele urged motorists to drive with standard tyres.

He also advised them to use their day time running lights, due to poor visibility, common in the early morning and late evening hours.

(NAN)
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President Muhammadu Buhari has called on traditional rulers in the country to use their positions as the closest to the grassroots to secure the country and ensure the forthcoming elections are peaceful.

Speaking Friday in Abuja during an audience with a delegation of traditional rulers from the South-west of the country, Mr Buhari also urged the rulers to ensure peace in their communities.

Those who fear that their persons or their policies cannot win elections might resort to incitements to violence. Our young people must not be left to those who will instigate violence and cause others to lose their property or lives. We are determined to keep order and I hope Your Highnesses are on the same page with us, he said.

According to a statement by Femi Adesina, his spokesperson, Mr Buhari also reiterated the commitment of his administration to infrastructural development across the nation

In every state in Nigeria, we are doing at least one major road project. In the South-west, we are completing the Lagos to Ibadan expressway. The reconstruction of this road, which is the busiest in Nigeria, had not been given the attention it deserved till now.

We will complete the first phase the of the railway, Lagos to Ibadan by the end of this month. We are also working on several power projects in the South-west, of importance is the imminent completion of power supply to Ondo South where many of the local governments have not had power for years.

The president said the nation could only develop if resources were spent on the people and facilities that would promote commerce and create jobs.

He commended the traditional rulers and especially the people of South-west for setting the example of religious tolerance and unity, saying, It is to your credit as traditional rulers that such harmony between religions has been achieved.

He also thanked the custodians of culture for the solidarity visit: I am very much encouraged, and your support makes me even more determined to work with the best of my ability for this country and its people.

The delegation, led by the Ooni of Ife, and Co-chair of Traditional Rulers of Nigeria, Adeyeye Ogunwusi, had commended President Buhari for placing the completion of the Lagos Ibadan expressway on the front burner of the projects of the administration as well as the Lagos to Ibadan rail line.

The traditional rulers expressed appreciation to the president for the posthumous recognition given to M.K.O Abiola as President of Nigeria, urging him to continue the good works, and assuring that history will be kind to him.

They also asked for more developmental projects in the region.

Also on the delegation were the Alake of Egbaland, the Ayangburen of Ikorodu, the Oloye of Oye Ekiti, the Olukare of Ikare Akoko, the Aseyin of Iseyin, Deji of Akure and the Alayemore of Ido Osun.
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The Ohaneze Ndigbo, the apex pan-Igbo socio-cultural group, says it is not in a haste to endorse any presidential candidate for the Feb.16 Presidential Election.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that prominent among the contenders are incumbent President Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and former Vice President, Abubakar Atiku, of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Deputy National Publicity Secretary of Ohaneze, Chucks Ibegbu, who spoke on Saturday in Enugu, said the group would soon take a stand.

Mr Ibegbu was explaining the delay in the groups adoption of a presidential candidate barely 34 days to the presidential election.

In a few days, probably after a week, our highest decision making organ, the Imeobi, will meet during which it will decide the political direction Ndigbo will follow.

However, the resolution might not be made public for obvious reasons, he said.

Mr Ibegbu explained that since adoption of any of the presidential candidate borders on the political future of the Igbo people and, indeed, the entire Nigerians, such decision should not be taken in a haste.

He, however, revealed that the group would likely resolve to strongly support any presidential candidate whose key agenda is to genuinely restructure the country so that it could make sufficient progress.

On the recent advice by Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State, that Ohanaeze should not endorse or adopt any candidate, Mr Ibegbu said that Mr Okorochas advice could not be easily dismissed.

We cannot dismiss that view because of so many existing factors; so many experiences of the past.

You cant dismiss Okorochas view on that, and that is why I told you that if we dont endorse openly it gives us room, a corridor to negotiate.

But if we do it openly, probably the expectation fails to work out, it might have an unintended effect, he noted.

(NAN)
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The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Bauchi State on Saturday received no fewer than 18 prominent members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) who had defected to the ruling party.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the event was part of activities marking the visit of President Muhammadu Buhari to the state.

Uba Nana, APC chairman in the state handed over the defectors to the National Chairman of APC, Adams Oshiomhole.

Mr Nana commended the defectors for taking the right decision at the appropriate time, urging them to contribute their quota to the development of the state and the party.

Receiving the defectors, Mr Oshiomhole, presented the broom to them as logo and identity of the ruling party.

Speaking on behalf of the defectors, one of them, a former governor of Bauchi, Isa Yuguda, assured that they would ensure the success of the party during the forthcoming elections.

He urged the leadership of the party to pardon their shortcomings.

NAN reports that among the defectors apart from Mr Yuguda were former deputy governor Abdulmalik Mahmood, Abubakar Maikafi and Babayo Gamawa, among others.

(NAN)
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Six governors of Nigerias South-South region have called an emergency meeting to discuss the planned arraignment of Chief Justice Walter Onnoghen.

The governors said they felt duty-bound to prevent the development from escalating in a country with jarring ethnic and tribal fault lines.

It is a grave and dangerous escalation, coming a few weeks to the general elections, said Governor Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa State in a statement Saturday night.

The meeting is scheduled for Sunday in Abuja, Mr Dicksons spokesperson Fidelis Soriwei added in an e-mail announcing the planned caucus.

The five remaining governors of the South-South are Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta, Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom, Ben Ayade of Cross River, Nyesom Wike of Edo and Obaseki. Only Mr Obaseki is of the ruling All Progressives Congress, the rest belong to the Peoples Democratic Party, Nigerias main opposition entity.

Mr Onnoghen, from Cross River, has been accused of improper declaration of assets, with the Nigerian government filing six charges that it said violated the code of conduct law for public officers.

Mr Onnoghen denied all allegations against him. The top jurist is expected to be arraigned on Monday in Abuja.

Although Mr Dickson said he was yet to learn full derails of the corruption charges against Mr Onnoghen, the governor nonetheless warned that that all efforts must be on deck to prevent the subversion and desecration of the ethos of democracy in Nigeria as nation moves nearer to the election.
The Senate President, Bukola Saraki, has accused police officers of providing cover for thugs who are attacking his supporters in Kwara State.

Mr Saraki also accused the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, of undue interference in the Kwara police command

He asked Nigerians to hold the police boss responsible if anything untoward happens to him and family members.

He said this while addressing the press at the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Presidential Campaign Organisation headquarters in Abuja on Friday.

Describing it as a sad development Mr Saraki said the police are giving cover to people who are unleashing violence on our people.

Mr Saraki presented three cases of what he described as police hostility to him and his supporters recently.

Yesterday, after the APC concluded their campaigns in Ilorin, some of their supporters and thugs moved around town and in areas like Adewole/Adeta, Ile Otan and Ubandawaki/Pakata where they saw our people gathered holding their weekly ward meeetings, they disrupted the meetings by shouting their party slogan and when our people responded by mentioning our own slogan, they fired gun shots into their midst in Adewole/Adeta. They also inflicted matchete cuts on some of them. As a result of this attack, two people suffered bullet wounds.

Also yesterday, these same APC thugs shielded by policemen went to my family quarters in Agbaji in Ilorin, and vandalised houses, shops and inflicted wounds with matchete on three people. All these destructions took place in the presence of policemen who came with them but watched without any care, as the APC thugs and supporters unleashed violence on our people.

For me, personally, I believe the decision to attack people and properties in my family ancestral compound is a direct affront and attack on my person. And whatever signal these APC elements with support from the police believe they are sending is definitely sinister, uncivilised and unfortunate.

Our people have filed reports of the incidents in relevant police stations in Ilorin but we have doubts that anything tangible and constructive will come out of these reports.

Mr Saraki, serving out his second time as senator governed Kwara for eight years.

In the forthcoming election, he is vying to return to the Senate in his Kwara Central senatorial district after losing out in his bid to run for presidency under the PDP.

Mr Saraki and the police chief have a long-running battle which intensified in 2018 when Mr Idris shunned invitations to appear before the Senate plenary thrice.

The Senate President on Friday also accused the Mr Idris of controlling police commissioners in the state, giving them order to work against him.

Mr Saraki vowed to continue with his grassroots campaign with a caveat that Nigerians should hold Mr Idris responsible if anything untoward happens to him.

The same Police under the directive of Inspector General of Police, Mr. Ibrahim Kpotum Idris yesterday commenced the transfer of Divisional Police Officers (DPOs) out of Kwara State. While the police are free to take decisions on the deployment of their personnel, we found the postings in Kwara State strange and more than a mere coincidence.

It should also be noted that IGP has posted three different Commissioners of Police to Kwara State in the last six months. In fact, the previous and current Commissioner of Police in the State got strict instructions from the IGP not to relate or engage with the Senate President.

The usual practice has been that the Commissioner of Police personally ensures the security of the Senate President whenever he visits his home state. That was the practice during the period of my predecessor and in my first year in office.

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We need to make it clear to the entire world that now that ward to ward campaigns is about to begin in the state and I am set to participate in that grassroots campaign as I have always done, nobody is sure what instructions Mr Idris has given to the police command in the state.

Thus, the entire world should hold the IGP responsible if anything untoward happens to members of my family and myself.

Do not forget that before now, this same IGP has tried several tricks to implicate me in some criminal charges. First, he arrested some cultists and was about to compel them to claim they worked for me.

We exposed the trick early enough and the media also pointed out holes in his story. He quickly withdrew that. Later, he went on to the Offa robbery case and politicised the investigation in order to rope me.

In the process of forcing suspects to implicate me, the principal suspect died in their custody. He has also not succeeded with that plot. Who knows what else he may have planned. Now, that full campaign is on, which requires my going round, I want the world to hold him personally responsible if anything happens to me.

When contacted, the police spokesperson, Jimoh Moshood, did not respond to multiple calls Saturday morning. He has not responded to a text message as at press time.
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The Chief of Army Staff, Tukur Buratai, dispatched a special commendation message to thousands of Nigerian troops and their commanders who have been actively engaging Boko Haram insurgents across the countrys northeastern flank.

Mr Buratai reserved no words in his appreciation of his men who were said to have dislodged Boko Haram elements from Baga, Borno State. The community, which the military considered strategic in its counter-insurgency campaign, was occupied by extremists following a lengthy exchange of gunfire with soldiers between December 27 and 28, 2018.

In its initial reaction on December 28, the Nigerian Army fiercely rejected credible reports, including by PREMIUM TIMES, that Baga was feared retaken by Boko Haram nearly four years after insurgents were dislodged from the agrarian and fishing community in early 2015.

The attack, which comes as the military was reeling from successful Boko Haram attacks on bases resulting in the deaths of hundreds of soldiers, worsened fears that the extremists might expand into large swathes of Nigerian lands ahead weeks into the general elections in February 2019.

The army, however, said land and air raids were being conducted to chase out some extremists who gained a forceful entry into the town and lurking in strategic positions in its crowded areas.

The military also countered fears that Boko Haram might have regrouped since the devastation it suffered between early and mid2015  the biggest in its 10-year deadly campaign  and was now aggressively taken over Nigerian communities across the North-East, especially in Borno and Yobe, as witnessed between 2013 and 2014 under former President Goodluck Jonathan.

But the language of Mr Buratais statement on January 10 confirmed reports that the troops were dislodged from Baga, during which a military base there was also attacked and temporarily incapacitated.

I am very delighted to receive the good news of your triumphant entry, clearing of the strategic town of Baga and neutralising the Boko Haram terrorists that tested our might some days back, Mr Buratai stated in a Facebook message by the Nigerian Army. Your efforts and open display of gallantry, as well as patriotism that brought about this unprecedented feat, gladdened my heart, all Nigerians and indeed, peace-loving people around the world. I am very proud of you all.

The army chief commended all the commanders of the operation, including those of the Nigerian Air Force, and promised improved living conditions for all those on the frontlines. He also condoled with families of fallen heroes and sent his thoughts and prayers to wounded soldiers recuperating at various hospitals.

He urged troops to consolidate on these gains by continuous pursuit of these criminal terrorists and neutralise them to eternity.

You should be more proactive and continue with the clearance operations on any known Boko Haram terrorists hideouts in your respective areas of responsibilities. The Nigerian Army will continue to provide all the needed support to ensure that you succeed in this noble task.

I have directed for more replenishment and special welfare packages for you all which will be made known by your various Commanders. I want you to invoke the spirit of courage and bravery that the Nigerian military is noted for, the world over. Victory is very near, Mr Buratai said.
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The Embassy and Permanent Mission of Nigeria in Ethiopia has advised Nigerians traveling to the country to declare foreign currency exceeding $3000 or its equivalent and other valuable like jewelries.

Kaston Ojomo, spokesperson of the Nigerian Embassy and Permanent Mission to the African Union and United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, said this in a statement in Abuja.

He said the advice became necessary to safeguard Nigerian travelers from having their monies and valuables confiscated by the Ethiopian authorities.

Foreign currencies in excess of 3000 dollars per person or its equivalent in foreign currency, as well as valuables, should be declared to the Ethiopian Customs and Revenue Service on arrival to Ethiopia.

Transit passengers staying longer than 24 hours in Ethiopia are also required to declare to the Ethiopian Customs any sum of money exceeding the amount or its equivalent in foreign currency, by completing the foreign currency customs declaration form as well.

Please avail yourselves of using the safe boxes installed in the airport by the Ethiopian Airlines for the safe keeping of your valuables and monies, if you are unwilling to declare them.

It is guaranteed that your belongings will be safe and will be retrieved on your way out of the country, he said.

He said the mission could be reached for further information through its office in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia and email address: Addis_Nigeria@yahoo.com as well as Phone No: +251111550020.

(NAN)
PREMIUM TIMES has obtained details of a statement given by the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Walter Onnoghen, to the Code of Conduct Bureau which is accusing him of false asset declaration.

In one note seen by this newspaper, Mr Onnoghen said he forgot to update his asset declaration, after the expiration of his 2005 declaration.

Mr Onnoghen also explained that he believed that the form SCN 000015 filed in December 2016 after he emerged acting CJN would cover for the period after his confirmation as CJN.

The case against Mr Onnoghen came after a group, the Anti-Corruption and Research Based Data Initiative, sent a petition against him alleging wrongdoing in his asset declaration.

The group said the CJN, Nigerias most senior judicial officer, maintained illegal accounts containing foreign currencies and did not declare them.

The groups head, Denis Aghanya, is a member of the ruling All Progressives Congress and a former publicity secretary of the defunct Congress for Progressive Change.

The group said, its petition was brought bearing in mind the imminence of the 2019 elections and the overwhelming role of the judiciary both before and after the election.

A statement by the Code of Conduct Tribunal on Saturday, said Mr Onnoghen would be arraigned for alleged false asset charge on Monday  seven days after the petition was brought.

Some lawyers have alleged the trial is politically motivated.

Sebastian Hon, a senior advocate of Nigeria, told PREMIUM TIMES on Saturday it is more political than it is honest.

While I know that the Chief Justice of Nigeria does not enjoy immunity from criminal prosecution, I see this move by the Federal Government as dangerously political and tendentious, he said.

Suddenly, we woke to see a petition leaked to the informal or social media, allegedly received by the Code of Conduct on 9th January, 2019. Suddenly, we are told charges have been filed against the CJN. Why this supersonic rush?

In his response to the queries raised by the CCB, Mr Onnoghen wrote as follows:

My asset declaration form numbers SCN 00014 and SCN 00005 were declared on the same day, 14/12/2016 because I forgot to make a declaration of my assets after the expiration of my 2005 declaration in 2009. Following my appointment as acting CJN in November, 2016, the need to declare my assets anew made me to realize the mistake.

I then did the declaration to cover the period in default. I did not include my standard charted bank account in SCN 000014 because I believed they were not opened.

I did not make a fresh declaration of asset after my substantive appointment as CJN because I was under the impression that my SCN 000015 was to cover that period of four years which includes my term as CJN, Mr Onnoghen said in his statement dated January 11.

Mr Onnoghen was first appointed acting CJN on November 10, 2017 following the retirement of the former CJN, Mahmoud Mohammed.

His appointment as acting CJN came amidst criticism of President Muhammadu Buharis failure to forward his name to the Senate for confirmation as the most senior judge.

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On February 8, 2017 Vice President Yemi Osinbajo returned Mr Onnoghens name for confirmation to the Senate on March 1.

Mr Onnoghen was subsequently sworn in to office as Nigerias 17th CJN on March 8, 2017.

SEE DOC. HERE

onoghenB onoghen
I want to be sure we get it right  Ive been practicing law for 25 years and the one thing about the system I know for sure is that it is imperfect, and because it is imperfect, we cant be tied down trying to correct mistakes, Stanley says. This is about freedom and peoples liberties.
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The Code of Conduct Tribunal has raised a panel to try Nigerias Chief Justice, Walter Onnoghen, who is accused of lying in his asset declaration.

The tribunal on Saturday announced that corruption charges had been raised against Mr Onnoghen and the trial will commence on Monday.

The case is built on a petition filed by a civil society group, Anti-Corruption and Research Based Data Initiative, PREMIUM TIMES learnt.

The petition dated January 7, 2019, accuses Mr Onnoghen of managing several accounts through which has been making transfers of local and foreign currencies in a manner inconsistent with financial accuracy, the petition signed by the groups executive secretary, Denis Aghanya, said.

In its statement, the CCT said the trial was consequent to application filed by the Code of Conduct Bureau to the CCT Chairman yesterday for the trial to commence against the Chief Justice of Nigeria on six count charges.

The application was filed yesterday by the operatives of CCB, dated 11st January, 2019 and signed by Musa Ibrahim Usman (Esq) and Fatima Danjuma Ali (Esq), containing 6 count charges all borders on non declaration of asset, a statement signed by Ibraheem Al-Hassan, head of press and public relations of CCT, said.

A three-member panel led by Justice Danladi Umar will commence the trial on Monday at its courtroom, situated at the headquarter, along Jabi Daki Biyu, Saloman Lar way, Abuja, at about 10:00 a.m.
The Code of Conduct Bureau has slammed corruption charges against the Chief Justice of Nigeria at the Code of Conduct Tribunal, court documents showed.

Walter Onnoghen became the Chief Justice in March 2017, less than six months after the homes of several federal judges, including those of the Supreme Court, were searched in an anti-corruption raid.

On January 10, the Nigerian government filed charges against the head of the countrys judicial arm, accusing him of asset declaration offences.

The government said it was only in 2016 after the controversial crackdown on judges that Mr Onnoghen partially declared his asset, but still failed to declare a series of bank accounts, denominated in local and foreign currencies, linked to him at a Standard Chartered Bank branch in Abuja.

The government consequently filed six charges of non and fraudulent declaration of assets by Mr Onnoghen, with trial expected to commence on January 14 at the Code of Conduct Tribunal.

The CCT said in a separate statement Saturday afternoon that trial would commence on Monday at the premises of the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Jabi, commercial neighbourhood in Abuja.

A spokesperson for the Supreme Court did not immediately return requests for comments Saturday afternoon.

The trial could further strain relations between the judicial and the executive arms of the federal government, which had been largely tense since the raid on federal judgess homes in October 2016.

Two judges of the Supreme Court were amongst those whose houses were raided. They were charged for corruption, but none of them has been found guilty of wrongdoing.

PREMIUM TIMES obtained copies of the January 10 charges on Saturday.

Application to commence trial

Code of Conduct Tribunal Trail on CJN Walter Onnoghen

Code of Conduct Tribunal Trail on CJN Walter Onnoghen 2

Code of Conduct Tribunal Trail on CJN Walter Onnoghen 3

The charges appeared to have been triggered by a group.

The group, the Anti-corruption and Research based Data Initiative, had sent the petition below against the CJN to PREMIUM TIMES.

The complaints were sent to the Code of Conduct Bureau and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission

PETITION ON SUSPECTED FINANCIAL CRIMES AND BREACHES OF THE CODE OF CONDUCT BUREAU REQUIREMENTS AGAINST HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE W. S. NKANU ONNOGHEN, GCON, THE CHIEF JUSTICE OF NIGERIA

We write to bring to your attention serious concerns bothering on flagrant violations of the law and the Constitution of Nigeria by the Honourable Mr. Justice Walter Samuel Nkanu Onnoghen, the Chief Justice of Nigeria.

Specifically, we are distressed that facts on the ground indicate the leader of our countrys judicial branch is embroiled in suspected financial crimes and breaches of the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act.

The particulars of our findings indicate that:

His Lordship Justice Walter Onnoghen is the owner of sundry accounts primarily funded through cash deposits made by himself, up to as recently as 10th August 2016 which appear to have been run in a manner inconsistent with financial transparency and the code of conduct for public officials.

To give specific examples, here are some instances of cash deposits by Justice Onnoghen:

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Justice Onnoghen made five different cash deposits of $10,000 each on 8th March 2011 into Standard Chartered Bank Account 1062650;

On 7th June 2011, two separate cash deposits of $5000 each were made by Justice Walter Onnoghen, followed by four cash deposits of $10,000 each;

On 27th June 2011, Justice Onnoghen made another set of five separate cash deposits of $10,000 each and made four more cash deposits of $10,000 each on the following day, 28th June 2011;

Hon. Justice Walter Onnoghen did not declare his assets immediately after taking office, contrary to Section 15 (1) of Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act;

Hon. Justice Walter Onnoghen did not comply with the constitutional requirement for public servants to declare their assets every four years during their career;

The Code of Conduct Bureau Forms (Form CCB 1) of Hon. Justice Walter Onnoghen for 2014 and 2016 were dated and filed on the same day. The acknowledgement slip for Declarant SCN: 000014 was issued on 14th December 2016. The acknowledgement slip for Declarant SCN: 000015 was also issued on 14th December 2016, at which point Justice Onnoghen had become the Chief Justice of Nigeria.

The affidavit for SCN: 000014 was sworn to on 14th December 2016;

The affidavit for SCN: 000015 was sworn to on 14th December 2016;

Both forms were received on 14th December 2016 by one Awwal Usman Yakasai.

The discrepancy between Justice Walter Onnoghens two CCB forms that were filed on the same day is significant.

In filling the section on Details of Assets, particularly Cash, in Nigerian Banks, His Lordship as Declarant SCN: 000014 mentioned only two bank accounts:

Union Bank account number 0021464934 in Abuja, with balance of N9,536,407, as at 14th November 2014.

Union Bank account number 0012783291 in Calabar, with balance of N11, 456,311 as at 14th November 2014.

The sources of the funds in these accounts are stated as salaries, estacodes and allowances.

As Declarant SCN: 000015 His Lordship however lists seven bank accounts:

Standard Chartered account 00001062667, with balance of N3,221,807.05 as at 14th November 2016.

Standard Chartered account 00001062650, with balance of $164,804.82, as at 14th November 2016.

Standard Chartered account 5001062686, with balance of EUROS 55,154.56, as at 14th November 2016.

Standard Chartered Bank account 5001062679 with balance of GBP108,352.2, as at 14th November 2016.

Standard Chartered Bank account 5001062693 with balance of N8,131,195.27, as at 14th November 2016.

Union Bank account 00021464934 with balance of N23,261,568.89, as at 14th November 2016.

Union Bank account 0012783291 with balance of N14,695,029.12, as at 14th November 2016.

The foreign currency Standard Chartered Bank accounts that were declared by Declarant SCN: 000015 have been in existence since at least 2011.

Prior to 2016, His Lordship appears to have suppressed or otherwise concealed the existence of these multiple domiciliary accounts owned by him, as well as the substantial cash balances in them.

The Standard Chartered Bank dollar account 1062650 had a balance of $391,401.28 on 31st January 2011;

The Standard Chartered Bank Euro account 5001062686 had a balance of EURO 49,971.71 on 31st January 2011;

The Standard Chartered Bank pound sterling account 5001062679 had a balance of GBP23,409.66 on 28th February 2011.

It is curious that these domiciliary accounts were not declared in one of the two CCB Forms filed by Justice Onnoghen on the same day, 14th December 2016.

The Naira bank accounts in b (i) and b (v) above are also omitted in the CCB form of Declarant SCN: 000014.

It is our humble view that, with the foregoing, we have laid before you facts which support the assertion that Justice Walter Onnoghen may have committed a breach of the provisions of the Code of Conduct Bureau Act as follows:

Non-declaration of assets immediately after taking office in several capacities prior to becoming the Chief Justice of Nigeria contrary to section 15 of the Code of Conduct Bureau Act;

Non-declaration of assets immediately after taking office as the Chief Justice of Nigeria contrary to section 15 of the Code of Conduct Bureau Act;

55Non-declaration of assets at the statutory intervals after taking office throughout his career as a federal judicial officer contrary to section 15 of the Code of Conduct Bureau Act;

False declaration of asset, and in particular, concealment of significant and declarable assets in the form of sundry bank accounts and the balances therein, contrary to section 15 of the Code of Conduct Bureau Act;

Consequent to this information, it is our expectation and request that you will discharge the constitutional duty of your office and take the necessary lawful actions to uphold and enforce the law in this matter by involving sister agencies such as:

The Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) to conduct comprehensive statistical analysis of cash transactions on all the accounts for cases of suspicious transactions.

The Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) to determine whether Standard Chartered Bank has not breached statutory duties to the Nigerian State in favour of, or in connivance with, His Lordship on Suspicious Transactions Reporting (STR).

The Revenue Mobilization Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC), the Supreme Court of Nigeria and the National Judicial Council (NJC) to determine whether the disclosed financial transactions are justified by His Lordships lawful remuneration.

As ordinary citizens, motivated by a clear belief that there must be high standards in public life, we have acted to expose a possible criminal breach of our laws. We believe it is now your duty to act, and to do so promptly.
Daily Trusts editor-in-chief, Mannir Dan-Ali, a veteran of the nations rugged media terrain is a man who exudes confidence. He was, however, rattled, nay, speechless on Sunday, January 6, when gun-toting, battle-ready soldiers invaded the premises of the newspaper in Abuja, the nations capital.

Perhaps the nearest brush with hostile security forces the newspaper, under him, had was during the Goodluck Jonathan era when copies of its publications were seized in some states.

The present siege was unprecedented for the official.

A similar siege had earlier been carried out on its Maiduguri office that day. The soldiers after descending on the newspapers office in the war-torn northern city arrested a reporter. Their mission was apparently not ended as they demanded to see one of the newspaper editors, who appeared to be their main target.

For four hours on Sunday, January 6th 2019, armed soldiers who came in five vehicles occupied the head office of Media Trust Limited, publishers of the Daily Trust titles sending away journalists and other staff, a troubled Mr Dan-Ali said in a subsequent statement he issued that caught the attention of a stunned nation.

Before the siege was called off at about 9.30 pm, the soldiers has (sic) ransacked the newsroom and carted away dozens of computers and effectively strangulated the production of the Monday edition of the paper, the official added.

He explained that at about 4 p.m., another detachment of soldiers and plain-clothed security officials went to the Maiduguri regional office of the company and conducted a search.

The soldiers took away the Regional Bureau Chief, Uthman Abubakar, and a reporter, Ibrahim Sawab. A production staff who was taken away from the Abuja head office alongside the firms computers was released after a period of detention at the Mogadishu barracks in Abuja.

The irate soldiers were not done yet, apparently.

In Lagos, seven vehicles with armed soldiers arrived the offices of the newspaper at Textile Labour House in Agidingbi at about 9 p.m. After driving out perplexed staff, they sealed the premises.

Why would soldiers invade a newspaper house in broad daylight in a democratic nation ahead of a general election, Nigerians waited to know with bated breath.

Mr Dan-Ali explained.

We have not been told of the reason for the military operation against this newspaper but suspect it may have to do with the lead story of the Daily Trust on Sunday that dwelt on the militarys effort to retake some towns recently reported to have been lost to insurgents.

Another clue is that during the invasion of our premises both in Maiduguri and in Abuja, the military men were asking for the reporters who wrote the story.

Controversial Story?

The siege occurred a few hours after the newspaper published a report detailing how the Nigerian military assembled troops and equipment in preparation for a massive operation to dislodge Boko Haram and retake Baga and five other towns in Borno from the insurgents.

The army had earlier denied reports that the towns had been seized.

The military has suffered a series of defeats in some key towns in the embattled region, which it had tried to downplay in recent weeks.

It had also appealed to the media to stop exaggerating the losses suffered in the hands of the insurgents whom the federal government claimed in the past had been techincally defeated.

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That Daily Trust decided to publish a report that revealed military operations to regain the lost territory did not go down well with the top brass of the military.

Sabre Rattling Military

A confrontational military later issued a statement explaining why it unleashed its men on unarmed media workers.

The disclosure of classified security information amounts to a breach of national security and run contrary to Sections 1 and 2 of the Official Secrets Act, a belligerent army spokesman, Sani Usman said shortly.

He said the story gave the Boko Haram sect prior notice of the Armys plans while also alerting it to prepare against the Nigerian military.

Mr Usman said the publication sabotaged the planned operation and put the lives of troops in imminent and clear danger.

We would like to state that the invitation of those responsible for divulging military plans was done with the best of intention in order to make them realise the import of such acts to our national security, he said.

The spokesperson did not, however, explain why the military needed to deploy armed soldiers to invite the journalists who had stirred the hornets nest.

Bad Move

The presidency, obviously aware of the furore the matter would generate, quickly moved in to douse tension.

President Muhammadu Buhari is seeking reelection this year. Accused several times in the past of crippling citizens civil rights, the military action on a newspaper house was clearly a bad move for campaigns.

The presidency then sought to rein in the rampaging soldiers and extinguish a raging fire.

The Federal Government has directed the military to vacate the premises of @daily_trust and the order has been complied with, Garba Shehu, a presidential spokesperson, said via a tweet on his handle @GarShehu.

Issues between the military and the newspaper as they affect the coverage of the war in the Northeast will be resolved through dialogue, he added.

President Muhammadu Buhari

The army later withdrew its officials and released the detained journalists. It is not clear if they also released the firms computers and gadgets it seized.

Belated?

Despite the presidencys olive branch gesture, the expected backlash came in quickly and in no small measure.

The International Press Institute threw the first salvo.

We would like to mention here that the Nigerian security services appear to have adopted a habit of arresting and detaining journalists for their investigative reporting on perceived sensitive subjects.

In August last year, the security forces arrested Samuel Ogundipe, a journalist with the Premium Times, for his report about a letter sent by the inspector general of police to the vice president detailing actions of the former director of the State Security Service. The police demanded that Ogundipe reveal his sources.

We hope that you will keep the promise that President Muhammadu Buhari and you made at the IPI World Congress to uphold media freedom and create a conducive climate for independent media to thrive in Nigeria, it wrote Mr Buhari.

Where an infraction is alleged, the best option is to follow due process and civility; not kneejerk, not intimidation and spread of fear in the civil society.

Samuel Ogundipe, a reporter at Premium Times, after his release from the Police Station

We have gone too far in search of law and order regime than to countenance such display of raw power and emotion over due process, the Newspapers Association of Nigeria also said in a statement.

Amnesty International also showed its displeasure.

Nigerian authorities have obligation to protect freedom of the press @daily_trust as provided by the constitution & International human rights laws. #FreePress #Nigeria, it said.

Attack on @Dailytrust offices and arbitrary arrest of their reporters, is an attack on Nigerians freedom of expression and media freedom and an affront to basic principles of human rights and rule of law central to democracy, a prominent pressure civil society group, SERAP also said.

So Who Gets The Blame?

Analysts believe the clash was inevitable especially in the heat of an ongoing counter-insurgency operation, which the military seems to be under pressure to conclude finally and decisively.

While the press is constitutionally empowered to keep the nation informed on developments in the society, the army is trained to secure the territorial integrity of the country through at times covert operations that it wants to remain secret.

That always sets the tone for clashes between the two institutions globally.

As usual with such matters, opinions are varied and divisive.

Emman Usman Shehu (PhD), Director, International Institute of Journalism, sees it as a classic case of two wrongs (not making a right).

It is a classic example of two wrongs not making a right. It once again underscores the failure of our various institutions to play by established rules at all times, he told PREMIUM TIMES.

He criticises the actions of both sides.

It is true that the media is in the business of providing news by there is that age-old caveat of providing news RESPONSIBLY, taking into cognisance not just national security but the safety of citizens. Nigerian soldiers are first of all citizens of the country and their lives too matter.

Daily Trusts shocking editorial naivety in this matter also shows the organisations failure to take into consideration that safety of its staff who could easily be brutalised in the event of an extreme backlash from the military, know the historical precedents.

The front page prominence given to the planned military operation showed that Daily Trust was not in the mood of being discreet regardless of the danger it posed to the lives of the troops.

The report itself was in no way innocuous as has been argued in some quarters. It not only indicated a large scale operation in specific locations but also revealed where the troops would be drawn from. These are actionable details for the insurgents.

The militarys indignation in the given circumstance is understandable, but the attendant action is totally unacceptable. What took place further discredits the militarys reputation as not being capable of working within the ambits of the countrys laws.

There are more civil and lawful ways that the military would have approached the issue including working with the Attorney General of the Federation to press charges against Daily Trust. The military operation as witnessed which took place in at least three cities, with journalists taken into custody and publishing paraphernalia confiscated is not acceptable even in a democracy, he said.

Emmanuel Ogbeche, FCT chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) takes a different route.

He tells this newspaper the Nigerian military went overboard in its reaction over the story.

The military should have used its information and publicity unit to reach out to the editors of Daily Trust and forcefully make their concerns known, he says. A simple telephone call, an email would have sufficed even if you needed the reporters/editors of the newspaper at your office. But to lay siege to the offices at different locations signposts that it was aimed at crippling the operations of the newspaper.

He said in this age of technological advancement, there is nothing about troops movement that is even secret.

Google Earth alone is enough to give away the massing up of Nigerian troops because one will imagine that the Boko Haram terrorists have the requisite technology and possibly moles embedded inside the military, he said. If you check Stratfor site online, you can easily find where U.S. carriers are everywhere in the world.

The military ought to engage in confidence building with the media and populace. You cannot always antagonise a key institution as the media, he adds. The media too owes the country responsible reporting and being sensitive to some issues such as the war against insurgency.

Farooq Kperogi, a columnist and professor of Journalism and Citizen Media at Kennesaw State University, Georgia, USA tells PREMIUM TIMES two options the military could have explored.

Farooq Kperogi

They had two options: officially write to refute the report and request to be given a prominent space for their rebuttal to be published or directly complain to the editor or the E-I-C of the newspaper by pointing out exactly why the report injures national security, he said.

Invading the offices of the newspaper, confiscating its computers and arresting its reporters are most certainly crude tactics of intimidation that solve no problem at all, the prominent columnist added.

He also said Daily Trust would be justified under the law to sue the military authorities for loss of revenue as a consequence of this invasion and for a violation of its constitutionally guaranteed right to inform the public and hold government accountable to the people.

A public affairs analyst, Abdullai Haruna, also weighed in. He takes a middle ground.

Irresponsible time we live in, journalists publishing the operational movement of the military against a dangerous side like the Boko Haram. What stops the army from inviting the top management of the media house to discuss the grave implication of sharing valuable and sensitive operational procedures of the military? he asks.

And why would journalists be the platform where military tactics are used to get to the insurgents? Are there moles in the military who work in tandem with journalists to feed the insurgents with adequate information? he said.

However, Isuma Isuma, a public affairs analyst says there is no justification for the invasion.

It (invasion) is terrorism in itself. It impedes on the right of the workers and free press which has become an essential element of governance globally. If the government had any grouse with any publications from the papers stable, it should have employed the usual open and legal channels of reaching out to the editors and management to explain and clear the air, Mr Isuma said.

That was not employed rather, violent measures of laying siege to the paper offices across the nation became their best option. That was condemnable. I must say the paper must go to court to ensure the preservation of its desire to have access to information and stop future invasion of its operations and other media outlets, he added.

Adolphus Mawolo, a reporter with the West Africa Democracy Radio, Dakar, Senegal also told PREMIUM TIMES that diplomatic channels ought to have been explored by parties.

The siege was an unnecessary use of force which attracted an unnecessary international attention to an army notorious for extrajudicial killings and arbitrary arrests and detention, Mr Mawolo said.

The newspaper said it released general and not specific information about the operation to retake Baga and five other towns in the northeast. Ideally, the army needed to express their disappointment to the Daily Trust without a public display of coercive force, he adds.

Granted without conceding to the fact that Daily Trust erred in its reportage of military operations against insurgents, the ideal thing to do was to approach the court and obtain a restraining order against the media house and not laying siege and harassing journalists, says Gbadebo Asiwaju, an editor with Leadership Newspapers.

Legality

There is no justification for the invasion in the eyes of the law. It didnt follow due process and it assaulted the freedom of information law, says Isichei Samson, an Abuja based lawyer.

If there is any clash or crisis between both, they should resort to the law or diplomacy to resolve such matters. The army should have explored legal or diplomatic procedure when it felt the newspaper by its action put national security in jeopardy instead of self-help.

Even in the military era when press freedom was curbed, the military juntas at times invited editors to parleys whenever they felt uncomfortable about any report, Mr Isichei said.

Security Matters, Not A Tea Party

The media is failing in its responsibility to exercise discretion and necessary restraints required for ensuring peace and stability of the fragile system says an Abuja based security expert, Bakare Demola.

He requested his real name be withheld.

Driven only by information dissemination and probably commercial interests, the press appears to have jeopardised national security to the extent that it now looks as if it is at war with the government and especially, the military, he adds.

I personally saw the recent military incursion into Daily Trust premises coming, he added. The Nigerian media seem to have weaponised information dissemination using it to denigrate either the government or the security forces while reporting security matters. This is unbecoming.

We seem to forget that democracy, human rights and press freedom are useful only to the extent that the geographical expression necessary to express them exists and remains peaceful.

If Nigeria is overrun, for instance, through carelessness and indiscretion on the part of any of us, the democracy, human rights and press freedom we desire and flaunts shall inadvertently be in peril.

He, however, advised the overstressed army not to engage the press in another unnecessary war of attrition.

The newspaper erred in reporting such a sensitive information. By their action, they put the military operation in jeopardy. They gave the insurgents information about an impending attack by troops on their locations which is not good, Akinsode Sunday, a security trainer in Jos also tells PREMIUM TIMES.

They could as well as waited for the military to carry out its operations before reporting not before. And really, its not every information, a newspaper has that it should report/publish. The media work comes with a lot of responsibilities, he adds.

Global Best Practices

The arguments would no doubt continue for a while. But like a media trainer, Deborah Shapley, puts it in her journal article, The Media and National Security, such conflicts will inevitably occur as the media seeks to keep readers aware of happenings, state authorities will rather want kept secret.

At times, the press may be forced to make tough calls, she says.

Defence news whether in the newspapers or on TV ought to be able to do more. A strong case can be made that in a democracy, the media must play the role in assisting that voters are well informed so they will be less influenced by demagoguery or propaganda.

The media should find ways to cover national security subjects more extensively and in greater depth even if this sometimes may mean discarding professional rigidities, Ms Shapley submits.
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The hooded security operatives who stormed an Abuja hospital and forcibly took away Dino Melaye have moved the ailing senator to a medical facility run by the State Security Service, the secret police said late Friday.

Peter Afunanya, a spokesperson for the SSS, said in a statement to PREMIUM TIMES that Mr Melaye was brought to the SSS by the police for treatment.

The aim of bringing him to the Services facility is to complement Police efforts in giving the Senator a deserved medical attention, Mr Afunanya said. The Service, in line with medical ethics and spirit of inter-agency cooperation, accepted him.

The disclosure comes hours Mr Melaye was forcibly moved from a police hospital, also in Abuja, by plainclothes and hooded men whom witnesses suspected were security operatives. The development sparked immediate speculation that the controversial senator had been abducted.

The police later issued a statement saying they moved Mr Melaye to another hospital run by the SSS. They also rejected claims that the senator was abducted.

Mr Melaye turned himself to the police on January 4, bringing an end to a week-long siege that began on December 28 at his residence in the posh Maitama neighbourhood.

He was subsequently taken into custody but moved to a hospital amidst indications his health had deteriorated as he reportedly hid in a basement at his house while the siege lasted.

The police identified Mr Melaye, a member of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party representing Kogi West Senatorial District, as a prominent suspect in an ongoing attempted homicide investigation. The senator strongly denied the allegations.

Mr Afunanya said the police have a warrant to detain Mr Melaye for two weeks in the first instance, with effect from January 9.

Pictures depicting Mr Melaye as refusing to be taken into the hospital and laying on a quilt of about eight feet at the premises of the SSS hospital were circulated on the Internet Friday afternoon.

Mr Afunanya declined comments to PREMIUM TIMES on whether the hooded officers were of the SSS and whether Mr Melaye later agreed to be taken in for medical care.
The hope of many university students across the country to resume academic activities soon may have been dashed.

The striking Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has rejected the offers made to it early this week by the Nigerian government.

At the seventh meeting with the leadership of ASUU on Tuesday, the Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, said the labour dispute with the university teachers was on the verge of being resolved. He listed the fresh concessions made by the administration to ASUU.

According to Mr Ngige, the office of the Accountant-General of the Federation and the Ministry of Finance presented evidence that N15.4 billion had been released to public universities.

On earned academic allowances, he said President Muhammadu Buhari approved N20 billion to offset arrears of the 2009 to 2012 verified earnings by university teachers.

But in an exclusive interview with PREMIUM TIMES early Saturday morning, the President of ASUU, Biodun Ogunyemi, said upon reviewing the offers made by the government, members of the union across various campuses and zones rejected it.

Mr. Ogunyemi, who described governments offer on the outstanding revitalization fund of N1.1 trillion as tokenism, said members are insisting that government should release at least a tranche of N220 billion spread over four quarters of 2019.

He added that on earned allowances, governments proposal should not be lesser than the total amount released the last time out of the verified balance.

Recall that as part of the agreement reached between the union and the government before ASUU ended its industrial action in September 2017, the Federal Government released a total N22.9 billion for earned allowances of both academic and non-academic staff across 22 Federal universities.

Of the amount, academics under ASUU got N18.3billion, while non-teaching staff belonging to the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian University (SSANU), Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU) and the National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT) got N4.6 billion.

The sharing formula, which was condemned by the three non-academic staff unions, had led to pockets of protests across various campuses at the time, and eventually compelled the unions to embark on prolonged strike.

Apparently to avoid the controversy that greeted the sharing of the allowance in 2017, ASUU is insisting that the Federal Government should categorically state the amount earmarked for its members, which it said must not be lesser than N18.3 billion it received then.

Mr Ogunyemi said; Our members have rejected tokenism with respect to outstanding revitalization fund of N1.1 trillion. They are insisting that government should release at least one tranche of N220 billion spread over four quarters of 2019.

On earned academic allowances, our members said governments proposed amount out of the verified balance should not be less than the total amount released last time, while evidence of mainstreaming the allowances into the 2019 budget should be shown. Also, timeline should be attached to payment of the balance of the arrears.

The revitalization fund and earned academic allowances are the two critical areas on which our members feel strongly about. They expect necessary adjustments on the part of government before they can reconsider their decision on the ongoing strike action.

ASUU had embarked on what it termed total and indefinite strike on November 4, 2018, to demand improved funding of universities and implementation of previous agreements entered with the government.

Some of the demands as contained in the ASUUs list of grievances, include the implementation of the 2009 FGN/ASUU agreements, Memorandum of Understanding (MoU; 2012 and 2013) and Memorandum of Action (MoA, 2017) and the truncation of the renegotiation of the unions agreements.

The union said its ongoing strike is aimed at compelling the government to make funds available for the revitalisation of public universities based on the FGN-ASUU MoU of 2012, 2013 and the MoA of 2017, and that the operational license of the Nigerian University Employees Pension Company (NUPEMCO) should be released.

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The unions also asked for the release of the forensic audit report on Earned Academic Allowances (EAA), payments of all outstanding earned academic allowances and the mainstreaming of same into the 2019 budget.

The lecturers also demanded the payment of all arrears of shortfall in salaries to all universities that have met the verification requirements of the Presidential Initiative on Continuous Audit (PICA).

Meanwhile, one of the major issues that has been dragging the negotiations forth and back is the revitalisation of the universities.

As at Saturday morning, the government was yet to release the N1.1 trillion of the N1.3 trillion it agreed to provide for the exercise.

The 2013 MoU stipulated that public universities needed N1.3 trillion for a modest revitalisation. The fund was to be paid in tranches of N200billion in 2013, N220billion in 2014, N220billion in 2015, 220billion in 2016, N220billion in 2017 and N220billion in 2018.

The Goodluck Jonathan-led administration released N200 billion in 2013 but since then nothing more has been paid.

Earlier, after its meeting with the Federal Government and shortly after the Labour and Employment Minister went to town with the message of a possible return of the lecturers to their classrooms, ASUU had indicated the possibility of its members not accepting the concessions.

Speaking with PREMIUM TIMES Wednesday afternoon, Mr Ogunyemi had said the union was yet to reach an agreement with the government on any issue.

He said what the union took from the government were proposals because We told them where there were low and what our members will not take but they said that was the best they could give.

According to him, the difference between the last meeting and earlier ones was that it was the first time the union was given figures that we could take back to our members.

He said the union leaders warned government representatives that ASUU members were not likely to accept those figures but they insisted that we should go and inform them first.

We agreed to go back to our members in order to show to them that we are not difficult people. We have been having consultations and telling the government the initial reactions we are getting. So, if they want this problem resolved, they should consider the low things.

Speaking on the revitalisation of universities, Mr. Ogunyemi said if government does not release another tranche of the agreed sum, his members would think the government is not ready to solve the problem.

Revitalisation is key to this issue. That was the point I was making when we had the exit engagement and Senator Ngige was saying we agreed on many issues. There are issues that did not require agreement. If you say you will set up a committee and you do, it is implementation not agreement. So, our intention is not to attack any government but to get our demands, he said.

They didnt release any money. If we are talking about the N1.1 trillion that they should release in tranches and government has not said they will work towards releasing one tranche, then how do you think our members will take that from us? They are mixing up issues. They did not tell us if the N20 billion is a deposit.

He said no Nigerian would believe the country does not have money to resolve some of the contentious issues.

I dont believe any Nigeria will believe government does not have money for what they see as a priority. We keep telling them that overnight they brought out N800 billion to bail out what they now call Polaris Bank. When they had a problem with subsidy, they knew where they went to; so they cannot keep telling us there is no money, he said.

On when the union would meet the government to reopen negotiation, Mr Ogunyemi said the union was still consulting.

I am not going to determine whether we are resuming or not. Our members will determine that and we will go back to them, he said.

When asked what ASUU would be doing next, Mr Ogunyemi said the union was preparing its response to government.
The Minister of Health, Isaac Adewole, speaks to PREMIUM TIMES Ebuka Onyeji at his office in Abuja.

The interview, held in December 2018, weeks before President Buhari on Wednesday rolled out the disbursement of the Basic Health Care Provision Fund.

Mr Adewole, a professor of medicine, spoke on how the funds will be disbursed and why the government is yet to fully implement the provisions of the National Health Act, a body of laws meant to govern the health sector.

Last November, this PREMIUM TIMES began a series called Dissecting the NHA in a bid to explain more comprehensively the provisions of the Act and its non-implementation. The signing of the Act into law in 2014 after 10 years of consideration birthed the argument over its implementation which has remained four years after.

The minister also discussed government plans to bring back home Nigerian doctors practicing abroad among other issues:

PT: The Basic Health Care Provision Fund was added in the 2018 as mandated by the National Health Act. Why is the funds yet to be released and disbursed up till now?

Adewole: We cannot just release the money without proper planning because if we put the money in the states and there is no template for using it, people will say it wasted. The media will say BHCPF money was squandered. We have developed a 123 page manual.

What we have done is that we went to the states and did thorough jobs. We are looking at the entire health system in each state and for the first time we will do the whole 36 states and the federal capital. The manual is a detailed assessment of the health system. It takes account of how many facilities a state is using because we just dont want to share money. We want the money to flow from the central bank to the facilities. It should be first time that a PHC will get money directly from CBN.

We now say for each state, give us the list of your needs, the PHCs you want to use. For example in Osun, 332 PHCs is benefiting. What is the condition of the 332 PHCs? How many can render 24 hours service? What do they lack in terms of Staff, equipment, commodities and all? We will have detailed account of all this before releasing the money.

When you see the detailed manual we have developed, you will be amazed by the kind of work we have put in. We have developed that of Osun, Abia, Niger, Yobe, Borno, Edo and FCT. Seven states for the first roll out. If we dont do this and you send money there, it will be wasted. How this money will be shared are all in the manual. There is no challenge in getting the money released as many have said. Last Friday (December 2018) we approved the guideline that will guide the disbursement of the funds. It took almost us two years to get it ready and the president have agreed to flag off the implementation.

PT: Are you not worried the planning is taking too much time?

Adewole: I am not because we spent enough time getting things ready so now we can run and we are not only dealing with the Nigerian naira provided in the budget alone (N55b). If you read the part of the act that made provisions for the BHCPF, you will see it is also talking about getting funds from local and international organisations and other sources. We already have 20 million dollars from Global Financing Facility on ground. We have two million dollars from Bill and Melinda gates Foundation. DFID (The Department for International Development) is putting 50 million pounds over the next five years. We are also meeting with the World Bank. There will be three accounts in CBN. The federal account will be for the consolidated revenue funds because we dont want to mix funds with donor money.

Money will flow from the CBN to NHIS to NPHCDA to NCDC. It will flow from the Federal Ministry of Health, then from there to the states and from the states, it goes to the facilities through commercial banks. We also asked them to open accounts in commercial banks. Part of the assessment is that they (state facilities and PHCs) have a bank account. If they do, who are the signatories?

PT: According to the Act, 50 per cent of the BHCPF should go to NHIS. What are the implementation plans?

Adewole: They (NHIS) have done their costing and we are going to do reimbursement. We need to clarify on what it should cover. The 50 percent for NHIS is going to work on the bases of reimbursement. The manual is already on our website and its clear on all the issues regarding the BHCPF. The planning, the monitoring and all, including taking care of emergency.

PT: According to the Act, any hospital in Nigeria without certificates of standard, 24 months after the Act is activated is operating illegally. Why is it yet to be issued four years after the Act was activated?

Adewole: The issue of accreditation is in two folds. We can not temporary issue certificates of standard to health facilities at same level. We are supposed to work with the states. We have set up the national committee on standard headed by Olusomi, a professor and he is designing a template for accessing the facilities. What exactly are you looking for? what are you majoring? and everything has been done. What is left is for them to start working. We want to start with the federal first and their after we engage the states because health is on the concurrent list. I am sure by January, the first set of accreditation will be done.

PT: Where are we on revitalization of PHCs (Primary Health Centres)?

Adewole: For the 10,000 PHCs, at the last count we have done 4000. My happiness is that state governments are keying in. Kaduna did 225, Osun did 332 so what we are saying is that with the new template and access to BHCPF we will be able to do the whole 10,000 in no distant time but there is no specified deadline.

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PT: On brain drain, what are you doing to make Nigerian doctors practicing abroad return home?

Adewole: We have a PPP (Public ad Private partnership) in the diapora unit and that unit is working with doctors in diaspora to encourage them to come back through what we call the one-eleven. What it means is to encourage them to come and work in Nigeria for one month and then work in their respective base for 11 months. While they are on leave the arrangement enables them to come and work as well as be with their families. They will support us and it will also be impactful so the association of Nigerian doctors in America are part of that arrangement. We already put this on the 2019 budget. We have already set up an MOU (Memorandum of Understanding). All we do is pay for their ticket home, move them around and give them some subsidized registration fee because part of the challenge is that if you have been away from the country for six years and you comeback to practice, the MDCN (Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria) law says you must pay for those six years so we are working with MDCN to allow them pay for only one year instead of six years because they are not permanently based in Nigeria. Its a type of waiver to encourage them to come home that is why we are budgeting for that in 2019. They are happy about this arrangement and as we modernize our system, many of them will find it attractive to come on a permanent base.

PT: There seems to be so many internal crisis in the health sector in your administration. What have you done so far to resolve them?

Adewole: What we have done is to solve the crisis. This administration should be credited for that.

PT: What about the crisis rocking the NHIS?

Adewole: I can tell you today that no Executive Secretary of NHIS has even 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. What has happened is that this administration is honest and open. What has also made things open is the social media. Before now, if someone was sacked you wont even know except its captured on this newspaper the next day. Social media has made information readily accessible and available. That has made things look as if its only now that these things are happening, it use 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 board. The act also 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 can not be voluntary. There is need for review of the act and it is going.

The governing council by that act was giving the power to do what ever is necessary to keep the scheme running. If the council now thinks its important to do anything to keep the scheme running nobody can say no. That is why we say the act needs to be revised and be more specific. If you look closely its as if the council do almost everything there. The Act is one of the major issues with the scheme. Why the Act has not covered majority of Nigerians is because its voluntary.

PT: But many believe the poor coverage is as a result of corruption and fraud in the scheme.

Adewole: When its voluntary, it makes people not take it serious. Our disposition as Nigerians, 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 been 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.

PT: Where are we on vaccine production in Nigeria?

Adewole: For the first time we are linking health to socio-economic condition. We also made other strategic plans such as support for Nigerian products. We got FEC to approve Vaccine production plant in Nigeria, this was something for 12 years previous governments could not achieve. It was going back and fourth and the president said look get this done and so we improved this plan and entered into partnership with May and Baycar, the first indigenous drug manufacturing company in Nigeria to develop a plan to produce vaccine locally. Mind you, in 1996 Nigeria was producing vaccine and was even exporting it out of the country so we said if we can do it then why cant we do it now. We are working on it. we have set up the company and FG holds 75 percent of the share. We brought the chairman and managing director including three representatives from the government that will be in the board. May and Baycar have now developed a road map for vaccine production. Originally it was to start by 2020 but they came back last year with a well arranged work plan and by 2020 to 2022 they will role out the first vaccine.

The vaccine in Nigeria is coming at little or no cost, thanks to Gavy and they are saying Nigeria is a low income country that have moved on to medium so we will exit their support. We said we are facing some challenges so they said they will now extend their support for 10 years. Over 10 years, they promised to give support to the tune of 1 billion dollars but they said you must every year increase your support for vaccine procurement by 10 percent so that in 2028 Nigeria will be funding vaccine freely. The implication is that the company may not find market in Nigeria for another four to five years, that is why we are talking to them because we can not buy vaccine that is more expensive than what Gavy wants. People will question why are you buying at a high price when Gavy can give you at little or no cost. We also recommend the issue of vaccine supply as issue of national importance. We told them to work on vaccines not even covered by Gavy or where we dont even have enough. I mentioned yellow fever, we dont have enough vaccine for yellow fever in the world, why cant they make meningitis vaccine, we also gave them some tips as to vaccines they can concentrate on and meet international gap of supply.

PT: Why did it take so long to assent to the NCDC bill?

Adewole: It did not take a long time. What happened is that We looked at it internally and submitted the bill to Mr president and he approved. At the same time national assembly is also working on a private bill and then we approached them and said why not wait for our own and when they received it, they took over our own and subjected it to open hearing.

PT: It seems there is increased outbreak of diseases across the country. How has government responded so far?

Adewole: We have increased our ability to respond quickly with the number of surveillance exercise we have done. The test laboratories is now functional. We now have a first class lab in Nigeria. When monkey pox attacked we diagnosed it in Nigeria, something that was not their before so we have actually improved our capacity to diagnose, detect and report and we are now sending alert, something we never did in the past. You will see something like; dry season is coming prepare for Lassa fever, prepare for meningitis. That is the type of warning system we should have and we already have it.

PT: When are we going to be polio free?

Adewole: By the special grace of God we are almost there. We will soon get there. We have done well and we will soon cut the tape. We will be the last country to have polio in Africa.

PT: What is government doing to reduce burden of cancer in Nigeria?

Adewole: We have two cancer machines at the National hospital. We have assembled the one we met on ground and its now working. We secured the second one which we are training people on it because its more advanced than the first one. We promise Nigerians that by January it will start treating people. That hospital will be the only one in Africa with two energy linear machines.

PT: How would you rate the ongoing HIV census?

Adewole: Its the largest survey in the world. We want to accurately determine the burden of HIV in Nigeria. Hopefully we will release the data of the survey by march and it will tell us where we are. If we are doing well with HIV or not. We are working with our partners and we have been able to put close to 1.1 million people on treatment and we are committed to make sure every pregnant woman is tested for HIV so that we can regulate mother to child transmission of HIV in Nigeria. Mr President has directed we put additional 50,000 people on treatment every year. We have also started a national treatment program and Nigeria is the first in Africa to do so. We launched our treatment program and we want to drive the vehicle to make sure we remove user fee.
PR-Inside.com: 2019-01-12 00:45:37

NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / January 11, 2019 / On June 7, 2018, ThompsonEducation Center attended the Liberty High School Senior Assembly. As a member of the Liberty Rotary Community, Sherry Li, President of Thompson Education Center donated and presented scholarships to the students.The Assembly was very well attended. The Board of Education, Administration and Staff of Liberty Central Schools extended their best wishes to the students who have received awards as well as congratulated all the fellow graduating students for a job well done.ThompsonEducation Center is a project that plans to create a high-end education community. It is located in Sullivan County, Town of Thompson, covering 575 acres.Thompson Education Center would work with accredited colleges to develop a new education community in Sullivan County. It will include a Business School, a School of Film & Arts and programs in the following industries: Nursing/Medical Training, Culinary Arts, High School Equivalency and Executive and Vocational Training as well as related ancillary facilities. After completion of Phase 1, the project will include 4 classroom buildings, student dormitories, student townhouses and a student center.Currently, Thompson Education Center has entered into agreements and signed letter of interests with high schools, colleges, education institutions and systems both in U.S. and China, each of them will provide a great number of students to Thompson Education Center. Also, TEC has already been working with several U.S. accredited colleges on Undergraduate Programs and ESL Programs.Thompson Education Center will bring economic growth to the local community. Numerous construction professional firms have been retained for the project such as architects, engineers, land-use lawyers, local contractors. An increasing number of jobs will be created throughout the entire project, such as real estate agents, professors, instructors, librarian, cleaning, and maintenance workers amongst many others.Thompson Education Center has already gained much support from local government agencies, small businesses and individuals. Thompson Education Center will continue working closely with Sullivan County Partnership, Chamber of Commerce, Visitors Association amongst others to bring more investors and visitors to Sullivan County to strengthen the economy.ThompsonEducation Center is proud to be a community member and willing to support and to help our community and children. TEC has been making monthly fresh fruits, vegetable and meat deliveries to Boys & Girls Club/Town of Wallkill, NY since late 2015.Together we can build a better, stronger and healthier community.Thompson Education Center - A High-End Education Community in Sullivan County, NY: http://thompsoneducationcenternews.com Thompson Education Center to Offer Classes and Programs to Alleviate Nursing Shortage: https://finance.yahoo.com/news/thompson-education-center-offer-classes-151000942.html Thompson Education Center Announces Plans for Performing Arts Center: http://finance.yahoo.com/news/thompson-education-center-announces-plans-215500406.html Contact Information:contact@ thompsoneducationcenternews.com SOURCE: Thompson Education Center
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PR-Inside.com: 2019-01-12 21:53:29

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Name: Vijay TannaCompany: IT Intelligence MarketsAddress: Survey No-9/4, Flat# 6, Panchshil Park, Ganpati Marg, Nigidi, Pune 411044Mail Id: sales@itintelligencemarkets.comContact No: +91 705-760-0700Sales Manager7057600700

Application platform as a service (aPaaS) is a cloud service that provides end users with the operating systems, hardware, network capacity or storage required over the cloud to develop new applications or run existing ones. Global Application Platform as a Service Market is expected to grow at a CAGR of +5% during the forecast period 2019-2024.The prime factor for which the global Application Platform as a Service market is on the rise, particularly in the PaaS environment, is its capability to support the enterprise level of applications and related projects, which include disaster recovery, data security, technical support, and access to external services. Cloud computing is already revolutionizing every way that todays businesses deal with their information technology (IT) challenges.Application Platform as a Service Market report examines all the significant aspects of the global market. It provides a predictive analysis about its future scope of development through 2023. It also provides factors that will drive and restrain its course of growth and the important trends and regulations affecting numerous aspects of the market. Furthermore, it finds the most profitable of them all to help investors take the most informed decision.Request for A Sample Copy of This Report @Company profiled in this report:Microsoft Corporation, Salesforce.com Inc., IBM Corporation, Mendix Inc., Progress Software Corporation, Red Hat Inc., SAP SE, Engine Yard Inc., Software AGApplication platform as a service market is segmented on the basis of end-user, deployment mode, service and region. By end-user, application platform as a service market can be segmented into small business, medium business and large enterprises. Application platform as a service market can be segmented according to deployment mode which includes private cloud, public cloud and hybrid cloudThis market report also assesses the ways through which these companies can strengthen their stand in the market and increase their revenues throughout the forecast tenure. The global Application Platform as a Service market report analyzes and researches the growth status that are projected in the regions such as North America, Asia Pacific, Europe, the Middle East & Africa and Latin America.The research report of the global Application Platform as a Service market also contains an in-depth estimate of competitive landscape. It explores the business and marketing methods of the overall market for the upcoming years. Along with this, the research report also contains an analysis of the current improvements and future plans of the firms in order to understand the course of the players in the near future.Enquiry before Buying:
PR-Inside.com: 2019-01-12 09:49:34

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42 joseph street, Portcarling P0B 1J0 , Muskoka, Ontario, CanadaCEO16317214201

With the rising demand for petroleum products and newer technologies, there has been a growth in oil and gas extraction. Increasing number of oil and gas projects globally are driving the pipeline installation and construction. Hence the rise in a number of pipelines covering long distance are fitted with a number of valves to regulate hydrocarbon flow. Moreover, development of new refineries and upgrading existing refineries are driving the demand for industrial valves.According to the report by Research Report Insights (RRI), a massive boost in offshore oil and gas exploration in countries like Brazil, Peru and Argentina are fueling the demand for industrial valves. Moreover, Total S.A., a petroleum refining company has decided to spend half a billion dollars to develop shale gas field in Argentina, this presents an opportunity for industrial valve manufacturers. More such projects are taking place in diverse regions such as Europe and North America. Russia and Poland are also increasingly investing in subsea exploration. Hence, installation of subsea stations in both the countries are expected to drive demand for industrial valves. The market, which is estimated to reach US$ 59 Bn value by the end of 2017, is poised to showcase a CAGR of 3.7% and bring in US$ 87.6 Bn by 2027-end. In terms of volume, as well, the global industrial valve market is expected to register a 4% CAGR over the forecast period.Request for Report Sample: https://www.researchreportinsights.com/report/sample/110114781/Industrial-Valves-Market However, oil and gas industry is the largest end user of industrial valve, is witnessing uncertainty due to high oil prices. This factor is impacting the growth of industrial valve market.Advances in industrial valve technology is at more evolutionary paceAlthough evolving at a slow pace, innovation in industrial valves have significantly contributed to the access and process of iron ore, gold, oil and gas. New power plants to operate at higher temperatures and pressures are being developed. Moreover, oil and gas industry is also involving in new offshore projects, hence these industries require effectively operating products. Here, pressure relief valves which are used to control and limit pressure in a system are playing a major role.Manufacturers and major players are using advanced technologies to make these pressure relief valves more effective. With help of emerging technologies the valves are able to remotely sense relieving pressure, are well-balanced against back pressure, are bigger and lighter in weight and are cost-effective. New industrial valves are also being developed to meet changing demands for change in weight and size requirements, to adjust with higher temperatures and pressures and emission standards.Request for Report Discount: https://www.researchreportinsights.com/report/discount/110114781/Industrial-Valves-Market Increasing number of partnerships and mergers & acquisitions in industrial valve marketManufacturers and major companies are entering into partnerships and mergers and acquisitions to provide services, increase capacity and develop innovative products. For instance, Denholm Valvecare, a valves provider to global oil and gas industry has entered into a partnership with IBOR Valves to enhance its manufacturing and designing capabilities.Another deal has been signed between Maersk Oil and SIMMONS EDECO. As per the contract, SIMMONS EDECO will provide valve and wellhead maintenance service for offshore wells of Maersk Oil in Danish North Sea. The company will also refurbish valves and wellhead maintenance equipment.An increasing number of projects are taking place in oil and gas industry. As per the U.S. Energy Information Administration report on International Energy Outlook 2016, shale gas production included more than 50% of natural gas production, is expected to reach 79 bcf/d by 2040. This will lead to more construction in oil and gas sector resulting in increasing demand for industrial valves.Report Analysis: https://www.researchreportinsights.com/report/rd/110114781/Industrial-Valves-Market The report further profiles key players in the global industrial valve market which include Flowserve Corporation, Emerson, AVK Holding A/S, KSB Aktiengesellschaft, Zhejiang FuGe Fluid control equipment CO.,LTD ., Cameron International Corp., Neway Valve, LESER GmbH & Co. KG Hamburg, CIRCOR International, Inc., KITZ Corporation, ABO valve, Tecofi, Guichon Valves, Robvalve, Polna corp. s.r.o, Gunric Valves (Pty) Ltd, John Mills Valves, Achech Europe, Orion Valves, Exotica Valves.
PR-Inside.com: 2019-01-12 05:31:37

Digital marketing gurus and online leaders including Google, Yelp, Uber, Lenovo and Philips come together this March 15, 2019, at the eCOM360 conference, in Riga, Latvia, to share their expertise.RIGA, LATVIA / ACCESSWIRE / January 11, 2019 / The victory march of eCommerce has irreversibly transformed the global economic landscape and continues full-speed ahead, with billions of people buying and selling daily online. In tandem, digital marketing has taken the entrepreneurial world by storm. It is no secret that successful businesses focus their marketing efforts online, reaching out to ever-growing, captive online audiences. Yet, success is not at the hands of everyone.eCOM360  a conference dedicated to eCommerce and its trends, taking place on March 15th, 2019 at the Radisson Blu Latvija hotel, in Riga, Latvia, focuses on the contrastive analysis of successful e- business practices across both the western and the eastern hemispheres. The conference brings together the world's biggest online players, featuring the likes of Google, Yelp, Uber, Lenovo and Philips to name a few, along with renowned digital marketing experts eager to share their expertise and experiences. ''The theme of the conference is the east meets the west,'' says Glebs Vrevsky, eCOM360 chief organiser, ''The idea is to learn from the similarities and differences between the two hemispheres, through the eyes of successful leaders within the eCommerce realm''.The development of eCommerce and digital marketing between the western and the eastern hemisphere is quite spectacular. The basis is the same between the two hemispheres and certainly the objectives are very similar; but due to the geographical locations, the multitude of cultures, religions and so forth, the business and marketing challenges faced by each hemisphere are worlds apart. Yet, both have succeeded in developing billion-dollar industries, of which eCOM360 key speakers are testimony.Concurrently, the differing developmental eCommerce environments are filled with marketing treasures under-explored and under-utilised by the opposing hemispheres.Consider this  recent data shows that as little as 10% of all online purchases made by Americans are on their mobile phones. This figure is expected to explode, reaching a predicted 53.9% over the next years, fundamentally reshaping America, and tangibly impacting western eCommerce practices.Meanwhile, China recorded 790 billion mobile payments back in 2016, outperforming the US 11x that year. In fact, mobile shopping is the most popular retail channel in China, surpassing even in-store purchases.While the scaling of mobile eCommerce in the US does not mirror China's example, there are lessons to be learnt on everything from infrastructure to marketing at every level, that are just too valuable to at best  miss, or at worst  ignore.Understanding the global landscape is paramount. No longer are pivotal shifts measured in decades  the market is increasingly becoming more dynamic with game-changing innovations sprouting on a yearly basis and, while falling behind won't necessarily impair your business in the short term; it will certainly do so in the long term, limiting your opportunity for growth. Businesses cannot afford to pass on the knowledge gained through trial and error by their eCommerce counterparts, especially when unique and valuable insights are offered on a silver platter at eCOM360.Ajit Sivadasan, VP/GM Global eCommerce at Lenovo, one of the speakers at eCOM360, will share Lenovo's success story and how it grew from a small enterprise in China to a large multi-billion business by selling their products online in more than 100 countries.Another featured speaker is Rudi Anggono, Head of Creative + Strategic Visioning at Google, who will share his experience, talking about the reverberating impact and the importance of creative decisions, offering a comparative analysis of this impact in different geographical sectors.Guest participants from China, the EU SME Centre, will also hold a unique workshop about WeChat, one of China's most active apps, to demonstrate how companies are using this app to market themselves in China. They will address the mind-blowing effect it has on businesses as a driving sales force, through engagement with WeChat users, the best ways to get the most out of WeChat and why it is working so well.eCOM360 is a must visit for everyone in eCommerce. The conference provides its attendees not only with the opportunity to listen to the world's most successful people in the business, who will share their success stories and methodologies; but it also provides attendees with the opportunity to partake in various workshops alongside some of the world's most successful companies, engaging directly with the speakers and representatives.eCOM360 attendees will be able to gain more insight by communicating directly with these digital gurus, asking questions and learning from their valuable experiences and know-how.Contact Info:Name: Jane WalshEmail: Send EmailOrganization: Press AuthorityAddress: 447 Broadway 2nd Floor, New York, New York 10013, United StatesSOURCE: Jane Walsh
Thus we have a constant flood of people who wish to travel from their lousy economies to our growing one. But we cannot bear the costs of their arrival, as they add to the burdens of health care and other welfare, and it is clear that embedded among them are terrorists and criminal gang members.
PR-Inside.com: 2019-01-12 10:02:50

In terms of value, the global cocoa market is anticipated to expand at a CAGR of 3.4 % during the forecast period and is expected to account for US$ 14,572 Mn by 2026 end. Demand for dark chocolates is high due to health benefits such as reducing hypertension, reducing symptoms of chronic fatigue syndrome, protecting against sunburn, promoting heart health etc. Dark chocolate is also a powerful source of antioxidants, which includes polyphenols, flavanols, catechins and others. These properties of dark chocolate is expected to drive the market growth over the forecast period. The global cocoa market is currently witnessing major opportunity like application of cocoa in cosmetics and pharmaceuticals industries. As a result of increasing awareness of healthy skin and health benefits of cocoa, application in these industries is expected to witness robust increase over the forecast period. Global cocoa market has been segmented by application which includes confectionery, functional food, bakery items, beverages, cosmetics and pharmaceutical. Among all the application segment confectionery segment is projected to account relatively high CAGR of 3.6% during the forecast period.Report For Sample with Table of Contents@ https://www.researchreportinsights.com/report/sample/110114774/Cocoa-Market On the basis of product type, the global cocoa market has been segmented into cocoa powder, cocoa butter and cocoa liquor. Cocoa liquor segment is expected to represent largest share in terms of value. Revenue contribution of this segment to the global cocoa market is expected to increase at a CAGR of 3.1 % from 2016 to 2026.The global cocoa acid market is further segmented on the basis of process which includes Natural and Dutch. Among both the segments Dutch type was dominant in terms of value and it registered a significant value share of 73.9% in 2016. Awareness among adult consumers regarding the various health benefits associated with dark chocolate has been witnessing a significant rise in the recent past, and is projected to continue to drive revenues of the global cocoa market in future.Request For Report Discount@ https://www.researchreportinsights.com/report/discount/110114774/Cocoa-Market On the basis of region, the global cocoa market is segmented into North America, Latin America, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, Asia Pacific Excluding Japan, the Middle East & Africa and Japan. Among all the regions, the market in Western Europe recorded highest CAGR of 4.1% in terms of value and in terms of revenue share at 34.8 % in 2016, followed by North America. While APAC also gained normal market share owing to high demand from India and China that accounted for 14.1% market share in 2016 and is expected to grow up to 14.3 % market share by 2026.Key players in the cocoa market includes The Barry Callebaut Group, The Hershey Company, Nestle S.A., Cargill Incorporated, Puratos Group, Cemoi, Mars, Incorporated, Blommer Chocolate Company, Meiji Holdings Company, Ltd. Carlyle Cocoa, Jindal Cocoa and United Cocoa Processor.Report Analysis@ https://www.researchreportinsights.com/report/rd/110114774/Cocoa-Market
PR-Inside.com: 2019-01-12 09:14:42

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42 joseph street, Portcarling P0B 1J0 , Muskoka, Ontario, CanadaCEO16317214201

Research Report Insights (RRI) delivers key insights on the global Bulk terminal market in its latest report titled, Bulk Terminal Market: Global Industry Analysis and Opportunity Assessment, 20162026. The report projects the market size on the basis of bulk volume throughputs from global sea ports. According to the report, total volume throughput from sea ports is projected to expand at an estimated CAGR of 3.2% over the forecast period. The bulk volume throughput implicates the loading and unloading of unpacked bulk commodities like coal, grain, iron ore, forest products, etc. from barges and vessels.The Bulk terminal market is classified into two main segments - dry bulk and liquid bulk based on bulk type. The dry bulk segment is expected to hold 62.9% share in bulk terminal volume throughput, while liquid bulk terminal holds the remaining share. The dry bulk segment is expected to grow at a CAGR of 3.2% with coal and iron ore holding over 52% of share in terms of volume throughput. The other sub-segment of dry bulk, which include minor bulk commodity (minerals, agricultural bulks, forest products, manufactures, etc.) is expected to hold 37.68% volume share in dry bulk volume throughput during 2016.Request for Report Sample: https://www.researchreportinsights.com/report/sample/110114773/Bulk-Terminal-Market The liquid bulk segment is expected to grow with a CAGR of 3.4% during 2016-2026 with oil sub-segment holding 86% of share in liquid bulk volume throughput by the end of 2026. The oil sub-segment involves both crude oil as well as finished petroleum products.Global Bulk Terminal Market Volume throughput expected to increase at a CAGR of 3.2% over 20162026, with China driving the overall market of sea trades: RRIRequest for Report Discount: https://www.researchreportinsights.com/report/discount/110114773/Bulk-Terminal-Market Increasing global population and enhanced affordability is expected to raise the consumption of bulk commodities and therefore drive the bulk terminal market growth. Also, emphasis on increasing industrial productivity is expected to be one of the key drivers of the trade through bulk terminals. The increasing trade of grain and concentrated agricultural productivity is expected to push the dry bulk commodity market. Whereas, rising environmental concerns and adoption of cleaner energy approach by major coal consumer countries is expected to reduce the rate of coal consumption.APEJ is expected to remain the key region for bulk terminal market accounting for major share in bulk terminal volume throughput. China is one of the largest consumer of bulk commodities and it is expected to hold majority of share approx. 50% in APEJ. It is estimated to remain dominant in the market in terms of volume throughput. While developing economies like India are expected to cater high growth opportunities with a healthy CAGR of 4.8% during forecast period.Prevailing trade of grain and minor bulk commodities in North America and Latin America is expected to be the main driving factor of bulk commodity volume throughput in the regions. The cumulative grain volume throughputs in Latin America and North America is expected to mark over 383 million tonnes in 2016. Expanding shale oil and gas production in U.S and Gulf of Mexico is predicted to cater to high growth opportunities in North America liquid bulk volume throughput, where gas sub-segment of liquid bulk is expected to grow with a CAGR of 3.6% between 2016 and 2026. The expansion project of Panama Canal is also expected to lever up the terminal market in Latin America.With the development of Suez Canal, the trade through Europe and MEA should increase catering diversified growth opportunities of trans-shipment on the ports lying in proximity of Suez Canal.Slowdown in global economic growth has adversely affected the global seaborne trade in past few years. Also, overcapacity condition raised due to lower freight rates in shipping industry is expected to affect the bulk terminal market during initial years of forecast. Transformations of industrial production and international trades in major bulk consuming countries like China, Japan, Russia, India, and Australia are expected to stabilize the market by the end of 2018. The overall bulk terminal market is hence expected to grow with higher CAGR post 2018.Report Analysis: https://www.researchreportinsights.com/report/rd/110114773/Bulk-Terminal-Market Key playersChina Merchants Port Holdings Co. Ltd. and DaLian Port (PDA) Company Limited, Thessaloniki Port Authority SA., Global Ports Investments PLC., Ports America, Inc. APM Terminals, Euroports Holdings S.a.r.l., Puerto Ventanas S.A., HES International B.V., Yilport Holding Inc, DP World Ltd., Noatum Ports, S.L.U., and Ultramar Group
PR-Inside.com: 2019-01-12 09:12:08

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42 joseph street, Portcarling P0B 1J0 , Muskoka, Ontario, CanadaCEO16317214201

Branded generics are pharmaceutical drug molecules that are bioequivalent to original products. However, they are marketed under a companys brand to differentiate itself from the generic products. Branded generics or generics require low research or development costs compared to the branded prescription products. Companies, which operate in branded generic business invest majorly in marketing the product and to create the brand awareness. Companies are seeing growing opportunity in the branded generics market owing to the higher deemed in the emerging countries. The global branded generics market has been segmented on the basis of therapeutic application, drug class, formulation type, distribution channels, and region.The global branded generics market has been estimated to be valued at US$ 193.3 Bn in 2015, and is expected to expand at a 7.3% CAGR over the forecast period (2026).Request for Report Sample: https://www.researchreportinsights.com/report/sample/110114772/Branded-Generics-Market Market DynamicsGrowth of the global branded generics market is mainly driven by increasing affordability of branded generics owing to fierce competition, favourable demographics across the regions, and companies differential pricing for these products in accordance with geographic needs. These are expected to drive the market over forecasted period.Other prominent factors driving growth of the market are adoption of branded generics by large scale pharmacy chains in European countries, integrated supply chain, growing captive sales force and conducive regulatory environment in developing countries.However, price pressure from payers such as government and insurance agencies, misuse of Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategies (REMS), pay for delays, and commoditization of generics are the factors suggestive of barriers to growth of global branded generics market.Request for Report Discount: https://www.researchreportinsights.com/report/discount/110114772/Branded-Generics-Market Large players in this market are employing strategies like Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A) and maintaining distribution agreements with strong local players in various regions to consolidate their market position.Market Segmentation by Therapeutic ApplicationBased on therapeutic application, the market has been segmented into oncology, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, neurology, gastrointestinal diseases, dermatology diseases, analgesic and anti-inflammatory, and others. In terms of value, others segment is estimated to account for more than 41% market share in global branded generics market, by 2026 end.Market Segmentation by Drug ClassAccording to drug class, the market has been segmented into alkylating agents, antimetabolites, hormones, anti-hypertensive, lipid lowering drugs, anti-depressants, anti-psychotics, anti-epileptics and others. Others drug class segment accounted for highest market share of 79.5% in 2015 and is expected to gain moderate market share over the forecast period to reach at the value US$ 330.6 Bn by 2026. Increasing demand for drugs is mainly attributed to the favourable market dynamics for branded generics across the developing countries or regions coupled with rising competition among existing players.Market Segmentation by Formulation TypeAccording to formulation type, the market has been segmented into orals, parenteral, topicals and others. Oral formulation type segment accounted for highest market share of 58.0% in 2015 and is expected to gain moderate market share over the forecast period to reach the value of US$ 241.3 Bn by 2026. Increasing demand for oral pharmaceutical formulations can be mainly attributed to the availability, affordability, and accessibility to these formulations.Market Segmentation By Distribution ChannelsOn the basis of distribution channels, the market has been segmented into hospital pharmacies, retail pharmacies, online pharmacies, and drug stores. Retail pharmacies followed by hospital pharmacies are the most preferred medium of distribution of branded generics across the regions. However, increasing consumer preference for online sales channel which provides mail order requests, are expected to impart significant competition to these traditional channels in some of the regions such as North America and Western Europe.Report Analysis: https://www.researchreportinsights.com/report/rd/110114772/Branded-Generics-Market Key RegionsThe global branded generics market has been segmented into seven major regions: North America, Latin America, Eastern Europe, Western Europe, Asia Pacific Excluding Japan (APEJ), Japan and the Middle East & Africa (MEA). In terms of value, the APEJ market has been estimated to dominate the global branded generics market in 2016, and is expected to expand at a CAGR of 10.0% over the forecast period. APEJ, MEA, and Latin America are expected to be the fastest growing markets among regional markets. APEJ market is expected to witness highest CAGR of 10.0% over the forecast period. In APEJ, cardiovascular diseases therapeutic application sub-segment is expected to grow at faster rate to reach the value US$ 21.1 Bn by 2026 end. Market in Japan is expected to exhibit healthy CAGR owing to growing acceptance of generics in the region.Key PlayersSome of the key players in the global branded generics market include Abbott Laboratories, Pfizer Inc., Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd., Novartis AG, Mylan N.V., Valeant Pharmaceuticals International, Inc., Aspen Pharmacare Holding Ltd., Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd.
the report incorporates a detailed and wide-ranging overview of the competitive landscape and administrative structure of the Global Solar EPC Market.

Solar EPC MARKET

PR-Inside.com: 2019-01-12 21:53:50

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Contact us:Mr. Sunny DenisContact No. +1-888-631-6977sales@researchnreports.comResearch N ReportsSales Manager8886316977

Full form of EPC is engineering, procurement, and construction. In solar industry EPC term is used for providing end-to-end solar services from designing the system, procuring the components and installing the project.Growing environmental concerns along with strict regulatory mandates to curb GHG emissions have allied industrial inclination to the integration of effective energy conservation measures which in turn will drive the global solar EPC market size. Photovoltaic deployments subject to the continuing restructuring and growth across the energy industry is set witness an appreciable growth. Promising government initiatives including subsidies, FiT, investment tax credits and tax rebates have instituted a auspicious business scenario.Solar EPC market study gives an exclusive understanding of the topic. It figures out the ways in which the organizations can strengthen their stand in the market and rise their revenues in the future years. It also tries to hold the important methodologies. The main drivers, opportunities, difficulties and the upcoming market trends are explained to the audience for a better understanding. Likewise, the key products, end users, applications and technological details are highlighted in.Request for A Sample Copy of This Report @Company profiled in this report:Trina, Canadian Solar, First Solar, SunPower, Enviromena, ALSA, Akuo Energy, Sterling and Wilson, Enerparc, Hanwha Q Cells, Conergy, TBEA, Bechtel, Yingli Green Energy, Juwi, Belectric, Eiffage, Topsun and SwinertonThe report examines the Solar EPC market from a global perspective while also analyzing it for key regional markets, including North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, and the Middle East & Africa. The report also identifies the main difficulties that can hinder the growth of the market.By understanding the latest grading in the Solar EPC market, the report plans some of the critical players who are working in the market. Recent improvements in the industry have been incorporated into the report, anticipating the future prospects of the market. It also mentions the various marketing channels that emerge on the world market. The wide range of research services ensures consistency with any organization as a business need.Enquiry before Buying:
The New York Times reports that in the days after President Trump fired James B. Comey as F.B.I. director, law enforcement officials became so concerned by the presidents behavior that they began investigating whether he had been working on behalf of Russia against American interests. The Times cites former law enforcement officials and others familiar with the investigation. They say the FBI investigation ended when Robert Mueller was appointed. If this specific charge remained under investigation, Mueller did the investigating.

If its true that the FBI undertook the investigation described by the Times, this tells us plenty about the FBI. It tells us nothing about Trump.

The Times doesnt say who at the FBI ordered the investigation into whether Trump was (in the Times words) knowingly working for Russia or had unwittingly fallen under Moscows influence. Presumably, it was Andrew McCabe, the Trump-hating partisan who is now under criminal investigation. After all, he was the number two man under Comey.

Others who might well have been involved were Peter Strzok, Lisa Page, and Jim Baker, then the general counsel of the FBI. Baker had met with Democratic Party lawyers to talk about allegations of Donald Trump-Russia collusion weeks before the 2016 election, and before the bureau secured a search warrant targeting Trumps campaign.

Clearly, Comeys cronies, anti-Trumpers all, were outraged that Trump had fired their guy. The investigation reported by the Times looks like an over-the-top method of striking back at Trump.

The Times tries to make it seem like there was more to it than that. Its source[s] for the story informed the Times that two events in connection with the Comey firing triggered the decision to investigate whether Trump was an agent of Russia (or its stooge). As discussed below, these events provide no rational basis for such an investigation. The FBIs reliance on them reveals its shocking bad faith.

The first bit of behavior was Trumps draft of a letter to Comey thanking him for his service and for having told him he was not a subject of the FBIs Russia investigation. Its obvious what Trump was trying to do here. He was trying to memorialize and gain maximum mileage from the fact that Comey had told Trump he wasnt a subject of the Russia investigation.

That Trump wanted it on the record that he wasnt a subject of the Russia investigation isnt evidence that he was working on behalf of the Russians. Any president who was operating under the cloud of collusion claims would want it known that he wasnt a subject of the investigation into collusion.

Trump wasnt trying to help Russia here, he was trying to help himself and his presidency. FBI leadership chose, in effect, to view Trumps insistent denial of guilt as evidence of guilt  a ridiculous inference.

The second bit of behavior was the presidents interview with NBC News in which he said that the firing of Comey was related to the Russia investigation. It almost certainly was. As noted, Trump was furious that Comey wouldnt say publicly what he had told him privately  that Trump wasnt a subject of the investigation. He might also still have been angry about the treatment of Michael Flynn.

But how does this demonstrate that Trump was acting on Russias behalf? If Trump were a Russian agent, why would he admit that the firing was about Russia when Rod Rosenstein was offering a different justification  Comeys handling of the Clinton email matter? I doubt this approach to espionage is part of the Russia spy handbook.

During the same interview, Trump said:

I might even lengthen out the investigation [by firing Comey], but I have to do the right thing for the American people. [Comey] is the wrong man for that position.

Thus, in the very interview the FBI relied on, Trump made it clear that the firing of Comey did not mean the end, or even the shortening, of the investigation into Russian involvement in the 2016 election and possible collusion between the Russians and the campaign. At best, the interview was a pretext for going after Trump out of revenge for the Comey firing.

The deep state is real. Jack Goldsmith has acknowledged as much. It is also deeply partisan and utterly vicious. The Times story is yet another reminder of this sad reality.

Finally, Id like to know whether top Justice Department officials outside of the FBI knew about this investigation. Rod Rosenstein, in particular.

Were not likely to find out. Those who leaked this story to the Times dont want us to know.
Democrats insist that William Barr, the presidents nominee for Attorney General, must recuse himself from the Mueller investigation because he wrote a memorandum attacking one of the legal theories Mueller might consider as part of his investigation. But Democrats dont have the power to make this stick. Mueller can be confirmed without making any promises or concessions to them.

But now comes word of facts that might cause some Republicans to call on Barr to recuse himself. Earlier this week, Sen. Lindsey Graham, the new chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, told reporters that in his conversation with Barr he was surprised to learn that Mueller attended Barrs daughters weddings and that their wives attend the same Bible study.

These facts probably shouldnt require Barr to recuse himself. As far as has been revealed, the relationship between Barr and Mueller is a casual social one, and may have more to do with their wives than with themselves.

In addition, Mueller isnt investigating Barr or events related to Barr. One law professor told the Washington Examiner: The prosecutors oversight of a subordinate is not like a judges relationship with a lawyer or party, where you need a high degree of detachment, neutrality, and objectivity.

Compare this to the relationship between Mueller and James Comey. They are more than just social friends. The two were comrades-in-arms, having both participated in the famous hospital bedside intervention to make sure then-Attorney General John Ashcroft didnt renew measures to protect American security.

Moreover, Mueller is investigating matters relating to Comey and, apparently, his firing. Its possible that Mueller will have to judge Comeys credibility.

Yet, as far as we know, Mueller has not recused himself from aspects of his investigation relating to Comey. Nor did Rod Rosenstein recuse himself, even though he was involved in the decision to fire Comey.

Nonetheless, Barrs relationship with Mueller might make some GOP Senators nervous. If a few Republicans demand that Barr commit to recusing himself from overseeing Mueller, Barr would have to agree in order to get 50 votes.

But if Barr promises to recuse himself, Trump might withdraw his nomination. We know from the Jeff Sessions experience that Trump expects his Attorney General, not a subordinate, to oversee Mueller.

The obvious question is whether, when Trump selected Barr, he knew about Barrs relationship with Mueller. And if not, why not?
Democrats now freely display the sort of anti-Catholic bigotry that JFK was thought to have vanquished in the 1960 presidential campaign. As they have done with so much of their history, the Democrats have deposited JFK and the 1960 campaign down the memory hole.

I wrote about the anti-Catholic bigotry on display in the Senate Judiciary Committee in 2017. It was the subject of my City Journal column The unfunniest senator (that was Minnesota Senator Al Franken, before the fall). At the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on Amy Coney Barretts nomination to the Seventh Circuit, Senators Dick Durbin and Dianne Feinstein conducted a mini-inquisition of Barretts religious views. Do you consider yourself an orthodox Catholic? Durbin asked. Feinstein concluded her questioning by telling Barrett that the [Catholic] dogma lives loudly within you, and thats of concern. They all but asked Barrett whether she is now or ever has been a member of the Catholic Church.

Their performance distracted attention from then Frankens own McCarthy-like performance. Also a member of the committee, Franken questioned Barrett about a speech that she had given to an extreme right group. Barrett acknowledged that she had been paid by the Alliance Defending Freedom to give a speech on constitutional interpretation to Christian law students in the ADFs Blackstone Legal Fellowship program. The ADF is a prominent Christian legal-rights organization that litigates freedom-of-religion claims on behalf of parties such as Masterpiece Cakeshopa case decided by the Supreme Court at the end of its term last year.

Noting that the ADF had recently been designated an anti-LGBT hate groupby the left-wing hate cult known as the Southern Poverty Law Center, that isFranken attacked Barrett as unworthy of confirmation. Now I question your judgment, Franken told her. The root word of judgment is judge, he helpfully added.

You have a long history of believing your religious beliefs should prevail, California Senator Dianne Feinstein told Barrett during the confirmation hearing. When you read your speeches, the conclusion one draws is that the dogma lives loudly within you, and thats of concern when you come to big issues that large numbers of people have fought for years in this country.

The Democrats bigotry could be turned against an observant member of any major faith. Their bigotry is nevertheless almost entirely instrumental. It is only to be used against Republicans/conservatives. An observant Catholic judicial nominee who subscribed to the orthodoxies of left-wing politics would be left untouched. Indeed, his or her faith would likely be adduced to his or her credit.

Via Mark Hemingway on Twitter, our attention was directed last month to the Catholic News Agency story Judicial nominee faces Senate scrutiny over Knights of Columbus membership. The CNA story returns us to the Senate Judiciary Committee in the matter of Brian C. Buescher, an Omaha-based lawyer nominated by President Trump to sit on the United States District Court for the District of Nebraska. Hemingway called out Senators Hirono and Harris for their appalling behavior.

Appalling is right, but Hirono and Harris are themselves appalling and their behavior derives from Democratic Party orthodoxy. In this case their behavior has the incidental benefit of illuminating the landscape in which we operate. Make no mistake: Hirono and Harris couldnt care less about the fate of some Nebraska federal district court judicial nominee. They are engaged in preparation of the battle space for future fights and/or in marking out their own niche in the Democratic universe.

The freedom with which prominent Democrats wield their bigotry for political purposes is nevertheless disgusting. Washington Free Beacon editor Matt Continetti rightly condemns the The Outrageous Assault on the Knights of Columbus. This is an excellent column that illustrates the uses to which the Democrats put their bigotry. To get away with this kind of behavior has only one condition. You must be a Democrat.

NRs Alexandra DeSanctis wonders: Are Democrats Testing a Future Strategy against Amy Coney Barrett? As Desanctis herself notes, however, the Dems tried it out on Barrett herself: This should sound familiar. In the fall of 2017, Coney Barrett faced similar scrutiny from Democratic senators as a result of her Catholic faith, and some of their questioning centered around her membership in a small group called People of Praise, which has many practicing Catholic members.
We have just entered the eleventh year of the Obama Department of Labor, Alex Acosta presiding. I wrote here about how Acosta has preserved the radical Obama administration agenda in employment discrimination law, especially when it comes to manipulating statistics to find pay discrimination where none exists.

I have also documented Acostas refusal to disturb pro-illegal immigrant policies imposed by the Obama administration through the Department of Labor. President Trump may or may not get funding for a wall, but its entirely within his power to get a Secretary of Labor who wont encourage more illegal entry through policies that promote the interests of illegal immigrants. He just needs to fire Acosta.

Today, I want to discuss another area in which Acosta has preserved highly controversial left-wing Obama policy  LGBT issues and, in particular, the war over who uses which bathroom.

The right of individuals to use bathrooms, changing rooms, and showers consistent with the gender they opt into at a given time, as opposed to their actual biological gender, was a centerpiece of the Obama LGBT agenda crafted by Chai Feldblum at the EEOC. The Obama Labor Department did its share to create such a right.

Its Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) issued a rule requiring federal contractors to allow workers to use bathrooms, changing rooms, showers, and similar facilities consistent with the gender with which the workers identify.

The Obama Labor Department also enlisted its Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) in its war on biologically-based bathroom use. It published A Guide to Restroom Access for Transgender Workers. This guide instructed employers that a person who identifies as a man should be permitted to use mens restrooms, and a person who identifies as a woman should be permitted to use womens restrooms.

Why is this a matter of occupational health and safety? OSHA explained:

Restricting employees to using only restrooms that are not consistent with their gender identity, or segregating them from other workers by requiring them to use gender-neutral or other specific restrooms, singles those employees out and may make them fear for their physical safety. Bathroom restrictions can result in employees avoiding using restrooms entirely while at work, which can lead to potentially serious physical injury or illness.

OSHA did not explain how using a gender-neutral restroom or one set aside for transgender individuals is more detrimental to their safety than using a restroom frequented by people of the opposite biological gender. And OSHA said nothing about the possibility that sharing a restroom with a man (biologically speaking) will cause female employees to avoid using restrooms.

Alex Acosta could have reversed the OFCCP policy and the OSHA guidance. He has not. Nor, to my knowledge, has he made any effort to do. The OFCCP rule and the OSHA guidance remain on the books. They are now Trump administration policy.

Then, theres the legal question of whether federal anti-discrimination law protects against employment discrimination based on sexual preference/orientation. The Obama administration argued that it does. The Trump Justice Department argues that it doesnt. (The EEOC, under Chai Feldblum, continued to argue that federal law protects gays and lesbians against employment discrimination, even after the Justice Department took the opposite view).

Where does Acostas Department of Labor come out on this question? It continues to uphold the Obama/Feldblum position.

According to OFCCP, employment discrimination generally exists where an employer treats you, as an employee or job applicant, less favorably because of your sexual orientation. . . OFCCP also takes the position that sex discrimination includes discrimination because of an employees gender identity.

Theres a case that federal law should protect individuals from discrimination based on their sexual orientation. But Congress has never taken this step. Attempts to infer a prohibition on employment discrimination against gays and lesbians from the language of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act constitute judicial activism at its worst.

The Trump administration has rejected such attempts, but Alex Acosta is not on board. Indeed, he adheres to the radical pro-LGBT position of the Obama administration Labor Department across-the-board. Nothing has changed at the DOL in this regard.

Has anyone at the White House noticed?
Commentary >. Kathryn Lopez

Knights of Columbus are about service, not just pancakes
@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
The grant provides just under $900,000 for the first 18 months of a new program called Navigating Wealth-Building for the Residents of the Marshall-Ridley Choice Neighborhood. An additional four years of funding are guaranteed, according to a department of development news release.
Derrick Irish Houlihan, 44, of Philadelphia, was sentenced to 2-to-6-years in in prison after he pleaded guilty to a charge of conspiracy to engage in possession with intent to deliver heroin in connection with incidents that occurred in Cheltenham in December 2016.
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A Post-Native Perspective

At my house, we do this thing we call Sunday Supper. On around Wednesday or Thursday, Jenny, who had a celebrated career as a Chicago chef,  Read more
Bolton's pronouncements were the first public confirmation from the administration that the pace of the drawdown had changed since Trump's announcement in mid-December that U.S. troops are "coming back now." Trump faced widespread criticism from allies about his decision, including that he was abandoning the Kurds in the face of Turkish threats. Officials said at the time that although many details of the withdrawal had not yet been finalized, they expected American forces to be out by mid-January.
BANFF, Alberta  Im not even halfway up an ephemeral ice wall in Banff National Park before I find myself, quite literally, on a slippery slope.

To my right is a sinewy gorge known as Johnston Canyon and the snow-covered hiking path from which I came. To my left are stunning pillars of frozen river water that blanket a craggy 100-foot cliff. I, of course, am precariously affixed to said cliff, and Im clinging for dear life.

Ive come to this unspoiled spot to take a stab at ice climbing, but Im beginning to feel like some reject from the Marvel Universe with my hands and feet sporting spiky weapons that Im not quite sure how to use.

"Kick your crampon into the ice like youre angry," my teacher, Larry Shiu, screams from down below.

I do as Im told, and frozen water crystals tumble into the riverbed. My newly firm attachment means Im now closer to the radiatorlike wall, but I refuse to let the finger-tingling temperature get to me. I need to focus on the task at hand: hook my ice ax into a higher perch and continue my vertical march upward.

Shiu tells me to think of the ax like a fly-fishing rod.

"Flick your wrist," he shouts as I sink the tool into the blue-gray ice, allowing me the leverage I need to push onward and upward. I quickly gain confidence and race to the top where, harnessing the power of my newly weaponized extremities, I pause to take in the full panorama.

Playground for climbers

My journey into  and up  this stunning canyon began a few days back with a flight to Calgary, an oil-rich city of 1.2 million in the province of Alberta. As my plane landed, all I could see was a dense cloud of white, as if a marshmallow puff of snow had been smushed up against the once-golden prairie. It took a 75-mile drive west to find the Canada of lore, where toothy Rocky Mountain peaks poke out over evergreen forests and fairy-tale turquoise lakes.

Banff is Canadas oldest national park and a playground for climbers, boasting dozens of pristine ice routes, most of which are easily accessed from local roads. Add one of the longest seasons (December to early April) and most ideal climates for ice climbing, and you begin to understand why the area is regarded by many as the best place in the world to try this increasingly popular sport.

A 2017 report from the Outdoor Foundation found that outdoor climbing was one of the five fastest-growing adventure sports, with ice climbing forming a sizable chunk of that growth (thanks, in part, to cheaper and more widely available equipment). Its popularity has soared by more than 20 percent over the past three years, and theres even talk of making it an official sport in the Winter Olympics.

Ive come to Banff to see what all the fuss is about on a two-day experiential course with Yamnuska Mountain Adventures (prices starting at $150 a day). But things arent going as glowingly as planned.

"Ive got good news and bad news," Shiu tells me after my first day. "The good news is that youre stronger than you look. The bad news is that your technique is crap."

Speed limits

I rest my head for the night in a plush bed at the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel, a castlelike affair built in the 1880s to lure vacationers westward along the Canadian Pacific Railway, before heading out to the ice the following day, determined to right my wrongs.

Johnston Canyon is a sharply hewn river valley lined with quaking aspens and lanky lodgepole pines. To get back to the ice wall, I have to crunch snow for about 45 minutes, walking like a cowboy to avoid daggering my pant leg with the razor-sharp crampons on my boots.

Along the way, I ask Shiu what went wrong yesterday, explaining that I seem to be much more adept at rock climbing.

"Rock climbing is usually easier to pick up because you just use your feet and hands to grab and go," he explains. "In ice climbing, you have to figure out how to swing your ax and kick your crampons into the ice, so theres a bigger learning curve."

Shiu suggests that I work on maintaining a perfect triangle on the ice, with my feet spread wide and my ice tool above my head in the center. "This is the most stable body position," he says. "When you get the three points fixed, you have one more ice tool that is free to swing higher and build your next triangle."

If you can suspend your disbelief for a few hours, your reward is not only an intimate connection with nature, but also the chance to be a D-list superhero, at least for a while.
The Apostle Paul is often considered to be the most important person  after Jesus  in the history of Christianity.

Of the 27 books in the New Testament of the Bible, 13 are attributed to Paul, and approximately half of another  Acts of the Apostles  deals with Pauls life and works.

By his own account, Paul was the best Jew and the best Pharisee of his generation and later claimed to be the best apostle of Christ, although he attributed his excellence to the grace of God.

His letters have had an enormous influence on Christianity and secure his place as one of the greatest religious leaders of all time.

Yes, quite a resume and guess what  we followed in his footsteps.

"We?"

That would be a 43-person group from Bethel Lutheran Church in Rochester who, indeed, followed in Pauls footsteps during an October trip overseas.

It was one of those "trips of a lifetime," a trip led by Bethel Pastor Anjanette Bandel and her husband, Warren Bandel.

Dream trip

"The opportunity to travel to Greece had been one of my dreams as a pastor due to the fact that the Apostle Paul is credited as to writing letters that make up one-third of the New Testament biblical canon," Anjanette Bandel said.

"Traveling to Greece brought to life his letters when we stood among the ruins in Ephesus, Philippi and Corinth."

Oh my, yes.

The sites visited included Athens, Corinth, Mykonos, Ephesus, Patmos, Crete, Santorini, Delphi, Kalambaka and Thessaloniki. Oh yes, this adventure also featured a three-day cruise to the Greek Isles, which included a brief stop in Turkey.

We traveled with Nawas International, a travel agency specializing in religious tours. This one was based around Pauls footsteps as recorded in the Book of Acts (chapters 16-21).

The logistics didnt allow us to visit places in the same order as Paul, but that was no big deal. But to think that Paul once walked, taught and preached in the same cities we visited was, yes, a very big deal.

Corinth, Athens

We flew from the Twin Cities to Amsterdam and finally to Athens. The first stop was Corinth, where it is believed that Paul visited in 51 or 52 A.D.

Corinth is also said to have been the most important city in the days of St. Paul.

Back then, the church he founded in Corinth was turning away from God and Paul subsequently wrote two of his New Testament letters, urging them to turn back.

We also visited the ruins of the ancient city where Paul worked with Aquila and Priscilla, and then saw the Royal Palace and the Temple of Zeus.

What a day  we went back to Athens and climbed Mars Hill and saw the Acropolis and equally famous Parthenon.

Mars Hill is where Paul addressed the Areopagus, the town council that gave its name to this spot. The view from Mars Hill is one of the best in Athens.

Obviously, things are much different now than they were 2,000 years ago, but back then the city was lined with a bunch of pagan shrines, and it took a lot of guts for Paul to tell the Athenians to, in effect, "back off."

Yikes, the first day was filled from start to finish, and that was the general theme for the rest of the trip.

Other highlights:

 In Piraeus, we boarded a cruise ship (Celestyal Cruises) for a three-day Aegean Sea cruise. The first stop was to Mykonos, which some call the St. Tropes of the Aegean. Mykonos had no connection to Paul, but picturesque? Yes indeed, especially a pair of iconic white windmills. Plenty of window shopping, boutiques and cafes.

 Turkey. We arrived at the Turkish resort of Kusadasi, and a shore excursion to the city of Ephesus. Saw the fabled Temple of Artemis, another Wonder of the Ancient World.

 Ephesus. Some of us will tell you that Ephesus was the top attraction of the tour, mainly because the ruins are in such great condition. This is where Paul preached once again about idol-worshiping, and started a near-riot in the Ephesus Theatre, one of the largest amphitheaters of its time.

 The Library of Celsius in Ephesus. Felt like we could all go in and check out a book.

 Sailed to the Island of Patmos, and a visit to the Monastery of St. John. It is here where the Apostle John received the inspiration to write the Book of Revelation. Just think.

 Heraklion, Crete, which, if you look at a map, is the southernmost part of the Greek Isles.

 Santorini. Ask anybody who has set foot in Santorini and they will tell you the same thing. Wow, breathtaking, with its rugged, volcanic cliffs and white houses. The view looking down to the bay from the town of is spectacular. More pictures were taken here than anywhere else.

 Piraeus, and the drive on the national highway through Thebes, Levadia and the picturesque village of Arachova. Greece is much more mountainous than I imagined. And scenic.

 A visit to Meteora and the "Hanging Monasteries." This is another spot where plenty of photos were taken. The monasteries, still in use today, are perched on top of unusual rock formations, like they are suspended in mid-air. One word, unbelievable.

 Philippi. This is where Anthony defeated Brutus and most important, where Paul first preached the Gospel in Europe.

 Thessaloniki. We visited the prison where St. Paul and Silas were imprisoned in 50 A.D. Very small.

 Also in Thessaloniki. On the outskirts we saw the "river" or small creek where Lydia was baptized. Why is this important? Lydia was the first Christian woman convert in Europe.

"A highlight for me," said Anjanette Bandel, "was time on the Greek Isle, Patmos. This is where the Gospel writer John, after receiving a vision from God, wrote the book of Revelation. The beauty of that setting and the church constructed on the site of his place of writing was truly holy ground.

"The book of Revelation is often given a misinterpretation of being scary, but is actually filled with hope of a new heaven and a new earth," she said.

"Looking at the gorgeous Aegean Sea and the cliffs that line the islands shore seemed to hold a glimpse of this future heaven."

What:Following in the Footsteps of St. Paul the Apostle. When:Oct. 9-19. Tourist:Nawas International. Hosts:Bethel Lutheran Pastor Anjanette Bandel and her husband Warren Bandel. There was a group of 43 travelers. Visits:Athens, Corinth, Mykonos, Ephesus, Patmos, Heraklion, Santorini, Delphi, Kalambaka, Meteora, Thessaloniki. Also featured a three-day. Raise to the Greek Isles and Turkey. Flights:From Minneapolis to Amsterdam to Athens. Returning, from Athens to Paris and Minneapolis. On way back, first flight from Paris was cancelled, resulting in a night layover in Paris. The 43-person group was split into three groups from a Paris, one went to Atlanta, one to Detroit and one non-stop to Minneapolis.
I first learned about sea urchins many decades ago snorkeling in the Florida Keys and touching one with long spines. Penetrating the skin on my finger, and breaking off the spine, it was in to stay. I recall getting advice that urine would help to relieve the pain, but it didnt.

Since that time, I have learned avoiding the spines is the best plan. Even doing so, when diving or snorkeling, occasional spine encounters will happen. So I learned it just takes time for the spines to dissolve, normally not causing any major problem.

Sea urchins are in the echinoderm family, which also includes starfish and brittle stars. They are found from a few feet to miles down in depth throughout all the oceans, with tropical waters being favored. There are hundreds of species, some with short spines, and some long. Much to my surprise, sand dollars are also a sea urchin.

Sea urchins, while looking rather immobile, do move by the aid of spines and tube feet. I recently picked up a short-spined urchin, put it on my hand and almost immediately felt the suction of dozens of tube feet adhering to my palm. I could turn it upside down and it would not drop off.

Going to retrieve my camera, I noticed once out of water the tube feet did not try attaching to me. Instead, the hundreds of spines on the body moved back and forth, presumably trying to move to water wherever it was.

The wall full of corals, sponges, and fish I wrote about last week also has hundreds of dark blackish-purple urchins with 4- to 9-inch spines. My daughter, Erin, commented that their numbers seem to have "increased significantly over the years," which I agreed with.

During the day, many of these large urchins can be seen tucked into coral indentations in the wall, something I assume they do for protection from predators. But, when I dive or snorkel the wall at night, they are out of their protected spots looking for food. Urchins feed primarily on algae growing on the surfaces they move over, and occasionally will take in slow-moving animals.

The mouth of most sea urchins is made up of five teeth or plates, with a fleshy, tongue-like structure. They are part of the five-fold symmetry urchins develop as they change from a free-floating larval form to settling on the ocean floor. The five sections are easy to see on the pincushion-like skeletal structure, which is often left intact after an urchin dies and spines drop off.

The outer surface of this skeleton, also called a "test," is where the spines and suction tubes were attached, and inner area is where digestive and reproductive systems were located. We sometimes find and collect these "skeletons" but they rarely last very long, as they are quite fragile.

We had not seen any urchin predation until this year when my snorkeling grandchildren twice witnessed unusual visitors to the wall, ocean triggerfish, feeding on urchins. Without predators, sea urchins dominate their environment, voiding it of kelp and other algae, as well as animals associated with those environments. Other major sea urchin predators include starfish, lobster, crabs, sea otters, and humans.

Sea urchins are considered a delicacy in many countries, especially Japan, where 80 percent of the global harvest is sent. There, reproductive organs of both male and female urchins, also called roe, provide culinary delights for millions.

I recall in the early 1980s, when on sabbatical in San Diego, I considered abandoning my teaching career and just diving for sea urchins. They often can bring more than $100 per pound.

Urchins also appeal to sea otters, which have mastered avoiding spine injury, and breaking open the hard shell to get into the edible organs of the urchins. And, it is sea otter recovery along the U.S. Pacific coast that has done most to improve ecosystem health there.

Although I havent done so yet, I may have to try some uni, the name for sea urchin roe, on my next visit to Ichi Tokyo with friend, Elise. And, for those tired of reading about sponges and urchins, I will be home to enjoy winter by the time this goes to print.
Columbia/Myrtle Beach Managing Editor

Andy Shain runs The Post and Courier's newsrooms based in Columbia and Myrtle Beach. He was editor of Free Times and has been a reporter and editor for newspapers in Charlotte, Columbia and Myrtle Beach.
The Post and Courier provides a forum for our readers to share their opinions, and to hold up a mirror to our community. Publication does not imply endorsement by the newspaper; the editorial staff attempts to select a representative sample of letters because we believe its important to let our readers see the range of opinions their neighbors submit for publication.
Extending the timeline further, national security adviser John Bolton said Sunday that the pullout was conditional on the defeat of the last remnants of the Islamic State and guarantees from Turkey that it would not attack Kurdish forces aligned with the United States.
Gregory Yee covers breaking news and public safety. He's a native Angeleno and previously covered crime and courts for the Press-Telegram in Long Beach, CA. He studied journalism and Spanish literature at the University of California, Irvine.
Watchdog/Public Service Editor

Glenn Smith is editor of the Watchdog and Public Service team and helped write the newspapers Pulitzer Prize-winning investigation, Till Death Do Us Part. Reach him securely on Signal at 843-607-0809 or by email at gsmith5@protonmail.com.
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The Trump administration is backing off its plan to use disaster relief funding to build a Mexican border wall due to pushback from members of both parties in Congress.

Officials in the White House told news outlets on Thursday that President Trump is considering the use of billions of dollars of Army Corps of Engineers funding to build his unpopular border wall, which has been deemed to be unnecessary and ineffective.

The Corps of Engineers funding was originally allocated by Congress for states and territories suffering from storm or wildfire damage but has not yet been spent. The affected areas are Puerto Rico, Florida, Texas, and California.

Trump came up with the idea as a way for him to avoid the need to obtain the approval of Congress in order to build his border wall.

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On Friday, after additional pushback and complaints from conservatives in Congress  as well as the Wall Street Journal  Trump said hes not looking to declare a national emergency for the border wall right now.

Trumps allies in Congress had denied that he is planning to divert disaster funding for the wall.

Ive spoken directly with the White House, Texas Rep. Kevin Brady, the ranking member on the House Ways and Means Committee, said in a tweet.

Trump, he wrote, Fully supports Corps funding to help Harvey communities rebuild/prevent future flooding.

Brady is referring to 2017s Hurricane Harvey in Houston, which inflicted $125 billion in damage, primarily from flooding. Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, also said Friday he opposes any reprogramming of Harvey disaster funds.

Basically what happened is that Trump and his advisers backtracked on the idea of diverting disaster funding after outcries from Republicans in the affected states.

For Trump to diverting disaster funding would mean real harm to many communities that are still recovering from storms and wildfires. It would also set an undesirable precedent for presidential use of money appropriated by Congress. It might also be unconstitutional, and would be subjected to legal challenges.

This is weaponizing disaster assistance funding, Craig Fugate, the former administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, said. Its using it for purposes to extract concessions or force issues that have nothing to do with a disaster.

On Friday several state governors criticized Trumps planned move, saying it would make their states more vulnerable.

For example, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, a conservative and Trump supporter, said he is against using hurricane funding for a Mexican border wall. Florida is still recovering from several hurricanes in the past few years, including Hurricane Michael, which hit the state in October and caused at least 60 deaths.

Puerto Rico Gov. Ricardo Rossello, still suffering from the devastating impacts of Hurricane Maria in 2017, said:

No wall should be funded on the pain and suffering of U.S. citizens who have endured tragedy and loss through a natural disaster.
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Former Trump campaign advisor Sam Nunberg believes its inevitable that his ex-boss will face impeachment and possible conviction.

In an interview with MSNBCs AM Joy on Saturday, Nunberg said he thinks Trumps biggest concern is impeachment and removal from office, and that the president has reason to be worried.

I think hes worried about the removal, being removed, the former Trump advisor said. I think its a foregone conclusion, personally, from a political point of view, that hes going to be impeached.

Video:

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Nunberg said:

I think hes worried about the removal, being removed. I think its a foregone conclusion, personally, from a political point of view, that hes going to be impeached.  The articles of impeachment, the issue of removal, I think you saw this early on with Romney. This wasnt a surprise to somebody like me. I dont think a Mitt Romney decided he wants to be a junior senator from Utah. Ironically, the key Senator I believe during the removal  or during the conviction  would be the senior senator from Utah.  Mike Lee. Because Mike Lee is a conservative, and basically, he would be the Barry Goldwater, I would say. With that said, I think that thats one of the reasons that hes going to end up declaring a national emergency on the wall because its his base and they want it built.

The White House is in panic mode

Its not just those outside 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue that recognize Donald Trump is in major trouble. The White House, too, seems to see the looming disaster ahead as they have hired 17 more lawyers to deal with the expected fallout from Robert Muellers final report.

As I wrote this week, even Trumps lawyer Rudy Giuliani seems to be terrified over the report, which is expected within the next couple of months. The former New York mayor said he expects Muellers findings to be horrific.

With his current lawyer and former campaign official expecting the worst case scenario to play out for Donald Trump, the White House has all the reason in the world to be panicking.

Follow Sean Colarossi on Facebook.
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Donald Trump is melting down in plain sight on Saturday after The New York Times reported late Friday that the FBI opened an investigation into whether he was working on behalf of Russia.

According to the report, In the days after President Trump fired James B. Comey as F.B.I. director, law enforcement officials became so concerned by the presidents behavior that they began investigating whether he had been working on behalf of Russia against American interests.

Let that sink in for a moment: The intelligence community is investigating the president of the United States for working on behalf of a foreign adversary.

Former FBI Assistant Director Frank Figliuzzi underscored the stunning way the evidence is being gathered  not just via the U.S. intelligence community but from intelligence shared from our allies.

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Video:

Former FBI assistant director explains how stunning it is that the U.S. intelligence community, with the cooperation of American allies, is building a case against Trump. #ctl #p2 #amjoy pic.twitter.com/nr8YmcbubY  PoliticusUSA (@politicususa) January 12, 2019

Trump is going ballistic on Twitter

As of this writing, Trump has already fired off more than 10 tweets Saturday morning, not only raging at The New York Times, as PoliticusUSAs Leo Vidal wrote a short time ago, but also claiming hes been tougher than any president on Russia and that Democrats are to blame for his shutdown, which is now the longest in U.S. history.

I have been FAR tougher on Russia than Obama, Bush or Clinton, Trump said. Maybe tougher than any other President.

Here are a few of the presidents unhinged ramblings:

I have been FAR tougher on Russia than Obama, Bush or Clinton. Maybe tougher than any other President. At the same time, & as I have often said, getting along with Russia is a good thing, not a bad thing. I fully expect that someday we will have good relations with Russia again!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 12, 2019

Lyin James Comey, Andrew McCabe, Peter S and his lover, agent Lisa Page, & more, all disgraced and/or fired and caught in the act. These are just some of the losers that tried to do a number on your President. Part of the Witch Hunt. Remember the insurance policy? This is it!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 12, 2019

Democrats should come back to Washington and work to end the Shutdown, while at the same time ending the horrible humanitarian crisis at our Southern Border. I am in the White House waiting for you!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 12, 2019

Democrats could solve the Shutdown in 15 minutes! Call your Dem Senator or Congresswoman/man. Tell them to get it done! Humanitarian Crisis.  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 12, 2019

As Former FBI Assistant Director Frank Figliuzzi said on Saturday, this is all likely just the tip of the iceberg and Trump knows it.

All of the publicly reported information is damning enough, but Robert Mueller and the intelligence community likely know much more.

Donald Trumps rage tweets on Saturday dont offer any denials for the latest reporting that hes being investigated for working on behalf of Russia. Instead, they show a man who is panicking because he knows hes been caught.

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The partial government shutdown became the longest in U.S. history as of midnight last night, a dubious accomplishment for the record-shattering presidency of Donald Trump.

The impasse between Trump and Congress has left hundreds of thousands of federal workers, as well as millions of federal contractors, with no income. The shutdown is causing real financial harm to millions of people and their families. And still, there is no end in sight and in fact the negotiating parties seem farther apart than ever.

Even as millions are feeling the pain of the shutdown, White House economic adviser Kevin Hassett said that federal workers furloughed because of the shutdown might be better off after they return to work because they essentially are getting a free vacation.

Hassett, Trumps chief economic adviser, made the insensitive and clueless remark in an interview he did on PBS NewsHour. He said that many of the approximately 800,000 federal employees affected by the three-week partial government shutdown had been planning to take vacation days around the Christmas and New Year holidays. As a result, he said, they would not have gone to work during some of the shutdown period anyway. And, he pointed out, they now get to keep their vacation days even though they didnt go to work.

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In the interview, Hassett was asked by PBS economic correspondent Paul Solman if he saw the shutdown having a detrimental effect on the U.S. economy over time. He responded by suggesting that furloughing around 25 percent of federal employees might seem ominous but really wasnt a bad thing.

Hassett said:

But then, when the shutdown ends, they go back to work and they get their back pay. A huge share of government workers were going to take vacation days, say, between Christmas and New Years. And then we have a shutdown, and so they cant go to work, and so then they have the vacation, but they dont have to use their vacation days. And then they come back, and then they get their back pay. Then theyre  in some sense, theyre better off.

Instead of working to resolve the shutdown crisis, members of Congress left Washington on Friday without any obvious resolution to the impasse.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell could be taking steps to end the shutdown, but he is missing in action. He is appearing to take a hands off approach to the battle.

If he had the will and the fortitude to stand up to the president, he could take the funding bills passed by the House last week and put them to a floor vote in the Senate, which he controls almost absolutely.

If a bill was passed by both houses of Congress and sent to the president, he would probably veto it because it wouldnt have the border wall funding in it.

After a presidential veto, the bill would be sent back to Congress to see if it could get enough votes to override the presidential veto. This would take a two-thirds vote, which means 67 votes in the Senate and 290 votes in the House.

There are many who think that due to the unpopularity of both the border wall proposal AND the Trump shutdown, that there could be enough votes in Congress to override the veto.

But Mitch McConnell is doing nothing, even as there is evidence that Republicans are starting to panic. They know this is a losing situation for them to be in. The longer the shutdown continues, the more harm to the lives of millions of Americans, and the more harm to the U.S. economy.

There is clearly no real national emergency to build a border wall. The issue didnt come up over the first two years of Trumps presidency when Republicans controlled both houses of Congress. But now that Democrats have taken over House control, all of a sudden Trump and some other Republicans are saying that there is a border crisis.

Most American voters know that there is no crisis. They know that a wall is a waste of money. And they know that the shutdown, with all of its negative consequences, is Donald Trumps fault.

The president is being led by right-wing commentators on Fox News and elsewhere, and they are leading him  and the entire Republican Party  right off a cliff that threatens to destroy them.
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Counterterrorism expert Malcolm Nance tore into Donald Trump on Saturday, saying his base is Russia, the Russian oligarchy and Vladimir Putin.

New reporting from The New York Times indicates that the U.S. intelligence community has similar concerns about Trumps loyalties as they launched an investigation in 2017  after he became president  into whether he is working on behalf of the Russians.

I used to say that [Trump] was treason adjacent, Nance said. Now I say that hes just neck-deep in treachery.

Video:

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Nance said:

[Russia] chose him as an asset due to his phenomenal characteristics of just being a blowhard, of being a arrogant narcissistic personality. Which, you know, the famous spy Yuri Bezmenov said those were the characteristics they wanted in an asset. They wanted a person they could manipulate. Donald Trump is like a case officers dream. He comes in and when he comes out and does those arrogant pronunciations, a good intelligence staff like, I dont know, an ex-former KGB officer and his top four staffers who are KGB-FSB retirees, they would be able to manipulate Donald Trump no matter what he said or when he said it. Donald Trump sees Russia, the Russian oligarchy and Vladimir Putin as his base, equal to the red hats that he has in the United States. So he brags to them in, you know, in the face of America. He does not understand what the Constitution is. I used to say that he was treason adjacent. Now I say that hes just neck-deep in treachery.

Donald Trumps real base doesnt wear red hats

We often hear media pundits talk about how Donald Trump cares only about appealing to his base of red-hat-wearing rural voters. But throughout the campaign and his presidency, its become clear who his true base is.

Whether its repeatedly bowing down to Vladimir Putin on the world stage, casting doubt over the intel communitys conclusion that Russia helped his campaign in 2016, or taking actions to distance America from our NATO allies, Trumps truest loyalty belongs to Russia.

PoliticusUSAs Sarah Reese Jones listed these and other ways Trump behaves like a Russian asset:

Trump behaves like #RussianAsset

longest shutdown in U.S. history

undermined America internationally

undermined faith in U.S. democracy

sided w/ Russia over America repeatedly

pulling out of Syria to appease Putin

undermined NATO

ruining stock market

trade wars  Sarah Reese Jones (@PoliticusSarah) January 12, 2019

Trumps own actions have made it pretty clear who he is working for, and its not the thunderous MAGA mobs he has spent his presidency conning. Its Russia.

As Malcolm Nance said on Saturday, this president has been a dream for Vladimir Putin  so much so that even his own intelligence community, with the help of American allies, is building a case against him.

Follow Sean Colarossi on Facebook.
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Key members of the right-wing House Freedom Caucus have told Donald Trump that they dont want him to take the extreme step of declaring a national emergency as a means to build his wall at the southern border.

These House Republicans in the conservative group have privately expressed their objections to Trump and members of his administration. Their fear is that a declaration will lead to a long legal standoff that Democrats would eventually win. This would then set an unwanted precedent where the president could use such emergency powers to do anything he or she wants that Congress refuses to approve.

I do see the potential for national emergencies being used for every single thing that we face in the future where we cant reach an agreement. Thats the slippery slope that Im concerned about, Freedom Caucus Chairman Mark Meadows (R-N.C.), a top Trump ally, told POLITICO. The administration is well aware of the ability to use national emergency powers and the reluctance to do so from House members.

According to more than a dozen members of Congress and congressional aides, their preferred approach is for Trump to hold out for a deal with Democrats to end the shutdown, no matter how long it takes.

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Trumps discussion of using an emergency declaration to build the border wall has split the GOP caucus in the House. Some members voted with Democrats on their bills to provide funding for key agencies, but many others are sticking with Trump, no matter how severe the political consequences might be.

Republican House members have expressed grave constitutional concerns since Congress has the power of the purse, and needs to appropriate funds for specific purposes, such as building 3,000 mile walls. They are looking for alternatives that offer more legally sound ways for Trump to get the money that is needed to build the border wall.

Trump has more options on the table than what I have read about, and weve shared some of those ideas, said GOP Rep. Warren Davidson of Ohio. He has sponsored a House bill that would allow private citizens to make monetary contributions toward building and maintaining border walls.

But even though House conservatives dont want the president to issue an emergency declaration, they still will support him if he eventually does it.

I think the president would find broad support for an emergency declaration if its determined that ultimately he has to do it, Meadows said.

Meadows also believes that Democrats might compromise on the wall, and Trump should explore all other options before taking such an extreme step.

Trumps threats of declaring an emergency have put House conservatives in a bind. They spent years fighting against President Barack Obama for executive overreach, especially on immigration.

Some members of the House Freedom Caucus still have Trumps ear, and they know that he will listen to them. They have been working hard to persuade him to avoid an emergency declaration. The group helped convince the president to shut down the government in the first place, so they know that their opinions do count in the Oval Office.

If Donald Trump does not declare an emergency, it may be due to the strong opinions of Freedom Caucus members who advised him not to do it.
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By Jim Forsyth and Ginger Gibson

SAN ANTONIO, Texas/WASHINGTON (Reuters)  Texas Democrat Julian Castro, a former San Antonio mayor and top U.S. housing official, formally launched his White House bid on Saturday, entering as a dark horse candidate in a likely crowded field vying to challenge President Donald Trump in the November 2020 election.

Castro, 44, the grandson of a Mexican immigrant who would be the first Hispanic elected president, served as secretary of Housing and Urban Development under former President Barack Obama and has long been viewed as a rising star in the party. He will seek to position himself as a political outsider with liberal credentials.

Im running for president because its time for new leadership. Because its time for new energy, Castro said, launching his campaign. And its time for a new commitment to make sure that the opportunities Ive had are available for every American.

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One of Castros first stops as a candidate will take place on Monday in Puerto Rico, where he will attend an event hosted by the liberal Latino Victory Fund.

He made his announcement at Plaza Guadalupe, a landmark in San Antonios sprawling west side Mexican-American barrio, a neighborhood of neat, brightly painted wood framed homes, many on tiny lots and festooned with white plaster Catholic statues.

In summarizing his political positions, Castro endorsed Medicare for all, which would in effect create a national healthcare plan by allowing anyone to join the public healthcare system. That policy point is likely to divide Democrats in the primary, with more moderate candidates favoring a less drastic approach.

He used his launch to repeat support of the Black Lives Matter movement. He spoke about the need to address climate change.

Castro, whose grandmother was born in Mexico, has sought to use his familys personal story to criticize Trumps border policies  including criticizing the president by name in his launch speech.

Yes, we must have border security, but there is a smart and humane way to do it. And there is no way in hell that caging children is keeping us safe, Castro said.

Castro is the second candidate to formally launch a campaign. Former U.S. Representative John Delaney has been running for more than a year. U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts has formed an exploratory committee and Representative Tulsi Gabbard said Friday that she will run for president.

More than a dozen potential Democratic candidates are exploring a possible run for president in 2020. Moderates and progressives in the party have been debating about how to best challenge Trump, the likely Republican nominee.

Some Democrats believe an establishment figure who can appeal to centrist voters is the way to win back the White House. Others contend a fresh face is needed to energize the partys increasingly left-leaning base.

Castro, who was considered on the short list to be Hillary Clintons running mate in the 2016 election, has been out of the political spotlight for the past two years, at a time when politics has become all-consuming across America.

Mark Jones, a political analyst at Rice University in Houston, who has followed Castros career, says despite this, his chances of securing the nomination in what is certain to be a crowded field are slim at best.

Julian Castro shouldnt be counted out completely, Jones said. That said, his star is definitely not rising anymore, and the sun may be setting on the presidential ambitions of Julian Castro.

Castro would be the first identical twin elected president.

His twin brother, Joaquin Castro, is a member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Texas. Joaquin Castros position on the House Intelligence Committee has made him a frequent public critic of the president.

(Reporting by Ginger Gibson in Washington; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama and Matthew Lewis)
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Sarah Sanders could only respond to the FBI investigation of Trump by claiming that Trump is tough on Russia and blaming Obama for weakness.

Sanders said in a statement:

.@PressSec responds to @nytimes report that the FBI opened an inquiry into whether Trump was secretly working on behalf of Russia: pic.twitter.com/sAzRn7TIMJ  Geoff Bennett (@GeoffRBennett) January 12, 2019

It is revealing that all the White House Press Secretary could do in response to The New York Times report is attack the credibility of James Comey and repeat her lie that Trump has been tough on Russia.

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Trump has let Putin roll all over him, including with his recent decision to pull US troops out of Syria. No American will ever forget how Putin demonstrated his ownership of Trump at the Helsinki summit.

Donald Trump admitted to NBCs Lester Holt that he fired Comey due to the Russia investigation. Trump is on tape admitting that he fired Comey due to Russia.

Sarah Sanders couldnt offer a factual defense for Trump. Instead, all the nation gets is more fake outrage, personal attacks, and blaming Obama. The playbook has gotten old. Soon Trump will be tweeting an attack on The New York Times because this White House cant challenge the message, so all they can do is try to discredit the messenger.

For more discussion about this story join our Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group.

Follow Jason Easley on Facebook.
Thomas was remembered by some of his former co-workers and friends as a bit of a nerd. He played Dungeons and Dragons with a group of friends at the comic book store in Phoebus.
Speaking at the event, Permanent Deputy Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son highlighted that Sweden was the first western country to establish diplomatic ties with Vietnam on January 11, 1969.

Over the past five decades, the European country has provided US$3.4 billion in non-refundable aid for Vietnam with symbolic works such as the Vietnam National Childrens Hospital, the Uong Bi Hospital in the northern province of Quang Ninh and the Bai Bang paper mill in the northern province of Phu Tho, contributing to the countrys socio-economic development.

He said bilateral partnership is gearing towards trade-investment, education-training, health care, science-technology and tourism. Two-way trade surpassed US$1.4 billion in 2018. Sweden ranked 34th out of the 130 countries and territories investing in Vietnam. About 50,000 Sweden tourists visited Vietnam during the year.

Swedish Ambassador to Vietnam Pereric Hogberg, for his part, recalled that 50 years ago, Swedish Prime Minister Olof Palme and people joined street parades demanding an end to the war in Vietnam.

Sweden became one of the largest donors to Vietnam during 1970-1990, he said, adding that the European country is always a trustworthy partner and will continue partnering with Vietnam in the future.

According to the diplomat, the upcoming signing of the European Union - Vietnam Free Trade Agreement will open up prospects for trade and investment growth, contributing to facilitating trade liberalisation and multilateral order in the world.

The ambassador expressed his belief that a series of activities during 2019 will strengthen bilateral friendship and mutual understanding between both sides.

At the event, former Vietnamese ambassadors in Sweden and Swedish ambassadors in Vietnam, officials and experts in health care, education and forestry recalled the past memories of their joint work.
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By Ginger Gibson

WASHINGTON (Reuters)  When President Donald Trump stormed out of a White House meeting with congressional leaders last Wednesday, U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell sat there silently, uttering not a word as the talks blew up, according to others in the room.

The No. 1 Republican in Congress, who rose to power on his reputation as a master of legislative wrangling, has had little to say in public or private during a partial federal government shutdown that began on Dec. 22 and has no end in sight.

Showing no interest in defying his president and Trumps demand that triggered the shutdown for funding for a U.S.-Mexico border wall opposed by Democrats, McConnell has kept a low profile. This posture, allies and opponents said, is about McConnell protecting himself, vulnerable Republicans and their control of the Senate ahead of the 2020 elections.

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At the core of McConnells quiet loyalty to Trump, despite past friction between them, is a calculation that Trumps popularity with Republican voters makes standing by him, in the long run, politically wiser than responding to short-term worries about the shutdown, aides and experts said.

The leader is prepared to engage, but the leader always wants to be able to look ahead and see the two or three other moves ahead of the immediate move, Republican Senator Thom Tillis told Reuters, referring to McConnell.

The cost of this long-term focus, Democrats said, is that McConnell has ceded control of the Senate to Trump for the duration of the shutdown fight by pledging to block any shutdown-ending legislation the president would not sign.

Democratic Senator Joe Manchin, who helped negotiate an end to an earlier shutdown, said this of McConnells absence from negotiations: Basically, thats whats holding everything up.

Nancy Pelosi, speaker of the Democratic-controlled House of Representatives, is passing shutdown-ending spending bills in her chamber, including one on Friday. If McConnell would only put those measures on the Senate floor for a vote, Democrats argue, senators from both parties would support them.

That would then pressure Trump, according to the Democrats, to sign the bills into law and reopen government, even if the measures lacked the $5.7 billion in wall funding he is demanding. McConnell has made clear this will not happen.

SLIP OUT THE BACK

Twice now, House Republican leaders Kevin McCarthy and Steve Scalise have emerged from high-level White House shutdown talks to address reporters, once with Trump and once with Vice President Mike Pence. While McCarthy and Scalise went to the microphones, McConnell returned unobtrusively to the Capitol.

A senior Democratic aide described McConnells demeanor in meetings with Democrats about the shutdown as more subdued than when he helped end previous shutdowns.

One other possible explanation for this, Democrats said, is that McConnell was burned by Trump last month when the president reversed position and rejected a bipartisan, Senate-passed spending bill that would have averted the shutdown.

About a quarter of the government closed after Trump rejected that bill, unexpectedly demanding that any measure to restore funding to agencies whose funding expired for unrelated reasons must include more than $5 billion for his wall. Democrats continue to refuse to fund the wall, which they have called immoral, ineffective and expensive.

In addition, for all his acumen as a legislative tactician, McConnell in 2017 failed to get the Senate to vote to repeal Obamacare, the 2010 healthcare law that Trump had vowed to end. In the aftermath, Trump publicly criticized McConnell.

RE-ELECTION TEST

McConnells main concern as he navigates the shutdown drama is likely November 2020, when he will face a re-election contest in his home state of Kentucky. If Trump is the Republican presidential nominee again, the two would be on the same ballot.

McConnell won his last re-election bid in 2014 by 16 percentage points. Trump did even better in Kentucky two years later, winning by 30 percentage points. So sticking with Trump is more likely to help than hurt McConnell.

Mitch McConnell backing the president, keeping the Republican conference together behind the president, is very good in Kentucky, said Scott Jennings, a Republican strategist from Kentucky who has advised McConnells last three Senate campaigns and worked on national campaigns.

A poll by liberal Public Policy Polling found that in seven states where Republican senators are up for re-election in 2020  Alaska, Arizona, Colorado, Georgia, Iowa, Maine and North Carolina  most voters oppose a shutdown for border funds.

Republican senators such as Susan Collins and Cory Gardner may feel pressure to vote to reopen the government, but defying Trump could make them vulnerable to future challenges in party primaries.

By blocking Senate consideration of such measures, McConnell helps these senators avoid making expedient short-term votes that could hurt them in 2020, while letting them continue to criticize the shutdown without having to vote against their president.

It would be crippling if the Republicans were running around eating each other alive, Jennings said.

(Additional reporting by Rick Cowan; Editing by Kevin Drawbaugh and Will Dunham)
Winning a big live poker tournament is a great accomplishment. Winning multiples puts you in a select group. And then, there are players who are in a league of their own, such as Ole Schemion. On a day that saw a field from 122 whittled down to one in the span of twelve hours, the man from Berlin, Germany reigned supreme for the 17th (!) time in his career. The win in the 2019 PokerStars Caribbean Adventure (PCA) $1,100 National, worth $148,220, also propelled Schemion over the $15M mark in lifetime winnings on The Hendon Mob.

Schemion defeated Florida native Maurice Costigan heads-up after Costigan made a costly misstep in the final hand. Platinum Pass winner Dragos Trofimov claimed the bronze medal, online legend Conor "1_conor_b_1" Beresford finished in fifth, WSOP Europe Main Event champion Jack Sinclair finished sixth and EPT13 Malta champion Aliaksei Boika ended up in eight place.

Like last year, when he won the WPT in his home town of Berlin, Schemion started another year with a similar bang. He followed up on last year's victory with a successful series in Monaco before taking time off from the live circuit regarding the birth of his second child, which also made him opt out of the 2018 World Series of Poker. Schemion-fans don't need to worry: "wizowizo" is back in full force after making his second six-figure ship in short succession, following up on a second place in the 10,300 EPT Prague High Roller last month.

"I feel good, very good," Schemion said shortly after receiving another spadie for his mantlepiece.

The final table went smoothly, and despite facing some tough opposition Schemion wasn't singling anyone out. "I didn't really care [about the opponents], I just wanted to play my cards," he told PokerNews.

"It's a good start to the year, I had a good finish and start last year too," he grinned.

$1,100 PCA National Final Table Results

Place Player Country Prize 1 Ole Schemion Germany $148,220 2 Maurice Costigan United States $90,080 3 Dragos Trofimov Moldova $63,540 4 Alexandre Santo Brazil $47,660 5 Conor Beresford United Kingdom $37,580 6 Jack Sinclair United Kingdom $28,120 7 Timo Kamphues Germany $19,780 8 Aliaksei Boika Belarus $13,900 9 Joseph Cote United States $11,040

$1,100 PCA National Final Day Action

At noon local time, 122 survivors from an 812-player field returned to the Atlantis Resort in the Bahama's for the second and final day of the PCA National. Although the buy-in was one of the lowest on tap, the field was chock-full of big names looking to parlay their investment into a sweet six-figure score. With the bubble gone and everybody already having a mincash secured, chips were flying everywhere right off the bat.

A flurry of early bustouts saw the likes of Will Givens, Joe McKeehen, Marvin Rettenmaier, and Jon Turner all hit the rail in quick succession. Defending champion Maria Konnikova's title defence attempt also came to an end in the early stages after losing the majority of her chips to Maria Ho with ace-ten versus queens. Ho wasn't able to make those chips work for her and busted shortly after.

Chino Rheem claimed the spotlight during most of the day, even holding the chip lead at various points. Ultimately, the American just missed out on the final table. It was Schemion himself who pulled the trigger with pocket nines against Rheem's ace-ten on the final table bubble. The big flip landed in Schemion's favor and Rheem had to settle for $9,100 as a consolation prize.

"It's a good start to the year, I had a good finish and start last year too." -Ole Schemion

At the final table, Joe Cote was first player to bow out. The elderly statesman made his first recorded cash outside of the U.S. by finishing in 9th place. Following him out the door was Aliaksei Boika, a former EPT Champion. The Belarusian added $13,900 to his lifetime winnings of over $1.6M. Germany's Timo Kamphues was the third victim at the final table and won $19,780.

For Jack Sinclair, there wouldn't be a second victory after his big win at the WSOP Europe three months ago. Sinclair was wrestling with Schemion all day, and the latter was the one to make him tap out. Sinclair met his demise by four-bet shoving ace-queen into Schemion's ace-king to finish in sixth place.

Conor Beresford, Alexandre Santo, and Platinum Pass winner Dragos Trofimov were the three next to go, leaving Maurice Costigan as the only one left to oppose Schemion. Costigan started the heads-up with a 2:1 chip disadvantage and went big during the first sizable hand of the heads-up to turn things around. Holding ace-eight, Costigan check-raised on the turn when an ace fell, then shoved all in on the seven river for heaps. Schemion had ace-seven and called to win his 17th career title.

That's it for PokerNews coverage of the $1,100 PCA National at the Atlantis Resort in the Bahama's. On Friday, coverage will resume with the final day of the $100,000 Super High Roller, the $100,000 Single-Day High Roller and the Main Event. Make sure to check back regularly to not miss out on any updates of the 2019 PCA!
HONOLULU, Hawaii  Chez Reavie has entered the PGA TOUR record books during the second round of the Sony Open in Hawaii thanks to three hole-out eagles from over 100-yards.

Reavie  the former RBC Canadian Open winner  became the first person since hole-by-hole scoring was introduced in 1983 to have three eagles on par-4s in one round.

He was also the first person since ShotLink technology was introduced in 2003 to make three eagle hole-outs from over 100 yards in one round.

Reavie opened his round by holing out from 101 yards with a sand wedge on the par-4 10th hole.

Six holes later  on the par-4 16th  he navigated a nine-iron into the hole from 149 yards.

At that point he had joined Blake Adams (2010 AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, 3rd round) as the only players with two hole-out eagles from over 100 yards in the same round (ShotLink courses) on par-4s.

But Reavie wasnt done.

Staring at 135 yards with his gap wedge on the par-4 sixth the 37-year-old nailed his third eagle.

I was trying to think back to any round I even had more than one hole-out and I couldn't think of any, Reavie said after signing for a 5-under 65 that leaves him 10 under for the week and four off the pace.



The diminutive Kansas native who resides in Arizona didnt seem to fully grasp his accomplishment as he was focused on trying to hunt down leader Matt Kuchar.

Honestly, I didn't think about it at all until after the third one went in, Reavie added.

Before the other two I just hit the shot and I was trying to see if it was going at the hole. Never expected it to go in. It's always a surprise when I it disappears.

Reavie actually had chances for further hole out eagles on his last two holes.

His approach from 138 yards on the par-4 8th was tracking before pulling up at six-feet. He also barely missed a bunker shot on the par-5 9th, his final hole of the round.

I got it in the fairway on eight and hit a pitching wedge; it was on a good line, and that was the only time it crossed my mind before the ball went in the hole, he added.

Wow, could we make another one?



Playing partner Michael Thompson figured anything could happen from that point.

That was pretty amazing. The first one was great, the second one was wow thats cool and the third one was are you kidding me? Thompson said.

It was pretty amazing to watch. Thats probably a once in a lifetime experience to be in a group and see a guy do that let alone do it yourself. Its really really rare so its pretty cool to see.

When the third ball disappeared the caddies in the group took off their hats and threw them at Reavie to symbolize the hat-trick.
By Eugene Robinson

The government isnt shut down because of President Trumps unbelievable cluelessness as a dealmaker. Its shut down because of his many fears.

I dont mean his pretend fears. Surely Trump doesnt really believe his own racist nonsense about the U.S.-Mexico border being a sieve for homicidal maniacs and walk-to-work terrorists, and he cant be too worried about a humanitarian crisis that is largely of his own creation. Im talking about his real fears  the ones that must keep him up at night.

Trump is afraid of Rush Limbaugh, Ann Coulter, Matt Drudge, Laura Ingraham and the rest of the far-right echo chamber. (He sees Sean Hannity as more of a house pet.) Hes afraid of his shrunken but loyal base, which could abandon him if he doesnt give them a wall. Hes afraid of special counsel Robert S. Mueller III and the federal, state and local prosecutors in New York who are investigating various Trump enterprises. And hes afraid of losing his coercive hold over the Republican senators who one day could sit in judgment of his fate.

Not one of these intertwined fears is irrational. Trump must realize he has painted himself into a corner but sees no alternative. According to news reports, the president knew his hostage-video Oval Office address on Tuesday and his photo op at the border on Thursday would make no difference. He must also be aware that the GOP leadership in Congress cant hold the line forever.

To be sure, Trump has shown himself to be a clumsy and incompetent negotiator. When he reneged on the original agreement to keep the government funded through Feb. 8, he cut the legs from under anyone who claims to be negotiating for him, up to and including Vice President Pence. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer (D-N.Y.) would be crazy to agree to anything at all that does not have Trumps personal, public endorsement  and his felt-tipped signature, preferably in blood.

Youve got to be willing to walk away, Trump often says when touting his alleged dealmaking prowess. And indeed that is true  in negotiations about real estate, branding rights or a reality television show. But when you are president, you can hardly walk away from your own government. When Trump tried the maneuver Wednesday  calling congressional leaders to a meeting and then ostentatiously stalking out  everyone just shrugged. He had nowhere to go.

Trump could have tried to tempt Democrats with a grand bargain on comprehensive immigration reform  or even a limited swap of border security funds he could use for his needless wall in exchange for permanent protection for the undocumented dreamers, who were brought to this country as minors. That kind of offer could at least have caused some restiveness in Pelosis and Schumers ranks. But because Trump is offering nothing at all, except a take-it-or-leave-it demand, Democrats have easily maintained a solid front.

Another pro tip for getting what you want: Dont loudly and publicly take personal responsibility for negative consequences that would result from a breakdown of negotiations. With television cameras running, Trump boasted that everyone should blame him for a shutdown. Polls show that this is exactly what the public has done, and Trumps numbers will surely get worse as the effects of the shutdown on families and communities become more dire.

The Democratic proposal  fund the government while continuing to debate border security and the wall  is eminently reasonable. But Trump is scared.

He went back on the original deal after the far-right commentariat went ballistic. The president must realize that, having failed to get funding for the wall when his party had control of both chambers of Congress, he is less likely to get it following a blue-wave midterm election that gave Democrats the House.

But Trump doesnt want Limbaugh, Coulter, et al. wailing to his base that their hero has surrendered to the snowflakes and given up on the wall, which from the beginning was more of a rallying cry than a serious proposal. Trumps approval numbers have always been underwater, but as long as he retains overwhelming support among Republicans, he can expect GOP senators to worry that crossing him would amount to political suicide.

Depending on what Mueller and the other prosecutors find, it is not inconceivable that the House could vote for impeachment. The more support Trump retains among the GOP base, the better his chances of surviving a Senate trial.

That is why Trump looks so joyless, so grim. He sees this as an existential fight and, so far, hes losing.
By Curt Schroder

The year was 2002, and Pennsylvania was in the middle of a medical liability crisis.

High-risk medical specialists were leaving the commonwealth to practice medicine in other states. Family practices were being squeezed out of existence and maternity wards were closing.

The availability of healthcare for every Pennsylvanian was under assault. One of the reasons for all of this: plaintiff attorneys seeking jackpot payouts in Philadelphias notoriously high-verdict court system. Fast-forward to 2019, there are some who are working quietly to take us back to that time by changing where physicians can be sued, and they must be stopped.

In 2002, the Legislature and the courts understood that underlying the medical liability crisis was something called venue shopping.

Plaintiffs attorneys would file suit in high verdict locales, such as Philadelphia, regardless of whether the alleged medical malpractice occurred there or if the doctor even practiced in the city.

The court procedural rules were so broad that physicians from all over the state were being dragged into the inhospitable Philadelphia court system. Thanks to the efforts of a joint interbranch commission of the courts and the legislature, on which I was privileged to serve as a member of the State House, the Supreme Court amended the venue rules to require that a medical liability suit could only be brought in the county in which the alleged injury occurred.

The results of this rule change were immediate and dramatic. Statistics compiled by the Supreme Court reveal that between 2000  2002, an average of 1204 medical malpractice cases were filed in the Philadelphia courts each year.

In 2003, as the result of the venue rule reform , only half that number of medical liability cases were filed in Philadelphia and the numbers continued to decline each year until just recently.

This venue rule change was the single most effective reform made to combat the medical liability crisis. Physicians decided to stay and continue their practices in Pennsylvania rather than seeking fairer judicial climates in other states. They are now being judged by juries comprised of residents of the county in which they practice medicine.

The threat to Pennsylvanias healthcare system was alleviated due to more reasonable verdicts now that fewer physicians were subjected to the Philadelphia court system.

However, lower verdicts also result in less money for contingency fee chasing plaintiffs attorneys who prey on physicians, hospitals, and long-term care facilities to make a living. Now those attorneys are striking back through a quiet attack on the venue rules that have been in place and have protected our access to medicine since 2002.

There is currently a proposal before the Civil Procedure Rules Committee of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court to take us back to those dangerous days.

This proposal would revert to the same broad venue rules that fueled the medical malpractice crisis by dragging physicians from across the state into the Philadelphia court system.

Pennsylvanians cannot allow cases to be unnecessarily filed in Philadelphia; which has been named the Number 6 Judicial Hellhole in the country by the American Tort Reform Foundation! We cannot allow plaintiffs attorneys to reignite the medical malpractice crisis by passage of this proposed rule change.

If you value your access to quality healthcare, the Civil Procedure Rules Committee needs to hear from you before February 22, 2019.

Contact the committee at civilrules@pacourts.us . Tell them to oppose the proposed venue rules and continue to require medical liability cases to be filed where the alleged injury occurs. Act today to protect your access to quality healthcare.

A former state House member, Curt Schroder, of Chester County, is the executive director of the Pennsylvania Coalition for Civil Justice Reform.

###
By Jennifer Rubin

President Donald Trump is threatening to use emergency powers for a non-emergency by moving money around for a wall that even Republicans in border states don't want. Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., having raised five children of her own, knows that to give in to the president's temper-tantrum would be foolish. She continues taking votes to reopen departments of the government. On Thursday, she got 12 Republicans to defect on a bill to reopen the Transportation Department. Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., tried to pursue a deal involving funding for the wall in exchange for protection for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients. The president is having none of that. (The White House previously quashed an effort for $25 billion in wall money for DACA relief.)

"I think we're stuck. I just don't see a pathway forward. I don't see a way forward," said Graham. "I have never been more depressed about moving forward than I am right now. I just don't see a pathway forward." Later Thursday afternoon, he tweeted (inadvertently conceding the "emergency" wasn't at the border, but with Trump's failure to bully Democrats into giving way):

Graham and the other 52 members of the Republican majority in the Senate need a job description. Fortunately, there is one: Article I of the Constitution. Congress is the legislative branch, the only body with the power to levy taxes and appropriate money. It has responsibility for all sorts of things under a general provision ("The Congress shall have power to lay and collect taxes, duties, imposts and excises, to pay the debts and provide for the common defense and general welfare of the United States") and many itemized provisions (e.g., "establish an uniform rule of naturalization").

The Constitution does not say "but ask the president first" or "only do such things that the president definitely won't veto." (To the contrary, there's a provision to override vetoes in there - honest!)

The answer to Graham's dilemma is simple: Do your job. The Senate can take up the bills to open the government passed by the House. Graham could reintroduce the Gang of Eight immigration legislation which passed the Senate in 2013 by a vote of 68 to 32. The Senate could come up with its own bill, put it on the floor and vote on it. (Graham apparently has a few ideas.)

What Graham and the rest of his colleagues cannot do is simultaneously enable an unhinged, authoritarian president anduphold their oaths of office. And what they surely should notdo is facilitate or encourage Trump to usurp the power of the purse. The Washington Post reports:

"The White House has begun laying the groundwork for a declaration of national emergency to build President Trump's border wall, including searching for unused money in the Army Corps of Engineers budget, two people with knowledge of the preparations said Thursday. . . .

"Trump has urged the Army Corps to determine how fast contracts could be signed and whether construction could begin within 45 days, according to one of these people, an official familiar with the deliberations who spoke on condition of anonymity to describe them.

"The administration is specifically eyeing a disaster spending bill passed by Congress last year that includes $13.9 billion in funding that has been allocated but not actually spent for a variety of projects, according to the second person, a congressional aide who also requested anonymity."

Graham and his colleagues should, of course, in concert with the House, pass a resolution declaring there is no emergency justifying such a power grab and commit to opposing the president in court. By cutting off Trump's illegal escape hatch, they can force the White House and the House to resolve this. And as a defender of the military (as he often tells us), Graham should be the first to object to use of funds for the military for Trump's scheme.

Conservative writer and lawyer David French provides guidance that Graham should find helpful:

"The bottom line is that even under the most generous statute, only during a "national emergency" that "may require" the use of the military may the president allocate funds for "authorized" construction projects that are "essential to the national defense." . . .

"The legal argument in support of the notion that constructing a border wall is "essential to the national defense" boils down primarily to the naked assertion that, well, courts won't dare question the president. But words still have meaning. We are not in a state of declared war with Mexico. There is no invading army. Illegal-immigrant crime, as tragic as it is, isn't an act of war. It would be strange indeed to argue that a border fence with an allied country is "essential to the national defense" when the border-security mission by statute isn't even a military mission."

Other Republicans - including Sens. Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska have publicly mused that an emergency declaration should be off-limits. Graham, who is now chairman of the Judiciary Committee, could actually hold hearings (French would be an excellent witness) on the topic and pass legislation removing any doubt as to the impropriety of Trump's planned assault on Congress's constitutional powers.

There is no shortage of things Republicans can do to move forward, as Graham put it. What is missing is any sense of obligation beyond defending an unhinged president and staying in the good graces of crackpot Fox News personalities. In throwing up their hands, they induce Trump to attack Congresss power, the Constitution and the rule of law. If Graham cannot see that, the good people of South Carolina should vote him out of office in 2020. Those voters are constitutional conservatives, right?
BROOKVILLE, Pa. (AP)  A Pennsylvania Roman Catholic priest who pleaded guilty to sexually abusing two boys and making one of them say confession after the assaults was sentenced Friday to 2  to 14 years in prison.

David Lee Poulson was sentenced in Jefferson County after pleading guilty in October to corruption of minors and child endangerment. He is one of two priests charged as a result of a scathing Pennsylvania grand jury report that named almost 300 predator priests of abusing more than 1,000 victims over seven decades in six of the states dioceses.

The hearing Friday lasted more than an hour including statements from two victims read by prosecutors and a brief apology from Poulson, who addressed the court before he was sentenced.

Poulson, 65, who served in the Diocese of Erie, told the court his actions were criminal and sinful.

"I am ashamed of what I did," he said after hearing the victim impact statements.

Casey White, an attorney for Poulson, argued in court that he should receive house arrest or probation because he'd also done significant good during his time as a priest. White said the court was sentencing the Catholic church as a whole.

Poulson was immediately taken into custody at the sentencing.

The allegations against Poulson include several years of abuse or attempted abuse against at least two boys. Prosecutors alleged he abused an altar boy in different church rectories more than 20 times, often requiring the boy to then make confession and confess the abuse to Poulson.

The complaint alleges Poulson also took that boy and another to a remote cabin in the woods where he would watch horror movies with them before attempting to abuse them.

The two boys were 8 and 15 when the abuse occurred between 2002 and 2010.

Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro, left, addresses a news conference Friday in Brookville, Pa. Shapiro spoke after the sentencing of David Lee Poulson, a Roman Catholic priest who pleaded guilty to sexually abusing two boys. (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic)AP

Two of Poulsons victims received justice today, and their courage continues to inspire me and every member of our prosecution team, Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro said in a statement after the sentencing. For more than 7 years, the Diocese of Erie allowed Poulson to remain a priest, even though they knew he was a predator.

Shapiro called the sentence significant. The maximum possible sentence for Poulson was 14 years. He will have to serve at least 2  years before being eligible for parole.

The Erie diocese turned over a "confidential memorandum" dated in 2010 that contained an admission by Poulson that he had been "aroused" by a boy, prosecutors said. Poulson resigned from the Erie diocese earlier this year, after a military chaplain in Texas reported a 23-year-old had alleged that he was abused by Poulson starting at age 8, prosecutors said.

Bishop Lawrence Persico, who took over the Erie diocese years after the memorandum, issued a statement late Friday afternoon, calling it a sad day for everyone impacted by Poulsons crimes. He said Poulson had agreed as part of his plea to be removed from the priesthood and he had sent the necessary paperwork to the Vatican.

"It's my hope that the events of this day will bring a measure of healing to victims," Persico wrote.

The other priest charged in the investigation, the Rev. John Thomas Sweeney of the Greensburg diocese, pleaded guilty to indecent assault this summer and was sentenced last month to 11  months to five years in state prison. He pleaded guilty in July to misdemeanor indecent assault on a minor after being accused of forcing a 10-year-old boy to perform oral sex on him while counseling the fourth-grader about misbehaving on a school bus.

The grand jurys report, made public in August, has roiled the Catholic church and prompted calls for Pennsylvania state legislation to allow people to file civil lawsuits over child sexual abuse allegations that would otherwise be too old to pursue.

A recent AP review of church and law enforcement actions since that report showed almost 50 dioceses have released lists of credibly accused priests and another 55 have promised to release names. It also showed about 20 investigations at the state, federal and local level involving dioceses and clergy abuse.
Peter Dujardin Staff writer

Peter Dujardin has been a reporter at the Daily Press for 24 years. He has mostly covered courts and criminal justice issues for the past 14 years. That includes policing issues, and criminal and civil cases in both state and federal courts.
VATICAN CITY  The key accuser in the sex abuse case against ex-Cardinal Theodore McCarrick has met with New York City prosecutors, evidence that the scandal that has convulsed the papacy is now part of the broader U.S. law enforcement investigation into sex abuse and cover-up in the Catholic Church.

James Grein gave testimony last month to Manhattan Assistant District Attorney Sara Sullivan, who is investigating a broad range of issues related to clergy abuse and the systematic cover-up by church superiors, Grein's attorney, Patrick Noaker, told The Associated Press.

The development is significant, given that the Vatican investigation against McCarrick has already created a credibility crisis for the Catholic hierarchy including Pope Francis, since it was apparently an open secret that McCarrick slept with adult seminarians. Grein's testimony, however, includes allegations that McCarrick, a former family friend, also groomed and abused him starting when he was 11.

The Manhattan District Attorney's office launched a hotline last year and invited victims to report even decades-old sex abuse, saying it would pursue "any and all investigative leads" to ensure justice.

Grein met with Sullivan before Christmas after filing a compensation claim with the New York City archdiocese alleging that McCarrick, the retired archbishop of Washington, first exposed himself when Grein was 11 and continued abusing him for some two decades, including during confession, Noaker said. The church's compensation procedures require that victims notify the district attorney of their allegations, which Grein did on Nov. 1.

Noaker, however, said Grein's testimony to Sullivan went beyond the required pro forma notification and covered issues related to a broader investigation.

On Dec. 27, Grein testified to Vatican investigators as part of the Holy See's internal probe against McCarrick. That investigation has now finished and shifted to Rome, where a final verdict is expected within weeks, Vatican officials say.

McCarrick, who has also been accused by two other men in the Vatican investigation, faces possible defrocking if Francis determines the accusations against him are credible.

Criminal charges in New York City against McCarrick are unlikely for any actual abuse, due to the statute of limitations, Noaker said. But Grein's testimony could still prove useful as prosecutors investigate patterns of abuse, conspiracy and cover-up over decades by Catholic leaders.

A law enforcement official familiar with the New York City investigation said it was separate from the one announced in September by then-New York State Attorney General Barbara Underwood, who subpoenaed all eight dioceses in New York state. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak publicly about an ongoing investigation.

Underwood, who has since been replaced, took action along with prosecutors in a dozen U.S. states after a Pennsylvania grand jury alleged that more than 1,000 children were molested by 300 priests over 70 years in six dioceses of that state alone.

The state attorney general's office is pursuing a civil investigation but has also reached out to local prosecutors authorized to convene grand juries or pursue criminal investigations.

Separately, the U.S. Justice Department has told every Catholic diocese in the country not to destroy documents or confidential archives relating to abuse investigations and the transfers of priests.

McCarrick was ordained a priest in New York City in 1958 and served as an auxiliary bishop to New York's then-Cardinal Terence Cooke before being named bishop of Metuchen, New Jersey, in 1981. It was during his years as a New York City priest  in the early 1970s  that he allegedly groped a teenage altar boy in St. Patrick's Cathedral. That accusation launched the internal church investigation.

After the New York City archdiocese found the accusation credible and announced that McCarrick had been removed from public ministry, Grein and former seminarians came forward to say that McCarrick molested them as well. Francis removed McCarrick as a cardinal in July.

McCarrick denied the initial groping allegation of the altar boy and has said, through his lawyer, that he looks forward to his right to due process.

A former priest from the Metuchen diocese, Robert Ciolek, has also publicly accused McCarrick of inappropriate behavior while he was a seminarian and formalized the accusation in a 2004 complaint to Pittsburgh church officials.

In the past week, the archdioceses of Pittsburgh and Washington confirmed that then-Pittsburgh Bishop Donald Wuerl forwarded the complaint to the Vatican embassy at the time  disproving Wuerls claim that he hadnt heard of allegations against McCarrick until last year.

Francis recently accepted the resignation of now-Cardinal Wuerl as archbishop of Washington after his credibility suffered as a result of the McCarrick scandal and allegations about his tenure in Pittsburgh in the Pennsylvania grand jury report.

___

AP writer Michael Sisak contributed from New York.
Following an arrest for falsely imprisoning a family member last month, Craig Jungwirth  the 52-year-old man who was investigated by the FBI for threatening a Pulse-style massacre  reignited his long-running Beach Bear scam. We originally reported on this scam in March 2016.

Background on the Beach Bear Scam

Before running into financial problems a few years ago, Beach Bear Weekend used to be a popular Florida LGBTQ bear-centric

Fort Lauderdale destination event each year. After the last legitimate event in 2015, Craig Jungwirth attempted to buy the rights to the event.

Peacock Panache reported in 2016:

Sometime between Beach Bear Weekend 2015 and now, Craig Jungwirth took exclusive control of the event and its marketing and social media. He reportedly reached out to one of the events founders (Bob Young of Slammer in LA and 321 Slammer Fort Lauderdale) offering to buy the organizers out and take over the event. They came to an agreed upon price as Craig began immediately assuming control of all aspects of the event. At this point most (if not all) of the non-profit organizations that historically worked with the event were no longer associated and are not receiving monies raised through the event. Not long after taking control of the organization Young posted to his Facebook that hed never received payment for the transfer of ownership and that hed received a message from Jungwirth trespassing him from all Beach Bear events. At the time Jungwirth (working in conjunction with his now ex-boyfriend, Gabriel Urena) began promoting the 2016 event. Sometime between the takeover and the beginning 2016 Young and Jungwirth had a very public, very nasty falling out. Some of the accusations against Jungwirth involved financial promises (made for involvement in the event) that never materialized. Suffice to say, Jungwirth alienated everyone involved in the sale and organization of the event. Thats when South Florida Gay News (SFGN) ran a damning article questioning Jungwirths fitness to lead the Beach Bear organization.

Thats not the worst of it though.

After contacting the organizations, sponsors, endorsements and event locations advertised on the event website it appears as if nothing Beach Bear Weekend offers is legitimate. From hotels to sponsors each and every venue has either disavowed the event or has never been contacted by Jungwirth for a partnership. On the hotel booking part of the site Jungwirth advertises a partnership with the Hilton Fort Lauderdale Beach Resort (and interestingly, maintained it as a cohost after removing another hotel from the page). When contacted the Hilton had no knowledge of the event nor any rooms blocked off for the event under Beach Bear Weekend or Jungwirths name. Despite that Beach Bear Weekend is offering hotel packages on the site where it charges the participant directly (rather than having them book through the hotel website as most bear events do). Whats more, the site boasts two local bar sponsorships: Hunters Nightclub and Village Pub  Wilton Manors. Both bars have come forward denouncing Beach Bear Weekends claim stating they neither offered a sponsorship for this years event nor will they be hosting official events (which means the drink specials Jungwirth is selling on the site are also potentially bogus).

Those purchasing packages on the website Jungwirth set up for the Beach Bear Weekend event never saw a return on their investment. They received no actual hotel booking, no organized events and no benefits or perks. They lost money to a man who was later investigated by local law enforcement agencies at the Fort Lauderdale and Broward County, Florida level.

To date, no one has reported being able to recoup the money they paid for the non-existent event.

Beach Bear Weekend is Back

Using variations of the Beach Bear Weekend name, Jungwirth has used his time out of jail to give life to the same financial scam. This time around hes using the names Beach Bear Bash and Fort Lauderdale Bear Week in addition to illicitly using Pride Fort Lauderdales namesake to fool unsuspecting pride-goers into purchasing event packages.

In a warning statement posted online, Pride Fort Lauderdale publicly distanced themselves from Jungwirths scam:

Beach Bear Weekend and Fort Lauderdale Bear Week are not affiliated with Pride Fort Lauderdale in any way. Any ticketed events advertised on beachbearweekend.com are not organized or sanctioned by Pride Fort Lauderdale. Purchase at your own risk.

The event theyre referring is still up  despite multiple attempts to contact Facebook to report it as well as the page posting it on a mirror Facebook site created by Jungwirth to scam anyone interested in attending the actual pride event.

Here are some screenshots from the fake site as it exists today:

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The fake Facebook page also has an event scheduled for February 2020 titled Fort Lauderdale Pride instructing people to go to one of his websites to purchase passes.

Click to Enlarge

On his website Jungwirth is selling access to a Fort Lauderdale BBQ for $49.99 illicitly using Pride Fort Lauderdales imagery and website (the Events button) as well as a link to local Fort Lauderdale hotels to make it look as if his event is legitimate:

Click to Enlarge

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While the Facebook invitation lists the date as being in 2020 with page references to the event being over a year away, the ticketing website lists the event as occurring this year on February 23, 2019.

After we reached out to Ticketleap to see if they were aware of the event and Pride Fort Lauderdales denouncement, the company responded:

We were made aware of this [the use of Pride Fort Lauderdales name for an unrelated event] previously and the event organizer has removed all mention of Fort Lauderdale Pride and their logo from their event page. Please note that all funds are held by us until after the event occurs to protect ourselves and the ticket buyers. We do appreciate the concern but we have taken these steps to protect everyone involved.

We replied back letting them know Jungwirth is still advertising it as being a Pride Fort Lauderdale event both on his website and on Facebook and inquired about their policy on that, additionally noting that he has the tickets set for a 2019 event while advertising it on Facebook as being a 2020 event. Should consumers not pay attention to the dates when purchasing tickets for a 2020 BBQ event, they could potentially be out of luck in attempting to recoup money.

Ticketleap responded back that they would make their legal team aware of the differences in dates, but left the event active.

As we said when reporting on the original Beach Bear Weekend scam, buyers beware.

Update [January 16, 2019]

The mirror Facebook page and associated event mentioned above that Jungwirth created to accompany his fake Fort Lauderdale Pride event have been removed from Facebook (as has his most recently created personal Facebook profile).

Additionally, the event has been removed from Ticketleap and the page has been taken down.

However, it appears Jungwirth has moved his web store selling the same fake event pass to Pride Fort Lauderdale to the MyBigCommerce platform:

Weve reached out to them and will update this article should they respond.

PREVIOUSLY

Peacock Panache readers:

Tim Peacock is the Managing Editor and founder of Peacock Panache and has worked as a civil rights advocate for over twenty years. During that time hes worn several hats including leading on campus LGBTQ advocacy in the University of Missouri campus system, interning with the Colorado Civil Rights Division, and volunteering at advocacy organizations. You can learn more about him at his personal website.

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Christina Raines said she is sharing her truth for the first time after standing by Peterson while he was under suspicion in the 2007 disappearance of Stacy Peterson and the 2004 death of Kathleen Savio. Catch her interview at 9 p.m. tonight on Lifetime's Cellmate Secrets."
BLOOMINGTON  When state police urged Central Illinois residents to #stayhomesaturday, it had an unexpected result:

Higher-than-usual calls for food deliveries.

A slow-moving storm dumped up to 8 inches of snow in parts of Central Illinois, and more than a foot in west-central Illinois. Similar amounts fell in Peoria, Woodford, Fulton, DeWitt and Tazewell counties. Higher accumulations were expected south of Interstate 74.

The National Weather Service reported Jacksonville and nearby Franklin had received 13 inches before noon, as snow continued to fall in the afternoon.

In Bloomington-Normal, police reported few accidents. Tow truck companies stayed busy pulling cars from driveways and ditches; Illinois State University and the University of Illinois urged students to consider returning to campus Sunday, instead of Saturday, as they ended their winter breaks.

"We were pretty spoiled in December, since we didnt have much snow," said Kirk Huettl, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Lincoln. "Its been awhile so people will have to get used to driving in snow again."

The storm was expected to last through most of Saturday, with a winter weather warning set to expire at midnight. At least 7 inches of snow had fallen in the Twin Cities by late afternoon.

The snow was blamed for a number of cancellations, including the 43rd annual Martin Luther King Jr. awards luncheon.

Bloomington and Normal both banned parking along snow routes, and Connect Transit canceled bus service for the day. McLean County issued a collision alert, advising motorists to delay reporting non-injury accidents. Illinois State Police reported handling 1,160 incidents by 1 p.m. and pushed a hashtag of #stayhomesaturday across social media to drive home the point.

In DeWitt County, an IDOT snow plow went into a ditch Saturday morning while clearing snow along state Route 54, according to the sheriffs Facebook page.

However, the snow didn't delay flights to or from Central Illinois Regional Airport, Bloomington. Utility companies reported no outages.

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But while everyone else was encouraged to stay home, food delivery drivers were called out, said Beth Overholt, general manager of Jimmy John's, 203 W. Market St., Bloomington.

For a Saturday, we have had more deliveries than normal, she said. Enough to notice, but not a super significant increase.

Dominos, 305 W. Beaufort St., Normal, shortened the range of deliveries to just one mile from the store to keep drivers safe, said store manager Paul Loeffel.

His drivers didnt have any accidents, but road conditions slowed deliveries and forced drivers to take alternate routes.

"A lot of people didn't think it was going to be this bad," said Brad Brown, owner of Brown's Wrecker Service, 302 Brown St., Bloomington. "It's a lot heavier than what we're used to as far as accumulation."

Illinois Department of Transportation crews had pre-treated roads and bridges, but most major highways in Central Illinois remained at least partly covered with snow.

Wayne Aldrich, director of Normal public works, said the towns snowplow fleet was ready to go when the snow started. Bloomington snow crews treated bridges and hills with salt and then started plowing main roads, said Jim Karch, the citys public works director.

Karch said plowing can take 12 to 18 hours, depending on how much snow falls. Its Illinois, so you can never tell until the snow has stopped, he said.

Ace Hardware, 204 E. College Ave., Normal, attracted people looking for shovels, salt, sleds and just everything winter.

I think with them changing the amount of snow multiple times of what we were going to get, it was a little busier last night, manager Kelly Warning said Saturday. Then with how much snow we ended up getting, it seems like most people stayed home today.

Warning expects to see more customers Sunday, when the roads are safer.

To monitor road conditions across Illinois, especially the interstates, visit gettingaroundillinois.com.

Photos: Snowmania is running wild in B-N

Contact Kelsey Watznauer at (309) 820-3254. Follow her on Twitter: @kwatznauer.

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NORMAL  The League of Women Voters of McLean County will examine Poverty in McLean County: Its Worse Than You Think during a free program set for 6:30 to 8 p.m. Tuesday in the Normal Public Library Community Room.

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The discussion will be led by community members who have experienced poverty, including an Illinois State University student, a former resident of the Labyrinth House program and a previously homeless resident. Also offering perspectives will be social service providers from Mayors Manor, YWCA of McLean County and Abundant Life Church of Bloomington.

The League of Women Voters is a nonpartisan organization that promotes voter engagement and participation in the democratic system.

Future programs by the league include Affordable Housing: How Do We Get There? on Feb. 26 and Aging in McLean County on March 19. All programs begin at 6:30 p.m. in the Community Room of the Normal Public Library.

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PEORIA  The states child abuse case against Matt Everly relied heavily on the opinion of a child abuse pediatrician whose close working relationship with law enforcement is being questioned by some family rights advocates.

Dr. Channing Petrak, medical director with the Pediatric Resource Center in Peoria (PRC), told police the injuries to Olivia Everly were likely caused by a violent, jerking motion. Everly was acquitted Dec. 31 by Judge Casey Costigan, who ruled that the state failed to make its case linking the father to the babys broken limbs.

The pediatric center conducted 215 exams for physical abuse and 90 for sexual abuse in 2017, according to a PRC report. The PRC consults with parents, law enforcement, doctors and child welfare agencies in 52 counties on cases of potential physical and sexual abuse of children.

Michelle Weidner, executive director of the Family Justice Resource Center (FJRC), a Peoria-based group that helps parents wrongfully accused of child abuse, said the current practice of relying on state-contracted child abuse pediatricians is resulting in an increasing number of children being removed from loving homes.

The impact of a false accusation on a family cannot be overstated, said Weidner, who helped establish the resource center after she and her husband were wrongfully accused of abuse.

Wrongful allegations commonly result in enormous emotional trauma for children, tens of thousands of dollars in legal debt for parents and difficulty reintegrating into community life, said Weidner.

Diane Redleaf, an attorney and a member of the FJRC board, said the center supports legislation requiring child abuse pediatricians to disclose what she considers their divided loyalties to the caregivers of children who are being evaluated for abuse. Such a disclosure is required by medical ethics, especially where there are contracts between the doctor and a state institution or agency, said Redleaf.

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A consultation between a doctor trained to identify child abuse and authorities is not problematic, said Redleaf, but the situation changes when a physician consults with the caregivers of children without explaining the doctors role in the investigative process.

OSF HealthCare Saint Francis Medical Center referred questions about Petraks handling of potential abuse cases to the doctors employer, the University of Illinois College of Medicine. Petrak has medical privileges at OSF. The Pediatric Resource Center is located on the hospitals campus, but her employment contract is with the state, said an OSF spokesperson.

The college of medicine was willing to disclose Petraks hire date and position, but would not answer questions about her work.

Stephanie Johnson, executive director of the Pediatric Resource Center, also declined to answer questions about the doctors relationship with police, prosecutors and child advocacy centers.

The U of I College of Medicine website describes the center as a community service program of the medical school. It does not arrest people or determine who is 'guilty' or who is a good or better parent, according to the website.

Parents are notified in written materials that the results of any exams of their children will be shared with any mandated authorities, including police, DCFS, law enforcement and prosecutors.

The resource center, like the Bloomington-based Children's Advocacy Center is "a valuable resource in assisting law enforcement with abuse investigations," said McLean County State's Attorney Don Knapp.

Petrak is one of 17 child abuse pediatricians who provide services to hospitals and authorities in Illinois.

Contact Edith Brady-Lunny at (309) 820-3276. Follow her on Twitter: @pg_blunny

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Members of the state House of Representatives appear to be serious about a plan to make the work of our state leaders more transparent. State Reps. Annette Glenn of Williams Township and Roger Hauck of Union Township say they are both behind the bipartisan open government effort introduced this week as the 2019 legislative year began.

The Freedom of Information Act as well as the Open Meetings Act are two state laws that provide some common sense. If you are in the business of spending taxpayer money, you should be in the business of doing it openly and publicly. After all, that money belongs to the taxpayers and is only in the trust of government leaders.

This is true at every level of government -- school boards, township boards, city and village councils and county commissions.

But there is an exception. The top lawmakers in Michigan do not believe the rule should apply to them.

Michigan is one of just two states to wholly exempt the governor from open-records laws. It is among eight states where the Legislature is explicitly exempt.

You can come up with all the exceptions and special cases you want, but so could township trustees and school board members and other government officials who spend taxpayer dollars. The fact is, there is no excuse for good government to take actions in secret.

The bipartisan solution is to subject the Legislature to a new Legislative Open Records Act and the governor and lieutenant governor to the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act.

"It's time to hold the Legislature and the executive branch of state government more accountable to taxpayers," Glenn said in a prepared statement. "The people of Michigan are entitled to information about how their hard-earned tax dollars are spent, which is why I made this my No. 1 priority and first introduced bill. ... Good government is open and accountable to the people."

Hauck is also is behind the effort, and has been a supporter of such plans in the past.

"I sponsored a similar government transparency plan last session that received unanimous approval in the House, but died before reaching the governor's desk," Hauck said. "This is not a fight I'm willing to give up. The people of Michigan deserve a government that's open and accountable, and that remains one of my top priorities."

We hope the state Senate will display a similar courage to open up state government. We also trust that incoming Gov. Gretchen Whitmer will sign bills that make state government accountable to the people.

We note that this is not an issue about Republicans and Democrats, or the left and the right. It is simply a matter of fairness and honesty.

The passage of such bills would end a long and dark period in Michigan history.
On June 11 and July 10, 2017, Schwarz crashed his car into his garage. The first crash was severe, records indicate: Schwarz drove his late-model Chrysler 300 sedan through a brick partition that divided the two-car garage. When the fire department arrived after neighbors called 911, firefighters discovered Schwarzs vehicle at rest on top of the partition in the middle of the two car garage. The Fairfax County Fire Department report indicates there was significant structural damage to the building. Neighbors photographed the incident.
Only two weeks into 2019 and the Midland Young Professionals (MYPros) group already knows what it wants to do with the year ahead: grow membership, crowdfund at least one new business and serve as a gateway between young Midlanders and their community.

"We want to make (MYPros) the kind of environment where people aren't afraid to meet each other and talk," said Melissa Farley, Midland Business Alliance staff liaison for MYPros. "MYPros is a great way to make connections to local businesses and to the city."

MYPros is a networking organization for Midlanders in their 20s to 40s looking to professionally develop themselves, get involved in the community and "invest in the future of Midland," according to the group's website.

Farley estimates the group to be about 10 years old.

Through activities like luncheons, social events featuring guest speakers and community involvement events, members of any profession have the ability to meet like-minded individuals within their age group and make community connections.

Yearly membership fees are $30 per person. This was instituted recently to insure a better headcount of the number of members MYPros has. An application can be filled out online by going to www.macc.org/mypros.

In addition to being a member, people also have the opportunity to belong to one of five MYPros committees: Steering, Social, Communications, Community Relations and Luncheon.

"The reason why young professional groups exist, in any community, is to try and create opportunities to interact and meet one another. That very much is the root of what we do," said Grant Murschel, chairman of the MYPros Steering Committee. He also serves as Midland's director of planning and community engagement. "From that, we have specific objectives we want to insure we're focusing on, on an annual basis."

Together Murschel and Farley help to lead MYPros, along with the other members who occupy positions on the various group committees. What started out as a group that encompassed anyone over 21 and under 40 who belonged to the Midland Area Chamber of Commerce has since blossomed into an organization which currently boasts more than 200 members.

Since he joined in late 2014, Murschel said he's seen the group go from a cliquish crew to an organization which has its sights set on bettering the community through one of its main goals for this year: helping to introduce new businesses to the Midland area.

"Rather than saying 'I wish Midland had this kind of business' or, 'why doesn't (the city) do this,' we brainstormed as a group how people, if given the opportunity, could help make these (businesses) a reality," Murschel said. "If someone had an idea for (a new coffeehouse/restaurant) but didn't have the ability to go and get the financing for it, how could we help them get to that next level?

"This is a new way of being able to do that."

Crowdfunding is not unique to the city. Used across the country, the practice is a way for people to pitch in money as a group to fund a startup, business idea or support a cause. For MYPros, the act is being used as a way to help businesses get started in the community that otherwise might not have the money to become a reality.

The only stipulation is that the business must be of interest to the 20-to-40 demographic somehow, Murschel said.

In 2018, Farley said MYPros accepted eight crowdfunding applications from businesses looking to get started in the Midland area but didn't quite have the means to do so. Of the eight, six she classified as food or beverage establishments and two as fitness centers or related businesses.

One business will be selected, though Farley said if the program is successful, MYPros could try and crowdfund up to two ventures a year.

The goal of these efforts are to help bring businesses into Midland in response to what members of the community, of their group, are interested in. Murschel said he hopes the effort will encourage "community spaces for community interaction."

"We would love to execute a successful crowdfunding campaign," he said "These places will be a great benefit to Midland because if you create a good 'cafe culture,' in a community, you have people coming together regularly having these off the cuff interactions, meeting when they otherwise might not -- and from this springs new ideas, new energy or new economic development opportunities."

Murschel added the group plans to announce its first crowdfunding business project in the spring, in partnership with Midland Community Foundation's Impact Investment Committee. He did not say what that business would be, only that the group was still in the process of deciding.

Welcoming New Faces

Through twice-monthly social events, MYPros offers its more than 220 members opportunities to network with each other, along with other young professionals. The events can range from luncheons to activities like the "salsa and swing" dancing class that took place on Jan. 10, which attracted new faces like Jacob Hare.

Originally from Saginaw, Hare, 28, has lived in Midland for the past four years, following his graduation from Ferris State University, where he majored in biotechnology. Currently working as an environmental analytical technologist for The Dow Chemical Co., Hare fits perfectly into the demographic MYPros aims to reach, though he first heard about the dancing session through his peers at Midland Evangelical Free Church.

"(The dance lesson) is my first time ever (with MYPros) -- I'm still just a visitor right now," Hare said. "I knew that some of my church friends either chose the 'interested' or 'going' options on Facebook for MYPros events. Usually events like that in Midland are easy to find when you're just strolling through your wall on Facebook, so I decided to try it out."

Also among the crowd of more than a dozen people who showed up to learn salsa dancing that night was Brittany Minterfering, 28, an employee of Members First Credit Union and member of MYPros since October 2018.

Minterfering said she appreciates the opportunity MYPros gives her to meet new like-minded people in Midland, and to educate people and gain education herself about the community.

What the Organizers Want

With social events reaching potential new members each month, Farley said the group hopes it will be a forethought in peoples' minds when they think of how young professionals in the area can meet one another.

"We want business to be able to come to us and use our membership to (gain insight) on what (this age group) is interested in," she said. "Pick our brains. I feel like our demographic, we're very willing to give our feedback, it's just making that connection that can be hard."

For those thinking of joining, Farley said the group wants to maintain being an inclusive meet-up opportunity for 20 to 40 year old's that might be looking for a way to meet others in that age bracket but aren't interested in doing it through typical avenues: bars, clubs or other similar locations.

When people think of MYPros, the two want prospective members and the community at large to consider them a "two-way highway," bridging the gap between citizens wanting to get involved in Midland but might not know how, and organizations in the city that want to reach out to younger people but might not have the means to.

"There's a lot of joint learning that can happen between (businesses and young professionals) and we would love to facilitate that more across the city," Murschel said. "We want to provide that opportunity for a lot of organizations that would want to engage with us."
State Reps. Annette Glenn of Williams Township and Roger Hauck of Union Township say they are both behind a bipartisan effort of Michigan House colleagues to increase the transparency of state government.

Michigan is one of just two states to wholly exempt the governor from open-records laws. It is among eight states where the Legislature is explicitly exempt.The bipartisan solution would remove these exemptions and subject the Legislature to a new Legislative Open Records Act (LORA) and the governor and lieutenant governor to the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA).

"It's time to hold the Legislature and the executive branch of state government more accountable to taxpayers," Glenn said in a prepared statement. "The people of Michigan are entitled to information about how their hard-earned tax dollars are spent, which is why I made this my No. 1 priority and first introduced bill.

"Good government is open and accountable to the people," Glenn said. "Just like local governments and school boards are subject to public scrutiny, we must be open and honest with the families, seniors and workers who trust us to represent their interests at the Capitol."

Under the current FOIA law some documents containing sensitive personal information are exempt from disclosure by local governments. Similarly, the new LORA will exempt some records, among them letters to and from people in the district, personnel files, and ongoing legislative investigations or lawsuits.

The plan, laid out in House Bills 4007-16, has been referred to the House Government Operations Committee for consideration.

While Glenn is in her first term, Hauck was behind a similar effort last year.

"I sponsored a similar government transparency plan last session that received unanimous approval in the House, but died before reaching the governor's desk," Hauck said. "This is not a fight I'm willing to give up. The people of Michigan deserve a government that's open and accountable, and that remains one of my top priorities.

"I was more than willing to serve with openness and honesty as a Union Township trustee, and I believe state representatives should be held to the same transparency standards," Hauck said. "I'm here to represent the people of our district. They deserve access to information about the work I'm doing on their behalf."

The House in 2016 and 2017 overwhelmingly passed similar bills, but they went nowhere in the Senate -- which now has many new senators who supported the legislation when they were in the House.

"The people have a right to know what their government is doing and we have the responsibility to tell them the truth. And we won't stop until we get it done," said Republican Lee Chatfield.

New Senate Majority Leader Mike Shirkey, a Republican, told The Associated Press this week that he is "very willing" to discuss expanding the Freedom of Information Act to include lawmakers and the governor. But he expressed concerns, including over accommodating the use of newer technology to communicate, despite calling transparency a "good thing."

He said he used to serve on a school board, and FOIA made members hesitant about documents that could be subject to public records requests.

"I think it inhibits debate, not promotes debate," Shirkey said. "I'm not as much of an advocate on this as some people are."

The Republican-led Senate also opened its session this week, but will not introduce legislation until next week.
The new year has barely begun and changes are already taking place in downtown Midland. Rick Allen, owner of Allen Downtown Enterprises, is currently updating two Main Street properties to incorporate two new eateries and an apartment.

"It should be pretty incredible," Allen stated during a phone interview Friday.

Construction began about a month ago at 240 E. Main St., where Three Bridges Distillery and Tap Room is to move in. Teams are working to expose the building's original brick walls and oak floors and install tin ceilings. Allen's vision is to "preserve the historical part" of the building.

"As long as I'm alive, I'd like to see it stand," he said.

The framing of an apartment is currently being built over the building at 244 E. Main St, which will continue to house Grape Beginnings Winery. Allen plans to add a two-car carport, a private walk and privacy wall later in the year.

"It'll be one of the best views downtown."

Also in 240 E. Main St.  the former Michigan Music Shop  will be Pizza Baker, a pizzeria owned by Jim Baker. Pizza Baker has been operating as a mobile business for the past five summers. In addition to providing artisan pizzas, baked goods and salads, having a brick and mortar store will provide Baker a chance to employ individuals with developmental disabilities, including his son, every season.

"When we started working summers, our goal is to operate a shop year-round so (my son) has employment," Baker said.

While Pizza Baker was originally scheduled to open in February, Baker is currently working to obtain needed permits; he hopes to open sometime in the spring.

"We're just working through the process," Baker said.
Tractor Supply Co. and FFA are partnering for the Grants for Growing campaign, a competitive grant program that provides funding to FFA chapters across the country for the development or improvement of a proposed agricultural project. The application period runs through Feb. 11.

Agriculture educators can submit a detailed proposal for a new or existing project that benefits both the larger community as well as future FFA members. Applicants must outline how the chapter will start, sustain or expand on the project.

Following the application period, Tractor Supply will host a fundraiser from Feb. 13-24, inviting customers to make donations in-store or online with purchase to support the future projects. Grants ranging from $500 to $5,000 will be funded in the spring based on the amount of funds raised. Donations will fund grants in the same state they were donated.

"Tractor Supply is proud of its enduring support of FFA, an organization that prepares students to be the future leaders of the agricultural industry. The Grants for Growing program is just one more way Tractor Supply can assist these young people in their pursuit of studying and advancing the rural lifestyle, while also benefiting their communities," said Jessica Holmes, marketing manager at Tractor Supply Co.

FFA advisors interested in applying for a grant can visit http://www.FFA.org/grantsforgrowing and submit their application. Chapters located near a Tractor Supply store are invited to come by and help in the fundraising efforts, while raising awareness for their agriculture programs. Chapters that participate in an in-store activity during the fundraiser can submit a fulfillment form to receive additional points toward their grant application. Chapters do not need to be located near a store to win a grant.

"Since the program's inception, Grants for Growing has raised more than $2.2 million and funded close to 1,000 grants for agriculture projects across the country," said Christi Korzekwa, senior vice president of marketing at Tractor Supply Co. "We look forward to inspiring future leaders and positively impacting the agricultural industry with our 2019 program."

For more details about the program, visit tractorsupply.com/FFA.
Meghan Markles Oregon relations are in the news again. This time, its her older half brother, Thomas Markle, Jr., who was arrested Friday for driving under the influence of intoxicants in Josephine County.

Oregon State Police stopped the Royal Highness the Duchess of Sussexs brother at 1:33 a.m. early Friday morning.

According to the police report, Markle Jr., 52, who shares a father with the Duchess, was visibly intoxicated and further impairment was observed during the traffic stop.

Markle Jr.s vehicle was towed and he was taken to detox, where he was tested and found to have a blood alcohol level of .11 percent.

This isnt Markle Jr.s first brush with the law. Last January, he was arrested for unlawful use of a weapon and menacing stemming from an incident where put a gun to his girlfriends head.

Charges were later dropped when the Josephine County District Attorney's Office was unable to locate essential victim.

Duchess Markle is not close to her Oregon family. Before her wedding to the former Prince Harry, now His Royal Highness The Duke of Sussex, her brother publicly tried to get the prince to cancel the nuptials, calling his sister a jaded, shallow, conceited woman that will make a joke of you and the royal family heritage.
A 43-year-old MAX train passenger caught viewing child pornography on his cellphone by another rider was sentenced Friday to 366 days in prison.

A female passenger spotted Joshua James Roberts also looking at a photo of a sexual assault of an animal, investigators said.

The woman snapped photos of Roberts looking at the graphic pictures and called 911 immediately on Dec. 12, 2017.

Police confronted Roberts at the next stop, the Rose Quarter station, where Roberts stepped off the Blue Line train, investigators said.

Roberts was charged with five counts of second-degree encouraging child sexual abuse and one count of encouraging sexual assault of an animal. As part of a plea agreement, he pleaded guilty in Multnomah County Circuit Court to one count of second-degree encouraging child sexual abuse.

Roberts already was required to register as a sex offender because of previous convictions, including criminal sexual penetration of a minor and contributing to the sexual delinquency of a minor in 2001 in New Mexico and three counts of first-degree sexual abuse in 2003 in Oregon. Court papers also say he was deemed a violent sex offender in 1999 in Illinois.

Upon his latest arrest, Roberts told jailers that he had a 7-month-old child. The child was in the custody of the state Department of Human Services at the time, court papers state.

Roberts said he was homeless and living in a tent near a graveyard.

Brent Weisberg, a spokesman for the Multnomah County District Attorneys Office, said if Roberts had been convicted of all of the charges against him, Oregon sentencing guidelines would have called for a prison sentence of 13 to 14 months. The plea agreement resulted in a reduction of one to two months, Weisberg said.

Roberts didnt download the graphic images onto his phone, rather he was viewing them on a website, Weisberg said. If Roberts had downloaded the photos, he would have faced a longer prison sentence, Weisberg said.

-- Aimee Green

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A Portland-area McDonalds customer has filed a $10,000 lawsuit against the burger chain, claiming an employee demanded that she remove her shirt so she could be photographed after part of a soda machine injured her upper body.

Becki Marchineks invasion-of-privacy lawsuit states that she was bruised when a metal piece from the drink dispenser fell off and struck her armpit and wrist at a McDonalds next to Clackamas Town Center, near Southeast 82nd Avenue and Sunnyside Road.

Marchinek, 34, told The Oregonian/OregonLive that a female employee told her she needed to accompany her to the womens restroom to document her injuries, and it was inside that restroom that the employee insisted she take off her shirt.

I said I dont feel comfortable with this, and she said Its policy that we document all injuries, Marchinek said.

Marchinek said she and the employee went back and forth a few times, as Marchinek stepped toward the door to leave. The employee blocked the door and refused to budge, Marchinek said.

I felt like the only way she was going to move was if I let her take pictures, Marchinek said, explaining that she then gave in.

Lindsay Rainey, a McDonald's spokeswoman, declined comment because of the pending litigation. No one answered phone calls to the Southeast 82nd Avenue restaurant.

Becki Marchinek says this photo shows bruising on her wrist from a McDonald's soda machine.

Marchinek said she was so upset by the interaction with the employee that after she left the restroom, she told her husband and four children she wanted to go even though her meal wasnt ready yet.

Neal Peton, Marchineks attorney, said his client originally hadnt been planning on suing at the time the McDonalds employee pulled her aside into the restroom. She decided to file suit, however, because she feels she was mistreated.

Shes not suing for a lot of money, Peton said. Its more the principle of it.

Marchinek said there was only reason she told management about the metal piece falling off the drink dispenser: I just wanted them to be aware that ... they should probably fix it before someone gets seriously injured.

The suit seeks $2,211 for Marchineks medical costs and $7,889 for her embarrassment and inconvenience.

In addition to McDonald's Corporation, the lawsuit also lists Ivory Coast Management, among other defendants. The suit was filed Wednesday in Multnomah County Circuit Court. Read the lawsuit here.

-- Aimee Green

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A Portland bartender who was hit with a $115,000 lawsuit earlier this week for drinking on the job is firing back.

Gunnar Hokan Jorstad has hired an attorney and is preparing to ask a Multnomah County Circuit judge to throw out a lawsuit filed by his former employer, the Barrel Room. The suit faults Jorstad for an Oregon Liquor Control Commission decision to suspend the bars liquor license for 21 days.

The commission decided to sanction the bar after Jorstad, 25, admitted he was intoxicated last year while serving customers -- a big violation of commission rules. The commission also sanctioned Jorstad by suspending his servers license for 18 days after Jorstad decided not to contest the finding and penalty.

On Friday, Jorstads lawyer said the Barrel Rooms attempt to collect from Jostad for its estimated losses from the no-booze ban is frivolous and absurd.

While employed at Barrel Room, Mr. Jorstad was repeatedly encouraged by management to get the party started and to lure women in off the street with free liquor, Jorstads attorney, Michael Fuller, said in a statement. As reported by The Oregonian, Mr. Jorstad chose to take responsibility for his part in Barrel Rooms January 2018 Oregon Liquor Control Commission violation. Barrel Room, on the other hand, refuses to take responsibility for its part in the violation.

Fuller said the Barrel Room needs to accept its own failure.

Their violation is failure to supervise, he said. Theyre not being sanctioned for what (Mr. Jorstad) did. Theyre trying to pass the buck onto him.

Bartender Gunnar Jorstad posted this photo to his Instagram page.

Fuller also wrote the bars attorney a letter Thursday, notifying him that Jorstad is filing a complaint with the Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industries, claiming that the Barrel Room committed wage theft by failing to pay Jorstad his last paycheck of $315 after he was fired.

Douglas Raab, the attorney representing the Barrel Room, declined to comment, citing the pending litigation.

Few details are available about the night that got Jorstad and the Barrel Room in hot water.

This week's lawsuit states only that Jorstad admitted to Portland police that he drank on the job and that he was relieved of his work duties that night.

Fuller said he also seeks to be reimbursed for Jorstads costs in taking action against his former employer.

-- Aimee Green

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A proposal by two Oregon lawmakers to require permits for all gunowners is generating buzz online and among Republicans at the Capitol, even before its scheduled to be introduced at the Legislature on Monday.

Its the brainchild of student activists connected to the movement that grew out of Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Florida, where a shooter killed 17 people nearly a year ago, according to the bill. Sen. Rob Wagner, D-Tualatin, and Rep. Andrea Salinas, D-Lake Oswego, are sponsoring it.

Wagner said the bill grew out of a meeting he and Salinas had last year with roughly 300 Oregon students following the Florida shooting.

Any opportunity for conversation around these controversial topics is really important, Wagner said. Its a really important message that we listen to students  about what its like to go to school right now.

The sweeping legislation would also require people to undergo background checks before purchasing or sharing ammunition and would limit ammunition purchases to 20 rounds within a 30-day period, although people could purchase and use unlimited ammunition at shooting ranges. It would ban magazines that hold more than five rounds of ammunition.

Additionally, Senate Bill 501 would require people to securely store their guns and report the loss or theft of a firearm to law enforcement within 24 hours.

If lawmakers pass the proposal, people who ignore it could face severe penalties. For example, anyone who possessed a firearm without a permit could be fine up to $6,250 and sentenced to as much as 364 days in jail.

Its one of 11 bills dealing with firearms that are scheduled to be introduced on Monday, when lawmakers and Gov. Kate Brown return to Salem to be sworn in for their new terms. The Legislative session begins Jan. 22. Not all of the bills would regulate guns. For example, House Bill 2287 would allow school districts to allow firearm safety courses on school property.

In a press release on Friday, Rep. Bill Post, a Republican from Keizer, said the ammunition purchase limit would make it difficult for gun owners to become proficient and should worry duck hunters.

Post also said he was worried the bills ban on magazines to hold more than five rounds of ammunition would mean your old six-shot revolver would be required to be turned in or destroyed.

However, the bill exempts .22-caliber revolvers and any lever-action revolver.

A separate bill is also being introduced that would require gun owners to securely store their weapons with locks and make it easier for shooting victims to sue for damages if the gun owner failed to secure the weapon, report the loss or theft of the gun in a timely manner or supervise a child using the gun.

The proposal is named after the two people killed in the 2012 Clackamas Town Center shooting and their relatives are working to pass it.

-- Hillary Borrud

hborrud@oregonian.com
For instance, the chamber sponsored an entrepreneurship club at Booker T. Washington High School in Norfolk in which students could pitch business ideas for cash prizes to help get them started, Durham said. So far, that program awarded $3,750 and the school is including the program and contest in its marketing class, she said. Black BRAND is also hosting an entrepreneurship fair at the high school 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Feb. 8.
Oregons workplace regulatory agency is going to try mediation in lieu of prosecuting the Legislature or its top officials for failing to adequately address sexual harassment at the Capitol, according to an announcement Friday.

Instead, the Bureau of Labor and Industries will enter into mediation with House Speaker Tina Kotek, Senate President Peter Courtney and others named in a complaint filed in August, according to an agency news release.

Labor regulators said they decided to try conciliation at the request of lawmakers, suggesting that prosecution is not off the table if they cannot resolve the case through mediation.

Should the bureau decide to prosecute, an administrative law judge could have assessed fines or other penalties against the Legislature. Its still possible the Legislature might be subject to financial penalties as part of a settlement agreement, said bureau spokesman Saul Hubbard.

Last week, the Bureau of Labor and Industries released a report detailing substantial evidence of unlawful employment practices at the Capitol. This week, the decision on how to proceed with the case fell to deputy commissioner Duke Shepard, after newly sworn in Labor Commissioner Val Hoyle recused herself, citing her predecessor Brad Avakians unusual role in the case. Avakian had also recused himself because he filed the civil rights complaint that initiated his agencys investigation.

In the report issued last week, the bureaus investigators wrote that top legislative officials had known about physical and verbal harassment at the Capitol for years and did little to stop it. Examples of the harassment included inappropriate touching, sexually suggestive language and the lopsided power dynamic between veteran lawmakers and young staffers, some of whom were still in college or graduate school.

Although many of the allegations had previously come to light through women lawmakers speaking out and the Legislatures own investigation, the labor agencys report for the first time included allegations by Courtneys former office manager that he gave her an ultimatum to either resign or be fired or be demoted because he disapproved of her dating a House lawmaker. In an interview with The Oregonian/OregonLive last week, Courtney flatly denied her accusations.

 Hillary Borrud | hborrud@oregonian.com | 503-294-4034 | @hborrud

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A Salem teen died in a two-car wreck Friday night when she pulled her sedan into a highway intersection in rural Polk County, where her car was struck by an oncoming SUV.

Rosa Maria Roche-Torres, 19, was attempting to either turn into or cross Highway 99W at Clow Corner Road, about halfway between Rickreall and Monmouth, when her Chrysler 200 was struck, Oregon State Police said in a release.

Kevin Ruffino, 32, of Independence was reportedly driving his Jeep Renegade on the highway and hit the Chryslers driver side. Rocha-Torres suffered fatal injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene, police said.

Her two teenage passengers were taken to Salem Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

Ruffino suffered minor injuries, police said, and did not need medical attention.
Police have identified the man who was shot and killed at a Eugene middle school Friday after he reportedly produced a gun following a custody dispute.

Charles Frederick Landeros, 30, was being escorted from Cascade Middle School on the citys west side by Eugene police when he produced the firearm, police said in a release. A struggle ensued, during which Landeros was fatally shot by an officer.

No students, staff or officers were hurt, police said. The incident put the building on lock-out for hours.

Police were called to the school at around 10:30 a.m. to respond to a custody dispute.

Classes went on as normal after the incident. Cascade Middle School, which is in the Bethel School District, serves students in the sixth through eighth grades and had an enrollment of 330 in 2017.
A former armed security guard accused of raping a female tenant of a Hillsboro apartment complex where he was working in 2015 is now suspected of victimizing other people, authorities say.

Jorge Serrano, 28, was arrested for a second time Thursday and booked into the Marion County Detention Center without bail on new accusations of first-degree rape, first-degree encouraging child sex abuse, second-degree sex abuse and using a child in display of sexually explicit conduct. He was previously arrested Dec. 7 and booked into the Washington County jail in connection with the alleged Hillsboro sexual assault and posted bail Dec. 28, court records show.

Marion County prosecutors allege Serrano sexually assaulted one woman between September 2015 and October 2015 and abused an underaged girl that July and recorded it.

Serrano is accused of first-degree rape and first-degree sodomy in Washington County. The county sheriffs office said Serrano uploaded video of the alleged 2015 assault to pornographic websites sometime while he was working as a corrections deputy at the Jefferson County Jail. Serrano worked as a jail deputy from July 2017 and was fired in November 2018.

The woman Serrano is accused of raping discovered the sexually explicit video in October 2018 and contacted the Washington County Sheriffs Office, prompting a criminal investigation.

She told investigators she and Serrano had consensual sexual contact in March 2015 while he was on duty patrolling her Hillsboro apartment complex but said she didnt consent to a second encounter that occurred later that night, didnt consent to any video recordings and didnt know it had been uploaded online.

The sheriffs office said Serrano recorded her secretly during their first interaction, then later went to her apartment after his shift ended and sexually assaulted her while she was unconscious. Authorities have not said how or why the woman became unconscious.

The woman reached out to Serrano on social media after discovering the online video, and Serrano admitted to posting the footage of her, the sheriffs office said.

Since Serranos arrest in December, the Washington County Sheriffs Office said detectives have interviewed six people, including girls who live out of state, who may have been abused by Serrano. He is suspected of using social media to meet women and girls.

Serrano quit the Vancouver-based private security firm he was working for in June 2015 after admitting to having sex while on-duty, falsifying reports, shopping for guns when he was supposed to be working and other misconduct. The company that same year recommended Serranos state private security certifications be revoked by the Oregon Department of Public Safety Standards and Training, but the regulatory agency declined because his known conduct while an armed security guard at the time wasnt criminal.

Neither the employer nor state regulators were aware of sexual assault accusations at the time.

Serrano would go on to earn more state safety certifications. He graduated from the Oregon Public Safety Academy, which is run by DPSST, in February 2018 after completing basic training to receive a state corrections certification.

By then, he was working as a Jefferson County jail deputy. He was fired after the agency learned Serrano wrongfully listed two former coworkers as his supervisors at the private security firm he quit. The former colleagues gave Serrano positive employment references.

Serrano also had previously worked for Jefferson County as a victims advocate for the district attorneys office from January 2017 to July 2017.

DPSST officials said Serrano is now the subject of a professional standards investigation into his time working for the Jefferson County Sheriffs Office. If he is found in violation, he could have his state certifications revoked.

The Washington County Sheriffs Office asks anyone who may have more information on any potential sex crimes involving Serrano to contact detectives at 503-846-2700.

-- Everton Bailey Jr.

ebailey@oregonian.com | 503-221-8343 |@EvertonBailey

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The 72-year-old man accused of shooting and killing his son-in-law last month near Colville, Washington, was arraigned Friday morning in Stevens County Superior Court.

James C. Gates, who resides in Spokane, pleaded not guilty to a charge of second-degree murder in connection with the death of 51-year-old Mark Leland.

Leland had been married to Gates daughter, Michele, who killed two children while she was a juvenile in Portland in 1978 and 1980, and later spent 15 years in federal custody for attempting to hire a hitman to kill a woman and burn down her house.

Mark and Michele Leland lived in Glendora, California, with two young daughters. According to court records, they had been visiting a home south of Colville, 980-B Westover Road, for the holidays when Gates shot Mark Leland twice in the abdomen on the night of Dec. 28.

Gates claimed he had acted in self-defense, though Leland gave deputies a conflicting account while he lay bleeding on the floor of the garage, according to court records. An ambulance arrived shortly afterward and took Leland to a Colville hospital, where he died later that night.

Michele Leland, who was released from federal supervision in 2008, and Susan Alexander, a resident of the home near Colville, told deputies they had been inside and had not witnessed the shooting. Deputies described Michele Leland, Alexander and Gates as stoic and emotionless during the ordeal.

During his arraignment, Judge Jessica Reeves kept Gates bond set at $250,000. He was still listed on the Stevens County Jail roster on Friday. Hes banned from speaking with his daughter and Alexander. If released, he must remain within Spokane and Stevens counties.

His attorney, Tim Trageser, did not immediately return a message seeking comment Friday.

Lelands brother, Robert Leland, lives in Liberty Lake. He said they grew up in Spanaway, Washington, and Mark Leland was a superintendent for a heavy construction company, most recently working on an underground freeway tunnel in Los Angeles.

Robert Leland said he and his brother fell out of regular contact about 10 years ago, when Mark married Michele Leland, who was then going by Michele Shorthouse.

Once we found out about her past, we were not comfortable with including her in our close-knit family, Robert Leland said.

As for what happened on the night of his brothers death, Robert Leland said he doesnt know much more than whats been reported in the newspaper.

The whole thing is just unreal, he said.

Contact the writer: (509) 459-5047 chadso@spokesman.com

Chad Sokol

The Spokesman-Review

Twitter: @bychadsokol
The late U.S. Sen. Everett Dirksen once said, A billion here, a billion there, and pretty soon youre talking real money.

President Trump wants $5.7 billion to expand the southern border wall. I dont personally command billions of dollars and it is hard for me to imagine what that really means. So I offer this: By comparison, those $5.7 billion dollars equal 15% of an entire years spending by Oregon state government. Sounds like real money to me.

Its time to let go of this presidential funding demand, get the federal government back to work and put our very real money to more productive and effective uses.

Gaye G. Benson, Portland
By Lori Chavez-DeRemer

As we delve into 2019, we are all looking forward to some sort of change for the better. This phenomenon of change is certainly true in my case, although the changes for me were neither necessarily expected nor ideal. As you may know, I ran for the State Representative of House District 51 in 2018, and unfortunately, I lost that race. Subsequently, I have also decided to step down from my position as mayor of Happy Valley. However, even amidst the disheartening results of my campaign and departure from this incredible job, I can only reflect upon these past eight years with pride and happiness, particularly for the work of our towns government and the overwhelmingly pragmatic Happy Valley community, who participated in the communal and political discourse that improved our city.

When I was elected to become Happy Valleys Mayor in 2010, I had set a number of goals to accomplish for our community during my time in office. This included a number of matters, including the need for growth in the economic, infrastructural and communal aspects of Happy Valley. Retrospectively, I have complete confidence in saying that we have achieved success in tackling these issues.

I pushed for a fully staffed and equipped police force, which actively handles more than 3,000 calls each year. My initiatives for environmental conservation and affordable housing have also seen great outcomes, from the solar panel plan that has saved the city more than 127,000 pounds of greenhouse gas emissions a year to the fight to keep one of the lowest property tax rates in all of Oregon. Lastly, in the last eight years, the Happy Valley Youth Council has flourished and now leads youth councils across the country. The biggest issue facing Happy Valley in the future will be managing the continued growth that is necessary and part of the urban growth expansion of the city, which cannot be legally stopped. Incoming Mayor Tom Ellis and the City Council will have their work cut out for them in balancing this work and fulfilling their campaign promises.

Furthermore, I am proud of what I helped accomplish outside the borders of Happy Valley. By helping to create a comprehensive strategy to ease local transportation funding deficits, we accomplished needed improvements to the regional and statewide transportation system. One significant reason this transportation initiative succeeded was due to bipartisan cooperation. Ever since I became mayor, I believed in -- and still continue to believe in -- the value of bipartisan action. While I am a member of the Republican Party, bipartisanship is one of the reasons why I could accomplish so much as mayor. But still, this past election brought a change of balance in our states government: we lost three Republican house seats in the state legislature, giving the Democrats a 38-22 supermajority, and they also gained 1 seat in the state senate for the supermajority.

While I advocate for bipartisanship, this new shift may make it harder for universally beneficial legislation to be passed. As for the future of the Republican Party, I hope for more diverse and inclusive partnerships, along with the undying will to swing the pendulum back in balance.

Happy Valley will continue to grow with new leaders at the helm, and the state legislature will continue to squeeze municipalities for more dollars. I ask the residents to keep eyes wide open and be involved. I know I will be one of them.

Lori Chavez-DeRemer lives in Happy Valley.
Three decades after an assault in a California night club put him in a hospital for a year, Brent Yonkovich still has physical challenges. Theres a slur to his speech, and he has trouble controlling one arm.

None of that stops him from being one of the best cupcake salesmen around Portland.

Pop in to Sarah Bellums Bakery in Multnomah Village, and you might meet Yonkovich, 54, behind the counter.

The nonprofit bakery and workshop, which opened in December, is staffed by adults with acquired brain injuries.

Ive had numerous volunteer gigs in the past, but none of them have been as fulfilling and rewarding as Sarah Bellums, Yonkovich said. This place is awesome. Volunteering at Sarah Bellums has made me feel like Im in control of my own destiny. I could not be happier.

Theres no Sarah at this shop. The name is a play on words  the cerebellum is the part of the brain that controls coordination.

Sarah Bellums is the brain child of Rik Lemoncello, an associate professor of speech-language pathology at Pacific University in Forest Grove. Three years ago, he received a grant from the university to launch the bakery as a form of skills training and a social segue for people with brain injuries.

The biggest barrier for folks with chronic brain injury is social isolation, Lemoncello said. Friends tend to fade out because of cognitive challenges. Its hard for our folks to make a lot of initiation and call people and do that follow-up that requires memory. They can tend to isolate and just stay home. Sarah Bellums provides a space for them to come and get back out into the community.

For the past two years, hes led a group of 11 volunteer bakers who have worked out of commissary kitchens and sold their wares at area farmers markets. After a successful fundraising campaign raised more than $50,000, Sarah Bellums was able to purchase equipment and renovate a space in Southwest Portland. The storefront will afford even more people with brain injuries the chance to get involved.

Ive seen so many people in the (brain injury) community just wanting to get out into the world, wanting to interact and wanting to get some job skills, but the world is not very supportive of that for our folks, said Faith Walmer, whose husband, Had, is living with a brain injury.

Faith is the front of house manager at the shop and the only paid staff (though the nonprofit hopes to eventually be able to pay all its workers.) Shes seen some dramatic transformations in the people who come to the bakery with brain injuries. They may start off shy and withdrawn, but they open up, they talk to customers, they start to smile.

Its just really moving to me to be able to be part of a venue that affords our people that kind of opportunity to be human, she said.

Really, it could be any kind of shop that affords these opportunities. Lemoncello just happens to love baking, and he brought his own recipes to the shop.

Baking actually lends itself well to this kind of work because its repetitive, he said. It is very procedure-oriented to follow a recipe, and you really have to have good sustained attention to stay focused on your recipe and build your endurance.

What started as a five-step cupcake recipe has become two pages of detailed instructions. It takes the bakers a full day to make one batch of cupcakes.

Ive learned which steps really need to be made more explicit, Lemoncello said. For example, how to scoop, how to raise and lower the bowl on the mixer, how to attach the paddle, where to find all of the different equipment because our bakers may not remember.

College student volunteers serve as direct supports to bakers with brain injuries. The work is also a chance for students to see how a brain injury can affect someone in real-life.

And Lemoncello hopes the bakery raises awareness in the broader community about people who are living with a brain injury.

Brain injury is oftentimes considered an invisible injury, where a person might look fine, they can speak fine, but internally theyre struggling with their ability to focus, with their ability to remember new information, Lemoncello said. They can get lost when they go out into the community. They can look like theyre maybe intoxicated because their vision is off or their balance is off. The world just does not have a good understanding of someone functioning and moving through the world with a brain injury.

Sarah Bellums Bakery sells all-organic cupcakes, with gluten free and vegan options, and even a line of dog treats. The store, located at 7828 S.W. Capitol Highway, is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday.

For more on the shop, or to learn about donating or volunteering, visit sarahbellumsbakery.org or call 971-249-2870.

-- Samantha Swindler

@editorswindler / sswindler@oregonian.com
Portland police are reviving their effort to equip officers with body cameras nearly four years after a federal judge urged their use in the city.

A new program manager is leading a team within the Police Bureau to seek public input to draft policies to govern use of the cameras, retention of the recordings and access to the footage.

Tammy Mayer, a civilian employee, kicked off the first of 18 community meetings Friday in Northeast Portland.

Police also hope to work closely with Western Oregon Universitys criminal justice graduate program to develop performance measures to evaluate the impact of the cameras.

The City Council four years ago awarded $834,610 to put more cameras in police cars, but the bureau decided instead to use the money for body cameras. The city also put aside another $1.6 million in annual funding for the program in fiscal 2016-17.

But the reserve remained untapped after Mayor Ted Wheeler expressed a reluctance to move forward without more information.

We havent really done anything with that money. Were ready now, Mayer said Friday.

She plans to address the City Council about her teams efforts and research by the end of the month.

She hopes to post a request for proposals for vendors in February and select two companies to provide cameras for testing by Central Precinct officers during a six-month pilot program from June through December.

The goal, she said, is to equip officers across the bureau with cameras by October 2020.

If the plan sounds familiar, its because the city embarked on a similar exercise in 2014 and 2015. A now-retired police captain held community sessions to draw feedback on policy questions, the bureau evaluated potential vendors and officers tested out a variety of cameras.

Whats changed since Wheeler put the idea on hold in March 2017?

Nicole Grant, Wheelers senior policy adviser, and Katie Shipley, an analyst from the city budget office, traveled with Police Bureau members last spring to Phoenix and Oakland to review their body camera programs and policies. Portland police also visited police departments in Anaheim and Fullerton, Calif.

The mayor supports developing a limited pilot at the moment, supported by data collection and analysis, Eileen Park, the mayors spokeswoman, said in an email. Once the pilot is complete, the question of whether to proceed with full deployment will be revisited.

In an end-of-the-year message to her officers last month, Police Chief Danielle Outlaw wrote that the bureau plans this year to continue community outreach and internal discussions to set parameters and select a camera system for the pilot project.

Portland would follow Beaverton and Portland State University officers, who already wear cameras. Oregon State Police, Hillsboro and the Washington County Sheriffs Office are now implementing body camera programs.

More than half of all medium-to-large police departments in the United States now use or are testing body-worn cameras, according to the Police Executive Research Forum. But many agencies are still grappling with deciding what footage to make public and how long to retain the recordings.

Mayer and the mayors office contend Portland police have had an advantage by waiting and learning from the mistakes other police agencies have made. But many community leaders have urged the city for years to adopt body cameras for officers, hoping theyll increase police accountability and transparency.

Mayer is a former U.S. Air Force security forces officer and commander who joined the Police Bureau in October 2015 and spearheaded the rollout of a new regional law enforcement computer records management system. She said she recognizes shes repeating a process that others in the Police Bureau have already undertaken and will incorporate the earlier public comments on body cameras in the renewed effort.

Questions to work out, she said, include: Determining who will wear the cameras, when they must be turned on or shut off, how long to keep the footage and whether officers can view the video before writing reports or getting interviewed for internal affairs inquiries.

State lawmakers approved a bill in 2015 that set some basic guidelines for law enforcement agencies that choose to outfit their officers with the cameras. Under the guidelines, when an officer has reasonable suspicion or probable cause that a crime has occurred or is about to occur, they can film an encounter. Police would be obligated to retain the footage for a minimum of 180 days.

In its earlier planning, the Police Bureau was leaning toward giving officers some discretion on when to turn the cameras off and on. They also were leaning toward not allowing video to roll inside a medical facility where a patient's privacy could be violated, during interviews of a reluctant witness or sexual assault victim or inside a private home when a suspect is no longer present.

Two years ago, a draft police union policy drew community criticism. It would allow officers who witness another officer's use of deadly force to review video recordings of the encounter from their own body cameras before writing their reports or view video taken from their body cameras before being interviewed in internal affairs cases that don't involve deadly force or deaths in police custody.

The draft agreement the city reached with the union in 2016, however, says substantial additional public input would be required before the policy is finalized.

The proposal calls for officers to turn the camera system power to the on position when they begin their shift and initiate an audio/video recording upon receiving a call for service where a possible crime is in progress or has just occurred. This includes any self-initiated activity where enforcement action occurs. The camera shall remain in record mode until the completion of the contact. This also includes unknown disturbances or calls involving people in a mental health crisis, with the caveat that officers be aware of privacy regulations, the draft agreement says.

The city also must budget ongoing costs to cover the program manager, an IT staff person, and four additional staff members in the records division to support the program, estimated to be roughly $500,000 per year.

U.S. District Judge Michael H. Simon, who monitors the citys settlement with the U.S. Justice Department over police use of force against people with mental illness, has voiced support for the cameras. In a 2014 ruling approving the agreement that called for police reforms, he wrote:

The court notes that as the technology in this area continues to improve and become more dependable and affordable, more city police departments in the United States are choosing to employ this technology in ways that protect both law enforcement officers and the public they serve."

Next week, the Police Bureau will include Mayers PowerPoint presentation on its website and more information about the revived body camera project.

-- Maxine Bernstein

Email at mbernstein@oregonian.com

Follow on Twitter @maxoregonian
The Oregon State Bar this week held a rare hearing on the moral fitness of an aspiring lawyer who was investigated for inappropriate conduct when he worked as a Springfield police officer.

Neil Halttunen, 50, worked in Springfield from 1996 until 2012, when state police certification records show he resigned while under investigation.

An internal Springfield police memo obtained this week by The Oregonian/OregonLive shows that the department in 2017 investigated Halttunens on-duty contacts with at least two women. Both accused him of stalking. One woman said he touched her in an intimate way and the other said he came to her workplace repeatedly and texted her a partially nude image of himself and a short clip of pornography.

On Friday, Halttunen released a statement saying he takes full responsibility for the failures of my past.

I have learned from my actions and the consequences of those actions on other people, the statement read. I believe that the strength and humility that was, and continue to be, required to evolve as a person are the qualities that will allow me to be a compassionate lawyer. I look forward to taking my experiences and the difficult lessons that I have learned and serving the public as an Oregon lawyer.

Halttunens lawyer, David Elkanich, said more than a dozen people testified on his clients behalf during this weeks state bar hearing. Elkanich characterized the hearing as the culmination of Halttunens long journey of personal reflection and growth that began over six years ago when he left the Springfield Police Department. He is a different person today than he was then.

According to the Oregon State Bar, Halttunen passed the bar exam in 2017. For prospective attorneys, the exam is only part of the process. It also involves a review of an applicants character and moral fitness.

That means future Oregon lawyers must demonstrate a level of conduct, mental health, judgment and diligence that will result in adequate representation of the best interest of clients, according to the states administrative rules.

The candidate also must show good moral character. The bar, according to the rules, looks for conduct that reflects moral turpitude or behavior that would cause a reasonable person to have substantial doubts about the individuals honesty, fairness and respect for the rights of others and for the laws of the state and the nation.

The admission process is overseen by the Board of Bar Examiners, which is made up of lawyers and members of the public. If the board finds, after interviewing the candidate, that the person fails to meet the requirements, then the candidate may ask for a hearing.

Such hearings are exceedingly rare in Oregon. The most recent one took place 14 years ago and involved an applicant who had a history of criminal convictions and substance abuse. In that case, the board found that the candidate failed to meet the moral character and fitness requirements and denied him membership to the bar. The applicant appealed the decision to the Oregon Supreme Court and won.

The board is expected to issue a decision within a couple of months.

The board oversees the admission process, though the Oregon Supreme Court has complete discretion over whether an applicant is admitted to the bar.

The entire admission process is confidential; hearings are closed to the public. A representative of the bar this week declined to comment on Halttunens hearing or even confirm that it had taken place.

Halttunens on-duty conduct while a police officer appears to be a source of concern for the board.

A former strip club manager, Aspen Rosen of Eugene, said she testified for about about 45 minutes during the fitness hearing on Wednesday for Halttunen.

Rosen told The Oregonian/OregonLive that she appeared by video and told the panel that Halttunen texted her a photo of himself wearing nothing and holding a towel over his genitals and a short pornographic video showing a shackled man being kicked in the genitals by a woman.

Rosen said Halttunen routinely stopped at the clubs parking lot while she was outside smoking before the start of her shift.

It became so frequent that every shift he would come when I was outside when I was there, she said. He would tell me how pretty I am, how sexy I am and always asking me to take pictures and send it to him and I was just kind of thrown off by that.

She said she didnt feel like she could tell him to stop contacting her.

I was like, Ha ha laugh it off because I dont want any  problems, you know what I mean? she said. Its better to have them on my side than not.

Her account also is detailed in a 12-page memo written by Springfield Lt. Scott McKee and addressed to Police Chief Rick Lewis. McKee was interviewing Rosen about the conduct of another Springfield police officer when she brought up Halttunens behavior, which she characterized as stalking.

In his report, McKee details an interview with another woman, a stripper, who also alleged Halttunen stalked her after he arrested her for intoxicated driving in 2009. The woman alleged Halttunen visited the strip club where she worked almost daily.

According to the memo, the woman told McKee that Halttunen touched her like your partner would or your spouse but she said the two did not have sex.

The memo also notes that during a deposition in a separate case, Halttunen acknowledged having sex with other women he had met on duty.

Lewis, the Springfield chief, didnt respond Friday to emailed questions about what the agency did in response to McKees memo. The form that Springfield police submitted to the Oregon Department of Public Safety Standards and Training when Halttunen left shows he resigned while under investigation. The state agency certifies law enforcement officers in Oregon.

McKee, for his part, was placed on paid leave last month. At the time, he issued a statement saying that leaders of the Springfield police union accused him of being untruthful during a separate police misconduct investigation.

McKee said he called for the chief to open an independent investigation into the union leaders allegations and he was then placed on administrative leave.

Lewis did not respond to an email seeking comment on McKees status.

Noelle Crombie

503-276-7184

ncrombie@oregonian.com

@noellecrombie

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Two Multnomah County jail inmates injured while working along a Milwaukie highway on Wednesday have been released from a hospital, according to the county sheriffs office.

Rogelio Miguel Francisco, 26, and Robert Adam Miller, 32, returned to jail the day of the crash, said Sgt. Brandon White, a county sheriffs office spokesman. The two were part of a four-inmate work crew clearing tree branches and brush along Oregon 224 around 10:50 a.m. when a van rear-ended an Oregon Department of Transportation pickup that one of the inmates was standing in and the other was standing near.

The driver of the van, 25-year-old Joseph Anaya, was cited for careless driving, according to Milwaukie police. No one else was injured. The four inmates were being overseen by a Multnomah County deputy.

According to Oregon court records, Francisco was sentenced Dec. 11 to 110 days in jail for driving while suspended and violating probation related to a prior conviction for driving while suspended and driving under the influence of intoxicants. Miller was sentenced in August to six months in jail for not participating in a substance abuse program and having drugs after a prior conviction for heroin possession.

-- Everton Bailey Jr.

ebailey@oregonian.com | 503-221-8343 |@EvertonBailey

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A funny thing happened between 2011 and 2017 in the glitzy offices that house Nikes small army of accountants and tax lawyers.

Even as the companys sales and profits went on an unprecedented rampage, its taxes declined. It paid less in 2017 than it did six years before, even though its profits doubled to $4.2 billion.

Nikes tax rate declined over those six years, from 24.1 percent to 13.2 percent.

To accomplish that extraordinary decrease, Nike funneled $12.2 billion in earnings offshore and out of the reach of the U.S. tax man. It did sophisticated deals with subsidiaries in Bermuda and elsewhere that levy minuscule income taxes or none at all.

The multibillion-dollar question is: Are these strategies legal?

The European Union has its doubts.

On Thursday, the EU revealed it has opened an investigation into Nikes tax avoidance strategies. The EU is looking specifically at two Nike subsidiaries in the Netherlands, where the company has its European headquarters.

The Netherlands may have granted a selective advantage to the Nike group by allowing it to pay less tax than other stand-alone or group companies whose transactions are priced in accordance with market terms, the EU said in a statement. If confirmed, this would amount to illegal state aid.

Nike said it complied with the tax law in the Netherlands and that the EU investigation is without merit.

Nikes corporate effective tax rate (ETR) is determined by a number of factors and varies from year to year, the company said in a statement.  Tax laws regularly change and impact tax rates including in 2018 when the adoption of U.S. tax reform resulted in Nikes ETR being 55.3 percent. Beginning in 2018, there was a change in an accounting standard which also had the effect of reducing our tax rate by 5.3 percent.

Nike has paid corporate income tax on all its global earnings and pays significant other taxes including duties, tariffs, property taxes, sales taxes and payroll taxes in markets where it operates around the world.

Nikes aggressive tax strategies have saved it millions, perhaps billions, of dollars and are a boon for shareholders but not so great for the treasuries of state and federal governments. While using overseas investments to lower its global tax obligations, Nike has won some important tax concessions at the state level.

In 2012, it got a guarantee from the state that the so-called single-sales factor method of assessment, which is highly beneficial to Nike, would remain in place for 30 years.

The EU is not the only public entity to question Nikes tax strategies. The company has tangled with the IRS as well, most recently in 2015 and 2016. The IRS issued statutory notices of deficiency to the company for its 2011 and 2012 fiscal years and demanded that Nike fork over another $254 million. The beef had to do with a foreign tax credit matter.

Nike fought back in U.S. Tax Court and apparently prevailed. According to company SEC filings, Nike paid none of the $254 million demanded by the IRS.

But the IRS is not going away. The agency is auditing Nikes 2015 and 2016 taxes, the company revealed.

In its most simplified form, offshore tax shelters work like this: The U.S. corporate tax rate, until recently, was 35 percent, one of the highest rates in the world. To avoid that rate, some large corporations commonly engage in paper transactions with subsidiaries in tax havens. They effectively shift profits to these countries, avoiding the 35 percent domestic rate.

By 2017, American companies had put at least $2.6 trillion into offshore tax shelters. President Donald Trump, when arguing for his sweeping tax reform bill, claimed the actual number is $5 trillion.

If the companies ever decide to move the money back onshore, the IRS can levy taxes on it. But until recently, most companies had no intention of doing so. The offshore investments became known as permanently reinvested earnings.

By the end of 2017, Nike had $12.2 billion in permanently reinvested earnings. The company estimates that if its $12.2 billion was repatriated to the U.S., it would owe $4.1 billion in U.S. taxes, according to its SEC filings.

Designating its profits this way allows the company to avoid paying even a dime of U.S. income taxes on these profits until they are repatriated to the U.S., said Matt Gardner, a senior fellow at the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy.

The clear implication of that disclosure is that the company paid an extremely low foreign tax rate -- perhaps 1 or 2 percent - on this $12.2 billion, Gardner said. He considers this clear evidence that the massive investment was made for just one reason: Reducing the companys tax bill.

The entire tax landscape has changed since passage of the Trump tax bill.

The measure reduced the federal corporate tax rate from 35 percent to 21 percent. It also offered a temporary tax holiday to multinationals that bring back their billions of dollars back to the U.S.

Instead of 35 percent, the tax reform bill reduced the rate on repatriated earnings to 15 percent on cash and 8 percent on illiquid assets.

Trump predicted a massive flood of repatriated money. We expect to have in excess of $4 trillion brought back very shortly, he told a group of business leaders in August 2017, and in all likelihood something close to $5 trillion.

The flood has been more like a steady trickle. As of September 2018, estimates of newly returned corporate money ranged from $195 billion to $465 billion.

Its unclear whether Nike has been among the companies bringing money back onshore. It declined to say.

The Trump tax bill imposed one-time transition taxes on corporations. As a result, Nike paid more in taxes in 2018  $2.3 billion  than it did in the prior three years combined. Its tax rate ballooned to 55 percent of earnings.

But Nike executives made it clear in a conference call last May that the tax rate will return to normal  in the mid-teens range or slightly higher  in its current fiscal year. Thats significantly lower than the 21 percent rate charged under the new Trump tax reform.

 Jeff Manning | jmanning@oregonian.com | 503-294-7606

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Cura Cannabis, which claims to be the biggest company in Oregons legalized marijuana market, sued a rival in California on Friday over anonymous social media posts.

Portland-based Cura alleges a competitor, Bloom Farms, created fake social media accounts to highlight sexual assault allegations against Cura investor and former chief executive Nitin Khanna.

(Bloom Farms) wanted to use false statements to induce retailers to stop selling Cura products, get consumers to stop buying Cura products, to divert sales of Curas products to themselves and to other competitors, to harm Curas ability to fundraise, and to reduce competition in the cannabis industry, Cura charged in its lawsuit, filed in Alameda County Superior Court in California.

The Portland Business Journal reported the suit Friday.

Cura sells wholesale cannabis oil to retailers under the brand name Select Oils. It asserts that the social media campaign against it succeeded in undermining its reputation with consumers, diverting sales to Bloom and other competitors. The suit seeks unspecified compensatory and punitive damages, plus legal costs.

We are disappointed to discover that another company in our community would sink to these lows and utilize such despicable tactics to hamper competition in the industry, Cura wrote in a statement Friday.

In his own statement, Bloom Farms chief executive Michael Ray did not specifically deny playing a role in the social media posts. Instead, he cast his company as a defender of free speech.

This suit is yet another attempt by Select/Cura to bully competitors and silence individuals who are exercising their right to free speech by expressing their outrage and disgust over publicly available information on rape allegations against Selects founder Nitin Khanna, Ray wrote.

As a company and individuals, we join and support those who advocate for equal opportunity and condemn all forms of sexual discrimination, harassment and assault, he said.

Cura says it has more than 500 employees and has raised $115 million, valuing the company at $400 million. It operates in Oregon, California, Nevada and Arizona.

In May, Cura sued unnamed people behind anonymous social media accounts, alleging they were defaming the company by highlighting the accusations against Khanna. Curas CEO is now Cameron Forni, previously a sales executive at an Oregon company that sells agricultural products.

Cura used the May lawsuit to subpoena social media and internet companies, seeking the identities of the people behind the anonymous accounts. It dropped that case Friday as it brought the new allegations in California.

The litigation has served to highlight 2012 accusations against Khanna, who quit in May, citing the effect of the social media campaign.

In Fridays suit, Cura says Bloom defamed Khanna and the company with social media posts that claimed he had a history of sexual assault charges. Using a narrow definition of the word charges, the suit notes Khanna never faced criminal charges. He has, though, been accused of sexual assault.

A former Oregon tech entrepreneur and Portland tech investor, Khanna faced a 2014 lawsuit by his wifes former hairdresser. The suit alleged Khanna sexually assaulted the hairdresser on the morning of his wedding in Newberg. Khanna unequivocally denied the sexual assault allegations.

The woman and Khanna settled the 2014 suit on confidential terms, and Yamhill County prosecutors declined to bring criminal charges. Prosecutors said DNA evidence demonstrated sexual contact between Khanna and the woman but didnt show whether or not it was consensual.

"That is not to say that the sexual assault didn't happen exactly as the victim describes," county prosecutors explained in a memo on their decision. "The problem we have is that we cannot prove this case beyond a reasonable doubt."

-- Mike Rogoway | twitter: @rogoway | 503-294-7699
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UpMarketResearch published an exclusive report on Microwave Steam Sterilizer market delivering key insights and providing a competitive advantage to clients through a detailed report. The report contains 114 pages which highly exhibits on current market analysis scenario, upcoming as well as future opportunities, revenue growth, pricing and profitability. This report focuses on the Microwave Steam Sterilizer market, especially in North America, Europe and Asia-Pacific, South America, Middle East and Africa. This report categorizes the market based on manufacturers, regions, type, segments and application.Get Free Exclusive PDF Sample Copy of This Report @ https://www.upmarketresearch.com/home/requested_sample/47264Microwave Steam Sterilizer Market research report delivers a close watch on leading competitors with strategic analysis, micro and macro market trend and scenarios, pricing analysis and a holistic overview of the market situations in the forecast period. It is a professional and a detailed report focusing on primary and secondary drivers, market share, leading segments and geographical analysis. Further, key players, major collaborations, merger & acquisitions along with trending innovation and business policies are reviewed in the report. The report contains basic, secondary and advanced information pertaining to the Microwave Steam Sterilizer global status and trend, market size, share, growth, trends analysis, segment and forecasts from 2018 - 2025.The scope of the report extends from market scenarios to comparative pricing between major players, cost and profit of the specified market regions. The numerical data is backed up by statistical tools such as SWOT analysis, BCG matrix, SCOT analysis, PESTLE analysis and so on. The statistics are represented in graphical format for a clear understanding on facts and figures.For more information on this report, please visit: https://www.upmarketresearch.com/home/enquiry_before_buying/47264The following manufacturers are covered in this report: Philips Avent Munchkin Wabi Baby DR. BROWNS KIDDILUV TOMMEE TIPPEEMicrowave Steam Sterilizer Production by Region North America Europe China Japan Southeast Asia IndiaGet Best Discount On This Report @ https://www.upmarketresearch.com/home/request_for_discount/47264Global Microwave Steam Sterilizer Market: Product Segment Analysis Stationary PortableMicrowave Steam Sterilizer Breakdown Data by Application Bottle Disinfection Breast Pumps Disinfection Other Necessary Baby Accessories DisinfectionGet Free Exclusive PDF Sample Copy of This Report @ https://www.upmarketresearch.com/home/requested_sample/47264The report categorizes the market into segments by companies, end-use, type and potential regions. As an enterprise owner or a market entrant, the report offers you a comprehensive analysis beneficial for you to take a positive traction as and when needed. It offers a complete study of analytics necessary to decide on trending segments and potential market areas to operate.The scope of the report extends from market scenarios to comparative pricing between major players, cost and profit of the specified market regions. The numerical data is backed up by statistical tools such as SWOT analysis, BCG matrix, SCOT analysis, PESTLE analysis and so on. The statistics are represented in graphical format for a clear understanding on facts and figures.In this study, the years considered to estimate the market size of Microwave Steam Sterilizer are as follows: History Year: 2013-2017 Base Year: 2017 Estimated Year: 2018 Forecast Year 2018 to 2025To buy this report please visit: https://www.upmarketresearch.com/buy/microwave-steam-sterilizer-market-researchKey Reasons to Purchase: To gain insightful analyses of the market and have a comprehensive understanding of the Microwave Steam Sterilizer Industry Analysis and Forecast 2018-2025 and its commercial landscape Learn about the market strategies that are being adopted by your competitors and leading organizations To understand the future outlook and prospects for Microwave Steam Sterilizer market analysis and forecast 2018-2025.Customization of the Report:UpMarketResearch provides free customization of reports as per your need. This report can be personalized to meet your requirements. Get in touch with our sales team, who will guarantee you to get a report that suits your necessities.About UpMarketResearch:UpMarketResearch () is a leading distributor of market research report with more than 800+ global clients. As a market research company, we take pride in equipping our clients with insights and data that holds the power to truly make a difference to their business. Our mission is singular and well-defined  we want to help our clients envisage their business environment so that they are able to make informed, strategic and therefore successful decisions for themselves.Contact Info:Name: Alex MathewsEmail: Alex@upmarketresearch.comOrganization: UpMarketResearchAddress: 500 East E Street, Ontario, CA 91764, United States
Comprehensive Analysis on Global M-Commerce Payment Market Forecast 2022: Major key players are Apple Inc, Alphabet Inc, Mastercard Incorporated, Paypal Holdings Inc

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M-commerce or mobile commerce is called commerce, which is done by e-commerce on a mobile phone. E-commerce includes the purchase and sale of a wide range of products and services such as online banking, bill payments, and information delivery. One of the key features of the M-commerce site is to improve the ease of use and ease of use by modifying the website to make it easier to use with smaller screen sizes.During this research report on the global m-commerce payment market, in-depth interviews were conducted in addition to discussions with various key participants of opinion leaders in this industry participant. The first survey of this report received a lot of research effort in complimenting the extensive second survey. The researchers reviewed the key players' product literature, press releases, annual reports and related documents to reach competitive analysis and market understanding.Get for sample copy of this report here@Depending on the payment method, the report divides the global m-commerce payment market into peer-to-peer transfers, barcode m-commerce payments and short-distance m-commerce payments. The m-commerce payment market is based on end-use industry, retail e-commerce, IT and telecommunications, services and tourism, banking, financial services and insurance (BFSI), medical, media and entertainment, airlines and others.The prognosis of the said market across all sectors is obtainable in terms of CAGR and other important factors such year-on-year growth and out-and-out dollar opportunity. These constraints provide the client with in depth insights and future prospects from the standpoint of M-Commerce Payment market.Top Major key players are:Apple Inc, Alphabet Inc, Mastercard Incorporated, Paypal Holdings Inc, Visa, Inc, ACI Worldwide, Inc, DH Corporation, Fidelity National Information Services, Fiserv, Inc, Square, Inc, Samsung Electronics Company Limited, Jack Henry & Associates Inc etc.Get for discount copy of this report here:Most important data include the key recommendations and predictions by our analysts, intended to steer a strategic business decision. The company profiles section of this research service is a compilation of the growth strategies, financial status, product portfolio, and recent developments of key market participants. The report provides detailed industry analysis of the global M-Commerce Payment market with the help of proven research methodologies such as Porters five forces. The forces analyzed are bargaining power of the buyers, bargaining power of suppliers, threat of new entrants, threat of substitutes, and the degree of competition.To conclude, contemplation of the noteworthy enactment of the Global M-Commerce Payment Market is driven by various analysis tools and wide-ranging research reports. Citations are engaged to mount clear results and validate them.About Research N Reports:Research N Reports is a new age market research firm where we focus on providing information that can be effectively applied. Today being a consumer driven market, companies require information to deal with the complex and dynamic world of choices. Where relying on a sound board firm for your decisions becomes crucial. Research N Reports specializes in industry analysis, market forecasts and as a result getting quality reports covering all verticals, whether be it gaining perspective on current market conditions or being ahead in the cut throat Global competition. Since we excel at business research to help businesses grow, we also offer consulting as an extended arm to our services which only helps us gain more insight into current trends and problems. Consequently we keep evolving as an all-rounder provider of viable information under one roof.Sunny Denis(Sales Manager),(Research N Reports)10916, Gold Point Dr,Houston, TX, Pin  77064,sales@researchnreports.com,
New Profitable Report on Global Hotel Design Market by 2019-2026: Top Key Players- Gettys Group, HBA, Rockwell Group, Gensler, Wilson Associates, HKS, Pierre-Yves Rochon, Stonehill Taylor Architects, Daroff Design

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Hotel design includes hotel planning, drawing creation, design and development. The concept of hotel design is rooted in the tradition of hospitality for travelers dating back to ancient times and the development of various types of hotels in many cultures.The report, titled Hotel Design market research, provides actionableinsights that supplement the growth strategies of market players. This market research report provides growth estimates, forecasts, and an in-depth analysis of all key factors at play in the global Hotel Design market.Ask for Sample copy:Top Key Players Included in This Report: Gettys Group, HBA, Rockwell Group, Gensler, Wilson Associates, Leo A Daly, HKS, Pierre-Yves Rochon, ForrestPerkins | Perkins Eastman, Stonehill Taylor Architects, Daroff Design.There are many kinds of hotel designs in the world. Examples of hotel design are no-frills, which offers basic amenities at affordable rates, including guest palaces throughout Asia, America, UK. Another types like Country inns, hotel casino resorts, designer and art hotels, hotel-spa resorts, boutique hotels, the hotel offers a refuge, a monastery and an extra bedroom for rent in a typical home. Another type of capsule hotel is offered in Japan as an option for those who need basic necessities during their stay.Key Questions and Answers Covered in This Report: What will be the market size in 2026 and what will be the growth rate? What are the key market trends? What is driving the global Hotel Design market? What are the challenges to market growth? Who are the major suppliers of global Hotel Design market space? What are the key market trends that affect the growth of the global HotelDesign market? What are the market opportunities and threats that vendors face in theglobal Hotel Design market?In particular, the report focuses on the competitive landscape of the Hotel Design industry and dwells on the influential development policies and plans that will determine the markets trajectory in the forecast period. An analysis of the major players operating in the Hotel Design market is included in the report, segmenting and describing them on the parameters of manufacturing processes and business strategies, information related to product classification, and profit margins regarding the same. The cost dynamics of the Hotel Design market is also examined in detail and, associated to the comprehensive breakdown of the markets competitive landscape, provide a complete indulgent of pricing dynamics in the Hotel Design industry for the readers to understand clearly.Get Discount on this Report:The analytical tools such as investment return and feasibility analyses have also been employed in this research to determine the market attractiveness. The report evaluates the products available in the market on the basis of the production volume, their pricing structure, and the revenue generated by them.Production chain and the dynamics of demand and supply has also been assessed in this report. The research report also analyzes the market hierarchy carrying out a SWOT analysis of the key players operating on the global Hotel Design market in order to provide an overall picture of the competitive landscape in the industry and assist the participants to come up with market winning strategies to gain an edge over their peers.Get more information:The report additionally defines the various marketing channels prevailing in the global Hotel Design market and delivers information about some of the imperative distributors operating in the market. The report serves as a helpful guide for the new as well as existing players in the market.Overview of This Report: Global Hotel Design Market Overview Economic Impact on Industry Market Competition by Manufacturers Production, Revenue (Value) by Region Supply (Production), Consumption, Export, Import by Regions Production, Revenue (Value), Price Trend by Type Market Analysis by Application Manufacturing Cost Analysis Industrial Chain, Sourcing Strategy and Downstream Buyers Marketing Strategy Analysis, Distributors/Traders Market Effect Factors Analysis Global Hotel Design Market ForecastAbout QY Reports:QY Reports, a leading market research report published accommodate more than 4,000 celebrated clients worldwide putting them at advantage in todays competitive world with our understanding of research. Our list of customers includes prestigious Chinese companies, multinational companies, SMEs and private equity firms whom we have helped grow and sustain with our fact-based research. Our business study covers a market size of over 30 industries offering unfailing insights into the analysis to reimagine your business. We specialize in forecasts needed for investing in a new project, to revolutionize your business, to become more customer centric and improve the quality of output.Contact:QY ReportsJones John(Sales Manager)+91-9764607607sales@qyreports.com
Global Network Traffic Analytics Market 2018 Trends and Key Industry Players 2024: Cisco, Microsoft, IBM, Symantec, Juniper Networks, Nokia, Accenture, Palo Alto Networks, Huawei Technologies, SolarWinds

Global Network Traffic Analytics Market

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Network Traffic Analytics Market in the network security solution is growing at the fastest rate with a CAGR of 24.1% over the forecast timeline. Due to the rising advent of digitalization and the adoption of technologies, such as IoT and cloud computing, the amount of data generated grew tremendously. This growth in big data requires effective monitoring and storage as they fall prey to various malicious attacks. Therefore, network security solutions are used to detect and block malicious attacks throughout the network. The governments worldwide are investing funds and implementing rules and regulations to enhance the cybersecurity offerings of their country.Request for a sample of this research report @The development of SaaS enabled network traffic analytics solutions has accelerated the overall market growth. Due to the growing technological advancements and market consolidation, enterprises are offering SaaS enabled solutions to their customers. They offer multiple advantages such as enhanced scalability and administration, improved productivity, data storage convenience, and delivery of new services with optimum resilience and security. They also automatically update products empowering them to prevent the growing cyber-security threats.The IT & telecom enterprises are anticipated to dominate the network traffic analytics market by 2024. The increased worldwide adoption rate of the internet with an enhanced usage of social networking platform and the rise in smartphone penetration rate are the major factors driving the network traffic analytics market demand. Telecommunication companies are investing millions of dollars and entering into strategic partnerships to boost their network traffic management platform, enhancing their service offerings and gaining a competitive edge in the market. For instance, in July 2017, KDDI Corporation, a Japanese telecom operator entered into a partnership with Kentik, a leading network traffic intelligence firm. This will allow KDDI to deploy the companys Kentik Detect solution for real-time network monitoring and planning efficiencies.Company profiled in this report based on Business overview, Financial data, Product landscape, Strategic outlook & SWOT analysis:1. Cisco2. Microsoft3. IBM4. Symantec5. Juniper Networks6. Nokia7. Accenture8. Palo Alto Networks9. Huawei Technologies10. SolarWindsMake an inquiry for buying this report @Network Traffic Analytics Market, By Componento Solutionso Network Traffic Monitoringo Network Visibilityo Network Performanceo Network Securityo Network Capacity Planningo Serviceso Integration and Deployment Serviceo Consulting Serviceo Training and Support Serviceo Managed ServiceNetwork Traffic Analytics Market, By Deployment Modelo On-premiseo CloudNorth America held around 52% of the market share in 2017 and is anticipated to remain the network traffic analytics market leader over the forecast timeframe. The major factors contributing to the growth of the region include the early adoption of the network traffic analytics solutions along with the presence of the leading industry players including Cisco, IBM, and Microsoft. The companies operating in this region are also entering into strategic partnerships to expand their businesses offerings.Browse key industry insights spread across 230 pages with 399 market data tables & 38 figures & charts from the report, Network Traffic Analytics Market in detail along with the table of contents:The European network traffic analytics market held around 26% of the industry share in 2017. The region has the presence of some of the leading telecom companies in the world, such as Vodafone, SoftBank Group, and Telefonica S.A., fueling the market demand. Furthermore, the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) implemented by the government in May 2018 has laid down effective data privacy and security guidelines. This will prevent the companies from sharing the customer personal data without their consent and boosting the network traffic analytics market growth.Some of the major vendors operating in the network traffic analytics market are Cisco, Microsoft, IBM, Symantec, Juniper Networks, Nokia, Kentik, Flowmon Networks, Plixer, SolarWinds, Allot Communication, Accenture, Bradford Networks, Ascom Holding, Palo Alto Networks, Huawei Technologies, Netreo, Inc., Genie Networks, and Zenoss.About Global Market InsightsGlobal Market Insights, Inc., headquartered in Delaware, U.S., is a global market research and consulting service provider; offering syndicated and custom research reports along with growth consulting services. Our business intelligence and industry research reports offer clients with penetrative insights and actionable market data specially designed and presented to aid strategic decision making. These exhaustive reports are designed via a proprietary research methodology and are available for key industries such as chemicals, advanced materials, technology, renewable energy and biotechnology.Contact UsArun HegdeCorporate Sales, USAGlobal Market Insights, Inc.Phone: 1-302-846-7766Toll Free: 1-888-689-0688Email: sales@gminsights.comWeb:
Azuga, Bosch, CalAmp profiled in OBD Aftermarket to grow at 17% CAGR to 2024| Key players are Continental, Intel Corporation, Verizon Communications, Danlaw, Inc., Metromile, Mojio

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North America held a major share of the OBD aftermarket in 2017. The proliferation of OBD dongle-based solutions is estimated to grow at a faster pace in the region between 2018 and 2024. The automobile sector in this region continues to record a steady growth due to the high penetration of advanced technologies in the transportation systems and the increased momentum of autonomous vehicles. The presence of some major global automobile players and the increasing investments by foreign auto suppliers in their manufacturing facilities are driving the regions automobile market growth.Request for a sample of this research report @OBD Aftermarket size is set to exceed USD 1.5 billion by 2024; according to a new research report by Global Market Insights, Inc. The increasing emphasis on developing connected vehicle solutions and the growing adoption of IoT technology in the automobile sector are driving the growth of the OBD aftermarket. The increase in vehicle production, particularly LCVs and HCVs, has generated the demand for more stringent emission control standards. The government agencies around the world have implemented stringent emission control regulations to combat the increasing impact of air pollution on the environment. The increasing complexities in vehicles have generated the need to have more robust remote diagnostics solutions. Remote diagnostics technology is also gaining more popularity as it provides the vehicle owners and technicians with the real-time information about the vehicles status and helps in the effective monitoring of vehicle components remotely.Company profiled in this report based on Business overview, Financial data, Product landscape, Strategic outlook & SWOT analysis: Autel Intelligent Technology Corp.,Ltd. Automatic Labs AVL Ditest Azuga Bosch Diagnostics CalAmp Continental AG Danlaw, Inc. ERM Electronic Systems LTD Geotab Inc. Innova Intel Corporation Magneti Marelli S.p.A. Metromile Mojio TomTom International BV. Vector Informatik Verizon Communications Xirgo Technologies, Inc.The passenger vehicles segment held a dominant share of over 40% in 2017 in the global OBD aftermarket. The increased production of passenger vehicles, particularly in the U.S. and China, is majorly contributing to the adoption of OBD telematics solutions in the segment. According to the American Auto Council, the U.S. auto production is expected to exceed 12 million vehicles per year through 2019 and reach 13 million by 2020. As it has been made mandatory by government institutions in various countries to have OBD compatibility for passenger vehicles, the segment is projected to grow consistently during the forecast timeline.The hardware segment held a majority share of over 40% in the OBD aftermarket in 2017 due to the large-scale adoption of traditional OBD scanners such as scan tools and code readers to access the vehicles OBD port. These scanners act as an interface to provide users with the vehicles engine-related parameters. However, with the emergence of OBD dongles, additional information, such as driver behavior analytics and remote diagnostics, can be effectively extracted from vehicles.The OBD apps segment is expected to exhibit the fastest growth by 2024 at a CAGR of over 25%. The increasing penetration of smartphones and the adoption of advanced telematics technologies have triggered the demand for mobile-based apps. As the OBD apps reduce the dependency on any hardware to gather information and make it possible for the user to convert the smartphone or tablet into a portable OBD scanner for gathering diagnostic information, the demand for apps is likely to grow during the forecast timeline. These apps handle all the information collected from the OBD systems and ease the task of monitoring the vehicle parameters in the real-time, allowing the continuous monitoring of the vehicles status.The fleet management segment dominated the OBD aftermarket in 2017 with a market share of over 45% and is expected to maintain the dominance throughout the forecast period. The use of OBD in the fleet management software offers effective management of fleet operations and provides access to the real-time data regarding the vehicles location. It also monitors the driving patterns and helps in early diagnosis and mitigation of any malfunction in the vehicle components. With the significant growth in the electric vehicle technology, the demand for OBD telematics systems for managing and controlling the vehicle components is expected to increase significantly. The fleet management software in electric vehicles helps in increasing the fleet efficiency and reducing the operational costs.Make an inquiry for purchasing this report @Companies operating in the On-board Diagnostics Aftermarket focus on offering new products along with strategic acquisitions to leverage their mutual technological capabilities and create innovative offerings. For instance, in April 2018, Quartix launched a new installation option; plug, and track. The new tracking device can be easily installed into the OBD port and it eases the installation and flexibility when moving the tracking function from one vehicle to another without disconnecting the hardwiring. In April 2017, SiriusXM acquired Automatic, the maker of the Automatic Pro and Automatic Lite connected car OBD II ports accessories for USD 10 million. The acquisition enabled the company to expand and improve its connected vehicles services.For instance, in January 2018, Ford planned to invest USD 11 billion in electric vehicles to have 40 hybrid and fully electric vehicles in its model lineup by 2020. Similarly, in April 2016, Nissan made strategic investments in its U.S. operations to meet the growing need of the U.S. consumers. The company has invested around USD 10.8 billion in its U.S. operations since 1981.Browse Full Report @Some of the key players operating in the OBD aftermarket are Continental, Automatic Labs (SiriusXM), Magneti Marelli, Tom Tom, Geotab, Danlaw, CalAmp, Verizone, Mojio, Intel, Metromile, ERM Telematics, Azuga, Xirgo Technologies, AVL Ditest, Vector Informatik, Bosch Diagnostics, and Autel.Browse Related Report:ATM Market Size By Solution (Deployment [Onsite, Offsite, Worksite, Mobile], Managed Services), Industry Analysis Report, Regional Outlook (U.S., Canada, Germany, UK, France, Italy, China, India, Japan, South Korea, Australia, Brazil, Mexico, Saudi Arabia, UAE, South Africa), Application Potential, Price Trends, Competitive Market Share & Forecast, 2017  2024About Global Market Insights:Global Market Insights, Inc., headquartered in Delaware, U.S., is a global market research and consulting service provider; offering syndicated and custom research reports along with growth consulting services. Our business intelligence and industry research reports offer clients with penetrative insights and actionable market data specially designed and presented to aid strategic decision making. These exhaustive reports are designed via a proprietary research methodology and are available for key industries such as chemicals, advanced materials, technology, renewable energy and biotechnology.Contact Us:Arun HegdeCorporate Sales, USAGlobal Market Insights, Inc.Phone: 1-302-846-7766Toll Free: 1-888-689-0688Email: sales@gminsights.comWeb:Blog:
Comprehensive Analysis on Health Beverage Market with Key Players: Coca Cola company, Pepsi Corporation, Nestle, Dr. Pepper Snapple, Britvic, Organic Valley, The Hain Celestial Group

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A recent report compiled by Market Study Report, LLC, on Health Beverage market offers a succinct analysis of the industry size, regional landscape and the revenue forecast pertaining to this vertical. The report further highlights the primary challenges and latest growth strategies embraced by key players that constitute the dynamic competitive spectrum of this business domain.The report titled Global Health Beverage Market - Analysis By Type of Beverage (Bottled Water, Juices, Probiotics, Energy Drinks, Ready to Drink Tea and Coffee, Others), By Sales Channel (Online, Offline), By Region, By Country (2018 Edition): Forecast to 2022 has covered and analysed the potential of Global Health Beverages Market and provides statistics and information on market size, shares and growth factors. The report intends to provide cutting-edge market intelligence and help decision makers take sound investment evaluation. Besides, the report also identifies and analyses the emerging trends along with major drivers, challenges and opportunities in the global health beverages. Additionally, the report also highlights market entry strategies for various companies across the globe.Request a sample of this premium report at:Company Analysis Coca Cola company, Pepsi Corporation, Nestle, Dr. Pepper Snapple, Britvic, Organic Valley, The Hain Celestial GroupA comprehensive research report created through extensive primary research (inputs from industry experts, companies, stakeholders) and secondary research, the report aims to present the analysis of Global Health Beverage Market - By Type of Beverage (Bottled Water, Juices, Probiotics, Energy Drinks, Ready to Drink Tea and Coffee, Others), By Sales Channel (Online, Offline), By Region and By Country (U.S., Canada, Germany, United Kingdom, India, China.Also, the report assesses the sub-segments of the health beverage market. The bottled water segment has been further categorized into Still, Spring, Sprinkle, Others. Similarly, Juices segment has been categorized into Fruits, Vegetables, Fruits & Vegetable Blend and Probiotic Drinks into Dairy Based and Juice Based categories.According to research report Global Health Beverage Market - Analysis By Type of Beverage (Bottled Water, Juices, Probiotics, Energy Drinks, Ready to Drink Tea and Coffee, Others), By Sales Channel (Online, Offline), By Region, By Country (2018 Edition): Forecast to 2022 the global health beverage market is projected to display a robust growth represented by a CAGR of 7.80% during 2017-2022.Bottled Water segment contributed maximum revenue in the market and is expected to continue the leadership in the forecast period on the back of rising awareness regarding the rising prevalence of water borne diseases, lack of availability of clean tap water across various developing nations coupled with increasing number of tourists. Among the Sales Channel, online segment is expected to witness the fastest growth rate on the heels of rising internet penetration and number of smartphone users across the globe. Amongst the regions, Asia Pacific accounts for the largest regional share in the global health beverage market in 2018. Key factors driving the robust Asia Pacific market include large population base, increasing disposable income coupled with rising health consciousness across the region.Scope of the ReportGlobal Health Beverages Market (Actual Period: 2012-2016, Forecast Period: 2017-2022Global Health Beverages Market Size and GrowthBy Type of Beverage- Bottled Water, Juices, Probiotic Drinks, Energy Drinks, Ready to Drink Coffee and Tea, othersBy Sub Typeo Bottled Water: Still, Spring, Sprinkle, Otherso Juices: Fruits, Vegetables, Fruits & Vegetable Blendo Probiotic Drinks: Dairy Based and Juice Basedo Energy Drinkso Ready to Drink Coffee and Tea: Coffee, TeaBy Sales Channel Online, OfflineRegional Markets North America, Europe, APAC and Rest of the World (Actual Period: 2012-2016, Forecast Period: 2017-2022)Health Beverages Market Size and GrowthBy Type of Beverage- Bottled Water, Juices, Probiotic Drinks, Energy Drinks, Ready to Drink Coffee and Tea, othersBy Sub Typeo Bottled Water: Still, Spring, Sprinkle, Otherso Juices: Fruits, Vegetables, Fruits & Vegetable Blendo Probiotic Drinks: Dairy Based and Juice Basedo Energy Drinkso Ready to Drink Coffee and Tea: Coffee, TeaBy Sales Channel Online, OfflineCountry Analysis - U.S., Canada, Germany, United Kingdom, India, ChinaHealth Beverages Market Size and GrowthBy Type of Beverage- Bottled Water, Juices, Probiotic Drinks, Energy Drinks, Ready to Drink Coffee and Tea, othersBy Sales Channel Online, OfflineOther Report HighlightsSegment Wise Market Share-By CompanyMarket Dynamics Drivers and RestraintsMarket TrendsRequest a discount on standard prices of this premium report at:Customization of the ReportThe report could be customized according to the client s specific research requirements. No additional cost will be required to pay for limited additional research.1. Research Methodology2. Executive Summary3. Strategic Recommendations4. Health Beverage Market Outlook5. Global Health Beverage Market: Growth and Forecast6. Global Health Beverage Market: By Drugs Class7. Global Health Beverage Market: By Sales Channels8. Global Health Beverage Market: Pipeline Analysis9. Global Health Beverage Market: Regional Analysis10. Market Dynamics11. Market Trends14. SWOT Analysis Health Beverage Market15. Company ProfilesMore Details on this Report:About Us:Marketstudyreport.com allows you to manage and control all corporate research purchases to consolidate billing and vendor management. You can eliminate duplicate purchases and customize your content and license management.Contact Us:Market Study Report LLC4 North Main Street,Selbyville, Delaware 19975USAPhone: 1-302-273-0910US Toll Free: 1-866-764-2150Email: sales@marketstudyreport.comWebsite:Blog:
Worldwide Psoriasis Pipeline Drugs Market Key Players  UCB, Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd, Boehringer Ingelheim, Forward Pharma, Almirall and Valeant Pharmaceuticals

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Market Study Report, LLC, has come up with a report on the Keyword market which provides a holistic synopsis of the market size, market valuation, revenue estimate, SWOT analysis, and the geographical spectrum of this industry. The report accurately underlines the key challenges and opportunities for growth during the forecast period. In addition, it sheds light on the current competitive scenario and reviews the business strategies adopted by the Keyword market players.The report has covered and analysed the major psoriasis drugs that are in pipeline and expected to be launched in the near future. The product profile, assessment of clinical trials, the regulatory phases and the potential of the drugs has been analysed in the report. The report intends to provide cutting-edge market intelligence and help decision makers take sound investment decision. The report titled Global Psoriasis Pipeline Drugs Market Assessment: Industry Analysis, Pipeline Review, Clinical Trials, Market Potential Forecast to 2023 also analyzes the incidences of psoriasis in countries like United States, United Kingdom, France, Italy, Spain, Germany and Norway.Request a sample of this premium report at:Company Analysis UCB, Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd, Boehringer Ingelheim, Forward Pharma, Almirall and Valeant PharmaceuticalsThe report titled Global Psoriasis Pipeline Drugs Market Assessment: Industry Analysis, Pipeline Review, Clinical Trials, Market Potential Forecast to 2023 presents the market potential of six major pipeline drugs meant for the treatment of Psoriasis. These six drugs that fall in the various categories of Injectables, Oral pills and Topical creams/lotions by mode of administration have been recognized as being clinically effective in Psoriasis treatment. Expected to be launched in the market within the next 4-5 years, these six potential drugs are likely to bring about major changes in the way psoriasis is treated globally.A comprehensive research report created through extensive primary research (inputs from industry experts, companies, stakeholders) and secondary research, the report aims to present the analysis of Global Psoriasis Pipeline Drugs Market by assessing the potential of the six drugs that will be launched in the near future. Also, the report assesses the results of various clinical trials undertaken for each of the six drugs, the product profile, description and regulatory phase of each of the six drugs. Also, 7Ps Analysis (Patent, Phase, Pathway, Patient, Physician, Payer, Partner) has been done for each of the six drugs to present the current perspective.Over the recent years, the Psoriasis Drugs market is growing rapidly due to rising prevalence ofPsoriasis patients around the world. Globally, the growth of Psoriasis Drugs market is driven by rising psoriatic population. The global psoriasis drugs market is projected to display a robust growth during 2019 2023, chiefly driven by low efficacy and tolerability of present psoriasis drugs and improved safety and efficacy of investigational drugs.Psoriasis Pipeline Drugs Assessment Drug X1, X2, X3, X4, X5, X6 (Forecast Period: 2019-2023)Market PotentialClinical TrialsProduct DescriptionRegulatory Phases7Ps AnalysisCountry Analysis US, UK, France, Italy, Spain, Germany and Norway (Forecast Period: 2019-2023)Incidence of PsoriasisOther Report HighlightsCustomization of the ReportThe report could be customized according to the client s specific research requirements. No additional cost will be required to pay for limited additional research.Request a discount on standard prices of this premium report at:Table of Contents1. Research Methodology2. Executive Summary3. Strategic Recommendations4. Psoriasis Pipeline Drugs Market Outlook5. Global Psoriasis Pipeline Drugs Market: Growth and Forecast6. Global Psoriasis Pipeline Drugs Market: By Drugs Class7. Global Psoriasis Pipeline Drugs Market: By Sales Channels8. Global Psoriasis Pipeline Drugs Market: Pipeline Analysis9. Global Psoriasis Pipeline Drugs Market: Regional Analysis10. Market Dynamics11. Market Trends14. SWOT Analysis Psoriasis Pipeline Drugs Market15. Company ProfilesMore Details on this Report:About Us:Marketstudyreport.com allows you to manage and control all corporate research purchases to consolidate billing and vendor management. You can eliminate duplicate purchases and customize your content and license management.Contact Us:Market Study Report LLC4 North Main Street,Selbyville, Delaware 19975USAPhone: 1-302-273-0910US Toll Free: 1-866-764-2150Email: sales@marketstudyreport.comWebsite:Blog:
SunPower Corporation, Sunedison profiled in Solar Cells Market to reach $100bn by 2024| By Key players SolarWorld, Jinko Solar, Trina Solar, Canadian Solar, First Solar, Yingli Solar, Tata Power Solar Systems

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The U.S. in 2015 was valued over USD 4 billion and is anticipated to expand over 14% owing to increasing utility scale installation. Government measures towards energy efficiency and carbon emission reduction will further complement the U.S. solar cells market growth. As per the Solar Energy Association, the solar industry in the U.S. installed 7,286 MW of solar photovoltaics in 2015 where the utility-scale sector represented more than 50% of the total solar PV installation.Request for a sample of this research report @China accounted for over 45% of the global solar cells market share in 2015. Rising investment in the photovoltaic industry along with tax credits, soft loans, and other special grants by the government will stimulate the business outlook. According to the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, photovoltaic industry has witnessed record investment of USD 12.3 billion in 2015.Global Solar Cells Market is expected to grow at over 12% to surpass USD 100 billion by 2024. Increasing inclination towards sustainable energy adoption will stimulate the global solar cells market share over the forecast timeframe. Rising demand for off grid electricity along with reducing photovoltaic component cost will propel the industry landscape. As per the World Energy Outlook 2016, around 1.2 billion people in the world have no access to electricity.Company profiled in this report based on Business overview, Financial data, Product landscape, Strategic outlook & SWOT analysis: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation Jinko Solar Trina Solar Canadian Solar First Solar Moser Baer India Ltd Yingli Solar SunPower Corporation Sunedison, Inc. Indosolar Tata Power Solar Systems Ltd. GreenBrilliance. SolarWorldRising demand for the decentralized generation systems in developing nations will enhance the penetration of the sustainable energy during the forecast period. Increasing investment towards rural electrification in off-grid locations in various countries including India, China, and Africa will fuel the solar cells market growth. In September 2015, African Development Bank (AfDB) approved USD 121 million loan and grant for the electricity expansion of rural households in Uganda.Make an inquiry for purchasing this report @Government initiatives towards conservation of energy coupled with ambitious targets to reduce carbon emission will further propel the solar cells market. In June 2015, Government of India has set revised solar mission target at 100 GW by 2022. As per the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), an estimated total investment of USD 94 billion is expected for upgradation to 100 GW solar power capacity. International Finance Corporation and World bank have also introduced programs including Lighting Africa with an aim to encourage the adoption of photovoltaic over conventional product source among off grid population.Ultra-thin film cells technology was valued over USD 3 million in 2015 and is anticipated to expand over 30% by 2024 in terms of volume. Higher efficiency and light weight compared to other alternate technology will positively encourage the industry landscape.Browse Full Report:Key participants in the solar cells market include Jinko, Sunedison, Canadian, Trina, Yingli, First Solar, Moser Baer, SunPower Corporation, GreenBrilliance, Indosolar, Tata Power, Solar World, and Mitsubishi Electric Corporation.Browse Related Report:Offshore Wind Energy Market Size By Component (Turbine {Rating (< 100 kW, 100 kW to 250 kW, > 250 kW to 500 kW, > 500 kW to 1 MW, 1 MW to 2 MW, > 2 MW), Installation (Floating {Axis {Horizontal (HAWTs) [Up-wind, Down-wind], Vertical (VAWTs)}, Structure {Rotor Module, Nacelle Module, Tower Module}}, Fixed {Axis {Horizontal (HAWTs) [Up-wind, Down-wind], Vertical (VAWTs)}, Structure {Rotor Module, Nacelle Module, Tower Module}}}), Support Structure (Substructure (Steel), Foundation {Monopile, Jacket}), Electrical Infrastructure (Wires & Cables, Substation)), By Depth (0  30 m, 30  50 m, > 50 m), Industry Analysis Report, Regional Outlook (U.S., Canada, Mexico, Germany, Spain, UK, France, Italy, Sweden, Poland, Denmark, Portugal, Netherlands, Ireland, Romania, Belgium, Austria, China, India, Australia, Japan, South Korea, Vietnam, Thailand, Philippines, Taiwan, South Africa, Egypt, Morocco, Ethiopia, Tunisia, Jordan, Brazil, Chile, Argentina, Uruguay), Competitive Market Share & Forecast, 2018  2024About Global Market Insights:Global Market Insights, Inc., headquartered in Delaware, U.S., is a global market research and consulting service provider; offering syndicated and custom research reports along with growth consulting services. 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Backbase, BNY Mellon, Finastra profiled in Digital Banking Market to grow at 4% CAGR to 2024|By Key Vendors: Fiserv, Intellect Design Arena, Kony, Oracle, SAP SE, Temenos

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The North American digital banking market is anticipated to grow at a CAGR of 2.5% during the forecast period. The market is driven by the early adoption of digital solutions among the banking institutes. The high penetration of internet and smartphone users is also augmenting the demand for digital banking solutions. Large volumes of credit card and debit card transactions in the region also promote the digital banking market.Request for a sample of this research report @The increasing venture capital investment in fintech sector is propelling the digital banking market. Over the past five years, fintech has emerged as the most lucrative sector and the venture capitalists are investing billions in the sector to make profits. In 2017, approximately USD 16.5 billion investment was witnessed in the fintech companies, increasing from USD 3.7 billion in 2013. Acknowledging the rise of fintech players, banks are looking to boost their investments in technology. While some banks are collaborating or investing in the fintech companies to develop more customer-centric products, others are acquiring the fintech players to acquire technical expertise and expand their product portfolio.Company profiled in this report based on Business overview, Financial data, Product landscape, Strategic outlook & SWOT analysis: Appway Backbase BNY Mellon CREALOGIX ebanklT ETRONIKA Fidor Solutions Finastra Fiserv Halcom D.D. ieDigital Intellect Design Arena Kony NETinfo NF Innova Oracle SAB SAP SE Sopra TCS Technisys Temenos WorldlineThe supportive government initiatives & policies for the promotion of digital banking services is also driving the digital banking market. Governments across the globe are constantly working on accelerating the adoption of digital banking services. The demonetization activities and digitalization policies adopted by the government are encouraging the adoption of digital payment solutions. Moreover, governments are also offering tax incentives and subsidies to the fintech players to encourage the adoption of digital solutions.Browse Full Report:Corporate banking held over 13% share in the digital banking market in 2017. The emergence of the fintech players is the primary factor accelerating the adoption of digitalization among the corporate banks. The corporate banks are experiencing tough competition from the fintech companies that are offering standalone products at low costs. This is encouraging corporate banks to embrace the technologies to provide a better experience to their customers. Moreover, the integration of the advanced technologies into the banking platforms, such as artificial intelligence, blockchain, big data analytics, is also augmenting the demand for digital solutions among the corporate banking sector to analyze the customer behavior and meet their requirements.Non-transaction services in the digital banking market are anticipated to grow at a CAGR of 14% during the projected timeline. The increasing need to provide enhanced customer experience is driving the adoption of non-transaction digital services among the banking institutes. The digital disruption and generational shift cause fundamental changes in customer behavior that are rapidly influencing customer expectations from banks. Over a third of the millennials (population aged between 16 to 34) believe they will be able to live a bank-free existence in the future. Customers, especially the younger population who are digitally savvy, hyper-connected, and choice conscious have an inclination toward tech-oriented services as their preferences are changing. These customers are accustomed to digital experiences offered by online retailers and expect the same or perhaps a richer experience from the banks.Make an inquiry for purchasing this report @The key players in the digital banking market space are Appway, Backbase, BNY Mellon, Crealogix, ebanklT, EdgeVerve Systems, ETRONIKA, Fidor, Finastra, Fiserv, Halcom, IE Digital, Intellect Design Arena, Kony, NETinfo, NF Innova, Oracle, SAB, SAP, Sopra, Tagit, TCS, Technisys, Temenos, and Worldline.Browse Related Report:Mobile Mapping Market Size, By Component (Hardware [Imaging Device, Laser Ranging Device & Scanning Device, Positioning Device], Software [Mapping Data Extraction, Data Processing], Service [Consulting, Integration & Maintenance, Managed Service]), By Application (Road & Railway Survey, GIS Data Collection, Vehicle Control & Guidance, Asset Management), By End-User (Agriculture, BFSI, Government & Public Sector, Real Estate, Retail, Mining, Telecommunication, Transport & Logistics), Industry Analysis Report, Regional Outlook (U.S., Canada, UK, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Australia & NZ, China, India, Japan, South Korea, Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, GCC, Israel, South Africa), Growth Potential, Competitive Market Share & Forecast, 2018  2024About Global Market Insights:Global Market Insights, Inc., headquartered in Delaware, U.S., is a global market research and consulting service provider; offering syndicated and custom research reports along with growth consulting services. Our business intelligence and industry research reports offer clients with penetrative insights and actionable market data specially designed and presented to aid strategic decision making. These exhaustive reports are designed via a proprietary research methodology and are available for key industries such as chemicals, advanced materials, technology, renewable energy and biotechnology.Contact Us:Arun HegdeCorporate Sales, USAGlobal Market Insights, Inc.Phone: 1-302-846-7766Toll Free: 1-888-689-0688Email: sales@gminsights.comWeb:Blog:
Interceptor Missiles Market By Eminent Industry Manufacturers - Aerojet Rocketdyne, Boeing, Lockheed Martin, Rafael Advanced Defense Systems, Raytheon

Interceptor Missiles Market

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Surface to air missiles are expected to capture maximum interceptor missiles market revenue share of more than 80% by 2024. Some of the benefits offered includes light-weight and portability which in turn will drive the industry demand. Water to air missiles will exhibit approximately 7% CAGR owing to rising adoption of these missiles in various countries across the globe for naval border protection.MEA interceptor missiles market will showcase dominance over the next eight years owing to rising threat of enemy attacks across the region. Collaborations of various countries with industry players for purchasing of these missiles will further contribute towards the high revenue generation. For instance, UAE and Qatar are anticipated to enter an agreement with Lockheed Martin for supplying patriot missiles. Europe will witness over 7% CAGR till 2024 owing to rising sales of interceptor missiles from countries including Sweden and Poland.Get Sample Copy of This Report @Interceptor missiles of up to 125 kms range are anticipated to dominate the interceptor missiles market, generating a demand of over 2,000 units till 2024. Continuously increasing penetration of missiles conforming to this range such as PAC-3, Iron Dome, and SM-3, from MEA including UAE, Israel, and Saudi Arabia will primarily support the industry dominance. Interceptor missiles of range above 200 kms will exhibit over 18% CAGR in terms of revenue owing to rising deployment of advanced missiles such as HQ-19. Regular innovations in these missiles in countries such as China will further strengthen the industry penetration over the forecast timeframe.Global interceptor missiles market is expected to cross 3,000 units till 2024. Continuously increasing threat of attacks from rival countries has resulted in proliferating demand for interceptor missiles over the forecast timeframe. Multiple countries across the globe including Netherlands, U.S, Israel, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar, etc., have purchased patriot interceptor missiles to strengthen their defense inventory, impacting the industry positively.Company profiled in this report based on Business overview, Financial data, Product landscape, Strategic outlook & SWOT analysis:1. Aerojet Rocketdyne2. Boeing3. Lockheed Martin4. Rafael Advanced Defense Systems5. RaytheonInterceptor Missiles Market by Technology THAAD PAC-3 SM-3 HQ-19 Iron dome FD-2000 Patriot GEM-T Aegis ashore AsterMake an Inquiry for purchasing this Report @PAC-3 is expected to account for highest interceptor missile market share crossing USD 6 billion over the coming years. Proliferating demand of these missiles, especially in developed countries will primarily support the revenue generation. For instance, in January 2013, the U.S. army entered into several contracts worth USD 755 million for purchasing 168 PAC-3 missiles and associated services and equipment. HQ-19 will exhibit over 40% CAGR till 2024 owing to its continuously rising usage as an upgradation of HQ-9. Its enhanced features as compared to its counterparts will further support the industry growth till 2024.PAC-3 is expected to account for highest interceptor missile market share crossing USD 6 billion over the coming years. Proliferating demand of these missiles, especially in developed countries will primarily support the revenue generation. For instance, in January 2013, the U.S. army entered into several contracts worth USD 755 million for purchasing 168 PAC-3 missiles and associated services and equipment. HQ-19 will exhibit over 40% CAGR till 2024 owing to its continuously rising usage as an upgradation of HQ-9. Its enhanced features as compared to its counterparts will further support the industry growth till 2024.Browse Report Summery @Lockheed Martin Corp., Boeing Co., Raytheon Co., Aerojet Rocketdyne, and Rafael Advanced Defense Systems are among the major industry players. Regular product innovations is among prominent strategies implemented by these participants. For instance, in January 2018, Lockheed Martin made enhancements in Aegis missile that is anticipated to result in rapid detection of threats and reduction in reaction time.About Global Market Insights:Global Market Insights, Inc., headquartered in Delaware, U.S., is a global market research and consulting service provider; offering syndicated and custom research reports along with growth consulting services. Our business intelligence and industry research reports offer clients with penetrative insights and actionable market data specially designed and presented to aid strategic decision making. These exhaustive reports are designed via a proprietary research methodology and are available for key industries such as chemicals, advanced materials, technology, renewable energy and biotechnology.Contact Us:Arun HegdeCorporate Sales, USAGlobal Market Insights, Inc.Phone:1-302-846-7766Toll Free: 1-888-689-0688Email: sales@gminsights.comWeb:
District Heating Pipeline Network Market to exceed $600bn by 2024 | Uponor, Logstor, REHAU, BRUGG, Perma pipe, Microflex, Aquatherm, Flender, Thermaflex, Smithline, Huntsman, CPV Ltd, Golan Plastic

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District Heating Pipeline Network Market size will exceed USD 600 billion by 2024, as reported in the latest study by Global Market Insights, Inc.Growing concerns pertaining to greenhouse emissions coupled with increasing demand for space heating systems will stimulate the district heating pipeline network market. Extreme climatic conditions across Europe, China and the U.S. will further stimulate the product demand. According to Norwegian Meteorological Institute, the average temperature in Southern Finland during winter season ranges between 00 to -40 Celsius.Request for Sample Copy of this research report @The U.S. market size is set to reach over 5 thousand Km by 2024. Growing district heating systems penetration across residential and commercial establishments along with ongoing adoption of clean energy technologies will foster the industry growth. According to the International District Energy Association (IDEA), out of 601 heating systems installed in the U.S., 289 are district energy-only systems.Ongoing legislative reforms pertaining to sustainable energy technologies along with modernization and expansion of existing heating networks will foster the district heating pipeline network market. Government focus toward energy efficient buildings will further propel the industry growth. The European Unions Renewable Energy Directive has introduced standards toward reduction and limitation of emissions caused by the industrial establishments.Rapid urbanization and industrialization across the developing nations along with favorable government initiatives toward zero emission buildings will drive the global market. As per Knoema in 2016, the people residing in urban areas in Japan constituted 94.3% when compared with 93.9% in 2015.Polymer pipes is set to witness strong growth on account of increasing usage as a service pipe in DH systems. Rapid development of thermoplastic technologies along with ongoing innovations toward pipe material will drive the business growth. Corrosion free, ease of transport and low carbon emissions are some of the prominent features which will stimulate the product penetration.Growing adoption of small-scale heating technologies across the residential establishments along with government-backed research and development initiatives toward development of more efficient insulating materials will propel the 20 mm -100 mm diameter pipes. Increasing use as a service pipe as these can be easily transported, rolled, and installed in the constructions will stimulate the product penetration.Make an inquiry for purchasing this report @Increasing suburban population owing to rapid urbanization across the evolving economies will stimulate the market from residential applications. Government assisted renewable technology targets coupled with ongoing investments toward real-estate sector will foster the industry outlook. According to World Bank, people residing in urban areas of India accounted for 33.14% in 2016 when compared with 32.37% in 2014 across India.China district heating pipeline network market is predicted to grow owing to increasing suburban population coupled with increasing investments toward residential and commercial establishments across the nation. Ongoing government initiatives toward adoption of energy-efficient systems will further propel the industry outlook. The Government of China with the support of European Union launched EU-China 2020 strategic agenda and China-EU partnership to strengthen the nations urban infrastructure.Browse key industry insights spread across 430 pages with 629 market data tables & 39 figures & charts from the report @Eminent players across the district heating pipeline network market include REHAU, Uponor, BRUGG, Logstor, Perma Pipe, CPV Ltd, Microflex, Flender, Thermaflex, Huntsman, Smithline, Aquatherm and Golan Plastic.Report ContentChapter 1 Methodology & Scope1.1 Methodology1.1.1 Initial data exploration1.1.2 Statistical model and forecast1.1.3 Industry insights and validation1.1.4 Market definition and forecast parameters1.2 Data Sources1.2.1 Secondary1.2.2 PrimaryChapter 2 Executive Summary2.1 District heating pipeline network 3600 synopsis, 2013  20242.1.1 Business trends2.1.2 Pipe trends2.1.3 Diameter trends2.1.4 Application trends2.1.5 Regional trendsAbout Global Market InsightsGlobal Market Insights, Inc., headquartered in Delaware, U.S., is a global market research and consulting service provider; offering syndicated and custom research reports along with growth consulting services. Our business intelligence and industry research reports offer clients with penetrative insights and actionable market data specially designed and presented to aid strategic decision making. These exhaustive reports are designed via a proprietary researchContact Us:Arun HegdeCorporate Sales, USAGlobal Market Insights, Inc.Phone: 1-302-846-7766Toll Free: 1-888-689-0688Email: sales@gminsights.comWeb:Blog:Explore Our Blog @
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...Code Orange Ozone Forecast for Wednesday... The Shelby County Health Department has issued a Code Orange Ozone Forecast effective for Shelby County Tennessee, Crittenden County Arkansas, and DeSoto County Mississippi, including the city of Memphis for Wednesday. This ozone forecast is due to forecasted ozone values that will be unhealthy for sensitive groups. These values will exceed the Environmental Protection Agency's federal safe health standard. The Shelby County Health Department recommends that sensitive groups which include active children and adults, and people with respiratory disease, such as asthma, limit prolonged outdoor exertion. Please continue to check the latest air quality forecasts and updates until monitored values return to safe levels. For more information go to www.midsouthcleanair.org.
If vaccines are free, why should private hospitals charge for them: Rahul to PM Modi

Will fight with full capacity in UP: Rahul after SP-BSP's snub

India

oi-Deepika S

Dubai, Jan 12: On a day when the Samajwadi Party (SP) and the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) decided to exclude the Congress from their pre-poll alliance for the Lok Sabha polls, Congress president Rahul Gandhi said he will not be disappointed as long as they manage to overthrow the BJP.

Addressing a press conference in Dubai, Gandhi said that the leaders of the two parties "have a right to do what they want to do".

"BSP and SP have made a political decision. It's on us on how to strengthen the Congress party in Uttar Pradesh and we will fight with our full capacity," he said.

BSP, SP to contest on 38 seats, Amethi and Rae Bareli for Congress: Mayawati

"Congress party has tremendous to offer to the people of Uttar Pradesh... I have tremendous respect for the leaders of BSP and SP, they have a right to do what they want to do," he added.

Once arch-rivals Samajwadi Party and Bahujan Samaj Party announced Saturday their tie-up in Uttar Pradesh for the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, sharing 38 seats each and keeping the Congress out of the alliance.

As the announcement came, the Congress prepared to go alone in the elections. However, the possibility of it taking like-minded smaller political groups along could not be ruled out.

Perhaps this isn't the last word: Chidambaram on SP-BSP alliance

A meeting of senior party leaders, office bearers and district and city unit chiefs has been convened in Lucknow on Sunday to give a final shape to the poll strategy and Rahul Gandhi's tour programme across the state in next few weeks.

"The Congress president's state tour will begin later this month. We are requesting him to begin from Lucknow and cover the entire state by next month. We discussed this with leaders of west UP on Friday and others have been called to Lucknow on Sunday," said a senior party leader on condition of anonymity as Congress general secretary (incharge UP) Ghulam Nabi Azad will officially speak on the party's view on the alliance and Rahul Gandhi's proposed tour programmes soon.
FBI opened probe into whether Trump working for Russians: Report

International

pti-PTI

Washington, Jan 12: The FBI has opened an inquiry into whether Donald Trump was working for Russians in the days after the American President fired James B Comey in 2017 as the top investigative agency's director, according to a report.

In May 2017, the US President abruptly removed the 56-year-old Comey, Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), who was overseeing a criminal probe into whether the Trump campaign colluded with the Russian government to influence the 2016 presidential election that was won by the real estate mogul.

The New York Times, based on unnamed sources, said that such an investigation against Trump that was started by the FBI carried explosive implications, as the law enforcement agents sought to determine if the president was knowingly working for the Russians or had unwittingly fallen under Moscow's influence.

Investigators have to consider if Trump's own actions constituted a possible threat to the national security, the paper reported on Friday. "No evidence has emerged publicly that Trump was secretly in contact with or took direction from Russian government officials," The New York Times said.

"Agents and senior FBI officials had grown suspicious of Trump's ties to Russia during the 2016 campaign but held off on opening an investigation into him, the people said, in part because they were uncertain how to proceed with an inquiry of such sensitivity and magnitude," the paper reported.

Trump promises changes to H1-B visas, including potential citizenship

The White House has described The New York Times story as absurd. "This is absurd. James Comey was fired because he's a disgraced partisan hack and his deputy Andrew McCabe who was in charge of the time is a known liar fired by the FBI.

Unlike former president (Barack) Obama who let Russia and other foreign adversaries push America around, President Trump has actually been tough on Russia, the White House Press Secretary said. The FBI did not respond to a query on the alleged investigation against Trump.

But according to the daily, the FBI investigation was taken over by the Special Counsel Robert Muller who has been tasked to investigate into the allegations of Russian interference in the 2016 presidential elections. The inquiry is part of Mueller's broader examination of how Russian operatives interfered in the 2016 election and whether any Trump associates conspired with them.

Two-time divorcee Donald Trump says Jeff Bezos' separation 'going to be beauty'

Trump has, however, denied of having any collusion with the Russians and repeatedly criticised the Mueller investigation as a "witch hunt" and views it as a stain on the legitimacy of his presidency.

"If the president had fired Comey to stop the Russia investigation, the action would have been a national security issue because it naturally would have hurt the bureau's effort to learn how Moscow interfered in the 2016 election and whether any Americans were involved, according to James A. Baker, who served as FBI general counsel until late 2017," the report said.

Baker privately testified in October before House investigators who were examining the FBI's handling of the full Russia inquiry, it said.

"Not only would it be an issue of obstructing an investigation, but the obstruction itself would hurt our ability to figure out what the Russians had done, and that is what would be the threat to national security," Baker said in his testimony, portions of which were read to The New York Times.

He did not explicitly acknowledge the existence of the investigation of Trump to congressional investigators.

The report casts pressure on the White House, which is already feeling the heat from months of investigations. Trump's former campaign chairman Paul Manafort in August 2018 was convicted of financial crisis and later pleaded guilty to conspiring to defraud the US and conspiring to obstruct justice.

Trump's longtime lawyer and aide Michael Cohen is set to begin a three-year prison sentence in March after pleading guilty to fraud, campaign finance violations and lying under oath.

PTI
Bill to terminate Pakistan designation as major non-NATO ally introduced in Congress

International

pti-PTI

Washington, Jan 12: An influential US lawmaker has introduced a legislation in Congress to terminate the designation of Pakistan as a major non-NATO ally.

Introduced by Republican Congressman Andy Briggs, the resolution 73, introduced in the House of Representatives, seeks termination of Pakistan as a major non-NATO ally and also sets conditions for its re-designation if any. The resolution has been sent to the House Foreign Affairs Committee for necessary action.

It states, for future redesignation, the US President need to certify to the Congress that Pakistan continues to conduct military operations that are contributing to significantly disrupting the safe haven and freedom of movement of the Haqqani Network in that country.

India rejects Pakistan charge of RAW involvement in Karachi consulate attack

It also seeks certification from the Congress that Pakistan has taken steps to demonstrate its commitment to prevent the Haqqani Network from using any Pakistani territory as a safe haven and that the Government of Pakistan actively coordinates with the Government of Afghanistan to restrict the movement of militants, such as the Haqqani Network, along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border.

The resolution asks the President to certify that Pakistan has shown progress in arresting and prosecuting Haqqani Network senior leaders and mid-level operatives.

PTI
'Will be very happy': Akhilesh Yadav on Mayawati as PM candidate

India

oi-Deepika S

Lucknow, Jan 12: Forming the alliance for the Lok Sabha polls, former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav on Saturday hinted that he might support Bahujan Samaj Party chief Mayawati for the post of the Prime Minister.

"You know who is my choice. Uttar Pradesh has given Prime Ministers in the past, we will be happy if the trend is repeated. Next PM will be from UP and it will be a new PM.," he said when asked if he will support the BSP chief for PM post.

Mayawati and Akhilesh Yadav on Saturday announced their alliance in Uttar Pradesh for the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, sharing 38 seats each out of the state's 80 parliamentary constituencies.

BSP, SP to contest on 38 seats, Amethi and Rae Bareli for Congress: Mayawati

Yadav signalled his intent about the alliance to his cadres and made it clear that BSP and SP are one. "From today onwards, all the SP workers should know that the disrespect of Mayawati ji will be my disrespect," he said.

It may be recalled when DMK chief MK Stalin had proposed Congress president Rahul Gandhi's name as the opposition's prime ministerial candidate, it was shot down by the entire opposition bloc, including Akhilesh Yadav's party. The parties said such decisions should be taken by the opposition parties only after the polls.

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Story first published: Saturday, January 12, 2019, 20:28 [IST]
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Terming Modi as pro-farmer, BJP passes resolution

India

oi-Oneindia Staff

By Anuj Cariappa

New Delhi, Jan 12: Describing Modi government as 'kisan hiteshi' (pro-farmers), the BJP on Friday resolved at its national convention that farmers are the top-most priority of the ruling dispensation.

Months ahead of Lok Sabha polls, the convention, the "biggest ever" gathering attended by over 12,000 party members, also passed a resolution on development in rural areas, citing a host of developmental measures taken by Modi government for transforming lives in villages.

One must make another film 'Disastrous PM': Mamata Banerjee's dig at Modi

It came at the time when the opposition has accused the government of "betraying" farmers and various farm organisations have protested in different parts of the country.

Farm distress has been cited by Congress chief Rahul Gandhi as a key issue for the upcoming parliamentary polls.

Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh proposed the resolution on agriculture which was seconded by Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and BJP farmer wing head Virendra Singh.

While the resolution on poverty alleviation was proposed by External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, which was seconded by Bihar BJP chief Nityanand Rai and party's vice-president Dushyant Gautam.

Swaraj at length described the initiatives taken by the Modi government in last four-and-half-years such as Jan Dhan Yojana under which bank accounts were opened and how these measures brought positive change in the lives of the people.

BJP National Council meet: 'We will see a repeat of 2014,' says Amit Shah

The convention with the presence of over 12000 party members is the biggest party get-together, a BJP leader said. It is expected to rejuvenate the party cadres ahead of the Lok Sabha elections.

The agriculture resolution lauded the government for "successfully" dealing with issues of farmers' income. The government will not just be able to reach the goal of doubling of farmers' income but would also be looking forward from there. The vision of the BJP is an independent, able, strong and prosperous farmer as annadata (food giver), who will take country's economy to great heights, the resolution said.

The resolution described Modi government as 'kisan hiteshi' and farmers its top most priority. All speakers described Modi government as the "well-wisher" of farmer.

"Farmers are likely to get 50 per cent more benefit on their produce whereas on crops like urad and bajra the profit will be 96 per cent," Singh informed.

The resolution at length compared the overall condition of agriculture sector and the support price given to farmers under the UPA rule and the NDA regime.

Singh said that the total budget allocation in the sector has almost doubled compared to the funds allocated during the UPA regime.

Later, addressing the press conference over the resolution, party's national general secretary Bhupendra Yadav said in case of natural disasters, the agriculture sector has got Rs 32,000 crores from National Disaster Relief Fund which is 2.5 times higher than previous government and the allocations made to states is 82 per cent more than previous government's allotment.

In 2013-14, the UPA government spent Rs 2151 crores on crop insurance which has now increased to 13,000 crores which is six times higher under Modi government, the resolution said.

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"Earlier, they (farmers) were getting claims for minimum 50 per cent damage to their crops, whereas now, even if there is 33 per cent damage to crops, they are being benefitted, " Yadav added while briefing on the resolution.

Taking dig at the Congress, Yadav asked why are farmers in Karnataka getting notices.

Listing the government's achievements, Yadav said the food grain production has increased to 11.4 per cent in 2017-18.

In horticulture, the production has shown 17.55 per cent rise.

The resolution said a total of 17.53 crores soil health cards have been distributed, helping farmers to decide on right fertilizers.

The party also lauded the government for taking some strong measures which include import duty on wheat increased to 20 per cent and on tur dal to 10 per cent.

Budget on agriculture education saw an increase of 55 per cent in 2018-2019 compared to 2013-2014, added Yadav.

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Story first published: Saturday, January 12, 2019, 5:55 [IST]
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TDB says removal of Sabarimala Tantri not discussed

India

oi-Oneindia Staff

By Anuj Cariappa

Thiruvananthapuram, Jan 12: Amid media reports that the LDF government in Kerala planned to remove the Sabarimala tantri, Travancore Devaswom Board, the apex temple body,Friday said it had not even discussed the matter and the controversy was to create trouble in the coming 'Makaravilakku' festival.

TDB president A Padmakumar told PTI that there were several court verdicts on the appointment and powers of the tantri (head priest) of Hindu shrines and the Board could not take a decision without taking into account all these.

Sabarimala: Kerala CM submits report to Governor says Sangh Parivar trying to polarise society

However, the Kerala Tantri Samajam, an umbrella organisation of head priests of temples in the state, Thursday said that they would approach the Supreme Court and the union government if the CPI(M)-led LDF government takes any decision to remove Kandararu Rajeevaru as the Sabarimala tantri.

Rajeevaru faced harsh criticism from Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, Devaswom Minister Kadakampally Surendran and other ministers over the purification ceremony he carried out after the entry of two women of menstruating age at the hill shrine last week.

Senior Kerala minister G Sudhakaran had even called him a "Brahmin monster" for conducting the 'purification'.

"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," the minister had said.

Now, 36-yr-old Dalit woman claims she entered Sabarimala shrine

After 42-year-old Bindu, a college lecturer and CPI(ML) activist from Kozhikode district's Koyilandy, and Kanakadurga, 44, a civil supplies department employee from Angadipuram in Malappuram, offered prayers at the Lord Ayyappa temple on January 2, the sanctum sanctorum was closed under tantri's directive to perform the 'purification' ritual, which used to be carried out during the time of the violation of temple customs.

There were media reports suspecting a move from the CPI(M)-led LDF government and the TDB, the autonomous apex temple body which manages the Sabarimala hill shrine,to remove Rajeevaru and that a list had been prepared of head priests who had expressed willingness to be the tantri.

"The Board has not discussed the removal of Rajeevaru. We have only given notice to the tantri, seeking an explanation regarding the purification ritual. Let him give his reply.Now the focus is only on Makaravilakku, which falls on January 14," Padmakumar said.

He alleged that some vested interests, who were deliberately trying to create trouble during the Makaravilakku season, were behind these controversies.

"How can we remove the Sabarimala tantri all of a sudden? We have the Devaswom Manual. There are two Supreme Court verdicts and several High Court rulings regarding the powers and appointments of the head priests," he said.

"We can take a decision only after taking into account all of these. This is a complicated matter," the TDB chief added.

Meanwhile, Kerala Tantri Samajam leader Akkeeramon Kalidasa Bhattathiripad said a tantri is the custodian of the rituals and traditions of a Hindu shrine and he could not be simply removed through a Government Order.

"The relation between the tantri, temple and deity begins since the identification of the land for the shrine. He can be kept away from the temple affairs only in extraordinary situations like if any complaint arises regarding his character," he told PTI.

Amidst Sabarimala row, Kerala HC bans flash hartals

Any attempt to remove the Sabarimala tantri would be tantamount to an "infringement" into the rituals and traditions of Hinduism, he said.

"If the state government makes any such move, we will oppose it firmly and approach the apex court against it. We will also seek the intervention of the Centre as Sabarimala is a national pilgrim centre," he said.

The Samajam also plans to hold a meeting of head priests of renowned Hindu shrines of South India on January 22 in Kochi to discuss the present developments and check reported attempts to "destroy" the Hindu culture and traditions.

The over two-month-long annual pilgrim season at Sabarimala will culminate with the auspicious Makaravilakku on January 14.

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Story first published: Saturday, January 12, 2019, 6:08 [IST]
Shah Faesal could have served society better as an IAS officer: Satya Pal Malik

India

oi-PTI

Srinagar, Jan 12: Hailing Shah Faesal as an "efficient" and "dedicated" IAS officer, Jammu & Kashmir governor Satya Pal Malik Saturday said although the former's decision to join politics was personal, he could have served people better as an officer rather than as a politician.

"Faesal was an efficient and dedicated officer who rendered his services with great zeal and enthusiasm for the welfare of the state and its people particularly belonging to weaker sections of the society.

"In case, he would continue his service as an IAS officer, he could serve the people of society in a better way," the governor said in a statement here.

No initiative to bring back Kashmiri Pandits to Valley: Shah Faesal

Faesal, who has been in the limelight since becoming the first Kashmiri to top the civil services exam in 2009, resigned on January 9, protesting the "unabated" killings in Kashmir and the marginalisation of Indian Muslims.

In a brief statement on Facebook, the 35-year-old said his resignation was also to protest "the marginalisation and invisiblisation of around 200 million Indian Muslims at the hands of Hindutva forces reducing them to second-class citizens; insidious attacks on the special identity of the state and growing culture of intolerance and hate in mainland India in the name of hyper-nationalism".

The Jammu & Kashmir governor said Faesal could have delivered better as an officer rather than as a politician.

"As far as his feelings about Kashmiris are concerned, he could be posted in the region for extending his fullest support in eradicating poverty and creating job opportunities for the youth of the Valley," he said.

"He (Faesal) should consult the youth to know their aspirations and try to create a new platform for the redressal of problems and grievances of youth," Malik said.

The Governor, however, observed that it was not necessary for him to suggest Faesal on what to do even though his best wishes were always with the former IAS officer. "I would love to meet him if he comes to me for the redressal of problems of the youth," Malik added.

PTI

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Story first published: Saturday, January 12, 2019, 21:33 [IST]
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Projects under Chardham development plan to get underway

India

oi-Oneindia Staff

By Anuj Cariappa

New Delhi, Jan 12: The Supreme Court lifted its stay on certain stalled projects under the government's ambitious Chardham development plan, which proposes to provide all-weather connectivity to the four holy towns of Uttarakhand.

The court said the stay will however continue on those projects which are yet to begin under the plan till the environment clearance is taken by the authorities.

The four towns of the hilly state to be connected by all-weather roads are Yamnotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath and Badrinath.

The top court also stayed a paragraph in the National Green Tribunal (NGT) order passed on September 26 last year which said that these projects did not require Environmental Impact Assessment Approval/Environment Clearance in terms of the notification of Ministry of Environment & Forests.

On October 22 last year, the court had stayed the NGT order clearing the entire ambitious Chardham project in Uttarakhand.

A bench of Justices R F Nariman and Vineet Sharan said that ongoing projects will not be stayed and the projects which have not yet taken off will be stayed.

It said that in case of stalled projects the authorities will follow the usual drill and seek the requisite environmental clearances.

Fresh snowfall in higher reaches of Uttarakhand

The paragraph 46 of the NGT order of September 26 will be stayed, the bench said.

The paragraph said: "Accordingly, these projects did not require EIA Approval/Environment Clearance in terms of the Notification of MoEF&CC dated September 14, 2006 and amended on August 22, 2013 vide S.O. 2559 (E)".

The bench also asked Additional Solicitor General Pinky Anand appearing for the Centre to file an affidavit in eight weeks on the number of ongoing projects.

At the outset, Anand along with advocate Balendu Shekhar said that NGT has cleared the project and all due procedure were followed.

Advocate Sanjay Parikh, appearing for NGO Citizen for Green Doon, said that without environmental clearances projects were being carried out.

He said that seven landslides have taken place due to the ecologically fragile nature of the hills which are being cut almost vertically.

Parikh, appearing for the petitioner, NGO Citizens for Green Doon, had said that if the project was allowed to go on, an irreversible damage would be done to the ecology which would be equal to damage done by 10 hydro power projects.

He said that NGT order giving clearance to the project should be stayed as there were gross violation of environmental norms.

The bench, however, said that it will not stay the NGT order in entirety.

On October 22, last year, the court had stayed the order of NGT which had cleared the ambitious 'Chardham Mahamarg Vikas Pariyojna'.

The top court had on November 26 sought the Centre's response on why it should not stay the NGT order clearing the project.

On September 26, NGT had constituted a committee to monitor the ambitious road project while giving its nod with some safeguards in view of larger public interest and the country's security.

The committee headed by former Uttarakhand High Court Judge Justice U C Dhyani was set up to overseeing the implementation of the Environment Management Plan (EMP) of the project.

The petitioner NGO had said that the environment clearance was must for the project and the ongoing work was "blatantly illegal".

The Environment Ministry had earlier informed the NGT that it had received no proposal for environmental clearance for the project and hence the question of an environment impact assessment (EIA) study of such a project did not arise.

The ministry also said that under the 2006 EIA notification, only new national highways and expansion of highways over 100 km needed to get prior environmental clearance.

The NGO stated that the 900-km project in the hilly state was being carried out without any environment impact assessment.

It also contended that the Centre had allegedly deliberately broken the road project into small stretches to do away with the requirement for obtaining environment clearance.

It had alleged that the road widening work to connect Kedarnath, Badrinath, Yamunotri and Gangotri in Uttarakhand was being carried out in violation of environmental laws.

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Story first published: Saturday, January 12, 2019, 6:00 [IST]
TMC ghar wapsi: Will Rajib Banerjee be the next to ditch BJP?

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Political merchandise: 'Namo Again' hoodies, 'Vanakkam Puducherry' T-shirt

India

oi-Chennabasaveshwar P

New Delhi, Jan 12: As mercury of election fever is catching up picture of BJP leaders sporting 'Namo Again' hoodies has gone viral. Anurag Thakur, MP, from Hamirpur, Himachal Pradesh walked into the parliament sporting a 'Namo Again' hoodie which has sparked a social media storm.

"NaMo Again. Because leadership matters. Because India matters. Stand up for what you know is right. Get your NaMo merchandise today from," said Union Minister Rajyavardhan Rathore in his tweet as he shared pictures of the leaders attending BJP's National Convention at Ramleela maidan.

NaMo Again. Because leadership matters. Because India matters.



Stand up for what you know is right. Get your NaMo merchandise today from @namomerchandise.@ianuragthakur @SuPriyoBabul @PiyushGoyal @KirenRijiju pic.twitter.com/6MEekIWg3m  Rajyavardhan Rathore (@Ra_THORe) January 11, 2019

Apart from being an influential political leader, PM Narendra Modi has always been a style spinner. From his dhotis, to kurtas and to even his looks, numerous ethnic fashion trend have been inspired by him.

Karnataka Congress leader Brijesh Kalappa tweeted a picture of him sporting 'Chaliye, Puducherry ko vanakkam' apparently aimed at PM Narendra Modi who was embarrassed by a question raised by BJP worker in Puducherry during interaction with party wrokers.

BJP worker identified as Nirmal Jain, raising concerns of middle class, asked PM Modi that middle class is of the opinion that your government is only busy collecting tax in all manner and in all ways.

After answering his question PM Modi bade goodbye to Jain and sought out the next questioner by greeting the state: "Chaliye. Puducherry ko vanakkam!"

Later, the Prime Minister's office decided to select candidates and questions in advance for an interaction programme entitled 'My booth is a strong booth', according to a report in The Times of India.

"We are double checking the process to avoid questions like the one raised by a functionary, Nirmal Kumar Jain, from Puducherry," a source from the party said, according to the article.

Chaliye Puducherry ko Vanakkam  pic.twitter.com/VGTZG9ayoW  Brijesh Kalappa (@brijeshkalappa) January 5, 2019
Perhaps this isn't the last word: Chidambaram on SP-BSP alliance

India

oi-Deepika S

New Delhi, Jan 12: On a day when the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) and the Samajwadi Party (SP) announced a tie-up in Uttar Pradesh for the coming Lok Sabha polls, the Congress is maintaining a cautious silence, officially. However, party leader P Chidambaram is still hopeful of a change of heart of the two major regional players in the state.

"Perhaps this (the decision to leave out the Congress) isn't the last word, maybe there will be some rethink as the elections approach. A truly broad-based alliance will be formed in Uttar Prasesh. If necessary, the Congress party will contest elections on its own strength," he was quoted by news agency ANI.

Akhilesh Yadav and Mayawati announced their alliance for the 2019 general elections today, saying their parties - Samajwadi Party (SP) and Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) - will contest 38 seats each. They said there was no real gain if they had included the Congress. But they are willing to leave the Amethi and Raebareli constituencies - both Congress bastions - for the Rahul Gandhi-led party.

BSP, SP to contest on 38 seats, Amethi and Rae Bareli for Congress: Mayawati

"There is not much benefit to us from allying with the Congress. We have decided that we will not tie up with a party like the Congress across the country where they can't transfer votes to us," said Mayawati.

Congress general secretary Ghulam Nabi Azad refused to give an official response from the party, saying the stand would be made clear on Sunday.

The Congress top brass in Uttar Pradesh is in a huddle following the announcement of the alliance. Azad met Uttar Pradesh Congress chief Raj Babbar, Congress Legislature Party (CLP) leader and Rajya Sabha member Sanjay Singh and former lawmaker Pramod Tiwari at his residence.

Ever since the BSP and SP indicated that they were considering to leave out the party, the Congress leadership has started preparation for a solo fight in the state. They have been meeting leaders from the western parts of the state for the past two days, news agency PTI report.

Azad said he would meet the leaders and workers of the party from central and eastern Uttar Pradesh on Sunday.

Congress spokesperson Manish Tewari also stressed on the need for state-specific alliances.

"Insofar as alliances are concerned, we have always believed that state-specific alliances, which further the progressive and pluralistic ideals, which further consolidate the liberalised idea of India, are the way forward and I think there is space for that," he said.

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Story first published: Saturday, January 12, 2019, 21:09 [IST]
Paswan's daughter threatens stir over his angootha chhap remark against Rabri Devi

India

pti-PTI

Patna, Jan 12: Union Minister Ram Vilas Paswan's estranged daughter Asha Paswan on Saturday criticised him for making a veiled attack on Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Rabri Devi over the party's opposition to the Centre's quota bill and demanded an apology from him.

She also threatened to stage a dharna at the office of his Lok Janshakti Party (LJP).

Paswan, whose party will contest the upcoming general election along with JD(U) and BJP in Bihar, had at a press conference on Friday attacked the opposition RJD for opposing the NDA-led government's bill to provide 10 per cent reservation for the economically backward in general category.

"They (RJD) believe in merely raising slogans and making 'angootha chhap' (illiterate person) the chief minister," he had said, without naming anybody.

SP-BSP alliance strong, NDA should strengthen itself: Chirag Paswan

The remark was seen as a reference to the events of 1997 when RJD chief Lalu Prasad had to step down as Bihar chief minister as he faced arrest in the fodder scam cases and his wife, Rabri Devi, who has little formal education, was appointed as his successor.

She remained in office for eight years, longer than her husband, who was in power from 1990 to 1997.

"Papa has insulted Rabri Devi. My mother too was uneducated -- a reason why he abandoned her. He must apologise or else I will stage a dharna in front of the LJP office," Asha said.

She is Paswan's daughter from his first marriage. Her husband, Arun Sadhu, had joined the RJD last year.

Paswan is separated from his first wife Raj Kumari Devi who lives alone at Samastipur district. He has anointed his son from his second marriage, Chirag Paswan, as his political successor and lives with his second wife Reena Paswan.

PTI
Opposition wants a majboor govt, we will provide a mazboot one: PM Modi

India

oi-Deepika S

New Delhi, Jan 12: Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Saturday slammed the opposition alliance for its efforts to cobble up an anti-BJP front ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha election, calling it a 'failed experiment'.

PM Modi also attacked the Congress over the Ram Temple issue, saying it doesn't want a solution to the Ayodhya dispute and is creating hurdles through its lawyers.

Addressing the BJP's National Convention, the prime minister said the parties that were formed primarily to oppose the Congress and its culture have now join hands with it. "We want a strong government so that we can put an end to corruption. These days there is a failed experiment taking place in the country which is known as the grand alliance. They have all gathered together to make a helpless government. They don't want a strong government which will lead to shut down of their shops," PM Modi said.

BSP, SP to contest on 38 seats, Amethi and Rae Bareli for Congress: Mayawati

His comments come after the BSP-Samajwadi Party announced their alliance in the politically crucial Uttar Pradesh, in which the BJP had won maximum seats in the 2014 Lok Sabha polls.

"They want a helpless government so that they can indulge in corruption. We want a strong government so that we can put an end to corruption. They want a helpless government so that they can do good for their relatives. We want a strong government so that we can usher development for everyone (sabka saath, sabka vikas)," he said.

He also slammed the governments of Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal, Chhattisgarh for withdrawing general consent to the CBI in their respective state and asked why they were afraid and what irregularities they have done.

At the same time, he mentioned about his experiences with the central agencies during the UPA rule. "Despite being harassed by the UPA government for years when I was Gujarat CM, we didn't ban entry of CBI in state," he said.

The prime minister said 10-per cent reservation in education and government jobs for the youth from economically weaker sections will enhance the confidence of 'New India' and asserted that the new arrangement will not encroach upon anyone's rights.

PM Modi said that for the first time in the country's history, there has not been any charge of corruption against a government.

The BJP rule has proved that the country can be run without corruption, he added.

He said earlier governments saw farmers (annadata) as only 'matdata' (voters), while his government was constantly trying to address challenges faced by them.

"We are working day and night to double farmers' income by 2022," he said.

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Story first published: Saturday, January 12, 2019, 17:37 [IST]
PM Modi to deliver Keynote address at the 5th edition of VivaTech 2021 tomorrow

Modi can't speak a line in English without teleprompter: Mamata Banerjee

India

oi-Chennabasaveshwar P

New Delhi, Jan 12: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said Prime Minister Narendra Modi can't speak a line in English properly and needs constant help from a teleprompter.

According to a Bengali news website quoted Mamata Banerjee saying, "Modi gives a lot of speeches but he cannot speak a line in English properly. That's why he needs to constantly look at the teleprompter while speaking English," Mamata Banerjee, the chief minister of West Bengal."

One must make another film 'Disastrous PM': Mamata Banerjee's dig at Modi

"The entire media knows of this. So do other people," Mamata Banerjee said. "

He looks at the screen, reads what he has to say in English and then speaks as if he's fluent in the language."

Claiming the state had a better option in Arogyashri, Mamata Banerjee had stayed out of Ayushman Bharat - a move that had hugely irked the Prime Minister.
Mayawati explains why SP-BSP did not include Congress as alliance

India

oi-Chennabasaveshwar P

Lucknow, Jan 12: BSP supremo Mayawati in a joint press conference with Samajwadi Party (SP) leader Akhilesh Yadav explained why both the parties did not include Congress as an alliance.

Mayawati said, " Moreover, we won't gain anything by including Congress in our alliance. Both BSP and SP have experienced in the past that Congress's vote is not transferrable."

"Why we didn't take Congress in the alliance? Let me tell you post-independence, Congress was at Centre and in many states. Even then corruption, poverty were rampant. Congress and BJP at Centre are one of the same things. Both the parties have done defence embezzlement in their tenure. Congress lost due to Bofors, BJP will lose because of Rafale," said Mayawati.

BSP will contest on 38 seats, SP on 38 seats: Mayawati

She further said that when it comes to SP and BSP, votes get consolidated successfully. "We believe that we will dethrone BJP at the Centre, provided that BJP does not go for tampering with EVMs like before, " she added.

Both leaders addressed a join-press conference for the first time after they gave contours of an electoral alliance ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.
LS polls a fight between dictatorship and democracy: Congress

India

pti-PTI

New Delhi, Jan 12: Hitting back at Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his remarks that people have to chose between a "majboor" (helpless) and a "majboot" (strong) government in the upcoming general election, the Congress on Saturday said the 2019 Lok Sabha polls would be a fight between dictatorship and democracy.

On Modi's attack on states ruled by opposition parties for withdrawing the general consent to the CBI and his remarks that he had not resorted to such a measure when he was targeted by central agencies under the UPA rule, Congress spokesperson Manish Tewari retorted, saying investigating bodies were not used as a political tool under his party's rule to target rivals.

Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal and Chhattisgarh have withdrawn the general consent to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in these states.

Tewari said, while in his over-an-hour-long speech, Modi spoke on a host of issues, including launching several attacks on the Congress, he skipped key "achievements" like demonetisation, the employment he had promised to generate and the agrarian distress across the country.

Opposition wants a 'majboor' govt, we will provide a 'mazboot' one: PM Modi

"Lok Sabha 2019 will not be a battle between a majboor sarkar and a majboot sarkar, it is a fight between dictatorship and democracy. It is a battle between 'bhashan' (speeches) and 'prashasan' (administration) and it is going to be a test of 'jumla' versus impeccable track record of service which the Congress has delivered for years," he said.

The Congress leader's remarks came in response to Modi's assertion at the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) national convention that the opposition parties were coming together as they wanted to form a "majboor" government to promote nepotism and corruption, whereas the saffron party wanted a "majboot" dispensation for an all-round development of the country.

Tewari accused the government of systematic weakening of the country's institutions.

Targeting the government over the state of internal security, he said Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman had stated that there was no big terror attack during the BJP rule.

"If this was to be true, then what was the Uri attack, where 19 soldiers were killed in a terror strike, and the Pathankot terror strike?," Tewari asked.

Both the terror attacks had taken place in 2016.

The Congress leader said the situation in the Kashmir Valley was bad and wondered what was the progress of the Naga Peace Accord, signed between the Centre and the Nationalist Socialist Council of Nagaland (Isak-Muivah) in 2015.

"What is the government's policy towards Pakistan? Why is it so that our trusted friend Russia has been selling arms to Pakistan? The way American President Donald Trump has been mocking you and India's diplomacy. Why is there no response from the government or the BJP?" he asked.

Last week, Trump took a jibe at Modi for funding a "library" in Afghanistan, saying it was of no use in the war-torn country, as he criticised India and others for not doing enough for the land-locked nation's security.

PTI
Jagan attack: Why NIA probe into a 'trivial' incident, asks Naidu

India

oi-Deepika S

Hyderabd, Jan 12: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu has lashed out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi for transferring the case of attack on Jagan Mohan Reddy to the NIA and questioned the basis of the decision.

Naidu wrote a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday expressed surprise over the Centre entrusting a "trivial" and "insignificant" case of a small incident that happened at Visakhapatnam airport to a prestigious investigation agency like NIA, without even taking into consideration the objections raised by the State government.

Naidu has stated that the formation of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) by the Home Ministry is contrary to "our federal spirit. Without a Constitution amendment, in the subject of law and order, the Centre has taken away the lawmaking power of the States."

"By setting up the NIA probe, the Central government now obviously wants to take upon itself the responsibility of fighting terror by sidetracking the states. It is with regret and anguish I am to say that the Union Government is bringing down the sanctity and autonomy of every institution." Naidu further said.

In the letter, dated January 11, 2019, Chief Minister Naidu took exception "to the manner in which the MHA entrusted the investigation of the airport incident to the NIA without dealing with reasoning out the objections furnished by the State government in this regard having called for the same."

Reddy, the YSRCP) leader, was attacked at the Vishakapatnam airport in October 2018. The accused, a worker at the airport canteen, attacked Reddy with a knife while he was waiting to board a flight to Hyderabad.

The attacker, Srinivas Rao, was taken into custody immediately by the state police for investigation. A Special Investigation Team (SIT) constituted by the state government said that the attack was a publicity stunt by the accused and did not intend to kill Reddy.

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Story first published: Saturday, January 12, 2019, 18:47 [IST]
Temple in Srinagar that was closed due to militancy, reopens after 31 years on Panchami

J&K: Two terrorists killed in gunfight in Kulgam

India

oi-Deepika S

Srinagar, Jan 12: Two terrorists have been killed in an encounter with security forces in Katapora area of Kulgam in Jammu and Kashmir on Saturday.

Clashes between stone-throwing youth and security forces have started near the site of the gunfight. Security forces are using tear smoke to drive away the protestors.

According to the reports, one of the terrorists killed in the encounter could be Zeenat Ul Islam, the longest surviving militant active since 2015 in Valley.

He is among the top most wanted terrorists in the Valley. He had joined Lashkar-e-Taiba in 2015 and then joined the Hizbul Mujahideen. Now, he is the commander of Al Badr, which is a terrorist group operating in the Jammu Kashmir region.

Security forces started a cordon and search operation in Katapora village following information about the presence of terrorists.

Mobile internet services have been suspended in Kulgam and Shopian districts.

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Story first published: Saturday, January 12, 2019, 22:22 [IST]
Citizenship Bill: Cong offers support to Assam CM for new govt if he quits BJP

India

pti-PTI

Guwahati, Jan 12: Congress leader Debabrata Saikia on Saturday asked Assam chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal to quit the BJP and form a new government with his party's support, while the AGP said it may restore its alliance with the saffron party if the Citizenship Amendment Bill is scrapped.

Saikia, the leader of Opposition in Assam Assembly, talking to a local TV news channel here said, "In view of the current situation in the state following the Citizenship Amendment Bill giving rise to protests here, Sarbananda Sonowal should leave BJP and come out with even just 40 of his MLAs."

"We will have Sonowal only as the chief minister of Assam again. We have 25 legislators in the 126-member House. We can take support from AGP and other parties to form the new state government," said the Congress leader.

The current 14th Assembly has 61 BJP, 25 Congress, 14 Asom Gana Parishad (AGP), 13 AIUDF, 12 Bodoland Peoples Front (BPF) and one independent MLA.

Meanwhile, the AGP, which had snapped ties with the two-and-a-half-year-old Sonowal government on January 7 over the Centre introducing and passing the Bill in Lok Sabha, indicated before reporters in Golaghat that it may restore its ties with BJP in the state.

Asked if his party would renew its alliance with the saffron party, AGP president Atul Bora said, "If the government scraps the bill giving rise to the need to discuss the issue in our party forum and depending on the need of the political situation...we may reconsider our alliance with BJP. Cannot say anything now till the Bill is dropped. We will observe their activities and as of now take a wait and watch stand"
BSP-SP repeat alliance of 1993 but who has the edge

India

oi-Vinod Kumar Shukla

New Delhi, Jan 12: The Samajwadi Party (BJP) and the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) have announced that they will contest on equal number of Lok Sabha seats that is 38 each in Uttar Pradesh in 2019 Lok Sabha elections. The SP-BSP has not made the Congress part of the alliance but they announced not fielding candidates in Amethi and Rae Bareily Lok Sabha constituencies from where Congress president Rahul Gandhi and his mother and UPA chairpersons Sonia Gandhi are MPs.

BSP chief Mayawati talked about the 1993 alliance between SP patron Mulayam Singh and BSP leader Kanshi Ram. She also said that she moved on from the Guest House incidence of Lucknow. Actually the alliance of the BSP and the SP in 1993 too has halted the BJP juggernaut in UP.

Mayawati explains why SP-BSP did not include Congress as alliance

The BJP was contesting election in the aftermath of demolition of Babri structure and environment of the state was communally surcharged. But despite both the parties contesting together, the BJP had won more seats that than the alliance though the difference was just of one seat. The BJP had won 177 Assembly seats without any alliance and the BSP-SP alliance had won 176 seats in the UP Assembly together out of total 422 seats. The BSP had won 67 seats in that election while the SP got 109 seats.

The Congress had won 28 seats but the party was not as weak in the state as it is today. So the claim made by the BJP and the SP-BSP alliance has many things that needs to be taken care of before pronouncing any judgment that either the BJP or the SP-BSP alliance have the edge.

If Suheldev Bharat Samaj Party led by Om Prakash Rajbhar and Apna Dal (Sonelal) led by Anupriya Patel are gradually becoming challenge for the ruling alliance at the Centre and at the state then political outfit led by Shivpal Singh Yadav and Chandrashekar Azad is trouble for the SP-BSP combine.

BJP dismisses SP-BSP tie-up as 'a desperate effort for survival'

The BJP has too face the double incumbency of Centre and the state but the SP-BSP has their organisations in tatters in the state. Vote transfer is another issue that has to be taken care off. The BSP votes can be transferred anywhere but this is not equally true with Muslim and Yadav votes of the SP. So it is very interesting to watch way people vote for.

A kind of social engineering has been done by the SP-BSP and BJP chief Amit Shah too has told its worker in the national council meeting that alliance or no alliance the BJP will be winning 74-75 Lok Sabha seats in UP.

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Story first published: Saturday, January 12, 2019, 14:14 [IST]
Speaking highly of Samsung Vietnams success in terms of revenues, export turnover and job creation, the PM stated that the Vietnamese government is interested in Samsung-invested projects and will create favourable conditions for the group to conduct successful business in Vietnam.

Shim Won Hwan, former General Director of the Samsung Vietnam Complex, expressed his admiration at Vietnams economic growth rate, adding that Samsung is delighted to partially contribute to that growth. He voiced his gratitude for the support given to him from the Vietnamese government and PM during his working tenure in Vietnam.

Samsung always considers Vietnam as an important strategic production hub in its global strategy, and pledges to expand its long-term investment in the Southeast Asian country, the guest affirmed.

The production outcome of Samsung Vietnam Complex has posed the most impressive growth among Samsungs overseas production centres, which is vivid evidence of the groups commitments to the Vietnamese government, he stated.

A general view of the meeting. (Photo: NDO/Tran Hai)

The leaders of the Republic of Korea group have just directed the continuous acceleration of its investment activities in Vietnam, including the research and development (R&D) centre project, Shim Won Hwan said, adding that Samsung is promoting the transfer of leading technologies to the centre and wishes for more support from the Vietnamese government and the PM.

Addressing the event, Choi Joo Ho, General Director of Samsung Vietnam Complex, pledged his utmost efforts to contribute to Vietnams development.

PM Phuc attributed the success in Vietnam-Samsung cooperation over the past few years to the companionship and sharing of difficulties between the two sides. He expressed his belief and wish that Choi Joo Ho will achieve strong success in his new working term in Vietnam.

He asked Samsung to make Vietnam its most important production centre globally, affirming that the Vietnamese government pledges to ensure macroeconomic stability and improve both the business and investment climate.
BSP chief Mayawati likely to contest Lok Sabha elections from Nagina constituency

India

oi-Vinod Kumar Shukla

New Delhi, Jan 12: Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati is likely to contest Lok Sabha seat from Nagina Lok Sabha reserved constituency as the Samajwadi Party (SP) and Bahujan Samaj Party alliance candidate. Four time chief minister of the state had resigned from the Rajya Sabha on July 18, 2017.

At present, neither she is the member of any house nor any member of her party is in the Lok Sabha. Sources said that after the alliance formation, the BSP supremo will contest Lok Sabha elections as well. It is almost certain that Mayawati will contest from reserved Nagina Lok Sabha constituency.

BSP will contest on 38 seats, SP on 38 seats: Mayawati

Mayawati first got elected to the Lok Sabha from Bijnor constituency in 1989. She also became Rajya Sabha MP and also got elected to Akbarpur Parliamentary constituency. She was also member of UP legislative Assembly and Legislative Council.

Since after the delimitation, Akbarpur and Bijnor no more remain to be reserved constituencies so the BSP chief will contest Lok Sabha election from the Nagina seat. Informed sources said that around 60 per cent of the Bijnor Lok Sabha constituency is now part of Nagina constituency and looking at the earlier results, the seat is considered to be safe for Mayawati.

The constituency with total 15 lakh voters has over 4 lakh Muslims and Dalit and Jatav voters are even more. In the year 2014, the BJP's Yashwant Singh got 39 per cent votes while SP candidate got 29 per cent votes while BSP with 26 per cent votes was third on the seat.

Mayawati explains why SP-BSP did not include Congress as alliance

Though the SP being runner up on this seat has its claim over this seat in the alliance between the SP and the BSP. But on Mayawati showing her interest to contest from this seat, the SP may give in to give this seat to the BSP. Sources said that in the replacement of Nagina seat, Hathras reserved seat where the BSP was runner up might go to the SP.

This is to recall that the BJP that had won Hathras seat got 51.87 per cent votes while BSP got 20.77 per cent votes and SP got 17 per cent votes and RLD 8.2 per cent votes.

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Story first published: Saturday, January 12, 2019, 13:08 [IST]
BJP gives a road map to the party leadership of Uttar Pradesh with its own social engineering

India

oi-Vinod Kumar Shukla

New Delhi, Jan 12: The Samajwadi Party (SP) and Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) are likely to announce their alliance on January 12, 2019 but the Bharatiya Janata Party has give a new kind of energy to its workers from the party's National Council meeting at Ramlila Ground in New Delhi.

Despite the fact that the BJP had lost Lok Sabha by-elections of Gorakhpur, Phoolpur, Kairana and Assembly seat of Noorpur, the party is working on its ground-level strategy and it is planning to pay the SP and the BSP in their own coin by managing a better caste management. The BJP is still pained with the defeat of Phoolpur, Gorakhpur and Kairana Lok Sabha seats.

Amit Shah says, BJP will better its performance in UP by winning 74-74 Lok Sabha seats in 2019

So the BJP is working on the ground from the past one year. BJP president Amit Shah gave the formula of winning booth during 2017 Assembly elections and succeeded in it. For the 2019 Lok Sabha election 21-member booth committees have been constituted on 1.67 lakh booths in Uttar Pradesh. The party have tested these workers all these while.

From bike rally to pad yatra to samman samaroh their identity has been established from police station to block and tehsil level. Night Chaupals have been given lots of importance to the party workers. Interestingly if UP chief minister Yogi Adityanath is face of Hindutva and development of religious places then deputy chief minister Keshav Prashad Maurya emerged as all acceptable face among OBCs.

For Dalits, the BJP has been able to create a big leadership in UP. From Union minister Krishna Raj to Scheduled Caste Cell chief and MP Vinod Kumar Sonkar, MP Kaushal Kishor and former MP Jugul Kishor have been encouraged by the party leadership to work among Dalits for their uplift. State BJP president Mahendra Nath Pandey and state general secretary (organisation) Sunil Bansal have completely taken care of organisations.

Terming Modi as pro-farmer, BJP passes resolution

The BJP has organised conferences of Dalits and OBCs. Non-Jatav Dalits like Pasi, Kori, Dhobi, Sonkar (Khatik), Valmiki, Dhanuk and Dushadh have been cajoled. Their dreams have been supported and given a new height. Similarly, the BJP has not only been able to tab other OBC communities like Kurmi, Rajbhar, Nishad, Kumbhar, Prajapati, Jaat and Gujjar but also Yadav.

The ground level structure of the party has been given the direction in the national council meeting of the party. Party president has asked the BJP workers to win 74-75 seats in Uttar Pradesh. The PM will give new energy to party workers. The decision of the Modi government to provide 10 per cent reservation to general category people has actually changed the entire game plan of the opposition.

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Story first published: Saturday, January 12, 2019, 10:58 [IST]
FIR against former UP CM Akhilesh Yadav, 20 SP workers for 'assaulting' journalists in Moradabad

Uttar Pradesh government lying about number of teachers who died during poll duty: Akhilesh Yadav

BJP dismisses SP-BSP tie-up as 'a desperate effort for survival'

India

oi-Chennabasaveshwar P

New Delhi, Jan 12: As BSP chief Mayawati and SP leader Akhilesh Yadav announced their tie-up for Lok Sabha elections on Saturday in Lucknow BJP leaders dismissed the tie-up as "a desperate effort for survival".

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said, that there are alliances being formed to overthrow Prime Minister Narendra Modi "because he is running a corruption-free and stable government".

Mayawati explains why SP-BSP did not include Congress as alliance

Union law minister Ravi Shankar Prasad dismissed the Samajwadi Party-Bahujan Samaj Party alliance as "a desperate effort for survival".

He said, "The SP BSP alliance is for their survival, it's not in the interest of the country or Uttar Pradesh," he said at a media briefing on the second day of BJP's national council meeting in Delhi. Prasad exuded confidence that the BJP will sweep the polls in Uttar Pradesh.

Meanwhile, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has welcomed the SP-BSP alliance.

I welcome the alliance of the SP and the BSP for the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections  Mamata Banerjee (@MamataOfficial) 12 January 2019
Amit Shah says, BJP will better its performance in UP by winning 74-74 Lok Sabha seats in 2019

India

oi-Vinod Kumar Shukla

New Delhi, Jan 12: Just before the 2019 Lok Sabha election, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has termed forthcoming Lok Sabha election as the Battle of Panipat in its two-day Nation Council meeting at Ramlila Ground in New Delhi. Similar to the battle between British and Maratha, these elections too will be ideological and decisive battle. This election is not only important for the BJP but also for India.

The BJP has also attacked the alliance of opposition political parties as they are calling it Mahagathbandhan by saying that there was a time when battle was Congress verses the rest which is now BJP verses the rest. BJP president Amit Shah in his speech at the National Council meeting at Ramlila Ground said that 2019 Lok Sabha elections are decisive matter for the ideological war. There is cultural Nationalism and love for nation of the BJP under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi on one side while on the other there is an alliance that neither has leader not policy.

BJP National Council meet: 'We will see a repeat of 2014,' says Amit Shah

Shah said that 2019 Lok Sabha elections are important for 50 crore poor people of the country. The election is important for youths working with their start ups. It is important for poor mother who is free from smoke. This election is important for crores of Indians living across the world.

He said that certain battle in the history leave their impact for centuries to come and 2019 election is one such battle. He said that loss of Marathas in Battle of Panipat threw the country into the slavery of British for 200 years. Lok Sabha election of 2019 is for them who want freedom from corruption and misrule of 55 years. This election is a decisive battle so winning this is very important.

He called the alliance of the opposition as farce. There is no all India presence of this alliance. These leader were defeated in 2014 and they must also be defeated in 2019. The Samajwadi Party and the Congress forged an alliance in 2017 but the BJP had won with decisive mandate due to Modi ji's leadership.

If there is no tie-up, BJP will defeat ex-allies: Amit Shah in Maharashtra

Such people who were not seeing each other eye to eye, they are united against the BJP. The party will win more seats than 2014 Lok Sabha election. The BJP will win 74-75 seats in the state out of 80 seats. The BJP has worked for poor and youths. The party has give them their due honour. Shah also talked about decision of 10 per cent reservation to the upper caste poor as historic. He also talked about surgical strike to avenge Uri attack. This has changed view of the world for India.

He took a dig on Rahul Gandhi by saying that both mother and son duo are on bail and they are questioning the integrity of the Prime Minister. The Supreme Court of India has made it clear that there is no need for further investigation on Rafale and whatever was left that was answered by Defence minister Nirmala Sitharaman.

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Story first published: Saturday, January 12, 2019, 6:16 [IST]
UP allows malls, restaurants to open with 50 per cent capacity

No communal angle say UP police in FIR against 9 including Twitter

BSP implodes ahead of critical UP polls next year: What lies ahead for Mayawati?

After SP-BSP alliance snub, Rahul Gandhi to go on rally spree in Uttar Pradesh

India

oi-PTI

New Delhi, Jan 12: After the Samajwadi Party (SP) and Bhaujan Samaj Party (BSP) left the Congress out from their pre-poll alliance for the 2019 Lok Sabha election, Congress party is preparing to contest all the 80 constituencies on its own and party chief Rahul Gandhi is slated to undertake a vigorous campaign in the state.

Gandhi is slated to address 10 public meetings in Uttar Pradesh in February and is slated to make more frequent visits to the state in the run up to the polls in a bid to boost the party's prospects.

"He (Gandhi) will address 10 public meetings in the state in February," party leader PL Punia said. He said Gandhi would be in the state "every third day" next month.

BSP, SP to contest on 38 seats, Amethi and Rae Bareli for Congress: Mayawati

Congress general secretary and in-charge of UP Ghulam Nabi Azad is touring the state and will be meeting district and city-unit presidents.

Earlier on Saturday, sworn rivals Akhilesh Yadav and Mayawati declared that they would "rob Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Amit Shah of their sleep".

PTI

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Story first published: Saturday, January 12, 2019, 21:52 [IST]
Fake: PM Modi did not change attire four times in a day to meet four different leaders

2nd day of BJP Council meet: Modi, Shah arrive at Ramlila Ground

India

oi-Chennabasaveshwar P

New Delhi, Jan 12: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP President Amit Shah arrive at Ramlila Ground to attend the second day of BJP National Convention on Saturday. Home Minister Rajnath Singh, UP CM Yogi Adityanath, FM Arun Jaitley and former MP CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan also present.

BJP passed two resolutions: One on the agriculture resolution and another on the welfare of the poor.

The Lok Sabha elections will be a battle of two ideologies, BJP president Amit Shah said Friday, asserting his party stands for cultural nationalism and development of poor, while the rivals have come together merely for power. BJP discussed preparations for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections in the backdrop of defeats in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh assembly polls.

BJP gives a road map to the party leadership of Uttar Pradesh with its own social engineering

BJP Chief Amit Shah, said, "2019 is a decisive battle for BJP. Marathas won 131 battles but lost one in Panipat and had to go through 200 years of slavery."

"Ayodhya case is going on in Supreme Court. We want the case to end as soon as possible. BJP wants grand Ram temple at that spot. Congress leader Kapil Sibbal tried to delay the case. We want Ram temple by constitutional path, " said Amit Shah.

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Story first published: Saturday, January 12, 2019, 11:25 [IST]
National Youth Day: Tallest Vivekananda statue set for launch

Feature

oi-Deepika S

Ranchi, Jan 12: Every year, January 12 is celebrated as National Youth Day (Yuva Diwas) across the country with great pomp and fervour.

In 1984, the government said that "the philosophy of Swamiji and the ideals for which he lived and worked could be a great source of inspiration for the Indian youth" and since then, Swami Vivekananda's birth anniversary is being celebrated as National Youth Day.

The tallest bronze statue (33 ft.) of Swami Vivekanand will be unveiled here on National Youths Day - January 12 by Chief Minister Raghubar Das and other dignitaries.

The statue of Swami Vivekananda is considered to be the first of its kind in India and is expected to set a benchmark by grabbing coveted honour of the highest statue of Vivekananda set up here in the tribal heartland after the 22 feet Swami's figurine at Nagpur decked up at a park in 2016.

The installation of the 33-feet tall statue of Swami Vivekananda, built at Rs 17 crore on one of the islands, in the like is almost complete while other works like development of the lake front, pathways et al will take over a month's time before it is thrown open to public.

Why National Youth Day is celebrated on 12 January?

National Youth Day is celebrated to commemorate the birthday of Swami Vivekananda. He was a social reformer, philosopher and thinker. The main objective behind the celebration is to propagate the philosophy and the ideals of Swami Vivekananda for which he lived and worked. No doubt he was a great inspiration for all National Youth of India.

National Youth Day: History

In 1984, Indian Government first declared to celebrate the birthday of Swami Vivekananda i.e. 12 January as National Youth Day. Since then from 1985, it is started celebrating as the National Youth Day all over the country. The main aim of the Government is to make better future of the country by motivating the youths through the way of their life and ideas of the Swami Vivekananda.

About Swami Vivekananda

Born as Narendranath Dutta on 12 January 1863, Swami Vivekananda is considered one of the chief saints of India. The prime disciple of 19th century Indian mystic Ramakrishna Paramhansa, he reintroduced the Indian philosophies of Vedanta and Yoga to the Western world.

on of Vishwanath Dutta, who was an attorney at the Calcutta High Court and a devout housewife Bhubaneswari Devi, Naren's upbringing was influenced by his father's liberal thinking and his mother's spiritual and religious temperament.

Vivekananda was intelligent since childhood. He was the only student to have received first division marks in Presidency College entrance examination. An avid reader of various subjects, including religion, history, social science, art and literature, he also had profound interest in Puranas, Vedas and Upanishads.

Travel and philosophy

Vivekananda travelled to the West bearing HIndu philosophy and introducing Indian heritage, culture and philosophy to the West. Of his many lectures, the one in Chicago at the Parliament of the World's Religion is the most revered. Here, he gave a brief speech representing India and Hinduism.

With his introductory speech, satrting "Sisters and brothers of America", Swami Vivekananda earned a 2-minute standing ovation from the crowd of seven thousand. Death Swami Vivekananda attained Mahasamadhi on July 4, 1902. On this day, he woke up early, went to Belur Math and meditated there for three hours. After taking classes and discussing a planned Vedic college in Ramakrishna Math, he went to his room at 7 pm and asked not be disturbed.

He died at 9:10 pm while meditating. Medically, a rupture of a blood vessel in his brain led to the death. His disciples believe that the rupture was due to brahmarandhra (an opening in the crown of his head) being pierced when he attained mahasamadhi.
KCET 2021 registration open from today: How to apply for KCET Exam 2021, fees, other key details

MM Hills set to become Karnatakas sixth Tiger Reserve

Bengaluru

oi-Deepika S

Bengaluru, Jan 12: Karnataka is all set to get its sixth tiger reserve, with the State Wildlife Board deciding to propose to the Centre to notify Malai Mahadeshwara Hills Wildlife Sanctuary (MM Hills) distinguished tag.

Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy approved the formation of new protected areas, conversion of reserves into sanctuaries/tiger reserve and expansion of a few sanctuaries in the state.

The government had earlier proposed to declare the CWS jointly with MM Hills. If the proposal had come through, the tiger reserve would have gone by the name Cauvery-Malai Mahadeshwara Tiger Reserve (CMTR).

"A decision on raising the compensation amount in cases of man-animal conflicts from Rs 5 lakh to Rs 10 lakh will soon be taken," the CM said. Some important forest habitats that will now get the tag of conservation reserve include Mulliayanagiri in Chikkamagaluru, Bhukapatna (for chinkaras) in Tumakuru and Mulabagilu in Kolar for bats. In Kolar, the Malur-Kamasamudra Wildlife Reserve for leopards and sloth bears and an elephant corridor too got the nod from the Board.

If Male Mahadeshwara Hills is declared as a Tiger Reserve, Chamarajanagar District will become the first district in India to have three Tiger Reserves - Bandipur Tiger Reserve, Biligirirangana Betta Tiger Reserve (BRT) and now, Male Mahadeshwara Tiger Reserve.

MM Hills sanctuary spread over a total area of 1,93,372.25 in Chamarajanagar, Mandya, and Ramanagar districts. The sanctuary is home to mammals like tigers, leopards, wild dogs, hyenas, sloth bears, elephants, honey badgers, guars, sambars, chitals.
Photo Courtesy the Arc of Madison Cortland

Newly-elected State Sen. Rachel May listens to the concerns from the Madison County Motivators, a self-advocacy group that is supported by The Arc of Madison Cortland. From left, far side of the table, are Perry Courto, associate executive director and CFO at The Arc of Madison Cortland; Jack Campbell, executive director at The Arc of Madison Cortland; and Alan Cohen, board member at The Arc of Madison Cortland. From left, near side of the table, are Esther Dygert, Madison County Motivator; Rachel May, New York state senator, D-53; Nodesia Hernandez, Community Liaison for May; and Shannon Enders, director of Development & Communications at The Arc of Madison Cortland.
In the face of this complex challenge, the Pentagon has rightly stepped up its game on technology issues over the past decade. The current National Defense Strategy identifies key technologies that need to be military priorities, including advanced computing, big-data analysis, artificial intelligence and robotics.

The Obama administration took an important step by creating the Defense Innovation Unit, which seeks to spur high-tech innovation for the military through collaboration with the private sector. Michael Brown, a former tech company CEO, heads the unit, which is pursuing 97 projects.

That effort suffered a setback last year when Google said it would not renew its contact this year for Project Maven, which uses artificial intelligence to analyze video images such as those used for military drones. About 4,000 Google employees signed a petition opposing the companys participation in the project.

Other major tech companies remain interested in working on defense projects, however. The most ambitious is a massive cloud storage project called JEDI (Joint Enterprise Defense Infrastructure). JEDIs success  or failure  is being watched as a test case for whether the two cultures (military and civilian) can cooperate, Foreign Policy reports.
NASA is pushing for a return to the moon, and the White House has made space a national priority again, reconstituting the National Space Council, led by Vice President Mike Pence.

"We've been working to get back to the Moon and go on to Mars for years, creating a diversified suborbital and low-Earth orbit economy, and searching for the political, technical, and monetary will to make it a reality," said Jared Stout, the former deputy executive secretary of the Space Council who is now a policy adviser at Venable, a law firm. "In 2019, we are at the precipice of realizing the dreams of decades of planning and energy poured into the space enterprise."

When it comes to space, there are always setbacks and delays. Getting off the surface of the Earth is difficult and dangerous. It requires enormous amounts of energy, and nothing ever seems to go according to schedule.

Virgin Galactic had a fatal accident in 2014. And Musk recently tweeted that the uncrewed first flight of the spacecraft designed to carry humans "will be extremely intense."

"Early flights are especially dangerous, as there's a lot of new hardware."

Those caveats aside, here's a look at some of what's to come in 2019.
White nationalist, white supremacist, Western civilization  how did that language become offensive? King said to the New York Times in an article published Thursday. Why did I sit in classes teaching me about the merits of our history and our civilization?

King responded Friday: Today, the New York Times is suggesting that I am an advocate for white nationalism and white supremacy. I want to make one thing abundantly clear; I reject those labels and the evil ideology that they define. Further, I condemn anyone that supports this evil and bigoted ideology which saw in its ultimate expression the systematic murder of 6 million innocent Jewish lives.

Still, the Times article led several leading Republicans to disavow him.

When people with opinions similar to Kings open their mouths, they damage not only the Republican Party and the conservative brand but also our nation as a whole, Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C., wrote in an op-ed in the Washington Post.

Some in our party wonder why Republicans are constantly accused of racism  it is because of our silence when things like this are said.
He trained for the infantry and was sent to Europe in late 1944. He served in a corps-level staff position that took him to France, Belgium, Germany and Austria.

Discharged as a sergeant in 1946, Binder returned to Omaha. Through mutual friends, he met Roma Chilcott, who became his wife. They went on to raise two children, Gary and Nancy, and were married 50 years. She died in 1997.

For a time after World War II, he sold cars. His genial personality led him into Chamber of Commerce work in Colorado, and later New Mexico. After his commissioning as an officer in 1948, Binder spent time in the National Guard forces of those states.

He returned to Omahas Benson neighborhood two years later and began a steady rise through the ranks of the Nebraska Army National Guard. He studied artillery, ordnance, radar and communications and became the states senior maintenance officer.

A series of National Guard leaders sent Binder to disaster sites because, Gary Binder said, he could instantly assess what the Guard needed to send. Then he would get it there.
Elizabeth City, NC (27909)

Today

Sunny skies this morning. Scattered showers and thunderstorms developing during the afternoon. High 83F. Winds NW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 40%..

Tonight

A few passing clouds, otherwise generally clear. Low 61F. Winds ENE at 5 to 10 mph.
A standoff with Omaha police ended Friday after a man fell off an SUV, where he had been standing and shouting.

According to reports, a man in the Aksarben area stood atop a wrecked SUV armed with a knife, shouting a woman's name. He counted down before stabbing himself with a knife.

Police at the scene then shocked the man with a Taser, but he stood atop the vehicle for more than 20 more minutes before ultimately falling and being taken into custody.

He reportedly was taken to a hospital with injuries that were not considered life-threatening.

Watch the video below  courtesy of KMTV  for more on the standoff.
The people voted to expand Medicaid coverage, Erdman said. They didnt vote how to pay for it.

He said he expects there will be proposals to pay for expanded coverage by cutting services to all Medicaid recipients.

The federal government requires states to pay for 13 types of health care services, such as hospital care, pregnancy care and nursing home care. Nebraska covers an additional 19 services that are classified as optional. Those range from prescription drugs to speech therapy to dental care.

Other possibilities would be imposing work requirements for Medicaid recipients, as allowed by the Trump administration, or requiring co-pays. Both ideas have the potential to cut costs and might discourage people from seeking care.

Sen. Sara Howard of Omaha, the Health and Human Services Committee chairwoman, said there also has been discussion about options for raising revenue, with the money earmarked for the expansion.

Some states have used fees or taxes on health care providers to help cover their expansion costs. Others have earmarked tobacco taxes for the purpose.
The state does have a website for processing applications and recertifications, Rettig said. Visit accessNebraska.ne.gov.

Rettig said the state prefers that people try the online avenue first because the phone lines have already been busy because of worried food stamp recipients.

Its not clear what will happen if people miss the Tuesday deadline.

Tuesday is also the states deadline for submitting those re-certification requests to a federal contractor for processing. Because of the potential for a last-minute overload, state officials hope that those who receive food stamps will act quickly and submit their requests in the next few days rather than wait until Tuesday.

The state plans a Friday teleconference with nonprofits and others who work with the needy to seek their help in getting the word out.

And even if the federal shutdown comes to an early end, all food stamp recipients will get their February payment early, Rettig said.

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OPS leaders asked Kolterman to introduce the bill. The district didnt have any immediate comment .

Superintendent Cheryl Logan has formed her own stakeholders group that includes representatives of its teacher and staff unions to explore other options for boosting the fund.

Omaha is the only school district in the state with its own retirement program. The programs for the rest of the states teachers are administered by Nebraskas Public Employees Retirement Board, which oversees all other statewide public pension plans.

Under Koltermans Legislative Bill 31, PERB would work with OPS, OSERS and others to prepare a work plan for what would need to occur to transfer administration of OSERS to the state.

The plan would look at the current OSERS administrative costs and see if there would be economies of scale by having the state take over. It would also determine what steps and costs would be required to effectuate the transfer of OSERS into PERB.

If PERB took over OSERS, it would annually make an assessment for administrative costs that would then be paid out of plan dollars, just as it currently does on a pro-rata basis with all the other state plans it administers. OSERS would also likely have a representative on the PERB board, as the other plans do now.
The car eventually made its way to southbound Calhoun Road before turning west onto Cook Plaza, where it continued for about a half-mile. The driver slowed down and jumped from the vehicle while it was moving.

He ran through a brush area as officers pursued . At 6:47 p.m., an officer reported hearing gunfire. An autopsy determined that Smith was shot in the right side of his head.

Investigators found a spent .40-caliber casing about 20 feet away from Smiths body, according to the release. The casing is from the same manufacturer as the casing recovered from a Jan. 9 robbery, and both casings were fired from the same gun, according to police.

None of the officers on scene fired their weapons, police said.

The involved officers were interviewed by the departments officer-involved investigations team.

Body camera footage and cruiser video captured the vehicle and foot pursuit, but the shooting was not captured because of insufficient lighting and the distance between officers and Smith, the release says.

The investigation is ongoing and is being conducted by the officer-involved investigations team and the Nebraska State Patrol.

A grand jury will be convened to investigate, as required by law in any in-custody death.

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According to police reports:

The woman and a friend arrived at Tiger Toms Pub near 72nd Street and Military Avenue about 7 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 9. They sat at the bar.

The woman reported that a man, whom she later identified as LeClair, approached the bar to buy drinks and looked at her and said, You are (expletive) sexy. The woman and her friend assumed he was drunk and ignored him.

About 20 minutes later, the same man approached the bar to order drinks and said to her, You are the most sexy woman I have ever saw, and if I was not married, I would take you to the bathroom. The woman said she and her friend again ignored him.

LeClair allegedly approached the bar a third time and made a sexual comment toward the woman that she could not remember. She told police that she told LeClair she was not interested and to leave her alone.

About 9 p.m., the woman said LeClair came up to the bar once more and whispered white power into her ear before punching her in the back. She said the force of the punch caused her to fall forward into the bar. Bar staff and other customers quickly removed the man.

The woman said she asked the staff whether they knew the man, but they said they had never seen him. She then left the bar.
In April 2017, she got a job at Child Saving Institute supervising wards of the state, sometimes overnight.

It was a stupid act, Natvig said. Ms. Dickerson should have known better than to get close to the (juvenile). She believes that, at the time, she was somewhat vulnerable. She found somebody she could talk to and he could talk to. And the two of them clicked.

Unfortunately, she stepped over the line.

While the relationship was wrong, Natvig emphasized, she didnt force the boy to have sex. And because of the boys age, the act didnt constitute statutory rape  which involves anyone 15 or under. Instead, Dickerson pleaded guilty to a reduced charge of attempted sexual assault of a dependent.

I just want to say Im sorry to everyone involved, especially (the boy) and to CSI for defaming their name, Dickerson told the judge. I wasnt raised that way. I should have taken care of my health before I took this job. Words cant describe how remorseful and shameful I feel.

Natvig told the judge that the boy doesnt seem to have lasting scars. It wasnt his first sexual experience, Natvig said. And the boy seemed to brush it off during a deposition in the case, Natvig said.
Ad networks like Google and Facebook track users all over the internet with cookies and device identifiers. They also work with data brokers like Oracle's Datalogix, Acxiom and Experian, which aggregate personal data from public and private sources and sell access to their partners. These online databases assemble information collected from store loyalty cards, public voting records, and salary and pay stubs to form a comprehensive profile of every individual.

As a result, tech companies know things that we would never admit to a doctor. Amazon knows that I once treated a respiratory infection with fish amoxicillin (not that I'm recommending doing so); that I spray my yard with Roundup; and  thanks to the company's acquisition of Whole Foods  that I consume a lot of red meat. Google has a history of every symptom I've ever typed into a search bar and everywhere I've ever been, and can successfully detect flu epidemics based on search queries. This data could help Google to give better diagnoses: If I enter a list of early symptoms of Ebola on the WebMD Symptom Checker, it tells me I might have the stomach flu, but Google would have tracked me on a jungle trek in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and could predict that I require something more than a bottle of Pepto-Bismol.
President Trump has frequently called the situation at the southern border with Mexico a crisis and insists that building his long-promised border wall will fix it. Here are some of Mr. Trumps most common assertions of a crisis, and the reality of what we know about immigrants and the border.

We cant have people pouring into our country like they have over the last 10 years.

THE REALITY Illegal border crossings have been declining for nearly two decades. In 2017, border-crossing apprehensions were at their lowest point since 1971.

Total number of arrests for illegally crossing the Mexican border George H.W. Bush Clinton George W. Bush Obama Trump 1.5 million 1.0 0.5 0 90 92 94 96 98 00 02 04 06 08 10 12 14 16 18 Fiscal year George H.W. Bush Clinton George W. Bush Obama 1.5 million Trump 1.0 0.5 0 90 00 10 Fiscal year Source: U.S. Customs and Border Protection

Undetected illegal border crossings have dropped at an even faster rate, from 851,000 in 2006 to approximately 62,000 in 2016, according to estimates by the Department of Homeland Security.

However, there is one group of migrants that is on the rise: families. A record number of families have tried to cross the border in recent months, overwhelming officials at the border and creating a new kind of humanitarian crisis.

Number of arrests for illegally crossing the Mexican border 30,000 Nov. 2018 People with family: 25,172 Others: 21,401 20,000 10,000 Unaccompanied children: 5,283 Jan. 2016 July Jan. 2017 July Jan. 2018 July People traveling with family 30,000 Others 20,000 10,000 Unaccompanied children 2016 2017 2018 Source: U.S. Customs and Border Protection

Asylum claims have also jumped, with many migrant families telling officials that they fear returning to their home countries. Seeking asylum is one way to legally migrate to the United States, but only 21 percent of asylum claims were granted in 2018, and many cases can take years to be resolved.

Every week, 300 of our citizens are killed by heroin alone, 90 percent of which floods across from our southern border.

THE REALITY It is true that the majority of heroin enters the United States through the southern border, according to the Drug Enforcement Administration. But the D.E.A. also says that most heroin is brought into the country in vehicles entering through legal border crossings, not through the areas where walls are proposed or already exist.

Most drugs are seized at ports of entry, not along the open border DRUG SEIZURES: AT PORTS OF ENTRY BETWEEN PORTS OF ENTRY Heroin 90% 10% Cocaine 88% 12% Methamphetamine 87% 13% Fentanyl 80% 20% Marijuana 39% 61% DRUG SEIZURES: AT PORTS OF ENTRY BETWEEN PORTS OF ENTRY 90% 10% Heroin 88% 12% Cocaine 87% 13% Methamphetamine 80% 20% Fentanyl 39% 61% Marijuana Source: U.S. Customs and Border Protection | Note: The chart shows drug seizures at all borders, not just the border with Mexico. The southern border is the primary entry point for cocaine, heroin and methamphetamine.

There are more than two dozen ports of entry along the southern border. Barriers are already present in Border Patrol sectors with the highest volumes of heroin seizures.

Heroin seizures in each Border Patrol sector, 2017 Weight in pounds 200 600 1,000 CALIF. U.S. Border Patrol sectors NEW MEXICO ARIZONA El Centro 275 TEXAS El Paso 93 Yuma 223 Tucson 979 San Diego 2,365 Rio Grande 432 Del Rio 154 Big Bend 18 Laredo 503 Ports of entry GULF OF MEXICO PACIFIC OCEAN Existing barriers along the border MEXICO N U.S. Border Patrol sectors CALIF. NEW MEXICO El Centro 275 ARIZONA TEXAS El Paso 93 Yuma 223 Tucson 979 Rio Grande 432 San Diego 2,365 Del Rio 154 Laredo 503 Big Bend 18 Ports of entry GULF OF MEXICO Existing barriers along the border PACIFIC OCEAN MEXICO N U.S. Border Patrol sectors NEW MEXICO TEXAS CALIF. ARIZONA El Centro 275 El Paso 93 Yuma 223 Del Rio 154 Tucson 979 Laredo 503 Big Bend 18 San Diego 2,365 Ports of entry Existing barriers along the border N Rio Grande 432 MEXICO PACIFIC OCEAN NEW MEXICO CALIF. ARIZONA TEXAS 2 5 3 1 4 7 6 8 Existing barriers along the border Ports of entry N 9 MEXICO PACIFIC OCEAN San Diego, 2,365 Big Bend, 18 1 6 El Centro, 275 Del Rio, 154 2 7 Yuma, 223 Laredo, 503 3 8 Tucson, 979 Rio Grande, 432 4 9 El Paso, 93 5 Source: U.S. Customs and Border Protection (seizures data); Reveal from The Center for Investigative Reporting and OpenStreetMap contributors (border barriers)

Over the years, thousands of Americans have been brutally killed by those who illegally entered our country, and thousands more lives will be lost if we dont act right now.

THE REALITY It is difficult to assess the presidents claims that illegal immigration leads to more crime because few law enforcement agencies release crime data that includes immigration status. However, several studies have found no link between immigration and crime, and some have found lower crime rates among immigrants.

Texas, which has the longest border with Mexico and has one of the largest populations of undocumented immigrants of any state, keeps track of immigration status as part of its crime data. The Cato Institute, a libertarian research center, analyzed the Texas data for 2015 and found that the rate of crime among undocumented immigrants was generally lower than among native-born Americans.

Conviction rates are lower for immigrant populations in Texas Number of convictions for every 100,000 residents in each group, 2015 All crime Homicide Sex crime Larceny Native born 1,797 3.1 28.6 267 Undocumented immigrants 899 2.6 26.4 62 Legal immigrants 611 1.0 8.9 74 All crime Homicide Native born 1,797 3.1 Undocumented immigrants 899 2.6 Legal immigrants 611 1.0 Sex crime Larceny Native born 28.6 267 Undocumented immigrants 26.4 62 Legal immigrants 8.9 74 Source: Cato Institute

Some critics of the study argued that the reason undocumented immigrant conviction rates were low was because immigrants were deported after they served their sentences, which prevented them from committing another crime in the United States, reducing their rate of crime relative to native-born Americans.

Alex Nowrasteh, senior immigration policy analyst at the institute, addressed the complaint by comparing first-time criminal conviction rates among undocumented immigrants in Texas and native-born Americans in Texas. He found that undocumented immigrants still committed crimes at a rate 32 percent below that of native-born Americans.
The nations favorite son, he still looms large in Polish life more than 40 years after he was named Bishop of Rome.

From a towering 45-foot-tall statue depicting the pope with outstretched hands that overlooks the city of Czestochowa, to the relics distributed to churches throughout the country  including drops of his blood in more than 100 parishes  Poland is awash in tributes to the man commonly referred to as Our Pope.

But at a moment when the country finds itself torn by political conflicts that are cast by all sides as an existential battle for the nations soul, the legacy of John Paul II  a champion for both Poland and an integrated Europe  is the subject of dispute.

For everyone, he remains a positive point of reference, said Michal Luczewski, the program director for the Center on the Thought of John Paul II in Warsaw. But there is a struggle over his legacy, with each side wanting to claim him as their own.
PARIS  A powerful explosion tore through a bakery in central Paris early on Saturday, killing at least four people, including two firefighters, and leaving smoke, flames and scattered debris in its wake, the authorities said.

Police and city officials said the blast, which occurred on Rue de Trevise, was believed to have been caused by a gas leak.

The Paris prosecutors office said that 47 people had been injured by the explosion, 10 of them critically. Emergency medical workers used helicopters to help evacuate some of the injured, picking them on the square in front of the Paris Opera house and taking them to hospitals.

Spains Foreign Ministry said that a Spanish woman had also been killed in the blast, and that a Spanish couple were being treated in the hospital. Christophe Castaner, the French interior minister, said two Paris firefighters were among the dead.
At least five members of the Afghan security forces were killed after their checkpoint came under attack by insurgents in the southern province of Kandahar, according to a provincial official.

Aziz Ahmad Azizi, a spokesman for the provincial governor, said that two other policemen were wounded in Saturdays attack in the Spin Bolduk district. He said seven Taliban insurgents were killed and six were wounded in the fighting.

Qari Yusouf Ahmadi, a Taliban spokesman, claimed responsibility for the attack in Kandahar.

In a separate attack in western Herat province, gunmen attacked a city police station on Saturday evening, killing five people, said Gelani Farhad, a spokesman for the provincial governor.

Mr. Farhad said that two policemen and three civilians were killed in that attack and four people were wounded. Initial findings showed that three gunmen started shooting at the entrance of the police station and one of them was killed by security forces, he added.
LABUAPI, Indonesia  The high school bookkeeper, Nuril Maknun, faced constant harassment from her boss, the principal.

At school, he often described his sex life and pressured her to have an affair. After work, he would call her and continue his obscene monologues.

That kind of conversation happened so often I couldnt even count, Ms. Nuril said in a recent interview. I told him, You need to go to a psychiatrist. 

After months of this, she recorded one of the calls so she would have evidence of his behavior.

The result: She lost her job and went to jail. Meanwhile, his career has flourished.
Huaweis equipment is used in mobile phone and internet networks around the world. But American officials have for years considered the company to be vulnerable to efforts by Beijing to spy on Americans or sabotage their communication systems.

Huawei denies that it operates as an extension of Beijing. Still, as the company has grown to become the worlds top supplier of telecommunications gear, the United States government has worked to discourage American mobile carriers and consumers from buying its equipment. Washington has shared its security concerns with allied governments in Europe and elsewhere.

On Dec. 1, Meng Wanzhou, Huaweis chief financial officer, was arrested in Canada at the request of the United States. American investigators have accused her of deceiving financial institutions about Huaweis business in Iran, causing them to inadvertently violate United States sanctions. The Canadian legal authorities have not yet decided whether Ms. Meng will be extradited to the United States.

Diplomatic tensions between China and Canada jumped after Ms. Mengs arrest, with Beijing detaining several Canadians in what were seen as tit-for-tat arrests. Among those still being held in China are Michael Kovrig, an experienced diplomat and Sinophile who had spent years investigating sensitive subjects like the human rights of minority groups in China; and Michael Spavor, an entrepreneur with high-level contacts in North Korea.

The second person arrested by the Polish authorities this past week was an employee of Orange, the French telecommunications company. Oranges office was raided, and the employees belongings were seized. Polish officials did not offer more details about what the two men were accused of, but said that they would be held for three months while the investigation continued.
TORONTO  It was another proud moment for Canada: a Saudi teenager who had just been granted asylum walking through the arrivals gate at Toronto airport embraced by the countrys popular foreign minister.

Wearing a gray sweatshirt emblazoned with the word Canada, 18-year-old Rahaf Mohammed Alqunun smiled at the throng of cameras that greeted her. But she left it to Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland to do the talking.

The minister presented her as a very brave new Canadian, adding that the young woman  who spent the last week in a Bangkok airport hotel lobbying for her freedom  was tired and just wanted to go to her new home.

Where we can save a single person, where we can save a single woman, that is a good thing to do, said Ms. Freeland, who refused to answer repeated questions about how this decision will affect Canadas already strained relationship with Saudi Arabia. And Id like to also emphasize, this is part of a broader Canadian policy of supporting women and girls in Canada and around the world.
The police and pro-government mobs responded with deadly force, even against unarmed protesters, according to human-rights observers, shooting and killing people across the nation.

Ms. Valdivia said she wondered why nobody helped them. First one fell in her neighborhood, then a second. After the third was shot, she hopped on her new moped and came to their assistance herself.

Ms. Valdivia spent two months running what she considered a humanitarian command post, administering first aid and providing lunch to protesters who were snarling traffic with improvised road blocks. She learned how to use homemade mortars, she said, although she mostly left the weaponry to the men.

Then a relative phoned with a warning: Dont even think of coming here. There are about 25 police officers in your house, and they are destroying it.

She fled and never looked back, leaving behind three shuttered businesses, a house, a car, the scooter  and, for his own safety, her 7-year-old son, put in the care of his father, who has sided with the government and sometimes sends Ms. Valdivia angry text messages about her allegiances.

For now, I have to be with my people, she said, referring to her fellow fugitives. In the future, when Nicaragua is free, my son is going to enjoy all of that.
A Nicaraguan Supreme Court justice who was President Daniel Ortegas closest legal adviser before he resigned this week accused the president and his wife of running a brutal government that tramples on civil rights and is driving the nation to the brink of civil war.

The justice, Rafael Solis, was speaking in an interview with The New York Times after his resignation on Thursday, which marked the highest-profile defection yet in the countrys nine-month-old political crisis. Government critics said it signaled a possible weakening of the political apparatus that has helped keep Mr. Ortega and his wife, Vice President Rosario Murillo, in power long after hundreds of thousands of people took to the streets demanding their ouster.

Mr. Solis was unsparing in his criticism of Mr. Ortega, who he had been allied with since the 1970s.

The separation of powers in Nicaragua is over, he said. The concentration of power is in them, those two people.
LAGOS, Nigeria  An overturned oil tanker exploded in Nigeria, killing many of the dozens of people who were scooping up its leaking fuel, the police and witnesses said on Saturday.

Hundreds of people have died in similar accidents in recent years in Nigeria, Africas largest oil producer, as impoverished people risk their lives to collect fuel leaking from pipelines or trucks.

We have recovered 12 corpses and taken 22 persons with serious burns to hospital, a police spokeswoman, Irene Ugbo, told The Associated Press. She said the blast occurred Friday evening in Odukpani in the southeastern Cross River State.

Some residents put the death toll closer to 60.

The police only recovered a few corpses, many of the other dead were burned to ashes, Richard Johnson, a witness, told The A.P.

He said about 60 people had been inside a pit scooping fuel when the tanker exploded. It is not likely that anyone inside the pit survived as there was a lot of fuel in the pit, Johnson said.

He suggested the blast was caused by an electrical generator that had been brought to the scene to help pump out the fuel for peoples containers.

It was not immediately clear what had caused the truck to overturn.

About a year ago, more than 30 residents in the same area were burned to death while scooping fuel from an oil tanker that had been involved in an accident.

Deadly fuel fires have been a chronic affliction in Nigeria, Africas leading oil exporter. In 2008, more than 100 people were reported killed when a construction vehicle struck an oil pipeline on the outskirts of Lagos.

In 2007, at least 45 people were killed in Lagos when fuel they were siphoning from a buried pipeline caught fire. In 2006, another pipeline ruptured by thieves caught fire, killing about 260.

In 2015, a tanker truck exploded outside an industrial plant in the city of Nnewi, in Anambra State, in rural southeastern Nigeria, killing dozens of people who had lined up for gas to cook their Christmas meals.

Nigerias worst such accident occurred in 1998, when more than 1,000 people died as a leaking oil pipeline from which they were scooping fuel exploded in the town of Jesse.
The man declared the runner-up in the Democratic Republic of Congos presidential elections, Martin Fayulu, said on Saturday that he had filed a court challenge demanding a manual recount of the results.

Mr. Fayulu has accused the declared winner, the opposition leader Felix Tshisekedi, and President Joseph Kabila  whose party was adjudged to have won legislative and provincial elections held the same day  of making a back-room deal to divide power between them.

You cant manufacture results behind closed doors, he said, telling reporters that the material for his court challenge included election results forms posted outside polling stations.
The Washington State Department of Transportation has a problem that just wont go away.

For years, people have persistently stolen those green and white mile markers posted along the highway. The most popular signs to pilfer are Mile 420, a popular number among marijuana enthusiasts, and Mile, ahem, 69. (If you dont know that one by now, we cant help you.)

They will typically go and take those more than anything, said Trevor McCain, who specializes in driver information signs at the Transportation Department. They have special meanings to some people.

So the sign aficionados in Washington had to get creative. In hot spots for sign theft, theyve simply moved the highway marker back one-tenth of a mile and tweaked the sign to say Mile 419.9. Or Mile 68.9.
WASHINGTON  The Department of Veterans Affairs is preparing to shift billions of dollars from government-run veterans hospitals to private health care providers, setting the stage for the biggest transformation of the veterans medical system in a generation.

Under proposed guidelines, it would be easier for veterans to receive care in privately run hospitals and have the government pay for it. Veterans would also be allowed access to a system of proposed walk-in clinics, which would serve as a bridge between V.A. emergency rooms and private providers, and would require co-pays for treatment.

Veterans hospitals, which treat seven million patients annually, have struggled to see patients on time in recent years, hit by a double crush of returning Iraq and Afghanistan veterans and aging Vietnam veterans. A scandal over hidden waiting lists in 2014 sent Congress searching for fixes, and in the years since, Republicans have pushed to send veterans to the private sector, while Democrats have favored increasing the number of doctors in the V.A.

If put into effect, the proposed rules  many of whose details remain unclear as they are negotiated within the Trump administration  would be a win for the once-obscure Concerned Veterans for America, an advocacy group funded by the network founded by the billionaire industrialists Charles G. and David H. Koch, which has long championed increasing the use of private sector health care for veterans.
WASHINGTON  President Trump on Saturday unleashed an extended assault on the F.B.I. and the special counsels investigation, knitting together a comprehensive alternative story in which he had been framed by disgraced losers at the bureaus highest levels.

In a two-hour span starting at 7 a.m., the president made a series of false claims on Twitter about his adversaries and the events surrounding the inquiry. He was responding to a report in The New York Times that, after he fired James B. Comey as F.B.I. director in 2017, the bureau began investigating whether the president had acted on behalf of Russia.

In his tweets, the president accused Hillary Clinton, without evidence, of breaking the law by lying to the F.B.I. He claimed that Mr. Comey was corrupt and best friends with the special counsel, Robert S. Mueller III. He said Mr. Mueller was employing a team of Democrats  another misleading assertion  bent on taking him down.

Individually, the presidents claims were familiar. But as the special counsels inquiry edges ever closer to him, Democrats vow a blizzard of investigations of their own and the government shutdown reaches record lengths, Mr. Trump compiled all the threads of the conspiracy theory he has pushed for many months in an effort to discredit the investigation.
Shes my first choice to be my first choice, said Betsy Kagen, a 33-year-old film editor who attended the talk.

The themes of Ms. Harriss new book, The Truths We Hold: An American Journey, could help her stand out in a crowded Democratic presidential primary. More than a dozen candidates are expected to join the presidential race in the coming months, and as the party searches for its next iteration after two decades of dominance by the Clintons and Barack Obama, questions of policy, identity and tone in the campaign will be paramount.

Longtime strategists and admirers of Ms. Harris believe she is well positioned to create electoral coalitions among Democrats desperate to beat Mr. Trump, partly because she is not tethered to any one of the divergent and sometimes warring factions of the party. On MSNBCs Morning Joe on Friday morning, Ms. Harris was asked, Why would you want to be president? and responded by citing the need for leaders who have a vision of our country in which everyone can see themselves.

Her message of unity, thats the key, said Valoree Celona, a 50-year-old insurance executive who came to the 92nd Street Y with friends. If she can get people to have that hope again, thats whats important. Thats what President Obama did.

But Ms. Harris would also need to grapple with Democratic rivals who are more ideologically liberal and may try to move the debate to the left in ways that could force difficult choices for her.

Mr. Sanders, the Vermont senator and 2016 presidential candidate who is considering running again, has demonstrated an ability to shift conversation toward more populist themes like free public colleges and campaign finance reform. Ms. Warren, the Massachusetts senator who became the first major candidate to announce presidential intentions and head to Iowa, has drawn attention for challenging Democratic candidates to propose a more broad restructuring of American society that would address economic inequality. Ms. Warren rarely mentioned Mr. Trump on the campaign trail, and is pushing primary candidates to have a more policy-driven discussion.

We need change, Ms. Warren said at multiple stops during her Iowa trip. And not just one statute here or one law there. We need big structural change.
Julian Castro, the former housing secretary and former mayor of San Antonio, announced on Saturday that he would run for president, one of the most high-profile Latino Democrats ever to seek the partys nomination.

His first campaign stop will be in Puerto Rico, where he will speak on Monday at the Latino Victory Funds annual summit and meet with residents still struggling to recover from Hurricane Maria. Later in the week, his campaign said, he will go to New Hampshire.

When my grandmother got here almost a hundred years ago, Mr. Castro said at the Plaza Guadalupe amphitheater in San Antonio, in the neighborhood where he was raised. Im sure that she never could have imagined that just two generations later, one of her grandsons would be serving as a member of the United States Congress and the other would be standing with you here today to say these words: I am a candidate for president of the United States of America.

Mr. Castros announcement had been expected for several weeks. He established an exploratory committee in December, two months after publishing a memoir, An Unlikely Journey  a familiar path for presidential candidates who want to play up their life stories and qualifications and, perhaps, get ahead of their biggest vulnerabilities. This month he also visited two of the early caucus and primary states, Iowa and Nevada.
With both countries also turning away from multilateral trade agreements, China has the opportunity to step in and play an even bigger role in the global economy. And Russia has seen an opening to expand its influence in Europe, where rising nationalism has threatened to fracture the European Union.

Mr. Trump and the Brexiteers have ridden a nationalist tide in their countries as well, using a potent anti-immigration message to appeal to mostly white voters who yearn for a more homogeneous society that no longer exists.

In Britain, immigration has provided an electric current to conservative politics since at least 1968, when the lawmaker Enoch Powell delivered a seminal speech calling for immigrants to be repatriated. Quoting a Greek prophecy of the river Tiber foaming with much blood, Mr. Powells speech is credited with propelling the Conservative Party to victory in the general election of 1970, though it also turned Mr. Powell into a political pariah.

Opposition to immigration spiked over the last two decades as Britain was hit with a series of terrorist attacks by Islamist militants and watched as migrants from Syria, Libya and other war-torn countries flooded across Europe.

In the United States, where the right was once preoccupied by social issues like abortion and same-sex marriage, immigration surged as an issue because of the changes wrought by globalization. Manufacturing jobs moved overseas, where labor was cheaper, while immigrants took both unskilled and high-tech jobs previously held by Americans.

By 2008, the financial crisis had wiped out millions of jobs, keeping people out of work for years and deepening the sense of grievance among many Trump supporters that immigrants were working for less and robbing them of their livelihoods.
Thats actually a relatively healthy number for the president compared with his national approval rating (around 41 percent), but it could be a conservative estimate, and voters views might be unusually entrenched, given the stability of his ratings.

Many presidents have won re-election after a midterm drubbing, and Mr. Trumps approval rating isnt particularly far from what he may wind up needing, given the G.O.P.s current advantage in the Electoral College. But the wall has not helped so far.

Data from the Fox News Voter Analysis of the midterms, a new competitor to the traditional exit polls, indicated that a majority of voters opposed the wall in states worth nearly 400 electoral votes, including in several states where the presidents approval rating was above water in the poll, like Ohio and Florida.

There is tentative evidence in the Fox data that the wall is particularly unpopular in the relatively white and rural West, but somewhat more popular, at least with respect to the presidents approval rating, in the Northeast and inland South. This would follow a familiar pattern in American politics: It mirrors the presidents support in the presidential primary and tracks with longstanding measures of racial resentment.

Even so, the wall still isnt popular in Michigan or Pennsylvania, important battleground states. And voters in Ohio, a politically similar state, opposed the wall.

None of these polls account for the government shutdown, but attitudes about it are unlikely to be fluid given the lack of movement on the wall during the Trump presidency. Tying the issue to an unpopular shutdown seems particularly unlikely to help and, historically, voters tend to drift against the policy preferences of the presidents party. Thats already evident on immigration more generally: Polls show voters more supportive of immigration than ever before.

For all of the focus on the presidents base over the last two years, there is not much reason to think that the base, alone, is enough for the president to win re-election in a one-on-one race against a viable Democratic candidate. This could change. It has before. But with the midterms over, this is now the central political challenge facing the president. By that measure, its hard to see where a shutdown over the wall fits in.
Which leads us to the next question: If the planned new repairs would be as safe and durable without requiring closing the line, why didnt anyone think of them before? Shouldn't someone downstream of the governor have thought to bring in outside experts for a fresh look, given the disruptive stakes?

Some people are skeptical about this new plan, in fact, precisely because it was driven by Governor Cuomo. Thats good. Without skepticism, society collapses. But this entire episode illustrates a failure to be skeptical. And it shows us the risks of ignoring what it means to fail, at scale, in a booming city that grows every month. It didnt have to be the governor asking for a better way. But no one else did.

Until then, the new array of repairs had not been considered by the in-house engineers at the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, the WSP consultants or others involved in the project. Andy Byford, the president of New York City Transit, said he was conducting an independent review of the plan and would not sign on unless he was convinced of its safety and durability. That said, he is enthusiastic about its prospects. I own the risk, Mr. Byford said. I am the president, the accountable person. This is my job.

Anyone on the M.T.A. board could have demanded alternatives. Mr. Cuomo appoints six of the 14 voting members, and by force of personality, he has driven a number of projects, including this one  at the last minute  and pushing construction of the Second Avenue line.

You can find representatives of eight other public officials on the authoritys board, including the mayor of New York. Even more power is held by a virtually unknown committee of four, any one of whom can veto the entire capital budget. On this committee are the speaker of the State Assembly, the State Senate majority leader, the mayor and the governor.
In her telling, Mr. Mugrabi casually proposed to her at the apartment in 2004, after his mother was nudging him on the phone about wanting to throw an engagement party. He didnt have a ring, but I said, You dont need a ring to propose, Ms. Mugrabi said. So he popped the question (she said yes) and called his mother right back. His mother said, Im throwing you a party tomorrow.

The five-carat diamond ring would come later.

The couple wed in 2005 at an extravagant ceremony at the Pierre hotel that featured orchids dripping from the ceilings and a performance by Ishtar, the Arab-Israeli chanteuse. Ms. Mugrabi wore a custom white-lace gown by Victorio y Lucchino, which required her to visit its atelier in Seville, Spain, for fittings.

It was way over even what I wanted, she said. I knew about 30 people at my wedding. It had about 500 or 600.

Guests included a whos who of art-world machers, including Peter Brant, the paper magnate, and his wife, Stephanie Seymour; Aby Rosen, the real estate developer; Larry Gagosian, the high-powered gallery owner; and Steven A. Cohen, the financier who last year bought a prized Roy Lichtenstein painting from Agnes Gund for $165 million.

The newly wed Ms. Mugrabi quickly learned her role in the family empire.

I just copied his mother, and she told me what to do, she said. Shes like, Well, you just do the home part with the entertaining. The way we run our business is mostly through the home, because we dont have a gallery.

For more than a decade, the couple enjoyed the perks of a billionaire lifestyle.

Every summer we went to Sardinia, to Italy, to Portofino, Ms. Mugrabi said. We went on lots of different yachts. Aspen. Miami. We went to St. Barts three times minimum, a year.
Q: A rent-stabilized tenant in my co-op building is a hoarder. My apartment is near hers and now, for the first time in 15 years, I have mice and roaches. The board said that the sponsor of the hoarders apartment isnt doing what he should, but if I report the situation to the health department, the building will just get more fines. The mice freak out my wife, the roaches freak me out, and the exterminator says the hoarder is the source of our problems. What can and should we do?

A: You and your wife are entitled to live in a sanitary home not overrun with pests. An apartment packed with belongings could pose health and safety hazards for the tenant, the co-op and you. If your neighbors hygiene creates a fire hazard or causes foul odors, leaks or vermin infestations, she may be in violation of her lease and could potentially face eviction.

Hoarding is a mental disorder, one that often progresses or worsens with time, which might explain why youre only seeing the mice and roaches now. Because this is a mental-health problem, any solution will include a measure of patience and compassion.

There are city agencies that could be called. There are social services agencies. Sometimes when you employ multiple different remedies at once, all of those things would put pressure on the party to clean up their act, said Barry G. Margolis, a litigator in the Manhattan office of the law firm Abrams Garfinkel Margolis Bergson. Its not a helpless or hopeless situation.
Is it true that Asian-Americans cannot say I love you? The striking title of the writer Lac Sus memoir is I Love Yous Are for White People, which explores the emotional devastation wreaked on one Vietnamese family by its refugee experiences. I share some of Lac Sus background, and it has been a lifelong effort to learn how to say, without awkwardness, I love you. I can do this for my son, and it is heartfelt , but it comes with an effort born of the self-consciousness I still feel when I say it to my father or brother.

Thus, when the actress Sandra Oh won a Golden Globe for best actress in a television drama, Killing Eve, perhaps the most powerful part of her acceptance speech for many of us who are Asian-Americans was when she thanked her parents. Gazing at them in the audience, she said, in Korean, I love you. She was emotional, her parents were proud, and I could not help but project onto them one of the central dramas of Asian immigrant and refugee life: the silent sacrifice of the parents, the difficult gratitude of the children, revolving around the garbled expression of love.

So many of our Asian parents have struggled, suffered and endured in ways that are completely beyond the imaginations of their children born or raised in North American comfort. This struggle and sacrifice was how Asian parents say I love you without having to say it. And so many of us children are not expected to say it either, but instead are expected to express love through gratitude, which means obeying our parents and following their wishes for how we should live our lives.

Our parents, for the most part, told us to get a good education, get a good job and not speak up, things they had to do to survive. They have encouraged, or forced, many of us to become doctors, lawyers and engineers, and to feel ashamed if we do not. What these parents did not do was tell us we could become artists, actors or storytellers, people engaged in seemingly trivial, unsafe and unstable professions. This is why it has been so rare for me, as I give talks in different places around the country, to encounter Asian parents who embrace their children who do not become the model minority.
Im 47 years old. Two days ago, you sent me an email, which I did not answer. I didnt answer it, in part, because I am 47 years old.

I appreciated your email. You are a person, who has written an email, and I am a person, who should reply to that email. However, your email arrived on Wednesday afternoon, and just as I opened it, my 16-year-old son came in. He wanted to describe to me an app he is in the process of developing. Then he showed me a funny article someone had sent him, and I showed him a funny article someone had sent me, and then I explained that I had work to do, that I needed, in fact, to respond to your email, and also to write 3,000 words in the next 36 hours. Ive only written 300, I said.

Then you just have to do that again," he said, 10 times.

This seemed to me very encouraging. I reapplied myself to my computer, where your email was open on the screen, and he left, and then he returned.
A constant stream of strangers lined up at their house in Baltimores Little Italy, seeking food and help. One of Pelosis most arresting memories, she told CNNs Dana Bash, was giving immigrants who came to the door advice on how to get into the projects or to the hospital.

Alexandra, Pelosis documentarian daughter, recounts this anecdote: Her son, Thomas  who was named after Big Tommy and who stood at the speakers side as she reclaimed her gavel  wanted an Xbox in 2017, so he set up a lemonade stand in Manhattan and raked in $1,000.

His grandmother sat him down and asked, Thats going to the victims of Hurricane Harvey, right?

He set up the stand again the next year and was once more schooled by his grandmother asking, Thats going to the victims of the California wildfires, right?

Contrast that with Don Jr.s uncharitable message on Instagram on Tuesday: You know why you can enjoy a day at the zoo? Because walls work.

Where the DAlesandros saw the downtrodden and immigrants as people to weave into the American dream, the Trumps saw suckers to squeeze.

According to The Timess blockbuster tax investigation, Fred lavished Donald with three trust funds and $10,000 Christmas checks. When Donald was 8, he was already a millionaire, thanks to his tax-scamming father. Fred Trump was hauled before a congressional panel investigating whether he had looted government money through fraud. (One congressman said the patriarchs chicanery made him nauseous.)
Those who have shut their eyes, turned their backs and held their noses for the past two years will not go easily into battle with Mr. Trump. No matter the damage he has done to party or country, they have shown no discernible backbone. While Mr. Leonhardts heart is in the right place, I fear that his head may unfortunately be in the clouds.

Robert S. Nussbaum

Fort Lee, N.J.

To the Editor:

David Leonhardt has written the most articulate, well-documented and soundly crafted argument for the removal of Donald Trump from the presidency. This article should be printed and mass distributed all over America, much as Thomas Paines Common Sense once was. I wasted no time sending it to my members of Congress.

Joyce Grater

Pittsburgh

To the Editor:

Should David Leonhardts powerful, comprehensive indictment of President Trump not be enough to persuade Republicans in Congress that he must be removed from office, I suggest they ask themselves these questions. Would they ever put their children on a plane piloted by someone with little previous flight experience, someone who had refused to read the planes instruction manuals, someone who had just locked his co-pilots out of the cockpit?

Would they be comfortable if he had said in recent weeks that he felt at war every day, had seemed to be more and more suspicious of those around him, including, perhaps, even members of his own family, and had a history of hair-trigger rage against those who defied him? And how would they feel if he had begun to make increasingly rash and dangerous decisions?

The terrifying truth is that all of our children, and all of us, Republicans and Democrats alike, are already on that plane. And as Mr. Leonhardt urgently warns, Republicans had better figure out soon what they are going to do about it.

Eric Chivian

Boston

The writer, a physician, is a former assistant clinical professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School.

To the Editor:

While I agreed with much of David Leonhardts article, it saddened me to read this part: The biggest risk may be that an external emergency  a war, a terrorist attack, a financial crisis, an immense natural disaster  will arise. By then, it will be too late to pretend that he is anything other than manifestly unfit to lead .
After her decade at home, she went back to work, initially part time. She jointly wrote a book about bail in the United States and served on several commissions to improve legal services and juvenile justice. In the beginning of that period, her youngest child was not yet in school, and she worked during his nap times and late at night. On weekends, she recalled, her husband took full responsibility for the children so that she could work without interruption.

She became a trial lawyer for the Legal Services Corporation and, after holding several other posts, was named assistant attorney general for legislative affairs by President Jimmy Carter, who later nominated her to the appeals court.

Harold Hongju Koh, a professor and former dean of Yale Law School, described Judge Wald as a vital figure in American law. Its hard to think of a more exuberant pioneer in this arena, he said. She excelled as a judge both in the United States and abroad, he said, and fought for human rights and civil liberties everywhere long after many activists would have laid down their pens.

Patricia Ann McGowan was born on Sept. 16, 1928, in Torrington, Conn., the only child of Margaret OKeefe and Joseph McGowan. In describing her childhood for oral history projects, she said she grew up in a crowded Irish-American household with an extended family of mostly women after her father left home when she was 2. While her mother and an aunt often worked as secretaries, the rest of the household revolved around episodic factory work at the Torrington Company, which manufactured sewing machine needles, among other things.

Her family, she said, took great pride in her academic success and made it clear that they did not expect her to end up on the factory floor. She went away to Connecticut College  it had offered her the greatest financial aid  but spent her summers on the assembly line back in Torrington greasing ball bearings and fabricating sewing needles. The workers were on strike during her last summer there, so she worked for the union.

Everyone at home would chip in, she said, to see that she had decent clothes for school. At one point we had eight people in the house and only two were working, my grandfather and an aunt, and they were carrying the rest of us, as a family does, Judge Wald said.
When Christopher Fuller and his research team received a stop work order on New Years Eve, they had four hours to shut down their lab, making sure their chemical and biological samples were securely stored in refrigerators that would keep running if the electricity was shut off.

Mr. Fuller had spent the previous few months with the Environmental Protection Agency in Durham, N.C., studying approaches to decontamination after a biological weapons attack. He is one of legions of contractors hired by the federal government who are suddenly out of work because of the shutdown.

As the shutdown has dragged on to become the longest in American history, these contractors have found themselves in the same predicament as the roughly 800,000 federal employees who are not being paid  except the outcome may be worse. Many contract workers, unlike federal employees, do not expect to be reimbursed for unpaid wages once President Trump and Congress agree to reopen the government.

We are the ones that do the research and gather the data alongside federal workers, Mr. Fuller said, yet we dont have the same safety net or same visibility.
A 16-year-old boy who was captured on the battlefield in Syria this week with fighters for the Islamic State is not American, but is instead from Trinidad and Tobago, according to American officials and the boys sister.

The teenager was taken from the Caribbean nation to the war zone when he was 12 by his mother, who converted to Islam after becoming romantically involved with a radicalized man, Sarah Lee Su, the boys older sister, said in a phone interview.

After a four-year silence, she heard from them for the first time last month, when her mother contacted her on Facebook Messenger and sent a series of audio recordings that said the two were alive and pleading for help. She said they were hiding somewhere in Syria.

I need money to help us get out of here, Gailon Su, the mother, said in one of the recordings she sent to her daughter, which was shared with The New York Times. If not me, your brother. He is innocent.
But for some scholars of the region, the concrete benefits of all that engagement pale in comparison to the size of the American efforts.

When you look at the cost-benefit analysis, there is a limited payoff, and the United States is going to reduce its footprint over time because there are so many other things to deal with in the world, said Gary Sick, a Middle East scholar at Columbia University who served on the National Security Council under three presidents.

A similar view of the region has shaped the approach of both the Obama and Trump administrations. Despite the drastic differences in their words and style, both have viewed the Middle East primarily as a source of nuisance that siphoned resources from other American priorities. Both presidents called on regional powers to play a greater role in protecting and governing the region.

The immediate desire to step back was driven by battle fatigue after years of deadly combat in Iraq, and a feeling that American military investment often did not make matters better. But scholars say that longer term shifts have made the region less central to Americas priorities.

American protection is no longer necessary to ensure the free flow of oil from the Persian Gulf, for example, and a boom in domestic production has made the United States less dependent on Middle Eastern oil anyway. Israel now boasts the regions most effective military and a strong economy while many of its neighbors are in shambles, making it less dependent on American protection.

The reality is that our direct interests in terms of protecting the American homeland are very few in the Middle East, said Mr. Sick, adding that the record on American interventions doing more good than harm was at best mixed.
The family of Michael R. White, a Navy veteran imprisoned in Iran half a year ago, said Friday that he had traveled there with a valid visa to visit a female friend, rejecting any suggestion that he might have been engaged in espionage.

We want to be very clear  Michael spent much of his time in the Navy as a cook and recently worked as a commercial janitor  he is not now, nor has he ever been a spy, the family said in a statement.

Mr. White, 46, also had been undergoing treatment for cancer and other serious medical conditions that could be life-threatening without regular, specialized medical care, the statement said.

Image Michael R. White, an American Navy veteran, in an undated photograph provided by his family.

Mr. White, a 13-year Navy veteran from Imperial Beach, Calif., is the first American known to be imprisoned by Iran since President Trump took office nearly two years ago. Why Iran has taken him into custody is unclear.
As for Canada, Amy said that she wants Travel to take its readers to the countrys less obvious destinations.

A lot of our Canadian travel has focused on either a handful of cities or natural beauty like Banff, she said. But we know theres a lot to explore in Canada.

So heres our challenge for Canada Letter leaders: If you have a favorite destination that you think has been generally overlooked, email us at nytcanada@nytimes.com, explaining why others should visit. Please include your name and where you live. A photo would be a welcome addition. We may use the contributions to create our own mini list of places to visit in Canada.

Read more:

[Read: 52 Places to Go in 2019]

[Read: How We Pick the 52 Places]

[Read: 1 Woman, 12 Months, 52 Places]

Trans Canada

For the second time in less than six years, passengers aboard one of Ottawas double-decker buses have died in a collision.

Court documents detailed the final moments before a bus carrying the Humboldt Broncos struck a transport truck in a deadly collision that shook all of Canada.

Rebecca Marino, who was born in Toronto and now lives in Vancouver, became burned out and quit professional tennis in 2013. Shes now in the midst of a comeback.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said that, at the request of the United Nations, Canada will take in an 18-year-old runaway from Saudi Arabia who fears for her life.

There are harp seals stranded seemingly everywhere in Roddickton-Bide Arm, Newfoundland. But there are no good answers about what can be done about it.

A group of Canadian scientists have found a signal from the stars.

This year marked the first time that Canada wasnt on the podium while hosting the world junior hockey championship. But Carol Schram found that may be because of other countries getting better, rather than Canada falling behind.

Around The Times

 Apples new iPhone XR has been a sales disappointment. The tech columnist Kevin Roose writes that may be because many people are perfectly content with their aging iPhones.

A collaborative project involving the influential, Swiss-born photographer and filmmaker Robert Frank, who once lived in Cape Breton, has been rediscovered.

While the centuries-old tradition of the dancing girls of Lahore continues, their status in Pakistan has taken a decidedly downward turn.

Many people in Britain have developed a fondness for a car that was never formally exported from Japan. Unsurprisingly, its eccentric.
KINSHASA, Democratic Republic of Congo  The opposition presidential candidate who says he was cheated from victory in this vast countrys long-delayed election said Friday that he would petition the Constitutional Court for a recount.

The announcement by the candidate, Martin Fayulu, who had been shown by polls to be heavily favored in the race, came as questions about the fairness of the vote intensified. The United Nations Security Council held a meeting to air concerns with Congolese officials, including the leader of the countrys Electoral Commission.

The Dec. 30 election had raised hopes for the first peaceful and democratic transfer of power in the Democratic Republic of Congo since independence in 1960.
Since then, she has earned a reputation for her opposition to American military intervention and regime change efforts abroad  and for sometimes breaking from the Democratic Party line. In 2015, she voted with Republicans to increase screening of Syrian refugees. Shortly thereafter, she startled the Democratic National Committee by calling for more presidential debates than the party wanted to hold.

And just this week, she wrote an op-ed accusing fellow Democrats of religious bigotry for sharply questioning a judicial nominee, Brian Buescher, on his membership in the Knights of Columbus. (Though she did not name names, her targets were clear: Senator Kamala Harris of California, another likely presidential candidate, and Senator Mazie Hirono, who also represents Hawaii.)

Ms. Gabbard also endorsed Senator Bernie Sanders in the 2016 primaries  resigning as vice chairwoman of the D.N.C. to do so  when most party officials were circling the wagons around Hillary Clinton. That creates an interesting dynamic for the 2020 race because Mr. Sanders may run again.

Experience could be a major vulnerability for Ms. Gabbard, who was re-elected in November. The only sitting representative elected president was James Garfield in 1880, and most presidents have previously been a senator or governor.

She will be 39 on Inauguration Day in 2021, which would make her, if elected, the youngest president in American history. Only two presidents, Theodore Roosevelt and John F. Kennedy, have taken office before age 45.
EAST HAVEN, CT - 01.11.2019 - SHUTDOWN - "We're here to keep the airways safe," says federal employee Dennis Amato, 62, of Guilford, about his job in landing systems and electronics at Tweed-New Haven Airport. Amato has continued to work without a paycheck, he says, and is one of thirty federal employees at Tweed affected by the shutdown. On the 21st day of the partial government shutdown on Friday, U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) joined New Haven Mayor Toni Harp, Executive Director of Tweed-New Haven Airport Authority Tim Larson, and federal workers for a press conference at Tweed-New Haven Regional Airport to discuss the shutdown?s impact on Transportation Security Administration (TSA) workers, federal inspection and maintenance workers, and air traffic controllers at Tweed and Bradley International Airport. Like Amato, these employees have been working unpaid since the government shut down on December 22nd, 2018, including during the busy holiday travel season. PATRICK RAYCRAFT |praycraft@courant.com (Patrick Raycraft / Hartford Courant)
The president is the chief executive who is going to be a part of solving this problem, said Senator Thom Tillis, Republican of North Carolina, so I must trust him.

But hours later, the president contradicted Mr. Pence, saying in McAllen, Tex., that he would be open to a broader immigration deal that would simultaneously deal with the Dreamers and a wall  if senators would bring him one they could agree on.

Again, Republicans were left baffled by a president who has pitched himself as an expert in the art of the deal.

I wouldnt want to comment on his unique style of negotiation and communications, Mr. Rooney said. Sometimes its worked very effectively for him, and sometimes it has confused a lot of people.

The concern goes beyond Mr. Trump and Mr. Pence. Jared Kushner, his son-in-law and senior adviser, has also been asked to help resolve the wall impasse, but Mr. Kushner has no experience in crisis negotiations on Capitol Hill, and his attempts at intervention have borne little fruit. The day before Mr. Trumps prime-time Oval Office address to the nation, Mr. Kushner called Senator Joe Manchin III of West Virginia, a centrist known for his enthusiasm for bipartisan deals, and said the president was firmly committed to his position on the wall and did not plan to budge, according to two people familiar with the conversation, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because the call was private.

Mr. Kushner has little relationship with Mr. Manchin, but he left the senator with the impression that the White House believed public opinion would be on the presidents side after the speech, and that Democrats would simply have to relent. That did not go over well.
The Trump Organization has hired a former White House lawyer to handle inquiries from the Democrat-led House, two people familiar with the situation said on Friday, part of the strategy by the White House and the company to counter an expected onslaught of requests and subpoenas.

The lawyer, Stefan Passantino, was a White House deputy counsel in charge of ethics policy until last fall. His duties included handling issues related to the personal financial disclosure filings of Mr. Trumps eldest daughter and senior adviser, Ivanka Trump.

Mr. Passantino plans to recuse himself from any requests from congressional investigators that conflict with the duties he performed at the White House, the two people familiar with the situation said.

Still, the hiring of Mr. Passantino, which was first reported by CNN, underscores the unusual dynamics at play with the Trump administration. The president has never divested from his private businesses, which are now run by his two oldest sons, Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump. And the question of possible overlap between the Trump Organization and decisions made by the White House is one that Democrats have made clear they plan to scrutinize.
In urging the Supreme Court to hear the case, Mr. Rehaif relied on a 2012 concurrence from Justice Neil M. Gorsuch, who at the time was a federal appeals court judge in Denver. Judge Gorsuch wrote that logic and the rules of grammar required proof that every element of the crime in question had been committed knowingly. It makes no sense, he wrote, to read the word knowingly as so modest that it might blush in the face of the very first element only to regain its composure and reappear at the second.

The case on drawing blood from motorists, Mitchell v. Wisconsin, No. 18-6210, concerns Gerald P. Mitchell, a Wisconsin man arrested on suspicion of drunken driving. A police officer took him to a hospital, where he was slumped over and unresponsive. The officer instructed medical personnel to draw blood from Mr. Mitchell, and they found that his blood alcohol concentration was 0.22, which is above the legal limit for driving.

It was Mr. Mitchells seventh offense for driving under the influence. He was convicted and sentenced to three years in prison, and he challenged his conviction on Fourth Amendment grounds.

A splintered Wisconsin Supreme Court rejected that argument, relying on a state law that presumes drivers have consented to blood tests and punishes them if they decline to cooperate by revoking their drivers licenses. The law says unconscious motorists are presumed not to have withdrawn consent to having their blood drawn.

Twenty-eight states have similar laws, according to Mr. Mitchells petition seeking Supreme Court review, but some of them have been struck down after two recent Supreme Court decisions.

In 2013, the court ruled that a warrant is ordinarily needed before drawing blood in drunken-driving investigations. In 2016, the court added that motorists cannot be deemed to have consented to submit to a blood test on pain of committing a criminal offense. In Mr. Mitchells case, the penalty of losing a drivers license is a civil one.

In urging the Supreme Court to deny review, lawyers for the state said Mr. Mitchell should not benefit because he got so drunk that, after driving while under the influence, he passed out and became unconscious.

Mr. Mitchell should not, the states brief said, receive the windfall of avoiding the lawful civil choice, which other drunk drivers must face, of having their blood drawn or losing their license.
And it looked like this: 10 feet wide, 13 and 1/2 feet tall. Itd construct itself to be a 12-foot finished wall, just like that. Thats Representative Steve King  We do that with livestock all the time.  pitching the idea of building a wall between the U.S. and Mexico, more than a decade before it became President Donald Trumps central immigration policy. The walls going to get built folks, just in case anybody has any question. The walls going to get built. King has been a Republican member of Congress from Iowa for the past 16 years. The gentleman from Iowa is recognized. Hes made a name for himself as a hard-line opponent of illegal immigration and for his inflammatory, sometimes racist, statements  We are the immigrants!  like when he disparaged so-called Dreamers, children brought by their parents as undocumented immigrants, in 2013. For every one whos a valedictorian, theres another hundred out there that  they weigh 130 pounds and theyve got calves the size of cantaloupes because theyre hauling 75 pounds of marijuana across the desert. King was an early and fervent supporter of Donald Trump. Hes a quick study. Hes an astute study. And if you explain something to Donald Trump, hes listening carefully, and you need to get it right. And the feeling has been mutual. He may be the worlds most conservative human being. [cheering] Trumps election in 2016 gave King a staunch ally in the White House. These days, the presidents statements sound like echoes of things King said years earlier. Its our job, here in this Congress, to decide who will be citizens, not someone in a foreign country that can sneak into the United States and have a baby and then go home with a birth certificate. Kings ideas and public statements, which once seemed fringe, now appear in the national discourse. His views are central to the white identity politics that heavily influence the Trump administration. The Iowa congressmans ultra-conservative ideas have been a long time in the making. Preventing babies to be  from being born is not medicine. Thats not constructive to our culture and our civilization. If we let our birth rate get down below the replacement rate, were a dying civilization. And right now  King has denied that his statements are racist and often invokes the idea of protecting our civilization. Its a concept of national identity and racial superiority thats a common talking point among white nationalists. In an interview on MSNBC, King himself explained. Where did any other subgroup of people contribute more to civilization? Than white people? Than Western civilization itself, thats rooted in Western Europe, Eastern Europe and the United States of America and every place where the footprint of Christianity  What about Africa?  settled the world. What about Asia? Thats all of Western civilization. But what about Africa? And what about Asia? Hes even gotten close to white nationalists outside of the U.S., appearing with far-right Dutch politician Geert Wilders. King has also been to Austria several times since 2013, where hes cozied up to the far-right Freedom Party. Back at home, King has been re-elected eight times and is considered a party kingmaker in Iowa. But the 2018 midterms were his toughest contest yet. He won by just three points. And days before the election, a member of his own party called King out as a white supremacist. After more than a decade in Congress, his rhetoric may be finally catching up with him.
WASHINGTON  President Trump has stepped back from declaring a national emergency to pay for a border wall, under pressure from congressional Republicans, his own lawyers and advisers, who say using it as a way out of the government shutdown does not justify the precedent it would set and the legal questions it could raise.

If today the national emergency is border security, tomorrow the national emergency might be climate change, Senator Marco Rubio of Florida, one of the ideas critics, said this week. Another Republican, Senator Mitt Romney of Utah, told an interviewer that declaring a national emergency should be reserved for the most extreme circumstances.

Mr. Trump, who according to aides has grown increasingly frustrated over the refusal of Democrats to bend and sees the shutdown as a road with no off-ramp in sight, hinted on Friday that the warnings were having an effect.

What were not looking to do right now is national emergency, he told reporters gathered in the Cabinet Room as the shutdown approached its fourth week. Minutes later he contradicted himself, saying that he would declare a state of emergency if he had to.
SANTA ANA, Calif.  For its members, a motorcycle clubs logo is both sacred and hard-earned, the banner under which its brand of rugged brotherhood and individualism exist.

But in a setback to the future of one of the countrys most notorious biker groups, a federal jury in California on Friday found that the Mongols motorcycle club must forfeit its rights to the trademarked Genghis Khan-style emblem that identifies the organization.

The jurys verdict  which concluded the second phase of a wide-ranging eight-week racketeering trial in which jurors also branded the Mongols a criminal enterprise  was not the final word. The groups lawyers have filed a motion for acquittal and the presiding judge, who in the past has ruled in favor of the Mongols, said he would not immediately order the club to forfeit the logo until he has a chance to review the clubs arguments and consider their free speech rights.

Going after their trademark, which prosecutors have sought for a decade, was an innovative approach intended to break the Mongols by striking at its visual identity, a patch that has been linked to the organizations culture of violence and intimidation and appears on the vests, T-shirts, caps, mouse pads and motorcycles of hundreds of its members, many of whom also have tattoos of the image.
The Department of Homeland Security and the Trump administration did not respond to requests for comment on Friday evening on the possibility of a privately funded effort to build the wall.

Typically, GoFundMe campaigns can still collect money even if they do not meet their goal.

But Bobby Whithorne, a spokesman for GoFundMe, said in a statement on Friday that Mr. Kolfages original campaign page had said If we dont reach our goal or come significantly close we will refund every single penny and that 100% of your donations will go to the Trump Wall. If for ANY reason we dont reach our goal we will refund your donation.

Mr. Whithorne said that since the campaign was not going to reach the $1 billion goal, and that both GoFundMe and Mr. Kolfage had determined the money raised could not be given to the federal government, GoFundMe had contacted all donors to the original campaign about the refund.

Donors can ask for a refund immediately, Mr. Whithorne said, but if they do not choose to redirect their money to the nonprofit, they will automatically receive a refund in 90 days.

Immigration advocacy groups had condemned the GoFundMe campaign as a xenophobic result of fearmongering about immigrants. Some had started competing fund-raising campaigns to raise money for Refugee and Immigrant Center for Education and Legal Services, a Texas nonprofit known as Raices.

Jonathan Ryan, president and chief executive of Raices, said that despite the change in Mr. Kolfages campaign, the original critiques of it still stand.

Its a difference without a change, Mr. Ryan said. The wall remains the wrong direction for us as a country, something that will not help advance any of our national interests and that would only serve to further harm vulnerable refugees and immigrants seeking protection in our country.
This is highly significant, especially at such a high-profile academic center, Dr. Gellad said in an email. Leadership matters, and the institution has decided that their leaders should not also be concurrently leading for-profit health companies.

When doctors enter into financial relationships with companies, the concern is that these ties can shape the way studies are designed and medications are prescribed to patients, potentially allowing bias to influence medical practice. A 2014 study in JAMA found that about 40 percent of the largest publicly traded drug companies had a leader of an academic medical center on their boards.

Ms. Berns said the Memorial Sloan Kettering boards policy decision was intended to emphasize the hospitals focus on education, research and treatment of patients. Dr. Nadeem R. Abu-Rustum, who is president of Memorial Sloan Ketterings medical staff, said the policy changes were well-received by employees.

Memorial Sloan Kettering has been shaken by the unfolding series of conflicts of interest since September, when The Times and ProPublica reported that its chief medical officer, Dr. Jose Baselga, had failed to disclose millions of dollars in payments from drug and health care companies in dozens of articles in medical journals.

Dr. Baselga resigned days later, and he also stepped down from the boards of the drugmaker Bristol-Myers Squibb and Varian Medical Systems, a radiation equipment manufacturer. Earlier this month, AstraZeneca announced that it had hired Dr. Baselga to run its new oncology unit.

Additional reports detailed how other top officials had cultivated lucrative relationships with for-profit companies, including an artificial intelligence start-up, Paige.AI, that was founded by a member of Memorial Sloan Ketterings executive board, the chair of the pathology department and the head of a research lab. The hospital struck an exclusive deal with the company to license images of 25 million patient tissue slides that had been collected over decades.

Another article detailed how a hospital vice president was given a stake of nearly $1.4 million in a newly public company as compensation for representing Memorial Sloan Kettering on its board.
EDITORS NOTE

The Common Sense column on Dec. 19 about Les Moonves, the ousted chief executive of CBS, and his rights under his termination agreement to sue the broadcast company for breach of contract, included remarks from an interview published in December in Agenda, an industry publication, that were attributed to Mr. Moonves. The validity of the Agenda interview has since been called into question. On Thursday, Agenda removed Mr. Moonvess comments and published an editors note that stated, in part, that a representative for Mr. Moonves issued a statement denying that Mr. Moonves spoke with reporters from Agenda. The thrust of the column  that CBS is obliged to pay Mr. Moonvess legal bills should he decide to sue the company  is accurate and unchanged, but the excerpted comments from the Agenda article have been removed from the online version of the column and an accompanying picture caption.

CORRECTIONS: January 12, 2019

INTERNATIONAL

An article on Thursday about a government crackdown on skin-bleaching products in Rwanda paraphrased incorrectly comments by Dr. Carlos Charles. While he said that hydroquinone can cause a rash or ochronosis when used in high concentrations, he did not say that hydroquinone can increase the risk of cancer. (Past studies have shown some evidence of carcinogenic activity in rodents exposed to hydroquinone, but the substance has not been proven to increase the risk of cancer in humans.)

NATIONAL

An article on Thursday about the E.P.A.s shutdown furlough of most inspection personnel described incorrectly Angela McFaddens role at the Environmental Protection Agency. She is an environmental engineer who works for an agency program that oversees state-issued permits for the discharge of pollution in rivers and streams; she is not an inspector of water sites. The article also misquoted Ms. McFadden in her comments about her work at the E.P.A. While Ms. McFadden said, I always find violations, she did not go on to say, even if its not things that are illegal. The article also suggested that problems with chlorine levels in water are especially common in rural West Virginia. That is not the case.

BUSINESS

An article on Friday about a settlement that could cost Fiat Chrysler more than $800 million referred incorrectly to the status of the companys production of diesel-powered vehicles. After a halt in the 2017 model year for regulatory reasons, the company resumed making diesel versions of the Jeep Grand Cherokee and the Ram 1500 pickup; its diesel era has not ended. The error was repeated in a headline.
If you had to pick the weirdest moment of the week, would it be:

The Coast Guard tries to buck up its unpaid civilian employees by suggesting they consider becoming dog walkers or giving music lessons.

In order to dramatize the dangers of life without a Mexico wall, Donald Trump goes to visit a Texas border city that just had its lowest crime rate in 34 years.

The president rebuts critics who say walling off a country is sort of medieval by pointing out that all cars have wheels and a wheel is older than a wall.

Multitudinous fact checkers point out that a wall is actually older than a wheel.

Feel free to add your own. Whatever you say, Ill probably believe you. Its as if weve fallen down a rabbit hole and landed in a Wonderland totally devoid of wonder.

Even if you really, really want Donald Trump to be a total failure hurtling his way back toward civilian life, its not comforting to have a president whos so out to lunch. Just think about that trip to Texas. McAllen, the city Trump chose to demonstrate the terror of wall-free borders, was recently listed by U.S. News & World Report as one of the best places to retire in the nation. But the president, who was making only his second trip to the border since he took office, assured the public he knew how terrible things are because I have been there numerous times.

And that was just one tiny piece of his week! The big news, of course, was our catapult toward an all-time government shutdown record.

Pop quiz: When Trump was invited to comment on the pain of the unpaid government workers, did he say:

A) That its better than being killed by an illegal immigrant.

B) That a lot of them think its worth missing their salaries to get a wall.
* Begin a discussion about ranked-choice voting. While this has been adopted in Maine, its a form of voting that is only beginning to gain popularity, and for good reason. Instead of being incentivized to vote against the person you dont like, you would be able to vote for the candidates that you do like, in order of support. Ranked-choice voting would eliminate the possibility of a spoiler candidate, and elections would become generally more congenial, as no one wants to be seen as the candidate who is running negative.
The Turks, meanwhile, are NATO allies, bound to Washington in a formal defense pact. Incirlik Air Base, a major staging point for American military operations throughout the Middle East, is in southern Turkey.

Mr. Bolton, a conservative hard-liner with considerable self-regard, can be a hard person to feel sympathy toward. He has made his own serious errors, not least his aggressive support for the 2003 Iraq War, which destabilized the Middle East, and, more recently, his creation of a White House decision-making system that limits robust discussion.

He certainly knew before taking the position as Mr. Trumps national security adviser that he would be serving a chaos-driven and temperamental master. Still, Mr. Bolton faces the unenviable challenge of regularly having to defend the indefensible or make corrections after the fact. In October, he flew to Moscow to explain to President Vladimir Putin Mr. Trumps sudden and ill-advised decision to begin pulling out of the 1987 Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty, negotiated by Ronald Reagan and Mikhail Gorbachev.

Mr. Boltons latest Middle East visit was intended to reassure anxious regional leaders that the American withdrawal from Syria would be orderly. But the mission ran aground after Mr. Bolton demanded that Turkey protect Washingtons Kurdish allies and pledged that American forces would remain in Syria until the Islamic State was defeated, which could take months or years. That seemed to contradict Mr. Trumps pronouncement in December that the Islamic State had been defeated and all 2,000 American troops would be out of Syria within 30 days.

Cue Mr. Erdogan, who dismissed Mr. Boltons remarks as a grave mistake and said, It is not possible for us to swallow the message Bolton gave from Israel. A pro-government newspaper went so far as to accuse Mr. Bolton of being part of a soft coup against Trump.
Its the late 90s. You make some dumb choices. You get charged with robbing a Subway. You spend four years in prison. Its 1995. Your friends rob a KFC. You drive the getaway car. Four years in jail. That was then. Now youre a pastor at a church. Today, you run a successful flooring business. Youve paid your dues. Youve made amends. Now you want to have a voice in the world. But, you live in Florida. The Sunshine State is one of only four states that permanently bars felons from casting a ballot. And there are 1.7 estimated million people there who are disenfranchised due to a prior felony conviction. Over 10% of adults in the state cannot vote. Nearly one in four black adults is disenfranchised. The law does provide one way for former felons to get their voting rights back. But dont get your hopes up. Then you have to wait another 10, 12 years. Why? Because there is a backlog of about 10,000 cases. Finally, as many as 20 years later, you get your big day in court. If your hearing was in front of Gov. Rick Scott, you almost certainly heard this: I deny restoration of civil rights. I deny restoration of civil rights. At this point, Im going to deny restoration of civil rights. I deny restoration of civil rights. I deny restoration of civil rights. So its all denied. Well, first off, thanks for your work for the state. Thank you. At this point, I dont feel comfortable giving your restoration of civil rights. But congratulations on your work, and congratulations on your daughter. Thank you. The law gives the governor and his cabinet members the power to decide our fate. And theres no rules or guidelines. There is no right to clemency. Theres no standards. The governor goes first. If I deny, then its over. The governor can turn you away for any reason no matter how petty. Just dont get traffic tickets all the time. I mean, I mean it just says something. It says you dont care about the law. And its not just me. Governor Scott has denied way more people than his predecessors. In the last eight years, the number of disenfranchised citizens in Florida has increased by nearly 200,000 people. But wait, how did we even get here? The law is 150 years old and was designed to keep people that looked like me from voting. When the Civil War ended, freed slaves represented almost half of Floridas population. The states all-white lawmakers came up with a racist plan to prevent blacks from gaining power. They created Black Codes, not-so-subtly named laws that subjected black people to harsh sentences for minor offenses. They then barred anyone with a conviction from voting. They didnt even try to hide it. For the next 150 years, no one questioned the law. And now, here we are. Florida voters will get to decide on a ballot referendum that would restore voting rights to felons who have done their time. Murderers and sex offenders are excluded. To pass Amendment 4, voters would need 60% or more in November. Vote Yes in November to restore voting rights. Be our voice today so everyone invested in the future of Florida can help shape that future.
Watching the Trump show from the distance afforded by my brief leave of absence has been like watching a frenzy of ants. Its hypnotic, in part because it appears devoid of meaning. Keep your eye on the bouncing ball, goes the adage. But what if the ball is a blur?

When Trump was in business, his shtick was stiffing contractors. If confronted, he would try some bombast and storm out of meetings, as he did the other day with congressional leaders, ending talks on the partial government shutdown caused by a crisis he has manufactured. His shtick now is stiffing all Americans. The technique is the same: Keep reality at a distance through hyperactive fakery.

I have been fascinated by Trumps compulsion. Like birds feasting on mangled flesh in the middle of the road, he cannot help it. Like travelers beset with reflex gluttony in airline lounges, he cannot help it. Like the sulking child denied a video, he cannot help it.

Like the dog that returns to its vomit, he cannot help it. Like a puppet on a string, he cannot help it. Like the scorpion that stings the frog ferrying it across the torrent, he cannot help it. Its his nature, you see.
Alas, that may have to wait.

On Jan. 4, the observers sent out by the Catholic Church had identified a third candidate  Martin Fayulu, a respected businessman and veteran member of Parliament who had held a strong lead in pre-election polls  as the probable winner. And when the results showing Mr. Tshisekedi the winner were announced, the National Episcopal Conference of Congo, a Catholic bishops group, declared that the numbers did not match the data collected by our observer mission. Mr. Fayulu was not named, but the observers left no doubt that he should have won.

The widespread suspicion is that when Mr. Kabila sensed that his man would be crushed, he cut a deal with Mr. Tshisekedi to ensure that the incumbent president, his family and his cronies would not be compelled to relinquish the fortunes and properties they reaped in the 18 years Mr. Kabila inhabited the presidential palace. Mr. Fayulu, the candidate of a broad coalition of opposition parties and figures, would not be likely to give the departing cabal a pass.

And so what should have been a historic moment for the long-suffering nation took a dismally familiar turn. Mr. Fayulu denounced the results as an electoral coup and his appeal is now being heard by the Constitutional Court, though even he admitted he stood little chance of satisfaction in a court stacked with Kabila appointees. France openly declared that Mr. Fayulu should have won; Belgium, the former colonial master and exploiter, said it would raise the election results at the United Nations Security Council; the African Union called for any dispute to be resolved through political dialogue; the United Nations secretary general called on all sides to refrain from violence. There were reports of clashes in the southwestern city of Kikwit, but for now Congo remained relatively calm.

And the Congolese were back to waiting. And suffering: Three-quarters of the countrys 80 million people subsist on less than $2 a day , thousands of civilians have been killed by security forces and various militias in the past two years and 4.5 million Congolese have been displaced by violence.

Mr. Kabila is to blame for much of the misery, and however disappointed most people may be with the results of the election, the likelihood is that they are simply relieved he is on his way out. They may now prefer Mr. Tshisekedi  whose late father, Etienne Tshisekedi, was a widely admired opposition leader for decades  to a period of instability and political violence.
Reza Zarrab was a well-connected Turkish-Iranian gold trader known for throwing money around with abandon, paying tens of millions of dollars in bribes to Turkish officials.

When he was arrested in 2016 and jailed at the Metropolitan Correctional Center, an ultrasecure federal lockup in Manhattan, one of the guards, Victor Casado, 36, of the Bronx, saw an opportunity and offered his services.

Over a year, he smuggling in alcohol, cellphones and vitamin C packets, among other things, for Mr. Zarrab in exchange for at least $50,000 in bribes, the authorities said.

Mr. Casado was eventually arrested and pleaded guilty to federal bribery charges last summer. On Friday, Mr. Casado, a former New York City police officer who was forced to resign after he committed perjury in court, stood before a federal judge and was sentenced to three years in prison and three years supervised release.
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Steven H. Pollard was supposed to receive the official order confirming his promotion to a full-fledged New York City firefighter this week.

After a year and a half as a probationary firefighter, the orange patch of a novice would have been replaced on his helmet with a crimson patch bearing his ladder company. A small change, perhaps, but a signifier that Mr. Pollard fully belonged to the ranks of New Yorks Bravest.

Instead Mr. Pollard, who died Sunday at age 30 after falling 50 feet from a Brooklyn overpass, was buried Friday afternoon. His helmet, with the patch he never got to wear, was prominently displayed at his funeral. It was a potent symbol of a young firefighter at the start of a promising career when his life was cut tragically short.
The network had revamped Studio 6A at its 30 Rockefeller Plaza headquarters, installing roughly 100 seats so that Megyn Kelly Today would have its own cheering squad. But with sharp questions and comments, Ms. Kelly offended celebrity guests like Debra Messing and Jane Fonda. Of more importance to network executives, she delivered middling ratings.

By the time one of NBCs biggest events came around  the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea  Ms. Kelly was not among the correspondents sent to cover it.

In May 2018, during the networks annual presentation to advertisers known as the upfronts, there was another sign that her stock was down at NBC. From the Radio City Music Hall stage, the late-night host Seth Meyers mentioned the networks broadcast of Jesus Christ Superstar, with John Legend in the lead role, before remarking: You know a network has some range when they have a black Jesus and Megyn Kelly. The joke was a reference Ms. Kellys much-criticized statements, made during a 2013 segment on Fox News, that Santa Claus and Jesus were white.

And then came the Oct. 23, 2018, episode of Megyn Kelly Today.

Im a Little Fired Up

Ms. Kelly opened the show by announcing: I have to give you a fair warning. Im a little fired up over Halloween costumes this morning.

What followed was a segment out of the Fox News playbook: a round-table discussion of how multiculturalism was supposedly affecting the celebration of a national holiday.

But what is racist? Ms. Kelly said. You do get in trouble if you are a white person who puts on blackface on Halloween, or a black person who puts on whiteface for Halloween. Back when I was a kid, that was O.K., as long as you were dressing up as a character.

Those remarks were the last straw for NBC.

Ms. Kelly offered an on-air apology the next morning. She also hosted a segment featuring two black panelists, Roland Martin and Amy Holmes, who explained the history of blackface, a demeaning practice with a history going back to 19th-century minstrel shows.
1. The F.B.I. opened an inquiry into whether President Trump was secretly working with Russia after he fired James Comey as F.B.I. director, according to former law enforcement officials and others familiar with the investigation.

The inquiry carried explosive implications. Counterintelligence investigators had to consider whether the presidents own actions constituted a possible threat to national security.

The special counsel, Robert Mueller, took over the inquiry when he was appointed days after F.B.I. officials opened it. The investigation also had a criminal aspect, which has long been publicly known: whether Mr. Trumps firing of Mr. Comey constituted obstruction of justice.
WASHINGTON  Too often people die of an opioid overdose because no one's around to notice they're in trouble. Now scientists are creating a smartphone app that beams sound waves to measure breathing  and summon help if it stops.

The app is still experimental. But in a novel test, the "Second Chance" app detected early signs of overdose in the critical minutes after people injected heroin or other illegal drugs, researchers reported Wednesday.

One question is whether most drug users would pull out their phone and switch on an app before shooting up. The University of Washington research team contends it could offer a much-needed tool for people who haven't yet found addiction treatment.

"They're not trying to kill themselves  they're addicted to these drugs. They have an incentive to be safe," said Shyamnath Gollakota, an engineering and computer science associate professor whose lab turns regular cellphones into temporary sonar devices.

But an emergency room physician who regularly cares for overdose patients wonders how many people really would try such a device.

"This is an innovative way to attack the problem," said Dr. Zachary Dezman of the University of Maryland School of Medicine, who wasn't involved in the research.
While this winter has been relatively not so white, Regionites will see some snowfall to start of their weekend.

A winter weather advisory is in effect in Northwest Indiana on Saturday from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m., according to the National Weather Service.

Snow will accumulate in Lake, Porter and LaPorte counties from two to four inches, Meteorologist Mark Ratzer of the National Weather Service said. Central Indiana will get hit the hardest with an expected 6 inches.

The snow will continue through the morning and will taper off in the evening, Ratzer said.

There probably will be a period in the afternoon where visibility might be less than a mile, Ratzer said. During that time travelers should use caution and give themselves extra time getting to their destinations.

Temperatures will start in the upper 20s and will climb to around 30 degrees in the afternoon.

Gary officials reminded residents of the city's snow plan in light of the incoming winter storm in a news release Friday.

The snow team will be out in full force, the news release stated, and will be plowing according to the city's snow removal plan.
Trump's phony "crisis" talk means he may have to call his own bluff. This is why there is a good chance he will invoke emergency powers to force the military to build the wall. The move would perfectly sum up his approach to government: It would look dramatic and "strong," it would waste federal funds for self-aggrandizing reasons, and it would be an abuse of his authority, since the "emergency" in question is not an emergency at all.
In an article titled Proactively enhancing and expanding external relations and international cooperation in maritime issues published on Nhan Dan newspaper on January 11, Deputy Foreign Minister Le Hoai Trung said the resolution affirms Vietnams special attention to this matter.

Trung, also head of the National Border Committee, said promoting foreign relations and cooperation in sea-related issues is one of the five major guidelines set in the resolution, aiming to build and maintain a peaceful, stable environment and legal order at sea a the basis for the safe and efficient use of maritime resources.

Vietnam also wants to join the global efforts in sustainable use and preservation of sea and ocean while obtaining international support to enhance maritime management and exploitation, he said.

Pursuing a consistent foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, multilateralism and diversification, and active international integration, Vietnam will continue enhancing relations with countries, especially those with strong marine potential, on the basis of respecting independence, sovereignty, equality and mutual benefits.

Vietnam will also firmly defend its national sea and island sovereignty as well as its legitimate interests in addition to solving disputes via peaceful means based on international law to maintain a peaceful and stable environment for mutual development, Trung said.

He also reiterated Vietnams consistent viewpoint of addressing disputes in the East Sea on the basis of international law, especially the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea 1982.

The country will conduct cooperation in various maritime fields with other countries for mutual benefits and sustainable development, according to the Deputy FM.
And yet, neither Republican Gov. Eric Holcomb, nor the Republican or Democratic House and Senate caucuses, have identified a cigarette tax hike as a top priority for the 2019 legislative session that began Jan. 3 and runs until April 29.

Bryan Hannon, Raise It For Health campaign chairman, said it was "a bit surprising and a bit disappointing" that no legislative caucus has indicated that it will be putting a major focus on Hoosier health issues this year.

"No matter whose agenda you're looking at, we see far too little emphasis on health, whether that's smoking or infant mortality or cancer death rates or whatever it is," Hannon said.

"I think that we've got to continue to remind them that health is connected to a whole bunch of other issues in the state. It's not just Hoosiers who may be making bad choices and they have to live with those. It has economic consequences to our Medicaid program and to business health care costs."

Precisely because businesses incur greater employee health care expenses due to smoking, the $2 per pack cigarette tax hike is strongly supported by the influential Indiana Chamber of Commerce, which also wants the minimum smoking age set at 21 instead of 18.
Answering most questions with a "yes," "yes, sir" or "I understand," Cortina, owner of Kustom Auto Body, laid out the scenario that led to paying the bribe.

Under questioning by Milner, Cortina told the court he had known Snyder for several years and assisted in his campaign for mayor, including driving him around and attending fundraisers. Cortina had requested consideration from Snyder several times between November 2015 and December 2016 to be placed on the tow list.

Each time Snyder brushed him off and avoided giving Cortina an answer.

In his written statement to the court, Cortina stated he initially thought he was friends with Snyder, but after having to "foot the bill" for several dinners, he felt he was being taking advantage of. Cortina stated he continued being friendly with Snyder because he wanted to do business with the city.

It was only when Snyder told Cortina he needed $12,000 to help pay his legal bills, and Cortina delivered the money, that he was put on the tow list, according to testimony.
GARY  A Merrillville man has been charged with attempted murder after allegedly shooting a relative in the head while he was sleeping.
For the first time in forever, me and Alayna had been getting along great. We had just made plans to go to the movies on Sunday, Angel Ortiz stated through social media. She was my first best friend and always will be. Throughout our lives we were always mistaken as twins. I never saw the resemblance. She was just so beautiful, how could I compare? I have never met another person in my life who loves people so deeply and with their entire heart. She was so family-oriented and always stood up for her siblings. I'll be trying to live my life to the fullest for the both of us and I can only hope you are in a better place, baby girl. I love you to the moon and back, forever and always, sissy.
CROWN POINT  A former Crown Point Chief Deputy Clerk has filed a federal lawsuit against the city and Clerk-Treasurer Kristie Dressel, claiming she was subjected to a hostile work environment and unwelcomed harassment because of her age.

Barbara Kortokrax, 66, filed the lawsuit Wednesday, alleging the office violated federal anti-discrimination laws after firing her from her job May 8, 2017, solely due to her age being replaced with a younger employee, according to the lawsuit.

Kortokrax, who is being represented by David Masse of Woodward Law Offices in Merrillville, originally filed in Crown Point. The case was subsequently moved to Hammond.

During her time as the chief deputy clerk, Kortokrax claims she was repeatedly subjected to ridicule and being called old fashioned and similar remarks from her colleagues, fellow employees, business associates and visitors, which interfered with her ability to work, according to the lawsuit.

Additionally, she claims she was denied promotion, pay raises available to younger employees, education opportunities, subject to unfavorable job assignments and discipline for minor conduct.
SCHERERVILLE  An alleged T.J. Maxx thief has three prior convictions related to theft and three other unrelated arrest warrants, police said. The suspect has been identified with the help of the public, however he still remains at large.

Schererville police filed an arrest warrant for Joseph Robert-Paul Peppin, 29 of Griffith. Peppin has been charged with two counts of theft in relation to the T.J. Maxx incident, according to the Schererville Police Department.

Cmdr. Jeff Cook said readers helped identify Peppin.

"Our department received several calls and Facebook messages from the public to identify Peppin after his photo was posted in the original article," Cook said.

Peppin's three previous warrants were a result of possession of paraphernalia, driving while suspended charges and driving violation charges.

He had been convicted of burglary in March 2014, convicted of theft in November 2012 and was convicted of attempted theft in May 2013, according to court records.

At 4:16 p.m. Jan. 5 Peppin allegedly entered T.J. Maxx in the Town Square Shopping Center on Main Street, retrieved a shopping cart and concealed items inside a black sweatshirt he placed in his cart.
Were going to family members houses and using their washing machine, Scofield said recently. Were going to the laundromat, but then the laundromat uses more money, too. So youre at a little bit of a Catch-22. Either way, Im spending money whether Im using my gas to go to a family members house to do laundry or if Im going to the laundromat.
Andy Schmookler  who was the Democratic nominee for Congress in Virginias 6th District in 2012  is a prize-winning author whose series A Better Human Story can be found at www.abetterhumanstory.org.
One of the four women who has leveled accusations of sexual misconduct against Indiana Attorney General Curtis Hill has filed a series of bills Friday which aim to prevent and punish such behavior.

Rep. Mara Candelaria Reardon, D-Munster, stated that, along with Gov. Eric Holcomb's zero tolerance policy, the bills would be aimed at those who who commit sexual harassment in Indiana, including elected officials and employers in the private sector.

Through my own experience and through conversations with law enforcement officers and the public alike, it is clear that there are many loopholes in a system that should protect women and men from having to face sexual harassment in the workplace, she stated. It is not a problem confined to government agencies but includes businesses across this state. It is important that our elected officials set the standard for behavior and provide a clear idea of what will happen to penalize those who choose to consistently engage in this conduct. That is what we are trying to achieve with these four bills.

On Oct. 23, 2018, Special Prosecutor Dan Sigler announced no criminal charges would be filed against Hill. Sigler simultaneously released a seven-page report to the Marion Superior Court Criminal Division. The same day, the Indiana Office of the Inspector General released their own separate 25-page report announcing no charges would be filed.

Afterwards, Candelaria Reardon joined Niki DaSilva, legislative assistant for the Indiana Senate Republicans; Gabrielle McLemore, communications director for the Indiana Senate Democrats; and Samantha Lozano, legislative assistant for the Indiana House Democrats, in announcing they were taking initial steps to proceed with a civil lawsuit.

The bills filed by Candelaria Reardon are particularly relevant to the Hill case and those like it.

What we want to emphasize is that people should look upon their workplace as somewhere they can be treated with respect, she stated. A better work environment leads to better productivity. All peoplewomen and men alikedeserve the right to come to work without fear that they will be harassed or subject to behavior that should not be tolerated in a civilized society. The standards outlined in these four bills protect their rights and send a clear message that people who sexually harass others will face the consequences of their actions. It is my strong hope that the Leaders in the General Assembly will join me and the chorus of people who have been affected by this broken system in seeking these necessary workplace protections for all Hoosiers.

The four bills filed include:

HOUSE BILL 1573

This bill would set up a process for the removal of elected officials who engage in sexual misconduct, certain sex crimes, or the type of conduct inconsistent with the high ethical standards of their office.

HB 1573 creates a 12-member officeholder oversight commission to investigate complaints against officials who do not hold Constitutional offices and are chosen in statewide elections, including the attorney general and the superintendent of public instruction, she stated. The commission would have the ability to remove an official who is found guilty from office. It also indicates that a lawmaker can be removed from office for sexual misconduct, committing certain sex crimes, and engaging in conduct inconsistent with the Legislatures high ethical standards. It defines sexual misconduct as unwelcome sexual advances, unwelcome requests for sexual favors or unwelcome verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature.

HOUSE BILL 1581

This bill would prevent a public official from using taxpayer funds to pay for private legal counsel or settlements in the event that the official is either charged with a crime or sued personally because of misconduct.

HB 1581 would prevent statewide officeholders, members of the General Assembly, special state appointees, and elected county, city, town, and township officials from using taxpayer dollars to pay for legal counsel or damages in the event that official is found to have acted outside the scope of his or her duties or charged with a crime unrelated to the persons official duties, she stated.

HOUSE BILL 1577

This bill would expand the definition of employers who can be charged with workplace discrimination.

Current state law provides that civil rights laws cover most Indiana employers with six or more workers, she stated. HB 1577 would expand the scope of the law to include employers with one or more workers.

HOUSE BILL 1574

This bill would create the crime of lewd touching, which will cover any person who knowingly or intentionally rubs or fondles another persons covered or uncovered genitals, pubic area, or female breast without the consent of the other person. The severity of the crime would be elevated based on specific criteria.

HB 1574 enhances the penalty for lewd touching from a Class A misdemeanor to a Level 6 Felony if it is committed by using or threatening to use deadly force, committed while armed with a deadly weapon, committed by providing the victim with a drug or controlled substance without that persons knowledge, committed by a statewide officeholder or a legislator, or committed by a repeat offender, she stated.
University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension plans to become more engaged with local communities from now through 2025.

Extension Dean Chuck Hibberd said they want to build on current partnerships and find new ways to work with people and organizations that have similar goals. He met Friday with about 30 members of the community at UNLs West Central Research And Extension Center in North Platte. The university is holding the discussions for community input throughout the state.

Over the next few years, Hibberd said, UNL will become an engaged university.

University Chancellor Ronnie Green will give his State of the University address on Tuesday, and Hibberd said Green will talk about community engagement.

Rons goal is 26,000 students will have a community experience before they graduate, Hibberd said. He gave the example of architecture students from the university who have worked with communities to address local needs.

The discussion group talked about finding new ways to share information with people, with the goal of creating experiences with age-appropriate messages. Without the right information, people make uninformed decisions that are not in their best interests, Hibberd said.
We had a career fair here on Jan. 9 and they talked with several people in the community, she said. MMP is looking to hire their management staff all the way down to shippers and fulfillment people for their warehousing operation. They want to hire local.

In a prepared statement, Priemer said that anyone can put up a brick-and-mortar facility, but its the people that make it successful.

I admire that this city has no quit in it, he said. The stories are marvelous from every individual we have talked to. They are tremendously qualified for every job function. I would say, as an employer, Id be a fool not to locate here.

Over the next three years, MMP is estimating theyll hire at least 155 people. Norgard said that number could be higher as the company continues to develop the business model for its first expansion outside of Canada.

When MMP started talking with some of their clients and customers from Canada, the customers were pleased the company was looking at expanding into the U.S., Norgard said. They were also happy MMP would be in the middle of the country where its at most a two-day trip to anywhere else.
HARRISBURG The Wolf Administration announced grant funding to implement the Muncy Creek Streambank Restoration and Protection Project located in Hughesville Borough and Wolf Township, Lycoming County. The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) awarded a 2019 Growing Greener grant award of $327,284 to the Lycoming County Commissioners for the work.

The project will stabilize 500 feet of streambank that has been eroded by numerous flood events, sending an estimated 4,000 tons of sediment downstream over the past seven years. The stream has migrated close to a well pump house that provides public drinking water to 2,900 area residents. The site is vulnerable to additional damage and the public water supply well is at risk of total loss if action is not taken.

This project to correct severe streambank erosion will also protect critical public drinking water infrastructure and reduce sediment pollution in the Chesapeake Bay watershed, said Governor Tom Wolf. Lycoming County has experienced flooding events with significant impacts over several consecutive years. Restoring this section of Muncy Creek and stopping this erosion will provide a substantial benefit to the community.

During the grant application review process, subsequent flooding carved Muncy Creek more than six feet closer to the water supply well, increasing the project cost over initial estimates and making the danger to public infrastructure more acute. A portion of the access road to the well house has already been washed away.

This award is an opportunity for multiple levels of government to work together efficiently, as conditions and project costs have changed on the ground, said DEP Secretary Patrick McDonnell.

Streambank restoration has been shown to improve the biological integrity of a stream by reducing pollution runoff. Muncy Creek is a trout-stocked fishery.

One of the largest investments into Pennsylvanias environment, Growing Greener projects have been instrumental in cleaning up abandoned mine lands, preserving farmland, and protecting and restoring watersheds throughout the commonwealth.

The Growing Greener grant program is supported by the Environmental Stewardship Fund, which receives its funding from landfill tipping fees.
COUDERSPORT  Beginning Jan. 14, 2019, UPMC Cole will welcome its new leader as current president and senior executive Ed Pitchford, transitions into a regional role within UPMC. When Pitchford assumes his new role, Janie Hilfiger, president of UPMC Susquehanna Soldiers + Sailors in Wellsboro, will be promoted to president of both hospitals.

In his new regional role, Pitchford will assist with the executive transition at UPMC Cole and continue to oversee the integration of the hospital with UPMC until his retirement in March 2019.

Mr. Pitchford has been an integral part of the success of Cole Memorial, now UPMC Cole, said Steven P. Johnson, president, UPMC Susquehanna. As a leader, he helped advance local health care delivery in north central Pennsylvania. His vision and perseverance made a powerful impact, leaving UPMC Cole well-positioned for continued success, growth, and innovation. Mr. Pitchford will continue to be a key player for strategic development of the northern tier until his retirement.

Pitchford first started working with UPMC Cole, then Cole Memorial in 1979 as an outside consultant. In 1987, he joined the hospital staff as chief financial officer and served in that role for five years before transitioning to executive leadership for Borgess Health, Kalamazoo, Mich. Pitchford returned to Cole Memorial in 2006 when he was named president and chief executive officer, his current role.

Little did I know in 1979 that this hospital, our staff and providers, and this community would be such an important part of my professional career in health care said Pitchford. It has truly been an honor and pleasure to serve this organization and this community. I am proud of what we have achieved and I am equally optimistic that this region and this organization will thrive as UPMC Cole. They are in good hands with Ms. Hilfiger.

Hilfiger brings more than 40 years of health care expertise in strategic planning, clinical operations, nursing, and patient care excellence. Under her leadership UPMC Soldiers + Sailors has garnered numerous patient care and financial performance accolades.

Its an honor to lead UPMC Cole, says Hilfiger. Im excited for the future that our talented medical staff and dedicated employees will create for our region, working collaboratively with our UPMC associates in Wellsboro and across the UPMC system. Together, our organizations in Wellsboro and Coudersport will leverage the vast resources available within UPMC to ensure that patients in north central Pennsylvania have access to the best care possible.

The continuity of a regionalized presidential role will align goals for both hospitals to work closely in partnership with one another. A shared vision across UPMC Cole and UPMC Susquehanna will translate into care with greater coordination, stronger outcomes, and improved patient experiences the communities in the region.

For more information about UPMC Cole, visit colememoral.org. To learn more about UPMC Susquehanna, visit UPMCSusquehanna.org.
The New Ellenton juvenile charged as an adult in the murder of an Aiken County high school student in November 2016 has been extradited to the Aiken County detention center.
Neal is health, military affairs and religion reporter and columnist for the Enid News & Eagle. Follow him on Twitter, @jamesnealwriter , and online at jamesrneal.com . He can be reached at jneal@enidnews.com
Its probably a little rash to suggest that 2019 is going to be the year for CT hip-hop, but based on the strength of Snowprahs infectious single Yank Riddim, which is built on a regional dance style, and the fact that shes already collaborating with artists like French Montana and Lykke Li, Snow, who also goes by Snow LaFlurr, is poised to bring some attention to Connecticut music. Shes interested in letting people know that Connecticut is more complex than its wealthy suburbs might suggest.
WASHINGTON  The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is directing dozens of wildlife refuges, including DeSoto north of Council Bluffs, to return staffers to work to make sure hunters and others have access despite the government shutdown, according to an email obtained Wednesday by the Associated Press.

On Friday, officials with DeSoto said the hunting season at the refuge is complete and no additional hunting is planned. The refuge visitor center will be open Fridays and Saturdays.

The partial restaffing of 38 wildlife refuges angered wildlife groups, who accused the Trump administration of trying to minimize the public impact of the 21-day-old shutdown to limit the political blowback for President Donald Trump. Trump and Democrats in Congress are locked in a dispute over Trumps demand for billions of dollars for a wall on the southern U.S. border.

The shutdown has forced federal agencies to stop issuing paychecks for hundreds of thousands of government employees. Government services largely have been limited to the most pressing, such as Transportation Security Administration workers providing security at airports without pay.
The Catholic Diocese of Des Moines is looking to implement a new leadership model at St. Albert Catholic Schools for the 2019-20 school year, according to a press release from the diocese.

Officials hope the plan, developed under the guidance of the diocese, school officials and Meitler Consultants, will encourage innovation; improve student, faculty and alumni engagement; and ensure financial viability.

In research, surveys and conversations during recent months, academics, campus life and marketing/alumni relations have been identified as critical areas of focus, the press release stated. As a result, the plan calls for the establishment of director of academics and director of mission and campus life positions and remaking the head of school position into an executive director role.

The diocese has not said how this will affect people currently holding administrative positions in the school system.

An advancement team would be created to promote St. Albert and build relationships with alumni. Teams of administrators and teachers would be formed that would give teachers direct responsibility for planning and directing school programs.

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Three Nebraskans were arrested Thursday evening after a high-speed pursuit that began in Omaha crossed into Council Bluffs before the driver lost control near Honey Creek, according to authorities.

Police advised one of the suspects fired a gun.

Jason Buck, 34, of Norfolk, Neb. was arrested on a Nebraska warrant. On Friday morning, he agreed to be extradited back to Nebraska.

Kylee Anderson, 24, of Bellevue, is charged with felony eluding while participating in a felony, failure to provide proof of financial liability and failure to maintain control.

Savannah Mangiamelli, 27, of Omaha, is charged with eluding while participating in a felony and had a Nebraska warrant for her arrest.

Anderson and Mangiamellis preliminary hearings are set for Jan. 18. As of Friday they were being held at the Pottawattamie County Jail on $5,000 cash-only bond each.

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According to the Iowa State Patrol report, local authorities were alerted that the Omaha Police Department was pursuing a vehicle from which a gun had been fired, the report states.

The pursuit of the 1999 white Honda Accord crossed the state line into Iowa around 5:15 p.m.
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Deliveries will be made on Feb. 13 and 14 and morning or afternoon options are available. We travel within the Council Bluffs-Omaha area. If you have a question about a delivery destination, please let us know. Hurry, the last day to purchase a Wag-A-Gram is Sunday, Feb. 10.

MHS Pets of the Week: If it wasnt so cold, Moxie may have indulged in a dip at Big Lake Park, which is where she was found by Animal Control officers just before Christmas. This Australian Shepherd mix is about 3 years old and has plenty of energy. She will need a home that can provide her with daily mental and physical activity. She could make a great family dog as she loves almost everyone, but all children in the home will need to come in to meet her prior to an adoption. If your New Years resolution was to get into shape, Moxie could help you achieve your fitness goals.

We havent quite located Janis Joplin yet, but we do have Bobby McGee available for your adoption consideration. Bobby is a brown and white male cat who was found waiting for the train between Council Bluffs and Crescent. This big old guy enjoys getting his head and neck scratched and could make a great companion for someone searching for a cat who just wants to enjoy his days basking in the sun.
Weather Alert

...AIR QUALITY ALERT IN EFFECT FROM 9 AM THIS MORNING TO 8 PM CDT THIS EVENING... The Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality is forecasting an Ozone Advisory Day for Orleans...Jefferson...St John the Baptist... St. Charles...St Bernard...St Tammany...and Plaquemines Parishes... in effect from 9 AM this morning to 8 PM CDT this evening. The Air Quality Index indicates that ozone will be at the Orange level...which is unhealthy for sensitive groups. Increasing ozone levels may cause unhealthy air quality during afternoon hours. Active children and adults...the elderly and people with respiratory diseases such as asthma...should avoid prolonged outdoor exertion. Please take whatever voluntary steps you can to reduce emissions that contribute to ozone formation. Drive less and make sure your automobile is in good working condition. Make sure your gas cap is tight. Wait until after 6 PM to refuel your vehicle and use gas powered lawn equipment. More information about current air quality and what you can do to help prevent ozone formation is available at the D E Q website www.deq.louisiana.gov/enviroflash or by calling 8 6 6 8 9 6 5 3 3 7.
Kenner police are no slouches at ticketing speeding motorists, even without automated ticket cameras. Three weeks after the City Council shelved Chief Michael Glasers request for speed cameras, the Police Department on Friday (Jan. 11) released data showing officers cite an average of almost 3,200 lead-footed drivers each year - more than eight per day.

Heres are the statistics from Margarita Diaz, director of records management services:

The Police Department provided the numbers in response to a public records request from NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune for speeding tickets issued since Glaser took office in 2014. Diaz did not distinguish between tickets issued as part of some other investigation, such as a vehicle wreck, and those resulting from routine traffic observations or radar enforcement.

Glaser did not immediately return a call for comment. In the past, he has said hes swamped with complaints from residents about speeding in neighborhoods, especially Driftwood Park. No law enforcement agency has the resources to have a policeman on a street corner," he told WVUE television in November.

Heres why Kenner wont deploy cameras to ticket speeding motorists

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Last year, the chief persuaded the City Council to consider letting the Police Department enforce speeding laws with automated cameras, which measure a vehicles speed, photograph the license plate and generate records to mail a citation to the vehicle owner. Speed cameras have proven controversial across the United States, including elsewhere in the New Orleans area, with advocates calling them an efficient tool for enforcing the law and opponents calling them a cynical tool to generate more revenue for local government.

Yet if residents simmered over speeders, they boiled at the prospect of camera enforcement. Glaser hasnt drawn an opponent in either of his two elections, but four of the City Council members faced voters just last spring. The council voted 7-0 on Dec. 21 to postpone Glasers request indefinitely.

Kenner to consider automatic cameras to ticket speeders

. . . . . . .

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.
Louisiana bettors got a step closer to being able to start wagering on sporting events by fall if the governor approves the second of two bills that is about to clear the Legislature.
The Mark Twain House & Museum partners with Black-Eyed Sallys for a virtual event with author Jana DeLeon, Merry Swapmas, on Dec. 17 at 7:30 p.m. DeLeon, author of the Miss Fortune Mysteries, appears with playwright Jacques Lamarre to talk about such titles as Swamp Santa, Louisiana Long Shot and her latest, Gators & Garters. Tickets are $5, and Black-eyed Sallys offers a takeout dinner for two for $45, with Louisiana gumbo, low country shrimp and grits, Southern fried chicken, mac and cheese, collard greens, cornbread with honey butter and bourbon pecan pie. Pick up between 4 and 6:30 p.m. eventbrite.com/e/merry-swampmas-dinner-tickets-131224129905.
President Donald Trump is scaling back talk of declaring an emergency in order to direct federal money to build an extensive barrier at the U.S.-Mexico border, The Washington Post reported Friday (Jan. 11). For days, he had increasingly mentioned the option if Congress continued to deny his request to provide $5.7 billion for the border wall.

What were not looking to do right now is national emergency, Trump said Friday afternoon at the White House. Im not going to do it so fast.

The impasse over the border wall has ensured a partial shutdown of the federal government, involving some 800,000 employees on furlough on working without pay, will stretch into a fourth week. The emergency declaration appeared to give the president an option to avoid conceding to House Democrats.

Trump had gone so far as to order the Defense Department to find sources to finance the border wall. Officials responded with a plan to pull money from Army Corps of Engineers projects for flood risk reduction and hurricane recovery.

Read the complete Washington Post story here.
Select neighborhood laundromats in Chicago are partnering with the citys library system to provide story time sessions to children in underserved communities, according to a report by the U.S. News and World Report.

Laundromat Story Time is a Chicago Public Library program that combines early education principles with public outreach by reading stories, singing songs and playing games with children designed to help their brains develop, the magazine reported. The program is being offered in 14 laundromats within Chicagos low-income neighborhoods.

Becca Ruidl, the Chicago Public Librarys early learning manager who runs the Laundromat Story Time program, told U.S. News the program is designed to let parents walk in and join in at any time.

A big part of what we do is model literary skills for parents so they can do it at home with their kids, Ruidl told U.S. News.

More than 60 percent of Chicagos low-income households don't own any children's books, according to data from the Chicago Literacy Alliance. The impact of that statistic also hits the classroom, where nearly 4 in 10 of Chicagos public school students dont meet or exceed reading standards.

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Meanwhile, the latest Kids Count report from the Annie E. Casey Foundation found 74 percent of Louisiana's 4th graders are not proficient in reading. Although that's an improvement from 82 percent in 2009, Louisiana's average in this category is worse than the national average of 65 percent.

The complete story can read at the U.S. News website.

New Orleans schools say laundry program has improved attendance

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.
Two years ago, Fud Bar set out to update the cafeteria concept, with healthy cooking for dine-in guests and packed to-go food for busy families. On Friday (Jan. 11), the Gentilly venture will serve its last meals.

"I think it's a death of a 1,000 cuts," said Erik Neumann, who owned Fud Bar with his wife, Jenna.

The couple lives in Gentilly near the Fud Bar.

The Neumanns had hoped the arrival of a nearby Ocshner medical facility, which they originally thought would open in 2018, would bring in new customers. Now, with the medical facility still not set to open for months, the couple decided to close their business.

Ochsner did not immediately return a message seeking information about the projected opening date of its new medical facility.

"We ran out of it, the money and the steam," Neumann said. "Just not enough of us out here."

Fud Bar plans to go out partying. On Friday from 5:307:30 p.m., Brett Weller will play acoustic music, drinks will be discounted and Fud Bar T-shirts and swag will be given away as prizes.

Fud Bar: 1522 Robert E. Lee Blvd., New Orleans, 504.309.3284
New Orleans prosecutors have asked a judge to hold a man charged in a drive-by shootout without bond, saying his criminal record and the fact that he eluded authorities for months prove hes a flight risk and a danger to the community.

Dermell Lewis, 39, is charged in a 10-count indictment with two counts of attempted second-degree murder, discharging a firearm during a violent crime and obstruction of justice, among other crimes.

Lewis and co-defendants Corey Major, 44, and Gerald Parker, 39, are accused in what prosecutors called a brazen assassination attempt on May 24, 2018. Police said a 47-year-old man was shot twice while driving in the 3300 block of General DeGaulle Drive around 3:45 p.m.

Man shot twice in drive-by on General De Gaulle: NOPD

According to court records, at least two gunman  one is alleged to be Lewis  inside a white Dodge Ram pickup truck fired 23 rounds from a .556 assault rifle and a .40 caliber firearm at their intended target. The Ram had dealer plates linked to Majors dealership in Baton Rouge, prosecutors said.

Police said the gunmens target, who also was driving a Dodge Ram, was shot in the leg when he tried to escape the gunfire. He ran down the neutral ground and jumped into a sedan. The sedan was shot up, but the driver was not injured, police said.

According to prosecutors, a good Samaritan was shot trying to help the victim.

Lewis, Major and Parker were charged last June in a 10-count bill of information with two counts each of attempted second-degree murder, conspiracy to commit second-degree murder, discharging a firearm during a violent crime, obstruction of justice and with being a felon in possession of a firearm.

Additionally, Lewis was charged with unlawful use of body armor. According to court records, a previous cocaine conviction bars him from wearing body armor.

According to court records, video from a New Orleans city crime camera in the 900 block of North Johnson Street showed Lewis, Major, Parker and an unknown fourth suspect loading assault rifles into a white Dodge Ram at around 3 p.m. on the day of the shooting.

Lewis was seen in the video wearing body armor and a green hat identical to the hat police recovered from the shooting scene on General DeGaulle, prosecutors said in court records. The hat was tested for DNA, and Lewis was identified as a major contributor, prosecutors said.

Major was arrested Aug. 28 and is in the Orleans Justice Center on a $1.15 million bond.

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Parker is serving a five-year sentence in the Department of Corrections on drug possession charges. He pleaded guilty in 2016 and was sentenced to probation, but court records show a judge revoked his probation in August.

U.S. Marshals arrested Lewis in Atlanta Nov. 28, after the organizations New Orleans office, the NOPDs Violent Offenders Warrant Squad, and the FBI developed information that Lewis was living with a girlfriend there, authorities said.

In a motion filed Friday (Jan. 11), Assistant District Attorney Alex Calenda asked Criminal District Judge Franz Zibilich to revoke Lewis $1.3 million bond previously set in the case.

He argued Lewis criminal history and the seriousness of the offense, along with the fact that he fled after the shooting are grounds for revocation.

Lewis convictions include second-offense marijuana possession, cocaine possession and unauthorized use of a movable in 2000, and federal convictions for conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine in 2002, Calenda wrote in his motion.

Lewis was arrested in 2000 on carnal knowledge of a juvenile and indecent behavior with a juvenile charges, and in 2009 on a second-degree rape charge, Calenda said. Those cases were dismissed due to witness cooperation issues.

Because of his previous convictions, Calenda said Lewis could face between 20 years and life in prison if adjudicated as a four-time offender. He argued a $1.3 million bond is insufficient for a violent crime that carries such a high prison sentence if the defendant is convicted.

Calenda also argued Lewis is a flight risk, demonstrated by the fact that he was on the run for five months before finally being arrested. A $1.3 million bond is not enough to insure his presence at future court dates, Calenda said.

A bond hearing is scheduled for Jan. 18, at which time an arraignment and hearing to determine counsel also is set for Lewis.

Major and Parker have pleaded not guilty.

NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune reporter Michelle Hunter contributed to this report.
Police arrested a third man in connection to the sex trafficking of a 16-year-old girl Friday (Jan. 11).

Kentrail Foster, 38, was booked with carnal knowledge of a juvenile as a felon and trafficking of children for sex purposes, following an investigation by Louisiana State Police and other law enforcement partners.

Elbert Riascos, 26, and Jovan Martin, 24 also were arrested and accused of drugging, beating and raping the 16-year-old girl, police said. They were booked with trafficking of a child for sex purposes on December 15, 2018.

During a follow-up investigation, the girl told police that she was prostituted to at least three different men by Riascos and Martin over the course of a week. She believed one of the men, who police later identified as Foster, was related to Riascos.

The girl said she had sex with Foster, who she only knew as K.K. She told police she remembered the men taking her to a house in New Orleans East, where she was raped. Later, they stopped at the Popeyes Fried Chicken in the 8700 block of Chef Menteur Highway, the warrant stated.

Working with Louisiana State Police and the Federal Bureau of Investigations Child Exploitation Field Office in New Orleans, detectives identified Foster. The 16-year-old girl identified him from a six-person photographic lineup.

Orleans Parish Criminal Court Magistrate Judge Brigid Collins set Fosters bond at $300,000. A public defender represented Foster in court.

Bond for Riascos and Martin, originally set at $90,000 and $20,000 respectively, sparked public outrage last month. Many argued that bond was set dangerously low for the men accused of drugging, beating and raping a 16-year-old girl. Orleans Parish Criminal Court Magistrate Judge Harry Cantrell has since raised the bond amounts for the two men.
Three teen boys were arrested after police say they robbed a 34-year-old man at gunpoint in Algiers Wednesday (Jan. 9), New Orleans police said.

The boys  ages 16, 15 and 14  were booked into the Juvenile Justice Center with armed robbery with a firearm, aggravated battery and flight from an officer, said Aaron Looney, a spokesman for NOPD.

Around 4 p.m. Wednesday, three boys exited a silver car in the 1500 block of Numa Street and demanded the mans property, according to a police report. Two of the boys had guns.

They forced the man to the ground and they took items from his pockets before fleeing, police said.

3 boys rob 34-year-old man at gunpoint in Algiers
A man was booked this week with kidnapping, battery and aggravated assault after police say he beat his ex-girlfriend, causing injuries that included facial fractures, and then used a gun to force her onto a bus headed from Algiers to the Central Business District.

Darrell Madison, 36, was arrested in Algiers on Wednesday (Jan. 9), two months after the beating and kidnapping, according to Orleans Parish court records. Arrest documents for Madison do not give a reason for the lag between the Nov. 8 crimes and Madisons arrest.

An affidavit for Madisons arrest warrant, issued Nov. 8 and sworn by NOPD officer Michael Duzmal, describes a brutal episode of domestic violence that had the 29-year-old victim riding a city bus while suffering from broken facial bones, displaced teeth, cuts and abrasions.

According to the arrest documents, the beating and kidnapping occurred shortly after the victim told Madison that she no longer wanted to be in a relationship with him and told him to leave her home. He had recently been released from jail and had been staying at the womans home for about a week, the documents state.

According to Orleans Parish court records, Madison pleaded guilty in May 2013 to simple robbery and was sentenced to seven years in prison, with credit for time served since his arrest.

About 6:30 a.m. Nov. 8, Madison used a key to enter the womans home and then began punching her in the upper body and face, causing broken bones, dislocated teeth, cuts, abrasions and swelling, according to the affidavit. In visiting the scene later, an officer found a great deal of blood on the floor and walls, the documents show.

Madison told her, I love you, if I cant be with you, I will kill you, the documents state.

Madison then took out a handgun and pointed the weapon at the victims back, instructing her to follow him.

The two walked about a third of a mile, from Wall Boulevard to Shirley Drive, where they boarded a bus bound for the CBD. Madison and the woman exited the bus about four miles away, on Poydras Street near Loyola Avenue, according to arrest documents.

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The affidavit does not say why the two disembarked, but a friend of Madisons then picked up both Madison and the victim. The friend took the woman to the hospital, where she was admitted and listed in stable condition.

There, a doctor noticed that the woman had marks on her neck consistent with attempted strangulation. She told the doctor and a police officer that Madison had tried to strangle her a few days prior.

In the affidavit, the officer notes that the victim was in extreme pain and was having difficulty being interviewed.

In answering a series of questions used by police to gauge domestic-abuse risk, the woman said that yes, she thinks Madison will seriously injure or kill her and that the abuse had been getting worse.

Madison was booked Wednesday into the Orleans Justice Center jail with domestic-abuse battery involving strangulation, second-degree battery, simple kidnapping and aggravated assault with a firearm.

His bond was set at $65,000, and he was issued a stay-away order and ordered to report to domestic-violence court.

According to court records, Madisons criminal history also includes convictions for burglary and false representation of an illegal drug in Jefferson Parish.

Laura McKnight covers crime and breaking news for NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune.
A former Tangipahoa Parish jail inmate has filed a federal lawsuit against Sheriff Daniel Edwards and others, claiming he was badly beaten in the jail, describing it as an institution where gang dominance, brutal beatings and deputies indifference were commonplace.

Joseph Martin, who was held in the jail in Amite from November 2017 to January 2018, alleges his repeated pleas for help were ignored by deputies. Martin was jailed on a drug charge that was later reduced to a misdemeanor, his attorney said.

In addition to Edwards, the suit filed Jan. 4 lists as defendants Warden Stewart Murphy, deputies Oscar Garcia and Cameron Crockett, and three other unnamed deputies.

In a statement Friday (Jan. 11), Edwards called allegations contained in the suit erroneous, incomplete, or misleading. Edwards said, There is no evidence of gangs operating within the parish jail.

The lawsuit, filed by attorney Gary Bizal of New Orleans, said Martin was placed in the jails X tier, where there were more inmates than beds, a situation that led to fights among inmates. Martin slept on the floor for a week before getting his own bed, the petition said.

The tier was controlled by a gang of inmates who terrorized Martin and others, frequently forcing inmates to fight each other, according to the suit.

Sometimes, inmates would bang on the windows in an effort to get deputies attention and help. According to the suit, a deputy once told an inmate he wouldnt be moved out of the tier if he beat on the window like a bitch.

The lawsuit said gang leaders ordered Martin to use a wheel from a push cart to break an exterior window or chisel through a wall to gain access to the outside, where drugs could be retrieved and brought into the prison. The leaders told Martin he would be beaten and killed if he did not comply.

The gang later ordered Martin to cut himself so he would be taken to an outside hospital, where drugs would be left for him to bring back to the jail, the suit said.

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Gang members became increasingly hostile to Martin because he had not followed their orders, and Martin was severely beaten by four of them on Jan. 15, 2018, suffering facial cuts and jaw and facial fractures, according to the lawsuit.

Martin was taken to Lallie Kemp Regional Medical Center in Independence and later sent to University Medical Center in New Orleans where he underwent surgery. While in New Orleans, he was told he was being released from the jail on his own recognizance.

The suit said Martin is now blind in his right eye and continues to have medical problems stemming from the beating.

The lawsuit lists six other unrelated cases in which inmates were allegedly beaten and/or raped since 2010, including the case of Tommy Smith, who was beaten to death by a group of inmates in January 2017.

Members of Smiths family filed a federal lawsuit against Sheriff Edwards and the jail warden in that case. The suit is pending.

In his statement, Sheriff Edwards said, From time to time, prisoners do act out with violence against other prisoners, and when they do, we bring the appropriate criminal charges against them and refer those charges to the District Attorneys Office for prosecution. Mr. Martin never accused any other prisoner of harming him while he was in the Tangipahoa Parish Jail, nor following his discharge from the hospital. The first claim that he was a beating victim was the lawsuit itself, and those allegations are un-sworn and cannot not serve as a basis for prosecution.

Edwards noted that Martin himself told the jails outside medical provider that he was injured in a fall when he blacked out after running the stairs inside the jail for exercise.

The lawsuit says Martin initially told that story to medical personnel at Lallie Kemp and University Medical Center because he thought he would be returned to the jail and feared for his life.
HAMPTON  One person was airlifted from the scene of a tractor trailer crash in Hampton on Saturday, fire officials say.
Attorneys representing a former principal of the William J. Fischer Academy in Algiers are expected to appear in court Monday (Jan. 14) after their client was accused of sexual harassment in a federal lawsuit.

Stanley Green allegedly caused intentional infliction of emotional distress upon former Fischer social studies teacher Lindsay Garcia through unwanted sexual advances beginning in August 2016, according to a lawsuit filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana. A representative from U.S. District Judge Sarah Vances office Friday confirmed that the jury selection for the trial begins Monday morning.

Garcia claims she repeatedly protested against unwanted sexual comments from Green, which included several calls and texts to her as well as notes with intimate references from him left on her classroom desk. Garcia reported Greens behavior to the leadership at Fischer and the Algiers Charter Schools Association to no avail, the lawsuit added.

The actions and deliberate inactions of Algiers Charter Schools Association, William J. Fischer School, and Green, were sudden, unexpected, extreme and outrageous, the lawsuit said, "and caused [Garcia] severe emotional distress.

In addition to naming Green as a defendant, the lawsuit also initially named the Fischer school and the Algiers Charter Schools Association, which manages the closing F-rated school, as defendants. Garcia claimed Algiers Charter negligently hired Green and did not adequately screen his background. However, the claims against the charter network and school were dismissed in March 2018.

As soon as any concerns relating to the matter were brought to the attention of the leadership of [Algiers Charter], they acted promptly in accordance with [Algiers Charters] policies and procedures and launched an internal investigation, which ultimately led to Mr. Greens separation from employment, said Stuart Gay, the interim CEO for Algiers Charter, according to a written statement shared Friday afternoon by the Adams and Reese law firm attorneys representing Fischer and Algiers Charter.

We trust that the Court and jury in the civil matter will reach a proper conclusion and justice will be served, Gays statement added.

Attorneys representing Garcia and Green did not immediately respond to requests for comment Friday afternoon.

2 Algiers charter schools will close in 2019 amid failing grades, low enrollment

Garcia said she had been an employee for the charter since 2010, and that Green sexually harassed her from August to December 2016, the lawsuit stated.

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Green also gave Garcia a low score on a Teacher Observation Evaluation on November 17, 2016 without observing her class performance in retaliation for not succumbing to his physical advances, the complaint stated. Garcia reported his behavior to Algiers Charter in November 2017 with recordings and texts of his remarks, according to the lawsuit. Green responded to the charters investigation of his actions by appearing in her classroom Dec. 1, 2017 and blowing her a kiss, the complaint added.

Garcia also wrote that when she asked Green for vacation leave in November 2017 that he asked her what are you going to give me if I approve your leave, according to a copy of the complaint. In one instance he told her not to make him beg for her genitalia, and he told her he wanted to kidnap and subdue her on a later occasion, the complaint added.

Algiers Charter school staff must reapply for jobs in 2019: report

Algiers Charter investigated the allegations of sexual harassment against Green in 2017 and did not find that the sexual harassment took place, the complaint stated. The conclusion of the charters investigation was made after Garcia provided several written recordings of instances where Green harassed her, the lawsuit said.

It got to a point that I dreaded coming to work, Garcia wrote. If I would see him down the hall by himself, I would literally go all the way around the building to get to my room simply to avoid contact.

Garcia wrote that the charter told her on Jan. 3, 2017, that Green would not be returning to the school. However, she added that she noticed Green was present on campus Jan. 4, 2017.

Greens behavior and the inaction of schools leadership made Garcia question whether to leave her students because she feared further retaliation by Green and other Algiers Charter employees, the lawsuit said. She blamed them for the loss of her job in the 2018-2019 school year and tenure, as well as for humiliation and embarrassment.

Green left Algiers Charter in 2017 and went on to work at Sylvanie Williams College Prep until he stepped down in 2018. Williams eventually closed after the Louisiana Department of Education declined the renewal of its charter, which expired last June. Greens LinkedIn profile stated Friday that hes currently employed as a principal for the St. Louis Public Schools district in St. Louis, Mo.

Resources for sexual assault survivors in the New Orleans area

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.
A man robbed a Gretna area credit union Friday afternoon (Jan. 11), kicking off a search for the shades-wearing suspect, according to the FBI New Orleans Field Office.

The unidentified man, who wore reflective sunglasses and a hoodie, is accused of robbing the Jefferson Financial Credit Union at 111 Wall Boulevard.

According to the FBI, the man approached the teller window about 1:50 p.m. and presented a note demanding money. After taking an undisclosed amount of cash, he ran from the scene.

The FBI New Orleans Violent Crime Task Force and Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office are investigating the robbery.

Anyone with information on the robbery or robbery suspect is asked to call the FBI at 504-816-3000 or the Jefferson Parish Sheriffs Office at 504-364-5300.

Laura McKnight covers crime and breaking news for NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune.
Nearly 500 people have now fallen ill after a norovirus outbreak on a Royal Caribbean cruise ship this week, almost double the amount originally reported, The Orlando Sentinel reports.

The report says Royal Caribbean Internationals Oasis of the Seas on Thursday (Jan. 10) cut its week-long cruise short and started to return to its home port at Port Canaveral, Florida, after 277 people were showing symptoms of norovirus, which include vomiting and diarrhea. The 6,285-passenger cruise ship is expected to return to Florida on Saturday.

Passenger Shawn Popeleski told The Sentinel that the ships crew informed them that roughly 475 people have now been affected by the outbreak. About 100 people who are still showing symptoms of the illness have been quarantined in their cabins, the report says.

Norovirus, also known as the stomach flu, though its not related to influenza, is highly contagious and spread on contact. Outbreaks are common in the United States, especially during winter months from November to April.

Read The Orlando Sentinels full report.

More than 250 fall ill after norovirus outbreak on Royal Caribbean cruise ship: reports
Two men and a woman convicted of executing a Plainfield man with a barrage of gunfire in his basement five years ago were sentenced to significant prison terms Friday, the Union County Prosecutors Office announced.

Rodney Rosario, Alejandro Lopez and Mayrenid Hidalgo-Bautista were convicted at trial in October, Rosario and Lopez of felony murder, conspiracy to commit murder and related charges, and Hidalgo-Bautista of conspiracy to commit murder.

Rosario, 33, was sentenced to 64 years behind bars, Lopez, 30, to 59 years, and Hidago-Bautista, 31, was sentenced to 17 years. The majority of their time was NERA, or, No Early Release Act, which means theyll have to serve 85 percent of it before becoming eligible for parole.

The three burst into Jose Disla-Corderos home on East Sixth Street in November 2013 and held two others at gunpoint while using three handguns to kill Disla-Cordero, who they thought had stolen from them, trial testimony showed, the prosecutors office said.

Kevin Shea may be reached at kshea@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter@kevintshea. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
Its not easy to make a dual meet between two ranked Big Ten programs that goes to criteria feel like an undercard scuffle, but Nick Suriano has helped do it.

The Rutgers hammer is eager for his much-anticipated clash with Oklahoma States Daton Fix. He reminded the RAC crowd of this by holding up two fingers and yelling, Two days! as his hand was raised following a major decision over Wisconsins Jens Lantz in Fridays 17-16 triumph over the Badgers.

I feel great. It was an awesome atmosphere. Everyone is looking forward to Sunday. Thats what its about. Sunday. Were focused on Sunday, Suriano said after the No. 24 Scarlet Knights eked past the tenth-ranked Badgers and moved full steam ahead toward the third-ranked Cowboys and Sundays showdown dual meet.

Suriano is ranked third at 133 pounds; Fix is fourth. The two last met in high school, when Suriano beat Fix, 3-1, in a 35-minute untimed sudden victory exhibition bout (not a typo).

This bout figures to be much tighter on time. But no less epic.

That was 100 percent real, Suriano said of his post-bout reaction. Two days. Thats what I said. Two days.

Well, by the time you read this, its one day now.

Thats what its all about, Suriano continued. "Thats what this weekend is all about. Two days. Its going to be a big matchup. Im looking forward to it. Thats why I signed up for the sport, to wrestle the best. I want to show people New Jersey wrestling.

Its about beating world-caliber wrestlers, like myself. Thats what I am. Its time to take him out. Hes a great competitor and everything. Weve wrestled before. Its going to be great. Rutgers and Oklahoma State in New Jersey. People should be fired up. Hes coming in here to beat me. Its going to be a fight.

James Kratch may be reached at jkratch@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JamesKratch. Find NJ.com Rutgers Football on Facebook.
WASHINGTON  U.S. Sen. Cory Booker has joined a potential rival for the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination in introducing legislation to hold down drug prices.

The measures, co-sponsored by U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., and other House and Senate Democrats, would allow imports of lower-cost drugs with proper safety precautions, make prescription drugs prices comparable to those in other major countries, and allow the government to negotiate for lower prices under the Medicare Part D prescription drug program.

We have an industry right now that has ben able to stop the government from negotiating fairer prices, Booker, D-N.J,, said at a Capitol press conference. Everything that were seeing right now thats jacking up prices should be unacceptable.

The bill introduction follows an election in which the cost of prescription drugs was a major issue, including in New Jerseys U.S. Senate race. Booker has received lots of donations from New Jersey pharmaceutical companies, but has been critical of them in recent years. He also worked to lower drug prices for poor residents of Newark while mayor.

Booker and other lawmakers at the press conference told stories of constituents who couldnt afford the price of the drugs they needed to stay alive.

This should be an issue of Americans' right to quality health care, Booker said. There are too many people in the state of New Jersey who have made the awful decision of putting aside life-saving prescription drugs because they cost too much.

Lawmakers also said they hoped that President Donald Trump, who has pledged to lower prescription drug prices, would join them, and that the new House Democratic majority would pass the bills and help put pressure on the Republican-controlled Senate to follow suit.

I say to President Trump, Support our legislation and get your Republican colleagues on board, Sanders said.

Any legislation would have to overcome the opposition of the drug industry. Its Washington-based trade group, Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America, spent $21.8 million to lobby during the first nine months of 2018, the third-highest spender, according to the Center for Responsive Politics, a Washington-based interest group.

Drug industry employees and executives made $36.6 million in campaign contributions for the 2018 elections, more than the $27.6 million donated by the defense industry

Phrma spokeswoman Nicole Longo said the proposals would wreak havoc on the U.S. health care system."

They would interfere with patient access to medicine, while also undermining the U.S. intellectual property system, replicating the flawed policies of foreign governments and circumventing the U.S. Food and Drug Administrations robust safety standards, Longo said.

The issue proved potent in 2018. Almost six of every 10 campaign ads after Labor Day in support of House Democratic candidates mentioned health care, many of them focusing specifically on prescription drugs, according to the Wesleyan Media Project, which tracks political advertising.

In addition, health care was the No. 1 topic on the minds of New Jersey voters, according to a pre-election Monmouth University poll. Former Celgene Corp. executive Bob Hugin, the Republican running against Democratic incumbent U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez, was attacked repeatedly over the high cost of his former companys cancer drug, Revlimid, and wound up losing the election by almost 11 percentage points.

High drug prices promise to be an important topic of discussion in the next election, where both Booker and Sanders are listed among strongest candidates to be the Democrats' 2020 standard-bearer.

Anyone who wants to be successful in 2020 is going to have to address this issue, said U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., another co-sponsor of the drug pricing legislation

Booker represents a state that houses several drug companies, and their executives, employees and political action committees have financially supported his Senate campaigns. Booker has received $424,450 for his Senate races, his 10th biggest source of industry contributions, according to the Center for Responsive Politics.

That hasnt stopped him from criticizing the industry. He issued a report in April showing that none of the 10 biggest pharmaceutical companies planned to use their savings from the Republican tax law to lower prices.

The previous year, he first joined Sanders in March 2017 and introduced legislation allowing drug imports with proper safety precautions. They teamed up after Booker opposed Sanders' amendment to the 2017 budget resolution, which allowed Republicans to repeal the Affordable Care Act without worrying about a Senate filibuster or needing to negotiate with Democrats.

Sanders' motion failed after 13 Democrats, including Booker and Menendez, voted no. Booker said the measure did not guarantee the safety of the imported drugs. Politifact called the amendment more symbolic than substantive, since the resolution was non-binding.

Nevertheless, Bookers vote didnt sit well with some progressives. Then-Assemblyman John Wisniewski, D-Middlesex, who led Sanders New Jersey presidential campaign operation, called it profoundly disappointing" and inexplicable.

Booker acted last February to defuse attacks about his support from drug companies. He announced via Twitter that he no longer would accept any corporate political action committee contributions. He also has sworn off campaign donations from pharmaceutical company executives.

Its something we need to do with our politics as a nation to get this awful corrupting money out of our politics, Booker said at the Capitol press conference.

Jonathan D. Salant may be reached at jsalant@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JDSalant or on Facebook. Find NJ.com Politics on Facebook.
WASHINGTON  A federal appeals court has refused to bring back restrictions on Republican National Committee voter activities set in motion 36 years ago by a New Jersey gubernatorial race, a decision that an election law expert warned could usher in a new wave of voter suppression.

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit upheld a decision by District Judge John Michael Vazquez, who ended the court-ordered agreement, known as a consent decree, to prevent the Republican National Committee from targeting minority voters.

The Democratic National Committee had appealed the decision, saying that the judge did not allow its lawyers to interview additional witnesses to buttress its argument that the Republican National Committee violated the order during the 2016 election.

The Republican presidential nominee, Donald Trump, asked supporters to volunteer to be a Trump election observer and help me stop crooked Hillary from rigging this election."

But the three-judge appeals panel unanimously ruled that Vazquez reasonably limited the scope of the Democratic requests.

Election law expert Richard L Hasen, a professor of law and political science at the University of California, Irvine, called the ruling one of the most consequential cases poised to affect the 2020 elections," citing Trumps history of making false claims about voter fraud, including during the 2018 election.

Trump never retracted his false claim that millions of illegal voters backed Hillary Clinton in 2016, depriving him of a popular vote win. He set up a commission to investigate allegations of voter fraud, but later disbanded it following bipartisan opposition.

The Florida Election should be called in favor of Rick Scott and Ron DeSantis in that large numbers of new ballots showed up out of nowhere, and many ballots are missing or forged. An honest vote count is no longer possible-ballots massively infected. Must go with Election Night!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 12, 2018

With Trump having taken over the RNC for the 2020 elections and with this consent decree no longer standing in his way, we should be concerned about a new wave of voter suppression coming from the Republican Party during the upcoming election, Hasen wrote in Slate.

It would not surprise me to see Democrats and voting rights activists running back to court in 2020, trying to stop the renewal of odious tactics that should have by now been consigned to the history books, he wrote.

Democratic National Committee spokeswoman Elizabeth Renda declined to comment. The Republican National Committee did not respond to requests for comment.

The 2018 midterms, which saw the Democrats win back the U.S. House and capture several governorships formerly held by Republicans, were the first in more than decades without the consent decree in place.

The court-imposed restrictions were imposed following the 1981 gubernatorial election, narrowly won by Tom Kean.

During that election, state GOP officials sent letters to residents of communities with large numbers of black or Hispanic voters, and then challenged anyone whose mail was returned as undeliverable, even though they were working off outdated registration lists.

Jonathan D. Salant may be reached at jsalant@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JDSalant or on Facebook. Find NJ.com Politics on Facebook.
Protestors, unfazed by 20 degree weather and onlooking Paterson police, continued their nightly demonstrations in front of Paterson City Hall on Friday, once again demanding transparency following the death of 27-year-old Jameek Lowery.

Black Lives Matter activist Zellie Thomas led the protests, shouting No Justice, No Peace Shut it Down and Give us water. A video from the protests shows Thomas arrested by Paterson Police

Protestors marched from City Hall to the police headquarters to press for answers.

On Saturday, Lowery walked into police headquarters while broadcasting a Facebook Live asking for water. Police told Lowery, who had said he was on ecstasy and paranoid, they were not allowed to give him water.

Police called an ambulance and put the agitated Lowery in a compliance hold to keep him in the ambulance, according to Police Director Jerry Speziale. Lowery was admitted to the hospital following the ambulance ride, and died Monday morning.

Posted by Ashley Lauren on Friday, January 11, 2019

Controversy arose when Lowerys family and friends posted on social media that Lowery had a broken cheekbone and fractured eye socket that was not there during Lowerys Facebook Live inside police headquarters.

We know that Paterson has a history of police brutality and police abuse, so what we want is no more broken promises, no more broken bones," said Thomas, who brought bottles of water for protestors. "We wont rest. We want transparency and justice, and we want it now.

Thomas was later arrested during the protest Friday evening.

Justis Reins of Paterson, left, was one of the protesters who gathered for justice in the death of Paterson resident Jameek Lowery during a rally at City Hall on Friday, Jan. 11, 2019. Lowery died two days after appearing on Facebook Live where he claimed that people were trying to kill him and asking the Paterson Police Department for help. 1/11/2019

Prosecutors say Lowery was transferred to the hospital with no acute injuries, and did not answer questions about the injuries including a broken cheekbone and fractured eye socket that Lowerys family claims Lowery suffered.

The the autopsy for Lowerys cause of death has not yet been released.

Police say the 27-year-old had suffering from bacterial meningitis for possibly months or years, a sometimes fatal infection, authorities said Thursday.

Doctors told police Lowery also had necrosis of the bowel, a condition where blood flow to the intestines ceases according to police.

Short clip from tonight at Paterson City Hall as protestors continue to demand answers about the death of Jameek Lowery. pic.twitter.com/yZsplUrwlC  Taylor Harris (@ladytiamoyo) January 12, 2019

In addition to asking for answers surrounding Lowerys death, protestors also demanded Gov. Murphy to sign a bill that has already passed through both the Senate and Assembly and would require an independent prosecutor to conduct an investigation whenever a someone dies in police custody, or during an encounter with police.

For so many years black people have been getting murdered out here in these streets under a systemic design, and that has to be changed, said Justis Reins, of the Peoples Organization for Progress. Across the country, its always caught on tape, caught on video and they always tell us there was a thorough investigation and nothing changes. Lets get this out of Paterson and get some real reform.

The Passaic County Prosecutors Office has launched an official investigation into Lowerys death and both the prosecutors office and the office of Paterson Mayor Andre Sayegh have provided some details about Lowerys time with law enforcement on Saturday.

Seeing this type of injustice ignites a fire in me. I feel like someone from such a beautiful community has been stolen," said Caitlyn Eckert, a former Paterson social worker who traveled from Clifton for the protest. One thing Ive always loved about Paterson is the people, and to know that hes not here right now, I knew I had to be out here tonight."

Paterson Police watch protesters who gathered for justice in the death of Paterson resident Jameek Lowery during a rally at City Hall on Friday, Jan. 11, 2019. Lowery died two days after appearing on Facebook Live where he claimed that people were trying to kill him and asking the Paterson Police Department for help.

Taylor Tiamoyo Harris may be reached at tharris@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @ladytiamoyo.

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A Black Lives Matter activist was arrested Friday night protesting the death of Jameek Lowery as activists gathered at the steps of City Hall for a fourth day on Saturday.

Community members and activists are calling for an independent investigation into the death of Lowery, who died two days after walking into a police station on Jan. 5.

The leader of the protests, Zellie Thomas, was arrested for obstructing highways and other public passages.

Thomas, who also created a GoFundMe for Lowerys funeral expenses, said he was released around midnight. He is due in municipal court for a hearing on Monday. Thomas said other Black Lives Matter activists were also arrested.

"You can jail a revolutionary, but you cant jail the revolution, Thomas wrote on Facebook. We wont stop until we get justice for Meek and all victims of injustice. #JusticeforMeek.

Paterson police did not return calls about the arrests of protestors

A video posted on social media showed Thomas' arrest.

Posted by Ashley Lauren on Friday, January 11, 2019

The autopsy for Lowerys cause of death has not yet been released.

On Jan 5., Lowery walked into Paterson police headquarters while broadcasting a Facebook Live asking for water. Police can be heard telling Lowery, who had said he was on ecstasy and paranoid, they were not allowed to give him water.

Police called an ambulance and put the agitated Lowery in a compliance hold to keep him in the ambulance, according to Police Director Jerry Speziale. Lowery was admitted to the hospital following the ambulance ride, and died Monday morning.

Controversy arose when Lowerys family and friends posted on social media that Lowery had a broken cheekbone and fractured eye socket. There were no bruises on his face during Lowerys Facebook Live inside police headquarters.

Prosecutors say Lowery had no acute injuries when he was taken to the hospital. Hospital officials said they could not talk about Lowerys time at the hospital.

Police say the 27-year-old was suffering from bacterial meningitis for possibly months or years. The infectious disease can be fatal.

Doctors told police that Lowery also had necrosis of the bowel, a condition in which blood flow to the intestines ceases, according to police.

The police director suggested Lowerys facial swelling may have been caused by medical treatments at the hospital, including nasal intubation. Prosecutors said he was admitted twice on Saturday.

Short clip from tonight at Paterson City Hall as protestors continue to demand answers about the death of Jameek Lowery. pic.twitter.com/yZsplUrwlC  Taylor Harris (@ladytiamoyo) January 12, 2019

The Passaic County Prosecutors Office is leading the investigation.

On Saturday, protesters will continue to demand answers, as well as push for Gov. Phil Murphy to sign a bill that would require an independent prosecutor to conduct an investigation whenever someone dies in police custody, or following an encounter with police.

Three officers who interacted with Lowery have been placed on administrative leave pending the prosecutors office investigation, police sources said.

Editors note: This story has been updated to correct the attribution on why Lowerys face had swelled after treatment at the hospital. The police director suggested it may have been caused by medical treatments at the hospital, including nasal intubation.

Taylor Tiamoyo Harris may be reached at tharris@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @ladytiamoyo.

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From left, Kevin Hart, founder and president of Green Check Verified; Mike Kennedy, director of product strategy; and Paul Dunford, director of customer experience, are photographed in their Science Park offices in New Haven.
More than three years after a New Jersey teacher was accused of masturbating in a public parking lot, a state board revoked his teaching license last month and he is out of a job, state officials said.

John McCabe, 39, was accused of masturbating in public in two separate incidents in 2015, according to state documents. His conviction on a disorderly persons offense was public record, yet he was still hired at Wallkill Valley Regional High School in 2016.

A woman told police she saw McCabe masturbating in a public parking lot on July 20, 2015, in his hometown of Wanaque, according to a document from the state Board of Examiners. Police said they used surveillance video to identify his car.

Two weeks later, an officer allegedly saw McCabes car in front of a CVS store, the document said. McCabe was standing in front of the store, moving his hands around in his pants, police said. He was arrested later that day.

Nine months after the incidents, Wallkill Valley Regional High School hired McCabe. Superintendent David Carr told the New Jersey Herald that all teachers are background-checked and have to provide proof of a valid teaching license. It is unclear if McCabes conviction showed up as part of the check. At the time, he still had a teaching license.

McCabe could not be reached for comment by NJ Advance Media. Carr did not immediately return a request for comment.

The state Board of Examiners took several years to decide McCabes case after he initially denied he had been convicted of lewdness and said his case was dismissed and he had not been found guilty, according to the board documents.

Even though McCabe did not publicly expose himself, his conduct indicates a serious lapse in judgment, the document said.

The board formally adopted the decision on Dec. 17, and McCabe was ordered to mail his teaching certificates back to the state of examiners.

McCabe was certified to teach health, physical education and driver education. Before working at Wallkill Valley Regional High School in Hardyston Township, he worked at a special education school in Paramus called Palisades Regional Academy.

Cassidy Grom may be reached at cgrom@njadvancemedia.com Follow her at @cassidygrom. Find NJ.com on Facebook. Have a tip? Tell us. nj.com/tips
Some Hudson County political personalities stayed behind in 2018.

Having put to rest my column halfway through the last year, I felt pressure from old Jersey Journal readers to chronicle some passings.

Best known to readers were two gentlemen from Bayonne, former Congressman Cornelius Neil Gallagher, 97, and ex-Freeholder Neil Carroll, 91. The two Democrats were close friends. They came into my life in their last decades. They said they were avid readers of my political column, as they were of my late friend and predecessor, Peter Weiss.

Lee S. Lichtenberger, a Hudson County Republican Party chairman in the 1980s, died just before the year ended, on Dec. 28. He was 66.

Personally, the obituary that most affected me this past year was that of a man who had none written for him. On Thanksgiving eve, retired Union City Supervisor of Accounts Robert McKechnie, who had a profound influence on me, died at age 75.

SONS OF BAYONNE

Of the two sons of the Peninsula City, Gallagher died on Oct. 17. The list of his accomplishments while congressman from 1958 to 1973 is too long to write. Suffice to say he was a close buddy of John F. Kennedy, a sharp wit and extremely popular even after having served 17 months on a tax evasion plea. He had also been linked by some national publications to a local mob figure and Gallagher vehemently denied it. There's much more to the man so go ahead and Google him.

If I had to describe Carroll on first meeting, Id call him a nice guy. There was a lot more. He was a county freeholder and amazingly chief of staff to four congressmen: Gallagher, Dominick V. Daniels, Joseph LeFante and Frank Guarini.

He was loyal to the party and had a strong reputation for keeping his word -- which brings me to a story.

In 2013, during the Jersey City municipal election, mayoral candidate Steve Fulop asked Carroll for a meeting with then-Hudson County Democratic Organization Chairman Mark Smith, who was also Bayonne mayor and Carrolls son-in-law. Fulop asked Smith to stay out of the nonpartisan Jersey City election, the Bayonne mayor agreed and they shook hands, according to Peninsula City sources.

Two weeks later, Smith endorsed Fulops rival, incumbent Jerramiah Healy. Carroll took it personally and was so embarrassed that he phoned Fulop to apologize.

I heard from him or his pal Neil often when they were in the last decade of their lives. We had many phone conversations discussing tales never to be divulged.

TRENTON ROAD TRIP

Here's a sample of the "just among us" stories without revealing too much.

Many years ago, when the statewide reputation of the Hudson County Democratic Party machine was considered indomitable, there was a need among Trenton Democrats for street money to buy votes for an election. Allegedly, and I use this word for cover, Hudson sent a cash bundle to their Mercer County colleagues.

A driver, who was more at home at a horse race track, was tabbed for the chore. One of the aforementioned politicos went along for the ride. On the Turnpike, the driver made a suggestion: Why not just divvy up $10,000. After all, who would know?

The passenger, a loyal son of the party, calmly told the driver: "Why do you think they told me to go with you?"

A vanilla tale among outrageous ones.

THE OTHER SIDE

Lichtenberger was a Hudson County anomaly. He became the Hudson GOP leader in 1984, and under his stewardship the local Republicans saw party members, gasp, elected to office in Democratic-dominated Hudson County. In truth, he took advantage of some very big Republican coattails, those of President Ronald Reagan in that same year and, a year later, Gov. Tom Kean.

The county political upheaval of the 1980s and Reagans presidential victory helped elect GOPers Roger Dorian of Weehawken and North Bergens Octavio Alfonso to the Board of Freeholders. Amazingly, Alfonso could not understand what was being said at freeholder meetings without some translating assistance.

The more interesting elections were that of West New Yorks Jose Arango and Ron Dario of Union City to 33rd District state Assembly seats, largely thanks to the gubernatorial win by highly popular fellow Republican Kean.

Unfortunately for the county GOP, they were outwitted by Robert Menendez and Bruce Walter when a mix of Republicans and Democrats ran a victorious nonpartisan Union City Commission slate in 1986, with Keans and Republican support. Menendez and Walter turned a GOP vote on the newly elected commission making Menendez mayor instead of a highly distressed Dario, who thought he had a pledge from his two Democratic running mates.

Jersey City Democratic Mayor Jerry McCann helped ally Aaron Schulman replace Lichtenberger as chairman of the GOP in 1988.

A PRIVATE MAN

I met McKechnie in my early, naive years as a beat reporter. He sat in his inner sanctum on the first floor of the castle-like Union City municipal building. He truly had no use for big egos, including some big names in politics who received tongue lashings. At their most powerful as county politicians, even Menendez and Walter tip-toed around McKechnie, whom they badly needed to help keep the city fiscally afloat. Walter learned to work with the financial wizard and there was a grudging mutual respect. Menendez stayed away.

At our first meeting, McKechnie seemed somewhat amused at my initial inability to grasp commission government -- budgets, hidden funds, and lots more. Not wanting to see my erroneous efforts in print, he shamed and schooled me on the finer points of how to financially run a city. More important, I learned from him how to spot and analyze the political motives of elected officials. Often, a young man named Brian Stack, future county Democratic whirlwind and state legislator, would sit and listen to our conversations.

A conservative at heart, McKechnie acted like a liberal. It was nothing for him to help someone by reaching into his own pocket. Before retiring, he became the municipal employees union president for a few years, mostly to win a better contract for street sweepers and clerks.

He was a 1950s Union City throwback. The teenager walked in a world of gamblers and Damon Runyonesque characters who are often colorfully described on this side of the river as Nicky Newarks.

It was with amusement that a couple of bosses who ran the rackets in mid-century Union City watched the young teen constantly beat older men at cards. They had him help them with some books. Bob told me it was all a game and a thrill, until one day he was caught up in a law enforcement sweep and released because of his age.

McKechnie said he was frightened and embarrassed because it hurt his mother. It was a turning point in his life. He went to college for accounting. He was still a numbers whiz when he was hired by Union City and placed with his mentor, Finance Commissioner Harrison Hultman.

I wasnt the only reporter he helped. There were some from the old Hudson Dispatch as well. I just stayed the longest and spoke to him a few weeks before his death.

He was one of the most private men I ever met. Many in the city who knew and liked him were surprised to hear he had died and that they had missed the quiet funeral.

McKechnie would be very mad at me for my even mentioning him here, but its important to chronicle his passing. Eventually, he would have forgiven me.

Submit letters to the editor and op-eds to jjletters@jjournal.com.
The guy who ran the Trump campaign took internal polling information, handed it to a Russian intelligence asset who has since been indicted by Robert Mueller, and had the spy to pass it along to Kremlin-connected oligarchs.

If this is more innocent than it sounds, were all ears. Because it seems plausible Paul Manafort shared this proprietary data - the mothers milk of political campaigns - with Konstantin Kilimnik so that it could be used for the voter suppression efforts during the 2016 Presidential Election, a key part of a robust Russian campaign to elect Donald Trump.

Such info is handy for a targeted propaganda operation, and in this case, the Russians were connected to 126 million Americans on Facebook alone  a wide reach for an election decided by fewer than 80,000 votes in three states.

As he hears the branch creaking, Trump will likely thumb another torrent of NO COLLUSION denials. But there is no better term to describe an American campaign sharing data with an adversarial government to undermine a democratic election. Senate Intelligence Committee vice-chair Mark Warner calls it one of the most significant items of the whole investigation.

It is also a reminder that Muellers investigation needs protection from the presidential temper tantrum that is sure to follow, especially with Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein  who oversaw the probe since its launch  intending to step down soon.

Thankfully, there is still bipartisan agreement that the probe must be Trump-proofed, as Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) has joined Sen. Cory Booker in sponsoring another bill that protects Mueller.

Now all it will take is for Senate leader Mitch McConnell to call for a vote, which he says is unnecessary. Thats like rejecting theft insurance on your home because you dont think its going to be robbed, even after the thieves tweet it as their next target.

Memo to McConnell: Trump regards all Justice Department employees as disposable, he asserts Rosenstein belongs in prison, and he believes an AG is employed to attack his enemies. In a plot that is increasingly baroque, we still dont know the presidents full role, but we do know he must not pick his investigator. We are at a Rubicon moment, and the firing of Mueller is a grim prospect for the rule of the law and the foundation of our republic.
The Force Report is a continuing investigation of police use of force in New Jersey. Read more from the series or search your local police department and officers in the full the database.

Since the publication NJ Advance Medias sprawling investigation into police use of force in New Jersey, several forums and events have been announced in response to its findings.

Below are details on all known events related to The Force Report. This article will be updated on a rolling basis. If you dont see your event or are planning one, please email Stephen Stirling at sstirling@njadvancemedia.com.

Confirmed Events

Maplewood Community Forum on Use of Force

Date: Jan. 14

Time: 7:30 p.m.

Location: The Woodland, 60 Woodland Rd, Maplewood, NJ 07040

Description: Township officials, police department representatives, members of our Community Board on Police and a representative from the New Jersey Attorney Generals office will join the public in discussing what we have learned from The Force Report and how it will influence our actions going forward

A Community Conversation: The Golden Rule and the Use-of-Force Report

Date: Jan. 19

Time: 12 p.m.

Location: Pilgrim Baptist Church, 172 Shrewsbury Ave, Red Bank, NJ 07701

Description: Please join us at Pilgrim Baptist Church of Red Bank at the Annual Community MLK Weekend, on Saturday, January 19 at noon. NJ Black Multi-Faith Alliance member Pastor Terrance Porter has structured a community conversation on: the Golden Rule & Police Use of Force Report.

The moral implications of the light being shined on excessive force in our state require us to change direction immediately. Its important for all of us to participate in this Community Conversation.

Community Listening Session on Police Use of Force and Officer-Involved Shooting Investigations

Date: Jan. 23

Time: 6 p.m.

Location: Union Baptist Temple, Bridgeton NJ

Description: Attorney General Gurbir S. Grewal and Cumberland County Prosecutor Jennifer Webb-McRae will host a community meeting to discuss the AGs Use of Force Project and related issues. The Attorney Generals Office is spearheading a collaborative project in which New Jersey law enforcement leaders are designing a new system to obtain police use-of-force data and ensure meaningful monitoring and transparency of such data.

The community forum also will address the AGs Independent Prosecutor Directive  which ensures independent investigations of officer-involved shootings  as well as police training programs related to cultural diversity and implicit bias. Community leaders, advocates and stakeholders are invited to attend the forum, which will include a listening session when AG Grewal, Prosecutor Webb-McRae, and other law enforcement leaders will hear from the community about these important initiatives and issues.

South Orange Board of Trustees Meeting

Date: Jan. 28

Time: 8 p.m.

Location: South Orange Performing Arts Center, 1 SOPAC Way, South Orange, NJ 07079

Description: South Orange Police Chief Kyle Kroll will attend to discuss and answer any questions about the Force Reports findings.

More stories from The Force Report:
A driver was injured on Friday after they crashed through the glass entrance of the Bergen County Jail.

The driver of the black Acura accidentally drove through the northwest administrative entrance of the building, shattering the glass and destroying its metal framework, officials said.

There was no escape attempt or road rage incident just a motor vehicle accident, Bergen County Sheriffs Department PBA Local 134 wrote on their Facebook page.

The driver was taken to the hospital, but nobody inside the building was hurt, Bergen County Sheriffs Office Chief Of Staff Derek Sands said.

Sands said the accident was still under investigation and that more information would be released Friday night.

Chris Sheldon may be reached at csheldon@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @chrisrsheldon Find NJ.com on Facebook.
Hundreds of people protesting racism and hatred flooded Princetons Palmer Square Saturday after news of a planned white supremacist march roiled the community.

The protest was declared a hoax by the New Jersey European Heritage Association, who proclaimed on Twitter that youve been punkd.

There isnt going to be a march this Saturday, there never was, the group wrote. It thanked the media for the unprecedented level of attention it has received.

There was NO application for a permit. There were NO social media postings announcing a rally. Next time do a little more research than the FAKE NEWS MEDIA! Have fun and keep warm at your "anti-racist" echo-chamber today.  NJEHA (@EuropeanAssoc) January 12, 2019

Still, Princeton police prepared for an influx of people in Palmer Square after several groups announced they would flood the area in response to the white supremacists.

Small group of white supremacists/internet trolls said they planned a march in Princeton. Money spent to clear Palmer Square and block streets with garbage trucks for them and counter protesters. Trolls then said theyre not marching. pic.twitter.com/4AY9cBbefJ  Matt Arco (@MatthewArco) January 12, 2019

And its a good thing they did, because a couple hundred people showed up to protest. Among them were members of the Northern/Central NJ Democratic Socialists of America, Black Lives Matter and students from Princeton University and Princeton High School.

A member for the North Jersey Democratic Socialists of America leads a chant pic.twitter.com/MrMkG2D29w  Olivia Rizzo (@LivRizz) January 12, 2019

We are here to show that we embrace diversity and stand up against all kinds of hatred, Azra Baig of South Brunswick said.

She originally debated on wether or not she should come out and protest, worried that showing up would only further amplify the voices of the white supremacists who said they would be in Palmer Square, but ultimately decided being able to counteract their message was the right decision.

As the crowd walked in a loop around the green on Palmer Square, the crowd chanted No justice, no peace, and No KKK no fascist USA," as the protesters attracted a number of spectators walking around downtown Princeton on a brisk day.

I grew up in Princeton and some my fondest memories are of times when the community came together like this, said Anna Reinalda of Lawrence. When I heard that white supremacists were coming to the area, thats not something Princeton stands for. I came out here to uphold the diversity Princeton represents.

Reinalda wasnt swayed by the fact the NJEHA decided to not show up.

We dont need opponents to come together, and Im impressed with the number of people here today given the fact the original group didnt show up," Reinalda said.

Kristen Beatty of the North Jersey chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America spoke to the crowd gathered in the square.

I want to thank you all for being here today, its extremely important even though the Nazis backed down, they backed down because of all of you. Its important to always silence their violence, and stand up against their hate wherever it exists, Beatty said.

She lead the crowd in a chant of I believe that we will win, and a solidarity song before other organizers spoke to the crowd encouraging those in attendance to fight hate with love, and fight for equality everyday.

The Princeton Police Department announced on their Facebook page that everyone assembled had been peaceful and there wasnt a need to close down Nassau Street.

Olivia Rizzo may be reached at orizzo@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @LivRizz. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

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JERSEY CITY  Two men are in critical condition on Friday night following a shooting at the Newport Centre mall food court that sent panicked shoppers fleeing.

Fridays violence comes two days after a daytime shooting in another Jersey City neighborhood that led to lockdowns at three schools, including a pre-k.

The two shootings are related, with a victim of the mall shooting wanted for attempted murder in connection to Wednesdays violence, city officials said Friday.

The officials described Fridays episode during a hastily called press conference outside the malls McDonalds as shoppers remained trapped inside stores and cops searched the mall for shooters.

A fistfight at about 6 p.m. on the malls third floor ended with gunfire, according to Mayor Steve Fulop. Police Chief Michael Kelly said he would not speculate about the number of shooters.

The two victims, one wounded in the stomach and the other in his arm, are being treated at Jersey City Medical Center, Fulop said. One of them, Jalil Holmes, is suspected of involvement in Wednesdays lunchtime shooting on Grant Avenue that left two hurt and nearby schools locked down, he said. Holmes is the man wanted for attempted murder in connection to that incident, he added.

Kelly said it is a possibility the shootings are related to ongoing gang violence. Police do not know if the shooter is in custody, he said.

We do have two people in custody. We do not know if we have the shooter that started the incident, Kelly said.

As members of the media asked Fulop and Kelly questions about the shooting, cops with assault rifles entered nearby and proceeded to walk into the mall.

Priscilla Casco, 36, is a manager at The Childrens Place, located on the malls ground floor. When gunfire broke out, employees closed the gate and moved all the customers to the back of the store. They hid there for about 10 minutes until officers told them they had to leave the building.

Aside from a few random incidents, Casco said, she does not find the mall to be a dangerous place.

Outside of this, its usually pretty safe," she said.

There is extensive video footage of the violence that police will be reviewing, Public Safety Director James Shea said.

Kelly said both victims are known to police and anyone else involved was certainly not somebody thats here to shop.

We have no friendly person who was struck by gunfire," he said.

The mall remained shut down for at long as two hours after the shooting, with a massive police presence outside and shoppers still forced to remain inside.

An earlier version of this story should have spelled one of the victims names as Jalil Holmes.

Terrence T. McDonald may be reached at tmcdonald@jjournal.com. Follow him on Twitter @terrencemcd. Find The Jersey Journal on Facebook.
Its going to be a hectic 2019 for Abla Boutaba and her husband Salim Mostefaoui.

The Jersey City couple, who already have one daughter, began the new year with the delivery of five babies on Jan. 6 at Jersey City Medical Center, a quintuplet rarity in Hudson County.

The three girls Nouha, Tala and Rouba, and two boys, Elmahdi and Elhadi all weighed in at somewhere between 1.3 to 2.2 pounds each, said hospital officials, who boasted that this is first quintuplet delivery ever in Hudson County.

They are doing beyond well, all five of them, Dr. Lance Bruck, vice president and chairman of the department of obstetrics and gynecology at JCMC, said in a statement. They are all breathing on their own and ... I would say theyre doing phenomenally.

Ten experts were assigned to each baby, who were delivered at 27.5 weeks via C-section, said Sharon Ambis, senior director of marketing and communications at JCMC.

How rare are quintuplets? In 2017, there were only 49 sets of quintuplets or higher order births in the United States, according to JCMC officials.

Ambis said that mom has been released from the hospital, but the babies are expected to remain there for approximately three months since they were born roughly 13 weeks early.

In the weeks before the births, Boutaba  who has an existing cardiac condition  was admitted into the hospital early on two separate occasions for cardiac issues. Knowing the high risk of the pregnancy, JCMC created a multidisciplinary team of medical experts when Boutaba was just 18 weeks pregnant, according to Ambis.

Brucks team of over 50 medical experts met weekly to organize, practice and simulate drills to ensure a safe, smooth delivery.

The safety of mom and baby is our highest priority," Bruck said. Welcoming a new child is one of the most important experiences in life, and choosing the best team is especially meaningful.
Essex County sheriffs detectives trying to serve an arrest warrant and a restraining order last month in Newark wound up instead arresting three others and seizing a small arsenal that included an AR-15 rifle, authorities said.

Loueric Negron and Stephanie Diaz were only arrested, the sheriffs office said, after Negron welcomed detectives from the sheriffs fugitive squad inside his Market Street apartment the morning of Dec. 13, telling the officers their suspect wasnt there but that they could come inside and check.

After noticing a heavy odor of marijuana, officers soon spotted a gun barrel sticking out of a ripped duffle bag in the bedroom. Inside, investigators said, was a Core 15-model .223-caliber rifle and dozens of rounds of ammunition, including hollow-point rounds also restricted by state law.

It reminds me of the Tom Hanks movie, Sheriff Armando B. Fontoura told NJ Advance Media on Friday, quoting the titular character in Forrest Gump. 'Life is like a box of chocolates. You never know what youre gonna get.'

Detectives also reported seizing three high-capacity magazines  two for the rifle and one for a .40-caliber handgun  along with a ballistic vest, 5 pounds of marijuana, more than 200 cannabis-infused vapor cartridges and a gas mask bong.

While New Jersey has some of the strictest gun laws in the country, Fontoura said his officers continue to stumble upon military-pattern weapons with regularity.

The fact of the matter is somehow they surface all the time, he said, noting his office and their law enforcement partners are always working to stem the tide.

Negron, 27, and Diaz, 26, have been charged with a variety of weapons offenses, including unlawfully possessing an assault weapon, in addition to drug offenses, according to the sheriffs office.

A third man in the home at the time was charged only with marijuana offenses, according to law enforcement reports. All three were booked and released pending the outcome of their cases, jail records show.

Thomas Moriarty may be reached at tmoriarty@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter at @ThomasDMoriarty.

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Essex County law enforcement agencies have arrested a 24-year-old Newark man accused of fatally shooting another city resident on Christmas Eve, authorities announced Friday.

Hassan Fisher is charged with murder in the death of Troy Branch, 29, who was fatally shot on Peshine Street, according to the county prosecutors office.

Branch, who was pronounced dead at the scene, was one of two people fatally shot in the city on Christmas Eve 2018.

Investigators have not publicly specified an alleged motive for the shooting.

The prosecutors office said Fisher was arrested Thursday in Newark, and records show he remains lodged in the Essex County Correctional Facility.

Thomas Moriarty may be reached at tmoriarty@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter at @ThomasDMoriarty.

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Marcus Johansson, Mackenzie Blackwood, Nico Hischier, Kyle Palmieri and the New Jersey Devils will host the Philadelphia Flyers for the first time during the 2018-19 season when the team face off at 1 p.m. on Saturday at Prudential Center in Newark.

Johansson and Blackwood will return to the lineup after recovering from their respective injuries.

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 (16-20-7) vs. Philadelphia Flyers (16-22-6)

When: 1 p.m. EST, Saturday, Jan. 12, 2019

Where: Prudential Center, Newark, New Jersey

TV: MSG+

Live stream: MSG Go

Chris Ryan may be reached at cryan@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @ChrisRyan_NJ. Find NJ.com Devils on Facebook.
Woodstown Borough recently purchased 5.5 wooded acres along the Salem River from the LaRosa family for $28,000 to add to its inventory of parks and greenways. The project was led by the boroughs Open Space Advisory Committee, which has been active since 2005.

The property supports bald eagle foraging habitat and Coopers hawk breeding habitat, and is less than 500 feet from an active bald eagle nest. It is also habitat for freshwater mussels known as triangle floaters, listed by the state as a threatened species.

The newly preserved property expands the boroughs Salem River Greenway and is adjacent to and near other preserved properties.

Were very pleased to help Woodstown preserve this beautiful property, said New Jersey Conservation Foundation executive director Michele S. Byers. New Jersey Conservation has been preserving land in and around Woodstown for 25 years, and we know how strongly residents feel about protecting the corridor of the Salem River.

New Jersey Conservation contributed staff time and technical support. The William Penn Foundation funded the appraisal costs.

Woodstown Borough Council is fortunate to have the support of a dedicated Open Space Committee, the state Green Acres Program and nonprofit organizations such as New Jersey Conservation, said Borough Councilman John Hall, who serves as the open space liaison. Nowadays, it takes partnerships and teamwork to accomplish meaningful results. Through this approach, weve had good success achieving Woodstowns land preservation goals.

Acquisition of the LaRosa property was funded by the boroughs Open Space Trust Fund and a Planning Incentive Grant from the New Jersey Green Acres Program.

In the past five years, New Jersey Conservation has assisted with the acquisition of several properties in Woodstown that contribute to greenways around the borough and along waterways such as the Salem River.

At the heart of the boroughs open space plan is a vision for a system of interconnected parks, trails and natural areas to provide recreational, educational and scenic benefits. The vision includes proposed greenways along the Salem River and Chestnut Run, as well as a greenbelt surrounding much of the borough as a way preserving the historic municipalitys small-town character and linking existing public facilities such as Marlton Park, Watson Park and Woodstown High School.

We are pleased to have partnered in the preservation of this important piece of land, which builds upon ongoing efforts to protect the beautiful Salem River watershed and the amazing diversity of wildlife it supports, said Green Acres Program administrator Martha Sapp. Communities in this area have shown an ongoing commitment to protecting the character of the watershed for the enjoyment of future generations.

Preserving land along the Salem River also protects drinking water. The land sits atop the Kirkwood-Cohansey Aquifer, South Jerseys largest source of fresh water. As part of an effort to protect the surface and groundwater systems of the aquifer, the William Penn Foundation contributed to the administrative costs through the Delaware River Watershed Initiative. Funds were awarded through a program administered by the Open Space Institute.

Since 1960, New Jersey Conservation has protected 125,000 acres of open space. For more information about the foundations programs and preserves, go to www.njconservation.org or call 888-526-3728.
An original 1774 Philadelphia newspaper that was discovered at a New Jersey Goodwill is heading to a Philadelphia philosophy society founded by Benjamin Franklin.

NJ Pen reports The American Philosophical Society has acquired the frayed Dec. 28, 1774, edition of the Pennsylvania Journal and the Weekly Advertiser. The newspaper has the iconic "Unite or Die" snake design on the masthead and boasts three items signed by John Hancock, who pleads for the Colonies to fight back "enemies" who would divide them.

The society's librarian Patrick Spero wouldn't disclose how much was paid for the newspaper.

The society is home to some 13 million pages of historic manuscripts, including Franklin's papers and the journals of Lewis and Clark.

Heather Randall, of the Goodwill in Bellmawr, New Jersey, says its fitting that the newspaper, printed in Philadelphia, is heading back there.
It may not have much impact until the weather warms up, but a statewide smoking ban on New Jerseys beaches will take effect Wednesday, meaning no lit cigarettes, cigars or other smokables, and no vaping, except in designated smoking areas that local governments will have the option to create.

The beach smoking ban is part of the New Jersey Smoke-Free Air Act, effective 180 days after its signing last July by Gov. Phil Murphy. The law, which also expands an existing statewide smoking ban on a variety of public places, is intended to improve public health and the attractiveness of the states beaches, long cherished by residents and visitors alike, and highly valued by businesses and tourism officials as a key component of the states economy.

The Smoke-Free Air Act codifies on a statewide level what local officials say had already become the norm up and down the Jersey shore, where many if not most municipalities had already banned smoking on the beach via local ordinances.

I would say its been the majority, of shore towns, said Seaside Park Mayor Robert Matthies, whose Ocean County borough had already banned smoking by the time Murphy, State Senate President Steve Sweeney (D-3rd) and the Democratic-controlled legislature took action last summer. Murphys Republican predecessor, former Gov. Chris Christie, had opposed a statewide ban, insisting it should be left up to individual municipalities.

A co-sponsor of the legislation, Assemblyman Vincent Mazzeo (D-2nd), said the law merely speeds a policy that was already becoming universal.

I think were all going in the same direction, but this just expedites it in terms of having more environmentally friendly beaches, said Mazzeo, who said he was tired of seeing cigarette butts on his beach of choice, in Margate.

The new law states: Smoking is prohibited in an indoor public place or workplace or at a public beach, except as otherwise provided in this act, which is posted in its entirety online.

Violators of the ban are subject to, a fine of not less than $250 for the first offense, $500 for the second offense, and $1,000 for each subsequent offense. Signs must be posted indicating both the smoking ban, and any designate areas where smoking is permitted.

Enforcement of the state ban is left to individual municipalities, and one question that arose before it was passed was whether it would impose a burden on shore cities and towns. However, officials of several locations that already had bans in place said compliance had been all but universal and enforcement was not a burden.

Typically, officials said, word of the ban from a beach attendant or lifeguard was sufficient to extinguish a lit cigarette, and it was rare, if ever, that police had to be called to insure compliance. Officials of some towns said they could not recall a summons ever having been issued.

A provision in the new law allows municipalities and counties to create designated smoking areas not to exceed 15 percent of the total area of the beach.

The law does not explicitly state that the area could be divided into multiple designated smoking areas, but Mazzeo, its co-sponsor, said that was his intent.

It gives the municipalities an option on whether they want to make one designated area or several designated areas, said Mazzeo. The municipality would know better than I would because thats their own beach.

Surf City, which sits on a barrier island between the Atlantic Ocean and Barnegat Bay, is one shore town that had not banned smoking on all its beaches prior to the new laws adoption. Surf City Councilman Peter Hartney said the borough had banned banned smoking throughout its parks and on its bay beaches, where the compliance level was high.

But Hartney, who chairs the councils beach replenishment and beach fees committees, said the borough was now weighing whether to allow smoking on any of its ocean beach, where multiple smoking areas would present less of a hardship on smokers or their families.

Our beach is a mile and half long, Hartney said.

Officials of several other shore communities when a ban has already been in place said they had not intention of creating any designated smoking areas.

There are no plans to do that, and I wouldnt, said Mayor John Moor of Asbury Park, which banned smoking on its increasingly popular beaches last year.

Moor and others said the possibility of losing tourist dollars to competing beach towns that do allow smoking in some areas was not an issue.

I havent heard that concern by business owners, and Im sure I would if such concern existed, said Matthies.

But thats not to say no one is concerned about the shrinking opportunity for law-abiding adults to occasionally flavor the fresh air with a relaxing puff on a 100mm friend.

Michael Homans is a Philadelphia-based employment lawyer and civil libertarian who has defended clients under the New Jersey Smoking Law, which prohibits most employers from discriminating against workers or job applicants simply because they are smokers or non-smokers.

And while the Smoke-Free Air Act specifically states that the state ban does not apply to, private homes, private residences and private automobiles, as well as smoke shops and certain other locations, Homans wondered whether lawmakers would draw a line in the sand at beach smoking bans, or somewhere beyond.

I do think you have to step back and question how far the state is going in telling people they cant do a lawful activity, outdoors, on a windy beach, he said.
DERBY  The owner who transformed the former Marshall Lane Manor nursing home into a dormitory housing international high school students, and pumped more than $1.5 million into the makeover, will receive a nearly $50,000 tax break over the next three years.

The Board of Aldermen on Thursday voted 7-2 in favor of giving David Guerrera, founder of APEX International Education Partners, or AIEP, the citys first tax break since a new tax incentive program was implemented in October.

Aldermen Barbara DeGennaro and Thomas Donofrio cast the dissenting votes.

Guerrera received approval in December 2017 from the Planning and Zoning Commission to convert the vacant former nursing home at 101 Marshall Lane into a dormitory to house up to 110 international students, who attend private schools throughout the state in preparation to attend American colleges and universities.

Guerrera has since pumped $1.5 million into the renovation of the 35,000-square-foot building, and plans to invest another $500,000 to finish the makeover, according to Carmen DiCenso, the citys economic development liaison, who served as chairman of the tax incentive committee.

The project qualified for a tax incentive under the adaptive reuse of a property, which enables a three-year tax abatement to a developer who invests $500,000 or more into improving an existing property. Guerrera will receive a total of $47,732 off his taxes over the next three years.

DiCenso said property previously generated $21,000 per year in taxes as a nursing home, but now is generating nearly $80,000 a year to the citys tax rolls with the improvements made by Guerrera. Even with the tax break, the property still will generate some $65,000 per year. And DiCenso said with Guerrera on track to make another $500,000 in improvements, the property will continue to generate even more taxes.

He (Guerrera) took a dilapidated building and put $1.5 million into it. ... I welcome people like this to come to Derby and give them a tax break for investing in our city, DiCenso said.

Derby has never had a tax incentive program, but a committee was formed last year to create an ordinance to help the city grow its Grand List and entice new businesses to come here and encourage existing ones to expand.

While the majority of the aldermen had no issue granting Guerrera a tax break, DeGennaro questioned whether the property qualified because the ordinance was just approved last October, yet Guerreras project was approved in December 2017. She questioned whether the break should be granted retroactively, as she said the ordinance says it cannot, and if the property fell under an adaptive reuse, since the ordinance states the property must boost some historic or architectural significance.

The citys attorney said the aldermen have some discretion with the language in the ordinance, and suggested if there are issues, the aldermen can tweak it and remove some of the language regarding the historic or architectural aspects.

Aldermanic President Charlie Sampson said the intent of the adaptive reuse was to have people take an existing building and invest in it, and not necessarily be a building of historic significance.

Democratic Town Committee Chairman Aniello Malerba also expressed some concerns.

I think were doing a disservice to the businesses that have been here a long time, he said. We all know what parts of Derby need incentives. Before we start giving tax incentives to anyone, we should look at the areas that really need these breaks. This is taking money off the citys tax rolls.

Guerreras project was met with major opposition from neighbors when it first came to the table, but he said there have been no complaints, just plenty of compliments, since it opened last summer.

jean.sos@snet.net
Today

Sunny skies. High 87F. Winds SSE at 10 to 15 mph.

Tonight

Partly cloudy. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 67F. Winds SSE at 5 to 10 mph.

Tomorrow

Partly cloudy. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High near 95F. Winds S at 10 to 20 mph.
NEW HAVEN  City police Friday identified the officer involved in the Jan. 8 shooting of a New Haven man who fled police as a seven-year veteran of the department who was working in the criminal intelligence unit.

Police named Francisco Sanchez as the officer who shot Marcus Rivera, 22, of Quinnipiac Avenue, after an exchange of gunfire.

An officer-involved shooting is one of the greatest fears that any law enforcement official faces as part of being in this profession, Police Chief Anthony Campbell said.

Undercover officers located Rivera, for whom they had an active arrest warrant, on Lamberton Street in the Hill South neighborhood on the evening of Jan. 8. Rivera engaged officers in a foot pursuit and after several apprehended him, he managed to fight free and continued to flee from officers, police said.

An exchange of gunfire took place as Rivera continued his attempt to elude officers. Ultimately, they took him into custody without further incident near Greenwhich Street and First Avenue, the chief said.

Rivera had sustained a gunshot wound to the pelvis area and was immediately given first aid by officers, Campbell said. He was taken to Yale New Haven Hospital, where he was initially in critical, but stable condition. As of Friday afternoon, Rivera was in stable condition after another surgery, Campbell said.

At the time of the shooting, Sanchez was working on an investigation with a group of officers, all of whom have been placed on administrative duty per department policy. Campbell didnt name the number of officers involved, only saying it was a significant amount.

Whenever there is an officer-involved shooting in the state, Connecticut State Police send a squad to take the reins on the investigation. The Major Crimes Division of the states ttorneys office has taken over the investigation, Campbell said. The departments Internal Affairs unit was assigned to conduct a parallel investigation.

I echo the concern Chief Campbell and his command staff has about the serious nature of what transpired, Mayor Toni N. Harp said. The risk and responsibilities assumed by police officers each and every shift include the possibility that the use of force may become necessary. I know the men and women of the New Haven Police Department take these risks and responsibilities to heart.

Campbell said the crime scene affected many homes, but the community was patient and cooperative, many reaching out to help the officers and department.

This is a testimony to the strength of relationships this department has with its community, he said.

Campbell couldnt say everything Rivera was wanted for, only that it included reckless endangerment in a pursuit. Rivera has since been charged with several crimes, including carrying a pistol without a permit. Campbell could not say what the other charges were because of the states attorneys investigation.

This was a particularly dangerous situation and the outcome was as favorable as possible, Campbell said. I wish that this incident had never occurred. Nevertheless, Im proud of the men and women of this department who daily place their lives in the line of danger to ensure everyone who resides and visits this community can live, work and play in peace.

Its unknown whether Sanchez was the officer to render first aid to Rivera, but Campbell praised all the officers who had the wherewithal to render first aid to a person who just tried to take their lives.

The officer-involved shooting happened within a day of state police releasing the names of the officers involved in a fatal officer-involved shooting in Danbury. That shooting, on Dec. 29, 2018, left one man dead and his mother injured. The man killed was identified by state police on Jan. 3.

mdignan@hearstmediact.com
WEST HAVEN  An artist with strong childhood ties to West Haven has donated two original paintings of iconic West Haven landmarks to grace the wood paneled walls of City Hall near the assessors office.

Dave Stannard, now of North Branford, has given the city glass-framed oil pastels of the former Chicks Drive-in at 183 Beach St. and The Bilco Co. at 37 Water St.

"I admire Davids beautiful oil pastels and appreciate his kind gesture," Mayor Nancy Rossi said. "I know the people of West Haven will enjoy the paintings when visiting City Hall."

Stannard, now of North Branford, is a real estate mass appraiser, evaluating entire towns and a certified municipal assessor.

His passion for art, some of which he sells, began at about age 20 when he started drawing. Stannard remembers being particularly inspired to draw a ceramic horse on its hind legs that his sister made him and he kept on the bureau.

He has had no formal art training, but figures he learned some skills through taking six years of drafting in junior high school and high school.

While it would seem appraising and drawing are worlds apart, Stannard sees the similarities in they both require an eye for detail - the kind needed at times to see damage on a house or a subtlety in a landscape, seascape, building, still life or animal hes drawing.

"My eye for detail has helped me in my career inspecting houses," Stannard said. "I'm a right brain analytic."

He easily moves through genres and his works, often colorful, hang in many households, veterinary offices and barns. A mallard scene of his hung over his parents couch for 20 years.

When he belonged to the West Haven Council of the Arts, the group put out an art calendar in 1992 and the three pieces he submitted of the soldiers monument, old Forest Theater and a clay-roofed house behind the theater were all used.

After his first phase as an artist for about 18 years, Stannard took a break of several years to raise three children and resumed a few years ago, creating an art studio at home with two easels.

"Im the type of artist who needs things set up to be inspired," he said.

He usually takes photographs of his subjects and works from there. Stannard describes himself artistically as a realistic impressionist. His pieces have flair.

"I'm as realistic as possible, but it will never be a photograph," he said.

When Chick Celentano, owner of the iconic Chicks Drive-in died, Stannard knew the place would never be a restaurant again because, Stannard said, Celentano had it deed restricted to that extent.

That made it a must paint for Stannard, who remembers Celentano telling him that he put the building there because he wanted to catch the traffic going both in and out of Savin Rock back in the day.

The Bilco Co. has since moved back to New Haven and the West Haven building is slated to be demolished to make way for The Haven, he said.

Both buildings will be gone someday and the value of the paintings he donated will double, Stannard said.

He did the paintings thinking somebody in West Haven would want them for historical purposes, but when nobody expressed interest, Stannard decided to donate.

Stannard said hes considering doing more historical places.

He never went to Savin Rock as a youngster  it was closed when he was about 6-years-old  but said that since more and more images of the legendary amusement park are appearing on Facebook, he may tackle those images next.
EAST HAVEN  Gov. Ned Lamont Friday set a Feb. 26 date for the special election to choose a replacement for former state Rep. James Albis, D-E. Haven, and it quickly gained one candidate: Town Attorney Joe Zullo.

Zullo announced Friday that he has formed a campaign committee to seek the 99th District legislative seat formerly held by Albis, who resigned Tuesday to take a job in the Lamont administration.

I want to be a voice for our community, Zullo said. To do that, I need our residents support over the next forty-five days and on Election Day. Please go to my website at www.joezullo.com, register for a lawn sign, and sign up to work in our call center.

Zullo is a partner in the law firm of Zullo, Zullo and Jacks and has served as town attorney since 2011. He is a member of the East Haven Chamber of Commerce board of directors, a longtime volunteer with the town Fall Festival Committee and a member of the towns Community Classic 5K Road Race Committee.

I have spent the entirety of my professional career protecting our community and serving as a voice for our residents, Zullo said in a news release. Ive worked in our community, especially in our schools, listening to the concerns of our residents, volunteering to help others, and building bridges in our community.

I am a proven leader who understands the needs of our town and I am ready to head to Hartford to work to make our state a better place to live and to fight to ensure the needs of our residents are addressed, Zullo said.

Democratic Town Committee Chairman Marc Conte said his party is in the process of choosing a candidate.

We are in the process of picking a candidate. Well have a candidate forthcoming, Conte said. There are people who have expressed interest in running, but as of now there is no declared candidate.

Conte immediately blasted Zullo for his role in the $175,000 settlement paid out to former town employee Francine Carbone, who previously had filed a sexual harassment lawsuit against Republican Mayor Joseph Maturo Jr.

I have a hard time accepting Zullo as a possible replacement, given that he was the chief architect of the Carbone settlement, Conte said.

During Albis eight-year tenure, The Democratic state representative has been responsible for bringing in $2 million to the town, Conte said.

Zullo said Conte seems to want to turn this race into a referendum on Mayor Maturo. Mayor Maturo is not in this race  I am  and I am running on my record as a dedicated public servant and civic volunteer.

Republican Town Committee Chairman Bob Parente could not immediately be reached for comment.

Albis resigned his seat Tuesday to take a job as a senior adviser to the commissioner of the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection. He will begin his new job on Jan. 18.

Zullo vowed that, if elected, I will fight to make this state an affordable place to live, work and raise a family and I will do everything I can to work across party lines to address the social and quality of life concerns of the people of East Haven and the state of Connecticut.

He said he would act as a fiscal watchdog with the goals of reducing spending and keeping taxes stable, while also working with other legislators to address other social and quality of life issues, including the ongoing opioid epidemic and the minimum wage.

We have to curb the states out-of-control borrowing, Zullo said. We dont run our homes like that and we shouldnt run our state like that. If elected, I would fight to significantly rein in the states bonding by protecting the new bond cap, which over the long-term would help reduce the states yearly debt payments and move us towards economic stability.

I would also work to reduce the tax burden on our residents, and keep more money in taxpayers pockets, he said. Here in East Haven taxes have been stable and our town has been responsible with its funds; this is a lesson that needs to be brought to the Capitol.

With regard to minimum wage, he said, We need to have an honest discussion about minimum wage that balances the need for people to be able to earn a fair wage with the need to reduce the costs of doing business in Connecticut.

We also need to be mindful that raising the minimum wage could inadvertently disqualify some the states neediest residents from other support and aid they currently receive, Zullo said. Coming from a blue collar town like East Haven, the minimum wage is something I care a lot about and something that Id look to focus on as a new representative.
TORONTO, Jan. 11, 2019 /CNW/ - The David Foster Foundation is delighted to congratulate its founder, David Foster, on the recent announcement that he will be awarded the 2019 Humanitarian Award at the 48th JUNO Awards on March 17 in London, ON. Each year, a Canadian artist or industry leader is presented with this esteemed award that recognizes humanitarian efforts that have positively improved the social fabric of Canada and/ or whose impact can be felt worldwide. Foster is being recognized for his philanthropy and his support of hundreds of charities, including his own, The David Foster Foundation.

According to Mike Ravenhill, Chief Executive Officer of the David Foster Foundation, this award is well deserved. "Having had the privilege of working closely with David, I have been constantly amazed at his personal commitment to helping families in a meaningful way. The fact that he is a man of immense musical talent is well known. What fewer people know is that for over 30 years, he has quietly and tirelessly used his network and talents to impact the lives of countless children and families as well as multiple charities when they need help the most. His role on the world stage makes all of Canada proud, and now this award recognizes his social and philanthropic contribution as well."

David Foster is an internationally acclaimed music producer, composer, and song writer. His tremendous body of work includes creating hit songs for notable artists including Michael Buble, Celine Dion, Josh Groban, Madonna, Michael Jackson, and many more. In 1986, David Foster founded his namesake non-profit organization and to date, The David Foster Foundation has helped over 1,100 families. The Foundation supports and provides financial assistance to Canadian families with children in need of life-saving organ transplants. The Foundation also aims to raise public awareness about organ donation and registration in both Canada and the United States.

As the foundation enters its 33 year, a new and ambitious plan is in place to grow the foundation and its reach exponentially. The David Foster Foundations will encourage increased organ donation registration through a national media campaign, a social campaign, outdoor advertising, and fundraising events with the goal to help even more families in need through the foundation's future endowment fund.

For more information, visit www.davidfosterfoundation.com.

SOURCE The David Foster Foundation

For further information: Media Contact: Ann Layton, [email protected], (416) 351-0777
Ensign and Trinidad remind Trinidad shareholders that Ensign controls 86.73% of Trinidad common shares; offer final expiration at 5:00 p.m. ( Toronto time) on December 21, 2018

Last chance to receive $1.68 per Trinidad share in 2018 pursuant to the Offer rather than February 2019 if a Trinidad shareholder meeting is required to complete 100% acquisition of Trinidad by Ensign

Trinidad shareholders who tender on or prior to December 21, 2018 will be paid in 2018

Shareholders can tender today by contacting Kingsdale Advisors at 1-866-581-1514 or by e-mail at [email protected]

CALGARY, Dec. 18, 2018 /CNW/ - Ensign Energy Services Inc. (TSX:ESI) ("Ensign") and Trinidad Drilling Ltd. (TSX:TDG) ("Trinidad") remind shareholders that Ensign's offer to purchase all the common shares ("Common Shares") of Trinidad for $1.68 per share (the "Offer") will reach its final expiry at 5:00 p.m. (Toronto time) on December 21, 2018 (the "Expiry Time"). There will be no further extensions of the Offer.

Trinidad Shareholder Meeting

In addition, Trinidad announced today that a special meeting of Trinidad shareholders has been scheduled for January 31, 2019 to consider, if required, a going private Subsequent Acquisition Transaction (as defined in the Offer). The record date for such meeting is December 27, 2018.

As Ensign exercises control and direction over greater than 66% of the outstanding Common Shares, it is in a position to ensure that 100% of the Common Shares will be acquired by it in a Subsequent Acquisition Transaction. Once this transaction is completed, all Common Shares that remain outstanding will be acquired by Ensign for the same consideration offered in the Offer.

If Ensign reaches the 90% tender threshold under the Offer by the Expiry Time, Trinidad will cancel the shareholder meeting and Ensign will exercise the right of Compulsory Acquisition (as defined in the Offer) under the Business Corporations Act (Alberta) to acquire all the remaining Common Shares for the same consideration offered in the Offer, with payment to occur in 2018.

If Ensign does not reach the 90% tender threshold under the Offer by the Expiry Time, Trinidad will prepare and in due course mail an information circular and related meeting materials to Trinidad shareholders in advance of the meeting and will make such materials available on SEDAR under Trinidad's profile at www.sedar.com. Payments pursuant to a Subsequent Acquisition Transaction would not occur until February 2019.

Shortly after completion of the Compulsory Acquisition or Subsequent Acquisition Transaction, Trinidad expects that its Common Shares will be de-listed from the Toronto Stock Exchange and that an application will be made to have Trinidad cease to be a reporting issuer in all provinces of Canada.

With Ensign assured it will acquire all the Common Shares it does not already own, it is in Trinidad shareholders' interests to reach the 90% tender threshold prior to the Expiry Time so that all remaining shareholders can avoid further delay in receiving their entitlements.

See the Circular accompanying the Offer for a summary description of the Compulsory Acquisition right and Subsequent Acquisition Transaction considerations.

AVOID DELAYS, CONTACT KINGSDALE ADVISORS TO TENDER YOUR SHARES

Trinidad shareholders who tender to the offer on or before December 21, 2018 will be paid as soon as December 24, 2018. For assistance in depositing Trinidad shares to the Offer, Trinidad shareholders should contact Kingsdale Advisors, the information agent and depositary for the Offer, at 1-866-581-1514 (North American Toll-Free Number) or +1-416-867-2272 (Outside North America) or via email at [email protected].

ABOUT ENSIGN

Ensign is a global leader in oilfield services, headquartered out of Calgary, Alberta, operating in Canada, the United States and internationally. Ensign is one of the world's top land-based drilling and well servicing contractors serving crude oil, natural gas and geothermal operators. Ensign's premium services include contract drilling, directional drilling, underbalanced and managed pressure drilling, rental equipment, well servicing and production services. Please visit Ensign's website at www.ensignenergy.com.

Ensign's Common Shares are publicly traded though the facilities of the Toronto Stock Exchange under the trading symbol ESI.

This news release does not constitute an offer to buy or the solicitation of an offer to sell any of the securities of Ensign or Trinidad.

CAUTION REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This news release contains "forward-looking information" and are prospective in nature. Forward-looking information is not based on historical facts, but rather on current expectations and projections about future events and are therefore subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from the future results expressed or implied by the forward-looking information. Often, but not always, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking words such as "believes", "plans", "expects", "intends", "anticipates", or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "should", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved. Forward-looking information contained in this news release includes, but is not limited to, statements relating to the following items: expectations relating to the Offer and information concerning Ensign's plans for Trinidad; the results, effects and timing of the Offer and completion of any Compulsory Acquisition or Subsequent Acquisition Transaction (as such terms are defined in the Offer to Purchase and Circular); the calling and holding of a Trinidad special meeting of shareholders; timing of payments under the Offer, a Compulsory Acquisition or a Subsequent Acquisition Transaction, respectively; and intentions to delist the Common Shares and to cause Trinidad to cease to be a reporting issuer if permitted under applicable Law or to satisfy Trinidad's disclosure obligations using applicable Ensign public disclosure, if the Offeror determines it to be appropriate.

Although Ensign believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking information are reasonable, such statements involve risks and uncertainties, and undue reliance should not be placed on such statements. Certain material factors or assumptions are applied in making forward-looking information, and actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied in such statements. Important factors that could cause actual results, performance or achievements of the Offeror or the completion of the Offer to differ materially from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking information include, among other things, actions taken or not taken by holders of Common Shares in respect of the Offer, and the ability of the Offeror to acquire 100% of the Common Shares through the Offer, a Compulsory Acquisition or a Subsequent Acquisition Transaction. These are not necessarily all of the important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in any of Ensign's forward-looking information. Other unknown and unpredictable factors could also impact its results. Many of these risks and uncertainties relate to factors beyond Ensign's ability to control or estimate precisely. Consequently, there can be no assurance that the actual results or developments anticipated by Ensign will be realized or, even if substantially realized, that they will have the expected consequences for, or effects on, Ensign, its future results and performance.

Forward-looking information in this news release is based on Ensign's beliefs and opinions at the time the information is given, and there should be no expectation that this forward-looking information will be updated or supplemented as a result of new information, estimates or opinions, future events or results or otherwise, and Ensign disavows and disclaims any obligation to do so except as required by applicable Law.

SOURCE Trinidad Drilling Ltd.

For further information: Media Contact: Ian Robertson, Executive Vice President, Communication Strategy, Kingsdale Advisors, [email protected], W: (416) 867-2333, C: (647) 621-2646

Related Links

http://www.trinidaddrilling.com/


New Delhi:

The US military has begun moving non-essential gear out of Syria but is not withdrawing troops for now, defence officials said Friday as uncertainty grew over America's planned pullout from the battered nation. Trump's national security advisor John Bolton on Sunday announced conditions for a withdrawal that appeared to delay it indefinitely. Adding to the confusion, a military spokesman said Friday the US had already begun "the process of our deliberate withdrawal" from Syria. US defence officials quickly sought to clarify the remark, stressing that the withdrawal was only of certain types of gear, and not troops.



ALSO READ | US to make major changes in H-1B visa, says Donald Trump

"We are not withdrawing troops at this stage," one US defense official said. A second US defence official told AFP the military had conducted a number of preparations for a deliberate withdrawal.

"That includes planning for the moving of people and equipment, preparation of facilities to accept retrograde equipment," the official said, noting that no troops had been withdrawn.

The US-led coalition has several other bases across northeastern Syria, as well as in neighboring Iraq, where Trump has said American forces will remain.

Earlier, Donald Trump surprised the world and his country as well when he suddenly announced that the US is pulling out its troops from Syria. "In Syria, Erdogan said he wants to knock out ISIS, whatever's left, the remnants of ISIS. And Saudi Arabia just came out and said they are going to pay for some economic development. Which is great, that means we don't have to pay. We are spread out all over the world. We are in countries most people haven't even heard about. Frankly, it's ridiculous," Trump added.

Trump's sudden decision sparked turmoil in his administration, prompting the resignation of Defense Secretary Jim Mattis, as well as of Brett McGurk, the special envoy to the anti-IS coalition.

Brett McGurk, the US envoy to the global coalition fighting the Islamic State group, resigned in protest over President Donald Trump's abrupt decision to withdraw US troops from Syria, a US official said, joining Defence Secretary Jim Mattis in an administration exodus of experienced national security figures.



ALSO READ | Trump names former defence executive as deputy NSA

McGurk had said it would be "reckless" to consider IS defeated and therefore would be unwise to bring American forces home. McGurk decided to speed up his original plan to leave his post in mid-February. Appointed to the post by President Barack Obama in 2015 and retained by Trump, McGurk said in his resignation letter that the militants were on the run, but not yet defeated, and that the premature pullout of American forces from Syria would create the conditions that gave rise to IS.

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Washington:

Tulsi Gabbard, the first Hindu lawmaker in the US Congress, has said that she is running for the White House in 2020. Gabbard, 37, is the second woman after Senator Elizabeth Warren to enter the presidential race from the Democratic party. More than 12 Democratic leaders including Indian-origin Senator from California Kamala Harris are expected to announce their White House run to challenge President Donald Trump in 2020. Gabbard, a four-time Democratic lawmaker in the US House of Representatives from Hawaii, told CNN Friday: "I have decided to run and will be making a formal announcement within the next week".

The Iraq war veteran has become the first-ever Hindu to be running for the presidency in the US. Gabbard, who converted to Hinduism early in her life, is highly popular among Indian-Americans. If elected, she would be the youngest ever and first woman President of the United States. She would also be the first non-Christian and first Hindu to occupy the top post. However, at this point of time, American political pundits do not give her much chance.

Hindus constitute less than one per cent of the American population, an overwhelming majority of whom are either from India or are people of Indian-origin. Gabbard, a co-Chair of the powerful House India Caucus, was recently re-elected for the US House of Representatives from Hawaii for the fourth consecutive term.

A winner of the primary elections beginning early 2020 would be finally nominated by the Democratic party in its convention later that summer to challenge the Republican candidate in the November 2020 elections. President Trump has announced to seek his re-election. The winner of the Democratic primary would be pitted against him. Gabbard, who supported Senator Bernie Sanders against former secretary of state Hillary Clinton in the 2016 Democratic primary, told the CNN that there are a lot of reasons for her to take this decision.

"There are a lot of challenges that are facing the American people that I'm concerned about and that I want to help solve," she said. She listed access to health care, criminal justice reform and climate change as key issues. "There is one main issue that is central to the rest, and that is the issue of war and peace. I look forward to being able to get into this and to talk about it in depth when we make our announcement," Gabbard said.

Former US vice president Joe Biden has also expressed his interest in the 2020 bid. Rania Batrice, who was a deputy campaign manager for Bernie Sanders in 2016 and is now a top aide to Gabbard, will be her campaign manager, CNN reported. The 2020 presidential primary cycle is scheduled to kick off from the Iowa Caucuses on February 3, 2020, followed by the New Hampshire Primary on February 11, Nevada caucus of February 15 and South Carolina on February 22.

Among other Democrats speculated to run for the 2020 primaries include Senators Kirsten Gillibrand, Amy Klobuchar and Tim Kaine.

For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.
New Delhi:

Pakistan's jailed former premier Nawaz Sharif's daughter Maryam Nawaz has claimed that authorities are not letting her fathers cardiologists examine him at the Lahores Kot Lakhpat jail. "MNSs cardiologists have been trying to get access to him all day but permission not granted, the former first daughter tweeted on Friday. The former PMs daughter said Sharif has pain in the arm, which is most likely to be angina. A jail spokesman, however, said jail doctors examined Sharif thoroughly and his health is fine. "Nawaz Sharif is in good health," he said. PML-N president Shahbaz Sharif warned that if anything happened to his elder brother, Prime Minister Imran Khan and the Punjab government will be responsible.



ALSO READ | Imran Khan says war would be suicidal, targets India

"He needs to be examined by the doctors who are privy to his complicated medical history," Maryam said.

MNSs cardiologists have been trying to get access to him all day but permission not granted. He has pain in the arm which is most likely to be angina. He needs to be examined by the doctors who are privy to his complicated medical history.  Maryam Nawaz Sharif (@MaryamNSharif) January 11, 2019

Sharif, 69, had undergone an open-heart surgery about three years ago in London.

Maryam, who had visited her father in the jail on Thursday, said his father had a "complicate medical history" and he needed special health care.



Earlier, Nawaz Sharif was sentenced seven years imprisonment in the Al-Azizia Steel Mills graft case but was acquitted in the Flagship Investments case. The anti-corruption court said in its ruling that the three-time prime minister was unable to prove the source of income that led to his ownership of a steel mill in Saudi Arabia.



Three cases - Avenfield properties case, Flagship investment case and Al-Azizia steel mills case - were launched against the Sharif family by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) on September 8, 2017 following a judgment by the Supreme Court that disqualified Sharif in the high-profile Panama Papers case in July last year.



ALSO READ | After 600 tanks, China to provide 4 naval warships to Pakistan



Commenting on the verdict, Sharif said that his conscience was clear as he was never involved in any kind of corruption. "I was never involved in misuse of authority and corruption so my conscience is at peace," he said. His daughter Maryam broke months-long silence and took to twitter to criticize the judgment as "vengeance". "Punishment to the same man for the fourth time. (This was) blind revenge's last hiccup but victory is Nawaz Sharif's, thank God," she tweeted in Urdu.

For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.
New Delhi:

In Indian politics, theres a saying that the road to Delhis power corridor goes through Lucknow. This saying is not far from truth. After all, the state sends staggering 80 lawmakers to Lok Sabha. It means that any party winning big in UP has all chances to rule in Delhi. It is in this backdrop that the alliance between Samajwadi party and the Bahujan Samaj Party in Uttar Pradesh is seen as the biggest pre-poll development. At the keenly watched press conference in Lucknows Hotel Taj, both Akhilesh Yadav and Mayawati were seen in combat mode. They not only attacked the ruling BJP but also said explained why they didnt want the Congress in their alliance.

Also Read | Akhilesh Yadav, Mayawati announce SP-BSP alliance for 2019 Lok Sabha polls, to contest 38 seats each in UP

"We have come together to rid the state and country of BJPs religion and caste politics. This alliance was a must to destroy BJP, to defeat their arrogance. BJP can go to any extent to create differences in our workers, we must be united and counter any such tactic, Akhilesh Yadav said and advised party workers to respect the BSP leader same way they respect him.

Apart from the seat-sharing formula, one of the crucial statements made by Yadav was regarding the next Prime Minister of India. When asked about his support for Mayawati, Yadav smiled and said that, You know who is my choice. Without naming anyone, Yadav affirmed that, Uttar Pradesh has given Prime Ministers in the past and trend will be repeated again.

Also Read | Mamata Banerjee welcomes BSP-SP alliance ahead of 2019 Lok Sabha elections

As reported by News Nation earlier, SP and BSP have gone for the 38-38 formula. Surprisingly, both leaders kept mum on fate of RLD in the allaince.

Also Read | What Mayawati and Akhilesh Yadav said on BSP-SP alliance in Uttar Pradesh

The formidable alliance will impact the poll mandate. It will specially hit BJP as the saffron party had won 71 out of 80 seats in Uttar Pradesh during the 2014 General Elections. The importance of this alliance can be gauged from the fact that during the debate for the Forward Quota Bill in Parliament, several Opposition parties had alleged that the Narendra Modi government brought the Bill because it was afraid of the impact SP and BSP will cause in Uttar Pradesh.

For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.
New Delhi:

The stage is set for the biggest alliance for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections as Akhilesh Yadav and Mayawati are scheduled to announce the tie-up in Lucknow today. The announcement is set to take place at Taj Hotel in Lucknows Gomti Nagar at around 12 pm. The walls of many buildings in Lucknow are plastered with posters of both leaders. This would be the first time in 26 years that both parties will fight the elections jointly. Last time, it happened in 1993, when Samajwadi Party patriarch Mulayam Singh Yadav and Bahujan Samaj Party founder Kanshi Ram came together.

Catch all live updates here:

13:09 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In

Varanasi: Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) & Samajwadi Party (SP) party workers celebrate after BSP Chief Mayawati and Samajwadi Party Chief Akhilesh Yadav announce to contest upcoming Lok Sabha elections together. pic.twitter.com/j27dEbd3m9

 ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) January 12, 2019



12:50 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In "Want to thank Mayawatiji for accepting this coalition. We have decided to join hands to wipe out the BJP from UP," says Akhilesh Yadav.

12:49 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In

Mayawati: Amethi aur Rae Bareli ki Lok Sabha seats Congress ke saath gathbandhan kiye bina hi party ke liye chhod di hain, taaki BJP ke log Congress party ke adhyaksh ko yahin uljha kar na rakh saken https://t.co/XAjlmN9vrK

 ANI (@ANI) January 12, 2019



12:48 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In Both BSP chief Mayawati and SP chief Akhilesh Yadav didn't take RLD's name during their joint press conference.

12:42 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In The BSP-SP alliance will defeat the BJP in Uttar Pradesh, says Akhilesh Yadav.

12:41 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In To defeat the arrogance of the BJP, it was necessary for the BSP and the SP to come together. The BJP can go to any extent to create differences in our workers, we must be united and counter any such tactic: Akhilesh Yadav.

12:39 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee welcomes the alliance of the SP and the BSP for the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections.

12:38 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In "In 1993, the then BSP chief Kanshi Ram and Mulayam Singh Yadav contested together and won the UP polls. The BSP is determined to follow in the footsteps of Dr BR Ambedkar and give the same results this time," says Mayawati.

12:36 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In Moreover, we won't gain anything by including Congress in our alliance. Both BSP and SP have experienced in the past that Congress's vote is not transferrable: BSP chief Mayawati.

12:35 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In Seat sharing formula in Uttar Pradesh: SP: 38 and BSP: 38.



Mayawati: BSP will contest on 38 seats, SP on 38 seats. Two Lok Sabha seats we have left for other parties and Amethi and Rae Bareli have been left for Congress. pic.twitter.com/lsdCdxKNah

 ANI (@ANI) January 12, 2019



12:31 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In BSP chief Mayawati takes a dig at Shivpal Yadav during a joint press conference.

12:30 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In SP and BSP to contest on 38 seats each in Uttar Pradesh, announces Mayawati.

12:26 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In BSP and SP to contest 2019 Lok Sabha Elections together, announces Mayawati.





BSP Chief Mayawati: We(BSP-SP) have decided to contest upcoming Lok Sabha elections together, this will lead to a new political revolution in the country. pic.twitter.com/eZcEf5Fq0f

 ANI (@ANI) January 12, 2019



12:24 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In BSP chief Mayawati attacks Congress in joint press conference.



BSP Chief Mayawati: Be it BJP or Congress, whoever rules, their policies are mostly the same. For example, we are seeing how both indulged in corruption in defence deals. Congress imposed declared emergency, today there is undeclared emergency pic.twitter.com/aynTqWBpY9

 ANI (@ANI) January 12, 2019



12:19 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In BSP-SP have decided to contest upcoming Lok Sabha elections together, this will lead to a new political revolution in the country: Mayawati.

12:15 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In This press conference will rob PM Modi, Amit Shah of their sleep, says Mayawati.

12:10 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In BSP chief Mayawati attacks PM Narendra Modi and BJP chief Amit Shah, terms them 'Guru-Chela'.

12:04 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In BSP chief Mayawati and SP chief Akhilesh Yadav arrive at Hotel Taj.

12:01 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati leaves for Hotel Taj.

12:01 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In BSP chief Mayawati and SP chief Akhilesh Yadav to announce poll alliance shortly in Lucknow.

11:45 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In Akhilesh Yadav leaves for the venue

Samajwadi Party chief has left for Hotel Taj, which is located in Lucknow's Gomati Nagar. This is the same place where Yadav had announced alliance with the Congress in 2017.

11:28 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In Mile Mulayam Kanshiram, hawa mein ud gaye Jai Shri Ram

In 1993, when Mulayam Singh Yadav and BSP founder Kanshiram came together, they defied BJPs Mandir politics This slogan was coined by Khadim Abbas,a journalist who later entered active politics.

11:05 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In Why exactly Congress didnt negotiate that hard?

Congress leaders like PL Punia, who delivered Chhattisgarh to the Congress as its state in-charge, and UPCC chief Raj Babbar are reportedly of the view that the party should seek its pound of flesh in any alliance. They cite the example of 2009 when the Congress romped home with 22 Lok Sabha seats in UP, surprising many. They also say that with party chief Rahul Gandhi getting more "combative? against the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party, the Congress now stands a better chance than before.



11:03 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In The Formula

Sources said the SP and the BSP are planning to contest on 37 seats each out of the 80 on offer in Uttar Pradesh and plan to leave just two, Rae Bareli and Amethi, the bastions of Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi, for the Congress.





10:58 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In Boon for RLD

Rashtriya Lok Dal chief Ajit Singh on Friday confirmed that he would be part of the alliance. Other smaller parties the Nishad Party are also likely to be part of the alliance, but were not mentioned in the announcement on the press conference.

10:56 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In Congress to go solo?

In Lucknow, a Congress spokesperson said the party is ready to fight the Lok Sabha alone.

10:54 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In Fear for both Congress and BJP

At a meeting in Kannauj, Akhilesh Yadav had said that," Our coming together has not only created fear in the BJP but also in the Congress."



10:50 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In SP-BSP posters and party flags seen in Lucknow



SP-BSP posters and party flags seen in Lucknow. Akhilesh Yadav and Mayawati will jointly address the media later today pic.twitter.com/bfxRUVMJcx

 ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) January 12, 2019



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New Delhi:

It will be a busy Saturday with all the major political developments. First of all, Mayawati and Akhilesh Yadav will formally announce the SP-BSP alliance for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections in Lucknow today. It would be interesting to see how Congress reacts to this. Apart from this, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will give the concluding remarks at the BJP national meet, which was attended by over 10,000 party workers. This key speech will set the tone for BJPs poll campaign. In other news, there are reports that ex-CBI chief Alok Verma, who resigned from service after an unceremonious removal, will address media today.

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18:39 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In Both the accused women have been arrested in connection with the incident where 16 dead puppies were found in the garbage beside Gynaecology Dept of NRS Hospital (Entally PS area) in Kolkata on January 13, according to ANI.

20:18 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj arrives in Uzbekistan for a two-day visit

18:59 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In Goa: 9 persons injured, three of them critical, following blast in cement block factory at Tuem Industrial Estate

18:04 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In An encounter broke out between security forces and terrorists in Katapora area of Kulgam in Jammu and Kashmir. Between 2-3 terrorists are believed to be trapped. Firing is underway.

16:26 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In The Madras High Court granted Nalini Chidambaram, the wife of P Chidambaram, interim protection from the arrest by the CBI in the Saradha chit fund case.

14:18 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In Loud explosion heard in Paris, several feared injured, say media reports. Daily Mail reports that the blast occurred due to gas leak in a bakery.

13:11 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In SP, BSP workers celebrate after Mayawati and Akhilesh announce alliance.



Varanasi: Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) & Samajwadi Party (SP) party workers celebrate after BSP Chief Mayawati and Samajwadi Party Chief Akhilesh Yadav announce to contest upcoming Lok Sabha elections together. pic.twitter.com/j27dEbd3m9

 ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) January 12, 2019



11:01 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In Fire breaks out in a building in CGO Complex of Delhis Pragati Vihar

Fire breaks out in a building in Block-14 in Pragati Vihar's CGO Complex, Delhi. 15 fire tenders at the spot. Fire-fighting operation underway.





Visuals: Fire breaks out in a building in Block-14 in Pragati Vihar's CGO Complex, Delhi. 15 fire tenders at the spot. Fire-fighting operation underway. More details awaited. pic.twitter.com/jkAdVJsDtd

 ANI (@ANI) January 12, 2019



09:27 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In Cold wave grips Jammu and Kashmir

Cold wave grips Rajouri district after Pir Panjal mountain range receives heavy snowfall.





#JammuAndKashmir: Cold wave grips Rajouri district after Pir Panjal mountain range receives heavy snowfall. pic.twitter.com/AiWGyFHnDn

 ANI (@ANI) January 12, 2019



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New Delhi:

As tension escalates in the Northeast over Citizenship Amendment Bill, which was recently passed by Lok Sabha, Congress leader Debabrata Saikia on Saturday asked Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal to resign from the BJP and form a new government with his party's support. Meanwhile, the Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) said it may restore its alliance with the Bharatiya Janata Party if the Bill is scrapped. "In view of the current situation in the state following the Citizenship Amendment Bill giving rise to protests here, Sarbananda Sonowal should leave the BJP and come out with even just 40 of his MLAs," Saikia, the leader of Opposition in Assam Assembly, said in Guwahati.

"We will have Sonowal only as the chief minister of Assam again. We have 25 legislators in the 126-member House. We can take support from AGP and other parties to form the new state government," said the Congress leader.

The current 14th Assembly has 61 BJP, 25 Congress, 14 Asom AGP, 13 AIUDF, 12 Bodoland Peoples Front (BPF) and one independent MLA.

Meanwhile, the AGP, which had snapped ties with the Sonowal government on January 7 over the Centre introducing and passing the Bill in Lok Sabha, hinted at restoring its ties with the saffron party in the state, while speaking with reporters in Golaghat.

"If the government scraps the bill giving rise to the need to discuss the issue in our party forum and depending on the need of the political situation...we may reconsider our alliance with the BJP," said AGP president Atul Bora said when asked if his party would renew its alliance with the saffron party.

"Cannot say anything now till the Bill is dropped. We will observe their activities and as of now take a wait and watch stand," he added.

Bandh in Northeast states against police firing in Tripura

Firing and lathicharge by security forces to quell protests against the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2016 in West Tripura district earlier this week triggered 'bandh' in large parts of the northeastern state Saturday.

Agitators in neighbouring Assam and Mizoram too joined the stir against the bill that aims to provide citizenship to illegal migrants of Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, Parsi or Christian extraction from Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan.

On Tuesday, the day the bill was passed in Lok Sabha, seven people were injured in Madhabbari area of the district when police and the paramilitary forces resorted to lathi-charge and fired in the air to disperse protesters.

Normal life was crippled during the dawn-to-dusk bandh on Saturday in Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC), which comprises two-thirds of Tripura's territory and is home to tribals who constitute a third of the state's population.

(With PTI inputs)

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Lucknow:

In a first, Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav and Bahujan Samajwadi Party (BSP) chief Mayawati held a joint press conference in Lucknow to announce their alliance ahead of 2019 General Elections. While addressing the press conference, Yadav told media persons that alliance between SP and BSP was necessary to defeat the arrogance of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). He also thanked Mayawati for accepting the coalition and advised party supporters to respect Mayawati as much as they respect him. "Samajwadi Party workers should keep in mind that BSP chief Mayawati Ji's disrespect will be my disrespect (Samajwadi Party ke karyakarta ek baat ki gaath bandh len ki adarniya Mayawati Ji ka apman mera apman hai)" the SP leader said.

Explaining the reason behind the alliance, Yadav said both the parties will contest elections together to fight against the communal hatred spread by the BJP. "To defeat the arrogance of the BJP, it was necessary for the BSP and the SP to come together. The BJP can go to any extent to create differences in our workers, we must be united and counter any such tactic," Yadav said.

Yadav also hinted at supporting Mayawati as a Prime Ministerial candidate. "Uttar Pradesh has produced numerous prime ministers in the past. You know whom I will support. I will be happy if another prime minister comes from the state," SP chief said when asked whether he will support Mayawati as a prime ministerial candidate if the need arises post-2019 Lok Sabha elections.

During the joint press conference, BSP chief Mayawati said, "The alliance will rob 'guru-chela' - Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP president Amit Shah - of their sleep."

"I have full confidence that just as our alliance defeated the BJP in the Lok Sabha bypolls, we will crush the saffron party in the general elections," she said, referring to the BJP's defeat in Phulpur, Gorakhpur and Kairana parliamentary bypolls.

Speaking about keeping the Congress out of the alliance, Mayawati said that they have decided to leave the Congress out of the SP-BSP fold since there was no real gain by allying with the Grand Old Party in the past. "In the past, I have seen that our votes get transferred to the Congress, but not vice-versa. We do not gain from an alliance with Congress, whereas vote transfer is perfect in SP-BSP tie-up," Mayawati said.

Drawing a parallel between the BJP and the Congress, Mayawati said the Congress had imposed the Emergency while the BJP is responsible for an undeclared Emergency.

This would be the first time in 26 years that SP and BSP will fight the elections jointly. Last time, it happened in 1993, when Samajwadi Party veteran Mulayam Singh Yadav and Bahujan Samaj Party founder Kanshi Ram came together.

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New Delhi:

Two terrorists have been killed in an encounter with security forces in Katapora area of Kulgam in Jammu and Kashmir on Saturday. The Hizbul Mujahideen district commander is believed to be among the trapped terrorists. Acting on specific information about the presence of terrorists in the Katpora area of Yaripora in the south Kashmir district, security forces launched a cordon and search operation there in the evening, a police official said. He said the search operation turned into an encounter after the terrorists fired upon the forces.

Police sources said one of the terrorists killed in the encounter could be Zeenat Ul Islam, the longest surviving militant active since 2015 in Valley. He is among the top most wanted terrorists in the Valley. He had joined Lashkar-e-Taiba in 2015 and then joined the Hizbul Mujahideen. Now, he is the commander of Al Badr, which is a terrorist group operating in the Jammu Kashmir region. The group was allegedly formed by the Pakistani Inter-Services Intelligence in June 1998. It is believed the group was encouraged by the ISI to operate independently from its previous umbrella group, Hizbul Mujahideen.



In a statement, the J&K police said as the searches were going on, the search party was fired upon by the terrorists. The fire was retaliated leading to a gunfight. "In the ensuing encounter, two terrorists were killed and the bodies were recovered from the site of encounter. Their identities and affiliations are being ascertained," it said.



The police added that there was no collateral damage took place during the encounter. The Police have registered a case and initiated an investigation into the matter. "Incriminating material, including arms and ammunition, were recovered from the site of encounter.

Citizens are requested not to venture inside the encounter zone since such an area can prove dangerous due to stray explosive material. People are requested to cooperate with police till the area is completely sanitized and cleared of all the explosive materials if any," the statement added.



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New Delhi:

In an apparent dig at Congress president Rahul Gandhi, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said that 'chowkidaar' is not going to spare anyone and this is just a beginning. "Chowkidaar (watchman) won't stop, wherever thieves are, watchman won't spare them," said Modi while referring to AgustaWestland deal. The prime minister also said that opposition wants 'majboor sarkar' (helpless government) because they want corruption but the country wants a 'majboot sarkar' (strong government) for all-round development.

PM Modi said we take pride in the fact that there are no charges of corruption against our government and this has happened for the first time in the history of the country. "It has happened for the first time in the history of the country that a government that came into power with an absolute majority hasn't been accused of corruption," PM Modi said while addressing the BJP's National Convention at the Ramlila Maidan.

PM Modi at BJP National Convention: It has happened for the first time in the history of the country that a government that came into power with absolute majority hasn't been accused of corruption. We can take pride in the fact that there is no taint on us. pic.twitter.com/iwK45ZrsPK  ANI (@ANI) January 12, 2019

"These days there is a failed experiment taking place in the country which is known as the grand alliance. They have all gathered together to make a helpless government. They don't want a strong government which will lead to shut down of their shops," PM Modi said.

He also targetted the Congress for trying to delay the construction of Ram Temple saying it doesn't want a solution to the Ayodhya dispute and is creating hurdles through its lawyers.

PM Modi: Congress is trying to obstruct the Ayodhya case through its lawyers, Congress was even ready to impeach the CJI using false allegations, what kind of mentality does the Congress have which works against the country's interest on every issue? pic.twitter.com/ioD5Fma0dd  ANI (@ANI) January 12, 2019

"BJP rule proved that country can see a change and government can run without corruption, he added. The Prime Minister also talked about the initiatives taken to empower women in the last four years.

"People made fun of 'Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao' for political opposition, but we have come a long way to free society of wrong beliefs that existed for decades," he said.

PM Modi at BJP National Convention in Delhi: Important initiatives have been taken up in last 4 years for women empowerment. Ppl made fun of ' Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao' for political opposition, but we have come a long way to free society of wrong beliefs that existed for decades pic.twitter.com/QpOjuRuIAJ  ANI (@ANI) January 12, 2019

The prime minister said earlier governments saw farmers (annadata) as only 'matdata' (voters), while his government was constantly trying to address challenges faced by them. "We are working day and night to double farmers' income by 2022," he said.

He also hailed 10 per cent quota bill given to the weaker section of upper category and criticised opposition saying it will enhance the confidence of 'New India' and asserted that the new arrangement will not encroach upon anyone's rights. "Ten-per cent quota given to economically backward classes is to meet the expectations of youths who were not getting opportunities due to poverty. This will enhance the confidence of 'New India'. The arrangement is without encroaching on anyone's rights," he said.

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Politico, Alternative Rock, one of America's first punk zines. I was also the west coast editor of Country Music Magazine at one point. So I decided to re-edit the Politico piece for them-- really for my own amusement... but, hey; it's Saturday! Let me begin, though, with a couple of questions and a comment Ro Khanna gave me: "What happened to the classical liberals-- those who believe in JS Mill? Shouldnt we in Congress welcome a diversity of viewpoints and dissent? The more ideas we have to debate, even including outliers, will help refine the thinking of the body and force us to examine conventional assumptions. I am grateful that we have folks like an Ocasio, Amash, or Massie willing to speak their mind, even when I disagree with them." Former Florida Congressman Alan Grayson (like Ocasio-Cortez, born in the Bronx)-- another progressive with a mind too independent for status quo corporate Dems-- told me yesterday after reading the Politico piece that "The critics are just jealous of her popularity and success. As she said, 'dont hate me because you aint me.'" For politics junkies, yesterday started with a pre-dawn Rachael Bade/Heather Caygle click magnetic piece at Exasperated Democrats try to rein in Ocasio-Cortez . One of my former jobs was editor of, one of America's first punk zines. I was also the west coast editor ofat one point. So I decided to re-edit thepiece for them-- really for my own amusement... but, hey; it's Saturday! Let me begin, though, with a couple of questions and a comment Ro Khanna gave me: "What happened to the classical liberals-- those who believe in JS Mill? Shouldnt we in Congress welcome a diversity of viewpoints and dissent? The more ideas we have to debate, even including outliers, will help refine the thinking of the body and force us to examine conventional assumptions. I am grateful that we have folks like an Ocasio, Amash, or Massie willing to speak their mind, even when I disagree with them." Former Florida Congressman Alan Grayson (like Ocasio-Cortez, born in the Bronx)-- another progressive with a mind too independent for status quo corporate Dems-- told me yesterday after reading thepiece that "The critics are just jealous of her popularity and success. As she said, 'dont hate me because you aint me.'"

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is already making enemies in the House Democratic Caucus-- and some of its members are mounting an operation to bring the anti-establishment, democratic socialist with 2.2 million Twitter followers into the fold.

Petrified servants of the status quo within the House Democratic Caucus are continuing their desperate efforts to force Congress' most popular member-- Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez-- to OBEY! Beltway status quo publications like our own will continue to back the effort.

The effort, described by nearly 20 lawmakers and aides, is part carrot, part stick: Some lawmakers with ties to Ocasio-Cortez are hoping to coax her into using her star power to unite Democrats and turn her fire on Republicans. Others simultaneously warn Ocasio-Cortez is destined for a lonely, ineffectual career in Congress if she continues to treat her own party as the enemy.

Gossip we picked up indicates that Democratic members who are jealous that she dances better than they do or who don't understand what she's accomplishing by working at a grassroots level in transforming the meaning of a turgid, defensive Pelosi-Hoyer party into something that has moved past the 1980s, indicates that they are trying every trick in the book to just get her to sell out and buy into the hive mind that dominates Capitol Hill-- or else!

Im sure Ms. Cortez means well, but theres almost an outstanding rule: Dont attack your own people, said Rep. Emanuel Cleaver (D-Mo.). We just dont need sniping in our Democratic Caucus.

Im sure Ms. Cortez means well, but theres almost an outstanding rule: Dont attack your own people, said 74 year old, tired Rep. Emanuel Cleaver (D-MO), a corporate Democratic sell-out with a shameful "C" ranking from ProgressivePunch in a deep blue (D+7) Kansas City, Missouri district. It's worth noting that Rep. Cleaver, once something of a fiery progressive himself (long ago), joined the House Financial Services Committee and has taken $1,810,524 from the Financial Sector while helping to oversee the industries that underwrite his comfy career. Oddly, this isn't illegal and he isn't in prison, although that could change if Ocasio-Cortez has anything to say about it. We just dont need sniping in our Democratic Caucus.

Incumbent Democrats are most annoyed by Ocasio-Cortezs threat to back primary opponents against members of their ranks she deems too moderate. But their frustration goes beyond that: Democratic leaders are upset that she railed against their new set of House rules on Twitter the first week of the new Congress. Rank and file are peeved that theres a grassroots movement to try to win her a top committee post they feel she doesnt deserve.





Corrupt, conservative incumbent Democrats are most annoyed by Ocasio-Cortezs threat to back primary opponents against members of their ranks she deems too corrupt and too conservative. But their frustration goes beyond that: Democratic leaders are upset that she railed against Pelosi's entirely anti-progressive PAY-GO scam on Twitter the first week of the new Congress. Corrupt, conservative incumbent Democrat and jealous seat-warmers are peeved that theres a grassroots movement to try to win her a top committee post they feel she doesnt deserve and won't bother using to extort bribes for the party.

Even some progressives who admire AOC, as shes nicknamed, told POLITICO that they worry shes not using her notoriety effectively.

Even some progressives who admire AOC, as shes nicknamed, told Politico that they worry shes not using her notoriety they way they want her to.

She needs to decide: Does she want to be an effective legislator or just continue being a Twitter star? said one House Democrat whos in lockstep with Ocasio Cortezs ideology. Theres a difference between being an activist and a lawmaker in Congress.

She needs to decide: Does she want to be an effective legislator or just continue being a Twitter star? said one House Democrat who claims to be in lockstep with Ocasio Cortezs ideology but we won't tell you who it is so you can't ever check whether the two are in lockstep or not. Theres a difference between being an activist and a lawmaker in Congress.

Its an open question whether Ocasio-Cortez can be checked. Shes barely been in Congress a week and is better known than almost any other House member other than Nancy Pelosi and John Lewis. A media throng follows her every move, and she can command a national audience practically at will.



None of that came playing by the usual rules: Indeed, Ocasio-Cortezs willingness to take on her party establishment with unconventional guerrilla tactics is what got her here. Its earned her icon status on the progressive left, its where the 29-year-old freshman derives her power-- and, by every indication, its how she thinks she can pull the Democratic Party in her direction.



The Freedom Caucus didnt win many popularity contests in Congress the past four years, but its hard to dispute the hard-liners success dragging the GOP to the right.

Its an open question whether Ocasio-Cortez can be checked. Shes barely been in Congress a week and is better known than almost any other House member other than Nancy Pelosi and John Lewis . A media throng follows her every move, and she can command a national audience practically at will.









None of that came playing by the usual rules: Indeed, Ocasio-Cortezs willingness to take on her party establishment with unconventional guerrilla tactics is what got her here. Its earned her icon status on the progressive left, its where the 29-year-old freshman derives her power-- and, by every indication, its how she thinks she can pull the Democratic Party in her direction.





The Freedom Caucus didnt win many popularity contests in Congress the past four years, but its hard to dispute the hard-liners success dragging the GOP to the right.

Still, fellow Democrats are giving it their best, or planning to in the near future.



So far, most of them have kept their criticism of Ocasio-Cortez private, fearful shell sic her massive following on them by firing off a tweet. But a few are engaging with her in the hopes shell opt for a different M.O., especially when it comes to trying to take out Democrats in primaries.

Still, some fellow Democrats won't give up in trying to mold her in their own images.





So far, most of them have kept their criticism of Ocasio-Cortez semi-private, fearful that their own shaky bases will turn on them if they show themselves as cowardly sell-outs and tepid agents of the status quo. But a few are engaging with her in the hopes shell opt for a different M.O., especially when it comes to trying to take out Democrats in primaries.

Rep. Nydia Velazquez (D-N.Y.) is playing a key role. Like Ocasio-Cortez, Velazquez knocked off a longtime Democratic incumbent to win her seat, and they share Puerto Rican roots.



In private conversations with Ocasio-Cortez over the past few months, Velazquez counseled Ocasio-Cortez against targeting her Democratic colleagues in future elections. The two had a long, long conversation about the dynamics of Congress and Washington, and how there shouldnt be a litmus test for every district, Velazquez said in a recent interview.

Rep. Nydia Velazquez (D-NY) is playing a key role. Like Ocasio-Cortez, Velazquez knocked off a longtime Democratic incumbent to win her seat, and they share Puerto Rican roots. Before going further, though, we want to share a few lines from Rep. Velazquez's wikipedia page that bring up the criticism she has had "for her close ties to the banking industry and her reluctance to support reform and transparency measures. A majority of her campaign contributions have come from banks, including Goldman Sachs and the American Bankers Association. Opponents have suggested that these contributions influenced her votes in support of the bailouts and her votes against reform and transparency measures. In addition to support for private banks, Ms. Velazquez voted against bipartisan House efforts to audit the federal reserve, both in 2009 and in 2012." Velazquez, another member of the House Financial Services Committee, has scooped up $2,380,936 from the sector.





In private conversations with Ocasio-Cortez over the past few months, Velazquez counseled Ocasio-Cortez against targeting her Democratic colleagues in future elections. The two had a long, long conversation about the dynamics of Congress and Washington, and how there shouldnt be a litmus test for every district, Velazquez said in a recent interview.

After she defeated Democratic incumbent Joe Crowley in shocking fashion last year, Ocasio-Cortez supported primary challengers to Democratic Reps. Stephanie Murphy of Florida, William Lacy Clay of Missouri and Mike Capuano of Massachusetts.



Only Capuano lost. But Velazquez told Ocasio-Cortez she should think twice in the future before backing primaries against her colleagues. Murphy, the first Vietnamese woman elected to Congress, represents a swing district and could lose her seat if shes forced to move left in a primary, Velazquez said during the talk.



Washington is a political animal where a lot of the work that you want to accomplish depends on relationships within the Democratic Caucus, said Velazquez, who described herself as a bridge between Ocasio-Cortez and the caucus. The honeymoon between the voters that you represent and yourself could be a short one. People want to see results.

After she defeated Democratic incumbent Joe Crowley in shocking fashion last year, infuriating and striking fear into the hearts of every corrupt status quo Democrat in the House (including to some who had attached their personal stars to Crowley's coattails), Ocasio-Cortez supported primary challengers to Democratic Reps. Stephanie Murphy of Florida, an especially vile reactionary who is supported by family money and is now chair of the Blue Dogs, William Lacy Clay of Missouri (which helps explain the tantrum from Cleaver above) and Mike Capuano of Massachusetts.





Only Capuano lost and Ocasio-Cortez had very little role in that, although the Ayassa Pressley campaign was partially modeled on her campaign against Crowley. But Velazquez told Ocasio-Cortez she should think twice in the future before backing primaries against her colleagues. Murphy, the first Vietnamese woman elected to Congress, represents a swing district and could lose her seat if shes forced to move left in a primary, Velazquez said during the talk. Velazquez, of course, didn't mention that the Democratic Party would be better off without Murphy, who has blurred the distinction between what Republicans and Democrats stand for, and is busy ruining the Democratic Party brand.





Washington is a political animal where a lot of the work that you want to accomplish depends on relationships within the Democratic Caucus, said Velazquez, who described herself as a bridge between Ocasio-Cortez and the caucus. The honeymoon between the voters that you represent and yourself could be a short one. People want to see results. It could be a short one, especially if Ocasio-Cortez sells out the way Velazquez has and is trying to drag her into the same posture.

Other lawmakers agreed.



I think she needs to give herself an opportunity to know her colleagues and to give herself a sense of the chemistry of the body before passing judgment on anyone or anything, said Rep. Yvette Clarke, a fellow New York Democrat.



Shes new here, feeling her way around, added Rep. Kurt Schrader (D-Ore.). She doesnt understand how the place works yet.

Needless to say other corrupt status quo incumbents agreed.





I think she needs to give herself an opportunity to know her colleagues and to give herself a sense of the chemistry of the body before passing judgment on anyone or anything, said Rep. Yvette Clarke, a fellow New York Democrat, who almost lost a primary from the left herself last year.













Shes new here, feeling her way around, added Rep. Kurt Schrader (D-OR), one of the most rot-gut Blue Dog pigs in Congress. She doesnt understand how the place works yet.









Ocasio-Cortez, through her staff, declined to be interviewed for this story. But there are signs that shes getting the message, at least when it comes to backing primary challenges against her colleagues.

UPDATE: That was Ocasio-Cortez, through her staff, declined to be interviewed for this story. But there are signs that shes getting the message, at least when it comes to backing primary challenges against her colleagues.That was some twitter thread her chief of staff, Saikat Chakrabarti, unleashed this morning.









In a brief exchange off the House floor recently, she said she wasnt interested in backing progressive candidates against incumbent Democrats  contradicting her own words after the midterms. She also criticized POLITICO for publishing a story suggesting she considered backing a primary opponent against rising star Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.), who many believe could become the first black speaker.



Im focused on my job, Ocasio-Cortez said.



Her spokesman, Corbin Trent, added: There has been a change in focus  though not a change in ideology.

In a brief exchange off the House floor recently, she said she wasnt interested in backing progressive candidates against incumbent Democrats-- contradicting her own words after the midterms. She also criticized Politico for publishing a story suggesting she considered backing a primary opponent against establishment political hack Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY), who establishment stenographers like Politico always refresh's to as a "rising star" and always claim "could become the first black speaker." We're so silly, it's embarrassing.





Im focused on my job, Ocasio-Cortez said.





Her spokesman, Corbin Trent, added: There has been a change in focus-- though not a change in ideology.

Some House Democrats arent convinced. Theyve noticed that Ocasio-Cortez has hired two former organizers from the anti-establishment group Justice Democrats to run her office. One of them, her new chief of staff Saikat Chakrabarti, told supporters during a November conference call that we gotta primary folks.



Ocasio-Cortez appeared to agree with him during the call, arguing that all Americans know money in politics is a huge problem, but unfortunately the way that we fix it is by demanding that our incumbents give it up or by running fierce campaigns ourselves.



Long story short, I need you to run for office, she told progressive activists on the call. That's really what we need to do to save this country.



Comments like that got Ocasio-Cortez off on the wrong foot with her colleagues, to say the least.

Some House Democrats are scared shitless. Theyve noticed that Ocasio-Cortez has hired two former organizers from the anti-establishment group Justice Democrats to run her office. One of them, her new chief of staff Saikat Chakrabarti, told supporters during a November conference call that we gotta primary folks.





Ocasio-Cortez appeared to agree with him during the call, arguing that all Americans know money in politics is a huge problem, but unfortunately the way that we fix it is by demanding that our incumbents give it up or by running fierce campaigns ourselves.





Long story short, I need you to run for office, she told progressive activists on the call. That's really what we need to do to save this country.





Comments like that got Ocasio-Cortez off on the wrong foot with all the corrupt conservatives in the House, especially from the Republican wing of the Democratic Party who are on the warpath now.

Its not unreasonable for people to wonder whether she will come after them, said Rep. Grace Meng (D-N.Y.). Im choosing not to focus on if shes going to run someone against someone  but by seeing how we can more effectively work with her and bring her ideas to the table.

Its not unreasonable for people to wonder whether she will come after them, said Rep. Grace Meng (D-NY), a protege and ally of Joe Crowley's. Im choosing not to focus on if shes going to run someone against someone  but by seeing how we can more effectively work with her and bring her ideas to the table.

Ocasio-Cortez is an enigma to most House Democrats. Shes very friendly in person, chatting up fellow lawmakers and security workers in the Capitol as shes tailed by admirers and reporters.



Then they see the Ocasio-Cortez on Twitter, where she frequently snaps at critics and occasionally at fellow Democrats. When House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) told reporters that a new climate committee that Ocasio-Cortez championed would not have subpoena power, she retweeted the news and chastised Democratic leadership.



Our goal is to treat Climate Change like the serious, existential threat it is by drafting an ambitious solution on the scale necessary  aka a Green New Deal  to get it done, she said. A weak committee misses the point & endangers people.

Ocasio-Cortez is an enigma to most House Democrats. Shes very friendly in person, chatting up fellow lawmakers and security workers in the Capitol as shes tailed by admirers and reporters.





Then they see the Ocasio-Cortez on Twitter, where she frequently effectively defends herself critics including corrupt conservative Democrats. When House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-MD) told reporters that he was able to neuter a new climate committee that Ocasio-Cortez championed on behalf of his corporate donors-- he has taken direct payments amounting to $404,970 from Big Oil and Gas-- by making sure it would not have subpoena power, she retweeted the news and chastised Democratic leadership.





Our goal is to treat Climate Change like the serious, existential threat it is by drafting an ambitious solution on the scale necessary-- aka a Green New Deal-- to get it done, she said. A weak committee misses the point & endangers people. Straight talk like this is what has made her so popular with the Democratic base and so unpopular with corrupt conservatives like Hoyer.

Two House Democratic sources compared her use of Twitter to Donald Trumps. Just as congressional Republicans constantly withhold criticism of the president out of fear hell unleash a tweet at them, some Democrats have done the same with Ocasio-Cortez.



People are afraid of her, said one senior Democratic aide.

Two House Democratic sources compared her use of Twitter to Donald Trumps. Just as congressional Republicans constantly withhold criticism of the president out of fear hell unleash a tweet at them, some Democrats have done the same with Ocasio-Cortez, although she has never once released an angry Trump-like tweet directed at any Democrats, including the ones who know in their hearts what scumbags they are and how much they deserve to be flushed down history's toilet.





People are afraid of her, said one senior Democratic aide. There are plenty of members who have very guilty consciences and are petrified their own constituents will find out what hypocrites they are.

Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-N.Y.) predicted that Ocasio-Cortez will soon learn that Republicans are the real enemy.



She will come to the understanding that its a better use of her time fighting the Republican Party than her Democratic colleagues who agree with her on green energy, said Maloney, who called Ocasio-Cortez very nice and very charming.

One of the more corrupt Democrats, Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-NY), who is chair of the Financial Service Committee's powerful subcommittee on Capital Markets has taken a jaw-dropping $6,327,421 from the banisters but predicted that Ocasio-Cortez will soon learn that Republicans are the real enemy.





She will come to the understanding that its a better use of her time fighting the Republican Party than her Democratic colleagues who agree with her on green energy, said Maloney, who called Ocasio-Cortez very nice and very charming.

Others arent so sure. They point to her first week in Congress: Ocasio-Cortez aggravated Democratic leaders and even some fellow progressives when she tweeted that shed oppose the Democratic rules package, arguing it would stymie liberal priorities like Medicare for all.

Others arent so sure. They point to her first week in Congress: Ocasio-Cortez aggravated Democratic leaders and even some fellow progressives when she tweeted-- accurately and much to their embarrassment-- that shed oppose the Democratic rules package, arguing it would stymie liberal priorities like Medicare for all.

House Democrats were also unhappy when she made a play for a seat on the powerful Ways and Means Committee. Lawmakers suspected Ocasio-Cortez was behind a massive online campaign pressing Pelosi to appoint her to the panel, though her office said she was not.



Critics inside the caucus felt she didn't deserve it, given her lack of professional experience on tax issues and her status as a freshman.



It totally pissed off everyone, said one senior House Democratic lawmaker of the campaign. You dont get picked for committees by who your grass-roots [supporters] are.

The House's corrupt conservatives from the Republican wing of the Democratic Party were also unhappy when asked which committee she would like to serve on, she asked for the powerful Ways and Means Committee, which conservatives from both parties use as a base for corrupt fundraising but which she would like to reform. Lawmakers suspected-- wrongly-- Ocasio-Cortez was behind a massive online campaign pressing Pelosi to appoint her to the panel, though her office said she was not.





The vile creatures from the Blue Dogs and New Dems, plus others jealous of her popularity and ability to dance developed a narrative that she didn't deserve it, given her lack of professional experience on tax issues and her status as a freshman.





It totally pissed off everyone, said one senior House Democratic lawmaker (who we can't name because he's a cowardly worm) of the campaign. You dont get picked for committees by who your grass-roots [supporters] are.









But the issue of pushing primaries against Democratic incumbents such as Jeffries, who was recently elected chairman of the Democratic Caucus, is whats agitated rank-and-file members the most.



The chances that the Democratic caucus will stand by and watch its chair get attack and people piling on him  by Democrats!  is so obscene that I think youll find one of the strongest reactions that could possibly be anticipated, Cleaver said.

But the issue of pushing primaries against Democratic incumbents such as Jeffries, who was recently elected chairman of the Democratic Caucus, is whats agitated rank-and-file members the most.





The chances that the Democratic caucus will stand by and watch its chair get attacked and people piling on him-- by Democrats!-- is so obscene that I think youll find one of the strongest reactions that could possibly be anticipated, Cleaver said, who, as we explained above, knows where his bread is buttered.

Rep. Gregory Meeks (D-N.Y.) said hes taking Ocasio-Cortez at her word that she wants to work with everybody, as he said she told him. Meeks and other members of the New York delegation intend to nominate Ocasio-Cortez to serve on the Financial Services Committee, an exclusive panel, early next week.



Its one thing for outside activists to go after Democratic incumbents, Meeks said. Its another thing when youre in this institution and youve got to work to get things done.

Its one thing for outside activists to go after Democratic incumbents, Meeks said. Its another thing when youre in this institution and youve got to work to get things done, he said, shaking with fear and anxiety.

But Rep. Raul Grijalva (D-Ariz.), the former head of the House Progressive Caucus, said Democrats should probably get used to Ocasio-Cortez.



Shes going to force some of the members to have to align with or against her, he said. In that sense, I would assume that can be irritating to some.



Maybe its the aunt or uncle you didnt want to invite to the wedding, Grijalva added, but Ocasio-Cortez is part of the family.

But Rep. Raul Grijalva (D-AZ), the former head of the House Progressive Caucus, said Democrats should probably get used to Ocasio-Cortez.





Shes going to force some of the members to have to align with or against her, he said. In that sense, I would assume that can be irritating to some.





Maybe its the aunt or uncle you didnt want to invite to the wedding, Grijalva added, but Ocasio-Cortez is part of the family.





No edit needed on those last three paragraphs other than the proper way to identify Grijalva's state. I asked some of the progressives who will be running in 2020 what they thought of the Politico story. Nate McMurray, another independent-minded progressive the DCCC refused to help but who came within 0.3% of winning in an R+11 district and admires Ocasio-Cortez. sent ne a quote from the great Polish poet and diplomat, Czesaw Miosz: "In a room where people unanimously maintain a conspiracy of silence, one word of truth sounds like a pistol shot." Nate said that "Teamwork is important. But standing up for what you believe-- despite the pushback-- matters more. She has demonstrated that she is the opposite of a sellout. And I hope she stays strong, because so many people are watching, looking up to, and cheering for her, including me. By the way, I bet she just got 10k more followers... There is a pattern that has been used to silence women politicians, for as long as there have been women politicians: Belittle their intelligence, dismiss their experience, and if that doesnt work, say something demeaning about their sexuality. The Republicans are doing this with Congresswoman Cortez. The brilliant thing about her is that shes smarter than any of them, more experienced than any of them give her credit for, and far too strong to stand for their humiliations."

And speaking of corruption and of Democrats who desperately need to be primaried, Rep. Gregory Meeks (New Dem-NY) said hes taking Ocasio-Cortez at her word that she wants to work with everybody, as he said she told him. Meeks and other members of the New York delegation intend to nominate Ocasio-Cortez to serve on the Financial Services Committee, an exclusive panel, early next week. Meeks, a notorious vote seller, serves on the Financial Services Committee and has taken a cool $3,661,288 from the banksters he's supposed to be overseeing.
New Delhi:

Justice AK Patnaik, who was assigned by the Supreme Court to supervise the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) inquiry against Alok Verma, said there was no evidence of corruption against the removed Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) director, The Indian Express first reported on Saturday. He told the newspaper that the decision to remove Verma from the post of CBI director was "very, very hasty". Barely two days after the Supreme Court reinstated him, Verma was on Thursday removed as CBI director by a high-powered committee headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on charges of corruption and dereliction of duty, in an unprecedented action in the central probe agency's 55-year history.

Verma, a 1979-batch IPS officer, had resumed duty on Wednesday, a day after the apex court paved his return with some riders and asked the three-member panel that selects the CBI chief to decide on his continuance in a week in the light of charges against him in the report of the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC). Verma's two-year tenure as director of Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is due to end on January 31. There were eight charges against Verma in the CVC report presented before the Committee that also comprised leader of Congress in Lok Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge and Justice AK Sikri, appointed by Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi as his nominee.

While Modi and Justice Sikri voted against Verma, Kharge filed a dissent note and contested the CVC report. He had also argued that Verma be given an opportunity to present his case before the selection committee.

Also Read | Alok Verma resigns from service a day after his removal as CBI chief, calls it a moment of introspection

Verma was transferred as Director General, Fire Services, Civil Defence and Home Guards on Thursday. On Friday, Verma refused to take up the new job and resigned from the Indian Police Service (IPS). In his resignation letter, Verma said: "Natural justice was scuttled and the entire process was turned upside down in ensuring that the undersigned is removed from the post of the director."

Justice Patnaik said the committee should have taken more time to decide Vermas case as it pertained to a national institution. Even if the Supreme Court said that the high-power committee must decide, the decision was very, very hasty, he said. They should have applied their mind thoroughly, especially as a Supreme Court judge was there. What the CVC says cannot be the final word.

The Telegraph reported that Patnaik said he has written a letter to the Supreme Court to clarify that the findings of the CVC report are not his.

Also Read | Delhi High Court rejects Rakesh Asthanas plea against CBI's FIR, ban on arrest extended for 2 weeks

My role was that of supervising the inquiry, and for that purpose, I just wanted to ensure that the principles of natural justice were followed and Sanas [businessman Sathish Babu Sana, to whom was attributed the allegation that Verma had taken a bribe] evidence was recorded in my presence, he wrote. I ensured that the evidence was correctly recorded.

Speaking on the controversy, former chief justice of India RM Lodha told The Indian Express that the parrot cannot truly fly in the free sky till it is free.

The time has come when something needs to be done, and must be done, to ensure that the CBI truly becomes the premier investigating agency, Justice Lodha (retired) said.

(With PTI inputs)

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New Delhi:

The controversial movie The Accidental Prime Minister, which has been receiving negative reviews amid protests across the country, has faced further hurdle on Saturday after its screening was stopped at two single-screen theatres and one auditorium of a multiplex chain in Kolkata following protests by Youth Congress workers against the film. "We've stopped the screening of the film from today, the second day after its release, apprehending (any) untoward incident after parts of a screen were torn up in a multiplex in a mall at Park Circus," Navin Chokhani, the owner of single-screen Navina Cinema, said.

The movie's screening was stopped, though its 2-pm show on the first day had passed off smoothly, Chokhani said.

A spokesperson of Ashoka Cinema, the other single screen where the film was stopped, said: "We have decided to suspend the matinee show of The Accidental Prime Minister from today in view of the agitations by some group."

The movie, starring Anupam Kher and Akshaye Khanna in main lead roles, is based on the memoir of the same name by Sanjaya Baru, the media adviser to former prime minister Manmohan Singh.

On Friday, activists of the Congress' youth wing had staged protests against the movie outside an auditorium of a multiplex chain on Ganesh Chandra Avenue and tore the film posters. Another group of the Youth Congress activists had stormed into the auditorium of the same multiplex chain at Park Circus during a late-evening show and allegedly tore parts of the screen. The multiplex chain spokesperson told PTI that the show of the film was cancelled from Saturday only at Hind -- its property on Ganesh Chandra Avenue -- and nowhere else in the city or in the suburbs.

Kher, who played Manmohan Singh in the film, tweeted on Saturday: "An appeal to the authorities to stop a section of people who are indulging in acts of violence and hooliganism during the screening of our film The Accidental Prime Minister. Also a call out to other sections of people who believe in selective outrage towards freedom of expression.

An appeal to the authorities to stop a section of people who are indulging in acts of violence & hooliganism during the screening of our film #TheAccidentalPrimeMinister. Also a call out to other section of people who believe in selective outrage towards #FreedomOfExpression. pic.twitter.com/ULgSPj2H5l  Anupam Kher (@AnupamPKher) January 12, 2019

On Friday, the Delhi Youth Wing of the Shiromani Akali Dal wrote to cinema halls urging them not to show the film as it defames both Manmohan Singh and the country across the globe.

In Punjab's Ludhiana, the film's screening was stopped in a multiplex following protests, reported News18.

(With PTI inputs)

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New Delhi:

With the Samajwadi Party (SP) and the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) made the official announcement of their alliance for the 2019 Lok Sabha Election in Uttar Pradesh, the Congress has called for a meeting to formulate the party's strategy on Sunday. Several senior Congress leaders including AICC in-charge Ghulam Nabi Azad will take part in the meeting. Speaking to news agency PTI, Pradesh Congress Committee spokesperson Anshu Awasti said, "Ghulam Nabi Azad, UPCC president Raj Babbar and other senior leaders will arrive in the state capital Sunday to hold meetings for finalising the strategy". Early in the day, in a major jolt to the Congress, BSP chief Mayawati and SP president Akhilesh Yadav threw the grand old party out of their alliance. The parties will contest 38 seats each out of the state's 80 parliamentary constituencies. However, they will not field candidates in Amethi and Rae Bareli, the strongholds of Congress president Rahul Gandhi and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi.

Being asked about the SP-BSP alliance in Uttar Pradesh, Ghulam Nabi Azad said he would speak on the issue only after meeting the state Congress leaders."We have been meeting the leaders district-wise for preparations in the coming elections," Azad said.

"In the last two days, we had been meeting the people of western Uttar Pradesh and from tomorrow (Sunday), we will meet party workers belonging to central and western UP. No one will say anything on it (SP-BSP alliance) today (Saturday) and whoever is speaking on it, it will be unofficial," he added.

Read | What Mayawati and Akhilesh Yadav said on BSP-SP alliance in Uttar Pradesh

Talking about the latest development, fornmer finance minister P Chidambaram said, "Perhaps this isn't the last word, maybe there will be some rethink as the elections approach. A truly broad-based alliance will be formed in UP. If necessary, Congress party will contest elections on its own strength".

Earlier on Friday, the Congress said that it was ready to go alone in Uttar Pradesh for the upcoming Lok Sabha Election 2019. "We are a political party and are ready to fight the coming elections alone in Uttar Pradesh," Congress media coordinator Rajiv Bakshi said, adding that the party alone have 45 seats in the Lok Sabha and it is any day many more than the regional players.

A 'mahagathbandhan' in the Lok Sabha elections needs to be built around the party having a national face. We are ready to take along like-minded parties and they can come together with us," Bakshi added.

There has been a tussle between the SP and the Congress ever since the grand old party has refused to include one of SP MLAs in the new Madhya Pradesh ministry headed by Kamal Nath. BSP leader Mayawati too has threatened to withdraw its support to the Congress in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan if the cases against lower caste people lodged during a protest in 2018 are not taken back.

Read | SP-BSP alliance is incomplete without Pragatisheel Samajwadi Party, says Shivpal Yadav

In the recently concluded 2018 Assembly polls, the Congress managed to cross the majority mark in Madhya Pradesh only with the support of SP, BSP, and Independent candidates. While Congress, in a nerve-wracking see-saw battle with the BJP, bagged 114 seats, the SP, BSP and Independents got one, two and four seats respectively in the 230-member Madhya Pradesh Legislative Assembly.
New Delhi:

Reacting for the first time since Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav and Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) supremo Mayawati on Saturday announced their alliance for the 2019 Lok Sabha elections in Uttar Pradesh, Congress president Rahul Gandhi said the party has a tremendous respect for the leaders of BSP and SP, and they have a right to do what they want to do. Addressing a joint press conference with Mayawati in Lucknow, Akhilesh Yadav said the alliance was necessary to defeat the arrogant BJP and rid the state from the saffron party's "religion and caste politics". Both Akhileshs SP and Mayawatis BSP will contest 38 seats each.

Congress President Rahul Gandhi in Dubai: BSP and SP have made a political decision. It's on us on how to strengthen the Congress party in Uttar Pradesh and we will fight with our full capacity. https://t.co/gNxJ5kxpGw  ANI (@ANI) January 12, 2019

The Congress party has tremendous to offer to the people of Uttar Pradesh. I have tremendous respect for the leaders of BSP and SP, they have a right to do what they want to do, Gandhi in Dubai.The BSP and SP have made a political decision. It's on us on how to strengthen the Congress party in Uttar Pradesh and we will fight with our full capacity, Gandhi, who is in Dubai, said.

Akhilesh said the SP and the BSP are now together and any insult to Mayawati will be his also. I want to say to BJP that they should know that we (SP-BSP) are in this together. I am grateful to Mayawati for giving me equal status. They should know any insult to Mayawati is my insult, he said.

Speaking about shutting the alliance door for the Congress, Mayawati said that they have decided to leave the Congress out of the SP-BSP fold since there was no real gain by allying with the Grand Old Party as its vote is not transferrable. However, she said, two Lok Sabha seats  Rahul Gandhis Amethi and Sonia Gandhis Rae Bareli  have been left for the Congress party.

"We won't gain anything by including Congress in our alliance. Both BSP and SP have experienced in the past that Congress's vote is not transferrable," the BSP chief said adding that the SP-BSP alliance will give sleepless nights to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP president Amit Shah.

The BSP supremo said that there was not much difference between the Congress and the BJP and their policies are same. It is because of the policies of the Congress that parties like ours came into existence. Whether it is the Congress or the BJP that comes to power, it's the same thing, she said.

This is not the first time the two parties have joined hands but the alliance of SP-BSP, once the sworn enemies, came together 26 years after then Samajwadi Party patriarch Mulayam Singh Yadav and Bahujan Samaj Party founder Kanshi Ram tied up in 1993. However, their acrimonious alliance could not last long and their government in Uttar Pradesh collapsed.

Speaking on the on the ties with Pakistan, Gandhi said: I am all for a peaceful relationship with Pakistan, but, I will absolutely not tolerate violence being carried out on innocent Indians by the Pakistani state.

The Congress president also slammed the RSS, saying the organisation thinks that the voice of the people is irrelevant. "One of the reasons why we will win 2019 elections is because there is a massive response coming from bureaucrats and institutions saying we are not going to accept this," Gandhi said.
New Delhi:

The cyber cell of the Delhi police has launched an investigation after Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal received an email which threatened to kidnap his daughter, Harshita Kejriwal. The email sent to Kejriwal's official id by an unknown person on January 9. Soon after receiving the email, the chief minister office lodge a complaint with Delhi police commissioner. The police have deployed PSOs for her security. "We will kidnap your daughter. Do what you can to protect her," the email read.

Harshita, who scored 96 per cent in the board exams, graduated from Indian Institute of Engineering in chemical engineering. Harshita's father, Kejriwal is also an IITian. He is also an engineering graduate from IIT Kharagpur. He went on to clear the Indian Revenue Service (IRS) exam. He was an income tax commissioner when he went on a leave to join social service. Harshita's mother is a civil servant. She has a brother named Pulkit.

Harshita and Pulkit excelled in academics despite constant disturbances due to their father's political career. They even shifted base from Ghaziabad house when Kejriwal became Delhi Chief Minister. After he resigned from the post, he was asked to vacate the flat allotted by the government.

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A video of a gigantic cloud structure near Buenos Aires in Argentina triggered social media reactions from some thinking aliens were on their way to another claiming it was fake news.

The footage, obtained by Reuters and shot by Capitan Marcelo Lopez, shows the enormous layered white cloud bank dividing the sky over Zarate, 90 kms north-west of Buenos Aires on Wednesday (local time).

Users on social media were shocked by the footage shot from on-board of a ship.

"[It's] like Independence Day," a woman said with another tweeting it could resemble the border wall US President Donald Trump hopes to build.

"Look, it's the mother ship coming in for a landing," said one user whereas someone else was said the image was nothing more than a lucky shot, citing: "Someone just happened to be there with a camera".
Families of the victims of the Sandy Hook massacre have made ground in their legal battle with controversial conspiracy theorist and fake news peddler Alex Jones.

Six families sued the InfoWars host for defamation after he claimed the 2012 shooting, in which 26 people died, was "completely fake" and a hoax.

Jones claims the parents were actors in a long-running conspiracy, employed to undermine laws allowing for private gun ownership. As a result, the families say they have been "subjected... to physical confrontations and harassment, death threats and personal attacks on social media".

Now a judge in Connecticut says the families will be allowed to access InfoWars' internal marketing and financial documents, ABC News reports.

"From the beginning, we have alleged that Alex Jones and his financial network trafficked in lies and hate in order to profit from the grief of Sandy Hook families - that is what we intend to prove, and today's ruling advances that effort," families' attorney Chris Mattei said.

"We look forward to gaining access to InfoWars' internal marketing and financial documents to show that Jones has built an empire as nothing more than a conspiracy profiteer, as alleged in our complaint."

Jones' defence team has tried to get the lawsuit dismissed, saying he wasn't responsible for the "tragedy", appearing to acknowledge it actually did happen.

Jones' other bizarre claims include that former US President Barack Obama is planning to escape a "worldwide meltdown" by fleeing to New Zealand, the US government runs a child slave colony on Mars and is trying to turn frogs gay.

Newshub.
Hundreds may have been scammed by people allegedly masquerading as deaf charity fundraisers.

Deaf Action New Zealand has made a call to stop the people from handing out cards in exchange for cash. It believed one person was in Auckland and one in Wellington.

Auckland man Daniel Costa felt sorry for the woman who tapped him on the shoulder in a shop at Westfield Manukau yesterday.

"So I read the card, I just saw a bit of it, a glimpse of it, - $5 deaf and stuff - so I took out my wallet and gave her 40 bucks," he said.

The same woman who duped him tricked Shontell Hepi at a Domino's pizza shop in Otahuhu.

"She kind of just handed me a card and that was it," she said.

"I thought it was a little bit weird but I just kind of gave her her $5 and let her carry on with her day."

But Wellington man Cameron Ross called her bluff.

"I went up to her and said, 'I'm deaf, are you deaf?' and she knew I'd caught her out," he told Newshub.

"I said, 'What is this? This is not okay, this is unacceptable.' She walked off immediately."
Is it a disability or a superpower?

A woman in China has reportedly lost the ability to hear men.

The woman, from Xiamen and only named as Ms Chen, woke up one morning and realised she couldn't hear her boyfriend, AsiaWire reported.

She immediately went to the doctor, who determined she could no longer hear low frequencies.

Ms Chen had reportedly been suffering nausea and ringing in her ears the night before, but thought a good night's sleep would fix it.

"She was able to hear me when I spoke to her, but when a young male patient walked in, she couldn't hear him at all," said Lin Xiaoqing, the doctor who treated Chen, according to the Daily Mail.

Dr Lin said Ms Chen's long days at work and lack of sleep may have been a contributing factor, but the root cause was likely genetic - a rare condition called reverse-slope hearing loss, which affects only one-in-12,000 people who suffer any kind of hearing loss.

She's expected to make a full recovery.

Newshub.
Hollywood superstar Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson has denied calling out "generation snowflake" for "looking for a reason to be offended".

Earlier on Saturday, UK tabloid the Daily Star reported it had spoken to The Rock, who allegedly said he was sick of the constant complaining.

"So many good people fought for freedom and equality - but this generation are looking for a reason to be offended," the Daily Star reported him saying.

"Generation snowflake, or whatever you want to call them, are actually putting us backwards."

But The Rock has denied making those statements, saying in a video on Instagram that the quotes attributed to him were "100 percent fabricated".
Clayton F. Mallory Jr., 83, entered eternal life on Monday, June 14, 2021 at his home surrounded by his loving family. He retired from Speed Cement Plant after 43 years of service, a member of the Speed Church, Sellersburg Masonic Lodge and was a Purdue Master Gardener. Clayton was preceded 
Peake said CVTC has the equipment and facilities to provide the highest care some individuals need and could be used to take in the neediest of residents across Virginia as other training centers have shut down. He spoke of the late Tyler Bryant, who lived at CVTC and died less than two months after he was moved from the facility without the consent of his mother, Martha Bryant, in January 2017.

We could have more tragedies, he said.

Peake said his intent is to keep patients currently at CVTC from being moved and use some of the campus to keep it operational, not necessarily the entire campus. He also has introduced Senate Bill No. 1072, which seeks to change the definition of a training center and also has been referred to the Committee on Rehabilitation and Social Services.

He said it is a protection bill to make sure patients who need the highest level of care arent taken to facilities that are not fit to meet their needs.

A hope of the legislation is to keep families from traveling far distances to see their loved ones, he said.
Weve had good water all spring and summer and into the fall, so theres no way to tell how the new management plan will affect us, said Mason Basten, a local sportsman and owner of River Road Jet Boats in Madison Heights. Well have to get back to those low flows and thats when you can tell what kind of management you have behind the dam.

In a May 11 letter to FERC, Eagle Creek told regulators that company had repaired the floodgate monitoring system and developed a new process to regularly inspect the system. Eagle Creek also told regulators the dam is exploring the possibility of upgrading the current floodgate monitoring system or installing a secondary alarm and monitoring system to parallel the existing system.

It is unclear if the dam has taken those steps as of December. Eagle Creek Executive Vice President of Operations Robert Gates did not return multiple requests for comment.

In an updated operations plan submitted Aug. 9 to FERC, Eagle Creek said the dam will maintain a continuous minimum flow of at least 333 cubic feet per second and will regularly monitor water flow to ensure the dam is meeting FERCs standards. Regulators approved the plan on Dec. 10.
The third, which was discussed in court Friday, was intended to produce records of an internal investigation of the Bedford County Department of Fire and Rescue. Padgett said his client was singled out for selective prosecution because of the ties the alleged victim had to the sheriffs office.

Chief Assistant Commonwealths Attorney Stacey Gardner said a strong case and sufficient evidence drove Hawkins charges. She said the Office of the Commonwealths Attorney wasnt made aware of the internal investigation and, through discussions with Boggess, was under the impression there was no evidence of any other criminal activity within the department.

Called to the witness stand Friday, Boggess said he denied a Freedom of Information Act request from Padgett because the investigation file was exempt from FOIA since it involved a personnel issue and would violate attorney-client privilege.

After investigation into Hawkins conduct began and he was placed on administrative leave, Boggess said he hired an external attorney to supervise an investigation by the Bedford County Sheriffs Office into any sexual misconduct among paid Bedford County Fire and Rescue employees and volunteers, who are independent from the county department but still work in conjunction with them. The two alleged victims were associated with volunteer departments, he said.
Council member Randy Nelson commented on an approximate 18 percent rise in median rents between 2012 and 2015 and its potential correlation to City Council raising the real estate tax rate in 2012. He said the data is important to understand as council moves into budget discussions over the next few months.

In balancing a budget, if you need revenue, one of the topics thats always discussed is raising real estate taxes, Nelson said. What that chart shows me is the last time we raised real estate taxes  those real estate taxes, this suggests, may have been passed through to the tenants and most negatively impacted those in poverty and those who couldnt absorb it.

Another issue for those in poverty is the lack of investment in certain areas of the city that were redlined in 1937, Smith said. That year, assessors for the Home Owners Loan Corporation created a map that rated areas of the city to reduce home foreclosure rates during the Great Depression.

Regions shaded green  A areas  were rated the best and safest; B (blue) areas were still desirable with C (yellow) areas in decline or transition and D (red) areas considered hazardous. The red-lined neighborhoods were all-black neighborhoods and received little if any federal mortgage-rescue dollars.
Jurkus said when the Angel Funds are used, students are not even aware of the fact that their account is empty.

It is always done confidentially because whether a parent cant pay or just forgot, the child still needs to eat, Jurkus said. This really isnt about the parents, its about the kids.

Shutt said L.A.A.S.H. is looking for businesses, churches or organizations that may be interested in sponsoring or adopting a particular school in Bedford County for its Angel Fund.

We already have a lot of people who are donating to a particular school that their child attends or that they attended, Shutt said. Some schools have $400 or more dollars in its Angel Funds and others have no money in them right now. If we can coordinate with groups throughout Bedford County, we can make sure that every school is covered.

Arthur said the school division is talking with the cafeteria managers in the county to estimate how much each schools Angel Funds would require during the year.

We dont have exact numbers because the need varies from month to month and from school to school, Arthur said. But none of the estimates came back at more than $1,000 for the year.
A unique feature of the house is a series of small windows, that when opened, form a ventilation system.

Architectural Historian Mike Pulice, who works for the Virginia Department of Historic Resources, said there are many prestigious places in Bedford and Three Otters is among the top.

The Greek Revival part of it, being one of the examples in Bedford or the surrounding region is what makes it special, he said.

He said the house and several important and rare surviving outbuildings generally are well preserved but could use some repair and maintenance.

The state and national register listing means all of the buildings are eligible for state and federal historic rehabilitation tax credits, he said. Ideally a new owner would use the tax credits, which can total up to 45 percent of rehabilitation costs, and which require overall preservation of historic character and fabric.

Karen Nichols, the great-great granddaughter of Abel Beach Nichols and his wife Clarissa Baldwin Linus, lives down the road from Three Otters in a home built by her parents, Ralph and Nenie Nichols.

She is the last Nichols in Bedford now but said there are descendants all over the county.


The announcement comes ahead of Mayawatis birthday on January 15 though both the leaders are expected to share the stage on the day to give out a message of unity among their respective cadres. Yadavs wife and Kannauj MP Dimple Yadav also shares her birthday with the BSP chief.



Yadav and Mayawati had given their in principle approval to the alliance, which has shut its doors to the Congress in the state. Sources had told News18 that both SP and BSP are planning to contest on 37 seats each out of the 80 on offer in Uttar Pradesh and plan to leave just two  Rae Bareli and Amethi- the bastions of Sonia and Rahul Gandhi for the Congress, an offer that the grand old party is unlikely to accept.



According to BJPs own calculations, an SP-BSP alliance may cost the party at least 25-30 seats in the state in the general elections. The BJP and its allies had won 73 of the 80 seats in the 2014 parliamentary elections. The mahagathbandhan arithmetic had worked in the bypolls as a consolidation of OBC, Dalit and Muslim votes powered joint opposition candidates to victory in Gorakhpur, Phulpur and Kairana last year.



Akhilesh, in fact, had accused the Centre of a political witch-hunt after reports that he may face a CBI probe in a case of illegal mining. The development came the same day the SP and Mayawati-led BSP indicated their intent to join hands in Uttar Pradesh.



Mayawati had then called Akhilesh and asked him to not be shaken by such gimmicks, emphasising that she stood in his support. The BSP chief also alleged that like the Congress, the ruling BJP was "misusing" the government machinery to "trap" its opponents in false cases.



"The CBI raids and later the threat of quizzing by the CBI in a mining scam is nothing but political animosity of the BJP. Such petty politics and political conspiracy are not new for the BJP. The people of the country have understood it and they will teach the BJP a lesson in the Lok Sabha polls," she said in a press release.


The saffron party, which is seeking a repeat of its stellar performance of 2014, seems to be making calibrated changes in the poll strategy. Ten per cent reservation to the Economically Weaker Sections has been promised, Universal Basic Income for people living below poverty line is reportedly in the offing and Modi has ruled out an ordinance route for the Ram Temple, despite pressure by the RSS.



Projecting the Lok Sabha polls as a clash of ideologies and likening it to the third battle of Panipat between Marathas and the Afghan army, Shah had said the election results will be equally significant for the country.



He dismissed the proposed grand alliance of opposition parties against the BJP as a "sham", saying they are a disparate group with neither a leader nor any policy and have been brought together by their greed of power. The BJP must win the elections to pursue its agenda of cultural nationalism and the poor's welfare, he said.



In his speech, which lasted over an hour, Shah repeatedly emphasised the significance of the upcoming polls, stressed on a number of Modi government's measures- especially those related to security, curbing corruption and welfare programmes- and hit out at the Congress for its dare to target Modi on the issue of graft when its president Rahul Gandhi is on bail in a "case of corruption".



"Nobody other than Modi can give a strong government," Shah said, adding that it will be an election to give stability to the country's development and the party's expansion.



Opposition parties know that it is impossible to "defeat" Modi, who has emerged as the "nucleus" of politics like the Congress was for many decades, he said, claiming that people continue to stand behind the prime minister like a rock and that the BJP is sure to win under him.



Underlining the election's significance, he said battles are of different kinds; consequences of some are confined to win and defeated, of some others are felt for a decade of so while of some others are felt for centuries.



"I believe the 2019 battle is going to be like this," he said, drawing a parallel with the third battle of Panipat. "This is an example in history which matches with the situation today," he said, asserting that it is a must for the party to win the polls.
Physicists from Tomsk Polytechnic University developed an optimal method for environmental monitoring using neutron activation analysis of mosses. The new approach can be used for the assessment of air quality in the cities. A research article was published in the journal Environmental Monitoring and Assessment.

Mosses are often used in environmental studies as an object of monitoring: they grow everywhere, are unpretentious, and steadily accumulate environmental pollutants. For active biomonitoring, mosses (when not a natural moss but mosses specially placed onto certain areas) were used for the first time almost half a century ago. However, there is no unified valid protocol for such studies yet. Therefore, it is not certain what factors should be considered in monitoring. For example, it is not clear whether the placement conditions of mosses affect the efficiency of studies.

TPU physicists and biologists from Tomsk State University proposed a method to find out what factors influence the quality of monitoring. Unlike the majority of previous studies, Tomsk researchers chose mosses growing on tree trunks instead of soil. During the experiment, the scientists placed thin layers of mosses on a small pore nylon mesh and put them on tree trunks in two different places in the city of Tomsk. They chose trees of various types growing nearby, i.e. poplar and birch. On the trunks of each tree, 3-4 frameworks were vertically mounted at the height of 0.5 and 1.5 m. Totally, 27 nets the size of about A4 were used. They stayed on the trees over 20 weeks - from late May to early October. During this period, the mosses kept vitality at the majority of the meshes.

The mosses removed from the trees were processed in the laboratory, turned into homogeneous powders. To understand what chemical elements the samples contain the researchers carried out the neutron activation analysis in the laboratory of the IRT-T TPU research reactor. The analysis showed that the sample had increased concentration of chromium, cesium, hafnium, potassium, lutetium, molybdenum, rubidium, samarium, antimony, uranium, terbium, ytterbium, thorium and europium. The appearance of the most elements is related to the vicinity of the monitoring areas to roads and industrial enterprises.

The researchers compared the concentrations of chemical elements in moss samples located at the same point but on different trees or at different height. Mosses accumulate the majority of chemical elements regardless a kind of tree, the location of samples relative to the source of pollution (roads or enterprises), and the height of mounting. Only two exceptions were found. Rubidium and potassium accumulate better at a height of 1.5 m than of 0.5 m. In addition, the level of potassium in moss on poplars was higher than on birch trees. These differences were noticeable only in one of the two places where monitoring was carried out, and need additional verification.

The project leader, senior lecturer from the Division of Nuclear Fuel Cycle Natalia Rogova emphasizes:

"We have managed to reveal that active biomonitoring using epiphytic mosses is cheap and convenient to use. Such mosses do not require special devices to place, so it is easy to prepare samples and place them even on a wide area. As proved by our study, it does not matter on what trees and how high you place the samples. The method may significantly simplify environmental studies as it can be adopted to any territory."
A University of Wisconsin-Madison researcher and his collaborators at the University of California, San Francisco have repurposed the gene-editing tool CRISPR to study which genes are targeted by particular antibiotics, providing clues on how to improve existing antibiotics or develop new ones.

Resistance to current antibiotics by disease-causing pathogens is a growing problem, one estimated to endanger millions of lives and cost over $2 billion each year in the U.S.

"What we need to do is to figure out new weaknesses in these bacteria," says Jason Peters, a UW-Madison professor of pharmaceutical sciences, who developed the new system.

The technique, known as Mobile-CRISPRi, allows scientists to screen for antibiotic function in a wide range of pathogenic bacteria.

Using a form of bacterial sex, the researchers transferred Mobile-CRISPRi from common laboratory strains into diverse bacteria, even including a little-studied microbe making its home on cheese rinds. This ease of transfer makes the technique a boon for scientists studying any number of bacteria that cause disease or promote health.

Peters worked with Carol Gross, Oren Rosenberg and other colleagues at UCSF and other institutions to design and test Mobile-CRISPRi. The system reduces the production of protein from targeted genes, allowing researchers to identify how antibiotics inhibit the growth of pathogens. That knowledge can help direct research to overcome resistance to existing drugs.

The researchers published their findings Jan. 7 in the journal Nature Microbiology. They took advantage of the increasingly popular molecular tool CRISPR, but in a unique way.

"Most people, when they think about CRISPR, think about gene editing," says Peters, who earned his doctorate at UW-Madison and recently joined the School of Pharmacy as an assistant professor. "But that's not what I do."

Normally, the CRISPR system gets targeted to a gene where it cuts the DNA in two. The gene can be edited while the cell repairs the damage.

But Peters and his collaborators worked with a defanged form of CRISPR known as CRISPRi. CRISPRi has been engineered to be unable to cut DNA. Instead, it just sits on the DNA, blocking other proteins from gaining access to and turning on a particular gene. The result is lower expression of the gene and a reduced amount of the protein it codes for.

The researchers showed that if they decreased the amount of protein targeted by an antibiotic, bacteria became much more sensitive to lower levels of the drug -- evidence of an association between gene and drug. Thousands of genes at a time can be screened as potential antibiotic targets this way, helping scientists learn how antibiotics work and how to improve them.

To make CRISPRi mobile, the researchers developed methods to transfer the system from common lab models like E. coli to disease-causing species, which are often harder to study. Peters' team turned to one of the natural ways bacteria link up and exchange DNA, a kind of bacterial sex called conjugation. Former UW-Madison Professor of Genetics Joshua Lederberg discovered conjugation, which earned him a Nobel Prize in 1958.

"You basically mix the bacteria together and it happens," Peters says of conjugation. "It doesn't get much easier than that."

Using conjugation, Peters' team transferred Mobile-CRISPRi to the pathogens Pseudomonas, Salmonella, Staphylococcus and Listeria, among others.

"What that means is that you can now do studies on how antibiotics work directly in these pathogens," says Peters. "That could give us a better clue about how these drugs work in the different organisms and potentially what we can do to make them better."

The real test of Mobile-CRISPRi's mobility came from cheese.

As cheese ages, it curates its own landscape of microbes. Scientists are just starting to investigate the immense diversity of bacteria and fungi on cheeses, which contribute to their complex flavors. One of those bacteria, Vibrio casei, was found on the rind of a French cheese in 2010 by Peters' collaborator Rachel Dutton of the University of California, San Diego.

Manipulating genes is simple in established laboratory bacteria such as E. coli, but there is often no way to study genes in bacteria recently isolated from the environment, such as V. casei. But Mobile-CRISPRi was easily transferred into the strain, opening up new avenues for understanding how the bacteria colonizes and helps age cheese. As a proof-of-concept, V. casei suggests that Mobile-CRISPRi should be useful for any number of previously understudied bacteria, both those that harm us and those we rely on.

Now Peters is offering up Mobile-CRISPRi to other researchers to study their germs of choice.

"So now it's going to be completely available to the community," says Peters. "Now this gives people a path forward."
Emergency and urgent hospitalizations are associated with an increased rate of cognitive decline in older adults, report researchers at Rush University Medical Center. Results of their study, published in the Jan. 11, 2019, online issue of Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology, shows that hospitalization may be a more of a major risk factor for long-term cognitive decline in older adults than previously recognized.

"We found that those who have non-elective (emergency or urgent) hospitalizations and who have not previously been diagnosed with dementia or Alzheimer's disease had a rapid decline in cognitive function (i.e., thinking abilities) compared to the prehospital rates," said Bryan James, PhD, an epidemiologist and in the Rush Alzheimer's Disease Center and an assistant professor in the Rush Department of Internal Medicine. "By comparison, people who were never hospitalized and those who had elective hospitalizations did not experience the drastic decline in cognitive function."

In 2017, James and colleagues presented a preliminary version of their study results at the Alzheimer's Association International Conference in London.

Study compares hospitalization data and cognitive assessments for 777 older adults

The data emerged from a study of 777 older adults (81 years old on average, 75 percent of them women) enrolled in the Rush Memory and Aging Project (MAP) in Chicago. The study involved annual cognitive assessments and clinical evaluations.

Information on hospitalizations was acquired by linking records of 1999 to 2010 Medicare claims for these participants with their MAP data. All hospital admissions were designated as elective, emergency, or urgent. The latter two were combined as non-elective for analysis.

Of the 777 participants, 460 were hospitalized at least once over an average of almost five years of observation. Of those who were hospitalized, 222 (29 percent of the total study population) had at least one elective hospital admission, and 418 (54 percent) had at least one non-elective hospital admission. These groups included 180 participants (23 percent) who had both types of hospitalizations.

Non-elective hospitalizations were associated with an approximately 50 percent acceleration in the rate of cognitive decline from before hospitalization, and a rate of cognitive decline that was more than double the rate in persons who were not hospitalized. Elective hospitalizations, however, were not associated with acceleration in the rate of decline at all.

'Elective admissions do not necessarily carry the same risk'

"We saw a clear distinction: non-elective admissions drive the association between hospitalization and long-term changes in cognitive function in later life, while elective admissions do not necessarily carry the same risk of negative cognitive outcomes," James said. "These findings have important implications for the medical decision making and care of older adults.

"While recognizing that all medical procedures carry some degree of risk, this study implies that planned hospital encounters may not be as dangerous to the cognitive health of older persons as emergency or urgent situations."

It is unknown why emergency and urgent hospitalizations carry a higher risk of long-term cognitive decline than elective hospitalizations, but it could be due to differences in levels of sickness (though the authors controlled for health status), stress, or hospital procedures involved. The authors plan to explore these reasons in future research.

This work expands upon previous research which has shown that after being hospitalized, older adults are at high risk for memory and other cognitive problems, including both transient (temporary) delirium and long-term changes in cognition, including dementia. According to the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project in October 2010, 40 percent of all hospitalized patients in U.S. are age 65 and older. Therefore, hospitalization may be an under-recognized risk factor for cognitive decline and dementia for a large number of older adults that deserves more attention.

Detection of dementia at the earliest stages has become a worldwide priority, because drug treatments, prevention strategies and other interventions will likely be more effective very early in the disease process, before extensive brain damage has occurred.
Brain tumors kill more people under the age of 40 than any other cancer and less than 20% of those diagnosed survive beyond five years, compared to 50% of all other cancers. New funding from Barts Charity will help researchers get closer to a cure.

1.5 million has been awarded to brain tumor expert Silvia Marino, Professor of Neuropathology at Queen Mary University of London and Edward McKintosh, Consultant Neurosurgeon at Barts Health NHS Trust.

Professor Marino has pioneered research in her field and has gained international recognition. She's also the first female President of the British Neuro-Oncology Society.

This grant will help Professor Marino and her team of researchers to build upon the success in basic science of the Brain Tumour Research Centre which is funded by the charity Brain Tumour Research and to work with clinicians to develop a clinical platform to facilitate taking their discoveries to patients.

Working with Rachel Lewis, Consultant Clinical Oncologist at Barts Health NHS Trust, this grant will be used to create infrastructure within the Trust's hospitals to run clinical trials with brain tumor patients.

This will vastly enhance the research into brain tumors that can take place and brings the translation of laboratory findings to patient treatments ever closer. It will also mean a significant increase in the amount of experimental treatments available to patients.

Just 1% of the national spend on cancer research has been allocated to brain tumors, meaning that funding by the charities has played an important role. Previous seed funding from Barts Charity and substantial support by Brain Tumour Research has allowed research projects to get up and running and attract larger funders.

East Ham MP Stephen Timms will today tour the research facilities with Professor Marino. He was joined by one of his constituents Lydia Fenny, who lost her friend Phil to a brain tumor (case study available).

Professor Silvia Marino from Queen Mary University of London says:

I am thrilled to have been awarded this funding from Barts Charity, which complements the support we are receiving from Brain Tumor Research and other sources. It will allow us to move faster from the bench to the bedside and offer more experimental treatments to brain tumor patients."

Fiona Miller Smith, Chief Executive of Barts Charity says:

Professor Marino is a world-leading researcher in this important and underfunded area. By making this significant award, the Charity is supporting the extension of her laboratory work to accelerate the translation of beneficial scientific discoveries into patient care."

Sue Farrington Smith Chief Executive of Brain Tumour Research says:
Texas lawmakers indicate they may use rainy day fund for school security, hurricane recovery and teachers' pensions
We need to start putting our money where our mouth is. If were going to start fixing education, lets give it the financial resources it needs.

Ohio Senate Minority Leader Kenny Yuko

Pull Quote
Perry Village Police Lt. Michael Collins shares a moment with Zeke, a 2-year-old Dutch shepherd, who will become the Police Department's next K-9 officer. The pair visited the Perry Village Council meeting on Jan. 10. Zeke will partner with Collins once the dog completes training and is inducted into the department.
While Laketrans traditional sources of revenue have been lagging or uncertain, such as state and federal funding, the regional transit system
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The Housatonic Business Alliance in New Milford will hold its next meetings Jan. 17, 24, 31, and Feb. 7 and 14.

Guest speakers will be Bakewell & Mulhare, LLCs Scott Mulhare, CPA, who is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and Connecticut Society of CPAs, Jan. 17; PrintWorks Douglas Johnson, who is an experienced graphic designer and printer who is also an expert in Adobe InDesign, Photoshop and Illustrator, Jan. 24; Laurel Road Banks Darren Piper, who has more than 18 years of experience in the area of commercial lending during which he has assisted many customers, both large and small with achieving their business goals, Jan. 31; LAB Medias Lisa Berte, who is a digital graphic designer with several years experience developing and creating professional, user-friendly websites Feb. 7; and Evan Garrity of E. Garrity Water Solutions, a local premier water well company, Feb. 14.
The Prisoner of War/Missing In Action Connecticut Forget-Me-Nots group based in New Milford will host the 34th annual bell-ringing ceremony Jan. 20 at noon.

The ceremony, which will take place at St. Francis Xavier parish center on Elm Street near the top of the Green in New Milford, will mark the 46th anniversary of the signing of the Paris Peace Agreement, a document to end active involvement in Vietnam at which time all prisoners of war would be returned within 90 days.
Posted Friday, January 11, 2019 5:59 pm

Overhauling Washington states troubled mental health care system is a top priority this legislative session, although there is not a bipartisan agreement for how to pay for it, key lawmakers said Thursday.

This is a problem we have to address, said Sen. Keith Wagoner, R-Sedro Woolley. Its gotten ahead of us and we have to start taking a bite out of that apple now. I think there is broad agreement within the legislature that this is a top priority, so I think we are going to get a lot done.

House Speaker Frank Chopp, D-Seattle, said hell focus on adding more mental health workers and finding ways to find housing for those who have received treatment.

Its one thing to treat somebody if they have a substance abuse disorder or a mental illness. If they have nowhere to go, they die on the street; thats what it boils down to, said Chopp, who also backed construction of a new Western State Hospital.

A new 500-bed state hospital probably would be built on the Western State Hospital campus, said Rep. Laurie Jinkins, D-Tacoma. Funding to get the design work started could be included in the capital budget this year, she added, with construction years away.

Wagoner and Chopp made their remarks at the Associated Press legislative preview in Olympia. The legislature convenes Monday for its 105-day session.

How to pay for overhauling the mental health system may prove to be the biggest challenge, Democratic and Republican lawmakers said.

In his 2019-21 budget proposal, Gov. Jay Inslee has proposed boosting spending by $675 million to pay for new mental health beds in communities around the state, hire more mental health workers and offer long-term housing options to reduce the current shortage of beds, among several other items.

Inslee, a Democrat exploring a run for president, has called for a tax on capital gains earnings and higher tax rates for businesses that provides services, including attorneys and accountants.

At Thursdays legislative preview, he defended those proposed tax increases and discussed the the need to reform the states mental health system.

All of us know that we can and must make improvements for the behavioral health of our citizens, Inslee said.

He added that its critical for the state to increase the number of people who get mental health services and for government to change the method of care by providing services to people closer to where they live and work.

This is the modern way to provide behavioral health services, and we intend to transform the system, Inslee said.

Inslee said the state needs $3.7 billion in new revenue to pay for that change, continue existing state services, boost spending on K-12 education and address homelessness and climate change, among several other priorities. His proposed $54.4 billion operating budget would be about a 20 percent increase from the budget that the legislature adopted two years ago and the governor signed into law.

Despite their support for making major changes to the mental health care system, some Republican legislators on Thursday drew the line at the tax increases Inslee has proposed. Democrats control both chambers, and while some key leaders were supportive of the governors tax proposals, they said its too early to discuss whether they are needed to cover the states priorities.

Sen. Mark Schoesler, R-Ritzville, said hes not seen any support among his colleagues for a capital gains tax or raising business tax rates for services. House Minority Leader J.T. Wilcox, R-Yelm, said the legislature needs to be very cautious in how much it increases spending in the state budget as a possible economic recession looms.

We need to dial into the most important priorities, Wilcox said.

Chopp, who has said he will step down as Speaker after this years session, said the state needs a new facility to replace Western State Hospital in Lakewood.

Its got severe problems with the age of the building and the problems with the actual physical construction of the building that leads people to be able to hang themselves. That cannot be tolerated, he said.

The state also needs to make sweeping changes in how patients receive care, Chopp added.

The bulk of this should be in the community where local communities, working with the state to provide funding, to find facilities, he said.

As part of his mental health reform package, Inslee has called for adding hundreds of beds for those who are committed through civil courts. The goal, the governor said, is to reserve Western State Hospital and Eastern State Hospital in Medical Lake for patients who receive treatment based on a criminal case.
Hickory Stick Bookshop in Washington will hold a book discussion and signing Jan. 20 from 2 to 4 p.m.

The bookshop and Community Table will partner for the event with New York Times bestselling author Dani Shapiro, who will celebrate the release of her new book, Inheritance: A Memoir of Genealogy, Paternity and Love.
STRATFORD  The new Stratford High School opened its doors to the public Wednesday about halfway through a $126 million transformation.

Residents took tours guided by pairs of students of the newly built section of the school, the first phase of a project scheduled for completion in fall 2020.

They left happy with what they saw.

Im very impressed, David Anderson, a lifelong Stratford resident and member of the class of 1987, said after touring the school with his son whos now in the seventh grade. It seems like they added a lot of technology here. It's like a college environment.

Its clean, new, its beautiful, Anderson said.

Karen Sportini, an alumna whose daughter and husband also graduated from the school, agreed.

That was just amazing, she said. It's like you're at a university when you're in the classrooms. It's magnificent. I'm so excited for the kids.

The building opened to students the Monday after Thanksgiving break.

The new space features a new cafeteria and three floors of space, including a nursing classroom complete with four beds and dummy patients, video production and photography classrooms, and a new library, among other features.

A skywalk over King Street links the new and old parts of the campus.

When completed the school will have 233,250 square feet.

Still to come when the project is complete  a new lecture hall, auditorium, gymnasium, band, chorus, and culinary space.

Superintendent Janet Robinson and Principal Jack Dellapiano said technology was the watchword while designing and building the new space.

The old school was built in about 1920, Robinson said. If you just contrast what was in a classroom or in a school in 1920 and what we have year, you're in two different worlds.

For example, the new classrooms are all equipped with smartboards and videoconferencing technology, allowing teachers to work more collaboratively, Dellapiano said.

It's just a whole different level of instruction that we're still learning, he said. Every day it gets a little easier and the teachers become more comfortable with it.
Payday came and went without pay for Rob Curnan and 261 other corrections officers at the Federal Correctional Institution in Danbury, and over the weekend the partial federal shutdown hit a record length with no end in sight.

The shutdown that started three days before Christmas marks 24 days on Monday, two days longer than the previous record, December 1995 to January 1996 at the end of former President Bill Clintons first year.

On Sunday, President Donald Trump lofted a fusillade of tweets blaming Democrats for the shutdown. The damage done to our Country from a badly broken Border  Drugs, Crime and so much that is bad  is far greater than a Shutdown, which the Dems can easily fix as soon as they come back to Washington! he tweeted in the morning.

But polls released Sunday showed a majority of Americans blamed the president for the shutdown. A Washington Post/ABC News poll reported 53 percent blaming Trump, 29 percent Congressional Democrats and 13 percent blaming both. And Monday morning, the Washington Post reported that a small but growing number of Senate Republicans were calling for an immediate end to the shutdown.

People are worried, said Curnan, a union executive vice president at the Danbury prison. They are saying this could last months or years. We have a lot of single-income employees.

They were among roughly 800,000 affected federal employees  some on furlough, some forced to work with deferred pay  who didnt receive their regular checks as scheduled on Friday.

Its little solace for now that both houses of Congress passed resolutions saying they will eventually receive back pay. On top of money woes, the officers worry about the reaction of inmates in the medium-security prison as the prison employees are forced to work without pay.

Inmates know this. They look to take advantage, Curnan said. We are looking for increased violence.

Concern, anger and frustration mounted in every corner of the country. Trump, holding out for $5.7 billion for a wall on the U.S.-Mexico border, appeared willing, some would say even eager, to see the outage of all non-essential federal services last for months.

Sens. Chris Murphy and Richard Blumenthal, both D-Conn., did what they could Friday to support federal employees at Tweed-New Haven Airport and brewers in Bloomfield unable to gain licenses to expand.

We will keep working to reopen the government, Blumenthal said.

Blumenthal also joined legislation that would prohibit creditors and others from taking action against federal workers who fall behind on a variety of payments during the shutdown period, including mortgages, leases, household bills, insurance policies and loans.

This bill will help thousands of workers who have been put in dire financial straits by the Trump Shutdown, Blumenthal said.

Brewing frustration

In Hartford, a federal housing official had been helping dozens of families move from a vermin- and mold-infested public housing project to new, safe, affordable homes until the shutdown. But the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development is idled, leaving the tenants in the lurch.

Theres no one to help them now, said Erin Kemple, executive director of the Connecticut Fair Housing Center.

Jorge Perez, commissioner of the state Department of Banking, issued a statement asking financial institutions to consider prudent workouts for existing loans and extending new credit to help borrowers unable to gain credit through shuttered federal financial agencies.

These efforts on the part of financial institutions will not be subject to examiner criticism, the department said.

Perez urged consumers to work with their financial institutions while the shutdown affects loan approvals and credit reports.

Dont wait, Perez said. I am encouraging all institutions to do their best to assist their customers during this trying time.

In Bloomfield, at the Thomas Hooker Brewery, Michael Haseltine said he and his wife were set to open the states latest craft beer brewery in Bristol, probably in April.

All that was left to do was obtain the required federal license, label approval and other paperwork from the little-known Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau. But thats not happening anytime soon.

Its keeping us from opening the doors, said Haseltine, owner of Better Half Brewing. There is no one to even talk to.

The brewers, meeting with Blumenthal, all said their new product lines are in limbo. Breweries constantly change their products and the federal agency makes sure labels are accurate and standards are met.

Curt Cameron, president of the Hooker Brewery, said his spring line may not be put out because of the shutdown.

Its frustrating, Cameron said. I shudder to think what the backlog will be when the government reopens. We have two now (awaiting) label approval.

Cameron and other brewers said the holdup affects their entire operation, saying the large chrome kettles where beer is made have to remain full until label approval arrives, which means the next beer cannot be brewed.

We need to reopen the government so these guys can sell their product, Blumenthal said, noting the large national brewers are better able to withstand delays than smaller craft brewers like Hooker.

Manuel Rodriguez, owner of the Stony Creek Brewery in Branford, said he plans new beers months before offering them to customers. This holdup is a major problem, he said.

Hostage workers

Blumenthal said Democrats in the House have passed individual bills to open the branches of the government without funding for the border wall that Trump demands.

The bills are on the floor, let us vote on them and put the president to the test, Blumenthal said.

The president is considering declaring a national emergency and using existing funding reserved for disaster relief or the military to build the wall. Democrats and others have vowed to challenge that declaration in court, saying there is no crisis that warrants an emergency declaration.

At Tweed airport, 30 employees are among the workers who have gone without paychecks for three weeks.

He cant continue to use these employees as hostages, said Murphy, who was joined by New Haven Mayor Toni Harp, outgoing Tweed executive director Timothy Larson and airway transportation specialist Dennis Amato.

We are grateful that we have security personnel who are continuing to work without pay, Murphy said, but he added, They need to get paid. They need to find jobs, even temporary ones, to put food on the table.

He referred to Miami International Airports plans to close one of its terminals this weekend due to staffing shortages. A Miami airport spokesman told the Miami Herald that one of the terminals will be closed as of 1 p.m. Saturday.

Amato, a 30-year industry employee, said working for no money is a bit easier for a veteran like himself.

Im worried about the younger guys, he said. The people who have families, have bills to be paid. Theyre going to have to be taking out loans.

At the Danbury prison, Curnan, the corrections officer, said inmates earning up to $1 an hour are still being paid.

They are making more than we are, he said.

As for himself, he said, My wife works but our pay is cut in half. ... We budget for two incomes and now we have to pick and choose what bills to pay.

He added, The government sent out letters explaining the shutdown, but creditors dont want to hear that. We have people with new babies in the house. They are holding our paychecks hostage.

This story includes reports from CT News Junkie, The CT Mirror and Associated Press.
Posted Friday, January 11, 2019 4:21 pm

Contractors recently poured the foundation for the next chapter in the life of wounded veteran Jereme Sawyer. The walls will go up any day now.

Sawyer, who lost both legs and suffered other serious injuries when an improvised explosive device detonated underneath him nearly six years ago in Helmand Province, Afghanistan, has watched the past few months as a house donated by Homes for Our Troops begins to take shape.

Yelm-based contractor Cary Miller recently finished constructing a home for a wounded veteran in Shelton and will now turn his attention to completing Sawyers build on the outskirts of Tenino. The goal is to have a public celebration and key ceremony sometime next summer.

I go over there about once a week to see whats going on and get a sense of the progress being made, Sawyer said. Its been wonderful. A blessing, for sure. Its going to open up some more opportunities.

The project hit a snag in November when thieves stole more than $5,000 worth of materials  mainly windows  that had been donated by area businesses.

Authorities released information about the theft on social media and news of the incident spread across multiple television outlets. No arrests have been made, nor does Sawyer expect the thieves to be caught. He figures the culprits were hanging out at an abandoned property down the street, saw the storage box and went to find bolt cutters to cut the lock.

My house is literally right down the gravel road, so all they had to do was look out at it, Sawyer said. They took eight windows, the smaller ones, so they probably didnt have a truck or anything to haul them out. It wasnt a crime of opportunity, it had to be someone who knew the house was being built, because its so far off the road.

Sawyer recently attended the key ceremony for the veteran for whom Miller built a Homes for our Troops house in Shelton. The nonprofit has built about 270 homes for wounded veterans, many of them adapted to account for their injuries.

The experience gave him an additional perspective on whats to come as his project picks up speed. One veteran there spoke about how having a home base allowed him to focus on traveling, which spoke to Sawyer. He plans to seek employment once the house is finished and to someday have a shop building where he and his friends can work on their cars.

Im not in that particular ballpark of other veterans who have wives, children and jobs, Sawyer said. Im 42 years old and Im retired. When I did get to travel before, I really enjoyed getting to see different places and meet new people. So I dont know if Ill have to figure out a travel trailer, or what, but I wont have to worry about having a place to come back to.

Community members will have the chance to pitch in on Sawyers house when the nonprofit schedules a day for them to go help with plantings and other less-strenuous aspects of the build. That generally takes place about six weeks before the key ceremony and will be announced on social media and in The Chronicle.
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WASHINGTON  With the new administration of Gov. Ned Lamont staring into the face of a $1.7 billion deficit, elected officials are likely to again confront a long-standing reality: Connecticut sends way more to Washington in taxes than it gets back in government spending.

The state already ranks No. 1 in the nation for per capita federal taxes paid, with an annual average of $14,671  52.4 percent higher than the national average. And that ratio is likely to get worse when President Donald Trumps 2017 tax package kicks in this year.

Homeowners and state income taxpayers face a $10,000 cap on state income and property tax deductions, which had always made life in a high-cost state somewhat more affordable. As a result, Connecticut will become more of a cash cow for the U.S. government than ever before.

As it stands, the statistical picture of Connecticuts balance of payments  tax money out minus federal spending in  is not a pretty one. In this category, the state ranks No. 48, behind only Massachusetts and New Jersey.

Lamont and others view the imbalance as partly a reflection of Connecticuts long-term state investments in roads, bridges, schools and the like.

Were already sending billions more to Washington than we get back, Lamont said during the campaign. Were subsidizing all these other states that dont invest in their infrastructure the way we do.

In Washington, Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., said that in the just-begun 116th Congress, I am urging my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to commit to a comprehensive overhaul of our transportation and infrastructure systems, and I want to see as many of those dollars as possible invested in Connecticut roads, bridges, airports, rails, and ports.

High income, taxes

The data is drawn from an exhaustive analysis by the Comptroller of New York state, which is similarly facing long-term challenges in evening out its federal payments and receipts. Officials at Connecticuts Department of Revenue Services and Office of Fiscal Analysis said their offices have done no comparable study.

The New York study ranks all 50 states by a variety of measures. Among them, it breaks down the kind of tax money that heads to Washington  income, excise, social insurance, estate and gift, corporate  and the federal spending that heads back out, including defense contracts, Medicare, Social Security, veterans benefits, Medicaid, housing and education.

Part of the reason for the imbalance is structural, experts say. With a relatively small population of 3.5 million and a median household income of $73,433  sixth largest among the 50 states  Connecticut has a higher-than-average proportion of well-to-do people who pay accordingly higher taxes.

We have a very high quality of life here, said Joseph McGee, vice president for public policy and programs at the Business Council of Fairfield County. While we pay a lot in taxes in Connecticut, we have maintained a high-performing economy. I dont think weve been penalized for being successful.

As an industrial economy, Connecticut was a manufacturing powerhouse from the Civil War through World War II. Its blue-collar fortunes began to wane in the post-war world, but it made the transition to a primarily white-collar economy based on insurance, financial services, universities and medical research.

The state is now in the midst of yet another transition, to a digital economy that requires a new kind of worker with good math and computer skills.

Connecticut has fared better than states in the Midwest that have yet to recover from the dramatic outsourcing of factory jobs in the last two decades.

But Hartford, Bridgeport and New Haven remain mired in poverty, and some experts maintain that state officials have done a poor job of mining the many veins of federal money that might help them.

We didnt think it was important; there was complacency, said Fred Carstensen, a finance professor at the University of Connecticut School of Business.

Although the states spending cap has not been in operation since 2015, it served as a disincentive to seek out federal money since any (apart from transportation money) offsetting income from Washington would be counted against the cap, Carstensen said.

Another shortcoming, Carstensen said, is the lack of a top-notch data center and government employees dedicated to connecting the dots between federal pots of money and state needs.

Connecticut flies blind, he said. How could a state so smart be so stupid?

Playing defense

But even the harshest critics consider defense spending a bright spot.

With Blumenthal on the Senate Armed Services Committee and Sen. Chris Murphy on the Senate Appropriations subcommittee on military construction, the needs of the states defense industry have been well tended.

Because of its high concentration of defense contractors  Electric Boat, Sikorsky and United Technologies (Pratt & Whitney) among them  Connecticut is No.4 in the nation in terms of U.S. government procurement, at $12.2 billion in 2017.

Murphy, in particular, has been attentive to the Navys submarine base in Groton and to Electric Boat, one of two builders of submarines. His interest perked up after the Navy in 2016 took him on a submarine ride up to the Arctic Circle.

But apart from good intentions, Blumenthal, Murphy and the states House delegation of five Democrats pales in comparison to the historic champions of bringing home the bacon.

Chief among those was the late Sen. Robert Byrd, D-W.Va., chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, who infused federal spending into his poverty-stricken state with the force of a fire hose.

To be fair, the rules on Capitol Hill have changed  particularly those governing earmarks.

Earmarks, federal funding secretively slipped into legislation with little or no debate in Congress, took a nosedive in 2005 after revelations about the Bridge to Nowhere, a $223 million span between the Alaskan town of Ketchikan and a virtually uninhabited island with the areas airport.

Among those urging the return of earmarks is Rep. Jim Himes, D-Conn., who has argued that it makes little sense for Congress to appropriate money to the executive branch and then have to beg for it to come back in the form of localized spending.

Himes said that if earmarks were to return, his highest priority would be a new Congress Street Bridge in Bridgeport. Originally a drawbridge, the span across the Pequonnock River got stuck in the open position in 1997 and has never been replaced.

Federal spending in Connecticut actually has more than doubled in a decade. In 2009, deep in the Great Recession, Connecticut got just over $30 billion in federal money. In fiscal 2018, it was $68 billion.

Much of the increase is attributable to federally financed Medicaid expansion and subsidies under the 2010 Affordable Care Act  Obamacare.

The data contains a few a few head-scratching anomalies. Charts on USAspending.gov, a government clearing house aimed at transparency on federal expenditures, show that in Connecticut, federal grants for education, social services and the like, Yale University actually comes in at No. 3.

As such, Yale is ahead of the states Department of Education and its Department of Children and Families  the two main conduits for schools and programs to address domestic violence, child abuse and neglect, foster care and adoption.

dan@hearstdc.com
DERBY  A 40-year-old corporate jet pilot, is the new chief of the citys 115-member volunteer fire department.

Mayor Richard Dziekan administered the chiefs oath to Robert Laskowski, Jr., a 22-year member of the East End Hose company, before more than 100 people Saturday morning at Derby Middle School.

Laskowskis wife, Melissa, pinned the chiefs badge on her husbands uniform. She also is involved in the departments history. She is the first woman to serve as a fire captain in the city.

In addition to Laskowski, Dziekan administered oaths to David M. Lenart, 40, of Storm Engine Co. 2, who will be Laskowskis first assistant chief; Michael F. Gloade, 50, of Hotchkiss Hose Co. 1, as the second assistant chief and Thomas Biggs, 29, of the Paugassett Hook and Ladder Co. 4 as the third assistant chief.

Laskowski said one of his goals will be to increase the number of volunteers training to be firefighters as well as try to keep the current volunteers involved and on the job.

Its an issue most volunteer departments have, he said.

Ansonia, Seymour, Shelton and Oxford all have volunteer fire departments and recruit year-round.

Laskowski said Derby accepts city and non-city residents who are 18 or older. They can train to battle interior fires or just assist with equipment or on the scene. He spent two years as a lieutenant and seven years as a captain at East End.

Lenart, who will succeed Laskowski as chief in 2021, has more than a century of firefighting service in his bloodlines. Both his great-grandfather and grandfather, the late Edward Cotter Sr. and Jr., served as firefighters, as does Lenarts father.

Lenart, a 40-year-old former city aldermen, is a trained EMT and is employed as a Bridgeport firefighter assigned to Rescue Squad 5.

Gloade, 50, will become the citys first black fire chief in 2023. A native of Antigua, he signed up to become a volunteer at Hotchkiss Hose in the aftermath of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

I felt I had to do something for my community, he said. I live just around the corner from Hotchkiss Hose.

Biggs, 29, is a salesman and has been a member of the Paugassetts for the past 13 years. His is the son-in-law of Michael Kelleher, a longtime city fire commissioner.

In 2018, the department responded to 701 calls in the city, 38 calls for assistance in neighboring municipalities and participated in 2,500 hours of training.
OXFORD  A former Oxford High School teacher has been arrested for allegedly failing to report suspected child abuse at the school.

Jeffrey Giovacchino, 48, of Edmonds Road in Oxford, was charged with failure to report child abuse.

State Police said the suspected abuse happened two years ago. Giovacchino was taken into custody at 1 p.m, Wednesday. He was released after posting a $10,000 bond and will appear in Derby Superior Court on Jan. 28.

According to an arrest warrant written by Oxford Police Officer Jose Taverner, on Dec. 6, a 17-year-old student told school nurse Jodi Zaleha that she had been sexually assaulted in summer 2016 while attending a party in New Jersey.

The nurse reached out to the schools social worker, who notified the girls mother and the Department of Children and Families.

The student told Zaleha that she had also disclosed the incident during the 2016-2017 school year to Giovacchino, a history teacher at the school  and a mandated reporter of alleged sexual assault, per state law  the warrant said.

The schools principal, Dorothy Potter, told police that Giovacchino at no time informed the school administration, DCF, or police of the incident.

Potter also told police that Giovacchino is currently on suspension for another incident, though the warrant didnt offer more details.

Police met with Giovacchino on Dec. 17, according to the warrant. Police said he told them he had told the student that he was a mandated reporter and that if she was harmed he would have to report the incident.

Giovacchino allegedly told police that the student had implied what happened and Giovacchino stated he encouraged her to notify her parents and the authorities.

The warrant says Giovacchino was concerned and checked in with the victim over the course of the year  but didnt report the incident to authorities.

When police asked why not, the warrant says, Giovacchino said the victim was vague and was not sure what happened.

Police said that when they interviewed the victim, she said that when she told Giovacchino about the incident, Giovacchino informed her what had happened to her in New Jersey was rape.

The victim told police she was at a party in New Jersey and had smoked some marijuana with a boy and they began fooling around. She said the boy continued to force himself on her even after she told him she didnt want to continue.

She said Giovacchino gave her his personal cellphone number and texted her the next summer to check in on her.

The warrant says the victim also said that Giovacchino told her that he could not wait until she graduated from the high school so they could meet up to talk s*** about all the people he hated at work.

The victim told police she is receiving counseling and help now, but said that if Giovacchino would have reported (the incident) two years ago she would have received the proper help she is receiving now, according to the warrant.
District has one of the lowest cut-off ages for females in the country

WOMEN over the age of 35 in West Berkshire are automatically being refused additional IVF treatment on the NHS  with the district being one of the worst areas in the country for couples trying to conceive.

New figures show West Berkshire has one of the lowest cut-off points for women who are eligible for the treatment, dashing the hopes of many who are trying to start a family in their later years.

In Newbury, as in other areas across the Thames Valley, only one fresh IVF cycle is offered to women under 35, compared to the three cycles offered elsewhere.

They are also not offered Frozen Embryo Transfers (FET).

An FET is a cycle in which frozen embryos from a previous fresh IVF or donor egg cycle are thawed and then transferred back into a womans uterus.

And women aged 35 or above are automatically refused IVF cycles at all four Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs) across the Thames Valley, including NHS Berkshire West CCG.

Guidelines from health watchdog NICE recommend that women under 40 should be offered three fresh cycles of IVF and one fresh cycle for those aged between 40 and 42.

A Freedom of Information request conducted by campaign group Fertility Fairness showed that the district is one of 12 areas in the UK where women are automatically being refused treatment if they are not referred before their 35th birthday.

There is also a huge disparity across the country when it comes to offering IVF cycles, which critics have coined as a postcode lottery for couples trying to conceive.

South Yorkshire, Merseyside, Cumbria and Greater Manchester are among some of the regions in the UK where cycles of IVF are offered by local CCGs for women up to the age of 42.

But for women aged between 40 and 42 trying to conceive in West Berkshire and West Hampshire it is almost impossible to do so on the NHS, with Newbury and District CCG offering no cycles for this age group at all.

In July, Anna and Craig Minter, formerly of Thatcham, relocated to Bury, Greater Manchester, in order to boost their chances of becoming parents, having spent four years trying to conceive.

And Newbury resident Alison Green was told her BMI was too high for IVF treatment when she was 36.

After dropping eight stone in just one year, Mrs Green was then informed that she was too old to be offered IVF on the NHS, leaving her with no choice but to pursue treatment privately  all of which proved unsuccessful.

Mrs Greens sister, who lives in Gloucestershire, was offered three cycles of IVF on the NHS and fell pregnant on her second cycle aged 34, before having twins on her third cycle, aged 37.

Mrs Green, now 46, went on to have an unsuccessful, five year-long adoption journey.

She said: I do not think everybody should be offered three cycles because I know the NHS cannot afford to pay that.

But the postcode lottery is a nightmare, as it should be the same criteria for all.

Obviously, there are a lot of mixed emotions because my sister knows how I felt about not having children.

I love my nieces and nephew to bits, but then theres always the other side of the coin  why didnt it happen to me?

Co-chair of Fertility Fairness and chief executive of national charity Fertility Network UK, Aileen Feeney, condemned the lack of IVF options available to women across the district.

Ms Feeney said: Infertility is a devastating disease causing depression, suicidal feelings, relationship breakdown and social isolation, removing the recommended clinical help or making it harder to access is cruel and economically shortsighted.

Access to NHS treatment should be according to medical need and not your postcode.

A spokesperson for Berkshire West CCG said the body had a legal duty to remain within its NHS budget, meaning some treatments, including IVF, cannot be provided for all patients.

The body also justified the criteria in refusing IVF to women in West Berkshire beyond the age of 35 on the grounds of clinical and cost effectiveness, as female fertility declines, on average, after that age.
Jail sentence for serial offender with 150 convictions

A VETERAN conwoman who preys on the good nature of local people is back behind bars.

Amanda Basden, who used to go by the surname Futcher, has more than 150 previous convictions and regularly begged for cash, pleading that she needed a taxi to visit her desperately sick baby in hospital.

There was no sick baby, but that did not stop her collecting 5, 10 and even 20 notes by plying her fake sob-story from door to door or approaching well-meaning strangers in the street.

One elderly lady offered her a lift instead and Basden repaid her kindness by stealing her handbag from the back seat.

Badsen, a former Park House School pupil, also stole a charity box from the Royal British Legion in 2016.

Now aged 38 and living in Love Lane, Newbury, she was back in the dock at Reading Magistrates Court on Thursday, December 20.

There, she admitted her latest round of offending which included yet more offences of begging and stealing.

Specifically, Basden admitted an offence of racially aggravated harassment, stealing goods together worth hundreds of pounds from Marks and Spencer on three occasions, stealing 45-worth of goods from New Look, remaining in a prohibited area and breaching a supervision order.

All the above offences were committed in Reading between June and December last year.

She initially denied an offence of begging for money in Reading on September 17, which she was prohibited from doing by a Criminal Behaviour Order (CBO) imposed by a judge at Reading Crown Court on April 22, 2014.

But she subsequently changed her plea and admitted it.

Basden was sentenced to a total of 40 weeks in jail.

In passing sentence, magistrates remarked on her lengthy record of previous convictions.

In addition, Basden was ordered to pay a statutory victim services surcharge of 115.
Posted Friday, January 11, 2019 6:18 pm

Deston Denniston stood on the edge of a 120-acre piece of property Wednesday afternoon, pointing to its various parts and rattling off the qualities of their soil. He spoke with the sort of precision honed by multiple years of permaculture experience.

Denniston is the executive director of VETS_CAFE, a nonprofit that helps veterans launch a career in agriculture, conservation, forestry or ecology; and the land outisde Rochester was recently donated to the nonprofit to bolster its work.

Specifically, the deed to the land was recorded on Dec. 14. Before that came about 10 months of feasibility studies and dialogue.

Located in a rural stretch outside Rochester in southern Thurston County, the property will play host to a bevy of educational opportunities and as a business incubator for veterans and other sponsored members as its slowly developed and cultivated into something sustainable.

I see hundreds of local veteran entrepreneurs with an incredibly broad range of skills working together to create a sustainable food system and local economy, said Denniston.

VETS_CAFE started as something much less formal. In 2012, Denniston found himself in Oregon City, Oregon, teaching a class on permaculture  or the development of an agricultural ecosystem  for veterans on a 7-acre farm. In the off-hours of the course, he and its members would often find themselves sitting at a campfire as vets are wont to do, said Denniston, a veteran himself.

As they sat and talked, they created an acronym  a hilariously long acronym that started out as something of a joke, but has since evolved.

Veterans Entrepreneurial Training and Studies in Conservation, Agriculture, Forestry and Ecology, he said. That name was mercifully shortened to VETS_CAFE, and became the name of the social side of the permaculture classes Denniston headed.

After more classes and campfire conversations, Denniston said he and his partners decided to launch their efforts to teach veterans the art and science of outdoor and agricultural work into a certified nonprofit, dubbed Veterans Ecological Trades Collective.

As he worked on his masters degree, Denniston said, he became struck by the number of skilled veteran entrepreneurs struggling for work. Also during the same approximate timeframe, he began to construct the curriculum that would become his course.

Denniston said he and others involved were keen on getting some sort of parcel  something in the ballpark of 10 to 20 acres  to host classes and campouts.

The states Department of Veterans Affairs contacted him, asking if his organization would be interested in obtaining a 40-acre farm. As the conversation developed, the land  donated by the Seattle-based Fremont Dock LLC  morphed from 40 acres to 120 acres. A feasibility study on the land, which has sat derelict for a decade, found that there would be challenges in cultivating the place.

But vets have seen worse, Denniston said.

There are invasive species that need to be controlled and dead wood that needs to be cleared away. But such work fits right in with the educational basis of the course, said Denniston, and will be used as learning experiences.

The next few years will be used to craft a master plan for the land and its use, he said. Currently, one of the more pressing issues is security. Thieves stole a communication station the vets had planned to use to produce agricultural podcasts. Gates and eco blocks have been pushed aside or pulled down. Installing proper fencing has become a priority  and is made largely possible by a $5,000 donation from the Nisqually Indian Tribe.

But in the years that follow, the use for the land and the educational purposes it may fulfill are myriad  from farming to livestock to agricultural infrastructure and more. Denniston said it will serve as a business incubator for veterans keen on a career in ecology.

Im really looking forward to mid-spring, when weve had a couple of good campouts, a couple of good work parties and are starting to settle into a routine, Denniston said.

Another permaculture course will begin in August, with a sliding price of $100 to $500 for veterans.

Since its inception, VETS_CAFE has worked with more than 400 veterans from multiple combat theaters. The organization currently has 18 members, said Denniston.

Donations toward VETS_CAFE can be given at its website, vets-cafe.com.
Newburyport - Paul James Matthews, 95, a resident of Newburyport, died Monday morning June 14, 2021 at Port Healthcare Center in Newburyport. He was born on January 26, 1926, in Newburyport, Mass., to the late James and Mary Matthews. Paul was raised in Newburyport and was a graduate of Newb
A pelican that landed near docks in Rhode Island will likely remain stranded in chilly New England until after the end of the partial federal government shutdown.

The Providence Journal reports that the juvenile brown pelican, who may have been steered north by recent high winds, had become a local sensation delighting local bird watchers and dock workers who nicknamed him "Bert.''

But as temperatures dropped, the bird was taken from the area by the Department of Environmental Management to a wildlife sanctuary.

Now, Bert may be stuck.

Kristin Fletcher, executive director of Wildlife Rehabilitators Association of Rhode Island, the group caring for the pelican, said they can't get the needed federal permits to move him across state lines to a more southern location.
A New Hampshire teenager is being held without bail following a dangerousness hearing for allegedly stabbing another teen over the sale of expensive sneakers, the Middlesex District Attorney's office announced Friday.

Dequan Hagen, 19, from Nashua, New Hampshire, is being held in connection with an alleged stabbing that occurred on Jan. 3, in Tyngsborough, Massachusetts. He is charged with armed robbery, home invasion, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, assault with a dangerous weapon and malicious destruction of property over $1,200.

Tyngsborough Police say they responded to a report of a stabbing that had taken place on Frost Road around 8:15 p.m. Authorities later learned that the victim, a 17-year-old boy, had arranged to meet Hagen that night to sell him a pair of Adidas Yeezy sneakers.

Upon arrival, the victim asked Hagen to meet him in the garage. Police say that home security footage at the scene shows Hagen pulling out the knife before entering the garage. Hagen then stabbed the victim and fled the scene with the sneakers.

According to the District Attorney's office, the victim was then taken to a hospital and was subsequently discharged.

Hagen turned himself into the Tyngsborough police the following day after a warrant was put out for his arrest in connection to the stabbing. He was arraigned in Lowell District Court on Monday.

Hagen is due back in court Feb. 11.
A man who was wanted for aggravated sexual assault and aggravated domestic assault has been arrested in Maine.

According to Vermont State Police, John E. Vautier, 41, of Harmony, Maine, was located after an extensive search and arrested at 2:00 p.m. Saturday by Maine State Police.

Vautier is wanted in Vermont for three charges of aggravated sexual assault and one charge of aggravated domestic assault stemming from an incident on Dec. 31.

The incident occurred at the Bennington Motor Inn in Bennington, Vermont, police said.

Vautier is now awaiting extradition back to Vermont.

No court dates have been announced, and it is unclear if he has an attorney.
Massachusetts Democratic Sen. Elizabeth Warren is in New Hampshire this weekend to host an organizing event for her 2020 presidential exploratory committee.

Warren kicked off the Saturday afternoon event at Manchester Community College by introducing the "two men" in her life. She was then joined on stage by her husband and dog.

The Massachusetts Democrat brought her populist platform to about 450 prospective voters at Manchester Community College, taking aim at the ``wealthy and well-connected'' and championing economic reforms to benefit the middle and lower classes.

``This is about who the rules work for,'' she said. ``Is it just going to be for the wealthy and well-connected, or is it going to be for everyone else?''

The Massachusetts Democrat brought her populist platform to about 450 prospective voters at MCC, taking aim at the "wealthy and well-connected'' and championing economic reforms to benefit the middle and lower classes.

"This is about who the rules work for,'' she said. "Is it just going to be for the wealthy and well-connected, or is it going to be for everyone else?''

Afterward, she made her pitch to a more select group at a house party in Concord, the state's capital.

Warren promised "the biggest anti-corruption proposal since Watergate,'' but did not mention by name the likely inspiration for her proposal President Donald Trump. "I think (Democrats) need to talk about our affirmative vision,'' and not Trump, she told reporters afterward.

The sweeping reform plan unveiled in August would crack down on foreign lobbying and lobbyist campaign donations, as well as launch an independent federal anti-corruption agency and require that Supreme Court justices be bound by the same ethics rules as other federal judges.

This was Warren's first visit to New Hampshire since launching an exploratory committee for the 2020 campaign. Besides advocating for reforms to health care, student debt, and the minimum wage, Warren touched on breaking news with a call for an end to the ongoing partial federal government shutdown, which is now the longest in history.

"Federal workers are not pawns,'' she told a crowd of about 60 pressed into a Concord living room. "(Opening the government) is the job right now of the U.S. Senate, and we have votes to do it, and (Senate Majority Leader) Mitch McConnell is holding us back.''

If Sen. Bernie Sanders declares another presidential run, Warren could face a strong opponent in the New Hampshire primary, which the Vermont independent took in 2016 by a 22-point margin over Hillary Clinton.

Yet Warren's supporters Saturday said Sanders's moment had passed, leaving her to take up the progressive banner.

"Bernie's terrific. His politics are right on,'' said John Schipp, of Wolfeboro, New Hampshire. "But I think we need someone a little younger, a little stronger.'' He added, "Someone with mass appeal. Someone who owns a comb.''

Warren also will confront persistent questions about her claims to Cherokee heritage. This fall, she released a DNA test in response to President Trump's "Pocahontas'' jibes against her, but faced backlash from Native tribe members who felt the distant connection revealed by the test was an unfair comparison to their own indigenous ties.

Protesters at the entrance to MCC recalled that dispute, with one demonstrator wearing a makeshift feather headdress and others hoisting signs that read "Taxation Is Theft.''

Other prominent Democrats have already jumped in the race, including Tulsi Gabbard, a congresswoman from Hawaii, and Julian Castro, a former secretary of housing and urban development under Barack Obama.

Although Warren has not formally declared her candidacy, she appeared well on her way to the campaign trail, telling supporters "this is going to be a grassroots campaign,'' one without unaccountable PAC money or lobbyist donations.

While New Hampshire democrats are still evaluating Warren's candidacy, many tell NBC10 Boston that there are more candidates they want to get to know and experience, in person, before they make any final decisions about 2020.

"I want to support the strongest Democratic candidate to come out and has a chance to beat Donald Trump. And if she's that candidate, I will support her. If she's not, I won't," Adam Rosenthal, of Concord, said.

"I think she's very relatable," Jennifer Bricchi, of Allentown, New Hampshire, said. "I mean when she started off with her stories talking about her mom and dad and fighting for their home. There are so many people out there that do that on a daily basis, and I just find that she's very relatable when she talks about stuff like that. It's fantastic."

Warren will return to the Granite State on Feb. 22 as the keynote speaker at the New Hampshire Democratic Party's McIntyre-Shaheen 100 Club Dinner in Manchester.
A federal judge's ruling that the Obama health law is unconstitutional has landed like a stink bomb among Republicans, who've seen the politics of health care flip as Americans increasingly value the overhaul's core parts, including protections for pre-existing medical conditions and Medicaid for more low-income people.

While the decision by the Republican-appointed judge in Texas was sweeping, it has little immediate practical impact because the Affordable Care Act remains in place while the legal battle continues, possibly to the Supreme Court.

HealthCare.gov, the government's site for signing up, was taking applications Saturday, the deadline in most states for enrolling for coverage next year, and those benefits will take effect as scheduled Jan. 1. Medicaid expansion will proceed in Virginia, one of the latest states to accept that option. Employers will still be required to cover the young adult children of workers, and Medicare recipients will still get discounted prescription drugs.

But Republicans, still stinging from their loss of the House in the midterm elections, are facing a fresh political quandary after U.S. District Judge Reed O'Connor said the entire 2010 health law was invalid.

Warnings about the Texas lawsuit were part of the political narrative behind Democrats' electoral gains. Health care was the top issue for about one-fourth of voters in the November election, ahead of immigration and jobs and the economy, according to VoteCast, a nationwide survey for The Associated Press. Those most concerned with health care supported Democrats overwhelmingly.

In his ruling, O'Connor reasoned that the body of the law could not be surgically separated from its now-meaningless requirement for people to have health insurance.

"On the assumption that the Supreme Court upholds, we will get great, great health care for our people," President Donald Trump told reporters during a visit Saturday to Arlington National Cemetery. "We'll have to sit down with the Democrats to do it, but I'm sure they want to do it also."

Economist Gail Wilensky, who oversaw the Medicare program for President George H.W. Bush, said the state attorneys general from GOP strongholds who filed the lawsuit really weren't very considerate of their fellow Republicans.

"The fact that they could cause their fellow Republicans harm did not seem to bother them," said Wilensky, a critic of President Barack Obama's signature domestic achievement.

"The people who raised it are a bunch of guys who don't have serious election issues, mostly from states where saber-rattling against the ACA is fine," she added. "How many elections do you have to get battered before you find another issue?"

Douglas Holtz-Eakin, top policy adviser to Republican John McCain's 2008 presidential campaign, said he was struck by the relative silence from top Republicans after the ruling issued.

A prominent example: "The House was not privy to this suit, and we are reviewing the ruling and its impact," said AshLee Strong, spokeswoman for House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis.

Republicans are "going to have to figure out what to do," Holtz-Eakin said. "If it's invalidated by the courts, it's not ... 'We're going to do it our way.' They're going to have to get together with the Democrats in the House."

The GOP's failed effort last year to repeal the law showed there's no consensus within the party itself.

Trump tweeted Friday night that "Congress must pass a STRONG law that provides GREAT healthcare and protects pre-existing conditions."

"Get it done!" he told Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., and Rep. Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., who is expected to be speaker in January. But Trump had no plan of his own to offer in the 2017 "repeal and replace" debate.

Two top House Republicans issued diverging statements.

Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy of California said "Obamacare is a broken law," but added, "I am committed to working with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to make sure America's healthcare system works for all Americans."

The third-ranking GOP leader, Louisiana Rep. Steve Scalise, praised the judge's ruling and made no mention of working with Democrats, whom he accused of "running a fear-mongering campaign" to win control of the House last month.

The chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, Rep. Kevin Brady, R-Texas, said that if the law is ultimately overturned, then members of Congress from both parties should start over, working together. He urged maintaining provisions such as protections for pre-existing medical conditions, no lifetime dollar limits on insurance coverage, and allowing young adults to stay on parental coverage until age 26.

Democrats were united in condemning the ruling.

Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer of New York said voters will remember. "What will stand is Republican ownership of such a harmful and disastrous lawsuit," Schumer tweeted.

The next chapter in the legal case could take months to play out.

A coalition of Democratic state officials led by California Attorney General Xavier Becerra will appeal O'Connor's decision, most likely to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit in New Orleans.

"The legal merits of the case are frivolous," said University of Michigan law professor Nicholas Bagley. "The notion that the unconstitutionality of an unenforceable mandate somehow requires toppling the entire ACA is bonkers." Bagley supports the law generally, but has been critical of how it has been put into effect.
What to Know Jayme Closs, 13, went missing on Oct. 15 when police discovered someone had broken into her family's Wisconsin home and killed her parents

Jayme was found Thursday, walking along a rural road roughly 60 miles north of where she disappeared three months earlier

Jake Thomas Patterson, 21, was arrested on two counts of first-degree intentional homicide and one count of kidnapping, authorities sai

Thirteen-year-old Jayme Closs escaped the man who killed her parents and held her against her will in a remote part of Wisconsin, then gave police a description of his car that enabled deputies to quickly take him into custody, authorities said at an emotional news conference Friday.

Jake Thomas Patterson, a 21-year-old from Gordon, Wisconsin, was arrested Thursday - the same day Jayme was discovered walking down a road roughly 60 miles north of where she disappeared, authorities said. Jayme had been missing for 88 days, since her parents were fatally shot at their home outside Barron, Wisconsin, in October.

Patterson was being held on two counts of first-degree intentional homicide in the shooting deaths of James and Denise Closs and one count of kidnapping, officials said. He is expected to appear in court Monday.

Authorities said Jayme gave deputies a description of Patterson's vehicle, enabling them to locate and arrest him minutes later.

"Jayme is the hero in this case, there's no question," Barron County Sheriff Chris Fitzgerald said.

Police said Patterson was not home when Closs escaped and appeared to be "looking for her when law enforcement found him."

"That is the will of a kid to survive, its the unthinkable," Fitzgerald said. "Its amazing the will of that 13-year-old girl to escape."

Fitzgerald said Jayme was inside her family's home when her parents were killed and that Patterson planned his actions, then "took many proactive steps" to hide Jayme and himself from law enforcement and the public.

Among those steps, Fitzgerald said, Patterson shaved his head to avoid leaving any hair behind.

The area where Jayme was allegedly held was remote and heavily wooded with few houses, officials said.

"We also do not believe at this time that the suspect had any contact with the family. We do believe Jayme was the only target," Fitzgerald continued, adding that Patterson "had zero criminal history locally and zero criminal history in Wisconsin."

Closs discovery and Pattersons arrest brought to an end what he said was a long and difficult search for the girl, whose disappearance, coupled with her parents death, rocked their community. She was discovered by a social worker walking her dog heard her cries for help and recognized her.

Jeanne Nutter told The Associated Press on Friday that she was walking her dog at around 4 p.m. along a rural road near Gordon when a disheveled teenage girl approached her and called out for help.

Jayme told Nutter her name and said she had walked away from a cabin where she'd been held captive, a cabin not far from Nutter's own home.

"I was terrified, but I didn't want to show her that," Nutter told the AP. "She just yelled please help me I don't know where I am. I'm lost."

Nutter said she didn't want to bring Jayme to her nearby home because it was too close to where she'd been found, and she didn't want them to be alone. She said: "My only thought was to get her to a safe place."

The two went elsewhere in the neighborhood, to the home of Peter and Kristin Kasinskas. Jayme was skinny and dirty, wearing shoes too big for her feet, but appeared outwardly OK, the neighbors said.

"I honestly still think I'm dreaming right now. It was like I was seeing a ghost," Peter Kasinskas told the Minneapolis Star Tribune. "My jaw just went to the floor."

"We've seen her face a lot so I knew it was her the second she walked in the door," Kasinskas' wife Kristin said.

"She seemed kind of in shock and kind of timid but she did talk to us a little bit and she came in and sat down in our living room and was able to have a conversation with us," Kristin Kasinskas said in a phone interview on NBC's "Today" show.

"She didn't give us a ton of details," she added. "I'd asked her if she knew where Gordon, Wisconsin, was; she did not. She did not know where Gordon was and she did not know where she was at the time."

Kristin Kasinskas said Jayme told the couple the name of the person she believed had taken her.

"I recognized the name when I was told it but not somebody I knew well by any means," Kristin Kasinskas said. "She kind of talked about being locked when this person had to leave but she did not go into any detail about how she got away."

"We kind of just talked with her, nothing too specific. She didnt express like any fear," she continued. "She didnt say she was afraid the person was coming after her but she did say that somebody took her, she did say that somebody killed her parents. She told us a vehicle to be watching out for."

Jayme went missing on Oct. 15 after police discovered someone had broken into the family's home outside Barron and fatally shot her parents, James and Denise Closs. Jayme was nowhere to be found, with the Barron County Sheriff's Department at the time describing her as likely abducted.

Kristin Kasinskas heard a knock on her door Thursday afternoon, according to the Star Tribune. It was Nutter, her neighbor, with Jayme alongside.

In the 20 minutes Jayme was in their home, Kristin and Peter Kasinskas tried to make her feel more comfortable, they said. They offered her water and food, but she declined both. Jayme was quiet, her emotions "pretty flat," Peter Kasinskas said.

Kristin Kasinskas told NBC affiliate KARE Jayme looked thinner than in her missing persons photograph, "a little unkempt, but okay over all."

Jayme told the couple she didn't know where she was or anything about Gordon. From what she told them, they believe she was there for most of her disappearance.

Gordon lies about 40 miles south of Lake Superior and about 65 miles north of Barron, Jayme's hometown. The town is home to about 645 people in a heavily forested region where logging is the top industry.

Sue Allard, Jayme's aunt, told the Star Tribune that she could barely express her joy after learning the news Thursday night.

"Praise the Lord," Allard said between sobs. "It's the news we've been waiting on for three months. I can't wait to get my arms around her. I just can't wait."

"When you actually hear it, its just unbelievable," Jayme's uncle Jeff Closs said via phone interview. "Were all just so grateful and happy. Hopefully shes okay, we dont really know what shape shes in. We dont really know a lot, all we know is shes alive."

Detectives pursued thousands of tips, watched dozens of surveillance videos and conducted numerous searches in the effort to find Jayme. Some tips led officials to recruit 2,000 volunteers for a massive ground search on Oct. 23 but it yielded no clues.

Fitzgerald said in November that he kept similar cases in the back of his mind as he worked to find Jayme, including the abduction of Elizabeth Smart, who was taken from her Salt Lake City home in 2002, when she was 14 years old. She was rescued nine months later with the help of two witnesses who recognized her abductors from an "America's Most Wanted" episode.

"I have a gut feeling she's (Jayme's) still alive," Fitzgerald said at the time.

He was right.

"I figured that if they hadnt found her by now, that the person that did this didnt want her dead, so I had hope, every day," Jayme's aunt Kelly Englehardt said. "Every day there was hope."

"It's what we've prayed for every single day for the last 87 days," Englehardt added.

Barron Mayor Ron Fladten said Thursday night he was overjoyed at learning the news.

"There was a lot of discouragement because this took quite a while to play out," Fladten said. "A lot of people have been praying daily, as I have. It's just a great result we got tonight. It's unbelievable. It's like taking a big black cloud in the sky and getting rid of it and the sun comes out again."

He acknowledged that Jayme may not be the same person she was before she disappeared.

"I hope that she's in good shape," the mayor said. "She's no doubt been through just a terrible ordeal. I think everybody wishes her a good recovery and a happy life going into the future."

Jayme was hospitalized for observation overnight, authorities said, but was doing well and was cleared from the hospital by Friday morning.

She was undergoing a "reunification process" Friday, which includes medical and mental evaluations, as well as questioning by detectives and the FBI, and reuniting with family members.

Authorities said they hoped to have her back in Barron County by Friday morning or early afternoon.

The notification that Jayme had been found came just four hours after Fitzgerald had taken to Twitter to debunk a report that she had been found alive near Walworth County. Douglas County, where Jayme was found, is hundreds of miles northwest of Walworth County.
The American former Marine who is being held in Moscow on spying charges also holds British, Irish and Canadian citizenship, officials said. Britain's foreign secretary charged Friday that Russia is trying to use him as a pawn in its geopolitical games.

The news that Paul Whelan holds citizenship in four countries brings international pressure on Russia from several fronts. Britain, Ireland, and Canada have asked that their diplomats be allowed to visit him as well as the U.S. ambassador.

Whelan, the 48-year-old global security director for a U.S. auto parts company, was arrested Dec. 28 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. The Interfax news agency said he denied the allegation.

Whelan's family says he was in Russia to attend a friend's wedding. A Russian lawmaker, meanwhile, hinted Friday that the detainee could possibly be swapped for a Russian woman in the United States who has pleaded guilty to trying to influence U.S. politics.

Relations between Moscow and London have hit a low point in the wake of Britain's allegations that Russian military intelligence agents were behind the nerve-agent poisoning of a Russian former double agent and his daughter in the British city of Salisbury in March.

British Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt said his government was helping Whelan.

"We are giving him every support we that we can, but we don't agree with individuals being used in diplomatic chess games," Hunt said Friday on Sky News. "We are extremely worried about him and his family."

U.S. Ambassador Jon Huntsman Jr. met with Whelan earlier this week at Lefortovo Prison in Moscow.

"He has British citizenship. The British side has sent a request for a consular visit. Work on it is in progress," the Russian state news agency Tass cited Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova as saying.

Ireland's Department of Foreign Affairs on Friday confirmed that Whelan also holds Irish citizenship and said it is requesting consular access, while Global Affairs Canada confirmed that it is providing consular assistance to Whelan and is asking Russian authorities for more information on his case.

Whelan's twin brother David said in a statement for the family that they were "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."

He said the family's "focus remains on ensuring that Paul is safe, well treated, has a good lawyer, and is coming home." He urged both the U.S. Congress and the U.S. State Department to help get his brother freed.

Whelan's 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 the profile picture on the Foreign Ministry's Facebook page  and the timing of Whelan's arrest has led to suggestions that he is being seen as a potential swap for her.

A top member of Russia's parliament, foreign affairs committee deputy head Dmitry Novikov, on Friday appeared to suggest that was a possibility once the investigation into Whelan was completed.

"I think that we have to give our special services the opportunity to finalize things with the detainees. Then we will see," he said, according to the Interfax news agency.

U.K.-Russian relations were sharply damaged by the Salisbury nerve agent poisoning in March, for which Russia has angrily denied involvement.

The two Russian suspects identified by British authorities, who were spotted on security cameras in Salisbury on the day that former Russian spy Sergei Skripal and Yulia Skripal were poisoned, claim they were businessmen on a short holiday to see the city's famed cathedral.

Britain expelled 23 Russian diplomats in the case, and Russia sent home the same number. Many British allies made similar expulsions, with more than 150 Russian diplomats kicked out overall.

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, Michigan-based BorgWarner, an auto parts supplier.

Katz reported from London. Rob Gillies in Toronto also contributed.
Posted Friday, January 11, 2019 6:21 pm

The Centralia School Board addressed boundary changes for the final time Wednesday evening, before its final vote later this month.

The current boundary map of our district starts with the K-3 schools, and as you can see they are not beautifully designed, said Centralia School District Superintendent Mark Davalos. A lot of this changed over time with developments of homes and other things.

The Centralia School Board discussed the boundary changes needed as a result of the districts shift to a K-6 school model at its study session Wednesday evening. Davalos presented two maps with proposed boundaries that they board intends to vote on later this month.

Davalos noted that Edison Elementary School has the densest neighborhood in the city, which is why it has the smallest boundary. Because the current boundaries are so spread out, some students spend one and a half hours on the bus each way, Davalos said. New boundaries would shorten this ride time, he said.

The study session lasted a little over an hour. Davalos reviewed the school construction bond Centralia School District voters passed February 2017 and the 15-member boundary-change committee that proposed map options to the community and gathered feedback.

Davalos also discussed the process committee members used when creating the maps and a series of community discussions the district hosted in November 2018 for the new boundaries.

Originally, the district had one option for boundary changes set to come into effect for the 2019-20 school year.

Numerous parents in the Centralia School District, however, strongly opposed that configuration at previous public meetings and discussions. The Centralia School District did not specifically explain that the boundary lines would change in its information for voters, although it did advertise the configuration change.

Parents in the Centralia School District have been vocal about what they felt was a lack of transparency from the district, and concerns over new childcare arrangements.

On Wednesday, however, only one parent spoke at the study session. Kyle Markstrom said he felt the boundary change benefitted his family more than the current K-3 and 4-6 model.

Davalos spent roughly 10 minutes discussing each map option.

I think what stands out is the Edison boundary, said Davalos of Map A. As we mentioned, Edison being a more dense neighborhood and an older neighborhood, is really not going to be one that is stretched far. So this is about the limit about the boundary that we could build for Edison.  Weve even calculated the classrooms for Map A to make sure that they could all work and we could actually pull this off and make that happen.

The Edison boundary for Map B is slightly different.

I think if you go back and forth between the maps, you will see the small changes that this makes, Davalos said. The results of Map B, Edison is a little larger, as you will see later in that calculation, but they (students) will fit.

The Centralia School District hosted six boundary change discussions to gather public input  one at each elementary school and an additional discussion in Spanish.

We are trying to be as transparent as possible, said Davalos during the study session.

The Centralia School Board will hold its next regular meeting on Wednesday, January 23. The board is slated to vote on which boundary map the district will implement in the 2019-20 school year. The district is currently constructing two new elementary schools and conducting a full like-new remodel of its high school. Elementary schools in the district previously used a K-3 and 4-6 model, but will change to a K-6 model this fall.
A class-action lawsuit filed this week claims the city of San Diego and three companies have failed to keep city sidewalks clear from an "onslaught of unregulated dockless scooters."

Bird, Lime, Razor and the city of San Diego are named in the lawsuit as violating the Americans with Disabilities Act by neglecting to keep the city's sidewalks clear of dockless scooters for people who are visually impaired and who use wheelchairs and walkers.

"I've been hit a couple times. People just run into the front of my chair," said Jean Rocque, a wheelchair user. "I've actually had to pick 'em up off the sidewalk and swing em around. I can't pick 'em up but I can maneuver them out of my way."

Rocque is not part of the suit but hopes it does something to make her life easier.

The lawsuit was filed in the U.S. District Southern Court of California by Disabilities Rights California (DCA), a national non-profit disabilities rights group, on behalf of Alex Montoya, Rex Shirley, Philip Pressel, Aaron Gresson and other people with disabilities.

The lawsuit describes times where Montoya, who was born without arms and one leg, and Gresson, who is blind, were almost struck by oncoming scooters that they could not prepare for because of their limited mobility.

"The dockless scooter riders often ride the Scooters on the sidewalk, turning the sidewalk into a vehicle highway rather than a space for safe pedestrian access and use," the lawsuit said.

Bob Frank, one of the attorneys who filed the suit, said the city is creating an environment where it is endangering disabled people.

"Some of them don't go out," he said. "They live in fear because of the presence of scooters and the hazards they present to them."

People such as Shirley and Pressel, who use mobility scooters, are prevented from using the city's sidewalks, the lawsuit alleges.

"My life is totally changed," Pressel said. "They whiz by speeds, inches away from my scooter."

At times, both have run into the transportation devices as they lay on the sidewalk.

"They should not be parked on the sidewalk," Pressel said. "If they're parked on the sidewalk people who don't know assume we're going to ride on the sidewalk and that's not right."

In at least one instance, Shirley was unable to leave his home because of dockless scooters blocking the entrance, the lawsuit said.

"People with disabilities who wish to travel in the City using the Citys walkways are being forced to either put their physical safety at risk or just stay home. This is not a choice that they should have to make," the lawsuit said.

Frank said the goal of the lawsuit is not to take scooters away, but to make it safer for disabled people.

"We're hoping the court agrees and can help construct a solution to this that neither the city or the scooter companies have come up with yet," he said.
Two convicted drug traffickers are back behind bars after agents overheard them talking in a holding cell about the motel they had used to store and package a large cache of drugs.

According to Jan. 10 federal charges, police pulled over Jesus Rodriguez and Ramon Fabela for a traffic violation in San Diego. In the cab of Rodriguez truck, officers found a package meant to be shipped to Alaska. Inside they found one kilogram of cocaine, one kilogram of heroin, and 12,000 pills that later tested positive for Fentanyl.

But, according to the complaint, agents received the tip they needed to piece the operation together when, while detained, agents overheard Fabela direct Rodriguez to take the blame and that everything should go smoothly unless the agents get the footage from the motel.

The statement led agents to a Motel 6 in San Ysidro. In the room, agents found plastic bags for packing the drugs, rubber gloves, as well as coffee grinds that the two had used to try and mask the smell of drugs.

The U.S Attorneys Office in San Diego has charged the men with Possession with Intent to Distribute Controlled Substances.

According to federal court records, Fabela and Rodriguez are no strangers to illegal drug smuggling.

In 2001, Fabela was arrested at the Calexico Port of Entry after trying to transport 33.78 kilograms of marijuana into the country from Mexico.

Fabela was again arrested in 2003 trying to pass through the same border with 43.84 kilograms of marijuana. In 2009, Fabela was charged with conspiracy to import nearly 30 pounds of cocaine into the U.S.

As for his accomplice in the January 9 arrest, Jesus Ernesto Rodriguez was arrested in 2015 at the Tecate Port of Entry for attempting to smuggle more than 68 pounds of marijuana into the states.

An arraignment hearing for the two is scheduled for Feb. 7.
Georgia's outdated election system has drawn criticism from cybersecurity experts and voting integrity advocates, and now a commission tasked with examining potential replacements is preparing to make recommendations to lawmakers.

The paperless system was closely scrutinized during last year's nationally watched gubernatorial race between Democrat Stacey Abrams and Republican Brian Kemp, who was Georgia's secretary of state and chief elections official. Abrams and her allies accused Kemp of suppressing minority votes and mismanaging the election, including by neglecting elections infrastructure. Kemp, now governor-elect, has vehemently denied those allegations.

Cybersecurity experts have warned that the touchscreen voting machines Georgia has used since 2002 are unreliable and vulnerable to hacking, and provide no way to do an audit or confirm that votes have been recorded correctly because there's no paper trail.

The state's voting system has been challenged in lawsuits, including one filed after the November election by Fair Fight Action, a nonprofit backed by Abrams. In addition to the outdated machines, critics also raised concerns after security lapses exposed the personal information of Georgia voters.

U.S. District Judge Amy Totenberg wrote in September that Georgia election officials had stalled too long in the face of "a mounting tide of evidence of the inadequacy and security risks" of the state's voting system. She declined to order the state to use paper ballots in the midterm elections, saying there was not enough time before voting began. But she warned that "these same arguments would hold much less sway in the future."

Kemp has insisted that the current system is secure and reliable. But after legislative efforts to replace it failed earlier this year, he established the Secure, Accessible and Fair Elections, or SAFE, Commission in April to study potential replacements.

Made up of lawmakers, political party representatives, voters and election officials, the commission is expected to make recommendations before the legislative session begins Jan. 14. A vendor demonstration of election technology is scheduled for Thursday.

Ryan Germany, general counsel for the secretary of state's office, told the commission at a meeting last month in Macon that Georgia must act quickly.

"The 2020 election cycle is an aggressive goal, but I think it's the correct goal," he said, adding that the state would almost certainly face additional litigation if a new system isn't in place by then.

The commissioners seemed to agree Georgia's system should produce a paper record and that election officials should conduct post-election audits.

Some commission members said they support paper ballots that voters mark by hand, filling in bubbles with a pen or pencil. But others prefer touchscreen ballot-marking machines that print a paper record.

Republican State Rep. Barry Fleming, who co-chairs the commission, said costs vary widely. Initial expenditures would be roughly $50 million for a hand-marked paper ballot system and about $150 million for a ballot-marking machine system, he said at last month's meeting.

Georgia Tech computer science professor Wenke Lee, the only computer and cybersecurity expert on the commission, told his fellow commissioners that technology evolves quickly and investing in an expensive, tech-heavy system could leave Georgia with an outdated system again within just a few years. He recommended hand-marked paper ballots read by optical scanner.

"From a cybersecurity point of view, that's the best available solution," he said at the meeting. "Now, if you say we don't want that, you need to justify why."

Supporters of ballot-marking machines argue that they reduce voter error and provide better accessibility for voters with disabilities. They say the touchscreen machines are similar to those in use now, so voters already know how to use them.

Critics say such machines are no more secure than the current system and don't actually allow voters to verify their votes.

The machines print out barcodes that correspond to the voter's selections, as well as a separate list that's readable by a voter. But votes are counted by machines that scan the barcodes, so there's no way for voters to know whether what's scanned actually reflects their votes, said Marilyn Marks, executive director of the Coalition for Good Governance, which has sued the state over the current system.

Additionally, she said, voters may not notice if a race is missing or may not remember how they voted on, say, "Statewide Referendum B."

Wenke said voters might not bother to review a printout. If what the machine recorded is incorrect and the voter doesn't catch it, the ability to audit is meaningless, he said.

Commission member Darin McCoy, the probate judge and election superintendent in Evans County, dismissed that concern.

"If we provide the voter with a paper ballot of what they've done and they don't take the time to look at that and verify, there's nothing we can do," he said. "That's the voter's responsibility."

After the commission makes its recommendations, lawmakers would have to pass legislation to change the state's election laws. Funding would have to be secured and the system purchased in time to educate election workers and voters.

Whatever they decide, the timeline is tight. Commission members seemed to agree they'd like to have a trial run during the November 2019 municipal elections and implement a new system statewide for the 2020 election cycle.
What to Know A Muslim family says staff at Inova Fair Oaks told them they looked "scary" and threatened to throw them out.

Inova said it is reviewing its anti-discrimination policy with staff members.

The incident was especially hurtful because the infant's grandparents once volunteered as chaplains for the same hospital system.

A Muslim family went to a hospital in Northern Virginia to celebrate a joyous occasion: the birth of a newborn baby.

But they say hospital staff humiliated them by telling them they looked "scary," and threatened to kick them out.

Visiting hours were nearly over when the Zahr family went to Inova Fair Oaks Hospital in Fairfax, Virginia, in early December. They wanted to visit Ahmed Zahr's newborn baby.

When they got up to the third-floor birthing center, they were confronted by a security guard, Arwa Zahr, the newborn's aunt, said in an exclusive interview with News4.

"He screams and he says, 'You're not allowed to be here!' And then he said, 'You know, you look scary,'" she recalled. "I was shocked, like, 'Did he say that?'"

The Zahrs believe the guard was objecting to the full black veils Arwa Zahr and her mother wore, showing only their eyes.

The family was ordered to go back downstairs. When the newborn's father learned what happened, he told the guard he had been disrespectful.

The guard summoned the shift supervisor, whom the family identified as the head nurse, and things got worse, the family said.

"We tried to explain to [the supervisor] our side of the story. He looked at my mother as she was trying to explain what happened, and he told her, 'Close your mouth or Ill kick you out,'" Ahmed Zahr recalled.

The family said that wasn't all.

"Hes telling them, 'Nobody wants you here. The nurses don't want you. The doctors don't want you here,'" Ahmed Zahr said.

As he continued to defend his family, the supervisor called the police.

"It was surprising to me. First of all, we werent threatening in any way. No one had done anything," Ahmed Zahr said.

The family spoke with Fairfax County officers, who they described as calm and helpful, and then left the hospital. Then, they registered formal complaints with Inova.

The incident was especially hurtful because the infant's grandparents, Dr. Nabil Zahr and Karima Zohdi, once volunteered as chaplains at Inova Fairfax Hospital, another hospital in the Inova system. They founded and run The Palm Tree School, a private school in Fairfax that provides Islamic studies as well as the standard curriculum.

Ahmed Zahr said his family had never encountered such abuse.

"Just to be treated like that just because of the way you're dressed," he said. "We're been living here for, you know, 20-plus years. I haven't witnessed discrimination to this extent."

Inova said all patients "have the right to a respectful, safe environment, free from all forms of discrimination." They said they reviewed their anti-discrimination policy at all daily safety meetings.

The hospital group said Inova is reviewing the family's concerns, and that they offered to meet with the Zahrs.

The family said they're not interested in meeting until Inova says what action they've taken related to their specific case, and what any investigation they conducted found.

In the meantime, the Zahr family calls the day they visited the hospital for the birth of a baby "The Day of Mortification."

They didn't get to meet Ahmed Zahr's first child, a baby girl, that day.

Here's the full statement Inova sent News4:

Inova respects and values our diverse patient community and believes that all patients have the right to a respectful, safe environment, free from all forms of discrimination. We hold our team members and contractors to the highest ethical standards, supported by a strict zero-tolerance policy against discrimination of any kind.

We are reviewing the familys concerns and we continue to look for opportunities to better manage these situations in the future.

Inovas senior leadership values our longstanding relationship with the family and has extended an invitation to meet in person.

All employees are aware of our anti-discrimination policy and are required to complete ethics and compliance training annually. Following this incident, as part of staff awareness, the policy was reviewed at all of our daily safety meetings.

We understand how important visitors are to our patients and their care. However, certain units in the hospital require family visitation hours to assure that all patients have a quiet, healing environment.
A federal appeals court has revived wireless provider T-Mobile's lawsuit against a Delaware city that denied its request to install a cellphone antenna atop a high-rise senior center to improve coverage.

The Philadelphia appeals court ruled Thursday that a federal judge erred last year in ruling that the city of Wilmington was entitled to summary judgment. The court says the previous ruling was flawed because T-Mobile filed its lawsuit before the city had issued a formal, written denial.

T-Mobile argued that the city has a pattern of not issuing written decisions of land use denials unless or until it is sued. The company also says the denial of its application violated the federal Telecommunications Act.

The case now heads back to federal district court in Wilmington.
The incoming Democratic governor of Wisconsin said Wednesday that he plans to make a personal appeal to his defeated rival, Gov. Scott Walker, to veto far-reaching GOP legislation that would strip the new administration of some powers. If that doesn't work, he might sue.

Wisconsin Republicans pushed through protests, internal disagreement and Democratic opposition to pass the bills after an all-night session. The measures would shift power to the GOP-controlled Legislature and weaken the authority of the office Republicans will lose in January.

"The will of the people has officially been ignored by the Legislature," Gov. Tony Evers said, adding that the lawmakers' actions "take us back to Nov. 6," before the election was finalized.

"Wisconsin should be embarrassed by this," Evers said.

He said he will talk to Walker as soon as the bills reach his desk and that if he cannot persuade the governor to veto the proposals, he will consider lawsuits and any other option "to make sure that this legislation does not get into practice."

The early morning votes were the height of a rare lame-duck legislative session. Walker has signaled his support for the bills. He has six days to sign the package after it's delivered to his office.

The session unfolded a month after Republicans were battered in the midterm election. They lost all statewide races amid strong Democratic turnout. But they retained legislative majorities thanks to what Democrats say are gerrymandered districts that tilt the map.

A Walker spokeswoman said the governor, who was in Washington for former President George H.W. Bush's funeral, would not have any public comment Wednesday.

The new legislation tries to protect some of the GOP's achievements in recent years, including a work requirement for some people receiving state health care and the state's role in a lawsuit seeking to overturn the Affordable Care Act. The bills could also make it harder for Evers to renegotiate a $3 billion subsidy for a Foxconn electronics manufacturing facility, a deal spearheaded by Walker.

In neighboring Michigan, Republicans who control the Legislature voted to advance a measure that strips campaign-finance oversight power from the next secretary of state, a Democrat. They also moved to give lawmakers authority to stand up for GOP-backed laws if they think the incoming Democratic governor and attorney general are not adequately defending the state's interests.

The Wisconsin legislation passed in a session marked by stops and starts as GOP leaders tried to muster enough votes in the Senate. That chamber ultimately approved the package 17-16, with just one Republican voting against it, around sunrise. The Assembly approved it on a 56-27 vote about two hours later, with a single Republican defecting.

In one concession, Republicans backed away from giving the Legislature the power to sidestep the attorney general and appoint their own attorney when state laws are challenged in court.

"This is a heck of a way to run a railroad," Democratic Senate Minority Leader Jennifer Shilling said as the Senate debate resumed at 5 a.m. after a seven-hour impasse. "This is embarrassing we're even here."

Walker is in his final five weeks as governor. Faced with a Democratic governor for the first time in eight years, Republicans came up with a package of lame-duck bills to preserve their priorities and make it harder for Evers to enact his.

"You're here because you don't want to give up power," Democratic Assembly Minority Leader Gordon Hintz said as debate concluded in that chamber. "You're sore losers. Does anybody think this is the right way to do business? If you vote for this, shame on you. You will go down in history as a disgrace."

Assembly Speaker Robin Vos countered that the bills would ensure a balance of power between the Legislature and the executive branch.

"We have allowed far too much authority to flow to the executive," Vos said. "To you, this is all about politics. To me, it's about the institution."

Vos last month cited the desire to protect key Republican achievements from being undone by Evers. Among them: a massive $3 billion subsidy to bring Foxconn, a key Apple Inc. supplier, to Wisconsin, along with thousands of jobs. Evers has said he would like to renegotiate the deal.

The legislation passed Wednesday would shield the state jobs agency from his control and allow the board to choose its leader until September, likely at least delaying Evers' ability to maneuver on the Foxconn subsidy.

The changes would also weaken the governor's ability to put in place rules that enact laws. And they would limit early voting to no more than two weeks before an election, a restriction similar to what a federal judge ruled was unconstitutional.

The attorney general's office could also be weakened by a proposal to require a legislative committee, rather than the attorney general, to sign off on withdrawing from federal lawsuits. That would stop Evers and Democratic Attorney General-elect Josh Kaul from fulfilling promises to withdraw Wisconsin from a multi-state lawsuit seeking repeal of the Affordable Care Act. They made opposition to that lawsuit a central part of both of their campaigns.

Judges could block the proposals if they become law by issuing temporary injunctions. Democrats would likely need a permanent injunction to stop the changes for good, but Republicans would almost certainly pursue appeals all the way to the state Supreme Court, which is controlled by conservative justices.

The Legislature passed another measure to enact Medicaid work requirement rules that Walker recently won a federal waiver to establish. That bill would also give the Legislature oversight over the governor seeking future waivers for health care, a change Democrats said would handcuff the new administration.

Rep. Todd Novak of Dodgeville, the only Republican in the Assembly to vote against the bills, said he did so after hearing from "an overwhelming number of voters" in his district who opposed the legislation.

"It is my job," Novak said, "to cast my vote in the interest of those whom I represent."

CORRECTION (Dec. 7, 2018, 12:15 p.m. ET): A previous version of this story reported erroneously that Gov. Scott Walker would have 10 days from the date the bills reach his desk to sign or veto them. Walker would have six days to act.
What to Know At least two people were shot inside Newport Mall in Jersey City Friday evening, sending panicked shoppers fleeing and stores into lockdown

The victims went to a nearby hospital on their own; it's not clear if one of them was the shooter

Officials said there's no immediate danger to the public, and the shooting was targeted and not random

Gunfire erupted inside a New Jersey mall Friday night, sending panicked shoppers running and putting stores into lockdown as police arrived to evacuate the mall, officials said.

Two men were shot on the third-floor food court at Newport Centre Mall in Jersey City Friday night, officials and witnesses said, sparking a stampede of frightened people out of the mall and prompting stores to go into lockdown.

Police said the shooting was targeted and the general public does not appear to be in danger. Two victims later turned up at a nearby hospital with gunshot wounds, one to the arm and the other to the abdomen; both are in critical but stable condition. Both are possible involved in gangs, and one of them has an arrest warrant out for attempted murder in another recent shooting in Jersey City.

"We know some of the players here. They weren't up to any good in the mall," Jersey City Police Chief Mike Kelley said at a news conference later Friday. "We have no friendly person that was struck by gunfire, and that's important to know."

It's not clear whether the shooter was one of those men who walked into the hospital, or whether a suspect was still being sought. Mayor Steven Fulop said police were still canvassing the mall and examining surveillance video.

Stay way from Newport Mall. I can confirm 2 shots were fired. Was just in the food court. https://t.co/D0RQujQdWX  Ken S (@BigFilipino) January 11, 2019

My nana is trapped inside Newport mall ... stay away there is a SHOOTOUT IN THE FOOD COURT !!!!!  Thomas J (@T_h_o_m_a_s_J) January 11, 2019

The sound of gunfire immediately caused panic. One worker inside the mall said he was coming down from the second floor inside Macy's when he suddenly saw people running past.

"I saw a huge rush of people running in the opposite direction, toward the back entrance where the light rail was," said Daniel Pasqual. "I was with my co-worker and we just started running with them."

Pasqual said he didn't know at first why they were running until somebody shouted, "There's a shooting!"

"We just had to escape. We left the mall as soon as possible," he said. "I didn't feel anything in the moment, I just had to get out. I did get nervous afterward, hoping my coworkers were OK."

Cellphone video captured the chaos as screaming people scrambled to run out.

A newspaper reporter described hearing gunfire just after leaving the movie theater, next to the food court, with his family.

"I heard a thump," said Scott Fallon of the North Jersey Record. "It may have just been one shot. I heard screaming and then an avalanche of people started running from the food court."

Another moviegoer, Melanie Mayorgao, said everyone started running when they heard the gunfire.

"We just ran to the locker room of the movie theater, and we just stayed there until they cleared us out," she said, adding that her legs "turned to Jell-O" during the terrifying exerience. She and a friend also saw blood on the food court.

"I see everybody running, you just hear all the popping," said Nicole Pagan. "I called my mom, I called my dad, I called everybody I know, [to tell them] that I love them and I just made sure they knew I was safe."

Police sources said three shots were fired from at least two guns.

Carlos Roman was among family members anxiously waiting outside the mall to pick up their loved ones trapped inside the mall. He said his mother had called him crying.

"It's never something you want to hear your mother calling, in a frantic mode," he said.

She and other shoppers were escorted to the JCPenney break room, where workers were calming down shoppers with snacks and water and words of reassurance.

"I work, thank God, a couple blocks away from here, so I rushed my way over here and I've been here since," said Roman.

Fulop praised police and first responders, saying their active shooter training paid off Friday.

"Really a good job done by Jersey City police, ESU, in conjunction with NJ Transit and Port Authority," he said.

A spokesman for the Newport Centre Mall said, "We are grateful for the swift response to this incident by our security team and the Jersey City Police Department," and referred further inquiries to police.

The mall will reopen Saturday, and anyone who left belongings behind in the scramble for safety will be able to retrieve them.

The Newport Mall is a three-level, 1.2 million square foot building near the PATH station, and attracts 13 million shoppers annually, according to its website.
Posted Friday, January 11, 2019 5:03 pm

A Centralia woman collected over $10,000 in Department of Social and Health Services benefits by lying about where her children lived, authorities say.

Now, Tammy L. Santiago, 40, is charged with first-degree theft and second-degree perjury. She was given an unsecured bail, meaning she will remain out of custody during the case if she follows conditions of release.

According to a probable cause affidavit, DSHS first received a complaint of possible fraud in June 2018. The complaint alleged Santiago claimed her three children lived with her, and was in turn collecting benefits. The children had lived out of state for the last two years, according to court documents.

Records indicate she submitted an application for benefits in June, two days before the complaint was filed.

A DSHS investigator began looking into the allegations in September 2018. The investigator contacted family and accessed school records, and was able to allegedly verify children werent living with Santiago.

The total amount of money she allegedly collected tallied $10,660.

During a hearing in Lewis County Superior Court, Judge Andrew Toynbee granted a request from deputy prosecutor Paul Masiello who recommended Santiago be given an unsecured bail in the amount of $10,000. He noted she has no prior felony history.
UPDATE: Authorities have identified the suspect in custody in connection with the abduction of Jayme Closs and the fatal shooting of her parents. Read more here.

A Wisconsin teenager missing for nearly three months after her parents were killed in the family home was found alive barely an hour's drive away, by a woman who stumbled across the 13-year-old girl and pounded on her neighbors' door shouting: "This is Jayme Closs! Call 911!"

Jayme was skinny and dirty, wearing shoes too big for her feet, but appeared outwardly OK when she was discovered Thursday afternoon near the small town of Gordon, the neighbors said.

"I honestly still think I'm dreaming right now. It was like I was seeing a ghost," Peter Kasinskas told the Minneapolis Star Tribune. "My jaw just went to the floor."

Authorities said a suspect was in custody, but otherwise didn't give any additional details ahead of a planned Friday news conference in Barron, in northwestern Wisconsin.

Jayme went missing on Oct. 15 after police discovered someone had broken into the family's home outside Barron and fatally shot her parents, James and Denise Closs. Jayme was nowhere to be found, with the Barron County Sheriff's Department describing her as likely abducted.

Detectives pursued thousands of tips, watched dozens of surveillance videos and conducted numerous searches in the effort to find Jayme. Some tips led officials to recruit 2,000 volunteers for a massive ground search on Oct. 23 but it yielded no clues.

Barron County Sheriff Chris Fitzgerald said in November that he kept similar cases in the back of his mind as he worked to find Jayme, including the abduction of Elizabeth Smart, who was taken from her Salt Lake City home in 2002, when she was 14 years old. She was rescued nine months later with the help of two witnesses who recognized her abductors from an "America's Most Wanted" episode.

"I have a gut feeling she's (Jayme's) still alive," Fitzgerald said at the time.

He was right.

The Star Tribune reported that Town of Gordon resident Kristin Kasinskas heard a knock on her door Thursday afternoon. It was her neighbor, who had been out walking her dog when Jayme approached her asking for help. The woman, who declined to be identified, said she was pretty sure who the girl was, but any doubt was erased when Jayme gave her name.

During the 20 minutes Jayme was in their home, Kasinskas and her husband, Peter, tried to make her feel more comfortable, they said. They offered her water and food, but she declined both. Jayme was quiet, her emotions "pretty flat," Peter Kasinskas said.

Kristin Kasinskas told NBC affiliate KARE Jayme looked thinner than in her missing persons photograph, "a little unkempt, but okay over all."

Jayme told the couple she didn't know where she was or anything about Gordon. From what she told them, they believe she was there for most of her disappearance.

Gordon is about 40 miles south of Lake Superior and about 65 miles north of Barron, Jayme's hometown. The town is home to about 645 people in a heavily forested region where logging is the top industry.

The Douglas County Sheriff's Office confirmed on its website that Jayme was found in the town at 4:43 p.m. Thursday, and that a suspect was taken into custody 11 minutes later. The Associated Press couldn't confirm the Kasinskases' account; the sheriff's office's non-emergency line rang unanswered Thursday night and Sheriff Thomas Dalbec didn't respond to an email.

Sue Allard, Jayme's aunt, told the Star Tribune that she could barely express her joy after learning the news Thursday night.

"Praise the Lord," Allard said between sobs. "It's the news we've been waiting on for three months. I can't wait to get my arms around her. I just can't wait."

Barron Mayor Ron Fladten said Thursday night he was overjoyed at learning she is alive.

"There was a lot of discouragement because this took quite a while to play out," Fladten said. "A lot of people have been praying daily, as I have. It's just a great result we got tonight. It's unbelievable. It's like taking a big black cloud in the sky and getting rid of it and the sun comes out again."

He acknowledged that Jayme may not be the same person she was before she disappeared.

"I hope that she's in good shape," the mayor said. "She's no doubt been through just a terrible ordeal. I think everybody wishes her a good recovery and a happy life going into the future."

The notification that Jayme had been found came just four hours after Fitzgerald had taken to Twitter to debunk a report that she had been found alive near Walworth County. Douglas County, where Jayme was found, is hundreds of miles northwest of Walworth County.

Associated Press writer Amy Forliti contributed to this report.
First U.S. President Donald Trump attacked Canada on trade. Then Saudi Arabia punished it for speaking up for human rights. Now China has the country in its cross-hairs, detaining two Canadians in apparent retaliation for the arrest of a top Chinese tech executive on behalf of the United States.

Canada is caught between two super powers and taking the punishment  and its ally to the south has been conspicuously absent in coming to its aid.

"We've never been this alone," historian Robert Bothwell said. "We don't have any serious allies. And I think that's another factor in what the Chinese are doing. ... Our means of retaliation are very few. China is a hostile power."

The two Canadians, Michael Kovrig, a former diplomat in China, and Michael Spavor, an entrepreneur who lived in northeastern China near the North Korean border, were taken into custody Monday on suspicion of "engaging in activities that endanger the national security" of China, Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Lu Kang said. Canadian consular officials have had no access to them.

Their detentions ratchet up pressure on Canada, which arrested Meng Wanzhou, the chief financial officer of telecommunications giant Huawei, on Dec. 1 at the request of the United States. The U.S. wants her extradited to face charges that she and her company misled banks about the company's business dealings in Iran. A Canadian judge released Meng on bail Tuesday.

The case has set off a diplomatic furor among the three nations in which Canada has been stuck in the middle.

Until now, Canada had a largely good relationship with China, forged by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's father, late Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau, who helped establish the one-China formula that enabled many other countries to recognize China in the 1970s. Canada acknowledged there is one government of China and does not officially recognize Taiwan.

China has since become Canada's second-largest trading partner, after the United States. Chinese investment has powered real estate booms in Vancouver and Toronto. And one-third of foreign students in Canada are Chinese. Justin Trudeau has even talked about a possible free-trade agreement with China in a bid to diversify Canada's trade, which relies on the U.S. for 75 percent of its exports.

But the Canadian prime minister has said little since news of this week's arrests became public. Opposition Conservative leader Andrew Scheer said Trudeau isn't being forceful enough with the Chinese.

"This situation demonstrates that Justin Trudeau's naive approach to relations with China isn't working," Scheer said.

It's Canada's second dispute with a major power this year. In June, Trump vowed to make Canada pay after Trudeau said he wouldn't be pushed around in talks to hammer out a new North American trade agreement, an unprecedented attack on America's closest ally. Trump called Trudeau weak and dishonest, words that shocked Canadians.

Then Trump said this week that he might intervene in the Huawei case if it would help clinch a trade agreement with China, upending U.S. efforts to separate the court proceeding from U.S.-China trade talks and contradicting Canadian officials who said the arrest was not political.

Canadian Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland took a swipe at Trump, saying it was "quite obvious" any foreign country requesting extradition should ensure "the process is not politicized."

"Normally, Canada can count on the United States to back them up on such an issue," said Laura Dawson, a former economic adviser at the U.S. Embassy in Ottawa and director of the Canada Institute at the Wilson Center think tank in Washington. Dawson said it's unusual for Washington to "leave Canada hanging high and dry."

"President Trump has made it clear that old alliances don't matter so much anymore," she said. "He has made no secret of his preference for a go-it-alone approach and his lack of regard for traditional alliances."

In years past the U.S. might have defended Canada when came it under attack and other countries would know the U.S. had Canada's back. Not now. In August, the Saudi government expelled Canada's ambassador to the kingdom and withdrew its own ambassador after Canada's foreign ministry tweeted support for an arrested Saudi activist. The Saudis also sold Canadian investments and ordered their citizens studying in Canada to leave. No country, including the U.S., spoke out publicly in support of Canada.

And now the stakes are much higher. Canada is one of the few countries in the world unabashedly speaking out in defense of human rights and the international rule of law. And Chinese trade with Canada is increasingly key as Canada looks to boost its exports in Asia as its trade with the U.S. is threatened by Trump's tariffs on Canadian goods.

"At the beginning of Trump there was this idea that maybe the Chinese would replace the Americans" as Canada's pre-eminent trade partner "but that's just nuts," said historian Bothwell, a University of Toronto professor. "Relations for any smaller country with China are really grave."

Derek Scissors, a China specialist at the conservative American Enterprise Institute, called China's actions toward Canada "thuggish."

"You detain a Canadian because the Canadians can't do anything. It's bullying behavior," he said.

Noting Canada was just following a routine extradition process with the United States, Scissors said America should be saying: '''Why are you picking up Canadians? You have a problem with us.'"

David Mulroney, a former Canadian ambassador to China, said not only the U.S. but other Western nations should be standing up for Canada.

"It would be nice if publicly and also behind the scenes if countries like the United States, the U.K., Australia and France would put in a word on our behalf and let the Chinese know how damaging this is to their reputation and to the notion that China is a safe place to work and pursue a career," Mulroney said.

"I think a lot of foreigners in China are looking over their shoulder right now," he added.

Christopher Sands of the School of Advanced International Studies in Washington said the world took note of how Trump treated Canada during trade negotiations and how the U.S. stayed silent when Saudi Arabia overreacted to Canada's expression of human rights concerns over treatment of the Saudi dissident.

"In normal times, the U.S. sends a signal, usually discreetly, to allies to cut it out and play nice," Sands said.

"What makes this worse is that China is lashing out at Canada not for Canada's initiative, but for Canada's honoring of a U.S. warrant. The damage done by our silence in terms of alliance relations is truly awful," he said.
Here are some of the top stories of the past week:

Groveland Four Vindicated: Florida Pardons Black Men Accused of 1949 Rape

After a dramatic, hour-long meeting that recalled events from nearly seven decades ago, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and the state's three-member Cabinet granted posthumous pardons Friday to four African-American men accused of raping a white woman in a 1949 case now seen as racial injustice.

The case of the men known as the Groveland Four has been documented in a book and is considered a blight on Florida's history. One of the four was killed before he could be charged and the other three were convicted on dubious evidence.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and the independently elected Cabinet granted a pardon to four African-American men accused of raping a white woman almost 70 years ago. The posthumous pardons were granted Friday for the men known as the Groveland Four.

'Human Again': Felons Emotional as They Begin Registering to Vote

The normally humdrum bureaucracy of registering to vote brought tears to the eyes of some Floridians on Tuesday when most felons regained their right to vote under a state constitutional amendment.

The ballot measure went into effect Tuesday, overturning a ban that netted Florida the highest number of disenfranchised felons in the nation. It potentially increases the pool of eligible voters by as many as 1.4 million people in a battleground state infamous for its narrow margins in key elections.

Florida Deputy Resigns After Sending Toy Bomb to Co-Worker

A sheriffs deputy in the Tampa Bay area is out of a job after admitting to sending a toy bomb to a member of his department as a joke.

A deputy received a package at his desk through inter-office mail. When he opened the box, he found a red object with wires and a handwritten note saying boom.

The Pinellas County deputy of over 30 years admitted to sending the package to a fellow employee, an event that caused part of the department to be evacuated.

Fan Who Ran Onto Court at Miami Heat Game Banned From Arena

A pair of misdemeanor charges against a fan who ran onto the court in the final moments of a Miami Heat game have been dropped, though he has been ordered to stay away from the team's arena.

Players seemed concerned when the fan stormed the court.
Surrounded by parents of victims of the Parkland school shooting, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis announced Friday that he's suspending embattled Broward Sheriff Scott Israel over his handling of the massacre.

DeSantis made the announcement at a news conference outside BSO headquarters in Fort Lauderdale, where he was joined by Andrew Pollack, Max Schachter, Ryan Petty and other parents who have been critical of Israel in the wake of the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School.

"The massacre might never have happened had Broward had better leadership in the sheriff's department," DeSantis said.

After issuing the executive order to suspend Israel, DeSantis said he was appointing Gregory Tony as the next Broward Sheriff. Tony is a former Coral Springs Police sergeant and the president of an active shooter response training company.

Tony will also be Broward County's first African-American sheriff.

"I am not here for any type of political, grandiose agenda. I'm here to serve," Tony said.

"Nothing, nothing, nothing will bring my kid or 16 others back, but there was failure everywhere you turned," said Fred Guttenberg, whose 14-year-old daughter Jaime died in the shooting. "And after that failure, there was just a refusal to take accountability and responsibility. I wish him well but it was time for a change."

"Public safety is the most important thing and cultural corrections are necessary to protect the citizens before the next mass casualty event happens in Broward County," said Schachter, whose son, Alex, was killed.

The announcement comes days after Israel reportedly told his staff that he "expects to be removed in the near future" over the department's response of the Parkland shooting, a source told NBC 6.

Israel held his own news conference Friday, where he said he would fight the suspension.

"I intend to vigorously fight this unjustified suspension both in court and before the Florida Senate," Israel said. "There was no wrongdoing on my part. I served the county honorably."

Israel called the suspension a "massive political power grab" by DeSantis. "This was about politics, not Parkland," Israel said.

Before DeSantis or Israel spoke, it was announced that five of Israel's top staff had resigned. Undersheriff Stephen Kinsey, Col. John Dale, Col. James Polan, Maj. Kevin Shults and Maj. Chadwick Wagner all submitted their resignations.

Kinsey noted he was resigning "due to the sheriff being suspended unjustly" in his resignation form.

Newly inaugurated DeSantis has previously said on his campaign trail that he would replace Israel. Under Florida law, the governor can suspend elected officials for criminal activity, misfeasance, incompetence or neglect of duty.

The sheriff's lawyer, Stuart Kaplan, told NBC 6 in a statement Thursday night that Israel had not received official word from the governor or his office.

"Sheriff Israel intends on showing up for work tomorrow and attend to his sworn duties and responsibilities," Kaplan said. "Sheriff Israel is steadfast on ensuring the men and women of BSO have his full support."

The Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School safety commission has heavily criticized Israel's active shooter policy, saying it contributed to the failure of some deputies to run into the building and confront the gunman during the Feb. 14 shooting that left 17 dead.

Israel, 62, was elected sheriff in 2012 after a long career in law enforcement, ousting the Republican incumbent on his second attempt in the overwhelmingly Democratic county. After taking office, Israel, a Republican until changing parties shortly before running in 2008, received criticism over his friendship with notorious GOP operative Roger Stone, for promoting Stone's inexperienced stepson to detective and for accepting gifts from a wealthy benefactor.

However, community leaders praised his work with the homeless, minority and gay communities. Violent crime went down, and he easily won re-election in 2016 to oversee the county's 2,800 deputies.

Israel for years has called for tougher gun laws in Florida, a stance that created critics long before the school shooting.

Shortly after Israel's second term began, a man retrieved a handgun from his luggage at Fort Lauderdale's airport and opened fire, killing five. While Israel's deputies apprehended him within 72 seconds, the draft of a county report said Israel and others didn't control the chaos, leaving passengers huddled in fear for hours. He criticized the draft, and the final version was less harsh  but many of the same communications problems that plagued the airport response repeated at Stoneman Douglas.
Strike or no strike, after a deal is ultimately reached on a contract for Los Angeles teachers, the school district will still be on a collision course with deficit spending because of pensions and other financial obligations.

School systems across California are experiencing burdensome payments to the state pension fund while struggling to improve schools.

The problem is especially acute for districts like Los Angeles Unified that will see a financial hit in part because of steadily declining enrollment.

As fewer students enroll, public schools get less in per-pupil funding from the state, said Helen Cregger, an analyst and vice president at the financial services company Moody's.

"Then comes the tradeoff between making good on pension promises and what you're capable of offering in salaries," she said.

The downward trend in enrollment is due to skyrocketing housing costs that keep families with school-age kids out of the city and the growth of charters  privately operated public schools that compete for students and the funds they bring in.

Los Angeles is among the school districts across California that are not well-positioned to manage the coming confluence of slower revenue growth, declining enrollment and rising pension contribution rates, according to a Moody's study published in September 2018.

The LA district's contributions to the state's two large pension plans  California State Teachers' Retirement System and the California Public Employees' Retirement System  amounted to about 5.5 percent of the budget in the 2014-15 school year. By last year, that number had climbed to nearly 8 percent, according to an Associated Press analysis.

The contributions ramped up quickly to chip away at plan underfunding and because of demographic trends: As retirees live longer, their lifetime pensions cost more. Meanwhile, the district is spending more on special education programs and seeing climbing health care costs.

Governing bodies in some places  though not LA Unified  have skipped pension contributions altogether to deal with other more immediate budget crunches, compounding the shortfalls. California's major plans are short largely because they did not reach lofty investment return targets.

David Crane, president of the advocacy group Govern for California, said there's nothing an individual school district can do about its rising pension costs. He said state aid  like a plan that new Gov. Gavin Newsom introduced Thursday in his budget proposal  could reduce the burden for districts, though.

Newsom, a Democrat, wants to make a $3 billion one-time payment to California's teacher pension fund on behalf of schools to help districts that are seeing more of their budgets eaten up by pension obligations.

Crane said districts can reach deals with teachers unions to eliminate or scale back paying for retiree health care. He said those costs are not needed because they're subsidizing care largely for people already eligible for subsidized coverage or Medicare.

"It's coming out of current teachers' pockets," Crane said, and will only get more expensive in the future. Cutting the post-retirement benefits, which cost the district $343 million last school year, could mean raises of more than $10,000 for each of the district's 26,000 teachers, he said.

LAUSD Superintendent Austin Beutner said he's "delighted" by the new governor's commitment to public education and added that it's the district's obligation to make good on current pensions.

"The work's been done, the benefits have been earned," he said. "We wish the state would give us a little more money to cover the actual costs of those benefits but we're committed, of course, to maintaining the pension system that's in place."

Many educators say they chose teaching over more lucrative professions because of the promise of a secure retirement, and they hammer at the moral argument that pensions are promises.

Walkouts by teachers last year in Kentucky schools were largely over the governor's plan to cut future pension benefits there. Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and his state's largest union spent nearly his entire eight years in office battling over pensions.

Teachers are preparing to strike in Los Angeles on Jan. 14, where the union is pushing for higher salaries and more hiring despite warnings from the LA County Office of Education about potential deficit spending.

Since 2014, California schools have been required to contribute an increasing amount of money to secure the pensions of current teachers and to pay down unfunded liabilities for retirees.

In 2013, schools put in 8.25 percent of a teacher's earnings to help fund pensions. That rate will more than double to 19 percent by 2020.

United Teachers Los Angeles has made Beutner, an investment banker and former Los Angeles deputy mayor without experience in education, a lightning rod in negotiations. The union says Beutner and school board members who voted him in are trying to privatize the district, encouraging school closures and flipping public schools into charters.

Beutner's supporters say now more than ever the system needs someone with a business background and an understanding of budgets and the bottom line.
What to Know Saturday, Jan. 19

10:40 a.m.

1 Granada Ave. in Long Beach

Did you open your eyes and stretch and yawn on the second day of the year, snug in the knowledge that every event involving running into a chilly body of water had wrapped on New Year's Day?

Alas, your confidence may have been misplaced, for while various polar-themed splashes and dips and ocean fundraisers do have a way of cropping up around the end of December, and on New Year's Day, too, such brrr-ful events can and do continue to show up in January, February, and even March around California.

Which means this: You'll need to reach deep inside and find your bravery, your can-do, and your willingness to dash straight into the Pacific Ocean, if you want to join the give-back, light-of-heart Long Beach Polar Splash.

The "give-back" part of this annual splash-around?

The Community Action Team, helmed by local give-backer Justin Rudd, will donate $5 per participant, to "your charity/organization/school," though you'll want to get a group of 15 people or more together.

But, nope, you don't have to be in a group to join. Read everything you need to know before slipping into your swimsuit on Saturday, Jan. 19 and making for 1 Granada Avenue.

Well, your swimsuit and a funny hat, or a full-on wacky costume, or something else. There are details and suggestions about attire here.

How cold will the ocean be? How much do you want to round up a lot of people you know for this, and make it a photo opp to remember?

And can you join the weekly beach clean-up, at 10 a.m., before the Polar Splash begins at 10:40? Because that would be super-nice if you chose to do that.

Just maybe, all of your cleaning-up efforts will warm your bones a bit, making you really, really ready to dash into the foam on a probably not-especially-warm-ish January Saturday morning.
What to Know A garage repairman was behind bars on suspicion of the rape of a 9-year-old girl and a woman in south Orange County in the 1990s.

Investigators found Kevin Konther through DNA evidence via a genealogy website.

Konther was arrested Thursday at his home and booked on suspicion of two counts of rape and other charges.

A 53-year-old garage repairman was behind bars Friday on suspicion of the rape of a 9-year-old girl and a woman in south Orange County in the 1990s, Orange County Sheriff Don Barnes said.

The break in the case against Kevin Konther of Highland, California, came when investigators used DNA evidence and matched it to twin brothers via a genealogy website.

Konther, who was being held on $1 million bail, was arrested Thursday at his home and booked on suspicion of two counts of rape, oral copulation with a person younger than 14, lewd and lascivious acts with a child younger than 14 and aggravated sexual assault.

His twin brother, who is not a suspect, has been released, Barnes said.

"We're confident we have the correct suspect in this case," Barnes told reporters at a news conference Friday.

Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer said his office was expected to file charges on Monday.

Konther is accused of grabbing a 9-year-old girl walking home from a convenience store in Lake Forest at 6:40 p.m., Oct. 21, 1995.

The girl's attacker dragged her into a wooded area in Serrano Creek Park, where she was raped and then let go. The girl ran home, told her parents and a search ensued that bore no results.

Konther is also accused of kidnapping and raping a 31-year-old woman jogging at 11:30 a.m. June 2, 1998, on a Mission Viejo trail near El Toro Road and Marguerite Parkway. The woman was dragged into bushes, where she was raped.

Investigators matched the DNA collected from the woman's rape and linked it to the suspect in the 9-year-old girl's attack.

Over the past 23 years, investigators have checked the DNA against its law enforcement databases with no luck. In August, using the same technique that led to the arrest of the Golden State Killer, investigators submitted the DNA to an ancestry website and got a match to the identical twins.

The victims were strangers to Konther, Barnes said.

"These crimes were very impactful to Lake Forest," Barnes said of the attack on the girl. "It traumatized the community for years."

Barnes also noted how the girl sat down with investigators and provided a description that led to a composite sketch. He said she was "incredibly brave" to do so.

Investigators were working to determine if Konther could be linked to any other sexual assaults.
San Diego is a town known for craft beer, and now that marijuana is legal in California, it was only a matter of time before the two were merged.

High Style Brewing Company created Pale Haze, the first cannabis infused non-alcoholic craft beer bottled in California.

Company founders thought of the idea because they loved the taste of craft beer but didnt like the side effects.

Alcohol gives you a hangover and will dehydrate you, said Lyden Henderson, Chief Operating Officer of High Style Brewing Company. Its not necessarily something you can do throughout the day.

To comply with state law, the craft beer is non-alcoholic. The company said they worked hard to make sure that fact did not impact the taste.

The brew contains 10 mg of THC content per bottle and less than 0.5 percent alcohol by volume.

The THC molecules have to be activated first, said Henderson. We activate them as part of our chemistry and infusion process.

Henderson said it should take about 20-30 minutes to feel the effects of the beer.

That means by the time you finish your first beer you should know whether or not your tolerance will allow you to have a second beer, said Henderson.

Consumers can currently buy Pale Haze at Mankind Dispensary in Mira Mesa and March and Ash Dispensary in Mission Valley.

Launched on December 31, the company said they have plans for a statewide rollout in the next few weeks.
Teachers in across the Bay Area joined a state-wide educators rally Friday in solidarity with at least 35,000 Los Angeles teachers who are in a contract dispute with the district.

"We are all part of the same struggle in California which is to make sure public education is sustainable and viable, making sure we get the appropriate funding not only at the state level but at the local level with our individual school districts," said Victoria Birbeck-Herrera, President of Fremont Unified District Teacher Association.

Educators from around 40 schools in Fremont and about a dozen others around the Bay Area rallied in red, riding on the "Red4Ed" movement that began last year in West Virginia, to call for better pay, smaller class sizes and less standardized teaching.

Classes were not affected, according to organziers, because teachers are participating in a walk-in as opposed to United Teachers Los Angeles' walkout.

Oakland teachers have been without a contract for over a year and negotiations are still ongoing. Last year, teachers and students participated in another walkout by calling in sick to call for better pay.

Fremont teachers are also working without a salaried contract for the 2018-19 school year. If negotiations stall, Birbeck-Herrera said teachers are also willing to strike.

"While these are our jobs, it's also a situation where you have people who went into their profession as educators because they strong believe that education is a foundation of equity and is really essential. They want to make sure that it stays and that requires some involvement," Birbeck-Herrera said.

Oakland teachers will hold another rally at noon on Saturday at Oakland City Hall.
French interior minister says 2 firefighters were killed and at least 30 injured in a blast at a bakery in Paris that was reportedly caused by a gas leak.

Paris prosecutor Remy Heitz said "at this stage we can say it seems from an accidental origin, this would be a gas leak." He said that Paris firefighters were already at the scene for a suspected gas leak on Saturday morning when the explosion happened. Investigations are ongoing to determine the exact cause of the blast.

Firefighters pulled injured victims out of windows and evacuated residents as smoke billowed out over Rue de Trevise in the 9th arrondissement of north-central Paris.

Witnesses described the overwhelmingly sound of the blast and people trapped inside nearby buildings. Charred debris and broken glass covered the pavement around the apartment building housing the bakery, which resembled a blackened carcass.

A witness says he saw Paris firefighters enter a bakery in the morning but he and his co-workers "thought maybe it's a joke, a false alarm" and they went back to work.

Pedro Goncalves, an employee at the Hotel Mercure opposite the bakery, said that about an hour later a blast rocked the surrounding streets.

"In the middle of nothing, I heard one big explosion and then a lot of pressure came at me (and) a lot of black smoke and glass," he said. "And I had just enough time to get down and cover myself and protect my head."

A Paris police spokeswoman several injuries have been reported to police but no deaths. The spokeswoman, who wasn't authorized to be publicly named, said the explosion is believed to have been prompted by a gas leak. She provided no further details.

Interior Minister Christophe Castaner said "the situation is under control" but warned the explosion had caused a "heavy toll." Speaking Saturday from the scene, he estimated 200 firefighters were involved in the operation.

An investigation was opened, according to the Paris prosecutor's office, which would not comment on what possible causes were being investigated.

Silver-helmeted firefighters and red firetrucks filled the street and inspected adjoining courtyards. A vehicle from gas company GRDF was stationed nearby.

The bakery is around the corner from the Folies-Bergere theater and not far from the shopping district that includes the famed headquarters of Galeries Lafayette.

The explosion came as the French capital is on edge and under heavy security for yellow vest protests expected later Saturday around the country.

Police brought in armored vehicles to gird for possible violence between police and yellow vest protesters Saturday, as the movement seeks new arenas and new momentum for its weekly demonstrations.

The movement waned over the holidays but appears to be resurging, despite President Emmanuel Macron's promises of billions of euros in tax relief and an upcoming "national debate" to address demonstrators' concerns. Protesters want deeper changes to France's economy and politics, seen as favoring the rich.

Authorities deployed 80,000 security forces nationwide, while Castaner threatened tough retaliation against rioters and their backers, warning of increasing radicalization among the largely peaceful demonstrators.

Paris police said in a statement they made several arrests before Saturday's actions, notably in France's historic Gypsy or traveler community, which has called for protests in support of a boxer caught on video punching police last weekend in central Paris.

That incident dominated French media over the past week and prompted fears of resurgent tensions between protesters and police. Boxer Christophe Dettinger turned himself in to police and is in custody pending trial.

Other protests are planned in several French cities Saturday, but many actions aren't officially declared in advance and pop up in unexpected places. Last Saturday, authorities estimated 50,000 people protested nationwide, including 3,500 in Paris.

The protests started with drivers opposing fuel tax increases, which is why participants wear the fluorescent vests French motorists must keep in their vehicles. But it has mushroomed into a broad-based revolt against years of shrinking purchasing power and Macron's pro-business policies.

Some yellow vest groups hope to translate that into votes in the European elections in May.
Peter Mielert bought a 2012 Honda Odyssey at Liberty Honda in Hartford and decided to get the vehicle protection package offered by the dealership, thinking it would be a good idea to protect his investment.

Thats until the West Hartford resident said he ran into a problem trying to use the coverage.

It was frustrating, said Peter Mielert.

In November of 2017, Mielert filed a claim with the dealership to remove the stains on the leather seats of his mini-van.

The vehicle protection package covers permanent stains to the leather, vinyl, and fabric in the cars interior and damage to the exterior, according to the company that provides the protection.

Mielert showed us the documents which shows he paid $629 for the seven-year vehicle protection package that he bought in 2011.

Over the years of having a mini-van and a family there were some stains on the seat and the floor, said Mielert.

When Mielert brought his vehicle to the dealership for the stained seats, he said the service representative took pictures and filed the claim.

Three months later, Mielert called the dealership to check on the status.

There was a different service rep assigned to it at that point, they could find no record of it, said Mielert.

Mielert had to re-submit the claim.

Two months go by and again with the third rep and finally by this past summer 2018 we reach out to the service manager, said Mielert.

Mielert and his wife spoke with a service manager at the dealership who assured him the claim would be taken care of. But Mielert ended up dealing with two different service managers about his claim.

In October, Liberty Hondas General manager emailed Mielert stating that the Service manager forwarded his previous emails.

The general manager apologized and explained that he was out of town that weekend and would look into the matter when he returned.

Mielert said he didnt hear back and turned to NBC Connecticut Responds.

They werent supporting the product they sold us, said Mielert.

When Responds contacted Liberty Honda, the General manager told us:

I thought I was waiting for Mr. Mielert to bring the vehicle in so I could take a look and resolve the claim. If he would like to do that I would as well. If he wants a refund I would be happy to oblige with that as well. I apologize for the issues just let me know how to proceed.

Within a few days, Mielert said the dealership reimbursed his $629 for the vehicle protection package.

Responsive was what I wasnt getting out of the company and responsiveness is what you got for us, said Mielert.

Mielert admits that he didnt ask enough questions about how the claim process works. And said he would do more research on products offered by the dealership.

The Better Business Bureau said whether its a vehicle protection package or an extended car warranty, you should always read the fine print.
Thousands of federal employees missed their first paycheck of the year Friday as the government shutdown reached day 21 and counting.

In Connecticut, the state Department of Labor announced financial relief is on the way, but only for some.

The DOL announced days ago they would try to offer unemployment benefits to federal employees in Connecticut affected by the shutdown, but Friday they said they had no choice but to turn down the overwhelming majority of applications theyve seen so far.

Patrick Wynne, a correctional officer, missed his paycheck even though hes required to do his job at the Danbury Federal Corrections Institute despite the shutdown.

What Im going to be doing all day tomorrow is starting to call credit card companies and tell them look I didnt get paid this week, what could you do for us. You know its gonna get bad, Wynne said.

Richard Dionne is also working without pay as an air transportation systems specialist at Bradley International Airport.

Ive actually started breaking into my savings, he said.

Approximately 1,500 federal employees in Connecticut are impacted by the shutdown. The state DOL is offering some of them employment benefits, but while Wynne and Dionne are not being paid, the fact that theyre working at all disqualifies them from that help.

The DOL said only furloughed employees who are not allowed to work can file for unemployment. A department spokesperson said theyve received approximately 175 applications so far, but about 80 percent of them are not eligible.

I cant collect benefits that Ive been paying for all these years. And still going to work! Wynne said.

Wynne is worried some of his coworkers will soon leave their jobs at the prison, which he says is already critically understaffed. He hopes the standoff in Washington ends soon.

If it goes on another two months, what does my mortgage company say. What do the uh car people, are they going to come take my car?

The state DOL said they are doing what they can within federal guidelines to help, but even those furloughed employees who can file for unemployment may not see any. The department still needs to be able to request information on those employees, which may be impossible due to the shutdown.
From Kent to Haddam and other parts of the state, powerful ice jams clogged rivers last January causing big trouble for Connecticut homeowners and businesses.

It was unlike anything David Papallo had seen before.

Nor do I care to ever see one again, Papallo said.

In his 19 years owning Andrews Marina in Haddam, Papallo has never encountered an ice jam as intense as the one from last January.

Snapped pilings, broken docks, high stress levels, low bank accounts, Papallo said.

He had to hire a company to dive under the docks at the marina and use a chainsaw to remove some of the pilings snapped by the ice.

While he called the project very expensive, he did not disclose the close.

The January 2018 ice jam forced Haddam leaders to declare a state of emergency. It even crept into backyards.

The Coast Guard even came in to chop it up and eventually, the rain came. Business owners said they didnt know if when the ice broke free, it would cause even more damage.

The ice jam caused $8,000 worth of damage to RiverQuests dock thats now two-toned because of some fresh wood and pilings.

Last winter was a little bit tough on us, RiverQuest Owner Mark Yuknat said. We do six weekends for eagle cruises and we lost three of them because of weather.

Last year, RiverQuest was docked in Essex at the time, so it was spared.

Last year if it was here (in Haddam), it wouldve been swept away and crushed, Yuknat said.

This year hes taking no chances and moving it back to Essex for the winter this weekend.

On the other side of the East Haddam swing bridge, Papallo is celebrating the lack of ice this January.

Ive never seen our basin not frozen in January, Papallo said.

Hes hoping it stays that way.

Im happy! We get a lot less damage when theres no ice, Papallo laughed.
A West Hartford man is accused of carjacking a victim who was trying to sell their vehicle on the website OfferUp.

Eighteen-year-old Dajour Hines was arrested Friday.

Glastonbury police said on Thursday the victim brought the vehicle to Spring Street in the area of Copper Drive in their city, meeting who they believed to be a potential buyer. Police said the suspect pulled a gun and ordered the victim out of the car.

Investigators found the car in West Hartford Friday.

Hines is charged with carjacking, first-degree robbery, first-degree threatening, reckless endangerment and larceny. He was held on a $250,000 bail and is due in court Monday.
Some of your favorite brews may never make it to your local restaurant or store as a result of the partial shutdown of the federal government, and some businesses may not be able to open at all.

Federal agencies touch just about every sector of the economy, including beer.

Brewers across Connecticut are essentially in a holding pattern if they want to bring products to the market, whether its a new beer or a beverage they normally release at a certain time of the year.

The Alcohol, Tobacco, Tax and Trade Bureau, an agency many people dont even know exists, is in charge of labeling and licensing for beer.

Thomas Hooker Brewing Company President Curt Cameron said the system works pretty well, when its running.

"A massive backlog is being created and labels that we have in for, lets say a spring seasonal we have coming out, possibly wont be approved until the middle of summer, so that might mean were not even coming out with that product, Cameron explained.

Michael and Rachel Haseltine were hoping to open Better Half Brewing in April, but with the shutdown, theyre in a holding pattern.

Our equipment is actually on trucks, on its way here from Oregon and so well have equipment that in our facility thats being renovated currently, and we cant do anything with it, Rachel Haseltine explained.

U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal said the brewing industry is a microcosm of the impact of the shutdown.

Its more than just the beer, its the business, the Democrat said.

When a brewery applies for a new label, it typically takes between two to four weeks to get federal approval. When you combine a month-long shutdown with that timetable, and about 6,000 breweries across the country, that could mean a wait time of months.
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.
The mother of a U.S. Navy veteran who has been held in Iran since July said Friday that she is worried her son who was undergoing cancer treatment will not survive the detainment.

Joanne White issued the statement through a family spokesman, expressing her concern for the health of her son, 46-year-old Michael White.

He went to Iran to visit his girlfriend, whom he had met online, and was arbitrarily detained, family spokesman Jonathan Franks said. Joanne White has been unable to communicate with him.

"She's very worried that's he's not going to make it," Franks told The Associated Press.

Franks said his mother "implores" the Iranian government to release him so he can get the "specialized medical care he needs."

Michael White worked as a cook for the Navy and left the service about a decade ago, Franks said. The family wants to make clear that he is not a spy and has never been one. He recently worked as a janitor.

Iran confirmed Wednesday that it is holding White at a prison. He is the first American known to be detained under President Donald Trump's administration. His mother asks the administration to make his case a priority because of his health concerns.

White's detention adds new pressure to the rising tension between Iran and the U.S., which under Trump has pursued a maximalist campaign against Tehran that includes pulling out of its nuclear deal with world powers.

Although the circumstances of White's detention remain unclear, Iran in the past has used its detention of Westerners and dual nationals as leverage in negotiations.

The semi-official Tasnim news agency, believed to be close to the country's paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, reported the confirmation Wednesday, citing Foreign Ministry spokesman Bahram Ghasemi.

"An American citizen was arrested in the city of Mashhad some time ago and his case was conveyed to the U.S administration on the first days" of his incarceration, Ghasemi was quoted as saying.

There are four other known American citizens being held in Iran.

Iranian-American Siamak Namazi and his 82-year-old father Baquer, a former UNICEF representative who served as governor of Iran's oil-rich Khuzestan province under the U.S.-backed shah, are both serving 10-year sentences on espionage charges.

Iranian-American art dealer Karan Vafadari and his Iranian wife, Afarin Neyssari, received 27-year and 16-year prison sentences, respectively. Chinese-American graduate student Xiyue Wang was sentenced to 10 years in prison for allegedly "infiltrating" the country while doing doctoral research on Iran's Qajar dynasty.
An 18-year-old Saudi woman who fled her family over alleged abuse and barricaded herself in a Bangkok airport hotel room in a desperate bid for asylum will be allowed to stay in Thailand while her case is evaluated by the U.N. refugee agency, immigration authorities said Monday.

Rahaf Mohammed Alqunun grabbed global attention when she sent out pleas for help via social media, saying she feared for her life if she were put on a plane back to Kuwait, where she had slipped away from her family, or her homeland.

Instead, she has been allowed to enter Thailand temporarily under the protection of the U.N. refugee agency, which was expected to take about five to seven days to study her case and her claim for asylum. She said she wants to go to Australia to seek refuge there.

"We will not send anyone to die. We will not do that. We will adhere to human rights under the rule of law," said Thai Immigration Police chief Maj. Gen. Surachate Hakparn.

Alqunun's plight mirrors that of other Saudi women who in recent years have turned to social media to amplify their calls for help while trying to flee abusive families and other obstacles they face in the conservative kingdom.

Photos released Monday night by immigration police showed Alqunun with Thai and U.N. officials after she left the airport transit hotel room where she had been holed up over the weekend, sending her pleas for help on her Twitter account. She later tweeted that she feels safe under U.N. protection and has gotten back her passport, which had been taken from her earlier.

Alqunun's ordeal began when she fled from her family while in Kuwait and boarded a flight to Thailand, apparently taking advantage of being away from Saudi Arabia's restrictions on women who cannot travel abroad without a man's consent.

Upon arriving at Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi Airport on Saturday night, she said she was met by a man whom she identified at various times as either a Kuwait Airways employee or a Saudi diplomat, who took her passport and said he would help her gain entry to Thailand. Saudi Arabia denies its officials were involved in any way.

When the man returned about an hour later with four or five other people, they said they knew she had run away, that her family wanted her back, and she should go home to Saudi Arabia. She was sent to a hotel room, and told she would be put on a Monday morning flight to Kuwait.

She then went online, sending out pleas for assistance over Twitter, and also barricaded her hotel room door. Global attention was sparked by social media and she did not get on the scheduled morning flight to Kuwait.

Alqunun wrote of being in "real danger" if forced to return to her family in Saudi Arabia, and said in media interviews that she might be killed. She told the BBC that she had renounced Islam and was fearful of her father's retaliation.

Her Twitter account attracted more than 66,000 followers in less than 48 hours and her story grabbed the attention of foreign governments and the U.N. refugee agency. As the pressure grew, with concern expressed by Australian lawmakers, Germany's ambassador to Thailand and human rights agencies, Thai officials agreed to allow U.N refugee officials to meet with her.

The office of the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees said it expected to take at least 5-7 days to evaluate her case and claims, according to Surachate, the Thai immigration police chief.

Giuseppe De Vincentiis, the UNHCR representative in Thailand, told journalists he did not know where Alqunun would be staying but that she would be safe because she was under his agency's protection. UNHCR declined to release any details of its meeting with her, but De Vincentiis noted "a good spirit of collaboration so far" with Thai officials.

Surachate said Alqunun's father was due to arrive Monday night, and officials would see if she was willing to meet with him.

"As of now, she does not wish to go back and we will not force her. She won't be sent anywhere tonight," Surachate said at a news conference.

"She fled hardship. Thailand is a land of smiles," he said.

He noted her tweets mentioned "she does not want Islam," adding that "this type of thing, in her country, is a hard crime."

Phil Robertson, deputy Asia director for Human Rights Watch, told The Associated Press that Thailand should let Alqunun continue her journey to Australia.

"She has a valid Australian visa," he said. "The key thing is she should not be sent back to Saudi Arabia, she should not be sent back into harm's way."

Surachate challenged parts of Alqunun's story, including that she had an Australian visa.

"The fact is she didn't have any money. She intended to come here and didn't have any visa to go to Australia. So we have to state the facts here. But we will provide assistance nonetheless," he said.

He later said Kuwait Airways had been at fault for allowing her to board her flight to Thailand without having proper travel documents. The airline did not immediately comment.

Earlier, Surachate had said that the Saudi Embassy had said she had run away from her parents and said she could be in danger. The embassy did not mention that she had rejected Islam.

Her case highlighted Saudi Arabia's male guardianship laws, which require women who want to travel, obtain a passport or marry to have the consent of a male relative  usually a father or husband  no matter what their age.

It also underscored the limits of the reforms being pushed by Saudi Arabia's powerful Crown Prince Mohamed bin Salman as he struggles to repair damage to his reputation after the grisly killing three months ago of Saudi writer Jamal Khashoggi by Saudi agents in Istanbul.

For runaway Saudi women, fleeing can be a matter of life and death, and they are almost always trying to escape male relatives.

In 2017, Dina Ali Lasloom triggered a firestorm online when she was stopped en route to Australia, where she planned to seek asylum. She was forced to return to Saudi Arabia and was not publicly heard from again, according to activists tracking her whereabouts.

Despite efforts by the Saudi government to curtail the scope of male guardianship laws, women who try to flee their families in Saudi Arabia have few good options inside the kingdom. They often are pressured to reconcile with their families, sent to shelters where their movement is restricted or face arrest for disobeying their legal guardian.

While the Saudi Embassy in Thailand denies Saudi authorities were involved in trying to stop Alqunun from going to Australia, the kingdom has in the past forced its citizens to return home.

Saudi Arabia's charge d'affaires in Bangkok, Abdullah al-Shuaibi, was quoted in Saudi media as saying that Alqunun was stopped by Thai authorities because she did not appear to have a return ticket, a hotel reservation or itinerary to show she was a tourist. He said the Saudi Embassy has no authority to stop anyone at the airport and that such a decision would rest with Thai officials.

"She was stopped by airport authorities because she violated Thai laws," he was quoted as saying in Sabq, a state-aligned Saudi news website. "The embassy is only monitoring the situation."

Associated Press writers Tassanee Vejpongsa, Grant Peck and Sam McNeil contributed.
The fallout continued Friday evening from the nightmare AeroMexico flight that got stuck in Oakland on Thursday.

People sat on the plane for nearly four hours, until a couple of passengers got arrested.

Panicked cries for help from the pilot can be heard from recordings to air traffic control at Oakland International Airport.

What I really need is police. Some authorities in here, an AeroMexico crew member can be heard pleading for help from Oakland International Airports air traffic control. The plane pandemonium started Thursday morning when dense fog forced Flight 622 from Guadalajara, Mexico to land in Oakland, instead of San Francisco International Airport.

NBC Bay Areas chopper flew over the plane as it stayed stuck on the tarmac, for nearly 4 hours.

Cellphone video from inside the plane caught the moment a woman had to be escorted out because of breathing problems. An AeroMexico crew member is heard telling air traffic control  People on board the plane want out.

Sir  I just called two hours ago  So you dont know whats happening here. You need someone to die to open the door? a crew member tells air traffic control.

At one point, the crew member is heard telling air traffic control that one passenger was fed up with the wait and was threatening to get off the plane through an emergency exit. NBC Bay Areas chopper caught the moment one passenger was taken out in handcuffs.

NBC Bay Area aviation expert Michael McCarron said AeroMexico deserves much of the blame for miscommunication.

Theres a lot of things that went wrong, he said. If the airline knew they were going to be diverted should have made sure that someone could handle them, either another carrier or the airport itself, you can make arrangements like that. The airline should have done a lot better job of communicating with the crew.

In a statement, AeroMexico said: Aeromexico does not count on operations from this terminal, which is why we needed to seek the authorization from the airport to disembark the passengers.

Oakland International Airport said in a statement that it has been reviewing the incident and had arrived at the following conclusions:

The Airport was fully staffed and prepared to accommodate the extraordinary flight and process deplaning passengers, even though Aeromexico was a visiting  not regular  air carrier at Oakland and even though the arrival was unplanned.

This occurs regularly, and OAK personnel were available and eager to help, which they did exceptionally, given the multiple facets of the incident, including law enforcement and emergency medical response.

In this and all cases, a decision to remain on the aircraft or deplane lies strictly between the airline and US Customs & Border Protection for international flights.

Airport officials added: While we empathize with the passengers on the Aeromexico flight, Oakland International Airport confirms absolutely no shortage of personnel among airport staff nor that of our partners.
Thousands of South Bay residents are worried the closest hospital to them is going to close because of bankruptcy.

A bankruptcy judge agreed to let Santa Clara County buy St. Louise Regional Hospital in Gilroy, and another medical facility in Morgan Hill, but the state attorney general is trying to end the deal.

More than 58,000 live in Gilroy and many of them go to St. Louise Regional Hospital for medical care.

If the sale falls through, the county says the hospital and other medical facilities owned by the corporation might be left with no options. Gilroy residents are afraid the move by the attorney general may force the hospital to close.

I cant imagine that they keep the hospital open because were the only bidder, said county executive Jeff Smith.

Santa Clara County officials said the sale conditions would violate state statutes for a government agency, some include transferring hospital employees pensions and collective bargaining agreements to the county.

The California Department of Justice is committed to advocating for conditions that ensure communities have access to essential healthcare services," the office of the attorney general said in a statement.

Stuck in the middle are patients, who are concerned about their health care.

I think the sale should go through, said patient Margaret Sielert. We definitely need a hospital out here, this area is growing more and more.

The De Paul Health Center in Morgan Hill and OConnor Hospital in San Jose may also be affected by the potential purchase.
The threat of catastrophic wildfires has driven a California town to launch a "Goat Fund Me" campaign to bring herds of goats to city-owned land to help clear brush.

Nevada City in the Sierra Nevada began the online crowdsourcing campaign last month with the goal of raising $30,000 for the project.

The campaign's website explains that because it takes time to secure grant funding, the town needs money now to hire local goat ranchers because they're only available this winter.

The ranchers have rented out their herds to other municipalities in California the rest of the year and were expanding their herds to meet demand, city officials said.

"Why not do something  and as soon as we can?" Vice Mayor Reinette Senum told the Los Angeles Times. "If we're not proactive, if we don't help ourselves, no one else is going to step up."

The foothill community is about 47 miles southeast of Paradise, which was decimated by a fast-moving wildfire in November that killed 86 people and destroyed about 14,000 homes.

City officials said booking a herd costs between $500 to $1,500 an acre. Some 200 goats can munch on an acre of overgrown brush daily.

City Manager Catrina Olson said she, along with residents attending council meetings to talk about the project, are excited about the impending work, an idea "that's catching on because there's such high fire danger in our state."

"It's an interesting way to run a city campaign," said Brad Fowler, a local rancher working with the city to rent out goats. "I like how people can choose to spend their money."
Surrounded by photos of his daughter with her signature bright smile, Merced Corona says she never wanted anything else but to be a police officer.

Ever since Natalie Corona was a little girl she aimed to be like her dad who spent 26 years as a Colusa County sheriffs deputy. He was there to pin on daughter's badge as she was sworn in as an officer.

Merced Corona said that was one of his proudest moments.

"I just want her to know were going to miss her a lot. The whole family is going to miss her a lot and we are very proud of her," Corona told NBC Bay Area in an interview, just one day after the 22-year-old was shot and killed as she responded to a traffic accident in Davis.

"Im not angry I dont think any of us are angry. We want some answers, some basic of what happened but were not angry people," Corona said at the family's home in Arbuckle, a small California town northwest of Sacramento where everyone knows one another.

"People are going to pay the ultimate price sometimes for protecting us and keeping us safe. And she signed up to do that," he said.

Natalie Corona dreamed of being a police officer just like her father.

She first joined the Davis Police Department in 2016 as a part-time community service officer, graduated from the Sacramento Police Department Academy over the summer then completed a six-month field training just before Christmas.

"I couldnt get her to talk about anything else but law enforcement," Corona said. "Every chance she got shed go on a ride along with me."

Davis Police Chief Darren Pytel said Corona was a "rising star" in her department and that he had never seen anybody work harder in a part-time capacity and be more motivated to become an officer than her.

"She's just absolutely a star in the department and somebody that pretty much every department looked to as a close friend, a sister," Pytel said at a news conference.

Pytel added that she had "been out on her own for just a couple of weeks" before the shooting. The man who gunned down Officer Corona later killed himself in a house, but police still don't know the motive for the attack, Pytel said Friday.

Corona is survived by her father, her mother, Lupe Corona, and her sister, Jackie Corona. Her father says that the community's support coupled with their faith will pull them through.

"She left a lot of memories. Shes going to leave us a lot of memories," Corona said.
As the government shutdown continues, thousands of government employees in the Bay Area are heading into the weekend without a pay check and communities are stepping in to help.

"Its a very uneasy feeling, not knowing 'are we going have food on the table?'" said Danielle Manor, member of the East Bay Coast Guard Spouses Club. "Are people going to understand why we cant pay for things?"

Families are also getting help from the Sea West Credit Union offering Coast Guard members interest-free loans, and letting them delay payments on current loans.

"The Coast Guard is such a great organization, theyre out there every day helping to save lives," said Tom Doherty Sea West Credit Union CEO. Doing whatever they can to make our country safer."

Donations are also being accepted by the Armed Services YMCA.

"Anything from paper products to diapers to canned food, cereal, just so our families can have food and resources available while the government shutdown continues," said Anja Cangemi member of the East Bay Coast Guard Spouses Club.

The Coast Guard will be accepting donations on Saturday from 10 to 2 p.m. at the Armed Forces YMCA in Alameda. Coast Guard families will be able to collect items on Sunday from 11to 1 p.m. and families will be able to collect items they need from 11-1 on Sunday.
(Natural News) In recent weeks, POTUS Donald Trump announced that he would be withdrawing all 2,200 troops from Syria and cutting U.S. forces in Afghanistan in half over the next several months as part of his campaign promise to end Americas endless wars.

(Article republished from TheNationalSentinel.com)

Indeed, the withdrawal from Syria has already begun. The Associated Press reported Thursday that Pentagon officials have confirmed it after earlier news reports claimed that POTUS was going to slow-walk the withdrawals, which was obviously wrong.

Theres no contradiction whatsoever. This is a story made up by the media. Thats fine. You all write what youd like, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo told reporters in Cairo Thursday. President Trumps decision to withdraw our troops has been made. We will do that.

The news was welcomed by millions of Americans who are weary of seeing their military sent overseas to fight non-stop brushfire wars in failed states and to protect the borders of other countries when they could be, and should be, protecting ours.

Democrats used to support these withdrawals. But suddenly, in the era of POTUS Trump, they have changed their minds.

According to a new survey by Politico and Morning Consult, Democratic voters have changed their minds.

According to latest polling, more Democrats oppose troop withdrawals than support them. 50% of Dems say they oppose withdrawing from Syria, while 29% support. 41% oppose withdrawing from Afghanistan, while 40% support. Partisanship is a disease.https://t.co/pMlQl3WObZ  Michael Tracey (@mtracey) January 10, 2019

Fifty percent of Democrats now say the oppose pulling out of Syria  a conflict that Congress never directly authorized with a declaration of war, by the way. Only 29 percent support withdrawal.

Meanwhile, a plurality of Democrats  41 percent  oppose leaving Afghanistan, while 40 percent support pulling out.

Partisanship is a disease, tweeted roving reporter Michael Tracy.

Indeed.

Meanwhile, in polling taken after the president announced withdrawing from Syria last month, most Americans support it, according to The Hill.

And speaking of the Politico poll, most Americans surveyed did say they strongly support or somewhat support the withdrawals, comprising a majority.

Read more at: TheNationalSentinel.com
(Natural News) Countless studies have shown just how important exercise is for preventing chronic diseases including cancer. However, the majority of these studies focus on aerobic exercise, so much so that other forms of exercise like strength training are disregarded. A recent study from the University of Sydney in Australia proves that strength training should not be considered inferior to aerobic exercise since its just as and possibly even more effective at reducing cancer and all-cause mortality risk.

The study, which was published in the American Journal of Epidemiology, evaluated information from 80,000 adults over the age of 30. These data came from the Health Survey for England, the Scottish Health Survey, and the National Health Service Central Mortality Register. Their findings show that people who perform strength training exercises twice a week can reduce their risk of cancer-related death by a whopping 31 percent. Moreover, strength training was observed to reduce the risk of dying from any cause by 23 percent.

Our message to date has just been to get moving but this study prompts a rethink about, when appropriate, expanding the kinds of exercise we are encouraging for long-term health and well-being, said Dr. Emmanuel Stamatakis who is an associate professor in the School of Public Health at the University of Sydney and the lead author of this study.

Another study, this time from the Karolinska Institute in Sweden, provides more evidence that strength training is important for health. Their research, which was published in the journal Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers and Prevention, collected data from 8,500 men between 20 and 82 years old for over 20 years. Analysis of the data showed that participants with the highest muscle strength, who were also observed to work out more consistently with weights, reduced their chances of dying from cancer by 30 to 40 percent. Moreover, they were able to associate strength training with lower blood pressure.

Overall, these two studies show that people should also perform strength training exercises and not just aerobic exercises since it also has notable health benefits. (Related: Another disease linked to inactivity: Study finds increased risk of lung, head and neck cancers among the sedentary.)

Strength training exercises

Unlike aerobic exercises that keep the heart pumping and encourage blood circulation, strength training exercises focus on activities that increase muscle mass, buildup physical strength, and improve endurance. A lot of people lean towards the former not just because they know more about its health benefits, but also because they think that strength training exercises can only be done in gyms where expensive and complex equipment like weight machines are found. But this is not the case. There are many classic strength training exercises that you can do from the comfort of your own home and without needing any equipment. Some examples of these include the following:

Squats  Squats are highly recommended by physical trainers since they have multiple benefits, which include better balance, burning off fat, improved circulation, and firmer muscles especially in your legs.

 Squats are highly recommended by physical trainers since they have multiple benefits, which include better balance, burning off fat, improved circulation, and firmer muscles especially in your legs. Lunges  This exercise involves shifting the weight as you step forward and backward so its great for your legs, calves, hamstrings, and core. Lunges also improve your flexibility and balance.

 This exercise involves shifting the weight as you step forward and backward so its great for your legs, calves, hamstrings, and core. Lunges also improve your flexibility and balance. Planks  Planks may look simple but they are a lot of work since it involves your entire core and your glutes. If you suffer from back pain, planking can even help alleviate the pain by teaching your abs how to activate and support your body.

 Planks may look simple but they are a lot of work since it involves your entire core and your glutes. If you suffer from back pain, planking can even help alleviate the pain by teaching your abs how to activate and support your body. Push-ups  The classic push-up involves many muscle groups including your core, biceps, triceps, deltoids, and lower body. Because of this, it also promotes blood circulation and consequently improves heart health.

Read more news articles on how you can prevent and cure cancer by visiting Anticancer.news.

Sources include:

NaturalHealth365.com

MedicalNewsToday.com

Aaptiv.com
(Natural News) Researchers at Chonbuk National University Medical School in South Korea have found that taking mulberry leaf extract supplements can help lower blood sugar and insulin levels, as well as decrease triglyceride and total cholesterol levels.

Earlier studies have found a link between mulberry leaf supplementation and blood sugar levels. One study found positive results for mulberry leaf extract supplementation and blood sugar spikes, while another study found that a combination of mulberry, white bean, and green coffee may help reduce the absorption of carbohydrates from a high glycemic index meal.

In the study, which was published in Food & Nutrition Research, the researchers looked at the effect of mulberry leaf extract on glucose uptake in skeletal muscle cells. The skeletal muscle is an excellent site of whole-body glucose uptake and utilization.

The team treated mice with 50 milligrams per kilogram (mg/kg), 100 mg/kg, or 250 mg/kg mulberry leaf extract for eight weeks. They treated another group of mice with metformin, a common anti-diabetic drug. After the treatment period, the researchers analyzed the liver and skeletal muscles of mice.

The results showed that mice supplemented with 100 and 250 mg/kg of mulberry leaf extract displayed significantly increased phosphorylated forms of several proteins. This means that the extract likely increases glucose disposal in skeletal muscle.

The findings of the study suggested that mulberry leaf extract can potentially be used for the management of Type 2 diabetes.

Other health benefits of mulberry

Mulberry, which is native to China, has long been used in folk medicine to treat many health problems. Like its leaf, mulberry fruits also provide health benefits. Here are some of the health benefits of mulberry plant:

Mulberry is a great source of antioxidants: The whole mulberry plant, including its stems, leaves, and fruit, is rich in antioxidants. One of the antioxidants mulberry contains is resveratrol. This antioxidant has positive effects on age and longevity, according to a study published by the University of Texas Health Science Center . (Related: Mulberry Leaf: Fights Diabetes, Cancer, Lowering Cholesterol & Soothing Nerves.)

The whole mulberry plant, including its stems, leaves, and fruit, is rich in antioxidants. One of the antioxidants mulberry contains is resveratrol. This antioxidant has positive effects on age and longevity, according to a study published by the . (Related: Mulberry Leaf: Fights Diabetes, Cancer, Lowering Cholesterol & Soothing Nerves.) Mulberry strengthens the immune system: Mulberries contain alkaloids that activate macrophages, which are white blood cells that stimulate the immune system. By stimulating the immune system, these macrophages, in turn, put the system on high active alert against health threats.

Mulberries contain alkaloids that activate macrophages, which are white blood cells that stimulate the immune system. By stimulating the immune system, these macrophages, in turn, put the system on high active alert against health threats. Mulberry is a great snack: The fruit of mulberry is an excellent source of iron, protein, fiber, and vitamins C and K. Iron helps store and transport oxygen and contributes to the growth of white blood cells which strengthen the immune system and helps prevent complications during pregnancy. Fibers help keep the digestive system healthy, lower cholesterol levels, and reduce the risk of many diseases. The vitamin C in mulberries also play a role in tissue strength as it boosts the synthesis of collage need for healthy cartilage and skin, while the vitamin K in mulberries plays a role in bone tissue development and control blood thickness. The leaves of the mulberry plant also contain protein, fiber, and other nutrients.

The fruit of mulberry is an excellent source of iron, protein, fiber, and vitamins C and K. Iron helps store and transport oxygen and contributes to the growth of white blood cells which strengthen the immune system and helps prevent complications during pregnancy. Fibers help keep the digestive system healthy, lower cholesterol levels, and reduce the risk of many diseases. The vitamin C in mulberries also play a role in tissue strength as it boosts the synthesis of collage need for healthy cartilage and skin, while the vitamin K in mulberries plays a role in bone tissue development and control blood thickness. The leaves of the mulberry plant also contain protein, fiber, and other nutrients. Mulberry reduces swelling and redness: In traditional Chinese medicine, mulberry has been used as a remedy to treat redness and swelling. Science has also proven this effect of mulberry. A study conducted by Romanian researchers reported that a combination of curcumin and mulberry leaf might be used to relieve this kind of irritation.

In traditional Chinese medicine, mulberry has been used as a remedy to treat redness and swelling. Science has also proven this effect of mulberry. A study conducted by Romanian researchers reported that a combination of curcumin and mulberry leaf might be used to relieve this kind of irritation. Mulberry protects the brain from damage: Mulberry also offers some brain-protecting effect. Researchers at Khon Kaen University in Thailand examined the effects of mulberry on male rats with memory impairment and brain damage. Then, they found that rats that ate mulberries had better memory and less oxidative stress compared to those that did not consume mulberries.

Read more news stories and studies on the health benefits of mulberry by going to NaturalMedicine.news.

Sources include:

NutraIngredients-USA.com

GlobalHealingCenter.com

Livestrong.com
Yves here. Im running this piece because the destruction of national parks during the shutdown is strong evidence of the decay in social capital. While history shows again and again that old farts bemoan the decline in morays of the young, its still disturbing to see large groups of people take advantage of a lack of supervision at national parks to trash them. If they cant show some consideration in a context like this, how can we expect citizens to pull together when the Jackpot comes?

I remember watching the 2011 Steven Soderberg movie Contagion and finding it to be far too optimistic about how the public would react to a pandemic. Contagion has the US being put under quarantine for six months to prevent the spread of a deadly, high communicable disease. Theres no consideration whatsoever about how people are supposed to support themselves, as in pay their mortgage/rent, electricity and other bills, or how the many that need prescription drugs are supposed to get them (as in how are they to be produced and distributed if everyone but emergency workers are to stay at home). In other words, it was completely unrealistic about the ongoing human effort needed to provision society and clean up its garbage.

While the movie did show some signs of social breakdown, like looting, it also portrayed the government as effective in maintaining a great deal of order, like closing state borders. But it also depicted people lining up to get food rations and only some scuffles breaking out.

The US simply does not have remotely enough social cohesiveness to handle a six month quarantine and then a relaxation of it, including rationing of the vaccine as limited supplies were distributed. This country is full of guns. Youd see too many people doing as they saw fit in a time of breakdown. And thats before questioning whether our government, which has significant outsourced activities, would have the managerial ability and operational capacity to respond effectively to a crisis of this order.

If Brexit crashes out at the end of March or after an extension, well get a picture of how well governments cope with national emergencies after decades of neoliberalism and demonization of public service.

By Annelise McGough. Originally published at Grist

Ever wanted to cut down an iconic Joshua tree in order to create space for some off-roading? No? Well, we thank you. But during the government shutdown, some fine folks did just that.

National parks are filling with garbage, and not just the kind that comes in trash bags. Since the government shut down 20 days ago, Joshua Tree, which is about the size of Delaware and located two hours east of Los Angeles, has been forced to reduce its number of rangers from 100 to only eight. The lack of staff is making it difficult to keep up with the mayhem that is illegal off-roading and road creation, damage of federal property, overflowing garbage and toilets, out-of-bounds camping, and the chopping down of literal Joshua trees.

During the shutdown, with Joshua Tree National Park open but no staff on duty, visitors cut down Joshua trees so they could drive into sensitive areas where vehicles are banned. We had some pretty extensive four-wheel driving. https://t.co/EbSB4bF8hK pic.twitter.com/8kVFClVqxZ  John Upton (@johnupton) January 10, 2019

And it isnt just Joshua Tree bearing the brute force of the barbaric human. Reports have been surfacing of human waste and trash pile-up in a number of national parks, from Yosemite to Death Valley.

I think there are a number of things that are not very obvious to the general public, like the trash and toilets [are], that are pretty consequential when you have a shutdown, National Park Service Director Jon Jarvis told the the National Parks Traveler.

While the sight of overflowing waste and cut Joshua trees is shocking (and quite frankly repulsive), there is also major damage happening out-of-sight. The longest-running research initiative in the Shenandoah National park  200,000 acres in the mountains of Virginia  has come to a grinding halt during the government shutdown. The study examines the impact of acid rain in the mid-Atlantic forests, and the research has been used to understand the effects of air pollution on natural systems. No big deal, unless you like breathing clean air.

Earlier this month, Acting Interior Secretary David Bernhardt instructed all national parks to use fee revenues in order to keep parks open during the shut down. Parks that require an entrance fee often save 80 percent of that revenue for ongoing projects such as park maintenance, visitor services, wildlife habitat needs, and law enforcement.

But just as we have knuckleheads, we too have good samaritans: Volunteers across the country are showing up to clean toilets and take out the trash, helping to tidy up the government-made mess.
This Real News Network segment sets forth the most common arguments against increasing the minimum wage to $15 an hour, or alternatively, a living wage level, and shows why they dont hold up to scrutiny. A decent minimum wage is even more important when the supposedly robust US economy is increasingly creating McJobs.

JAISAL NOOR: Marylands Republican governor Larry Hogan touts his ability to work across the aisle, but a brewing debate over raising the minimum wage could put him at odds with Democrats.

LARRY HOGAN: We have to continue to help people grow out of poverty. But thats a different issue than minimum wage, which is supposed to be your first job entering the market. Youre not supposed to be able to support a family on minimum wage.

JAISAL NOOR: Maryland raised its minimum wage to $10.10 an hour last July. Of the states over half a million low-wage workers, 9 in 10 are over the age of 20, and about a third have children. Thats why polls show broad support for a $15 minimum wage. But Governor Hogan has his concerns.

LARRY HOGAN: We will be more than twice as high as Virginia. That is $7.25. Now, does that put us in a competitive position? Do companies say, Im going to start up and try to hire 100 new young people in these entry jobs. Am I going to do it in Maryland, or am I going to do it in Virginia? So I think we need to have the discussion. There have been some reports that say we could lose as many as 100,000 jobs.

JAISAL NOOR: The NFIB, or National Federation of Independent Business, predicts 100,000 jobs could be lost over the next decade if Maryland adopts a higher minimum wage. Higher labor costs would force employers to lay off tens of thousands of workers, including over 13,000 in the fast food sector alone, along with $61 billion in lost output over the next decade.

The minimum wage has remained largely stagnant for half a century. When cities and states have raised it, peer-reviewed studies have found they did not cause job losses, argues economist David Cooper of the nonpartisan Economic Policy Institute. There has been an enormous body of research on the effect of the minimum wage on employment, particularly since the mid-1990s, including recently by the Census Bureau, which has largely concluded that raising the minimum wage does exactly what its supposed to do. Raising the pay of low-wage workers with little impact on their employment.

But in response, the NFIBs Susan Stoltenberg argues the burden will fall on small business. If they cant raise prices because consumers wont pay more in the marketplace, they have no option but to cut hours or eliminate entry level jobs. But Cooper disagrees, arguing even if there were cases where a minimum wage increase slowed the rate of job growth or led to a small reduction in workers hours, the fact that workers were making higher hourly wages meant their take home pay at the end of the year was the same if not greater than before, reducing the share of families in poverty.

Seattle was the first city to adopt a $15 minimum wage. Groups like the NFIB warned about job losses. Stoltenberg cites an October study: While some more experienced workers saw wage gains, less experienced workers saw no gain in pay, and significant reduction in the rate of new entries in the workforce.

Cooper argues the term experienced is being mischaracterized. It doesnt refer to skill or tenure. Instead its referencing workers who already worked fewer hours in the 12 months before the increase. He says the study is making his exact point: Most workers saw clear wage gains. Some ended up with the same amount of income for fewer hours of work.

A recent Bloomberg piece about Seattle shows that employment in food service has actually increased since the minimum wage became $15 an hour in the beginning of 2018. And the first study to examine the impacts of raising wages over $10 an hour in six cities found more money going to low-wage workers and no significant job loss. Economists have found raising the minimum wage would have other benefits, as well: Raising job retention, economic stimulus with more people having money to spend, and reducing the number of working people relying on government assistance. And a growing number of small business owners say they want a higher minimum wage.

JACQ JONES: It is in the best interests of any business to ensure that their employees are able to meet their own basic needs. This is also a matter of ethics for me. I may be old fashioned, but I believe that I should not be relying on government subsidies to stay in business. If I am paying my employees at a level where they are relying on food stamps to eat and Section 8 for housing, the government is picking up the tab on my substandard wages. Thats not an ethical business; thats stealing from the taxpayers.

JAISAL NOOR: The NFIB describes itself as the voice of small business, but questions have been raised about whose interests they serve. As CNN reported, top donors have included the Koch brothers, whose donor network push an agenda that benefits big business; a claim the NFIB vehemently denies. For their part, Democrats in Maryland are holding a press conference Monday to announce a push for a $15 minimum wage by 2023 starting this year.

For The Real News, this is Jaisal Noor reporting in Annapolis, Maryland.
MDC youth assembly is set to hold a series of demonstrations next week to protest worsening economic conditions in Zimbabwe.

In a statement, the youth assembly said the demonstrations will be held in protest of the back-to-school burden costs, high prices of commodities, a nonperforming and static economy as well as the fuel crisis. The youth assembly said considering President Emmerson Mnangagwa and his governments arrogant and ignorant approach to the crisis facing the nation, it is important for national institutions and organisations to stand together as they have not been spared by the wretched policies and leadership.

As the nation faces intense difficulty, uncertainty has engulfed our country. The illegitimate Zanu PF government has failed; disastrous leadership has become a serious threat to the people of Harare and Zimbabwe at large. The peoples revolution is ripe and we call every citizen to join, we are all affected by the current economic situation, no one should be left behind, the statement said.

The youth league said the upcoming revolution will be joined by civil servants, the education sector, health sector, vendors, transport operators, students and members of the public at large.

The MDC youths blamed the crisis on Mnangagwas illegitimacy, suggesting that their leader, Nelson Chamisa had a national dialogue plan that would rescue Zimbabwe.

The leadership vacuum at the helm of the country coupled with the illegitimate and clueless Mnangagwa has not helped the burning situation the country has found itself in. The peoples president, Chamisa and the MDC party have come up with a five-point plan for national dialogue that would help boost confidence in our political processes and in our economy. The five-point plan is people centred and aimed at easing the economic hardships if implemented, however, the inept and irresponsible Mnangagwa government remains elusive, the youth assembly said.

The statement also added that it was high time the countrys citizens embarked on non-routine rules and procedures to salvage the country that is on the brink of total collapse. This comes as the opposition youth league recently clashed with the police after resolving to conduct massive protests against government without first notifying the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP).

Secretary-general of the MDC youth assembly Lovemore Chinoputsa told the Daily News that they will start rolling out the demonstrations.

This year, we are not seeking police clearance because its our time to liberate ourselves. We cannot leave our liberation to a group of people that are captured and that also need to be liberated from the jaws of Zanu PF.

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The much-talked about talks between President Emmerson Mnangagwa and opposition leader Nelson Chamisa are being frustrated by hardliners within both the ruling Zanu PF and the MDC, the Daily News can reveal today.

This comes after both Mnangagwa and Chamisa separately said this week that they were willing to engage in dialogue that could extricate the country from the countrys worsening economic rot  which analysts say has driven Zimbabwe to the brink of the horrific 2008 meltdown.

The encouraging statements by the two arch rivals went a long way towards raising hope in the country, following their hardline positions of last year when Mnangagwa declared that he would never form a government of national unity with Chamisa  while the latter insisted on talks which would end with him being installed as Zimbabwes legitimate president.

Speaking through his aides this week, Mnangagwa repeated a call that he first made to Chamisa last year after the hotly-disputed July 30 elections when he told the MDC leader that my door is open and my arms are outstretched.

And writing on social media on Wednesday, Chamisa also reiterated his desire for dialogue with Mnangagwa  whom he referred to as his brother, in a welcome move which signalled his abandonment of his once militant approach to talks.

I have met with many on our worsening situation and unbearable suffering. The back-to-school burden, high prices, non-performing economy, joblessness and worthless salaries bring sorrow.

On this, I call upon my bro(ther) ED to urgent dialogue to solve our politics and economics or it gets worse, he said on Twitter.

But insiders in both parties told the Daily News yesterday that hardliners on both sides were opposed to any dialogue as this threatened their political and economic interests.

Its going to take massive effort from both ED and Chamisa to overcome hardliners in the two respective parties (Zanu PF and MDC) who are fearful of the dialogue as this threatens their interests, a Zanu PF source said.

This view was bolstered by political analysts who also said hardliners within both parties were rabidly against talks for self-preservation reasons.

Respected University of Zimbabwe political science lecturer, Eldred Masunungure, said there was no doubt that the stumbling block to the mooted dialogue between Mnangagwa and Chamisa were hawks within Zanu PF and the MDC.

There are hardliners and soft-liners in the two parties. It dates back to the declaration by former president Robert Mugabe that he was supporting Chamisa on the eve of the (July 30) elections.

Before that, Zanu PF was interested in engaging Chamisa and the opposition, but that declaration hardened the view of hardliners in Zanu PF, particularly the military, he said.

The hardliners in Zanu PF view Chamisa as someone who cannot be trusted. The MDC Alliance has also taken a hardline stance by rejecting the win by Mnangagwa, and as long as that view that Mnangagwa is illegitimate holds, there will not be dialogue.

These hardline positions are unrealistic and I dont see the two parties engaging unless if all these issue are resolved  but that is what happens in a patronage system  people will protect their turf.

If you bring the MDC to government, some in Zanu PF could lose their positions, and so they undermine efforts between the MDC and Zanu PF to engage, Masunungure added.

Namibia-based political analyst, Admire Mare, said both Zanu PF and the MDC were to blame for stalling the eagerly-awaited talks.

I think its hardliners within both camps not wanting to portray themselves as desperate for outside help who are behind this. It is also fear of being displaced from certain strategic positions that come with elite pacts.

Chamisa and the MDC Alliances refusal to accept Mnangagwa as the legitimate leader is also a big sticking issue in the way of dialogue, Mare said.

Meanwhile, Zanu PF spokesperson Simon Khaya Moyo has challenged Chamisa to go and see Mnangagwa if he was serious about talks.

He knows who to see. Why doesnt he go and meet the president? He should go and say what he thinks and I think the president will hear him, Khaya Moyo said.

However, Chamisa claimed on Wednesday that he had previously written letters to Mnangagwa, seeking to have dialogue over the current political and economic crises, but to no avail.

Working flat out to have dialogue in order to save lives rather than lose lives to have dialogue and a solution. I have written letters without a reply before and after elections.

I have met with potential mediators in the church. I have engaged leaders in Sadc and AU (African Union)  I made a public statement of invitation, he said while responding to a question on Twitter.

But senior Zanu PF politburo member, and the partys secretary for administration, Obert Mpofu, appeared to pour cold water on the proposed talks.

They have not approached us  the question is on what basis are they willing to engage us? I have not heard anything about engagement, but the president is very clear, he has said that he will listen to all Zimbabweans on issues to do with Zimbabwe and so with Chamisa it all depends on what he has to say, starting with legitimacy.

We have a president who has been recognised by the people and you cannot obliterate what people say  why then raise the issue of legitimacy? Those are issues of political grandstanding, Mpofu told the Daily News yesterday.

Chamisa has been brawling with Mnangagwa ever since he narrowly lost the hotly-disputed July 30 presidential election  whose result he vigorously challenged at the Constitutional Court (Con-Court).

The youthful opposition leader even went to the extent of accusing the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (Zec) of manipulating the poll results in favour of the Zanu PF leader.

But Mnangagwas victory was upheld by the Con-Court, which ruled that Chamisa had failed to provide evidence that he had won the election.

In the meantime, Mnangagwa and his government are battling to turn around the countrys sickly economy.

As a result, Zimbabwe is now in the throes of a mega economic crisis which has resulted in much suffering and anger among citizens who accuse the government of introducing a raft of measures which have further burdened them instead of alleviating their pain.

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CHIEF Magistrate Mishrod Guvamombe was yesterday arrested for alleged criminal abuse of office after he offered work-related attachment to former Cabinet ministers Saviour Kasukuwere and Supa Mandiwandira at the Harare Magistrates Courts where they are appearing for alleged corruption.

He spent the night at Rhodesville Police Station pending his appearance in court today.

Kasukuwere and Mandiwanzira are law students at the University of Zimbabwe (UZ), but have pending criminal charges before the same court, raising fears that their daily presence in the courts registry department could jeopardise their trial.

Police spokesperson Commissioner Charity Charamba confirmed that the allegations against Guvamombe stemmed from his decision to offer work-related attachment to Kasukuwere and Mandiwanzira at the Harare Magistrates Courts.

I can confirm that the accused person, Mishrod Guvamombe, was picked up today by the police on allegations of criminal abuse of office, she said.

The charges arose from the decision to offer work-related attachment to two former Cabinet ministers  Saviour Kasukuwere and Supa Mandiwanzira  at the Harare Magistrates Courts while the two have pending criminal charges before the same court.

He is scheduled to appear in court tomorrow (today).

Guvamombe was yesterday suspended from work for three months pending an investigation into the alleged misconduct.

His decision was said to have put the name of the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) and the magistracy into disrepute.

Guvamombe, who will be receiving half of his salary during his suspension, is not allowed to visit his workplace during the three months which end on April 11.

JSC Acting Secretary Mr Walter Chikwana confirmed the suspension. Yes, that is the position, he has been suspended, he said.

Allegations against Guvamombe arose on December 4 last year when he placed the two politicians on attachment at Harare Magistrates Courts. The attachment period, according to the offer, stretched from December 17, 2018 to February 15, 2019.

Guvamombe, the JSC alleged, was aware that the two were facing criminal charges at the same court. He was the one who presided over Mandiwanziras case of criminal abuse of office, according to the JSC.

To that end, the JSC resolved to suspend him to pave way for investigations into the matter.

Mandiwanzira, who is Nyanga South National Assembly Member and former Minister of Information Communication Technology and Cyber Security, is facing criminal abuse of office charges at the Harare magistrates court.

On his initial appearance, Mandiwanzira was granted $2 000 bail by Guvamombe, who ordered him to provide surety in the form of title deeds to the tune of $100 000, among other bail conditions.

Mandiwanzira is facing two counts of criminal abuse of office as a public officer during his tenure as a Cabinet minister.

He allegedly engaged the services of a South African company called Megawatt Private Limited at NetOne without going to tender.

Megawatt was hired to review prices charged by a Chinese firm, Huawei Technologies, for the supply of network expansion and modernisation equipment to NetOne. Of the fees charged, Megawatt successfully negotiated for a reduction of $30 million.

After the negotiations, Mandiwanzira instructed then NetOne chief executive officer Mr Reward Kangai and some board members to pay Megawatt $4 million.

According to the State, $1 million was for consultancy, while $3 million was termed success fee.

NetOne declined to pay Megawatt, arguing that tender procedures had not been followed. It argued that legally, it had no valid contract with Megawatt.

Investigations established that Mandiwanzira was a director in a company called Blue Nightingale which had shares in Megawatt.

Mandiwanzira is also being accused of irregularly appointing his personal assistant to be a board member for NetOne.

Kasukuwere is facing four counts of criminal abuse of office emanating from the time he was Minister for Youth Development, Indigenisation and Empowerment, as well as Local Government, Public Works and National Housing.

 Herald

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The majority of Texans want criminal justice reform.

This means they want a bail system that ensures fairness between the poor and the wealthy. They want people accused of nonviolent crimes to be with their families and to stay employed. They want jail populations to be reduced, and defendants risk to the public to be properly assessed. They want minor amounts of marijuana possession to be treated as a minor offense, on par with a traffic ticket. Not a black mark on someones record.

Republicans want this. So do Democrats and independents. Recent polling from the Pretrial Justice Institute, Right on Crime and Texas Appleseed shows this.

The state Legislature can be a circus. We have fears state lawmakers will once again serve up a big ol heaping of crazy now that they are back in session. But criminal justice reform represents a potential beacon of sane, consensus building. We are at a unique moment for meaningful change.

Because of the strong bipartisan support for change, the legislature and Gov. Greg Abbott have an opportunity to right past wrongs and fix serious flaws in the system. They can make a lasting and welcome difference in the lives of so many Texans, but only if they get this right. If bail reform becomes a tool for greater judicial leeway to detain people accused of nonviolent offenses pretrial  we all have a right to the presumption of innocence  then state lawmakers will have failed.

Abbott is very much the linchpin to this discussion, and this summer the governor made a strong case about the need for bail reform and the flaws of the cash bail system. He seized on the tragic story of state trooper Damon Allen, who was killed while on duty in 2017. The suspect was released from jail on a $15,500 bond. The judge who set the bond has said he was not aware of previous convictions, including a 2015 assault of a deputy.

Part of Abbotts call for reform included the need for better information sharing about criminal history and a statewide case management system. These are reforms we support, but they would be incomplete without broader bail reform.

The bail industry, businesses that profit from the practice, is influential and will almost certainly oppose any reform, and we suspect certain tough on crime lawmakers will also have reservations. But bail reform is being tough on crime because its about being smart with limited resources.

Besides, research has shown a persons ability to make cash bond  whether its $300, $15,500 or $400,000  has nothing to do with that persons potential risk to the public. The ability to pay can lead to the pretrial release of a potentially dangerous person and the lack of resources can lead to the detention of someone who poses no risk to society. Consider the recent tragic example of Janice Dotson-Stephens, the grandmother with schizophrenia who died in the Bexar County Adult Detention Center. She had been there for five months on a criminal trespassing charge. Her bail was $300.

State Sen. Jose Menendez has filed legislation to create a pilot program specific to Bexar County that would divert defendants with mental health issues  people like Dotson-Stephens  to appropriate clinical settings. We wholeheartedly support this legislation and hope it proves worthy enough to be implemented statewide.

But the broader issue of the inequities of cash bail remains. The legislature could go a long way in remedying this by requiring all Texas law enforcement agencies to develop cite-and-release policies for people charged with certain nonviolent offenses. In 2007, state lawmakers granted cite-and-release authority to law enforcement agencies for misdemeanors such as driving with an invalid license, graffiti, low-level theft and possession of small amounts of marijuana. But many law enforcement agencies have not embraced cite and release. This has included the San Antonio Police Department, which only now is developing a cite-and-release program.

Cite and release is not soft on crime. Its being smart about resources. Cite and release does not change the charge or the possible consequences of a given offense. It simply has the potential to keep people accused of nonviolent offenses out of jail, meaning they may not have to plead guilty though they may not be simply to secure their release. That brings some balance between the wealthy who can afford cash bail, and the poor who often cannot. It also means smaller jail populations, saving taxpayers money and providing greater room to focus on violent offenses. And it means a greater opportunity for change through diversion programs.

For these reasons, and others, groups as diverse as Texas Appleseed and Right on Crime endorse expanding cite-and-release programs and requiring the use of risk-based assessment tools. The Laura and John Arnold Foundation has created an impressive one.

Abbott has also signaled interest in possibly shifting possession of marijuana of 2 ounces or less to a Class C misdemeanor, or the equivalent of a ticket. That sounds about right to us. Courts and cops have better uses of their time and resources.

And any discussion about bail reform would be inadequate if it does not address the issue of secrecy. Although bail hearings occur in courts, bail hearings in many Texas jurisdictions are closed. As weve seen from video in Harris and Dallas counties, magistrates have set unreasonable bonds or castigated defendants. Whats happening in settings without video? Ensuring the public has access to these courts would provide important oversight on this front. Additionally, defendants should have representation.

Bexar County is in the process of ensuring public access to bail hearings. And the countys Public Defenders Office is poised to represent all defendants at bail hearings. But achieving these policy goals was not easy, and one roadblock was concern about consistency in counsel representation. That is, a defendant might already have retained counsel, or would later have court-appointed counsel.

This resistance, says Geoffrey Burkhart, head of the Texas Indigent Defense Commission, is rooted in a misreading of a 2001 law that says an appointed attorney should stick with a case through its conclusion. But that law wasnt about representation at bail hearings. It was about ensuring appointed attorneys stay with defendants  and those appointments would still be made after bail hearings.

The TIDCs board has recommended a technical change to the wording of this law to ensure there is no confusion. Our view is straightforward: Representation is a good thing. Its better than no representation.

Texas spends about $9 per capita on indigent defense spending, which Burkhart has said is below the national average. Bexar County spends $6 per capita. Better investment in indigent defense would go a long way toward mitigating many of the systems problems. One place to start is lifting budget caps on TIDC. Burkhart told us state lawmakers provided about $15 million in additional annual funding last legislative session, but the agencys budget cap has kept these funds off limits.

Its just sitting in our account, he said.

State lawmakers need to remedy this.

Texas voters want these changes. The polling from Texas Appleseed, Right on Crime and the Pretrial Justice Institute found 90 percent of registered Texas voters are unhappy with the criminal justice system. And for good reason. A recent report from Fwd.us, a bipartisan group focusing on criminal justice reform, and researchers with Cornell University, found about 113 million people in the United States have a loved one who is or has been incarcerated.

The system touches many Texas families. With the right policies, state lawmakers can cultivate meaningful and lasting change. Along with increased public school financing, this should be a priority.

This editorial is part of the Unequal Justice series, which explores the inequities in Bexar Countys criminal justice system and how they can be fixed.
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortezs so-called Green New Deal makes the obligatory nod to the original New Deal, but FDRs handiwork is much too modest an antecedent.

The Green New Deal calls for a top-down revolution in the operation of American society so sweeping that it would be disturbing if it werent so wholly ridiculous. It shows all the thoughtfulness of a college sophomore pulling an all-nighter to write a term paper for his Millennial Socialism 101 class.

The Green New Deal, as explained in draft legislation to create a congressional committee to pursue it, would transition to 100 percent renewable sources of national power in 10 years. Since renewables only account for 17 percent of U.S. power now (7.5 percent from hydropower, which might not pass muster under the Green New Deal), the plan would require shuttering more than 80 percent of current sources of American power.

This isnt like a European country adopting an ambitious goal for renewables (Denmark wants to be at 50 percent by 2030); it is a country with more recoverable oil reserves than Saudi Arabia and Russia spurning a stupendous source of national wealth to take a flier on a lunatic experiment.

The architects of the Green New Deal apparently believe that once you have lost touch with reality with one proposal, you might as well pile on as many wild-eyed schemes as possible.

It would build a new energy-efficient grid, itself a massive proposition.

It would upgrade every  not just many, not even most, but every  residential and industrial building for energy efficiency. There are 136 million homes in the United States.

It would eliminate emissions from industry, including farming, offering instead a vision of investment in local-scale agriculture.

It would eliminate emissions from transportation, which sounds like mandatory electric cars and hydrogen-powered planes.

Because the Green New Deal aspires to achieve all of socialism in one energy plan, it includes a federal job guarantee with a living wage and perhaps basic income programs and universal health care.

Theres nothing the Green New Deal cant do. It would mitigate deeply entrenched racial, regional, and gender-based inequalities in income and wealth, and  oh, yeah  virtually eliminate poverty.

All this would be so tremendously costly that its hard to fathom, not to mention technologically infeasible. Since wind and solar energy arent continuously available if we relied on them entirely, wed either have to have regular blackouts or deploy unimaginable amounts of storage relying on technologies that havent been proven at scale.

The Green Energy Plan would take one of the countrys unadulterated policy triumphs of the past 20 years, the revolution in oil and gas drilling, and trash it for no good reason. It would throw hundreds of thousands of employees in this industry out of work. But dont worry  they could get a federally guaranteed job and perhaps grow fruits and vegetables in their backyards.

The case for the Green Energy Plan is based on the alleged climate crisis being so dire that it must overwhelm all cost-and-benefit analysis. Actually, we have already been making incremental progress in reducing emissions, thanks largely to natural gas, which the Green Energy Plan cant abide. While global emissions have been increasing since 2005, U.S. emissions have been declining.

Even if we were to kneecap ourselves with the Green Energy Plan, the worlds biggest emitter wouldnt follow suit. According to research by the green group CoalSwarm, China is now developing as much new coal capacity as currently exists in the U.S.

Pressed on the plausibility of the Green New Deal by Anderson Cooper on 60 Minutes, Ocasio-Cortez said we must pursue change we dont conceive as possible. The Green New Deal certainly meets that standard. Its the perfect program for a movement that has no idea of how to make means meet ends and doesnt even care to try.

comments.lowry@nationalreview.com
It isnt starting with a bang, but dont be deceived: The Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) is underway, and companies and institutions that ignore it will be overwhelmed by it. Individuals will adapt to it as best we can, as we always have.

In short, 4IR is the fusing of the digital, physical and biological spheres. Its the interconnection of everything, bringing change in companies, jobs, schools and eventually government. Government wont to be able to stand idly by when it sees traditional businesses upended and huge changes in how we work and study, and where.

As 4IR moves ahead one can reasonably contemplate a time when body parts will be printed, robots will prepare restaurant food and drone taxis will take us to the airport, where departures will be handled without human intervention  because you were verified through facial recognition when you bought your ticket on your smartphone, you wont need to do anything but walk through security and onto a plane, which has a cabin crew to look after you but no pilots.

Behind and driving the revolution is artificial intelligence, commanding everything from farms, where tractors will start themselves and plow or reap without a human in sight, to street lights that turn off when nothing is moving and back on as needed, to manufacturing that will be dominated by 3D printing, better referred to as additive manufacturing.

The troubadour of 4IR is Klaus Schwab who created the World Economic Forum back in 1971, the worlds most important ideas mart known as Davos, after Davos-Klosters the Swiss resort where the forum meets every year. This year Davos kicks off on Jan. 22 and will be devoted to what Schwab, 80, a German economist and engineer, has called Globalization 4.0.

The first forum to look at 4IR was in 2016. Schwab has written two books on the subject  the The Fourth Industrial Revolution and Shaping the Future of the Fourth Industrial Revolution  and has been ceaseless in promoting the future while warning of it. He told Gerard Baker, the former executive editor of The Wall Street Journal, in a TV interview that enumerating the challenges wasnt enough, there need to be solutions as well.

The three past industrial revolutions are listed by Schwab as the replacement of animal power by water and then steam power, the latter at the beginning of the 18th century; the deployment of electricity, starting in the late 19th century; and the digital revolution of the last part of the 20th century.

The Davos meeting will examine the upheaval besetting the world with 4IR and how itll be managed. Its what Schwab calls Globalization 4.0. We must develop a comprehensive and globally shared view of how technology is affecting our lives and reshaping our economic, social, cultural and human environments. There has never been a time of greater promise, or greater peril, he says.

Andre Kudelski, a Silicon Valley veteran, now head of the eponymous Swiss high-tech company that bears his name, says, A skilled engineer can take control remotely of any connected thing. Society has not yet realized the incredible scenarios this capability creates.

Says Robert Shiller, a Yale University economics professor and 2013 Nobel Prize winner, We cannot wait until there are massive dislocations in our society to prepare for the Fourth Industrial Revolution.

Others dream of a cleaner, safer and healthier world. Dileep George, an artificial intelligence and neuroscience researcher, quoted by the forum, says, Imagine a robot capable of treating Ebola patients or cleaning up nuclear waste.

Leon Trotsky, a veteran of the Russian Revolution, said, You may not be interested in war, but war is interested in you. He might well be paraphrased to say, We may not be interested in the Fourth Industrial Revolution, but it is interested in us.

Llewellyn King is executive producer and host of White House Chronicle on PBS, and he is a columnist with InsideSources.
The detention center at the Frank Wing Municipal Court is a dingy, grimy place long passed over by time.

People huddle in frigid group cells or sleep on the floor near a shared toilet. They wait for bail hearings. They wait to be released or placed in jail. And as they wait, sometimes they kick their cell doors or bang on plexiglass windows.

They are accused of crimes, sometimes awful ones. They can be difficult people, sometimes awful people. They can be frequent flyers moving through the justice system again and again.

It could be tempting, then, to disregard the depressing conditions at Frank Wing. To breathe in the stale air there and say these people dont deserve anything better than a dungeon, as one expert has called it. Except everyone is entitled to the presumption of innocence. Except its no place you would ever want your son or daughter, mother or father, friend or loved one to be held. Not for six hours. Not for 18 hours. Not for 15 minutes. When these people become your people, the conditions at Frank Wing come into moral focus.

Then it becomes clear the detention center at Frank Wing should have closed long ago. Somehow its still here. It has endured on the west end of downtown even as Bexar County has opened its own modern Justice Intake and Assessment Center where defendants are also booked. It has stayed open even though city officials know the Frank Wing building is obsolete. Not just old, but in the footprint for University of Texas at San Antonios downtown campus expansion.

If the conditions at Frank Wing dont spark outrage, then this redundancy should. The public should not be paying for two intake centers, and, in turn, two sets of magistrates and detention officers.

The inability of the city and county to partner reflects peak city-county tension and dysfunction. The two sides have squabbled over the new buildings design and concerns about shared costs. There certainly are some real issues to hash out. Who is going to pay for what? How is the county going to create a larger entrance to its new building, and how will it add new DWI stations? How can the county assure city police quickly return to the field after they make an arrest?

All fair questions that should have been answered years ago if the City Council had been involved. But they havent been briefed, and they havent bothered to learn.

I think we all could stand to get some education on it, District 6 City Councilman Greg Brockhouse said. This is a prime example of staff has too much control.

His point was that the council and mayor should be making policy decisions, not city staff. And yet staff has turned out the lights on this one, and elected officials cant seem to find the switch.

Its not something that we have been fairly well briefed on, District 5 City Councilwoman Shirley Gonzales said.

Gonzales recently toured the county facility, but until then, she said, I was not even aware of the relationship that we had.

What?

For years the city has booked people at Frank Wing, and the county has handled magistration. All that could flip with the countys new building, and the (welcome) prospect of the city taking over magistration there. That is the relationship. It involves millions of tax dollars and tens of thousands of people who pass through the system each year.

What does Mayor Ron Nirenberg think of this? With the volatile city charter elections behind him, Nirenberg has said finding a solution is a priority. He has toured both facilities. He knows the issues and the stakes. He expects a deal.

This is also a matter of public policy priority in terms of how we handle jail diversion and our priorities about who and how people should be locked up, he said.

When Nirenberg and the City Council took office nearly two years ago, they made some bold statements. They removed a Confederate monument at Travis Park. They endorsed the Paris climate accord.

Those actions were symbolic of broader values. No ones life changed. But Frank Wing is tangible. Getting out of the jail business and making the countys new building work  thats the nitty-gritty of governing. It would benefit so many people.

Prolonged failure, then, is its own symbol. The longer Frank Wings detention center endures, the greater a monument it becomes to a lack of political will to make a difference.

jbrodesky@express-news.net
San Antonio police are trying to piece together why a woman was shot as she was walking outside her East Side home Friday night.

The unidentified woman in her 40s was walking her dog near her home about 11:15 p.m. in the 100 block of Vista Road when police say a grey vehicle pulled up and someone opened fire on the woman.
This story has been updated to correct the individual shot.

San Antonio police say one man was hospitalized after being shot in the abdomen by a security guard following a confrontation overnight at a downtown area dance club.

A man was told to leave Club Essence, 1010 N. Main Ave., about 12:45 a.m. and then became argumentative with a security guard escorting him out, according to police.



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Officers at the scene say the man was intoxicated and bothering other customers. A fight between the man and the guard erupted in the parking lot and police say another patron, a friend of the ejected man, joined the fight and grabbed the guard.

At some point, the guard pulled his gun and fired hitting the man's friend in the stomach. He was taken to Brooke Army Medical Center in serious condition.

Police said possible charges are pending for the two patrons and continue to investigate. The guard was not expected to be charged as of the time of the incident, according to police.
San Antonio police had their suspicions when they were called to investigate the reported kidnapping of 8-month-old King Jay Davila on Jan. 4 at a West Side gas station.

"Right from the very beginning there were questions as to whether this was a legitimate kidnapping or not," said San Antonio Police Chief William McManus.
Former San Antonio Mayor Julian Castro announced Saturday that he is running for president, as more than 1,000 gathered at the West Side's historic Plaza Guadalupe to hear him speak.

"I'm running for president because it's time for new leadership, because it's time for new energy and it's time for a new commitment to make sure that the opportunities that I've had are available to every American," he told supporters.

Castro said he was proud to call himself a son of San Antonio, and noted that the West Side where he spoke is a community built by immigrants.

"So many journeys for me and my family have begun right here," Castro told the crowd. "And today, we begin another one."

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He said his story would not be possible without the strong women who came before him and passed the baton. But he said that "today we are at risk of dropping that baton" because of poor leadership.

"We're going to make sure that the promise of America is available to everyone in the 21st century," he said.

Castro, who also led the Department Housing and Urban Development under President Obama, is the Alamo City's first presidential hopeful. He is also one of the first in the country to join what is expected to become a very crowded Democratic field.

In sometimes soaring rhetoric, he said he would push for universal healthcare, affordable housing, criminal justice and immigration reforms.

"My family's story wouldn't be possible without a country that challenged itself to live up to the promise of America," Castro said. "That was the point of the American dream. It wasn't supposed to be just a dream. America was a place where dreams could become real."

ON EXPRESS-NEWS.COM: The many remarkable moments of Julian Castro presidential announcement

He noted that his grandmother suffered from diabetes, but received good medical care.

"Thank god Medicare was there for her, it should be available for everyone in this country -- Medicare for all," he said.

And he said today's immigration crisis is a "crisis of leadership" by President Trump.

"We say no to building a wall and yes to building community."

This is a developing story. Please check back later for more details.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
A former San Antonio day care worker pleaded guilty Wednesday to two counts of producing child pornography, which he admitted creating at his then-workplace.

Nicholas Andreas Gonzales Malven, 30, who worked at La Petite Academy day care on Spring Time Drive and was around children at a YMCA in Washington State, was arrested here in July 2016 after an investigation by the FBI, and admitted sending images of his hand molesting a child at the day care and sent them to a sexual partner, and then to an undercover FBI agent.

In a statement after Gonzales arrest last year, a spokeswoman for La Petite Academy said Gonzales was no longer with the company and that La Petite cooperated with the FBI.

Court records said the FBI learned of Gonzales from another suspect in a related child-porn investigation who was arrested on July 28, 2016. That individual, identified as 34-year-old Michael Kiper of San Antonio, had been involved in child pornography over an extended period, using various Internet programs, services, and phone applications, the court records said. Kiper also told the FBI that he met with Gonzales for sex and they watched child porn together, the court papers said.

While reviewing Kipers phone, agents learned that Gonzales had been communicating with Kiper through Grindr, a social media app geared toward gay and bisexual men, and text messaging. They also learned, court documents said, that Gonzales had sent images of what looked like an adult hand, with a circular tattoo on the forearm, pulling the boys pants down and sexually touching him while the child was asleep or while the toddler was being helped to go to the bathroom.

Gonzales plea documents said the FBI obtained consent from Kiper to use his phone and continued communicating with Gonzales, who texted a detailed description of how he had molested the child.

On July 29, 2016, the FBI raided Gonzales Northwest Side apartment and he admitted receiving, sending and viewing child pornography for the past 5 years, the plea documents said.

He also admitted that he produced five images he sent to Kiper while he was working at La Petite. A forensic examination of his phone turned up the images, the plea deal said.

Gonzales faces a minimum of 15 years and a maximum of 30 years in prison, followed by up to a lifetime of federal supervision, on each count. Sentencing was scheduled for Sept. 11 before Senior U.S. District Judge David Alan Ezra.

Kiper pleaded guilty to child porn charges and was sentenced in May to 20 years in prison followed by 20 years of federal supervision.

gcontreras@express-news.net

Twitter: @gmaninfedland
NEW YORK  In the past few months, the 18 jurors at the drug conspiracy trial of Joaquin Guzman Loera, the Mexican kingpin known as El Chapo, have been inundated with evidence exposing the innermost secrets of his global narco-empire. But on Wednesday, the panel got a riveting and unexpected look at something even more revealing: dozens of text messages Guzman sent to his wife and mistress.

The private messages  obtained by the FBI with the assistance of an info-tech expert who worked for Guzman  painted an astonishing portrait of the crime lord not only as a serial philanderer, but also as a man who, mixing sex and business, relied on the women in his life to help him conduct his daily operations.

In one set of messages, Guzman and his wife, Emma Coronel Aispuro, cooed together over the cuteness of their twin baby daughters and then, in a flash, discussed whether his soldiers had been slaughtered in a gunfight.

As page after page of these intimate notes  one describing how Coronels enchiladas had made the kingpin fall in love with her  were displayed to the jury in U.S. District Court in Brooklyn, Coronel herself sat in the room, stoic and silent, wearing a pair of black designer glasses.

Coronel, a frequent presence at the trial, displayed no emotion when an FBI agent read aloud a message in which Guzman told her about escaping a police raid at one of his safe houses by scrambling out the back. (Oh love, thats horrible, she answered.) There was also no response when the agent read a follow-up message in which Guzman asked her to send him some mustache dye and to also replace the underwear, shampoo and after-shave lotion he had left behind.

The only thing more remarkable than these messages was how the FBI got hold of them. On Tuesday, an FBI agent, Stephen Marston, told jurors the dramatic story of how U.S. authorities launched a clandestine operation in 2010 to recruit Guzmans IT expert, Christian Rodriguez, to become an informant, go undercover and then spy on him. Rodriguez had built Guzman and his allies an encrypted communication network, but then helped the bureau crack it.

Testifying for a second day, Marston recounted that, at Guzmans request, Rodriguez had also installed spyware called FlexiSPY on Coronels phone as well as on a phone Guzman had given to his mistress, Agustina Cabanillas Acosta. After the IT specialist told the FBI about the spyware, agents obtained a search warrant for the messages, effectively using Guzmans lust and paranoia against him.

Not even the Mafia boss John Gotti, whom the FBI secretly recorded for hours, had to endure the ordeal of his marital  and extramarital  missives being shown to the world.

In one of Guzmans messages, he ordered his wife to hide his weapons when he believed the police were at their door. In another, he joked about one of their infant daughters in a way that only a drug trafficker could.

Our Kiki is fearless, he wrote. Im going to give her an AK-47 so she can hang with me.

The messages also showed how deeply Guzmans romantic partners were entangled in his work life.

How are the sales going? he wrote to Acosta in 2012.

Oh, like busy bees, she responded. Nonstop, my love.

But Acosta (who, according to a photo, bore an uncanny resemblance to Guzmans wife) also appeared to be profoundly suspicious of the crime lord. Her own messages showed that she was all but certain Guzman was spying on her  as, of course, he was. She even complained about it to her friends.

In one message, she told a friend that she did not trust the BlackBerrys Guzman had given her because, as she put it, the bastard can locate them. In another message, she seemed proud to have figured out her lover was a snoop. Im way smarter than him, she wrote.

After scores of messages were shown in court, Rodriguez was called to the witness stand. Baby-faced and wearing a blue suit, he told jurors that Guzman ultimately had him install the spyware on 50 different phones and was apparently obsessed with it.

Almost every day, Rodriguez said, the kingpin called him with questions about the software, which was linked to a computer where Guzman could view reports on the text messages and GPS locations generated by what he liked to call his special phones. Eventually, the reports became so voluminous, Rodriguez said, that Guzman assigned one of his other technicians to read them and give him daily summaries.

At one point, Rodriguez told jurors, Guzman asked him to install a feature on the phones that allowed him to remotely  and secretly  activate their microphones. Then Guzman would play a little game, Rodriguez said. He would call people who had the special phones and chat with them for a while then hang up, activate the microphone and listen to what they said about him.

Guzman did not spy only on phones.

Rodriguez testified that once during a stay at one of Guzmans hideouts in the Sierra Madre mountains, the kingpin asked how long it would take to make a computer special too. A woman was also there with them and had brought her computer, Rodriguez said. When the techie told the kingpin it would only take three minutes, Guzman ordered him to do it.

El Chapo distracted the woman and I installed the spy software on the computer, Rodriguez said.

This article originally appeared in The New York Times
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Oxford Union Disinvites Donohue

Contact: Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights, 212-371-3191, pr@catholicleague.org

NEW YORK, Jan. 11, 2019 / Christian Newswire / -- Last month, Catholic League president Bill Donohue (photo) was invited by the president of the Oxford Union to participate in one of their storied debates. Donohue was to speak to the motion, "The House Believes The Catholic Church Can Never Pay For Its Sins."

The debate was slated for February 28. On January 9, Catholic League director of communications Rick Hinshaw sought to firm up some remaining details. He was told that they offered Donohue's spot to someone else.

To read Donohue's letter to Oxford Union president Daniel Wilkinson, click here

To read the correspondence, click here

Here is what Donohue said about this issue today:

I have been lied to by the Oxford Union. Either no one will debate me or someone got to Wilkinson and nixed the invitation. Either way, it shows what a fraud these people are. They speak endlessly about the virtue of free speech and their commitment to honest debates, yet their public pronouncements are belied by their actions.

That Wilkinson chose not to reply to my letterI gave him two daysmakes him doubly delinquent. It does not speak well for the Oxford Union that they have people like him in senior positions.

Contact Wilkinson: president@oxford-union.org
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Avery Frix serves District 13 of the Oklahoma House of Representatives. He can be reached by phone at (405) 557-7302 or via email at avery.frix@okhouse.gov.
Forum on Modern Slavery: 'Liberate Them from Tyranny and Exploitation'

Contact: World Council of Churches Media Office, +41 79 507 6363; www.oikoumene.org/press

GENEVE, Jan. 11, 2019 / Christian Newswire / -- In an opening address at a Forum on Modern Slavery in Istanbul on 7 January, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew spoke on "Awareness, Action and Impact."

Photo: Participants of the third "Forum on Modern Slavery - Awareness, Action and Impact", Istanbul, 5-8 January, 2019, Credit Nikolaos Manginas/Ecumenical Patriarchate Press

After many centuries of progress and advancement, we still live in a world where injustice and slavery continue to thrive, and where human dignity is exchanged for the sole purpose of greed, gain, and profit, reflected Bartholomew. "The Ecumenical Patriarchate is committed to learn, act, and witness to the elimination of this global abomination that traps millions of people to lives of suffering, injustice, and humiliation," he said.

The forum, held 5-8 January, convened experts, practitioners and policymakers from international, governmental and non-governmental organizations, in consultation with representatives from Orthodox Christian ministries of the Ecumenical Patriarchate. It is the third such international gathering. Among the topics discussed were human rights, legal framework, forced migration, human trafficking, and grassroots action.

"Human trafficking is an issue driven by power and privilege...we must challenge the current power systems in our societies," said Dr Perry N. Halkitis, dean of the Rutgers School of Public Health.

"The declaration of the rights of the child is denied to so many children on the move because of their migration status," said Dr V. Digidiki Lucero of the Harvard School of Public Health.

"The end of violence requires the end of impunity. The end of impunity requires functioning public systems," said Abraham George, global director, Church Partnerships, International Justice Mission.

"Until you are in it (the human trafficking reality) you have no idea what life you are savingthe only question is: Not others but what can I do about it?" asked Savelia Curniski, of NASHI, Canada.

Ultimately, silence and passive acceptance of the present situation is no longer possible or acceptable, Bartholomew concluded. "Our love is not to be only for those whom we know, but also for the nameless, the unknown, those who are suffering, especially those trapped in the complex web of slavery," he said. "We are called to fulfill an act of natural justice, as we must liberate them from tyranny and exploitation."

Words are not enough, Bartholomew reiterated. "Action is required," he urged. "Together with the sensitization of consciences, we must participate in concrete initiatives and actions."
A plaque glorifying the Confederacy that has been hanging in the Texas Capitol since 1959 is finally coming down  two years after Democratic lawmakers first made an issue of it.

The State Preservation Board, made up of five Republicans officials and one citizen, voted unanimously in a three-minute meeting Friday to remove the Children of the Confederacy Creed plaque. The marker has long drawn criticism and outrage because of its historically inaccurate claim that the Civil War was not a rebellion, nor was its underlying cause to sustain slavery.

Gov. Greg Abbott, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, House Speaker Dennis Bonnen, Rep. Jeff Leach and citizen representative Alethea Swann Bugg cast their votes Friday and quickly left the room without comment.

Rep. Eric Johnson, D-Dallas, who is black, has been pushing for the plaques removal since 2017, and said he was pleased with the boards decision but frustrated that it took two years of complaints and a ruling from the Texas attorney generals office.

I cant escape the feeling that this isnt a time for backslapping or high-fiving, Johnson said following the vote. The reality is the plaque should have never gone up in the first place.

Johnson said he was struck by how emotionless the board members seemed throughout the brief proceeding.

Related: Lawmakers inch toward removing Confederate plaque from Texas Capitol

The decision comes two months after Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton settled, in a way, questions over who had the power to take it down. Paxton issued an opinion that the plaque could be removed by the Legislature, the State Preservation Board or the Texas Historical Commission. The opinion had been requested by Rep. Joe Moody, D-El Paso, who was working with Johnson on the matter.

During a debate in the summer, Abbott, who is chairman of the historical preservation board, said he thought it was up to the Legislature to do it.

It was the way for us to get a concrete answer of how we can finally get rid of this thing once and for all, Moody said.

Moody also didnt mince words on why there was such a long delay, despite agreement from legislators that it should be removed. I do really think that there is fear within conservative circles that you cant take a vote to take this thing down because there are people whose support you will lose, Moody said. Its just beyond me why you would want that support.

Abbott has previously advocated against the removal of confederate monuments, saying in 2017 that removing them wont erase our nations past and doesnt advance our nations future. Patrick said in 2017 that lawmakers shouldnt rewrite history by removing evidence of people or events that we can learn from.

The reversal of opinions from Abbott and Patrick comes down to a change in the way the conversation around the plaque was handled, Johnson said.

I realized a while back that emotional arguments werent the way to go about this, and I started to appeal it in a more legalistic way, he said. Its not accurate  and at some point it just became difficult to defend its continued existence.

Now that its removal has been approved, its unclear when the plaque will be taken down and where it will go following its removal.

Christopher Currens, director of special projects for the State Preservation Board, said the plaque was deeply anchored in the wall, but Capitol workers were already weighing options on how to take it down. He also said no decision had been made on where the plaque should go.

With the plaques fate determined, Johnson said the vote should be taken as an opportunity to discuss the value of the roughly one dozen Confederate monuments that remain on the Capitol grounds.

I dont think its a conversation we should be afraid to have, not in 2019, in America, in Texas, Johnson said.
On Jan. 4, Christopher Davila called San Antonio police from a West Side gas station to report a kidnapping. His 8-month-old son, King Jay Davila, was inside his car when a thief jumped in and drove off, he said

Authorities began hunting for the boy, but as time passed, Davila's story of what happened that night, as well as those of his close relatives, began to fray and eventually the threads came apart. Now, after the child's body was found a week later, police said the family's story has completely disintegrated.

"Right from the very beginning there were questions as to whether this was a legitimate kidnapping or not," said San Antonio Police Chief William McManus.

King Jay's body was found sometime between Thursday and Friday wrapped in a blanket, stuffed inside a backpack and buried in an empty lot on the Northeast Side. His father is facing charges of tampering with evidence and injury to a child. The boy's grandmother, Beatrice Sampayo, and his father's cousin, Angie Torres, are facing charges of tampering with evidence, but investigators have requested arrest warrants for the two women on charges of injury to a child.

FROM OUR SUBSCRIBER SITE: Police hint that they do not believe father of dead San Antonio infant

Police accused the three family members of staging a cover up to hide King Jay's death from investigators. Arrest affidavits for the three suspects lay out what investigators say happened after the boy died, and how police learned the truth.

The accident

Christopher Davila told police that on Jan. 3 he was playing video games in his room while King Jay's mother, Jasmine Gonzales, was at work. King Jay was lying in a baby car seat, which was placed on top of a bed in the room. When he sat down on the bed, Davila told police, the car seat fell off the bed, sending King Jay crashing to the floor, the affidavit says.

Davila told police King Jay "hit the floor with his face and may have struck the front of the dresser on the way down." When he examined the baby, he saw a large bump over the boy's eye. Davila panicked, according to the affidavit.

Instead of immediately requesting medical assistance, Davila told police he just tried to keep the boy from falling asleep. He checked on the child a few hours later and discovered he had died, according to the affidavit. At some point that night, he called his mother, Beatrice Sampayo, and told her what had happened. A witness overheard the conversation and later told police Davila had been "talking about the baby falling and being injured," the affidavit says.

A different witness who was staying with Davila at the time told investigators he heard King Jay crying the night of Jan. 3. The next morning, sometime between 9 a.m. and noon, he saw Davila leave the home with King Jay in the car seat, according to the affidavit.

RELATED: A timeline of events in the missing San Antonio baby case

According to the court records, Davila went to his parents house. When he arrived, the witness who had overheard the phone conversation between Davila and Sampayo greeted him and asked to see King Jay.

"Get the f--k back in the house," Davila told the man. The man told police he saw Angie Torres, Davila's cousin, look into the car with a "shocked look on her face," according to the affidavit. The man also told police he saw Davila and Sampayo "visibly upset and crying" in the driveway. The two hugged, "which was unusual because they do not normally hug," according to the man.

According to the San Antonio Police Department's narrative, Torres, Sampayo and Davila then conspired to cover up the boy's death.

The kidnapping

At about 7 p.m., Christopher Davila stopped at the Friend's Food Mart on Enrique M. Barrera Parkway to buy water and lottery tickets. Before he went inside, he appeared to check twice to make sure the driver door to his 2016 Dodge Dart was unlocked, according to his arrest affidavit.

Moments after he left his car and went into the store, Sampayo pulled up to the gas station. Torres got out of the car, "walked directly to (Davila's) vehicle, opened the vehicle's front driver's side door, entered the vehicle, and drove away," the affidavit says.

At this point, two stories began to develop. Davila called police and reported King Jay had been kidnapped and his car had been stolen. Police rushed to the scene and established a quadrant around the area, searching for the car. They found the Dodge Dart a short time later parked near Rodriguez Park, but King Jay was no where to be found.

Investigators questioned Davila and he told them King Jay had been staying with Sampayo since Dec. 31 and that he had picked the child up on Jan. 4 to take him to Gonzales' house, authorities said.

But when detectives showed him security camera footage from the gas station, Davila clammed up and "refused to cooperate further," the affidavit says. Police arrested him on a charge of endangering a child on Jan. 5.

FROM OUR SUBSCRIBER SITE: Asked where missing San Antonio child is, grandfather says: 'Only God knows.'

Meanwhile, police say Torres and Sampayo were leaving a false trail of breadcrumbs for investigators. Torres drove Davila's car to Rodriguez Park, where Sampayo met her. Torres took the car seat with her and got into Sampayo's car, according to the affidavit.

Torres later told investigators that she and Sampayo drove to the 700 block of South Acme Street, where Sampayo dumped the car seat at a donation shed. They drove off, only to return a minute later to retrieve the car seat and leave it three blocks away at Guthrie and SW 41st Street, authorities said. According to the affidavit, security camera video from the area confirms Torres's story.

The unraveling

At a press conference held at San Antonio's public safety headquarters on Monday, McManus told reporters that King Jay's kidnapping was a ruse to cover up "foul play." The next morning, police arrested Torres on an unrelated robbery charge.

On Wednesday, Torres requested an interview with police from her jail cell and allegedly confessed to the "staged kidnapping." Her confession lead to the arrest of Sampayo and rearrest Davila, who had by that time bailed out of jail, on Thursday.

During interviews with police Thursday night, Davila confessed to police and agreed to show them where he had buried the boy's body, according to the affidavit.

"When (Davila's) story started to unravel...it's when he broke down," McManus said. "His story weakened and he figured he wasn't going to get away with it."

According to the affidavit, Davila led investigators to an empty lot near a dead end at Caste Lance and Castle Prince, which is less than a mile away from his home. He led them through the field and pointed out the burial spot.

"After digging, investigators located a black backpack with what appeared to be an infant's body wrapped in a blanket placed inside," according to the affidavit.

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Police then secured an arrest warrant for Davila on a charge of injury to a child by omission because he "intentionally and knowingly failed to seek medical attention for the serious injuries" King Jay suffered. Authorities also requested the warrants for Sampayo and Torres.

Many questions regarding King Jay's death remain. When was he buried, and by whom? How many people knew of his death and went along with the staged kidnapping? Did the boy die in the manner described by Davila, or by some other means?

McManus declined to answer these questions and others at a press conference announcing the discovery of King Jay's body on Friday. But he did say the tragic revelation by no means represents the end of the investigation.

"This is not the finish line, in fact, the hard part of the investigation is just beginning," he said. "The investigation won't be finished until we can answer how exactly King Jay died, who knew it, and when they knew it."

Text "NEWS" to 77453 for breaking news alerts from mySA.com

Caleb Downs covers crime in San Antonio and Bexar County. Read him on our breaking news site, mySA.com, and on our subscriber site, ExpressNews.com |

cdowns@mysa.com | @calebjdowns
A 54-year-old Ranger man was sentenced Friday to 25 years in prison after pleading guilty to a scheme in which he sought the deaths of three individuals, according to Midland County District Attorney Laura Nodolf.

Barry Ray Eddleman was charged with three counts of solicitation of capital murder. The sentence was the result of a plea agreement reached between Eddleman, his attorney and the District Attorneys Office. The court approved the sentence upon Eddlemans guilty plea, according to a press release from Nodolfs office.
Tim Fischer

Midland ISD confirmed that the Midland Police Department and the district are investigating an alleged assault between two children.

The city stated it is too early to know if there is anything criminal to report. Midland ISD provided the following statement:
Juan David Ortiz, the Border Patrol agent accused of killing four women and assaulting another in September, pleaded not guilty Thursday to capital murder and other charges during his arraignment hearing.

Texas law says that a defendant in a capital felony case in which prosecutors are seeking the death penalty cannot waive a trial by jury.

With his hands and feet shackled and led by three sheriff's deputies, Ortiz was on his way back out of the courtroom when Cristina Benavides, mother of Melissa Ramirez, who was found slain Sept. 3, yelled out in Spanish, "Maldito asesino!"

READ ALSO: Laredo Border Patrol agent indicted on capital murder charge, DA to seek death penalty

"Maldito" means damned or an evil person. "Asesino" means assassin.

The packed courtroom filled with a tense silence as a bailiff called for order in the court.

"Mr. Ortiz is presumed innocent at this time," Joel Perez, Ortiz's new San Antonio-based attorney, said after the hearing. "He has the right to demand that the state prove each and every element of the offense beyond a reasonable doubt. He has a right to a fair trial with a jury of his peers."

Perez made an oral motion to request San Antonio attorney Raymond E. Fuchs as a second chair in his defense team.

Perez said he and Fuchs have worked together on similar death penalty cases.

406th District Court Judge Oscar J. Hale Jr. set an initial pre-trial hearing for April 25. A second pre-trial hearing was set for Oct. 3.

"Typically, all other criminal cases have an informal conference," Hale said. "I don't want to have an informal for this one. I think everything needs to be on the record."

Webb County District Attorney Isidro Alaniz attended Ortiz's arraignment hearing.

"(Ortiz) is considered to be innocent until we are able to prove through competent evidence that he is in fact guilty of these charges," Alaniz said. "If he is found guilty by the jury, then we will proceed through the punishment where we will be seeking the death penalty."

Since this is a complicated case, Alaniz said it might not go to trial until 2020.

"We still haven't received ballistic reports," he said. "(The evidence) has been preserved all this time, but we will slowly start to see the scientific and forensic evidence getting tested and turned over to the defense."

Perez said he is only beginning to get acquainted with the case.

READ ALSO: Things to know about the alleged Border Patrol serial killer

"I don't know any of the facts other than what is in the media," Perez said. "Every case is different. I've handled many cases like this one. Each case is unique. I don't want to begin guessing about the defense without having all of the information. I've spoken with Mr. Alaniz and he is going to start giving me documents as soon as possible."

Ortiz was indicted in December on one count of capital murder, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, unlawful restraint and evading arrest. The assault and unlawful restraint charges stem from Ortiz allegedly pointing a gun a woman in his pickup truck. The woman, Erika Pena, escaped from the vehicle and notified a nearby Texas trooper, law enforcement said.

Following his arrest Sept. 15, Ortiz confessed to killing Ramirez, 29, Claudine Luera, 42, Griselda Alicia Hernandez, 35, and Nikki Enriquez, 28, over a 12-day period, according to an affidavit filed by law enforcement.

Authorities said the four victims were sex workers. Ortiz would pick them up on San Bernardo Avenue, drive them outside city limits and shoot them in the head, according to court records.

Alaniz has said Ortiz told investigators he was "doing a service" by killing the women and that he didn't think law enforcement was doing enough to curb prostitution.

Ortiz remains behind bars, held on a $2.5 million bond.

Colette Mireles, Luera's youngest sister, said Thursday she keeps in contact with Benavides, Melissa Ramirez's mother.

"I try to lift her spirits and letting her know that justice will prevail," Mireles said.

Seeing Benavides cry out in court was heartbreaking, Mireles said. She said she can only imagine the pain a mother feels in losing her daughter in the way that it happened.

RELATED: 'I'm dumbfounded:' Border Patrol agent's alleged killings stun city leaders, officials

"Because just knowing they suffered, that hurts the most," Mireles said.

Mireles and her family have been through a roller coaster ride of emotions.

"When everything happened, we were trying to process it being that it was a Border Patrol agent (arrested in connection with this crime)," she said.

"I felt bad for him. But these last two court dates that I've been present at, he shows no remorse," Mireles added.

Attending the hearings pushes Mireles to want justice even more, not only her sister, but for the other families and the other women, she said.

The Associated Press contributed to this report. Maria Salas may be reached at 728-2580 or msalas@lmtonline.com
A meet and greet tonight kicks off an advanced photography workshop at the Museum of the Southwest. Landscape photographer Craig Varjabedian will work with a limited number of students on technical skills in class before field trips to shoot outdoors and indoors. The workshop, which ends Sunday, coincides with the exhibition Into the Great White Sands: Photographs by Craig Varjabedian." Spots are still available for the workshop.

Before the first session, Varjabedian, who is in from Santa Fe, talked about the role of workshops like these and how he sees his own show at the museum.

MRT: To begin with, how did this workshop come about?

Varjabedian: One of the great things about the Museum of the Southwest is the desire to reach out to the community and create strong involvement. A strong way to do that and tie into an existing exhibition is through some kind of workshop. So thats where this idea began when we talked about it a year or two ago.

IF YOU GO Advanced Photography Workshop. Meet and greet, 6 p.m. today. 9 a.m. Saturday at the Museum of the Southwest, 1705 W. Missouri Ave. 9 a.m. Sunday at CAF High Sky Wing, 9612 Wright Drive. $250. museumsw.org. See More Collapse

MRT: There will be a classwork aspect and then youll take the students out. Can you talk about the field trips?

Varjabedian: Our plan is that well be heading out to two places. Saturday, well start at the museum beginning with the technical side. What Im concerned about is that when we get to the Monahans sand dunes in the afternoon, theyll know how to handle some of the technical issues.

MRT: The sand dunes somewhat echo your White Sands National Monument photos.

Varjabedian: They are wonderful and really the next best thing. And then on Sunday, well start at the Commemorative Air Force museum to photograph over there. I wanted to provide a different experience compared to the landscape. I love it over there.

MRT: How did you decide on the CAF?

Varjabedian: (Local artist) Marc Cox had recommended it. So we visited, and I thought it was just fantastic. Its a really neat place that offers a lot. You can take a picture of the whole airplane or just some abstracts of the planes.

MRT: Besides teaching how to shoot, what do you see as the goal of this workshop?

Varjabedian: When putting a workshop together, you want students to come back with pictures they love. Some will definitely be more successful than others. But essentially, were asking them to photograph their own backyard. That can be a real challenge.

MRT: Why are workshops like these important in relation to museums and exhibitions?

Varjabedian: They grow out of that desire to relate the exhibition to the community so that they feel more involved -- but also connected to the show. Also, this is an attempt for me to reach out and learn myself. I will gain something from them, as well, and thats the best kind of workshop. We both grow from the experience. I take a lot of joy in that.

MRT: What do you intend for your students this weekend?

Varjabedian: To make this personal for them. Some students will see the micro, some will see everything. But you cant fail at this. Ultimately, the goal is to connect the idea of making photography a personal part of their lives.












The Haynesville shale natural gas play in East Texas and northwestern Louisiana has roared back to life thanks to higher natural gas prices and a slew of new liquefied natural gas export terminals coming online along the Gulf Coast.

Haynesville gas production is at its highest level since the previous 2011 peak and should hit a new record later this year, according to a new report from the Norwegian research firm Rystad.

The continental U.S. began exporting LNG in early 2016 when Houston-based Cheniere Energy Sabine Pass terminal came online on the Louisiana side of the Texas border. That terminal has continued to expand since, increasing Haynesville gas demand throughout 2016 and 2017.

"We conclude that Haynesville Shale's revival, for the second year in a row, looks sustainable," said Rystad partner Artem Abramov. "Supported by its proximity to a new LNG export terminal, gas production will continue to grow, and achieving new all-time high gas production levels should happen within a matter of months."

RELATED: Corpus Christi LNG's first shipment headed to new market in Europe

Cheniere just started shipping out LNG from its new Corpus Christi terminal late last year and projects by other companies are coming online later this year, including Freeport LNG in Texas and Cameron LNG in Louisiana.

More than 50 drilling rigs are currently running in the Hayneville, according to the weekly count from Baker Hughes, a GE company. Natural gas prices have been higher for the past several months, although they've dipped a bit this January.

The demand for U.S. LNG is driven by Asian growth, especially China and India, as well as other emerging markets in the region. Asia will account for 75 percent of global LNG demand by 2030, Rystad estimates.

The Haynesville was part of the early shale boom a decade ago, but low natural gas prices halted much of the activity in the region and more shale drilling efforts shifted from gas to crude oil.

Longer horizontal well with more volumes of sand and water have made the wells more productive, and a trio of oilfield services companies are dominating about 90 percent of the hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, market share in the Haynesville, Rystad said. Those are global industry leaders Halliburton and Schlumberger, as well as Tomball-based BJ Services, which spun out of Baker Hughes a couple years ago.

"The Haynesville Shale is truly a different play today than it was in the first growth phase," Abramov said, noting that well productivity doubled from 2012 to 2018.
Im so grateful to all of these people who participated in helping to save her life because without them, I wouldnt have a sister today.

Elba Armstrong, sister of the woman saved by her co-workers

Pull Quote
January 12, 2019 NYT Laments U.S. Disengagement Even As There Is None On its frontpage the New York Times delivers an utterly deranged 'News Analysis' of the possible end of the illegal occupation of east Syria by the United States military: As U.S. Exits Syria, Mideast Faces a Post-American Era When Turkey, Iran and Russia meet to talk about the end of the war in Syria, they do so without the United States. Peace talks to solve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict have been frozen for years, but the long-awaited Trump plan to break the impasse has yet to arrive. And now, despite conflicting messages about how and when it will happen, the United States is set to withdraw from Syria. The withdrawal, which the military said began with equipment removal on Friday, is just the latest instance of a broader American disengagement from the Middle East that could have lasting effects on one of the worlds most volatile regions. The U.S. has not, and likely will not, "disengage" from the Middle East. Its military has some 53,000 soldiers stationed in at last 27 bases in 12 Middle Eastern countries (not counting those in Syria). Estimated US troop numbers stationed in the Middle East in 2017



bigger Besides the troops there are a large number of civil personal supporting or replacing them: As of July 2018  again, excluding Afghanistan  there were 22,323 Pentagon contractors working in the CENTCOM area of operations in the Middle East including 9,762 US citizens, 12,020 third-country nationals and 541 host-country nationals. This represents a 15 per cent year-on-year increase in Pentagon contractors utilized in the region. The deployment of contractors to fulfill missions that 15 to 20 years ago would have been conducted by US troops gives the impression of a smaller American military footprint in the region. The U.S. has large economic interests in the Middle East. The U.S. weapon sales in the region add up to more than $5 billion per year. Some 17% of U.S. oil imports, 1.75 million barrels per day, come from the Middle East. The control of the hydrocarbon fuels found in the Middle East is the official reason the U.S. imposes itself over the region. That will not change. U.S. media coverage and foreign policy discussion is more occupied with the Middle East than with any other part of the planet: The combined population of the 15 Middle East countries covered by this paper (414.3 million) represents slightly more than 5 per cent of the worlds total population (7.6 billion). Yet, in American political and media circles, the region is the subject of vastly more than just 5 per cent of US foreign policy discussions. Indeed, outside of North Korea, China and country-specific trade issues, an American watching the national evening news, or reading a major media outlet, might imagine that the Middle East is the entirety of US foreign policy. To call the move of some 2 to 5,000 troops and their supporting civilian contractors from Syria and into new bases in Iraq a "disengagement" from the whole Middle East is obviously bollocks. The Trump administration did not change the 'regime change' policy the hapless Obama administration (recommended) waged against Syria. Nor has it stopped the war on Yemen the Obama administration helped the Saudis to launch. In Syria the Trump administration is only adapting the old policy to evolving geopolitical circumstances. The small military engagement in Syria's east is ineffective for its 'regime change' aim and damages its relations with Turkey. The NYT calls the Middle East the "the worlds most volatile regions." That may well be right. But a lack of U.S. engagement is certainly not the cause of that volatility. In fact, it is the U.S. presence and meddling on behalf of its Zionist protectorate Israel that causes the never ending wars, pain and sorrow: I have dealt with the ME in government and business for 45 years and I have to delve deeply in my memories to find instance in which our well-meaning but clumsy efforts have not damaged the ME and the people who live there. USAID comes to mind. I remember the great re-build of the Alexandria, Egypt sewer and water system. That was a very good thing. On the other hand, think of the damage caused endlessly by the US's unquestioning support for Israel's aggressive policies and unwillingness to make any deal that is not completely weighted in their favor. Think of the death and destruction we have wrought in Iraq. The NYT's 'analysis', and its supporting quotes, demonstrates again that the day-to-day foreign policy discussion in U.S. media has little top do with the actual observable policy, the real presence of U.S. troops and bases, with real economic relations or political commitments. The people in the Middle East would mostly love the see a 'Post-American Era'. Unfortunately there is no sign of that. The move of some 5% of the U.S. forces in the Middle East from one Middle Eastern country into another does not indicate a new geopolitical trend. Why is it presented as such? Posted by b on January 12, 2019 at 17:41 UTC | Permalink Comments next page  next page 
The Fire Goddess

TW: Self-immolation

Herda had a bad day today. She is a mute woman in her 40s. She looks like the rest of us women on the ward. Our hair is kept short to prevent hair pulling and strangling attempts. We wear flowered cotton frocks made by the Ladies Auxiliary volunteers. Herda flicks her tongue in and out so fast. She looks like she is either licking something obscene or sensing the air like a lizard. I often count how many times she does this in a minute. She seems to delight in my devoted attention and holds my hand as she counts with her right hand that has only three fingers.

Herda was set on fire today by the new patient, Bertha Zimling. I can tell you her name because you dont know her and never will. You know Herda. Shes a famous German actress who lost her voice when her husband tried to strangle her (in a movie, not real life.)

Bertha lit the hem of Herdas dress and it started to burn. Herda stood there silently looking ahead at the wall. Several of us stood around her watching the flames as they slowly started and then, in a fit, engulfed the bottom of her dress. Soon there were more of us watching. Everyone had their own peculiar way of experiencing this fantastic sight. While Herda remained motionless, the room itself took on an unusually active life. Even for an insane asylum.

Miranda began dancing around characteristically with her dress above her head, showing she had no underwear. Hilda jumped up and down and clapped her hands as if watching circus clowns. Bertha kept looking at the burned-out match in her hand as she tried to strike it again.

I grabbed the matches from her, noting that the match cover looked very familiar.

Ruth, who is usually either screaming or in seclusion, ran up to Herda and began to curse. Die, you three fingered witch! Die, you are of the devil! There was no response, and so she got up close to spit in Herdas face and almost went up in blazes herself.

Sanity has a price. I ran to the nurses station to get help. Mike was there alone in the tiny office.

Theres fire! Quick, Herda is on fire! Here are the matches.

Mike glanced at me and then continued writing notes. None of your tricks, Mary. Cant you see Im busy?

Then he smelled the smoke and burning flesh. Jesus Christ. What have you all done now? He leaped out of his seat, grabbed the fire extinguisher and headed for the ward.

In his haste, he dropped the metal drum carrying Herdas salvation. It made a clunking ringing sound when it hit the floor like the bells on the horse-drawn fire wagons I had heard when I was a child. I remember how a wagon had roared down Givens Street, but it was too late. Mr. Mengleheltzs house had already burned down because his daughter had lit a match to the old rags she saved to make dresses for her dolls. Her dolls never came out to play with our dolls because they looked like ragamutants.

I helped Mike pick up the extinguisher, imagining we were Clydesdale horses at the ready. He drenched Herda with the clear, smelly liquid, and immediately she and the rest of us were lost in grey smoke. I could hear a low hissing sound as her skin blistered. It reminded me of the ham and eggs I fried for Frank every morning. She remained motionless, not even blinking.

Mike gazed at her as if he were seeing a ghost. I got to call the Goddamn infirmary. Mary, you stand here with Herda. The rest of you get back to bed rest. In the panic of the moment he must have forgotten where he was. None of the patients were listening to him.

I screamed at the top of my lungs, All patients who have not been burned to death get back to your beds NOW! Miraculously, everyone became silent. Everyone except Herda scurried out of the room.

****************************

I never saw Herda again. No one ever told us what happened to her. The staff assumed we wouldnt understand, care or remember. I never realized sanity brings with it such a terrible burden. I know I am the only one in here who had nightmares about poor Herda. For several weeks, I dreamed Herda was in Hell. She was the only silent person in all of damnation. Everyone saw her as the Goddess of Hell, and she was quite powerful in her abilities to withstand pain. Everyone came to her for advice: How do we get out of here?

No one used the word hell. That was blasphemy and you could never get out then.

The nightmare part was that she never allowed anyone to stop suffering.

No matter how hard we pleaded.

Tagged in: short stories
One of Nissan Motor Co's top executives has resigned, further rattling the Japanese automaker's management team as it broadens an investigation into ousted Chairman Carlos Ghosn's alleged financial misconduct.

Jose Munoz, widely considered as a close ally to Ghosn and a possible successor to lead the automaking partnership between Nissan and France's Renault SA, had been a "person of interest" in Nissan's widening internal investigation.

The 53-year-old, who was Nissan's chief performance officer and head of its China operations, made the announcement in a LinkedIn post on Friday. In a statement, Nissan said that Munoz had "elected to resign" from the company, effective immediately. It declined to offer details.

He becomes the latest executive casualty since Nissan in November removed Ghosn as chairman and fired representative director Greg Kelly.

The resignation deals another blow to the Japanese automaker which is grappling with the scandal at a time when it is struggling to shore up profitability in the United States and expand aggressively in China.

Reuters had reported earlier on Friday that the Japanese automaker was looking into decisions made in the United States by Munoz who led Nissan's North American operations from 2016 to 2018.

"Unfortunately, Nissan is currently involved in matters that have and will continue to divert its focus," Munoz said in his post.

"As I have repeatedly and recently made clear to the company, I look forward to continuing to assist Nissan in its investigations."

People with knowledge of the issue have said that Munoz, who had been placed on a leave of absence earlier in the month, had not been co-operating with the internal investigation.

Ghosn, once the most celebrated executives in the auto industry and the anchor of Nissan's alliance with Renault, remains in custody in a Tokyo detention centre since his initial arrest in late November.

Ghosn has been indicted on two counts of under-reporting his income, and aggravated breach of trust for temporarily shifting personal investment losses worth 1.85 billion yen ($17 million) to Nissan.

The scandal has sent shockwaves through the automotive industry and has escalated tensions between Nissan and Renault, where Ghosn remains CEO and chairman.

Munoz joined the automaker in 2004 in Europe and led its significant expansion in North America after the global financial crisis. Since then, Nissan has succeeded in raising its market share in the United States and posted record sales.

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 Mary Ann Alapatt and Sonam Rai in Bengaluru and Naomi Tajitsu in Tokyo; Editing by Shailesh Kuber & Kim Coghill)
Inquiry against Tamil Nadu CM Edappadi K Palaniswami has started ...Inquiry against Tamil Nadu CM Edappadi K Palaniswami has started, Madras HC informed

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister K Palaniswami on January 12 rejected allegations made against him by those accused in the Kodanad estate break-in case, saying the police will probe the matter.

Referring to former Tehelka editor Samuel Mathew releasing a video in Delhi on Friday, in which the accused allegedly linked the CM to the break-in, Palaniswami denied his involvement.

The All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) joint coordinator further said that a police case had been filed in the matter and that "strong action" will be taken against those who released the video.

"Yesterday (Friday), former Tehelka editor Samuel Mathews had released a video which links me to an incident (break-in) that happened in Amma's Kodanad estate on April 24, 2017. This (charge) is completely contrary to facts and there is no iota of truth in it," he said.

Making a statement before the media here, Palaniswami said the probe will reveal who was behind the incident, even as he charged that it was an attempt to "malign Amma", referring to late chief minister J Jayalalithaa.

In April 2017, the security guard of the Kodanad estate, Jayalalithaa's retreat home in the hilly district of the Nilgiris, was found dead.

It emerged during the probe that Jayalalithaa's former driver C Kanagaraj and K V Sayan had allegedly plotted the crime.

A total of ten people had been arrested in the case, with a charge sheet also being filed later.

However, Kanagaraj and Sayan's wife and daughter were killed in separate road accidents during the probe, even as another employee of the property was found dead, in a case of suspected suicide.

On Saturday, Palaniswami said the accused people, some of whom reportedly spoke in the video, had appeared in court 22 times in connection with the case so far, and questioned why they did not share the same in the court.

"They are saying such new things in an attempt to divert the case," he said.

He also denied Jayalalithaa had stored documents received from party functionaries in the estate as purportedly claimed by them in the video on Saturday, saying she never obtained any such papers.
External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on January 12 left for a two-day visit to Uzbekistan to attend the first India-Central Asia Dialogue which is expected to focus on a plethora of regional issues including enhancing connectivity to war-ravaged Afghanistan.

The Dialogue, being held in Samarkand, will be co-chaired by Swaraj and Uzbekistan's Foreign Minister Abdulaziz Kamilov.

The Foreign Minister of Afghanistan will also participate in the dialogue as a special invitee for the session dedicated to connectivity issues in the region, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said.

Foreign ministers of Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan and the First Deputy Foreign Minister of Kazakhstan will also participate in the dialogue.

"Building upon shared history & culture. EAM @SushmaSwaraj emplanes for Samarkand to participate at 1st India-Central Asia Dialogue. EAM will co-chair Dialogue with Uzbek Foreign Minister Kamilov. Foreign Ministers from other Central Asian countries and Afghanistan will attend," MEA Spokesperson Raveesh Kumar tweeted minutes before Swaraj left for Uzbekistan.

Bound together by shared history and cultural linkages, India and the Central Asian states look forward to the Dialogue as an important initiative to enhance their cooperation in wide-ranging spheres including exploring ways to substantially enhance India's economic involvement in business and development sector of Central Asia, the MEA had said on Wednesday.

With Afghanistan joining, the participants of the Dialogue will also deliberate on developing viable connectivity options between India and Afghanistan and Central Asia to further facilitate trade and economic activity in the region, it said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had visited five Central Asian countries in 2015 with an aim to deepen India's engagement with the hydrocarbon rich region.

Swaraj visited the region last August.
Answer: Donald Trump.

President Donald Trump attaches great importance to the bilateral relationship between India and the United States, the new Indian ambassador to the country, Harsh V Shringla, has said.

Shringla, who arrived here on January 9, presented his diplomatic credentials to the US president in the Oval Office of the White House on January 11.

Reflective of the growing trust and warmth between India and the US, the new Indian envoy presented his credentials to Trump in less than 50 hours after arriving in Washington.

Such a quick credentials ceremony for a foreign diplomat is rare in the American capital, given that in the past, envoys of other countries, including those from India, have waited for weeks to formally present their diplomatic credentials to the US president.

Diplomatic credentials is a letter that formally appoints a diplomat as the ambassador to another country. The letter is addressed from one head of state to another. It is presented by the ambassador to the receiving head of state in a formal ceremony.

The ceremony further marks the beginning of the official period of ambassadorship.

At a post-credentials ceremony celebration attended by senior officials of the Indian Embassy, the State Department and the White House, Shringla said, "Clearly the president attaches great importance to our bilateral relationship. He referred to his recent telephonic conversation with our prime minister and he said he looks forward to speaking to our prime minister again in the near future."

During the credentials ceremony, he said Trump referred to a very wide gamut of corporations that the two countries are engaged in, not just at the bilateral level but also as strategic partners involving the region and global areas of interest, particularly the vision of the Indo-Pacific region envisioned by the leaders of the two countries during the June, 2017 visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The new Indian envoy said he is amazed at the amount of progress that the US-India relationship has made in the last few years.

It is absolutely momentous and unparalleled, he said.

A member of the Indian Foreign Service since 1984, Shringla is the youngest Indian Ambassador to the US. He was India's High Commissioner to Bangladesh till early this week, before replacing Navtej Singh Sarna, who retired on December 31.

A graduated from the St. Stephen's College in Delhi, Shringla speaks French, Vietnamese and Nepalese apart from English and Indian languages.

During his 35-year long diplomatic career, he held a variety of positions in New Delhi and abroad.
Q4. Lashing out at the Modi government, Chidambaram said, "No penalty clause for undue influence, no clause against agency commission, no clause for access to suppliers' accounts, and Dassault goes laughing all the way to the bank."Citing the media report, Congress's chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said, "Modiji, after waiving off sovereign guarantee in Rafale deal, you also waived off the 'anti-corruption measure' of a 'safeguard Escrow A/c'! What is the corruption you wanted to hide?(sic)" The whole country is abuzz that "chowkidar chor hai", he said. This resonates Quis custodiet ipsos custodes? a Latin phrase found in the work of the Roman poet Juvenal from his Satires. Which not so money making venture of 2010 by Marvel has its origins in this statement? (Albeit originally was conceptually a literary phenomenon)

Senior Congress leader P Chidambaram said his party was ready to fight the Lok Sabha elections alone but hoped there would be a rethink on the SP-BSP alliance for Uttar Pradesh.

The Congress cannot be underestimated in Uttar Pradesh and will fight on its own strength if required, the former Union minister said after the two parties announced a seat-sharing pact, keeping the Congress out.

But he hoped that the agreement between Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav and Bahujan Samaj Party chief Mayawati was not the final word.

As the elections approach, a truly broad-based alliance will be formed in Uttar Pradesh, Chidambaram said on the sidelines of a party event here.

Chidambaram said the goal was to defeat the Bharatiya Janata Party and expressed hope that all secular, liberal parties would come together to fight the elections.

Earlier in Lucknow, the SP and BSP announced an alliance, under which they will fight 38 Lok Sabha seats each out of the 80 in the state.

They left Amethi and Rae Bareli  the two seats from where Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi contested last time  for the Congress.

Two other seats will be shared with smaller allies, the SP and the BSP announced.

Chidambaram was here to seek suggestions from the people on what to include in the Congress manifesto for the 2019 Lok Sabha polls.

Asking a gathering of about 200 people to speak their minds, Chidambaram said his party was not the BJP and in Congress people from all walks of life are heard.

The implementation of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) and the demolition of some temples to make way for the Vishwanath temple corridor in Varanasi were among the issues discussed.

Asking a gathering of over 200 people to speak their mind on their demands, Chidambaram said this is not the BJP, and in Congress all people from all walks of life would be heard.

During the interaction, Goods and the Services Tax (GST) took centre stage. Many claimed the faulty implementation of GST had ruined small and medium scale businesses. Some hoped GST would be withdrawn "as it was imposing double tax."

The issue of demolishing temples for the Vishwanath temple corridor and the cleaning of Ganga was discussed. One Kamla Tripathi said, "The BJP ahead of 2014 elections promised to clean the river by 2019. What does the Congress plan to do for the river?" He said removing dams would help the free flow of the river.

Another local Chandrasekhar said there was a tremendous job crisis and hoped the manufacturing sector would be revived.

One Onkar Mishra said banks were acting like money lenders ('sahukars') and businesses were suffering.

"Banaras Hindu University needs to be freed from the clutches of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh. Three vice chancellors have been made vice chancellors," said former official of Banaras Hindu University (BHU) V Pandey.
A view of the Supreme Court of India in New Delhi - Nov 12, 2018 (Image- PTI) (2)

Two lawyers have separately urged the Supreme Court to ensure live streaming of its proceedings in the politically sensitive cases of the Ayodhya land dispute and the Sabarimala issue, saying justice should be made "accessible" to common man.

BJP leader and lawyer Ashwini Upadhyay has written to Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi and four other judges seeking live streaming of the Ayodhya title dispute case scheduled for hearing on January 29.

The National Ayyappa Devotees' Association (NADA), represented by lawyer Mathews J Nedumpara, has also sought video recording and live streaming of hearing on the petitions seeking review of the apex court's September 22 verdict allowing all women inside Sabarimala temple, on January 22.

On January 10, former RSS ideologue K N Govindacharya had written a letter to the Centre seeking live streaming of the top court proceedings in the Ayodhya land dispute case.

He had asked to make arrangements before the next date of hearing in the case to ensure that citizens get the opportunity to witness the proceedings in the "nation's oldest litigation having a lot of confusion and peculiarities".

The petition filed by Upadhyay sought directions to the ministries of law and information and broadcasting to take appropriate steps for live streaming of the Ayodhya case by Doordarshan, which is available on all platforms throughout the country.

Upadhyay's plea also said proceedings are often misquoted by panelists during debates on news channels and since the Ayodhya matter was politically sensitive, a wrong quote may create turbulence in the society.

"Therefore, until a full-fledged module and mechanism for live streaming of the court proceedings is evolved in spirit of the above stated judgment, my Lord may direct the Ministry of Law and Ministry of Information and Broadcasting to take appropriate steps for live streaming of the Ayodhya case by Doordarshan, which is free to air and available on all platforms throughout the country," the plea said.

It also sought permission for other news to broadcast the proceedings through Doordarshan.

The other petition filed by NADA asked for live streaming and video recording of court proceedings during the hearing of the review petitions of Sabarimala so that "justice is made accessible to common man".

It said if the proceedings were allowed to be telecast, millions of devotees of Lord Ayyappa, not merely in Kerala, but all over the world, will have the opportunity to hear and watch what transpired in the court.

"There cannot be an issue of greater importance of public interest or concern than the Sabarimala case. Video recording of the said case would mean the entire proceeding thereof being perpetually available for posterity," the petition said.

On September 28, a five-judge Constitution bench, headed by then chief justice Dipak Misra, in a 4:1 verdict had paved the way for entry of women of all ages into the temple, saying the ban amounted to gender discrimination.

The temple in Kerala has been witnessing violent protests since the verdict.
Image: Facebook/Meera H Sanyal

Banker-turned-politician Meera Sanyal died on January 11 after a brief illness.

Sanyal, 57, had joined the Aam Aadmi Party after quitting her job as the country chief executive of Royal Bank of Scotland and contested the Lok Sabha election in 2014.

AAP leader and Delhi's Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia confirmed her death in a tweet, saying the country has lost a "sharp economic brain and a gentle soul".

"You will forever remain in our hearts," Sisodia said in the tweet.

"Extremely sad to hear this. No words to express...," AAP chief and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal tweeted.

In her 30-year-old banking career before surprising all by plunging into politics, the Kochi-born Sanyal had also served as the head of corporate finance and chief operating officer for ABN Amro for Asia.

She unsuccessfully contested the 2014 Lok Sabha election from Mumbai South constituency.
The screening of 'The Accidental Prime Minister' was stopped at two single-screen theatres and one auditorium of a multiplex chain in Kolkata on January 12 following protests by the Youth Congress against the controversial film.

"We've stopped screening of the film from today, the second day after its release, apprehending (any) untoward incident after parts of a screen were torn up in a multiplex in a mall at Park Circus," Navin Chokhani, the owner of single-screen Navina Cinema, said.

The movie's screening was stopped, though its 2 pm show on the first day had passed off smoothly, Chokhani said.

A spokesperson of Ashoka Cinema, the other single screen where the film was stopped, said, "We have decided to suspend the matinee show of 'The Accidental Prime Minister' from today in view of the agitations by some group."

The Bollywood film is based on the memoir of the same name by Sanjaya Baru, the media adviser to former prime minister Manmohan Singh.

On January 11, activists of the Congress' youth wing had staged protests against the movie outside an auditorium of a multiplex chain on Ganesh Chandra Avenue and tore the film posters.

Another group of the Youth Congress activists had stormed into the auditorium of the same multiplex chain at Park Circus during a late-evening show and allegedly tore parts of the screen.

The multiplex chain spokesperson told PTI that the show of the film was cancelled from Saturday only at Hind -- its property on Ganesh Chandra Avenue -- and nowhere else in the city or in the suburbs.

"Yesterday, there had been an interruption around 8 pm at the Quest (mall in Park Circus). But the situation is under control now with the help of authorities. Shows are running as per schedule," the spokesperson said.

Screening of the film at the Park Circus auditorium will take place on Saturday evening as per schedule, he added.

The West Bengal Congress had disapproved the agitation by the youth-wing activists and asserted that the party would "never oppose" the freedom of speech.

"In the recent years, we have fallen victim to propaganda and we firmly believe that the people who watch the movie will see through the vile propaganda at play," the party had said in a statement.
Chinese telecoms equipment maker Huawei said on January 12 it had terminated the employment of a Chinese worker arrested on spying allegations in Poland.

Polish authorities on January 11 arrested Wang Weijing and a former Polish security official on spying allegations, a move that could fuel Western security concerns about the telecoms equipment maker.

Huawei said in a statement that its employee's alleged actions "have no relation to the company". The company added that the decision was made as the incident has brought the company into disrepute.

Huawei, the world's biggest producer of telecoms equipment, faces intense scrutiny in the West over its relationship with the Chinese government and US-led allegations that its equipment could be used by Beijing for spying.
A customs duty exemption on select electric vehicle parts is a step that would incentivise the purchase of EVs. This, the FM said, has been done to facilitate a shift from fossil fuels to environment friendly fuels. (Image: PTI)

The World Bank has committed to provide India funds worth $300 million to aid its energy efficiency programme, sources told Moneycontrol. The move will help the government set up the requisite infrastructure to push forward its ambition of expanding electric mobility in the country.

In a meeting held in December 2018, the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) informed the Committee of Secretaries that the World Bank would route the aid to India through Energy Efficiency Services Ltd (EESL), a government-owned public sector unit, people aware of the development said.

EESL did not respond to Moneycontrols request for comment at the time of publishing. The story will be updated as and when a response is received.

The proposal was announced at a meeting attended by officials including cabinet secretary PK Sinha, NITI Aayog CEO Amitabh Kant, Secretary of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change CK Mishra, and the Secretary the of Department of Heavy Industries AR Singh, among others.

The aid received from the World Bank will supplement the funds that the Centre proposes to raise by levying a one-time fee from conventional fuel based vehicle buyers in a bid to provide financial assistance to the e-mobility programme.

The MNRE proposed during the meeting to charge a nominal (one-time) fee of around Rs 500 from two-wheeler buyers, Rs 1,000 from three-wheeler buyers and Rs 12,000 from four-wheeler buyers, to generate an extra-budgetary fund of Rs 7,500 crore per annum, a source said.

Also read: Centre may soon cut tax on hybrid cars to 35 percent

While, over 40 million passenger cars were manufactured in 2017-18, over 2.41 crore two and three wheelers were manufactured during the same period.

Apart from this, the meeting of Committee of Secretaries also decided to slash the existing tax rate on the raw material required for the manufacture of electric vehicles.

The Department of Revenue (Finance Ministry) has been asked to consider lowering the tax rate and duties on raw material required for manufacturing of electric vehicles, said another source aware of the matter.

Moneycontrol had earlier reported that the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways had proposed to lower the cess on hybrid cars in a bid to promote the sale of fuel-efficient cars. According to the minutes of a previous inter-ministerial meeting, the transport ministry had proposed to reduce cess on plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEV) to 25 percent, taking the effective tax rate (inclusive of GST) to 35 percent.

The move would help to build a positive environment for electric vehicles, the minutes read.

At present, hybrid cars are taxed at 43 percent (including cess) as compared to electric cars that are taxed at 12 percent. Incumbent internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles also come under the 43 percent tax bracket. High taxation rates were seen as a big deterrent in the field of hybrid cars, which were being taxed at 30.3 percent before GST was implemented.

According to sources, the government has noted that due to the lack of proper infrastructure and higher cost incidence, electric vehicles are beyond the purchase preference of potential buyers. Latest calculations by the government have also projected a mere 5 percent penetration of electric vehicles in India over the next five year. This will create significant gap between the governments double-digit target and the actual number of electric vehicles on Indian roads.

India plans to convert approximately 30 to 40 percent of its vehicular count into electric by 2030.

Also read: Conventional cars to attract surcharge up to Rs 12k to promote electric vehicles

The minutes of the meeting show that the Committee has agreed to adopt a three-pronged approach to drive demand for EVs, increase supply volumes and create a positive ecosystem for EVs.

In its last meeting, the Committee also decided to focus on indigenous manufacturing of electric vehicles. It will lay the impetus on sourcing developing an indigenous supply chain that includes giga-factories and also facilities where lithium-ion batteries can be recycled," sources said.

The term 'gigafactory' was first coined by EV pioneer Elon Musk, who owns Tesla, the world's biggest carmaker which has a portfolio of only EVs. 'Gigafactory,' a term popularised by Musk, refers to a huge battery manufacturing centre where the Li-ion batteries that go under the hoods of EVs are crafted.

The PMO first mooted the idea of manufacturing EVs domestically, so that they would be outside the ambit of import duties, thereby, significantly lowering their price tags. The Centre noted that the need of the hour was to reduce the cost of EVs, rather than simply provide subsidies to manufacturers.

While all of this is being planned for the passenger segment, the Committee decided to promote electric buses through operating expenditure (OPEX) model. The leasing of electric buses should be done on OPEX model only in public-private partnership. There was also a proposal of implying accelerated depreciation on EVs, sources said.

The OPEX model uses operating expenditures as a parameter to decide on the payment mechanism. Sources said that government has decided to give subsidies to electric buses under the OPEX model. It is expected to spread the cash payout over a period of time, thereby avoiding a situation where large sums of money would be offloaded to e-bus owners upfront.

India has seen a major shift towards electric vehicles over the last few years. Policy makers have shown strong intent in formulating various policies to push electric mobility in the country.
Yes Bank

Yes Bank, India's fourth largest private sector bank, on January 12 said it has appointed Brahm Dutt as non-executive part-time chairman to the board.

"The Reserve Bank of India, pursuant to the provisions of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949, and basis Mr Brahm Dutt's outstanding credentials and experience, has approved his appointment...up till July 4, 2020," Yes Bank said in a regulatory filing.

Dutt has been on the board of the bank since July 2013 as an independent director, and has contributed to almost all the sub-committees of the board over the past 5.5 years, it added.

He is currently also the Chair of the Nomination and Remuneration Committee.

During his career in the IAS for 37 years, he held several posts in Karnataka government as well as in the Central Government. Before retirement from the service, he worked as Secretary in the Cabinet Secretariat and in the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways for over three and half years.

Yes Bank's board also includes Mukesh Sabharwal, Subhash Kalia, Ajai Kumar, Pratima Sheorey, Uttam Prakash Agarwal, TS Vijayan, and Rana Kapoor (Managing Director and CEO).

Meanwhile, Yes Bank executive Rajat Monga and a CEO of a foreign bank have been shortlisted to succeed long-serving Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer Rana Kapoor at the bank, sources had said Friday.

Earlier this week, the bank informed stock exchanges that it has shortlisted the names of potential candidates to succeed Kapoor, who is to demit office by month-end.
SAGINAW, MI  Frequently crying as she spoke, a woman testified she watched as her boyfriend was run over by his cousin and killed on a Buena Vista Township street.

The preliminary examination of AKeshia L. Bell, 41, took place the afternoon of Friday, Jan. 11. Bell is facing a second-degree murder charge related to the death of Cortney L. Shawn Noel, her 43-year-old cousin.

As his first witness, Saginaw County Assistant Prosecutor Steven Fenner called Noels girlfriend, Cathrine Johnson, to the stand. Wearing a shirt depicting a photo of her and Noel, Johnson said Noel and Bell were at her house the night of Nov. 2. Around 12:10 a.m. on Nov. 3, the three left and went to a liquor store before going to Blu Note Lounge, 3721 E. Holland Road.

Johnson said she and Noel were celebrating their anniversary. At the bar, Johnson and Bell had a short verbal dispute, Johnson testified.

The trio left the bar shortly thereafter, Noel having to help escort Bell to Johnsons truck, Johnson said.

She was staggering drunk, Johnson said. She was trying to drink drinks at the table but nobody let her. She was drunk before she came to my house.

At one point, Noel made references to cutting ties with both women, Johnson said.

They eventually returned to Johnsons house, where Bells Chevrolet Traverse was parked. Noel exited Johnsons truck and ran up South 28th Street toward Janes Street, followed by Johnson. As she neared him, she saw he was lying on the ground, having what people call a temper tantrum. Ive never seen him do that 'til that night. He was screaming, F--- everybody! I hate everybody!

Noel then sat upright in the road, his knees bent. Johnson said she then heard vehicle doors behind her.

I was almost to Cortney and I saw AKeshias truck and I assumed she was going to make a left-hand turn, Johnson said, adding she had gotten close enough to Noel to touch his hand. I turned to look and it was like a flashlight in my eye. I jumped. He was hit. I dont see how she didnt hit me; I was that close. (Noel) kissed the bumper  passenger side. She hit him and his body went almost to the next driveway, then she hit him again."

Johnson grew overcome with emotion as she testified, crying and speaking haltingly.

Regaining her composure enough to continue, Johnson said Bell turned around, came back, exited her vehicle, and touched Noel, telling him to get up. Johnson told Bell not to touch him. Bell then gave Johnson a cellphone, which Johnson used to call for help.

Under cross-examination by defense attorney Rod J. OFarrell, Johnson said she and Noel had smoked marijuana before Bell came to her house. They also smoked marijuana outside the bar when they had arrived, she said.

Johnson said she had consumed about an inch of liquor from a bottle she bought before going to the bar but did not consume any in the bar.

Johnson said she knew Noel had been prescribed medication for suicidal thoughts and depression. She also said Noel was dressed in all black clothing.

Following Johnsons testimony, Buena Vista Township Police Sgt. Tim Patterson took to the stand and said that about 1:40 a.m. he was dispatched to the area of Janes and South 28th streets. The initial call said a man had been struck by a vehicle and was possibly deceased, Patterson said.

When Patterson arrived, another officer was attempting to administer CPR to the injured person, he said.

Assistant Prosecutor Fenner called no additional witnesses. Fenner and OFarrell stipulated to reports indicating both Bells and Noels blood alcohol contents were 0.23.

In Michigan, a person is legally intoxicated when his or her blood alcohol level reaches 0.08.

Fenner also presented an autopsy report indicating Noel died from multiple blunt force injuries.

The hearing ended with Fenner asking Saginaw County District Judge A.T. Frank to bind the case over to Circuit Court for trial with an added alternative charge of driving while intoxicated causing death. OFarrell objected to the bind over on the murder charge, saying the facts as testified to dont justify it, and asked Frank to dismiss it.

Frank ended up replacing the initial charge of open murder with a count of second-degree murder, with the alternative of operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated causing death.
ST. JOSEPH TOWNSHIP, MI -- Police have arrested two people for the New Years Eve killing of an active military member who was on leave.

Tyrone Hassel III died Dec. 31 after he was shot multiple times at 2086 Colfax Avenue in St. Joseph Township. Police responded to the shooting about 11 p.m.

Hassel was on leave for the holidays and visiting family, police said earlier.

St. Joseph Township police received a tip about the killing on Friday, Jan. 11 and made two arrests.

Berrien County prosecutors plan to release more information about the arrests on Monday.
KALAMAZOO, MI  Police in Illinois made a traffic stop and found suspected meth being transported, leading to arrests and evidence of about 400 pounds of meth being delivered to Kalamazoo over the past two years, according to police.

A judge has signed a criminal complaint in federal court against three people in the case. They are scheduled to be arraigned on Jan. 14.

About 9 a.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 8, an Illinois State Police trooper pulled over a Lexus SUV with California license plates for a traffic violation. The vehicle was eastbound on Interstate 80, near mile post 58 in Bureau County, according to an application for a search warrant in the federal case signed by Drug Enforcement Administration Special Agent Gregory Pond.

A K9 search of the vehicle indicated the presence of drugs in the rear doors of the SUV, and police arrested the female driver and her husband, the sole passenger, the document states.

The people are not being identified because they have not yet been arraigned, according to court documents.

Police found 22 bundles of suspected methamphetamine hidden in the door panels, the document states.

Police read the woman her Miranda rights in English and Spanish, and she waived her rights, according to the document.

She told police a man paid her $2,500 in Riverside, California, to drive the vehicle to Kalamazoo, where she planned to meet up with him. The woman agreed to work with police and perform a controlled delivery to the man in Kalamazoo, the document states. Police said they identified the man the woman was talking about.

Detectives from the Illinois State Police and Michigan State Police met with the woman and her husband at the MSP Paw Paw Post, where two of the 22 bundles of suspected drugs were loaded back into the Lexus.

The woman called the man she planned to meet up with in Kalamazoo and told police she was instructed to drive to 1227 Little Drive in Kalamazoo. The woman made contact with a black 2018 Land Rover at the location and followed the vehicle to 614 Reed Avenue. There, investigators observed the man exit the Land Rover and briefly met with the woman and her husband in the driveway, the document states.

Police responded to 614 Reed to serve a federal search warrant related to trafficking of methamphetamine. (Joel Bissell | MLive.com)

The woman and her husband left on foot and investigators watched the other man look around at vehicles and people in the area before he looked in the back seat of the Lexus before going back inside the house, the document states.

At 8:36 p.m. on Jan,. 8, investigators observed the Lexus being driven into the back parking area of the house, and parked inside a garage.

Police raided the house with lights flashing, the document states. They arrested two men inside.

U.S. Magistrate Ray Kent signed a criminal complaint for the charge of conspiracy with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine against the woman, her husband, and the man she met in Kalamazoo, in the U.S. District Court in the Western District of Michigan. An arraignment is scheduled for Jan. 14, court documents state.

At the same time as the arrests happened in Kalamazoo, federal and state law enforcement officers conducted search warrants in California, recovering approximately 30 more pounds of meth, police said.

The U.S. Attorneys Office in Grand Rapids is working with the U.S. Attorneys Office in California on the case, police said.

The arrests came after approximately six months of investigation in which federal, state and local detectives discovered that the drug trafficking organization had delivered over 400 pounds of methamphetamines (including ice style meth from Mexico) from California to Kalamazoo in the last two years, according to a news release from the Southwest Michigan Enforcement Team (SWET).
KALAMAZOO, MI -- Police have released a sketch of a man who robbed a Kalamazoo credit union a week ago in hopes of identifying him.

The robbery was about 10:15 a.m Jan. 5 at the Advia Credit Union in the 700 block of North Westnedge Avenue.

The man jumped a counter and implied he had a weapon.

Anyone with information about the suspect can call the Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety at 269-488-9111 or Silent Observer at 269-343-2100.
KALAMAZOO, MI -- A new downtown market and deli is moving into the space that was formerly Irvings Market and Deli in the Kalamazoo City Centre building.

Irvings closed its location in the Kalamazoo City Centre on Dec. 31 after announcing to its customers plans to move to a new downtown location.

City Centre Market and Deli is now moving into the former Irvings location at 125 S. Kalamazoo Mall.

City Centre Market and Deli is the project of developer Ivan Chavez in collaboration with other investors who Chavez declined to name. Chavez said City Centre Market and Deli aims to open by March 1.

The market plans to offer an olive bar, smoothie bar, soup and salad bar and espresso bar, along with produce, a deli and a small selection of grocery products. Products will include locally sourced produce and meats.

Currently, the space is undergoing renovation to create a modern look with new floors and lighting. Chavez said he hopes to work with customers to develop an evolving menu and explore food options most sought by downtown workers and residents.

The biggest thing is understanding that the way people eat has completely changed," Chavez said. "People are looking for more convenience now that theyre living a busier life, and thats really what were here for is to offer that convenience to our customers.

Chavez said he is from Chicago and the community feel of Kalamazoo drew him to the area.

I love everything about Michigan," Chavez said. "Its such a nice change of pace from Chicago.

Chavez said he started his career assisting in the expansion of popular Midwest grocery chain Marianos. Working in project management and on the grocery chains team of directors, Chavez said he worked to open 28 Marianos locations.

It taught me the ins and outs from financials, to merchandising, to everything that goes into opening a place, Chavez said. Then that became my dream.

A W.E. Upjohn Institute for Employment Research study published this year, not counting The Peoples Food Co-Op or Park Street Market, called downtown Kalamazoo a food desert, noting the areas lack of a full-service grocery store near Bronson Methodist Hospital. The study recommended a public market open somewhere in the Kalamazoo Valley Community College/Bronson Healthy Living Campus.

City Centre Market and Deli is the fourth business to announce plans to provide groceries to downtown residents and workers.

A new micro-grocery store opened on Jan. 7 inside Bronson Methodist Hospitals south campus in downtown Kalamazoo.

In December, another micro-grocery called Market on Michigan Avenue (MoMA) announced plans to open at 119 E. Michigan Ave., as early as March 1.

The announcement of MoMAs opening downtown came just one day after Irvings Market and Deli announced, in an automated text message to customers, plans to move to a new downtown location. The automated text message said the new Irvings location will offer a larger space and more options, including groceries.

Irvings owner Kip Plew declined to comment on the details of the move, including the new location.
HOLLAND, MI -- A fire that involved a dramatic rescue and injured six people likely started in a front living room, fire investigators said.

Fire authorities late Friday, Jan. 11 said the cause of the fire at 136 W. 19th Street is being investigated by a fire marshal, but is believed accidental.

Of the six people requiring treatment, three were taken to Holland Hospital for smoke inhalation and burns.

Two were in stable condition and one was in serious but stable condition. One of those at the hospital is a toddler.

The fire was reported just after 9 a.m. Friday and firefighters arrived to discover heavy fire and smoke coming from the home.

They learned that two passersby had rescued two females from the home and three others were able to get out on their own. One of the two passersby had smoke inhalation and laceration to a hand.

Firefighters quickly searched all three floors of the home for any other occupants. They eventually evacuated the house because the roof was about to collapse.

The home was described as a total loss, A neighboring house also had siding damage.

Investigators said firefighters were at the scene until about 2:30 p.m. and one firefighter sustained a minor shoulder injury.
GRAND RAPIDS, MI -- Four teens were caught on a Rapid bus after one of them pulled out a gun -- later found to be a BB gun -- while stealing candy and chips from a gas station near downtown Grand Rapids.

The incident at the Mobil gas station at Cherry Street SW and Market Avenue happened about 11 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 12.

Grand Rapids police soon learned the teens had boarded a Rapid bus and it was stopped in the area of Market Avenue and Wealthy Street.

The teens were taken to the Kent County juvenile detention center. Prosecutors will review the case for potential armed robbery charges.
ANN ARBOR, MI - A run-in with University of Michigan police has left protesters of Ann Arbor's deer cull worried about how a state statute is being applied locally.

It comes just days after the City Council voted 6-5 against directing the city attorney to investigate and possibly cite or seek an injunction on the cull protesters, whove demonstrated at shoot sites since the fourth-annual cull kicked off last week.

Protesters demonstrated for several hours on the evening of Wednesday, Jan. 9, near where a city-hired sharpshooter had set up on Hubbard Road near Green Road, said 69-year-old Lorraine Shapiro, a member of the non-profit Ann Arbor Non-Lethal Deer Management.

They were standing on the sidewalk, showing signs to passing vehicles and calling out "stop the shoot" and "save the deer" periodically, she said.

"And occasionally we were making a little more noise and occasionally we werent making any noise at all," she said.

Police arrived about 8 p.m. after receiving four complaints about the group from those involved in the cull, University of Michigan Deputy Chief of Police Melissa Overton said.

They'd been screaming in the woods, on purpose, when a light had been turned on to signify a cull operator at work, she said.

Shapiro and Phil Carroll, 85 and a leader of anti-cull group FAAWN, Friends of Ann Arbor Wildlife in Nature, were the only two protesters left by the time police approached them.

One officer said that, under a Michigan statute, they could face 93 days in jail for their actions, Shapiro said.

"In fact, he said to me, 'If I see you again, you will be cited,'" said Shapiro.

Under Michigan law, it's a misdemeanor to impede "the lawful taking of animals" by disturbing the animals or blocking, impeding or harassing someone who is engaged in the taking.

Beyond the 93 days in jail, violators could be fined between $500 and $1,000 on the first offense. For the second offense, they could be jailed for up to a year and fined between $1,000 and $2,500.

The statute came under sharp focus in the recent proposal by Ann Arbor City Council Member Jane Lumm, who believes protesters are violating the law by interfering with the cull.

But protesters dont believe theyre violating this law. In fact, Shapiro and Carroll said it was their First Amendment rights that were violated that night.

Protesters also are concerned with what changed in enforcement, said Lisa Abrams of FAAWN.

Theyve protested the same way for four years, without such interactions with police, she said.

Overton said it's due to a new understanding of what can enforced.

Though Overton agreed officers had let the protesters demonstrate similarly just a few nights prior, she said a renewed look at the law, consultation with prosecutors, and review of the complaints and stakeholders led them to act differently Wednesday.

The protesters can stay if they protest peacefully, she said.

Running up and yelling louder, thats not peaceful, thats disruption," she said.

It's her understanding that the protesters have been complying when approached by police and chose to leave on their own that night. Voluntary compliance is the goal, she said, noting safety is their priority.

Abrams said the group hadn't seen the red light described by Overton before, and didn't know what it meant. She also said the group remained on the sidewalk, refuting claims by Ann Arbor resident and supporter of the cull Kurt Sonen of Washtenaw Citizens for Ecological Balance.

Sonen said some protesters stepped off the sidewalk into the wood to yell at the shooter.

"I'm not sure if it was just her voice or she had a noisemaker, but she made some outrageously loud noises," he said of one.

Abrams refuted the claim that the demonstrations were impeding the cull efforts.

"If what we did really impacted their legal taking of an animal, how have they managed to kill 274 deer?" she said "How did they manage to shoot while were protesting?"

The incident is just the latest in the city's deer cull saga.

A former city council member lodged a complaint with Ann Arbor police about FAAWN after a protest at his home during a cull operation there last week.

The city aims to kill up to 150 deer during the cull this month to curtail what city officials and some residents believe is an overpopulation of deer.
ANN ARBOR, MI - Theres a new grab-and-go food option in Nickels Arcade in Ann Arbor.

Constellation Collective opened Monday, Jan. 7, with salads, wraps, soup, snacks and beverages for sale from local businesses. Prices for a wrap, soup or salad are around $8, and there are vegan and gluten-free options.

The collective, at 12 Nickels Arcade, is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. every day.

Started by Ann Arborites and University of Michigan alumni with experience in the food industry, the Constellation Collective has a different business model than a typical grocery or convenience store.

The collective plans to work with up to 20 members that want to sell fresh food items in Nickels Arcade. It keeps 25 percent of its members' sales and charges $50 to $250 for shelf space for prepared foods, said Alex Perlman, one of four partners that started Constellation Collective.

Members enjoy perks like marketing and branding support and inventory reports on which items are most popular with customers.

Being in Nickels Arcade also allows the businesses the chance to sell to a new customer base of University of Michigan students, staff and faculty plus people who work in nearby offices, said Danielle Butbul, director of community outreach.

People are continuing to get excited about supporting local businesses, she said.

Current members include Harvest Kitchen of Ann Arbor, Tasty Kitchen of Ann arbor, SUp of Ann Arbor, Fluffy Bottom Farms of Chelsea, Juicy Kitchen of Ann arbor and Better Health of Novi.

The goal is to work with food vendors from the Ann Arbor and Detroit area, so the items can easily be restocked throughout the week and kept fresh, Perlman said.

Constellation Collective also plans to host weekly pop-ups where a business can serve hot prepared food in Nickels Arcade, he added. Updates on upcoming events will be posted on the collectives Facebook and Instagram pages.
YPSILANTI, MI  When Eastern Michigan University students returned for the winter semester this week, they were greeted by the newly-renovated Strong Hall, fulfilling a vision for the universitys Science Complex nearly a decade in the making.

The $40 million renovations and addition are the first significant improvements to Strong Hall since the building opened in 1957.

The entire structure was renovated, including modernization of classrooms and labs, lecture halls, student commons areas, faculty offices, and research and instruction space.

An atrium greets students and faculty on the main floor of the building, along with a 200-seat auditorium, and classroom and laboratory space for EMUs Geology and Geography departments.

To me, the first thing that pops are the aesthetics, EMU College of Arts & Sciences Associate Dean Steve Pernecky said. We dont have another building on campus that has this many nice finishes to it as an academic building.

The second floor houses classrooms for physics and astronomy departments, with department offices and a conference facility. Huddle spaces, where students can congregate to study between classes, are located throughout the building.

The buildings lower level includes an astronomy laser laboratory, along with a machine shop and maker space for students. Throughout the building, glass walls offer a glimpse into the type of research and training scientists do at EMU, Pernecky said.

When you enter Strong Hall, theres no doubt you are in a science building, Pernecky said, with flexibility being a major benefit for research and lab spaces.

In terms of being able to reposition desks so that you can do various types of experiments and demos, youre not hardwired, he said. You can actually move tables around. There are power cords that drop from the ceiling, so you can reconfigure the room, not only for existing program, but if programming changes.

In total, the 80,713-square-foot structure houses more than 25 percent of the universitys STEM lab classrooms for science, technology, engineering and mathematics disciplines.

At a funding mix of 75 percent from the state and 25 percent from the university, EMUs cost share for the project was around $10 million. Strong Hall had been EMU's top state capital outlay project request since 2010.

The renovation of Strong Hall represents the third phase of renovations to EMU's Science Complex.

EMU invested $90 million in the renovation of the adjacent Mark Jefferson building and construction of 80,000 square feet of new academic facilities, including a planetarium, connecting both to make up Easterns Science Complex.

By completing (Strong Hall) we have integrity of the entire science programming in the physical and natural sciences in a way we havent in the past, Pernecky said. Were hoping that this is going to offer and opportunity to open our doors on a regular basis for students to come in and see what we do. These buildings are meant to see through into the classrooms.
PITTSFIELD TOWNSHIP, MI - Witnesses say it was 21-year-old Rasean Curtis who fatally shot 25-year-old Allen Shevrovich more than two years ago.

Curtis, of Inkster, was bound over to trial court on charges of open murder and felony murder after a preliminary examination Thursday, Jan. 10 at Washtenaw Countys 14A-1 District Court. He was also bound over on charges of armed robbery and possessing a firearm while committing a felony.

Loved ones cried in the courtroom gallery as Shevrovichs self-described middle man in marijuana transactions and his fiancee again testified to a drug deal gone wrong on the evening of Aug. 24, 2017.

The two previously testified in October 2017 to the role another man, David W. Skinner, had in the death.

The middle man, Dallas Stone, knew Skinner in school, Stone testified. It was Skinner who set up a meeting to buy about $125 worth of marijuana; Curtis was a surprise guest to the meet-up.

Shevrovichs fiancee, Kellsey Brehmer, drove him and Stone to the meeting spot on Madison Street in Ypsilanti, only to realize there was no home at the address and they seemed to have a false phone number, Stone testified.

After finally getting a call, the group spotted Skinner and Curtis on the street. The two got in the back seat with Stone, he said. Curtis waited until the car started moving to pull his legs in, and kept his face partially covered with a hoodie.

Things were calm as Skinner discussed getting a scale to weigh the marijuana, Brehmer and Stone said. But then Skinner pocketed it without paying.

"There was quite a few words said back-and-forth," Brehmer said.

Brehmer, who paused to wipe away tears during her testimony, said she noticed a gun as she glanced back.

Shevrovich turned around with a pocketknife in hand to tell Skinner he wouldnt get away with stealing, Stone said.

Skinner said "What, are you going to stab me?" by Stone's account. Shevrovich replied, "You going to take my s**t?"

"Rasean pulled out the gun," Stone said.

Shevrovich turned away, saying he wasnt afraid, but then shots rang out, Stone said. Shevrovich slumped in his seat bleeding, while Stone used Skinner as a shield as a bullet whizzed past him.

Though Stone briefly struggled with the men, both Skinner and Curtis ran away, Stone testified.

Brehmer said she attempted to chase them, but, after falling, returned to the car to hold a shirt to her fiance's wound.

In the end, it appeared Curtis acted as a protector for Skinner, Judge Kirk Tabbey said when he announced his plans to bind the case over.

"But also, it appears not only did he shoot Mr. Shevrovich, but it appears he was attempting to shoot at Mr. Stone," he said.

Curtis is scheduled for a Feb. 25 pretrial in Washtenaw County Trial Court.

Skinner is scheduled for a March 18 final pretrial and an April 1 jury trial.

Both remain held without bond.
DETROIT -- A dozen classic trucks and cars made a 19-mile trip down Woodward Avenue from Troy into downtown Detroit Saturday, Jan. 12, with a police escort.

For four of the trucks, it was the last leg of a much longer trek. As part of The Drive Home IV," theyd driven from Houston, Texas in 10 days, stopping in seven states along the way. The winter road rally, now in its fourth year, was organized by Americas Automotive Trust.

The Tacoma, Washington-based group owns Americas Car Museum, a 165,000-square-foot facility housing numerous classic cars and other exhibits, and has an office in downtown Detroit. Each year, they dispatch from a different part of the country a themed caravan of classic cars bound for Detroit to be displayed at the North American International Auto Show.

David Madeira, vice chairman of the group, spoke in front of the Spirit of Detroit statue, where the cars ended their journey at Quicken Loans' Winter Blast.

Were here to show that there are still cars out there that need to be driven, Madiera said.

The trucks, a 1955 Chevrolet 3600, 1965 Ford F100, 1962 International Travelette and 1957 Ford Ranchero Custom, were joined by classic muscle cars - a 1968 Chevrolet Nova SS and 1969 Chevrolet Camaro SS 350 - as well as vintage sedans and even a Corvette convertible.

Matt Buchanan, owner of the black 63 Corvette, joined up with the group in Troy in hopes of making the longer trek next year. He and girlfriend Mercedes Bens, a fellow car enthusiast who owns a 2015 Ford Mustang, braved 30-degree cold to ride down Woodward without the hardtop.

Buchanan, an engineer and mechanic, found the convertible in a barn in Ionia, Mich. three years ago and completed a full rebuild of the motor. He has plans to take the car across the country.

Its why I became an engineer, he said.
How to use the mindat.org media viewer

Click/touch this help panel to close it.

Welcome to the mindat.org media viewer. Here is a quick guide to some of the options available to you. Different controls are available depending on the type of media being shown (photo, video, animation, 3d image)

Controls - all media types

Zoom in and out of media using your mousewheel or with a two-finger 'resize' action on a touch device.

Use the mouse or your finger to drag the image or the view area of the image around the screen.

< and > at the left and right hand side of the screen move forwards and backwards for the other images associated with the media you selected. Usually this is used for previous/next photo in a gallery, in an article or in search results. Keyboard shortcuts: use shift + the left and right arrow keys.

< and > in the bottom center are used for switching between the photos of the same specimen. Keyboard shortcuts: use the left and right arrow keys.

> in the bottom center, raises the information box giving details and further options for the media, < at the top of this box then hides it. Keyboard shortcuts: use the up and down arrow keys.

? opens this help window. Keyboard shortcuts: use the H key or the ? key.

Other keyboard shortcuts:

1 Fit image to screen 2 Fill screen with image 5 Display at full resolution < Make background darker > Make background lighter space Hide/dim titles and buttons

Scalebar

If the field of view (FOV) is specified for the photo, the scalebar appears in the left bottom corner of the viewer. The scalebar is draggable and resizeable. Drag the right edge to resize it. Double click will reset the scalebar to it's default size and position. If the scalebar is in default position, double click will make it circular.

Controls - Video

Video files have a standard set of video controls: - Reset to start, - Skip back, - Play, - Pause, - Skip forwards. Keyboard shortcuts: You can stop/start video play with the P key.

Controls - Animation (Spin Rotation)

Animation (usually 360 degree spin rotations) have their own controls: - enable spin mode. Note that while images are loading this option will not be available but will be automatically activated when the animation has loaded. Once active you can spin the image/change the animation by moving your mouse or finger on the image left/right or by pressing the [ or ] keys.

The button switches to move mode so that you can use your mouse/fingers to move the image around the screen as with other media types.

The button, or the P key will start playing the animation directly, you can interrupt this by using the mouse or finger on the image to regain manual movement control.

Controls - 3D Stereoscopic images

If a stereoscopic 3D image is opened in the viewer, the 3D button appears in the bottom right corner giving access to "3D settings" menu. The 3D images can be viewed in several ways:

- without any special equipment using cross-eyed or parallel-eyed method

- with stereoscope

- with anaglyph glasses.

- on a suitable 3D TV or monitor (passive 3D system)

For details about 3D refer to: Mindat manuals: Mindat Media Viewer: 3D

To enable/disable 3D stereo display of a compatible stereo pair image press the 3 key. If the left/right images are reversed on your display (this often happens in full-screen mode) press the 4 key to reverse them.

Controls - photo comparison mode

If a photo with activated comparison mode is opened in the viewer, the button appears in the bottom right corner giving access to "Comparison mode settings" menu.

Several layouts are supported: slider and side by-side comparison with up to 6 photos shown synchronously on the screen. On each of the compared photos a view selector is placed, e.g.: Longwave UV . It shows the name of currently selected view and allows to select a view for each placeholder.

Summary of all keyboard shortcuts
"Hunter Killer," the submarine thriller starring Gerard Butler, comes out on Digital 1/15 and 4K, Blu-ray and DVD on 1/29.

American submarine Captain Joe Glass (Butler) and his crew team up with an elite group of Navy SEALs to prevent a Russian coup and rescue that country's kidnapped president.

The movie is based on the novel "Firing Point" by U.S. Navy veteran George Wallace and Don Keith. Wallace talked to us about the movie when it was released in theaters last year.

Made with the full cooperation of the US Navy, the Pentagon hopes the movie will do for submariners what "Top Gun" did for aviators. We've got a clip from the upcoming home video release that features military advisor Russell Coons and cast members Gerard Butler, Common, Linda Cardellini and Gary Oldman discussing the movie.
An Associated Press investigation has found that at least 1,900 U.S. military firearms were lost or stolen over the last...
As U.S. Marines gear up for another deployment to Latin America this year, the message from past ventures remains consistent: Look to the United States for assistance and growth.

Roughly 300 Marines and sailors with the Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force (SPMAGTF) rapid response team deployed to Soto Cano Air Base, Honduras, from June to November last year.

The group consisted of one third active-duty troops and two-thirds Reserve members, according to Col. Michael Oppenheim, who led the SPMAGTF-Southern Command on the 2018 deployment.

Oppenheim said the mission's objective, besides theater security and promoting interoperability during the hurricane season, was to demonstrate to South and Central American partners "that we are a partner of choice."

"And we hope to expand there," he told reporters at the Pentagon on Thursday.

"One of [Southern Command's] lines of effort is to reaffirm [that] the U.S. is a partner of choice -- certainly we're referring to the National Security Strategy, [where] we identify external state actors" who may not share common values, Oppenheim said.

U.S. officials have expressed concern in recent months that growing influence from countries such as Russia and China in the southern hemisphere may sideline regional stability.

During the 2018 deployment, Oppenheim said, U.S. leaders did not broach that topic specifically because they were focused on building alliances.

But "at the operational and strategic level at the combatant command, they do talk about the[se] issues," he added.

Related content:

The future vision for the team is a maritime "multinational task force that has a lot of burden-sharing from our partner nations, working hand-in-hand ... to get after common challenges and reinforce common values [such as] response to natural disasters ... and other types of illicit activities that are going on that are common challenges to all of us as citizens of the Americas," Oppenheim said.

Unlike an exercise such as UNITAS -- an annual U.S.-led maritime exercise that incorporates ships, aircraft and personnel from the U.S. and dozens of countries for a few days -- the SPMAGTF has a longer presence year-to-year.

Its deployments involve engineering and building projects with partners and prepping to provide emergency response in the event of a natural disaster or crisis. For example, the Marines assisted in wake of the Volcan de Fuego eruptions near Escuintla, Guatemala, last June, helping repair facilities and construct shelters.

When the unit deploys in the summer of 2019, it will be the fifth consecutive deployment, showing the Marines "have made strides," Oppenheim said.

The 2018 deployment marked the first time foreign senior officers -- including those from Chile, Colombia and Honduras -- integrated with top Marine leadership at the decision table. This summer, countries such as Mexico, Brazil, Peru and Argentina could join the operations.

"Because we were specifically tailor-made for this mission set, we already knew the projects in advance that the countries and the combatant commander ... had worked to agree on," Oppenheim said.

In previous deployments, which began in 2015, the Marines participated heavily in hurricane response. But in 2018, most of the hurricanes skirted the Caribbean and Central America.

"So we had more capacity," Oppenheim said. This allowed service members to expand their subject-matter-expert exchanges and security cooperation engagements with key leadership, which also included the U.S. Army, he said.

Additionally, SPMAGTF-SC worked with the U.S. Navy and Air Force on various elements -- including moving personnel and cargo via CH-53E Super Stallion helicopters to the dock landing ship Gunston Hall off the coast of Belize -- and especially Joint Task Force-Bravo, headquartered at Soto Cano.

"It enhanced our readiness ... and demonstrated our resolve to be a partner of choice, our willingness to work with partner nations, bring them into the fold, and frankly, do that type of job in a different type of environment [and] navigate the cultural terrain," Oppenheim said.

He said he does not foresee huge changes to the task force this year in terms of equipment or technologies.

"The type of work that we're doing doesn't really require the type of science or technology to do the types of things that we're doing," but he added there's always room to experiment as needed.

Oppenheim does, however, expect to see more partners coming into the fold and more collaboration.

"We're good partners, we play nice, we obviously reinforce things that are important to everybody ... and I can say that everybody wants more," he said, referring to more training opportunities in the Southern Command region.

"The demand signal was sent ... and I suspect similarly for the National Guard and our other sister services, because for the U.S. ... this is a good job for us to be working with our partners down south," Oppenheim said.

-- Oriana Pawlyk can be reached at oriana.pawlyk@military.com. Follow her on Twitter at @Oriana0214.
Under fire and carrying a badly wounded patient, the Black Hawk helicopter was just lifting off an Afghan battlefield when the crew chief saw an Army Ranger in the landing zone get shot and drop to the ground.

The Black Hawk darted back to evacuate the fallen Ranger.

Spc. Emmanuel Bynum, thinking quickly, directed the pilot to make an emergency landing on a dusty patch masked from most enemy fire. They still took fire -- in all, about two dozen rounds to the helicopter, which would become nearly unflyable.

After the wounded Ranger was loaded, the Black Hawk lifted off. But there was more danger to come as they flew from Paktia province toward a base in Logar province dozens of miles to the north.

For their courage during the July operation, Bynum and four other aircrew members received the Distinguished Flying Cross with valor during a Jan. 5 ceremony officiated by Gen. Scott Miller, the top U.S. commander in Afghanistan.

Each of the five "completely disregarded his own safety" and refused to leave Army Ranger Sgt. 1st Class Andrew Celiz and an unnamed casualty on the battlefield, award citations said.

The award, created in the early years of military aviation and given to service members participating in aerial flight who distinguish themselves through heroism in combat or extraordinary achievements, is the military's seventh-highest personal decoration.

Other soldiers receiving the medal with Bynum, now a corporal, were Black Hawk pilots Capt. Benjamin Krzeczowski and Chief Warrant Officer 2 Jonathan Cole, and combat medics Sgt. 1st Class Andrew Six and Sgt. Armando Yanez. All five were with Company C, 6th Battalion, 101st Combat Aviation Brigade, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) and assigned to the brigade's 5th Battalion under Task Force Eagle Assault.

Shortly before 6 a.m. on July 12, and after relocating from Forward Operating Base Dahlke to support combat operations from FOB Lightning, some 25 miles further south, the crew got its second medevac mission of the morning -- at least one patient in need of urgent treatment. There might be enemy fire in the area, they were warned.

Dustoff 24 was in the lead on the 12-minute flight to the battlefield, with Krzeczowski in command of the bird and the two-helicopter mission. Cole manned the radio and the aircraft systems.

Six, the senior medic, spotted purple smoke marking the landing zone and helped orient the crew for landing, but soon the Black Hawk began taking fire. Without hesitation, Six and Bynum hopped out to cover Yanez as he rushed to the casualty, maneuvering across the battlefield under heavy fire, their citations said.

A team of U.S. soldiers laid down suppressing fire as they accompanied Yanez and the patient back to the helicopter, where the pilots -- despite the enemy fire -- calmly readied to launch.

Then, just after takeoff, Bynum called out that he saw a soldier get shot.

It would turn out to be Celiz, who at the time was assigned to 1st Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, based at Hunter Army Airfield, Ga., and was securing the landing zone. His team was assisting CIA counterterrorism efforts to kill or capture top militant targets, Politico reported later, citing unnamed sources.

The ground force immediately called Dustoff 24 back. As Krzeczowski circled back, Bynum guided him to a spot past the original landing zone that he hoped would shield them from enemy fire, the documents say. Once they'd landed, Bynum hopped out.

"SPC Bynum completely disregarded his own safety by exiting the aircraft while under heavy fire to provide security for the aircraft and crew," his citation says.

Meanwhile, Six ran to where Celiz was being placed on a litter, finding the Ranger in critical condition. He rushed him back to the helicopter, moving from cover under fire to load him into the aircraft, which was soon airborne again.

Within a minute of launching, Cole, who had been seated closest to enemy fire in the front right seat, reported that parts of the bird's control system appeared to have sustained serious damage. Flying on would be extremely risky.

Normal procedure is to land right away, but the Ranger was gravely wounded and Krzeczowski decided to fly to Dahlke, where a forward surgical team was waiting.

"Ballsy to say the least," said Navy Lt. Jack McCain, a Black Hawk pilot who talked about the citation with Stars and Stripes. "It was a judgment call, but yeah, I would say the situation was about as serious as you could get."

The call was likely based on how the aircraft was responding to the controls, said Army Maj. David Powell, a Black Hawk pilot who earned a Distinguished Flying Cross for a 2011 medevac mission in Afghanistan.

Along the way, Six and Yanez found a gunshot wound to Celiz's right flank but no exit wound. Yanez applied a chest seal and Bynum began manual ventilation to help the Ranger breathe while the medics "worked diligently to provide the best care possible" to the two patients, the citations said.

Although the aircraft was hit 22 times, Dustoff 24 made it to Dahlke and the awaiting surgical team.

Despite their efforts, Celiz later died of his wounds. The mortar platoon sergeant, who had served in Iraq and Afghanistan before joining the Rangers, was on his fifth deployment with the regiment. His commander would refer to the 32-year-old, a husband and father of an 8-year-old daughter, as a "national treasure."

The unnamed patient lived, according to a military official who declined to be named because they were not authorized to speak to the media. The patient was not a U.S. soldier.

After arriving at Dahlke, the crew needed to continue medevac coverage and their aircraft was unfit to fly. Krzeczowski got a spare from Task Force Eagle so they could jump their gear over and fly back to Lightning for follow-on missions.

The medevac crew is part of a "very special breed" who goes out in the only airframe with "absolutely zero protection in the worst possible conditions," said Col. Matthew R. Weinshel, 101st CAB commander, in an email.

Each time a medevac crew goes out, they don't know what they're getting themselves into, he said. Still they go.

"You do your job professionally, competently and with valor," Weinshel said of the crew. "I am proud of you all."
The Agriculture Department has issued assurances that funding is in place to continue its food stamp program through February, despite the partial government shutdown. Thousands of active-duty troops and an estimated 1.4 million veterans benefit from the program.

Agriculture Department funding expired Dec. 21 with the onset of the shutdown, but officials announced Wednesday that full benefits for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) will continue through February.

Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue said stopgap ways had been found to appropriate money for the SNAP and child nutrition programs under budgeting authorities that remained from a previous continuing resolution passed by Congress.

"At President Trump's direction, we have been working with the administration on this solution. It works and is legally sound," Perdue said in a statement Wednesday.

"And we want to assure states, and SNAP recipients, that the benefits for February will be provided," he said. "Our motto here at USDA has been to 'Do Right and Feed Everyone.' With this solution, we've got the 'Feed Everyone' part handled. And I believe that the plan we've constructed takes care of the 'Do Right' part as well."

Under the new accounting arrangement, the department will have about $4.8 billion to continue funding through February for SNAP and the Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program in the event that there is no resolution to the shutdown, according to Agriculture Department officials.

In 2016, a total of more than 44 million low-income Americans received SNAP benefits, according to the Agriculture Department.

The number of active-duty military households currently participating in SNAP has been difficult to track, but the most recent estimate by the Government Accounting Office in 2016 put the number at about 23,000.

The GAO report said the difficulty in estimating the number stems from the failure of the Agriculture Department and the Department of Defense to share data on active-duty troops in SNAP, Military.com's Amy Bushatz reported last year.

The Department of Veterans Affairs referred questions on the number of veterans in SNAP to the Agriculture Department, which did not immediately reply.

Last year, the Center for Budget and Policy Priorities, in a detailed analysis of census figures, estimated that about 1.4 million veterans were in SNAP.

In a report Thursday, CBBP said that the Agriculture Department's stopgap fix to keep SNAP benefits flowing through February comes with "administrative burdens and operational complexities."

However, the department's solution "should ensure that SNAP is able to stay open through February 2019 and that eligible low-income households will not face cuts to their food assistance, at least in the short term," CBBP said.

President Donald Trump and congressional Democrats have been at an impasse on appropriations to reopen the government in the dispute over funding for the southern border wall.

Trump has demanded $5.7 billion for the wall. Democrats have offered $1.6 billion for border security, but nothing for the wall.

In a tweet Friday, Trump said, "The Steel Barrier, or Wall, should have been built by previous administrations long ago. They never got it done - I will. Without it, our Country cannot be safe. Criminals, Gangs, Human Traffickers, Drugs & so much other big trouble can easily pour in. It can be stopped cold!"

About 800,000 federal workers have either been furloughed or are working without pay during the shutdown. According to the Congressional Budget Office, about 31 percent of federal workers are veterans.

The Union Veterans Council of the AFL-CIO provided statements from several veterans who have been affected by the shutdown, on the condition that only their first names be used.

Harris, an Air Force veteran working at the Federal Aviation Administration, said, "I just took out a hardship withdrawal from my Thrift Savings Plan because I'm terrified this is going to go long. I just bought a house this spring. I have car payments, credit cards and utilities along with the mortgage payment" that he won't be able to make if the shutdown continues.

Michael, an Army veteran and furloughed Agriculture Department employee, said, "We had a very austere Christmas because we thought this might happen. We didn't buy the new car we were saving up for. Thank God we didn't because we need to pay bills and the mortgage."

He added, "I figure our savings will hold out about six weeks or so."

-- Richard Sisk can be reached at Richard.Sisk@Military.com.
UPPER THUMB  Many municipalities joined a nationwide lawsuit against opioid manufacturers and distributors to address the growing cost of dealing with the opioid crisis.

Tuscola and Sanilac counties are two of those municipalities named in the lawsuit.

During a recent Tuscola County Board of Commissioners meeting, Clayette Zechmeister, the countys chief financial officer, updated commissioners on the opioid lawsuit.

The lawsuit was filed in the Northern District (Federal Court) in Ohio, said Zechmeister. There was a lot of information that had to be gathered and there still is. Just the fact sheet was 54 pages.

During the discussion, it was noted some drug companies alleged certain opioids were not addictive, but in fact, a person could get addicted within nine days.

Lawsuits like this that are this big go very, very slow. Clayette has done a yeomans job putting together the information. She has spent many hours packaging that information, said county Controller Mike Hoagland. The amount of money the county could recoup hasnt been determined. The lawyers keep asking for more and more information as this moves forward.

Hoagland estimates the file Zechmeister compiled so far for the lawsuit is four to five inches thick and growing.

I expect it will take many, many months to years of proceedings in court, hearings, and everything. The outcome wont be known anytime soon, but it is in the works and we are hopeful, he said, noting the county wont have any out-of-pocket costs except for prep time in getting the information together for the countys lawsuit.

It is estimated the county will be able to recoup about 70 percent of the cost of dealing with the opioid issue.

As part of gathering the information for the lawsuit, Zechmeister had the countys medical examiner gather information on opioid use and deaths

His results were jaw-dropping, she said.

There have been deaths in each of the Thumbs three counties linked to opioids in 2018, said Ann Hepfer, health officer for the Huron and Tuscola county health departments.

The numbers for 2018 are still being compiled.

There were eight drug-related deaths in Tuscola County in 2017, and two in Huron County, Hepfer said.

Michigan ranks 10th nationally in per capita prescribing rates of opioid pain relievers, and ranks 18th in the nation for overdoses. Statistics show 44 people die in the United States every day from an overdose of prescription painkillers, which is eight more than cocaine and heroin combined.

The opioid epidemic is creating a real and unprecedented financial burden on counties across Michigan and our country, attorney Michael Behm told Tuscola Commissioners when he explained the lawsuit to them. The costs incurred by municipalities due to people becoming addicted to opioid pain medication has pushed many counties' resources past their budgetary limits."

"The cost of first responders, addiction and rehabilitation services, incarceration, health care, and lost productivity is staggering," he added.

Behm is helping spearhead the lawsuit. Behms legal team has been retained by several counties and cities throughout Michigan, some of which include the city of Detroit, city of Lansing, and Grand Traverse, Saginaw, Genesee, and Macomb counties.

The legal movement against opioids was initiated by Michael Moore, who also initiated the lawsuit against tobacco companies in 1994. He won the largest litigation settlement in United States history of more than $240 billion.

According to the Council of Economic Advisors, costs associated with the opioid crisis was more than $500 billion in 2017; and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention noted more than 60,000 deaths are attributed to opioid overdoses.

Some of the other costs associated with opioid addiction includes the cost of Narcan, which is the antidote medication used to treat an opioid overdose, incarceration, foster care for the addicts children, the cost of operating a specialized drug court, and more.

The lawsuit against opioid manufactures and distributors started in 2016. So far, about 15 states have joined in the lawsuit, along with hundreds of cities and counties.

Although several counties and states are involved in this legal action, it is not a class-action lawsuit. It is a multi-district litigation. It is being done differently with several attorneys involved who are working together.

The Behm & Behm Law Firm of Flint is doing a multi-district litigation approach using a combination of local knowledge, regional organization, and national expertise, which is unprecedented in litigation.

Mark Bernstein, of the Sam Bernstein Law Firm, will act as regional counsel in coordinating not only the local efforts of Behm & Behm in Mid-Michigan, but also other local law firms strategically positioned throughout the state.
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, cervical cancer used to be the leading cause of cancer-related deaths for women in the United States.

However, in the past 40 years, the number of cases of cervical cancer and the number of deaths from cervical cancer have decreased significantly, according to the CDCs website. This decline largely is the result of many women getting regular Pap tests, which can find cervical precancer before it turns into cancer.
HARBOR BEACH  Students at Harbor Beach High School are getting assistance with their college scholarships this year, through a website called www.goingmerry.com.

Eventually, most of the counselors in the area are going to start using it, said Harbor Beach academic adviser Theresa Hessling. Its new, and what they do is, they take your scholarship applications and they put them all in one place online. Students have a free account and they can access all of those scholarships versus scholarships in paper form. They submit everything digitally and then the people at goingmerry actually just send all of the completed applications back to me and then I can distribute them to the local people that award scholarships.

As of Monday, 42 Harbor Beach students have registered on the website, 731 scholarship applications have been submitted, and 285 applications were in progress.

The nice thing about the website is, they go through all the scholarships that they have and if they have a common essay, for example, what they do is, you write one essay, you upload it and it automatically applies you for all the ones that require that same essay, Hessling said. Thats why kids are able to apply for many more scholarships than doing it individually.

Hessling noted the importance of college scholarships is growing, as the cost of going to college rises.

College is costing more and more each year, Hessling said. This is just another great way for students to get financial assistance. Many fill out the FAFSA (The Free Application for Federal Student Aid) and they only get approved for government loans for their education. To reduce the amount of loans that they have to take out, applying for scholarships is the way to go because its free money  it doesnt need to be repaid.

Getting students to apply for the FAFSA has been another goal for Hessling with her students.

In fact, Harbor Beach is currently ranked sixth in the state in FAFSA completion rate, at 76.2 percent, trailing schools such as the JC/LISD Academy (93 percent), Detroit International Academy for Young Women (86.5 percent), Frontier International Academy (84.1 percent), Taylor Preparatory (82 percent) and Detroit Cristo Rey (79.4 percent).

I receive a monthly email from the Michigan College Access Network and they monitor all the schools in the state of Michigan and were also a part of the College Cash Campaign, through the (MCAN), Hessling said. Part of the campaign that runs from Oct. 1 through March 1 is to get all of your students to see the benefits in applying for the FAFSA and also getting them to complete it. Weve hosted some events at school for the seniors and the parent FAFSA night, where they can get help from an expert from Oakland University.

Were doing really, really well, she added. Im proud of the kids. Theyve really done most of the work. Theyve had a lot of fun with it.
CITY OF ROBBINSDALE (OFFICIAL PUBLICATION) THE FOLLOWING SUMMARY OF ORDINANCE NO. 18-10 WAS APPROVED FOR THE OFFICIAL PUBLICATION: ORDINANCE NO 18-10 AN ORDINANCE ADDING BREW PUB LICENSE FEES TO THE CITY FEE SCHEDULE The purpose of the ordinance is to add license fees for brew pub beer sales. First Reading: Yeas: Backen, Blonigan, Rogan, Selman, Mayor Murphy Nays: None Second Reading: Yeas: Rogan, Selman, Backen, Blonigan, Mayor Murphy Nays: None Passed by the City Council this 18th day of September, 2018 By: /s/ Kate Croteau, City Clerk Full text of Ordinance is available at Robbinsdale City Hall Published in the Crystal-Robbinsdale Sun Post September 27, 2018 860773

Ad details CITY OF ROBBINSDALE (OFFICIAL PUBLICATION) THE FOLLOWING SUMMARY OF ORDINANCE NO. 18-10 WAS APPROVED FOR THE OFFICIAL PUBLICATION: ORDINANCE NO 18-10 AN ORDINANCE ADDING BREW PUB LICENSE FEES TO THE CITY FEE SCHEDULE The purpose of the ordinance is to add license fees for brew pub beer sales. First Reading: Yeas: Backen, Blonigan, Rogan, Selman, Mayor Murphy Nays: None Second Reading: Yeas: Rogan, Selman, Backen, Blonigan, Mayor Murphy Nays: None Passed by the City Council this 18th day of September, 2018 By: /s/ Kate Croteau, City Clerk Full text of Ordinance is available at Robbinsdale City Hall Published in the Crystal-Robbinsdale Sun Post September 27, 2018 860773
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.
A groundbreaking set of studies has found that blocking certain receptors in the brain leads to the growth of remarkably strong bones. Could a new osteoporosis treatment be on the horizon? Share on Pinterest Osteoporosis most commonly affects older women. Primarily a disease of old age, osteoporosis can cause bones to become gradually weaker. Over time, bones become so porous that minor impacts  even just a cough or a sneeze  might cause fractures. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), osteoporosis affects almost 1 in 4 women aged 65 and over in the United States. As it stands, there is no cure; treatment focuses on reducing the risk of fractures but cannot slow the conditions progression. In a healthy person, the body breaks down old or damaged bone and replaces it with new bone. However, as we age, this cycle becomes off-kilter, and the body breaks down more bone than can be remade. This leads to progressively weaker bones and, eventually, osteoporosis.

A new role for estrogen Estrogen has a wide range of functions in the human body, particularly regarding reproduction. The hormone also works in the brain, but scientists currently know little about its functions there. Recently, scientists from the University of California, San Francisco and the University of California, Los Angeles ran a series of studies to learn more about estrogen in the brain. Along the way, they made a serendipitous discovery that could change the face of osteoporosis research. Led by senior study author Holly Ingraham, Ph.D., the researchers were primarily interested in how estrogens activity in the brain alters metabolism during different stages of life. In particular, they were looking at the function of estrogen-sensitive neurons in the hypothalamus. This is a part of the brain that links the nervous system to the endocrine (hormone) system. The hypothalamus plays an important role in regulating metabolic processes, such as by helping control body temperature, hunger, sleep, fatigue, and circadian rhythms.

Blocking estrogen in the brain The scientists blocked the effects of estrogen in the hypothalamus of animals. When they did this, the animals gained weight and became less active. Initially, the scientists assumed that the additional weight would be accounted for by extra fat or muscle tissue. However, upon further inspection, they found that the extra weight was due to increased bone mass. Some of the animals had increased their total bone mass by 800 percent. I was immediately struck by the size of the effect. The two groups didnt overlap at all, which I had never seen. We knew right away it was a game changer and a new, exciting direction with potential applications for improving womens health. Researcher Stephanie Correa, Ph.D. When the investigators tested the dense mouse bones, they found that they were also particularly strong. In fact, according to Ingraham: Our collaborators who study bone for a living said theyd never seen bone this strong. They have now published their findings in the journal Nature Communications. As Ingraham goes on to say, Our current understanding of how the body controls bone growth cant explain this. [This] suggests, she adds, we may have uncovered a completely new pathway that could be used to improve bone strength in older women and others with fragile bones. In follow-up studies, the researchers focused on a particular region of the hypothalamus that seemed to be having this incredible effect on bone: the arcuate nucleus. Since removal of estrogen receptors in this region causes bone growth, they believe that normally, these cells siphon energy and resources away from bone growth to be used elsewhere in the body. This finding is exciting and surprising and only appeared in female mice. Most neuroscientists limit studies to male mice, and few study estrogen, which may explain why this had never been seen before. Holly Ingraham, Ph.D. She continues, Ive always been interested in how sex hormones make male and female brains different, and this is a really wonderful example of how dramatic those differences can be.
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The United States and Poland would jointly host an international ministerial meeting on the Middle East issue next month in Warsaw, the State Department said in a statement on Friday.

The meeting, called "Ministerial to Promote a Future of Peace and Security in the Middle East," will be held on Feb. 13-14, and countries from various regions have been invited to participate.

The ministerial meeting will address a range of critical issues including terrorism and extremism, missile development and proliferation, maritime trade and security, and threats posed by proxy groups across the region, the statement said.

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said in an interview on Friday that the meeting would "focus on Middle East stability and peace and freedom and security here in this region, and that includes an important element of making sure that Iran is not a destabilizing influence."

The top U.S. diplomat is on an eight-day trip to the Middle East amid rising uncertainty and complexity in the region following the White House's decision to withdraw U.S. troops from Syria.

Pompeo's speech in Egypt on Thursday underscored that the future U.S. Middle East strategy would overwhelmingly focus on countering Iran.

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif dismissed the planned meeting as an "anti-Iranian circus event."

Polish Foreign Minister Jacek Czaputowicz tweeted on Friday that the Middle East is a global security challenge, and the upcoming ministerial meeting in Warsaw would help to develop a common framework for action.
by Wendy Davis @wendyndavis, January 11, 2019

Netflix has been hit with a trademark infringement lawsuit over its interactive show Black Mirror: Bandersnatch.

The suit, filed Friday by Chooseco -- the publisher of the Choose Your Own Adventure books -- alleges that Netflix drew on the books in order to benefit from the positive associations with -- and nostalgia for -- the brand by adults who read the series as youngsters.

Netflix's interactive show featured a character who referred to a fictional book, Bandersnatch, which he described as a Choose Your Own Adventure book. Books in that children's series -- popular in the 1980s and 1990s -- allow readers to decide the outcome of the story.

Netflix, with full knowledge of the fame of Chooseco's trademark, intended to and did trade upon the goodwill associated with Chooseco's trademark and has misled and will continue to mislead the public into assuming a connection exists between Chooseco and Netflix, when no such connection exists, the lawsuit alleges.

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Chooseco adds that its trademark was tarnished by the Netflix show, because the streaming program was more violent than the original book series.

Nearly every narrative fork includes disturbing and violent imagery, Chooseco alleges in a complaint filed Friday in federal court in Vermont. Depending on the choices the viewer makes, it can include references to and depictions of a demonic presence, violent fighting, drug use, murder, mutilation of a corpse, decapitation, and other upsetting imagery.

Those dark and violent themes are too mature for the target audience of Chooseco's Choose Your Own Adventure Books, the publisher writes.
by Laurie Sullivan , Staff Writer @lauriesullivan, January 9, 2019

As Californians cheer save the environment, marketers are likely doing their own happy dance over the proposal that would require businesses in the state to offer electronic receipts unless customers ask for paper copies.

The legislation -- AB-161, proposed Tuesday -- is not completely new. Many businesses, except for grocery stores, already offer the ability to email the receipt. Less often, the consumer has the ability to have that receipt texted to him or her.

Democratic Assemblyman Phil Ting of San Francisco said a law is needed because many consumers dont realize that some paper receipts are coated with chemicals prohibited in baby bottles, cant be recycled and can contaminate other recycled paper, according to the Associated Press.

The legislation would take affect in January 2022. It's not clear how much it will cost businesses, specifically smaller ones with less tech expertise. But implementing the technology could put the smaller brands and companies on a stronger playing field with larger and more tech-savvy ones.

advertisement advertisement

For advertisers, the law become a bonanza of data with the ability to not only more accurately link offline to online purchases, but searches on Google and Bing. It would lock the consumer mobile numbers into a profile built on opt-in data.

Imagine having a phone number and email address for every consumer who has ever bought anything from your business.

Google Match, which Google introduced in 2015, expanded to include targeting by mobile numbers. It provided markets with more targeting options based on their customer relationship management (CRM) data. This California legislation could provide many of the same options, but without having to use Googles platform.

The data also would belong to the retailer or brand and not to Google, giving marketers more choices. Not all advertisers have a large email list, but this would help them build a list of both emails and mobile numbers, even connecting the two with location data.

And it will become nearly, in the state of California, for consumers who wish to pay cash and remain anonymous when requiring a receipt for everything from a pack of gum at a gas station or lunch at their favorite eatery, to shirts, purses or shoes at a retailer.
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BROOKVILLE  David Poulson, who served as a Roman Catholic parish priest in Crawford County until last February, will spend 2 1/2 to 14 years in state prison for sexually abusing two boys while in active ministry.

Poulson, 65, of Oil City, was sentenced Friday in Jefferson County Court of Common Pleas after having pleaded guilty in October to one felony count each of corruption of minors sexual in nature and endangering the welfare of children in connection for a sexual assault on one boy and an attempted assault of another boy.

Poulson served as the parish priest at St. Anthony of Padua Roman Catholic Church in Cambridge Springs until mid-February 2018 when he stepped down after the Erie Catholic Diocese announced it received credible allegations of sexual abuse of children by Poulson.

The charges were filed against Poulson last spring by the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General in the wake of a two-year statewide grand jury investigation by the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General. The grand jury found evidence that at least 301 priests molested more than 1,000 children in dioceses across the state. A report on the grand jury's findings was made public by the Office of Attorney General in August 2018.

Poulson was one of two priests charged due to the investigation. Others weren't charged since the statute of limitations for their alleged crimes had expired.

State AG: 'Poulson's victims received justice' BROOKVILLE  Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro called the 2 1/2- to 14-year jail se

In May 2018, Poulson was charged by the Office of Attorney General with a total of eight counts for sexually abusing two boys between 2002 and 2010 at various locations in Crawford, Jefferson and Clarion counties. The boys were ages 8 and 15 at the time the abuse started, according to the attorney generals office.

Poulson was charged with abusing an altar boy in different church rectories more than 20 times, often requiring the boy to then make confession and confess the abuse to Poulson, according to the complaint.

The complaint said Poulson also took that boy and another to a remote cabin in the woods where Poulson would watch horror movies with them before attempting to abuse them.

Poulson reached a plea agreement with the attorney general's office and agreed to plead guilty to corruption of minors sexual in nature and endangering the welfare of children.

By pleading guilty to the two charges, each a third-degree felony, Poulson faced up to a total of 14 years in jail and a $30,000 fine plus registration as a sexual offender for at least 10 years.

President Judge John Foradora of Jefferson County Court of Common Pleas said he was sentencing Poulson to up to the maximum due to the nature of the crimes against children and since Poulson was a priest.

"All the letters of support and all the good you've done (as a priest) do not outweigh the pain you caused these two victims," Foradora said. "It's a matter of safety."

"It's a problem that you caused," Foradora said why Poulson was in court Friday. "They were children in your care."

Foradora sentenced Poulson to one year to seven years in jail and a $5,000 fine on the corruption of minors sexual in nature count and 1 1/2 years to seven years and $5,000 fine on the endangering the welfare of children count with the two sentences to run consecutively.

Though Poulson is eligible for parole in 2 1/2 years, Foradora said he was imposing up to the maximum of 14 years for three factors  the eight years of victimization of the children, victimizing children both at churches where Poulson had served and a remote cabin in Jefferson County, and because Poulson was in a position of authority.

As part of his plea deal, Poulson was to have to register as a sexual offender for 10 years. That stipulation was dropped by the attorney general's office at Friday's sentencing due to Poulson's age and that Poulson will be under state parole supervision until he is age 79  if released from prison.

Prior to sentencing, Poulson apologized in court for his actions  calling them "both criminal and sinful," saying he took full responsibility.

"I was the responsible adult. I knew better," he said. "I should have exercised self-restraint."

Bishop Lawrence Persico of the Erie Roman Catholic Diocese issued a brief statement Friday afternoon, calling it a sad moment for everyone impacted by Poulson's crimes.

As part of Poulson's plea deal, Poulson agreed to be removed from the priesthood and Poulson had sent the necessary paperwork to the Vatican.

"It's my hope that the events of this day will bring a measure of healing to victims," Persico said in the statement.

The other priest charged in the investigation, John T. Sweeney of the Greensburg diocese, pleaded guilty to indecent assault on a minor in July 2018 in Westmoreland County and was sentenced in December to 11 1/2 months to five years in state prison. He pleaded guilty after being accused of forcing a 10-year-old boy to perform oral sex on him while counseling the fourth grader about misbehaving on a school bus.

Keith Gushard can be reached at 724-6370 or by email at kgushard@meadvilletribune.com. The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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President of the European Commission Jean-Claude Juncker (L) is welcomed by Romania's Prime Minister Viorica Dancila at the Victoria Palace in Bucharest, Romania, Jan. 11, 2019. Romania's Presidency at the Council of the European Union (EU) takes place at a "difficult" time for Europe, said on Friday President of the European Commission Jean-Claude Juncker, stressing that the mandate "must ensure stability and offer hope." [Photo / Xinhua]

Romania officially launched its Presidency at the Council of the European Union (EU) in a grand inauguration ceremony late Thursday in Bucharest, attended by top leaders, senior officials and celebrities of the country and the EU.

The country will have confront major challenges, including Brexit upshot, the negotiations for the next long-term EU budget and the European elections, during its presidency of half a year, but it will be honored to host the most important summit for the bloc's future.

Meanwhile, Romania will have to deal with complicated issues as the migration files, or the rise of populism confirmed by the France's "yellow vests", but it will have the great chance to convince the skeptical European leaders that it deserves to join the Schengen space, together with Bulgaria.

SCHENGEN PROMISE

At the ceremony to launch Romania's first EU presidency, both European Commission chief Jean-Claude Juncker and the President of the European Parliament, Antonio Tajani, have pledged to support the country's accession to the Schengen Area.

"Romania's natural place is in Schengen. I pleaded in the European Parliament that Romania should be part of the Schengen area. I remain faithful to this issue - Romania must be part of the Schengen area," said Jean-Claude Juncker.

In his speech, Tajani extended the promise of support to Romania's neighbor country, Bulgaria.

"For some years now, Romania has met the technical accession criteria. The European Parliament has always supported the idea of Romania's membership of the Schengen Area. I should like to urge Member States which are blocking the accession process to rethink their stance. The accession of Romania and Bulgaria to the Schengen Area will enhance the security of all the countries in Europe and I hope that it will take place under your presidency," promised Tajani.

The rotating presidency does not provide a strong position of political leadership, but rather one of service provider to the European Council. But while presiding the EU Council, countries could pursue their key national projects as they enjoy some influence at the legislative level.

Schengen ascension wasn't set as an official priority, but it was suggested by the motto chosen by Romania's authorities: "Cohesion -- a common European value."

BREXIT, SENSIBLE DOSSIER

Romania will preside over the process of Brexit, Britain's departure from the EU, scheduled to conclude at the end of March, the most complicated challenge of the mandate.

Brexit process is a sensible issue for Romania, which, with almost 500,000 migrants, managed in just a few years after 2014 to become the second largest non-UK nationality. As of 2017, they were sending home 311 million euros (358 million U.S. dollars), almost 13 percent of Romanians' total remittances.

Indeed, said Tajani in Bucharest, extending the challenges' area: "The Brexit vote, trade wars, citizens' protests and the emergence of nationalist movements leave us no choice but to review the course to be taken...Romania must play a central role in shaping a new Europe. It is the essence of the Sibiu summit that will take place on May 9."

SIBIU SUMMIT

Six weeks after Brexit, and two weeks before the European Parliament elections, Romania will preside over an EU Summit in Sibiu, an opportunity for European leaders to express their perspective for the future of the Union. Romania's authorities hope that the summit will send "a message of unity at the level of the Union."

"What is at stake during the Romanian Presidency, as well as the informal European Council in Sibiu, is nothing less than the way we envisage our European future together," said Donald Tusk, the president of the European Council.

Thursday night, Tajani briefed on the most important topics that will be on the Sibiu summit's agenda.

"We need progress on the overhaul of the Dublin Regulation, which can no longer wait; on establishing a fairer internal market in which everyone - including web giants - pays taxes and plays by the rules; on an ambitious digital agenda; on completing the Banking Union; on establishing effective and democratic economic governance; on creating a level playing field for open and fair trade," he said.

EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT ELECTION

The next challenge for Romania's presidency will be European Parliament election in May, usually a low-key event with weak participation rates, but which are expected to receive more attention, as the Europeans are fearing a significant rise of EU-skeptical forces.

"We must also safeguard the right of our citizens to vote freely in the forthcoming European elections, by guaranteeing that the election campaign is not distorted by fake news designed to manipulate the voters," warned the president of the European Parliament.

Romania's EU Affairs minister, George Ciamba, said earlier in a conference that EU has to deal with new security challenges such as disinformation has become "one of the greatest challenges to our democracies." Joint efforts of the EU member states and the civil society are needed for efficient response, he added.

MONEY'S GAMBIT

Bucharest will also preside over extenuating battles over the next long-term EU budget, with an impressive 1.14-trillion-euro (1.31-trillion-U.S. Dollar) blueprint for the 2021-2027 Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF). Although a final deal was supposed to be reach before the European Parliament election, chances are to be settled by fall. But President Tajani mentioned also that the European Parliament has adopted a draft budget commensurate with some priorities, some of them of greatest importance for Romania, such as cohesion funds or European funds for agriculture.

"It is essential that the EU's next Multiannual Financial Framework should be policy-driven, reflect citizens' priorities for an efficient Europe. It would be a grave error to make cuts in the cohesion funds and in farm spending. We want a budget which boosts investment in the real economy. We want to develop modern European infrastructure, invest much more in research and innovation and support the real drivers of the economy, small and medium-sized firms. We need to set aside more resources to foster the energy transition and the circular economy, both of which are essential to the future of our planet," Tajani said.

As the European elections will be followed by a changing of the guard in European top jobs, Romania's presidency will also deal with the transitions at EU institutional level for the next Commission and Parliament in the last month of its mandate.

HARD ROUTINE TASKS

But the consistent task of Romania's presidency will the pile of more than 250 files currently active on the agenda of the European Union, in different stages of negotiation. "There are 48 legislative files that are in fact from a multi-annual financial perspective, which will have to be agreed on at least at the level of order, words and terminology," mentioned Ciamba in a press conference at the beginning of this week.

The Romanian Presidency opens the Trio of Presidencies which includes Finland and Croatia, and it will be the final Presidency acting throughout the current legislative cycle of the European Parliament.
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The 2020-29 draft STIP continues to show the desire for improved and safer transportation connections in western North Carolina, Division 13 Engineer Mark Gibbs said. We have developed and vetted a comprehensive list of projects that will enhances the lives of our citizens by working diligently with transportation partners and local governments.

The draft STIP includes projects across all transportation modes and in all 100 counties in the state. The list includes 1,266 highway projects, 86 aviation, 235 bicycle and pedestrian, six ferry, 23 public transit and 47 rail projects selected on statewide, regional and division levels. The projects were prioritized based on technical data as well as input from local officials and residents.

The draft plan includes about 500 changes in major highway projects from the current STIP. Half of the changes include new road projects. Also, there were about 200 projects where a schedule was changed for planning or budgeting needs, and 10 projects whose schedules were accelerated. Another 24 projects on the current STIP didnt score high enough this time to remain in the new draft plan. A statewide list of these major highway changes can be found on the NCDOT STIP web page.
 Flash

More suspicious letters were delivered on Friday to six separate campuses in Greece, a few hours after the collection of 12 suspicious envelopes from universities around the country.

Universities and Technological Educational Institutes (TEI) of Ioannina, Rethymno, Patra, Lamia and Corinth received similar envelopes, as well as the private Mediterranean College in Thessaloniki, Greek national news agency AMNA reported. Police were informed immediately and took all appropriate measures to protect the citizens.



A suspicious envelope from India, addressed to the University of Ioannina rector's office, arrived on Friday morning by post, while a second one was detected at the TEI in Patras. Two more envelopes from India, arrived earlier on Dec. 28, 2018 at the TEI of Lamia, were found to contain advertising materials.

The envelopes were sent to National Centre for Scientific Research Demokritos and the General State Chemical Laboratory in Athens for analysis.

On Thursday a total of 12 envelopes, which in some cases contained a suspicious substance, were sent to universities around Greece. The targeted institutions were in Athens, the islands of Crete, Lesvos, Cephalonia and Corfu, the northwestern town of Arta, Sparta in the Peloponnese area and the coastal port city of Volos in Thessaly.

According to the results of a state lab examination, the powder traced was made of "irritants used in the production and improvement of adhesives and printing ink," AMNA reported.

Five people at the University of the Aegean on Lesvos Island were hospitalized with minor health issues, mainly irritation in the mouth, nose and eyes and were released on Thursday afternoon.

For precautionary reasons, several staff members who came into contact with the suspicious packages have already been subjected and will be subjected to further examinations.




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:
MANCHESTER, N.H. -- One year before New Hampshire voters cast their ballots in the states high-profile presidential primary, U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren traveled to the Granite State Saturday to test out her expected 2020 campaigns message.

The Massachusetts Democrat, who recently formed a committee to look at a White House run, offered a preview of the themes that will likely dominate her 2020 campaign during an afternoon organizing event at Manchester Community College.

Flanked by her husband, Bruce Mann, and dog, Bailey, Warren highlighted her humble origins growing up in Oklahoma. She stressed that shes in this fight out of gratitude for the opportunity the United States gave her to rise from being the daughter of a janitor to a United States senator.

I am grateful to America. I am grateful to America, but I am also deeply determined. I believe in an America where we build the opportunities, not just for the children of the rich and the powerful, but that we build opportunities for all of our children," she said. This is our moment in history, it is time to dream big, fight hard and make this country work for all of our citizens.

Contending that her familys struggles were not unique, the senator reiterated her push for structural change in Washington D.C., American politics and the countrys economic policies to help root out corruption and support working class Americans.

Warren specifically called for keeping money out of politics, ending lobbying in its current form and and forcing elected officials to publish their tax returns online, among other things.

The Democrat, in fielding questions from audience members, echoed her previous -- and controversial -- claim that Americas criminal justice system disproportionately impacts individuals of color and is broken front to back.

It is up to all of us who believe in justice to make change in that system from front to back, she said.

Warren offered that marijuana legalization is one of many policies federal lawmakers could pursue to address issues in the criminal justice system.

She further voiced support for science" and strengthening environmental standards, restoring legal protections for domestic violence victims and safeguarding Medicaid, among other things.

John McCauley, of Bow, N.H., said he didnt know much about Warren, but was interested to hear the Democrats message firsthand.

Were just starting to explore potential candidates and thought, well shes close by, why not come and hear what she has to say, he said. Shes a senator from Massachusetts and ... sounds like she probably lines up, at least, with our views.

McCauley said while hes just starting to think about 2020, he is looking for a candidate who has a more liberal, open platform.

We dont line up very well with the current administration, so were definitely looking at 2020 for, hopefully, a change, he said, adding that he hasnt yet settled on supporting any one candidate.

Jennifer Bricchi, of Allenstown, N.H., meanwhile, she has long been a fan of the Massachusetts senator and is thrilled the Democrat is eying a 2020 White House run.

We need a change. The way weve been going for the past two years is ridiculous and Im thrilled with her. I love her ideals, I think I have the same. And, Its just exciting to have her here in New Hampshire so soon after making her (exploratory committee) announcement, she said.

Bricchi added that she believes Warrens message and focus on addressing economic inequality will resonate with New Hampshire voters.

You have people here in New Hampshire, who are, of course, going to support the Republican candidate no matter who it is, but you also have ... a lot of working class citizens here in New Hampshire that, I think, she does appeal to, she said. I think theyd embrace her.

Gail Mitchell, of Rochester, N.H., agreed.

Its time for a Democratic aggressive leader to go to Washington and get things done quickly, she said, offering that she sees Warren as that person.

Its clear Warren is focused more on her own political ambitions than helping hard-working families," RNC Spokesperson Mandi Merritt said in a statement. "Granite State voters will see through todays dog-and-pony show for what Elizabeth Warren really is -- a phony who has repeatedly fumbled delivery on the national stage.

A handful of protesters gathered outside Manchester Community College Saturday.

Warren announced in a New Years Eve video message that she had formed an exploratory committee as a prelude to a 2020 presidential run -- ending speculation that had dogged the senator throughout her 2018 re-election campaign.

Days after the announcement, Warren headed to Iowa -- another must-visit state for presidential contenders -- to meet with voters at a series of organizing events.

In addition to addressing New Hampshire voters at Manchester Community College, the senator was set to attend a private house party in Concord, her exploratory committee announced.

Warren will return to New Hampshire next month to deliver keynote remarks at the New Hampshire Democratic Partys 60th annual McIntyre-Shaheen 100 Club Dinner.
SOUTH HADLEY - A public hearing will resume at Town Hall Jan. 14 at 7:15 p.m., regarding a special permit application for Chicopee Concrete Service to expand operations at its Hadley Street (Route 47) quarry.

The Planning Board scheduled a Dec. 10 public hearing, but Chicopee Concrete requested and received a continuance. The board noted the applicant was making changes to the application.

The hearing officially opened Aug. 27, which included a public comment period and submittal of documents. The board will review the company's operational maintenance plan at the next hearing.

The public is invited to speak at the Jan. 14 hearing. The Planning Board and the Planning Department also continue to accept written public comment before the hearing. The applicant can then review the comments or questions.

Despite the postponement, residents packed the Town Hall Auditorium on Dec. 10, with several attendees concerned about the delay or granting of the permit.

One resident asked the board for "interchanges" between the Planning Department and Chicopee Concrete, particularly any exchanges about increased truck traffic to the site, perhaps 160 extra trips daily. He said the public should have access to up-to-date information, including the average number of trucks entering and exiting the site.

Regarding truck traffic, the board said such matters were taken up in previous hearings and testimony.

Board member Diane Mulvaney said Chicopee Concrete did nothing "nefarious" by requesting the continuation and that the company was doing its due diligence.

Resident Joanna Brown asked the board during the Dec. 10 meeting to open the floor for public comment. She understood the board could not discuss the application without officials from Chicopee Concrete present.

"I don't think that's what people are asking for," Brown said. "They're simply being asked to be heard without the need to discuss or rebut or decide anything at all." She said residents made an effort to show up on the prescribed date.

Richard Harris, director of Planning and Conservation, worried that information obtained outside a formal hearing could influence how board members vote on the permit. He also had concerns that a potential decision, favorable or unfavorable, could face legal scrutiny.

One speaker suggested Chicopee Concrete review the videotape of the Dec. 10 meeting, leaving the company, at the time, at least a month to respond to public comments. Some board members spoke about protecting due process.

Resident Vern Blodgett asked the board if residents who did not attend the previous hearings would be afforded a continuance as well.

Blodgett said when a question about aquifers becomes part of the conversation, the level of debate rises. "It ought to be looked at with some different perspectives than I could imagine is involved in normal permitting of land use," Blodgett said.

He said he had expected a full hearing with a decision rendered on the permit. Instead, the board issued the continuation.

In an email, William DeLuca, who chairs the town's Conversation Commission, stated Town of South Hadley bylaws could justifiably deny the permit to Chicopee Concrete.

According to DeLuca, the company intends to remove 2 million cubic yards of material from the site.

"The very geological feature that is responsible for recharging our water supply and no one can provide us with any clear evidence that the mine expansion will not have a detrimental effect on the aquifer or the Connecticut River," wrote DeLuca.

He noted the Conversation Commission, Board of Health and Water District #2 "voiced grave concerns" about the project to the Planning Board.

"We have one chance to get this right," DeLuca said. "The town has essentially nothing to gain from this and everything to lose. If we get this wrong, we could be dealing with the consequences for decades."

DeLuca, who holds a doctorate in wildlife conservation, works at the Northeast Climate Adaption Science Center at UMass-Amherst.

Visit www.southhadley.org for information about the hearing and other agenda items. The page includes a link to a letter from R Levesque Associates, Inc., representing Chicopee Concrete Service, with responses to questions raised at the Dec. 10 meeting.

Hadley Street Major Excavat... by on Scribd
A Swansea woman was seriously injured and had to be extricated from the wreckage of her car after it was involved in a three-car crash on I-95 Friday night. The victim was airlifted to a Boston hospital by helicopter, WBZ-TV reported.

The crash involved three cars in I-95 between Exits 7 and 8 in Foxboro at about 6 p.m. Specifically what happened to caused the crash has yet to be released by authorities.

The 53-year-old woman was pinned in the wreckage of her SUV until Foxboro firefighters were able to rip the car apart with hydraulic tools and remove her. Authorities said she sustained serious injuries and was taken to the Tufts NEMC Trauma Unit.

The drivers of the other two cars were not injured in the collision.
TOWNSEND - John Johnson served in the Townsend Police Department for over 39 years, beginning his service with the force in 1978 and continuing through until his recent retirement last summer, according to local officials.

Tragically, Johnson, 58, and his wife Heidi, 57, were both killed in a car crash Thursday night after a wrong way driver collided with their car in the town of Epping, New Hampshire, New Hampshire State Police said.

Ryan Kittridge, the 31-year-old driver of a Dodge pickup made a U-turn on Route 101 west sometime before 11:41 p.m. Thursday, proceeding to drive the wrong way and subsequently striking Johnsons vehicle. A third vehicle crashed into the wrecked vehicles, injuring another driver.

The couple were pronounced dead at the scene, while Kittridge was rushed to Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston for treatment of serious injuries. The third driver was taken to Exeter Hospital for treatment of non-life threatening injuries.

Kittridge appears to have been impaired, according to The Boston Globe.

Local officials expressed their grief over the fatal accident over social media.

This devastating loss shook our department, our town, and certainly the families of John and Heidi, a statement from the Townsend Police Department states.

Certainly during his 40 years of service he touched many lives," the statement reads. "The Townsend Police Department will always remember his willingness to help out, his commitment to providing the best service possible to the town, his leadership and his desire to mentor young officers.

Police described Johnson as a old school officer that would show his stern side when he first met you and then would let you see his humorous side and said that used street smarts and personal connections to do good law enforcement work.

Police in Epping, where the fatal crash occurred, also gave their condolences to the Massachusetts police department. Our thoughts go out to the Townsend Police Department for the loss of Sergeant John Johnson, said the Epping police in a statement.
NORTHAMPTON  A man prosecutors allege aided in the cover-up of a Northampton mans murder pleaded not guilty to related charges Friday in Hampshire Superior Court.

Pedro Soto-Rodriguez, 21, allegedly was involved in the death of 44-year-old Daniel Cruz, whose body was found shot and burning on Hatfield farmland last March.

According to the prosecution, Cruz was shot to death by Soto-Rodriguezs co-defendant in the case, Nerkin Morales, 22, of Northampton, after an altercation between Cruz and Soto-Rodriguez at the Meadowbrook apartment complex in the citys Florence neighborhood on March 10, 2018.

After Cruzs murder, Soto-Rodriguez and eight other people allegedly aided Morales in hiding and disposing of the body. Ten people are currently facing charges in connection with the case.

Soto-Rodriguez denied charges of conspiracy, accessory after the fact, witness intimidation and a number of other crimes at his arraignment.

Judge Michael Callan set Soto-Rodriguezs bail at $100,000 cash without prejudice. Conditions for release include that he have no contact with his alleged co-conspirators, case witnesses or the victims family members and that he submit to a booking procedure with the Massachusetts State Police.

Northwestern Assistant District Attorney Jennifer Suhl also asked that discovery in the case  the legal procedure by which the prosecution may share information with the defense  be partially redacted to protect the identity of key witnesses in the case. Soto-Rodriguezs attorney Jeanne Liddy had no objections to this suggestion.

Callan set an out of court pretrial conference in the case for April 8. Soto-Rodriguez will return to court for a pretrial hearing on May 6.

According to court documents, Soto-Rodriguez is a longtime friend and alleged criminal associate of Morales. The two men allegedly are members of a local gang known as MOH. Morales and Soto-Rodriguez were both arrested last March shortly after Cruzs murder for drug and firearm charges in Holyoke and are facing the charges in Hampden Superior Court for that case.
Two Southbridge residents have been arrested and accused of stealing a charity collection box from a Dunkin' in Dudley last month,

Dale Laliberte, 46, and Sarah Trombley-Laplante, 27, are allegedly the stars of security video released by Dudley police this week, showing the theft of the Knights of Columbus donation box.

The Dudley Police thank all the members of the public who assisted with providing information on this case, Dudley Police wrote on Facebook. A combination of good police work by members of this department, the assistance of the Mass State and Southbridge Police, and the information provided by the public were keys in bringing this matter to a swift resolution.

The security video shows a man and a woman approach the counter at the Dunkin' across the street from Dudley District Court and swipe a Knights of Columbus donation box. The woman, wearing sunglasses, is seen stuffing the box into her bag before both of them leave the store.

Both Laliberte and Trombley-Laplante have been charged with larceny.

Laliberte was also arrested in December 2017 for allegedly breaking into a home in Connecticut. The owner of the house told police that he arrived home to find a theft in progress, and fired a shot from his licensed handgun at one of the thieves who ran up behind him. The thief, later identified by police as Laliberte, then fled in a car.
The partial shutdown of the federal government has reached its 22nd day, becoming the longest in U.S. history.

About 800,000 federal employees are either furloughed or working without pay. The shutdown began in the waning days of the previous Republican-majority House of Representatives and has continued since Democrats took power this month, with President Donald Trump rejecting any spending bill that does not include funding for a wall on the U.S.-Mexico border.

On Friday, the first government payday since funding ran dry, workers at affected agencies received paychecks for $0 -- an image seized on by Democrats, who have decried the shutdown as harmful to workers and their families.

Air traffic controllers got paychecks for a total of $0 today because of Trump's government shutdown.



This is a crisis!



Mr. Trump, stop holding our federal employees hostage as political pawns. Open the government now. pic.twitter.com/0YvxmsyWwh  Bernie Sanders (@SenSanders) January 11, 2019

While parts of the federal government remain funded through September 2019, a number of large agencies have been affected -- including the Department of Homeland Security, National Park Services, NASA and Customs and Border Protection.

Senate Democrats have estimated that more than 420,000 employees are working without pay and 380,000 have been furloughed, CNBC reported. Both chambers of Congress have passed a bill that would provide back pay for affected employees, which Trump has agreed to sign, though for now workers remain without income.

Dozens of federal workers rallied in Boston Friday to protest the shutdown, chanting chanted end the shutdown and let us work. Sen. Ed Markeys office has estimated that about 7,800 Massachusetts workers have been affected.

I want to work, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development employee Sajid Shahriar told a crowd at the rally. This government will not work without us. This country does not work without us. We cannot work if the president does not let us work.

Congressional Democrats have refused Trumps demand that they approve $5 billion for a border wall, and urged the president to sign a clean appropriations bill. But Trump has refused to do so, walking out of a shutdown meeting with Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer on Wednesday.

While Trump had said this week he was considering declaring a national emergency to build the wall without Congressional consent, he said Friday that he is not prepared to take that step yet and will continue to negotiate with Congress.
A firefighter was injured while battling a house fire on Cape Cod this weekend, according to The Boston Globe.

The fire occurred at a residence on Finn Road in Wellfleet early Saturday morning, local police said. Wellfleet firefighters and crews from a number of other local communities assisted with putting out the blaze.

The firefighter injured while fighting the flames was taken for treatment to Cape Cod Hospital but was later released.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation.
Easthampton police are searching for a middle-aged, heavyset man they said robbed the Main Street branch of BankESB Friday afternoon.

Police Chief Robert Alberti said the man entered the bank at about 2:44 p.m., passed a note to a teller and fled with an undisclosed amount of cash. A weapon was implied, but apparently none was shown. The suspect fled the bank through the Main Street main door.

The suspect is described as a short, heavyset white, middle age male, approximately 5-foot-5, wearing black pants and a blue jacket over a gray hooded sweatshirt and with white gauze over his left eye. Police said the suspect also was wearing a black knit hat, black scarf and black gloves with red on the fingers.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Easthampton Police Department at 413-527-1212 or send a direct message to the departments Facebook page.
 Flash

The Syrian air defenses intercepted most of the missiles launched by Israeli warplanes on areas near the capital Damascus on Friday night, the Syrian army said.

The Israeli warplanes flew from the Galilee Panhandle and fired several missiles on the vicinity of the capital Damascus, said an army statement.

The Syrian air defenses intercepted most of the Israeli missiles, it added.

Only a warehouse in the Damascus International Airport was damaged, according to the statement.

Meanwhile, the state TV said the Syrian air defenses destroyed eight Israeli missiles over Damascus, and cited airport officials as saying the airport was functioning as usual without changes of flights.

Just half an hour before midnight, sounds of explosions were heard in Damascus, especially in the western part of the city.

The Israeli attack, if confirmed, will be the latest in a string of missile strikes targeting the Syrian positions throughout the Syrian crisis since 2011, under the pretext that these positions belong to Iran-backed forces and allied Lebanon's Hezbollah fighters.

The last such missile attack was carried out on Dec. 25, 2018, during which the Israeli warplanes fired missiles on Syrian military depots in the western countryside of Damascus from inside the Lebanese airspace.

In September 2018, Russia equipped the Syrian forces with the S-300 air defense missile system, but local reports said the advanced system hasn't been used yet.

Syrian Foreign Ministry said last month that the repeated Israeli attacks on Syria aim to prolong the more than seven-year war in the country.




A Westboro woman is on the hook for a $55 ticket after honking at an unmarked Auburn police cruiser -- a situation she is calling unfair, unscrupulous, unethical and unmerited.

But the Auburn Police Department disagrees, saying Officer Jason Miglionico was within his rights to cite 56-year-old Stephanie Kelley for blaring at him from her Toyota Prius.

The Telegram & Gazette has the story of this traffic court dustup, in which Kelly and Miglionico give conflicting accounts of what happened during the incident on Nov. 27, 2018.

Kelley, in a letter earlier this month to Auburn officials and the Telegram & Gazette, wrote that Miglionico cut her off when he pulled from the side of the road into traffic, prompting her to lay on her horn. He was in an unmarked car and she did not know he was a police officer, she wrote.

Anyone would have blared their horn," she told the Telegram & Gazette.

But Miglionico told internal investigators that there was no traffic nearby when he drove away, and his superiors sided with him, clearing him of any misconduct. Miglionico ticketed Kelley under a Massachusetts state law that prohibits honking a horn to make a harsh, objectionable or unreasonable noise.

Kelley told the Telegram & Gazette that Miglionico yelled at her, did not let her speak and refused to give his name and badge number. He told investigators he told her his identification number was on the citation, and was later praised by a superior officer for his comportment and discretion in how he handled the encounter, the newspaper reported.

The Auburn Police Department could not immediately provide MassLive with a copy of the internal investigation and Chief Andrew J. Sluckis Jr. was not available for comment on Saturday.

Kelley told the Gazette she intends to fight the ticket in court.
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development employee Sajid Shahriar has wanted to serve this government since he was a boy, he said at a Boston rally filled with furloughed federal workers Friday.

The son of immigrants living in Davis Square, Shahriar said he got his dream job - working for the federal government - 2 years and 3 months ago. In that time hes been forced out of work by a government shutdown three times.

I want to work, Shahriar told a crowd in Boston Friday. This government will not work without us. This country does not work without us. We cannot work if the president does not let us work.

Dozens of federal workers packed into Post Office Square in Boston in the bitter cold Friday to protest the government shutdown, now in its 20th day. Sen. Ed Markey stood alongside union leaders, promising to forgo pay until the government has reopened.

This is a fight worth having, Markey said to roaring applause. The president is using ordinary families of federal workers as pawns, as hostages.

About 7,800 federal workers in Massachusetts have been out of work since the government shutdown on Dec. 22, but Friday marked many workers first day without a paycheck, according to Markeys office.

Those gathered for Fridays rally carried handmade signs and chanted end the shutdown and let us work.

Steven A. Tolman, the president of the Massachusetts American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organization, called President Donald Trump a liar, who was using federal employees to further his own political agenda.

He has said this is about border control, he has said this is about the drug epidemic, Tolman said. Sisters and brothers this is about nothing but foolishness.

Environmental Protection Agency employee Linda Darveau attended the rally and said she is frustrated. Darveau works on the climate and energy team in the agency, which provides Energy Star software to companies across the country. This software allows businesses to track their energy usage.

They cant access it all right now, she said. It is very frustrating.

Darveau said she is an empty-nester who lives with her husband, who is working and able to help with expenses. She said she is lucky and acknowledged this is not the case for many of her coworkers.

A lot of people I work with have childcare bills, tuition bills. Government workers dont make much money. Were here because we believe in public service, she said. People are in a really tight position. When is our next paycheck coming? We dont know.

Democrats have denied Trumps demands for $5.7 billion in wall funding, leading to a stalemate that has shut down government agencies that employ about a quarter of the federal workforce. About 800,000 federal workers have been furloughed since the government shutdown Dec. 22.

With no end in sight, many workers are worried, they said at the protest on Friday.

Shahriar, who represents a workers union for HUD employees, said he is feeling pressured.

I dont know what to tell people, he said. I dont know when this will end.
A confidential settlement has been reached in a multi-million dollar lawsuit that accused a man of using social media to defame the operator of a boat involved in a fatal collision on Smith Mountain Lake in 2016.

As we previously notified the Court, the parties in this case have executed a confidential settlement agreement, plaintiffs attorney F. Elizabeth Burgin Waller wrote in document filed in Henry County Circuit Court on Dec. 6. Per the terms of the agreements, please find enclosed a copy of a final agreed dismissal order in this case. We ask that the Court please enter the order.

Court documents did not state the terms of the settlement or whether any money was involved in the case between plaintiff Drewry Woodson Hall, who piloted the boat, and defendant Thomas Key Blackwell, who was nearby when the collision happened.

On Dec. 12, Circuit Judge David V. Williams signed the order dismissing the case.

This day came the parties, by counsel, and represented to the Court that they agree to a resolution and final dismissal of this action, the order states. The clerk is directed to remove this action from the docket and place it with those matters ended and to furnish all counsel of record with certified copies of this order.
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Santa doesnt only come to children it seems. County Longfords Mide Samba Band got a very big present this Christmas when their very own drumming equipment arrived all the way from Brazil.

Over 50 drums, beaters, bells and percussion items arrived on December 23. The equipment, which cost over 6,000 was the result of a successful Irish Music Network grant kindly supported by Fergus Kennedy and Longford County Arts Office.

The new group comprising of local volunteers from all over the county has gone from strength to strength since it started last January, picking up first place in Granard, Ballymahon and Longford parade festivals.

Its a great boost for the group, said Mide stalwart John Carroll from Ballymahon.

Last year, we had to borrow drums for the St Patrick's Day parades. It will allow us to involve more people now.

Also read: Longford theatre group to unveil new samba band at St Patrick's Day celebrations

For those who are not familiar with Samba, it refers to the carnival music associated closely with Rio Brazil and involves percussion instruments and lively street dancing.

Samba drumming encourages social development, self-expression and confidence, says Mide Samba tutor Tom Duffy.

It's accessible to all abilities, even absolute beginners to music. We all have rhythm inside of us, we aim to bring it out in a fun, inclusive way.

All you need is a heartbeat and willingness to give it a go!

Mide Street Theatre Group is a Longford county-wide art initiative to support local communities to develop artistic skills and knowledge to make public art and street theatre spectacles. Mide has been kindly supported by Longford County Arts Office.

Mides plan is that the Samba band will participate in the celebration of public cultural events around the county and will become a social space for people with an interest in participating in drumming and music activities. No previous experience necessary.

Mide are inviting anyone with an interest in drumming to come along to our opening session next Thursday, January 17 at 7.30pm in the Attic House, Ballinalee Road, Longford.

For further information please check out our Mide facebook page or contact crossan.shane@gmail.com.

Read next: Banging their drum: Longfords new Samba Band awarded 5,000 music instrument grant
On Sunday last, driving to Ireland West Airport Knock it took me one hour and fifteen unhurried minutes.

On the way down, the traffic was scarce by comparison with the M4. A pleasant change, indeed.

Occasionally I noticed passing undulating landscape, and the journey filled me with thought.

On arriving in Knock I parked in the car park, again a pleasant experience compared to Dublin, or even Shannon.

Of course some of the reason is age, one becomes settled enough to like the quiet life, and one way to escape the quiet life is to travel the M4. Whoosh!

The speed limit can be a source of real worry, in that scenario, if you let such thoughts rush to the front of your brain.

Whereas there isnt much opportunity to exceed the 100 KM per hour between Longford and Knock.

After parking in the crowded park in Knock, I wandered on into the airport. A surreal experience, it became.

No rushing around, no sense of hurry, no crowded areas, rather like somewhere youd enjoy spending time, provided you didnt mind your own company.

Thankfully, I dont.

Knock is a revelation in terms of attitude.

Whereas in most airports nowadays the attendants at the slow moving security check constantly seem to be shouting - until you travel through New York - thats when you really hear verbal noise.

In Knock nobody shouts, nobody is hurried, yet nobody misses the flight. Proof, if any were needed that its not really necessary for attendants to shout and sometimes even scream....it works just as well if they stay calm and allow people to get through the airport in civilised fashion.

I travelled by Ryanair from Knock to Luton, because theres no other airline working the route at this time of year.

I couldnt believe that the queue started almost an hour before boarding. Why do people do this? Its not designed for people, it suits the airline to have people waiting.

Waiting a long time makes the passenger so bored and tired that they hardly know what theyre doing by the time it comes to boarding the aircraft. Consequently passengers often leave things behind them in the perceived rush to get on the plane.

I sat watching as all this unfolded and once again Im astonished at the way people are so easily made submissive and controlled.

Announcements make people more anxious. Half an hour out as boarding was ready to start the announcer became more and more urgent in the language, and in the way it was expressed.

I could see the queue becoming slightly more focused and perhaps even agitated, but nobody noticed.

They dont notice because thats the way airports are run.

As we approached closer to boarding close, the urging became more insistent. If I wasnt alone, it would be hard for another person to resist walking straight on to plane.

To please the announcer - which is the very purpose of the exercise in urging in the first place.

When I went through with one person following, it was still plenty of time left before takeoff. But that is when the real reason for creating agitation becomes apparent.

Standby passengers. Ah yes, they were still waiting near the gate - a regular occurrence, when a flight is overbooked, as this one was.

The longer one travels and if one is minded to, the more you will learn about the behaviour of airport staff.

They too, are put under pressure from on high.

So the circle of authority is constantly reined tighter!

That said, its a real pleasure to fly from Knock, a tribute to the originator, Monsignor James Horan, and his team. He proved what can be done in the middle of rural Ireland when most people on the east coast scoffed at the notion of an airport at Knock.

If they could see the number of cars in the car park, they might realise that there was indeed, plenty of appetite for an airport at Knock.

Maybe its another miracle.
 Flash

Chinese President Xi Jinping's special envoy Han Changfu attended the inauguration ceremony of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro Thursday.

Han, also China's minister of agriculture and rural affairs, met with Maduro on Tuesday.

He conveyed President Xi's sincere congratulations and good wishes to Maduro.

Han said that China and Venezuela are good friends with mutual trust and assistance as well as good partners with win-win cooperation.

This year marks the 45th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and Venezuela, said Han, calling on the two sides to take this opportunity to continue to implement the important consensus reached by the two heads of state, firmly enhance mutual support, strengthen pragmatic cooperation to further enrich the connotation of the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries and bring more benefits to the two peoples.

For his part, Maduro thanked President Xi for sending a special envoy to attend his inauguration and asked Han to convey his warm greetings to President Xi.

Maduro said the Venezuelan government and people cherish the friendship with China and admire China's development achievements during the past 40 years of reform and opening up.

He said Venezuela is willing to maintain high-level exchanges with China, share experience in the governance of the country and promote pragmatic cooperation in various fields such as agriculture to jointly build a better future of bilateral relationship.
THE ASSOCIATED PRESSIn this photo from Tuesday, President Donald Trump speaks from the Oval Office of the White House as he gives a prime-time address about border security. An assignment from a history teacher at a Massachusetts high school caused a stir this week when students were asked to debate whether characteristics of fascism are exhibited by Trump.
This file photo from December shows Niagara County Clerk Joe Jastrzemski during a town hall-style talk with handgun owners about pistol permitting requirements under the New York SAFE Act. Jastrzemski will join a pair of state lawmakers in holding a Second Amendment event later this month where residents will be able to learn more about gun-related issues. Connor Hoffman/Staff
COURTESY NIAGARA HISTORY CENTERThis is the first Falls View Bridge, in the 1880s. Dr. John Hodge, a Niagara Falls physician, was the last person to cross the bridge before it collapsed into the Niagara River during a windstorm on Jan. 10, 1889.
In his political fight for a border wall, President Donald Trump has enlisted a new group of surrogates to join conservative talk show hosts and Republican allies in making a public case - Border Patrol agents.

On a tour of a patrol station in McAllen, Texas, this week, Trump gathered 15 agents, dressed in uniforms and tactical gear, to stand next to him as he filmed a minute-long video.

"They have done an incredible job," said Trump, sporting a "Make America Great Again" campaign hat. "But we all want to see a wall or a barrier because that will make your job even easier . . . Everybody knows we need a barrier; we need a wall,"

The agents remained silent, but the visual message was clear: Trump wanted viewers to believe Customs and Border Protection, an agency of 59,000 employees, is firmly behind him in a political skirmish that has resulted in a partial government shutdown.

By Friday afternoon, the clip had received 2.4 million views on Trump's personal Twitter account and 1.5 million more on his personal Instagram account.

For Trump, the episode offered the latest example of his willingness to stretch the boundaries of using law enforcement agencies for political messaging. Last week, he brought leaders of unions for Border Patrol and Immigration and Customs Enforcement to the White House briefing room to tout the wall.

Trump also has routinely offered praise on Twitter for one of those union officials - Brandon Judd, who is also an active Border Patrol agent - for his appearances on Fox News in support of the president's immigration policies.

Trump's predecessors, George W. Bush and Barack Obama, made trips to the border and invited Border Patrol officials to the White House for policy roundtables.

But in those cases, the officials "were there to brief on what they found and state their professional opinions for what might be helpful" on policy, said Theresa Brown, a career official at the Department of Homeland Security from 2005-2011.

"That amped up a level when Trump was running for office and the unions actively endorsed his candidacy," Brown said. "It was an explicitly political act, and Trump embraced it."

Trump campaigned on a law-and-order agenda that sought to appeal to police, sheriffs and military troops. He was criticized by Democrats on a visit to U.S. military bases in Iraq and Germany last month when he signed MAGA hats at the requests of troops.

In the summer, Trump held an event at the White House to celebrate the "heroes" of Border Patrol and ICE. Dozens of uniformed agents and officers were feted in the East Room.

Some former government officials said criticism of Trump is overblown.

"It doesn't strike me as unusual or inconsistent with what other presidents have done to tout policy directives," Julie Myers Wood, who served as a high-ranking DHS official under Bush, said of his interactions with Border Patrol agents. "Whenever a president shows interest in your area, I think it's a net positive."

Yet some national security experts warned that Trump is setting a dangerous precedent in his use of law enforcement and national security personnel as political props while also showing no hesitation to punish current and former officials who don't support his agenda.

Trump has stripped the national security clearances of former officials who have criticized him, harangued the "dishonest media" at a photo op with sheriffs and at a visit to the CIA headquarters and allegedly pressured former FBI Director James Comey over an investigation into his former national security adviser.

"It's an incredibly dangerous cycle," said Rachel Kleinfeld, a national security analyst at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. "In countries where democracy breaks down, you have institutions of the state that do not serve the people - they serve political parties' interests. And when people stop believing that security protects people equally, you have a return to private justice."

John Sandweg, who served as a high-level DHS official in the Obama administration, disputed Trump's contention that the Border Patrol is solidly supporting a wall. Sandweg said that agency has long sought technology upgrades and "mobile assets" that can be quickly deployed to shifting hotspots at the border.

DHS's immigration enforcement divisions have been in the political crosshairs since the Bush administration created the massive federal agency in the wake of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. ICE, and to a slightly lesser extent CBP, have been the target of intense criticism from some Democrats who have accused their leadership of employing draconian tactics to detain and deport immigrants.

Obama responded by enacting new guidelines aimed at focusing resources on terrorists, felons and new undocumented immigrants. But ICE chafed under the new directives, frustrated that Obama had "tied their hands too much," said Brown, the former DHS official.

Yet Brown pointed to Trump's visit to DHS headquarters during his first week in Jan. 2017, where he singled out Judd, the union chief, for praise in front of new Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly.

"I found it extremely strange," said Brown, who now works at the Bipartisan Policy Center, a think tank. "Here's a president praising the union chief in front of management. These are people who have to negotiate; it's going to be slightly adversarial. But the president is calling on the union above his own."

Later that week, Trump fired the Border Patrol chief, whom the union had sharply criticized.

During his border tour in Texas, Trump invited Judd to be part of a roundtable policy discussion, praising him as someone he has known "from the beginning" of his presidential campaign.

"Almost before I announced, he was for my ideas and he was for us," Trump said. "He was for me. And I appreciate it."

Judd declined a request for comment. There have been signs of division within the agency. This week, a separate union for federal workers sued the Trump administration on behalf of some Border Patrol agents who have not been paid during the shutdown.

That has not fazed Trump, who late Friday posted another version of his video with the border agents on social media.

"We need a wall," he said in this clip. "We have to take the politics out of it and we have to get down to business."
Washington

Only a few blocks from the National Mall, more than a dozen prosecutors working for special counsel Robert S. Mueller III have followed an unusual routine as they toil away on the Russia investigation.

When they leave the office at night, they often wonder if it could be their last day on the job, according to an attorney familiar with their work. Fearful President Donald Trump will try to shut down the criminal investigation, they've been compiling and writing their conclusions as they go, the attorney said.

Even if Trump doesn't try to fire Mueller, the president's lawyers have indicated they'll try to keep the public from learning whatever the special counsel's office has discovered. They've repeatedly said some information may be covered by executive privilege.

If Mueller tries to include in a final report details from White House documents or interviews with administration officials, "we specifically reserved our right to object," said Rudolph W. Giuliani, who represents Trump.

The president refused Thursday to say whether any report from Mueller should be made public.

It's unclear when Mueller's probe will end, and the special counsel still has not secured the presidential interview he's been seeking for more than a year.

Trump submitted some written answers shortly before Thanksgiving; Giuliani said prosecutors' subsequent request to ask more questions in writing and in person was refused before Christmas.

Since then, he said, there has been no communication with the special counsel's office.

Recently, however, there have been indications the end game could be drawing near. Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein has told associates he expects to step down after the Senate confirms William P. Barr as the new attorney general. That could come within weeks; Barr's confirmation hearings begin Tuesday. Rosenstein has been supervising Mueller's work.

Whenever Mueller does finish, it will kick off a new phase in the legal and political fights over the Russia investigation. The president's legal team is preparing its own report rebutting whatever Mueller concludes.

Meanwhile, Democrats who control of the House of Representatives are laying the groundwork for their own investigations and public hearings.

Michael Cohen, Trump's longtime lawyer and fixer, is scheduled to testify before the House Oversight Committee on Feb. 7, a month before he begins a three-year prison sentence for a variety of crimes.

The first battle could be over how much becomes public from Mueller's investigation, which focuses on ties between Trump's campaign and Russia and whether the president obstructed justice.

Under the rules, the special counsel only needs to provide the attorney general with a confidential report explaining his decisions at the conclusion of the investigation. The attorney general by then will likely be Barr, a longtime friend of Mueller's.

That doesn't mean Mueller's findings won't be released. Prosecutors could explain more of their case in additional indictments and court filings. They could also ask the grand jury to issue a report.

In addition, the attorney general is required to notify Congress if he overrules any decisions by the special counsel. The attorney general can "determine that public release of these reports would be in the public interest."

Democratic congressional leaders have already made clear they will demand that the report be turned over to them.

If a report is to become public, there will be fights over what is included. Intelligence agencies may want to redact sensitive information.
A grassroots Democratic group that helped power the upset victory of Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., has identified a Texas Democrat as its first target ahead of the 2020 congressional primaries - but as of now, Ocasio-Cortez herself is staying neutral.

Justice Democrats, a political committee founded after the 2016 election to reshape the Democratic Party through primary challenges, is now working to recruit a challenger to Rep. Henry Cuellar, D-Texas, a seven-term congressman from a strongly Democratic district who's one of the few anti-abortion-rights voices in the party's House conference.

In a statement, the group compared Texas's 28th Congressional District, which gave the president just 38.5 percent of the vote in 2016, to other districts where left-leaning candidates have unseated incumbents. It is launching a "primary Cuellar fund" to encourage any potential canddiate that there will be resources if he or she jumps into the race.

"There's an Ocasio-Cortez and [Massachusetts Rep. Ayanna] Pressley in blue districts across America, tired of seeing long-standing incumbents serve corporate interests, work with Trump's agenda, and works against the progressive movement," said Alexandra Rojas, the executive director of Justice Democrats. "These grassroots leaders just need a little bit of encouragement and support."

Cuellar's office did not respond to a question from The Washington Post, but he has long been seen as a target for the party's left wing as it works to build its bench. Last year, after a left-wing primary challenger to Rep. Daniel Lipinski, D-Ill., was narrowly defeated, Cuellar told The Post that he would hold his seat in any primary.

"They came after me twice, and I beat 'em," Cuellar said. "LBJ used to say: What's the difference between a cannibal and a liberal Democrat? Cannibals don't eat their own."

The Justice Democrats campaign to oust "corporate Democrats" was restarted after the 2018 elections, with Ocasio-Cortez, one of her party's biggest stars, as its de facto spokesman. In a mid-November call with activists, Ocasio-Cortez said that they could "save this country" by either shaming incumbents out of accepting "money from oil and gas companies," or by ousting them at the polls.

"We've got to primary folks," said Saikat Chakrabarti, who would become the congresswoman's chief of staff.

But Ocasio-Cortez is not intervening in the "primary Cuellar" campaign right now. In her first days in office, the congresswoman has publicly criticized a House rule that required offsets for any spending increases, while privately working to get appointed to at least one committee with jurisdiction over taxes or health care.

While she was not appointed to the Ways and Means committee after a left-wing campaign on her behalf, Ocasio-Cortez is expected to get a seat on the Financial Services Committee. She is not part of Justice Democrats' primary recruitment push.

"We're not active in their process," said Ocasio-Cortez's spokesman, Corbin Trent, a co-founder of Justice Democrats. "We're focused on getting up and going."

Cuellar himself first arrived in Congress via a primary challenge, ousting a more liberal colleague in 2004 to win his seat. He defeated that colleague in a 2006 re-match, and has been politically safe ever since.

Left-wing campaign groups, which had their greatest success last year in deep blue districts, have pointed to the heavy Democratic advantage in Cuellar's seat as evidence that anyone who unseated the congressman would be elected in November. Cuellar also rankled Democrats last year by helping raise money for Rep. John Carter, R-Texas, who narrowly defeated a strong Democratic challenger in the Austin exurbs.

"South Texas is in a special position to lead the nation on immigration, renewable-energy, and healthcare, yet Henry Cuellar has failed to do this by instead voting with Donald Trump nearly 70 percent of the time," said Danny Diaz, an activist in the district who co-founded a voter turnout group, Cambio (Change) Texas.
WASHINGTON - House Democrats are aggressively exploring a possible legal challenge should President Donald Trump declare a national emergency to build a U.S.-Mexico border wall, scouring federal law and court precedents - including a recent attempt by a Republican-controlled House to undermine the Obama-era health-care law.

The preparation comes as leaders of both parties become increasingly convinced that Trump will see a national-emergency declaration as the only possible way to secure the billions of taxpayer dollars he is seeking to build the wall and end the three-week partial government shutdown, which is poised to become the longest in U.S. history.

Trump on Friday said he "100 percent" had the power to build the wall - a project he previously said would be financed by Mexico - under emergency powers, but said he was "not going to do it so fast" and would give Congress more time to act.

But Democrats have moved quickly behind the scenes to defend against a possible emergency declaration, a step that members of both parties increasingly view as inevitable.

Democratic lawmakers and lawyers are researching how to potentially foil the move in the courts, according to House officials familiar with the effort, but aides to Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and staffers on several House committees are developing a parallel strategy to convince the public that an emergency declaration is unfounded and will harm communities where previously funded projects are raided to pay for the wall.

"Look, an emergency cannot be whatever a president says an emergency is," said Rep. Jamie Raskin, D-Md., a House Judiciary Committee member and former law professor who has studied the issue in recent days. "If Congress gives President Trump a red light on his border wall, he cannot pretend that there is a green light existing in the administrative machinery of government. But this is a legal question, and we're very happy to relocate it from the halls of Congress into the courts."

Democrats are focusing on the courts in part because they are unlikely to have an effective legislative option for checking a Trump emergency declaration. Under the National Emergencies Act, which sets out procedures for their declaration and revocation, both chambers of Congress would have to pass a resolution overturning a presidentially declared emergency, then present it to Trump for his signature. Even if the GOP-controlled Senate joined House Democrats, Trump would presumably veto it.

Some Republicans, including Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley of Iowa have expressed queasiness over an emergency declaration, but others are fully supportive. "There's no question, it's perfectly legal," said Rep. Douglas Collins of Georgia, the top Republican on the House Judiciary Committee. "He has all the authority in the world to declare an emergency and use it for construction."

Trump himself anticipated litigation Friday: "I'll be sued, and it will be brought to the 9th Circuit . . . and we will probably lose there," he said, referring to the San Francisco-based U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit, where several of his policies have suffered losses.

While a presidential emergency declaration has not been squarely challenged in court since the NEA was passed in 1976, legal experts say that the House could have standing to sue, citing a 2015 case that offered clear parallels.

In that case, the then-GOP-led House sued the Obama administration over its effort to use federal money to reimburse health insurers for subsidies offered under the Affordable Care Act without an explicit congressional appropriation.

U.S. District Judge Rosemary Collyer in September 2015 allowed the suit to advance, ruling that the House had standing to argue that its constitutional power to set federal spending had been violated.

"Neither the president nor his officers can authorize appropriations; the assent of the House of Representatives is required before any public moneys are spent," Collyer wrote in the case brought against then-Health and Human Services Secretary Sylvia Mathews Burwell.

Laurence Tribe, a constitutional scholar at Harvard Law School, said in an email that the Burwell ruling "does indeed provide a strong argument the House could make to support its standing to sue President Trump if he were to carry out this threat to spend money pursuant to a declaration of national emergency."

The ruling on standing is not binding, but Sam Berger, a senior adviser at the Center for American Progress who was a senior lawyer in the White House Office of Management and Budget under President Barack Obama, said the Burwell ruling is relevant: "Both cases involve the same claim: the president spending money that Congress hasn't authorized."

Raskin said that the question of standing was "totally terra incognita" but that even if the House is sidelined, other parties could intervene: "If money that was programmed for Texas, Florida, Mississippi, and Puerto Rico for disaster relief is suddenly rechanneled to the wall, certainly state attorneys general in those states would have standing to go to court."

Berger noted that anyone whose land is seized to build the wall - a state's, an individual's or a tribe's - also could have standing to sue.

The analysts said that the House probably would have a good case on the merits if a judge found that it had standing to sue.

Tribe said the claim could be "structurally identical" to that in the Burwell case, arguing that Trump's decision to spend money on an emergency basis that Congress has specifically rejected "flies in the face both of the Constitution's separation of powers and of what Congress sought to prohibit in the National Emergencies Act."

Berger said other statutes might govern how a president can shift construction funds between military and civilian Army Corps of Engineers projects. But those laws, he said, require the existence of a bona fide emergency necessitating the use of the military and previous congressional authorization for the project.

"Nothing gives the president the authority to turn the military into his personal construction company to build a wall," he said.

Rep. Pramila Jayapal, D-Wash., another House Judiciary Committee member, said that Democratic members and committee staffers were exploring multiple legal options but that a final decision would depend on precisely what action Trump ultimately takes - if any.

Lawmakers of both parties, she said, should ultimately be interested in preserving congressional powers against presidential overreach.

"It really diminishes what emergency powers can be used for if he uses it for a manufactured crisis that he created himself. . . . I think that gets us into very murky waters and dangerous waters down the road."
China's Chang'e 4 moon lander on the far side of the moon took this panoramic view of its surroundings in Von Karman crater, showing its rover Yutu-2 nearby. The China National Space Agency unveiled the image on Jan. 10, 2019.

China made history earlier this month with the first successful soft landing on the far side of the moon  and now, the mission has sent back an incredible panorama view of its work site.

The mission consists of two robots: the Chang'e 4 lander and the Yutu 2 rover. Since their arrival on Jan. 2, both have been exploring the lunar surface inside Von Karman Crater, a 115-mile-wide (186 kilometers) feature. (You can see a high-resolution image of Chang'e 4's moon panorama here, via the China National Space Agency.)

The panorama taken from the Chang'e 4 lander at its perch in Von Karman Crater and stitched together as a full-circle view. (Image credit: CNSA)

Because the panorama was captured by the Chang'e 4 lander, it shows on the left the Yutu 2 rover, complete with the tire tracks left behind by the adventuring robot. Yutu 2 has a little more freedom to explore, but although it was deployed on Jan. 3, it soon settled down for a nap to avoid overheating during the long lunar day. According to the Chinese Academy of Sciences, temperatures reached 212 degrees Fahrenheit (100 degrees Celsius). [Photos from the Moon's Far Side! China's Chang'e 4 Lunar Landing in Pictures]

The moon's surface experiences days and nights that each last about 14 Earth days, and the mission landed just after sunrise at Von Karman Crater. Chinese media reported Jan. 10 that Yutu 2 successfully woke up from that nap  a feat its predecessor, the Yutu rover, had failed to accomplish in 2013. Expect those tracks from the rover's tires to lengthen in future photographs.

The panorama also shows the edges of some of the science instruments onboard the Chang'e 4 lander itself. According to the China National Space Administration (CNSA), several of those instruments, which are collaborations between China and other governments, have already been turned on. They are starting to gather observations on the lunar far side and should send science data back within the next few weeks, according to CNSA.

Information cannot be sent directly from the lunar far side to Earth  the moon's bulk gets in the way. Instead, signals are sent from the lunar surface up to a relay satellite called Queqiao, which launched in May 2018 and is hovering in an orbital "parking spot" from which it can communicate with Earth.

In addition to the panorama view, each robot has sent back an image of its compatriot on the surface. We may also get a bird's-eye view of the mission. That would come courtesy of NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter, which is due to fly over the site on Jan. 31.

Email Meghan Bartels at mbartels@space.com or follow her @meghanbartels. Follow us @Spacedotcom and Facebook. Original article on Space.com.
Bigger isn't always better  and that especially applies to dosages of erectile dysfunction drugs.

Indeed, consuming excessive amounts of sildenafil  the active ingredient in Viagra  may be toxic for cells in the eye, according to a new report. This happened to a man in Massachusetts who developed vision loss after consuming an entire bottle of liquid sildenafil, the report said. (Viagra is not sold in liquid form, so the man did not consume the brand-name drug.)

The man, who is in his mid-50s, drank a 30-milliliter bottle of liquid sildenafil all at once. The bottle contained 750 milligrams of the erectile dysfunction drug, about 10 times the recommended dose, according to the report, published today (Jan. 10) in the journal JAMA Ophthalmology.

Then, the eye problems began  and didn't go away. After two months, the man went to the doctor and described his vision defects, which produced a ring or "doughnut" shape in his vision. [Viagra Goes Generic: 5 Interesting Facts About the 'Little Blue Pill']

Tests showed that the man had problems with his retinal cells, which are the light-sensitive cells at the back of the eye that convert light into electrical signals that are sent to the brain.

Unfortunately, there is no treatment for the condition, and the patient didn't return for follow-up appointments, so it's unclear if his vision ever improved, said lead case-report author Dr. Hilary Brader, an ophthalmologist in the Philadelphia-area affiliated with Ophthalmic Partners and Matossian Eye Associates. (Brader treated the patient while she was at Massachusetts Eye and Ear in Boston.)

This isn't the first case of retinal problems linked to a sildenafil overdose. In 2012, doctors in the United Kingdom reported the case of a man who experienced vision blurring, also due to retinal abnormalities, after consuming 1,500 mg of sildenafil. And last October, doctors in New York described the case of a man who developed a red tint in his vision after drinking a bottle of sildenafil, Live Science previously reported.

But how does sildenafil cause eye problems? It's known that the drug works to treat erectile dysfunction by inhibiting an enzyme called phosphodiesterase 5 (PDE5), which plays a role in regulating blood flow to the penis. But sildenafil also inhibits a related enzyme called phosphodiesterase type 6 (PDE6), which is found in retinal cells. It's thought that in high doses, this inhibition leads to the buildup of a molecule that is toxic to retinal cells, the report said.

In rare cases, people who take sildenafil have also reported a different eye side effect, called "non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION)," which causes sudden loss of vision due to the loss of blood flow to the optic nerve, according to Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston. However, it's unclear if the medication actually causes this condition or if people who take sildenafil are more likely to have other risk factors for the condition. In the current case, tests showed the man did not have NAION.

Brader said she decided to publish the case to make eye doctors aware of the link between sildenafil and retinal toxicity.

"Because this is such a commonly used drug, I thought it was important for the ophthalmic community to be aware of our findings," Brader told Live Science. "I am certain that others have seen similar cases, even if the mechanism of the toxicity was not as evident as in our case."

Editors note: This story was updated on Jan. 11 to correct the specific drug the patient took. He took liquid sildenafil, not Viagra.

Originally published on Live Science.
STUDENTS from six Limerick secondary schools have been recognised at the 55th BT Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition awards.

And Limerick students were honoured with four special awards in a range of different fields.

Students from Ardscoil Ris in the city took the Technology Intermediate Individual joint second place award for their project, TagBuddy A Safe and Secure NFC authenticated messaging service for teenagers. This project also won the IE Domain Registry Award in the Special Awards category.

The Maxim Integrated Award, in the Special Awards category, went to Gaelcholaiste Luimnigh in the city for their project Anti-Antibiotics: A study on the use of antibiotics in County Clare.

The COMREG or Commission for Communications Regulation Awards in the Special Awards category went to Ardscoil Ris for their technology project How Now Brown Cow?: A collar with sensors to monitor cow movement, temperature, identification and more.

Students from Desmond College in Newcastle West won The Portwest Workplace Safety Award in the Special Awards category with their project A Safety Harness Attachment to Prevent Suspension Trauma.

John The Baptist Community School in Hospital took home the BT Educator of Excellence- Social and Behavioural Sciences award, in the Educator Award category for their work on social and behavioural sciences.

Five projects from Ardscoil Ris, Gaelcholaiste Luimnigh, and Colaiste Chiarain in Croom received the honour of being Highly Commended.

Two projects from Desmond College and three projects from Salesian Secondary College, Pallaskenry received Display Awards for their projects.

Minister for Education and Skills, Joe McHugh TD, was delighted with this year's awards.

I am thrilled to be here at the BT Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition. The atmosphere of excitement, creativity and fun at the RDS this week has been incredible. I am particularly pleased to see so many young people tackling some of the most important issues facing us, from climate change to health to technology, ethics and societal change. The students are a credit to their families, schools and teachers and they should rightly be proud of being here. They are a huge inspiration, said Minister McHugh.

Id like to thank everyone involved in the unique and brilliant event that the BTYSTE is; the organisers; the 81 judges; the dedicated teachers; and of course the mothers, fathers and families whose support is absolutely key to this, he added.
A CALL has been made to open a park-and-ride facility at the former Longpavement dump site.

South East Clare councillor Cathal Crowe believes up to 400 cars can be taken off the road with the erection of the facility, and arranging to have trains on the Limerick to Ennis line stopping to pick up passengers bound for both the city and the Clare town.

His call  which will be debated at the next Clare County Council meeting  could involve the reopening of a former rail halt, once popular with workers at the Ardnacrusha power plant.

My understanding is between Irish Rail and Limerick City Council and Clare County Council, lands are owned publicly. They dont need to be acquired. It doesnt require anything grandiose. This could be trialled even.It doesnt need to be a long platform. It could be a very attractive thing in the locality to alleviate traffic problems, Fianna Fail councillor Crowe explained.

He added: Im a South Clare councillor and day on day I see the impact of traffic congestion not just in my own locality, but also in the northern suburbs of Limerick city. I have a real belief in public transport in all its forms. I feel too many people have given up on train travel. It was the most popular way to travel in the 19th and 20th century, but it seems to have gone into decline.

Cllr Crowe argued it could be an attractive option for fans travelling to support Munster given its proximity to Thomond Park.

For decades, people have scratched their head as to what useful purpose the old city dump could serve, he argued. Limerick Council own lands there. Of course, there are privately owned parcels, but I feel it is within the scope of possibility that it could happen.

His motion will be discussed at the next Clare council meeting, and Cllr Crowe is hoping it is also adopted by members in Limerick.
THE FAMILY of a Limerick man, who died almost nine years ago, have pledged to stage weekly peaceful protests outside University Hospital Limerick over unacceptable delays with the results of an investigation into his death.

Michael Daly Snr, of Lee Estate, died aged 66 on April 7, 2010, after repeatedly presenting at Mid-Western Regional Hospital, now University Hospital Limerick, after two years of complaining of pain and rectal bleeding.

Following a 2013 review carried out by University Hospital Limerick into the circumstances of his death, deemed a whitewash by Mr Dalys son Michael Daly Jr, a further external investigation was commissioned by the hospital.

However, according to Mr Daly Jr, the family has yet to receive the findings of this report.

The hospital has taken five years to do a review and its not acceptable, Mr Daly Jr said.

We are not putting up with it anymore. My mother is nearly 70 years of age and we'd like to see justice while she is alive."

A range of different investigations into the death of his father have been completed, Mr Daly added.

The Limerick Leader reported in September 2012 that a verdict of natural causes was returned at Limerick Coroners Court at the inquest.

Mr Daly Jnr, who was unhappy with the verdict and led an appeal with his family to have the inquest reopened.

In March 2017, coroner John McNamara confirmed to the family that a second inquest was to be reopened.

A criminal investigation into the circumstances of the late Mr Dalys death was also launched in 2017.

It is likely that the second inquest will take place after gardai conclude their investigations.

Members of the late Mr Dalys family gathered outside the hospital in Dooradoyle last Friday, bearing banners that read Justice for Michael Daly and Nearly three years waiting on a hospital report to say why our Dad died.

Members of Mr Dalys family also wore t-shirts bearing a photograph of Mr Daly that read A fair hearing for a sad death.

The family has pledged to protest at the hospital weekly until they have answers.

They are sharing their campaign on social media with the tag #justiceformichaeldaly, Mr Daly Jr added.

A University Hospital Limerick spokesperson said: UL Hospitals commissioned an external and independent review to be conducted by an expert in the field.

The Hospital has impressed upon the reviewer its desire to have a report as early as possible and it would be inappropriate for the hospital to comment any further.
THE amazing true story of revolt, hope, opportunity and betrayal chronicled during the events of the Limerick Soviet in 1919 are set to be told as part of a five-part podcast.

Former Solidarity councillor Cian Prendiville, who crowdfunded 90% of the project within 24 hours, is hoping to release the mini-series to coincide with the centenary of the Limerick Soviet in April. The Limerick Soviet 100 festival is also set to take place around that time.

Mr Prendiville has spent the last year studying the events of the workers strike, which saw almost every workplace in Limerick protest against the imposition of martial law in the city.

During those two weeks, the city was essentially run by a committee of trade unionists who set prices, set up their own police force and money, and were referred to by international media as a Soviet, Mr Prendiville said.

It is a fascinating story, and I find that when people here find out about it they are intrigued and want to find out more, he added.

It was major world news at the time, and yet has been largely written out of our history books. In school we were taught that that whole period of Irish history was about nationalism and the civil war but the Limerick Soviet gives a window into a whole hidden history of the working class and socialist uprising taking place at the time and the path not taken of what Connolly called a workers republic.

The series will include interviews, dramatisation and archive footage, focusing each episode on one aspect of the uprising, from how the movement grew in Limerick to discussing how the revolution was betrayed.

For more on the project, see limericksoviet.ie.
THE HISTORICAL Limerick Museum beat its record for highest number of visitors in its 111-year lifespan last year, it has been announced.

Limerick City and County Council said it had 23,159 people walking through its doors last year, an increase of 240% since 2016.

It also beat the previous record of 22,854 visitors which was set in 1965.

Established in 1907, Limerick Museum is the oldest local authority museum in the State, and spent its first full year at its new location at the Old Franciscan Friary on Henry Street.

It has also one of the largest museum collections in the country, with over 60,000 objects in its care. Among the more unusual are the mummified Iretons Cat, found on Nicholas Street in 1894; a fragment of the largest meteorite that ever fall in Ireland in 1813; and two World War II gas-masks, that fortunately never had to be used.

Limerick Museum is dedicated to the memory of Jim Kemmy, the former Democratic Socialist Party and Labour Party TD for Limerick East and Mayor of Limerick.

Museum curator, Dr Matthew Potter described the record as fantastic news.

Since the museum opened in its new permanent home in Henry Street, weve noticed a lot more people coming through our doors. We have fantastic visibility and visitors are coming from all over Ireland and further afield to view some of the amazing artefacts we possess, and to get a sense of what Limerick was like centuries ago, he said this week.

He said the museum is also a place where people can meet, interact and learn.
A LIMERICK man who got out of his car, dropped his pants and defecated into the night-hatch at a petrol station will have to complete community service to avoid going to prison.

Stephen McDonagh, aged 25, of Fanningstown, Fedamore, pleaded guilty to a charge of criminal damage relating to an incident at Maxol, Dublin Road, Limerick, in the early hours of December 24, 2016.

Inspector Dermot OConnor told Limerick District Court the defendant, who was driving an Audi A4, pulled into the petrol station at around 4.30am and that a disagreement arose in relation to a 10 note which he tendered as payment.

He said Mr McDonagh became irate and emotional and that he struck the glass while verbally abusing the worker inside.

The defendant then got out of his car, dropped his pants and positioned himself on the hatch where he defecated.

Judge Marian OLeary was told after fixing himself he got back into his car and drove away.

The incident, Insp OConnor said, was captured on CCTV and the cost of cleaning the hatch was around 200.

Solicitor Tom Kiely said his client is embarrassed and ashamed at his actions on the night.

He said he saw red and accepts he acted irrationally.

Mr Kiely said McDonagh, who has a large number of previous convictions was stone cold sober and he confirmed there is no animosity between him and anybody working at the petrol station.

It beggars belief, he cant understand it. He accepts it was irrational, he said confirming his client had handed over 200 to cover the clean-up costs.

Imposing sentence, Judge OLeary said what happened defies logic. I cannot understand how any civilised person could do that, she commented.

Requesting a report from the Probation Service, she indicated she is considering a penalty of 120 hours of community service in lieu of a three-month prison sentence.

Separately, McDonagh was fined 300 after he admitted smashing a number of windows at a house in Castletroy a short time after he was asked to leave a house party on December 12, 2016.
Well, did Santy come to everyone? I know we are in to the second week of 2019 but this is the first new column I have written since before Christmas so I have to fill you in on what the big bearded man brought.

Or perhaps Ill just talk about the two gifts that have sparked Sarahs latest obsession.

So both Aidan and Sarah were lucky to get everything they put on their Santa lists, but of course there were a few surprises Christmas morning as well. Having seen it on the Late Late Toy Show, I was delighted when Santa brought two Miggle D Giggles teddies and a book called The Presidents Cat for Sarah.

At five and four neither of the kids are politics buffs  however, when the presidential election was on last year they always wanted to know who the people were in the posters that were hung everywhere and anywhere.

As best I could, I tried to explain the idea of an election to them. They asked me who I was going to pick, as they put it, to be the President and of course I told them I was going to vote for Michael D Higgins. So from then on, they have had quite the soft spot for Galway man.

To make it even more interesting for them, I informed them that Higgins house, when he is not in the Aras, is just a stones throw from his Nanny and Grandads house in Galway.

On polling day, they insisted on coming with me to vote and both checked my ballot paper to make sure I put the X beside Michael Ds picture.

Santa must have decided to encourage their early love for politics when he dropped off the Michael D Higgins-inspired gifts for them.

The soft toys, the Miggle D Giggles, are brilliant and when you press the belly they laugh just like the President and say is brea liom eire!

Aidan likes the teddy but Sarah loves it. Indeed she sleeps with the President every single night and has rarely let it out of her sight since it arrived on Christmas Day.

And every single night before bed, she makes me read The Presidents Cat to her. Its a beautifully illustrated book, written by Peter Donnelly, that tells the story of Michael Ds missing cat.

The cat is finally found down in Cork and has quite the adventure on the way back to the Aras when he meets a fishmonger, hippies and a monk with a monkey.

Since Christmas, Sarahs interest in Michael D Higgins has sky-rocketed. Im a politics lover myself so I decided it would be nice to tell her more about Michael D Higgins, about Aras an Uachtarain, and about how Higgins used to be a member of the Labour Party before becoming President in 2011.

But of course, a four-year-old only hears one thing when you tell them about the Labour Party.

I want to go, was her response to that nugget of information about Higgins.

Go where? I replied.

To the Labour Party, she said excitedly.

I didnt have the heart to knock her enthusiasm.

What will I wear to the Labour Party, Mammy? she asked me.

So I told her that she would absolutely have to wear red to the Labour Party.

So these days she tells anyone who will listen to her, including strangers, that she is going to a Labour Party in a place called Aras an Uachtarain in Dublin, shes going to wear a pretty red dress and Michael D Higgins is going to be there!

Every single morning since Christmas she has asked if it was yet time for the Labour Party and when I inform her it isnt her little excited face turns gloomy.

When we visited nanny and grandad in Galway after Christmas, she made her daddy drive past Michael Ds house a few times and even begged to go knock on the door just in case he was visiting from Dublin!

She even gets excited when the 6 oclock news comes on, in the hope of catching a glimpse of the President on the screen!

She spends her mornings drawing pictures of Michael D, which are now all carefully stored under her bed because shes going to bring them with her to the Labour Party apparently!

When I told her that Michael D is married to a woman called Sabine, her Baby Born dolly was quickly renamed from Molly to Sabine.

I swear, Im not making one single bit of this up! Is Sarah the youngest stalker in history?! I think she may just well be.

Although, dont most kids get obsessions with boy bands or Disney stars? I know Joey McIntyre from New Kids on the Block was my first showbiz crush, and later Mark Owen of Take That fame.

However, I have a four year old who idolises a 77-year-old politician. Credit that!

Sarah even begged us to change the name of our dog from Seamus to either Brod and Sioda after Daddy Chambers informed her thats what Michael Ds dogs are called!

I just cant burst her little innocent bubble. I cant bring myself to tell her that the Labour Party has nothing to do with cake, sweets and bouncy castles.

I cant bring myself to tell her that shes not going to Aras an Uachtarain to eat ice cream and play musical statues with Michael D Higgins. How could I do that to her?!

Until next week folks,! Oh and happy New Year to you all.

You can contact me on ruth@itsjustaphase.ie; Twitter - @_itsjustaphase_; Instagram - @itsjustaphaseblog, or youll find more of my musings at www.itsjustaphase.ie
Its a new year and with it comes the prophecies on what the coming year might hold.

The good, the bad and the ugly of 2018 has been forgotten and the dreams, hopes and prediction for a new year are upon us. So as not to be left out, here are our predictions for beer trends in 2019.

January is most definitely here, and it brings new resolutions to stop drinking (Dryanuary), stop eating meat and animal products (Veganuary) and to become healthy (see that increase in gym memberships).

We have a hunch that some of these trends will last past the first month of the year and even filter into in the beer world.

No-alcohol and low alcohol beers saw an increase in popularity throughout 2018.

With the opening of Nirvana brewing in 2017, London got its first non-alcoholic brewery. They have since been followed by other breweries taking the no/low leap, such as Big Drop who brew only 0.5% beers and have won awards at the International Beer Challenge and The World Beer Awards for their stout and pale ale.

Big Drop now exports their beers internationally, and they have widespread distribution in the UK.

Here in Ireland the no/low beer segment has been slower to grow (a 5% increase in 2018 compared to 20% worldwide), but Irish breweries have also dipped their toes into this beer scene.

Last year saw O Brother produce a 1% beer and Whiplash bring out a 2.8% micro IPA. With a mindful drinking festival happening in London this weekend, the no-low trend is something that we will see more of in 2019.

Around 1.68 million people worldwide are either vegetarian or vegan. Since 2014, there has been an astonishing 500% increase in the vegan population in America. But how does the vegan population effect trends in beer?

Beer is a natural product made from water (vegan friendly), hops (vegan friendly), barley (vegan friendly) and yeast (classified as a fungus, so this is even vegan friendly). So, is not all beer vegan friendly?

Unfortunately, some brewers add finings to beer in order to clarify it. Finings can include plant-derived products suitable for vegans like carrageen moss, but some use animal-based products such as isinglass (fish bladders, which are not vegan friendly).

In 2018, Guinness announced that all their products, cans, kegs and bottles were now vegan friendly, with the removal of isinglass from the fining process.

Most Irish breweries use carrageen moss in the fining process, so this is a trend that most Irish brewers have been ahead of for many years.

This year, however, will see more breweries confirming that they are vegan friendly on packaging and in their advertisements.

In 2018, Sir David Attenborough broadcast a haunting message on plastic pollution in our oceans. Retailers and drinks companies scrambled to find solutions for replacement products for single-use plastics.

Diageo, Irish Distillers and Bacardi all banned plastic straws for use with their products. They were not the only drinks company thinking of ways to reduce plastic and they were certainly not the first.

In 2016, Floridas Saltwater Brewery was concerned about the damage plastic rings were causing to the environment. Saltwater set about developing a clever way of replacing these harmful plastic rings with rings made from biodegradable (and fully digestible!) materials.

Using a combination of wheat and barley, left over from the brewing process, the brewery hoped that they could help stop marine life and birds from choking on plastic. Since last January, all of its canned beer has been packaged with Eco Six Pack Rings.

A bigger fish in the beer ocean, Carlsberg, has unveiled a new way to pack cans to reduce plastic, called the Snap Pack.

This new technology uses a glue to stick the cans together, rather than plastic wrap. It is expected that this change will help remove plastic waste globally by more than 1200 tons per year.

Carlsberg has also formed a strategic alliance with the Danish environmental organisation Plastic Change to jointly work on sustainable issues and to better understand their impact on both the environment and the worlds natural resources.

These innovations sit alongside beer companies commitments to use less water in production and become more sustainable. We predict beer is going to much greener in 2019.

Whatever the next year holds for the everchanging and exciting world of beer, we can only be sure of one thing; IPAs are going nowhere.

Still the most popular craft beer style, IPAs in all their forms account for a quarter of all craft beer sales, with more than 75% of such sales American style IPAs.

So in 2019, we look forward to drinking whatever new IPA is on the horizon!

Judith Boyle is a qualified chemist (MSc) and accredited beer sommelier. Susan Boyle is a playwright, artist and drinks consultant. See www.awinegoosechase.com Both sisters are proud to be fifth-generation publicans. Their family business is Boyles bar and off-licence in Kildare town
A charity road run is planned for a little girl left paralyzed as a result a fatal Laois car crash.

Fundraising efforts are underway for 14-month-old Amira Rauf from Carlow who has been left paralyzed from her chest down after a car accident towards the end of last year.

The crash occurred on November 6 last year on the N80 Portlaoise to Carlow road close to Simmon's Mill Cross between Stradbally and Arles. A man in his 40s was killed when his vehicle hit the car being driven by Caroline O'Toole Rauf, Amira's mother.

"Amira's Charity Road Run" will take place on Sunday, February 24 and all proceeds will go towards helping Amira with her life-changing injuries following the car accident.

Amira sustained critical and serious injuries and was non-responsive at the scene of the accident. She was rushed to hospital in Portlaoise while Amira was treated in Dublin.

Caroline, a mother-of-two, sustained a lot of bruising from "head to toe", her chest was impacted as well as her hip.

Registration for the event is at Ballinabranna Clubhouse at 11am and all vehicles are welcome.

For more information, contact 085 776 8981.
The family of Imelda Keenan from Mountmellick gathered last Monday January 3 in Waterford to mark the 25th year of her disappearance.

Her brothers and sisters Gerry, Michael, Oliver, Mono, Lizzie and Bernadette, their children and grandchildren and friends lit candles and left flowers and teddies beside a plaque in her memory on the bridge at William Street in Waterford, near where Imelda was last seen.

Gerry who lives in Waterford has long campaigned for information.

It's 25 years now, it has gone by in a flash but it's avery long time not to see your sister, he said.

Recently Gerry was selected to speak at the National Missing Persons Day ceremony.

It was attended by 400 people including Minister for Justice Charlie Flanagan, and the new Garda Commissioner Drew Harris.

I went to school with Charlie, I shook hands with him and the commissioner, he said.

It was very hard to speak to 400 people. I had nothing written down for my speech because I would find it difficult to read aloud.

I just spoke about how it felt for our family to have someone missing, how attending family support meetings has helped me because you get to know other people in the same boat, and finally to ask for more powers so the Gardai can do full investigations into suspects.

There is someone, maybe two or three people we believe in Waterford who are holding back vital information, he said.

That day though difficult for him has helped to raise the national profile of Imeldas unsolved case, with countless media interviews since for Gerry.

We arent getting any younger, Im 60 but Ill keep campaigning. We are not looking for vengeance, we are looking for our sister. Even if we found her bones, we would like to bring them to the cemetery in Mountmellick and put her to bed with our mother and father, he said.

Their parents Florence and Liz, and Imelda's brothers Ned and Donal have all passed on without knowing of Imeldas whereabouts.

To be honest I havent slept properly for 25 years, said Gerry.

I could see a girl in Waterford, I can remember Imelda, her build, her long brown hair, and to this day I am looking to see am I mistaken. She would be only 47. We never thought at this stage she would be still missing. When she went missing in 1994 we thought it would be an open and shut case, he said.

Im the eldest now, with Donal gone. Sometimes it brings me down. What keeps me going is that I still believe there is a little bit of light at the end of the tunnel, that Imelda will be found some day, he said.

Imelda went missing after leaving her flat in William Street which she shared with her boyfriend Mark Wall. The last positive sighting was of her crossing the road by the Tower Hotel on the corner of Lombard Street.

She is 5ft 4in, of slim build with brown hair and blue eyes. She was wearing a white jumper, leopardskin ski pants, blue denim jacket and black shoes. Despite extensive searches, she was not found.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Waterford Gardai on 051 305 300.
TROPHIES

For 26 years Scott Grim has served as the elected Lehigh County coroner. In addition to answering calls at all hours to go the scene of deaths and make rulings, Grim has done much to professionalize the office and staff. The office was the first in Pennsylvania and the second in the nation to be accredited by the International Association of Coroners and Medical Examiners; 90 percent of the staff are nationally certified as medicolegal death Investigators. Four years ago Lehigh County built a modern forensics center. In addition to handling legal responsibilities, Grim has been a friend and comforter to grieving families, and he has been accessible to the news media to report on fatalities and investigations. He handled several demanding investigations, including a natural gas blast that killed five in Allentown and a suicide car explosion that killed three earlier this year in the city. He recently notified the county that he will be leaving Feb. 28 to take another opportunity, and we wish him well.

DSM Nutritional Products is adding to the solar-panel field next to its plant in White Township, which will allow DSM to increase production and create new jobs. The 46-acre expansion triples the output of the generating capacity, to 20.2-megawatts. One possibility, DSM officials said, is a new enzyme manufacturing plant at the site. The 66-acre field will provide almost 23,500 megawatt-hours a year, enough to power 2,614 homes, according to the company. The facility is expected to 3,500 more megawatt-hours than the plant needs each year, which will be sold to the power grid. It is projected to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by about 38.4 million pounds annually.

A member of Bethlehems K-9 unit led police officers to a man suspected of breaking into Donegan Elementary School early Thursday. Officers responded to an alarm at 1:19 a.m. and found a broken window on a ground-level door. The dog, Blaze, led the search that resulted in the arrest of Long Chen of Flushing, N.Y., who was charged with criminal trespass and criminal mischief, police said.

First-graders at Tracy Elementary School in Palmer Township got to interact with police officers and hear about the work they do in their communities. In a program set up by Easton Area School District elementary level resource officer Jim Fritts, two officers  Palmer Township Lt. Wayne Smith and Easton Detective Brian Burd  helped children learn about police work. The kids tried on some gear, checked out special response equipment and received crimefighter pencils and sticker badges. I cannot say enough about the support Easton and Palmer police provide the school, Fritts said.

TURKEYS

The Wilson Borough State Constables Office raised eyebrows with a social media post last weekend telling methamphetamine users in Northampton, Lehigh, Monroe and Bucks counties to have their meth tested by local police to make sure it isnt infected with a flu virus. The office removed the Facebook post a day later, saying it was an attempt at humor and wasnt trying to make light of a serious problem. It attracted more than 63,000 views and many comments. The office said it wanted to make people aware of a growing drug epidemic in the region and offer help to those who might be addicted.TROPHIES
A farming family in Upper Mount Bethel Township was recognized at the Pennsylvania Farm Show with the states first-ever Leopold Conservation Award.

Richard DiFebo and son Dohl DiFebo run Harvest Home Farms on Harvest Lane off Riverton Road, with help from Richards wife, Lynn, and older son Dane.

Sand County Foundation, a nationwide advocate for private conservation, created the award in honor of renowned conservationist and ecologist Aldo Leopold, to inspire American landowners by recognizing exceptional farmers, ranchers and foresters.

The prestigious award is given in 14 states. In earning the 2018 award, presented Friday at the farm show, Harvest Home Farms is Pennsylvania's first recipient.

The award came with $10,000 and a crystal depicting Aldo Leopold. It is presented in Pennsylvania by Heinz Endowments, Pennsylvania Farm Bureau and Sand County Foundation.

The farm show wraps up today in Harrisburg.

The DiFebo family's Harvest Home Farms in Upper Mount Bethel Township is recognized Jan. 11, 2019, at the Pennsylvania Farm Show as the state's first-ever recipient of the Leopold Conservation Award.

The DiFebo family has done an outstanding job of demonstrating how farmers can be exceptional stewards of the land, while operating a successful animal and crop farm, Pennsylvania Farm Bureau President Rick Ebert said in a statement. The DiFebos used creativity and an understanding of soil and natural resources to implement a variety of conservation improvement projects on Harvest Home Farms.

"We believe the DiFebos are truly deserving of being recognized with the Leopold Conservation Award.

The family raises grass-fed cattle and sells cuts of beef across several states.

The DiFebo family's Harvest Home Farms in Upper Mount Bethel Township sports views of Delaware Water Gap.

An ancestor of Elon Ott, who purchased 100 acres for the farm in 1930, Richard DiFebo saw the former dairy farm as a hobby in 1990, according to the Farm Bureau. DiFebo brought to the property an extensive knowledge of grasses and soil developed through his career in the lawn-care business.

Its a very great honor and were really honored to receive it, Richard DiFebo said Saturday, noting the hard work his family and ancestors have put in on the farm.

According to the bureau:

"Highly-erodible, conventional corn and soybean fields were planted with permanent grasses to provide pasture and reduce erosion. Assistance from Ducks Unlimited fenced off streams and ponds so cattle would not erode the banks. Over time, 175 acres were divided into 70 grazing paddocks. A rotation system would allow for long rest periods between each grazing. Another 130 acres grow hay, and 30 acres grow non-traditional, diverse forages like sorghum, oats and crimson clover.

"After graduating from college, Richards son Dohl returned to the farm, as a partner. Together, Rich and Dohl established a diverse cropping system with cover crops. Contour strips and grass waterways were installed, and a desolate shale pit was reclaimed so it could support plant growth and eventually be pastured.

"Introducing diverse vegetation, rotational grazing and less soil compaction improved the soils biology and its ability to absorb water. The rejuvenated land could support more cattle without negative environmental impacts.

"The USDAs Natural Resources Conservation Service assisted with improved fencing and farm lanes. The Department of Energy provided funding for a solar-powered watering system. Preventing cattle from walking to a centralized water tank ensured even distribution of nutrients on the land."

From left, Richard and Lynn DiFebo and sons Dohl and Dane run Harvest Home Farms in Upper Mount Bethel Township and were recognized Jan. 11, 2019, as Pennsylvania's first-ever recipient of the Leopold Conservation Award.

Joining Harvest Home Farms as finalists for the Pennsylvania award were Glen Cauffman of Millerstown, Perry County; Frosty Springs Farm of Waynesburg, Green County; and Donald and Donna Feusner of Athens, Bradford County.

Richard and Dohl Difebo earned this prestigious award by demonstrating that agricultural business operators can be successful while also being responsible environmental stewards, state Sen. Mario Scavello, R-Monroe/Northampton, said in a statement. Harvest Home Meats has family ties to our area that go back a century, and we all celebrate their nationally recognized achievement.

Kurt Bresswein may be reached at kbresswein@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @KurtBresswein and Facebook. Findlehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.
The school bus driver taken to the hospital Thursday afternoon after a crash in Bethlehem was expected to survive the medical emergency she experienced, officials said.

It was not a life-threatening situation, the office of Bethlehem Area schools Superintendent Joseph Roy said Friday.

City police were continuing to investigate the South Side crash, Sgt. Jon Buskirk said. He had no further information to release as of Friday afternoon.

The bus struck a tree about 3 p.m. at West Fourth Street and Brodhead Avenue and responders arrived to find the driver experiencing a medical emergency, police said. She was taken by ambulance to St. Luke's University Hospital.

About two dozen students were on board at the time, emergency radio broadcasts indicated. Three students onboard the bus from Bethlehem Area Vocational Technical School complained of pain after the crash and were also taken to the hospital, WFMZ-TV 69 reported.

Kurt Bresswein may be reached at kbresswein@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @KurtBresswein and Facebook. Findlehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.
A drug bust Thursday afternoon in Bethlehem netted three arrests and almost 1,000 packets of heroin, as well as meth and fentanyl, city police said.

Anthony Rodriguez has a listed address in the 1700 block of Sherwood Court in Allentown, but his family lives in the home in the 700 block of East Sixth Street in Bethlehem that police were watching Thursday afternoon.

Rodriguez was seen walking out of the Bethlehem homes front door on his cellphone, and then waiving an arriving Volkswagen Jetta to park around the corner, according to police.

Rodriguez and the front seat passenger, Zavier Camacho, had a short interaction, and then Camacho got back into the car and Rodriguez went back into the home.

Police said they stopped the Jetta and found more than 300 packets of heroin inside. Camacho, 29, who lives in the 1200 block of Livingston Street in Bethlehem, allegedly had about 60 packets on him.

Pedro Vera, 29, of the first block of Bunker Hill Court in Forks Township, was also a passenger, and had about 250 packets of heroin and three grams of methamphetamine on him, according to police.

Officers then raided the Bethlehem home and found about 600 packets of heroin, 30 grams of loose fentanyl and drug dealing paraphernalia.

The 37-year-old Rodriguez was later interviewed by officers, where he reportedly took ownership of all of the drugs found in the home.

All three men are facing possession with intent to deliver charges. Rodriguez and Vera are each being held in Northampton County Prison in lieu of $500,000 bail, while Camacho was being held on $150,000 bail.

Camacho was paroled in March 2017, after he was arrested and charged along with three others in a 2016 heroin bust in Bethlehem, according to court records.

Records show Vera was paroled in April 2017 in a 2014 drug case where police said Vera was selling heroin in Nazareth.

Rodriguez was sentenced in September 2014 to three-and-a-half to eight years in state prison in a Bethlehem drug case, followed by two years of probation, court records say. Records do not indicate when Rodriguez was released.

Sarah Cassi may be reached at scassi@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow her on Twitter @SarahCassi. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.
- Alhaji Atiku Abubakar has warned President Buhari and the APC not to throw Nigeria into an avoidable crisis over their desperation to sack CJN Walter Onnoghen

- Atiku alleged that the plot to sack Onnoghen was a preemptive move because the Buhari government knows it is facing imminent defeat

- The presidential candidate, however, stressed that neither Buhari nor the APC can re-write the Nigerian Constitution just because of its impending defeat at the polls

Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has warned President Muhammadu Buhari and the ruling All Progressives Congress not to throw Nigeria into an avoidable crisis over their desperation to sack the chief justice of Nigeria, Justice Walter Samuel Nkanu Onnoghen.

Atiku gave the warning in a statement issued by his special assistant on public communication, Phrank Shaibu, on Saturday, January 12, Punch reports.

READ ALSO: Stop acting like Leah Sharibu doesnt exist - CUPP tells FG

Legit.ng gathers that the presidential candidate alleged that the plot to sack Onnoghen was a preemptive move because the Buhari government knows it is facing imminent defeat, and also bearing in mind that the courts play an important role in the final outcome of elections.

Atiku reminded the ruling party that irrespective of what President Buhari is being told by his advisers or the buttons they are pressing to forcefully remove Onnoghen, the principle of separation of powers remains sacrosanct in a democracy.

The statement read in part: We have just been made aware of the plot by President Muhammadu Buhari the All Progressives Congress (APC) to sack Justice Walter Samuel Nkanu Onnoghen using flimsy assets declaration issues as a pretext.

We are aware that there are plans to arraign Justice Onnoghen before the Justice Danladi Yakubu Umar led-Code of Conduct Tribunal on Monday, January 14, 2019.

The charge against Onnoghen, we understand has already been filed and served on him last Friday at his official residence in Abuja, preparatory to his appearance at the Tribunal.

"But we warn that despite the clandestine meetings in the highest echelon of the APC and also involving some top officials of the federal government which include the Code of Conduct Tribunal, neither Buhari nor the APC can re-write the Nigerian Constitution just because of its impending defeat at the February 16, presidential election.

Heavens did not fall when PDP lost to the APC in 2015. And heavens will not fall now that the APC is sure to lose to the PDP, seeing that the APCs plan to rig in the forthcoming elections will not pull through.

PAY ATTENTION: Install our latest app for Android, read best news on Nigerias #1 news app

Recall that Legit.ng previously reported that the federal government allegedly asked the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Walter Samuel Nkanu Onnoghen, to immediately vacate his office as head of the nations judiciary over issues bordering on non-declaration of assets.

The federal government will arraign the CJN before the Justice Danladi Yakubu led- Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) in Abuja on Monday, January 14.

The CJN is reportedly facing charges of failures to declare his assets as required by law and for operating Bank Domiciliary Foreign Currency Accounts.

NAIJ.com (naija.ng) -> Legit.ng: We have updated to serve you better!

Buhari is the general overseer of corruption - on Legit TV:

Source: Legit
- A follower of Nollywood actress Tonto Dikeh wishes the actress and her ex-husband Olakunle Churchill will reunite

- The actress was quick to reject it and termed his prayer evil wishes

- The fan noted that all African women need a man in their life

Nollywood actress, Tonto Dikeh, is not here to play as she gave it back hot to an overzealous follower on Instagram.

The follower known by his/her Instagram handle @tobi_nextlevel took to her Instagram account comment section to say wish that Tonto will reunite with her ex-husband, Olakunle Churchill, because it is un-African to be a single parent. But Tonto will not have any of that as she replied.

@tobi_nextlevel had taken to the comment section of Tontos post to write: How I wish you and Daddy King can forget your difference and reunite again.

The actress hurriedly quickly forbade the prayer and writing in caps, she replied: MAY GOD FORBID SUCH A PRAYER IJN.

She added: Thanks for the evil wishes, I know you intended well.

But the follower maintained his stance and told Tonto that: I know my comment may sound negative vibe to you, but all African women need a man in their life. Is not our thing in black race to leave a life of single parent

Tonto Dikeh replies fan who wished she gets back to ex-husband Olakunle Churchill. Source: Tonto Dikeh's Instagram

Source: Instagram

READ ALSO: Regina Daniels reveals how her mom sacrificed her marriage and acting career for her and siblings

Meanwhile, Tonto Dikeh has dimissed rumours insinuating that she is pregnant again. The actress explained that she would not have showed off or talked about being pregnant on social media if she was.

A rumour about the actress being pregnant had begun after she shared a video of herself rubbing on her big belly. Many had believed that she was announcing her pregnancy with the video.

However, the actress noted that she is not pregnant that she had been overfed with burger in the video. She explained that she had shared a photo of a big burger she ate earlier.

NAIJ.com (naija.ng) -> Legit.ng We have updated to serve you better

Linda Ikeji: Why I'm Pregnant But Not Married - on Legit TV

Source: Legit Newspaper
- Seven suspected hoodlums have been arrested by the troops of the Nigerian Army in Sokoto state

- The suspects were accused of causing mayhem, extorting and threatening the lives of innocent citizens along Sokoto-Gusau road

- Five machetes, two knives, two catapults, two long sticks, one tyre ream, three bottles of codeine and stones were recovered from the suspects

Troops of 8 Division of the Nigerian Army in Sokoto state have arrested seven suspected hoodlums accused of causing mayhem, extorting and threatening the lives of innocent citizens along Sokoto-Gusau road.

Legit.ng gathers that the disclosure was made by acting deputy director of army public relations, Major Clement Abiade, who said the suspects were being profiled.

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The statement read: "Troops of 8 Division, Nigerian Army in Sokoto on the 9 January 2019 at about 6.30pm while on routine patrol for the safety and serenity of the metropolitan ran into a group of hoodlums causing mayhem, extorting and threatening the lives of innocent citizens along Sokoto-Gusau road. Seven (7) of them were apprehended and were being profiled."

The suspected hoodlums. Photo credit: HQ Nigerian Army.

Source: UGC

Abiade gave the names of the suspects as Auwalu Shehu, Muritala Garba, Jamilu Bello, Abubakar Aliyu, Musa Abubakar, Zayyanu Aliyu, Bashir Sarkinpawa.

The spokesman said the items recovered from the suspected hoodlums were five machetes, two knives, two catapults, two long sticks, one tyre ream, three bottles of codeine and stones.

The statement added: "Preliminary investigation is ongoing and the suspects will be handed over to the appropriate authority for prosecution on completion. Members of the public are hereby enjoined to cooperate with the security agencies by reporting any suspicious persons and activities."

Meanwhile, Legit.ng previously reported troops arrested a wanted Boko Haram member identified as Babagana Abubakar (aka Alagarno) at Bulabulim Ngarnam community on the outskirt of Maiduguri.

The disclosure was made in a statement on Thursday, January 10, by Brigadier General Sani Kukasheka Usman, director general of army public relations.

The suspect was apprehended by combined troops of 195 Battalion, Mobile Policemen and Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF).

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The statement read: "Gallant troops of 7 Division Garrison carrying out cordon and search operations in conjunction with troops of 195 Battalion, Mobile Policemen and CJTF, in some parts of the fringes of Maiduguri today discovered and arrested a wanted Boko Haram terrorists group member called Babagana Abubakar (aka Alagarno), hiding at Bulabulim Ngarnam community.

"He was found hiding in a room in possession of 2 military Ballistic helmets, a pair of military desert boot, a fragment jacket, a Jersey pull over, military backpack, camouflage design shorts, 2 voters identification cards, National identification card, amulets, camouflage T-shirts and military jungle hat. He has since been moved out of the area for further interrogation."

NAIJ.com (naija.ng) -> Legit.ng We have updated to serve you better

Nigerian Air Force Operations Against Boko Haram | Legit TV

Source: Legit Newspaper
- The national coordinator of the Non-Indigenes Association of Nigeria for Atiku/Obi Presidency, Lot Ninzom Jonathan, says the emergence of Atiku Abubakar will end herdsmen killings and poverty in the country

- Jonathan lamented that the Muhammadu Buhari-led federal government lacks strategies that will return the nations economy to a progressive track

- The coordinator also expressed confidence that the coming of Atiku and Obi will bring about policies aimed at boosting the nation's economy

The emergence of Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, presidential candidate of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), will bring to an end the incessant killings arising from herdsmen/farmers clashes in the North, as well as poverty currently ravaging the country, says the national coordinator of the Non-Indigenes Association of Nigeria for Atiku/Obi Presidency, Lot Ninzom Jonathan.

Jonathan made the comment in Bayelsa state during the inauguration of the state chapter of the association on Friday, January 11, Daily Trust reports.

READ ALSO: Buhari seeking AGF's legal opinion on tenure elongation for IGP - Source alleges

Legit.ng gathers that Jonathan lamented that the Muhammadu Buhari-led federal government lacks strategies that will return the nations economy to a progressive track.

He expressed confidence that the coming of Atiku and Obi, with their business acumen and in-depth knowledge of the economy, will bring about policies aimed at boosting the nation's economy.

He said: I urge you all in the Niger Delta to go with your PVCs and redeem the nation from bad governance come February, 2019.

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Meanwhile, Legit.ng previously reported that Hajiya Titi Atiku Abubakar, wife of Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, appealed to Nigerians to kick out President Muhammadu Buhari in the February 16 election, saying his government has lost its way.

Mrs Abubakar made the comment while speaking at an event in Abuja, with theme: Kick Out Hunger, Kick Out APC.

She said Nigerians should not allow President Buhari realise his second term ambition, in order to avoid shutting down the nation. According to Mrs Abubakar, the president lacks knowledge of the economy.

NAIJ.com (naija.ng) -> Legit.ng: We have updated to serve you better!

2019 Presidency: Nigerians reveal why they prefer Atiku to President Buhari - on Legit TV:

Source: Legit.ng
Respect should be earned but not commanded, many people try to command it without working for it. A young lady has earned many people's respect with her act of kindness. She has shown that not all ladies are gold diggers as generally believed.

A Nigerian lady based in the US has taken to her Instagram handle to reveal how an unknown person mistaken credited her bank account.

The lady with the name Ero Precious but known on Instagram as Berryero claimed that the last time she used that particular account was when she was undergoing the one year compulsory youth service, National Youth Service Corps (NYSC).

The amount of N145,100, was according to her, mistaken paid into her Union Bank account by the unknown creditor on Wednesday, January 9, by 5.37am.

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Kind-hearted Ero is now searching for the person who credited her account as she wishes to refund the money since it was a mistake from the persons part. See her post below:

US-based Nigerian lady searches for person who mistakenly credited her account with N145k. Source: Berryero's Instagram

Source: Instagram

READ ALSO: Lady reveals how armed boys collected pants of ladies at an eatery in Ijebu Ode, Nigerians react

Legit.ng had reported how Paddy Adenuga, son of Nigerian telecom billionaire, Mike Adenuga, recently took to his Twitter platform to advice ladies about gold digging men. According to him, ladies should stay sharp and be more wary of these types of men so as to avoid getting played.

Paddy wrote that:"contrary to popular belief that most gold diggers are female that couldnt be far from the truth. ladies stay sharp.. some of these fellas out here have their finesse game on its a new year madams - dont let these sweet talking rico suaves get your cash #facts"

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Street GIST: Biggest Cause of Misunderstanding in Relationship | Legit TV:

Source: Legit.ng
- Ahead of this year's general election, European Union (EU) has deployed election observation mission to Nigeria

- The EU appointed Maria Arena as the chief Observer of the EU Election Observation Mission (EU EOM) for the elections scheduled for February 16 and March 2

- According to reports, the observers have arrived Nigeria on January 4, and would stay in the country until the completion of the electoral process

The European Union (EU) has deployed a high level election observation mission to monitor the February General Elections in Nigeria.

Mr Federica Mogherini, High Representative of EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy; and Vice-President of the EU Commission, made the announcement in a statement on Friday, January 11, in Abuja.

READ ALSO: Why we moved Senator Melaye to DSS - Police

Mogherini said that EU had appointed Maria Arena as the Chief Observer of the EU Election Observation Mission (EU EOM) for the elections scheduled for Feb. 16 and March 2.

He said the deployment of the observation mission followed an invitation by the Independent National Electoral Commission.

He said the EU had consistently followed electoral processes and deployed an EOM to Nigerias general elections since 1999, reflecting its long-term commitment to supporting credible, transparent and inclusive elections in the country.

As Africas largest economy and a key political and economic player in West Africa, Nigeria is an important partner for the EU.

The EU is committed to supporting Nigerias path towards stronger democracy and further political stability, building on the 2015 General Elections.

I am confident that the deployment of an EU EOM, under the leadership of Chief Observer Maria Arena, will contribute to an inclusive and transparent electoral process, he said

He also disclosed that Election Observation Mission Core Team of 11 EU election analysts, had arrived Nigeria on Jan. 4, and would stay in the country until the completion of the electoral process.

He said that the Core Team would be joined by 40 long-term observers, who will be deployed across the country later this month.

The European Unions Election Observation Mission looks forward to cooperating with other international and domestic observation missions

Shortly after both election days, the mission will issue preliminary statements during press conferences in Abuja.

A final report, including recommendations for future electoral processes, will be presented at a later stage, after the finalisation of the electoral process, he said.

The statement also quoted Arena as saying it is a great honour for him to lead this important Mission to Nigeria.

I hope that our observation will provide meaningful contribution to the electoral and democratic process in Nigeria, he said.

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Meanwhile, Legit.ng had also reported that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) said it would devolve Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) collection to Registration Areas and Wards across the country, from January 16.

The commission said in a statement by Festus Okoye, National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, on Friday, January 11, in Abuja, that deadline for collection of PVCs was Feb. 8.

NAIJ.com (naija.ng) -> Legit.ng. We have upgraded to serve you better.

2019: (Dont) mark your calendar | Legit TV:

Source: Legit
- The Nigeria Police Force said Senator Melaye was moved to the DSS clinic to prepare him for his court trial

- Melaye was moved to the DSS facilities and not a detention according to a statement by a police spokesperson

- The police said Melaye was moved to the DSS clinic for a medical examination to ascertain his condition ahead of his court date

The Nigeria Police Force has explained that Senator Dino Melaye, representing Kogi west senatorial district, was moved from the police clinic to the medical facility of the Department of State Service as part of preliminary arrangements for his coming trial in Lokoja, Kogi state.

The Nation reports that police spokesman, Moshood Jimoh, claimed that Senator Melaye was taken by policemen to the medical facilities of the DSS and not their cell or detention facilities.

Jimoh said: On the 9th of January, 2019 we got a High Court Remand Warrant to keep him in police custody for fourteen days.

READ ALSO: Atikus campaign DG reportedly dumps PDP for APC - Presidency

The police medical team at our facility examined him and concluded that he was okay to stand trial but he is insisting that he is not okay; that is why we are taking him to another government hospital.

Senator Melaye outside the DSS office after he allegedly refused to be admitted into the DSS clinic. Photo source: Channels TV

Source: UGC

He has been taken to the DSS hospital and he will be returned to us after their medical examination because he does not have any case with SSS.

He only a case with the police and we are going to take him to court within the period covered by the Remand Warrant.

He will be taken to court within the period because the Remand Warrant is from an FCT High court, which gives us the permission to keep him in police custody for 14 days.

He was only taken to their (SSS) hospital; he is not in their custody.

Our people have examined him and we want another government hospital to also examine him and give a medical opinion.

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Recall that Legit.ng earlier reported that a source close to the Senator Melaye said he refused to be admitted at the DSS medical facility because he claimed he has no case with the DSS.

Melaye's family members who lamented the treatment given to the lawmaker said they have not been told why he was taken to the medical facility of the DSS because he does not have a case with the security agency.

NAIJ.com (naija.ng) -> Legit.ng. We have upgraded to serve you better.

Nigeria News: Dino Melaye and 2019 Criminal Conspiracy - on Legit TV

Source: Legit.ng
- Seun, youngest son of legendary musician Fela Kuti, has revealed that his father would be the president of Nigeria if he was still alive

- The musician noted that his would not have supported any of the political parties in Nigeria today

- He also revealed that he has been standing up for his father on social media because he felt people were bastardizing his father's legacy

Legendary musician Fela Kuti's youngest son, Seun, has claimed that his father would have joined politics if he were alive. Seun noted that his father would have even been the president of Nigeria.

In an interview with TVC, the man who is also a musician like his father revealed that his father would never have supported the political parties in play in Nigeria as we know her today.

According to him, his father would have chosen to lead the county himself rather than believe in the political parties we have.

READ ALSO: Genevieve Nnaji earns N1,385,100,000 as Netflix starts streaming Lion Heart

Seun further expressed that he also does not believe in any of the politicians we have. He explained that he would, however, support any one that preaches better ideals.

He said: "If #Fela was alive, he will be President of Nigeria. I don't have a PVC because I don't believe in any candidate or in the political setup as it is."

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When asked about why he is now quick to respond to anyone who says anything about his father online, he noted that people are trying to damage his father's legacy for their own gain.

Seun said: I will not stand by and watch anyone bastadize his legacy. Everybody wants to smoke Igbo, chase plenty girls. For those reasons you think you are Fela.No!"

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Meanwhile, Legit.ng had earlier reported that the youngest son of the legendary musician had been nominated for a Grammy award. Seun's album Black Times was list in the category for Best World Music Album.

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Will you support WIZKID if he decides to run as Nigeria's President in 2019? - on Legit TV

Source: Legit.ng
Zagreb, January 2: Croatian police said Wednesday they have arrested a former member of a mafia group sought by Italy, where he was convicted for drugs trafficking. The 72-year-old man was arrested in the capital Zagreb on Monday on a European arrest warrant issued by Italy, where he is to serve a 10-year jail term, an interior ministry statement said.

The man was convicted as a "member of a criminal organisation and ... for trafficking of larger quantities of heroine and cocaine." New Mafia Boss Settimino Mineo, Dozens Other Arrested From Sicily in a Major Swoop, Says Italian Police.

State-run HRT television identified the man arrested as Claudio D'Este, formerly a member of the powerful Venice-based Mala del Brenta mafia group. He lived in Zagreb for more than a decade, HRT reported.
Minister wants airline to be flexible on new policy with students
Rome, January 10 - Interior Minister Matteo Salvini said Thursday the army would not be used to fill in Rome potholes. He said he hoped the Rome city administration would "do better" on the problem. "I'm putting my heart and soul and money into Rome," he said. "As an adoptive Roman I expect more, more can be done. "I'm thinking of the management of public transport and the roads, the army can't be used to fill in holes in the streets".
Now that things have loosened up with regard to the pandemic, are there precautions you are still practicing? Which have you relaxed?
Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, on Friday called for efforts to advance Party building, and demanded "greater strategic achievements" in full and strict governance over the Party.



Xi, also Chinese president and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the remarks at the third plenary session of the 19th Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI) of the CPC.

He called for consolidating and developing a "sweeping victory" in the fight against corruption.

Efforts should be made to make sure officials don't dare to, are unable to and have no desire to commit corruption, to improve Party and state oversight systems, and to ensure the spirit of the 19th CPC National Congress and major decisions of the CPC Central Committee are resolutely implemented, so as to greet the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China (PRC) with great achievements, Xi said.

Members of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee Li Keqiang, Li Zhanshu, Wang Yang, Wang Huning and Han Zheng attended the meeting.

The meeting was presided over by Zhao Leji, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and head of the CCDI.

Noting achievements in Party building since the 19th CPC National Congress that included the "sweeping victory" in fighting corruption, Xi said the Party is now "radiating with more vitality in the new era."

He summed up some of the invaluable experience in disciplinary inspection and supervision over the past 40 years of reform and opening-up.

The authority of the CPC Central Committee and its centralized, unified leadership must be firmly upheld, and the governance over the Party must precede the governance of the country and it must be strict, Xi said.

The people-centered approach must be upheld, Xi continued, adding that it was also necessary for cadres to continue innovating, keep working hard, and fight against inaction and corruption.

SIX TASKS

Xi called for continuous efforts to advance full and strict governance over the Party as this year marks the 70th anniversary of the founding of the PRC and is key in finishing building a moderately prosperous society in all respects to achieve the first centenary goal. He laid out six tasks:

-- The spirit of the 19th CPC National Congress needs to be further implemented.

-- The Party's political work must be strengthened to ensure unity of the whole Party and strict implementation of its orders.

-- Excellent conduct must be encouraged to ensure joint efforts for building a moderately prosperous society.

-- Fight corruption with strong resolve to consolidate and develop the "sweeping victory."

-- Improve the supervision systems and strengthen the sense of responsibility.

-- Address corruption and malpractices that occur on people's doorsteps to safeguard the people's immediate interests.

HEALTHY COMRADESHIP

Xi urged officials to correctly uphold the authority of the CPC Central Committee, and firmly resist illicit intervention and profit-seeking by central-level leaders' family members, their work staff, and people who claim to have connections with them.

He stressed maintaining healthy comradeship within the Party and enforcing the system of democratic centralism.

Officials should also take the lead in establishing a healthy working relationship and not use public resources as a tool of building clout or underhand connections to seek illicit gains.

Those who play a key role in this regard, Xi said, are members of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and the CPC Central Committee.

Xi also stressed building an "iron army" of disciplinary inspection and supervision officials who are loyal, clean and have strong sense of responsibility and removing the "bad apples" from them.

Presiding over the meeting, Zhao called on Party organizations at all levels to unify their thinking and action with the spirit of Xi's speech.

On behalf of the CCDI standing committee, Zhao delivered a work report titled "faithfully fulfil the obligations stipulated in the CPC Constitution and the Constitution of the country, and strive for high-quality development of disciplinary inspection and supervision work in the new era."

FIGHT NOT END

"Although China's campaign against corruption has made sweeping victory, it is not the time to lie back," said Xin Ming, a professor at the Party School of the CPC Central Committee.

Last year, the list of "tigers" -- referring to senior officials taken down on corruption charges -- continued to expand.

Fifty-one officials at or above the provincial/ministerial level were among a total of 621,000 people punished by CCDI and the National Supervisory Commission.

And increasing attention was paid to minor offenses of officials. About 1.1 million officials were interviewed and cautioned for slight violations, about 63.6 percent of the total cases disciplinary inspectors handled in 2018.

Last year, 1,335 fugitives were sent back to China. Among them, 307 were former Party members and officials, mostly involved in graft cases.

"The tough stance against corruption should not and will not ease," Xin, the professor, said.
The city of Hangzhou, capital of east China's Zhejiang Province, will launch high-speed night trains during China's Spring Festival travel rush (Chunyun), which will begin on Jan. 21 this year.

Staff with the Hangzhou station of the China Railway Shanghai Group said about 29 pairs of night high-speed trains are expected to be put into service during this year's Spring Festival travel rush.

"As we all know, we rarely have high-speed trains at night, especially after midnight because the period from midnight to 6 a.m. is the essential time for the maintenance of the high-speed rails," said Wu Haocun, an employee with the Hangzhou branch of the China Railway Shanghai Group.

The newly-added night trains are mainly heading for the cities of Guiyang, Nanchang, Changsha, Zhengzhou, Wuhan and Hefei, all major destinations for migrant workers.

Wu said that to ensure the safety of the night trains, workers working for Hangzhou railway sections had started to maintain and check the condition of the railways one month before the travel rush.

This year's spring rush is expected to see nearly 3 billion passenger trips across the country. Hangzhou Railway Station estimated that the station will see 8.35 million passengers during the spring rush in 2019, a year-on-year increase of 15 percent.
MISSOULA - Weather experts say an inversion will be settling into the Missoula Valley in the next week, leading to worsening air quality. People who use wood stoves are asked to limit their use.

A high pressure ridge is expected to build over most of Montana on Friday night, causing a stable air mass and stagnant air over many areas in western Montana, according to the Department of Environmental Quality. The pattern may break by Tuesday or Wednesday.

From Sarah Coefield at the Missoula City-County Health Department:

"As we move into this period of potentially poor air quality, it will be important for Missoula County residents to limit their use of wood heat. This means using an alternative means of heat if one is available. If wood is your sole source of heat, it is important to burn as cleanly as possible. Only burn seasoned, dry wood and make sure your fire is hot. A hotter fire is cleaner fire. (Hotter fires have more complete combustion and therefore produce less smoke.)"

Inversions leading to poor air quality are predicted for much of northwest Montana through the weekend.

Click here to check current air quality, or call 406-258-3600.
MISSOULA- After shutting its doors in 2018, Missoulas Families First Childrens Museum is now bringing learning to you with its newest initiative called Community Connections.

Partnering with local businesses, the museum is up different workshops covering a wide array of educational topics.

Friday, organizers collaborated with the Humane society of western Montana and the Missoula Public Library for its inaugural event.

Kids played with pets, as well as learn the ins-and-outs of what goes into being a vet.

Executive director, Nick Roberts, said this morning was a perfect demonstration of what the community can look forward to.

"With this effort, without our own facility we are taking the activities out to our clients and reminding them we are still alive and we're still waiting for our exciting new Missoula public library facility to be opened where we will have a permanent location and a reintroduction of a museum facility there, said Roberts.

If you'd like to learn about other events the museum is hosting you can find that information on the center's website.

https://www.childrensmuseummissoula.org/community-connections/
The Chang'e-4 mission, a further remarkable achievement in China's space program, marks an important stride toward China being a strong country in space exploration, hailed a congratulatory message sent by the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, the State Council and the Central Military Commission (CMC) on Friday.

The mission realized the first-ever soft-landing and exploration of the far side of the moon, the first-ever communication between Earth and the far side of the moon via a relay satellite, and carried out significant cooperation with multiple countries and international organizations, according to the message read by Vice Premier Liu He, also member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee.

Liu He and Zhang Youxia, member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and vice chairman of the CMC, arrived at the Beijing Aerospace Control Center on Friday, watching the lander and rover taking photos of each other.

The message attributed the success of the mission to the loving care and strong leadership of the CPC Central Committee with Xi Jinping at the core.

Its success, another contribution to mankind's exploration of the mysteries of the universe, also marks the Chinese people scaling a new height in climbing the science and technology peak in the new era, it said.

Following Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era and the spirit of the 19th CPC National Congress, the mission has implemented the spirit of "chasing dreams, exploring fearlessly, working together to surmount difficulties and cooperating for win-win results", it said.

The mission has carried out the innovation-driven development strategy and promoted the building of a community with a shared future for humanity through practical actions, which will further improve China's economic strength, scientific and technological power, cohesion, and international influence, it said.

With the complete success of the mission, the fourth phase of China's lunar exploration program and the deep space exploration program will be inaugurated. The tasks ahead will be more arduous with unprecedented challenges, according to the message.

It encouraged scientists and engineers in China's space sector to make more achievements and contributions.
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As of now, we only have two applications from two individuals so far. To be eligible, an applicant must have graduated from high schools such as Andrean, Boone Grove, Crown Point, Merrillville or one of the Gary high schools and be a sophomore or higher level student enrolled full-time in an accredited college pursuing a bachelor or higher degree. Interested candidates must have a 3.6 minimum GPA and demonstrate potential within their chosen career fields. Additional state scholarships are available in the areas of academics, fine arts and music. Our Key scholarship is available to individuals with at least a five-year gap in their education and no other undergraduate degree. The deadline for submitting completed application packets is Feb. 16. Contact Peggy Waluk at waluk@netnitco.net or (219) 988-3639 for further information.
I told (Sansone) that she could have killed someone the way she was driving, and (Sansone) again stated that she didnt have anything on her, police said in a report. I told her that she still has one of the security tags sticking out of the back of her pants.
WASHINGTON, DC - JULY 18: Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (D-HI) speaks at a press conference on House Resolution 922 outside the U.S. Capitol July 18, 2018 in Washington, DC. Gabbard and Rep. Walter Jones (R-NC) spoke on reclaiming "Congress's constitutional right to declare war" and efforts to define presidential wars not declared by Congress as impeachable "high crimes and misdemeanors." (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images)
Police arrest customer accused of running over, killing nail salon owner after 13 days on the run
Washington Co. deputies asking for the public's help to find bank robbery suspect
More people in Oregon hospitalized with the flu, says CDC
Some Democrats have said they plan to seek Hill's impeachment and removal from office, although there have been questions about the Legislature's authority to do so since the attorney general's position was created under state law and not included in the Indiana Constitution. Candelaria Reardon's proposal would give the oversight commission such authority over the attorney general and state schools superintendent, the other statewide office not listed in the constitution.
We campaigned for her and when Lauren speaks, she knows what shes talking about, said Dave Trost of McHenry. For me her age of 32 has nothing to do with the knowledge she brings to the issues. She now is the voice of our district and a part of our country which has a participatory government and a voice that needs to be heard.
Technology from Emergent Solar Energy, based in the Purdue Research Park, is helping to reduce energy costs on a northern Indiana hog farm.
Minister of Science and ICT You Young-min, fourth from left in the front row, and Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power CEO Chung Jae-hoon, to You's right, applaud with participants of a New Year meeting of Korea's nuclear energy industry leaders at the Palace Hotel in Seocho-gu, Seoul, Friday. / Courtesy of Ministry of Science and ICT
Our air travel safety and aviation community are at risk. Because of the shutdown, the Federal Aviation Administration has furloughed a significant portion of its workforce leaving fewer safety professionals on the job and stressing an already stretched aviation workforce who call the Illinois 14th home, Underwood said in a separate news release. I believe in governing responsibly and will not allow the hard-working people of Illinois to be held hostage by this political stunt to shut down critical government agencies. We will continue to work to re-open government, and keep our promise to deliver progress for all Americans.
Camping every month is still a core concept here, because those camping experiences are where the youth leadership develops because they have to execute those plans for meals and cleanup and the activities, and improvise if their plans didnt take something into account, Westfall said.
Vanuatu turns the Corner LETS USE THIS AS A SPRINGBOARD FOR THE FUTURE
Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call(WASHINGTON) -- Hawaii Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard is running for President in 2020.

The Democrat and Iraq War veteran who was first elected to Congress in 2012 told CNN's Van Jones in an interview slated to air Saturday evening that a formal announcement of her candidacy will come shortly.

"I have decided to run and will be making a formal announcement within the next week," Gabbard said.

Gabbard, who is also the first Hindu member of Congress, is one of the first major candidates to directly declare a presidential candidacy.

Thus far only former Maryland Rep. John Delaney has mounted an official presidential bid. Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren announced the formation of a presidential exploratory committee at the end of last year.

Gabbard sits on the House Armed Services and Foreign Affairs committees and is currently a Major in the Army National Guard.

Within minutes of the news that Gabbard is mounting a presidential campaign, the Republican National Committee (RNC) blasted out a press release detailing her potential vulnerabilities.

"Tulsi Gabbard has an even bigger problem than her lack of experience  its that she has no base of support," RNC spokesman Michael Ahrens wrote in a statement released Friday evening.

Copyright  2019, ABC Radio. All rights reserved.
CLARION, Iowa  A Wright County man gets 10 years in prison for child pornography.

Timothy Ray Roberts, 49 of Rowan, was charged with 10 counts of sexual exploitation of a minor and pleaded guilty to five of them. He was sentenced Friday to five years in prison for each count, with two terms to be served consecutively and the other three concurrently for a total of 10 years.

Roberts has also been ordered to pay $5,000 in fines and civil penalties.

Roberts was arrested in August 2018 after law enforcement said he used a social media service to transmit photos of nude underage girls. Investigators say images of nude underage girls were also found on Roberts computers.

The investigation that led to this conviction and sentence started with a cyber tip to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.
MASON CITY, Iowa - The shutdown is impacting thousands of people in Iowa and Minnesota.

For food stamp or SNAP beneficiaries, their benefits are currently safe, as the Trump administration has said this week that the program will be funded through February should the shutdown continue. In addition, the U.S. Department of Agriculture says they will give states money allotted for food stamps a bit early than normal by January 20th.

But depending on how long it lasts, those on the program could see a $0 balance.

Dale Rotzinger was a truck driver for nearly 20 years, but because of a disability, he no longer hits the open road and qualifies for food stamps. He's already seen his benefits cut down from $78 to $15 a month, which leaves him with very few choices on what to buy. If there's no money for SNAP, he's trying to figure out what to do next.

"I'm gonna just have to find me something to do. And the way I'm going to do it, what I gotta figure out, if I get back in the trucking business, I'll just buy a truck of my own and I'll...start not asking anybody for a government handout."

According to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, about 366,000 Iowa residents take part in the program, and in Minnesota, that number is a bit higher at 454,000 residents, as of 2017. Iowans on SNAP collectively received around $482 million in benefits, while Minnesota recipients received around $600 million.
CERRO GORDO COUNTY, Iowa - Icy conditions were to blame for an early-morning collision involving a Jefferson lines passenger bus and a semi.

Authorities said at 2:35 a.m. Saturday, the Cerro Gordo County Sheriffs Office responded to a collision on I-35 at the 180 mile marker.

Deputies discovered a 2017 Jefferson lines passenger bus driven by Nancy Shadel, 58, of Holden, Missouri, and a 2019 semi driven by 37-year-old Jacob Hartgers, of Newton.

Authorities say the semi tipped over and blocked the roadway.

Due to the weather conditions, the passenger bus was unable to avoid the semi and they collided. There were seven passengers and the driver aboard the bus and one subject received minor injuries.
MASON CITY, Iowa  A judge has dismissed a lawsuit against some Mason City school administrators but a former employees claims of discrimination and retaliation against the entire school district remains in place.

Jodie Anderson filed a lawsuit in July 2018 against the Mason City school district, Superintendent David Versteeg, school board president Jodi Draper, and district human resources director Thomas Dryzcimski. Anderson was hired as the districts human resources director in July 2015 and resigned in June 2017. She says she complained about the school district paying men more than woman and was retaliated against for it.

Versteeg, Draper, and Dryzcimski have now been dismissed as defendants in the lawsuit. Anderson herself asked to have Dryzcimski removed in September 2018. A judge has now ordered the same for Versteeg and Draper.

In the decision, the judge states that Versteeg was not hired until a month after Andersons resignation and that Draper, as an individual member, cannot be held liable for the actions of the Mason City school board as a whole.

A trial date for Andersons lawsuit against Mason City Community Schools has not been set.

For previous coverage of this story, click here.
FOREST CITY, Iowa  A man arrested for harboring a kidnapping suspect is pleading not guilty to drug and child endangerment charges.

Andrew John Aukes, 31 of Lake Mills, has entered not guilty pleas to child endangerment, accessory after the fact, possession of methamphetamine, and possession of marijuana. Authorities tracking Kristofer Voigt on November 7, 2018, say a K9 unit led them to Aukes home. Voigt was wanted for breaking into a womans home and abducting her.



Kristofer Voigt Kristofer Voigt

Law enforcement says Aukes was hiding Voigt and the woman in an upstairs closet.

On November 8, 2018, officers returned to Aukes home and say they found methamphetamine, marijuana, and six minor children there.

Aukes is set to stand trial on February 27.

Voigt has pleaded not guilty to 1st degree burglary and 2nd degree kidnapping. No trial date is scheduled for him.
FORT MADISON, Iowa  Officials an inmate started a fire Friday at the Iowa State Penitentiary in Fort Madison.

A fire alarm was set off in a prison living unit a little before 12 pm and staff say they discovered one inmate had used his mattress to barricade himself inside his cell and started a fire. As corrections officers tried to remove the inmate, officials say he struck them with his fists.

Pepper spray was then used to subdue the prisoner and the fire was put out.

The staff involved were treated by prison medical personnel for minor injuries and smoke inhalation and finished the rest of their shifts. The inmate, who has not been identified, has been taken to the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics for treatment of a self-inflicted injury.

The prison was put on restricted movement while smoke was cleared from the living unit and then returned to normal operation.

Prison officials say this incident remains under investigation.
Mitchell S. Drapatsky, 21, of the 700 block of River Walk Drive, Wheeling, was charged Jan. 4 with disobeying a traffic control device, driving with an expired license and possession of cannabis and possession of drug paraphernalia after he was stopped near the intersection of East Center and Evanston avenues, police said. He released on a personal recognizance bond of $120 and has a scheduled court date of Feb. 19.
MASON CITY, Iowa - It's a growing concept across the nation; according to the Utah-based Parenting in the Workplace Institute, over 200 American organizations and businesses that allow parents to take their babies to work have been recorded by the institute.

Now, you can add the Girl Scouts of Greater Iowa to that list.

In a statement from CEO Beth Shelton on Tuesday, the organization announced "Infants at Work", allowing all new parents, including Dads and guardians, to bring their infants to work with them every day, up to 6 months (or when they are crawling, whichever comes first). The announcement comes as part of the organization's plan to be a more engaging atmosphere and help with a work/life balance. The idea came from a suggestion of an employee preparing to welcome her first child.

While her two kids are 2 and 5 years old now, Crystal Brower supports an infants at work policy.

"It's up to the parents if they want to bring their kids with them if it's a rule they're allowing."

And she would've loved bringing her babies to work.

"I would want to be able to have them with me everyday for as long as I could, because they're only little for so long."

The Girl Scouts' Lindsey Swartwood sees a world of benefit for the babies who get extra parental bonding time.

"Those first few months for your child, it's such a strong, important time developmentally for an infant as they're growing and they're learning."

At Sunbeam Christian Childcare, Director Rhonda Dedor sees the benefits, but also the possible distractions of working parents having a baby in tow.

"I guess as an employer, I wouldn't want somebody that I expected to be doing a job to be watching their child at the same time. I see what happens to the babies in the baby room, they're demanding."

For her part, Swartwood sees the new policy as perfect for a demanding baby.

"If a baby is needing that extra time with Mom or Dad, and they're needing more attention, that staff person is able to have that quiet time with their little one."

Other staff can volunteer to be alternate care providers for infants if Mom or Dad needs to be baby free for a certain timeframe.

The new policy goes hand in hand with the organization's plan of overhauling their benefits by adding 8 weeks of paid paternal leave for all parents, and flexible work arrangements like telecommuting.
Officials said the new library, at the St. Cyprian School location, would have different entrances, as well as an elevator to accommodate those with disabilities. The current library is 3,000 square feet, and officials said the new location would be 28,000 square feet.
EUGENE, Ore. -- Students inside Cascade Middle School said they were hiding beneath desks in a library computer lab when a man was shot during a custody dispute outside the school Friday morning.

The shooting was reported at about 10:45 a.m. at the school on Echo Hollow Road in Eugene.

According to Josiah, a 6th-grade student at the school, several students told him they heard gunshots before the school was placed on lockdown.

READ MORE: Custody dispute leads to deadly shooting outside Cascade Middle School

Eugene police responded to a report of a custody dispute at the school shortly before 10:30 a.m. As officers were escorting the man from the school, he allegedly produced a firearm, a struggle ensued, and the man was shot and killed by police.

The shooting occurred outside the school building, and no students, staff, or officers were injured.

The student told KEZI's Bryan Anderson that he was a little shaken up by the incident.

"I was getting out of second period and I was sitting on a bench and I got up to go to my locker to put my binder away to go to third period when I [heard] the announcement  and I ran to the library and went under the computer lab desks," he said. "I was kind of scared because some of the people that were with me also underneath the desk were talking about they actually did hear gunshots and were down where it all started.

"I wasn't thinking you know, about getting shot. I was just  thinking about my family and  that stuff because my tablet was in my locker and I couldn't text anyone and that kind of scared me a little.

"I was relieved because when I pulled up my messages there were a couple texts from my mom and she was asking if I was OK," Josiah said. "I'm feeling good safe since I'm finally out of school."
UPDATE: Charles Frederick Landeros, 30, of Eugene was the person killed in the officer-involved shooting Friday morning at Cascade Middle School.

A suspect was shot by police after a report of shots fired at Cascade Middle School Friday. A suspect was shot by police after a report of shots fired at Cascade Middle School Friday.

UPDATE: Hours after a fatal officer-involved shooting outside Cascade Middle School, students are being released.

Parents are picking up their children at St. Mark's Catholic Church, 1760 Echo Hollow Road.

Students were being ushered across Echo Hollow Road to reunite with their parents and guardians.

Multiple sources reported the man's body was under a yellow tarp at the scene.

1:30 P.M. UPDATE: Police responded to a custody dispute at Cascade Middle School at about 10:27 a.m. Friday, Eugene police said.

As officers were escorting the person from the school, they produced a firearm, and a struggle ensued.

During the struggle the suspect was shot and killed by police outside the building.

Police said students, staff and officers are safe and unharmed, and police remain at the scene.

During the incident, the school initiated lockout procedures, and students will remain at the school until 3 p.m.

Police urge residents to avoid the area and roadways near the school to keep them free for emergency responders.

The Interagency Deadly Force Investigation Team has been called in and is investigating.

For updates, visit the Bethel School District website.

1:15 P.M. UPDATE: Multiple witnesses say there is a body under a yellow tarp at the scene.

A Bethel staff member said the suspect was shot and killed by an officer.

1 P.M. UPDATE: Cascade Middle School students will remain in school through the rest of the day after a shooting outside the building, according to the Bethel School District website.

Police said they want more time to investigate before releasing student.

All students are unharmed, but the school is on lockout with all exterior doors locked and secured.

Police said there was an officer-involved shooting, and there is no ongoing threat.

When the school day ends at 3 p.m., students will be released through side exits. The front parking lot at the school is closed, and the pickup point for students will be St. Mark's Catholic Church, 1760 Echo Hollow Road.

Parents or guardians picking up their children will need to fill out a reunification form.

The district asks parents to not call or come to the school.

12:30 P.M. UPDATE: A witness is being questioned by police, and she says a confrontation preceded the shooting.

The initial call came in at 10:44 a.m.

The school district is currently feeding the students.

12:15 P.M. UPDATE: The suspect in the shooting incident at Cascade Middle School was shot and killed, a Bethel staff member said. That information has not been confirmed with police at this time.

No faculty, staff or students were hurt.

Police said they want people to avoid the area.

City officials are asking parents to check the Bethel School District website for information about pickup.

Students will be released through the side exits. Bus riders will board their buses at their usual locations. The pickup point for students will be at St. Mark's Catholic Church. They will not be released early, so police have more time to investigate.

Willamette High School's lockdown only lasted 15 minutes.

11:30 A.M. UPDATE: Eugene police say students at Cascade Middle School are safe after a suspect was shot Friday.

One witness said they heard what sounded like five gunshots.

The school's website said its doors were locked and they are currently keeping students in their classrooms at the request of Eugene police. All students are safe and unharmed and students will remain in their classrooms until further instructions.

One man said his wife works in the kitchen and texted him just before 11 a.m. saying that there was a shooter in the building.

Another man, whose daughter is at nearby Willamette High School, said his daughter texted him telling him they were on lockdown, and they had barricaded the doors to her classroom.

Malabon Elementary School was also on lockdown earlier in the day.

Stay with KEZI 9 News for updates.

The following is a transcript of the statement provided by Eugene police Lt. Jennifer Bills:

"The Inner Agency Deadly Force Investigation team will be coming to take over this investigation. If you're a parent, I ask that you stay home or contact your child via phone or text but don't come to the area because we have a lot of law enforcement and a lot of different assets that will be coming in. The school is on lockout, which means that no one will be allowed inside the school for a period of time. Students are locked inside their classroom. Again, students are safe. This is currently under investigation. Those are the details I can tell you right now. We will be working with the school system for how we're going to release students at the end of the day or perhaps earlier. But again, that'll be a decision made by the school, not by the police department. We'll be working with them to keep folks posted on that. The main thing is right now, all the kids inside the school are safe. Law enforcement is in the area and the investigation is starting. No students were harmed whatsoever."

EUGENE, Ore. -- Police and paramedics are on scene at Cascade Middle School in Eugene, and a witness reported hearing what sounded like five gunshots.

Crime scene tape is visible along the front of the school on Echo Hollow Road.

There is no word yet on injuries.
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This article is sponsored by Careers by KevinMD.com.

Its no secret that some businesses are family businesses and medicine is no exception. The anonymous Northern California cardiologist known as Dads Dollars Debts confesses in a blog that, yes, some days he feels like hes made a difference, and other days, I just feel like a customer service rep at your local chain store.

He says hes in medicine because Dad and Grandpa are. He says when he polls his colleagues, they say they dont want their kids to be in medicine. He can be funny, noting that maybe his kid will find what he is interested in and devote a lot of time to it (10,000 hours, anyone?).

This doctor dad says reasons why he doesnt want his kid to be a doctor include emotional fatigue, sacrifice, bureaucracy, physical fatigue, and sunk cost fallacycontinuing to do something because of all youve invested in it. And why should the kid be a doctor? How about freedom to choose, enjoying being service-oriented, making a nice living, and having great relationships and job mobility?

The comments on his post are equally entertaining: So far none of my kids are nagging me for the secrets to become a doctor. Please, please encourage him to be a YouTuber. Success is low but if he does he will be financially independent overnight!

When medicine calls

Although conducted in the United Kingdom, a 2014 study in the BMJ says that obituaries in the publication confirm how many doctors have siblings and children in the same business. It also cites another study indicating that, in the U.K., approximately one-fifth of doctors have parents who were both doctors.

So what does this all mean, whether across the pond or here in the United States? Debate continues about whether having doctors in the family influences career decisions and makes life easier for those who follow relatives into the profession, the author concludes.

The BMJ also started a related Twitter conversation. Asked whether doctors would recommend medicine as a career to younger family members, answers were mostly yes. Other responses: Definitely been a privilege. Absolutely! Yes, I would. Only if its a calling. It takes over your life.

Threes a great crowd

Coincidentally perhaps, the families were profiling here are immigrants. First, meet three determined healthcare professionals who are all doctors and proud of it: siblings Gloria, Blessing and Victor Oyeniyi.

Victor Oyeniyi, Pharm.D., works at a CVS in Brownsville, Texas, and at Baptist Hospital in Beaumont, Texas. Blessing Oyeniyi, MD, is a psychiatry resident at Dell Medical School at The University of Texas at Austin. Gloria Oyeniyi, MD, is an assistant professor of psychiatry at Baylor College of Medicine and is also affiliated with The Menninger Clinic, both in Houston.

I love them both to pieces, says Dr. Gloria Oyeniyi.

Her parents, neither of whom are in medicine, and their three children emigrated from Nigeria in 1995 with two bags and $200, all seeking a better life and more opportunities. Without question, conditions were challenging at first, but parents William and Elizabeth only wanted the best for their children, and worked tirelessly toward that goal.

They wanted us to be successful, and they encouraged and groomed us, says Dr. Oyeniyi. And when things went wrong, we all pulled ourselves up by the bootstraps.

The siblings knew education was their tool for achieving success, and they applauded each others achievements and encouraged each other to get the best grades along the way, she says. They helped each other deal with just being younger immigrants, acclimating to the culture here and endeavoring to make friends.

You can feel like youre at the bottom of the totem pole sometimes, she says.

Dr. Oyeniyi doesnt waver from wanting to heal and help people. And shes forever thankful for her mentors. She and her siblings talk about how medicine can be very lucrative, but also about how reimbursement has changed so much. She also thinks more emphasis could be put on prevention and mental health in the American healthcare system.

Still, we were blessed with the opportunity to come here, she says.

The neighborhood doctor grows up

Her father was a professor of immunology in Nigeria and Nwando Okafo, MD was fascinated by the people in white coats. When she was six years old, Dr. Okafo was the neighborhood doctor, dispensing plasters, the equivalent of Band-Aids, when friends needed them.

Now Dr. Okafo and her sister, Adaeze Nwosu, MD, are co-owners, with a third partner, of Riverside ER, a freestanding, 24-hour emergency clinic in New Braunfels, Texas.

Growing up, we never fought, says Dr. Okafo. We never had an argument until we were much older. She went to Rush University, and I went to UCLA, and we both had the same goals.

Now, even though theyre in business together, they dont see each other nearly enough. We had lunch for the first time in a year only a month ago, she says. They talk every day, but because they work opposite schedules at their clinic, they may only have face time two to three times a month.

I used to worry about family and business,' Dr. Okafo says. When money is involved, it can get tricky with relationships. But we think alike, and things have really worked out. Its nice to be in business with someone you can trust. And if it all goes wrong  I know where she lives! Actually, our parents always told us, Dont leave your sibling behind.'

The work is very fulfilling for both doctors, she says. Its given us the opportunity to practice medicine the way we love to practice medicine. And if were happy, our patients are happy.

Raise a leader

Inessa Fishman, MD, is a facial plastic surgeon in Atlanta at Artisan Plastic Surgery. Her sister, Mariya Fishman, MD, is a radiologist and her brother-in-law, Alexander Gluzman, MD, is a pulmonary/critical care doctor. Dr. Inessa Fishmans family emigrated from Kiev, Ukraine in the early 1990s. Mom worked as an aesthetician, and her father initially delivered pizzas to support the familywhatever it took.

Although the sisters have different specialties, the mental load of being moms, women and busy physicians is something we share, says Dr. Fishman. No ones life is easy, but Im glad my sister and I have each other to lean on, troubleshoot difficult patients with, and commiserate about tough days. My 7-year-old nieceone of my sisters three childrenhad a chest laceration recently, and I was thrilled to sew her up in my clinic instead of sending her off to the ER. She asked me to pierce her ears at the same time, too!

Will Dr. Fishman encourage her child to follow in her medical footsteps? I honestly dont know, and am struggling with this now, she says. My daughter is not quite three, and already talks about being a doctor frequently. She wanted to dress up as a doctor for Halloween, and of course, a big piece of my heart swelled with pride as I rushed off to buy her cute toddler scrubs and a white coat. I also cant help but give in when she grabs a Baby Doctor Barbie at the store and hangs on to it for dear life.

Still, Dr. Fishman says this job isnt perfect, and she worries. Medicine is a rewarding but challenging calling; training is demanding and isolating and nearly all-encompassing in our most youthful and productive years. Dealing with insurance reimbursements is frustrating, especially for my primary care and pediatrics colleagues, who make a pittance for their incredible care and years of ultra-high-level experience. Lots of patients can be noncompliant and unappreciative. There is little or no time off. I struggle with all this when I look at her.

He wrote the book on this topic and a perfect afterward to this story. Dale Okorodudu, MD, authored How to Raise a Doctor: Wisdom From Parents Who Did It! Im telling you to not raise a doctor. Instead, raise a leader, and let that leader become a doctor, lawyer, author, president, or whatever he or she dreams to be. Let that leader change the world for the better!

Stephanie Stephens is a writer, Careers by KevinMD.com.

Find jobs at Careers by KevinMD.com. Search thousands of physician, PA, NP, and CRNA jobs now.
Hopp, a former board member who is running against Cooper, said Cooper should be removed because the sheets he used to collect signatures were inconsistent. Some said he was running for the library board and others said Gail Borden Public Library District.
The Feast of the Epiphany is about the revelations of the Christ to the world. The Gospel Antiphon during Evening Prayer in the Liturgy of the Hours says, Three mysteries mark this holy day: today the star leads the Magi to the infant Christ; today water is changed into wine for the wedding feast; today Christ wills to be baptized by John in the river Jordan to bring us salvation.

Like the early Christians, we observe the Feast of Epiphany as a continuing celebration of Gods incarnation in our lives so we can share it with the whole world. Epiphany celebrates that God first has given us a gift; Jesus came from Gods initiative, not our own, for the benefit of the entire world.

Epiphany is the feast of travelers, a reminder that through welcoming strangers Christ will continue to be revealed to us and travel with us into our world. May we welcome as the Christ everyone who enters the doors of our church and homes during the coming year.

The feast of the Baptism of Jesus, that concludes the Christmas Season and moves us into Ordinary Time, could be called public epiphany No. 1. The baptism of Jesus expresses his oneness with our humanity and begins his ministry through the power of the Holy Spirit. Christians are baptized into this mystery of the divine human encounter and share in Christs ministry with the power of the Holy Spirit.
Last month, Kearney Elks Lodge No. 984 began what I hope will be a monthly recognition of homes and businesses that we see flying our flag 24 hours a day, seven days a week, proudly and properly.

This quarter, we are viewing the southwest quarter of Kearney. We also will try to add a little flag information each month. This time, since we just did this to honor President George H.W. Bush, will be flying the flag at half-staff.

Nationally, it is ordered to half-staff by the sitting president. It is 30 days for this. The president also can order it at half-staff for other deaths, national losses, etc. These will be for one day or as long as two weeks.

The governor of a state or mayor of a city also may order the flag lowered for a day to honor someone or some event.

On Jan. 4 we gave certificates of honor to: Kearney Regional Medical Center, The Buckle at all three of its locations, City Glass/Sorensen Construction, Kearney Public Schools administration building, Freddys Frozen Custard and Steak Burgers, Candlewood Suites, Hampton Inn, La Quinta, Nebraska State Patrol Troop C and Cash-Wa Distributing.

Kearney Elks Lodge No. 984 wants to say thank you for honoring our flag and through that, honor our troops, our veterans and our country.

Jim Wilson, Pleasanton
Ah, Christmas. With delight, I wrap it around myself like a snuggly blanket, savoring the warmth of the lights, the music, the cards, the parties, the gifts. Alas, even it, too, is flawed.

I spent Christmas at home in Cleveland this year, so I purchased gifts online and had them shipped there so theyd be waiting when I arrived like gold, frankincense and myrrh, and I wouldnt have to lug them on the plane. All but one package went to my brothers house. That last one went via UPS to my sister Marthas house 60 miles east of him, where 19 of us would gather for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

Arriving at Marthas house Christmas Eve afternoon, I went down to her wrapping station in the basement and found my package waiting. Eagerly, I ripped it open, but my heart fell. Theyd sent the wrong merchandise. Instead of a cozy sweater for my daughter, I pulled out a pair of hefty jeans and two black T-shirts big enough for Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus put together.

Confused, I perused the enclosed paperwork and discovered that the jeans and shirts should have been sent to Red Oak, Iowa. Somehow, it ended up in Ashtabula, Ohio.
Howe said that Jenison was "standing directly behind" the van, which does not appear to be true, and shouted "Stop the car," rather than "Stop" three times. Jenison fired his first two shots as he backed away from the van.

The van suddenly accelerated in reverse and did a 180-degree "J" turn, placing it very close to Jenison. Jenison didn't fire then. As the van reversed toward the garage, Jenison fired 11 times from the side, the video shows. The van stopped, then rolled forward out of the driveway. Albers was dead.

"We have been told very little," his mother said. "In fact, the night John died, the police never came out and told us that John had been shot. They told us they had responded to a possible suicide and our son had died." They found out the next day that their son had been fatally shot by the police.

Four weeks later, on Feb. 20, the district attorney called them in and informed them he would not charge the shooter. The prosecutor had already scheduled a news conference for later that morning to make his announcement. "We had no time to warn our family or John's friends that they were releasing the video on live television," Sheila Albers said.
KEARNEY  PepperJax Grill, 1010 3rd Ave., is set to open Monday, according to a sign posted on the door of the business.

The restaurant, which serves up Philly cheesesteaks and other grilled dishes, is at the location previously occupied by Moe's Southwest Grill.

According to PepperJax Grill's website, the restaurant's hours will be 11 a.m. - 9 p.m. Sunday-Thursday and 11 a.m. - 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday.

In addition to Philly cheesesteak sandwiches, the restaurant will serve up burritos, salads, bowls, nachos and loaded fries with signature steak, grilled chicken, pulled pork, spicy Italian sausage or veggies. A full menu is available on PepperJax's website.
LEXINGTON  An Elm Creek woman admitted in court Friday to tampering with evidence in a 2016 Lexington murder, according to court documents.

Melissa Callahan, 36, pleaded guilty Friday in Dawson County District Court to attempted tampering with physical evidence, a misdemeanor. The charge was amended from felony accessory in a plea deal.

Manuel Juarez-Mendez, 42, formerly known as Jose Regalado-Mendez, was sentenced earlier this week to 40-45 years in prison for the death of Jose Hernandez, 37, at Juarez-Mendezs rural Lexington home in early December 2016.

On Friday, Judge James Doyle IV accepted Callahans plea and ordered the state probation office to do a presentence investigation, including a substance abuse evaluation. Her sentencing will be in March.

After Hernandez was killed video surveillance at Juarez-Mendezs home shows Callahan on the footage, according to court records. About four hours after the shooting, Juarez-Mendez and Callahan entered the back door of the house with a large section of burlap, which was similar to the material that Hernandezs body was wrapped in when authorities found him.
MINDEN  The Denver, Colo., District Attorneys office has issued a felony warrant for a Minden woman.

The warrant was issued Dec. 31 for Shelley Biever of Minden for computer crime, attempt to influence a public servant, conspiracy to commit theft and theft. Biever formerly was employed as the volunteer coordinator at Kearney County Health Services in Minden.

The Minden Police Department currently is attempting to apprehend Biever. Anyone who has knowledge of her current location is encouraged to contact MPD at 308-832-1150.
I just knew it wasnt my time. I was like, Theres no way Im going to die with something so stupid.  Three months after his SUV rolled over four times and skidded on its roof for 100 yards on a Florida highway, Jimmy Graham recounted his life-threatening crash and talked about his goals for 2021 with the Bears.
The downside of social media is it can prevent people from developing meaningful relationships and spread negativity. Its nice to have a lot of Facebook friends and Twitter followers, Hof said, but its still important to communicate with people one-on-one and connect in a fulfilling way.

We know anxiety is a lot about the what-ifs, so theyre spending a lot of time worrying about things that havent even happened yet, said Hof, adding that social media can exacerbate this feeling when people start comparing their lives to others.

Providing support

UNK counselings role is to work with students while developing a plan to manage their symptoms and improve their mental well-being.

To be successful, students must commit to their sessions and the recommendations they receive, according to Wendy Schardt, director of Student Health and Counseling at UNK.

There is no drive-through counseling, Schardt said. It has to be something you really work at.

Short-term counseling services are also available for students who need someone to talk to after a rough week, breakup or personal conflict.
GRAND ISLAND  A local working group that advises the U.S. Department of Agriculture on conservation programs will meet at 9:30 a.m. Jan. 25 at the Central Platte Natural Resources District office at 215 Kaufman Ave. in Grand Island.

Each Nebraska NRD has a working group consisting of federal, state, county, tribal or local government representatives. Public input at the meetings help USDA officials tailor programs to local needs.

Natural Resources Conservation Service District Conservationist Joe Krolikowski said recommendations for Environmental Quality Incentives, Conservation Reserve and Agricultural Conservation Easement programs may include target areas, cost share rates and funds needed.
GRAND ISLAND  The 2019 Nebraska Sorghum Symposium, hosted by the Nebraska Sorghum Producers Association, the Grain Sorghum Board and University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension, will be Jan. 24 at College Park in Grand Island.

Topics will include new technologies in sorghum production, research on irrigating sorghum, a weather outlook, farm bill overview, fertility management plans and disease management.

The free conference also will have commercial exhibits.

Lunch will be provided, but preregistration is requested for meal-planning purposes. Send an email to sorghum.board@nebraska.gov or call 402-471-4276.

For more information, call Barbara Kliment at the Nebraska Grain Sorghum Board at 402-471-4276.

An application has been made for certified crop adviser credits.
GRANTS PASS, Ore.  As the partial government shutdown reaches its 21st day and first missed paycheck, many federal employees and contractors find themselves with extra time on their hands and no income to speak of. In response, local non-profit Wildlife Images Rehabilitation & Education Center says that it will offer free admission to furloughed workers and their families.

"Wildlife Images recognizes the difficult spot federal employees and federal contractors find themselves in during the partial government shutdown. In hopes of providing a respite for families, Wildlife Images is offering free admission to federal employees and contractors, including spouses and children," the organization said in a statement.

The offer begins Friday, January 11 and will continue as long as the shutdown does. Furloughed workers will have to show their federal employment or contract (such as an ID or badge) at check-in to get free admission.

Wildlife Images is open to visitors Friday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. with the park closing at 3 p.m. They are located in Grants Pass on Lower River Road.

Wildlife Images also features a free Wildlife Clinic Talk each Friday, Saturday, and Sunday at 11:30. The talks are hosted by clinic staff who share details about the current patients in the clinic and why they need care.

According to the non-profit, Wildlife Images helped rehabilitate 1,092 animals during 2018.

The Oregon Zoo announced a similar offer of free admission for furloughed federal employees on Thursday.
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The Kansas City Police Department is investigating if impairment was a factor in a head-on, wrong-way, rollover crash that happened this morning. One driver died and the other has minor injuries.
Esters motion came at the start of the third day of testimony. In the motion, he alleged that Judge Brian Telander had made prejudicial evidence rulings against him. Ester also complained that the judge had ordered him to shut up during a Thursday conference that was held outside the jurys presence.
(CNN) -- Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on Friday suspended embattled Broward County Sheriff Scott Israel, blaming him for failures in the response to the Parkland school shooting.

The new governor criticized the lawman's handling of the February 2018 mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School.

Family of Texas school shooting victim sues attacker's parents The family of one of the students killed in a Texas high school shooting filed a lawsuit against the alleged gunman's parents, claiming the shooter's father didn't properly secure the weapons and were negligent in entrusting him with firearms.

"Sheriff Israel has repeatedly failed and has demonstrated a pattern of poor leadership. He failed to protect Floridians and visitors during the tragic Fort Lauderdale International Airport shooting in 2017," DeSantis said in a statement. "He failed in his duties to keep our families and children safe during the devastating shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School on February 14, 2018. These incidents demonstrate Sheriff's Israel's repeated incompetence and neglect of duty. The families of the victims deserve accountability."

The governor issued an executive order and said he is appointing retired Coral Springs Police Sgt. Gregory Tony to serve as sheriff.

Jeff Bell, president of the Broward Sheriff's Office Deputies Association, said his organization applauds DeSantis' decision.

"True leaders like Governor DeSantis are willing to make the tough decisions that may not always be the most popular choices," Bell said. "Scott Israel misused his authority and abused his public trust by politicizing the nation's largest fully accredited Sheriff's Office for his own political ambitions."

Parkland shooter described plans on cellphone video The former student who gunned down 17 people at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, recorded his plans on three cellphone videos.

Israel was to respond to the decision later Friday afternoon.

Soon after the February 14 mass shooting, Israel faced criticism about his agency's response, including calls for his resignation. A recent draft report by a public safety commission tasked with investigating the shooting found several failures and missteps, including among some of Israel's deputies.

According to Florida statute, the governor has the power to suspend the sheriff for actions such as "misfeasance" and "neglect of duty" and may fill the office by appointment for the period of suspension. The actual power to remove the sheriff from office is in the hands of the state Senate.

According to the state Senate website, it makes "final dispositions" on whether to reinstate a suspended official or remove him from office.

Nikolas Cruz has confessed to being the gunman, and carrying out the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, his former school, according to court documents. The attack, which also left dozens injured, is one of the deadliest mass shootings in recent US history.

Sheriff: Deputy at Parkland never engaged shooter, has now resigned The deputy who was on duty at a high school where 17 people were massacred waited outside the building for about four minutes without ever going in, the Broward County Sheriff said

Eleven days after the massacre, more than 70 Republican representatives and Florida House Speaker Richard Corcoran sent a letter to then-Gov. Rick Scott asking him to suspend the sheriff for what they called his "incompetence and neglect of duty."

Israel said then he would not resign.

In April, Broward County sheriff's deputies took a largely symbolic vote of no confidence against Israel, with Bell vowing to ask the governor to consider removing Israel. The sheriff said then the vote reflected only "a small number" of BSO employees and the union representing the vast majority of employees "solidly supports the leadership of this agency."

The Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Commission, which is investigating the shooting, presented its initial report to state officials on January 2.

Some of the failures and missteps highlighted in the commission's report ranged from unlocked and unmanned gates on the Parkland campus to an inadequate public-address system. The report also said former Deputy Scot Peterson, the school resource officer, was "derelict in his duty" and "failed to act consistent with his training and fled to a position of personal safety" during the mass shooting. Peterson instructed deputies to stay away from the building where the shootings took place, the draft said.

Survivors of deadly school shooting lash out at leaders, lawmakers Students who escaped the deadly school shooting in Florida focused their anger Sunday at President Donald Trump, contending that his response to the attack has been needlessly divisive.

Several responding Broward sheriff's deputies were either seen on camera or described as taking time to retrieve and put on ballistic vests as well as removing and replacing other equipment while shots were still being fired in the school, the report said.
He has been very impactful for our pretty high population of students who are low-income and food insecure, and he is very passionate about our summer meal and breakfast program, Szczupaj said. I realize that this name change and initiative to honor Dr. Thompson has prompted a lot of personal attacks, but there is also a lot of love and appreciation for him out there, too.
On Dec. 6, she said that additional barrier construction as demanded by President Donald Trump would be "immoral still," even if the Mexican government paid for it. On Jan. 3, then, responding to reporters' questions about the partisan standoff over wall funding that has resulted in a shutdown of roughly 25 percent of the federal government, Pelosi said, "A wall is an immorality. It's not who we are as a nation."
Our government has failed to act when people overstay their visas. Im not sure why it seems unable to address this issue, but my best bet is outdated technology. Without a means to track legal visa holders, we cannot deal with those who overstay. This is an administrative and time-consuming fix.

Our government has failed to provide the means and personnel needed to process those seeking asylum. Those coming from Central America have overwhelmed the system, but they have a right to have their cases heard and they do not deserve to be separated from their children or warehoused in facilities that cannot provide basic human services.

Clearly, time and money need to be spent.

We need to provide the tools to harden weak points on the border where it is easy to melt into the surroundings  but we dont need 1,954 miles of wall. We need to track and enforce the rules regarding temporary visas. We need to process applications for asylum quickly and treat applicants as human beings.

This is not a new issue. Sadly, we have kicked it to an administration that is all about show over effectiveness.

Diane Harney

Winston-Salem

Please submit letters online, with full name, address and telephone number, to Letters@wsjournal.com or mail letters to: The Readers Forum, 418 N. Marshall St., Winston-Salem, NC 27101. Letters are subject to editing and are limited to 250 words. For more guidelines and advice on writing letters, go to journalnow.com/site/forms/online_services/letter/
Even now, #MeToo victims are unlikely to do or say anything in response to their troubles. They are already looking for reasons to move on. They may forgive prematurely, before taking appropriate action, either at the personal or public level. Forgiveness cannot be complete if it does not come from those who have been wronged. Yet forgiveness is not entirely up to them, either.

The result is a set of conflicting and probably irreconcilable values. America believes in equal treatment before the law. But Americas increasingly powerful system of social pressures and sanctions does not provide for equal treatment.

Some of the accused have received second chances, but not all: Former Sen. Al Franken probably will not be welcomed back to Congress, and Washington, D.C.-based restaurateur Mike Isabella saw his empire crash and does not seem on the verge of rehabilitation. It is unsettling how much judgments of harassment, and of when redemption or at least tolerance will be offered, depend on context.
I wouldnt suggest, for a moment, that network television and the rest of the mainstream media should ignore what the president says. That would be irresponsible, not to mention impossible.

Especially with 800,000 federal workers bearing the brunt of an unnecessary government shutdown, there is inherent news value in whats going on. News organizations are rightly focused on that, including on the presidents attempts to justify it.

But broadcasting him live and unfiltered  whether in an Oval Office speech, or an impromptu news conference, or at a campaign rally  has been a bad idea for quite some time.

Instead, whatever news is produced can be presented in context with facts woven in from the start: Truth first.

During the 2016 presidential campaign, by some estimates, Trump received billions of dollars of free advertising by being put on the air live almost every time he was in front of a podium. The medias inability to wrest their collective gaze from him is one of the major reasons he gained the presidency.

Thats been acknowledged as wrong, including by CNN honcho Jeff Zucker, whose network was one of the worst offenders  and is now one of Trumps biggest targets of scorn.
WSSU receives $600,000 grant

The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation has awarded Winston-Salem State University a $600,000 grant to strengthen its programs in the humanities, WSSU said in a statement.

WSSU is one of the few public HBCUs  and one of only five University of North Carolina System institutions  to receive a grant over the Mellon Foundations 50-year history. The three-year grant will provide the money to support faculty development and curriculum redesign for courses in art and visual studies, English, history and music, WSSU said.

We are thrilled that the Mellon Foundation recognizes the incredible work being done here at WSSU and the potential for us to deliver transformative change, said WSSU Chancellor Elwood L. Robinson.

We are honored to be among the few schools to receive a significant award from an organization as prestigious as the Mellon Foundation.

Over the next three years, WSSU faculty will restructure at least 54 humanities courses  from introductory courses to the senior capstone course  to support student success.
I highly respect Jennifer Pritzker (I'm a transgender Republican, but my party is marginalizing me out of existence, Jan. 10), but if she were to be honest, her own journey was not easy and she did not transition during service to our country. I applaud her bravery but dispute her course of thinking. We cannot afford to spend countless hours of counseling and hundreds of thousands of federal dollars on the surgery. It simply makes no sense. The entire purpose of the military is to serve and protect. A person in transition is simply not physically or psychologically capable of doing this.
Spivey said the event is no longer a rally but a flower-laying and prayer ceremony, one that will be led by the Forsyth County chapter of the Sons of Confederate Veterans.

The group wont be bringing any Confederate flags, Spivey said.

My understanding is that it is going to be reasonably brief, he said. They dont want this to turn into anything that might antagonize anyone. They just want to show support for that monument and who it stands for.

Both Tru and Spivey acknowledge that the potential for violence is an unknown.

We have no way of knowing, Tru said. We are nonviolent and want to make sure that everyone is safe. You always have to think about everything when you are organizing.

Spivey said his group has a strict code of conduct against violence but anytime he goes to an event, it is something he worries about. He said members would defend themselves if attacked. He said the Sons of Confederate Veterans are also a nonviolent group.

Who is the true owner?

Fam Brownlee, who works in the North Carolina Room at the Forsyth County Central Library, has dug up some newspaper accounts that suggest the UDC may not have owned the statue after its dedication in 1905.
So it really shouldnt come as any surprise that citizens of Winston-Salem began looking anew at our own Confederate monument.

Times  and minds  gradually changed when people began recognizing it for what it really is: an inflammatory relic put up in the Jim Crow era next to the county courthouse by the United Daughters of the Confederacy to remind the black population to know their place.

Why else invite Alfred Moore Waddell, a former Confederate cavalry officer, white supremacist and an infamous leader of the Wilmington massacre in 1898, to serve as keynote speaker at the dedication.

The Wilmington insurrection is regarded as the nations only successful coup detat. White Democrats killed many local blacks and forced black Republican city officials to flee. The Democrats then took over control of Wilmington city government.

If youre still in doubt, note that Waddell had this to say about his actions: How many negroes we killed in my county, God only knows. But this we do know. We choked the Cape Fear with their corpses.

Moving forward,

not back
Juul ended 2018 with a 76 percent share of the U.S. market, according to the latest Nielsen data, collected for the most part from convenience stores.

Juul calls the marketing initiative an adult education campaign that features testimonials from former smokers. It said the ads already have appeared in print, online and on radio.

Part of the campaign is designed to tap down accusations by Gottlieb, U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Jerome Adams and anti-tobacco advocacy groups that Juul is trying to make its products attractive to young people.

We want adult smokers to hear directly from former adult smokers that Juul Labs provides a true alternative to combustible cigarettes and is showing unprecedented success, with studies showing 40 to 56 percent of adult smokers fully switching within 90 days of use, the company said in a blog posting.

Each story strictly adheres to our marketing code, which ensures that we carefully target adult smokers and forego paid promotion on social media platforms, Juul said.
For instance, insurer MetLife was granted $87.2 million in a 2013 package for creating 2,600 jobs in Charlotte and Cary. That award was among the largest in the states history.

In moving from Morris Plains, N.J., Honeywell plans to shift to Charlotte its senior leadership, including the CEO, and support positions, as well as the most critical strategic and management personnel, according to applications for state incentives.

It also plans to establish a hangar at Charlotte Douglas International Airport to house four corporate aircraft and 32 flight and maintenance crew personnel, according to the documents.

Under terms of its state incentives, Honeywell must pay a minimum average salary of $278,560 a year for the jobs it will create in Mecklenburg County every year over the 12 years of its grant, according to documents. Once the 750 jobs are in place, total compensation for those positions will be more than $261 million a year, the documents show.

Talks between Honeywell and the state began as early as May, documents indicate.

The project was referred to as Project Bee by state officials during negotiations.
The New York Times reports: Tom Steyer, the California billionaire who has crusaded for President Trumps impeachment, said on Wednesday that he would not join the pack of Democrats running for president in 2020. Instead, he will continue running those impeachment ads. Underwritten by Mr. Steyers personal wealth, the Times report continued, the impeachment campaign has bombarded television and computer screens around the country with ads demanding Mr. Trumps ouster, and staged pro-impeachment events around the country. Hes spent tens of millions of dollars already and plans to spend $40 million more.
Host communities in north Ambrym may not have enough water for evacuees. Assessment report confirmed ash fall is only experience in north Ambrym
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.
Lowell Gibson, 76, of Bentonville, AR, died on June 12, 2021. Born November 10, 1944, he is son of the late Hugh and Opal Gibson. Lowell is survived by his wife, Sandra, children, grandchildren, and siblings. For service information and to share memories and condolences, please visit www.rol
This is why Im very concerned that a provision in the renegotiated NAFTA, now called the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement, could raise drug prices for millions of Americans. Under current law, prescription drugs created from inorganic chemicals are granted a 20-year patent that prevents other companies from making the drug during that time period. Many manufacturers will apply for patents years before their drug comes to market to maintain rights over new chemical compounds. Because it can take years to get a new pharmaceutical approved by the FDA, many drugs enter the market with fewer than 10 years left on the original 20-year patent.
Emily Mieure covers criminal justice and emergency news. She also leads the News&Guides investigative efforts. She has reported for WDRB TV in Louisville, Ky., WFIE TV in Evansville, Ind., and WEIU TV in Charleston, Ill.
Gilman Scholarship Supports Study Abroad Opportunities

Jan. 11, 2019

Ely Cortez 21 will participate in the 2019 Barcelona Study Abroad Experience program (2018 group pictured above) with financial support from the U.S. Department of States Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program.

BLOOMINGTON, Ill.  The U.S. Department of States Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program has awarded a $3,500 study abroad scholarship to nursing major Ely Cortez 21 (Chicago) to study in Barcelona, Spain during the spring of 2019 semester.

Cortez is one of 15 Illinois Wesleyan University students who have earned more than $25,000 in scholarships to study abroad during the spring and May Term of 2019.

For several years, Illinois Wesleyan students have been selected from applicants nationwide to study or intern abroad. The program awards under 3,000 scholarships per academic year to students from underrepresented groups who might otherwise lack the means to study abroad during their undergraduate career.

Cortez, who is participating in the Barcelona Study Abroad Experience (SAE) program, said she is eager to fully immerse herself in Spanish in order to provide higher quality treatment for her future patients.

The opportunity to go to Spain as a nursing student and Hispanic studies minor will greatly impact my future career in a Spanish-speaking environment, said Cortez. The observations at a hospital in Barcelona will help me experience different approaches to the medical field that one may not see in the States.

Founded by the Institute of International Education in 2001, recipients of the Gilman Scholarship are encouraged to develop skills critical for engaging with the international community, such as critical need languages.

Ely Cortez 21

Cortez said studying in Spain would not be possible without support from this scholarship program.

I am so grateful that I received the Gilman Scholarship because it truly allows me, a first-generation college student, to study abroad without the extra financial concern, Cortez said. I look forward to learning the culture, architecture, and cuisine of Barcelona. I'm very excited to make Barcelona home for four months and fully integrate myself to the culture.

With over half of Illinois Wesleyan students studying abroad at least once during their undergraduate years, the University is committed to assisting with resources that can reduce financial barriers for students and provide access to unique learning opportunities. Students can learn more by attending the Spring Study Abroad Fair on Thursday, Jan. 17 from 4 p.m. until 6 p.m. in the Memorial Centers Davidson Room.

Study abroad scholarships and grants awarded to IWU students for spring and May Term of 2019 include:

Shannan Abraham (Addison, Ill.), $1,750 Global Access Initiative (GAIN) Grant from CIEE, for study abroad in Palma de Mallorca, Spain (spring)





(Addison, Ill.), $1,750 Global Access Initiative (GAIN) Grant from CIEE, for study abroad in Palma de Mallorca, Spain (spring) Khayla Caruthers (Rockford, Ill.), $1,750 Global Access Initiative (GAIN) Grant and $2,500 Gilman Go Global Grant from CIEE, for study abroad in Seoul, South Korea (spring)





(Rockford, Ill.), $1,750 Global Access Initiative (GAIN) Grant and $2,500 Gilman Go Global Grant from CIEE, for study abroad in Seoul, South Korea (spring) Ely Cortez (Chicago), $3,500 from the Benjamin A. Gilman Scholarship program, for study abroad in Barcelona, Spain (spring)





(Chicago), $3,500 from the Benjamin A. Gilman Scholarship program, for study abroad in Barcelona, Spain (spring) Jaeden Danko (Eagan, Minn.), $1,000 IWU Study Abroad Scholarship, funded by Betty Ritchie-Birrer (47), for study abroad in Granada, Spain (spring)





(Eagan, Minn.), $1,000 IWU Study Abroad Scholarship, funded by Betty Ritchie-Birrer (47), for study abroad in Granada, Spain (spring) Megan Frederick (Naperville, Ill.), $1,000 IWU Study Abroad Scholarship, funded by Betty Ritchie-Birrer (47), for study abroad in Quito, Ecuador (spring)





(Naperville, Ill.), $1,000 IWU Study Abroad Scholarship, funded by Betty Ritchie-Birrer (47), for study abroad in Quito, Ecuador (spring) Megan Hippe (Caledonia, Mich.), $1,000 IWU Study Abroad Scholarship, funded by Betty Ritchie-Birrer (47), for participation in the May Term course on Brexit





(Caledonia, Mich.), $1,000 IWU Study Abroad Scholarship, funded by Betty Ritchie-Birrer (47), for participation in the May Term course on Brexit Ruth Hoffart (Oregon City, Ore.), $1,000 IES Abroad Scholarship, for study abroad in Vienna, Austria (spring)





(Oregon City, Ore.), $1,000 IES Abroad Scholarship, for study abroad in Vienna, Austria (spring) Vi Kakares (Niles, Ill.), $1,000 Academic Consortium Grant from CIEE for study abroad in Sevill, Spain (spring)





(Niles, Ill.), $1,000 Academic Consortium Grant from CIEE for study abroad in Sevill, Spain (spring) Jenny Ly (Chicago), $2,500 IWU Study Abroad Scholarship, funded by Betty Ritchie-Birrer (47), for study abroad in Barcelona, Spain (spring)





(Chicago), $2,500 IWU Study Abroad Scholarship, funded by Betty Ritchie-Birrer (47), for study abroad in Barcelona, Spain (spring) Sanghyun Nam (Glenview, Ill.), $1,500 from IFSA-Butler for study abroad at Trinity College Dublin, Ireland (spring)





(Glenview, Ill.), $1,500 from IFSA-Butler for study abroad at Trinity College Dublin, Ireland (spring) Maeve Plunkett (Glenview, Ill.), $1,000 from Phi Kappa Phi for study abroad in Morocco (spring)





(Glenview, Ill.), $1,000 from Phi Kappa Phi for study abroad in Morocco (spring) Logan Servin (Milton, Wis.), $1,500 IWU Study Abroad Scholarship, funded by Betty Ritchie-Birrer (47), for participation in the May Term course on Brexit





(Milton, Wis.), $1,500 IWU Study Abroad Scholarship, funded by Betty Ritchie-Birrer (47), for participation in the May Term course on Brexit Andria Talavera (Schererville, Ind.), $1,000 IWU Study Abroad Scholarship, funded by Betty Ritchie-Birrer (47), for participation in the May Term course on Brexit





(Schererville, Ind.), $1,000 IWU Study Abroad Scholarship, funded by Betty Ritchie-Birrer (47), for participation in the May Term course on Brexit Jasmine White (Chicago), $5,000 David Porter Need-Based Diversity Scholarship and $2,000 IES Abroad Scholarship, for study abroad in Shanghai, China (spring)





(Chicago), $5,000 David Porter Need-Based Diversity Scholarship and $2,000 IES Abroad Scholarship, for study abroad in Shanghai, China (spring) Yilin Li (Zhengzhou, China), $1,000 IES Abroad Scholarship, for study abroad in Vienna, Austria (spring)



By Rachel McCarthy 21
When the late Apple CEO Steve Jobs introduced the iPhone 12 years ago, he also introduced to many the concept of the multitouch user interface. He emphasized the benefit of using the pointing device we were all born with: our fingers.

But theres one thing even more natural than physically poking something with our fingers: in-the-air hand gestures. All humans use hand gestures to communicate to other people.

Now Google wants you to use them to communicate with all your electronics.

Google is working on something it calls Project Soli, which uses radar to control electronics with in-the-air hand gestures.

Soli is quite amazing, actually

Announced in spring of 2015, Soli enables in-the-air gestures to control smartphones, computers, wearable devices and even cars. The project is in the news this week because the FCC just granted a request by Google to operate Soli radar sensors at higher powers than currently allowed in the U.S. It also gave permission for using Soli devices on airplanes.

Soli emerged from Googles Advanced Technology and Projects group (ATAP), which itself was created inside Motorola Mobility by former DARPA director Regina Dugan. Google acquired ATAP when it bought Motorola in 2012, but kept it when it sold the company to Lenovo two years later.

Research labs are a dime a dozen in Silicon Valley, throughout the tech industry and in universities everywhere. Theyre great at producing great technology that never makes it into real products.

ATAP is different in that all projects are expected to move from conception to shipping product in two years. (It often misses that target, but the point is to move aggressively toward productization.)

Commenters are comparing the technology to Minority Report, which was a good movie from 17 years ago, or Replicas, which is a bad movie currently in theaters. (Heres the trailer for Replicas, which shows the in-the-air UI.)

Those Hollywood user interfaces involve large, conspicuous and sweeping movements of the arms and hands, whereas Soli enables interaction with slight finger movements. For example, rubbing fingers together (the international hand gesture for money) can direct a smartwatch to rotate, or a smartphone to cycle through a series of screens.

Soli works with the use of a special and tiny solid-state chip (8mm x 10mm) that captures 3D motion using radar, then processes it with machine-learning algorithms. The radar passes through fabric, so you could interact with a phone in your pocket or a smartwatch while wearing gloves.

ATAP is the research division that brought us Tango, Ara, Spotlight Stories, Jacquard, Abacus, Vault and others. All these projects, by the way, were either canceled or failed after being brought to market.

The difference with Soli is that all previous failed or canceled ATP projects aimed to create an entirely new kind of product, or a new, untested platform. For example, Jacquard, which emerged as a fabric UI for the clumsily named Levis Commuter Trucker Jacket with Jacquard by Google, failed not because of the horrible name or because the technology was bad, but because the public didnt take to the untested idea of using a sleeve as a user interface. Or, at least, the public didnt want to pay a $260 premium for sleeve-based smartphone control.

Soli, however, is likely to show up on platforms that are already popular, such as smartphones and laptops, with a significant rise in price. If users dont take to it right away, the products that support Soli will still probably succeed in the market, anyway.

Stated another way, its likely that Jacquard would be considered a success if it had been simply added it to the existing $90 Trucker jacket instead of being available only in a special $350 version.

Soli may end up being more similar to Google Assistant, which can be baked into all kinds of things  especially Internet of Things things.

In-the-air gesture support means that random appliances and sensors dont need screens or buttons, and could be designed with natural, intuitive hand-gesture controls. Imagine an alarm clock that gave you a number of minutes snooze time based on how many fingers you held up, or smartphone notifications that go away when you make a natural dismiss hand gesture.

One application nobody is talking about is the possibility of interaction with augmented reality objects. For example, a thermostat could show a virtual dial suspended in the air, then detect when you turn the dial to the right or left (thereby adjusting the temperature).

Soli Virtual Tool Gestures already developed include buttons, dials, sliders and others.

Imagine factory workers with augmented reality safety glasses that could conjure all kinds of virtual controls, then use Soli technology to manipulate those controls in the air.

I believe Soli is coming to real products, real soon. Google is working with LG, Qualcomm, JBL and others to build Soli into shipping products. The Soli SDK could be used by device makers of all kinds, as long as those devices are based on Android, Chrome or Googles next-generation OS, called Fuschia.

Researchers are using Soli, too.

University of St Andrews researchers in Scotland published a paper in December detailing their work exploring the possibilities of Soli hardware. They demonstrated with their RadarCat project that Soli is so precise it can accurately count the number of playing cards in a deck, figure out compass orientation and map out the exact configuration of LEGO bricks.

Soli can identify objects or materials. The researchers showed how Soli could identify apples, oranges and hard drives. It could also figure out if objects were made out of glass, copper or steel, or what kind of beverage is poured into a glass. (Expect Soli-based coasters in bars.)

It can even tell how youre holding a smartphone, or what part of your body you touch your phone to.

Google gets great feedback

Movement in the Solisphere overshadowed news that Google announced last week a multiyear deal with haptics leader Immersion Corp.

Immersion is the leading independent company that enables game controllers and smartphones to buzz, shake and rumble to give touchy-feeling feedback to users.

The deal gives Google the right to use or be protected by any or all of Immersions 3,000 or so patents.

This matters, because Motorola/Google lost a patent infringement lawsuit against Immersion seven years ago, and that lawsuit centered on Basic Haptics, which is mostly simple buzzing. (Immersion also won patent lawsuits against Apple, Microsoft, Samsung, Sony, Fitbit and others.)

The Motorola/Google lawsuit covered only Motorola-branded phones, not Pixel or Android phones, or any of the hardware products Google currently makes.

I think a deal licensing all Immersion patents must have been extremely expensive for Google (terms of the deal were not disclosed).

And I think the deal is related to Soli.

Haptic feedback is a necessary feature of Soli, because in-the-air gestures otherwise dont provide the psychologically necessary feedback that something has actually happened on the device. For example, while turning an imaginary dial in space, you need a clicking sensation on the smartwatch to feel like something is really happening.

The Soli news plus the Immersion news add up to aggressive moves by Google to reinvent the touch user interface by taking the touch out of the equation.

Major user interface change is in the air.
Irene Jaehne Mouser beloved mother, grandmother, and friend went home to be with her Lord and Savior at the age of 93, in Huntsville, Tx. on June 9, 2021. Irene met her husband Leroy Mouser while working at the Houston Police Department. In 1947, Leroy and Irene were married, had three sons,
The New York Democrat is expected to make her debut in the leadoff caucus state of Iowa next weekend. Among her stops, Gillibrand plans to headline a Woodbury County Democrats Truman Club gathering at a private home in Sioux City on the evening of January 18. Although the event is expected to be an intimate gathering of only a couple dozen donors and influential activists, it will be hard to avoid the comparison of a recent event Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts held in Sioux City, when she packed 400 into a refurbished downtown theater.
Dateline The Causes and Likely Effects of the Arakan Armys Attacks

This week, The Irrawaddy discusses the possible effects of the armed groups deadly Jan. 4 attacks on both the domestic and regional security situations.

Ye Ni: Welcome to Dateline Irrawaddy! This week, well discuss the Arakan Army (AA)s attacks on four border police outposts in northern Rakhine State on Jan. 4, Myanmars Independence Day, and their impact on politics and the peace process of the country. Political analyst U Maung Maung Soe joins me to discuss this. Im Ye Ni, editor of The Irrawaddy Burmese edition.

As you know, the AA launched attacks on four border police outposts in northern Rakhine State on Jan. 4, Independence Day. Thirteen police were killed in the attacks, and the AA briefly held 18 persons prisoner. There have been many clashes since the AA took steps in 2014 and 2015 to establish a stronghold in its homeland of Rakhine State. But my personal view is that the AA has raised the stakes by launching its latest attacks on Jan. 4. What do you think is the AAs goal? What message does it want to send through its latest attacks?

Maung Maung Soe: The AA was founded in 2009 on the Myanmar-China border. It seems that it took lessons from previous [Arakanese] organizations such as the AIA [Arakan Independence Army] and ALP [Arakan Liberation Party], which came into existence in 1968. At that time, the ALP was founded in Karen State. After assembling hundreds of troops by around 1975, it marched from Karen to Shan State, then to Kachin State and to Chin through the Naga mountain range. There they were surrounded and annihilated by Tatmadaw troops. Similarly, the AIA led by U San Kyaw Kyaw Tun was founded with the support of the KIA [Kachin Independence Army], and it too was annihilated by Tatmadaw troops as it marched from Kachin State to Chin State. It seems the AA learned a lesson from them, and took its time to build a strong army on the Myanmar-China border. First, it apparently chose to infiltrate into Rakhine rather than marching its troops in there. Second, it chose to base itself in the thickly forested area of Chin States Paletwa, upstream from northern Rakhine State. The AA started participating in the peace process around 2014, 2015. It joined the UNFC [United Nationalities Federal Council]. But when [former] President U Thein Sein met the UNFC leaders on Sept. 9, 2015, the AA, TNLA [Taang National Liberation Army] and MNDAA [Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army] were barred [from participating in] the peace process. This was followed by the attacks of the AA. Clashes broke out in northern Rakhine State in 2015. There were sporadic clashes in 2016 and 2017, especially in Chin States Paletwa, toward the end of 2017. But at the same time, some AA troops remain in northeastern areas of the country, and have participated in joint military operations with the KIA, the TNLA and the MNDAA. AA troops have infiltrated gradually, and their activities intensified in Rakhine and Paletwa in 2018. And around the end of 2018 they came down to the outskirts of four townshipsButhidaung, Rathedaung, Ponnagyun and Kyauktawin northern Rakhine State. There were attacks on convoys, and clashes with the Myanmar Army in the forest. There were allegations that the Tatmadaw used helicopters in the clashes. The Tatmadaw on Dec. 21 declared a ceasefire in five military regions on the Myanmar-China border [to further the] peace process. The truce covers areas in Kachin and Shan states, but it does not cover the area overseen by the Western Command. The Tatmadaw said it could not implement a ceasefire there due to ARSA [the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army]. But in my opinion, it is because of the infiltration of AA troops in northern Rakhine State. If the Tatmadaw were to halt its operations there, it would amount to an acceptance of [the AAs] existence there. The Tatmadaw already has a policy to negotiate with the AA, but it is hard for it to halt its operations in the absence of an agreement. For this reason, I expected [the Tatmadaw] would hold talks promptly to solve the problem. But that didnt happen. The AA has concerns that [the Tatmadaw] will bring troops from Kachin and northern Shan State to Rakhine and launch large-scale attacks. Due to such concerns and reservations, clashes broke out and continue. On Jan. 4, the AA launched its first-ever attacks on [police] outposts. The aim of the AA since it was founded in 2009 has been to return and establish a stronghold in Rakhine. I think the AA is preparing to base itself in Paletwa and northern Rakhine State. There will be fierce clashes if the Tatmadaw doesnt accept this. You can look at the example of MNDAA troops returning to Kokang in 2015. There will be fierce clashes if the Tatmadaw doesnt accept the AA building a base in Paletwa and northern Rakhine State as part of implementing what [the AA] calls The Way of Rakhita.

YN: At a press conference at the Presidents Office on Monday, [government spokesperson] U Zaw Htay said the President, the State Counselor and the Army chief held talks immediately after the Jan. 4 AA attacks. He said the Presidents Office has allowed the Tatmadaw to attack the AA. So it seems that clashes are inevitable. What can be done to avert or reduce the chances of fighting?

MMS: It should be noted that this is the first time the National League for Democracy-led government, since it took office, has instructed the Tatmadaw to conduct military operations, and it is in Rakhine State. The government has neither instructed nor restricted the Tatmadaw in clashes in Kachin and northern Shan State. It should be noted that this is the first time. So regarding future attacks in Rakhine State, not only the Tatmadaw but also the government has to ensure responsibility and accountability. We will monitor this. It will be interesting to see how ethnic armed organizations including the AA assess this. Because the decision to launch attacks was not made by the Tatmadaw alone. Our previous understanding was that the Tatmadaw made decisions about military matters, according to the Constitution. But this decision was made by the government. So, it will be interesting to see how other ethnic armed groups view it. But the door to peace talks remains open. U Zaw Htay said political negotiations would be held [with the AA]. And the AA said in its statement that it would continue talks. And I think China will also broker the talks despite its denunciation of the AA attacks. Skepticism will grow if clashes break out. And we need to wait and see the response of the ethnic armed organizations to the fighting waged by the government. Again, as Ive said, whether or not the Tatmadaw can accept the existence of AA troops in northern Rakhine is also a very important factor.

YN: At the press conference, U Zaw Htay warned that big powers are at play in the Rakhine issue. Paletwa, where the AA is currently based, borders India and Bangladesh. And U Zaw Htay accused the AA of having two bases on the Bangladeshi side of border [where he also claimed there are] ARSA bases. And as youve said, China is a big player in Myanmars peace process. So, it seems the Presidents Office views it not just as an internal issue, but a regional political chessboard. What is your assessment of this?

MMS: Western countries and others have alleged that the seven ethnic groups based in northeastern areas of Myanmar that opted out of signing the NCA [Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement] and which formed the FPNCC [Federal Political Negotiation and Consultative Committee] did so because they are tied to Chinas apron strings. They accuse them of having close ties to China. But on the other hand, China is urging them to sign the NCA for the success of the peace process.

Anyway, it is indisputable that a big power is involved in our peace process. There are also accusations that China has backed the AA motivated by its own interests in Rakhine State. The AA says it is simply realizing its Way of the Rakhita. It troops have reached the India border as it attempts to realize this. Bangladesh and the AA have denied having ties with each other. Well wait and see on this.

However, Im more interested in [the role of] India. India is a big power, the main rival to China in the region. It keeps an eye on Chinas steps. India and Japan are planning to build [an economic] corridor to counter Chinas Belt and Road Initiative. India is one of the countries that is particularly wary about Chinas steps in Myanmar.

And I found that the Indian government paid attention to border security in 2018. As far as I know, the Assam Rifles is responsible for security on the India-Myanmar border. I heard that a proposal was submitted to the Indian Parliament in 2018 to form another border guard force. I dont know if the decision has been made. Anyway, the Indian government has given attention to border security.

The Naga armed group, which the Indian government has declared an unlawful association, is based inside Myanmar. Again, India assumes that the Kuki group, which often launches attacks in Manipur, has bases inside Myanmar. There are allegations. So, we need to wait and see how the Indian government views the AA on its border. It will be interesting to see.

YN: Racial tensions are inevitable as clashes escalate. We have now seen some netizens on both sides [from the Bamar and Arakanese communities] attacking each other on social media. What is your advice to ethnic groups, especially the Arakanese politicians and civil society organizations (CSOs), as they try to handle this?

MMS: [The government], if it has the will, should easily be able to overcome the [Arakanese] displaced persons crisis, which needs urgent attention. If the Ministry of Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement, the Rakhine State government and Arakanese CSOs work together, they will be able to solve the problem of some 5,000 displaced persons, and of any new displaced persons. At the press conference on Monday, [government spokesperson] U Zaw Htay urged political organizations and CSOs [to help displaced persons]. This is not enough. The government has accused the AA of having ties to ARSA. The AA has denied it, and Bangladesh has also denied that the AA has bases on its side of the border. On this problem, we will have to wait and see. But the Arakanese people dont accept that the AA has links to ARSA. Even if the AA has ties to ARSA, [the government] should separate internal issues and handle them separately. If the two problems are combined, it will become more difficult to solve not only the problem of AA, but also the refugee crisis. We have yet to solve the [Rohingya] refugee crisis. If the government doesnt cooperate with the community, either with Arakanese CSOs or political parties, and if there is hatred between the two communities, it will be hard for the government to solve the refugee crisis. Besides that, there is talk that sanctions will be imposed against Myanmar. This will put the country into deeper trouble. So, in my view, it is not enough for the government just to urge Arakanese political organizations and CSOs [to take action]. It has to invite them and cooperate with them. It also important that [the government] broaden the federal framework. Only then can this problem be solved.

YN: Thank you for your contributions!
In one of his most provocative speeches, an early version of his recent warning of the accelerating threat climate change poses to our civilisation, David Attenborough spoke from Easter Island, a remote outcrop in the Pacific, 3,510km west of continental Chile.

His sobering plea went largely unheeded because we imagine our durability and inventiveness will prevail and that we will overcome new climate realities.
Take a moment to think of five female friends or relatives close to you. Statistically one of these women will have experienced physical, emotional or sexual abuse from a male partner, writes Elaine Loughlin

There is no typical domestic violence victim, she is as likely to be the married mother-of-two at the school gate as the young student behind the till in your local supermarket, she is your friend, your neighbour, your doctor, the woman who helps you in the pharmacy, the woman you make eye contact with crossing the road, the woman who sits next to you in the office.

It means that for many women, the place where they should feel safest is instead a violent terrifying place and in some cases the place where they will meet a violent horrific death.

And while the Government has recently introduced positive changes by making coercive control a criminal offence; allowing victims to give evidence via live television link and making it easier to obtain a barring order, these measures will only work if women are aware of them, if the gardai, judiciary and other frontline staff are trained to enforce them and if perpetrators know the penalties they face.

Domestic abuse and violence festers just under the surface in every community, every town, every parish, every village across the country; it now needs to be confronted.

Nine in 10 women murdered in Ireland are killed by a man known to them, a startling fact contained in the Womens Aid Femicide Watch 2018 report published before Christmas.

In cases that have been resolved, the report found that more than half of women were murdered by their current or former boyfriend and 61% were killed in their own homes.

This January marked a significant step forward in bringing about a much-needed change of culture when it comes to combating an all-too-prevalent problem.

The new Domestic Violence Act 2018 came into force, which among other enhanced protections, makes coercive control a criminal offence for the first time.

Campaigners have welcomed this new offence which should help to change perceptions that domestic violence only relates to physical abuse and instead can relate to psychological abuse in an intimate relationship that causes fear of violence, or serious alarm or distress that has a substantial adverse impact on a persons day-to-day activities.

However, this week the Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors (AGSI) said their members have not been given the training to allow them to enforce the new laws and protect abused women and their children.

All we are asking is that our members are fully trained on the new legislation so that we can enforce this effectively, said AGSI general secretary John Jacob.

Our people are familiar with the new coercive control existence, but we havent been given any instructions on how to assess if the offence has been committed so its a difficult one for our members to actually implement. Legislation is complex, if it wasnt we wouldnt have barristers and solicitors, so all we are asking for is that our people are trained so that we can effectively enforce the legislation.

It is incredibly difficult and sometimes dangerous for any female victim to go to the authorities, so if the gardai have not been trained up on the new protections how can any woman have confidence that the risk they take in reporting abuse will be worth it?

It is simply not good enough for the Government to roll out new laws and hope for the best, it requires full commitment and those who will be responsible for enforcing this legislation including the gardai and the judiciary must receive proper training.

Government commitment must also extend to ensuring that vulnerable women know their rights and know that if they come forward they will be supported.

If women dont actually know that the criminal offence of coercive control exists how can they ever come forward, asked Orla OConnor of the National Womens Council.

The Government now has a responsibility to publicise the changes, and that must involve a public information campaign, radio, television and other media advertisements and training for frontline staff.

Other positive changes in the law mean that safety orders are available to people who are in intimate relationships but who are not cohabiting; victims of domestic violence are now also able to apply for an emergency barring order, lasting eight working days, where there is an immediate risk of significant harm and the Courts Service now have an obligation to offer victims information on domestic violence support services.

While it is hoped that these extra supports will provide victims with the confidence to come forward, the very infrastructure (garda stations, court buildings and courtrooms) that women find themselves in is often unsuitable, intimidating and ultimately can prevent them from pursuing their case.

When trying to get a barring or safety order, victims must enter a geographic lottery when it comes to facilities.

The Childrens Rights Alliance have highlighted the fact that judges are making decisions in courts around the country about intimate family issues often in the same room as they are sentencing violent criminals.

They say specialised family court systems are commonplace across Europe and in other common law jurisdictions and must be put in place here.

Justice Minister Charlie Flanagan has previously indicated that he is working towards making family law a separate strand of the court, meaning dedicated judges would be appointed to solely handle this area, but this has yet to be implemented.

Justice Minister Charlie Flanagan

While most district courts now designate a specific day to hear family law cases, in larger courts other civil cases are heard down the corridor at the same time and a number of older courthouses are still are lacking basic facilities such as dedicated waiting areas to provide privacy.

In Dublin, Dolphin House, a former hotel, is used for family law cases, and while this functions as a dedicated family court the building itself is old, cramped and unsuitable despite attempts at renovation.

The promise of a 22-court purpose built Family Law and Childrens Court complex on the nearby Hammond Lane site remains little more than a promise, with no funding allocated to get the project out of the ground.

If a victim decided to pursue criminal charges, for example assault or the new charge of coercive control, she will be lumped in with all the other criminal cases being heard that day.

The entire process is physically and mentally draining.

Campaigners are now beyond disillusioned that the Istanbul Convention, which made significant strides towards addressing gender-based violence, has yet to be ratified by Ireland, eight years after its adoption.

While the new laws are a step in the right direction a massive cultural shift is urgently needed to encourage women to seek help, to provide them with the confidence to report violence and abuse and to reduce the number of women being murdered by men they know.
Why is it that whenever theres a problem, a serious one requiring either money and seismic change, its solution seems next to impossible? Not only this, but when people table solutions, theyre ridiculed as ignoramuses or maligned as quacks, writes Joyce Fegan

Lets take our nurses and midwives, who have voted by 95% to go on strike for the second time in 100 years.

A highly-educated nurse, who works in intensive care, posted her payslip to social media this week, to illustrate why she and her colleagues have voted to strike. Her name is Joanna Hickey. At the end of two weeks, she brings home 1,120.80 (net) to her partner and child.

The post was followed, a day later, by an article in this paper, by Phil Ni Sheaghdha, the general secretary of the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO). She called on the Government to act, in order to avert their planned strike.

The graffiti on the nations bathroom walls, Twitter, illustrated both the overriding support for nurses, and also the tired arguments of their opponents.

There is no money, the opponents say. Is there ever?

Across the Atlantic Ocean, Americas youngest ever congresswoman, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, is always tabling interesting ideas and alternatives to solve her countrys problems.

For example, shes advocating for universal education. Her opponents scoff, telling her its fantasy. Shes reminded of her age and her experience in attempts to shame her back into her box. It is doubtful whether she ever inhabited one, so her opponents may well be wasting their time.

Ocasio, at a fresh 29, is quick with her words, and flips a Trump proposal to prove her point.

For the walls $5.7bn, every child in America could have access to Universal Pre-K [preschool], she said.

Yet when we propose the same money, were told universal education is a fantasy and are asked how are you going to pay for it. Education is an investment in society that yield returns. Walls are waste.

Ocasio, a less than two-week-old congresswoman, comes in for global criticism for such an idealistic and ambitious proposal. Yet Trump can get away with shutting down his countrys government for 22 days, the longest in history, over the payment for a wall?

Back to this side of the Atlantic.

Anyone who has ever been to a funeral in Ireland, will hear how the nursing staff went above and beyond for their loved one. In fact, these nurses often seem to form part of the congregation. Anyone who has ever spent time in an Irish hospital, either giving birth or receiving treatment, will be intimately familiar with this above and beyond approach of our nursing staff.

These are people, who, while we complain about waiting lists and hospital trollies on Twitter, are working around these seemly impenetrable constraints to keep our health system ticking over.

The nurses strike is not the cause of the problem. Theyre operating in a system thats no longer fit for purpose, and in need of urgent change.

Its a bit like our housing situation, where homelessness is on an upwards-trending curve, along with rents and house prices.

Just like the nurses opponents, people will say: Well, you need money to build.

Isnt it easy to be an opponent? To shoot down ideas, with glib phrases and short sentences, never having to come up with a solution of your own?

But as the 26th president of the United States of America, Theodore Roosevelt, said: It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better.

The credit, he said, is the person who is actually in the arena, who is sweaty and dirty, and who tries and inevitably fails, but then gets up and tries again.

This week, our own President Michael D Higgins was speaking to several thousand Irish students at the BT Young Scientists.

He reminded them that nothing is set in stone, that just because the world is headed down a certain path, it doesnt mean that its course cannot be altered.

There no inevitabilities, either in social or economic policy, said the President.

But in order to talk solutions, one needs to be economically literate. And the lingo of economics isnt one that is instantly accessible. Words such as fiscal and equity and phrases such as asset-utilisation ratio keep the area locked in a complexity thats accessible only to an elite few.

When any lay person attempts to venture into its undergrowth to ask questions, to point out problems and to table solutions for things like public housing and public healthcare, the critics come crawling out with their its not that simple or there isnt enough money rhetoric.

Ocasio-Cortez had another nifty reply for this kind of defeatist debate. She pointed out that while America Inc refuses to find money to pay for healthcare or tuition-free college, it was miraculously able to find $2trn to pay for tax cuts, and $210bn to cover their trade war.

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. Picture: AFP/Getty

She pointed out that while many attack and disempower ideas, by questioning how to finance them, no one ever asks those questions in relation to funding things such as warfare or space exploration.

To those who only want to critique, why not save the energy and reflect on solutions you could table instead?

To those brave enough to question our countrys problems and suggest solutions, know that you will be criticised anyway.

Lastly, to pessimists who believe that there are no solutions to our pressing problems, remember when it was a crime to be a man who loved a man, when drink-driving meant having that seventh pint, and when you left the supermarket with 12 plastic bags on every visit?

And if anyone asks where youll get the money from to pay the nurses or to build houses, suggest you put your heads together and find out.

Change is always possible, in spite of the critics.
It must take a galling amount of ignorant hatred to find it justifiable to set fire to a hotel earmarked for a group of people who have risked their lives, left behind their worldly possessions and their families to flee violence, war, or persecution, writes Elaine Loughlin.

Ireland of a thousand welcomes... Yeah right.

Those living in rural Ireland often vocally, and quite rightly, lament the demise of the many villages and small towns dotted around the country which have seen their post office shut, their garda station close, and their local primary school struggle to keep its two or three teachers because of plummeting enrolments.

The arrival of new families into any area  but especially rural communities which make much ado about the near extinction of children  you would imagine would be welcome.

Not in Ireland, where people would rather burn down vacant hotels than fill these property eyesores with those foreigners.

Those foreigners who are seeking asylum here were doctors, teachers, engineers, students, and shopkeepers in a previous life, who, through no fault of their own, were born in a country or region that is now being ripped apart by turmoil and chaos.

Communities, whether it be in Donegal, Wicklow, Roscommon, or Leitrim, time and time again cite concerns around the lack of a plan to help the newcomers assimilate, the short notice given to locals, or the loss of a hotel which historically acted as a focal point.

But these concerns must be exposed for what they truly are  fake and pathetic excuses for out and out racism.

And local representatives and politicians pander to these views by hitting out at the Governments poor process of consultation with local communities.

While initially condemning the fire in Rooskey, Fianna Fail TD Eugene Murphy in the same statement called for an end to the current asylum seeker system of railroading them into small rural villages around the country.

The Governments approach of pushing refugees and asylum seekers into small towns around rural Ireland is simply not working, said Mr Murphy. Many of these small rural towns are already on their knees and the necessary infrastructure from a transport, educational, and health aspect are just not in place and the Government needs to take responsibility for the lack of judgement in relation to this whole approach.

It begs the question, would any local representative hit out at a private contractor over a lack of consultation if they bought a boarded-up hotel and decided to turn it into an apartment complex?

Its worth noting that the most globally recognised man to have ever walked this earth was a migrant.

Referring to the migrant crisis in 2016, Pope Francis said: The sad experience of these brothers and sisters recalls that of baby Jesus, who at the time of his birth could not find a place to stay when he was born in Bethlehem.

He was then taken to Egypt to escape threats from Herod.

How would Mary and Joseph have felt if they had arrived at the stable to find a few bigoted thugs had torched it?

Regardless of whether you have a faith or not, you must accept that such an act would have changed the course of humanity and not just for generations but millennia.

Change of any sort is daunting, its understandable that people are wary and sometimes scared of change.

But change can also be hugely positive, especially when we embrace it.
Forgive me for being Captain Obvious here, but my god, January is such a gloomy month.

December would probably be just as grim too, if we didnt have the fairy lights and tinsel and the Jackson 5 Christmas album on repeat to keep us distracted. Its as if we all morph into ravenous magpies for a few weeks every year, scavenging for more and more sparkly things to satisfy us.

But now its January, and we dont have Hope youre all set for Christmas! and Any plans for New Years? to fill awkward silences in conversation. Its grey and cold and dark and miserable.

Were all broke, having spent the previous month treating 20 notes like Monolopy money. Now were left remembering how we offered to buy multiple drinks for literal strangers on Stephens Night, throwing the debit card across the counter at the bar person with bonhomie, while said strangers exclaim, You shouldnt have!

Its only in the depths of January, staring at your bank statement and awaiting your next pay cheque, that you realise they were right. You really shouldnt have.

To add to the misery, most of us are in sugar/alcohol withdrawals, our skin is spotty and dry from the unholy trilogy of lack of sleep, forgetting to take our makeup off at 4am, and central heating, and our limbs have shrivelled through lack of use.

I dont even drink, and I did manage to stay fit thanks to the support/intimidation of the amazing instructors at the Absolute Health and Fitness gym in Clonakilty, but Im still recovering from a massive food hangover. I usually practise intuitive eating, but I dont think I intuitively wanted or needed to eat five toasted cheese sandwiches a day, washed down with turmeric lattes. (The latter was made with almond milk to maintain the pretence of being healthy.)

Christmas may have been three weeks ago but still, all I want to do is huddle under my duvet until spring arrives. No wonder this is considered the most miserable month of the year, with the third Monday of January known as Blue Monday, officially the most depressing day of the year due to the weather, post-Christmas debt, and failed New Years resolutions. January isnt the right time to become a New You, as if the old you is a skin that you can shed like a snake. No, no.

This is the time to be nice to yourself. Make a list of all the simple things you enjoy, and try and do them as often as you possibly can until the sky cracks open and lets some light in. I refuse to call the following guilty pleasures, because I dont believe we should feel guilty about pleasure, but here are some of the things I like to do to cheer myself up at this time of year.

Go the cinema alone. This is one of my favourite things to do. I get a bag of Pick N Mix, stake out my claim on the perfect seats (centre, near the front, coz Im blind and old now) and loudly shush anyone talking/checking their phone during the movie. Im a delight.

Buzzfeed quizzes. I must take about ten of these a day, as I believe they hold the key to the universe, or, more importantly, the key to understanding the truth of who I am. You know its bad when youre taking quizzes with titles like this quiz will reveal who you are based on your salad preferences and what kind of bread are you?

Read a book that your English literature professor would not approve of, which usually means reading a book thats written by women for women. Its an insidious tenant of the patriarchy that books that are traditionally enjoyed by women usually end up with a chick prefix so for 2019, please join me in calling bullshit on that.

Mhairi McFarlane writes wonderful romantic comedies, and Sarah Dessen, Jenny Han, and Stephanie Perkins have all created incredibly charming love stories featuring teenage protagonists.

Closer to home, Galway author Catherine Doyle may be better known for her middle grade novel, The Stormkeepers Island, a smash hit in the UK, but her YA trilogy, the Blood for Blood series (billed as Goodfellas meets Romeo and Juliet), was sexy, fast-paced, and gripping. Get on it.

Create a Spotify playlist featuring bangers by 90s pop acts only.

The Spice Girls, Britney Spears, All Saints, Destinys Child, TLC, Alanis Morissette, etc. Throw in Bitch by Meredith Brook for bonus points.

Turn off the Daily Mail online, and get your celebrity gossip from Lainey Gossip or Celebitchy. Both are feminist, smart, and dont have a side of racist/misogynistic undertones.

Take a long bath. Fill it with oils and Epsom salts to detoxify your body, light a candle, and play the best of Enya. (Dont lie to yourself: Enya is a queen and we are lucky to have her.)

Browse the Instagram account of your local animal shelter. A dog/cat is not just for Christmas, but it could be for January and beyond in 2019.

Theres nothing that boosts your mood more than snuggles from a pet, and adopting is a much better and kinder option than buying.

Buy a mattress topper. This might seem like an odd suggestion, but a fleecy, padded mattress topper will genuinely change your sleeping habits, and hence, your life. Trust me on this one.
Highly organised Nigerian gangs are earning extremely high profits from trafficking children into 12 European countries, including Ireland, for prostitution, according to the EU police agency.

Europol said victims generate a smuggling debt of between 30,000-60,000 each  and that paying off the debts can take years.

The agency said Nigerian criminal groups are organised into cells, typically run by females, known as madams, with men working in supportive roles.

The Europol report on the trafficking and exploitation of underage victims said southern EU countries, such as Italy and Spain, are the main entry points for trafficked Nigerians.

It said victims are then forced into prostitution in both the two entry countries and 10 other member states, including Ireland.

It said Nigerian organised crime gangs pose a great challenge to EU law enforcement. It said they were well organised, but not structured like most other crime networks.

The typical Nigerian criminal group is not hierarchically structured but rather organised into cells, among which female suspects usually execute the core business [recruitment and exploitation], with male members having supportive roles, said the report.

Contrary to other criminal groups involved in human trafficking, where female members are generally employed as victim controllers, the figure of the madam, including acting as a ring leader, is central for the Nigerian THB [trafficking of human beings] business.

The report said the cellular structure makes it easy to move victims and that if one cell is dismantled by police, the other cells can continue operating.

It said: Nigerian networks generate extremely high criminal profits, as each victim is forced to pay back the organisation usually between 30,000 and 60,000.

It said most victims of Nigerian gangs were aged between 15 and 17, though the reports documents children aged 11-15 and some aged six-10 and even under five.

The girls were often promised well-paid jobs. The gangs often involved family relatives to persuade the girls to move and in other cases use voodoo rituals.

It said victims are passed from trafficker to trafficker and are frequently subjected to physical assaults and subsequently sexually exploited.
On Feb. 14, my daughter died on the third floor of MSD running down the hallway from an active shooter, one of the grieving parents, Fred Guttenberg, said Friday at the announcement. One more second, and she makes it into the stairwell. She needed one more second. If anybody wants to know what failure means, and lack of response, my daughter would have lived if somebody could have just given her one more second.
Former Taoiseach John Bruton has said the backstop to prevent a hard border in Ireland in the event of a no-deal Brexit will not be dropped.

Mr Bruton said that a vote by British Parliament on the backstop would be "like saying that an insurance company would be free to, at their own wish, negate the insurance policy".

"The backstop is only an insurance policy against the possibility that an agreement won't be reached," he told the BBC's Radio 4 Today programme.

"One suspects that those who object to the backstop are people who don't really expect there ever will be an acceptable agreement which would avoid a hard border in Ireland or between Ireland and Britain," he said.

In the event that no deal is reached by the March 29 deadline, Mr Bruton said that under EU law, there will be a hard border on the island of Ireland.

If you look at the paper that was produced last month by the European Commission, it's quite clear that there will have to be control of the EU's borders and one of those borders in the event that Britain leaves the EU will be in Ireland.

He agreed that unless a compromise is reached on Theresa May's Brexit deal, Britain is heading towards a no-deal exit from the EU.

The former Fine Gael politician served as Taoiseach from 1994 to 1997 and during a key time for the peace process in Northern Ireland.

Mr Bruton stressed the importance of safeguarding the Good Friday Agreement and to ensure that neither nationalist nor unionist communities in Northern Ireland are isolated.

"We changed our Constitution, and took certain articles out of our Constitution, in return for an international commitment from Britain to the Belfast Agreement which guaranteed fair treatment of both communities in Northern Ireland, that neither community would be isolated," he said.

"We changed our Constitution to make that deal and then Britain comes along unilaterally and essentially decides to tear that up in proceeding with Brexit.

That's why we would insist on the backstop to protect the Good Friday Agreement so that Britain can't do that.

Commenting on reports that the Northern Ireland Secretary, Karen Bradley, warned that a poll on a united Ireland would be more likely in the event of a no-deal Brexit, Mr Bruton said there was "no great threat" of this.

"I think the Union is secure because the Belfast Agreement says clearly that Northern Ireland will remain part of the United Kingdom unless and until, by a free majority decision, the population in Northern Ireland decide to change that and I don't think that's going to happen in the near future.

"I certainly don't think that we should make a big change like that in a referendum on the basis of 52% to 48% majority because we have seen with Brexit how divisive that can be," he said.

When asked his view on Sinn Fein MPs not taking their seats in Westminster, Mr Bruton said the party's record was "extremely bad".

There are currently seven elected MPs who refuse to attend Parliament.

"Sinn Fein have refused to take their seats on this occasion, and the most serious threats to the position of Northern nationalists are now about to be realised with no Sinn Fein, no Northern nationalist voice there to argue a different case.

"I think it's a great shame, it's a tragedy," he said.

Meanwhile, Sinn Fein will host an event to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the first Dail in Dublin later today.
Hospitals in the south of the country were still awaiting the promised staffing and resources needed to provide abortion a day before the service was introduced.

A memo from John Higgins, clinical director of the maternity directorate of the South/Southwest hospital group (SSWHG), to all staff on December 31, outlined the groups position regarding the provision of the service.

It reads: While we currently await the promised staffing and resources we intend to provide the following services [outlined below] from the 1 January 2019.

The Irish Examiner understands that a number of referrals have been made to Cork University Maternity Hospitals (CUMH) abortion service since January 1.

A source said that the issues affecting the service include too few providers; where to carry out termination of pregnancy (TOP); and the involvement of other staff.

The service, as outlined in the memo, is currently not in a position to provide elective surgical terminations. The source said this is likely to be short-term and will be resolved.

The service does include termination of pregnancy where there is risk to the life, or of serious harm to the health, of the pregnant woman, as per the new abortion legislation. It includes emergency support for any woman with a complication from a TOP.

The memo says TOP will also be provided in the case of fatal foetal abnormalities.

CUMH and University Hospital Waterford are named as the two hospitals that will provide medical terminations at 9-12 weeks, with referral pathways from University Hospital Kerry (UHK) and South Tipperary General Hospital (STGH).

Prof Higgins said that all four maternity units are to provide viability scans to women requesting them and all units are to provide a telephone number specifically for TOP enquiries by the public, at 9am-5pm, Monday to Friday.

He said the directorate will ensure that conscientious objection is respected.

Prof Higgins acknowledged that providing abortion will be challenging.

The introduction of medical termination will undoubtedly be a challenge for our directorate, as we have not provided this service before, he wrote. One can anticipate that it will start slowly and that we will build it up as we gain experience and additional resources become available.

Prof Higgins was previously asked by doctors across Munster to clarify referral pathways for women seeking terminations.

The HSE was unable to provide national figures yesterday for the number of referrals to maternity hospitals that have taken place since the new service was introduced. The HSE was also unable to say how many calls had been made to the MyOptions helpline.

It was, however, able to update the number of GPs who have signed up to a TOP contract, from 217 to 224.

Nine maternity units are currently providing an abortion service. In addition to CUMH and UHW, a service is also being provided at the National Maternity Hospital, Holles Street; Midland Regional Hospital, Mullingar; Rotunda Hospital, Dublin, Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda; University Hospital Galway, Mayo University Hospital, Castlebar; and University Maternity Hospital Limerick.

The HSE said it is expected that other hospitals will begin to provide abortion care in the near future.
Most of the country is going to live without an election in 2019, but those of us in this commonwealth arent so lucky.
Real-time social media posts from local businesses and organizations across Northern Virginia, powered by Friends2Follow. To add your business to the stream, email cfields@insidenova.com or click on the green button below.
In what could shake out to be one of the most contentious intra-party Arlington political battles in decades, the two Democratic candidates fo
Sixty-five colleges, including Princeton University, are suing the Department of Homeland Security for imposing stricter immigration standards on international students, the majority of whom are from India and China, saying it will have drastic effects on the lives of international students. (representational image/factly.in photo)
In cases where Emanuel mixed both government and campaign business on a trip, the policy calls for the city to be reimbursed for the percentage of time on the trip that was related to politics. Emanuels travel guidelines, though, did not spell out what the mayor considered campaign business, leaving him wide discretion to determine what travel costs he would pay for and which ones taxpayers would pick up, without having to disclose what he did on the trips.
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Paresh Rawal plays the counterpart of National Security Advisor Ajit Doval in URI: The Surgical Strikes. The actor told India-West that the film, like the surgical strike itself, is a stout and befitting reply to people who oppose it. (photo provided)
What do you do when you are being failed by the very people you elected?

A 26-year-old man wrote a 10-page letter with his blood and sent it to the Chief Minister of Karnataka appealing him to establish proper educational institutions in his town. Hailing from Naltwas town, Karnataka, Vijayaranjan Joshi wrote a letter to the Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy, Education Minister, Muddibehal legislator and Deputy Commissioner on November 10, last year. However, two months have passed and he has still not received a response reports The New Indian Express.

The New Indian Express

Read More: Man Tracks Down Girl Who Left Him A Letter 11 Years Back Asking Him To 'Take Care Of The House'

After drawing blood using a syringe with the help of his friend, Joshi wrote the letter with a peacock feather.

Last year, on April 6, he had written a six-page letter with his blood on the same issue and sent it to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and after four months, he got a reply saying that the Chief Secretary has been directed to sanction the government school and college for his town, but till date nothing has been done.

We are exhausted with requesting the local politicians and officials concerned to sanction the educational institutions. It is a town which has a population over 25,000 and every day students have to travel over 20 km to Muddibehal for education. It is sad that we dont have a single government school or college in this town, Joshi told The New Indian Express.

Almost eight months ago, I wrote a letter to the PM and received a reply in August. The letter read that the officials concerned will fix the problem in the earliest. But till date, no work or discussion has taken place, he added.

Writing a letter to the CM is my last attempt. The only reason I wrote a letter in blood is to make the politicians and officials know the suffering that students are facing in the town. I hope at least the CM will respond after reading the letter, said Joshi.

Speaking to TNIE, Deputy Commissioner Sanjay B Shettannavar said, The government cannot open schools and colleges in all the towns. We will also look into the issue, and if necessary, we will open one institution, the DC said.
If in the future you plan a trip to Kyoto, take a look at John Einarsen's series of 'Small Buildings' - it will just give you peek into the beauty you'll actually get to see in the city.

Einarsen has captured some small yet delightfully beautiful architecture across Kyoto. In a blog, he shares I live in Kyoto Japan where I teach and edit a magazine, Kyoto Journal."

John Einarsen, began shooting an Instagram series called 'Small Buildings of Kyoto' on his iPhone and so far he has since taken over 200 images of homes, businesses, workshops. These images are a fresh take on how we perceive our surroundings.

"The project is still all about showing this other side of Kyoto that is largely ignored," the Bored Panda quoted him as saying.

Here's some music to go with the intriguing pictures of Kyoto:

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Well, who doesnt love tea? But to have tea and only tea for breakfat, lunch and dinner and possibly, every meal you take is probably not a healthy idea. However, theres someone who has entirely different in mind.

Meet, Chhattisgarhs Chai Wali Chachi who has been surviving on tea for more than 30 years now. Well, thats just too much love for tea, also nothing short of an obsession.

Interestingly, she is said to be completely healthy.

Living in Baradiya village of Koriya district, Pilli Devi gave up food at the age of 11 and has been surviving on tea ever since. Famous for her unique lifestyle, she is locally known as''chai wali chachi.''

According to her father Rati Ram, the 44-year-old quit food when she was in the sixth grade. "Our daughter went to participate in a district level tournament from Patna School in Janakpur, Koriya District. When she returned, she suddenly gave up eating food and drinking water."

He also added that Pilli Devi initially took biscuits and bread with milk tea, but she gradually switched to black tea, which she consumes once a day after sunset.

Her brother Bihari Lal Rajvade pointed out that they had sought medical help to ensure she is not suffering from any disease, but doctors couldn't diagnose any health issue behind her behaviour.

"We have taken her to many hospitals, none of the doctors could figure out the reason behind her situation," he said.

Representational Image

According to her family members, Pilli Devi rarely steps out of the house. She is absorbed in Lord Shiva's worship throughout the day.

Dr SK Gupta from district hospital, Koriya, said that it is not possible for human beings to survive on just tea.

"It is surprising. Scientifically speaking, a human being cannot survive on tea for 33 years. It's different when people keep fast for nine days during Navratri and only drink tea. But 33 years is a lot of time, this is not possible.
Bollywood has always managed to unleash unique varieties of talent. While some are conquering commercial cinema, others are content with bringing offbeat cinema to the mainstream. There are several laud-worthy examples of both the categories. One name that shines bright in the latter is Chitrangda Singh. She might not have a long filmography to boast about but she has sure left a lasting impression in the minds of cine-goers.

Entering the world of glitz and glamour as a model in 1994, she did modeling projects with ICICI Bank, Alukkas Jewellery and then a music video. It was filmmaker Sudhir Mishra who noticed her and saw potential in her as an actress. In the year 2003, she made a scintillating debut with Mishras Hazaron Khwahishein Aisi that made her get limelight in the true sense. Not only was she deemed as a promising actress, a lot of industry insiders predicted that she had the potential to pave her way to the top most league of the acting world. In fact, filmmaker Shekhar Kapur in an interview had said that she had outdone the legendary actress Smita Patil in her debut film itself.

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Indiatimes spoke to the Bazaar actress and discussed in length about her journey in the business.

Becoming An Actor Was Never An Agenda

Chitrangda Singh is a name synonymous with intelligence, creativity and impeccable acting abilities. After a phenomenal debut she got noticed by some of the top-notch movie makers who were keen to work with her. Talking us on a walk down memory lane, she reflected on her journey. She said,

Its been an amazing journey. I hadnt planned on being an actor, I was modelling in college for some extra pocket money, and that led to me being cast in a music video. Sudhir Mishra happened to see my music video and offered me an audition and thats how Hazaron happened. But I love the creativity of film and would not want it any other way.

On being compared to Smita Patil after her very first film she said, Being compared to Smita Ji is a huge compliment. I have always been a great admirer of her work and to have someone as accomplished as Shekhar Kapur saying that is truly very humbling.





Life Has Been Full Of Twists And Turns But Im Happy With Where I Am Right Now

In introspection, we asked her about her evolution in both the professional world and personal life in the past decade and a half. She said,

Its been mixed because your personal and professional life intertwine. Its always something everyone needs to balance, and each one does it differently. I dont know if I could have done it differently but Im happy with where I am now.

People Often Perceive An Actor To Be The Same In Real As He/She Is In Reel

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Singh has worked in different genres of films. While she stunned the audience with a Maya in Inkaar, she entertained us with Tanya in Desi Boyz. Speaking on whether this is a conscious decision or does this happen on its own, she said,

Its very different working on different characters. As an actor however, you should be able to essay different roles with conviction. People often think you have to be the same in reel and real life. But thats not true. I enjoy playing different characters who have different energies and motivations. Tanya in Desi Boyz was very different from Maya in Inkaar and both are way different from me in real life.

In This Era, Its Now Possible To Be A Film Person

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Not many know that the actress turned producer last year with biopic Soorma starring Diljit Dosanjh which went on to become a super-hit. She might not be actively working in front of the camera but she is definitely dabbling with the other aspects of movie-making business. In fact, she now has her eyes set on the directors chair as well. Speaking on the same, she said,

Soorma was a great experience and I really enjoyed working on it. It was the highlight of my year. I believe that the way the industry has evolved, it is now possible to be a film person rather than being put in a niche as an actor or producer or writer or director. You can do more than one simultaneously. And thats really great. So, I hope to direct one day, I have already ideas for scripts Id like to write and there is a web series Im considering strongly at the moment as an actor as well.

Ive Worked With Great Co-Stars And Colleagues

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The past year presented not just some phenomenal movies but it also unveiled the dark evil that has always been lingering in the background. When asked if she ever experienced a #MeToo incident in her 15-year long career, she said,

In most cases Ive had great co-stars and colleagues so its never really been an issue. Im glad that there was so much support in the industry in the one instance when it was.

All Of Us Need To Connect On A Simple Human Level

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While we are experiencing an era of digital explosion, Chitrangda feels that we also need to work on the humanitarian aspects and care for each other as well. She says,

Its important I think to care for people. As our world is becoming increasingly tech friendly, and interactions have shifted so much to digital contact, I hope we continue to make an effort to connect on a simple human level directly as well.
The release of the trailer of The Accidental Prime Minister has set the political temperature in the country soaring. From some people calling it a propaganda film to others raising objections to incorrect presentation of facts, the Anupam Kher-starrer raised several eyebrows just with its trailer.

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After facing a lot of hurdles, The Accidental Prime Minister finally hit the screens on January 11. But it is facing a lot of backlash.

Yesterday, Congress workers reportedly entered and vandalized a theatre in Kolkata taking the protest against the film to a whole new level.

#WATCH West Bengal: Congress workers protested and raised slogans at Inox, Quest Mall in Kolkata against #TheAccidentalPrimeMinister. The protest started while the film was being shown at the theater. (11.01.2019) pic.twitter.com/BVNTAt5fbV  ANI (@ANI) January 11, 2019

When Anupam Kher got to know about this, he lashed out at Rahul Gandhi and his supporters, on Twitter.

Dear @RahulGandhi. I dont think your supporters who vandalised a theatre playing #TheAccidentalPrimeminister read your tweets about #FreedomOfExpression. https://t.co/bQLPRFJRDJ  Anupam Kher (@AnupamPKher) January 12, 2019

Intolerance of the people who pretend to be tolerant. Cong workers vandalise theatre over 'The Accidental...' screening https://t.co/mHGUR2hFLP  Anupam Kher (@AnupamPKher) January 12, 2019

As per the latest development, six protestors have been arrested for holding a demonstration against the screening of The Accidental Prime Minister at Quest INOX Cineplex in Kolkata.

The film is based on facts chronicled in a book by Sanjaya Baru - Manmohan Singh's media advisor between 2004 and 2008. It revolves around Singh's life, the economist and politician who served as the Prime Minister of India from 2004 to 2014 under the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government.
Norbert Caillouet, of the 2000 block of West Shakespeare Avenue, was charged with three felony counts of robbery with a firearm after he was identified as the person responsible for several holdups at pawn stores on the North Side, police said.


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CONCORD Sandra Hajney, teacher assistant at W.M. Irvin Elementary School, has been named the Cabarrus County Schools 2018-2019 Teacher Assistant of the Year.

Superintendent Chris Lowder and Assistant Superintendent Glenda Jones surprised Hajney with the announcement on Friday, Jan. 11 at the school.

Hajney has served as a teacher assistant in Cabarrus County Schools since 2007. She began her career as a registered nurse in New York. After relocating to North Carolina, Hajney decided she wanted to work directly with children. She worked in a daycare while earning an Early Childhood Associate Certificate in 2003.

In her current role, Hajney works with students from kindergarten through fourth grade. Hajney enjoys making children smile. She feels she makes the greatest impact while helping students during reading intervention.

Mrs. Hajney is such a valuable staff member at Irvin Elementary. She is quick to support the various needs of our students and staff. Daily you can find Mrs. Hajney giving hugs, high fives and words of encouragement to students throughout the building, W.M. Irvin Principal Tonya Williams said. We are so grateful to have Mrs. Hajney at Irvin Elementary.
Medical staff and firefighters tend to a wounded man at the scene of a gas leak explosion in Paris (Thibault Camus/AP)

Two firefighters and a Spanish woman have been killed and 47 injured in an explosion at a bakery that was apparently caused by a gas leak in central Paris.

Firefighters pulled injured victims from windows and evacuated residents as smoke billowed over Rue de Trevise in the 9th arrondissement of north-central Paris.

The Paris prosecutors office said that two firefighters have been killed in the bakery blast, correcting the overall figure of four dead given earlier by Frances interior minister.

Spanish Foreign Minister Josep Borrell revealed that a Spanish woman was also killed in the blast.

The El Pais newspaper reported the woman was a tourist staying in a hotel near the bakery.

Authorities said 10 people were in a critical condition and 37 others less seriously injured.

Interior Minister Christophe Castaner told reporters at the scene unfortunately the human toll is particularly serious.

He paid tribute to the courage of rescuers who notably saved the life of one firefighter who was buried under the rubble for two-and-a-half hours.

Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo, who was also at the scene, extended a message of affection and solidarity to the victims.

She said many residents and tourists have been evacuated from neighbouring buildings and hotels.

Paris authorities will help provide temporary accommodation, the mayor said.

Paris prosecutor Remy Heitz said that the cause appears to be an accidental gas leak. He said that Paris firefighters were already at the scene to investigate a suspected gas leak at the bakery when the explosion happened.

He told reporters that the judicial police have started investigating, the scientific police as well.

He added: The origin of the explosion seems accidental. We are at the beginning of the investigation everything will be made to establish the exact origin of the explosion as soon as possible.

Witnesses described the overwhelming sound of the blast and people trapped inside nearby buildings.

Charred debris and broken glass covered the pavement around the apartment building housing the bakery, which resembled a blackened carcass.

Authorities said around 200 firefighters and police were involved in the operation.

A helicopter landed in the area to evacuate the wounded. Silver-helmeted firefighters and red firetrucks filled the street and inspected adjoining courtyards. A vehicle from gas company GRDF was stationed nearby.

Pedro Goncalves, an employee at the Hotel Mercure opposite the bakery, said he saw firefighters enter the bakery in the morning but he and his co-workers thought maybe its a joke, a false alarm and they went back to work. About an hour later, he said a blast rocked the surrounding streets.

In the middle of nothing, I heard one big explosion and then a lot of pressure came at me (and) a lot of black smoke and glass, he said. And I had just enough time to get down and cover myself and protect my head.

Expand Close A rescue helicopter stands ready to evacuate wounded people (Thibault Camus/AP) / Facebook

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Whatsapp A rescue helicopter stands ready to evacuate wounded people (Thibault Camus/AP)

Mr Goncalves said he felt a lot of things fall on me and that he was struck by shattered glass. He had a few cuts on his head, and spots of blood on his sweater and shirt.

Thank god Im OK, he said, saying that the blast was so powerful that he heard whistling in his ears in the aftermath.

Mr Goncalves said that he ran for the exit and then went to check on the hotels clients, adding that some of them had head injuries and were bleeding. He said that the hotel was destroyed in the blast.

Another witness told reporters that she was awakened by the blast, and feared it was another terrorist attack.

The bakery is around the corner from the Folies-Bergere theatre and not far from the shopping district that includes the famed headquarters of Galeries Lafayette.

The explosion came as the French capital is on edge and under heavy security for yellow vest protests around the country.
Rahaf Mohammed barricaded herself in a hotel room at an international airport in Bangkok, Thailand (Rahaf Mohammed Alqunun/Human Rights Watch via AP)

An 18-year-old Saudi woman who said she was abused by her family and feared for her life if deported back home has left Thailand for Canada, which has granted her asylum, officials said.

The fast-moving developments capped an eventful week for Rahaf Mohammed Alqunun, who fled her family while visiting Kuwait and flew to Bangkok.

She barricaded herself in an airport hotel to avoid deportation and grabbed global attention by mounting a social media campaign for asylum.

Ms Alqunun is now flying to Toronto via Seoul, South Korea, according to Thai immigration Police Chief Surachate Hakparn.

Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau confirmed his country had granted her asylum.

That is something that we are pleased to do because Canada is a country that understands how important it is to stand up for human rights and to stand up for womans rights around the world and I can confirm that we have accepted the UNs request, Mr Trudeau said.

Expand Close Rahaf Mohammed Alqunun in Bangkok, Thailand (Sakchai Lalit/AP) / Facebook

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Whatsapp Rahaf Mohammed Alqunun in Bangkok, Thailand (Sakchai Lalit/AP)

Several other countries, including Australia, had been in talks with the UNs refugee agency to accept Ms Alqunun, Mr Surachate said earlier in the day.

She chose Canada. Its her personal decision, he said.

Canadas ambassador had seen her off at the airport, Mr Surachate said, adding that she looked happy and healthy.

She thanked everyone for helping her, he said, and added that the first thing she would do upon arrival in Canada would be to start learning the language.

She already speaks more than passable English, in addition to Arabic.

The office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees welcomed Canadas decision.

I want to thank apersonally the Governments of Thailand and Canada, a@JustinTrudeaua and @HonAhmedHussena for working together to give Rahaf the life that she deserves. https://t.co/9AWzcvFbBs  Filippo Grandi (@FilippoGrandi) January 11, 2019

The quick actions over the past week of the government of Thailand in providing temporary refuge and facilitating refugee status determination by UNHCR, and of the government of Canada in offering emergency resettlement to Ms Alqunun and arranging her travel were key to the successful resolution of this case, the agency said in a statement.

It was not immediately clear what prompted Ms Alqunon to choose Canada over Australia.

Australian media reported that UNHCR (United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees) had withdrawn its referral for Ms Alqunon to be resettled in Australia because Canberra was taking too long to decide on her asylum.

UNHCR officials were not immediately available for comment.

Australias education minister Dan Tehan said on Saturday that Australia had moved quickly to process her case but Canada decided to take her in.

He added that, ultimately, the outcome was a good one. Shes going to be safe, he said.

Good luck, #Rahaf!



Saudi teenager granted asylum in Canada, Justin Trudeau confirms https://t.co/zUepSTPliq pic.twitter.com/0DdmGvRzE3  Human Rights Watch (@hrw) January 11, 2019

Phil Robertson, deputy Asia director of Human Rights Watch, cited Ms Alqununs courage and perseverance.

This is so much a victory for everyone who cares about respecting and promoting womens rights, valuing the independence of youth to forge their own way, and demanding governments operate in the light and not darkness, he said in a statement.

Ms Alqunun was stopped on January 5 at Bangkoks Suvarnabhumi Airport by immigration police who denied her entry and seized her passport.

She barricaded herself in an airport hotel room and took her plight on to social media. It got enough public and diplomatic support that Thai officials admitted her temporarily under the protection of UN officials, who granted her refugee status Wednesday.

Ms Alqununs father arrived in Bangkok on Tuesday, but his daughter refused to meet with him.

Mr Surachate said the father  whose name has not been released  denied physically abusing Ms Alqunun or trying to force her into an arranged marriage, which were among the reasons she gave for her flight.

He said Ms Alqununs father wanted his daughter back but respected her decision.
A Saudi woman who fled to Thailand saying she feared her family would kill her was yesterday en route to Canada, where she would be granted asylum, the Thai immigration chief said.

Rahaf Mohammed al-Qunun (18) boarded a flight from Bangkok to Toronto via Seoul yesterday, immigration chief Surachate Hakpark said.

"Canada has granted her asylum," Mr Surachate told Reuters. "She'll leave tonight at 11.15pm."

Canada's immigration and refugee board did not return calls. "We have nothing new to add on this right now," said a spokesman for Chrystia Freeland, the Canadian foreign minister.

Earlier, Thai police said several countries including Canada and Australia were in talks with the UN refugee agency on accepting Ms al-Qunun, and that the UN was accelerating the case.

She was stopped at a Bangkok airport last Saturday by Thai immigration police who denied her entry and seized her passport.

She accused her family of abuse, and refused to meet her father and brother who arrived in Bangkok to try to take her back to Saudi Arabia.

While barricading herself in an airport hotel room, she launched a social media campaign via her Twitter account that drew global attention to her case. It garnered enough public and diplomatic support to convince Thai officials to admit her temporarily under the protection of UN officials. The UN granted her refugee status on Wednesday.
Prayers answered: Jayme Closs was found on Thursday afternoon after being held by a guy in the woods. Photo: AP

A 21-year-old man has been jailed over the deaths of a Wisconsin couple he killed because he wanted to kidnap their teenage daughter, investigators said yesterday, a day after the girl approached a stranger along a rural road saying she had been abducted in October and held against her will.

Jake Thomas Patterson was taken into custody shortly after 13-year-old Jayme Closs sought help from a woman walking her dog in a rural, heavily wooded neighbourhood near the small town of Gordon, about 100km north of Barron. Jayme disappeared from her family's home near Barron after her parents were killed October 15.

Barron County Sheriff Chris Fitzgerald said during a news conference yesterday that Jayme was taken against her will. He said investigators believe Patterson killed Jayme's parents because he wanted to abduct her, and that Patterson "planned his actions and took many steps to hide his identity".

Fitzgerald said investigators believe the girl was "the only target" and don't believe Patterson had any contact with the family. Douglas County Sheriff Thomas Dalbec said Patterson was jailed on kidnapping and homicide charges.

The woman who first spotted Jayme on Thursday, Jeanne Nutter, said she was walking her dog along a rural road when a dishevelled teenage girl called out for help and quickly grabbed her. Only then did Jayme reveal her name.

Ms Nutter said Jayme told her she had walked away from a cabin where she'd been held captive, a cabin not far from Ms Nutter's home.

"I was terrified, but I didn't want to show her that," Ms Nutter, a social worker who spent years working in child protection, told The Associated Press. "She just yelled 'please help me I don't know where I am. I'm lost'.

"My only thought was to get her to a safe place."

The two went to the home of Peter and Kristin Kasinskas, who said Jayme was skinny and dirty, wearing shoes too big for her feet, but appeared outwardly OK.

Kristin Kasinskas, who called 911 to report the girl had been found, told the AP that Jayme had identified the suspect once she was safely inside her home.

"She said that this person's name was Jake Patterson, he killed my parents and took me," Ms Kasinskas said. "She did not talk about why or how. She said she did not know him."

Patterson lived just three doors down from Ms Kasinskas, but she said she didn't realise it until police identified him as the suspect. She said she never saw Patterson on her street or in town, and doesn't remember seeing him since he was in high school.

Ms Kasinskas said she taught Patterson science in middle school, but added: "I don't really remember a ton about him."

"He seemed like a quiet kid," she said. "I don't recall anything that would have explained this, by any means."

Mr Fitzgerald said Jayme was taken to a hospital but has since been medically cleared and released. She was not being interviewed by law enforcement, the sheriff said.

Jayme went missing after police discovered someone had broken into the family's home outside Barron and fatally shot her parents, James and Denise Closs. Jayme was nowhere to be found. The Barron County Sheriff's Department said the girl had likely been abducted.

Detectives pursued thousands of tips, watched dozens of surveillance videos and conducted numerous searches in the effort to find Jayme. Some tips led officials to recruit 2,000 volunteers for a massive ground search on October 23, but it yielded no clues.

Mr Fitzgerald said in November that he kept similar cases in the back of his mind as he worked to find Jayme, including the abduction of Elizabeth Smart, who was 14 when she was taken from her Salt Lake City home in 2002. Smart was rescued nine months later with the help of two witnesses who recognised her abductors from an 'America's Most Wanted' episode.

"I have a gut feeling she's (Jayme's) still alive," Fitzgerald said at the time.

Jayme's grandfather, Robert Naiberg, told the AP that he'd been praying for months for the call he received on Thursday about his granddaughter being found alive.

Mr Naiberg said his daughter called him with the news, saying Jayme reported having been held by "a guy in the woods" but was able to escape.
Going home: A US soldier sits on an armoured vehicle in Manbij, north Syria. Photo: Hussein Malla/PA

US troops have begun withdrawing from Syria, compounding weeks of confusion over Donald Trump's policy in the Middle East and raising fears over the fate of America's Kurdish allies.

The US-led coalition against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (Isil) confirmed yesterday that the military had started the "deliberate withdrawal" of the roughly 2,000 American troops in Syria.

The military would not give any detail of the overall timetable for the American withdrawal nor which positions US troops had begun pulling back from.

A convoy of 10 US military vehicles was seen leaving a base in Hasakah province in northeast Syria and heading towards the Iraqi border, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

Mr Trump abruptly announced the US withdrawal from Syria on December 19, blindsiding US allies and triggering a confrontation within the US administration that led to the resignation of his defence secretary.

Over recent weeks, senior US officials have offered confusing and contradictory accounts of the terms and speed with which the US is leaving.

Mr Trump initially signalled a rapid withdrawal from Syria and US officials said they expected troops to be out with 30 days.

That timeline was then extended to several months in the face of a revolt by national security officials and Mr Trump's own Republican allies.

John Bolton, Mr Trump's national security adviser, then said on Sunday that the US would not leave until it had assurances that Turkey would not assault the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), the Kurdish-led group which provided the ground troops to fight Isil.

Mr Bolton's comments invoked a furious response from Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Turkey's president, who accused him of making "a grave mistake" by setting conditions for Turkey.

Turkey has threatened to move ahead with the assault against the SDF, which it considers part of a Kurdish terrorist group, regardless of whether the US slows its withdrawal.

Mike Pompeo, the US secretary of state, has spent the week in the Middle East trying to reassure US allies in the wake of Mr Trump's announcement.

He said the US withdrawal would not be affected by Mr Erdogan's threats against the Kurds but at the same time said the US would work to ensure the Kurds' safety.

"These have been folks that have fought with us and it's important that we do everything we can to ensure that those folks that fought with us are protected," he said.

"Erdogan has made commitments; he understands that - I think he uses the language - he talks about [how] he has no beef with the Kurds."

Russia said that the US withdrawal underscored the need for the Kurds to reconcile with the Syrian regime.

Kurdish leaders have seen a deal with Damascus as one possible way of staving off a Turkish attack.

The USS Kearsage, an amphibious assault ship, is moving into the region with hundreds of US Marines and helicopters to help cover the American withdrawal, according to the 'Wall Street Journal'.

It does not appear at this point that the US military has been given a final date for full withdrawal from Syria and the timeline seems to be part of a broader debate about American strategy in the Middle East.

"CJTF-OIR has begun the process of our deliberate withdrawal from Syria," said a spokesman for the US-led coalition against Isil. "Out of concern for operational security, we will not discuss specific timelines, locations or troops movements." ( Daily Telegraph London)
A Syrian refugee hangs clothes to dry at a flooded refugee camp in the town of Bar Elias, in the Bekaa Valley, Lebanon. Photo: Bilal Hussein/AP

An eight-year-old Syrian girl has died in Lebanon after she fell into a swollen river and drowned in the northern town of Minyeh, as refugee camps were battered by extreme winter weather.

Refugees have been struggling with dangerous conditions including flooding and heavy snow since last Sunday when Storm Norma hit, bringing strong winds, rain and colder temperatures across the country.

Nearly 250,000 refugees are estimated to have been affected. Hundreds of camps and settlements from the Akkar plain in northern Lebanon to the Bekaa Valley in the east were damaged. In Akkar, 22 settlements were flooded with 77 tents destroyed, with 211 refugees forced to relocate.

The most severe flooding was in the Bekaa Valley, where aid workers said the water rose to nearly half a metre in many camps and 600 families were forced to evacuate.

The International Rescue Committee which visited the Syrian refugee settlement near the village of Qlayaat in Akkar province compared the site to a swimming pool.

Sewage

Syrian refugee camps and settlements in Lebanon have poor irrigation and drainage systems, making them prone to damage in the case of heavy rainfall. As well as tents and personal belongings, medical supplies and wheelchairs were also washed away, and sewage systems overflowed.

Higher altitude areas have been hit by heavy snowfall. Residents of a refugee settlement in Arsal, a town bordering Syria, battled freezing temperatures as the camp was blanketed with snow.

It is estimated that there are at least 1.5 million Syrian refugees in Lebanon. ( Daily Telegraph, London)
A man shot a Wisconsin couple to death at their home in a bid to kidnap their teenage daughter, then held the girl captive for three months before she managed to escape, authorities said on Friday.

Jayme Closs, 13, was skinny, dishevelled and wearing shoes too big for her when she approached a stranger and pleaded for help on Thursday in the small town of Gordon, where Jake Thomas Patterson lives.

Patterson was apparently out looking for her when he was arrested and jailed on kidnapping and homicide charges, Barron County Sheriff Chris Fitzgerald said.

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The news that Jayme was safe set off joy and relief 60 miles away in her hometown of Barron, ending an all-out search that gripped the state.

My legs started to shake. It was awesome. The stress, the relief  it was awesome, Mr Fitzgerald said, describing the moment he learned Jayme had been found.

Jayme told one of the neighbours in Gordon who took her in that she had walked away from a cabin where she had been held captive.

She said that this persons name was Jake Patterson, he killed my parents and took me,' said another one of the neighbours, Kristin Kasinskas. She did not talk about why or how. She said she did not know him.

The sheriff said investigators are trying to figure out what happened to Jayme during her captivity and why she was seized, and gave no details on how she escaped except to say Patterson was not home at the time. He said there is no evidence Patterson knew Jayme or her family or had been in contact with her on social media.

I know all of you are searching for the answer why any of this happened, Mr Fitzgerald said. Believe me, so are we.

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The sheriff said that he did not know if Jayme had been physically abused but that she was in hospital overnight for observation and released after an exam. Investigators were still interviewing her, and she was doing as well as circumstances allow, he said.

Ms Kasinskas called police to report the girl had been found after another neighbour out walking her dog encountered Jayme and brought her to Ms Kasinskas house. Minutes later, Patterson was pulled over by a sheriffs deputy based on a description of his vehicle Jayme provided, authorities said.
At 8 p.m., 19-year-old Malik T. Williams was shot in the 5000 block of West Concord Place in the North Austin neighborhood. He was walking in an alley when he was approached by an unknown black male who shot him in the face before fleeing on foot. Williams, of the 4900 block of West Concord Place, was pronounced dead at 8:17 p.m.at Northwestern Memorial Hospital. He died of multiple gunshot wounds and his death was ruled a homicide, the medical examiners office said.
On the road: Some 7,000 people set off across Central America from Honduras last year in a mass march hoping to find refuge in the US. Photo: Reuters

Another migrant caravan is forming in Honduras, with plans to set out next week on a journey that will once again test the immigration policies of Mexico and the United States.

In much the way last year's Central American caravan originated, a flier is circulating on Honduran social media.

"We're looking for refuge," it says. "In Honduras, we are being killed." It advertises a 5am departure on Tuesday, January 15 from the northern city of San Pedro Sula.

The Mexican government says it is preparing for the group's arrival.

"We have information that a new caravan is forming to enter our country in mid-January," Olga Sanchez Cordero, the interior minister, said last Monday. "We are already taking the necessary steps to ensure the caravan enters in a safe and orderly way."

When the previous caravan reached Mexico in October, Mexican authorities closed one of the main border crossings but allowed thousands of migrants to swim across the river separating the country from Guatemala. The migrants then continued north through Mexico, most of them traveling without documents.

Ms Sanchez Cordero said this time the government will place guards at 370 illegal crossing points and the border will be "controlled to prevent the entry of undocumented people". But she suggested members of the caravan could be allowed into the country legally if they apply for visas.

"We don't know how many people this will be, but it's a lot," said Walter Coello, a taxi driver from Tegucigalpa, the Honduran capital, who helped organise the last caravan and is playing a similar role again.

"The goal is to give them a chance to work and have a better life, be it in Mexico or the United States."

Last year's group, with about 7,000 people, was dwarfed by the roughly 400,000 people who were apprehended at the US border in 2018, as well as the more than 100,000 who applied for asylum in that period. But it became a major focus for President Donald Trump, who attempted to use the spectre of an invading caravan to rally his supporters.

Mr Trump deployed similar rhetoric about the new group.

"There is another major caravan forming right now in Honduras, and so far we're trying to break it up, and so far it's bigger than anything we've ever seen, and a drone isn't going to stop it, and a sensor isn't going to stop it, but you know what's going to stop it in its tracks?" he said. "A nice, powerful wall." ( The Washington Post)
Accompanied by his wife and lawyers, spurned DR Congo opposition candidate Martin Fayulu, right, petitions the constitutional court (Jerome Delay/AP)

DR Congo presidential runner-up Martin Fayulu has asked the constitutional court to order a recount in the countrys disputed election, declaring: You cant manufacture results behind closed doors.

Mr Fayulu has alleged a backroom deal between the declared winner, opposition leader Felix Tshisekedi, and President Joseph Kabila.

Mr Fayulus coalition asserts he won 61% of the vote according to the Catholic Churchs 40,000 election observers across the country.

DR Congos electoral commission says he received 34% and Mr Tshisekedi 38%.

But Mr Fayulu could be risking more than a court refusal  electoral commission president Corneille Nangaa has said there are only two options, to accept the result or to have the vote annulled.

The latter would keep Mr Kabila in power until another election.

Mr Fayulu said: They call me the peoples soldier and I will not let the people down.

The court filing includes evidence from witnesses at polling stations across the country, he said.

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Rifle-carrying members of Mr Kabilas Republican Guard deployed outside Mr Fayulus home and the court earlier on Saturday.

It was an attempt to stop him from filing his claim, Mr Fayulu said.

Earlier on Saturday, the commission announced Mr Kabilas ruling coalition had won an absolute majority of national assembly seats. That majority, which will choose the prime minister and form the next government, sharply reduces the chances of dramatic reforms under Mr Tshisekedi.

Congolese now face the extraordinary situation of a presidential vote allegedly rigged in favour of the opposition. This is more than an electoral farce; its a tragedy, the LUCHA activist group tweeted, noting a ruling party majority in provincial elections as well.

This could be Congos first peaceful, democratic transfer of power since independence from Belgium in 1960, but observers have warned a court challenge could lead to violence.

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The December 30 election came after more than two turbulent years of delays as many Congolese worried that Mr Kabila, in power since his father was assassinated in 2001, sought a way to stay in office to protect his sprawling assets.

Even if Tshisekedis presidency survives these court challenges, he will be compromised beyond repair and reliant on Kabila, whose patronage network controls most of the countrys levers of power, including the security forces, professor Pierre Engelbert of the Atlantic Councils Africa Centre, said.

Statements on the election by the international community, including African regional blocs, have not congratulated Mr Tshisekedi, with some looking forward to final detailed results and many urging against violence.

Congos 80 million people have been largely peaceful since the vote, though the UN peacekeeping mission reported at least a dozen deaths in protests in Kwilu province. Authorities also noted demonstrations in Kisangani and Mbandaka cities.

Internet service has been cut off across the country since election day.
Craig McLachlan has had lots of roles in musicals on stage. Photo: AP

Craig McLachlan, the former 'Neighbours' star, has been charged with multiple counts of indecent assault, believed to be connected to his role in an Australian stage production of 'The Rocky Horror Show'.

Police in the state of Victoria said detectives from a sexual offences and child abuse investigation team had charged a 53-year-old man from New South Wales with one count of common law assault, eight counts of indecent assault, and one count of attempted indecent assault. He is due to appear at a magistrates court in Melbourne on February 8.

"Craig is innocent of these charges which will be vigorously defended," a spokesman told Fairfax Media.

McLachlan gained prominence in the late 1980s for his role in 'Neighbours'. He had a series of hit songs.
Zara Tindall, despite her status as a senior British royal, is often overlooked in the great fashion debate, which is always a head-to-head race between Kate Middleton and Meghan Markle.

But Princess Anne's daughter is a fashion force to be reckoned with all her own, and without the restrictions of a dress code or title to adhere to, she can dress more freely, which was on display during her appearance at the Magic Millions on Australia's Gold Coast on Friday. She and husband Mike jetted Down Under earlier this week for the event and the mother-of-two has been blazing an independent style trail while so far away from home.

In a sure sign of her retail power, a high-neck lace white dress by White Label Noba sold out so quickly that the brand said they were forced to re-order the item due to "overwhelming demand". For a VIP reception kicking off the event on Thursday, it was an LBD, but yesterday's look is among her best ever - an indication of her own personal renaissance, seven months after giving birth to her second child. Kate tends to change her hair after having a baby and we've yet to see how Meghan will alter her look, but for Zara, her metamorphosis is clearly tied with her clothing.

The high neck floral mini-dress by is statement enough, but the devil is in the detail: her Kate Spade studded clutch, tortoise shell sunglasses, a pair of taupe heels and the true talking point, her intricate 3D floral headpiece by her preferred Australian milliner Meg Rafter. This is just the beginning for the woman is often considered the most normal member of the monarchy.
A model, dress detail, walks the runway during the Balmain show as part of the Paris Fashion Week Womenswear Spring/Summer 2019 on September 28, 2018 in Paris, France. (Photo by Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images)

Finding the perfect pair of jeans, is not easy, is it? Despite being one of the most universally loved items of clothing - and the most popular - it seems that sourcing the ideal pair is a universal sartorial struggle. With so much choice in the market, the task can be overwhelming.

In the current era of mass-production, it not only makes sense to shop around and invest, but it is the more sustainable option, both financially and environmentally. In recent years, Japan has steadily gained a reputation as the world's leading denim destination. When compared with its American counterpart, the history of Japanese denim is a relatively recent tale, but it is Japan's signature craftsmanship that makes its denim so highly sought-after and unique. What makes Japanese denim so special some 40 years after it was first created is the artisanal techniques that remain at the centre of its production; namely the old looms on which the denim is woven and the use of natural dye, as opposed to synthetic which is used by most other manufacturers.

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Actor Naomie Harris was an absolute vision when she stepped out for the premiere of Netflixs Mowgli in London wearing a printed lame silk-blend gown.

One for the boys

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At this time of year we could all do with revitalising our skin. Enter Grown Alchemist's Pure Rosehip oil. The key ingredient is Rosehip Oil Mosqueta - a rare concentrate sourced from the Andes that contains extremely high levels of Omega 3, 6 and 9. These nourishing active molecules deeply penetrate the skin to reduce fine lines and wrinkles, as well as leaving your skin looking visibly firmer. It's particularly effective after sun exposure and during cold weather, and is suitable for all skin types. Pure Rosehip oil, 75.55, grownalchemist.com

Top Tip

Double-denim is everywhere right now but if you're not feeling it, there's an alternative way to ease into the trend. Pair black jeans with a light blue chambray shirt for a much easier way to do double denim. It nods to the same relaxed-but-confident vibe, but isn't as overt.

Wish list

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Icon Tarah mock neck dress, 189, Tommy Hilfiger
Actress Brie Larson (L) and musician Alex Greenwald arrive for the first cruise collection by Maria Grazia Chiuri for Dior show in the Upper Las Virgenes Canyon, Calabasas, California, on May 11, 2017. / AFP PHOTO / CHRIS DELMAS

Musician Alex Greenwald (L) and actor Brie Larson attend The 23rd Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards at The Shrine Auditorium on January 29, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by John Sciulli/Getty Images for TNT)

Brie Larson has reportedly ended her engagement to Alex Greenwald.

The 29-year-old actress got engaged to the musician in May 2016 following several years of dating, but it seems their romance has been put on hold, as sources claim theyve taken a step back from their engagement for the time being.

An insider told People magazine: They have taken a step back from their engagement for the time being but they remain close. The couple have kept their relationship out of the spotlight, but the Captain Marvel actress did describe him as her person whilst at the Screen Actors Guild awards in 2016.

She said at the time: Hes the other half of the equation  how can you explain support? I mean, it goes beyond anything. Hes just my person, hes my best friend. And then that same year, when Brie was awarded the Academy Award for Best Actress at the Oscars for her performance in 2015 thriller Room, she included Alex in her acceptance speech.

Expand Close Brie Larson and musician Alex Greenwald arrive for the 24th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards at the Shrine Exposition Center on January 21, 2018, in Los Angeles, California. / AFP PHOTO / Jean-Baptiste LACROIX / Facebook

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Jacob Tremblay, my partner through this in every way possible. My real partner, Alex Greenwald, I love you."

Meanwhile, fans are unlikely to hear confirmation of the split from Brie, as she recently described herself as a "diligent secret-keeper, thanks to her work on Avengers: Endgame, in which she had to mentally "delete" the plot line of the movie to avoid spoiling it for the fans.

She said: "I just never wanted to feel like I was going to slip up or that I was going to say the wrong thing. I was like, 'I can't live with myself being the one that spoils something.' So I really just deleted it. I tried my best to journal it if I want to recall it and go, 'Oh yeah, that was a crazy time.' And I'm excited when the movie comes out to finally be able to talk about it and go, 'Yes, this was crazy.' But my family doesn't know. I haven't talked to anybody about anything because I'm just a very diligent secret-keeper."
Glenealy resident and high-ranking Garda, Fintan Fanning, may go to court to challenge a decision to suspend him last week pending the outcome of a Garda Ombudsman Commission (GSOC) investigation.

The suspension follows allegations of misconduct that were made against him by a rank and file garda but is understood to be without prejudice to the investigation as no adverse finding has been made and the allegations have yet to be properly tested.

Mr Fanning, who is the Assistant Commissioner for the Eastern Region, grew up in Kilanerin before moving to Dublin in 1980 after joining An Garda Siochana.

According to reports in the Irish Independent last week, the Assistant Commissioner is planning a High Court action challenging the decision if necessary. The high-ranking officer, who has 39 years experience, believes that his suspension is unnecessary as he provided the Garda Commissioner with full, detailed answers to the allegations of misconduct made against him, denying any wrongdoing.

The suspension order was issued to the County Wexford man by Garda Commissioner Drew Harris last week, who acted to suspend Mr Fanning as a GSOC inquiry was under way. Mr Fanning has spent most of his life in Dublin with his family but has relatives in the north Wexford and south Wicklow areas.

He is the current Development Officer with Wicklow GAA. Appointed to Assistant Commissioner in 2008, the news comes as a shock to the force as Mr Fanning is such a high-ranking officer. He is due to retire on age grounds later this year.

He has many career highlights, including being promoted in 2005 as chief superintendent of the Dublin South Central Division. He is the chair of the SHRAC - the Commissioner's Strategic Human Rights Advisory Committee and also responsible for the Irish Policy and Scieim. He also holds numerous academic qualifications. It has been reported that Garda members who know him expect him to fight to protect his reputation.
The communities of Wicklow town, Rathnew and surrounding areas have been left reeling in shock after a married mother passed away suddenly on New Years Day, the day after her father's funeral.

47-year-old Siobhan Dunne passed away with little warning at the home she shared in Wicklow town with her husband David and their three children Cormac, Callum and Kacey.

On New Year's Eve Siobhan attended her father's funeral, John Franey Snr of The Bank, Rathnew, after he passed away on the day after St Stephen's Day.

Family and friends who had attended John Snr's funeral were stunned to hear the next day that Siobhan had passed away having suddenly taken ill.

'It's such a tragic turn of events and the whole community of Rathnew and Wicklow town is in deep shock,' said Cllr John Snell. 'It's heartbreaking to have such a bereavement so close to the burial of John Snr, especially at this time of year, just after Christmas and during the New Year. People are still trying to come to term with events'.

There was a huge attendance at Siobhan's funeral mass held in St Joseph's Church, Rathnew on Saturday, followed by her interment in Rathnew Cemetery.

Siobhan was well known for her friendly and approachable nature and her dedication to her family. She was a past member of Wicklow Rowing Club and rowed in the 1990s in a very successful Senior Ladies crew.

Wicklow Rowing Club, Rathnew GAA Club and St Patrick's GAA Club all posted online tributes to Siobhan.

A statement from Rathnew GAA Club posted on New Years Day said: 'A community is deep in shock, heartbroken and devastated at the news that broke today. Yesterday we gave John Franey Snr a fitting send off. We all shared in the Franey families grief. We talked of the pain endured by the family over the years with too many tragedy's visited upon one family. Then today the totally shocking news broke, another tragedy. Our thoughts are with the Franey and Dunne families at this impossible time. R.I.P. Siobhan heaven is definitely gaining an angel'.

John Franey Snr passed away peacefully at St Vincent's Hospital on December 27. He was an active member of Wicklow Pigeon Club and was instrumental in establishing Rathnew Pigeon Club in the 1980s. He won a national pigeon racing award in the 1970s after participating in an All-Ireland held in Scotland. Last year both clubs presented him with an award for his dedication to pigeon racing.

Kathleen Franey, John's wife and Siobhan's mother, passed away in October of 2017.

Sadly this isn't the first time tragedy has visited the Franey family. A sister and brother of Siobhan both passed away in 2004. Valerie O'Neill passed away aged 42 after bravely battling illness, while Malcolm Franey died just months later after he was the innocent victim of an assault and fell and knocked his head off the ground.
Michael English in concert: Remember to book your tickets to Michael English and his band before they sell out. The concert is in aid of St Joseph's and St Mary's Parishes, and takes place on Thursday, February 28, at 8 p.m. in St Joseph's Church.

Tickets are 25 and are on sale and available from: The parish office, Moore's in Grangecon, Patterson's Butchers and O'Reilly Stores. You can also contact Fiona at 087 6864596, Mick at 087 2875011, Avril at 087 4119214, or Ashling at 085 7679973.

Interesting radio broadcasts on Baltinglass

A couple of interesting broadcasts on radio took place over the Christmas season featuring Baltinglass. Billy Timmins was interviewed by Declan Meehan on the Morning Show on East Coast FM about the concentration of nine hillforts in Baltinglass. This was prompted by the Wicklow People headline, St Stephen's Day issue 'Hillforts can bring tourists to Baltinglass - Area has the potential to match Boyne Valley as a heritage site.'.

The archaeological find, researched by Dr James O'Driscoll from UCC as part of his PhD was featured in the 2015 West Wicklow Historical Society Journal (no. 8). Efforts are being made in the last year by the Baltinglass Town Renewal group to find funds for an interpretative centre to be located in the Courthouse along with the cooperative working space which has already received funding from Wicklow County Council. For a full version of James O'Driscoll's thesis, you can search for' James O'Driscoll Baltinglass Hillforts' and you will get a url to the UCC website where his thesis is published.

The other item, first broadcast on November 17, and repeated on Radio one on New Years' Eve, was the documentary by Jim Kearney on the 'Battle of Baltinglass'. The story, embedded in Baltinglass's history from 1950, about how a small community (Baltinglass) challenged the then government after the appointment of a new sub-postmaster, leaving the elder Cookes out of work and without a home despite the post office being in the Cooke family for three generations.

A podcast of the documentary is still available to hear on rte.ie. You could also try searching for it on your browser and it will come up with a more direct link.

Further education/training

Baltinglass Further Education and Training Centre will be running a new part-time maths course starting on Tuesday, January 15, at 10 a.m. with an information session.

Do you worry your maths will let you down? Would you like to be more confident when using numbers? Would you like to understand percentages (%) and fractions (1/2) better? Can you work out area and volume? Would you like to be more confident in helping your children with their maths homework?

This course will help you to use maths for everyday situations. The classes are all free of charge, friendly and flexible. Learning takes place in small groups to make the learning a better experience. Take time out for yourself.

Contact Annette or Maeve now at 086 8462771 or 059 6482642 or email abebaltinglass@kwetb.ie.

Kids cookery classes

Looking for your kids to have fun and broaden their palates? Why not book them on to cookery classes taking place on Mondays or Thursdays from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. in Rathvilly.

At Sugarush, we make everything from Sunday roast with all the trimmings to fried calamari.

Please ring for a place as soon as possible as this opportunity will fill up fast. We will take children from five years upwards. To book ring Natalie Cassells at 086 1702462. You can also view our activities on Facebook at 'sugarrushcarlow'.

Rathdangan news

If part of your 2019 resolution is to get healthy and fit, O'Toole Hall Rathdangan is the place to be this Sunday, January 13, from midday to 5 p.m.

On behalf of MS Ireland we will hold a holistic health and wellness day. There will be experts available to chat with you on all aspects of holistic health such as homeopathy, yoga, reiki, amatsu, massage, nutrition, counseling, exercise, meditation. There will also be healthy treats available to buy or sample. Throughout the day talks will be given on all the different therapies. Angel and tarot card readings will also available. It is set to be a very interesting day and all money raised will go to MS Ireland. Entry is 5 for adults, and kids up to 16 years can come for free.

Amy releases second single

Congratulations to Amy Barrett (17 years) from Dunlavin, who has just released a second Single 'Heartbreak' following her debut Single 'Emilio' last April. Amy is a sixth year Leaving Cert students and will have her mind on other things over the coming months, but she is determined to continue writing more all the same.

Amy recorded the single with Mark Caplice (Cappy) and the single was produced by Cian Sweeney. We wish Amy luck in her final year in school and with her music endeavours. The link to her new song is on iTunes, Spotify and Apple Music.

'Rory's Stories' returns

Rory O'Connor, known for Rory's Stories show and books, is coming to perform in Germaines, Baltinglass on Friday, January 25, at 8.30 p.m. Tickets are 15 and are available from Germaines.

Rory's Stories is a comedy act where Rory acts out relatable everyday situations in Ireland, looking at the funny side. You must be over 16 to attend.

Rathdangan Drama Group

Rathdangan Drama Group will be performing their play 'Try anything twice' by William Rocke over two weekends, on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, February 22, 23 and 24 and the following weekend on March 1, 2, three. Tickets will be available soon for purchase. Watch this space.

Day care centre

The next meeting of the Baltinglass Day Care Committee will take place this Wednesday, January 9, at 8.30 p.m. at the Center.

We wish every success to the new committee members, as follows: chairperson - Larry Cole, Vice-Chair - Anne Aspill, secretary - Maura O'Halloran, Assistant secretary - Josie Rouse, treasurer - Rena O'Toole, Assistant treasurer - Mary Jackson, PRO. - Lorraine Aspill.

Parish bingo

Baltinglass Parish Bingo takes place in Fatima Hall, Baltinglass every Monday from 8.30 p.m. to 10 p.m. Why not come along for some social interaction and fun during these long dark nights in January. Your support would be warmly appreciated.
Enniskerry - Happy New Year: To all readers and contributors we wish you all a Very Happy New Year.

Senior citizens party

The annual Christmas party for the Old Folks/senior citizens of the Enniskerry Area takes place in the Parish Hall in the village opposite Town Clock at 3 p.m. on Saturday.

Darts

Powerscourt Arms Hotel Dart team were all playing in the Borough League Doubles Event last night. The league resumes next Tuesday night away to Magic Carpet.

Powerscourt/Kilbride

Powerscourt Church Tomorrow (Thursday): 10 a.m. - Holy Communion.

Services of Worship in Powerscourt for this Sunday - first Sunday after the Epiphany - The baptism of Our Lord: 8.30 a.m. - Holy Communion One (Said); 11.30 a.m. - Family Service.

Services of Worship in Kilbride for this Sunday - first Sunday after the Epiphany - The baptism of Our Lord: 10 a.m. - Family Service.

St Mary's Church

God's Housekeepers: Please think about helping us to clean St Mary's. We really need help to keep the church looking as good as it is at the moment. Your help would be much appreciated. Cleaning takes place after 10.15 a.m. Mass on Monday mornings for approximately one hour.

Parish Of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, Enniskerry, Kilmacanogue, Curtlestown and Glencree: We're updating Our Parish Website. We are designing a simpler yet feature rich website for our parish that is relevant, simple to use and which reaches out to communicate with you, our parish community.

St Mochonog's: Calling All Volunteers. We would like to provide tea or coffee and refreshments after Mass in Kilmacanogue on certain Sundays and special occasions. We are looking for volunteers to be part of our hospitality team. If you are interested in helping out please contact the parish office at 01 202 1882. Thank you.

Legion of Mary - Kilmacanogue Presidium: Meet at 11.30 a.m. every Tuesday in the sacristy of St Mochonog's. New members are most welcome. Group recite the Rosary on the first Saturday of each month at midday at the Grotto in the church grounds. Click on the link legionofmary.ie to view website.

History Society

Meeting of the Enniskerry History Society will resume tomorrow (Thursday) at 8.30 p.m. in the Powerscourt Arms and Country House, Hotel, Enniskerry Village, at which noted historian and author Chris Corlett will present a lecture looking at 'Powerscourt in the Middle Ages' - all welcome, admission 5,

Other events which may be of interest to members and supporters of the Enniskerry History Society tomorrow (Thursday) night's 8.30 p.m. lecture by Chris Corlett on 'Powerscourt in the Middle Ages' to the Enniskerry History Society in the Powerscourt Arms and Country House Hotel, Enniskerry - all welcome, admission 5; and Friday night's 8 p.m. lecture by Marcus de la Poer Beresford on 'Marshall William Carr Beresford - the ablest man I have seen with the army' to the Military History Society of Ireland, Griffith College, South Circular Road, Dublin eight. All welcome, admission free - wheelchair access available; and next Tuesday night's 8 p.m. lecture by Harry Bradshaw 'John Feeney, Forgotten Irish Tenor from Mayo' to the Foxrock Local History Club in Foxrock Parish Pastoral Centre, rere Foxrock RC Church, Foxrock, Co. Dublin. All welcome - admission 5.

Members and supporters of the Enniskerry History Society are asked to note that January 12 is the last date to obtain a copy of the Old Bray Society's special issue of the Bray Historical Record - 'First World War Special Issue' which recalls those from county Wicklow, who took part in this conflict from the Town Hall Bookshop, 23 Florence Road, Bray.

Further information on the Enniskerry History Society available from John Callan, at 01 2867853.

Enniskerry Library

Opening hours for the library located on Church Road, Enniskerry, are - Tuesday and Friday: 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.; Wednesday: 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. and 6.30 p.m. to 8.30 p.m., and Saturday: 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. New members to the library are always very welcome. Please phone 01 2864339 for further information or to renew books. Due to the Christmas/New Year break the library is closed today (Wednesday) and will re-open this Friday.

Meals on Wheels

The Meals on Wheels Service operates in Enniskerry and Kilmacanogue and delivers hot meals every Tuesday and Thursday to older people in their homes. It's an opportunity to connect with the community and provide a hot meal and social contact call to older people in the area. We are looking for volunteer drivers who can give up two or three hours twice a month to facilitate this much needed service. Interested volunteers should contact Maoiliosa Kelly at 086 8322466 for further information.

Senior citizens party

The Old ICA senior citizens Christmas party will be held this Saturday in the Parochial Hall (beside Poppies) at 3 p.m. Please contact Rosemary at 087 2608933.

Laragh-Glendalough

Brockagh Resource Centre

We welcome a new year with all our services and most of our regular classes back this week. Active Retirement are back Tuesday, January 15, and our parent and toddler group, Happy Days are back on Tuesday, February 5. For details of our ongoing activities see brockaghresourcecentre.ie/events. You can also 'friend' us on Facebook or Twitter. To add your name to our database and be kept informed about events, phone us at 0404 45600 or email brockaghresourcecentre@gmail.com.

Happy Days

Starting back Tuesday, February 5 - Tuesdays mornings 10.30 - midday at the Brockagh Centre, parents, babies and toddlers get together, have lots of fun weeks with art and crafts and make new friends. It is also a great way to meet and socialize with parents, especially if you are new to the area. Contact us at 0404 45600 at the centre for more information.

Taekwon-Do

Children, teens, and adults will enjoy Taekwon-Do, a Korean art of self-defence. Benefits include improving confidence, respect, discipline, awareness, concentration, channeling aggression, balance, coordination, speed, reactions, fitness and health. Call Master Kenneth Wheatley at 087 2547347 for further information. Classes are on Tuesdays at 7.45 p.m. to 8.45 p.m. (seniors and teens). Children's classes are on Tuesdays at 6 p.m. to 6.45 p.m. (4-7 years), 6.45 p.m. to 7.45 p.m. (8-12 years).

Basket Weaving Workshops

Learn to make a traditional round basket using willow. Suitable for both beginners and improvers. The next full day workshops are taking place on Saturday the 19th and January 26 in the Brockagh Resource Centre, Laragh from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. You can contact local basket maker and artist, Aoife Patterson 087 9773622 or email info@wicklowwillow.ie wicklowwillow.ie to find out more about her Spring workshops in 2019.

Pilates Classes

Starting back Monday, January 7 - Evening Pilates classes will begin on Mondays at 7 p.m., starting on January 7 in the Brockagh Resource Centre, Laragh. Thursday mornings classes will continue for now at 10 a.m.

Pilates strengthens core muscles, improves muscle control, flexibility, strength and tone, as well as alignment and breathing. Zara Elkinson has trained and qualified through the STOTT Pilates Method of Movement. This method combines modern theories of exercise science with spinal rehabilitation, which gives a safe and effective exercise that sees results and is accessible to all.

Like on Facebook @Pilates

WithZara to keep up to date. Contact Zara at 087 9367474 for more information.

Morning Yoga with Louise

Starting back Thursday, January 10 - Louise's yoga class will be held every Thursday from 10 to 11.15 a.m. This is a gently paced class where students learn how to align, open and strengthen the body gradually while stabilising the platforms of the feet and ankles, hips and pelvis and shoulder girdle. The class begins with general and targeted warm-up sequences followed by postures (Asanas) and Vinyasa (breath-connected) sequences before final relaxation in Savasana. To find out more, call Louise at 087 6032202 (booking is essential).

Chair Yoga

Starting back Thursday, January 10 - Our very popular Chair Yoga class will take place on Thursdays from 11.30 a.m. to 12.45 p.m. Chair Yoga is suitable for almost everyone and helps students find balance and calm in everyday life. The class takes students through centering and breath-work, followed by postures that let the joints move through their range of movement while seated or through use of the chair while standing. Call Louise at 087 6032202. (booking is essential).

Free Computer Course

A free five-week digital skills computer course will be coming soon (depending on no.s). Topics covered include online banking, apps, online government services, email, shopping online, online TV players, podcasts, photographs, security and much more. This course is for beginners or someone who is rarely online and wants to up skill. Call the Brockagh Resource Centre at 0404 45600 or email laraghit@eircom.net.
Murder charges were filed Friday against a rural Racine County man in connection with the death and dismemberment of a door-to-door solicitor of environmental funds who showed up at the man`s home in June.

Authorities said Joachim Ernest Dressler, 42, an elevator repairman who works in Milwaukee, apparently acted alone in the death of James Michael Madden, 24, a paid solicitor for Wisconsin`s Citizens for a Better

Environment.

''These allegations are about as grisly as they can get,'' said Racine County Circuit Judge Dennis Barry in ordering that Dressler, the father of two minor children, be held on a $250,000 bond. ''These allegations would even go beyond violence.''

Dressler lives behind a church just north of the unincorporated community of North Cape.

Madden, of Whitefish Bay, Wis., was last seen soliciting funds at a home of a next-door neighbor of Dressler`s the evening of June 27. A sheriff`s search of Dressler`s home was conducted on July 30 and 31, and more than 300 items taken.

But none of the items, investigators said, appeared to link Dressler to the slaying or to indicate that Madden was in the home.

The break came Tuesday night when Dressler allegedly told a close friend and neighbor, Sherwin O. Beyer, that he accidentally shot and killed Madden.

The murder complaint states, ''Joachim Dressler further indicated to Beyer that the bullet which entered the head of Madden was hollow and that the bullet fragmented; that Dressler stated to Beyer that he wanted to destroy the evidence.''

Madden`s legs, arms, head, torso and pelvis were later found in four different locations a few miles from Dressler`s home. Other remains still are missing, according to investigators.

Although a motive for the slaying has not been defined, the complaint states that ''video tapes depicting what is believed to be actual murder, torture, and mutilation of human beings and animals'' were found in the search of Dressler`s home.

Also found hidden in the home was a ''briefcase with pictures of persons who appeared to be dead,'' Weber said.

The district attorney stated that Dressler apparently made the Tuesday statements to Beyer because his conscience was bothering him and because he was feeling harassed by heavy surveillance of his home by police officers on ground and in a helicopter.

''I think he expected the neighbor not to tell anyone,'' Weber said after court. Beyer instead gave his information to Lt. James Ivanoski of the sheriff`s office.

Weber said Dressler`s wife was having surgery and his two children were visiting relatives the night of the killing.
Work on a 30 million road project linking Caltragh to the Balldoogan area of Sligo which will open up IDA lands, got underway on Monday.

The major road project backed by the IDA and the Department of Transport will see the construction of a three kilometre link road from Ballydoogan to the Caltragh interchange.

The Western Distributor Road Phase 2 comprises a new single carriageway south west of Sligo Town commencing at the Ballydoogan Road (WDR Phase 1) and terminating at the N4 Caltragh Interchange.

The scheme will improve access to the existing IDA Business Park at Finisklin and provide access to the proposed new IDA Business Park at Oakfield and zoned land in the area.

Speaking ahead of the commencement of works on Monday, Director of Services with Sligo County Council, Tom Kilfeather, said the project is expected to be completed over an 18 month period.

Siac Construction were successful in the tendering process.

Describing it as a "significant project for Sligo" Mr Kilfeather said the outcome of the project would allow for a similar business park like that already in Finisklin to be developed.

"It will open up lands for the IDA for development as a business park. The business park in Finisklin is quite full at the moment so they need a new front to open to attract more industry into Sligo."

Mr Kilfeather acknowledged the support of the Department of Transport and the IDA in bringing the project to fruition.

Asked if the 18 month timeframe for completion was realistic for the project, the Director of Services was confident.

"Siac Construction would have an 18 month timescale so we would be very confident that they would deliver it within that timescale."

Speaking to The Sligo Champion, Mayor of Sligo Municipal Cllr Rosaleen O'Grady said the project would open "the entire development on Oakfield Road."

"It's a major project so it has to be welcomed, to see that amount of money coming to Sligo and that kind of development and it was much-needed," noted Cllr O'Grady. The Fianna Fail councillor also welcomed assurances from engineers that while construction is taking place, the junction at Kevinsfort Heath would also be looked at.

"For me as a local councillor that is very welcomed because there has been ongoing issues and I've got the commitment of the engineering staff that in conjunction with the construction that road will be looked at and junctions further down. It's a wonderful project and all of this has to bring progress," she concluded.

Cathaoirleach of Sligo County Council, Cllr Martin Baker commended those involved on the project.

"I'd like to compliment the staff because a lot of the work in progressing this project has been done by in house staff, despite cutbacks the amount of time and effort they put into it they worked a lot beyond their resources.

"Brian Flynn has taken over as head engineer on the project which is a huge compliment to the council that we have engineers of that quality," said the Cathaoirleach.

He added: "The delivery of this major scheme is hugely significant for Sligo as a 'Designated Centre for Growth' under the National Planning Framework.

"It will provide access to IDA Ireland lands at Oakfield, and in a wider context is important in terms of Sligo's status as the economic, tourist and cultural capital of the Northwest.'

SIAC Construction Ltd was appointed in November 2018 to complete the main construction contract and it is anticipated that the scheme will be open to traffic in Q2 of 2020.
Sligo men and women elected to the first Dail are among those who will be commemorated at a centenary event at the Mansion House, Dublin, on January 21st.

Sinn Fein's John Joseph Clancy was elected in the Sligo North constituency, while Sinn Fein's Alexander McCabe was elected in the Sligo South constituency in the December 1918 General Election. The first meeting took place on January 21, 1919.

Countess Markievicz was elected to the first Dail in the Dublin St. Patrick's constituency.

Family members of those elected to the first Dail have been invited to the centenary event later this month.

For the family of JJ Clancy, it has allowed them to go back and research their grandfather's role in Irish politics and indeed history.

There is much written about Clancy online, but his family feel that some of it may not be entirely true.

A chance encounter at Mr. Clancy's grave in Ardmayle, Cashel, allowed his granddaughter Maria Clancy Wootton and her cousin Anna Rachel Kilkenny the opportunity to research their grandfather's life for a journal produced by 'Boherlahan-Dualla Heritage Group', on behalf of the Clancy and Coman families.

This gave them the opportunity to tell their grandfather's story as best they could.

John J. Clancy, known as 'Jack' was born in 1890 in Collooney. His father Thomas was a farmer and tenant on the Cooper Estate at Markree.

It is most likely that Jack met his wife, known as 'Cis' through the Sinn Fein organisation. Jack was appointed Secretary to the County Sligo Committee of Agriculture and Technical Instruction in 1912 after applying for the role. Having been working in Dublin at the time, this new job allowed Jack to move back to Sligo where he would be base in the Courthouse on Teeling Street.

Jack and Cis together played a vital role in organising Sinn Fein in the county. In 'Boherlahan - Dualla Historical Journal 2018', it is stated that"there was always an underlying ambition in the Clancy clan to free themselves from British oppression."

In 1915, Jack joined the Irish Volunteers and became a member of the Irish Republican Brotherhood, although he didn't take part in the 1916 rising as a result of a communication error.

A national aid association was set up in the aftermath of 1916 for dependants of those killed or imprisoned. Jack and another man, Alderman Edward Foley, were both given the role of secretaries of the fund in Sligo.

Two years later, Jack Clancy was elected President of the Sinn Fein Executive for North Sligo.

In May 1918, Clancy was arrested in connection with anti-conscription speeches and the 'German Plot'. He had taken part in the campaign against the introduction of conscription into this country.

He was detained in Usk prison in Wales. A general election took place in December that year and Jack won the seat for North Sligo, with Sinn Fein claiming victory throughout the country.

"There were at least two distinct strands in Sinn Fein, those who hoped independence could be won by peaceful political methods and those who had no problem with physical force. Jack Clancy was one of the former," stated the journal.

Jack and fellow 'German Plot' prisoners were released in March 1919.

He attended his first Dail Eireann meeting a month later. A committee was appointed to assist the Minister for Local Government in preparing policy for his department, and Clancy was among the members.

Jack was also a selected member of a committee that was appointed to consider land policy under the Land Department. He was put in charge of the Dail Eireann loan for Sligo along with Alec McCabe.

He was arrested again later in the month and sentenced to six months. He was charged while in prison and sentenced to another three months with hard labour but was released in September.

In June 1920, he was elected chairman of Sligo County Council for a term of one year.

"Nationalists were caught up in the War of Independence but the methods of some members were not always in keeping with an acceptable code of behaviour. Jack was an elected politician, an administrator, not a military man, who tried to keep the county institutions functioning. A breakaway faction of the IRA started interfering with County Council matters, making it impossible for Jack to carry out the job he had been employed to do and putting him under severe mental strain," recalls the journal.

Jack was once again arrested in February 1921 and was released in April. His name was not put forward for elections in 1921 for the second Dail, although it is not known whether or not he did not seek re-election or if he was prevented from running again.

A general report on Sligo in July 1921, discovered by Maria Clancy Wootton and Anna Rachel Kilkenny during their research, cast a new light on events at the time.

"Military Interference: Here I may say a rather ugly situation is developing. The IRA seem to think they can interfere when and where they like in public affairs. I say it becaause they have done so.

A. A 1,000 was demnaded by them from County Council for their help in the collection of the rates. This amount seemed too large and the then Chairmain, covertly I must say and on his own responsibility offered 500. However this was declined and he was informed to have the money ready by a certain time or take the consequences. In the presence of Mr. Grimes, an official, he gave over the money at the appointed time. He is naturally anxious to know if money were properly expended and if sanction for such action were given by Defence. If I remember correctly this money was handed over before Defence and this Department had decided anything on the matter. None but Mr. Clancy and Grimes and the IRA are aware of this transaction."

Jack Clancy's granddaughters added: "Truly, the idealism of some members of the nationalist movement was being thwarted by the ulterior motives of others. Jack was among the former, finding himself compelled to hand over public money against his better judgement. This was blatant robbery by a faction of the IRA but the loss of money to the Council cast a lifetime shadow over the integrity of our grandfather."

The following letter which was found among General Richard Mulcahy's papers adds further evidence to strengthen the claim that Jack was subjected to intimidation to hand over public money to an individual who was acting illegally.

"To: The Brigade Commandant, Sligo. Will you let me have a report on the allegation that a local Volunteer, named Bradshaw, is demanding the sum of 1,000 from the Sligo County Council.

"If, by any chance, the action is as alleged, it is entirely irregular and action in the matter should be withheld pending your reporting on the matter here."

Following the robbery, Jack Clancy felt obliged to resign as secretary of Sligo Committee of Agriculture, but stayed on as a member of the County Council.

At a meeting in 1922, TDs claimed that speakers during Arthur Griffith's visit were all threatened.

In 1926, he returned to his position as acting secretary of Sligo Committee of Agriculture until his ill health finally took its toll.

In May 1932, tragedy struck when Jack drowned in the river Shannon having moved back to Tipperary.

The inquest into his death ruled he died by accidental drowning, and there were no witnesses so what happened remains unclear.

With thanks to Maria Clancy Wootton, Anna Rachel Kilkenny and the 'Boherlahan - Dualla Historical Journal'.
Confirmation has been received of the start of a new respite service for carers in March of this year.

The withdrawal of respite services for carers throughout Sligo and Leitrim has been a source of stress and hardship for carers for almost three years.

"The closure of the Solas Respite Centre which left hard pressed families providing 24 hour care for loved ones with no chance of a much needed break," stated Cllr Thomas Healy.

"We organised a campaign group, held pickets and marches, we met with the Minister in Dublin and had motions adopted by Sligo County Council.

"I am absolutely delighted for the families affected that the HSE has finally confirmed that the service will be restored under the Rehab Care Services and is due to open in March. It will be based in Tullaghan in a H.S.E owned building.

"Following years of delays and attempts to move the service to County Monaghan I am delighted to see a successful outcome to the campaign, I will be liaising closely with the families affected to ensure that the service is comprehensive and appropriate to their needs.

"I want to thank and acknowledge John Doyle and the committee of Our Voice-Their Future and the families who stood up and campaigned for their loved ones and indeed for families in the future who will depend on these services."
The western region has ranked third in the IDA's figures for job creation in 2018.

With Dublin topping the table with the creation of 96,760 jobs in IDA client companies, the west showed an increase of 25,968 in the workforce among its clients last year. Investment and expansion among companies in Sligo were heavily cited in the recent release with the likes of AbbVie and Overstock.com's future plans detailed.

Last year AbbVie announced the expansion of its manufacturing facility with a 139 million investment and the creation of 100 jobs. Overstock.com, Inc, the e-commerce and technology leader announced plans to expand its European base in Sligo creating 100 new research and development roles and more than tripling the office's current workforce.

The new full-time positions will include junior and senior roles in areas such as software development and testing, machine learning, and data analytics.

While Phibro Animal Health Corporation announced plans to establish a biotech facility producing a range of innovative animal health vaccines at the IDA Finisklin Business Park, creating up to 150 jobs over 5 years.

The report cited that currently 58% of employment is now outside Dublin, as of last year, the highest number of people employed by IDA clients outside the capital in the history of the organisation. Commenting of the report, Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation, Heather Humphreys said, "I particularly welcome the gains made in deepening and growing investment outside of Ireland's main cities, with the largest regional employment growth achieved in 17 years."

Though last year's growth figures were positive, CEO of IDA Ireland, Martin Shanahan said Ireland could take 'nothing for granted'.

"It is important to remember that only ten years ago, across 2008 and 2009, Ireland lost over 35,000 FDI (Foreign Direct Investment) jobs during the Global Financial Crisis. This is a salutary reminder that we can take nothing for granted and we need to be vigilant, particularly in relation to our competitiveness. All jobs are fought for and won against increasing international competition," said the CEO.
Sligo University Hospital created a record in 2018 but it's one the HSE will want to forget.

The INMO has just released shock figures that show some 4,183 people were left on trolleys in the Emergency Department or other wards at the hospital last year, up frm 2,406 in 2017 and up massively since 2006 where the number was 784.

The figure in 2016 was 2,308 and 2,478 in 2015 and 2,017 in 2014.

Every morning at 8am, INMO members count how many patients are waiting in the Emergency Department for a bed and how many in wards elsewhere. The INMO Trolley Watch counts the number of patients who have been admitted to acute hospitals, but who are waiting for a free bed.

These patients are often being treated on trolleys in corridors, but they may also be on chairs, in waiting rooms, or simply wherever there's space. The INMO started Trolley Watch in 2004.

The December figures for Sligo University Hospital show there were 286 patients on trolleys, down from 305 in 2017 but up from 172 in 2016. The number for 2015 was 212 with 172 in 2014.

The worst-hit hospitals included:

 Limerick University Hospital - 11,437

 Cork University Hospital - 9,135

 Galway University Hospital - 7,452

 Midlands Regional Hospital, Tullamore - 5,831

 Tallaght University Hospital - 5,432

Smaller hospitals also saw record overcrowding. South Tipp General Hospital, for example, had 5,201 patients on trolleys in 2018.

But Sligo's figure of 4, 183 in 2018 was higher than the yearly totals of big Dublin hospitals such as Beaumont (2,968); St Vincent's (3,773); St James's (2,025) and Connolly (3,569). The INMO blames the crisis on low capacity and understaffing. The organisation has asked the government to work with the INMO to develop proposals that will resolve the recruitment and retention crisis in nursing.

Some 95% of INMO nurses and midwives have voted in favour of industrial action. The INMO Executive will met on Monday and also today (Tuesday) this week to set dates for strikes. The Executive will determine dates for a 24-hour national strike, which would see INMO members withdraw their labour, providing only emergency and lifesaving care. This would be only the second time in the INMO's hundred-year history that its members have taken national strike Nurses and midwives last engaged in strike action in 1999.

INMO General Secretary Phil Ni Sheaghdha said:"Despite the government spin, 2018 was the worst year on record for overcrowding. Negative records were set throughout the year, with over 100,000 admitted patients forced to wait on trolleys and chairs, without a proper bed. We know that this dramatically worsens outcomes for our patients.

"The health service does not have enough beds to support our population. More beds means more nurses, but the HSE simply can't hire enough on these wages. It's beyond time for the government to engage proactively with the INMO to resolve the crisis in Irish nursing and midwifery.

"Patients should be focused on recovering, but instead have to worry about waiting times, understaffing and a lack of beds. 2019 must see real changes in policy and funding to resolve this once and for all."

Minister for Health Simon Harris has said he was encouraged by what he called a 'significant reduction' in the number of patients on trolleys, but added that there would be difficult weeks ahead.

In response, SAOLTA, the hospital group which Sligo University Hospital belongs to said in a statement: The number of patients attending Emergency Departments in Ireland continues to increase year on year with 1.2 million attendances, an increase of 42,000 on 2017.

While the majority of patients who attend Emergency Departments receive treatment and are discharged home, 25-30% of patients need to be admitted for further treatment. By the end of November, 315,000 patients had been admitted from ED, 8,400 more than in 2017.

In 2018, 39,141 patients presented to the ED at Sligo University Hospital representing a 3.9% (+1,465 patients) increase compared to 2017.

The number of admitted patients through ED also rose by 4.3% resulting in increased demand for beds.

The number of patients aged 75 and over presenting to ED and who need to be admitted to hospital for treatment, has been rising year on year.

This reflects the increase in our older population and with advances in medicine and healthcare, people are living longer. Typically older patients will have more complex care requirements, are more likely to need to be admitted to hospital for treatment and will also have a longer length of stay in hospital.

In order to address increasing demands on hospital services, a Discharge Lounge has been set up with the aim to improve wait times for admitted patients waiting a hospital bed.

The hospital has also submitted a plan to develop 46 additional medical beds to cater for the increasing demand for hospital beds, evident by the increase in trolley numbers in 2018.

A national decision is awaited. The hospital is also actively engaged with Community Health Services to enhance the care provided for older people in the hospital, community and at home in an effort to avoid hospital admission where possible or allow for reduced lengths of stay.

Minister for Health Simon Harris said: The Government, the HSE, people working right across our health services are working as hard as they possibly can. I dont think theres any doubt about that in terms of the work of people in our hospitals.

Of course theres far too many on hospital trolleys. Of course we need to do everything we possibly can to help patient flow. But lets remember whats happening in the health service today... people are coming into hospital. Theyre often very sick with flu.

It takes longer perhaps to find them an appropriate isolation space in the hospital therefore theyre detained within the emergency department for longer and that obviously impacts on the flow of other patients.
Tegi and Nomi Brennan at Women's Little Christmas Black Dress Ladies Lunch in aid of North West Simon Community in Kilronan Castle last Sunday. Pic: Carl Brennan.

Castleconnor: Castleconnor Lotto - Results for December 29, 2018Jackpot 18,200 Numbers drawn were 14, 18, 23 and 28 No jackpot winners three x 50 winners Kevin McLoughlin Issie Somerville and Noel Kearims Next week's jackpot 18,300.

Easkey-Dromore West

All-Ireland JFC Club semi-final

The all-Ireland JFC Club semi-final fixture with Easkey and Red Hugh's will take place on Sunday, January 20, at 2 p.m. at Pairc Sean Ui Heslin, Ballinamore, Co. Leitrim. The club is selling tickets for the GAA National draw to support the players as they prepare for the semi-final. Tickets cost 10 or three for 20 and are available in Bernie's Shop or from club officials.

Jackie Forde r.i.p.

The sudden death has taken place of Jackie Forde, Main Street, Easkey. His remains were removed from McGowan's Funeral Home to St James Church, Easkey. Burial took place in Roslea Cemetry following Mass of the Resurrection. Sympathy is extended to his wife Nora, daughters Tracey and Corinne, sons John and Gene, brother Desmond, inlaws, grandchildren, sisters-in-law, brothers-in-law, nephews, nieces, relatives and friends.

25 card game

A 25 card game will start in Easkey in the school beside the church on Sunday, January 13, at 8 p.m.

West Sligo Forum

West Sligo Forum Ltd has a position of administrator available from January 21. To apply contact 096 49818 Monday to Friday 9 a.m. to 4.30 p.m. DSP criteria applies.

'A Fish out of Water'

The Skreen-Dromard Drama Group will stage their production of 'A Fish out of Water' in Skreen-Dromard Community Centre on January 11, 12 and 13. Tickets can be had by calling 087 6806905.

Tidy Towns

Dromore West Tidy Towns are delighted to launch reusable cups priced at 6 each and available from Feeney's Filling Station. The reasons to support this initiative are.

1. Reduce waste and littering, no more single use coffee cups.

2. Save money, if you bring your reusable cup to Feeney's you will automatically receive a 20 cent discount on your morning coffee at the till, in association with Conscious Cup Campaign.

3. Dromore West Tidy Towns pledge 1 from the sale of each cup to the Green Schools project at Dromore West Central National School.

This initiative was made possible with grant funding through Sligo County Council.

Colaiste Iascaigh

With building work ready to go in the New Year at Colaiste Iascaigh, your support is required in this year's major school fundraiser a Boston Tea Party/Auction Night on Friday, February 1, in the Ocean Sands Hotel. For more information/reply forms please see the school's website colaisteiascaigh.ie or call the school at 09649021.All proceeds to the school development.

JPC public meeting

The Sligo County Joint Policing Committee wishes to inform members of the public that a public meeting will be held next Thursday, January 10, in Sligo Park Hotel at 7.30 p.m. Members of Carraroe Community are encouraged to attend the meeting and support the development of consultation with our Garda Siochana in the interest of safety of our community. Please encourage all your contacts around County Sligo to attend.

Dromore West Raffle

Dromore West Community Council CLG wish to thank all who supported and donated prizes for the recent Dromore West Community Council Raffle. A total of 4,280 was raised thanks to you all for buying tickets.

Your news

To have notes included email duffyfamilycabra@eircom.net or call 086 8373206.

Enniscrone

Walking Club

The walk on January 12 is Crummus-Ox Mountain, level is moderate, terrain is open mountain, length 3-4 hours. All walks are subject to change pending weather conditions and all walks start from Enniscrone Tourist Office at 9.30 a.m. unless stated otherwise.

Three Act Comedy

Skreen-Dromard Drama Group are presenting their three-act comedy 'A Fish out of Water' in Skreen-Dromard Community Centre on Friday the 11th. Saturday and Sunday, January 12, and 13, doors open at 7.30.

Public meeting

The Sligo County Joint Policing Committee inform members of the public that a public meeting will be held next Thursday, January 10, in the Sligo Park Hotel at 7.30 p.m. Members of our community are encouraged to attend the meeting and support the development of consultation with our Garda in the interest of safety of our community. Please encourage all your contacts around County Sligo to attend.

Enniscrone Storybook Trail

Enniscrone Library invites all of the family to read pages of a picture book that are displayed along the hollow at Enniscrone beach. It starts beside the lifeguard tower. The book currently displayed is the night before Christmas. A different picture book will be displayed here monthly.

Library opening hours Wednesday 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. Friday 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday 9.30 p.m. to 1.30 p.m. Closed Sunday, Monday and Tuesday. Book Club takes place first Thursday of the month from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. all welcome.

Social Bridge Club

Enniscrone Social Bridge Club takes place at the Diamond Coast Hotel every Wednesday night commencing at 7.30 p.m. The club will resume play on January 9.

Skreen-Dromard

Drama Group Production

The Skreen-Dromard Drama Group will stage their production of 'A Fish Out of Water' in the Skreen-Dromard Community Centre on January 11, 12, and 13. This hilarious comedy will also be staged in St Bridget's Hall, Tubbercurry on February 2 and in the Hawks Well Theatre, Sligo on February 9.

Text Alert

Text Alert is actively running in the local community area and everyone is asked to be alert and report anything suspicious to the Garda by contacting Sligo Garda Station at (O71) 9157000.

Diamond Ladies lunch fundraiser

The recently held Fundraising Lunch at the Diamond Coast Hotel, Enniscrone raised 16,075 for SHOUT (Sligo Hospital Oncology Unit Trust). Many thanks to all who supported this event in any way.

Church gate collection

The pre-Christmas church gate collection in aid of St Vincent de Paul raised 1,314 for the association and will be used to assist those most in need in the local community.

Wedding

Congratulations to Padraig McMunn, Carrownacreevy, Beltra and Tina Bogan, Killygordan, County Donegal on their recent marriage in St Patrick's Church Killygordan on December 29, 2018.

Sympathy

Deepest sympathy is extended to the following families on recent bereavements.

to the family, relatives and friends in the local area of John (Jack) White, late of Ross, Skreen, who died on December 14, 2018, in the Easkey Care Home.

to Hughie James and the James family, Cloonakeemogue, Beltra and Vincent James and the James family, Ballinlig, Beltra on the recent death of their sister May White, late of Riverstown.

to Berna James and the James family, Carrowgilpatrick, Dromard and Jim Tempany and the Tempany family, Skreen on the death of their uncle Michael Cullinane, late of Dublin.

to the family, relatives and friends of Michael Carney, late of Ballisodare and Beltra.

to Eileen Kilcullen and the Kilcullen family, Beltra on the recent death of her Sister Christine (Dolly) Kennedy, late of London, England.
Former Eirigi and Sinn Fein county councillor John Dwyer has thrown his name in the hat in the upcoming local elections.

The 2019 Irish local elections will be held on Friday, May 24, on the same day as the 2019 European Parliament election and Dwyer is aiming to reclaim his place in the County Hall chamber.

Dwyer has been in politics since 1999 and has been involved in union activities, prior to being approached by Sinn Fein.

'I became involved with the party and then found out local politicians can actually help people. I hated attending meetings and the aggression that was associated with meetings. I enjoyed ringing council officials who could resolve issues for people. Most (officials) were absolute gentlemen once they saw there was a genuine need. I will probably find the red tape as frustrating as before if I'm elected. Councillors across the country have allowed local government to be emasculated. That occurred because local representatives failed to defend their communities,' he said.

Running as an Independent again, Dwyer (55) said he sees an opportunity to take a seat in the new look New Ross municipal district, which will have six councillors by the time the voting is concluded, as opposed to eight before.

Dwyer was eliminated on the fifth count with 1,362 votes in the 2016 General Election, having previously lost his county council seat in 2014.

From Ryleen, just outside New Ross, Dwyer amassed considerable experience representing constituents across the county as a town and county councillor over three decades, and his phone continued to ring with requests for his assistance even though he was no longer a councillor.

He opened Adventure Canoe Hire in 2014 but has been longing to get back into politics for some time.

Dwyer believes the abolition of town councils has been to the detriment to towns like New Ross and was the worst decision taken by any government.

He is optimistic about the role the new bypass will have on New Ross, but is concerned about the lack of jobs being created in the town and across the district.

'The bypass presents potential huge problems, but it also presents opportunities for New Ross. The business skills exist in the town along with the willingness to invest. People in business need local government to roll in behind them; not to be adversarial or to be constantly looking for money from them for this and that. We need to see the re-establishment of the old town councils because that was the basic unit of democracy in Ireland if a trader had an issue with a local government decision so you had a response quickly from the director of services.'

He said retail cannot thrive in New Ross unless there is a stronger employment base.

'It was always government policy to make Waterford a hub area. The challenge is to retain money made in New Ross in the town. Even before the recession people went for days away shopping in Waterford, Wexford and Kilkenny and that is continuing to happen. Like Enniscorthy and Gorey, New Ross has been negatively affected by decisions made by officials which were ultimately accepted by elected members, but these decisions were often not in the best interests of the small retail business-owner in the town.'

Dwyer said initiatives like more free parking in New Ross in the run up to Christmas could help local businesses.

He remains adamant that the town's Kennedy connection has been 'done to death'.

'I believe we're highlighting the Kennedy link almost to our detriment as could be seen with the controversy over the naming of the new bridge. Of course we should celebrate our connection with the Kennedy name but when you have 800 plus years of history involving the Vikings and the Normans why not focus on that rather than 50 years ago.'

Dwyer said he is excited about running in the local elections, adding that he looks forward to representing working class people in the area, if elected.

'A lot of what I said prior to the recession about people in the construction industry needing training has come to pass.'
Peg Maher (nee Ryan), Knockmullen, New Ross, died on Monday, November 12, in her 94th year after a short illness.

Peg was born in Bonnybrook, outside Thomastown, into a dairy farming household, on January 28, 1925, to Andy and Ellen Ryan (nee Cuddihy).

She was the middle child of three, her brother Sean who died in December 2016 was two years older than her and Maura, who died on November 19, 2018, was five years younger than her.

Peg's early life featured stories of her uncle Tom Ryan's involvement in the War of Independence and her mother's trans-Atlantic travels and work experiences in Albany, New York.

Peg's schooling started in Inistioge National School where her aunt Mrs Aine Roche of Coolrainey taught and continued in the Mercy Sisters School in Thomastown. During those years the family's mode of transport was a horse and cart (for casual travel) and pony and trap for more formal occasions such as going to mass on Sunday. Work on the farm was equally non-mechanised, the young Peg contributing throughout her youth in both the dairy and the field.

In her late teenage years and into her twenties she socialised across County Kilkenny with her brother Sean developing their acting and singing skills with one act plays in parish halls, hotels, GAA clubs and even in people's living rooms.

She also attended dances with various friends especially Maura Whitty and cousin Bridie Mahon across the county. During this time she met Peter Maher from Sheestown, Co Kilkenny. Shortly after they met he purchased the farm at Knockmullen.

Peg cycled everywhere. As the courtship with Peter continued, she routinely cycled to New Ross to get her hair done and would often call for tea at the farm in Knockmullen. She claimed she could do the 14 mile journey in an hour and a half and still keep her hairdo intact.

Peter and Peg married in October 1951 and Peg immersed herself in the role of farmer's wife. She kept chickens, helped rear calves and pigs, milked cows and made butter as well as keeping house. While they were still milking cows by hand they sold milk by the pint around New Ross.

Being the early fifties mechanisation didn't yet extend beyond the horse. This meant a lot of local labour was hired and the custom was that all were fed.

Peter assumed this was natural and wouldn't necessarily have advised Peg she might have eight or nine men in for dinner at short notice. No matter how many presented she ensured they all ate heartily. That was her hallmark, a brilliant cook and baker, no matter what was thrown at her she coped with a smile.

The economics of small dairy farming at this time proved very precarious and farmers were encouraged to modernise and mechanise. With the new milking machine they were able to produce volumes that could be collected by the creamery. This was the start of building the herd which exists to this day.

Peter and Peg had nine children. Naturally parents hope to be buried by their children. Sadly this was not to be the case. In the 1960s two full-term babies didn't get a chance at life. Then in 1972, their eldest daughter Marian died aged 17. This was followed by the death of their youngest son Peadar in 1983, aged 23.

These tragedies caused immense sadness in the family, especially for Peter and Peg. However, Peg's instinctive response was to consider the remaining children she had left and she worked hard to nurture and care for them. As grandchildren started arriving in the late Seventies they proved a great distraction from these losses as she busied herself with their care.

She was again left devastated by the death of her beloved Peter in March 2000. And sadly in 2009, a further blow, saw the third youngest, Breda (Bree) pass away, aged 50.

While she endured these many tragedies she never let them define her.

By now Peg's family included great-grandchildren. As each new child was born it was a joyful celebration for her. She had a great relationship with the younger generations because she was so young at heart. She was involved in their lives and enjoyed their company, taking great pride in their various achievements from the eldest to the youngest. She always dressed elegantly and readily accepted new fashions given by her granddaughters. She still sewed, and when one of her grandchildren decided to start making patchwork quilts as a family project for new arrivals, Peg contributed like everyone else. She will always be remembered for her raspberry jam, apple tarts and brown bread. Up until her recent illness she was baking her brown bread twice a week and she has passed this tradition down through the generations.

She travelled aboard many times, particularly from her late seventies onwards. She made numerous trips to England visiting family and holidayed as far as France and Spain. She loved to eat out with family and her final such outing in September was to attend the function for her newest great-grandchild's christening.

Peg enjoyed watching her soaps and kept up with current affairs, in latter times using a magnifying glass to read the Standard and the Sunday Independent. Television coverage of hurling was a big part of her Sunday afternoon especially if her adopted county of Wexford was playing, although she never lost interest in the progress of Kilkenny. Rugby was another great distraction for her, always arranging her Saturday hairdressing appointment around whatever match might be of interest.

Her relationship with God was always very important to Peg, attending Sunday Mass and receiving communion in the parish church up to recent years and since then listening to the parish mass every morning on the radio. On Sundays she also watched whatever service was on television. Her favourite prayer was The Prayer to St Anthony.

Peg was blessed with good health right up to her recent illness. She lived a long independent life and saw scores of changes in her lifetime. She was interested in many subjects and had her own opinions about them but she was not a person to make grandiose statements. Her life centred on her family and was one of kindness, patience, quiet resourcefulness, resilience and love and care. How she lived her life was her statement.

Peg is survived by her children David, Ann, Andy and Mag; their spouses Kathleen, Gerry, Deirdre and Cyril; her daughter-in-law Margaret; son-in-law Alan; 16 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren, nephews, nieces and extended family. Peg was also survived by her sister Maura who sadly passed away on November 19.

Ar dheis De go raibh a n-anam dilis.
Paul Doherty, who is suffering from Lyme Disease, at home with Helena in Cromane. Helena wants to thank the Kerry people for their support for Paul

With the arrival of a new year, a Cromane resident has decided to thank the people of Kerry for their support as she looks to fund a radical Lyme disease treatment for her partner.

The story of Tyrone native Paul Doherty's battle with Lyme disease was first featured in The Kerryman back in October.

Paul has been battling Lyme Disease - which he contracted on a visit to Castlecove in 1989 - for over 30 years now and has suffered a series of serious health setbacks as a result.

"People need to be aware of the reality of this disease and how damaging it can be," said Helena at the time.

She set up a fundraising page hoping to raise 30,000 to help fund a radical treatment for him in a specialist clinic in Bad Aibling in Germany.

Helena hopes that this treatment will help eliminate or alleviate the Lyme disease within Paul.

Since the initial article in October, Helena's 'Go Fund Me' fundraiser has raised over 7,000, and she wishes to thank all those who have contributed, shared and contacted with support or treatment options they have chosen for their battle with Lyme Disease.

"Everyone out there has helped us to grow the fund to over 7,000, which is amazing. We still have the bones of 23,000 to go," she said.

Anyone looking to find out more about Paul's story can check out his online fundraising page at www.gofundme.com/help-paul-doherty-beat-lyme-disease.
The lie keeps taking different forms, Lightfoot said of Preckwinkle. But again, if youre a leader  when you mess up, you fess up and then you clean up, all right. Fess up. Tell us about what the real relationship, tell us about the quid pro quo Ed Burke got and solicited from you in return for now what we know is $116,000.
Before Christmas I met a friend for lunch. He usually arrives with a book for me, but on this occasion he had no book in hand but strongly recommended I read 'The Choice' by Edith Eger.

I had vaguely heard about the book some time back. The author may have been on 'The Late Late Show', and I'm sure Ryan Tubridy mentioned the book on his radio slot. By coincidence, a work colleague also mentioned the book and was enthusiastic about it and suggested I read it.

'The Choice' does exactly what it says on the tin. It's about making our own personal choices in the here and now, living in the present, using the wealth of knowledge and wisdom we have gained during our lives.

Edith Eger was a 16-year-old girl, living in Hungary in the warmth and love of her gifted family. It was 1944 when they were brutally removed from their home and shipped in a cattle train to the Auschwitz death camp. On her arrival, she and her sister, Magda, were separated from their parents, who were sent off in another line, which ended in the gas chamber.

Edith and Magda spent a year at Auschwitz. Edith was forced to dance for Mengele, the doctor of death. It was Mengele who decided the fate of many of the people who entered through the gates of Auschwitz. Edith and Magda, with the help of luck and their tenacity to stay alive, survived the hell of Auschwitz and went on to live healthy and happy lives in the United States. Of course, their lives were not trouble-free.

But the book is an account of how Edith Eger made her life decisions and how much of her decision-making was partly formed by her experiences at Auschwitz and her subsequent forced march to Gunskirchen.

She says that the worst moments in our lives, the moments that set us spinning with ugly desires, that threaten to unglue us with the sheer impossibility of the pain we must endure, are in fact moments that bring us to understand our worth. It's as if we become aware of ourselves as a bridge between all that's been and all that will be.

She went on to become an eminent psychologist in the United States. Her terrible suffering at the hands of the Germans gave her great empathy when dealing with her suffering patients.

In Auschwitz the stakes were life or death and the choice was never hers to make. But even in that hell she could choose how she responded. She could choose what she had in her mind.

Eger constantly stresses that while we can never erase the past, we are free to accept who we are and move on. It was astonishing to read that when Auschwitz was liberated and the gates thrown open there were prisoners who went through the gates but then returned back to the camp.

Of course there are those who live in the present and get on with their lives, but I am all too aware many of us hark for the past and have unreal hopes for the future, always edgy about living in the present and making the best of it.

Eger tells us we can't change the past, but we can change how we live now. So much of our lives are based on accident, the flip of a coin.

Edith Eger's 'The Choice' is an inspiring work that opens the reader's eyes to the power of the human spirit.
Reigning Rose of Tralee Kirsten Mate Maher was joined by six of her predecessors to launch the celebrations for the 60th anniversary of the Rose of Tralee festival.

Next August the world-famous contest and festival will mark its 60th birthday, and while the event is still eight months away, the organisers are wasting no time in getting the party started.

Last Friday, reigning Rose Kirsten and six previous winners met in Dublin to jointly launch the search for the 2019 Rose of Tralee and the festival's 60th birthday.

These past Roses were the first Rose, Alice O'Sullivan, who was crowned in 1959; the 1969 Rose, Cathy Quinn from Dublin; 1979 Rose Marita Marron from Belfast; 1989 Rose Sinead Boyle from Dublin; 1999 Rose Gerrie O'Grady from Cork and the 2009 winner, Charmaine Kenny, who represented London during the festival's 50th anniversary celebrations a decade ago.

Kirsten encouraged as many women as possible to get involved.

"My entire Rose journey has been overwhelming in the most positive sense. It has been the most positive life-changing experience, and the only way to truly appreciate that it's more than what people see on TV is to enter your local Rose selection now," she said.

Some 59 years after she won the crown, the first Rose of Tralee, Alice O'Sullivan, remains a huge fan of the event.

"Over the years I've been constantly impressed by the people who run the Festival. Year after year, good years and bad years, they have an enthusiasm to keep it going. It has really put the town of Tralee on the map," said Alice.

"I think that is such an amazing thing. It does well on television, and that's getting the message about the town of Tralee and about Kerry that it's a really good place to be. Anyone who's thinking of entering the Rose of Tralee should just go for it," she said.

The organisers of the Rose of Tralee International Festival have revamped the selection process for 2019 by removing the regional qualification aspect of the event to ensure that every Rose who is selected each year will feature in the TV final, which will be broadcast from the Dome on RTE.

From 2019, each Centre will select a Rose bi-annually and 32 Roses will be hosted in Tralee annually.

Roses representing Kerry, Cork and Dublin will continue to be selected every year. The 2019 Rose of Tralee will run from August 23 to 27.
The managing director of Twitter Ireland, Sinead McSweeney, has addressed a chamber lunch event in Wexford and outlined three of the key components of effective leadership as being perspective, integrity and resilience.

Ms McSweeney was the special guest at the lunch in Clayton White's Hotel sponsored by Wexford People newspapers, PwC and the Local Enterprise Office.

Married to barrister Noel Whelan, from Ballycullane, Ms McSweeney is no stranger to Wexford but she said it might be more accurate to describe it as being the 'modest' rather then 'model' county as it tends to be 'shy' about proclaiming what it has to offer.

A qualified barrister, Ms McSweeney has held a number of high-profile political advisory roles and she also served as director of communications with the Gardai and also the PSNI.

'I think it's important to say publicly that I had the privilege to work with some of the most decent people in the Irish public service during my time in the Gardai,' she said.

During her time working with the force Facthna Murphy was Garda Commissioner and Ms McSweeney said he went from someone who was sceptical about Twitter to a person who asked why the Gardai didn't have a Twitter account, within a short space of time.

'He realised there were new tools that could be utilised.'

Ms McSweeney said the importance and significance of Twitter became very apparent during the visits to Ireland by the Queen of England and also President Barack Obama: 'It was one way we could get to the public, information we required.'

With regard to Twitter and the importance of utilising digital platforms to their full potential Ms McSweeney told the attendees that they enable people and organisations to 'have a bigger footprint than their foot' on the world. 'Ireland has had an imprint [on the world] that is bigger than its foot,' she said.

With worldwide recognition Twitter has 3,500 employees globally and there are around 250 people working for the company here, in Dublin.

'We place a huge emphasis around mental health and well-being within the office,' said Ms McSweeney before focusing attention on the importance of a healthy work life balance.

She paid tribute to the work of Wexford County Council and the Chamber in enabling the county to recover from the recession but she reiterated her point about the county being 'modest' and encouraged people to stand up and 'tell the story of Wexford'.

She described her political advisory role as 'a strange one' because 'you have to advise people without them realising you are doing it'. It was a description that caused a ripple of laughter from the audience.

The main focus of Ms McSweeney's address was placing attention on how experience and ongoing work and life learning can enhance a person professionally and personally.

Describing life as a journey she placed importance and emphasis on the 'people we meet and the principles we learn on the journey'.

'If you do something and even if you find reasons why you shouldn't have done it then there is something to learn from that, she said.

She said some people 'are born leaders' while others learn the necessary skills to lead efficiently along life's journey.

Ms McSweeney also commented that the transformation of effective leadership is a 'lifetime endeavour'. 'It has to be based on life learning,' she said.

'People who have a great mindset learn from mistakes as well,' she added. 'We need to encourage young people to do things that they could not possibly imagine.'

Now fast becoming one of the most globally important and powerful women within the digital world she said her journey to leadership began as a result of her taking her first 'proper job' in Leinster House.

She entered there as part of a team and said it equipped her with the skills necessary to develop her career but significantly it also empowered her for the job she really wanted.

'In 1996 I asked Bertie Ahern for a job and that was based purely on what I had learned up to that point.

Emphasising that utilising ongoing experience is the path to professional progress she said what she learned within the Department of Justice in Leinster House enabled her to apply for a role within the PSNI (Police Service of Northern Ireland) at a time of very significant change when it was being transformed from the RUC to the PSNI and a strategic campaign was launched to entice more Catholics into the service.

'I was "youngish" and "Catholicish" at the time,' she said, adding it was a major endeavour in her role as head of the department of media and public relations, but she said the most antipathy she experienced was from 'the Sinn Fein side of the house'.

'That is where my leadership journey began,' she said.

'It was the first time I got to observe leadership in all its forms,' she added, before commenting that policy leadership is 'very interesting'.

She then emphasised the three key components of effective leadership as perspective, integrity and resilience.

'You have to be true to yourself,' she said. 'That is hugely important and you have to have the ability to get back up again,' she added.

'A lot of people are born strong but other people have to learn it.'

She outlined what it takes to be an effective leader: 'A confident leader knows they don't have to be the smartest person in the room but they know they need to have the smartest people in the room'.

Ms McSweeney added that leaders also need to care for the people they are guiding and when people know that is the case they are happy to be led. 'In my experience it has to be people first and then profit and everything else will follow.'
Kilanerin native and high-ranking Garda, Fintan Fanning, may go to court to challenge a decision to suspend him last week pending the outcome of a Garda Ombudsman Commission (GSOC) investigation.

The suspension follows allegations of misconduct that were made against him by a rank and file garda but is understood to be without prejudice to the investigation as no adverse finding has been made and the allegations have yet to be properly tested.

Mr Fanning, who is the Assistant Commissioner for the Eastern Region, grew up in Kilanerin before moving to Dublin in 1980 after joining An Garda Siochana.

According to reports in the Irish Independent last week, the Assistant Commissioner is planning a High Court action challenging the decision if necessary. The high-ranking officer, who has 39 years experience, believes that his suspension is unnecessary as he provided the Garda Commissioner with full, detailed answers to the allegations of misconduct made against him, denying any wrongdoing.

The suspension order was issued to the County Wexford man by Garda Commissioner Drew Harris last week, who acted to suspend Mr Fanning as a GSOC inquiry was underway.

Mr Fanning has spent most of his life in Dublin with his family but the Assistant Commissioner has many relatives in the north Wexford area.

Appointed to Assistant Commissioner in 2008, the news comes as a shock to the force as Mr Fanning is such a high-ranking officer. He is due to retire on age grounds later this year.

He has many career highlights, including being promoted in 2005 as chief superintendent of the Dublin South Central Division. He is the chair of the SHRAC - the Commissioner's Strategic Human Rights Advisory Committee and also responsible for the Irish Policy and Scieim. He also holds numerous academic qualifications.

It has been reported that Garda members who know him expect him to fight to protect his reputation.
Well-known fashion business Ashanti Gold on Esmonde Street is set to close its doors at the end of the month after serving the people of Gorey for 28 years.

Proprietor Natalie Ryan said the final day will most likely be on Saturday, January 26, all depending on how much stock is leftover.

'The closure isn't because of finance, but more to do with lifestyle and family,' said Natalie. 'I live in Monkstown with my family and I just want to put them first.'

Speaking to this newspaper, Natalie felt life was getting a bit too much travelling most days to Gorey, while also running the sister boutique premises in Greystones that she opened in 2004.

'We will stay open in Greystones and we hope to see all our customers from Gorey pop up sometime,' said Natalie. 'It is the end of an era but the support we have received since the announcement is amazing.'

First opened by Natalie's mother Esther Ryan in August, 1990, the business quickly grew to become one of the most popular fashion spots for women in north Wexford and beyond.

Daughter Natalie opened a sister boutique in Greystones and together both worked hard to stock the businesses with the very latest fashion pieces for their customers.

Esther decided to hand over the keys to Natalie in 2017 and since then she has been running both stores. But now, she will only operate from the Greystones business and will close down Ashanti Gold in Gorey.

When Ashanti Gold first opened its doors to Gorey, Esmonde Street was a large residential area but has now grown to become one of Ireland's most fashionable streets filled with many boutiques.

Ashanti Gold thanked all their customers for all the support throughout the years and would like to remind them that they are still operating in Greystones.
The generosity of customers in Tesco stores in Gorey, New Ross and Wexford has raised 3,130 worth of donations for local charities in the county.

The donations were collected as part of Tesco's annual Christmas appeal to support families in need.

Some of the organisations that will benefit from the appeal in Wexford will include Gorey Youth Needs, Gahan House and Taghmon Family Resource Centre.

Aoife Donohoe, Head of Corporate Affairs with Tesco Ireland, said: 'We are really grateful to our customers for their continuous generosity.'
Dublin Airport has welcomed airBaltic's decision to launch a new Dublin-Riga service next summer.

The new service will operate four times per week to the Latvian capital.

Dublin Airport Managing Director Vincent Harrison said he was delighted to welcome airBaltic back to Dublin Airport.

He said: 'This new service to Riga will further enhance the connectivity between Ireland and Latvia and is good news for passengers as it will offer additional choice and convenience.'

Martin Gauss, Chief Executive Officer of airBaltic said the airline was glad to offer its guests regular flights from Dublin to Riga.

He said: 'This route has had strong demand for years now and we are very happy that we can add flights between the two cities to our expanding route portfolio. airBaltic passengers now will have direct flights to Riga with the new Airbus A220-300 aircraft.'

Tickets for the new service, which begins on March 31, are now bookable.

airBaltic serves over 70 destinations from Riga, Tallinn and Vilnius, offering the largest variety of destinations and convenient connections via Riga to its network spanning Europe, Scandinavia, the CIS and the Middle East. Dublin Airport, which welcomed more than 30 million passengers this year, has flights to almost 190 destinations in 43 countries, operated by 56 airlines.
The Balbriggan/North County Dublin branch of Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind took 'great pleasure' recently in accepting a cheque from the Tesco Community Fund Initiative, with funds going towards the training of guide dogs for the blind and the training of assistance dogs for children with autism.

The cheque was presented to the branch by Lisa McEvoy on behalf of Tesco, along with Cheryl Floody of Tesco HR department.

Balbriggan/North Dublin Irish Guide Dogs member and guide dog owner Tom O'Neill, accompanied by guide dog 'Gatsby', thanked Tesco for its continued support, and also the customers of the store for 'putting those blue chips into the container in the shop when our name goes in.'

Tom said: 'Our branch of guide dogs had great pleasure in accepting the cheque from the Tesco Community Fund Initiative. It's said that every little helps, and we are so grateful for the donation.'

The donation will help the local branch of Irish Guide Dogs contribute to the training of more guide and assistance dogs.

Launched in July 2014, Tesco Community Fund sees 1m donated annually to local causes in the communities around each of its 146 stores throughout Ireland.

The launch followed a successful pilot programme in six Tesco stores, which ran from March to July 2014, and saw Tesco donate 22,000 to 50 local causes.
It was strictly superb dancing in O'Dwyers GAA Club recently, as the club held a Strictly Come Dancing fundraising night in the City North Hotel in aid of a new clubhouse it plans to build later this year.

The night saw a very impressive 800 attendees gathered to marvel at 28 dancers performing impeccably rehearsed routines. Well renowned judges Cllr Louise O'Reilly, Cllr Grainne Maguire and 'Tina Turner' - were adjudicators on the night.

Chairman of O'Dwyers Liam Howley said: 'It was the most fantastic night that we had in the club in a long time, and it really rejuvenated the club in a big way. Nothing but praise has come in from the people who were as to how the night was organised and the quality of the night.

'We raised a substantial amount of money for the clubhouse which was great and really helped out.'

According to Liam, dancers spent a total of six weeks training, learning individual dances before performing them on the night. As well as dancing in couples, he says, dancers also performed group dancing.

Liam says: 'Each dancer was supported by a different company. The dancers had an open-top hop-on hop-off bus, which went around and collected them from each business as they arrived in the City North and onto the stage, so it was a great setup.

'It was a fantastic night, and really, everyone had a great time. We'll be holding other events during the year with all proceeds going towards the new clubhouse.'

Well done to all involved.
Rachel Weisz as Sarah Churchill and Olivia Colman as Queen Anne in The Favourite

Courtly intrigue pits two ambitious women against each other for the affections of an emotionally brittle queen in director Yorgos Lanthimos's rollicking comedy of deliciously cruel intentions.

The Favourite is a brilliantly bawdy and boisterous battle of the rouged sexes, which tosses out profanities with devastating precision.

Words cut to the bone and an expertly polished script by Deborah Davis and Tony McNamara draws copious blood with its volleys of rapid-fire barbs.

'As it turns out, I am capable of much unpleasantness,' warns one viper in the queen's nest.

'If you do not go, I will start kicking you...and I will not stop,' retaliates her waspish opponent with a Machiavellian twinkle in the eye.

Performances from the predominantly British cast are an embarrassment of riches that should be recognised with multiple nominations at the Academy Awards in February.

Rachel Weisz and Emma Stone savour every bile-drenched syllable of their feuding harpies but it is Olivia Colman, who shines brightest as a petulant and volatile ruler stalked by tragedy, who is devoted like a spoilt child to her 17 pet rabbits.

The Norwich-born actress confidently walks a tightrope between wild eccentricity and despair including one unforgettable scene in the midst of the raucous rivalry when her moody monarch reveals the heartbreak of losing multiple children.

Lanthimos shoots the devastation in natural light or by flickering candles, alternating between disconcerting angles and traditional chocolate box framing to keep us on our proverbial toes alongside his much-abused characters.

Queen Anne (Colman) is removed from the machinations of government, allowing her secret lover Sarah Churchill (Weisz) to effectively control 18th-century Britain.

While Sarah has the monarch's ear, Robert Harley (Nicholas Hoult) challenges her authority from his seat of power in Westminster, doing everything he can to protect state taxes, which are financing the war effort against France.

At the height of this battle of wits, Sarah's lowly cousin Abigail Hill (Stone) arrives unceremoniously at court and is casually employed as a scullery maid.

Abigail recognises that the key to bettering her positioning lies in winning the queen's favour and she assiduously charms and beguiles Anne.

Once Sarah discovers her cousin's underhand plot, she retaliates in venomous kind.

Abigail's clueless suitor Samuel Masham (Joe Alwyn) is collateral damage as worthy adversaries trade bruising verbal blows behind tapestry-covered doors.

Bookmarked into eight deeply satisfying chapters, The Favourite delights and unnerves, accompanied by a soundtrack that boldly melds classical music with a contemporary electronic score.

With its immaculate period detail, gorgeous cinematography, sparkling performances and flawless direction, Lanthimos's dark and twisted tragicomedy is a strong contender for the best film of a year that has barely begun.

God save the querulous queen and her corrupt court of diabolical, scheming admirers.
Pilgrimage: The destination for this year's St Aidan's Parish Pilgrimage has been decided as Medjugorje. The trip will also include a one-day stop over at the beautiful and historic Dubrovnik.

The proposed dates for the pilgrimage are Monday, September 30, to Saturday, October 5.

These dates are only approximate at the moment and the cost of the trip will be announced at a later date. Bookings are now open at O'Leary Travel, Main Street, Enniscorthy, at 053 9233178.

St Senan's Defibrillator

A new defibrillator has been installed on the outside wall of St Senan's Church having been donated by the Ger Devereux Memorial Fund. The potentially lifesaving piece of kit will now be available to anyone in distress and the code for the box can be obtained in case of an emergency by calling Enniscorthy Garda Station.

Trained users will also know the code.

Those wishing to train in the use of the defibrillator are asked to contact St Senan's parish office. The CPR/AED course will take four hours to complete and is run in conjunction with Enniscorthy Red Cross.

Retirement Association

The January meeting of Enniscorthy Retirement Association will take place this afternoon, Tuesday, January 8, at 2.30 p.m. in the Riverside Park Hotel.

Membership and renewals will open at a cost of 10.

New members are also welcome to come along.

Among ongoing activities for the group are: Monday - Line dancing at 11 a.m. at Astro Active Centre; Indoor bowls at 1 p.m. at Astro Active Centre and pitch and putt at 10 a.m. weather permitting and also at the same time on Friday; Tuesday is bus, walk or lunch; Wednesday - Walk at 11 a.m. from Riverside Hotel; table quiz at 2.30 p.m. every second Wednesday at Loreto Village; Thursday - Ramblers' walk at 9.30 a.m. from Lidl car park and craft sessions at 2 p.m. at the Astro Active Centre.

Screening for mental health

Mental Health Charity First Fortnight, in partnership with IFI National, is hosting a special film screening at the Presentation Centre on January 11 at 8 p.m.

'Two Days, One Night' features Oscar winner Marion Cotillard as the impressive Sandra, a woman who returns to work at solar plant after suffering from depression to find out that her colleagues have chosen to take a yearly bonus at the expense of her job.

She has just one weekend to convince them to change their minds in order to regain her position.

What follows is arguably the Dardenne brothers' greatest cinematic achievement to date. Tickets to the screening are priced at 8 with all of the proceeds going to the cause.

Age Action volunteers

Age Action Ireland are on the lookout for patient, friendly and kind volunteer tutors to work on a one-to-one basis with learners over the age of 55 who would like to learn how to use basic technology in Enniscorthy Library.

Age Action runs the award winning free Getting Started Programme which helps to fight against digital exclusion among the ageing and older populations of Ireland.

Volunteers help learners to use technology such as computers, laptops, android phones, iPhone, iPad and android tablets. Full training will be provided, but a good level of English is required.

Classes are due to start in January/February 2019 and are two hours a week for five weeks.

To register call 01 4756989 or gsvolun-teer@ageaction.ie.

Grow meeting

If you're struggling with anxiety or depression and are feeling isolated at what can be a difficult time of year, then Grow is here to help.

A significant aspect of the Grow service is the fact that meetings are free and confidential.

Grow is one of the most respected mental health support groups in the community and anyone wishing to avail of its services should note that no referral or booking is necessary. The Grow meetings in Enniscorthy take place in the Presentation Centre and are held on Mondays at 2 p.m.

Dancing night

The next date for social dancing in Oylegate Community Centre will be Sunday, January 13.

Music on the night will be courtesy of Pat Daly, who will be making a welcome return to the village for what promises to be a great night out.

Admission will be 8 and the fun begins at 9.30 p.m.

Parish journal

The Oylegate-Glenbrien parish journal is now on sale locally and is available at Freeman's Gala Store; Garry's Service Station; Mernagh's Lounge; the Slaney Inn; the Book Centre, Wexford; Byrne's Bookshop, Ennscorthy and Doyle's Service Station, Ballymurn.

Family fun run and walk

Oylegate Utd will be holding a 5km family fun run and walk on Sunday, January 13.

Registration for the event will take place from 9.30 a.m. at Oylegate Community Centre.

The walk itself will begin at 10.30 a.m. and everyone in the community is encouraged to participate.

Bree hill walk

A walking event will take place on Bree Hill on Saturday, January 12, to coincide with National Walking Day.

As part of the initiative Bree Hill Walking Trails was invited to host an even by Wexford Walking Trails.

The walk will be part of Operation Transformation and is aimed at encouraging everyone in the community to get out and walk and begin 2019 in as healthy a way as possible.

The walk will start at Bree Community Centre at 11 a.m. and will be 4.6km or 7km long.
The Abacus Valentines ball will take place on February 9th.

This will be the tenth annual ball. It will be held in the Westcourt hotel. There will be a drinks reception held in the Earth nightclub, followed by a sumptuous four-course meal. Tickets are 75 each and a table for ten will be seven hundred and fifty euro (750). Gerry Kelly of L.M.F.M fame will be the M.C apart from the singing and dancing there will be many terrific prizes during the proceedings. For further information please contact Jacinta on 087-2407431

Special meeting in Duleek

Duleek Bellewstown GFC have arranged for a bereavement support group to be facilitated by professionals from Pieta House on Tuesday 8th January @ 7:30pm at their Clubhouse in Duleek as a result of the recent sad death in the community. All invited to attend.

New SEAT in Dunleer

The all-new SEAT Tarraco will be on display at Conachy's Dunleer, Battsland, Dunleer, from Monday to Thursday 10th of January 2019, giving customers in Louth the chance to preview the brand-new large SUV for the very first time. The Tarraco, from Conachy's Dunleer, has arrived to their showroom as part of the Tarraco Roadshow - a nationwide exhibition of the new SEAT model, which will be rolled out by SEAT dealerships across the country.

Aware skills series in d Hotel

Aware, Ireland's leading organisation providing support, education and information services around depression and bipolar disorder, announced that its popular Life Skills Group Programme and Relatives & Friends Programme will both be available in Louth from January. Both programmes are free of charge. Almost 3,000 people participated in 155 programmes nationwide during 2018.

The Life Skills Group Programme, nine hours over the course of six weeks, will teach attendees how to better cope with the stresses of everyday life, recognise and manage unhelpful thoughts, learn new ways of thinking and ultimately begin the journey to a healthier and more confident life. Developed by the renowned cognitive behaviour therapy specialist (CBT), Dr. Chris Williams, the programme is specifically designed to help people learn more about how we think and how this can influence our actions in helpful or unhelpful ways.

The Life Skills Group Programme will begin on Wednesday 30th January at The D Hotel, Drogheda.

The Relatives & Friends Programme will begin on Tuesday 29th January at The D Hotel, Drogheda.

The programmes are delivered in workshop style to offer a participative learning environment. Each session is 90 minutes long. The workshops provide an opportunity for discussion but at no stage is anyone asked to share information if they do not wish to.

Online registration for the programmes id now open at www.aware.ie and places are available to anyone over 18. Those interested in attending are encouraged to book quickly as places are limited and will fill up fast.

The Aware education programmes are free to attend, with a refundable 30 booking deposit in place for participants.
Protesters gather ahead of the march to Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital

There is something truly symbolic about mass protest - when people feel their voices are not being heard and when they are thrown to one side.

Last Sunday afternoon, the people of Drogheda, and Ardee, Collon, Termonfeckin, parts of Monaghan and Cavan and Fingal decided enough was enough. They took to the streets to send out a message - hands off Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital.

In recent weeks, there has been a management led bid to get the name of the hospital changed, to Drogheda University, Drogheda Regional or Drogheda General Hospital.

The reasons are pretty straightforward on the hospital's part - a new multi million euro extension opening, a big, bright future ahead, a new name and vision the goal.

Some feel there are other reasons - be it linked to the introduction of abortion legislation or a bid to end all religous 'symbolism' in hospitals.

But last Sunday, those that gathered on West Street and marched in unison to the hospital didn't seem too concerned with the reasons behind the proposed name change - they have one goal - keep the name.

And that's where this battle is being fought, in the hearts and tradition of Drogheda folk and those from around the entire region.

The name is synonymous with the town and its people and the link back to Mother Mary Martin and her Medical Missionaries of Mary is as strong now as it was back then.

People simply feel there is no need to spend millions changing the name.

The organisers admitted delight at the turnout, which at one stage stretched all the way back from the Lourdes Church to the top of Sunday's Gate.

And as the masses turned the corner at Beechgrove, one wondered did the retired Sisters in Aras Mhuire hear the footsteps outside as they passed by.

And at the end, the people gathered in St Peter's graveyard where three speakers expressed their feelings on the issue.

It was all so symbolic, happening just yards from the final resting place of Mother Mary herself.

Mayor Frank Godfrey pulled no punches, calling out the hospital management on the proposed changes, wondering where it will all end.

He said Our Lady of Lourdes was part of the fabric of the town and people were outraged as this bid to change the name was made without consultation with the townspeople.

'We need public pressure on the HSE and the minister,' he stated.

Bob McGuffin from the Save The Name group said he was delighted that so many turned up to make their feelings known and it was a message that had to be listened to. Later, he was part of a delegation that delivered a letter into the hospital.

He said over 8,000 names had been gathered in a petition and that would grow and grow in the coming weeks.

Anthony Moore, who launched an online petition, was equally vocal, saying the hospital had been in the headlines recently as being the birthplace of the first baby of 2019.

Like so many there, he had been born in the hospital and that affinity was too great for any HSE body to extinguish.

'The hospital belongs to the people and Our Lady of Lourdes is part of the history and heritage of our town,' he stated.

He said he couldn't understand why the hospital name was being changed and money spent on it when the HSE wouldn't fund a much needed second x-ray machine.

'It's a half baked idea and we must draw a line in the sand on it. The hospital management might think we are going to go away now, but we are going nowhere. This won't go away,' he added.

Credit was given to the likes of Imelda Munster TD and Sen Ged Nash for bringing the cause to the Dail and for the likes of Jimmy Nash and Kevin Byrne and others for their determination.

Speaking afterwards, Jimmy Nash said the organisers deserved great praise for getting the crowds out for such a cause. It is something close to his heart and well worth fighting for.

Ultimately the mood on Sunday was of defiance. It seems this journey to save the name has only just begun...
A number of trees at De La Salle Crescent in Ardee have been cut back due to concerns expressed by some local residents.

'It was something I raised at a recent council meeting after being contacted by residents,' Cllr Dolores Minogue stated.

There were fears that branches could come down in winter storms so experts arrived on scene last week and commenced the works.

The Tidy Towns assisted with the project.

Glyde Rangers 4 Peaks

What better way to celebrate the end of dry January by coming out in support of Pauline Quinn Kellett who's hosting a fundraiser for the Glyde Rangers 4 peaks challenge.

Tickets are only 10 and it goes ahead in the Glyde Rangers hall on Saturday February 9th at 8pm. It's a Lip Synce Battle reunion night.

22 Castleguard homes

The remaining 22 houses in the Castleguard estate in Ardee are to be delivered by March. To date, Tuath has built 80 of the homes.

Ardee Walls

Ardee is set to become part of the Irish Walled Towns series again after a lapse of a few years. Cllr Dolores Minogue raised the issue recently and the council says it was an oversight that the town was not part of the organsation.

HAP clinic

Louth County Council are to consider putting a HAP clinic in Ardee, if resources allow. Cllr Jim Tenanty says there is a need for it. Cllr Pearse McGeough agrees, but the council said it would involving relocating staff to Ardee. They will see if there's capacity to do something.

Square awards event

Square United held their annual Chicken Cup match recently between the 1sts and the Reserves. Afterwards, they held their awards. Young Player of the year is Trevor Matthews. 2nd team player of the year Liam Farrell. 1st team player of the year Paudy Clarke and Club Person of the year Mark Bradley. The first team are back in the Prenier Division this season.

Glyde Inn events

The Glyde Inn - Ireland's top pub - is hosting a number of great events in the coming weeks and months.

January 26th: Comedy Night with Farmer Michael & Kathleen. Tickets 25.

March 1st: The Legend of Luke Kelly Show with Chris Kavanagh & Band. Tickets 25.
The death has taken place of Sr. Marion Therese Reynolds MMM.

She was born Mary Reynolds in Dublin in 1930 and trained as a nurse before joining MMM in 1957. After profession, she trained as a midwife and later as a public health nurse and as a chiropodist. Her first assignment was to Tanzania in 1960, where she served for 7 years in a number of mission hospitals. She also served for 5 years in Malawi and for about 10 years in Kenya.

Sr. Marion did mission awareness work in Ireland. She worked in the theatre and as night superintendent in the hospital in Drogheda and as a public health nurse in Dublin and Clonmel. She also helped in Rosedale centre for the elderly in Kilmacow, Co. Kilkenny.

In 1991 Sr. Marion Therese returned to the Motherhouse in Drogheda. She helped in the infirmary and in 1995 began a ministry as a chiropodist.

She moved to the nursing facility, Aras Mhuire in August 2015 and died there peacefully on 29 December 2018.
Start off the New Year well and join Highlanes Gallery for two evening talks & live performances of traditional music this January.

The first of two, Dissenting Voices (I) takes place on Tuesday 15th January, from 7.30pm-9.00pm, when art historian Margaret MacNamidhe will be presenting a gallery talk titled 'F.E. McWilliam, Twentieth-Century Sculpture, and the Women of Belfast.

Almost sixty years previously, and only months before he left for an early death in Flanders, British poet T.E Hulme gave a public lecture asking sculptors to embrace modern abstraction and simplicity while continuing the naturalistic, communicable tradition of the Greeks.

This lecture by Chicago-based art historian Margaret looks at the bronze figure of F.E McWilliam - from his 1973 Women of Belfast series - through the lens of this celebrated 1914 discussion, as part of the Crossing Lines exhibition. Drawing together separated strands in twentieth-century sculpture, this lecture generates new questions about art, political responsibility, and what we expect from 'modern' art.

Following the talk the four-part harmony group, Landless, will perform traditional songs from Ireland, Scotland, England, and America of love, death, and lamentation.

Celebrating the lives of women in Ireland, 2018 saw Landless being invited by the RTE Folk Awards to set a new poem by Annemarie Ni Churreain to music. The poem, 'Luireach Bhride' saw Annemarie revisit the pre-christian stories associated with Brigid, more commonly known in Ireland as the triple Goddess of poetry, healing, and smithcraft.

Today at The Brigid Well in Kildare, where this text was composed, the oaks are decorated with ribbons, pagan emblems, and infant cloths in memory of the Goddess, and of her outlawed son Ruadan who died in battle.

Throughout, the evening will be a warm winter reception with toasty drinks (alcoholic and non-alcoholic) to enjoy as you listen to Margaret's talk and Landless' beautiful music.

Tickets are 15 for each Dissenting Event, but book for the two Dissent evenings for a special price of 20 through Eventbrite.ie
Pat Shortt is back with a brand new stage show called 'Hey!' at the TLT on February 16.

Following the sell-out successes of 'The Hall', 'Selfie' and 'How's Tings?' and fresh from starring roles in the hit play 'A Skull In Connemara' and the film 'The Belly of The Whale', Ireland's best loved comedian takes to the road with his latest quirky look at Irish life.

Swan Lake at the TLT

A firm favourite with the TLT audience annually , The impressive ROYAL MOSCOW BALLET makes a return visit this February 22 with its inspiring production of Swan Lake.

Get your ticket for the Kevin's draw

Now is your chance to win a house at Woodlands in Dunleer for just 100.

St Kevin's GAA Club and St Kevin's Community Centre in Philipstown have launched the scheme, the biggest fundraising draw in the history of the GAA club.

Limited to a maximum of 6,500 tickets, they can be purchased online at www.winahouse.ie or at various shops/offices in the towns of Dunleer, Ardee, Drogheda and Dundalk. Alternatively contact any committee member or email to info@winahouse.ie for further information.

The alternative to taking the house is a cash prize of 200,000 for the lucky winner.

Other Prizes are a 3,000 Make-over from TC Mathews Carpets Dunleer, a 2,000 Trip to New York for two and also a 1,500 Belling Cooker.

The draw takes place on June 1, 2019 in Philipstown.

Sean Tester's debut

Sean Tester makes his debut at the Barbican Centre with his brand new show "She's The One" on February 23, 2019, Sean will be joined on the night by Special Guest Claire Regan and his stunning five-piece live band. Tickets 20 available now
The contingent from Fermoy that travelled up to the capital with the trophy the town won for finishing at the top of the IBAL Litter League for 2018

Since last topping the final standings of the Irish Business Against Litter (IBAL) in 2006, Fermoy had become the 'nearly town' - finishing twice in the top three and making it into the top 10 on a number of occasions.

The town finally put that tag firmly to bed this week after finishing top of the Irish Business Against Litter (IBAL) league for 2018.

Having finished in pole position on last October's interim league table, hopes were high that Fermoy would remain top of the pile.

Speaking to The Corkman at the time, Paul Kavanagh, project manager for the Fermoy Tidy towns Group, said the standing was a reflection of the hard work done since the establishment of the five-year Fermoy  A Cleaner Town initiative.

"We are now in a very strong challenging position for the overall national spot," he said.

To the unbridled delight of the Fermoy contingent who travelled to Dublin last Monday for the unveiling of the final 2018 table, his confidence proved to be well-founded.

Fermoy's triumph topped off what had, by any standards, been a remarkable 2018 for the town, which in addition to winning back its coveted IBAL 'Cleaner Than European Norms' designation, scooped the 'Best Improved Town' category in Cork County Council's Anti-Litter Challenge and broke the magical 300-point barrier in SuperValu Tidy Towns Competition.

In their report, IBAL judges were fulsome in their praise for the town, saying Fermoy had "exceeded its usual high standards of cleanliness throughout 2018".

"It was notable at many of the sites that great care has been taken not just with regard to litter but also overall presentation, with plenty of planting throughout," said the judges, who singled out Patrick Street, the residential areas surveyed, and Fermoy AFC and their grounds for particular praise.

The judges said it was evident that great care had been taken with the presentation of the local environment, describing the town as being "excellent" in relation to the overall lack of litter.

Speaking to The Corkman this week, Mr Kavanagh said Fermoys triumph was a model for what can be achieved when an entire community comes together to achieve a goal.

"What struck me was the number of towns that fell down the table - this is what happens when you take your eye off the ball," he said.

"We have built up an immense civic pride in the town and it is now up to us to keep that momentum going to ensure we remain at the top of the league table," said Mr Kavanagh.

"This is a great credit to everyone who has worked so hard to make Fermoy a great place to work, live in and visit. We are all on cloud nine," he grinned.

The chair of Fermoy Tidy Towns, Cllr Noel McCarthy, said Monday was a "proud day" for him personally and indeed the whole town. "This is not the culmination of our plan, far from it. Our next target is to improve our standing in the Tidy Towns competition, something that is well within our reach," said Cllr McCarthy.

"We have worked hard for many years to get back to the top of the league, and the fact that we have achieved that is testament to the many volunteers and people whose hard work made that possible," he continued. A point echoed by Fermoy Tidy Towns PRO Tadhg O'Donovan, who said th volunteers were "the real heroes".

Fermoy's final 2018 report card

R639 Dublin Road - Grade A:

'This road provided an excellent introduction to Fermoy - it was litter free throughout with some nice autumnal colours at the edge of the town'.

Coolmona - Grade B+:

'The overall presentation of this residential area was a good one with a great sense of trees, greenery and space throughout. However, there is a small amount of well scattered litter - mostly sweet papers and plastic bags. With a little extra effort this could easily be a top ranking site. There was a large dog fouling notice attached to a low wall'.

N72 Courthouse Road - Grade A:

'The road surface, signage and markings were in very good order along the N72 road. Closer to the town there was substantial colourful planting, creating a welcoming effect. This was a top ranking site throughout'.

Recycle Facility at Cork County Council Mart Car Park - Grade B:

'A notice re CCTV usage to detect fly tipping and rubbish dumping was located on a wall, some distance from the actual recycle units. The clothing and bottle/can units were in good condition while the car park itself was less well maintained with heavy weed growth and uneven car park surface, resulting in large puddles. A paper bag was stuffed between some units with other loose items and a mattress'.

Patrick Street - Grade A:

'The overall appearance of Patrick Street was a very fresh and clean one All aspects of the area surveyed were in very good order e.g. plant boxes, ornamental trees, signage, road surface and pavement - the latter creates a very positive impression'.

Richmond Hill - Grade A:

'This residential road is located on a hill, with little greenery but some residents have taken great care to provide same. No. 1 deserves a special mention for the beautiful display of dahlias. Railings, pathway, seating etc. were all in very good order. There was a complete absence of litter along Richmond Hill'.

College Road - Grade A:

'A very good road with regard to litter. The large green space, (pitches and health campus) managed by St. Colman's College was in exceptionally good order'.

Devlin Street - Grade A:

'The communal grass area was clear of litter, as was the main thoroughfare. A corner seating area was in good condition. Signage relating to 'Green Dog Walkers - Any Bag, Any Bin'.

Fermoy AFC - Grade A:

'The road leading to Fermoy AFC was lined on the right hand side with some lovely trees and at the entrance gate there was some colourful plant pots. All appeared in good order within the grounds with regard to litter'.

M8 Fermoy/Cork Link Road (from J15 - J18) - Grade B:

'Very clean leaving Fermoy entering the M8 @ J15. Small amounts of litter scattered here and there with more obvious amounts on the left hand side approaching Cork. The motorway maintenance was excellent. A variety of food related litter was present'.
Workers clearing rubble on Patrick Street in the aftermath of the Burning of Cork

On the morning of December 12, 1920, an infamous date that is forever etched in the history of Cork City, its citizens awoke to find a scene of utter devastation with palls of black smoke clouding the skyline.

The events of the previous night will be the subject of a fascinating illustrated lecture entitled 'Cork Burning' taking place at the Kilmurry Independence Museum Musem next Wednesday evening (January 16).

The lecture will be delivered by historian Michael Lenihan of 'Pure Cork' and 'Cork Burning'.

Following the Kilmichael ambush in November 1920, which claimed the lives of three auxiliaries and three IRA volunteers, tensions were high across Cork, one of the key centres of IRA activity.

As such, it would not take much to inflame passions even more and the Dillon's Cross ambush on the afternoon of December 11, during which one British soldier died, pushed the British forces to breaking point.

Hell bent on revenge, the 'auxies' first torched houses around the Dillon's Cross area before rampaging through the heart of the city setting fire to buildings using petrol and grenades.

The words of Sinn Fein activist Liam De Roiste as he walked through the city the following morning summed up the utter scene of devastation left in their wake.

"Last night in Cork was such a night of destruction and terror as we have not yet had. An orgy of destruction and ruin: the calm sky frosty red - red as blood with the burning city, and the pale cold star looking down on the scenes of desolation and frightfulness."

The finest premises in the city are destroyed, the City Hall and the Free Library (Carnegie Hall).

They were among more than 200 buildings destroyed or damaged during the night, including almost 60 business premises, many of which were also looted, with the damage estimated to run to more than 2.5 million - an astronomical sum at the time.

Even as fire-fighters tried to tackle the fires, Auxiliaries and Black and Tans shot at them and cut their hoses with bayonets in an effort to ensure the maximum possible damage was caused.

o add further insult to injury, Sir Hamar Greenwood, the chief secretary for Ireland, denied any involvement by crown forces and the British government even went as far as to blame Cork's own citizen's for the devastation. Using eyewitness accounts, contemporary sources and images taken at the time Mr Lenihan will build a picture of events before during and after that infamous night.

He will cover topics including Cork City before December 1920, the Black and Tans, Auxiliaries and K Company, Republican Cork, a time-line of events before and during the burning of Cork City, official investigations into its causes and compensation & rebuilding.

Admission will be free to Kilmurry Historical and Archaeological Society members and 5 for non-members.
He needed not worry on that account. At a post-show news conference, a hefty phalanx of local media peppered a clearly exhausted Miranda with questions on a variety of political topics of interest in Puerto Rico, from how to solve the vexing local crime problem to the potential for debt forgiveness, and from the likely future fiscal policy of the Trump administration to the campaign for statehood. Several times, Miranda apologized for having been too busy with a musical and a movie to keep up on the daily Puerto Rican news, but it was clear that he is regarded, increasingly, as in the words of one taxi driver, Puerto Ricos most powerful celebrity advocate.
The fourth years and their teacher Mr Quill who were granted a once in a lifetime opportunity recently as they were invited to a conference in UCC marking the 100-year anniversary of womens right to vote in Ireland

The fourth years and their teacher Mr Quill were granted a once in a lifetime opportunity recently, write Ciara O' Donovan, Eva Slattery and Rashida Fernando of St Mary's Macroom.

They were invited to a conference in UCC marking the 100-year anniversary of women's right to vote in Ireland. This day remembered the woman who put their lives on the line to gain suffrage for all women in Ireland. The main topic of this conference was equality for women and the girls were extremely lucky to be part of such a momentous occasion

One girl, in particular, will always remember the special day. Liadh Hurley had the opportunity to speak at this conference about a project she composed about Hanna Sheehy Skeffington.

She then presented her project to Sabina Higgins. Liadh did the school proud with a brilliant presentation and even had an interview of her own which appeared on RTE news. She mentioned the lack of women in the Dail and how only 20 per cent of the positions in the Dail are held by women. When asked what her highlight was, Liadh said: "Meeting Sabina and all the other inspirational woman who feel so strongly about women's rights was definitely the highlight for me".

Other girls who attended the event said they were "honoured and privileged" to be part of such an event. They even dressed in the typical clothing of the time. One girl stated "In another 100 years, people will look back at this event and I can proudly say I was part of it."
The very progressive parish priest of Ballyhea, Right Reverend Monsignor James O'Brien, produced a very attractive Ballyhea Parish Annual over the Christmas period, which presented a cross section of the parish and of the groups and organisations that work throughout the year for the benefit of the local community.

The book records the visit of the group of parishioners from the Archdiocese of Toledo in Spain that visited Ballyhea en route to the World Gathering of Families hosted by Pope Francis at Croke Park and in the Phoenix Park in Dublin last August.

The activities of the Ballyhea National School and pre-school is recounted, as are those of the community council, the GAA, the Society of the St. Vincent de Paul, the Gun Club and Community Alert, as well as Charleville Agricultural Show, whose grounds are also located within the parish.

Looking back in history, the annual recalls and pays tribute to the many religious vocations to the priesthood and the religious life that have emanated from the parish, especially the priests and nuns who have worked selflessly on the missions spreading the Gospel of Christ to the farthest ends of the earth. "They serve as an inspiration for the youth of the parish to follow in their footsteps," states the article.

As 2018 also marked the centenary of the end of the Great War there is also a brief account of the War Chaplains from the diocese of Cloyne who served in the trenches of Flanders.

There is also a piece on the architect who built the church, which is particularly relevant to today given that the windows are being replaced along with other renovations in the local St. Mary's Church.

The annual is a 'must' for anybody from the Ballyhea parish, be they living presently in the parish, anywhere in Ireland or abroad to keep them abreast of life as it is lived today in their native locality.
The GAA's flagship cultural activity, Scor, reaches a significant milestone in 2019 on reaching its 50th anniversary, and Duhallow GAA are making a concerted effort for club participation in a divisional final in Cullen Community Centre on Friday, January 25.

Scor is a celebration of Irish culture, and from the early days Scor has played a hugely important role in preserving the country's culture and heritage.

The cultural activity holds a special affiliation with north Cork; all those years ago the late Derry Gowen from Fermoy had the foresight to provide an outlet for the young and not so young to engage in a diverse range of culture-related activity.

Looking at national success for Duhallow over the years, John Lennon of Dromtariffe led the way in "Motion Speaking" in 1970 ,and Con O'Sullivan from Cullen recorded a win in the 1972 Instrumental Music Final.

The club waited 46 years for their next big win, when Maggie Moynihan savoured the fruits of a terrific run to claim Scor na nOg glory at solo singing last spring. Carmel Sheahan of Freemount secured honours at solo singing in Scor na nOg, Freemount adding senior Instrumental Music titles in 1998 and 2000 with two totally different teams, before Elle Marie O Dwyer enjoyed a national title in solo singing from 2009.

From 1996, Joanne Gallagher of Millstreet sampled All-Ireland recitation honours, with success repeated by club colleague Lisa O'Donoghue in 2000.

Further honours were bestowed on Millstreet: two quiz titles won in 1988 and 2001; and the club's set dancers and Instrumental Music teams took the national Scor na nOg laurels in 2008 and 2010 respectively. In more recent years, Boherbue have emerged to the forefront with a phenomenal seven All-Ireland titles won in as many years from 2007 to 2013, including an initial three-in-a-row at Instrumental music, with two titles apiece collected in both Figure Dancing and Set Dancing.

Current Duhallow Cultural Officer Liam Buckley says Duhallow and Cork have played a prominent part in the promotion of Scor.

"Today, Scor is more relevant than ever as a facility to proudly display a unique Irish culture through native song, storytelling, dance and music. We in Duhallow intend to mark the 50th anniversary with a big divisional final on Friday, January 25", he said.

"I urge clubs to get involved; old friends and newcomers are invited to come along and get a taste of what Scor is all about so that we have our biggest-ever number of participants for a long number of years,"he said.

Individuals interested in becoming involved can do so by contacting club cultural officer co-ordinators or the Duhallow Scor Committee, headed by Liam Buckley and Secretary Julie O'Connor.

Meanwhile, a special Scor concert, drawing talent from across Munster, will take place at Pairc Ui Chaoimh on Saturday, January 26. The show features provincial and All-Ireland winners from over the years. Tickets can be pre-booked from divisional or county Scor officers.
A centre for adults with disabilities is institutional and unsuitable for the needs of its residents, according to submissions management made to a HIQA report.

Inspectors learned that management of St John of God centre at Ravenswell had identified this, and plan to facilitate community based housing for the residents.

The report found that staff at the centre want the 'very best' for the residents there, and that the residents appeared happy, content, and at ease with staff.

The centre provides residential and respite services to 11 adults with disabilities. The centre comprises of two separate dwellings, staffed on a 24/7 basis.

According to the report, the provider has said that the premises are not suited for their stated purpose and they have commenced plans to support residents to transition to community based houses.

The centre was inspected last August and the report was released on December 12, 2018. Inspectors spoke to residents and visitors as well as staff and management, and observed daily life at the centre.

Residents appeared happy and content in their home. They showed the inspectors around and appeared comfortable in the presence of staff. Management and staff supported residents in a dignified, professional and person-centred manner, the report found.

However, the centre consists of two large dwellings on a campus based setting. The provider had identified that the centre did not provide for a homely environment and large sections of the building (in which the centre was located) were not in use and sealed off from residents. The provider's governance system was not effectively responding to this situation.

The report said that tangible time lines had not been identified to bring plans to move to fruition, resulting in residents continuing to live indefinitely in an institutionalised setting.

Despite significant challenges with the environment, the report found that the person in charge continued to provide good leadership and support to her team.

She ensured staff were appropriately qualified, trained and supported which in turn meant they had the required skills to provide for the needs of the residents.

Overall, the inspection found that the management and staff of this centre were skilled and trained professionals providing good quality care and support to the residents. However, the centre was not appropriate or conducive in meeting some of the assessed needs and was not an appropriate environment for the provision of respite services. It did not provide for a homely environment and was institutional in design and appearance.

Inspectors found that staff, too, wanted the very best for the residents and supported them in a dignified, warm and professional manner. They were found to be helping residents to have meaningful and active lives based on their interests and preferences, and ensuring their access to healthcare.

The provider was instructed to ensure compliance in terms of arrangements for containment of fire as a matter of urgency.

There were systems in place to ensure all fire fighting equipment was serviced annually. A sample of documentation informed the inspectors that staff undertook daily, weekly and monthly checks on all fire fighting equipment as required and reported any issues or faults.

However, because of the layout of this centre it was not demonstrated that the arrangements in place were adequate for the containment of fire or to meet the requirements of the regulations. This resulted in an urgent compliance plan being issued to the provider on completion of the inspection seeking assurances that the systems in place to manage fire safety were adequate. The provider responded with appropriate assurances after consulting with a competent person in fire safety.

Residents will be facilitated to live in community based group homes where the environment will be conducive to meet their needs in a homely manner, with plans in place for quarter two and quarter four, 2019.
Medical student Edward Clarke was presented with a prestigious award by his university in Poland.

On December 18, the Rector of the Medical University of Lodz Professor Radzislaw Kordek handed the Rector's Award to the Bray man.

The award is granted in recognition of the student's academic achievements.

Edward is a fourth-year medicine student and co-author of the scientific paper entitled 'Klinger's method of brain dissection: Review of the technique including its usefulness in practical neuroanatomy teaching, neurosurgery and neuroimaging'.

The paper was submitted to 'Folia Morphologica'.

Edward was third-place winner in the Young Scientist exhibition in 2011. He was third in the junior individual section for his project 'Do anti wrinkle creams really work?'

Edward is from Herberton in Bray and is a past-pupil of St Gerard's. His parents Brendan and Lily are very proud of his achievements. He always enjoyed science and is looking forward to a very promising career following the completion of his studies.
Bray woman Asia O'Driscoll had her long hair cut off before Christmas, to raise money for the Meningitis Research Foundation.

'I was terrified,' said Asia. 'I was very nervous coming up to it. But when the cutting was being done, all my friends and family were shouting and cheering me on and Adam came up with me. He thought it was a cool thing for me to do.

'I'm delighted with it now and will probably keep it like this for a while.'

When Asia's little brother Adam was two, the family nearly lost him to meningitis, 12 years ago.

'He got sick on Halloween, was taken to the GP and rushed straight to the hospital,' said Asia.

'Catching it so early is what saved his life. If it hadn't been caught in that first 24 hours he would have died. We then had to endure two of the darkest weeks my family has ever encountered.'

They didn't know if he would go blind or deaf, lose limbs, or have permanent brain damage.

'As a 12 year old, seeing your mum so distraught about the fact that her baby might die, or be permanently physically or mentally damaged, and seeing your little brother hooked up to machines, unconscious, not aware of your presence, is a feeling that will never leave you,' said Asia. 'We are extremely lucky that now that baby is a happy, healthy, handsome, wreck-the-head 14 year old that makes us all so proud to be his family.'

12 people in Ireland died from meningitis last year, and Ireland has the highest rate of invasive meningitis in Europe.

One in 10 cases are fatal while a third of survivors will suffer amputations, sight loss, brain damage or speech problems.

Money raised for the foundation will fund things such as in-depth support, research projects, phone triage in Malawi, and information packs for GP surgeries and medical professionals.

The Meningitis Research foundation is supporting the development of an effective vaccine for the prevention of meningitis, and also provides support for families and patients who are affected.

On December 20, Asia shaved her hair off at the Martello in Bray. 'My hair has always been a huge part of my identity, ever since I was a tiny kid, so shaving it off was a huge scary thing for me.'

In doing so, she has so far raised over 1,700 with the online donation page still open at gofundme.ie,

As well as the head-shave, the evening included a table quiz and raffle. 'I was blown away by the generosity of businesses in Bray and Greystones who donated so many great prizes.'

Asia is a student at NCAD in Dublin, while Adam goes to Pres in Bray.

She is looking forward to handing over a cheque from her efforts this week.
The floral tribute on the Avenue Road in memory of Yosuke Sasaki. Photo: Aidan Dullaghan/Newspics.

The family of murdered Japanese man Yosuke Sasaki have spoken of the 'warmth of the people of Dundalk and Ireland' on the first anniversary of his tragic death.

Thursday last, January 3rd, marked one year since the horrific murder of Yosuke as he walked home from work at National Pen.

A wreath laying ceremony was held along the Avenue Road, at the location where he died, and a statement was read to those gathered from his family.

In the poignant statement, the family said: 'We would like to express our sincerest gratitude to you all for holding this memorial ceremony for Yosuke.

It has been one year since Yosuke left this world and we still cannot believe that he is no longer here with us.'

"Even now we think that we will be able to see his kind smiling face. Each day our grief remains.'

'However, as we try to come to terms with reality and move forward, the warmth of the people of Dundalk and Ireland who have not forgotten Yosuke has given us courage.'

'With all of the warmth in your hearts behind us, we will try to gather strength as a family and move forward.'

Mr Kimio Yamaji, Second Secretary, to the Japanese Embassy attended the ceremony on behalf of the Japanese community.

A mass was also held at St. Patrick's Cathedral later that morning.
Arriving in Dundalk as a student in the early 2000's, Summer Wu knew little about Ireland.

But in the years that followed, the young Chinese woman began to make a home in Ireland, and a lifelong career in Dundalk Institute of Technology.

Now working as the Pastoral Care and International Administrator a DkIT, she recently received Irish Citizenship at a Naturalisation Ceremony in Killarney.

The ceremony, which took place at the Killarney Convention Centre, saw 3,000 new Irish citizens from over 120 different countries granted citizenship.

Summer was welcomed to the ceremony and congratulated by Minister for Justice and Equality, Charlie Flanagan, TD and Justice McGrath, who highlighted the new culture that Summer and the rest of the attendees bring to the island of Ireland.

Originally from China, Summer came to Ireland in the early 2000s as part of the first group of international students ever recruited by DkIT.

Speaking about arriving in Dundalk all those years ago, Summer commented: 'Before I came here, I did not know anything about Ireland. So my dad and I did a little research. From the research we felt that Ireland was the best choice for me, as it is a small country and is a very safe place to live and study.'

'I chose DkIT as I felt that because it was the first time DkIT was taking non-EU international students, that DkIT would look after us really well and also I would get to learn English.'

During her time as a student Summer studied the BSc Quality Management programme and upon graduating, she chose to stay in Ireland as she had met her future husband here.

'The best memories I have of my time studying at DkIT is that every year around January/February time, the international students get to celebrate Chinese new year, and every year the college would support us.' She added that she loved to link with Erasmus students.

After completing her studies, Summer subsequently became a member of staff in 2007, joining the DkIT International Office Team, administering to and supporting international students in her role as Pastoral Care and International Administrator.

'Since I have completed my studies in DkIT and now being a member of staff in the college, I have never been happier in any other jobs. I love this job as I get to help new international students that come here and hopefully show them all the best things about studying and living in Dundalk.'
With students from five Louth schools taking part, organisers of the BT Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition are gearing up for the 55th anniversary of the national competition.

Louth students will be among thousands exhibiting at the event which kicks off in the RDS Arena, Dublin tomorrow (Wednesday) January 9th and will run until Saturday 12th January.

The exhibition 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.

Students from three schools in the Dundalk area are among the finalists: St. Vincent's Secondary School, Dundalk Grammar and Bush Post Primary.

St. Vincent's have three projects entered including: 'A Fourier Analysis of Mathematical Wave Patterns in Irish dancing' and 'The Marshmallow Challenge' focused on business and sporting groups team building.

Students are also examining a modern phenomenon with a look at 'Female Centric Bullying Terminology.'

Bush Post Primary have four projects in the final including: 'Are we witnessing the downfall of the Catholic Church?'

With Britain's exit from the European Union set to dominate the headlines over the coming weeks and months, students examined 'How Brexit will affect businesses on both sides of the border between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland.'

Other projects feature an analysis of caffeine affects performance, and the impact of global warming on crops.

Dundalk Grammar have one project entered in the competition, using ultrasound to help the visually impaired navigate.'

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/
An illustration of Clanbrassil Street with the junction of Church Street and Yorke Street

Work gets underway this week on the 5.7million facelift for Clanbrassil Street and St Nicholas' Quarter.

Contractor John Cradock Ltd, who was responsible for the highly praised Market Square refurbishment, has moved in to start the major rejuvenation scheme which is expected to be completed by November.

A temporary one way traffic system comes into place tomorrow (Wednesday) which will see northbound traffic being diverted at the Demesne along the Long Walk and The Laurels, emerging at Church Street.

Traffic travelling south along Church Street and Clanbrassil Street will not be affected.

Construction works will start at the Market Square end of Clanbrassil Street at the Ulster Bank, and will remain on that side of the street for the first three months of the project. The work is being carried out in phases in order to keep any disruption to local businesses, pedestrians, vehicular traffic and local residents to the minimum.

The contractor has issued his first fortnightly newsletter to the premises on the streets and the Council has arranged for a fortnightly meeting with the trader representatives.

The refurbishment project is a major undertaking for Louth County Council and represents a significant investment to improve the heart of the town centre stretching from the Market Square to junction of Bridge Street/John Street and the junction of Linenhall Street/Wolfe Tone Terrace on either side of Saint Nicholas' Church.

The total cost of the project is 5,721,402, with 2million co-funded by the Irish Government and by the European Regional Development Fund.

The architect designed scheme includes the provision of new granite flagstones and kerbs and the widening of the footpath to create an open space with planting and seating between the two churches in the St Nicholas Quarter.

A new sculpture by Breda Marron will be installed at the St Nicholas plaza. Designed to capture the essence of two swans, it will symbolise the transformation of the area into a place of beauty, calm and connection. The commission was awarded to the Drogheda-based artist following an international competition.

The project will also see the provision of safer pedestrian crossings and the planting of twenty new trees.

While the work is being carried out, existing overhead ESB cables will be placed underground and a new 500mm water main will be installed in partnership with Irish Water.

The CCTV system will be extended in partnership with the Gardai and the town's public wifi infrastructure will also be extended.

The project also includes the installation of new LED energy efficient street lighting and new solar powered parking meters along the streets.

Chamber of Commerce President Pat McCormick welcomed the start of the work.

'It is great to see the investment going in and the recognition that Clanbrassil Street is still the centre and heart of the town and the need to upgrade all the public spaces, road and footpaths.'

He said that while unfortunately in order to do this, there will be some disruption but he was glad that the contractor would be doing the work in stages so that the street would be open and there would be access to the shops and businesses.
2013 Meroi Sauvignon, Colli Orientali del Friuli, Italy: This zippy, high acid, mineral-driven wine was aged in French oak barrels for eight months and in the bottle for three more  not your typical sauvignon blanc. Aromas of lemon pith, golden apple and grapefruit are interlaced with lemongrass, sage, dried herbs and almond skin. Its herbaceous notes complement the fresh basil as well as any dried herbs and spices in the sausage, and the rich texture stands up to the weight of the meat sauce.
It's still not certain if Dundalk will have a St Patrick's Day parade this year despite what has been described as a constructive meeting' taking place between Dundalk Chamber of Commerce and Louth County Council's chief exceutive Joan Martin and director of services Joan Martin.

Chamber of Commerce PRO Paddy Malone told The Argus that while the council officials made some offers of assistance, the lack of resources remains a key issue.

'We explained the situation that we just don't have the manpower to organise the parade. We physically can't do it,' he said. 'We knew this would be the case last April and we flagged it back then.'

He also revealed that a main sponsor hasn't been sought for the parade as there is no guarantee that it will go ahead.
Michelle Montague, from Trim holds her baby Maeve, with maternity staff members, from left to right, Catherine Smith, Maria McNamee, Pamela McElroy, Denise Moore, Linda Flood, Mags OMalley, Eunice Nolan, Jo Burns and Ciara Dunne, baby Maeve was born at 3 secs past midnight in our Lady of Lourdes hospital in Drogheda. Picture credit; Damien Eagers / INM

The popping of (non-alcoholic) prosecco corks could be heard echoing along the wards of the Lourdes hospital on New Years Eve, as two mums vied for the title of Irelands first baby of 2019!

Ultimately the award went unwittingly to Michelle Montague from Kilmessan, Co Meath, who welcomed baby Maeve with her partner Simon Cox at just three seconds past midnight, a whole one second before the Coombe hospital, Dublin!

It was mad, and the craic was amazing, said the new mum. It was my due date, so they were very excited when I arrived in as they told me it was the first time the Lourdes might make it, Michelle and her new family are settled back in Kilmessan now and still enjoying all the attention.

It will be lovely to show Maeve all the newspapers when she is older, she adds.

The newest Drogheda citizen was born a few hours later when Cillian Micheal Mahon arrived into world at 3.42am weighing 6 pounds 5 ounces.

Proud parents Tara and James Mahon are still enjoying all the excitement at their Tullyallen home.

We didnt realise it was such a big deal until we got to the hospital, and we were the only two women there having babies, says Tara, who is also mum to daughter Robyn.

I wasnt due until January 4th, but started having contractions that day, and when I rang the hospital, they joked whether I would give birth before or after midnight!

There was never a first new year baby born in Our Lady of Lourdes, so when the couple did arrive, the atmosphere was electric!

Obviously I didnt know I was in a race, and you could hear the cheering and corks popping when the other baby arrived, and we heard it was the first of 2019, says Tara with a laugh.

They are in contact with all the other hospitals to time it to the second, and they were all great, in terrific form, and couldnt have looked after us better.

Tara is originally from Newgrange, where proud parents Ciara and Michael McMenamin still live.

Husband James parents Terry and Mary are Limerick and Galway natives, but moved here when Terry was principal of St Olivers Community College.
Yes, it's official. Masculinity is toxic. Never mind that 100pc of men probably possess the relevant attributes. In its 'Guidelines for Psychological Practice with Men and Boys', the American Psychological Association (APA) has swept aside centuries of evolutionary and biological studies. The authors claim that their work is based on over 40 years of scientific writing on the topic. The problem is, that while claiming to be scientific, it reads like a manifesto for the ultra-hard-left feminist wing of the Marxist Party. Indeed, the whole document is a political wolf barely disguised as a benign sheep.

At first glance it seems to be worthwhile. Who doesn't' want to help men who have mental health problems such as depression? Who doesn't want to reduce the scourge of suicide, three times more common in men than women, and who does not think ending violence in domestic or indeed in any setting is desirable? Surely encouraging help-seeking behaviour in men is an admirable aspiration that public policy should strive towards?

The first sentence in the introduction sets the tone: "Boys and men are diverse with respect to their race, ethnicity, culture, migration status, age, socioeconomic status, ability status, sexual orientation, gender identity and religious affiliation. Each of these contributes uniquely and in intersecting ways to shape how men experience and perform their masculinities". Notice there is no mention of biology. The Y chromosome, testosterone, brain function - the hunter-gatherer roles of ancient times are all irrelevant.

There then follow a number of definitions for the terms: Gender, cisgender, gender bias, gender role strain, masculinity ideology, gender role conflict, oppression, privilege and so on; a predictable list from gender theory warriors. Guideline number three says that psychologists understand the impact of power, privilege and sexism on the development of boys and men and relationships with others. Elsewhere it says that "traditional masculinity ideology discourages men from being intimate with others and is the primary reason men tend to have fewer friends than women". One of the authors, Ryon McDermott, asks: "What is gender in the 2010s? It's no longer just this male-female binary." The document is heavily peppered with ideological terms like those above, thus politicising what should have been a scientific document.

The overarching perspective is to single out traditional masculinity as being "anti-feminity, achievement, risk and adventure focused, violent and eschewing weakness". It claims that traditional men enjoy privilege, and engage in oppression and experience role conflict. The terms used to define masculinity are extraordinarily negative and judgemental. It's as if they have been selected to lead the authors to conclude that masculinity is harmful to men. They castigate African-American men who strive hard in the face of adversity, referring to it as John Henryism after one John Henry, a folk hero who worked hard enough to compete with a steam-powered machine but died as a result of his labours. There is a statue dedicated to him in Summer County, West Virginia. They criticise questionnaires that diagnose depression in men for failing to consider that perhaps men really do experience less depressive illness than women.

The thrust of the arguments predictably promulgate the view that traditionally masculinity stems from prejudice, power and patriarchy. It also concludes that "there isn't much difference in the basic behaviours of men and women" and that emotional displays between boys and girls are small - ergo, boys and girls are the same. This disregards basic genetics, neuroscience, physiology and anatomy.

The problem with this document is that it will be the metier to guide the training of future psychologists in the US. The toxic masculinity hypothesis will now achieve the status of infallibility that cannot be disputed. As Prof John Wright of the Central Michigan University pointed out in his commentary, this document will be used in the family courts in custody disputes and in the workplace. According to him, it encourages discrimination against men with traditional views of masculinity.

A further difficulty relates to the research on which it claims to be based. Much of this is now old, as is clear from the dates on the reference list in the document. The second problem is a broader one, known as the replication crisis, presently bedevilling the social sciences and preoccupying scientists. It refers to the failure to obtain the same results from studies that are conducted using similar methods either in different locations or in different times. For an area as controversial and politicised as masculinity in this document, this is likely to be a significant impediment to its wide acceptance except by some radical groups.

The press release from the APA hits the nail on the head when it concludes that spreading the message that men are adaptable, emotional and capable of engaging fully outside of rigid norms is what the guidelines want to do. Judging by the language and perspective in this document, the clear goal is to change the nature of men and make them more like women. This is deeply flawed and probably impossible. The strategy should be to channel the unhealthy behaviours of men into more positive lifestyles while reinforcing the positive aspects of traditional masculinity.

If men in need of psychological help are hectored and undermined, like political puppets or female clones, they will react against it. Attempting to suppress the male spirit may worsen the problems that the authors argue are so damaging to men. This will not be achieved by simply pretending that men and women are the same. As we say here in Ireland, "Briseann an duchas tri shuilibh an chait" (True nature is seen in the eyes of the cat).
I have a vote in Kent, but I didn't vote for Brexit, nor would I - it certainly isn't in Ireland's interest. But I am surrounded by those who did, here in strong Brexit country.

And those who would do so all over again, were there a second Referendum. I've even encountered people who voted Remain the first time who now say they would choose Brexit because they're so cheesed off with the way the political establishment has mismanaged the process of leaving the EU.

"I'm no fan of Donald Trump," a retired scientist told me, "but I wish to heaven we'd had him on our side in dealing with Brussels.

"He understands that you can't approach a deal as a supplicant. You have to start out by applying maximum leverage."

It's a puzzle to many Irish people that possibly up to half of the British electorate stubbornly sticks with Brexit when there are so many practical downsides: problems with trading, the threat to jobs, the logistics of moving goods in and out of ports like Dover, and the inevitability, it seems, of having to accept - or "align" with - EU rules anyway.

Don't they see that, economically, they're acting against their own interest? The Remainers certainly do grasp that and make the case repeatedly, even threateningly.

But Professor Matthew Goodwin of the Royal Institute of International Affairs (Chatham House), who has done 10 studies into why people voted as they did, says economics were not the Brexiteers' priority. The main motive is "identity". It's not an economic rationale: it's a "feeling".

In the recent Channel 4 docu-drama 'Brexit: The Uncivil War', the Leave campaign mastermind, Dominic Cummings - played by Benedict Cumberbatch as an odd but weirdly inspirational character - cracked that feeling with the slogan he devised: 'Take Back Control'. This was seen as control of sovereignty, but for some, it was also personal. People who felt they had been marginalised, ignored, considered to be "nothing", left behind, sneered at and discounted, believed they could now "take back control" of at least one thing in their lives - their national identity.

Back in 1904, George Bernard Shaw wrote a political comedy called 'John Bull's Other Island' (which, incidentally, Michael Collins saw, in 1915, along with Lady Lavery, and it seems to have impressed him).

It was regarded as hilarious because it reversed stereotypes between England and Ireland: it featured a rational, logical, and business-like Irishman in partnership with a romantic, impractical and easily-fooled duffer of an Englishman.

Audiences roared with laughter because everyone knew the Irish were dreamy poets, patriots and mystical romantics with little practical sense, while the English, formed by the hard industrial landscape and the practice of commerce, were down-to-earth, unimaginative pragmatists. What a scream!

Some 115 years later, the stereotype reversals seem to have come true. Irish people express their bewilderment at the sheer lack of practical economic sense of the British Brexiteers, dwelling in some la-la land where they think they can go it alone in defiance of geography, logistics and - above all - economics.

Today it's the Irish who are giving tutorials to the Brits on how to be sensible and stop all this day-dreaming about "sovereignty". Get real!

Yet, 100 years ago, the Irish nationalists who embarked on a War of Independence against the United Kingdom knew they would be economically disfavoured by breaking with the UK - but they believed independence to be worth it. They upheld the slogan "better to die on your feet than live on your knees". They adhered to Pearse's ringing words about "the right of the people of Ireland to the unfettered control of Irish destinies". Not too far from "Take back control", then.

It was indeed heedless, and self-centred, for Brexiteers not to consider the impact on the Border in Ireland, a problem which has so far proved to be so intractable. But nations often are self-centred about acting in their own interests - even where they pledge to pool sovereignty. Italy, Hungary, Poland, even Denmark - currently maintaining a tough attitude towards migrants they regard as unacceptable - are all doing just that.

It's true Brexiteers had varied motives. Some objected to the number of migrants entering the country - about half-a-million every year. Perhaps a few are old-fashioned types still fantasising about days of empire, though personally I can't say I've encountered any.

In Kent, fishing rights are a big issue. And the young man who told me "we were being increasingly governed by laws we haven't voted for - which no one voted for" represents a thoughtful democratic constituency.

Brexit is the divorce of a marriage that was never much of a love-match anyway. Britain was always semi-detached, demanding various opt-outs, rejecting the euro, retaining miles rather than switching to kilometres, even reluctant enough about the metric system - those obstinately trading in pounds and ounces elevated to the status of "metric martyrs".

Ireland, for every rational reason, doesn't like Brexit, but for old times' sake a sense of understanding for that impulse of national sovereignty shouldn't be beyond our ken.
Enda Kenny of all people was among the first - bar the usual suspects - to speak about the real prospect of a united Ireland. He provoked a deal of controversy and some derision when he talked of the need to guarantee Northern Ireland's potential EU membership if the North parted company with the UK in the wake of Brexit.

That was precisely two years ago and it marked the first realistic, if misunderstood, mention in nine decades of the prospect of ending partition. The then-Taoiseach could probably have been more nuanced in his terms from the start, as some critics seized on his statement to stoke things up with fretful Unionists in the North, while Sinn Fein continued its talk about a "Border poll", something it began immediately after the Brexit referendum result in June 2016.

But there was considerable sense attaching to Mr Kenny's assertion that was ultimately endorsed by the EU leaders in April 2017. In an unusual piece of foresight he had obviated the idea of the North taking its place in a queue behind other would-be EU applicants at some time in the future.
Europe will dominate political affairs this year, whatever way you look at it. The election of Ireland's MEPs on May 24, the appointment of our EU Commissioner and, of course, Brexit, will shape the agenda.

One fact easily lost in the Westminster din is EU business will carry on apace, with or without the Brits. The new EU Commission will have to be ratified by the European Parliament and Council by the end of the year. Ireland's incumbent Agriculture Commissioner, Phil Hogan, is almost certain to be reappointed. In the jockeying for position to replace presidents Jean-Claude Juncker and Donald Tusk, a great deal of horse trading still has to be done between the three blocs of the European People's Party (EPP), the Socialists, and the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE).

It makes sense for the Government to make an early March announcement confirming Mr Hogan, to secure either the trade or energy portfolios. To protect our interests in the context of Brexit and to facilitate the ease of transition for the commission, we require an established heavyweight battling in Brussels.

Currently, we have 11 MEPs. With the exit of British MEPs, we're set to gain an extra seat in Dublin and Ireland South, with Laois/Offaly joining South.

Party selection conventions are about to get under way, to be concluded by the end of February. Fianna Fail has ordained that no TD can stand as an MEP, much to the chagrin of Billy Kelleher and John McGuinness. Fine Gael has yet to decide whether sitting deputies can stand. One upside would be to create maximum ministerial vacancies for Leo Varadkar's next reshuffle.

The downside, of course, is this would trigger by-elections for elected MEPs, who must resign from the Dail. The Government's voting power of 54 TDs would be more precarious, so the prospect of losing more TDs would be a risk.

Dublin, which will become a four-seater, is currently wide open, with the retirements of FG's Brian Hayes and Independent Nessa Childers. Sinn Fein MEP Lynn Boylan should be re-elected, leaving three new MEP seats up for grabs.

FF is likely to run one candidate, most likely Barry Andrews - neither of former ministers Mary Hanafin nor Conor Lenihan appear to be in the hunt. As for Andrews, the former TD/minister is currently director-general of the Institute of International and European Affairs.

Fine Gael is likely to run two candidates. Junior Minister Mary Mitchell O'Connor is eager to stand. In her favour is the prospect of a successful subsequent by-election through Dun Laoghaire barrister Barry Ward. Senator James Reilly has thrown his hat in the ring, while former Tanaiste Frances Fitzgerald and Senator Catherine Noone also seem to be flirting with notions of candidature.

On the left, the line-up could include some well-known faces - the Green Party's Ciaran Cuffe, Labour's Alex White, or Senator Ivana Bacik. TCD's Independent Senator Lynn Ruane may also fancy a run as a dark horse.

The most likely Dublin outcome is one MEP for each of FG, FF and SF, through Mary Mitchell O'Connor, Barry Andrews and Lynn Boylan, with possibly Cuffe capturing the mood in relation to climate change, environmental and public transport issues.

Ireland North-West remains a four-seater. SF's Matt Carthy has already been selected for the party's Cavan-Monaghan general election team and won't contest. He's likely to be replaced by Martina Anderson from Derry, who is an existing MEP for Northern Ireland.

The loss of all the Northern MEPs is apparently of concern to Varadkar in shaping FG's final slate, but this won't cut much tactical ice with FG delegates at conventions.

FG will run outgoing Mairead McGuinness, one of 14 vice-presidents of the European Parliament. She's likely to top the poll, thereby preventing the unlikely scenario of FG securing two seats. Her running mate will most likely be former Rose of Tralee Maria Walsh, from Mayo, rather than former TD John O'Mahony.

FF is likely to run both former Donegal TD Niall Blaney and, from the West, John Comer of the ICMSA - one will be elected, most likely Blayney.

The last seat (after FG, FF and SF take one each) will be filled by an Independent. If Marian Harkin decides to contest again, she's likely to be ahead of Luke Ming Flanagan. A wild card could be presidential runner-up Peter Casey. Either way, there'll be one Independent MEP elected.

Ireland South is an enlarged five-seater. FG will run three candidates. Outgoing MEPs Sean Kelly and Deirdre Clune are set to be joined by one newcomer. TD John Deasy from Waterford and Wexford junior minister Paul Kehoe are said to be interested but their geographic locations are not strategically advantageous.

Intriguingly, Justice Minister Charlie Flanagan may enter the race. This might suit the Taoiseach, as it creates a Cabinet vacancy for the reshuffle. The risk is it could well result in a by-election loss.

FF looks set to nominate Cllr Seamus McGrath (brother of Michael) from Cork south-central and Malcolm Byrne from Gorey. The fly in the ointment may well be incumbent MEP Brian Crowley, who previously obtained 170,000 votes. Crowley has been absent through illness and has left Fianna Fail. But if he runs as an Independent, he could get elected. This could be the difference between one and two FF MEPs. SF's Liadh Ni Riada should retain her seat, despite internal party sourness from her failed presidential bid.

Michael Healy-Rae has been suggested as a possible electable MEP, but remains undecided. Ultimately, it looks like two FG, one SF, one FF and the final seat between FF and an Independent.

Post-Brexit, there's likely to be a greater scrutiny on our MEPs, as Parliament gains more powers within EU structures. Expect new faces, but the bigger parties are likely to dominate in gaining 10 of 13 MEPs. The biggest winner has to be FF, leaping from zero to at least three MEPs.

Let the battle commence.
It is hard not to conclude that loyalty is for losers. And in no area is this more true than when it comes to general insurance. The business we give insurers for covering our cars and homes in the event of something untoward happening gets little reward.

Instead, more often than not, we end up getting penalised with a premium that is far higher in the following and subsequent years than the one we pay in the first year.

Insurance companies too often decide that existing customers are fair game for some financial exploitation, reserving their best deals to entice new customers on to their books.
Premium

Martina Devlin Opinion Forget the paint pots and the paramilitary masks, the protocol is here to stay

And so we are forced to watch paleo-loyalism in action: vile graffiti, threats against customs staff, and a hooded show of strength in the wake of tensions around new post-Brexit inspection rules at Belfast and Larne ports. Violence and politics have long intermeshed in the North, a cycle broken by herculean efforts which led to the Good Friday Agreement. Unfortunately, that link has repaired itself with disconcerting ease.
Long strips of quayside restaurants, with no cars driving by as you wine and dine, are fairly rare in a capital city. But open markets and quays full of locals and tourists in 'relax' mode...this is the essence of Ljubljana.

I've walked the elegant historic backstreets, toured the hill-top castle and the house of their legendary architect Plecnik, enjoyed a picturesque river cruise for 10, and it's only 4pm. The caves and lakes are next.

Guilty pleasures

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With all the tours of caves and lakes and hills, it's only right to indulge in Slovene gourmet cuisine at Gostilna Na Gradu inside Ljubljana Castle. A tasting menu of six courses for 45 sees dishes artfully presented - scampi, cuttlefish and corn come in an inky mix, while matured beef with goose liver and vegetable bouquet is so fancy and heavenly.

Food, wine, coffee and delicious ice-cream are very affordable all over the city - an Americano or glass of local wine costs less than 2. Preseren Square (named after their famous poet) leads to ideal boutique shopping on pedestrian streets, and big open parks, all walking distance from the hotel, so you can burn off the cals and not feel too guilty.

Top Tip

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Get up early for tours to the cathedral-like Postojna Caves, Slovenian Alps, Lake Bohinj, the famous Lake Bled with its Disney-style castle (above), plus a coastal visit to the Mediterranean and a local vineyard stop at VinaKoper.

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While Slovenia is not too familiar to Irish tourists, it is bordered by Italy and Austria, so its city architecture and rural farmhouses will feel very familiar if you've visited the Alps. Everybody I met spoke English, the euro is its currency since 2004, and the country seemed to me to be a most litter-free and safe destination.

Glitches

There are no direct flights from Ireland, otherwise everyone on the trip said they would go straight back.

Get there

Deirdre was a guest of Travel Department, which offers five-night short breaks in Slovenia from 699pp to 879pp, including three-star hotel accommodation, transfers and several excursions. Call 01 637 1600 or visit traveldepartment.ie for further information.

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Dr Easkey Britton believes in the 'power of the sea to heal and restore a sense of wellbeing'. Photo: Naoise Culhane

In his bestselling book 'Blue Mind', California-based scientist Wallace J Nichols charts the latest research that shows how being in, on or under water can help make you happier, healthier and better at what you do.

Drawing on the latest developments in neuroscience and psychology as well as stories from scientists, military veterans and artists, Nichols shows how proximity to water improves performance, diminishes anxiety, amplifies creativity and improves our overall wellbeing.

In Ireland, scientist and surfer Dr Easkey Britton (left) spoke at Inspirefest 2018 about how the water that surrounds us can play a crucial part in our mental wellbeing.

Dr Britton told the gathering how the simple experience of being in water can leave a powerful imprint on our body and mind because it is such a multisensory experience.

"It's visually stimulating, with a thousand shades of constantly moving blue," she said, "and wave-exposed coastlines release negative ions believed to alter our biochemistry, lowering our cortisol and lighting up our mood."

In her work with the NEAR Health Project at NUI Galway, Dr Britton is engaged in finding more ways to connect people with blue spaces.

"My bias as a life-long surfer has certainly influenced my desire to better understand what I've intuitively felt all my life; the power of the sea to heal and restore a sense of wellbeing. Emerging evidence suggests that physical activity in the sea, in particular surfing, has confirmed psychological as well as physical benefits," says Dr Britton.
The vast blue Atlantic Ocean stretches as far as the eye can see. In the distance the bulk of Instrahull Island rises up. Before me Pollan Beach lies empty. The only sound is of the waves crashing as they break on the shore. I pull my coat tight against the cold and head off across the beach. This is my happy place.

I can't remember a time when I wasn't looking for ways to get to the beach. My school yard was across the road from the shore at Lough Foyle on the Inishowen Peninsula and the smell of salt water filled our nostrils in the school playground every day. In it, on it, near it - I am happiest when there is water nearby, preferably with playful waves that make me feel good to be alive.

We know being in nature is good for us. Never before has there been so much research about the benefits of literally immersing ourselves in nature and yet our lifestyles, jobs, cars and technology often keep us at a remove from getting outdoors and diving deep into it. Science is backing up what we know intuitively when we get out in the wild - you just feel better. And now for the first time ever doctors, such as those in the US and in Scotland, have begun "nature prescribing" for their patients.

And yet even with all the knowledge about the health benefits - from improvements in our cardiovascular health to increased feelings of happiness - the busyness of life gets in the way.

In the short days of winter it can be difficult to get out. Work deadlines, kids after-school activities with drop-offs and pick-ups, and dinner to be put on the table often leave me with only a few minutes of fresh air usually on my way in and out of the car.

There is a misconception that people in rural Ireland are outdoors all the time, living in Wellington boots with faces ruddy from fresh air. The dependence on the car in rural Ireland means walking rarely happens unless you're out for an actual walk. Indeed when I lived in the city, I walked much more to get from A to B than I do now.

Prioritising getting outdoors is one of the promises I've made to myself this year. I'm wary of calling it a resolution. It's more a recalibrating of what's important in my day. And what could be more important than putting your health and wellbeing first?

I live in a part of the world where opportunities to immerse myself in nature are easily available. Within a few minutes of my home in Redcastle on the Inishowen Peninsula in north Co Donegal, I can be in a wilderness of bogland with not a house to be seen or in woodland where ancient oaks grow next to silver birch trees.

But for me the big bonus of where I live is my proximity to the ocean. And it's the blue spaces in the world that I'm most drawn to. Moving back to where I grew up means Lough Foyle still ebbs and flows through my daily life on its journey into the Atlantic. And living on a peninsula surrounded by water, the ocean is never far. I'm conscious that, as a parent, leading by example is important and so on weekends whatever the weather we bring our children to the beach, heading for long walks.

The effect on them is immediate and lasting; energising at the time and calming afterwards. Nature's own mood-enhancer and analgesic.

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As a busy working mum going to the sea to walk and sometimes to swim opens up a space for me just to be me. Not thinking about the kids or work or making the dinner or anything really. After a few minutes of hearing the noise of waves breaking on the shore and inhaling the briny smell of the ocean I feel the internal chatter slow down.

You never know what treasures you'll uncover once you start looking; a piece of sea glass worn perfectly smooth, a shell so delicately formed you can only wonder at nature's gifts. Some days I get to watch the surfers ride on the backs of mountainous waves across Pollan Bay. On others I'll spot huge grey seals at Kinnagoe Bay when they break the water to look inquisitively to shore. Sometimes there's nothing else for it but to dive in myself, becoming fully immersed in the cold, feeling it sting. The warm glow you feel for the rest of the day is always worth the effort.

On those days when I've spent some time by the sea I feel grateful that I've done something just for me. Watching the waves rise and fall is calming. It makes me more aware of the ebb and flow of my own life. It teaches me to relax and let go of the negatives; to let them out with the tide.

Observing the ocean also makes me realise that nothing is permanent. Even if I'm stuck in a rut or going round in circles in my mind, watching the comings and goings of the tide shifts something and alters my perspective. There will always be another wave coming in.

Being near the ocean is humbling and terrifying at the same time. You feel tiny next to its sheer scale and size. I am in awe of its power when giant rollers cause froth and foam to fly across the beach and I am calmed by how still it can be on fine days.

More than anything it makes me feel happy to step outside the busyness of my life and connect with its powerful nature for a while. And that is definitely something I want to do more of in 2019.
It's traditional for the first restaurant review of January to be of the healthy, abstemious kind of establishment that we all associate with post-Christmas self-loathing and recrimination. I'm sure that you're familiar with the type of place that I have in mind. Perhaps you too find it hard to get excited by the prospect.

It's also customary for new year reviews to focus on pocket-friendly experiences; there are few whose bank accounts are in robust shape in these early weeks of the year.

The place that I've chosen to review this week may not be an obvious fit for the former category, but it's as gentle on the wallet as can be. So I hope that you'll forgive this half-break from tradition, and let me introduce you to a little gem that may have passed you by in the flurry of new restaurants that appeared towards the end of last year.

Loose Canon opened last summer, at the Drury Street end of the George's Street Arcade, in what was the former Appassionata flower shop. On sultry summer evenings it became the perfect place to stop off on the way to or from dinner, for a glass of something interesting from its selection of natural wines. I don't think that there was anywhere to sit back then, but the crush felt vibrant, something new for Dublin.

In Paris, many wine bars now are 'natural', and it was while working there that Brian O'Keefe got the idea for Loose Canon. Brian and his business partner, Kevin Powell, also run Meet Me in the Morning on Pleasants Street, which has to be one of the best cafes in the city, with a menu that focuses on produce from the organic McNally Family Farm in North County Dublin. The pair also have Reference Coffee next door.

Natural wines are made with minimal intervention, hand-picked and then fermented using the natural yeasts that occur on the grapes. Because the wines are unfiltered, they tend to be vegan-friendly. (Many conventional wines are filtered using isinglass, which derives from fish bladders.) As with all wines, there are good and bad versions; some can be pretty funky. They are rarely dull.

At Loose Canon, there are always half a dozen or so wines available by the glass. The staff are friendly and knowledgeable, so it's an ideal place in which to dip a toe into what can seem like an intimidating world if you're starting from scratch. On one occasion, we drank glasses of the Du Grappin Bagnum Gamay, one of the new generation of wines in a bag. On another, a bottle of the Foulards Rouges, Octobre, a 90pc Syrah, 10pc Grenache blend, full of juicy red fruits and with an ABV of just 11pc.

Accompanying the selection of natural wines are toasties, made on Le Levain bread and filled with cheese and other deliciousness that changes daily but might include felicitous combinations such as smoked mozzarella and Gubbeen chorizo, sobrasada (cured pork sausage from the Balearics) and washed rind cheese, and goat's cheese with beetroot crush.

You might think that a toastie is hardly a food experience worth writing about, and indeed this is often the case. (I ordered one in a cafe in Dublin airport a few months back that was singularly vile - plastic cheese, unripe tomato, rubbery bread.) But at Loose Canon, the toasties are a thing of beauty, made with fabulous ingredients and so gargantuan that really one between two is plenty; they tend to cost between 7.50 and 9.

In the evening, there are sharing plates of cheese and Irish charcuterie from producers such as the Wooded Pig in the Boyne Valley, where engineer-turned-farmer, Eoin Bird, uses proper free-range rare-breed pigs to make salamis of true quality.

On my last visit to Loose Canon, two toasties and a bottle of wine between three resulted in a bill of 51 and a truly joyous food experience, one that I'll be repeating regularly in the year ahead. As it's also a shop, you can buy cheese, charcuterie and wine to take home too.

ON A BUDGET

A grilled cheese toastie - big enough for two - costs well under a tenner.

ON A BLOW OUT

The only way that you could spend a lot of money at Loose Canon is by drinking oodles of wine.

THE HIGH POINT

Loose Canon is charming and unpretentious.

THE LOW POINT

There aren't always enough stools for everyone who wants one.

THE RATING

9/10 food

8/10 ambience

10/10 value

27/30
Recognition: Taoiseach Leo Varadkar presents Lt Catherine Smyth with her International Peacekeeping Medal for her work in Mali during his visit to the African country

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar is in Africa for a week-long tour to observe the work of the Irish Defence Forces in in Mali and that of IrishAid in Ethiopia

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar was forced to leave a number of high ranking female officials outside a section of a famous ancient monastery during his visit to Ethiopia.

Despite being accompanied by Ireland's Ambassador to Ethiopia Sonja Hyland on his three day tour of the visit to the country, as well as his Aide de Camp Caroline Burke and Assistant Secretary in the Department of the Taoiseach, Helen Blake, Mr Varadkar toured part of the Church of Our Lady Mary of Zion monastery with only men.

In the part of the monastery viewed the site believed by many to the be the place where the Ark of the Covenant containing the ten tablets reputedly brought down from Mount Sinai by Moses reside.

While the move may raise eyebrows in the wake of controversy over the attendance of male diplomats at events run by gentleman's only clubs in the US, the site has held to the tradition of allowing only men to enter for centuries.

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Mr Varadkar met during his visit with the Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, who has appointed a gender balanced Cabinet and also with President Sahle-Work who is the first female president in Ethiopia.

Speaking at the Irish embassy in Addis Ababa Mr Varadkar said he had a special interest in the education of women and girls in relation to vaccinations and the prevention of HIV and Aids. A number of Irish Aid projects in Ethiopia relate to the education and economic development of women who currently face substantial challenges in relation to equality.

Speaking after his meeting with Prime Minister Abiy the Taoiseach was not able to commit to a 50:50 gender split following his planned Cabinet reshuffle this summer. He said scope would be limited due the make-up of the parliamentary party but said he is committed to seeing more women elected.

A spokesperson for the Taoiseach told Independent.ie said it is "appropriate to respect the rules and customs of different cultures and religions especially when you are in their countries, holy places or homes".

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"The Taoiseach has completed a week-long visit to Africa to see at first hand the work of the Irish Defence Forces in peace support and training duties in Mali, and the vital work of Irish Aid helping tens of thousands of people in Ethiopia. The itinerary in Ethiopia included a visit to a United Nations refugee camp, and Irish Aid funded facilities benefiting communities and families. There was also a heritage aspect with the ancient churches at Lalibela.

"The Taoiseach was brought to the religious sites at Axum by the mayor which includes a monastery. This monastery sets its own access code and has done so for hundreds of years. Like many churches, convents, temples and mosques, they have rules about who may enter and how they should dress. It is appropriate to respect the rules and customs of different cultures and religions especially when you are in their countries, holy places or homes. The Taoiseach and Irish government imposes no such rules when it comes to properties owned by the Irish State and does not support such rules."
Car rental companies are charging different customers hundreds of euro for the same pre-existing damage, despite not actually repairing the vehicles, Independent.ie can reveal.

Some drivers have exposed how they were forced to pay for damage even though the vehicles were never repaired and continued to be hired out.

One couple, from Yorkshire in the United Kingdom, were forced to pay 700 for scuff marks on the wheel and front bumper on a recent trip to Ireland.

The indicator on the wing mirror was broken when they picked up the car, the front rear door had a dent and there were a number of scratches.

There were nine pieces of damage in total noted on the rental agreement before they even drove the car.

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"It really left a sour taste in our mouths its just upsetting as we're moving here soon and friends will be coming to visit us and I don't want them having similar experiences or being given this negative view of Ireland, when it's a wonderful country," Diane Maguire told Independent.ie.

"I wonder why these had not been repaired before hiring the vehicle out again, and why they charged so much for what is in fact minor wear and tear as the vehicle had not been involved in an accident."

A source who previously worked for an automotive importer in Ireland, negotiating contracts with car hire companies, said the industry needs to be overhauled and called on the government to start regulating car rental companies here.

"To make a long story short the car hire companies that charge people for damage to alloys and dents, don't actually even repair the damage or pay for the repair. The contract they have, depending on the agreement made, usually has an allowance for damages up to 500," the source said.

"So for example when you or someone before you scrapes a bumper and two alloy wheels, the car rental company charge you 600 for the damage, they don't repair it and at the end of the lease the car comes back. The automotive company then argues the damages are more than the 500 allowance and the car company argues it is less and they end up not having to pay for the repair at all despite charging multiple people for repairing the damage throughout the car's time as a hire car," they added.

Independent.ie has previously highlighted a number of incidents where customers were dubiously charged excessive amounts, including:

A man being charged 700 for damage despite providing photos showing the dent was already there;

A Dublin mother being charged 491.12 for a dent over the rear wheel;

A retired Aer Lingus pilot forced to pay 130 for a scuff mark on the wheel rim.

All these customers were eventually issued refunds after arguing their cases and providing photographic evidence showing the damage already existed - or didnt exist at all.

Volkswagen Group Ireland, which leases vehicles to a number of major car rental companies, said: "The agreements that we have with car rental companies tend to vary depending on the rental company and brand, but generally, we charge the car rental company a set price per car as a default to cover acceptable damage, but any amount over this is charged accordingly."

Volkswagen Group wouldn't be drawn on exact figures, citing these as commercially sensitive, but did add; "It wouldn't be for us to comment on how the car rental companies charge their customers for damage, but we would say that it is prudent for rental customers to note any damage to the car prior to accepting it."

The "acceptable damage" varies depending on each deal with each car firm, the spokesperson confirmed.

"Again, this isnt something we would share for commercial reasons and yes, we repair the cars ourselves before they are sold on again. This work can be done by various suppliers."

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Diane Maguire and her husband Chris, who are moving to Co Wexford after they retire, said their recent experience took the good out of their trip to Ireland.

The couple rented a car here in October to travel to Wellington Bridge, where they recently purchased a home.

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"I took a photo of the couple of things that were already wrong with the car including a broken wing mirror and scratches, they were on the list of pre-existing damage but when we returned the vehicle the guy went straight over and pointed to this tiny scratch on the wheel trim," Mrs Maguire said.

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"The damage that was pointed out to me on the vehicle return was very minor, scuffs to a wheel trim and a scratch on the front bumper, yet they withheld 700. An excessive amount for a wheel trim scratch and a minor scratch to the bumper, which in any case was already there when I picked up the car."

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When contacted for comment, the car rental company said it has now decided to issue the Maguires with a full refund.

"Having looked at this specific case again, we noticed an error in our inspection process which resulted in this customer being charged more than what they should have for these damages," a spokesperson said.

"The customer has since been contacted and we have offered our sincere apologies along with a complete refund."

Stuart Summerfield, from Co Sligo, is another customer who had a bad experience when he was charged for ghost damage.

The company withheld 1,205 (1,371) from his credit card as it claimed there was a dent in the driver's door of the Peugeot 108.

However, pictures provided by Mr Summerfield showed no visible damage.

The engineers report did not provide any description of the damage but said the cost of repairs would be 1,126 (1,281) and said the alleged damage renders the vehicle unfit for hire.

Despite this, Mr Summerfield learned that the company continued to hire out the car.

Mr Summerfield asked the company to provide photographs of the alleged damage and an employee said in an email: "The car is out on hire at the moment and is due back on Tuesday, I have told the location to ground the car so we see the extent of the damage and to have more photographs taken so we can assess the extent the damage."

The company, in a statement to Independent.ie, said it "did not share the view of the engineer that minor cosmetic damage requires the vehicle to be grounded or renders the vehicle unfit for purpose."

Mr Summerfield was eventually issued with a full refund.

He has since rented vehicles from other providers and had "no problems at all".

The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission received up to 200 contacts relating to car rental issues in 2018.

A number of these contacts had encountered difficulties with what appeared to be pre-existing issued with their cars, a CCPC spokesperson said.

A spokesperson for one of the rental companies contacted for comment said they take such allegations "very seriously".

"We have robust processes and procedures in place to ensure customers are only charged for the damage that they cause.

"On the rare occasion where a customer has been charged incorrectly due to an administrative error, we immediately reimburse the charges. Our business prides itself on excellent customer service and has been recognised globally for the quality of service we provide our customers."

The other companies did not respond to requests for comment.

The Department of Enterprise, Trade and Business said it is aware of recent reports in relation to car rental companies and claims regarding pre-existing damage.

It encouraged consumers to highlight their experiences with the Car Rental Council of Ireland, which is the representative trade organisation for the car rental industry.

"Difficulties with car rental services can involve consumers from outside of Ireland renting cars here, or Irish consumers renting cars abroad," a spokesperson said.

"Joint action on this matter was taken by the European Commission and national consumer authorities in EU Member States, including the Irish Competition and Consumer Protection Commission with the five leading car rental companies in Europe.

"The companies undertook that car rental prices should include all unavoidable charges, that information on additional insurance should be clear, that consumers should always be given the option to get and return a car with a full tank and that procedures for inspection of vehicle damage and for handling of damage claims should be clear and fair.

"The European Commission and the national consumer authorities also agreed that they would continue to monitor the car rental sector closely.

"Any suspected incidents of fraud should be reported directly to An Garda Siochana."

Paul Redmond, Chief Executive of the Car Rental Council of Ireland, said customers are advised to inspect the car and agree details of any other defects.

"The Council has no information pertaining to these arrangements [between car hire companies and automotive companies] and therefore cannot comment on the particular arrangement you refer to."
Sinn Fein President Mary Lou McDonald has proclaimed that "the orange state is gone and it's not coming back" at an event to mark the anniversary of the first Dail in Dublin.

Mrs McDonald and party representatives met in Mansion House to celebrate 100 years since the meeting of the First Dail at the venue on January 21 1919.

The Sinn Fein leader also said that Brexit and world politics were driving events "towards the logic of Irish unity".

She used the 100th anniversary event to reaffirm her party's commitment to working for a united Ireland and set their sights on government in both Northern Ireland and the Republic.

Mrs McDonald said the Good Friday Agreement had guaranteed a "a historic opportunity to build a United Ireland by peaceful, democratic means".

"Let us build a genuine people's campaign for a United Ireland based on progressive demands for a better and fairer society for all," she said.

"We have an opportunity during this time of political, constitutional and social transition to fix the broken, two-state system and eradicate the social and economic ills that it has created.

"With the support of the people we have ensured that the Orange State is gone and it's not coming back."

The Sinn Fein President said her party would pursue "vigorously the democratic imperative of a United Ireland".

She told the event that the "final chapter in Irish Unity" was approaching.

"Our focus now is on building Sinn Fein to be the biggest party on this island, acting as the major catalyst for political, economic and social progress and with the ability to lead a radical Republican government," Mrs McDonald said.

"And let me be very clear here today that the Sinn Fein leadership of 2019 is as determined to achieve the objectives of the First Dail as those who gathered in this place one hundred years ago.

"We must dare to win, we must plan to win and we must act to win. And let me tell you we will win. We will have a new and united Ireland.

"We will return to this place and we will remember all those who came before and we will celebrate an Irish Republic of equal citizens."
Recent stormy weather has once again stripped the sandy garments from the beach in Achill. Photo: Sean Molloy

The sand of Achill Islands reappearing beach has withdrawn back to the sea as stormy weather has left the shorelines boulders naked once again.

Dooagh Beach on the south-western extremity of Mayos Atlantic-beaten island made international news in May 2017 when it re-emerged from the depths. The freak tides washed up hundreds of thousands of tons of sand.

The beach, which had been reduced to a rocky terrain battered by the Atlantic Ocean, had enjoyed a golden covering of sand for the first time in 33 years, but the grains of time were quick to fall and the beachs life was short lived.

Recent stormy weather has once again stripped the sandy garments from the beach and left only its craggy bones in its wake.

Expand Close The sand of Achill Islands reappearing beach has withdrawn back to the sea. Photo: sean Molloy / Facebook

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Whatsapp The sand of Achill Islands reappearing beach has withdrawn back to the sea. Photo: sean Molloy

Set on the scenic island, the beach drew thousands of tourists after it made international news and business on the Mayo island boomed. Sean Molloy, manager for tourism on the island, said that locals could see the beach gradually retreating to the sea before, almost overnight, being swept back to the depts.

It had been going over the last four or five weeks, he said.

It has being going since there were storms there over Christmas. There were just big rollers coming in and it was hammered all week, but the last few days now it has nearly taken every grain of sand away again.

Its more or less the same as before the sand returned, but there seems to be a lot of bigger boulders thrown up onto the beach that wasnt there before.

The media attention that Dooaghs rebirth garnered increased tourism on the island significantly. Meltwater.com, a company that analyses media trends, reported that over 1.16 billion people around the world saw the story and employment increased on the island by almost 80 jobs, from 549 to 628.

Mr Molloy says that although the 300 metre beach was an allure for Irish holiday makers seeking childhood reminiscence and tourists from other countries looking to experience the rugged beauty of the Atlantic seaside, its disappearance offers an enticement in itself.

Expand Close Sean Molloy (left) and his wife Etain O'Connor alongside Emmet Callaghan of Achill Tourism (centre) / Facebook

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Whatsapp Sean Molloy (left) and his wife Etain O'Connor alongside Emmet Callaghan of Achill Tourism (centre)

A lot of people did come to the beach, he admitted.

But I think Achill being in the international headlines, it just brought a lot of people to show what Achill had to offer because we have five other blue flag beaches as well, so it wasnt a critical piece of the puzzle but in 2017 it led to a huge increase. There was a 70pc increase in people coming into our two offices in 2017.

I dont think it will have too much of an effect though. Obviously we would prefer if the lovely beach and the golden sands were still there, but I think when you are on the wild Atlantic way and you look at it that point of view, it becomes about the power of nature.

"You have the cliffs and you have the other beaches and the sea and this time of year, an awful lot of people will come here just to see the huge waves and see them crashing on the beach, because they love just looking at the power of the sea. As natural phenomenon, OK the beach is gone, but you can see how they can really see what power the Atlantic Ocean has and thats really beautiful in itself.

The locals of Achill have become accustomed to the ebbing and flowing of their liquid-like sands, however Mr Molloy said that they had hoped the sand of Dooagh would last longer than they did on this occasion.

Local folklore suggests that the sands return every seven years but when they had to wait more than thirty last time, it was only right, they thought, that they would get a few decades of enjoyment from the beach.

Mr Molloy, originally from Mayo, answered the alluring call of home from the Atlantic and gave up his job in Dublin as a financial advisor. He said that the locals cant help but to answer a similar call and although they wanted their beach to remain, they flocked back to see Dooaghs bones once again.

The beach was there for years and years up until about 1984 or 1985 and then in the 30 years between 85 and 2017, small bits of the beach came back for maybe a week or so, you could see the sand underneath the water so the sand obviously goes out into the bay and comes back in closer, he beamed.

Most people probably thought, because it was gone in the late 1940s and it was there for 20 or 30 years, I think maybe we thought that it would be back for 20 or 30 years, but it has only been there for maybe 20 months.

I passed there this morning and so many people were back down looking at the shore and just marvelling over it because they would have seen the huge amount of sand that was there and its just gone now.

Its really something you have to see both sides to really appreciate the awesome power that the sea has.
Lille's slick attack was too much for Caen and it was 2-0 after 20 minutes, thanks to goals from club top scorer Nicolas Pepe and 19-year-old Portuguese Rafael Leao.
Demonstrators during a "yellow vest" protest in Belfast city centre to demand an end to austerity policies and action on a range of social issues in Northern Ireland. Photo: David Young/PA Wire

One of the nine Yellow Vest protests across the country brought traffic to a near standstill after an attempt to block Dublin's Port Tunnel earlier today.

The demonstration was one of several across the country in Wexford, Donegal, Waterford, Letterkenny, Galway, Wicklow and Dublin which called for the resignation of the Taoiseach and for their list of 18 demands to be answered.

Among the demands are an immediate cessation of evictions, a general election and the resignation of Leo Varadkar and Simon Harris, medicinal Cannabis legalised immediately, an abolishment of vulture funds and the discontinuance of several taxes.

Glenn Miller, a representative of Yellow Vest Ireland, said that the movement is a peaceful demonstration, but that inconveniencing people is crucial as less burdensome protests go unnoticed by the government.

It was a demand campaign, he said.

We demand action from our government whose policies are allowing the issues to escalate unaddressed and the spin of the government is not helping issues at all.

How many protests do you think have gone on in Dublin for the last decade? There have been at least 500 for various things from water to abortion to whatever the issue is. Did the government listen to any of those protests? Or were they placated and sent off on their way?

Taking a leaf out of the French Yellow Vest, they have been demonstrating in the regions for several months, blocking roads and being a haphazard, but doing it peacefully. Its a peaceful proactive or peacefully disruptive protest and thats why were blocking the port or blocking OConnell Bridge or, today we blocked a junction in Wexford Town, another junction in Galway and so on and so forth.

Mr Miller admitted that the group have not made an attempt to directly contact any politicians, nor does he feel it will benefit their cause.

Its a leaderless movement, he said.

Expand Close Protestors wearing yellow vests stand in a makeshift camp on a roundabout near Senlis, north of Paris (AP Photo/Thibault Camus) / Facebook

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Whatsapp Protestors wearing yellow vests stand in a makeshift camp on a roundabout near Senlis, north of Paris (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)

The people in government are elected in government on a mandate. Their mandate or remit is what it is and most of the politicians that are there have been with that mandate and remit to feather their own nests.

There are no politicians at the head of it. Its quite the reverse. All the politicians are saying stay away from it; that were all Nazis and this sort of stuff, which couldnt be further from the truth. Its apolitical, its not right, its not left. Its right down the middle. Its not a nefarious thing to want whats right for the people.

Mr Miller urged people who find themselves caught up in the demonstrations to leave their cars in solidarity for the movement. A movement, he says, which will not cease until it meets its demands.

Today I spoke at one of the blockages which lasted five minutes and we stood at the junction for five minutes in solidarity with the people waiting on trolleys for days, he said.

If somebody is complaining about sitting for five minutes of disruption can you imagine how they would feel if they were lying on a trolley for 24 hours or more. People that are homeless are homeless 24/7 and five minutes of disruption out of peoples day is not much to ask for. In fact, what they should be doing is getting out of their cars in solidarity and hanging about for five minutes or ten minutes or four hours or a day.

Only that way do we see any meaningful change coming about. The movement will continue. Do you think we will be like the Paris movement? Do you think that were going to be smashing cities up and burning the place down? No, its a peaceful disruptive movement.

Meanwhile in Belfast, the campaigners gathered outside City Hall to demand an end to austerity policies and action on a range of social issues in Northern Ireland.

A numbers of speakers addressed the crowd calling for a halt to public-sector cuts, the abolition of zero-hour contracts and a reversal of contentious changes to the welfare and benefits system.
James Gately (inset) and (background) the scene of May's botched murder attempt on Gately

A GARDA alert has been issued after a Hutch mobster under significant threat from the Kinahan cartel returned to Ireland over the weekend.

Independent.ie has learned that James Mago Gately (32)- who has survived two attempts on his life- flew into Dublin Airport on Sunday afternoon.

The under-threat criminal had enjoyed a lengthy holiday abroad which included trips to Singapore and China as well as stopovers in the Middle East.

Gardai believe Gately flew out from Dublin to Singapore on December 16, travelling via the United Arab Emirates (UAE)- where several senior Kinahan members are residing.

Having spent Christmas and the New Year abroad, the Hutch associate returned to Ireland on Sunday afternoon, arriving on a flight from a Chinese city.

He again travelled through the UAE capital of Abu Dhabi on his return.

However, despite landing in Dublin, gardai believe Mago Gately has already returned to his bolthole in Northern Ireland where he has been staying while under-threat.

Such is the threat to Gatelys life that a garda bulletin was issued ahead of his return, notifying gardai across the city that a significant target of the Kinahan cartel was due back.

Gately has survived two credible attempts on his life- including a foiled conspiracy in April 2017 and a shooting the following month.

Last month, we revealed how the chief suspect in that shooting is the target of a special policing plan by gardai in the city centre.

Gardai have seized a luxury car linked to the 27-year-old thug and he is regularly subjected to stop and searches.

In November, Estonian national Imre Arakas was jailed for six-and-a-half years for his involvement in the plot to murder James Gately.

He was provided logistical support by a number of people while in Dublin including Eric Fowler, who was shot dead outside his Blakestown home on December 23.

Gardai are probing a number of motives for the killing including that associates of the Hutch gang carried it out in retaliation for Fowler providing logistical support to Arakas.

However, detectives are satisfied Gately had no involvement in the killing as he had left the country over a week before the gun murder.

Gardai at Blanchardstown are also probing if the Fowler murder- described as a highly professional hit- was carried out by the Kinahan cartel as an internal clear-out.

Two gunmen are believed to have been involved in the killing and may have been lying in wait for their target for over an hour before the shooting.

The getaway car was found burnt out in nearby Rusheeney Crescent, Clonsilla just minutes after Fowler was shot dead outside his home.

The Hutch/Kinahan feud has claimed around 18 lives since September 2015, with the majority of the killings carried out by the Kinahan crime gang.
Probe: Garda forensic officers outside the Shannon Key West Hotel in Rooskey after the fire in January. Photo: Tony Gavin

The Justice Minister says he cannot say when a hotel, damaged in a suspected arson attack, will be open to accept asylum seekers.

Minister Charlie Flanagan was speaking as a Garda investigation began into the suspected arson at the vacant Co Roscommon hotel on Thursday night.

Firefighters were called to the scene of the blaze at the former Shannon Key West Hotel in the village of Rooskey on the Roscommon/Leitrim border.

A security guard who was on the premises at the time discovered the fire and raised the alarm with the fire brigade and gardai.

Nobody was injured in the incident and investigating gardai are appealing for anyone who witnessed anything suspicious in the area between 5.30pm and 7.30pm to get in contact.

Superintendent Kevin English of Carrick-on-Shannon garda station said they believe the fire was started deliberately.

"We're treating it as a suspicious fire. We had technical experts at the scene and we are waiting for their findings to determine how the investigation will progress".

He said reports that people were seen pouring flammable liquid on the premises had "not been confirmed".

"Nobody was seen entering or pouring flammable substances. There was an onsite security guard who raised the alarm after discovering the fire but he did not encounter anybody," he added.

He praised the security guard for his quick response which ensured no serious damage was done.

"There is a certain degree of charring around the reception area and extensive smoke damage but it could have been a lot worse," he said.

Last November, it emerged that the hotel - which closed in 2011 - was in line to become a reception centre for up to 82 refugees.

The property was also at the centre of a sale dispute before the High Court and was due to be sold to new owners this week.

Justice Minister Mr Flanagan said thankfully no residents were on the site when the fire broke out.

"The investigation into the cause of the fire must now take place and I do not wish to speculate at this point," he said. "It is also too early to say now when the hotel might be ready to accept residents.

"All of the necessary assessments, certifications and any remedial works required must be carried out."

Local councillors and residents raised concerns about asylum seekers being moved into the area due to a "significant lack of facilities".

"Locals had hoped it was going to reopen as a hotel to put a bit of life back in the community," said Sean McGowan, Cathaoirleach of Leitrim County Council.

"This community has suffered greatly. We had a serious fire at a meat plant here a number of years ago and we lost upwards of 600 jobs.

"The people here would prefer to see it used as a hotel.

"They're very decent people here and they would welcome asylum seekers but the Department of Justice needs to look at the lack of facilities."

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said he condemned "the deliberate act of violence".

In a separate incident in Donegal last month, a hotel due to house around 100 asylum seekers was targeted in an arson attack.

Investigations are still ongoing.
The concerns of Irish people about migration cannot be dismissed, but Ireland has proved more welcoming than other parts of Europe, the Taoiseach has insisted.

Leo Varadkar was speaking in crowded UNHCR refugee camp Mai-Aini in northern Ethiopia. Here, thousands of people from Eritrea, a country under a totalitarian dictatorship, have fled in search of a better life.

Many believe that life lies in Europe and hope to travel there. Others are keen to find a home in the so-called 'second country' of Ethiopia.

The border between the two nations has only recently been reopened, leading to a flood of people across it, thanks to an open door policy on refugees despite the complex challenges it faces domestically.

Many of the men are avoiding compulsory and indefinite military conscription, there are also thousands of women and children following in the footsteps of their husbands and fathers, who crossed the border at a time when it was much more dangerous to do so.

It was Mr Varadkar's first visit to a refugee camp and it gave him a "new perspective" on what needs to be done.

Asked by the Irish Independent whether he was disappointed at the attitude of some Irish people to our own intake of refugees, he said Ireland had offered a warmer welcome than most.

"Generally speaking, Irish people have been quite welcoming of refugees, particularly those who are fleeing from a humanitarian crisis and fleeing from a war zone," he said. "They have been much more welcoming than people in other parts of Europe and that has been borne by our own experience of migration."

But he said people's concerns must not be dismissed.

"It's important that we do not be dismissive about concerns on migration," he said, noting this was a "political mistake" made by some in Europe.

"Migration is a good thing. Ireland has benefited enormously from migration. Migrants help to run our public service system, make our economy stronger," he said.

"But it does need to be managed. We need to manage it right and see the picture as a whole, not just about responding to refugee crisis or humanitarian crisis, but the best in international development, peace, security. Those are the policies that work in the long term."

The visit marked the final day of the Taoiseach's week-long trip to Africa, during which he visited Mali and Ethiopia. In addition to meeting the new, young and progressive prime minister of the country, Abiy Ahmed, the Taoiseach also visited a number of projects supported by Irish aid.

Ethiopia has been Ireland's key recipient of Irish aid and there has been a diplomatic presence there for 25 years.

But the challenges facing the country are myriad, including climate change, internal displacement due to conflict, poverty, economic disadvantage and severe gender inequality.

This enormous challenge was among the reasons cited by the Fine Gael leader for the need for continued Irish investment in development aid and economic investment.

But it was also the most effective way to address the migrant crisis. Europe cannot afford to take a 30pc chunk of Africa's population, he warned.

"The best thing we can do is bring our experience in the European Union to Africa. Africa is an enormous continent and potentially wealthy. If we can get Africa right, we won't need to see millions of people leaving their homes and trying to cross the Mediterranean," he said.

There are also other issues at play; with, in his own words, power moving east and south there was a need to ensure Europe retains a foothold in Africa.

During his brief stop in Mali to visit Irish peacekeepers who are helping train Malian forces, the Taoiseach's delegation travelled on a Chinese-built motorway.

During their two-hour meeting, the Ethiopian prime minister also spoke about the level of intervention by China there too; building roads, investing in the economy and also educating people in its university.

This is a "geopolitical" risk for Europe which must step up its education links with Africa, the Taoiseach said.

With that among other issues in mind Ireland's investment in Africa and its military deployment to peacekeeping missions looks only set to increase.
Tragedy: Dawn Croke saved the life of her partners daughter but was killed when she had to step into the path of the 4x4

Tragedy: Dawn Croke saved the life of her partners daughter but was killed when she had to step into the path of the 4x4

A teacher and mother-of-two has been hailed a hero after she sacrificed her own life to save that of a six-year-old girl.

Tributes have poured in for Dawn Croke, who was in her early 30s, and taught in Rosses Community School in Co Donegal alongside her father Tony. The tragedy occurred on Thursday night, when Ms Croke was struck by a white 4x4 in the grounds of a primary school.

She was with her partners six-year-old daughter when the vehicle, which had been parked a short distance away, moved towards them.

It is not known what caused the vehicle to move, but it is being treated as a tragic accident. Ms Croke pushed the little girl out of the way, and bore the full impact of the collision. The girl was seriously injured, and has been treated in hospital.

Ms Croke was well known in the county as a former Mary from Dungloe. Local Fianna Fail TD Pat The Cope Gallagher  who knew Ms Croke personally  hailed her as an exceptionally gifted individual with a massive personality and warmth that radiated from her on each occasion you met her.

The Donegal TD said she had visited Dail Eireann only last month, with her class from the school.

She was dearly loved by her students and her work colleagues, all of whom are devastated, he said.

It's understood Ms Croke died instantly when she was hit by a 4x4 vehicle in the grounds of St Crona's National School, in Dungloe, at 6.30pm on Thursday.

Ms Croke had been in the grounds of the school with her partner Paddy McHugh's six-year-old daughter.

Tragedy struck, however, when a white Ford Ranger, that had been parked nearby travelled in the direction of Ms Croke and the young girl, hitting Ms Croke after she pushed the little girl out of the way.

The child suffered a broken pelvis and a foot injury, but is expected to make a full recovery.

Forensic investigators were at the scene of the tragedy at first light yesterday.

The investigation will centre on what caused the Ford Ranger to travel forward and hit Ms Croke and the young girl.

Ms Croke was from a popular local family and steeped in the local community in Dungloe and the local music scene.

She is mother to young sons Jason and Calum. Rosses Community School remained closed yesterday as a mark of respect to the grief-stricken family of Ms Croke.

Members of the local Mary From Dungloe organisation - an Irish music festival - last night paid tribute to Ms Croke, the 2008 Dungloe Mary.

A spokesperson said: "We are asking committee members and Marys past and present to join us for a guard of honour at Dawn's funeral."

The school issued a statement offering their support to Ms Croke's family, including her partner Patrick and two sons.

It says: "Our school community wishes to offer our sincerest condolences on the tragic death of our colleague and friend, Ms Dawn Croke.

"We offer our condolences to her father and staff member Tony Croke, his wife Anne, our student Emily, past pupils Aaron, Ethan and Adam, her partner Patrick, and her sons Jason and Calum."

Pat 'The Cope' Gallagher also told that when Ms Croke and her class visited Dail Eireann last month, she then brought them to meet Brother Kevin Crowley at his centre for the homeless. The class presented him with a cheque for 1,000.

Brother Kevin is "greatly saddened" by the news of her death, Mr Gallagher said.

Her funeral will be held on Monday at 11am in St Crona's Church, Dungloe, with burial afterwards in Maghery cemetery.
Discussions will take place between the Government and the judiciary in the next few weeks regarding a stop-gap measure to recalibrate compensation awards for minor injuries such as whiplash.

The move comes as the Government faces mounting criticism over the slow pace of reforms aimed at cutting insurance costs.

A report by the Personal Injuries Commission last September found awards for minor injuries were almost five times the level of those in Britain.

Whiplash injury payouts, in particular, were found to be on average 4.4 times those in England and Wales.

The report called for "a rebalancing and a recalibration of awards" in line with levels in other countries and recommended that judges compile new guidelines.

It has been widely accepted this process should take place by setting up a new Judicial Council.

However, legislation allowing for this has not been progressed since November 2017.

The Department of Justice said it was hoped the bill could be enacted before the Oireachtas summer recess.

But interim measures are now also being looked at to speed up the recalibration process in the meantime.

Earlier this week, Junior Finance Minister Michael D'Arcy floated the idea of an interim judicial council because it was "going to take too long" for the bill to be passed.

In a statement, the Department of Justice said Justice Minister Charlie Flanagan and officials had been working with the Personal Injuries Assessment Board to come up with an interim measure.

"Options to achieve this will shortly be proposed for discussion with the judiciary and Courts Service as appropriate," the statement said.
New society: Peadar Toibin says there is now a cold house for religious people. Photo by Tom Burke

The long march: protesters take to the streets of Drogheda to save the name of Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital. Picture by Paul Connor

Picket: abortion protesters including Charles Byrne, second left, outside Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital. Picture by Ciara Wilkinson

Charles Byrne, a piano teacher from Drogheda, believes there is an agenda to erase the memory of Catholic Ireland, as if it never existed at all.

"We are being swept along by a tide where Christianity is being eroded and despised," said the musician who normally teaches classical works by the likes of Mozart and Beethoven.

Byrne told Review how he took part in two high-profile protests in Drogheda this week. On Monday, he was joining hundreds of others in marching through the Louth town to stop the name of the local hospital being changed.

Management at Our Lady of Lourdes hospital have suggested dropping the name and replacing it with a title that has been stripped of religious connotations. The suggested options for the new name include Drogheda Regional Hospital or Drogheda University Hospital.

Expand Close The long march: protesters take to the streets of Drogheda to save the name of Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital. Picture by Paul Connor / Facebook

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Whatsapp The long march: protesters take to the streets of Drogheda to save the name of Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital. Picture by Paul Connor

Then, after his march to save Our Lady of Lourdes, before sunrise on Monday morning, Byrne was out protesting again.

This time it was a much more controversial demonstration, after reports spread on social media that the first abortion was about to take place at Our Lady of Lourdes hospital.

The piano teacher was one of a group of seven who held highly provocative placards outside the hospital with slogans such as "Abortion is murder", "Let him be born", "Killing in progress", and "Let her be born".

The introduction of the first abortion services in Ireland at the start of the year may have been heralded as the most significant defeat of those who believe Catholic doctrine should still hold sway in our laws.

In recent years, the onward march towards a more secular, liberal Ireland has seemed relentless. In earlier decades, the Church suffered heavy losses with the legalisation of contraception and divorce.

And more recently, with the enthusiastic backing of Fine Gael, the Government has introduced same-sex marriage, an end to the baptism barrier in Catholic schools, and its most significant measure - the introduction of abortion.

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Liberal Ireland has won all the big battles against the Church in recent decades, but now there are signs of a fight back. Charles Byrne and others with similar views say the abortion poll has been a "wake-up call".

The high number of protesters marching against the hospital name change is seen as another manifestation that the move towards secularisation is not universally popular.

Part of the concern about the name change may simply be down to local tradition rather than pure religious conviction, but the man who led the march, Drogheda Mayor Frank Godfrey, warned that it was part of a national trend.

Mayor Godfrey was reported as saying: "There is no good reason to remove religious names and icons from institutions such as the Lourdes hospital.

"Is there an agenda to remove religion from Irish society? We must respect our own Irish culture and way of life."

If the Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and Health Minister Simon Harris thought the introduction of abortion would be easy once the referendum was won, they were sorely mistaken.

Quite apart from the practicalities of introducing abortion services, the Government, doctors and possibly even patients have to face the ire of protesters, who show little sign of giving up their campaign.

Taking their cue from activists in the United States, they have shown in recent days that they are quite prepared to picket clinics and hospitals.

In recent days, activists have been publicising the names of doctors offering abortion services using information from a government helpline.

On Sunday, a message was reportedly posted by anti-abortion activists on Facebook: "The first abortion in our Lady of Lourdes hospital is scheduled for first thing tomorrow morning, Monday 7th. The priests in Drogheda have asked for prayers that the woman will have a change of heart overnight and not go through with the procedure. Please spread the word."

The message was amplified on Twitter by the well-known economist and pro-life supporter Professor Ray Kinsella, who told his followers: "Please pray hard that the #mother will recognise the #baby as a gift from God."

Simon Harris this week described social media posts claiming to identify the location where the first abortion was to take place under new laws as "despicable".

Harris argued that, in his view, the posts were effectively an attempt to "incite harassment of women".

The minister is to bring in legislation for safe-access zones that would ban protests in the vicinity of medical facilities offering abortion services.

The doctor and Newstalk presenter Ciara Kelly expressed alarm at the protests outside clinics and hospital.

"I fully support the right of people to make their own choice and be facilitated if they decide not to have an abortion.

"But it is absolutely wrong to try to harass and intimidate people if they use these services. They should not have to run a gauntlet."

The number of protesters outside Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital may have been small, but the demonstrators are unlikely to be deflected by any criticism.

Expand Close Dr Ciara Kelly . Photo by Kyran O'Brien / Facebook

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Charles Byrne says the demonstration was organised through a WhatsApp group. It started at 8am and continued for three hours.

"It wasn't intended to be a massive protest with chanting and shouting. It was very quiet. I may have got a few rude comments, and I may have answered back, but that was it."

Byrne says that the campaign on abortion is likely to continue, and is now likely to become more militant.

"People were heartbroken by the referendum result, but they are more determined now and there is a new energy about the campaign."

A new political party

While pro-life campaigners and those who hope to reaffirm traditional Catholic values will continue to protest on the streets, there is also a growing realisation that they need political representation in order to succeed.

One-third of the electorate, over 700,000, voted against abortion in the referendum, but their views on the issue are not represented by leaders of any of the political parties in the Dail.

The social conservatives trying to resist the onward march of secularism are now pondering who they will turn to in an election.

Do voters feel strongly enough about abortion and other issues to do with secularisation that they would support a party standing for the pro-life cause?

Many will pin their hopes on Peadar Toibin, the articulate Meath TD, who fell foul of Sinn Fein on the abortion issue, and recently left the party to form a new pro-life republican movement. Toibin told Review he already has 1,400 people signed up for his fledgling party, which has yet to be named.

"We already have nine elected representatives and 20 cumainn," the SF defector says. "We plan to have 100 cumainn by the end of February, and I am talking to 30 elected representatives."

Toibin speaks in much more moderate terms than some of the strident campaigners in the pro-life movement.

On economic issues such as housing and health, his views are little different to those of Sinn Fein and the Labour Party.

But as well as standing against abortion, he is opposed to the type of secularisation taking place in the country under the Fine Gael government.

"I support a secular society where a diversity of religious and cultural experiences is allowed to flourish.

"But we have seen the emergence of a secular society that seeks to delete religious expression from the public domain," says the TD.

Toibin argues that there is now a "cold house" in Irish society for religious people.

He says some people have used the term "neo-sectarianism" for the widespread anti-religious feeling.

"I know a lot of people of faith who feel afraid to communicate a very important part of their lives," says the Meath TD. "They have to keep their heads down as regards their Protestant or Catholic feelings."

Toibin says the march through Drogheda to oppose the change of name to the hospital was a backlash against the removal of religion from the public domain.

"We should be able to appreciate who we are and where we came from - and the religious aspect of it."

Toibin's party is likely to target areas with a high pro-life vote, including Donegal, the only area where a majority (52pc) voted No to abortion.

While the reversal of the abortion vote is an uphill task that seems almost insurmountable, Toibin is confident that his party can succeed.

"If we can build a political movement to challenge the political parties, I have no doubt that we have the ability to change the legislation," he says

With Leo Varadkar's Fine Gael determined to wrap itself in a liberal flag, reflecting a shift in public opinion, there are likely to be more battles ahead.

While social conservatives argue fervently that religious values should not be eliminated from public administration, many others feel just as strongly that the beliefs and symbols of religions have no place in state-run institutions.

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They may be offended by crucifixes and religious statues - and the fact that 90pc of state-funded primary schools have a Catholic patron and ethos.

They bemoan the fact that the Catholic influence in education may affect how students are taught about sexuality and issues such as gay relationships.

Michael Nugent of Atheist Ireland says: "The population has moved on and it is not controlled by the Catholic Church in the way that it used to be.

"But there are still hangover controls from the time that the Church had power and this is enshrined in laws and the constitution."

Nugent also points to divine intrusions such as a Christian prayer at the start of Dail proceedings as well as the Angelus on RTE.

Education is likely to be the next big battleground between those who believe a Catholic identity should be preserved in State institutions and those who prefer a more secular model.

In a major victory for the secularists, the Government abolished the "baptism barrier", which allowed Catholic state-funded schools to turn away children who were not baptised as Catholics.

But moves to divest a significant number of primary schools from Church control to non-denominational control have been extremely slow.

Peadar Toibin and the Archbishop of Dubin Diarmuid Martin support the divestment of a number of schools.

However, Toibin opposes moves to remove the churches and what he regards as parental choice from schools.

"It would be a mistake if we didn't have any diversity in schools and the patronage of Catholic and Protestant schools was replaced by the patronage of Ruth Coppinger - and every school was uniform."

Sex education is likely to be a fraught area in the coming months, as the Government considers reforms to the Relationships and Sex Education programme.

It was recently reported that a draft report from the Oireachtas Education Committee calls for a radical overhaul of how sex education is taught in both primary and secondary schools.

If the plans were implemented, Catholic schools would have to teach children about gay, lesbian and transgender relationships.

The reports says the sex-education programme should be "fully inclusive of LGBT relationships and experiences, including sexual orientation, gender identity and the spectrums thereof".

Implementing a uniform sex-education programme in schools has proved difficult until now. How do Catholic schools teach pupils about artificial contraception and gay relationships when the Church itself believes both are inherently sinful?

"There is a big push to have uniform sex education in schools, but there is a danger that we create an orthodoxy that is a mirror image of the past. We should have a plurality of views," says Peadar Toibin.

As well as controversial areas in education, there are still aspects of healthcare that need to be resolved, according to Dr Ciara Kelly.

"I don't have strong opinions on the name change of the Our Lady of Lourdes hospital," says the Newstalk presenter. "But my view on healthcare and religion is they are oil and water apart from giving comfort to those who want it in times of distress.

"The churches should have no business in attempting to influence clinical practice."

Secularist tide

It remains to be seen if the new political party led by Toibin can make serious inroads and succeed in reversing the secularist tide. The size of the task is immense, given the scale of the Yes victory in the abortion referendum.

Traditionalists in the Church such as Father Brian McKevitt, editor of the staunchly conservative Catholic paper Alive!, hopes that Toibin, or a party like Renua will be successful.

"They are challenging the secularist groupthink that has possessed the political establishment," says Fr McKevitt.

Some pundits might argue that the plight of Renua in the last election does not augur well for Toibin's party.

Like the ex-Sinn Feiner, Lucinda Creighton broke away from her party to lead a movement in the last election on an anti-abortion ticket. But the party failed to win a single seat.

But Toibin argues that abortion is now a much more crucial issue for many voters now that the referendum has been passed.

He says Renua stood on a right-wing economic agenda that was out of step with popular opinion after a period of austerity.

Creighton also tried to retain her seat in leafy and liberal Dublin Bay South, which is hardly a bastion of pro-life sentiment.

The future success of pro-life politicians and those espousing traditional Catholic social conservatism is by no means guaranteed.

But the grassroots campaign against abortion will continue for the foreseeable future, whatever happens in the Dail. After past campaigns on divorce, same-sex marriage and divorce, the traditionalists licked their wounds, packed up their tents and left the battlefield once the struggle was lost. But Fr McKevitt says that this will definitely not happen on the issue of abortion.

Anti-abortion activists have taken heart from a thriving pro-life movement in the United States.

After his protests in Drogheda, Charles Byrne is more determined than ever to continue with the campaign to stop abortion and "the creeping secularisation of Ireland".

"We are not trying to start a war, but a war has been started," he says.
Catholic Archbishop of Dublin Dr Diarmuid Martin has said he disagrees with protests outside GP surgeries, but believes that anti-abortion demonstrations can still be legitimate.

He also voiced his support for doctors with a conscientious objection to abortion who "clash with the law", saying they should not face any professional sanction.

Speaking on RTE Radio One's 'This Week', Dr Martin said that "everybody has a right to make a protest", and the Government needs to ensure that the rights of all people are protected.

"We have a Constitution which protects freedom of expression. Everybody has a right to make a protest.

"Protesting within the rule of law and the rule of the Constitution, you can't be against it.

"I would be particularly cautious about protesting against GPs because everybody is going there, and people go there for all sorts of reasons.

"I'm not a person personally for protest, but what the Church should be doing is strengthening its resolve to help women in crisis and to educate people about the broad range," he added.

Asked about the prospect of exclusion zones around medical facilities where abortions are provided, Dr Martin said they need to be introduced within the realm of the Constitution.

"Protests can be legitimate, but you can't absolutise, it's up to the Government to ensure that the various rights of people are protected."

Health Minister Simon Harris has said his priority is to introduce "safe access zones" to prevent anti-abortion protests.

The archbishop also voiced support for medical professionals with a conscientious objection to abortion who "clash with the law".

"Respecting the rights of conscience of individuals, even where they may come to clash with the law, is a very important thing in any democracy. Where you begin to trample the rights of conscience, then you're moving into a very different form of government," he said.

Dr Martin added that conscientious objectors in the medical profession might have to clash with the law, and that he hoped in such cases there would be no professional sanctions for them.

He said he did not believe the question of abortion would be revisited in the near future, and the Church should play a role in attempting to ensure that abortions are rare.

"One of the things in Government policy that was constantly stressed is that abortion should be rare.

"We have to do something to help people to make sure that is the case, and that people who want to keep their child can do it, and can do it with dignity," he added.

Asked about his own future, the 74-year-old said he was approaching a time when it would be good for him to retire.

"It would be good, not just that I retire, but that there would be a different leadership in the Church, a younger one, because we are facing very different challenges."

However, he added it was up to the Pope to decide when this change would happen.
BMW is said to have settled 30 complaints from Irish motorists over an alleged fault that caused cars to suddenly lose power and stop.

A lawyer representing the motorists said the settlements related to the alleged failure of timing chains in certain BMW models over the past six years.

The German car-maker has been facing legal threats over its refusal to carry out the repairs for free, estimated at around 6,000 per vehicle.

Dublin solicitor Dermot McNamara told the Irish Independent the settled cases were among a tranche of more than 50 where civil proceedings had either been in train or were being contemplated.

He said in settled cases the motorists got the cost of their repairs and associated expenses, such as replacement car hire and some legal costs.

"If a timing chain breaks, then the driver loses all power from the engine with a resultant loss of assisted braking and power steering," said Mr McNamara.

"In many cases, the vehicles have experienced catastrophic engine failure while travelling at speed and we have some owners who have reported that their timing chain has failed on a second occasion."

A spokesperson for BMW was not immediately able to comment.

Three civil actions have already been before the District Court. Two have been settled while one is still ongoing.

The court heard the problem affected the timing chains on models with N47 engines.

The civil action still before the court involves Co Monaghan motorist John McConville, who is seeking 8,700 in damages. He claims significant damage was caused to his BMW 5 Series car travelling on the M7 when the vehicle suddenly lost power.

He says he had to take emergency measures and pull over and wait on the hard shoulder for a tow truck for over an hour in darkness.

Mr McConville claims there was a defective engine design that prevented inspection and maintenance of the timing chain and his car needed extensive repairs.
The #MeToo movement has been bracing in its impact, but I'm not convinced that it should be used to rewrite the history of the Easter Rising and the War of Independence.

Yet if you're to believe the scenarios devised by screenwriter Colin Teevan for the 1916-set drama series Rebellion, and now for Resistance (RTE1), which is set in 1920, the crucial figures in both of these traumatic conflicts were women - and never mind Michael Collins and the rest of the lads running around plotting and shooting and generally doing what men do.

And so, centre stage in last Sunday night's opening episode, we had fiery women journalists, republican-minded society hostesses and female employees in Dublin Castle who were persuaded to spy for the cause.

I'm not saying that such women, or at least women like them, didn't exist at that time and in those circumstances, but in Teevan's telling they were the only characters of any substance - the men mainly there as stock cut-outs: heroic freedom fighters, ruthless assassins or sneering upholders of empire.

There were various subplots, the most intriguing concerning Ursula (Simone Kirby), a young single mother whose baby was about to be given away by nasty nuns to a wealthy family in America. This was a storyline seemingly lifted from later decades and transplanted back to an era where the British still ruled and where the unholy collusion between the Catholic Church and an Irish state hadn't yet happened. Perhaps it was historically accurate, but it didn't ring true.

Nothing, though, rang very true in an opening episode where soap opera reigned and where most of the action scenes kept reminding me of Neil Jordan's biopic of Michael Collins, which at least had the commanding presence of Liam Neeson to hold it all together. Valiant playing by Catherine Walker, Aoife Duffin, Natasha O'Keeffe and Brian Gleeson didn't quite manage that here.

There are soap opera elements, too, in Call My Agent!, whose third season is now on Netflix, but it's soap opera of a superior kind, with a script of real wit and depth and with a cast of conniving characters in whom you quickly become engrossed.

Titled Dix Pour Cent in its native France (10pc being the agent's cut), this amused take on the movie business and its idiocies was Netflix's best-kept secret last year, not least for its recurring use of such major stars being themselves as Juliette Binoche, Nathalie Baye, Isabelle Adjani and Cecile de France - all of them clearly having a ball playing around with their image.

And in this new season there are extended cameos from Jean Dujardin, Monica Bellucci, Isabelle Huppert and Christopher Lambert, while the antics of the four main agents remain as amusing and compelling as before. A real treat.

I was also amused by James Graham's drama, Brexit: The Uncivil War (Channel 4), in which Benedict Cumberbatch gave a bravura turn as Leave's chief strategist Dominic Cummings, though the viewer never learnt what made this Machiavellian character tick - beyond the obvious glee he took in pandering to voters' baser instinct regarding race and "taking back control".

Rory Kinnear had less success with the thankless role of the Tory party's Remain strategist Craig Oliver, though there was fun to be had in the caricatures of Nigel Farage, Boris Johnson and Arron Banks. What it was all meant to convey, though, remained unclear, though we'll probably find out soon enough.

The last season of Catastrophe (Channel 4) began this week and I can't say I'm sorry it's coming to an end. Yes, it began brilliantly, with wince-inducing barbs being flung back and forth as Sharon and Rob embarked on a very uncertain married life, and it continued well, too, as their problems grew bigger, but during the third season I felt that something had curdled, not just in the relationship but also in the gags, most of which were too bitter to be funny.

The sour tone persisted this week but somehow (absence makes the heart grow fonder) I was back on board again as Rob undertook community service in a charity store for his drunk-driving conviction and Sharon tried to embezzle shops by switching prices on labels.

This led to some standout moments, including Sharon telling Rob "A criminal in a neck brace, what a fucking catch!" and the revelation that Rob's mobile phone still identified his spouse as "Sharon London sex". And co-creators Sharon Horgan and Rob Delaney still inhabit their roles with almost frightening conviction. But I do feel that enough will be enough in a few weeks' time.

Meanwhile, the characters in Les Miserables (BBC1) remain in the dismal grip of fate and, just as in Thomas Hardy, the viewer recoils from how preordained it all seems. Certainly, as Myles na Gopaleen said of the Abbey, you wouldn't get a laugh out of it.

One Day: Keeping Ireland Beautiful (RTE1) was a 24-hour "snapshot" that set out to detail how "it takes an army of 30,000 to keep us looking beautiful".

And so we saw early-morning Aer Rianta staff in Dublin airport flogging cosmetics ("Hello, would you like to try our body lotion on your arms?"), while in Waterford make-up artist and "social influencer" Niamh spent two hours "getting glam" for the day ahead. I lasted until the ad break, by which time I'd lost the will to live.

I recognised three of the 11 "celebrities" on the new season of Dancing with the Stars (RTE1). I must get out more.
Westlife, (left to right) Nicky Byrne, Markus Feehily, Shane Filan and Kian Egan) during the filming for the Graham Norton Show

(left to right) Host Graham Norton, Steve Coogan, John C. Reilly, James McAvoy, Sarah Paulson, Richard E. Grant, and Westlife, ((back row) Kian Egan, Markus Feehily, (front row) Nicky Byrne and Shane Filan), during the filming for the Graham Norton Show

Westlife, (left to right) Markus Feehily, Nicky Byrne, Kian Egan and Shane Filan) during the filming for the Graham Norton Show

Liam Gallagher has never been one to mince his words and back in the early days of their band, Westlife were the subject of his dismissive - and rather hilarious - ire.

The four-piece group, who announced their reunion last year, performed on the Graham Norton Show on Friday and as is custom for musical guests, joined the other celebrities on the couch for a quick chat. And Nicky Byrne revealed their first meeting with Liam didn't go so well.

"Basically we were a young band in 1998 and we just signed a record deal over here," he said. "We had flown into London and the label said to us, 'There's a brand new Tommy Hilfiger store opening, go along and try get papped, try get noticed'. And when we arrived there were superstars, Liz Hurley and Oasis were there and was '98 so What's The Story Morning Glory was out, their biggest album.

"So we thought we had to go over and say hello. So they were having a drink in a circle of people so me and one of the boys walked over and tipped them on the shoulder.

Expand Close Westlife, (left to right) Nicky Byrne, Markus Feehily, Shane Filan and Kian Egan) during the filming for the Graham Norton Show / Facebook

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"Liam turned around and we said, 'Liam we're Louis Walsh's new band and he just went "f*** off'. So we just f****d off."

Bizarrely, it's not the first time jibes have been exchanged between Liam and the Irish band. Back in 2011, Liam told Q magazine that his brother Noel's style was too boyband for him - one boyband in particular.

"Noel said we had a year to come up with a band name and came up with Beady Eye. He had three and came up with the High Flying Turds. I dont know who dressed him but he looks like something out of Westlife," he said.

Then, in 2014, while chatting with Byrne on his 2014 radio show, Noel addressed the comments, saying: "Our Liam said that? Which member of Westlife? I'm trying to remember all your little faces - as long as it's not Louis Walsh!"
Plans for insurers to fund a new Garda unit to tackle fraud claims have been knocked on the head by the Garda Commissioner and the minister responsible for insurance reform.

Minister of State Michael D'Arcy said that funding of a Garda insurance fraud unit by the insurance industry "won't be happening".

He said he met Garda Commissioner Drew Harris to discuss the issue and he agreed with the commissioner, who was not prepared to accept An Garda Siochana being funded from outside the Exchequer.

This led the Government being accused by the Alliance for Insurance Reform of engaging in a "perpetual round of bickering and pass the parcel" instead of progressing key insurance reforms.

Last summer insurers agreed to collectively pay 1m a year to the State to fund the new fraud unit, which would be operationally independent of insurance companies.

The proposal to set up a dedicated insurance fraud unit was recommended in the Government's own cost of insurance working group report.

The idea was based on the Insurance Fraud Enforcement Department operated by the City of London Police, which is funded by insurance companies in Britain, but they have no operational control over it.

The UK fraud unit has been credited with cutting down on false insurance claims there.

But Mr D'Arcy has revealed that he met with Commissioner Harris on December 13 to discuss the Government's proposal for an insurance industry funded fraud unit.

"The outcome of this discussion was that the commissioner and Minister D'Arcy agreed that, in principle, An Garda Siochana should not be funded by any source other than the Exchequer for the purposes of tackling insurance fraud," said a spokesman for the minister.

"The commissioner will consider the way forward, namely in the establishment of an investigative capacity within the Garda National Economic Crime Bureau."

The minister's spokesman insisted that progress was being made on insurance reform across a number of areas.

However, the Alliance for Insurance Reform and Insurance Ireland both claimed progress had slowed.

Peter Boland, of the Alliance, said it was vital a specialised Garda insurance fraud unit was set up immediately.

"This has been delayed because of a squabble over who should pay - the insurance industry, which is prepared to pay, or the taxpayer."

He said the Personal Injuries Assessment Board has generated a surplus of 17.5m from fees paid over the years. This should be used to fund the Garda insurance fraud unit.
The Consumers' Association of Ireland say customers are more likely to get a bad deal from insurers if they choose to automatically renew and not actively seek a new policy.

Dermott Jewell, head of the association, said companies make a fortune from customers opting to do nothing.

He added that dual-pricing - signing up new customers on artificially low premiums for the first year, then quoting hugely inflated premiums to renew policies - was anti-consumer as it punished loyalty.

It typically happens with motor insurance. The practice has been described as a sinister attempt to exploit customers and play on their inertia.

"It is an appalling practice. People should never automatically renew, especially when it comes to motor insurance, as they are likely to get a bad deal," Mr Jewell said.

"Insurers make a fortune out of you if you do nothing. You must check out other providers."

The advice to consumers is to seek out a good broker or do the footwork yourself in order to get a better deal.

Quotes

Motorists should not tell insurers from whom they are seeking new quotes or what they have been quoted from their existing insurers, as the quote would only be matched, not beaten, experts said.

Drivers are likely to find that an exercise such as this results in the existing insurer treating the motorist like a new customer and giving them a lower premium than the renewal quote.

Over the past few months, the Irish Central Bank has been repeatedly called on to ban dual-pricing of insurance policies.

Asked if it had any plans to clamp down on the practice, the Central Bank has said it had no role in relation to either pricing considerations or competitiveness.

Separately, one of the country's largest insurers has committed to ensuring their existing customers get the same premium rates as new clients in the UK, and end dual-pricing.

The move by Aviva in the UK will put pressure on home and motor insurers both there and in Ireland to follow suit.

Aviva Ireland says it already rewards loyalty for existing customers in Ireland, and offered lower prices than those quoted to new customers.
Expansion: It is not clear if Intel will pay the 50m cost of the project

Intel plans to quadruple the amount of power it uses at its Co Kildare plant in a significant expansion of its microchip manufacturing facility.

The company is one of the only firms in the State with a direct link to the national grid, and currently uses an equivalent amount of power to Galway city.

But Intel needs a new supply if it expands its operations in Leixlip, with sources saying it wants to increase it four-fold.

National grid operator EirGrid last week announced it was planning a significant upgrade of its network to supply electricity to the plant.

This would involve the development of a new 220 kilovolt (kV) electricity substation beside the Intel plant and new circuits to the facility.

An upgrade of the Maynooth to Woodland 220 kV electricity line located to the north of the plant will also be required at a later point.

Sources said that a planning application was likely to be submitted in the spring, with a view to energising in 2020 or 2021.

The cost could be as much as 50m, and it is not clear whether Intel will pay, or whether the costs will be shared. The connection will either be via an overhead line, or underground cable.

Asked about its plans to boost power, Intel said it was "moving into early stages of a multi-year project" with no significant power usage increase in the early stages. It said it did not "talk in specific detail about any capital infrastructure programmes" when asked whether it would pay for grid upgrades.

Intel currently takes a direct link from the national grid via a 100kV line located south of the plant.

It is understood that political pressure is being applied because the Government wants Intel Ireland to get the global company's next round of investment in facilities.

It has been reported that plants in Ireland, Israel and two in the US are vying for the investment.

The Leixlip factory is an example of the challenges facing EirGrid, with large power-hungry projects like data centres meaning Ireland needs more and more electricity to meet demand.

A document prepared last autumn lays bare the stark nature of the challenge.

Between 2018 and 2027, EirGrid expects that power demand from large energy users like the Leixlip site will have increased ten-fold.

The grid operator anticipates total power demand in Ireland could increase by as much as 57pc in that period.

Although there is a surplus of electricity generation capacity on the island at present, as demand grows and older plants close it will put pressure on the system.

However, there are indications that energy demand is not growing at the same rate as the economy, with additional capacity also coming on stream from renewables.

Even with that surplus, it's likely the grid will need substantial investment as much of the extra power demand will come in the eastern part of the country, and electricity generated elsewhere on the island will have to be transferred where it is needed.
The US Treasury's decision to lift sanctions on the owner of Aughinish Alumina refinery, which employs hundreds in West Limerick, could be delayed following concerns by Democrats that the Trump administration is being too soft on Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska.

The US Treasury's decision to lift sanctions on the owner of Aughinish Alumina refinery, which employs hundreds in West Limerick, could be delayed following concerns by Democrats that the Trump administration is being too soft on Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska.

Limerick Alumina Refining Ltd (LARL) is a wholly-owned subsidiary of United Company Rusal, controlled by Mr Deripaska. The future of Aughinish has been in doubt since last April when the US imposed sanctions on Mr Deripaska, whose EN+ group owns 48pc of Rusal. The Irish refinery, a key strategic asset for the supply of aluminium in Europe, has continued to operate at full capacity while managing the impact of supplies owing to a series of rolling reprieves by the US Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC). The lifting of the sanctions must be approved by Congress.

Democrats now control the House of Representatives, however as Republicans have a majority in the Senate, the move to lift the sanctions is ultimately likely to be approved.
The dead animals found in the Stoneyford area of Lisburn

Six dead calves were found dumped in the Stoneyford area of Lisburn Co Down in the last 24 hours.

SDLP councillor Mairia Cahill yesterday said the act showed a "disgusting disregard" for the animals and the environment.

Councillor Cahill, who represents the Killultagh area, said: "It has been discovered that dead calves have been dumped on private land in Stoneyford.

"The latest find of dead calves, which were tied up in plastic bags, was discovered today.

"This is not the first time this has happened, except on the previous occasion the animals were not bagged.

"This act shows a blatant disregard for those who live in the area."

Ms Cahill said she had liaised with the Department for Agriculture and requested that during the forthcoming annual TB testing stock numbers are checked in an effort to find the culprits. "My colleague Pat Catney MLA has raised the issue with the PSNI, and I would like to thank Lisburn Council Depot for their help in this matter," she added.

"We have arranged on this occasion for the dead animals to be collected and rendered.

"The cost for a cattle owner to dispose of a calf in the correct manner is nominal, so this act really is inexcusable."

Posting on Twitter Mr Catney said: "It's appalling residents in Stoneyford are having to put up with this type of behaviour for the last number of months.

"Myself and Mairia Cahill are liaising with the PSNI and the Department of Agriculture to find out who is doing this and make sure it stops."
"Every effort" will be made to help embattled the British prime minister get the EU-UK Brexit deal the necessary approval by the UK parliament, Commission President Jean Claude Juncker has said.

Mr Juncker was speaking as UK Prime Minister Theresa May again insisted that the current timetable with a Brexit deadline of March 29 will be met. Her assertion came as some unnamed British cabinet ministers told a London newspaper that Brexit could be delayed.

Confusion abounded in London and in Brussels, diplomats privately conceded that a large number of scenarios were now being contemplated for the coming months.

Meanwhile, two of Brexit's biggest Leave campaign donors said they now believe the project they bankrolled will eventually be abandoned by the government and the United Kingdom will stay in the European Union after all.

Peter Hargreaves, the billionaire who was the second biggest donor to the 2016 Leave campaign, and veteran hedge fund manager Crispin Odey, told Reuters news agency they expected Britain to stay in the EU despite their campaign victory in the 2016 referendum.

As a result, Mr Odey, who runs hedge fund Odey Asset Management, said he is now positioning for the pound to strengthen. More recently his flagship fund previously reaped the benefit of betting against UK assets amid wider market fears about the impact of Brexit.

There was also speculation in EU circles that another gesture of help could be delivered to Mrs May on Monday, on the eve of the crucial Brexit ratification vote which most observers expect to be defeated, making a calamitous no-deal exit more likely.

Mr Juncker said the EU stood ready to help - but this did not extend to reopening the deal signed off at a special summit on November 25.

"No-deal would be a catastrophe both for our British friends and for continental Europeans. So every effort must be made between now and Tuesday to bring this important issue to a good conclusion," Mr Juncker told reporters.

The Commission president refused to speculate on what form the EU's "help for Mrs May" would take.

Observers in London said they expected the prime minister could not recruit enough pro-EU Labour MPs to offset the loss of the 10 Democratic Unionists and dozens of her own party members, and Northern Ireland remained a crucial issue.

Mrs May is seeking further reassurances that the backstop, to keep the North close to the EU on product rules, will be temporary.

She hopes she can use such assurances to undo the rebels' opposition.

Brushing aside newspaper speculation about Brexit delays, a spokeswoman for Mrs May said Britain will have implemented the necessary legislation before the country leaves the European Union in March.

"We are obviously making progress with the legislation required in either scenario and we will ensure either way we will have passed the necessary legislation. We will make sure the time is made available," Mrs May's spokeswoman told reporters.

The official added that the prime minister had ruled out extending the Article 50 exit process, which the government triggered in 2017 to launch two years of divorce talks with the European Union. The speculation had been fuelled by reports in the 'London Evening Standard' newspaper, but the speculation is more general in British political circles.

"The legislative timetable is now very, very tight indeed," a senior minister told the newspaper yesterday. "Certainly, if there was defeat on Tuesday and it took some time before it got resolved, it's hard to see how we can get all the legislation through by March 29."
In chronological order...

1. Oliver Cromwell. Probably the earliest and surely the most momentous, said Ned Holt. He said he would have sold all his property and left England  by implication for the New World  if parliament failed to pass the Grand Remonstrance, addressing the failures of Charles Is government, in December 1641.

2. UB40, the reggae band who sang If It Happens Again in 1984, after the 1983 election, which the Conservatives won with a 144-seat majority: If it happens again Im leaving / Ill pack my things and go. Thanks to Ken Ferrett.

3. Paul Daniels said hed leave if Labour won in 1997, although he claimed his words had been telescoped. The News Quiz said: A nation mourns. But we dont know which nation as we dont know where hes going. Thanks to Matthew Redgrave and James Vaughan. Frank Bruno and Andrew Lloyd Webber were also said to have made similar pledges, but they denied it. None of them left. Phil Collins (the Genesis drummer, not the Tony Blair speechwriter), on the other hand, did move two years later  to Switzerland. Nominated by John Brewin and Tom Robinson. And Jim Davidson moved to Dubai seven years later in 2004. Thanks to Paul Ovenden.

4. Barbra Streisand said after George W Bush was elected in 2000: I dont think youll see me around here for at least four years. Robert Altman, the director, had said before the election: If George Bush is elected president, Im leaving for France. They both stayed in the country.

Recommended Top 10 British and US words with overlapping but different meanings

5. Susan Sarandon said if John McCain won in 2008, Ill be checking out a move to Italy. Maybe Canada, I dont know. Tina Fey said in 2008, of Sarah Palin, her double and McCains vice-presidential running mate: If she wins, Im done. I cant do that for four years. And by Im done, I mean Im leaving Earth.

6. Rush Limbaugh, the Republican radio host, claimed in 2010 that he would leave the US if Obamacare passed. If this passes and its five years from now and all that stuff gets implemented, I am leaving the country. Ill go to Costa Rica. Most of Obamacare was implemented in 2014 and he is still there.

7. Paul OGrady said he would move to the Lido in Venice if David Cameron stayed as prime minister after the 2015 election. Still here.

8. Ken Livingstone said he would consider emigrating to somewhere the economy is not going to collapse if the country voted for Brexit in 2016. Still here. Nominated by Enis Koylu.

9. Cher said in 2015 about the possibility of Donald Trump as president: If he were to be elected Im moving to Jupiter. She was one of many potential emigres. Whoopi Goldberg said: Maybe its time for me to move. Miley Cyrus vowed to move out da country after Trump took the lead in the Republican primary race. Jon Stewart said: I would consider getting on a rocket and going to another planet. All still there.

10. Alan Sugar. To bring us up to date, Lord Sugar prompted this list by saying in December that, if Jeremy Corbyn becomes prime minister of this country, I am out; I am leaving. We will see.

Next week: Pop songs based on classical music, starting with This Night by Billy Joel, based on Beethovens Pathetique Sonata

Coming soon: Asymmetrical animals, such as plaice

Your suggestions please, and ideas for future Top 10s, to me on Twitter, or by email to top10@independent.co.uk
Much has changed since the Peoples Vote campaign published the Roadmap to a Peoples Vote in September last year. Thats why this week we published an updated edition. As the Brexit clock ticks ever more loudly, the case for a peoples vote has grown stronger in at least four ways.

First, the terms of the governments proposed withdrawal deal are now known and have been roundly criticised both by those who voted for Brexit and those who did not. A clear majority of MPs are on record as opposing the deal. And no wonder: despite the wording of Article 50, it provides no clear framework for an eventual permanent relationship with our European neighbours but would, for an indefinite period, leave us stuck in the limbo of obeying EU rules in which we no longer had any say. Facing a heavy defeat, the prime minister chose to deny the Commons their meaningful vote in December, but the four wasted weeks since then have not changed the deal. The government is now braced for a heavy defeat on Tuesday evening.

Second, responding to the warnings of business, trade unions, farmers, the City, the NHS, universities, investors and markets, MPs from across the House, including several ministers, have rightly ruled out a no-deal Brexit. This is because the scale of the disruption a no-deal Brexit would cause has become much clearer, and with it the irresponsibility of claiming that crashing out in March with nothing agreed is the only default option if the Commons votes down the May deal. The governments defeat this week on Yvette Coopers amendment to the Finance Bill demonstrated that such blackmail wont work. And the foreign secretary, Jeremy Hunt, effectively conceded yesterday that MPs have the ability to block a no-deal Brexit.

Third, parliament has acted to ensure that it can step in, taking back control and breaking the deadlock. An amendment passed by the Commons this week means that if, or rather when, the May deal is rejected, the government will have to bring forward a new plan within three days. This will also be amendable, so if there is a realistic chance of success, a peoples vote amendment could be tabled. In any case, it is now clear that further votes will follow, so such an amendment could prove to be the opening shot in the battle to come. It would certainly not be the last chance. MPs will not sit on their hands if the government tries to run down the clock. And they will be aware that polls now consistently show a majority of the public favour staying in the EU if they are given the chance through a peoples vote.

Last, and perhaps most significant of all, the EU Court of Justice confirmed on 10 December that the UK has the absolute right to stop the Article 50 process, withdraw Ms Mays letter, and remain an EU member state. When I argued, back in 2017, that the die is not irrevocably cast, some claimed that our staying in the EU would require the permission of the other 27, who would be able to make us pay a price: the court has confirmed that they were wrong  the decision is for us alone, and the terms of our membership could not be changed to our disadvantage.

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So the deal on the table isnt popular; parliament wont permit a no-deal crashout; theres the valid third option of keeping the deal we now have, as an EU member state; and parliament can step in, insisting that the people should have the right to decide, and that the government should obtain the necessary postponement of the 29 March deadline. The 27 might be disinclined to allow an extension just to permit more posturing and prevarication, but there is no doubt that they would agree if we were to need the time to consult the country.

How would the people vote?

The polls now show a consistent 8 per cent lead in favour of staying in the EU. Strikingly, the margin rises to between 16 and 26 points if responders are asked to choose between keeping the deal we now have and either of two specified options for leaving: the governments deal, or no deal. These are facts MPs of all parties might wish to keep in mind as they consider the options the government is now offering. They should reflect on how the will of the people can be best determined now that the public can make an informed choice.

John Kerr is an independent member of the House of Lords. He wrote the foreword to a new paper published today by the Peoples Vote campaign, Roadmap to a Peoples Vote: The Route Opens Up
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Regional airline Flybe has been a solidly performing carrier in its 40-year history. But faced with heavy losses and running out of cash, it appealed for financial rescue.

The Exeter-based airline is now about to undergo a radical makeover. Here are the key questions:

Just remind us about Flybe, and its current problems?

The carrier began life as Jersey European in 1979, and has built up a busy network of services serving the UK, Ireland and continental Europe.

But since it floated in 2010, Flybe has faced a series of problems, some of its own making.

A huge order that year for 35 Embraer jets proved to be an expensive burden, and the airline has been trying to offload them.

After that, a failed IT systems upgrade cost Flybe millions.

And in 2017, Flybe took on the Scottish airline, Loganair, on key links to the Northern and Western Isles. By the time Flybe threw in the towel in February 2018, both airlines had lost millions.

The carrier is also suffering from Brexit uncertainty, which is damaging consumer and business confidence, and weakening the pound.

While Flybe earns revenue mainly in sterling, its costs are in dollars and euros.

Recommended Flybe rescued but only if investors agree to a wipe out

Two months after Flybe put itself up for sale, The Independent believes it is now losing money at a rate of 7,000 an hour.

Why is it so tough?

UK regional airlines face a range of challenges. Air Passenger Duty adds 26 to the cost of a domestic return ticket, which puts flying at an instant disadvantage compared with road or rail.

While dynamic pricing works well to airline increase revenue when there is no realistic alternative to flying, responding to high demand by pushing up fares is less effective when there are terrestrial options.

There is also the unfortunate reality that as soon as the airline creates a sizeable market, larger carriers come in with bigger, faster planes that can offer cheaper fares. Edinburgh to City of Derry in Northern Ireland is a route that should be natural Flybe territory, but it has been captured instead by Ryanair.

Similarly, Bristol to Newcastle is now an easyJet monopoly.

Flybe has abandoned flights from Jersey to Gatwick, formerly a key route, because of competition from British Airways and easyJet.

The parlous state of Flybe is revealed in the sale price of just 2.2m  compared with a one-time market capitalisation of 250m.

Who is coming to the rescue?

The loss-making regional airline is to be bailed out by a consortium of three parties, each with their own aims.

Virgin Atlantic has a 30 per cent stake in the venture, and wants to feed into the Heathrow and Manchester hubs for its long-haul operations. It will also rebrand Flybe as Virgin Atlantic. It is a more robust brand than Flybe, which has existed only since 2002.

Sir Richard Bransons airline will more than double Its fleet, with 78 Flybe aircraft to be repainted.

Stobart Group  whose Irish-based airline, Stobart Air, already operates some of its flights under the Flybe brand  wants to boost flying from the two airports it owns, Southend and Carlisle.

And a hedge fund, Cyrus Capital Partners, has the remaining 40 per cent share, which it will presumably sell if and when the value of the airline increases.

Travel Photographer of the Year 2018 Show all 16 1 /16 Travel Photographer of the Year 2018 Travel Photographer of the Year 2018 Timbuktu, Mali: In the last light of day the inhabitants of Timbuktu wash their clothes and take a shower in the port of Kabara. Stefano Pensotti/www.tpoty.com Travel Photographer of the Year 2018 Budapest, Hungary: Szechenyi Baths, built in 1913, is the most popular the inhabitants of Budapest who come here to relax with friends. Stefano Pensotti/www.tpoty.com Travel Photographer of the Year 2018 Chefchaouen, Morocco: Perfect newly picked oranges were everywhere in Chefchaouen, Morocco. Isabella Smith/www.tpoty.com Travel Photographer of the Year 2018 Kollam, Kerala, India: On my summer holidays in India our neighbours 30+ year old Mango tree was cut down. It was a sad sight to watch as this was a fruit yielding tree, home to many birds and a lot of shade under it on a hot sunny day. Daniel Kurian/www.tpoty.com Travel Photographer of the Year 2018 Lake Louise, Banff, Canada: When I first went to Lake Louise, I thought everything was beautiful not just the lake or the mountains but all of the little details. Tevin Kim/www.tpoty.com Travel Photographer of the Year 2018 Thanarghat, Sadar, Bangladesh: The river was little bit dried up; thus, the sandy base was seen. These little girls lived on the other side of the river and they were playing in the shallow water while waiting for their mother. Fardin Oyan/www.tpoty.com Travel Photographer of the Year 2018 Chamonix, Mont Blanc, Switzerland: A few climbers descended down to the base of Mont Blanc. Katherine Kosmicki/www.tpoty.com Travel Photographer of the Year 2018 Dar es Salaam, Tanzania: In Tanzania, when you have albinism, you are thought to be evil. There is even a price on the head of children with albinism since killing a person with albinism is considered to bring good luck. Marinka Masseus/www.tpoty.com Travel Photographer of the Year 2018 Guatemala, Santa Lucia Utatlan: Mayan woman from Santa Lucia Utatlan, Guatemala. The designs from this region incorporate colourful geometric patterns and bird motifs. Tom Law/www.tpoty.com Travel Photographer of the Year 2018 Brazzaville, Republic of the Congo: Elie, 45, struts his stuff in the streets of Brazzaville. He has been a Sapeur for 35 years and his elaborate outfits bring joy to himself and his community. Tariq Zaidi/www.tpoty.com Travel Photographer of the Year 2018 Shaanxi, China: Endangered gold: The Qinling golden snub-nosed monkey is listed as Endangered by the IUCN as only some 3,800 individuals still exist. Most people have never seen these creatures. Marsel Van Oosten/www.tpoty.com Travel Photographer of the Year 2018 Mantadia National Park, Madagascar: Chameleon colours. Ignacio Palacios/www.tpoty.com Travel Photographer of the Year 2018 Svalbard, Norway: A mother Polar bear and her two young cubs are migrating north, as the sea ice melts quicker than previous years. Roie Galitz/www.tpoty.com Travel Photographer of the Year 2018 Amritsar, India: A Sikh pilgrim performs his ritual washing in the lake with the most famous place of worship for the Sikhs in the background. Matjaz Krivic/www.tpoty.com Travel Photographer of the Year 2018 Rio Lagartos, Yucatan, Mexico: Colours of the World: Pink - Las Coloradas. On the northern coast of Mexicos Yucatan peninsula are the magical pink lakes of Las Coloradas. The area is actually a private salt mine adjacent to the Rio Lagartos biosphere. Daniel Burton/www.tpoty.com Travel Photographer of the Year 2018 Niger River, Mali, West Africa: Sand divers freedive down to the bottom of the Niger river to collect sand for the building industry. Its an extremely dangerous job from which many dont return. Philip Lee/www.tpoty.com

What will it mean for staff?

No-one knows. Pilots say they werent consulted. Staff at Flybes Exeter Airport HQ will be worried that Virgin Atlantic may cut head count at the Devon airport and move some jobs to its base in Crawley, just south of Gatwick.

And passengers?

While Virgin Atlantic (short-haul) is promising enhanced customer service, there are no promises on routes. The buyers will be looking closely at every link, assessing whether planes, pilots and cabin crew could be more profitably deployed elsewhere.

At present, all operations continue as normal. But changes could take effect as soon as the end of March, when the summer schedules begin.

Looking at the route networks, links from Edinburgh, Glasgow and Aberdeen to the southern half of England and to Belfast City in Northern Ireland look secure. Likewise links from Cardiff, Exeter and Southampton to the north of England, Scotland and Ireland will probably survive.

But airports such as East Midlands  just 32 miles as the Q400 flies from the key Flybe hub of Birmingham  may be affected.

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Internationally, feeds to Amsterdam and Paris are likely to increase ahead of the Air France-KLM buy-in to Virgin Atlantic, which will see the Franco-Dutch group taking 30 per cent of the airline.

Southend is likely to benefit from new aircraft and an extended European and domestic network.

But some of Flybes non-core routes  such as Cardiff to Milan, Doncaster to Alicante and Leeds Bradford to Dusseldorf  may not survive a cull if the new owners continue the current shrink-to-success strategy.

Will the airline get some new aircraft?

Nothing will change in the near future, beyond Flybe continuing to return Embraer jets and standardise around the Bombardier Q400 aircraft.

Future aircraft orders will depend on the path Virgin Atlantic and its partners takes with the new airline; it is possible Airbus or Boeing jets could be deployed on some routes.
Last month, Boodsabann Chanthawong joined a growing number of women defying generations of Thai Buddhist tradition by becoming ordained as novice monks at an unrecognised all-female monastery outside Bangkok.

Leading a procession of 21 other women  from teenagers to senior citizens  to a chapel in the Songdhammakalyani monastery in Nakhon Pathom province, Boodsabann tears up as she prepares to exchange her white garments for the distinctive saffron robes otherwise seen almost exclusively on male monks.

Im going to overcome this obstacle and become ordained like Ive always wanted, the 49-year-old businesswoman says before the ceremony, where she will have her head shaved and stay for nine days at the temple.

Officially, only men can become monks and novices in Thailand under a Buddhist order that since 1928 has forbidden the ordination women. The country does not recognise female monks or novices.

One option for devout Thai women is to become white-clad Buddhist nuns, who follow a less-strict religious regimen than monks and are often relegated to housekeeping tasks in temples.

In recent years, more Thai Buddhist women seeking to become fully-fledged bhikkunis, or female monks, have been defying the tradition by pursuing the other option: getting ordained overseas, usually in Sri Lanka or India.

Dhammananda Bhikkhuni, the 74-year-old abbess of the Songdhammakalyani monastery, flew to Sri Lanka to be ordained in 2001 as Thailands first female monk.

Since then, she has helped women like Boodsabann join the Buddhist order as novices at the monasterys ordination ceremonies every April and December.

Boodsabann Chanthawong works with her husband at her stall near her house, days after she ended her novice monkhood (Reuters)

Its been 90 years and the social context has changed, but they still dont accept us, Dhammananda told Reuters in an interview at the temples library, where an entire shelf is dedicated to books about womens rights and role in religion.

Its a shame that women arent allowed to make decisions for their own lives. You have to rebel against injustice because this is not right, she added.

Thailand's rebel female Buddhist monks defy tradition Show all 20 1 /20 Thailand's rebel female Buddhist monks defy tradition Thailand's rebel female Buddhist monks defy tradition Thai women devotees attend an icebreaking session ahead of their ordination to be novice monks at the Songdhammakalyani monastery, Nakhon Pathom province, Thailand. Officially, only men can become monks and novices in Thailand under a Buddhist order that, since 1928, has forbidden the ordination of women. A growing number of women defy generations of Thai Buddhist tradition by becoming ordained as novice monks at the unrecognised all-female monastery Reuters Thailand's rebel female Buddhist monks defy tradition Thai women devotees practice during a first orientation to become Buddhist novice monks Reuters Thailand's rebel female Buddhist monks defy tradition Dhammananda Bhikkhuni, 74, abbess of the monastery, plays with her dog Reuters Thailand's rebel female Buddhist monks defy tradition Thai women devotees have their hair cut during a mass female Buddhist novice monk ordination ceremony Reuters Thailand's rebel female Buddhist monks defy tradition Novice monks walk in line to receive food offerings Reuters Thailand's rebel female Buddhist monks defy tradition Novice monks walk in line during their ordination ceremony Reuters Thailand's rebel female Buddhist monks defy tradition Thai women devotees Reuters Thailand's rebel female Buddhist monks defy tradition Saffron robes before before ordination ceremony Reuters Thailand's rebel female Buddhist monks defy tradition Boodsabann Chanthawong, 49, a businesswoman, works on her mobile phone as she rides on a train, weeks ahead of her ordination Reuters Thailand's rebel female Buddhist monks defy tradition A painting of a female Buddhist monk Reuters Thailand's rebel female Buddhist monks defy tradition A devotee has her hair cut Reuters Thailand's rebel female Buddhist monks defy tradition Novice monks gather for a group photo Reuters Thailand's rebel female Buddhist monks defy tradition Novice monks pray during a morning routine Reuters Thailand's rebel female Buddhist monks defy tradition A Thai woman devotee who ended her novice monkhood has her head cleaned by Dhammananda Bhikkhuni Reuters Thailand's rebel female Buddhist monks defy tradition Thai women devotees carry their saffron robes Reuters Thailand's rebel female Buddhist monks defy tradition Female Buddha statues on display at the Songdhammakalyani monastery Reuters Thailand's rebel female Buddhist monks defy tradition Devotees in white robes pray Reuters Thailand's rebel female Buddhist monks defy tradition Devotees walk in line during their Buddhist novice monk ordination ceremony Reuters Thailand's rebel female Buddhist monks defy tradition Thai women return their saffron robes after ending their novice monkhood Reuters Thailand's rebel female Buddhist monks defy tradition Boodsabann Chanthawong works with her husband at her stall near her house, days after she ended her novice monkhood Reuters

While Dhammanandas monastery ordains female novices, it cannot do the same for those seeking to become female monks. Such a ceremony would require not only 10 female monks but also 10 male monks, who are forbidden under Thailands 1928 order to participate in it.

There are around 270 female monks across Thailand and they were all ordained abroad, Dhammananda says, adding that her monastery currently houses seven of them. In contrast, Thailand has more than 250,000 male monks.

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Efforts in the past by advocates to undo the 1928 order have been futile. It has been officially upheld during meetings of the Sangha Supreme Council, the countrys top monks, in 2002 and most recently in 2014.

The government says this is not gender discrimination but a matter of long-held tradition, and women are free to travel abroad to be ordained, just not in their own country.

Women cant be ordained here, but no one stops them from doing that overseas. They just cant be ordained by Thai monks, thats all, says Narong Songarom, spokesman of the National Office of Buddhism.

Reporting by Patpicha Tanakasempipat

Reuters
Two firefighters and a woman have died and dozens have been injured after an explosion at a bakery in Paris, according to French authorities.

The powerful blast is believed to be linked to a gas leak at a store on Rue de Trevise in the ninth arrondissement of the French capital.

Authorities said 10 people were in critical condition and 37 others less seriously injured.

The Paris prosecutor said two firefighters had been killed in the explosion, revising down an earlier toll of four dead given by interior minister Christophe Castaner.

The Spanish foreign minister confirmed that a Spanish woman had also died in the blast.

After visiting the scene, Mr Castaner described his shock at seeing the damage, and said around 200 firefighters and police were involved in the operation.

Firefighters pulled injured victims out of windows and evacuated residents.

Images and video posted on social media showed the building on fire after the explosion at around 9am local time.

Witnesses on French television described the overwhelming sound of the blast and people trapped inside nearby buildings. Footage also showed several people being taken away on stretchers by emergency workers.

The Hubert bakery on Rue de Trevise was not open when the explosion occurred, according to the Le Parisien newspaper. Cars on the street were badly damaged by large amounts of debris, while rubble and broken glass littered the pavement.

The building is around the corner from the Folies-Bergere theatre, and not far from the shopping district that includes the famed headquarters of Galeries Lafayette.

The explosion came amid heavy security across France for more yellow vest protests expected later on Saturday.

Authorities have deployed 80,000 security forces nationwide for a ninth straight weekend of anti-government protests.

Paris has brought in armoured vehicles and the central French city of Bourges has shuttered shops to prepare for possible violence between police and demonstrators.

Additional reporting by agencies
Macedonia fulfilled its part of a historic deal on Friday that will pave its way to NATO membership and normalise relations with neighbouring Greece, after lawmakers approved constitutional changes to rename the country North Macedonia.

The move was hailed by NATO and the European Union, which had lobbied heavily for Macedonia to back the agreement despite strong criticism from the country's main opposition party, and by Greece's prime minister who has invested heavily in the deal.

All 81 Macedonian lawmakers present for the parliamentary vote backed the constitutional amendments. The remaining 39 opposition lawmakers in the 120-seat house stayed away in protest.

Prime Minister Zoran Zaev told lawmakers the deal was a "tough" but necessary decision for his country.

The vote followed intense negotiations between Mr Zaev's centre-left coalition and some opposition lawmakers, who had initially agreed to back the agreement but raised last-minute objections.

"A better deal could not be reached, and without an agreement with Greece there will be no NATO and European Union (membership)," Mr Zaev said.

The agreement on changing the name comes after a 27-year dispute with Greece, which complained that this small, landlocked country calling itself Macedonia implied claims on Greece's own territory and cultural heritage. Macedonian leaders denied that.

The deal encountered strong opposition on both sides of the border, with critics on each side saying it offered too many concessions to the other side.

NATO leader Jens Stoltenberg said the alliance strongly supports the full implementation of the agreement, under which Greece will lift its objections to Macedonia joining NATO and the EU.

Mr Stoltenberg said in a tweet on Friday that the agreement is "an important contribution to a stable and prosperous region."

 Macedonian government: Thousands gather to demand tough stance in name dispute

EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini said the bloc strongly supports the deal and "remains firmly committed to continue to fully support and accompany (Macedonia) towards its common strategic goal of EU integration."

Western governments see Macedonia's NATO accession as a key step towards limiting Russian influence in the region.

For the agreement to come into effect, Greece's parliament must now convene in coming weeks to ratify it  a tricky task for Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras who faces strong opposition to the agreement from his junior coalition partner.

Mr Tsipras spoke with Mr Zaev on Friday to congratulate him after the vote, the Greek prime minister's office said.

Hundreds of Macedonian opposition supporters protested peacefully in front of parliament for a third day, demanding early elections and the dissolution of parliament. They greeted the vote result with cries of "traitors."

Conservative opposition leader Hristijan Mickoski accused Mr Zaev's government of "blackmailing" lawmakers. Mr Mickoski told reporters the constitutional changes were approved against the desires of the Macedonian people and described the vote as "an act of treason."

Mr Tsipras has said he wants to bring the deal to Greece's parliament in coming weeks.

Associated Press
A British man already serving 20 years in prison in Singapore has also been sentenced to 24 lashes for drug offences, the harshest caning sentence that can be handed out in the country.

Ye Ming Yuen was first arrested in August 2016 and was convicted for seven drug offences.

The flogging sentence requires him to be tied, naked, to a wooden trestle and hit with a four foot long cane.

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office confirmed that Jeremy Hunt, Britains Foreign Secretary, had personally raised the case during a meeting with Vivian Balakrishnan, his Singaporean counterpart, earlier this month.

We strongly oppose the use of corporal punishment, such as caning, in all cases, an FCO spokesperson said.

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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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. 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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

Our consular staff have been assisting a British man and his family since his arrest in Singapore in 2016

The 29-year-old was originally facing the death penalty but the capital sentence charge was dropped because the weight of the drugs involved was below 500g, according to the Daily Mail.

His offences include two counts of repeat drug trafficking  one of 69g and one of 60g of cannabis.

Mr Yuens family have described his caning sentence as a form of torture.

He is serving his sentence at Singapores Changi prison.
The congresswoman of Hawaii has announced she will run for president in 2020 in what is likely to be a crowded Democratic field.

Tulsi Gabbard, an Iraq War veteran who made history in 2012 as the first Hindu elected to the US Congress, has been considered a rising star within the Democratic Party.

The 37-year-old congresswoman was born in American Samoa, but her family moved to Hawaii aged two. She is the first member of congress to be born in the US territory covering seven South Pacific islands.

At the age of 21 Ms Gabbard became the youngest person elected to the Hawaiian State Legislature, a decade before she was elected to Congress to represent Hawaiis second congressional district.

The congresswoman has also served in a medical unit of the Hawaii National Guard and was deployed twice to the Middle East.

Ms Gabbard was one of the most prominent politicians to back Bernie Sanders over Hillary Clinton in the 2016 Democratic presidential primary. She resigned as vice chairwoman of the Democratic National Committee to express her support.

The congresswomans support for Mr Sanders paid dividends two years later when her re-election bid was endorsed by Our Revolution, a grassroots political organisation launched by supporters of Sanders campaign.

Asked last year whether she would still consider running if Mr Sanders ran, Ms Gabbard said Mr Sanders is a friend and she did not know what his plans were.

"I'm thinking through how I can best be of service and I'll make my decision based on that," she said.

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

In 2016, Ms Gabbard drew criticism from fellow Democrats when she met with Donald Trump during his transition to president and later when she took a secret trip to Syria and met with President Bashar al-Assad, who has been accused of war crimes and genocide and has presided over a civil war which has killed over half a million people.

She questioned whether he was responsible for a chemical attack on civilians that killed dozens and led the US to attack a Syrian air base.

Ms Gabbard said she does not regret the trip and considers it important to meet with adversaries if "you are serious about pursuing peace".

The congresswoman noted that she was "sceptical" that Mr Assad's regime was behind the chemical weapons attack that killed dozens of people in Syria in 2017, aligning herself with nationalist figures such as Narendra Modi of India.

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Ms Gabbard has also broken with most Democrats by embracing the use of the phrase "radical Islam" and joined Republicans in criticising Hilary Clinton and Barack Obama for not using the phrase.

In 2015 the congresswoman was among a minority of Democrats who voted for additional restrictions on refugees entering the US from Syria and Iraq.

Ms Gabbard told CNN in an interview set to air on Saturday night that she will formerly announce her presidential candidacy next week.

"There are a lot of reasons for me to make this decision," she said. "There are a lot of challenges that are facing the American people that I'm concerned about and that I want to help solve."

Additional reporting by AP
Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard of Hawaii has announced she will run for president in 2020  the latest in what is likely to be a huge Democratic field looking to defeat Donald Trump.

I have decided to run and will be making a formal announcement within the next week, Ms Gabbard, an Iraq War veteran as well as the first Hindu and first Samoan-American elected to congress, told CNN.

In recent months, the 37-year-old has paid visits New Hampshire and Iowa, the first states to hold primaries, and has written a memoir due to be published in May.

In an interview due to be broadcast over the weekend, the congresswoman, who first elected to represent Hawaiis 2nd congressional district in 2012, says: There are a lot of reasons for me to make this decision. There are a lot of challenges that are facing the American people that Im concerned about and that I want to help solve.

She adds: There is one main issue that is central to the rest, and that is the issue of war and peace. I look forward to being able to get into this and to talk about it in depth when we make our announcement.

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In 2016, Ms Gabbard was one of the most prominent politicians to back Bernie Sanders over Hillary Clinton in the 2016 Democratic primary. She quit her position as vice chair of the Democratic National Committee in order to make the endorsement.

Asked last year whether she would still consider running if Mr Sanders ran, Ms Gabbard said Mr Sanders was a friend and she did not know what his plans were.

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

Im thinking through how I can best be of service and Ill make my decision based on that, she said.

She she has faced criticism for travelling to Syria and meeting with President Bashar Assad, who has been accused of war crimes.

She said it was important to meet with adversaries if you are serious about pursuing peace, the Associated Press said.

Senator Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts on December 31 announced she had formed an exploratory committee for a presidential run  the most high profile Democrat to do so. She has also made visits to Iowa and New Hampshire.
Donald Trump has tweeted incorrect criminal statistics on immigration in as effort to support his border wall and publicly pressure Democrats to hand over $5.6bn (4.4bn) for its construction.

The US president said on Saturday: 23 per cent of federal inmates are illegal immigrants. Border arrests are up 240 per cent. In the great state of Texas, between 2011 and 2018, there were a total of 292,000 crimes by illegal aliens, 539 murders, 32,000 assaults, 3,426 sexual assaults and 3000 weapons charges," adding: Democrats come back!

Although some of the figures are correct  or close to correct  Mr Trump omitted key clarification that tell a different narrative than the one he is conveying.

For instance, the Federal Bureau of Prisons reported in their November 2018 data that 19.3 per cent of federal inmates are citizens of Colombia, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Mexico, or other unknown" countries. American citizens make up the rest at around 80 per cent.

Furthermore, a large portion of the federal crimes committed by undocumented immigrants  who are not seeking asylum  are charged with immigration-related crimes. Illegal entry, for example, is considered a federal crime.

As for Texas, Mr Trump's claim suggested undocumented immigrants were responsible for 292,000 crimes.

However, the figure quoted is actually only for charges filed against undocumented immigrants. The number of convictions against undocumented immigrants is significantly lower.

The Texas Department of Public Safety reports that between June 2011 to December 2018, undocumented immigrants account for 120,000 convictions.

Out of the 539 murders Mr Trump cited, only 238 resulted in convictions. Of the 32,000 assaults and 3,426 sexual assaults, only 13,599 and 1,689 were convicted respectively.

As for the 3000 weapons charges, there were actually fewer than 2,500 charges brought and only 1,280 were convicted.

The only correct figure in the tweet related to border arrests, which have risen by 240 per cent.
President Donald Trump lashed out at James Comey and the FBI on Saturday, after The New York Times reported that the intelligence agency launched an investigation into whether he was working for the Russian government.

In a series of tweets, Mr Trump claimed he has been far tougher on Russia than previous presidents Barack Obama, George W Bush and Bill Clinton, and suggested he had taken a tougher stance than any other president.

He also returned to his accusation, without evidence, that the investigation led by Robert Mueller into Russian interference was an insurance policy to stop his presidency, organised by the Democratic Party.

He described Mr Comey, former acting-FBI director Andrew McCabe and other former FBI officials as some of the losers that tried to do a number on your president.

The New York Times reported that the FBI launched a counterintelligence investigation into Mr Trump in the days following his firing of Mr Comey in May 2017.

Officials were concerned that the presidents actions could be a threat to national security and wanted to determine whether Mr Trump was knowingly helping Russia, according to former law enforcement officials.

It is unclear what conclusion the inquiry came to, as it was reportedly taken over by Mr Mueller when he was appointed to lead a broader investigation into Russia interference in the 2016 presidential election and possible collusion with the Trump campaign.

It is also unknown whether the counterintelligence inquiry is still part of the Mueller investigation, which is expected to conclude this year.

There is currently no public evidence that Mr Trump secretly contacted or took direction from Russian government officials.

 Lawyer Alan Dershowitz: Mueller report to be 'devastating' for Donald Trump

White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders described the Times report as absurd and repeated Mr Trump's claim that the president had not cooperated with Russia.

Unlike President Obama, who let Russia and other foreign adversaries push America around, President Trump has actually been tough on Russia, she said.

It was known that the FBI had begun a criminal investigation into Mr Trump over whether he had obstructed justice by firing Mr Comey, but the counterintelligence aspect of the inquiry was not publicly-known.

The president reportedly caught the attention of FBI counterintelligence agents during the 2016 election, when he called on Russia to hack Hillary Clintons emails, according to The New York Times.

Agents were also said to have been concerned by his praise for Vladimir Putin on the campaign trail.

Multiple Trump officials have already been charged or convicted as part of the Mueller investigation.

Mr Trumps former campaign chairman Paul Manafort and former lawyer Michael Cohen have both been convicted for illegal activity during the 2016 campaign.

In addition, Michael Flynn, a former National Security Advisor in the Trump administration, has pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI about conversations he had with the Russian ambassador in December 2016.
Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Friday left open the possibility of House action to punish Representative Steve King over his history of inflammatory remarks as the Iowa Republican's recent defence of white nationalism created a firestorm.

"We'll see what we do about Steve King, but nonetheless nothing is shocking anymore, right?" Ms Pelosi, D-Calif, told reporters. "The new normal around here is to praise white nationalism as something that shouldn't be shunned."

Mr King, who won a ninth term in Congress in November, lamented in an interview with the New York Times that the term had become a pejorative one.

"White nationalist, white supremacist, Western civilization  how did that language become offensive?" Mr King said in the interview, which was published on Thursday.

Mr King later issued a statement and addressed the issue in a speech on the House floor on Friday in which he sought to walk back his remarks. He said he rejects "those labels and the evil ideology that they define" and proclaimed himself "simply a Nationalist."

Recommended US congressman sparks uproar with remarks on white supremacy

A number of Democrats are calling on House leaders to consider a resolution to censure Mr King, a vote that would put Republicans on record.

"The US House of Representatives must censure Representative Steve King for his racist remarks," Representative Tim Ryan, D-Ohio, tweeted and added: "Support for white supremacist ideology should have no place in Congress."

Questioned whether she would take action, Ms Pelosi said, "I'm not prepared to make any announcement about that right now, but needless to say there is interest in doing something."

Republican leaders on Thursday stepped forward to criticise Mr King, breaking their months-long silence.

Mr King's interview prompted a rebuke from Representative Liz Cheney, R-Wyo, the number three Republican in the House, who said in a tweet on Thursday morning, "These comments are abhorrent and racist and should have no place in our national discourse."

She was soon followed by House Minority Whip Steve Scalise, R-La, who told reporters in a pen-and-pad that it was "offensive to try to legitimise those terms." But Mr Scalise also praised Mr King's later statement.

"I think it was important that he rejected that kind of evil, because that's what it is. It's evil ideology," Mr Scalise said.

House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif, also issued a statement on Thursday evening in which he sharply criticised Mr King's comments to the Times.

"Everything about white supremacy and white nationalism goes against who we are as a nation," Mr McCarthy said. "Steve's language is reckless, wrong, and has no place in our society. The Declaration of Independence states that 'all men are created equal.' That is a fact. It is self-evident."

 John Oliver discusses Parent Company AT&T Backing White Nationalist Steve King for years

Both Mr McCarthy and Mr Scalise were silent in October when asked for comment on incendiary remarks Mr King had made then. At the time, Representative Steve Stivers, R-Ohio, then the chairman of the National Republican Congressional Committee, was the only member of House GOP leadership to rebuke Mr King. (Ms Cheney had not yet been elected to her position as conference chair.)

Mr King has a long history of incendiary remarks on race and immigration throughout his time in Congress. In 2017, Mr King was widely criticised after he declared in a tweet he agreed with far-right Dutch politician Geert Wilders that "our civilization" cannot be restored "with somebody else's babies."

The lawmaker's actions drew increased scrutiny in the wake of last year's mass shooting at a Pittsburgh synagogue. The massacre, in which 11 people were killed, was the deadliest attack on Jews in the United States.

In June, Mr King prompted criticism when he retweeted a message sent by Mark Collett, a self-described "Nazi sympathizer." Mr King declined to delete the retweet.

Then, in the fall, Mr King tweeted his support for Faith Goldy, a white nationalist who ran unsuccessfully for Toronto mayor. The Washington Post also reported Mr King had met in August with members of a far-right Austrian party with historical Nazi ties and declared "Western civilization is on the decline."

Despite losing the support of several corporate donors, including Land O'Lakes and Intel, Mr King still bested his Democratic opponent, J D Scholten, in November.

The 2020 election may be a more challenging one for Mr King, however.

On Wednesday, Iowa State Senator Randy Feenstra announced he will run against King in the Republican primary.

And Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds, R, who backed Mr King during the last campaign and appeared with him on the campaign trail, has said she will not endorse him this time, telling an NBC affiliate in Des Moines that "the last election was a wake-up call for it to be that close."

Asked on Thursday whether the national party will back Mr King in 2020, Mr Scalise declined to weigh in.

"I have no idea what's happening in terms of primaries right now," he said.

The Washington Post
For the hundreds of thousands of workers left without pay as the US government shutdown becomes the longest in American history, the primary concern will be how to pay bills, rent and support their families. But while many are struggling to make ends meet Donald Trump may be casting a worried glance towards Wall Street.

Gloating about the economy has been one of Mr Trump's primary means of showing America his presidency is working. Ignoring the fact that many of the metrics used, such as job growth, were also on an upward trend under Barack Obama, Mr Trump spent much of last year talking about record stock market numbers and the buoyant jobs figures.

Wall Street has had a volatile few weeks, amid fears over Mr Trumps trade dispute with Beijing and a slowing Chinese economy. The shutdown is another shock to the system. Alongside the border wall, new jobs and a healthy economy were two of his biggest campaign promises.

The shutdown is starting to bite, with some talking of the financial pain of the closure.

We think a deal will be reached to reopen the government, but only after economic, financial and/or political pain is felt, Joseph Song, an economist at Bank of America Merrill Lynch, said in a note to clients. Every two weeks of a shutdown trims 0.1 [percentage points] from growth, he added.

JP Morgan has already lowered first-quarter GDP estimate to 2 per cent from 2.25 per cent. The primary reason for the downward revision, it said, is the economic impact of the ongoing shutdown of the federal government.

Airlines are starting to talk about the effect on their corporate travel business, with many gaining from contractors and others flying into Washington DC for government work that is not currently taking place. Defense companies who rely on agencies, such as Nasa, will also be affected. Moodys, the credit rating agency, has said that companies will lose money on projects currently halted.

Who could be running against Trump in 2020? Show all 23 1 /23 Who could be running against Trump in 2020? Who could be running against Trump in 2020? Joe Biden The former vice president - poised to be a frontrunner - has announced his run. He recently faced scrutiny for inappropriate touching of women, but was thought to deal with the criticism well AFP/Getty Who could be running against Trump in 2020? Bernie Sanders The 2016 runner-up has announced that he will be running again in 2020 Getty Who could be running against Trump in 2020? Hillary Clinton The 2016 Democratic presidential candidate and former Secretary of State says she is still considering whether she will run again. Getty Who could be running against Trump in 2020? Pete Buttigieg The Indiana mayor and war veteran will be running for president. If elected, he would be the first openly LGBT+ president in American history. Getty Who could be running against Trump in 2020? Kamala Harris The former California attorney general will be running for president in 2020. Introduced to the national stage during Jeff Sessions testimony, she has endorsed Medicare-for-all and proposed a major tax-credit for the middle class. AP Who could be running against Trump in 2020? Elizabeth Warren The Massachusetts Senator has formally launched her bid for president in 2020. A progressive Democrat, she is a major supporter of regulating Wall Street. AP Who could be running against Trump in 2020? Beto ORourke The former Texas congressman told Oprah Winfrey that he has been thinking about running for presidency, but stopped short of formally announcing his bid to run in 2020. AFP/Getty Who could be running against Trump in 2020? Wayne Messam Mayor of the city of Miramar in the Miami metropolitan area, Wayne Messam has announced his bid. He intends to run on a progressive platform against the "broken" federal government. He favours gun regulations and was a signatory to a letter from some 400 mayors condemning President Trump's withdrawal from the Paris Climate Accord. Vice News Who could be running against Trump in 2020? Kirsten Gillibrand The New York Senator formally announced her presidential bid in January, saying that healthcare should be a right, not a privilege. Getty Who could be running against Trump in 2020? Cory Booker The New Jersey Senator has announced that he will be running for the presidency in 2020. If he secures the nomination he said finding a female vice president would be a priority. Getty Who could be running against Trump in 2020? John Delaney The Maryland congressman was the first to launch his bid for presidency, making the announcement in 2017. AP Who could be running against Trump in 2020? Julian Castro The former San Antonio mayor announced his candidacy in January and said that his running has a special meaning for the Latino community in the US. Getty Who could be running against Trump in 2020? Tulsi Gabbard The Hawaii congresswoman announced her candidacy in January, but is likely to face tough questions on her past comments on LGBT+ rights and her stance on Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. Getty Who could be running against Trump in 2020? Andrew Yang The entrepreneur has announced his presidential candidacy, and has pledged that he would introduce a universal basic income of $1,000 a month to every American over the age of 18. AFP/Getty Who could be running against Trump in 2020? Marianne Williamson The author and spiritual advisor has announced her intention to run for president. She had previously run for congress as an independent in 2014 but was unsuccessful. Getty Who could be running against Trump in 2020? John Kerry The former secretary of state has said he is still thinking about whether to run. Getty Who could be running against Trump in 2020? Michael Bloomberg The entrepreneur and former New York mayor with a net worth of around $50bn  has said he will decide by the end of February whether to seek the presidency. AFP Who could be running against Trump in 2020? Howard Schultz Former Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz has not yet ruled out running for president in 2020, despite criticism that his bid could help re-elect Mr Trump by dividing the Democrat vote. AP Who could be running against Trump in 2020? Eric Holder The former attorney general has said he will decide in the next month or so whether to run as a 2020 presidential candidate. AP Who could be running against Trump in 2020? Eric Swalwell The California congressman said he is ready to do this and will decide before April whether to run. MSNBC Who could be running against Trump in 2020? Terry McAuliffe The former Virginia governor, who worked to elect Democratic governors during 2018 midterms, said there was a 50 per cent chance he would run. AP Who could be running against Trump in 2020? Sherrod Brown The Ohio senator is still undecided about whether to run for president in 2020. Who could be running against Trump in 2020? Mitch Landrieu The former New Orleans mayor said he doesnt think he will run for president, but never say never. AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin

On Friday, stocks opened lower for the first time in six days, and while China and a number of other situations will have an effect, the shutdown will not have helped.

As for those jobs numbers, the shutdown could end a 99-month streak of job growth which started in October 2010. That is the longest run since records began in 1939, but it could all be over if hundreds of thousands of people are dropped from federal payrolls over the closure.

Monthly payroll growth has averaged 215,000 during the past five years. About 380,000 employees were expected to be placed on unpaid leave, according to the contingency plans posted by affected federal agencies before the shutdown began on 22 December.

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If that number is removed from the federal payroll of 2.8 million, it could negate all private-sector job creation and leave an overall fall in employment.

The effect on the jobs numbers would be temporary, but it would certainly make the president take notice. Reeling off job statistics is one of his favourite things, whether that is at rallies, or on Twitter.

The longer the shutdown goes on, the more financial markets will show the strain, exactly where Mr Trump would wish it didnt.
Over the past few decades, the United States government approved thousands of requests by men to bring in child or adolescent bides to live in the country, according to newly collated federal data.

In one of those cases, a 49-year-old man applied to admit a 15-year-old child bride into the US.

These application approvals are legal. The are no set minimum age requirements under the Immigration and Nationality Act. And as for spouse and fiancees petitions, US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) determines their application decisions based on whether the marriage in question is legal in the country of origin, and if it would be legal in the state where the petition resides.

The data obtained by the Associated Press, however, prompts scrutiny on whether the immigration system is enabling forced marriages, and how American laws are exacerbating the problem despite its attempts to curb child and forced marriages.

From 2007 to 2017, there were 3.5 million petitions received. Within that time period, there were 5,556 approvals for those seeking to bring in their minor spouses or fiances, and 2,926 by minors bringing in their older spouses, according to data by the Senate Homeland Security Committee in 2017.

Recommended New York state raises legal age of marriage from 14 to 18

In almost all of these cases, the female was the younger person in the relationship. In 149 cases, the adults were older than 40, and in 28 cases, they were over 50, the committee discovered.

Forced marriage victims say that draw of a US passport and relaxed American marriage laws are a driving force behind these petitions. In order to obtain an US immigration visa or green card, there is a two-step process: the petition must first be reviewed by USCIS before being approved by the state department. The petitions must be filed by either a US citizen or a permanent resident.

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Republican Wisconsin Senator Ron Johnson, chairman of the Senate homeland security committee, told the AP the data points to a startling issue in the immigration system. It indicates a problem, Mr Johnson said. It indicates a loophole that we need to close.

Although most states place some restrictions, marriages between adults and minors are not uncommon in the US. American state laws set 18-years-old as the minimum age for marriage, but every state allows exceptions.

Some states let 16- and 17-year-olds to marry as long as they have parental consent, and in states like New York, Virginia and Maryland, children under the age of 16 are allowed to marry with court permission.
A couple who enslaved a West African girl at their home in Texas for 16 years have been convicted by a federal jury.

Mohamed Toure, the son of Guineas first president Ahmed Sekou Toure, and his wife Denise Cros-Toure arranged for the child to travel to the US when she was only five years old.

They forced her to cook, clean and look after their biological children without pay, beat and whipped her and called her a dog and a slave.

The girl eventually managed to escape from the house in Southlake with the help of concerned neighbours in 2016.

Toure and his wife now face a maximum of 20 years in prison after being found guilty of forced labour, conspiracy to commit alien harbouring and alien harbouring.

Assistant attorney general Eric Dreiband said the pair preyed on a young and extremely vulnerable girl".

He added: Their despicable actions included cruelly abusing her, forcing her to work in their home, hidden in plain sight, for years without pay, and robbing her of her childhood.

Human trafficking is a disgraceful and unacceptable crime, and this verdict should send the very clear message that we will investigate and vigorously prosecute these cases to hold human traffickers accountable and bring justice to their victims.

The Department of Justice said Toure and his wife were from powerful, wealthy, and politically connected families in Guinea while their victim was uneducated, impoverished and from a small, rural village.

When the girls mother learned the couple had arranged to bring her to the US in January 2000, she unsuccessfully attempted to hide the child.

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Once in Texas the couple isolated the girl and prevented her from going to school  unlike their own children, some of whom were around the same age.

Whenever she disobeyed or did not satisfy the couples demands she was physically and verbally abused to maintain her compliance.

The punishments included being whipped with an electrical cord, being hosed down with water in public and being thrown out of the house and forced to sleep alone in a nearby park.

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

Im gratified that we were able to obtain a measure of justice for this young woman, who suffered for years at the hands of this couple  people who assumed they could deprive a little girl of her rightful freedoms with impunity, said US attorney Nealy Cox.

Im especially grateful to the witnesses who helped rescue this woman and brought the defendants crimes into the light of day. If we want to wipe out human trafficking, we need the whole community to support the effort and be alert.
An 18-year-old Saudi woman who fled her family and barricaded herself in a Bangkok hotel room to avoid deportation has arrived in Canada after its prime minister Justin Trudeau confirmed she would be granted asylum.

Rahaf Mohammed al-Qunun claimed to have been abused by her family and said she would fear for her life if deported back home.

Thailands immigration police chief said the teenager had left Bangkok on a flight to South Korea with a final destination of Toronto on Friday.

Ms al-Qunun tweeted a video of her plane landing at the airport on Saturday, accompanied with the caption: Im in Canada everyone.

The teenager was greeted by Canadas foreign affairs minister Chrystia Freeland who introduced the teenager as a very brave new Canadian.

She had a very long and tiring journey so she would prefer not to take questions today, Ms Freeland added.

The teenager fled her family while visiting Kuwait and flew to Bangkok, where she barricaded herself in an airport hotel to avoid deportation.

She attracted global attention by mounting a social media campaign for asylum after Thai immigration police seized her passport and refused her entry to the country on 5 January.

Following Ms al-Qununs campaign, Mr Trudeau announced that Ms al-Qunun would be granted asylum in Canada.

He said: That is something that we are pleased to do because Canada is a country that understands how important it is to stand up for human rights and to stand up for womens rights around the world and I can confirm that we have accepted the UNs request.

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

Several other countries, including Australia, had been in talks with the UNs refugee agency to accept Ms al-Qunun, according to Thai immigration police chief Surachate Hakparn.

She chose Canada. Its her personal decision, he said.

Mr Harpkan confirmed Ms al-Qununs flight from Bangkok to Toronto via South Korea, and while on the plane the 18-year-old tweeted an image of herself alongside the caption third country  I did it.

The office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees welcomed Canadas decision to grant asylum to Ms al-Qunun.

In a statement, the agency said: The quick actions over the past week of the government of Thailand in providing temporary refuge and facilitating refugee status determination by UNHCR, and of the government of Canada in offering emergency resettlement to Ms al-Qunun and arranging her travel were key to the successful resolution of this case.

Ms al-Qununs father arrived in Bangkok on Tuesday, but his daughter refused to meet with him.

Mr Hakparn said the father denied physically abusing Ms al-Qunun or trying to force her into an arranged marriage, which were among the reasons she gave for her escape from her family.

The teenagers plight has emerged at a time when Saudi Arabia is facing intense global scrutiny over the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul and the ongoing war in Yemen.

Canadas decision to offer Ms al-Qunun asylum could further damage the countrys relations with Saudi Arabia after a spat when the Canadian Foreign Ministry tweeted its support for womens rights activists arrested in the kingdom.

In response, the Saudis sold Canadian investments and ordered their citizens studying in Canada to leave.
A former interpreter for US troops in Afghanistan was detained on Friday in Houston's international airport with his family and threatened with deportation to Kabul, a legal service advocacy group said, in a move that could jeopardise his life.

Mohasif Motawakil, 48, was detained by Customs and Border Protection. The agency allowed his wife and five children to be released at 10pm on Friday following pressure from lawmakers, said William Fitzgerald, a spokesperson for the Refugee and Immigrant Centre for Education and Legal Services (RAICES). An attorney for RAICES is representing Mr Motawakil.

Mr Motawakil and his family were granted special immigrant visas allotted for Afghans and Iraqis who supported US war efforts and are endangered because of their work, usually by the Taliban and other militants who consider them traitors and prize their capture.

Mr Motawakil served as an interpreter for US troops from 2012-2013, and later as a US contractor, Mr Fitzgerald said. The Special Immigrant Visa process takes years for many applicants, who must get letters of support from US officials to vouch for them and must demonstrate their lives have been imperilled.

Someone, potentially in the family, opened sealed medical records, prompting CBP to detain the family over concerns the records could have been "faked," Mr Fitzgerald told The Washington Post.

"Then [CBP] said they would be deported," he said, adding the family is "confused and traumatised" over the ordeal.

CBP, the State Department and the US Embassy in Kabul did not return a request for comment. The Houston Chronicle, which first covered the story, reported agency officials could not respond due to the government shutdown.

An attorney for RAICES has not been able to meet with Mr Motawakil, Mr Fitzgerald said.

Families belong together protests over Trump immigration policy Show all 8 1 /8 Families belong together protests over Trump immigration policy Families belong together protests over Trump immigration policy Mishawaka, Indiana AP Families belong together protests over Trump immigration policy Washington DC AFP/Getty Images Families belong together protests over Trump immigration policy New York Mayor Bill De Blasio speaks in Tornillo, Texas alongside the many other US mayors who have called for detained immigrant children to be reunited with their families AP Families belong together protests over Trump immigration policy Albuquerque Mayor Tim Kelle leaves a teddy bear as a gift for detained immigrant children in Tornillo, Texas AP Families belong together protests over Trump immigration policy Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan and Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti leave sandals as gifts for detained immigrant children in Tornillo, Texas AP Families belong together protests over Trump immigration policy San Diego, California EPA Families belong together protests over Trump immigration policy US embassy, Mexico City AFP/Getty Images Families belong together protests over Trump immigration policy San Diego, California EPA

"How unjust that this Afghan family, who helped our military, is in same airport as counsel - & yet have been walled off from one another," Representative Lloyd Doggett, D-Texas, said on Twitter.

Mr Doggett made calls to CBP, and Representatives Sheila Jackson Lee and Al Green, both Texas Democrats, went to the airport in support of Mr Motawakil, Mr Fitzgerald said.

Thousands of Afghans and their families have received those visas and resettled in the US since 2009, when the program began. There were 2,410 principal applicants who arrived with family members in 2018 - a 50 per cent decline compared to the previous year.

The number of visa approvals also fell by 60 per cent in 2018 compared to the previous year, according to State Department data.

No One Left Behind, an advocacy group for former interpreters, has said heightened vetting measures by the Trump administration was to blame, and waiting years for approval places them in "severely dangerous situations," said Kirt Lewis, the group's programmes director.

About 19,000 Afghan principal applicants are in some part of the vetting process for the visas, according to the State Department. They are waiting as a resurgent Taliban controls parts of Afghanistan, prompting former interpreters to go into hiding.

Mr Motawakil's family was taken in for the night by the Afghan Cultural Centre in Houston, though their fate in the United States, along with Mr Motawakil, has yet to be determined, Mr Fitzgerald said.

The Washington Post
Four black men who were wrongly convicted of raping a white teenager almost 70 years ago have received posthumous pardons.

Floridas new governor and the states cabinet voted unanimously to pardon the Groveland Four following an hour-long meeting on Friday.

The last of the men died in 2012 but their relatives appealed their innocence on Friday, in a case now seen as historical racial injustice.

The case of Charles Greenlee, Walter Irvin, Samuel Shepherd and Ernest Thomas was brought back into the public eye following the publication of historian Gilbert Kings Pulitzer prize-winning book Devil in the Grove in 2013.

The mens ordeal began in Lake County in 1949, when a 17-year-old girl claimed she had been raped.

Three of the men were arrested and severely beaten, while Ernest Thomas fled.

A gang of about 1,000 men hunted down Thomas and shot him 400 times after finding him sleeping under a tree.

Charles Greenlee, Walter Irvin and Samuel Shepherd were convicted by an all-white jury.

Other evidence that could have exonerated them  such as a doctors conclusion that the teen probably wasnt raped  was withheld at their trial.

Mr Greenlee was sentenced to life, and Mr Irvin and Mr Shepherd to death.

Sheriff Willis McCall of Lake County is pictured on 7 November 1951, after shooting two handcuffed black men, Samuel Shepherd and Walter Lee Irvin, whom he claimed were trying to escape as he transferred them from prison to a jail (AP)

Thurgood Marshall, later the first African-American justice on the US Supreme Court, took up Mr Irvins and Mr Shepherds appeals, and in 1951 new trials were ordered.

But just before the trials began, Lake County sheriff Willis McCall shot the pair, claiming the handcuffed men tried to escape as he transferred them from prison to a jail.

Mr Shepherd died, while Mr Irvin, who was shot in the neck, survived despite an ambulance refusing to take him to hospital because he was black.

Carol Greenlee, daughter of Charles Greenlee, hugs Rep Bobby Dubose after her father was pardoned by Florida governor Ron DeSantis and his cabinet on Friday (AP)

Mr Irvin was again convicted, even though a former FBI agent testified that prosecutors manufactured evidence against him.

Charges were never brought against any of the white law enforcement officers or prosecutors who handled the cases.

Mr Irvin was eventually paroled in 1968 and found dead in his car while returning to Lake County for a funeral a year later.

Mr Greenlee was paroled in 1960 and died in 2012.

His daughter, Carol Greenlee, told Florida governor Ron DeSantis and the cabinet that there was overwhelming evidence showing her father was innocent.

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He was accused, put in jail and tortured for something he didnt do, she said.

The woman who said she was raped sat in a wheelchair at the meeting and insisted Im not no liar.

She claims she was dragged from a car, had a gun put to her head and was told not to scream or the men would blow your brains out.

The pardons came almost two years after the state house and senate voted to formally apologise to relatives of the Groveland Four and to ask then-governor Rick Scott to pardon the men.

Mr Scott, now a US senator, never took action. Mr DeSantis replaced him as governor on Tuesday and made the pardons a priority.

Additional reporting by Associated Press
The crowdfunding platform GoFundMe said more than $20 million (15.5 million) in donations were slated to be refunded after a campaign to raise $1 billion for the Trump administration to build a wall on the border with Mexico fell well short of its goal.

The fundraising campaign, which began last month, had gone viral as President Donald Trumps attempt to get Congress to pay for the wall fuelled a heated political dispute and resulted in a partial shutdown of the federal government.

More than 325,000 donors had pledged in the GoFundMe campaign that the organiser, a veteran from Florida named Brian Kolfage, said would have been used for Mr Trumps border wall.

But in a note posted on the campaigns website on Friday, Mr Kolfage said the federal government would not be able to accept the donations anytime soon.

Mr Kolfage said in an interview that donating to the government would have required approval from Congress, and he knew a Democrat-controlled House would not give its approval.

Instead, Mr Kolfage said, he has formed a Florida-based non-profit organisation called We Build the Wall that will use donations to finance a private effort to build parts of the wall where private landowners allow construction.

GoFundMe donors would have to proactively choose to redirect their money to the non-profit; otherwise, they would be refunded.

Mr Kolfage said he did not know exactly how many donors would want to redirect their money nor how many landowners would want parts of the wall constructed on their properties.

When Americans see us completing real miles of beautiful wall, we know that we will raise the many billions we need to finally secure the entire border, Mr Kolfage said on the updated GoFundMe campaign page.

The Department of Homeland Security and the Trump administration did not respond to requests for comment on Friday evening on the possibility of a privately funded effort to build the wall.

Migrants clash with authorities as they seek to cross the US border Show all 23 1 /23 Migrants clash with authorities as they seek to cross the US border Migrants clash with authorities as they seek to cross the US border A group of migrants climb the US border fence in Tijuana AFP/Getty Migrants clash with authorities as they seek to cross the US border A group of migrants cross the dried up Tijuana river AFP/Getty Migrants clash with authorities as they seek to cross the US border Mexico police emerge from a cloud of tear gas Reuters Migrants clash with authorities as they seek to cross the US border Mexico police work to keep migrants from getting over the border with the US AP Migrants clash with authorities as they seek to cross the US border US border patrol agents stand guard as migrant seek to cross the border at Tijuana Reuters Migrants clash with authorities as they seek to cross the US border Adults help a child over the US border fence AFP/Getty Migrants clash with authorities as they seek to cross the US border Migrants near the US border in Tijuana Reuters Migrants clash with authorities as they seek to cross the US border Migrants climb the US border fence in Tijuana AFP/Getty Migrants clash with authorities as they seek to cross the US border Migrants clash with riot police as they near the US border in Tijuana Reuters Migrants clash with authorities as they seek to cross the US border A migrant is detained by US border patrol officers after illegally crossing the border Reuters Migrants clash with authorities as they seek to cross the US border A group of migrants cross the dried up Tijuana river Reuters Migrants clash with authorities as they seek to cross the US border Tear gas is deployed at the border Reuters Migrants clash with authorities as they seek to cross the US border A group of migrants make their way to the US border fence Reuters Migrants clash with authorities as they seek to cross the US border A migrant man wears a homemade gas mask Reuters Migrants clash with authorities as they seek to cross the US border Migrants stand on the banks of the Tijuana river opposite the US border fence Reuters Migrants clash with authorities as they seek to cross the US border A group of migrants cross the Tijuana river Reuters Migrants clash with authorities as they seek to cross the US border Migrants gather at the border crossing in Tijuana AP Migrants clash with authorities as they seek to cross the US border Tear gas is fired by border police to deter migrants EPA Migrants clash with authorities as they seek to cross the US border A migrant covers his face as tear gas surrounds him Reuters Migrants clash with authorities as they seek to cross the US border Migrant families seek to cross the US border at Tijuana Reuters Migrants clash with authorities as they seek to cross the US border Mexico police try to stop migrants from crossing Reuters Migrants clash with authorities as they seek to cross the US border Migrants force their way through the border fence at Tijuana Reuters Migrants clash with authorities as they seek to cross the US border Reuters

Typically, GoFundMe campaigns can still collect money even if they do not meet their goal.

But Bobby Whithorne, a spokesperson for GoFundMe, said in a statement on Friday that Mr Kolfages original campaign page had said If we dont reach our goal or come significantly close we will refund every single penny and that 100% of your donations will go to the Trump Wall. If for ANY reason we dont reach our goal we will refund your donation.

Mr Whithorne said that since the campaign was not going to reach the $1 billion goal and both GoFundMe and Mr Kolfage had determined the money raised could not be given to the federal government, GoFundMe had contacted all donors to the original campaign about the refund.

Donors can ask for a refund immediately, Mr Whithorne said, but if they do not choose to redirect their money to the non-profit, they will automatically receive a refund in 90 days.

Immigration advocacy groups had condemned the GoFundMe campaign as a xenophobic result of fearmongering about immigrants. Some had started competing fundraising campaigns to raise money for Refugee and Immigrant Centre for Education and Legal Services, a Texas non-profit known as RAICES.

Jonathan Ryan, president and chief executive of RAICES, said despite the change in Mr Kolfages campaign, the original critiques of it still stand.

Its a difference without a change, Mr Ryan said. The wall remains the wrong direction for us as a country, something that will not help advance any of our national interests and that would only serve to further harm vulnerable refugees and immigrants seeking protection in our country.

This week, Mr Trump appeared on television in an attempt to pressure Congress into paying for the border wall, characterising the situation at the Mexican border as a humanitarian crisis that was exposing the country to crime, drugs and terrorism.

Experts, however, point out that migrant border crossings have been declining over about two decades. The State Department said in a recent report there was no credible evidence that terrorist groups had sent operatives to enter the country through Mexico.

The New York Times
A teenager who crashed her car into another vehicle while taking part in the Bird Box challenge may face reckless driving charges.

Police say the 17-year-old from Layton, Utah caused the highway collision after taking to the wheel blindfolded.

The social media challenge, inspired by the hit Netflix horror film starring Sandra Bullock, involves participants completing everyday tasks with their eyes closed.

Lieutenant Travis Lyman told Fox13 that the female motorist was driving a pickup truck on the Layton Parkway with a 16-year-old male passenger when she decided to take part in the challenge by putting her beanie over her eyes.

She soon swerved into oncoming traffic in the other lane and collided with another vehicle.

Images from the crash posted to the Layton Police Department show the two badly damaged vehicles.

Bird Box Challenge while driving ... predictable result, the caption read. This happened on Monday as a result of the driver covering her eyes while driving on Layton Parkway. Luckily no injuries.

17-year-old girl crashed her truck into a car while doing the Bird Box challenge (Layton Police Department)

Lieutenant Travis Lyman warned others against following in her footsteps and emulating the characters in the film, who evade sight-targeting creatures that make them kill themselves.

Honestly, Im almost embarrassed to have to say, Dont drive with your eyes covered, but you know apparently we do have to say that, he said.

The stakes are just so high and its such a potentially dangerous thing as it is: to try and do it in that way is inexcusable. It really puts everybody at risk.

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

Netflix previously urged fans not to participate in the dangerous stunts.

Cant believe I have to say this, but: PLEASE DO NOT HURT YOURSELVES WITH THIS BIRD BOX CHALLENGE, the streaming giant tweeted from its primary account.

We dont know how this started, and we appreciate the love, but Boy and Girl have just one wish for 2019 and it is that you not end up in the hospital due to memes.
Many people have been killed after an overturned oil tanker exploded in Nigeria while dozens of people were scooping up the leaking fuel, police and witnesses said on Saturday.

Hundreds of people have died in similar accidents in recent years in Nigeria, Africa's largest oil producer, as impoverished people risk their lives to collect fuel leaking from pipelines or trucks.

"We have recovered 12 corpses and taken 22 persons with serious burns to hospital," police spokesperson Irene Ugbo told Associated Press.

She said the blast occurred on Friday evening in Odukpani in Cross River state in the south-east.

However, some residents put the death toll closer to 60.

"The police only recovered a few corpses, many of the other dead were burnt to ashes," witness Richard Johnson told AP.

He said about 60 people were inside a pit scooping fuel when the explosion occurred. "It is not likely that anyone inside the pit survived as there was a lot of fuel in the pit," Mr Johnson said.

He suggested the blast was caused by an electrical generator that had been brought to the scene to help pump out the fuel for people's containers.

It was not immediately clear what caused the truck to overturn.

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

Cross River State Governor Benedict Ayade said in a statement that the incident must be thoroughly investigated and called on the government to act to avoid similar incidents occurring again.

I am too shocked and traumatized to express the depth of my grief for the victims of the explosion, he said, according to Nigerian newspaper Vanguard.

As a government, we must try and reach out to the victims families who are affected by these avoidable deaths.

About a year ago, more than 30 residents in the same locality were burnt to death while scooping fuel from an oil tanker involved in an accident.

Nigeria's worst such accident occurred in 1998, when more than 1,000 people died as the leaking oil pipeline from which they were scooping fuel exploded in the town of Jesse.

Associated Press
One of the long-running rows on both sides of the Brexit debate is whether the EU referendum campaign was conducted fairly.

From Vote Leaves now discredited promise of sending 350m a week to the NHS, to warnings from Remain backers of a devastating economic crash that never came, both sides say voters were fed wild claims.

But was there more to it?
A cabinet minister has been accused of engaging in gutter politics after warning MPs that blocking Brexit could trigger a surge of far-right extremism.

Chris Grayling, the transport secretary, said that reversing the decision to leave the European Union would open the door to extremist populist political forces and lead to divisions not seen since the English Civil War.

Mr Grayling called on MPs to back Theresa Mays Brexit deal in a Commons showdown next week, as the prime minister braces for a historic defeat. Some estimates suggest she could lose by 200 votes.

His comments drew condemnation from Labour MP David Lammy, who described it as a desperate attempt to use a tiny far-right minority to hold our democracy to ransom.

Just days before the critical Brexit vote, Mr Grayling told the Daily Mail: This is too important for political game-playing and I urge Conservative MPs who back Brexit and others to back the deal.

If not, we risk a break with the British tradition of moderate, mainstream politics that goes back to the Restoration in 1660.

He said there would be a different tone in British politics if Britain failed to leave the EU, and predicted a less tolerant society and a more nationalistic nation.

It will open the door to extremist populist political forces in this country of the kind we see in other countries in Europe, Mr Grayling said.

If MPs who represent seats that voted 70 per cent to leave say, Sorry guys, were still going to have freedom of movement, they will turn against the political mainstream.

Mr Lammy, who backs the Best for Britain campaign, said: This is a desperate attempt by a government minister to use a tiny far-right minority to hold our democracy to ransom. It is gutter politics.

History shows us appeasement only emboldens the far right and impoverishing the country through Brexit will only increase resentment.

Ms Soubry, who was branded a "Nazi" by a mob who targeted her during live television interviews outside parliament on Monday, described Mr Grayling's comments as "irresponsible nonsense".

She tweeted: "The 15 yobs who have been roaming outside parliament do not represent anyone but themselves. It's shameful to validate them in this way.

"Right-wing extremists have always existed. Brexit is just an excuse - this is their real agenda."

Pro-EU MP Luciana Berger accused Mr Grayling of cowering behind the small threat of far-right extremism to avoid offering the public another referendum.

The Labour MP, who has been subjected to relentless abuse and death threats, said: These remarks are not only grossly irresponsible but also show just how desperate supporters of this proposed withdrawal agreement have become.

We absolutely need to heal divisions in our society but we will not do so with a Brexit that makes us poorer and offers less control.

And the answer to a small band of far-right thugs roaming the streets must never be to capitulate and restrict our democratic engagement  it must be more democracy.

Labour veteran Roy Hattersley dismissed the claims as absurd, adding: I dont think many people would regard Chris Grayling as an expert on these matters.

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Lord Hattersley, a former Labour deputy leader who backs a Final Say referendum, told BBC Radio 4s Today programme: Nobody voted for Mrs Mays package. Nobody had the faintest idea what Mrs Mays package would be.

Its only reasonable that now we do know what it amounts to, what leaving really means, that people have an opportunity to vote on that. Its a different vote.

Lord Hattersley was due to address a Peoples Vote rally in Sheffield on Saturday, along with Dame Margaret Beckett and Sir Vince Cable, but had to pull out due to illness.

The row over the transport secretarys comments comes after a week of heightened tensions in Westminster, when Brexit secretary Stephen Barclay was condemned by MPs for saying the abuse hurled at MPs showed it would be too divisive to stage another public vote.

The Independent revealed on Friday that Ms Mays chances of delivering Brexit on 29 March are fading fast after senior ministers privately admitted more time is needed even if her deal wins the backing of parliament.
A leading member of the yellow vests, who have been disrupting Westminster with abusive anti-EU protests, has been arrested.

James Goddard was detained outside St Jamess Park underground station on suspicion of a public order offence at 11.42am on Saturday.

A police spokeswoman said the arrest related to incidents that took place in the Westminster area on Monday 7 January.

Since the yellow vests group formed in December, protesters have verbally abused MPs, journalists and Remainers outside parliament, visited media and government offices, and blocked London bridges.

Officers have been investigating whether an offence was committed after MP Anna Soubry was called a Nazi while giving interviews outside Westminster on Monday.

During a live discussion on the BBC, people off-camera could be heard shouting, Soubry is a Nazi.

A cross-party group of at least 55 MPs signed a formal letter to Metropolitan Police commissioner Cressida Dick to express their serious concerns about the deteriorating public order and security situation outside parliament.

Speaker Mr Bercow told the Commons on Monday he was keeping a close eye on events involving aggressive and threatening behaviour towards MPs.

Demonstrators wearing yellow vests make their way to Westminster on 12 January (Getty)

The UK yellow vest group called a national day of action on Saturday, with protests starting in London and elsewhere at midday.

Mr Goddards supporters claimed he was about to hand himself in at Holborn police station at noon on Saturday, just a short while after he was arrested, according to BBC journalist Daniel Sandford.

The yellow vest protester vowed that the groups activities would continue after Facebook and PayPal suspended his accounts.

They had me removed but I most certainly havent gone, he wrote on a new fundraising page set up on the DonorBox website on Wednesday.

A Metropolitan Police spokesperson told The Independent: We can confirm that a man in his thirties was arrested at 11.42hrs on Saturday 12 January, outside St Jamess Park tube station, on suspicion of a public order offence.

He is currently in police custody and is being taken to a central London police station.
Three masked men armed with knives stormed into a childrens birthday party and demanded drugs.

Police believe the men, who stole a womans phone while inside the house in Norwich, may have broken into the wrong address.

The men are said to have forced their way into the property and threatened the residents, which included a number of young children.

A manhunt was launched after police were called to the property in Hunter Road, Catton Grove, at about 6.50pm on Friday.

All three suspects are described as black, two were about 6ft tall while one was slightly shorter, and all were wearing dark clothes and balaclavas.

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Inspector Graham Dalton, the local policing lead, said he believed the incident was linked to Operation Gravity  a campaign launched in 2016 to deal with drug dealers coming into the area from London.

This must have been very distressing for those involved and I want to reassure the victims and other local residents that we are doing everything we can to find the offenders quickly, he said.

I do believe this is connected to Operation Gravity drug dealing and would ask anyone with information regarding those involved to contact the police immediately.

Anyone who witnessed the incident or has information concerning it should contact Norwich CID on 101 or alternatively call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
Earths magnetic north pole is veering towards Siberia at an incredibly fast rate, and experts are not sure why.

The erratic movement has forced the scientists tasked with monitoring the planets magnetic field to update their system that underlies global navigation, from Google Maps to shipping.

As liquid iron swirls around in the Earths core, the magnetic field  and therefore the poles  shift around gradually and often unpredictably.

Scientists must periodically update the World Magnetic Model to map this process, and the most recent version  produced in 2015  was intended to last until 2020.

However, the magnetic field has been changing so quickly and erratically that while conducting a routine check in early 2018, British and US researchers realised drastic steps were needed.

The shift they observed was so large it was on the verge of exceeding the acceptable limit for navigation errors.

To account for this, scientists at the British Geological Survey and the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) are issuing an unprecedented emergency update to the model.

They have fed in the latest data, including an unexpected geomagnetic pulse that took place beneath South America in 2016, to ensure the system is more accurate.

The movement of the north pole, which has been accelerating over the past 40 years, has further exacerbated the shifting magnetic field and made the new model all the more necessary.

Its release was meant to be imminent, but the ongoing US government shutdown means it has now been delayed until the end of January.

The changes are essential as the system is used by aircraft, ships and even smartphones, which make use of the Earths magnetic field to establish which direction someone is facing.

The shift is felt more keenly in the Arctic around the north pole, meaning any vessels in the region would be hardest hit by an inaccurate model.

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The fact that the pole is going fast makes this region more prone to large errors, NOAA geomagnetist Dr Arnaud Chulliat told Nature.

However, the scientists are still unclear about what exactly is behind the recent changes.

Waves rising from the Earths core may be behind the kind of geomagnetic pulses that took place in 2016, and the shifting north pole may result from a high-speed jet of liquid iron underneath Canada.

As they continue to investigate what is triggering the dramatic changes below our feet, the researchers hope their latest update will remain accurate until the next planned update in 2020.
Eminent geneticist James Watson has had the last of his honorary titles stripped from him after doubling down on controversial statements about race and intelligence.

The Nobel Prize-winning scientist, who with Francis Crick and Rosalind Franklin discovered the double-helix structure of DNA, has been embroiled in controversy for more than a decade.

In 2007 he lost his job at Cold Spring Harbour Laboratory for making racist remarks, but retained three honorary titles there including chancellor emeritus.

However, following a new documentary in which he said these views had not changed, and told interviewers genes were responsible for a difference in average IQ between black and white people, they decided to take further action.

Describing the remarks as reprehensible and unsupported by science, the lab said they effectively undermined an apology issued by the scientist following the original controversy.

According to top geneticists, even the most sophisticated DNA assessments are unable to find solid evidence of racial differences in intelligence.

Dr Watson told an interviewer in 2007 he was inherently gloomy about the prospect of Africa because all our social policies are based on the fact that their intelligence is the same as ours  where all the testing says not really.

He also said that while he would like everyone to be equal, people who have to deal with black employees find this is not true".

The new comments were made in a documentary in the American Masters series on PBS, in which the creators said from the outset they would seek to address the controversy.

Science news in pictures Show all 20 1 /20 Science news in pictures Science news in pictures Pluto has 'beating heart' of frozen nitrogen Pluto has a 'beating heart' of frozen nitrogen that is doing strange things to its surface, Nasa has found. The mysterious core seems to be the cause of features on its surface that have fascinated scientists since they were spotted by Nasa's New Horizons mission. "Before New Horizons, everyone thought Pluto was going to be a netball - completely flat, almost no diversity," said Tanguy Bertrand, an astrophysicist and planetary scientist at NASA's Ames Research Center and the lead author on the new study. "But it's completely different. It has a lot of different landscapes and we are trying to understand what's going on there." Getty Science news in pictures Over 400 species discovered this year by Natural History Museum The ancient invertabrate worm-like species rhenopyrgus viviani (pictured) is one of over 400 species previously unknown to science that were discovered by experts at the Natural History Museum this year PA Science news in pictures Jackdaws can identify 'dangerous' humans Jackdaws can identify dangerous humans from listening to each others warning calls, scientists say. The highly social birds will also remember that person if they come near their nests again, according to researchers from the University of Exeter. In the study, a person unknown to the wild jackdaws approached their nest. At the same time scientists played a recording of a warning call (threatening) or contact calls (non-threatening). The next time jackdaws saw this same person, the birds that had previously heard the warning call were defensive and returned to their nests more than twice as quickly on average. Getty Science news in pictures Turtle embryos influence sex by shaking The sex of the turtle is determined by the temperatures at which they are incubated. Warm temperatures favour females. But by wiggling around the egg, embryos can find the Goldilocks Zone which means they are able to shield themselves against extreme thermal conditions and produce a balanced sex ratio, according to the new study published in Current Biology journal Ye et al/Current Biology Science news in pictures Elephant poaching rates drop in Africa African elephant poaching rates have dropped by 60 per cent in six years, an international study has found. It is thought the decline could be associated with the ivory trade ban introduced in China in 2017. Reuters Science news in pictures Ancient four-legged whale discovered in Peru Scientists have identified a four-legged creature with webbed feet to be an ancestor of the whale. Fossils unearthed in Peru have led scientists to conclude that the enormous creatures that traverse the planets oceans today are descended from small hoofed ancestors that lived in south Asia 50 million years ago A. Gennari Science news in pictures Animal with transient anus discovered A scientist has stumbled upon a creature with a transient anus that appears only when it is needed, before vanishing completely. Dr Sidney Tamm of the Marine Biological Laboratory could not initially find any trace of an anus on the species. However, as the animal gets full, a pore opens up to dispose of waste Steven G Johnson Science news in pictures Giant bee spotted Feared extinct, the Wallace's Giant bee has been spotted for the first time in nearly 40 years. An international team of conservationists spotted the bee, that is four times the size of a typical honeybee, on an expedition to a group of Indonesian Islands Clay Bolt Science news in pictures New mammal species found inside crocodile Fossilised bones digested by crocodiles have revealed the existence of three new mammal species that roamed the Cayman Islands 300 years ago. The bones belonged to two large rodent species and a small shrew-like animal New Mexico Museum of Natural History Science news in pictures Fabric that changes according to temperature created Scientists at the University of Maryland have created a fabric that adapts to heat, expanding to allow more heat to escape the body when warm and compacting to retain more heat when cold Faye Levine, University of Maryland Science news in pictures Baby mice tears could be used in pest control A study from the University of Tokyo has found that the tears of baby mice cause female mice to be less interested in the sexual advances of males Getty Science news in pictures Final warning to limit "climate catastrophe" The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has issued a report which projects the impact of a rise in global temperatures of 1.5 degrees Celsius and warns against a higher increase Getty Science news in pictures Nobel prize for evolution chemists The nobel prize for chemistry has been awarded to three chemists working with evolution. Frances Smith is being awarded the prize for her work on directing the evolution of enzymes, while Gregory Winter and George Smith take the prize for their work on phage display of peptides and antibodies Getty/AFP Science news in pictures Nobel prize for laser physicists The nobel prize for physics has been awarded to three physicists working with lasers. Arthur Ashkin (L) was awarded for his "optical tweezers" which use lasers to grab particles, atoms, viruses and other living cells. Donna Strickland and Gerard Mourou were jointly awarded the prize for developing chirped-pulse amplification of lasers Reuters/AP Science news in pictures Discovery of a new species of dinosaur The Ledumahadi Mafube roamed around 200 million years ago in what is now South Africa. Recently discovered by a team of international scientists, it was the largest land animal of its time, weighing 12 tons and standing at 13 feet. In Sesotho, the South African language of the region in which the dinosaur was discovered, its name means "a giant thunderclap at dawn" Viktor Radermacher / SWNS Science news in pictures Birth of a planet Scientists have witnessed the birth of a planet for the first time ever. This spectacular image from the SPHERE instrument on ESO's Very Large Telescope is the first clear image of a planet caught in the very act of formation around the dwarf star PDS 70. The planet stands clearly out, visible as a bright point to the right of the center of the image, which is blacked out by the coronagraph mask used to block the blinding light of the central star. ESO/A. Muller et al Science news in pictures New human organ discovered that was previously missed by scientists Layers long thought to be dense, connective tissue are actually a series of fluid-filled compartments researchers have termed the interstitium. These compartments are found beneath the skin, as well as lining the gut, lungs, blood vessels and muscles, and join together to form a network supported by a mesh of strong, flexible proteins Getty Science news in pictures Previously unknown society lived in Amazon rainforest before Europeans arrived, say archaeologists Working in the Brazilian state of Mato Grosso, a team led by archaeologists at the University of Exeter unearthed hundreds of villages hidden in the depths of the rainforest. These excavations included evidence of fortifications and mysterious earthworks called geoglyphs Jose Iriarte Science news in pictures One in 10 people have traces of cocaine or heroin on fingerprints, study finds More than one in 10 people were found to have traces of class A drugs on their fingers by scientists developing a new fingerprint-based drug test. Using sensitive analysis of the chemical composition of sweat, researchers were able to tell the difference between those who had been directly exposed to heroin and cocaine, and those who had encountered it indirectly. Getty Science news in pictures Nasa releases stunning images of Jupiter's great red spot The storm bigger than the Earth, has been swhirling for 350 years. The image's colours have been enhanced after it was sent back to Earth. Pictures by: Tom Momary

Now 90 years old, Dr Watson is currently residing in a nursing home after a car crash in October that has left him with very minimal awareness of his surroundings.

The geneticists son Rufus told AP that while his statements make him seem like a bigot, that was not the case.

They just represent his rather narrow interpretation of genetic destiny, he said. My dad had made the lab his life, and yet now the lab considers him a liability.

Dr Watson had been involved with Cold Spring Harbour since the 1960s, serving as its director, president and chancellor.

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He originally rose to fame after he and Crick revealed the double-helix model of DNA, based in part on an X-ray diffraction image captured by Franklin.

The momentous discovery made the two men world famous, and both went on to have successful careers in science.

However, Dr Watson has been dogged with accusations of racism, sexism and homophobia.

While his controversial opinions  including those concerning a link between dark skin and libido and selective abortion based on a hypothetical gay gene  have often been in the context of genetics, many experts have denounced them as highly unscientific.
Sophie Oluwole was a pioneering figure in African philosophy and the first person in her country, Nigeria, to gain a PhD in the subject.

Recommended Why the curriculum must stop whitewashing the British empire

Works such as 1997s Philosophy and Oral Tradition and 1992s Witchcraft, Reincarnation and the God-head testify to her mission to correct the assumptions that underpinned the colonial education system  devised by the British  under which Oluwole was taught.

They said Africans could not think, Oluwole told the Punch newspaper, that we were not thinkers, that we were primitive. I felt challenged and said I was going to find out if truly we could not think. I wanted to prove them wrong.

As a child, even in secondary school, the word philosophy was alien to Oluwole. In the eyes of the colonial masters, there was no such thing as African philosophy.

Oluwole, who has died aged 83, also had to overcome institutionalised, and socially ingrained, sexism  for which she blamed the British, from whom Nigeria gained independence in 1960 after more than a century of interference and oppression.

They disrupted our culture, she said.

She was born Abosede Oluwole in Igbara-Oke in Nigerias Ondo state, in 1935, the eighth child of Anglican parents who were traders of the Edo people. She was given the name Sofia by the headmaster of her school, who considered her exceptionally bright, when she was baptised at around the age of eight. She later changed the spelling to Sophie.

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In 1951, she went to the Anglican Girls modern school in in Ile-Ife  the ancient Yoruba city in the southwest of the country  and two years later, the Women Training College in Ilesha, graduating in 1954.

In 1963, Oluwole followed her first husband to Moscow, where he had been given a scholarship. From there Oluwole travelled to Germany and then the United States before returning to Nigeria in 1967, where she took up a place at Unilag, the University of Lagos to study philosophy. In doing so, according to writer Tunji Oloapa, she pitched her tent where the intellectual and ideological battle for the post-colonial soul of Africa was the fiercest.

Reality contains matter and non-matter, Oluwole told the Dutch filmmaker Juul van der Laan last year, highlighting a faultline. In the west, the two cannot go together, they are in opposition. The African says yes, it has two features, but they cannot be separated. There is nothing that is absolutely material. There is nothing that is absolutely non-material. And in all phenomenons in the world, the two are there together.

Oluwole in a 2016 interview (YouTube/tunekelani.tv) (YouTube / tunekelani.tv)

Oluwole went on to gain her masters at Unilag before taking her PhD at the University of Ibadan  the first in philosophy to be awarded by a Nigerian centre.

Oluwoles research concentrated on Yoruba Ifa oral tradition  Ifa is the West African religion and system of divination practised by the Yoruba, Igbo and Ewe peoples.

Though it was handed down through the generations by word of mouth, rather than having a literary basis like the Bible or the Quran, Oluwole said Ifa divination was underpinned by philosophy, contending that without philosophy no system of religion could exist.

After all, the so-called father of western philosophy, Socrates, left behind no written accounts of his wisdom. That was left to his students, writing after his death. Oluwole found striking parallels in Orunmila, the great Ifa sage, who also left behind only an oral canon.

If Socrates could be considered the father of western philosophy, having left behind no written work of his own, then why shouldnt Orunmila, who is believed to have predated Socrates, be considered the father of African philosophy? Oluwole urged western Africa to reclaim its philosophical heritage, contending that the body of knowledge she found in the Yoruba tradition was as rich and complex as any found in the west.

In the oral traditions of Ifa, Oluwole also found compelling evidence of ancient knowledge pertaining to modern computer science and particle physics. When asking why such knowledge had not been built upon to put Africa at the forefront of the worlds scientific developments, Oluwole was vocal in her criticism of the Nigerian education system, especially the fact that most teaching was done in English.

She was passionate in her belief that language was a huge part of the problem. Africa is the only continent that uses foreign language as a medium of expression in institutions of learning despite the reports of many studies confirming the fact that the mother tongue is the best medium of instruction that facilitates better understanding of knowledge, she said.

She lamented that the Nigerian system produced highly educated students who were nonetheless unable to find work upon graduating. She was firm on the importance of work outside the home for men and women, though at the same time she espoused early marriage and childbirth. She recently complained in an interview that several of the six children she had with her two husbands were unemployed. Oluwole herself continued to work right up until the end of her life. She was a senior lecturer in Unilags philosophy department and founded the Centre for African Culture and Development.

In 2015 she published Socrates and Orunmila: The Two Patrons of Classical Philosophy, directly comparing the two philosophers who had shaped her lifes work.

Sophie Oluwole, Nigerian philosopher, born 1935, died 23 December 2018
In the very early 1980s, a most accomplished Irish writer and journalist would sit in her little home in the County Dublin village of Dalkey, hammering away on her first novel. It told the story, starting in the Second World War, of two families and of two young women, one Irish, the other English. Opposite the novelist, on the other side of Sorrento Road, in another little cottage, was a Trinity College Dublin PhD student who was writing his thesis on Irish neutrality in the Second World War. Each night, around 11pm, the novelist and the student would look through the curtains across Sorrento Road from each other to see if the other was still at their desk. If one was still at work, the other would go on writing for another hour.

The novelist was Maeve Binchy. The student was me. And when Maeve published Light a Penny Candle in 1982, she handed me a copy of her book in the middle of the narrow road between our two cottages. In memory of the long days and nights of typing at windows opposite each other, she wrote on the first page. Her book was 540 pages long. When I published my thesis under the title In Time of War a year later, it was just over a hundred pages longer. Maeve became a best-selling novelist. Tens of millions of copies of her books have been sold in 37 languages, and they are, as we journos like to say, a great read.

They are not great literature of course, because they are far too popular and grasp the hearts of too many people. Light a Penny Candles theme of love and betrayal  especially betrayal  touched the simple fears of Irish and British women in a chauvinist world moving out of the fear and austerity of war. By strange coincidence, Maeves book and my own work on the Second World War had something in common. Elisabeth, Maeves principal English heroine  neither of us used hero for women  is sent by her parents to neutral Ireland in the war, because it is safe from air raids. A theme of my own work was that in the Second World War, neutral Ireland was not very safe at all; according to an Irish minister, Eire was in a condition of limited warfare with both Britain and Germany, both of which had plans to invade the newly independent country.
James Middleton has spoken candidly for the first time about being diagnosed with clinical depression, explaining that he once felt like a complete failure due to the condition.

The businessman, brother of the Duchess of Cambridge, has written an essay for The Daily Mail in which he details how he shut himself off from friends and family when suffering from depression.

Describing it as an absence of feelings, Middleton explains that his sisters work with mental health charity Heads Together was partly what inspired him to come forward with his story.

"I know Im richly blessed and live a privileged life. But it did not make me immune to depression," he writes.

"It is tricky to describe the condition. It is not merely sadness. It is an illness, a cancer of the mind."

Middleton's mental health reached such a low point by the end of 2017 that he felt unable to communicate with his loved ones, despite them expressing concern for him over his wellbeing.

"I also felt misunderstood; a complete failure," he writes. "I wouldnt wish the sense of worthlessness and desperation, the isolation and loneliness on my worst enemy. I felt as if I was going crazy."

Middleton decided to travel to the Lake District with his five dogs in an effort to clear his mind.

It was at this time that he came to the realisation that he could no longer cope on his own and that he needed to seek out help.

Sow Ay illustrations on mental health Show all 18 1 /18 Sow Ay illustrations on mental health Sow Ay illustrations on mental health Sow Ay illustrations on mental health Sow Ay illustrations on mental health Sow Ay illustrations on mental health Sow Ay illustrations on mental health Sow Ay illustrations on mental health Sow Ay illustrations on mental health Sow Ay illustrations on mental health Sow Ay illustrations on mental health Sow Ay illustrations on mental health Sow Ay illustrations on mental health Sow Ay illustrations on mental health Sow Ay illustrations on mental health Sow Ay illustrations on mental health Sow Ay illustrations on mental health Sow Ay illustrations on mental health Sow Ay illustrations on mental health Sow Ay illustrations on mental health

"And this recognition led to a sort of calm: I knew if I accepted help there would be hope. It was a tiny spark of light in the darkness," he states.

After the majority of 2017 appeared to pass by Middleton "like a fog", he started seeing Dr Stephen Pereira, a consultant psychiatrist and cognitive behaviour therapy specialist.

It was through Middleton's consultations with Dr Pereira that he also received a diagnosis of Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD).

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While Middleton was already aware that he is severely dyslexic, the news that he also had ADD helped him to gain a greater understanding of his character.

"It is the reason I have trouble focusing; why my mind wanders off into extravagant daydreams; why simple tasks such as making my bed assume the same enormity as filing my tax return," he writes.

Middleton views his ADD as a "gift" that's helped him to cultivate his "creativity and emotional intensity".

Nonetheless, he acknowledges that an earlier diagnosis would have benefited him greatly.

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While he knows that his depression can't simply be "cured", Middleton is grateful that he has the opportunity to discuss mental health and break down the stigmas that surround it on a public platform, much like his sister and the Dukes of Cambridge and Sussex.

"I feel I have a duty to speak out, so I can help others who are suffering as I did," he writes.

"I am pleased I went through debilitating depression because I now have the skills to fight it."

You can contact mental health charity Mind for support by calling 0300 123 3393, emailing info@mind.org.uk or texting 86463.

Their lines are open from 9am until 6pm, Monday to Friday (except on bank holidays).
A steam-powered spacecraft has been created that could one day propel itself from asteroid to asteroid, extracting water as it goes to fuel its voyage.

Scientists say their microwave-sized device could theoretically travel through space forever, relying on an endless supply of fuel to propel its rockets.

The Nasa-funded prototype craft called the World Is Not Enough (WINE) has been developed by scientists in partnership with a Californian robotics company.

Planetary researcher Dr Phil Metzger from the University of Central Florida worked on the computer modelling that allowed Honeybee Robotics to create the device.

The first trials of the craft were conducted in the lab using simulated asteroid material at the end of December.

Recommended China broadcasts brand new pictures of the far side of the Moon

Its awesome, Dr Metzger said.

WINE successfully mined the soil, made rocket propellant, and launched itself on a jet of steam extracted from the simulant.

We could potentially use this technology to hop on the Moon, Ceres, Europa, Titan, Pluto, the poles of Mercury, asteroids  anywhere there is water and sufficiently low gravity.

The prototype WINE craft (University of Central Florida)

Kris Zacny, vice president of Honeybee Robotics, said this new breed of spacecraft has the potential to change how we explore the universe.

The devices can work in different ways depending on where they are deployed.

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

Solar panels can be used to provide the energy for mining and making steam, which can then be used to propel the craft from the surface of a planet or asteroid back into space.

Alternatively, if it was operating further away from the Sun  for example on Pluto  it could make use of radioactive material on board gradually decaying to provide energy.

Currently, missions to other planets have to stop when the spacecraft runs out of propellant, meaning the loss of an enormous amount of time and money.

 Chinese spacecraft seen landing on far side of moon in new footage

The WINE project was supported by Nasas small business technology transfer programme, which is meant to foster links between universities and businesses.

Honeybee Robotics specialises in creating space drilling tools, as well as systems for finding life on other planets.

The WINE project encompasses the companys Spider Water Extraction System, which is designed to drill into the surface of asteroids and extract icy soil samples that can be sucked dry.
Footage has been released showing the view from Chinas Change-4 spacecraft as it landed on the far side of the Moon, after completing the first ever mission to successfully land there.

A camera attached to the probe shows a black and white recording of it slowly touching down on the planets surface.

Launched in December, Change 4 eventually landed on 3 January, first sending back still images that were broadcast on state TV station CCTV.

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 moon is tidally locked to Earth, rotating at the same rate as it orbits our planet, so its far side  or dark side  is never visible to us. Previous spacecraft have seen the far side, but none have landed on it.

This landing lifted the mysterious veil of the far side of the moon and opened a new chapter in human lunar exploration, the agency said in a statement on its website, which included a wide-angle colour picture of a crater from the moons surface.
Coming to America is getting a sequel, with Eddie Murphy confirmed to return.

Craig Brewer, who has directed multiple episodes of TVs Empire, is set to direct the follow-up to the 1988 comedy, according to Deadline. Murphy, meanwhile, will reprise his original role as Akeem, an African prince who flees to America to escape an arranged marriage and go undercover in Queens, in the hope of finding a woman with a strong will who can become his queen.

The sequel will see Akeem learn about a long lost son, as he returns to America to meet the unlikely heir to the throne of Zamunda. The sequel is also expected to see the return of original cast members Arsenio Hall, Shari Headley, John Amos, and James Earl Jones.

Murphy will star in Brewers Dolemite is My Name, set for release this year, and was reportedly eager to work with the director again.

Girls Trip writer Kenya Barris is rewriting a script by original Coming to America screenwriters Barry Blaustein and David Sheffield. Murphy will also produce the project, alongside Barris and Kevin Misher.

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After many years of anticipation, Im thrilled that Coming to America 2 is officially moving forward, Murphy said in a statement. Weve assembled a great team that will be led by Craig Brewer, who just did an amazing job on Dolemite, and Im looking forward to bringing all these classic and beloved characters back to the big screen.

Barris said: Craigs ability to create a distinct cinematic world with each of his films is not only impressive, but also what made him exactly the voice and vision we needed to bring this story to life. From Hustle and Flow to his work with Eddie on Dolemite Is My Name, he never fails to blow me away. He is a true auteur and we couldnt be more thrilled to have him on board.

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While I wouldn't call myself a road warrior, I do travel a bit more than the average person. In 2018 I slept in 9 different countries, sometimes in hotels and sometimes in vacation rentals--usually through Airbnb. While I do love the housekeeping services that come with hotels, apartment rentals usually win out for me. So, when I saw 7 reasons I'd choose a hotel over Airbnb any day, by Laura McCamy, I thought it deserved a response. So, here it goes.

1. Traveling with kids? Airbnb gives you space and beds.

Most of my travel is with the offspring, and while they are old enough to not be watched every second of the day, they are also young enough that they still bicker with each other over ridiculous things. Most hotel rooms (especially in Europe) won't sleep four, even with a roll-away bed, so you have to get two rooms. But, with an apartment rental, I can pick a place with enough beds, a couch, and a kitchen. That way, when everyone's done for the day there is space to hang out, you can eat breakfast in the kitchen, and I don't have to beg for extra blankets.

2. Checking in and out is easier.

McCamy writes that "I've found that checking into an Airbnb is more like a treasure hunt. You likely won't know the address until a couple of days before your stay. And you'll have to be in detailed communication with the room's host to figure out the variables of your check-in situation, which can lead to directions that involve lock boxes and combinations."

Hmm, sounds complicated. While I have had some difficulty checking into an Airbnb, I've never had to wait in a 30-minute line as I have at hotels. I love the lock boxes! I don't even have to see a human and I can arrive at any time. I've stayed at numerous apartment rentals where I never saw the host--didn't need to. And leaving typically involves putting the keys on the kitchen table or tossing them into a mailbox and texting the host saying, "We're gone! Thanks for a great stay!"

3. I love the little perks.

In Virginia, our host left us a stack of DC metro cards with money still on them. In Turkey, our host booked a balloon ride and a taxi driver to take us on a day tour. In many places, hosts have provided breakfast food and welcome snacks. Some have recommended restaurants and some have even made reservations when I didn't speak the local language. I've found hosts to be unfailingly polite and helpful. Yes, there's a concierge desk (or at least a front desk) at hotels, but that person is never as invested in the quality of your trip as an Airbnb host is.

4. I love unique places.

We stayed in a cave house, a former poker parlor with amazing stained glass, a place with a hot tub we could fill with thermal water, places with fireplaces, balconies, and fancy grills that we could use. Once there were even piranhas we could feed. Hotels? Well, some are nicer than others, but most are pretty much exactly what you'd expect. They are secure and boring. McCamy sees the boringness of a hotel as a perk, while I see that as a con.

5. I love to learn about other cultures.

I do a lot of travel around Europe (and a few other places) and so when I read things like "Americans want European style health care/education/maternity leave" I just laugh and laugh. Each country is so very different. (Although, in fairness, they all do have more vacation than the US.) If you stay in a chain hotel, there's not a huge difference between your experience in Istanbul vs. Cleveland vs. Tallinn. It's all the same. Same company, same rules, same weird full-length mirror across from the toilet.

But, if you stay in an apartment rental, you can be in a neighborhood, and visit the local grocery store and the restaurants in the area are outside of the tourist district, and, therefore, more authentic and less expensive. Of course, you can rent an apartment in the tourist district as well, but it's your choice!

6. The ratings go both ways.

Yes, I've had a couple of crappy Airbnbs in my day, but I've also had crappy hotels. The difference is, I'm getting rated as well as the host or hotel. While I'm sure plenty of people who rent out their homes on Airbnb have horror stories, they at least get the satisfaction of giving a bad rating to the guest. In hotels, I've seen people flip their lids over ridiculous things and the poor employee's only recourse is to be nice up until they do something worthy of calling the police. And even if they do, that person can merrily book their next hotel stay.

I find Airbnb hosts willing to bend over backward for me to ensure a good review. Likewise, I make sure I am a considerate guest and always leave the apartment in great condition so that I get a good review. I like the system.

7. It's easier to find what I need.

Finding a hotel room for four is almost impossible. But, with an Airbnb, I can find a large space or a small one. I can find ski-in/ski-out places, saunas, fireplaces, washing machines, and just about anything I might want for a particular trip. I love the flexibility. Do I have a car on this trip? Then I need something with parking. If I'm using public transportation, then I don't. Do I need to work? Then good wifi is a must, but if it's just a fun trip, it's not as critical. (Side note from the offspring: yes it is.)
On day 21 of the government shutdown, roughly 800,000 furloughed federal employees missed their first paychecks. Fortunately, they won't need a dime to shop at these stores.

Businesses across the country are offering free services--meals, movies, and classes, among other things--to all those impacted by what is now the longest government shutdown in U.S. history. President Trump and Democrats in Congress have been deadlocked for weeks, unable to reach a compromise over funds for border security that would include a border wall with Mexico. With no clear end in sight, business owners have taken it upon themselves, and their wallets, to help relieve at least some of the stress that furloughed federal employees and government contractors--many of whom live paycheck to paycheck--are going through right now.

"To be a true pub means to be part of the community," says Gary Smith, co-owner of British Beer Company, a pub chain based in Plymouth, Massachusetts. Furloughed federal employees are part of his community and they also make up his customer base, he adds. As of Thursday, federal workers who show their government ID can get a free meal of up to $50 worth at any of the pub's 10 locations across New Hampshire and Massachusetts. It does not include alcohol.

"They give to us 365 days a year," says Smith. "To help out a little bit is not out of the ordinary, and it's not something that should be looked at as being unusual."

In Alexandria, Virginia, Danielle Romanetti has been offering free knitting classes at her yarn store, Fibre Space, nearly every weekday since the shutdown started. She started a similar event in 2013, during the 16-day government shutdown. This time, 165 people--both furloughed federal employees and currently unemployed government contractors--have taken advantage of the free classes, where students learn how to make knitted scarfs and hats.

"People come here to hang out and relax," says Romanetti, who founded her business in 2009. She wanted to invite impacted workers to her shop and spend time there learning how to knit that "they would otherwise spend cleaning out their closets, obsessing about when they're getting their next paycheck."

Unlike in 2013, when Romanetti and her staff did the teaching, this time it's mostly volunteers who are doing it. Among them is Amy Barnes, a government contractor for Homeland Security who is currently forced out of her job. It's come full circle for Barnes. She first learned to knit at Romanetti's store during the 2013 government shutdown. "It saved my sanity," she says. "Doing that became more important than whatever was not happening on the hill."

Among the many other businesses offering free services to furloughed federal employees are Alamo Drafthouse Cinema, Baked by Yael, a bakery located directly across from the National Zoo in Washington, D.C., and Michael Lastoria's 35-store pizza chain, &Pizza. According to Lastoria, his company has doled out between 15,000 and 20,000 pizzas since the shutdown started. It's an expensive campaign, Lastoria admits, but he's not backing down.

"We're going to do the right thing for the federal workers and community that we serve," he says. "We want to be on the right side of this."

Of course, the freebies aren't entirely altruistic. Presumably once these workers go back to work and start collecting a paycheck again, they'll remember the kindness showed by these business owners. "We want people to remember us," concedes Yael Krigman, founder of Baked by Yael, which is offering federal workers and contractors free food and coffee.
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The Houston Independent School District has been in the news recently, and most of the coverage has been negative. Sadly, our school board is better known for infighting than for tackling the serious problems facing our district. Things have gotten so bad that earlier this month, Gov. Greg Abbott took to Twitter to suggest the Texas Education Agency take over HISD. While its no secret that the HISD board could use improvement, I believe that in order to truly fix HISD, we must fix the state first. Putting the blame on HISD will do nothing to solve the bigger issue, which stems from a refusal to prioritize education at the state level.

The main reason HISD schools are suffering is because the Texas Legislature neglects public education. As a public school teacher, I can attest to the fact that, for years, public school teachers have been asked to do more with less. Teachers have been told to get higher test scores with smaller budgets, fewer support staff and fewer resources in the classroom.

Test scores have become the priority. If a schools STAAR scores arent high enough for a certain number of years, they can trigger the campus to be taken over by a private organization or the entire board to be replaced the state.

Many of HISDs recent problems can be linked back to our states Chapter 41 law, also known as Robin Hood or Recapture. This law attempts to redistribute wealth among Texas school districts by redirecting money from property-rich districts and sending it to property-poor districts. While it may be a good idea in theory, its outdated funding formulas do not provide for the fact that many property-rich districts, located in cities, are the same ones that serve an enormous percentage of low-income students, who require more money to educate.

Lets look at HISD specifically. About 75 percent of the students in HISD are classified as economically disadvantaged, yet our district is defined as property-rich and required to send an estimated $274 million back to Austin this year.

Teaching in HISD, I experienced the results of this deficit first hand.

Instructional positions were cut and campus budgets shrunk. Additionally, because of the way Texas education is funded, the schools with the highest amount of need often get the least amount of money. The Texas Legislature still uses an antiquated and complicated system to fund its public schools, relying heavily on local property taxes and student enrollment. As a result, schools in wealthy neighborhoods often receive more money than those in poor neighborhoods  even with recapture. In addition, the property tax system allows the state to contribute less in sales tax dollars to public education while local property taxes rise. The Texas Legislature started cutting its share of funding to schools in 2011, and spending levels are now lower than what they were in 2008. As a result, the states contribution to HISD is about $88 million dollars lower this school year.

The numbers dont lie, and our students are the ones who suffer.

Whenever I see tweets like Gov. Abbotts, I am reminded that too many people outside of education dont understand how closely budgets and economics are tied to student achievement. When students come to school with fewer resources in their homes and communities, schools must do more to fill in the gaps. We need nurses and on-site clinics to make sure that students can see the board and hear their teachers. We need counselors and social workers to make sure that students have the social-emotional skills to cope with challenges outside of school, which might range from a messy divorce to an incarcerated parent to concerns over deportation. We need library books, textbooks and technology so that students can learn using up-to-date materials that will prepare them for the real world. We need instructional support staff to serve different populations of students, from those with special needs to those who are English Language Learners. And guess what? All of these resources cost money  money that has been denied by the Texas Legislature for far too long.

Instead of starving our schools and blaming our districts, Gov. Abbott and the Texas Legislature should look in the mirror and ask themselves what they can do to ensure that all students in our state receive a quality education.

Barnes teaches fifth grade in HISD.
One of the hardest jobs on the planet has got to be a prison guard. Its thankless. Its stressful. Its dangerous. And the people youre locked up with all day arent exactly glad to see you.

Nobody in prison is happy, Marjorie Meyers, Houston-based federal public defender, told the board recently. And they take that out sometimes on the guards.

Well, now Washington is taking it out on them, too.

During what has become the longest federal shutdown in American history, corrections officers are among the essential federal employees who are required to keep working. They must keep suiting up and covering the grueling shifts day and night, week after week - for free.

President Donald Trump has expressed confidence that the 800,000 federal workers across country missing paychecks as part of the government shutdown will be just fine.

Im sure the people that are on the receiving end will make adjustments, they always do, Trump said recently as he headed for Camp David.

Spoken like a man who has filed for bankruptcy six times.

The president, who has also said he is proud to shut down the government for border security, insists many unpaid federal workers agree 100 percent with what Im doing.

Many dont, as federal employee unions have made clear. The shutdown is affecting employees ranging from air-traffic controllers to border agents to NASA scientists. Meyers, the public defender whose office hasnt been affected by the shutdown yet, is fearful that for the first time in history, the judiciary will go unpaid as well: I think people are really angry, she said. They feel like were hostages to this. Just open the government and figure it out.

Its easy to forget, amid the drama of Trumps bloviating, his prime time speech, the turn-by-turn TV coverage of his futile negotiations with Democrats, that real people are suffering behind the scenes.

People like Linda Hernandez, a mother supporting two kids and a grandchild who isnt getting paid for either of her two jobs - one as a secretary at the Federal Detention Center in downtown Houston and the other as an overtime corrections officer. Hernandez is one of 30,000 federal employees in Houston who missed a paycheck Friday and the soonest she could see another is Jan. 25.

With kids to support, as a mother, you feel like you let them down. Emotionally, Im just drained, Hernandez was quoted saying in a story last week by the Chronicles Erin Douglas and Alex Stuckey.

It is not Hernandez who is letting her family down. It is the failed leaders in Washington - mostly from President Trump, who seems quite content to hurt hundreds of thousands of hardworking Americans to build a border wall that polls show Americans dont want anyway.

The wall is not needed when illegal crossings are at their lowest levels in decades. The wall will do little to address the only real crisis - the humanitarian one largely of Trumps own making as he fails to adequately respond to the huddled masses of women and children seeking asylum on our southern border.

But amid the policy debates, we must remember: Individual workers being played like pawns in a cynical game locked in stalemate.

Americans who support the shutdown and Congressional leaders who enable it with silence and inaction, we ask you: is it worth it?

Is it worth it to force federal employees like Hernandez and their families to dip into savings, to borrow from relatives?

Is it worth it to leave them struggling to pay rent and mortgages? Groceries? Doctor bills? Credit card interest payments?

Is it worth it, under the auspices of national security, to punish families of military service members whose job is to protect national security?

"Frankly, I am exhausted, stressed, and emotionally drained by our current political climate, but if you were to ask my husband what Ive said to him when hes called every night, he would tell you Ive said, We are fine, Natalie Daniels, whose husband is stationed in San Diego with the U.S. Coast Guard, told the Washington Post. Thats how a military spouse supports her husband, and that is how a military spouse supports their country.

Is this how her country supports her, her husband and her four children?

The other day, some likely well-intentioned individual at the Coast Guard provided employees a tip sheet on how to survive the shutdown. Consider holding a garage sale, it advised, or dog-walking, or serving as a mystery shopper.

One other piece of advice: Bankruptcy is the last option, it read.

For responsible people, yes. For Washington these days, bankrupt politics seem to be the only option.

This disgraceful fiasco is not leadership. It is not governing. Mr. President, it is nothing to be proud of. It is a callous exercise devoid of wisdom, of skill, or even of conscience.

We must support our fellow Americans. They work for us. Contact your Congressional representatives and order them to shut down this shutdown.
WASHINGTON - An emergency Trump administration plan to tap storm protection funds to pay for a border wall was slammed Friday by Houston lawmakers who said it could endanger the citys recovery from Hurricane Harvey and jeopardize the regions preparedness for future storms.

While details of the proposal remained unclear, lawmakers in both parties scrambled to win assurances from the White House and allay concerns about projects in the Gulf Region, including a proposed coastal barrier to protect Galveston Bay and the Houston Ship Channel.

Reports that President Donald Trump has been briefed on a plan to use unspent money from Army Corps of Engineers projects heightened tensions in Congress about his threat to use emergency powers to build hundreds of miles of barriers along the U.S.-Mexico border, much of it in the Rio Grande Valley.

The controversy also highlighted long-standing concerns about the slow pace at which Washington has released emergency disaster funds to Texas since Hurricane Harvey in 2017.

A White House spokesman declined to confirm details of the plan Friday as the nation lurched into the third week of a partial government shutdown in a budget fight over Trumps long-promised border wall.

More Information Houston-area projects funded by federal disaster recovery funds $295 million for Clear Creek - includes 20.4 miles of channel improvements along Clear Creek, Mud Gully, Turkey Creek and Mary's Creek as well as new stormwater detention along Clear Creek and a detention basin along Mary's Creek. $75 million for Brays Bayou - includes ongoing channel modifications upstream of South Rice Avenue, three ongoing bridge replacements or repairs and eight future bridge replacements or modifications. $65 million for Hunting Bayou - includes 2.4 miles of channel modifications upstream of Hempstead Road detention basin, modifications to three bridges at the Englewood Railroad Yard and 0.5 miles of channel modifications downstream of Liberty Road. $45 million for White Oak Bayou - includes 15.4 miles of channel modifications from Cole Creek to FM 1960 and expanding the volume of the detention basin at Fairbanks North Houston Road $3.9 billion for a Sabine Pass-to-Galveston Bay Storm Risk Management and Ecosystem Restoration, several upgrades and improvements to 40 miles of existing coastal levees in Port Arthur and Freeport, plus the construction of more than 26 miles of coastal levees in Orange County. See More Collapse

Trump, speaking at a White House roundtable on border security Friday, maintained he has the right to declare a national emergency to build the wall, but did not say when he might.

I'm not going to do it so fast," Trump said, adding that Democrats in Congress "should come back and vote" for the $5.7 billion in wall funds he has requested for 2019. "We want Congress to do its job. What we're not looking to do right now is a national emergency."

Related: White House eyes Army Corps funds to build wall

Some Republicans voice opposition

While Texas Republicans have largely backed the president in his standoff with Democratic leaders in Congress, some have balked at the prospect of siphoning money from military construction or emergency disaster projects.

I will oppose any reprogramming of Harvey disaster funds, Texas U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, a top Senate Republican, said Friday in Austin. We worked very hard to make sure that the victims of Hurricane Harvey, their concerns are addressed and Texas is able to rebuild. And I think we are all together on that.

Cornyn, who opposes declaring a national emergency, said he talked to the White House, along with Gov. Greg Abbott, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and members of the Texas congressional delegation. We are all unified in that position, he said.

Confusion still reigned in Congress Friday about the presidents intentions. While Democrats raised alarms about losing flood control and other disaster recovery funds in Texas, Puerto Rico and other storm-hit zones, Republicans sought to minimize those concerns - at least in Texas.

I dont think were going to see that money jeopardized in any way, Republican Texas Sen. Ted Cruz said of Hurricane Harvey relief funding.

U.S. Rep. Kevin Brady, a top House Republican from The Woodlands, took to Twitter to push back against media reports that the administration might be eyeing money earmarked for Army Corps projects in the Houston area.

Ive spoken directly with the White House. Absolutely not true, Brady tweeted. @realDonaldTrump committed to border security/ will not back down until adequate $$ are secured. Fully supports Corps funding to help Harvey communities rebuild/prevent future flooding.

Other Texas Republicans were less definitive about the administrations plans.

Freshman Houston Republican Dan Crenshaw said he met with Chief of Staff Mick Mulvaney Friday and voiced his concern about how this move would affect his district. He said only that the White House shared his concerns.

Ive made it clear to the Administration that not one penny can be spared when it comes to Harvey relief funding, a point to which they were very sympathetic, Crenshaw said.

Democrats raise alarm

Democrat Lizzie Pannill Fletcher, who won a historically Republican House seat in Houston in November, said it should not even be an option for the White House to build a disputed border wall with needed storm protection dollars.

Congress appropriated these funds specifically to help this community rebuild after Hurricane Harvey, said Fletcher, who made flood control projects a mainstay of her campaign against Republican incumbent John Culberson. Even the suggestion that these Harvey recovery funds be diverted for any other purpose is unacceptable.

Houston Democrat Sheila Jackson Lee called the proposal outrageous and immoral, and an affront to the millions of Americans affected by real disasters that have struck the homeland.

Also among those expressing concern was Sugar Land Republican Pete Olson, a Trump ally.

I reiterate my support for protecting America along our southern border, Olson said. However, recent reports have indicated flood control disaster relief funds - including those for Harvey recovery - could be tapped to fund construction of a wall. I strongly object to this proposal.

Olson noted that Harvey was the third consecutive year of historic flooding for Houston and the second hurricane to make landfall in the region in the last ten years.

Our region simply cannot delay construction of desperately needed flood control projects any longer. America is a strong nation that must properly secure our border without sacrificing the safety and security of the millions of Americans living along the Gulf Coast, Olson said.

Some media reports have suggested that Trump was briefed about the plan during his flight Thursday to the southern border city of McAllen. One option reportedly contemplates taking some of the unspent $13.9 billion that Congress approved last year for civil works projects around the U.S. and Puerto Rico.

Administration sources have been quoted anonymously saying that using Army Corps money is definitely an option, though nothing has been finalized.

Among the ongoing Army Corps projects in Houston are improvements to the aging Addicks and Barker Reservoirs, which were designed to prevent downstream flooding. In danger of spilling over during Hurricane Harvey, they were opened to release water, flooding Buffalo Bayou.

Some regional officials also have expressed concern about future of Army Corps funds for the long-sought Ike Dike - a 70-mile-long coastal barrier to protect the coastline around Galveston Bay against storm surges. The most recent version of the plan - now under study - carries a price tag of as much as $31 billion.

A spokeswoman for U.S. Rep. Randy Weber, a Republican whose district extends to Galveston, said the impact of the presidents plan remains uncertain. With the fluid nature of things, we can't speak to the hypothetical situation in which Army Corps funds would be used, said the spokeswoman, Emma Polefko.

Is Trump targeting backlogged funding?

Ike Dike proponent Michel Bechtel, the mayor of the Morgans Point, a Harris County city on Galveston Bay, said that he had only seen media reports of Trumps plan. I dont know whats real and whats not real, he said.

Bechtel discounted fears of losing coastal barrier funding which Congress has yet to approve. Theres nothing there for them to take away from, he said. Theres no money there.

But Bechtel, a leader in the Ike Dike project as president of the Harris County Mayors and Councils Association, noted that during negotiations over a 2017 federal water resources bill the administration sought to take back an estimated $4 billion for backlogged civic works projects that Congress had authorized more than ten years ago but which were never started.

On top of the $1.3 billion Democrats have agreed to allocate for border security, that would almost satisfy Trumps total border wall request.

That may indeed be what theyre talking about, Bechtel said. We havent seen anything as far as any current projects that have been approved where theyre calling back the money. So there may be a lot of confusion about that.

Whether or not Trump goes through with some type of emergency plan to fund the wall - a move that Democrats have vowed to fight in court - the prospect of taking storm protection monies has renewed criticism of the administrations response to Hurricane Harvey.

Texas officials, who were allocated nearly $5 billion last year by Congress for disaster mitigation, complained earlier this month about bureaucratic logjams.

We cannot afford to wait any longer, Texas Land Commissioner George P. Bush wrote in a letter to Mulvaney. Please approve these rules for publication as soon as possible so we can get started on construction of vital infrastructure projects to protect Texans from the type of damage caused by Hurricane Harvey.

Staff writer Jeremy Wallace contributed to this report.
McALLEN - With funding for his border wall stymied by opposition in Congress, President Trump brought his lobbying campaign to far South Texas for a few hours Thursday, hammering on arguments that a barrier is needed to end what he calls a crisis on the U.S.-Mexico border.

A lot of crime in our country is caused by what's coming through here, Trump said during a whirlwind visit to McAllen and the Rio Grande. Whether it's steel or concrete you don't care. We need a barrier.

Before returning to Washington, Trump repeated his threat to declare a national emergency over border security if congressional Democrats continue to deny $5.7 billion in extra funds he has requested for a border barrier and other border security items.

We shouldn't have to, Trump said. This is common sense.

OnExpressNews.com: Trump presses border crisis in McAllen, but reality is different

Such a move, to which Trump said Thursday he had an absolute right, arguably would allow him to pay for wall construction with defense or other spending. It's widely expected to be challenged in Congress and the courts.

In all, Trump spent around four hours on the border, including a few minutes viewing the Rio Grande at a county park that fronts the river. Across the narrow stream lies Reynosa, a violent city that's a center for illegal trafficking in humans and narcotics into the U.S.

Before his brief visit to the actual border, the president spent about an hour listening to several residents and Texas Republican politicians  including Republican U.S. Senators John Cornyn and Ted Cruz  praise him for pushing for the wall.

To emphasize what they said was a need for the barrier, Border Patrol and Customs officials explained a display of weapons and narcotics near or at the border.

That says it all, Trump said. But much of the contraband on display was seized at international bridges, perhaps undercutting the president's argument for an urgently needed barrier between such legal points of entry.

The presidents budget had called for $1.6 billion in new wall funding, matching last years funding, a figure that was acceptable to most Democrats and Republicans. The impasse began before Christmas when he upped the amount to $5.7 billion.

Some new fencing already is funded. Construction is scheduled to start next month on 14 miles of 18-foot-high steel bollard fencing in the Valley, at a cost of more than $300 million.

The presidents trip this week has the feel of a bull in search of a china shop, said Antonio Tony Garza, who served as the second Bush administrations ambassador to Mexico and grew up in the border city of Brownsville.

Like many other border residents and elected officials, Garza argues that enhanced border security is best achieved by limited fencing combined with more enforcement boots on the ground, smoother processing of asylum-seekers and other migrants and greater surveillance technology.

If he keeps his eyes and ears open to folks who really know the region, he might realize theres a better, smarter more responsible way of getting to the safe, secure and efficient border we all want, Garza said.

OnExpressNews.com: Texas politicians promise property tax reform, just don't expect lower taxes

But neither migrant advocates nor elected local officials  most of whom don't support new wall building and bristle at descriptions of their bustling cities as in crisis, were not invited to speak.

Several thousand protesters lined the few miles of streets and avenues where Trump's motorcade passed, shouting either support of opposition for him and the wall. A large helium blimp in the president's likeness hovered above protesters across the road from the Border Patrol station where Trump met with the officials.

Build the wall, one group chanted. No more wall, countered another. Few seemed particularly incensed.

Residents along this border have been accustomed to being in the vortex of Washington debates about immigration, narcotics trafficking and other issues. Though presidential visits are rare, other politicians and officials flock here regularly attempting to drive home messages for a national audience.

In recent years, the Lower Rio Grande Valley, which runs along the border from downstream of Laredo to the Gulf of Mexico, has become the primary crossing point for illegal immigrants, including thousands of Central American families with young children coming to request asylum.

Nearly half of the 304,000 undocumented migrants detained along the U.S. border in fiscal year 2017 were caught in the sector. Overall border apprehensions have plummeted for years, from a high of almost 1.7 million arrests in 2000. Since then, the U.S. has more than doubled the size of the Border Patrol and spent tens of billions of dollars on fencing and other security measures.

You know why we've been in the news? asked Eddie Zamora, a gray haired Trump supporter and Navy veteran. Because McAllen is now ground zero for illegal immigration.

Though many if not most oppose new wall construction, all residents on this stretch of border are keenly aware of the security threats across the Rio Grande.

McAllen and other border cities rank among the safest U.S. cities in terms of violent crime - with murders here routinely in the single digits annually - but communities across the river have growing increasingly insecurity

As gangland violence has spiked in Reynosa and other Mexican border cities in the past dozen years - many people have stopped crossing the Rio Grande to shop or enjoy a night out in once popular restaurants and bars.

Mexican officials said at least 21 people were killed Wednesday in a shootout between suspected rival trafficking gangs in the border town of Miguel Aleman, about 50 miles upriver from where Trump visited. The city sits between turf controlled by gangs that control much of that stretch of the border.

The level of fear is higher than when I grew up. But a crisis? No,  said Thelma Molano, 56, a school nurse raised in Granjeno, a small village just downstream from where Trump viewed the Rio Grande. To me the wall represents the anti-browning of America. They don't want Hispanics here.

Next door to Molano's house, unemployed truck driver Andres Diego was sticking American flags into a front yard, to show support for Trump, who he hoped would pass through the village on the way to the riverfront.

A native of the borderlands, Diego, 41, and a father of six, said illegal immigration has hurt his own economic prospects because he's had to compete for jobs with undocumented migrants. He echoed other Trump supporters in complaining about the cost to taxpayers of educating and providing health care for the immigrants.

Diego argued that the surge in Central American families crossing the border in order to seek asylum threatens to put still more pressure on education and health services. That, he said, merited Trumps branding the issue as a crisis.

I feel a wall is going to help the Border Patrol. We need it big time, Diego said. Finally we have a president who supports us, the lower middle class.
A Palestinian refugee in Houston convicted of attempting to back Islamic State terrorists overseas is seeking a new federal trial, claiming he didnt understand the consequences of violating the terms of supervised release when he pleaded guilty.

Omar Faraj Saeed Al Hardan, who came to the U.S. in 2009, alleges that U.S. District Judge Lynn Hughes did not clearly advise him that he faced a possible life term for violating federal probation if he entered a guilty plea, according to court document filed Tuesday. Al Hardan, who had an Arabic interpreter for the proceeding, also says his court-appointed lawyer failed to ensure that the judge advised him of this possibility.

ISIS SUPPORTER SENTENCED: Palestinian refugee who supported ISIS given 16 years

However, David Adler, Al Hardans court-appointed trial lawyer, noted in an email that the judge appears to have warned Al Hardan about this scenario, and pointed to a verbatim excerpt of the hearing quoted in Al Hardans appellate brief.

In the document filed Tuesday with the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, Hughes is quoted as saying at Al Hardans 2016 plea hearing, Now, the maximum penalty  Im not saying this is what I'm going to give you  that the statute would allow on your plea of guilty is for you to be imprisoned for 20 years, fined $250,000 and supervised release with up to your  up to life and there is a $100 tax. Do you have any question about the punishment?

After a back and forth with the judge, the defendant said he understood.

A spokesperson for U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick did not respond to a request for comment.

ANOTHER ISIS SENTENCING: UH engineering student who tried to join ISIS in Syria sentenced to 18 months in federal prison

Hughes sentenced the 25-year-old father in December 2017 to 16 years in prison and a lifetime of supervised release. Al Hardan pleaded guilty on Oct. 17, 2016, to attempting to provide support to ISIS, admitting that he associated with jihadists, swore an oath to Islamic State terrorists, lied on a passport application about his affiliation with terrorists and stockpiled materials to make remote detonators at his West Houston apartment. He also accepted as fact the governments accusation that he discussed decapitating Americans in support of the jihadist struggle.

David Sterman, a senior policy analyst at the New America Foundation who maintains a database on terrorism cases in the U.S., said its very common for defendants to plead guilty in these cases.

Youll often see appeals or statements of intent to appeal like this, Sterman said. It doesnt surprise me  this seems relatively in line with the general legal wrangling over terrorism cases.

GOVERNMENT APPEALS LIGHT TERRORISM SENTENCE: Justice appeals judges brief term for UH student who tried to join ISIS

Sterman noted that almost none of the defendants dating back to the 9/11 terrorist attacks have been acquitted or successfully challenged a terrorism conviction on appeal.

Yolanda Jarmon, who was appointed to represent Al Hardans in the appeal, declined to comment. But she argued in a court filing that her client thought he faced at most 20 years in prison. He would not have entered a plea of guilty if he understood that a violation of supervised release could result in a lifetime in prison, as opposed to the statutory maximum of 20 years the judge mentioned during his plea hearing, according to court documents.

Gabrielle Banks covers federal court for the Houston Chronicle. Follow her on Twitter and send her tips at gabrielle.banks@chron.com.
The sun sliced the statue at an angle, highlighting the serious faces of the two men weighed down by military garb and rifles. In the shadow rests a plaque etched with people  Vietnamese refugees  in boats, the brass depicting a tone of somberness and fear that is carried over by the immigrants gathered nearby on Saturday morning.

Every day, when I wake up and think about being deported back to Vietnam and separated from my family, that tears my heart, Robert Huynhs voice cracked.

He quickly wiped tears from his eyes as he stood in front of the Vietnam Memorial in southwest Houston Saturday morning. Dozens of people stood beside him to urge the U.S. government to renew the 2008 repatriation agreement between the U.S. and Vietnam, which protects certain Vietnamese refugees from deportation.

FOR SUBSCRIBERS: Border wall shutdown prevents employers from confirming immigration status

The memorandum of understanding, which is set to renew on Jan. 22, bars the deportation of Vietnamese immigrants with final removal orders who arrived in the U.S. prior to July 12, 1995  the date the previously warring countries re-established diplomatic relations. But the Vietnamese community and immigration lawyers and advocates have been on high alert after the two governments reportedly met last month to discuss dissolving the agreement.

If Vietnam caves to pressure from the U.S. to back out of the agreement, an estimated 9,000 Vietnamese immigrants nationwide  and roughly 1,500 in Texas  would be subject to deportation by the end of January.

The move, immigration advocates and lawyers say, would be a devastating and unfair blow to a vulnerable population. Many came to the United States to flee the Vietnam War only to be placed in struggling neighborhoods with little or no resources. As a result, some may have looked to gangs for support they couldnt find in their homes, schools and communities.

Tung Nguyen was one of those people.

He was a teenager when he arrived in California as a refugee of the Vietnam War. He didnt speak English, he didnt know the culture, and for that, he was frequently bullied.

I didnt know how to function, I made a mistake as a youngster and I had to pay for that with 18 years in prison, he said.

He was 16 and a non-citizen when he was sent to prison, which resulted in him receiving a final order of removal. But Nguyen changed his life, becoming an advocate and mentor for other incarcerated men when he was released.

I didnt know that what I did as a dumb and stupid kid was going to affect me and send me back to a country I dont even know anymore, he said. Yes, I was a criminal 30-something years ago. Today, Im a community member like everybody else.

Advocates said the agreements has been tremendously important in providing humanitarian relief and protection for Vietnamese refugee.

DETAINED: Afghan translator, family held at Bush Intercontinental, only at HoustonChronicle.com

The government considers a criminal act by a noncitizen problematic in and of itself, thanks to major immigration law reforms passed in 1996. Those reforms expanded the definition of what is considered a felony by so many criteria, that even small crimes that are misdemeanors can be classified as aggravated felonies, Quyen Dinh, executive director of the Washington, D.C.-based Southeast Asian Resource Action Center, told the Chronicle last month.

Those who entered the country illegally prior to 1995, or who overstayed temporary visas would also potentially be affected by the policy change, said Khanh Pham, attorney for the refugee and asylum advocacy group Boat People SOS.

State Reps. Gene Wu and Al Green attended the rally, and both said that attempting to dissolve the 2008 agreement is one of many moves in the Trump administrations zero-tolerance policy on immigration.

This is an ongoing smear against the immigrant community, against the refugee community, against anyone whos not white, Wu said. Look around this city and see how rich we have made the state of Texas, how rich we have made Houston.

Wu added that many of the refugees who would be affected by the agreement were refugees for a reason  many of them fought with us against the Vietnamese government in the war.

We are here because the U.S. was over there, Nguyen said.
SUGAR LAND  The bearded face in the mugshot posted by Kurdish forces looked woefully familiar to Roxanne Bradford.

Opposition forces in Syria captured Warren Christopher Clark  also known as Abu Muhammad Al-Ameriki  earlier this month and labeled him an ISIS combatant. But Bradford recognized the clean-shaven boy with the radiant smile shed known more than a decade ago at William P. Clements High School in Fort Bend County.

It makes me super sad to see the road his life has traveled down, Bradford told the Houston Chronicle this week through social media. All I can say is he was just like the rest of us. Had friends. Did his thing. Smart. Laughed. Big ol smile.

EX-SUBSTITUTE ARRESTED IN SYRIA: Former Fort Bend teacher reportedly captured among ISIS militants

Ashley Sirman Eyer first met Clark years earlier at Colony Meadows Elementary in the pristine suburb where they grew up.

He was really funny, very sweet and smart, Sirman Eyer said.

Now Clark, 34, is likely facing transfer back to the U.S. where he could face federal terrorism charges. A former Fort Bend substitute teacher, Clark apparently applied for an English teaching position with ISIS a few years ago, according to records obtained by scholars at George Washington Universitys Program on Extremism.

If charged, Clark would be the fourth person in recent years accused in Houston federal court with providing support to the terrorist group. Two Houston-area men were recently sentenced to prison in unrelated cases after pleading guilty to supporting ISIS, and the case against a third is pending.

STUDENT ISIS RECRUIT: UH engineering student who tried to join ISIS in Syria sentenced to 18 months in federal prison

On the stately tree-lined street where Clark grew up, the couple next door to his familys home said they were heartbroken for Clarks parents, both longtime secondary school teachers in the Houston ISD.

A poinsettia wreath still adorned the front door, an American flag hung from the wood fence and an SUV in the driveway displayed a University of Houston sticker. But no one answered the door over several days and relatives in the Houston area and beyond have steered clear of the barrage of requests for comment.

But Clarks father, Warren Anthony Clark, told The New York Times that his son is a humanitarian, and rejected the suggestion that his son could join ISIS. He said he learned from the news media about his sons capture after it was announced early Sunday by the Syrian Democratic Forces.

My son would not be involved in anything along those lines, he told the Times. My son doesnt have an evil thought in his mind about hurting anyone.

The accused ISIS supporter graduated from UH in 2007 and taught in Fort Bend, according to records from both institutions. His resume showed he put his teaching experience to use a few years later in Saudi Arabia and Turkey.

And then he sent out a highly unusual inquiry, according to a groundbreaking 2018 report called The Travelers: American Jihadists in Syria and Iraq, from GWUs Program on Extremism. In a sunny professional tone, Clark crafted a cover letter requesting a job teaching English for ISIS.

Waiting for the bell

The Clarks raised their son and his younger sister in the Meadow at Crescent Lakes.

The elder Clark told the Sugar Land planning and zoning commission in January 2016 that his children attended local schools before going to college, and that both planned to settle in Sugar Land. The meeting minutes recapped the fathers remarks as, Wants our city to stay as is.

Clarks parents Warren, 69, and Betty, 65, taught at James Madison High School in southwest Houston until recently. His mother retired in 2017 after more than 30 years, and worked with special needs students, according to neighbors who asked to remain anonymous. Clarks father had 35 years of experience as an associate social studies teacher and worked with Houston ISD through at least 2013, according to state records. Neighbors said they believed both of Clarks parents had been in the military and they claimed a disabled-veteran exemption for their elegant two-story brick home..

As a teenager, the younger Warren was a practicing Muslim. He belonged to the high schools Muslim Students Association, according to classmate Haseeb Jan, who rode the bus to school with him. Puja Patel, another 2003 graduate, remembered sitting and joking with Clark and her then-boyfriend while waiting for the morning school bell to ring. Clark focused on his schoolwork at Clements High, a top-ranked suburban school where many students go on to become doctors, educators, lawyers and captains of industry.

It was the kind of place where students policed their own cheating, broke up fights in the hall and did a lackluster job of cutting on senior skip day, according to Leonard Chan, who was on the student council and remembered seeing Clark in the cafeteria.

He was polite and reserved, other Clements alumni recalled.

Former classmate Curtis R. Waldo said Clark never showed an affinity to radical ideas. He didnt seem especially devout or have fiery political convictions. But Waldo thought Clark may have easily swayed.

I dont know if naive is the right word, but its not shocking to me that this happened to him, Waldo said. Knowing what I know now, I can see other people influencing him and getting him riled up.

Application to ISIS

On the resume recovered from a house in Mosul, Syria, Clark noted that he majored in political science and minored in global business at UH, details that were confirmed by a university spokesperson.

Dr. Emran El-Badawi, program director and associate professor of Middle Eastern Studies at UH, did not know Clark and has not found anyone in his circles who knew Clark back then. El-Badawi said young people who become radicalized tend to break away from the mainstream and many learn about ISIS online.

People are brainwashed, he said. Theyre totally in a bubble and they believe things that are fundamentally different and disconnected from this reality.

After college, Clark worked as a substitute teacher at Fort Bend ISD from August 2008 to November 2010, according to the district. He later moved to teaching stints in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia and Konya, Turkey, according to the resume, which ends in June 2015.

Clark appears to have posted on Facebook about his experiences in Syria after his arrival there in the summer of 2014, following the official declaration of a Caliphate by ISIS leadership in June 2014, according to Seamus Hughes, deputy director of GWUs extremism program and a co-author of the report.

A Twitter account that matched Clarks email handle began in August 2014 and ended six months later on Feb. 7, 2015. The owner of the Twitter page tried to debunk a number of myths about ISIS and noted the irony of the US criticizing ISIS for setting people on fire after Americans had dropped napalm on civilians during the Vietnam War.

Hughes, who has meticulously tracked the cases of alleged ISIS recruits in the U.S., said court documents and testimony in other cases indicate there is a standard procedure for joining ISIS in Syria, including filling out a form that asks what weapons you are capable of using, whether you have any slaves in your possession and your specialty before jihad. Recruits usually undergo three weeks of sharia or religious training and then three more weeks of military training before being given an assignment, Hughes said.

His program has identified 73 people who have made the trip to Syria to join ISIS. The FBI estimates that nearly 300 U.S. residents have traveled or attempted to travel to Syria to join ISIS.

Support for the Caliphate

David Schanzer, director of the Triangle Center on Terrorism and Homeland Security at Duke University, said his research shows that the vast majority of ISIS recruits dont last there for very long.

Even if the number was correct, a pretty high percentage have probably died or escaped, blurred into the civilian population, slipped back into Turkey (or) are in a refugee camp in Jordan - leaving very few U.S. fighters actually on the battlefield, Schanzer said. These guys are picked up in a battle or raid, and they dont have much on them in terms of documentation.

Clark was captured along with four other foreign nationals by the Syrian rebel forces, according to the SDF announcement.

Hughes said he was contacted by someone who claimed to have met Clark three years earlier at a prison run by the Islamic State in Raqqa, Syria. The man said Clark was incarcerated by Islamic State police because he was trying to defect, and described him as a bit crazy. The man then left the prison without knowing what became of Clark.

Hughes said Clark appeared more interested in helping support the Caliphate than joining the fight.

In that time frame, many of the American recruits were going to the Islamic State state to build what they saw as an Islamic utopia, Hughes said, and were less drawn to the overly violent aspects of it that we see on the nightly news.

Staff writer Jacob Carpenter contributed to this report.

Gabrielle Banks covers federal court for the Houston Chronicle. Send her tips at gabrielle.banks@chron.com and follow her on Twitter.
On Friday, the Texas State Preservation Board voted unanimously to remove a racist Confederate plaque from the Texas Capitol.

And on Thursday, the precinct chairs of the Tarrant County Republican Party voted to allow their vice chairman, Shahid Shafi, to continue to serve in that role, even though he is a Muslim.

Republicans across the state are therefore feeling proud of themselves, and many of them are feeling vindicated, too. The Tarrant County Republican Partys debate attracted a lot of attention, most of which neglected to mention that the majority of Republicans arent outright bigots.

On HoustonChronicle.com: Confederate plaque in Texas Capitol is insulting, inaccurate and should be removed

So let me begin by saying that in my experience, a majority of Republicans arent outright bigots. And Republican leaders in Texas are less prone to racist dog whistles than Republican leaders in states like California, for example, or Iowa.

Thats always been true, and the explanation is obvious. White Republican voters are joined by enough voters of color to carry the GOP candidates over the finish line in statewide elections. But Republicans cant afford to be reckless.

By the same token, though, I expect Texas Republicans to be better than Republicans like U.S. Rep. Steve King, who has repeatedly sympathized with right-wing bigots over the years and explicitly defended white supremacists this week.

Its true that Gov. Greg Abbott, who chairs the State Preservation Board, voted in favor of the plaques removal, as did the other Republican elected officials on the board  Texas House Speaker Dennis Bonnen. t. Gov. Dan Patrick and state Rep. Jeff Leach of Plano.

Its also true that Republicans in Tarrant County rejected religious bigotry by an emphatic margin this week. Roughly 75 percent of the precinct chairs who attended the meeting stood with Shafi. Only 49 Republicans wanted to remove him, and one of them quit after the vote.

On HoustonChronicle.com: Texans should hope for the best for the 2019 legislative session

Those are victories, I guess. But theyre pyrrhic.

Shafi, a surgeon, is a devoted member of the Republican Party who also serves on the Southlake City Council. Republicans in Tarrant County should be thankful that hes willing to serve as a party official. Instead, Republicans had a protracted public debate about whether to oust him because of his religious beliefs. That's disgusting.

Some of them, moreover, insisted that their objections to Shafis appointment have nothing to do with his religious beliefs, and are merely due to the fact that some Republicans are bigots and therefore might find those beliefs objectionable.

We dont think hes suitable as a practicing Muslim to be vice chair because hed be the representative for ALL Republicans in Tarrant County, and not ALL Republicans in Tarrant County think Islam is safe or acceptable, wrote precinct chair Dorrie OBrien in a Facebook post.

Abbott could have taken action on the plaque years ago, if hed wanted to. The plaque was placed in the Capitol in 1959, at the behest of the Texas division of the Children of the Confederacy. And in addition to being racist, its historically inaccurate.

The war between the states was not a rebellion, nor was its underlying cause to sustain slavery, it says.

As soon as I read that, I could see the problem. And state Rep. Eric Johnson, D-Dallas, has been formally calling for the plaques removal since August 2017. He sent a letter to the members of the State Preservation Board, including Abbott, after a woman was killed while protesting white supremacy in Charlottesville, Virginia.

On HoustonChronicle.com: Charlottesville should have been a wake-up call for Republicans

Johnson, who is black, had never been a fan of the plaque. But what happened at Charlottesville was eye-opening as well as shocking for many Americans.

On Friday, after the vote, Johnson wasnt in the mood for celebrations.

While I'm glad the State Preservation Board voted to remove the 'Children of the Confederacy Creed' plaque from the Texas Capitol, none of us in state government should be high-fiving each other or patting ourselves on the back today, Johnson said in a statement.

The plaque should never have been put up by the Legislature in the first place, and it certainly shouldnt have taken sixty years to remove it, Johnson continued. And thats on Republicans and Democrats alike, to be perfectly honest.

Johnson is right, and Texas Republicans shouldnt be patting themselves on the back about what happened in Tarrant County, either. They should apologize to Shafi if they know him personally.

The attacks he endured were personal  and they were enabled by Republicans who aren't outright bigots, but often look the other way when Americans like Shafi endure such things.

erica.grieder@chron.com
WASHINGTON  In the days after President Donald Trump fired James Comey as FBI director, law enforcement officials became so concerned by the presidents behavior that they began investigating whether he had been working on behalf of Russia against American interests, according to former law enforcement officials and others familiar with the investigation.

The inquiry carried explosive implications. Counterintelligence investigators had to consider whether the presidents own actions constituted a possible threat to national security. Agents also sought to determine whether Trump was knowingly working for Russia or had unwittingly fallen under Moscows influence.

The investigation the FBI opened into Trump also had a criminal aspect, which has long been publicly known: whether his firing of Comey constituted obstruction of justice.

Agents and senior FBI officials had grown suspicious of Trumps ties to Russia during the 2016 campaign but held off on opening an investigation into him, the people said, in part because they were uncertain how to proceed with an inquiry of such sensitivity and magnitude. But the presidents activities before and after Comeys firing in May 2017, particularly two instances in which Trump tied the Comey dismissal to the Russia investigation, helped prompt the counterintelligence aspect of the inquiry, the people said.

Special counsel Robert Mueller took over the inquiry into Trump when he was appointed, days after FBI officials opened it. That inquiry is part of Muellers broader examination of how Russian operatives interfered in the 2016 election and whether any Trump associates conspired with them. It is unclear whether Mueller is still pursuing the counterintelligence matter, and some former law enforcement officials outside the investigation have questioned whether agents overstepped in opening it.

The criminal and counterintelligence elements were coupled together into one investigation, former law enforcement officials said in interviews in recent weeks, because if Trump had ousted the head of the FBI to impede or even end the Russia investigation, that was both a possible crime and a national security concern. The FBIs counterintelligence division handles national security matters.

If the president had fired Comey to stop the Russia investigation, the action would have been a national security issue because it naturally would have hurt the bureaus effort to learn how Moscow interfered in the 2016 election and whether any Americans were involved, according to James Baker, who served as FBI general counsel until late 2017. He privately testified in October before House investigators who were examining the FBIs handling of the full Russia inquiry.

Not only would it be an issue of obstructing an investigation, but the obstruction itself would hurt our ability to figure out what the Russians had done, and that is what would be the threat to national security, Baker said in his testimony, portions of which were read to The New York Times. Baker did not explicitly acknowledge the existence of the investigation of Trump to congressional investigators.

No evidence has emerged publicly that Trump was secretly in contact with or took direction from Russian government officials. An FBI spokeswoman and a spokesman for the special counsels office both declined to comment.

Rudy Giuliani, a lawyer for the president, sought to play down the significance of the investigation. The fact that it goes back a year and a half and nothing came of it that showed a breach of national security means they found nothing, Giuliani said Friday, though he acknowledged that he had no insight into the inquiry.

The cloud of the Russia investigation has hung over Trump since even before he took office, though he has long vigorously denied any illicit connection to Moscow. The obstruction inquiry, revealed by The Washington Post a few weeks after Mueller was appointed, represented a direct threat that he was unable to simply brush off as an overzealous examination of a handful of advisers. But few details have been made public about the counterintelligence aspect of the investigation.

The decision to investigate Trump himself was an aggressive move by FBI officials who were confronting the chaotic aftermath of the firing of Comey and enduring the presidents verbal assaults on the Russia investigation as a witch hunt.

A vigorous debate has taken shape among some former law enforcement officials outside the case over whether FBI investigators overreacted in opening the counterintelligence inquiry during a tumultuous period at the Justice Department. Other former officials noted that those critics were not privy to all of the evidence and argued that sitting on it would have been an abdication of duty.

The FBI conducts two types of inquiries, criminal and counterintelligence investigations. Unlike criminal investigations, which are typically aimed at solving a crime and can result in arrests and convictions, counterintelligence inquiries are generally fact-finding missions to understand what a foreign power is doing and to stop any anti-American activity, like thefts of U.S. government secrets or covert efforts to influence policy. In most cases, the investigations are carried out quietly, sometimes for years. Often, they result in no arrests.

Trump had caught the attention of FBI counterintelligence agents when he called on Russia during a campaign news conference in July 2016 to hack into the emails of his opponent, Hillary Clinton. Trump had refused to criticize Russia on the campaign trail, praising President Vladimir Putin. And investigators had watched with alarm as the Republican Party softened its convention platform on the Ukraine crisis in a way that seemed to benefit Russia.

Other factors fueled the FBIs concerns, according to the people familiar with the inquiry. Christopher Steele, a former British spy who worked as an FBI informant, had compiled memos in mid-2016 containing unsubstantiated claims that Russian officials tried to obtain influence over Trump by preparing to blackmail and bribe him.

In the months before the 2016 election, the FBI was also already investigating four of Trumps associates over their ties to Russia. The constellation of events disquieted FBI officials who were simultaneously watching as Russias campaign unfolded to undermine the presidential election by exploiting existing divisions among Americans.

In the Russian Federation and in President Putin himself, you have an individual whose aim is to disrupt the Western alliance and whose aim is to make Western democracy more fractious in order to weaken our ability, Americas ability and the Wests ability to spread our democratic ideals, Lisa Page, a former bureau lawyer, told House investigators in private testimony reviewed by The Times.

Thats the goal, to make us less of a moral authority to spread democratic values, she added. Parts of her testimony were first reported by The Epoch Times.

And when a newly inaugurated Trump sought a loyalty pledge from Comey and later asked that he end an investigation into the presidents national security adviser, the requests set off discussions among FBI officials about opening an inquiry into whether Trump had tried to obstruct that case.

But law enforcement officials put off the decision to open the investigation until they had learned more, according to people familiar with their thinking. As for a counterintelligence inquiry, they concluded that they would need strong evidence to take the sensitive step of investigating the president, and they were also concerned that the existence of such an inquiry could be leaked to the news media, undermining the entire investigation into Russias meddling in the election.

After Comey was fired on May 9, 2017, two more of Trumps actions prompted them to quickly abandon those reservations.

The first was a letter Trump wanted to send to Comey about his firing, but never did, in which he mentioned the Russia investigation. In the letter, Trump thanked Comey for previously telling him he was not a subject of the FBIs Russia investigation.

Even after the deputy attorney general, Rod Rosenstein, wrote a more restrained draft of the letter and told Trump that he did not have to mention the Russia investigation  Comeys poor handling of the Clinton email investigation would suffice as a fireable offense, he explained  Trump directed Rosenstein to mention the Russia investigation anyway.

He disregarded the presidents order, irritating Trump. The president ultimately added a reference to the Russia investigation to the note he had delivered, thanking Comey for telling him three times that he was not under investigation.

The second event that troubled investigators was an NBC News interview two days after Comeys firing in which Trump appeared to say he had dismissed Comey because of the Russia inquiry.

I was going to fire Comey knowing there was no good time to do it, he said. And in fact, when I decided to just do it, I said to myself  I said, you know, this Russia thing with Trump and Russia is a made-up story. Its an excuse by the Democrats for having lost an election that they shouldve won.

Trumps aides have said that a fuller examination of his comments demonstrates that he did not fire Comey to end the Russia inquiry. I might even lengthen out the investigation, but I have to do the right thing for the American people, Trump added. Hes the wrong man for that position.

As FBI officials debated whether to open the investigation, some of them pushed to move quickly before Trump appointed a director who might slow down or even end their investigation into Russias interference. Many involved in the case viewed Russia as the chief threat to American democratic values.

With respect to Western ideals and who it is and what it is we stand for as Americans, Russia poses the most dangerous threat to that way of life, Page told investigators for a joint House Judiciary and Oversight Committee investigation into Moscows election interference.

FBI officials viewed their decision to move quickly as validated when a comment the president made to visiting Russian officials in the Oval Office shortly after he fired Comey was revealed days later.

I just fired the head of the FBI. He was crazy, a real nut job, Trump said, according to a document summarizing the meeting. I faced great pressure because of Russia. Thats taken off.

This article originally appeared in The New York Times
A New Caney couple is speaking out after being accused in a viral Facebook post of neglecting their dog.

Lisa Flores said she is and her husband Ronald have been attacked online and even reported to Montgomery County Animal Control numerous times regarding their 11-year-old yellow Labrador retriever Hunter who they keep chained in their backyard.

However, despite the claims made on social media, officials with the MCAC said they have investigated the issue and found the dog to be well cared for.

Seems like every year around this time we get the call, said MCAC Officer Joe Guidry noting several of the photos posted online of Hunter are more than a year old.

Guidry said they were aware of the complaint regarding Hunter before the social media storm that originated from a poster in South Africa. While Hunter is kept on a chain, Guidry said the dog has adequate shelter that is elevated to avoid standing water in the yard, fresh food and water.

After several trips to check on the dog, Guidry said animal control officers could find no indication the dog was mistreated.

'LOST AND FORGOTTEN': Judge severs ownership after more than 50 dogs found at New Caney home

The (animal control) officer took pictures, the dog was not starving, neglected, sick or anything, Guidry said. We are not going to let a dog die. If (the claims) had been substantiate, we would have moved on it and gotten a warrant.

Flores said Hunter is kept on a long chain because he has killed small wildlife. She said the dog originally belong to her son who passed away about five years ago. Flores added that is when she and her husband took ownership of the dog.

My husband would never mistreat a dog, Flores said. He is healthy. He is loved.

Flores said while her husband works six days a week, he spends time playing with Hunter, who likes to fetch a ball, and feeds the dog twice a day. She said she hopes people understand she and her husband are not neglecting Hunter and he is a happy dog.

Guidry said while officers were on scene Monday to check on Hunter, the dog was happily playing in the water.

Its frustrating, Guidry said of the social media flurry claiming the dog was in immediate danger. Its take on a life of its own online. Whats online is not always the reality.

cdominguez@hcnonline.com
The federal judge who struck down the Affordable Care Act may sit in Texas, but the legal theory that started it all was hatched nearly a year earlier and a thousand miles away by a young, ambitious lawyer in Wisconsin.

Early last January, Misha Tseytlin, then solicitor general of Wisconsin, was on the phone with his friend and fellow traveler in conservative political circles, Scott Keller, then solicitor general of Texas. The men had known each other for more than a decade since clerking together for retired Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy.

Each had a track record of winning lawsuits against the Obama administration. As they spoke, the lawyers, both now 37, wondered how the law known as Obamacare made sense after the Republican-controlled Congress had, for all practical purposes, ended the individual mandate by eliminating the penalty for not having insurance.

Related: How Texas lawmakers left their marks on the nation's new tax code

What followed is a case study in the emerging power of state attorneys generals, where cross-border political alliances form and lawsuits are filed in strategically-picked courts to further agendas or topple federal policy. It is a weapon used by both sides of the political divide.

After he hung up, Tseytlin read the tax law carefully and saw daylight when it was applied to Chief Justice John Roberts 2012 Supreme Court opinion that upheld the constitutionality of Obamacare. Roberts wrote Congress did not have the authority to regulate the individual mandate as part of its interstate commerce powers, but it could levy taxes. Therefore, Roberts concluded, the penalty for not having insurance could reasonably be characterized as a tax,

Tseytlin began to run Roberts opinion in reverse: If the law needs the mandate to work and the tax to make it constitutional, then eliminating tax should make the law unconstitutional. A bit of legal gymnastics, he thought, but it felt sound; simple, even.

I was shocked no one had thought of it, he said.

Tseytlin scoured social media and internet sites to see if others had struck the same reasoning. The closest match was a 2017 Wall Street Journal guest commentary by James Blumstein, director of Vanderbilt Universitys Health Policy Center, who wrote that with good lawyering the GOP can take advantage of Roberts premise. Blumsteins suggestions: Pass a two-page bill clarifying that Congress did not intend to use its taxing power to enforce the individual mandate.

Back in Wisconsin, Tseytlin wondered if his theory had legs. He ran it past me, said Josh Blackman, associate professor at the South Texas College of Law in Houston and constitutional expert. I had the exact same feeling.

Tseytlin and Blackman are contributors to the Federalist Society for Law and Public Policy Studies, a right-leaning advocacy organization for conservative and libertarian lawyers. Keller and Blumstein also are contributors. So, too, is Reed OConnor, the federal judge for the Northern District of Texas in Fort Worth, who ultimately heard the case.

Hired gun

Tseytlin came to the United States as a boy when his parents fled the former Soviet Union. He cannot rule out that once living under an authoritarian regime and hearing his familys stories may have shaped his politics. He abhors the idea of big government trying to micro-manage every aspect of our lives.

He arrived in Wisconsin in 2015 as the states first solicitor general, hired by Brad Schimel, the Republican attorney general. Under then-Gov. Scott Walker, also a Republican, Wisconsin had moved into the vanguard of the conservative movement, undermining unions, restricting abortion, imposing voter ID laws and rejecting federal funds offered through Obamacare.

Over the last couple years, we have become a right-wing idea factory, said Mike Browne, deputy director of One Wisconsin Now, a liberal advocacy group in Madison.

Critics called Tseytlin a hired gun. He was fresh from a job as general counsel for West Virginias attorney general. There, he was an architect of the legal challenge to the Obama administrations Clean Power Plan that sought to regulate greenhouse gases. That case, with Texas as the second plaintiff, made a stop at the Supreme Court, but ultimately the Trump administration rolled back the Obama measure.

Tseytlin downplays his role in the lawsuit against the Affordable Care Act, pushing the credit to Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and his office, including Keller. Texas was in every way the lead on this, he said.

Neither Tseytlin nor Keller will discuss how the case landed in Texas. But by the time Texas v. United States of America was filed Feb. 26, 2018 in Fort Worth, 20 Republican-led states were listed as plaintiffs. Texas took the lead, followed by Wisconsin.

Legal scholars were immediately skeptical, dismissing the suit as frivolous, or more charitably, creative. Timothy Jost, emeritus professor at Washington and Lee University School of Law and an expert on health care law, called the legal arguments absurd.

But the experts were similarly dismissive of two earlier challenges to the health care law. Both wound up in the U.S. Supreme Court.

On HoustonChronicle.com: : ACA case before the Supreme Court got its start in surprising way

In 2012, the high court ruled 5-4 that the individual mandate could stand, but discarded another part of the law that required every state to expand Medicaid, the federal program for the poor. Instead, states could decide for themselves. Three years later, the court again upheld the ACA in a 6-3 decision, this time rejecting the argument that federal subsidies to lower premium costs were unconstitutional.

The latest challenge captured little serious attention until June, when the Trump administration catapulted it into the spotlight by siding with Texas.

Judge shopping

Blackman, at South Texas College of Law, said it should be no mystery why the challenge on the individual mandate was brought by Texas in a specific Texas court. Lawyers try to file where they have the greatest chance of success, he said, The AG knows his judges and knows his districts.

Democrats do it, too, Blackman said, pointing to recent challenges to Trump administration policies filed in certain districts in California and in other blue states, where they would be heard by judges perceived as friendly.

Paxton has sued the federal government more than two dozen times since taking office in 2015, often filing major cases against Obama administration policies in Wichita Falls, where OConnor is the only federal judge for the Northern District of Texas hearing cases. In the ACA lawsuit, Paxton chose the same districts Fort Worth court. There, OConnor is the only federal judge not on senior status, a designation that typically carries a lighter caseload.

Its not automatic but theres a very high chance a big case filed in Fort Worth would land before OConnor, said Blackman.

On HoustonChronicle.com: ACA still law of the land but consumers confused and worried after judges ruling

OConnor, a Houston native, was appointed to the bench by former President George W. Bush in 2007. In recent years he has caught the attention of conservatives by striking down a series of Obama policies, including one that extended medical leave benefits for gay couples and another that prohibited health care providers from discriminating against patients based on gender identity.

He also blocked a measure to allow transgender students to use the bathroom based on gender identity, threw out a federal voting rights lawsuit and called parts of the Indian Child Welfare Act unconstitutional because race superseded a childs best interest.

OConnor did not immediately respond to a request for comment. In an interview last summer for Law360, a legal news site, he said he approached all cases equally, but had no comment on why he seemed to be the favored judge in anti-Obama lawsuits.

Conservative circuit

On Dec. 14, the eve of the final day of enrollment for 2019 ACA health plans, OConnor issued his ruling declaring the entire health care law unconstitutional. In a 55-page decision, he said Congress sawed off the last leg of the health care law by removing the tax penalty that had made the individual mandate constitutional under Roberts opinion. OConnor declared all parts of the law invalid because it could not stand without the individual mandate.

Backers of the health care law cried foul, opponents took a victory lap.Todays ruling halts an unconstitutional exertion of federal power over the American health care system, Paxton said in a statement.

On Jan. 3, as expected, the coalition of states supporting the health care law, led by California, filed an appeal. OConnor has said the law would stay in effect during the appeal process.

The case now moves to the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans, considered one of the nations most conservative.

Related: Trump taps another Texan for federal 5th Circuit bench

Should it arrive at the U.S. Supreme Court, it probably wont get there until 2020, said Blackman, who believes the chances are good that the high court will uphold at least part of OConnors ruling.

Nicholas Bagley, a law professor at the University of Michigan Law School, disagrees. He characterized OConnors decision as judicial activism, the legal logic flimsy, and thinks the appellate court will overturn it.

Regardless of what happens, two of the early key players watch from the sidelines. Keller has joined the law firm Baker Botts to chair its Supreme Court and constitutional law practice. In September, his old job went to Kyle Hawkins, a former assistant solicitor general with plenty of conservative bona fides. Hawkins once clerked for Justice Samuel Alito and was lauded for his stance against federal over-reach by a long-time friend: Misha Tseytlin.

As for Tseytlin, the mid-terms ended his run in Wisconsin when that states Republican attorney general was voted out of office. He said last week he is looking for a job and expects to land one soon.

jenny.deam@chron.com

twitter.com/jenny_deam
Permian, schmermian.

While the reborn Permian Basin in West Texas has so overshadowed every other oil and gas field in the country that analysts invented a new word  Permania  to explain the phenomenon, two other shale plays, each straddling the Texas border, are experiencing their own rebirth, according to reports released Friday.

Oklahoma's Anadarko Basin, which extends into the Texas Panhandle, may emerge as the most prolific onshore oil and gas play outside of the Permian, according to a study by the global research and accounting firm, IHS Markit. On the other side of the state, the Haynesville shale has roared back to life due to higher natural gas prices and liquefied natural gas export terminals coming online along the Gulf Coast, the Norwegian research firm Rystad reported.

Billions of barrels

IHS Markit estimates that the Greater Anadarko Basin still holds an estimated 16 billion barrels of oil and more than 200 trillion cubic feet of natural gas. The region previously boomed in the 1970s and into the 1980s, but modern horizontal drilling techniques coupled with hydraulic fracturing, called fracking, are pushing Oklahoma to new oil production records.

On HoustonChronicle.com: Permian Basin goes corporate

More Information RELATED: Corpus Christi LNG's first shipment headed to new market in Europe See More Collapse

The majority of the activity in the basin is focused on the shale rock plays known as the SCOOP - South Central Oklahoma Oil Province - and STACK - Sooner Trend Anadarko Canadian and Kingfisher (counties) - plays.

Oklahoma is now a distant second to Texas in the number of rigs actively drilling with 140, above third-place New Mexico's 105 rigs. Texas has more than 500 rigs in operation, according to the Houston oilfield services company Baker Hughes.

The potential of the Anadarko is beginning to spur a new Oklahoma land rush, according to IHS Markit. Only about 20 percent of the basins STACK sweet-spot locations have been drilled or developed. IHS Markit estimated that an additional 4,000 to 5,000 horizontal wells could easily be drilled.

"We are now witnessing a new kind of Oklahoma land rush, said John Roberts, IHS Markit executive director for global subsurface operations. But unlike what happened in 1889 when lands were opened to settlement, this time the competition is for access to the energy resources that lie below the surface.

Sustainable revival

On the other side of the state, natural gas production in the Haynesville shale, which straddles East Texas and northwestern Louisiana, is at the highest level since its recent peak in 2011. Gas output should hit a new record later this year, according Rystad.

The continental U.S. began exporting LNG in early 2016 when Cheniere Energys Sabine Pass terminal in Louisiana came online.Cheniere, of Houston, has continued to expand the terminal, increasing the demand for Haynesville gas throughout 2016 and 2017.

More than 50 drilling rigs are running in the Hayneville, according to Baker Hughes

Related: Natural gas boomed in 2018 thanks to Haynesville, Permian

"We conclude that Haynesville Shale's revival, for the second year in a row, looks sustainable," said Rystad partner Artem Abramov. "Supported by its proximity to a new LNG export terminal, gas production will continue to grow, and achieving new all-time high gas production levels should happen within a matter of months."

Cheniere recently started shipping out LNG from its new Corpus Christi terminal. Projects by other companies, including Freeport LNG in Texas and Cameron LNG in Louisiana, are expected to come online later this year.

The demand for U.S. LNG is driven by growing economies in Asia, especially in China and India, as well as other emerging markets in the region. Asia will account for 75 percent of global LNG demand by 2030, Rystad estimates.

Sand, water, gas

The Haynesville was part of the early shale boom a decade ago, but low natural gas prices halted much of the activity. Prices have mostly risen over the past few months, although they dipped in January.

Meanwhile, drilling longer horizontal wells and fracking with higher volumes of sand and water have helped double the productivity of the wells, according to Rystad.

"The Haynesville Shale is truly a different play today than it was in the first growth phase," Abramov said.
The Coalition for a Fair and Open Port, a group arguing that traffic jams caused by especially large container ships will constrict energy exports, has left a Port Houston working group created to find compromise among the ports various stakeholders.

We just do not think they are sincere in wanting to truly work together to develop a solution to maintain two-way traffic, said John Rutherford, an energy-sector adviser and the executive director of the coalition.

The Houston Pilots, responsible for guiding vessels in and out of the Houston Ship Channel, have enacted safety measures around extra-large container ships that energy companies say could severely delay the shipping of crude oil, fuels and other petroleum products, which would put billions of dollars in exports at risk. When pilots are moving 1,100-foot plus container vessels in and out of the channel, ship traffic is restricted to one-way.

Related: Enterprise Products Partners executive says record petroleum exports are at risk

In addition, pilots can only move the extra-large container ships during the day. In December, the movement of a large container ship caused an 18-hour delay for a crude-carrying vessel, which also could move only during the day.

The coalition, which includes Houston companies Enterprise Products Partners, Kinder Morgan and Targa Resources, has called for no more than one of these container ships to enter Houston each week. And the group wants to limit the ships to one trip each day.

In a letter emailed Friday to the Board of Pilot Commissioners for Harris County Ports, the coalition said the port has been unwilling to consider its proposal for capping the number of large container ships, a plan that was previously submitted to the Pilot Board.

It also said the port wasnt providing adequate planning information about the schedule and frequency of the extra-large container ships.

To effect meaningful change the coalition said, we have made the determination that we have no choice but to withdraw from further participation in your working group and focus our time and resources elsewhere to resolve this issue.

Bob Sanders from Enterprise Products and John Schlosser from Kinder Morgan have left the working group. The working groups other members represent Port Houston, the Pilot Board, Houston Pilots, the Danish container shipping company Maersk and Norwegian shipping company G2 Ocean.

The Port Authority is disappointed that Messrs. Sanders and Schlosser have decided not to participate in future working group meetings, Port Houston said in a statement, but we expect to continue to engage all ship channel stakeholders in its discussions, to ensure efficient short- and long-term commerce in the Houston Ship Channel.

Related: Energy companies fret Houston Ship Channel traffic

Port Houston expects four of the extra-large container vessels to call on Houston in the coming quarter. Tht port added that energy and industrial goods, including petrochemical products manufactured along the Houston Ship Channel for export, are among items shipped in containers.

The request to only allow one such vessel a week would require the Port Authority to pick winners and losers among the carriers that may bring these ships to Houston, and would restrict the public channel in an unprecedented fashion, Port Houston said.

And once the pilots have gained more experience with the container ships, they may ease the one-way protocol.

Still, the coalition ended the letter with a request that its proposal be placed on the agenda for consideration and adoption at the Jan. 29 meeting of the Pilot Board.

The issue of maintaining two-way traffic is simply too important to be relegated to a working group in which the port has established no sincere interest in meaningfully participating, the coalition said.

Sergio Chapa contributed to this article.

andrea.leinfelder@chron.om

twitter.com/andrearumbaugh
Sequels are often a miss rather than they are a hit, especially when it's a sequel to an older film. People have been excited for Coming To America 2 since it was announced, but fans were weary whether Eddie Murphy would return for the leading role. Thankfully, Paramount has confirmed this is the case, and on top of that, they're bringing back the film's original director for the sequel.



Giulio Marcocchi /Getty Images

According to Deadline, Coming To America 2 will find Eddie Murphy returning to his role as Prince Akeem. The comedian will be teaming up with Craig Brewer for the film who he recently worked alongside for Netflix's Dolemite Is My Name. Murphy was already excited to work with Brewer again.

After many years of anticipation, Im thrilled that Coming to America 2 is officially moving forward, Murphy said in a statement. Weve assembled a great team that will be led by Craig Brewer, who just did an amazing job on Dolemite, and Im looking forward to bringing all these classic and beloved characters back to the big screen.

Black-Ish's Kenya Barris is currently re-writing a script by the original writers of Coming To America, Barry Blaustein and David Sheffield.

There isn't a start date for production yet, but they're hoping to start this year.

Coming To America 2 will follow the story of Prince Akeem's return to America after discovering that he has a long lost son.
"Fake News" is a term that is thrown around a lot these days, but the threat of fabricated information is more serious than simple jokes imply. On Friday (January 11), Daily Star published a story that claimed Dwayne Johnson insulted millennials in an exclusive interview. Several conservative publications, blogs, and activists shared the article throughout the day, using Johnson's apparent co-sign of the "snowflake" term to reaffirm their narratives. After the news got to Johnson, he took to Instagram to respond to all the hype.

I cant believe I have to do this, again, and set the record straight on something, but Im happy to do it, Johnson began. Earlier today online an interview dropped with me, apparently it was with me, where I was insulting and criticizing millennials. The interview never took place. Never happened. Never said any of those words. Completely untrue. He continues on, with an incredulous look on his face. One hundred percent fabricated," Johnson says through a laugh. "Ive gained such a great trust and equity with all of you guys all around the world over these years. And you know its not a real DJ interview if Im ever insulting a group, a generation, or anyone. Because thats not me, thats not who I am, and thats not what we do.
Enter the Once Upon A Child Spring Style Sweepstakes today for the chance to WIN! Refresh your child's wardrobe! You could be the LUCKY WINNER of $200 in Store Cash!
Indiana Fire Marshals Office officials and firefighters investigate after a deadly fire Sunday on South Tyler Lane west of Bloomington. Investigators determined the fire that killed a 2-year-old boy was caused by children playing with matches in a bedroom.
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Hours after the partial shutdown of the US federal government entered the 22nd day Saturday, becoming the longest in the countrys history, accounts of distressed employees dipping into savings, selling household goods on Facebook and Craiglist are being reported from around the country.

One federal employee in Washington DC put his 2012 Dodge Avenger car up for sale on Craiglist. saying, Need to pay upcoming bills due to furlough shutdown.

An employee in Virginia is selling a TV. It works perfectly and is in good condition. Reduced to $400, I am part of the government shutdown and need funds to survive.

Furlough sale  various items cheap, read a sale notice on Craiglist from someone in Virginia. Our loss is your gain! We have a lot of great products for sale. The list included a baby car seat, mens extra-large leather jacket and SUV tyres.

An estimated 800,000 federal employees are either on leave without pay or are working without pay and include those working at the department of state  that would include employees here and diplomat abroad, including ambassadors  treasury, homeland security, judiciary (include FBI personnel), interior and transportation (air traffic controllers and security). They missed their first paycheck of the shutdown period on Friday.

Talks to resolve the shutdown have been stalemated since President Donald Trump ended the last round with a bye-bye.

Democrats should come back to Washington and work to end the Shutdown, while at the same time ending the horrible humanitarian crisis at our Southern Border I am in the White House waiting for you!, he wrote on Twitter Saturday.

Lawmakers have left for the weekend and talks were not expected to resume, if they will at all, only next week. But Democrats are getting ready, at the same time, a move teased by the president several times that he could declare a national emergency and fund the wall from unspent defence money.

Trump has sought $5.7 billion to build a wall along the southern border  which he is now calling a steel barrier or anything else Democrats are willing call it  that was a key campaign promise, which, critics have pointed out, he had vowed to force Mexico t pay for it. He is not budging, either way.

Democrats wont give him that amount, but they are willing to continue the negotiations but only if he allowed the reopening of the government which on Saturday beat the previous record of 21 days of continued shutdown from 1995, during the first term of President Bill Clinton, who had clashed with the Republican congress which wanted to cut federal funding for Medicare (health insurance for those older than 65) and Medicaid (for low-income Americans).

President Trump called on Democrats to resume talks and end the impasse, but showing no sign, however, of yielding ground on his wall.

Accounts of distress are being reported from around the country as impacted federal employees dip into savings, sell household goods and belonging pay bills, or take on multiple low-paying jobs to tide over the crisis.

Not sure how long this will last now, said an impacted federal employee, as essential staff is working without pay. The family is dipping into savings  being of Indian descent, we have some savings otherwise it would be difficult. The person did not want to be identified.

Jay Elhard, an employee of the National Park Service, has started a Facebook group for people like him selling household goods and items to pay bills and provide for other expenses. You have to take a kind of cold-hearted look at things around you and decide what would be marketable to someone else, he told The Washington Post.
The city police claimed have busted a high profile sex racket that operated at a plush spa located in Viman Nagar, Avenue II on Thursday. They have rescued four Thai nationals from being forced into flesh trade.

According to the police, the racket was being run allegedly by a person identified as Bantikumar Kantibhai Patel, 27, a resident of Meera Nagar Society, Koregaon Park and a 24-year-old woman from Nagaland who stays in Kondhwa.

Police who conducted the raid said that the accused persons have been running the spa called Le Victoria Spa and Salon Centre at House number 18, Gulmohar Society, which is a part of a busy commercial area. According to the officials, the suspects had allegedly brought the Thai women to Pune, under the pretext of employing them as masseuses and trafficked them into flesh trade instead. The victims were in the age group between 31 and 41. The women were brought into the city on a tourist visa on the promise of employing them in a job where they could get atleast Rs 50,000 a month.

Dilip Shinde, senior police inspector said Three of the rescued Thai women were residing at Clover Park in whereas one was staying at Adarsh Nagar. They have been shifted to a rescue home soon after the raid. Mobile phone and cash worth Rs 6000 was seized during the raid . The accused used to operate the business through online portals and the clients, mostly working professionals, were managed by communicating through mobile-based applications.

The two accused were booked under Indian Penal Code (IPC) sections 370 for trafficking the woman for the purpose of sexual exploitation and 370 A for exploiting the trafficked person. Apart from this Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act and was also evoked. The police will inform the Foreign Regional Office (FRO) about the rescue for further proceeding into the case.

Police officials had rescued atleast 40 Thai women from massage parlours across the city , particularly in areas like Chatushrungi, Baner, Sinhagad Road, and Sanghvi during the last six months.
Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav and BSP chief Mayawati will on Saturday announce their alliance for the Lok Sabha polls, appearing set to keep the Congress out of the pact in Uttar Pradesh.

The Congress described this likelihood as a very dangerous mistake and said it was ready to fight the parliamentary polls alone in the state.

SP national secretary Rajendra Chaudhary and Bahujan Samaj Party national general secretary SC Misra on Friday sent out the invitation for a joint press conference at a hotel in Lucknow.

Akhilesh Yadav confirmed in a television interview that the press conference is on the alliance in Uttar Pradesh, while parrying questions on seat-sharing with the Congress.

Also Read | SP-BSP roller coaster: After 26 years, same alliance, same challenge

At a meeting in Kannauj, he also said, Our coming together has not only created fear in the BJP but also in the Congress. Smaller parties like the RLD and the Nishad Party are also likely to be part of the alliance, but were not mentioned in the announcement on the press conference.

RLDs state unit president Masood Ahmed told PTI that the party national vice president Jayant Chaudhary will be in the state capital Saturday and, if invited, could be a part of the joint press conference.

His party chief Ajit Singh evaded questions from the media on the two seats expected to be set aside for the RLD, saying the discussions were in an early stage.

Watch: No difference between Congress and the BJP: Mayawati

In Delhi, Congress spokesperson Abhishek Singhvi said the objective of all opposition parties should be to defeat the ruling BJP and eliminate autocracy, misgovernance at the Centre.

We may have fallen on difficult times. But I think to ignore us can prove to be a very dangerous mistake, he told reporters when asked about the possible SP-BSP alliance.

Since everybody realises that, I think we will have a happy and harmonious solution sometime in the near future, he added.

Uttar Pradesh Congress spokesperson Rajiv Bakshi said the party was ready to fight the coming elections alone in the state.

We alone have 45 seats in the Lok Sabha and it is any day many more than the regional players, he said.

A mahagathbandhan in the Lok Sabha elections needs to be built around the party having a national face, Bakshi said.

The top leadership of the SP and the BSP recently met in Delhi to discuss the broad parameters of an alliance to take on the BJP in the parliamentary elections just months away.

Also Read | BJPs Phulpur, Gorakhpur loss paved way for Akhilesh-Mayawati coalition

After the meeting, the SP said Akhilesh Yadav and Mayawati had given their in-principal approval.

Sources said the SP and the BSP are planning to contest on 37 seats each out of the 80 on offer in Uttar Pradesh and plan to leave just two, Rae Bareli and Amethi, the bastions of Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi, for the Congress.

Congress leaders like PL Punia, who delivered Chhattisgarh to the Congress as its state in-charge, and UPCC chief Raj Babbar are reportedly of the view that the party should seek its pound of flesh in any alliance.

They cite the example of 2009 when the Congress romped home with 22 Lok Sabha seats in UP, surprising many.

They also say that with party chief Rahul Gandhi getting more combative against the Bharatiya Janata Party, the Congress now stands a better chance than before.

At a party convention in Delhi on Friday, BJP president Amit Shah mocked the bua-bhatija alliance of the parties led by Yadav and Mayawati.

He said they could not stand each other but have now joined hands due to the fear of the BJP, echoing remarks made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at a recent rally in Agra.

Shah claimed that the BJP is on its way to win more than 50 per cent votes in Uttar Pradesh, asserting the saffron alliances tally will improve from the 73 Lok Sabha seats it won in 2014 out of the states 80.

Last year, Yadav and Mayawati decided to bury their differences to contest three bypolls.

The joint opposition victories in the bypolls in Gorakhpur, Phulpur and Kairana was seen as a consolidation of Other Backward Classes, Dalits and Muslim votes, and raised expectations of a similar math working in the 2019 elections.

In recent days, Yadav and Mayawati have put out press statements that mention a gathbandhan.

Mayawatis press statement was in solidarity with Yadav amid reports that the CBI might question him in connection with a mining scam that allegedly took place when he was chief minister.

Dont be shaken, she advised him.

Yadav returned the favour when he put out a statement to condemn Modis remarks in Agra on Mayawati forgetting an attack on her by SP workers in 1995.

The PM is scared of the alliance, Yadav said.
Ahead of the 1993 Uttar Pradesh assembly elections, Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) and Samajwadi Party (SP) veterans, Kanshi Ram and Mulayam Singh Yadav,respectively, sprung a surprise in political circles by announcing an electoral alliance.

They had several rounds of secret meetings in New Delhi, of which few were aware of.

Both were heading fledgling parties. For the SP, it was their maiden election after the partys formation in October 1992 and the BSP was struggling to create a political niche in the state. Its highest tally was 12 seats in the 1991 state polls.

(READ: Why the SP-BSP alliance is key to 2019)

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)riding high on the saffron wave after the Babri Masjids demolition in December 1992was confident of a windfall after its Kalyan Singh- led government was dismissed, necessitating the mid-term poll.

The BJP emerged as the single largest party, but fell short of the majority mark, bagging 177 seats in a house of 425. No other party came forward to support the BJP, which was considered untouchable then.

The SP and BSP contested 256 and 164 seats respectively, and won 109 and 67. They mustered the support of other parties like the Congress, Communist Party of India(Marxist) and the Communist Party of India as the political narrative post-Babri demolition was secularism vs communalism.

(READ: SP-BSP alliance will get maths right: Akhilesh Yadav)

Later, explaining the reasons behind the decision to ally with the SP, current BSP chief Mayawati had said, we wanted to unite the Bahujan Samaj under the leadership of someone from the Bahujan Samaj. We also wanted to checkmate the BJPs growth on the temple issue. But the experiment failed because of Mulayams selfish politics.

After 26 years, the two leaders who inherited their respective parties, Akhilesh Yadav and Mayawati, are reuniting to take on a resurgent BJP leaving behind a trail of scuffles and abuses that the two parties had exchanged after a violent split in 1995. While Kanshi Ram is no more, Mulayam has taken a backseat ever since his son Akhilesh took control of the party.

The two leaders had parted ways after the infamous state guest incident of 1995. The BSPs decision to pull out of the tottering coalition had sparked a violent reaction by SP workers, forcing Mayawati to lock herself in a room. The BJP had jumped to her rescue and propped her up as the first Dalit chief minister of the state.

(READ: We will leave 2 seats for Congress, says Akhilesh Yadav on Lok Sabha poll plan)

The BJPs aim was to create a permanent wedge between the two parties as it was detrimental to their electoral health. And they succeeded.

Barbs were exchanged, CDs were circulated and FIRs were lodged by both the parties. Mayawati later even demanded a public apology from Mulayam for the state guest house incident and said, had he run the coalition government properly, there would have been no need for the BSP to join hands with the BJP or for Mulayam to run from pillar to post in quest of power.

In fact, while Mulayam was the CM, Mayawati was the super CM. Both she and Kanshi Ram used to call the shots holding fortnightly monitoring of the governments performance that culminated with the public humiliation of Mulayam.

However, much water has flown since they parted ways.

The challenge from the BJP is bigger. The spectre of Ayodhya continues to loom large over the electoral scene. And, they will have to combat the political skills of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and party president Amit Shah.

However, both SP and BSP have grown robust since 1993. They have dominated the state, rotating power in alliance with like-minded parties till 2007 when Mayawati broke the coalition jinx. Five years later in 2012, Akhilesh formed the majority government. Both were decimated by the BJP in 2017.
Downfall of BJP has begun: Tejashwi Yadav

Former CM of Bihar Tejashwi Yadav reacts on SP-BSP alliance, says downfall of BJP has begun from UP and Bihar

BSP and SP party workers celebrate the alliance in Varanasi

Varanasi: Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) & Samajwadi Party (SP) party workers celebrate after BSP Chief Mayawati and Samajwadi Party Chief Akhilesh Yadav announce to contest upcoming Lok Sabha elections together.

Mamata welcomes SP-BSP alliance

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee Saturday welcomed the SP-BSP announcing an alliance in Uttar Pradesh for the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.

I welcome the alliance of the SP and the BSP for the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections, Banerjee tweeted.

The Trinamool Congress supremo, who has been a vociferous critique of the BJP, has been touring the country over the last one year trying to build an opposition alliance to take on the BJP in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.

SP, BSP coming together for their survival: Ravi Shankar Prasad

The SP and BSP have allied neither for the country nor for Uttar Pradesh, but for their survival. They know they cannot fight Modi on their own and their opposition to him is the sole base of their alliance, senior BJP leader and Union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said. He also downplayed suggestions that the former arch rivals coming together will have any impact on the parliamentary polls, saying elections are not about mathematics but chemistry.

Prasad made these remarks just after BSP chief Mayawati and Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav announced their alliance in Uttar Pradesh for the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, sharing 38 seats each out of the states 80 parliamentary constituencies.

SP-BSP contesting together to save their political ground: BJPs Sudhanshu Trivedi

Both parties are contesting together just to save their political ground. These parties have blamed each other of murder in the past. Anyway, its their choice.We are confident. Even if all parties come together, we will still win.

Need of alliance in entire country: Kamal Nath

Today there is a need of alliances in the entire country. BJP got only 31% vote in 2014 and claimed it was peoples mandate, this happened due to split in votes, said Madhya Pradesh CM Kamal Nath.

UP has given PMs in past, trend will be repeated again: Akhilesh on Mayawati for PM

You know who is my choice. Uttar Pradesh has given Prime Ministers in the past and trend will be repeated again, said Akhilesh Yadav on if he will support Mayawati for PM.

Any insult to Mayawati is my insult: Akhilesh

I want to say to BJP that they should know that we (SP-BSP) are in this together. I am grateful to Mayawati for giving me equal status. They should know any insult to Mayawati is my insult, said Akhilesh Yadav

Come together to rid UP of BJPs religion and caste politics: Akhilesh Yadav

We have come together to rid the state and country of BJPs religion and caste politics. This alliance was a must to destroy BJP, said Akhilesh Yadav.

To defeat the arrogance of BJP, it was necessary for BSP and SP to come together. BJP can go to any extent to create differences in our workers, we must be united and counter any such tactic, he added.

BSP, SP will contest on 38 seats each: Mayawati

Mayawati announced that BSP and SP will contest on 38 seats each out of 80 seats.

We are leaving 2 seats for smaller parties and 2 seats of Amethi and Raebareli for the Congress party without any seat-share deal, said Mayawati

No real gain from aligning with Cong, says Mayawati

Congress party rule hasnt benefitted anyone. Theres no real vote transfer from Congress and hence no real gain from aligning with Congress. We wont ally with any party which will hurt our political ambitions, said Mayawati.

Congress not part of alliance, confirms Mayawati

Mayawati, while announcing tie-up with Samajwadi Party, confirmed that Congress is not part of the alliance.

All sections unhappy with Congress. Both Congress and BJP have similar policies and both of them are involved in corruption, said Mayawati.

Alliance will represent common people: Mayawati

We will give our differences aside and work for the country. This alliance will represent common people. The BSP chief said both the parties are joining hands to defeat communal forces and protect rights of the people.

This press briefing will give sleepless nights to Modi: Mayawati

While announcing tie-up with Akhilesh Yadavs SP, Mayawati said, This press briefing will give sleepless nights to (PM) Modi and Amit Shah.

Mayawati announces SP-BSP alliance

In a joint press briefing with SPs Akhilesh Yadav, Mayawati announced the SP-BSP alliance for the 2019 Lok Sabha polls.

We have decided to contest upcoming Lok Sabha elections together, this will lead to a new political revolution in the country, she said.

Mayawati, Akhilesh Yadav arrive at venue

Samajwadi Party (SP) president Akhilesh Yadav and Bahujan Samaj party (BSP) chief Mayawati have arrived at the press meet venue, where they are expected to formally announce their alliance for the 2019 Lok Sabha polls.

Alliance hoardings interspersed with Mayawatis 63rd birthday hoardings in Lucknow

Mayawati-Akhilesh Yadavs hoardings in Lucknow are interspersed with Mayawatis 63rd birthday hoarding.

Mayawati shares her birthday with Kannauj MP Dimple Yadav, who is the wife of Akhilesh Yadav.

Senior SP, BSP leaders arrive at venue

BSP state president RS Kushwaha and SP state president Naresh Uttam along with senior BSP and SP leaders have arrived at the venue.

BSP national general secretary Satish Chandra Mishra met with SP delegates led by the SP national vice president Kiranmoy Nanda at the presser venue.

Congress-BSP had announced alliance in 2017 from the same presser venue

Rahul Gandhi and Akhilesh Yadav, in 2017, had announced SP-Congress alliance from the same venue, same stagefor 2017 UP Assembly polls , Rahul Gandhi and SP chief Akhilesh Yadav had

Sloganeering outside Akhilesh-Mayawati presser venue

Supporters were seen raising slogans outside Akhilesh Yadav -Mayawatis presser venue.

Akhilesh Yadav Mayawati zindabaad, zindabaad, Bua, Bhatija zindabaad, zindabaad. Mulayam, Mayawati zindabaad chants were heard in Lucknow ahead of the press conference, wherein the SP and BSP leaders are likely to make the big alliance announcement.

Congress is prepared to contest the Lok Sabha polls on its own strength in UP: Party media coordinator

With the Bahujan Samaj Party and the Samajwadi Party set to cement a seat-sharing deal in Uttar Pradesh for the Lok Sabha polls, the Congress on Friday appeared reconciled to fighting a lone battle in the state.

Media coordinator of the party Rajeev Bakshi said: Congress is prepared to contest the Lok Sabha polls on its own strength in UP.

Very dangerous mistake to ignore us: Congress on proposed SP-BSP alliance

Ignoring the Congress in Uttar Pradesh can be a very dangerous mistake, the party asserted Friday, a day before the Samajwadi Party and the Bahujan Samaj Party are likely to announce their alliance for Lok Sabha elections in the politically crucial state.

Congress spokesperson Abhishek Singhvi said the objective of all opposition parties should be to defeat the ruling BJP and eliminate autocracy, misgovernance at the Centre.

We may have fallen on difficult times. But I think to ignore us can prove to be a very dangerous mistake. Since everybody realises that, I think we will have a happy and harmonious solution sometime in the near future, he told reporters when asked about the possible SP-BSP alliance.

Read | SP,BSP set to announce UP alliance without Congress, party calls it dangerous mistake

SP-BSP alliance will get maths right, said Akhilesh Yadav on Friday

Akhilesh Yadav on Friday said the coalition will get the math right and defeat the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

A formal announcement is expected at a press conference by Yadav and BSP chief Mayawati in Lucknow on Saturday. As of now, the alliance is only between two parties. The role of any other party will be decided later, Akhilesh said in an event organised by Twitter in Kannauj.

Read | SP-BSP alliance will get maths right: Akhilesh Yadav

SP-BSP posters party flags seen in Lucknow

SP-BSP posters and party flags were seen in Lucknow, ahead of the joint press conference by Akhilesh Yadav and Mayawati in Lucknow.

Besides Akhilesh and Mayawati, the posters also feature senior leaders like BSP All India General Secretary Satish Chandra Misra and SP leader Ram Gopal Yadav, with a slogan humara kaam bolta hai and Bhajpa ka jhoot bolta hai (Our work speaks, BJPs lie speaks).

SP-BSP posters and party flags seen in Lucknow. Akhilesh Yadav and Mayawati will jointly address the media later today pic.twitter.com/bfxRUVMJcx  ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) January 12, 2019
Former Bihar chief minister Rabri Devi on Saturday hit out at the Narendra Modi-led central government, accusing it of weakening constitutional institutions as she cited how CBI director Alok Verma was removed from his post and eventually resigned from service.

This is a time for introspection and people of the country should do it, she said at the legislative council, where mortal remains of party member Khurshid Mohammed Mohsin was brought for tributes. Mohsin, a Rashtriya Janata Dal MLC elected last year, died at his residence in Patna on Friday.

Rabri Devi, who is leader of the opposition in the council, also accused the central government of being autocratic.

In the context of Bihar, she accused the state government of failing to maintain law and order, highlighting how a 16-year-old girl was found beheaded in Gaya recently. Cases of rape and murder are on the rise in Bihar and the administration has failed to contain them. The Gaya incident has once again raised a question mark on the efficiency of the police administration. There should be a high level probe into the Gaya incident, she said.

The former chief minister has been vocal against the Nitish Kumar government on the law and order front and had triggered angry reactions from the ruling Janata Dal (United) a few months back over her comments that mahajungleraj was prevailing in Bihar.

Meanwhile, the RJD welcomed the alliance between the Samajwadi Party and the Bahujan Samaj Party in Uttar Pradesh.

The BJPs downfall has begun in UP and Bihar. RJD chief Lalu Prasad wanted the BSP and SP to come together and it has happened. The SP-BSP alliance is a formidable alliance and it will remain intact, said former deputy chief minister and leader of opposition in the assembly, Tejashwi Prasad Yadav.

He also hoped the alliance in UP would not go the Bihar way, where the grand alliance comprising the RJD-Congress and JD(U) stitched before 2015 assembly polls witnessed a break-up when JD(U) realigned with the BJP to form government in July 2017.

On the other hand, state BJP president Nityanand Rai said the growing opposition unity in Bihar would have no impact on the electoral prospects of his party-led alliance and exuded confidence the NDA would win all the 40 parliamentary seats in the state. People of Bihar are determined to vote for the NDA this time again and give PM Narendra Modi a second term in office, Rai said.
The choice in the 2019 Parliamentary elections will be between those who believe in the sultanate and those that repose faith in the Constitution, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said to a crowd of around 10,000 Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) workers at the partys national council meeting on Saturday, as he sought the support of voters for a second term in office.

Modi asked people to choose their pradhan sevak (prime worker), as he refers to himself, and hoped the country would prefer a majboot (strong) government over a majboor (helpless) regime of political parties that are seeking to unite because of their fear of him.

The BJPs national council meeting, on Friday and Saturday, was the partys first major preparatory event this year for the Lok Sabha polls, although Modi has already started his campaign. HT reported on December 31 that starting December, Modi would address 100 rallies in three months as part of the BJPs preparation for the polls. The national council meeting saw the party put forth three resolutions: one on agriculture, the second on pro-poor schemes; and the third on the political situation in the country.

The party believes these will be big issues in the coming parliamentary elections. Analysts and some members of the party say the Ram temple issue, currently before the courts, could be one too. Modi accused the Congress of creating hurdles in finding a solution to the issue of the Ram temple in Ayodhya.

Modi also sought to dismiss criticism over his governments record on agriculture, and said it was trying to find a long-term solution to the problem in the agrarian sector  and not go for populist short-term policy making. The crisis in the farm sector is because of neglect of agriculture over several decades, he added.

Do you need a servant who will work for 18 hours or someone who goes on a vacation for two to three months without disclosing the location, Modi said, taking a dig at Congress president Rahul Gandhi.

The prime minister sought to dismiss criticism about centralisation of power in the BJP even as he downplayed his own abilities to make things work in the elections. The party has a collective leadership, he said, and while it sounds good when people say Modi will change the situation at the last minute, the worker in the (poll) booth is like that farmer who has to plough the field for a good harvest. Without him, a good rainfall or good quality seeds cant ensure a bumper harvest.

In a more than hour-long speech at the Ramlila grounds in central Delhi, Modi tried to draw a distinction between his party and the opposition, mainly the Congress, referring to the two as we and us and they and them respectively. They stand for corruption, he explained. We stand for work and inclusion.

They want a majboor sarkar, he added, so that they can indulge corruption and further their vested interests, and a failed idea (of a coalition) has been revived again in the name of a grand alliance.

His remarks came shortly after the Samajwadi Party and the Bahujan Samaj Party  two arch rivals in Uttar Pradesh  joined hands for the April-May parliamentary election.

Sidharth Mishra, president of the Centre for Reforms, Development and Justice, said the majboot versus majboor narrative was to discount the signs of revival of the Congress, which recently wrested power from the BJP in three Hindi heartland states.

No alliance will be credible without the Congress, and the BJP knows this well. The whole narrative that is being built around the opposition alliance is also to deny the fact that the Congress was on a path of revival and it will be the principal challenge to the BJP in the next parliamentary election, Mishra said.

Modi said India would have been different had Congress leader Sardar Patel been the prime minister after independence, or the BJPs Atal Bihari Vajpayee returned to power in 2004. After the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance suffered a loss in 2004, a Congress-led United Progressive Alliance government ruled India for 10 years. Modi said this was a lost decade. Ten years were wasted. We inherited in 2014 a country that was in poor shape. The foundation is strong now. Imagine the pace with which we can transform this country again after returning to power, he told the crowd.

The Prime Minister also pitched his governments corruption-free record. There isnt a single taint on the government, he said. It has been established, he added, that a government can function without indulging in scams and brokers can be removed from corridors of power.

Modi is facing heat from Congress president Rahul Gandhi for alleged irregularities in the purchase of 36 Rafale fighter jet, and the prime minister sought to dismiss the charges, saying some people refuse to understand an issue that even a less educated person would understand easily. You can wake up a person from sleep, Modi said. But, you cant wake up a person who is pretending to sleep.

Modi also sought to link Christian Michel, the middleman in the AgustaWestland chopper deal, with Rafale. He said a middleman (he didnt refer to Michel by name) in a helicopter deal currently being investigated by agencies had revealed several things and it now transpires that his role was not limited to helicopters, and he was lobbying for a different company in the purchase of fighter jets, something which led to delay in their purchase under the UPA.

Now you know why the Congress is sending lawyers to protect this middleman, Modi said, referring to the fact that Michels lawyer was a Congress member who quit the party after the connection was pointed out. This chowkidar will not sleephe will not spare any thief, whether in India or abroad. Modi often calls himself as chowkidar (watchman) who is protecting public money, and Gandhi has tried to turn tables on him with his Chowkidar hi chor hai (watchman is the thief) jibe over the Rafale controversy.

Amidst a raging controversy over appointments in the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the functioning of institutions, the prime minister said he was subjected to a nine-hour grilling by the Supreme Court-appointed special investigation team (SIT) in the Gujarat riots case, and added that he has always believed in the Constitution and the power of truth. He said the UPA used all agencies against him, but that he retained his faith in the process of law.

Compare this with the Congress, whose first family treats itself like a royal family and refuses to acknowledge the authority of any institution, Modi said, referring to the National Herald case in which Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi are involved.

Modi said that despite being harassed for 12 years by the UPA when he was Gujarat CM, he didnt ban the entry of the CBI in his state, and pointed out that now, some opposition-ruled states do not want the agency to probe any cases in their territories. Chhattisgarh became the third state, after Andhra Pradesh and West Bengal, to withdraw this week its consent to CBI to probe cases in its territory. What do they fear? Modi asked.

For Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Indias history started from May 2014, Congress spokesman Manish Tewari said of Modis speech . He is spreading a blatant lie that Indias progress started only after May 2014. Ironically, today, he has not used the term acche din. He also didnt speak about demonetisation for even once. Why did he not talk about demonetisation, your biggest achievement? People want to know why farmers are suffering, why Indian farmers are not getting their due.

Tewari also added that if Modi was indeed so respectful of institutions,he should explain why two Reserve Bank of India governors have resigned during your tenure?

Modi also spoke in detail about his governments decision to accord 10% reservation to people from economically weaker sections in the general category in educational institutions and jobs, and cautioned his party colleagues against a conspiracy by the opposition to misguide people who are currently beneficiaries of reservation that this would come at their expense. Ten percent quota in education, government jobs to poor youths of general category will enhance confidence of new India, Modi said. We did not interfere or snatch the existing reservation benefit. Nobody can take it away.
Hours after the Samajwadi Party and the Bahujan Samaj Party announced their alliance in Uttar Pradesh sans Congress for the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Saturday said his party will fight the elections in the state alone with its full capacity.

Addressing a press conference in Dubai, Gandhi said that the leaders of the two parties have a right to do what they want to do.

BSP and SP have made a political decision. Its on us on how to strengthen the Congress party in Uttar Pradesh and we will fight with our full capacity, he said, reported PTI news agency

Congress party has tremendous to offer to the people of Uttar Pradesh... I have tremendous respect for the leaders of BSP and SP, they have a right to do what they want to do, he added.

Once arch-rivals Samajwadi Party and Bahujan Samaj Party announced Saturday their tie-up in Uttar Pradesh for the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, sharing 38 seats each and keeping the Congress out of the alliance.

As the announcement came, the Congress prepared to go alone in the elections. However, the possibility of it taking like-minded smaller political groups along could not be ruled out.

A meeting of senior party leaders, office bearers and district and city unit chiefs has been convened in Lucknow on Sunday to give a final shape to the poll strategy and Rahul Gandhis tour programme across the state in next few weeks.

The Congress presidents state tour will begin later this month. We are requesting him to begin from Lucknow and cover the entire state by next month. We discussed this with leaders of west UP on Friday and others have been called to Lucknow on Sunday, said a senior party leader on condition of anonymity as Congress general secretary (incharge UP) Ghulam Nabi Azad will officially speak on the partys view on the alliance and Rahul Gandhis proposed tour programmes soon.

We knew this is coming. This is an opportunity to realise our true potential and may prove a blessing in disguise for us. The SP and BSP have underestimated the Congress. We may have won only 2 seats in 2014 Lok Sabha polls, but the partys candidates did considerably well on many other seats. Moreover, we won 21 Lok Sabha seats in 2009 Lok Sabha polls on our own and this number reached 22 after the party won a by-poll. As 2019 Lok Sabha election will be a fight between the Congress and BJP, we will show our strength and win more seats than any party or alliance, said the leader.

Taking a cue from Gandhis recent statement hinting that his party was ready to go all alone in 2019 Lok Sabha elections, senior party leaders had begun finalizing programmes for his tour across the state.

Congress wanted to take all like-minded parties together. An alliance, however, cannot be forced on the parties that do not want to take others along. The BJP has failed to keep its promises and deliver the goods. This election will be fought on national issues. The SP and the BSP are only regional parties. So, the Congress will remain in the forefront of the fight against the BJP, said another party leader.

As the SP and BSP have left Amethi and Rae Bareli Lok Sabha seats for the Congress leaders, the party too may consider returning the gesture by leaving seats for SP chief Akhilesh Yadav, SP patron Mulayam Singh Yadav and BSP chief Mayawati, if she decides to contest tje 2019 poll.

Yes, the Congress may consider leaving seats for them. The Congress leadership will, however, take a final call on the issue soon, said another leader.

About the Rashtriya Lok Dal, the leader said the Congress at present was not in touch with RLD leaders. The SP-BSP alliance has left two seats for the RLD for now. Now let RLD leaders take a call on the issue, he said.
Samajwadi Party (SP) president Akhilesh Yadav and Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati on Saturday announced an alliance for the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, in which each will contest 38 seats in Uttar Pradesh, leaving two seats for the Congress and two for other smaller allies.

Addressing a press conference in Lucknow along with Akhilesh, Mayawati said the SP-BSP alliance will give sleepless nights to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) chief Amit Shah.

Chief minister Yogi Adityanath hit back, tweeting: This is a coalition of casteist, corrupt and opportunistic mindset that doesnt want development and good governance. Public knows everything and this unholy alliance will be given a perfect answer. In Delhi,Union law minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said the alliance is for their survival and not in the interest of the country or Uttar Pradesh.

In the 2014 Lok Sabha polls, the SP had won five seats, while the BSP failed to win any. The BJP got 71 seats and its ally Apna Dal two seats out of the total 80.

The Congress won two --- Rae Barelli and Amethi; the two seats are held by United Progressive Alliance chairperson Sonia Gandhi and Congress president Rahul Gandhi. In the 2017 assembly polls, SP and BSP got 22 % votes each while the BJP got 42.6% votes, winning 312 of the total 403 seats.

The SP-Congress alliance got 56 seats and the BSP was a distant third with 19 seats.

The BSP and SP joined hands during the parliamentary by-polls in Gorakhpur and Phulpur last year in which SP candidates backed by the BSP succeeded in winning both the seats . Gorakhpur had been vacated by Adityanath and Phulpur by deputy CM Keshav Prasad Maurya. In Kairana, the third by-poll in 2018, the two parties supported the Rashtriya Janata Dal candidate,Tabassum Begum, who won.

As Mayawati said, the SP and BSP are looking to combine their vote bank, which primarily consists of about 22% Dalits, 45% other backward classes and 19 % Muslims in the politically crucial state.

Watch: I will be happy, says Akhilesh Yadav on Mayawati becoming the Prime Minister

This is not the first time the BSP and SP will contest elections in Uttar Pradesh in an alliance. Ahead of the 1993 UP assembly elections, BSP and SP veterans, Kanshi Ram and Mulayam Singh Yadav,respectively, announced an electoral alliance. Even though the BJP emerged as the single largest party with 177 seats, the SP (109) and BSP (67) formed the government.

This time they are pitted against a stronger rival. However, the parties have chosen not to include the Congress in their battle against the BJP, saying that there was no real gain in aligning with the party. Congress party rule hasnt benefitted anyone. Theres no real vote transfer from Congress and hence no real gain from aligning with Congress. We wont ally with any party which will hurt our political ambitions, said Mayawati.

Addressing a press conference in Dubai hours later, Congress president Rahul Gandhi said he has tremendous respect for Mayawati and Yadav and they have a right to do what they want to do. BSP and SP have made a political decision. Its on us on how to strengthen the Congress party in Uttar Pradesh and we will fight with our full capacity, he said, according to PTI.

Senior Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi said would be a mistake to underestimate the party in UP, while a third party leader, Manish Tewari hinted that future partnerships could not be ruled out. In so far as alliances are concerned, we have always believed that state-specific alliances, which further the progressive and the pluralistic ideal, which consolidate liberal ideas of India are the way forward and I think the space is open for that, Tiwari said.

Political analyst Badri Narayan said the alliance may prove to be a game changer, damaging the BJPs prospects in Uttar Pradesh. But a lot will depend on whether there is adequate synergy between workers of SP and BSP, he said.

The BJP said the SP and BSP donating two seats to the Congress in Uttar Pradesh showed the latters real worth. Rahul Gandhi is dreaming to become prime minister, and prospective allies are donating just two seats to the Congress in Uttar Pradesh. This is a telling statement on Congresss worth in this country, BJPs media department head Anil Baluni said. As election approaches closer, Congress will be exposed to such situation in other states too.

Akhilesh Yadav said the alliance had become necessary to bring down the arrogance of the BJP, and asked the SP?workers to unite with BSP. I want to say to BJP?that they should know that we (SP-BSP) are in this together. I am grateful to Mayawati for giving me equal status. They should know any insult to Mayawati is my insult, he said.

Among regional political leaders, West Bengal chief minister and Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee was the first to announce support for the alliance. I welcome the alliance of the SP and the BSP for the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections, she tweeted.
Tulsi Gabbard, the first Hindu ever elected to US congress, is running for the White House in 2020, and could end up vying with Kamala Harris, who is likely to run also, for the affection, support and, most importantly, the financial backing of the countrys richest ethnic community, Indian Americans.

I have decided to run and will be making a formal announcement within the next week, Gabbard told a CNN TV news anchor for a show that airs Saturday.

Gabbard, 37, is a US army veteran and a three-term member of the US House of Representative from Hawaii, where the 44th president of the United Sates Barack Obama was born and raised and where he would vacation with his family every major holidays.

Obama, now the elder statesman of the Democratic party has not endorsed Gabbard or Harris or any one of the 15 or more Democrats considering a presidential run, to go up against President Donald Trump in 2020.

Indian Americans have been keenly following both Gabbard and Harris in anticipation of their run for the White House with mixed feelings: Gabbard is a white American but as a practicing Hindu is an icon among Hindu Americans.

And Harris is an Indian American from her mothers side and African American from her fathers.

There has been some disquiet among Indian Americans about Harris as she has sought to project herself as an African American.

Not sure if the country is ready for another African American, said an Indian American Republican donor and strategist, who said he would like Harris to devote more time burnishing her credentials as an Indian American.

Gabbard will become the first Hindu to run for the White House when she announces formally next week. Though not Indian American, Gabbard is often considered one by the community because of her professed religion  a Hindu  and there stories that Hindu temples in the Washington-Maryland-Virginia region chimed their bells to coordinate with her swearing in in 2012.

Gabbard is not Indian American, once again, but is often thought of one, being a Hindu. And if she does decide to run, as she has indicated she will next week, she will make history as the first Hindu, from a tiny religious minority.

Bobby Jindal, the former Republican governor of Louisiana state, became the first Indian American to run for the countrys top job in the 2016 cycle, but lost spectacularly. He had converted to christianity while still in college and, to the disappointment of the Indian American community, he had sought to distance himself from the community on the campaign trail, playing down his Indian heritage.
A report that served as one of the premises for the constitutional amendment that reserves 10% of government jobs and college seats for the poor in the general category had, as far back as eight years, recommended limiting the benefits to non-tax payees and eschewing the income limit applicable to the so-called creamy layer, or rich, among the other backward classes (OBCs).

The 10% quota for the economically backward classes (EBCs) in the general category was approved this week by both houses of parliament and needs the signature of the President to become law. It was introduced and passed ahead of general elections this year and seen by some analysts as a move to soothe the anger of upper castes over the restoration of some provisions of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) that had been struck down by the Supreme Court . The report cited as a premise for the quota was prepared by the Commission for Economically Backward Classes.

It was headed by Maj Gen SR Sinho, which underlined deprivation faced by EBCs in the general category and suggested easy access to various welfare schemes in sectors of education, housing and healthcare and appropriate monitoring measures.

The report was submitted to the government in 2010, when the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) was in power, but never been made public.

It has been reviewed by Hindustan Times,which tracked down one of the few remaining copies of the report. During a discussion on the bill in the Rajya Sabha, law minister Ravi Shankar Prasad made a pointed reference to the panel report suggesting reservation for EBCs in the general category.

In the Constitution (124th Amendment) Bill, 2019, which was passed in record time in both house of Parliament, the government identified a person belonging to an EBC as someone whose annual income is below 8 lakh, agricultural land is less than 5 hectares, residential house is smaller than 1,000 square feet, and residential plot is smaller than 109 square yards in a notified municipality and smaller than 209 square yards in a non-notified municipality area.

While most Opposition groups supported the Bill, some, such as the Congress, questioned the rationale in setting Rs 8 lakh as the annual income limit. In Parliament, Congress leader Kapil Sibal asked the government to raise the income tax exemption limit from Rs 2.5 lakh to Rs 8 lakh and sought to know if there was data on how many people possessed land and residential plots that matched the cut-offs.

In the report, based on visits to 28 states over a period of four years, the Commission for Economically Backward Classes noted that the while the overall percentage of those below the poverty line (BPL) was more among the reserved categories, the EBCs within the general category suffered low paid occupation, malnutrition, illiteracy, landlessness, and low standards of living.

The Sinho commission suggested not using the Rs 8 lakh annual income limit applicable to the creamy layer of OBCs, pointing out that the economic needs of EBCs among the general category differ and hence just one criterion of BPL or setting a creamy layer upper limit would not be effective in ensuring benefits to the EBCs.

Based on the National Sample Survey Office data of 2004-05, the panel identified 58.5 million people as people in the general category who were poor and with the high rate of illiteracy (36.7% in rural areas); 35% were landless and, in many states, the OBCs had higher landholdings compared to the poor among the general category.

While it also suggested extending existing schemes for OBCs suitably to uplift EBCs, it recommended a special economic package for EBCs living within 5 km of the line of control (dividing Kashmir into Indian- and Pakistan-controlled areas), areas affected by natural disasters such as tsunami, floods, famine, inhabitants of disturbed areas, difficult hill terrains and pockets of extreme poverty.

Other recommendations were to offer special health insurance packages designed for families with chronically ill people to meet their long-term expenses and setting up separate national finance and development corporation for the EBCs to foster their rapid economic development.

Barring Rajasthan, none of the states had framed any conclusive opinion about the reservation to EBCs among the general category. Bihar had opposed reservation for the EBCs on the grounds that there was no constitutional provision and West Bengal wanted BPL status to be the criteria. Tamil Nadu was against it too.
Chided by his mother for going late to school, a 10th standard student allegedly attempted suicide by jumping in front of a Metro train here Friday, police said.

The 18-year-old student was saved in the nick of time as the alert train driver Madivalappa applied sudden brake and he escaped getting run over, police said.

However, as a result of the fall on the track, he sustained head injuries, they said.

He is being treated at the National Institute of Mental Health & Neuro Sciences (NIMHANS).

The students parents run a tailoring shop here, police said.

On learning about the incident, Karnataka Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy visited the injured student.

He told reporters that it was sad that some people take the extreme step over petty issues and advised against taking such drastic decisions.
Union law minister Ravi Shankar Prasad today dismissed the Samajwadi Party-Bahujan Samaj Party alliance saying it was a desperate effort for survival.

The SP BSP alliance is for their survival, its not in the interest of the country or Uttar Pradesh, he said at media briefing on the second day of BJPs national council meet in Delhi.

Even as the joint press conference of SP president Akhilesh Singh Yadav and BSP chief Mayawati began in Lucknow to make a formal announcement of their alliance for the Lok Sabha elections, Prasad exuded confidence that the BJP will sweep the polls in Uttar Pradesh.

This election is not of UP, this is for India. People will look for a leader who will lead India. We will win 74 seats in UP. Our NDA is strong.

BJP president Amit Shah had made a similar claim on Friday.

Mayawati today said the BSP and the SP would contest 38 seats each, leave two for the Congress and two for others. A piqued Congress has warned that it would be dangerous to ignore the party.
The former Supreme Court judge who supervised the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) inquiry against ousted Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) director Alok Verma said on Saturday that no allegations of corruption were made against Verma by a witness, as had been claimed by his deputy Rakesh Asthana in connection with a case against controversial meat exporter Moin Qureshi.

There was no allegation against Verma. Sana Satish Babu never said he paid money to Verma, justice Patnaik said over the phone.

One of the main lines of investigation of the CVC was Asthanas allegation that Verma accepted Rs 2 crore from Babu, a Hyderabad-based businessman, to ensure he wasnt indicted in the case against Qureshi.

Asthana levelled the allegations in a letter written to the cabinet secretary on August 24.

On October 15, the Central Bureau of Investigation registered a first information report in which it said a Rs 5 crore deal had been struck with two middlemen on Asthanas behalf to protect Babu from CBI action in a case in which he was being investigated along with Qureshi.

Justice Patnaik asserted that the findings of the vigilance commission enquiry report were not his, as Verma mentioned in a letter on Friday in which he said he would not take up his new posting as director general, fire services, civil defence and home guards.

I simply supervised the enquiry, Patnaik said.

The former top court judge felt that the selection panel headed by the Prime Minister, which selects the CBI chief, took a hasty decision to remove Verma from the investigating agency without hearing Verma. While supervising the enquiry, justice Patnaik said, he ensured that the principles of natural justice were applied.

Verma didnt reply to phone call and a message seeking comment. C Chandramouli, secretary in the ministry of personnel, the administrative ministry of CBI, too didnt reply to a phone call and a message.

The internecine fight between Verma and his deputy, who traded allegations of corruption, roiled the agency. On the intervening night of October 23 and 24, the government divested both of their powers and sent them on forced leave. M. Nageswara Rao was appointed interim director and transferred several officials, including some overseeing the investigation against Asthana.

Verma challenged his removal in the Supreme Court, which on Tuesday ordered his conditional reinstatement and also asked that the selection committeemeet within a week to review the CVC report on him and decide on his continuation at the CBI.

On Thursday, the committee, comprising Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Chief Justice of Indias representative justice AK Sikri, and the leader of the single largest opposition party in the Lok Sabha, Mallikarjun Kharge, met, and in a 2:1 decision (Kharge dissented) transferred the CBI director out of the agency.

The comments by Patnaik came amid moves by a few CBI offers to move the Supreme Court, challenging Raos orders, scrapping Vermas orders, which, in turn, had rescinded Raos original orders.

How can their transfers be declared as non est (not in existence). All the interim director can do is to cancel their transfers but can declare them as non est? said an official aware of the move by the CBI officers.

Justice Patnaiks observations can be crucial, if Verma decides to challenge his ouster again before the top court, legal experts said. However, the former judges statement does not require a suo motu (on its own) cognizance by the Supreme Court, they added.

Senior advocate K Vishwanathan said: If Verma challenges his ouster then the statement would be a relevant factor. Without the challenge the top court cannot go into it since the top panels decision gives rise to a new cause of action for Verma.

Another senior advocate, Ajit Kumar Sinha, said Patnaiks remarks were his personal comments. Once he has carried out the task empowered to him and given a report then his statement cannot be a basis for the Supreme Court to take cognizance.

Separately, a senior government official familiar with the development said KV Chowdary, the central vigilance commissioner, had indeed met CBI director Alok Verma in the first week of October, as mentioned in a media report.

The meeting took place at the official residence of Verma. It was seen as an effort of patch-up between Verma and Asthana, said the official, who added that he had no idea what transpired in the meeting. The official requested anonymity.
Two days after West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee announced to withdraw from Centres flagship Ayushman Bharat-Swasthyasaathi scheme, the National Health Authority (NHA) accused the state government of misleading the people on its official website by claiming that it solely funded the scheme.

The letter, issued by NHA CEO Indu Bhushan to the state additional health secretary, comes two days after Banerjee announced that her government would stop paying the states share for the national health scheme. She had alleged that the Centre was taking unilateral credit for a jointly-funded project by using the pictures of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in all the official communications.

The state, during several instances, has provided incorrect facts concerning the Ayushman Bharat -Swasthyasaathi scheme on their official website. The official website claims that the entire premium for the scheme is borne by the state government, making no mention of Ayushman Bharat or PM-JAY even though the centre is contributing 60% of the funds, stated the letter, a copy of which is with Hindustan Times.

Bhushans letter further stated that the Centre paid ~175 crore as its share in the first phase of the Ayushman Bharat scheme. Without the central scheme, the number of beneficiaries would halve under the states scheme  1.11 crore or 55% of West Bengals families to 50 lakh or around 25% of the families, it added.

States are supposed to bear 40% of the project cost, while the Centre will foot 60% of the bill.

The official website of the scheme makes no mention of Ayushman Bharat and states, The entire premium is borne by the state government and no contribution from the beneficiary.

Trinamool secretary general and education minister Partha Chatterjee did not respond to calls and a text message from HT till 9.40 pm. Other ministers, who did not want to be named, said only the CM could comment on this since she is in charge of the health department.
The Madras high court on Saturday granted Nalini Chidambaram, wife of former finance minister P Chidambaram, interim protection from arrest by the Central Bureau of Investigation in the Saradha chit fund case till she obtains an anticipatory bail from a jurisdictional court in West Bengal.

Justice GK Illanthiraiyan passed the interim order at a specia l sitting to hear the anticipatory bail plea of Nalini Chidambaram.

The judge granted four weeks interim bail to Nalini and directed her to surrender before the Chief Judicial Magistrate, Egmore here and furnish sureties and thereafter approach the jurisdictional court in West Bengal and obtain regular anticipatory bail.

Special Public Prosecutor (Enforcement Directorate) G Hema strongly opposed the petition and argued that the court should not entertain Nalinis plea since it does not have jurisdiction in the matter.

The ED had registered an ECIR (Enforcement Case Information Report) in the matter under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act.

Nalini, a senior advocate, moved her application apprehending arrest a day after the CBI filed a charge sheet against her in a Kolkata court, alleging she had received Rs 1.4 crore from Saradha group of companies, which was involved in a chit fund scam.

In her plea, Nalini contended that the alleged payout was a legitimate fee from Saradha Realty Limited on behalf of Manoranjana Sinh in connection with Positive TV.

Notably, her name does not figure in the previous CBI charge sheets against proprietor of the Saradha group Sudipto Sen and his companies in connection with the alleged chit fund scam, she said.

In total contradiction of such previous charge sheets, on January 11, the CBI filed the sixth supplementary charge sheet before a West Bengal court for offences, including conspiracy under the IPC, alleging her involvement in the scam, counsel for Nalini said.

There cannot be a change in stand by the CBI in the subsequent supplementary charge sheet wherein it had made legal fee as bribe money, she contended.

It is settled law that after registration of FIR and till the time of filing a charge sheet, if a person is not arrested, then a person need not to be subjected to custodial investigation.

In such cases, the person can appear before the court after receipt of summons.

Nalini alleged that the government has been misusing the central agencies by filing false cases against her family members due to political vendetta.

The CBI had alleged that Nalini entered into a criminal conspiracy with Sen and other accused persons with an intention of cheating and misappropriation of funds of Saradha group of companies.

The agency alleged that Manoranjana Sinh, the estranged wife of former Union minister Matang Sinh, introduced Sen to Nalini to manage probes by various agencies like SEBI, ROC against him, for which she allegedly received Rs 1.4 crore during 2010-12 through his companies.
Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati today firmly shut door on the Congress for any alliance in Uttar Pradesh saying there was not much difference between the grand old party and the BJP and both are corrupt.

Whenever we ally with parties like Congress, they derive benefits, we dont. Their vote was not transferred to us in earlier alliance. They gain from us. Our 1996 experiment shows that, even SP saw that in 2017, she said at a joint press conference with Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Singh Yadav in Lucknow where she also announced the seat sharing agreement between the two parties.

She had been lukewarm to Congress overtures over the past year and had gone solo in the assembly elections in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan while in Chhattisgarh she tied up with Ajit Jogis Janata Congress Chhattisgarh late last year. The Congress went on to form the government in all the three states.

Mayawati was particularly scathing on the grand old party. The Congress ruled in UP and at the Centre for several years after Independence. But the backward castes and economically weak suffered, corruption went up, she said.

But she didnt spare the BJP either. BJP and Congress are the same. Their thinking are same, both are corrupt and involved in defence scams. Bofors brought down a Congress government, Rafale will bring down the current BJP, the BSP chief said.

She also accused the BJP government at the Centre of ushering in an undeclared emergency.

The present BJP is suppressing opposition like the Congress used to. It is undeclared emergency now. Both the BJP and Congress have misused government machinery, she said.

Watch: SP-BSP to contest 38 seats each in U.P, Congress not part of alliance
The suspension of a school headmaster for making a derogatory comment about Madhya Pradesh chief minister Kamal Nath has been revoked on Naths instructions.

In a statement, Nath said he has forgiven the teacher.

The district collector suspended Mukesh Tiwari, headmaster of government-run Kanishta Buniyadi Middle School in Jabalpur, Thursday.

Tiwari had allegedly referred to Nath as a daaku (dacoit) during a meeting at the school. He was suspended by collector Chhavi Bharadwaj after a video where he is purportedly seen making the comment appeared on social media.

Nath said in a statement Saturday that after he learnt about the incident, he directed the officials to revoke Tiwaris suspension.

I have always been in favour of freedom of expression....the action against him might be correct according to the rules but I am personally forgiving him, the chief minister said.

I have directed the district administration to revoke the suspension....He (teacher) should decide for himself whether he used right words for a democratically-elected chief minister, Nath added.

Collector Bharadwaj told PTI that the teacher apologised in response to a show-cause notice, and the chief minister too directed that he should be let off, so the suspension has been revoked.
The Khango Konyak-led faction of the banned NSCN (Khaplang), a Naga insurgent outfit, has agreed to join the peace talks with the Government of India, its office bearers and civil society groups involved in mediation said.

The faction is likely to join the Working Committee (WC) of the six Naga National Political Groups (NNPG) which is in talks with the Government of India along with the dominant rebel group NSCN (Isak-Muivah). The government had signed a framework agreement with the NSCN(IM) in 2015 for the resolution of the vexed Naga political issue.

The office bearers of the groups including its general secretary Isak Sumi, who is on the most wanted list of the National Investigative Agency has had a round of informal meeting with RN Ravi, the deputy national security advisor and interlocutor for the Naga Peace talks in December. They met again on Thursday in Delhi.

Yes, we have agreed in principle (to the faction joining the WC). But the formalities including signing of an MoU has not been done yet. We will discuss the matter in the Working Committee once we are back in Nagaland, said Alezo Venuh, envoy of the NNPGs.

Yes, the Khango Konyak led faction has agreed to join the peace talks, said Theja Therieh, spokesperson of the Nagaland Tribes Council, an influential civil society organization involved in mediation.

Isak Sumi has given the green signal to join the NNPGs, said Shikuto Zalipu, the General Secretary of Nagaland Gaon Bura Federation, which has been talking to the Konyak-led group since Khango Konyak was impeached as chairman of NSCN(K) in August 2018 and given a safe passage to return to Nagaland from Myanmar with his supporters mostly comprising of Nagas from the Indian side.

The group wanted to retain its entity in the talks. They could either merge with the NSCN(I-M) or join the NNPGs. Since the Government of India has said no to talks with any third party the only option to enter talks while retaining their entity is to join NNPGs, Zalipu explained.

The Nagaland Post quoted Isak Sumi as saying, NSCN/GPRN will participate in the peace process with our entity.

RN Ravi, according to the Nagaland Post report confirmed Thursdays informal meeting and said NSCN(K) has informed that they will participate in the peace process along with the WC of the NNPGs.
The Justice H S Bedi committee, which investigated several cases of alleged fake encounter in Gujarat from 2002 to 2006, has recommended prosecution of police officials in three out of the 17 cases probed by it.

In its final report filed in the apex court, Justice Bedi has said three persons -- Sameer Khan, Kasam Jafar and Haji Haji Ismail -- were prime facie killed in fake encounters by the Gujarat Police officials.

The committee has indicted a total of nine police officials, including three inspector rank officer.

It has however not recommended prosecution of any IPS officer in these cases.

The court had appointed Justice Bedi, ex-Supreme Court judge, as chairman of the monitoring committee probing 17 encounter cases from 2002 to 2006 in Gujarat and the panel had submitted its report to the top court in a sealed cover in February last year.

On January 9, a bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi had rejected the Gujarat governments plea to maintain confidentiality of the final report of committee and ordered that it be given to petitioners, including poet and lyricist Javed Akhtar.

Dealing with the case of Sameer Khan, the committee has recommended prosecution of two inspectors K M Vaghela and T A Barot for the offence of murder and other relevant offences.

According to the police, Sameer along with his cousin had stabbed a police constable, who had died on the spot in May 1996. While his cousin was arrested, he had fled from spot.

The police had alleged that later he went to Pakistan and took training from terror organisation Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) and re-entered India via Nepal.

The report noted that as per police, after the 2002 Akshardham Mandir attack, Sameer was directed by a Pakistan-based JeM operative to go to Ahmedabad and kill the then Chief Minister Narendra Modi.

It noted that Sameer was arrested by the Crime Branch in a case related to waging war against the country and when he was taken at the spot where the constable was stabbed in 1996, he snatched the loaded revolver of inspector Vaghela and fired at him and ran away.

As per police, the other two inspectors -- Tarun Barot and A A Chauhan (since dead) -- fired at him and he was later taken to a hospital but was declared dead.

However, the panel has found that he was killed in a fake encounter by the police.

Referring to the medical and other reports, the committee has said, It is, therefore, obvious that the police officers were close and towering over the deceased and he was probably sitting on the ground and perhaps cringing for his life. I am, therefore, of the opinion that inspector K M Vaghela and inspector T A Barot at the first instance be prosecuted for murder and other relevant offences and if it is found during the trial that there is evidence against others as well, they too should be brought in as per law, the panel has said.

It said since inspector Chauhan has passed away, no proceeding against him was possible.

Besides, the panel has also granted Rs 10 lakh compensation to Sameers family.

In Kasam Jafars case, the police had alleged that he was picked alongwith 17 other persons from a hotel in Ahmedabad on April 13, 2006.

According to police, Jafar was being taken to a police station and during the transit, he escaped from custody and a day later, his body was recovered underneath a bridge.

The effort of the police officers to dub the deceased and his companions as criminals has also not been successful as no evidence whatsover has been produced to show that they had been involved in any crime. The very detention on the April 13, 2006, from Royal Hotel was thus not justified, Justice Bedi said in his report.

He concluded that sub-inspector J M Bharwad and constable Ganeshbhai were prima facie involved in the killing and they were needed to be prosecuted for the offence of murder. The committee, by its order on November 21, 2013, had also awarded Rs 14 lakhs as compensation to the widow and children of the deceased.

Similarly, the committee noted in its report that as per police, on October 9, 2005, they had received an information that notorious smuggler Haji Haji Ismail would be going to a place in his Maruti Zen car. Ismail came out of his car and opened fire at the police party which retaliated in self defence and fired 20 shots at him leading to his death at a government hospital. The panel took note of the post-mortem report and said that out of the six wounds of entry, five had blackening round them and it meant that these shots were fired from a close range.

The panel belied the claim that the fire exchanges between Ismail and police party had taken place from a distance of 15-20 feet. It is, therefore, crystal clear that firing on the deceased was from a distance of two feet or less completely falsifying the police version and being suggestive of a custodial killing, the panel concluded.

The panel recommended prosecution of five policemen in this case -- inspector K G Erda and sub-inspectors L B Monpara, J M Yadav, S K Shah and Prag P Vyas.

The panel also dealt with 14 other cases which relates to alleged fake encounter killings of -- Mithu Umar Dafer, Anil Bipin Misra, Mahesh, Rajeshwar, Kashyap Harpalsingh Dhaka, Salim Gagji Miyana, Jala Popat Devipujak, Rafiksha, Bheema Maanda Mer, Jogindrasinh Khatansing, Ganesh Khunte, Mahendra Jadav, Subhash Bhaskar Nayyar and Sanjay.

(This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text. Only the headline has been changed.)
India is working to ensure that its share of unutilized water doesnt enter Pakistan, union minister for water resources, river development and Ganga rejuvenation Nitin Gadkari said Friday.

Gadkari was speaking at the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the chief ministers of Uttar Pradesh (Yogi Adityanath), Rajasthan (Ashok Gehlot), Uttarakhand (Trivendra Singh Rawat), Haryana (Manohar Lal), Delhi ( Arvind Kejriwal), and Himachal Pradesh (Jai Ram Thakur) in New Delhi for the construction of Renukaji Multi-Purpose Dam project in the Upper Yamuna Basin.

The project, work on which began in 1976 has been facing multiple delays.

The project aims to generate 40 MW of power during peak flow.

It is to be executed by Himachal Pradesh Power Corporation Ltd. (HPPCL).

Our share of water has been going to Pakistan. As per the Indus Waters Treaty after the Partition, India and Pakistan each got three rivers, but till date water from Indian rivers is going to Pakistan. We decided that we will stop the flow and divert the water which is rightfully ours and take it to these six states, Gadkari said.

Terming the signing of the agreement for Renukaji a historic moment, he said that this project would also ensure more flow in the Yamuna.

Gadkari also said he would try to get the Cabinet approval for the project soon.

He added that a consensus on Kishau Multi Purpose project on River Yamuna has been reached and that an agreement will be signed soon.

The union minister for water resources, river development and Ganga rejuvenation said work on the Lakhwar Multi Purpose project for which an agreement was signed in October, 2018 will begin soon.

However, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) Thursday, stayed the Lakhwar project directing the Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC) to reappraise Uttarakhands 300 MW project, which has been stalled since 1992, and asked the state government to maintain status quo on construction.

After the construction of the Renukaji dam, the flow of river Giri will increase about 110% which will meet the drinking water needs of Delhi and other basin states, Gadkari said.The shares of water these states viz. Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan and Delhi are 47.82%, 33.65%, 3.15%, 9.34% and 6.04%, respectively.
Tamil Nadus opposition major Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) and rebel AIADMK leader TTV Dhinakarans Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam (AMMK) have been trading charges for the last one week, and the states ruling All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhgam (AIADMK), led by CM Edappadi K Palaniswami, sees this as a ploy to isolate it from mainstream politics.

According to Namadhu Amma, the mouthpiece of AIADMK, DMK chief MK Stalin is staging a drama to help Dhinakaran poach the AIADMKs space in the TN politics.

Both Stalin and Dhinakaran are playing to a script agreed upon to hoodwink the TN people. It is intended to create a perception that the competition is only between DMK and AMMK, a column reads in Namdhu Amma.

It also accused the DMK of helping Dhinakaran to win the bypoll in Jayalalithaas RK Nagar seat in 2017.

Though DMK has a decisive vote bank, it bagged only around 34,000 votes in RK Nagar by-poll. Hence, it is clear that DMK had helped Dhinakarans victory, the column said.

The AIADMK paper also accused the DMK and AMMK of collusion to win in the bypoll for Thiruvarur, which was represented by DMK patriarch M Karunanidhi. However, the by-poll was cancelled by the EC last week. When Stalins sister and DMK women wing secretary Kanimozhi was acquitted in 2G spectrum case, Dhinakaran had wished her. He also opened his party office on June 3rd last, coinciding with the birthday of Karunanidhi. So, it is obvious that DMK and AMMK have a secret relationship to oust the AIADMK from politics,Namadhu Amma alleged.

However, DMK MLA and former Chennai City Corporation mayor Ma Subramanian denied AIADMKs charge and said both the AIADMK and AMMK are the DMKs political opponents.

For DMK, both CM Edappadi Palaniswami who is leading AIADMK and TTV Dhinakaran are same. We have soft corner towards none. When Dhinakaran teased the DMK that it was afraid of the Thiruvarur bypoll, our leader countered it, calling him 20 rupees MLA, he said.

During the RK Nagar by-poll, the ruling AIADMK as well as the opposition alleged cash distribution by supporters of Dhinakaran, who contested as an independent, issuing Rs 20 as a token to get the promised cash.
The Gujarat High Court has framed six issues in an election petition filed by BJP leader Balvantsinh Rajput challenging veteran Congress leader Ahmed Patels election to Rajya Sabha from the state in 2017.

Justice Bela Trivedi framed the issues on Friday. The court will hear the case next on January 18. The issues framed by the court include whether Patel or his election agent committed an act of bribery and undue influence and thereby indulged in corrupt practices as alleged by Rajput, making the election liable to be declared as void.

Some of the other issues were whether two invalid votes cast by Congress MLAs Shailesh Parmar and Miteshbhai Garasia, and improper refusal or rejection of votes cast by rebel Congress MLAs Bholabhai Gohil and Raghvjibhai Patel materially affected the outcome of election.

Amid cross voting and defection, the election had turned cliffhanger and Patel had won just by one vote as two cross-votes by then were declared invalid by the election commission.

For three seats on the grab, the BJP had fielded 3 candidates and the Congress one. While BJP president Amit Shah and Union Minister Smirit Irani won, Balvantsinh Rajput lost to Patel.

The issue also concerns the Election Commission of India (ECI) order as to whether it was being violative of the principles of natural justice, without any authority of law.

Earlier this month, the Supreme Court had asked Ahmed Patel to face trial in connection with his election to the Rajya Sabha. He had then moved the apex court challenging the high court order, which had dismissed his plea questioning the maintainability of Rajputs election petition.

Patel had contended that the poll panels decision could not be challenged by an election petition. The apex court had on September 26 asked the Gujarat HC to decide afresh Patels plea challenging the maintainability of the petition filed by Rajput. The high court had dismissed Patels plea in October.
The government may extend the newly announced 10% reservation for economically weaker sections (EWS) in government jobs and education institutes  essentially a quota for the poor upper castes  to the allocation of petrol pumps and cooking gas agencies by state-run oil marketing companies.

These companies follow the reservation policy of the central government, two government officials said on condition of anonymity.

A formal proposal to give 10% reservation (in allocation of retail outlets) to EWS category will be initiated in due course, but only after the newly passed legislation is notified, one of the two added.

Senior officials in the petroleum ministry did not respond to an e-mail seeking comment. The bill is expected to be notified soon after it gets assent of the President of India, the officials said.

State-owned fuel retailers  Indian Oil Corp (IOC), Hindustan Petroleum Corp Ltd (HPCL) and Bharat Petroleum Corp Ltd (BPCL)  already have a reservation policy for scheduled castes (SCs), scheduled tribes (STs) and other backward classes (OBCs). The quota for OBC in the allocation of petrol pumps and LPG agencies was introduced by the Manmohan Singh-led UPA government on July 20, 2012.

Currently, 22.5% of such allotments are reserved for SCs and STs, 27% for OBCs and 50.5% for persons belonging to the open category across the country barring Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Nagaland and Mizoram.

Reservations for retail outlets in northeastern states vary according to socio-economic composition. In Arunachal Pradesh 70% are reserved for STs.

There are quotas within the quota for various categories, including defence personnel and women.

Former HPCL chairman and managing director S Roy Choudhury said that the move to give some reservation in allocation of petrol pumps to EWS category is a good one and also makes commercial sense but that the government should ensure that the consumer and the company do not suffer. If there is a balance between social and commercial interests, it is a win-win situation, he added.

Petroleum sector experts say that sometimes such allotments are misused by the beneficiaries who sublet it to local businessman for a consideration.

Often war widows and old defence personnel are unable to run the petrol pump business and they sublet their pumps. That ensures a regular income to them. But, often these pumps are ill managed and that make the company suffer, an oil sector expert Y Sahai said.

State-owned oil companies recently invited bids from different category of aspirants for setting up petrol pumps in 78,688 locations across the country.
Photo: The Canadian Press President Donald Trump listens as he leads a roundtable discussion on border security with local leaders, Friday, Jan. 11, 2019, in the Cabinet Room of the White House in Washington.

Law enforcement officials became so concerned by President Donald Trump's behaviour in the days after he fired FBI Director James Comey that they began investigating whether he had been working for Russia against U.S. interests, The New York Times reported.

The report Friday cites unnamed former law enforcement officials and others familiar with the investigation.

The inquiry forced counterintelligence investigators to evaluate whether Trump was a potential threat to national security, and they also sought to determine whether Trump was deliberately working for Russia or had unintentionally been influenced by Moscow.

The Times reports that FBI agents and some top officials became suspicious of Trump's ties to Russia during the 2016 presidential campaign but didn't launch an investigation at that time because they weren't sure how to approach such a sensitive and important probe, according to the sources. But Trump's behaviour in the days around Comey's May 2017 firing, specifically two instances in which he seemed to tie Comey's ousting to the Russia investigation, helped trigger the counterintelligence part of the investigation, according to the newspaper.

Trump tweeted early Saturday that the report showed that the FBI leadership "opened up an investigation on me, for no reason & with no proof" after he had fired Comey.

Robert Mueller took over the investigation when he was appointed special counsel soon after Comey's firing. The overall investigation is looking into Russian election interference and whether Trump's campaign co-ordinated with the Russians. The Times says it's unclear whether Mueller is still pursuing the counterintelligence angle.

Trump's lawyer Rudy Giuliani told the Times that he had no knowledge of the inquiry but said that since it was opened a year and a half ago and they hadn't heard anything, apparently "they found nothing." Trump has also repeatedly and vociferously denied collusion with the Russians.
ISSOUF SANOGO /AFP / Getty Supporters of opposition candidate Pierre Mamboundou

The angry and at times violent protests that broke out in Gabon on Thursday, Sept. 3, following the results of the Aug. 31 presidential election weren't fueled only by accusations that the contest had been rigged. A large portion of the fury was also focused on former colonial power France, which critics claim continues a long tradition of tolerating antidemocratic and repressive behavior by Africa's strongmen in exchange for their political and economic deference to Paris.

The situation appeared to be calming on Friday, after unrest had erupted in Gabon's cities the previous afternoon with the announcement that Ali Ben Bongo had won the election to succeed his father Omar Bongo, who died in June after having ruled the nation with an iron fist for 41 years. On Thursday, opposition supporters clashed with security forces in the capital, Libreville, while others in the main economic city of Port-Gentil ransacked shops, set fire to the French consulate and attacked the compound of French oil giant Total. Their grievances were clear: after having helped Omar Bongo squash his political opponents and allegedly siphon off a vast fortune from resource-rich Gabon's coffers, protesters say, French officials now stand idle as Ali Ben Bongo uses that money and inherited influence to steal a presidential election of his own. (See pictures of Africa.)

"Because it's evident to anyone paying attention that this entire campaign has been marred by manipulation, cheating and now fraud, it's difficult not to interpret the benevolent silence from France as approving that process and outcome," says Marc Ona Essangui, a Libreville-based environmental activist and opponent of the Bongo regime. "France claims it didn't have a candidate in this election. France has always claimed it didn't have a candidate in Gabonese elections. And yet the ideal candidate for France has once again come out on top."

Blame it on Francafrique, the name given to the relationship between successive governments in Paris and the client regimes that arose across Africa as France swapped colonial control of nations in exchange for arrangements conducive to French political and business interests. For decades, Francafrique produced corrupt and brutal yet stable African partners for France and helped Paris fend off the rival influences of Britain, the U.S. and more recently China. Typically, the authoritarian African leaders who gained from this relationship grew magnificently rich as their people, inversely, became impoverished. And no ruler was more iconic of the so-called Big Men that Francafrique produced than Omar Bongo. (Read "Gabon Faces Bongo's Disastrous Legacy.")

For that reason, the Bongo succession was viewed as a test of the repeated promises French President Nicolas Sarkozy has made to turn the page on Francafrique by treating African partners as equals  and allowing their voters to decide their destinies for themselves. "If you choose democracy, liberty, justice and law, then France will be with you to construct them," Sarkozy told a crowd of university students in Dakar, Senegal, in July 2007.

Easier said than done. The following year, Sarkozy replaced his minister dealing with developing nations after the official had infuriated Bongo by promising he'd "sign the death certificate" of Francafrique. Since then, Sarkozy has made several controversial visits to African nations, involving agendas like attending Bongo's funeral, that indicate Francafrique is still alive and well.

The fact that France has stayed silent in the face of loud claims in Gabon that Ali Ben Bongo's election victory, with 41.7% of the vote, was gained by fraud further suggests that Sarkozy is finding it easier to live with Francafrique than to end it. And he's not the only one. Just hours before the announcement of the election results on Thursday, French Foreign Affairs Minister Bernard Kouchner said he'd been in contact with Ali Ben Bongo and his two main rivals, all of whom were claiming victory. "I hope they will come to an arrangement as they always have in Gabon," said Kouchner, in what didn't exactly sound like a call for the principles of democracy to be respected. (See pictures of Sarkozy celebrating Bastille Day.)

Activist Ona says the Bongo family fortune allowed Ali Ben to finance ubiquitous advertisements in a lavish campaign that his opponents could never have come close to matching. Meanwhile, Ona notes, local and international observers have marveled at how more than 800,000 names were registered on voter rolls in a nation of only 1.3 million people  an astonishing increase of more than 200,000 voters from the last election, in 2005. "That this election was unfair isn't even an issue, but there's so much suspicion of fraud that France should be voicing concern or protesting if it were really serious about ending Francafrique," Ona argues.

In the Friday edition of the daily Liberation, editorialist Francois Sergent agreed, urging France to end its "incestuous relations" with the African leaders it has connived with out of "mercantile and political interests." Harking back to Sarkozy's Dakar speech to students in which he promised France's aid in building real, lasting democracies, Sergent asks, Where is Paris now with such help for Gabon?

See TIME's Pictures of the Week.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has lashed out at the opposition for its efforts to cobble up an anti-BJP front ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha election, calling it a failed experiment.

These days, a campaign is going on to publicise a failed experiment in the history of Indian politics by the name of mahagathbandhan, he said on Saturday addressing BJP workers at the partys national council meet in New Delhi.

He said the opposition was trying to make a majboor sarkaar (helpless government) instead of a majboot sarkar (strong government) as they wanted to indulge in scams and corruption.

Watch: Oppn wants a majboor govt: PM Modi on SP-BSP alliance

The PMs comments came on a day the Samajwadi Party and the Bahujan Samaj Party formed an alliance for the 2019 polls. Both the parties will contest 38 seats each in UttarPradesh, leaving two seats for the Congress and two for other allies.

Modi questioned the viability of oppositions alliances and pointed out that that its first outing in Telangana, where the Congress had teamed up with Chandrababu Naidus TDP, was a disaster as it lost to the TRS. He said in Karnataka, where the Congress is in alliance with the JD-S, the chief minister is on record saying that he is being treated like a clerk.

Problems have started even in newly formed governments in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh, Modi added.

Hitting out at the main opposition Congress, Modi said they are a stumbling block in the countrys development. They are stalling key bills in Parliament, they do not want the country to progress.

Modi said the earlier Congress government had pushed the country into darkness. It wont be wrong if I say that India lost 10 important years (during UPA rule from 2004 to 2014) in scams and corruption.

Amid continuous attack from Congress chief Rahul Gandhi alleging corruption in the Rafale aircraft deal, Modi said the opposition is desperate but he wont be bogged down by such wild charges.

Taking on the Congress state governments which have farm loan waivers, Modi said these are just short-term measures. For the opposition, farmers are mere vote bank. It is only the BJP government which is committed to solving the agrarian crisis.
Two militants including a top militant commander were killed in an encounter in Jammu and Kashmirs Kulgam district on Saturday evening

Officials said that army and police launched a joint operation in Yaripora after they got information about presence of two to three militants there.

A police spokesman confirmed the killing of two militants in the operation and said that their identity are being ascertained.

In a joint operation by the Army, police and CRPF, two militants were killed. As per policy , the terrorists were given an opportunity to surrender. The terrorists however, continued to fire and were eliminated in the ensuing gunfight. The terrorists have been identified as Zeenat ul Islam and Shakeel Ahmed Dar. Weapons and other warlike stores recovered. Operations concluded, said Army spokesman Col Rajesh Kalia.

Zeenat-ul-islam who was one of the top wanted commanders of Shopian, was heading Albadr militant group in Kashmir and recently shifted from Hizb to Albadr. He had joined militancy in 2015 and manage to escape several cordon and search operations in the last one year. He was an A+++ category militant.

Zeenat, considered as an Improvised explosive device (IED) expert, was earlier associated with another militant group Hizbul Mujahideen, the official said.

Former chief minister Mehbooba Mufti also tweeted about the operation.

Clashes have erupted in Kulgam where two militants were killed by security forces. Can only hope it doesnt set off a cycle of protests followed by civilian killings. Precisely why I was adamant on extension of the ceasefire initiative by GoI, she said in her tweet.

As the operation was underway, clashes erupted in the area as locals were allegedly trying to give safe passage to trapped militants. Mobile internet has been snapped in the area.
A group of West Bengal Congress activists on Friday allegedly interrupted the screening of The Accidental Prime Minister and resorted to vandalism at a posh Kolkata multiplex on Friday evening, while the film based on former Prime Minister Manmohan Singhs tenure faced agitation across the city.

The agitators carrying Congress flags allegedly entered an auditorium in central Kolkatas Quest Mall round 8 pm while the screening of the film was about to start and damaged the screen, causing the show to be cancelled.

The Congress activists also allegedly threatened the viewers to immediately leave the auditorium and claimed they would not allow the film to be screened anywhere as its content is disrespectful towards the senior party leaders.

The film is an insult towards our senior leaders like Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and Manmohan Singh. We have stopped the screening here. We will not allow the film to be screened anywhere, said Congress leader Rakesh Singh, who led the agitators.

Also Read | Mamata attacks PM Modi, calls for movie titled Disastrous Prime Minister

Some of the agitators were seen shouting slogans like Rahul Gandhi Zinabad... Congress Zindabad (hail Rahul Gadhi and Congress) inside the auditorium.

Earlier in the day, the screening of the film had to be cancelled in central Kolkatas Hind Cinema Hall due to security reasons amid protest demonstrations by youth Congress activists outside, police said.

According to the viewers at the Hind Cinema near central Kolkatas Chandni Chowk area, the show was cancelled after screening for just 10 minutes on its opening day.

Another group of Congress supporters allegedly tried to stop screening at South Kolkatas Indira Cinema Hall but failed after the theatre authority immediately informed the police.

Watch | The Accidental Prime Minister: Congress workers protest against movie in WB

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee took a dig at the timing of the movies release, terming it as a BJP propaganda before the 2019 elections.

She claimed there should be another film named The disastrous Prime Minister in future.

They have released a film just before the Lok Sabha polls. What does the name mean? Everyone is an accidental Prime Minister. They should also make a film titled the disastrous Prime Minister. They should look at the mirror first, she said.

Meanwhile the senior state Congress leaders on Friday dissociated themselves from the agitation and said they do not promote or support such form of protest.

We do not support any acts of vandalism. It should not have happened. It is true that the film is funded by BJP. It is a propaganda film and several BJP leaders are promoting it. Our supporters are deeply hurt because the film tends to insult the party, senior Congress leader Om Prakash Misra said.
PM Modi sets tone for 2019, asks What kind of PM you want?

Addressing BJPs national convention, PM Modi sets tone for 2019 and asks to choose the prime servant for the country.

Do you want a servant, who works 18 hours for you, or the one who goes on a sabbatical when the country needs him the most? questioned PM Modi.

Those out on bail dont believe in the law of land: PM

Targeting the Congress, PM Modi said, How can those who dont believe in countrys institution, will respect this country? Those who are out on bail dont believe in the law of land or the institution.

It is now a fight between sultanate and constitution: PM Modi

For Congress, every authority such as RBI, CAG, CBI is incorrect. For them, only they are correct. Anyone who opposes their authority is incorrect. It is now a fight between sultanate and constitution. When I was the CM of Gujarat, they tried to attack me using their agencies. They even jailed Amit Shah, said PM Modi

Congress stalling legal process in Ayodhya case: PM

PM Modi attacked Congress over Ayodhya case and said, Congress is stalling legal process in Ayodhya case. It is sending lawyers to Supreme Court as it doesnt want any solution to the Ayodhya issue.

Congress is trying to obstruct the Ayodhya case through its lawyers, Congress was even ready to impeach the CJI using false allegations, what kind of mentality does the Congress have which works against the countrys interest on every issue? questioned PM Modi.

Parties who opposed Cong surrendering to it just to keep BJP away: PM

Attacking the proposed Mahagathbandhan, PM Modi said the parties who opposed Congress are surrendering to it just to keep BJP away.

Their abuses, lies not going to stop me: PM

When all their scheming failed, they are now resorting to hurling abuses and lies, but these wont deter the chowkidaar. The fear of chaukidaar is changing this countrys governance, said PM Modi.

When we came to power, we ended Congress process of lending loans: PM Modi

Before 2014, there were two processes to get loans from banks - one was Common process and the other was Congress process. But, when we came to power, we ended the Congress process of lending loans, said PM Modi.

Under BJP rule, countrys economy is moving towards transparency in our rule: PM Modi

Under BJPs regime, the country is moving towards transparency. Before 2014, there was no value for common taxpayers, said PM Modi.

No schemes named after me: PM Modi

They (Congress) are attacking us saying that we have kept the policies same, but have changed the names. But, you tell me which of our policies or scheme has Modis name attached to it. From the very beginning, they teach us in BJP that the country comes before us, said PM Modi.

For Opposition, farmers are mere vote bank: PM

The opposition is looking at our food provider farmers as their vote bank. But, the farmers of this country know that the suggestion to increase the MSP was just on papers. But, when our government came to power, we increased the MSP for farmers, said PM Modi.

When youths get right guidance, right facilities, they dont need anything else to sustain them: PM Modi

When youths get right guidance, right facilities, they dont need anything else to sustain them, they dont have to be dependent, said PM Modi.

10% quota brought to ensure equality: PM

10% quota for poorer sections has been brought to ensure equality. The reservation to economic weaker sections of the society has increased the self-confidence of new India, said PM Modi.

BJP rule has proved that govt can be run without corruption: PM

BJPs regime has proved that a government can run without being involved in any corruption, said PM Narendra Modi at BJPs national convention.

Not a single corruption charge against us: Modi

This has happened for the first time in the history of the country that there is no corruption allegation on the allegation. The previous govts regime was tainted with scam allegations, said PM Modi

It is the dedication of BJP worker which makes everyday auspicious: PM Modi

It is the dedication of Bharatiya Janata party worker which makes everyday auspicious. The party, which had two MPs,which was running from a two-room building is today holdingsuch a huge convention, said PM Modi

Ensure BJP in power from Parliament to panchayat: Amit Shah

Ensure BJP in power from Parliament to panchayat, Amit Shah tells cadre

Our rivals have won but we have not been defeated says Amit Shah

Our rivals have won in other states but this doesnt mean we have been defeated, Amit Shah says.

No alliance can defeat us. We have support of 22 crore families: Shah

If we have blessings and support of 22 crore families of weaker background, no alliance can defeat us.

Every other political party aims at development of their community: Amit Shah

Every other political party aimed at development of only their caste, community . But no one had ever thought of sabka sath sabka vikas, says Amit Shah.

Opposition will fight over PM post after 2019 polls, says Jaitley

Opposition will fight over PM post after 2019 polls, says Arun Jaitley

Narendra Modi is the only PM to perform so well: Arun Jaitely

Narendra Modi is the only PM to have performed so well for 5 years. He works for people, says Jaitely

No opposition leader has qualities like Modi: Jaitley

Opposition leaders get nervous in front of our leader PM Modi, says Arun Jaitley. No leader has qualities like Modi who have such decision making sense and leadership qualities.

SP-BSP alliance is for their survival: RS Prasad

The SP BSP alliance is for their survival, its not in the interest of the country or Uttar Pradesh.

Rahul has learnt to insult India from foreign soil: RS Prasad

Rahul Gandhi has learnt to insult India from foreign soil. We will draw the right lesson from poll defeat in assembly election. Rahul should answer about his Jumla (farm loan waiver) - whats happening in Punjab and Karnataka.

This election is not of UP, this is for India: Prasad on SP- BSP Alliance

This election is not of UP, this is for India. People will look for a leader who will lead India. We will win 74 seats in Up. Our NDA is strong.

BJP committed to provide justice for Muslim Women: RS Prasad

Our resolution criticise Congress for opposing triple talaq. We are committed to provide justice for Muslim women.

Only glue of alliance is hatred against Modi: RS Prasad

Only glue of alliance is hatred against Modi. We have appeared to Millenium voters to vote for Modi.

2019 election is a choice between stability versus instability: Prasad

2019 election is a choice between stability versus instability. Honest courageous leader versus unknown leader of a unstable combination. Majboot Sarkar (Strong govt) versus majboor sarkar (helpless govt)

Congress continues to play with national security: Ravi Shankar

Congress ruled India for 58 years, but it continues to play with national security. India need fighter plane. Today when it is being procured through transparent mechanism, Congress campaign is based on lies.

PM Modi ensured no opportunity for terrorists: Sitharaman

Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman at BJP National Convention in Delhi: We have not had one major terrorist attack in this country after 2014. This govt under the leadership of PM Modi has ensured one thing that there shall not be an opportunity for terrorists to disturb peace.

India achieved a milestone with several countries because PM maintained a diplomatic relationship: Sitharaman

We achieved a milestone with several countries because PM Modi maintained a diplomatic relationship with all global leaders, said defence minister Nirmala Sitharaman

Country can foresee a bright future only under leadership of PM: Sitharaman

The country can foresee a bright future only under the leadership of PM Modi, said defence minister Nirmala Sitharaman

Non-performance, corruption were the features of the previous govt: Gadkari

Non-performance and corruption were the features of the previous government. But, after we came to power, good governance,ease of business and development has been delivered by Modi ji and our government in 4.5 years as we promised in our manifesto, Nitin Gadkari was quoted by news agency ANI

PM Modi, Amit Shah arrive at Ramlila Ground to attend BJP National Convention

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP President Amit Shah have arrived at Ramlila Ground to attend the two-day BJP National Convention. Home Minister Rajnath Singh, UP CM Yogi Adityanath, FM Arun Jaitley and former MP CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan are also present at the venue.

Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP President Amit Shah arrive at Ramlila Ground to attend the two-day BJP National Convention. Home Minister Rajnath Singh, UP CM Yogi Adityanath, FM Arun Jaitley & former MP CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan also present. pic.twitter.com/SgIyqXdC4T  ANI (@ANI) January 12, 2019
In what could be termed a setback to the Centre, former bureaucrat M P Bezbaruah on Saturday pulled out of the nine-member panel set up by the Union home ministry on January 5 to suggest ways to implement Clause 6 of the 1985 Assam Accord.

Bezbaruah is the fifth member to pull out of the committee, which will assess the quantum of seats to be reserved in the Assam assembly and local bodies for the Assamese people and chart out ways to preserve their identity and culture. The four members who walked out earlier were protesting against the Citizenship Amendment Bill which, they claimed, posed a threat to Assamese culture and identity.

The committee has become defunct after some peoples representatives have refused to be part of it, Bezbaruah said, adding he had written to the home minister. If there are no public representatives, then what is the point of the chairman? It is not a one-member committee, he said.

The Assamese people should decide whether they want the committee, Bezbaruah said. It is for the protection of the Assamese people and if peoples representatives are not there, then it is meaningless, he said.

Nagen Saikia, a former president of the Asom Sahitya Sabha, and Rong Bong Terang, a former president of the Sahitya Sabha, were the first ones to walk out of the committee. They were followed by eminent literary figure Mukunda Rajbongshi and the All Assam Students Union (AASU).

Others on the panel include former IAS officer Subhash Das, former editor of The Sentinel Dhirendra Nath Bezboruah and advocate general of Assam Ramesh Borpatragohain. The joint secretary in home ministry was nominated as member secretary.

The Assam Accord is a Memorandum of Settlement (MoS) signed between representatives of the Government of India and leaders of the Assam Movement. The agreement was signed in New Delhi on August 15, 1985, in the presence of then Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, to identify and deport illegal immigrants.

Clause 6 of the Accord seeks to provide constitutional, legislative and administrative measures to protect, preserve and promote the cultural, social, linguisidentity and heritage of Assams indigenous communities.

Meanwhile, protests continued against the Citizenship Amendment Bill as the North East Students Organisation (NESO), an umbrella organization of student bodies, observed black day against police action in Tripura and Manipur. Three persons, including a woman and a police officer, were injured in a clash between students, women vendors and the police at Khwairamban Bazaar in Manipur, during a mass rally against the Bill.
Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav and Bahujan Samaj Party chief Mayawati on Saturday announced an alliance for the Lok Sabha elections 2019. The SP and the BSP will contest on 38 seats each while two seats have been left for the Congress and two for other allies.

Addressing a press conference in Lucknow along with Akhilesh, Mayawati said the SP-BSP alliance will give sleepless nights to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP chief Amit Shah.

(Click here for Live updates on BSP-SP press conference)

Though this is not the first time the BSP and SP will contest in Uttar Pradesh in an alliance, this time they are pitted against a stronger rival. However, the party has chosen not to include the Congress in their battle against the BJP saying that there was no real gain in aligning with the party.

Congress party rule hasnt benefitted anyone. Theres no real vote transfer from Congress and hence no real gain from aligning with Congress. We wont ally with any party which will hurt our political ambitions, said Mayawati.

Watch: SP-BSP alliance will give sleepless nights to Modi-Shah: Mayawati

Terming their alliance as a political revolution, Akhilesh Yadav said that the merger was necessary to bring down the soaring arrogance of the BJP.

We have come together to rid the state and country of BJPs religion and caste politics. This alliance was a must to destroy BJP, to defeat their arrogance. BJP can go to any extent to create differences in our workers, we must be united and counter any such tactic, he added.

The Samajwadi Party chief further said that any insult to Mayawati would be an insult to him.

I want to say to BJP that they should know that we (SP-BSP) are in this together. I am grateful to Mayawati for giving me equal status. They should know any insult to Mayawati is my insult, he said.

The SP-BSP alliance can be a formidable opposition to the BJP, which won 71 out of 80 seats in Uttar Pradesh in 2014 Lok Sabha elections. Two other seats went to its ally Apna Dal. The SP won five, the Congress two, and the BSP none.

The alliance may prove to be a game changer, damaging the BJPs prospects in Uttar Pradesh, said political analyst Badri Narayan.

The Congress said it would be a mistake to underestimate the party in UP. Nobody should underestimate the Congress with its reach, presence and support base in Uttar Pradesh. Congress is an established party in the state, said senior leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi.

Union law minister Ravi Shankar Prasad dismissed the Samajwadi Party-Bahujan Samaj Party alliance saying it was a desperate effort for survival.

The SP BSP alliance is for their survival, its not in the interest of the country or Uttar Pradesh, he said at media briefing on the second day of BJPs national council meet in Delhi.

(Read: Will SP-BSP alliance dash BJPs 2019 hopes?)
Two months after tigress T-1, better known as Avni, was put down in Maharashtra by hired hunters on suspicions of having turned into a man-eater, the state animal welfare board has decided contract killing of problematic animals will no longer be given to recreational or trophy hunters.

A resolution to this effect was passed by the board of 20 members, chaired by BJP MP Poonam Mahajan, during its meeting last month after advocate and member Ambika Hiranandani raised the issue. The information was made public on January 10.

Maharashtras animal welfare board cannot keep silent in the wake of something so serious, said Hiranandani.

It was unanimously decided that the state needs to ensure such cases are not repeated. More veterinary officers need to be trained to tranquilise and rescue schedule 1 species. No contract killer is to be hired in future instances of human-animal conflict cases.

Animal welfare groups said the board had taken a good decision but it was not binding on the CWLW.

The CWLW is empowered by a weak and archaic law to be the sole person who can call anyone to eliminate wildlife seen as a threat to humans, said Sarita Subramaniam, Earth Brigade Foundation, who has petitioned against the killing of T-1 at the Nagpur bench of Bombay high court.
A month after 15 coal miners were trapped by sudden flooding in an illegal rathole mine at Khloo Ryngksan in Meghalayas East Jaintia Hills district, the state government is now considering ceasing the rescue operation.

On Friday, chief minister Conrad Sangma said: It is becoming a gargantuan task. Every day, we pump out litres and litres of water, but the very next day, a recharge (of water in the mine) takes place. I have asked Coal India and Kirloskar Brothers to continue operations for at least 15 hours today and, subject to a report, we will take a call. He admitted chances of the trapped miners being still alive are slim.

The CMs comments came on Friday, the 29th day since the mining disaster. On the same day, the Supreme Court asked the Centre and the Meghalaya government to take the help of experts and continue operations.

The judges also asked what the government was doing about persons operating illegal mines and the officials who allowed the subversive activity to go on.

The Centre responded by saying that help from National Geophysical Research Institute (NGRI), Hyderabad, the National Institute of Hydrology (NIH), Roorkee and some other private research institutes including Planys Technology was being taken for the rescue effort.

We have decided to bring in smaller, remotely operated vehicles to get into the rat hole mine but the situation is very difficult, said Sangma.

Given the cost burden in meeting expenses for the rescue operations, the East Jaintia Hills administration has sought an advance of 50 lakh from the state government.

Expenses are very high. Managing so many operational logistics including construction, food, fuel and other logistics required for installing high-powered pumps.... we cant really say how much, but the figures are substantial, Deputy Commissioner FM Dopth said over the phone.
Christian Dior is bringing forward its mens fashion show in Paris to avoid yellow vest protesters who have fought police, torched cars and smashed up shops over recent weekends, a source familiar with the decision said.

Dior, part of the LVMH luxury goods conglomerate, wrote to guests to reschedule a menswear catwalk show initially planned for Jan. 19 - a Saturday, when protesters have tended to converge on Paris and other big cities across France.

The show will instead be held on Friday, Jan. 18.

Upmarket Dior and Chanel boutiques were among those vandalised by the protesters in early December.

The yellow vest revolt, driven by high living costs and frustration at President Emmanuel Macrons leadership, shows scant sign of abating after two months of unrest, even after he made some tax and minimum wage concessions.

Retailers and hotels were hit particularly hard by the Paris demonstrations in the run-up to Christmas. Department stores and luxury boutiques shuttered their outlets when protests descended into riots in early December, and tourists cancelled bookings.

The source familiar with Diors decision said the brand was keen to avoid the Saturday street marches.

While turnout at the protests has fallen from early weeks, they have been consistently marred by violence and transport has been disrupted.

Macrons government has said it will crack down harder on unauthorised protests and get tougher on anyone who loots or vandalises shops and monuments.

Retailers had by late December lost around 2 billion euros ($2.3 billion) in revenue since the protests began, according to the French retail federation (FCD), which regroups everything from big supermarkets like Carrefour to toymakers and luxury brands.

Department stores and other shops are hoping to make up for lost business as the January sales kick off.

Fashion weeks, which attract crowds of specialist buyers and industry fans, are also an important source of income for Paris, home to some of the worlds more prominent high-end labels.

The menswear shows follow others in London and Milan, and precede the womenswear season of presentations running through February and early March.

Other high-profile fashion brands including Diors LVMH stablemate Loewe are maintaining their Saturday menswear shows.

The French fashion and Haute Couture federation that organises Fashion Week in Paris said it was working with state authorities to ensure the presentations run smoothly and take place in the best possible conditions.

($1 = 0.8733 euros)

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Some keep it casual, some go all-out formal, while some strike a balance and keep it a nice blend of smart casuals. Bollywood is always top-notch with its fashion and the airport is one of the most interesting places to spot fashion and the latest trends. Recently, when B-towners were getting set to board their flight to Delhi to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi, we noticed a variety of styles. The women by and large wore traditional wear. Alia Bhatts baby blue suit by Manish Malhotra and Bhumi Pednekars orange and brick salwar kurta set looked simplistic yet trendy, something most of us would want to add onto our (hopefully) thriving wardrobes.

Alia Bhatt and Ranveer Singh at the airport (Viral Bhayani)

It is the men whom we spotted in a mix of formal and casual wear that deserves a fair mention. Starting with Ranbir Kapoor, who is barely spotted publicly, was a treat to look at (at the risk of making him sound like a snack). He wore a wine coloured velvet jacket over a cotton tee and jeans, paired with nude shoes that completed the look so well. Ranveer Singh, on the other hand, chose a bandhgala worn in angrakha style that he accessorised with a pair of metallic spectacles. Ayushmann Khurrana went experimental with his look like he does with his choice of scripts and this too, an all-white tuxedo, was a smart avatar.

Ranbir Kapoor in a velvet jacket

Varun Dhawan at the airport wearing a tux

Varun Dhawan brought a sense of comfy fashion despite his formal avatar in a blueish tuxedo. His printed tie added to this subtle fashion turnout. Director Rohit Shetty too kept it formal in a black kurta and white pyjama, paired with a smart jacket that added character to the complete look. Sidharth Malhotra wore a blazer over their casual tee shirt and Vicky Kaushal went all casual with this airport look of his in a striped sweater with jeans. Rajkummar Raos tuxedo was a smart wear for a day event or can be added to your wardrobe for office wear.

Director Rohit Shetty with Rajkummar Rao

Vicky Kaushal and Sidharth Malhotra keeping it casual

Karan Johar stayed safe with his favourite colour - black. His broad-rimmed spects brought out the nerd-look and we loved it.

Which look did you love best on B-towns men at the airport yesterday? Let us know.

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Photo: The Canadian Press Sydney Carlier, foreground, accompanied by roommates, Jenna Brouwer, center and Camille Foder, behind flag, places flowers on a memorial for slain Davis Police Officer Natalie Corona, Friday, Jan. 11, 2019, in Davis, Calif. Corona, 22, who had been on the job only a few weeks, was shot and killed, Thursday, by a suspect who opened fire as she was investigating a three-car crash. The suspect was later found dead from a self-inflicted gunshot, following a standoff with officers.

A gunman on a bicycle ambushed a rookie policewoman in Northern California, shooting her from the shadows, then reloaded and narrowly avoided wounding others before walking home and calmly watching the chaos he had caused, police said.

The man who gunned down Officer Natalie Corona in this small college town on Thursday night later killed himself in a house, but police still don't know the motive for the attack, Police Chief Darren Pytel said Friday.

The man's name was not released.

Corona, 22, died within minutes of arriving at the scene of a three-car accident. She was shot in the neck and then several other times as she lay on the ground.

"We're speculating that she never even saw him," Pytel said.

Christian Pascual, 25, was one of the drivers involved in the crash. He had handed Corona his license and she was returning it when he heard shots from close behind his right shoulder.

"The person was behind me," he told the Sacramento Bee.

"When I looked up and I saw the officer on the ground, he was already walking due west ... just shooting at what looked like random people to me," Pascual added.

The gunman sprayed bullets at a firetruck, a passing bus and a house, pausing to reload. Nobody else was wounded, although a firefighter at the scene was struck in a boot as he ran and a girl later found a bullet lodged in a textbook in her backpack, the police chief said.

Shaun Kingston, 39, saw the gunman shoot at the firetruck, "dump a clip and put another one in," and begin calmly walking away until Kingston, who followed at a distance, lost him in the crowd.

"He was just calm, cool and collected about it," he said. "It was pretty damn disturbing seeing someone do that and just walk away."

Police had had previous contact with the man, but nothing suspicious or indicating he had mental issues, the chief said. Last year, the man reported being a victim of a crime, he said.

The chief said that after the shooting, the killer "basically circled the block and went home."

At the rental home a few blocks away, he casually chatted and hung out with his roommate.

"He didn't show any sign that he was involved in the incident," Pytel said, and even went outside to watch as police from around the region began rushing to the shooting scene.

The gunman left behind a backpack that helped police track him to the house. The chief said as police began to surround it, he stepped outside wearing a bulletproof vest.

"He shouted some stuff, went back in and came back out with a firearm, then went back inside, pushed a couch in front of the door and officers heard a gunshot," Pytel said.

Police eventually sent a robotic camera in and found the shooter had shot himself in the head.

Police never fired, he said. They found two semi-automatic handguns in the home.

The shooting devastated the Davis Police Department, which has about 60 sworn officers and about 30 other employees. Corona was the first officer in the department to die in the line of duty since 1959. She had only been patrolling solo for about two weeks, the chief said.

From the janitor to the police chief, Corona "just wanted to be everybody's friend, and was," the chief said.

Gov. Gavin Newsom issued a statement Friday saying the officer died "protecting her community from harm."

A candlelight vigil for the slain officer was scheduled Saturday night.

The attack occurred in a residential neighbourhood up the street from a park that hosts a weekend farmer's market. Residents placed flowers at a growing memorial outside the police department Friday, where flags flew at half-staff.

Corona's colleagues, family and friends mourned a vibrant life that was cut short.

"She was the best of us," said Davis officer Mike Yu, after placing a "Blue Lives Matter" flag at the crime scene, about a mile from the police station.
Taimur Ali Khan returned to Mumbai with his diva mom Kareena Kapoor Khan this morning and we havent been able to stop talking about this munchkin in a maroon tracksuit. On Christmas last year, we were nearly hoping that Taimur starts his own fashion line, but even if its not his own, then hell surely be the fashionista kid to watch till he grows up into a handsome hunk.

Whats amazing is that Taimurs tracksuit look is being compared to husband of the year, Ranveer Singh. Talk about fashion and you cant not mention Ranveers quirky sense of style that weve seen over the years, most recently at the trailer launch of Gully Boy, his next film.

ALSO READ: Kareena Kapoor, son Taimur make a style statement as they vacation in Switzerland. See pics

Saif, Kareena and Taimur were holidaying in Europe until recently and Kareena returned with Taimur today. Bebo was dressed in black and tan and looked every bit the diva she is. We particularly loved her leather jacket. Taimur, however, rocked the athleisure trend in an Adidas sweatshirt and tracks, completing the look with white sneakers. By and large patient, and cute as always, the two-year-old Taimur stole our hearts once again. Take a look at the pictures from the airport:

ALSO READ: What should Santa Claus bring Ranveer Singh, Sonam Kapoor, Nick Jonas and other celebrities this Christmas

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Sitting on a podium at a pavement in the Amar Colony market  where around 400 shops had been sealed by the municipal corporation last March Laxmi Narayan, a man in his 70s, chants a doha (prayer).

With the loudspeaker attached to his microphone kept on full volume, the chant reverberates all around, raising hopes among shopkeepers in the area.

Narayan  a priest who arrived in the city from Mehandipur Balaji in Rajasthan just days ago  has taken upon himself the task of ensuring that the shops are reopened soon, by conducting a nine-day religious ritual and chanting mantras.

But it was only by chance that Narayan had come to know of the sealing of shops in the market. Around six days ago, Narayan had landed up in the market, looking for a particular shop. But when he saw most of the shops with their shutters downed, he asked some shopkeepers in the area the reason behind this blanket shutdown.

When the shopkeepers described their problems since the sealing drive, conducted on the recommendation of Supreme Court-appointed monitoring committee, Narayan told them it was time for divine intervention.

I was crossing the market when I saw all the shops closed. I asked around and got to know about the sealing drive and how the shops have been closed. That was when I suggested the shopkeepers to conduct a religious ritual to get their shops opened, Narayan, who originally hails from Punjab, said.

The shopkeepers  who had, till then, lost all hopes of justice and recovering their losses  found hope in his words and decided to be part of the ritual.

Sanjay Arora, the owner of a shop in the busy market, sprung into action to organise the programme after Narayan told him that he would chant mantras for nine days so that his prayers reach the people who have sealed the market and they take back their orders. Arora, who has run from pillar to post to get his shop desealed, said organising the ritualistic prayer was his last-ditch attempt to revive the shop and his livelihood.

Panditji came to me one day and suggested we should do conduct a religious prayer to get our shops de-sealed. We want our sources of livelihood back. Hence, we agreed to make this effort and organised this, Arora said.

Another shopkeeper, Manmohan Shyam Mehra, said they tried all possible ways to get their shops desealed and met all authorities, pleading for their mercy. However, he said, none of them have listened to their ordeals. We have gone everywhere but nothing positive has happened. We are even ready to pay fines. Despite that, the authorities are not ready to budge from their stand. I am bankrupt and have borrowed money from the relatives to pay my childrens school fees, Mehra said. He said he is hopeful that the divine intervention might actually help.

Narayan, meanwhile, is confident that ritual will help the shopkeepers. I have strong belief that the prayers would reach the authorities and finally some wisdom would fall upon them and they will deseal the shops, he said.

Officials of the municipal corporation of Delhi, however, could not be reached for a comment.
In October last year, as the winter season was about to set in, Kajal Gupta had come to her mothers house in Dabri. There she would often sit out on the mud pile in the flats third floor balcony and have food while soaking in the sun. Little did she know that she was sitting on the corpse of a software engineer, which lay buried under the mud, she said on Friday.

The engineers body was recovered on October 8 last year, almost three years after he was killed, when Gupta and her family members requested their landlord, 86-year-old Vikram Singh, to get the balcony of their flat renovated.

During the renovation, when the boundary of the balcony was demolished, labourers found a human skeletal remains and alerted the police. The man was later identified as Jai Prakash Maharana (26), once a tenant at Singhs three storey building, that has 11 flats.

Jai shared the flat with his maternal uncle Bijay Kumar Maharana, who police arrested from Hyderabad on January 6 this month, almost three years after the murder. Police said Bijay disliked Jais closeness to his girlfriend and therefore bludgeoned him to death on February 7, 2016.

Police said that Bijay, who had been hiding in Hyderabad, had changed his looks and had cut contacts with his family and friends was trying his luck in regional films.

Gupta, who still lives in the house, on Friday termed her experience as haunting. It was hard to believe we had already spent about ten days with a dead body buried right next to us. Even the labourers who were digging were shocked. They silently left the spot and went straight to the police, said Gupta, whose mother, younger sister and brother live in the house as permanent residents.

Gupta, who is married and is a frequent visitor to the house, said that on Wednesday police brought Bijay to the house to recreate the crime scene.

 While recreating the crime scene at the house, Bijay showed police the spot where Jai was sleeping. At the spot, Bijay had attacked him with a ceiling fan motor. This is the exact spot where we sleep. I have been staying here for the last two months. The murderer(Bijay) also gave a detailed description to the police about how he buried the body and planted saplings on it. We saw his face. It didnt have any remorse, said, Gupta, a bank employee.

Gupta also said that Jais mother had come to Delhi and she stayed in the same flat for a few days after the body was recovered. She had also stayed in the house when her son went missing, unaware that her son was buried within metres of where she was sleeping .

Vikram Singh, the landlord who owns the flat, said he had visited the house when Bijay spread rumours that Jai had gone missing. I had gone to the house but found Jais room locked. That was the only way to the balcony. Bijay had locked the room from outside and told me that Jai has gone to Vaishno Devi, Singh said.

Police officers said they are yet to recover the fan motor with which Bijay had bludgeoned Jai. He told us that he washed the blood on the fan and took it out on the pretext of getting it repaired. He said he threw the fan in a nearby drain. We searched for the fan but are yet to recover it, said an investigator.
Indonesia is keen on Indian carriers starting flights to the country and renewing their air services agreement as part of efforts to boost bilateral trade and commercial relations, people familiar with developments said.

The leaders of India and Indonesia had directed civil aviation authorities of both sides to discuss enhancing of traffic rights through bilateral air services consultations during PM Narendra Modis visit to Jakarta in May 2018. They had also emphasised the urgency of establishing more flight connectivity.

Air connectivity continues to be a challenge as no Indian carrier is flying to Indonesia now. Given the number of Indians who visit Indonesia every year, the routes should be profitable for Indian airlines, a person said.

During 2017, about 485,000 Indian visitors had travelled to Indonesia and the number for 2018 was expected to be about 600,000, the people cited above said. The issue of Indian carriers starting flights had become more pressing as Indonesian airlines will touch the limit of 28 direct flights a week to India under the existing air services agreement, they said. Garuda Indonesia had started direct flights between Bali and Mumbai from April 2018 and Batik Air and Air Asia Indonesia have launched flights serving Indonesian and Indian cities.

The people also said there was a lot of room for increasing bilateral trade, which had touched almost $20 billion in 2017. At the same time, Indias rice and bovine meat exports had increased and Indonesia is discussing the import of sugar from India, they said. Indonesia has invited Indian businesses to help develop the port on Sabang island, close to Malacca Strait and efforts are on to convince Indian businesses of the advantages of investing there, they added.
Veteran actor Kishore Pradhan, who has worked in both Hindi and Marathi films during his long career, has died at the age of 86. The actor was known for his work in both films and theatre.

The actor is best remembered by Hindi-speaking audiences for his roles in Sanjay Dutt-starrer Lage Raho Munna Bhai and Jab We Met. His scene with Kareena Kapoor in Imtiaz Ali film at a small town railway station is among the most entertaining in the film.

Marathi writer and poet, Chandrashekhar Gokhale, paid his last respects to the actor on Facebook, remembering Kishore Pradhans talent of mimicking Johny Walker and Jagdip. His co-star, Subodh Bhave, told Indian Express, We worked together in Subh Lagna Savdhaan, but after the films release, I couldnt keep in touch with Kishore Kaka, as he was not keeping well, and I was out shooting for my film. I dont know the exact reason of his death yet. His family is grieving and busy with preparations for his funeral. Subh Lagna Savdhaan was Kishores last film; he was earlier seen in Lalbaug Parel and Shivaji Raje Bhonsle Boltoy.

He also acted in more than 100 Marathi theatre plays, and about 18 English plays.
It is a measure of how committed The Accidental Prime Minister is to gritty authenticity that Sanjaya Baru, on whose book the film is based, is played by Akshaye Khanna. Given this level of realism, Manmohan Singh should have demanded to be played by Tiger Shroff or, at the very least, by Ranbir Kapoor.

The Accidental Prime Minister was always going to be a difficult book to turn into a film. Congressmen used to accuse Sanjaya Baru of telling the press that Manmohan Singh (whose Media Advisor he was) always tried to help the people of India but was frustrated at every turn by venal party hacks (and to some extent, perhaps by Sonia Gandhi).

Barus book, published over four years after he left the PMO, suggested that the Congressmen were not entirely wrong to see him as somebody who tried to distinguish between the Prime Minister and the party. On the other hand, it also offered us a rare insight into the Manmohan Singh PMO.

Singh liked Baru and the book reflected the former Media Advisors admiration for his old boss. But the two tragically fell out when Baru apparently broke his word to Singh that he would not publish The Accidental Prime Minister until after the 2014 election.

Commercially, Barus decision made sense. The book is one of the all-time great bestsellers of Indian publishing. But the effects on his relationship with Singh were severe. (And the Congressmen said they had been right about Baru all along.)

A good director and a halfway decent scriptwriter could have turned The Accidental Prime Minister into a study of how power operates at the highest level. But the people who made this movie seem to have no real interest in Barus book. Instead it is treated only as a convenient peg on which to hang the anti-Congress narrative which was already current when Manmohan Singh was PM.

A file photo of former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh (Arvind Yadav/HT PHOTO)

In this version, the Gandhis were power-hungry dynasts (and Italians, at that!) who chose Manmohan Singh to be their puppet and then sacrificed him when he was not needed.

The movie of The Accidental Prime Minister creates an imaginary Baru who is quite different from the real man. The film turns him into a key figure in the government whose relationship with Manmohan Singh is, frankly, a little weird. They hug, they hold hands, they weep together and they bond over Que sera sera. I dont think that even Baru has claimed to have that close a relationship with Singh or to have wielded so much power in the PMO.

But for this script to work, he needs to be a powerful person, a sort of Sir Lancelot to Singhs King Arthur. So by the end of the movie, viewers may conclude that he is like the lizard on the ceiling who thinks he is holding the whole roof up. The real Baru is not a Walter Mitty-esque figure so this caricature cannot have been his idea. He says that his involvement in the film was zero. He signed off the movie rights in 2015, met the director twice and that was it.

The movies imaginary Baru is played by Akshaye Khanna in a fetching toupee with many sharp, nip-waisted suits and just two expressions: Smirk and No-Smirk.He is nothing like the real Baru who is not much of a smirker.

I guess that by claiming that this tired retread of the old hackneyed narrative is actually Barus insider account the film looks for a thin veneer of credibility. But it also damages many reputations: not just Barus. Manmohan Singh is portrayed as a spineless crybaby and his many achievements as Prime Minister go unacknowledged, except for the Indo-US nuclear deal. As for Sonia, she gets the usual mafia-boss treatment that this narrative requires. Rahul is turned into a figure of fun while rousing newsreel footage at the end hails Narendra Modi as he makes adoring crowds swoon.

That would be fine (from a propagandist perspective) if this film was well made. But, as the reviews have all pointed out, it is a terrible movie seemingly made by an amateur. Nor does the director ever capture Delhi. PM House and 10 Janpath look as though they were shot on sets left over from an Ekta Kapoor production complete with loud garish colours. (How difficult can it have been to recreate these interiors authentically when there are so many photos around?) Singhs SPG guards look like waiters sent over by a tentwallah. (Which idiot told the director that SPG officers never wear ties?)

The details of the minor characters are wrong. (Ahmed Patel, the comic opera villain of this piece, is called Ahmed bhai not Patelsaab by his colleagues.) I doubt if P Chidambaram or Pranab Mukherjee would recognise themselves. (I have no complaints about my cameo appearance by the way but next time around could I please get the same sharp suits as Akshaye Khanna? And yes, the toupee would help too.)

Ultimately the film fails not because it is propaganda. It fails because it is very boring. The sound you hear at the end, over the screeching soundtrack, is not Joseph Goebbels turning in his grave.

It is the sound of the ghost of Goebbels snoring loudly, having been as thoroughly bored as the rest of us.
Deepika Padukone and Ranveer Singhs PDA post their November wedding has taken a whole new dimension. In the past, Deepika has been subtle with her comments, while Ranveer has always let his heart rule his head. However, neither of them ever used any romantic terms. That is not the case anymore.

On Friday, Ranveer shared a video clip of wife Deepika, where she is softly singing a line from a Simmba song Aye Aaga Police even as she giggles and has a glass of wine in hand. Sharing the picture, Ranveer had addressed her as My Cheerleader.

Deepika Padukone commented on a video of hers Ranveer Singh had shared, earlier in the day.

Now, the Chennai Express actor has commented on it.

Deepika wrote back: The things you make me do to entertain you!!! I love you. She also added a bunch of emojis, including a pink heart. Thats pretty expressive, as far as a shy Deepika goes.

Meanwhile, Deepika is currently in New York, possibly shooting for some professional commitment. On Friday, she shared few pictures and accompanying one of the pictures, was the Statue of Liberty emoji.

Wearing, what looks like, a satin blue shirt and with flowing hair, Deepika looks at the camera. Of the three pictures, in two of them, she has tagged American hair stylist Harry Josh and Vietnamese American makeup artist Hung Vanngo.

In fact, both Harry and Hung shared the said pictures. Harry mentioned how he was being reunited with Deepika and addressed her as desi girl. He wrote: Reunited with @deepikapadukone and @hungvanngo today in NYC hair by me using all @harryjoshprotools #desigirl.

Similarly, Hung wrote: @deepikapadukone today in NYC followed by a heart emoji.

On her film work front, Deepika will soon begin work on her upcoming film with Meghna Gulzar titled Chhapaak. Interestingly, she is also producing the film, which is based on the life of acid attack survivor Laxmi Agarwal from Delhi. Her co-star in the film is actor Vikrant Massey.

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Photo: Crime Stoppers

A man convicted in his infant son's death is wanted by the Correctional Service of Canada.

Rourke Desmanche was last seen in Chilliwack, CTV News reports.

Desmanche was sentenced to 10 years in prison in 2013, minus time served, for assault and manslaughter in the 10-week-old child's death in London, Ont.

During the trial, medical experts confirmed that the boy, known as Kurious George Rose-Desmanche, died after being violently shaken.

Desmanche is described as 29 years old, six feet four inches tall, 210 pounds, with tattoos on his face and neck.

 with files from CTV Vancouver
Matthew Umstead

mumstead@herald-mail.com

MARTINSBURG, W.Va.  Police seized about 12 ounces of suspected heroin and arrested two women early Friday after stopping a vehicle in Martinsburg that was apparently traveling without headlights.

Jacqueline Lee Weigand, 57, and Peggy Louise Farrington, 54, both of Galivants Ferry, S.C., were charged with conspiracy, transporting a controlled substance into the state and possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance, according to Berkeley County Magistrate Court records.

Both were being held in Eastern Regional Jail Friday night on $270,000 cash-only bond, according to jail and court records.

Martinsburg Police Department Cpl. Justin Harper wrote in a complaint that he stopped the suspect vehicle about 12:40 a.m. in the 1600 block of West King Street after it left the ROCS gas station nearby.

The westbound vehicle parked in the middle of the roadway instead of pulling off to the side, Harper wrote.

Harper wrote that Farrington, the driver, appeared nervous and had trouble locating paperwork for the vehicle and opening the glove box.

Harper also noticed fresh track marks, an indicator drug use, on the back of Farringtons hands, some with fresh blood on them, records said.

He said Farrington admitted to being a heroin user and having needles in the vehicle, records said.

Weigand, who was with Farrington, appeared impaired and had trouble releasing her seatbelt to leave the vehicle when asked by the officer, records said.

Authorities found a black knit cap containing a large amount of suspected heroin in a large Ziploc bag on the passenger side floor where Weigand was seated, records said.

Harper said Farrington admitted to traveling from South Carolina to Philadelphia to pick up drugs for someone and intended to return to South Carolina to deliver them, records said.

Farrington told police that she was paid $1,000 to transport and deliver the drugs, records said.

A marble-size white rock was found in her inside jacket pocket, along with a snorting straw with residue believed to be heroin, records said.

Harper noted that Weigand initially said she didnt know about the drugs, then admitted that Farrington was being paid to transport them and that she was to be paid for traveling with Farrington, records said.
Matthew Umstead

mumstead@herald-mail.com

MARTINSBURG, W.Va.  The Martinsburg City Council voted Thursday night to obtain bids to replace the city fire departments water supply hose, after allegations that it wasnt properly tested while Paul Bragg was fire chief.

Before the vote, city council members were told that the department currently meets state standards. But they previously heard that 16 of 61 sections of hose at the department failed testing in December.

In discussing the need to replace at least some hose, Martinsburg Fire Department Capt. Danny Thomas told council members that 4-inch hose would be about 25 pounds lighter per 100-foot section than the current 5-inch hose.

Weight is a big issue, Thomas said, adding that a few people have been injured handling the larger hose. Thomas said the department would have to tweak its operations to use the smaller hose, but water supply would be very adequate in fighting fires.

Thomas said the larger hose is more easily damaged if a vehicle travels over it.

In addition to the hose that failed, testing and inspection by a third-party company last month also found that the age, or manufacturing date, of 10 sections of hose couldnt be determined and that six sections of hose were more than 20 years old, according to the fire department

Complete replacement of the 5-inch hose to 4-inch has been estimated to cost about $52,000, according to the fire department.

Bragg resigned Dec. 10. The deadline to apply for the vacancy is Jan. 18, City Manager Mark Baldwin said Friday.

Braggs resignation came a few days before the West Virginia State Fire Commission voted to refer an investigation of the hose testing allegations at the fire department to the Berkeley County Prosecuting Attorneys office.

The West Virginia State Fire Marshals office investigation led to an apparent acknowledgment by Bragg that hose testing was not completed for up to 10 previous years, according to Dec. 14 fire commission meeting minutes.

City Attorney Kin Sayre said this week that Martinsburg could not find documentation that hose testing was performed, as required by law.

The state fire marshals office said Friday that it relied on a representation by Bragg, via an Excel worksheet, that hose testing was previously completed, but that representation turned out to be untrue.

All fire pumps and hose must be tested annually for compliance with nationally recognized standards and the city currently has a fully-certified fire department, the state fire marshals office said Friday.

The last evaluation for certification was done in 2017 and is to be redone in 2023, according to the state fire marshals office. In-person evaluations take place every five years and a self-evaluation is done annually.

Before his resignation, Bragg and the departments fire captains evaluated the need to replace all of the departments 5-inch hose. They concluded that all of it needed to be replaced due to age, visual condition and the history of failures based on use, according to a fire department memo released this week.

Bragg was fire chief since September 2001.
Photo: File photo

A 14-month jail sentence was handed out in Kelowna court Friday for sexually touching a child  a case that brought a tear to the eye of the judge who heard the case.

Jeremy Carlson, a transgender person who has since transitioned to a woman and legally changed her name to Riley, was charged in 2016 after the victim, who was under 10 years old, came forward to her mother.

While Carlson was originally charged with sexual assault and sexual interference of a person under 16, she pleaded guilty to the sexual interference charge in November 2017, and the Crown dropped the assault charge.

Carlson's defence had sought a 90-day intermittent sentence, while the Crown had argued a sentence closer to 20 months in jail was more appropriate. On Friday, Justice Monica McParland handed down the 14-month sentence, adding that the appropriate sentence should strongly denounce crimes against children.

During sentencing, McParland said Carlson sexually touched the victim on nine different occasions, between 2015 and 2016.

The case garnered national attention this past summer when Carlson's defence, Jacqueline Halliburn, argued McParland should remove herself from the case after the judge reportedly cried when the victim's impact statement was read in court. Justice McParland said she had simply dabbed a tear from her eye with a tissue, and chose to stay on the case.

In a victim impact statement, the victim's mother said her daughter suffers from nightmares, anxiety, apprehension of being outside and is fearful of encountering Carlson again.

During sentencing, McParland noted Carlson had a tumultuous family life, and has used drugs and sex to cope with difficulties. She has since attended sex offender treatment therapy sessions, which her doctor says has somewhat reduced her risk to reoffend.

McParland noted that when it comes to placement of transgender inmates, BC Corrections makes decisions on a case-by-case basis, and if Carlson is initially placed in a male institution, she can apply to be transferred to a female one.

Following the jail sentence, Carlson will be under probation conditions for two years, which includes avoiding parks, playgrounds, community centres or any place where people under 16 may be present, unless with the written permission of her probation officer.

Carlson will be on Canada's national sex offender registry for a 20-year period.
Jenni Vincent

jvincent@herald-mail.com

MARTINSBURG, W.Va.  Family roots mean everything to Grand Home Furnishings President George Cartledge III, and his grandfathers philosophy continues to guide the business today.

He and other family members, including his father George Cartledge Jr., took part in Fridays ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Roanoke, Virginia-based companys newest store.

It is in space formerly occupied by The Bon-Ton, which closed in August at the former Martinsburg Mall. The showroom is approximately 60,000 square feet.

Im holding my grandfathers business card from when he started in the furniture business in 1931, he said as a hush fell over the crowd, which included city officials, store employees and customers.

He instilled a belief that rule No. 1 is the customer is always right. And rule No. 2 is see rule No. 1, so we still operate that way, he said.

Customers were treated to a free bottle of Coca-Cola, another decades-old family tradition, he said.

In 1953, my grandfather saw this as a way to welcome customers into the store, just like you would welcome someone into your home, he said.

His cousin, Robert Bennett, an executive vice president for the company, said the location at 820 Foxcroft Ave. marks the chains fifth store in West Virginia.

And this will be our 20th store for our company servicing Virginia, Tennessee and West Virginia. Our customer service is all about you, and making sure you are happy is the most important thing to us, he said.

Director of Advertising Mike Virok said the new store is different from others in the chain.

Since it was originally a department store, the layout now is a little different. You have a main aisle, and there is a racetrack around it. The space is open and easy for customers to browse, he said.

Some stores are bigger, but the way this one is merchandised and its layout makes it the most unique in the brand, he said.

Local support has been tremendous, and the company prides itself in being a community partner, he said.

The acceptance from the community has been fantastic. Everyone is so happy we are here, he said.

Martinsburg-Berkeley County Chamber of Commerce President Tina Combs said the company is a welcome addition.

Its always nice to see a building come back to life, and this is a great reuse of this space, she said.

And its also great to see this investment in the community, as well as the jobs that are being created, she said.

Martinsburg resident Nancy Manual came with her husband, Bill, who is in the market for a new recliner.

No stranger to the chain, Manual said she has often purchased furniture in Winchester but likes having a local store to visit.

This is very, very nice and I am so glad it is here in Martinsburg. That is just great because I always like what I get from Grand, and this will just be easier, she said.

Ive been looking forward to it opening for a good while, she said.

A short distance way, another well-known chain celebrated a grand opening Friday, when Starbucks, at 925 Foxcroft Ave., also opened for business.

The new 2,200-square-foot coffee shop is part of the redevelopment of the former Ryans restaurant property. It offers a drive-through option, the company said.

It joins Blaze Pizza, which opened last year at the renovated property.
Matthew Umstead

mumstead@herald-mail.com

MARTINSBURG, W.Va.  A 35-year-old Strasburg, Va., man is accused of having sexual contact with a girl younger than 10.

Timothy Alan Himelright, lived in Berkeley County, W.Va., at the time of the alleged incident last year. He was charged with distribution and exhibiting material depicting minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct, use of obscene matter with intent to seduce minor and attempted sexual abuse, records said.

Himelright was being held in Eastern Regional Jail on $150,000 bond, according to court and jail records.

The alleged offenses occurred between January through November 2018, according to a complaint filed by West Virginia State Police Cpl. J.D. See.

See wrote that she began investigating allegations in November that the defendant shared child pornography with an 8-year-old girl and possibly abused her, records said.

See wrote that the defendant admitted to taking a photo of the victim while in a bathtub and distributing it through social media, records said.

The trooper said the defendant also admitted showing child pornography to the child on his phone, from a social media app and through internet websites, records said.

He also disclosed that he would ask (her) if she wanted to do those things that the people were doing on the photographs/videos, the trooper wrote in the complaint.

He said when she told him no, he didnt persist, records said.

Police said the defendant admitted to sharing countless number of child pornographic images and videos via the social media app, but denied downloading any to store them, records said.

The victim, in an interview with authorities, told police that the defendant showed pictures on his phone and she was confused about why he did that, records said.

The girl said the defendant tried to get her to have sexual contact with him, but she said no, records said. She also told authorities that his attempts were disrupted by the arrival of another person in the vicinity.
Joyce F. Nowell

jnowell@herald-mail.com

MONT ALTO, Pa.  John Joyces first visit to a Penn State campus as congressman was in Franklin Countys backyard.

A little more than a week ago, he was sworn into the House of Representatives for the 13th Congressional District, which includes Franklin and Fulton counties. On Friday, Joyce, a dermatologist, used a trip to Mont Alto to delve into the grassroots of health care education.

Coming to Penn State is like coming home, Joyce said after touring various allied health programs on the campus, including Nursing, Occupational Therapy Assistant and Physical Therapist Assistant. He also heard about a new $13 million allied health building expected to open on campus in 2021.

The opportunity to see the programs here and the innovation that is occurring for the students and actually being able to watch the students in one of the labs was probably one of the high points of being here, he said.

In addition to meeting with campus officials, Joyce got to review health care programs and witness a simulated birth in the nursing lab.

These types of activities are what education needs to be about today, Joyce said. When you teach your students how to deal with a simulated setting before theyre in a clinical setting, those precepts allow those students to be so much better when they do hit those clinical stages.

Joyce said after the tour that health care is an integral part of what Congress needs to address.

Youre going to see changes in health care, he said, and I think Penn State is on the forefront of helping me understand the importance of the education of our students in this community.

Joyce said he can support educational efforts by supporting research and making sure student loans are available.

Campus Chancellor Francis K. Achampong hopes the firsthand experience Joyce got will influence his work in Congress, especially when it comes to student loans.

The Higher Education Act is going to be reauthorized, so when he is having a debate about it and when it comes time to vote, he can put faces to this vote because he has seen students in this lab, Achampong said.

Just hours before his spin through the local campus, Joyce took the floor of the House in Washington D.C. for the first time since taking the oath on Jan. 3. The Republican called for Democrats to take up an appropriations package that will fund the border wall and bring an end to the partial government shutdown.

I think we have to work hard to get the government moving again, Joyce said before leaving Mont Alto. I think we need to come to the table. We need to listen and realize that the responsibility of Congress is to have an open government. Im working hard to make that happen.

Joyce has said he is declining his congressional salary until the government reopens. On Friday, he voted to guarantee back pay to federal employees affected by the shutdown.
Staff reports

The Herald-Mail

Five agencies in Washington County will split more than $700,000 to help crime victims.

Last week, Gov. Larry Hogan announced that some Maryland organizations that serve crime victims will get nearly $50 million in funding from the Victims of Crime Assistance Grant Program.

The program is designed to improve services, safety, and security for crime victims and their families.

The following local agencies will divide a total of $725,056:

 Court Appointed Special Advocates of Washington County, Maryland, Inc., $25,974

 Washington County Commission on Aging Inc., $52,816

 Meritus Healthcare Foundation Inc., $69,170

 Washington County Department of Social Services, $284,662

 CASA, or Citizens Assisting and Sheltering the Abused Inc., $293,432

Hogans office initially announced the funding on Tuesday.

Funding went to sexual assault and rape crisis centers, domestic violence programs and shelters, mental health services, child abuse programs, hospitals and emergency medical facilities, criminal justice agencies and programs for underserved victims.

Hogan announced recently a total of $2.5 million in federal Violence Against Women Act grants to fund efforts to help protect women and families from domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence and stalking crimes.

Last year, the Governors Office of Crime Control and Prevention sponsored the first Maryland Crime Victims Rights Conference to provide training and to recognize those who contributed to the victims rights movement in Maryland.

 Dan Dearth
Sherry Greenfield

sgreenfield@herald-mail.com

SHARPSBURG  A group formed to help attract more businesses to the town of Sharpsburg is taking a break.

The group plans to come back with a new name and a different focus.

The Sharpsburg Merchants & Community Association will be taking a hiatus for several months and reformatting its structure to focus on helping the town plan, promote and conduct community events, its founder and chairwoman, Meredith Poffenberger Moore, wrote in a press release.

It is changing its name to the Sharpsburg Community Association.

All members of the community are welcome and encouraged to participate in this civic-minded community group, she wrote.

Poffenberger Moore will step down as chairwoman. A new chairperson has not been chosen.

I will stay a part as a community member and ghost tour business owner, Poffenberger Moore, owner of Sharpsburg Ghost Tours, said in a separate interview. I sought out feedback from the current group. Some members thought the focus on the community would be more beneficial to the town, rather than focusing on the businesses in and around town.

Launched in January of last year, the Sharpsburg Merchants and Community Association was made up of residents and business owners.

It met monthly and discussed issues ranging from town council business to the lack of adequate parking in town.

Its goal was to preserve the historic legacy of the town while fostering a positive environment for economic growth. It wanted to help the public understand that the growth of small businesses is vital for the community to survive.

The business group felt that the historic hamlet is doing little to capitalize on nearby Antietam National Battlefield, which draws thousands of visitors each year.

The group can still help a prospective business navigate the in-town zoning process ..., Poffenberger Moore said.

Poffenberger Moore owns The Marketplace of Sharpsburg, formerly at 104 N. Church St. in Sharpsburg.

In October, she closed the antique shop. She has merged her business with Kelly Moore Sheds at 17051 Virginia Ave. in Williamsport.
The Herald-Mail

BALTIMORE  Two local programs are in line for help in combatting the opioid crisis as part of $2.5 million in statewide funding for community and local programs.

Steve Schuh, executive director of the Maryland Opioid Operational Command Center, announced the awards on Thursday.

Brookes House, a sober living facility for women, will receive $250,000. Horizon Goodwill Industries Project Realize!, which mentors youth involved in the justice system, will get $80,922.

Schuh made the announcement during a news conference in Baltimore with Lt. Gov. Boyd Rutherford.

Rutherford also announced a new executive order to study mental and behavioral health in Maryland, with an emphasis on the relationship between mental illness and substance abuse.

Its going to take an all-hands-on-deck approach and every level of government working together to fight this epidemic and to save the lives of Marylanders, Schuh said. But, its here, at the local level, in communities, neighborhoods, and schools, where we are going to have the biggest impact. These additional tools, located in our communities, where they need it the most, will help us in our continued fight.

 Tamela Baker
C.J. Lovelace

cj.lovelace@herald-mail.com

Savings from two intersection improvements and the pending sale of a city-owned property will let Hagerstown put about $140,000 into additional projects this fiscal year.

City Engineer Rodney Tissue on Tuesday night outlined plans for the two proposed projects  spending $70,000 each for improvements at the Medal of Honor Triangle and handicapped-accessibility improvements for bleachers at city parks.

I think thats a great idea, Councilman Lew Metzner said about the triangle improvements.

The triangle, a tribute to Medal of Honor recipient Cpl. William O. Wilson, has become overgrown and largely unrecognizable for passing motorists heading north on Jonathan Street, council members said.

Right now, when youre traveling down Jonathan Street, you dont have any idea what this is other than a traffic island, Metzner said.

At the request of the areas Neighborhoods First group, the citys plans for the triangle include relocating and upgrading plaques and signage, a seating bench feature, a small plaza area and improved landscaping.

Councilman Kristin Aleshire urged Tissue to make the space more visible to motorists by not installing shrubbery or walls on the point area of the island if they block the viewshed.

I want to be able to see it, he said.

Wilson, an Army buffalo soldier from Hagerstown, earned the militarys top honor for bravery during the Battle of Wounded Knee in 1890. The conflict was part of Ghost Dance War in South Dakota and the American Indian Wars.

For the other project, Tissue said the city would add or replace existing sections of Americans with Disabilities Act-compliant bleacher seating at Hellane, Funkhouser, Staley, Hager and City parks.

The funds will come from the citys Community Development Block Grant program, which is expected to see a $40,000 bump from intersection projects at South Mulberry and East Antietam streets and Salem and Linganore avenues coming in under budget, Tissue said.

Additionally, the pending sale of the Roslyn Building, on East Franklin Street adjacent to City Hall, will provide another $100,000 in the fiscal year ending June 30.

Settlement on the sale to WLR Holding Co. is expected to take place in February.

To allow for the triangle and bleacher projects, the city council will vote on an amendment to its fiscal 2018-19 Community Development Block Grant program later this month.
Dan Dearth

ddearth@herald-mail.com

A Cumberland, Md., man charged this week in connection with a 20-year-old kidnapping in Somerset County, Pa., has been linked through DNA with the sexual assaults of two Hagerstown girls in the late 1980s.

Hagerstown Police Chief Paul Kifer said Timothy David Nelson, 50, was arrested Tuesday in Cumberland for the Pennsylvania cases, but has not been charged by local authorities.

Its taken a long time, but it looks like were finally there, he said.

Nelson was established as a suspect in the Pennsylvania kidnapping after a cold case investigator resubmitted an old fingerprint from evidence and got a hit.

Kifer said additional DNA evidence from the 1999 case showed a potential match with the Hagerstown sexual assault cases that occurred in the fall of 1988.

Pennsylvania State Police said Nelson forcibly took a 10-year-old girl off a street in Cairnbrook, Pa., on Sept. 19, 1999. He then traveled with her to a remote location in West Virginia and assaulted her. She was released the same day.

That scenario, Kifer said, was similar to the 1988 cases of two Hagerstown girls who were abducted from the citys North End, sexually assaulted and dropped off in remote locations.

Kifer said the victims in both of those cases have been told about Nelsons arrest.

City police detectives will have to obtain a warrant to retrieve fresh DNA from Nelson, Kifer said, to see if it matches the DNA that was taken nearly three decades ago. If the DNA is a match, he will be charged.

But in all likelihood, the FBI probably will take over the case because the crimes were committed in multiple states.

Kifer said two other women have come forward to Hagerstown police since a story ran earlier this week in the Somerset (Pa.) Daily American. The women had similar experiences, he said, to the ones that were reported in 1988 and 1999.

Were broadening our search of old cases that might be linked, Kifer said.

The Herald-Mail reported in 1988 that the first abduction occurred on Sept. 10 of that year, when a 7-year-old girl was riding her bike with a friend in an alley near Broadway.

The girls told police that a man asked if they knew where the music place was located. When they said no, the man grabbed the 7-year-old, put her in the trunk of his car and drove to a vacant lot in the 800 block of Commonwealth Avenue.

He then sexually assaulted her. Reports show the girl ran to a nearby business, where employees called police.

The second abduction was reported on Oct. 16, 1988. In that case, the girl was playing with two friends in the alley behind the 1000 block of Hamilton Boulevard, where a man asked for directions, grabbed the girl and drove her to Browns Quarry Road in the Sabillasville area of Frederick County, Md.

The man sexually assaulted the girl before he let her go. A news reporter at the time said the girl was 9 years old. This week, police said she was 10.

A newspaper clipping said at the time that the girl ran to a nearby house, but no one was home. She then saw three archers in the woods and went to them for help.

At least one other abduction of a young girl was reported around the same time.

The crimes prompted police to host a meeting on the night of Nov. 1, 1988, at Northern Middle School. Parents and children from kindergarten to the sixth grade were urged to attend to learn safety tips in the wake of the recent abductions.

The 1999 kidnapping case initiated a multi-state search for a teal green Geo Metro and a white male in his 20s or 30s. The kidnapper was wearing a unique green T-shirt with a cartoon depicting an alien sitting in front of a fireplace.

Pennsylvania State Police Trooper Jeff Brock led an extensive investigation involving numerous local, state and federal law enforcement agencies, but no leads were developed.

Nelson was arraigned Thursday on charges of kidnapping, rape, involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, unlawful restraint, statutory sexual assault and other related misdemeanors. He is in the Somerset County Jail in lieu of a $750,000 bond.
Photo: RCMP

Jurors will need to use their common sense in assessing the reliability of an alleged confession by a man accused of killing a 12-year-old girl, a B.C. Supreme Court judge says.

In his instructions to the jury on Friday, Justice Austin Cullen said an undercover police officer posing as a crime boss provided financial and social inducements to Garry Handlen but the man was never threatened.

Handlen has pleaded not guilty to the first-degree murder of Monica Jack near her home in Merritt in May 1978.

Her remains were found 17 years later, on a nearby mountain where Handlen told the supposed crime boss in November 2014 that he sexually assaulted and killed her after abducting her from a pullout on a highway.

He said he threw Jack's bike in Nicola Lake, forced her into the bathroom of his camper and drove his Chevy pickup up a steep hill, the trial heard.

"What I know for sure is I went up a dirt road off the highway, up a hill, somewhere in the Merritt area and I left her body up there," he told the undercover officer in a hidden-camera video recording shown earlier in court.

The RCMP began a nine-month so-called Mr. Big sting in Minden, Ont., in February 2014. Undercover operatives paid for his meals, drinks and hotel stays in cities including Toronto, Ottawa and Halifax and hired him for legal and illegal jobs such as loan sharking.

The trial heard that the final inducement came when the supposed crime boss falsely told Handlen police had DNA linking him to Jack's murder and witnesses could place him at the crime scene but "things could be done to take care of it" if he told the truth.

It's up to jurors to decide the extent to which Handlen could have been influenced to admit to killing the girl, Cullen said.

In the video, Handlen is told a former employee who is sick would take the blame for the murder but he must provide enough details to at least confuse investigators as the group works to get rid of the DNA.

As Handlen begins to talk about what he allegedly did, he repeats five times that he strangled Jack and later repeatedly expresses relief.

"It's a weight off my shoulder now, I've told you. So I'm not the only one that knows now."

Patrick Angly, Handlen's defence lawyer, has urged the jury not to accept the alleged confession, saying it was coerced.

Cullen is expected to finish his instructions on Monday, when Handlen's fate will be in the jury's hands.
Provo, UT (84601)

Today

Except for a few afternoon clouds, mainly sunny. Hot. High near 100F. Winds W at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

A few clouds from time to time. Low 66F. Winds NE at 5 to 10 mph.
ABINGDON, Va.  Rex Carter, a Southwest Virginia native, announced on Friday his bid to run for sheriff of Washington County.

Carter, who wants to replace retiring Sheriff Fred Newman, has a community-based vision for the department, according to a written statement. In cooperation with the Southwest Virginia Law Enforcement Academy, Carter said he would implement training in support of the deputies and their families, especially during times of trauma.

We have a good department, and law enforcement is a family, and we must take care of family, Carter said. Spouses and other family members are often forgotten when their deputy is facing a crisis.

Developing a mentoring and support program with deputies and their families would facilitate a stronger department, he said.

Carter also said he wants deputies to train in trauma informed care so they would be better equipped to provide more compassionate services to victims.

Another goal is for the Sheriffs Office to become a center of information and assistance for citizens, he said.
Crawford, who will serve as chairman of the House Local Government Committee, said he thinks its going to be a good year, but it will be different because the state has a new governor, speaker of the House and several new legislators.

Hill, who will serve as chairman of the House Commerce Committee, said he will do what it takes to support moving the region and state forward, including infrastructure improvements.

From a regional standpoint, whatever we can do to continue the momentum thats there, were [legislators] going to be there, Hill said. The goal is to use this position for the benefit of our region, period, and then well go from there.

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Specifically, he mentioned supporting the development of Aerospace Park. The 160-acre park is adjacent to Tri-Cities Airport in Blountville and will be a build-ready development designed to attract aviation-related industries and high-paying jobs.

Hulsey said he believes this sessions biggest issues will be exploring the possibility of providing funding to counties for school resource officer programs, figuring out what should be done next to address the states opioid epidemic, and what the states responsibility is in addressing mental health issues as well as what can be done by legislators to find solutions.
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When asked for comment, Susan Terpay, director of public relations for Norfolk Southern, said the company does not discuss specific real estate issues.

The railroads apparent right of way is rooted in two deals between the Rev. James King, a land owner, and the East Tennessee Railroad Co., one of the many precursors of Norfolk Southern.

In January 1852, a 10-acre section of modern-day Bristol, Tennessee, near or along the state line was conveyed to the East Tennessee and Virginia Railroad Co. by King for the purposes of building a railroad depot. More than a decade later in October 1864, King conveyed more of his land to the railroad company.

The Salvation Army has owned the property since 1988. Prior to its occupancy, the building was owned by Bristol Tennessee Essential Services predecessor, Bristol Tennessee Electric Services and the Inter-Mountain Telephone Co.

When the Salvation Army acquired the building, Fultz said there was extensive research of property records, but nothing regarding the railroads claimed right of way was found. Additionally, Fultz said to his knowledge neither BTES nor the phone company had to pay a lease to Norfolk Southern.
BRISTOL, Tenn.  Holston Medical Group will reopen an outpatient surgery center at The Pinnacle that was shuttered in August.

The aim is to provide the community with patient-centric, low-cost outpatient surgical alternatives, according to a news release from HMG.

We are committed to providing this region with cost-effective, value-based solutions for patients and to meeting the medical needs of our communities, said Dr. Scott Fowler, president and CEO of HMG. As a physician-owned and -led organization, we have a responsibility to provide the best care at an affordable cost for the communities and patients we serve. We will continue to seek opportunities to provide options in our market that best meet our patients needs.

The center, in the Bristol West building, will have two surgical rooms and one procedure room. A variety of procedures will be performed, including general surgery, gynecology, urogynecology and orthopedics.

The center is scheduled to open early this year and will create 13 new jobs, the release states.
BLOUNTVILLE, Tenn.  Two criminal cases involving the former Sullivan County Emergency Communications District director and county coroner have been rescheduled to February with a potential plea deal in the works.

The attorney for Isaac Ike Lowry, 72, of Bluff City, appeared Friday at the Sullivan County Justice Center for a scheduled hearing before Judge James F. Goodwin. The judge set a hearing for 9 a.m. Feb. 21 as the two sides work toward a resolution.

Lowry faces two separate cases involving theft. The first charge stemmed from accusations that a female acquaintance stole his debit card and thousands of dollars from his account. An investigation by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation determined that Lowrys debit card had not been stolen, and he gave the woman permission to use it, the TBI said.

A Sullivan County grand jury indicted Lowry in November on two counts of false reports and one count of theft over $10,000.

On Nov. 14, he was indicted on a separate theft charge. An investigation by the Tennessee Comptrollers office alleges that Lowry stole district funds totaling at least $16,856 when he redeemed a life insurance policy that had been paid using district funds.
BRISTOL, Tenn.A post is all that remained Friday night at the Bristol Sessions marker along State Street in downtown Bristol.

Bristol Historical Association historian Tim Buchanan said someone had vandalized the marker on Thursday evening. It was broken into pieces, he added.

Buchanan said the Bristol Tennessee Police Department had contacted him about the vandalism.

The marker, dedicated to the music session hosted by Ralph Peer in 1927, was installed in 2009.

Other nearby historic markers at the corner of State Street and Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. did not appear to be damaged, Buchanan said.

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Photo: Castanet Staff File photo of Teneycke leaving the Penticton Courthouse in May 2017

After Ronald Teneycke was locked up indefinitely last year with a dangerous offender label, Wayne Belleville stood on the back steps of the Penticton courthouse and told reporters he looked forward to never hearing his name again.

But a few weeks before Christmas, Teneyckes name landed on Belleville's doorstep in the form of a letter from the infamous criminal now locked up in a federal maximum security prison in Agassiz.

Disturbed immediately when he saw Teneyckes name on the envelope he initially intended to never read the letter, but reconsidered days later.

I thought well, if there is some sort of implied threat to my family I want to be made aware of it first hand, he said.

Teneycke shot Belleville in the back during a criminal rampage through the South Okanagan in 2015 that also included an armed grocery store in Oliver. Belleville had accidentally picked Teneycke up hitchhiking while he was being hunted by police across the region for the robbery.

As a part of sentencing for the crimes for which he received a dangerous offender label and indefinite jail term, Teneycke had a no-contact order with Belleville.

It was very disturbing, Belleville described the contents of the letter. I was pretty emotional and upset afterwards honestly.

It's really hard to say exactly what he was trying to get across, but hes a sociopath and effectively blamed me  it was my fault that I got shot.

He said three years later he feels no empathy for me, Belleville said, adding Teneycke signed the letter Merry Christmas, your unknown Ron.

Belleville called the RCMP, local Crown prosecutor's office and prison Teneycke is housed at looking for answers about how the man who shot him is able to harass him from a maximum-security prison.

How is it that someone in a federal penitentiary can commit a criminal offence right under your nose. How is this even possible? Belleville asked.

There is obviously no monitoring there whatsoever, I can only draw that conclusion.

Castanet News has reached out to Corrections Canada but has not received a response.

On Thursday, a new charge of failing to comply with a non-communication order was sworn against Teneycke in relation to the letter, and Belleville says the Crown prosecutors are looking into how the letter wasnt caught.

His name is on it, my name is on it. Surely it isnt that big of a task to look at his mail as it goes out and look at who it's addressed to, Belleville said, noting the list of names on Teneyckes no-contact list cant be that long.

Regardless of what was in the letter, the implied threat or implication is, Im thinking about you and I know where you live, Belleville. That in itself is disturbing.

Prior to shooting Belleville, Teneycke had 37 previous convictions for offences including sexual assault with a weapon, forcible confinement and uttering threats, in connection to the rape of an Okanagan teenager in 1993.

He was out on an intermittent sentence when he robbed the gas station and shot Belleville.
Education & Special Projects / Royse City Reporter

Hojun Choi is a native of Houston and a graduate of University of Texas at Austin, where he studied journalism and worked as a reporter at The Daily Texan. To reach him outside of business hours, email HChoiReporter@gmail.com.
Photo: The Canadian Press Alberta Legislature in Edmonton

A young woman says it felt good to see a former politician who sexually touched her when she was a child being led out of an Alberta courtroom to begin a three-year prison sentence.

Don MacIntyre, 63, resigned as a United Conservative MLA in February of last year after he was charged with sexual interference and sexual assault.

He pleaded guilty to the first charge in Red Deer on Friday, and the second charge was withdrawn.

"He's always been in a position of power and it's so good to see that taken away from him," the victim, who cannot be identified, said outside court.

She said she's looking forward to going to university and living a normal life. She also said she can move forward feeling happier, safer and more confident.

"I know that, in the end, the justice system worked out for me and I don't have to be afraid anymore."

An agreed statement of facts read out in court said MacIntyre touched the victim sexually with a part of his body in 2010 and 2011.

The touching happened between five to 10 times when the victim was 10 years old. She told her mother in 2015.

"He told her that God said that God was OK with the touching," the statement said, adding the victim felt depressed and had suicidal thoughts.

Court heard MacIntyre apologized after the assaults, asked for forgiveness and said it was part of "Satan's plan to destroy (the victim's) faith."

The victim, with two family members standing behind her, told court she sometimes thought she was imagining things or that it was her fault. When MacIntyre finally apologized, "I was so relieved I was not losing my mind," she said.

She described how the abuse made her give up creative pursuits she loved, gave her nightmares and made her sick to her stomach.

She said she is still often angry. "I will carry this rage I have for him to my grave."

The Crown asked for a prison sentence of between three and 3 1/2 years, while MacIntyre's lawyer asked for two years.

MacIntyre apologized to the victim from the prisoner's box for the "pain and anguish" he caused.

He then wished her a life that is "whole and healthy and happy."

MacIntyre had represented the central Alberta seat of Innisfail-Sylvan Lake for the United Conservative Party.

He was first elected in 2015 for the Wildrose Party, which merged with the Progressive Conservatives in 2017 to form the United Conservatives.

The United Conservative caucus issued a statement Friday condemning MacIntyre.

"We hope this disgusting individual faces the full extent of the law in sentencing for his odious crime. Our thoughts remain with the victim and all those affected at this time."
Yang Yu was seen twice by gardai in the space of an hour

A banned driver who was on an outing with his wife and four children took over at the wheel after she became unwell, a court has heard.

Yang Yu (38) was seen driving twice within the space of an hour by gardai.

He claimed his wife had just returned home from China, and he foolishly took over behind wheel when she was too tried to drive.

Judge John Cheatle ordered Yu to complete 140 hours' community service, in lieu of six months in prison.

The judge also fined Yu 1,400, disqualified him for eight years and imposed a six-month sentence, which he suspended for 18 months.

The defendant, of Glen Ellan Court, Swords, admitted two counts of driving without insurance or a driving licence last August 14.

Garda Dominic Noonan said he was on mobile patrol around 1pm when he saw Yu driving at Seatown Road in Swords.

Gda Noonan said he was unable to stop Yu at this time but he knew him, and he later made the formal demand for his driving licence and insurance.

Foolishly

Garda Noel McKenna said he stopped Yu on the R132 at 1.35pm on the same date and made the demand for his insurance documents.

Defence solicitor Fiona D'Arcy said the charges arose out of the one journey.

The court heard that the defendant had 32 previous convictions, including nine for uninsured driving, and received a 10-year driving ban in 2017.

Ms D'Arcy said that the defendant was a married man with four children.

She said his wife had just returned from China. She was unwell and tired. They were on an outing with their children, she was unable to drive and he foolishly took over.

Ms D'Arcy accepted that Yu had a poor record but she asked the judge to consider community service, saying Yu was "fit, willing and capable" of completing it.

Yu, a former taxi driver, was working in construction, and was involved in importing construction materials from China.

Ms D'Arcy said Yu's family depended on him and he realised this was his "last chance".
A couple described their holiday from hell after being held at gunpoint and forced into a car where they said Portuguese criminals "threatened to shoot us dead for money".

Dermot and his fiancee had booked the trip to celebrate their engagement and have been in Portugal since Friday, January 4.

He said that just before 6pm last Sunday, they were both robbed at gunpoint on the strip in holiday hotspot Albufeira on the Algarve.

Dermot, who only gave his first name, feels the gang had followed them and passed them at least 10 times in their car on the previous day.

"They took us in the car for about an hour, they took all our money off us," the Donegal man told Joe Duffy on RTE Radio One's Liveline show.

He added that the gang claimed they were "going to shoot me and sell my fiancee for sexual needs for 5,000".

"The only way we got released is my fiancee asked to go to the bank to get more money They did bring out the gun to shoot me, and the driver of the car had to punch the fella who had the gun to stop him from shooting me."

Run

He said he gave the incorrect bank card so that his fiancee could not access the money, and "just out of the blue" he was allowed out of the car to help her.

"Me and my partner then decided to run off and we went to the nearest bar so we did get away but we're very lucky to be alive. They were going to shoot us dead.

"It's just been a traumatic experience, my partner's first holiday."

He said the gang got away with several hundred euro.

Having made a complaint to the local police, he added: "They've caught the suspects, but we haven't had a holiday at all. We've spent the last four or five days within police stations."

To make matters worse, Dermot said that the couple were victims of theft again later at their hotel, with a mobile phone among the items taken.

Yesterday afternoon, the couple were waiting to board a plane home to Ireland. According to RTE, Portuguese police are taking the incident "very seriously".

Dermot also expressed his frustration at their travel insurance company AIG as he feels they failed to help them.

AIG responded to Liveline with the following statement: "AIG sympathises with the situation this couple found themselves in and has been in touch to offer its support. Travel insurance policies only cover certain specified scenarios and if a specific scenario is not covered the policy will not apply."
Normand Larose and Rosalyn Joy Few died last April after falling from a pony and trap in the Gap of Dunloe

An inquest into the death of two US tourists in a freak pony and trap accident in Kerry last year is set to proceed after gardai were informed no further action is now expected over the tragedy.

However, civil proceedings are anticipated over the April 9 accident which claimed the lives of Normand Larose (62) and Rosalyn Joy Few (64).

An inquest into the tragedy, which rocked the Kerry tourism industry, is now expected to proceed in early February.

Mr Larose and Ms Few, from Phoenix, Arizona, were in Ireland as part of a dream family holiday.

The two US tourists died from horrific injuries sustained when they were catapulted almost eight metres into a ravine and onto rocks after a pony pulling their trap-style carriage suddenly became startled and the cart flipped over.

Ms Few's daughter, Tonya, was following her mother that day in another pony and trap with her husband and two children.

Expand Close Flowers at the scene on the Gap of Dunloe where American tourists Roselyn Joy Few and Normand Larose were killed in a tragic accident / Facebook

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Whatsapp Flowers at the scene on the Gap of Dunloe where American tourists Roselyn Joy Few and Normand Larose were killed in a tragic accident

The family were horrified to come upon the accident scene, and realised that Ms Few and Mr Larose had been critically injured.

The accident happened in the Gap of Dunloe, not far from Kate Kearney's Cottage.

Cause

A garda investigation was immediately launched to determine the precise cause of the tragedy.

Last August, Mr Larose's inquest was opened and closed before Kerry coroner Aisling Quilter once medical evidence had been dealt with.

The inquest heard the 62-year-old, who was originally from Quebec in Canada, died from blunt-force trauma injuries to his skull and brain caused by a fall onto rocks.

Tragically, the accident happened at the steepest part of the descent, where the Gap of Dunloe road passed a bridge parapet by a deep ravine.

The Mayor of Killarney, councillor Niall Kelleher, warned last year that the garda investigation should be allowed proceed.

"When we get the findings of the investigation, if there's lessons to be learned then it is incumbent on us to act upon it," he said.

Last August, Kerry Coroner's Court also heard the inquest into the death of another US tourist in the Gap of Dunloe after a separate accident.

Janet Price (69) died from multiple injuries when she came off her hired bicycle near a notorious bend in the Gap of Dunloe on May 30, 2017.

Her daughters said the mother-of-two would never have attempted the steep descent had proper warning signs been in place.

The Price family insisted that signage should be in place warning that the descent is not for inexperienced cyclists.

Last year, Ms Few's daughter paid a moving tribute to her mother and Mr Larose after the fatal accident and acknowledged the incredible support and sympathy the family had received since then from the people of Kerry.

Tonya Tier said the couple "radiated happiness everywhere they went".

"Joy and Norm... touched many people's lives. They loved their family and their friends deeply and unconditionally," she added.
A male beauty therapist who failed to nail down a job at a Dublin beauty salon was not let go because he is a man, it has been ruled.

Niall Fitzgerald commenced work at MudPie Beauty Cottage at Dundrum Town Centre last June but was let go on his sixth day after his nail work wasn't deemed up to standard.

The salon, owned by model Sara Kavanagh, refuted the proposition that Mr Fitzgerald's employment was terminated due to him being a man at the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC).

Mr Fitzgerald brought his unsuccessful discrimination case under the Employment Equality Acts and he claimed that he was indirectly discriminated against as MudPie did not allow for the fact that, as a man, he would not be as familiar with nail procedures as women.

MudPie Beauty Cottage said his experience was not a match for the fast-paced salon.

Mr Fitzgerald told the hearing that his nail standard was perfectly good and emphasised that his real skill-set lay in facials and skin treatments.

The salon had made it clear in the interview process, in which he was the only man, that nails, manicures and shellac treatments would have to be part of his skill-set.

Mr Fitzgerald, a recently graduated beauty therapist with the highest level of accreditation, assured the salon that he was experienced, though he admitted to not being confident with French manicures.

The salon stressed the importance of nail work to the business, with up to 1,900 treatments in any six-month period.

WRC adjudication officer Penelope McGrath said that the salon assessed Mr Fitzgerald's skills and deemed him to be a good fit for the salon, where he was paid about 11 an hour.

However, problems emerged during Mr Fitzgerald's induction days, and salon staff told the hearing his work was not up to scratch and took too long.

Occasions

Ms McGrath accepted that MudPie could not afford the time required to bring him up to the standard required.

The salon denied that ending his employment had anything to do with him being a man, citing many occasions where it had let go beauty therapists who were not performing good enough work quickly.

Throwing out the case, Ms McGrath said Mr Fitzgerald had not established facts which gave rise to the presumption of discrimination.

MudPie Beauty Cottage has been contacted for comment.
Knowing how to say hi in the playground was important

Pre-school children need more help in managing friendships, a study has found.

Researchers from the University of Cambridge have also found that young children would like to know how to better avoid rejection and resolve conflict with fellow pupils.

The pioneering study of four-year-old and five-year-old children in a deprived area of north Dublin examined their accounts of early school experiences and asked them what a new school starter would need to know.

The research, which was led by Dr Christine O'Farrelly, was published in the journal Early Childhood Research Quarterly.

It was based on the views of 42 children.

Plunge

Dr O'Farrelly said the children highlighted that they needed strong social skills to be able to take the plunge and make new friends and navigate friendships, but also to avoid distress and victimisation.

They also prioritised having the confidence to ask to go to the toilet, forging strong links between school and home, and to be able to play creatively.

In particular they wanted to be able to play outside in a space where they felt safe. Many of the children's 25 top priorities matched those already regarded as important in preparing for school, such as reading, writing and counting.

However, researchers found that the children identified other key skills for starting school that are not typically targeted in school readiness programmes.

"What is really striking here is children have been able to point us to other areas that are important for adjustment," Dr O'Farrelly said.

"Adults tend to zone in more on numeracy and literacy, while children think about all the skills that help them navigate their school environment. They focus a lot on being able to make friends and maintain those friendships, and maybe deal with loneliness, rejection and conflict. These were central to what mattered to them."

Academics asked the kids to give a cartoon character called Riley Rabbit advice on preparing for starting school, as well as discussing their own experiences. While very young children have been asked about their school experiences before, the study is believed to be the first to explicitly involve asking pupils what would help their younger peers.

One child said a new school starter would "need to know how to say hi in the playground", while another warned "her friends might not let her play".

The school in the study is part of a Dublin-based randomised control trial of a project called Preparing For Life.

The scheme was launched amid evidence that children from deprived backgrounds lag behind their peers by the time they started school, and that the gap widens over time.
Gardai at The Shannon Key West Hotel in Rooskey which was damaged by fire.

The fire at a vacant hotel earmarked for asylum seekers is being treated as a suspected arson attack by gardai.

Firefighters were called to the scene of the blaze at the former Shannon Key West Hotel in the village of Rooskey on the Roscommon/Leitrim border on Thursday evening.

A security guard who was on the premises at the time discovered the fire and raised the alarm with the Fire Brigade and gardai.

Nobody was injured in the incident and investigators are appealing for anyone who witnessed anything suspicious in the area between 5.30pm and 7.30pm to get in contact.

Superintendent Kevin English, of Carrick-on-Shannon Garda Station, said they believe the fire was started deliberately.

"We're treating it as a suspicious fire. We had technical experts at the scene and we are waiting for their findings to determine how the investigation will progress," he said.

Supt English said reports that people were seen pouring flammable liquid on the premises had "not been confirmed".

"Nobody was seen entering or pouring flammable substances. There was an on-site security guard who raised the alarm after discovering the fire but he did not encounter anybody," he added.

Damage

He praised the security guard for his quick response, which ensured no serious damage was done.

"There is a certain degree of charring around the reception area and extensive smoke damage but it could have been a lot worse," he said.

Last November, it emerged that the hotel - which closed in 2011 - was in line to become a reception centre for up to 82 refugees. The hotel was also at the centre of a sale dispute before the High Court and was due to be sold to new owners this week.

Justice Minister Charlie Flanagan said thankfully no residents were in situ when the fire broke out.

"The investigation into the cause of the fire must now take place and I do not wish to speculate at this point," he said.

"It is also too early to say now when the hotel might be ready to accept residents. All of the necessary assessments, certifications and any remedial works required must be carried out."

Local councillors and residents raised concerns about asylum seekers being moved into the area due to a "significant lack of facilities".

"Locals had hoped it was going to reopen as a hotel to put a bit of life back in the community," said Sean McGowan, cathaoirleach of Leitrim County Council.

"This community has suffered greatly. We had a serious fire at a meat plant here a number of years ago and we lost upwards of 600 jobs.

"The people here would prefer to see it used as a hotel. They're very decent people here and they would welcome asylum seekers but the Department of Justice needs to look at the lack of facilities."

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said he condemns "the deliberate act of violence".
Photo: The Canadian Press

Health Canada scientists say there is no reason to believe the scientific evidence it used to approve the continued use of glyphosate in weed killers was tainted.

On Friday it rejected, again, arguments that the ingredient in herbicides like Monsanto's Roundup causes cancer if the substances are used as they're supposed to be.

The department's Pest Management Regulatory Agency is required to reassess herbicides every 15 years and after such a reassessment in 2017 it approved glyphosate for continued use in Canada with some additional labelling requirements. The review looked at more than 1,300 studies and concluded glyphosate products pose no risk to people or the environment as long as they are properly used and labelled.

Glyphosate is one of the most common herbicides used in the world, is in more than 130 products sold in Canada and has widespread use by farmers to keep weeds out of their crops.

After the decision, eight objections were filed, many of which said the evidence used to approve the product was tainted because Monsanto had influenced the results.

Their accusations were largely based on documents filed in a U.S. lawsuit in which a former groundskeeper was awarded a multimillion-dollar settlement after jurors decided his cancer was linked to glyphosate.

The groups, including Ecojustice, Environmental Defence and Canadian Physicians for the Environment, wanted Health Minister Ginette Petipas Taylor to order an independent review of the Health Canada decision.

Instead Health Canada assigned 20 scientists not part of the original review to look at the matter. Connie Moase, a director in the health-effects division of the Pest Management Regulatory Agency, said Friday the scientists "left no stone unturned" in reviewing the decision.

"The objections raised did not create doubt or concern regarding the scientific basis for the 2017 re-evaluation decision for glyphosate," said Moase.

She said the documents, known as the Monsanto Papers, were mainly reviews of studies, not studies themselves, and that Health Canada's approval was based on the actual studies.

Moase added that no pest regulatory management agency in the world says glyphosate causes cancer at current levels of exposure.

Trish Jordan, the public-and-industry-affairs director for Bayer Canada's crop-science division, said the company supported the additional review Health Canada launched and is also pleased with the result.

Monsanto has previously denied any attempt to influence scientific studies on glyphosate.

"We have an unwavering commitment to sound science, transparency and to producing valuable tools that will help farmers continue to feed a growing population in a sustainable manner," Jordan said.

Elaine MacDonald, head of healthy communities for Ecojustice, said the decision is a big disappointment.

"How can we trust the science if we can't be sure that it's independent?" she said.

Muhannad Malas, the toxics program manager at Environmental Defence, said there is no reason to trust Health Canada if it assigns its own scientists to review the work of their peers.

"We maintain that the public cannot be confident about the validity of the government's decision to re-authorize glyphosate unless the health minister strikes an independent panel of experts who are not affiliated with Health Canada or industry," he said.
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THUMBS UP: Thanks in part to a dedicated bus driver making sure her precious cargo was out of harms way, a collision this week involving a school bus was not as bad as it couldve been. The crash occurred around 12:22 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 8, on Md. 97 near Silver Run Valley Road, when a 2014 Jeep Cherokee driven by a Harford County man, for an unknown reason, crossed the yellow center line and collided with the front of a southbound school bus, according to Maryland State Police. The bus was transporting students home from a half-day program at Runnymede Elementary School and two pre-kindergarten students, the driver of the bus and a bus assistant were on board at the time of the crash, according to Mike Hardesty, CCPS director of transportation. Hardesty said the driver and bus assistant were injured, but are going to be OK. The students were examined and returned to their parents. Hardesty didnt release the name of the driver, but, after reviewing footage from the cameras on the bus, noted that she showed excellent reaction time given that the impact damaged the front left wheel and disabled the steering. She did everything should could, Hardesty told us. She immediately went and got the children off the bus  that was her first thought. He said he sent her a letter of commendation. Michael Kulik, who was driving the Jeep, was cited for failure to control vehicle speed, failure to stay right of center and negligent driving.
Van Winkle's Ellis makes magazine's 'Legal Elite'

Anderson Ellis

Anderson T. Ellis has been recognized as one of Business North Carolina magazines 2019 Legal Elite, the Van Winkle Law Firm announced. Ellis was honored in both the Young Guns and Business categories.

Ellis moved from Prince Youngblood and Massagee law firm last year to Van Winkles business practice, where he works with small and mid-size businesses on all phases of corporate life, including entity choice, formation, operations, sale/purchase and reorganizations. With a background in litigation, Anderson is adept at handling a variety of issues that may arise for all types of businesses.

The firm congratulates Anderson on this significant honor, Steve Grabenstein, president of The Van Winkle Law Firm, said in a news release. Recognition as a top lawyer by his peers demonstrates Andersons quality of work and dedication to the legal profession.

Business North Carolina magazine has honored the states lawyers with the Legal Elite list since 2002. The listing includes top lawyers in business related categories and winners are chosen by their peers throughout the state. This award ballot is sent to every member of the N.C. State Bar asking them to vote for the best attorney in each category, giving every active attorney in the state the opportunity to participate. Voters cannot vote for themselves and may only vote for members of their own firm if they choose out-of-firm attorneys in the same categories. The latter votes are weighed more heavily. Click here for the complete list.

For more than 100 years, the attorneys at The Van Winkle Law Firm have provided a premier level of strategic legal counsel and services to meet clients personal, estate planning, commercial, business, and litigation needs. Van Winkle is the largest law firm headquartered in Asheville. With licensed attorneys serving clients in North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Tennessee and Virginia, the firm is one of the most respected in the region. For additional information, please visit www.vwlawfirm.com.
I love fish  the way they look, the way they fry up, the secret lives they live u
MOSS POINT, Miss.  After a two-year investigation, two women have been arrested for embezzling more than $20,000 from the Moss Point Utilities Department, State Auditor Shad White announced on Friday.

Kenya Bowens and Lakeshia Benton were indicted and arrested on Friday after a grand jury for embezzlement by a grand jury assembled by outgoing District Attorney Tony Lawrence.

The former city employees are accused of collecting cash payments from individuals paying water bill fines and later voiding the transaction receipts for fine payment.

After providing the illegal hookups, Benton and Bowens would embezzle the money between one another, according to White.

The women structured a system of concealing the cash collected from the fines in paper to take the cash from their office and would later meet outside of work, after hours, to split the money.

Bowens and Benton were caught when a supervisor noticed and reported an odd number of voided transactions authorized by the pair.

According to records, Bowens is responsible for $11,840.11, while Benton is responsible for $1,912.89 of improperly altered transactions occurring from March 2015 to August 2016.

Mayor Mario King held a press conference on Friday to deliver the news and was asked how his administration would prevent theft from occurring on his watch.

We vet every employee  I am confident in our Chief Human Resource Officer who knows her job, I just need the board to trust her and to allow her to do her job, King said. We hired a city clerk with 15 years of experience and human resources director with 20 years of experience.

King also said with Clearwater overseeing the utilities department, the contractor is responsible for decreasing the amount of illegal connections, reconciling bills, and bringing a report of utility revenue every day.

This case is another example of how conspiracies, where two or more people work together to conceal a crime, can be difficult to catch and can result in big losses for taxpayers, White said. The way to prevent those kinds of conspiracies is what we call separation of dutieshaving more than just one or two people handling the money that comes into an organization.

Both Bowens and Benton were each covered by $50,000 surety bonds during employment with the City of Moss Point.

These types of bonds function as an insurance policy for taxpayers against embezzlement and fraud by public officials. The bonds improve the chance for taxpayers to recover public money that has been stolen.

We will continue to enforce the law and put those who steal taxpayers money behind bars, said White. You do not work in government for your personal benefit. You work for the people.

The maximum penalty for each is a $5,000 fine or 20 years in prison.
The first Android 9.0 Pie OTA updates for the Galaxy Note9 were sighted in Germany a week ago but today. However, only users who participated in the beta testing got the stable update. Today, however, UAE users running Oreo are seeing their devices updated.

There are numerous reports from the country citing that devices still running the Oreo version are now receiving stable Android 9.0 Pie along with Samsung's brand new One UI skin on top. This OTA update is about 1.6GB big and the software version is N960FXXU2CSA2.

It's obviously a staged rollout and you might have to wait a few days before it hits your unit as well.

Via
So is there some chance of contaminating the environment? Yes. Is the ground water going to be affected? Not if they can help it. If they go through an aquifer, they use well casings so the fluid never enters the aquifer. Also, if they do affect the aquifer with a fracture, water will spill into the well, resulting in additional costs to the company extracting the gas or oil.
GREENWICH  The future of the Western Middle School magnet theme remains murky.

School board members and Western officials are wrestling with how to develop and market a magnet theme that could attract students from Central and Eastern and balance the schools racial makeup. Some even suggested removing the magnet classification entirely during a Board of Education retreat this week.

The principal of Western and two educators presented their latest idea for a new magnet program: AVID Schoolwide, which would imbed the strategies of the program, such as critical reading skills and organization methods, into the regular curriculum.

AVID is currently in three district schools, including Western, as an elective. The proposal would expand it to all students at the middle school.

Board members unanimously supported AVID Schoolwide as a way to improve student performance, but not necessarily as a magnet theme that would attract Eastern and Central families.

Your team is excited, and when someone is excited, that means success, board member Kathleen Stowe said. If we do want to do a magnet, let that be central offices job. I dont think you need to work on that.

Gordon Beinstein, the principal of Western, left the meeting with the understanding that board members wish Western to remain a magnet school, but were comfortable with the theme being one whose priority would be what is best for current Western students.

As a building principal, it is my responsibility to do what is best for the students currently in my building, and that is the expansion of the AVID program, Beinstein said in an email Friday morning.

The magnet theme change marks another effort by administrators to balance the racial makeup of Western, where 56 percent of students are students of color, according to district enrollment data from October. That is 17 percent higher than the district average, and nears the state definition of racial imbalance.

For many years, Greenwich Public Schools have been cited for buildings that are much more or much less diverse than the district average. In response, the district drafted a Racial Balance Plan, approved by the state, which relies on magnet schools to even out racial disparities. But schools in western Greenwich have had difficulty attracting students from other parts of town.

Western became an International Baccalaureate school in 2013 in an effort to attract incoming sixth-graders from International School at Dundee, an elementary IB school, but the magnet failed to attract ISD students.

In fact, more students, 16 in total, applied to be magnet students at Western without a specified theme this past year than during its last four years combined as an IB school. Anecdotally, many of those students came from Parkway because the families thought the school would be a better fit for their children, said Stowe, who has a child at Parkway.

A few board members questioned AVID Schoolwide as a magnet because at Greenwich High School, Central and Western, the program targets children who are typically underrepresented on college campuses.

AVID has been promoted as for kids from families who dont have college experience, board member Gaetane Francis said. How does this apply to everyone?

The process of discussing, researching and developing a new theme did not go as Francis had anticipated, she said. She said she expected a discussion about criteria the district looks for in a magnet, the direction the district would take with a program, and a greater focus on what would draw students to Western.

Board Secretary Barbara ONeill suggested the team of Western educators rebrand AVID Schoolwide.

I think you need to find a new name for it, ONeill said. I dont think some middle schoolers want to go around saying, Im an AVID kid.

Beinstein and his team resolved to educate parents on the difference between the AVID elective program and the AVID Schoolwide system.

The elective is designed for children who are typically the first in their families headed to college. The schoolwide system, he said, is designed to fill a students toolbox with strategies they can use throughout their academic pursuits and in their professional lives.

I think it was very fair of the board to raise the question about how much a draw a program like AVID would be for the community, he said.

The Western representatives did not have data showing parents would come to Western for an AVID Schoolwide theme, board member Peter Sherr observed.

But Francis, Sherr and fellow board member Kathleen Stowe were open to taking out the magnet theme entirely.

Since the school is impending racial imbalance, but not racially imbalanced, and AVID Schoolwide is the right thing to do for the catchment, the district should ditch the magnet discussion, Sherr said.

But board Chair Peter Bernstein and others disagreed with moving away from keeping Western a magnet school with a theme.

I dont want to deprive people from the opportunity to go to Western, Bernstein said.

The discussion will be continued in March, Beinstein said.

The board posed some questions about the system and some budgetary items, so the Western team will be back in front of the board in March to answer these questions, Beinstein said.

I do hope that others in town not fortunate enough to feed into Western come and see what we have to offer, but it doesnt make sense to explore other options in the hope of being more attractive to outside students at the expense of what is currently energizing staff, engaging parents and impacting kids so positively, he said.

Editors note: Westerm Middle School will have a magnet school open house Tuesday, Jan. 15th, at 9 a.m. and 7 p.m. at the school, 1 Western Jr Hwy, Greenwich, CT 06830. Anyone interested in learning more about Western and the AVID program can attend.

jo.kroeker@hearstmediact.com
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MADISON  A trailblazer in community and public service, prolific farmer and no-nonsense businesswoman, Rosalind Roz Fordham Willard, 85, died Monday night at her home after a long illness.

Born March 21, 1933 to Greensboros Fordham family, one of the Triad and North Carolinas leading families in business, service and academic leadership, Willard helped found the first senior citizens transportation service in the Gate City during the 1970s. The concept caught on and Willard traveled nationwide, helping implement the model.

Moving in 1975 to Rockingham County, she became the second-ever female elected to the countys board of commissioners. The Democrats term spanned from 1980-1984.

In thinking about her, Ive never known anyone else like Rozzie. She was unique. She had that way of looking at you in the eye. You knew you had her full attention and full support, said former county extension agent Joyce Randall Spear of Eden.

She was very supportive of the extension service and she went with me to meetings out of town as a county commissioner to show her support. That was very impressive to me.

Willards stoicism was also remarkable, friends said.
The more the merrier in the presidential race should be the general rule for a party not in power and eager to reclaim the White House after multiple years in the wilderness. However, I draw the line at self-absorbed billionaires with no governing experience who throw their money around on vanity projects.

Im not talking about President Donald Trump, for now, but progressive moneyman Tom Steyer.

The New York Times reports: Tom Steyer, the California billionaire who has crusaded for President Trumps impeachment, said on Wednesday that he would not join the pack of Democrats running for president in 2020. Instead, he will continue running those impeachment ads. Underwritten by Mr. Steyers personal wealth, the Times report continued, the impeachment campaign has bombarded television and computer screens around the country with ads demanding Mr. Trumps ouster, and staged pro-impeachment events around the country. Hes spent tens of millions of dollars already and plans to spend $40 million more.

I dont share Democratic Sen. Elizabeth Warrens aversion to self-funded candidates. A candidate such as former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg would add a lot to the 2020 race, has well-thought out positions on important issues and would be qualified to serve as president.
Lelia Moore Lelia Moore speaks during the homecoming for the Congregational Nurse Program through Cone Health in Greensboro, N.C, on Thursday, Jan. 3, 2019.

GREENSBORO  When Lelia Moore's mother died, the young nurse who was the eldest of her siblings and had dreamed of being a missionary overseas since childhood, decided to stay closer to home.

"I knew I couldn't leave my family," said Moore, the now-longtime coordinator of the Cone Health Congregational Nurse Program, whose father was a Lutheran pastor. "I remember thinking, 'God, where is it you need my hands?'"

That answer seemingly unraveled over the next 47 years through moments that sometimes even surprised her:

At the Greensboro Coliseum where rows of dentists with their chairs and assistants provided free care on a first-come, first-serve basis to those making up a line that snaked out the building's doors.

In the hotel room reserved for a terminally ill homeless man who had nowhere to go after being released from the hospital.

Within the hallways and the sanctuaries of local churches where nurses provide screening, referrals and often life-saving instructions to people where they worship.

Moore  soft-spoken, creative, yet practical and sharp  had her hands in it all.

The past UNCG Alumni of the Year and News & Record "Woman of the Year" has taken opportunities and used them to benefit the most vulnerable in the community say those who would know, because they work with them.

"She always, always plays in the shadow and allows the light to shine on others although we all know she is the one who did it," said Fran Pearson, the program director of the Congregational Social Work Education Initiative with UNCG and N.C. A&T, for which Moore planted the seed.

In a moment in 2012 that some say defines a career that's ending with her retirement this week, a photographer's lens caught 25-year-old Michael Shelton, who had all of his teeth extracted that day at a dental clinic at the coliseum, giving a hug to Moore, who stood grasping her walkie-talkie as hundreds waited outside.

"She is," Shelton wrote then, because he could only write and not talk, "an angel."

Lelia Moore In this 2012 photo, 25-year-old Michael Shelton hugs coordinator Lelia Moore after all his teeth were extracted during the fourth annual Missi

Winding down

These final days are bittersweet.

Moore is leaving Greensboro and moving closer to her son, daughter-in-law and grandchildren near Raleigh. And whatever she can get into there.

Just weeks ago she was having a long conversation with a homeless man afraid to get a flu shot.

Clients, even those she has just met, quickly trust her enough to share their stories of brokenness and overwhelming challenges, say those who work with her.

Those stories motivate Moore. Sometimes it's homelessness, hunger and not having enough food for the family, domestic violence, no means to get health care or to afford medications, or a lack of financial resources for basics. She realized long ago from watching her parents minister to others that people who are hurt or in need are grateful for simple things  listening with compassion, advocacy to address their needs, a hug and a prayer.

"He (then) let me give him the injection," Moore said of that homeless man, "and was surprised it did not hurt."

After thanking her for caring, he asked if he could give her a hug. In doing so, he mentioned he did not get many hugs.

"I said sure and gave him another hug back for the next day," Moore said.

"That makes this hard."

Even before she sat in front of the committee interviewing for the coordinator of the then-newly created Cone Health Congregational Nurse Program in 1998, Moore was already familiar with the needs because of her work through the Moses Cone Health System in looking at the kind of issues that ended with people repeatedly seeking medical care in the emergency room. That put her in meetings with others in the health care and nonprofit field. Having started out as a young nurse on the floors of Moses Cone, she was later an outpatient clinic nurse manager working with those struggling through life.

In 1997, Bob Hamilton, then director of pastoral care at Moses Cone, and chief nursing officer Nancy Paxton began bringing people like Moore and others together to talk about congregational nursing, a concept rooted in the Midwest. The program, a marriage of health care and faith, is based on the premise that houses of worship are communities of people with lots of contact and lots of concern. That those in a congregation also often know when another member needs medical attention but is reluctant to get it. Having a nurse among them for a measure of preventative care might get to some of those issues before they become life-threatening.

Organizers got $500,000 in grants from the Wesley Long Community Health Foundation and the Duke Endowment to make it happen. And the committee that held the interviews for a coordinator to oversee it agreed on Moore, who already had built relationships in the community.

"She brought the right skill set, the right passion and the ability to relate to people across diversity," Hamilton said of entrusting Moore with the vision.

Moore took over leadership of the congregational nursing program with just a small office.

"I walked in my office and there was a computer and a blank piece of paper," Moore said. "I said, 'Lord, tell me what should go on that paper.'"

She started connecting with different community groups and who she needed to talk to in order to build rapport and trust. Those people not only supported her but brought along others.

"I think her passion catches them," Hamilton said of those early days, and even now. "It allows people to envision what is possible."

The program started with six churches participating in 1999, with each of the congregations deciding when the nurse would be there  whether right before Bible study or on a Saturday afternoon.

The grant money allowed those congregations to bring in a registered nurse with special training for 10 hours a week.

"I call us 'the silent miracle' because we are busy doing things people dont notice," said Wanda Martin, a longtime congregational nurse stationed at the Salvation Army.

Prevention is a major part of the program's undergirding  before those most at risk can come down with debilitating, chronic diseases.

"They really are on the ground," said the Rev. Sandy Carver, one of the staff pastors at Holy Trinity Episcopal Church, where the congregational nurse gives flu shots and provides information, among other things. The nurse also works in a low-income housing community where she is more of a gateway to medical care.

"They really do bridge these gaps in the system," Carver said of what she's seen.

These congregational nurses may provide assessments, personal counseling, screenings for blood pressure and glucose and education about new or chronic diseases, among other things. They provide advocacy and case management. Their goal is access to care and in connecting people to resources.

They are good listeners and try to develop trust and relationships.

At one church, the nurse was working with a young man who had seizures but couldn't afford his medicine. She was able to go with him to his doctor to get forms the drug companies ask them to fill out for free medicine. The man began taking the medicine regularly, which eliminated ambulance visits to the emergency room and the trips to the doctor because the seizures aren't controlled.

What makes them different from nurses in other settings is the intentional care of the spirit as part of ministry to the mind, body and soul, which has been important to Moore.

"We might also ask if you would like to pray together," Moore said.

Sometimes that means responding to someone with cancer, who wonders what they did to deserve it. The nurse could explain the biology of cancer, which might ease the patient's mind.

By the time the grant was about to run out dozens of churches and faith-based organizations had shown interest or taken part.

Moore constantly wrote other grants, the majority of which were successful, but funding was a constant struggle. It has also expanded into Rockingham County.

In the last two decades the nurses have worked with refugees, immigrants and others through community sites like the FaithAction International House. At times churches have paid for the nurses out of their funds.

"I'm just a bridge builder," Moore said of her part. "I may be the face of the program, but it is a village."

It would take a continuing commitment from the Cone Health Foundation, which gets a number of worthy grant requests each year that cannot be funded, yet finds a way to keep funding the program along with church and public support. The Cone Health System and the Cone Health Foundation have been big supporters because of the impact in the community.

According to documented statistics, in the past two decades those congregational nurses logged 220,000 encounters, averted more than 3,500 non-emergency emergency room visits, provided 200 life-saving interventions and made nearly 38,000 referrals to primary care providers or agencies with nearly $14 million in health care savings to communities.

"The work is amazing and so are the results," said Susan Shumaker, the president of the Cone Health Foundation and a nurse by training, who got her license reinstated so that she could pitch in at some of the events.

'City of miracles'

The congregational nurse program led to other things, mostly from Moore listening to those around her.

In fall 2008, she was talking to homeless advocate Skip McMillan over a cup of coffee and he was telling her about the urgency of a new initiative he and some others were trying to get off the ground  a day center for the homeless that would open temporarily on the third floor of Bessemer United Methodist Church. It would provide washers and dryers and a place to shower. Within two weeks of its opening, she had a congregational nurse and social worker at what became the Interactive Resource Center.

Moore used an anonymous donor's gift to Cone Health to establish Healing Opportunities for People Experiencing Sickness. HOPES was an idea that got traction in 2011, when a social worker desperately and unsuccessfully tried to find a homeless man who had just had major surgery a place to go when he left the hospital. The shelters were full and the man slept under a bridge that night.

The man's dilemma wasn't uncommon.

The discussion prompted a frustrated Moore to organize a meeting with others who work with the homeless. But even when the shelters are not full, they told her, they are ill-equipped to handle someone with medical problems.

And then Moore got a call from a Cone Health executive.

An anonymous donor had given a substantial gift, and it was to be divided between Cone Health's social work department, and the congregational nurse's program.

"It was a 'God moment,' " she said of what she could only explain as divine intervention.

All her stories don't have a happy ending. But HOPES was born.

For the homeless, the money takes care of a room at an efficiency hotel, bus passes and visits from a social worker and nurse trying to connect them to services and a more permanent place to stay as they heal.

The program can't help everyone, including those with behavioral and substance abuse problems, because of safety issues. But there is a safety net that wasn't there before.

Lelia Moore expands congregational nurse program In this June 2012 photo, Mable Scott takes notes during former President Barack Obamas health care address. Scott and her husband, Moses, had

"She likes to say she lives in a city of miracles," said Greensboro City Councilwoman Michelle Kennedy, who considers Moore a mentor.

Kennedy, executive director of the Interactive Resource Center, which is now on Washington Street, added, "She's been a catalyst for community initiatives more than anybody I know in the health realm."

Lasting legacy

Moore's work fed other projects in the community.

"If you had told me in 1998 what was going to be on those pieces of paper," Moore said, reflecting back to that first day on the job when all she had was blank sheets of paper on her desk, "I would have laughed and said, 'How?'"

Moore organized Missions of Mercy free dental clinic, for which people show up days in advance and form long lines. Despite the dentists and staff and other health care professionals donating their time, hundreds still have to be turned away. In this community it has provided care for more than 2,000 people at what would have been a cost of millions of dollars.

"It happened because of a retired dentist I go to church with," Moore said of the man, who had come across a free clinic for the poor elsewhere and was touched by what he saw.

"He didn't know how to go about it," she said before chuckling. "From that I naively said, 'We do health screenings, we can help with that.'"

Lelia Moore Lelia Moore coordinated the Missions of Mercy free dental clinic at the Greensboro Coliseum in 2011, where hundreds were helped and hundreds m

The congregational nurse program was expanding in ways she hadn't expected  including participation from UNCG and N.C. A&T in the first-in-the-nation venture pairing social work students with nurses from a problem she tried to resolve for a patient with a non-medical issue. Moore had even made "cold calls" to the local universities but got nowhere.

She was frustrated until a chance encounter at a meeting with Wayne Moore, who happened to be a professor in A&T's Department of Sociology and Social Work.

"This gentleman sits down beside me and he has the gifts to put that in place," Moore said.

Soon the initiative became a national model that she's been invited to discuss nationally and internationally.

"And shes so damn humble about it," said Pearson, the program director for what became the Congregational Social Work Education Initiative and who makes presentations alongside her. "I would have it on T-shirts saying, 'This is what I built.' "

At those presentations about faith community nursing, nurse consultant Alyson Breisch has watched people surround Moore with questions when it's over.

"Its a combination of the fact that hers was one of the early programs that got started in this movement and she has continued to keep changing to respond to what is going on in health care," Breisch said.

That has expanded her influence and reach, Breisch said.

Breisch developed congregational nurse courses and health ministries continuing education courses at Duke University. Moore sent congregational nurses there for training.

When Breisch speaks of Moore she talks about how they together co-chaired the state's faith community nurse council, and how Moore worked with a lawyer to write the bylaws for a not-for-profit educational arm of the Carolinas Health Ministry Partnership for all health professionals who work in health ministries.

Her legacy, Breisch said, is ongoing.

"She's an encourager and looks at the skills of the nurses in her program and (is) moving them to become people who have a voice," Breisch said.

Just last year Moore was selected the American Nursing Association's certified faith community nurse for 2018.

"If you wake up and are eager to go to work, its not work," said Moore's son Mac of ideas she would have. "Thats my mother."

Cone Health is in the process of filling the position.

"How do you replace a Lelia Moore? There is no replacement for a Lelia," said Deborah Grant, Cone Health System's chief nursing officer for population health, ambulatory and clinical support. "She has been the extraordinary leader ambassador, engager, activator and innovator for our community."

Moore says she has a great staff and congregational nurses and has told them their success doesn't depend on her being there.

"It will be hard for me to take the badge off on Friday," Moore said with tears brimming her eyelids. "But I know I leave behind people who can move this forward."

Contact Nancy McLaughlin at 336-373-7049 and follow @nmclaughlinNR on Twitter.

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His mother, Renika Howard, was fatally shot just feet away from where he stood bundled up in his snow jacket and a thick hat. The boy was still trying to understand, his relatives said, how his mother could have died just 24 hours before  on his 7th birthday.




1. U.S. acceptance of coexistence as the only alternative to atomic war.

2. U.S. willingness to capitulate in preference to engaging in atomic war.

3. Develop the illusion that total disarmament of the United States would be a demonstration of moral strength.

4. Permit free trade between all nations regardless of Communist affiliation and regardless of whether or not items could be used for war.

5. Extension of long-term loans to Russia and Soviet satellites.

6. Provide American aid to all nations regardless of Communist domination.

7. Grant recognition of Red China. Admission of Red China to the U.N.

8. Set up East and West Germany as separate states in spite of Khrushchev's promise in 1955 to settle the German question by free elections under supervision of the U.N.

9. Prolong the conferences to ban atomic tests because the United States has agreed to suspend tests as long as negotiations are in progress.

10. Allow all Soviet satellites individual representation in the U.N.

11. Promote the U.N. as the only hope for mankind. If its charter is rewritten, demand that it be set up as a one-world government with its own independent armed forces. (Some Communist leaders believe the world can be taken over as easily by the U.N. as by Moscow. Sometimes these two centers compete with each other as they are now doing in the Congo.)

12. Resist any attempt to outlaw the Communist Party.

13. Do away with all loyalty oaths.

14. Continue giving Russia access to the U.S. Patent Office.

15. Capture one or both of the political parties in the United States.

16. Use technical decisions of the courts to weaken basic American institutions by claiming their activities violate civil rights.

17. Get control of the schools. Use them as transmission belts for socialism and current Communist propaganda. Soften the curriculum. Get control of teachers' associations. Put the party line in textbooks.

18. Gain control of all student newspapers.

19. Use student riots to foment public protests against programs or organizations which are under Communist attack.

20. Infiltrate the press. Get control of book-review assignments, editorial writing, policymaking positions.

21. Gain control of key positions in radio, TV, and motion pictures.

22. Continue discrediting American culture by degrading all forms of artistic expression. An American Communist cell was told to "eliminate all good sculpture from parks and buildings, substitute shapeless, awkward and meaningless forms."

23. Control art critics and directors of art museums. "Our plan is to promote ugliness, repulsive, meaningless art."

24. Eliminate all laws governing obscenity by calling them "censorship" and a violation of free speech and free press.

25. Break down cultural standards of morality by promoting pornography and obscenity in books, magazines, motion pictures, radio, and TV.

26. Present homosexuality, degeneracy and promiscuity as "normal, natural, healthy."

27. Infiltrate the churches and replace revealed religion with "social" religion. Discredit the Bible and emphasize the need for intellectual maturity which does not need a "religious crutch."

28. Eliminate prayer or any phase of religious expression in the schools on the ground that it violates the principle of "separation of church and state."

29. Discredit the American Constitution by calling it inadequate, old-fashioned, out of step with modern needs, a hindrance to cooperation between nations on a worldwide basis.

30. Discredit the American Founding Fathers. Present them as selfish aristocrats who had no concern for the "common man."

31. Belittle all forms of American culture and discourage the teaching of American history on the ground that it was only a minor part of the "big picture." Give more emphasis to Russian history since the Communists took over.

32. Support any socialist movement to give centralized control over any part of the culture--education, social agencies, welfare programs, mental health clinics, etc.

33. Eliminate all laws or procedures which interfere with the operation of the Communist apparatus.

34. Eliminate the House Committee on Un-American Activities.

35. Discredit and eventually dismantle the FBI.

36. Infiltrate and gain control of more unions.

37. Infiltrate and gain control of big business.

38. Transfer some of the powers of arrest from the police to social agencies. Treat all behavioral problems as psychiatric disorders which no one but psychiatrists can understand.

39. Dominate the psychiatric profession and use mental health laws as a means of gaining coercive control over those who oppose Communist goals.

40. Discredit the family as an institution. Encourage promiscuity and easy divorce.

41. Emphasize the need to raise children away from the negative influence of parents. Attribute prejudices, mental blocks and retarding of children to suppressive influence of parents.

42. Create the impression that violence and insurrection are legitimate aspects of the American tradition; that students and special-interest groups should rise up and use united force to solve economic, political or social problems.

43. Overthrow all colonial governments before native populations are ready for self-government.

44. Internationalize the Panama Canal.

45. Repeal the Connally reservation so the United States cannot prevent the World Court from seizing jurisdiction over nations and individuals alike.
Along with roll call votes this week, the Senate also passed the Government Employee Fair Treatment Act to provide for the compensation of federal and other government employees affected by lapses in appropriations.

The House also passed the Medicaid Extenders Act to extend the Medicaid Money Follows the Person Rebalancing demonstration and extend protection for Medicaid recipients of home and community-based services against spousal impoverishment; the United States-Mexico Economic Partnership Act, to promote economic partnership and cooperation between the United States and Mexico; and the Trans-Sahara Counterterrorism Partnership Act, to establish an interagency program to assist countries in North Africa and West Africa to improve immediate and long-term capabilities to counter terrorist threats.

U.S. House

Modernization of Congress: The House agreed to a title of a bill to create a House Select Committee on the Modernization of Congress, to be charged with recommending ways to modernize Congresss operations. The vote, on Jan. 4, was 418-12.

Yeas: U.S. Rep. Mark Walker, R-Greensboro, 6th District; U.S. Rep. Ted Budd, R-Advance, 13th District
In 1915, the U.S. House of Representatives rejected, 204-174, a proposed constitutional amendment to give women nationwide the right to vote.

In 1932, Hattie W. Caraway became the first woman elected to the U.S. Senate after initially being appointed to serve out the remainder of the term of her late husband, Thaddeus.

In 1948, the U.S. Supreme Court, in Sipuel v. Board of Regents of University of Oklahoma, unanimously ruled that state law schools could not discriminate against applicants on the basis of race.

In 1966, the TV series Batman, starring Adam West and Burt Ward as the Dynamic Duo, premiered on ABC, airing twice a week on consecutive nights.

In 1971, the groundbreaking situation comedy All in the Family premiered on CBS television.

In 1986, the shuttle Columbia blasted off with a crew that included the first Hispanic-American in space, Dr. Franklin R. Chang-Diaz.

In 1998, Linda Tripp provided Independent Counsel Kenneth Starrs office with taped conversations between herself and former White House intern Monica Lewinsky.
The Zonta Club of Sanibel-Captiva will host the second annual LUNAFEST on Jan. 22 starting at 7 p.m. at The Community House, at 2173 Periwinkle Way, Sanibel.

LUNAFEST is a womens film festival and fundraiser dedicated to bringing women together, raising awareness about womens issues and highlighting female filmmakers. Begun in 2000 by the founder of LUNA nutritional bars, Kit Crawford, it is a traveling festival that features female talent in all aspects of filmmaking and across society with the aim of championing womens issues and talent.

The Zonta Clubs of Cape Coral and Fort Myers are also hosting LUNAFEST  on Jan. 19 at Gulf Coast Village in the Cape and on Jan. 23 at the Alliance for the Arts in Fort Myers, respectively.

Zonta is an international organization with local chapters that seek to empower and strengthen women locally and throughout the world, Carol Gestwicki, chair of the joint effort among the three clubs, said. LUNAFEST fits with Zontas mission and allows us to present short films which are by, for and about women.

Proceeds from LUNAFEST benefit local Zonta efforts, which include distributing scholarships and grants to organizations that empower and support women and girls in Lee County. It also contributes to Chicken & Egg Pictures, a non-profit associated with LUNAFEST that supports women non-fiction filmmakers whose works bring about social change.

Tickets for all three events are $20 each or, if available, $25 at the door.

For more information or advance tickets, visit www.lunafest.org.

For more about the Zonta Club of Sanibel-Captiva, visit www.zontasancap.com.


Thank you for reading! We hope that you continue to enjoy our free content.
Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation Chief Executive Officer Ryan Orgera and Natural Resource Policy Director Rae Ann Wessel engaged in a roundtable briefing on Jan. 10 with Gov. Ron DeSantis, the First Lady and Lt. Gov. Jeanette Nunez, along with other South Florida non-profit leaders, in the fight for water quality and regional legislative representatives.

Following the meeting and a similar event DeSantis held later in the day in Stuart, the governor called for all nine members of the South Florida Water Management Districts Governing Board to resign. The board voted in November  two days after the election  to extend a lease to sugar farmers on land that has been designated for the Everglades Agricultural Area reservoir. At the time, DeSantis sent a message through Congressman Brian Mast requesting that the board delay the decision until he had a chance to review it.

Everglades restoration is the centerpiece of our strategy to improve our water, and the actions of the South Florida Water Management District are incredibly important in aiding the success of that strategy, DeSantis said in his letter to the board members. It is time for a clean reset of the leadership of the board to focus the appropriate attention on this bold vision. Therefore, I ask that each of you tender your resignation from the board, effective immediately.

In addition, DeSantis signed Executive Order 19-12 (Achieving More Now For Floridas Environment), calling for:

 $2.5 billion for Everglades restoration and protection of water resources over the next four years  a $1 billion spending increase over the previous four years and the highest level of restoration funding in Floridas history.

 The establishment of a Blue-Green Algae Task Force, charged with focusing on expediting progress toward reducing the adverse impacts of blue-green algae blooms immediately and for the next five years.

 The South Florida Water Management District to immediately start the next phase of the Everglades Agricultural Area Storage Reservoir Project design and ensure the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers approves the project according to schedule.

 The formation of a new Office of Environmental Accountability and Transparency to be charged with organizing and directing integrated scientific research and analysis to ensure that all agency actions are aligned with key environmental priorities.

 The appointment of a chief science officer to coordinate and prioritize scientific data, research, monitoring and analysis needs to ensure alignment with current and emerging environmental concerns most pressing to Floridians.

We are very encouraged by the governors action in calling for effective, consensus-driven, solutions-oriented leadership at the SFWMD, Orgera said.

Organizations like SCCF, fighting day in and day out for effective water management and natural resource policy in the state of Florida, need strong partners in Tallahassee. Our new governor has shown that he has the political will to throw down the gauntlet, and steady for the long political battle ahead, he added.

By his actions today, our new governor has taken clear and decisive leadership on behalf of Floridas citizens, Wessel said.
An early step was to create the position of chief diversity officer. AACC was the first community college in the state, and one of the first in the nation, to create such a position. Our diversity officer works with faculty, staff and students to identify barriers and develop strategies to address necessary change. Critical to this work was revisiting our core values and ensuring equity and inclusivity were embedded in the objectives of our strategic plan.
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Goshen, IN (46526)

Today

Partly cloudy. High near 80F. Winds ENE at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Some clouds this evening will give way to mainly clear skies overnight. Low around 50F. Winds N at 5 to 10 mph.
Herring endorsed Gov. Ralph Northams budget proposal for a one-time transfer of $80 million into the state Literary Fund, which provides low-interest loans for school facilities. Northam has said that money would cover all the requests in the funds priority waiting list, with projects dating from 2008. However, the list includes only a portion of school construction needs across Virginia.

While this political expediency by Herring and Northam may serve to make them feel better, this problem with our crumbling school infrastructure continues to grow worse, and the costs to fix it continue to skyrocket, Stanley said. Now is the time to solve this critical issue to Virginias infrastructure.

Herrings spokesman Michael Kelly said in a statement Friday that Herring believes that every Virginia child deserves to learn in a school that is safe, healthy, and nurturing, and Senator Stanleys political attacks wont replace one broken desk or patch one schools leaky roof.
Many federal workers live paycheck to paycheck, Rep. Elijah Cummings, a Baltimore Democrat, said Friday on the House floor. They have mortgages and car loans to pay, day care expenses to cover, and food to put on the table. And even while they struggle to pay these bills, furloughed employees face the stress and anxiety of not knowing whether or not they will be paid when the shutdown ends. The least we can do is to relieve that uncertainty.
About 75 runners participated in the Saturday's 20th annual Run for Justice 5K and 10K at Angler's Park. The run is one of the activities of t
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SEAN HORGAN/Staff file photoVisitors to the Gloucester Fresh booth at Seafood Expo North America in Boston enjoyed monkfish stew prepared by SnapChef employees last year. This year the focus will be on Gloucester lobster and flat fish landed by the city's day boats.
Wither Brexit? Hunt Says UK Could Remain in EU if MPs Vote Against May's Deal

Sputnik News

15:09 11.01.2019(updated 19:47 11.01.2019)

As the Brexit impasse continues to anger the British public, one of Theresa May's most senior cabinet officials has landed a bombshell claim that is likely to further the confusion already felt by many.

UK Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt has floated the prospect of a no Brexit if Theresa May's current deal is voted down in the parliament next week.

In an interview with BBC's flagship radio show, the 'Today programme,' on 11 January, Hunt said, "If this deal is rejected, ultimately what we may end up with is not a different type of Brexit but Brexit paralysis, and Brexit paralysis ultimately could lead to no Brexit."

He then argued, that "if we were as a political class not to deliver Brexit that would be a fundamental breach of trust between the people and the politicians and I think that is something that we would regret for many generations to come."

If Parliament refuses to allow us to exit the EU as is suggested by Jeremy Hunt then it becomes a clear constitutional crisis. Parliament will be seen to be in open rebellion AGAINST the wishes of the people.

Hunt's concerns are not without precedent: there has been a rising tide of reports documenting angry confrontations between members of the public and MPs over the government's failure to deliver on the Brexit referendum result.

Theresa May's Brexit deal  which has been branded a failure from all political angles  is expected to be overwhelmingly rejected when MPs give their verdict next week, on 15 January. A BBC projection reportedly showed that the deal could be defeated by 228 votes, which would mark the heaviest parliamentary defeat in modern history.

Hunt's comments could be viewed as politically daring, considering this his boss, PM May, continues to assert that Britain will be departing from the EU on the designated date of March 29 2019.

The foreign secretary's comments come as it has been revealed that Theresa May has been fuming behind closed doors over members of her own senior cabinet allegedly plotting to undermine her, according to The Daily Mail.

The Mail reports that it has obtained a leaked secret No 10 memo which exposes the degree of intragovernmental warfare over the future of Miss May's leadership, and who may replace her as Prime Minister if her deal is gunned down next week.

According to the media outlet, the memo, which was written in an email by No 10 director of communications Robbie Gibb, indirectly attacks three senior Conservative government ministers in particular: Sajid Javid, Amber Rudd and Liz Truss. All three are seen as ambitious figures who are likely to compete with May for the leadership if her deal is struck down next week.

The email says that Miss May has grown "frustrated" with the three for publicly announcing their own initiatives on issues such as social welfare and asylum policy at the same time as May's announcement last week that she intends to pump 20 billion into Britain's struggling National Health Service (NHS).

In the email, Mr Gibb reportedly indirectly accuses Javid, Rudd and Truss of trying to upstage May, saying that No 10 was hoping to get widespread media coverage on May's plans to improve the NHS, which were announced last week, but instead found itself frustrated as coverage was "diverted elsewhere" because of the other three officials making their own announcements.

"Because of briefings and articles by ministers in Sunday papers, attention was diverted elsewhere," Gibb reportedly wrote.

Work and Pensions Secretary Amber Rudd's office previously briefed a Sunday newspaper on new changes to the Universal Credit welfare system, While Mr Javid's aides are said to have briefed a newspaper on his intention to implement stricter rules on asylum claims.

 Sputnik
The library announced Friday afternoon that the amnesty period would extend from Jan. 4 through the end of the shutdown. Any workers affected by the shutdown who have outstanding fines predating Jan. 4 will not be sent to collections.
Russia Condemns British Plans To Build Military Bases

January 11, 2019

Moscow has condemned Britain's plans to build new military bases in Southeast Asia and the Caribbean, saying Russia is prepared to take retaliatory measures if its own interests or those of its allies are threatened.

British Defense Minister Gavin Williamson told the Sunday Telegraph in December that Britain could establish the new military bases "within the next couple of years" after the country leaves the European Union.

Williamson said the expansion would be part of a strategy for Britain to become a "true global player" after Brexit.

He did not specify where the bases might be built. But the newspaper reported that options included Singapore or Brunei near the South China Sea and Montserrat or Guyana in the Caribbean.

Speaking on January 11, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswomen Maria Zakharova said Williamson's comments were baffling and warned that such plans could destabilize world affairs.

"Of course, Britain like any other country is independent when it comes to its military construction plans. But against the backdrop of overall rising military and political tensions in the world...statements about the desire to build up its military presence in third countries are counterproductive, destabilizing, and possibly of a provocational nature," she was quoted as saying by TASS.

Russia has military bases in several former Soviet countries. It also operates military facilities in Syria and Vietnam.

Based on reporting by Reuters and AP

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-condemns-british-plans- to-build-new-military-bases/29704244.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.
Turkey to Launch Operation East of Euphrates 'at Right Time' - Defense Minister

Sputnik News

14:21 11.01.2019(updated 14:25 11.01.2019)

ANKARA (Sputnik) - Turkey continues to prepare for a military operation east of the Euphrates River in Syria that will start "at the right time for Ankara," Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar said on Friday.

"The Turkish armed forces will start to clear the areas east to the Euphrates River of terrorists at the right time for Ankara, as they had done before in others regions of Syria," Akar said while inspecting Turkish troops stationed at the Syrian border, as cited by the Anadolu news agency.

According to the minister, plans for the operation has already been completed, but necessary preparations continue.

He added that Turkey's only target in Syria was terrorists since Ankara had no problems with ethnic Kurds, he added.

Earlier in December, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced that Turkey was ready to launch a military operation against Kurdish fighters on the eastern bank of the Euphrates River as well as in Syria's Manbij, located near the Turkish border if the United States did not remove the militia from there.

After a phone conversation with US President Donald Trump on December 14, Erdogan said that the start of the operation would be postponed. After this same phone call, Trump announced that US troops would be withdrawn from Syria.

 Sputnik
Turkish defense minister vows operation against Kurdish YPG forces when time is right

Iran Press TV

Fri Jan 11, 2019 03:34PM

Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar says his country's military continues to prepare for a military operation against US-backed Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) in northern Syria, which will start "at the right time" for the Ankara government.

"When the time and place comes, the terrorists here will be buried in the ditches they have dug, as was done in previous operations," Akar said in a speech to military personnel at a brigade command center in Turkey's southeastern province of Sanliurfa on Friday.

He further noted that plans for the operation have already been completed, but necessary preparations continue.

"Before us, we have Manbij on one side and the east of the Euphrates on the other," Akar said, underscoring the scale of a potential operation.

"Important preparations and planning have been made in connection with this. Our preparations are continuing intensively," he added.

Akar pointed out that Turkey's only target in Syria was terrorists since Ankara had no problems with ethnic Kurds.

The remarks came a day after Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said his country would launch an offensive against YPG forces, in case the United States delays the planned withdrawal of its troops from the war-torn Arab country.

"If the (pullout) is put off with ridiculous excuses like Turks are massacring Kurds, which do not reflect the reality, we will implement this decision," Mevlut Cavusoglu told Turkish-language NTV television news network in an exclusive interview.



The top Turkish diplomat then underlined that the Ankara government would go ahead with its incursion plan.

Cavusoglu said Ankara would fight the YPG whether or not US soldiers pulled out of Syria.

US President Donald Trump said last month that he was bringing home the American troops deployed in Syria - some 2,000 - alleging they had succeeded in their mission to defeat the Daesh Takfiri terrorist group.

His abrupt move sparked concern among officials in Washington, prompting Defense Secretary Jim Mattis to step down in protest.

Some commanders in the so-called Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), which has YPG as its backbone, have described the Washington's move as "a stab in the back."

The Syrian town of Manbij, which lies in mainly Arab territory west of the Euphrates, has been a major bone of contention between Ankara and Washington.

Turkey has complained over the slow implementation of a deal reached with the United States in June 2018, which would see the YPG ousted from the town and moved back to the eastern bank of the river.

Turkey considers the YPG a terrorist organization and an extension of the outlawed PKK, which has been fighting for an autonomous region inside Turkey since 1984.

The Turkish military, with support from allied militants of the so-called Free Syrian Army, has launched two cross-border operations in northern Syria, dubbed "Euphrates Shield" and "Olive Branch", against the YPG and Daesh Takfiri terrorists.
F-35s Unlikely, Taiwan Upgrades F-16s Fighters to Counter China

By Ralph Jennings January 11, 2019

Taiwan is upgrading a fleet of American-made fighter jets, but may scrap ambitions to acquire the more advanced F-35 models, showing the limits of U.S.-Taiwan military cooperation despite a common interest of resisting China.

The Air Force should get its first four upgraded F-16 A/B fighter jets in early 2019. The upgrades are part of a broader overhaul that began a year ago to convert the planes into the equivalent of higher-end F-16Vs, the government-funded Central News Agency said.

But the Taiwanese armed forces, ranked as the world's 24th strongest, probably won't get F-35 planes from the American developer Lockheed Martin despite expressions of interest in the past, defense analysts say.

Taiwan would then rely in any war with China, a military rival of some 70 years, on tactical advantages rather than trying to match its firepower.

"One main thing I think that Taiwan has sort of come to the realization that the talk of F-35s is more likely to be a long-ranging solution, more so than being able to get them on an immediate basis, so they have been toying around with various other options," said Collin Koh, a maritime security research fellow at Nanyang Technological University in Singapore.

China claims self-ruled Taiwan as part of its own territory. Last week Chinese President Xi Jinping reiterated in a speech that his government could use force against the island 160 kilometers away if needed to force unification of the two sides. China maintains the third strongest military after the United States and Russia.

F-35 advantage

Taiwan needs better aircraft to replace the French-designed Mirage 2000 jets that it has used for about 25 years, said Andrew Yang, former defense minister and secretary-general of the Chinese Council of Advanced Policy Studies think tank.

Taiwan's defense ministry technically has not ruled out F-35s, ministry spokesman Chen Chung-chi said Thursday. But he said the ministry was also weighing purchases or upgrades of other F-series aircraft that would "be in accord" with air defense goals.

"Those are all choices," Chen said. "We have a lot of general considerations to factor in. We will do some appraisals and research."

F-35s would help Taiwan with "peacetime interdiction" against China, said David An, senior research fellow with the policy incubator Global Taiwan Institute in Washington. The planes could "go out and identify and escort (Chinese) aircraft to make sure they don't veer into Taiwan's airspace," he said.

China has flown military aircraft just outside Taiwan's air defense zone 10 or 15 times since 2015. Leaders in Beijing now resent Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen for rejecting a dialogue condition that each side sees itself as part of a single China.

F-35s would "play a unique role" in improving Taiwan's overall military capabilities, An added. The aircraft, used now by Asian neighbors Japan and South Korea, would form a sky-based command and control hub to coordinate the operations of other military platforms, he said.

Informal rejection of F-35 sales

Taiwan has expressed "informal" interest in buying F-35s, An said. The U.S. government would need to approve the request before Lockheed Martin could make a sale. The U.S. government has informally rejected the idea, scholars believe.

"I think that was a political decision, and commercially it would be too late to meet with the timetable for replacement (of Mirage 2000s)," Yang said.

U.S. officials may worry that Chinese spies would steal F-35 technology from any aircraft sold to Taiwan, Koh said. They might also wonder whether Taiwan can afford the aircraft given its approximately $10 billion defense budget, compared to $500 billion for military spending in the United States, An said.

Officials in Washington may also fear F-35s could not fight off Chinese missiles, he said.

"The U.S. government recommendations for Taiwan are in favor of asymmetric capabilities such as cheap short-range coastal defense missiles to counter amphibious invasion, rather than symmetric capabilities such as expensive advanced fighter aircraft," he said.

Upgrades in the short term

For now, Taiwan is spending $3.64 billion on upgrades of its existing 144 F-16 A/B jets. Central News Agency calls the overhaul "the largest and most important upgrade ever undertaken by the Air Force." Lockheed Martin has sent engineers to Taiwan for the project.

Among their new hardware, the jets will receive advanced radar systems equivalent to those used by F-35 fighters.

The upgrades line up with the Taiwan president's broader modernization of defense systems, including stronger preparations for cyber-warfare and more reliance on domestically developed weaponry.
Lai's Cabinet resigns en mass ahead of major reshuffle

ROC Central News Agency

2019/01/11 11:34:17

Taipei, Jan. 11 (CNA) Premier Lai Ching-te () led his Cabinet in a mass resignation Friday in preparation for a major reshuffle in which he will be replaced.

At a provisional Cabinet meeting beginning at 9:30 a.m., Lai announced the en mass resignation, after which all of the Cabinet members signed the official document.

Lai, who will be replaced by Su Tseng-chang (), shook hands with each of his Cabinet members after the en mass resignation procedure was completed.

Addressing the meeting, Lai said he does not regret the efforts he and his team made toward domestic economic development, the improvement of people's welfare, and the strengthening of the nation.

"Maybe I have not yet seen the growth, blossoming, or fruits of the seeds we planted during my term, but many are budding," Lai said, adding that people will soon see the results of those efforts.

The mass resignation of Lai and his Cabinet came one day after the Legislature passed the central government's annual fiscal budget for 2019.

Soon after the budget was approved, Lai announced the en mass resignation of his Cabinet and indicated that he would not be returning as premier in the impending reshuffle.

"The government budget has been passed, and so the time has come for me to leave," he said at Friday's meeting, adding that he expects President Tsai Ing-wen () to announce a Cabinet reshuffle soon.

Lai said that after Tsai resigned as Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) chairwoman following the Nov. 24 local government elections, he also offered to step down to take responsibility for the DPP's heavy losses as he was the top administrative official in the country.

At the time, Lai said, Tsai refused to accept his resignation and he later agreed to stay on in the interest of political stability and continuity.

However, the time has now come for him to step down because it is of paramount importance in a democracy to accept political responsibility, Lai said.

Shortly after the Cabinet's resignation, Tsai announced that Su will serve as the next premier.

Lai was sworn in as premier on Sept. 8, 2017, replacing Lin Chuan () as head of the Cabinet. Prior to that, Lai had served as mayor of Tainan from 2010 to 2017 and as a legislator from 1999 to 2010.

(By Ku Chuan, Wang Cheng-chung and Elizabeth Hsu)

enditem/pc


Syrian Air Defences Respond to Enemy Attack, Down Several Targets - Reports

Sputnik News

00:48 12.01.2019(updated 01:28 12.01.2019)

Syrian air defences have responded to an Israeli airstrike over Damascus and managed to shoot down several targets, local media reported.

According to Ikhbariya broadcaster, several targets have been shot down during an enemy attack over Damascus, Syria.

A military source told Syrian SANA news agency later that Israeli jets fired several missiles towards vicinity of Damascus, most of the missiles were downed.

According to the source, the airstrikes caused damage to a warehouse at Damascus International Airport.

A source in Syrian Ministry of Transport confirmed to SANA later that the Damascus International Airport traffic was not affected by the strikes.

Previously, a Sputnik correspondent reported that Sounds of explosions were heard in Syria's capital of Damascus, noting that it was yet unclear what caused them.

The sounds of blasts were first heard at 11:30 p.m. (21:30 GMT) on Friday and they continued into Saturday.

 Sputnik
Thousands risk lives fleeing fighting in Syria's last ISIL stronghold

11 January 2019 - North-east Syria is seeing increasing numbers of civilian casualties and large-scale displacement amid intensifying efforts to defeat extremists from ISIL, otherwise known as Da'esh, in Deir-ez-Zor governorate, the UN refugee agency, UNHCR, said on Friday.

Speaking to journalists in Geneva, spokesperson Andrej Mahecic warned that, in recent months, clashes and airstrikes in the eastern governorate's Hajin enclave  once part of an ISIL stronghold straddling the Syria and Iraq border  have forced tens of thousands of people to flee northwards in search of safety.

"Over the past six months more than 25,000 people have been displaced in that part of the country, said Mr. Mahecic. 'We have seen an increase, especially with the escalation that has occurred in the course of December."

Babies are among the dead, 'too weak to survive'

Those at risk include "many" women, children and the elderly, the UN official said, adding that many families reaching the safety of Al Hol refugee camp in north-east Syria near the border with Iraq had risked their lives to do so. "The dangerous and difficult journey and the conditions inside the enclave are reported to have led to the deaths of six children  all under 12 months. Most died after arriving at Al Hol, too weak to survive," the UN spokesperson explained.

Emergency health teams in the camp are tending to "wounds, amputated limbs, injuries and frostbite", Mr. Mahecic continued, before adding that some of those fleeing the fighting had spent "four nights or more" in the desert, in heavy rain and cold weather, with barely any belongings. "People coming out of the conflict zone do also have wounds that have been inflicted. We also know that many of them tell us that they have been targeted while they were fleeing."

Urging all parties "and those with influence over them" to ensure freedom of movement and safe passage for displaced families, the UNHCR spokesperson explained that the crisis is far from over.

"This is still going on and people are arriving daily," Mr. Mahecic said. "Through the desert, trying to move through the different checkpoints and reach safety in the camps and other areas outside the conflict zone."

Together with its partners, UNHCR teams inside Syria prioritize protection for unaccompanied or separated children, while also identifying and helping those in need of medical assistance. Tents and other essential relief items are provided to new arrivals, while communal facilities are being scaled up to prepare for an expected increase of arrivals from Hajin.

"It's estimated right now that 2,000 people remain in the conflict-affected area of Hajin," Mr. Mahecic explained. "Those fleeing report increasingly desperate conditions, with diminishing services and extremely high prices for basic foods. We are worried for civilians who continue to be trapped in ISIL-held areas."
Pompeo: New Penalties Against Saudi Arabia for Khashoggi Murder Still Possible

Sputnik News

20:30 11.01.2019(updated 20:33 11.01.2019)

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) - The United States is standing by its promise to penalize Saudi Arabia further in response to the murder of columnist Jamal Khashoggi at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul, the US Secretary of State Pompeo said in an interview on Friday.

When asked by a Fox News reporter whether the imposition of more penalties against Saudi Arabia is still the case, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said, "Absolutely."

In November, the US Treasury Department imposed sanctions on 17 Saudis involved in the Khashoggi murder.

Pompeo noted that the United States continues to investigate the Khashoggi's murder to ensure that those responsible for his death will be held responsible.

However, the US secretary further emphasized that the US relationship with Saudi Arabia remains critically important in the fight against terrorism in the region.

His remarks come after on 2 October 2018, Khashoggi was killed in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul upon entering to obtain marriage-related documents.

After two weeks of denials, the Saudi authorities admitted that Khashoggi was killed in the consulate and his body dismembered on consulate grounds.

Riyadh claims that the killing had nothing to do with the Saudi royal family and the kingdom's de facto ruler, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, describing the murder as a rogue operation.

 Sputnik
MbS continues despotic rule, consults Khashoggi hit squad leader: Report

Iran Press TV

Fri Jan 11, 2019 07:14PM

Despite facing worldwide controversy after the assassination of dissident journalist Jamal Khashoggi, reports have shown that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has continued his despotic practices, regularly consulting the killing's alleged mastermind Saud al-Qahtani.

American and Saudi sources informed on the matter say that many of the prince's current decisions are in line with advice gained from his former aid Qahtani, reported the American daily newspaper The Washington Post on Thursday.

"Domestically, he feels very confident and in control. As long as his base is secure, he feels that nothing can harm him," says an American source who recently met the prince.

"He's completely unchastened by what has happened," read the report quoting a British researcher highly informed on Saudi politics.

Qahtani, who was fired from his position after being blamed for Khashoggi's murder, allegedly advises bin Salman on a regular basis.

The former aid is said to be the architect of the kingdom's social media campaign against Muslim preachers, intellectuals and critics of the Riyadh regime.

Qahtani has also been reported to be deeply involved in Riyadh's cyber espionage and dissident intimidation activities.

Observers believe many recent intimidation campaigns taking place against Riyadh's opposition have also been designed by Qahtani.

On Thursday, a Twitter campaign emerged claiming to expose "facts" against Khashoggi and Omar Abdulaziz, a popular dissident activist living in Canada.

A well produced video also surfaced on social media titled "Qatar System Exposed," alleging that Khashoggi was involved in a plot to "create a new destabilizing Arab Spring to unsettle Arab countries, mainly, Saudi Arabia."

Khashoggi, an outspoken critic of bin Salman, entered the Saudi consulate in Istanbul in October, but never came back.

The Saudi kingdom, after denying the murder for several days, ultimately admitted that Khashoggi had been murdered in the consulate after an interrogation by rogue operatives had gone wrong.

Top Turkish officials have tied the case to the highest levels of Saudi leadership. Riyadh has denied accusations that the prince ordered the murder.

Last week, a Saudi court held its first hearing on Khashoggi's case in which Saudi Arabian prosecutors are seeking the death penalty for five of the 11 suspects.

The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, however, rejected the trial as "not sufficient" and not meeting the requirements of an independent and international inquiry.
U.S. Lawmakers Slam Treasury Secretary Over Sanctions Relief For Deripaska

By RFE/RL January 11, 2019

The U.S. Treasury secretary has said he told U.S. lawmakers that President Donald Trump will keep strict sanctions on Oleg Deripaska, as congressional Democrats turned up pressure on the administration's policy toward the Kremlin-connected oligarch.

Steven Mnuchin released a statement on January 10, ahead of a classified briefing he was requested to give a key House of Representatives committee.

Congress has been reviewing an administration decision announced in December to lift sanctions against three companies that Deripaska controls: Rusal, EN+, and JSC EuroSibEnergo.

Early last year, the Trump administration indicated it was planning to sanction Rusal -- one of the world's largest aluminum companies -- but that announcement roiled global markets, sending metal prices soaring.

The Treasury Department delayed imposing the sanctions several times, amid a reported lobbying campaign by Deripaska's companies.

In December, the administration notified Congress it would lift the sanctions. That triggered a clause in Congress that gives lawmakers 30 days to try to reverse the decision by passing a joint resolution of disapproval.

In his statement, Mnuchin said Deripaska remained under sanctions and "his property and interests remain blocked, and any companies he controls are also sanctioned."

House Democrats, however, were publicly angry, with the leader of the chamber, Nancy Pelosi, calling it "one of the worst classified briefings we've received from the Trump administration."

"He answered some questions, but he didn't give testimony. They had an intelligence briefing, which I won't go into, and then they read a document that was unclassified, wasting the time of members of Congress," she told reporters after the briefing.

Deripaska is a billionaire tycoon who made his fortune in aluminum and metals trading. He was barred from entering the United States in the 2000s, on allegations of ties to organized crime.

He was also a business partner of Paul Manafort, Trump's campaign chairman during part of the 2016 presidential election.

With reporting by NBC

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/congress-mnuchin- deripaska-hearing/29702881.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.
Candace Poag said by 8:30 a.m. Millhouse Court was partially blocked off by yellow tape and appeared to be a crime scene. She said she texted her husband, who had left between 7:30 and 7:45 a.m., to see if he knew what happened. He told her he hadn't seen anything unusual when he left.
Russian Defense Ministry Proposes Law To Allow Shooting Down Of Passenger Planes

By RFE/RL January 11, 2019

Russia's Defense Ministry has outlined draft legislation that would allow Russian forces to shoot down civilian passenger planes within the country's airspace.

The draft document placed on the government's list of proposed legislation says passenger planes that cross into Russian airspace without authorization and do not answer warning signals or respond to warning shots can be shot down if they are deemed to pose a threat of mass deaths, ecological catastrophe, or an assault on strategic targets.

The draft legislation also says the Defense Ministry must start reacting to unidentified planes when they are within 50 kilometers of Russian airspace.

According to the draft legislation, passenger planes cannot be shot down if there is no "real danger of human deaths or ecological catastrophe."

The draft bill does not specify how Russian military official would identify such threats.

In 1994, the Russian government adopted a resolution that bans military forces from shooting down civilian planes if passengers are known to be aboard.

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/russian-defense -ministry-proposes-law-to-allow-shooting-down-of -passenger-planes/29703931.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.
US blocks Israeli sale of used F-16s to NATO member Croatia over upgrades

Iran Press TV

Fri Jan 11, 2019 11:28AM

The United States has blocked the Israeli regime's sale of 12 used F-16 jet fighters to Croatia in a deal worth $500 million over demands that Tel Aviv removes electronic modifications it has made to the war planes.

"Israel has officially informed us that it cannot get an approval from the United States for delivery of the planes to Croatia," Croatia's Defense Minister Damir Krsticevic announced in a Thursday press conference in the capital Zagreb following a meeting with a visiting Israeli delegation.

According to Croatian media reports, the problem came up because the war planes had been refitted with Israeli technology, depriving American weapons makers the opportunity to update and service the decades-old fighter jets.

The US reportedly insisted that the Israeli regime must strip the jets of the upgrades it had made -- including electronic and radar systems  prior to transferring the aircraft.

Croatia, however, declined to purchase the planes without the Israeli modifications, declaring that it will cancel the order for the F-16 Barak combat aircraft, which were to replace the NATO member's aging fleet of Soviet MiG21 jetfighters.

"Israel failed to overcome the opposition of the United States to the sale of 12 planes to Croatia, and the $500 million deal will apparently be canceled," the Croatian Defense Ministry emphasized in a statement.

"Unfortunately, we have not been able to realize the deal because of problems that could not have been expected and are not under the control of the countries," said the chief of Israeli war ministry, Udi Adam, in the press briefing in Zagreb on Thursday.

Eager to sell the planes, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reportedly even raised the issue with US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo during their meeting in Brazil earlier this month.

Despite all efforts, however, the State Department blocked the transfer of arms to the Balkan nation. It did not provide comments on the report because it was on furlough due to the persisting US government shutdown.

Moreover, a senior Israeli official told the US-based Axios news outlet that former Pentagon Chief James Mattis had rejected a personal request from Netanyahu to give the acquisition his personal approval.

Apart from the Israeli regime, several other countries also participated in the bidding process for the warplane deal, including Greece, South Korea and Sweden.

Meanwhile, Croatia's Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic announced earlier this week that Zagreb would not accept any other deal except the original Israeli offer which it accepted last March.

"The agreement on buying the planes has not been signed, so there is no financial damage to our budget," Plenkovic said during a cabinet session on Thursday.

He added, however, that Zagreb was determined to continue with its plans of modernizing its air force.
Eyeing Iran, US to Host Mideast Peace Ministerial in Warsaw

By Nike Ching January 11, 2019

With an eye on Iran, the United States and Poland will jointly host a ministerial meeting to promote peace and security in the Middle East. The international gathering will be held in Warsaw on Feb. 13-14.

"The ministerial will address a range of critical issues including terrorism and extremism, missile development and proliferation, maritime trade and security, and threats posed by proxy groups across the region," a State Department statement said.

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo told Fox News the gathering would "focus on Middle East stability and peace and freedom and security," including "an important element of making sure that Iran is not a destabilizing influence."

The top U.S. diplomat arrived late Friday in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, after a short visit to Manama, Bahrain.

Earlier, Pompeo met with Bahraini King Hamad bin Isa al-Khalifa, Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad bin Isa al-Khalifa, and Bahraini Foreign Minister Shaikh Khalid bin Ahmed al-Khalifa.

The U.S. has praised Bahrain as "a staunch supporter" to push back Iran's malign efforts, including efforts to counter Iranian sanctions evasion and to combat illicit maritime activity.

Pompeo's visit to Bahrain was his first stop in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries.

The GCC is "is essential to countering the single greatest threat to regional stability: the Iranian regime," the State Department said Friday, adding the chief American diplomat's visit to GCC countries is aimed at building support for the pressure campaign against Iran.

Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen on Thursday launched a deadly drone attack against Yemeni government officers at a military parade at al-Anad Air Base in the Lahij region.

The U.S. strongly condemned the drone attack, saying it violated a cease-fire agreement and progress made last month at U.N.-led talks in Sweden.

"We urge all sides to honor the commitments they made in Sweden to their fellow Yemenis by refraining from violence and provocative acts," said the State Department in a statement Friday.

Pompeo will also underscore to GCC partners the key roles they play in resolving the humanitarian crisis instigated by the Houthi rebels, according to the State Department.

From Bahrain, Pompeo traveled to Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, late Friday. Other stops on his trip include Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Oman and Kuwait.

On Friday, the U.S.-led coalition in Syria began to remove troops from Syria. A day earlier in Cairo, Pompeo said bringing American troops home from Syria "isn't a change of mission" and Washington remained "committed to the complete dismantling" of Islamic State militants.

At the same time, added Pompeo, the U.S. is "looking to our partners to do more."

"As the fighting continues, we will continue to assist our partners in efforts to guard borders, prosecute terrorists, screen travelers, assist refugees and more. But 'assist' is the key phrase. We ask every peace-loving nation of the Middle East to shoulder new responsibilities for defeating Islamist extremism wherever we find it," said Pompeo in remarks Thursday at American University in Cairo.
Pompeo Says U.S. To Hold Iran-Focused Summit In February

By RFE/RL January 11, 2019

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has announced U.S. plans to hold a global summit next month in Poland that is focused on the Middle East, particularly Iran.

In an interview with Fox News broadcast on January 11, Pompeo said the February 13-14 summit would "focus on Middle East stability and peace and freedom and security here in this region, and that includes an important element of making sure that Iran is not a destabilizing influence."

He said the summit would bring together leaders from Asia, Africa, the Western Hemisphere, Europe, and the Middle East.

The decision was announced as Pompeo arrived in Bahrain on January 11 -- his latest stop on a nine-country Middle East tour aimed at reassuring Washington's Arab allies that the United States is not abandoning the region, despite plans to withdraw U.S. troops from Syria.

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif criticized Poland for hosting the planned summit, which he called a "desperate anti-Iran circus."

"Reminder to host/participants of anti-Iran conference: those who attended last U.S. anti-Iran show are either dead, disgraced, or marginalised. And Iran is stronger than ever," Zarif tweeted on January 11.

He went on to write that "while Iran saved Poles in WWII, it now hosts desperate anti-Iran circus."

Pompeo is calling for increasing pressure on Iran and has pushed for unity among Arab states that have been embroiled in a diplomatic dispute with Qatar for more than 18 months.

"These Gulf partnerships are critical to achieving shared regional objectives -- defeating ISIS, countering radical Islamic terrorism, protecting global energy supplies, and rolling back Iranian aggression," a State Department spokesman said.

In Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates and then later Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Oman, and Kuwait, Pompeo is also expected to present the case he has already outlined in Jordan, Iraq, and Egypt -- that U.S. President Donald Trump's decision to pull U.S. troops from Syria is not a sign Washington is retreating from the fight against Islamic State militants.

A U.S. military spokesman said on January 11 that the U.S.-led military coalition in Syria had begun the process of withdrawing troops from the country.

Pompeo is also expected to discuss the conflict in Yemen, where a Saudi-led coalition has been fighting Iranian-backed Huthi rebels since March 2015 amid a growing international outcry over the human cost of the conflict.

Pompeo began the Persian Gulf portion of his Middle East tour after a stop in Cairo, where he said the United States was seeking to "expel every last Iranian boot" from Syria, despite Washington's decision to withdraw U.S. forces from the war-ravaged country.

"It's time for old rivalries [in the Middle East] to end for the sake of the greater good of the region," Pompeo said in Cairo.

He said the United States "will use diplomacy and work with our partners to expel every last Iranian boot" from Syria and will bolster efforts "to bring peace and stability to the long-suffering Syrian people."

The Trump administration has recently raised pressure on Tehran by withdrawing from Iran's 2015 nuclear deal with world powers and reimposing tough economic sanctions.

Pompeo said in Cairo that the United States was a "force for good" in the Middle East and remained committed to the "complete dismantling" of threats posed by Islamic State militants.

With reporting by AP, AFP, and Fox News

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/pompeo-says-us-to-hold-iran- focused-summit-in-february/29704025.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.
Iranian fighter jets fire domestically made missiles on 2nd day of large-scale military drills

Iran Press TV

Fri Jan 11, 2019 11:10AM

The Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force (IRIAF) launched the second day of its massive military drills in the central province of Isfahan on Friday, targeting various positions with domestically made missiles and smart bombs.

On the second day of the drills, the F-4 Phantom fighter jets fired Maverick tactical air-to-ground missiles and the domestically-manufactured "Qassed" smart bombs.

Laser-guided, anti-radar and thermal missiles as well as ultralight aircraft were also tested during the maneuvers attended by all Iranian air force bases.

Various bombers, large military transport aircraft, interceptor and reconnaissance planes, and patrol aircraft were used in the drills.

Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and offense drones were also used for reconnaissance operations and bombing mock enemy positions.

A spokesperson for the war game said the warplanes detonated ground targets of the hypothetical enemy by dropping 2,000-pound Qassed standoff bombs, which are smart, have pinpoint accuracy, and have been developed by the IRIAF experts, Tasnim news agency reported.

The two-day maneuvers are meant to boost the Iranian air force's capabilities in defending the country's airspace against any possible aggression.

The eighth edition of the annual drills, dubbed Defenders of Velayat Skies, began at Shahid Babaei Air Base in Isfahan province on Thursday following days of preparations.

The maneuvers put to test dozens of bombers, hunter and interceptor jets as well as transport, refueling, reconnaissance and patrolling aircraft besides unmanned aerial vehicles.

The war games featured Sukhoi Su-24, F-4 and F-7 Phantoms, MiG-29, F-14 jets, Boeing 707 and 7047 aerial refueling planes and C-130 Hercules transport aircraft, along with drones equipped with precision strike missiles and long-range smart bombs.

In the course of the drills, Iranian air forces will practice air-to-air shooting and shooting against aerial targets as well as using smart, indigenous and upgraded bombs, he added.

Over the past years, Iran has made major breakthroughs in its defense sector and attained self-sufficiency in producing military equipment and hardware despite sanctions and economic pressures on the country.
Iran urges vigilance to foil US divisive policies, plots in Middle East

Iran Press TV

Fri Jan 11, 2019 02:32PM

Iran has dismissed as unfounded recent allegations made by US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo against the Islamic Republic, urging all regional countries to heighten their vigilance in the face of the "divisive policies and plots" of American officials.

"The US, and in particular its current extremist regime, due to [its] old hostility toward the Iranian nation and opposition to all the previous [US] government's measures is following a path which cannot be expected to bear any benefit for the US," Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Bahram Qassemi said on Friday.

Speaking at the American University in the Egyptian capital of Cairo on Thursday, Pompeo claimed that Iran is a "common enemy" of the US and other countries in the region.

"President Trump has reversed our willful blindness to the danger of the [Iranian] regime and withdrew from the failed nuclear deal, with its false promises," he added.

The US state secretary said that his country was working to reverse Iran's regional influence.

In reaction to Pompeo's claims, Qassemi said the current US administration is desperate and angry because it cannot find a replacement for a "comprehensive and legitimate" nuclear agreement, officially known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), it has scrapped unilaterally.

US President Donald Trump withdrew his country in May from the landmark Iran nuclear deal and decided to re-impose unilateral sanctions against Tehran. He has described the JCPOA, which was negotiated under his predecessor Barack Obama, as "the worst and most one-sided transaction Washington has ever entered into."

Under the deal, reached between Iran and six major powers - the United States, Britain, France, Germany, Russia and China - Tehran agreed to put limits on its nuclear program in exchange for the removal of nuclear-related sanctions.

The Iranian spokesperson further criticized the US paradoxical stance on Iran and said Washington has maximized its hostility toward the Iranian nation while at the same time, it hypocritically pretends to support negotiations with Tehran.

Last month, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif strongly dismissed the possibility of holding negotiations with the United States after Washington set conditions for talks with Tehran, saying the Islamic Republic will never talk to those who set conditions for it.

In a post on his official Twitter account, Zarif released a video showing him seated with US journalist Robin Wright on the sidelines of the Doha Forum 2018 in the Qatari capital on Saturday.

In response to a question about Secretary of State Pompeo's list of a dozen conditions, which Washington expects Tehran to meet before any further talks, Zarif said, "We will not talk to anybody who sets 12 conditions for us to talk to them after having violated a [UN] Security Council resolution that they sponsored themselves."

Qassemi also warned the US state secretary that Iran would do everything in its power to safeguard its national and strategic interests.

"Iran has consistently shown that it wants peaceful coexistence with its neighbors but the US behavior shows that it seeks to sow discord and create a new chaos in this region," he said.

The Iranian foreign minister on Thursday countered his American counterpart's claims that "when America retreats, chaos often follows," saying actually the opposite is true.

"Whenever/wherever US interferes, chaos, repression & resentment follow. The day Iran mimics US clients & @SecPompeo's "human rights models"be it the Shah or current butchersto become a "normal" country is the day hell freezes over. Best for the US to just get over loss of Iran," Zarif said.
Europe will not allow US to determine trade relations with Iran: Mogherini

Iran Press TV

Fri Jan 11, 2019 06:17PM

The High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Federica Mogherini, says the United States cannot impose its policies on the 28-nation bloc's "legitimate trade" relations with Iran.

"We Europeans cannot accept that a foreign power  even our closest friend and ally  makes decisions over our legitimate trade with another country," Mogherini said in an interview with the European Council on Foreign Relations published on Friday.

She added that the EU is working with the rest of the international community to keep alive the landmark nuclear agreement, officially known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), despite the US unilateral move to pull out from the deal.

The Iran nuclear deal "has so far been implemented in full, as certified by the International Atomic Energy Agency in 13 consecutive reports," she said.

US President Donald Trump withdrew his country in May from the historic Iran nuclear deal and decided to re-impose unilateral sanctions against Tehran.

Under the deal, reached between Iran and six major powers - the United States, Britain, France, Germany, Russia and China - Tehran agreed to put limits on its nuclear program in exchange for the removal of nuclear-related sanctions.

The US administration hoped to get the other parties to the deal with Iran to likewise scrap the deal, but instead, they stressed that not only would they stick to the agreement, but they would also work to sustain it in the face of increased US pressure.

A report by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said in November that Iran has continued to implement all its commitments under the 2015 nuclear deal even as the United States re-imposed fresh sanctions against Tehran.

The IAEA's report said Iran has been complying with the restrictions to its nuclear program laid down in the nuclear deal, adding, "There is nothing that indicates that Iranian cooperation or the Iranian attitude has changed since the 5th of November."

Mogherini further rejected claims that Europe is motivated mainly by economic or trade considerations and said all efforts by the EU to preserve the JCPOA have been made "because of our collective security."

"That is not the case: we do this to prevent a nuclear non-proliferation agreement that is working from being dismantled, and to prevent a major security crisis in the Middle East," the senior EU official pointed out.

She emphasized that the EU should guarantee that firms seeking to do legitimate business with Iran are allowed to do so.

"This is what we are working on right now: tools that will assist, protect, and reassure economic actors pursuing legitimate business with Iran. It is true that this situation has triggered a conversation on European economic sovereignty," Mogherini said.

Iran and the 28-nation European Union have been discussing various ways to continue doing business with Iran and bypass US sanctions.

On September 24, Iran and its five partners released a joint statement announcing the setting up of a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) to facilitate continued trade with Iran, bypass the US financial system, and avoid any impact of America's secondary sanctions.

Late last month, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said Tehran will not stand by for Europeans to fulfill their commitments under the multilateral nuclear agreement, following the United States' move to pull out from the deal.

"The Europeans are acting slowly in the fulfillment of their commitments under the nuclear agreement," Zarif said, adding, "We will not wait around for them unless they adopt practical steps."

Zarif's remarks came after Head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran Ali Akbar Salehi warned that Tehran's patience is running out over the failure of the European Union's economic pledges to deliver any "tangible results."

He said the EU's efforts were encouraging but added: "We have not yet seen any tangible results. So, they [Europeans] are promising us that they are doing their best to be able to translate all that they have said in political terms and to turn it into realization, in other words, to materialize what they have said."
Iran's Air Force launches counterchemical attack operations

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Isfahan, Jan 11, IRNA -- Combat counter-attack against enemy chemical teams was launched by teams specializing in new fighting areas of the Army Air Force on the first day of the main and operational phase of the 'Defender of Velayat Skies' drill.

On this day, teams specializing in the modern war areas, confronted with the chemical assault of enemy.

Also the Mig-29 fighter successfully fired and defaced the F5 missile by firing the R73 missile.

The F-14s and MiG-29s fighters of the Army of the Islamic Republic of Iran, during the second day of the final round of the Air Force's 'Defender of Velayat Skies' drill, launched air combat operations.

The fighters flew over the general area of exercise on Friday morning and conducted their flying tactics.

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Iran's Air Force combat UAVs to be operational

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Isfahan, Jan 11, IRNA -- Spokesman for the eighth drill of 'Defender of Velayat Skies' said for first time Iran's Air Force UAVs will be operational.

The operational phase of the exercise began on Thursday morning with the presence of all military air bases and the base of the Shahid Babaee Air Base in Isfahan as its center.

Brigadier General Alireza Angizeh said, "For the first time, the Air Force combat drones are operational and destroy their targets."

The spokesman for Iran's Army Air Force drill announced that the Islamic Republic Army's Air Force bombers carried out night surprise operations in military maneuver codenamed 'Modafean-e-Aseman-e-Velayat 97 (The Defenders of Velayat Skies 97)'.

Brigadier General Alireza Angizeh said on Thursday that on the first day of the final round of the 8th Army Air Force's `Defenders of Velayat Skies 97' exercises, Sukhoi 24 bomber raids and Phantom destroyed predetermined targets with heavy bombardments.

He added, 'These bombers, using night surprises and at high altitudes, launched a bombing of air-to-ground (Carpet Bombing) targets against predefined targets.'

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Mogherini: Europe, int'l community working to preserve JCPOA

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Tehran, Jan 11, IRNA -- Brussels together with the international community is working to preserve Iran nuclear deal, also known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), EU top diplomat said.

"We are working, as a Union of 28 member states and with the rest of the international community, to preserve a nuclear agreement that has so far been implemented in full, as certified by the International Atomic Energy Agency in 13 consecutive reports," High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini said Friday in an interview, which was published in European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR).

"I start by saying this because I often hear that, on this issue, Europe is motivated mainly by economic or trade considerations. That is not the case: we do this to prevent a nuclear non-proliferation agreement that is working from being dismantled, and to prevent a major security crisis in the Middle East," she added.

She went on to say, "Part of this work requires us to guarantee that firms wanting to do legitimate business with Iran are allowed to do so."

"This is what we are working on right now: tools that will assist, protect, and reassure economic actors pursuing legitimate business with Iran," Mogherini reiterated.

She added, "It is true that this situation has triggered a conversation on European economic sovereignty. We Europeans cannot accept that a foreign power  even our closest friend and ally  makes decisions over our legitimate trade with another country."

This is while earlier, Foreign Ministry spokesman Bahram Qasemi criticized the European Union for delay in implementation of the SPV following the US exit from Iran nuclear deal, saying that the country deems EU responsible for not implementing the mechanism.

"The Europeans as the main beneficiary should think about the consequences of the decision, as Iran has so far fulfilled all its commitments under the JCPOA," he said, noting that Iran's patience is wearing thin and it is time for the EU to take its strategic decision.

"Dollar dominance as well as interconnection of the EU and US economies are among the reasons behind SPV delay,' he said, noting that the EU and even the three countries favoring SPV are also captive and hostage of the US economy in JCPOA. He noted that they should make decision for their independence.

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These days, regular events are not as frequent at the association's hall. It's something Waters-Woods would like to change. "Since I've come on board, I'd like to get some use out of the building instead of it just sitting there," Waters-Woods said.
Iran conducts drone-jetfighter joint operation for 1st time

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Isfahan, Jan 11, IRNA -- Iran performed drone-jetfighter joint operation for the first time, Commander of the Iranian Air Force Brigadier General Aziz Nasirzadeh said.

Speaking to the Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA) on Friday, Nasirzadeh said the operation has been conducted in Isfahan drills.

The armored drone and the jetfighter started flying simultaneously to destroy the target, he added.

A reconnaissance drone also started flying to monitor the battle field, he noted.

The Iranian air force drills which started on Thursday were wrapped up today.

The F-14s and MiG-29s fighters of the Army of the Islamic Republic of Iran, during the second day of the final round of the Air Force's 'Defender of Velayat Skies' drill, launched air combat operations.

The fighters flew over the general area of exercise on Friday morning and conducted their flying tactics.

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'Critical test' for North Korea's Government as civilian suffering remains rife, warns UN rights expert

11 January 2019 - The human rights situation in Democratic People's Republic of Korea  DPRK - remains "extremely serious", and along with international demands for denuclearization, this constitutes a "a critical test" for the year ahead, a senior UN-appointed expert said on Friday.

Tomas Quintana was speaking in his capacity as UN Special Rapporteur on human rights in DPRK, commonly known as North Korea; his press conference was held in the South Korean capital, Seoul, as he continued to be denied access to its northern neighbour.

"Of those who left the North recently that I interviewed during this mission, every person gave accounts of ordinary people being subjected to exploitative labour and serious human rights violations such as forced evictions in the name of development," he said. "Stories were told to me of people, including children, being subjected to long hours of labour where they were forced to work without remuneration. One person concluded: "the whole country is a prison."

Mr. Quintana urged the DPRK authorities to engage with his mandate and allow him to visit the country "to hear the voice of the people and the authorities".

Many ordinary people 'being left behind'

He detailed personal testimonies gathered during his five-day mission about "political prison camps" which contain "thousands of people" accused of committing crimes against the State.

Their detention happens without "due process guarantees or fair trial, in a manner that amounts to enforced disappearances with the family not knowing their whereabouts", the Special Rapporteur explained, before highlighting that people's "fear" of being imprisoned was "very real and deeply embedded in the consciousness of the ordinary North Korean people".

Surveillance and close monitoring of ordinary citizens is also a fact of life in DPRK, Mr. Quintana continued, as well as other restrictions on basic freedoms, not least the prohibition on leaving the country.

His comments follow a historic meeting between DPRK leader Kim Jong-Un and US President Donald Trump in Singapore last June, which focused on denuclearization talks.

Humanitarian aid remains 'vital'

Noting that Kim had stated that "improving people's standard of living radically" was a priority in his New Year message, Mr. Quintana said that this might represent "recognition" of economic and social hardships for ordinary people.

It "represents an important first step towards taking action to address the challenges," the UN expert said, before calling on the international community to continue to support the "vital" humanitarian assistance that was being provided by various actors to the people of the DPRK.

"In particular, it is important that humanitarian cooperation is extended without politicization and in full respect of the principles of neutrality and independence," he said, reiterating a call to the UN Security Council to ensure its sanctions do not have a detrimental impact on the people of the DPRK.

The findings of Mr. Quintana's latest report will be delivered to the Human Rights Council in Geneva at its next regular session which begins in late February.
Key consensuses lift DPRK ties

People's Daily Online

(China Daily) 07:42, January 11, 2019

Kim's visit helps to reach solutions for peninsula issue

President Xi Jinping and Kim Jong-un, top leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, reached important consensuses after holding talks on Tuesday and Wednesday during Kim's fourth trip to China in less than a year.

Analysts said that the DPRK leader's frequent visits to China showed that the bilateral ties, based on the common interests of both countries, are being enhanced continuously.

The two sides agreed to make joint efforts to push for development of China-DPRK relations in the new era, advance the political settlement process of the Korean Peninsula issue, bring more benefits to people of both sides and contribute to the peace, stability, prosperity and development of the region and the world.

Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, said that with the concerted efforts of both nations, China-DPRK relations opened a historic new chapter last year, and they have displayed the resolute determination to jointly advance the political settlement of the peninsula issue.

Xi said he is willing to work with Kim to "make sound efforts to guide the future development of the China-DPRK relationship".

The two nations should maintain high-level exchanges, strengthen strategic communication, deepen friendly exchanges and cooperation and promote the long-term, healthy and stable development of China-DPRK relations, Xi said.

Kim said he was grateful to Xi for taking time from a busy schedule at the beginning of the year to receive the DPRK delegation.

"Under the utmost care of Comrade General Secretary, DPRK-China relations last year were elevated to a new height and a new chapter was written," Kim said

On the situation of the Korean Peninsula, Xi spoke highly of the positive measures taken by the DPRK to promote denuclearization on the peninsula.

Major progress was made in the process of a political solution to the Korean Peninsula issue last year with joint efforts of China, the DPRK and relevant parties, Xi said.

China supports the DPRK's continued adherence to the direction of denuclearization on the peninsula and the continuous improvement of inter-Korean relations, Xi said. It also supports the DPRK and the United States holding summits and achieving results as well as relevant parties resolving their respective legitimate concerns through dialogue, he said.

China hopes that the DPRK and the United States will meet each other halfway, Xi said.

Kim said the Korean Peninsula situation has been easing since last year, and China's important role in the process is obvious to all.

The DPRK will continue sticking to the stance of denuclearization and resolving the Korean Peninsula issue through dialogue and consultation, and make efforts for the second summit between DPRK and US leaders to achieve results that will be welcomed by the international community, Kim said.

Xi said China firmly supports the DPRK in implementing the country's new strategic line and focusing on developing its economy and improving its people's well-being.

Kim said the DPRK considers China's development experience most valuable and hopes for more trips to China for study and exchanges.

Before the talks, Xi held a welcoming ceremony for Kim at the Great Hall of the People on Tuesday. After the talks, Xi and his wife, Peng Liyuan, hosted a banquet for Kim and his wife, Ri Sol-ju, and they watched an artistic performance together.

On Wednesday morning, Xi met with Kim at the Beijing Hotel. Xi spoke positively of the significance of Kim's visit. China is willing to make joint efforts with the DPRK to safeguard, consolidate and develop relations between the two parties and two countries, Xi said.

After the meeting, Xi and his wife held a luncheon for Kim and his wife.

On Wednesday, Kim also visited a Tong Ren Tang pharmaceutical plant in Yizhuang, Beijing, where he inspected processing and production lines for traditional Chinese medicine that use traditional and modern techniques.

The latest summit talks between the top leaders of China and the DPRK are anticipated to play "a very positive role" in the success of the second summit between Kim and US President Donald Trump, according to Republic of Korea President Moon Jae-in.

"China has played a positive role in very much helping the Korean Peninsula's denuclearization and the improvement of inter-Korean relations," Moon said in a news conference on Thursday.

Li Haidong, a professor of international relations at China Foreign Affairs University, said that China and the DPRK have sent a clear signal of consolidating their traditional friendship during Kim's visit.

The two countries have an urgent need to conduct deep exchanges and close coordination on issues of mutual concern, Li said.

China's constructive role in pushing the dialogue of all relevant parties over the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue is irreplaceable given that it has effective communications with all relevant nations, including the US, Russia, the DPRK, the ROK and Japan, he said.

Ruan Zongze, vice-president of the China Institute of International Studies, said that the frequent China-DPRK high-level exchanges are of great importance to bilateral ties as well as regional stability.

Ruan expressed optimism toward the development of the Korean Peninsula situation given that the second Kim-Trump meeting is being prepared, and both the DPRK and the ROK have lots of motives to improve relations.
First Recorded Flight of China's New Stealthy 'Sky Hawk' Drone

Sputnik News

00:34 12.01.2019(updated 00:37 12.01.2019)

First unveiled at an air show in November, China's newest stealth drone, the Sky Hawk, will have the ability to communicate with manned aircraft for both surveillance and combat operations. China Central Television (CCTV) carried footage of its first recorded flight on January 5.

The stealthy Sky Hawk is only the latest in the line of unmanned aerial vehicles under the name by maker China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation (CASIC), but it's a world away from the rest of the pack. It was unveiled at the 12th China International Aviation and Aerospace Exhibition, better known as the Zhuhai Airshow, in November alongside another stealthy drone of a similar flying wing design, the CH-7, which CBS called a "combat drone." It's not known what the new Sky Hawk's designation is, but the South China Morning Post said it will have both combat and reconnaissance roles.

The Sky Hawk is also much, much smaller than the CH-7, with a wingspan of merely 35 feet, compared to the CH-7's 72-foot span.

This wasn't the UAV's first flight, which CASIC says happened back in February 2018. However, it's the first time the public has gotten to see it zoom around. Observers immediately noted its superficial similarities to the US' X-47B drone, built by Northrop Grumman for the US Navy, although the X-47B is also much larger than the Sky Hawk, with a 62-foot wingspan and roughly 44,000 lb weight. The Sky Hawk weighs in at a paltry 6,600 lbs.

The Sky Hawk can reach altitudes of 42,000 feet and cruise as fast as 460 mph, with a maximum flight time of 15 hours, the Global Times noted.

But the Sky Hawk isn't just stealthy, it's also smart. It's well-equipped to handle the emerging field of "manned-unmanned teaming" (MUM-T), a program designed to partner drones with living, breathing pilots up in the air.

"Battlefields of the future will be very intense and confrontational, and stealthy drones like the Sky Hawk will have a huge role to play," Ma Hongzhong, its chief engineer at China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation, told news portal Thepaper.cn on Thursday. "Manned-unmanned teaming is the technology of the future and the Sky Hawk has such a capability."

SMCP noted that last April, plane maker Airbus announced its H-145M helicopter and an Austrian Schiebel S-100 UAV had successfully made MUM-T work. The US military is also trying to harness the technology for similar purposes, but "So far, no country has perfected it as far as I am aware," Singapore-based aviation expert Kelvin Wong told the publication.

The Global Times noted that the Sky Hawk will be able to operate from aircraft carriers that are equipped with electromagnetic catapult launch systems. No Chinese carrier yet built uses any kind of catapult system, but the US Navy's new Ford-class carriers have such a system, called EMALS. However, it's speculated that the Chinese People's Liberation Army-Navy may have such a ship in the works, due to a curious image of a Chinese carrier lacking the ski jump used by present PLA-N designs, Sputnik reported.

Back in April, Sputnik reported that the PLA-N was testing drones alongside manned fighter aircraft and even flying manned-unmanned sorties.

"The joint operations of manned military aircraft, like fighter jets, and UAVs is the drone's future," said Shi Wen, the designer of China's Rainbow attack drones, the Global Times reported.

 Sputnik
India Sets December 2021 Deadline for Maiden Manned Space Mission

Sputnik News

17:36 11.01.2019(updated 21:25 11.01.2019)

India today announced an all-new space flight centre as part of its ambitious plans to send humans into space. The country's space agency plans to launch its maiden manned space mission before the end of 2021.

Moving a step closer to achieving its objective of sending humans to space on its own, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) today announced the setting up of a human space flight centre in the southern city of Bengaluru in the state of Karnataka.

India's maiden manned mission, named Gaganyaan, will have a three-member crew. Initial training for the mission is set to be held domestically, but advanced training could be done abroad, perhaps in Russia, ISRO head K Sivan told reporters in an annual press conference at the agency's headquarters in Bengaluru.

"[The] Human Space Program is going to be a major expansion of the ISRO program. This is a major expansion because it is not only launching human into space but a space station. The human programme is a major turning point. We have worked out a new management structure which is called Human Space Flight Centre. This centre will look out all the work related to human space flight program," Sivan said.

Sivan further added that ahead of the manned flight, the agency will send two unmanned flight into space, in December 2020 and July 2021. The agency will send three astronauts to orbit the Earth for three to seven days at 400 km.

"Once we complete this the manned mission will happen in December 2021. The entire team is geared up to achieve this target," Sivan said.

The Indian government has already approved a budget of around $1.4 billion for its ambitious manned spaceflight mission, which, on successful completion, would put India among a select group of countries in the world having reached this landmark  India would become the fourth nation after Russia, the US and China to achieve the feat.

The ISRO has completed the development of th GSLV Mk-lll launch vehicle that has the necessary payload capability to launch a 3-member crew module into low-earth orbit. The space agency has also developed and tested a crew escape system, which is an essential piece of technology for human space travel.

 Sputnik
Remarks by President Trump During Briefing at the Rio Grande Valley U.S.-Mexico Border

January 11, 2019

Rio Grande Valley, Texas

2:51 P.M. CST

January 10, 2019

THE PRESIDENT: So they apprehended people from the Middle East, and they do it all the time. And everybody says, "Well, where are they from?" We're not talking about only Mexico. All over the world, they come in, because it's a weak spot. They make it strong, but the laws have to be strong. And we need  we need security. We need the kind of backup that you want.

And they've asked  by the way, we have lists of things. What they need, more than anything, is the barrier, the wall. Call it whatever you want. Whether it's steel or concrete, you don't care. We need a barrier. And they have done a fantastic job. Never so many apprehensions ever in our history. But, you know, it could be a lot easier. It could be a lot easier for you.

CHIEF ORTIZ: Yes, sir.

THE PRESIDENT: And you could spread your people out to a lot different areas, which would also be very helpful.

CHIEF ORTIZ: And, Mr. President, we have 55 miles of fencing in this sector. We started a job in 2006. We need to finish that job. We've got the personnel. We need the technology, we need the resources, and we need the infrastructure in order to control this border and manage it.

Part of our area is covered with some fencing on our east side. That accounts for about 6 percent of our traffic. Where we have no fencing, over 90 percent of our traffic occurs in those areas.

THE PRESIDENT: Okay, folks? I mean, you don't have to say anymore. That's it. That's it. And we never even spoke before this, right?

CHIEF ORTIZ: No, sir.

THE PRESIDENT: I never told you to say that.

CHIEF ORTIZ: No, sir.

THE PRESIDENT: I should have  except he said it perfectly, all right?

So, look. Look, this is common sense. They need a barrier. They need a wall. If you don't have it, it's going to be nothing but hard work and grueling problems. And, by the way, and death. And death. A lot of death.

I want to thank you. You do a fantastic job.

CHIEF ORTIZ: Thank you, Mr. President. I appreciate that.

THE PRESIDENT: That's really good. Thank you very much.

Q (Inaudible) you saw today and what happened late yesterday, how much closer are you, at this point, to declaring a national emergency?

THE PRESIDENT: Well, we can declare a national emergency. We shouldn't have to. Because this isn't even  this is just common sense. I mean, you were at the last meeting, where we saw people who, like, as you know  Reggie Singh's brother. Reggie, I got to know him a little  got to know today a little bit.

This shouldn't be happening in our country. This shouldn't be happening. And what you see on the border, that's not as much of a problem as they come through the border and they go out throughout our nation. So you'll have crime in Iowa. You'll have crime in New Hampshire. You'll have crime in New York. You'll have crime in places  you know, you don't associate it with the border. But it comes through the border. Tremendous amounts. And as hard as we work, and well as we're doing nationwide on crime, a lot of it is caused by people that come that in through the southern border.

So  and, you know, if we had the barrier, it wouldn't happen. It wouldn't happen. They could have fewer people. They could put people other places, instead of having everyone concentrated right here.

And it's all common sense. And Nancy and Chuck know that. Look, they're not winning this argument. They're losing the argument badly. They know it. And it's not about an argument, and it's not about politics for me. It's about doing the right thing. I mean, I could do a lot easier things. I could just forget this, like everyone else did. This should have been done 30 years ago, and 20 years ago, and 10 years ago, and 5 years ago. I could have done like everyone else, just sort of say, "Hey, forget it."

A lot of the crime in our country is caused by what's coming through here. These people do the most incredible job, and they're not given  they're not given a full hand because they need the barriers. If they don't have the barriers  and you just said it better than anybody could say it: Where we have a good, strong barrier, you don't have problems. Now, the problem is, they go to the barrier, that's it, but now they go around the barrier. So when you fill up the gaps, it's going to be a much different day.

Q Mr. President, are you considering a broader immigration deal? Something that would involve 

THE PRESIDENT: We are. I would like to look at broader. I think we can do this quickly, because this is common sense. And it's not expensive. We will save the cost of the wall every year, but much more than that. Much more than that.

But I would like to do a much broader form of immigration. And we can do immigration reform; it will take longer. It's been complex. It's been going on for 30, 35 years. They've been talking about immigration reform. But we have to  before we do that, we have to create a barrier. That we can do very quickly.

Q Sir, to help the DREAMers, would any sort of broader immigration deal, in your mind 

THE PRESIDENT: Something can be done. We can do that, Phil. We could help the DREAMers. We want to help the DREAMers. I was ready to help the DREAMers, and then we got a decision that the folks representing the DREAMers very strongly  which is us also, if you want to know the truth  but they said, "Well, we don't have to do it anymore." So now it's before the Supreme Court. We'll see what happens. And if the Supreme Court rules against the President Obama decision, which he knew would not hold up  we will have a deal with the DREAMers. We can do it early. But this has to be done soon so we get our folks paid in our country.

Q Sir, you said, in the earlier event with the Border Patrol agents, that you never  when you say Mexico is going to pay for the wall, you never expected that they would write you a check. But during your campaign.

THE PRESIDENT: Of course, I don't expect. When I say Mexico  excuse me. When I say Mexico is going to pay for the wall, do you think they're going to write a check for $20 billion or $20 billion or $5 billion or 2 cents? No. They're paying for the wall in a great trade deal.

You had the worst trade deal anywhere in the world, in NAFTA. We lost thousands of businesses, millions of jobs. Millions of jobs. You go up to New England, you go to Ohio, you go to Pennsylvania  you look at those factories that were wiped out. And now we have a great trade deal, and it will take in. And we will  look, billions and billions of dollars a year will be made now, as opposed to NAFTA, which was a disaster. You know that. Everybody knows that.

Q Mr. President, now that you visited the Rio Grande Valley, do you think any differently now that you've seen these agents (inaudible)?

THE PRESIDENT: Well, I think more impressive than anything are the agents themselves. Look at them. I mean, these people are incredible. (Applause.) We have  we have  you know, you hear about them, and you  when you meet them, it's different. You meet these people. I mean, they're a great group of people. They happen to be very good-looking. I have to say that. (Laughter.) They're good-looking people. They're smart, they're tough. They've got the whole package. And I want to tell you, they are impressive. And I've met a lot of them. I've met  we just left a big room loaded up with Border Patrol and ICE and law enforcement. These are incredible people. They're incredible people. And, you know, there's something different when I meet them here as opposed to seeing you at the White House or seeing you in an office someplace, right? They do an incredible job.

Q The local officials that Senator Cornyn mentioned here on the border, have you met with any of them who disagree with the wall?

THE PRESIDENT: We have. We have. Yeah, we have.

Q Do they disagree with the wall?

THE PRESIDENT: Not anyone that I met with. But most people want it, I think. And I guess there could be some pockets where they maybe disagree a little it, but not very much.

Yeah.

Q What is your timetable on a decision on a national emergency?

THE PRESIDENT: About what?

Q What is your timetable on a decision on whether or not you will declare a national emergency?

THE PRESIDENT: Well, I'm going to see how we do with going through Congress. Don't forget, national emergency is going through Congress because that already went through Congress. That's what it's there for. If you read it, it is so clear, it is so perfect.

I'd rather not do it  not for any particular reason, other than this should be easier to get approved through Congress. Because the same people that are holding it up have approved it many times before. Ted and John. I mean, they  these people approved it just a few years ago. And now, all of a sudden, they're not. The reason they're not is because of me. I hate to say. Because they know they're going to lose in 2020. They'll do anything they can to not lose. They want to win. But it's not going to happen.

Go ahead.

Q Are you going to make any time during your visit today to see the detention facility where parents were separated from their children?

THE PRESIDENT: I don't know what they have planned. I would certainly do that, but I just don't 

Q It's only three blocks away from where you were, but it's 

THE PRESIDENT: I would do it. I would stop there if we could. You'd have to ask the Secret Service. But I would certainly  hi, folks. Thank you. I would certainly stop there. I wouldn't mind. It's not a bad idea, actually. I wouldn't mind, if you want to do that. I wouldn't mind.

Q Mr. President, given the fact that you are holding this position, and Democrats are not moving theirs, realistic 

THE PRESIDENT: Well, I think they are moving theirs. If you read one of your competitors today, they will tell you that the Democrats that are starting to say this is not an argument they can win are some of the very young, very smart Democrats that just got elected to Congress. And I don't know if you saw the same story that I did, but they're saying this is not an argument we're going to win.

This is a commonsense argument. Now, if for any reason we don't get this going, and they're not going to act responsibly, and they don't mind death and crime and all of the problems that they cause by not having a barrier, then you will see what happens with national emergency, which I can do very easily. And there's no question it holds up. And it was approved by Congress because the act itself was approved by Congress.

Q But some Republicans are also not really happy with the strategy. Realistically 

THE PRESIDENT: I think Republicans are very happy. I mean, I have two of the most respected senators right behind me. I will tell you, you have  you always have a few that feel a little bit differently. But I think we're unified. We had a great meeting yesterday. We had 53 people, or close to 53 people. And we used to have 51, and we had a couple that were on the difficult side. We have 53 great senators. I think there's great unity. There's a few that feel, "Well, maybe we can it this way or that way." But basically, I think we have far more unity than the Democrats. You saw  you saw the votes.

Q How long do you think the shutdown will last now, realistic 

THE PRESIDENT: What?

Q Realistically, how long do you think the shutdown is now going to last?

THE PRESIDENT: I don't know. That, I can't tell you. All I can tell you is that I feel very badly for people that have family members that have been killed. That should have never happened. Okay? Those are the people I'm thinking most about.

Q Mr. President, on the DACA wall, a bigger immigration deal, are you saying you would only consider a broader immigration agreement after you get the wall money?

THE PRESIDENT: No, I would do it simultaneously, but I'd like to see them move fast. The nice part about the wall, or the barrier, is I can have that worked out  in 15 minutes we can start construction. We're already building. But now we would be able to carry the construction through. We actually have a fantastic design that's going to be efficient and fast and really, really work well.

Q If you were to declare a national emergency in the next couple of days, how quickly could construction actually begin on the wall? How fast could the army 

THE PRESIDENT: well, I think very quickly. Perhaps, if I read your newspaper, somebody will sue to stop it. But we would win that suit, I believe, very quickly.

Q Are you prepared for that suit? And what would the defense look like?

THE PRESIDENT: I'm prepared for anything.

Q What if the lawyers 

THE PRESIDENT: I'm prepared for  the lawyers tell me, like, 100 percent. That doesn't stop people from suing, you know. If you look at various things where we got sued, and we end up winning recently in the Supreme Court a couple of times.

Go ahead.

Q Sir, if you're considering a broader immigration package, doesn't that lessen the idea that you would use a national emergency? Are you thinking less about a national emergency?

THE PRESIDENT: No, if came to me with a package beyond the barrier, and if it was something that we all agreed with, that the senators agreed with, that everybody liked  it's common sense; most of this is common sense  I'm all for it.

You have some laws and some codes and some things having to do with immigration that are horrible. I don't care if you're liberal or conservative. They're horrible. And if they want to straighten things out and do something with catch and release, which, as you know, is one of the great disasters in immigration of all time. You catch them and then you release them. What kind of stuff is this? If they want to do something with that, it would be all right.

Phil.

Q And, Mr. President, back in Washington, there's some big news about Michael Cohen. He's agreed to testify before the House Democrats next month. What do you think of that? Are you worried about what he might say?

THE PRESIDENT: I'm not worried about it at all. No.

Go ahead.

Q Mr. President, when that rancher talked about his concerns that he's heard about eminent domain, it struck you. Can you tell us how and why, and what you intend to do about it?

THE PRESIDENT: Well, it did strike me. And when I look at him and I look at the family, and I see  but you know, eminent domain is one of those things  and he's actually in favor of it; he wants to do something about it. You know, when you talk about that, you're talking about the fact that he wants to do something about it. He wants to see a wall. There's an example of somebody that's affected, from the standpoint of land, but he wants to see a wall.

So we're going to get this straightened out, hopefully. Hopefully, the Democrats are going to come to their senses, they're going to realize that they don't want people killed, they don't want crime. They want to end it. And that's going to happen.

Go ahead.

Q Mr. President, what are you going to do to stop the (inaudible) caravan that's coming over?

THE PRESIDENT: A caravan is forming right now in Honduras. It's supposed to be bigger than the other caravans. We will handle that as it comes up. If we had a wall, we wouldn't have any problems. But we don't, so we will handle it.

Okay, thank you all very much.

Q Mr. President, any message to the federal workers who won't get paid tomorrow?

THE PRESIDENT: I'm very concerned about people that are being badly injured and killed and family members. And I'm looking  and you know what: A lot of the people that we're talking about in terms of pay, they agree with me. Many of the people that we're talking about, they agree with me. Thank you all very much.

END 3:05 P.M. CST
Legal Debate Rages Over US Presidential 'Emergency Powers'

By VOA News January 11, 2019

U.S. President Donald Trump is considering formally declaring the southern U.S. border a "national emergency," likely clearing the way for him to authorize new funding for a permanent physical barrier.

The move could end a standoff with Congress over funding for the wall, but some legal analysts worry it will set a dangerous precedent for presidents trying to negotiate with Congress.

VOA spoke with John Hudak, Deputy Director of the Center for Effective Public Management at The Brooking Institute, about the legal issues around the president's possible emergency declaration.

QUESTION: What powers does a president have to declare a national emergency? Could he simply order government funds to be used to build a border wall?

So there are really two questions here. First, under the National Emergencies Act, the president has a fairly broad power to declare a national emergency. Now the declaration of that emergency is simply that  a declaration. And according to a pretty firm reading of that law, it's hard to see where there is an exception to the president's ability to do it.

The next part of that, though, involves the powers that the president can exercise under that law and there are obvious limitations on that, constitutional limitations and other limitations within the law that the president can't violate. And unfortunately, or perhaps fortunately, we haven't experienced serious questions about presidential power in this space. So it's really left as an open question right now, in terms of the extent of presidential power that courts will need to sort out.

Q: Could Democrats block this in Congress? Is there any constitutional precedent for presidents simply going around Congress to fund a priority policy item?

So there is, within the law, the ability of Congress to stop a national emergency. It requires both houses of Congress to vote to say that the national emergency is over. Now Democrats can certainly do that alone, in the House. They cannot, however, do it alone in the Senate, it would require several Republican votes.

However, this is the type of exercise of executive power that leaves a lot of Republicans uneasy. And you're already starting to see those conversations among Senate Republicans, saying that if we're all right with President Trump doing this over a border wall, would we also be all right with a Democratic president doing this over climate change or other issues?

And so I think it remains to be seen whether Congress will have the votes to stop presidential action in this area, whether they'll have the political will to do it. But they certainly have the power to stop this type of behavior.

To the second part of your question, you know, presidents have tried to go around Congress in terms of spending money in the past or even moving money around within or across budget lines or accounts in the past.

And frequently presidents are stopped because the spending power in the constitution rests with the Congress and so this creates a real challenge for President Trump if he wants to start moving funds or re-appropriating funds or using funds that are not even appropriated, pushing up against that constitutional protection against that power. So he might have the power to declare a national emergency, but he cannot usurp the Constitution in the exercise of powers during that emergency.

Q: On the politics of the current shutdown, is one side or the other winning? Which sides appears to have an advantage at the moment? How does it end?

Well, it's clear one side is losing and that's the American public, and particularly the hundreds of thousands of federal workers who are not being paid or who are not going to work. In terms of the political actors, you know, the polling that we have suggests that most Americans blame President Trump for the shutdown.

A smaller percentage of Americans blame congressional Democrats and smaller still blame congressional Republicans. I think a lot of Americans look at this skeptically and say, 'What has changed between the beginning of the president's term and now that makes this such a dire emergency?' And I think it leaves a lot of Americans scratching their head. President Trump is playing to his base here, but unfortunately his base is a small percentage of the population. And most of the rest of the population is not with him on this issue of the wall.

Elizabeth Cherneff contributed to this report.
Crisis on Southern Border Worse Than Expected, US Faces 'Invasion' - Trump

Sputnik News

20:09 11.01.2019(updated 20:27 11.01.2019)

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) - US President Donald Trump offered his assessment of what he calls a crisis after visiting the US-Mexican border, saying he found the situation worse than ordinary people can understand, according to a presidential Twitter post on Friday.

"I just got back and it is a far worse situation than almost anyone would understand, an invasion!" Trump tweeted. "The Democrats, Cryin' Chuck [Schumer] and Nancy [Pelosi] don't know how bad and dangerous it is for our ENTIRE COUNTRY."

In his next Tweet, the US president accused the previous administration of failing to build the wall.

The dig against House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer came on day 21 of a partial shutdown of the US federal government in a dispute over whether to build a wall on the US border with Mexico.

Trump is demanding at least $5 billion to construct the wall, while Schumer and Pelosi have refused to provide any funds, resulting in a breakdown of negotiations to reopen the government.

 Sputnik
Trump says ready to declare national emergency as he visits Mexico border

Iran Press TV

Fri Jan 11, 2019 03:05AM

US President Donald Trump has reiterated the idea of announcing a national emergency to build a wall along the Mexican border.

Trump visited the border on Thursday, 20 days into a partial shutdown of the federal government over Democrats' refusal to give him $5.7 billion to begin constructing the controversial barrier.

Speaking to reporters in McAllen, southern Texas, Trump once again said he would use his emergency powers to fund the wall if he could not reach a deal in Congress.

"If this doesn't work out, I'll probably will do it, maybe definitely," he said.

Earlier media reports said that Trump had been mulling the idea of declaring national emergency for a while.

Trump claims that the US is under threat along its southern border, insisting that the nation urgently needs the wall to stop illegal immigration and drug trafficking.

Analysts say the announcement would likely be challenged in court as a case of presidential overreach, in which case the wall still could face being blocked.

However, the announcement would still give Trump political cover with his base by showing he'd done what he could.

At that point, Trump could end the partial government shutdown and declare himself as the winner of the standoff with congressional Democrats.

On Wednesday, Trump invited Democratic leaders to the White House but walked out of the meeting once they rejected his request to fund the wall.

"A total waste of time," Trump tweeted after the meeting. "I said bye-bye, nothing else works!"

Trump cancels Davos trip

Later in the day, the American head of state said he had canceled his scheduled visit later this month to the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, to handle the ongoing shutdown of the government.

"Because of the Democrats intransigence on Border Security and the great importance of Safety for our Nation, I am respectfully cancelling my very important trip to Davos, Switzerland for the World Economic Forum," Trump tweeted.

Former US President Barack Obama would skip the gathering, as well. In his last year in office, Obama sent six of his cabinet secretaries and then-Vice President Joe Biden to Davos.
US military prepares options to build Trump's border wall

Iran Press TV

Fri Jan 11, 2019 01:58PM

The US Defense Department is preparing options to build a wall on the US-Mexico border in the event that President Donald Trump declares a national emergency, the latest sign that such a move is gaining support within the White House.

"The Department of Defense is reviewing available authorities and funding mechanisms to identify options to enable border barrier construction," said US Navy Captain Bill Speaks, a Pentagon spokesman.

"As there has not been such a declaration made, it would be inappropriate to comment further on those efforts," he said.

Trump threatened on Thursday to use emergency powers to bypass Congress to pay for a wall on the country's southern border and end the ongoing partial government shutdown that began on December 22.

Trump's declaration of an emergency at the southern border would allow the US Army Corps of Engineers to design barriers and allow contractors to build them.

Lieutenant General Todd Semonite, who commands the Army Corps of Engineers, accompanied Trump on his trip Thursday to McAllen, Texas, to tour the border, according to the White House.

"If this doesn't work out, probably I will do it  I would almost say definitely," Trump said. "We have plenty of funds if there's a national emergency."

US Vice President Mike Pence said on Capitol Hill on Thursday that Trump is determined to build a wall on the border.

"The president believes he has an absolute right to declare a national emergency," Pence said. "The president is going to get this done one way or the other."

The $5.7 billion Trump seeks would build 234 miles (376 km) of barriers. Democrats have refused to pass a government funding bill that includes building a wall, calling it immoral, ineffective and medieval.

Some Republicans say they oppose diverting money from the Pentagon or any other federal department to pay for the barriers.

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.
Questions still remain about how the school will be populated in its first year whether a class of freshman will break in the school alone or if sophomores, juniors and seniors at other county high schools will transfer in and how the schools districting will be decided, said Anne Arundel County Public Schools spokeswoman Maneka Monk.
Macedonian Opposition Leader Urges Parl't Dissolution After Name Change Approval

Sputnik News

01:02 12.01.2019(updated 01:46 12.01.2019)

BELGRADE (Sputnik) - Hristijan Mickoski, the leader of Macedonia's largest opposition party VMRO-DPMNE, called for the dissolution of the parliament and holding snap elections after the legislature approved constitutional amendments necessary for renaming the country under a deal with Greece.

On Friday, 81 out of 120 members of the parliament supported the amendments needed to rename Macedonia to the Republic of North Macedonia, which is expected to open the way for the country's accession to NATO and the European Union. While some of the VMRO-DPMNE members supported the renaming, others boycotted the vote, leaving Mickoski with 39 mandates in the 120-strong parliament.

"VMRO-DPMNE calls for the immediate dissolution of the parliament and holding the snap [legislative] election alongside the presidential vote [scheduled for April] in line with the law and experience. VMRO-DPMNE will win this election and the will of the majority of the citizens will be implemented," Mickoski said in a statement.

The opposition figure said the approval of the constitutional amendments, backed by 81 Macedonian lawmakers, was not a decision made by the people, adding it harmed the nation.

VMRO-DPMNE believed that the constitutional amendments had been approved in a criminal and illegitimate way with the use of pressure, blackmailing and threats, Mickoski argued.

Athens and Skopje reached the agreement on renaming Macedonia in June. In September, the move was supported by over 91 percent of Macedonians at a referendum. However, the turnout at the plebiscite was 37 percent with the required threshold of 50 percent.

Macedonia gained independence from Yugoslavia in 1991. Athens has been in dispute with the country over its name, claiming that Macedonia might have territorial claims over Greece's own region of the same name. Moreover, Athens has been blocking Skopje's NATO and EU ambitions over the lack of agreement on the issue.

 Sputnik
Uganda Not Worried China Will Seize Assets Over Rising Debt

By Halima Athumani January 11, 2019

Uganda's growing debt is sustainable, and the country is not at risk of losing state assets to China, the country's finance minister, Matia Kasaija, said this week.

Uganda's auditor-general warned in a report released this month that public debt from June 2017 to 2018 had increased from $9.1 billion to $11.1 billion.

The report  without naming China  warned that conditions placed on major loans were a threat to Uganda's sovereign assets.

It said that in some loans, Uganda had agreed to waive sovereignty over properties if it defaults on the debt  a possibility that Kasaija rejected.

"China taking over assets?  in Uganda, I have told you, as long as some of us are still in charge, unless there is really a catastrophe, and which I don't see at all, that will make this economy going behind. So, ... I'm not worried about China taking assets. They can do it elsewhere, I don't know. But here, I don't think it will come," he said.

China is one of Uganda's biggest country-lenders, with about $3 billion in development projects through state-owned banks.

China's Exim Bank has funded about 85 percent of two major Ugandan power projects  Karuma and Isimba dams. It also financed and built Kampala's $476 million Entebbe Express Highway to the airport, which cuts driving time by more than half. China's National Offshore Oil Corporation, France's Total, and Britain's Tullow Oil co-own Uganda's western oil fields, set to be tapped by 2021.

Economist Fred Muhumuza says China's foot in Uganda's oil could be one way it decides to take back what is owed.

"They might determine the price, as part of recovering their loan," he said. "By having a foot in there they will say fine, we are going to pay you for oil. But instead of giving you $60 a barrel, you owe us. We'll give you $55. The $5 you are paying the old debt. But we are reaching a level where you don't see this oil being an answer to the current debt problem."

China's reach

Uganda's worries about China seizing national assets are not the first in Africa.

A leaked December report in Kenya showed China was promised parts of Mombasa Port as collateral for financing a $3 billion railway it built from the port to Nairobi. Both Chinese and Kenyan officials have denied that the port's ownership is at risk.

Reports in September that China was taking over Zambia's state power company over unpaid debt rippled across Africa, despite government denials.

But the fear of a Chinese takeover of a sovereign state's assets over debt is not completely without merit. Struggling to pay back loans to state-owned Chinese firms, Sri Lanka in 2017 handed over a strategic port.
Congo's Fayulu to Challenge Election Results in High Court

By VOA News January 11, 2019

Congolese presidential candidate Martin Fayulu plans to demand a recount of election results that showed him losing to fellow opposition leader Felix Tshisekedi.

Speaking Friday by phone to Eddy Isango of VOA's French to Africa service, Fayulu said he will go to the Constitutional Court on Saturday and ask judges to order the recount.

"We ask for a manual recount, polling station by polling station, before the CENI, before the African Union, before the United Nations, and in front of everyone else ... so that everyone can see what the Congolese people achieved on December 30, 2018," Fayulu said.

The commission said Thursday that Tshisekedi, the son of a longtime opposition leader, won the presidential election by more than 600,000 votes over Fayulu.

However, Fayulu's campaign says it has tallies showing he won the election with 61 percent of the vote.

The Catholic Church and foreign diplomats have also questioned the outcome of the poll. The church said Thursday that the official figures do not correspond to vote tallies collected by its 40,000 election observers around the country.

UN Security Council discusses vote

VOA United Nations correspondent Margaret Besheer reports the U.N. Security Council held a meeting in New York Friday to discuss the Congolese election.

The head of the election commission, Corneille Nangaa, told the council via satellite that Congo has two options: accept the results or nullify the election. He said if the vote is nullified, the country would not have a new president until new elections are organized.

Current President Joseph Kabila has already remained in office two years past the end of his mandate. He was set to step down this month after 18 years in power, once a new president was elected.

In the election, Kabila backed his former interior minister, Emmanuel Shadary, who finished a distant third. Supporters of Fayulu  a businessman backed by a coalition of opposition parties  have accused Kabila of making a deal with the electoral commission to deny their candidate the presidency, and in order to retain influence in the next administration.

The U.S. State Department said Thursday that it is important that President Kabila sticks to his decision to abide by term limits and transfer power to a successor. The statement from deputy spokesman Robert Palladino said the U.S. is awaiting "clarification of questions which have been raised regarding the electoral count."

The Democratic Republic of Congo has never experienced a peaceful transfer of power since winning independence from Belgium in 1960.

Eddy Isango of VOA's French to Africa Service and VOA correspondent Margaret Besheer contributed to this story.
US Begins Pulling Troops Out of Syria

By VOA News January 11, 2019

The U.S.-led coalition in Syria is beginning to remove troops from the country.

The coalition "has begun the process of our deliberate withdrawal from Syria," said Colonel Sean Ryan, a spokesman for the U.S. coalition fighting the Islamic State terror group. "Out of concern for operational security, we will not discuss specific timelines, locations or troop movements."

There are roughly 2,000 U.S. military personnel in Syria.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights is reporting that the withdrawal began late Thursday, when about 10 armored vehicles and other equipment pulled out from a U.S. base in Rmeilan in Hassakeh province. The group also is reporting there were coalition reinforcements that arrived at different bases Thursday, which is consistent with what VOA has learned from a source.

U.S. National Security Adviser John Bolton said on Friday in a radio interview that talks between the U.S. military and its Turkish counterparts regarding the Kurds fighting the Islamic State in Syria will continue next week in an effort to reach an agreement both countries accept. Earlier this week, Bolton's calls for the protection of the YPG Syrian Kurdish militia as a pre-condition to a U.S. troop withdrawal from Syria angered Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, causing the president to refuse to meet with the U.S. official.

The YPG is a crucial ally in Washington's war against Islamic State, but Ankara considers it to be a terrorist group linked to an insurgency inside Turkey.

Bolton said in the interview that he, President Donald Trump, and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo understood Turkey had committed "not to harm the Kurds who had fought with us against ISIS."

"What we're still pursuing in these military-to-military conversations are assurances and protocols and procedures so that everybody feels comfortable with how this is going to happen. And we're hoping those discussions, which will continue next week, will produce results that are acceptable on both sides," Bolton said.

Erdogan also warned that preparations were complete for a military operation against the YPG.

"We will very soon mobilize to eliminate the terrorist organization in Syria," he said.

"If there are other terrorists who would attempt to intervene in our intervention then it is our duty to eliminate them as well," Erdogan added. Turkish forces have been massing for weeks along the Syrian border.

Meanwhile, Russia claimed earlier this week it had started doing military patrols in Manbij, tweeting out video, although sources say the Russians likely are not in Manbij proper.

VOA National Security Correspondent Jeff Seldin contributed to this story.
US Exit from Syria Starts with Equipment, Not Troops

By Jeff Seldin January 11, 2019

The United States' withdrawal from Syria is getting under way but, at least for now, it does not involve some 2,000 U.S. troops on the ground, who are aiding in the fight against the Islamic State terror group.

"Equipment, not troops," a defense official told VOA on Friday, describing the initial stages of the pullout.

The Pentagon first gave word of the start of the withdrawal late Thursday. In a statement, it said the U.S.-led Operation Inherent Resolve "has begun the process of our deliberate withdrawal from Syria."

"Out of concern for operational security, we will not discuss specific timelines, locations or troops movements," the statement added.

Witnesses on the ground told the British-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights they saw 10 armored vehicles, and other equipment, roll out from a U.S. base in Rmeilan in Hassakeh province and head toward neighboring Iraq.

But shortly after, other witnesses on the ground in Syria reported seeing an influx of Western troops and equipment to parts of Aleppo province in northern Syria.

As part of the influx, they described seeing "a column of about 150 vehicles carrying armored vehicles, military, and logistical equipment," the observatory said.

The reports could not be independently confirmed. But another source close to Kurdish military officials in Syria told VOA it appeared the U.S. military is in the process of relocating equipment and personnel within Syria.

No troop timeline

The U.S. decision to withdraw its forces from Syria, first announced by President Donald Trump last month, has caused confusion among U.S. allies and partners in the fight against Islamic State militants.

Initial indications from the White House were that U.S. forces would be withdrawn from Syria in 30 days. But that time frame has since been extended several times.

Most recently, both the Pentagon and U.S. National Security Adviser John Bolton have said there is no deadline for U.S. troops in Syria to return home.

"OIR [Operation Inherent Resolve] has an approved framework for the withdrawal of forces from Syria, and is now engaged in executing that withdrawal," Pentagon spokesman Commander Sean Robertson said earlier this week. "That framework is conditions-based and will not subject troop withdrawal to an arbitrary timeline."

"The framework will be influenced by a number of factors, including weather," he added.

Safety of Kurdish fighters

The U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) are still fighting the last remnants of the Islamic State's self-declared caliphate in Syria, having pushed IS fighters out of their strong-hold of Hajin, in Syria's Middle Euphrates River valley, and liberating other nearby towns in the past couple of weeks.

But even as the SDF advance, there are growing concerns about their safety. Much of the force is made up of Kurdish fighters, who are also part of the Syrian Kurdish People's Protection Units or YPG, which has been linked to the PKK, a Kurdish terror group that has waged a decades-long insurgency in southeastern Turkey.

Turkey's Defense Minister Hulusi Akar visited Turkish troops along the Syrian border Friday, and vowed to eliminate the Kurdish forces in Syria.

"When the time and place comes, the terrorists here will be buried in the ditches they have dug, as was done in previous operations," Akar told the Turkish troops.

"Important preparations and planning have been made in connection with this," he added. "Our preparations are continuing intensively."

But Bolton said Friday during a radio interview that talks are ongoing between the U.S. military and Turkey regarding the Kurdish forces that have battled IS.

"What we're still pursuing in these military-to-military conversations are assurances and protocols and procedures so that everybody feels comfortable with how this is going to happen," Bolton said. "We're hoping those discussions, which will continue next week, will produce results that are acceptable on both sides."

Earlier this week, Bolton called security assurances for the U.S.-backed Kurdish forces a necessary condition for the withdrawal of U.S. forces from Syria. The comments angered Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who then refused to meet with Bolton during a visit to Turkey.
DR Congo: days ahead 'critical' to 'historic election process' Security Council hears

11 January 2019 - With millions in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) demonstrating "their commitment to the political process", the days ahead are "critical" to what has been an "historic election process", the top UN official in the country told the Security Council on Friday.

Leila Zerrougui, Special Representative and head of the UN Stabilization Mission (MONUSCO), said that Congolese voters had shown "impressive maturity" and patience during the presidential poll, which finally took place on 30 December, two years later than originally planned.

"We must, therefore, show our collective solidarity with them, as the electoral process is finalized, and as the Democratic Republic of the Congo prepares to undertake the first peaceful transfer of power in the country's history", Ms. Zerrougui said via video conference.

The provisional election result declared Felix Tshisekedi the winner on Wednesday, but another leading opposition candidate, Martin Fayulu  who heads the Lamuka coalition - has now formally challenged the vote in court, accusing the authorities of electoral fraud. This opposition to the vote, said Ms. Zerrougi, had the potential "to provoke disorder throughout the country".

According to Ms. Zerrougui, all national and international observation missions, as well as MONUSCO teams deployed on the ground, reported that despite technical, logistical and security problems, citizens had not been hindered in exercising their right to vote, adding that the delayed publication of results, had not led to any breakdown in public order.

She told the Council that reactions to CENI's announcement had been "swift and varied", and welcomed Mr. Tshisekedi, who vowed to be a president "for all Congolese".

'Supreme sense of responsibility' must prevail

Ms. Zerrougui told Council members there had been some "serious security incidents", including violent protests in Kwilu province that have reportedly left at least twelve dead. She said that MONUSCO teams were being deployed there to determine the facts and "engage with a view to de-escalating tension".

Injuries, arrests and unverified deaths were also reported in Kisangani, the country's third largest city, and several locations in Kasai province. Meanwhile a "tense situation" also prevails in several Kinshasa communes.

"I deplore all such acts of violence, and appeal to the Congolese people and security forces alike to exercise calm and restraint in this critical period", she underscored.

With the final results expected to be announced within a week, she said she would "continue to discharge my good offices, engaging with all Congolese stakeholders, to reinforce the need for calm and recourse to established judicial proceedures and to emphasize that a supreme sense of responsibility must prevail through the days ahead."

'Overriding goals' reached by Congolese people: CENI

Also via video link, Corneille Nangaa, President of the Independent National Electoral Commission (CENI), spoke at length of the tremendous difficulties throw up by the long process towards polling day and beyond, adding that "there was not a single decision that was not challenged".

Notwithstanding the significant snags, 40 million voters were successfully registered, and the election took place amid relative calm.

He underscored that "three overriding goals" had been achieved by the Congolese people: a refusal to accept changes to the constitution; resisting the desire for a third term the current Head of State, Joseph Kabila, who has ruled for 18 years; and that for the first time in nearly 60 years, there would now be a transfer of power at the highest level.

Mr. Nangaa paid tribute to 32 CENI staff who gave their lives in service to the democratic process, concluding that CENI "has done what it was able to do."

Speaking in the chamber on behalf of the African Union (AU), Fatima Kyari Mohammed informed the Council that while there had been as many as 75,000 polling stations and the AU was only able to dispatch an election mission to a limited number, reports from there had been positive.

She elaborated that the polls opened on time; all materials were available; polls were carried out in a calm and peaceful atmosphere; candidate representatives were present; and the election was conducted within the legal framework.

Joseph Malanji, Foreign Minister of Zambia, enumerated some of the "historical challenges" that the election process had thrown up, including a warehouse fire just days before the poll that destroyed thousands of voting machines, an Ebola outbreak in the east, and continuing violence.

Notwithstanding these hurdles, he made clear that the elections were managed in a "peaceful and calm atmosphere."

Bishop urges 'path of true peace'

In contrast, Bishop Otembi of the Catholic Bishops' National Episcopal Conference of the Congo (CENCO) said that their analysis of the presidential election did not correspond to the CENI-announced results.

Church authorities, which play a powerful role in Congolese society, deployed around 40,000 monitors for the 30 December vote.

The bishop called for the Security Council to express its solidarity with the Congolese people, and invited the UN body to request the publication of official notes from each polling station, so that the tallies and data could be compared with those of CENI, to remove all doubt.

He urged the Council to invite the parties in the potentially fraught days ahead, to favour "the path of truth and peace".
US Starts Withdrawal of Military Hardware From Syria 'for Security Reasons'

Sputnik News

09:21 11.01.2019(updated 12:18 11.01.2019)

On 19 December, President Donald Trump declared victory over Daesh* terrorists in Syria and announced his decision to withdraw roughly 2,000 US troops from the Middle Eastern country.

A US defence official stated on Friday that the American military had removed some military hardware from Syria amid reports that the withdrawal is under way.

"I can confirm the movement of equipment from Syria. For security reasons, I am not going to provide further details at this time", the official was quoted by AFP news agency as saying.

The remarks came after CNN cited a Trump administration official familiar with the situation as saying that "some [US] cargo has already moved" from Syria.

Meanwhile, the US-led coalition has reportedly said that they had "begun the process" of "deliberate withdrawal from Syria" but that they would not "discuss specific timelines, locations or troops movements" in Syria pullout.

The reported developments followed a report published by London-based news website Middle East Eye about US National Security Adviser John Bolton's proposal to withdraw American troops from a position near the Iraqi and Jordanian border, which is seen as a bulwark against alleged Iranian entrenchment in Syria.

The Middle East Eye quoted an unnamed Turkish official as saying that Bolton handed the document to Turkish officials and visited Ankara earlier this week to discuss the planned US troop withdrawal. US officials did not comment on the report.

Earlier, Bolton reportedly told Turkish officials that President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's recent article on the US troop pullout was wrong and offensive.

In a think piece published by The New York Times on 7 January, Erdogan described Trump's move to withdraw US forces from Syria as "the right call", but noted that the pullout must be planned "carefully".

Previously, Erdogan, while commenting on Bolton's statement pertaining to a possible Turkish operation against Kurdish forces, criticised him by saying that Turkey could never compromise on the issue of the Kurdish YPG militia, as, according to the president, they had never actually fought against Daesh.

The developments came after US President Donald Trump tweeted that his move to withdraw American troops from Syria was right, and that the US military will be returning home "with victory" over Daesh.

On 19 December, the White House announced plans to withdraw roughly 2,000 US troops from Syria within the next several months, a move that Trump claimed can be explained by the fact that American forces had implemented their task of obliterating Daesh in the Arab country.

The decision was slammed by some US officials and prompted two resignations: US Secretary of Defence Jim Mattis, who announced that his views were no longer aligned with Trump's, and Brett McGurk, special presidential envoy for the US coalition in Syria.

*Daesh (ISIL/ISIS/Islamic State), a terrorist group banned in Russia

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European Army 'Already Taking Shape'  German Defence Minister

Sputnik News

14:06 11.01.2019(updated 14:08 11.01.2019)

In early November 2018, French President Emmanuel Macron called for the creation of what he touted as a "true European army" which he said would protect the interests of the bloc. The proposal was supported by German Chancellor Angela Merkel but criticised by British Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson.

German Defence Minister Ursula von der Leyen has claimed that a European army is "already taking shape", adding that Germany and France remain the "driving forces" of the continent's defence.

"Reforms over the past months and years have brought our armed forces closer together. We're working quickly," Minister von der Leyen pointed out in her article published by German newspaper Handelsblatt.

In the article, she also upheld the idea of the EU's Permanent Structured Cooperation (PESCO) defence scheme, which stipulates the bloc's national armies cooperating on joint military projects. PESCO was first mentioned in the Lisbon Treaty of 13 December, 2007.

Additionally, von der Leyen responded to an article by former German Economics Minister Wolfgang Clement on European defence by insisting that reforms should bring national armies closer together.

"We are making good progress. Despite Brexit, and the controversial debates us Europeans have among ourselves, Europe remains a unique creation, uniting half a billion citizens in the name of freedom and prosperity. This community needs to be able to defend itself," von der Leyen underscored.

Her remarks came after French President Emmanuel Macron called for the creation of what he described as a "true European army" which he said should be aimed at protecting the interests of the bloc from China, Russia and the US. The proposal was supported by German Chancellor Angela Merkel but rejected by British Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson, who claimed that any force which rivalled NATO would undermine international security.

He slammed the project as "crazy and dangerous", pledging that Britain would "never" be part of it.

US President Donald Trump, for his part, slammed Macron's proposal as "very insulting", noting via his Twitter account on 10 November that "perhaps Europe should first pay its fair share of NATO, which the US subsidises greatly".

Trump has repeatedly urged all NATO members to contribute a minimum of two per cent of their GDP on military spending, as the military bloc advises.

On 11 December 2017, European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker praised the first operational steps taken by EU member states to "lay the foundations of a European Defence Union," stressing that the bloc's security "cannot be outsourced".

The EU's Permanent Structured Cooperation (PESCO) would allow EU member states to enhance their armed forces, collaborate on projects in the military sphere and jointly boost their defence capabilities.

 Sputnik
New Georgian President Says Time Not Right to Mend Diplomatic Ties With Russia

Sputnik News

18:54 11.01.2019

TBILISI (Sputnik) - Georgia's newly-elected President Salome Zourabichvili said Friday conditions were not right for restoring diplomatic ties with Russia after they broke off over a decade ago.

"I do not see prerequisites for resuming diplomatic relations or other types of dialogue [with Russia]. I think it is impossible without involvement and approval of our main partners," she told reporters.

Zourabichvili, the first woman to lead the Caucasus nation, stressed she did not know how things would turn out in the long run, adding much could change during her six-year term.

READ MORE: Swearing In: First Female President of Georgia Takes the Reins

Diplomatic relations between Georgia and Russia were severed in 2008, shortly after Moscow recognized the independence of Georgia's two breakaway regions, Abkhazia and South Ossetia.

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Arctic May Heat Up as US Mulls Sending Warships to Area Amid Russia Tensions

Sputnik News

19:00 11.01.2019

Earlier, Russian Northern Fleet Commander Nikolai Evmenov warned that the potential for conflict between Russia and the NATO alliance was growing as powers wrangle for control over resources and shipping lanes in the Arctic region.

The US could deploy warships to the Arctic this summer as shipping lanes cleared from ice open up and become navigable, Navy Secretary Richard Spencer has indicated.

"This summer, [chief of naval operations John Richardson] and I have talked about having some ships make the transit in the Arctic. It's going to be a multi-service task  I think you'll see the Coast Guard involved," Spencer said, speaking at an event at the Center for a New American Security, a Washington, D.C.-based think tank.

No concrete plans have been set at this stage, according to the admiral. "We're just fleshing it out right now. But what is the purpose of that? We have to learn what it's like to operate in that environment," he said.

The US regularly deploys submarines and Navy patrol aircraft to the Arctic, but has generally limited the deployment of warships, many of which are not equipped with sufficient de-icing capabilities. However, last October, a US carrier group led by the USS Harry S. Truman became the first US aircraft carrier to cross the Arctic Circle since the Cold War as it joined the massive NATO Trident Juncture drills in Norway.

The Navy is also exploring an expanded permanent presence in the region, particularly in Alaska, Admiral Spencer said. "A strategic port up in the Bering [Sea] area is being explored, but that would be a whole-of-government approach: that would be Coast Guard, Navy and Commerce in that regard. But it's an area we have to focus on, most definitely," he noted.

As far as the Russian Navy's efforts and capabilities in the Arctic were concerned, Spencer stressed that "freedom of navigation should be plied up there" in the Arctic area shipping lanes. "We're going to try to do it. We're going to learn our way," he said.

The Russian defence ministry is well abreast of US ambitions in the Arctic. Last month, Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu said that the reactivation of the US 2nd Fleet was aimed directly at expanding Washington's military power in the Arctic. In response, Russia has resumed regular air patrols by long-range anti-submarine warfare and bomber aircraft in the region, and is beefing up its own military potential along its long Arctic borders.

In November, perhaps in anticipation of a NATO bid to challenge Russian control of the North Sea Route, a shipping lane running along the Russian Arctic coast, the Russian defence ministry announced that starting in 2019, foreign warships will only be able to sail along the route after notifying Russian authorities.

Last month, Russian Northern Fleet Commander Admiral Nikolai Evmenov said that he expected a "further increase in the scale of the military presence of NATO combined forces in the Arctic region in the near future," adding that this would lead to a growth in the potential for conflict in the region. According to Evmenov, the Arctic is quickly turning into "one of the world's hydrocarbon production centres, and a powerful hub for international transport communications." This, he said, attracts various international actors who may seek to threaten Russia's national interests.

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Floridas officials are already setting their sights on algae.

Newly sworn-in Governor Ron DeSantis signed an executive order Thursday in Bonita Springs to address the states environmental crisis.

I think the people of Florida wanted to see action, and this is action that was requested regardless of your party I think this is something that can unite all Floridians, he said before signing Executive Order 19-12, which aims to secure $2.5 billion over the next four years for the protection of water resources.

The order, titled Achieving More Now For Floridas Environment, also established several new departments and one official position.

DeSantis announced that they will appoint a chief science officer.

So were doing sound science, making sure that were getting ahead of the curve on as many of these issues as possible, he said.

The order also created the Office of Environmental Accountability and Transparency, the Office of Resiliency and Coastal Protection, and a Blue-Green Algae Task Force.

This task force should support key funding and restoration initiatives to expedite nutrient reductions in Lake Okeechobee and the downstream estuaries, the order reads.

It also seeks to update and secure all restoration plans, within one year, for waterbodies impacting South Florida communities.

Lee County Commissioner Brian Hamman said hes impressed to see the governor take action on this issue so quickly after being sworn in on Tuesday.

The additional funding is extremely good for Lee County. Until we have the money to actually build the projects that need to be built, its all talk. Putting the extra money to expedite construction of projects that will redirect the flow of water is probably the most significant part of the order that will help Lee County out, he said.

The biggest project that I think is called out in the executive order that will benefit Lee County is the C-43 reservoir, and the fact that the executive order is asking for a water treatment component to be developed along with that.

C-43 is the Army Corps of Engineers name for the Caloosahatchee River. The full name of the project is the Caloosahatchee River (C-43) West Basin Storage Reservoir. According to the South Florida Water Management web site, The above ground Caloosahatchee River (C-43) West Basin Storage Reservoir, located in Hendry County, will capture and store stormwater runoff from the C-43 basin and regulatory water releases from Lake Okeechobee, reducing lake discharges reaching the estuary.

The reservoir would store excess flows and allow them to be released at times that are more beneficial for the estuary.

If we can keep that project funded, keep that project on track, and make sure the water that ultimately is released from that reservoir is clean, I think those are very important things that were at least contemplated in this executive order, he said.

Its very important to understand that between now and next summer, theyre not going to have any new projects that will be built. These projects are so massive theyre pieces of infrastructure that will take years to design, permit, and construct, Hamman said.

Theres no guarantee we will have algae next summer, but we need to plan for it and prepare for it like we will. We need to all be ready to handle it. So I was excited to see that in this Task Force they used the word now, that theyre going to be thinking of ways to prepare for the next wet seasons algae blooms.

Meanwhile,in Washington Wednesday, Congressman Francis Rooney introduced an amendment to the Stafford Act that could do that.

The amendment to the act that governs disaster response would officially list algal blooms as a natural disaster, allowing FEMA to provide aid in the event of another major algae crisis.

We must make every effort possible to mitigate harmful effects of red tide and toxic algae and we must also take the steps necessary to eliminate the root causes of these outbreaks our water quality. I will continue to fight for the resources we need to fix our water, Rooney said in a prepared statement.
US Starts Pulling Out Equipment, But Not Troops From Syria - Defence Official

Sputnik News

19:36 11.01.2019(updated 20:00 11.01.2019)

The US has started withdrawing non-essential equipment from Syria, though military personnel remains deployed in the country, an anonymous source told AFP news agency.

"We are not withdrawing troops at this stage," the official said.

Earlier in the day, a US defence official said that the US had removed some military hardware from Syria.

On 19 December, the White House announced plans to withdraw roughly 2,000 US troops from Syria within the next several months, a move that Trump claimed can be explained by the fact that American forces had implemented their task of obliterating Daesh* in the Arab country.

The decision was slammed by some US officials and prompted two resignations: US Secretary of Defence Jim Mattis, who announced that his views were no longer aligned with Trump's, and Brett McGurk, special presidential envoy for the US coalition in Syria.

*Daesh (ISIL/ISIS/Islamic State), a terrorist group banned in Russia

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Macedonian Parl't Approves Country's Name Change to Republic of North Macedonia

Sputnik News

20:47 11.01.2019(updated 21:14 11.01.2019)

The name dispute between Greece and Macedonia has been souring bilateral relations for years, with Athens opposing the use of "Macedonia," which is also the name of a region in Greece.

Debates on the new legislation started on Wednesday and continued through Thursday. The final vote was postponed several times due to the lack of the 80 votes needed for the amendments to pass.

"Eighty-one people voted in favor, all four amendments to the constitution have been adopted," Parliament Speaker Talat Xhaferi said in a televised broadcast.

Meanwhile, lawmakers from opposition VMRO-DPMNE party boycotted the vote and held protest rallies outside the parliament building in Skopje.

Last summer, Athens and Skopje signed an agreement on changing Macedonia's name. In Autumn, Macedonian Parliament passed constitutional amendments to change the name of the country with a total of 80 lawmakers out of 120 voted in favor of the name change.

The new name allows the Balkan state to join NATO and the European Union, the process that Greece has been blocking over fears that the former Yugoslav republic might try to claim its region under the same name.

 Sputnik
Fresh Corruption Charges Filed Against Kyrgyz Ex-PM

By RFE/RL's Kyrgyz Service January 11, 2019

BISHKEK -- Kyrgyzstan's former prime minister, who was arrested in 2018 on corruption charges linked to the modernization of a Bishkek power plant, is facing additional charges in another corruption case.

The State Committee for National Security (UKMK) said on January 10 that Sapar Isakov had been charged with corruption that led to serious financial losses in connection with the reconstruction of the Kyrgyz State Museum of History in Bishkek.

UKMK has charged that Isakov illegally interfered in the reconstruction project in 2016, leading a Turkish company involved in the repair work to cancel its agreement with the Kyrgyz government.

The cancellation resulted in additional expenses for Kyrgyzstan's budget.

Earlier this week, UKMK said investigations into the Bishkek power-plant corruption case had been completed.

That case stems back to 2013, when Isakov was implementing a project to modernize the Bishkek thermal power station.

At the time, Isakov was the deputy head of the administration of then-President Almazbek Atambaev.

Isakov is accused of using his position to lobby for a Chinese company during the tender for the contract to modernize the power plant.

The Chinese company TBEA was eventually awarded the contract.

Criminal proceedings in the case against Isakov were launched after an accident at the Bishkek power station in January 2018 left thousands of local households without heat for several days.

The 41-year-old Isakov is considered to be a close associate of Atambaev.

Pressure on Isakov and several other former officials has increased amid ongoing tensions between President Sooronbai Jeenbekov and Atambaev.

Atambaev had backed Jeenbekov in Kyrgyzstan's October 2017 presidential election, but has criticized Jeenbekov in recent months.

Another of Atambaev's close allies, former Prime Minister Jantoro Satybaldiev, was also arrested in 2018 on corruption charges.

In late December, former customs chief Adamkul Junusov was extradited from Azerbaijan to Bishkek on charges of abusing his power during Atambaev's 2013-15 presidency.

In October, Atambaev's former adviser, Ikramjan Ilmiyanov, was detained in Russia and brought by Kyrgyz authorities to Bishkek, where he faces corruption charges.

Meanwhile, Kyrgyz lawmakers and other politicians are increasingly calling for an investigation into decisions made by Atambaev during his presidency.

The Supreme Court ruled in October that the immunity provided to the country's former presidents is unconstitutional.

On November 27, a parliamentary committee outlined a bill that would eliminate immunity for former presidents.

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/fresh- corruption-charges-filed-against- kyrgyz-ex-pm/29703810.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.
Macedonia Renames Itself, Opens Doors To EU And NATO

By RFE/RL January 11, 2019

Macedonia's parliament has approved a constitutional amendment that renames the country the Republic of North Macedonia.

Eighty-one deputies in the 120-seat parliament voted in favor, securing the required two-thirds majority. Representatives of the opposition VMRO-DPMNE boycotted the vote that took place on January 11.

The name change will help resolve a decades-long dispute with neighboring Greece -- opening the way for Skopje to join NATO and the European Union.

At the start of the parliamentary session, Prime Minister Zoran Zaev told lawmakers the name change would "open the doors to the future, Macedonia's European future."

Several hundred people have protested against the deal in front of parliament over the past three days.

The vote came after three days of negotiations between Zaev and lawmakers that opposed the change.

Zaev's governing coalition needed opposition backing to get the required number of votes and had said on January 10 that it was struggling to achieve that after a small ethnic Albanian party raised last-minute objections.

Talks between government and opposition lawmakers continued for a second day on January 11 following repeated delays in the vote.

The governments of Macedonia and Greece both struggled to secure the political support required to ratify the agreement reached last June in the border region of Prespes.

Opponents to the proposal say they are defending Macedonia's name, identity, and history, as well as the traditions of the Macedonian people, against what they call "the greatest national treachery."

Athens argues that use of the term "Macedonia" implies territorial claims on Greece's northern province of the same name and on its ancient heritage.

For the deal to come into effect, Greece's parliament must now convene in the coming weeks to ratify it.

The office of Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras said in a statement that "the prime minister congratulated Mr. Zaev on the successful conclusion of the process to revise the constitution of the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia."

Tsipras said earlier this week that Greece's parliament would also be asked to ratify the agreement by the end of the month.

"Within 10 days, in any case as soon as the [Macedonian parliamentary vote] result is notified to us and if we see that everything is in order, we will vote [to approve] the Prespes Agreement," he told Open TV.

EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini and Enlargement Commissioner Johannes Hahn welcomed the Macedonian parliament's approval of the constitutional changes, describing it as "a crucial step in implementing the historic" deal with Greece.

"Political leaders and citizens alike have shown their determination to seize this unique and historic opportunity in solving one of the oldest disputes in the region, and decisively move forward on the European Union path," they said in a joint statement.

"The EU strongly supports this agreement which sets an example of reconciliation for the region and Europe as a whole," the statement said, adding that the EU is "awaiting the completion of the next steps leading to the full implementation" of the deal between Skopje and Athens.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who is on a working visit to Athens, has expressed strong support for the agreement.

With reporting by AP, Reuters, dpa, and AFP

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/macedonia- lawmakers-set-again-to-debate-name-change- amid-uncertainty/29702996.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.
Japanese FM To Visit Moscow For Talks On Disputed Islands

By RFE/RL January 11, 2019

Russia's Foreign Ministry says Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Kono plans to visit Moscow next week for talks with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on the four Pacific islands that have been disputed since World War II.

"The first round of Russian-Japanese consultations on the conclusion of a peace treaty between the two countries will be held in Moscow on January 14," Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova told reporters on January 11.

The visit comes after Russia accused Japan this week of whipping up tensions before an expected meeting between President Vladimir Putin and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.

Moscow and Tokyo never signed a peace treaty after World War II due to the territorial dispute over the Pacific island chain, which was occupied by Soviet forces in the final days of the war.

Russia refers to the islands as the Southern Kuriles and Japan calls them the Northern Territories.

Soviet forces seized the islands at the end of the war, and Russia continues to occupy and administer the territory, although it has allowed some visits by former Japanese residents and family members in recent years.

Zakharova blamed Japanese media for "playing a significant role in creating a strange information atmosphere that precedes the beginning of a negotiation process."

Earlier this week, Russia's Foreign Ministry said it had summoned Japanese Ambassador Toyohisa Kozuki and told him recent statements by Tokyo represented an apparent attempt to "artificially incite the atmosphere regarding the peace-treaty problem and try to enforce its own scenario of settling the issue."

The ministry cited Tokyo's remarks about the need to prepare island residents for a return of the chain to Japan and about dropping demands for Moscow to pay compensation to former Japanese residents of the islands. It also took issue with Abe's comments that 2019 would see a breakthrough in the negotiations.

Putin and Abe last met in November and agreed to accelerate talks to formally end World War II hostilities.

Based on reporting by AFP and Interfax

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/japanese-f m-to-visit-moscow-for-talks-on-dispute -islands/29704866.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.
Central African Republic open to Russian military base

Iran Press TV

Fri Jan 11, 2019 06:25AM

Moscow is considering the establishment of a military base in the Central African Republic (CAR), where Russian forces are already training local troops as part of a deal with Bangui.

Central African Republic Defense Minister Marie-Noelle Koyara told Russia's RIA Novosti news agency that the establishment of a Russian military base is possible under an agreement signed in August between Moscow and Bangui.

"We have not yet spoken about the concrete development of the base, but such a possibility is not excluded in the framework agreement," Koyara said.

"If the presidents, as supreme commanders and leaders of the nation, decide to deploy the base, then our countries will carry it out," she added.

She further explained that authorities and armed groups of the Central African Republic are ready for a meeting to discuss the move under the auspices of the African Union.

"Armed groups are ready for a meeting, we are ready for a meeting, all interested parties are ready for a meeting, and now we are waiting for the response from the African Union as a coordinator, when and where it should take place."

"Our population perceives Russia very well. When the talk is about Russia, people understand that this is a full-fledged partner that may change the country's future. And it is this human support, so to speak from the masses, that suggests that the word 'partner' is fully applicable to Russia," Koyara added.

She said an army training center had already been established in the country with Russia, which could not be considered a military base.

Russia has already deployed light arms and troops to CAR a member of the United Nations  after obtaining approval from the UN Security Council.

The Central African Republic, a former French colony, has for decades been mired in poverty, hunger and violence due to ethnic and religious conflict between rival militias.

The United States, which has a significant military presence in Africa, has recently launched a new strategy to counter what it calls the 'predatory' practices of Russia and China in the continent.

US National Security Adviser John Bolton accused Moscow and Beijing of using "corrupt" and "predatory" practices to gain an economic advantage over Washington in Africa.

"They [China and Russia] are deliberately and aggressively targeting their investments in the region to gain a competitive advantage over the United States," he added.

China has already provided many countries in Asia and Africa with billions of dollars in aid and loans for roads, railways, ports and other major infrastructure projects. It has also set up its first overseas military base in Djibouti in 2017, where the US also has its main base of operations in Africa.

The US, which already runs 34 military bases across Africa, has in recent years used the presence of Takfiri terrorists to build up its presence across the continent, where it has over 6,000 boots on the ground.
US says Syria withdrawal has begun; Russia doubtful

Iran Press TV

Fri Jan 11, 2019 08:12AM

The US says it has begun the process of withdrawing from Syria but Russia cast doubt on the claim Friday, saying it thinks Washington wants to stay in the Arab country.

President Donald Trump last month unexpectedly announced a US troop withdrawal from Syria, with US military spokesman Colonel Sean Ryan announcing Friday that the pullout had begun.

The US "has begun the process of our deliberate withdrawal from Syria. Out of concern for operational security, we will not discuss specific timelines, locations or troop movements," he said.

Ryan's announcement came a day after a US military official said the United States had removed some equipment from Syria.

"I can confirm the movement of equipment from Syria," the unnamed official was quoted as saying by AFP, but declined to provide further details "for security reasons."

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov reacted to the allegation, saying he thought the United States wanted to stay on in the Arab country.

Maria Zakharova, a spokeswoman for Russia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, told reporters that if the claims were true the territory previously controlled by the US should be transferred to the

Syrian government.

"In this regard, establishing dialogue between the Kurds and Damascus takes on particular significance. After all, the Kurds are an integral part of Syrian society," she said.

Zakharova also said Russia remains committed to an agreement it had struck with Turkey to stabilize a de-escalation zone in Syria's Idlib province, but Moscow is worried by an increase in the number of ceasefire violations there.

Trump has said he agreed to submit areas under the control of Kurdish militants to Turkey, prompting outrage among the community in northern Syria and warnings by US politicians that Washington was betraying its allies in the region.

US officials are now sending contradictory signals on the plan, prompting Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu to say on Thursday that his country's planned military operation against Kurdish militants in Syria would not depend on an American withdrawal.

US Secretary of Defense Mike Pompeo stressed on Thursday that the alleged US withdrawal from Syria was not "a change of mission."

"Let me be clear: America will not retreat until the terror fight is over," he said, adding, "For our part, our airstrikes in the region will continue as targets arise," he said in a speech at the American University in Cairo.

Meanwhile, US National Security Adviser John Bolton on Sunday outlined conditions for US troop departure from Syria, including a provision that Turkey should guarantee the safety of YPG Kurdish militants in Syria.

Those conditions enraged Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan who refused to meet Bolton on his visit to Ankara early this week.

"It is not possible for us to accept and stomach the message Bolton gave from Israel," Erdogan said.

"Regarding this matter, Bolton has made a serious mistake and whoever thinks like this has also made a mistake. It is not possible for us to make compromises on this point," he added.

Pompeo's remarks in Cairo also appeared to contradict Trump's announcement, drawing immediate criticism from Middle East experts as well as officials who served under former US president Barack Obama.

"We learned that when America retreats, chaos often follows. When we neglect our friends, resentment builds. And when we partner with our enemies, they advance," he said.

"The good news is this: The age of self-inflicted American shame is over. And so are the policies that produced so much needless suffering. Now comes the real new beginning," Pompeo added.

Media reports on Thursday said a draft paper outlining US plans for withdrawing from Syria included leaving troops in place at a position near the Iraqi and Jordanian border.

Most US forces are concentrated in the northeast of Syria, but soldiers also maintain a base near southern Syria in an area known as al-Tanf, on the Iraqi border.

Israel has reportedly lobbied for the Trump administration to reconsider pulling troops out of al-Tanf, and according to the London-based Middle East Eye online portal, the US withdrawal plan would leave soldiers there.

"The US is not withdrawing from the base at al-Tanf at this time," it quoted a Turkish official, citing a document which was presented in Ankara by Bolton early this week.
Lebanon to lodge complaint with UNSC against Israeli 'border wall'

Iran Press TV

Fri Jan 11, 2019 10:13AM

Lebanon says it will file a complaint with the UN Security Council against the Israeli regime's violation of a number of points contested by Beirut, especially a wall it has built near the Lebanese border.

Lebanese officials said Thursday they would raise the issue of the wall with the United Nations Security Council and a top US diplomat.

The comments came after Tel Aviv placed 25 cement blocks near the illegal Israeli settlement of Miskaf Aam, opposite the Lebanese town of Adaisseh, with six blocks placed on disputed points. In response, the Lebanese Army deployed reinforcements to the area.

"What happened today is dangerous and could spark a security incident," a political source told Lebanon's The Daily Star.

The blocks had been placed "without informing UNIFIL [United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon]," a Lebanese Army statement said.

Speaker Nabih Berri expressed his concern over the "dangerous" developments. "This is something that must be carefully monitored because it is very dangerous. There is something I know and it will be time to show it," he told visitors at his Ain al-Tineh residence in the evening.

Berri said he would discuss Israel's actions with US Undersecretary for Political Affairs David Hale, who is due to visit Lebanon next Monday.

The Higher Defense Council of Lebanon said in a statement that it considered "the Israeli actions along the southern border to be an attack on Lebanese territory, which is a clear violation of Article 5 of UN Security Council Resolution 1701."

The council announced that it would submit a complaint to the Security Council and increase diplomatic contacts to explain Lebanon's stance on the Israeli aggressions.

"The Higher Defense Council affirmed Lebanon's commitment to every inch of its land and water as well as its constant readiness to complete the negotiations to resolve existing border disputes."

In a statement, the Lebanese Army said Israel's actions "threatened to resume hostilities," and it stressed the need for a complete Israeli withdrawal from the Shebaa Farms, Kfar Shuba hills and the occupied part of Ghajar.

Back in December, caretaker Lebanese Transportation Minister Youssef Fenianos announced that the country was set to lodge a complaint against Israel at the UN Security Council, after airstrikes launched by Israeli war planes targeting Syria threatened civilian airliners flying over the Lebanese airspace.

The minister said the aerial assaults had put at risk the lives of hundreds of civilians, who were on board passenger planes flying over Lebanon at the time of the attack.

Israeli forces last month also resumed construction of another segment of what they called cement border wall, opposite south Lebanon's Kfar Kila, but halted due to pressure from UNIFIL after the Lebanese Army disputed several points planned for the wall.

A presidential palace source told The Daily Star that Thursday's incident was more serious than the works last month. "This time they are building in areas that are disputed and not deemed theirs, so it's a bit dangerous. Before they were building near the disputed areas and eventually backed away from them," the source said.

Since the beginning of December, Israel has claimed to have uncovered what it claims are tunnels the Lebanese resistance movement Hezbollah dug into occupied territories.
Large US troop deployment in Kirkuk causes Iraqi outcry

Iran Press TV

Fri Jan 11, 2019 11:05AM

The United States military has made a large troop deployment to military bases near the Iraqi city of Kirkuk, causing outcry among the local population.

The troops have been stationed predominantly at the K1 airbase situated 15 kilometers away from the city, Press TV's correspondent in Kirkuk said on Thursday.

The deployment is said to have happened on the pretext of countering remaining Daesh Takfiri terrorists.

Hashd al-Sha'abi spokesperson Ali al-Hussaini denounced the presence of the US forces, saying that the city faced no terrorist threat and Americans had no reason to be there.

"Deploying US forces in Kirkuk or any other city is unacceptable. This is violating the treaty between the US and Iraq," said Hussaini.

The city experienced relative calm since Iraqi Kurds handed over positions to Iraqi troops in October 2017.

"All ethnicities here live in peace, the presence of foreign forces here may disturb the peace in Kirkuk," said a local resident.

Another local expressed doubt about the reason for the foreign military presence.

"We're not in need of foreign forces because the Iraqi military, Hashd al-Sha'abi, Peshmerga forces and police are enough. We live in peace with our brothers."

On Thursday, Iraqi Special Operations Forces (ISOF) were also deployed in Kirkuk .

The ISOF deployment was in response to rising tensions after the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) flag was illegally raised over a political party headquarters building, signaling unfounded Kurdish claims to the city.

The rising tensions in Kirkuk come as Pompeo visited the capital of Iraq's semi-autonomous region of Kurdistan, Erbil, after visiting Baghdad on Wednesday.

"These have been folks that have fought with us and it's important that we do everything we can to ensure that those folks that fought with us are protected," said Pompeo during the trip.

The visit was part of a Middle East tour aimed at assuring US allies of continued American presence in the region despite earlier remarks made by US President Donald Trump calling for a regional troop withdrawal.

Pompeo seemingly backpedaled from Trump's earlier statements, saying that "we learned that when America retreats, chaos often follows."

The statements were, however, later ridiculed by Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif who highlighted America's role in destabilizing the region.
New Yemeni Qasef K2 drone launches 2nd strike in less than 24 hours

Iran Press TV

Fri Jan 11, 2019 06:10PM

Yemeni army forces, backed by allied fighters from Popular Committees, have launched another airstrike with the new domestically-developed Qasef K2 (Striker K2) combat drone, less than 24 hours after they used the same unmanned aerial vehicle to target Saudi-paid militiamen loyal to resigned president Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi.

A Yemeni military source, speaking on condition of anonymity, told Arabic-language al-Masirah television network that Yemeni troops and their allies used the drone to strike Saudi soldiers in the kingdom's southern border region of Asir.

The source added that the strike was carried out following intense aerial reconnaissance, stressing that scores of Saudi troopers besides several high-ranking commanders were killed in the assault.

The development came less than a day after spokesman for Yemeni Armed Forces, Brigadier General Yahya Saree, said at a press conference in the capital Sana'a that Yemeni forces and Popular Committees fighters had attacked Saudi mercenaries at al-Anad Air Base in the country's southwestern province of Lahij with a Qasef K2 drone.

Saree went on to say that dozens of high-ranking Saudi-paid militiamen were killed or injured in the aerial attack, noting that the injured mercenaries were transported by helicopter to Aden German International Hospital in the port city of Aden.

He pointed out that Saudi mercenaries were now in a state of panic and terror as a result of the high-precision military operation, stressing that their commanders would no longer be able to escape unscathed if they continued to serve the aggressors.

Also on Friday, a number of Saudi-backed militiamen were killed and injured, when Yemeni forces and their allies launched a salvo of artillery rounds at their position in an area of the Khabb wa ash Sha'af district of Yemen's northern province of al-Jawf.

Saudi Arabia and a number of its regional allies launched a devastating military campaign against Yemen in March 2015, with the aim of bringing Hadi's government back to power and crushing the country's Houthi Ansarullah movement.

According to a new report by the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project (ACLED), a nonprofit conflict-research organization, the Saudi-led war has so far claimed the lives of around 56,000 Yemenis.

The Saudi-led war has also taken a heavy toll on the country's infrastructure, destroying hospitals, schools, and factories. The UN has already said that a record 22.2 million Yemenis are in dire need of food, including 8.4 million threatened by severe hunger. According to the world body, Yemen is suffering from the most severe famine in more than 100 years.

A number of Western countries, the US and Britain in particular, are also accused of being complicit in the ongoing aggression as they supply the Riyadh regime with advanced weapons and military equipment as well as logistical and intelligence assistance.
As with an new relationship, Nita Whaley says forming a bond with Cape Corals sister city in Baise, China, will take some work.

I feel like it will take time, said the chair of the delegations formal welcome committee. But in the end, it will be a great relationship.

Four high-level delegates from the Baise Municipality Guangxi Zhuang will visit Cape Coral for the first time next month.

City Council on Monday allocated $10,000 for the visit.

Whaley says she hopes the relationship builds business interests and investments and, hopefully, increases tourism.

Theyll see the beaches, she said. The water and the city.

They are coming here to look for investment opportunities and well introduce them to local businesses.

Coming from a town in Indiana with 10 sister cities, Whaley says she is excited to learn about the culture and establish a possible connection.

Delegates from Cape Coral plan to visit Baise as well, with a team of perhaps six city officials, plus pay-their-own-way business partners, to go in April or May.

We are building this for a long-term relationship, Whaley said.

Baise delegates will visit Cape Coral from Feb. 24-27. They will tour local businesses and engage with city officials and learn more about the city that in 2017, Forbes Magazine dubbed the fastest-growing municipality in America.

Cape Corals Economic Development Office is coordinating the visit with the local business community through the creation of a formal welcome committee. A news release says welcome committee members include representatives from key sectors in the community such as education, healthcare and private sector businesses.

The goal is to showcase the best of Cape Coral, offer key business and educational tours, while still allowing time for quality cultural and business discussions.

This visit is the beginning of a business and cultural exchange that will ultimately benefit both Cape Coral and Baise, said Mayor Joe Coviello. We are honored to host these delegates and look forward to showing them what makes Cape Coral a great place to live, work and invest.

Whaley envisions multiple visits between the two parties once a relationship is established.

The committee has been conducting planning sessions since early November. Preparations began moving into high gear after the delegates accepted the citys formal invitation.

Planned tours include the Cape Coral Hospital, the citys charter school system and Ecological Laboratories, which currently has a manufacturing facility in China.

Whaley says the delegation was very interested in the citys health care system since many students from China visit Southwest Florida to earn their college degree and participate in student exchange programs.

They were also eager to learn more about charter schools, she said.

They dont have a lot of charter schools in China, Whaley said. They are very interested in how the charter school system works.

Since Ecological Laboratories has a building in China and employees from China, it seemed like a natural choice for the delegation to visit the company. Whaley said the delegation is also interested in learning more from Ecological Laboratories about purification and pollution.

Baise and Cape Coral may not appear to have much in common at first. Baise is over 20 times the size of Cape Coral with 12 counties and 135 townships. However, the two cities share similar climates and are both a hub for tourism.

Like Southwest Florida, Whaley says they are also known for their mangoes.

Local business owner, JoAnne Killion, helped make the sister city arrangement possible. Killion, who also provides educational student exchange programs, initiated the plan to find a sister city in China more than two years ago.

The opportunities for both countries are so strong, Killion said in a news release. The future could hold cultural, student, and medical exchanges as well as enriching business and commerce ventures. I am very excited to see this come to fruition.
China backs UN for financially supporting G5 Sahel force

People's Daily Online

(Xinhua) 08:43, January 11, 2019

UNITED NATIONS, Jan. 10 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese envoy on Thursday said that China backs the United Nations' necessary financial support for the G5 Sahel joint force.

At a UN Security Council meeting, Wu Haitao, China's deputy permanent representative to the United Nations, urged the international community to provide strong support to the countries in West Africa and the Sahel region, in fighting cross-border crimes and terrorism.

"Overall the situation in West Africa and the Sahel region has been stable, but countries are still facing threats such as violent extremists, terrorist groups, cross-border organized crimes and natural disasters," he said.

To address these challenges, Wu said that to tackle the root causes of conflict is important, the international community should focus on the countries' development while assisting them on hotspot issues.

The Sahel region stretches across the south-central part of Northern Africa between the Atlantic Ocean and the Red Sea, touching multiple countries.

In 2017, 5 Sahel nations, Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, Chad and Mauritania, set up the joint force with the aim to roll back terrorism and lawlessness in the aftermath of a Tuareg separatist uprising in northern Mali in 2012.

However, due to inefficient financing, the joint force has met difficulties in attaining full operational capacity.

Concluding his statement, the Chinese envoy pledged that China is ready to work with the international community in continuing to play a constructive role in achieving peace and stability on the African continent.

Ever since its establishment, the China-UN Peace and Development Trust Fund has provided financial support to a number of projects on anti-terrorism in Africa. Strengthening the cooperation with African countries has always been a priority in China's diplomacy, he said.
CNO to Visit China

Navy News Service

Story Number: NNS190111-04

Release Date: 1/11/2019 11:40:00 AM

From Chief of Naval Operations Public Affairs

WASHINGTON (NNS) -- Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) Adm. John Richardson is scheduled to visit China, Jan. 13 to 16, to meet with Central Military Commission leadership and People's Liberation Army (Navy) (PLA(N)) commander Vice Adm. Shen Jinlong.

The goal of the three-day visit to Beijing and Nanjing is to continue a results-oriented, risk reduction focused dialog between the two militaries.

"I am looking forward to this trip," said Richardson. "A routine exchange of views is essential, especially in times of friction, in order to reduce risk and avoid miscalculation. Honest and frank dialogue can improve the relationship in constructive ways, help explore areas where we share common interests, and reduce risk while we work through our differences."

Richardson and Shen met previously at the 2018 International Seapower Symposium, hosted by Richardson in Newport, R.I. and have held three discussions via video teleconference (VTC) with the most recent occurring in December 2018.

This is Richardson's second visit to China as CNO.
Report: FBI Probed Whether Trump Was Working Against US Interests

By VOA News January 11, 2019

The New York Times is reporting that FBI officials were so alarmed by President Donald Trump's behavior after he fired former FBI Director James Comey that they started investigating whether he was working against American interests.

The Times cited anonymous former law enforcement officials and others familiar with the investigation Friday who said counterintelligence investigators looked into whether "Trump was knowingly working for Russia or had unwittingly fallen under Moscow's influence."

The officials told the newspaper that after Comey was fired in May 2107, they become concerned when Trump tied the firing of Comey to the Russia investigation.

Trump actions questioned

Law enforcement officials have previously confirmed that after the firing the FBI opened an investigation into whether the action constituted obstruction of justice. However, what has not been made public is that law enforcement officials also sought to determine whether the president's own actions constituted a possible threat to national security, according to the Times.

The entire investigation was taken over several days later when special counsel Robert Mueller was appointed to investigate Russia's attempts to influence the 2016 election as well as possible ties between Russia and the Trump campaign.

Trump reacted to the New York Times report in a post on Twitter early Saturday: "Wow, just learned in the Failing New York Times that the corrupt former leaders of the FBI, almost all fired or forced to leave the agency for some very bad reasons, opened up an investigation on me, for no reason & with no proof, after I fired Lyin' James Comey, a total sleaze!"

There has been no public evidence that Trump was in contact with Russia during the election campaign and Trump has long denied any illicit connection. Russia has also denied the allegations.

Giuliani: Nothing found

A lawyer for Trump, Rudolph Giuliani, told the Times that if FBI officials had concluded Trump was working against American interests, the public would have heard about it.

"The fact that it goes back a year and a half and nothing came of it that showed a breach of national security means they found nothing," Giuliani told the paper.

Two days after Trump dismissed Comey in May 2017, he told NBC News anchor Lester Holt that he was going to fire Comey regardless, "knowing there was no good time to do it," but was thinking of the Russia investigation when he decided to dismiss him.

"When I did this, now I said to myself, You know, this Russia thing with Trump and Russia is a made-up story. It's an excuse by Democrats for having lost an election that they should have won,'" Trump said.

Comey's firing, rather than ending the Russia investigation, led directly to the appointment, over Trump's objections, of Mueller, another former FBI director, to take over the Russia probe. Trump has repeatedly called the Russia probe a "witch hunt."
To the editor:

The challenge to removal of the Chiquita Lock by Cape Coral is moving to a hearing in early March of this year. The Matlacha Civic Association and seven individuals from Cape Coral, Matlacha and Pine Island have filed a legal challenge to the Florida Department of Environmental Protections approval for the City of Cape Coral to remove the Chiquita Boat Lock.

The challengers say that removal of the Chiquita Lock will cause damage to the waters, fish, fowl and mangroves of the Matlacha Estuary and the Caloosahatchee River.

Cape Coral wants to remove the Chiquita Lock so weekend boaters will not experience delays getting through the lock. The challengers say the damage to our waters far outweighs the inconvenience to these weekend boaters. Instead, Cape Coral should install a new high-speed boat lock, such as the one already designed by the City in 2007.

The Petition filed by the challengers calls for DEP to follow its original order from 1977. In the 1970s, DEP halted the Cape Coral canal digging by Gulf American Corporation because the prolific dredging threatened major degradation of the mangroves and estuaries. Back then, DEP brought the largest environmental enforcement action in the history of the state, imposing massive fines on GAC and putting it into bankruptcy.

Under Consent Order No. 15 issued in 1977, DEP forced GAC to deed thousands of acres of mangrove wetlands to the State of Florida for preservation. GAC also was required to construct a water retention system including the North and South Spreader Canals, the Ceitus Boat Lift Barrier and the Chiquita Boat Lock. These serve as a water distribution system for Cape Coral to buffer, treat and improve water quality before it reaches the Matlacha Pass and the Caloosahatchee River.

However, the Department of Environmental Protection, joined by the city of Cape Coral, has filed a motion in the case to strike any reference to its own 1977 Consent Order. DEP and Cape Coral say the Consent Order is irrelevant and immaterial, and the hearing judge may not consider it.

Karl R. Deigert, president of the Matlacha Civic Association, says the challengers will oppose the motion. Its time for politics to step aside. The Consent Order of 1977 was intended to preserve Cape Corals most important fresh water resource, the 400 miles of canals. Restoration of the original system will increase canal levels and begin the process of remediating damage to the mangrove wetlands. Long-term retention of the water will sequester and eliminate pollutants and restore freshwater sheetflow to the mangroves.

The Matlacha Civic Association is helping to fund the challenge from its environmental fund, originally established in 2016.

J. Michael Hannon

Matlacha
Chance of Rain: 18% Sunrise: 05:48:20 AM Sunset: 08:43:13 PM Humidity: 21% Wind: WSW @ 12mph UV Index: 9 Very High

Saturday Night

Some clouds early will give way to generally clear conditions overnight. Low near 65F. Winds ESE at 10 to 15 mph.
Angry Pixel user puts anti-Google banners in Delhi after poor service News oi-Karan Sharma A Google Pixel owner from Haryana puts anti-Google banners in Delhi after receiving poor after sales service.

Google has announced an official statement regarding the issues which pixel users were facing with the phone. The company wrote "committed to resolving this issue." According to a spokesperson from Google, the company is offering free repair or a new unit following the warranty policy. But, there is a user who is demanding "two units of the next-gen Pixel." Here is the complete statement.

"For Pixel, we have a world-class after-sales service network in India. In this particular case, when the customer was dissatisfied with our repeated efforts and response to his service request, we offered a free of cost repair or a new device, in line with our warranty policy. He has however repeatedly failed to accept the replacement and has instead demanded two units of the next-gen Pixel. Unfortunately, we can not give in to the misuse of our policy or coercion and are unable to comply with his unreasonable demands. We have remained and continue to be committed to resolving this issue, and abide by our service standards without exception."

According to a report on India Today, Manu Aggarwal, a Google Pixel user from Haryana expressed his displeasure against poor Google after-sales services in a very unique way. He went around different hotspots in New Delhi and put up anti-Google banner and billboards. In this manner, he has criticized Google's after sales service. He bought his Pixel smartphone in early 2017 and just after a year, he started exhibiting problems.

Just like other users, Aggarwal posted tweets on Twitter to express his frustration against the service. As a result, the company reached out to him and ensured a fix. But the problem was never sorted, he tried reaching the company again and again with messages and calls but no one bothered.

After all these, he decided to stick banner and poster urging people not to buy Google smartphones. All the banners also sported a QR code with a link back to his original tweet.

Source

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Android Pie-based EMUI 9.0 update rolling out to Honor Play, Honor 10 and Honor View 10 News oi-Sandeep Sarkar The update is being rolled out as an OTA (over-the-air) and should reach all the Honor Play, Honor 10 and Honor View 10 smartphones gradually.

It was back in August 2019 when Google had officially released its latest version of Android which is the Android 9 Pie. Since its launch, the OS has made its way to a number of devices and most of the manufacturers have already lined up their smartphones to receive the latest version of Android. Now, one more smartphone manufacturer is dishing out the Android Pie update for a couple of its smartphones. Honor, the Chinese smartphone manufacturer has released the Android 9 Pie update for Honor Play, Honor 10 and Honor View 10 smartphones.

Honor is now rolling out the stable Android Pie based EMUI 9.0 update to the aforementioned smartphones. The update is being rolled out as an OTA (over-the-air) and should reach all the Honor Play, Honor 10 and Honor View 10 smartphones gradually. The update is available for the Indian region and as it is an OTA update it should reach all the users over the period of coming days. Users can also check for the update manually by heading to the Settings menu and look for the Software Update tab under the About Phone section.

With the latest Android Pie-based EMUI 9.0 update the Honor Play, Honor 10 and Honor 10 View will now get new features such as GPU Turbo 2.0, Digital Balance dashboard, AI Shopping, full-screen gestures, and others. The update will also bring a new UI for all the three Honor smartphones. The update is also expected to further improve the performance of all the three smartphones.

The update will also bring a HiVision feature which will make use of the onboard AI to allow the camera app to identify paintings, important landmarks in order to give proper information regarding the same to the user. Besides, the Password Vault feature will allow the users to set an encrypted password with face or fingerprint for different services.

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Buying guide: Best Nokia smartphones to buy in India in 2019 Features oi-Harish Kumar

Nokia smartphones have been garnering positive word of mouth from users due to their reinvention in terms of smart and suave features. The HMD Global has been coming up with smartphones that support 'bothie', meaning you can operate front and rear snapper at the same time on a single screen.

This special function makes Nokia be the first unit to postulate such a thing. Ever since a few other devices have been coming up with this concept. Hopefully, in 2019 also you can expect some latest attributes by Nokia phones which will leave you more pleased.

The index mentioned below comprises some best Nokia devices not only of 2018 but also includes some new entries of 2019. Going with enlisted smartphones, the list acts as a perfect buying guide.

These devices have a great configuration that can operate any task and perform smoothly. Their display quality will also delight users while watching movies and playing games.

Few of them come with POLED panels which can be thinner, lighter and are priced less than OLED panels. While some sport a capable HDR screen, and come with 18W fast charging, ensuring your device to be replenished in a much quicker time. There are even more features which you can get to know by referring our list.

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Georgia suffering the steepest drop in democratic quality in eastern Europe - GeorgianJournal


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We became close personal friends  thats how she was able to take advantage of me, said Thomas Elliott, a founding partner in the law firm and the man who hired Hediger.

Elliott said Hediger had stolen approximately $1.5 million from the firm and its clients, a loss that was only partially offset by a $400,000 payment from the states Professional Liability Fund. He said he and his partners had been using their own resources to repay the money stolen from client accounts and did not have high hopes that Hediger would be able to make restitution in full.

This was a tragic ending to a promising legal career, Elliott said.

Office manager Angie Jordan said she was devastated by the defendants criminal acts.

I thought Pam Hediger was not only my employer but also my friend, Jordan said. She is a master manipulator without a conscience.

Todd said his client regretted her actions and noted that she had cooperated fully with state and federal authorities since being brought up on charges in August.
Three suspects have been arrested in Spain tied to the disappearance and reported kidnapping of 5Dimes owner

Sean "Tony" Creighton was reported missing on September 24

Spain recently extradited the wife of another online gambling mogul she was charged with having killed

Creighton remains missing but presumed still alive



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It was like deja vu for those of us involved in the online gambling sector upon learning that law enforcement in Spain had apprehended three suspects tied to the disappearance of 5Dimes Sportsbook owner Sean "Tony" Creighton. He was last seen September 24 after engaging with armed individuals during an apparent kidnapping.

On Friday, the leader of the criminal organization allegedly tied to Creighton's kidnapping along with two women - one a grandmother - were arrested in Zaragoza, Spain. They had fled Costa Rica via El Salvador to Cuba before landing in Spain. Nine other arrests were announced simultaneously in Costa Rica. It appears the entire group was getting ready to settle in Spain.

Spanish authorities were quick to announce they plan extradition proceedings to send the suspects back to Costa Rica.

Spain Captured Wife of Online Gambling Mogul Suspected in His Brutal Murder



Wife of Adam Anhang hired man to kill him finally off to prison after apprehension in Spain

Aurea Vazquez Rijos, a former beauty queen, had been found guilty of offering a man $3 million to kill Adam Anhang, an online gambling mogul instrumental in the development of live dealer Web casinos. The man who killed him, Alex Pabon Colon, pleaded guilty 10 years ago.. Another man who worked at the couple's Old San Juan restaurant had originally been charged with the murder but was later released.

Anyang was stabbed repeatedly and hit in the head with an object while walking with Vazquez through the cobblestone streets of Old San Juan in September 2005, just 12 hours after prosecutors said Anhang had asked for a divorce. Gambling911.com was first to break the story at the time.

Vazquez Rijos remained on the run, most of that time living in Italy where she gave birth to twins.

Last summer, she was finally apprehended in Spain upon traveling to that country.

For years Italy had blocked extradition back to the USA.

"Apparently the Italians do not extradite back to countries that have the death penalty," a source familiar with the case told Gambling911.com at the time. "Now Puerto Rico does not have the death penalty but because they are under the US criminal law jurisdiction, this appears to be the hold up."

A Family Affair



Law enforcement go through evidence tied to Creighton case

Some of those arrested Friday in connection to the Creighton kidnapping are related to one another. In Spain, an uncle and grandmother of the suspected ring leader have been detained.

Vazquez Rijos was also helped by family members.

Private detectives would determine that Rijos approached the Florentine Jewish community where "she was embraced by the Jewish community as a widow with two children." Anhang was of the Jewish faith and required Rijos to sign a pledge by her to study and take up the Jewish faith within two years of their marriage as part of the pre-nuptial agreement.

US prosecutors allege that Rijos was helped by her brother, Charbel Vazquez Rijos, her sister, Marcia and her mother, in providing false paperwork and duping the Firenzebraica Jewish organisation in Florence into certifying that Anhang's one-time wife and her twin daughters were of Jewish descent, enabling her to move to Israel, a country that does not have an extradition treaty with the United States. Anhang, Gambling911.com can reveal exclusively, had once paid to put Charbel through college.

It is not yet known whether Creighton had any relationships with his alleged kidnappers.

His wife in Costa Rica reportedly paid out a near $1 million ransom via Bitcoin. This transaction was ultimately traced and used to apprehend the suspects. Authorities in Costa Rica revealed that some of the individuals were under surveillance over the past month.

Creighton, who arrived in Costa Rica in 1999 from Bridgeport, West Virginia, has an ex-wife now residing in the Pittsburgh, PA area. His mother passed away over a decade ago while his father, a supermarket mogul, died two years ago. Distant family members include cousins still residing in West Virginia. Creighton was also close to his stepmother and her family members.

The suspects appear to have had working knowledge that 5Dimes sat on millions of dollars worth of Bitcoin. It is common knowledge that the online gambling sector now accounts for a significant chunk of Bitcoin's value however.

Gambling911 reached out to individuals with deep ties to the online gambling industry in Costa Rica, none of whom were familiar with any of the suspects named.

Authorities are yet to locate Creighton but are working off the presumption that he is still alive. Having apprehended a dozen individuals they believe were involved in his disappearance should yield answers sooner than later. 5Dimes representatives remain tight-lipped regarding the ongoing investigation.

- Alejandro Botticelli, Gambling911.com
Sean "Tony" Creighton, the missing owner of 5Dimes Sportsbook in San Pedro, Costa Rica, was last seen at the home of a gang leader's grandmother.



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A total of 13 individuals, including two Costa Rican transit officers, were arrested in connection with the September 24 kidnapping Friday morning in Costa Rica and Spain. Sean "Tony" Creighton, 42, of Bridgeport, West Virginia, has run 5Dimes Sportsbook since 1999.

In Spain, the Civil Guard captured a computer engineer and alleged ring leader surnamed Morales Vega, his partner, surnamed Solis Chaves, and his mother, surnamed Vega Aguirre. Police do not believe Morales Vega had any previous ties to Creighton. Among those arrested in Costa Rica were the grandmother of Mr. Vega, 71-year-old, surnamed Aguirre Leal.

Reports have surfaced that Creighton was taken to the grandmother's home in Costa Rica and has not been seen or heard from since. Police are in the process of digging up the grandmother's yard (see photo)

The mother, Vega Aguirre, is said to have spent time outside the Edificio Equus building where 5Dimes is housed and alerted the others that Creighton had departed. The two transit officers reportedly followed Creighton and his vehicle was then intercepted. From there other members of the crew abducted the sportsbook operator at gunpoint.

A near $1 million ransom was paid via Bitcoin by Creighton's wife before she contacted law enforcement. The perpetrators then demanded another $5 million, not paid. Authorities were able to trace the Bitcoin payment to three wallets.

Walter Espinoza, director of Judiciary Investigative Police (OIJ) in Costa Rica, released the following statement:

The District Attorneys office carried out 10 searches today in relation to a kidnapping that occurred on September 24, 2018, OIJ received the report the following day, September 25, 2018, the victim of the kidnap is an American businessman of last name Creighton, first name William, that had commercial activities in the area of San Pedro. This person was intercepted in the area of Granadilla, Curridabat, precisely the night of September 24, this event had the participation of at least four people, these four people were aboard a gray pick-up truck () according to the hypothesis of the police, two officers of the transit police also took part of the event, these two officers contributed to stopping Creightons car, this allowed the people aboard the pick-up truck to proceed with the kidnapping. It was at this point that the criminal group began negotiations with the victims family to obtain ransom money, initially they requested a very high amount, of close to $5 million USD, this amount was then brought down to close to $1 million USD which is the amount that was actually paid through the use of crypto currency, specifically bitcoins. OIJ initiated the investigation on September 25 when the report was received and after negotiations and the payment had already taken place. At this point we were able to determine that the suspects had maintained communication among themselves, that some of them had already left the country, and we managed to establish that they had distributed the different functions to carry out the crime.

The searches took place in Cartago (2), La Union (2), Santo Domingo Heredia (1), La Trinidad Moravia (1), Limon, Siquirres and Sarapiqui; three people were also detained in Zaragoza, Spain in collaboration with Spanish authorities, this because the investigation showed that the leader of the organization, identified as Jorduan Morales Vega had left the country by ground to Panama, he then traveled to El Salvador and from there to Cuba where he remained for one month and then moved to Spain where we relocated several times. Spanish police has maintained vigilance over the suspects for over a month. In Spain three people were detained, Morales Vega, his wife, Maria Fernanda Solis Chaves, and the mother of Morales, of name Guiselle Vega Aguirre () (there is evidence that both the mother and wife were directly related with the crime) during the search we found documents that link the suspects to the kidnap, particularly financial information, including details of the three e-wallets were the ransom money was transferred. () The grandmother of Morales Vega was also arrested in Moravia, with strong links to the kidnapping.

- Chris Costigan, Gambling911.com Publisher
Galveston, TX (77553)

Today

Partly cloudy. A stray afternoon thunderstorm is possible. High 92F. Winds ENE at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Mainly clear. Low 81F. Winds E 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
Each one of these issues, and others just as important, have dogged one governor after another, regardless of party, for one fundamental reason: the inability to seek a second or third or fourth term.

Just consider the crafting of the states two-year budget, arguably any governors most important duty. When a new governor is inaugurated, he comes into office with only the ability to tweak the spending priorities of his predecessor. Then, in his second Assembly session, he submits his own two-year budget covering the second and third years of his administration. On his way out, he crafts a second biennial budget, knowing that whoever his successor is likely will make major changes depending on his or her own priorities.

Simply put, its planning madness.

Business leaders and good-government advocates have argued for years that Virginia should amend the constitution to allow a governor to succeed himself, contending it makes for better government and gives a governor time to address challenges and issues that played into his initial election to office. But consistently, efforts in the Assembly to advance a constitutional amendment have failed.
With the conspicuous exception of President Trump and some of his supporters, Americans were appalled when it was revealed that Russian troll farms had launched a disinformation campaign on social media designed to influence the 2016 election. But online deception about elections is detestable even when it originates inside this country, as it apparently did in a 2017 special election for a U.S. Senate seat from Alabama.

The New York Times reported Monday that progressive Democrats opposed to Roy Moore, the odious Republican candidate in that race, created a Facebook page and Twitter feed purporting to represent Moore supporters opposed to the sale of alcoholic beverages. The convoluted strategy behind the Dry Alabama campaign was to associate Moore with calls for a statewide ban on the sale of liquor in order to alienate moderate, pro-business Republicans and help Democratic candidate Doug Jones. (Jones, who says he had no idea that the deception was underway on his behalf, was narrowly elected.)
According to a 2018 study by the National Low Income Housing Coalition, the affordable monthly rent for a minimum wage worker in the Fredericksburg area would be $377.

Yet the 2018 fair market rent for Fredericksburg City and Stafford and Spotsylvania counties, set by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, was $1,561more than four times what the study considers affordable.

And the Fredericksburg area has higher rates of eviction than the national average, with between 3.8 and 5.6 evictions per 100 rental homes, compared with the national average of 2.3 evictions per 100, the database Eviction Lab found.

Virginia Organizing has proposed the idea of establishing a local housing trust fund that would help residents of Fredericksburg and Stafford facing eviction. The pot of money would be funded by public and private sources.

The group will hold a rally for an affordable housing trust Saturday from 12 p.m at St. Georges Episcopal Church in downtown Fredericksburg.
In January 1777, Thomas Jefferson visited Fredericksburg as part of a committee tasked with revising Virginias colonial laws and drafted the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom. The much-debated bill passed the Virginia General Assembly on Jan. 16, 1786. Every January since 1974, the Knights of Columbus have commemorated the bill and the president's role in preserving religious freedom in a ceremony at the Monument for Religious Freedom in Fredericksburg.
The Red Sand Project, a joint effort by CVJI, RCASA and University of Mary Washington, will be held Jan. 23 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the Campus Walk. Students and staff will be invited to pour red sand into the cracks of the sidewalk as a gesture of support to those who fall through the cracks into human trafficking. More information is available at redsandproject.org.

The Rude Mechanicals will perform Between the Cracks, a play about the dangers of human trafficking, on Jan. 25 at 7 p.m. at University of Mary Washington, Lee Hall, Room 411. The play is sponsored by CVJI and UMW.

Based on a true story, Between the Cracks follows the harrowing journey of a young girl as she slips into an invisible world that exists between the cracks of a broken society. The play was written by Derek Brown, founder and CEO of Actorshop Ltd., UK. Admission to the performance is free.

For more information about the group and the events, visit centralvajusticeinitiative.com.
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.
Other alcohol bills this session

The Frederick County delegation unanimously gave its consent to have seven other modifications drafted into bill form on Friday.

The bills will include:

A change to allow a person to hold multiple liquor licenses whereas they can be issued only one at this time. The maximum is expected to be set at between seven and 10 licenses.

The elimination of the signature requirement. Applicants must currently collect 10 signatures from persons who are registered voters within a 1-mile radius of the proposed license location. Public notice would continue, however.

An allowance for fire and ambulance halls to hold a Class C license to sell wine, beer and liquor at events.

A license for movie theaters to serve alcohol. The delegation modified the Frederick County liquor board's request for this item and will look to streamline existing regulations so that all theaters will fall under the same licensing type.

A license that will allow distilleries to serve mixed drinks.

An allowance for nonprofits to raffle "baskets of cheer" that contain Maryland-made products. While prohibition of this is currently not enforced, it is an opportunity for the county to better control an ongoing situation.

Ending restrictions on license holders from selling beer at a bar or counter on a Sunday.

The delegation will vote on whether to support the individual bills later in session.
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
WALHALLA, SC (FOX CAROLINA) - The Oconee County Sheriff's Office says they are looking for a suspect during the investigation of a shooting that happened this afternoon on Timber Ridge Lane near Shiloh Road in Seneca.
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Since the start of the New Year, Metro police have investigated eight fatal crashes. Four of those crashes happened over one weekend.
A little boy scared by gunfire was hit by a car today. The bullets were flying right next to George Hall Elementary in Maysville shortly after school dismissed.

Thankfully the boy's injuries were minor.

He heard shots being fired and like any kid would or any person would, he was trying to get out of the area and got bit by a vehicle. His injuries were minor at last report," said Corporal Laderrick DuBose with Mobile Police Department.

The shots were fired only feet away from the elementary school.

"They showed a lack of, no responsibility, no accountability," said Laderrick DuBose. "Around 3 pm this afternoon officers received a call of shots fired around the area of Belfast and Antwerp st."

Shortly after police responded to the incident, investigators said they were able to spot the car involved with the shots fired, which was later determined to be stolen.

"He (the officer) followed the vehicle, he didn't pursue it but he actually just followed behind it," DuBose explained. "Once he got other officers in the area, he turned his blue lights on, that's when the vehicle pulled up on the curb where you see it."

Detectives say several people got out of the car and ran in front of a home on Arlington Street. Police were able to catch one of them, who is a juvenile.

Police say they also found at least one handgun in the car. It's unclear if it was the gun that was fired.

"I don't know the reason behind why these persons in this vehicle did what they did so that's what we as officers are out here trying to at least be visible, be seen and try to deter a lot of this activity that's going on," he said.

Police are still looking for the other people who fled the vehicle. If you know them, turn them in.
PHOENIX, AZ (3TV/CBS5) -- The babys turning blue! The babys turning blue!"

Phoenix police have just released the dramatic 911 call that launched the investigation into the woman living in a vegetative state at Hacienda Healthcare who became pregnant and gave birth.

[SECTION: Hacienda Healthcare pregnancy investigation]

Police said officers were called to the Hacienda facility on Dec. 29 on a call of an infant who had "coded."

When officers arrived "they found a woman in her 20s, who was incapacitated, who had delivered a baby. The baby was in distress. The woman and the baby were transported to a local hospital."

A 911 call released Friday, Jan. 11 sheds light on the moments when a nurse at Hacienda first called for help.

The call, which lasts just over five minutes, is a recording of a nurse talking with dispatchers about the baby who was not breathing and "turning blue."

She said the infant was not responsive, and that CPR was being performed.

The nurse also repeatedly told the 911 dispatcher they were not aware the patient was pregnant and that it was a "complete surprise."

[LISTEN: Hear for yourself what the nurse told the 911 dispatcher (Note: there are periods of silence to protect the patient's identity.)]

Then, about four minutes into the call, the nurse tells the dispatcher that the baby was showing signs of life. The baby can be heard crying in the background.

Here is some of the conversation heard during the 911 call:

Caller: The babys turning blue! The babys turning blue!" (Screaming) Caller: One of our patients just had a baby and we had no idea she was pregnant." Caller: The baby is turning blue! We need someone now. ---------------------------------- 911 dispatcher: "Mom is doing OK?" Caller: We had no idea this patient was pregnant. Caller: Is the baby breathing? The baby is not breathing; baby is blue."

---------------------------------- 911:"Are they doing CPR? Caller:Theyre doing CPR on the baby. ---------------------------------- 911: "How's mom doing?" Caller: Looks like shes doing well. We had no idea this person was pregnant. We had no idea this patient was pregnant." 911: "Does she know how far along she was?" Caller: "We have no idea; this is a complete surprise. We were not expecting this. ---------------------------------- 911: "Is the baby responsive?" Caller. "No, the baby is not responsive. They're doing compressions and they're suctioning the baby." Caller: "Mom is doing fine... So far she looks stable."

[Then, 4:50 into the call]

Caller: "The baby's breathing! The baby's breathing! Oh my God. Thank God." 911: Is that the baby crying?" Caller: (Baby crying in background) "That's the baby crying."

Police are investigating this incident as a sexual assault against the 29-year-old woman, who has been a patient at Hacienda Healthcare since she was three years old.

Investigators are working to find the suspect who impregnated the victim, and have obtained DNA samples from men who work at the Phoenix nursing facility.

Phoenix police Sgt. Tommy Thompson said DNA was gathered from "a large number of individuals."

"DNA will be one of our key tools in this investigation," Thompson said.

Police are asking anyone with information about this incident to contact the Phoenix Police Department Violent Crimes Bureau at 602-262-6141. If a caller wishes to remain anonymous, he or she can contact Silent Witness at 480-WITNESS or 480-TESTIGO for Spanish.

"We are now at a point where we need assistance from the community," said Thompson.
(Meredith) -- Despite a reported confession in the killing of JonBenet Ramsey that is gathering online attention, authorities said there are no new updates in the investigation of the child pageant star's death.

On Thursday, Daily Mail published a story that said prison inmate and convicted pedophile Gary Oliva, 54, confessed to accidentally killing 6-year-old JonBenet in 1996.

However, former Boulder District Attorney Stan Garnett told KDVR that everything in Daily Mail's report was already known to authorities, and that the article did not report anything new.

Following Daily Mail's report, the Boulder Police Department also released a statement that said Oliva has confessed to JonBenet's killing several times in the past. Police have been aware of Oliva's confessions and have investigated his potential involvement in the case.

The full statement read:

The Boulder Police Department is aware of Gary Oliva and has investigated his potential involvement in this case, including several previous confessions. The department routinely receives information on this investigation. Information provided to the police department is reviewed along with the many tips and theories we receive. There are no new updates in this investigation and the department will not comment further.

Oliva was an early suspect in JonBenet's death. According to The Denver Channel, the convicted sex offender may have been close to the Ramsey home on the night of the murder. When he was arrested on other charges back in 2000, police found a photo of JonBenet in his possession, and he admitted to having an obsession with her.

Oliva is currently in prison for a 2016 child porn case, in which court documents show he downloaded 22 separate sexually explicit images of children less than 10 years old. The documents show that Oliva admitted to having a "problem" with young girls and said he was sexually attracted to girls around the ages of 8 and 9 years old.

JonBenet was found murdered in her Boulder, Colorado, home on Dec. 26, 1996. No one has ever been charged in the case and the investigation is still open.
Theres no end in sight yet for the partial federal government shutdown and Friday, January 11, 2019 many federal employees will miss their first paychecks. Many of them live paycheck-to-paycheck and are already seeking out assistance. Feeding the Gulf Coast, based in Mobile County provides food services for 24 counties and is preparing for many more mouths to feed.

Ive actually gotten two calls so far from people who are worried about not being able to make it because the checks arent coming in, said Robert Sanderson.

Sanderson is a food pantry volunteer with City Church of Mobile, just one of 400 agencies served by Feeding the Gulf Coast. With the government shutdown now entering its fourth week, families who havent needed to ask for help before are looking for ways to make ends meet. Feeding the Gulf Coast has taken notice and is getting ready.

We estimate that there are tens of thousands of government employees in our 24 county service area so we are exploring opportunities and anticipating an increased need to fill the gap that will be created by the furloughs and the lack of paychecks for those employees, explained Cyndy Baggett with Feeding the Gulf Coast.

The pantry service provides food to agencies from the Louisiana  Mississippi line, east through the Florida panhandle. While theres no way to know just how much more food will be needed, Feeding the Gulf Coast staff said theyll be prepared and that any help from the public will go a long way.

We would encourage them to visit our website and learn about hosting a food drive or making a donation that could actually be earmarked to the government shutdown, so they could also call and we could take volunteers up here, Baggett said.

Volunteers to help sort and distribute food to families uncertain of their future. If your business, church of civic group wants to host a food drive, youre asked to contact Feeding the Gulf Coast first to find out where the greatest need lies. If you or your family is in need of assistance, feeding the Gulf Coast can also put you in touch with an agency near you.
The Coast Guard suspended the search for two people near Mobile Bay, Friday, January 11 according to officials.

Missing are Floyd Nelson, 85-years-old, and David Stadman, 40-years-old.

Officials have confirmed that they recovered an overturned boat but there has been no sign of the missing fishermen.

The Coast Guard suspended the search at 2:30 p.m. after searching approximately 2,061 square nautical miles over a 42-hour period.

Involved in the search was:

- Coast Guard Air Station New Orleans MH-65 Dolphin Helicopter air crew

- Coast Guard Station Dauphin Island 45-foot Response Boat-Medium boatcrew

- Coast Guard Cutter Manowar boatcrew

- Coast Guard Aviation Training Center Mobile HC-144 Ocean Sentry air crew

- Mobile County Sheriffs Flotilla

- Daphne Search and Rescue

- Mobile Police Department

- Alabama Marine Resources

"Suspending a search is a difficult decision that we never take lightly, said Capt. Malcolm McLellan, Coast Guard Sector Mobile. Our thoughts are with the families and loved ones affected by this incident."
Look at the calendar: Is the year 2019...or is it 1969? It almost seems we've traveled 50 years back in time, because all of a sudden everybody wants to go to the moon again.

Down in Florida, Jeff Bezos's Blue Origin is building a "New Glenn" rocketship and a "Blue Moon" lander, and offering to use them to deliver NASA science packages to the moon. Out in California, SpaceX CEO Elon Musk -- although still mostly obsessed with colonizing Mars -- says that if NASA is dead set on the idea, he has "nothing against" making a pit stop at Earths moon along the way.

NASA itself, of course, which organized the original moon landings back in the 1960s and 1970s, is currently engaging contractors such as Boeing (which helped build the original Saturn V moon rocket), to build it a Space Launch System capable of returning to the moon.

Beyond the usual suspects

These are the familiar players in a renewed moon race, vying with rivals from China and Russia to return Homo sapiens to Luna. But as it turns out, NASA is also interested in attracting new companies to the moon race -- and using competition from such companies to bring down the cost of spaceflight.

It's been a little more than a month since NASA introduced us to a few of the candidates it's discovered, announcing a group of nine separate companies that it will be partnering with to develop "Commercial Lunar Payload Delivery Services." Some of them you may have heard of -- others, you won't have.

Here's the full list:

Lockheed Martin NYSE:LMT)

Astrobotic Technology, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, is advertising a price of $1.2 million per kilo of payload to the moon. Appropriately, therefore, in addition to NASA, United Launch Alliance, and Airbus , Astrobotic says it is partnered with...DHL.

, Astrobotic says it is partnered with...DHL. Deep Space Systems of Littleton, Colorado, specializes in "soft products" such as flight software, and has done design and development work for various Mars probes, landers, and rovers. It partners with the next company:

Intuitive Machines, in Houston, Texas, is developing a "Nova-C" lunar lander and a "Universal Re-entry Vehicle" to "return payloads from LEO [low earth orbit] and Lunar Environments."

Firefly Aerospace, another Texas firm, is the successor of Firefly Space Systems -- which went bankrupt, was liquidated, and had its assets sold off in March 2017. Now renamed and reincorporated by the new owner, Firefly Aerospace hopes to have a rocket ready to launch payloads into space as early as this year.

Masten Space Systems of Mojave, California, once a contender to build DARPA's XS-1 space plane, is now developing a lunar lander called the XL-1.

Draper (The Charles Stark Draper Laboratory), in Cambridge, Massachusetts, is a frequent winner of large Pentagon contracts, such as its $109 million contract to research automated guidance technologies.

Orbit Beyond, of Edison, New Jersey, says it will have a "spacecraft ready to fly to the moon in 2020."

Last but not least, Moon Express -- based in Cape Canaveral, Florida, just down the road from SpaceX's launch sites -- recently participated in Google's Lunar XPRIZE competition, and even more recently partnered with Canada's space agency to develop technologies for mining the moon.

What does NASA's announcement actually mean?

Now it's important to note that just because NASA is "partnering" with these companies doesn't mean that it will be paying all of them, or that any (besides Lockheed) will ever evolve into viable businesses that we'll be able to invest in -- but they might.

NASA's partnership announcement confirms that, out of the several companies that sought partnerships, these are the nine companies granted permission "to bid on NASA delivery services to the lunar surface through Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) contracts." In other words, this is NASA's short list for awarding contracts in the future -- and those contracts could be substantial.

Total funds available for award through CLPS contracts could total as much as $2.6 billion over the next decade, and awards could begin coming as soon as this year. Indeed, the first batch of proposals for CLPS contracts is due in at NASA this very month. And while there's no word yet on when NASA might begin announcing its awards, the fact that the agency says "lunar payloads could fly on these contracted missions as early as 2019" suggests that in less than a year, winners and losers under CLPS could start to become clear.

Additionally, NASA notes that it "expects to be [only] one of many customers that will use these commercial landing services" as the companies begin rolling them out, so $2.6 billion could be only the beginning. Once NASA has given its stamp of approval to certain companies and their technologies, that's likely to encourage other private companies (which might also be interested in mining the moon) to step up and hire the same contractors as well.

Will this provide the necessary momentum to transform one or more of these space start-ups into the next hot space IPO? I'll be watching, and as soon as I know, I'll let you know.

Check out all our earnings call transcripts.
What happened

Shares of ExxonMobil (NYSE:XOM) declined a painful 18.5% in 2018 according to data provided by S&P Global Market Intelligence. Fellow international energy giant Chevron (NYSE:CVX) lost 13.1% of its value. The pain, meanwhile, wasn't confined to U.S.-based companies; Royal Dutch Shell (NYSE:RDS.B) and PetroChina (NYSE:PTR), one of the largest energy players in China, were both down around 12% last year. Other big names took hits too, including BP and Total, though their declines were more modest at less than 10%.

So what

It's never pleasing to see a stock you own have a down year. But sometimes the ups and downs are simply to be expected. That's particularly the case with energy companies like Exxon, Chevron, Shell, and PetroChina. Although all these companies have diversified businesses, with assets both on the upstream (oil drilling) and downstream (refining and chemicals) sides, sentiment around the price of oil is and always has been a big driver of the stock prices in the energy industry. Oil, meanwhile, is known for often swift and dramatic price swings.

That's exactly what happened in 2018, with oil hitting a particularly nasty downdraft in the final months of the year. That drop, which quickly wiped out months of steady gains, pushed oil into a bear market. The prices of most oil-related names followed oil lower. In fact, the ups and downs in the stock prices of Exxon, Chevron, Shell, and PetroChina all roughly mirrored the price of oil through most of last year. Sadly, oil ended on a weak note, and so did these companies' stock prices.

Still, you can't paint with too broad a brush. For example, Chevron and Exxon have both been working to increase production in the U.S. onshore space lately. That's been a mixed blessing. Production volumes have been increasing for both companies, but logistics bottlenecks in the U.S. market have left a supply glut that has pushed West Texas Intermediate (a key U.S. oil benchmark) prices below those of Brent Crude (the international oil benchmark). That helps explain why investors were, perhaps, a little rougher on Exxon and Chevron.

Shell, for its part, has been working in recent years to increase its exposure to natural gas. A key end market for that fuel, however, is Asia. China, which is PetroChina's main market and the region's 800-pound gorilla, has been experiencing a slowdown in growth. Add the global trade tensions brewing between the United States and China, and there's even more uncertainty in the air. A bad outcome could mean even slower growth in China and the rest of Asia. That's a bigger issue for PetroChina, which is largely focused on its home market, but China's growth slowdown is just a symptom of larger regional concerns that have investors worried about Shell as well.

Now what

Energy prices are notoriously volatile, so there's nothing really shocking in the declines investors saw in the shares of oil-related names like Exxon, Chevron, Shell, and PetroChina in 2018. They basically tracked along with ups and downs in the price of oil. And with oil prices so volatile lately, investors should probably expect such heightened gyrations to continue for a little while. That, however, is just par for the course for these companies. What you shouldn't do is think all oil companies are equal. Yes, they may move in tandem at times, but there are often important differences under the covers that you should ensure you understand before buying.

Check out the latest ExxonMobil and Chevron earnings call transcripts.
If elected, Tulsi Gabbard would be the youngest ever and first woman President of the United States. She would also be the first non-Christian and first Hindu to occupy the top post.

Washington: Tulsi Gabbard, the first Hindu lawmaker in the US Congress, has said that she is running for the White House in 2020.

Gabbard, 37, is the second woman after Senator Elizabeth Warren to enter the presidential race from the Democratic party.

More than 12 Democratic leaders including Indian-origin Senator from California Kamala Harris are expected to announce their White House run to challenge President Donald Trump in 2020.

Gabbard, a four-time Democratic lawmaker in the US House of Representatives from Hawaii, told CNN on Friday: "I have decided to run and will be making a formal announcement within the next week".

The Iraq war veteran has become the first-ever Hindu to be running for the presidency in the US.

Gabbard, who converted to Hinduism early in her life, is highly popular among Indian-Americans.

If elected, she would be the youngest ever and first woman President of the United States. She would also be the first non-Christian and first Hindu to occupy the top post. However, at this point in time, American political pundits do not give her much chance.

Hindus constitute less than one percent of the American population, an overwhelming majority of whom are either from India or are people of Indian-origin.

Gabbard, a co-Chair of the powerful House India Caucus, was recently re-elected for the US House of Representatives from Hawaii for the fourth consecutive term.

A winner of the primary elections beginning early 2020 would be finally nominated by the Democratic party in its convention later that summer to challenge the Republican candidate in the November 2020 elections.

President Trump has announced to seek his re-election. The winner of the Democratic primary would be pitted against him.

Gabbard, who supported Senator Bernie Sanders against former secretary of state Hillary Clinton in the 2016 Democratic primary, told CNN that there are a lot of reasons for her to take this decision.

"There are a lot of challenges that are facing the American people that I'm concerned about and that I want to help solve," she said.

She listed access to health care, criminal justice reform and climate change as key issues. "There is one main issue that is central to the rest, and that is the issue of war and peace. I look forward to being able to get into this and to talk about it in depth when we make our announcement," Gabbard said.

Former US vice president Joe Biden has also expressed his interest in the 2020 bid.

Rania Batrice, who was a deputy campaign manager for Bernie Sanders in 2016 and is now a top aide to Gabbard, will be her campaign manager, CNN reported.

The 2020 presidential primary cycle is scheduled to kick off from the Iowa Caucuses on 3 February, 2020, followed by the New Hampshire Primary on 11 February, Nevada caucus of 15 February and South Carolina on 22 February.

Among other Democrats speculated to run for the 2020 primaries include Senators Kirsten Gillibrand, Amy Klobuchar and Tim Kaine.
BEIRUT (Reuters) - The Syrian state news agency said Israeli warplanes fired a number of missiles towards the Damascus area on Friday, triggering Syrian air defences that shot down most of them. 'The results of the aggression so far were limited to a strike on one of the warehouses at Damascus airport,' the SANA news agency cited a military source as saying

BEIRUT (Reuters) - The Syrian state news agency said Israeli warplanes fired a number of missiles towards the Damascus area on Friday, triggering Syrian air defences that shot down most of them.

"The results of the aggression so far were limited to a strike on one of the warehouses at Damascus airport," the SANA news agency cited a military source as saying. The attack took place at 11:15 p.m. (2115 GMT), it said.

(Writing by Tom Perry; Editing by Sandra Maler)

This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed.
By Patpicha Tanakasempipat and Anna Mehler Paperny BANGKOK/TORONTO (Reuters) - An 18-year-old Saudi woman who fled her family saying she feared for her life has been granted asylum in Canada, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said on Friday, as Thai officials confirmed the teen was en route to Toronto. Trudeau said United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) had asked Canada to take in Rahaf Mohammed al-Qunun, who grabbed international attention this week after she barricaded herself in a Bangkok airport hotel room to resist being sent home to her family, which denies any abuse.

By Patpicha Tanakasempipat and Anna Mehler Paperny

BANGKOK/TORONTO (Reuters) - An 18-year-old Saudi woman who fled her family saying she feared for her life has been granted asylum in Canada, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said on Friday, as Thai officials confirmed the teen was en route to Toronto.

Trudeau said United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) had asked Canada to take in Rahaf Mohammed al-Qunun, who grabbed international attention this week after she barricaded herself in a Bangkok airport hotel room to resist being sent home to her family, which denies any abuse.

"Canada is a country that understands how important it is to stand up for human rights, to stand up for women's rights around the world, and I can confirm that we have accepted the U.N.'s request," he told reporters.

The decision is likely to exacerbate Canada's already poor relations with Saudi Arabia, which last year barred the Canadian ambassador to Riyadh after Ottawa criticized Saudi authorities for detaining women's' activists.

Qunun arrived in Bangkok on Saturday and was initially denied entry, but she soon started posting messages on Twitter from the transit area of Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi airport saying she had "escaped Kuwait" and her life would be in danger if forced to return to Saudi Arabia.

Following a 48-hour stand-off at Bangkok airport, some of it barricaded in a transit lounge hotel room, she was allowed to enter Thailand and was then processed as a refugee by the UNHCR.

The UNHCR welcomed Canada's decision and also acknowledged Thailand had given Qunun temporary refuge.

"Ms. al-Qunun's plight has captured the world's attention over the past few days, providing a glimpse into the precarious situation of millions of refugees worldwide," U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi said in a statement.

Qunun has accused her family of abuse, and has refused to meet her father and brother who arrived in Bangkok to try take her back to Saudi Arabia.

"It was her wish to go to Canada," Thailand's immigration chief Surachate Hakparn told reporters. "She still refuses to meet with her father and brother, and they are going to be travelling back tonight as well ... They are disappointed."

Her case has drawn global attention to Saudi Arabia's strict social rules, including a requirement that women have the permission of a male "guardian" to travel, which rights groups say can trap women and girls as prisoners of abusive families.

A Korean Air flight carrying Qunun left Bangkok for Seoul on Friday night at 11:37 p.m. local time (1637 GMT), an airport official told Reuters.

Qunun will board a connecting flight to Toronto from Seoul's Incheon airport. She is expected to arrive in Canada on Saturday morning.

Trudeau brushed off a question as to whether Canada's move might make it harder to repair ties with Saudi Arabia.

"Canada has been unequivocal that we will always stand up for human rights and women's rights around the world," he said.

Amid increasing domestic political pressure, Trudeau said last month that his Liberal government was looking for a way out of a multibillion-dollar arms deal with Riyadh.

Qunun's flight has emerged at a time when Riyadh is facing unusually intense scrutiny from its Western allies over the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul in October and over the humanitarian consequences of its war in Yemen.

Canada has repeatedly said Khashoggi's murder was unacceptable and demanded a full explanation.

(Reporting by Patpicha Tanakasempipat; additional reporting by Juarawee Kittilipsa in Bangkok, David Ljunggren in Ottawa, Julie Gordon in Vancouver and Anna Mehler Paperny in Toronto; editing by William Maclean and Marguerita Choy)

This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed.
Human rights activists say that for every Rahaf Mohammed Alqunun who grabs global attention, so many more go unnoticed by the world.

By Gaurav Jain

There is no escape other than fleeing (Saudi Arabia). There is no other way, said Rahaf Mohammed Alqunun to the media before she finally headed from Thailand to Canada after being granted asylum by the latter.

Thailand was all ready to deport the 18-year-old back to her Saudi governor father till it gave in to the pressure of international attention and consequent shame. Alqunun had escaped her Saudi family a week ago by flying from Kuwait to Bangkok, but once there she barricaded herself in a Bangkok hotel room when Thai authorities blocked her from travelling to Australia to claim asylum. Then, she got on Twitter.

Her documenting of her ordeal online went viral and secured her stay in Thailand, where the UN refugee agency stepped in and ruled her claim for asylum valid. Alqunun's father also arrived in Bangkok soon after his daughter but she refused to meet with him, claiming physical abuse and his attempting to force her into an arranged marriage. She also claims to have renounced Islam and fears for her life back home. When Australia dallied with her asylum application, Canada generously processed it in one day.

Alqununs social media acumen was so effective that the Saudi Arabian charge d'affaires complained to Thai authorities, "It would have been better if they had confiscated her mobile instead of her passport."

Saudi Arabia is ranked 138 out of 144 countries in the 2017 Global Gender Gap study from the World Economic Forum. It remains one of the most repressive places in the world for women. This no one challenges as a fact, but even in 2019, other nations seem loath to shape their foreign policy based on Saudi Arabia's continuing gender apartheid (unlike, say, how they responded to South Africa's racial apartheid). For some time, Crown Prince Mohammad Bin Salman (MBS) seemed to even convince the world that his country would no longer have to be tied up in knots of denialhe was going to make Saudi Arabia a better place for women by lifting bans on their attending movies, music concerts with men, and driving.

But just as the shocking crimes MBS has been accused of have surfaced, including the barbaric drugging and dismembering of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, so also has the reality of the new gender justice in his country. While the driving ban may have been lifted, women activists who worked towards the right to drive have been jailed. Other activists have been reportedly tortured in prison. And the number of women fleeing the country continues to grow as they try to escape the strict restrictions on their clothes, careers, social lives, and especially those of the male guardianship laws.

The male guardianship laws force every Saudi woman to have a male guardian. Beyond the government, this second layer of guardianship ensures even greater control over all women in the kingdom, including their decisions to travel, marry, take a job, enrol in higher education, and take up some medical procedures. They even need their male guardians approval to be released from prison. This state of subjugation treats woman of all ages as minors and leaves them particularly vulnerable to violence and injustice. Guardian men manage their female dependents through a government website.

Just last November, we heard of the young Saudi sisters found dead in New Yorks Hudson River, with police finding theyd apparently preferred suicide to returning to their home country. Many of the women trying to flee dont make it. In an already-forgotten, even wilder case from Saudis neighbour Dubai last year, India reportedly captured Sheikha Latifa bint Mohammed al-Maktoum in international waters off the coast of Goa and gave her up to her father, Dubais ruler and prime minister of the United Arab Emirates (reportedly on direct authorisation from Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The strategy has apparently reaped a return of favour in the detention and extradition of Christian Michel, key accused in the AugustaWestland helicopter scam, from Dubai to India).

Princess Latifa spent seven years planning her daredevil escape, and last March, she finally drove across the border with a friend to Oman, and then set out by inflatable boat and jet ski through 26 miles to international waters, where another friend was waiting in a yacht. And then Latifa messaged family, an activist group and the media...but she got little response because her story seemed so fantastic and implausible. Latifa couldn't get public support the way Alqunun didperhaps due to her relying on the old media and activist networks rather than the crowds on social media. Tragically, she was captured and given up despite her claims of escaping torture, in violation of both international and local laws.

Alqununs ordeal triggered thousands of Twitter posts in Saudi Arabia this week discussing her case and the oppressive guardianship system. Egyptian-American activist and writer Mona Eltahawy claimed in a Twitter video that the guardianship system is the foundation of patriarchy in Saudi Arabia, and added a hopeful note, Mark my words, [Alqunun] is going to start a revolution. A Saudi hashtag that roughly translates to remove guardianship and we wont all migrate trended in the kingdom this week, reminiscent of the I Am My Own Guardian campaign in 2016 that resulted in ending male approval for accessing government services. Even Faisal Abbas, editor-in-chief of the pro-government newspaper Arab News, wrote that its time for male guardianship to be abolished.

Human rights activists say that for every Alqunun who grabs global attention, so many more go unnoticed by the world. And even as Alqunun urges her followers to fight and get your RIGHTS! and heads for safe haven, weve seen once again how so-called progressive nations try to pretend nothing is going on with Saudi women. Unless they are absolutely forcedby Saudi womento look it in the eye and blink.

Gaurav Jain is the co-founder of The Ladies Finger (TLF), Indias leading online womens magazine delivering fresh and witty perspectives on politics, culture, health, sex, work and everything in between.
Rahaf Mohammed Alqunun smiled broadly as she exited an arrival door at Toronto's airport sporting a Canada zipper hoodie.

Toronto: An 18-year-old Saudi runaway who said she was abused and feared death if deported back home arrived in Canada Saturday arm-in-arm with the country's foreign minister.

Rahaf Mohammed Alqunun smiled broadly as she exited an arrival door at Toronto's airport sporting a Canada zipper hoodie, capping a dramatic week that saw her flee her family while visiting Kuwait and before flying to Bangkok, where she barricaded herself in an airport hotel to avoid deportation. The case grabbed global attention after she mounted a social media campaign for asylum.

"This a very brave new Canadian," said Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced Friday that Canada would accept Alqunun as a refugee in a case that has highlighted the cause of women's rights in Saudi Arabia, where several women fleeing abuse by their families have been caught trying to seek asylum abroad in recent years and returned home. Human rights activists say many similar cases go unreported.

"She had a very long and tiring journey so she would prefer not to take questions today," said Freeland, adding that she would take questions later.

Alqunun earlier tweeted two pictures from her plane seat  one with what appears to be a glass of wine and her passport and another holding her passport while on the plane with the hashtag "I did it" and the emojis showing plane, hearts and wine glass.

Canada's decision to grant her asylum could further upset the country's relations with Saudi Arabia.

In August, Saudi Arabia expelled Canada's ambassador to the kingdom and withdrew its own ambassador after Canada's Foreign Ministry tweeted support for women's right activists who had been arrested. The Saudis also sold Canadian investments and ordered their citizens studying in Canada to leave.

No country, including the US, spoke out publicly in support of Canada in that spat with the Saudis.

On Friday, Trudeau avoided answering a question about what the case would mean for relations with the kingdom, but he said Canada is pleased to give her asylum because Canada is a country that understands how important it is to stand up for human rights and to stand up for woman's rights.

Canadian officials were reluctant to comment further until she landed safely.

The office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees welcomed Canada's decision.

Omg  I'm in Canada everyone  pic.twitter.com/fGnGcweWIG  rahaf Mohammed   (@rahaf844277144) January 12, 2019

"The quick actions over the past week of the government of Thailand in providing temporary refuge and facilitating refugee status determination by UNHCR, and of the government of Canada in offering emergency resettlement to Ms. Alqunun and arranging her travel were key to the successful resolution of this case," the agency said in a statement.

Several other countries, including Australia, had been in talks with the UN's refugee agency to accept Alqunun, Surachate said.

"She chose Canada. It's her personal decision," he said.

It wasn't immediately clear what prompted Alqunun to choose Canada over Australia. Australian media reported that UNHCR had withdrawn its referral for Alqunun to be resettled in Australia because Canberra was taking too long to decide on her asylum.

"When referring cases with specific vulnerabilities who need immediate resettlement, we attach great importance to the speed at which countries consider and process cases," a UNHCR spokesperson in Bangkok told The Associated Press in an email reply on condition of anonymity because the person wasn't authorized to discuss the case publicly.

Canada's ambassador had seen her off at the airport, Surachate said, adding that she looked happy and healthy.

She thanked everyone for helping her, he said, and added that the first thing she would do upon arrival in Canada would be to start learning the language. She already speaks more than passable English, in addition to Arabic.

Alqunun was stopped 5 January at Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi Airport by immigration police who denied her entry and seized her passport.

She barricaded herself in an airport hotel room and took her plight on to social media. It got enough public and diplomatic support that Thai officials admitted her temporarily under the protection of UN officials, who granted her refugee status Wednesday.

Alqunun's father arrived in Bangkok on Tuesday, but his daughter refused to meet with him. Surachate said the father  whose name has not been released  denied physically abusing Alqunun or trying to force her into an arranged marriage, which were among the reasons she gave for her flight. He said Alqunun's father wanted his daughter back but respected her decision.

"He has 10 children. He said the daughter might feel neglected sometimes," Surachate said.

Phil Robertson, deputy Asia director of Human Rights Watch, cited Alqunun's "courage and perseverance."

"This is so much a victory for everyone who cares about respecting and promoting women's rights, valuing the independence of youth to forge their own way, and demanding governments operate in the light and not darkness," he said in a statement.
Lahore: Pakistan's jailed former premier Nawaz Sharif's health condition has deteriorated, his daughter claimed on Friday and alleged that authorities are not letting his cardiologists examine him in the jail in Lahore.

Maryam Nawaz on Friday said that Sharif, who has been serving a seven-year jail term in Lahore's Kot Lakhpat jail in the Al-Azizia Steel Mills graft case, is suffering from a pain in his arm, "which is most likely to be angina".

A jail spokesman, however, said jail doctors examined Sharif thoroughly and his health is fine. "Nawaz Sharif is in good health," he said.

Taking to Twitter, Maryam complained that Sharif's cardiologists "have been trying to get access to him all day but (the) permission (has) not (been) granted".

Sharif, 69, had undergone an open-heart surgery about three years ago in London. Maryam, who had visited her father in the jail on Thursday, said his father had a "complicated medical history" and he needed special health care.

"He needs to be examined by the doctors who are privy to his complicated medical history," Maryam said.

PML-N president Shahbaz Sharif warned that if anything happened to his elder brother, Prime Minister Imran Khan and the Punjab government will be responsible. He demanded the jail authorities to immediately allow Sharif's cardiologist to examine him and provide him with the best health facilities.

An anti-corruption court in Pakistan on 24 December sentenced the ousted premier to seven years in jail in the Al-Azizia Steel Mills graft case, concluding a series of three court cases against the Sharif family in the high-profile Panama Papers case.

The Al-Azizia Steel Mill case was about setting up steel mills in Saudi Arabia allegedly with corruption money.
ATHENS (Reuters) - Greek police on Friday fired teargas to disperse hundreds of teachers protesting against government plans to change hiring procedures in the public sector. About 2,000 protesters, most of them with the Communist affiliated group PAME, marched through central Athens waving red flags and chanting slogans against an education ministry bill currently under public consultation. They unfurled a banner reading: 'Take the monstrous bill back'.

ATHENS (Reuters) - Greek police on Friday fired teargas to disperse hundreds of teachers protesting against government plans to change hiring procedures in the public sector.

About 2,000 protesters, most of them with the Communist affiliated group PAME, marched through central Athens waving red flags and chanting slogans against an education ministry bill currently under public consultation.

They unfurled a banner reading: "Take the monstrous bill back".

Police clashed with some of the protesters outside parliament and fired teargas at a group that tried to reach the prime minister's office.

Greece froze hirings in the public sector during its protracted debt crisis which began in late 2009. The country's third international bailout since 2010 expired in August.

Teachers' unions say state schools are under-staffed and are demanding the creation of more permanent jobs for teachers.

(Reporting by Alkis Konstantinidis and Costas Baltas; Writing by Renee Maltezou; Editing by Gareth Jones)

This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed.
The FBI has opened an inquiry into whether Donald Trump was working for Russians in the days after the American president fired James B Comey in 2017 as the top investigative agency's director, according to a report.

Washington: The FBI has opened an inquiry into whether Donald Trump was working for Russians in the days after the American president fired James B Comey in 2017 as the top investigative agency's director, according to a report.

In May 2017, the US president abruptly removed the 56-year-old Comey, former director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), who was overseeing a criminal probe into whether the Trump campaign colluded with the Russian government to influence the 2016 presidential election that was won by the real estate mogul.

The New York Times, based on unnamed sources, said that such an investigation against Trump that was started by the FBI carried explosive implications, as the law enforcement agents sought to determine if the president was knowingly working for the Russians or had unwittingly fallen under Moscow's influence.

Investigators have to consider if Trump's own actions constituted a possible threat to the national security, the paper reported on Friday. "No evidence has emerged publicly that Trump was secretly in contact with or took direction from Russian government officials," NYT said.

"Agents and senior FBI officials had grown suspicious of Trump's ties to Russia during the 2016 campaign but held off on opening an investigation into him, the people said, in part because they were uncertain how to proceed with an inquiry of such sensitivity and magnitude," the paper reported. The White House has described The New York Times story as absurd.

"This is absurd. James Comey was fired because he's a disgraced partisan hack and his deputy Andrew McCabe who was in charge of the time is a known liar fired by the FBI. Unlike former president (Barack) Obama who let Russia and other foreign adversaries push America around, President Trump has actually been tough on Russia, the White House Press Secretary said.

The FBI did not respond to a query on the alleged investigation against Trump. But according to the daily, the FBI investigation was taken over by the Special Counsel Robert Muller who has been tasked to investigate the allegations of Russian interference in the 2016 presidential elections.

The inquiry is part of Mueller's broader examination of how Russian operatives interfered in the 2016 election and whether any Trump associates conspired with them.

Trump has, however, denied of having any collusion with the Russians and repeatedly criticised the Mueller investigation as a "witch hunt" and views it as a stain on the legitimacy of his presidency.

"If the president had fired Comey to stop the Russia investigation, the action would have been a national security issue because it naturally would have hurt the bureau's effort to learn how Moscow interfered in the 2016 election and whether any Americans were involved, according to James A Baker, who served as FBI general counsel until late 2017," the report said.

Baker privately testified in October before House investigators who were examining the FBI's handling of the full Russia inquiry, it said. "Not only would it be an issue of obstructing an investigation, but the obstruction itself would hurt our ability to figure out what the Russians had done, and that is what would be the threat to national security," Baker said in his testimony, portions of which were read to NYT.

He did not explicitly acknowledge the existence of the investigation of Trump to congressional investigators. The report casts pressure on the White House, which is already feeling the heat from months of investigations.

Trump's former campaign chairman Paul Manafort in August 2018 was convicted of financial crisis and later pleaded guilty to conspiring to defraud the US and conspiring to obstruct justice. Trump's longtime lawyer and aide Michael Cohen is set to begin a three-year prison sentence in March after pleading guilty to fraud, campaign finance violations and lying under oath.
Qunun alleged that she was abused by her family  who deny the allegations  and rights groups also said she had renounced Islam, risking prosecution in Saudi Arabia.

Ottawa: Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau announced Friday that Canada was taking in an 18-year-old Saudi asylum seeker who fled her family and harnessed the power of Twitter to stave off deportation from Thailand.

Rahaf Mohammed al-Qunun was already en route to Toronto late Friday when the prime minister made the surprise announcement, after officials had previously given heavy hints she was bound for Australia.

"Canada has been unequivocal that we'll stand up for human rights and women's rights around the world," Trudeau said. "When the United Nations made a request of us that we grant al-Qunun's asylum, we accepted."

The move is sure to further strain Canadian relations with the kingdom that went sideways last August over Ottawa's rights criticism of Saudi Arabia, prompting Riyadh to expel the Canadian ambassador and sever all trade and investment ties in protest.

Canada also sparked fury in Riyadh by demanding the "immediate release" of jailed rights campaigners, including Samar Badawi, the sister of jailed blogger Raif Badawi, whose family lives in Quebec.

Qunun's attempt to flee the ultra-conservative kingdom was embraced by rights groups as a beacon of defiance against repression.

Thai authorities initially threatened to deport her after she arrived in Bangkok from Kuwait last weekend.

But armed with a smartphone and hastily opened Twitter account, she forced a U-turn from Thai immigration police who handed her into the care of the UN's refugee agency as the #SaveRahaf hashtag bounced across the world.

Qunun alleged that she was abused by her family  who deny the allegations  and rights groups also said she had renounced Islam, risking prosecution in Saudi Arabia.

Rahaf first said she was aiming for Australia where officials had suggested they would give serious consideration to her claim for asylum, which was endorsed as legitimate by the UNHCR on Wednesday.

But late Friday Thailand's immigration police chief said a smiling and cheerful Rahaf was bound for Toronto and had left on a flight after 11:00 pm (local time).

"She chose Canada... Canada said it will accept her," Thai immigration chief Surachate Hakparn told reporters at Bangkok's main airport. "She is safe now and has good physical and mental health. She is happy."

Rahaf left from the same airport where her quest for asylum began less than a week ago in a swift-moving process that defied most norms.

On Friday afternoon Rahaf posted a final cryptic tweet on her profile saying "I have some good news and some bad news" -- shortly after her account was deactivated in response to death threats she had faced, her friends said.

"Rahaf received death threats and for this reason she closed her Twitter account, please save Rahaf life," tweeted supporter @nourahfa313, who has flanked Rahaf's social media campaign with her own updates on Twitter.

Rahaf's swift use of Twitter saw her amass more than 100,000 followers within a week, highlighting her plight at a time when Saudi Arabia's human rights record is under heavy scrutiny following the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi last year.

Her deployment of social media allowed her to avoid the fate of countless other refugees who are quietly sent back home or languish in Bangkok detention centres.

She refused to see her father who travelled to Thailand and expressed opposition to her resettlement.

Surachate said her father and brother were due to return home on a flight in the early hours of Saturday.

Although her asylum case moved fast the final manoeuvres that led to her flight to Canada remain a mystery.

Australia had dropped strong hints it would accept her after the UN urged the country to do so and it remains unclear why the resettlement location changed.

On Thursday its foreign minister said Canberra was still assessing the request.

Thailand's immigration chief Surachate had earlier told reporters Friday that "two or three" countries were ready to offer her asylum. The Southeast Asian country is not a signatory to a convention on refugees and asylum seekers must be referred to a third country.
The Associated Press

Researchers say theres a new calf among the population of critically endangered killer whales that live in the waters between Washington state and Canada.

Ken Balcomb, founding director of the Center for Whale Research, told The Seattle Times that staff first saw the calf Friday at the eastern end of the Strait of Juan de Fuca.

The youngster looks healthy, but survival rates for baby orcas are only about 50 percent, he said.

The whales have been starving amid a dearth of salmon. Vessel noise and pollution have complicated their plight. No calf born in the last three years has survived.

One whale drew international attention when she carried her dead calf on her head for 17 days last summer.

Two other orcas are known to be sick, and researchers fear they could die within months.

The southern resident population of orcas differ from some of the other orca populations in eating primarily salmon, rather than seals or other marine mammals.

They were listed as endangered under the Endangered Species Act in 2005.

The following year, the fisheries service designated the inland waters of Washington state as critical habitat. The designation means federal agencies must ensure that activities they pay for, permit or carry out do not harm the habitat.

Nevertheless, the orcas population has remained dangerously low, increasing the risk of inbreeding, which could further hurt their long-term survival.

Last month Washington Governor Jay Inslee announced plans to help the population recover  including $1.1 billion in spending and a partial whale-watching ban.
Reuters

Slack Technologies Inc is seriously considering making its stock exchange debut through a direct listing, a source familiar with the matter told Reuters on 11 January.

The Wall Street Journal reported earlier in the day that Slack, which operates a popular workplace instant-messaging and collaboration app, is likely to debut in the second quarter and currently expects to do so via a direct listing.

The plan for a direct listing will make Slack the second big technology company after Spotify to bypass a traditional IPO process in going public.

Slacks direct listing is an inherently less expensive way of going public, but what it really comes down to is speed, said Daniel Lugasi, a portfolio manager at Florida-based VL Capital Management.

Slack declined to comment on reports of direct listing.

The company is an internet-based platform that allows teams and businesses to communicate with each other. Its closest competitor is Microsoft Teams, a free chat add-on for Microsofts Office 365 users.

Slack has raised around $1.2 billion in 11 funding rounds, and has 36 investors, according to data provider Crunchbase. It counts SoftBank, T. Rowe Price, Sands Capital Ventures, General Atlantic as its investors.

Venture capital firms that have invested in Slack are looking for an exit and with the rapid growth of Microsoft Teams, they want out fast. The direct listing provides the VCs with a quick exit and we believe this is the mitigating factor behind (Slack seeking a direct listing), Lugasi said.

Reuters reported in December that Slack had hired investment bank Goldman Sachs Group to lead its initial public offering as an underwriter.
tech2 News Staff

Nokia 8.1 arrived in India last year with the price tag of Rs 26,999, with Qualcomm Snapdragon 710 SoC paired with 4 GB RAM and 64 GB of storage (expandable up to 400 GB using the hybrid SIM tray).

Now as a per a new report, Nokia is planning to launch a second variant for the phone. Nokiapoweruser claims that there might be a coming of the 6 GB RAM and 128 GB internal storage of the Nokia 8.1 by January end or early February in India.

The report further states that the phone might be priced at Rs 28,999/ Rs 29,999. It is also said that the phones may be out directly via retail, but also be available offline.

Nokia 8.1 Specs

In terms of display, the device features a 6.18-inch Full HD Plus "PureDisplay" with an 18.7:9 ratio. The screen is protected by Corning's 2.5D Gorilla Glass.

Nokia 8.1 is powered by Qualcomm's Snapdragon 710 chipset.

In terms of storage, we see only one storage variant  4 GB of RAM coupled with 64 GB of internal storage. The phone also comes with a microSD card slot which can be used to expand the memory of the device up to 400 GB.

The device features a dual camera set up at the back with a 12 MP camera unit a 1/2.55-inch sensor and 1.4 um pixels, OIS, EIS, and interestingly 2PD or dual photodiode.

The secondary sensor in the dual rear set up is 13 MP unit, and the front camera includes a single 20 MP sensor.

Nokia 8.1 runs stock Android 9.0 Pie and is part of the Android One programme. Powering the device is a 3,500 mAh battery and there is a support for 18 W fast charging.

Connectivity options include Network speed VoLTE, VoWiFi, WiFi 802.11 b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth 5.0, GPS/AGPS, GLONASS. There is a 3.5 mm headphone jack, and a single speaker with a smart amplifier. Further, a USB Type-C 2.0 cable is present and finally, the range of sensors on the device include  Ambient light sensor, Proximity sensor, Accelerometer (G-sensor), E-compass, Gyroscope, Fingerprint sensor (rear) and NFC.

The device has been launched in three colour combinations  Blue/Silver, Steel/Copper and Iron/Steel.
tech2 News Staff

China said on 11 January it was greatly concerned over reports that a Chinese Huawei employee had been arrested in Poland on allegations of spying, amid growing controversy in Western nations over the Chinese telecoms equipment maker.

Poland has arrested a Chinese citizen and a Polish national involved in cyber business, Polish media reported on 11 January.

In response to a Reuters query about the reports, Chinas Foreign Ministry urged the relevant country to ensure the legitimate rights of individual involved and to handle the case justly and in accordance with law.

US intelligence agencies allege Huawei is linked to Chinas government and that its equipment could contain backdoors for use by government spies. No evidence has been produced publicly and the firm has repeatedly denied the claims. But the criticism has led several Western countries and companies to look into whether they should allow Huaweis equipment to be used in their telecoms networks, straining relations with Beijing.

Also, one of Huawei Canadas top executives, Scott Bradley,the companys senior vice president for corporate affairs on 11 January disclosed he was leaving his post after more than seven years with the Chinese telecommunications equipment maker. He disclosed his departure in a post on LinkedIn that did not give a reason for the move.

With inputs from Reuters
Reuters

Apple held talks with Samsung and MediaTek along with existing vendor Intel to supply 5G modem chips for 2019 iPhones, according to an Apple executives testimony at a trial between Qualcomm and the US Federal Trade Commission on 11 January.

Between 2011 and 2016, Apple relied on San Diego-based Qualcomm as the sole supplier of such chips, which help iPhones connect to wireless networks. Starting in 2016, Apple split the business between Intel and Qualcomm, but in 2018, Apple moved solely to Intel for its newest phones.

But Apple supply chain executive Tony Blevins testified on Friday that Apple has also considered MediaTek and Samsung, one of its largest rivals in the smartphone market, to supply the chips for the next generation of wireless networks known as 5G. Those networks are expected to start rolling out this year and provide faster data speeds than current 4G networks.

The FTC is suing Qualcomm alleging the chip supplier engaged in anti-competitive patent licensing practices to preserve a dominant position in the premium modem chip market.

On the stand at a federal courthouse in San Jose, California, Blevins testified that Apple has long sought multiple suppliers for modem chips but signed an agreement with Qualcomm to exclusively supply the chips because the chip supplier offered deep rebates on patent license costs in exchange for exclusivity.

In 2013, Apple broke off work with Intel to start supplying modems for the iPad Mini 2 because Apple would lose its rebates by using Intels chips, rendering Intels products economically unattractive overall.

Later that year after cost negotiations with Qualcomm did not go as Apple hoped, Apple kicked off Project Antique to secure a second modem supplier, Blevins testified.

By 2016 and 2017, Apple introduced Intels modems in some of its iPhones but also still used Qualcomm chips. But Apples lawsuit against Qualcomm filed in early 2017 caused their business relationship to change in a very profound and negative manner, leading to using only Intels modems for the phones released last year.

The entire concept of Project Antique was to find a second supplier. No offence to (Intel) but we dont want to be single supplier with them. We wanted both Qualcomm and (Intel) in the mix, Blevins said. Blevins also testified Apple considered making Intel the sole supplier of modems for the Apple Watch, which added 4G connectivity in 2017 using Qualcomm chips.

Blevins said that talking with Samsung, whose Galaxy and Note devices compete against the iPhone, is not an ideal environment for Apple, but that Samsung is currently the largest component supplier to Apple.

Blevins did not say whether Apple had reached a decision on a 5G modem supplier or whether it would release a 5G iPhone in 2019. Citing sources, Bloomberg previously reported that Apple would not release such a phone until 2020.
The pre-poll tie up of the SP and the BSP in Uttar Pradesh has put a question mark on the 'mahagathbandhan' or grand alliance envisaged by the Congress, the Shiv Sena said on Saturday.

Mumbai: The pre-poll tie up of the SP and the BSP in Uttar Pradesh has put a question mark on the "mahagathbandhan" or grand alliance envisaged by the Congress, the Shiv Sena said on Saturday.

Taking potshots at the formal alliance announcement of the SP and BSP for Lok Sabha polls, Sena spokesperson Manisha Kayande said both parties are ideologically opposite and none was people-oriented.

"This alliance is not a people oriented alliance. The only aim is to keep right wing parties away. People know both parties have in the past bitterly opposed each other and their coming together now is purely for electoral purposes without a definite development agenda," Kayande told PTI.

She further said the alliance has dealt the first "blow" to the Congress's vision of a grand alliance.

"This alliance has surely put a question mark and made the fate of 'mahagathbandhan' uncertain. Only the future will tell if (NCP chief Sharad) Pawar and (Congress president) Rahul Gandhi are able to do something for themselves before the elections," she said.

NCP leader Dhananjay Munde, meanwhile, claimed the 2019 Lok Sabha polls against the BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi would be the "second freedom struggle".

"For this, all secular parties will have to come together and act responsibly. The SP-BSP-Congress and all other like minded parties have to come together to safeguard our Constitution and democracy," the Leader of Opposition in Maharashtra Legislative Council said.

Once-arch rivals, the Samajwadi Party (SP) and Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) Saturday announced their tie-up in Uttar Pradesh for the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, sharing 38 LS seats each and keeping the Congress out of the alliance.

The parties, however, said they would not field candidates in Amethi and Rae Bareli, represented by Congress president Rahul Gandhi and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi respectively. The SP-BSP also left two seats, out of 80, for smaller allies.

Meanwhile, Maharashtra Congress spokesperson Sachin Sawant said the alliance of SP-BSP was a state specific issue.

"However, in Maharashtra, we will ensure proper discussions take place and a consensus is arrived at for an alliance of like minded parties," Sawant said.
BSP

Lucknow/New Delhi: Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav and BSP chief Mayawati will on Saturday announce their alliance for the Lok Sabha polls, appearing set to keep the Congress out of the pact in Uttar Pradesh.

The Congress described this likelihood as a "very dangerous mistake" and said it was ready to fight the parliamentary polls alone in the state. SP national secretary Rajendra Chaudhary and Bahujan Samaj Party national general secretary SC Misra on Friday sent out the invitation for a joint press conference at a hotel in Lucknow.

Akhilesh confirmed in a television interview that the press conference is on the alliance in Uttar Pradesh, while parrying questions on seat-sharing with the Congress. At a meeting in Kannauj, he also said, Our coming together has not only created fear in the BJP but also in the Congress."

Smaller parties like the RLD and the Nishad Party are also likely to be part of the alliance, but were not mentioned in the announcement on the press conference.

RLD's state unit president Masood Ahmed told PTI that the party national vice president Jayant Chaudhary will be in the state capital on Saturday and, if invited, could be a part of the joint press conference.

RLD party chief Ajit Singh evaded questions from the media on the two seats expected to be set aside for the RLD, saying the discussions were in an early stage. In Delhi, Congress spokesperson Abhishek Manu Singhvi said the objective of all opposition parties should be to defeat the ruling BJP and eliminate "autocracy, and misgovernance" at the Centre.

"We may have fallen on difficult times. But I think to ignore us can prove to be a very dangerous mistake, he told reporters when asked about the possible SP-BSP alliance. Since everybody realises that, I think we will have a happy and harmonious solution sometime in the near future," he added.

Uttar Pradesh Congress spokesperson Rajiv Bakshi said the party was ready to fight the coming elections alone in the state. "We alone have 45 seats in the Lok Sabha and it is easily more than the regional players, he said.

A 'mahagathbandhan' in the Lok Sabha elections needs to be built around the party having a national face," Bakshi said. The top leadership of the SP and the BSP recently met in Delhi to discuss the broad parameters of an alliance to take on the BJP in the parliamentary elections just months away.

After the meeting, the SP said Akhilesh and Mayawati had given their in-principal approval.

Sources said the SP and the BSP are planning to contest on 37 seats each out of the 80 on offer in Uttar Pradesh and plan to leave just two, Rae Bareli and Amethi, the bastions of Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi, for the Congress.

Congress leaders like PL Punia, who delivered Chhattisgarh to the Congress as its state in-charge, and UPCC chief Raj Babbar are reportedly of the view that the party should seek its pound of flesh in any alliance.

They cite the example of 2009 when the Congress romped home with 22 Lok Sabha seats in UP, surprising many. They also say that with party chief Rahul Gandhi getting more "combative against the Bharatiya Janata Party, the Congress now stands a better chance than before.

At a party convention in Delhi on Friday, BJP president Amit Shah mocked the "bua-bhatija" alliance of the parties led by Akhilesh and Mayawati. He said they could not stand each other but have now joined hands due to the fear of the BJP, echoing remarks made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at a recent rally in Agra.

Shah claimed that the BJP is on its way to win more than 50 percent votes in Uttar Pradesh, asserting the saffron alliance's tally will improve from the 73 Lok Sabha seats it won in 2014 out of the state's 80.

Last year, Akhilesh and Mayawati decided to bury their differences to contest three bypolls. The joint opposition victories in the bypolls in Gorakhpur, Phulpur and Kairana was seen as a consolidation of Other Backward Classes, Dalits and Muslim votes, and raised expectations of a similar math working in the 2019 elections.

In recent days, Akhilesh and Mayawati have put out press statements that mention a "gathbandhan".

Mayawati's press statement was in solidarity with Akhilesh amid reports that the CBI might question him in connection with a mining scam that allegedly took place when he was chief minister.

"Don't be shaken," she advised Akhilesh. He returned the favour when he put out a statement to condemn Modi's remarks in Agra on Mayawati "forgetting" an attack on her by SP workers in 1995.

"The prime minister is scared of the alliance," Akhilesh said.
On the second and last day of the BJP National Convention in New Delhi, Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched attacks on the Congress and other Opposition outfits over various issues, including the Rafale deal and the Ayodhya issue.

On the second and last day of the BJP national convention in New Delhi, Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched attacks on the Congress and other Opposition outfits over various issues, including the Rafale deal and the Ayodhya issue. Speaking at Ramlila Maidan, Modi said that Congress is only looking to serve its own interests, while the BJP is working to better the nation.

The prime minister in his speech expressed pride that the BJP government, unlike the governments before it, "has not been accused of corruption."

"It has happened for the first time in the history of the country that a government that came into power with an absolute majority hasn't been accused of corruption," he said.

Modi said that during the Congress' tenure, there were only two ways to get a loan  the common process, and the Congress process. In the common process, one could ask a bank for a loan, and in the Congress process, banks were forced to give money to their "greedy friends."

One could ask for a loan of Rs 10 lakh to set up his or her home as part of the common process. But in the Congress process, loans worth hundreds of thousands of rupees were given over a phone call, Modi said. "You would need a second loan to pay off the first loan in the Congress process, a third to pay off the second, and so on," he added.

Modi also responded to Congress' continued "chowkidar chor hai" jibes over the Rafale deal, and said that the 'chowkidar' will not stop at anything to expose the Congress' lies and games. "No matter how much the Congress resorts to name-calling, the 'chowkidar' will not stop," he said, amid cheers and applause.

Speaking about the controversial Ayodhya issue, Modi said: "Look at the Ayodhya matter. Congress is using their lawyers to stall the issue. Congress was even ready to impeach the CJI. We should not forget what Congress is doing and we should not let anyone forget it."

Criticising the Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal and Chhattisgarh governments' decisions to block the CBI from entering the respective states without permission, the prime minister alleged that they have something to hide. "What wrong have they done that they're feeling scared? Today they don't accept CBI, tomorrow they won't accept some other institution. Army, Police, SC, EC, CAG all are wrong, only they are right," he alleged.

Addressing talks of a united Opposition, he said that Opposition parties are only coming together so that a 'majboor (dependent)' government can form, and they can continue in their corrupt endeavours. But the average citizen wants a 'majboot (dependable)' government that will end all corruption, he said.

"The nation should decide if it wants a pradhan sevak who spends months on vacation abroad or one who works tirelessly without taking a break," he said.

BJP leaders laud Modi government

BJP president Amit Shah, Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, Railways Minister Nitin Gadkari, and Finance Minister Arun Jaitley were among those who addressed the gathering of 12,000, which comes ahead of the Lok Sabha polls

Shah in his address on the second day of the BJP national summit said that the Narendra Modi government has been working towards freeing India from the Congress' three contributions to India: nepotism, classism, and appeasement.

Adding to his attack on the Opposition, Shah said that the mahagathbandhan was formed out of greed. "It is good that this contest is taking place. I know that our cadres will lead this fight for us and ensure us a victory," he said.

Gadkari lauded the progress made by the Centre on various issues, and said that previous governments in India have only been guilty of corruption and non-performance. "But after we came to power, good governance, ease of business development has been delivered, just as we promised in our manifesto," he said.

Sitharaman, while speaking at the summit, said, "We have not had one major terrorist attack in this country after 2014. This government, under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi has ensured one thing  that there shall not be an opportunity for terrorists to disturb peace."

Jaitley in his speech said that the prime minister has saved thousands of crores of rupees in the Rafale deal, and is working to bring back all the money that the Congress blew up, which should have gone to the poor.

He further stated that the BJP-led government has nothing to be ashamed of. "The Bharatiya Janata Party government has not done a single act that allows our workers to tilt their heads," he said.

Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath also addressed the gathering, and listed the BJP government's achievements in Uttar Pradesh. "Within 1.5 years, the UP government has built houses for 18 lakh poor individuals irrespective of their caste or religion, under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana."

He added that meanwhile, in the five years of the previous SP government, only 63,000 houses were built.
Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati on Saturday declared that the party's alliance with Samajwadi Party for the 2019 Lok Sabha elections 'will not allow' Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP president Amit Shah 'to sleep'.

Mayawati and Akhilesh Yadav have the alliance math worked out. In a much-awaited press conference, Mayawati announced that Bahujan Samaj Party and Samajwadi Party would contest on 38 seats each, while two seats were left for "allies" (presumably Rashtriya Loktantrik Dal) though she did not specify the names. She also said that the alliance will not field any candidate on Congress bastions Raebareli and Amethi as a courtesy to Congress.

"Amethi aur Raebareli ki Lok Sabha seats Congress ke saath gathbandhan kiye bina hi party ke liye chhod di hain, taaki BJP ke log Congress party ke adhyaksh ko yahin uljha kar na rakh saken," she said.

However, apart from sparing the two seats, the alliance partners were unsparing in their attack on the grand old party. Explaining why they left out Congress from the alliance, Mayawati said: "Both BSP, and SP have allied with Congress in the past and we have seen that it is possible. The party has reigned at Centre and in Uttar Pradesh for years on end, and yet the poor and the marginalised people suffered under their rule."

Mayawati said that an alliance is profitable only when the constituent parties can successfully transfer their votes to each other. That, she said, was not the case when SP and BSP allied with Congress in the past. "Congress ke bohot sare ummidwaar to apni zamanat bhi nahi bacha paye (Many Congress candidates could not even save their deposits)," Mayawati quipped.

Asserting that the SP-BSP alliance will lead to "a new political revolution in the country", Mayawati slammed the two national parties. Mayawati said, "The policies of the BJP and Congres, no matter who was in power, were the same."

She said the similarities between them were evident from the fact that BJP, like Congress was charges of corruption in defence deals. "Bofors took down Congress, and Rafale will sink BJP's ship," she said.

Comparing the two national parties, she also said that while Congress declared Emergency in India, the BJP made sure that there is an atmosphere of an "undeclared Emergency" in the country.

The BSP supremo said that the party's alliance with SP "will rob" guru-chela Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP president Amit Shah "of sleep"ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.

"BJP and their allies should be stopped from coming to power at the Centre at any cost," Mayawati said. She added, "With SP and BSP in an alliance, BJP candidates will not be successful in Uttar Pradesh."

"I have full confidence that just as our alliance defeated the BJP in the Lok Sabha bypolls, we will crush the saffron party in the general elections," Mayawati said, referring to the BJP's defeat in Phulpur, Gorakhpur and Kairana parliamentary bypolls.

Mayawati made a strong pitch for the marginalised communities like Dalits, adivasis, farmers, labourers, and also minorities like Muslims. She said that the alliance would work to "safeguard their rights" at every stage.

Appealing to voters, Mayawati said that there was no way that the BJP could win in Uttar Pradesh if the above-mentioned sections of the society united against it and voted for the alliance. Appearing confident of a win on all seats in Uttar Pradesh, she, however, noted that the BJP should not "rig" voting machines "as it did in the previous election". She also advised voters to remain guarded against any possible attempts to polarise the elections on the basis of religion.

Akhilesh, echoing the BSP leader's statements said that the "arrogance" of the BJP had to be defeated by an alliance between the "SP and BSP". He said, "The BJP can go to any extent to create differences in our workers, but we must be united and counter any such tactic."

When asked about Mayawati's prime ministerial bid, however, Akhilesh chose not to give a clear answer and said that everyone "knew his choice" for the post. "Uttar Pradesh has given prime ministers in the past and the trend will be repeated again," he said.

To a question on seat-sharing with the Rashtriya Lok Dal in western Uttar Pradesh, Akhilesh Yadav said the media would be informed about it in due course. Asked whether it was a "natural alliance", Mayawati said, This will last long, beyond Lok Sabha polls and the state's Assembly elections.

The two leaders did not make it clear whether they will themselves contest the polls, which are to be held in the near future. Mayawati accused the BJP of spending a massive amount of money on Shivpal Yadav, who recently floated the Pragatisheel Samajwadi Party-Lohia, suggesting that it was being "run by the BJP" and was meant to split the non-BJP vote.

"The money will go down the drain," she said. Mayawati also said she had put the 1995 guest house incident  when she was allegedly attacked by SP supporters  behind her for national interest.

Akhilesh asked SP workers to ensure Mayawati gets the respect due to her. "Mayawati's respect is my respect. An insult to her is an insult to me. If any BJP men or others say anything against her, it will be against me," Yadav said, seeming to warn his party workers against a repeat of the 1995 incident. On the formation of the alliance, Yadav said, I had said that if I have to take two steps backwards for the alliance, I will do it," Akhilesh said, thanking Mayawati.

On Friday, Akhilesh said that the alliance will get the math right in the general elections and the BJP will face defeat.

"Last time we had come together in the Lok Sabha by-elections and BJP had lost the seats (earlier held by) Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and Deputy chief minister Keshav Prasad Maurya. This time too our math will be right and the BJP will face defeat," Akhilesh said.

The former Uttar Pradesh chief minister had said on Friday that the BJP had become strong because it joined hands with regional parties and his party was also gaining strength by forming a coalition. "Our (BSP and SP) coming together has not only created fear in the BJP but also in the Congress," Akhilesh added. The BSP and SP alliance has virtually shut its doors to Congress in the state.

Akhilesh gave a slogan for the upcoming polls: "Humara kaam bolta hai, BJP ka dhokha bolta hai" (Our work speaks for itself, BJP's betrayal speaks). NDTV quoted the former Uttar Pradesh chief minister as saying that the alliance with Mayawati was "very important" because the BJP and its alliances "had won 73 of Uttar Pradesh's 80 seats" in 2014.

The Congress termed the decision of leaving it out of the alliance in a state with one of the largest Assemblies as a "very dangerous mistake". Congress spokesperson Abhishek Manu Singhvi said the objective of all opposition parties should be to defeat the ruling BJP and eliminate "autocracy, and misgovernance" at the Centre.

"We may have fallen on difficult times. But I think to ignore us can prove to be a very dangerous mistake, he told reporters when asked about the possible SP-BSP alliance. Since everybody realises that, I think we will have a happy and harmonious solution sometime in the near future," he added.

Reports also said that Smaller parties like the RLD and the Nishad Party are also likely to be in the alliance but they are cautious about seat-sharing. Ajit Singh's RLD, which wanted five seats in western Uttar Pradesh but is only being offered two, already expressed its displeasure soon after the press conference was over.

With inputs from agencies
The BJP, against whom the SP and BSP announced a joint alliance for the 2019 Lok Sabha polls in Uttar Pradesh, said the plan would result in 'corruption, anarchy, and political instability'. The party also claimed that the alliance was only for the 'survival' of SP and BSP, and not for the benefit of the people.

The BJP, against whom the Samajwadi Party and Bahujan Samaj Party announced an alliance for the 2019 Lok Sabha polls in Uttar Pradesh, said the plan would result in "corruption, anarchy, and political instability". The party also claimed that the alliance was only for the "survival" of the SP and BSP, and not for the benefit of the people.

"Those who did not like each other are talking about a mahagathbandhan (grand alliance). This is an alliance for corruption, anarchy and political instability," Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath said.

Senior BJP leader and Union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad also said, "The SP and the BSP have allied neither for the country nor for Uttar Pradesh, but for their survival. They know they cannot fight (Prime Minister Narendra) Modi on their own and their opposition to him is the sole base for their alliance."

Once-arch rivals SP and BSP announced on Saturday their tie-up in Uttar Pradesh for the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, sharing 38 seats each and keeping the Congress out of the alliance. The parties, however, said they would not field candidates in Amethi and Raebareli  which are represented by Congress president Rahul Gandhi and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi. They also left two seats, out of 80, for smaller allies.

Making the announcement at a joint press conference with SP president Akhilesh Yadav in Lucknow, BSP chief Mayawati said "I have full confidence that just as our alliance defeated the BJP in the Lok Sabha bypolls, we will crush the saffron party in the general elections," referring to the BJP's defeat in the Phulpur, Gorakhpur and Kairana parliamentary bypolls.

However Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD), which could potentially be the third alliance partner, expressed displeasure over the proposed seat-share plan. According to CNN-News18, the party said that an allocation of two seats is not appropriate for a "senior ally" like the RLD. They had demanded five seats.

However, leaders like West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee and RJD's Tejashwi Yadav reacted to the alliance saying that the SP-BSP alliance will mark "the end of the BJP" in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. Banerjee tweeted that she "welcomed" the alliance.

Reportedly, Madhya Pradesh chief minister Kamal Nath also supported the alliance saying that there was a "need" for alliances in the "entire country". He said, "BJP got only 31 percent vote in 2014 and claimed that it was the people's mandate. This happened due to a split in votes."

Adityanath also attacked the Congress on Saturday, saying the party furthered the interests of a family, promoted casteism, regionalism and kept the country in limbo for 50 years. "Under the leadership of Narendra Modi, the BJP brought the country out of this state of limbo through welfare schemes for all sections of the society and good governance," he said.

Yogi asserted that in the upcoming Lok Sabha polls, the BJP will perform better than it did in 2014 and a "strong and capable" government under Modi's leadership will be formed again. "Ask any impartial person  a rural woman, a soldier, a farmer, or young person  they will all say 'Kaho dil se Modi phir se' (they will vouch for bringing in Modi once again)."

BJP's Sudhanshu Trivedi also expressed confidence about a win for the party "even if all (Opposition) parties came together". He said, "Both parties are contesting together just to save their political ground. These parties have blamed each other for murder in the past. Anyway, its their choice. We are confident."

With inputs from agencies
The BJP has targeted constituencies where TMC's base has weakened due to non-performance of sitting MPs and where it has a divided house due to internal squabbles

Kolkata: In its quest to win 22 seats out of total 42 seats Lok Sabha seats in West Bengal  a target set by BJP national president Amit Shah for the 2019 polls  the BJP has adopted a 'cloak-and-dagger policy' to poach a significant number of Trinamool Congress (TMC) heavyweights to its fold.

The Opposition party in state Assembly, which is yet to come to terms with the recent defeat in its strongholds like Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh, has set its sight on nine states from eastern India to hit the goalpost in 2019 general elections. The saffron party leaders are hopeful of winning more than 50 out of the 67 seats in these states.

West Bengal features prominently in BJP's election strategy as it alone sends 42 MPs to the Lower House. And to take on the ruling Trinamool Congress head on, the saffron party is unleashing every trick to create a divide in the ranks of TMC.

The BJP has targeted constituencies where TMC's base has weakened due to non-performance of sitting MPs and where it has a divided house due to internal squabbles. And at the time, the saffron party's homework and strategy to dent TMC's base seem to be paying off. Sources say that it is targeting Lok Sabha constituencies in Purulia, Bankura, Bardhaman Purba, Medinipur, Jhargram, Barasat, Howrah, Hooghly as well as urban bases like Kolkata Uttar.

Amid all this, Bishnupur MP Saumitra Khan joining the BJP comes as a morale booster for the saffron party and adds to the mounting troubles for the TMC just months before the high-voltage general elections. The TMC's knee-jerk reaction to Khan jumping ship was to quickly expel its Bolpur MP Anupam Hazra who is a close friend of Khan, in anticipation that he too may join BJP.

The expulsion of Khan and then Hazra on the same day comes at a time when TMC supremo and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is desperately trying to cobble up a third front alliance to make TMC's presence felt nationally.

The saffron party, meanwhile, heavily depends on ex-TMC number 2 Mukul Roy, who joined the BJP in 2017, to lure six or seven ruling party MPs and as many MLAs to its fold. Roy, an astute strategist who is credited with securing poll wins for his old party TMC, has so far been successful in inducting his close aide Khan. He is in close touch with another dozen party heavyweights, many of whom are either sidelined by Mamata or are scam-tainted.

"It's the beginning. Several others like Saumitra are constantly in touch with us and are waiting to join our party. Amit ji has clearly asked us to ensure 22 Lok Sabha seats in Bengal and we're up to it. We'll go all out to meet the target given by him," BJP state president Dilip Ghosh said.

A top BJP leader, who did not wish to be named, said the list of prominent TMC MPs who are in touch with the BJP include Sudip Bandyopadhyay, Satabdi Roy, Aparupa Poddar, Kalyan Banerjee, Ratna De Nag, and Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar.

"Disgruntled party leaders, who have no voice in that party, are willing to join BJP which is a democratic party where everyone's opinion is given same value. Naturally, leaders of other parties get breathing space in BJP," the BJP source said.

Another top BJP leader said, "These TMC MPs are sidelined due to the growing syndicate rule within the ruling party. An MP from North Bengal and an MP from North 24-Parganas who was also a former union minister will join our party soon. Talks are on with a woman MP from Hooghly as she too has shown interest in joining our party."

Meanwhile, the TMC camp is keeping its fingers crossed. Party chief Mamata has, time and again, expressed her concern that a number of leaders and workers might leave and join the BJP.

With Khan's induction into the BJP, this process may now be expedited. It's natural that the BJP, buoyed by its success, will launch a stronger offensives against the TMC.

Meanwhile, Khan said he joined the saffron camp as it is a 'democratic party' and alleged that the TMC was the most 'undemocratic party' in West Bengal.

"The TMC leaders claim that I was inactive and was involved in scams, but no one can ever prove that I am scam-tainted. The violence and tension in Bengal is due to the undemocratic acts of the TMC, said Khan.

"We are well aware that Hazra and Khan were in touch with Mukul Roy for nearly a year. Both of them even met BJP national president Amit Shah in Roy's presence. It was pre-planned that they will join the BJP just before the elections, a TMC leader said on condition of anonymity.

They also said that Roy, along with other state leaders, recently held closed door meetings with these MPs from the ruling party. However, the state leaders declined to comment on the issue.

A source close to Roy also revealed that Shah has asked them to "keep the doors open" for the disgruntled elements leaving the TMC.

Dilip said, "The BJP does not need to indulge in tricks to break TMC. Their leaders who have realised that BJP is the only future in Bengal are themselves showing willingness to join us."

The possibility of TMC MPs joining the BJP has concerned Mamata, who has cautioned party office bearers against the BJP's moves earlier. "The BJP is unleashing money power and I'll not tolerate any indiscipline in our party," Mamata had told her party colleagues at a meeting in October last year. Another reason for Mamata to worry is the growing dissent in a section of party leaders against her nephew and MP Abhishek Banerjee. Khan also cited Abhisek's 'high-handedness' as one of the reasons behind him quitting TMC.

Khan's close friend and Bolpur MP Hazra, meanwhile, claims he is shocked at being expelled from TMC.

"I am shocked. Is using Facebook a crime? I have no idea. Neither there is any allegation of Narada or Saradha case against me, nor I am facing any corruption charges. But suddenly I came to know that the party has expelled me for anti-party activities. I would like to know the definition of anti-party activity from TMC supremo," Hazra said.

Hazra, who earned the ire of his party on several occasions for controversial Facebook posts, had to delete his account from the social media site. The Bolpur MP was served a show cause notice by the TMC in February 2018 for his alleged derogatory remarks about Mahatma Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru.

Meanwhile, Abhishek said, "Why didnt Saumitra Khan switch his allegiance to BJP earlier? I dare them to win an election. The BJP will lose the two seats they have in Bengal. Trinamool will get 42 out of 42 seats in 2019 polls." He even asked Khan to explain how he had spent his MPLAD funds.

Senior cabinet minister and Kolkata mayor Firhad 'Bobby' Hakim said, "The leaders must know that they are MPs because of Mamata Banerjee, even I am Firhad Hakim because she has blessed me. If she withdraws her support, we are all zero."

According to political observer Mrinmoy Basu, such defections are a significant development for BJP mainly because Roy had been responsible for poaching leaders to TMC earlier in 2014.

"Roy is well known for his shrewd political manoeuvres and mass appeal. He is widely credited for TMCs election wins in the past. Furthermore, Abhisheks powers must not overshadow other leaders as there are significant faces in the party," he said.

The political observer feels that these incidents do not augur well for the ruling party and can be a bad omen for TMC which now harbours national ambition.

Atonu Choudhurri is a Kolkata - based freelance writer and a member of 101Reporters.com, a network of grassroots reporters
Nepals largest dam project is caught up in wider regional political play, leaving locals in limbo for decades By Ramesh Bhushal This is the second in a five-part series on the Karnali River. Read part one here, and an overview of the whole trip here. Dal Bahadur Shahi lives in Twinkuna, in Dailekh district of western Nepal. This is the proposed site for Nepals largest hydropower dam  the 900 megawatt (MW) Upper Karnali. He was in his 50s when he first heard that electricity would be produced from the river he used to cross several times a day. The dam was first proposed 30 years ago, but there is still no electricity. Shahis life has not changed, apart from the wrinkles deepening on his face. A few weeks after the withdrawal of the monsoon in early October we were camping on the river sands near his house, as part of our 1,000-kilometre journey along the river from the Tibetan plateau to India. Shahi drove down before sunset to see what we were doing. He walked around our tents a couple of times before coming to talk to us. My arms could conquer the strongest waves of the river back then, but now I dont dare to go near it, he said. He seemed hopeful but tired. Even if it (the hydropower project) is built in the near future, I wont be able to see it as I am getting older. But I hope that our sacrifice of leaving this place for the sake of the nation will not be forgotten, he lowered his voice as the sun disappeared into the mountains.

Image by Nabin Baral

According to Nepals Investment Board, the project will acquire about 50 hectares of private land and 200 hectares of government land. About 250 households will be displaced. In the late 1990s, when the first project survey began, one of the engineers advised Dal Bahadur to buy more land so that he would receive compensation when the dam was built. But Shahi didnt take his advice seriously; he didnt have enough money anyway. There was no road, no mobile signal, no televisions in the area, but he heard on the radio that some projects were underway. Hopes rise and fall Time and again international companies and the Nepali government conducted surveys in the Karnali, but the locals were unaware of the wider water and electricity politics at play. In 2008 an Indian company, GMR one of the biggest infrastructure companies in the country, received a deal to carry out a detailed study, but a decade later the project is yet to take off. The company signed the project development agreement four years ago but has not yet managed to attract investors.

Image by Nabin Baral

I dont think this company has money. It looks like it will sell the licence of this project at higher price to another company and then this project will be delayed for years, another resident, Lokendra Rawat said. Compensation dries up Rawat left his village in 2008 when the company set up a project office. I came here to operate a hotel as the construction work would bring a lot of people. But it looks like I will be too old when it will be implemented, he smiled. Rawat doesnt have legal land rights so he built a small hut near the road illegally and has been staying there in the hope that one day he will have a chance to run a hotel after the dam project starts. Recently the company said it had provided compensation for the 250-odd families whose land will be submerged by the dam but only a few people have received it. Dal Bahadurs two sons were lucky to get compensation for their land at NPR 9 lakhs [USD 9,000] per ropani (about 500 square metres) a few months ago. The company has now halted the compensation process and no one knows why or when it will be resumed. People living at the dam site in Balde about 30 kilometres downstream said that the company is only paying compensation to influential and politically powerful people. Some people have received money and have already bought land and houses in cities in the southern plains, but we havent been given anything yet. The land price will soar in a year. Then how do we buy new land, asked Roshan Buda in Balde. The company listens to people who speak up and threaten them, but they turn deaf ears to us. Political power play The Karnali has always been a high profile political project. The Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, and Nepals then Prime Minister Sushil Koirala signed a deal for the Karnali dam during Modis visit to Nepal in 2014.

Image by Nabin Baral

But investors havent been convinced by the controversial project and its not clear who will buy the electricity. The project is designed to generate power for export to India, but there is no power purchase agreement. Frustrated by the lack of progress in India, last year the company signed a memorandum of understanding with Bangladesh, which could buy the electricity. Later in August this year, Nepal signed a cooperation agreement with Bangladesh aimed to facilitate trade between the two countries. Nepal needs permission from India to take electricity across India to Bangladesh so all three countries need to agree on a deal. But experts say its not easy given the complex geopolitics of the region. However, India recently indicated that its open to trilateral trade by amending its earlier cross border trade regulation. Some speculate that this move to ease the trade of electricity was only to help the Indian company GMR to secure finance for the Karnali dam. Nevertheless, the amendment is also good news for Chinese and other companies who have been eyeing bigger projects in Nepal. There are technical difficulties and we will unlock them, but its certainly a good move, said Barshaman Pun, Nepals water resources minister during a recent press meeting. Rising ambitions The Karnali dam was first envisaged as a 240 MW project in the 1990s, but the project has grown in scale over the decades. GMR agreed to build a 900 MW project in 2008, but some technocrats and activists have blamed Nepals government for selling the project short. The feasibility studies identified the possibility of developing a 4,180 MW project a little further upriver from where the current 900 MW project is planned. Whether this is really possible or not  especially given the fragile geography of the region  is another matter, but the numbers have generated intense speculation. Why was the best and cheapest project handed over to a foreign company who will export the energy, while we have a shortage of power? It should be developed for us, said Ratan Bhandari, a water rights activist from the region. The current project will still be the biggest hydropower investment, worth about USD 1.5 billion. The Upper Karnali has rare hydropower potential, where water can be pushed through a 2.5 kilometre tunnel over a drop of 130 metres, creating a huge generating capacity. This project is often called Nepals jewel in the crown. The jewel has been sold at the rate of coal, Ratna Sansar Shrestha, a hydro-economist told thethirdpole.net two years ago. Dangerous dam building Nepals move towards big dams has come at a time when scientists warn that more extreme weather events like floods and landslides will increase in already fragile mountain regions. These warnings have been largely ignored in Nepal. In next few months, Nepals largest hydropower dam so far, the 456 MW Upper Tamakoshi will be completed in eastern Nepal, whereas another 900 MW Arun III (in the east) and 900 MW Upper Karnali (in the west) are in the offing. But, there is little consideration of the impacts of climate change on Nepals hydropower sector. Several studies have shown increasing temperatures and changes in precipitation and snow have resulted in an increase in the number and intensity of extreme weather events. A 2015 report by International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development reviewed the impacts of climate change in the Hindu Kush Himalayan region, including Nepal: The changing probabilities and magnitudes of extreme events can place additional risk on power generation infrastructure (dams and hydropower plants) as well as secondary infrastructure (roads and transmission lines). Further, hazards associated with shrinking glaciers, such as glacial lake outburst floods, can jeopardise large infrastructure investment, the report stated. Other studies have quantified glacier melt in Nepal, including a 2014 study that revealed Nepals glaciers have shrunk by 24 percent and its ice reserves by 29 percent over the past three decades. However, developers say that current knowledge about the impacts of climate change on hydropower is inadequate and this hinders better planning. While reports say that hydropower projects will be affected they lack the details as to what degree, and what precisely to take into consideration, said Kumar Pandey, vice-president of the Independent Power Producers Association Nepal (IPPAN)  the national agency of private hydro investors. Investors need accurate information with evidence at microscale so that they can use it while developing the project, added Pandey. This may be an unrealistic expectation. Climate science is complex, however, there are clear indications that large infrastructures will be impacted if current changes in temperature and precipitation in the region is not taken into account, said Ajaya Dixit, executive director at ISET-Nepal. Its not only climate change, but seismologists are also warning that western Nepal is waiting for another big earthquake after the 2015 earthquake that killed more than 10,000 people. There are two dangers lurking beneath the Himalaya: one is the unfinished business of 2015, and the other is a looming mega quake in western Nepal, reported Nepali Times recently. Large hydroprojects like the Upper Karnali would be impacted if it happens but these issues are ignored in a hydro sector dominated by politics. Rivers, fish and tourism suffer If built, this will be the first hydropower project on the Karnali, the countrys longest river which originates near Mount Kailash in Tibet and becomes Ghaghara in India before it meets the Ganga at the border of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar.

Image by Nabin Baral

Nepal has sought to aggressively develop hydropower over the last few years. The country currently generates 1,100 MW of hydropower energy and the Nepal Electricity Authority recently said that about 750 MW of electricity will be added to the main grid by mid-2019. The countrys largest project in eastern Nepal is the 456 MW Upper Tamakoshi which is due to be connected to the grid next year. However, scientists and activists say current hydropower development in the country is haphazard and poorly planned, threatening river ecosystems and destroying river-based tourism. Megh Alethe team leader of our scientific expedition  believes the main stream of the Karnali should be left free-flowing, We can bring millions of tourists here while other tributaries could be used for electricity, he said. The Karnali is a world-class river for white water rafting. Megh Ale, President, Nepal River Conservation Trust from thethirdpole on Vimeo. Tourism is not the only thing suffering. Its clear that aquatic lives have been threatened by hydropower across the country and if it continues many species will go extinct soon, said Deep Narayan Shah, a researcher from Nepals Tribhuvan Universitys Central Department of Environmental Science. Nepals hydropower policy has a mandatory provision for developers to maintain 10 percent flow of water downstream around the year, but this has not been implemented and monitored. I have been to several rivers during my field studies and have found that these provisions havent been implemented except in a few cases. In addition, hydropower projects could be constructed in more environment-friendly ways by investing in fish ladders but these arent obligatory measures in the policies, said Shah. Most problematic are the flip-flops by decision makers. The chief minister of Karnali province, Mahendra Bahadur Shahi, said there has to be greater understanding about river ecosystems and suffering of people, who are critically dependent on the river and its resources, like fish. We may revisit the agreement done with GMR and I have told them that it wont go ahead as agreed, he said on the banks of Karnali River while spending a night with our scientific expedition team, who were following the river from the source in Tibet to the confluence in India. Mahendra Bahadur Shahi, Chief Minister, Karnali province from thethirdpole on Vimeo. However a few weeks later Shahi told journalists that he was willing to waive taxes for the developers. Without developing large hydroelectric projects, Karnali province cannot become prosperous, he said to The Kathmandu Post. Hydropower investors agree that projects have been implemented on an ad hoc basis, but argue it is not their fault. Its not the investors who decide where to build hydropower. Its the government who has to come with a plan, said Pandey of IPPAN. I think there has to be a serious debate and a holistic water use plan for the country that should include all perspectives before its too late, he added. Bleak future It is common practice for companies to hold licences for years and then sell them to another company. Late last year, GMR (the same company that holds the licence for Upper Karnali) pulled out of the 600 MW Upper Marsyangdi project in north-central Nepal after holding the licence for years. A consortium of Nepali and Chinese investors bought shares from GMR just as work was due to start. The parliamentary committee of Nepal has formed a probe committee to investigate further. Chinas emerging role China is becoming a new but important player in Nepals tense energy politics, dominated by India for decades. The past few years have been tumultuous in the realm of Nepal-China energy cooperation as the two biggest projects in pipeline  the USD 2.5 billion Budhigandaki and the USD 1.8 billion West Seti  were surrounded by controversy. Earlier last year the Nepal government announced that the 750 MW West Seti project  on one of the tributaries of the Karnali in western Nepal  would be built by its own companies, while the licence of the project had already been given to China Three Gorges Company (CTGC). Though Nepali officials tried to clarify they wanted to work with the company afterwards, negotiations failed, resulting in the company withdrawing from the project. The 1,200 MW Budhigandaki project in central Nepal also had a series of setbacks as the Nepal government awarded the project to Chinas Ghezhuoba company, only to scrap it a year later, and then re-award the contract to the same company.

Image by Nabin Baral

This latest row has increased suspicion among locals waiting for the Karnali project to start. The most productive time of my life has gone waiting for this project to kick off, said Bal Bahadur Shahi at Ramaghat, three kilometres down from the dam site on the Karnali highway. Frustrations are growing and locals are in a mood to fight back. We will wait at least for one more year. If the project is still not implemented, we will ask the government to take it over, Shahi added. This story is jointly published by thethirdpole.net and Nepali Times. The Third Pole is a multilingual platform dedicated to promoting information and discussion about the Himalayan watershed and the rivers that originate there. This report was originally published on thethirdpole.net and has been reproduced here with permission.
Two terrorists including top Al-Badr commander Zeenat-ul-Islam have been killed in an encounter with security forces in the Kulgam district of Jammu and Kashmir, police said on Sunday.

Srinagar: Two terrorists including top Al-Badr commander Zeenat-ul-Islam have been killed in an encounter with security forces in the Kulgam district of Jammu and Kashmir, police said on Sunday.

"The two militants killed in the Katpora encounter have been identified as Zeenat-ul-Islam and Shakeel Dar. Both were involved in several terror crimes," a police official said.

Zeenat, a category A++ militant, had switched over to the Al-Badr outfit from Hizbul Mujahideen in November 2018 following an agreement between the two outfits to strengthen the Al-Badr. Zeenat was active since 2015, the police official said.

He said security forces launched a cordon and search operation in Katpora area of Yaripora in south Kashmir's Kulgam district on Saturday evening after receiving specific information about the presence of militants in the area.

As the forces were conducting the searches, the militants fired on them, he said. As per policy, the militants were given an opportunity to surrender, but they continued to fire, the official said. The forces retaliated, ensuing an encounter in which the two militants were killed, he said.

Arms and ammunition were recovered from the encounter site, the official said, adding, no collateral damage has been reported during the encounter.
Retired Supreme Court judge AK Patnaik, who was supervising the CVC enquiry into graft charges levelled against Alok Verma, said that there was no evidence against him. He also said that the decision of the Narendra Modi-led selection committee to remove Verma as CBI Director was hasty.

Retired Supreme Court Justice AK Patnaik, who was supervising the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) enquiry into corruption charges against former CBI Director Alok Verma, told The Indian Express that there was "no evidence of corruption" against Verma, and that the decision to sack him was "hasty."

Criticising the decision of the Narendra Modi-led selection committee to remove Verma as CBI Director, the newspaper quoted Patnaik as saying that the CVC's findings cannot alone be taken as the "final word" on the matter.

According to The Telegraph, Patnaik also said that the findings were those of the CVC and "not mine".

"Yes, I have made it clear. They are not my findings. The findings are of the CVC. I only supervised the findings. I have addressed a letter to the Supreme Court also, saying that I am making it clear they are not my findings, Justice Patnaik told the newspaper on Friday.

Patnaik's comments come a day after Verma refused to take charge as DG Fire Service, Civil Defence and Home Guards. Verma, in a letter to the Secretary of The Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT), had said that he was resigning because his tenure was unfairly cut short and he was not given a chance to explain himself, before the selection panel gave the final verdict on his fate.

"Natural justice was scuttled and the entire process was turned upside down in ensuring that the undersigned is removed from the post of Director, CBI. The Selection Committee did not consider the fact that the entire CVC report is premised on charges alluded by a complainant who is presently under investigation by the CBI," Verma wrote, apparently referring to his deputy Rakesh Asthana.

"The selection committee has not provided the undersigned an opportunity to explain the details as recorded by the CVC before arriving at the decision," Verma wrote in his resignation letter.

The former CBI chief had previously said about his dismissal that he was transferred on the basis of "false, unsubstantiated and frivolous allegations" made by only one person who was inimical to him.

"CBI must function without external influences. I have tried to uphold the integrity of the institution while attempts were being made to destroy it. The same can be seen from the orders of the central government and the CVC dated 23 October, 2018, which were without jurisdiction and were set aside," he said.

The three member selection panel  consisting of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Leader of Opposition (LoP) in Lok Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge and Justice AK Sikri of the Supreme Court, who was nominated by Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoion  Thursday transferred Verma to DG Fire Service, Civil Defence and Home Guards for the remaining 21-day period of his tenure. While, Modi and Justice Sikri agreed that Verma should not return to CBI, Kharge's was the lone dissenting note claiming that CVC report findings were based on circumstantial evidence, and therefore insufficient to oust Verma.
When it takes effect, the governments new move raises the level of quota to 60 percent.

Editor's note: This article is the second in a two-part series analysing the legitimacy of the Centre's decision to provide 10 percent reservation for economically weaker sections of the general category in government jobs and educational institutions.

Read part II of the series here.

***

On 30 November, 1948, when the Drafting Committee of the Constitution met under the chairmanship of BR Ambedkar, he made a significant point.

The chief architect of the Constitution said: Supposing, for instance, reservations were made for a community or a collection of communities, the total of which came to something like 70 percent...could anybody say that the reservation of 30 percent as open to general competition would be satisfactory (from the point of view of equal opportunities)? It cannot be, in my judgement. Therefore, the seats to be reserved...must be confined to a minority of seats. It is then only that the first principle (equal opportunities) could find its place in the Constitution...

It was primarily this argument that prevailed over the opponents of any kind of reservations. The result was a Constitution that guaranteed both equal opportunities as well as reservations that, on the face of it, went against the principle of equality. But reservations  or protective discrimination  were meant to be a temporary measure to help bring unequals to the level of equals. A succinct summary of this philosophy appears at the top of the Mandal Commissions 1980 report on backward classes in these words:

There is equality only among equals. To equate unequals is to perpetuate inequality.

In other words, what the Constitutions founding fathers had in mind were two dangers India faced: First, if there were no reservations, even if these were for some period of time, it was tough to achieve the ultimate goal of equality. And as Ambedkar said and many agreed with, if there were too many reservations which were discriminatory in nature, there was the danger of the country violating the principle of equality.

Its the second danger that India is being once again pushed into by the Narendra Modi governments constitutional amendment that proposes 10 percent reservations for economically weaker sections.

Going by the judicial wisdom pronounced with great care in the 70 years since Independence, there are at least four reasons why the Modi governments move, besides being morally retrograde, goes against the very spirit of the Constitution  even if it conforms to the letter because of the amendment  and may be struck down by the Supreme Court if its challenged.

The move crosses the 50 percent barrier for total reservations, which has come to be regarded as a rule enforced by the Supreme Court. Reservations cant be doled out on the exclusive basis of economic backwardness, as Supreme Court and other social science experts have been pointing out ad nauseam for long. Reservations cant be turned into a poverty-alleviation programme. Only those sections of society who are under-represented in the government service deserve reservations. The very farcical nature of the criteria to determine the so-called economic backwardness makes almost everybody eligible for the new category of reservations.

Breaching the ceiling

When it takes effect, the governments new move raises the level of reservations to 60 percent, including the 50 percent available for Scheduled Castes/Tribes and Other Backward Classes (OBCs).

This goes higher than the 50 percent ceiling or less on reservations that the Supreme Court came up with as far ago as 1962. In whats known as the Balaji case relating to reservation of 68 percent of engineering and medical seats for SC/STs and BCs in Mysore state (as Karnataka was then called), the Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court said that reservations beyond permissible and legitimate limits is a fraud on the Constitution.

The verdict said: A special provision...like reservation of posts and appointments...must be within reasonable limits...but if under the guise of making a special provision, State reserves practically all the seats available in all the colleges, that clearly would be subverting the object of Art. 15(4)...we are reluctant to say definitely what would be a proper provision to make. Speaking generally and in a broad way, a special provision should be less than 50%; how much less than 50% would depend upon the relevant prevailing circumstances in each case.

In the Devadasan case of 1963, the court upheld this limit even in the case of jobs under Article 16(4). Since then, the 50 percent ceiling has come to be considered a settled view of the Supreme Court.

It was on the basis of this that the Mandal Commission limited the reservations for OBCs in its 1980 report to 27 percent so that along with the quotas for Scheduled Castes/Tribes, the total came to 49.5 percent. The commission, in fact, said that the backward classes it had identified in the country accounted for 52 percent of the population. (Its another matter that estimates by other agencies, however, pegged the proportion of Indias OBC population at 32 percent or 29.8 percent.)

But the top courts settled view in the 1962 Balaji case came under question after the Supreme Court verdict in the Thomas case of 1975. In the case relating to Kerala, Justice SM Fazalali of the seven-judge bench said that the 50 percent limit was only a rule of caution and does not exhaust all categories. And in the 1985 Supreme Court verdict in the Vasanth Kumar case, judges differed on whether the Thomas case overruled the 50 percent cap. Some claim that the remarks made in the Thomas case were obiter dicta (by the way) but not ratio decidendi (rationale for decision).

Then came the much quoted judgment of 1992 by the nine-judge bench headed by the then Chief Justice MN Venkatachaliah, in the Indra Sawhney case. This verdict upheld the 50 percent ceiling, though it said the limit could be stretched in extraordinary situations. It said: In doing so, extreme caution is to be exercised and a special case made out.

Supporting the 50% rule in the Nagaraj case of 2006, the apex court warned that if the extent of reservation went beyond cut-off point, the channel of open competition would get choked, leading to reverse discrimination.

The Modi government is not on a strong legal ground when it claims that the Supreme Court ceiling is applicable only to caste-based reservations. Thats because one of the compelling reasons for the 50 percent limit had nothing to do with caste; it was the reduced availability of opportunities for the general pool that worried judges.

Besides, a new category of reservations not based on caste but on poverty was struck down in 1991, when the PV Narasimha Rao government had a go at it. Unlike what Modis supporters would have us believe, the court didnt quash it only on technical grounds.

Author tweets @sprsasdindia
(CNN Philippines, January 12)  Two remnants of the ISIS-influenced Maute group surrendered to the military Friday in Lanao del Sur, authorities confirmed.

The two, who were unnamed as of posting time, surrendered to the 55th Infantry Battalion in Pagayawan, Lanao del Sur. They reportedly belonged to the group of Maute leader Owayda Benito Marohombsar or "Abu Dar."

"Abu Dar" emerged as the leader of a group of Maute-ISIS remnants following the Marawi City siege in 2017.

"Based on our initial custodial debriefing, the two were tired of running and evading our troops," 55th Infantry Battalion Commander Lt. Col Ian Ignes said in a statement.

"Our combat operation will be relentless and continuous so as not to hamper the recovery, reconstruction and rehabilitation of Marawi," said Col. Remo Brawner of the 103rd Infantry Brigade Commander based in Marawi.

The two Maute remnants also surrendered a caliber KG 9 sub-machine gun and a caliber .45 pistol.

This is a developing story.
Karachi police chief Amir Shaikh claimed that the attack on the Chinese consulate in the Pakistani city was planned in Afghanistan and executed with the help of RAW.

Karachi/New Delhi: Pakistani police on Friday accused Indian Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) of being involved in the November terrorist attack on the Chinese consulate in Karachi, a charge rejected by India as "fabricated and scurrilous".

Karachi police said they have arrested five suspects from a separatist Baloch group for the 23 November attack on the Chinese consulate that killed four people, which they claimed was carried out to "sabotage" the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

At a press conference, Karachi police chief Amir Shaikh said the men arrested confessed to their role in facilitating the three attackers, who were also killed during the attack on the consulate. Shaikh claimed that the attack was planned in Afghanistan and executed with the help of RAW.

Reacting to the Pakistani claim, a spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs in New Delhi said: "We have seen statements in the Pakistani media attributed to the police chief of Karachi making false allegations against India for the terrorist attack on the Chinese consulate in Karachi in November 2018. We completely reject these fabricated and scurrilous attempts to levy accusations on India. Instead of maliciously pointing fingers at others for such terrorist incidents, Pakistan needs to look inwards and undertake credible action against support to terrorism and terror infrastructure in its territories".

Shaikh said the detainees were linked to the Baloch Liberation Army, a Balochistan-based group which had claimed responsibility for the attack at the time.

Three militants tried to storm the consulate in the city's posh Clifton area but security forces foiled their attempt by killing all of them in a gunbattle. The attack also killed two police officials and two visa applicants.

"The aim was to sabotage the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor and create the impression in China that Karachi is not safe," he said.

India has opposed the CPEC as it passes through Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). The ambitious USD 60 billion CPEC project connects China's northwestern Xinjiang region to Pakistan's Arabian Sea port of Gwadar.

India had strongly condemned the terror attack on the Chinese consulate and said such strikes only strengthen the resolve of the international community to combat terrorism in all its forms and manifestations.

"There can be no justification whatsoever for any act of terrorism. The perpetrators of this heinous attack should be brought to justice expeditiously," the Ministry of External Affairs had said in a statement last November.

Shaikh said that police arrested five facilitators and claimed that a probe based on their interrogation and other evidence proved the involvement of India.

He said the terrorists spent four to five months in observing the consulate and its working. "They (terrorists) used to sit in the visa section of the consulate to observe when the gates open and other details," he said.

He said that the weapons were transported from Quetta to Karachi in a train and were hidden in the engine of a boat.

Shaikh said the mastermind of the attack, Aslam alias Acho, was reportedly killed in a suicide blast in Afghanistan. However, he said he was not ready to believe it until there was proof of Aslam's death.

He said it was an old tactic of militants to show a wanted rebel killed in order to divert the attention of security agencies.
Aparna Pande took a few questions from Firstpost on the sidelines of the fourth edition of the Raisina Dialogue in New Delhi

Aparna Pande, research fellow and director of Washington DC-based Hudson Institutes Initiative on the Future of India and South Asia, is the author of two books  Explaining Pakistans Foreign Policy: Escaping India and From Chanakya to Modi: Evolution of Indias Foreign Policy  that traces the civilisational mores and notes the continuity in Indias foreign policy through the decades. Pande, also a fellow of the Center on Islam, Democracy, and the Future of the Muslim World, has a major interest is South Asia with a special focus on India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, foreign and security policy.

Pande took a few questions from Firstpost on the sidelines of the fourth edition of the Raisina Dialogue in New Delhi on Indias policy in Afghanistan, India-Pakistan relations, the India-Pakistan-China dynamic and Prime Minister Narendra Modis foreign policy. Excerpts of the interview follow:

What does India want in Afghanistan? In what way may Indian objectives get affected in the event of a drawdown of American presence in Kabul?

We want a politically and economically stable country that will not have safe havens for terrorists who may attack us and an Afghanistan that is not under Pakistani influence: at least as long as the Pakistani establishment runs that country and not civilians. To achieve this objective, we have tried different things. Our first policy has been  right from the 1950s, even before the Taliban came along  to be friendly with the Afghan government. In 1950, India and the Royal Government of Afghanistan signed the Treaty of Friendship. Except with the Taliban, our policy has been to be friendly with all governments  even with (Mohammad) Najibullah  and post 2001-2002 as well. Our problem is that our options are limited. We will never send troops. The only place where we send them is South Asia or on UN peacekeeping missions. So, if you dont send troops, how do you ensure the government is stable? As of now, we have been dependent on the US and international forces. If the Americans withdraw 7,000 of the 14,000 troops (which may or may not happen) will the Afghan government be able to provide security? I believe we will stay right to the end. If you recall, India did not leave almost right till Najibullahs hanging. We even tried to get him out, but didnt succeed. But we can stay only as long as we can guarantee the safety of our consulates, our embassy and our people. I believe our objectives would be affected. Our development assistance may come down. We may scale down our presence. It all depends on how many troops are withdrawn and the unfolding security situation.

So a change in US Afghanistan policy may change ours in terms of reduction in personnel and reshaping of objectives?

As of now, I dont believe the Americans will really withdraw all the troops. Sometimes one needs a little shock in the system to get it to act.

To whom are the US trying to get this message across?

I think it is aimed at all actors. It is a message to allies: that you need to do more. The US is also trying to tell its people we are not going to stay there forever, so dont worry about the troops. There is bipartisan support for a withdrawal in the US. The question is how important is getting out versus ensuring the long term. While there might be pressure on Trump to withdraw, you dont want an Iraq-like situation either where the Islamic State filled the power vacuum. So even if Trump is more inclined towards a pullout, the US administration, the Department of Defence will be wary of a fallout. There are enough people even within the Trump administration who think leaving at this stage will precipitate a crisis. There are people who want a drawdown. And those who say a drawdown will cause problems for us and may lead to a second 9/11.

Amid this uncertainty, what would be the prudent thing for India to do?

Theres only one thing India must continue to do. Make sure that it remains close and friendly to the Afghan government. Without the Afghan governments approval, no peace or negotiations can move forward. As long as India is on the right side of Kabul, it will have a say and a stake. Even if others keep India out of the loop, Kabul will ensure India remains a stakeholder. Nobody knows the endgame. Our advice to New Delhi would be to stay close to Kabul and make sure that the Afghanistan government understands India will be with Kabul and that it has no exit strategy. The Afghans must understand that India is here for them, not just for strategic rivalry with Pakistan.

What about the peace talks?

India is being kept out of the talks. The Afghan government has also been kept out, in some cases. Indias policy has always been that any peace process should be Afghan-led, Afghan-owned and Afghan-controlled. We are the elephant in the room nobody wants to talk about. If the aim of the negotiations is to truly have peace in Afghanistan, then I dont believe these talks will really go anywhere because the Taliban is waiting for the Americans to leave.

Lets turn to the trajectory of Indias relationship with Pakistan. Where do you think this is going?

Nowhere. There is a massive underlying mistrust in our relationship. The Indian side has been arguing for the past seven decades that we didnt want Partition, but we accept it. We wish you well. Be stable and dont cause problems for us. The Pakistani side has said consistently you didnt want Partition, you havent accepted the creation of Pakistan and you want to break us up. You took away East Pakistan (Bangladesh); you would like Afghanistan to take Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Iran to take Balochistan. You want Kashmir. India honours agreements: whether it is the Shimla Agreement, the 1960 Indus Water Treaty, or the 1988 exchange of nuclear facilities list. Pakistan dishonours agreements. It says Shimla was signed after a war was lost, so we dont accept that agreement. In 1965 over Rann of Kutch, India under Lal Bahadur Shastri for the first part agreed to have negotiated discussions: that was deemed as a weakness which led to war. Kargil was a stab in the back. India restarted the dialogue process and Mumbai attacks happened in 2010. The Indian psyche is that this is the Indian subcontinent. We are all civilisationally Indian. We have a 5,000-year history. We should live together. We are separate countries, but we should be able to trade with everyone: from Pakistan, Afghanistan, Nepal, to central Asia and ASEAN. Expand tourism. For instance, Modis neighbourhood first policy is essentially travel, tourism and trade. The problem is that the Pakistan establishment (the military-intelligence network) knows that we are one people, fears that we are one people because the minute something like that is allowed, their relevance declines.

What do you make of Imran Khans statement that India spurned its peace overtures?

One doesnt really know what Prime Minister Imran Khan wants because he doesnt have any consistent policy in this respect. He has come to power through a rigged election. Every Pakistani PM who has spoken of peace with India has either been exiled, assassinated or jailed. He speaks of peace when than underlying mistrust hasnt been addressed. Kartarpur Corridor doesnt help India-Pakistan peace. All it does is raises security concerns for India. Imran talks about peace overtures and increased trade, but Pakistan hasnt been able to give India Non-Discriminatory Market Access (NDMA) to facilitate trade whereas New Delhi accorded the Most Favored Nation on Pakistan for the past 25 years. In his memoir, former Pakistan president Ayub Khan expressed fears that if increased trade leads to better people-to-people ties then Pakistanis will forget about Kashmir. Pakistani businesses want trade more than Indians because they get a bigger market. But if trade, medical tourism, travel take place, who hurts the most? The one institution in Pakistan which has the largest resources: the military. The civilian government in Pakistan has tried. In 2008, the Pakistan Peoples Party government changed the name of MFN to NDMA, their Cabinet approved it, they took it to parliament and then they couldnt push it forward due to Mumbai attacks. Nawaz Sharif tried and failed. So, Pakistan military has a vested interest in blocking closer ties, and Imrans overtures are nothing more than rhetoric.

Will Chinas increasing influence over Pakistan will have a stabilising effect?

China would like to protect its own interests and create a safer space for its workers and people, but the reasons why stability may remain elusive are threefold. First, China has no interest in asking Pakistan to act against groups that attack Afghanistan or India. The more unstable India is in dealing with terror, the better it is for China. We have to worry about a two-front strategy. Second, Pakistans economic burden is set to become heavier as it gets ready to repay loans to China. It doesnt have the money. Does it borrow from China to repay China, or make a commitment to Saudi Arabia or the UAE on sending troops to Yemen that may lead to domestic unrest? International Monetary Fund may impose steep conditionalities and force Pakistan to open up the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) books. Besides, if you look at the CPEC master plan, instead of creating resources in Pakistan it is geared more towards siphoning off gains. So, while the basic aim of CPEC may have been to stabilise Pakistan economically, I dont think thats how its going to play out. Theres a third problem for Pakistan. Indias identity is based on plurality, multiethnicity, diversity. Pakistani identity has been reduced to a Punjabi, Sunni male. Pashtuns dont feel themselves to be a part of it. Balochs never did. Sindhis resent it. Ahmadis or Shias face problems. This collective resentment is pushing Pakistan towards an internal combustive zone.

Whats your take on Narendra Modis foreign policy as he faces reelection?

I believe our foreign policy stresses on continuity through the years, but Modi has brought in enthusiasm and passion. The last time one saw this passion was in Jawaharlal Nehru: somebody who believed the more India remains connected to the world, the more it will benefit. India needed people to know about it. Modi wants the world to know that we have the potential. We have the military to be a security provider. We are not merely asking from the world, but we are offering to the world. Modi pitches India as a big market, a big country, a friend and ally with whom one can do business. Modis problems, however, remain the same. If I want someone to come and invest in the country, I have to open it up. He has not been able to provide the sort of reforms expected of him. There have been reforms in the form of Goods and Services Tax, Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code. But land, labour capital  the three main area for businesses  have not seen deep reforms. An even bigger problem is the military, which needed modernisation at least two decades ago. The Indian Army must be built not for today but 2050. Our procurement process and decision-making remain slow and convoluted and unfortunately extremely politicised.
The killing of a 16-year-old girl in Gaya has taken a new turn, with family members of the deceased alleging that they were subjected to third-degree torture

Patna: The gruesome killing of a 16-year-old girl in Bihar's Gaya district has taken a new turn, with the family members of the deceased alleging that they were subjected to third-degree torture to admit the incident to be a case of honour killing.

The deceased girl's elder sister told mediapersons on Saturday that the police built pressure on her father and other family members to confess that the victim had returned home on the night of 31 December and was subsequently thrashed for eloping with her fiance on 28 December.

The victim's elder sister also alleged that her mother was given electric shocks at the local police station where they were detained for interrogation. "I was also badly beaten up by the men in uniform. But my mother was tortured in a separate room and was given electric shocks," she told reporters.

She further said, "I gave a false statement to the police out of fear." The police, on the other hand, claimed that the deceased's eight -year-old sister told the interrogators that the victim had returned home on 31 December and was handed over to a family acquaintance by her father.

The family members said they couldn't oppose the police action as the cops had threatened them with dire consequences. The victim's elder sister alleged, "The police had threatened that they would get me declared mentally challenged."

The allegation of the victim's sister against the police has raised eyebrows. The residents of the area, who mostly belong to the weaver community, have decided to fight for justice. They have launched an indefinite agitation and demanded a CBI probe into the incident. Around 1,200 handlooms in the locality have stopped production since Friday as a mark of protest. People of Gaya also took out candle marches on Wednesday and Thursday.

The convenor of Manpur Vikas Sangarsh Morcha Rajeev Kumar Kanhaiya said that the police described the incident to be a case of honour killing without any evidence. "The murder weapon has not so far been recovered and even the place of occurrence is yet to be ascertained. On what basis is the police terming it to be a case of honour killing?," he asked.

Raising questions about the police investigation, the deceased's neighbour said, "Will any father allow anybody to chop off his teenaged daughter's breast? The torn clothes of the victim suggested that she had been gangraped and her body was dumped to destroy evidence. The police is trying to hush up the incident as the goons involved in it have political backing."

The chairman of the Manpur Cotton Industry Committee Prem Narain Patwa expressed surprise over the police action and said that the police jumped to the conclusion without any evidence. "The police is working under political pressure," he added.

Patwa also expressed surprise over the silence maintained by the Opposition party leaders on the incident. "Had the incident taken place in the national capital or the state capital, it would have snowballed into a major issue," he said.

The police on Friday formally arrested the girl's father and his friend, and produced them in the local court, which sent them to 14-day judicial custody. They have been booked on charges of hatching a conspiracy to eliminate the minor girl, who had gone missing on 28 December. The girl's mutilated body was found on the Gaya-Khijarsarai road on 6 January.

The girl's father had lodged a missing case with the Buniyadganj police station in Gaya district on 4 January after his frantic search for her went in vain. Two days later, her body was recovered with her head, breast and one hand chopped off with a sharp object. Her head was found about three hundred metres away from the decomposed body.

Gaya senior superintendent of police (SSP) Rajeev Mishra said that the police investigation is proceeding in the right direction. He refuted the allegation levelled by the victim's kin, and said that the police would act on the basis of evidence and not merely on statements.

"The case is under investigation. The autopsy report is awaited. We will be able to make any comment on the cause of death only after the receipt of the post-mortem report," Mishra added.

Gaya sub-divisional police officer (SDPO) Abhijeet Singh said that three more suspects have been detained for interrogation. According to police sources, the person who was said to be the fiance of the victim has also been picked up for interrogation.

The family members of the victim's acquaintance, who was arrested by the police in the case on Friday, however, said that he had gone on a picnic tour with around 50-60 residents of the district on 31 December and returned to Gaya the next day. "How can he be involved in the killing?," they asked.

Taking a dig at the law and order situation in the state, former Rajya Sabha member and senior RJD leader Shivanand Tiwary said, "The fear of law is gone. Heinous crime such as murders and rapes have become the order of the day. The Gaya incident is no exception."

Bihar recorded a total of 1,304 incidents of rape in 2018. In 2005, when Chief Minister Nitish Kumar came to power, 973 cases of rape were reported in the state.

(Ramashankar Mishra is a Patna - based freelance writer and a member of 101Reporters.com)
Two army personnel, including a Major, were killed in an IED blast along the LoC in Nowshera sector of Jammu and Kashmir's Rajouri district. In another incident, a porter in the Indian Army was also killed in Rajouri's Sunderbani when Pakistani troops continued ceasefire violations.

Two Indian Army personnel, including a Major-rank officer, were killed in an improvised explosive device (IED) blast along the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir's Rajouri district on Friday. The IED was planted by suspected militants in foot-track along the LoC to target soldiers patrolling the borderline in the Laam belt of Rajouri's Nowshera sector, officials said.

Sources told Hindustan Times that the attack involved two IED explosions, and the Major was killed in the second one when he went to rescue a soldier hit by the first blast.

The blasts fatally injured the two soldiers, identified by The Indian Express as Major SG Nair and rifleman Jiwan Gurang. They were rushed to a local hospital, where they succumbed to injuries.

According to the Hindustan Times report, three other soldiers have also sustained injuries in the blast. In view of the incident, soldiers have been alerted against IED blasts and attacks by the Border Action Teams (BATs) of the Pakistan Army.

In another incident, a porter in the Indian Army was also killed in Rajouri on Friday when Pakistani troops violated the ceasefire agreement on the fourth consecutive day along the LoC in the district.

Army porter Hemraj was critically injured when Pakistani troops resorted to unprovoked firing in Sunderbani sector of Rajouri district, PRO Defence Lt Col Devender Anand said. "Army porter Hemraj was shot at and grievously injured. The individual was provided with immediate resuscitation and medical aid. He, however, also later succumbed to the gunshot wounds. The army authorities have promised all possible assistance to the family of martyred army porter," Lt Col Anand said.

Pakistan troops also resorted to firing and shelling along the LoC in forward areas of the Poonch district, the officials said. Indian troops guarding the borderline retaliated strongly, resulting in an exchange of fire on both sides, they added.

Both the incidents come as Pakistan accused India of not responding to its repeated offers for peace talks. Earlier this week, Prime Minister Imran Khan told Turkish news agency TRT World: "India was offered to take one step forward and we shall take two. But India rejected Pakistan's offer for talks several times."

India on Friday refuted Khan's claims, saying there was "no seriousness" in Islamabad's offer for talks as it continued to extend "explicit support" to terror organisations and was now trying to mainstream them.

Despite repeated calls for restraint and adherence to the ceasefire understanding of 2003 for maintaining peace and tranquility at India-Pakistan flag meetings, Pakistan continues to violate the ceasefire, officials said.

On Thursday, Pakistan resorted to firing and shelling in two sectors of Rajouri and Poonch resulting in injuries to an army major and a BSF jawan in the Tarkundi forward area of Balakote sector.

On Wednesday, Pakistan troops resorted to firing in the Kalal forward area in Nowshera sector of Rajouri district besides shelling in Poonch sector, the officials said.

General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Northern Command, Lt Gen Ranbir Singh had on Monday visited forward areas along the LoC and reviewed security situation of Jammu and Rajouri districts.

Lt Gen Singh accompanied by the White Knight Corps commander Lt Gen Paramjit Singh also visited forward posts of Rajouri and Akhnoor sectors to review the operational preparedness and the prevailing security situation, the officials said.

With inputs from agencies
The Jammu and Kashmir BJP termed former IAS officer Shah Faesal's remarks at his press conference on Friday day as lies.

Jammu: The Jammu and Kashmir BJP on Friday termed former IAS officer Shah Faesal's remarks at his press conference earlier in the day a "bundle of lies" and motivated.

"The press conference of Faesal is a bundle of lies. His statement is not only false but motivated to create a wedge in the peacefully living society," state BJP chief spokesperson Sunil Sethi said. He has chosen to play in the hands of forces inimical to India, Sethi claimed.

Faesal, who quit the Indian Administrative Services on Thursday, had told reporters the circumstances in Jammu and Kashmir and in the rest of the country made him realise that this was the time to speak up.

"By the resignation, I am putting across a small act of defiance to remind the central government of its responsibilities towards the people of Jammu and Kashmir...to protest the lack of political initiative to assuage the hurt feelings of people of Kashmir," Faesal, who had topped the civil services exam in 2010, told reporters.

He said he would not join any mainstream political party "as of now" but may contest the upcoming parliamentary election.

The state BJP spokesperson responded to his remarks, saying, "It is this great country which gives opportunities to ungrateful persons like Shah Faesal to top prestigious civil services because here merit is counted rather than belief in religion."

"Anybody has right to enter politics but politics which has foundation on deceit and misinformation will never pay," Sethi added.
US President Donald Trump on Friday assured H-1B visa holders, an overwhelming majority of whom are Indian IT professionals, that his administration will soon bring changes that will give them certainty to stay in America and a 'potential path to citizenship'.

US President Donald Trump on Friday assured H-1B visa holders, an overwhelming majority of whom are Indian IT professionals, that his administration will soon bring changes that will give them certainty to stay in America and a "potential path to citizenship".

Trump on Friday tweeted that his administration is planning an overhaul of US policies on H-1B visa and will encourage talented and highly-skilled people to pursue career options in the US.

"H1-B holders in the US can rest assured that changes are soon coming which will bring both simplicity and certainty to your stay, including a potential path to citizenship. We want to encourage talented and highly skilled people to pursue career options in the US," Trump tweeted on Friday.

Trump's tweet comes as a good news for Indian professionals, especially in the IT sector, who currently have to wait for nearly a decade to get a Green Card or permanent legal residency.

In the first two years of his presidency, Trump administration made it tough for the H-1B visa holders over their overstay, extension and issuing of new visa to them.

The H-1B visa, most sought-after among Indian IT professionals, is a non-immigrant visa that allows US companies to employ foreign workers in speciality occupations that require theoretical or technical expertise.

Trump's major announcement on H-1B visas  through twitter, without any further details  comes as part of his known preference to attract and retain best talent in the US.

In recent weeks, he has been talking about a merit-based immigration system to reduce overall immigration to the US.

Last month, Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen told lawmakers that the US should "endeavour to select the very best" among the applicants under the H-1B foreign work visa programme.

The number of H-1B petitions routinely exceeds the statutory cap, and among that pool of petitions, we should endeavour to select the very best for the privilege of coming to the US for work, the Homeland Security Secretary said.

The Trump administration, she said, has stepped up its measures to detect employment-based visa fraud and abuse, but certain non-immigrant visa programmes need reform in order to protect American workers better.

In November, US Citizenship and Immigration Services had proposed major changes in the H-1B application process which it said is aimed at awarding this visa to the most skilled and highest paid foreign workers.

Under the proposed rule, companies seeking foreign workers on H-1B visa  under the Congressional mandated annual caps -- would first have to electronically register with US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) during a designated registration period.

Trump's tweet, given that his administration had created an image of being anti-H-1B visa, came as a surprise to many and several H-1B visa holders from India took to social media to welcome the move.

"We see some hope. President Sir we would be very happy if you can clear the humongous Green Card backlog. You will become the undisputed leader for 1 million citizens in making, Jyotsna Sharma tweeted.

"I have been here for 12 years. I came under j1 visa and then, through my scientific contributions, I earned a H1B visa. My green card process is pending for 4 years, and I have several coworkers, in similar situation. We are not criminals. We followed the rules. Help us!  one Ronald Herrera said.

Thanks a ton for giving a hope and assurance, legal immigrants are contributing to US economy (billion dollar companies, universities, real estate etc.,) and yet waiting for decades on certainty. #MAGA #legalimmigration #H1B, Indian techie Manofjoy tweeted.

However, former Obama administration official Leon Fresco, who has been working among H-1B visa holders for the past two years cautioned against too much hope.

"Don't get hopes up folks, as we know what has been said about DACA and actually done to DACA recipients, but if something helpful happens, be pleasantly shocked, he tweeted.
The retired officers feel the row has besmirched the reputation of the CBI, and are speaking up against the Centre.

The Indian Police Service's top brass  both retired and active  is extremely upset by the ongoing fracas in the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). The retired officers in particular, feel the row has besmirched the reputation of one of the worlds premier investigation agencies and are speaking up against the Centre's handling of the matter.

Ex-CBI chief Vijay Shanker, who helped hone the investigative skills of top CBI sleuths said, "Can there be anything more painful than watching this? I'm grieving. Is there any question of the common man receiving justice with these goings-on?" That's the question Shanker, who has an outstanding record of investigating cases of heinous crimes and corruption, finds himself pondering.

While Shanker refused to comment on the manner in which ex-CBI chief Alok Verma was removed from his post by the high-level Selection Committee headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, he added: "For the country, it's a question of the rule of law."

Former Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW) chief KC Verma  a top police officer who put in several years with the Intelligence Bureau and the narcotics department  said wryly, "As far as I'm concerned, in this matter, everyone is a sinner. Alok was Delhi commissioner of police. He was the head of his cadre. He must have jockeyed to get this appointment, given that he had never worked in the CBI earlier. But if you get posted to GB Road, you should know what you are in for. When you occupy this seat, you know you have to be a hatchet man for the political party in power. At the senior level, these are political appointments."

He added, "NK Singh was CBI special director (he arrested Indira Gandhi in 1977), but he did not hesitate to put in his papers. At the senior levels, these are political appointments. When Rakesh Asthana was appointed CBI special director against Alok's wishes, Alok should have put in his papers. I have no expectations from this government, or any other, as each has their own political agenda. Earlier, CBI bosses Ranjit Sinha and AP Singh did not do credit to their office. Today, I received a WhatsApp message listing properties owned by Alok. Why should he have placed himself in a position where people can point fingers at you?"

Speaking on the accusations made against the ex-CBI chief by Central Vigilance Commission chief KV Chowdary, he said, "Chowdary does not have a great reputation either. So where does that leave us? We have managed to destroy each and every institution in our country. In the past four years, the situation has been most unfortunate. Both the Congress and BJP are indulging in mud-slinging. In US politics, a lot of attention is paid to private lives and personal allegations are levied against each other, but in India nobody besmirched reputations to this extent. Today, personal allegations are being levied all the time, a girlfriend here, against wives... public life should have more than mud-slinging."

A CBI source said when Asthana was reappointed to the CBI, it was with the backing of the top leadership in the government. "Unfortunately, the CBI had a different hierarchy which led to conflict and tussle. Soon, Asthana began to act as the boss of the agency and was holding meetings which should have been held by Verma. That's how things went from bad to worse, leaving the staff completely paralysed and demoralised," the source added.

Ex-IG Police SR Darapuri, national spokesperson for the All India Peoples Front (Radical), pins the blame for the "sorry spectacle" squarely on the shoulders of the political establishment. "Its a political game," Darapuri said. "Otherwise why would Verma have received transfer orders at 2 am? These orders were given without proper procedures being followed. And after Verma was reinstated by the Supreme Court, he was again given transfer orders within 24 hours of resuming office."

"There is a growing suspicion that Verma was connected to something important," Darapuri added. When further queried about this, Darapuri said he the government was afraid Verma would have had a preliminary inquiry initiated into the Rafale deal, which would have led to a complaint being registered. The establishment wanted to forestall that, Darapuri claimed.

Darapuri said he "regrets" that these interjections have weakened the CBI as an institution of authority. He added, "It is also obvious that the government wants to try and save Asthana and that is why they are adopting dirty tactics against Verma. The Modi government is playing with institutions and misusing the law to their own benefit, which is proving to be very demoralising for the bureaucracy. Our institutions are not being allowed to function independently."

"We cannot forget the CBI is the premier investigative agency in the land. If CVC upheld allegations (against Verma), then it was for the high-powered committee led by the prime minister to give Verma a chance to explain his case. By not doing so, it has gone against the process of natural justice. Unfortunately, our leaders have no sense of propriety. The government thinks it is above the law. This bungling in the CBI is going to further strengthen suspicions against the Rafale deal, but thanks to social media, these developments are being followed at the village-level and are bound to create an adverse impression against the way the government is functioning," added Darapuri.

DGP (retired) Vikram Singh is equally forthright in his criticism of what he describes as the "game of musical chairs". "These kind of allegations and counter-allegations are not good for any uniformed service. Our police force was second to none and now we are witness to how a number one and number two cannot see eye to eye. What kind of HR skills did they possess? How could they have made it to the top posts?" Singh wondered.

"The process of selection to the top posts of the CBI is extremely elaborate. Earlier, only those with unimpeachable integrity would be selected, but these checks-and-balances seem to have been thrown to the wind. Some CBI bosses such as Trinath Mishra, SK Datta, D Sen and DP Kohli (its founding father), were all from the Uttar Pradesh cadre. They led simple and unostentatious lives. These were men devoted to the cause of the uniform. It is only when you do this that you can have the moral high ground."

"When promotion procedures give way to political expediency, it is instrumental in the dissemination of the organisation. Discipline suffers, casteism and communalism set in and we are then witness to levels of intellectual dishonesty, which affect the morale of the institution because then the concerned individual will need to operate through a band of loyalists. The CBI director has the power to make all those below him fall in line. He has the kind of power which even the prime minister does not have and that is of telling the number two that he had better fall in line or else we will send him to jail," Singh said.

Continuing in this critical vein, Singh added, "The CBI was known world over for being a premier investigating organisation. Today, we have become the laughing stock of the world. Do we have the political mechanism to restore the organisation to its original credibility? That's the first thing that needs to be done."

A senior CBI officer, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the rot had set in so deep that matters could be salvaged only by handing over the agency's day-to-day affairs to the Supreme Court.
Amit Shah said that the Centre would implement NRC throughout the nation for its security.

Even as Bharatiya Janata Party faces peoples ire in the North East over the passage of Citizenship Amendment Bill in the Lok Sabha, the partys national president Amit Shah on Friday, as a damage control measure, raised the National Register of Citizens (NRC) issue and the Assam governments success in implementing the same.

In his inaugural speech delivered in the partys national convention at Ramlila Maidan in New Delhi, Shah said that the Centre would implement NRC throughout the nation for its security.

I assure the people of India through BJP workers that NRC is not an issue of vote banks for us. For us, it is an issue related to the nations security, he said. Dubbing infiltration as a security threat to the nation, he said that infiltrators sneak into the country to cause blasts and kill people.

The BJP is determined to identify the infiltrators and throw them out. There can be no compromise with the nations security to win elections, he asserted.

Shah singled out the Assam governments success in identifying illegal migrants, at the same time lambasting Congress for its response to it.

The day it was declared that the NRC in Assam identified 40 lakh infiltrators, I was very happy. But when I reached the Rajya Sabha, I was surprised to see Rahul baba and company bewildered with the questions such as where will these people go? What will they eat and drink? This is nothing but vote bank politics, he said.

The NRC update has been a long-standing demand of the people of Assam. It is in the process of being fulfilled after a Supreme Court order to do the same.

The BJP-led state government supported the programme with adequate law and order infrastructure and has been claiming credit to the successful publication of the draft NRC.

Significantly, Shah's evoking of the NRC, an issue close to the hearts of the masses in the North East, comes after Home Minister Rajnath Singh addressed the Rajya Sabha, assuring the people in the northeastern region of the protection of their culture and heritage.

Amidst vehement protest in the Rajya Sabha and the North East over the Citizenship Amendment Bill 2016, the home minister said in the Rajya Sabha: I assure the House that we are committed to preserve North Easts identity and culture...We want a peaceful situation in the North East and are in constant touch with the state governments. We will strive to protect the identity and culture of the North East and will take steps to address all concerns."

There has been a growing feeling among the masses in the North East that the people got a raw deal from the ruling party and its allies after supporting them in almost every election in the last few years. The proposed legislation is seen as a U-turn by the BJP as it attempts to provide citizenship to a section of illegal immigrants. The move is seen in sharp contrast with that of what the people have been demanding in Assam: detection and detention of illegal immigrants.

After all its victories, the BJP was seen as shying away from its election promise of freeing Assam from illegal immigrants after it passed the Citizenship Amendment Bill in the Lok Sabha and attempted to place it in the Upper House.

No wonder in Friday's address the BJP president made a remark only in single line about the goal of the proposed legislation. Only time will tell whether the saffron partys repeated attempt to retain its bastion and massive support would be effective or not.
Former CBI director Alok Verma may have resigned from service, but he will have to face the CVC inquiry into certain grave allegations that have been leveled against him by serving officers of the investigating agency.

New Delhi: Former CBI director Alok Kumar Verma may have resigned from service, but he will have to face the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) inquiry into certain grave allegations that have been leveled against him by serving officers of the investigating agency.

According to top sources, the CVC report submitted to the prime minister-headed selection panel had highlighted at least six cases, which Verma allegedly tried to influence as head of the agency. It has been alleged that Verma diluted look out circular against former Aircel owner C Sivasankaran in IDBI bank fraud case. The CVC note submitted to Prime Minister Narendra Modi-headed panel, and reviewed by Firstpost, reveals that Verma also allegedly fabricated a secret note submitted to the CVC selection panel to scuttle the promotion of his bete noire Rakesh Asthana.

"During the inquiry and while examining the representations of the Special Director (Asthana) it was noticed that the secret note dated 21.10.2017 placed before the selection committee, constituted under section 26 of CVC act 2003, appears to be a fabricated document in as much as the author of the document stated that the document was given to him by Director. But, the document prepared by the officer concerned (DIG SU) did not contain certain damaging paras. The authorship of these damaging paras by any authorized person is not established. This casts serious doubts about the integrity of Alok Verma who placed the said document before the committee and later did not submit any report and documents on the allegations contained in the said Secret Note as repeatedly requested by the commission, CVC note to the selection panel said.

The CVC will also start probing allegations received from the CBI officials. It has been alleged by some officers that Verma protected accused persons from legal punishment and criminal prosecution in infamous NHRM scam of Uttar Pradesh. It has been alleged that he also protected two bank fraud accused and tried to cover up the leakage of internal emails in Nirav Modi case. The CVC on 26 December 2018 had asked the CBI to produce the documents related to these allegations but the agency has produced files and documents related to dilution of look out circular against Vijay Mallya on 8 January 2019.

Documents/ files in respect of remaining cases are yet to be produced by the CBI. The matter is under inquiry, the CVC told the panel in the meeting that was held to decide on Verma's transfer.

The CVC also observed that some of the allegations contained in the complaint forwarded by the Cabinet Secretary under investigation are prima facie established and they are of very grave nature impacting on the integrity of the officer concerned and the institution. The CVC has also observed that Vermas conduct in meat exporter Moin Qureshi case is suspicious and requires a thorough criminal investigation. The vigilance watchdog has also reasonably concluded that Verma as CBI Director deliberately excluded the name of key conspirator in IRCTC scam FIR and tried to help the suspected officer.

Some of the allegations requires further detailed investigation which will not be possible with Alok Verma heading the same organisation which is to conduct such investigations. Production of fabricated/ non-genuine documents before the selection committee reflects complete lack of integrity and fairness, the CVC further added.

The Supreme Court on 26 October had asked the CVC to complete the inquiry against Verma within two weeks under the supervision of Justice AK Patnaik, a retired apex court judge. During the inquiry, the CVC examined a number of documents, records, and summoned several CBI officials and recorded their statements. Subsequently, it submitted a report to the Supreme Court in sealed cover.
Farmers, who are reeling under low prices for their produce, have had to fence their fields at considerable expense. They have to maintain vigil at night to protect crops from stray cattle.

The menace of stray cattle which has forced Uttar Pradeshs angry farmers to lock them up in public premises like schools is the consequence of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) politics of hatred and intolerance which is based on an ideology that is in conflict with peoples lives.

The buffalo and the cattle meat (in states like Kerala, Karnataka and West Bengal where it is permitted) industry is an adjunct of the countrys milk economy. Dairying cannot be a profitable vocation if unproductive cows, bulls and buffaloes are not culled. Left to die a natural death, they will make demands on feed and fodder at the expense of milk-giving animals and the well-being of farmers.

The difficulty in disposing of cattle (cows and bulls) for religious reasons has resulted in their population steadily decreasing. From 204.5 million in 1992, their number across India fell seven percent to 190.9 million in 2012. In contrast, the population of buffaloes increased by 29 percent from 84.2 million to 108.7 million during the same period.

In Uttar Pradesh, the buffalo population rose from 18.99 million in 1997 to 30.62 million in 2012  a jump of 61 percent. Its cattle (cows, bulls and bullocks) population declined from 20 million in 1997 to 18.88 million in 2007 before inching up to 19.55 million in 2012. Of this, the share of female cattle was 75 percent.

Not only is there no restriction on the slaughter of buffaloes, their milk has more fat, which determines the price that farmers get. The farmers practice of selective culling of male cattle is evidenced by the rise in share of females in total cattle population from 50.3 percent in 1993 to 64.4 percent in 2012.

The skew is acute in the case of buffaloes. The share of females among them has risen from 79.4 percent to 85.2 percent during the same period. Without human intervention, the proportion of males and females would have been equal.

The Hindu and Muslim communities are entwined in the milk and meat economy. Muslim traders and butchers make unproductive cattle and buffaloes economic assets, valued for meat and leather. By disposing of old, infirm and unwanted animals for a price, dairy farmers can renew their stock. The ruling partys promotion of cow vigilantism has disrupted this cycle.

During the 2014 Lok Sabha election campaign, Prime Minister Narendra Modi made references to the pink revolution and the role of the Congress-led Central government in promoting it (suggesting that it was another form of minority appeasement). Buffalo meat exports have risen from 4.9 lakh tonnes worth $1.16 billion in 2009-10 to 1.35 million tonnes valued at $4.03 billion in 2017-18. The main export destinations are Vietnam (for re-export to China), Malaysia, Egypt, Iraq and Saudi Arabia.

Since the slaughter of cattle is not allowed in Uttar Pradesh, its abattoirs only process buffaloes. Cattle are aggregated and mainly smuggled to Bangladesh. But that avenue has almost been closed.

In December 2014, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh asked the Border Security Force (BSF) personnel to stop the smuggling of cows to Bangladesh. In April 2015, addressing BSF jawans at the border, Singh relished the rise in price of beef by 30 percent in Bangladesh, owing to the choke on cattle smuggling. He urged the jawans to further constrict supplies so that the price rose by 70-80 percent and Bangladeshis gave up eating beef.

On account of the demand for cattle, BSP posts were said to be lucrative. Fauzan Alavi, a director of Allansons, Indias largest buffalo-meat exporter, believes this is no longer the case. Cattle smuggling to Bangladesh had virtually stopped, he says, because of the BJP governments zeal in monitoring it. This is the reason, according to him, for the rise in the population of stray cattle in Uttar Pradesh.

The buffalo meat industry in Uttar Pradesh was also disrupted briefly after Yogi Adityanath took over as chief minister. Within days of assuming office, he ordered the closure of slaughterhouses that did not comply with laws pertaining to sanitation and animal welfare.

Each of Uttar Pradeshs 75 districts has a slaughterhouse and they are all established by the government. So, the chief minister was punishing the meat-eating and trading segment for an act of the previous government. The abattoirs exporting buffalo meat meet sanitation and safety standards. They are monitored by the importers. But even these units were targeted and the supply of buffaloes to them was affected by the high-handedness of Hindutva vigilantes.

Uttar Pradeshs municipal slaughterhouses are closed, but illegal slaughter of buffaloes has returned, sources say.

Another blow to the cattle and buffalo trade was delivered by the rules for trading in animal markets that were notified in May 2017. The new norms expanded the definition of cattle to include buffaloes, and could not be slaughtered if traded in the animal markets. Extensive documentation was imposed to ensure this.

A person selling cattle was required to furnish the name, address and photo ID of the owner, and details of the animals to an official committee. The seller had to provide proof of identity and the revenue document proving he was an agriculturist. Both buyer and seller had to undertake that the animals were not for slaughter. Five copies of the proof of sale have to be furnished to various authorities. They and the seller had to keep the documents for six months.

Following opposition from Kerala, Karnataka and states in the North East, the notification was withdrawn. But cow vigilantes were emboldened. In connivance with the police, they harassed cattle and buffalo traders. This has disrupted the cattle trade and boosted the stray animal population.

Farmers, who are reeling under low prices for their produce, have had to fence their fields at considerable expense. They have to maintain vigil at night to protect crops from stray cattle.

It is a very serious issue, says Surendra Bahadur Singh, who oversees milk procurement in Kanpur for Banas Dairy. The Gujarat-based dairy buys about 4.5 litres of milk daily from about 1,75,000 farmers in 12 districts of Uttar Pradesh.

Stray cattle are a serious menace in Bundelkhand districts like Jhansi, he says, perhaps because of the failure of monsoon last year and the inability of farmers to feed the cattle.

Uttar Pradeshs economy is dependent on animals. According to a study by Smriti Verma, Ashok Gulati and Siraj Hussain of ICRIER, a research organisation, milk production contributed the most (28.9 percent) to the state's economic growth in 2013-14 followed by meat (5.6 percent).

The BJPs politics of polarising communities and economically crippling those engaged in the meat trade will have economy-wide ripples. Earlier, the states Hindi chauvinism had deprived its youth of the benefits of the IT revolution. Uttar Pradesh doesnt seem to know whats good for it.

(The author is senior consultant to ICRIER and blogs on www.smartindianagriculture.com. He tweets @smartindianagri)

To keep watching Indias No. 1 English Business News Channel  CNBC-TV18, call your Cable or DTH Operator and ask for the Colors Family Pack (inclusive of 24 channels), available for Rs. 35/- per month, or subscribe to the channel for Rs. 4/- per day.

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A former finance secretary, Ashok Chawla took over as the chairman of the exchange on 28 March 2016.

New Delhi: Former bureaucrat Ashok Chawla on Friday resigned as chairman of the National Stock Exchange with immediate effect, the bourse said, hours after the CBI said the Centre has granted sanction to prosecute him in the Aircel-Maxis case.

The exchange while making the announcement on Friday night did not provide specific details.

In a statement, the bourse said Chawla has resigned as "Public Interest Director/ Chairman of the Board of Directors of the National Stock Exchange of India Ltd with immediate effect in light of recent legal developments".

The Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) has been probing the alleged lapses in high-frequency trading offered through NSE's co-location facility. It was also investigating whether some brokers had unfair access to the exchange's co-location facility.

A former finance secretary, Chawla took over as the chairman of the exchange on 28 March 2016. He had also served as civil aviation secretary and chairperson of the Competition Commission of India (CCI), among other roles.

Chawla quit as Yes Bank chairman in November last year.

The CBI earlier in the day informed a Delhi court that the Centre has granted sanction to prosecute five people, including serving and former bureaucrats, accused in the Aircel-Maxis case involving Congress leader and ex-Union minister P Chidambaram and his son Karti.

The then members of the Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB), against whom sanctions have been procured, are the then secretary (economic affairs) Ashok Jha, the then additional secretary Ashok Chawla, the then joint secretary in finance ministry Kumar Sanjay Krishna, the then director in the ministry Dipak Kumar Singh, and the then under secretary in the ministry Ram Sharan.

Of the five, three are working with various government departments while two have retired.

The submissions were made before Special Judge O.P. Saini who extended till February 1 the interim protection from arrest granted to Chidambaram and Karti in the Aircel-Maxis cases filed by the CBI and the ED.

The CBI had on 16 November last year, informed the court that similar nod was procured for P Chidambaram. There are 18 accused in the case.

Meanwhile, the NSE board has eight other members, including Managing Director and CEO Vikram Limaye.

There are three shareholder directorsAbhay Havaldar, Prakash Parthasarathy and and Sunita Sharma.

The four public interest directors are Dinesh Kanabar, Naved Masood, T V Mohandas Pai and Dharmistha Raval.
Participants of the 'From Humanitarian Aid for Stability: UAE and EU together' seminar noted that the UAE has gained a prominent position in humanitarian and development work as the largest donor of development aid in the world relative to GDP.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190112005010/en/

From Humanitarian Aid for Stability UAE and EU together seminar (Photo: AETOSWire)

Organized by the UAE Federal National Council (FNC) in cooperation with the EU-UAE Parliamentary Friendship Group at the European Parliament and the Emirates Red Crescent, the event took place at the headquarters of the European Parliament in Brussels.

Speaking at the seminar, Her Excellency Dr Amal Al Qubaisi, Speaker of FNC, said: "Helping those in need is deeply rooted in our culture, and we feel responsible for underprivileged and vulnerable groups. Instability provides fertile ground for terrorism and extremism, therefore our commitment to development involves a commitment to stability a priority that we share with the EU."

Highlighting the efforts of the Emirates Red Crescent in saving lives and supporting stability in crises and disaster zones around the world, she added: "The UAE houses some 45 humanitarian organizations that are active internationally. Between April 2015 and December 2018, the country disbursed US$4.91 billion in aid to Yemen, and has provided a safe haven for more than 127,000 Syrians since the outbreak of the Syrian crisis."

His Excellency Antonio Lopez-Isturiz White, Member of the European Parliament, stressed the importance of the EU and the UAE unifying efforts in the economic and investment domains as well as in the fight against terrorism, humanitarian aid and risk control. He commended the UAE for its unwavering dedication to achieving security and stability in the world, and praised the role of the Emirates Red Crescent and other humanitarian organizations in the country.

His Excellency Christos Stylianides, European Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Management, said: "Increasing global challenges require sustained humanitarian efforts. We thank the UAE, a global model of humanitarian commitment, for demonstrating steadfast solidarity, significantly contributing to crisis resolution, playing an influential role in development cooperation and actively supporting international aid organizations."

His Excellency Denis Haveaux, Director of the Red Cross EU Office, confirmed that the Red Cross and the Red Crescent are partners in providing humanitarian aid, and stressed the importance of safe access to services, particularly for victims of forgotten crises.

*Source: AETOSWire

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190112005010/en/

Contacts:

Federal National Council, United Arab Emirates:

Mohammed Al-Sawafi +971506183874

m.alsawwafi@almajles.gov.ae

Twitter: @FNC_UAE
DTH TRAI New Rules: Everything about New DTH Rules, Channel List, Price & Plans | FilmiBeat

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has issued a new statement on January 10, 2019, that the consumers have complete freedom to choose their desired 100 SD (Standard Definition) channels within the base pack. The price can go up to maximum of Rs 130, which is excluding taxes. In the press statement TRAI has said, "Consumer has complete freedom to choose their desired 100 Standard Definition (SD) channels within the network capacity fee of maximum Rs 130. The desired channels could be in a-la-carte, Free to Air channels, or Pay channels or bouquet of pay channels or any combination thereof. The choice completely rests with the consumers."

This means that for Rs 130 base pack, 100 channels are being offered. The channels (which can be free to air or paid channels) can all be decided by the consumer. "The desired channels could be in a Ia carte, free to air channels or pay channels or bouquet of pay channels or any combination thereof. The choice completely rests with the consumers," TRAI said.



Some broadcasters are advertising their channels only in the form of monthly bouquets, where they have clubbed together several channels. TRAI reminds, "Customer may note that they have option to choose channels on a-la-carte also." Which means that the users can pick the channels individually and they do not have to pick the bouquet with all the extra channels.

The base packs for both Tata Sky and Airtel's starts from Rs 99 per month. For premium channels like Zee Cinema, Sony, Star Plus, Sony Ten and Star Sports, the individual pricing shoots above Rs 20. DD, B4U Music, and 9XM a few others are some of the channels which are free-to-air channels.

For those who want more than 100 channels they will have the option of choosing them in bouquets of 25 channels at Rs 20 extra pack. Taxes will mean that the final price could be higher. But for those who do not watch too many channels, the bill will be significantly lower than current packs.

Also it has to be noted that, if a person choose one HD (High Definition) channel (not SD channel) in the base pack then it is counted as two channels.

Every cable operator/DTH player have been asked to run a separate channel (preferably on channel No. 999) for consumer information wherein consumer-related information including the prices of channels shall be displayed.

Please Note: The deadline for picking your favourite channel in order to avoid any last minute inconvenience is January 31, 2019. On February 1, 2019, these new rules and packs come into play.

Most Read: Yeh Hai Mohabbatein SPOILER: Abhishek Verma To Re-enter The Show But Not As Adi; Here's The Twist!
Zee Beats Colors

For a long time now, Zee Kannada was trying its best to reach the top spot. Colors Kannada has always managed to be the most watched channel. As we enter a new year, for the first time ever, Zee Kannada has snatched the top 1 spot by Colors Kannada. Zee has set a record by earning the highest impressions according to BAARC India reports.

Highest Ratings In First Week

It's only been over a week since the new year 2019 started and Zee Kannada has already beat Colors Kannada by earning higher TRP points. While Colors Kannada has received 391735 points, Zee has overpowered it by getting 415697 points. Also, Zee has taken the first spot.

Zee Warns Colors

Though Zee Kannada has got the first spot in the first week of 2019, we need wait and watch if it'll be able to retain the points in the coming week too. But, seems like Zee has warned Colors about the tough competition.

Top Shows Of Colors Kannada

Agnisakshi, Radha Ramana, Puttgowri Maduve, Kulavadu, Lakshmi Baramma, Padmavati. Shani and Mahakali are some of the most watched shows of Colors Kannada. Reality shows such as Maja Talkies and Maja Weekend are also fans' favorite.

Top Shows Of Zee Kannada

Subbalakshmi Samsaara, Naagini, Yare Ni Mohini, Sri Vishnu Dashavathara, Brahmagantu, Paru, Jodi Hakki, Kamali and Ganga are the most watched shows of Zee Kannada.
Audience Is Loving The Film!

While taking to Times of India, distributor Jack Manju said, "The audience is completely enjoying the film. They love the 80s and 90s avatar donned by Rajinikanth. I personally went to a screening and saw that the audience comprised of people in the ages of 15 and 70 years,".

Will Thalaiva Come To Bengaluru?

Answering this question Manju said, "I am also heading to a meeting to figure out if Rajinikanth will be dubbing for the Kannada version. We are hoping that he will visit Karnataka to promote the film."

Petta To Be Dubbed In Kannada

Since Rajinikanth is from Karnataka, he can speak in Kannada. It would be pretty exciting to hear Thalaiva himself dub the dialogues for the Kannada version of Petta. The superstar has previously acted in several Kannada movies including Sahodarara Savaal, Kiladi Kittu, Katha Sangama and more.

Kannada Release Delayed

The Kannada version of Petta's release has been delayed by two weeks. Apparently, Rajinikanth has just returned from abroad. So it's going to take some time until he dubs the film in Kannada. Kannadiga fans might have to wait a tad bit longer to see the superstar rule in their language too!
The Screening Of The Movie Stalled In Ludhiana

Meanwhile, the screening of The Accidental Prime Minister was stopped at a mall in Ludhiana on Friday following protest by Congress activists.

FIR Against The Director And Actors Of The Movie

The Congress workers forced the management not to screen the movie. They also raised slogans against the BJP, accusing it of lowering the image of former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh with the movie. The party also demanded FIR against the director and actors of the movie.

Similar Protests Were Held In Jalandhar

Heavy police force has been deployed outside all cinema halls in the city, officials said. Similar protests were held by Congress workers in Jalandhar.

Irrespective Of The Protests, Fans Have Given Thumbs Up To The Movie

Rexnal Karan     @RexnalKaran: "#TheAccidentalPrimeMinister a movie to be watched by every single person. Speechless to speak more but @AnupamPKher should be called Dr. Anupam Kher a very natural actor just wow and @AkshayeOfficial he is awesome Superb movie hats off to the entire cast. Ratings/5." [sic]

Rafool Gandhy @KhaleraVivek: "#TheAccidentalPrimeMinister is an amazing movie. Brilliant acting from @AnupamPKher ji and Akshaye Khanna. Pls go and watch. Liberals and Cambridge Analytica bots are full of shit. Trying to discredit a brilliant movie to protect the first family of @INCIndia." [sic]
Taimur And Kareena Return After Paris Holiday

Taimur Ali Khan and Kareena Kapoor Khan returned to their hometown Mumbai today after their long Euro travel these past few days. Kareena's airport look was on point while making the return journey. She wore a black full sleeved t-shirt and black pants, finishing it up with a tan leather vest jacket. Taimur looked totally adorbs in a maroon jersey suit and white sneakers.

We Missed You Tim Tim!

Taimur, who is usually seen being carried around by his mum or pop, had grown up a little and walked his way around the airport holding his mum Kareena's hand. Usually an enthusiastic one to see the paps, today he just looked at the shutterbugs curiously.

Taimur's Adorable Antics

Taimur stepped into a little march of his own while mum Kareena looks at him amused. Taimur's cute antics are a legend!

Mum & Son's Perfect Paris Vacay!

Kareena and Taimur had a long and wonderful holiday in Europe. We did get a regular update of their travels through their photographs. This photo of Taimur and Kareena outside the world famous Ritz Carlton in Paris on a cold January day is all things awesome. Kareena looks chic in a mustard sweater and denims carrying little Tim Tim, while the cherub is all bundled up in a warm jacket, his cheeks all rosy from the cold.
2020 was a year marked by hardships and challenges, but the Fauquier community has proven resilient. The Fauquier Times is honored to serve as your community companion. To say thank you for your continued support, wed like to offer all our subscribers -- new or returning --

4 WEEKS FREE DIGITAL AND PRINT ACCESS.

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We are dedicated to providing the reliable, local journalism you have come to expect. We are committed to serving you with renewed energy and growing resources. Let the Fauquier Times be your community companion throughout 2021, and for many years to come.
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Contributed Photo / Fairfield Police Department / Contributed Photo

FAIRFIELD  Police are looking to identify the suspect caught on surveillance footage after breaking into a Starbucks on Post Road earlier this week.

A manager at the coffee shop at 1740 Post Road called police on Tuesday to report a burglary at the store overnight. The manager told police that when she got to work Tuesday morning, the door was pried open and that someone had gotten into the safe.
DERBY-U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy will conduct a town hall meeting with Valley resident Saturday afternoon in the Middle School cafeteria.

Murphy said he will update residents on legislation he hopes to introduce or support in Congress as well as provide an update on the ongoing federal shutdown.

Additionally, he will take question from the audience and attempt to provide answers.

The public is invited to attend the session which will begin at 2 p.m. but residents can begin coming in at 1:30 p.m. The Middle School is located at 73 Chatfield Street.

Earlier in the day, Mayor Richard Dziekan is expected to swear-in Robert Laskowski to a two-year term as the citys fire chief. Laskowski succeeds Michael Goodman as chief.

Additionally, the mayor also will give the oath of office to David Lenart, as the first assistant chief, Michael Gloade as second assistant chief and Thomas Biggs as third assistant chief.

The ceremony also will take place in the Derby Middle School at 10:30 a.m. The public is invited to attend.
BRIDGEPORT - A Texas man accused of abducting the child of a Fairfield family and holding him for ransom at the point of an alligator pleaded guilty to reduced charges Thursday.

Standing before Superior Court Judge Robert Devlin, Isaias Garcia appeared only too happy to plead guilty to first-degree unlawful restraint.

Yes, sir, Garcia said when asked by the judge if he understood the ramifications of his guilty plea.

He faces a year in prison when he is sentenced March 15.

The 30-year-old Garcia, of Garland, Texas, had been charged with first-degree kidnapping, attempted first-degree larceny by extortion, unlawful restraint, third-degree assault and threatening.

Our investigation developed information that contradicted the original statement of facts, Garcias lawyer, Senior Assistant Public Defender Jonathan Demirjian, told the judge.

It was not a clear-cut case, Devlin agreed.

Police said it was one of the strangest they have investigated.

Last April 6, the 21-year-old Fairfield mans aunt and his father came to the front desk of the Police Department to report the kidnapping. Police said they played detective the phone messages they had received from the

victim.

Police said the victim told his aunt he had been kidnapped. His abductor was demanding $800 in ransom or he would burn, the young man.

Titi, I was wondering if you were gonna send that money, cause I really want to go home, police said the young man pleaded with his aunt in a subsequent phone call.

Working with the FBI, police said detectives managed to trace the cellphone number the victim was calling on to the Residence Inn in Shelton. They determined that in addition to being used to call the aunt, the phone had been used to call in a takeout order to a Stratford Chinese restaurant. Police said restaurant employees confirmed they had made a delivery to a room at the hotel and gave the room number to detectives.

As officers readied a raid of the hotel room, detectives told the aunt to assure her nephew that she was working on getting the ransom money and to demand that his abductors text her a photograph of her nephew.

I want to make sure youre still good, she told her nephew in a subsequent phone call, police said.

No one was prepared for what came next, police acknowledged.

The photograph showed the victim lying face down in a bathtub, a 3-foot long alligator on top of him, its open mouth facing the camera.

Titi, man they got this alligator on me and they saying that if no money is given they are gonna have him chewing on me, the victim said in a follow-up phone call, police said.

But when police got to the hotel room, they said, the victim and his captor were gone. Instead, they said they found Garcias girlfriend and the alligator. While the state Department of Environmental Protection took control of the alligator, police said, detectives interviewed the girlfriend.

They said she told them that Garcia had arrived at the hotel room with the victim, ordered the victim to lie on a sofa and then just sat there staring at the victim until the young man fell asleep.

Told that Garcia was expected to return soon, detectives, along with Shelton police, waited nearby. When Garcias car pulled into the hotel parking lot police converged on it, guns drawn.

Police Lt. Chris LaMaine pulled Garcia from the drivers seat, handcuffed him and recovered a large hunting knife tucked in the front of Garcias pants, police said.

Police said the victim had two burn marks, one on his face and the other on his right forearm. He told police Garcia had burned him with a barbeque-style lighter after tying him up.
The South Central Connecticut Regional Water Authority is making another try at building a million-gallon emergency water tank in Derby, but this time its near the citys high and middle schools and the former VARCA building, not in a residential area.

The public will get the chance to learn more about the project and voice their opinions during a hearing Thursday at the Authoritys offices on 90 Sergeant Drive, off the Long Wharf exit of Interstate 95 in New Haven. The hearing will begin at 7 p.m.

Anyone wanting to review the application and its accompanying documents can do so at the Authority between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. weekdays.

If approved, a final design would be completed by March and construction would be scheduled to begin in June and run through February. The cost of the project is estimated at $4.5 million.

The proposal is the Authoritys second attempt in recent years at building an emergency tank to service Ansonia, Derby and Seymour.

A 2012 proposal to build a two-million-gallon tank on Telescope Mountain on Summit Street  which is near a residential area  was shot down by city officials and residents.

At the time, residents claimed the required blasting to build the 130-foot high tank on 2.7 acres of land at the end of Mountain Road near St. Peter and St. Paul cemetery would create environmental problems, damage foundations and impact property values.

Then-Derby Mayor Anthony Staffieri said he opposed the project because the road could not handle the number of heavy trucks coming through. A change that would have moved the tank further back on the site also failed.

The Water Authority then evaluated over 100 other sites with a suitable elevation for the tank before settling on the land on 2.15 acres on the northern portion of the school complex located on Nutmeg Avenue as the best location. The land would be leased from the city for $1 for 99 years with the option for two 99-year extensions.

Additionally, the Authority is negotiating with St. Peter and St. Paul Ukrainian Catholic Church in Ansonia to purchase a parcel near the proposed tanks site to be used as access. The parcel once served as picnic grounds for church outings. A portion of that property would be paved and used as a parking lot for the former VARCA building.

Derby Mayor Richard Dziekan said he believes the project now being proposed will be approved.

Its a totally different animal this time, he said. They are building on a ledge. There wont be any blasting. They wont be hauling truck loads of rock. All the access will be through Coon Hollow Road, not on a residential street.

Dziekan said the construction is expected to place during summer months, so as not to impact activities at the schools.

The tank will look the one on Grassy Hill Road in Orange  if youre not looking for it, you wont see it, the mayor said.

Charles Sampson, a former fire chief and president of the Derby Board of Aldermen, said the tank is a necessity.

Water pressure on the citys west side is nowhere it needs to be right now particularly when the department is fighting a fire there, he said. Additionally, anytime we loose water pressure the department has to send a truck to Griffin Hospital to pump water into their system.

On Oct. 21, 2011, there was a water main failure near the intersection of Routes 34 and 8 which left the Hospital without water for a period of time forcing it to cancel scheduled surgeries.

The alderman have approved using open space for the project and replacing it with former United Illuminating property near Witek Park.

Sampson said the open space for the proposed tank was never used as a walking trail.

Site work calls for a driveway, construction area and parking from Chatfield Street and secondary emergency access from Nutmeg Avenue. Approximately 200 linear feet for a 12-inch water main would be constructed from the tank to the Authoritys distribution system along Chatfield.

If the proposal is approved, the tank would be used to stabilize pressure, improve flows for firefighting, provide storage during peak demand times and be available in case of water main breakages.

The Authority also considered an alternate site on Hull Street, which is off Wakelee Avenue in Ansonia. However more construction work would be required and the costs would increase to more than $5 million.

The nearest storage tanks for Valley residents are in Orange and Woodbridge. The proposed tank would serve about 30,000 residents as well as Griffin Hospital.

This critical infrastructure investment will further ensure that the residents of Derby, Ansonia and Seymour have access to a reliable, high-quality water supply at all times, said Dan Doyle, an Authority spokesman. The tank project will also include additional safety-in-design features, which are required by the RWA to ensure the highest-level of safety and security.
UPDATE: 12:04 PM MONDAY

Police have identified the victim as Eduardo Concepcion, 30, of Bridgeport.

Lt. Frank Eannotti said the preliminary investigation reveals that two males were sitting in a parked car on Regency Terrace when they were approached two males on foot. The males exchanged words, and one of the males produced a firearm and fired at least one shot striking the victim. The victim had been an occupant of the vehicle. The two males on foot fled the area.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Stratford Police department at 203-385-4140 or 4128 and information may be shared anonymously on the Stratford Police TIP411 app.

EARLIER STORY

STRATFORD  Police are investigating Stratfords first homicide in more than a year and a half, after an early morning streetside shooting led to the death of a male victim at Bridgeport Hospital.

Police said the victim was sitting with someone else in a parked car on Regency Terrace when they were approached by two other males at about 2:20 a.m.

The parties exchanged words, Stratford Police Capt. Frank Eannotti said, and one of the approaching males pulled out a gun and fired, with at least one shot striking the victim inside the car.

Eannotti said police did not expect any further information, including the victims name, to be released Saturday.

Before Saturday, the last homicide in Stratford had been Aug. 15, 2017. Raenetta Catchings, 27, of Stratford, was shot dead by her uncle, 21-year-old Michael Catchings. Police charged him with her murder.

The other homicide in Stratford that year was on May 27, 2017, when 27-year-old Andre Pettway was shot on Garibaldi Avenue and later died in the hospital. Three people were charged in connection with Pettways killing  Brandyn Ford, then 24, of Stratford; Jose Rivera, then 24, of Bridgeport; and Wilfredo Martinez, then 23, of Bridgeport.

Pettways homicide was the first one the town had seen since 2011, according to city-data.com, a website that provides statistics on towns and cities nationwide.

The data recorded on the site goes back to 2002 and showed that Stratford had two murders in 2002, 2003 and 2008; one murder in 2005, 2010 and 2011; and none in 2004, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016.

On Saturday afternoon, Police were piecing together what happened in the overnight hours. On Regency Terrace, as on many streets in Stratford, there is a Neighborhood Watch sign under the posted 25 mph speed limit.

Warning, the sign reads, all suspicious persons and activities are immediately reported to our police department.

A man around the corner on Peace Street was taking Christmas lights down from a tree next to his house, dogs wandered around fenced in front yards and a few cars drove down the street.

At the corner of Peace Street and Regency Terrace there were broken down Stratford police barriers left behind from the murder investigation. Another pile of signs were left on the sidewalk at the corner of Regency Terrace and Barnum Avenue.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Stratford Police Department at 203-385-4140. Anonymous tips can be submitted on the Stratford Police Tip411 smartphone application.

CORRECTION: The story has been updated to indicate that the last homicide in Stratford was Raenetta Catchings, not Andre Pettway. Catchings murder was in Aug. 2017 and Pettways was in May 2017. That made the total for 2017 two murders, not one as previously reported.
It could soon be last call for the popular but ailing Cowboys Dancehall thats mired in bankruptcy.

A lender for the honky tonk wants bankruptcy-court approval to foreclose as early as next month on the 16.6-acre property at 3030 NE Loop 410 in San Antonio. Chief U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Ronald King has set a hearing for Monday on Oklahoma City lender Crossroads 2004s request.

Cowboys Far West, the bankrupt Arlington partnership that owns the country music venue, has been trying to find a buyer for the property. The judge told the partnership at a Nov. 8 hearing that it needed to have a signed contract by the end of last year, Crossroads said in a recent court filing.

The sun has set on 2018, Crossroads added. There is no signed contract. The dance hall is listed for $12 million.

On ExpressNews.com: Owners put Cowboys Dancehall up for sale

Even if King grants the lenders request, any prospective buyers at the foreclosure auction may be reticent to bid as much as Crossroads hopes. Thats because the state Department of Transportation (TxDOT) wants to condemn about a fifth of the property for about $600,000, Crossroad said.

A TxDOT spokeswoman said the department is looking to acquire the right-of-way for proposed Interstate-35 improvements.

The condemnation may significantly impair the property, its usefulness as a venue and the propertys ultimate worth to potential purchases, Crossroads said in its court filing. The lender is owed more than $5.2 million.

Crossroads bankruptcy lawyer Brian Engel of Austin declined to comment on his clients plans.

Theyre owed a debt  the propertys collateral for the debt, Engel said Friday. Were following the procedures to deal with that. And beyond that, if I said a word to you, Id just be guessing.

James Wilkins, Cowboys Far Wests bankruptcy lawyer, didnt immediately respond to a request for comment. Austin real-estate agent Mark Connally, who has been marketing the venue, also couldnt be reached for comment.

Cowboys owners had hoped to lease the property from any buyer, the San Antonio Express-News reported in October.

Cowboys Far West filed for Chapter 11 in August to stop Crossroads from proceeding with a foreclosure. It marked the second time in the span of a little more than two years that Cowboys Far West had sought bankruptcy protection to thwart a lender from foreclosing.

During the first bankruptcy, Crossroads purchased the loan and subsequently worked out an arrangement for Cowboys Far West to make monthly payments on the debt. King issued an order confirming a reorganization plan in September 2017.

Cowboys Far West defaulted before the ink dried on the order, Crossroads said in its Jan. 2 court filing. The borrower has paid Crossroads nothing.

Crossroads said it tried to explore various options with Cowboys Far West, including having it deed the property over to the lender in lieu of foreclosure. Crossroads said it offered to share half of any profits from a sale.

Cowboys President Michael Murphy, however, demanded the partnership be given a 20 year lease at below market rates on the property, Crossroads said. Crossroads added that Murphy sought to prohibit it from selling the property for less than $12 million. He also wanted the partnership to receive at least $6 million from any sale.

Crossroads moved to foreclose Aug. 7, but was stymied when Cowboys Far West filed for bankruptcy the day before the scheduled sale.

On ExpressNews.com: Cowboys Dancehall files for bankruptcy  again

Cowboys Far West has made no effort to regularly pay its debt to Crossroads, the lender said in its filing. Interest and charges  are eroding any equity cushion in the Property impairing its value as collateral to Crossroads and probably to other creditors.

Another lender, PrinsBank of Minnesota, is owed about $2 million. Bexar County is owed about $330,250 in property taxes for 2016 and 2018.

The state, meanwhile, wants bankruptcy court authority to proceed with condemnation on part of the Cowboys property. The condemnation was put on hold by the bankruptcy. King has set a hearing for Feb. 4 on the states request.

Cowboys Far West listed $10.3 million in assets and about $12.1 million in debts in a court filing in August. The dance hall property was valued at $10 million.

Patrick Danner is a San Antonio-based staff writer covering banking and civil courts. Read him on our free site, mySA.com, and on our subscriber site, ExpressNews.com. | pdanner@express-news.net | Twitter: @AlamoPD
Mr. President, there is indeed a humanitarian crisis at the border  one that wont be solved with a wall.

Its clear: The intent of your fact-challenged address to the nation Tuesday and your visit to the border Thursday was to convince Americans of what has become something of a theme for you since you announced your presidential bid  that these immigrants are, generally and broadly speaking, dangerous people, intent on doing Americans violent harm.

No, mostly they come to do jobs Americans wont do and think highly enough of America to view it as safe haven from the violence and lawlessness in their own countries. Take that, America!

But were certain you really know that the native-born commit more crime than do immigrants. Citing examples of the tragic but relatively rare instances when this does happen is the equivalent of taking an exception and declaring it the rule.

Here is whats scary: You contemplaing declaring a national emergency where none exists to bypass Congress  a move that will certainly spark legal challenge as constitutionally dubious but, if successful, sets a precedent that will make the term imperial presidency closer to reality.

The real crisis at the border involves the detention of families, including children, and insufficient facilities to do so well, and insufficient resources to process asylum-seekers in an appropriate time period.

Fixing this indeed requires additional funding  funding Democrats newly controlling the House would readily agree to, as would enough Republicans there and in the Senate.

The crisis at the border is not about stopping undocumented immigrants. Apprehensions are generally down but continue apace because Congress has already poured millions into border security  and is not opposed to providing more of the right kind.

A border wall will do nothing to deter asylum-seeking Central Americans who show up at the border to present themselves to Border Patrol agents. They are not being caught. They are giving themselves to the authorities.

So, by all means, more money for more security at the border  more agents and more high tech. By all means, more money for the humane treatment of those seeking sanctuary here. And more money for more immigration judges to weigh the validity of their asylum claims. Just say those words, and youve got a deal.

Wall supporters say, cmon, this $5.7 billion will only build about 150 miles of barrier, added to twice that already existing along the nearly 2,000-mile border. But it is just the start of what Trump pledges will be one big barrier, trampling U.S. property rights and despoiling the environment from the Gulf of Mexico to the Pacific Ocean. Why let this even get a start?

How to defeat a 30-foot wall? A 31-foot ladder. But a high percentage of people here without documents are those who came on legal visas  and then overstayed.

A wall will stop drugs? No, these mostly come through legal points of entry at the southern border.

It is bad enough, Mr. President, that you regularly deploy falsehoods about immigrants and what a wall will accomplish  and did so again in your national address and in your visit to the border on Thursday. What is particularly egregious here is that you have engineered a partial government shutdown to blackmail House Democrats to agree to $5.7 billion for your wall. Some 800,000 federal workers are either furloughed without pay or forced to work without pay if they are deemed essential. And now this damage is starting to ripple through the country and the economy. All for a barrier that is unnecessary and will be ineffective.

You said a few weeks ago that youd be pleased to own this shutdown to achieve what you want. But now you blame Democrats. You were right the first time.

Democrats have proposed additional funding for border security. Mr. President, take this money and declare victory. Want more money than even this for border security so you can declare an even bigger victory? Sign off on a deal for Dreamers and youll get it.
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.

comments.lowry@nationalreview.com
It seems nearly everyone wants to give Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez a scolding. But what we should really do is give her a break.

Much of the criticism is driven by fear. The worlds of media and politics are largely controlled by old white men, and a 29-year-old Puerto Rican congresswoman from New York doesnt check any of those boxes.

Some of it is fueled by jealousy. I cant think of another freshman member of Congress who was sought out for an interview by CBS 60 Minutes or who gets mobbed by tourists asking for selfies.

Whatever drives the backlash, its obvious and undeniable that the political novice is being singled out for criticism and held to an unfair standard. Put simply, shes being picked on. Her most unforgivable sin? Standing up for herself, and hitting back whenever she gets punched  by the right or the left.

In this divided country, conservatives and liberals finally have something they agree on: Ocasio-Cortez needs an education. Not just on the ways of Washington, but on the ways of the world.

The newly minted representative has barely unpacked her bags, or moved into her office. And already, they expect her to know the answer to every question the media hurl at her. Many of those questions are ridiculous, and some are even unfair. She is expected to have it all buttoned down, while many of her colleagues will maintain low profiles and keep their mouths shut for at least the first year theyre in office.

Thank goodness, thats not Ocasio-Cortezs style. After 30 years of writing about politics, Im burned out on politicians who talk for a living and still dont say a darned thing. The bartender-turned-lawmaker doesnt hold back. She spouts off.

And she takes heat for it. One minute, Fox News Sean Hannity is blasting the lawmakers radical ideas. The next, Whoopi Goldberg on The View is bristling at Ocasio-Cortezs criticism of establishment Democrats for compromising too much and is telling her to sit still for a minute and learn the job.

Rest assured, folks. Ocasio-Cortez is getting an education all right. Just not the kind her critics intended.

For instance, if there is one thing that people of color eventually learn in life, its this: White people are held to different standards.

And while this will come as old news to many Latinos, Asian-Americans, African-Americans and Native Americans, the standards for white people are often lower than they are for others. And white males often have the easiest ride of all.

The first time I learned this lesson, I was a college freshman staring at a roomful of my fellow Harvard Latinos and seeing a familiar pattern  light skin, high GPAs and a limited ability to speak Spanish. The university apparently didnt want to take chances, so it skimmed the cream and played it safe.

The lesson is reinforced whenever I apply for a job, dont get it, and then watch it get filled by a white male whose resume is paltry compared to mine. Or when I see white males on cable TV fail up  getting raises and promotions, even with lagging ratings  when the people of color whom I know in media dont have that experience.

Now Ocasio-Cortez has learned a similar lesson. Ever since her Democratic primary victory last June, everyone has gotten on her case. She is criticized for her tweets, her comments, her clothes, her tactics, her tone, her politics, her beliefs, even her dance moves back in college.

Republicans who championed Sarah Palin say Ocasio-Cortez is just not very smart, and those who supported Donald Trump insist she gets her facts wrong. Democrats who voted for Joe Biden criticize the congresswoman for saying the wrong thing, and those who supported Hillary Clinton complain that she has difficulty telling the truth.

Welcome to the political version of The Twilight Zone.

Ocasio-Cortez is sharp, so she gets the joke. When Anderson Cooper pressed her on 60 Minutes about whether she thought it was important to be factually correct, she didnt flinch.

Its absolutely important, she said. And whenever I make a mistake. I say, OK, this was clumsy, and then I restate what my point was. But its  its not the same thing as  as the president lying about immigrants. Its not the same thing, at all.

Good for her. This rock star obviously has no interest in being anyones pinata.

As for getting facts straight, perhaps its best that we  to borrow a phrase  take Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez seriously but not literally.

Thats still a thing, right?

ruben@rubennavarrette.com
The passing last week of Herbert D. Kelleher, the co-founder of Southwest Airlines, has spawned one of the greatest outpourings of praise and fond memories of a business leader any of us may ever see again.

Mr. Kelleher  almost no one actually called him that  was just plain Herb to friends, employees, competitors and even to journalists who were supposed to keep any personal feelings about those they wrote about to themselves.

That kind of reserve instantly melted the moment you met Herb, always joking and laughing, making the visitor feel comfortable and never coming across the way some corporate executives do: puffed up, acting like the smartest guy in the room. In fact, Herb usually was the smartest guy in the room. But as an airline reporter looking back at three decades of Herbs exploits, one word characterizes the man and his legacy: love. If Herb had not had such a strong love for both people and hard work, he could not have inspired Southwests employees to pour their hearts into a company that is not only perennially profitable but also makes its customers love it back.

Herbs love affair with life and those around him started long before Southwest established its headquarters at Dallas Love Field in the 1970s and adopted LUV as its New York Stock Exchange trading symbol. Herb, a San Antonio lawyer at the time, and businessman Rollin King may have first sketched out the concept of Southwest one evening in the 1960s in the St. Anthony Hotel bar. But the seeds for what kind of company it would become were planted 25 years earlier in the suburbs of Philadelphia.

By the start of World War II, Herbs three older siblings had left home. His father, Harry Kelleher, died in 1943, leaving him alone as a high school student in Haddon Heights, N.J., with his mother, Ruth. In an interview with me for the Philadelphia Inquirer in 2003, Herb described his mother as a wonderful person, an egalitarian who had no use for the high-born. In talks that would last long into the night, Herb said, Ruth taught him that everyone, no matter who their parents were, where they were from or where they were educated, deserved to be treated with dignity and respect. And that, he said, was the philosophical underpinning for running Southwest.

Of course, the business model Southwest perfected  flying only one type of jet, having no reserved seats yet one of the less-chaotic boarding processes, a low simplified fare structure, no fees for the first two checked bags, no ridiculous penalties for changing the day or time of a ticket  is the foundation of its financial success. And no one outworked Herb at sticking to the model and never losing sight of delivering value to shareholders, which includes all its employees.

But Herbs influence over the airline created something else, something beyond turning the little company from Texas into the peoples airline, flying more passengers annually than any other. He created Ruth Kellehers egalitarian workplace  which, by the way, is largely unionized  where people like what they do, are appreciated by the company and are paid accordingly. Those people in turn treat customers with dignity and respect, committing random acts of kindness every day that are as natural for them as breathing.

It is precisely that corporate culture that sets Southwest apart from the rest of its industry. Many other airlines provide a safe, relatively high-quality product, yet they struggle to be respected or even liked as much as Herbs airline is.

Tom Belden is a San Antonio freelance journalist who has written about transportation since 1977.
Our government may at some time be in the hands of a bad man. When in the hands of a good man it is all well enough.  We ought to have our government so shaped that even when in the hands of a bad man we shall be safe.

Frederick Douglass said that in 1866, as Andrew Johnson  until now, clearly the worst president in U.S. history  tried his best to undo the verdict of the Civil War, encouraging white supremacists to reimpose brutal oppression of African-Americans in the former Confederate states. An irate Congress responded by passing the nations first federal civil rights legislation, over Johnsons veto, and approving the 14th Amendment guaranteeing equal protection under the law. How will Congress respond now?

Once again, with President Donald Trump in the White House, our government is in the hands of a bad man. Once again, Congress has a duty to act  not rashly but responsibly, dealing with concrete issues in concrete ways.

Which brings us to the ongoing government shutdown over Trumps big beautiful wall or steel barrier or whatever he decides to call it next. If the real-world impacts were not so dire  the possibility, for example, that food assistance will lapse  the whole thing would be a joke.

White House press secretary Sarah Sanders was called out on one of the administrations biggest lies by Chris Wallace on Fox News Sunday. Sanders went for the terror angle: We know that roughly, nearly 4,000 known or suspected terrorists come into our country illegally, and we know that our most vulnerable point of entry is at our southern border.

Wallace wasnt having it. Wait, wait, wait  I know the statistic; I didnt know you were going to use it. But I studied up on this. Do you know where those 4,000 people come  where theyre captured? Airports.

Not always, Sanders protested.

At airports, Wallace said. The State Department says there hasnt been any terrorist that theyve found coming across the southern border with Mexico.

A flustered Sanders finally had to resort to the administrations standard way of responding to inconvenient facts, which is to lie: Im not disagreeing with you that theyre coming through airports. Im saying that they come by air, by land and by sea. Except, as Wallace noted, that none have been caught trying to come by land or sea.

Sanders also claimed that drug trafficking was a reason for the wall; however, according to the Drug Enforcement Administration, most illegal drugs coming from Mexico arrive in tractor-trailers and other vehicles at legal crossings. And Sanders mentioned the throngs of Central American would-be immigrants arriving at the border; however, the great majority of these people are seeking asylum and present themselves, again, at legal points of entry.

The administration also touts a border wall as a way to stem illegal immigration. The fact is that since 2007 many immigrants who are here without proper documents arrived legally and simply overstayed their visas. In the 2017 fiscal year, according to Trumps own Department of Homeland Security, about 700,000 visitors overstayed their visas; the largest number was from Canada (101,281), followed by Mexico (52,859), Brazil (37,452) and China (35,571). It looks as if Trump is worried about the wrong border.

The thing is, these are the administrations own figures. Trump knows that the wall is a costly and disruptive gesture, a demonstration project for his base  and nothing more. It isnt designed to make the nation safer. Its only purpose is to shore up his own political standing, especially with nativists who want to halt or reverse the browning of America.

We cannot require that our presidents be perfect. But we cannot accept the kind of divisive cynicism that Trumps wall embodies. The new Congress faces many tasks, but its first order of business must be to fund the normal operation of the government  without wasting taxpayer money on a boondoggle whose purpose is to reinforce a paranoid fantasy of invasion by swarthy hordes.

We are at one of those points that Douglass feared. Another quote from the great abolitionist is instructive: Power concedes nothing without a demand. It never did and it never will.

Congress has the power, the right and the duty to tell Trump: Enough. The madness stops here and now. This government was able to survive Andrew Johnson, and it will also survive you.

eugenerobinson@washpost.com
A seven-year collaboration between city libraries and the Holocaust Memorial Museum of San Antonio has asked locals to Learn and Remember.

This year is no different. Its exhibits, films, musical performances, lectures and book discussions hope to teach San Antonio audiences to never forget the atrocities and genocide of Hitlers Germany.

According to the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum, the Nazi regime tortured and killed 6 million Jews; 3 million Soviet prisoners of war, including about 50,000 Jewish soldiers; 1.8 million non-Jewish Polish civilians as well as people with disabilities, Jehovahs Witnesses, Roma (or gypsies) and perhaps tens of thousands of homosexuals.

Learn and Remembers theme this year is resistance, stories of ordinary people who took extraordinary actions.

Museum director Ellen Ollervidez says the forms of resistance varied from the spiritual, armed and intellectual to the political and diplomatic. As organizers considered the work of Emanuel Ringelblum in the Warsaw Ghettos, discussion gave way to 2019s thematic focus.

The Jewish Historical Institute calls Ringelblums underground archive one of the most significant testimonies about the extermination of Polish Jewry.

We were so inspired about how people came together to feel empowered in a powerless situation, Ollervidez said.

Her presentation Jan. 31 on the student-led resistance movement at the University of Munich was part of that story. Members of the White Rose Society, once engaged in the Hitler Youth movement, were students who began to question, philosophically and religiously, a regime they didnt want to be part of. Though ultimately executed, their leaflets were distributed by Allied forces into parts of Germany, she said.

The Holocaust museums exhibit on the Lodz Ghetto in Poland will feature the story of survivor Henryk Ross, a photographer who managed to bury thousands of film negatives documenting the camps conditions. It held an estimated 245,000 Jewish and Roma imprisoned in a 4.3-square-mile area without water and sanitation.

Ross lived to return to Lodz to dig up his negatives, though some had been destroyed by the elements.

The Central Librarys two exhibits traveled here from Yad Vashem, the World Holocaust Remembrance Center in Jerusalem.

The Shoah exhibit reflects on the Holocaust through the stories, artifacts and photos of survivors. Its Besa exhibit explores the lives of Holocaust rescuers through the work of photographer Norman Gershman and highlights the Muslim Albanian families who helped save Jews. Besa means pledge of honor.

Various library branches will screen Casablanca, Defiance and The Grey Zone, and book clubs throughout the system will discuss, The Book Smugglers: Partisans, Poets, and the Race to Save Jewish Treasures from the Nazis by David Fishman; Day After Night, a novel by Anita Diamant about the British Atlit detention camp for illegal Jewish immigrants; and The Diary of Mary Berg, about growing up in the Warsaw Ghetto.

The Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Campus of the Jewish Community will host UTSA Opera on the Run, which will perform Brundibar, a childrens opera by Jewish Czech composer Hans Krasa, which was performed by children in the Theresienstadt concentration camp. The Jan. 21 performance will include the voices of San Antonio school-aged children.

In Recovered Voices, a musical program at the Central Library Jan. 28, soprano Kristina Bachrach and pianist Daniel Anastasio will perform pieces from unknown composers stilled by the Third Reich.

The Holocaust museum, the San Antonio Public Library and the San Antonio Public Library Foundation collaborated on programming.

Holocaust: Learn and Remember started as San Antonios answer to the Israeli commemoration of Yom HaShoah in April, which remembers the survivors and heroism of the Holocaust.

While Learn and Remember once landed in April, events were moved to January and led up to International Holocaust Remembrance Day on Jan. 27. Events kicked off Monday and will run through the first part of February.

Elaine Ayala covers religion and minority affairs in the San Antonio and Bexar County area. Read her on our free site, mySA.com, and on our subscriber site, ExpressNews.com. | eayala@express-news.net | Twitter: @ElaineAyala
AUSTIN  A Dallas-area foster mother has been charged with child endangerment in the death of an infant in her care, a case that raises questions as to whether state officials have done enough to improve the safety of foster children.

It comes three months after federal judges blasted Texas officials for being deliberately indifferent to systemic threats to the safety of foster children.

The infant, 5-month-old Elizabeth Henson, was found unresponsive and turning purple the morning of Dec. 29. Natalie Parker  a verified foster parent since March 2017  is charged with abandoning or endangering a child, injury to a child and witness tampering.

Parker is accused of leaving five foster children in her home in Forney with her 19-year-old son the night before the infants death, though shes the only authorized caregiver, according to arrest warrant affidavits filed by the Texas Rangers. During the investigation, child pornography was found on the sons cellphone, according to the Kaufman County Sheriffs Office.

A year ago, state officials cited Parker after finding foster children had been left at the home without adult supervision, according to the state health commission. Its unclear what steps, if any, were taken to fix the issue then.

It sounds like she needed additional supports, both in training resources and respite care in handling the kids. Why wasnt that provided? said Will Francis, with the Texas chapter of the National Association of Social Workers. Francis also questioned why a single foster mother was looking after five children, including a baby  a lot for one person to supervise, he said. The state limit is six per home.

Kingdom Kids Child Placing Agency, paid by the state to license and monitor Parker and 24 other foster families, did not respond to several requests for comment. Over the past three years state officials have cited the agency for nearly 50 violations, including one in 2016 for physical abuse, according to state records. Kingdom Kids removed the other four children  one of whom is the infants older brother  Dec. 30, and is no longer placing children in Parkers care.

Kingdom Kids lost its nonprofit tax exemption in 2017, records show, but is still contracting with the state to care for foster children. The Department of Family and Protective Services works with agencies that are tax exempt and those that are not, said spokesman Patrick Crimmins.

This week, the state suspended new child placements to homes overseen by Kingdom Kids and caseworkers are visiting each home to do safety checks, Crimmins said.

State appealing court-ordered reforms

Parker was arrested as the state continues to fight a 2011 class-action lawsuit that alleges children in foster care in Texas are vulnerable to mistreatment, in part because of too few caseworkers and a lack of state oversight. A federal appeals court in October called state officials deliberately indifferent to threats to the welfare of the roughly 11,000 children in long-term foster care.

Related: Appeals court orders Texas to reform foster care system

In its October ruling, the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals ordered Texas to improve investigations of child abuse in foster care and address its problem with overburdened caseworkers. But the state is challenging the remedies, putting them in limbo.

The state has argued Texas is already taking steps to improve the child welfare system, including boosting pay for caseworkers in an effort to reduce turnover. Financial incentives were increased for relatives who agree to take in children who have been removed from their parents care.

Child deaths in foster care due to abuse and neglect are rare. Four children died in Texas foster care due to neglectful supervision over the 2016 and 2017 fiscal years, according to state records.

There have been no abuse or neglect deaths in foster care during the 2018 fiscal year or the first half of 2019, but a dozen investigations are still open, Crimmins said. All child deaths in foster care are investigated.

Kingdom Kids Child Placing Agency is one of many private contractors the state pays to license and monitor roughly 90 percent of the foster homes in Texas. So far this fiscal year, the state has paid Kingdom Kids over $430,000, state Comptroller records show. A portion of those funds are passed onto foster parents.

Details about Kingdom Kids financial condition, however, are scarce. The agency advertises itself as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization on its website, where it solicits donations. But Kingdom Kids tax exempt status was revoked in 2017 after it failed to file financial reports for three years in a row, according to the IRS website.

They shouldnt present themselves as a nonprofit if theyre not, said William Brown, a professor at the Bush School of Government and Public Service at Texas A&M University who specializes in nonprofit management. Its a concern.

Crimmins said the state conducts regular financial and legal checks on private foster care agencies. The most recent review of Kingdom Kids was in February 2018.

While the financial stability of any provider is important, we are always most concerned with and focused on the safety of our foster children, he said in a statement. On Monday caseworkers began visits to each foster home  what we call safety checks  and will conduct individual interviews with each child to ensure they feel safe and well-cared for.

On ExpressNews.com: Foster children suing state faced unemployment, homelessness and trafficking after leaving the system

Family members noticed contusion on childs head

Its not clear how the infant died. An autopsy is pending, according to the Kaufman County Sheriffs Office.

Parker told police she was home all night, leaving once in the early morning to move her car. But cellphone records and surveillance videos show otherwise, the arrest affidavit said.

Parkers son, Christian Richmond, told authorities he walked around the house with the infant trying to get her to sleep, the arrest affidavit said. Then he allegedly fell asleep with her on the couch and when he woke up in the early morning, the baby wasnt breathing.

Richmond was later charged with possessing child pornography, which authorities allegedly found on his phone during the death investigation. Kaufman County authorities say they dont believe that charge is linked to the childs death.

Related: Report: Texas police uncover child porn on teens phone while investigating infant childs death

Family members say they last saw the girl and her 9-year-old brother on Dec. 28. They exchanged Christmas presents at a child protection office in Denton, said the infants grandmother Alesia Lott.

Lott said family members noticed the back of Elizabeths head was swollen. Her brother said she fell down the stairs, Lott said.

The next day, they learned Elizabeth was dead. In the weeks since, the family hasnt been able to see her older brother, said Derek Gastineau, the childrens uncle.

This is real frustrating, he said. I dont know where my nephew is. How are we supposed to sleep at night when we know he is in (the states) care?

amorris@express-news.net
As President Donald Trumps inner circle continues to shrink with the departures of key aides and cabinet members, there is one Texan whose role in the administration is only growing more prominent and deeper.

Tea party favorite Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick was already close with Trump in 2016, when he led the presidents campaign in the state. But this week the White House showed just how valued Patrick is by repeatedly consulting with him over the last 8 days during the border wall showdown, flying Patrick to Washington, D.C., to help prepare Trump for his first nationwide address from the Oval Office and giving Patrick a key role in Trumps first visit to the Texas border since he was elected president.

Over eight days, Patrick has said he was in touch with the White House at least five different times.

When the president's team calls, and they dont call unless the president blesses it, it was tough to say no, Patrick said.

This week Patrick got so much presidential attention that when he returned to Texas he was batting down rumors that he was angling for a job in the White House or that Trump was going to make him the next Secretary of Homeland Security given his advocacy for border protection.

Im not going anywhere, Patrick said at a speech in Austin on Wednesday.

It was a message he delivered in another public speech later in the day and privately to Democrats in a closed-door meeting.

Related: Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick skips first day of Legislature for Trump

Job or not, Patrick, 68, has distinguished himself as a trusted ally for Trump and Trumps son-in-law and adviser Jared Kushner, whom Patrick said he spent most of his time with on Tuesday talking about immigration and pitching ideas for Trumps address to the nation. Patrick initially supported U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz for the Republican nomination for president in 2016, but shifted to Trump and publicly called on Cruz to get behind Trump after the nomination was sealed.

In late 2017, Trump turned to the Patrick family for a key honor, nominating state district Judge Ryan Patrick, Dan Patricks son, to be U.S. attorney for the Southern District of Texas.

He has as much juice with the White House as anybody in Texas, said Ford OConnell, a veteran Republican strategist based in Virginia.

OConnell said that relationship is even more important given the makeup of other states on the Mexican border. Both New Mexico and California have Democratic governors and Arizona just elected a Democrat to the United States Senate. But in Texas, OConnell says Trump has a safe haven where he needs a voice like Patricks to help make the case for the wall.

In Texas, Trump has said publicly he has a good working relationship with the less fiery Gov. Greg Abbott. Trump has campaigned for one-time bitter rival Cruz. And hes lauded the more measured U.S. Sen. John Cornyn. But it was Patrick who the White House insisted be in the Oval Office to help Trump and Kushner hone their message to the nation on an issue Patrick has made a centerpiece of his political career, dating back to when he was a radio host.

There is no doubt Patrick had a big influence on Trumps speech on Tuesday, said Matt Mackowiak, a Republican political consultant based in Austin and chariman of the Travis County Republican Party.

Trumps speech was very statistics-heavy, Mackowiak said. And if youve seen Dan ever talk about the border, he rattles off numbers of people apprehended. He always wants the most updated numbers. He thinks the numbers really tell the story.

Patrick put his command of the numbers on full display throughout the week to build support for the president, telling audiences in Austin and on national television segments on Fox News thoughout that of the more than 500,000 people apprehended on the southern border, more than half were caught in Texas. And most of those apprehensions took place in a critical stretch from Falcon Lake to Brownsville  less than 200 miles, Patrick said.

Related: Texas only needs 200 miles of border  not 1,200  says Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick

While with Patrick in McAllen, Trump made clear he welcomes his advice, calling him a friend of mine for a long time. Lately, Trump said Patrick has urged him to be more clear about explaining how Mexico is paying for the wall on the border indirectly.

At one point during a forum on the border, Trump said Patrick has also been pushing him to let Texas build the wall if Congress continues to fight him. Trump said its not the worst idea I ever heard.

You do things very well in Texas and I like that idea, so well take a look, Trump told Patrick during a roundtable discussion on Thursday.

Governor Abbott didnt quite endorse that idea during an interview with San Antonios KENS-TV.

"Its a hypothetical with no conclusion because the federal government is not stepping up and funding border security and so its a circular argument because we're all just waiting around for the federal government and Congress to do its job, to appropriate funding, to secure our border and our state," Abbott said.

Democrats say while Patrick is making lots of proposals, he doesnt speak for all of Texas and they will fight against Texas building such a barrier.

It doesnt matter what Dan Patrick says, Texans dont want Trumps stupid wall, and they damn sure arent gonna take state money from their childrens education to build it, said Manny Garcia, the Texas Democratic Partys deputy executive director.

Patrick proved his commitment to Trump this week. As the Lieutenant Governor, the Texas Constitution requires Patrick to oversee the Texas Senate. But when the White House called Patrick on Sunday asking him to travel to Washington on Tuesday, it conflicted with the very first day of Texass once every two-year legislative session.

Patrick said he hated to miss the first day of the session and thought long and hard about it. State Sen. Jane Nelson, R-Flower Mound, filled in for Patrick to start the session. Patrick was back at the front of the chamber on Wednesday, the second day of the session.

It was a tough decision for me not to be there on opening day for me  really unprecedented, he said.

But ultimately he said the weight of the White House calling and the vital importance of the border issue to Texas made him decide to hop a flight to Washington.

It is such an important issue to us, Patrick said. Because it really is a crisis along the border.

jeremy.wallace@chron.com
NORTH LIBERTY, Iowa  At a Potluck Insurgency gathering in Iowa this week, Julian Castro previewed his candidacy for the Democratic presidential nomination, a campaign that evolved after the 2016 election and that emphasizes his San Antonio roots.

Responding to a question about prescription drug prices, Castro spoke of his immigrant grandmother, who lost a foot to diabetes and later her life to complications from the disease.

You all know that with diabetes, that often happens. But she had medicine, and Medicare enabled her care, Castro said, using a family story to buttress his support for a so-called Medicare for All approach to health insurance.

The ability to get care, Castro added, should not depend first on the profit of Big Pharma or any other industry.

Recalling his years as San Antonio mayor, Castro described his hometown to Iowans as one of the nations fastest-growing and most diverse cities. He even mentioned the River Walk.

Crowds who turn out Saturday at Plaza Guadalupe to hear Castro announce his decision to run will get a glimpse of the family appeal Castro has tailored over months of planning.

His mother, Rosie, a former activist Castro describes as his inspiration, will introduce him. He and twin brother Joaquin, a congressman from San Antonio, plan to arrive on the public bus line they took to school as boys. The entry will be streamed live on Facebook. Joaquin planned to make a pitch for donations from the stage.

The candidacy Castro spells out in a venue rich in Mexican-American culture likely will become a rallying point for Hispanic voters. Depending on its success, it could propel Texas back onto the stage of national Democratic politics after a decades-long absence.

Texas could become an even bigger player if Beto ORourke jumps in on the strength of the buzz he generated in a strong but losing challenge to Texas GOP Sen. Ted Cruz last year.

Castro, 44, who was housing secretary in the Obama administration, is an early entrant in a race likely to feature one of the biggest and most diverse fields of Democratic hopefuls ever. Some two-dozen politicians of varied backgrounds have expressed interest and at least half are expected to join the fray.

At this point, it is a competition lacking a candidate with a claim to the nomination.

Castro and other Democrats will compete for attention and viral moments in a political environment starkly different from the past, with the internet central to all facets of campaigns and the rules of presidential politics unclear after Donald Trumps rise.

What hasnt changed is the need to win over a Democratic base itching to retake the White House.

In Iowa, which opens the primary season with precinct caucuses on Feb. 3, 2020, Castro made a strong first impression on Leann Cortimigli, who said after his pitch that she expects him to rise to the first tier of candidates.

He reminds me of a young Barack Obama, said Cortimigli, 60.

But Carolyn Shultz, 21, suggested that Castro fell short on projecting urgency, potentially useful advice for a politician given to measured tones and easy humor rather than bursts of outrage. Many in Iowa had turned out days earlier to take in Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warrens brand of edgy politics.

I dont think he has the spark. I dont think hes angry enough. Im angry, said Shultz, reading a novel as others lined up for photos with the visitor from Texas.

In Iowa, Castro was emphatic on a point that candidates like to make these days. Im not from Washington, he said, and I believe that we need to change the culture of Washington.

A jarring career change

Two years ago, Washington looked pretty good to Castro. Hardly anyone thought Hillary Clinton would lose, including Castro, who had spent two-and a-half years running the Department of Housing and Urban Development. He thought hed land in her administration; preliminary discussions had taken place.

I expected that I would continue to serve in some capacity in a new administration, Castro said recently.

In An Unlikely Journey, Castros autobiography published in October, he recalled the shock of Election Night, which he spent in New York with a room full of VIPs. He went back to his hotel and collapsed on the bed in disbelief as the returns came in. When he awakened a few hours later, Trumps victory was assured, and Castros future was uncertain.

The next day, he phoned his wife, Erica, to say they would be returning home to San Antonio, perhaps where he would run for something. But a race for governor of Texas in 2018 never held much appeal.

Castros plan to seek the White House took shape swiftly, interviews with him and allies suggest.

He had experienced the national limelight, relishing the rising star label after being selected by Obama to deliver the keynote speech at the 2012 Democratic National Convention in Charlotte.

Castro traveled widely at HUD and has continued to do so, visiting more than 40 states at last count. And hed landed on a list of finalists to become Clintons 2016 running mate, endured the vetting and even taken a physical. He slid down in the order when the Clinton campaign concluded that a Latino on the ticket was unneeded as a rallying tool given Trumps vilification of Hispanic immigrants.

In weighing a candidacy, it seemed a good bet to Castro that voters would be weary of a mercurial president buffeted by investigations and intent on selecting a replacement who looked to be fundamentally honest.

He also calculated, rightly or wrongly, that voters would be in the market for a candidate from a younger generation. Early on, he took stock of Democrats whod won the White House in their 40s: John F. Kennedy (43); Bill Clinton (46) and Obama (47).

In a party riven by feuding between Clinton backers and devotees of Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont, Castro saw himself appealing to both camps.

He also considered what his candidacy might do for Democrats hopes of turning Texas into a blue state.

Since last year, he has talked over his future with allies and mentors, among them Henry Cisneros who, like Castro, was a San Antonio mayor and HUD chief. He spoke with consultants, including David Axelrod, who was Obamas White House political chief, and Jeremy Bird, a principal organizer of Obamas campaigns.

But Castro can point to no senior party leaders he relies on. Brother Joaquin remains his closest political adviser.

On three occasions he convened supporters to talk about his future. In August 2017, shortly after starting his Opportunity First PAC, he held the first meeting, describing briefly what he had in mind. In a second meeting a year later, he got more specific about where he saw himself in a 2020 field.

If there were doubts about running, they were erased by Democrats success in recapturing the U.S. House in Novembers midterm election, with a net gain of 43 seats  some of them won by candidates Castro supported during his travels last year.

I picked up on what people were thinking, and I sensed that this race is wide open, Castro said.

Last month, some 20 potential funders for Castro gathered at a downtown San Antonio law office, invited by Houston lawyer Scott Atlas, who is likely to have a key post in the campaign.

Candidates viability will be measured early by their capacity to rake in cash, and Castros vow to forgo PAC contributions could complicate that task. But he left the meeting confident, he says, that his campaign can compete in the money chase.

A lot of people who have supported me for a long time are eager to activate their networks to raise money, he said.

In Iowa, where voters seem loath to take chances with stakes so high, Castro had to make the case that he can survive absent labor union cash and other big checks.

There is so much on the line, Tony Currin, 48, a Teamsters Union member from Iowa City, said pleadingly to Castro. My vote is precious, and Ive been burned by people who are willing to die on the cross.

To put it in my own language, Castro responded, youre asking if Im taking a knife to a gunfight.

Castro added: There are a lot of other challenges, but the problem is not going to be money.

A breakthrough scenario?

Since the last quarter of the 20th century, success in the Iowa caucuses or the New Hampshire primary eight days later has been the sure path to success. Not winning or placing near the top in those two states has forced many from both parties to abandon their races, bereft of donor support.

Castros allies believe that expectations might have changed in the era of Trump. Castro speaks confidently about contending in the early going. But supporters pin their hopes on the front-loaded primary schedule.

Caucuses in Nevada, where Hispanics make up 28 percent of the population, follow New Hampshire. Then, after the South Carolina primary, Texas and California, home to more than half the nations Latinos, are among the nine states expected to have Super Tuesday primaries on March 3.

Jeremy Bird, for one, believes the clout of Iowa could be diminished this cycle by the volume of candidates dividing support. He broke down where Castro might fit in the competition.

He will be in the younger, more outsider category, perhaps the only Latino, somebody who has been a mayor, somebody who has the benefit of not being from a blue, coastal state. And, I think, he is someone with a lot of personal characteristics that are unique in the field, said Bird, who leads a project to train campaign staff for 2020.

I think he is somebody who has the potential to break out, he added.

Birds advice? He needs to attract and retain high-level talent at the national level and in states that matter early in the process. And he needs to hone his message. Voters need to know clearly what he stands for and why he is running.

At Stanford University, where the Castro brothers spent their undergraduate years, political science professor Luis Fraga, a Texas native, counseled them and enlisted them in his research.

Fraga, now director of the Institute for Latino Studies at the University of Notre Dame, asserted that the brothers sophisticated understanding of politics surpassed that of any of his students in over three decades.

Fraga, who plans to be in San Antonio for the announcement, said: I always knew that they would go back home and use it as a base to enter office and use their offices as a way to extend opportunities like the opportunities provided to them.

Referring to Julian, Fraga said: He was very serious and very mature and clearly understood that strategy is extremely important in achieving both elected and policy success.

In December, a tracking poll of 2,800 Latinos around the country pointed to the impact Castros candidacy could have on Latino turnout in 2020.

The survey, sponsored by the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials (NALEO), found that two-thirds of Latino voters said they would be more likely to vote Democratic if a Latino was on the ballot.

Start of the digital campaign

Before heading to New Hampshire next week, Castro plans to travel on Sunday to Puerto Rico to meet with influential Hispanics at a gathering sponsored by the Democratic-aligned Latino Victory Fund.

Its aspirational for our communities and our allies to see someone like him, said Cristobal Alex, president of Latino Victory Fund. I think people and (money) bundlers are going to take him under their wings.

In interviews, Castro described the highly digital campaign he will run. Last year, his Opportunity First PAC made its biggest expenditures to digital companies, including $127,000 to the company headed by Joe Rospars, who was chief digital strategist in Obamas presidential campaigns and worked on Bernie Sanders behalf in 2016.

Castro said that Democrats in Iowa and elsewhere can expect to see ads online asking them to take part in his campaign and raise money.

Every aspect of the campaign, from communications to organizing to fundraising, runs through digital media these days, he said.

Little has changed during Castros planning other than the emergence of ORourke. The former El Paso congressmans adroit use of Facebook and his gaudy fundraising hauls last year ($38 million in a single quarter) may be a factor in his leapfrogging other potential candidates in recent polls.

Castro gets questions about ORourke wherever he goes. Is it Julians time or is it Betos time? he was asked at a radio station in San Antonio this week

Castro asserted that neither ORourkes entry or that of any other contestant will alter the course of his pursuit.

Its not going to change what I do. Thats why I made the decision to jump in on my own timeline - early. Im not concerned about what other people are going to do, he said on the eve of his declaration.

Im going to articulate a strong positive vision for the country and give people something to believe in, not just to be against. I know who I have to reach and how I want it to resonate. And were going to do that, he said.

blambrecht@express-news.net
In last Sundays column, Peter McHugh asked about knives labeled San Antonio Iron Works or SAIW. At least since the 1980s, these collectors items are said to have been made for use by soldiers and sailors in World War II.

Theres no evidence of any company named San Antonio Iron Works, and the knives of this kind dont seem to have any connection with Alamo Iron Works of San Antonio. The blades made their first appearance as hunting knives in a 1961 magazine advertisement.

Its not clear whether any of these knives  with distinctive, leather-wrapped handles and sheaths  were actually made during or for the war, but San Antonians did send many knives for the war effort, thanks to appeals from a Texan general and a San Francisco nightclub owner.

At the start of World War II, there was a great need for fighting knives, said John Manguso, former director of the Fort Sam Houston Museum and author of several books about the historic Army post. Besides those made by arsenals and by cutlery and farm implement manufacturers, he said, The Army elected to take some of its inventory of swords stored away and make them into fighting knives.

Typically, a sword blade was cut into three pieces, and a tang (the portion that extends down into the handle) and point were fashioned onto each piece, Manguso said.

Looking at a photograph of the SAIW knives, Manguso identified them as having been made from a 1913 Patton cavalry saber, possibly 1840 dragoon sabers or 1860 light cavalry sabers.

With the San Antonio Arsenal here, he said, it is likely a lot of this type of work was done there and contracted out to local shops.

In machine shops, garages and basements all over the country, hobbyists as well as professional machinists turned out an impressive number of knives during World War II. Meanwhile, other Americans rummaged through their junk drawers or parted with prized heirlooms to do their bit for a nationwide grassroots drive to supply U.S. troops with fixed-blade weapons.

The Save a Life with a Knife Committee was a military-civilian cooperation that started in late 1942 when San Francisco nightclub owner Frank Martinelli discovered that wounded (men) from Guadalcanal and New Guinea rated knives the most urgent need of our fighting men in those areas, according to Life magazine Feb. 8, 1943.

Moved by the stories he heard from customers, he started by clearing a hardware stores shelves of knives, wangling more from his friends and convincing popular bandleader Kay Kyser to spread the word on the radio. The longtime North Beach impresario threw in three knives of his own.

Martinellis anecdotal evidence apparently had enough basis in reality that he received approval for his committee from Army Maj. Gen. Barney McKinney Giles, a Texas native who had served at Kelly Field and as of July 1942 had organized and commanded Californias 4th Air Service Command. The unlikely allies  nightclub operator and career officer  struck a deal: They would cooperate on publicity for the knife drive, Martinelli would store the spoils in a back room at his Bal Tabard club and military planes would speed them overseas.

News of what seemed like urgent demand appeared in newspapers all over the country. Sturdy knives with blades four to six inches long are wanted for soldiers engaged in jungle warfare, wrote the San Antonio Light, Jan. 25, 1943, reporting on receipt of a letter from Giles, who is quoted as saying that No money is available for the purchase of these implements, but committees are being formed in all parts of the country by patriotic citizens who are interested in collecting knives for the soldiers. San Antonians were given a choice of turning theirs in to the sheriff or chief of police for distribution.

An Associated Press story published the same date describes the response to local appeals in San Francisco: An amazing outpouring of civilian cutlery  Turkish scimitars, stilettos, hunting knives, butcher knives, relics of the Civil War, World War I and even an occasional Japanese blade of the kind used to commit hara-kiri. People sent jewel-encrusted letter-openers, intricate folding tools and exotic bolo knives for cutting sugar cane.

As 1943 progressed, American Legion posts, Boy Scout troops and local defense councils made or gathered up knives. Individuals and families burned the midnight oil in their home workshops to turn scrap materials into lethal weapons. There was an Amarillo railroad worker who made 157 knives from saw blades, a Dallas high school shop class that turned defense-plant leavings into 529 weapons patterned after the traditional Texas Bowie, and a Laredo Times sportswriter who asked his readers to turn in their cane knives, hunting knives, the knife in your tackle box and in fact all kinds of knives.

By the end of the year, the government was begging them all to stop.

Dont send knives to soldiers, a War Production Board official advised in a widely run wire service story published Nov. 18, 1943. Its about time this sheath-knife question is straightened out. If a soldier needs a knife, the Army will provide it.  Many of these (machine-shop) knives made from second-hand steel have flaws, too. When a soldier reaches a combat zone, the army issues whatever knife is needed  and no flaws in it.

The same agency followed up a few days later with a stern warning that Legitimate knife manufacturers are prohibited from making knives except (directly) for the Army and Navy.

Did the maker of SAIW knives overestimate demand, ending up with a surplus? An ad placed by Shaenfield Bros. Co., 213 E. Commerce St., in the Light on Dec. 21, 1944, a year after the government cut off the knife drive, made a Last Minute Christmas Suggestion  Get your man a combat knife for Xmas  Complete with genuine leather scabbard. For every member of the armed forces. We will pack for overseas mailing. No brand is specified, and the ad includes only small drawings of knives, one of which resembles the SAIW version.

Its possible that an unsold consignment of these knives was among the leftovers first offered again in 1961. Anyone who has information about the SAIW knives may contact this column. All replies will be forwarded and may be featured in a future column.

historycolumn@yahoo.com | Twitter: @sahistorycolumn | Facebook: SanAntoniohistorycolumn
Bexar County sheriffs officials released no new details Friday on the shooting deaths of a woman and two children at a home inside a gated luxury residential development near Boerne.

The Bexar County medical examiners office hasnt officially identified the victims or revealed more specifics about how they died. An investigation is continuing.

The victims  a 37-year-old woman and two girls, 16 and 10 years old  were found around 9 a.m. Thursday when a man returned to the home in the 11300 block of Anaqua Springs and discovered their bodies.

Family members identified the woman as Nichol Olsen, but authorities have not yet confirmed that information.

Sheriff Javier Salazar said the woman and two children suffered gunshot wounds to their upper bodies. He said both children appeared to be homicide victims.

Authorities havent revealed if the woman died as a result of a suicide or a homicide. An autopsy will determine the answer.

The woman and children lived at the home where their bodies were found, Salazar said. That residence sits on 2.7 acres of land and is valued at almost $1 million, Bexar Appraisal District records show.

The man who owns the home purchased the property last year, according to the appraisal districts website. It wasnt immediately clear if he was the same man who discovered the bodies Thursday.

Friends paid tribute on social media to Olsen and the two girls believed to have died. Those posting fond remembrances described the 16-year-old as a Clark High School student. One tribute featuring the girls photo showed her wearing a Clark cheerleading uniform.

She was a beautiful young lady, but she had a very big smile that would just kind of light up the room, said Nicole Nava Cortes, owner of San Antonio Spirit, which trains the Clark cheerleading team. She was also a very respectful young lady.

Northside Independent School District officials did not release any information about the teen or the 10-year-old Friday because authorities havent officially disclosed their identities.

Staff writer S.M. Chavey contributed to this report.

Peggy OHare is a staff writer in the San Antonio and Bexar County area. Read her on our free site, mySA.com, and on our subscriber site, ExpressNews.com. | pohare@express-news.net | Twitter: @Peggy_OHare
An 8-month-old boys maternal relatives thanked the community and law enforcement during a vigil for him hours after his body was recovered Friday.

We are honored in knowing that baby King has touched so many lives, and that he has become San Antonios baby, his cousin Adriana Gomez said to hundreds of people who gathered to pray that the infant be at peace.

Last Chance Ministries Pastor Jimmy Robles had initially planned that Fridays prayer service at Monterrey Park on the West Side be one of hope that King Jay Davila, who was reported abducted on Jan. 4, would be found alive and returned to his family.

San Antonio Police Chief William McManus announcement Friday that the boy was found dead changed the tone of the service.

Gomez was among family members who addressed mourners on the cool, rainy Friday evening.

I know that the silence has sparked a lot of confusion about baby King Jays family not loving him, she said, fighting back tears.

King Jays grandparents on his mothers side and his older siblings adored him, Gomez said. They enjoyed his smile which she said could "light up a room."

Were part of the percentage that loved him. We really do love him, Gomez said.

She also refuted any previous criticisms made by King Jay's mother, Jasmine Gonzales, who at one point had been upset that police were investigating King Jays father, Christopher Davila, and his family.

We know and we are confident that the authorities are working tirelessly in solving this tragedy, Gomez said crying. I want to thank them for their efforts, as well as the community, for loving baby King since the beginning of all of this.

On Jan. 4, Davila told police that his son was in a Dodge Dart that was seen on security camera footage being taken by a woman moments after he went into a West Side gas station.

Police later determined that his cousin, Angie Torres, 34, had taken the car and abandoned it near Rodriguez Park with the help of Davila's mother, Beatrice Sampayo Davila, 64, police said.

McManus said the entire stunt was staged to distract police from finding King Jay's body and any evidence of his demise.

As of Friday, Davila was in jail with bail set at $1.25 million for charges including injury to a child, tampering with evidence, possession of a firearm and possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver.

Torres and Beatrice Davila also face charges of tampering with evidence in the case.

After his arrest Thursday, Davila told investigators where to find King Jay's body. Police recovered the boys body wrapped in a blanket and buried in a black backpack in a grassy area just south of the intersection of Castle Lance and Castle Prince.

Davila claims that King Jay died hours after a car seat fell from the bed while he was inside it on Jan. 3, hitting the floor wth his face. Davila said King Jay may have hit his head on a dresser during the fall, according to his arrest warrant affidavit.

He admitted to detectives that he should have sought medical attention, but that he panicked as he tried to keep King Jay awake because he was nodding off after the fall, the affidavit said. Davila told police that when he checked on King Jay a few hours later, he was dead.

It breaks my heart to know that we will no longer be able to love on him, Gomez said. But I take comfort in knowing that hes in Gods hands now  and knowing that no one will ever be able to harm him again.

Robles said that Davila may have panicked because of his criminal past.

"Sometimes youre afraid that they won't believe you," Robles said.

He urged anyone who accidentally injures their child to call 911 and ask for help, even if they have a criminal record.

"Like the Bible says, the truth shall set you free."

Robles also warned of donating and supporting potentially fraudulent GoFundMe accounts in King Jay's name, saying that the church is working to help the family.

He also asked the public to not bash the family online, noting that the family has received a lot of hate-filled messages via social media.

We have some good families, some people that loved King Jay, Robles said. We don't have time for that. Right now is the time to continue to pray."
Former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, announcing San Antonios selection as one of 25 cities to benefit from a two-year program to address global environmental change, said the city is proof that climate action and economic growth really do go hand-in-hand.

This is one of the fastest growing big cities in the nation. You are growing your economy, and youre investing in sustainability, which I think is very smart, Bloomberg, U.N. special envoy for climate action, said Friday.

San Antonio and Austin are the two Texas cities named Friday as winners of the Bloomberg American Cities Climate Challenge, a program of Bloomberg Philanthropies. It will provide staff and technology support worth $2.5 million for implementation of the citys climate action and adaptation plan known as S.A. Climate Ready.

City officials said a draft plan will be made public in two weeks for a monthlong comment period and could be considered by the City Council in April.

RELATED: S.A. wins prestigious climate change award

San Antonio will use the support and resources to convert electricity supply for all municipal operations to 100 percent renewable sources, increase the number of electric vehicles in the city fleet and expand the number of electric-vehicle charging stations citywide. The program also will support efforts to improve energy efficiency in municipal and private buildings, and help develop a more effiicent citywide transportation system.

Bloomberg Philanthropies initially invited 100 of the nations largest cities to compete for the program, with San Antonio emerging as one making a serious effort to comply with the Paris Climate Agreement, even though President Donald Trump decided in 2017 to withdraw the United States from the international accord, Bloomberg said.

So mayors get it, even though the White House clearly does not. But you can have responsible climate action and economic growth at the same time, he said.

Mayor Ron Nirenberg said the city could not expect the state or federal government to take the lead in addressing climate change, including rising temperatures and predictions of more frequent and intense droughts and flooding, which, coupled with the citys growth rate, pose challenges for San Antonios future.

We cant wait for Austin or Washington. We must be realistic. We must be ambitious about our own preparedness and resilience as a city, he said. The real national emergency is the impacts of climate change. How we respond, though, is really up to all of us.

San Antonios climate plan is being crafted by the city, CPS Energy, the University of Texas at San Antonio and Navigant, a Chicago-based consultant. A steering committee and five working groups focus on climate equity, water and natural resources, transportation and land use, waste and consumption and energy and buildings. In online surveys in the fall, San Antonians showed highest levels of support for efforts to reduce energy consumption, improve traffic mobility and provide safe, reliable public transit.

On ExpressNews.com: Heat map shows San Antonio areas most affected by climate change

Douglas Melnick, the citys chief sustainable officer, said the two-year Bloomberg program will give the city access to cutting-edge climate data, and will focus on reductions in greenhouse gases from buildings and transportation, believed to make up about 85 percent of San Antonios emissions.

Its a fantastic opportunity, Melnick said. I think it elevates the issue. It will really raise the profile of what were doing here. And I think the second part is that its really going to help us with implementation.

Greg Harman, clean energy organizer with the Sierra Club and member of the steering committee, said eliminating coal as a source of electricity is San Antonios key issue regarding buildings. Although CPS Energy recently closed its coal-burning Deely plant and has reduced reliance on coal from 32 percent to 18 percent of its energy portfolio in the past eight years, it plans to still be using coal for 7 percent of its energy in 2040.

Harman and other members of the environmental group Climate Action SA want coal eliminated by 2025.

This plan should be driven and shaped by grass-roots interests, Harman said. If we were 100 percent renewable, we wouldnt have a problem with our buildings.

Bloomberg called coal the one thing, that if you could get rid of coal worldwide, it would make a very big difference. But even though renewable sources such as wind and solar are really starting to come along as price-competitive, he said he supports efforts to help poor, coal-producing communities and states affected by decreased reliance on coal.

Before addressing the environment, Bloomberg criticized Trump for allowing the partial government shutdown to stretch into the start of a fourth week Saturday. Later, when questioned by a reporter, Bloomberg said he was considering whether to run for president as a Democrat in 2020, and could make a decision in the next six weeks.

I believe we need to do more to secure our borders. But the government shutdown, I think, is certainly a failure of presidential leadership and its just an outrage, he said.

Scott Huddleston 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. | shuddleston@express-news.net | Twitter: @shuddlestonSA
Participating landlords agree to make their rental units subject to the Housing Quality Standards (HQS) inspections. A Housing Authority inspector visits the rental unit before the tenant moves in to make sure every item on the 30-plus point HQS checklist passes before the tenant is authorized to move into their unit. No matter how minor the violation or deficiency, every item on the HQS inspection must be repaired. The unit is re-inspected by another Housing Authority inspector who can impose additional repairs at the inspectors discretion. We all agree that inspections are necessary. Baltimore Citys new inspection program includes a list of 12 critical components to safe housing. The HQS list is more than twice as long.
To hide the death of his 8-month-old son, King Jay Davila, whose body was found Thursday, Christopher Davila spun an elaborate tale of infant abduction.

But the implausible scheme, which according to police was hatched by Davila, his mother and a cousin, turned out to be a cover for a far more ordinary  yet still tragic  occurrence: a parent or caregiver claiming a childs death under their watch was the result of an accident.

Its become such a common story in child abuse or neglect cases  perpetrators blaming a childs injury or death on a fall or accident  that child welfare experts have almost come to expect it, some said. They often regard such claims with skepticism, especially when it comes to very young children.

Theres a saying, particularly with babies that goes, If you cant cruise, you cant bruise, said Randy McGibney, chief program officer at ChildSafe, a nonprofit that assists law enforcement and other authorities in child abuse cases. Meaning, if theyre not ambulatory  if they cant walk around  its highly unlikely they caused their bruising. Someone put that bruise on their body.

McGibney emphasized that the cause of King Jays death wont be known until the Bexar County medical examiner completes an autopsy.

Getting help To report suspected child abuse or neglect call: 1-800-252-5400 Or visit www.txabusehotline.org The Children's Shelter of San Antonio: 210-212-2500 See More Collapse

According to police, Davila, 34, is now telling authorities that his son was injured when the car seat that held him fell off a bed. The child might have hit his head on a dresser during the fall, the father told police.

Instead of seeking medical help right away, Davila, who was playing video games when the alleged accident occurred, waited several hours to check on his son.

By then, he was dead. Davila said he panicked, put the child in a backpack and buried him in a field less than a mile from his home.

His mother, Beatrice Sampayo, 64, and cousin Angie Torres, 45, are accused of helping Davila with the faked kidnapping. Both are charged with tampering with evidence.

Its common for child abuse perpetrators to try to hide their tracks, but few go to the lengths Davila and his family members evidently did in dreaming up a cover story, McGibney said.

Perpetrators might keep their kids out of public school, theyll homeschool, to keep their abuse out of the public eye, so it wont be detected, he said. Many times, child abuse goes on for years, until someone notices a bruise or a mark and reports it or the child makes an outcry.

But you rarely see people go to this extent, he said, referring to the Davila case.

Attempting to hide or conceal evidence of abuse or neglect can have catastrophic consequences, McGibney said.

What we often see is that many times parents  whether theyve actually abused or accidentally injured the child, or if they go overboard in disciplining the child and he winds up hurt  will try to cover it up, he said. (The parent) might not know that theres internal injury that could potentially cause the child to die. So its imperative, with any kind of physical injury, that parents seek medical attention, even if they worry about getting in trouble.

Even if Child Protective Services opens an investigation and removes the child, thats the preferred outcome. CPS will usually work with parents to get the services they need to safely reunify with the child.

Without that, and if a child dies, then its prison for the parents, McGibney said.

Drugs and other factors

Besides being charged with serious bodily injury to a child, tampering with evidence and felony possession of a firearm, Davila was also charged with possession of illegal drugs  methamphetamine  at the time of his arrest.

A state study found that when a child dies from abuse or neglect in Texas, half the time the parent or caregiver was under the influence of alcohol or drugs and often more than one drug.

Fifty-two percent of such fatalities in 2017  90 out of 172  involved caregivers who were actively using a substance that impaired their ability to care for the child, according to the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services.

The numbers were even more dire in Bexar County: Of the eight deaths in 2017 that were related to child abuse or neglect, five involved caregivers who either admitted to or tested positive for alcohol, marijuana, cocaine or heroin and sometimes a combination of all.

In Texas, the biggest culprits involved in drug-related child abuse or neglect are alcohol, marijuana or methamphetamine use, said Kristene Blackstone, associate commissioner of CPS. The opioid epidemic that has caused rates of child abuse and neglect to soar in other states and cities for the most part hasnt happened here, she said.

In fiscal 2017, eight children in Bexar County died from abuse or neglect, according to DFPS. That number is down from double digits in the past - 11 fatalities in 2016 and 12 in 2014, although higher than the four in 2015.

According to a spokesman with CPS, which is now investigating King Jays death, the agency had no prior involvement with Davila or his fiancee, Jasmine Gonzales, who is King Jays mother, regarding the boy.

Reach out for help

The top four causes of child fatalities in Texas in 2017 linked to abuse or neglect where blunt force trauma, unsafe sleeping, drowning and vehicle-related, such as leaving a child in a hot car or drunken driving accidents.

Children age 3 and younger make up almost 80 percent of victims; male children make up more than half, state data show. Physical abuse-related fatalities most commonly involved blunt force trauma inflicted by a father or boyfriend.

Yvette Sanchez, chief operating officer of the Childrens Shelter of San Antonio, said it was unfortunate that nobody stepped in to help (King Jay).

You see this sort of (cover-up) when the abuse is extreme, she said. The parents may have been under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Theres often a history of mental illness or a criminal history. They could be covering (the abuse) up because of guilt and regret or because of a lack of maturity. Its almost like a denial  telling themselves nothing really happened. This can also be about power and control  look at what Im getting away with.

Besides substance abuse and mental illness, a history of unemployment or domestic violence is also a red flag of a heightened chance of child abuse in a home, studies have shown.

Sanchez said she and her colleagues at the shelter, after hearing that the childs body was found, agreed among themselves that Davilas explanation doesnt add up.

Moreover, if the child truly was hurt by a fall, that the father didnt immediately seek medical attention speaks to dysfunction in the family, she said.

It goes back to having those parental skills and instincts, and having a core attachment to that child, she said. Maybe there was something going on between Davila and the mother, maybe there was drug and alcohol abuse or mental illness. Maybe there was turmoil within the whole family. But when a child is injured and the caregiver doesnt seek medical help, at the end of the day, that speaks to a lack of a core attachment with the child.

Something was missing between the baby and that father.

Sanchez implored those who might see a family struggling to reach out to the many organizations in San Antonio that provide resources to help stop child abuse or neglect.

Call the agencies or just call United Way at 211 to find help, she said. And never, ever leave your child with someone who is not equipped to parent.

Leaving a child in the care of a boyfriend or male who is not biologically tied to the child greatly increases the chance of abuse or neglect occurring, studies show.
Delegates from Qatar, Chile and India sat together at Trinity University, going over the wording of a resolution they would propose at the mock-convening of the U.N. Human Rights Council this week.

Ingrid Mayer, a Keystone School student assigned to represent India, transcribed the resolution, while Steele High School student and Qatari delegate Nyah Conrad and Reagan High Schools Merrill Casanoff, who wore a Chilean flag pin, offered suggestions.

The three were among more than 1,000 students at the annual Model United Nations San Antonio, or MUNSA, a simulation that calls on high schoolers to develop and debate solutions to policy problems facing the international organization.

While students in Trinitys Coates Student Center assigned to the Human Rights Council drafted ways to address sex trafficking and talked of education, safe houses and databases, another group worked feverishly upstairs developing methods to combat domestic violence.

Their table was littered with memos, addressed, To: Denmark, From: United Kingdom and To U.S., From: Cuba. Three clusters of students, each attempting to represent their assigned countries interests and governments, developed competing working papers, racing to finish them and open them up for consideration and a committee vote.

In the Human Rights Council, students grappled with how to address sex trafficking in countries with conflicting laws about prostitution. Delegates from smaller countries countered with proposals that would require more resources than they could afford.

Students from the International School of the Americas, a magnet school in North East Independent School District, coordinate and staff the conference each year, participating alongside students from 35 other high schools across Texas and Mexico. The MUNSA that ended Friday is in its 23rd year and its seventh hosted at Trinity.

On ExpressNews.com: San Antonio universities restarting programs in Mexico

Twenty-five panels of students simulated caucuses and prepared working papers, ranging from groups such as the World Health Organization and the World Trade Organization to the Nuclear Crisis Committee and Historical Crisis Committees, evaluating the Soviet-Afghan War and the Hungarian Revolution of 1956.

The idea is to replicate as accurately as possible the actual workings of the United Nations, with teenagers acting as delegates and the secretariat, said ISA senior Ale Talamantes-Martinez, the conferences undersecretary general of delegate development

Committee chairs are tasked with extensive research, writing background papers for their delegates to study and setting the topics theyll debate, with an emphasis on choosing current events that are relevant and timely, said Brooke Romine, the conferences secretary-general.

In addition to studying up on international issues such as overfishing, drone warfare and refugee crises, students learn parliamentary procedure and develop confidence in public speaking.

Express Briefing: Get the morning headlines in your inbox

As a senior, lecturing 40 ISA students on the rules of parliamentary debate to prepare for the conference was initially nerve-wracking, Ryan Smith said. But now, as a freshman at Trinity, I have no anxiety when it comes to class presentations, he said, crediting his MUNSA experience for being better equipped to think on his feet and adapt.

The hands-on learning is vital for ISA students, said Angela Breidenstein, an education professor at Trinity. Freshmen serve as the mock press covering the event, with sophomores serving as delegates representing their assigned countries. Juniors and seniors staff and organize the event.

Students, led by Undersecretary General for Outreach Vivienne Martinez, also fundraised $5,000 for Humanity & Inclusion, an international organization that works with people with disabilities and other vulnerable populations to improve living conditions and advocate for rights.

LTeitz@Express-news.net
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MADISON, Wis. -- A University of Wisconsin-Madison researcher and his collaborators at the University of California, San Francisco have repurposed the gene-editing tool CRISPR to study which genes are targeted by particular antibiotics, providing clues on how to improve existing antibiotics or develop new ones.

Resistance to current antibiotics by disease-causing pathogens is a growing problem, one estimated to endanger millions of lives and cost over $2 billion each year in the U.S.

"What we need to do is to figure out new weaknesses in these bacteria," says Jason Peters, a UW-Madison professor of pharmaceutical sciences, who developed the new system.

The technique, known as Mobile-CRISPRi, allows scientists to screen for antibiotic function in a wide range of pathogenic bacteria.

Using a form of bacterial sex, the researchers transferred Mobile-CRISPRi from common laboratory strains into diverse bacteria, even including a little-studied microbe making its home on cheese rinds. This ease of transfer makes the technique a boon for scientists studying any number of bacteria that cause disease or promote health.

Peters worked with Carol Gross, Oren Rosenberg and other colleagues at UCSF and other institutions to design and test Mobile-CRISPRi. The system reduces the production of protein from targeted genes, allowing researchers to identify how antibiotics inhibit the growth of pathogens. That knowledge can help direct research to overcome resistance to existing drugs.

The researchers published their findings Jan. 7 in the journal Nature Microbiology. They took advantage of the increasingly popular molecular tool CRISPR, but in a unique way.

"Most people, when they think about CRISPR, think about gene editing," says Peters, who earned his doctorate at UW-Madison and recently joined the School of Pharmacy as an assistant professor. "But that's not what I do."

Normally, the CRISPR system gets targeted to a gene where it cuts the DNA in two. The gene can be edited while the cell repairs the damage.

But Peters and his collaborators worked with a defanged form of CRISPR known as CRISPRi. CRISPRi has been engineered to be unable to cut DNA. Instead, it just sits on the DNA, blocking other proteins from gaining access to and turning on a particular gene. The result is lower expression of the gene and a reduced amount of the protein it codes for.

The researchers showed that if they decreased the amount of protein targeted by an antibiotic, bacteria became much more sensitive to lower levels of the drug -- evidence of an association between gene and drug. Thousands of genes at a time can be screened as potential antibiotic targets this way, helping scientists learn how antibiotics work and how to improve them.

To make CRISPRi mobile, the researchers developed methods to transfer the system from common lab models like E. coli to disease-causing species, which are often harder to study. Peters' team turned to one of the natural ways bacteria link up and exchange DNA, a kind of bacterial sex called conjugation. Former UW-Madison Professor of Genetics Joshua Lederberg discovered conjugation, which earned him a Nobel Prize in 1958.

"You basically mix the bacteria together and it happens," Peters says of conjugation. "It doesn't get much easier than that."

Using conjugation, Peters' team transferred Mobile-CRISPRi to the pathogens Pseudomonas, Salmonella, Staphylococcus and Listeria, among others.

"What that means is that you can now do studies on how antibiotics work directly in these pathogens," says Peters. "That could give us a better clue about how these drugs work in the different organisms and potentially what we can do to make them better."

The real test of Mobile-CRISPRi's mobility came from cheese.

As cheese ages, it curates its own landscape of microbes. Scientists are just starting to investigate the immense diversity of bacteria and fungi on cheeses, which contribute to their complex flavors. One of those bacteria, Vibrio casei, was found on the rind of a French cheese in 2010 by Peters' collaborator Rachel Dutton of the University of California, San Diego.

Manipulating genes is simple in established laboratory bacteria such as E. coli, but there is often no way to study genes in bacteria recently isolated from the environment, such as V. casei. But Mobile-CRISPRi was easily transferred into the strain, opening up new avenues for understanding how the bacteria colonizes and helps age cheese. As a proof-of-concept, V. casei suggests that Mobile-CRISPRi should be useful for any number of previously understudied bacteria, both those that harm us and those we rely on.

Now Peters is offering up Mobile-CRISPRi to other researchers to study their germs of choice.

"So now it's going to be completely available to the community," says Peters. "Now this gives people a path forward."

###

This work was supported by the National Institutes of Health (grants F32 GM108222 and R01 GM102790) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture National Institute of Food and Agriculture Hatch Project NYC-189438.

Eric Hamilton, (608) 263-1986, eshamilton@wisc.edu
Ukraine to purchase combat drones from Turkey

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko announced on Saturday that a deal has been inked with Turkey to purchase 12 Bayraktar TB2 tactical unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV).

The agreement was signed between the Ukrspetsproject company, which is part of Ukrboronprom, and the Turkish UAV manufacturer Baykar Makina. According to the head of state, the agreement is part of measures to expand military-technical cooperation between Ukraine and Turkey.

AN AGREEMENT WAS SIGNED FOR 12 UAVS

As we have agreed with the President of Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, an agreement was signed on the purchase of Turkish Bayraktar TB2 drones for the Ukrainian army, said Petro Poroshenko.

Ukraine signs contract to purchase combat drones from Turkey WATCH

The Bayraktar TB2 armed drones, produced by Baykar and operationally used since 2015, have continued to support the fight against terror in other regions while providing effective surveillance, reconnaissance and fire support to the security forces in the Operations Euphrates and Olive Branch.
Luxembourg FM to pay official visit to Turkey

FM Mevlut Cavusoglu to hold a joint news conference with Jean Asselborn to discuss bilateral relations between two countries.

Turkey's Foreign Ministry will hold a joint press conference with his Luxembourgian counterpart in capital Ankara on Monday, according to the Turkish Foreign Ministry.

DIPLOMATS WILL TALK ABOUT TURKEYS EU ACCESSION PROCESS

Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu will meet with Minister of Foreign and European Affairs of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg Jean Asselborn, who will pay an official visit to Turkey between Jan. 14-15., to discuss bilateral relations between the two countries, a statement from the ministry said on Saturday.

Foreign Minister of Luxembourg Jean Asselborn

During the meeting, the two diplomats will also talk about the current regional and international issues as well as the EU and Turkeys EU accession process.

Later, Asselborn will visit severe projects in Turkey's southeastern Gaziantep and southern Kilis province for Syrians under temporary protection and hold a talk with the local authorities.
Hungary to free Syrian involved in 2015 border riots

Ahmed H. will be released on probation on Jan. 19 after serving two-thirds of his prison term.

Hungary will release a Syrian man serving prison time over his role in a border riot in 2015, a court spokesman said Friday.

AHMED H. WILL BE RELEASED ON JAN.19

Ahmed H. was convicted for complicity in an act of terror and sentenced to seven years in prison. The Szeged Court of Appeals upheld the verdict but reduced his sentence to five years, Laszlo Soros told Hungarian newswire MTI. He will be released on probation on Jan. 19 after serving a required minimum two-thirds of his five-year term.

In September 2015, Ahmed H. was accused of joining hundreds of other migrants attempting to cross into Hungary from Serbia in throwing stones at Hungarian police. He was charged after some of the migrants broke the border fence at the Roszke checkpoint and he crossed with them into Hungary.
Forbes magazine criticizes FETO charter schools in US

Education expert faults schools as indoctrination centers, using U.S. taxpayer dollars to fund a government in exile.

Popular American magazine Forbes published an article criticizing the charter school chains in the US run by Turkish fugitive Fetullah Gulen.

Former high school English teacher Peter Greene criticized the 150-school system by Gulen in a new article, How American Should American Schools Be.

SCHOOLS ARE ACCUSED OF FUNNELING MONEY

"Charter schools have been one path by which foreign nationals can become involved in the U.S. education system. The most notable example is the schools of the so-called Gulen charter chain," wrote the educator. "The chain has been used to issue H-1B visas to large numbers of Turkish nationals to come to teach; numerous reports claim that they are also expected to kick back part of their salary.

Green also noted shady business practices the schools are accused of hiding. "The schools are also accused of funneling money to groups such as Gulen-linked construction companies. While some conservative critics worry about Gulen schools as indoctrination centers, many others are concerned that the Gulen schools are using US taxpayer dollars to fund a government in exile."





He is concerned about that negative impact of Gulen schools on American students and complained students should not find themselves in the middle of a foreign power struggle between Gulen and his followers on one side and the elected government of Turkey on the other.

Criticizing the charter school system in general, Green said charter schools are run as businesses, allowing investors and operators from across the globe to have a say in the US education system.

Gulen and this organization, FETO, are accused of orchestrating the defeated coup attempt in Turkey in July 2015 which martyred 251 souls and left nearly 2,200 injured.
Care for our students, and their physical and mental safety, is our highest priority. We take these reports very seriously and are working collaboratively with the HCPSS Office of Transportation to thoroughly review this matter, Lidgard said.
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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The services celebrating and honoring the life of Jerry Richter, 93, of Enid, are pending under the direction of Brown-Cummings Funeral Home. Condolences and special memories may be shared with the family online at www.Brown-Cummings.com/.
Construction workers piece together the rafters of what officials have confirmed will soon be a Panera Bread and an Aspen Dental-branded dental practice. The dental practice is scheduled to open in May, but no date has been announced for the restaurant.
Mrs. Lura Lee Swanner Andrews, 92, of Athens, Alabama, went home to be with the Lord on Monday, June 14, 2021. Mrs. Andrews was born September 9, 1928, in Limestone County to Eugene Lee Swanner and Hattie Lee Edwards Swanner. She was born and raised in the Elkmont area and was the only gradu
The University of Maines Lobster Institute says such a find is a one-in-30-million chance, even more unusual than blue and live red lobsters, which are also quite rare. However, there are lobsters that are more elusive: a split-colored lobsters, with half the body being orange and half brown, and crystal or albino lobsters, which are only found in one in 100 million.
Ronald E. O'Dell, 60, of Altamont, died at 1:08 p.m., Sunday, June 13, 2021 at home surrounded by his family. Graveside services will be held at 10:00 a.m., Saturday, June 19, 2021 at Sidener Cemetery, rural St. Elmo with Robert O'Dell officiating. Visitation will be from 5:00 - 7:00 p.m., F
Reporter Aubrey Wieber: aubrey@salemreporter.com or 503-575-1251. Wieber is a reporter for Salem Reporter who works for the Oregon Capital Bureau, a collaboration of EO Media Group, the Pamplin Media Group, and Salem Reporter.
Harrison says it was some of the best police work of his career, taught him something about himself and about police integrity, and set him on a path to the top of the New Orleans Police Department. It not only got him noticed and promoted to sergeant, but ultimately transferred to Internal Affairs, where he continued to root out corruption in a troubled department with no shortage of in-house targets. That experience, in turn, became a top selling point for him to take over the department as superintendent in 2014, to help steer it through a federal consent decree mandating reforms.
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."

Make your picks!
According to the report, Carroll Countys elementary schools are expected to see an increase of 650 students and middle schools are expected to have an increase of 250 students over the next 10 years. However, those increases will not be seen at the high school level as students at that level are expected to decrease by 200 to 400 in that time frame.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 13)  The election gun ban will take effect starting Sunday, January 13, as the country marks the beginning of the poll season.

During the entire election period, which runs from January 13 to June 12, it is prohibited to carry or transport firearms or other deadly weapons.

Qualified people or entities may however be exempted from the policy by applying for the appropriate certificate of authority at the Commission on Elections (Comelec).

Submission of requirements for the certificate began on December 1, 2018 and will end on May 29.

Processing of gun licenses will also be stopped during the election period. Employing and engaging the service of security personnel or bodyguards are banned as well.

The poll body had earlier said violation of the policies shall constitute an election offense in line with the Omnibus Election Code.

National and local elections will be held on May 13. The Comelec has yet to release the final lists of candidates for the polls.

Candidates for senator and party-list groups may campaign from February 12 to May 11, 2019. Campaigning is prohibited on March 28 (Holy Thursday) and March 29 (Good Friday). Individuals running for a position in the House of Representatives, as well as regional, provincial, city and municipal positions may begin their campaigns on March 30 until May 11, 2019.

Campaigning should cease on the eve of election day (May 12). A liquor ban will also be enforced from May 12 to 13.
Local councillor Mark Dearey has revealed on his Twitter account this afternoon that he will not be running in the upcoming May local elections.

Mr Dearey has served as a councillor for 15 years and said it had been a "true honour to have served the people of the area."

Tributes poured in following his announcement. Fianna Fail TD Declan Breathnach said Mr Dearey always worked to make the area a "better place".

"You served your town and County well and if was always a pleasure working with your constructive no nonsense approach in the interests of making Louth and Dundalk a better place for all."

Fine Gael TD for Dublin West Noel Rock also praised Mr Dearey's work over the years.

"Sad to read this. Always thought you served your area and your party with distinction. Plus your venue is class. Wish you the very best with the future!"
Louth IFA livestock chairman Peter McEneaney said at current cattle price levels winter finishers are shipping major losses, which is not sustainable. He said prices are 25c/kg or 90 per head below this time last year.

Cattle prices at the factories are at a base of 3.75/kg for steers and 3.85/kg for heifers. Cow prices are ranging from 2.60 to 3.30/kg with R grades at 3.00+/kg.

Mr McEneaney said it was positive to see that the downward trend in UK cattle prices had turned and prices had risen in the last week of 2018 by up to 3.8p/kg. He said UK R3 steer prices were making 3.62/kg, which was equivalent to 4.24/kg.

IFA is meeting with the live exporters tomorrow and will be targeting a record year for live exports in 2019", said Mr McEneaney.

"Live exports last year reached close to 190,000 head, of which 161,000 head were calves. For 2019, Minister Creed needs to be looking at doubling the number of live exports.

The IFA Livestock man said the Minister for Agriculture must ensure that there are no restrictions to the live trade and every effort is made to maximise live export numbers.

In addition, he said the policy at both national and EU level needs to be more supportive of the trade.
A two-vehicle crash at 4 p.m. Friday has claimed the life of a Troy woman.

Porsha Johnson, 32, was killed when her 2008 Chevrolet Impala struck a 2014 Kia Forte driven by a 17-year-old juvenile from Troy.

Johnson was pronounced dead at the scene.

The 17-year-old and his passenger were injured in the crash.

The crash occurred on U.S. 231 near the 85 mile marker in Pike County. Nothing further is available as Alabama State Troopers continue to investigate.
It was a pretty average day, weather-wise, for late December when a Dale County school bus driven by Sue Edgar made its rounds.

It was the last day before the Christmas break and Edgars passengers would probably be even more lively and rambunctious than normal.

As she made her way around the Rocky Head community on Dale County Road 2 near Ariton for the last time as a Dale County school bus driver, a man far from school-age stood at the stop.

He had a bouquet of flowers in his hand.

Dale County Superintendent of Education Ben Baker stood at the same bus stop in Rocky Head where Sue Edgars bus picked him up 40 years ago to take him to school on his first day of kindergarten. On this December day, Baker met Edgar at the old stop to tell her thank you for 40 years of service as a Dale County Schools bus driver and to wish her well in retirement.

We both had the same first day, Baker said.

My love for school started that very first day of kindergarten when I looked up the steps of that school bus and saw Ms. Edgars smiling face. That love for school continues to this day, he said.
Accusations of cuts to veterans benefits, food stamps, medical care, and destruction of the environment are unfounded doublespeak based on nothing more than the ideological view of left-wing letter writers. Centralizing local veteran offices for efficiency isnt cutting anything but waste. Thousands of home owners in California would be happier if their wilderness areas hadnt been mismanaged by local radical Democrat environmental rules. Private land owners are happy they now have control of their private water sources unhindered by overreaching Democrat-sponsored government regulation. Perhaps food stamps are down because welfare rolls have shrunk due to job growth, especially among minorities.

A search of prominent Democrats  Barack Obama, Chuck Schumer, Hillary Clinton, and Nancy Pelosi -- will uncover past speeches parroting verbatim the immigration border control goals of Trump. Now, as their party swings radically far left, they no longer find it expedient to speak thus in hopes of holding onto power in the party. In a Dec. 19 letter to the editor, the writer admits that Trump campaigned for the wall long before Mueller started any investigation, then accuses Trump of pushing the wall to deflect attention from the investigation. That writer accused Trump of gassing brown children to garner support among his bigoted base. I guess when Obama did the same thing during his administration it was for our security, because Trumps wall couldnt have anything to do with stopping the drug/slave (human trafficking) trade, illegal alien invasion, and crime on both sides of the border associated with a porous open border. Or could it?
A community within a community

Smiths journey to where he is begins with an unfortunate event  the day the roof collapsed on the St. Andrews Market in 2015. Smith had utilized some space in the building for the creation of his frozen concoctions but now needed a new home.

Smith said within 24 hours, five different restaurants had offered some space and time for his operations. Eventually he worked out of Mama Goldbergs for about 18 months.

Smith relocated his operations to The Nest, a business incubator the Dothan Downtown Redevelopment Authority operated on Foster Street. The spot provided him a solid foundation that allowed him to expand past the bicycle cart and into an ice cream counter  though an overwhelming majority of his business came the traditional way.

Im like the poster boy for what the DDRA wanted to do with that business incubator, he said. We were able to develop our brand and reach more people. We were really grateful to find that spot.

Smiths business had grown to a point that he had begun to look for a new home, identifying a building Joe Gibbons owned just two doors down from The Nest. The timing was fortuitous as the DDRA announced it had sold The Nest so a Diablos Southwest Grill could open, he said.
Cain said he is confident that natural processes will eventually solve the problem.

The ground water table has to drop before it can seep in, he said. Theres absolutely nothing you can do to change that. Im looking to see if anything can be done to relieve it, but I havent found one area where I can do anything to benefit the affected properties. It fills up on dry land because the water table is up. There are places in the Compass Lake sand hills that are under, and there are places all over where this is a problem. Even if you pumped the water out of a hole, it will just fill right back up right now. Time and dry weather are the only things we have to help us.

Meanwhile, Cain and his workers are doing what they can to grade un-flooded roads and keep them passable, but time and sunny skies are the only remedy for those that are underwater.

This will subside as the rivers go down, but theres not much we can do until then, he said.
Against the advice of board attorney Michelle Jordan, Jackson County Commissioners on Tuesday decided to clarify a contract term for the three companies who are working under agreements with the county to remove Hurricane Michaels storm debris from county rights-of-way.

The change was authorized at the boards regular second-Tuesday meeting, which began at 9 a.m.

The businesses contended that the language in the contracts they signed inadvertently suggests that they must remove and haul away certain hazardous trees (hangers and leaners) and the resulting debris for a unit price that was meant only for the removal service, the companies saying that theyre due separate pay for the hauling services.

Jordan maintained that that the contractors simply made a bad bargain that they now want to change, and that they should either be required to do both aspects of the debris management for the unit price since the terms call for that, as she interprets the document, or the board should bid out the hauling as a separate project if the contractors are to be paid for that as a separate matter.
Its like drinking out of a fire hose. Everything goes in 1,000 different directions when it comes to policy areas, Elfreth said. The hardest thing about this job so far is going to be telling people no. There are legislators from across the state working on really great issues who are going to need a co-sponsor or a primary sponsor or a cross-file. I want to make sure the bills Im sponsoring as primary, I can speak to them.
Highlights:

Amazon reportedly building a cloud-based game streaming service.

The company could announce the service by 2020.

It will go up against Project Stream by Google and Microsofts Project xCloud.



After Google and Microsoft, it seems like Amazon is getting in on the whole game streaming business. As per The Informations report, via The Verge, the company is said to be working on its own game streaming platform that could be announced by 2020. Additionally, the company has posted some job listings that only serve to reaffirm the companys plans of coming up with a game streaming service. The company is looking to recruit two engineers in Seattle and California specifically for working on Cloud Games. Additionally, if these listings werent convincing enough, there is also a third job posting for a Lead Cross Platform Game Engineer and as per the report, the jobs description reads, This is a rare opportunity to take a technical leadership role to shape the foundation of an unannounced AAA games business.

This possibility of Amazon working on its own game streaming service is not surprising considering the booming gaming industry. Additionally, with competitors like Google and Microsoft, it would make perfect sense for the company to get into the fray and grab a chunk of the market ASAP. However, the two companies have marched ahead as Google is currently in the midst of testing its Project Stream platform in partnership with Ubisoft and Microsoft previously said that its Project xCloud service will enter public testing phase in 2019. While Google wants to stream games on any PC that can run a browser, Microsofts game streaming tech is said to enable gamers play on the device of their want like PCs, tablets and smartphones, without being locked to a particular device.

Related Reads:

Google gets into game streaming with Project Stream, partners with Ubisoft for testing Assassins Creed Odyssey on the service

Microsoft Project xCloud will let gamers stream Xbox games on mobiles, tablets and PCs
The New York Times was among the first to write about the deception, a social media campaign titled "Dry Alabama."

"Sign the petition today," reads the invitation to the Republican and Democratic candidates, an apparent effort to suggest that Republican Senate candidate Roy Moore wanted to push to get rid of alcohol in the state.

Wrote the Times:

"Along with a companion Twitter feed, the Facebook page appeared to be the work of Baptist teetotalers who supported the Republican, Roy S. Moore, in the 2017 Alabama Senate race. 'Pray for Roy Moore,' one tweet exhorted."

But it was fake, part of a multi-pronged campaign by Democrats to take down the embattled Republican, accused of bad behavior with underaged girls. He would eventually lose the race.

Moore had real issues to deal with and voters made their determination. But here's what's so disturbing about this week's revelation: An activist who worked on the project told the Times that while he hopes the practice of deception is outlawed one day, until then, he says it's got to be done:

If you dont do it, youre fighting with one hand tied behind your back, Matt Osborne, described as a progressive activist, told the Times. You have a moral imperative to do this  to do whatever it takes.

Is this what it has come to? Do whatever it takes?

Dirty tricks have been around since deceptive articles and political cartoons dominated newspapers during the early years of the nation's founding. And the Richard Nixon years were marked by dirty tricks and the Watergate coverup, leading to his resignation.

But this seems to be something different. Not just truth but also personal integrity is taking a hit. Some now believe, as Osborn stated, that there is a "moral imperative" to deceive, to act in any way that brings about a desired result.

New Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., dipped into this territory this week when she was challenged on "60 Minutes" for her apparent "fuzzy math" on defense department waste. Her response:

If people want to really blow up one figure here or one word there, I would argue that theyre missing the forest for the trees. I think that theres a lot of people more concerned about being precisely, factually and semantically correct than about being morally right.

There certainly is room for a politician or anyone to make a misstatement or a mistake. But deliberate efforts to deceive hurt the country, whether it's Democrats or Republicans engaging in the deception. And the public now seems more accepting of the deception, as long as it's a deception that favors their point of view.

As Deseret News journalist Jennifer Graham reported this week in her story headlined "Will honesty and integrity be on trial in 2019":

"Lies have consequences. Multiple lies have multiple consequences, including a breakdown in social cohesion and the basic trust upon which a society functions," Kim B. Serota, a researcher in Scottsdale, Arizona, who studies deception, has written.

Donald Trump and his administration remain under fire for his statements  and "alternative facts"  as his adviser Kellyanne Conway famously called them. That sparked a media debate this week about whether the networks and cable outlets should broadcast his Oval Office speech last Tuesday. Should a question-free forum be given to the president if he has a record of ends-justify-the-means alternative fact-giving?

Broadcaster Anderson Cooper went so far as to offer a "prebuttal" on CNN Tuesday, speaking of the president's "crisis of credibility" with many in America. That, too, brought more debate on the role of media as the nation deals with truth and integrity, or the lack of it.

There is a need to find common ground on the value of honesty and integrity, and that's what famed journalist Bob Woodward and Elder D. Todd Christofferson of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints will discuss in a Monday forum together with Michael Dimock, president of Pew Research Center, in a Deseret News-sponsored forum at the Newseum in Washington.

Woodward told Deseret News opinion editor Boyd Matheson in the podcast, "Therefore, what?" this week that restraint is needed:

"Well, I think the ends don't justify the means. And we need to really, really be careful about that," Woodward said. "And you've just got to be cool. I have the luxury of time working on books. So I can work for a year or two on one, don't have to rush to print, can try to get specifics, documents and meeting notes. And it's the authenticity."

Authenticity means there can be no moral imperative to deceive for selfish gains. Convening a conversation between Elder Christofferson, who as a young law clerk to Judge John Sirica of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia was the first to hear the Watergate tapes, and Woodward will bring a lively discussion on the costs of dishonesty and deception.
EPHRAIM  Bradley J. Cook was selected to be the 17th president of Snow College Friday by unanimous vote of the Utah State Board of Regents.

He will succeed Gary Carlston, who is retiring after serving five years as president. Carlston will remain in the position through May 17.

The Board of Regents, which has the sole authority to hire and fire public college and university presidents, spent much of the day in executive session interviewing the four finalists before voting on their selection of Cook in a public meeting.

"I am so honored to have been selected for this position in this amazing, incredible place that gave me a start, that believed in me," Cook said during his remarks after he was selected.

Cook, provost of Southern Utah University, is an alumnus of Snow College and a native of central Utah.

"President Cook first arrived at Snow's campus as a freshman a number of years ago. Now Snow College will greatly benefit from his significant experience in higher education and strong commitment to student success," said Dave Buhler, Utah Commissioner of Higher Education, in a news release.

During his time at SUU, Cook has worked to establish the university as a national leader in student-centric, highly applied learning environments and has advanced an international agenda, according to a press release.

Under Cook's leadership, SUU has created over 25 new academic programs and centers, and elevated SUU's academic reputation as one of the premier public regional universities in the Intermountain West.

Prior to serving at SUU, Cook was president of the Abu Dhabi Women's College in the United Arab Emirates. He also spent eight years at then-Utah Valley State College as vice president of college relations and later as vice president of academic affairs. Cook has bachelor's and master's degrees from Stanford University and a doctorate from the University of Oxford.

"Dr. Cook is a nationally respected scholar and dynamic leader in higher education," said Harris Simmons, chairman of the Board of Regents, in the release. "His experience, vision, and dedication to academic excellence will ensure Snow College continues to thrive in the years ahead."

Cook was selected from among four finalists, each of whom serves in an administrative position on their respective state college and university campuses in Utah.

A 22-member search committee, which included regents, Snow College trustees, and members of the university community spent several months soliciting input on the qualities of the next president, writing a job description, advertising for candidates and conducting interviews before winnowing the field to four finalists.

On-campus meetings between each of the finalists and members of the college community were conducted Thursday in advance of Friday's selection by the Utah State Board of Regents.

Snow College was founded was in 1888 by Utah pioneers. It has campuses in Ephraim and Richfield and an online degree option. Snow's Richfield campus primarily offers applied technology programs while its residential campus in Ephraim offers a wide array of associate degree programs and a limited number of bachelor's degree programs.

Snow College serves some 5,500 students and has been recognized nationally for student success, affordability and exceptional teaching.

The search for Snow College's newest president was the fourth in the Utah System of Higher Education this past year. Earlier, new presidents were selected at the University of Utah, Utah Valley University and Weber State University.

"I will work to ensure the college remains student-centered and focused on providing a high-quality, affordable experience, in addition to emphasizing its role as an economic driver for central Utah and the state as a whole," Cook said in the release.

"I look forward to working with Snow College students, faculty, staff, board of trustees, alumni and the broader community to advance the important work of the college."

Contributing: Ashley Imaly
The lawsuit claims that after the child went to check to make sure his door was locked and walked over to meet with his friends on a nearby sidewalk, Schrack approached him and forcefully, without provocation or legal reason, grabbed the plaintiffs right arm and demanded to know, What are you doing out here and where do you live? 
PROVO  A Utah County couple was charged Friday with child abuse after a 3-month-old girl was found to have a severely burned hand and broken bones in the process of healing, according to court documents.

Daniel Howard Mercer, 28, was charged in 4th District Court with two counts of child abuse, a second-degree felony; drug possession, a class A misdemeanor; and possession of drug paraphernalia, a class B misdemeanor.

Whittney Angel Huber, 30, was charged with child abuse, a third-degree felony, for allegedly not doing anything about the abuse being inflicted by Mercer, according to court records.

On Dec. 31, Huber took her 3-month-old daughter to the emergency room at Utah Valley Regional Medical Center. She was diagnosed with having 2nd degree burns over most of her left hand and taken to the University Burn Center in Salt Lake City, according to charging documents.

"Further examinations the next day by doctors at the Primary Children's Hospital revealed several severe serious bodily injuries to include the following: two broken  bones (one break in both the left and right upper arm), intercranial brain bleeding consistent with shaken baby syndrome, possible detached retinas which may lead to vision problems or loss of vision," according to a Utah County Jail affidavit.

"It is still to be determined, whether the infant child will need surgeries of many sorts to repair the damage done to her little body," the affidavit states.

Doctors determined the injuries had occurred over a two-week period, the report states.

"Huber told the detective she didn't want to believe Mercer had caused the injury, but admitted Mercer had been violent with her in the past, and was angry at the baby, calling her 'it' or 'the thing' because he didn't believe (the girl) was his child," according to charging documents.

When Mercer was interviewed by police, he initially denied knowing how the baby received her injuries. But later, "he said the baby's hand might have gone into the pot of boiling water because he was 'reckless' and not paying attention," the charges state.

Mercer also threatened to "kill the baby and make her watch as the baby died," according to court documents.

Spanish Fork police noted in the report that Mercer had been arrested twice for domestic violence in the past two months, and that Huber "has continually allowed Daniel to return to the apartment where he has assaulted and abused both her and her child."

Police stated both Mercer and Huber have "extensive" histories of drugs, theft, assault and fraud. The state already has taken custody of two of Huber's children and adopted them to other families, the report states, and Utah's Division of Child and Family Services is seeking custody of the infant.

Help for people in abusive relationships can be found by contacting the YWCA's Women in Jeopardy program at 801-537-8600, or the confidential statewide Domestic Violence Hotline at 800-897-LINK (5465). Resources are also available online at udvc.org.
SALT LAKE CITY  State lawmakers may reconsider the nomination process for the new Utah Transit Authority board following a recent standoff between Utah County and the governor.

Utah County sued Gov. Gary Herbert after he rejected the county's two nominees to the board created to make over the scandal-plagued transit agency. They settled the dispute out of court last month with the county advancing another nominee, whom the governor accepted.

Rep. Kay Christofferson, R-Lehi, suggested Friday that the Transportation and Tax Review Task Force address the "hiccup" as it revises sweeping transportation legislation passed earlier this year.

He and Rep. Mike Schultz, R-Hooper, raised the idea of giving the governor more names to choose from by allowing local government councils, comprised of elected city officials, and counties to make recommendations.

"Somehow we need to come up with more names to forward," Schultz said.

Lawmakers may also want to look at extending board members' term of service from three years to four, he said.

Sen. Gregg Buxton, R-Roy, said a three-member board "doesn't really work" and suggested expanding it.

But others told the task force it might be better to allow the dust to settle after the Utah County situation before making changes.

Sen. Karen Mayne, D-West Valley City, said throwing salt into the wound would not help and could make things worse.

The new UTA board was created under SB136, transportation legislation passed earlier this year mandating that the board's three seats will be made up of representatives chosen from Salt Lake County, and Utah and Tooele counties, and Davis, Weber and Box Elder counties.

The governor accepted other counties' nominations and two of the three UTA board members were sworn in, but the seat representing Tooele and Utah counties remained empty as they took the governor to court.

The task force approved draft legislation Friday with the idea that there are still five or six provisions to tweak, including the UTA board recommendation process.
SALT LAKE CITY  Utah Republicans in the U.S. House say they stand ready to push legislation the state's two senators filed to stop presidents from creating national monuments in Utah without federal and state approval.

But the state's lone Democrat in Congress, Rep. Ben McAdams, isn't standing with them on legislation introduced this week by Utah GOP Sens. Mike Lee and Mitt Romney to exempt the state from the Antiquities Act. A chorus of environmental groups also oppose the proposed Protect Utah's Rural Economy Act.

"For too long, Utah has been vulnerable to the whims of Washington. Decisions for Utah should be made by Utahns. Who best knows the state than those who depend on Utah lands for their livelihoods?" Reps. Rob Bishop, Chris Stewart and John Curtis said in a joint statement Friday.

The bill would prohibit presidents from designating or expanding national monuments in Utah without the consent of Congress and the state Legislature.

Lee said it would protect the state from "abuses" in much the same way Alaska and Wyoming are currently protected. He said it would give rural communities a voice they don't have now.

McAdams said the Antiquities Act is one approach for directing the management of federally owned public lands.

"However, my preferred approach toward preserving our landscapes for future generations and also balancing local interests is to bring people together and forge a local consensus through listening and finding areas of agreement," he said.

"I look forward to working with the other members of Utah's congressional delegation to see if we can find consensus."

McAdams said Utah's public lands are a national treasure and a major driving force in the state's economy.

The three GOP congressmen say the Antiquities Act has become a "political weapon" and Utah is still dealing with the ramifications of former Presidents Bill Clinton and Barak Obama creating the Grand Staircase-Escalante and Bear Ears national monuments, respectively.

President Donald Trump slashed the sizes of both monuments, but his action is being challenged in court.

Scott Groene, executive director of the Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance, said the bill is latest in a long line of "extremist anti-conservation bills" to come from Utah's congressional delegation.

"The short-sightedness of the act should be expected from Sen. Lee, but it is extremely disappointing to see one of Sen. Romney's first acts in Congress be such unconsidered parroting of worn-out anti-environmental talking points," he said.

"Millions of Americans support national monuments and the Antiquities Act," said Dan Hartinger, national monuments campaign manager for the Wilderness Society.

"Poll after poll demonstrates that Americans, including Utahns, are against Congress blocking protections for new or existing parks and national monuments," he said.

Lee said, "Rural Americans want what all Americans want: a dignified decent-paying job, a family to love and support, and a healthy community whose future is determined by local residents, not their self-styled betters thousands of miles away."

Romney said Washington bureaucrats for too long have dictated to counties, ranchers and recreators how and if they can use their lands. He said the bill returns the decision-making and management power of public lands to those closest to the land.
Ashton Jensen talks with ARUP President Andy Theurer as he figures out his job at the new ARUP lab at Junior Achievement City above the Discovery Gateway Childrens Museum at The Gateway in Salt Lake City on Friday, Jan. 11, 2019. The city is a hands-on experiential learning center where fifth-graders operate banks, manage restaurants and other businesses, work in city government, vote for mayor and develop working budgets. The lab will give students the opportunity to be a medical technologist for a day. In that position, they will use science and cutting-edge technology to solve a microbial mystery and help the city's citizens stay healthy. Scott G Winterton, Deseret News

Ashton Jensen uses a microscope to view a slide at the new ARUP lab at Junior Achievement City above the Discovery Gateway Childrens Museum at The Gateway in Salt Lake City on Friday, Jan. 11, 2019. The city is a hands-on experiential learning center where fifth-graders operate banks, manage restaurants and other businesses, work in city government, vote for mayor and develop working budgets. The lab will give students the opportunity to be a medical technologist for a day. In that position, they will use science and cutting-edge technology to solve a microbial mystery and help the city's citizens stay healthy. Scott G Winterton, Deseret News

ARUP President Andy Theurer watches as Ashton Jensen, the first employee of the ARUP lab at Junior Achievement City, uses a tablet, with the help of volunteer Sherri Pearson, to collect organisms on Friday, Jan. 11, 2019. The city, located above the Discovery Gateway Childrens Museum at The Gateway in Salt Lake City, is a hands-on experiential learning center where fifth-graders operate banks, manage restaurants and other businesses, work in city government, vote for mayor and develop working budgets. The lab will give students the opportunity to be a medical technologist for a day. In that position, they will use science and cutting-edge technology to solve a microbial mystery and help the city's citizens stay healthy. Scott G Winterton, Deseret News

Ashton Jensen, the first employee of the ARUP lab at Junior Achievement City, uses a tablet to collect organisms on Friday, Jan. 11, 2019. The city, located above the Discovery Gateway Childrens Museum at The Gateway in Salt Lake City, is a hands-on experiential learning center where fifth-graders operate banks, manage restaurants and other businesses, work in city government, vote for mayor and develop working budgets. The lab will give students the opportunity to be a medical technologist for a day. In that position, they will use science and cutting-edge technology to solve a microbial mystery and help the city's citizens stay healthy. Scott G Winterton, Deseret News

Ashton Jensen, the first employee of the ARUP lab at Junior Achievement City, uses a tablet to collect organisms around the community on Friday, Jan. 11, 2019. The city, located above the Discovery Gateway Childrens Museum at The Gateway in Salt Lake City, is a hands-on experiential learning center where fifth-graders operate banks, manage restaurants and other businesses, work in city government, vote for mayor and develop working budgets. The lab will give students the opportunity to be a medical technologist for a day. In that position, they will use science and cutting-edge technology to solve a microbial mystery and help the city's citizens stay healthy. Scott G Winterton, Deseret News

Ashton Jensen, the first employee of the ARUP lab at Junior Achievement City, uses a microscope to view a slide on Friday, Jan. 11, 2019. The city, located above the Discovery Gateway Childrens Museum at The Gateway in Salt Lake City, is a hands-on experiential learning center where fifth-graders operate banks, manage restaurants and other businesses, work in city government, vote for mayor and develop working budgets. The lab will give students the opportunity to be a medical technologist for a day. In that position, they will use science and cutting-edge technology to solve a microbial mystery and help the city's citizens stay healthy. Scott G Winterton, Deseret News

Ashton Jensen looks at friends as he waits for the ribbon to be cut at the ARUP lab at Junior Achievement City above the Discovery Gateway Childrens Museum at The Gateway in Salt Lake City on Friday, Jan. 11, 2019. The city is a hands-on experiential learning center where fifth-graders operate banks, manage restaurants and other businesses, work in city government, vote for mayor and develop working budgets. The lab will give students the opportunity to be a medical technologist for a day. In that position, they will use science and cutting-edge technology to solve a microbial mystery and help the city's citizens stay healthy. Scott G Winterton, Deseret News

ARUP President Andy Theurer, fourth from left, makes a few remarks as he and Ashton Jensen, third from right, prepare to cut the ribbon for the new ARUP lab at Junior Achievement City above the Discovery Gateway Childrens Museum at The Gateway in Salt Lake City on Friday, Jan. 11, 2019. The city is a hands-on experiential learning center where fifth-graders operate banks, manage restaurants and other businesses, work in city government, vote for mayor and develop working budgets. The lab will give students the opportunity to be a medical technologist for a day. In that position, they will use science and cutting-edge technology to solve a microbial mystery and help the city's citizens stay healthy. Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
Jason Eves, a student at The Barber School in Midvale, shaves Salt Lake County Sheriff's Capt. Aaron Torres on Friday, Jan. 11, 2019. Torres, along with other employees with the Unified Police Department and the Salt Lake County Sheriffs Office, purchased a policy exemption to grow beards, paint their nails or color their hair bright colors to raise funds for Shop with the Shield, which purchased Christmas presents for more than 100 children. Scott G Winterton, Deseret News

Salt Lake County Sheriff's Capt. Aaron Torres gets his beard shaved by Jason Eves, a student at The Barber School in Midvale, on Friday, Jan. 11, 2019. Torres, along with other employees with the Unified Police Department and the Salt Lake County Sheriffs Office, purchased a policy exemption to grow beards, paint their nails or color their hair bright colors to raise funds for Shop with the Shield, which purchased Christmas presents for more than 100 children. Scott G Winterton, Deseret News

Jesse Moran, a student at The Barber School in Midvale, shaves Unified police officer Zack Young on Friday, Jan. 11, 2019. Young, along with other employees with the Unified Police Department and the Salt Lake County Sheriffs Office, purchased a policy exemption to grow beards, paint their nails or color their hair bright colors to raise funds for Shop with the Shield, which purchased Christmas presents for more than 100 children. Scott G Winterton, Deseret News

Jason Eves, a student at The Barber School in Midvale, shaves Salt Lake County Sheriff's Capt. Aaron Torres on Friday, Jan. 11, 2019. Torres, along with other employees with the Unified Police Department and the Salt Lake County Sheriffs Office, purchased a policy exemption to grow beards, paint their nails or color their hair bright colors to raise funds for Shop with the Shield, which purchased Christmas presents for more than 100 children. Scott G Winterton, Deseret News

Micael O'Day, a student at The Barber School in Midvale, shaves Dustin Cahoon, with the Salt Lake County Sheriff's Office, on Friday, Jan. 11, 2019. Cahoon, along with other employees with the Unified Police Department and the Salt Lake County Sheriffs Office, purchased a policy exemption to grow beards, paint their nails or color their hair bright colors to raise funds for Shop with the Shield, which purchased Christmas presents for more than 100 children. Scott G Winterton, Deseret News

Jason Eves, a student at The Barber School in Midvale, prepares to shave Salt Lake County Sheriff's Capt. Aaron Torres on Friday, Jan. 11, 2019. Torres, along with other employees with the Unified Police Department and the Salt Lake County Sheriffs Office, purchased a policy exemption to grow beards, paint their nails or color their hair bright colors to raise funds for Shop with the Shield, which purchased Christmas presents for more than 100 children. Scott G Winterton, Deseret News

Student barbers at The Barber School in Midvale shave members of the Unified Police Department and the Salt Lake County Sheriffs Office on Friday, Jan. 11, 2019. The officers, along with other employees with the departments, purchased a policy exemption to grow beards, paint their nails or color their hair bright colors to raise funds for Shop with the Shield, which purchased Christmas presents for more than 100 children. Scott G Winterton, Deseret News

Jason Eves, a student at The Barber School in Midvale, shaves Salt Lake County Sheriff's Capt. Aaron Torres on Friday, Jan. 11, 2019. Torres, along with other employees with the Unified Police Department and the Salt Lake County Sheriffs Office, purchased a policy exemption to grow beards, paint their nails or color their hair bright colors to raise funds for Shop with the Shield, which purchased Christmas presents for more than 100 children. Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
SALT LAKE CITY  A federal court on Friday denied a petition against the state from a man who has been on Utah's death row for 30 years.

More than 15 years after it was first filed, 10th Circuit Court Judge Claire V. Eagan denied Ralph Leroy Menzies' habeas corpus petition.

"The Constitution was followed and Utah's criminal justice system worked," is what Andrew Peterson, who handled the appeal for the Utah Attorney General's Office, said was the takeaway from Friday's decision.

The judge concluded in a lengthy 155-page ruling that Menzies' conviction and sentence did not violate the Constitution, said Peterson.

"It is a significant milestone that brings the case closer to conclusion," he said.

On Feb. 23, 1986, Menzies kidnapped Maurine Hunsaker from a convenience store in Kearns, took her to Storm Mountain in Big Cottonwood Canyon, tied her to a tree, strangled her and slit her throat. He was convicted and sentenced to die for the murder in 1988. Menzies is eligible for execution by firing squad because his case is grandfathered under Utah's old law.

The Utah Supreme Court upheld Menzies' conviction and sentence in 1994. But Menzies filed a habeas corpus petition in 2003 claiming he had ineffective counsel.

Because of the type of petition Menzies filed, he is not entitled to automatically appeal every point to the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals. A judge has to give him permission. In this case, Peterson said Eagan has allowed Menzies to appeal just five of the 43 issues he raised.

"The judge dramatically narrowed what Menzies can appeal," he said.

Although the proceedings in district court began in 2003, Peterson said the next step in the process, should Menzies take it, is an appeal to the 10th Circuit Court that wouldn't take nearly as long.
A bill before the Utah Legislature would add an important piece to the tapestry of laws protecting victims of domestic violence and sexual assault, particularly after their cases have gone to court. The measure deserves support and is among several before lawmakers that would close gaps to form a more secure safety net for those under threat of continued victimization.

The proposed law, HB19, would offer ways for law enforcement to keep a tighter leash on accused offenders once they are released from jail. It would also give clearer guidance to police and the judiciary when dealing with enforcing protective orders between the time a person is accused of a sexual violence crime and the disposition of those charges. The sponsor, Rep. Angela Romero, D-Salt Lake City, has bipartisan support for the bill, which was proposed in the last legislative session but not voted on before the session expired.

There are a variety of different measures, both proposed and recently enacted, that are emblematic of the evolving nature of the legal front in the battle against domestic abuse and sexual assault. The legislature has acted in recent years to close loopholes and create specific bodies of law dealing with domestic and sexual offenses outside the scope of general laws governing assault and harassment.

Much of this has been influenced by high-profile cases that have exposed gaps in the system. Rep. Romeros proposed law extends a measure passed last year in the wake of the murder of a 39-year-old Sandy woman by her estranged boyfriend, who opened fire on the victim and others in a vehicle outside a schoolground. In that case, the victim had complained of harassment but was unable to obtain a protective order because she and her former boyfriend had never cohabitated as domestic partners. Now, non-cohabitating couples may apply for an order in cases of harassment.

The case of University of Utah student Lauren McCluskey, also killed by an estranged boyfriend, is peripheral to the concerns addressed by Rep. Romeros bill, but is on point when it comes to the question of whether police are adequately attuned to dangers of harassment among dating partners. A review of the case showed University of Utah police were slow in addressing her concerns and failed to take substantial measures before it was too late. The school has pledged to take action to fix what it called flaws in the system, which should include an institutional prioritization of tactics to effectively address complaints by students and maintain focus until issues are resolved.

In that context, legislative action that specifically addresses methods to better respond to harassment and abuse cases will help make those kinds of crimes more top-of-mind among law enforcement agencies. Slowly, greater awareness of the prevalence of domestic abuse is translating into greater focus on the problem, and we hope that focus continues.

Its also important that laws are stitched together in ways that offer more and clearer channels for victims and police to address cases of abuse. Passage of Rep. Romeros bill would continue to strengthen the fabric of laws necessary to prevent cases of assault and abuse from escalating to the point of a fatal conclusion.
SALT LAKE CITY  Anti-Semitism and Islamophobia are on the rise, but so are crimes against members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, according to hate crime statistics from the FBI released in December.

The FBI documented 15 "anti-Mormon" hate crimes, or crimes specifically targeting Latter-day Saints, in 2017. That's roughly twice the seven "anti-Mormon" hate crimes recorded in 2016 or the eight in 2015, when the bureau first started tracking bias-motivated offenses against religious minorities including Jehovah's Witnesses, Sikhs, Buddhists, Hindus and Orthodox Christians.

These hate crimes against Latter-day Saints make up only a small fraction of offenses, however.

In 2017, the most frequently victimized religious group was Jews, with 938 anti-Jewish incidents. The second most targeted group was Muslims, with 273 incidents. While there were fewer anti-Islamic incidents in 2017 than in 2016, hate crimes against both groups have increased significantly in recent years. Most notably, anti-Jewish incidents jumped about 37 percent between 2016 and 2017.

"Across the board, hate crimes against religious minorities are rising," said Brian Levin, director of the Center for the Study of Hate and Extremism at California State University, San Bernardino.

Data show there were more hate crimes motivated by religious bias in 2017 than any previous year. But experts like Levin say the growing numbers may be due in part to increased reporting from police departments rather than simply increased violence.

Because of the partial government shutdown, the FBI was unable to respond to a request for comment.

The FBI defines a hate crime as a "criminal offense against a person or property motivated in whole or in part by an offenders bias against a race, religion, disability, sexual orientation, ethnicity, gender or gender identity.

According to Salt Lake County District Attorney Sim Gill, the difference between a hate crime and a normal crime is the impact on a community.

"If a community hears that LDS people are being targeted and assaulted by a group of people, every parent sending their child to church on Sunday or whose child is serving a mission is going to feel that terror," Gill said. "That terror is the direct result of that criminal activity occurring in the community."

Gill, who was born in India and raised in the Sikh tradition, has been advocating for 18 years for a stricter hate crime law in Utah to make it easier to increase sentences for offenders. A recent beating of two Latino men in Salt Lake City by a man who announced his intention to "kill a Mexican" has revived discussion of this topic once again.

"Unwillingness to hold criminals accountable for the whole impact of their actions is where we fail to deliver justice to those injured communities," Gill said, noting that Utah's law is vague and only applies to misdemeanors.

The FBI has been investigating hate crimes since World War I. But only since 2015 has the bureau paid special attention to members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, following a 2013 recommendation to include more minority groups that was signed by more than 100 members of Congress, The Washington Post reported.

Unwillingness to hold criminals accountable for the whole impact of their actions is where we fail to deliver justice to those injured communities.  Salt Lake County District Attorney Sim Gill

A 2012 mass shooting at a Sikh temple in Wisconsin that left six dead was a motivating factor for the recommendation, Levin said. At that time, signees petitioned for the inclusion of all self-identified religions in the United States as listed in the Pew Research Centers Religious Landscape Survey (2008) and the Statistical Abstract approved by the U.S. Census Bureau (2012), according to The Washington Post.

Levin attributes the national rise in hate crimes to expanding population and diversification in the United States.

"People are fearful witnessing cultural and demographic changes," he said.

Islam and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are two religious populations that are growing in the United States, said Levin.

The number of Muslims in the U.S. grew from 2.35 million in 2007 to 3.45 million in 2017, mainly due to immigration, according to Pew Research Center.

At the same time, U.S. membership of The Church of Jesus Christ went from 5.87 million at the end of 2007 to 6.64 million today, according to church statistics.

"When we have demographic changes, what it tells us is we're seeing a shift," he said. "For some people, the reaction to change is fear and violence."

White nationalism and anti-Semitic discourse online are also becoming more prevalent, said Levin, explaining the rise in anti-Jewish hate crimes.

"What I think we're seeing as a nation is the democratization of hate. We're not only polarized with respect to traditional categories like race and religion, but also some categories that the FBI numbers don't capture, like political divisions," said Levin.

But the FBI data could be misleading, according to Jack Levin, co-director of the Brudnick Center on Violence and Conflict at Northeastern University (and no relation to Brian Levin of California State University).

He said the FBI statistics are the best hate crime data that exist, but they still don't entirely reflect reality. Because the reporting is voluntary by police jurisdictions around the country, each year a different number of police departments participate.

That means it's difficult to compare the number of hate crimes from year to year and from one state to another, said Jack Levin. What is certain is that the actual number of hate crimes is higher than what's reported.

"Underrepresented and vulnerable groups are the recipients of hate crime threats. They are also the groups that are most likely to underreport," he said.
The ongoing government shutdown, President Donald Trump's speech and newly sworn-in Congress members dominated headlines throughout the week.

The government shutdown, now on day 21, is starting to take a toll on government workers who are going without pay.

Both Republicans and Democrats are holding firm to their positions, making some wonder how long the shutdown and standstill will continue.

Trump addressed the nation from the White House on Tuesday about the wall and immigration problems.

After his address, House Majority Leader Nancy Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer gave a rebuttal.

Footage of newly sworn-in Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez dancing while in college surfaced. In response to critics, she posted a new video of her dancing in front of her office.

In other news, there is still speculation over how the Democrats' plans for the new year and shift in Congress are going.
SALT LAKE CITY  Best-selling fantasy author Holly Black has a surprising gift.

"Writing bad old guy advice, for whatever reason, is something I could do all day," Black said in a recent phone interview.

Luckily for her scores of readers, she's employed her gift well in her most recent book, "The Wicked King" (Little, Brown Young Readers, 336 pages), the follow-up to her 2018 best-seller "The Cruel Prince." The old guy dispensing the bad advice that Black loves to write is the adopted father of the series' main character, Jude. But he's not the only one promoting things that aren't great  Black called Cardan, the series' vice-ridden bad boy and the wicked king of the title, "the worst."

And yet, she said, it's the characters that she loves most about writing this series, a young adult fantasy trilogy based in a fairy world. The third and final book in the series, "Queen of Nothing," is scheduled to release Jan. 7, 2020.

"The Wicked King" continues the story of Jude, a human who was raised in Faerie by the man who killed her parents when she was a young child. Through her scheming, she's positioned herself so it is she, not her nemesis, Cardan the High King of Faerie, who holds the true power. In this second book, Jude's test will be to see if she can keep that power without getting herself or the people she cares about killed. She must fight her way through political scheming, betrayal and her own complicated feelings for Cardan to make him the king that she needs him to be.

Black, who rose to national fame thanks to her mega-popular books "The Spiderwick Chronicles" (co-authored with Tony DiTerlizzi), is no stranger to fantasy. She started her career writing about fairies with her debut book "Tithe" and fairies have peppered her works over the years. She thinks she keeps coming back to fairies because of the sense of awe and wonder they bring.

"They're like nature," she said. "They're beautiful and terrible and inexorable."

Black came to the idea of "The Cruel Prince" through her main character Jude and how being raised by the man who killed her parents would shape her. Jude's complicated childhood also interested Black because, while the book is mostly set in Faerie, which gives it a feeling of high fantasy, every once in a while Jude puts on jeans and sneakers and goes to the mall in the human world. For a writer (and her readers), the contrast is significant.

Toggling between a fantasy land and the real world is tricky, but Black said one of the most difficult parts of writing "The Wicked King" was plotting. Events that she originally planned for the second book ended up at the end of "The Cruel Prince," so she had to rearrange the timeline. But after writing a host of books series, Black knows her way around writing second books.

"What I love about them is we already know the characters and now basically (I'm) just escalating all of the tension," she said. "But escalating is not necessarily easy to do, so that is both the fun of it and also the nervous-making part."

The second book also allowed Black to get at what she sees as the series' big question: What Jude would be willing to do for power?

"She has a different view of the world because of who she was raised by and she has a different moral system," Black said. "And she is now a person who is becoming an adult navigating that moral system and saying, 'What do I really believe? What is good? What is bad? And how much bad can you do in the service of good?'"

These sticky moral questions are one of the factors that make Black's books stand out from the YA fantasy pack, along with her fast-paced writing and intricate plotting. And her fans show their love for their author in typical ways  like beautiful fan art  and some not-so-typical ways, like a joke Twitter account called IncorrectCruelPrince. Black loves it.

Cardan: give a fae a fire and he'll be warm for the day



Jude: set a fae on fire and he'll be warm for the rest of his life



Cardan:



Jude: :) :) :)  IncorrectCruelPrince (@IncorrectCruelP) December 20, 2018

"It's so funny," she said. "Maybe it's wrong that I'm so pleased, but they're making loving fun of these characters who absolutely deserve people to make fun of them."

If you go 

What: Holly Black book signing in conversation with Ally Condie

When: Monday, Jan. 14, 7 p.m.

Where: The King's English, 1511 S. 1500 East

Web: kingsenglish.com
court

U.D. man gets state time in drugs and gun case
Crisis talks between India's cash-strapped Jet Airways Ltd and aircraft lessors have failed to ease a row over late payments, prompting some lessors to explore taking back aircraft, three people familiar with the matter told Reuters.

In what one of the people described as an ill-tempered showdown between the airline and some of the world's leading leasing firms, Jet's main lender State Bank of India sought to provide reassurance that India's biggest full-service carrier is doing all it can to pay its staff, suppliers and creditors.

"Jet has been delinquent for many months. Nobody wants to get in a situation where the problems worsen and it becomes even more difficult to take out aircraft," one of the people said.

Jet controls over a sixth of a market experiencing an unprecedented boom in air travel. Yet high fuel taxes, a weak rupee and price competition have squeezed profitability, leaving Jet with 80.52 billion rupees ($1.14 billion) in net debt as at the end of September and defaulting on payments.

The airline had previously told some lessors it would clear arrears by Dec. 31, but was unable do so, the people close to the matter said.

(For an interactive graphic on India's aviation market, click https://tmsnrt.rs/2xlWaet)

At meetings on Tuesday, held at SBI's headquarters in Mumbai's business district, the bank's Chairman Rajnish Kumar was asked how Jet planned to raise equity or debt, said one of the people - an attendee, who found the responses lacked sufficient detail.

Other attendees included Jet's management team, including the airline's founder and Chairman Naresh Goyal, as well as a senior adviser of Etihad Airways, which owns 24 percent of Jet and which did not provide any assurances, the person said.

An official from Punjab National Bank later said lenders have "in-principle" agreed to extend some help to Jet, but details on the mechanics of it are still being worked out.

Some lessors have engaged with lawyers, are working with their technical teams about repossession and are monitoring the planes, but the situation could be complicated by a new bankruptcy law that allows up to 270 days where no action is permitted against the debtor or its assets, the person said.

Lessors such as GE Capital Aviation Services (GECAS) SMBC Aviation Capital and Jackson Square are looking into stopping the transfer of Boeing Co 737 MAX jets that had been due for delivery to Jet, the person said.

A second person said deliveries of 737 MAX jets from lessors had been behind schedule since November.

Avolon, DAE Aerospace, BOC Aviation Ltd and Aircastle Ltd also attended the meetings along with GECAS and SMBC, one of the people said, declining to specify which are considering reclaiming planes.

Jet Airways, in a statement on Friday, said the airline is working on its turnaround strategy and updating its partners, in real time, on efforts taken to improve its liquidity.

"A comprehensive plan that will ensure business sustainability, preserve value, and enable the company to honour its obligations was outlined," a Jet spokesman said in the statement, adding that the meeting took place in an atmosphere of cordiality and mutual appreciation.

The turnaround plan involves creating a competitive cost structure and restructuring the balance sheet, among other things, and is expected to "deliver a positive impact on the financials of the company," he said.

SBI and SMBC Aviation did not immediately respond to requests for comment. DAE Aerospace, GECAS, Aircastle and Jackson Square did not respond outside of regular business hours. Etihad, BOC Aviation and Avolon declined to comment.

The people familiar with the talks were not authorised to speak publicly on the matter and so declined to be identified.

FINANCIAL HELP

Jet, controlled by Goyal, has turned to Etihad for financial help. However, the Abu Dhabi airline is not "in any position to sink new equity into Jet at this juncture," said a person familiar with Etihad's position.

Etihad posted a "significant loss" at the end of last year that would continue into 2019, according to an internal memo seen by sources on Thursday. The memo also showed 50 pilots would lose their jobs as the airline cut costs.

Jet held talks with Indian conglomerate Tata Sons Ltd about financial aid last year. Sources told Reuters that Goyal ended the talks because Tata would have wanted him to step down or take a less prominent role.

A source close to Tata on Thursday said there had been no recent engagement with Jet and doing so was "extremely unlikely" because Tata people had "moved on internally".

Tata Sons declined to comment on Friday.

REPOSSESSION

After the disorderly collapse of Kingfisher Airlines in 2012, India modified rules in line with the Cape Town convention, an international treaty making it easier for foreign owners to repossess aircraft when airlines default on payments.

Lessors can file a complaint with the government which has the power to cancel the registration of a plane within five working days and allow lessors to repossess it subject to certain conditions, including unpaid dues on the aircraft.

Some laws conflict with full implementation of the convention and the government in October said it was consulting to revise those laws - a move that could reduce lease rates for Indian carriers. Nevertheless, the ability to repossess a plane can be a more complicated process in India than in some other countries.

On Tuesday, Jet proposed to creditors that it would catch up with debt payments in arrears as of September, and from April meet debt payments as they come due, showed a document seen by Reuters.

Jet's debt payments will be large over the next few years, starting with about 17 billion rupees due by March-end, credit-ratings firm ICRA said in a Jan. 2 research note. ($1 = 70.4000 Indian rupees)
In June, Elon Musk fired at least seven people in the senior management team leading a SpaceX satellite launch project.

Elon Musks rocket company SpaceX will reduce its workforce by about 10 per cent of the companys more than 6,000 employees, it said on Friday.

The company said it will part ways with some of its manpower, citing extraordinarily difficult challenges ahead.

To continue delivering for our customers and to succeed in developing interplanetary spacecraft and a global space-based Internet, SpaceX must become a leaner company. Either of these developments, even when attempted separately, have bankrupted other organizations, a spokesman said in an email.

In June, Elon Musk fired at least seven people in the senior management team leading a SpaceX satellite launch project, Reuters reported in November. The firings were related to disagreements over the pace at which the team was developing and testing its Starlink satellites.

SpaceXs Starlink program is competing with OneWeb and Canadas Telesat to be the first to market with a new satellite-based internet service.

The management shakeup involved Musk bringing in new managers from SpaceX headquarters in California to replace a number of the managers he fired in Seattle.

Last month, SpaceX launched its first US national security space mission, when a SpaceX rocket carrying a US military navigation satellite blasted off from Floridas Cape Canaveral.

The Hawthorne, California-based company had earlier outlined plans for a trip to Mars in 2022, to be followed by a manned mission to the red planet by 2024.

Another Elon Musk company, electric car maker Tesla Inc, said in June it was cutting 9 per cent of its workforce by removing several thousand jobs across the company in cost reduction measures.

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Compass needles point towards the north magnetic pole, a point which has crept unpredictably from the coast of northern Canada a century ago to the middle of the Arctic Ocean, moving towards Russia.

Rapid shifts in the Earths north magnetic pole are forcing researchers to make an unprecedented early update to a model that helps navigation by ships, planes and submarines in the Arctic, scientists said.

Compass needles point towards the north magnetic pole, a point which has crept unpredictably from the coast of northern Canada a century ago to the middle of the Arctic Ocean, moving towards Russia.

Its moving at about 50 km (30 miles) a year. It didnt move much between 1900 and 1980 but its really accelerated in the past 40 years, Ciaran Beggan, of the British Geological Survey in Edinburgh, told Reuters on Friday.

A five-year update of a World Magnetic Model was due in 2020 but the US military requested an unprecedented early review, he said. The BGS runs the model with the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Beggan said the moving pole affected navigation, mainly in the Arctic Ocean north of Canada. NATO and the US and British militaries are among those using the magnetic model, as well as civilian navigation.

The wandering pole is driven by unpredictable changes in liquid iron deep inside the Earth. An update will be released on January 30, the journal Nature said, delayed from January 15 because of the US government shutdown.

The fact that the pole is going fast makes this region more prone to large errors, Arnaud Chulliat, a geomagnetist at the University of Colorado Boulder and NOAAs National Centers for Environmental Information, told Nature.

Beggan said the recent shifts in the north magnetic pole would be unnoticed by most people outside the Arctic, for instance using smartphones in New York, Beijing or London.

Navigation systems in cars or phones rely on radio waves from satellites high above the Earth to pinpoint their position on the ground.

It doesnt really affect mid or low latitudes, Beggan said. It wouldnt really affect anyone driving a car.

Many smartphones have inbuilt compasses to help to orientate maps or games such as Pokemon Go. In most places, however, the compass would be pointing only fractionally wrong, within errors allowed in the five-year models, Beggan said.

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Guru Tegh Bahadur, the ninth Sikh Guru, was in deep thoughts  contemplating how to help the Kashmiri Pandits who had approached him to save them from persecution. The faith of the Pandits was in danger. As the Guru was reflecting over what step could be taken, Guru Gobind Singh asked him why he looked so preoccupied. Guru Tegh Bahadur replied that the Kashmiri Pandits could be saved only if a truly worthy person sacrificed his life. Guru Gobind Singh, then only nine years of age, replied, Father! None could be worthier than yourself to make such a sacrifice.

Guru Gobind Singh, the son of a martyr father and the father of four martyr sons, was born in 1666 at Patna in Bihar. He spent the first six years of his life at Patna where now stands the Takht Patna Sahib. Gobind Singh moved to Anandpur Sahib and received his education in languages, archery, riding and in the practice of arms. He was proficient in Punjabi, Braj, Sanskrit and Persian and had a natural genius for poetic composition. The Jaap Sahib, Akal-Ustat, Shabad-Hazare and Chaupai Sahib are some of his most important banis. The Guru patronised poets, thinkers and scholars as well.

Through his poetry, Guru Gobind Singh preached the worship of one Supreme Being, emphasising love and equality. Someone is Hindu and someone is Muslim... but all the human beings, as a species, are recognised as one and the same, says the Guru. This secular and humane approach was demonstrated by the Guru as soon as he was born. According to a legend, Pir Bhikan Shah, a Muslim mystic, guided by a divine light, had approached the child with two bowls of milk, signifying Hinduism and Islam. The child placed his hands on both the bowls indicating that both are equal. Guru Gobind Singh condemned idol-worship, superstitions and useless rituals. He was in favour of strict moral and ethical moral code of conduct. He denounced asceticism and compared a yogi doing penance by standing on the leg to a crane which kept one eye shut off as if in prayer and the other on the lookout for frogs. He also criticised the taboos on food, like vegetarians versus non-vegetarianism. How to practice asceticism then? Guru Gobind Singh says, Let thine own house be the forest, thy heart the anchorite. Eat little, sleep little. Learn to love, be merciful and forbear. Be mild, be patient. Have neither lust, nor anger. Neither greed nor obstinacy.

Guru Gobind Singh also composed poetry to put courage into his Sikhs. The old stories were translated to infuse bravery and sword was glorified as bhagauti to secure Gods justice. The sword was never meant as a symbol of aggression but was to be used only in self-defence, as a last resort. In a Persian couplet in Zafarnama, the Guru says, When all other means have failed, it is but lawful to take to the sword. No wonder, Guru Gobind Singh, at the age of 33, was ready to establish the Khalsa Panth, a new faith based on equality, bravery and a sense of sacrifice. The Khalsa brotherhood had common unifying symbols like five Kakkars and the ceremony of baptism. The ultimate transformation of the Sikh community was made in the form of declaration of the Guru Granth Sahib as the Eternal Guru of the Sikhs.

The Guru fought a number of battles against the mighty unjust forces. He died a martyr. His father sacrificed his life for the truth. Guru Gobind Singhs two elder sons, Ajit Singh and Jujhar Singh, attained martyrdom while fighting at Chamkaur. His two younger sons, Zorawar Singh and Fateh Singh were bricked alive at Fatehgarh Sahib. The Guru sacrificed his entire family on the path of righteousness and everything was accepted as His hukam. In the forest of Machhiwara, separation from his sons and Sikhs in the form of death was expressed by the Guru as a separation from the Akal-Purakh. In a moving farewell the Guru writes, Convey to the Dear One the craving of His devotees for Him. Without Thee the luxury of downy beds is painful like a malady; life in a palace is like dwelling amid serpents; without Thee, pleasant beverages are no better than a sharp poniard. Without Thee these comforts are killing like the butchers knife; a pallet of straw is dearer to us, if the Dear One be there; palaces burn us like the infernal fire, if Thou be not with us.
The silly old fool

Was once a silly young fool.

The strength of the strong and silent

Resides in keeping their mouths shut.. 

From More Proverbs of Bachchoo-ka-adda

Acting honourably can be expensive  as the government of the UK has known for some time and the British media is now trying to hold it to account for so doing.

Take the case of one Abu Qatada, an Islamicist cleric of Jordanian origin and Salafist conviction who was expelled from Jordan, spent some time spreading his vile bile in Pakistan and landed up in Britain in 1993 on a false UAE passport. He was given leave to remain on honourable, human rights grounds.

Abu Qatada is not a great advocate of human rights himself. Consider some of his pronouncements:

In 1995 he issued a fatwa stating that it is justified to kill Muslims who deny the faith and to kill their families also. In 1997, from the safe haven of a house in Acton, for which the British State paid the rent, he announced to his followers that Islam deemed it legitimate to kill Jews, including Jewish children.

In October 1999, he gave a speech at Londons Four Feathers mosque saying American citizens should be attacked, wherever they were  and there is no difference between English people, Jews and Americans.

He has made no direct mention of the Hindu, Sikh, Zoroastrian or other faiths. Even so, in an Al Qaeda magazine published in Syria, he attacks Shia Muslims: Allah exposes our enemies from amongst the filthy Shias and their beloved friends from among the polytheists. I dont think that latter term was intended as a description of ancient Greeks. He probably meant Hindus.

There is and has been for decades a British law against instigating the murder of groups or inciting religious hatred. It distinguishes between criticising religious doctrine and hate crime. I can, for instance, say that I dont believe that Jesus was born of a virgin. What I cant say is kill all Christians at the church doors on Sunday. If I did, inspector Abdul of the Yard will undoubtedly knock on my door and make urgent enquiries.

Despite all his nasty nonsense, Abu Q was not only left free to preach by the British State, the secret services and police, he and his family were housed and kept in comfort by welfare payments to the estimated tune of nearly a million pounds.

Nevertheless, he was arrested by the police on three occasions, detained for periods of time under anti-terrorist detention laws and released by the courts on each occasion.

There is a body of opinion which believes that Abu Q made a deal with Britains MI5 despite his involvement in international terrorist acts  or because of them. His messages and recordings were found in the Hamburg flat of one of the 9/11 bombers. Even if there was no such deal, it is likely that the secret services allowed him his freedom so that they could trace his contacts and communications with terrorists here and abroad.

Leaving him free or frequently arresting him and releasing him without charge may have been a way of pacifying public opinion as his incendiary activities and opinions were widely known and caused widespread disquiet.

No government can openly say that they are letting such a person loose so they can gather information about his active associates through keeping him under surveilalance.

Having entered the country on a false passport, Q applied for asylum on the grounds that he had been tortured in Jordan and if he was sent back would be subject to the same treatment.

By granting him political asylum, was the UK state acting honourably  honouring its commitment to not send people, however nasty, to countries where they may be tortured? The UK Home Office did, in the case of Abu Q, plead some such honourable thing, even though it emerged that it had earlier colluded with the US to send several individuals captured in Afghanistan to Libya, where they were provenly subjected to torture.

Far be it from me, gentle reader, to concoct conspiracy theories or even pretend to know what MI5 and the Home Office were up to with this honourable stance. In keeping Abu Q free, they were assisted by the fact that, when he was threatened with deportation as the media began to question why he was still at liberty to preach murder, he appealed to the European Court of Justice. That court upheld his appeal on the grounds that he would be tortured in Jordan and so must remain in the UK.

Were MI5 and the Home Office, which threatened the deportation, defeated by the European Court or was it a clandestine victory as they must have known how the ECJ would rule and enable Q to remain as the main conduit to the detection of terrorist communications and plans?

Finally, in 2013, public opinion prevailed and Theresa May, then still home secretary, negotiated a deal with Jordan. Q would be sent there after a treaty specifying that he wouldnt be tortured was signed. The treaty must have offered Jordan something in return but what it specified was that the UK would pay 200, 000 each year for doctors and social servants to check on Quasimodos  sorry, Qatadas  health.

Now investigations have turned up the fact that apart from this regular good-riddance payment, the UK government spent 1.9 million on Qs deportation procedures. The honourable thing to do?

Is honour in this and so many instances a pragmatic tool?

When Julius Caesar was murdered and Brutus made his speech justifying the assassination, Mark Anthony, with his tongue slipping firmly into his cheek, said Brutus is an honourable man. And of course, Brutuss honourable stance cost him dearly.

And just by the way, gentle reader, why was the East India Company labelled the Honourable East India Company? Perhaps Master Shashi Tharoor can enlighten us?
In a stunning turn of events on Thursday, CBI director Alok Verma was removed from his position by a three-member panel headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, just two days after the Supreme Court had annulled the governments directive which had kept him on forced leave for 77 days. Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge, who as leader of the largest Opposition party in Parliament is on the committee to appoint and transfer the CBI chief, along with the PM and the Chief Justice or his nominee, moved a written note of dissent.

What is striking is that Mr Verma wasnt given a hearing by the committee, raising questions whether the principle of natural justice was being abjured by a panel that included a representative of the CJI. Mr Kharge drew attention to this in his 21-page dissent note, as did BJP leader and former Union minister Subramanian Swamy publicly. It remains to be seen if this can become a cause for legal action.

In the wake of the Supreme Court order in the Vineet Narain case of 1997, it was decided to give the head of the CBI a statutory undisturbed two-term to insulate the elite anti-corruption investigative bodys chief from governmental interference. Recent events suggest, however, that the executive still mocks the very idea of independence for the CBI.

Since the Modi government has for the past five years stonewalled demands for appointing a Lokpal, an idea accepted by Parliament under pressure of Anna Hazares anti-corruption movement, the CBI remains the only institutional instrument to probe corruption in high places.

The PM-led panel relied on the findings of Central Vigilance Commissioner K.V. Chowdary, who has relied on circumstantial evidence to suggest that prima facie allegations of corruption and dereliction of duty can be made against the CBI chief. Primarily much of the stuff being bandied about is from allegations made against Mr Verma by his junior Rakesh Asthana, who was foisted on the CBI as special director by the government against the directors written objections, which drew on the fact that Mr Asthana was under probe for corruption. On Friday, the Delhi high court refused Mr Asthanas plea to quash the case against him.

Mr Chowdary, as head of the Central Board of Direct Taxes earlier, had been reluctant to process the file pertaining to the infamous Birla-Sahara diary, which had strongly hinted at bribery. The Supreme Court had not permitted a probe into the circumstantial allegations. Can the CBI director be removed on the basis of circumstantial evidence, and without a hearing? The governments actions seem to indicate that it is not in favour of ensuring an impartial CBI, and that Mr Verma is being hounded as he seemed to assert his independence. Have we heard the last of the matter?
The average Indian might be dismissive when it comes to neighbouring Bangladesh, which is seen as a desperately poor country exporting hordes of illegal immigrants and nasty Islamist fundamentalists, but Indias foreign policy and security managers have a different view: Bangladesh to them is a key strategic partner and a friendly neighbour. Their continued support to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Wajed, who was elected for a third consecutive term last week, is predicated on the view that without her New Delhis Dhaka policy will flounder and sink.

The problem is that Bangladeshs political Opposition has been browbeaten, intimidated and broken. Prime Minister Hasinas principal rival, former PM Begum Khaleda Zia, has been found guilty of corruption by the courts and is in jail. Although Begum Khaleda was an implacable foe of India, New Delhi had at one time agreed to support her and her son, Tariq Zia, but had been stabbed in the back and Pakistans Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) was allowed a free run in the country.

That betrayal had come as a shock for Delhi and Begum Khaleda was never to be trusted again. New Delhi thus was left with a solitary card in that country: Sheikh Hasina. That, however, cant be an entirely desirable situation. Too much power in the hands of Sheikh Hasina and her party has bred deep fissures and frustrations within the Bangladeshi society and polity. This is an inevitable consequence of virtual single-party rule and the absence of a functioning Opposition.

Bangladesh has unfortunately not produced any leader charismatic enough to challenge either of the two ladies at the top. This has served to further constrain New Delhis choices.

The Indian establishment nevertheless needs to be more sensitive of Bangladeshi sentiments and aspirations. The rapidly growing Bangladeshi middle class, which shapes the countrys polity and provides the political leadership, has mixed feelings about India.

This class resents the negative manner in which they are perceived and treated by Indians. They also believe that New Delhi enjoys inordinate influence in their country and that it influences all aspects of political life here. They are not far off the mark.

New Delhi sees no alternative to Sheikh Hasina, who has proved to be a dependable friend sensitive of Indian concerns. It is a partnership that has worked. But the question is for how long? Can a partnership with a single political leader and party endure indefinitely? The question is bound to gain urgency in the near future as Bangladeshs importance is destined to rise. The first set of reasons has to do with economics, the second with geopolitics.

The stereotype of Bangladesh as a basket case is fast changing. Buoyed by a strong export economy and political stability, the countrys GDP growth has averaged six per cent annually since 2009. In nine years, the number of Bangladeshis living in extreme poverty has declined from about 19 per cent of the population to less than nine per cent, according to the World Bank.

The booming economy has attracted several lakh Indians who work in Bangladesh while several businesses, including garments units, are owned and operated by Indians. As Bangladeshs economy booms, increased opportunities will open up and Indians will benefit only if good relations continue.

Else, China will step in as it already has in the strategic sphere. Today, Bangladesh is the second-largest importer of Chinese weapons systems after Pakistan. Dhaka has bought tanks, aircraft and submarines from China, a country, which Prime Minister Hasina believes is destined to play a bigger role in the region. She has eagerly sought Chinese investments in her countrys infrastructure. Of the many big-ticket projects being executed by China, the 6-km $3.7 billion bridge over the Padma river and the upgrading of Chittagong Port are the most talked about. While New Delhi and the capitals media have mostly been focussed on strategic developments in the west, particularly in Pakistan where China operates the Gwadar deep sea port, Beijing is proceeding with even bigger and more significant strategic projects nearer home in the east.

Of particular concern are the Chinese strategic projects in Myanmar, which constitutes Indias geopolitical backyard. Less than two months ago, China and Myanmar signed an agreement to build the deep-sea port project in Kyaukpyu town. A Chinese consortium controlled by the government will build the $1.3 billion project (scaled down from $7.2 billion), with 70 per cent of the cash coming from China. A joint venture, where the Chinese will have an overwhelming share, will construct and operate the port.

Analysts have pointed out that this deep-sea port will be situated across the Bay of Bengal not far from a submarine base being developed by India near Visakhapatnam. With Kyaukpyu, China will have finished building a series of encircling ports around India, including Gwadar (Pakistan) and Hambantota (Sri Lanka).

While Pakistans rising indebtedness and total military dependence on China have transferred effective economic policymaking from Islamabad to Beijing, a slow but similar process is underway in Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka in recent years has seen the rise of a powerful pro-China lobby, of which former President Mahinda Rajapaksa is a key figure. There can be no mistaking Beijings strategic intentions aimed at encircling and containing a rising India. Not surprisingly, Beijing has been working on Bangladesh as well.

A few years ago, China wanted to develop a deep-sea port at Sonadia, south of Chittagong. The terms were dangerous and were clearly part of Beijings debt diplomacy. Bangladesh would have taken the bait had it not been for the Japanese, who proposed a far better and safer project. The Japanese are now building a deep-sea port at Matarbari, near Coxs Bazar, which will also have a huge 1200MW coal fired power plant, LNG terminal and other facilities. This project is touted as comprising part of a broader project to turn the area into an industrial corridor, and an important trade gateway to the rest of Asia and beyond. Japan is providing most of the funding at very favourable terms.

Indian interests in Bangladesh were thus rescued by Japan. Dhaka nevertheless is exploring options while the Chinese have shown no hesitation in bribing foreign politicians and officials to push through their agenda. It is time perhaps for India as well to broaden and diversify its political links within Bangladesh.
Vijayawada: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi objecting to the case of the knife attack on YSR Congress president and opposition leader Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy being handed over to the National Investigation Agency (NIA).

Mr Naidu said in his letter that the NIA is supposed to deal with terrorist activities but the federal spirit is being damaged by using the NIA against states.

In his five-page letter Mr Naidu stated that on behalf of the Government of Andhra Pradesh I am constrained to express my concern at the manner in which Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India issued orders directing the investigation by NIA in connection with the attack on Jagan Mohan Reddy at Visakhapatnam Airport on 25 October 2018. Mr Naidu recalled that when Mr Modi was Chief Minister of Gujarat, he had objected to handing over cases in the state to the NIA.
Hyderabad: Social activist Anna Hazare will inaugurate the International Youth Leadership Conference in the city. Organised by the Telangana Jagruthi, the event will be held on January 19 and 20.

Founder president of Jagruthi Kalvakuntla Kavitha said, Around 500 delegates from across 110 countries to attend this conference which will focus on United Nation-Sustainable Development goals.

The theme of the year is Mahatma Gandhis path to sustainability & innovation.

The conference will also create an inclusive platform to share ideas, and experience innovative approaches.
Hyderabad: Haj pilgrims will be able to save Rs 7,000 this year after reduction in GST for their air travel by non-scheduled/charter operations. This is being facilitated by the government under bilateral arrangements.

The government has reduced GST on 23 goods and services, including air travel by pilgrims, from January 1. Earlier, pilgrims who performed Haj through the Haj Committee of India had to pay 18 per cent GST on airfare. They will now be charged only 5 per cent.

The Telangana State Haj Committee chairman Mr Masihullah Khan said, last year, air fare was initially fixed at Rs 50,960, with GST charges of Rs 9,173. But later, they informed us that the charges were enhanced because of depreciation in the rupees value and fixed it at Rs 55,422 as airfare and Rs 9,976 as GST, Mr Khan said. Though airfare for the current year was not fixed, it will be around Rs 55,000 this year. If the GST will be only 5 per cent on air travel, then our pilgrims can save around Rs 7,000 this time in travel charges compared to last year.

Habeeb Abdul Quader of Bismillah Travels said GST rate for pilgrims travelling through private tour operators was 5 per cent, similar to economy class, unlike 12 per cent for those who travel through Haj Committee of India.
According to the law, any defaulter evading GST to the tune of Rs 1 crore beyond 3 months is liable for punishment and bank accounts can be attached.

Hyderabad: The Central GST intelligence wing has identified 103 tax evaders in Telangana state who have defaulted the government to the tune of Rs 244.25 crore.

From among the evaders, the GST enforcement has booked cases against 71 and recovered Rs 95.83 crore as on December 2018. Leonia resorts CMD is one among the 71 booked for not complying with the law. In Andhra Pradesh, the number of evaders was found to be 38, but the reported fraud amount was as high as Rs 359.01 crore.

Businessmen collect GST from customers towards product or service provided, but do not pay the government. Instead, they use it for investment or divert it to other avenues. Across the country, commercials have defaulted GST worth Rs 12,766.8 crore, of which the enforcement wing recovered Rs 7,909.96 crore in 2017-18.

Cases are booked by the state and central GST team, said a senior officer with the central GST wing. The number is high if the ones booked by the state GST are taken into consideration. Many defaulters collect GST from their customers but retain the same with them, besides diverting tax meant to be paid to the government for personal investments. Another modus operandi is to create bogus companies and fake bank accounts and use PAN and Aadhaar numbers of family members, employees or friends, to make transactions, show supply of goods and claim input-tax credit. This is mostly seen done by manufacturing companies and contractors.

According to the law, any defaulter evading GST to the tune of Rs 1 crore beyond 3 months is liable for punishment and bank accounts can be attached.

Asked how the GST office keeps track of transactions and tax evasions, an official said, The office accepts feedback from various stakeholders. A separate GST network has been developed with various management information systems. This assists tax officers to analyse GST-related data. Tax officers are also given access to data like GST returns, refunds etc. from time to time through Safe File Transfer Protocol server. Further, there is considerable progress in the area of data analytics that would enable tax officers to use business intelligence tools to generate reports for analysis of information provided by the taxpayers.

Also, the Directorate General of Analytics and Risk Management, under the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs, has been set up to deal with data analytics and processing for effective revenue generation.
The recent off the cuff remarks loaded with sarcasm by Donald Trump on aid to Afghanistan have made headlines. Reacting rather contemptuously to Indias proposed plan to build a library in Kabul, POTUS is said to have remarked a library of all things! Whos going to read? Behind all this, of course, the USs impatience with Indias aid efforts to Afghanistan now totalling $3 billion. Thats just a few hours of what we spend. More importantly, POTUS wanted to see a more visible sign of the Indian presence, more boots on the ground as the US prepares for a phased withdrawal of the 14,000 troops still left on Afghan soil. This is indeed very similar to the pressure mounted by the US on India to send troops to Iraq under the Bush administration. At that time, lucrative building contracts worth millions of dollars were offered by the Bechtel Corporation and others, if India would, but comply. Of course, India didnt.

Now, it turns out that Indias aid development projects do not include a library (mores the pity) but Trumps remark whos going to read is significant. Indeed, who? Why the people of course, and more importantly, the children of Kabul and its surroundings. POTUS may well be innocent of the crime of ever having visited a library or even of reading but surely the people of the beleaguered and war-torn nation can benefit with a library. Kabul does have a library and the Kabul Library built by King Amanullah Khan is one of the oldest and largest libraries in Afghanistan. It has about 220,000 books, most of them in Persian showing the very strong influence of Iran but also has significant collections in Pashto, Arabic, Urdu and more recently, Russian. But the Kabul Librarys holdings have no literature of interest to children and young people. And its they who need a library the most. To answer POTUS directly, its the young people of a strife-driven country like Afghanistan who would like to use the library

and read. Its time world leaders paid attention to developing resources like libraries and promote reading habits among children in societies that need them the most.

But the need for libraries and for books are universal in all societies and very much so in conflict situations. A fact not very well known is that when 9/11 happened in New York, the authorities had a few precious minutes to evacuate people from the second twin tower after the plane had slammed into the first. Some of the people were taken out of the building by the underground subway tracks and emerged to safety at ground level and took shelter in a Borders bookshop. The people would simply have been too traumatised by their experience to think of reading but the sight of so many books around them would surely have had a calming and reassuring effect.

The history of imperial conquests shows that one of the first places of attack of the invading Army is the library. We have so many examples, the libraries of the ancient Nalanda University, the library of Alexandria, the great library of Constantinople at the time of the Ottoman invasion in 1453 and nearer home, the library of Jaffna in Sri Lanka during the civil war. The reasons why this is so may be obvious but what is not so obvious is when overt imperialism is on the wane, our libraries continue to be in a state of crisis.

The community libraries which were a great source of pride in almost every county in England are being shut down one by one. More often than not, this is due to budgetary reasons. But the library has become such an integral part of community life that the community says it would fund the library with its own resources; but sometimes even this desperate plea falls on deaf ears. Some years ago, the BBC had initiated a Big Read programme to promote the classics. It had trained actors read excerpts from the classics, quiz programmes on the classics and asked listeners to vote for their favourite classics over radio. The result was a resurgence of interest in the classics and both libraries as well as bookshops began stocking up on the classics. Many proactive librarians carried forward reading programmes on the classics among their patrons. I remember a visit to the Saratoga Library in the Bay Area in the US some years ago. They had a scheduled a visit by the author Toni Morrison to participate in a book discussi

on programme. If libraries are shut down, we will lack venues for these programmes.

A library is an integral part of the community and society. This was clearly brought home to us on a visit to the Uruyasu Public Library on the outskirts of Tokyo quite some years ago. We saw the library being actively used by readers from the age of four to 80. A group of children between the ages of four and five were actively being read to by their mothers. The children were deeply engrossed for the parent would more often suit action to words. They would become avid readers in the future. For members of the community too sick to come to the library, the Uruyasu Library would travel to them. A van loaded with books was organised as a mobile library. It would travel to homes and hospitals spreading cheer with the written word. We have no doubt that the therapeutic effect of books had as much to do with the patients recovery as the medicines!

To come back to Afghanistan. In the absence of a suitable library to cater to the needs of young people, individual initiative and entrepreneurship has taken over. To cater to the needs of the young, the Charmaghz organisation, a volunteer group, takes a bus filled with books to young children. The brainchild of Freshta Karim, who on her return from the University of Oxford, realised that people had a hunger for books but could not access them easily.I got the idea a few years ago on returning from Oxford. Some people in my neighbourhood found out that I had brought some books back with me from England. Some of them came knocking at my door to borrow English literature. Others would come to my house just to read a few pages of a novel. I was astounded. Before this, I did not realise what a thirst people of Kabul had for knowledge and for books. Thus was born Charmaghz. In Dari, the dialect of Persian spoken in Afghanistan, the word means a walnut. And in structure, the walnut resembles a human brain.

Just five volunteers help Karim in her effort. The community wanted Charmaghz to help young people to read. Earlier the volunteers had to get down from the bus to tell the children about the books inside. Now the children throng the bus at the stops. Over 300 children visit the mobile bus everyday. Yet the volunteer organisation receives no official funding. Its solely funded by private donations. A library here by an enlightened leadership would surely be welcome.

The writer is a senior publishing industry professional who has worked with OUP and is now a senior consultant with Ratna Sagar Books
Aluva thuruth, a quite hamlet in Ernakulam district that is slowly recovering from the recent floods, is in a festive mood. At the venue, a construction site, the flex of Bollywood actor Jacqueline Fernandez carrying a brick adorns the entrance. On the other side, a group of women is getting ready for chendamelam. They are here to welcome Jacqueline, who is in Kerala to launch Jacqueline Builds, a campaign initiated by Habitat for Humanity India in association with Jacqueline, to help the flood affected.

A few minutes later, she reaches the site wearing a white T-shirt and light blue jean, waving at people standing on both sides. An excited Jacqueline gladly poses for photos and selfies. As we sit down for a chat, she says, I visited Kerala a few years ago on a short trip. I didnt get to see much then. Since then, I have been looking forward to be here again. It is because she can connect to Kerala. Kerala reminds me a lot about my home, Sri Lanka, she says. Both the places share a lot of similarities in terms of food, cultural elements and landscape, especially, the lush green landscape and settlement.

She feels content to be in Kerala for a noble cause. I have been working with the Habitat for a long time. This is my fourth project with them. The first one was in Thailand, second in Sri Lanka and the third in Chennai, she reveals.

Jacqueline Fernandez

The Jacqueline Builds campaign began after the Tamil Nadu floods in 2015. As part of it, they build disaster-resilient homes that are equipped with six additional base pillars which can withstand impacts of natural disasters like earthquake. They build homes three feet above the ground level to prevent flood waters entering them. In Kerala, the team is planning to construct 500 such homes. One has already been completed and handed over to Rajeswari and Subramanian in Thrissur. In Aluva, a two-bedroom house is built for Anilkumar K.C. and Sreedevi S.

According to Jacqueline, even a small help matters in disastrous situations like the floods. So many calamities happen across the globe. If there is some scope to generate kindness, do it. Habitat came to my mind when I heard about the situation in Kerala, she adds. It was heartbreaking to see the devastation here. I knew people had lost their homes and that I should help them rebuild them. I reached out to Habitat as I was sure that they would direct me to execute it, says Jacqueline. She also exhorted her celebrity friends like Akshay Kumar, Arjun Kapoor, Hrithik Roshan and John Abraham to contribute to the cause. I built one home. Rest of them will be done through donations. I couldnt have done all these without them, she smiles.

The face of the campaign, she loves to be on the ground with volunteers. We begin from the scratch. I am here to see the homes and meet the families. I would like to interact with them and gather their feedback. All these make me feel good, says Jacqueline, who has been part of charity activities for a long time.

In 2011, on behalf of the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), she sent a letter to the Mumbai Municipal Commissioner asking to stop horse-drawn carriages in Mumbai. In 2013, she held an auction in London to raise funds for Pratham NGO, which helps childrens primary education. In 2014, she was named Woman of the Year by PETA for supporting protection of animals. In 2016, she addressed the European Parliament about the challenges in housing and human settlement in the world.

Jacqueline says she indulges in charity works as she knows that celebrity status comes with a responsibility. We should give whatever we could within our capacity. I knew that the platform I have should be used for the goodness of people. I would feel terrible if I dont do that, she signs off.
Actress Jacqueline Fernandez extends her helping hand and volunteer's to rebuild Kerala for which the actress will be travelling tomorrow to flood-affected areas to build homes with NGO Habitat for Humanity India.

In a bid to rebuild Kerala after the massive floods which devastated the state last year in August, Habitat for Humanity India is launching the second edition of Jacqueline Builds, a unique campaign featuring the actress. It will take place tomorrow, with focus on rebuilding homes that were fully or partially damaged by the floods.

The actress posted a video where she spoke about rebuilding the place and how important it is for everyone to help. she posted the video and wrote, "My last build with @habitat_india for Chennai would not have been possible without all your love and support!! I want to thank all those who have contributed donations towards helping those displaced in the Kerala floods last year! Looking forward to volunteering in the build tomo! Hoping to see some helping hands there too! Donations still being collected, link in my bio  @habitat_india@habitatforhumanity"

After celebrities like Shraddha Kapoor, Akshay Kumar, John Abraham, Arjun Kapoor now Hrithik Roshan has also extended his support and join Jacqueline for the Rebuild Kerala Campaign. Hrithik has been saddened by the calamity happened and that's how he came forward and join Jacqueline's initiative.

The Habitat for Humanity India, an NGO, plans to build or repair 6,000 homes of those affected by the deluge in Kerala. Under this campaign, Jacqueline Fernandez had visited the flood-affected areas in Kerala. Earlier, in the first phase of the relief work, Jacqueline appealed to her fans and her industry colleagues to provide first Responders' Kit, a humanitarian aid kit and bottled drinking water to 93,889 families.

Meanwhile, she is involved in helping the relief work team mobilize funds of over Rs 50 lakh by encouraging individual donors. From her end, she is trying to be completely involved in the entire process.

Even other celebrities like Hrithik Roshan have joined hands, following the actress to support and rebuild the affected state.

Jacqueline Fernandez also represented the voice of animal welfare at the UN on the world animal day as she took 8 million petition signatures voicing her opinion against animal testing. Recently, the actress also addressed the One Young World Event in Hague as she expressed her thoughts about sexual harassment.
Jets main lender State Bank of India sought to provide reassurance that Indias biggest full-service carrier is doing all it can to pay its staff, suppliers and creditors. (Photo: AP)

New Delhi: Crisis talks between Indias cash-strapped Jet Airways Ltd and aircraft lessors have failed to ease a row over late payments, prompting some lessors to explore taking back aircraft, three people familiar with the matter told Reuters.

In what one of the people described as an ill-tempered showdown between the airline and some of the worlds leading leasing firms, Jets main lender State Bank of India sought to provide reassurance that Indias biggest full-service carrier is doing all it can to pay its staff, suppliers and creditors.

Jet has been delinquent for many months. Nobody wants to get in a situation where the problems worsen and it becomes even more difficult to take out aircraft, one of the people said.

Jet controls over a sixth of a market experiencing an unprecedented boom in air travel. Yet high fuel taxes, a weak rupee and price competition have squeezed profitability, leaving Jet with 80.52 billion rupees ($1.14 billion) in net debt as at the end of September and defaulting on payments.

The airline had previously told some lessors it would clear arrears by Dec 31, but was unable do so, the people close to the matter said.

At meetings on Tuesday, held at SBIs headquarters in Mumbais business district, the banks Chairman Rajnish Kumar was asked how Jet planned to raise equity or debt, said one of the people - an attendee, who found the responses lacked sufficient detail.

Other attendees included Jets management team, including the airlines founder and Chairman Naresh Goyal, as well as a senior adviser of Etihad Airways, which owns 24 percent of Jet and which did not provide any assurances, the person said.

An official from Punjab National Bank later said lenders have in-principle agreed to extend some help to Jet, but details on the mechanics of it are still being worked out.

Some lessors have engaged with lawyers, are working with their technical teams about repossession and are monitoring the planes, but the situation could be complicated by a new bankruptcy law that allows up to 270 days where no action is permitted against the debtor or its assets, the person said.

Lessors such as GE Capital Aviation Services (GECAS) SMBC Aviation Capital and Jackson Square are looking into stopping the transfer of Boeing Co 737 MAX jets that had been due for delivery to Jet, the person said.

A second person said deliveries of 737 MAX jets from lessors had been behind schedule since November.

Avolon, DAE Aerospace, BOC Aviation Ltd and Aircastle Ltd also attended the meetings along with GECAS and SMBC, one of the people said, declining to specify which are considering reclaiming planes.

Jet Airways, in a statement on Friday, said the airline is working on its turnaround strategy and updating its partners, in real time, on efforts taken to improve its liquidity.

A comprehensive plan that will ensure business sustainability, preserve value, and enable the company to honour its obligations was outlined, a Jet spokesman said in the statement, adding that the meeting took place in an atmosphere of cordiality and mutual appreciation.

The turnaround plan involves creating a competitive cost structure and restructuring the balance sheet, among other things, and is expected to deliver a positive impact on the financials of the company, he said.

SBI and SMBC Aviation did not immediately respond to requests for comment. DAE Aerospace, GECAS, Aircastle and Jackson Square did not respond outside of regular business hours. Etihad, BOC Aviation and Avolon declined to comment.

The people familiar with the talks were not authorised to speak publicly on the matter and so declined to be identified.

FINANCIAL HELP

Jet, controlled by Goyal, has turned to Etihad for financial help. However, the Abu Dhabi airline is not in any position to sink new equity into Jet at this juncture, said a person familiar with Etihads position.

Etihad posted a significant loss at the end of last year that would continue into 2019, according to an internal memo seen by sources on Thursday. The memo also showed 50 pilots would lose their jobs as the airline cut costs.

Jet held talks with Indian conglomerate Tata Sons Ltd about financial aid last year. Sources told Reuters that Goyal ended the talks because Tata would have wanted him to step down or take a less prominent role.

A source close to Tata on Thursday said there had been no recent engagement with Jet and doing so was extremely unlikely because Tata people had moved on internally.

Tata Sons declined to comment on Friday.

REPOSSESSION

After the disorderly collapse of Kingfisher Airlines in 2012, India modified rules in line with the Cape Town convention, an international treaty making it easier for foreign owners to repossess aircraft when airlines default on payments.

Lessors can file a complaint with the government which has the power to cancel the registration of a plane within five working days and allow lessors to repossess it subject to certain conditions, including unpaid dues on the aircraft.

Some laws conflict with full implementation of the convention and the government in October said it was consulting to revise those laws - a move that could reduce lease rates for Indian carriers. Nevertheless, the ability to repossess a plane can be a more complicated process in India than in some other countries.

On Tuesday, Jet proposed to creditors that it would catch up with debt payments in arrears as of September, and from April meet debt payments as they come due, showed a document seen by Reuters.

Jets debt payments will be large over the next few years, starting with about 17 billion rupees due by March-end, credit-ratings firm ICRA said in a Jan 2 research note.
Infosys upped its revenue growth guidance to 8.5-9 per cent in constant currency terms for the fiscal year ending March 2019.

Mumbai: Infosys Ltd, Indias second-biggest IT services company, on Friday raised its revenue growth forecast on the back of robust demand for its core services as well as its latest digital offerings from its Western clients.

Bengaluru-headquartered Infosys upped its revenue growth guidance to 8.5-9 per cent in constant currency terms for the fiscal year ending March 2019, from 6-8 per cent previously.

The company has a healthy pipeline of projects and deal wins across all its segments, Chief Executive Salil Parikh told a news conference.

Our segments are doing well, both of our main digital and core services are doing well and thats giving us some confidence for the guidance for revenue, Parikh said.

For the quarter to the end of December, Infosys reported a 29.6 per cent fall in net profit to 36.09 billion rupees ($512 million). That compared with the 41.31 billion rupees average of 25 analyst estimates compiled by Refinitiv Eikon.

A year earlier, Infosys made a profit of 51.29 billion rupees, helped by tax benefits from the company's deal with the US Internal Revenue Service, it said in a statement here

On Thursday, Infosys bigger rival Tata Consultancy Services Ltd reported a record quarterly profit for October-December.

Infosys said revenue from operations in the quarter rose 20.3 per cent year-on-year to 214 billion rupees in what is usually a seasonally weak period for Indian IT firms due to a long holiday season in the West.

The companys operating margin declined 110 basis points to 22.6 per cent even though it retained the margin guidance in the band of 22-24 per cent.

Infosys said it was no longer highly probable that the sale of its units Kallidus & Skava and Panaya would be completed by the end of March.

Total expenses in the quarter surged over 26 per cent to 170.21 billion rupees, which included an additional depreciation and amortization charge of $12 million and a reduction of $65 million in the carrying value for its Skava units.

It also approved a buyback of shares worth 82.60 billion rupees as part of its capital allocation policy.
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BRIDGEPORT  The city police departments burglary unit is hoping the public can help them identify the three people captured on surveillance footage stealing items from a store on Thursday.

The burglary took place at Junco 4 Deli and Grocery at 891 Noble Ave. around 3 a.m. Surveillance footage captured the three suspects, covering their hair and faces. At least one suspect appears to be wearing gloves.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 11)  The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) said it is awaiting results of "smelly" wastewater reportedly coming from a mall near the heavily polluted Manila Bay.

During inspections Saturday morning near the SM Mall of Asia in Pasay City, DENR Secretary Roy Cimatu pointed out that it collected samples from wastewater coming from its outfalls.

"Doon lalabas yung supposed to be waste water na nanggagaling diyan. Meaning treated water, supposed to be. But nagpunta sila, mga tao natin doon, medyo smelly. So there must be something wrong with the wastewater na lumalabas diyan. We got some samples, and the result will be released by Monday," Cimatu said in a statement Saturday.

Cimatu said they will meet with the mall's management to check the coliform content of the water from these outfalls -- which will determine the presence of pollutants and disease-causing pathogens.

He also ordered establishments to put in place sewage treatment plants in three months, in line with President Rodrigo Duterte's directive.

In a statement, SM Mall of Asia said it has not received formal report from the DENR on the inspection.

"Moreover, we have always supported the major projects of the government for the progress of the country," their statement read.

The DENR team also inspected the mouth of the Pasig River, which leads to Manila Bay.

Authorities also inspected the Baseco compound area, where they found several households of 47,000 families dumping waste straight into the bay. Coliform is a group of harmful bacteria from human and animal feces.

While trash traps, common septic tanks and a sewage treatment plant are seen as solutions to pollution in the area, Cimatu opted for relocating the settlers as a more permanent solution.

"They are not supposed to be there, lalo na itong mga informal settlers na ito, 50 diyan, 50 rin dito (especially these informal settlers, 50 there, 50 here). They have to go, they have to be relocated," he said.

Rehabilitating Manila Bay comes in three stages: Phase 1 -- cleanup and improvement of water quality improvement, Phase 2 -- rehabilitation, and Phase 3 -- protection and sustainment.

Cimatu said Phase 1 is set to begin this year, which will include the cleanup of esteros and waterways, reduction of the level of coliform and toxic waste from establishments, and the installation of sanitation facilities for informal settlers residing along the esteros and the Manila Bay shoreline.

The DENR said coliform level in Manila Bay is at 330 million most probable number per 100 milliliters (MPN/100 ml). Some parts are home to a whopping 1.3 billion MPN of coliform for every 100 ml; the safe level is below 200 MPN/100 ml.
Despite advance billing that President Trump's border wall speech would break news and contain new information, it was mostly familiar rhetoric: criminals and drugs, rapists and murderers are coming to America, and the wall is the only way to stop them.

The president named families who have lost loved ones at the hands of undocumented immigrants. A case could be made, though, that American citizens are killing each other at higher rates during an average weekend in Chicago and other big cities than are killed by immigrants.

Whose facts to believe? There are plenty on both sides of the argument. Raul Ortiz, the deputy chief of Border Patrol agents, says his agents are arresting up to 641 undocumented immigrants every day. Other sources say arrests and border crossings have substantially declined in recent years.

What frustrates average Americans is the flip-flopping by politicians who were for a border wall and holding people who broke our laws accountable before they were against it.

These include Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama and Chuck Schumer, all of whom once championed stronger border security.
Charlottesvilles gifted education program is much more diverse than it was a year ago, following a series of changes made over the last two years.
The chairman of the House committee, who stopped ratification of the ERA from advancing last year, said Thursday that he remains opposed to it but hasnt decided how to handle the issue this year.

I have made no decision on whether to schedule it for a hearing or not, Del. Mark Cole, R-Spotsylvania, said of ERA ratification.

ERA supporters hope that with ratification by Virginia, they would have the three-fourths majority of the states needed to amend the Constitution.

But some experts say its too late to ratify the ERA because Congress set the original ratification deadline to 1982.

Sen. Amanda Chase, R-Chesterfield, is sponsoring what she views as an alternative to the ERA  SJ 275, or the Equal Rights Affirmation. Chases resolution reaffirms that all persons residing in Virginia are afforded equal protection under the law. The resolution cites numerous guarantees of equality that currently exist in both federal and state law while refuting the necessity, utility, and viability of the Equal Rights Amendment, according to a summary by the Legislative Information System.
House

$23.2 billion for farm, food, drug-safety programs. Voting 243 for and 183 against, the House on Jan. 10 passed a bill (HR 265) that would appropriate $23.2 billion in fiscal 2019 for the Department of Agriculture, the Food and Drug Administration and other agencies. The House sent this measure and three other appropriations bills to the Senate in an effort to reopen some of the departments and agencies that have been largely shut down since Dec. 22 due to expired funding. The move also was intended to put pressure on the Senate and the White House to end the partial shutdown or reduce its scope. But Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R- Ky., said his chamber will not consider spending bills until President Donald Trump and House Democrats settle their dispute over border-wall funding.
Navy veteran Lauren Thompson and Augusta County activist Jenni Kitchen will both run for the party nod in the 25th District, which covers parts of Albemarle, Augusta and Rockingham counties.

I am tired of waiting for elected officials to do whats in the best interest of the people who put them there instead of the interests of themselves, Thompson said.

This will be Thompsons second attempt at public office, but her first in Virginia. In 2012, she ran against a 15-year incumbent in Georgias 164th House District, which covers the Savannah area. She received about 40 percent of the vote.

Thompson has advocated for adoption of the Equal Rights Amendment. Other issues she plans to focus on are affordable health care, a clean environment, education funding and a living wage.

Kitchen has been a vocal activist and community organizer in the Augusta County area for two years and has often canvassed as a part of For Our Future, a progressive political action committee.

Because of her conversations with voters, Kitchen said she believes she could lend them a strong voice in the General Assembly.
The government shutdown stems from a disagreement between President Donald Trump and Democrats about whether to spend more than $5 billion on security and a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border. So far, disruptions in Central Virginia appear minimal, but the effects of missed paychecks, deferred cleanup and unanswered questions will continue to snowball if the shutdown continues.

Employees deemed essential are required to work without pay and will receive back pay when the government reopens. Contractors, however, will not recoup any lost paychecks. According to a 2017 report by industry site CareerBuilder, nearly 80 percent of Americans live paycheck to paycheck.

Robinson said the problem is particularly acute in high cost-of-living areas such as Charlottesville, and that hes heard of employees sending children to live with relatives.

TSA officers are security professionals, and we are of course very concerned with border security, but we need to get paid for the work that we do, he said.

Federal courts, including the one in Charlottesville, have enough funding to last through Jan. 18. If the shutdown continues, essential work will continue but some civil cases could be deferred.
A Louisa County man was found guilty of first-degree murder late Friday.

A jury convicted Clifford Peter Wood III of first-degree murder and use of a firearm in the commission of murder, and recommended the maximum sentence under the law of life plus three years.

We argued to the jury that the defendant shot and killed Sean Houchens in cold blood and they agree, Louisa Commonwealths Attorney Rusty E. McGuire said in a news release.

On Sept. 1, 2017, Wood was agitated with his mistresses and sent intimidating text messages about men at their residence, according to the release. He went to the residence at 1:40 a.m. and confronted the victim, Sean Houchens.

[Wood] immediately pulled out his Glock .45 and shot Sean Houchens four times, McGuire said in the release. He fled the scene and threw his phone and the Glock into a cornfield in Hanover County.

Wood abandoned his car at a hotel in Doswell and fled to Tennessee.

He ultimately was found in Northern Virginia on Sept. 11, 2017.
Forty-seven percent of college students report being hazed in high school, she said. By the time they get to college, its already normalized.

In 2017, 46 percent of Virginia middle-school students reported that bullying is a problem at their school, according to an anonymous statewide climate survey by UVa. Eleven percent of students reported being bullied once or more per week at school that year.

Costa said the conversations about bystander intervention will continue with students during the schools advisory block.

It wont just be one workshop, she said.

Having all students participate in the workshop gave them a common experience, Costa said. The school plans to incorporate the lessons into its social and emotional learning curriculum.

Costa brought in the Gordie Center after former Henley students told her how beneficial the training could be to current middle-schoolers.

Bruce and Aditya Narayan, education and outreach coordinator for the Gordie Center, gave three presentations Friday. They started with the sixth grade.
In this January 2017 photo, marchers arrive for a Roe v. Wade protest as hundreds converge on the Kansas Statehouse to mark the 1973 Supreme Court decision that legalized abortion nationwide. Abortion opponents have been bracing themselves for nearly two years for a ruling from Kansas highest court that protects abortion rights and upends politics in a state long at the center of the national debate.
In this Oct. 5, 2016 file photo, Kansas Senate President Susan Wagle, R-Wichita, answers questions from reporters during a news conference at the Statehouse in Topeka, Kan. Wagle says shes considering running for the U.S. Senate in 2020 and plans to form an exploratory committee.
by NAT da Polis

The is seen as a reaction to the religiosity of the all-powerful president, especially as it is applied in the public administration. According to Turkish writer and theologian Cemil Klc, even if 99 per cent of Turks declare themselves Muslim, this does not mean that religion shapes the life of Turks.

Istanbul (AsiaNews)  The number of Turks saying they are atheist is rising whilst the number of those say they are Muslim is declining. The is based on the findings of a recent survey by Konda, a Turkish polling agency, reported by German broadcaster Deutsche Welle (DW), which found that the share of Turks who say they adhere to Islam dropped from 55 per cent to 51 per cent.

The survey results suggest that the neo-Ottoman Turkey of Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who has based his policies on the moralistic principles of Islam, has sparked a flight towards atheism in reaction to the religiosity of the all-powerful president, especially as it is applied in the public administration.

The pervasive presence of Islamic conformism in Turkish daily life is felt as an imposition and is starting to annoy many people, especially in large centres, even if still finds a positive echo in Anatolia.

Some wonder whether the countrys close association with Islams moralistic dictates, to which Erdogan often appeals, represents the real Turkey. At the same though, it must not be overlooked that republican Turkey was founded on the notion that true a Turk is a Muslim. This is why conservative circles believe that 99 per cent of the Turkish population is made up of Muslims, a figure repeated by the Diyanet, Turkey's official directorate of religious affairs.

For Turkish writer and theologian Cemil Klc, even if 99 per cent declare themselves Muslim, this does not mean that religion shapes the life of Turks. Going to the mosque to pray, fasting or for women, wearing the veil, do not mean, according to Klc, that they practise the Islamic faith. What is important is whether they follow the ethical principles of Islam. Based on this, no more than 60 per cent of Turks actually practise Islam.

The widespread conformism and political opportunism in today's Turkey, as some Turkey insiders put it, are comparable to what existed in the 7th century under the Umayyad who  contrary to what the Quran says, namely that prayer is an act against injustices  saw prayer an act of obedience to the sultan. Now it is obedience to Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Finally, Zehra Pala, president of the Association of Turkish Atheists, believes that President Erdogan's insistent pressures on younger people to embrace the moralistic dictates of Islam have achieved the opposite effect, especially among the well-educated people who are taking to the road to flee abroad.

Meanwhile, Erdogan gave the green light to the construction of a Syriac Orthodox church in Istanbul. Once completed, it will be the first Christian church built in Turkey since the founding of the republic. Just another example of Turkeys many contradictions, a place in perennial search for an identity.
Victims range in age from three months to four years with fever, skin rashes, colds, and vomiting for months. Health facility applied expired vaccines for at least 10 years, threatening the health of 21,000 children. The government bans media report, calls in riot police.

Jinhu (AsiaNews)  Hundreds of parents staged a protest in front of a public building and in the streets in Jinhu demanding news about vaccines used on their children.

It appears the vaccines used had expired and that at least a hundred children were sick for months as a result, with fever, skin rashes, cold, and vomit (pictures 2 and 3).

Standing in front of the Licheng Health Centre in Jinhu County (Jiangsu), parents asked for explanations. The police tried to contain the crowd but the standoff led to some physical confrontation.

Local reports indicate that at least 145 children, aged three months to four years, were given expired polio vaccines. This has resulted in a police investigation against 17 officials, who were fired and expelled from the party.

Local authorities eventually found that an entire batch of vaccines was used instead of being destroyed.

A County propaganda official, Zhou Guangfeng, told media that this was due to "management confusion, job negligence, and regulatory failure".

Many parents noted that other children in the past suffered from the same symptoms as those experienced by children today. They believe that expired or dangerous vaccines was used for at least ten years. In all, some 21,00 children under the age of 14 might have received useless vaccines.

In many parents, the anger boiled over, with several storming the hospital, demanding that all the clinical files concerning the vaccinations be doublechecked.

Given the situation, the authorities brought in anti-riot police from neighbouring counties to keep public order, and banned regular and social media from spreading "inflammatory" news about vaccines.

China is not new to this kind of scandal. Last July it was revealed that hundreds of thousands of children had received an ineffective vaccine that contained little of the active ingredient. In total, over 250,000 DPT (Diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus) vaccines were made by Changchun Changsheng Bio-technology, a major vaccine manufacturer.
The meeting in Thailand "manifests the desire of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith to support local Episcopates in their responsibility for promoting and safeguarding the doctrine of the faith, considering the specific challenges that face the continent of Asia today.

Vatican City (AsiaNews)  A delegation of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith will meet the presidents of the Doctrinal Commissions of the Episcopal Conferences of Asia on January 15-18 at the Baan Phu Waan Pastoral Centre in Bangkok, Thailand (pictured). The delegation will be led by the prefect, Card Luis F. Ladaria, S.I., and the Adjunct Secretary, Mgr J. Augustine Di Noia, O.P.

In announcing the event, the Press Office of the Holy See cited an instruction dated 23 February 1967, whereby the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, at the behest of Saint Pope Paul VI, asked the Bishops Conferences to establish their own Doctrinal Commissions within their Conferences, as a consultative body to assist them and individual bishops, in their concern for faith and morality.

In certain situations where this may be difficult, this essential pastoral task can be assumed by another Commission, or by a singular bishop who follows doctrinal problems with particular attention.

To strengthen the collaboration between the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith and the Doctrinal Commissions of the Episcopal Conferences, the then Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger decided in 1982 that the presidents of such Commissions should meet periodically at a continental level.

One of the original characteristics of these meetings lies in the fact that the Superiors of the Congregation go to the different continents, thereby underlining the importance of the local and regional jurisdictions and their responsibility in addressing doctrinal issues.

The first of these meetings took place in Latin America, in Bogota (1984); there were subsequent meetings in Kinshasa, Africa (1987); Vienna, Europe (1989); Hong-Kong, Asia (1993); Guadalajara, Latin America (1996), and San Francisco, North America (1999). In more recent times, meetings took place in Dar es Salaam, Africa (2009) and Esztergom-Budapest, Europe (2015).

Now, in collaboration with the Presidency of the Federation of the Asian Bishops Conferences (FABC), a new meeting of the same kind has been prepared for Asia.

Such an event manifests the desire of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith to support local Episcopates in their responsibility for promoting and safeguarding the doctrine of the faith, considering the specific challenges that face the continent of Asia today.
by Vladimir Rozanskij

A "Great Wall" was discovered in Uzbekistan; the ancient tomb of the so-called "golden man" was found in Kazakhstan; a city from the 1st or 2nd century BC was unearthed in Tajikistan. And that is not all.

Moscow (AsiaNews)  For archeologists working in the countries of the former Soviet Union, 2018 was an exceptional year. In the Old USSR, archeology was one of the most treasured and practised disciplines. The latest findings range from a wall like the Great Wall of China found in Uzbekistan to the tomb of a "golden man" mummy discovered in Kazakhstan. In Estonia a 530-million-year-old "diamond eye" was unearthed.

In Central Asia, Tajikistan, a country independent for just over a quarter century, is full of ancient vestiges. Some 85 km from the capital of Dushanbe, a very old town was discovered at the top of a mountain. Scholars believe it goes back to the Kushan Empire, in the 1st or 2nd century BC.

In addition to various buildings, archeologists found the rulers throne, quantity of coins in two chests, decorations and ceramics. The throne room is rather unusual, with walls three metres thick and several layers of stucco. Many clay pots (khumi) for grain and rare decorations were found in excellent condition. Evidently the site was an important transit point on the ancient Silk Road.

The "Uzbek Wall" near the Fortress of Uzundara, in the Baisuntau mountains, is not as impressive as the Chinese Wall, but its discovery still created a stir. Built in the 3rd century BC, it was part of the defensive system built by the Seleucid Empire against the danger of invasion by nomadic peoples like the Sakas and Yuezhi.

Scholars have called it the "Great Bactrian Wall", from the ancient Greek name for the region. Its various parts consisted of walls of varying length, between 100 and 3,000 metres. Some believe that a Greek-Macedonian garrison was stationed in a diamond-shaped fortress. Unique artifacts have been found, such as metal helmets, weapons and armour, coins and ceramics, which indicate that the fortress might have existed for more than 150 years.

In Kyrgyzstan, important discoveries were made by chance. In a ravine in Kyrchyn, where the Nomad World Games were being prepared, an ancient kurgan, a 14-metre by 80-centimetre tumulus, was found on the spot where the authorities stand was being built. It appears to be the burial chamber of a Saka ruler, from one of the nomadic peoples related to the Scythians, dated from the 3rd and 4th centuries BC.

In Kazakhstan traces of the great Saka age were found in the eastern part of the country, where a trove of precious stones dating back 2,800 years was unearthed. The chest belonged to a royal family, or a high-level aristocratic nomadic family, containing bell-shaped earrings, rivetted plates and pieces of jewelry, created with refined techniques.

The remains of a youth, 17 or 18, about 1.70-metre tall, were found in a kurgan. Archaeologists believe they can also recreate his clothing and features. The tunic that covers him is sewn with gold thread. Coins and a dagger were inside a gilded case, hence the moniker "golden man".

Archaeological research has reached an impressive level of development also in many former Soviet republics in Europe. In the Ukraine, digging has been taking place in the centre of the capital Kyiv, in the middle of the medieval city, where a shopping mall was slated for construction. Instead it is now an area dedicated to the legacy of ancient Rus.

So far, the discoveries show that the city served as trading post between the north and the south on the Dnieper River. The citys name is associated with that of the passage of Kyi (), the legendary eponymous Varangian prince, historic father of Eastern Slavs.

In northern Estonia, the fossilised eye of a trilobite was found. The arthropod is the ancestor of todays crabs and spiders. The eye is one of the oldest vital organs found, dating back some 530 million years ago, providing a glimpse into the origins of the world.
This comes after Democrats' refusal to approve $5.7 billion demanded by Trump for the wall project has paralyzed Washington.

President Donald Trump even said that he might declare an Emergency, claiming that he, I have the absolute right. (Photo: File)

Washington: The US government shutdown that has left 800,000 federal employees without salaries as a result of President Donald Trump's row with Democrats over building a Mexico border wall entered a record 22nd day on Saturday.

The Democrats' refusal to approve $5.7 billion demanded by Trump for the wall project has paralyzed Washington, with the president retaliating by refusing to sign off on budgets for swaths of government departments unrelated to the dispute.

As a result, workers as diverse as FBI agents, air traffic controllers and museum staff, did not receive paychecks on Friday.

The partial shutdown of the government became the longest on record at midnight Friday (0500 GMT Saturday), when it overtook the 21-day stretch in 1995-1996, under President Bill Clinton.

President Trump on Friday backed off a series of previous threats to end the deadlock by declaring a national emergency and attempting to secure the funds without congressional approval. "I'm not going to do it so fast," he said at a White House meeting.

Trump described an emergency declaration as the "easy way out" and said Congress had to step up to the responsibility of approving the $5.7 billion. "If they can't do it... I will declare a national emergency. I have the absolute right," he insisted.

Until now, Trump had suggested numerous times that he was getting closer to taking the controversial decision.

Only minutes earlier, powerful Republican ally Senator Lindsey Graham tweeted after talks with Trump: "Mr. President, Declare a national emergency NOW."

It was not clear what made Trump change course. But Trump himself acknowledged in the White House meeting that an attempt to claim emergency powers would likely end up in legal battles going all the way to the Supreme Court.

Opponents say that a unilateral move by the president over the sensitive border issue would be constitutional overreach and set a dangerous precedent in similar controversies.

The standoff has turned into a test of political ego, particularly for Trump, who came into office boasting of his deal making powers and making an aggressive border policy the keystone of his nationalist agenda.

Democrats, meanwhile, seem determined at all costs to prevent a president who relishes campaign rally chants of "build the wall!" from getting a win.

Both Democrats and Republicans agree that the US-Mexican frontier presents major challenges, ranging from the hyper-violent Mexican drug trade to the plight of asylum seekers and poor migrants seeking new lives in the world's richest country.

There's also little debate that border walls are needed: about a third of the frontier is already fenced off. But President Trump has turned his single-minded push for more walls into a political crusade seen by opponents as a stunt to stoke xenophobia in his right-wing voter base, while wilfully ignoring the border's complex realities.

For President Trump, who visited the Texas border with Mexico on Thursday, the border situation amounts to an invasion by criminals that can only be solved by more walls. "We have a country that's under siege," he told the local officials in the White House.

Some studies show that illegal immigrants generally commit fewer crimes than people born in the United States, although not everyone agrees on this.

More certain is that while narcotics do enter the country across remote sections of the border, most are sneaked through heavily guarded checkpoints in vehicles, the government's own Drug Enforcement Administration said in a 2017 report.

It said that most smuggling is done "through US ports of entry (POEs) in passenger vehicles with concealed compartments or commingled with legitimate goods on tractor trailers."

Nancy Pelosi, the Democratic leader in the House of Representatives and a key figure in opposing Trump's agenda, said money should be spent in many areas of border security, but not on walls.

"We need to look at the facts," she said.

But Trump accused the Democrats of only wanting to score points against him with a view to the 2020 presidential elections. "They think, 'Gee, we can hurt Trump,'" he said. "The Democrats are just following politics."
Germany recognises its historical responsibility for crimes committed by the Nazis in Greece, Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Friday on her first visit to Athens since 2014.

We recognise our historical responsibility. We know how much suffering we, as Germany in the time of Nazism, have brought to Greece, she said.

That is why its a lesson for us to do everything to have good relations with Greece, and to lend each other support for the prosperity of both countries. Tensions linger over wartime reparations for the World War II Nazi occupation of Greece, with Berlin arguing the issue was settled in 1960 in a deal with several European governments.

In talks with Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras after her arrival on Thursday, Merkel lauded the sacrifices Greeks made during the countrys economic crisis of 2010-2014.

During her first visit to Greece in 2014, Merkel faced major protests and sought to ease tensions with Athens where Berlin was often blamed for biting austerity and bailouts.

Also in 2014, ex-president Joachim Gauck sought public forgiveness in the name of Germany from relatives of those murdered by the Nazis in the mountains of northern Greece.

Merkel was to hold talks with conservative opposition New Democracy party leader Kyriakos Mitsotakis, an EU parliament ally of her Christian Democrats, and meet President Prokopis Pavlopoulos.
Poland arrested a Huawei employee and former Polish security official on spying allegations.

Scott Bradley disclosed his departure as the companys senior vice president for corporate affairs in a post on LinkedIn that did not give a reason for the move.

One of Huawei Canadas top executives on Friday disclosed he was leaving his post after more than seven years with the Chinese telecommunications equipment maker, which is facing heightened scrutiny over security issues from Canada and its allies.

Scott Bradley disclosed his departure as the companys senior vice president for corporate affairs in a post on LinkedIn that did not give a reason for the move. He could not immediately be reached for comment.

Huawei Technologies Co is under intense scrutiny in the West over its relationship with the Chinese government and US-led allegations that its equipment could be used by Beijing for spying.

On Friday, sources told Reuters that Poland arrested a Huawei employee and former Polish security official on spying allegations, a move that could fuel Western concerns about the security of the companys technology.

Bradley was a key public spokesman for Huawei Canada, which has been under the spotlight since Canadian authorities in December arrested the chief financial officer of its parent company at the request of the United States.

Huawei is a major supplier of telecommunications equipment in Canada, where Bradley had served as chair of the 5G Canada Council, a national trade group promoting adoption of next-generation high-speed wireless technology.

The Canadian government last year launched a new security review of Huaweis 5G technology, which at least two major Canadian carriers have said they plan to test in small-scale pilots.

Bradley will serve as special adviser to the company, assisting the company as required, Huawei Canada President Eric Li said in a memo to staff that was obtained by Reuters.

We are saddened to see him leave but grateful for the tireless work he has put in to help us grow our brand and public image, and build various relationships with government, Li said.

Bradley confirmed on LinkedIn that he intended to advise the company.

As we start 2019, it is time for a change, Bradley said in the post. I continue to believe passionately in all of the values our Canadian team represents, and I believe that our team is one of the most innovative in the world.
An estimated 25,000 people have fled escalating violence over the last six months in eastern Syria, where die-hard jihadists are defending their last bastions, the UN said on Friday.

Much of the unrest has been centred around Hajin in Deir Ezzor province, which had been the last town of note controlled by the Islamic State group in the area until it was taken in December by the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF).

The United Nations refugee agency said that clashes and air strikes have forced 25,000 people to run and seek shelter in camps or informal settlements, sometimes after spending several nights in the desert exposed to harsh weather and without access to food or water.

The agency also warned over mounting civilian casualties in the area, without providing figures. An estimated 2,000 civilians remain trapped in Hajin, where conflict continues, the UN said.

The SDF is currently flushing out the very last pockets of land controlled by the jihadists in the Euphrates River valley.
The Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Project has the potential to create an engineering marvel and show the path for the country in coming up with innovative approaches to solve water woes, but it has its own set of dangers, says Srinath Rangarajan

The results of the recently held Assembly Elections in five states have hogged the limelight for many reasons. While the resurgence of Congress in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Chhattisgarh was the silver lining for that party, the state of Telangana told a completely different story. The incumbent political party, the Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS) won in a resounding manner defeating Prajakutami, a united opposition front. The emphatic victory of TRS has made many analysts and thinkers across the country ponder over the reasons for the impressive electoral performance. Over the past four and a half years, TRS launched many social welfare schemes, irrigation projects and financial assistance programs. Out of all these, the Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Project (KLIP) is something unique in many aspects. It is being built at a cost of more than Rs 80,000 crore and is the costliest irrigation project undertaken by any state in India so far.

KLIP was originally conceived from the Dr BR Ambedkar Pranahita Chevella Sujala Sravanthi project. This was originally supposed to utilise 160 thousand million cubic feet (TMC) of allocated waters of the Godavari river. Hence, a barrage was proposed at a place called Tummidihatti near the Maharashtra border to divert 160 TMC of water and use it for irrigation

However, irrigation projects across rivers have at various stages, issues associated with them starting from the pre-construction stage to the post-commissioning phase. The Pranahita Chevella project is being built across river Godavari and this river originates in Maharashtra and has a catchment basin spreading across the states of Telangana, Chhattisgarh, Odisha and Andhra Pradesh. Therefore, it is anything but unnatural for this project to fall victim to the unceasing interstate water disputes between the states having stakes.

The Maharashtra Government repeatedly expressed concerns over fixing of the Full Reservoir Level (FRL) for constructing the Tummidihatti Barrage due to submergence of 3,786 acres of land in their territory. A considerable portion of this land constitutes the environmentally sensitive forest areas. Consequently, the FRL had to be reduced from +152.00 to +148.00 to reduce the submergence from 3,786 to 285 acres. This was mutually agreed upon by both the State Governments and a final agreement was reached upon to construct a barrage at Tummidihatti with FRL of +148.00 on August 23, 2016.

However, this is where the actual problems came to the surface. Detailed water availability studies carried out by the Government of Telangana and subsequently by the Central Water Commission (CWC), New Delhi found out that divertible flows at an FRL of +148.00 after deducting the upstream abstractions by Maharashtra would only be 44 TMC against the originally planned 160 TMC. Thus, CWC has advised the Government of Telangana to look again into the location of the barrages to match the demand and supply of water. This made the Telangana Government dependent on the area in the downstream side on the river Pranahita, the largest tributary of river Godavari.

It is in this context that an alternate location for constructing the barrage across Godavari was investigated by M/S WAPCOS Ltd by using the latest Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) technique of surveying and the location was proposed at Medigadda near Kaleshwaram in the Jayashankar-Bhupalapally District of Telangana. The water availability by CWC at this location has been assessed as 284.3 TMC which comfortably meets the supply and demand. The original project of Pranahita Chevella has now been divided into two components namely BR Ambedkar Pranahita Project by constructing a barrage at Tummidihetti to facilitate irrigation and water supply to Adilabad District in Northern Telangana and the remaining segment is the KLIP.

Geographically, Telangana is situated on the Deccan Plateau at a higher elevation than the elevation at which the river Godavari flows in the state. Hence, irrigation through gravity canals alone is not a feasible option and lift irrigation should be employed. In the case of KLIP, the lift heights have become as high as 350 meters due to the need for redesigning the project because of the changed location at Medigadda. This change in location has also imposed the need to reverse the flow of the mighty Godavari across the Medigadda Barrage. The project now constitutes seven links and 28 packages, thus aiming to create a new ayacut of 18.25 lakh acres in 13 districts and stabilisation of existing ayacuts of 18.82 lakh acres. The project boasts of 1,531km long gravity pressure canals, 203km long tunnels, 98km long pressure pipelines, 1,832km long water supply routes, 22 lifts, 22 pumps, 14 reservoirs and 19 electrical power substations. The project has been racing against time with record concrete pours per day. KLIP witnessed reinforced cement concrete pour of 22,584 cum from December 22 to 25, 2018 on the spillway piers in Medigadda Barrage breaking all previous world records in concrete pour.

There are many other firsts and records in this project. The surge pools in package six, which are used to store water from tunnels and lift them upwards, are the largest in the world. The pumps installed in package eight which have successfully completed the dry run, popularly called as the Bahubali Motors, have a capacity of 89.14 cumecs per second and require a whopping 139 MW power for operation, both of them being world records. Similarly, package 10 boasts of Asias biggest open surge pool. There are also state of the art gas grid substations which occupy very less space underground, compared to conventional substations. The civil works being completed also cater to the possible future expansion. Various allied and associated works like compensatory afforestation are also proceeding at a breakneck speed. All this has led to the actual cost of the project as worked out to be Rs 80,190 crore.

The KLIP is being seen as a solution to end the water woes of Telangana by providing uninterrupted water supply to agriculture for all the three seasons of the crop and providing drinking water to several villages, towns and cities of the state -planned under another flagship project of Telangana Mission Bhagiratha.

The other takeaways include the timely and pragmatic resolution of interstate water disputes between Maharashtra and Telangana. Despite constitutional and statutory mechanisms, setting up of various river water boards and tribunals, many states across the country have not been successful in resolving contentious issues on the river water sharing for decades. Telangana and Maharashtra have shown the maturity and leadership to move forward in a rational way without harming the interests of each other. They showed the way forward for the country in this regard. Similarly, the CWC and Ministry of Water Resources have also been highly supportive in timely assessments and clearances. KLIP has received 10 statutory clearances from CWC within a period of nine months including cost appraisal, environmental and forest clearance  an unusual speed for administrative approvals. Despite TRS and BJP being at the opposite ends of the political spectrum, the proactive nature of CWC to the State Government displays a perfect example of cooperative federalism. The CWC has also appreciated the various technical aspects and the speed of execution of KLIP.

While everything seems to be going well, there are matters to be taken care of. The completion of works within the schedule timeline of June 2022 without any cost escalation remains a challenge. Technical issues may crop up during operations even if one loose end is left unaddressed. Apart from these, the Telangana Joint Action Committee (TJAC), an activist group in the State, is claiming that the project does not necessitate a change in location from Tummidihatti to Medigadda, notwithstanding the CWCs recommendations. They argue that enough water can be drawn through gravity canals from Tumidihetti. They even claim to have done a scientific analysis on water availability at Tummidihatti.

Apart from this, they are also contesting the other stated benefits of KLIP with respect to crop production, farmer welfare etc. While it is true that officials from Government and TRS spokespersons have been negating these claims of TJAC in Television debates, it is in the best interests of transparency and accountability, the Government of Telangana should come out with more technical and authentic clarification in this regard. And it is also true that some of the stated benefits can only be noticed once the whole project becomes operational. But the biggest issue is the operation and maintenance cost that would be needed to keep a project of this magnitude running. Some estimates by civil society activists peg it to be around Rs 15,000-20,000 crore per annum.

There are also fears that KLIP being a State Government project with enormous financial burden, can impair the States economy  with regards to its execution as well as subsequent annual maintenance costs. Probably it is for this reason, the Telangana Government is repeatedly seeking the status of National Project for KLIP. Time will only answer whether all these fears are indeed true or not.

KLIP, in due course of time has the potential to create an engineering marvel and show the path for the country to move ahead in coming up with bold and innovative approaches to solve water woes. This does not mean to say that there are no dangers lurking around. But the way in which the TRS Government headed by Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao and Irrigation Minister T Harish Rao have handled the situation instills more hope than fear.

The writer is a Senior Engineer in Vijay Nirman Company and views expressed are personal.

He can be contacted at srinathr88@gmail.com
The ostensible reform Bill doesnt serve its purpose as putting husband behind bars would lead to unwanted separation between the couple sans a legal divorce

The Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Bill, 2018, which makes the practice of instantaneous triple talaq criminal offence with three years jail was passed in the Lok Sabha but is currently pending in the Rajya Sabha due to vehement protest by the Opposition which has demanded amendments.

Given the highly politicised discourse surrounding this practice, it is important to examine whether the Bill which makes all declaration of talaq, including in written or electronic form, to be void (ie not enforceable in law) and illegal, addresses the concern of gender justice.

The Bill loses sight of the issue at the core of triple talaq debate: protecting the interests of women. Ensuring that the deserter husband gets jail does not resolve the daunting task that lies ahead of a divorced woman of finding economic, social and emotional support for herself and her children.

The provision of sustenance allowance in the Bill does not seem necessary because Muslim women are already entitled to full lump sum maintenance to be provided within the iddat period that is 90 days after divorce under the Muslim Women Act, 1986.

The idea of sustenance allowance leaves Muslim women on the mercy of deserter husbands, thus undermining the progress made in Muslim womens economic rights on divorce through the 1986 Act.

It is not clear whether the sustenance allowance would be subtracted from the maintenance amount or will be in addition to it. Putting the husband behind bars for three years just postpones the divorce which the husband is sure to obtain once he is out of jail. It penalises the already aggrieved wife and children by keeping them in limbo and stuck in an unwanted marriage for three years depending on the not-yet-defined sustenance allowance.

The Government could instead promote awareness that under the Muslim Women Act, 1986 to address the issues a Muslim woman faces in the case of instant triple talaq.

A major challenge in protecting the rights of Muslim women is the implementation of laws. There are laws already existing in India which can be used by Muslim women such as the Domestic Violence Act, 2005, the Muslim Women Act, 1986, and the Dissolution of Muslim Marriage Act, 1939.

The problem is that women are not provided with adequate support in pursuing long legal battles. A criminal or civil suit costs time, money and begets social stigma. Marginalised Muslim women need access to free legal aid to pursue any civil or criminal suit. The Domestic Violence Act provides for a State-appointed protection officer for providing free legal aid to women. However, the majority of victims report their cases through private lawyers than protection officers due to lack of awareness and availability of protection officers.

The Triple Talaq Bill has no provision of providing free legal aid to the victims of instantaneous triple talaq.

The Bill does not address the ambiguities left unanswered in the Shayara Bano judgment. While the judgment and the Bill declare instantaneous triple talaq invalid, both are silent on the legally valid form of divorce.

The State could make people aware of the more gender just practices of divorce in Islam such as the right of women to initiate divorce that is khula and faskh, talaq-e-sunna (divorce over a period of 90 days with attempts at reconciliation) and mubaraat (divorce through mutual consent). The State could also spread awareness about the Dissolution of Muslim Marriage Act, 1939, which gives Muslim women the right to dissolve marriage on various grounds.

In the nikahnama or marriage contract, women can stipulate the terms and conditions of marriage. The Government could push for certain mandatory provisions to be included in the nikahnama such as prohibition of instantaneous triple talaq and polygamy.

There can be a wide gap between legal validity and societal validity due to the continued legitimacy of religio-cultural practices in the social structure. If we penalise a religio-cultural practice, the result may be that women who are situated in these diverse practices are not able to approach official legal actors for help. Upholding womens agency to exercise rights derived from multiple sources of law may be a more effective strategy in reforming gender unjust religious practices.

(The writer is PhD scholar, JNU, Delhi)
Becoming Michelle Obama is a classic example of the American dream coming true. It narrativises the journey of the first African-American First Lady as she strives to find her voice in an impartial world, writes Umang Aggarwal

She might not be the US First Lady anymore, but Michelle LaVaughn Robinson Obama unquestionably left the title much richer than it ever could have been. In fact, thats true for her impact on almost everything she did. She managed to pull, what I would like to call, an Obama  she took several stereotypes, turned them on their head, and created a whole new set of definitions and systems to live by. And thats the journey which her recently released book recounts. Becoming Michelle Obama is a very American tale about trying, hoping, and succeeding, and a truly satisfying one at that. The former First Ladys account reflects her admirably simple approach to life  nothing is ever going to be easy, but as long as you make a genuine effort towards your goals, you can become what you want to be, and sometimes even more. This holds true for all aspects of her life that the book deals with.

Growing up as a black girl in 1960s America, choosing a rewarding career path, finding love, making marriage stick, raising kids, protecting the self and the family while living in the White House as the First Lady  the book discusses how self-doubt crept in at each step in Michelle Obamas head and how she overcame it each time, too.

Rarely does one come across such an honest self-written account of the vulnerability and human frailty of someone who has been immensely relevant to world politics. There have been speculations about Michelle running for President. It has also been suggested that this book is probably one of the first steps towards painting her as a deserving candidate for the post. But if one goes through even just the preface of the book, he/she will find that the thought seems to be far from the mind of the former FLOTUS and does not quite fit into her world or ambitions. Theres a lot I still dont know about America, she writes in the preface. Further in the book, she discusses her introversion that stuck with her even through her journey of finding her own voice. And while talking about the contrast in the personalities of her husband and herself, she says that unlike him, a career in politics would have never interested her.

The book opens with the first sigh of relief  even if loaded  that the first African-American First Lady experienced when her family life started inching towards somewhat normal after her husbands tenure as the President ended. The first chapter of the book describes the joy that she finds in making a toast for herself when she is alone in the not-so-fancy address that followed their stay at the White House. And right from that point, the reader knows that he/she is in for a humbling narration of feelings that are anything but common.

The narrative can be read as a personal account that offers an alternate version of politics and history. In the first section of the book titled Becoming Me, Michelle talks about the people and experiences from her childhood that helped her understand her world better as an adult. It discusses the massive and uncertain shift at the heart of American politics in the 1960s when the Kennedys were dead and Martin Luther King Jr had been killed standing on a balcony in Memphis, setting off riots across the country, including in Chicago. At this time, Michelle is, of course, only a little girl sitting in her fathers lap watching television at a volume loud enough to block the noise from the neighbourhood. None of this really registered with me (as a kid), she writes. But these insights into her country become a part of her personal story as she looks back at it from the perspective of a grown up African-American who has had the opportunity to see it being governed, more closely than almost any of her readers ever would have.

She presents her country in all its colourfulness and diversity, but she still makes no claims about knowing it completely. The inexpressible frustration of a black man who lived through The Great Depression finds space in her personal story when she thinks back on what her grandparents were like and remembers having ignorantly asked her grandfather, Southside, why he was always angry. The transformation that different areas in her country faced on account of racial segregation is something that stares her in the face as she digs the pictures from her school yearbook and finds evidence of the white flight in the diminishing number of white faces among the students.

The strength of character that she showed during her husbands tenure can also be traced back to her childhood. Michelle makes no bones about the fact that even though she mostly tried to laugh off hurtful comments and negative coverage of herself as a wife, a mother, an African-American, a woman, or even just an individual, they often hurt. It was at these difficult times that life lessons from her childhood about bullies and misdirected anger came handy. She goes back all the way to a story where she got punched in the face as a kid by a classmate who was angry about things that had nothing to do with her. And years later, this wisdom offered by her mother to a younger her would help her deal with the hurtful comments made about her and her family during Barack Obamas presidency campaign. Its this sense of a strongly internalised sense of the self that manifests as grace and courage when one reads about Mrs Obamas reaction to comments about the shape of her butt, or the reason behind her promotion at work, or articles about her questionable loyalty to her husbands campaign, or even speculative, flimsy stories about her being a man!

Its this investment of Michelle Obamas book in a perceptive approach to life that puts it in a league of its own. Its not the biography of someone related to someone important; it doesnt need controversies about Obama as crutches to walk on. Its also not a seedy book about how to live ones life. It is a very upfront story of a little African-American girl with small dreams and a large spirit. It is the story of an intelligent woman in love. It is the story of a woman who strives to be a good mother and a good employee at the same time. And it is also the story of a girl finding her voice, taking pride in it, and sharing it with the world as a woman.

The sense of hope in this book is infectious because it is realistic and genuine. Michelle takes the guilt out of life choices, like seeking marriage counselling or hiring a person to cook everyday meals or even forgetting to buy the kids clothes until its almost too late. She speaks on these from a non-conservative and refreshing vantage point and manages to find a fine balance between healthy life habits and sustainability. Her take on these increasingly common, modern issues faced by working women is enviable to say the least. She writes about them logically, respectfully, and honestly. Communication gaps between couples because of the lack of time to look at different issues together is one of the issues that she offers her wisdom on. We live by the paradigms we know, she writes as she looks back at a rough patch in her marriage and traces it back to the contrasting ways in which two people, even two people in love with each other, look at the world because of the differences in the ways they have been brought up. Their individual experiences have shaped their understanding of the world. And since those experiences have been different, their understanding of the same world cant possibly be the same at each point of time.

She also writes about how the thought of promoting the idea of childhood nutrition and healthy habits at the White House came from a deeply personal incident where her doctor alerted her about the need to keep her daughters Body Mass Index under check. She writes about what went through her mind as she decided to hire a person to cook everyday meals for the family. Similarly, she writes about how she needed to get her mothers help with watching her kids so that she could make some time to work out in the gym. The book even lets in the readers on one of the big secret behind her confidence  her council of girlfriends whom she can rely upon whenever she is looking for insights into an issue. Theres no part of the book which tries to say that she managed to pull it off because she is Michelle Obama and has been blessed with superhuman gifts. All she does is stick to the rigour of trying and hoping and finding logical solutions to the obstacles that come her way.

Race is an issue that would inevitably have to be a part of this narrative one way or the other. Discussion about race never reads forced or unnatural in the book. It comes as a natural curve to the flow of the narrative and is educative each time. Through the journey of the baby girl Michelle, who takes her own time to understand why white faces are disappearing from her school, to the time when she is aware and proud of being the first black First Lady but expects people to be able to look beyond the difference in skin colour, too  the book charts the journey of how far America is expected to have come on the issue of race from the 1960s to the recent present.

Talking Points

Growing Up

Because we didnt have a piano of our own, I had to do my practising downstairs on hers (the landlady), waiting until nobody else was having a lesson. To me, there was magic in the learning. I got a buzzy sort of satisfaction from it. For one thing, Id picked up on the simple, encouraging correlation between how long I practised and how much I achieved

Childhood

It was a small but life-changing move. Now that I am an adult, I realise that kids know at a very young age when they are being devalued, when adults arent invested enough to help them learn. Their anger over it can manifest itself as unruliness. Its hardly their fault. They arent bad kids. Theyre just trying to survive bad circumstances

Marriage

We live by the paradigms we know. In Baracks childhood, his father disappeared and his mother came and went. Independence mattered in Baracks world. I, meanwhile, had been raised in the tight weave of my own family, with my grandparents and aunts and uncles all around. After 13 years in love, we needed to think through what this meant

The Campaign

We owed something to each one of these people. We were asking for an investment of their faith, and now we had to deliver on what theyd brought us, carrying that enthusiasm through 20 months and 50 States and right into the White House. I hadnt believed it was possible, but maybe now I did. I had fifteen thousand more reasons to want Barack to win

Motherhood

Malias body mass index was beginning to creep up. The news landed like a rock through a stained glass window. Id worked so hard to make sure that my daughters were happy and whole. What had I done wrong? What kind of mother was I? Clearly, something had to change, but I was at a loss

As a kid in the 1960s America, Michelle Obama came across bitter experiences like her brother, Craig, being held up by an African-American policeman who couldnt believe that a black kid could own an expensive bike. She also remembers the mental and emotional scar caused by the bump on her fathers car when they visited their black neighbours who had moved to the suburbs, peopled mostly by white people. Our neighbourhood was middle class and racially mixedIn 1950, 50 years before my parents moved to South Shore, the neighbourhood had been 96 per cent white. By the time Id leave for college in 1981, it would be about 96 per cent black, she writes explaining the transformation that society was set to experience when her aspirations were growing along with her, even if without a complete understanding of the politics of the world she inhabited.

But as a grown-up, her feelings as well as her worldview turn out to be more informed. She is pleasantly surprised by how far her country has come from those days of painful discrimination when she finds herself feeling at home in Iowa, one of the more conservative areas. She feels reassured of this transformation when the general public manages to almost effortlessly look beyond the skin colour of the substitute presidential candidate  as she calls herself  and embraces her for sharing her story with them. But she is also bitter at being repeatedly asked how it feels to be a tall black woman talking to rooms full of white people. It makes her feel like our differences are all one sees and all that matters, she writes. She cant seem to understand why such a regressive question must be asked when the outlook of the country and its people in general has become largely progressive.

As an American woman in one of the most prestigious posts one would ever hold, she finds herself working and reworking gender norms for herself. She also writes about the process of thinking back on everyday habits that she took a conscious call to not pass on to her daughters because she wouldnt want them to buy into ideas of patriarchy and the hierarchy that comes along with it. She talks about the general expectation from a First Lady, which is to look good and to make her husband look good. And she quickly dismisses it too saying that while she could be supportive, she could not reduce herself to a robot. She writes about the difficult decision of not having the kids wait for a hug from the man of the family each night before they went to bed. Instead, she puts the onus on Dad to find time for that hug instead of arranging her and her kids lives around his schedule. Michelle had once been accused of emasculating her husband when she talked about his human frailty at home in an interview. She points to the prejudice embedded in that approach, too. Most importantly, she weeds out guilt from all of these decisions and manages to look at them from a more balanced and practical perspective.

When it comes to fighting sexism, she sees no wrong in admiring even her husbands opponents. While writing about the campaign that would eventually lead to Obamas historic win, she says, Hillary (Clinton)s gender was used against her relentlessly, drawing from all the worst stereotypes. She was called domineering, a nag, a bitch. Her voice was interpreted as screechy; her laugh was a cackle. Hillary was Baracks opponent, which means I wasnt inclined to feel especially warmly toward her just then, but I couldnt help but admire her ability to stand up and keep fighting amid the misogyny, she writes. And with that, she gives another example of her carefully thought out and painstakingly fair approach to almost everything  politics, racism, motherhood, marriage, or just life in general.

This book is relevant for anybody who is interested in American history, in Barack Obamas personal life, in relationship advice, in tips on motherhood, in fighting discrimination with grace, or even in just living life well. Because thats Michelle Obamas journey in a nutshell. She does everything with perfection, and she remembers to tell herself as well as her followers that this perfection doesnt come magically. Instead, one has to strive for it. Luckily for her, she learnt to do that as a kid and made a habit of it. I spent much of my childhood listening to the sound of strivingthe sound of people trying, however, became the soundtrack to our life, she writes, making her story a classic example of the American dream coming true.
Three youngsters were killed in an accident when the vehicle they were travelling in plunged into a deep gorge near Dhanaulti on Mussoorie- Suvakholi road on Saturday. The accident occurred in the wee hours of the day, but the police and administrative officers reached the spot much later after they were informed by the local people.

The in-charge of the Mussoorie police station, Bhawana Kaithola said that the police had received information about the accident at around 7.30 am after which a team of police and fire brigade rushed to the spot.

The place where the accident occurred is said to be a blind curve. After an operation which lasted for three hours, the police extracted three bodies from under the gorge and one badly injured person was rushed to the Government Doon Medical College (GDMC) Hospital.

It is learnt that four friends all in their 20s were heading to Dhanaulti from Delhi to spend the weekend.

Their plan went horribly wrong when the I-20 car they were travelling fell into a deep gorge while negotiating a steep curve at Tambidhar near Suwakholi. The deceased have been identified as Suraj Rawat, Prince Tanwar and Mannu while Rahul Rawat was the injured.

All the four friends were residents of Laxmi Nagar area in Delhi.
The city celebrated the National Youth Day to mark the 157th birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda with fervour. Schools, colleges and social organisations organised various events to mark the day. Social organization Naman under the leadership of Amarpreet Singh Kale organised a function at Sakchi to pay tribute to the greater leader.

Kale said that that the advent of Swami Vivekananda is to raise the women from shambles and for these must follow the path of the Wisdom of Women of Upanishadic Age. Human Life itself is the universe, and it is of paramount importance that life needs to be decently organized and highly disciplined. This is only possible when we manifest the divinity already inherent in every soul.

The Jamshedpur Women's College, Graduate School College for Women, Jamshedpur Co-operative College, ABM College and Jamshedpur Worker's College celebrated the day today with morning rallies and sessions to discuss philosophy of Swami Vivekananda's life

The National Service Scheme (NSS) unit of Jamshedpur Women's College took out a morning rally that spread awareness through the preaching of Swami Vivekananda. The NCC unit of Graduate School College for Women too organised a rally. A theatre artist Ravikant Mishra also presented a monologue as Swami Vivekanand for the students of Graduate School College for Women.

The Jamshedpur Worker's College and ABM College concluded their week long programme on Youth Day today. Both the colleges organised essay, painting, elocution and declamation contest in the past week, the prize distribution of which was organised today.

The Bengal Club in Sakchi also organised a programme discussing Swami Vivekananda. Sujit Chakraborty, founder of The Children of Ramakrishna, a socio-religious outfit in Jamshedpur spoke about Swami Vivekananda referring the Chicago Day Conventions and his ideologies on religion.

Caption: Founder of Naman Amarpreet Singh Kale and other members pay tribute to Swami Vivekanand
Punjab CM GREETS PEOPLE ON PRAKASH PURB

Chandigarh: Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh on Saturday extended his heartiest greetings to the the countrymen and people living across the globe on the Prakash Purb of Dasmesh Pita Sri Guru Gobind Singh. In his message, the Chief Minister said that the Sikh community would always remember the great saint soldier for creating the Khalsa Panth at Sri Anandpur Sahib in 1699, thus promoting the undying spirit of well-being (Chardi Kala) amongst the Sikhs. The life and philosophy of Sri Guru Gobind Singh ji were a unifying force to bind the entire country in an unbreakable social fabric, said the Chief Minister, adding that Guru Gobind Singh ji's universal message of peace, humanity, love and brotherhood continued to be relevant even in the contemporary national and international scenario.

Cold weather conditions continue in Pb, Hry

Chandigarh: Cold weather conditions continued in Punjab and Haryana on Saturday with Adampur being the coldest place in the region at a low of 3.9 degrees Celsius. The Union Territory of Chandigarh, the joint capital of both states, recorded a low of 7.4 degrees Celsius, two degrees above normal, an official of the Met department said. Among other places in Punjab, Amritsar, Ludhiana and Patiala braved cold weather conditions at 6, 7.1 and 8.4 degrees Celsius respectively, up to three degrees above normal. Pathankot, Halwara and Bathinda recorded their respective minimums at 5.9, 6.4 and 6 degrees Celsius.

In Haryana, Ambala, Hisar and Karnal experienced cold weather conditions at 7.2, 7.5 and 5.6 degrees Celsius respectively. Rohtak, Narnaul and Bhiwani recorded their minimums at 7.6, 5.3 and 8.7 degrees Celsius. Fog was witnessed at some places, including Ludhiana and Hisar.

HP Planning Board meeting on January 16

Shimla: A spokesperson of Himachal government on Saturday said the meeting of State Planning Board will be held on January 16 at 11 A.M. in conference hall of Armsdale building, HP Secretariat Shimla. The Chief Minister will preside over the meeting. Earlier this meeting was scheduled to be held on January 14.

Mild tremors at Himachal's Chamba dist

Shimla: A low-intensity earthquake shook Himachal Pradesh's Chamba district on Saturday. No loss of life or property was reported. Meteorological Centre, Shimla, Director Manmohan Singh said, "An earthquake measuring 3.3 on the Richter scale was recorded at 12.31 pm. The epicentre was at a depth of 5 km in northeast of Chamba district, mild tremors were felt in adjoining areas." Most parts of Himachal, including Chamba, fall in seismic sensitive zone.
After being allegedly beaten up by his teacher in a school in Khandwa district, a 15-year-old schoolboy committed suicide by hanging.

The deceased Aman Rathore was a Class IX student of a private school, MH Public School at Sulgaon village of Khandwa district. The police have registered a case under section 174 of the CrPC and started further investigation.

Dhangaon police station in-charge Harish Rawat told media persons that the teenager hanged himself from a ceiling fan at his home on Friday evening when other members of the family were away in the fields.

In the suicide note written by the student, he blamed his teacher for his death. It has also been mentioned in the note that he was being harassed by the teacher only because he was Hindu. Boy's father Vijay Rathore, shared the suicide note with the media on Saturday.

According to the deceased's father, the teacher had called him on Friday afternoon to complain about Aman Rathore and threatened to expel the latter from school for indiscipline.

Vijay Rathore alleged that, after he left, the teacher thrashed his son with wooden rulers with so much force that two rulers broke.

District Superintendent of Police (SP) Ruchi Vardhan Mishra said the school authorities had admitted that Aman Rathore was beaten up. The teacher, who is not traceable, had objected to the teenager carrying mobile phone to the school, the SP said.
The Modi Government plans to run an express bus service on the Delhi-Meerut expressway, taking note of delay of the Rapid Rail Transit System (RRTS) on the stretch. The Ministry of Finance has asked the Ministries of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) and Railways besides NITI Aayog to identify a dedicated corridor for buses on the ongoing Delhi-Meerut expressway.

The Ministry of Finance wrote to MoRTH and Railways to this effect. The Ministry has also asked NITI Aayog to explore the feasibility of running electric buses on the corridor, top sources told The Pioneer.

The total length of the expressway project is 82 km, of which the first 27.74 km will be 14-laned, while the rest will be 6-lane expressway.

An express bus service (also known as commuter bus service) is a bus service that is intended to run faster than normal buses between the two commuter destination points. Express buses operate on a faster schedule by not making as many stops as normal bus services and often taking quicker routes, such as along highways, or by using dedicated lanes, said officials of MoRTH. The RRTS project is still on paper. The UP Government has already given its approval but the Delhi Government is yet to do so.

The project is being implemented by Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs.

According to sources, the RRTS will be delayed as the proposal was not approved by the Project Investment Board till date. On the other hand, the Delhi-Meerut Expressway would be Indias first 14-lane highway and has been described by Prime Minister Narendra Modi as road to freedom from pollution. It is being built at a cost of over Rs 7,500 crore.

The Delhi- Meerut Expressway project aims to provide faster and safer connectivity between Delhi and Meerut and beyond this, with Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand. The expressway involves construction of 11 flyovers/interchanges, 5 major and 24 minor bridges, 3 ROBs (rail over bridges), 36 vehicular and 14 pedestrian underpasses. It will also have elevated section of 5.91 km.

The stretch between Akshardham and UP Gate of the expressway, which has been developed in the first phase of the project, is already functional. The 8-kilometre-long stretch from UP Gate to Vijay Nagar is likely to be opened in the next two three months. The stretch from UP Gate to Vijay Nagar is a part of the 20-km long highway between UP Gate and Dasna, that the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) is developing under the second phase of the widening project.

Apart from the first part of the stretch falling in the National Capital Territory (NCT), the Delhi-Meerut expressway is divided into three more parts. The second part from UP Gate to Dasna will have a length of about 19.28km.

The third stretch of 22.3 km from Dasna to Hapur and forth phase from Hapur to Meerut is 46 km. On completion, the expressway will reduce the travel time significantly from Delhi to Meerut to just 45 minutes from three to four hours at present.
It is Sultanate vs Samvidhan in LS polls, says Modi

Asserting that the country needs a mazboot sarkar and not a majboor sarkar that compromises on national interests, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday hit hard at the Congress for seeing itself above countrys institutions even as its top leaders were on bail for various offences.

In contrast, he outlined how despite his own persistent persecution during the UPA rule he never banned the CBI from Gujarat as the Chief Minister and showed no disrespect to the due process of law deposing even before an SIT for a 9-hour-long questioning of him.

But, he pointed out how the Congress-led Opposition banned the CBI in three States as it is fearful of the agencys probe outcome.

In a free-wheeling speech at the concluding day of the BJPs National Council meet here, Modi also sought to knock the bottom of what, he said, went in the name of mahagathbandan saying parties who owe their existence to anti-Congressism are trying to rally around the Congress without having any common ideology or voter base. And against the backdrop of the formal announcement of the SP-BSP alliance in Uttar Pradesh, leader after leader at the Council also sought to target it as a case of sheer opportunism between two arch-rivals.

Modi said Opposition parties are coming together as they want to form a majboor (helpless) Government to promote nepotism and corruption, whereas the BJP wants a strong dispensation for all-round development. Modi said a reflection of majboor governments has come from the Opposition-led dispensations in different States, including Karnataka.

The Congress and the Opposition is trying to piece together a majboor sarkar at the Centre so that they could take commission in the defence purchases, do bungling in farmers fund or engage in other corrupt practices, he charged.

He said the 2019 Lok Sabha poll is a battle between Sultanate aur Samvidhan  the dynast and followers of the Constitution.

Modi pointed to the loot during the Congress rule and referred to its top leadership (Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi) being on bail in the National Herald case to ask: Can we give the reigns of the country to such people? Can they be trusted?

Describing the Congress leadership as ye zamanati leaders (leaders on bail), Modi asked what kind of pradhan sevak the country needs - the one who conspires and is a thief or the one who is honest and hard working ?. Let the country decide, he said.

Addressing the last Council meeting before the Lok Sabha poll, the Prime Minister tore into the Congress and its allies saying the Opposition parties have always been opposing the progressive measures of his Government and cited examples of legislations on triple-talaq, rendering constitutional status to OBC body, National Register for Citizenship, legal status to Aadhaar and enactment of Enemy Property Act and other policy issues.

He said the Bill to give 10 per cent reservation in jobs and education to the general category poor will boost the self-confidence of new India and allayed fears of tinkering with the existing quota policy for SCs, STs and OBCs. He asked party workers to foil any conspiracy against it.

In the same breath, Modi said it was the Congress which sought to put spokes in the progress of Ram Mandir trial in the apex court (by asking that it be heard after Lok Sabha poll) Ye hamein bhoolna nahin chahiye, bhoolna dena bhi nahin hain, he said amidst cheering of delegates in the council. He said the Congress also made a move of impeachment against the last Chief Justice of India.

They do not care for institutions be it the Reserve bank of India, the Supreme Court, probe agencies or foreign ministry, the Prime Minister alleged saying the Congress leaders were only happy to gang up with  tukre tukre gang.,

The highlight of PMs speech, however, was that perhaps for the first time, he publicly spoke about what he called his own persecution by the UPA Government at the Centre when he was Gujarat Chief Minister. In 2007, Modi said, a leader came to Gujarat and announced that he should get ready to be jailed. He said while Amit Shah was even jailed he, himself faced the SIT and was questioned for nine hours.

All this, the Prime Minister said did not prompt him as Gujarat CM to ban CBI from his State as has been done by States run by the Opposition parties including West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh and Chhattisgarh.

He asked delegates to work on their booth level saying meri booth sabse majboot should be the winning mantra of all party workers.
The Earths magnetic pole is moving at about 50 km (30 miles) a year.

Compass needles point towards the north magnetic pole, a point which has crept unpredictably from the coast of northern Canada a century ago to the middle of the Arctic Ocean, moving towards Russia.

Rapid shifts in the Earths north magnetic pole are forcing researchers to make an unprecedented early update to a model that helps navigation by ships, planes and submarines in the Arctic, scientists said.

Compass needles point towards the north magnetic pole, a point which has crept unpredictably from the coast of northern Canada a century ago to the middle of the Arctic Ocean, moving towards Russia.

Its moving at about 50 km (30 miles) a year. It didnt move much between 1900 and 1980 but its really accelerated in the past 40 years, Ciaran Beggan, of the British Geological Survey in Edinburgh, told Reuters on Friday.

A five-year update of a World Magnetic Model was due in 2020 but the US military requested an unprecedented early review, he said. The BGS runs the model with the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Beggan said the moving pole affected navigation, mainly in the Arctic Ocean north of Canada. NATO and the US and British militaries are among those using the magnetic model, as well as civilian navigation.

The wandering pole is driven by unpredictable changes in liquid iron deep inside the Earth. An update will be released on January 30, the journal Nature said, delayed from January 15 because of the US government shutdown.

The fact that the pole is going fast makes this region more prone to large errors, Arnaud Chulliat, a geomagnetist at the University of Colorado Boulder and NOAAs National Centers for Environmental Information, told Nature.

Beggan said the recent shifts in the north magnetic pole would be unnoticed by most people outside the Arctic, for instance using smartphones in New York, Beijing or London.

Navigation systems in cars or phones rely on radio waves from satellites high above the Earth to pinpoint their position on the ground.

It doesnt really affect mid or low latitudes, Beggan said. It wouldnt really affect anyone driving a car.

Many smartphones have inbuilt compasses to help to orientate maps or games such as Pokemon Go. In most places, however, the compass would be pointing only fractionally wrong, within errors allowed in the five-year models, Beggan said.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 12)  Commission on Elections (Comelec) Spokesperson James Jimenez noted one or two areas are being considered to be placed under the poll's body control ahead of the 2019 midterm polls.

In an interview with CNN Philippines Newsroom Weekend on Saturday, Jimenez said the poll body is mulling over putting Daraga in Albay and Cotabato City under its close watch.

This comes in light of the recent events in the area-including the killing of AKO BICOL Party-list Representative Rodel Batocabe, as well as the reported mall blast in Cotabato City on New Year's Eve.

"One of the areas that we've already announced under consideration is Daraga, Albay," Jimenez said. "There are a couple more but we will make that announcement once it's finalized."

"Cotabato is certainly very high on the list of areas that are being watched especially considering recent events there, as well as the proximity of the Bangsamoro plebiscite," he added.

Jimenez added the poll body expects to come out with a decision on the matter early next week.

Comelec warns motorists: Be wary of individuals manning checkpoints

Ahead of the election period, the poll body also gave out some pieces of advice for motorists traversing election checkpoints.

"Motorists should be very careful about checking the uniforms of these individuals. You might want to check out his/her shoes," the spokesperson suggested.

"They might have official-looking uniforms, but sometimes, well they're just wearing slippers. Even if it were a legitimate police officer, if he's wearing slippers and he's out of uniform, he has no business in manning a Comelec checkpoint."

Here are some of Comelec's other reminders regarding election checkpoints:

1. Checkpoints should be located in a well-lit area.

2. Comelec checkpoints are clearly marked. Signage of the checkpoint should display the name and contact number of the election officer who handles the area, and the name and contact number of the police officer manning the checkpoint.

3. People who are manning the checkpoint should be in proper uniform.

4. Opening car compartments is voluntary.

Meanwhile, the Philippine National Police (PNP) is also gearing up for the start of the election period on Sunday, January 13.

PNP announced it will establish at least one checkpoint in each city and municipality across the country.

"At past midnight tonight, January 13, 2019, the Philippine National Police will establish strong checkpoints in strategic locations across the country to intercept guns, explosives and other instruments of violence, including illegal security personnel that may mar the holding of peaceful, credible and fair midterm elections in May," the police body said in a statement.
Mark Wilson/Getty Images(PARKLAND, Fla.) -- Florida's new governor Ron DeSantis has suspended Broward County Sheriff Scott Israel over his department's much-maligned response to the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting last February  which took the lives of 17 students and staff  and installed the county's first African-American sheriff, former Coral Springs police sergeant Gregory Tony, according to official statements.

On Friday evening, three days after being sworn in, DeSantis issued a tweet saying that "effective immediately, I am officially suspending Broward County Sheriff Scott Israel for his repeated failures, incompetence and neglect of duty." The tweet linked to an executive order signed by the newly minted governor.

Israel reacted shortly after the governor's announcement, holding a press conference in which he defended his tenure and contended that he was a victim of local politics.

"There was no wrongdoing on my part," Israel said at the press conference. "I served the county honorably."

Israel said he plans to "vigorously fight this unjustified suspension" and intends to return to office soon.

"This was about politics, not about Parkland," Israel said.

Among a raft of criticism, DeSantis' executive order noted that Broward County Sheriff's Department personnel had 21 interactions with the school shooter prior to the massacre, the first one coming in February 2016  two years before the attack  when the shooter "posted a picture of a gun with a statement similar to, 'I am going to get this gun when I turn 18 and shoot up school.'"

Israel has been the subject of extraordinary criticism in the wake of the massacre on Valentine's Day 2018.

Last spring, about two months after the shooting spree, 534 out of 628 deputies issued a 'no confidence' vote in his leadership compared to 94 who voted in confidence of the sheriff, Jeff Bell, president of the Broward Sheriffs Office Deputies Association, told ABC News at the time.

"I will not be distracted from my duties by this inconsequential ... union vote, which was designed to extort a 6.5 percent pay raise from this agency," Israel responded, in part, to the union vote.

Effective immediately, I am officially suspending Broward County Sheriff Scott Israel for his repeated failures, incompetence and neglect of duty. https://t.co/tkHzxTHhjH  Ron DeSantis (@GovRonDeSantis) January 11, 2019

Last month, the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Commission issued a scathing report about the Broward County Sheriff's Department, specifying that one of Israel's key active shooter policies may have contributed to the carnage.

The commission noted that a written policy saying that Broward County deputies may confront active shooters, rather than shall, provided an excuse for not entering the school to confront the shooter.

Israel, whose elected term ends in 2020, has said he would not leave office voluntarily.

Responding to the commission report last month, Israel said that all Broward sheriff's deputies completed an additional eight hours of active-shooter training, that the department has created a threat assessment unit and that it has enacted other reforms.

When asked by CNN days after the shooting whether he would have done anything differently, Israel famously replied, "If 'ifs' and 'buts' were candy and nuts, O.J. Simpson would still be in the record books.

Copyright  2019, ABC Radio. All rights reserved.
Winston Churchills grandson has revealed how he is regularly called a traitor for his pro-EU views.

Tory former defence minister Sir Nicholas Soames told of the abuse as he pleaded with MPs to back Theresa Mays Brexit deal warts and all to avoid chaos.

Sir Nicholas, who has represented Mid Sussex for more than 20 years, said dignity, reason and calm must be restored to the debate both inside and outside the House.

He said: The Prime Ministers plan has carefully and cleverly managed to try to separate the UK from the EU  45 years of combined and earnest endeavour and legislation  with miraculously, frankly, minimal damage to both sides.

It would be extremely ill-judged to throw it away and would above all be totally contrary to our national interest.

Its my judgment from talking to colleagues from both sides that the real national consensus is actually for the deal on the table, warts and all, if only we could get there.

Sir Nicholas Soames and his grandfather, Sir Winston Churchill

Sir Nicholas said he believed Parliament should not be so wet, so timid and lacking in will as to reject the deal, as alternatives would stoke division.

He added: I hate, like many other members do, being regularly called a traitor in correspondence and elsewhere.

We have seen the most disgraceful behaviour towards MPs, journalists and more especially  because we can take it  to members of the public.

I believe it would be quite wrong to postpone the Article 50 deadline and the House must be prepared to earn the undying contempt of the country if it simply does not have the collective will, discipline and sense of duty to come to an agreement, he added.

Tory colleague Sir David Amess (Southend West) later revealed the splits in the party however as he told of his anger and disappointment at how the deal was formulated.

He said: I cannot express forcefully enough how disappointed and even angry I am at the whole process and the way it has been handled over the last two years.

It was a former prime minister David Cameron who gave us the opportunity to vote in the referendum in the first place and I think he should have seen it through to the end.

We ended up with a new leader and its transpired that the three senior members of the Government were all on the Remain side, not an ideal situation.

Then we called a general election, I think Ive been a candidate 10 or 11 times, the worst general election campaign Ive ever been involved in and 33 of our colleagues lost their seats and we lost our majority, again not an ideal situation half way through the negotiation process.

Sir David ended by telling ministers he had been given no input into the terms of the negotiations and felt hugely excluded from the process.

ERG deputy chairman Mark Francois told the Commons he was utterly determined to vote down the deal.

The Conservative former minister said Mrs May wanted to leave the UK hanging half in and half out of the EU as a vassal state.

Tory MP Bernard Jenkin, chairman of the Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee, was heckled by Labours Neil Coyle (Bermondsey and Old Southwark) as he made the case for a no-deal Brexit.

Mr Coyle shouted: Reality is calling. What colour is the sky on your planet?

Mr Jenkin ignored the remarks, and concluded his speech by insisting no deal is far preferable to the protracted uncertainty of either extending Article 50 or of this unacceptable Withdrawal Agreement.

He added: The leadership of this country, and that includes the Government and the Opposition, should stop reinforcing weakness and start talking up our strengths and building up our confidence.

History has proved that our country can always rise to the challenge and our people will never forgive the politicians who allow the EU to inflict defeat, and it saddens me greatly that even some in my own party are promoting such a defeat.

Conservative David Tredinnick (Bosworth) told MPs I do not want a job before delivering a lengthy tribute to Mrs May as he supported the deal.

Addressing concerns over the Irish border backstop, he said: I say to the Democratic Unionist Party, be careful what you wish for because there is a border poll out there possibly.

Tory former minister Nick Herbert, who campaigned for Remain, questioned those MPs seeking a second referendum and others who want a no-deal Brexit.

He warned: I would say to honourable members on both sides, prepare to climb down because both of you cannot be right.

One of you is not going to get what you want and the right thing to do is support a pragmatic exit, which is what the Withdrawal Agreement actually offers.
German carmaker Volkswagen posted another annual sales record in 2018 as new SUV models boosted deliveries and the company increased its share in China even as the market there shrank for the first time in years.

The maker of Volkswagen, Audi, Seat, Skoda and other brand name cars sold 10.83 million vehicles, beating its 2017 record of 10.74 million cars by 0.9%.

Marketing head Christian Dahlheim said increasing sales in a global passenger car market that contracted by 1.2% last year was a great result.

Mr Dahlheim said the company overcame bottlenecks in getting cars certified under new emission rules that took effect on September 1 in Europe. Those difficulties hurt sales in the following months in Europe.

The company overcame that with strong increases in South America and eastern Europe as well as Russia.

In the companys largest single market, China, sales rose 0.5% even as the overall market shrank.

Volkswagen in Wolfsburg (PA)

In 2017, Volkswagen contested the title of worlds biggest carmaker with the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi alliance.

The alliance said it was number one with 10.6 million vehicles sold and said Volkswagen inflated its tally by counting trucks. The alliance announces 2018 figures later this month.

Volkswagen no longer sets unit sales records as a primary business goal. Taking over the top spot in the global sales race was a target once set by former chief executive Martin Winterkorn, who lost his job in 2015 after the company was caught installing software that let cars cheat on emissions tests.

The company paid more than 27 billion euros (24 billion) in fines and settlements.

Sport-utility vehicles rose from a 12.6% share of Volkswagen sales in 2014 to 23.2% last year.

SUVs carry higher prices and profit margins than older types of vehicles such as saloons and hatchbacks. The highest share was 43% in North America.
A Sinn Fein office in west Belfast has been the target of a gun attack.

Bullet casings were found outside the office in the Turf Lodge area on Monday morning.

It is understood that CCTV at the office revealed shots were fired at the office by a gunman on January 3.

West Belfast MP Paul Maskey and MLA Pat Sheehan are to speak to the media about the incident later.

The Police Service of Northern Ireland is investigating the incident.

Detective Sergeant Sam McCallum said officers attended the scene and recovered the casings, which were taken away for further examination.

The PSNI have appealed for help (Paul Faith/PA)

We received a report around 11am on Tuesday that bullet casings had been found outside office premises at Monagh Crescent in Ballymurphy the day before, he said.

A further report made to us last night (Thursday) stated a number of shots had been fired at the building by a masked gunman on Thursday January 3, just before 2.20am.

This was a reckless attack in what is a built-up residential area. Someone could easily have been injured, or worse, by a stray bullet.

Thankfully, we are not looking at any injuries.

I want to make a number of appeals today.

Were you in the Monagh Crescent area around 2am and the time the incident occurred last Thursday morning, 3rd December?

If you own a dashcam, please check your footage as you may have captured footage of the incident.

Anyone who has information about this incident is asked to call detectives at Musgrave on the non emergency number 101, quoting reference number 367 08/01/19.
A woman suffered fatal head injuries while leaning out of a train window below a warning sticker, an accident report has found.

Bethan Roper, 28, died on the Great Western Railway train near Twerton, Bath on December 1.

Her head was out of the window of a door when it was struck by a tree branch while the train travelled at 85mph.

A preliminary report by the Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB) found that a yellow Caution label above the door said Do not lean out of window when train is moving.

The door was fitted with an opening window to enable passengers to access the handle, which was on the outside.

Miss Roper was on board the London Paddington to Exeter service while returning to Penarth, South Wales from a Christmas shopping trip with friends.

Bethan Roper died from serious head injuries (Cardiff School of Journalism/PA)

The incident happened at 10.04pm and she was pronounced dead at Bristol Temple Meads station shortly after 10.10pm.

Miss Roper worked for the Welsh Refugee Council charity and was chairman of Young Socialists Cardiff.

Her father, Adrian Roper, 63, released a statement after her death saying his daughter enjoyed life to the full whilst working tirelessly for a better world.

The RAIB said its full investigation would examine the measures in place to control the risks from persons leaning out of train windows, including the threat from vegetation.

In August 2016, railway fanatic Simon Brown, 24, was killed while leaning out of the window of a Gatwick Express train near Balham, south London. His head hit a signal gantry at 61mph.

In its report, the RAIB noted that a yellow warning sticker on the door was in a cluttered environment among other information signs, and recommended that train companies should do more to stop passengers from putting body parts out of windows.

In November, public sector company Network Rail was asked by rail minister Andrew Jones to set out a plan for how it will do more to protect biodiversity during tree felling.

This followed criticism over the amount of trees being cut down in some areas.
The father of one of the 10 victims of the Clutha helicopter crash may not be represented at a fatal accident inquiry into the tragedy due to legal aid issues.

Seven people in the Glasgow pub, the pilot and two crew members were killed when the Police Scotland helicopter crashed on to the roof of the building in November 29, 2013.

The fatal accident inquiry (FAI) will begin in April at Hampden Park in Glasgow.

At a preliminary hearing at Glasgow Sheriff Court held to update the sheriff on legal aid applications, the inquiry heard the assistance has been granted to several family members who requested it.

The wreckage of the helicopter being lifted from the building (Andrew Milligan/PA)

But it heard that while Ian OPrey, the father of victim Mark OPrey, has been granted legal aid, he has been unable to pay the contribution requested by the Legal Aid Board.

His lawyer Dana Forbes said: The application for Mr OPrey has been granted for junior counsel and the application for senior counsel may be reviewed.

A contribution was due by December 22 but Mr OPrey was not able to make that.

The Legal Aid Board extended it to the end of the month and there is something going on in the background regarding funding, but at the moment the contribution has not been paid by anyone.

Sheriff Principal Craig Turnbull, who is overseeing the FAI, said later in Fridays hearing: Circumstances may preclude Mr OPrey from participating.

The inquiry heard James Diver, son of victim Samuel McGhee, has been granted legal aid with a contribution, and a charity has paid the first contribution.

Brian Fitzpatrick, representing victim Gary Arthurs father Gordon, said his application was under way and added: I dont anticipate that there will be any difficulty in the contribution being made and Mr Arthur being fully represented.

John McGarrigle, the son of John McGarrigle, has also been granted legal aid.

More than 100 people were at the Clutha Vaults pub when the helicopter, returning to its base on the banks of the River Clyde, crashed through the roof.

Pub customers Mr McGarrigle, Mr OPrey, Mr Arthur, Colin Gibson, Robert Jenkins, Mr McGhee and Joe Cusker died, while pilot David Traill and crew Pc Tony Collins and Pc Kirsty Nelis were also killed.

An Air Accidents Investigations Branch report published in 2015 found two fuel supply switches were off and the pilot did not follow emergency procedures after a fuel warning in the cockpit.

The Crown Office has previously stated there is insufficient evidence for criminal proceedings.

Family members, Police Scotland, Airbus Helicopters and the AAIB are among those represented at the inquiry.
Critical repairs are to be carried out on two historic Scottish canals following an increase in funding for the project.

Work on the Caledonian Canal, which connects Inverness with the west coast at Corpach near Fort William, and on the Union Canal, which runs from Falkirk to Edinburgh, will commence next week.

The Scottish Government announced an increase in funding to Scottish Canals, the body responsible for managing the countrys inland waterways, from 11.6 million in 2018/19 to a proposed 15 million in 2019/20.

Repair work will include replacing lock gates at Kytra and Fort Augustus on the Caledonian Canal.

Transport Scotland said it is making the investment to allow Scottish Canals to maintain historic assets, as well as to assist projects aiming to improve the experience for users.

Through @ScotGov funding - including an additional 5.35m made available last year - @ScottishCanals will undertake critical works on the #CaledonianCanal and #UnionCanal starting on Monday 14 January https://t.co/F7XpDudAJo pic.twitter.com/jeVXxlvoYm  Transport Scotland (@transcotland) January 11, 2019

Transport Secretary Michael Matheson said: The additional funding is enabling Scottish Canals to undertake critical repairs which will allow boaters to continue to navigate the waterways for years to come.

Locks on the Caledonian Canal will be replaced as part of the repair work (Yui Mok/PA)

While there may be some short-term disruption, the works are essential to the future of the Caledonian and Union canals.

These repairs will be in addition to the scheduled maintenance that Scottish Canals will carry out in 2019 as part of its asset management programme  including critical embankment works at Linlithgow.

Our canal network plays a vital role in tourism and economic regeneration. To secure the future of the network, we intend to increase Scottish Canals funding to record levels in the Scottish budget for 2019/20 in recognition of the challenges faced in maintaining our historic waterways.

Catherine Topley, Scottish Canals chief executive, said: This additional funding is fantastic news and will help us to safeguard the incredible heritage assets of Scotlands canals for future generations to enjoy.

These 200-year-old waterways play a vital role in local communities and Scotland as a whole, contributing to the marine economy; attracting tourists, visitor spend and investment; as well as stimulating job creation and business growth.

While managing these historic assets is not without its challenges, we are committed to continuing to work with the Scottish Government and our partners to ensure they continue to deliver benefits for all the people of Scotland.
A union is holding a special meeting which could decide to ballot teachers for strike action over pay.

A special meeting of the EIS teaching unions council will take place in Edinburgh on Saturday.

Members have been told it will decide on the next phase of a campaign for a 10% pay rise.

An update to members said this may well be a move to a statutory ballot for industrial action, unless the Scottish Government and council umbrella body Cosla provide further concessions in pay negotiations.

Education Secretary John Swinney has said an updated offer from the Government and Cosla is a better deal than for any group of public sector workers in the UK, but it was rejected by the teachers side of the negotiations earlier this week.

Teaching unions claim teachers pay has fallen 20% in real terms in the past decade and a significant increase is needed to show teachers they are valued and to help boost staff recruitment and retention.

Education Secretary John Swinney has urged unions to accept the latest offer (Jane Barlow/PA)

In an update to members, the EIS stated: In an attempt to agree a settlement, the teachers side has proposed options which would improve the offer for all teachers, but it remains to be seen if these will be taken up.

We confirmed our willingness to meet again, as and when required.

Members have been extremely patient over a pay claim which was due last April. Clearly, that patience has its limit.

A special EIS council meeting has been arranged for this Saturday, January 12, to decide on the next phase of the campaign, which may well be a move to a statutory ballot for industrial action, if there is no further movement from Scottish Government and Cosla.

Mr Swinney said the pay offer would see teachers receiving a minimum 8% increase between January 2018 and April 2019.

An earlier offer, which Mr Swinney said at the time was the best available and would give most teachers a rise of between 5% and 11%, was rejected by the teachers side of negotiations in September.

The following month, more than 20,000 people marched in Glasgow in support of the teachers pay demand.
The Irish Government has confirmed it will continue supporting students applying to universities in the United Kingdom as well as Northern Ireland pupils wishing to study in the Republic after Brexit.

Pupils from Northern Ireland expressed concern over whether they will be treated as non-EU students after the UK leaves the European Union in March, meaning they would have to pay much higher fees.

Irelands Minister for Education Joe McHugh has clarified the governments position saying that it will continue to support university students planning to study in the UK and for UK nationals wishing to attend colleges in Ireland.

It means that eligible Irish and EU nationals, who want to study in the UK for the 2019/20 academic year, will be able to avail of SUSI (Student Universal Support Ireland) grants.

UK students who enrol for the 2019/20 academic year will be eligible for free fees and student grant schemes.

This includes the student contribution fee for Irish and EU citizens which currently stands at 3,000 for the 2018/19 academic year.

This means that the student grant and tuition fee arrangements currently in place will continue to apply for those students entering higher education in the 2019/2020 academic year.

The Irish government said it will review its position before the 2020/2021 academic year.

Mr McHugh said: I am pleased to be able to announce this decision at this time.

It provides certainty for prospective students applying before the CAO (Central Applications Office) closing date of 1 February.

I continue to work closely with my colleague (Foreign Affairs Minister) Simon Coveney, to bring longer term clarity for both Irish students wishing to study in the UK and UK nationals wishing to take up studies in Ireland.

More than 10,000 Irish students are in higher education in the UK (Chris Ison/PA)

It is vital that both Ireland and the UK continue to build on the strong and valuable co-operation which currently exists.

There are currently 10,070 Irish students studying in the UK, while 1,319 Northern Ireland students attend universities in the Republic at both undergraduate and postgraduate level.

Over 1,100 students from the rest of the UK study in the Republic

Minister of State for Higher Education Mary Mitchell OConnor said: I am delighted to be able to provide certainty for prospective students applying for college places in Ireland and the UK.

In accordance with the commitments given in the governments Contingency Action Plan for Brexit, my officials are working on amendments to the Student Support Act 2011.

These amendments will ensure that eligible Irish and UK students continue to receive grant supports for the 2019/20 academic year.
Bayern Munich forward Thomas Muller is set to miss both legs of the Champions League last-16 clash against Liverpool through suspension.

Muller has been hit with a two-match ban by UEFA following his red card for an ugly tackle on Nicolas Tagliafico during the recent 3-3 draw with Ajax.

However, Bayern have said they will appeal against the decision.

Muller was shown a straight red card  the first of his career  after catching Tagliafico with a head-high challenge.

Afterwards the 29-year-old said sorry via Twitter, writing: I would like to apologise to Nico Tagliafico for yesterdays incident. It was unintentional. Get well soon.

Bayern travel to Anfield for the first leg on February 19, with the return in Munich on March 13.
Australian actor Craig McLachlan has been charged with eight counts of indecent assault and one count of common assault after being accused of sexual misconduct by three women who worked with him in a stage musical.

Police in Victoria state said a 53-year-old man, identified in reports as McLachlan, has been summoned to appear in court over the nine charges, and another charge of attempted indecent assault.

Craig McLachlan performs as Frank N Furter during a media call for The Rocky Horror Show (Julian Smith/AAP Image via AP)

A spokesman for the former star of long-running Australian TV soaps Neighbours and Home And Away said McLachlan denied all of the charges, which arose after a production of The Rocky Horror Show in 2014.

The statement said: Craig is innocent of these charges which will be vigorously defended.
The LoC trade was as popular in Jammu as it was in the Valley, and its popularity cut across political and religious divides.

The LoC trade was as popular in Jammu as it was in the Valley, and its popularity cut across political and religious divides. (Photo: PTI/Representational)

It is accepted by all that Kashmiris feel a deep sense of alienation and oppression, which they resent intensely. But there is another aspect that is often overlooked: Kashmiris feel that they are literally imprisoned in a cage from which almost all exit routes are barred save one, to India, which is also not without peril. Kashmiris are distrusted and treated poorly in many parts of India, whether as students or as traders.

Now, even one other solitary opening  trade across the Line of Control with Pakistan-occupied Kashmir  is facing a slow death. It has seen many ups and downs in the decade since it was begun. It always operated on barter; banking and telecommunication facilities were always denied.

Initially, it was proposed as a confidence-building measure by Atal Behari Vajpayee. His successor, Manmohan Singh, pursued it in earnest until the LoC trade was set going. Its political impact was considerable.

The LoC trade was as popular in Jammu as it was in the Valley, and its popularity cut across political and religious divides. Despite this, no effort was made to improve the arrangements by providing banking facilities and telecommunications. Matters reached a ludicrous stage a few years ago when Mufti Mohammad Sayeed first became chief minister. In one sector of the Kanchenjunga River, the divide is very narrow. Divided families discovered that they could easily throw boxes of gifts to each other. It flourished only for a short time. The security forces put an end to it. Security was a false excuse. The crowds could well have been managed and the gift boxes properly searched. It was the opening to the other side which was unacceptable. Even this small opening was ended. It is this mentality that inspired the slow poisoning of the LoC trade. As a Kashmiri correspondent, Ishfaqul Hassan, reported from Srinagar very recently, (T)he cross-LoC trade is showing signs of stagnation sending shivers through the traders community across J&K. Started in October 2008, the cross-LoC trade was considered as the mother of all confidence-building measures between India and Pakistan.

One has heard of many protests at New Delhis calculated indifference to the LoC trade. Rakesh Gupta, president of the Jammu Chamber of Commerce and Industry, worded his protest with admirable precision. It is unfortunate that one of the most important confidence-building measures initiated by the then Prime Ministers of India and Pakistan 10 years ago was dying a slow death due to the absence of proper follow-up action. The effect of its closure on the minds of the people of Kashmir  already feeling suffocated, and forcibly contained and controlled  can well be imagined. This one avenue offered some hope of other and more promising openings. Now, all the doors will be shut in their face.

In no part of the subcontinent does history matter as much as it does in Kashmir. Equally, no other part has had such roaring exchanges with foreign powers, defying the British rulers, as did the maharaja and people of Kashmir. Emperor Akbar is admired throughout the subcontinent. But Kashmiris hate him for destroying their independence by invading and annexing their land in 1586.

Likewise, Kashmiris can still recall the times, even during the rule of the tyrannical Dogras and their British overlords, when Russian and Central Asian merchants came to the region for its world-famous shawls. Movement of men and materials like pilgrims, books, shawls, gold tillas, Russian textiles, Kokandi silk, Bukharan rumals and coral formed an essential ingredient of the interaction between Central Asia and Kashmir.

The British imposed on the maharaja their resident in Kashmir to detect his dealings with other countries. Trade from British India would flow through Kulu via the Chang Chenmo route to Yarkand, bypassing the maharajas customs officials in Leh. This idea was so attractive that, in 1870, a special treaty signed in Sialkot in 1870 by the viceroy Lord Mayo and Maharaja Ranbir Singh, which would elevate this route to the status of a free highway, to be dotted with supply depots and rest houses jointly supervised by British and Kashmir officials. It became known as the treaty route. Haj pilgrims from Central Asia would pass through Kashmir to board ships at Karachi or Bombay.

To this day, Kashmiris fondly recall that history. In 1970, this writer went for a walk in the interiors of Srinagar with the editor of a prestigious weekly. All of a sudden, he exclaimed, This is not India. It is Central Asia. Constitutional oppression apart, Kashmiris must also be freed from physical restraints and allowed to breathe freely. That will facilitate a political solution. Begin with the Jammu-Sialkot road.

By arrangement with Dawn
US president Donald Trump is edging closer to declaring a national emergency to fund his long-promised southern border wall.

Pressure is mounting to resolve a three-week impasse over the issue which has closed parts of the US government, leaving hundreds of thousands of workers without pay.

Some 800,000 staff are set to miss their first pay cheque under the stoppage on Friday, and Washington is coming close to setting a dubious record for the longest government shutdown in American history.

When I took the Oath of Office.... pic.twitter.com/GDhIqteKpv  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 11, 2019

Those markers  along with growing effects on national parks, food inspections and the economy overall  have left some Republicans on Capitol Hill increasingly uncomfortable with Mr Trumps demands.

Asked about the plight of those going without pay, the president shifted focus, saying he felt badly for people that have family members that have been killed by criminals who came over the border.

Mr Trump spoke during a visit to McAllen, Texas, and the Rio Grande on Thursday to highlight what he calls a crisis of drugs and crime.

He said that if for any reason we dont get this going  meaning an agreement with House Democrats who have refused to approve the 5.7 billion dollars (4.4 billion) he is demanding for the wall  I will declare a national emergency.

Mr Trump is consulting with White House lawyers and allies about using presidential emergency powers to take unilateral action to construct the wall over the objections of US congress.

Mr Trump talks to US customs and border protection officers (AP)

He claimed his lawyers told him the action would withstand legal scrutiny 100%.

Such a move to bypass US congress constitutional control of the nations purse strings would spark certain legal challenges and bipartisan claims of executive over-reach.

A congressional official said the White House has directed the Army Corps of Engineers to look for billions of dollars earmarked last year for disaster response for Puerto Rico and other areas that could be diverted to a border wall as part of the emergency declaration.

Were either going to have a win, make a compromise  because I think a compromise is a win for everybody  or I will declare a national emergency, Mr Trump said before departing the White House for his visit to the border.

He wore his campaign-slogan Make America Great Again cap throughout.

People showed their backing for Mr Trumps wall pledge during his visit to Texas (AP)

However, there does not appear to be any compromise on the table. Mr Trump has said he will not reopen the government without money for the wall. Democrats say they favour measures to bolster border security but oppose the long, impregnable barrier that Mr Trump envisions.

Visiting a border patrol station in McAllen, Mr Trump viewed tables piled with weapons and narcotics. Like nearly all drugs trafficked across the border, they were intercepted by agents at official ports of entry, he was told, and not in the remote areas where he wants to extend barriers.

Still, he declared: A wall works. Nothing like a wall.

In an ominous sign for those seeking a swift end to the showdown, Mr Trump announced he was cancelling his trip to the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, scheduled for later this month, citing Democrats intransigence on border security.

The partial shutdown would set a record early on Saturday, stretching beyond the 21-day closure that ended on January 6 1996, during Bill Clintons administration.
Former Nissan chairman Carlos Ghosn has been charged with breach of trust, Tokyo District Court officials said.

When he was first detained on November 19, Ghosn was charged with falsifying financial reports and under-reporting his income by about five billion yen (34 million) over five years.

Greg Kelly, another Nissan executive, and Nissan as a legal entity were charged along with Ghosn with additional under-reporting of income, from 2015 to 2017.

Kelly and Nissan were not charged with breach of trust. Those allegations centre on Ghosns handling of investment losses and payments made to a Saudi businessman.

Sixty-four-year-old Ghosn said he is innocent, and his lawyer has said he will seek the former chairmans release on bail.

A court sketch of Ghosn during his court appearance (Nobutoshi Katsuyama/Kyodo News/AP)

Suspects in Japan are routinely held for months until trials start.

Tokyo prosecutors say Ghosn, a Brazilian-born Frenchman of Lebanese ancestry, is a flight risk.

Earlier this week Ghosn told a Tokyo court he was innocent, in his first public appearance since his arrest, and appealed for his detention to end. But the court rejected the request.

I have a genuine love and appreciation for Nissan, Ghosn told the court.

In all of my efforts on behalf of the company, I have acted honourably, legally and with the knowledge and approval of the appropriate executives inside the company.

He said the compensation was never decided on, the investment deal did not result in any losses to Nissan, and the payments to the Saudi businessman was for legitimate services related to dealers and investments in the Gulf.

Ghosn, who appeared much thinner than before his arrest, came down with a fever the day after his court appearance, but has since recovered, his lawyer Motonari Ohtsuru said.

His wife Carole Ghosn has issued a statement expressing concern over his illness.

Ghosns lawyer, Motonari Otsuru (AP)

I am pleading with the Japanese authorities to provide us with any information at all about my husbands health. We are fearful and very worried his recovery will be complicated while he continues to endure such harsh conditions and unfair treatment, she said.

Before his sudden downfall, Ghosn was a respected figure in the global car industry, having rescued the Japanese firm from near-bankruptcy, building its sales operations and profits and pioneering ecological vehicles.

Nissan said an internal investigation began in the middle of last year after whistleblowers came forward.

Chief executive Hiroto Saikawa has denounced Ghosn, accusing him of using company money and assets for personal gain.

Ethics officials at Nissans alliance partner Renault SA of France concluded this week that financial compensation to members of the French carmakers executive committee in 2017 and 2018 was fraud-free.

The review was initiated after Ghosn was arrested. Ghosn remains CEO of Renault.
A senior Cabinet minister has said she is committed to ensuring that the UK does not leave the European Union without a deal.

During an interview with BBC Radio 4s Today programme, Work and Pensions Secretary Amber Rudd three times declined to say whether she would remain a member of the Government if it opted for a no-deal Brexit.

Ms Rudd was speaking as MPs prepared for the third day of debate in the House of Commons ahead of the crunch vote on Theresa Mays Withdrawal Agreement next Tuesday, with Home Secretary Sajid Javid opening proceedings which are expected to be dominated by the issue of migration.

Work and Pensions Secretary Amber Rudd leaves 10 Downing Street (Dominic Lipinski/PA)

Mrs May was boosted on Thursday by two Tory backbenchers  her former policy adviser George Freeman, and Trudy Harrison  indicating they will back her deal, as well as by a call from Japanese PM Shinzo Abe for the UK to avoid no-deal.

And the Prime Minister made efforts to reach out to Labour and the unions in an 11th-hour bid to salvage a vote which she is expected to lose by a wide margin.

Asked whether she agreed with Cabinet colleague Jeremy Hunt that the UK can thrive after a no-deal Brexit, Ms Rudd told Today: This is a strong and great country, we will find a way to succeed, but I do not think that no deal would be good for this country and Im committed to making sure we find an alternative.

Ms Rudd said it was right for the Government to make preparations for a no-deal Brexit, comparing it to wearing a seatbelt when driving a fast car.

But she said: I intend to work with colleagues to make sure we avoid it. I am committed to getting the best outcome for this country, which is supporting the Prime Ministers deal.

Pressed for a third time by interviewer Justin Webb on whether she would quit if Mrs May went for the no-deal option, Ms Rudd cut him short by saying: Thank you very much, Justin.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe with Theresa May (Stefan Rousseau/PA)

Downing Street said the Prime Minister had constructive phone conversations about her Brexit deal on Thursday with trade union big beast Len McCluskey of Unite, a Brexit supporter and close confidant of Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, as well as Tim Roache of the GMB.

Number 10 also confirmed that ministers would consider very seriously moves by Labour MPs to safeguard workers rights after Brexit in an attempt to win support for her deal, if the backbench amendment was selected by the Speaker.

The amendment would keep EU rules on pay and conditions, health and safety issues, and environmental standards.

However senior opposition figures rowed back against the overtures, saying it was too little, too late.

Mr Corbyn said Labour did not endorse or accept the initiative, backing union leaders including the TUCs Frances OGrady, who said the amendment makes no change to a bad deal for working peoples jobs and rights.

And one of the union leaders who spoke with Mrs May said afterwards that he remained in favour of extending Article 50 to allow a second referendum.

(PA Graphics)

Mr Roache said: After nearly three years Im glad the Prime Minister finally picked up the phone.

As you would expect, I was very clear about GMBs position, the deal on the table isnt good enough and non-binding assurances on workers rights wont cut it.

If the deal genuinely did the job for GMB members, our union would support it, but it doesnt.

Shadow foreign secretary Emily Thornberry later on Thursday hit out at Tory figures putting out feelers on workers rights in a bid to get a Brexit consensus.

(PA Graphics)

Appearing on the BBCs Question Time, she accused the Government of treating the issue as an afterthought by attempting to discuss it at such a late stage.

She said: It would be fundamental to what we were doing and we would have it as part of the law that our rights would be in pace with Europe.

For the Tories to come back at the last minute and go Oh yeah, you know that thing about workers rights? Well, you might be able to have the same rights as they have in Spain, it just shows the fundamental difference of approach to this.
A doctor examined an Arizona woman who is in a vegetative state less than nine months before she gave birth, but did not find that she was pregnant, it has emerged.

Medical experts have said it is possible the 29-year-old woman displayed no outward signs which workers who cared for her every day would have noticed.

Police who are looking for her rapist said it appears none of the staff members at the Phoenix long-term care facility owned by Hacienda HealthCare knew about the pregnancy until the baby was born on December 29.

The notion has been met with some scepticism, but the patient, who is described in a medical report as having tubes to feed her and help her breathe, may not have had a swollen belly, according to a doctor.

Foetal medicine expert Dr C Kevin Huls said that while some factors remain unknown, such as how far along she was in her pregnancy, someone who is fed the same amount from a tube every day might not show any dramatic changes that would be noticed, especially by staff who do not work with pregnant patients.

The mother could actually lose weight in other places like her face or arms if a foetus is consuming nutrients, Dr Huls added.

A good way to understand it is that really, the babys going to continue to grow even at the expense of the moms nutrition, Dr Huls said.

So, her weight may not change because shes not taking in additional calories. There may be changes to her body that are going to go undetected in a chronic care condition or at a facility like this.

Phoenix Police spokesman Tommy Thompson (AP)

The revelation that an incapacitated woman was sexually assaulted inside a care facility has horrified advocates for people with disabilities and the community at large.

The providers CEO resigned this week, and Arizona state officials said the centre has made safety changes.

A doctor examined the woman on April 16 and found no change in her health, writing that the examination was external only, according to Maricopa County superior court documents.

Her mother submitted the results of the physical examination as part of an annual report required of legal guardians under state law.

Phoenix police learned of the situation when they received a call on December 29 about a newborn in distress at the Hacienda HealthCare facility.

Officers launched a sex crime investigation when it was determined that the mother was in a vegetative state, Arizona police spokesman Tommy Thompson said.

He added: She was not in a position to give consent to any of this.

The woman and her child are recovering at a local hospital.

Her family, who are members of the San Carlos Apache tribe in south-eastern Arizona, said in a statement through their lawyer that they will care for the baby boy.

Phoenix police, meanwhile, have not ruled out any suspects in the sexual assault. They are gathering DNA samples from the facilitys male staff and have appealed to the public for any information.

It remains unclear to investigators if the woman was raped more than once.
A 13-year-old Wisconsin girl who went missing in October after her parents were killed has been found alive, authorities said.

The Barron County Sheriffs Department said on its Facebook page that Jayme Closs has been located and that a suspect was taken into custody.

Sheriff Chris Fitzgerald said the sheriffs office in Douglas County, about 70 miles north of Barron County, located the girl.

A suspect was apprehended a short time later. The statement did not say where Jayme was found or give any further information about the suspect.

Jayme Closs has been missing since her parents, James and Denise Closs, were found shot on October 15 at the familys home near Barron.

Jayme Closs , who went missing in October, has been found alive (Jerry Holt/Star Tribune via AP)

Investigators said Jayme was quickly ruled out as a suspect.

Detectives pursued thousands of tips, watched dozens of surveillance videos and conducted numerous searches in the effort to find Jayme.

Some tips led officials to recruit 2,000 volunteers for a massive ground search on October 23.

Mr Fitzgerald said in November that he kept similar cases in the back of his mind as he worked to find Jayme, including the abduction of Elizabeth Smart, who was taken from her Salt Lake City home in 2002, when she was 14 years old.

She was rescued nine months later with the help of two witnesses who recognised her abductors from an Americas Most Wanted episode.

I have a gut feeling shes (Jaymes) still alive. Ive always been a glass half-full kind of guy, Mr Fitzgerald said at the time.
Fiona Bruce has been praised for her deft and assertive handling of panellists on the new-look Question Time.

The experienced newsreader appeared to take little time to settle into the frequently fiery debate show.

Brexit was the first and primary topic of discussion and interruption on the first Question Time since the Christmas break, and Bruce was praised for pressing guests on the Brexit deal, Conservative leave strategy, and alleged Labour electioneering over the EU.

Within the first few minutes of the show, Bruce asserted her authority, firmly questioned Conservative deputy chairman James Cleverly over the Governments apparent lack of control over the Brexit process.

Here is the first picture of Fiona on the set! Join us tonight from 10:45pm on @BBCOne and @bbc5live as Fiona brings you the first Question Time of the year. #bbcqt pic.twitter.com/QXajD3T2CZ  BBC Question Time (@bbcquestiontime) January 10, 2019

In an exchange with the senior Tory, she said: If this is the Government being in control, what does out of control look like?.

She added later on Brexit plans: Does anyone have any idea what the plan B is, literally anyone?

Fiona Bruce on the set of Question Time (Richard Lewisohn/BBC)

Receiving no answer after forceful questioning, she asked the audience in pantomime fashion, have I missed it?

One impressed viewer welcomed the robust and insistent style of the new presenter, saying: Fiona Bruce is destroying everyone and I love it.

Another viewer at home added: Fiona Bruce is excellent. Probing, not putting up with waffle, asking follow ups to get an actual answer, straight to the point.

Bruce took over from David Dimbleby who had presented the often-heated debate show for 25 years.

The show had received some criticism for recitations of various party lines, and sometimes angry clashes.

The new-look show was filmed in the Jeremy Corbyn heartland of Islington in north London, and featured voices from both sides of the divisive Brexit debate.

Bruce robustly questioned Labour stalwart Emily Thornberry, and halted stormy exchanges between the Corbyn loyalist and deputy leader of the Liberal Democrats, Jo Swinson.

Talking to Ms Thornberry, Bruce said that people were laughing at the Labour frontbencher when she claimed there was a better deal available for the UK with a Corbyn-led government.

Ms Thornberry made appeals for a general election during the show.

The new presenter also welcomed journalist Melanie Phillips, and comedian Nish Kumar.

The pair clashed over the comedian accusing Phillips of being a bigot, after the journalist asked whether he had read a report into police racism.

Bruces performance on the show was praised by viewers, who were impressed with the hosts directness and determination to get straight answers.

One viewer commented on Twitter, saying: I loved David Dimbleby but must say Fiona Bruce is proving herself incredibly capable of not just chairing the #bbcqt panel but enforcing actual responses to questions and ensuring flow between responses.

Another said the show was now much calmer & more orderly, while one concluded: Fiona Bruce is gonna be good at this job and more power to her.

Bruce made a home on the BBC Six OClock News, with experience on News At Ten, becoming its first female presenter.

She has also presented Crimewatch and The Antiques Roadshow.
Theresa May has reached out to union leaders as she makes an 11th-hour attempt to reach out to her political opponents to get her Brexit deal through the Commons.

Downing Street said the Prime Minister had constructive phone conversations about her Brexit deal with trade union big beast Len McCluskey of Unite, a Brexit supporter and close confidant of Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, as well as Tim Roache of the GMB.

Number 10 also confirmed ministers would consider very seriously moves by Labour MPs to safeguard workers rights after Brexit in an attempt to win support for her deal, if the backbench amendment was selected by the Speaker.

The amendment would keep EU rules on pay and conditions, health and safety issues, and environmental standards.

Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe with Theresa May (Stefan Rousseau/PA)

However senior opposition figures rowed back against the overtures, saying it was too little, too late.

Mr Corbyn said Labour did not endorse or accept the initiative, backing union leaders including the TUCs Frances OGrady, who said the amendment makes no change to a bad deal for working peoples jobs and rights.

And one of the union leaders who spoke with Mrs May said afterwards he remained in favour of extending Article 50 to allow a second referendum.

(PA Graphics)

Mr Roache added: After nearly three years Im glad the Prime Minister finally picked up the phone.

As you would expect, I was very clear about GMBs position, the deal on the table isnt good enough and non-binding assurances on workers rights wont cut it.

If the deal genuinely did the job for GMB members, our union would support it, but it doesnt.

Shadow foreign secretary Emily Thornberry later on Thursday hit out at Tory figures putting out feelers on workers rights in a bid to get a Brexit consensus.

Appearing on the BBCs Question Time, she accused the Government of treating the issue as an afterthought by attempting to discuss it at such a late stage.

She said: It would be fundamental to what we were doing and we would have it as part of the law that our rights would be in pace with Europe.

For the Tories to come back at the last minute and go oh yeah you know that thing about workers rights, well you might be able to have the same rights as they have in Spain, it just shows the fundamental difference of approach to this.

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn delivers a speech on Brexit during a visit to OE Electrics in Wakefield (Danny Lawson/PA)

Mr Corbyn said the widely-expected defeat for Mrs Mays deal next Tuesday would signal the failure of her leadership and of the Conservatives as a party of Government.

Speaking on a visit to Wakefield in Yorkshire he urged MPs from across to House to back the motion of no confidence in the Government which Labour would table at the moment we judge it to have the best chance of success.

Asked if he agreed with shadow Brexit secretary Sir Keir Starmer that an extension to the two-year Article 50 process may now be inevitable, Mr Corbyn said: An extension would be a possibility because clearly there would have to be time to negotiate.
Scottish economic growth continued in the final months of 2018 but fewer than one in five businesses expect to increase exports, a report has found.

The latest Scottish Business Monitor from Strathclyde Universitys Fraser of Allander Institute, covering October to December, indicates the total volume of business rose for 35% of Scottish firms covered by the monitor in this period.

This gives a 10% net balance of firms indicating growth, down six percentage points on the previous quarter.

But the report also found the outlook for export activity had worsened with less than 20% of firms forecasting growth.

Less than 20% of firms plan to increase capital investment, with a net balance of -4% of businesses planning to do so, a rise of seven percentage points on the previous quarter.

Weakening demand remained a major concern, with 80% of respondents worried about this, a 4% rise on the previous three months.

Less than 20% of Scottish firms expect to grow exports, the report found (Steve Parsons/PA)

More than half of firms (52%) were concerned about exchange rates, down 1% on the previous quarter.

Mairi Spowage, the institutes head of economic analysis, said: This latest FAI Scottish Business Monitor shows that the Scottish economy continued to grow in the final few months of 2018.

Our headline FAI Business Activity Index slipped a little from a net balance of 16% in Q3 to 10% in Q4.

And whilst this is above the long-term series average, it is lower than businesses were expecting just three months ago. Small businesses appear to be the most gloomy.

Also of concern is the fact that businesses in Scotland are reporting not just a decline in investment  as has been the case now since early 2017  but also a modest fall back in export activity.

Institute director Graeme Roy added: Scottish businesses appear to be remaining relatively resilient to the ongoing political uncertainty.

But they will be awaiting next weeks Brexit vote with trepidation. Through no fault of their own, many Scottish firms are simply unprepared for a disorderly Brexit.

Whether you agree or disagree with the decision to leave the EU, a smooth transition is vital.

The potential disruption to trade patterns, supply chains and basic economic infrastructure mean that a no deal outcome must be avoided.
The UK Government has confirmed it will spend 300 million supporting EU-backed peace projects in Northern Ireland as part of its commitments under the Brexit deal.

The Northern Ireland Office said the UK Government had committed to contributing millions of pounds as part of its unwavering commitment to uphold the hard-won peace in Northern Ireland after Brexit.

The funding will be made available until 2027.

Northern Ireland Secretary of State Karen Bradley said: This funding will help deliver vital projects on both sides of the Irish border, supporting co-operation and reconciliation and ensuring that generations to come grow up in a more peaceful and stable society.

The Peace Plus scheme will succeed the current Peace programme, which was designed to help promote economic and social progress in Northern Ireland and the border region of Ireland.

It has been running since 1995 with funding from the UK, Ireland and EU, and will end in 2020.

A border crossing between Co Fermanagh in Northern Ireland and Co Monaghan in the Republic of Ireland (Niall Carson/PA)

The UK Government will work with the EU Commission and Irish government to shape the programme over the next round of the EUs Multi-Annual Financial Framework.

Last May, the EU set out its plan to make 109 million in funding to continue peace projects in Northern Ireland post-Brexit.

The funding from the EU and UK will enable work to continue on the construction of almost 1.8 billion worth of projects in both Northern Ireland and Ireland.

Among the projects to have received funding to date has been the 14.5 million Peace Bridge in Londonderry, which was opened in 2011 and links communities across the River Foyle.

Youth Action NI in Belfast is one of the organisations that has benefited under the existing scheme.

The group used the money to set up the Youth Network for Peace, a regional project involving 10,000 young people in a range of social action projects on a cross-community and cross-border basis.
Facebook has launched a UK arm to its international fact-checking initiative following more than two years of criticism about how the social network has handled the spread of misinformation on its platform.

Full Fact, a fact-checking charity founded in 2010, will review stories, images and videos which have been flagged by users and rate them based on their accuracy.

The charitys efforts will focus on misinformation it perceives to be the most damaging, such as fake medical information, false stories around terror attacks and hoaxes around elections.

Facebooks leadership has been repeatedly criticised by politicians in recent years as problems of misinformation and foreign interference have plagued elections around the world.

The Brexit referendum and 2017 general election were both found to have been tarnished by so-called fake news, while online mistruths around the NHS and immigration have been blamed for stoking division in nations around the world.

Social media companies have faced the threat of regulation if they fail to act on false information on their platforms, and Facebook has been called to answer questions from lawmakers in numerous countries on the subject.

In a highly publicised evidence session before the US Congress in April, founder Mark Zuckerberg addressed the companys failings on false information and the data scandal involving Cambridge Analytica.

However, he failed to appear when called to the UK Parliaments inquiry into fake news, prompting MPs to leave an empty chair for him during a session with vice-president Richard Allan in November.

Facebook vice-president Richard Allan giving evidence to the Commons Culture Committee, with an empty seat left for founder Mark Zuckerberg (PA)

Under the new measures, Facebook users will be able to report posts they fear may be inaccurate for Full Fact to review, while other suspicious posts will be identified by Facebook technology.

Posts will then be labelled as true, not true or a mixture when users share them.

If a piece of content is proven to be false, it will appear lower in Facebooks News Feed but will not be deleted.

Claire Wardle, executive director of First Draft, which worked with Full Fact on the 2017 general election, said the biggest problem is that Facebook holds all the information about the project, making it almost impossible for independent auditors to see whether it is working.

Facebook has this global database of online misinformation and that is something that should be available to researchers and the public, said Dr Wardle.

The first concern is to protect free speech and peoples ability to say what they want, said Will Moy, director of Full Fact, adding that the main problem on social media is often that it is harder and harder to know what to trust.

Rather than the nuanced political fact-checking on topics such as Brexit and immigration often found on Full Facts website, Mr Moy predicted misinformation around health will be one of the biggest issues his team will be tackling.

Facebook first launched its fact-checking initiative in December 2016, after concerns were raised about hoaxes and propaganda spread around the election of Donald Trump.

The social network now works with fact-checkers in more than 20 countries to review content on its platform but studies disagree as to whether their efforts have been effective.

Full Fact will publish all its fact-checks on its website, Mr Moy said, as well as quarterly reports reviewing the relationship with Facebook.

Sarah Brown, training and news literacy manager, EMEA at Facebook, said in a statement: People dont want to see false news on Facebook, and nor do we.

Were delighted to be working with an organisation as reputable and respected as Full Fact to tackle this issue.

By combining technology with the expertise of our factchecking partners, were working continuously to reduce the spread of misinformation on our platform.
Pune child had tested positive for swine flu, claims hospital offical.

Mumbai: Maharashtra recorded its first suspected H1N1 casualty this year when an eight-year-old girl from Pune supposedly succum-bed to the diseased around 12.55 pm on Wednesday.

The health officer said that they have set up a death review committee that will confirm her cause of death.

The girl had tested positive for H1N1. She succumbed to swine flu-induced acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). She was admitted in privately-run Ruby Hall Clinic, said a health official.

The girl had developed an influenza-like illness on December 31 last year. She had a cough, cold and fever for several days and later developed breathlessness. She was rushed to the hospitals Intensive Care Unit (ICU) on January 5.

Dr Pradeep Awate, state surveillance officer, said, The patient had the history of thalassemia and was on immunosuppressant as we got the details from the hospital.

He also said, We have a swine death review committee, which will confirm the cause of the girls death. We cant say it was swine flu, but, yes, the symptoms were of swine flu.

In another reported case of swine flu, a 52-year-old man from Ahmednagar had taken ill and his condition is said to be critical. He has been put on ventilator support.

A state health official said, As many as four patients have tested positive for swine flu, mainly from the Pune region in Maharashtra.

Medical experts have advised precautionary measures in view of the fluctuating weather conditions, which provide an ideal setting for the growth of influenza viruses, including swine flu. The virus had claimed 461 lives and infected 2,593 people across the state in 2018.

The viral infection claimed 85 lives in the first three months of 2017 while there were only 25 deaths in the corresponding period of 2016.

In December last year, state health services officials, while emphasising on the importance of spreading awareness about tuberculosis (TB), emphasised that TB claims more lives than swine flu every year.
People using Scotlands new social security services will be treated with dignity and respect, the Government has pledged.

Unveiling the Governments charter for the social security policy which was approved by Parliament last year, Social Security Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville said it creates a supportive system for everyone who needs it.

The charter sets out the detail of what can be expected from the Scottish Government and Social Security Scotland for anyone accessing the new system.

Thanking those who helped develop the charter, which included people with experience of the welfare system, Ms Somerville said: When people use a public service they should have no concerns about how they will be treated.

Whatever the contact is about and whoever they speak to, they should have full confidence that they will be treated with dignity and respect.

However every day we read new reports of the brutal and degrading impact of a UK social security system that has been criticised by the UN and by House of Commons committees.

Social Security Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville has hailed Scotlands new welfare system (Scottish Government/PA)

This charter explains how Scotland will do things differently, creating a positive and supportive system that is there for all of us should we need it.

Notable commitments include treating people with kindness and empathy, recruiting staff who believe in these values, delivering services in local communities, and developing policy in a way that advances the human right to social security.

These commitments were developed by those who know the system best  people with lived experience of social security and the organisations that represent them. There are few, if any, parallel examples of a Government working so closely with the people it serves to shape a public service.

The charter therefore goes to the heart of our commitment to work with the people of Scotland to co-design a system based on fairness, dignity and respect.

Rob Gowans, of Citizens Advice Scotland, said: Citizens Advice Scotland welcomes the launch of the charter, as it is important that people who need support from the social security system are clear about their rights, what to expect and what they can do if that standard is not met.

We know from people coming to their local Citizens Advice Bureau for advice that this is not always the case currently, so the charter is a positive step towards creating a social security system which treats people with dignity and respect at all times.
Fewer than half of failed asylum seekers are removed from the UK and abuse of the system is rife, a new study claims.

Tens of thousands of people remained in the country despite their applications having been rejected or withdrawn, according to analysis by a former Home Office chief.

David Wood, an ex-director general of immigration enforcement, warned that Britains asylum system is not efficient or very effective.

He said a myth is perpetuated in many countries that the streets of the UK are paved with gold.

The UK asylum system attracts in the region of 10,000 to 15,000 applications a year from individuals who ultimately have no valid claim, and under half of these are subsequently removed from the country, according to Mr Woods report.

It said: The truth is that while there are thousands of genuine claims for asylum each year, thousands more are abusive applications.

A former Home Office official examined the asylum system for a new report (Kirsty OConnor/PA)

The assessment, which comes days after Home Secretary Sajid Javid sparked controversy by questioning whether migrants using small boats to cross the Channel are genuine asylum seekers, warned that abuse of the system risks undermining well-placed sympathy for refugees.

It said: It is an important principle that people fleeing persecution should be given refuge by countries in a position to offer it.

But where asylum processes are being used as a way of facilitating economic migration it is essential to be able to quickly and efficiently distinguish between the two, in order to ensure those entitled to help receive it quickly, and to ensure that UK citizens do not lose faith and support for a system that is rife with abuse.

The paper, published by think-tank Civitas, said:

 A common method of deception is nationality swapping, whereby an asylum seeker will claim they are from a certain country to boost their chances of success;

 Another area of abuse is where applicants claim to be under 18 when they are older;

 A key difficulty in many removals is the absence of travel documents, which are often lost or destroyed prior to arrival in the UK;

 Many asylum claims are submitted when individuals are about to depart the UK, such as at the airport or on a plane.

Enforced removals and voluntary departures of failed asylum seekers have fallen from more than 15,000 annually in the mid-2000s, to fewer than 5,000 a year recently, according to the paper.

It said: Of the 80,813 applications refused or withdrawn between 2010 and 2016, only 29,659 were removed  leaving 51,154 failed asylum seekers in the country from that seven-year period alone.

Mr Wood made a string of recommendations to speed up the processing of applications and improve the rate of removal of those who are refused.

One measure would be to adopt new screening technology to allow interviewers to quickly identify questionable areas in applications.

Mr Wood called on the Government to step up efforts to challenge countries that refuse to provide travel documents for their nationals.

He also suggested the removals rate could be improved by detaining more of those who, at the end of an appeals process, are refused asylum and for whom it is known that papers could be secured.

The report said: Some may and do argue that, irrespective of whether individuals in the UK are here legally or illegally, they should all be extended the hand of friendship.

But if people do not want to see immigration controls enforced, then the honest thing to do is to campaign for an open-door immigration policy as such would be the effect.

On the recent increase in attempts to cross the English Channel, Mr Wood warned that deploying more rescue ships could be counter-productive without an agreement that would see those picked up returned to France.

A Home Office spokesman said:The UK has a proud history of providing protection to those who need it.

However, we are clear that those with no right to be in the UK should return home.

As part of the new asylum accommodation contracts we will be working with a charity to make sure failed asylum seekers are given information on the voluntary returns scheme, encouraging individuals refused asylum to return home.

We will seek to enforce the return of those who do not leave voluntarily. Since the beginning of 2010 there have been over 345,000 enforced or voluntary returns.

Dr Lisa Doyle, director of advocacy at the Refugee Council, said: The fact that some asylum claims are refused does not mean that people are trying to abuse the system.
Virgil van Dijks performances for Liverpool put him on par with the finest centre-backs in Premier League history, according to Brighton boss Chris Hughton.

But Hughton believes the Holland international must sustain his form over a longer period of time to cement a place among the divisions all-time greats.

Van Dijk  a one-time transfer target for Albion  has helped transform Jurgen Klopps Reds into genuine title contenders following a 75million move from Southampton last January.

The 27-year-old visits the Amex Stadium on Saturday with the table-topping Merseyside club bidding to increase their four-point lead over champions Manchester City.

Asked if Van Dijk deserves to be talked about in the same breath as the likes of John Terry, Sol Campbell and Rio Ferdinand, Hughton replied: Is he that level of player? Yes of course, Ive no doubt he is when you look at the qualities hes got.

The other players weve mentioned have done it over a long period.

Virgil van Dijk, pictured, has impressed Chris Hughton (Richard Sellers/PA)

If youre asking me if hes at their level as a player, then the answer is yes.

But if youre talking about an influence on our game and the history they have, then of course theyve done it for a longer time and he hasnt.

Brighton  then managed by Gus Poyet  attempted to sign Van Dijk from Dutch club Groningen in January 2013, seeing two bids rejected.

The player joined Celtic in the summer of that year and, after moving on to St Marys for a reported 13million in September 2015, increased his value significantly before arriving at Anfield.

What you have with all the best centre-halves, and its exactly the same with Van Dijk, is they make things look easier, added Hughton.

If you homed in on the job hes done, the positions he is in, the pace that he shows, the distribution that he has, he looks such a good player.

If you look at all the aspects of what you want in a centre-half: good in the air, comfortable with the ball at his feet, good enough pace, he has all those qualities.

Albions success in establishing themselves in the top flight owes a lot to their own defensive solidity, built on the reliable centre-back partnership of Lewis Dunk and Shane Duffy.

Seagulls vice-captain Dunk became an England international in November, while Republic of Ireland defender Duffy has also regularly attracted praise.

Hughton says the outstanding pair are vital members of his team and feels they can improve further by watching Van Dijk.

What Van Dijk is to Liverpool, thats what our two are to us, said Hughton.

We know what level he is but if Im looking at what you would regard as two outstanding centre-halves at our level, ours are as valuable to us as what he is to them.

The two we have will look at the best around where they can learn from, what they can pick up from.

At the moment, he (Van Dijk) is a great role model. He doesnt miss many games, is good in both boxes and is a top, top all-round player.

Despite being clear at the top of the table, Liverpool were beaten 2-1 by second-placed City in their previous league fixture, before crashing out of the FA Cup at Wolves on Monday.

Asked if the Reds can end their 19-year wait for a top-flight title, Hughton said they were favourites but wouldnt put money on it.

I think they are favourites simply because of the points difference, and I think theyve been outstanding, he said.

But I couldnt tell you who will win it. And certainly, I wouldnt put money on it.
Alex Salmond has reported the Scottish Government to a data watchdog amid concerns over how information about the sexual misconduct allegations against him entered the public domain.

The Information Commissioners Office (ICO) confirmed that the former first minister of Scotland has raised the issue with the organisation.

Mr Salmond has voiced concern over leaks about the case after the claims against him, which he strenuously denies, emerged in 2018.

The Scottish Government has said that a detailed review into its handling of Mr Salmonds data found no evidence of any breach.

The ICO said on Thursday: Mr Salmond is happy for us to confirm he has raised a concern with the ICO and we are currently making inquiries with the Scottish Government.

A spokesman for Mr Salmond confirmed that the referral was made in late October last year.

Alex Salmond has voiced concerns about `leaks in his case (Jane Barlow/PA)

On Tuesday, Mr Salmond won a legal challenge after the Court of Session in Edinburgh ruled that the Scottish Governments handling of sexual misconduct allegations against him was unlawful.

On the data issue, Mr Salmond said after that hearing: Ive been deeply troubled throughout the case by the leaking of confidential information by whoever.

Any complaints process has to be transparent, balanced, fair and confidential.

Thats in the interests of the complainers and those complained about.

In August last year, he called for an investigation into what he has described as the leaking of information surrounding a confidential process.

Regarding the referral to the ICO, a Scottish Government spokeswoman said: The Scottish Government has never commented on the content of the allegations against Mr Salmond and we will not do so.

As a precaution, and in line with our legal obligations, we instructed a detailed review into our handling of Mr Salmonds data in August 2018.

We are satisfied that information relating to this case has been processed in accordance with our legal and information handling obligations, and that there is no evidence of any data breach.

We are currently in the process of sharing this information with the Information Commissioner.
President Donald Trump has threatened to declare a national emergency to circumvent Congress if he cannot reach a deal with Democrats to fund his promised border wall.

He spent most of the day in Texas near the US-Mexico border to draw further attention to his case after negotiations with politicians stalled.

From the Southern Border.... pic.twitter.com/Vgsf5nEZUH  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 10, 2019

The partial government shutdown dragged into a 20th day with hundreds of thousands of federal workers off the job or working without pay as the wall fight persisted.

Asked about a national emergency declaration, Mr Trump said as he left the White House: Im not prepared to do that yet, but if I have to I will.

He contends such a declaration would allow him to direct the military to begin wall construction.

Because of the Democrats intransigence on Border Security and the great importance of Safety for our Nation, I am respectfully cancelling my very important trip to Davos, Switzerland for the World Economic Forum. My warmest regards and apologies to the @WEF!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 10, 2019

So were either going to have a win, make a compromise, because I think a compromise is a win for everybody, or I will declare a national emergency, he said.

In perhaps an ominous sign for those seeking a swift end to the showdown, Mr Trump announced he was cancelling his trip to Davos, Switzerland, later this month, citing Democrats intransigence on border security.

He was to leave on January 21 to attend the World Economic Forum.

It was not clear what a compromise might entail.

President Donald Trump holds up a belt buckle given to him to by rancher Monty Awbrey (Evan Vucci/AP)

Mr Trump says he will not reopen the government without money for the wall.

Democrats say they favour measures to bolster border security but oppose the long, impregnable walling that Mr Trump envisions.

He is asking for 5.7 billion US dollars for wall construction.

Mr Trumps comments came a day after he walked out of a negotiating meeting with congressional leaders, I said bye-bye, he tweeted afterwards as efforts to reopen the government fell into deeper disarray.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi accused the president of engaging in political games to fire up his base.

Illegal drugs and other items that have been seized, are displayed as President Donald Trump speaks at a roundtable on immigration and border security at US Border Patrol McAllen Station (Evan Vucci/AP)

I think the meeting was a set-up so he could walk out, she said.

Affected federal workers face lost pay cheques on Friday, and more people are touched every day by the rollback of government services.

In McAllen, Texas, Mr Trump visited a border patrol station for a roundtable discussion on immigration and border security and got a briefing.

But he had expressed his own doubts that his appearance and remarks would change any minds as he seeks money for the wall that has been his signature promise since his presidential campaign.

A wheel works and a wall works, Mr Trump said, mocking Democratic criticism of his plan.

Groups opposed to border walls demonstrate in McAllen, Texas (Eric Gay/AP)

Nothing like a wall

Sitting between border patrol officers, local officials and military representatives, Mr Trump insisted that he was winning the shutdown fight.

McAllen is located in the Rio Grande Valley, the busiest part of the border for illegal border crossings.

Several hundred protesters were chanting and waving signs opposing a border wall next to the South Texas airport where Mr Trump was set to arrive.

Across the street, a smaller group of protesters shouted back, chanting, Build that wall!

And in Washington, US federal workers denounced Mr Trump at a rally with congressional Democrats, demanding he reopen the government so they can get back to work and receive their pay cheques.

Supporters of President Donald Trump in McAllen, Texas (Eric Gay/AP)

Putting the standoff in personal terms, the president tweeted before leaving for Texas: The Opposition Party & the Dems know we must have Strong Border Security, but dont want to give Trump another one of many wins!

The White House meeting in the Situation Room ended after just 14 minutes.

Democrats said they asked Mr Trump to reopen the government but he told them if he did they wouldnt give him money for the wall.

Republicans said Mr Trump posed a direct question to Ms Pelosi: If he opened the government, would she fund the wall? She said no.

Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer said Mr Trump slammed his hand on the table.

People watch as the motorcade of President Donald Trump passes by during his visit to the southern border (Evan Vucci/AP)

But Mr Trump, who handed out sweets at the start of the meeting, disputed that characterisation.

He said he didnt smash the table but should have.

One result was certain: The shutdown plunged into uncharted territory with no endgame in sight.

On Saturday, Washington appears certain to set an ignominious record for the longest government shutdown in the nations history.

The Democrats see the idea of the long wall as ineffective and even immoral.

There is GREAT unity with the Republicans in the House and Senate, despite the Fake News Media working in overdrive to make the story look otherwise. The Opposition Party & the Dems know we must have Strong Border Security, but dont want to give Trump another one of many wins!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 10, 2019

Mr Trump sees it as an absolute necessity to stop what he calls a crisis of illegal immigration, drug-smuggling and human trafficking at the border.

Mr Trump says Republicans are very unified, but his partys senators have been publicly uneasy as the standoff ripples across the lives of Americans and interrupts the economy.

He has discussed the possibility of a sweeping immigration compromise with Democrats to protect some immigrants from deportation but provided no clear strategy or timeline for resolving the standoff, according to senators who attended a private lunch with him on Wednesday.
Paul Pogba will be available for Manchester Uniteds showdown against Tottenham at Wembley on Sunday.

The Frenchman sat out the FA Cup third-round win against Reading last time out after sustaining a knock to to the back of his right leg following a challenge from Newcastle midfielder Jonjo Shelvey last week.

Pogba initially remained in Manchester to go undergo further treatment before joining his team-mates in Dubai for their warm-weather training camp this week.

Upon their return, caretaker manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer said: He looked OK towards the end there, so hell be fit.

He did have some problems but he came through the last couple of sessions well, so he should be OK.

Marcos Rojo left the training camp early as his injury is taking longer to heal than expected.

Paul Pogba missed the match against Reading (PA/Martin Rickett)

Rojo has made just three appearances all season and Solskjaer revealed the defender has returned to his home country to continue his recovery.

The Norwegian added: Hes gone back to Argentina for a while because of his injury.

Mentally it was important for him to get away and then come back fresh again.
The DUP has refused to give ground on its border backstop opposition during a robust and very frank meeting with Irelands deputy premier.

Simon Coveney met party leader Arlene Foster and colleagues at Stormont in a bid to offer reassurances on the withdrawal treatys most contentious provision.

The meeting came during a packed schedule of meetings for Mr Coveney in Belfast as he urged politicians and business and community representatives to get behind the EU/UK deal.

I dont think anyone would have expected that the conversation would have resulted in agreement on the backstop between the DUP and the Irish government but certainly I think it was useful to have an open and frank discussion, said Mr Coveney afterwards.

Mrs Foster told Mr Coveney the Irish government and other EU members needed to drop their insistence on the backstop.

The backstop is not needed, she said.

No-one is going to build a hard border. We will work with the (UK) Government to reach a better deal for the United Kingdom but this will require more pragmatism from the European Union.

Exiting the European Union without a deal is not our favoured outcome. To reach a better deal will require a change of heart in Dublin and Brussels.

I trust the Irish government will reflect on our principled objections to the Withdrawal Agreement and recognise that there is a better way which can work for both the Republic of Ireland and the United Kingdom.

Under the terms of the proposed withdrawal deal, the backstop would only be triggered if a wider trade agreement between the UK and the EU failed to materialise before the end of the Brexit implementation period  whether that be at its current expiration date in late 2020 or at a later date if the implementation period is extended.

The measure, which is designed to avoid the re-emergence of any border checks, would see the UK as a whole effectively remain in the EU customs union while Northern Ireland would also have to comply with a number of single market regulations.

Mrs Foster, whose party described the exchanges with Mr Coveney as at times very frank, added: The Withdrawal Agreement is not a fair deal and we cannot support it. It should be no more acceptable to build a new east-west border than it is to build a new north-south border.

Simon Coveney at Stormont (David Young/PA)

During Thursday, Mr Coveney met Northern Ireland business leaders, trade unions, farmers representatives, womens groups and other people working in the voluntary and community sector.

He claimed there was consensus support for the proposed deal.

I have to say that in all the meetings we have had today there is very strong support for what the Prime Minister is advocating for now and I wanted to try to reinforce many of those messages, he said.

When asked did he think the DUP was out of step with public opinion in Northern Ireland, he responded: Its not for me to say that. The DUP have a very important constituency, they are the largest party in Northern Ireland, I respect that, but Ive got to listen to the other political parties too and business organisations and community organisations.

I think we have a job to do to all work together here to try to navigate a way through what is a very complex and difficult negotiation.

Mr Coveney, who said his meeting with the DUP was robust, also held talks with Sinn Fein at Parliament Buildings, with the republican party urging the Irish government and other EU member states to hold firm in the face of Brexiteer calls to ditch the backstop.

Sinn Fein vice president Michelle ONeill and party colleagues at Stormont (David Young/PA)

As this unfolds it is crucially important that the Tanaiste and the Irish government continues to stand up for the people here in the north, said party vice president Michelle ONeill.

I put it to the Tanaiste that the DUP are on the wrong side of this argument, they bizarrely are actually turning their face against the interests of the citizens here.

As we see how this unfolds in the next number of days and weeks, I think its vitally important that the Irish government holds firm, along with the other member states, who gave assurances yesterday that they will remain firm, that there is no room for renegotiation or reopening up the negotiation that has already happened and concluded.

Ms ONeill said a no-deal crash out would be catastrophic.

The ramifications are just unthinkable, she said.
Michael Gove used colourful language to dismiss Labours Brexit plans before the Government later signalled its desire for compromises across the Commons.

The Environment Secretary took aim at the Opposition after citing reports which suggested shadow international trade secretary Barry Gardiner had referred to his partys official position as bollocks.

Praising the Brent North MPs truth and perfect clarity, Mr Gove said the Commons was grateful for his casting of light on the testicular nature of Labours six Brexit tests.

After Mr Goves taunting of Labour, Business Secretary Greg Clark concluded the latest day of debate on Theresa Mays Brexit deal by indicating the Government is prepared to accept a backbench Labour amendment which attempts to protect workers rights and environmental standards.

Mr Clark told MPs he is hopeful the amendment from Labours Caroline Flint, John Mann and others could be accepted and ministers stand ready to engage  with talks expected.

He also said it is important the front benches work together in establishing what this House can support over Brexit, warning against a damaging no-deal Brexit and promoting a greater sense of compromise to ensure Brexit is implemented.

Mr Clarks attempt to reach out stood in stark contrast to a typically punchy Commons intervention from Mr Gove, who said of Mr Gardiners reported view on Labours policy: He summed them up, pithily, in a word which in Spanish translates as cojones and in English rhymes with rollocks.

I know, Mr Speaker, there are some distinguished citizens in this country who have put on their cars a poster or sticker saying bollocks to Brexit  but we now know from Labours own front bench that their official Brexit position is bollocks.

Mr Gove added: I have to say that the shadow international trade secretary is a jewel and an ornament to the Labour front bench.

He speaks the truth with perfect clarity, and in his description of Labours own policy can I say across the House were grateful to him, grateful to the constant Gardiner for the way in which he has cast light on the testicular nature of Labours position.

Commons Speaker John Bercow confirmed Mr Gove had not been disorderly and his language was a matter of taste.

Brexiteer Mr Gove also warned that a no-deal would see economic turbulence, at least in the short term, and that tariffs of up to 40% would absolutely be applied by the EU to certain goods.

He later claimed other European countries will be envious of the UKs deal with the EU when pushed by the SNPs Patrick Grady (Glasgow North).

Mr Gove said: I think other countries will be envious of the position that we will be in because I think it will be the case, for the sake of argument, that some Italian politicians will look at our ability to have quota and tariff-free access to their markets, and yet at the same time be out of the jurisdiction of the ECJ and to have full control of our borders and to be paying no money.

Shadow business secretary Rebecca Long-Bailey accused ministers of holding a gun to the head of British business to back Mrs Mays deal.

She said: This deal is simply not good, it does not work for business and industry, it does not work for working people, it does not work for our environment and in fact the former head of MI6 as weve sat here today is reported to have told the Government that it threatens national security.

The Withdrawal Agreement and the outline political declaration will not ensure the relationship with the European Union needed for UK businesses to operate unhindered post-Brexit.

She added: The Secretary sat opposite me will quote some of the business organisations that have cautiously welcomed the Prime Ministers deal, but I gently say to him that they are doing so with a gun held to their head.

They have been presented with a false choice between this deal or no deal by a Government that is recklessly threatening the worst case scenario and attempting to run down the clock, in fact its economic sabotage.

Business Secretary Greg Clark (Aaron Chown/PA)

Mr Clark later spoke of the backbench Labour amendment and suggested contributions to the debate could show what is possible more broadly.

He said: We stand ready to engage in those discussions on this particular amendment.

We, as ever, need to look at the implications and the drafting very carefully but Im hopeful this will be an amendment that it will be possible to accept.

Mr Clark also said MPs have a responsibility to do what they can as time is running out to prevent the damaging no-deal Brexit.

He said MPs views in the debate will be seriously listened to and taken into account and acted upon, adding: So in the weeks ahead this whole House can move towards a greater sense of compromise and resolution to be able to implement the decision that the people of the United Kingdom took, but at the same time to make sure we can move forward as an economy.
Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has been sworn in for a second term amid international calls for him to step down and a devastating economic crisis.

Seventeen Latin American governments, the United States and Canada rejected the legitimacy of Mr Maduros next term in a measure adopted on Thursday.

Most countries from Europe and Latin American did not send representatives to the swearing-in.

But Cubas President Miguel Diaz-Canel, Bolivian President Evo Morales and President Anatoli Bibilov of a breakaway province of Georgia were among the few foreign leaders who attended the ceremony at the countrys Supreme Court.

In a speech after his swearing-in, Mr Maduro claimed 94 countries had sent representatives to his inauguration.

He vowed to continue the legacy of the late president Hugo Chavez and accused the United States of trying to ignite unrest through its increasing economic sanctions.

Venezuela is the centre of a world war led by the North American imperialists and its allies, said Mr Maduro, a former bus driver.

They have tried to convert a normal inauguration into a world war.

Venezuelas President Nicolas Maduro flashes a victory sign to supporters (Ariana Cubillos/AP)

Mr Maduros second term extends Venezuelas socialist revolution amid widespread complaints that he has stripped the country of its last vestiges of democracy.

Mr Maduro, 56, denies that he is a dictator and often blames President Donald Trump for leading an economic war against Venezuela that is destroying the country.

The Organisation of American States voted not to recognise Mr Maduros legitimacy, adopting a resolution presented by Colombia, Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Costa Rica, the United States, Paraguay and Peru.

The move was denounced by Venezuelas ambassador to the OAS, Samuel Moncada, as a hostile act  against the will of our nation.

Paraguay went a step further, cutting diplomatic ties.

Venezuelan citizens protest against the second term of Nicolas Maduro (Martin Mejia/AP)

President Mario Abdo Benitez said his country in the exercise of its constitutional powers and national sovereignty, adopts the decision to break diplomatic relations with the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela.

US secretary of state Mike Pompeo said in a statement that the United States will keep up pressure in support of the Venezuelan people.

It is time for Venezuelan leaders to make a choice, Mr Pompeo said, urging Maduro supporters to be on the right side of history.

Now is the time to convince the Maduro dictatorship that the moment has arrived for democracy to return to Venezuela.

Argentinas President Mauricio Macri also denounced Mr Maduro, saying he lacks the authenticity won through honest elections despite Thursdays elaborate inauguration ceremony and any other tricks.

Nicolas Maduro today is making a mockery of democracy, Mr Macri said on Twitter.

Venezuelans know it, the world knows it. Venezuela lives under a dictatorship.

Oil-rich Venezuela was once among Latin Americas wealthiest nations.

It produced 3.5 million barrels of crude daily when Mr Chavez took power.

Output now has plummeted to less than a third of that.

Critics blame years of rampant corruption and mismanagement of the state-run oil firm PDVSA.
An innovative system to reduce delays affecting smart devices has been designed by computer scientists in the UK.

They have developed a speedy system that will process data closer to the devices, like a home router, instead of via the distant Cloud.

Forbes magazine has predicted that by 2025 more than 80 billion pieces of hardware, including smartphones, will be linked to the internet and 180 trillion gigabytes of data will be generated.

Eventually, the Cloud will not be able to cope with the billions of devices seeking data processing, the computer scientists said.

Queens University Belfast researcher Dr Blesson Varghese said: Edge computing offers a much faster solution for smart devices by bringing application services onto hardware that is geographically closer to users.

This means that a proportion of the data can be processed there and doesnt need to be sent all the way to the distant Cloud.

With the Edge computing system we have designed, multiple traditionally Cloud-hosted applications are able to service users from their adjacent places such as a home router.

Consequently, delays experienced by application users are reduced.

The researchers are based at the Institute of Electronics, Communications and Information Technology (ECIT) at Queens.

It is expected that Edge computing services will be commercialised within the next five years as demand increases (Daniel Law/PA)

It is expected that Edge computing services will be commercialised within the next five years as demand increases.

The researchers added: ECIT is leading the way in ensuring the adoption of Edge computing.

Our research focuses on developing the underlying approaches and software tools to deliver a comprehensive edge adoption solution.

Our vision is to make the UK the first public adopters of Edge computing.

The Internet of Things (IoT) movement is encouraging the adoption of smart home devices, like online refrigerators, as part of the shift towards the connected home.

Titans like Amazon and Apple have led the way in e-commerce and device sales.
This comes after Tehelka editor, Samuel Mathew released a video in Delhi in which accused linked CM to Kodanad estate break-in case.

This (charge) is completely contrary to facts and there is no iota of truth in it, said CM K Palaniswami. (Photo: File)

Chennai: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister K Palaniswami on Saturday rejected allegations made against him by those accused in the Kodanad estate break-in case, saying the police will probe the matter.

Referring to former Tehelka editor Samuel Mathew releasing a video in Delhi on Friday, in which the accused allegedly linked the CM to the break-in, Palaniswami denied his involvement.

The All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) joint coordinator further said that a police case had been filed in the matter and that "strong action" will be taken against those who released the video.

"Yesterday (Friday), former Tehelka editor Samuel Mathews had released a video which links me to an incident (break-in) that happened in Amma's Kodanad estate on April 24, 2017. This (charge) is completely contrary to facts and there is no iota of truth in it," he said.

Making a statement before the media in Chennai, Palaniswami said the probe will reveal who was behind the incident, even as he charged that it was an attempt to "malign Amma", referring to late chief minister J Jayalalithaa.

In April 2017, the security guard of the Kodanad estate, Jayalalithaa's retreat home in the hilly district of the Nilgiris, was found dead.

It emerged during the probe that Jayalalithaa's former driver C Kanagaraj and K V Sayan had allegedly plotted the crime.

A total of ten people had been arrested in the case, with a charge sheet also being filed later.

However, Kanagaraj and Sayan's wife and daughter were killed in separate road accidents during the probe, even as another employee of the property was found dead, in a case of suspected suicide.

On Saturday, Palaniswami said the accused people, some of whom reportedly spoke in the video, had appeared in court 22 times in connection with the case so far, and questioned why they did not share the same in the court.

"They are saying such new things in an attempt to divert the case," he said. He also denied Jayalalithaa had stored documents received from party functionaries in the estate as purportedly claimed by them in the video on Saturday, saying she never obtained any such papers. Those unable to take us on politically are resorting to such cheap cowardice," he said, and asserted a probe will reveal those doing so.
Aberdeens depute lord provost is being investigated by police over a sexual harassment allegation and has been suspended by the Scottish Conservatives.

The party took action against Councillor Alan Donnelly after receiving what was described as a serious complaint.

A Scottish Conservative party spokesman said: On January 8, the party received a serious complaint about Councillor Alan Donnelly.

We were also informed that a complaint had also been made to the police.

As is normal in these circumstance, Councillor Donnelly was immediately suspended from the party.

A Police Scotland spokeswoman said: Police Scotland has been made aware of an allegation.

(Scottish Conservatives/PA)

Inquiries are at an early stage.

An Aberdeen City Council spokeswoman said: We have received formal notification from his group that Cllr Donnelly has been suspended by the Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party pending an investigation and will not take part in any civic duties during this period.

Mr Donnelly represents the Torry and Ferryhill ward on the Conservative and Labour ruled council, and has been in post for more than a decade.
GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip (AP) - Hundreds of Palestinians gathered Saturday for the funeral of a woman killed by Israeli forces during a protest near the perimeter fence, this year's first fatality from the weekly mass demonstrations, and Israeli aircraft struck two Hamas targets in response to rocket fire.

Amal al-Taramsi, a 43-year-old activist who had regularly attended the protests, was shot the day before. Al-Mezan, a Palestinian human rights group, said she was around 200 meters (yards) from the fence when she was shot in the head.

Of the 186 Palestinians killed since the protests were launched last spring, only three were women. A 21-year-old medic and a 14-year-old girl were killed last year. An Israeli soldier was also killed last year.

Amal's mother, Halima, sobbed as she sat in the corner of her home waiting for her daughter's body, which was wrapped with a Palestinian flag.

The Israelis "should leave our lands and let us alone to live in freedom," she said, urging Palestinian factions to unite against Israel and U.S. President Donald Trump.

Gaza's Hamas rulers have orchestrated the protests, in part to call for the lifting of a crippling decade-long Israeli and Egyptian blockade.

Mourners carry the body of Palestinian woman, Amal al-Taramsi, 43, who was killed by Israeli troops during Friday's protest at the Gaza Strip's border with Israel, into the family home during her funeral in Gaza City, Saturday, Jan. 12, 2019. (AP Photo/Khalil Hamra)

The demonstrations draw Palestinians of all ages, but most gather several hundred meters (yards) from the fence. It's usually young men who approach the barrier, hurling rocks and firebombs at Israeli forces on the other side, who respond with tear gas, rubber-coated bullets and live fire.

Israeli forces have shot and wounded thousands of Palestinians since the protests began. A number of fellow protesters attended Saturday's funeral in wheelchairs or walking with crutches.

Israel accuses Hamas of using the protests as a cover for attacks and says it only uses force to defend its borders. The military said some 13,000 people took part in Friday's demonstrations, with a few protesters briefly crossing into Israel through openings in the fence before returning.

Israeli aircraft struck two Hamas positions in response to the violence without inflicting any casualties.

Late Saturday, the Israeli military said a rocket fired from Gaza fell in an open area in southern Israel. There were no reports of injuries. No Palestinian group claimed responsibility for the attack.

In response, Israeli aircraft attacked two Hamas underground structures before midnight. "Hamas is responsible for all events that transpire in the Gaza Strip and emanate from it," the army said in a statement.

Egyptian mediators have visited Gaza in recent days to try and shore up a two-month-old cease-fire between Israel and Hamas, who have fought three wars since 2008 and were nearly embroiled in a fourth in November.

Israel has allowed Qatar to deliver $15 million in aid each month since November to pay the salaries of Hamas civil servants. The latest batch was delayed after a rocket attack earlier this month, but is widely expected to be delivered if the situation remains calm. The weekly protests have been more subdued since the understandings were reached.

Qatar has also bought fuel for Gaza's solo power plant, helping to reduce power outages. Electricity is still only available for a few hours every day, and the tap water in Gaza is undrinkable. The blockade has devastated the local economy in Gaza, where unemployment exceeds 50 percent.

Relatives of Palestinian woman, Amal al-Taramsi, 43, who was killed by Israeli troops during Friday's protest at the Gaza Strip's border with Israel, mourn during her funeral in Gaza City, Saturday, Jan. 12, 2019. (AP Photo/Khalil Hamra)

Mourners carry the body of Palestinian woman, Amal al-Taramsi, 43, who was killed by Israeli troops during Friday's protest at the Gaza Strip's border with Israel, into the family home during her funeral in Gaza City, Saturday, Jan. 12, 2019. (AP Photo/ Khalil Hamra)

Relatives of Palestinian woman, Amal al-Taramsi, 43, who was killed by Israeli troops during Friday's protest at the Gaza Strip's border with Israel, mourn during her funeral in Gaza City, Saturday, Jan. 12, 2019. (AP Photo/Khalil Hamra)
BEIJING (AP) - The U.S. Navy's top officer will visit China starting Sunday amid increasing frictions in the South China Sea and other tensions underscoring their rivalry for dominance in Asia.

Chief of Naval Operations Adm. John Richardson will meet with his counterpart Vice Adm. Shen Jinlong and leaders of China's Central Military Commission during his visit to Beijing and the eastern city of Nanjing lasting through Wednesday, the Navy said.

The goal of the visit, Richardson's second as head of operations, is to "continue a results-oriented, risk reduction focused dialogue" between the two militaries, the Navy said.

"A routine exchange of views is essential, especially in times of friction, in order to reduce risk and avoid miscalculation," the release quoted Richardson as saying. "Honest and frank dialogue can improve the relationship in constructive ways, help explore areas where we share common interests, and reduce risk while we work through our differences."

Richardson and Shen met previously at the 2018 International Seapower Symposium in the U.S. and have held three discussions via video teleconference, the most recent in December, the release said.

China has long chafed at the robust U.S. naval presence in its region, seeing that as a key component of a strategy to contain its development.

FILE - In this Oct. 29, 2018, file photo, Adm. John Richardson, chief of Naval Operations of the U.S. Navy, speaks during a news conference with Philippine Armed Forces Chief Gen. Carlito Galvez Jr., following their meeting at Camp Aguinaldo in suburban Quezon city, Philippines. The U.S. Navy's top officer will visit China starting Sunday, Jan. 13, 2019, amid increasing frictions in the South China Sea and other issues underscoring their rivalry for dominance in Asia. (AP Photo/Bullit Marquez, File)

In recent years, the South China Sea has become the main area of contention, home to islands, rich fishing grounds, undersea mineral deposits and shipping lanes through which pass an estimated $5 trillion in goods annually. China claims virtually the entire waterway on historical grounds and has strengthened its hold through the fortification of its island holdings and the construction and man-made outposts by piling sand and concrete atop coral reefs.

Five other governments also exercise overlapping claims in the area and while the U.S. takes no formal position on sovereignty, it insists on the right to navigation and overflight, including in air and waters within the territorial limits surrounding China's holdings.

Such freedom of navigation operations intended to assert such rights have enraged China, which has vowed to take whatever measures to thwart them.

While those usually involve the dispatch of ships and aircraft to warn off U.S. vessels, in late September, a Chinese destroyer came perilously close to the USS Decatur in the South China Sea in what the U.S. Navy called an "unsafe and unprofessional maneuver." Navy officers downplayed the incident, calling it unfortunate, rare and something they'd like to avoid in future.

Richardson has said such patrols highlight the U.S. position against "illegitimate maritime claims."

Chinese navy academy researcher Senior Capt. Zhang Junshe said Wednesday that Beijing may further fortify the outposts depending on perceived threats.

While the sides have sought to boost understanding and signed agreements to handle unexpected confrontations at air and sea, deep mistrust lingers.

Last summer, Washington disinvited China from a major U.S.-sponsored naval exercise in what it called "an initial response" to China's militarization of the South China Sea.

The Pentagon cited strong evidence that China has deployed anti-ship missiles, surface-to-air missile systems and electronic jammers to contested areas in the Spratly Islands. It called on China to remove these systems. Despite strong mutual suspicions, the U.S. had included China in the past two versions of the naval exercise known as Rim of the Pacific, or RimPac, in 2014 and 2016.

China has also warned the U.S. against further upgrading military ties with Taiwan. China threatens to use force against the self-governing island to assert its claim of sovereignty. Under President Donald Trump, the U.S. has taken incremental moves to bolster ties with the island, including renewed arms sales and upgraded contacts between officials.

Chinese President Xi Jinping, who also heads the Central Military Commission, said in a Jan. 2 address that the ruling communists "made no promises to abandon the use of force," but added that was directed at those advocating formal independence for the island that split from the mainland amid civil war in 1949, along with any foreign forces that might intervene.

Adding to the tensions, China and the U.S. are locked in a tariff dispute that shows little sign of dissipating and Washington has repeatedly accused Beijing of running a cyberespionage campaign to capture commercial and government secrets.
WILMINGTON, Del. (AP) - Authorities say a naked man who led law enforcement on a chase through Delaware and Pennsylvania has been charged with driving under the influence of a controlled substance.

The News Journal of Wilmington reports Delaware State Police began pursuing a wrong-way driver Wednesday night who was later determined to be 29-year-old Kyle R. Merena.

Authorities say Merena fled into Pennsylvania where police had laid out spike strips to help stop him. Pennsylvania State Police say Merena's car hit the strips and its tires were deflated, but the car only stopped when it crashed into a trooper's cruiser near the Philadelphia International Airport.

They say a naked Merena then fled the car and was arrested. He's also charged with reckless endangerment among other offenses. It's unclear if he has a lawyer.

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Information from: The News Journal of Wilmington, Del., http://www.delawareonline.com
MOSCOW (AP) - The Russian Finance Ministry says it will start buying foreign currency on the open market next week, five months after purchases were suspended to support the ruble.

The ministry says that 265.8 billion rubles ($4 billion) of purchases are planned between Jan. 15 and Feb. 6 at a rate of 15.6 billion rubles ($230 million) per day.

The central bank, which buys the currency on behalf of the ministry, stopped open-market purchases in August as the ruble lost value amid fears over possible new U.S. sanctions on Russia.

Since then, the immediate threat of new sanctions has receded with political deadlock in the U.S. The Russian Finance Ministry did not give an explanation for the resumption of purchases or their volume.
Your daily look at late-breaking news, upcoming events and the stories that will be talked about today:

1. 'I WILL DECLARE A NATIONAL EMERGENCY'

The president is edging closer to that declaration in an extraordinary end run around Congress to fund his long-promised border wall.

2. A PAYDAY ABOUT TO BE MISSED

Families are making tough decisions as 800,000 federal employees miss their first paycheck because of the three-week government shutdown.

3. 'THIS IS JAYME CLOSS! CALL 911!'

Katie Barron gestures while looking at a pay increase notice for her children's day care, in her home in Madison, Ala., Wednesday, Jan. 9, 2019. Barron's husband is a National Weather Service meteorologist forced to work without pay during the shutdown because his job is classified as essential. They've put off home and car maintenance, but the $450-a-week bill for day care still has to be paid, as do the mortgage and utility bills. (AP Photo/David Goldman)

A Wisconsin teenager missing for nearly three months after her parents were killed in the family home is found alive by neighbors in a town barely an hour's drive away.

4. US OFFICIAL: TROOP WITHDRAWAL FROM SYRIA BEGINS

Confirmation of the first withdrawals comes amid confusion over plans to implement Trump's pullout order and threats from Turkey to attack the Kurds.

5. US APPROVED THOUSANDS OF CHILD BRIDE REQUESTS

Data obtained by the AP shows thousands of requests by men to bring in child and adolescent brides to live in the U.S. were approved over the past decade.

6. FORMER NISSAN CHAIR FACING MORE LEGAL WOES

Carlos Ghosn, earlier charged with falsifying financial reports, is indicted for breach of trust in the latest blow for the star executive.

7. REUTERS REPORTERS LOSE APPEAL

A court in Myanmar upholds the journalists' conviction for violating the country's Official Secrets Act during their reporting on the country's crackdown on Rohingya Muslims.

8. WHO WANTS TO TAKE IN SAUDI RUNAWAY TEEN

Canada and Australia are among several countries in talks with the U.N. refugee agency to accept asylum seeker Rahaf Mohammed Alqunun, who fled alleged abuse from her family.

9. KENYA'S UNIQUE WAY OF SEEKING JUSTICE

To combat frustration over alleged police killings and other abuses, Kenyans are forming social justice centers to investigate what they say the government doesn't.

10. NEW RULE NIXES NEVER-ENDING FINAL SETS

At the Australian Open, a first-to-10, win-by-two tiebreaker will be played at 6-all in the fifth set of a men's match or third set of a women's match.

FILE - In this Oct. 17, 2018, file photo, Barron County Sheriff Chris Fitzgerald speaks during a news conference about 13-year-old Jayme Closs who has been missing since her parents were found dead in their home in Barron, Wis. The northwest Wisconsin girl who went missing in October after her parents were killed has been found alive, authorities said Thursday, Jan. 10, 2019. (Jerry Holt/Star Tribune via AP, File)
DETROIT (AP) - Beer drinkers can't claim blissful ignorance for much longer.

Starting next month, packages of Bud Light will have prominent labels showing the beer's calories and ingredients as well as the amount of fat, carbohydrates and protein in a serving.

Bud Light is likely the first of many to make the move. The labels aren't legally required, but major beer makers agreed in 2016 to voluntarily disclose nutrition facts on their products by 2020.

Many brands, including Corona Light, Guinness, Heineken and Coors Light, already have calories and other nutrition information on their bottles or packaging. But it's in small type, or hidden on the bottom of the six-pack, and ingredients aren't listed.

Bud Light went with a big, black-and-white label, similar to the ones required by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration on packaged foods. At the top, Bud Light lists its four ingredients: water, barley, rice and hops. Below that, it shows the calories in a 12-ounce bottle or can (110) and other facts. Bud Light contains 2 percent of the recommended daily amount of carbohydrates, for example.

"We want to be transparent and give people the thing they are used to seeing," said Andy Goeler, vice president of marketing for Bud Light.

This undated product image provided by Bud Light shows a new nutrition label. Starting next month, packages of Bud Light will have prominent labels showing the beer's ingredients and calories as well as the amount of fat, carbohydrates and protein in a serving. Bud Light is likely the first of many to make the move. The labels aren't legally required, but major beer makers agreed in 2016 to voluntarily disclose nutrition facts on their products by 2020. (Bud Light via AP)

Individual bottles and cans of Bud Light won't have the full labels, but they'll continue to have some nutrition information printed in small type.

Goeler said the brand's research shows younger drinkers, in particular, want to know what's in their beer.

"They have grown up really in tune to ingredients," he said.

Goeler said he didn't know when other brands owned by Bud Light parent Anheuser-Busch - including Michelob and Stella Artois - would adopt bigger nutrition labels.

But the question is: Will such labels make a difference in the choices consumers make? At least one study suggests they won't.

Researchers at Cornell University and Louisiana State University tracked what happened when diners were given menus with calorie counts. It found that diners who knew the calorie counts ordered lower-calorie appetizers and entrees, but the calorie counts had little impact on orders for drinks and desserts.

John Cawley, an economics professor at Cornell and one of the authors of the study, said diners seemed to respond most to information they didn't already know. They were probably surprised by the calories in some appetizers, for example, but already knew the general range for a glass of beer or wine.

Cawley said it's telling that a light beer would be the most forthcoming about its ingredients and nutrition information. Bud Light's sibling, Budweiser, has 35 more calories and four additional grams of carbohydrates, according to the brand's web site.

Ultimately, the biggest changes may come from manufacturers themselves, not consumers, Cawley said. Since nutrition labels were first required in the early 1990s, companies have competed to look healthier or remove objectionable ingredients like trans fats.

"That is actually the biggest public health victory of all," Cawley said.

This Thursday, Jan. 10, 2019, photo shows cans of Bud Light in Washington. Starting next month, packages of Bud Light will have prominent labels showing the beer's ingredients and calories as well as the amount of fat, carbohydrates and protein in a serving. Bud Light is likely the first of many to make the move. The labels aren't legally required, but major beer makers agreed in 2016 to voluntarily disclose nutrition facts on their products by 2020. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)
BRIDEPORT, Conn. (AP) - A man who police say placed a 3-foot alligator on top of another man in Connecticut as part of an extortion attempt has pleaded guilty to reduced charges.

The Connecticut Post reports 30-year-old Isaias Garcia, of Garland, Texas, entered his plea Thursday to unlawful restraint.

Garcia originally faced kidnapping, assault and larceny charges in what police said was one of the strangest cases they have investigated.

Authorities say a 21-year-old man called his aunt in April to say he had been kidnapped and his abductor was demanding $800.

Police say she received a photograph of him face down in a bathtub, with an open-mouthed alligator on top of him.

Authorities later arrested Garcia at a Shelton hotel.

He faces up to one year in prison during his sentencing March 15.

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Information from: Connecticut Post, http://www.connpost.com
PIETROSANI, Romania (AP) - Epiphany celebrations bring together hundreds of people in the Romanian village of Pietrosani for a day out in freezing temperatures that culminates in a bareback horse race across muddy, frozen or snowy fields.

The horse race tradition started in the area more than a century ago, according to residents, and it was banned during the years of Communist rule because of its association with a religious holiday.

The Balkan festival is the main event of the year in the village. The race generates high anticipation and lively discussion over hot glasses of red wine about who will be this year's winner, or debates about the best looking or decorated horse.

While horse racing events, like the Royal Ascot, are known for the extravagant attire of their spectators, in Pietrosani it's the horses' outfits that capture the most attention.

People try to secure position on higher ground or stand in carriages holding up cellphones as they gather in the field outside the village to admire and photograph the animals sporting colorful textile, leather and brass accessories, sometimes even Christmas tree decorations.

Owners warm up their horses for the race while others show off the strength of their animals by making them pull tree trunks or concrete blocks in competitions. Villagers gather around the horses trying to get a closer look, often risking serious injury.

In this Sunday, Jan. 6, 2019, a man struggles to control his horse before an Epiphany celebration horse race in Pietrosani, Romania. The horse race tradition started in the area more then one hundred years ago, according to locals, and it was banned during the years of Communist rule, due to its association with a religious holiday. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)

An Orthodox priest arrives in a horse drawn carriage after midday amid the cheers of spectators and starts sprinkling holy water on animals and owners rotating around his carriage in a chaotic and very noisy procession.

Villagers then compete in the bareback race, wearing no protective gear at all.

The blessing of animals on Epiphany, especially those used for work, is thought to bring good luck and protect them from disease and accidents in the coming year and dates back hundreds of years.

While church dogma allows only humans to be blessed with holy water, on Epiphany, or Boboteaza in Romanian, the day Christians celebrate the baptism of Jesus Christ in the Jordan river by John the Baptist, priests nowadays allow the blessing of animals and, in some instances, cars and other goods.

In this Sunday, Jan. 6, 2019, photograph a horse wearing colorful decorations waits before an Epiphany celebration horse race in Pietrosani, Romania. The horse race tradition started in the area more then one hundred years ago, according to locals, and it was banned during the years of Communist rule, due to its association with a religious holiday. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)

In this photograph taken with a slow shutter speed, on Sunday, Jan. 6, 2019 a man warms up his horse before an Epiphany celebration horse race in Pietrosani, Romania. Epiphany celebrations bring together hundreds of people in the Romanian village of Pietrosani for a day out in freezing temperatures that culminates in a bareback horse race across muddy, frozen or snowy fields. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)

In this Sunday, Jan. 6, 2019, photograph a man rides a horse along with a baby during Epiphany celebrations in Pietrosani, Romania. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)

In this Sunday, Jan. 6, 2019, a man struggles to control his horse before an Epiphany celebration horse race in Pietrosani, Romania. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)

In this Sunday, Jan. 6, 2019, photograph people cheer while riding in a horse down cart past an Orthodox priest sprinkling holy water on horses and people during Epiphany celebrations in Pietrosani, Romania. The horse race tradition started in the area more then one hundred years ago, according to locals, and it was banned during the years of Communist rule, due to its association with a religious holiday. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)

In this Sunday, Jan. 6, 2019, photograph an Orthodox priest sprinkles holy water on horses and people during Epiphany celebrations in Pietrosani, Romania. Epiphany celebrations bring together hundreds of people in the Romanian village of Pietrosani for a day out in freezing temperatures that culminates in a bareback horse race across muddy, frozen or snowy fields. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)

In this Sunday, Jan. 6, 2019, photograph a horse shakes his head during Epiphany celebrations in Pietrosani, Romania. The horse race tradition started in the area more then one hundred years ago, according to locals, and it was banned during the years of Communist rule, due to its association with a religious holiday. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)

In this Sunday, Jan. 6, 2019, photograph a child rides a pony during Epiphany celebrations in Pietrosani, Romania. Epiphany celebrations bring together hundreds of people in the Romanian village of Pietrosani for a day out in freezing temperatures that culminates in a bareback horse race across muddy, frozen or snowy fields. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)

In this Sunday, Jan. 6, 2019, photograph a man rides his horse by an Orthodox priest sprinkling holy water on animals and people before an Epiphany celebration horse race in Pietrosani, Romania. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)

In this Sunday, Jan. 6, 2019, photograph a horse pulls a tree trunk in a strength competition during Epiphany celebrations in Pietrosani, Romania. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)

In this photograph taken with a slow shutter speed, on Sunday, Jan. 6, 2019 a man warms up his horse before an Epiphany celebration horse race in Pietrosani, Romania. Epiphany celebrations bring together hundreds of people in the Romanian village of Pietrosani for a day out in freezing temperatures that culminates in a bareback horse race across muddy, frozen or snowy fields. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)

In this Sunday, Jan. 6, 2019, villagers on horseback wait for the start of an Epiphany celebration horse race in Pietrosani, Romania. The horse race tradition started in the area more then one hundred years ago, according to locals, and it was banned during the years of Communist rule, due to its association with a religious holiday. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)

In this Sunday, Jan. 6, 2019, villagers compete in an Epiphany celebration horse race in Pietrosani, Romania. The horse race tradition started in the area more then one hundred years ago, according to locals, and it was banned during the years of Communist rule, due to its association with a religious holiday. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)

In this photograph taken with a slow shutter speed, on Sunday, Jan. 6, 2019 a man warms up his horse before an Epiphany celebration horse race in Pietrosani, Romania. Epiphany celebrations bring together hundreds of people in the Romanian village of Pietrosani for a day out in freezing temperatures that culminates in a bareback horse race across muddy, frozen or snowy fields. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)

In this Sunday, Jan. 6, 2019, a man rides a horse after an Epiphany celebration horse race in Pietrosani, Romania. Epiphany celebrations bring together hundreds of people in the Romanian village of Pietrosani for a day out in freezing temperatures that culminates in a bareback horse race across muddy, frozen or snowy fields. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)

In this Sunday, Jan. 6, 2019, a man rides a horse before an Epiphany celebration horse race in Pietrosani, Romania. Epiphany celebrations bring together hundreds of people in the Romanian village of Pietrosani for a day out in freezing temperatures that culminates in a bareback horse race across muddy, frozen or snowy fields. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)

In this Sunday, Jan. 6, 2019, a woman holding Mikey Mouse balloons walks by horses after an Epiphany celebration horse race in Pietrosani, Romania. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)
NICOSIA, Cyprus (AP) - The European Union's top military official says he's working with other EU army chiefs to come up with proposals aimed at enhancing the bloc's military capabilities.

EU Military Committee Chairman Claudio Graziano says there's "a lot of expectation" about what the EU can do in defense matters. He says projects like military mobility can connect the far reaches of Europe, to counter common threats.

Graziano was speaking Friday after talks with Cyprus' National Guard Chief Ilias Leontaris. Graziano hailed Cyprus as a "solid partner and pillar of stability" in Europe's southeastern corner, while acknowledging the challenges the east Mediterranean island nation faces with migrant inflows.

Leontaris said strengthened cooperation is essential because remnants of the Islamic State group may take advantage of the migration crisis to infiltrate terrorists into Europe.
His comments come after the BSP-SP alliance announcement in the politically crucial Uttar Pradesh.

We want a strong government so that we can put an end to corruption. These days there is a failed experiment taking place in the country which is known as the grand alliance, PM Modi said. (Photo: PTI)

New Delhi: Dubbing the anti-BJP grand alliance as a "failed experiment", Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Saturday the opposition parties are coming together as they want to form a 'majboor' (helpless) government to promote nepotism and corruption, whereas the BJP wants a strong dispensation for all-round development.

PM Modi also attacked the Congress over the Ram Temple issue, saying it doesn't want a solution to the Ayodhya dispute and is creating hurdles through its lawyers.

Addressing the BJP's National Convention, the prime minister said the parties that were formed primarily to oppose the Congress and its culture have now join hands with it. "We want a strong government so that we can put an end to corruption. These days there is a failed experiment taking place in the country which is known as the grand alliance. They have all gathered together to make a helpless government. They don't want a strong government which will lead to shut down of their shops," PM Modi said.

His comments come after the BSP-Samajwadi Party announced their alliance in the politically crucial Uttar Pradesh, in which the BJP had won maximum seats in the 2014 Lok Sabha polls.

"They want a helpless government so that they can indulge in corruption. We want a strong government so that we can put an end to corruption. They want a helpless government so that they can do good for their relatives. We want a strong government so that we can usher development for everyone (sabka saath, sabka vikas)," he said.

He also slammed the governments of Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal, Chhattisgarh for withdrawing general consent to the CBI in their respective state and asked why they were afraid and what irregularities they have done.

At the same time, he mentioned about his experiences with the central agencies during the UPA rule. "Despite being harassed by the UPA government for years when I was Gujarat CM, we didn't ban entry of CBI in state," he said.

The prime minister said 10-per cent reservation in education and government jobs for the youth from economically weaker sections will enhance the confidence of 'New India' and asserted that the new arrangement will not encroach upon anyone's rights.

PM Modi said that for the first time in the country's history, there has not been any charge of corruption against a government.

The BJP rule has proved that the country can be run without corruption, he added.

He said earlier governments saw farmers (annadata) as only 'matdata' (voters), while his government was constantly trying to address challenges faced by them.

"We are working day and night to double farmers' income by 2022," he said.
CAIRO (AP) - Egypt deported a German citizen early Friday whom it detained in Cairo airport last month on suspicion of plotting terrorism, authorities said.

The 23-year-old Goettingen resident was repatriated on an early morning flight to Frankfurt in coordination with the German Embassy after being questioned by police, Cairo airport officials said. He had been detained on Dec. 27.

Security officials say interrogations revealed the German of Egyptian origin believed in the extremist ideology of the Islamic State group. Egyptian authorities did not provide any evidence to support their allegations.

Another detained German, an 18-year-old from Giessen, is still in custody. He was stopped at Luxor airport on Dec. 17 and authorities also accuse him of supporting IS ideology that advocates terrorism. No evidence was released in his case either.

Christofer Burger, a Foreign Ministry spokesman, told reporters in Berlin that Egyptian authorities confirmed the Giessen resident is in their custody, but that the German embassy had not yet been granted consular access to him.

"All we have received from the authorities is the confirmation that he is in custody," he said.

Officials spoke on condition of anonymity as they weren't authorized to brief reporters. The German Embassy in Cairo could not be immediately reached for comment.

German media have reported that both young men had been on trips intending to visit their grandparents. Egypt's Supreme State Security Prosecution is now leading an investigation into the men.

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Associated Press writer David Rising in Berlin contributed.
LONDON (AP) - She first saw the play as a child, when her famous father adapted it from a Henry James novella and played the male lead. Decades later, Vanessa Redgrave acted the role of Miss Tina on stage.

More time has passed, and now she is playing the forbidding grande dame Juliana Bordereau in a movie version of "The Aspern Papers" that opens Friday in the United States, this time with her daughter Joely Richardson cast in the younger woman's role.

"I've been through every version of it," says Redgrave, whose blue eyes still pierce. "My father was in it with two wonderful actresses, which I saw a number of times. Then I was in it much later as Miss Tina, and suddenly I get the chance to be this ferocious Bordereau, the old lady, which is kind of the full stretch of the bow, if you see what I mean."

Redgrave, at 81, still radiates the outspoken intelligence that has characterized her film and stage work, softening only when looking into the eyes of her daughter - "She's so beautiful," Redgrave coos - or cuddling her poodle-Pomeranian, Zep.

"It was heaven working with Joels," Redgrave says, pronouncing her daughter's nickname as Jules.

It is the fourth time the two have paired, a sequence that includes Redgrave joining her daughter on the popular TV series "Nip/Tuck" in a number of episodes, including one in which Redgrave sought a facelift from one of the two handsome young plastic surgeons at the heart of the show.

British actresses Vanessa Redgrave and her daughter Joely Richardson pose for portrait photographs before an interview with The Associated Press in London, Tuesday, Jan. 8, 2019. Vanessa Redgrave first saw "The Aspern Papers" as a child, when her famous father adapted it from a Henry James novella and played the male lead. Decades later, Vanessa Redgrave acted the role of Miss Tina on stage, now she is playing the forbidding grande dame Juliana Bordereau in a movie version, this time with her daughter Joely Richardson cast in the younger woman's role. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham)

At the time, Richardson - one of the three stars - worried that her mother might not cope well with the demands of weekly television, including the need for quick memorization of dozens of pages of scripts.

Her mom thrived, of course, even if she's far better known for her dramatic work onstage.

For Richardson, working with her mother highlights what she calls "that Mom-Vanessa thing." It's what happens when your mother has been famous your entire life - and has set a standard in the profession you chose.

"It's so funny, 'cause obviously mom's mom to me, but when I'm talking about her in a professional capacity, I tend to go into calling her Vanessa," Richardson says. "When your mother's public and private, it's a two-name deal."

Working with her mother has been revelatory, says Richardson, who has also shared screen and stage time with Judi Dench, Glenn Close, Robert DeNiro and other greats.

"Sometimes I see her as Vanessa," says Richardson, 54. "Being on stage with her, it was like, oh my God, this is where it happens. It's in these moments, these magic moments, when she's truly more present than I've ever seen her be, probably, in real life. It's an extraordinary thing."

Redgrave is similarly impressed with her daughter's performance in "The Aspern Papers," which is set in Venice in the late 19th Century. Richardson plays Miss Tina, a quietly unhappy middle-aged woman frightened of her elderly aunt whose life is disrupted by the arrival of an American editor seeking the old woman's love letters from a fictional Romantic poet named Jeffrey Aspern.

"Suddenly, Joely becomes Miss Tina, right on the spot," Redgrave says of her daughter. "Looking into her eyes, I don't see Joely. I see Miss Tina. That's special, that's what she's about in her work, finding that depth of truth."

Redgrave is the matriarch of a venerable British acting dynasty that includes her late father Michael Redgrave; her late siblings Lynne and Corin Redgrave; and her children - Natasha Richardson, who died in a ski accident in 2009, Joely Richardson and writer and director Carlo Nero.

She recently worked with Nero on a documentary, "Sea Sorrow," a very personal look at the migrant crisis motivated in part by her belief that the lessons of World War II have been forgotten.

"People don't know the history of those times, and if they don't understand the history, they don't understand why it is so vital to support the international human rights laws. Today we have organizations based on those laws, but we have governments that refuse them," she says.

Redgrave has long worked on refugee causes with United Nations agencies, and Richardson is also active with agencies advocating for refuges.

They filmed "The Aspern Papers" - with Jonathan Rhys Meyers in the male lead - in Venice during the stifling summer of 2017.

Richardson worried that her mother would have trouble coping with the heat, and the hundreds of steps leading to the dilapidated palace where most scenes were filmed, but Redgrave saw the time there as a blessing.

"That's a treat," she says of the time in Venice. "T-R-E-A-T."

British actresses Vanessa Redgrave, her dog Zep, and her daughter Joely Richardson pose for portrait photographs before an interview with The Associated Press in London, Tuesday, Jan. 8, 2019. Vanessa Redgrave first saw "The Aspern Papers" as a child, when her famous father adapted it from a Henry James novella and played the male lead. Decades later, Vanessa Redgrave acted the role of Miss Tina on stage, now she is playing the forbidding grande dame Juliana Bordereau in a movie version, this time with her daughter Joely Richardson cast in the younger woman's role. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham)

British actresses Vanessa Redgrave and her daughter Joely Richardson pose for portrait photographs before an interview with The Associated Press in London, Tuesday, Jan. 8, 2019. Vanessa Redgrave first saw "The Aspern Papers" as a child, when her famous father adapted it from a Henry James novella and played the male lead. Decades later, Vanessa Redgrave acted the role of Miss Tina on stage, now she is playing the forbidding grande dame Juliana Bordereau in a movie version, this time with her daughter Joely Richardson cast in the younger woman's role. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham)
SEOUL, South Korea (AP) - A U.N. rights investigator said Friday that negotiations on North Korea's denuclearization must also include its abysmal human rights situation.

Tomas Ojea Quintana told reporters that he wants North Korea to accept his call for a dialogue on its rights conditions. He said North Korea has not allowed him to visit despite his requests over the past three years for cooperation.

Quintana, the U.N. special rapporteur on North Korean human rights situation, said the issue was sidelined in diplomatic efforts last year on stripping North Korea of its nuclear weapons.

"The fact is that with all the positive developments the world has witnessed in the past year, it is all the more regrettable that the reality for human rights on the ground remains unchanged, and continues to be extremely serious," he said.

"The international community has an historical responsibility not to neglect but continue to promote improvement of the human rights situation" in North Korea, he said.

A U.N. Commission of Inquiry concluded in 2014 that North Korea has committed crimes against humanity, including extermination, murder, enslavement, torture, imprisonment, rape, forced abortions, persecution, deliberate starvation and disappearances.

Tomas Ojea Quintana, the United Nations special rapporteur on the situation of human rights in North Korea, speaks during a press conference in Seoul, South Korea, Friday, Jan. 11, 2019. Quintana says negotiations on North Korea's denuclearization must also include its abysmal human rights situation. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)

Nuclear diplomacy has made little progress since a U.S.-North Korea summit in Singapore last June. Prospects for a second summit increased after North Korean leader Kim Jong Un visited China this week in what experts say was a trip aimed at coordinating positions ahead of talks with President Donald Trump.

Tomas Ojea Quintana, the United Nations special rapporteur on the situation of human rights in North Korea, speaks during a press conference in Seoul, South Korea, Friday, Jan. 11, 2019. Quintana says negotiations on North Korea's denuclearization must also include its abysmal human rights situation. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)
JOHANNESBURG (AP) - Jacob Zuma was in disgrace last year, a South African president forced from office by scandal and then in court on corruption charges. He is now in the midst of a remarkable makeover, wooed by a ruling party that recognizes his enduring appeal to some supporters and is anxious to paper over divisions ahead of elections this year.

The image of Zuma and successor Cyril Ramaphosa, smiling and cutting cake together at an African National Congress party event, is also generating concern about how far Ramaphosa's anti-corruption drive can go after years of alleged malfeasance in the Zuma administration.

"We're getting along very well," Ramaphosa said Tuesday at the commemoration of the 107th anniversary of the party's founding. It was held in KwaZulu-Natal province, a stronghold of support for Zuma and key to the ANC's electoral fortunes. Ramaphosa said the former president had a role to play in a party struggling to recover the popularity it enjoyed when it took power at the end of white minority rule in 1994.

Two days later, in an appearance where Zuma was not present, Ramaphosa gave a critical assessment of how the country was run under the former president. The past few years were "really difficult" as institutions were weakened, he said.

It is a balancing act for Ramaphosa, who narrowly defeated Zuma's ex-wife in a contest for the ANC's presidency in December 2017 before becoming the country's president in February. He vowed to pursue those involved in the alleged looting of state coffers, reconstituting boards of many state-owned enterprises, dumping problematic Cabinet ministers and appointing a new chief prosecutor.

However, some Zuma loyalists, including ANC secretary general Ace Magashule, retain influence and there is growing skepticism about whether the divided party can fully reform.

In this photo taken Tuesday Jan. 8, 2019, former South African president Jacob Zuma, left, and President Cyril Ramaphosa attend the African National Congress' 107th birthday celebrations in Durban, South Africa. Zuma, who was forced from office last year by scandal, is now in the midst of a remarkable makeover, wooed by a ruling party that recognises his enduring appeal to some supporters and is anxious to paper over divisions ahead of elections this year. (AP Photo)

Ramaphosa has "wielded his broom in the relatively short time that has been available to him. But the situation remains dire and his greatest problem probably resides in the extent of support that he enjoys in the ANC," said David Lewis, executive director of Corruption Watch, a non-profit group.

Lewis predicted that efforts to combat corruption will be a major campaign issue and that the ANC's efforts to project unity could backfire.

"You'll pay a price for claiming unity when manifestly that's not the case," he said.

Zuma, meanwhile, has raised his profile, joining Twitter and posting chatty videos in which he argues that the state should pay his legal fees. The folksy 76-year-old, who has danced outside his court appearances to the delight of supporters, also has made a deal to record anti-apartheid songs, upsetting some critics who say public money shouldn't be spent on Zuma's musical hobbies.

Some South Africans were especially vexed by Ramaphosa's deference toward Zuma at the party's anniversary. The president did the public speaking, but the former president got the most applause.

"We must assess whether there is a change in our nation," said Mmusi Maimane, head of the opposition Democratic Alliance party. He tweeted a photo of Ramaphosa, Zuma and parliament speaker Baleka Mbete cutting the cake adorned with icing in the ANC colors of gold, green and black.

"Ramaphosa's bromance act goes beyond tactical politics," commentator Max du Preez tweeted. He expressed concern about the "hero worship" of Zuma, who last year was told to quit by his own party following revelations that a business family close to him allegedly influenced government appointments and state enterprises for its benefit.

A commission led by a Constitutional Court judge is investigating the extent of what South Africans call "state capture," while Zuma is separately on trial for reinstated corruption charges dating from a late 1990s arms deal, when he was vice president.

Zuma, who has denied wrongdoing, has not announced any formal return to politics, though some supporters nominated him to a party list of possible candidates for parliament. The list has yet to be published.

The ANC, which was the main movement against apartheid, opened its election campaign on Saturday, seeking to convince voters that it has made their lives better since the painful era of racial repression. The vote is expected in May, though a date has not been announced. The ANC won 62 percent of the vote in general elections in 2014, but lost several major metropolitan areas to the opposition in municipal elections in 2016.

Ramaphosa said the ANC, whose most revered member was Mandela, is rebuilding after years of tumult.

"The mojo is coming back," the president said on a visit to New York in September, according to South African media.

And so, at least until the election, is Zuma.

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Follow Christopher Torchia on Twitter at www.twitter.com/torchiachris

In this photo taken Tuesday, Jan. 8, 2019, former South African president Jacob Zuma, third right, and President Cyril Ramaphosa, third left, cut a birthday cake at the African National Congress' 107th birthday celebrations in Durban, South Africa. Zuma, who was forced from office last year by scandal, is now in the midst of a remarkable makeover, wooed by a ruling party that recognises his enduring appeal to some supporters and is anxious to paper over divisions ahead of elections this year. (AP Photo)
NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) - Six men were dead. On that, Kenyan police and a watchdog could agree. Then the narratives diverged, and sharply.

Police posted on Twitter that the six men had robbed a motorbike taxi driver and raped his passenger. Human rights activists quickly put together a different account from witnesses: Two of the dead were robbery suspects. The others apparently were killed by police for witnessing officers kill the two men.

As frustration in Kenya grows over alleged police abuses, the public has begun fighting back. They have formed the Dandora Social Justice Center and others to investigate what they say the government doesn't.

In low-income neighborhoods of the capital, Nairobi, police killings are common. Many cases have gone unreported with families suffering in silence, rights activists say. Rarely are perpetrators held accountable.

Police officers have been implicated in numerous reports by international rights groups and even Kenya's government-backed rights commission. A database kept by the local Nation newspaper says police killed 180 people in Kenya in the first nine months of 2018, the majority in Dandora.

Police counter the allegations of illegal killings by saying the rights groups are embellishing their reports to attract more donor funding.

In this photo taken Friday, Nov. 23, 2018, Wilfred Olal, who co-founded the idea of social justice groups, speaks to The Associated Press in the Kudu Hills, Kenya. As frustration in Kenya grows over alleged police abuses, the public has begun fighting back by forming social justice groups to investigate what they say the government doesn't. (AP Photo/Khalil Senosi)

The rise of social justice centers in Kenya in recent months has had an immediate impact.

The six deaths in October documented by the Dandora Social Justice Center were among 28 alleged killings by police documented over a month's time in Nairobi's low-income neighborhoods of Dandora, Mathare, Kayole and Githuria.

One of the witnesses killed was a 17-year-old boy who climbed a tree to hide from officers but was pulled down and shot dead, said Beth Mukami with the social justice center.

The center's account of the police killings was given to the Independent Police Oversight Authority, a civilian oversight group with the mandate of investigating police abuses. The authority says it received 288 complaints in 2018 of deaths and serious injuries allegedly committed by members of Kenya's National Police Service.

The social justice groups have become a critical partner, said Dennis Oketch, spokesman for the authority. The groups work quickly on the ground, flagging cases when the crime scene is still fresh and witnesses are still available, he said. The groups also hold the authority accountable by following up on cases, he added.

Wilfred Olal, who co-founded the idea of social justice groups, said the idea started about two years ago during discussions in a civil society group known as the People's Parliament.

"The communities come together, do research on matters affecting the community, especially on human rights and social justice," Olal said. Most justice centers receive on average five cases a day.

Other issues addressed in the 10 Nairobi slums that now have social justice centers include gender-based violence, pollution and political accountability.

Currently most resources for the centers come from the community, Olal said.

"We don't want to rely on donors so much. We are modelling justice centers to be business-savvy so that it gives them independence," he said. The centers have received some support from rights groups Amnesty International and the International Justice Mission.

The community-based groups are the best placed to rapidly respond to rights violations and train local youth in leadership, said Irungu Houghton, Amnesty's country director.

"The centers operate in very poor and marginalized neighborhoods," he said. "Bruised by neglect and violence, the centers' biggest challenge is building confidence and trust with the community that they can deliver results." Every time a young person is wrongly killed, "this trust is broken."

People had had no safe place to go to report alleged police abuses, said Mukami with Dandora Social Justice, whose husband disappeared almost a decade ago in a police crackdown on a quasi-religious gang known as the Mungiki.

Mukami says she suffered greatly as a single parent, not knowing whether her husband was alive or dead. The new social justice centers offer counseling to families of people who say they have suffered police-related trauma.

One of the greatest challenges the new centers face is protecting their volunteers, Olal said.

Currently one group member is in hiding after receiving threats from a police officer who was shown in a viral video shooting an armed suspect until bullets in his gun are finished, then taking a colleague's gun and shooting until it's empty too.

The activist went into hiding after allegedly documenting how the officer pulled another suspect he had shot from a hospital bed, with the suspect found dead days later.

Despite the challenges, the new centers have become community focal points for residents' complaints, Mukami said.

"It shows us that people do not have trust in government and have nowhere to turn to," she said.

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Follow Africa news at https://twitter.com/AP_Africa

In this photo taken Thursday, Nov. 22, 2018, members of social justice groups celebrate finishing a seminar by cutting a cake, in the Kudu Hills, Kenya. As frustration in Kenya grows over alleged police abuses, the public has begun fighting back by forming social justice groups to investigate what they say the government doesn't. (AP Photo/Khalil Senosi)
SYDNEY (AP) - Australian actor Craig McLachlan has been charged with eight counts of indecent assault and one count of common assault after being accused of sexual misconduct by three women who worked with him in a stage musical.

Police in Victoria state on Friday said a 53-year-old man, identified by news media as McLachlan, has been summoned to appear in court over the nine charges, and another charge of attempted indecent assault.

A spokesman for the former star of long-running Australian TV series "Neighbours" and "Home and Away" said in a brief statement that McLachlan denied all of the charges, which arose after a production of "The Rocky Horror Show" in 2014.

"Craig is innocent of these charges which will be vigorously defended," the statement said.

McLachlan is due to appear in Melbourne Magistrates Court on Feb. 8.

After the allegations against McLachlan first emerged last year, the actor launched a defamation suit against two Australian news organizations - Fairfax Media and the Australian Broadcasting Corp. - and against former Rocky Horror co-star Christie Whelan Browne.

In this April 23, 2014, photo, Craig McLachlan performs as Frank N Furter during a media call for The Rocky Horror Show at the Comedy Theatre in Melbourne. Police in Victoria state on Friday, Jan. 11, 2019, said a 53-year-old man, identified by news outlets as McLachlan, had been charged on summons to appear in court over the nine charges, and another charge of attempted indecent assault.(Julian Smith/AAP Image via AP)

He is seeking damages of $6.5 million in the Supreme Court of New South Wales state over reports he bullied and indecently assaulted Whelan Browne and two other female cast members during the stage production.

His legal team said last May that since the allegations, McLachlan has become reclusive and his acting career has been effectively destroyed.

Hearings in the defamation suit are to start Feb. 4.
CAIRO (AP) - U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo brought the Trump administration's anti-Iran message to Gulf Arab states on Friday, arriving in Bahrain to continue a nine-nation tour of the Middle East aimed at reassuring America's partners that withdrawing troops from Syria does not mean Washington is abandoning the region.

Pompeo was traveling to Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates where he will call for increasing pressure on Iran and push for unity among Gulf neighbors still embroiled in a festering dispute with Qatar. He'll also be promoting a U.S.-backed initiative to form what some have termed an "Arab NATO" that would bring the region together in a military alliance to counter threats from Iran.

In Bahrain, the UAE and later Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Oman and Kuwait, Pompeo will also be making the case as he did on previous stops in Jordan, Iraq and Egypt that President Donald Trump's decision to pull U.S. troops from Syria is not a sign Washington is retreating from the fight against the Islamic State group. The trip came as a U.S. military official announced Friday that the withdrawal had begun, though he declined to comment on specific timetables or movements.

U.S. partnerships with the members of the Gulf Cooperation Council "are critical to achieving shared regional objectives: defeating ISIS, countering radical Islamic terrorism, protecting global energy supplies, and rolling back Iranian aggression," the State Department said in a statement released as Pompeo departed Egypt for Bahrain, which is home to the U.S. Navy's 5th Fleet.

But the now 2-year-old crisis between GCC members Saudi Arabia and UAE and Qatar has hampered U.S. attempts to forge a unified front against Iran. Washington's efforts to ease the dispute, begun by former Secretary of State Rex Tillerson have thus far failed and took another hit this week when the former general tasked to broker a solution stepped down.

"A united GCC is the backbone for regional peace, prosperity, security, and stability, and is essential to countering the single greatest threat to regional stability: the Iranian regime," the State Department said.

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and his wife Susan pose for a photo as they tour the newly inaugurated Cathedral of the Nativity Christ, in Egypt's New Administrative Capital, east of Cairo, Thursday, Jan. 10, 2019. (Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/Pool Photo via AP)

At each of his stops in the Gulf, Pompeo will be urging progress on creating the Middle East Strategic Alliance, which would join GCC militaries with those of Egypt and Jordan to serve as a counter-balance to Iran, which they all accuse of fomenting unrest and rebellion throughout the region.

Pompeo told Fox News before departing from Cairo that there would be an international conference on Iran and the Middle East in Poland on Feb. 13-14.

Pompeo during his trip will also call for boosting efforts to end the conflict in Yemen, where a Saudi-led coalition has been battling Iranian-backed rebels in what the U.N. says is now the world's worst humanitarian crisis, the department said.

U.N.-led peace efforts in Yemen, along with attempts to broker a political solution to the war in Syria that "expels every last Iranian boot from the country" and promoting reconciliation in Afghanistan will also be high on Pompeo's agenda, the State Department said.

Pompeo kicked off the Gulf portion of his tour after a stop in Cairo, where he delivered a scathing rebuke of former President Barack Obama's Middle East policies that Obama had outlined in a 2009 address to the Arab and broader Muslim world.

In a speech entitled "A Force for Good: America's Reinvigorated Role in the Middle East," Pompeo accused the former president of "misguided" thinking that diminished America's role in the region while harming its longtime friends and emboldening Iran.

He unloaded on the Obama administration for being naive and timid when confronted with challenges posed by the revolts that convulsed the Middle East, including Egypt, beginning in 2011. And, he said the Trump administration was taking action to repair the damage.

"The age of self-inflicted American shame is over, and so are the policies that produced so much needless suffering," Pompeo said in the speech, which was itself denounced by former Obama administration officials for pandering to autocrats, ignoring human rights concerns.

"That this administration feels the need, nearly a decade later, to take potshots at an effort to identify common ground between the Arab world and the West speaks not only to the Trump administration's pettiness but also to its lack of a strategic vision for America's role in the region and its abdication of America's values," National Security Action group, a group of former officials, said in a statement.

Pompeo blamed the previous administration's approach to the Mideast for the ills that consume it now, particularly the rise of the Islamic State group in Iraq and Syria and Iran's increasing assertiveness, which he said was a direct result of sanctions relief, since rescinded by the Trump administration, granted to it under the 2015 nuclear deal.

He said Obama ignored the growth of the Iranian-backed Hezbollah movement in Lebanon to the detriment of Israel's security and not doing enough to push back on Iran-supported rebels in Yemen.

Since withdrawing from the nuclear deal last year, the administration has steadily ratcheted up pressure on Tehran and routinely accuses the nation of being the most destabilizing influence in the region. It has vowed to increase the pressure until Iran halts what U.S. officials describe as its "malign activities" throughout the Mideast and elsewhere, including support for rebels in Yemen, anti-Israel groups, and Syrian President Bashar Assad.
QUETTA, Pakistan (AP) - Pakistan's military says security forces have raided militant hideouts in the country's southwest, triggering shootouts that left two of the insurgents dead.

In a statement, the military says troops also seized a cache of guns, grenades, rockets, land-mines, explosives and communications equipment in Friday's operations.

It provided no further details, but militants and ethnic separatists who have been waging a low-level insurgency in the Baluchistan province often target security forces there.

Although Pakistan's government claims it has quelled the Baluch separatists' insurgency, violence has persisted in the province.
YANGON, Myanmar (AP) - A court in Myanmar on Friday rejected the appeal of two Reuters journalists convicted of violating the country's Official Secrets Act during their reporting on the country's crackdown on Rohingya Muslims, and maintained the seven-year prison terms they were sentenced to last year.

Judge Aung Naing said in his ruling that lawyers for the men failed to submit enough evidence to prove their innocence.

The conviction of Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo has drawn condemnation from rights groups, Western governments and global press associations and has raised questions about press freedom in Myanmar as it transitions from a decades of military rule.

The men were convicted for having government documents in their possession. They were arrested on Dec. 12, 2017, in the country's main city, Yangon, immediately after having a meal to which police officers had invited them.

The reporters have contended they were framed by police because of official displeasure over their reporting on the brutal crackdown by security forces on minority Rohingya in Myanmar's Rakhine state.

More than 700,000 Rohingya have fled to neighboring Bangladesh in a crackdown that began in August 2017. Critics have described the campaign as ethnic cleansing, or even genocide on the part of Myanmar security forces.

FILE - In this combination file image made from two photos, Reuters journalists Kyaw Soe Oo, left, and Wa Lone, are handcuffed as they are escorted by police out of the court in Yangon, Myanmar Sept. 3, 2018. A court in Myanmar on Friday, Jan. 11, 2019 rejected the appeal of two Reuters journalists convicted of violating the country's Official Secrets Act during their reporting on the country's crackdown on Rohingya Muslims, and maintained the seven-year prison terms they were sentenced to last year. (AP Photo/Thein Zaw, File)

Wa Lone, 32, and Kyaw Soe Oo, 28, had worked on one of the most detailed accounts of official abuses, an investigation of the killing of 10 Rohingya villagers in Inn Din village, for which seven soldiers were eventually sentenced to up to 10 years in prison with hard labor.

"Today's ruling is yet another injustice among many inflicted upon Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo," Reuters Editor-In-Chief Stephen J. Adler said in a statement issued shortly after the judge's ruling. "They remain behind bars for one reason: Those in power sought to silence the truth. Reporting is not a crime, and until Myanmar rights this terrible wrong, the press in Myanmar is not free, and Myanmar's commitment to rule of law and democracy remains in doubt."

European Union ambassador to Myanmar Kristian Schmidt, who attended the hearing, described the ruling as "a great disappointment and a missed opportunity to correct a wrong that has been committed against the two journalists."

"It casts serious doubts on the independence of the judiciary of Myanmar and for people's right to information and learning the truth," he said.

He called for Myanmar's president to have the journalists released immediately and unconditionally.

Lawyers for the men, who did not attend Friday's hearing, had previously said that if their appeal failed, the men would have to hope for a pardon or general amnesty to obtain an early release.

Pan Ei Mon, center, wife of Reuters journalist Wa Lone, walks together with Chit Su Win, right, wife of Reuters journalist Kyaw Soe Oo, upon arrival at the High Court in Yangon, Myanmar Friday, Jan. 11, 2019. A court in Myanmar on Friday rejected the appeal of two Reuters journalists convicted of violating the country's Official Secrets Act during their reporting on the country's crackdown on Rohingya Muslims, and maintained the seven-year prison terms they were sentenced to last year. (AP Photo/Thein Zaw)
BEIJING (AP) - More than 1,000 Chinese fugitives who fled abroad were returned to the country last year and more than $519 million in ill-gotten gains was recovered, the ruling Communist Party said Friday, in what it is seen as a further victory in President Xi Jinping's years-long drive against corruption.

The party's anti-corruption watchdog said among the 1,335 returned were 307 party members or government employees, including five on a list of 100 most-wanted Chinese corruption suspects handed over to Interpol.

They include: Xu Chaofan, the former manager of a branch of the Bank of China in the southern province of Guangdong suspected of embezzling $485 million who fled to the U.S. 17 years ago; and Yao Jinqi, a former deputy county chief who was extradited from Bulgaria, becoming the first fugitive sent home from a European Union country.

China says its four-year-old campaign to return white collar criminals and recover assets has captured more than 5,000 fugitives in all.

The operation known as "Sky Net" marked an extension of the anti-corruption drive Xi launched shortly after taking power more than eight years ago.

The campaign is largely popular and has helped make Xi China's most powerful leader in decades. Critics say it has also been used to remove challenges to Xi's authority and undermines the rule of law since it is spearheaded by the Communist Party, rather than the government.

Domestically, 621,000 people received punishments for corruption last year, including 51 officials at or above the provincial and ministerial level, according to the party watchdog body, the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection.

Along with detaining suspects and seizing assets, graft-busters have also taken extreme measures such as demolishing 1,000 luxury villas built illegally in northern China's Qingling mountains, according to a recent documentary shown on state television.

A weekend conference is expected to set out new anti-corruption priorities for the coming year.
Mayawati also mocked Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP president Amit Shah saying, This press conference will rob the guru-chela of their sleep.

New Delhi: The Samajwadi Party (SP) and the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) announced their tie-up in Uttar Pradesh for the 2019 Lok Sabha polls on Saturday, deciding to contest on 38 seats each out of the total 80 and keeping the Congress out of their alliance. The SP also hinted at supporting BSP president Mayawati as a prime ministerial candidate.

The two regional parties said they would not field candidates in Amethi and Rae Bareli, represented by Congress president Rahul Gandhi and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi respectively. They also left two seats for smaller allies, without naming them. But there have been reports on talks with the Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) for a place in the alliance.

The former arch-rivals announced their Lok Sabha poll arrangement at a joint press conference addressed by BSP chief Mayawati and SP president Akhilesh Yadav in Lucknow. Yeh naye varsh 2019 mein nayi rajnaitik kranti ka sandesh mana jayega (This will be regarded as a new political revolution in the new year 2019), Mayawati said, asserting that the alliance aims to win polls and serve backward communities, including dalits and Muslims. Hinting at a long-term arrangement with the SP, Mayawati said, The alliance will last long, beyond Lok Sabha polls and in the UP Assembly elections.

Mayawati also mocked Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP president Amit Shah saying, This press conference will rob the guru-chela of their sleep.

Referring to the BJPs defeat in Phulpur, Gorakhpur and Kairana parliamentary bypolls last year, she said, I have full confidence that just as our alliance defeated the BJP in the Lok Sabha bypolls, we will crush the saffron party in the general elections.

Reacting to the formalisation of SP-BSP alliance, the BJP said the two parties had come together for their survival, and not for the country or Uttar Pradesh. They know they cannot fight Mr Modi on their own and their opposition to him is the sole basis for their alliance, Union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad told reporters on the sidelines of the partys national convention in Delhi.

With 80 Lok Sabha constituencies, Uttar Pradesh is the most crucial for the BJP to return to power in Lok Sabha. In 2014, the BJP won 71 seats and its ally Apna Dal won two. The SP won five seats and the Congress two, while the BSP drew a blank.

Explaining why the Congress was not included in the alliance, Mayawati said during that partys rule over the years, poverty, unemployment and corruption had grown and there were scams in defence deals.

Just as the Bofors scam uprooted the Congress, the BJP will witness the same fate because of its involvement in the Rafale scam, she said, referring to the graft allegations against the ruling party in a deal for French fighter aircraft.

She said her party had never benefited from its tie-ups with the Congress in the past.

Drawing a parallel between the BJP and the Congress, Mayawati said the Congress had imposed Emergency while the BJP is responsible for an undeclared Emergency.

Mr Yadav also hinted that he would support Mayawati as prime ministerial candidate.

You know whom I will support I have said in the past that UP has always given the PM (to the country), and I will be happy if it gives the PM again, he said in a indirect reference to his support for Mayawati as Prime Minister.

The two leaders did not make it clear whether they will themselves contest the polls, which are to be held by May.

Mayawati accused the BJP of funding Shivpal Yadav, who recently floated the Pragatisheel Samajwadi Party-Lohia, and suggested that his party is being run by the BJP and is meant to split the non-BJP votes. The money will go down the drain, she said.

Referring to a new chapter in BSPs ties with the SP, Mayawati said she had put the 1995 Lucknow guest house incident  when she was attacked by SP supporters  behind her for national interest.

Mr Yadav also returned the favour by asking SP workers to ensure Mayawati gets the respect due to her. Mayawatis respect is my respect. An insult to her is an insult to me. If BJP men or others say anything against her, it will be against me, Mr Yadav said.

To a question on seat-sharing with the RLD in western Uttar Pradesh, Mr Yadav said media would be informed about it in due course.

Peeved over Mayawatis accusation that it was being run by the BJP, Shivpal Yadavs party hit back at the BSP chief, saying everyone knew who had formed the government with the saffron party earlier.

The allegation against Shivpalji is baseless. Everyone in the state knows who formed the government with the BJP, and which party sells ticket and is involved in corruption. Shivpals fight against communalism is four-decade old, said party chief spokesperson C.P. Rai.

This is an alliance of opportunism. Any samajwadi will not accept it, he said.

West Bengal chief minister and Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee welcomed the SP-BSP alliance.
As workers miss paychecks, shutdown set to hit record length

WASHINGTON (AP) - The partial government shutdown was on track Friday to become the longest closure in U.S. history as President Donald Trump and nervous Republicans scrambled to find a way out of the mess. A solution couldn't come soon enough for federal workers who got pay statements Friday but no pay.

The House and Senate voted to give federal workers back pay whenever the federal government reopens and then left town for the weekend, leaving the shutdown on track to become one for the record books once the clock struck midnight and the closure entered its 22nd day. And while Trump privately considered one dramatic escape route - declaring a national emergency to build the wall without a new stream of cash from Congress - members of his own party were fiercely debating that idea, and the president urged Congress to come up with another solution.

"What we're not looking to do right now is national emergency," Trump said. He insisted that he had the authority to do that, adding that he's "not going to do it so fast" because he'd still prefer to work a deal with Congress.

About 800,000 workers missed paychecks Friday, many receiving blank pay statements. Some posted photos of their empty earnings statements on social media as a rallying cry to end the shutdown, a jarring image that many in the White House feared could turn more voters against the president as he holds out for billions in new wall funding.

With polls showing Trump getting most of the blame for the shutdown, the administration accelerated planning for a possible emergency declaration to try to get around Congress and fund the wall from existing sources of federal revenue. The White House explored diverting money for wall construction from a range of other accounts. One idea being considered was diverting some of the $13.9 billion allocated to the Army Corps of Engineers after last year's deadly hurricanes and floods.

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Wisconsin man arrested in teen's abduction, parents' deaths

BARRON, Wis. (AP) - A 21-year-old man killed a Wisconsin couple in a baffling scheme to kidnap their teenage daughter, then held the girl captive for three months before she narrowly managed to escape and reach safety as he drove around looking for her, authorities said.

Jayme Closs, 13, was skinny, disheveled and wearing shoes too big for her when she approached a stranger and pleaded for help Thursday near the small, isolated north woods town of Gordon, where police said she was being held by Jake Thomas Patterson.

Within minutes, Patterson was pulled over and jailed on kidnapping and homicide charges for what authorities said was his meticulously planned shotgun attack at the girl's home in October.

The news that Jayme was safe set off joy and relief 60 miles (96 kilometers) away in her hometown of Barron, population 3,300, ending an all-out search that gripped the state, with many people fearing the worst the longer she was missing.

"My legs started to shake. It was awesome. The stress, the relief - it was awesome," Barron County Sheriff Chris Fitzgerald said, describing the moment he learned Jayme had been found.

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US starts withdrawing supplies, but not troops, from Syria

WASHINGTON (AP) - The U.S. military said Friday it has started pulling equipment, but not troops, out of Syria as a first step in meeting President Donald Trump's demand for a complete military withdrawal. The announcement fueled concern about how quickly the U.S. will abandon its Kurdish allies, amid contradictory statements recently by administration officials on an exit timetable.

The withdrawal began with shipments of military equipment, U.S. defense officials said. But in coming weeks, the contingent of about 2,000 troops is expected to depart even as the White House vows to keep pressure on the Islamic State group. Once the troops are gone, the U.S. will have ended three years of organizing, arming, advising and providing air cover for Syrian, Kurdish and Arab fighters in an open-ended campaign devised by the Obama administration to deal the IS group a lasting defeat.

Uncertainty over the timing and terms of the Syria pullout have raised questions about the Trump administration's broader strategy for fighting Islamic extremism, including Trump's stated intention to reduce U.S. forces in Afghanistan this summer.

U.S. airstrikes against IS in Syria began in September 2014, and ground troops moved in the following year in small numbers.

The U.S. military has a limited network of bases inside Syria. Troops work mostly out of small camps in remote parts of the country's northeast. Also, U.S. troops are among 200 to 300 coalition troops at a garrison in southern Syria known as al-Tanf, where they train and accompany local Syrian opposition forces on patrols to counter the IS group. Al-Tanf is on a vital road linking Iranian-backed forces from Tehran all the way to southern Lebanon - and Israel's doorstep.

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911 audio shows shock, panic after comatose woman gave birth

PHOENIX (AP) - Panicking staff members at a long-term care facility scrambled to save a baby born to an Arizona woman in a vegetative state amid their shock to learn she was pregnant, according to dramatic 911 audio released Friday.

The five minutes of audio from the Dec. 29 birth starts with a frantic nurse at the Phoenix facility yelling, "The baby's turning blue! The baby's turning blue!"

"One of our patients just had a baby, and we had no idea she was pregnant," the nurse said.

An emergency responder asked how far along the mother was in her pregnancy. The nurse, still sounding stunned, said that nobody would know.

"This is a complete surprise. We were not expecting this," she said.

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Democratic Hawaii Rep. Gabbard running for president in 2020

WASHINGTON (AP) - Democratic Rep. Tulsi Gabbard of Hawaii has announced that she is running for president in 2020.

Gabbard said in a CNN interview slated to air Saturday night that she will be formally announcing her candidacy within the next week.

The 37-year-old Iraq War veteran is the first Hindu elected to Congress and the first member born in the U.S. territory of American Samoa. She has visited early primary and caucus states New Hampshire and Iowa in recent months and has written a memoir that's due to be published in May.

Gabbard is joining what is expected to be a crowded Democratic field. Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts has already formed an exploratory committee and is moving quickly with trips across early primary states. California Sen. Kamala Harris, New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker and Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders are all weighing their own presidential bids and are expected to announce decisions in the upcoming weeks. Former Obama administration housing chief Julian Castro plans to announce his run for the presidency on Saturday.

Gabbard's run would not be without controversy. In 2016, she alarmed fellow Democrats when she met with Donald Trump during his transition to president and later when she took a secret trip to Syria and met with President Bashar Assad, who has been accused of war crimes and genocide. She questioned whether he was responsible for a chemical attack on civilians that killed dozens and led the U.S. to attack a Syrian air base.

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Rookie cop following in dad's footsteps shot at crash scene

DAVIS, Calif. (AP) - Natalie Corona was a rising star in her police department with a sparkling smile and a huge heart who had followed in her father's footsteps and became an officer, fulfilling a lifelong dream just a few months ago when her dad pinned the badge on her uniform.

On Friday, her father and a stunned community mourned the 22-year-old who was shot and killed on duty while responding to a multi-vehicle crash in the small college town of Davis, California.

"She's the cop that any community would want," said Lt. Paul Doroshov, a spokesman for the Davis Police Department. "Everybody who met her liked her."

The shooter opened fire as Corona was investigating a three-car crash in the city west of Sacramento, a college town that is home to the University of California, Davis where there has not been a fatal police shooting in nearly 60 years.

The suspect, who has not been identified, was later found dead inside a home with a self-inflicted gunshot wound following a short standoff with officers, the Davis Police Department said Friday.

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Saudi woman fleeing alleged abuse heads for asylum in Canada

BANGKOK (AP) - An 18-year-old Saudi woman who said she was abused by her family and feared for her life if deported back home left Thailand on Friday night for Canada, which has granted her asylum, officials said.

The fast-moving developments capped an eventful week for Rahaf Mohammed Alqunun. She fled her family while visiting Kuwait and flew to Bangkok, where she barricaded herself in an airport hotel to avoid deportation and grabbed global attention by mounting a social media campaign for asylum.

Her case highlighted the cause of women's rights in Saudi Arabia, where several women fleeing abuse by their families have been caught trying to seek asylum abroad in recent years and returned home. Human rights activists say many similar cases go unreported.

Alqunun is flying to Toronto via Seoul, South Korea, according to Thai immigration Police Chief Surachate Hakparn. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau confirmed his country had granted her asylum.

"That is something that we are pleased to do because Canada is a country that understands how important it is to stand up for human rights and to stand up for woman's rights around the world and I can confirm that we have accepted the U.N.'s request," Trudeau said.

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New Florida governor suspends sheriff over school massacre

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) - New Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis suspended Broward County Sheriff Scott Israel on Friday over his handling of February's massacre at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, saying he "repeatedly failed and has demonstrated a pattern of poor leadership."

The Republican governor flew to Fort Lauderdale three days after taking office to remove the Democratic sheriff, appointing a former police sergeant to serve as acting sheriff. Gregory Tony, 40, worked for Coral Springs police for 12 years before leaving in 2016 to start a company specializing in active-shooter training. He is the first African-American to serve as Broward's sheriff.

DeSantis said during a news conference outside the sheriff's office headquarters that Israel failed to keep families and children safe before and during the Feb. 14 shooting that left 14 students and three staff members dead inside the three-story freshman building.

"The neglect of duty and incompetence that was connected to the massacre at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School has been well documented, and I have no interest in dancing on Scott Israel's political grave," DeSantis said. "Suffice it to say, the massacre might never have happened had Broward had better leadership in the sheriff's department."

During the shooting, then-Broward Deputy Scot Peterson, who was assigned to the school, drew his gun but took cover instead of charging inside. Seven other deputies who arrived within minutes also failed to enter, even as officers from neighboring Coral Springs went into the building.

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Hamilton's star reprising role in Puerto Rico to raise funds

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) - Lin-Manuel Miranda is reprising his lead role in the hit musical "Hamilton" on Friday night to start a two-week run in Puerto Rico expected to raise thousands of dollars for artists and cultural groups struggling in the wake of Hurricane Maria.

Dozens of fans chatted excitedly outside the show's venue in San Juan as they waited in line to pick up tickets that ranged from $10 to $5,000.

Among them was Yolanda Hernandez, a nurse from the northwest coastal town of Aguadilla who drove nearly two hours to the island's capital for the show.

"He's a Boricua and we want to see that Boricua!" she exclaimed, using the popular nickname for a Puerto Rican. "We're waiting to hear that beautiful voice. I've never been to a musical."

Hernandez, like several other Puerto Ricans who waited for the doors to open, snapped up her ticket thanks to a lottery launched by "Hamilton" organizers who are selling 275 tickets for every performance at $10 each.

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Jury decides to strip Mongols biker gang of trademark logo

LOS ANGELES (AP) - A California jury decided Friday that the Mongols motorcycle gang should be stripped of its trademarked logo in a first-of-its-kind verdict, federal prosecutors said.

The jury in U.S. District Court in Santa Ana previously found Mongol Nation, the entity that owns the image of a Mongol warrior on a chopper, guilty of racketeering and conspiracy.

The verdict caps an unusual decade-long quest by prosecutors to dismantle the gang responsible for drug dealing and murder by seizing control of the trademark they said was core to the gang's identity.

Gang members were "empowered by these symbols that they wear like armor," Assistant U.S. Attorney Steve Welk said.

The forfeiture still needs to be approved by a federal judge and the practical effect of such an order was not immediately clear. When prosecutors announced the charges in 2008 they said a forfeiture order would allow any law enforcement officer to stop a gang member and "literally take the jacket right off his back," according to court papers.
PUERTO LEMPIRA, Honduras (AP) - Saul Ronaldo Atiliano was diving for lobster in the clear waters off Honduras' Caribbean coast when he felt a pressure, a pain in his body. And he knew he'd gotten the sickness that has killed or disabled so many of his Miskito comrades.

"The pressure attacked me deep in the water," said Atiliano, a 45-year-old Miskito who for 25 years has dived for lobster, most of which is exported to the United States.

Thousands of men across the Mosquitia region of Honduras and Nicaragua depend on lobster fishing to eke out a living. And like Atiliano, hundreds have been stricken with the bends - decompression sickness caused when nitrogen bubbles form in divers' bodies. Some are paralyzed. Some are killed.

With more than 60 percent of its 9 million people living in poverty, Honduras is one of the poorest countries in Latin America, and the Mosquitia is one of the most impoverished areas.

Among exotic, tropical vegetation along the Caribbean coast, the region is sprinkled with small fishing villages where indigenous villagers live in clapboard houses. A sign of the poverty - and also the innocence of childhood - kids play with trucks made of plastic juice boxes with lids for wheels. For many grown-ups, the only option they've found to cope with poverty is diving, no matter the risks.

In the Mosquitia, diving permeates everyday life. In the fishing village of Kaukira, worshippers are called to church by the sound of a hammer on a diving tank instead of a bell.

In this Sept. 1, 2018 photo, men ride past on their horses, in Irlaya, Honduras. Among exotic, tropical vegetation along the Caribbean coast, the Mosquitia region is sprinkled with small fishing villages where residents live in clapboard houses.. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd)

Safe standard diving techniques call for a gradual ascent to the surface to eliminate the nitrogen that the body's tissues absorb during a dive, and for a limit to the number of dives a person makes in a day.

But many of the divers of Mosquitia dive deeply, surface quickly and then go back for more, racing to collect as much lobster as possible. The boats, where they spend days playing cards and talking among themselves between dives, often have only rudimentary safety equipment and use aging tanks and masks.

Just how many have been stricken is somewhat unclear, though all agree it's a large number for such small communities.

Jorge Gomez Santos, a former president of the Association of Disabled Honduran Miskito Divers, said this month that at least 2,200 Miskitos now work on the boats, and he said at least 1,300 have been disabled since 1980. Gomez, who uses a wheelchair, said 14 have died this year alone.

A study more than a decade ago cited by the Pan American Health Organization reported there were around 9,000 divers in the Mosquitia, and around 4,200 - 47 percent - were disabled by decompression sickness. Nearly all, it found, had suffered symptoms.

A diver makes 75 lempiras ($3) per pound of lobster and 7 lempiras (28 cents) for each sea cucumber. An average 10-pound (4.5-kilogram) daily haul of lobster is a windfall in one of the most impoverished regions of the Americas, so many take the risk, and many suffer for it, like Atiliano, who dove for 25 years without a problem until that day in September.

The father of 10 was paralyzed on the boat, which didn't reach the docks for another day and a half. Fellow divers then drove him about 10 blocks to the hospital with a U.S.-donated hyperbaric chamber in Puerto Lempira, the area's largest city.

Decompression sickness is usually treatable with sessions in such high-pressure, oxygen-rich chambers, but there are only a few available along the coast, and divers often must wait several days before they can be treated - reducing the chances of recovery.

"It's the first accident I've had," Atiliano said, speaking in Miskito through a translator. He appeared exhausted, with a blank stare, after a session of more than three hours in the chamber. He had shown little outward sign of improvement after that early treatment.

Another patient at the chamber was Charles "Charly" Melendez, a 28-year-old Miskito who said he been diving since he was 16 and had harvested 60 pounds of lobster on the day in November 2017 that he was injured.

Even now, after nine sessions, he hasn't recovered. For a man who always made his living diving, it's a nightmare being confined to a wheelchair.

"I still can't stand up by myself," he said. "I can't sit for a long time; after an hour my body hurts."

Cedrack Waldan Mendoza, the physical therapist operating the chamber, said the divers are driven by poverty, and even if injured, return to the boats.

"You run into them in the street and ask them why they're going (back to diving) and they say it's because their kids are hungry," Waldan Mendoza said. "When someone tells you that their kids are hungry there's no need to ask another question."

Atiliano and Melendez are among the most vulnerable cogs in the lobster industry, which generated $40 million in sales for Honduras in 2017, nearly all of it from the U.S. market.

Atiliano said he expects to return to sea, not because he wants to, but for lack of options.

"If I recover, by necessity and for lack of work I'll have to go back to diving," he said.

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Associated Press writer Freddy Cuevas in Tegucigalpa, Honduras, contributed to this report.

In this Sept. 2, 2018 photo, dogs eat scraps left by family and friends attending the funeral of Miskito diver Oscar Salomon Charly, in Cabo Gracias a Dios, Nicaragua. The 31-year-old, who was diving for lobster in Honduras, died after he was stricken with a severe case of decompression sickness. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd)

In this Feb. 6, 2018 photo, Charles Melendez, 5, and his 4-year-old brother Jefferson, play with their father's wheelchair while he rests, in Puerto Lempira, Honduras. The boys' father, a lobster diver, is recovering from decompression sickness which has left him paralyzed from the waist down. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd)

In this Sept. 4, 2018 photo, Saul Ronaldo Atiliano, 45, is carried by comrades while arriving to Puerto Lempira, Honduras, after suffering decompression syndrome while fishing for lobsters in the ocean. Some divers become victims of a what medical science calls "decompression sickness," an illness caused when nitrogen bubbles form in divers' bodies potentially causing paralysis and even death. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd)

In this Sept. 11, 2018 photo, Miskito divers sleep on hammocks on their last night of a 13-day fishing trip, surrounded by empty oxygen tanks, left, and their catch of sea cucumbers, right lower corner, as they are transported from Cay Savannah to Kaukira, Honduras. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd)

In this Sept. 9, 2018 photo, Miskito divers eat a breakfast of rice, beans and bananas before the start of their work day, in Cay Savannah, Honduras. When not in Caribbean waters the divers are lodged in a small wooden house provided by the boat owners. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd)

In this Sept. 9, 2018 photo, a diver holds onto his catch of lobsters during a fishing journey in the Miskito coast near Cay Savannah, Honduras. A diver makes 75 lempiras ($3) per pound of lobster. An average 10-pound daily haul of lobster is a windfall for people in one of the most impoverished regions of the Americas, so many take the risk, and many suffer for it. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd)

In this Sept. 10, 2018 photo, a diver prepares to plunge into Caribbean waters in the Miskito coast, near Cay Savannah, Honduras, in search of sea cucumbers under a heavy rain. A diver, who makes seven lempiras or about 28 U.S. cents per sea cucumber, will catch anywhere between 10 and 30 in a day. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd)

In this Sept. 9, 2018 photo, a worker cleans a batch of lobsters near Cay Savannah, Honduras. After the lobsters are cleaned they are stored in the ship's large freezers. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd)

In this Sept. 10, 2018 photo, Miskito divers play a game of cards on a ship's stern as they are transported home after a two week fishing trip, near Savannah Cay, Honduras. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd)

In this Sept. 9, 2018 photo, Rudy Emus Alfred, 19, dives for sea cucumbers near Cay Savannah, in the Miskito coast, Honduras. According to Miskito mythology, the mermaid Liwa Mairin punishes divers who over harvest from the sea with what divers call "el golpe" or "fracasar", also known as the bends. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd)

In this Sept. 10, 2018 photo, Miskito fishermen push a boat onto the shore on Savannah Cay, Honduras, at the end of a fishing trip. Thousands of men across the Mosquitia region of Honduras and Nicaragua depend on lobster and sea cucumber fishing to ease poverty. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd)

This Sept. 4, 2018 photo shows palm trees as the day begins to break in Irlaya, Honduras. With more than 60 per cent of its 9 million population living in poverty, Honduras is one of the poorest countries in Latin America, and the Mosquitia is one of the most impoverished areas. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd)

In this Feb. 9, 2018 photo, a man takes a nap inside a makeshift restaurant in Puerto Lempira, Honduras. With more than 60 per cent of its 9 million population living in poverty, Honduras is one of the poorest countries in Latin America, and the Mosquitia is one of the most impoverished areas. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd)

In this Feb. 11, 2018 photo, Elvira Mendoza Espinosa, hits a diving tank with a hammer announcing the start of the morning Mass, outside the Moravian church in Kaukira, Honduras. In the Mosquitia, diving permeates everyday life, as it does in Kaukira, one of the villages on the Mosquitia. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd)

In this Jan 31, 2018 photo, 28-year-old lobster diver Charles "Charly" Melendez puts his hands over his face in frustration as he comes to terms with having to rely on a wheelchair to get around, in Puerto Lempira, Honduras. For a man who always made his living diving, it's a nightmare being confined to a wheelchair. "I still can't stand up by myself," he said. "I can't sit for a long time; after an hour my body hurts." (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd)

In this Sept. 1, 2018 photo, a man bathes in a mangrove swamp in Irlaya, Honduras. Among exotic, tropical vegetation along the Caribbean coast, the Mosquitia region is sprinkled with small fishing villages where residents live in clapboard houses, most with no indoor bathrooms. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd)

In this Feb. 10, 2018 photo, evangelical pastors preach to inmates inside a prison in Puerto Lempira, Honduras. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd)

In this Feb. 10, 2018 photo, Miskito divers wait to board a boat for a two week fishing trip to harvest sea cucumbers, in Krata, Honduras. Thousands of men across the Mosquitia region of Honduras and Nicaragua depend on lobster and sea cucumber fishing to ease poverty. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd)

In this Feb 1, 2018 photo, Angel Ponce takes a swig of rum, in Puerto Lempira, Honduras. Among exotic, tropical vegetation along the Caribbean coast, the Mosquitia region is sprinkled with small fishing villages. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd)

In this Jan. 30, 2018 photo, Miskito diver Charles "Charly" Melendez, 28, is carried by his 10-year-old son Jason and wife Kenia from their rented room along the shore in Puerto Lempira, Honduras, to a smoother ground for his wheelchair. Melendez said he been diving since he was 16 and had harvested 60 pounds of lobster on the day he was left paralyzed by decompression sickness. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd)

In this Jan 31, 2018 photo, paralyzed by decompression sickness in 2017, lobster diver Charles "Charly" Melendez, 28, stares at the ceiling lying on the floorboards of a rented room surrounded by his children, in Puerto Lempira, Honduras. Even now, after nine sessions of a high-pressure, oxygen-rich hyperbaric chamber, he hasn't recovered. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd)

In this Feb. 9, 2018 photo, paralyzed by decompression sickness, lobster diver Misael Banegas Diaz, 49, is lifted by physical therapist Cedrak Waldan Mendoza into a hyperbaric chamber at the hospital in Puerto Lempira, Honduras. Waldan Mendoza said the divers are driven by poverty, and even if injured, they return to the boats. "You run into them in the street and ask them why they're going (back to diving) and they say it's because their kids are hungry." (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd)

In this Feb. 7, 2018 photo, Miskito divers stricken with decompression sickness climb into a hyperbaric chamber at the hospital in Puerto Lempira, Honduras. Standard diving techniques call for a gradual ascent to the surface to eliminate the nitrogen that the body's tissues absorb during a dive. But many of the divers of Mosquitia dive deeply, surface quickly and then go back for more, racing to collect as much lobster as possible. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd)

In this Sept. 5, 2018 photo, supervised by a Honduran Army soldier, students practice their routine they plan to perform in an independence military parade, in Puerto Lempira, Honduras. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd)

In this Feb. 6, 2018 photo, children hold onto to their crafted toy trucks from plastic juice boxes with lids for wheels, in Puerto Lempira, Honduras. A sign of the poverty, boys craft toys from recycled material. For grown-ups, the only option they've found to deal with poverty is diving, no matter the risks. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd)

In this Sept. 2, 2018 photo, relatives and friends carry the coffin that contains the remains of Miskito diver Oscar Salomon Charly, 31, to be transported via a boat to a nearby cemetery, in Cabo Gracias a Dios, Nicaragua. Charly died in Honduras after suffering a severe case of decompression sickness. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd)

In this Sept. 2, 2018 photo, Sonia Wills, left, accompanied by relatives, mourns over the coffin that contains the remains of her 31-year-old son Miskito diver Oscar Salomon Charly, during a wake in her home in Cabo Gracias a Dios, Nicaragua. Thousands of men across the Mosquitia region of Honduras and Nicaragua depend on lobster fishing to ease poverty, and hundreds have been stricken with the bends. Some end up paralyzed. Some killed. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd)
TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) - Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen appointed a close political ally as premier during a Cabinet reshuffle Friday following the ruling party's heavy election losses and growing pressure from rival China.

Su Tseng-chang took charge of the Cabinet amid tense relations with Beijing, which threatens to use force to take control of the island it claims as its own. China responded to Tsai's 2016 victory by cutting all contacts with her government and has ratcheted up economic and diplomatic pressure on the self-governing democracy.

The opposition Nationalist Party, which favors closer ties with Beijing, won 15 of 22 major seats in the Nov. 24 local elections, including in the ruling Democratic Progressive Party's southern stronghold of Kaohsiung. Soon after, Tsai resigned as chair of the DPP, which rejects China's demands for unification with the mainland.

Analysts attributed the DPP's election losses to disappointment with the performance of Tsai's government, which had won a broad mandate, including seizing a majority in the legislature from the Nationalists for the first time since full democracy was attained three decades ago.

"The people expect us to improve livelihoods. The people expect us to protect democracy. The people expect us to safeguard sovereignty," Tsai said at a ceremony at the Presidential Office Building. "These challenges need an experienced premier such as Su Tseng-chang to overcome."

Su thanked Tsai for her trust and support, adding, "Now, I will lead the team and roll up my sleeves to satisfy the people's expectations and respond to people's interests."

Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen, center, holds hands with Su Tseng-chang, right, and William Lai in Taipei, Taiwan, Friday, Jan. 11, 2019. Tsai appointed a close political ally. Su, Friday as premier during a Cabinet reshuffle following the ruling Democratic Progressive Party's heavy losses in local elections. Su took charge of the Cabinet amid tense relations with China, which threatens to use force to take control of the island it claims as its own. (Eiichi Shiozawa/Kyodo News via AP)

China's pressure campaign has increased Taiwan's international isolation, reducing its number of diplomatic allies to just 17, excluding its representatives to international gatherings, and forcing international companies to designate Taiwan as a part of China. Chinese President Xi Jinping renewed the threat of invasion in a Jan. 2 address, saying the ruling communists "made no promises to abandon the use of force."

The island's high-tech economy continues to grow at a sluggish pace, and salaries for graduates have remained flat, increasing the lure of opportunities in China. Efforts at pension and fiscal reform have also been unpopular.

Su, 71, was a human rights lawyer and co-founder of the DPP during the former martial law era under the Nationalists, who shifted their government from China to Taiwan after defeat by the communists on the mainland in 1949.

He previously served as premier in 2006-07, as well as party chairman, legislator and county magistrate.
FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) - The Latest on an effort to oust a Muslim surgeon from a top position in a local Texas Republican Party (all times local):

9:30 p.m.

Republicans in one of the most populous counties in Texas have voted to support a Muslim doctor as a party vice chairman following infighting over some members' claims about his beliefs.

The executive committee of the Tarrant County Republican Party voted late Thursday to keep Shahid Shafi in office. Shafi is a surgeon and City Council member in suburban Fort Worth.

A party precinct chairwoman had led the call to oust Shafi on claims that he may be more loyal to Islamic law or connected to a terrorist group. Shafi denied both claims and other Republicans have called them bigoted.

Former county GOP leader William Busby earlier told the Fort Worth Star-Telegram that some large corporate donors "don't want to be associated with a party that's going in the direction of excluding people based upon their religious beliefs."

FILE - In this Dec. 1, 2018, file photo, Dr. Shahid Shafi, speaks before members of the State Republican Executive Committee, following a vote in favor of resolution that opposes an effort by the Tarrant County Republican Party (TCRP) to remove him as vice chair because of his religion, during the committee's quarterly meeting on Saturday, Dec. 1, 2018, in Austin. (Amanda Voisard/Austin American-Statesman via AP)

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1:15 p.m.

Republicans in one of Texas' most populous counties are scheduled to decide whether to remove a Muslim doctor as a party vice chairman amid infighting over some members' claims about his beliefs.

A precinct chairman in Tarrant County has led the call to oust Shahid Shafi, a surgeon and City Council member in suburban Fort Worth. Top Republicans have condemned the effort, including U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz and Land Commissioner George P. Bush.

A meeting is set for Thursday night.

Some party members claim Shafi may be more loyal to Islamic law or connected to a terrorist group. Shafi denies both claims.

Former county GOP leader William Busby says the issue is affecting fundraising. He tells the Fort Worth Star-Telegram that some large corporate donors "don't want to be associated with a party that's going in the direction of excluding people based upon their religious beliefs."
BARRON, Wis. (AP) - The Latest on authorities in Wisconsin finding 13-year-old Jayme Closs alive nearly three months after her parents were killed and she disappeared (all times local):

11:30 p.m.

A Wisconsin couple is describing the dramatic moments when a neighbor pounded on their door to say she had stumbled across Jayme Closs, a 13-year-old girl who had been missing nearly three months.

Kristin and Peter Kasinskas say their neighbor had a skinny, dirty girl with matted hair standing next to her. The neighbor shouted, "This is Jayme Closs! Call 911!"

Peter Kasinskas tells the Minneapolis Star Tribune that Jayme was quiet and showed little emotion. He says she told them she didn't know where she was or anything about Gordon, the small town near where she was found.

Jayme's parents were killed in October at the family's home near Barron and Jayme went missing. The place where she was found is a little more than an hour's drive to the north.

FILE - In this Oct. 17, 2018, file photo, Barron County Sheriff Chris Fitzgerald speaks during a news conference about 13-year-old Jayme Closs who has been missing since her parents were found dead in their home in Barron, Wis. The northwest Wisconsin girl who went missing in October after her parents were killed has been found alive, authorities said Thursday, Jan. 10, 2019. (Jerry Holt/Star Tribune via AP, File)

Authorities say they have a suspect in custody and planned to release more information Friday.

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10:50 p.m.

A town official says a Wisconsin girl who turned up safe after being missing nearly three months was found in a small forested area of cabin-like homes about 6 miles east of the small Town of Gordon.

Jayme Closs was found Thursday afternoon in northwestern Wisconsin, about 65 miles north of where her parents were shot to death and Jayme vanished from their home in October.

Denny Kline, board chairman in the Town of Gordon, says he first learned Jayme was found while listening to a police scanner, which he has for work. He says he heard Jayme was walking down the road and someone stopped near her.

Kline says he heard on the scanner that Jayme told them who she was, and they brought her to their home.

The Associated Press was not able to verify Kline's account with authorities late Thursday. The non-emergency line at the Douglas County Sheriff's Office rang unanswered and Sheriff Thomas Dalbec didn't respond to an email.

Authorities say a suspect is in custody but aren't giving other details ahead of a Friday news conference.

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9:40 p.m.

Wisconsin authorities say a teenager missing since her parents were killed in October was found alive in a tiny town about 40 miles south of Lake Superior.

Thirteen-year-old Jayme Closs went missing Oct. 15 when her parents were found dead in the family's home near Barron in northwestern Wisconsin. The Barron County Sheriff's Department posted on its Facebook page Thursday evening that she had been found alive in Douglas County, Wisconsin, which borders Lake Superior.

The Douglas County Sheriff's Department posted a note on its website saying Jayme was "located" in the Town of Gordon at 4:43 p.m. Thursday and a suspect was apprehended in the town about 10 minutes later. The note offered no other details. The department's non-emergency line rang unanswered Thursday evening and Sheriff Thomas Dalbec didn't immediately respond to an email.

The Town of Gordon lies about 65 miles north of Barron.

Jayme's grandfather, Robert Naiberg, tells the Minneapolis Star Tribune that the teen was being treated at a hospital before being reunited with family.

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9 p.m.

A Wisconsin mayor says he's overjoyed that a teenager missing since her parents were killed in October has been found alive

Thirteen-year-old Jayme Closs went missing Oct. 15, when her parents were found dead in the family's home near Barron in northwestern Wisconsin. The Barron County Sheriff's Department posted on its Facebook page Thursday evening that Jayme had been found alive in Douglas County, Wisconsin, which borders Lake Superior.

Authorities are planning a news conference Friday morning. They say they have a suspect in custody but won't give more details until then.

Barron Mayor Ron Fladten says he hasn't heard any details about Closs' discovery. He says knowing she's been found is "unbelievable. It's like taking a big black cloud in the sky and getting rid of it and the sun comes out again."

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8:55 p.m.

The cousin of a 13-year-old Wisconsin girl who was missing almost three months before being found safe Thursday is thanking law enforcement and the community for support.

Lacey Naiberg posted on Facebook after the Barron County sheriff reported that Jayme Closs had been found. Jayme went missing in October after her parents were killed at the family home in northern Wisconsin.

Naiberg wrote "there are no words to describe" the feeling of having so many people come together to help. She asks people to continue to pray for "Jayme's well-being and our families healing."

Authorities say a suspect is in custody, but say they won't release any more information ahead of a news conference Friday.

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8:29 p.m.

Authorities in northwestern Wisconsin say a 13-year-old girl who went missing in October after her parents were killed has been found alive.

The Barron County Sheriff's Department said on its Facebook page that Jayme Closs has been located Thursday and that a suspect was taken into custody.

Sheriff Chris Fitzgerald says the sheriff's office in Douglas County, about 70 miles north of Barron County, located the girl. A suspect was apprehended a short time later. The statement did not say where Jayme was found or give any further information about the suspect.

The sheriff's office plans to hold a news conference Friday morning to discuss the case.

Jayme Closs has been missing since her parents were found dead Oct. 15 at the family's home near Barron.

FILE - This undated file photo provided by Barron County, Wis., Sheriff's Department, shows Jayme Closs, who was discovered missing Oct. 15, 2018, after her parents were found fatally shot at their home in Barron, Wis. The Barron County Sheriff's Department said on its Facebook page Thursday, Jan. 10, 2019, that Closs who went missing in October after her parents were killed has now been located and that a suspect was taken into custody. (Courtesy of Barron County Sheriff's Department via AP, File)

FILE - In this Oct. 23, 2018, file photo, volunteers cross a creek and barbed wire near Barron, Wis., on their way to a ground search for 13-year-old Jayme Closs who was discovered missing Oct. 15 after her parents were found fatally shot at their home. The Barron County Sheriff's Department said on its Facebook page that that the teenager Closs has been located Thursday, Jan. 10, 2019, and that a suspect was taken into custody. (AP Photo/Jeff Baenen, File)
JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) - A landslide engulfed children playing near a cliff in central Indonesia, killing one and injuring several, the country's disaster agency said Friday.

Agency spokesman Sutopo Purwo Nugroho posted a video online that showed frantic villagers pulling a limp child out of sodden earth on Thursday afternoon.

He said that three children out of a group of six were injured and two were safe. They were playing by rail tracks in a hilly area when the landslide suddenly hit in Java's Sukabumi district, about 100 kilometers (60 miles) south of the capital, Jakarta.

Deadly landslides and floods occur regularly during seasonal rains in Indonesia.

A landslide in Sukabumi on the main island of Java earlier this month killed 32 people.
MADISON, Wis. (AP) - A 13-year-old northwestern Wisconsin girl who went missing in October after her parents were killed has been found alive in a rural town about an hour from her home, authorities said Thursday.

The Barron County Sheriff's Department said on its Facebook page that Jayme Closs has been located and that a suspect was taken into custody. Sheriff Chris Fitzgerald said Jayme was expected to be reunited with her family Thursday night.

Fitzgerald said authorities in Douglas County, about 70 miles north of Barron County, located the girl. The Douglas County Sheriff's Office confirmed on its website that Jayme was found in the Town of Gordon at 4:43 p.m. Thursday, and that a suspect was taken into custody 11 minutes later.

Neither statement gave any further information about the suspect. Jayme's grandfather, Robert Naiberg, told the Minneapolis Star Tribune that Jayme was being treated at a hospital.

Sue Allard, Jayme's aunt, told the Star Tribune that she could barely express her joy after learning the news Thursday night.

"Praise the Lord," Allard said between sobs. "It's the news we've been waiting on for three months. I can't wait to get my arms around her. I just can't wait."

FILE - This undated file photo provided by Barron County, Wis., Sheriff's Department, shows Jayme Closs, who was discovered missing Oct. 15, 2018, after her parents were found fatally shot at their home in Barron, Wis. The Barron County Sheriff's Department said on its Facebook page Thursday, Jan. 10, 2019, that Closs who went missing in October after her parents were killed has now been located and that a suspect was taken into custody. (Courtesy of Barron County Sheriff's Department via AP, File)

The Barron County sheriff's office plans to hold a news conference Friday morning to discuss the case. Gillian Drummond, a spokeswoman for the Wisconsin Department of Justice, and Leonard Peace, a spokesman for the FBI in Wisconsin, declined comment Thursday evening. Both agencies have been involved in the search for Jayme.

Jayme has been missing since her parents, James and Denise Closs, were found shot to death Oct. 15 in the family's home near Barron. Investigators said Jayme was quickly ruled out as a suspect.

Detectives pursued thousands of tips, watched dozens of surveillance videos and conducted numerous searches in the effort to find Jayme. Some tips led officials to recruit 2,000 volunteers for a massive ground search on Oct. 23 but it yielded no clues.

Fitzgerald said in November that he kept similar cases in the back of his mind as he worked to find Jayme, including the abduction of Elizabeth Smart, who was taken from her Salt Lake City home in 2002, when she was 14 years old. She was rescued nine months later with the help of two witnesses who recognized her abductors from an "America's Most Wanted" episode.

"I have a gut feeling she's (Jayme's) still alive. I've always been a glass half-full kind of guy," Fitzgerald said at the time.

The Town of Gordon lies about 40 miles south of the Lake Superior shoreline and 65 miles north of Barron, where the Closs family lived. Gordon is home to about 645 people. The area is heavily forested. Logging is the top industry in the region.

Town Chairman Denny Kline said Jayme was found about six miles east of town. He described the area as a small-town development with single-family, cabin-like homes.

He said he first learned Jayme had been found while listening to a police scanner, adding that he heard Jayme was walking down the road and someone stopped near her. Kline said he heard over the scanner that Jayme told them who she was and they brought her to their home.

"A lot of people were very concerned, did a lot of praying and all that," he said. "Prayers were answered, for finding her, anyway."

Resident Kristin Kasinskas told the Star Tribune that a neighbor waking a dog knocked on her door Thursday afternoon. Standing with her was a skinny, dirty girl with matted hair, wearing shoes too big for her feet.

"This is Jayme Closs! Call 911!" the neighbor said to Kasinskas. Jayme was quiet, her emotions "pretty flat," Kasinskas' husband, Peter, said.

The woman who found Jayme asked the newspaper not to use her name.

In the 20 minutes Jayme was in their home, the Kasinskas tried to make her feel more comfortable, they said. They offered her water and food, but she declined both.

Jayme told the couple she didn't know where she was or anything about Gordon. From what she told them, they believe she was there for most of her disappearance.

"I honestly still think I'm dreaming right now. It was like I was seeing a ghost," Peter Kasinskas said. "My jaw just went to the floor."

The Associated Press was not able to verify the Kasinskases' account with authorities late Thursday. The non-emergency line at the Douglas County Sheriff's Office rang unanswered and Sheriff Thomas Dalbec didn't respond to an email.

Barron Mayor Ron Fladten said Thursday night he hadn't heard any details about Jayme's discovery yet but was overjoyed at learning she is alive.

"There was a lot of discouragement because this took quite a while to play out," Fladten said. "A lot of people have been praying daily, as I have. It's just a great result we got tonight. It's unbelievable. It's like taking a big black cloud in the sky and getting rid of it and the sun comes out again."

He acknowledged that Jayme may not be the same person she was before she disappeared.

"I hope that she's in good shape," the mayor said. "She's no doubt been through just a terrible ordeal. I think everybody wishes her a good recovery and a happy life going into the future."

The notification that Jayme had been found came just four hours after Fitzgerald had taken to Twitter to debunk a report that she had been found alive near Walworth County. Douglas County, where Jayme was found, is hundreds of miles northwest of Walworth County.

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Associated Press writer Amy Forliti in Minneapolis contributed to this report.

FILE - In this Oct. 17, 2018, file photo, Barron County Sheriff Chris Fitzgerald speaks during a news conference about 13-year-old Jayme Closs who has been missing since her parents were found dead in their home in Barron, Wis. The northwest Wisconsin girl who went missing in October after her parents were killed has been found alive, authorities said Thursday, Jan. 10, 2019. (Jerry Holt/Star Tribune via AP, File)

FILE - In this Oct. 23, 2018, file photo, a Barron County, Wis., sheriff's vehicle is parked outside the home where James Closs and Denise Closs were found fatally shot on Oct. 15. The Barron County Sheriff's Department said on its Facebook page that the missing teenager Jayme Closs has been found alive Thursday, Jan. 10, 2019, and that a suspect was taken into custody. (AP Photo/Jeff Baenen, File)
BROOKSVILLE, Fla. (AP) - Authorities say a man was hit in the head by the main rotor blades and killed while working on a helicopter at a Florida airport.

A Hernando County Sheriff's Office news release say 62-year-old Salvatore Disi died Thursday afternoon near the hangars at Brooksville-Tampa Bay Regional Airport.

Officials say two men were using a power cart to jumpstart a helicopter when, for an unknown reason, the helicopter suddenly jerked up and then came down. The sheriff's statement says the motion caused the main rotor blades to strike Disi in the head, killing him instantly.

Sheriff Al Nienhuis said at a news conference that there was no sign of foul play. He says his office has contacted that Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation Safety Board.
JONESBOROUGH, Tenn. (AP) - A Tennessee couple accused of locking an autistic child in a cage have been given probation after pleading guilty to a lesser charge.

News outlets report Mickey Sparks and Patricia Laws pleaded guilty Thursday to child neglect in Washington County. Each is to serve a year of probation. They had been charged with aggravated child neglect prior to the plea deal.

Investigators said they found the then-10-year-old girl locked inside a cage in the couple's Jonesborough home in February 2017. She was removed from the home and is in state care.

According to court documents, Sparks and Laws said they had been using the cage for three to four years.
MEXICO CITY (AP) - Nicaraguan media reported Thursday that a Supreme Court justice has resigned with a scathing open letter to President Daniel Ortega, who faced down anti-government protests last year by unleashing security forces and allied groups against demonstrators.

The letter circulating widely on social media was accompanied by a photograph of judge Rafael Solis Cerda's government-issued ID. The letter's authenticity could not be independently confirmed. A message to Solis was not immediately answered.

The government did not immediately comment.

Solis is a long-time member of Ortega's Sandinista Front party, but his letter said Ortega and his wife, Vice President Rosario Murillo, are dragging Nicaragua toward a civil war.

"I fought against a dictatorship and I never believed that history would repeat itself on account of those who also fought against that same dictatorship," the letter said.

Solis noted the at least 325 people estimated by the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights to have died in the violent repression of street protests that began April 18, 2018, initially over since canceled social security cuts. Since the protests were banned and the government regained control of the streets, leaders and even participants of the public opposition have been arrested and jailed.

Nicaragua's President Daniel Ortega arrives to the Supreme Court for the inauguration ceremony of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro in Caracas, Venezuela, Thursday, Jan. 10, 2019. Maduro will be sworn in to a second term amid international calls for him to step down and a devastating economic crisis, but with some long-time friends in attendance both from abroad and at home. (AP Photo/Ariana Cubillos)

Ortega and Murillo have maintained that the government was responding as necessary to a failed coup attempt. They said foreign interests banded together with Nicaragua's opposition to bring down the government.

But Solis' letter said there was never a coup attempt and the government responded to dissent with "an irrational use of force."

Last month, the government shut down several human rights groups and independent media outlets. It also expelled teams from two branches of the Organization of American States that were investigating allegations of human rights violations.

Solis' letter said he considered resigning last year, but had hoped Ortega and Murillo would enter a genuine dialogue with their opponents. He said suggestions that he offered Ortega on negotiating an end to the political crisis were disregarded.

The judge's resignation marks the highest level defection from Ortega's government since the crisis began. Still, Solis will likely still face harsh criticism from the opposition, because until his resignation he and the other justices have been seen as staunch backers of Ortega's government, including allowing him to run for re-election.

In his letter, Solis said the judiciary's compliance with Ortega owed to the "state of terror" created and the knowledge that any resistance would simply result in judges being removed from their positions.

The Organization of American States planned to discuss the situation in Nicaragua on Friday in Washington.
Hitting back at Mr Modi for his remarks, the Congress said the fight in the upcoming general elections will be between dictatorship and democracy.

New Delhi: Dismissing efforts by Opposition parties to stitch up a grand alliance ahead of the coming Lok Sabha elections as Indian political historys failed attempt, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said political outfits which were forged to challenge the Congress have surrendered before it and for the first time political parties are making efforts to come together not over a common vision but against one man (Mr Modi).

In his valedictory remarks on the concluding day of the national council of the BJP at Ramlila Maidan in New Delhi, which has launched the NaMo Again campaign, Mr Modi said the Opposition parties are making efforts to form a majboor (incapable) government to continue their corrupt deals and favour their relatives and friends, while what the nation wants is a majboot (strong) government. Mr Modi asserted that the NDA government has fulfilled its poll promise of Sabka Saath Sabka Vikas and Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat (development of all regions). He also raised the Ram Mandir issue but only to blame the Congress for creating hurdles in the path of resolution of the legal case.

Hitting back at Mr Modi for his remarks, the Congress said the fight in the upcoming general elections will be between dictatorship and democracy.

Addressing a press conference at the party office here, senior Congress leader Manish Tewari said, The fight for Lok Sabha polls will be between dictatorship and democracy.

Invoking Swami Vivekanandas mantra of Arise, awake and stop not till the goal is reached before the party cadre, Mr Modi said the coming electoral battle will be between those favouring the sultanat (dynasty) and those who have faith in the Samvidhan (the Constitution), adding that the country will choose its next pradhan sevak between an honest, hard working hard man and those who are on vacation when needed at home and are corrupt. He claimed that the NDA government remains untainted and the country is moving towards righteousness and the party leaders should highlight this.

We want a strong government so that we can put an end to corruption. These days a failed experiment is taking place in the country, which is known as the grand alliance. They have all gathered together to make a helpless government. They dont want a strong government which will lead to shutting down their shops, Mr Modi said. His comments came on a day when regional satraps, Akhilesh Yadav of the SP and Mayawati of the BSP, announced a pre-poll alliance for the Lok Sabha polls.

In his address, Mr Modi not only highlighted his governments achievements and the measures taken for the youth, including the recent 10 per cent reservation for the general category, farmers, to strengthen the economy, but also delved into the partys core issue of Ram Mandir, though only to the point of criticising the Congress for impeding the judicial process through its lawyers and considering bringing an impeachment motion against the then Chief Justice of India, Deepak Misra, who was heading the Supreme Court bench hearing the case.

Earlier, BJP president Amit Shah asked the party cadre not to lose morale over the losses in recent Assembly polls in Madhya Pradesh, Chattisgarh and Rajasthan and asserted that the Opposition might have won, but the saffron party has not lost ground. Mr Shah held the Congress responsible for the three ulcers  casteism, nepotism and appeasement  afflicting the countrys political system which he said had weakened democracy and halted development.

In his speech, Mr Modi tried to negate the Oppositions allegation that the BJP is a one-man show by talking about the collective leadership of the saffron party since its inception, which he credited for the partys current political position. He said he himself is a product of the organisation. Collective leadership and efforts of leaders like Atal ji, Advani ji, Kushabhau, Bhandari ji has brought our party this far, h said.

Mr Modi also cautioned the party cadre against any complacency and to campaign like farmers work at their land and not to get swayed by statements like Modi aayega to sab theek ho jayega Modi aayega to jeet jayenge.

Mera Booth Sabse Majboot, should be our mantra for victory, he said.

On the 10 per cent reservation for the general category, Mr Modi repeatedly asserted that the measure to give new dimension to the youth and strengthen the confidence of New India has in no way affected the existing reservation system as given in the Constitution, and formulated by Bhimrao Ambedkar. He said propaganda is being spread but the new legislation is not going to hamper or steal the right of anyone.

On the issue of farmers distress, Mr Modi said that earlier governments had treated them as a vote bank, but the BJP-led NDA government is sincerely working to resolve their problems. He claimed that problems faced by the farming sector were due to neglect by previous governments who believed in shortcuts.

The annadata (provider of food) was turned into a mattdata (voter). We are making sincere efforts to empower them. We want to make farmers the carriers of new energy of a new India, he said and alleged that the demand to provide farmers a minimum support price (MSP) 1.5 times the production cost was buried in files earlier.

Mr Modi claimed that his government procured 95 metric tonnes of pulses during 4.5 years of its rule, compared to only 7 metric tonnes of pulses and oilseeds procured by the previous dispensation in five years. He did admit, however, that there remain some issues that need to be resolved, like agriculture loan, but bigger the problem, even bigger is the solution.

Mr Modi slammed Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal and Chhattisgarh governments for withdrawing general consent to the CBI in their respective state, and asked what were they afraid of.

Keeping up his tirade against the Congress, Mr Modi recalled how as the chief minister of Gujarat, the then Congress-led UPA misused every agency to trouble him, and a senior central Congress leader had in 2007 publicly claimed that they would send him to jail.

We also had a government we could had done the same (barred the CBI), but we had faith in the judiciary, the PM said and alleged that the Congress feels that it is above all institutions. He also cited the National Herald case and said despite summons by many agencies, the Congress first family failed to appear before them and compared how as the Gujarat chief minister he had sat before the SIT for nine hours.

Despite being harassed by the UPA for years, I didnt ban entry of CBI in the state... We believed in law. We had faith in truth... these (Congress) leaders on bail have no trust either in law or in truth... Can they (Congress) be trusted with power?, he asked and blamed it for the crisis in banks, saying that there was a common process and a Congress process of loans when it was in power.

Taking an apparent dig at the Congress president over the Rafale issue, Mr Modi cited the speech of a BJP MP in Parliament and said, One can awaken someone who is sleeping, but not someone who is pretending to sleep. Mr Modi said a foreign middleman was brought to India over corruption issue in arms deal during the NDAs, rule but the Opposition is now using its ecosystem to create conspiracies over the issue because of inconvenient revelations.
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) - Florida's new governor has scheduled a news conference in the county where the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High massacre occurred and where some victims' parents are pushing for the removal of the local sheriff.

Gov. Ron DeSantis is scheduled to speak at Broward County's public safety complex Friday afternoon. A news release says he'll make a statement on "holding government officials accountable."

His spokesman wouldn't specify who'd be held accountable.

The Miami Herald and South Florida Sun-Sentinel reported recently that Sheriff Scott Israel has told his staff he expects to be removed.

Following the Feb. 14 shooting that left 17 dead, then-candidate DeSantis told supporters he'd suspend Israel but retreated in later appearances.

Under Florida law, the governor can suspend elected officials for criminal activity, misfeasance, incompetence or neglect of duty.
LOS ANGELES (AP) - A Los Angeles policeman who killed two people in two weeks - including a 14-year-old boy - won't face criminal charges.

A December report released Thursday by the LA County district attorney's office says Officer Eden Medina acted in defense of himself and his partner in 2016 when he shot 36-year-old Omar Gonzalez twice in the back during a struggle in Boyle Heights.

Gonzalez had a loaded gun. His family is suing over his death.

Medina previously was exonerated in the shooting two weeks later of 14-year-old Jesse Romero.

The boy, a suspected graffiti vandal, was killed during a chase when police heard a shot and thought he had a gun.

Some witnesses said the gun fired after the boy threw it away and the shooting sparked community protests.
SAN DIEGO (AP) - A military judge on Thursday denied a request to release a Navy SEAL awaiting trial on charges of premeditated murder and other offenses in relation to the death of an Islamic State prisoner and the shooting of unarmed Iraqi civilians.

The Navy did not release details on the written ruling by the judge, Navy Capt. Aaron Rugh.

Special Operations Chief Edward Gallagher, 39, has been in the brig since his September arrest. He is scheduled to stand trial Feb. 19. He has denied all the charges.

His lawyers had argued in making the request that Gallagher looks forward to his trial to clear his name and is not a flight risk. They could not be immediately reached for comment.

Gallagher is accused of fatally stabbing the teenage Islamic State prisoner in his care in Iraq in 2017. He also has been charged with opening fire on crowds of civilians and shooting two civilians, a girl and an elderly man, during separate incidents on the same deployment.

Prosecutors say he posed with the prisoner's corpse, including at his re-enlistment ceremony on the battlefield. They had asked that he not be released because of the seriousness of the charges. They also say Gallagher intimidated witnesses in the case.

Gallagher's lawyers say their client did not murder anyone and that disgruntled SEALs made the accusations because they wanted to get rid of a demanding platoon leader.

California Republican Congressman Duncan Hunter, a Marine combat veteran, called for Gallagher's release after visiting him in the brig at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar this week.

Hunter has written a letter asking President Donald Trump to intervene in the case. Hunter said Gallagher, who has numerous awards including two Bronze stars, deserves better than to be jailed before standing trial.
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) - American Airlines says five flight crew members asked to be hospitalized as a precaution after landing in South Florida and complaining of an odor onboard.

The Miami Herald reports that two pilots and three flight attendants were taken to a hospital Thursday morning following a flight from Philadelphia to Fort Lauderdale.

The airline said in an email that none of the 137 passengers aboard flight 1897 asked for medical help after crew members complained of an odor. American Airline officials say the Airbus 320 aircraft was being evaluated by a maintenance team.

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Information from: The Miami Herald, http://www.herald.com
LOWELL, N.C. (AP) - A former North Carolina police officer serving time for impregnating a then-14-year-old girl is being sued.

Citing a lawsuit that surfaced this week, news outlets report the teen and her mother are suing former Lowell police officer James "Paul" Blair. They want to be reimbursed for the cost of delivering and raising Blair's son.

The lawsuit also names Lowell Police Chief Scott Bates and the city of Lowell, alleging they knew of Blair's history of improper contact with minors. A city attorney disputed those allegations.

The then-13-year-old girl went missing in 2015 when she was found by Blair. He later began having sex with her in his patrol car while still on duty. Blair is serving a 12-year prison sentence after pleading guilty to statutory rape.
WASHINGTON (AP) - The former head of the Federal Emergency Management Agency said Thursday that what's happening on the U.S. southern border is no emergency.

Craig Fugate, who ran the national disaster agency for nearly eight years under President Barack Obama and was head of Florida's disaster agency under a Republican governor, said the push of refugees seeking asylum on the border with Mexico is not a national emergency.

President Donald Trump has called it a crisis and is weighing a national emergency declaration to bypass a reluctant Congress and fund his long-promised border wall. It is the issue that has led to the extended partial government shutdown.

The Obama administration appointed Fugate, who ran recovery operations to numerous hurricanes and other disasters, to manage the issue of separated migrant children.

"And that was a crisis," Fugate said in a phone interview with The Associated Press. It was an issue of mass care, he said.

More terrorists come into the United States through the northern border than the southern, said Fugate, who was part of the Department of Homeland Security.

President Donald Trump tours the U.S. border with Mexico at the Rio Grande on the southern border, Thursday, Jan. 10, 2019, in McAllen, Texas. (AP Photo/ Evan Vucci)

"I've yet to see anything physically stop illegal immigration," Fugate said. He said it would be cheaper and more effective to spend money to reduce crime and poverty in areas the refugees are fleeing from to stop illegal immigration that way.

"This is posturing, blustering," Fugate said. He said Trump is essentially saying, "If I can't get Congress to fund it, I'm going to use my authority to bypass Congress."

Fugate said he worries that it continues a trend of presidents being more powerful than the legislative and judicial branches, something he traces back to Abraham Lincoln and, more recently, Franklin Roosevelt. The Supreme Court stopped President Harry Truman from using national emergency powers to nationalize the steel industry, but Fugate said he worries that won't happen if Trump declares a national emergency to bypass Congress.

"What happens if they suspend the vote? What happens if they suspend the Congress?" Fugate asked. "That's what happens in countries where the executive branch is greater than the legislative and judiciary."

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This story has been corrected to show that Fugate was appointed by the Obama administration, not the Trump administration, to manage the issue of separated migrant children.
DETROIT (AP) - Pieces of Motown's origin story that haven't been seen by the public will go on display in Detroit as part of the label's 60th anniversary celebration.

The Motown Museum says it will display several items, including documents that show label founder Berry Gordy Jr.'s repayment of the $800 family loan that helped launch the company with a recording in 1959.

The museum plans to unveil the artifacts Friday afternoon on its Facebook page . The official display will open to the public Saturday at the museum.

Officials say the museum plans more displays throughout the year.

The Motown Museum is located where Gordy launched his music empire. Scores of stars, including the Supremes, Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, and the Miracles, recorded hits there before Motown decamped to California in 1972.
WASHINGTON (AP) - Members of Congress called for the protection of press freedom around the world Thursday as they honored a U.S.-based Saudi columnist who was killed inside his country's consulate in Turkey in October.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Rep. Adam Schiff of California and Sen. Mark Warner of Virginia were among those attending an event at the Capitol marking 100 days since the slaying of writer Jamal Khashoggi.

Pelosi said Congress is committed to seeing that the people responsible for his killing are held accountable.

"We must honor our moral responsibility to safeguard the lives and liberties of journalists both at home and abroad," she told a room of lawmakers, journalists and activists.

"If we decide that commercial interests should override the statements that we make and the actions that we take then we must admit that we have lost all moral authority," she said.

Khashoggi wrote op-ed columns for The Washington Post that were critical of the government of his native Saudi Arabia and his killing has strained the decades-long ties Saudi Arabia enjoys with the United States. Post Publisher Fred Ryan also was at the event.

Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va., left, speaks with Washington Post Publisher Fred Ryan, right, at an event marking 100 days since the death of Jamal Khashoggi on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday, Jan. 10, 2019. Amnesty International on Thursday renewed a call for an international investigation into the killing of Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)

Pelosi called on the U.S. to stand up to threats against journalists everywhere and pledged that U.S. lawmakers would work as long as it takes until there is justice for Khashoggi.

As lawmakers have turned up pressure on the U.S. to punish the kingdom, Trump Administration officials have argued Saudi Arabia serves as a bulwark in combating aggression from Iran that threatens the United States.

Khashoggi, 59, entered the consulate Oct. 2 as his fiancee waited outside.

Saudi Arabia denied for weeks that Khashoggi had been killed but later changed its story and ultimately acknowledged the brutal slaying.

The kingdom indicted 11 people over the killing and announced last week that it will seek the death penalty against five of them.

Khashoggi's body, believed to have been dismembered after his killing, has yet to be found.

Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va., speaks with a reporter as he arrives at an event marking 100 days since the death of Jamal Khashoggi on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday, Jan. 10, 2019. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)

Adam Schiff, D-Calif., chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, left, speaks with Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va., at an event marking 100 days since the death of Jamal Khashoggi on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday, Jan. 10, 2019. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)

Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va., left, speaks with Washington Post Publisher Fred Ryan, right, at an event marking 100 days since the death of Jamal Khashoggi on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday, Jan. 10, 2019. Amnesty International on Thursday renewed a call for an international investigation into the killing of Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi.(AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)
BERLIN (AP) - Jakiw Palij, a former Nazi concentration camp guard who lived an unassuming life in New York City for decades until his past was revealed and he was deported to Germany last year, has died, German media reported Thursday. He was 95.

The Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung and Westfaelische Nachrichten newspapers independently quoted German officials saying Palij died Wednesday in a care home in the town of Ahlen.

U.S. Ambassador Richard Grenell, who lobbied for Germany to take Palij, said he had been informed of the death. He credited U.S. President Donald Trump with seeing through Palij's August 2018 deportation after it had been stalled for a quarter-century.

"It would have been upsetting to many Americans if he had died in the U.S in what many viewed as a comfortable escape," Grenell told The Associated Press.

Palij was the last Nazi facing deportation from the United States when he was taken from his Queens home on a stretcher and put on a plane to Germany.

"An evil man has passed away. That, I guess, is a positive," said Rabbi Zev Meir Friedman, who had led protests at Palij's home.

FILE - This 1949 photo provided by the U.S. Department of Justice shows a U.S. visa photo of Jakiw Palij, a former Nazi concentration camp guard who has been living in the Queens borough of New York. German media report that Jakiw Palij, a former Nazi concentration camp guard who spent decades leading an unassuming life in New York City until his past was revealed, has died. The Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung and Westfaelische Nachrichten newspapers quoted German officials on Thursday confirming that Palij, who was deported to Germany in August, died in a care home in the town of Ahlen. He was 95. (US Department of Justice via AP, file)

Dov Hikind, a longtime New York lawmaker who fought for Palij's deportation, said the death brings "the closure survivors of the Holocaust needed."

From the time American investigators first accused Palij of lying about his Nazi past, it took 25 years for his removal from United States, despite political pressure and frequent protests outside his home. He was not prosecuted in Germany and spent his last months in the nursing home.

"While his case was always a race against time, the saddest part is that Palij outlived the victims of his horrific crimes by seven decades," said Jon Drimmer, the former deputy director of the U.S. Justice Department office that found Palij and pursued his deportation.

Palij, an ethnic Ukrainian born in a part of Poland that is now in Ukraine, entered the U.S. in 1949 under the Displaced Persons Act, a law meant to help refugees from postwar Europe.

He told immigration officials he worked during the war in a woodshop and farm in Nazi-occupied Poland, as well as at another farm in Germany and finally in a German upholstery factory.

Palij said he never served in the military. In reality, the U.S. Justice Department said he played an essential role in the Nazi program to exterminate Jews as an armed guard at the Trawniki training camp, southeast of Lublin in German-occupied Poland.

When investigators knocked on his door in 1993, he told them: "I would never have received my visa if I told the truth. Everyone lied."

According to a Justice Department complaint, Palij served in a unit that "committed atrocities against Polish civilians and others" and then in the notorious SS Streibel Battalion, "a unit whose function was to round up and guard thousands of Polish civilian forced laborers."

Palij served at Trawniki in 1943, the same year 6,000 prisoners in the camps and tens of thousands of other prisoners held in occupied Poland were rounded up and slaughtered.

Palij eventually acknowledged serving in Trawniki but denied any involvement in war crimes.

The U.S. lacks jurisdiction to prosecute such cases since the crimes were not committed in the United States and the victims were not Americans. Instead, it has focused on revoking the U.S. citizenship of suspects and deporting them - or extraditing them if another country is seeking to prosecute them.

A judge stripped Palij of his U.S. citizenship in 2003 for "participation in acts against Jewish civilians." He was ordered deported a year later. But because Germany, Poland, Ukraine and other countries refused to take him, he continued living in limbo in the two-story, red brick home in Queens he shared with his now-late wife, Maria.

After a diplomatic push, the U.S. finally persuaded Germany last year to take Palij. However, German investigators concluded there was not enough evidence of wartime criminal activity to bring charges against him.

"Good riddance to this war criminal," Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, a New York Democrat, said after Palij's deportation was announced.

Palij had managed to live quietly in the U.S. for years as a draftsman and then as a retiree until a fellow former guard told Canadian authorities in 1989 that Palij was "living somewhere in America."

Investigators asked Russia and other countries for records on Palij beginning in 1990 and first confronted him in 1993. It wasn't until after a second interview in 2001 that he signed a document acknowledging he had been a guard at Trawniki and a member of the Streibel Battalion.

Palij suggested at one point during the interview that he was threatened with death if he refused to work as a guard, saying, "If you don't show up, boom-boom."

As his case languished, his continued presence in New York City outraged many, especially members of the Jewish community. The frequent protests outside his home featured chants such as "Your neighbor is a Nazi!"

In 2017, all 29 members of New York's congressional delegation signed a letter urging the State Department to follow through on his deportation.

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Associated Press writers Michael Sisak and Randy Herschaft in New York and Frank Jordans in Berlin contributed to this report.
UPPER MARLBORO, Md. (AP) - The Latest on a sentencing hearing for a man who attacked a Maryland police station before an officer shot and killed an undercover detective (all times local):

6:30 p.m.

The parents of a slain police detective are criticizing authorities for not seeking criminal charges against the officer who mistakenly shot and killed their son after a gunman attacked a Maryland police station.

James and Sheila Colson spoke at Thursday's sentencing hearing for Michael Ford, who was convicted of second-degree murder in the March 2016 shooting death of their son.

Ford opened fire on a police station before Prince George's County Police Officer Taylor Krauss shot and killed Detective Jacai Colson, mistaking him for a threat.

Sheila Colson described Krauss as careless and reckless and said she believes her son was killed because he was black. Ford also is black.

FILE - This undated file photo provided by the state's attorney's office in Prince George's County, Md., shows Malik Ford. His brother, Michael Ford, is charged with attacking a Maryland police station while his two brothers videotaped the shootout, which led to an officer mistakenly killing an undercover detective. Michael Ford faces a prison sentence for his conviction on a murder charge in the friendly-fire killing. He is scheduled to be sentenced by a Prince George's County judge on Thursday, Jan. 10, 2019. (Prince George's County State's Attorney's Office via AP)

Krauss testified that he never saw Colson hold up a badge or heard him identify himself as a police officer before shooting him once in the chest.

A grand jury declined to indict Krauss on any charges related to Colson's shooting. Colson's parents sued Krauss and the county.

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6 p.m.

A gunman whose attack on a Maryland police station led to the friendly-fire killing of an undercover narcotics detective has been sentenced to decades in prison.

A judge sentenced Michael Ford to 195 years on Thursday. In November, a jury convicted the 25-year-old man of second-degree murder and other charges.

Ford's two younger brothers, Malik and Elijah Ford, drove him to the police station and videotaped the March 2016 shooting with their cellphones. They pleaded guilty and were sentenced to prison terms of 20 and 12 years, respectively.

Detective Jacai Colson exchanged gunfire with Ford before a fellow officer fatally shot the plainclothes detective, mistaking him for a threat.

Michael Ford testified he was trying to get himself killed by police when he fired his handgun nearly two dozen times outside the station.

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2:10 a.m.

A man who opened fire on a Maryland police station faces a prison sentence for his conviction on a murder charge in the friendly-fire killing of an undercover detective who tried to end the gunman's attack.

Michael Ford is scheduled to be sentenced by a Prince George's County judge on Thursday, more than two months after a jury convicted the 25-year-old man of second-degree murder and other charges.

Ford's two younger brothers, Malik and Elijah Ford, drove him to the police station and videotaped the March 2016 shooting with their cellphones. They pleaded guilty to related charges and also are scheduled to be sentenced Thursday.

Detective Jacai Colson exchanged gunfire with Ford before a fellow officer fatally shot the plainclothes narcotics detective, mistaking him for a threat.

FILE - This undated file photo provided by the state's attorney's office in Prince George's County, Md., shows Elijah Ford. His brother, Michael Ford, is charged with attacking a Maryland police station while his two brothers, videotaped the shootout, which led to an officer mistakenly killing an undercover detective. Ford's two younger brothers, Malik and Elijah Ford, pleaded guilty to related charges and also are scheduled to be sentenced Thursday, Jan. 9, 2019. (Prince George's County State's Attorney's Office via AP, File)

FILE - This undated file photo provided by the state's attorney's office in Prince George's County, Md., shows Michael Ford, charged with attacking a Maryland police station while his two brothers videotaped the shootout, which led to an officer mistakenly killing an undercover detective. Michael Ford faces a prison sentence for his conviction on a murder charge in the friendly-fire killing of an undercover detective who tried to end the gunman's attack. He is scheduled to be sentenced by a Prince George's County judge on Thursday, Jan. 10, 2019. (Prince George's County State's Attorney's Office via AP)
Faesal said he would consult the stakeholders particularly the youth of the state before taking a final call.

Srinagar: Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir governor, Satya Pal Malik, said on Saturday that 2009 Indian Administrative Service (IAS) topper Shah Faesal could serve the people in a better way if he decides to continue in service.

In case he would continue his services as an IAS officer he could serve the people of society in a better way, the Governor said in a statement.

35-year-old Mr. Faesal had in a Facebook post on Wednesday said that he was quitting his job to protest against the unabated killings and lack of political outreach from New Delhi, marginalization and invisiblisation of around 200 million Indian Muslims at the hands of Hindutva forces and growing culture of intolerance and hate in mainland India in the name of hypernationalism.

He told reporters here on Friday that he was not joining any political party soon.

He said he would consult the stakeholders particularly the youth of the state before taking a final call. He, however, ruled out possibility of joining the separatist camp saying that having been associated with bureaucracy he considers himself to be more compliant with the mainstream politics.

Official sources said that Mr. Faesal had sought voluntary retirement from services on Monday but the process will take time. According to the rules, the request will be forwarded by the J&K Chief Secretary along with his vigilance status to the Central Department of Personnel and Training (DoP&T) for its consideration.

But apparently in a bid to persuade him not to leave the services, the Governor said that he could be posted at his place of choice if he wishes to serve the people in a better way. As far as his feelings about Kashmiris are concerned he could be posted in the region for extending his fullest support in ameliorating the poverty and creating job opportunities for the youth of the Valley so that people would be prosperous and would lead a better life, the Governor said.

Breaking his silence on the IAS officers move, the governor said that he (Mr Faesal) was an efficient and dedicated officer who rendered his services with great zeal and enthusiasm for the welfare of the State and its people particularly belonging to weaker sections of the society.

Terming the decision to join politics by Mr. Faisal as his personal choice, Mr. Malik observed he could have done better even otherwise. He (Shah Faesal) has to consult the youth to know their aspirations and try to create a new platform for the redressal of problems and grievances of youthhe could deliver better as an officer rather than as a politician.

The Governor, however, also said that it is not necessary for him to suggest Mr. Faesal what he has to do in future even though his best wishes were always with him. I would love to meet him if he comes to me for redressal of problems of youth, the Governor added in his statement.
Major events in the life of Jakiw Palij, the 95-year-old former Nazi concentration camp guard who was deported to Germany last August after living quietly in the U.S. for decades. Local media reported he died on Wednesday at a care home in Ahlen.

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EARLY LIFE AND NAZI SERVICE

-Aug. 16, 1923: Born in Piadyki, Poland, now P'yadyky, Ukraine.

-September 1939: Soviet Union occupies Piadyki shortly after start of World War II.

-June 1941: Nazi Germany seizes Piadyki after invading Soviet Union.

-Early 1943: Nineteen-year-old Palij is recruited into Nazi service.

-February 1943: Reports to Trawniki training camp and is assigned to guard an adjacent labor camp where thousands of Jews are held.

-March 1944: Assigned to the Deployment Company, whose mission includes arresting suspected Jews and sending them to concentration camps.

-Late 1944: Assigned to the Streibel Battalion, which forces Polish civilians into slave labor.

-February 1945: Palij's battalion clears rubble from the bombing of Dresden.

-May 1945: Germany surrenders.

-April 30, 1948: A fellow Piadyki-born Nazi guard, listed in records as Nikolaj Gutsulyak or Mykola Hutsulyak, tells Soviet authorities that he served with Palij at Trawniki.

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"DISPLACED PERSON"

-Early 1949: Palij asks U.S. Displaced Persons Commission to designate him a displaced person eligible to immigrate to the U.S. He doesn't disclose his Nazi service, providing an alternate timeline of his life during the war, saying he worked on his father's farm in Piadyki, then farmed in Germany and finally worked in a Germany factory.

-June 1949: The commission, unaware of Hutsulyak's comments, deems Palij a displaced person.

-July 22, 1949: Palij, 25, arrives in Boston on the SS Gen. Heintzelman, a U.S. military transport ship, from Bremerhaven, Germany.

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BECOMING A U.S. CITIZEN

-March 22, 1957: Palij, 33, files petition for naturalization to become U.S. citizen. He and fellow Trawniki guard Jaroslaw Bilaniuk list the same New York address on their papers. Another guard, Mykola Wasylyk, serves as a witness for Palij's naturalization.

-April 22, 1957: Palij is granted U.S. citizenship.

-April 30, 1960: Palij marries Maria Turczan at a Ukrainian Catholic Church in Manhattan. Bilaniuk, who is from Palij's hometown, serves as a witness.

-1966: The couple purchases a home near LaGuardia Airport in Queens from a Polish Jewish couple who survived the Holocaust and were not aware of his past.

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EXPOSED AND DEPORTED

-Dec. 6, 1989: Hutsulyak tells authorities in Canada that Palij is "living somewhere in America."

-1990: U.S. investigators find Palij's name in Czech records. Investigators ask Russia and other countries for records on him.

-Aug. 6, 1993: U.S. investigators confront Palij at his home.

-October 2011: Investigators interview Palij for a second time. He signs statement acknowledging he was a Trawniki guard and served in the Streibel Battalion.

-2002: Asserting his Fifth Amendment rights, Palij refuses to answer investigators' questions once the government initiates legal action against him, saying that "the answer might tend to incriminate me."

-2003: Citizenship revoked.

-2004: Deportation ordered, but Germany, Poland and Ukraine refuse to take him.

-Aug. 20, 2018: Palij, 95, is rousted from his New York City home and deported to Germany.

-Jan. 9, 2019: Dies in a care home in Ahlen.

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Associated Press investigative researcher Randy Herschaft contributed to this report from New York.
FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) - With Kentucky embroiled in three abortion-related court cases and lawmakers considering tougher restrictions almost certain to draw a legal challenge, a leading Republican senator said Thursday that he hopes the state's actions lead to a Supreme Court review of the Roe v. Wade ruling.

Anti-abortion lawmakers hope to push more abortion-related bills through the legislature - led by a proposed ban on most abortions once a fetal heartbeat is detected, which occurs around six weeks of pregnancy. The state already is defending three abortion-related laws in court, and the American Civil Liberties Union says it will challenge the fetal heartbeat bill if it becomes law.

Senate Majority Leader Damon Thayer said he was unconcerned by the threat of another lawsuit or the cost of more litigation: "I don't think you can put a price on the life of the unborn."

Thayer said he hopes Kentucky's aggressive anti-abortion laws eventually lead the U.S. Supreme Court to review the legal standard set in its landmark 1973 Roe v. Wade ruling, which prohibits states from banning abortions before viability.

"Absolutely, I would be proud if it's Kentucky that takes it all the way up to the Supreme Court and we challenge Roe v. Wade," Thayer told reporters after an anti-abortion event at the state Capitol. "That would be absolutely the pinnacle of my career in the legislature."

The fetal heartbeat bill, a priority for many Republican lawmakers, will come up when the legislature reconvenes in early February. Lawmakers head home Friday after this week's opening four days, spent mostly on organizational matters and bill introductions.

Abortion-rights advocates said Thursday that the heartbeat bill would be another intrusion by lawmakers into a highly personal decision that should be left to women and their families.

"What's happening here in Kentucky is part of a nationwide strategy by anti-abortion politicians to eliminate all access to abortion at any point in a pregnancy, regardless of your circumstances," said Kate Miller, advocacy director for the ACLU of Kentucky.

ACLU attorney Brigitte Amiri has said the heartbeat bill is "blatantly unconstitutional" and will be challenged in court if it becomes law.

Kentucky's fetal heartbeat bill is at odds with the legal standard set by the Supreme Court's Roe v. Wade ruling, which prohibits states from banning abortions before viability. But the Kentucky proposal is among a series of measures introduced by abortion opponents who hope the Supreme Court will be more receptive to limiting abortion rights now that Justice Anthony Kennedy, a key vote to preserve abortion rights, has retired.

Kennedy was replaced by Justice Brett Kavanaugh. Though Kavanaugh's record on abortion is limited, he did vote as a federal appeals court judge in 2017 in favor of delaying an abortion for a pregnant immigrant teenager in federal custody.

Kentucky Republican state Rep. Joseph Fischer said Thursday that abortion opponents should pray for President Donald Trump and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., to "bolster our federal judiciary" with more judges willing to strike down the Roe v. Wade ruling.

"We have met resistance from the courts," Fischer said at a state Capitol event attended by dozens of Kentucky lawmakers who oppose abortion. "They continue to block our progress. But with God's grace, we will not grow weary from this battle."

Republican lawmakers in Kentucky have aggressively pushed bills to restrict abortion since consolidating their hold on the legislature starting in 2017. Two abortion-related laws have been struck down in the courts. Gov. Matt Bevin's administration has appealed in both cases.

One of those laws, enacted in early 2017, had required doctors to perform ultrasounds and show and describe the ultrasound images to pregnant women, who could avert their eyes.

Another legal challenge arose over Bevin's interpretation of another law - passed about two decades ago - that required a Kentucky abortion clinic to have written agreements with a hospital and ambulance service in case of medical emergencies. Bevin's administration actions had threatened the state's last abortion clinic, EMW Women's Surgical Center in Louisville.

In a third case, lawyers for Bevin's administration and the ACLU argued at a late 2018 trial over a lawsuit challenging a state law aimed at a common second-trimester procedure to end pregnancies. The law remains suspended pending a ruling by a federal judge.
LOS ANGELES (AP) - An attorney representing two Michael Jackson accusers who appear in an upcoming documentary says their sexual-abuse allegations have not been discredited as the Jackson estate says, and deserve to be heard.

Vince Finaldi, who represents Wade Robson and James Safechuck in lawsuits alleging Jackson molested them, said the suits were dismissed on technical grounds, not the credibility of the men's claims, and they are now under appeal.

"There were never any rulings to the court as to their testimony," Finaldi told The Associated Press Thursday. "We stand by our clients, and we believe them, and we fully expect them to be vindicated."

The stories of Robson and Safechuck, who came forward as adults to say Jackson had sexually abused them for years when they were boys, will be heard again in the two-part, four-hour documentary "Leaving Neverland," which will air on HBO and British public broadcaster Channel 4 in the spring. It premieres Jan. 25 at the Sundance Film Festival, the channels announced Wednesday.

The Jackson estate released a statement saying the documentary is "just another rehash of dated and discredited allegations."

"Wade Robson and James Safechuck have both testified under oath that Michael never did anything inappropriate toward them," the statement said, adding that both had filed lawsuits that have been dismissed.

FILE - In this May 25, 2005 file photo, Michael Jackson arrives at the Santa Barbara County Courthouse for his child molestation trial in Santa Maria, Calif. A documentary film about two boys who accused Michael Jackson of sexual abuse is set to premiere at the Sundance Film Festival later this month. The Sundance Institute announced the addition of "Leaving Neverland" and "The Brink," a documentary about Steve Bannon, to its 2019 lineup on Wednesday. The Sundance Film Festival kicks off on Jan 24 and runs through Feb. 4. (Aaron Lambert/Santa Maria Times via AP, Pool)

Jackson in 2005 was acquitted of criminal molestation charges, which did not involve Robson or Safechuck.

Robson testified at that trial, saying he had slept in Jackson's room many times, but Jackson had never molested him. Safechuck made similar statements to investigators as a boy.

Then in 2013 Robson filed a lawsuit that said stress and trauma had forced him to face the truth that he was sexually abused by Jackson, who died in 2009. Safechuck filed a similar lawsuit the following year.

The AP does not typically identify people who say they are victims of sexual assault unless they come forward publicly, which Robson and Safechuck have done in multiple ways.

"Leaving Neverland" director and producer Dan Reed said in a statement that "It took great courage for these two men to tell their stories and I have no question about their validity."

"If there's anything we've learned during this time in our history, it's that sexual abuse is complicated, and survivors' voices need to be listened to," Reed said.

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AP Film Writer Lindsey Bahr contributed to this report.
HASTINGS, Minn. (AP) - A Minnesota judge has found a 19-year-old man incompetent to stand trial on charges he pushed an 8-year-old boy off a slide at a suburban Minneapolis water park last summer.

Judge Timothy McManus decided Tuesday the case against Roman Adams of Maple Grove cannot proceed because of "mental illness."

Adams faces two assault charges for allegedly pushing the boy, who fell 31 feet (9 meters) to the ground at the Apple Valley Aquatic Center in July. The boy suffered a broken leg and shattered bones in his shoulder.

Defense attorney Eric Nelson tells KARE-TV his client has severe autism.

According to the complaint, Adams told police he threw the boy over the railing because the line was taking too long.

The case is on hold unless Adams is ruled competent.

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Information from: KARE-TV, http://www.kare11.com
WAUKEGAN, Ill. (AP) - A judge has ordered a former Illinois legislator accused of posting nude photos of an ex-girlfriend to stay off social media.

Former state Rep. Nick Sauer was ordered held in lieu of $30,000 bail Thursday by Lake County Associate Judge Paul D. Novak. Sauer was later released after posting bond.

The judge also ordered Sauer to have no contact with the alleged victims. The first-term Republican was indicted Wednesday on 12 felony counts of disseminating private sexual images.

The ex-lawmaker did not speak during the hearing, and defense attorneys Daniel Locallo and Steve Landis did not comment as they left the courtroom.

Sauer announced his resignation last year after a former girlfriend made the allegations. Prosecutors say the charges against Sauer stem from an investigation that revealed two victims.
HOUSTON (AP) - A man accused in a drive-by shooting that killed a 7-year-old Houston girl says he wasn't involved in the attack, his lawyer said Thursday.

Larry D. Woodruffe, 24, is one of two men charged with capital murder in the Dec. 30 killing of Jazmine Barnes, who was in a car with her mother and three sisters when someone in another vehicle opened fire on them, killing Jazmine.

The girl's family, who are black, told investigators that the shooter was white and in a red pickup truck, but a tip eventually led to the arrests of Woodruffe and another black man, 20-year-old Eric Black Jr. Prosecutors allege that Woodruffe fired the shots from an SUV that Black was driving.

After a court appearance Thursday by Woodruffe, his court-appointed lawyer, Lisa Andrews, told reporters that Woodruffe claims he wasn't in the SUV and wasn't involved in the attack in any way. She suggested that Black might have implicated Woodruffe as the shooter to get himself "out of hot water" and pointed out that the gun that was allegedly used in the attack was found at Black's home, not her client's.

Black's attorney, Alvin Nunnery, didn't immediately return a phone call Thursday seeking comment.

Prosecutors say Black and Woodruffe thought they were attacking people whom they had fought with at a club hours before Jazmine's death.

Larry D. Woodruffe, center, is escorted from the courtroom after a hearing Thursday, Jan. 10, 2019, in Houston. Woodruffe is charged with capital murder in the Dec. 30, 2018 slaying of 7-year-old Jazmine Barnes. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

Authorities suspect both men, who remain jailed, are gang members. Andrews declined to say if Woodruffe belonged to a gang. Court records show that Woodruffe has a long criminal record, including arrests for assault on a family member and drug possession.

Andrews said she filed a motion to have Woodruffe's trial moved out of Houston, saying the extensive pretrial publicity and social media posts and comments that investigators and others have made could prevent him from getting a fair trial in the city.

She also filed a motion asking Harmon to remind the Harris County District Attorney's Office of its duty to ensure that law enforcement officials don't make any biased or inflammatory statements regarding Woodruffe.

For example, Andrews pointed to Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez's decision to speak at Jazmine's funeral on Tuesday.

"While that's a heartwarming gesture and I take nothing away, he still is the person in charge of investigating this case. And actions like that don't seem objective or unbiased," she said.

Jazmine's killing led to an outpouring of support for her family from celebrities and ordinary people across the country. It also prompted some local officials and even Texas Gov. Greg Abbott to weigh in on the case.

On Tuesday, Abbott tweeted that authorities must expand the state's anti-gang task force in Houston to "clean our streets of this trash and restore safety."

The head of the Houston Police Officers' Union, Joe Gamaldi, tweeted a photo of Woodruffe and claimed, "This is the Dirtbag that killed #JazmineBarnes."

"They need to let the process play out and quit with the incendiary language," Andrews said.

Police spokesman Kese Smith said Gamaldi didn't violate any agency policies because his tweet was sent in his capacity as the union president, not his capacity as a Houston police officer.

Prosecutor Tom Berg called the motion to change jurisdictions premature, saying he believes Woodruffe will be able to get a fair trial in Harris County, which includes Houston. A trial date hasn't been set.

He also said he doesn't think statements from Abbott and other officials have anything to do with the case.

"We intend to try this case on the evidence ... and not tweets that were made months earlier by other people unrelated to it," Berg said.

In response to Abbott's tweet, both Houston's mayor and police chief suggested Wednesday that the governor could consider redirecting state funds that go toward border security to communities' efforts to combat crime and gangs.

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Follow Juan A. Lozano on Twitter: https://twitter.com/juanlozano70

Larry D. Woodruffe, right, is escorted from the courtroom after a hearing Thursday, Jan. 10, 2019, in Houston. Woodruffe is charged with capital murder in the Dec. 30, 2018 slaying of 7-year-old Jazmine Barnes. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

This undated image provided the Harris County Sheriff's Office shows Eric Black Jr. Prosecutors said Sunday, Jan. 6, 2019, that the shooting death of a 7-year-old black girl as she rode in her family's vehicle stemmed from a case of mistaken identity. Prosecutors charged Black in the Dec. 30 death of Jazmine Barnes. (Harris County Sheriff's Office via AP)
DENVER (AP) - A proposed $65.5 million settlement for low-paid child care workers from around the world would be divided up under a formula after a judge decides whether the agreement is fair, a conclusion that could take several months to reach.

The deal, filed in Denver federal court Wednesday , covers nearly 100,000 people, mainly women, who came to the United States to work as au pairs between Jan. 1, 2009, and Oct. 28, 2018. Lawyers who have been representing the au pairs in the class-action case for free over the past four years expect to ask a judge for 35 percent of the settlement for compensation and legal fees, leaving about $40 million to be divided among the au pairs.

The 11 au pairs named as plaintiffs - from Colombia, Australia, Germany, South Africa and Mexico - would get $5,000 each as a base payment. Amounts for other au pairs and any additional money for the named plaintiffs would be determined using the formula, which factors in when they worked, whether they had to undergo unpaid training, which states they worked in, and the various claims of wrongdoing in the lawsuit.

"This settlement is designed to get as much of the class funds to as many class members as possible," said David Seligman, director of Denver's Towards Justice, which filed the lawsuit in 2014.

If a judge gives the deal preliminary approval, which could happen in a matter of weeks, notices of the settlement will be sent to au pairs using their email addresses provided by the companies that recruited them, said Peter Skinner, a partner at Boies Schiller Flexner, a New York firm that took over as lead counsel in the case. He also expects word to spread through social media, including Facebook groups for current and former au pairs. Information about the settlement is also being added to aupairclassaction.com.

Money would not be paid out until after final approval by the court.

In this Thursday, Dec. 20, 2018, photo, attorneys, from left, David Seligman, Nina DiSalvo and Alexander Hood of Denver's Towards Justice are shown outside the organization's office east of downtown Denver. In a deal filed Wednesday, Jan. 9, 2019, in federal court in Denver, the companies that brought workers from around the globe to provide low-cost child care for American families have offered $65.5-million to settle a class-action lawsuit with nearly 100,000 au pairs. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

The lawsuit claimed 15 companies authorized to bring au pairs to the United States colluded to keep their wages low, ignoring overtime and state minimum wage laws and treating the federal minimum wage for au pairs as a maximum amount they could earn. In some cases, the lawsuit said, families pushed the limits of their duties, requiring au pairs to do things like feed backyard chickens and help families move and not allowing them to eat with the family.

The companies denied any wrongdoing under the deal, which came a few weeks before the case was set to go on trial. The trade group representing many of those companies, Alliance for International Exchange, declined to comment on the settlement.

The settlement also requires the companies to tell future au pairs that they have the right to ask to be paid above the federal minimum wage of $7.25, which the lawyers expect will help some to negotiate for higher pay based on things like their experience, the number of children or their cost of living.

"As a former au pair and career nanny, I feel hopeful about this settlement," said Tatiane Oliveira, a native of Brazil who now advocates for domestic workers at Boston's Matahari Women Workers' Center.

However, she said more work needs to be done to protect au pairs' rights, including setting up a third party to ensure families are complying with all regulations.
WASHINGTON (AP) - With the deceptive use of a video, President Donald Trump on Thursday heartily thanked his White House predecessor for supporting his policy at the Mexican border. Barack Obama has offered no such support; only criticism.

Trump also denied that he ever expected Mexico to make a direct payment for his border wall, despite a call in a campaign policy paper for a "one-time payment" from Mexico of $5 billion to $10 billion, with options for Mexico to contribute in alternative ways. Mexico is refusing to contribute at all.

A look at Trump's statements Thursday as he traveled to Texas to make his case for what he calls a security and humanitarian crisis, a possible precursor to declaring a national emergency at the border:

OBAMA VIDEO

TRUMP: "President Obama, thank you for your great support - I have been saying this all along!" - tweet, accompanied by video of Obama speaking as president in 2014.

TRUMP: "Obama used to call it a crisis at the border, too." - remarks before departing the White House for Texas.

President Donald Trump speaks at a roundtable on immigration and border security at U.S. Border Patrol McAllen Station, during a visit to the southern border, Thursday, Jan. 10, 2019, in McAllen, Texas. (AP Photo/ Evan Vucci)

THE FACTS: Obama's remarks in the short video clip do not support Trump's proposal for a border wall or endorse the path Trump is considering now: declaring a national emergency that might enable him to circumvent Congress and unilaterally spend money on the wall. Instead, Obama was asking Congress to approve an emergency appropriation to deal with a surge of tens of thousands of unaccompanied children and youth, mostly from Central American, trying to cross the border from Mexico.

"We now have an actual humanitarian crisis on the border," Obama said at the time, accompanied by Vice President Joe Biden. He was referring specifically to the surge of minors that year.

That crisis eventually eased as the U.S. stepped up border enforcement, surveillance and resources for the waves of unaccompanied children. Now, a sharp increase in the number of families at the border, coupled with the Trump administration's hard-line stance, is overwhelming border resources, worsening a backlog in the asylum system and leaving migrants to live in abysmal conditions on the Mexican side.

Trump, however, has been unable to convince Congress that the border poses a national security risk. He has made a series of statements falsely claiming that terrorists are pouring in from Mexico, that a wall would choke off shipments of illicit drugs, which actually come mainly through legal ports of entry, and that people who get in the country illegally commit a disproportionate share of violent crime.

Late in his presidency, Obama was repeatedly critical of Trump's immigration stance and the wall specifically. In May 2016, for example, he said: "Suggesting that we can build an endless wall along our borders, and blame our challenges on immigrants - that doesn't just run counter to our history as the world's melting pot; it contradicts the evidence that our growth and our innovation and our dynamism has always been spurred by our ability to attract strivers from every corner of the globe."

MEXICO AND THE WALL

TRUMP, on Mexico paying for the wall: "I never meant they're going to write out a check." - remarks before departure to Texas.

TRUMP: "Mexico is paying for the wall indirectly. And when I said Mexico will pay for the wall, in front of thousands and thousands of people, obviously they're not going to write a check." - remarks before departure.

TRUMP: "They're paying for the wall in a great trade deal." - remarks in Texas.

THE FACTS: Actually, a Trump campaign policy paper envisaged an explicit payment from Mexico: "It's an easy decision for Mexico: make a one-time payment of $5-10 billion," the paper said.

The plan also outlined various ways for Trump to compel Mexico to pay for the wall, such as by Washington cutting off billions of dollars in remittances sent back to Mexico by immigrants living in the U.S., or by recouping the money through trade tariffs or higher visa fees. None of that has happened.

Instead, Trump is arguing that the updated trade agreement with Canada and Mexico will pay for the wall because of economic benefits he predicts will come from the deal. Nothing in the trade agreement would cover or refund the construction cost or require a payment from Mexico. Instead, he is assuming a wide variety of economic benefits will come from the agreement that can't be quantified or counted on. For example, he has said the deal will dissuade some U.S. companies from moving operations to Mexico and he credits that possibility as a payment by Mexico.

The agreement preserves the existing liberalized environment of low or no tariffs among the U.S., Mexico and Canada, with certain improvements for each country. The deal has yet to be ratified in any member country and there is no assurance it will win legislative approval.

Although his campaign left open the possibility that Mexico might somehow contribute to the cost indirectly, Trump roused his crowds with the straight-ahead promise: "I will have Mexico pay for that wall."

Again and again at his rallies, Trump asked his crowds dramatically who would pay for the wall.

"Mexico," they responded.

"Who?" he's asked again.

"Mexico," they roared.

Now he is saying his words were not meant to be taken literally.

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Associated Press writers Cal Woodward, Colleen Long and Kevin Freking contributed to this report.

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Trump campaign policy on Mexico paying for wall: https://web.archive.org/web/20160721080848/https:/www.donaldjtrump.com/positions/pay-for-the-wall

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A World War II bombardier who flew 52 missions defending China has died at the age of 96.

Maj. Richard Sherman died Wednesday, said Marquita Mihaliak, administrator of the Northeast Louisiana War Veterans Home in Monroe.

Sherman spent 13 months in China as a bombardier and navigator with the 11th Bomb Squadron of the Army's 14th Air Force, commanded by Maj. Gen. Claire Chennault, said Nell Calloway, Chennault's granddaughter and head of the Chennault Aviation and Military Museum in Monroe.

The 14th Air Force was nicknamed the Flying Tigers after the famed volunteer fighter group that, as a civilian adviser to nationalist China, Chennault had created to defend that country before the U.S. entered the war.

In a telephone interview, Calloway said only one volunteer Flying Tiger, Frank Losonsky, and a few members of the 14th Air Force are still alive.

Sherman's plane was shot down once, by Japanese disguised as a Chinese fishing crew, Calloway said.

This undated photo provided by the Chennault Aviation and Military Museum in Monroe, La., shows an exhibit of artifacts from Maj. Richard Sherman, who flew 52 missions over China during World War II. Sherman was in the 11th Bomb Squadron of the Army's 14th Air Force under Gen. Claire Chennault, who nicknamed the 14th the Flying Tigers after the volunteer fighter group he had created while acting as a civilian advisor to nationalist China to defend that nation before the U.S. entered World War II. Sherman died Wednesday, Jan. 9, 2019, in Monroe. (Nell Calloway/Chennault Aviation and Military Museum via AP)

"They had to make a decision whether to bail out or try to land on a small strip they found," she recounted. "They decided to try to land. That turned out to be a good thing - when they unpacked, they found that rats had eaten their parachutes."

As a reservist, Sherman served in Germany during the Berlin Airlift, in which U.S., British and French cargo planes brought supplies to West Berlin for more than a year in 1948 and 1949, according to an obituary provided by Mihaliak.

He was assigned to Selman Army Airfield near Monroe after the war and stayed in the area, where he helped found the Chennault museum.

Sherman's funeral will be 1 p.m. Friday at First Methodist Church in Monroe, with burial at the Northeast Louisiana Veterans Cemetery in Rayville, according to the obituary.

Sherman is survived by his wife, daughter, two sons, five grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.

Calloway said Sherman's mind remained sharp to the end, and he was interviewed in July by a Chinese painter who was also making a portrait of him. That portrait will be on display at his funeral Friday, Calloway said.

"This man served in China - 52 missions in a bomber - yet he lives to the ripe old age of 96 with his mind, his mentality and everything. Is that not amazing?" she said.
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) - Republican Steve King likes to note that President Donald Trump has referred to him as "the world's most conservative human being," but the congressman from deep-red western Iowa known for his caustic comments about race and immigration is bracing for what could be his toughest campaign since taking office 16 years ago.

The challenge isn't from a Democrat but from a deeply conservative state legislator. Randy Feenstra announced this week he'd seek the Republican nomination in the sprawling and largely rural 4th District, saying voters needed an effective leader rather than "more sideshows and distractions."

"Today, Iowa's 4th District doesn't have a voice in Washington, because our current representative's caustic nature has left us without a seat at the table," Feenstra said Wednesday in announcing his campaign.

King responded that Feenstra's challenge represented "misguided political opportunism, fueled by establishment puppeteers," but he could have trouble with an opponent who has been elected three times in a state Senate district whose voters comprises roughly 20 percent of the congressional district.

Feenstra also has a solid conservative record of opposing abortion rights, supporting the expansion of gun rights, backing voter identification legislation and pushing a large tax cut through the 2018 Iowa Legislature.

And, of course, there's King's long history of statements and social media tweets that demean immigrants, seemingly support white supremacists and mock minorities. That list of comments grew longer Thursday as King was quoted in a New York Times story as saying, "White nationalist, white supremacist, Western civilization - how did that language become offensive?"

FILE - In this June 8, 2018, file photo, Rep. Steve King, R-Iowa, at a hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington. State Sen. Randy Feenstra, R-Hull, announced this week he'd seek the Republican nomination, facing the nine-term King. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File)

In the same story, King was described as sitting among Republicans in the House chamber and saying, as he looked toward the new Democratic majority, "You could look over there and think the Democratic Party is no country for white men."

Later Thursday, King released a statement saying he doesn't support white nationalism or white supremacy. "I reject those labels and the evil ideology that they define," King said.

Instead, King called himself an "advocate for western Civilization's values."

Craig Robinson, an Iowa Republican activist and editor of an online GOP forum, said he once was a strong supporter of King and embraced his willingness to speak his mind. But over the years, Robinson said he has lost patience with King.

"It's like you had a young child and he'd act out and you thought it was cute," Robinson said. "This child has grown up and is still acting out and it's not cute anymore."

Trump stood with King at an Iowa campaign rally and called him "maybe the world's most conservative human being." But Robinson said voters want something more tangible than cultural comments. That's especially true given the population declines and sluggish economy in a rural district that stretches across roughly one-third of the state.

"People in his district want to know what can he do to create jobs and help grow the economy," Robinson said. "We never hear about those kinds of things."

King's greatest challenge could be whether he can raise the money needed to beat back a well-funded challenger. For years, King has devoted little time to campaign fundraising and in the weeks before last fall's election, companies including Land O' Lakes and Intel Corp. pulled their financial support for the congressman after he made statements about race and immigration.

Following Feenstra's announcement that he'd run against King, Iowa's Republican governor and two U.S. senators said they would remain neutral in the race. All had previously supported King, who was a co-chairman of Gov. Kim Reynolds' last successful campaign.

Still, beating King won't be easy for anyone.

Democrat J.D. Scholten, who lost in the 2018 general election to King by only 3 percentage points, said the key to running against King was to offer a vision for how to help the citizens of western Iowa. In his campaign, Scholten said he avoided mentioning King at all.

"Talking about him didn't do me any favors," he said.

Tim Allen, the Republican chairman in Sioux County who has long supported King, said he thinks Republicans in his county are separated into thirds - one-third supports King, one-third welcomes a GOP opponent and one-third is undecided.

"It's not an easy thing for someone like me to make a decision," Allen said. "But any time you have two good stand-up candidates, that's a good thing. It's better to have good options than to have no options or bad options."

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Follow Scott McFetridge on Twitter at: https://twitter.com/smcfetridge

FILE - In this May 5, 2018, file photo, Sen. Randy Feenstra, R-Hull, speaks during debate on the tax bill in the Iowa Senate at the Statehouse in Des Moines, Iowa. Feenstra announced this week he'd challenge Rep. Steve King, R-Iowa, in the Republican primary. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall, file)
Faesal claimed he had not made up his mind yet and he would try to build a consensus on his future course.

Srinagar: Shah Faesal, the 2009 Indian Ad-ministrative Service topper from Jammu and Kashmir, who announced his resignation from the government earlier this week, said Friday he wasnt joining a political party soon, but said he would consult stakeholders, particularly the states youth, before taking a final call.

He, however, ruled out possibility of joining the separatist camp, saying that having been associated with the bureaucracy he considers himself to be more compliant with mainstream politics. Im a man from the system and I would be happy to change things by being in the system. The Hurriyat (Conference) doesnt give me that opportunity as it doesnt believe in electorial politics, he said, addressing a press conference here.

Mr Faesal had in a Facebook post Wednesday said he was quitting his job to protest against the unabated killings and lack of political outreach from New Delhi, marginalisation and invisiblisation of around 200 million Indian Muslims at the hands of Hindutva forces and the growing culture of intolerance and hate in mainland India in the name of hypernationalism.

It was widely believed in J&K that the 35-year-old IAS officer who inspired many young Kashmiris to join the civil services may join the National Conference to contest the Lok Sabha election from his home constituency Baramulla on its ticket. In fact, soon after Mr Faesal announced his resignation on the social media, NC vice-president and former CM Omar Abdullah had welcomed him to the political fold.

At his maiden press conference, Mr Faesal claimed he had not made up his mind yet and he would try to build a consensus on his future course. I will try to reach out to the youth of the state and other stakeholders before taking any decision on joining politics, he said. Replying questions on the possibility of his contesting elections, he said: As I said, I will listen to youngsters and meet stakeholders. I will go to the field first. I will be happy to contest elections.

He said his resignation was a small act of defiance to remind the Centre of its duties towards the people of Kashmir. By my resignation I wanted to put across a small act of defiance. I wanted to protest against lack of credible political initiative by the Central government on the issue of Kashmir. It is important that right to life of the Kashmiri people is respected, he said. He alleged that the culture of hate and intolerance was being used to win elections in the country.

He said the rise of lynch mob extremism in India was another reason for his move. He reiterated that public institutions like the RBI, CBI and NIA were being undermined, which had the potential of hurting the countrys constitutional edifice.

Asked about Article 370 and Article 35A, which guarantee special status to J&K in the Indian Union and special rights to permanent residents of the state respectively, he said these constitutional provisions must be protected to strengthen the bond between the state and the rest of the country. He regretted that certain forces were pitting one region of the state against another, and said that the time has come to reimagine the politics of Kashmir.

He also appealed to the people of India to come to the rescue of the people of Kashmir. I wish to make an appeal to the people of India that they need to come to the rescue of the people of Kashmir. It is time we work together for peace in the country. It is time that we counter the communal and hateful elements of the country and to ensure that a message of tolerance and peace goes from here. I will be expecting support from across the country, he said.
ROCHESTER, N.Y. (AP) - A daughter of Martin Luther King Jr. says an upstate New York TV meteorologist who uttered a racial slur while saying her father's name shouldn't have been fired.

Bernice King says on TMZ Thursday there should be repercussions for WHEC's Jeremy Kappell for apparently referring to a park in his weather report as "Martin Luther Coon King Jr. Park." But she says bias training or demotion might be better in this case.

Kappell has apologized for what he called a mispronunciation.

The firing has sparked a passionate debate in Rochester and beyond. NBC weatherman and personality Al Roker tweeted in defense of Kappell on Wednesday.

The station says Kappell's utterance was inexcusable.

Rochester Mayor Lovely Warren had called for his ouster. She reiterated her position in a video posted Thursday discussing MLK's legacy.
WOLCOTT, Ind. (AP) - Police in Indiana say dozens of live pigeons found in cardboard boxes in a dumpster may have been used in races in which bets are placed on when the birds will arrive at their roosts after being released elsewhere.

State police said Thursday that Trooper David Vido found 57 pigeons in cardboard boxes Dec. 10 at a rest stop in White County along Interstate 65, about 85 miles (137 kilometers) northwest of Indianapolis.

Five were dead and two others died later. The survivors will be put up for adoption.

Police initially said they believed the birds were used in an illegal gambling race where their wings are clipped and they race around a track. Later Thursday, police said the pigeons were unable to fly when they were recovered due to their poor condition.
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) - The Securities and Exchange Commission and Wells Fargo Securities said in a joint court filing Thursday that they have agreed in principle to settle a lawsuit over Rhode Island's failed $75 million deal with former Boston Red Sox pitcher Curt Schilling's videogame company.

But the parties said final approval has been delayed due to the government shutdown. They asked a federal judge to put the case on hold until after the shutdown is over "to give the SEC and its relevant divisions and offices time to consider and approve the settlement-in-principle," lawyers for the two wrote.

"In connection with the shutdown, all but a limited number of SEC staff members have been furloughed, and the SEC and its staff are unable to conduct most normal activities," they wrote.

They did not disclose details of the proposed settlement.

Messages seeking comment were left for lawyers for Wells Fargo and the SEC. Some SEC lawyers responded with out-of-office emails citing the shutdown and saying that the SEC "is currently closed."

The SEC sued Wells Fargo and Rhode Island's economic development agency in 2016, accusing them of making misleading statements about bonds that were offered to investors and used to fund the deal with 38 Studios.

The economic development agency previously settled, paying a $50,000 penalty without admitting wrongdoing.

Schilling moved the company from Massachusetts to Rhode Island in 2010, after the Rhode Island Commerce Corp. agreed to give it a $75 million loan guarantee. The SEC said Wells Fargo and the Commerce Corp. failed to disclose that 38 Studios needed at least $75 million but would receive only $50 million of proceeds from the bond offering, leaving a $25 million gap.

38 Studios ran out of money and filed for bankruptcy less than two years after the move, sparking investigations and lawsuits.

The SEC also alleged that Wells Fargo received substantial fees for representing 38 Studios, while also representing the Commerce Corp. as bond placement agent and failed to disclose that.

The SEC's lawsuit is still pending against a Wells Fargo employee, who did not object to the delay, according to Thursday's filing. The SEC action is the last lawsuit pending in the fallout from the deal.

A separate lawsuit brought by the state ended in 2017 after settlements with several people and companies involved in the deal, including Schilling and other 38 Studios executives and officials at the economic development agency. The settlements in the state case totaled about $61 million.
BAMBERG, S.C. (AP) - Authorities in South Carolina say a couple found dead in a state park were both shot in the head.

Bamberg County Coroner Billy Duncan says 35-year-old Janis Quintero Natos and 38-year-old Jamell Reggie Carter were both killed by someone else.

Duncan told The Times and Democrat of Orangeburg that it appears the couple was killed on Dec. 12, the same day they were last seen at their Bamberg home.

Authorities say their bodies were found Jan. 4 at Rivers Bridge State Park in Bamberg County. The park commemorates an 1865 Civil War battle.

The State Law Enforcement Division is investigating the deaths and says no arrests have been made.

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Information from: The Times & Democrat, http://www.timesanddemocrat.com
NEW ORLEANS (AP) - A prohibition on "whole-home" vacation rentals such as those arranged online by Airbnb moved closer to reality Thursday in New Orleans.

City Council members voted to advance a proposal unveiled last year by member Kristin Gisleson Palmer.

Homeowners in the tourism-dependent city could still rent out part of their property to vacationers - if the owner lives on the property and remains present while the short-term renters are there. But whole-house rentals of otherwise empty houses would be forbidden under the proposal, which addresses complaints that outside investors have bought up homes for vacation rentals, driving up property values and taxes and driving out full-time residents.

Thursday's vote triggers studies and hearings by the city's planning commission that could result in amendments to Palmer's measure. Final action is expected in the spring.

Opponents of the restrictions said they amount to pulling the financial rug from under people who followed the rules and invested in property in hopes of supplementing their income with tourist money. Carley Sercovich was among nearly two-dozen demonstrating outside City Hall during Thursday's council meeting, where debate on the issue lasted more than four hours. She said she's from an area that doesn't draw as many tourists as other areas.

"So the only way that an entire neighborhood ... can get a piece of the pie when it comes to the tourism, the billions of dollars that are brought in, is to do short term rentals," she said.

Short term rental property owners protest outside City Hall in New Orleans, Thursday, Jan. 10, 2019. City Council members in New Orleans are set to discuss proposals that could sharply curtail short-term vacation-rentals of whole houses in residential neighborhoods. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

Some opponents cast the issue as one of gender and racial equity. Civil rights attorney Traci Washington said the proposals will cut into her family's income.

And a young mother with a child at her side told the council she depends on income from her short-term rental property. "Women of New Orleans are dependent on the sharing economy to raise our families," she said.

But a series of residents testifying at Thursday's hours-long meeting appeared to be in favor of strong restrictions.

Among them was longtime resident Joyce Jackson, who said short-term rentals have vastly altered her street near historic Esplanade Avenue. "On my street where I live, there are just four of us old-timers left," Jackson said.

Echoing an often repeated complaint that short-term renters are sometimes noisy and disrespectful to residents, Jackson also lamented a diminishing number of families in her neighborhood. "We also need our communities to be communities of children."

Some residents testified that they either have been evicted or expect to be as a result of landlords planning to convert affordable rental units into more lucrative vacation destinations. Andreanecia Morris of the Greater New Orleans Housing Alliance said short-term rental regulations must be addressed to address an affordable housing crisis in the city.

Council members passed a resolution calling for the planning commission to look into carving out economically moribund areas where whole-home rentals might be allowed. And members discussed a possible "grandfather" proposal allowing investors with existing licenses to keep renting properties they don't reside in. But it was unclear whether either idea would be deemed workable.

Palmer's proposal also calls for establishing categories and regulations for various sizes of buildings in commercial areas. And the planning commission is to study ways that the regulations regarding short-term rentals in commercially zoned areas could be used to encourage development of affordable housing.

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This version eliminates a quote that was mistakenly attributed to Andreanecia Morris.
UNITED NATIONS (AP) - The United States said Thursday that Nigeria's upcoming national elections will be "a critical test of democracy" in the country and the region, and expressed concern at reports of intimidation and partisanship by government security forces.

U.S. deputy ambassador Jonathan Cohen told a U.N. Security Council meeting on West Africa that the Trump administration is also concerned about heightened insecurity in Nigeria, the inability of disabled and displaced people to vote, "and the risk that widespread vote buying could challenge the integrity of the electoral process."

He urged Nigerian authorities, political parties, civil society and community leaders to address these risks and ensure that the Feb. 16 elections are free, fair and peaceful.

Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari is seeking a second term. The main opposition challenger is veteran politician Atiku Abubakar, but Oby Ezekwesili, a former World Bank vice president who led the global campaign to free Nigerian schoolgirls kidnapped by Boko Haram extremists, is also among the dozens of other candidates running.

The winner will lead Africa's biggest crude oil producer and the continent's most populous country.

The recent surge in attacks by Boko Haram extremists and the offshoot Islamic State West Africa Province has caused alarm in Nigeria and posed a major challenge for Buhari. He took office in 2015 vowing to fight corruption and to defeat Boko Haram, which split after one faction pledged allegiance to the Islamic State group.

Cohen said the United States continues to support Nigeria's goal of free, fair, transparent and peaceful elections "that reflect the will of the Nigerian people."

"Twenty years since the country's return to democratic rule, the upcoming elections provide Nigerians with an opportunity to shape the future of their country and further solidify its place as a democratic leader in Africa," he said.

Cohen said the U.S. is helping Nigeria strengthen its democratic institutions and process "through diplomacy, robust public engagement - including with youth and civil society - and democracy and governance programs."

Mohamed Ibn Chambas, the U.N. envoy for West Africa and the Sahel, told the Security Council that "tensions are high" ahead of Nigeria's Feb. 16 presidential and parliamentary elections and March 2 state assembly elections.

But he said "prospects for peaceful and credible elections have been increased" after many political parties signed a National Peace Accord on Dec. 11, committing to hold a peaceful vote.
PHILADELPHIA (AP) - Philadelphia police have charged a 24-year-old man with throwing a punch to the head that led to the death of another dog walker.

Matthew Oropeza surrendered to police Thursday. He's charged with involuntary manslaughter, simple assault and reckless endangerment of another person.

Police say 38-year-old Drew Justice and his fiancee were walking their Shih Tzu at Gold Star Park around 9 p.m. Saturday when Justice asked Oropeza not to let his unleashed dog run free.

Police say Oropeza became angry and punched Justice in the face, causing him to fall backward and hit his head on the ground.

Justice was taken to a hospital where he was pronounced dead.

No attorney information is available for Oropeza.
WASHINGTON (AP) - Somehow, some day, the nasty deadlock between President Donald Trump and congressional Democrats that's shuttered federal agencies for a record-tying 21 days will end. The only real questions are when, how and who will be crowned the winner in public opinion polls and ultimately by voters.

Things got bleaker this week when House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., told Trump at a fiery White House meeting that Democrats would not bow to his demand for $5.7 billion to start building a wall along the border with Mexico. Trump slammed his hand on the negotiating table and stormed out, Democrats said. Trump said he calmly left the room, saying, "Bye-bye."

A look at how the impasse might be resolved:

Q: What's the easiest solution?

A: None is easy. Trump's conservative base strongly backs his fight for wall money, even if it has meant a partial government shutdown. Democrats' liberal stalwarts just as ardently oppose giving in. Trump and Democratic leaders have been so insistent on not surrendering that each would risk rebellion by supporters if they agreed to something viewed as a capitulation.

Q: What's the likeliest way out?

People rally to call for an end to the partial government shutdown in Detroit, Thursday, Jan. 10, 2019. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

A: Increasingly some people think that could be for Trump to declare a national emergency. By law, that could give him authority to use some money in the military's budget for construction projects for the wall.

It's a tactic that could let each side claim a partial victory and move on.

Trump could argue he did secure money for the wall, his most memorable campaign pledge, and overcame Democratic objections. Democrats could say they didn't give in and they could file suits to block the move, claiming Trump had exceeded his authority by stretching the meaning of emergency. Trump could decide to finally sign bills reopening the government.

Leaving the White House Thursday to visit the southwestern border, Trump strongly suggested he would take that route. "I have the absolute right to declare a national emergency," he told reporters. He added: "If I have to, I will. I have no doubt about it."

Q: Why not just do it?

A: Plenty of people on both sides hate the idea, and its legality in this instance is questionable.

Some Republicans, including Texas Rep. Mac Thornberry, the top Republican on the House Armed Services Committee, say strengthening border infrastructure is not the military's job and they oppose siphoning defense dollars for that purpose. Many Republicans worry that by stretching the definition of "emergency," Trump opens the door to a future Democratic president circumventing lawmakers in ways the GOP would oppose.

Democrats would consider the move a fresh example of Trump abusing his authority as president. They say it would be a ploy to bypass Congress and that there's no emergency on the border, where the number of illegal crossings has fallen in recent years.

While the law doesn't clearly define a national emergency, some experts say a declaration here would be unwarranted.

"The idea was that the executive would have these powers on a limited basis for true emergencies," said Andrew Boyle, who studies presidential emergency powers at the Brennan Center for Justice, which is affiliated with New York University. He said declaring a national emergency at the border would be "clearly in bad faith."

Q: Polls show the public blames Trump more than Democrats for the shutdown. Will Republicans fold?

A: Some GOP lawmakers have had enough, especially in the Senate. Reflecting that, a group of GOP senators has talked to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., and White House officials about forging a compromise, though that seems an uphill battle.

Ultimately McConnell, a tough partisan also renowned for ending previous battles by cutting bipartisan deals, will decide the GOP's path. It will take more than a few Republican defections for McConnell to abandon Trump.

Ever since Trump reversed himself and turned down an agreement to avoid the shutdown before Christmas, McConnell has stepped aside, saying Trump and Democrats should bargain.

Democrats have been trying to pressure McConnell, quoting his past ridicule of shutdowns and citing the damage the current one is inflicting on voters. With hundreds of thousands of federal workers due to miss their first paychecks Friday and constituents complaining about losing government services, pressure will only intensify.

"I think public sentiment weighing in on his members" will change his mind, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., said in a brief interview. "He's a legislator."

"He's watching, he's waiting," said retired Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott, R-Miss.

Q: What about Democrats?

A: They've shown no outward signs of divisions. If anything, Trump's recent actions - leaving Wednesday's negotiating session, seeming to blame Democrats for the recent deaths of two Guatemalan children in U.S. custody - have united them more.

"Democrats' reaction ranges from angry to enraged," said Rep. Gerald Connolly, D-Va.

Q: Is there a deal to be had?

A: That seems increasingly unlikely. Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., and other Republicans have explored a compromise that might include border security money plus helping hundreds of thousands of young immigrants who arrived in the U.S. illegally as children stay in this country. But Vice President Mike Pence and Graham reported no progress after a meeting Thursday.

Democrats know a deal with Trump could alienate liberals, and are loath to show Trump that they would fold during future confrontations.

They also don't trust him. Pelosi said Trump has moved the goalposts so often that "pretty soon these goal posts won't even be in the stadium."

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For AP's complete coverage of the U.S. government shutdown: https://apnews.com/GovernmentShutdown

Supporters of President Donald Trump wait outside the McAllen International Airport for Trump's visit to the southern border, Thursday, Jan. 10, 2019, in McAllen, Texas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

The Capitol Dome is seen through a skylight in the Capitol Visitors Center on the 20th day of a partial government shutdown, in Washington, Thursday, Jan. 10, 2019. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)
PARIS (AP) - Renault ethics officials have concluded that financial compensation to members of the French automaker's executive committee in 2017 and 2018 was fraud-free.

The review was initiated after Renault chief Carlos Ghosn was fired as head of Japan's Nissan and jailed in Tokyo on fraud charges in mid-November.

Ghosn remains CEO of Renault and says he's innocent in the Japanese case. Prosecutors allege he underreported his income over five years through 2015.

The company issued a statement on the findings after a board of directors' meeting on Thursday meeting.

Without mentioning Ghosn, the statement said internal experts assisted by independent outside experts found that executive committee compensation complied with laws and been "free from any fraud."

Compensation during previous is expected to come under review.
ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) - A Florida newspaper is apologizing for coverage seven decades ago that helped give credence to the false narrative that four young African-American men had raped a white woman in central Florida.

The Orlando Sentinel on Thursday printed an apology for the newspaper's role in "this injustice" against the men known as the Groveland Four.

The apology comes a day before newly inaugurated Gov. Ron DeSantis and Florida's Cabinet meet to discuss the Groveland Four's case. DeSantis has said he wants to consider a pardon for the men.

The four men were wrongly accused of raping a white woman in 1949 in the central Florida town of Groveland, near Orlando.

One of the men, Ernest Thomas, was killed during a manhunt. The other three were convicted with dubious evidence.
Shah asserted that the party is making all efforts to ensure that the matter is resolved in the Supreme Court as soon as possible.

PM Narendra Modi is greeted by BJP leaders as he arrives for the partys two-day national convention in New Delhi. (Photo: Pritam Bandyopadhyay)

New Delhi: Comparing the coming Lok Sabha polls with the decisive third battle of Panipat between the Marathas and Afghans, BJP president Amit Shah on Friday asserted that the elections will be a battle of ideologies whose outcome will impact centuries.

He asked the party cadre to go to people without fear as the Narendra Modi-led government has remained untainted despite unsuccessful efforts by the Opposition to make an issue out of nothing, a veiled reference to the Rafale jet deal. Raising the emotive issue of Ram Mandir, Mr Shah said that the BJP wants the temple to be constructed in Ayodhya at the earliest through constitutional means and accused the Congress of creating hurdles in the way of resolution of the issue.

In his inaugural speech at the two-day BJP national convention, he sounded confident that Modi-led NDA will retain power as the people are firmly standing behind the Prime Minister as a rock as he has tirelessly worked to provide benefits to all sections of the society.

The BJP president dismissed the proposed grand alliance of Opposition parties as a sham, saying they are a disparate group with neither a leader nor any policy and have been brought together by their greed of power.

Highlighting Mr Modi as a performer, Mr Shah hailed him as an ajeya yoddha (an invincible warrior) and said the coming elections are a battle between two ideologies, where on one side has the leadership of Mr Modi who is backed by the ideology of cultural nationalism, antyodaya and garib kalyan, and the other side (proposed grand alliance) has neither a neta (leader) or a niti (policy) and has come together due to greed for power.

Attacking the Congress for manufacturing lies on the Rafale issue, Mr Shah said that the Supreme Court gave a clean chit to the Modi government over a petition filed by the Congress B-team. He said that the Congress is rattled that the Modi government has remained untainted and has given no issue to the Opposition before the polls.

Though Mr Shah hailed the various achievements undertaken by the Modi government to benefit various sections of the society, it was BJP presidents remark on the Ram Mandir that received the most thunderous applause from the party workers, who had gathered at the Ramlila Maidan, for the two-day convention.

The BJP wants the Ram Mandir at that very site, let there be no doubtwe have said that the construction will be done through Constitutional manner...but the Congress keeps creating hurdle in the way (of the construction), said Mr Shah as he mentioned how senior Congress leader and lawyer Kapil Sibal had asked the court to hear the matter after 2019 Lok Sabha polls and asked the Opposition party to clarify its stand on the issue.

Mr Shah asserted that the party is making all efforts to ensure that the matter is resolved in the Supreme Court as soon as possible.

The BJP top brass, including Mr Modi, Union ministers Rajnath Singh, Arun Jaitley, Sushma Swaraj, Nitin Gadkari and party chief ministers and former chief ministers, along with other senior leaders were on the dias. The party claimed that nearly 12,000 aparty leaders and workers from all states and UTs are participating the two day long event.

The BJP presidents speech that last more than an hour had a mention of 10 per cent reservation for general category in education and jobs for a level playing field, GST, notebandi, measures to check corruption, triple talaq, surgical strike across LoC, Citizenship Amendment Bill, NRC and the proposed grand alliance of Opposition parties, which the BJP chief claimed was nothing but a dhakosla (farce).

Mr Shah said those who could not see eye to eye have been forced to join hands against Mr Modi-led NDA, which signifies the ruling alliances strength. However, political pundits feel that if such the a grand alliance is stitched, it could severly dent BJPs poll prospects.

Asserting that the proposed grand alliance will not have any national impact. Mr Shah also asserted that even if Bua-Bhatija (BSP supremo Mayawati and SP chief Akhilesh Yadav) join hands, BJPs tally will only increase in UP.

Thanking the Modi government for the 10 per cent reservation for the general category, Mr Shah said that the Modi government has fulfilled the dreams of crores of youths with 10 per cent reservation in jobs and education for the poor from general category, and described the constitution amendment Bill as one of the most important legislations passed by Parliament.

On the proposed grand alliance of the Opposition parties, Mr Shah said that the BJP led NDA had defeated the regional players, who are trying to form the Opposition alliance and took a jibe, saying that politics needs chemistry and not physics.

He said those parties which could not see eye to eye are forced to join hands not for national interest but their own interest and know that they alone cannot defeat the Modi-led Vijaya Yatra of the NDA.

Blaming the earlier UPA government for giving bad loans and supporting Mehul Choksi and Nirav Modi, who have fled India over economic offence, Mr Shah said that these people prospered under the UPA regime but fled when the NDA came to power as they were scared of the chowkidar (Modi), who will bring them back.

On the issue of initiatives for the farming community, Mr Shah challenged Congress president Rahul Gandhi and NCP supremo Sharad Pawar to compare all parametres of farm produce procured during their regime and the NDA and the latters will be eight times higher than the UPAs.
WASHINGTON (AP) - Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin told lawmakers in a classified briefing Thursday that the Trump administration will keep strict U.S. sanctions on Oleg Deripaska and any companies he owns, but Democrats say they still have concerns that the government is being too soft on the Russian oligarch.

In one of Democrats' first oversight moves as the new majority in the House, seven committee chairmen wrote to Mnuchin on Tuesday and asked him to explain by the end of the week why the U.S. decided to ease sanctions on three companies linked to Deripaska. Mnuchin promptly came to Capitol Hill to answer questions about the matter, but Democrats leaving the meeting said his answers weren't sufficient.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said she was "unimpressed" with Mnuchin's briefing, saying that he was not fully forthcoming in the classified setting and was "wasting the time of the members of Congress."

Asked if the House may move to block Treasury's actions, Pelosi said "we'll see."

The Democrats were asking Mnuchin about a December announcement that the U.S. would lift sanctions on the three companies - the aluminum manufacturing giant Rusal, EN+ Group and the Russian power company JSC EuroSibEnergo. EN+ Group is a holding company that owns nearly 50 percent of Rusal. In the letter, the Democrats said the sanctions deal appears to allow Deripaska to keep "significant ownership" of one of the companies.

Congress has 30 days to block the move to terminate the sanctions, but Democrats have asked for an extension. Treasury announced the move just before the December recess and before the start of the government shutdown, the Democrats said, and they haven't had enough time to review it.

Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin speaks to reporters after giving a classified briefing to members of the House of Representatives, telling them that the Trump administration will keep strict U.S. sanctions on the Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska, on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday, Jan. 10, 2019. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

The Treasury Department maintains that Deripaska will remain blacklisted as part of sanctions that targeted tycoons close to the Kremlin, and that the companies have committed to diminish Deripaska's ownership and sever his control.

In a statement released ahead of the briefing, Mnuchin reiterated that Deripaska remains under sanctions, "his property and interests remain blocked, and any companies he controls are also sanctioned."

The three companies were originally targeted because they were owned or majority-controlled by Deripaska. "These entities are undergoing significant restructuring and governance changes that sever Deripaska's control and significantly diminish his ownership," Mnuchin said in the statement. "They have committed to provide Treasury with an unprecedented level of transparency into their dealings to ensure that Deripaska does not reassert control. As a result, these entities will no longer be designated for sanctions."

He said if the companies fail to comply with the terms, they could face the re-imposition of sanctions.

Mnuchin also spoke briefly after the hearing to refute Pelosi's assertion that he was not forthcoming, saying he "answered all their questions."

House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff, D-Calif., said he pressured Mnuchin on concerns he has that Deripaska and other Kremlin allies will continue to exercise influence over the companies.

"It will be incumbent upon Congress to maintain pressure on the Treasury to explain its reversal of course and why Deripaska or his companies are suddenly deserving of this relief," Schiff said.

Texas Rep. Lloyd Doggett, a Democratic member of the Ways and Means Committee, said he was also unsatisfied with Mnuchin's answers but saw his attendance as the start of a new era of Democratic oversight of President Donald Trump's administration.

"We are saying to the Trump administration, and to the Russians, we are looking carefully at every transaction you are involved with," Doggett said. "We will exercise our oversight."

Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin speaks to reporters after giving a classified briefing to members of the House of Representatives, telling them that the Trump administration will keep strict U.S. sanctions on the Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska, on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday, Jan. 10, 2019. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin speaks to reporters after giving a classified briefing to members of the House of Representatives, telling them that the Trump administration will keep strict U.S. sanctions on the Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska, on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday, Jan. 10, 2019. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin speaks to reporters after giving a classified briefing to members of the House of Representatives, telling them that the Trump administration will keep strict U.S. sanctions on the Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska, on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday, Jan. 10, 2019. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)
WASHINGTON (AP) - The Latest on President Donald Trump's former lawyer, Michael Cohen, agreeing to testify publicly before Congress (all times local):

10 p.m.

President Donald Trump's former lawyer, Michael Cohen, will testify publicly before a House committee next month in a hearing that could serve as the opening salvo of a Democratic effort to scrutinize Trump, his conflicts of interest and his ties to Russia.

The House Oversight and Reform Committee announced Thursday that Cohen will appear before the panel Feb. 7.

Cohen is a pivotal figure in the investigation by special counsel Robert Mueller into potential coordination between Russia and the Trump campaign.

Cohen is also involved in the investigation by federal prosecutors in New York into campaign finance violations related to payments to buy the silence of a porn actress and a former Playboy Playmate who say they had sex with Trump.

Reporters surround Rep. Elijah Cummings, D-Md., chairman of the House Committee on Oversight and Reform, after announcement that President Donald Trump's former lawyer, Michael Cohen, will testify publicly before Rep. Cummings' panel next month, on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday, Jan. 10, 2019. Cohen's testimony before the House Oversight and Reform Committee will be the first major public hearing for Democrats, who have promised greater scrutiny of Trump. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

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4:40 p.m.

President Donald Trump says he's not worried about his former personal lawyer, Michael Cohen, testifying before Congress.

Trump told reporters in Texas on Thursday that he's "not worried about it at all." Cohen is set to testify next month before the House Oversight and Reform Committee chaired by Rep. Elijah Cummings, a Maryland Democrat.

Cohen is expected to face tough questions about hush-money payments he arranged on Trump's behalf to keep extramarital affair allegations out of the news during the 2016 presidential election. Those payments were at the center of Cohen's plea to federal campaign finance charges last year. Cohen has said he made the payments at Trump's direction and with the intent to influence the election.

Cohen has also admitted lying to Congress about a Trump Tower deal in Russia during the campaign.

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3:45 p.m.

President Donald Trump's longtime legal fixer, Michael Cohen, says he has accepted an invitation from a top House Democrat to testify publicly before Congress next month.

Cohen said Thursday in a statement that he looks forward to having a platform to give a "full and credible account of the events which have transpired." He is set to testify before the House Oversight and Reform Committee, which is investigating payments made during the 2016 campaign to silence women who claimed to have had sex with Trump. Trump has denied the trysts.

Cohen's testimony also comes after he pleaded guilty to lying to Congress about his role in a Trump business proposal in Russia considered during the campaign.

Cohen was sentenced to three years in prison. He reports to prison March 6.

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3:35 p.m.

President Donald Trump's former lawyer, Michael Cohen, will testify publicly before Congress next month.

Cohen's testimony before the House Oversight and Reform Committee will be the first major public hearing for Democrats, who have promised greater scrutiny of Trump.

Cohen is a pivotal figure in investigations by special counsel Robert Mueller into potential coordination between Russia and the Trump campaign, and by federal prosecutors in New York into campaign finance violations related to hush-money payments to two women who say they had sex with Trump. Trump has denied it.

Cohen has pleaded guilty in both investigations and was sentenced last month to three years in prison.

FILE - In this April 11, 2018, file photo, Michael Cohen, President Donald Trump's former attorney, walks along a sidewalk in New York. Cohen will testify publicly before Congress in February 2019. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig, File)
WASHINGTON (AP) - President Donald Trump's former lawyer, Michael Cohen, will testify publicly before a House committee next month in a hearing that could serve as the opening salvo of a promised Democratic effort to scrutinize Trump, his conflicts of interest and his ties to Russia.

The House Oversight and Reform Committee announced Thursday that Cohen will appear before that panel Feb. 7, a little more than a month after the Democrats took the House majority.

The hearing marks the latest step in Cohen's transformation from a trusted legal adviser to the president to a public antagonist who has cooperated extensively against him. Although Democrats say the questioning will be limited to avoid interfering with open investigations, the hearing is still likely to pull back the curtain on key episodes involving Trump's personal life and business dealings, including hush-money payments to women and a proposed Moscow real estate deal, that federal prosecutors have been dissecting for months.

Cohen is a pivotal figure in investigations by special counsel Robert Mueller into potential coordination between Russia and the Trump campaign and by federal prosecutors in New York into campaign finance violations related to payments to buy the silence of a porn actress and a former Playboy Playmate who say they had sex with Trump. Federal prosecutors have said Trump directed those payments during the campaign.

Trump has denied having the extramarital affairs.

Cohen has pleaded guilty in both investigations and was sentenced last month to three years in prison. An adviser to Cohen, Lanny Davis, said shortly after he was sentenced that the former political fixer wanted to testify and "state publicly all he knows."

FILE - In this April 11, 2018, file photo, Michael Cohen, President Donald Trump's former attorney, walks along a sidewalk in New York. Cohen will testify publicly before Congress in February 2019. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig, File)

In a statement released on Thursday, Cohen said he had accepted the invitation "in furtherance of my commitment to cooperate and provide the American people with answers."

Cohen added: "I look forward to having the privilege of being afforded a platform with which to give a full and credible account of the events which have transpired."

Trump has denied wrongdoing and sought to minimize Cohen's statements by painting him as a liar. Asked by reporters in Texas on Thursday about Cohen's appearance, Trump said he's "not worried about it at all."

Cohen acknowledged in the Mueller investigation that he lied to Congress by saying negotiations over a Trump Tower in Moscow had ended in January 2016 when he actually pursued the project into that June, well into Trump's 2016 presidential campaign. In New York, he acknowledged his involvement in payments to porn actress Stormy Daniels and former Playboy model Karen McDougal.

The chairman of the oversight panel, Democratic Rep. Elijah Cummings of Maryland, said the committee is consulting with Mueller's office about the testimony. He told reporters on Thursday that "there will be limitations" on the topics covered in Cohen's testimony.

"We don't want to do anything to interfere with the Mueller investigation - absolutely nothing," Cummings said.

The panel's top Republican, Rep. Jim Jordan of Ohio, said Cohen's appearance shows that Cummings is using the "committee as a venue for political theater rather than legitimate oversight," noting how Cohen has admitted knowingly lying to Congress and is a witness in ongoing investigations.

"This makes clear that Chairman Cummings and the Democrats will do whatever it takes to attack this President," Jordan said in a statement.

A spokesman for Mueller declined to comment.

Cummings has signaled that his committee is more interested in investigating the president's involvement in the campaign violations to which Cohen pleaded guilty last year.

Cummings has sent document requests to the White House and the Trump Organization that seek to determine why Trump, who reimbursed Cohen for the hush-money payments, omitted that debt on his public financial disclosure form. Cummings is also requesting a raft of potentially revealing communications about the payments and other legal services Cohen provided for the president and his company.

The oversight hearing may not be Cohen's only appearance. House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff, D-Calif., said he welcomes Cohen's testimony before the oversight panel, but "it will be necessary, however, for Mr. Cohen to answer questions pertaining to the Russia investigation, and we hope to schedule a closed session before our committee in the near future."

Cohen testified before the House intelligence panel in a closed-door hearing in 2017, before his role in the federal investigations was fully known and when Republicans controlled the committee. The GOP-led committee later ended its investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election, saying there was no evidence of collusion or conspiracy between Trump's campaign and Russia.

Schiff wants to restart parts of that probe.

The Senate intelligence committee has also asked Cohen to return. He spoke to that panel in 2017.

"The request still stands, regardless of any public testimony Mr. Cohen may give on other issues," its chairman, Sen. Richard Burr, R-N.C., said in a statement.

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Associated Press writers Catherine Lucey in McAllen, Texas, and Darlene Superville and Padmananda Rama in Washington contributed to this report.

Reporters surround Rep. Elijah Cummings, D-Md., chairman of the House Committee on Oversight and Reform, after announcement that President Donald Trump's former lawyer, Michael Cohen, will testify publicly before Rep. Cummings' panel next month, on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday, Jan. 10, 2019. Cohen's testimony before the House Oversight and Reform Committee will be the first major public hearing for Democrats, who have promised greater scrutiny of Trump. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)
BALTIMORE (AP) - Maryland's top law enforcement official on Thursday announced a phone hotline for victims to report child sex abuse associated with a place of worship or school across the U.S. state, which is steeped in Catholicism like few others.

Attorney General Brian Frosh announced the creation of the hotline in Baltimore, home to the country's first bishop, first cathedral, first diocese and first archdiocese. Unlike counterparts in other states that have formally announced probes into clergy sex abuse, Frosh's office has only publicly called for victims of abusers linked to schools or places of worship to come forward.

But last year, Baltimore Archbishop William Lori wrote priests and deacons in the archdiocese advising them that Frosh's office was delving into church records as part of an investigation into child sex abuse. He has pledged full cooperation throughout the process.

Zach Hiner, executive director of the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, or SNAP, praised the launch of the hotline, saying it gives abuse victims a "new avenue to come forward" and name their abusers.

But he said Frosh and Maryland lawmakers needed to do more. Attorneys general have launched investigations in states including New Jersey, New York, Nebraska, Florida and Delaware, and in cities where local prosecutors are looking into individual priests. Frosh's office does not confirm or deny the existence of any investigations.

"We hope that this hotline will not only lead to more survivors coming forward, but also provide an impetus for the attorney general to open a full investigation and for Maryland's state legislature to begin reforming their statutes of limitations and opening civil windows for old cases to be brought forward," Hiner said Thursday.

FILE - In this March 28, 2017, file photo Baltimore Archbishop William Lori leads a funeral Mass for Cardinal William Keeler at the Cathedral of Mary Our Queen in Baltimore. Maryland's Attorney General Brian Frosh on Thursday, Jan. 10, 2019, announced a phone hotline for victims to report child sex abuse associated with a place of worship or school across the U.S. state, which is steeped in Catholicism like few others. Unlike counterparts in other states that have formally announced probes into clergy sex abuse, Frosh's office has only publicly called for victims of abusers linked to schools or places of worship to come forward. But last year, Lori wrote priests and deacons in the archdiocese advising them that Frosh's office was delving into church records as part of an investigation into child sex abuse. He has pledged full cooperation throughout the process. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky, File)

Liz McCloskey, part of a coalition of Catholics called the 5 Theses movement that has posted its proposals for reform on church doors in Baltimore and other cities, said "allowing the full scope of the sex abuse scandal in the Catholic Church to come to light in every diocese in every state will make room for a measure of healing for its survivors."

The crisis over clergy sex abuse has long been a concern of parishioners in Maryland. Over the years, the repercussions of abuse in Baltimore have included the shooting of a priest by a former altar boy, who said the priest had molested him nearly a decade earlier. Clergy abuse and cover-ups in Baltimore also were the subject of a Netflix documentary series called "The Keepers." That series explores the theory that a nun, Cathy Cesnik, was killed 1969 because she knew about rampant abuse by A. Joseph Maskell, a chaplain and counselor at a Catholic high school during the 1960s and 1970s. Several people have accused Maskell, now dead, of sexual abuse.

U.S. bishops adopted widespread reforms in 2002 when clergy abuse became a national crisis for the church, including stricter requirements for reporting accusations to law enforcement and a streamlined process for removing clerics. But the Pennsylvania grand jury made very clear that more changes are needed. In a nearly 900-page report released Aug. 14, the grand jury alleged that more than 300 Roman Catholic priests had abused at least 1,000 children over the past seven decades in six Pennsylvania dioceses. It also accused senior church officials of systematically covering up complaints.

A recent Associated Press review has found nearly 50 dioceses and religious orders have publicly identified child-molesting priests in the wake of the Pennsylvania report, and 55 more have announced plans to do the same over the next few months. 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.

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Follow McFadden on Twitter: https://twitter.com/dmcfadd
NORFOLK, Va. (AP) - A Virginia-based naval officer accused of helping to swindle the government out of $2.7 million in order to fund a high-stakes poker habit, buy luxury vehicles and a second home has been sentenced to more than four years in federal prison.

The Virginian-Pilot reports Lt. Randolph Prince was sentenced this week after pleading guilty in August to offenses, including wire fraud. The 41-year-old Virginia Beach-based naval officer was ordered to pay more than $2,700,000 in restitution.

Court documents show Prince steered government contracts to sham companies that were run by his friends. They sold the Navy "inert training aids," or fake bombs, that weren't shipped but marked as delivered.

A naval flight officer and a former sailor were among Prince's co-conspirators. Both have pleaded guilty to participating in the fraud.

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Information from: The Virginian-Pilot, http://pilotonline.com
CAIRO (AP) - U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo delivered a scathing rebuke of the Obama administration's Mideast policies on Thursday, accusing the former president of "misguided" thinking that diminished America's role in the region while harming its longtime friends and emboldening Iran.

In a speech to the American University in Cairo, Pompeo unloaded on President Donald Trump's predecessor, saying he was naive and timid when confronted with challenges posed by the revolts that convulsed the Middle East, including Egypt, beginning in 2011.

Pompeo denounced the vision outlined by President Barack Obama in a speech he gave in Cairo in 2009 in which he spoke of "a new beginning" for U.S. relations with countries in the Arab and Muslim world.

"Remember: It was here, here in this very city, another American stood before you," Pompeo told an invited audience of Egyptian officials, foreign diplomats and students. "He told you that radical Islamist terrorism does not stem from ideology. He told you 9/11 led my country to abandon its ideals, particularly in the Middle East. He told you that the United States and the Muslim world needed 'a new beginning.' The results of these misjudgments have been dire."

Pompeo said that the U.S. was "timid" about "asserting ourselves when the times - and our partners - demanded it."

The secretary did not mention Obama by name but the remarks still struck listeners in the U.S. as unusually partisan.

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo speaks to students at the American University Cairo, in the eastern suburb of New Cairo, Egypt, east of the capital, Thursday, Jan. 10, 2019. (Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/Pool Photo via AP)

"It's a speech shocking for its use of domestic politics, for kind of attacking a prior president in an international setting and for going to a long-time ally and questioning some of the foundations of the relationship with the ally," said Heather Hurlburt, an analyst with the New America, a nonpartisan think tank. "Those are all things that secretaries of state don't normally do but seem to becoming standard practice with Pompeo."

Pompeo's speech came on the third leg of a nine-nation Mideast tour aimed at reassuring America's Arab partners that the Trump administration is not walking away from the region amid confusion and concern over plans to withdraw U.S. forces from Syria.

Former Obama administration officials rejected Pompeo's assertions as petty, political and weak. They said the speech pandered to authoritarian leaders and ignored rights violations that Obama had called out.

"That this administration feels the need, nearly a decade later, to take potshots at an effort to identify common ground between the Arab world and the West speaks not only to the Trump administration's pettiness but also to its lack of a strategic vision for America's role in the region and its abdication of America's values," National Security Action group, a group of former officials, said in a statement.

Rob Malley, who was Obama's national security council director for the Middle East and is now at the International Crisis Group, said hearing Pompeo's speech was like "like listening to someone from a parallel universe" in which the region's shortcomings were ignored.

"In that parallel universe, the Arab public probably will receive it enthusiastically," he said. "Back on planet earth, they will see it for what it is: a self-congratulatory, delusional depiction of the Trump administration's Middle East policy."

Pompeo blamed the previous administration's approach to the Mideast for the ills that consume it now, particularly the rise of the Islamic State group in Iraq and Syria and Iran's increasing assertiveness, which he said was a direct result of sanctions relief, since rescinded by the Trump administration, granted to it under the 2015 nuclear deal.

He said Obama ignored the growth of the Iranian-backed Hezbollah movement in Lebanon to the detriment of Israel's security and not doing enough to push back on Iran-supported rebels in Yemen.

Since Trump's election, however, Pompeo claimed this was all changing.

"The good news is this: The age of self-inflicted American shame is over, and so are the policies that produced so much needless suffering," he said. "Now comes the real 'new beginning.' In just 24 months, actually less than two years, the United States under President Trump has reasserted its traditional role as a force for good in this region, because we've learned from our mistakes."

In the speech entitled "A Force for Good: America's Reinvigorated Role in the Middle East," Pompeo extolled the Trump administration's actions across the region cementing ties with traditional, albeit authoritarian, friendly governments, taking on the Islamic State group in Iraq and Syria and imposing tough new sanctions on Iran.

"President Trump has reversed our willful blindness to the danger of the regime and withdrew from the failed nuclear deal, with its false promises," Pompeo said.

Since withdrawing from the nuclear deal last year, the administration has steadily ratcheted up pressure on Tehran and routinely accuses the nation of being the most destabilizing influence in the region. It has vowed to increase the pressure until Iran halts what U.S. officials describe as its "malign activities" throughout the Mideast and elsewhere, including support for rebels in Yemen, anti-Israel groups, and Syrian President Bashar Assad.

"The nations of the Middle East will never enjoy security, achieve economic stability, or advance the dreams of its peoples if Iran's revolutionary regime persists on its current course," Pompeo said.

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, left, meets with Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi in Cairo, Thursday, Jan. 10, 2019. Pompeo is in Cairo for talks with Egyptian leaders as he continues a nine-nation Middle East tour aimed at reassuring America's Arab partners that the Trump administration is not walking away from the region. (Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/Pool Photo via AP)

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, and his wife Susan, right, are greeted by Assistant Foreign Minister For North and South American Affairs, Reda Habeeb Ibrahim Zaki , second from left, and Charge d'Affaires for the US Embassy in Egypt, Tom Goldberger at they arrive at Cairo International Airport in Cairo, Wednesday, Jan. 9, 2019. (Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/Pool Photo via AP)

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, left, meets with Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi in Cairo, Egypt, Thursday, Jan. 10, 2019. Pompeo is in Cairo for talks with Egyptian leaders as he continues a nine-nation Middle East tour aimed at reassuring America's Arab partners that the Trump administration is not walking away from the region. (Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/Pool Photo via AP)

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, and his wife Susan, right, are greeted by Assistant Foreign Minister For North and South American Affairs, Reda Habeeb Ibrahim Zaki , second from left, and Charge d'Affaires for the US Embassy in Egypt, Tom Goldberger, at they arrive at Cairo International Airport in Cairo, Wednesday, Jan. 9, 2019. (Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/Pool Photo via AP)

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, second left, meets with Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi in Cairo, Thursday, Jan. 10, 2019. Pompeo is in Cairo for talks with Egyptian leaders as he continues a nine-nation Middle East tour aimed at reassuring America's Arab partners that the Trump administration is not walking away from the region. (Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/Pool Photo via AP)

Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi meets with U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, in Cairo, Thursday, Jan. 10, 2019. Pompeo is in Cairo for talks with Egyptian leaders as he continues a nine-nation Middle East tour aimed at reassuring America's Arab partners that the Trump administration is not walking away from the region. (Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/Pool Photo via AP)

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, and his wife Susan, second from right, arrive at Cairo International Airport in Cairo, Wednesday, Jan. 9, 2019. (Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/Pool Photo via AP)

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, and his wife Susan, right, are greeted by Assistant Foreign Minister For North and South American Affairs, Reda Habeeb Ibrahim Zaki , second from left, and Charge d'Affaires for the US Embassy in Egypt, Tom Goldberger, at they arrive at Cairo International Airport in Cairo, Wednesday, Jan. 9, 2019. (Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/Pool Photo via AP)

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo speaks to the media at the U.S. Embassy compound in the Iraqi capital Baghdad after his tour around Irbil in the Kurdish autonomous region of northern Iraq on Wednesday, Jan. 9, 2019. (Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/Pool Photo via AP)
The partial government shutdown over President Donald Trump's demand for a border wall is playing havoc with the nation's already backlogged immigration courts, forcing the postponement of hearings for thousands of immigrants.

For some of those asking for asylum in the U.S., the impasse could mean years more of waiting - and prolonged separation from loved ones overseas - until they get a new court date.

But for those immigrants with little chance of winning their bids to stay in this country legally, the shutdown could help them stave off deportation that much longer - adding to the very delays the Trump administration has railed against.

"It is just dripping with irony," said Sarah Pierce, policy analyst at the nonpartisan Migration Policy Institute. "This administration has put a lot of emphasis on speeding up court cases, and the shutdown obviously is just going to cause massive delays."

The shutdown has furloughed hundreds of thousands of government employees and halted services that aren't deemed essential, including, in many instances, the immigration courts overseen by the Justice Department.

Hearings involved detained immigrants are still going forward. But untold thousands of other proceedings have been postponed. No one knows for how long; it depends on when employees return to work and hearings can be reset.

FILE - This Saturday, Dec. 22, 2018 file photo shows Tijuana, Mexico, left, and San Diego, Calif., separated by a U.S. border fence. The partial government shutdown which started in December 2018 has furloughed hundreds of thousands of government employees and halted services that aren't deemed essential, including, in many instances, the immigration courts overseen by the Justice Department. (AP Photo/Daniel Ochoa de Olza)

Immigration experts said cases could be delayed months or years since the courts have more than 800,000 pending cases, according to the Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse at Syracuse University, and many courtrooms are tightly booked.

Immigration Judge Dana Marks, former president of the National Association of Immigration Judges, said she has at least 60 hearings a day in her San Francisco courtroom and no space on her docket for at least the next three years.

"The cases that are not being heard now - there is no readily available place to reschedule them until at least 2022 or beyond," Marks said of her courtroom.

Immigration judges hear a wide range of complex cases from immigrants from across the world, some who have recently arrived in the United States, others who have lived in the country for years and the government is seeking to deport.

Immigration judges have long sought more staffing to handle the ballooning caseload, which has roughly doubled in five years following a surge in Central American children and families arriving at the southern border. The Trump administration has tried to speed up the courts by assigning immigration judges quotas and stopping them from shelving cases.

Some of the toughest cases immigration judges hear are claims for asylum, or protection from persecution. And long wait times can be especially difficult for asylum seekers, since they can't bring spouses or children to join them in the United States unless their asylum requests are approved.

Reynold Finnegan, an immigration attorney in Los Angeles, said one of his Afghan clients hasn't seen his wife or children in nearly nine years. After being kidnapped and tortured by the Taliban, the man left his homeland, traveled across the world and made his way to the U.S.-Mexico border to seek asylum, Finnegan said.

He waited more than six years for his final hearing before an immigration judge, but it was canceled last week because of the shutdown, and he doesn't know how much longer it will take.

"He is devastated," Finnegan said. "He was really planning on seeing his wife later in the year when he got approved, and his children."

Since the shutdown began in December, immigrants have had to prepare for their scheduled court hearings and in many cases travel to court, knowing the proceedings might be postponed. In Northern states, that can mean hourslong car trips through ice and snow and taking days off from work.

The delays are painful for many immigrants, especially those who have strong asylum claims or green card applications and want to get their lives on solid footing in the United States.

Those with the weakest asylum claims actually benefit from the delays, because they are able to remain in the U.S. in the meantime and hold out hope of qualifying for legal status by some other means down the road.

In the 2017 fiscal year, immigration courts decided more than 52,000 asylum cases. About 1 in 5 were approved, according to statistics from the courts.

This isn't the first time immigration courts have been crippled by a government shutdown. More than 37,000 immigration hearings were delayed by one in 2013.

And it isn't just immigration courts that are affected. Since Justice Department attorneys are allowed to work in limited circumstances only, some high-profile civil cases have been put on hold, including a lawsuit in Oregon by the widow of Robert "LaVoy" Finicum, a man shot by police in 2016 after the takeover of a wildlife refuge.

Government attorneys have also sought to put on hold environmental cases, including challenges to logging projects and wild horse roundups in Montana and a lawsuit over the disposal in Oklahoma of toxic coal ash from power plants.

Most major criminal cases are expected to stay on track because of federal requirements for a speedy trial.

One aspect of immigration unaffected by the shutdown is the review of applications for green cards and citizenship. That's because those tasks, which are handled by an agency in the Homeland Security Department, are paid for by application filing fees.

One asylum seeker, who spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of persecution in her home country, said the wait has been unbearable since her 2014 court date was twice delayed. It is now set for February.

"The past four years have been horrible enough, but this uncertainty, and my life being handled with such, I don't know, no one cares, basically," she said. "The process takes forever - just to get the date in front of the judge."

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Associated Press writers Dave Kolpack in Fargo, North Dakota; Amy Forliti in Minneapolis; and Matthew Brown in Billings, Montana contributed to this report.
ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) - Some federal employees furloughed under the government shutdown may be recalled to start examining a limousine that crashed in rural upstate New York three months ago, killing 20 people, the National Transportation Safety Board said Thursday.

An NTSB statement said with the help of the county court, the agency is coordinating investigative efforts into the Oct. 6 crash with the Schoharie County District Attorney's Office and New York State Police. The federal agency had complained last month that prosecutors prevented access while a criminal case against the limousine company's operator proceeded.

On Dec. 14, the NTSB sent a letter to District Attorney Susan Mallery saying "safety-critical evidence" had been lost because of its inability to inspect the vehicle that crashed in rural Schoharie. It said federal investigators may no longer be able to evaluate corrosion, which is critical when examining the brakes, or the status of the vehicle's electrical system at the time of the crash.

NTSB spokeswoman Dolline Hatchett said Thursday that prosecutors had been preventing access because the search warrant for the vehicle didn't explicitly include the federal agency. A Schoharie County judge ruled Wednesday that NTSB's statutory authority grants it access, Hatchett said. The warrant will be revised to make that clear before NTSB inspectors are given access to the limo and other evidence, she said.

Mallery's office declined to comment on Thursday.

The NTSB said Thursday that in preparation for its examination, it is having a structure built to house the vehicle at State Police headquarters near Albany, where it's now inside a tent.

FILE - In this Oct. 6, 2018, file photo, a limousine, left, has landed in the woods following a fatal crash in Schoharie, N.Y. The National Transportation Safety Board said on Thursday, Jan. 10, 2019, that some federal employees furloughed under the government shutdown may be recalled to start examining the limousine that crashed in rural upstate New York, killing 20 people,(Tom Heffernan Sr. via AP, File)

"I am encouraged that the NTSB and Schoharie County DA have reached a solution allowing them to work together so that this urgent investigation can proceed," Rep. Paul Tonko said in a statement Thursday. "I remain troubled that the president has shut down the agency responsible for bringing the truth to light in this case."

The limousine company's operator, Nauman Hussain, has pleaded not guilty to criminally negligent homicide and is free on bail. Prosecutors allege he allowed an improperly licensed driver to operate an "unserviceable" vehicle.

The crash was the nation's deadliest transportation wreck in nearly a decade. The vehicle blew through a stop sign at a T-intersection and crashed in a shallow ditch beside a country store, killing the driver, 17 passengers on a birthday outing, and two pedestrians.
MEXICO CITY (AP) - The Sea Shepherd environmental group published a video Thursday showing an attack by about two dozen small fishing boats on the vessel Farley Mowat in Mexico's Gulf of California.

Fishermen in the Gulf, also known as the Sea of Cortez, have long complained about environmentalists trying to protect the vaquita marina, the world's smallest and most endangered porpoise.

Sea Shepherd said fishermen threw lead weights and tried to douse the Farley Mowat and waters around it with gasoline Wednesday.

The video shows some of the fishing boats carried gill nets, though they are banned within the reserve designed to protect the vaquita.

The vaquita is nearing extinction due to gill nets set illegally to catch totoaba, a fish whose swim bladder commands astronomical prices because it is considered a delicacy in China.

Some fishermen threw a net in front of the Farley Mowat to foul the propellers of the Sea Shepherd vessel. Others boarded the ship and apparently carried off some items.

In this Jan. 9, 2019 screen grab released by the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, the vessel Farley Mowat is surrounded by a group of small fishing boats as it was patrolling to seize illegal gill nets inside the reserve designed to protect the vaquita marina porpoise in Mexico's Gulf of California. Fishermen in the Gulf, also known as the Sea of Cortez, have long complained about environmentalists trying to protect the world's smallest and most endangered porpoise. (Alex Beldi/Sea Shepherd via AP)

The Farley Mowat's crew can be seen using a hose to repel some of the smaller boats.

Sea Shepherd operates in the Gulf with the knowledge and cooperation of the Mexican government to help detect illegal nets.

Experts say as few as 15 of the marine mammals remain in the Gulf, the only place they exist, and none have ever been held in captivity.

While the Mexican government has banned the use of gill nets in the vaquita's known range, the rule has been almost impossible to enforce.

Scientists have called on Mexican environmental officials to ban possession of the nets in the whole area, as well as carry out land patrols and inspections of boats setting out to sea to enforce the ban. At present, authorities patrol the area but poachers often flee in high-powered boats and make it to shore.

A voyage by researchers in late September sighted six or seven of the creatures, including a mother with a new calf. The sightings suggested that most of the remaining vaquitas have gathered in a roughly a 12- by 25-mile (20- by 40-kilometer) rectangle, a small enough area that it could potentially by protected by floating barriers to keep out the small boats used by poachers.
LAS VEGAS (AP) - Former Nevada Sen. Harry Reid said Thursday that he thinks President Donald Trump has no conscience and said he'd like to see Utah Republican Sen. Mitt Romney challenge Trump in 2020 for the GOP nomination for president.

"I've had dealings with the man," Reid said of Trump. "I think he's amoral. I don't think he has a conscience."

Reid, the 79-year-old Democrat who served as Senate Majority Leader, said in a radio interview with KNPR in Nevada that the partial government shutdown over Trump's push for a U.S.-Mexico border wall is an example of Trump's behavior.

Reid said the border wall does not have popular support, but the shutdown over it is causing people to suffer financial harm.

The White House did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment Thursday.

Reid said later in the interview that he didn't think there was much more Democrat Hillary Clinton could have done to defeat Trump in the 2016 election, calling Trump's win "an aberration."

FILE - In this Dec. 8, 2016 file photo then Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., speaks during a ceremony on Capitol Hill in Washington. Reid said Thursday, Jan. 10, 2019, he thinks President Donald Trump has no conscience and he'd like to see Utah Sen. Mitt Romney run against Trump in 2020 for the GOP nomination for president. The 79-year-old Democrat, who served as Senate Majority Leader, said in a radio interview with KNPR in Nevada that the partial government shutdown over Trump's push for a U.S.-Mexico border wall is an example of Trump's behavior.(AP Photo/Evan Vucci, File)

"It was a time in the country that they were looking for something different," he said. "And believe me, they got something different with Trump."

Reid, who is seen as a political kingmaker and remains a sought-after endorsement among Democrats, said he has met with many candidates considering a run for president in 2020, including former Vice President Joe Biden.

Reid said that it's well-known that Biden is thinking about running and would be the front-runner. But the only thing that may be holding him back is the 76-year-old's age, Reid said.

"Everyone is waiting to see what Joe Biden is going to do," he said.

The Nevada senator said he has also discussed potential bids with Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar, California Sen. Kamala Harris and California billionaire Tom Steyer, who bowed out Wednesday.

"Any of them would be good," he said, adding, "That doesn't mean that I'm going to be out beating the bushes for any one of them" ahead of Nevada's nominating caucus next year.

Reid was asked whether Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer had been an effective replacement of the Nevadan. "I think the world of Chuck Schumer, and I would never, ever second-guess what he's doing," Reid said.

Reid said Thursday that he and Romney had differences in the past. But he said he likes Romney and thinks he's "a moderate voice the Republicans need." He also insisted that he had claimed Romney hadn't paid "his fair share of taxes," rather than no taxes and said he was glad he had raised the issue.

Reid hammered Romney on his taxes during the 2012 presidential race, including an unsubstantiated claim that Romney paid no income taxes for a decade and criticism about his choices to keep money in Swiss and Cayman Island accounts.

"I think he would be a great foil against Trump," Reid said Thursday. "I think Republicans may even allow him to be nominated, to be the Republican nominee. That would be good for the country."

A message seeking comment from Romney's office was not returned Thursday.

Reid also disclosed that his health is strong and he's doing fine despite a pancreatic cancer diagnosis last year.

"I'm doing fine. Everything is working out well," he said. "I'm strong and have a pretty good life I think."

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Associated Press reporter Lindsay Whitehurst in Salt Lake City contributed to this report.
Output in only 10 of the 23 groups saw positive growth.

Manufacturing sector contracted by 0.4 per cent in November as against a growth of 10.4 per cent a year ago. (Representational image)

New Delhi: A slump in Indias manufacturing sector led to the industrial growth fall to a 17-month low of 0.5 per cent in November, data released by the Central Statistics Office (CSO) showed on Friday.

With the Lok Sabha polls expected to be held around late April or early May, the low industrial growth will be a fresh headache for the current government.

Earlier this week, a CSO forecast had shown that the GDP will grow slower at 6.8 per cent in the second half of 2018-19 (period between October 1, 2018 to March 31, 2019) against 7.6 per cent in the first half of the financial year.

The Index of Industrial Production (IIP), which captures the industrial production growth, had expanded by 8.5 per cent in November 2017.

The industrial production number has disappointed coming in at a flattish level of 0.5 per cent. While the adverse base and the post festive winding down of momentum along with fewer working days was expected to lower the industrial production growth, the magnitude of correction has been sharper, said Shubhada Rao, chief economist, Yes Bank. She said that tighter domestic financing conditions may also have played a part.

Going forward, incrementally improving liquidity, normalisation post festive related disruptions and election related spending could get growth supportive enabling higher prints versus today's industrial production number. However second half of 2018-19 average growth will be lower than first half, as also corroborated by advance estimates of GDP, said Rao.

The CSO data on Friday showed that manufacturing sector, which constitutes 77.63 per cent of the Index of Industrial Production (IIP), contracted by 0.4 per cent in November as against a growth of 10.4 per cent a year ago.

The mining sector posted 2.7 per cent growth during the month as against 1.4 per cent in November 2017.

Output in only 10 of the 23 industry groups saw positive growth, suggesting a broad-based slowdown.

Capital goods, which is a barometer of investment activity in the economy, declined by 3.4 per cent, compared to 3.7 per cent growth a year ago. The consumer durables growth also dipped by 0.9 per cent as against a growth of 3.1 per cent a year earlier.

Consumer non-durable goods also saw a contraction of 0.6 per cent as compared to 23.7 per cent growth a year ago. In terms of industries, 10 out of 23 industry groups in the manufacturing sector showed positive growth during November 2018.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 11)  President Rodrigo Duterte on Wednesday said he is considering arming mayors should attacks by communist rebel group New People's Army (NPA) continue.

"Ako sinasabi ko lang sa NPA, ayaw kong armasan ang mga tao. Pero 'pag sige ganun ang ano, I will allow the purchase of individual firearm. Pati 'yung mga mayor bigyan ko 'yan ng armas talaga. Wala akong magawa eh," Duterte said in a speech in Masbate.

[Translation:I'm just telling the NPA, I don't want to arm everyone, but if push comes to shove, I will allow the purchase of individual firerams. Even the mayors, I will give them arms. I have no choice.]

Duterte claimed the mayors "feel naked" without arms.

"But if they can tone down (attacks), walang ambush, walang patay ang pulis ko, sundalo ko, pwede pa kaming mag-usap," he said.

[Translation: But if they can tone down attacks, no ambushes, no deaths among police and military, we can still talk.]

Duterte terminated peace negotiations with the NPA and its mother organization, the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) in November 2017, after both sides argued over allegedly violating ceasefires.

Instead, the Duterte administration opted for localized peace talks, a move which the CPP rejected.

READ: CPP rejects localized peace talks, says Duterte 'pretending to want peace'

The government also wants to declare the CPP and NPA as a terrorist group, but this bid is still pending before the court.
WASHINGTON (AP) - President Donald Trump said Thursday that he's canceling his trip later this month to a global forum in Switzerland because of the partial government shutdown, now in its 20th day.

The president was scheduled to leave Jan. 21 to attend the World Economic Forum in Davos, an annual event that attracts high-profile business and political figures, plus thinkers, artists and other elites. He blamed the cancellation on Democrats in Congress, saying they are unwilling to negotiate a resolution to the shutdown, which is hung up on Trump' demand for money to build a wall on the southern border.

"Because of the Democrats intransigence on Border Security and the great importance of Safety for our Nation, I am respectfully cancelling my very important trip to Davos, Switzerland for the World Economic Forum," Trump tweeted. "My warmest regards and apologies to the @WEF!"

Trump said earlier Thursday that the trip was "still on" but that he would cancel if the shutdown over funding for a U.S.-Mexico border wall continued. He told reporters on the South Lawn that he wanted to attend and speak before the world financial community. Fewer than five hours later, he nixed the trip.

But Trump has kept plans to travel to New Orleans on Monday to address the American Farm Bureau.

Asked what he intended to say in Switzerland, Trump said he had a "great story" to tell.

President Donald Trump gestures as reporters raise their hands while he speaks to the media on the South Lawn of the White House, Thursday Jan. 10, 2019, in Washington, en route for a trip to the border in Texas as the government shutdown continues. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

"We have the best job numbers we've ever had, in many ways," he said. "Certainly with African-Americans, with Hispanic, with Asian-Americans. And overall, we have the best job numbers in at least 50 years. The economy is incredible. We're negotiating and having tremendous success with China."

He said it was easier to negotiate trade with China than talk to Democrats about border security and wall funding.

"I find China, frankly, in many ways, to be far more honorable than Cryin' Chuck and Nancy. I really do," Trump said referring to Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. "I think that China is actually much easier to deal with than the opposition party."

Last year, a brief government shutdown threatened to derail his trip to Davos, but Trump ended up going to Switzerland and asserting in a speech that this "America First" agenda can go hand-in-hand with global cooperation.

Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, who is to lead the U.S. delegation, and other White House officials are still likely to attend the Jan. 22-25 event, a White House official said.

Other top-level administration figures scheduled to attend include Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross, Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao, U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer and Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen. Trump's daughter Ivanka and son-in-law Jared Kushner - both senior advisers to Trump - also were to attend the forum.
HELENA, Mont. (AP) - The Latest on a Montana legislative proposal to pay $8 million toward border wall (all times local):

1:20 p.m.

State senators in South Dakota have passed a resolution urging construction of a steel barrier along the U.S.-Mexico border.

The Republican-dominated chamber voted 28-5 Thursday for the measure as the federal government shutdown drags on.

Republican state Sen. Stace Nelson, the main sponsor of the measure, says South Dakota has a chance to be part of the national discussion over President Donald Trump's border wall.

Democratic Sen. Craig Kennedy, an opponent, called the measure "pure politics."

File - In this Oct. 19, 2017 file photo, people pass border wall prototypes as they stand near the border with Tijuana, Mexico, in San Diego. Montana's Senate president is proposing the state give more than $8 million to help build President Donald Trump's proposed wall on the Mexican border. Scott Sales, a Republican, says his proposal is a "small token" to show border security "is of vital interest to all citizens regardless of what state they live in." (AP Photo/Gregory Bull, File)

Trump and congressional Democrats have been at an impasse over funding for the proposed wall, which has led to the partial government shutdown now in its 20th day.

In Montana, a lawmaker wants to spend $8 million in state money to help build the wall.

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12:05 p.m.

Montana's Democratic governor calls a Republican lawmaker's proposal to spend $8 million in state money on President Donald Trump's proposed wall on the Mexican border puzzling.

Democrat Gov. Steve Bullock on Thursday declined to say if he would veto the bill should it arrive on his desk. But he says it doesn't make sense to use Montana taxpayer dollars on federal projects.

Bullock says he doesn't recall state Senate President Scott Sales ever strongly advocating for infrastructure investments in Montana and that $8 million could go a long way in the state.

Sales says his proposal is meant to show that border security is important to all U.S. citizens regardless of their state.

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10 a.m.

Montana's Senate president is proposing the state give more than $8 million to help build President Donald Trump's proposed wall on the Mexican border.

At least one other state, South Dakota, is considering voicing support for Trump's wall. But Montana, which last year faced a massive budget shortfall, appears to be the first to propose spending its own money on the project.

Scott Sales, a Republican, says his proposal is a "small token" to show border security "is of vital interest to all citizens regardless of what state they live in."

House Minority Leader Casey Schreiner, a Democrat, says he'd like to see Sales focus on building Montana's infrastructure.

Trump headed to the U.S.-Mexico border on Thursday amid a government shutdown over the $5.7 billion he's seeking for the wall.
LOS ANGELES (AP) - A Los Angeles judge on Thursday found no reason to delay an expected teachers strike next week against the nation's second-largest school district over wages and class sizes.

Superior Court Judge Mary H. Strobel ruled on the issue of whether United Teachers Los Angeles had given legally proper notice of a work stoppage to the Los Angeles Unified School District.

The district, with 640,000 students, said in a statement after the ruling that it's willing to negotiate "around the clock" and urged UTLA to work with it to resolve contract issues and avoid a strike.

Talks were set to resume Friday. Schools would stay open during a possible strike. The district has hired hundreds of substitutes to replace teachers and others who could leave for picket lines.

The district has offered a 6 percent raise over the first two years of a three-year contract. The union wants a 6.5 percent hike that would take effect all at once and be retroactive to fiscal 2017. Health care fully paid by the district and a pension plan would be unchanged under both proposals.

The union also wants significantly smaller class sizes, which routinely top 30 students, and more nurses, librarians and counselors to "fully staff" the district's campuses in Los Angeles and all or parts of 31 smaller cities, plus several unincorporated areas.

Los Angeles Unified School District Superintendent Austin Beutner talks to reporters during a news conference at the LAUSD headquarters, Wednesday, Jan. 9, 2019, in Los Angeles. The union representing teachers in Los Angeles, the nation's second-largest school district, postponed the start of a strike until Monday because of the possibility of a court-ordered delay of a walkout. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

The district has said the union's demands could bankrupt the school system, which is projecting a half-billion-dollar deficit this budget year and has billions obligated for pension payments and health coverage for retired teachers.

Union officials previously said its 35,000 members would walk off the job Thursday for the first time in three decades if a deal wasn't reached on higher pay and smaller class sizes.

They delayed the strike until Monday while awaiting the court ruling to avoid confusion and give teachers, parents and others time to prepare.

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Follow Weber at https://twitter.com/WeberCM
DENVER (AP) - Activists asked a U.S. judge Thursday to make documents public from a 27-year-old criminal investigation into a former nuclear weapons plant outside Denver with a history of fires, leaks and spills.

The activists said the documents could show whether the federal government did enough to clean up the site before turning part of it into a wildlife refuge and opening it to the public.

The government built plutonium triggers at the Rocky Flats plant from 1952 to 1989. It was shut down after a two-year grand jury investigation into environmental violations.

After the investigation, Rockwell International, the contractor that operated the plant, pleaded guilty in 1992 to criminal charges that included mishandling chemical and radioactive material. The company was fined $18.5 million.

The documents from the grand jury investigation are still sealed. Seven groups representing environmentalists, former nuclear workers, nearby residents and public health advocates filed a motion in federal court Thursday asking for the information to be made public.

The U.S. attorney's office in Denver will review the motion, but officials had no other comment, spokesman Chris Larson said. Scott Surovchak of the U.S. Department of Energy, which oversaw the plant, also had no immediate comment.

FILE - In this Nov. 18, 2018, file photo, a sign marks a trailhead at the Rocky Flats National Wildlife Refuge in Broomfield, Colo., outside Denver. Activists are asking a judge to unseal documents from a 27-year-old criminal investigation into the former Rocky Flats nuclear weapons plant outside Denver. The groups said Thursday, Jan. 10, 2019 the documents could show whether the federal government did enough to clean up the site before turning part of it into a wildlife refuge and opening it to the public. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski,File)

Pat Mellen, an attorney representing the activist groups, said the documents could show whether the government tracked down and cleaned up all the contamination.

Mellen said the grand jury subpoenaed documents from the plant that would have shown where plutonium and other hazardous wastes were disposed of, spilled or buried.

Comparing those documents to the cleanup would show whether all the known contamination sites were remediated, she said.

"Our concern here is that the locations that were cleaned up were complete," Mellen said. "We want to audit the cleanup."

The plutonium processing area was declared a Superfund site and underwent a $7 billion cleanup. It remains off-limits to the public.

The buffer zone surrounding the manufacturing area was turned into a wildlife refuge and opened to the public last fall over the objection of some groups. They said the federal government had not done enough to ensure it was safe.

The government determined no cleanup was necessary there. Mellen said that finding was based primarily on soil test samples, with five samples taken on every 30 acres. That would be a total of about 870 samples across 8 square miles (21 square kilometers) of land.

"There's a perception that we're hoping to dispel that every inch of the refuge was considered and tested, and they went looking for the contamination until they found it," she said. "That was not the procedure."

Instead, contamination sites were identified by reviewing plant documents and public reports and interviewing workers.

The motion filed by the activist groups said the grand jury investigation accumulated about 3.5 million pages of documents. Only a redacted copy of the grand jury's 124-page final report has been released.

Mellen said the courts have rejected at least one previous request to unseal the documents, but she believes the time is right for another attempt.

Mellen said the activist groups are seeking only documents, not transcripts of witness testimony or grand jury deliberations. Grand jury secrecy rules are designed primarily to protect the identity of witnesses and jurors, she said.

The groups asking for the release of the documents are the Alliance of Nuclear Workers Advocacy Groups, Rocky Flats Downwinders, Candelas Glows/Rocky Flats Glows, Environmental Information Network, Rocky Flats Neighborhood Association, Rocky Flats Right to Know and Rocky Mountain Peace & Justice Center.

Some of the groups are also plaintiffs in a separate lawsuit challenging the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's decision to open the refuge to the public.

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Follow Dan Elliott at http://twitter.com/DanElliottAP .
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) - Oregon wildlife officials have started killing California sea lions that threaten a fragile and unique type of trout in the Willamette River, a body of water that's miles inland from the coastal areas where the massive carnivorous aquatic mammals usually congregate to feed.

The state Department of Fish and Wildlife obtained a federal permit in November to kill up to 93 California sea lions annually below Willamette Falls south of Portland, Oregon, to protect the winter run of the fish that begin life as rainbow trout but become steelhead when they travel to the ocean.

As of last week, wildlife managers have killed three of the animals using traps they used last year to relocate the sea lions, said Bryan Wright, project manager for the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife's marine resources program.

The adult male sea lions, which weigh nearly 1,000 pounds (454 kilograms) each, have learned that they can loiter under the falls and snack on the vulnerable steelhead as the fish power their way upriver to the streams where they hatched.

The trout travel to sea from inland rivers, grow to adulthood as steelhead in the Pacific Ocean and then return to their natal river to spawn. They can grow to 55 pounds and live up to 11 years.

The sea lions breed each summer off Southern California and northern Mexico, then the males cruise up the Pacific Coast to forage. Hunted for their thick fur, the mammals' numbers dropped dramatically but have rebounded from 30,000 in the late 1960s to about 300,000 today because of the 1972 Marine Mammal Protection Act.

FILE - In this March 14, 2018, file photo, a California sea lion peers out from a restraint nicknamed "The Squeeze" near Oregon City, Ore., as it is prepared for transport by truck to the Pacific Ocean about 130 miles away. The male sea lion was released south of Newport, Ore., in a program designed to reduce the threat to wild winter steelhead and spring chinook salmon in the Willamette River. Oregon wildlife officials have started killing sea lions that threaten a fragile run of winter steelhead in the Willamette River. The state Department of Fish and Wildlife obtained a federal permit in November to kill up to 93 California sea lions per year below Willamette Falls south of Portland, Oregon Public Broadcasting reported Wednesday, Jan. 9, 2019. (AP Photo/Gillian Flaccus, File)

With their numbers growing, the dog-faced sea lions are venturing ever farther inland up the Columbia River and its tributaries in Oregon and Washington - and their appetite is having disastrous consequences, scientists have said.

Last winter, a record-low 512 wild winter steelhead completed the journey past the Willamette Falls, according to state counts. Less than 30 years ago, that number was more than 15,000.

The sea lions are eating so many winter steelhead at Willamette Falls that certain runs are at a high risk of going extinct, according to a 2017 study by wildlife biologists.

Wildlife officials moved about a dozen sea lions to the coast near the small city of Newport last year, but the animals ended up swimming back to the falls within days.

So the state petitioned federal officials for permission to start killing the animals, which are listed as a federally endangered species.

The permit from the National Marine Fisheries Service says the targeted sea lions must have been observed eating at least one steelhead near Willamette Falls between Nov. 1 and Aug. 15 or have been observed in the same stretch of river on two consecutive days in that period.

Individual sea lions are identified by trained observers who look at brands on their back or tags on their flippers.

The animals are being euthanized by a veterinarian by lethal injection in the same way that dogs and cats are put down, Wright said. Their flesh goes to a rendering plant.

Before a sea lion is killed, the state must find out if there is a zoo or aquarium that wants the animal. If so, Oregon wildlife managers must hold the sea lion for 48 hours before killing it.

In a similar program, Oregon and Washington have already killed more than 150 sea lions below the Bonneville Dam on the Columbia River to protect threatened and endangered salmon.

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Follow Gillian Flaccus on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/gflaccus

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Information from: KOPB-, http://www.opb.org

FILE - In this March 14, 2018 file photo, a California sea lion that was trapped at Willamette Falls in the lower Willamette River waits to be released into the Pacific Ocean near Newport, Ore. Oregon wildlife officials have started killing sea lions that threaten a fragile run of winter steelhead in the Willamette River. The state Department of Fish and Wildlife obtained a federal permit in November to kill up to 93 California sea lions per year below Willamette Falls south of Portland, Oregon Public Broadcasting reported Wednesday, Jan. 9, 2019. (AP Photo/Don Ryan, File)
ZAGREB, Croatia (AP) - Israel has failed to overcome U.S. objections to its plan to sell 12 used fighter jets to Croatia and the $500 million deal will likely be canceled, Croatia's defense minister said Thursday.

Israel reached a tentative deal with Croatia in March for the sale of the upgraded F-16 Barak fighters, pending U.S. approval that would allow the American-made technology to be purchased by a third party.

Croatian Defense Minister Damir Krsticevic said after meeting with Israeli defense officials in Zagreb on Thursday that "despite accepted obligations," Israel failed to obtain the needed consent and his ministry "will propose to the government to make appropriate decisions."

He said Croatia will not suffer financial consequences because of the failed deal, which was to be its largest single military purchase since it split from the Yugoslav federation in a bloody war in the 1990s.

The deal ran into trouble after Washington said that Israel needed to strip off the upgrades that were added after Israel took delivery of the aircraft from the United States some 30 years ago.

The sophisticated electronics and radar systems were crucial in Croatia's decision to buy the F-16s from Israel instead of from the U.S. or Greece, which also bid for the contract.

FILE - In this Nov. 25, 2013 file photo, Israeli air force technicians check an Israeli air force plane F-16 of the Red Dragon squadron at Ovda airbase near Eilat, southern Israel. Croatia's defense minister says Israel has failed to overcome U.S. objections to a plan to sell 12 used fighter jets to Croatia and the $500 million deal will likely be canceled. Damir Krsticevic spoke after a meeting with Israeli defense officials in Zagreb on Thursday, Jan. 10, 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 earlier this month but didn't agree on a way to end the impasse.

The director-general of the Israeli Defense Ministry, Udi Adam, traveled to Croatia on Thursday in an apparent attempt to save the deal.

He said at a joint media conference with the Croatian defense minister that "sadly, the conditions were not right (for finalizing the deal) because of the circumstances that were beyond our control."

Israel is trying to get rid of its aging F-16s that will be replaced with more modern F-35 fighters.

Last week, Croatian Defense Minister Krsticevic said Israel provided "pre-guarantees" during the bidding process that U.S. officials would green-light the sale. The problems in carrying out the deal have brought calls for Krsticevic's resignation.

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.

Israel's delegation led by Ehud Adam, center, Director General of the Israeli Ministry of Defense, is welcomed by Mirko Sundov, Chief of Staff of Croatia's armed forces upon their arrival to the Croatian Ministry of Defense in Zagreb, Croatia, Thursday, Jan. 10, 2019. Croatia's defense minister says Israel has failed to overcome U.S. objections to a deal to sell 12 used fighter jets to Croatia and the agreement worth $500 million will likely be annulled. (AP Photo/Darko Bandic)

Israel's delegation led by Ehud Adam, left, Director General of the Israeli Ministry of Defense, arrive to the Croatian Ministry of Defense in Zagreb, Croatia, Thursday, Jan. 10, 2019. Croatia's defense minister says Israel has failed to overcome U.S. objections to a deal to sell 12 used fighter jets to Croatia and the agreement worth $500 million will likely be annulled. (AP Photo/Darko Bandic)

FILE - In this April 26, 2005 file photo, Israeli Air Force F-16 fighter planes fly over the funeral of former Israeli President Ezer Weizman during a state ceremony in the northern Israeli town of Or Akiva, Israel. Croatia's defense minister says Israel has failed to overcome U.S. objections to a plan to sell 12 used fighter jets to Croatia and the $500 million deal will likely be canceled. Damir Krsticevic spoke after a meeting with Israeli defense officials in Zagreb on Thursday, Jan. 10, 2019. (AP Photo/Oded Balilty,file )
LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) - A former Democratic lobbyist convicted of bribing a top official in the Kentucky attorney general's office was sentenced on Thursday to more than 2  years in prison.

James Sullivan received two years and nine months and was fined $25,000 by U.S. District Judge Karen Caldwell.

"This kind of crime erodes the public's confidence in government," Caldwell said after issuing the sentence. "This eats away at the very fiber of our democracy."

Sullivan's trial last summer exposed the murky relationships among the state's power brokers. At one point, a former high-ranking Cabinet official alleged that an aide to former Democratic Gov. Steve Beshear pressured him to award a state contract as a reward for campaign donations.

Tim Longmeyer testified that he refused because he was already being bribed to keep the contract with another company. In handing down the sentence, Caldwell said the evidence in the case "suggests the ease at which influence can be peddled."

In March 2016, Sullivan met with Longmeyer, who at the time was the second-most-powerful law enforcement officer in the state as Andy Beshear's top deputy.

Sullivan, who did not know Longmeyer had already been busted by the FBI for an unrelated kickback scheme involving the state's employee health insurance plan, slipped $1,000 into the cup holder of Longmeyer's SUV while the two were discussing a possible state contract for some outside law firms. Longmeyer secretly recorded the transaction for the FBI. In the recording, Sullivan promises Longmeyer he will "do a little more (than the $1,000) if I can just get something going."

During the trial, Sullivan denied bribing Longmeyer, calling the payments friendly loans between friends. But Thursday, he apologized for what he called "a terrible mistake."

"I'm really embarrassed and ashamed of what has happened," Sullivan told the judge. "I can't tell you how sorry I am."

The verdict could also have political consequences, as Andy Beshear is seeking the Democratic nomination for governor this year. Prosecutors have said he did not know about the bribe or Longmeyer's other crimes, which include funneling illegal campaign contributions to Beshear's campaign. Last month, Beshear announced he had donated $14,000 from his 2015 campaign account to charity to atone for the tainted contributions. But Republican Gov. Matt Bevin and his allies often invoke Longmeyer's name as they try to taint Beshear's term as attorney general.

Longmeyer pleaded guilty in 2016 and was sentenced to five years and 10 months in prison.

Sullivan was originally charged with four bribery-related counts. The jury only convicted him on one count, the $1,000 recorded payment to Longmeyer in March 2016. That complicated the sentencing. Sullivan's lawyer said he was facing at least 10 years in prison under federal sentencing guidelines. But in an agreement with prosecutors, the government limited his sentence to between two years and three months and two years and nine months in exchange for Sullivan giving up his right to appeal.

Such agreements are rare for people who have been convicted by a jury. Caldwell said it was the first time she had seen such an agreement in 18 years as a judge.

Hectus argued for a sentence of two years and three months. He noted state taxpayers did not lose money because of the bribe, and Sullivan did not enrich himself. But prosecutor Andy Boone asked for the longest possible sentence given Sullivan's background as a veteran lobbyist and consultant.

"He is somebody who should have known better," Boone said. "This was a crime of choice."

Sullivan is scheduled to begin his prison sentence on March 19.
LEAVENWORTH, Kan. (AP) - A new Kansas mayor who served three years in prison before being elected spent his first full day in office launching a program that would help qualifying ex-convicts try to get the same second chance he received by having their criminal records expunged.

Jermaine Wilson presided over his first Leavenworth City Commission meeting on Tuesday evening, stepping into the mayor's seat roughly 12 years after he went to prison for a drug conviction, the Kansas City Star reported.

Wilson and Leavenworth County Attorney Todd Thompson on Wednesday announced a program that will help those who qualify under Kansas law get considered to have their criminal records erased. Thompson has planned a 60-day event to offer rebounding ex-offenders help from the prosecutor's office and volunteering private attorneys.

Not every ex-offender can have their records expunged. Thompson's event will have the prosecutor's office evaluate cases to identify those who might qualify. A judge would have the final say.

Wilson had his record expunged in 2015, around the same time he launched his nonprofit Unity in the Community Movement. Two years later, Wilson's friends pushed him to get into politics and he was elected to the City Commission.

Thompson said he asked Wilson to help him with the expungement event because he knew Wilson would serve as an inspiration to others putting their criminal histories behind them.

For qualifying ex-offenders, clearing their record "can help finish off that bad action they did," Thompson said.

"Don't dwell on your mistakes," Wilson said. "Get up and move. If you fall, fall forward, so you keep making progress."
WASHINGTON (AP) - The association that represents thousands of FBI agents warned Thursday that a partial government shutdown could cause laboratory delays, reduce money for investigations and make it harder to recruit and retain agents.

The FBI Agents Association sent a petition to the White House and congressional leaders encouraging them to fund the FBI immediately. Friday will be the first day that the nearly 13,000 special agents will miss their paychecks.

"This is not about politics for special agents. For special agents, financial security is national security," Tom O'Connor, the association's president, told reporters in a conference call.

Nearly 5,000 special agents, intelligence analysts, and technical and professional staff are furloughed. Those absences mean FBI operations are understaffed and subject to delays, including at the FBI lab. And the lapse in funding means fewer tools, such as informants or undercover operations, are available for investigations.

"We have people that are not being able to come to work, which means they're not able to do the work," O'Connor said. "Which means we're going to have a backlog."

O'Connor also said the shutdown may cause delays in agents being able to get or renew security clearances, potentially disqualifying some agents from continuing to participate in certain cases. He said it could make it harder to recruit and retain agents who could find better-paying or more stable jobs outside the government.

The association has more than 14,000 active-duty and retired special agent members.
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) - In Yemen, the high-pitched whine of drones has been a part of life for over 15 years, ever since the first U.S. drone strike here targeting al-Qaida in 2002. On Thursday, an attack on a military base where America once ran its drone program showed that the U.S. is no longer the only force deploying them.

The attack by Yemen's Shiite Houthi rebels that killed at least six people shows how the Arab world's poorest country has become one of the world's top battlefields for drones. Both the rebels and the Saudi-led coalition fighting them, as well as the U.S., continue to use them for surveillance and attacks.

But while the U.S. uses American-made drones and the coalition has turned to Chinese suppliers, the manufacturer of the Houthis' drones in both the air and the sea has been a contentious question.

THE IRAN LINK

A 2018 report by a United Nations panel of experts on Yemen looked particularly at the Houthis' Qatef-1 drone.

"Although Houthi-aligned media announced that the Sana'a-based ministry of defence manufactured the (drone), in reality they are assembled from components supplied by an outside source and shipped into Yemen," the report said. The Qatef, or "Striker," ''is virtually identical in design, dimensions and capability to that of the Ababil-T, manufactured by the Iran Aircraft Manufacturing Industries."

FILE - In this June 19, 2018 file photo, photographers take pictures of what U.A.E. officials described as an Iranian Qasef drone captured on the battlefield in Yemen during a news conference in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. A deadly bomb-laden drone flown by Yemen's Houthi rebels flew into a military parade on Thursday, Jan. 10, 2019, outside of the southern port city of Aden, targeting high-ranking military officials in Yemen's internationally recognized government. The brazen attack threatens U.N.-brokered peace efforts to end the yearslong war tearing at the Arab world's poorest nation. (AP Photo/Jon Gambrell, File)

The Ababil-T can deliver up to a 45-kilogram (100-pound) warhead up to 150 kilometers (95 miles) away.

The Qatef-2K, which the Houthis said they used in Thursday's attack, similarly resembles the Iranian designs.

A research group called Conflict Armament Research, with the permission of the United Arab Emirates' elite Presidential Guard, also examined seized drones used by the Houthis and their allies to crash into Patriot missile batteries in Saudi Arabia.

The research group similarly said those drones share "near-identical design and construction characteristics" of Iranian drones.

THE DRONE BOAT

Coalition forces last year also showed journalists a Houthi "drone boat" filled with explosives that failed to detonate.

The officials also shared black-and-white images they said came from the "drone boat." They said the pictures and associated data from the boat's computer showed Iranians building components for its guidance system in eastern Tehran, with a hat in the background of one picture bearing the symbol of Iran's hard-line paramilitary Revolutionary Guard.

They said those involved in building the components probably believed it would be destroyed in the blast, so they didn't wipe the computer's hard drive

For its part, Iran repeatedly has denied supplying the Houthis with drone or ballistic missile technology. However, Iran would have an interest in seeing Saudi Arabia, its archrival in the region, tied down in a bloody, protracted conflict with no clear end in sight.

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Follow Jon Gambrell on Twitter at www.twitter.com/jongambrellap .
HELENA, Mont. (AP) - A Republican lawmaker in Montana is proposing to give more than $8 million to help build President Donald Trump's proposed wall on the Mexican border, while South Dakota senators voted Thursday to endorse the president's plans.

As Trump traveled to the U.S.-Mexico border Thursday to make his case for $5.7 billion to build the wall in the government shutdown's 20th day, state lawmakers in some parts of Trump Country are backing him up with their own legislation.

Their efforts are mostly symbolic. The resolution passed in the South Dakota Senate simply urges construction of a steel barrier. The separate $8 million proposal in Montana would have little chance of getting past a Democratic governor who is exploring a run for president.

Scott Sales, a fiscally conservative Republican who leads the Montana Senate, says his proposal is a "small token" to show border security "is of vital interest to all citizens regardless of what state they live in."

Gov. Steve Bullock said he respects Sales, but "I don't know that he has ever strongly advocated for or supported infrastructure investments in Montana, so it's a little bit of a puzzle for me why he would even consider spending taxpayer dollars on construction projects in California."

Bullock, who said $8 million would go a long way to fund health care or infrastructure work in Montana, declined to say whether he'd veto the bill if it landed on his desk.

File - In this Oct. 19, 2017 file photo, people pass border wall prototypes as they stand near the border with Tijuana, Mexico, in San Diego. Montana's Senate president is proposing the state give more than $8 million to help build President Donald Trump's proposed wall on the Mexican border. Scott Sales, a Republican, says his proposal is a "small token" to show border security "is of vital interest to all citizens regardless of what state they live in." (AP Photo/Gregory Bull, File)

"Congress is basically dragging their heels over $5 billion, which is really trivial compared to what we spend on an annual basis," Sales said Wednesday in explaining his funding proposal.

Sales said he calculated Montana's "share" of the cost of the wall by dividing the state's gross domestic product by the national GDP and multiplying it by $5.7 billion.

Montana's $8 million wouldn't go very far, with Trump's $5.7 billion request expected to build 234 miles (377 kilometers) of wall.

House Minority Leader Casey Schreiner, a Democrat, said the Legislature should focus its spending on Montana's roads, building, water and sewer projects.

"That's a lot of school roofs and boilers," added Democratic Rep. Laurie Bishop.

Montana, where Trump defeated Hillary Clinton by 20 points, shares a 545-mile (877-kilometer) border with Canada, where there is no wall.

Sales also has sponsored a resolution that would ask Congress to act on the funding.

If the stalemate in Washington continues, the president said he's willing to consider declaring a national emergency, which he says would allow him to direct the military to begin building the wall.

___

AP writer James Nord in Pierre, South Dakota, contributed to this report.
NEW YORK (AP) - Kheris Rogers was in the first grade in a predominantly white private school in Los Angeles when she felt the bite of racism among her peers - she was being bullied because of her dark skin. She tearfully kept it to herself, eventually turning to her older sister, Taylor Pollard, and switching to a more diverse school, where colorism among fellow African-American students surprised and confused her.

With her young sister's self-esteem bruised, Pollard inadvertently launched Kheris to social media fame in 2017 when she posted a photo of the girl on Twitter dressed up for a fashion show, using their beloved grandmother's down-home words for a hashtag: "Flexininhercomplexion."

Soon, Kheris had her own Twitter and Instagram accounts (@KherisPoppin) and was posting photo shoots of herself that she and Pollard created. Her own fashion line followed, with T-shirts sporting her tagline, "Flexin' in My Complexion ," along with backpacks reading "The Miseducation of Melanin" and other apparel and accessories.

Lupita Nyong'o posted a photo of herself wearing a black version of the shirt with bright yellow letters in support of Kheris. Whoopi Goldberg sported one while attending the Rodarte show at New York Fashion Week in September. Alicia Keys lauded her black girl magic.

While the words of her tormenters no longer sting, they haven't been forgotten. The behavior wasn't restricted to children, either.

"The kids would always call me names," Kheris, now 12, told The Associated Press in a recent interview. "They would always tease me for my dark-skin complexion. They used to call me dead roach and say I've been in the oven too long. When I really knew I was being bullied because of my color was when my teacher handed me a black crayon instead of a brown crayon to draw our portraits for parent conferences."

In this Dec. 19, 2018 photo, social media personality Kheris Rogers poses for a portrait in Los Angeles. Rogers launched her own fashion line with T-shirts sporting, "Flexin' in My Complexion," along with backpacks reading "The Miseducation of Melanin" and other apparel and accessories. (Photo by Rebecca Cabage/Invision/AP)

Pollard, who at 24 is now Kheris' manager, suspected something was amiss and Kheris finally told her family.

"I had no friends. I was only invited to one of the birthday parties that they had. Everybody else was invited and I wasn't," Kheris recalled.

Now in middle school, things are more than just a little looking up.

Kheris was chosen as one of Teen Vogue's "21 Under 21" inspiring girls and femmes of 2018 and attended the magazine's teen summit. She was picked by LeBron James as one of 16 people to help mark his 16th shoe release with Nike, modeling in ads for the company. She's been featured in a spread in Essence magazine and walked the runway of "America's Next Top Model" after Tyra Banks learned of her plight.

She has shown her own line in Harlem during New York Fashion Week, and she hasn't hit the eighth grade yet.

Julee Wilson, fashion and beauty director for Essence magazine, called support for Kheris "both an honor and responsibility."

She added: "To stand in the face of society's narrow beauty standards isn't an easy task, and she's doing it with an incredible amount of grace. We can't wait to see how Kheris pushes the 'Flexin' in My Complexion movement forward in the future. There's no doubt in our minds that she'll continue to remind the world that Black is incredibly beautiful."

Mom Erika Pollard, a social worker, said Kheris travels the country speaking at conferences about empowerment.

"As a parent, of course, you know, it was heartbreaking, but it made us stronger," she said of the rough years. "It pulled us together as a family because it's something that we had to conquer together. Now she's making a positive difference within her community, which I'm so proud of at such a young age."

Kheris said she now considers her life a mission.

"Flexin' in My Complexion isn't just about me," she said. "It's about every brown, dark, freckled, fair-skinned person who wants to tell the world, 'I am more than just the color of skin.'"

She hopes to spread her message across the world.

"I want to be a spokesperson for racism and colorism (issues)," she said.

Kheris now has lots of friends as a seventh-grader and knows exactly how to handle bullies: "Back off because I'm flexin' in my complexion and it doesn't matter what you think about me. It matters what I think about myself."

In this Dec. 19, 2018 photo, social media personality Kheris Rogers poses for a portrait in Los Angeles. Rogers launched her own fashion line with T-shirts sporting, "Flexin' in My Complexion," along with backpacks reading "The Miseducation of Melanin" and other apparel and accessories. (Photo by Rebecca Cabage/Invision/AP)

In this Dec. 19, 2018 photo, social media personality Kheris Rogers poses for a portrait in Los Angeles. Rogers launched her own fashion line with T-shirts sporting, "Flexin' in My Complexion," along with backpacks reading "The Miseducation of Melanin" and other apparel and accessories. (Photo by Rebecca Cabage/Invision/AP)

In this Dec. 19, 2018 photo, social media personality Kheris Rogers poses for a portrait in Los Angeles. Rogers launched her own fashion line with T-shirts sporting, "Flexin' in My Complexion," along with backpacks reading "The Miseducation of Melanin" and other apparel and accessories. (Photo by Rebecca Cabage/Invision/AP)

In this Dec. 19, 2018 photo, social media personality Kheris Rogers poses for a portrait in Los Angeles. Rogers launched her own fashion line with T-shirts sporting, "Flexin' in My Complexion," along with backpacks reading "The Miseducation of Melanin" and other apparel and accessories. (Photo by Rebecca Cabage/Invision/AP)

In this Dec. 19, 2018 photo, social media personality Kheris Rogers poses for a portrait in Los Angeles. Rogers launched her own fashion line with T-shirts sporting, "Flexin' in My Complexion," along with backpacks reading "The Miseducation of Melanin" and other apparel and accessories. (Photo by Rebecca Cabage/Invision/AP)

In this Dec. 19, 2018 photo, social media personality Kheris Rogers poses for a portrait in Los Angeles. Rogers launched her own fashion line with T-shirts sporting, "Flexin' in My Complexion," along with backpacks reading "The Miseducation of Melanin" and other apparel and accessories. (Photo by Rebecca Cabage/Invision/AP)
HIDALGO, Texas (AP) - As President Donald Trump traveled to the border in Texas to make the case for his $5.7 billion wall , landowner Eloisa Cavazos says she knows firsthand how the project will play out if the White House gets its way.

The federal government has started surveying land along the border in Texas and announced plans to start construction next month. Rather than surrender their land, some property owners are digging in, vowing to reject buyout offers and preparing to fight the administration in court.

"You could give me a trillion dollars and I wouldn't take it," said Cavazos, whose land sits along the Rio Grande, the river separating the U.S. and Mexico in Texas. "It's not about money."

Trump arrived Thursday in McAllen, a city of 143,000 that is on the busiest part of the border for illegal crossings. He toured a section of the border and said "a lot of the crime in our country is caused by what's coming through here."

He added: "Whether it's steel or concrete, you don't care. We need a barrier."

Congress in March funded 33 miles (53 kilometers) of walls and fencing in Texas. The government has laid out plans that would cut across private land in the Rio Grande Valley. Those in the way include landowners who have lived in the valley for generations, environmental groups and a 19th century chapel.

In this Tuesday, Jan. 8, 2019 photo, father Roy Snipes, pastor of the La Lomita Chapel, shows Associated Press journalists the land on either side of the Rio Grande at the US-Mexico border in Mission, Texas. Portions of Father Snipes' church land in Mission could be seized by the federal government to construct additional border wall and fence lines. Rather than surrender their land to the federal government, some property owners on the Texas border are digging in to fight President Donald Trump's border wall. They are rejecting buyout offers and preparing to battle the administration in court. Trump is scheduled to travel to the border Thursday to make the case for his $5.7 billion wall. (AP Photo/John L. Mone)

Many have hired lawyers who are preparing to fight the government if, as expected, it moves to seize their land through eminent domain.

The opposition will intensify if Democrats accede to the Trump administration's demand to build more than 215 new miles of wall, including 104 miles in the Rio Grande Valley and 55 miles near Laredo. Even a compromise solution to build "steel slats," as Trump has suggested, or more fencing of the kind that Democrats have previously supported would likely trigger more court cases and pushback in Texas.

Legal experts say Trump likely cannot waive eminent domain - which requires the government to demonstrate a public use for the land and provide landowners with compensation - by declaring a national emergency.

Standing near the Rio Grande, Trump was asked Thursday how quickly border wall construction could start if he declared an emergency.

"I think very quickly," he said, adding that while someone "perhaps" might sue to stop construction, "we would win that suit, I believe, very quickly."

While this is Trump's first visit to the border in Texas as president, his administration's immigration crackdown has been felt here for months.

Hundreds of the more than 2,400 children separated from their parents last summer were detained in cages at a Border Patrol facility in McAllen. Three "tender-age" facilities for the youngest children were opened in this region.

The president also ordered soldiers to the border in response to a wave of migrant caravans before the November election. Those troops had a heavy presence in the Rio Grande Valley, though they have since quietly left. A spokeswoman for the border security mission said they closed their base camp along the border on Dec. 22.

But Trump's border wall will last beyond his administration. Building in the region is a top priority for the Department of Homeland Security because it's the busiest area for illegal border crossings. More than 23,000 parents and children were caught illegally crossing the border in the Rio Grande Valley in November - more than triple the number from a year earlier.

Homeland Security officials argue that a wall would stop many crossings and deter Central American families from trying to migrate north. Many of those families are seeking asylum because of violence in their home countries and often turn themselves in to border agents when they arrive here.

The number of families has surged. DHS said Wednesday that it detained 27,518 adults and children traveling together on the southern border in December, a new monthly high.

With part of the $1.6 billion Congress approved in March, U.S. Customs and Border Protection announced it would build 25 miles (40 kilometers) of wall along the flood-control levee in Hidalgo County, which runs well north of the Rio Grande.

Congress did not allow construction of any of Trump's wall prototypes. But the administration's plans call for a concrete wall to the height of the existing levee, with 18-foot (5.5 meters) steel posts on top. CBP wants to clear 150 feet (45 meters) in front of any new construction for an "enforcement zone" of access roads, cameras, and lighting.

The government sued the local Roman Catholic diocese late last year to gain access for its surveyors at the site of La Lomita chapel, which opened in 1865 and was an important site for missionaries who traveled the Rio Grande Valley by horseback.

It remains an epicenter of the Rio Grande Valley's Catholic community, hosting weddings and funerals, as well as an annual Palm Sunday procession that draws 2,000 people.

The chapel is a short distance from the Rio Grande. It falls directly into the area where CBP wants to build its "enforcement zone."

The diocese said it opposes a border wall because the barrier violates Catholic teachings and the church's responsibility to protect migrants, as well as the church's First Amendment right of religious freedom. A legal group from Georgetown University has joined the diocese in its lawsuit.

Father Roy Snipes leads prayers each Friday for his chapel to be spared. Wearing a cowboy hat with his white robe and metal cross, he's known locally as the "cowboy priest" and sometimes takes a boat on the Rio Grande to go from his home to the chapel.

"It would poison the water," Snipes said. "It would still be a sacred place, but it would be a sacred place that was desecrated."

The Cavazos family's roughly 64 acres (0.25 square kilometers) were first purchased by their grandmother 60 years ago.

They rent some of the property to tenants who have built small houses or brought in trailers, charging some as little as $1,000 a year. They live off the earnings from the land and worry that a fence would deter renters and turn their property into a "no man's land."

On the rest of the property are plywood barns, enclosures for cattle and goats, and a wooden deck that extends into the river, which flows serenely east toward the Gulf of Mexico. Eloisa's brother, Fred, can sit on the deck in his wheelchair and fish with a rod fashioned from a long carrizo reed plucked from the riverbank.

Surveyors examined their property in December under federal court order. The family hasn't yet received an offer for their land, but their lawyers at the Texas Civil Rights Project expect a letter with an offer will arrive in the coming weeks.

"Everybody tells us to sell and go to a better place," Eloisa Cavazos said. "This is heaven to us."

In this Jan. 8, 2019, photo, father Roy Snipes, pastor of the La Lomita Chapel, speaks during an Associated Press interview inside the sanctuary of the church in Mission, Texas. Snipes, who is a member of the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate, and the Catholic Diocese worry that the federal government will seize land on the church grounds to build additional border fence and walls. (AP Photo/John L. Mone)

In this Aug. 12, 2017, photo, Father Roy Snipes after he lead a procession to the La Lomita Chapel along a levee toward the Rio Grande to oppose the wall the U.S. government wants to build on the river separating Texas and Mexico in Mission, Texas. Rather than surrender their land to the federal government, some property owners on the Texas border are digging in to fight President Donald Trump's border wall. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
PARIS (AP) - After a two-day search for a missing fighter jet, French military authorities said Thursday the pilot and a navigator were killed when the plane disappeared during a training flight.

The Mirage 2000D vanished from radar Wednesday while flying in a snowstorm near the Swiss border. More than 100 rescuers, police officers and others searched icy mountains for the aircraft and the two-person crew.

The French air force said Thursday night that the pair had died and identified them as Capt. Baptiste Chirie, a combat pilot with 24 war missions, and Lt. Audrey Michelon, an arms systems navigator who participated in 97 war missions.

The air force did not say what led to the declaration of their deaths. Regional television France 3 reported earlier that aircraft debris was discovered scattered around hard-to-reach, forested slopes at more than 1,000 meters (3,280 feet) altitude.

Defense Minister Florence Parly and the chief of the French air force, Gen. Philippe Lavigne, planned to head Friday to the air base in Nancy, in eastern France, to meet with aviators and families, a statement said.
MADISON, Wis. (AP) - A coalition of liberal-leaning groups filed a lawsuit Thursday seeking to void laws passed by Wisconsin Republicans that reduced the powers of the newly elected Democratic governor and attorney general.

Republicans derided the lawsuit as a frivolous attempt by bitter Democrats to score political points.

The legal challenge is the first seeking to undo all of the measures approved during last month's lame-duck legislative session. The lawsuit argues the session was unconstitutional because it amounted to an illegal gathering of lawmakers.

Then-Gov. Scott Walker, who was defeated by Democrat Tony Evers in November, quickly signed the legislation before leaving office.

The new laws include taking away Evers' ability to withdraw the state from lawsuits without legislative approval, which would prevent Evers from fulfilling his campaign promise to remove Wisconsin from a multi-state lawsuit seeking repeal of the federal health care law. The laws also prevent Evers from rescinding federal Medicaid waivers approved under the Walker administration.

Another new law gives the Legislature, rather than newly sworn-in Democratic Attorney General Josh Kaul, the power to decide how to spend money obtained from lawsuit settlements.

FILE - In this Oct. 19, 2018, file photo, Democratic challenger Tony Evers, left, and Wisconsin Republican Gov. Scott Walker, right, shakes hands before a gubernatorial debate in Madison, Wis. A coalition of liberal-leaning groups is filing a lawsuit seeking to void several laws passed by Wisconsin Republicans that reduced the powers of the Evers, the newly elected Democratic governor. Walker signed the legislation before leaving office. (Steve Apps/Wisconsin State Journal via AP, File)

The coalition's lawsuit hinges on the procedural move Republicans used to call themselves into what is known as an "extraordinary session." The lawsuit argues that the Wisconsin Constitution only allows for the Legislature to meet "at such time as provided by law" or in a "special" session, which is a session called by the governor. The lawsuit contends the session held in December didn't fit either category.

The groups that filed the lawsuit in Dane County Circuit Court are the League of Women Voters, Disability Rights Wisconsin, Black Leaders Organizing for Communities and three Wisconsin voters.

Wisconsin Republican Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald called the lawsuit frivolous and said Democrats were "throwing a tantrum." Assembly Speaker Robin Vos said Thursday he was "absolutely, positively certain this lawsuit won't have merit."

He circulated a memo from the nonpartisan Legislative Council - attorneys who advise lawmakers - that said the Legislature has the constitutional authority to determine its own rules. Furthermore, the memo said the Wisconsin Supreme Court has made clear that organizational issues like this are for the legislative branch to deal with "free from interference from the judicial branch."

"Courts are unlikely to aggressively interpret the law and inject themselves into the legislative process," said Rick Esenberg, head of the conservative Wisconsin Institute for Law and Liberty.

Evers spokeswoman Melissa Baldauff said the governor expected such a legal challenge and that he would consult with his attorney about his next move.

"This legislation was a hasty and cynical attempt by Republicans to override the will of the people," Baldauff said Thursday.

Legislative "extraordinary sessions" are common in Wisconsin, but the nonpartisan Legislative Reference Bureau said the session held in December was the first time it had been used to restrict the powers of an incoming governor and attorney general.

The lawsuit comes as state Rep. Jimmy Anderson, D-Fitchburg, also filed a complaint with the Dane County district attorney seeking to void the lame-duck laws. Anderson is paralyzed from the waist down and in a wheelchair. He contends Republican lawmakers violated the state's open meetings law by not revealing when they would vote on the bills.

Anderson, who said he can't be in his chair more than 16 hours a day, missed the early morning vote that came after Republicans negotiated the bills in private all night long.

Tom Kamenick, another attorney with the Wisconsin Institute for Law and Liberty, said Anderson's allegation was baseless because the state Supreme Court has already ruled courts can't hear open meetings law complaints against the Legislature.

"I'm not aware of any cases or interpretations of open meetings law holding that a session can be 'too long' such that it excludes somebody," Kamenick said.

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Follow Scott Bauer on Twitter: https://twitter.com/sbauerAP
WASHINGTON (AP) - The Latest on President Donald Trump and the partial government shutdown (all times local):

7:15 p.m.

The former head of the Federal Emergency Management Agency says what's happening on the U.S. southern border is no emergency.

W. Craig Fugate, who ran the national disaster agency for nearly eight years under President Barack Obama and was head of Florida's disaster agency under a Republican governor, says the push of refugees seeking asylum on the border with Mexico is not a national emergency.

President Donald Trump has called it a crisis and is weighing declaring it a national emergency to bypass a reluctant Congress and fund his long-promised border wall.

Fugate says Trump "is posturing, blustering."

President Donald Trump tours the U.S. border with Mexico Thursday, Jan. 10, 2019, in McAllen, Texas. (AP Photo/ Evan Vucci)

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6:40 p.m.

The Senate has approved a bill to ensure that all federal employees will be paid retroactively after the partial government shutdown ends.

The bill requires that all employees - including those who have been furloughed - be paid as soon as possible once the government reopens.

The Senate approved the bill unanimously Thursday. It now goes to the House.

Democratic Sen. Chris Van Hollen of Maryland says the bill gives federal employees affected by the shutdown "much-needed certainty," but adds they shouldn't be forced to go without a paycheck at all.

More than 800,000 workers - more than half of them still on the job - are set to miss their first paycheck Friday under the stoppage that began Dec. 22.

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6:25 p.m.

The White House has directed the Army Corps of Engineers to look at using emergency funds that Congress approved for disaster relief to build a border wall with Mexico. That's according to a congressional aide familiar with the matter who was not authorized to speak publicly.

The aide said the $13.9 billion has been allocated but not yet obligated through contracts for a variety of projects in California, Florida, Texas, other states and Puerto Rico, which have experienced hurricanes, wildfires or other natural disasters.

The money funds a variety of projects, mostly flood control to prevent future disasters.

President Donald Trump is considering invoking emergency powers to build the wall. His demand for the wall funding led to the partial government shutdown.

- Lisa Mascaro

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5:45 p.m.

Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham says it's time for President Donald Trump to invoke emergency powers to build the border wall with Mexico.

The South Carolina senator said Thursday his efforts to broker an immigration compromise that could help end the partial government shutdown are "stuck."

Graham says House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's refusal to negotiate the wall "virtually ends" Congress' ability to pass a bill to fund it. Now, he says, "it is time for President Trump to use emergency powers to fund the construction" of a border wall or barrier.

Trump said Thursday he might declare the border situation a national emergency, which could free up funding from military projects.

The border wall with Mexico was his signature campaign issue. He said Mexico would pay for the wall, but Mexico has refused.

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5:35 p.m.

Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick told President Donald Trump the state will build a wall along parts of the U.S.-Mexico border if the federal government pays Texas back.

Trump revealed the conversation Thursday on his visit to McAllen, Texas, as he pushed for funding for a border wall. A Patrick spokesman confirmed that Patrick made the offer.

Patrick was with Trump in McAllen. Texas has 1,200 miles of border with Mexico and has the largest sections of border without barriers.

Patrick's office said Texas could build a wall "wherever it is needed," but provided no details such as location or cost.

Trump says Patrick's offer is "not the worst idea I have ever heard," adding, "I still think I could do it cheaper than you."

The idea was immediately criticized by some Texas Democrats.

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4:50 p.m.

The Democratic-controlled House has passed two more bills to fund government agencies as a part of a strategy to end the partial government shutdown.

One bill would fund the Transportation and Housing and Urban Development departments, while the other would provide money for the Agriculture Department.

The transportation-housing bill was approved, 244-180. Twelve Republicans voted with Democrats to approve the bill.

The agriculture bill was approved 243-183, with 10 Republicans in support.

The House voted Wednesday on bills to reopen the Treasury Department and IRS.

Democrats say the bills approved Thursday would ensure that families will lose not food stamp benefits and that those living in federally supported housing are not evicted.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has said he won't bring up the Democratic bills in the Republican-controlled Senate.

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4:15 p.m.

Standing along the Rio Grande, President Donald Trump says "a lot of the crime in our country is caused by what's coming through here."

Trump is touring a section of the U.S.-Mexico border as he seeks to bolster his case for spending billions of dollars on a border wall.

A law enforcement officer told Trump during his tour that a greater percentage of apprehensions in recent weeks have involved people from places other than Mexico and Central America. He cited people from Pakistan, China and India as specific examples.

Trump tells reporters, "So they apprehended people from the Middle East and they do it all the time."

Trump says: "Whether it's steel or concrete, you don't care. We need a barrier."

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2:22 p.m.

Vice President Mike Pence says President Donald Trump has "made no decision" about declaring a national emergency to build a border wall with Mexico. But he adds, "The president's going to get this done one way or another."

Pence called on Democrats to negotiate an end to the shutdown, which is now in its 20th day. He told reporters it's time for Congress to "do its job."

Pence also indicated Trump has little interest in a broader immigration deal to end the shutdown. He said Trump is waiting to see how the courts rule on the legality of an Obama-era program that shields some young immigrants from deportation.

Democrats say Trump is holding the country hostage for his wall funding and have called on Republicans to re-open the government.

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1:40 p.m.

President Donald Trump arrived at a Texas border town to make the case for his long-promised border wall after negotiations with Democrats blew up over his funding demands.

Trump traveled to McAllen, Texas Thursday on the 20th day of a partial government shutdown. He is seeking to use the trip to bolster his argument that a wall is needed on security and humanitarian grounds.

Trump is to visit a border patrol station and receive a briefing on border security.

The president and congressional Democrats remain at an impasse over his demand for $5.7 billion for a wall along the southern border. Critics say Trump overstates the security risks and that the administration is at least partly to blame for the humanitarian situation.

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1:25 p.m.

President Donald Trump says he is canceling his trip to Davos, Switzerland because of the partial government shutdown, now in its 20th day.

He was scheduled to leave Jan. 21 to attend the World Economic Forum. Trump says he's canceling his trip because of Democrats' "intransigence" on border security. Trump and Democrats are at an impasse over funding for Trump's proposed wall at the southern border.

In a tweet Friday, Trump offered his "warmest regards and apologies" to the economic forum.

Earlier in the day, he told reporters that he wanted to go, but that he might not if the shutdown over funding for a U.S.-Mexico border wall continues.

Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin (mih-NOO'-shin) and other Cabinet members are still scheduled to attend the annual Davos event, which attracts business and political elite.

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1:05 p.m.

Federal workers are denouncing President Donald Trump for a weeks-long partial government shutdown.

At a rally Thursday with Democratic members of Congress, they are demanding that Trump reopen the government so that hundreds of thousands of workers can get back to work and receive their paychecks.

Trump has indicated the government will remain shut until he gets money for a border wall.

Workers are directing their sharpest criticism at Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, who has declined to take up spending bills passed by the House to reopen government without paying for a wall.

J. David Cox, national president of the American Federation of Government Employees, says McConnell should do his "damn job and let there be a vote."

Workers chanted "get us paid."

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12:50 p.m.

Several hundred protesters are chanting and waving signs opposing a border wall next to the South Texas airport where President Donald Trump is scheduled to arrive for his trip to the border.

Across the street, a smaller group of protesters is shouting back and chanting, "Build that wall!"

Trump's arrival in McAllen Thursday will take place as he pushes Congress to fund $5.7 billion for a border wall as a condition of ending a partial government shutdown.

Debra Tietz, a resident of nearby Mission, stood with anti-Trump protesters. The 64-year-old Tietz called Trump's trip "a publicity stunt" and said she opposes the damage a border wall would do to the environment.

On the other side of the street, Eva Arechiga wore a red "Make America Great Again" and held a sign that says "Finish the Wall." A 54-year-old resident of McAllen, Arechiga said she wanted to welcome Trump and thank him. She says, "I've been waiting for the border wall to be finished," because she believes it will send a message to other countries to respect American borders.

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11:45 a.m.

The association that represents thousands of FBI agents says the partial federal government shutdown is affecting the bureau's operations.

The FBI Agents Association sent a petition Thursday to the White House and congressional leaders encouraging them to fund the FBI immediately.

The association's president, Tom O'Connor, told reporters in a conference call that Friday will be the first day that FBI personnel will not receive a paycheck.

He said the problems caused by the shutdown could make it harder to recruit and retain agents, cause delays at the FBI lab and in getting or renewing security clearances.

O'Connor said the FBI's petition is not about politics, but that financial security for agents is important for national security.

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11:05 a.m.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell is blocking an attempt by Democrats to force a vote on legislation to reopen the federal government.

Democrats went to the Senate floor Thursday and asked for consent to vote on a series of bills that would end the partial government shutdown, which was in its 20th day.

Sen. Ben Cardin of Maryland said the bills were uncontroversial and were broadly supported by Republicans in the past. Cardin says the country is being "held hostage" by President Donald Trump as he seeks funding for a U.S.-Mexico border wall.

McConnell objected to the Democratic request, saying he won't agree to "pointless show votes" on bills Trump won't sign. McConnell noted that Democrats agreed in December to not vote on a funding package until a deal was reached by Trump and leaders from both parties.

The border wall was a signature campaign promise for Trump. Democrats have called a wall costly, ineffective and immoral.

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10:55 a.m.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell says Democrats need help with "their brand new partisan allergy" to a barrier at the U.S.-Mexico border.

The Kentucky Republican on Thursday used visual aids on the Senate floor to suggest that Democrats supported such a barrier under President Barack Obama but opposed one under President Donald Trump. He recommended that Democrats "seek some treatment for their brand new party allergy to border security."

Democrats are refusing Trump's demand for $5.7 billion for part of a wall across the southern border. In 2013, some Democrats supported a $46 billion bill for a number of border security measures, including new fencing. But that legislation would have created a pathway to citizenship for millions of people in the U.S. illegally. It failed.

Vice President Mike Pence and counselor to the President Kellyanne Conway leave Pence's office off the Senate floor in the Capitol building, Thursday, Jan. 10, 2019, in Washington. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)

Union members and other federal employees rally to call for an end to the partial government shutdown, Thursday, Jan. 10, 2019 at AFL-CIO Headquarters in Washington. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell of Ky. walks back to his office after speaking on the Senate floor on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday, Jan. 10, 2019. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)

Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., left, are joined by furloughed federal workers at an event to discuss the impact on families from the partial government shutdown and President Donald Trump's demands for funding a U.S.-Mexico border wall, on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, Jan. 9, 2019. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)
SEATTLE (AP) - Doctors who specialize in female pelvic medicine say lawsuits by four states, including Washington and California, over products used to treat pelvic floor disorders and incontinence might scare patients away from the best treatment options - or maybe even push the products off the market.

Sixty-three Washington surgeons signed a letter to state Attorney General Bob Ferguson , arguing his consumer-protection lawsuit against Johnson & Johnson and its Ethicon Inc. subsidiary is off-base. The lawsuit says the companies failed to disclose risks associated with the products, but in their letter the doctors said they were never deceived and that the case is based on a misconception about how they assess dangers posed by medical procedures.

"We have served on national and regional medical societies in women's health," wrote Dr. Jeffrey Clemons, a pelvic reconstructive surgeon in Tacoma. "It is astonishing to us that the AG is proceeding with this lawsuit without first availing themselves of the significant experience and expertise of this group."

Doctors in California are drafting a similar letter to Attorney General Xavier Becerra, and the president of the American Urogynecologic Society, which represents 1,900 medical professionals, has issued a statement expressing some of the same concerns.

Clemons and two other doctors who signed the Washington letter have been retained by defense counsel as consultants in the case, but Clemons said he wrote it without payment or assistance from Johnson & Johnson.

At issue is "transvaginal mesh" - plastic mesh products that are implanted to correct a variety of pelvic floor disorders.

In this Dec. 20, 2018, photo, Dr. Jeffrey Clemons, a pelvic reconstructive surgeon, poses for a photo in Tacoma, Wash., with a letter to state Attorney General Bob Ferguson that he helped draft and was signed by more than 60 Washington state surgeons. The letter argues that Ferguson's consumer-protection lawsuit against Johnson & Johnson and its Ethicon Inc. subsidiary over products used to treat pelvic floor disorders and incontinence in women might scare patients away from the best treatment options. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)

They came on the U.S. market in the late 1990s to treat stress urinary incontinence - a condition triggered by physical activity like coughing, sneezing or running that is common and sometimes debilitating in women after childbirth. The treatment involves using a thin mesh strip, called a "mid-urethral sling," to support the urethra, the tube that carries urine away from the bladder.

The products were so successful - one of the most significant advances in women's health in recent decades, the physicians said - that companies began developing similar mesh products to treat another condition, called pelvic organ prolapse.

In such cases, pelvic organs such as the uterus and bladder drop from their normal position due to muscle weakening. A sheet of mesh can be used to support the pelvic floor.

However, treating pelvic organ prolapse with mesh proved problematic after those products were introduced in 2004. They were more likely to bring serious complications, including permanent incontinence, severe discomfort and an inability to have sex.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued warnings in 2008 and 2011, and companies pulled most of the transvaginal mesh products for organ prolapse from the market.

Tens of thousands of women have filed liability claims against Johnson & Johnson and other companies, with some saying they knew nothing about the potential complications.

The doctors say Washington's lawsuit conflates the acceptable risks of using pelvic mesh to treat incontinence with the less tolerable risks of using it for pelvic organ prolapse. They're worried it could force mid-urethral slings off the market, though the attorney general's office says that's not the goal.

Washington, California, Kentucky and Mississippi are pursuing lawsuits that claim Johnson & Johnson deceived doctors and patients, and that the surgeries ruined some women's quality of life. They say product marketing brochures and instruction pamphlets should have contained much more detail about the risks.

The company updated its instruction pamphlets in 2015 - effectively admitting the earlier versions were inadequate, Washington state says.

"The purpose of our lawsuit is to require Johnson & Johnson to disclose to doctors and patients the serious risks associated with surgical mesh," Ferguson said in an emailed statement. "Johnson & Johnson knew about these risks for years and misrepresented them for more than a decade, even as it sold thousands of these devices in Washington."

Washington's lawsuit seeks fines for each alleged violation of the state's Consumer Protection Act, an amount that could easily run into the millions. The attorney general's office also wants to bar Ethicon from representing that its surgical mesh is superior to traditional treatments, such as repair using the patient's tissue, and it says a key question is whether the pamphlets could have deceived the least sophisticated surgeons, not the most sophisticated.

In their letter last month, the surgeons insist they were never misled - nor could they have been, because they don't rely on a company's marketing materials or instruction pamphlets to divine the risks of medical devices.

Instead, the letter said, they rely on their education, journals, conferences, textbooks and other unbiased sources, and they counsel their patients accordingly.

In declarations filed in King County Superior Court, some said Ethicon paid for them to undergo training that fully explored the devices' risks, and others said they learned about the uses and risks from those specially trained doctors.

Clemons and the other surgeons do not dispute that some women have suffered complications from the use of mesh to treat incontinence, but they say any surgery has risks, and the risks of that procedure are well within accepted norms. Millions of women worldwide have been treated with mid-urethral slings.

The letter cited a recent large study of the English National Health Service database that found complications prompted the removal of mesh slings in just 1.4 percent of patients within the first year after surgery, 2.7 percent within five years and 3.3 percent within nine years.

In fact, Clemons said, the mid-urethral sling has become the "gold standard" among surgical options for stress urinary incontinence because it offers better outcomes than other types of surgery, can be performed on heavier patients who otherwise would be ineligible for surgery, and requires less cutting and recovery time.

The Washington Attorney General's Office said in a court filing the fact that doctors obtain also risk information elsewhere does not excuse the companies from ensuring their instructional pamphlets are "truthful and complete."

The office agreed that many women have had positive outcomes with the devices and said it does not seek to restrict access to them.

Nevertheless, the state is relying on an expert witness, Dr. Bruce A. Rosenzweig, a gynecologist at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago, who insisted in a deposition that polypropylene mesh is an "unsafe material to be placed permanently in the female pelvis." That position is contrary to the scientific literature, according to the surgeons' letter.

Clemons is a retired Army colonel who spent a decade as the chief of urogynecology and pelvic reconstructive surgery at Madigan Army Medical Center. He serves on the board of the American Urogynecologic Society and has performed about 1,250 mid-urethral sling surgeries; he used to cut his own mesh slings before Ethicon's came on the market.

After filing the lawsuit, the Washington Attorney General's Office tried to recruit him as an expert witness, he said. Although he is a fan of Ferguson's Democratic politics - Clemons donated $550 to his re-election campaign last month - he declined.

"I'm not anti-Bob Ferguson at all," Clemons said. "I just disagree with him on this."

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Follow Gene Johnson at https://twitter.com/GeneAPseattle

In this Dec. 20, 2018, photo, Dr. Jeffrey Clemons, a pelvic reconstructive surgeon, holds a sample of transvaginal mesh used to treat pelvic floor disorders and incontinence in women as he poses for a photo in Tacoma, Wash. Clemons helped draft a letter to state Attorney General Bob Ferguson that was signed by more than 60 Washington state surgeons, arguing that Ferguson's consumer-protection lawsuit against Johnson & Johnson and its Ethicon Inc. subsidiary over the mesh products might scare patients away from the best treatment options. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)

In this Dec. 20, 2018, photo, Dr. Jeffrey Clemons, a pelvic reconstructive surgeon, holds a sample of transvaginal mesh used to treat pelvic floor disorders and incontinence in women as he poses for a photo in Tacoma, Wash. Clemons helped draft a letter to state Attorney General Bob Ferguson that was signed by more than 60 Washington state surgeons, arguing that Ferguson's consumer-protection lawsuit against Johnson & Johnson and its Ethicon Inc. subsidiary over the mesh products might scare patients away from the best treatment options. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)

In this Dec. 20, 2018, photo, Dr. Jeffrey Clemons, a pelvic reconstructive surgeon, poses for a photo in Tacoma, Wash. Clemons helped draft a letter to state Attorney General Bob Ferguson that was signed by more than 60 Washington state surgeons, arguing that Ferguson's consumer-protection lawsuit against Johnson & Johnson and its Ethicon Inc. subsidiary over mesh products used to treat pelvic floor disorders and incontinence in women might scare patients away from the best treatment options. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)
MEXICO CITY (AP) - President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador vowed Thursday not to retreat in his battle against fuel theft gangs. As gasoline and diesel shortages are mounted in Mexico.

Lopez Obrador blamed sabotage at a key pipeline leading to Mexico City for blocks-long lines at gas stations, which have worn out the patience of many motorists.

"There will be no retreat, not one step backward," Lopez Obrador said. "We are going to confront this problem." He had previously estimated that illegal taps drilled into government pipelines and theft from refineries and distribution depots cost Mexico $3 billion per day.

He called for support from people who live in communities that make money from fuel theft, often by acting as lookouts or protecting thieves against police and military raids.

"I am calling for the cooperation of all citizens ... We want to do away with this evil, this vice, from the base and with the people," Lopez Obrador said. "I want to ask for their help. If they got some income from participating in illicit activities, that same income they can get from job creation programs, cleanly."

The president, who began a crackdown on fuel thefts after he took office on Dec. 1, did not say who was behind the supposed sabotage of a pipeline that supplies the capital with fuel from the Gulf coast.

Vehicles stand in line to fill up their fuel tanks at a gas station in Mexico, City, Wednesday, Jan. 9, 2019. A fuel scarcity arose after President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador decided to close government pipelines riddled with illegal fuel taps drilled by thieves, and instead deliver gas and diesel by tanker trucks. (AP Photo/Marco Ugarte)

"There was sabotage on a fuel duct ... it was repaired, as I said yesterday, service was resumed all day and then they blocked it again," he said.

He said gangs had become so sophisticated they were running their own tank farm in northern Mexico to store stolen fuel.

Lopez Obrador has begun closing leaky pipelines riddled by thousands of illegal taps. But he acknowledged it was harder to detect the illegal taps when pipelines are closed.

Authorities are distributing fuel with tanker trucks, but there aren't enough of them.
McALLEN, Texas (AP) - Taking the shutdown fight to the Mexican border, President Donald Trump edged closer Thursday to declaring a national emergency in an extraordinary end run around Congress to fund his long-promised border wall. Pressure was mounting to find an escape hatch from the three-week impasse that has closed parts of the government, cutting scattered services and leaving hundreds of thousands of workers without pay.

Trump, visiting McAllen, Texas, and the Rio Grande to highlight what he says is a crisis of drugs and crime, said that "if for any reason we don't get this going" - an agreement with House Democrats who have refused to approve the $5.7 billion he demands for the wall - "I will declare a national emergency."

Some 800,000 workers, more than half of them still on the job, were to miss their first paycheck on Friday under the stoppage, and Washington was close to setting a dubious record for the longest government shutdown in the nation's history. Those markers - along with growing effects to national parks, food inspections and the economy overall - left some Republicans on Capitol Hill increasingly uncomfortable with Trump's demands.

Asked about the plight of those going without pay, the president shifted the focus, saying he felt badly "for people that have family members that have been killed" by criminals who came over the border.

Trump was consulting with White House attorneys and allies about using presidential emergency powers to take unilateral action to construct the wall over the objections of Congress. He claimed his lawyers told him the action would withstand legal scrutiny "100 percent."

Such a move to bypass Congress' constitutional control of the nation's purse strings would spark certain legal challenges and bipartisan cries of executive overreach.

President Donald Trump turns as he talks to U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers at McAllen International Airport as he prepares to leave after a visit to the southern border, Thursday, Jan. 10, 2019, in McAllen, Texas. (AP Photo/ Evan Vucci)

A congressional official said the White House has directed the Army Corps of Engineers to look for billions of dollars earmarked last year for disaster response for Puerto Rico and other areas that could be diverted to a border wall as part of the emergency declaration. The official spoke on the condition of anonymity because the official was not authorized to speak publicly.

"We're either going to have a win, make a compromise - because I think a compromise is a win for everybody - or I will declare a national emergency," Trump said before departing the White House for his politically flavored visit to the border. He wore his campaign-slogan "Make America Great Again" cap throughout.

It was not clear what a compromise might entail, and there were no indications that one was in the offing. Trump says he won't reopen the government without money for the wall. Democrats say they favor measures to bolster border security but oppose the long, impregnable barrier that Trump envisions.

Vice President Mike Pence shuttled through meetings on Capitol Hill, but there were no signs of any breakthroughs. Pence panned, for now, a last-ditch effort led by GOP Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina to strike a bipartisan immigration compromise. It would have linked wall funding to deportation protections for some immigrants, including young people here illegally known as Dreamers. But Pence, in a briefing with reporters, said the president prefers to wait for the courts to decide that issue.

Graham sounded deflated after talks among senators essentially collapsed, and said, "It is time for President Trump to use emergency powers" to fund wall construction.

Pence said the president has "made no decision" about declaring a national emergency, but added, "The president's going to get this done one way or the other."

Visiting a border patrol station in McAllen, Trump viewed tables piled with weapons and narcotics. Like nearly all drugs trafficked across the border, they were intercepted by agents at official ports of entry, he was told, and not in the remote areas where he wants to extend tall barriers.

Still, he declared: "A wall works. ... Nothing like a wall."

He argued that the U.S. can't solve the problem without a "very substantial barrier" along the border, but offered exaggerations about the effectiveness of border walls and current apprehensions of those crossing illegally.

Sitting among border patrol officers, state and local officials and military representatives, Trump insisted he was "winning" the shutdown fight and criticized Democrats for asserting he was manufacturing a sense of crisis in order to declare an emergency. "What is manufactured is the use of the word 'manufactured,'" Trump said.

As he arrived in Texas, several hundred protesters near the airport in McAllen chanted and waved signs opposing a wall. Across the street, a smaller group chanted back: "Build that wall!"

In Washington, federal workers denounced Trump at a rally with congressional Democrats, demanding he reopen the government so they can get back to work.

On Capitol Hill, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi accused the president of engaging in political games to fire up his most loyal supporters, suggesting that a heated meeting Wednesday with legislators at the White House had been "a setup" so that Trump could walk out of it.

In an ominous sign for those seeking a swift end to the showdown, Trump announced he was canceling his trip to Davos, Switzerland, scheduled for later this month, citing Democrats' "intransigence" on border security. He was to leave Jan. 21 to attend the World Economic Forum.

The partial shutdown would set a record early Saturday, stretching beyond the 21-day closure that ended on Jan 6, 1996, during President Bill Clinton's administration.

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Associated Press writers Jill Colvin, Colleen Long, Alan Fram, Deb Riechmann and Zeke Miller in Washington and Nomaan Merchant in McAllen, Texas, contributed to this report.

For AP's complete coverage of the U.S. government shutdown: https://apnews.com/GovernmentShutdown

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This story has been corrected to say 21-day shutdown was during Clinton, not Bush administration.

President Donald Trump gestures after arriving at McAllen International Airport for a visit to the southern border, Thursday, Jan. 10, 2019, in McAllen, Texas. (AP Photo/ Evan Vucci)

President Donald Trump speaks to the media as he leaves the White House, Thursday Jan. 10, 2019, in Washington, en route for a trip to the border in Texas as the government shutdown continues. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

Union members and other federal employees rally to call for an end to the partial government shutdown, Thursday, Jan. 10, 2019 at AFL-CIO Headquarters in Washington. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)

Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., left, are joined by furloughed federal workers at an event to discuss the impact on families from the partial government shutdown and President Donald Trump's demands for funding a U.S.-Mexico border wall, on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, Jan. 9, 2019. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., walks to a meeting with Senate Republicans at the office of Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday, Jan. 10, 2019. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)

People gather during a federal workers protest rally at the Federal Building Thursday, Jan., 10, 2019, in Ogden, Utah. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)
WASHINGTON (AP) - Challenging President Donald Trump to make good on his pledge to cut prescription drug prices, congressional liberals proposed legislation Thursday to bring U.S. prices in line with the much lower costs in other countries.

The Democratic bills stand little chance of becoming law in a divided government. But the effort could put Republicans on the defensive by echoing Trump's pledge to force drugmakers to cut prices.

Democrats and Trump agree that people in the United States shouldn't have to pay more for their medications than do those in other economically advanced countries.

The Trump administration has put forward its own plan for reducing drug prices, but industry analysts have seen little impact so far. The pharmaceutical industry said the Democratic bills would "wreak havoc on the U.S. health care system."

The new legislation was offered by Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., Rep. Elijah Cummings, D-Md., and others. Cummings leads the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, which is expected to take a major role on drug pricing.

The lawmakers want to:

Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., center, joined from left by Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., Rep. Peter Welch, D-Vt., Rep. Elijah Cummings, D-Md., and Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J., speaks to reporters as he prepares to introduce new legislation that aims to reduce what Americans pay for prescription drugs, especially brand-name drugs deemed "excessively priced," during a news conference on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday, Jan. 10, 2019. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

-Open up generic competition to patent-protected U.S. brand-name drugs that are deemed "excessively priced."

-Allow Medicare to directly negotiate with drugmakers.

-Let consumers import lower-priced medications from Canada.

There was no immediate response from the administration.

"Today I say to President Trump, if you are serious about lowering the cost of prescription drugs in this country, support our legislation and get your Republican colleagues on board," Sanders said at a Capitol Hill press conference.

"No more talk. No more tweets," said Cummings. "The American people want action."

Holly Campbell, a spokeswoman for the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America, said Sanders' plan would harm U.S. patients. The industry argues that government price regulation could limit access to some medicines, undermine financial incentives for research, and compromise safety standards. Sanders says drugmakers are primarily interested in protecting profits.

As a presidential candidate, Trump initially called for Medicare to negotiate drug prices and favored allowing people to legally import lower-priced medications from abroad.

But Medicare negotiation is a political nonstarter for most Republicans, who favor a free-market approach to the U.S. pharmaceutical industry and prize its capacity for innovation.

As president, Trump has come out with a plan to lower drug costs that relies on dozens of regulatory actions. The goal is to eliminate incentives for drugmakers, pharmacy benefit managers and insurers to stifle competition at the expense of consumers. Independent experts say the administration proposals would have an impact, but not limit the ability of drug companies to set high prices.

Time and again, Trump has complained that other countries where governments set drug prices are taking advantage of Americans. Indeed, one of his ideas would shift Medicare payments for drugs administered in doctors' offices to a level based on international prices.

"We are taking aim at the global freeloading that forces American consumers to subsidize lower prices in foreign countries through higher prices in our country," the president said when he made that proposal shortly before last year's congressional elections.

The Democratic bills would go far beyond Trump's approach.

The newest idea would essentially apply to any U.S. patent-protected brand-name drug, whether or not government programs are bearing the cost. By comparison, Trump's international pricing proposal would not apply to retail pharmacy drugs purchased by Medicare beneficiaries or to medications for privately insured people. It's the result of a joint effort between Sanders and Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif.

Drugs found to be "excessively priced" by the government could face generic competition. A medication's cost would be deemed "excessive" if its price in the U.S. was higher than the median, or midpoint, price in Canada, the United Kingdom, Germany, France and Japan.

If the manufacturer was unwilling to cut its U.S. price, then the government could allow generic companies to make a more affordable version of the medication. Generic drugmakers would have to pay "reasonable" royalties to the company that holds the patent.

Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., center, speaks with Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J., with Rep. Peter Welch, D-Vt., far left, as Sanders prepares to introduce new legislation that aims to reduce what Americans pay for prescription drugs, especially brand-name drugs deemed "excessively priced," during a news conference on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday, Jan. 10, 2019. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., center, speaks with Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J., as Sanders prepares to introduce new legislation that aims to reduce what Americans pay for prescription drugs, especially brand-name drugs deemed "excessively priced," during a news conference on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday, Jan. 10, 2019. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)
BUCHAREST, Romania (AP) - Backstage drama came to the fore Thursday as Romania assumed the presidency of the European Union for the first time, an international debut that was preceded by questions about the country's readiness for the role.

The formerly communist country's turn in the rotating office brought EU officials to Bucharest as the president and prime minister fought over which of them would represent Romania at summits. Notably absent was the convicted politician who is assumed to be the one in charge. He is suing the EU over fraud allegations.

Apprehension was evident several times during an evening ceremony at an august concert hall where the start of Romania's six-month term was marked.

"It depends only on you whether for Europe, Romanian politics will be a good example or a dire warning," EU Council President Donald Tusk told his hosts during a speech delivered in the Romanian language.

As snow fell, hundreds of protesters outside the Antenaeum concert hall waved EU and Romanian flags while trying to put a spotlight on government corruption.

A light projector beamed a green message onto the palace where EU officials planned to dine, saying the protesters "want the EU" and Romania's ruling Social Democratic Party "wants Russia."

Members of a choir arrive at the Romanian Atheneum concert hall in Bucharest, Romania, Thursday, Jan. 10, 2019, before an event marking the official start of the Romanian Presidency of the Council of the European Union. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)

During the ceremony inside, politicians listened to an orchestra performing George Enescu's often intense and impulsive Romanian Rhapsody - and heard some bluntly worded speeches.

"As a reminiscence of the communist past, some institutions and decision-makers are still holding on to the unchecked power they have previously indulged in," the president of Romania's Senate, Calin Popescu Tariceanu said.

He did not specify the places and people he accused of claiming the same unaccountability they collectively enjoyed before 1989," the year communism fell in Romania.

Holding the EU presidency matters to the bloc's member nations, especially one like Romania that joined only a dozen years ago. The role requires keeping EU business flowing during the six-month term, but lacks the authority to block or undermine the communal business of the bloc.

Some Romanians say the events of recent weeks have made for a dysfunctional government. Others prefer to see it as evidence of a healthy democracy, which would be another relatively new situation in Romania.

"I see nothing unnatural," Romanian Foreign Minister Teodor Melescanu said of the election year political infighting. "On the contrary, I see it as proof of very vivid democratic life."

It does make planning difficult.

Iohannis has been representing Romania at the summits of leaders of EU nations. Dancila recently challenged the practice, saying the prime minister should be at the summits as the head of government. Daily feuds have ensued.

For its presidency, Romania chose "Cohesion, a common European value" as its motto.

Another awkwardly timed problem arose Thursday, when word went public that the chairman of Romania's ruling party had sued the European Commission - led by Juncker.

Liviu Dragnea, the country's most powerful politician and de facto leader, brought the case to the European Court of Justice over allegations he defrauded the EU.

The European Anti-Fraud Office, OLAF, said 21 million euros ($24.15 million) was fraudulently paid to officials for road construction in Romania. The alleged misuse of funds from 2001-2012 were when he headed a county council in southern Romania.

Romania's anti-corruption prosecutors are investigating whether Dragnea set up an organized crime group with other officials and forged documents to illicitly obtain EU funds.

Dragnea is the only high-profile Romanian politician who will be absent from Thursday evening's opening ceremony. He is barred from being prime minister because of a conviction for vote-rigging.

Romania has received criticism from the EU in other areas. Under Dragnea's Social Democratic Party, the government embarked on a contentious overhaul of Romania's judicial system. The EU has opposed the changes, saying they could protect corrupt officials.

Asked about Dragnea's problems with the EU, Foreign Minister Melescanu said that "any person, even if he is a politician, is entitled to look for the legal possibilities to prove his innocence."

In another sign of the gridlock in Romania, the justice minister on Thursday asked Iohannis for a third time to appoint a regional prosecutor as chief of the National Anti-Corruption Directorate.

The president has already twice refused to appoint the minister's pick, saying she was legally disqualified because there was no guarantee she didn't collaborate with the Communist-era Securitate police.

The president also has rebuffed two of the prime minister's candidates for ministerial posts.

The country's political pedigree has given some in the EU a little apprehension about the Romanian presidency.

"The rest of Europe is watching," said Ska Keller, the president of the Greens/EFA group in the EU Parliament.

President of the European Council Donald Tusk is welcomed by Romanian Prime Minister Viorica Dancila as he arrives at the Romanian Atheneum concert hall in Bucharest, Romania, Thursday, Jan. 10, 2019, for an event marking the official start of the Romanian Presidency of the Council of the European Union. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)

A conductor directs a choir at the Romanian Atheneum concert hall in Bucharest, Romania, Thursday, Jan. 10, 2019, before an event marking the official start of the Romanian Presidency of the Council of the European Union. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)

An anti-government protester adjusts his gloves outside the Romanian Atheneum concert hall in Bucharest, Romania, Thursday, Jan. 10, 2019, the venue for an event marking the official start of the Romanian Presidency of the Council of the European Union. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)

The Romanian Atheneum concert hall, the venue for an event marking the official start of the Romanian Presidency of the Council of the European Union, is illuminated in the colors of the country's flag in Bucharest, Romania, Thursday, Jan. 10, 2019. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)
ATHENS, Greece (AP) - Germany and Greece put years of tension over the painful Greek bailout program behind them Thursday, with Chancellor Angela praising the improvement of the country's finances during a heavily policed visit to Athens.

Many Greeks blame Merkel for the austerity they suffered for much of the past decade, which led to a sharp and prolonged recession and a bad deterioration in living standards.

But very few turned out on the streets to protest the visit, more out of lack of engagement than because of a police ban on demonstrations in the city center.

Out of the two protest marches called by fringe groups against Merkel's visit, one by the Nazi-inspired far-right Golden Dawn party was canceled. The second, by left-wing groups, had a turnout of only 400 - a few dozen of whom peeled off from the march and briefly broke a police cordon before being driven back with tear gas.

During talks with Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras, Merkel highlighted how strong initial differences with his left-led government were gradually overcome over the past four years.

"Trust was developed between us, there was frankness as we kept in mind that we needed to find a solution," she told a news conference. "I know people went through great difficulty (in Greece) and had to undergo very hard and harsh reforms."

German Chancellor Angela Merkel, left, and Alexis Tsipras shake hands after a press conference in Athens, Thursday Jan. 10, 2019. Merkel is widely blamed in Greece for the austerity that the country has lived through for much of the past decade, which led to a sharp and prolonged recession and a consequent fall in living standards. (AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris)

But she added a word of caution on Greece's need to persist with creditor-mandated reforms agreed to right the country's finances.

"Of course this isn't the end of a reform period but it's the beginning of a new situation," she said.

Germany was the largest single contributor to the three international bailout packages Greece received from 2010-2018 as it struggled through a dramatic financial crisis that almost saw it crash out of the eurozone. As part of those bailouts, successive Greek governments had to hike taxes and slash pensions and salaries.

Tsipras also highlighted the detente with Berlin.

"The difficulties now lie behind us, and Greece is a different country that can regard the future with greater optimism," he said.

Merkel and Tsipras have met many times over the past few years, but this is the German chancellor's first visit to Athens since Tsipras became prime minister in January 2015 following a fiercely anti-bailout and anti-Merkel campaign. He once famously declared during a campaign speech before European elections: "Go back, Mrs. Merkel!"

Tsipras subsequently dropped his virulent anti-bailout stance and ended up implementing the reforms demanded by Greece's creditors.

Around 2,000 officers, a police helicopter and drones were deployed for the visit, which ends Friday afternoon. Streets and subway stations were closed for security reasons.

Greece emerged from its third and final bailout last August, but its economy will remain under strict supervision and the government has pledged further reforms to ensure the public finances remain on track.

The two leaders also discussed migration, an issue on which the positions of Tsipras and Merkel have been relatively close, as well as the preliminary name-change deal Greece has reached with neighboring Macedonia.

Under last year's agreement, the former Yugoslav republic will be renamed North Macedonia. In return, Greece will drop its objections to the country joining NATO and eventually the European Union. Greece argues the name "Macedonia" implies territorial claims on its own northern province of the same name, and usurps its ancient Greek heritage.

The deal has met with vociferous opposition in both Greece and Macedonia, where critics accused their respective governments of making too many concessions to the other side. The issue is threatening Tsipras' coalition government, with the head of the junior coalition Independent Greeks party, Defense Minister Panos Kammenos, saying he could leave the government if it goes through.

Germany has made it clear it considers the name deal a historic opportunity.

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Derek Gatopoulos in Athens and Geir Moulson in Berlin contributed to this report.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel, left, and Alexis Tsipras leave a press conference after their meeting in Athens, Thursday Jan. 10, 2019. Merkel is widely blamed in Greece for the austerity that the country has lived through for much of the past decade, which led to a sharp and prolonged recession and a consequent fall in living standards. (AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris)

German Chancellor Angela Merkel talks to the media during a press conference after a meeting with Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras in Athens, Thursday Jan. 10, 2019. Merkel is widely blamed in Greece for the austerity that the country has lived through for much of the past decade, which led to a sharp and prolonged recession and a consequent fall in living standards. (AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris)

Riot police officers walk as smoke from tear gas during clashes with protestors against the visit of German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Athens, Thursday Jan. 10, 2019. Greek riot police used tear gas against a small group of left-wing activists protesting the visit of German Chancellor Angela Merkel to Athens. (InTime News via AP)

Protestors shout slagans against the visit of German Chancellor Angela Merkel during a protest in central Athens, Thursday Jan. 10, 2019. Greek riot police used tear gas against a small group of left-wing activists protesting the visit of German Chancellor Angela Merkel to Athens. (InTime News via AP)

People cover their face to protect their selfs from the tear gas throwing from riots police during clashes with protestors against the visit of German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Athens, Thursday Jan. 10, 2019. Greek riot police used tear gas against a small group of left-wing activists protesting the visit of German Chancellor Angela Merkel to Athens. (InTime News via AP)

German Chancellor Angela Merkel, second left, talks with Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras during their meeting in Athens, Thursday Jan. 10, 2019. Merkel is in Greece for talks. (AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris)

CORRECT NAME OF THE PHOTOGRAPHER German Chancellor Angela Merkel talks with Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras during their meeting in Athens, Thursday Jan. 10, 2019. Merkel is in Greece for talks. (AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris)

Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras, left, and German Chancellor Angela Merkel talk following their meeting in Athens, Thursday Jan. 10, 2019. Merkel is in Greece for talks. (AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris)

Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras, right, shakes hands with German Chancellor Angela Merkel during a welcome ceremony in Athens, Thursday Jan. 10, 2019. Merkel is in Greece for talks. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis)

Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras, left, and German Chancellor Angela Merkel walk during a welcome ceremony in Athens, Thursday Jan. 10, 2019. Merkel is in Greece for talks. (AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris)
TOKYO (AP) - Nissan's former chairman Carlos Ghosn has recovered from a fever, his lawyer Motonari Ohtsuru said Friday as the 64-year-old executive's latest detention period was set to expire.

His wife Carole Ghosn issued a statement overnight out of Paris, expressing concern over his sickness.

"I am pleading with the Japanese authorities to provide us with any information at all about my husband's health. We are fearful and very worried his recovery will be complicated while he continues to endure such harsh conditions and unfair treatment," she said.

Doctors at the Tokyo Detention Center had said visits and questioning should be put off to allow Ghosn to rest after he ran a fever of 38.8 C (101.8 F) late Wednesday.

Apart from prosecutors, only embassy officials and Ghosn's lawyers are allowed to visit him.

His detention for suspected breach of trust was set to end later Friday and chances he might be allowed out on bail remained uncertain. Suspects in Japan are routinely held for months until trials start. Prosecutors may come up with new allegations or charge him.

FILE - This Tuesday, Jan. 8, 2019, file courtroom sketch, depicts former Nissan chairman Carlos Ghosn in a courtroom at the Tokyo District Court in Tokyo. Ghosn, Nissan's former chairman, under arrest on charges of falsifying financial reports, has a high fever, causing visits and questioning to be canceled, his lawyer Motonari Ohtsuru said Thursday. (Nobutoshi Katsuyama/Kyodo News via AP, File)

On Tuesday, Ghosn, a Brazilian-born Frenchman of Lebanese ancestry, told a Tokyo court he was innocent, in his first public appearance since his Nov. 19 arrest. The court rejected an appeal by Ghosn's lawyers for his release from detention, and on Thursday turned down another appeal.

During the hearing Tuesday, Ghosn appeared much thinner than before he was arrested. Earlier, he had asked for more comfortable conditions than are usually provided at the detention center. He was transferred to a bigger room with a Western-style bed, according to Ohtsuru.

Prosecutors say Ghosn underreported his income by about 5 billion yen ($44 million) over five years through 2015. He is also suspected of breach of trust, in having Nissan shoulder investment losses in foreign exchange transactions, and making questionable payments to a Saudi businessman.

Ghosn led Nissan Motor Co. for two decades, salvaging the Japanese automaker from bankruptcy.

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Yuri Kageyama is on Twitter at https://twitter.com/yurikageyama

On Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/yurikageyama/?hl=en
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - When President Donald Trump revoked protections for young immigrants known as "Dreamers," California's top prosecutor, Attorney General Xavier Becerra, turned to a member of his office's civil rights section to craft the state's legal response.

Michael Newman, who now heads that section, recalled days of strategizing and drafting with "no defined barrier of day and night." Becerra led meetings from a wooden conference table in his Sacramento office with about a dozen attorneys and advisers.

On Sept. 11, 2017, less than a week after the president's decision, California filed a federal lawsuit accusing the Trump administration of trying to push the 800,000 immigrants who benefited from the Obama-era Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program "back into the shadows of American life." The suit helped lead to the first nationwide court order requiring the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to continue DACA for existing enrollees.

The attorney general and members of his staff in recent interviews discussed the DACA lawsuit as part of a broader glimpse into the office's decision-making and structure to fight Trump administration policies . The U.S. Supreme Court is scheduled on Jan. 11 to consider taking up an appeal in the DACA case.

Becerra has been among the most aggressive of the Democratic state attorneys general who have battled Trump in court. Since former Gov. Jerry Brown appointed him to the job two years ago, Becerra has taken on the Trump administration in nearly 100 briefs and other legal actions, including 45 lawsuits filed mostly over immigration, the environment and health care and often joined by other attorneys general.

He has notched some significant victories, though many of the cases are still pending in court. But his office's operation against the Trump administration - who works on the cases, how much it costs and how the office approaches potential suits - has largely remained opaque.

FILE - In this Oct. 10, 2018, file photo, California Attorney General Xavier Becerra discusses various issues during an interview with The Associated Press, in Sacramento, Calif. Becerra, California's top prosecutor, has been among the most aggressive of the Democratic state attorneys general who have fought President Donald Trump in court. Becerra said he looks to defend issues he championed as a 12-term Congressman and listens to what the president says to prepare for future litigation. (AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli, File)

Becerra, who handily won the Nov. 6 election for a full term, has no dedicated team of advisers and attorneys focused on the Trump administration. But some attorneys have worked on multiple suits challenging White House policies.

Immigration cases mostly come from the civil rights section. The environment section has led lawsuits against Trump administration decisions on water protections, fracking and greenhouse gas emissions, among other areas. A health care strike force created by Becerra defends the Affordable Care Act.

"It takes lots of conversations with those who understand the policy talking to those who understand the law and the architecture of the law to be able to come up then with the complaint," he said.

Still, only a tiny fraction of the 1,300 attorneys Becerra oversees are involved in the Trump lawsuits.

From July 2017 through June 2018, the attorney general's office spent more than $9 million fighting the federal government, about 1 percent of its budget, according to figures from the office. That was up from about $3 million the previous year, which covered only about six months of Trump's presidency.

Becerra described Brown as "very supportive" but said the final decision to sue was his unless he was bringing suit on behalf of another state agency or officeholder.

Brown left office Monday after completing his fourth term, meaning Becerra will now work with California's new Democratic governor, Gavin Newsom, who may be more aggressive in confronting the Trump administration.

During a recent interview at his Sacramento office, Becerra said he took the attorney general's job to protect what he expected to be an onslaught against many of the issues he championed as a 12-term Democratic congressman.

The office is dotted with photographs of Becerra with prominent Democrats - former Vice President Joe Biden, President Bill Clinton, Hillary Clinton. As a U.S. House member, Becerra pushed for DACA and worked on the Affordable Care Act. His office has filed several lawsuits to defend President Barack Obama's health care initiative.

"So many of the things that we're defending now in court we began in Congress," he said.

The office had a lawsuit almost completely ready to go when the Trump administration weakened requirements for birth control coverage under the Affordable Care Act in 2017, he said. It filed the suit within hours of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' decision to issue the new rules, and won a preliminary injunction blocking the changes.

Two months before DACA's repeal, Becerra and 19 other attorneys general told the Trump administration in a letter that ending the program would harm businesses and reduce tax revenue.

The lawsuit he filed along with Maine, Maryland and Minnesota over DACA was not the first one challenging the end of the program. New York and several states sued earlier, as did the University of California, and Becerra said he considered joining the New York case. Becerra said his goal is to win, and sometimes waiting to sue is prudent.

"Oftentimes it doesn't mean speed. It means you do it deliberatively," he said.

In Democrat-dominated California, where the party controls all statewide offices, what little criticism Becerra has faced has come mostly from Republicans.

His Republican general election opponent, former county judge Steven Bailey, argued Becerra was too quick to sue the administration and was wasting taxpayers' money.

"I mean, it's irresponsible - the fact that there's a tweet coming out of the White House doesn't require a lawsuit to be filed just because of that tweet," Bailey told The Associated Press.

Becerra embraced his fight against Trump, asserting in a campaign ad that he was defending California's values against a "war" by the administration. His office says the cost of fighting the White House is minuscule compared to the damage its policies would inflict on the state's economy.

On Nov. 8, a federal appeals court sided with Becerra and refused to lift U.S. District Judge William Alsup's January 2018 ruling blocking the Trump administration from immediately ending DACA.

The case is with the U.S. Supreme Court, where the recent ascension of Associate Justice Brett Kavanaugh locked in a conservative majority.

Kavanaugh's September hearing on sex assault allegations before a Senate committee raised concerns about the dozens of federal lawsuits pitting the Trump administration against Democratic-leaning states after Kavanaugh slammed the accusations as the work of Democrats.

Becerra said the new justice won't change his approach to the administration. An avid poker player as a young man, Becerra used a poker analogy to dismiss the notion that California may now be at a disadvantage.

"You could have a bad hand and you could still win, and you could have a great hand and you could still lose," he said. "You just have to know how to play your hand."

FILE - In this Monday, Sept. 11, 2017, file photo, California Attorney General Xavier Becerra is flanked by Rosa Barrientos, of East Los Angeles, left, and Eva Jimenez, of Visalia, right, as he announces a lawsuit challenging the Trump administration's decision to end a program that shields young immigrants from deportation, in Sacramento, Calif. Becerra and members of his staff in recent interviews discussed the DACA lawsuit as part of a broader glimpse into the office's decision-making and structure to fight Trump administration policies. (AP Photo/Don Thompson, File)
ATLANTA (AP) - After Georgia's 2018 elections focused stinging criticism on the state's outdated election system, a study commission voted Thursday to recommend the use of machines that record votes and print a record.

Members of the panel tasked with considering a potential replacement chose that option over hand-marked paper ballots favored by cybersecurity experts.

The Secure, Accessible and Fair Elections, or SAFE, Commission voted 13-3 for a draft of a report to be sent to lawmakers, who are expected to decide on criteria for a new system during the legislative session that begins Monday. The commission includes lawmakers, political party representatives, voters and election officials.

Georgia's paperless touchscreen voting machines, in use since 2002, have been widely criticized. Cybersecurity experts have warned they are unreliable and vulnerable to hacking. There's also no way to do an effective audit or confirm votes are recorded correctly because there's no paper trail.

The state's voting system was a focal point during last year's high-profile gubernatorial race between Democrat Stacey Abrams and Republican Brian Kemp, who was Georgia's secretary of state and chief elections official. Abrams and her supporters accused Kemp of suppressing minority votes and mismanaging the election, including by neglecting elections infrastructure. Kemp, now governor-elect, vehemently denied those allegations.

Commission members agreed that Georgia needs a voting system with a paper record of votes cast, but disagreed over how ballots should be marked. The majority favored touchscreen ballot-marking machines that print a paper record, while the minority preferred paper hand-marked ballots read by optical scanners.

FILE - In this Oct. 27, 2018 file photo, people cast their ballots ahead of the Nov. 6, general election at Jim Miller Park in Marietta, Ga. Georgia's outdated election system has drawn criticism from cybersecurity experts and voting integrity advocates, and now a commission tasked with examining potential replacements is preparing to make recommendations to lawmakers. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart, File)

Georgia Tech professor Wenke Lee, the lone computer science and cybersecurity expert on the commission, repeatedly tried to insert language recommending hand-marked paper ballots, but was thwarted by the majority. Lee said afterward that he and the other dissenters - two Democratic lawmakers - will discuss submitting a minority report with their recommendations.

During public comments Thursday, most speakers argued hand-marked paper ballots are more secure, ensure a voter's intent is accurately captured, cost less and can help restore voter confidence.

But several county elections officials championed ballot-marking machines. They raised concerns about paper ballots, including printing costs and the potential for voter or poll worker error.

Secretary of State-elect Brad Raffensperger later told reporters it's especially important to listen to county election officials and their concerns about ongoing costs of paper ballots and ease of voting.

The commission report says the touchscreen ballot-marking machines are similar to the interface voters are used to and would also allow voters with disabilities to have nearly the same experience as other voters.

Lee said after the meeting that many concerns about paper ballots are based on experiences with outdated technology.

For example, he said, the latest scanners can read imperfect markings, discounting worries that voters may not fill in ovals on their ballots correctly. And claims that pre-printed paper ballots may go unused can be negated by having printers at polling places that print ballots as needed.

Commission co-chair Barry Fleming, a Republican state representative from Harlem, said at a meeting last month that initial expenditures would be roughly $50 million for a hand-marked paper ballot system and about $150 million for a ballot-marking machine system.

Georgia would be unwise to spend an enormous sum on a system based on ballot-marking machines that are less secure and could become quickly outdated, since technology evolves quickly, Lee said. Top cybersecurity and computer science experts overwhelmingly agree that hand-marked paper ballots are the most secure, he said.

Some ballot-marking machines print barcodes that correspond to the voter's selections, as well as a separate list readable by a person. But votes are counted by machines that scan the barcodes, so there's no way for voters to know whether what's scanned actually reflects their votes, critics say.

Verified Voting, a nonprofit group that advocates ensuring the accuracy of elections, last week urged the commission to recommend hand-marked paper ballots.

"A paper ballot that is indelibly marked by hand and physically secured from the moment of casting is the most reliable record of voter intent," president Marian Schneider wrote in a Jan. 4 letter. "A hand-marked paper ballot is the only kind of record not vulnerable to software errors, configuration errors, or hacking."

She cited a 2018 report from the National Academies of Science, Engineering and Medicine, "which represents the nation's best understanding of election security and integrity," that supports hand-marked paper ballots.

Another letter sent to the commission Monday and signed by two dozen computer science and security experts echoes those arguments.

The commission's recommendations also say the new system should be in place in time for the 2020 election and the state should require post-election audits to be conducted before results are certified.

Fleming said the General Assembly will have to rewrite state election law to specify requirements for a new voting system. If the governor signs the legislation, the secretary of state's office would likely solicit proposals and purchase the system, he said.
KINSHASA, Congo (AP) - The Latest on Congo's presidential election results. All times local:

7:35 p.m.

As night falls in Congo, scores of police with automatic rifles and tear gas launchers are positioned along a road in the capital leading to Limete, a stronghold of opposition candidate Martin Fayulu.

Fayulu has alleged presidential election fraud in the surprise win of opposition leader Felix Tshisekedi. He has urged the Congolese people to protest. Election results compiled by the powerful Catholic Church and its observers at all polling stations show Fayulu easily won, diplomats say.

An Associated Press witness saw a vehicle filled with military personnel in full combat gear. One soldier carried a rocket launcher.

Congo has been largely calm since results were announced early Thursday but observers have warned that a court challenge could lead to unrest.

Congolese riot police patrols outside the Independent electoral commission building at dusk in Kinshasa, Thursday Jan. 10, 2019, the day Felix Tshisekedi has been declared the winner of the presidential elections. (AP Photo/Jerome Delay)

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6:30 p.m.

British Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt says he is "very concerned about discrepancies" in Congo's presidential election results and says the United Nations Security Council will discuss the matter on Friday.

Official results showed a surprise winner in opposition leader Felix Tshisekedi but the powerful Catholic church says its findings from observers at all polling stations showed a different result.

Diplomats briefed on the findings say opposition leader Martin Fayulu won in a landslide. Fayulu has accused President Joseph Kabila of making a secret deal with the largely untested Tshisekedi.

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6 p.m.

A police spokesman says three people have been killed amid demonstrations protesting Congo's presidential election results.

Pierrot Mwanamputu tells The Associated Press that youth in the city of Kikwit who objected to the victory of opposition leader Felix Tshisekedi caused violence that led to the deaths of two civilians and the wife of a police officer.

The spokesman says 17 police officers were wounded and some shops were vandalized. Police reinforcements have been deployed.

The vast country of some 80 million people is largely calm after the results, though opposition leader Martin Fayulu alleges they were rigged and has urged people to protest.

Police also confirm "agitations" in Congo's third-largest city, Kisangani, but say they were quickly brought under control.

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5:05 p.m.

A Congolese election observer mission says the official results of the presidential vote have been largely received with calm across the country.

The Symocel mission in a statement says that despite reported irregularities, the results are a key step on the way to a historic peaceful transfer of power in the troubled country.

The surprise win of opposition leader Felix Tshisekedi is disputed by opposition figure Martin Fayulu, who alleges a backroom deal with President Joseph Kabila.

The Symocel statement notes reports of unrest in the cities of Kikwit and Kisangani, which could not immediately be verified.

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2:50 p.m.

The head of the African Union Commission says he takes note of the official results of Congo's disputed presidential election but like others is not issuing congratulations to the winner.

Moussa Faki Mahamat in a statement urges that Congo find a "genuine national consensus" whatever the results, based on democratic principles, human rights and the need for stability.

The surprise win of opposition leader Felix Tshisekedi is disputed by opposition figure Martin Fayulu, who alleges a backroom deal with President Joseph Kabila.

Mahamat notes that the vote took place in conditions judged "satisfactory" by the AU's election observer mission. Western observer missions were not invited as Congo rejected what it considered meddling after pressure to hold the long-delayed vote.

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2:10 p.m.

Belgian Foreign Minister Didier Reynders says his country plans to raise concerns over Congo's contested election at the U.N. Security Council, where Belgium has just taken a two-year seat.

Reynders told Belgian state broadcaster RTBF on Thursday that "what we're waiting for now is to see the reaction of the Congolese themselves as well as the observers who were able to monitor vote counting."

He said the election process "was chaotic and I can understand the concerns already being expressed in several places."

The surprise win of opposition leader Felix Tshisekedi is disputed by opposition figure Martin Fayulu, who alleges a backroom deal with President Joseph Kabila.

Reynders said: "We're going to find out what's going on, of course, and then decide what action to take, and notably around the table at the Security Council."

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1:55 p.m.

Congo's Catholic church says official presidential election results do not agree with the outcome that its 40,000 observers compiled in recording the results posted at all polling stations.

The church had the largest election observer mission.

Its secretary general, the Rev. Donatien Nshole, refuses to say who won the election according to its findings. But diplomats briefed on the results say they indicated opposition leader Martin Fayulu won easily.

The surprise win of opposition leader Felix Tshisekedi is disputed by Fayulu, who alleges a backroom deal with President Joseph Kabila.

Nshole urges all Congolese to remain peaceful and says those who challenge the official results should do so within the legal framework and without violence.

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1:15 p.m.

South Africa is urging Congo's electoral commission to finalize the election results "to ensure the credibility of the election and also maintain peace and stability."

President Cyril Ramaphosa is congratulating Congo for its election, urging the region and wider international community to refrain from speculation and allow Congolese election officials to finish their work.

The surprise win of opposition leader Felix Tshisekedi is disputed by opposition leader Martin Fayulu, who alleges a backroom deal with President Joseph Kabila.

South Africa's government is influential as Congo has rejected what it considers Western meddling. South Africa, however, has been under pressure to be more outspoken on Congo amid tensions over the long-delayed vote.

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12:50 p.m.

The European Union says it is waiting for the assessment of observer missions sent to monitor Congo's election before commenting on the poll results, and it calls for calm until things are clearer.

European Commission spokeswoman Maja Kocijancic says the EU notes that parts of the opposition are contesting the polls. The EU is "waiting for the reaction of the observation missions on the ground and from our African partners."

She says that "we call on all political actors in (Congo) to abstain from any kind of act of violence and allow for the democratic process to continue."

Congo expelled the EU's ambassador shortly before the election over human rights-related sanctions the bloc has in place against President Joseph Kabila's preferred successor. Officials vote results show he finished third.

Despite this, Kocijancic says the EU mission in Congo continues to work normally.

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11:10 a.m.

The advocacy group The Enough Project warns that Felix Tshisekedi's victory in Congo's presidential election, as announced by the electoral commission, may be challenged. Sasha Lezhnev, deputy director of Enough Project, which focuses on Africa, said the official results should be compared to the tallies compiled by the Catholic Church which deployed 40,000 observers across Congo and independently added up the voting results posted outside each polling station. Lezhnev said the international community must watch the process closely. "If it looks like the vote was indeed rigged and that Kabila is actually staying in power via a backroom deal, then sanctions and other financial pressure should ensue," said Lezhnev. "It's critical for the U.S., European Union to do much more to hold officials and businesses involved in high-level corruption accountable through anti-money laundering measures, network sanctions, and prosecutions."

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10:15 a.m.

France's foreign minister is casting doubt on Congo's presidential election results proclaiming opposition candidate Felix Tshisekedi the surprise winner.

Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said Thursday on CNews television that the results "do not conform with the results that we have noticed." He cited the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Congo, saying the group "made verifications and announced results that are totally different."

Le Drian didn't elaborate.

Tshisekedi had not been considered the leading candidate, and rival opposition candidate Martin Fayulu denounced the victory as fraud.

The French foreign minister urged calm and called on African leaders and organizations to ensure that the proclaimed results "are the real election results." The international community has been closely watching the Congo election.

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7:50 a.m.

Supporters of opposition candidate Felix Tshisekedi took to the streets of Congo's capital, Kinshasa, Thursday morning to celebrate his win in the presidential election, that was announced by the electoral commission.

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7:30 .am.

The candidate of Congo's ruling party, Emmanuel Ramazani Shadary, who came third in the official results, has through his spokeswoman congratulated the winner, Felix Tshisekedi. Me Aime Kilolo, spokeswoman for Shadary, said the electoral commission's announcement of Tshisekedi as the winner was "the will of the people." She said Shadary would make a statement on the results in a few hours.

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6:55 a.m.

Opposition candidate Martin Fayulu denounced the Congo election results as an "electoral hold up" that were "rigged, fabricated and invented" and do "not reflect the truth of the ballots." He called on the Congolese people to "rise as one man to protect victory."

Fayulu also called on the Catholic Church to release the results it got from its team of 40,000 observers who recorded voting tallies posted at each of the polling centers. Last week, the Catholic Church said their observations showed a clear winner.

Several diplomats briefed on the matter confirmed to The Associated Press that the figures compiled by the Catholic Church showed that Fayulu won an absolute majority of the votes. Two diplomats also said that all major observation missions, including from the African Union and the Southern African Development Community, showed similar results with Fayulu the winner.

"How long are we going to negotiate results?" asked Fayulu, of what he said was a deal made to declare Tshisekedi the winner. "In 2006, Jean-Pierre Bemba's victory was stolen, in 2011 Etienne Tshisekedi's victory was stolen. In 2018 victory won't be stolen from Martin Fayulu."

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6:50 a.m.

Congo opposition leader Felix Tshisekedi has been declared winner of the long-delayed, disorganized and controversial presidential election, in an announcement by the electoral commission early Thursday that surprised many, as the vast country braced for possible protests over alleged rigging.

Tshisekedi, who received more than 7 million votes, or 38 percent, according to the official results, had not been widely considered the leading candidate and is relatively untested. The son of late opposition leader Etienne, who pursued Congo's presidency for many years, he startled Congolese shortly before the election by breaking away from an opposition effort to unite behind a single candidate.

Tshisekedi's victory was quickly denounced by opposition leader Martin Fayulu, who claimed the results were rigged. Fayulu denounced the results as an "electoral hold up" and urged protests.

Supporters of opposition presidential candidate Felix Tshisekedi celebrate at his headquarters in Kinshasa, Thursday Jan. 10, 2019. Supporters of Tshisekedi took to the streets of Congo's capital, Kinshasa, Thursday morning to celebrate his win in the presidential election, that was announced by the electoral commission. (AP Photo/Jerome Delay)

Residents celebrate in Kinshasa Thursday, Jan. 10, 2019, after learning that opposition presidential candidate Felix Tshisekedi had been declared the winner of the elections. (AP Photo/Jerome Delay)

Residents celebrate in Kinshasa Thursday, Jan. 10, 2019, after learning that opposition presidential candidate Felix Tshisekedi had been declared the winner of the elections. (AP Photo/Jerome Delay)

Residents celebrate in Kinshasa Thursday, Jan. 10, 2019, after learning that opposition presidential candidate Felix Tshisekedi had been declared the winner of the elections. (AP Photo/Jerome Delay)

FILE - In this Dec. 30, 2018, file photo, ruling party presidential candidate Emmanuel Ramazani Shadary casts his vote in Kinshasa, Congo. Congo's electoral commission said Thursday, Jan. 10, 2019, opposition leader Felix Tshisekedi has won the presidential election as the vast country braces for possible protests over alleged rigging. Tshisekedi, who received more than 38 percent of votes, had not been widely considered the leading candidate. Some observers have suggested that President Joseph Kabila's government sought to make a deal as hopes faded for a win for ruling party candidate Emmanuel Ramazani Shadary. Shadary received more than 23 percent. (AP Photo/Jerome Delay, File)

Opposition candidate Martin Fayulu wipes his face before speaking to the press at his headquarters in Kinshasa, Congo, Thursday Jan. 10, 2019. Fayulu, who came second in the presidential poll behind Felix Tshisekedi, called the results fraudulent. (AP Photo/Jerome Delay)

Opposition candidate Martin Fayulu speaks to the press at his headquarters in Kinshasa, Congo, Thursday Jan. 10, 2019. Fayulu, who came second in the presidential poll behind Felix Tshisekedi, called the results fraudulent. (AP Photo/Jerome Delay)

FILE - This Nov. 23, 2018, file photo shows Felix Tshisekedi of Congo's Union for Democracy and Social Progress opposition party, at a press conference in Nairobi, Kenya. Congo opposition leader Tshisekedi has won the long-delayed presidential election, the electoral commission announced early Thursday, Jan. 10, 2019, to the surprise of many, as the vast country braced for possible protests over alleged rigging. (AP Photo/Ben Curtis, File)

Kinshasa residents celebrate in Kinshasa Thursday Jan. 10, 2019, after learning that opposition presidential candidate Felix Tshisekedi had been declared the winner of the elections. (AP Photo/Jerome Delay)

Residents celebrate in Kinshasa, Congo, Thursday Jan. 10, 2019, after learning that opposition presidential candidate Felix Tshisekedi had been declared the winner of the elections. (AP Photo/Jerome Delay)

Residents celebrate in Kinshasa, Congo, Thursday Jan. 10, 2019, after learning that opposition presidential candidate Felix Tshisekedi had been declared the winner of the elections. (AP Photo/Jerome Delay)
KINSHASA, Congo (AP) - Congo appeared on the cusp of its first peaceful transfer of power with the surprise victory Thursday of opposition candidate Felix Tshisekedi, despite clear signs that a rival opposition leader actually won in a landslide.

With no major protests in the capital and limited violence elsewhere in the vast Central African country, the population seemed to be choosing stability over credibility, accepting Tshisekedi's win and the end to President Joseph Kabila's long and turbulent rule.

But a court challenge to the results could spin the country into chaos, observers warned.

The influential Catholic Church, which deployed 40,000 observers at all polling stations, said official results did not match its findings, and diplomats briefed on them said rival opposition candidate Martin Fayulu won easily.

Fayulu alleges that Kabila engineered a backroom deal with the largely untested Tshisekedi to protect his power base in a country with staggering mineral wealth. An outspoken campaigner against Congo's widespread graft - it ranked 161th among 180 countries in Transparency International's latest index - Fayulu denounced the official results as "robbery."

He called on people to "rise as one man to protect victory."

Residents celebrate in Kinshasa Thursday, Jan. 10, 2019, after learning that opposition presidential candidate Felix Tshisekedi had been declared the winner of the elections. (AP Photo/Jerome Delay)

As night fell, scores of police with automatic rifles and tear gas launchers were positioned along a road in Kinshasa leading to the Kingabwa neighborhood, a Fayulu stronghold. One vehicle was filled with military personnel in combat gear.

Despite the heavy security presence, the nation of 80 million remained largely calm. Some protest violence was reported in Kikwit, a Fayulu stronghold, where police said three people were killed. Police also confirmed "agitations" in Congo's third-largest city, Kisangani, but said they were quickly brought under control.

It was not immediately clear whether Fayulu would challenge the election results in court. Candidates have two days after the announcement to file challenges and the constitutional court has seven days to consider them before results are final.

Careful statements by the international community did not congratulate Tshisekedi, merely taking note of official results and urging peace and stability in a country with little of it. Observers appeared to be watching for the reactions of Fayulu's supporters.

Two diplomats said all major election observation missions, including those of the African Union and the Southern African Development Community, showed similar results to those of the Catholic Church. The diplomats spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to the press.

Tshisekedi, who received 38 percent of the vote according to official results, had not been widely considered the leading candidate. Long in the shadow of his father, the late opposition leader Etienne Tshisekedi, he startled Congo last year by breaking away from the opposition's unity candidate, Fayulu, to stand on his own.

Fayulu, a former Exxon manager and Kinshasa lawmaker, received 34 percent of the vote in the official results. He was a vocal activist during the two-year delay in Congo's election, insisting it was time for Kabila to go. Fayulu was backed by two popular opposition leaders barred by the government from running.

Even before the election announcement, some observers suggested that Kabila's government might make a deal with Tshisekedi as hopes faded for ruling party candidate Emmanuel Ramazani Shadary, who received just 23 percent of the vote.

Many Congolese objected to Shadary, suspecting that he would allow Kabila to continue to rule from behind the scenes and protect his vast assets.

Several Congo analysts agreed that it appeared Kabila made a quiet agreement with Tshisekedi, saying Fayulu would have posed more of a threat.

"If Fayulu and his allies, with their own independent security and financial networks, had taken power they would have changed the power structure of Congo and definitively ousted Kabila and his clan," said Patrick Smith of the newsletter Africa Confidential. "Tshisekedi, with his weaker network, looks like being the junior partner in his accommodation with the Kabila establishment."

Pierre Englebert, a fellow at the Atlantic Council's Africa Center, said Tshisekedi would be more malleable and might allow Kabila's network to continue.

"One possibility for today's result is that once the regime saw the catastrophic mistake Kabila had made by nominating Shadary, it scrambled to come up with a Plan B. Enter Tshisekedi," Englebert wrote in an analysis . Tshisekedi "has wavered at times in his opposition to the regime and is far from having his late father's intransigence."

By breaking away from the opposition coalition supporting Fayulu, Tshisekedi "positioned himself to bargain with the regime," Englebert wrote. "But if the history of the Kabila regime and its tight control on the state and its security apparatus are any indication, the ... new president-elect is likely to end up on the losing end of this bargain."

Western powers appeared wary.

Britain's foreign secretary said he was "very concerned about discrepancies" in Congo's results, adding that the United Nations Security Council would discuss the matter on Friday. France's foreign minister bluntly cast doubt on the official results and Belgium's foreign minister expressed concern. There was no immediate United States comment.

The delayed results, 10 days after the Dec. 30 vote, came after international pressure to announce an outcome that reflected the will of the people, with the U.S. threatening sanctions.

The largely peaceful election faced numerous problems as many voting machines that Congo used for the first time malfunctioned. Dozens of polling centers opened hours late as materials went missing. Most alarming to many Congolese, some 1 million of the country's 40 million voters were barred from participating, with the electoral commission blaming a deadly Ebola virus outbreak.

The difference between Tshisekedi and Fayulu in official results was some 684,000 votes. Some observers said the barred voters could have made the difference.

Congo's government cut internet service the day after the vote to prevent speculation on social media. It remained off in parts of the country on Thursday.

Some Congolese weary of Kabila's 18-year rule, the two turbulent years of election delays and years of conflict that killed millions said they simply wanted peace. Some said they would be happy as long as Fayulu or Tshisekedi won, recalling the violence that followed past disputed elections.

Kabila has ruled since 2001 in the troubled nation rich in the minerals key to smartphones around the world. He is barred from serving three consecutive terms, but until he announced last year that he would step aside many Congolese feared he'd find a way to stay in office.

Now Congo faces a new leader who is little known after spending many years in Belgium and standing behind his outspoken father. The 56-year-old Tshisekedi took over as head of Congo's most prominent opposition party in early 2018, a year after his father's death.

Gleeful Tshisekedi supporters who took to the streets in Kinshasa to celebrate said they were happy to see Kabila step down.

"This is the coronation of a lifetime," said the deputy secretary-general of Tshisekedi's party, Rubens Mikindo. "This is the beginning of national reconciliation."

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Associated Press journalists Saleh Mwanamilongo and David Keyton in Kinshasa, Andrew Meldrum in Johannesburg and Angela Charlton in Paris contributed.

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This version corrects name of neighborhood with police presence to Kingabwa.

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Follow Africa news at https://twitter.com/AP_Africa

Congolese riot police patrols outside the Independent electoral commission building at dusk in Kinshasa, Thursday Jan. 10, 2019, the day Felix Tshisekedi has been declared the winner of the presidential elections. (AP Photo/Jerome Delay)

Supporters of opposition presidential candidate Felix Tshisekedi celebrate at his headquarters in Kinshasa, Thursday Jan. 10, 2019. Supporters of Tshisekedi took to the streets of Congo's capital, Kinshasa, Thursday morning to celebrate his win in the presidential election, that was announced by the electoral commission. (AP Photo/Jerome Delay)

Father Donatien Nshole, general secretary of the Congolese Episcopalian National Conference (CENCO), speaks at a briefing in Kinshasa, Thursday Jan. 10, 2019. Congo's Catholic church says official presidential election results do not agree with the outcome that its 40,000 observers compiled in recording the results posted at all polling stations. (AP Photo/Jerome Delay)

Residents celebrate in Kinshasa Thursday, Jan. 10, 2019, after learning that opposition presidential candidate Felix Tshisekedi had been declared the winner of the elections. (AP Photo/Jerome Delay)

Residents celebrate in Kinshasa Thursday, Jan. 10, 2019, after learning that opposition presidential candidate Felix Tshisekedi had been declared the winner of the elections. (AP Photo/Jerome Delay)

Residents celebrate in Kinshasa Thursday Jan. 10, 2019, after learning that opposition presidential candidate Felix Tshisekedi had been declared the winner of the elections. (AP Photo/Jerome Delay)

FILE - This Nov. 23, 2018, file photo shows Felix Tshisekedi of Congo's Union for Democracy and Social Progress opposition party, at a press conference in Nairobi, Kenya. Congo opposition leader Tshisekedi has won the long-delayed presidential election, the electoral commission announced early Thursday, Jan. 10, 2019, to the surprise of many, as the vast country braced for possible protests over alleged rigging. (AP Photo/Ben Curtis, File)

Residents celebrate in Kinshasa Thursday, Jan. 10, 2019, after learning that opposition presidential candidate Felix Tshisekedi had been declared the winner of the elections. (AP Photo/Jerome Delay)

Residents celebrate in Kinshasa Thursday, Jan. 10, 2019, after learning that opposition presidential candidate Felix Tshisekedi had been declared the winner of the elections. (AP Photo/Jerome Delay)

Residents celebrate in Kinshasa Thursday, Jan. 10, 2019, after learning that opposition presidential candidate Felix Tshisekedi had been declared the winner of the elections. (AP Photo/Jerome Delay)

Residents celebrate in Kinshasa Thursday, Jan. 10, 2019, after learning that opposition presidential candidate Felix Tshisekedi had been declared the winner of the elections. (AP Photo/Jerome Delay)

Residents celebrate in Kinshasa Thursday Jan. 10, 2019, after learning that opposition presidential candidate Felix Tshisekedi had been declared the winner of the elections. (AP Photo/Jerome Delay)

Residents celebrate in Kinshasa Thursday, Jan. 10, 2019, after learning that opposition presidential candidate Felix Tshisekedi had been declared the winner of the elections. (AP Photo/Jerome Delay)

Residents celebrate in Kinshasa Thursday, Jan. 10, 2019, after learning that opposition presidential candidate Felix Tshisekedi had been declared the winner of the elections. (AP Photo/Jerome Delay)

Residents celebrate in Kinshasa Thursday Jan. 10, 2019, after learning that opposition presidential candidate Felix Tshisekedi had been declared the winner of the elections. (AP Photo/Jerome Delay)

Residents celebrate in Kinshasa Thursday, Jan. 10, 2019, after learning that opposition presidential candidate Felix Tshisekedi had been declared the winner of the elections. (AP Photo/Jerome Delay)

Opposition candidate Martin Fayulu speaks to the press at his headquarters in Kinshasa, Congo, Thursday Jan. 10, 2019. Fayulu, who came second in the presidential poll behind Felix Tshisekedi, called the results fraudulent. (AP Photo/Jerome Delay)

Opposition candidate Martin Fayulu wipes his face before speaking to the press at his headquarters in Kinshasa, Congo, Thursday Jan. 10, 2019. Fayulu, who came second in the presidential poll behind Felix Tshisekedi, called the results fraudulent. (AP Photo/Jerome Delay)

Kinshasa residents celebrate in Kinshasa Thursday Jan. 10, 2019, after learning that opposition presidential candidate Felix Tshisekedi had been declared the winner of the elections. (AP Photo/Jerome Delay)

Residents celebrate in Kinshasa, Congo, Thursday Jan. 10, 2019, after learning that opposition presidential candidate Felix Tshisekedi had been declared the winner of the elections. (AP Photo/Jerome Delay)
France's Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier is expected to begin a trip to Singapore shortly and Tokyo has asked Paris to send it to Japan

France will Friday agree to join Japanese navy patrols off North Korea in a fresh sign of efforts to deepen ties and military links between Tokyo and Paris, officials said.

Japan and France, which President Emmanuel Macron sees as a Pacific power because France controls territories in the region, share joint concerns about North Korea's nuclear programme, as well as China's growing assertiveness in the South China Sea.

France will pledge to send a frigate and a reconnaissance aircraft to join surveillance efforts of North Korea, which involve Japanese and American naval forces based in the Japanese region of Okinawa, officials told AFP.

"The Indo-Pacific region is essential for us," French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said in an interview with the regional Le Telegramme daily published ahead of security talks between the countries.

Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Kono and Defence Minister Takeshi Iwaya were in France on Friday for talks with their French counterparts in Paris and the port town of Brest, home to France's second-biggest naval base.

Japan has also invited France to send its aircraft carrier to Japan, which would likely mean it passing through the contested South China Sea, claimed almost entirely by China.

The Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier is expected to begin a trip to Singapore shortly.

"We would like it to stop in Japan. It's not yet confirmed... it would be a very symbolic event," a spokesman for the Japanese embassy in Paris, Yoshihiro Higuchi, told AFP.

China claims almost all of the strategic South China Sea as part of its territory, alarming the US and its allies, which periodically send planes and warships to the area in defence of their right under international law to pass through the waters.

French and Japanese marines are also set to hold joint exercises in the next few months off the coast of Djibouti in east Africa, where both countries have bases, and "perhaps in the Indian Ocean," a French official said.

- Countering Chinese influence -

France and Japan have upped efforts to deepen their naval partnership with a view to countering Chinese influence in the Pacific.

Macron has called for a new alliance between the Asian democracies of India, Australia, Japan and France, which has troops stationed in its colonial-era territory of New Caledonia.

Higuchi said that Japan saw Macron as "more active, more committed" to Pacific defence than his predecessors

"France is the only European country with a permanent military presence," Higuchi added.

Analysts say Japan too is eager to deepen its regional alliances due to uncertainty about US President Donald Trump's commitment to defending the country and other Asian allies.
The Chang'e-4 probe made the world's first soft landing on the moon's 'dark side' on January 3, a major step in China's ambitions to become a space superpower

China on Friday hailed its historic mission to the far side of the moon as a "complete success" so far but said new challenges await its rover as it explores rugged terrain.

The Chang'e-4 probe -- named after a moon goddess -- made the world's first soft landing on the moon's "dark side" on January 3, a major step in China's ambitions to become a space superpower.

A rover dubbed Yutu-2 -- or Jade Rabbit, the name of the moon goddess's pet -- successfully separated from the lander and drove onto the moon's surface about eight hours after landing.

The mission sent the first panoramic image of its landing site Friday, showing the grey moonscape it is exploring and the track marks left by the rover in the lunar soil.

"From the panorama, we can see the probe is surrounded by lots of small craters," said Li Chunlai, commander-in-chief of the ground application system for the Chang'e-4 mission, according to the official Xinhua news agency.

The mission sent the first panoramic image of its landing site Friday, showing the grey moonscape it is exploring and the track marks left by the rover in the lunar soil

Chang'e-4 landed in the Von Karman Crater within the South Pole-Aitken Basin. The basin is the largest and deepest impact crater in the solar system.

The craters close to the rover -- including one that was 20 meters wide (65 feet) with a depth of about four meters (13 feet) -- will pose great challenges when planning its route, Li said.

The China National Space Administration (CNSA) said the initial stage of the mission was a "complete success" after the lander and the rover sent back images via the Queqiao relay satellite that beams data back to Earth.

The mission would now "progress to the scientific exploration stage," the space agency said in a statement.

- Older surface -

The Chang'e-4 probe is equipped with instruments developed by scientists from Sweden, Germany and China to study the lunar environment, cosmic radiation and the interaction between solar wind and the moon's surface, Zhang Hongbo, chief designer of the ground application system, told state broadcaster CCTV.

Chang'e-4 is the second Chinese probe to land on the moon, following the first Yutu rover mission to its Earth-facing side in 2013.

A video of the latest mission's landing -- produced using more than 4,700 pictures taken by a camera on the probe -- showed a "thicker layer of dust" offering "strong evidence" that its landing area is much older than the site where China's previous rover landed, Li said.

Scientists have said the far side is a key area for solving several unknowns about the moon, including its internal structure and thermal evolution.

The deepest region on the moon, with a depth of 9,100 meters (5.7 miles), is about 700 kilometers (435 miles) to the south of the probe, Li said.

"The information from the depths of the moon will be one of our focuses in the exploration," he said.
Space agency chief Kailasavadivoo Sivan says India will send its first manned mission to space by December 2021

India will send its first manned mission into space by December 2021, the head of the country's space agency said on Friday.

The three-person mission would make the Asian giant the fourth country after Russia, the United States and China to put people in space.

"We are planning to have the first unmanned mission by December 2020, the second by July 2021, and the manned mission by December 2021," Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) chairman Kailasavadivoo Sivan said in Bangalore.

Plans for a manned mission were first announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi last year, and his government has since approved around $1.4 billion to provide technology and infrastructure.

The sum would make it one of the cheapest manned space programmes in the world.

Modi, up for re-election this year, has hailed the national space programme as a prestige project and said that both men and women could be selected for the mission.

India has already invested heavily in its space programme in the past decade.

New Delhi is competing with other international players for a greater share of the satellite market, and hopes its low-cost space programme will give it an edge.

At $1.4 billion, India's manned space programme would be one of the cheapest in the world

It sent an orbiter to Mars in 2013 which is still operational and last year launched a record 104 satellites in one blast-off.

China put its first humans into space in 2003 but its Shenzhou programme cost more than $2.3 billion.

Experts say the United States spent the equivalent of about $110 billion at current values on preparatory flights and the mission to put the first man on the moon in 1969.

The ISRO chief said they had planned 32 missions in 2019 with a budget of around $4.2 billion.

Indian Air Force pilot Rakesh Sharma was the first Indian to go into space, flying on a Russian mission in 1984.
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is in the Middle East on a whistlestop tour aimed at reassuring US allies after President Donald Trump's shock decision to withdraw all US troops from Syria

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo arrived in Bahrain on Friday, the first leg of a tour of Gulf monarchies which Washington says are "critical" to confronting Iran and jihadists.

"These Gulf partnerships are critical to achieving shared regional objectives -- defeating ISIS (Islamic State group), countering radical Islamic terrorism, protecting global energy supplies and rolling back Iranian aggression," a State Department spokesman said.

In Bahrain, Pompeo is due to have a working lunch with King Hamad, Crown Prince Salman and Foreign Minister Sheikh Khaled bin Ahmad Al-Khalifa, according to his official programme.

Bahrain, a key US ally in the Gulf, hosts the US Navy's Fifth Fleet with around 7,800 US military personnel deployed in the country, as well as a British naval base.

It is one of the closest allies of regional power house Saudi Arabia and shares its hostility Iran.

"Bahrain is a staunch supporter of countering Iran's malign efforts" in the region, the US spokesman said.

"Bahrain continues efforts to investigate and counter Iranian sanctions evasion and combat illicit maritime activity," he added.

Pompeo's visit is part of a whistlestop regional tour aimed at reassuring US allies after President Donald Trump's shock decision to withdraw all US troops from Syria.

The US top diplomat flew in to Manama from Cairo and has already visited Amman, Baghdad and the Iraqi Kurdish regional capital of Arbil.

He will also visit the other five members of the Gulf Cooperation Council -- the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman and Saudi Arabia.

State Department officials have said Pompeo hopes his trip will strengthen the GCC, which has been weakened by a diplomatic rift that has pitted Saudi Arabia and its allies against Qatar for more than 18 months.

They accuse Doha of supporting groups blacklisted as "terrorist" by the GCC and of advocating improved ties with Iran.

Doha, which is home to a huge US air base, has denied the claims.

The State Department has said that a "united Gulf Cooperation Council the backbone for regional peace, prosperity, security and stability" and key to countering Iran.

It said Pompeo would also work with regional leaders to advance a proposed Middle East Strategic Alliance -- a NATO-style security pact.

During his talks in the Gulf, Pompeo is also expected to discuss the conflict in Yemen where a Saudi-led coalition has been fighting Iran-linked rebels since March 2015 despite a growing international outcry over the human cost.
The average Filipino spends nearly four hours per day on social media, according to We are Social

Facebook says it has banned a Philippine digital marketing group which runs hundreds of pages across the social network with 43 million followers, accusing it of "inauthentic behaviour" and using fake accounts.

Facebook has stepped up efforts to root out fake accounts after being criticised for failing to tackle hate speech and misinformation on its platforms. Filipinos are among the world's heaviest users of social media, and the country has been a key battleground for fake news.

The online giant said that on Thursday it removed 220 Facebook pages, 73 Facebook accounts and 29 Instagram accounts run by Twinmark Media Enterprises, whose pages were followed by about 43 million accounts.

"Our decision to remove this organisation, and the pages and accounts it controls, is based on the behaviour of these actors who repeatedly violated our misrepresentation and spam policies, rather than on the type of content they were posting," it added.

It accused Twinmark of "coordinated inauthentic behaviour, the use of fake accounts, leading people to ad farms, and selling access to Facebook pages to artificially increase distribution and generate profit".

A Twinmark employee told AFP by telephone Friday the Manila-based firm's officials were not available for comment.

The average Filipino spends nearly four hours per day on social media -- the most in the world -- according to Britain-based media consultancy We Are Social.

German database firm Statista estimates there were 73 million Facebook users in the Philippines as of October 2018, the sixth-largest country group.

In October last year Facebook said it had removed a network of 95 pages and 39 accounts in the Philippines, including one with 4.8 million followers, for violating the social media outfit's spam and authenticity policies.
Kim Jong Un and Donald Trump are expected to have a second meeting soon, following their first summit in Singapore last year

A senior UN official warned Friday it would be a "missed opportunity" if diplomatic talks with North Korea this year did not address human rights, urging Seoul and Washington to highlight the issue.

The impoverished but nuclear-armed nation stands accused by United Nations investigators of "systematic, widespread and gross" human rights violations that range from rape, torture, extrajudicial killings to running political prisoner camps.

Pyongyang calls such accusations anti-regime propaganda.

But the issue was sidelined during Kim's summits last year with democratically-elected presidents Moon Jae-in of South Korea and Donald Trump of the US, who have focused on diplomacy and the North's nuclear arsenal.

A second meeting between Kim and Trump is expected soon, after which Kim could potentially travel to Seoul.

"It will be a missed opportunity if in 2019 human rights is not addressed by all the parties, including more importantly the government of DPR Korea," said Tomas Ojea Quintana, the UN special rapporteur on human rights in the North, using the North's official name.

The human rights situation remained "serious" in the isolated country, he told reporters in Seoul, despite last year's diplomatic developments.

The Argentine lawyer called on the South Korean government to engage more strongly with Beijing to stop forced repatriations of North Korean defectors caught in China, which views escapees as illegal aliens rather than refugees.

Returnees to the authoritarian state can face imprisonment and torture, according to campaigners and rights groups.

Asked whether South Korean officials were hesitant to raise rights with the North in their pursuit of dialogue, Ojea Quintana said Seoul officials told him improved inter-Korean relations would "further improve human rights" in the reclusive state.
Police have been searching the Outback around Alice Springs for the missing German tourist who was last seen on New Year's Day

Australian police vowed Friday to keep up the hunt for a missing German tourist, but after several days of scouring the dusty and parched Outback admitted time was running out.

Police have deployed drones and officers around the central town of Alice Springs to find the 62-year-old bushwalker, who was last seen on New Year's Day.

"Our members have been tirelessly searching Alice Springs for five days now and while it doesn't look good, we do hold out hope to find her alive," said Superintendent Pauline Vicary.

Local temperatures on Friday evening reached 41 degrees Celsius (105 Fahrenheit) and were even higher during the day.

Monika Billen left her Desert Palms Resort hotel on January 1 and is thought to have hitched and walked her way to the Emily Gap, a site popular with tourists in a remote nature park famed for its rocky ravines and gorges.

Police were notified when she did not return to the hotel as planned a few days later.

Police believe a motorist may have seen her looking dehydrated and a disorientated as early as January 2.

She had only a yellow cashmere scarf to protect against the fierce desert sun.
A US military convoy passes the flashpoint Syrian town of Manbij on December 30, 2018, part of a deployment the US-led anti-jihadist coalition says it has now begun withdrawing following a controversial decision by President Donald Trump last month

The US-led military coalition in Syria has begun pulling out troops, a spokesman said on Friday without elaborating on locations or timetables.

"CJTF-OIR has begun the process of our deliberate withdrawal from Syria," spokesman Colonel Sean Ryan told AFP in a statement, referring to the US-led anti-jihadist force.

"Out of concern for operational security, we will not discuss specific timelines, locations or troops movements," he said.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that the coalition had started scaling down its presence at Rmeilan airfield in the notheastern province of Hasakeh.

"On Thursday, some American forces withdrew from the Rmeilan military base in Hasakeh province," Rami Abdel Rahman, the head of the Britain-based monitoring organisation, said.

"This is the first such pullout of American forces since the US president's announcement" of a full troop withdrawal from Syria last month, he said.

On December 19, Trump said he had ordered the withdrawal of all US forces in Syria, which are believed to number around 2,000.

His announcement, which came after a phone call with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, was criticised even within his own camp and is already having major repercussions on the nearly eight-year-old conflict.
"This is a matter of safety, security, and economic concern," said the Association of Flight Attendants, which held a protest in the capital Washington on Thursday along with other aviation sector unions to demand the resumption of normal services

The partial shutdown of the US government could have serious consequences for air safety, according to unions representing aviation workers, which are calling for an immediate resolution to the budgetary stalemate.

Some 800,000 federal employees, including those from the Department of Transport and the Department of Homeland Security which handles air safety and oversees screening at airport checkpoints, have been affected since December 22 when the impasse over President Donald Trump's demand for a southern border wall opposed by Democrats in Congress began.

Those deemed non-essential have been placed on unpaid leave, while others have been forced to continue working without pay.

"This is a matter of safety, security, and economic concern," said the Association of Flight Attendants, which held a protest in the capital Washington on Thursday along with other aviation sector unions, to demand the resumption of normal services.

"Our members and the traveling public are flying within a system that is less safe and secure as long as the shutdown continues," added the letter to Congress from the union, which represents some 50,000 professionals.

"We know all too well the economic hardship that can result from any loophole in our security and any means for inflicting harm by those who view the United States and its citizens as the enemy," it added in a reference to the September 11 2001 attacks.

The association noted the airline industry contributes over 5 percent of the national GDP and supports 11 million jobs, warning: "As the shutdown continues the entire industry will begin to unravel.

"Airlines cannot receive delivery of aircraft causing route cancellations, attrition of air traffic controllers reduces flow of aircraft in the air, and as transportation security officers reduce in numbers we will experience long, slowed security lines."

- Sick days -

The National Association of Air Traffic Controllers (NACTA) meanwhile slammed the crisis, saying it was making difficult conditions even worse for its 20,000 members.

Federal Aviation Administration Academy in Oklahoma City has been closed as a result of the shutdown and simulator trainings have been disrupted.

"Stopping the hiring and training pipeline will exacerbate the current controller staffing crisis," warned the association in a statement.

Even before the shutdown, controllers have been working six-day weeks and 10-hour days at many of the country's busiest airports, NACTA's president Paul Rinaldi said, adding: "This staffing crisis is negatively affecting the National Airspace System, and the shutdown almost certainly will make a bad situation worse."

Travelers meanwhile are beginning to worry about long lines, with a spike in the number of Transportation Security Administration agents calling in sick since the end of December.

The TSA has seen a spike in the number of agents calling in sick since late December

"Despite providing essential government services, TSA officers are among the lowest paid Federal employees, with many living paycheck-to-paycheck," Representative Bernie Thompson, the new Chairman of the House Committee on Homeland Security wrote in a recent letter to the TSA leadership.

"It is only reasonable to expect officer call outs and resignations to increase the longer the shutdown lasts, since no employee can be expected to work indefinitely without pay.

The TSA has tried to reassure the public. A statement on its website on Wednesday said 1.74 million passengers were screened across the day, and 99.9 percent had to wait 30 minutes or less.

"Yesterday, January 9, 2019, TSA experienced a rate of 5 percent compared to a 3.6 percent unscheduled absence rate one year ago on January 9, 2018," it said, lauding "the more than 51,000 officers across the country (who) remain focused on the mission."
Cameron Norrie outlasted Germany's Jan-Lennard Struff in a three-set battle of the big servers 7-5, 4-6, 6-3

New Zealand-raised Briton Cameron Norrie and American Tennys Sandgren will contest the ATP Auckland Classic title after winning their semi-finals in contrasting fashion on Friday.

Norrie outlasted Germany's Jan-Lennard Struff in a three-set battle of the big servers 7-5, 4-6, 6-3 while Sandgren comfortably had the measure of Philipp Kohlschreiber 6-4, 6-2.

Sandgren and Norrie have played each other six times in the past, with Norrie winning four of their encounters.

"Three times in a row he beat me. In consecutive tournaments in the fall of 2017, which wasn't a lot of fun," Sandgren recalled.

Norrie, who was born in South Africa and raised in New Zealand before moving to Britain, broke Struff at 6-5 to take the first set.

Struff took the early initiative in the second set, with Norrie dropping a serve for the first time this week.

There was a further service break each before Struff held on to take the set.

Tebbys Sandgren of the US beat Philipp Kohlschreiber 6-4, 6-2 and will face Britain's Cameron Norrie in the Auckland final

However, Norrie was not to be denied in the decider as he raced to a 3-0 lead and stayed in control from there.

Even when a touch of nerves while serving at 5-3 saw him down 0-30 he was able to steady himself to take the match.

Sandgren, ranked 63 in the world and the last player accepted into the main draw of the tournament, picked up a deciding break early in each set against the 34th-ranked Kohlschreiber and was never under pressure.

Kohlschreiber managed to save two match points at 2-5 in the second set before losing the match with a double fault.
The court case has gripped Japan

The prosecutor aiming to take down former Nissan chairman Carlos Ghosn is known as the "ace of aces", a high-flyer in an elite special department that deals only with the most high-profile cases.

Hiroshi Morimoto, who also enjoys a reputation as "Mr Clean", has been in charge of the special investigation section of the Tokyo prosecutors office for just over a year, and now faces one of the biggest cases of his career.

In his early 50s with black hair flecked with grey, Morimoto runs a team of 20 top officials investigating the complex and multi-faceted case of alleged financial misconduct by the auto industry tycoon.

"It's the cream of the crop of investigators," said Yasuyuki Takai, a former member of the unit and now a lawyer.

It was members of Morimoto's team, dressed in dark suits, who rushed up the steps of Ghosn's private jet at Haneda Airport and whisked him away for questioning.

Grainy images at the airport were captured by the Asahi Shimbun daily, and the surprise arrest stunned Japan and the business world in general.

Takai said the special investigations unit was split into three sections, dealing with corruption, white-collar fraud and tax evasion. Only the first two are working on the Ghosn case, which does not involve allegations of fiscal fraud.

The office has a record of securing high-profile convictions.

Until now, the unit's biggest case was arresting former prime minister Kakuei Tanaka in 1976 for his part in an immense global bribery scandal involving US aerospace company Lockheed.

It also discovered and dismantled a complex cartel of firms involved in rigging bids for building a high-speed train between Tokyo and the western city of Osaka.

Ghosn's case has sparked huge international interest and led to criticism from abroad of the Japanese legal system, which allows authorities to detain suspects for long periods without formal charges.

- 'Passionate go-getter' -

Morimoto, who keeps his cards close to his chest, has not made any public comment on the case to date.

He also did not address the court during a special hearing on Tuesday held to explain the reasons behind Ghosn's continued detention.

This has not prevented hordes of reporters from camping outside his home in the hope of gleaning a nugget of information.

One of the quirks of the Ghosn case is that Morimoto now finds himself in a game of legal cat-and-mouse with his former boss: Motonari Otsuru, a former head of the special unit and now the lead defence lawyer for the ex-Nissan chief.

The two men have contrasting personalities, according to Masaru Wakasa, a lawyer, political figure and well-known TV personality who worked with them both.

Wakasa told local media that Otsuru is "calm and analytical", certainly the image the defence lawyer displayed to the press during his only news conference on Tuesday.

In contrast, Morimoto is described as "passionate and a go-getter", not shy of speaking truth to power.

"I had a few arguments with him when I was his boss," Wakasa said.

"They are rivals, but in the battle they are fighting it is the not person with the strongest force of character that will prevail, but the person who collects the most evidence to convict or acquit Ghosn," former unit member Takai told AFP.
The polio vaccine is provided free by the Chinese government for children between two months and four years old

At least 145 children were administered expired polio vaccines in eastern China, state media reported, despite the government promising to prevent such lapses in the industry following a major scandal last year.

Three county-level health officials in Jiangsu province have been dismissed since the case came to light earlier this week -- the latest to raise public health concerns -- according to an announcement by the Jinhu county government.

A parent discovered earlier this week that a batch of orally administered polio vaccines were being given to children at a county-run health facility nearly one month after their December 11 expiration date, state broadcaster CCTV reported on Thursday.

The local government has since found 145 children received the vaccines between December 11 and January 7, CCTV said, quoting a government source.

Local health officials have said the expired vaccines would have decreased efficacy but should not cause adverse health effects.

The World Health Organisation's website says that people given such vaccines that have expired are "unlikely to get sick as a reaction to receiving the vaccine" but warns that they might not be adequately immunised.

CCTV said some parents reported adverse reactions among children, including vomiting and drowsiness, but it was unclear if this was just a normal allergic reaction to the medicine.

Beijing announced a nationwide clean-up of the country's vaccine industry last year after it emerged that a major Chinese manufacturer of rabies vaccines had fabricated records.

Authorities maintain that affected rabies vaccines did not enter the market, but the case triggered public outrage over frequent safety scares involving sub-par or toxic food, drugs and other products despite repeated government crackdowns.

Besides the three Jinhu county health officials who were dismissed, five other local staff are under investigation, the regional government said.

The vaccines have been ordered sealed and the county has launched inspections of all health-related departments.

The polio vaccine is provided free by the government for children between two months and four years old.

AFP calls to the Jinhu government went unanswered.
Reporters Wa Lone, pictured, and Kyaw Soe Oo, were arrested in Yangon in December 2017 and later sentenced to seven years in jail for violating the state secrets act, a charge supporters say is trumped up

Two Reuters journalists jailed in Myanmar over their investigation of atrocities committed against the Rohingya will learn Friday if an appeal against their conviction has succeeded.

Reporters Wa Lone, 32, and Kyaw Soe Oo, 28, were arrested in Yangon in December 2017 and later sentenced to seven years in jail for violating the state secrets act, a charge supporters say is trumped up.

"We hope for freedom for them," Than Zaw Aung, a lawyer for the journalists, told AFP Thursday, adding that the pair will not be present in court.

Prosecutors said they had classified information regarding security operations in Rakhine state, from where hundreds of thousands of Rohingya Muslims fled during an army-led crackdown the United Nations has dubbed "ethnic cleansing".

At the time of the arrest they were probing a massacre of 10 Rohingya.

The two men have insisted they were the victims of a police set-up, pointing to testimony from a serving officer who said a superior ordered others to entrap them.

The trial was widely regarded as a sham and seen as punishment for their probe, sparking outrage around the world including from US Vice President Mike Pence.

Lawyers representing the young men said the Yangon Regional High Court, in its ruling expected later Friday, could uphold the sentences, reduce the terms or quash the convictions.

Kyaw Soe Oo's wife Chit Su Win said she planned on attending and was optimistic about the outcome.

"I really feel excited to hear it. I believe the two will be freed," she said.

Outside the country, the two men have been hailed as heroes and jointly named Time Magazine's Person of the Year 2018, alongside other persecuted and slain journalists.

But they have gained little sympathy within Myanmar.

The violent military campaign in 2017 forced more than 720,000 Rohingya across the border to Bangladesh, with refugees bringing accounts of murder, rape and arson.

UN investigators have called for top generals to be investigated for genocide and singled out civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi for criticism for failing to stop the crackdown.

The image of the formerly renowned champion of human rights has been further damaged by the Reuters trial, and she has yet to speak up in their defence.

Reporters Without Borders representative Daniel Bastard said it would be "utterly devastating" if the court upholds the verdict.

"The message that Myanmar authorities would send is absolutely dreadful: seven years in prison, this is the price you'll have to pay if you dare investigate subjects we don't want you to."
An employee of Chinese tech giant JD.com shows an augmented reality system that allows customers to virtually try on clothing at shops, part of the high-tech retail marketplace at the 2019 Consumer Electronic Show in Las Vegas

With robots, augmented reality displays and other advanced technologies, traditional retailers are taking a cue from the online world to find new ways to connect and keep customers.

The 2019 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas featured dozens of exhibitors showcasing how brick and mortar sellers can ramp up competition against the likes of Amazon and other online merchants -- and cope with what some call a retail apocalypse.

Chinese retail giants JD.com and Suning each had a large presence at the show in search of partners for their "retail as a service" strategy, to allow merchants to plug into new tech platforms.

"We believe the future of retail is not about online or offline, it's boundary-less," said JD communications manager Yuchuan Wang.

JD showed how retailers can use augmented reality screens that allow shoppers to use gesture control to virtually try on and buy clothing and beauty products.

With these systems, a retailer might not need to stock all apparel products in all sizes, enabling the consumer to simply click on an item in the store and have it delivered rapidly.

One of China's largest retailers, JD also showcased the use of delivery robots and drones which are being used in China, capable of reaching most Chinese consumers within a day or two.

- Skip the cashier -

Chinese retail giant Suning's exhibit at the Consumer Electronics Show shows a smart weighing counter that can enable consumers to pick up items and get them scanned automatically to skip the checkout line

Suning, which claims to be China's largest omni-channel retailer, also showed augmented reality retail try-ons as well as its cashier-free store similar to the Amazon Go model.

"I can pick up an apple and it tells me how much the price is," said Suning strategy director Watson Wat, who was showing CES attendees how its technology can be applied.

"And with my products I just walk out and it uses facial recognition to identify and charge me."

Suning announced it was seeking partnerships with retailers for its "brain of smart retail" that could enable stores to use its technology.

"I believe the technology is mature now, it's affordable," Wat said.

- Smart mirrors -

Chinese online retail and logistics company JD displays delivery robots and drones that are part of smart retail technology being offered to partners

Elsewhere, Procter & Gamble's booth at CES showed how customers can use of augmented reality and facial recognition built into mirrors to get personalized recommendations for skin care and beauty products.

"We capture a unique identification for each person and deliver personalized results to them" on the basis of artificial intelligence, said P&G's Tina McCarthy.

SoftBank Robotics demonstrated how retailers can use two different kinds of robots -- one to interact with customers and another to monitor inventory and store shelves -- to help improve bottom lines.

SoftBank is partnering with Tally, made by Simbe Robotics, which scans store shelves to keep better track of what is available.

"There is a massive problem in the retail space between what the system says is on the shelf and what really is there," said Steve Carlin of SoftBank Robotics.

A more accurate system can help deal with merchandise which is overstocked or understocked, he added.

"We can start to push the right type of advertisements or incentives to shop the things that are over-inventoried," he said.

- Getting to know you -

Pepper of SoftBank Robotics (L) and Tally of Simbe Robotics (R) are teaming up to work with retailers: Pepper interacts with customers while Tally scans shelves to monitor inventory in this demo from SoftBank at the Consumer Electronics Show

SoftBank's humanoid robot Pepper is teaming up on the effort by interacting with customers, including using facial recognition to greet customers by name and guide them to products.

"For retailers, they know a lot about you online but don't really know you at all in the store," Carlin said.

Offering suggestions in the same manner as online retailers can make sense.

"Retailers are always trying to get one more item in the basket," Carlin said. "They can't get more foot traffic but they are hoping to get more items in the basket."

Maeve Duska of the consultancy USA Technologies, said many retailers are stepping up efforts to keep up with the Amazon Go concept where customers can walk out and pay automatically without waiting for checkout, a concept known as "unattended retail."

"Finally the brick and mortar retailer understands how much competition there is from online," said Duska, who spoke at a CES panel on high-tech retailing.

"They are trying to duplicate the online experience."

With facial recognition to identify the customer and fingerprint and retina scans which can be used for payment, retailers are discovering ways to speed up the retail experience, often without interacting with a human.

"We're very much a self-service society," she said.

For many younger shoppers, "they do not want to talk to people" in the store.

- Tempered expectations -

Analyst Brendan Witcher of Forrester Research, another CES panel participant, said some technologies like virtual and augmented reality can offer value for some goods that can help customers visualize clothing or other items.

But he cautioned against too much optimism about the use of data analytics and artificial intelligence to market in the manner of Amazon.

"Most retailers still can't get a personalized email out the door," he said.

"If that's the case it's not time to put a robot in the store.
Beijing is Pyongyang's sole major ally and key provider of trade and aid, their ties forged in the blood of the Korean War

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un came away from his fourth meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping with his hand strengthened in nuclear talks with the US, analysts say, even as Seoul urged him to do more.

Beijing is Pyongyang's sole major ally and key provider of trade and aid, their ties forged in the blood of the Korean War.

The relationship had soured in recent years as China became frustrated with its neighbour's nuclear antics but warmed dramatically in 2018 as Kim and Xi met three times, each occasion coming shortly before Kim's summits with US President Donald Trump and the South's Moon Jae-in.

A second Kim-Trump meeting is expected soon, and the North Korean and Chinese leaders had far deeper security discussions this time in Beijing than in any of their talks last year, pointed out Lim Eul-chul, professor of North Korean studies at Kyungnam University.

Kim and Xi agreed to jointly study and co-ordinate "the management of the situation of the Korean peninsula and the denuclearisation negotiations in particular", the North's official KCNA news agency reported.

That will give China a central role in future US-North Korean discussions, Lim told AFP, even if it is not in the room at the time.

"Closer ties between China and North Korea in pursuit of a security alliance will not be welcomed by the US," Lim told AFP.

"It could be a challenge to Washington to face Pyongyang officials with firm backing from their neighbour."

The negotiation process has stalled since Kim and Trump's first high-profile encounter in Singapore, where they signed a vaguely-worded statement on denuclearisation and have since disagreed on what it means.

Pyongyang is demanding the easing of sanctions imposed over its nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programmes, while Washington insists they must remain in place until it gives up its atomic arms -- something it has made no public promise to do.

China -- which regards northeast Asia as its back yard and is engaged in a range of disputes of its own with the US, including a trade spat that threatens to upset the global economy -- also wants the sanctions relaxed.

Xi agreed with the "principled issues" raised by North Korea in talks with the US and that its "reasonable points of concern should be resolved properly", according to Pyongyang's official KCNA news agency.

Pyongyang has a long history of playing major powers off against each other, with Kim's predecessor and grandfather Kim Il Sung adept at winning backing from the then Communist rivals Beijing and Moscow in turn.

"North Korea uses engagement with China to reinforce its leverage with the United States, and vice versa," said former US diplomat and Korea specialist Mintaro Oba.

It could be "annoying" for Pyongyang to have to face Beijing emphasising its "superiority" in their relationship, he tweeted, but that was "a small price to pay for a strengthened position" in talks with Trump.

- 'Tangible achievements' -

Expectations of a second Trump-Kim summit have mounted in recent days, with the US leader saying the two were negotiating over its location and Seoul's President Moon Jae-in saying Kim's Beijing trip was a sign it was "imminent".

Speculation over possible locations has swirled among Korea-watchers, with the candidates including Hanoi in Communist-ruled Vietnam, Ulan Bator in Mongolia -- which Kim can reach by train -- Sweden, which has a long history of mediating between Pyongyang and Washington, and even the US state of Hawaii.

But whether a meeting will take place still depends on what Pyongyang brings to the table in preliminary talks between the two, said Kim Han-kwon, analyst at the Korea National Diplomatic Academy.

The North needs to take "more bold, practical measures for denuclearisation" Moon said Thursday - a departure for the South Korean leader, who has stressed engagement with Pyongyang to bring it to the negotiating table.

That has prompted criticism from conservatives that Moon was conceding too much while gaining little in return.

Moon also urged Washington to take "corresponding measures", but acknowledged that the Singapore summit agreement was "somewhat vague" and that there was international scepticism over Kim's sincerity.

Moon's call was driven by a belief that denuclearisation talks needed to produce "tangible achievements" this year, said Cho Seong-ryoul, a former senior researcher at Seoul's Institute for National Security Strategy.

"There is a gap between Pyongyang and Washington over what it means to denuclearise," he said. "Moon is trying to narrow that gap now."
A line of US military vehicles drive through a checkpoint of the Internal Security Forces in Manbij as they head to their base on the outskirts of the northern Syrian city

The US military has removed some equipment from Syria, a defense official confirmed Thursday, following a report that the drawdown ordered by President Donald Trump is now underway.

"I can confirm the movement of equipment from Syria," the official told AFP. "For security reasons, I am not going to provide further details at this time."

Trump's shock announcement on December 19 that he was withdrawing all 2,000 American troops from the conflict-wracked Middle Eastern country concerned allies and prompted the resignation of his then defense chief Jim Mattis.

Since then, however, administration officials appear to have walked back considerably and the current envisaged timetable is unclear.

The removal of the equipment in recent days was first reported by CNN, which quoted an administration official with direct knowledge of the operation as saying it signaled the beginning of US withdrawal from the Middle Eastern country.

The official quoted by CNN would not describe exactly what the cargo was or how it was being transported.

They also did not say what part of Syria it came from, though it is expected the drawdown would begin in the country's north.

The CNN report added that officials it had previously spoken to said the Pentagon wants to signal to the president it is working towards his goals following his withdrawal decision last month.

Though the removal of troops is not on the cards immediately, withdrawing equipment is a means of showing progress towards this goal, it added.

On Sunday, National Security Adviser John Bolton set out stringent conditions for the proposed withdrawal, saying the defense of allies must first be assured.

"We're going to be discussing the president's decision to withdraw, but to do so from northeast Syria in a way that makes sure that ISIS is defeated and is not able to revive itself and become a threat again," Bolton said when meeting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem.

Speaking in Egypt Thursday, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo stressed the troop pullout from Syria would go ahead as he urged Middle East nations to forge a common stand against Tehran.
Washington Post CEO Fred Ryan said Khashoggi's death had "touched his Washington Post colleagues deeply"

US lawmakers from both parties, friends of murdered journalist Jamal Khashoggi and press freedom groups on Thursday marked 100 days since the Saudi dissident's assassination.

Featuring a portrait of Khashoggi against a back drop of American flags, the ceremony began with a moment of silence.

"The murder of Khashoggi is an atrocity and an affront to humanity," said Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi during the event in Washington.

Khashoggi, a Washington Post contributor who lived in the US, was killed in October at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul, where he had gone to pick up paperwork needed for his upcoming marriage to his Turkish fiancee.

Over three months later, his body's whereabouts remain unknown. Turkish and US officials accuse Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman of orchestrating the killing -- an allegation Saudi authorities categorically refute.

In Washington, US President Donald Trump's response to Riyadh -- a key trade partner -- provoked outrage among lawmakers across the political spectrum.

"If we decide that commercial interest should override the statements that we make and the actions that we take, then we must admit that we have lost all moral authority to talk about any atrocities anywhere, any time," Pelosi added.

The newspaper's CEO Fred Ryan said Khashoggi's death had "touched his Washington Post colleagues deeply."

"Yet this story is not just about the murder of one innocent journalist," he added.

"Jamal's killing is part of an escalating attack against press freedom that is being waged by tyrants around the world."

Meanwhile Margaux Ewen, North America director for Reporters without Borders, warned that "journalists, bloggers, and media workers are under threat" every day.

"Together, let's make sure the sacrifices of those like Jamal who have paid the ultimate price have not been in vain," she said.

Amnesty International had earlier on Thursday appealed for a United Nations-led investigation into Khashoggi's death.
Andy Murray of Great Britain breaks down during a press conference in Melbourne where he announced he will retire this year

A tearful and injury-plagued Andy Murray on Friday announced he is likely to retire this year and hopes to make it until Wimbledon, but conceded the Australian Open could be his last event.

The former world number one and three-time Grand Slam winner pulled out of last year's Australian Open to have hip surgery and only returned in June at Queen's Club in London.

He made just four more tournament appearances before ending his season after Shenzhen in September to concentrate on working his way back to full fitness.

But he was knocked out in the second round on his return at Brisbane last week and called it quits on Thursday after less an hour of a practice match with Novak Djokovic.

"I can play with limitations. But having the limitations and the pain is not allowing me to enjoy competing or training," the emotional Scot said in Melbourne, breaking down in tears.

"Wimbledon is where I would like to stop playing, but I am not certain I am able to do that.

"Pretty much done everything that I could to try and get my hip feeling better and it hasn't helped loads," he added.

"I think there is a chance the Australian Open is my last tournament."

While he intends to begin his opening round match against Roberto Bautista Agut at Melbourne Park next week, how his body withstands potentially five-set matches in energy-sapping heat remains to be seen.

"I'm going to play. I can still play to a level, not a level I'm happy playing at," he said.

"The pain is too much really, it's not something I want to continue playing that way."
Supporters of Felix Tshisekedi, who was named provisional winner of Democratic Republic of Congo's presidential election, celebrate in the capital Kinshasa

The United States on Thursday demanded "clarification" over the result of the Democratic Republic of Congo's much-troubled election, stopping short of recognizing the declared winner.

In its statement, the US congratulated "courageous" Congolese voters who turned out for last month's election, which had been plagued by two years of delays.

But it did not acknowledge opposition leader Felix Tshisekedi, who was given 38.57 percent of the vote by DRC's electoral commission.

"The National Independent Electoral Commission has announced provisional results, but we await clarification of questions which have been raised regarding the electoral count... We urge all stakeholders to remain calm as the process continues," State Department deputy spokesman Robert Palladino said in a statement.

Runner-up and opposition rival Martin Fayulu, who was awarded 34.8 percent of the vote, immediately called foul on the result, decrying "an electoral coup."

Meanwhile, the influential Catholic Church questioned the result -- clouding the vote's legitimacy and hopes of peace.

But Palladino also noted the "importance of President Joseph Kabila's decision to abide by his constitutionally mandated term limits and transfer power to a successor."

Kabila had been due to step down two years ago but held on to power, sparking a political crisis and protests that were bloodily repressed.

The announcement of an opposition win was a shock as many had expected the results to be stacked in favor of Kabila's preferred successor, Emmanuel Ramazani Shadary. He came a distant third with 23.8 percent of the vote.
The two companies had announced in July that American Boeing would take control of Brazilian Embraer's commercial aeroplane manufacturing business but the deal hit a snag last week when Bolsonaro expressed concerns over the deal

Aviation giants Boeing and Embraer will push on with their proposed merger after Brazil President Jair Bolsonaro confirmed on Thursday he would not oppose the move.

The two companies had announced in July that American Boeing would take control of Brazilian Embraer's commercial airplane manufacturing business but the deal hit a snag last week when Bolsonaro, who was sworn in as president on January 1, expressed concerns over the deal.

Embraer's shares took a nose dive after Bolsonaro's statement but on Monday his government said it was "not thinking of interrupting this negotiation."

On Thursday, a statement published by the presidency said Bolsonaro was satisfied that "the final proposal preserves (Brazil's) sovereignty and national interests" and hence he would not exercise his "veto" right to scupper the merger.

Under the $5.2 billion deal, Boeing will take an 80 percent stake in Embraer's business, with only the Brazilian company's military division excluded from the tie-up.

While Embraer, the third largest manufacturer in the world behind Boeing and Europeans Airbus, was privatized in 1994, the Brazilian government retained a veto power of its strategic decisions.

A joint statement from the two companies said they "welcomed approval by the Government of Brazil of the strategic partnership that will position both companies to accelerate growth in global aerospace markets."
Drug kingpin Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman seen here in January 2016 following his recapture in Mexico -- is on trial in the United States for drug trafficking

Lawyers for accused Mexican kingpin Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman said Thursday they have asked Mexico's government for help obtaining a humanitarian visa for his mother so she can visit him in prison in the United States.

Guzman is currently on trial in New York, charged with trafficking 155 tonnes of cocaine into the United States as head of the powerful Sinaloa cartel.

"We have asked (the Mexican foreign minister to petition US authorities) for a humanitarian visa for Chapo Guzman's mother, Maria Consuelo, his sister Hermilda and his other sister Bernarda," Jose Luis Gonzalez Meza, one of Guzman's many lawyers, told journalists outside the foreign ministry in Mexico City.

"His mother is getting on in years -- she's over 80 -- and is in delicate health and wants to see her son."

Guzman, 61, was extradited to the United States in 2017 after staging two spectacular prison breaks in Mexico.

People show their support for Mexican drug kingpin Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman in Mexico City

He is being held in solitary confinement in a New York federal prison, where the only people currently allowed to visit him -- separated by a pane of glass -- are his lawyers.

Guzman's attorneys also said they were contesting his extradition as illegal and said his rights have been violated, alleging irregularities in his trial.

Four Guzman supporters demonstrated nearby with signs reading, "Chapo, we love you!" and "Chapo, the people support you."

Guzman faces life in prison if convicted.
Some 266,000 women died of cervical cancer globally in 2012, 90 percent of them in low- and middle-income nations, according to the WHO

Artificial intelligence may be poised to wipe out cervical cancer, after a study showed on Thursday computer algorithms can detect pre-cancerous lesions far better than trained experts or conventional screening tests.

According to the World Health Organization, cervical cancer is the fourth most frequent cancer in women with an estimated 570,000 new cases globally in 2018.

Despite major advances in screening and vaccination, which can prevent the spread of human papillomavirus which causes most cases of cervical cancer, those gains have mainly benefited women in rich nations.

Some 266,000 women died of cervical cancer globally in 2012, 90 percent of them in low- and middle-income nations, according to the WHO.

"Cervical cancer is now a disease of poverty, of low resources," said senior author Mark Schiffman, a doctor at the National Cancer Institute's Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics near Washington who has been searching for a cure to cervical cancer for 35 years.

"We are trying to find ways that are extremely cheap, extremely easy but very accurate, so that we can attack cervical cancer by vaccine and also a bit later through a simple technique that is cell-phone based or something like it," he told AFP.

- Algorithm -

Schiffman was part of a team that built an algorithm from an archive of more than 60,000 cervical images collected from Costa Rica.

The pictures were taken using just a speculum, small light and camera - no advanced imaging required.

The study began in the 1990s, involving more than 9,400 women who were followed for up to 18 years.

The AI technique, called automated visual evaluation, found precancerous cells with 91 percent accuracy, according to a report published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.

In comparison, a human expert review found 69 percent of pre-cancers, while conventional lab tests like Pap smears found 71 percent.

Among women aged 25-49, who face the highest risk of cervical cancer, the AI algorithm was even more accurate, finding 97.7 percent of pre-cancerous cells.

"It performed much better than humans looking at those same pictures. It certainly performed a lot better than me," Schiffman said.

The goal is to roll out the technology in the next three to five years, enrolling more patients in clinical trials worldwide and eventually making it easily accessible everywhere.

Schiffman said a deal has just been struck with a major philanthropic group to assist in the process.

The technology has not been patented on purpose, Schiffman said. The aim is to keep costs very low so that women most in need can benefit.

"I think now we have a possible tool that can go anywhere and not sacrifice scientific quality but actually offer a medically valid screen," he said.

Jennifer Wu, an obstetrician-gynecologist at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York who was not involved in the research, called the findings "very exciting."

"This could really cut down on a lot of missed cases of cervical cancer, and allow more patients access to diagnosis and treatment," she told AFP.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres says the number of migrants held in detention in Libya has increased over the past six months

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is urging the Libyan government to bring all prisons under its control and free from the grip of militias, some of whom run migrant-smuggling networks.

Guterres said in a report to the Security Council released Thursday that torture and arbitrary detention is widespread in Libya.

About 6,400 detainees are held in 26 official prisons but "thousands of others" are being held in facilities with little government control or "directly run by armed groups," said the report.

"I remain deeply concerned about widespread human rights violations and abuses committed in the context of detention and the prolonged arbitrary detention of thousands of men, women and children without due process," wrote Guterres.

The government must protect detainees against torture and "all prisons must be under effective government control and free of any influence or interference of armed groups," he added.

Libya descended into chaos following the 2011 overthrow of Moamer Kadhafi that has seen a bitter rivalry emerge between two governments scrambling for control in the oil-rich north African country.

The United Nations backs the government in Tripoli but is working toward holding elections, possibly this year, to unite the country.

Guterres also reported that an increase in the number of migrants and refugees who were detained over the past six months was a result of more interceptions at sea and the closure of sea routes to migrants.

About 5,300 refugees and migrants have been detained in Libya of whom 3,700 were in need of international protection, he said.

In all, there are over 669,000 migrants in Libya, of whom women and children make up 21 percent, according to the report.
A 1957 photo of Jakiw Palij, relased by the US department of justice

Former Nazi labour camp guard Jakiw Palij who was stripped of his US citizenship and deported in August, has died in Germany aged 95, the US ambassador in Berlin announced Thursday.

"Former Nazi prison guard Jakiw Palij has died in Germany," Richard Grenell tweeted.

"Removing the former Nazi prison guard from the US was something multiple Presidents just talked about - but President Trump made it happen," he added.

Palij had been living in a retirement home in the northwestern German town of Ahlen, the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung newspaper reported on its website.

In August Germany, citing its "moral duty", took Palij in after he was stripped of his US citizenship.

Palij had concealed his Nazi past from immigration agents when he moved to the United States in 1949, the US Justice Department said. He became American in 1957.

Washington had tried for several years to expel Palij, who had lived in Queens, New York since 1949.

Palij admitted to US federal officials in 2001 that he was trained at the Trawniki forced-labour camp in Nazi-occupied Poland during World War II in spring 1943.

In court documents, the US government said men who trained at Trawniki participated in implementing the Third Reich's plan to murder Jews in Poland, code-named "Operation Reinhard," the statement said.

On November 3, 1943, more than 6,000 men, women and children incarcerated at Trawniki were shot to death in one of the largest single massacres of the Holocaust, the US Justice Department said.

By helping to prevent the escape of prisoners, Palij played "an indispensable role in ensuring that they met their tragic fate at the hands of the Nazis," Eli Rosenbaum, then director of the Justice Department's Office of Special Investigations, said at the time.

Palij denied the allegations.

Berlin had long refused to accept him as he did not have German nationality.

The last alleged Nazi war criminal deported by the US to Germany before Palij was John Demjanjuk, who served as a guard at the Sobibor extermination camp in occupied Poland, in 2009.

A German court sentenced him to five years in prison in 2011. He died the next year.

German justice has been criticised for its treatment of Nazi war crimes, accused of handing out lenient sentence too late to perpetrators.
North Koreans, whose country is facing "signficant humanitarian challenges" according to the UN, shout slogans in support of leader Kim Jong Un's New Year's address

Aid groups voiced optimism Thursday that the United States would ease restrictions on operations inside North Korea amid warming relations between Washington and the impoverished country.

Stephen Biegun, the US special representative on North Korea, met Wednesday in Washington with representatives of aid organizations, which have faced lengthy delays or prohibitions on providing assistance inside the totalitarian state.

The UN Security Council has imposed strict sanctions on North Korea over its nuclear and ballistic missile programs. While humanitarian groups can seek exemptions from a Security Council committee, the United States has often refused or delayed consideration of waivers.

Richard Blewitt, the permanent observer to the United Nations of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, said that the meeting discussed humanitarian needs including food support, health and medicine.

Biegun "highlighted that the US recognized the significant humanitarian challenges in (North Korea) and the need by the US government and others to fully enable the humanitarian community to do their work," Blewitt told AFP.

Mercy Corps, a US-based non-governmental group that was active in fighting hunger during North Korea's famine in the 1990s -- but halted operations in 2014 -- also voiced optimism and said a follow-up meeting was scheduled.

Biegun "made clear that Secretary of State (Mike) Pompeo is committed to considering humanitarian workers' requests, in a timely fashion, to visit North Korea while also taking into account the State Department's concerns over the safety of Americans traveling there," said Mercy Corps spokesman Christopher Allbritton.

The State Department declined to comment on the ongoing talks. But speaking to reporters last month in Seoul, Biegun signaled that the United States would be more lenient with aid workers on enforcing its blanket ban on US citizens' travel to North Korea.

President Donald Trump is keen to meet soon with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in a sequel to their historic summit in June, as the United States seeks an agreement on ending Pyongyang's nuclear program.

South Korean President Moon Jae-in said Thursday he believed the summit was "imminent" after Kim held talks in China, North Korea's primary ally.

UN humanitarian chief Mark Lowcock said after a visit last year that there were "significant humanitarian challenges" in North Korea, with some 20 percent of children stunted by malnutrition, despite some progress in recent years.
Le chef de la diplomatie americaine Mike Pompeo (C) le 10 janvier 2019 dans la the cathedrale de la Nativite, dans la nouvelle capitale administrative egyptienne, a environ 45 km du Caire

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Thursday praised Egypt's religious freedoms as he visited a vast cathedral and a mosque in the country's new capital east of Cairo.

Washington's top diplomat, who describes himself as an evangelical Christian, is on a tour aimed at reassuring regional US allies after Washington's shock decision to withdraw US troops from Syria.

On Thursday evening he visited the Cathedral of the Nativity of Christ and the Al-Fattah Al-Alim mosque in Egypt's New Administrative Capital, 45 kilometres (28 miles) east of the capital.

At the mosque, he praised Egypt's "freedoms here in this houses of worship, these big, beautiful, gorgeous buildings where the Lord is clearly at work".

The two buildings were inaugurated by President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi on Sunday, a day after a deadly bomb blast near a church in the country where jihadists have repeatedly targeted Christians.

"This is a special country where President Sisi clearly made a point by putting this, this largest cathedral in the Middle East here in this place," Pompeo said, calling the building "a great symbol of hope".

The cathedral's inauguration was hailed by US President Donald Trump, who wrote on Twitter that he was "excited to see our friends in Egypt opening the biggest Cathedral in the Middle East".

"Sisi is moving his country to a more inclusive future," Trump said.

Sisi, a former army chief who led the military in ousting Islamist president Mohamed Morsi, is accused of leading a relentless crackdown on both pro-democracy campaigners and Islamists.

Coptic Christians, who account for around 10 percent of Egypt's population, have been hit by a string of sometimes deadly attacks by the Islamic State group in recent years.

They have long complained of official discrimination.

Asked about the role of governments towards religious minorities, Pompeo said they had "an obligation to make sure that every individual can choose to worship the way they want or choose".

"It's wonderful that here in Egypt it's possible," he said.
US President Donald Trump's former attorney Michael Cohen will testify to Congress on February 7 on his dealings with the president

President Donald Trump's former lawyer Michael Cohen will testify in Congress next month, lawmakers said Thursday, posing a potential new threat to the president as the Russia collusion investigation increasingly menaces the White House.

The newly Democrat-controlled House Oversight Committee said Thursday that Cohen will testify in a public session on February 7.

The testimony comes after Cohen was sentenced in December to three years in prison for multiple crimes, including felony violations of campaign finance laws he undertook, prosecutors alleged, under Trump's direction.

"I look forward to having the privilege of being afforded a platform with which to give a full and credible account of the events which have transpired," Cohen said in a statement.

Speaking to journalists, Trump shrugged the news off, after having last month condemned Cohen as a "rat" helping the FBI in a "witch hunt."

"I'm not worried about it at all," Trump said of Cohen's looming testimony.

- Trump's right-hand man -

Cohen, who had been the real estate billionaire's right-hand-man and fixer at the Trump Organization in New York, said at his December 12 sentencing that he spent years covering up for his boss's "dirty deeds."

A hearing could delve into the financial deals of the Trump Organization as well as the Trump 2016 election campaign's dealings with Russia, already being probed by the team of Special Counsel Robert Mueller.

It will also examine the payments Cohen made in 2016 just ahead of the election for the silence of two women who had claimed to have had affairs with Trump.

Cohen was sentenced to three years in jail on December 12 after pleading guilty to tax evasion, making false statements and illegal campaign contributions.

His incarceration was delayed in part to allow him to testify in Congress.

In an interview with ABC News after his conviction Cohen said Trump knew it was wrong to order the hush payments.

Trump acted because he "was very concerned about how this would affect the election," Cohen said.

"The man doesn't tell the truth. And it is sad that I should take responsibility for his dirty deeds."

- Democratic House -

Democratic Representative Elijah Cummings will lead the House Oversight Committee's investigations of President Donald Trump, starting with the testimony of former Trump lawyer Michael Cohen on February 7

The hearing will kick off what is expected to a swirl of attacks on Trump from the House of Representatives after Democrats captured the body from Republicans in November's election.

House Oversight Committee Chairman Elijah Cummings said the committee had given the White House and the Trump Organization until January 22 to produce documents related to the hush payments.

"Last November, the American people voted overwhelmingly for Congress to do two things -- address the core issues that affect their daily lives, and fulfill our Constitutional responsibility to serve as an independent check and balance on the executive branch by restoring accountability and transparency," Cummings said in a statement.

"This initial set of hearings will serve both goals by launching our broad review of the skyrocketing prices of prescription drugs, hearing directly from President Trump's longtime personal attorney, and focusing on sweeping legislative reforms to strengthen our democracy."

Adam Schiff, incoming chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, which is focusing on Russian interference in the 2016 election, said he expects to call Cohen to testify as well.

"It will be necessary, however, for Mr. Cohen to answer questions pertaining to the Russia investigation, and we hope to schedule a closed session before our committee in the near future," Schiff said.
Palestinian security forces loyal to Hamas stand guard in the southern Gaza Strip at the Rafah border crossing with Egypt on January 8, 2019

Gaza's Islamist rulers Hamas said Thursday that Egypt plans to fully reopen its border crossing with the enclave, days after partially closing it amid infighting between Palestinian factions.

Forces loyal to Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas withdrew on Sunday from the Rafah border crossing, accusing rivals Hamas of interference.

The crossing is the only way for Palestinians to leave Gaza that bypasses Israel.

Egypt has prevented Gazans from leaving the enclave since Abbas's Palestinian Authority withdrew its staff.

An Egyptian security delegation visited Gaza on Thursday, meeting with senior Hamas officials including its head Ismail Haniya.

Khalil al-Hayya, deputy head of Hamas, told journalists the Egyptians "assured us that there will be no changes at the Rafah border and it will stay open".

It was not immediately clear when the crossing would fully reopen.

Hayya said he expected that all sides would also stick to an informal truce agreement with Israel.

Hamas employees retook the post on Monday in what they said was an attempt to maintain border control after the shock PA withdrawal.

Separately on Thursday, a senior Hamas official announced Haniya had put on hold a planned trip to Russia.
The Washington Post is to publish Arabic translations of opinion columns and editorials

The Washington Post on Thursday announced plans to publish an Arabic-language page of opinion columns and editorials.

The move will "expand the reach of Post journalism to readers around the world" and feature commentary "relevant to the Arabic-speaking audience," the Post said

The page will feature columns by writers world-wide, including some based in the Middle East and North Africa, it said.

"This page will make it easier for more readers to access free and independent commentary about the cultural and political topics that most impact them," said Fred Hiatt, the newspaper's editorial page editor.

"The importance of this has become more evident since the murder of our own colleague Jamal Khashoggi, who saw very clearly the need for a forum such as this," Hiatt added.

Khashoggi, a Saudi journalist who was a contributor to the Post, was murdered and his corpse dismembered inside the Saudi consulate in Istanbul on October 2.

Turkish officials have blamed Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for the killing, an accusation denied by the Saudi authorities, who have charged 11 people in connection with Khashoggi's murder.
Avi Gabbay, chairman of Israel's Labour Party, delivers a speech at a party conference in Tel Aviv on January 10, 2019

A key Israeli opposition figure on Thursday slammed Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's public criticism of authorities investigating him on graft allegations, saying such behaviour was not "normal".

"In a normal country the prime minister does not attack the justice authorities," Labour party leader Avi Gabbay told a party convention for the first time since the start of campaigning for April's general election.

"Millions of decent Israelis are yearning for a normal country," he said in a speech.

"Let's roll up our sleeves and replace the prime minister, who has mired the whole country in his personal affairs."

Police have recommended Netanyahu be indicted in three separate corruption cases and the attorney general is expected to announce his decision on whether to indict the premier in the weeks or months ahead.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks live on Israel's i24NEWS from his Jerusalem office on January 07, 2019

Netanyahu has openly urged the attorney general not to issue his decision before the election.

On Monday he slammed the investigations as "biased", during a live, prime-time television address slammed by his opponents as a stunt.

Polls show Netanyahu is likely to remain prime minister after the elections despite the allegations.

Gabbay's speech on Thursday evening was punctuated from the start by boos and whistles from the floor.

There have been rumblings of dissent over his political leadership and management of party affairs.

They were fueled last week by his surprise ditching of an opposition alliance with veteran politician Tzipi Livni and her Hatnuah party.

Their Zionist Union coalition won the second most seats in the last general election in 2015, but Labour has since tumbled in opinion polls.

Gabbay sought to make light of the heckling that greeted him when he walked onto the stage.

"I want to congratulate you on all the different opinions and voices in our party," Gabbay said. "Even the criticism and the shouting."

The noise in the hall, he said, was proof that Labour was "a truly democratic party."

He pledged that if Labour was able to form a government it would resume long-stalled peace talks with the Palestinians.

Members of Israel's Labour Party disrupt a speech by chairman Avi Gabbay during a party conference in Tel Aviv on January 10, 2019

It would also amend a contentious law defining Israel as the nation state of the Jewish people, making Hebrew the official language and downgrading the status of Arabic, he said.

Despite the outbursts in the convention centre, a Labour party statement said members had voted to approve Gabbay's proposed procedures for primaries slated for February.
Senator Bernie Sanders has been rattled by accusations from several women on his 2016 presidential campaign that they were harassed or mistreated by campaign staff

Bernie Sanders apologized Thursday for "unacceptable" sexual harassment that occurred on his 2016 presidential campaign, directly addressing an issue that could weigh on the senator's potential 2020 White House bid.

Sanders has been on the defensive for weeks while he mulls another presidential bid, as several former campaign staffers have made allegations of sexual misconduct and pay disparity.

"It now appears that as part of our campaign there were some women who were harassed or mistreated. I thank them, from the bottom of my heart, for speaking out," Sanders said in a statement.

Sanders does not stand accused of harassing staffers himself, but has been criticized for poorly handling the complaints.

The harassment allegations "speak to unacceptable behavior that must not be tolerated in any campaign or any workplace," Sanders said.

"To the women in that campaign who were harassed or mistreated I apologize. Our standards and safeguards were inadequate."

Sanders had apologized before, albeit not in such a comprehensive fashion.

Thursday's statement emerged hours after a Politico story that detailed new accusations against a top Sanders adviser in 2016 who is already taking steps towards working on a possible 2020 Sanders campaign in early voting states like Iowa.

An unnamed woman accused the aide, Robert Becker, of forcibly kissing her shortly after the Democratic National Convention in July 2016.

"This can't happen in 2020," the woman said in Politico. "You can't run for president of the United States unless you acknowledge that every campaign demands a safe work environment for every employee and volunteer."

The Sanders situation hit headlines after November's midterm elections, in which the #MeToo women's movement -- propelled by female voters' frustration with President Donald Trump, who himself stands accused of assault or harassment by multiple women -- helped sweep Democrats to victory.

But that same anti-harassment drive that recently brought many men to account for their sexist behavior may ensnare some Democratic potential 2020 candidates.

They include former vice president Joe Biden, who has acknowledged shortcomings in handling the 1991 hearings in which Anita Hill, a former aide to Supreme Court nominee Clarence Thomas whom she accused of misconduct, testified before an all-male, all-white Senate committee.

And Senator Cory Booker admitted years ago that he groped a girl while they were teenagers. He has said the experienced changed him and that he learned to be a better person.

Sanders, 77, is an independent who ran for the Democratic nomination in 2016.
Guinean President Alpha Conde (centre), pictured in Yerevan last October at the 17th Francophone Summit alongside presidents Ibrahim Boubacar Keita of Mali (left) and Congo President Denis Sassou Nguesso (right)

Opposition parties and civil society groups in Guinea voiced outrage Thursday after Russia's ambassador suggested the constitution be changed to let President Alpha Conde stay in power.

Russian envoy Alexander Bregadze put forward the idea on Wednesday at ceremonies attended by Conde to mark the New Year.

In a speech that he made as dean of the diplomatic corps in Conakry, Bregadze heaped praise on the 80-year-old head of state, whose second and final five-year term expires next year.

"You don't change horses in mid-stream," he said, according to the text of the speech released by Conde's office.

He suggested modifying the "principle of change," a reference to the term limits enshrined in the West African state's 2010 constitution.

"Unfortunately, the 'principle of change' which dominates many constitutions in the world (but not all, fortunately) enforces a mentality of revenge," the text said.

"Why should there be [change] if, overall, everything is fine and the outlook is good?" he asked.

"Constitutions aren't dogmas, Bibles, Korans," Bregadze argued. They should "adapt to reality, not the other way round."

Conde, a long-time adversary of authoritarian ruler Lansana Conte, succeeded in 2010 in becoming the first freely-elected president in Guinea's history. He was re-elected in 2015.

But he has been criticised for the use of deadly force to crush protests and repeatedly questioned the relevance of presidential term limits in Africa.

The main opposition party, the Union of Democratic Forces of Guinea (UFDG), on Thursday called on the ambassadors of Britain, France and the United States and other countries to "disassociate themselves" from Bregadze's remarks.

"The Russian ambassador should be aware that it is not the role of an ambassador's to meddle in the internal problems of an independent country," the party's vice president, Fode Oussou Fofana, said.

He said he suspected Bregadze would never have made the remarks without first getting Conde's approval.

Sekou Koundouno, head of a campaign group called Balai Citoyen ("Citizens' Broom") which is lobbying against giving Conde a third presidential term, said the speech was "incoherent, illogical, inappropriate and against the constitution."
Congressman Steve King, a Republican from Iowa, is known for his hard-line views on immigration

A Republican congressman from Iowa who has been accused in the past of racism asked in an interview published on Thursday how the terms "white nationalist" and "white supremacist" became offensive to Americans.

"White nationalist, white supremacist, Western civilization - how did that language become offensive?" Representative Steve King asked in the interview with The New York Times.

"Why did I sit in classes teaching me about the merits of our history and our civilization?" King asked.

He insisted in the interview that he was not racist and directed the Times to pictures on Twitter of him meeting people of various religions and races.

The conservative lawmaker later put out a statement denying what he said were suggestions in the Times article that he was "an advocate for white nationalism and white supremacy."

"I want to make one thing abundantly clear; I reject those labels and the evil ideology that they define," King said.

"Further, I condemn anyone that supports this evil and bigoted ideology which saw in its ultimate expression the systematic murder of six million innocent Jewish lives."

King described himself -- "like the Founding Fathers" -- as an advocate for Western values and "simply a nationalist."

"One of my most strongly held beliefs is that we are all created in God's image and that human life is sacred in all its forms," he said.

King is known for espousing hard-line views on immigration and has long backed building a wall along the southern border with Mexico.

President Donald Trump is currently engaged in a standoff with the Democratic-controlled House of Representatives over its refusal to provide the $5.7 billion he is demanding for a border barrier.

King, 69, has been criticized by some Republicans for past remarks and narrowly won re-election in November after easy victories in previous years.

A Republican member of the Iowa state senate announced on Wednesday that he would challenge King in the 2020 Republican primary.
A video clip posted on social media by Democratic politician Beto O'Rourke shows him at the dentist getting his teeth cleaned, a move that some critics mocked, while supporters embraced it as a reflection of real life

Dental visits are uncomfortable, personal affairs: mouths wide open, loud drills, drool. But a potential 2020 presidential candidate brought Americans into his dentist appointment through a Thursday social media post, drawing swift ridicule online.

Beto O'Rourke, a former congressman who became a rising star for the Democrats last year when he nearly won a Senate seat in ruby red Republican Texas, used his time in the dentist's chair to highlight border issues during the ongoing partial US government shutdown.

"So, I'm here with Diana, my dental hygienist," O'Rourke says to kick off the video he posted on Instagram, where he has 750,000 followers.

The clip shows O'Rourke wearing a protective green bib as Diana cleans his pearly whites with a polishing tool. She says she was born in O'Rourke's hometown of El Paso, the daughter of a Mexican immigrant.

The border is "a beautiful community," she says in the clip. "We all support each other. We love each other, and it's not what everybody else thinks badly about us."

President Donald Trump wants a wall along the Mexican border to block illegal immigrants whom he has sought to equate with crime, drugs and gangs. An impasse with lawmakers over funding for that wall has led to the nearly three-week long shutdown of some government services.

O'Rourke, 46, is among a cadre of fresh-faced US politicians who have become masters of social media in an increasingly digital age.

They include new congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and possible presidential candidate Senator Kamala Harris. Their feeds are part political messaging, part photo-video diary in which an increasingly broad swathe of daily life is shared with followers.

Whether the strategy takes off or backfires has yet to be decided, but O'Rourke's clip provoked a particular reaction on Twitter: too much information.

"I'm all for politicians posting their everyday lives on Instagram, but I really didn't need to see Beto's dentist appointment," tweeted David Bria, chairman of the Young Democrats of Bucks County, Pennsylvania.

Some supporters said the footage served its purpose of boosting O'Rourke's name in the political discussion, months after his Senate campaign electrified many Democratic voters and put him on the list of viable presidential prospects.

Others called it cringe worthy pandering to social media-minded voters.

And one reporter from The Guardian managed to tweet what many online users were thinking: "God I hope Beto O'Rourke doesn't need a colonoscopy anytime soon."
The Air Force plans to hold a formal delivery ceremony the Boeing KC-46A, pictured (left) during a test in 2015, at a base in Kansas as soon as this month

The US Air Force said Thursday it is ready to receive its first KC-46A Pegasus tankers, a new type of aerial refueler that still needs to undergo costly technical fixes.

Based on the airframe of the 767 jet liner, Boeing's tanker will eventually replace many of the Air Force's aging line of KC-135 tankers, which were manufactured during the Cold War.

The KC-46 has suffered technical setbacks, delays and cost overruns, largely stemming from a problem with the "remote vision" system.

Unlike older tankers, boom operators in the KC-46 do not have a direct line of sight to the plane that is being refueled. Instead, they must rely on an elaborate system of cameras and monitors.

In some cases, boom operators have struggled with image quality and accidentally scraped the outside of the plane being refueled.

In a statement, the Air Force said Boeing has agreed to fix problems with the remote vision system at its own expense -- not the taxpayer's.

"The Air Force has mechanisms in place to ensure Boeing meets its contractual obligations while we continue with initial operational testing and evaluation," Air Force spokeswoman Captain Hope Cronin said.

An Air Force official said it could take three or four years to design and retrofit an improved remote vision system.

The Air Force plans to hold a formal delivery ceremony for four new planes at a base in Kansas as soon as this month.

"This is a major milestone for our next generation tanker and will allow our airmen to begin operational testing and flight training," Cronin said.

Boeing in 2011 beat its European rival Airbus to replace the KC-135 with the newer KC-46.

The Air Force plans to buy 179 KC-46s over the course of the program. The first deliveries had been expected in 2017.

Leanne Caret, president and CEO of Boeing's defense operations, said in a statement that the "KC-46A is a proven, safe, multi-mission aircraft that will transform aerial refueling and mobility operations for decades to come."

Boeing has had to pay about $3.5 billion in pre-tax cost overruns in the program, according to Defense News.
Celebrations erupted among Tshisekedi's supporters after the announcement that he had won DR Congo's contested election

Opposition leader Felix Tshisekedi was on Thursday declared winner of DR Congo's presidential election, but his victory was dismissed by the runner-up and questioned by the Catholic church, clouding the vote's legitimacy and hopes of peace.

In a pre-dawn announcement, election officials named Tshisekedi, son of the country's long-term opposition leader, provisional winner of the troubled vote to replace President Joseph Kabila.

The news brought thousands of supporters onto the streets while others who had backed his opposition rival Martin Fayulu came out in protest. Four people died in unrest.

Fayulu, who came a close second, denounced the result as an "electoral coup." The Democratic Republic of Congo's influential Catholic church also said Tshisekedi's victory did not tally with data collected by its own monitors.

Supporters of DR Congo's traditional opposition leader Felix Tshisekedi celebrate after he was declared the winner of December's presidential election

"These results have nothing to do with the truth at the ballot box," Fayulu told Radio France International.

"They have stolen the Congolese people's victory and the people will never accept that."

At stake is political stewardship of the notoriously unstable central African nation, which has never known a peaceful transition of power since independence from Belgium in 1960.

Election chief Corneille Nangaa declared Tshisekedi the winner with 38.57 percent of the vote, just ahead of Fayulu with 34.8 percent.

Kabila's preferred successor, Emmanuel Ramazani Shadary, came a distant third with 23.8 percent.

The last two elections in 2006 and 2011, both of which were won by Kabila, were marred by bloodshed, and many fear a repeat of the violence if the result lacks credibility.

Two civilians and two policemen were killed Thursday and another 10 people injured when a protest erupted in the western city of Kikwit, a Fayulu stronghold, police said.

- Wild celebrations -

Felix Tshisekedi is head of the DR Congo's oldest and largest opposition party, the UDPS

In Kinshasa, thousands of people converged upon the headquarters of Tshisekedi's Union for Democracy and Social Progress (UDPS), the country's oldest and largest opposition party, singing and dancing at his surprise victory.

Pouring onto the streets, they celebrated wildly, cheering and honking car horns in scenes of joy that lasted into the morning under the bemused eye of the security forces who had fanned out across the capital.

In his first remarks after the result, the portly 55-year-old, who has never held high office or even a managerial role, immediately pledged to work closely with Kabila.

"Today we should no longer see him as an adversary, but rather as a partner for democratic change in our country," he told supporters.

But elsewhere in Kinshasa, the mood was sombre, with representatives of the Catholic church openly disputing the figures released by the Independent National Election Commission (CENI).

"The result of the presidential election as published by CENI does not correspond with the data collected by our observer mission from polling stations and counting centres," said Father Donatien Nshole, spokesman for CENCO, which represents the country's Catholic bishops.

Democratic Republic of Congo

The Church has long been pressing for the departure of Kabila, who has ruled the country with an iron fist since 2001, well beyond the limit of his second and final term in December 2016.

- Calls for calm -

Abroad, the mood was watchful, marked by a noticeable lack of congratulations for Tshisekedi.

Many have eyed the developments in sub-Saharan Africa's largest country with concern, with the United Nations leading calls to avoid violence.

French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian dismissed Tshisekedi's victory as "not consistent" with the actual results, indicating that Fayulu had won.

Rival opposition candidate Martin Fayulu, seen praying with his wife Esther ahead of the results announcement in which he was declared the runner up, sparking cries of foul play

The African Union said it "took note" of the result and warned any dispute over the outcome should be "resolved peacefully."

The European Union also simply acknowledged the result -- as well as Fayulu's objections to it. It said it was awaiting clarification from international observers and urged all sides to refrain from violence.

In contrast, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa urged "all regional and international interested parties to refrain from speculation" and let the election board complete its work.

The announcement of an opposition win was a shock as many had expected the results to be stacked in Shadary's favour, prompting heavy international pressure on Kinshasa to respect the wishes of the electorate.

Counting the votes has been a mammoth task in a country the size of western Europe

- 'Tshisekedi debt to Kabila' -

The vast central African country has been increasingly on edge over the long-delayed vote.

Kabila had been due to step down two years ago but held on to power, sparking a political crisis and protests that were bloodily repressed.

"Kabila did not want to risk announcing Shadary as the winner, which would have triggered violent protests and international condemnation," said Robert Besseling, executive director of risk consultancy EXX Africa.

"Instead, he chose to split the opposition by creating a power-sharing deal with Tshisekedi."

Tshisekedi "owes his ascendancy to power to Kabila's control of the electoral commission," and in exchange Kabila would look for immunity from any prosecution or asset seizure after handing over power, Besseling said.

burs-hmw/ri
Supporters of Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir shout slogans during a rally in Khartoum on January 9, 2019

Anti-government protests that have rocked Sudan for weeks have left 22 people dead, authorities said on Thursday, as rally organisers called for fresh demonstrations.

Angry crowds have staged hundreds of protests against the regime of President Omar al-Bashir after a government decision last month to triple the price of bread.

The updated death toll included three demonstrators who died Wednesday as rival rallies rocked the capital Khartoum and its twin city of Omdurman, on the west bank of the Nile.

Protesters chanting "freedom, peace, justice" and "revolution is the people's choice" marched in Omdurman but they were quickly dispersed by riot police firing tear gas.

Police confirmed that three protesters had died in the Omdurman demonstration but did not specify the cause of death.

"An illegal gathering was held in Omdurman and police dispersed it with tear gas," police spokesman Hashim Abdelrahim said in a statement.

Tear gas is seen during a protest in the Sudanese capital Khartoum's twin city of Omdurman on January 9, 2019

"Police later received reports that three protesters had died and several (were) injured. We are now investigating."

That raised the total death toll in protests so far to 22 including two security personnel, according to official figures.

New York-based Human Rights Watch said on Monday that at least 40 people including children had been killed in the unrest, citing Sudanese activists and medical workers.

A doctor told AFP late on Wednesday that six protesters were being treated at Omdurman's main hospital for gunshot wounds.

A group of doctors at the hospital said that police had fired tear gas at the facility.

"There was also shooting inside the hospital," the group said in a statement, without specifying who had opened fire.

- Defiant Bashir -

On Thursday, governor of Khartoum Hashim Osman tasked a panel with investigating the incidents at the hospital, his office said.

Bashir and others have blamed violence at the nearly month-long protests on "thugs" and "conspirators" without naming them.

Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir has ruled for three decades but faces one of his most serious challenges in the protests

Protest organisers called for fresh demonstrations Friday after midday prayers, including in the town of Atbara where unrest first erupted on December 19.

"After successful rallies on January 6 and 9, we are now calling for a rally on Friday in Atbara," the Sudanese Professionals' Association said in a statement.

"We also urge the Sudanese people to continue with their demonstrations in their residential areas," said the group, made up of doctors, teachers and engineers.

Wednesday's demonstration in Omdurman came shortly after thousands of people danced and cheered for Bashir at a separate rally held in the capital's sprawling Green Yard.

"This gathering sends a message to those who think that Sudan will become like other countries that have been destroyed," Bashir told the crowd.

Crowds chanted "Allahu akbar" (God is greatest) and "Yes, yes, Bashir, we will follow you" at the rally.

"Those who tried to destroy Sudan... put conditions on us to solve our problems, I tell them that our dignity is more than the price of dollars," Bashir said in an apparent dig at the United States, which had imposed a trade embargo on Khartoum in 1997.

The embargo was lifted in October 2017, but Sudanese officials including Bashir have continued to blame Washington for the country's economic woes.

- 'Persistent' unrest -

Dressed in a khaki shirt and trousers and waving his trademark cane, a smiling Bashir greeted the crowd as men and women whistled and waved flags.

More than 800 protesters, opposition leaders, activists and journalists have been arrested since the unrest began, officials say

"We are with our leader because our brothers want to destroy our country, but we will save it," a female supporter told AFP.

More than 800 protesters, opposition leaders, activists and journalists have been arrested since the unrest began, officials say.

Analysts say the protests are the biggest challenge yet to Bashir's decades-old rule, but remain sceptical of the ability of organisers to garner large crowds.

"Right now, some of the opposition groups and trade unions are trying to mobilise more protests, and probably they are thinking of how to escalate," said Matt Ward, senior Africa analyst at Oxford Analytica.

"But so far there hasnt been an escalation, they are persistent but they havent risen in intensity in a significant way."

Britain, Norway, Canada and the US have called for an investigation into the deaths, warning earlier this week in a joint statement that Khartoum's actions would "have an impact" on its relations with their governments.

Sudan said the concern expressed by the four countries was "biased... and far from reality".

"Sudan is committed to freedom of expression and peaceful demonstrations," the foreign ministry said on Wednesday.
The Northern Territory government's high-profile proposed National Aboriginal Art Gallery in Alice Springs is in doubt after indigenous traditional owners withdrew support.

Family members wrote a letter saying they did not support using the Anzac Hill precinct where the gallery was to be built and which they are recognised as traditional owners.

The letter has embarrassed the NT government for whom the gallery is a key project.

It had allocated $50 million for the gallery, but more outside investment is needed, with the hope of building it by 2022.

Less than a month ago the Stevens family representing traditional owners implored the Alice Springs Council to support building the gallery at the spot.

It currently hosts the town's main rugby field and an unused school.

Elders said the gallery would be a place for the local Arrernte people to "display our art" and future generations would learn about their culture.

But it appears family members have since met and changed their minds.

A spokeswoman for Culture Minister Lauren Moss said the news was a surprise, given the Aboriginal Areas Protection Authority had met with the owners to consult about protecting sacred sites and been given the "all-clear".

The gallery can deliver significant economic, social and cultural benefits and create hundreds of jobs for locals, Chief Minister Michael Gunner said in a statement.

"The government respects traditional owners and is currently considering this change in their position," he said.

"Without the support of traditional owners for the project at this site, consideration will need to be given to the future of the project."

Alice Springs Town Council does not support using the site for the gallery but the Northern Territory government could seize the land owned.

Not building the gallery would save money for a cash-strapped NT government in the throes of a budget crisis in which it is borrowing to pay wages.
Sydney sandwich board activist Danny Lim has been arrested for offensive behaviour.

The 74-year-old was fined after three police officers arrested him on Exchange Place in Barangaroo about 9.20am on Friday.

It's unclear what the offensive behaviour involved.

Video of the arrest shows an officer holding a sandwich board sign that reads: "SMILE CVN'T! WHY CVN'T?"

Mr Lim in August 2018 successfully had a 2015 conviction for offensive conduct overturned over a sandwich board which mocked then-prime minister Tony Abbott with a clever rewriting of the word "can't".
A NSW Police inspector has been charged over an alleged sexual assault in Sydney's inner west.

The charge follows an incident at a private residence in the inner west on September 24 while the male officer was off-duty.

The inspector, who's attached to a specialist police command, was charged on Thursday and a provisional apprehended violence order was served.

He was granted conditional bail to appear at Burwood Local Court on January 24.

The inspector is not on operational duties and his employment status is under review, NSW Police said in a statement on Friday.
An outspoken critic of the Sydney light rail project has launched her own political party which will run candidates in several inner-city seats at the upcoming state election.

City of Sydney councillor Angela Vithoulkas - who once owned Vivo Cafe on George Street - has established the Small Business Party and will head the upper house ticket for the March poll.

The party has another two candidates ready to contest the lower house seats of Newtown and Sydney, currently held by Greens MP Jenny Leong and independent Alex Greenwich respectively.

The Small Business Party has also submitted its registration with the Australian Electoral Commission and hopes to stand candidates in the federal election later this year.

Cr Vithoulkas has been an outspoken critic of the state government's $2.1 billion light rail project from the CBD to the eastern suburbs.

She's part of a $400 million class-action lawsuit arguing her former business on the light rail route was harmed by years of construction works.

Cr Vithoulkas wants to ensure there's a strong advocate for small businesses in parliament.

"Small business has never had an advocate that has a seat at the table in government solely focused on them," Cr Vithoulkas told AAP.

The Small Business Party will also campaign on a platform of cutting stamp duty, red tape and energy prices, as well as scrapping land tax and payroll tax.

"Most issues that face the electorates and the community on a whole somehow or another affect small business because we are those people," the party's founder said.

The party has more than 6000 members and support across the state, Cr Vithoulkas said.

Winning lower house seats will be an uphill battle, she admits, but snaffling an upper house seat is possible.

"We're going to be the biggest underdog there is but I'm used to that," she said.
A Queensland family were startled to find a carpet python with more than 500 ticks on its body in their backyard pool.

Gold Coast snake catcher Tony Harrison, who was called to remove the animal, says it's the worst infestation he's ever seen.

"It was the usual call, 'it's in my yard and I'm worried about my dog being eaten', they had a little poodle but when I got there it was 'Jesus!'," he told AAP on Friday.

"I've been a snake catcher since 1994 and the most I've ever seen before is 20 or 30 ticks on an eastern brown and when I saw this I couldn't believe the parasite burden."

Snakes found with ticks on them isn't uncommon, Mr Harrison said.

"A carer on Stradbroke Island found a snake with 100 ticks on it and a bloke in Sydney had a diamond python with 200 but this blows it out the water with 511," he said.

The tick-riddled python had jumped into the Coolangatta pool in an attempt to drown the parasites, he said.

The python, which Mr Harrison named Nike after the sport brand's swoosh or tick symbol, was taken to Currumbin Wildlife Hospital for treatment, where the vets removed 511 ticks.

The animal had lost a considerable amount of blood and will stay at the sanctuary for rehabilitation.

Snakes often pick up ticks from prey or logs, Mr Harrison said.

"My theory is wildlife live in harmony with parasites and as soon as something is compromised, like they get stressed or injured or sick, then the parasites can get the better of the animal," he said.
A 19-year-old Sydney man remains in custody in New Zealand after he reportedly wrote "I have a bomb" into an in-flight messaging app during a flight.

The teenager was arrested at Auckland Airport and charged with breaching the Civil Aviation Act, according to Immigration New Zealand.

He's been identified by local media as Meke Fifita who was returning to Sydney from Tonga on an Air New Zealand flight.

Fifita was arrested on Wednesday night and a court on Thursday heard he wrote the message because he considered it funny, Stuff.co.nz reported.

Judge Anna Johns reportedly ordered he pay a $3000 reparation sum.

Immigration New Zealand national manager Stephanie Greathead on Friday afternoon said the 19-year-old remained in custody.

"New Zealand police and INZ are working to confirm flight details to return the individual to Sydney," she told AAP in a statement.
One Nation will vote down a controversial plan by the West Australian government to take a share of the nation's most valuable fishery.

The McGowan government proposal for the state to grab a 17.5 per cent share of WA's annual rock lobster catch has prompted a furious response from industry.

WA's three One Nation's members will vote to support a disallowance motion - to block the legislation - when it reaches the upper house, South West MLC Colin Tincknell told 6PR on Friday.
The government is set to investigate a near 10-hour stand-off on the roof of a juvenile justice centre in Sydney's west but guards have little faith the probe will help.

Six boys scaled the roof of the Cobham Juvenile Justice Centre in Werrington before 5pm on Thursday and remained there until the early hours of Friday.

Staff at the centre spoke to the boys throughout the night and de-escalated the situation, a Juvenile Justice NSW spokesman told AAP.

"Detainees who display behaviour that presents a risk to themselves or others are placed on a stringent management regime to manage the risk," the spokesman said in a statement.

The agency's acting executive director, Steven Southgate, is meeting with centre staff on Friday to discuss the incident and the department will review the incident, the spokesman said.

The investigation will examine what changes may be needed.

But the union representing guards is sceptical of the review.

Public Service Association of NSW general secretary Stewart Little says the stand-off was just one of many incidents occurring at juvenile justice centres across the state.

"It highlights really what we're saying is occurring on a day to day basis and that is that the juvenile system is fast spiralling out of control," Mr Little told AAP on Friday.

The PSA says three of the boys who climbed onto the roof were high-risk offenders. It's believed one was recently involved in a similar incident at a youth justice centre in Dubbo.

Staff at six Juvenile Justice NSW centres walked off the job on Wednesday for two hours over what they say is increasing violence in the system and a lack of a unit for high-risk offenders.

The agency remains open-minded about such a unit but the PSA has not provided detail on how it would work in practice, the department spokesman said.

There'd need to be evidence it would reduce the risk of violence towards staff and other detainees, he added.
Queensland senator Fraser Anning says he's entitled to charge taxpayers to stay at his brother's historic Babinda pub.

The senator came under fire this week for his use of the generous travel allowances federal politicians have given themselves.

He claimed almost $3000 to support a racist rally in Melbourne, and The Guardian reports he claimed last year for staying at his brother Harry's pub in Babinda - despite offers of free accommodation.

Harry Anning was not available for comment but a spokesman for the senator offered a response to questions.

"Senator Anning's travel expenses falls within parliamentary entitlement requirements," the statement says.

"He does not sit idle and through a combination of travel within Queensland and interstate, he represents the interests of his constituents.

"The Babinda State Hotel is a historic venue built in 1916, on both occasions it was the most appropriate venue to host events."

Senator Anning said earlier this week he would not repay $2852.80 he spent to get to the rally in Melbourne, which he said was about "Sudanese gangs" being out of hand.

The senator has also defended his family travel costs, after it emerged he had claimed $19,000 from July to September 2018.

He said his wife travels with him because she is a volunteer in his office, so it is within the rules.
With a time bomb ticking on the Morrison government, precisely when it explodes has narrowed to two favourites and a roughie.

In all likelihood Australians will go to the polls on either May 11 or May 18.

But whether through mischief or merit, speculation of a March 2 election faintly flickers as federal politics cranks into gear for 2019.

There is some strategic attraction in the earlier date, which would require an Australia Day weekend announcement.

However that temptation is likely to be outweighed.

Josh Frydenberg was adamant this week he would deliver his first budget as treasurer when scheduled.

"The prime minister has been very clear that I'll be delivering a budget on April 2," he said.

"And that the election will be held sometime after that."

In a separate appearance he gave the grain of wiggle room necessary to allow a major change of heart as he avoided providing a timing guarantee.

"That's a decision for the PM and his alone."

Labor has been keen to stoke uncertainty around the announced timetable.

The opposition latched on to speculation the PM could favour a March 2 poll after the government ended last year the way it started - a sex scandal resulting in the downfall of a Nationals MP.

That date would be welcomed by the NSW coalition government, which faces a knife-edge election of its own on March 23.

That way people could bash the Liberals and Nationals at a state level, flushing anger out of their system before refocusing on state issues three weeks later.

Federally, it would also neutralise having to revisit a parliament where plucky crossbench MPs and Labor will crave testing the government's flimsy minority on issues like refugees and live sheep exports.

Returning to Canberra on February 12 shapes as messy at best and humiliating at worst for the government.

With 74 votes in the 150-seat House of Representatives, the Morrison government can ill-afford to give the impression it has lost control.

But avoiding another dose of parliamentary chaos hardly compares to the political milage available in delivering a federal budget, set to be the first in surplus for more than a decade.

Aside from bolstering the coalition's economic management narrative, there's the tantalising opportunity to provide sweeteners to dissolve some voter vengeance.

However it's difficult to dream of a scenario where the electorate could be bribed into returning a bruised and battered Liberal-National government.

More likely, it's a case of avoiding a Labor tsunami causing a painful wipe-out.

Recent experience proves playing your hand too early can be a slippery slope.

In 2013, Julia Gillard announced in January that Australians would go to the polls on September 14.

Thanks to her colleagues, she didn't make it to election day.

Kevin Rudd's rebirth as Labor's furniture saver failed to stop Tony Abbott snatching the keys to The Lodge with a strong majority.

And Malcolm Turnbull's decision to have a 55-day campaign in 2016 could hardly be considered a success.

Labor came within a whisker of a shock upset and the double dissolution installed a hostile Senate which hampered some of the government's signature reforms.

Sticking to his original plan would be Scott Morrison's best choice.

Expect him to use the weekend after the budget to fire the gun on a campaign between 33 and 40 days, depending on his preference for either May 11 or 18.

After all, the bookmakers' quote of $1.10 for a May poll is only slightly shorter than the $1.14 offered to punters backing a Labor victory.
A 19-year-old woman will face a Sydney court for allegedly sending $75,000 worth of stolen luxury items overseas.

Detectives investigating an alleged organised theft syndicate charged the woman with two counts of knowingly dealing with proceeds of crime on Thursday after successfully applying for her extradition from Victoria.

Police say it comes after months of investigation into 80 aggravated break-ins across Sydney in September, October and November 2018.

Eight alleged members of the syndicate, who are all Chilean nationals, were arrested last year.

The 19-year-old has been refused police bail ahead of an appearance at Central Local Court on Friday.
Western Queensland towns enduring a heatwave can expect the above-average temperatures to continue for at least another week.

Birdsville near the Northern Territory border is predicted to reach 46 degrees next week after similar recent temperatures, while Charleville, 750 kilometres west of Brisbane, will be in the high 30s.

Other south-western region towns, including Longreach and Winton, have regularly been around the 40-degree mark to start the year as part of the low intensity heatwave.

"It's above the average, about 5-6 degrees above the average for the western region," Bureau of Meteorology forecaster Chris Joseph told AAP.

"The area extends from up in the north, near Gulf (of Carpentaria) country, down through south-western part of the state into the Maranoa-Warrego.

"So that's likely to stay in place right through to pretty much most of next week.

"A pretty hot start to the year."

The region is not expected to benefit from a weak low pressure system associated with ex-tropical cyclone Penny, which is bringing heavy rainfalls to parts of the north tropical coast.

"That will shift over the northwest over the next 24 hours or so into the Gulf country," Mr Joseph said.

"It's unlikely to reform as it's weakened considerably. It's going to weaken further."
Energex workers including meter readers will no longer enter yards with unrestrained dogs after a rise in bites in Queensland.

The company has released several images of their staff with scratches and lacerations from bites to justify the new safety measure from Monday after 71 reported injuries in the past year.

"The safety of our employees has to come first and that means if there's an unrestrained dog on a property, we won't go in to do work of any kind," Energex spokesman Rob Mitchell said.
Finance Minister Mathias Cormann was acting within the rules when he booked flights costing $37,000 to promote proposed tax cuts last year, Education Minister Dan Tehan says.

Senator Cormann flew from Canberra to Adelaide and then onto Perth on a defence jet on June 22 as no commercial flights were available to facilitate the journey, the ABC has reported on Friday.

"The Australian taxpayer can look at that and say it was within the rules, within the guidelines, and also he was there on business," Mr Tehan told ABC TV's Breakfast on Friday.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's son Avner is travelling in Australia accompanied by security guards who are costing Israeli taxpayers $A38,000 a month, media reports say.

It is the first time children of an Israeli prime minister have been accompanied by security officers paid by the state.

The trip comes at a time when the Israeli leader is facing bribery and corruption allegations.

Avner, the prime minister's youngest son, plans to travel in Australia and New Zealand for eight months.

Already six months into his trip, the cost and security details involved were revealed by Israeli media outlets this week.

The Israel Security Agency, or Shin Bet, has arranged for Avner Netanyahu's security guards to be replaced every two weeks, making it more costly than using the same guards for the entire trip.

This decision was made to ensure the security personnel would not suffer from fatigue and remain alert, reports say.

The guards are either flown from Israel or provided by the Israeli embassy in Canberra.

All transportation costs, food, accommodation and insurance for the security guards are paid for by the state of Israel.

Adding in the guards' salaries equates to a rough figure of 100,000 Israeli shekels per month, equivalent to $A38,000.

Israeli news media have attempted to uncover the exact costs of the unprecedented security arrangement but have received no insight from the Shin Bet.

AAP has contacted Prime Minister Netanyahu's office for comment.

Sara Netanyahu, the prime minister's wife, will join her son in Australia in coming weeks for the final leg of his journey.

This will only increase the cost footed by Israeli taxpayers.

The revealing of costs for the security detail in Australia comes at a time when Israeli police are recommending Benjamin Netanyahu for indictment on three charges of bribery and corruption.

Australian billionaire James Packer has been questioned as part of the ongoing investigation over lavish gifts extended to Netanyahu and his family.

Israeli police have been investigating the relationship of Prime Minister Netanyahu and James Packer as far back as 2016.

The more recent corruption charges against Netanyahu are based on the alleged bribing of a major newspaper and easing of regulations for a telecommunications firm in return for favourable coverage of himself and his wife.
90 Day Fiance's Colt Johnson has filed for divorce from his wife, Brazilian TV star Larissa Dos Santos Lima.

The reality star, 33, filed papers in Nevada on Friday to end the marriage, along with an affidavit of resident witness and a request for issuance of joint preliminary injunction.

The move comes after Lima was arrested late Thursday for domestic battery after allegedly getting into a physical altercation with her husband in their Las Vegas home.

Split: 90 Day Fiance's Colt Johnson, right, has filed for divorce from Larissa Dos Santos Lima after violent fight and arrest; the two are seen on the TLC show

The 32-year-old reality star initially posted grisly photos showing a deep cut to her face and scratches all over her body, but police at the scene allegedly determined the injuries to be self-inflicted, according to TMZ.

Law enforcement sources told the website that her husband bit his nails, and therefore likely could not have made the scratches all over Larissa's side and back.

They also determined that most of the blood spatter was on her. Colt would have been expected to have splatter on himself had he caused her injuries.

Court records show Dos Santos Lima was arrested twice before in Las Vegas, in June and November, on a similar misdemeanor charge. Both cases were dismissed..

Self-inflicted? Lima, 32, shared photos of herself with bloody cuts and scratches on her face and body, which police now believe were self-inflicted, according to TMZ

Self defense: Larissa claimed she had scratched her husband during the fight because he was hurting her, but police believe her own scratches were all self-inflicted due to Colt's nail biting

According to The Blast, after her arrest Lima tried to raise money for her bail through a GoFundMe account. The GoFundMe page notes the TV star needs to raise $5,000. Her bail is $3,000 and the extra $2,000 is presumably for legal fees.

Lima claimed the apparent altercation between the couple began after she discovered an email receipt for a ManyVids porn video.

A photo of Colt displaying a bloodied mouth was also posted on a blog created by a fan of the show.

The 90 Day Fiance star has a ring of dried blood around his lips and seems to have a cut below his front teeth.

Dos Santos Lima and Johnson are featured on the TLC show 90 Day Fiance.
They asked fans for prayers when their son Isaiah was rushed to hospital with breathing problems.

But with the eight-month-old back to full health, the Lowe family are celebrating with a sunshine break to Hawaii.

Ahead of the wedding of fellow Bachelor alum Arie Luyendyk Jr. and Lauren Burnham on Saturday, Catherine and Sean Lowe enjoyed family time at the beach.

Family time: Catherine and Sean Lowe hit the beach with their kids on Friday as they enjoy a Hawaii break after baby Isaiah's health scare

Bachelor time: Ahead of the wedding of fellow Bachelor alum Arie Luyendyk Jr. and Lauren Burnham on Saturday, Catherine and Sean Lowe enjoyed family time at the beach

The duo, who met on the seventeenth season of ABC's The Bachelor, were seen playing with their oldest son Samuel, two, on the sands of Maui on Friday.

Former Bachelor Sean swung the two-year-old through the air as he squealed with delight, before taking a dip in the waves.

The couple are clearly enjoying being beside the seaside, sharing multiple selfies and images from their high-end resort, the Fairmont Kea Lani on Maui.

Making memories: The duo, who met on the seventeenth season of ABC's The Bachelor, were seen playing with their oldest son Samuel, two, on the sands of Maui on Friday

One for the album: The couple are clearly enjoying being beside the seaside, sharing multiple selfies and images from their high-end resort, the Fairmont Kea Lani on Maui

Things were a little different for them back in November when Isaiah developed bronchiolitis and began struggling to breath.

The infant was admitted to pediatric intensive care, and his anxious parents asked for prayers for their son.

Explained Sean on Instagram: 'His little body is having a tough time getting enough oxygen. He's not having the best time but the doctors and nurses have been great and we're just super thankful we took him to the doctor when we did. We're confident he'll be just fine but prayers are always welcome.'

Doting dad: Sean posted this picture and wrote 'The 3 Amilowes'

Back to full health: Things were a little different for them back in November when Isaiah developed bronchiolitis and began struggling to breath

Struggle: The infant was admitted to pediatric intensive care, and his anxious parents asked for prayers for their son; he is seen in November

Now, with Isaiah back to his happy, healthy self, the foursome are making memories as they enjoy some family bonding before Lauren and Ari's big day.

The couple are set to wed at the Haiku Mill in Maui on Saturday, nearly a year after getting engaged on The Bachelor's After the Final Rose special.

The couple are expecting their first child together, a baby girl.
Billions is giving a sneak peek at its upcoming fourth season.

On Saturday Showtime dropped the official trailer for the new season and it appears that the characters played by Paul Giamatti and Damian Lewis are out for revenge.

It follows former enemies Damien's Bobby Axelrod, the billionaire manager of hedge fund Axe Capital, and Giamatti's Chuck Rhoades, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York.

Hot plot: On Saturday Showtime dropped the fourth season trailer of Billions and it appears the characters played by Paul Giamatti, left, and Damian Lewis are out for revenge

They are joined by Wendy Rhoades, played by Maggie Siff, Chuck's wife and the chief counselor to both men.

They create an uneasy alliance to eradicated their rivals, which include Asia Kate Dillon as Axe Capital analyst Taylor Amber Mason and Toby Leonard Moore.

He plays Bryan Connerty, the Chief Of The Securities And Commodities Fraud Task Force for the Southern District of New York. He is also Chuck's point man.

The 155-second trailer kicks off with a very unusual sight, Bobby and Chuck enjoying a drink in a wood panelled library as Chuck says, 'Here we are, friends of a sort. I need your assistance on this one.'

Giamatti's Chuck Rhoades, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, asks Damien's Bobby Axelrod, the billionaire manager of hedge fund Axe Capital, for help

Getting to the point: When Chuck asks Bobby fo help, he quickly catches on, saying, 'You want me to help put you in the State Attorney General's office.'' I do,' Chuck confirms, ominously.

Bobby catches on quickly, saying: 'You want me to help put you in the State Attorney General's office.'

'I do,' Chuck confirms, ominously.

But Bobby wants something in return: 'Taylor Mason. I want them in a f****** cell.'

In for the fourth: Ambition and betrayal remain at the heart of Billions and this season all the characters find out exactly how high a price theyll have to pay to satisfy those needs

Clancy Brown and John Malkovich will guest star with regulars David Costabile, Condola Rashad, Kelly AuCoin, Jeffrey DeMunn and Malin Akerman,

Ambition and betrayal remain at the heart of Billions and this season all the characters find out exactly how high a price theyll have to pay to satisfy those needs.

Billions premieres on Showtime on March 4 at 9pm

It doesn't end well for everyone: But the trailer doesn't reveal who is going up in smoke
She's one of the biggest models around, especially after being crowned Model of The Year at the 2018 British Fashion Awards last month.

And Kaia Gerber made sure she showed off her credentials as she walked the star-studded Versace catwalk in Milan for Men's Fashion Week on Saturday.

The model, 17, whose mother is Cindy Crawford, made a bold fashion statement for her runway debut.

Work it: Kaia Gerber made sure she showed off her credentials as she walked the star-studded Versace catwalk in Milan for Men's Fashion Week on Saturday

Kaia wore a collection of Versace branded black-and-white chequered items of clothing for the catwalk.

She teamed the ensemble with a black leather wrap skirt, a patent leather handbag and a red patterned scarf.

Kaia styled her brunette locks into a sleek swept back hairdo, she added a slick of make-up.

Strike a pose: The model, 17, whose mother is Cindy Crawford, made a bold fashion statement for her runway debut

Stylish: Kaia wore a collection of Versace branded black-and-white chequered items of clothing for the catwalk

She knew how to work her best angles as she posed up a storm on the catwalk, she added height to her frame with a pair of white heeled sandals with an ankle strap.

The 17-year-old model joined the likes of Emily Ratajkowski and Bella Hadid on the star-studded runway.

Kaia has been making a name for herself in the modelling industry since the age of 10, following in the footsteps of her supermodel mother Cindy Crawford.

Chic: She teamed the ensemble with a black leather wrap skirt, a patent leather handbag and a red patterned scarf

In an interview with Vogue, Kaia described the best advice her mother gave her as: 'don't do anything you don't want to do and follow your instincts'.

She also added that, despite several questions about what it was like being raised by the star, Kaia enjoyed a regular upbringing.

She said: 'I admire how down to earth my mom is... everyone would ask me what's it like to have Cindy Crawford as your mom, but Cindy Crawford (the supermodel) wasn't my mom - she did a really good job of separating her work and home life.'

Model of The Year: Kaia styled her brunette locks into a sleek swept back hairdo, she added a slick of make-up
She is one of the most beautiful supermodels in the world.

And Naomi Campbell stayed true to her fashionable form as she dressed in stylish airport attire on arrival at JFK Airport, in New York City on Saturday.

The fashion icon, 48, was snug in a long overcoat and a patterned scarf to ensure she wasn't chilled to the bone by the icebox temperatures of 0 degrees.

Strutting her stuff: Naomi Campbell, 48, showed off her flawless visage as she brought runway glamour to JFK airport in New York City on Saturday

Naomi straightened her luscious long locks, added huge dark shades and a fedora hat to polish off the finishing touches to her overall look.

Always in the know, the global star was on her mobile phone while she strutted her stuff through the terminal buzzing with people.

The catwalk queen saved her steep heels for the runway and her glossy magazine shoots as she strolled out in flat trainers.

Showbiz queen: Always in the know, the global star was on her mobile phone while she strutted her stuff through the terminal buzzing with people

A galaxy of the world's finest models have flown in to Italy's fashion capital Milan for Men's Fashion Week, which runs a month before the Women's collections.

The new age of supermodels Bella and Gigi Hadid as well as Cindy Crawford's daughter Kaia Gerber were storming the catwalks for fashion powerhouse Versace.

Meanwhile, Naomi was one of the six original supermodels of the late 1980s and 1990s and she has preserved her flawless looks.

Recently, the model enjoyed some time away from the limelight as she holidayed in Kenya, Africa on a glorious getaway.

It's all relative: Naomi has a very special bond with her modelesque mother Valerie and in the past have often modelled together (pictured in New York City, June 2018)

Naomi has a very special bond with her modelesque mother Valerie and in the past have often modelled together.

Valerie said: 'Its been nearly four years since Naomi and I last worked on a shoot together, so this was a really special moment for me.

'She has such an abundance of modelling experience, and it was a lot of fun to be on set together enjoying each others company.

'Ill remember this project for a very long time and Im honoured to be part of Burberrys history.
She's the latest in a line of A-listers who have made their way to Milan, Italy for Men's Fashion Week.

And Gigi Hadid was suitably stylish as she arrived at Malpensa Airport on Saturday to make the most of her time in the fashion capital.

The model, 23, was wrapped up well as she made her way through the airport, donning a blue denim jacket with a large grey scarf.

Style: Gigi Hadid, 23, was suitably stylish as she arrived at Malpensa Airport on Saturday to make the most of her time in the fashion capital

She paired it with a mint green shirt and matching three-quarter length tracksuit pants.

Sporting a pair of trainers, Gigi accessorised with a pair of shades and gold Beats headphones.

Styling her locks into a ponytail, the model checked her phone as she carried her suitcase to a waiting car.

Gigi joins her sister Bella in Milan, with fellow model Kaia Gerber also in the Italian city while former America's Next Top Model contestant Winnie Harlow and reality star Paris Hilton were also in attendance.

Fashion: The model, 23, was wrapped up well as she made her way through the airport, donning a blue jacket with a large grey scarf

Gigi has reportedly split from boyfriend Zayn Mailk, with a source telling E! News that the pair believe time apart is what they both need.

The source said: '[They] think that time apart is best for the sake of their relationship right now. Both have been really focused on themselves and their separate careers.

'Zayn has been in the studio recording new music and pushing out his new album, while Gigi has been focusing a lot of time on herself.'

Look: Sporting a pair of trainers, Gigi accessorised with a pair of shades and gold Beats headphones

Abroad: Styling her locks into a ponytail, the model checked her phone as she carried her suitcase to a waiting car

The model and the former One Direction member first began dating in November 2015; they split for the first time in March 2018.

They announced their breakup on social media with identical statements.

In May, Gigi and Zayn were spotted sharing kisses during a stroll in New York City, confirming that they have reconciled.
She had a whirlwind 2018, modelling for brands including Chanel and Versace.

And Kaia Gerber was the epitome of style as she left her hotel in Milan, Italy while she attends Men's Fashion Week.

The model, 17, looked in high spirits as she made her way through the city sporting a flowing houndstooth sand jacket on Saturday.

Style: Kaia Gerber, 17, looked in high spirits as she made her way through the city sporting a flowing houndstooth sand jacket

She paired it with a fitted black jumper and high-waited blue flared jeans.

Letting her brunette locks hang loose down her shoulders, Kaia added to the look with box-fresh white boots and a black handbag while sporting a pair of shades.

Kaia joined several other stars in Milan for Fashion Week including Paris Hilton and former America's Next Top Model contestant Winnie Harlow.

While later on in the day she went on to walk the star-studded Versace catwalk with Emily Ratajkowski and Bella Hadid.

Outfit: Kaia paired it with a fitted black jumper and high-waited blue jeans

Cindy Crawford's daughter recently posed for a campaign for Jimmy Choo while she also won an award for Model of the Year at the Fashion Awards in 2018.

Kaia has been making a name for herself in the modelling industry since the age of 10, following in the footsteps of her supermodel mother Cindy Crawford.

In an interview with Vogue, Kaia described the best advice her mother gave her as: 'don't do anything you don't want to do and follow your instincts'.

She also added that, despite several questions about what it was like being raised by the star, Kaia enjoyed a regular upbringing.

Fashion: Letting her brunette locks hang loose down her shoulders, Kaia added to the look with box-fresh white boots and a black handbag while sporting a pair of shades

She said: 'I admire how down to earth my mom is... everyone would ask me what's it like to have Cindy Crawford as your mom, but Cindy Crawford (the supermodel) wasn't my mom - she did a really good job of separating her work and home life.'

While the teenager is following in her mother's footsteps by going into the world of modelling, she added that Cindy has never given her a catwalk lesson.

She said: 'We're not at home just walking down the hallways of our house together.'
Beverley Callard headed to a performance of The Rocky Horror Show in Manchester on Saturday, amid a backlash over her comments about mental health.

The Coronation Street actress, 61, was slammed by Game of Thrones' Sophie Turner and baker Nadiya Hussain after questioning celebrities' motives for discussing illnesses such as depression and anxiety in an interview with Best Magazine.

Beverley, who plays Liz McDonald in the soap, has spoken openly about her ongoing battle with depression, and said there was a danger it could become 'fashionable' to discuss mental illness.

Stepping out: Beverley Callard headed to a performance of The Rocky Horror Show in Manchester on Saturday, amid a backlash over her comments about mental health

Pose: The Coronation Street actress, 61, was slammed by Game of Thrones' Sophie Turner and baker Nadiya Hussain after questioning celebrities' motives for discussing illnesses such as depression and anxiety in an interview with Best Magazine.

She also claimed some stars treat mental health issues like 'Gucci handbags.'

In the midst of the online backlash, the star arrived at the Manchester Opera House, posing by the stage door, and snapping a photo with a fan.

Beverley is a narrator in the national tour of the rock and roll musical.

This comes one day after Beverley's comments in a wide-ranging interview were slammed by celebrities on social media.

En route: Beverley, who plays Liz McDonald in the soap, has spoken openly about her ongoing battle with depression, and said there was a danger it could become 'fashionable' to discuss mental illness

The star, who is an ambassador for mental health charity MIND, said: 'Real mental illness is very dark and it takes a great deal of strength to ask for help.

'We have to be careful mental illness doesn't become like a Gucci handbag. There is a danger it can become "fashionable".'

However, her comments didn't go down well with fellow celebrities including chef Nadiya Hussain and Game of Thrones star Sophie Turner.

Beverley said that she believed more openness about mental health issues is a good think, adding: 'I think we are now definitely chipping away at the stigma.

Game of Thrones star Sophie Turner, 22, hit out at the comments saying: 'Celebrities have a platform to speak out about it and help get rid of the stigma of mental illness which affects 1 in 4 people in UK per year.

New job: Beverley is a narrator in the national tour of the rock and roll musical

Outing: The star looked excited for her stage role as she stepped out

'But please go ahead and shun them back into silence.'

The actress later shared several tweets about mental health and criticised anyone who jokes about the subject.

She said: 'People who think it's okay to make jokes about mental illness, I feel you must be lucky, because surely you don't understand or can't comprehend what it is like to have or know someone with an illness like this.'

Sophie, who is engaged to pop star Joe Jonas, said there is a stigma attached to mental health and that it is important to 'keep this dialogue going' so people who suffer do not 'feel so alone'.

Beverley, who took two months off from Corrie in 2016 after the medication she'd been taking for years was discontinued, has voiced concerns about depression being glamorised in the past.

Speaking on This Morning in September, the actress, who is an ambassador for mental health charity Mind, discussed a book her husband was writing about her struggles.

Fans: In the midst of the online backlash, the star arrived at the Manchester Opera House, posing by the stage door, and snapping a photo with a fan

She explained: 'There is becoming more and more help for people who are suffering from clinical depression or any kind of mental illness, but for the people who live with those people it's so hard.

'There's a great deal of glamour going with it now and it's not a glamorous illness, it's not glamorous for the person who has to live with that and almost become the carer.'

She continued: 'It's how you get to the other side from being in that black hole, but it's also the other side of the relationship and how they hold it together because sometimes they have to be selfish and take care of themselves in order to take care of the other person.'

Response: Game of Thrones star Sophie Turner, 22, hit out at the controversial comments on Twitter

Response: Great British Bake Off winner Nadiya Hussain, 34, also criticised the comments, writing: 'You havent got a clue'

Beverley previously revealed that she has been suffering from depression for decades but reached a low point in 2016 when medication she'd been taking for 15 years was discontinued.

She'd once worked for 18 months without seeking help for her condition, which ultimately led to her passing out on the set of Corrie.

She previously revealed on This Morning that she thinks her illness has harmed her career.

Brave: Beverley (pictured in character as Liz McDonald) previously revealed that she has been suffering from depression for decades but reached a low point in 2016 when medication she'd been taking for 15 years was discontinued

Beverley said: 'When I was at my worst I had to pull out of two jobs and I know those companies will never employ me in future. I think there's a tendency to think that you [can] be flaky and unreliable, but of course really you're just the opposite.

Approximately one in four people in the UK will experience a mental health problem each year, according to the charity Mind.

In England, one in six people report experiencing a common mental health problem, such as anxiety and depression, in any given week, the charity said.

For confidential support call the Samaritans in the UK on 08457 90 90 90, visit a local Samaritans branch or click here for details.
Duck Dynasty star Rebecca Robertson Loflin has welcomed her first child.

Willie and Korie Robertson's adopted daughter welcomed a son named Zane Israel Loflin with her husband John Reed Loflin.

The 30-year-old took to Instagram to share the special news with her followers, confirming the birth took place on January 11.

Baby makes three: Duck Dynasty's Rebecca Robertson Loflin revealed on Friday that she had welcomed her son Zane Israel Loflin into the world with husband John Reed

'The most miracle day 1.11.2019,' she captioned the sweet shot.

The photo saw baby Zane lying on his mom's chest while John pressed his head against Rebecca's.

According to John's Instagram posts, the new addition was born at 1.27am, weighed 6lbs14oz with a length of 19.5in.

Precious: 'The most miracle day 1.11.2019,' she captioned the sweet shot

Rise to fame: She's the adopted daughter of Duck Dynasty stars Willie and Korie Robertson who announced she was expecting her first child last July

It was previously revealed that Rebecca first told her 15-year-old sister Bella about the pregnancy news.

She explained that she wanted to surprise her husband John on his birthday.

Rebecca said that she bought John a 'little baby denim jacket' as his birthday gift to reveal news that she's pregnant.

She explained that both she and John love wearing denim jackets and 'always wear matching stuff.'

Healthy baby: According to John's Instagram posts, the new addition was born at 1:27am, weighed 6lbs 14oz with a length of 19.5 inches long

He came early: According to a previous Us Weekly report, Zane was originally due on January 15

Part of the Robertson family: Rebecca is from Taiwan - she came to live with the Robertsons when she was 16 as an exchange student; they later legally adopted her

Rebecca gave the gift to John on his birthday but he mistakenly thought it was for their French bulldog Leuxla.

The reality star then showed him the pregnancy test.

Adding that: 'He was shocked and like, "Wait, what!?" He was just crying then, of course, I was laughing the whole time.'

Rebecca is from Taiwan - she came to live with the Robertson's when she was 16 as an exchange student; they later legally adopted her.

She starred on their A & E reality show Duck Dynasty - which was on air from 2012 until it ended in 2017.

Reality star: She starred on their A & E reality show Duck Dynasty - which was on air from 2012 until it ended in 2017

Family: Willie, 46, and his wife Korie Robertson were main cast members of the show; they have six children: Sadie, John Luke, Bella, Willie Jr., Rebecca and Rowdy; (from l to r) John Luke and his wife Mary Kate, Willie Jr, Sadie, Willie, Korie, Bella, Rebecca, John Reed and Rowdy

Duck Dynasty followed the Robertson family in Louisiana as they ran the company Duck Commander.

Willie and his wife Korie Robertson were main cast members of the reality show; they have a total of six children.

They are the biological parents of John Luke, 23, Sadie, 21, Bella, 15, and adoptive parents of Rebecca, 30, Williw Jr. 17, and Rowdy, 16.

Rebecca told US Weekly that her mom Korie, 45, started crying when she found out the pregnancy news.

She and John Reed live across the street from Willie, 46, and Korie in West Monroe, Louisiana while their new house is getting renovated.

Rebecca and John Reed married in December 2016 in Mexico.
He's currently filming HBO series The New Pope in Italy.

And Jude Law, 46, took a well-deserved break from his work commitments as he enjoyed a water taxi ride with his girlfriend Phillipa Coan, 32, in Venice on Saturday.

The Alfie actor wrapped up for the outing in a brown double breasted wool coat as he soaked up the City of Bridges from the comfort of his own private water taxi.

Out and about: Jude Law, 46, took a well-deserved break from his work commitments as he enjoyed a water taxi ride with his girlfriend Phillipa Coan, 32, in Venice on Saturday

The British star, who is busy filming the Paolo Sorrentino-directed series, continued to combat the chilly climate and teamed his coat with a black scarf wrapped around his neck.

The Anna Karenina actor accessorised his suave appearance with a pair of sleek circular-framed sunglasses.

In jovial spirits, psychologist Phillipa looked utterly relaxed in his company as she looked at the city's sights from the boat.

The pretty blonde was clad in black Teddy jacket, turtleneck and scarf for the afternoon.

Sightseeing: The Alfie actor wrapped up for the outing in a brown double breasted wool coat as he soaked up the City of Bridges from the comfort of his own private water taxi

Wrapped up: The British star, who is busy filming the Paolo Sorrentino-directed series, continued to combat the chilly climate and teamed his coat with a black scarf wrapped around his neck

The blonde beauty wore her tresses in a sleek chignon, covering half of her tresses with a pair of fluffy earmuffs and chic shades.

Jude recently opened up about his love life in a rare interview, revealing he was relishing time spent with his girlfriend of four years.

'Shes mine and no one elses. Im very, very happy,' The Holiday star previously told Modern Luxury.

'And our relationship is a very private thing, and I think part of the fact it works so well is exactly because of that.'

No shade: The Anna Karenina actor accessorised his suave appearance with a pair of sleek circular-framed sunglasses

Relaxed: In jovial spirits, psychologist Phillipa looked utterly relaxed in his company as she looked at the city's sights from the boat

While Jude shares no offspring with his current girlfriend, he is the doting father to five children from his former relationships.

The father-of-five shares Rudy, 16, Iris, 18, Rafferty, 22, with actress Sadie Frost, 53, from their six-year marriage.

In 2009 Jude became a father again for the fourth time when his daughter Sophia was born to model Samantha Burke. Six years later he became a father again to Ada, three, with songwriter Catherine Harding.

The New Pope currently lacks a premiere date but HBO released the first official image on Wednesday.

Getting chic done: The pretty blonde was clad in black Teddy jacket, turtleneck and scarf for the afternoon

In the original series, Jude Law played Lenny Belardo, Archbishop of New York. His youth and novel status as an American leads to his election as the first American pope.

Rather than being a force for rejuvenation, the new Pope Pius XIII doubles down on the Vatican's gamesmanship and intrigue, threatening to upend the organization's top chain of command.

The 10-episode limited series was created and directed by Paolo Sorrentino, who also helms each episode of its follow-up, The New Pope.

Shore thing: The blonde beauty wore her tresses in a sleek chignon, covering half of her tresses with a pair of fluffy earmuffs and chic shades

Smoking hot: In the original series, Jude played Lenny Belardo, Archbishop of New York

The Italian auteur is best known for his 2013 film The Great Beauty, which captured the Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film and was nominated for the top prize at the Cannes Film Festival.

The series takes up after The Young Pope's cliffhanger ending, which saw Pius XIII confronted with a moment of weakness that threatened to destroy his papacy.

Little has been revealed about the plot of this follow-up series, and Malkovich's character has yet to be confirmed.

However, the stage and screen veteran was seen filming from the balcony of St. Peter's Basilica in Rome, where he appeared to be giving an Urbi et Orbi papal address to the crowds in November.
She is an iconic supermodel who is known for her incredible physique and ethereal beauty.

And Candice Swanepoel showed why she is so in-demand in the fashion world as she turned up the heat in a sizzling new photoshoot for fashion label Miss Sixty.

The Vogue cover star, 30, flaunted her ample cleavage and endless legs in the high-street fashion shoot, which saw her wow in pretty mini dresses and racy denim hotpants.

Wow factor: Candice Swanepoel showed why she is so in-demand in the fashion world as she turned up the heat in a sizzling new photoshoot for fashion label Miss Sixty

The first photo saw the Victoria's Secret angel reveal her perky cleavage in a plunging pastel pink bustier dress as she sat on a golden chair.

The dress was adorned with embroidered flowers with a floaty tulle skirt showing off the star's toned legs.

She completed the ensemble with perspex ankle boots.

Her tumbling tresses were styled in loose waves while her pretty features were enhanced with metallic shadow, fluttery lashes and candied pink lipstick.

Leggy: The Vogue coverstar, 30, flaunted her ample cleavage and endless legs in the high-street fashion shoot, which saw her wow in pretty mini dresses and racy denim hotpants

The blonde bombshell slipped into a crochet top, paired with high waisted denim hotpants which showcased her tanned and toned legs as she laid sultrily on the floor.

Keeping the emphasis on her legs, she added quirky perspex knee-high boots to the look. Her third look saw her wow in a denim skintight dress with a semi-sheer white top, worn underneath.

Adding drama to her look, the dress featured an asymmetric hem. Candice walked the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show - which aired in December- after welcoming her son in June.

Denim delight: Her third look saw her wow in a denim skintight dress with a semi-sheer white top, worn underneath

The model - who also has son Anaca, two - has revealed the secrets to her pre-show preparations, saying she combines a strict fitness regime with the everyday stresses of parenting.

Candice quipped: 'Taking care of two kids will get you in shape real quick.'

On top of looking after her children, the South African star also did about three to four workouts per week - which included training with ankle weights and doing squats - in preparation for this year's show.

Candice is now a veteran of the runway and even though deep breathing techniques have helped to calm some of her nerves, she still feels anxious before a big show.

She told E! News: 'I'm a ball of nerves before the show. I feel like each year I get more and more nervous - I don't know why.

'But nerves are healthy. You need a little adrenaline to really kill it.'
Piers Morgan has revealed he was hospitalised for gastritis and duodenitis, and lays the blame in the hands of a 'vegan sausage roll, Brexit and Donald Trump.'

The Good Morning Britain presenter, 53, shocked his Instagram followers this week when he posed for a selfie with medical tubes coming out of his nose while being treated at the private Bupa Cromwell Hospital in Kensington, West London.

Taking to Twitter as he recovers from the hospital stay, the outspoken TV star said: 'If you really want to know, I was diagnosed with stomach gastritis and duodenitis.

'Bad news, I'm not dying': Piers Morgan has revealed he was hospitalised for gastritis and duodenitis, and lays the blame in the hands of a 'vegan sausage roll, Brexit and Donald Trump'

Oh dear: Days earlier Piers spewed the vegan sausage roll from Greggs into the bin live on Good Morning Britain

'I blame eating a mouthful of vegan sausage roll, Brexit & Donald Trump.'

Explaining his reasoning behind the tweet, he wrote: 'Monday, 6.40am: I eat one mouthful of vegan sausage roll.

'Friday, 11am: hospitalised for gastroscopy on inflamed, exploding innards.

'I'm doing the maths'

Sickness: The star blamed his illness on the pastry encased treat as well as political issues

Gastritis is an inflammation of the stomach while duodenitis is swelling of the duodenum, the first part of the small intestine.

Discussing his hospital stay, he posted: 'Had a gastroscopy but fortunately, I can't remember a damn thing about it. Sedatives are my new best friend.'

The star also promised he would be back at work on Monday, as he 'doesn't pull sickies.'

Piers tried Greggs' new vegan sausage roll live on air this week and spewed it into a bin.

Laying the blame: Piers also blamed Donald Trump and Brexit for his illness (pictured R -Theresa May)

Back at it: The star said he would be back in the TV studio next week

The star said he was appalled by the smell and taste of Britain's most talked about new snack and ended up with his head in a waste basket after taking a single bite.

Greggs delivered a fresh batch to the studio for him to try but he was forced to spit it out and saying: 'It absolutely stinks and tastes disgusting. Why would anyone eat this?'

But co-host Susanna Reid said the meat-free treat tasted 'delicious' and ate her's with gusto.

Vegans have targeted him on Twitter again today and accused him of faking his violent reaction to the 'sausage roll' calling it an anti-vegan conspiracy.

This comes days after Piers reassured fans he's 'not dying' as he shocked his Instagram followers by posting a picture from a hospital bed.

Accompanying the post on Instagram, the DailyMail.com editor-at-large wrote: 'Bad news: I'm not dying. I can only apologise for all the distress I know this will cause some people.'

Struggling: Piers has been battling bronchitis, sinusitis and laryngitis and has been taking antibiotics since Christmas due to his ill health

The television personality has been battling bronchitis, laryngitis and sinusitis over the Christmas period, which he described as 'the trifecta of hell for TV presenting'.

The star's most recent appearance on Good Morning Britain was on Wednesday.

The meat-lover has been causing havoc on Twitter in recent weeks after he was furious to discover that Gregg's have brought out a vegan sausage roll.

He tried one on the show and pretended to vomit live on air, leading fans to speculate if this was the cause of his health concerns.

In actual fact, Piers wrote on Twitter that he had actually been forced to cancel his New Year's Eve plans because of how unwell he was feeling.

He wrote: 'Wildest New Year's Eve for decades... went to bed at 8.59pm with two strong Italian Tachipirinas & had one helluva steamy sleepless night.

'Hope yours was anywhere near as wild. Happy New Year!'

It comes a year after an eagle-eyed viewer from the charity Melanoma UK spotted Morgan may have been suffering from skin cancer during a TV appearance.

Morgan was advised to get it checked, and a horrified doctor removed the mark, which had not been bleeding or recently changed shape, within an hour.

He was later given the all clear, but the doctor told him the blemish would almost certainly have turned cancerous within months.

Piers was temporarily taken off air on last Wednesday's episode of the hit breakfast show after he made a playful jibe at the crew's 'abilities' with his teleprompter.

The gallery got their own back on the journalist and presenter after he complained about issues with the teleprompter.

Piers started bickering with co-host Susanna Reid, 48, after she mocked him for not reading the screen correctly.

He retorted: 'It said earlier that it was the paper review and we didn't have the papers so I don't believe entirely what I am seeing on that screen.

'I have lost confidence in the gallery's ability to deliver.

'They're a bit like Theresa May at the moment - they promise on that screen what we have and then nothing happens.'

The screen suddenly went black, taking Piers and Susanna off air. And when the cameras turned back on, the torment continued, with the focus on co-host Charlotte Hawkins, rather than Piers.

Piers cheekily continued: 'They have got the ultimate power.

'They can yank the plug. And then viewers would rebel and you'll all have to lose your jobs.'
Their rockumentary Bros: After The Screaming Stops had fans comparing the film to The Office, Spinal Tap and Alan Partridge.

And now Luke Goss, 50, has responded to the mockery he and his twin brother Matt have found themselves the subject of after their documentary aired over the festive period.

The one-off followed the brothers as they prepared for their emotional sell-out reunion gig at London's O2 Arena, nearly 30 years after they last took to the stage together.

Candid: Luke Goss (pictured above) has responded to the mockery he and his twin brother Matt have found themselves the subject of after their documentary aired over the festive period

The film crew documented the siblings, who were the quintessential 80s boyband, as they tried to repair their bond after a decade of minimal contact.

And while emotional in parts, the brothers' unintentionally hilarious one liners, including Matt saying Stevie Wonder had inspired him not to be 'superstitious', have had viewers in stitches and made it a fan favourite for very different reasons than the reunion.

Speaking out about the jeering, Luke told The Times Weekend: 'There is a contingent who like a freak show. They will always take the p***...

'But if that's their contribution to the universe then I pity them. I'm kinda sick of being ridiculed. I focus on the good people out there.'

'Ridicule': Speaking out about the jeering, Luke told The Times Weekend: 'There is a contingent who like a freak show. They will always take the p***. 'But if that's their contribution to the universe then I pity them. I'm kinda sick of being ridiculed'

Bond: They secured a multitude of top 10 hits including When Will I Be Famous?, I Owe You Nothing and Drop The Boy (pictured in 1990)

He concluded: '...Of course there are funny moments. We spoke passionately and spontaneously. We are working-class London boys. Our books weren't books, they were record sleeves. I know what I said about Rome was funny. I'm not stupid.'

While Matt, who is based in Las Vegas, added that he's 'enjoying' fans' response to the documentary and said, 'I'm laughing back at them too. Positively.'

Their comments come as Christmas viewers went wild over their documentary, with fans rolling in the aisles over its absurd and hilarious one-liners.

But with one liners about not being able to play conkers, the brothers likening themselves to rectangles that made up a fortress and Matt spelling out the word 'Home', the show quickly became a fan favourite for very different reasons than the reunion.

Playful: Although the reunion was the main crux of the show, the unexpected humour took centre-stage

Better than The Office? Fans flocked to social media to praise the 'absurdly brilliant' documentary

Fans also took to social media to call it the real gem of the Christmas season's holiday television and gush over the greatest moments of the show.

One saw Matt gesturing at a portrait of his dog, saying: 'This is my best friend, Alfie, my bulldog  I had him painted, holding a pint of beer.'

While another classic clip showed Matt lamenting the loss of conkers as a school sport in the UK, saying: 'Please can we start a petition as Bros for this ridiculous thing where you can't even play conkers, you have to wear goggles. That is the biggest problem You can't play conkers in England'.

The documentary promised 'a raw and emotional look into the aftermath of fame and the reconnection between two twins torn apart by their past' while showing no-holds barred clips of the pair rowing and crying over the bond they used to share.

Banter: The documentary was initially watched by fewer than 250,000 viewers on BBC Four, but later became one of the festive season's most popular shows due to a viewing surge on BBC iPlayer

However, fans couldn't help but compare the documentary to The Office and the hapless antics of salesman David Brent, especially when Matt spoke about their favourite toy growing up.

Some fans even labelled the documentary the new 'Spinal Tap' after the infamous documentary spoofing heavy metal groups.

The documentary was initially watched by fewer than 250,000 viewers on BBC Four, but later became one of the festive season's most popular shows due to a viewing surge on BBC iPlayer.

Conkers, rectangles and Stevie Wonder - The best one-liners from Bros: After The Screaming Stops 'Please can we start a petition as Bros for this ridiculous thing where you can't even play conkers, you have to wear goggles. That is the biggest problemYou can't play conkers in England' - Matt Goss 'This is my best friend, Alfie, my bulldog  I had him painted, holding a pint of beer' - Matt Goss 'The letters H.O.M.E. are so important because they personify the word home' -Matt Goss 'I'm a Londoner. Embankment. Big Ben. Cab drivers' - Luke Goss 'I made a conscious decision because of Stevie Wonder not to be superstitious' - Matt Goss 'I was a rectangle and [Luke] was a rectangle and we made a square that became a fortress'  Matt Goss 'Rome wasn't built in a day. And f**k me that's true But we don't have the time Rome had'  Matt Goss 'The best toy we had growing up was a dart. No dart board, just a dart' - Matt Goss 'This is my cave area. I have crystals everywhere. Love a bit of chess, have a few glasses of scotch, have a long game of chess' - Matt Goss 'I'm obsessed with the news, it ironically relaxes me, if I don't see the news, I don't feel informed, then I can't go about my day properly. CNN is the thinking man's reality show'  Matt Goss Advertisement

The band won universal acclaim with their comeback concerts in London, but scrapped dates in Newcastle, Glasgow, Nottingham, and Birmingham.

The twins had not played together since 77,000 packed into Wembley Stadium on August 19, 1989.

The band, which inspired teenagers to wear bottle caps on their shoes, split up in 1992, amid in-fighting and debt.

Bros was the youngest band to ever headline Wembley Stadium and the twins' debut album Push was 7x Platinum and number one in 20 countries, selling 10m copies.

Candid: The band won universal acclaim with their comeback concerts in London, but scrapped dates in Newcastle, Glasgow, Nottingham, and Birmingham

Despite their huge success, they faced financial ruin after being mismanaged, and founding member Craig Logan ended up suing for unpaid royalties

After they split up, Matt began his solo career in 1995 and since then has sold over 5 million albums, played a Las Vegas residency at Caesar's Palace and recently headlined Wembley Arena.

Meanwhile, Luke enjoyed an acting career in both film (Hellboy 2, Blade 2, The Man, Deathrace 2&3) and TV (Red Widow and Emmy award winning mini-series Frankenstein).

The film made its European debut at the London Film Festival on October 17 and released in selected cinemas on November 9.
She soared to fame on the hugely popular show, Love Island.

And Katie Salmon, 22, continued the sizzling display as she slipped into a tiny bikini while poolside in Tenerife.

The star looked incredible as she flaunted her curves and peachy posterior in the skimpy white two-piece which boasted a cherry print.

Babe: Katie Salmon, 22, continued the sizzling display as she slipped into a tiny bikini while poolside in Tenerife

The bikini top put prominence on her ample assets and tiny midriff, while the bottoms rested high on her hips - giving way to her toned legs.

Katie boosted her height in a pair of towering wedge heels and added to the summery look with a pair of shades.

The star, who sported braids, was joined by her pal India Jennings who looked sensational in a khaki bikini.

Katie is certainly no stranger to causing a stir after her Love Island 2016 appearance.

Looking good: The star looked incredible as she flaunted her curves and peachy posterior in the skimpy white two-piece which boasted a cherry print

Bottoms up: The bikini top put prominence on her ample assets and tiny midriff, while the bottoms rested high on her hips - giving way to her toned legs

She is best known to viewers of the ITV2 show for pairing up with the late Sophie Gradon on the reality dating series.

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.

Walk this way: Katie boosted her height in a pair of towering wedge heels and added to the summery look with a pair of shades

Girls just wanna have fun: The star, who sported braids, was joined by her pal India Jennings who looked sensational in a khaki bikini

Their romance was short-lived, lasting just two weeks after the series drew to a close.

Katie opened up about the abuse she received from the LGBT community, following her same-sex romance with late Love Island star Sophie.

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.

TV star: Katie is certainly no stranger to causing a stir after her Love Island 2016 appearance

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.'
She is the former Neighbours starlet who is starting to make waves in Hollywood.

And Olympia Valance looked every inch the global star when she attended the Portsea Polo in Melbourne on Saturday.

The 25-year-old wore a chic ensemble from Melbourne designer Con Ilio, which featured a white off-the-shoulder shirt.

'We are very happy': Olympia Valance stuns as she flaunts her figure in a chic blue and white ensemble at the Portsea Polo... as she and Hollywood actor Luke Bracey confirm they are dating

Olympia contrasted the glamorous shirt with a light blue skirt, which buttoned up the front.

The Playing For Keeps star, who has just been cast in her first Australian movie, accessorised with a pink handbag and oversized sunglasses.

She completed her summery look with a pair of two-toned heels and a wide-brimmed sun hat.

Olympia glowed as she attended the star-studded event with new beau, Luke Bracey, 29.

Stylish: Olympia contrasted the glamorous shirt with a light blue skirt which buttoned up the front

New Beau: Olympia glowed as she attended the star-studded event with Luke Bracey

Flawless: The Playing For Keeps star accessorised with a pink handbag and oversized sunglasses.

Confirming their relationship to The Herald Sun on the day, Luke said: 'We are very happy.'

In December, the actress raised eyebrows when she shared a steamy shot of former Home and Away star, shirtless in a towel.

The star shared a shot of Luke in nothing but a towel at the resort, writing: 'What's not to love?'

Steamy! Olympia shared a shot of Luke Bracey in nothing but a towel at the resort, writing: 'What's not to love?'

Rumours that they were dating continued to circulate after her mother, Tania Gogos-Wilson, shared a picture of a family outing where the pair were seen cosying up to each other.

In the snap, makeup-free Olympia and Luke have their arms around one another and beam for the camera, as they pose with Tania and a relative.

'Lymp's (sic) new squeeze? Looks nice,' one Instagram user commented underneath the snap.

The group were enjoying a short stay at Jackalope Hotel in the Mornington Peninsula, which is south of Melbourne.
They have been promoting their new movie, Stan & Ollie.

And Steve Coogan and John C. Reilly took inspiration from the movie's characters, Laurel and Hardy, as they arrived in style to The Late Late Show, RTE in Dublin, Ireland on Friday night.

The actors, both 53, looked incredible handsome in snazzy three-piece suits, completed with ties, scarves and hats.

Icons: Steve Coogan and John C. Reilly took inspiration from their new movie's characters, Laurel and Hardy, as they to The Late Late Show, RTE in Dublin, Ireland on Friday night

Movie stars: They have been promoting their new movie, Stan & Ollie

Steve opted for a marl grey waistcoat and blazer atop a blue shirt and navy trousers.

He was joined by co-star John, who opted for a full navy suit and stylish tie.

The actors star as comedy duo Laurel and Hardy in the flick, who were popular during the Classical Hollywood era of American cinema.

The film follows the duo as they embark on a music hall tour of the UK and Ireland in the 1950s and also as they struggle to get a new film made - their own comedic version of Robin Hood.

Dapper: The actors, both 53, looked incredible handsome in snazzy three-piece suits, completed with ties, scarves and hats

Handsome: John also cut a dapper figure as they opted for a full navy suit and stylish tie

Steve opted for a marl grey waistcoat and blazer atop a blue shirt and navy trousers

Directed by Jon S Baird, the film was shot in spring 2017 and was released in UK cinemas on Friday after premiering at the BFI London Film Festival last October.

Steve and John had their reservations about playing Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy.

Speaking recently on The Graham Norton Show, Steve admitted they were 'anxious' about slipping into the shoes of such beloved performers.

Stars: The actors star as comedy duo Laurel and Hardy in the flick, who were popular during the Classical Hollywood era of American cinema

There she is! Saoirse Ronan was also a guest on The Late Late Show, and maed an icnredibly stylish entrance

He said: 'It was a bit of a risk and we were both anxious about playing such iconic characters who are admired by so many people.

'Audiences are laughing and crying at it which is good.'

John added: 'We had to recreate a partnership that lasted 30 years in three weeks!'

Steve has been nominated for Best Actor in a Leading Role at this year's BAFTAs while the movie has also earned a nominated for Best British Film.
He recently revealed that he 'ate a lot of pasta' while filming Netflix comedy Murder Mystery in Portofino last summer with Jennifer Aniston and Adam Sandler.

And Luke Evans, 39, showcased his dapper style as he attended GQ Italia's Best Dressed Men 2019 event in Milan, Italy on Friday night.

The Gone Girl star looked incredibly dapper in a velvet chocolate-coloured tuxedo jacket with a matching satin lapel at the stylish bash, which took place during Milan Menswear Fashion Week.

Stylish: Luke Evans, 39, showcased his dapper style as he attended GQ Italia's Best Dressed Men 2019 event in Milan, Italy on Friday night

The Welsh actor teamed his statement jacket with a pair of tailored black suit trousers, white dress shirt and black bow-tie.

Bringing some star power to the carpet, Luke brought his whole look together with a pair of patent leather dress shoes.

His appearance at the fashion soiree comes ahead of his new movie Murder Mystery.

In November, Luke told Lorraine Kelly: 'I was in Italy last summer, I basically had the best summer ever because I did a movie with Adam Sandler and Jennifer Aniston who are awesome.

Dapper: The Gone Girl actor looked incredibly dapper in a velvet chocolate-coloured tuxedo jacket with a matching satin lapel at the stylish bash

'We had the most glamorous locations I have ever worked on. It was amazing!'

Lorraine went on to ask if the stars 'guzzled' a lot of delicious pasta during their summer in Italy.

To which Luke revealed: 'We did. We had many evenings in our very beautiful hotel in Portofino where we ate a lot of good pasta. I didn't want it to end!'

In Murder Mystery, Jennifer and Adam play a New York-based couple who are eyed in the killing of an older billionaire in Europe.

Idyllic summer: The Beauty and the Beast actor admitted that he had the 'best summer ever' as he filmed Murder Mystery with the Friends actress, 49 (pictured), and Big Daddy actor, 52

Glamorous: He said: 'I was in Italy last summer, I basically had the best summer ever because I did a movie with Adam Sandler and Jennifer Aniston who are awesome.'

James Vanderbilt wrote the script, and Kyle Newacheck of Workaholics fame directed, according to Variety.

Jennifer and Adam previously appeared in the 2011 romantic comedy Just Go With It, this will be the actress' first movie with Netflix.

As well as Luke joining the duo in the star-studded cast, David Walliams and Gemma Arterton also have cameos in the film.

There is no set release date for Murder Mystery just yet, but it is expected to be released at some point in 2019.
With the final season of their hit show Broad City debuting on Comedy Central later this month, stars/creators Abbi Jacobson and Ilana Glazer reunited for one last round of press on Friday.

Jacobson, 34, and Glazer, 31, came together to promote the final season at the Comedy Central press day at the Viacom building in Los Angeles.

The fifth and final season of Broad City is set to debut Thursday, January 24 at 10 PM ET, followed by the new season The Other Two.

Stars and creators: Broad City stars/creators Abbi Jacobson and Ilana Glazer reunite at the Viacom building in Los Angeles to promote the final season of Broad City

Jacobson was wearing a tan button-up blouse and a white and black-spotted dress with strappy black heels.

Glazer was wearing a slightly sheer dress with blue bird prints and sparkling ruby red heels.

Glazer was also wearing a thin bracelet and rings while promoting her hit show.

Jacobson and Glazer both met while taking improv classes at Upright Citizens's Brigade in New York City.

Press time: Jacobson was wearing a tan button-up blouse and a white and black-spotted dress with strappy black heels

UCB roots: Jacobson and Glazer both met while taking improv classes at Upright Citizens's Brigade in New York City

In 2010, they launched their web series entitled Broad City, which followed their exploits throughout New York City.

The web series caught the eye of UCB founder Amy Poehler, who mentored both of the comedians and helped develop the series.

When the web series was picked up by Comedy Central, Poehler stayed aboard as an executive producer.

Broad City debuted in January 2014 with a 10-episode first season that averaged 1.2 million viewers each episode.

Success: The show was nominated for two Critics Choice Television Awards for Best Comedy Series and Best Actress in a Comedy Series (Ilana Glazer)

Branching out: Glazer starred in the 2017 comedy Rough Night with Scarlett Johansson, Jillian Bell and Zoe Kravitz

The show was nominated for two Critics Choice Television Awards for Best Comedy Series and Best Actress in a Comedy Series (Ilana Glazer).

Jacobson also voices Emily in the Netflix animated series Bojack Horseman and Bean in another Netflix animated show, Disenchantment.

Glazer starred in the 2017 comedy Rough Night with Scarlett Johansson, Jillian Bell and Zoe Kravitz.

Girls Night was written by her Broad City co-star Paul W. Downs, who plays Bingo Bronson and also serves as a writer and producer.
Logan Paul has apologized for joking about 'going gay for a month'.

The 23-year-old YouTube personality made the controversial comments on Wednesday's episode of his Impaulsive podcast.

'Were going to attempt to go gay for just one month,' quipped Paul.

The exchange took place between Logan and his co-host Mike Mejlak.

'January is sober vegan January and then February' began the multimillionaire media mogul.

They dubbed the next month 'fatal February'.

Logan then said, 'Its male-only March. Were going to attempt to go gay for just one month.'

The gag caused online consternation, including from advocacy group GLAAD (Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation), who tweeted, 'That's not how it works, @LoganPaul'.

The sometimes boxer responded to the organization's tweet on Friday, writing:

'very poor choice of words... my fault. let's get together and talk about it on my podcast next week?'

GLAAD has not yet publicly responded.

It is not the first time Paul has been embroiled in controversy over his online content.

Paul found himself in hot water over a video on his YouTube channel posted on New Year's Eve 2017, that showed a deceased man's corpse.

The video was shot in the infamous Aokigahara Forest in Japan, known as the 'suicide forest, which was intended to be part of a series of videos of Paul's adventures in Japan.

The video gained over 6.3 million views in just 24 hours, which also lead to backlash from celebrities and politicians, and eventually the temporary suspension of his YouTube ad revenue stream.
Audrey Hepburn is considered to be one of the most classic stars of Hollywood, with timeless style to match.

So Hilary Duff channeled the late actress during a day out in Beverly Hills on Friday.

Joining the beauty for her shopping excursion was newborn daughter, Banks.

Mom and child outing: On Friday, Hilary Duff, 31, was shopping in Beverly Hills with daughter Banks, two months

The blonde actress paired a turtleneck sweater with a set of cropped black pants.

The 31-year-old put on a pair of Gucci slides to her '50s-inspired ensemble, and added mystery to her look with simple black shades.

Hilary's outfit was completed with simple items of jewelry, a cream bag and a large maroon bow.

Inspiration: The actress channeled the late Audrey Hepburn with her ensemble

Beautiful little girl: In October of last year, Hilary welcomed her first daughter, Banks Violet Blair, two months

In October of last year, Hilary welcomed her first daughter, Banks Violet Blair, two months.

The beauty shares her daughter with boyfriend Matthew Koma -real name Matthew Blair - whom she met when the two worked on her 2015 album, Breathe In. Breathe Out.

Hilary also has older son Luca, six, whom she shares with ex-husband Mike Comrie.

Parents: The beauty shares her daughter with boyfriend Matthew Koma, 31, whom she met when the two worked on her 2015 album, Breathe In. Breathe Out. They are seen in Beverly Hills last week

Hilary Rose to fame as a pre-teen on the 2001 Disney Channel hit, Lizzie Mcguire.

The actress went on to have a successful music and television career, and recently wrapped her TV Land series, Younger.

Up next for the star is her portrayal of Sharon Tate in The Haunting of Sharon Tate.
She has just returned from her honeymoon in French Polynesia.

But Christina El Moussa, 35, was already back to work on Friday as she was spotted heading back to work.

Meanwhile, her co-star/ex-husband Tarek El Moussa, 37, posted a rant about the 'fake media' to the internet.

Beauty: Christina El Moussa, 35, was already back to work on Friday as she was spotted heading back to work

Christina flaunted her incredible figure as she strutted across Anaheim Hills.

The television personality looked long and lean in a pair of black leggings that highlighted her slender stems.

Her white t-shirt clung closely to her chest and her long blonde tresses blew about in voluptuous waves.

Shading her eyes with dark sunglasses, she accessorized with a variety of bracelets and wore a silver pendant necklace.

Honeymoon glow: Christina flaunted her incredible figure as she strutted across Anaheim Hills

On Thursday, Tarek lashed out at the media, after seeing reports that said he was 'devastated' about his ex-wife surprise wedding.

'In life...you can only take so much bulls***,' began the reality star's Instagram post that showed a photo of an article that said 'Tarek El Moussa Devastated After Ex Christina's Wedding: It's Like 'A Knife To His Heart.'

'Ive been quiet for years never saying anything but this time Im going to speak up.'

Grumbles: Meanwhile, her co-star/ex-husband Tarek El Moussa, 37, posted a rant about the 'fake media' to the internet

'I was advised NOT to do this but...here we go. The fake media and their fake sources will do and say anything to make a dollar!

'They tried over and over to break me and ruin me...but Im a fighter! They even called my girlfriends from high school!!!! Showed up at my moms house!!! Went to my sisters salon!!

'All their stories are bulls***! you want to know how I really feel??  watch my Instagram story!

Glowing: Christina, meanwhile, glowed in post-honeymoon relaxation

Christina, meanwhile, glowed in post-honeymoon relaxation.

Her and her new husband Ant Anstead enjoyed the last bits of their exotic honeymoon to Bora Bora on Wednesday.

The HGTV star made her 961K Instagram fans envious of her luxury vacation with new videos and images from the trip.

'Last day of cocktails,' the 35-year-old captioned a photo.

After a year of dating, the blonde beauty tied the knot with Ant at their home in Newport Beach, California, in a 'winter wonderland' themed wedding, right before Christmas.

Guests were under the impression they would be watching the Newport Beach Christmas Boat Parade when they arrived atat the couple's home - but instead were surprised with a wedding, according to People.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines)  The Philippines has often been placed atop the rankings of countries contributing to pollution globally.

In November, Manila was named among the least sustainable cities in the world by Amsterdam-based consultancy firm Arcadis Design and Consultancy for Natural and Built Assets.

Earlier this year, the country was also identified by an international environment group as the third worst polluter of the world's oceans, and has one of the largest trash collection rates in Southeast Asia.

One significant contributor to the Philippines' waste is the country's large plastic consumption.

While the product has its own benefits  cheap, light, and relatively easy to produce  it still accounts for 10 percent of all the waste the Philippines generates.

Of this statistic, about 50 percent is single-use or disposable plastic.

As this environmental issue continues to hound the country, several advocates have been pushing for the #ZeroWaste movement that encourages Filipinos to avoid utilizing single-use plastic.

Consumer goods company Unilever has a comprehensive Zero Waste to Nature program with a special focus on packaging waste.

"The program is quite ambitious. The fact that we're saying zero waste, it means the intent really is not to have any of our plastic waste going to the wrong channels like water streams," said Unilever Vice President for Sustainable Business and Communications Unilever Philippines Ed Sunico.

"We have to make sure that we have a lot of collaborations happening," he added.

Unilever has pledged to have all of its packaging reusable, recyclable and compostable by 2025.

Other Unilever programs intended to address the issue of packaging waste include a community-based sachet recovery program, office and factory solid waste management programs, packaging innovations, as well as collaboration with industry coalitions.

An example of this is the Surf Misis Walastik Program, which helps collect post-consumer sachet waste in communities across Metro Manila through a product exchange incentive program.

Following an educational and awareness campaign in partnership with barangay and community leaders, flexible plastics like wrappers, pouches, or sachets are collected, and subsequently recycled and converted into school chairs. These school chairs are then donated to public schools around the metro.

"This particular program is focused on collection  what we want to find out is the most viable way by which our households will start to consider and start to segregate," Sunico said of the program.
Last month she lit up the red carpet at the British Fashion Awards.

But Cindy Crawford went for a somewhat more casual touch on Friday, when the 52-year-old supermodel hit the clothing stores in West Hollywood.

The mother-of-two paired blue jeans with a white T-shirt for the outing.

Blue jean baby: Cindy Crawford went for a somewhat more casual touch on Friday, when the 52-year-old supermodel hit the clothing stores in West Hollywood

Over the T-shirt, the Illinois-born beauty slipped an olive-colored leather jacket.

On her feet, Cindy wore tan suede boots, which she matched to her tan purse.

The According To Jim actress shielded her eyes against the California glare with dark shades and wore her straight brunette tresses loose and flowing for the retail therapy session.

The ageless beauty look decades younger than her 52 years as she strolled through West Hollywood with her purchases.

White on! The mother-of-two paired blue jeans with a white T-shirt for the outing

Just a number: The ageless beauty look decades younger than her 52 years as she strolled through West Hollywood with her purchases

Good hair day: The According To Jim actress shielded her eyes against the California glare with dark shades and wore her straight brunette tresses loose and flowing for the retail therapy session

Last month, Crawford joined forces with her teen model daughter Kaia Gerber at the British Fashion Awards in London.

The Fair Game Star showed plenty of her gorgeous gams in a strapless black dress with a high thigh split.

Her 17-year-old daughter meanwhile showed a bit more skin in a metallic dress with side and chest cutout sections.

As well as the teenager, Cindy shares 19-year-old son Presley with her husband of over two decades, Rande Gerber.

Mother-daughter duo: Last month, Crawford joined forces with her teen model daughter Kaia Gerber at the British Fashion Awards in London
She is the statuesque stunner who is a fashion favourite.

And on Saturday, Kiwi model Georgia Fowler did not disappoint as she turned heads at the Portsea Polo, in Melbourne.

The 26-year-old Victoria's Secret star graced the event in a beautiful baby blue dress by Versace, which she teamed with a statement hat.

Victoria's Secret model Georgia Fowler (pictured) stuns in a flowing Versace bustier dress and a wide-brimmed hat as she joins the likes of Rebecca Judd, Jessie Habermann and Julie Bishop at the Portsea Polo

Her designer frock featured a bustier design and a flowing train, with a daring thigh-split.

The brunette beauty also accessorised with a pair of statement earrings and lilac heels.

She kept her makeup natural for the summer weather, with a pink toned nude lip and gently smokey eyes in a rust tone.

Statement look: She kept sun-safe by teaming the look with a wide-brimmed straw sun hat and accessorised with a pair of statement earrings

Flawless: Her frock featured a bustier design and a flowing train, with a daring thigh-split

Chic: AFL WAG Jessie Murphy (nee Haberman) flaunted petite frame in a cropped top and high waisted trousers. She accessorised with a Prada belt bag, perspex heels and a stylish sun hat

Also in attendance was AFL WAG Jessie Murphy (nee Haberman), who flaunted petite frame in a cropped top and high waisted trousers.

She accessorised with a $4000 Prada belt bag, adding a pair of perspex heels and a stylish sun hat.

All eyes were also on fellow WAG Rebecca Judd, who was also at the event, posing in style at the Jaggad marquee.

White hot! Rebecca Judd (pictured) wore a thigh-skimming dress with a giant bow tie in the front and edgy side cut outs by J'Aton Couture

The 35-year-old mother-of-four put on a leggy display in a white thigh-skimming dress with a giant bow tie in the front and edgy side cut outs by J'Aton Couture.

She complimented her look with a pair of studded espadrille sandals.

Alongside Rebecca was her AFL star husband Chris who cut a dapper figure in an all white ensemble comprised of a button up shirt and shorts.

Matching! Alongside was her husband Chris Judd (left) who cut a dapper figure in an all white ensemble comprised of a button up shirt and shorts

Ali Oetjen and her beau Taite Radley put on a very loved up display on the day, oblivious to onlookers.

Taite looked very appreciative of the Bachelorette's lilac ensemble, which consisted of a long, fitted skirt and a blouse with frilled hems and a crop-height cutout.

Sadly it looked like the beauty spilled something on herself as there was a large wet patch on her pencil skirt.

Loved up! Ali Oetjen (right) and her beau Taite Radley (left) put on a very loved up display on the day, oblivious to onlookers

Slip up: Sadly it looked like the beauty spilled something on herself as there was a large wet patch on her pencil skirt

Romantic exchange: Ali opted for heels in a complimentary colour of blush lavender, and wore her hair in a chic ponytail, her pink lipstick smeared after a barrage of kisses

Ali opted for heels in a complimentary colour of blush lavender, and wore her hair in a chic ponytail, her pink lipstick smeared after a barrage of kisses.

Taite opted for a pale blue blazer with a floral shirt underneath, black slacks and black loafers.

The reality TV couple were more subdued inside the event, with Ali showing off the waterfall detailing of her skit and the glimpse of midriff offered by her top.

More chill! The reality TV couple were more subdued inside the event as they smiled together

Slick fella! Taite opted for a pale blue blazer with a floral shirt underneath, black slacks and black loafers

Glimpses: Ali showed off the waterfall detailing of her skit and the glimpse of midriff offered by her top

Playing For Keeps star Olympia Valance turned heads in a one shouldered blouse with a mint green skirt, creating a formal but chic look.

With a large straw hat on her head and matching white heels on her feet, the actress spun around to showcase her skirt.

She carried a pale pink handbag and wore round sunglasses with a metallic tone, giggling as she happily posed.

Fashion forward: Playing For Keeps star Olympia Valance (pictured) turned heads in a one shouldered blouse with a mint green skirt

Cute! With a large straw hat on her head and matching white heels on her feet, the actress spun around to showcase her skirt

Formally chic: She carried a pale pink handbag and wore round sunglasses with a metallic tone, giggling as she happily posed

Reality beauty: Former Bachelor star Alex Nation (left) opted for a sheer, lace dress at the event showing off her slender figure in a tube bra and high-waisted underwear

Former Bachelor star Alex Nation opted for a sheer, lace dress showing off her slender figure in a tube bra and high-waist underwear.

Fellow Bachelor alum Keira Maguire, who attended with on-off boyfriend Jarrod Woodgate, opted for a billowing, white mini-dress with sheer lace sleeves.

She teamed the outfit with perspex heels for a modern touch, creating a pretty boho look, her bronzed highlighter leaving her glowing.

Boho: Fellow Bachelor alumna Keira Maguire, who attended with on-off boyfriend Jarrod Woodgate (right) opted for a billowing, white mini-dress with sheer lace sleeves

Ooh! Looking loved up, the pair out on an amorous display throughout the day

Lip lock! The pair had a smooch in a marquee and again in a green field outside

Hunky look! Bachelorette star Jarrod looked chic in a crisp white shirt, as well as a cool pair of tortoiseshell sunglasses and a cap

Looking loved up, the pair out on an amorous display throughout the day, kissing as they stood in a field and again in a marquee.

Bachelorette star Jarrod looked chic in a crisp white shirt, as well as a cool pair of tortoiseshell sunglasses and a cap.

He added a pair of rolled-up khaki slacks and tan brogues, worn without socks for casual look.

These boots are made for walking! Model Rebecca Harding (pictured) flaunted her trim pins in a white mini dress and Western style footwear

Rebecca Harding flaunted her trim pins in a fashionable ensemble consisting of cowboy boots at the event.

The 27-year-old wore a fetching white mini dress teamed with a pair of brown Western style boots and accessorised her summer look with a brimmed hat and a wicker cross-body bag.

Rebecca added a touch to bling with statement gold earrings in the shape of snakes, a gold choker and a beaded necklace.

Looking good! Alongside Rebecca at the event was boyfriend, comedian Andy Lee (right). The 37-year-old looked dapper in a mint-green short-sleeved shirt with white trousers

Alongside her at the event was boyfriend, comedian Andy Lee who looked dapper in a mint-green short-sleeved shirt with white trousers, which he accessorised with a pair of smoky brown sunglasses.

Former beauty queen Tegan Martin also graced the Polo in an aqua-hued thigh-skimming romper featuring a floral pattern that showcased her slender legs.

The 26-year-old accessorised her look with a beige clutch and a straw hat with blue ribbon detailing, as she flashed her bright smile for the cameras.

Race day chic: Former beauty queen Tegan Martin also graced the Polo in an aqua-hued thigh-skimming romper featuring a floral pattern that showcased her slender legs

Touches: The 26-year-old accessorised her look with a straw hat with blue ribbon detailing, as she flashed her bright smile for the cameras

Pretty: She styled her luscious blonde locks in a simple straight look that cascaded past her shoulders and wore blue pearl shaped earrings

All smiles! Nude lipstick and warm metallic highlighter gave her a sun-kissed look

Blue mood: She added a pair of strappy blue heels to the pastel toned ensemble

Best foot forward: The model carried a beige clutch purse in her hand as part of the look

She styled her luscious blonde locks in a simple straight look that cascaded past her shoulders and warm metallic highlighter than gave her a sun-kissed look.

Georgia Love was pretty in pink - and green - in a flirty floral motif dress with a one-shoulder sleeve.

She added a baby pink headband to match her YSL bag and wedge heels, and opted for an equally rose hued makeup palette, including peachy eye-shadow and gloss.

Rosy toned: Georgia Love was pretty in pink - and green - in a flirty floral dress with a one-shoulder sleeve

Matching pair: Her boyfriend Lee Elliott (right) looked dapper in a blue jacket and shirt with pale pink stripes, as well as beige pants and pointed brown brogues

Rosy: Georgia added a baby pink headband to match her YSL bag and wedge heels

Spring fling: She opted for an equally rose hued makeup palette, including peachy eye-shadow and gloss

Her boyfriend Lee Elliott looked dapper in a blue jacket and shirt with pale pink stripes, as well as beige pants and pointed brown brogues.

Instagram sensation Laura Henshaw, 26, cut a chic figure in a sheer white dress with a lace bustier design and sheer, flared skirting.

The co-founder of health and fitness brand Keep It Cleaner looked ethereal in the white strapless number, and added a pair of wedge heels.

Brunette beauty: Instagram sensation Laura Henshaw cut a chic figure in a sheer white dress. She accessorised her outfit with a matching cross-body bag

Love birds: Alongside Laura at the event was her fiance Dalton Graham (left) who looked handsome in his blue suit teamed with a navy blue button-up shirt

Alongside her at the event was her fiance Dalton Graham who looked handsome in his blue suit teamed with a navy button-up shirt.

Melbourne-based fashion blogger Rozalia Russian, 30, looked elegant in a dusty pink mini dress that drew attention to her toned pins.

She teamed the look with a matching top handle bag personalised with her name emblazoned on the front in gold lettering.

Stylish: Fashion blogger Rozalia Russian (left), 30, looked elegant in a dusty pink mini dress that drew attention to her toned pins. Newlywed Charlotte Viney (right), who recently tied the knot with AFL star Jack Viney, showcased her slender figure in an off-the-shoulder floral frock

Newlywed Charlotte Viney showed off her slender figure in an off-the-shoulder floral dress with a cut-out at the midriff.

The beauty, who tied the knot with AFL star Jack Viney on Thursday, showcased her slim pins and slender figure in the fitted frock which she paired with strappy heels.

The WAG teamed her ensemble with a brimmed straw hat and small handbag by Chloe, for a touch of luxury.

Chic and casual: Opting for a casually chic look, Tully Smythe wore a white cotton jumpsuit with spaghetti straps, to which she added chunky black heels

Trendy: She showed off her slender figure in the low-cut ensemble, to which she added a pair of sunglasses with chain detailing, and delicate cold necklace

Opting for a casually chic look, Tully Smythe wore a white cotton jumpsuit with spaghetti straps, to which she added chunky black heels.

She showed off her slender figure in the low-cut ensemble, to which she added a pair of sunglasses with chain detailing, and delicate cold necklace.

The former reality star wore her blonde, shiny her down around her shoulders and opted for a pale pink lipstick stain for a natural look.

Retro: Sarah Roza (pictured) opted for a purple fitted dress with a blue chequered pattern and cold-shoulder details

Details: The retro look included a black, straw visor and blue tassel statement earrings, and the former Married at First Sight star wore heavy blush and rosy red lipstick

Sarah Roza opted for a bright, purple fitted dress with a blue chequered pattern and cold-shoulder details.

The retro look included a black, straw visor and blue tassel statement earrings, and the former Married at First Sight star wore heavy blush and rosy red lipstick.

A pair of clear heels completed the ensemble, with small touches, such as red nail and type polish, adding additional interest.

Cheerful! Fellow MAFS allum Carly Bowyer was eye-catching in orange with white, fern frond designs throughout and a pair of tan heels

Chic chick: The low-cut frock showed off some cleavage, and the former reality star added some sunglasses and a tan bag with a black and white scarf attached for accessories

Fellow MAFS allum Carly Bowyer was eye-catching in orange with white, fern frond designs throughout and a pair of tan heels.

The low-cut frock showed off some cleavage, and the former reality star added some sunglasses and a tan bag with a black and white scarf attached for accessories.

She finished the ensemble with a pair of drop statement earrings and a peachy nude lipstick, her blonde hair down and straight around her shoulders.

It's nice, it's different: Asher Keddie (pictured) stood out from the fashion pack in a checked grey suit at Portsea Polo

Natural: Asher opted for minimal makeup, with just a hint of a pink blush on her cheeks and a light tint on her lips

Hubby in tow: Her artist husband Vincent Fantauzzo (L) also attended event in a relaxed ensemble, donning in a chambray blazer and palm printed button-down shirt

Asher Keddie stood out from the fashion pack in a checked grey suit at Portsea Polo.

The actress teamed her chic ensemble with a pair of nude heels, holding her sunglasses in her hand and opting for minimal makeup, with just a hint of a pink blush on her cheeks and a light tint on her lips.

Her artist husband Vincent Fantauzzo also attended event in a relaxed ensemble, donning in a chambray blazer, palm printed button-down shirt, navy shorts and white sneakers.

Regal: Julie Bishop and partner David Panton (pictured) cut classy figures as they arrived at the event in matching tones

Flare: The former Minister for Foreign Affairs wore a chic white dress with a floral motif at the waist, along with drop pearl earrings and a small straw hat

Julie Bishop and partner David Panton cut classy figures as they arrived at the event in matching tones.

The former Minister for Foreign Affairs wore a chic white dress with a floral motif at the waist, along with drop pearl earrings and a small straw hat, adding some bling with studded white wedge heels.

David chose a blue cotton shirt and neat white slacks with a pair of black and white sneakers to complete the ensemble.

Dashing! Gamble Breaux and her husband Dr Rick Wolfe (pictured) made an upmarket pair as they sauntered into the polo

Red and green, always seen: The Real Housewives Of Melbourne star opted for a revealing floral dress in bright red and green tones, matching it with an oversize red handbag

Gamble Breaux and her husband Dr Rick Wolfe made an upmarket pair as they sauntered into the polo.

The Real Housewives Of Melbourne star opted for a revealing floral dress in bright red and green tones, matching it with an oversize red handbag.

For a touch of contrast, she added baby blue heels, and wore reflective sunglasses, her hair down and her makeup glowing, with a standout of pink-toned lipstick.

Ready to rock?DJ Havana Brown (pictured) went for a look that had a music festival feel, consisting of a floral crop top and matching flared pants

Done up: She added a straw visor in a black tone and had perfectly applied makeup including a red lip, peach eye-shadow and winged eyeliner, as well as highlighted cheeks

Havana Brown went for a look that had a music festival feel, consisting of a floral crop top and slim matching pants with flared bottoms.

She added a straw visor in a black tone and had perfectly applied makeup including a red lip, peach eye-shadow and winged eyeliner, as well as highlighted cheeks.

The DJ completed the look with wedge heels and gold accessories including bling-encrusted earrings, gold bangles and gold chains.

Sunshine! Steph Claire Smith (pictured) was mellow in yellow, wearing a summery frock in a very bright tone and featuring large tortoiseshell buttons

Bits and pieces: The author carried a small black clutch which matched her black wedges, and a pair of sunglasses hung around her neck on a chain

Steph Claire Smith was mellow in yellow, wearing a summery frock in a very bright tone and featuring large tortoiseshell buttons.

The author carried a small black clutch which matched her black wedges, and a pair of sunglasses hung around her neck on a chain.

She chose natural makeup with a nude lipstick and pulled her hair neatly off her face but for a few loose tendrils.

Nick Giannopoulos looked jolly at the event, opting for a classic polo look in tones of navy and white.

The actor paired white boat shoes with matching shorts and a casual dark blue shirt, opened to reveal his chest.

Happy chappy: Nick Giannopoulos (pictured) looked jolly at the event, opting for a classic polo look in tones of navy and white
She's one of Hollywood's busiest young actresses.

And so Ariel Winter ate while on the run on Friday, snacking on pretzel pieces while heading to a meeting in Studio City.

The 20-year-old Modern Family actress was clad in head-to-toe black for the outing.

Multitasking: Ariel Winter ate while on the run on Friday, snacking on pretzel pieces while heading to a meeting in Studio City

The Kiss Kiss Bang Bang actress slipped a black hoodie over a dark T-shirt as she strolled the Los Angeles streets.

Ariel showed off her perfect pins in a pair of clingy black leggings and wore black and white Nike trainers on her feet.

An Yves Saint Laurent purse was slung across her body via a gold chain strap.

Winter went makeup free for the outing and tied her raven tresses back in a high bun.

Back in black: The 20-year-old Modern Family actress was clad in head-to-toe black for the outing

Casual day: The Kiss Kiss Bang Bang actress slipped a black hoodie over a dark T-shirt as she strolled the Los Angeles streets

The star is currently enjoying a well-deserved holiday break from her hit ABC show.

The 10th season of Modern Family premiered in September, which came just weeks after co-creators Christopher Lloyd and Steven Levitan announced that it would likely be the last for the hit show.

But in recent weeks a number of publications, including Deadline, have been reporting that stars Sofia Vegara, Ed O'Neil, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Eric Stonestreet and Ty Burrell are close to signing deals for at least an abbreviated 11th season.
A Coming To America sequel has been simmering in Hollywood for years.

But it seems that things are finally moving forward on the project, now that Craig Brewer, 47, has agreed to sign on as director.

The Hustle & Flow director was tapped by Paramount Pictures to helm a sequel to the hit comedy, according to a report from Deadline Friday.

Good news! It seems that things are finally moving forward on the Coming to America 2 project, now that Craig Brewer has agreed to sign on as director (pictured in 2012)

Of course Eddie Murphy, 57, will be reprising his role as Akeem, an African prince who travels to America to find a bride worthy of his respect.

A script by original screenwriters Barry Blaustein and David Sheffield is being rewritten by Black-Ish writer Kenya Barris.

According to the outlet, the sequel follows Akeem as he returns to America to find a long lost son.

Beloved character: Of course Eddie Murphy will be reprising his role as Akeem, an African prince who travels to America to find a bride worthy of his respect

Said progeny is theoretically the heir of the fictional African country of Zamunda.

Apparently many of the original characters will return as well, including Arsenio Hall as Akeem's assistant Seemi, Shar Headley, whom Akeem found in New York, John Amos, who played her father, and James Earl Jones, who depicted Akeem's father the king.

While there is no production date yet, it is reportedly set to start shooting sometime in 2019.

Throwback! Apparently many of the original characters will return as well, including Arsenio Hall as Akeem's assistant Seemi

The addition of Brewer as director seems to have been a big factor in moving the film forward.

Murphy gushed in a statement:'After many years of anticipation, Im thrilled that Coming to America 2 is officially moving forward. Weve assembled a great team that will be led by Craig Brewer, who just did an amazing job on Dolemite, and Im looking forward to bringing all these classic and beloved characters back to the big screen.'

Brewer also directed Murphy in Dolemite Is My Name, which itself is a remake of the original Dolemite which premiered in 1975.
She rang in the New Year on a sun-kissed holiday in India.

And now Elizabeth Hurley is soaking up the warm weather in Morocco as she attended a cocktail party ahead of the ABB FIA Formula E 2019 Marrakesh E-Prix at the Amanjena Resort in Marrakesh on Friday.

The Royals star, 53, was joined by none other than fellow actor Justin Theroux, 47, at the event, where the pair chatted to fellow attendees.

Style: Elizabeth Hurley is soaking up the warm weather in Morocco as she attended a cocktail party ahead of the ABB FIA Formula E 2019 Marrakesh E-Prix at the Amanjena Resort in Marrakesh on Friday

Elizabeth was dressed to impress for the occasion, wearing a black knee-length dress with a detailed, floral lace print and long sleeves.

The actress added height to her frame with a pair of strappy heels and accessorised with a pair of golden earrings.

Looking in high spirits at the bash, Elizabeth let her brunette locks hang loose around her shoulders.

Justin was dressed in a black jumper and matching, slim-fitting jeans and black boots, adding a pop of colour with a golden necklace.

Outfit: Elizabeth was dressed to impress for the occasion, wearing a black knee-length dress with a detailed, floral lace print and long sleeves

Fashion: Justin was dressed in a black jumper and matching, slim-fitting jeans and black boots, adding a pop of colour with a golden necklace

Elizabeth has kept fans updated on her travels through social media.

The TV star has previously confessed that she often ropes her son Damian, 16, into taking photographs of her - including her bikini-clad snaps she posts to social media - but ridiculed claims made suggesting she takes him on holiday to purposely play photographer.

On their relationship, she told You Magazine: 'Damian is a great photographer, and he instinctively knows what younger people want to see, but thats all...

'Our downtime together is usually spent watching something scary on Netflix or Vikings on Amazon Prime. By default we spend a lot of time together and we are utterly comfortable in each other's company.'

Elizabeth also dismissed claims that her only son was 'embarrassed' by his mother and 'wanted her to cover up a bit more', given the nature of her racy snaps, branding them 'absolutely rubbish'.

Party: Elizabeth has kept fans updated on her travels through social media

Fun: Justin showed off his fun side as he posed next to a collection of motor vehicles at the star-studded event

Watch out! The actor couldn't resist getting behind the wheel as he posed up a storm
After attending the National Board of Review Awards in New York City on Tuesday night, Maggie Gyllenhaal and husband Peter Sarsgaard arrived in Los Angeles on Friday.

The Brooklyn, New York residents were spotted arriving at LAX airport, keeping it very casual as they were spotted heading down an escalator.

The couple have arrived ahead of the Critics Choice Awards, which air Sunday, January 13 on The CW, where both are up for awards.

Maggie and Peter: Maggie Gyllenhaal and Peter Sarsgaard were both spotted arriving in Los Angeles on Friday, ahead of the Critics Choice Awards on Sunday.

The 41-year-old star of The Kindergarten Teacher was pictured wearing a dark grey top and light blue jeans and sunglasses with a black coat with a grey bag over her shoulder and white shoes.

Her 47-year-old husband was wearing a grey shirt, black Nike pants, dark grey coat and black shoes, while wearing sunglasses and a multi-colored cap.

He was also carrying an olive green garment bag as he walked through the terminal with his wife of almost 10 years.

Welcome to L.A.: Her 47-year-old husband was wearing a grey shirt, dark grey coat, black Nike pants and black shoes, while wearing sunglasses and a multi-colored cap

Gyllenhaal is nominated for Best Actress in a Drama Series for playing Eileen 'Candy' Merrell on HBO's The Deuce.

She was previously nominated for a Critics Choice Television Award in 2015 for Best Actress in a Movie/Limited Series for her work on BBC's The Honourable Woman.

She is going up against Killing Eve's Sandra Oh and Jodie Comer, The Handmaid's Tale's Elisabeth Moss, Sorry For Your Loss' Elizabeth Olsen, Homecoming's Julia Roberts and The Americans' Keri Russell.

Stylish Maggie: The 41-year-old star of The Kindergarten Teacher was pictured wearing a dark grey top and light blue jeans and sunglasses with a black coat with a grey bag over her shoulder and white shoes

Sarsgaard is nominated for Best Supporting Actor in a Movie Made for Television or Limited Series for his role as Martin Schmidt on Hulu's The Looming Tower.

He was previously nominated for a Critics Choice Television Awards in 2014 for Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series for his work on AMC's The Killing.

The actor will be going up against Jesus Christ Superstar Live In Concert's Brandon Victor Dixon, Escape at Dannemora's Eric Lange, Genius: Picasso's Alex Rich, The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story's Finn Wittrock and A Very English Scandal's Ben Whishaw.

Happy couple: The couple have arrived ahead of the Critics Choice Awards, which air Sunday, January 13 on The CW, where both are up for awards

Gyllenhaal and Sarsagaard, a close friend of Maggie's brother Jake, first started dating in 2002.

They announced their engagement in April 2006 and were married in May 2009.

The couple has two daughters, Ramona, 12, and Gloria Ray, 6, and the couple reside in Brooklyn, New York.
Brie Larson and musician Alex Greenwald have called off their engagement after nearly three years.

The 29-year-old actress and 39-year-old Phantom Planet frontman were engaged in Tokyo back in May 2016.

A source confirmed the split to People as they explained: 'They have taken a step back from their engagement for the time being but they remain close.'

Moving on: Brie Larson and musician Alex Greenwald - pictured in January 2018 - have called off their engagement after three years according to People

They had been dating for several years prior to the engagement as they had been romantically linked since 2013.

Larson was joined by Greenwald at several events throughout the 2016 award season culminating in her Best Actress win for 2015 film Room at the Oscars.

'Jacob Tremblay, my partner through this in every way possible,' she said of her co-star in the flick. 'My real partner, Alex Greenwald, I love you.'

'My real partner, Alex Greenwald, I love you': Larson was joined by Greenwald at several events throughout 2016 award season culminating in her Best Actress win for 2015 film Room at the Oscars as she even thanked him during her speech, they are pictured in February 2017

The two have kept their relationship relatively private throughout the years though Larson did rave about the California hitmaker during a 2017 USA Today interview as she said: 'I dont think I could do any of this without my person.

'Its a safe place to be unsafe. I can go out in the world and I can take risks and I can push myself to the limit, and then theres that core that knows me and no matter how far I go, Im still the same when I come back. Thats a really valuable thing.'

Larson dated actor and musician John Patrick Amedori for four years from 2008 and 2012 and Cody Linley from 2006 to 2007.

'I dont think I could do any of this without my person': The two have kept their relationship relatively private throughout the years though Larson did rave about the California hitmaker during a 2017 USA Today interview, as they are pictured in April 2018

The news comes at an interesting time as she stars in what could be two of 2019's biggest movies, both from Marvel Studios, Captain Marvel and Avengers: Endgame.

Larson recently topped a Fandango poll as the Most Anticipated Actress for 2019, with Tom Hanks, who stars as Fred Rogers in A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood, named as the Most Anticipated Actor.

The actress stars in the top two most anticipated features of the year, Avengers: Endgame and Captain Marvel, with Captain Marvel also named Most Anticipated Stand Alone Comic Book Movie.

Captain Marvel will hit theaters March 8, 2019, just two months before Avengers: Endgame arrives on April 26, 2019.
She tries to keep a low-profile while out and about.

And it looked as though Lupita Nyong'o was looking to do just that as she arrived at LAX airport on Friday.

The 35-year-old Star Wars actress looked quite happy to be back in Los Angeles, though was dressed quite casually for the jaunt.

All smiles! Lupita Nyong'o looked quite happy to be back in La La Land, though was dressed quite casually for the jaunt

For her flight, the Kenyan-Mexican actress paired a black track top featuring white stripes down both arms with a pair of black trousers dotted with white stars.

She kept warm in a white turtleneck, and rounded out the laid-back ensemble with some black high-top sneakers from Vans - that were actually lined with faux fur for an added cozy touch.

It seems she's a fan of the hip new brand n:PHILANTHROPY, as she was dressed from head to toe in their garments.

Nothing fancy: For her flight, the Kenyan-Mexican actress paired a black track top with a pair of black trousers dotted with white stars, and some black high-top Vans

Accessories included a black ball cap, stud earrings and some oversized shades, while she also carried a sizable Tna for Aritzia puffy white coat.

It appeared the popular star was in good spirits, as she couldn't help but grin quite widely as she walked through the crowded terminal.

Meanwhile, it seems her Black Panther co-star Michael B. Jordan has recently gone out of his way to deny rumors of a romance between the two.

Happy lady! It appeared the popular star was in good spirits, as she couldn't help but grin quite widely as she walked through the crowded terminal

The Hollywood hunk told ET on Thursday that 'No, were good friends, honestly, weve known each other a really long time and respect each other and I love this girl to death.'

Nyong'o, who was also on hand for the event, backed up her co-star's sentiments with her own response to his denial.

'Its flattering at the end of the day. I think its such a rare thing to find people you have good chemistry with and too for us to find each other as actors and get to work together, it makes the work richer that we truly enjoy each others company on and off screen,' she gushed to the outlet.
The Greatest Dancer mentor Oti Mabuse's secret heartache has been disclosed after it was tragically revealed that her half-brother Neo took his own life while they were growing up in South Africa.

Strictly's Oti, 28, was only a little girl at the time of her sibling's death as her sister Motsi shared that he committed suicide shortly after Mandela's release from prison in 1990.

Motsi, 37, who is also a dancer and has starred on Let's Dance, laid bare the heart-wrenching details of their family tragedy in her book Chili in the Blood: My Dance Through Life which is published in Germany.

Family tragedy: The Greatest Dancer star Oti Mabuse's secret heartache unveiled as it's revealed her brother Neo committed suicide aged 18 (Pictured: Oti, December 2018)

'He killed himself with a poison. And because the people of Africa are very religious and superstitious, something bad arose in our neighbourhood,' she wrote.

Neo  who was born to mum Dudu and had a different dad to his three sisters Oti, Motsi and Phemelo  committed suicide at the age of 18.

The dancing professional recalled the haunting time when her family were shunned from their neighbours in South Africa who believed Neo's death was a bad omen.

So sad: Strictly's Oti, 28, was only a little girl at the time of her sibling's death as her sister Motsi shared that he committed suicide shortly after Mandela's release from prison in 1990

She elaborated: 'With the suicide of Neo, our family was seen as one where there was a negative energy. Because of this rumour, no one came to us any more, because it was feared that bad energy applied to the visitor.'

Motsi shared how she believes her brother found it difficult to adapt when the family's situation changed for the better after growing up in poorer circumstances.

She added: 'Neo had witnessed the rise of my parents. He still remembered the cramped life, which for us younger siblings was more of a narrative than a truly experienced reality.'

Strong family unit: Neo  who was born to mum Dudu and had a different dad to his three sisters Oti, Motsi and Phemelo (pictured together, Oti on right)  committed suicide aged 18

The book  which chronicles her life story  has been published in Germany where she stars on the show Let's Dance.

MailOnline has approached Oti Mabuse's representatives for further comment.

Oti returned to our screens as a mentor on The Greatest Dancer alongside Cheryl and Glee's Matthew Morrison on Saturday night.

Good to be back! Oti returned to our screens as a mentor on The Greatest Dancer alongside Cheryl and Glee's Matthew Morrison

Finding fame: The South African siren shot to fame as a professional dancer on BBC show Strictly Come Dancing in 2015 and she has been on there ever since

The South African siren shot to fame as a professional dancer on BBC show Strictly Come Dancing in 2015 and she has been on there ever since.

In October last year, Oti gave a rare insight into her childhood when she divulged she started dancing at the age of four after watching her sisters move.

She told Women's Health: 'So I kind of come from a dance family where I grew up watching my sisters dance. I haven't stopped dancing ever since.'

If you've been affected by this article, please call the Samaritans on 116 123 or 020 7734 2800.
She's the Pretty Little Liars actress who's known for keeping it real on her social media accounts.

And Lucy Hale did just that on Friday, revealing she suffers from 'the worst heartburn'.

Trying to find a cure, the 29-year-old beauty was seen stepping out at her local CVS store to pick up some medication in Los Angeles.

Morning errands run: Lucy Hale showcased her trim gym-honed physique when she stepped out following a morning sweat session on her way to CVS on Friday morning

Lucy headed to the store straight after her early morning gym session on Friday.

She flaunted her toned gym-honed physique in a pair of form-fitting tights and a black top to match.

The Life Sentence star kept warm with a $210 Sherpa jacket of the same color from Alo Yoga.

Gorgeous: She flaunted her toned gym-honed physique in a pair of form-fitting tights and a black top to match

Keeping it casual: Lucy styled her blonde locks back into a low bun and appeared to be makeup free for the morning errands run

Lucy styled her blonde locks back into a low bun and appeared to be makeup free for the morning errands run.

Taking to Instagram Stories, the beauty showcased her CVS purchases and revealed she had already exceeded the recommended amount.

'I just got these things from CVS cause I have the worst heartburn ever,' she began the post.

Sharing her heartburn solutions: Taking to Instagram Stories, the beauty showcased her CVS purchases and revealed she had already exceeded the recommended amount

Keeping up with her health and fitness goals: Lucy began Friday morning with an early morning session at the gym with her trainer

'They're delicious, I've had like four.

She progressed to read the medication recommendations of 1-2 chews every four hours.

Lucy rose to fame after starring in the beloved series Pretty Little Liars, which came to an end after seven years in 2017.

She's remained on television since then, starring in the now-cancelled series Life Sentence.

More recently, she co-hosted Dick Clark's Rockin' New Years Eve in New Orleans, and will be back on the big screen with the films Fantasy Island and A Girl Like You.
She was seen shooting a campaign on Friday in New York City while sporting a nude bodysuit with cream trousers and a cropped white denim jacket.

And hours later, Gigi Hadid was seen clinging to her bodyguard as she made her way home.

The 23-year-old model cut a chic figure in green trousers with a matching long-sleeved blouse, adding a gray scarf and silver sneakers.

Stylish ensemble: Gigi Hadid was seen clinging to her bodyguard as she made her way home on Friday afternoon in New York City

Gigi was on the phone as she exited her car behind her bodyguard, while making her way inside her residence.

The cover girl chose a fern colored ensemble featuring cropped bottoms with a matching long-sleeved top.

The blonde beauty stayed warm with a cozy gray scarf wrapped around her neck; she added white socks and bold sneakers.

Apparently that combination was not quite warm enough however, and she later added a denim bomber jacket into the mix.

Effortless: The 23-year-old model cut a chic figure in green trousers with a matching long-sleeved blouse, adding a gray scarf and silver sneakers

She's so pretty: Gigi was on the phone as she exited her car behind her bodyguard while making her way inside her residence

More layers! Apparently that combination was not quite warm enough however, and she later added a denim bomber jacket into the mix

Gigi wore her blonde hair pulled back into a low ponytail with a deep side part; she wore just a touch of makeup, opting to let her stunning beauty shine.

Soon after Gigi was seen taking a stroll solo in the Big Apple; the blonde stunner bundled up in the $1,195 Philip Lim striped oversized down coat.

She wore the blue and white striped luxury cover up with a white turtleneck from Reebok.

The Reebok spokesperson donned black sweats with sneakers, adding a small dark hued headband.

Casual: Soon after Gigi was seen taking a stroll solo in the Big Apple; the blonde stunner bundled up in the $1,195 Philip Lim striped oversized down coat

Solo: She wore the blue and white striped luxury cover up with a white turtleneck from Reebok

Earlier in the day, model donned a flesh colored bodysuit beneath a cropped white denim jacket and nude trousers with sneakers for an outdoor photo shoot.

Gigi donned a fitted one-piece in a nude hue that highlighted her slim waist; the blonde haired beauty layered a cropped white denim jacket.

The older sister of Bella Hadid slipped on beige colored drawstring bottoms with white socks and gray and silver sneakers.

The star took the freezing weather in the Big Apple in stride as she posed up a storm in her look; crew members around her were seen bundled up in their winter wear.

Focused: Earlier in the day, model donned a flesh colored bodysuit beneath a cropped white denim jacket and nude trousers with sneakers

Beautiful: Gigi donned a fitted one-piece in a nude hue that highlighted her slim waist; the blonde haired beauty layered a cropped white denim jacket

Her photo shoot comes just one week after Us Weekly reported that she split for the second time with boyfriend Zayn Malik.

The magazine's insider said that the lovebirds are 'done;' The source said that 'they could get back together' but 'it's over for now.'

The magazine claimed that Gigi 'tried hard to make' their relationship work but Zayn, 25, has 'a lot of his own issues that she couldn't help him get through.'

The model and the former One Direction member first began dating in November 2015; they split for the first time in March 2018.

They announced their breakup on social media with identical statements.

In May, Gigi and Zayn were spotted sharing kisses during a stroll in New York City, confirming that they have reconciled.
She's been at the helm of the series since 2013.

And Emma Willis, 42, has admitted it's been a 'weird' start to the year as it is her first January in five years where she has not hosted Celebrity Big Brother.

Normally staple viewing in the first few weeks of the year, Channel 5 confirmed during last year's show that they were axing the series.

Strange: Emma Willis, 42, has admitted it's been a 'weird' start to the New Year as it is her first January in five years where she has not hosted Celebrity Big Brother (pictured December 2018)

Speaking to The Mirror, Emma said: 'January has been weird if Im being honest. When Big Brother finished, everybody was really sad.

'But I think all of us thought it would be nice to have a bit of time in January and not have New Year happen and suddenly you are back into it. But if I am honest I have really missed it.'

Emma is mum to Isabelle, nine, Ace, seven, and Trixie, two, with husband Matt Willis and admitted it has been nice to have more time at home with them recently.

She added: 'It has been lovely to have an extended amount of time at home with the kids but I am someone that likes to keep busy. I miss it. I really, really do.'

Emma said: 'January has been weird if Im being honest. When Big Brother finished, everybody was really sad' (pictured September 2018)

Emma presented her first civilian series of Big Brother in 2013, replacing Brian Dowling who had been at the helm of the show after its move to Channel 5 in 2011.

She has presented two celebrity series a year since then, one airing in January and the other in the summer after the civilian series ends, usually in August.

While it has been an odd change for Emma to no longer have the show, she admitted she has gotten a lot more done at home than she would have normally.

She added: 'I think all of us thought it would be nice to have a bit of time in January and not have New Year happen and suddenly you are back into it' (pictured October 2018)

Career: Emma presented her first series of Big Brother in 2013, replacing Brian Dowling who had been at the helm of the show after its move to Channel 5 in 2011 (pictuted November 2018)

Rylan Clark-Neal, 30, who hosted Big Brother's Bit On The Side, has also been feeling the change.

On New Year's Day, he tweeted: 'It just don't feel right without Big Brother.'

Days later, he shared another tweet detailing what the show has meant to him over the years.

He recounted his win of the celebrity series in January 2013 as well as meeting his husband Dan the same year after he was a housemate on the civilian series.

Memories: Rylan Clark-Neal, 30, who hosted Big Brother's Bit On The Side, has also been feeling the change

He wrote: '6 years ago today I entered the @bbuk house and made friends for life, won it, started hosting on it, got married from it and my colleagues became family.

'Sometimes you gotta let things go... but not that surely. Itll be back one day. Its too good not to x.'

The show's original host Davina McCall, who presented the series on Channel 4 from 2000 to 2010, shared a video message to Emma and Rylan ahead of their final show.

She said: 'Im up in Manchester working on the 100k drop so I cant be with you guys tonight, I really want to come by and say hi.

Support: The show's original host Davina McCall, who presented the series on Channel 4 from 2000 to 2010, shared a video message to Emma and Rylan ahead of the final show (pictured this month)

'I just wanted to say good luck Emma you are amazing and brilliant good luck Rylan. I know its going to be very emotional and I hope you have a great night.

'I know its going to be hard tonight but Im sending you all so much love.'

Meanwhile, Emma has been kept busy hosting the latest series of The Voice UK.

The show is now in its eighth series with the former MTV presenter taking over the reins from Reggie Yates and Holly Willoughby in 2014.
Oliver Curtis, 33, struggled to find work after a sensational court case found him guilty of conspiring to commit insider trading in 2016.

But now 18 months on from his release from Cooma Correctional Centre, Oliver has founded a new business venture with his wife, Roxy Jacenko.

Jacenko, 37, told The Daily Telegraph on Saturday that she struggled watching Curtis, a former successful investment banker, attempt to find his feet in the finance world again: 'It was heartbreaking for me as he is incredibly talented.'

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'It was heartbreaking to watch': Roxy Jacenko (right) has launched a new business with her convicted insider trader husband Oliver Curtis who struggled to find work after jail

Oliver was released from prison after 12 months on a good behaviour bond in June 2017, after being sentenced to two years for insider trading in June 2016.

While an Australian Securities and Investment Commission spokeswoman told News Corp that Curtis is disqualified from managing corporations in Australia until June 2022, the couple insist Curtis working for the new business does not break any conditions of his release.

Curtis told the publication: 'I can work for a business and be employed in a business and do all that. I haven't been banned to work, it's just simply being a director.'

Jacenko, 37, told The Daily Telegraph on Saturday that she struggled watching Curtis, a former successful investment banker, attempt to find his feet in the finance world again: 'It was heartbreaking for me as he is incredibly talented'

Jacenko and Curtis' new Sydney-based public relations and marketing consultancy service, 18 Communications, aims to help Australian companies raise their profile in the tough Chinese market. (Pictured arriving at the Supreme Court of NSW in 2016)

Jacenko and Curtis' new Sydney-based public relations and marketing consultancy service, 18 Communications, aims to help Australian companies raise their profile in the tough Chinese market.

Curtis, however, admitted that things have not all been plain sailing.

'There are times that are challenging and have been challenging,' he said.

Curtis, however, admitted that things have not all been plain sailing: 'There are times that are challenging and have been challenging'. Pictured: Roxy Jacenko

In explained Oliver's new role, Roxy said: 'Oli came on as the COO (Chief Operating Officer). Reality is, he came out of jail and had a challenging time getting back into the finance market.'

It's not the first time Jacenko has taken an active role in helping Curtis flourish again in the world of finance and business.

A year after his release from prison he spent time at medical start-up E-Nome, before joining Jacenko's public relations company, Sweaty Betty.

The former stockbroker took up a position in the financial department of his wife's various companies.

'He actually settled in to work with us this week, so Oli is now helping me within the business from a finance perspective. He understands spreadsheets. I don't - I got zero out of 100 in maths!' Jacenko told The Morning Show in May, 2018.

Jacenko explained that Curtis' duties included looking at contracts and term deposits, managing the company's spending, and overseeing hiring of new staff.

The pair have been married since 2012 and share two children - daughter Pixie, seven, and son Hunter, four.
She debuted a dramatic new pixie cut just in time for New Year's Eve.

But Jesinta Campbell has gone for an even shorter hairstyle, dropping by the hairdresser again on Friday for a quick trim.

Taking to Instagram, the wife of AFL star Lance 'Buddy' Franklin shared footage of herself getting the chop at Koda Cutters at Sydney's Bondi.

Short hair, don't care! Jesinta Campbell dropped by the hairdresser for another trim on Friday, just days after debuting new pixie haircut

In the first uploaded, Jesinta, 27, is seen getting the royal treatment as two stylists work on her mane simultaneously.

Rocking a wide-leg white trousers and matching shirt ensemble, the former Miss Universe Australia ended up with a more feathery texture to her cropped hair.

Jesinta first changed her look back in June 2018 when she swapped her luscious brunette locks for a platinum blonde bob cut.

Ice, ice, baby: Jesinta debuted a dramatic new pixie cut just in time for New Year's Eve

She then took things further after Christmas by going even shorter, transforming her hair into the pixie cut that she's currently sporting.

At the time she went for a shorter and blonder style, the model spoke to InStyle Australia about her transformation.

She said: 'It has held up really well and I haven't had too much breakage. I really love the cut and I don't know why I didn't do it sooner and I have no plans of going back anytime soon because it is just so much easier to do.'

Blonde ambition: Jesinta first changed her look back in June 2018 when she swapped her luscious brunette locks for a platinum blonde bob cut. Pictured on June 9, 2018 in Sydney

The makeover has certainly helped Jesinta's career, with the WAG landing roles as an ambassador for brands like Dior and Tiffany & Co. since changing her look.

Last year, Jesinta revealed that she plans to retire from modelling by the age of 40 to focus on charity work.

She told The Daily Telegraph back in July: 'This year has been like a building year for me, and it's like everything that I've done is finally falling into place.'
She has over 53,000 followers on Instagram, but not even that is enough to keep Madeleine West logged on.

In an open editorial for 9Honey on Friday, the 38-year-old actress revealed she was in the middle of a much-needed break from social media.

The Neighbours star said she felt that sites like Instagram were dumbing everyone down.

Taking a break: She has over 53,000 followers on Instagram, but not even that is enough to keep Madeleine West logged on

'Here we are: Anti-Insta-January is in full swing,' she began in her post for 9Honey.

'In striving to resist the lure of Instagram, and reduce my own contribution to the cyber-clutter clogging our information super-highways, rapidly diminishing the e-zone layer and our collective attention span to that of goldfish, I feel like I am truly made [sic] some small difference.'

Madeleine first announced she was going to be taking some time out from Instagram with a post just before Christmas.

Logging off: Madeleine first announced she was going to be taking some time out from Instagram with a post just before Christmas

'ANTI-INSTA-JANUARY! My New Years resolution for 2019 is to lead a month long charge away from social media, to effectively "STOP THE POSTS",' she wrote on Instagram at the time.

'Lets see if one womans determination to clear a little cyber clutter and give a bit more oxygen to messages that matter by removing her own inane observations and filtered-to-next-Friday recipe ideas will make a difference, and answer that eternal question: what is insta-worthy and what is not?'

Madeleine shared a photo of herself holding a Christmas bauble over her head and scrawled: 'ANTI-INSTA-JANUARY Like Santa and post-Christmas lunch regret... it's coming...'

Stepping away: 'ANTI-INSTA-JANUARY! My New Years resolution for 2019 is to lead a month long charge away from social media, to effectively "STOP THE POSTS",' she wrote

The end is near: Clearly determined to follow through, Madeleine once again took to Instagram on New Years Eve to announce she was sharing her 'last post'

Clearly determined to follow through, Madeleine once again took to Instagram on New Years Eve to announce she was sharing her 'last post'.

Sharing a series of images from a holiday in New York City, Madeleine bid 'farewell' to her followers.

'ANTI-INSTA-JANUARY is almost upon us, and so I must bid you all farewell, for now,' she wrote.

Living her best life: In an open editorial for 9Honey on Friday, the 38-year-old actress revealed she was in the middle of a much-needed break from social media

She said she would be returning to the app in February with 'FILTER-FREE-FEB'.

'Catch you in FILTER-FREE-FEB, friends! Might wanna invest in some form of protective eyewear before then... HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!!' she added.

However, she did break her self-imposed ban to share a link to her open editorial last week.
Fashionista Trinny Woodall has always done things her own way, dispensing advice  and, on occasion, her clothes  in her delightfully uninhibited manner.

But her latest project, her beauty company Trinny London, appears to be leaving her financially exposed.

Launched with great fanfare in October 2017, after what Trinny  girlfriend of ad tycoon Charles Saatchi  describes as three years of experimenting, planning, developing, the company aims to be the ultimate easy, modern, do-it-everywhere, premium makeup brand.

Trinny Woodall's (pictured) latest project, her beauty company Trinny London, appears to be leaving her financially exposed

Trinnys investors have ensured that the company remains comfortably in the black by pouring in almost 2.7 million. She is pictured inside one of her store

That bold ambition is costing a pretty penny, however: rather a lot of pennies, in fact, as the company racked up losses of just under 1.1 million for 2018.

These come on top of the 780,000 losses sustained in 2017, meaning that its first two years have burned through 1.86 million.

Happily, 54-year-old Trinny, who has sold over three million copies of the books shes co-written with her former What Not To Wear co-presenter Susannah Constantine, has many devoted financial supporters.

These backers include investment banker Ramzi Youssef Rishani and fund manager Olaf Siedler  as well, of course, as Saatchi, 75, though he has limited himself to a modest 4 per cent stake in the company.

Some of the products on offer at Trinny London are pictured here. Neither Trinny, who has a daughter and a stepson by her late husband, Johnny Elichaoff, nor anyone from the company was available to discuss the figures

Trinnys investors have ensured that the company remains comfortably in the black by pouring in almost 2.7 million. Neither Trinny, who has a daughter and a stepson by her late husband, Johnny Elichaoff, nor anyone from the company was available to discuss the figures.

But callers to Trinny London are treated to a characteristically effervescent greeting. This is Trinny here, she says, in a recorded message. None of our agents, Im afraid, are available now. They are either sleeping or theyre on another call and were really busy.

Thats the spirit, isnt it?

Sir Paul McCartney bemoans the effect of technology on his music writing. Its not a great advantage actually, he says. Because when you had an idea you just used to go and write the song before you forgot the idea.

Now you can put the idea on an iPhone. So on my iPhone I have got like a lot of sketches for songs . . . songs that Im intending to finish one of these days. Its much better actually just finishing when you get the idea.

One hopes Philip May has cleared his diary on Tuesday so he can be ready with a stiff single malt for his wife after the vote on her Brexit deal  her preferred tipple is Penderyn, distilled in the Brecon Beacons.

The PMs hubby nearly didnt make it home in time for the last vote, planned on December 11  he was on jury service. Luckily for him the vote was deferred.

If Meghan Markle is looking for tips to get back into shape after giving birth this spring, she need look no further than her best friend, fashion stylist Jessica Mulroney.

The 39-year-old, who has three children aged five to eight with TV host Ben, son of former Canadian prime minister Brian Mulroney, shows off her super-fit skills in a video online in which she catches a gym ball with her legs  all the while standing on her head.

Being super ridiculous and going old school/full core Cirque Du Soleil training, she trills.
A new Married At First Sight trailer shows a young bride having an emotional meltdown just moments before her wedding.

In the preview clip for the sixth season, which premieres on January 28, the woman is seen wiping tears from her eyes as she fears her 'husband' will reject her.

Dressed in a white wedding gown, she appears full of self doubt while being comforted by a female friend.

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'I'm just not good enough!' Watch the moment an emotional bride breaks down in tears before her wedding over fears she'll be rejected by the groom in a new Married At First Sight trailer

'I feel like I'm just not good enough,' she says tearfully in the back of a limousine.

'I haven't found that someone to love me enough. To keep me, or to have me.

'I feel like I owe myself love, and for me to love someone else I do have to love myself.'

Is there a happy ending for her? 'I haven't found that someone to love me enough. To keep me, or to have me,' says the glamorous bride

A female friend then offers some comforting words, saying: 'It's you're time and you're deserving!'

The sixth season of MAFS will see relationship experts John Aiken, Trisha Stratford and Mel Schilling use their expertise to match 20 strangers with their scientifically ideal partners.

The series first launched in Australia in 2015.

Last-minute nerves: A female friend then offers some comforting words, saying: 'It's you're time and you're deserving!'

Back then, the show featured just four couples and had only six episodes.

Since then, MAFS has become one of the most popular programs on television, with series five featuring 11 couples and 32 episodes.

Married At First Sight premieres Monday, January 28 at 7:30pm on Nine and 9Now
She recently revealed the secrets behind her flawless complexion.

And Rebecca Judd, 35, continues to turn back the clock, looking at least 10 years younger on Thursday during a photo shoot.

The brunette beauty showed off her absolutely flawless complexion as she took a selfie of herself fresh-faced makeup look.

Not a line in sight! Rebecca Judd, 35, revealed her absolutely flawless complexion during a photo shoot on Thursday

There was not a line in sight on the mother-of-four's face as she posed for the close-up photograph.

Whether she's all dolled up on a red carpet or makeup free on the school run, the model and presenter never fails to rock a flawless complexion.

Earlier this week, Bec revealed the high-tech trick she uses to maintain her youthful appearance.

Lights, camera, action! Earlier this week, Bec revealed the high-tech trick she uses to maintain her youthful appearance. On Monday, the brunette beauty shared an Instagram photo of her LED facial, a technique to repair and rejuvenate the skin

On Monday, the brunette beauty shared an Instagram photo of her LED facial, a technique to repair and rejuvenate the skin.

In the picture, she was seen reclining underneath the light panels at the salon.

Wearing protective eye-wear, Bec appeared to be relishing the treatment.

From $125 skin serums, to face masks and light therapy: Recently, the Channel Nine host took to her Instagram stories to reveal her skin secrets

'Getting my 4-6 weekly treatment,' she captioned the photograph.

The Melbourne model went on to list the gruelling routine she undertook at the salon.

The procedures included a plump and restore peel, in order to re-hydrate her skin and address any fine lines.

Secondly, Bec had laser genesis in order to stimulate collagen with her finishing with a LED light facial for repair and rejuvenation.

Recently, the Channel Nine host took to her Instagram stories to reveal the products behind her sensational skin.

Sharing yet another stunning selfie, she said she relies upon $125 skin serums, hydration boosters and treatments including face masks and light therapy.

'I've been smashing The Skincare Company's serums daily!' Rebecca relies on The Skincare Company's Vitamin C serum, priced at $125 (left) and Hydration Booster, priced at $125 (right)

'Good makeup starts with fresh skin,' Rebecca wrote online.

'As always, I've been smashing The Skincare Company's serums daily, and their Hydration Booster this winter.'

The glam WAG wife of retired AFL player Chris Judd admitted she relies on face masks, peeks and light therapy to keep her complexion in perfect condition.

Flawless: The glam WAG wife of retired AFL player Chris Judd admitted she relies on face masks, peeks and light therapy to keep her complexion in perfect condition

She also treats herself to dermatological treatments including micro-dermabrasion and IPL or intense pulsed light facial therapy.

'Plus I get top up treatments (masks, peels, dermasweeps, light therapy, IPL as an extra boost).'

But that doesn't mean Rebecca doesn't suffer from the odd blemish.

Just like the rest of us! The mother-of-four explained that just like the rest of us she does get the odd blemish on her flawless complexion

In June, she proudly showed off a pesky imperfection on her chin before a Paul Bram Diamonds photoshoot.

'I burnt my chin with some super strong cream,' she said in a video posted to Instagram.

'I was trying to zap a pimple and my pimple went - but so did my good skin!' she exclaimed.
It's the Colin Thiele classic which won the hearts of a generation through its depiction of a lonely South Australian boy and his friendship with a pelican, Mr Percival.

And on Thursday night, the cast of the much-anticipated adaptation of Storm Boy, turned on the charm, as they walked the red carpet at the Sydney premiere.

Stealing the show was 11-year-old Finn Little, who has been praised by critics for his portrayal of a young Storm Boy.

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Charm: On Thursday night the cast of re-imagined 1964 novel Storm Boy, turned on the charm, as they walked the red carpet at the St. George OpenAir Cinema. Pictured: Trevor Jamieson, Finn Little, Shawn Seet and Jai Courtney

Jai Courtney leads Storm Boy cast as they turn on the charm at Sydney premiere

Stepping out at the red carpet event at the St. George OpenAir Cinema, Finn looked smart in black suit paired with a bespeckled shirt as he greeted fans.

He was joined by Trevor Jamieson, who cut a charming figure in a white floral shirt and blue pants.

He finished his relaxed ensemble with brown shoes and his iconic beard fell loosely over his chest.

The dynamic on-screen duo appeared alongside director Shawn Seet, who kept it casual with a white and black shirt paired with blue jeans.

Bright! Hollywood actor Jai Courtney, who plays Storm Boy's loner father Hideaway Tom, donned an eye-catching shirt. Pictured: Jai Courtney with girlfriend Mecki Dent at Sydney premiere of Storm Boy

Dressed to impress: Jai cut a casual figure in a bright shirt which he paired with black trousers and shiny loafers

In keeping with the theme, Hollywood actor Jai Courtney, 31, who plays Storm Boy's loner father Hideaway Tom, donned an eye-catching aqua shirt.

Jai looked smart in the bright shirt which he paired with black trousers and shiny loafers.

He was joined at the event by his stunning blonde girlfriend, Mecki Dent.

Dapper: Trevor finished his relaxed ensemble with brown shoes and his iconic beard fell loosely over his chest

Mecki channelled red carpet chic in an oversized suit which revealed her lacy bralette.

Speaking to news.com.au at the world premiere in Adelaide last week, Finn revealed that he loved working with the pelicans.

'The birds were amazing to work with, they do what they're told. They're funny, clumsy things.

Rising star: Stealing the red carpet show was 11-year-old star Finn Little, who has been praised by critics for his portrayal of a young Storm Boy

Smart: Finn looked smart in black suit paired with a bespeckled shirt as he greeted fans

'There were lots of people who said the movie looked great. I'm very proud of what everyone has done,' he said.

The contemporary retelling features a grown-up Storm Boy, played by Geoffrey Rush, recounting his unbreakable friendship with the majestic bird, to his troubled teenage granddaughter Maddie, played by Morgana Davies.

Storm Boy will enjoy international releases across New Zealand, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, the Middle East, Poland, Yugoslavia, Canada and the US.

It will be released nationally on January 17.
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They range from the risky to the heart-warming - but what they have in common is that they're all very strange. To outsiders, at least.

Here we present some of humanity's most downright baffling traditions. Some, such as the Busojaras festival in Hungary, where locals dress up as woollen monsters, go back centuries, others date back a handful of decades - like the annual mooning-at-Amtrak-trains festival.

They're all fascinating, though - more so because the people that participate in them do so with such fervour. Scroll down and revel in the weirdness.

Busojaras, Hungary

A local man in the Hungarian town of Mohacs dresses in a mask with horns and a woolly coat during the Busojaras festival

The festival is said to scare away winter. But another legend says it originates from when villagers dressed as grotesque monsters to scare off the invading Turkish army in the Battle of Mohacs in 1526

During the month of February people in the Hungarian town of Mohacs don woollen horned monster outfits and take to the streets.

Lasting for six days, the vibrant Busojaras festival sees a man made of straw set alight on a bonfire, with some saying this represents scaring away winter.

The Unesco cultural heritage festival is also said to pay homage to a legend that claims villagers dressed as grotesque monsters to scare off the invading Turkish army in the Battle of Mohacs in 1526.

Underwater Music Festival, Florida

A man with a mock guitar rocks out during the annual underwater music festival held every year at the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary

Each July, hundreds of music-loving snorkelers and divers hold an underwater concert at the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary.

They duck under the water to pretend to jam on mock guitars or play other fake musical instruments.

During the four-hour music session, popular songs that are played include the theme from The Little Mermaid, the Beatles' Yellow Submarine and Jimmy Buffett's Fins.

Carnival of Binche, Belgium

Thousands of men and boys dress in wax masks and wooden shoes during the Carnival of Binche in Belgium leading up to Ash Wednesday

The Carnival of Binche is held in the Belgian town each year on the Sunday, Monday and Tuesday leading up to Ash Wednesday.

It sees up to 1,000 men and boys dressed as 'Gilles' taking to the streets in vibrant dress, with wax masks and wooden footwear.

The celebration dates back to the 14th century and has been listed by Unesco as a 'Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity'.

The Greasy Pole Festival, Massachusetts

The Italian community in Gloucester, Massachusetts, holds the greasy pole celebration every year to mark a safe and successful year at sea

The celebration sees fisherman try to climb across a pole coated in grease and food with the aim of grabbing an Italian flag waiting at the end

To mark a safe and successful year at sea, the Greasy Pole celebration has taken place annually since 1927 in Gloucester, Massachusetts.

It sees fisherman in the Italian community try to clamber along a pole sticking out into the harbour that is coated with the likes of axle grease and banana skins.

The aim is to grab an Italian flag waiting at the end of the pole. The failure rate is high.

The Baby Jumping Festival, Spain

A man in a yellow costume meant to symbolise the devil jumps over one-year-old babies in the northern Spanish village of Castrillo de Murcia

The belief is that when the 'devil' leaps over the babies, he takes evil away from them. The ritual takes place after the feast of Corpus Christi in June

In this bizarre Spanish tradition, one-year-olds are laid out on the ground so a man meant to symbolise the devil can jump over them.

It takes place in the village of Castrillo de Murcia, near Burgos, where it is thought that as the 'devil' leaps over the babies, he takes away any evil lurking in them.

It is the culmination of a four-day celebration after the Corpus Christi feast in June.

The daily duck march, Peabody Hotel, Memphis

The duck master at the Peabody Hotel in Memphis guides the ducks on their daily parade

At the Peabody Hotel in Memphis, every morning a parade of ducks makes its way to the fountain in the lobby in a procession dating back almost 90 years.

They are guided by a hotel employee known as the duck master who at 5pm each day shows them back to their home on the hotel's roof.

Both parades draw a big crowd comprising guests both young and old.

Battle of the Oranges, Italy

Each February in the small northern Italian city of Ivrea, people throw oranges at each other

The three-day food fight using oranges in the small northern Italian city of Ivrea takes place each February.

The city is said to bring in 57,000 crates, or 400 tons worth, of oranges from southern Italy that would otherwise be thrown away for use in the famous battle.

Its origins are unclear but the festival is said to have stemmed from the 19th century when rebellious commoners threw away food the feudal lord had given them.

Moon Amtrak Festival, California

In the Californian city of Laguna Niguel, people gather annually in June to drop their trousers at passing Amtrak or Metrolink trains

Dozens of people descend on the Californian city of Laguna Niguel each July to 'moon' at passing trains.

Participants are encouraged to drop their trousers when Amtrak or Metrolink trains pass by on their journeys both north and south.

The bizarre tradition started in 1979 when a customer at the nearby Mugs Away Saloon dared his buddy to drop his dacks as the next train approached. The wager was a free drink.

The Sawdust Festival, Honduras

In the Honduran city of Comayagua, locals create intricately detailed and colourful sawdust art to mark Easter

Each Easter, locals in the Honduran city of Comayagua spill out into the street to create elaborate artwork using coloured sawdust.

The designs are usually intricately detailed and wonderfully coloured.

The tradition only started in 1963, when a local woman created a sawdust carpet showing a lamb outside the city cathedral to commemorate the inauguration of a new bishop.

The Goose Pulling Festival, Spain

The St. James Festival is held in the village of El Carpio de Tajo and sees horse riders compete to try and yank the head off a dead goose suspended to a wire

In one of the more gruesome traditions, horse riders in Spain compete to try and yank the head off a dead goose suspended to a wire.

The St. James Festival is held in the village of El Carpio de Tajo in the province of Toledo. The strange spectacle originated as a military training exercise in the Middle Ages as the Spanish fought to liberate their homeland from Muslim conquerors.

In the past, horsemen would attempt to decapitate a live goose, but it was deemed unnecessarily cruel so dead animals were phased in.
Captain Wim waits on the Singel canal in a tiny, Thirties wooden vessel. It was the boat of a notary, who would negotiate contracts in the harbour, he says, proffering a glass of champagne.

The electric motor powers us silently through the city, along tree-lined embankments busy with bicycles, past colourful houseboats, beneath low bridges, offering an unfamiliar fishs view of magnificent gabled mansions towering above.

Here and there, a heron perches on an ancient hoist beam used to lift merchandise and furniture into the building.

Unrivalled views: Take in the sights of Amsterdam from a canal boat

Our boat may have been transformed from working vessel into pleasure craft, but in this central area of Amsterdam, little has changed since the canals were dug and the impressive merchants mansions erected in the citys 17th-century Golden Age.

Captain Wim points out the double-fronted house of Captain Cocq, the flamboyant central figure in Rembrandts celebrated oil painting The Night Watch. And as the city prepares for the celebrations to mark the 350th anniversary of the artists death, there has never been a better time to visit.

Amsterdam grew rich through trade, and a wealthy new merchant class was born in the 1600s, explains Nathalie, my guide at Rembrandts house, my first stop.

The population exploded from 50,000 to 200,000 as people flocked here in search of work. Rembrandt was one, profiting from this new middle class that wanted to build their own art collections.

Within four years of arriving in Amsterdam in 1631, Rembrandt was the citys leading portrait painter, his success enabling him to purchase a house to reflect his status  now the only Rembrandt museum in the world.

It cost 13,000 guilders in 1639  a time when craftsmen earned just 250 guilders a year, says Nathalie. Two-thirds was mortgaged  and Rembrandt went bankrupt in 1656. Thanks to the inventory of his goods put up for sale, we were able to recreate the house as it was.

Celebrated: Pictured above is Rembrandts famous oil painting, The Night Watch

I wander through the sitting room, hung with paintings by the contemporaries he admired; his bed  in a cupboard, as was the fashion  at one end.

No distinction was made between the living and sleeping areas, says Nathalie. And beds were short, as people slept sitting up, so that the devil could not crawl into their mouths.

His studio retains his aura. Here, Rembrandt broke the traditional mould of religious and mythological subjects to create new genres, grinding his pigments and dabbing colour on several canvases, in turn.

Best of all is the manifest cause of his bankruptcy: the Kunstkammer art collection into which Rembrandt poured his wealth, buying statuary, exotica from the Indies, and reams of works by Durer, Raphael, Titian . . .

In a part of the city where Rembrandt once enjoyed country walks and etched the landscape, the Rijksmuseum is preparing for its year-long celebration of the artist, beginning in February with All The Rembrandts at the Rijksmuseum. The exhibition will feature 23 oil paintings, as well as over 360 works on paper.

Rijksmuseum (above) is preparing for its year-long celebration of the artist

As I stand before the portrait of Maria Trip, I can almost feel the coolness of her pearls, the textures of the lace, braid, and luminous black velvet of her dress.

So much for Protestant tenets of sobriety! Black was the most expensive pigment at the time, so that fabric which retained its dark hue was, paradoxically, indicative of the owners wealth  an irony that no doubt escaped Calvin.

With the twin pillars of his house and the Rijksmuseum to illuminate Rembrandts life and work, 17th-century Amsterdam acquires deeper significance. And from where I stay, the plush new Hotel TwentySeven on Dam Square, it is an easy walk to sites associated with the Master.

They include the residences of his wealthy patrons, on elegant Herengracht and Kloveniersburgwal, and the aforementioned Trip family mansion, whose decorative motifs reflect the familys wealth through arms trading. You can also see the stone entrance to Brakke Grond  formerly a tavern where Rembrandt bought objects from sailors of the East India Company for his Kunstkammer: a passion which ultimately led to the town hall and the home of the office dealing with bankruptcies.

It was a sad end for this national treasure, who was buried as a poor man in Westerkerk  as a plaque informs us.

Today, Amsterdam still attracts artistic souls. As you stroll past vibrant art galleries and concept stores, you cant help noticing a new whiff of creativity in the air.

TRAVEL FACTS TwentySeven Hotel (hoteltwentyseven.com) suites from 445. Return flights on KLM from 79 (klm.co.uk). Advertisement




A puffling sits in the palm of my hand, preparing to jump into the sea. I feel like a parent on the first day of school.

We are on the return leg of a Scottish Seabird Centre boat trip to the Isle of May (population four), reached by a 30-minute boat ride from the village of North Berwick, 25 miles from Edinburgh, on the east coast of Scotland.

Pufflings - baby puffins - leave their family's cosy underground burrow when they're six weeks old and go it alone. Their first journey involves dodging gulls, and avoiding falling over cliffs or getting trapped in ditches.

Long journey ahead: A puffling will emerge from its families' burrow at six weeks old

The island is home to more than a quarter of a million seabirds during the summer months, including 46,000 pairs of puffins.

It's a National Nature Reserve and one of the UK's largest puffin colonies.

There are puffins everywhere. The birds are chatting to each other on grassy tussocks, waddling across hillsides, flying in and out of burrows and swooping low overhead with beaks full of sandeels.

Visitors must stay on the network of paths to avoid stepping on an arctic tern's nest, trampling a puffin's underground burrow or - as I do - wandering into a greater black backed gull's territory and being divebombed by a protective mum.

The Isle of May is a National Nature Reserve and one of the UK's largest puffin colonies

Our guide James's tour of the island - just over a mile long and 500 yards wide - includes Scotland's oldest lighthouse, The Beacon: the scene of a tragedy.

On a stormy night in 1791, poisonous fumes from the ash pile produced by the burning coals which provided the lighthouse with its light seeped into the bedroom where lighthouse keeper George Anderson, his wife and their six children were sleeping.

The only survivor was Lucy Anderson, barely a year old. Baby Lucy was taken back to the mainland where, 20 years later, she married one of her rescuers.

Scotland's oldest lightest lighthouse, the Beacon, still stands on the cliffs of May

As we return to the harbour, James spots a puffling stuck in a ditch and announces that we are to launch a rescue mission of our own, which involves taking him out to sea where he'll learn to swim, fish and fly.

'He's a feisty one,' says James as the puffling leaps into the water and dives under the waves.

Will he make it? Along with the 11 others on the tour, I hold my breath until the puffling resurfaces and paddles off, without giving his rescuers a second glance.
French startup Neural Up demonstrated its incredible relaxation technology in Las Vegas this week at CES.

The company uses its own patented acoustic technology developed by a team of neurophysiologists to enhance your emotional balance.

This can be done using headphones and a web based app, or by sitting inside the futuristic Bubble-Zen  where you're closed off from the rest of the world as the soothing audio experience plays out.

The system relies on technology developed with neuroscience research in mind, Chief of Product Gil Borelli told Dailymail.com at CES. It combines sound and visual isolation to put you into a state of deep relaxation, Borelli explained

HOW DOES IT WORK? Neural Up uses patented acoustic technology developed by a team of neurophysiologists to enhance your emotional balance. It combines sound and visual isolation to put you into a state of deep relaxation. With the headphones on, the audio seems to swirl around your head in a full 360-degree motion. The effect is much like produced by Tibetan singing bowls, though you can choose from all sorts of relaxing musical tracks. It promotes the regulation of the nervous system by activating the body's natural resources to fight against stress, Neural Up says. Our technology blocks the negative effects of stress on the body through a sensorineural stimulation that induces a feeling of intense relaxation that improves the state of well-being.  Advertisement

Neural Up had one of its Bubble-Zen pods on display at CES, where attendees and members of the media were able to hop in and tune out for a few minutes in the middle of the hectic convention.

Out in the real world, the firm says Bubble-Zen could find its place in large offices or even airports.

The Bubble-Zen team didn't disclose any specifics on the price, but said it could cost upwards of $15,000, depending on how many are needed for a given space.

The system relies on technology developed with neuroscience research in mind, co-founder Gil Borelli told Dailymail.com at CES.

It combines sound and visual isolation to put you into a state of deep relaxation, Borelli explained.

According to Neural Up, the technology can help to dramatically reduce feelings of anger, fatigue, depression, confusion, and anxiety.

The effects, of course, are temporary  but, its easy to see how regular use could help to cut down overall stress over time.

Dailymail.com tested out the immersive relaxation pod at CES and was impressed by how quickly the relaxation sets in  even in such a busy setting.

Dailymail.com tested out the immersive relaxation pod at CES

With the headphones on, the audio seems to swirl around your head in a full 360-degree motion.

The effect is much like that produced by Tibetan singing bowls, though you can choose from all sorts of relaxing musical tracks, including jazz and classical music.

Inside the pod, theres also an HD touch screen, a microphone and webcam, and LED lights.

According to Neural Up, the system simply works by boosting processes already happening in your own brain.

French startup Neural Up demonstrated its incredible relaxation technology in Las Vegas this week at CES. The company uses its own patented acoustic technology developed by a team of neurophysiologists to enhance your emotional balance

It promotes the regulation of the nervous system by activating the body's natural resources to fight against stress, Neural Up says.

Our technology blocks the negative effects of stress on the body through a sensorineural stimulation that induces a feeling of intense relaxation that improves the state of well-being. 

Neural Ups technology will soon be available for mobile and tablet, along with the Bubble Zen version.
Norma Padgett, 86, delivered the following statement before Florida's Board of Executive Clemency and Governor Ron DeSantis on Friday, January 11, 2019 in Tallahassee:

'My name is Norma Tyson Padgett Upshaw and I'm the victim of that night.

And I'll tell you now that it's on my mind, it's been on my mind for about 70 years.

I was 17-years-old and this never left my mind

I'll tell you this: If you had a gun held to your head and told that you if you screamed and didn't do what they said that they'd blow your brains out, so what would you do?

And if you had a daughter and a mother and a wife and a sister or a niece, would you give 'em pardon? No, I don't think you would. I really don't.

And every time it comes up, I just quiver on the inside. And I have lived it for 60 years.

When my boys was little, I kept my mouth shut 'causeI was afraid something would happen to 'em. They might find out where they were and kill 'em or do somethin' to 'em. Now my grandkids is up, and they go to school, and I worry about them. And my great-grandkids are coming up.

Y'all just don't know what kind of horror I've been through for all these many years.

(Her voice trembles.)

I never told my kids...they knew it but they never did know what kind of horror I've been through. And I love each and every one of them.

And I don't want them pardoned, no, I do not. And you wouldn't either.

I know she (Beverly Robinson, Samuel Shepherd's cousin) called me a liar.

But I'm not no liar.

If I had to go to court today I could tell you the same story that I told then and I could [take] you on the route. Some of the places is not there no more but I could [take] you and I could show you and I walked all night long.

I don't know how many miles it was but I walked all night. And I knew I was closer to another town. But they went that way and I'd seen headlights and I'd run to the woods. I don't know how long I stayed in there. I didn't have no watch. I didn't have nothing.

And right now, my nerves is so bad and I'm quiverin' on the inside and I can't help it.

I'm beggin' y'all not to give them pardon because they done it.

Your minds might be made up. I don't know.

If you do [pardon them], y'all going to be just like them

And that's all I got to say, 'cause I know I'm telling the truth.

I went to court twice.

I can tell you right now  not the exact words  but could tell you today almost quote to what I said then. And if any of you got any questions, ask me, I'll answer them the best I know how.

Like I say...if something happens to any of my kids I hope it ponders y'all's mind [because] I begged you not to do it and it's liable to.

Like I said, if there's any question ya'll want to ask me, I'll try to answer it if I can.'

Source: Orlando Sentinel
The Brooklyn detective who accused his sergeant of shoving her lace panties into his mouth has said that the NYPD wants to get him committed to a psych ward in a bid to discredit him.

Detective Victor Falcon, 35, claimed that Sgt. Ann Marie Guerra, 38, rubbed her panties on his face and tried to stuff them into his mouth in the 72 Precinct locker room on October 7.

He has previously accused the department of leaking his sexual harassment complaint to the press in an effort to embarrass him, and now accuses the department of taking measures to have him committed.

'They want to send me to a psychiatric facility for thirty days,' Falcon, 35, told the New York Daily News. 'This is because of the complaints I made. They do this to discredit cops.'

Detective Victor Falcon (pictured) filed a complaint against Sgt. Ann Marie Guerra of Brooklyn's 72 Precinct accusing her of shoving underwear into his mouth. Since his complaint he said he's become the 'pariah of the precinct' and is known as 'panty-eater'

Following the complaint Guerra (above) was moved to a Manhattan precinct. Falcon claims that's he's been abused by Guerra 'on almost a daily basis' for five years and the panty incident on October 7 was the last straw

Falcon says the latest incident went down on Friday, when he complained about a sergeant who he said has been following his every move since he complained about Guerra.

When he got home, he was met by other cops who he says tried to get him hospitalized.

Instead, Falcon claimed to have chest pains and checked himself into NYU Langone Hospital-Brooklyn, where a source told the Daily News that cops showed up and urged doctors to have him involuntarily committed.

The hospital rejected the request though, and released Falcon on Saturday after an independent psychiatric evaluation showed him to be sane.

'It's painfully obvious what's happening he's been targeted for the complaints he made about the sexual harassment,' Falcon's attorney Seamus Barrett told the Daily News.

'Thankfully had the presence of mind to admit himself to the hospital instead of letting himself being taking advantage of.'

The NYPD did not immediately respond to a request for comment from DailyMail.com on Saturday.

The NYPD officially opened a probe and transferred Guerra to Midtown's 17th Precinct on October 24

In October, Falcon made waves in the department by claiming Guerra went ballistic after he complained about her panties being strewn about the unisex locker room, with the supervisor screaming 'They are f***ing clean!' as she rubbed the undergarments on his face.

'I'm the pariah of the precinct and the NYPD. My career is over,' he previously said to the New York Post.

'Nobody will ever take me seriously...I'm known as the panty-eater. To do my job is impossible,' he added.

Falcon filed a complaint with the NYPD's Equal Employment Office on October 24.

In that complaint he accuses his department and investigators of initially ignoring his complaints and leaking embarrassing details to the press.

'The Department allowed me to be humiliated and that's what I intend on proving,' he said.

Falcon claims that's he's been abused by Guerra for years 'on almost a daily basis'. He has worked with Sgt. Guerra for five years in Sunset Park.

The complaint alleges discrimination based on sex/gender, assault and battery, sexual harassment, hostile work environment and ongoing retaliation.

He claims that when he complained to a lieutenant and captain about her 'sexually inappropriate comments' and Guerra and Sgt. Johnny Wong in turn targeted him for retaliation.

Falcon said he told co-workers in 2017 that he started dating someone and Guerra quipped: 'If she doesn't call you back it's because you've got a little d***!'

At a department Halloween party two years ago Falcon and Guerra posed together. In the photo he was holding a prop penis, claiming the costume was in reference to her 'little d***' joke. He believes that the photo was recently leaked in an 'attempt to publicly shame and discredit him'.

A photo surfaced of Detective Victor Falcon holding a prosthetic penis and posing with Sergeant Ann Marie Guerra at a Halloween bash two years ago. He says the photo was leaked to 'publicly shame and discredit' him

The complaint also alleges that Guerra controlled approving overtime and changing detectives' shifts and deliberately denied Falcon's shift-change requests to attend custody hearings for his autistic child and delayed approving his overtime requests.

'In a world where we are looking for gender equality, I was abused for my gender. Picture a male doing that to a female. He wouldn't have a job anymore,' Falcon said.

The panty incident on October 7 was the last straw for Falcon.

He was in the squadroom with Guerra, Detective Donna Marie Mazza, and Detective Ioannis Kyrkos when he said 'You got panties in the locker room and panties in the shower' as they were discussing hygiene.

The comment allegedly threw her into a tailspin and she angrily grabbed a 'dark and lacy' thong and confronted Falcon.

'I was talking and she put it in my face and started rubbing it in my mouth. I was a deer in the headlights. I kept hearing her say, 'They're f***ing clean,'' Falcon said.

The 72 Precinct in Brooklyn has been hit with a slew of other salacious allegations recently including a cop being involved in a prostitution ring and the Deputy Inspector being accused of shaking down a business for $80,000 in plane tickets

The two other detectives were shocked with the outburst.

'We all looked at each other. Mazza said 'What the f*** did she just do' and Kyrkos said 'That was disgusting,'' he added.

Falcon said the precinct has a culture of 'you don't rat'.

The NYPD opened an official probe on October 24 and Guerra was transferred to Midtown's 17th precinct. Falcon said she's calling her reassignment a promotion.

Guerra and Sgt. Wong are yet to comment on the complaint.

The precinct house has had its fair share of scandals recently.

Last year, precinct Detective Manuel Rodriguez was accused of participating in a prostitution and gambling rung run by a former cop.

He was subsequently stripped of his gun and badge.

Meanwhile, the precinct commander, Deputy Inspector Emmanuel Gonzalez, was sued by a Sunset Park club owner who alleged the cop was shaking down his business to the tune of $80,000 for 11 round-trip tickets to Hurricane Maria-ravaged Puerto Rico.
A mental health nurse has revealed she saw staff in a secure psychiatric unit restrain a patient with learning disabilities so violently that they broke his neck  then left him lying in his own waste over a weekend.

The man was only taken to hospital two days later, after doctors intervened, and was found to be paralysed.

The senior team leader, who does not wish to be identified but I will call Elaine, says she was then asked to assist a cover-up at the NHS hospital but refused and quit her job instead.

I had to leave because this incident and the aftermath went against everything I believe in, she told The Mail on Sunday. These places are horrific, they are barbaric  we have created a system that is simply geared to abuse.

Four Hospital workers Struggling with a patient. A mental health nurse has revealed she saw staff in a secure psychiatric unit restrain a patient with learning disabilities so violently that they broke his neck

The whistleblowing nurse, an expert in restraint techniques, stepped forward following our campaign to stop the routine locking up of teenagers and young adults with autism and learning disabilities. Last week, two other nurses and a senior carer blew the lid on what they called shameful institutionalised abuse taking place behind the locked doors of a different institution, Meadow Lodge, a privately run unit in Devon funded by the NHS.

Ian Summers said he saw patients more often violently held down, attempt suicide and forcibly drugged while working in the unit holding vulnerable teenage girls than when he looked after killers and psychopaths at Broadmoor high-security hospital.

This newspaper has spoken to more than two dozen distraught families  some breaking gagging orders  who have told how their children have been taken from them for years and stuck inside unsuitable secure units that only lead to mental deterioration.

Much of their anger has been focused on private firms charging up to 730,000 a year for each patient  but the hideous story revealed by Elaine took place in an NHS psychiatric unit in the South of England six years ago.

The victim was a 36-year-old man with mild learning disabilities. He was lovely if treated the right way, said Elaine, who is in her late 30s. But there were four members of staff who did not like him, so they wound him up and he became abusive in response.

She said the carers held him down before dumping him in a tiny seclusion cell. Normally he would pace up and down in there but he lay on the floor in his own faeces and urine. They said he was putting it on and left him there for two days.

The hideous story revealed by Elaine took place in an NHS psychiatric unit in the South of England six years ago (file image)

Only when the consultant came in was he sent to hospital, where they found his top two vertebrae were broken. He was in agony.

The man was left paralysed for two years, eventually recovering some ability to walk with sticks after intensive therapy at another hospital. Elaine claimed she was then asked to cover up the incident by colleagues. I was supposed to say it was an accident and there had been proper restraint methods used. I refused, so they made it impossible for me to work and I quit.

She was relieved to leave a system she had joined full of idealism, inspired by an autistic godson and a relative who killed himself, but came to hate over 12 years working in secure units and short-stay assessment and treatment units (ATUs).

The nurse said there was frequent abuse and bullying of patients  one man with Downs syndrome who loved drawing would have his crayons hidden by staff to infuriate him  and regular over-medication to sedate people. There is this view that staff are normal people and patients are not, which leads to institutional abuse across these ATUs and secure units.

It is difficult not to get sucked in and become part of the system. I have worked in more than ten of these places and I wouldnt put my dog in one. They should be bombed.

Everything is locked, there is lots of seclusion and restraint when six adults push someone on the floor. Its horrible.

The use of restraint in ATUs has soared in recent years, rising from 15,065 incidents in 2016 to 22,620 in 2017. There is also growing concern over use of long stretches in solitary confinement, with patients held in padded cells under permanent observation. If someone shows signs of challenging behaviour they are secluded, which is awful, said Elaine. Imagine being placed in a room 6ft by 6ft with a plastic mattress and no access to a toilet unless a full restraint team accompanies you.

You are fed through a hatch, spoken to through a hatch. How does this help anyone?

She said such units were especially grim for people with autism. None of them is a nice environment for such people since they respond well to routine, comfort, the security of a family environment. So this noise and chaos, with alarms ringing and maybe ten people in a ward all demanding help, is never going to go well for them.

Families have complained that this kind of incarceration is a spiral of cruelty since innocent people are shut in conditions that only serve to intensify their anxieties and stresses, which then makes it harder for them to win freedom.

Yet this latest whistleblower, who now works to free patients, said families do not have a clue what really goes on behind locked doors.

I tell parents they should never seek help from the system because they will lose control of their child, Elaine said. Ask for help and you risk losing your child.

This is a terrifying indictment of our public services. Yet it is one I have heard echoed by despairing families, such as one distraught man who asked for three days respite help only to have his autistic son locked away for three years so far.

Elaine believes a broken system is being fuelled by big profits, with private groups expanding operations despite Government pledges to move people with autism and learning disabilities back into supported living in the community.

There are 2,375 people with autism and learning disabilities held in assessment and treatment units at a cost of about half a billion pounds a year, with the number of children more than doubling over the past three years, and scores more are held in other secure units. One man is thought to have cost taxpayers 10 million after being held against his familys wishes for 18 years.

More than half the patients in ATUs have been detained for at least two years, and almost one in six for more than a decade. It is all about money, said Elaine. Why else do they keep people in these conditions, costing maybe 7,000 a week, when other mental health services are struggling and community facilities crumbling?

Elaine, who has helped extricate 13 people over the past five years working as a care partner with local authorities, added: I once thought I could save every autistic person in the United Kingdom  but sadly I am only able to help a handful.

We trigger 4th autism inquiry

A major investigation into the abusive care of patients with autism is set to be launched by MPs  the fourth since The Mail on Sunday revealed how hundreds of teenagers and young adults are being locked up, forcibly drugged and violently restrained.

It is understood the Health and Social Care Select Committee, chaired by Conservative MP and former GP Sarah Wollaston, will examine the scandal and the floundering care system that leads to routine abuse and detention.

Westminster sources confirmed they were deciding on the scope of the investigation, which is likely to begin in the spring.

We are very keen to look hard at these issues, said one key figure.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock has already told the health watchdog the Care Quality Commission (CQC) to investigate after admitting that he was deeply shocked by this newspapers revelations that children as young as 13 were being incarcerated in secretive secure units.

Distraught families have told how relatives with autism and learning disabilities are locked in solitary cells, fed through hatches like animals, and forcibly injected with drugs to sedate them.

One man has been held for 18 years, and 40 autistic patients have died in assessment and treatment units since 2015, often in abysmal conditions.

But a group of cross-party MPs last week accused Mr Hancock of backtracking over such inhumane detention in the Governments new ten-year plan for the NHS.

The plan only commits the NHS to reducing the number of people with autism and learning disabilities in hospital units to less than half the 2015 levels by 2024, despite previous pledges to end such detention.

The MPs  including former Liberal Democrat Minister Norman Lamb, Labours Shadow Minister for Mental Health and Social Care Barbara Keeley, and Tories Johnny Mercer and Charles Walker  accused Mr Hancock of abandoning a target to cut numbers held by up to half by March this year.

The Health and Social Care Select Committee, chaired by Conservative MP and former GP Sarah Wollaston, will examine the scandal and the floundering care system that leads to routine abuse and detention of people with autism

Those held in institutions, who could live independent lives with support, have their human rights breached in an unacceptable way, the MPs said in a letter to the Health Secretary. We know the use of force is endemic in many institutions, which is a further assault on their human rights. There is also grave concern over use of medication on patients.

Mr Lamb, who organised the letter, said he was horrified that the Government was effectively encouraging the NHS to take its foot off the pedal to end abuse.

Mr Walker, who has admitted to his own mental health issues, called on the Government to act quickly. This has been overlooked for too long and we cant let this suffering continue, he said.

Harriet Harman, chairman of the Joint Committee on Human Rights, which has already started its own investigation, has also written to Mr Hancock over perverse incentives that lead to detention in inappropriate institutions.

She demanded to know if private providers had a vested interest in keeping autistic patients locked up, which can cost taxpayers 730,000 per person a year.

Ms Harman also asked if divisions between the NHS and local authorities stopped patients being freed. This is not a good use of public money given that community care is often less expensive than inpatient care, she said. Her letter followed questioning by the committee last week of three senior NHS and CQC officials. They just spouted gobbledegook and theory, said one infuriated MP.

The Mail on Sunday has also discovered that a report commissioned by the Department of Health and Social Care before the Winterbourne View scandal in 2011  which revealed abuse in a privately run Gloucestershire care home  warned that the model of private provision, funded on debt, would frustrate efforts to free those being confined.

After the Government refused to publish the findings, it was released by a think-tank.

Rob Greig, former national director for learning disabilities, who co-wrote the report, said: I was very disappointed that they [the Government] showed little interest in what we were saying.

Over the past decade, the proportion of people with autism and learning disabilities in privately-run beds has soared from one-fifth to more than half as new players muscled in and opened secure units despite Government pledges to close them.

Childrens Commissioner Anne Longfield is also investigating the scandal.
The photo below seems no different than many images of a loving couple with their young daughter, but a closer look reveals there is nothing commonplace about this portrait.

For five-year-old Jayden Rogers  wearing her favourite dress and sparkly shoes in front of her mother, Jody  was born a boy. And Greg, the young bearded man who has been Jaydens father for the past three years, was born a girl.

They are believed to be Britains first two-generation transgender family and Jayden is one of the youngest children in the country to switch gender.

Transgender boy Jayden Rogers who is 5 years old wants to be a girl, seen here with mother Jody and her partner Greg Rogers

The couple are aware that a fierce debate is raging about the large number of young people choosing to change sex and after Jayden insisted on living as a girl nearly a year ago, they found themselves at the centre of their own distressing battle.

For although Jaydens teachers, friends and most of their neighbours have accepted the childs gender transition, others have mounted a campaign of online abuse centred on the unfounded claim that the parents had somehow cajoled their child into becoming a girl.

The nightmare began with an anonymous complaint to social services from a resident who saw Jayden playing outside the family home in girls clothing and accused the couple of child abuse. Astonishingly, although the council officials who investigated the claims found the Rogers to be a happy, loving family, the couple say it was suggested they move away from the area to solve the problem.

They angrily refused but have since suffered a barrage of online insults from anonymous trolls who insist that because Greg had changed sex, he must have forced Jayden to do the same.

Today, in an exclusive interview with The Mail on Sunday, Greg, 27, and Jody, 21  who live in the small Scottish town of Shotts, North Lanarkshire  have decided to speak out against their critics.

The family has suffered a campaign of online abuse centred on the unfounded claim that the parents had somehow cajoled their child into becoming a girl

Greg changed gender at the age of 16. He has had his breasts removed, but is yet to undergo reassignment surgery on his genitals and says hes in no hurry to do so because current procedures have only a 60 per cent success rate.

He said: We havent encouraged Jayden to do this, despite what people think, and we are hurt at the suggestion.

She has no idea that Im transgender. Having been through this myself, I have conflicting emotions about her deciding she doesnt want to be a boy any more. Its not an easy life. People will always judge you and I dont think there is a single transgender person on the planet who would push that on a child.

We cant fix society but we can help Jayden to be happy with who she is. We dont encourage it. In fact, we buy boys and girls clothes to give her the option and we have regular conversations with her, underlining that if she wants to go back to being a boy, we will love her regardless. It is not something I would have chosen for myself and certainly not something I would choose for my child, but she is so much happier now.

The couple  who are not married but share the same surname  say at first they thought their sons interest in being a girl was just a phase which would pass, but have found themselves having to allow Jayden, from the age of four, to carry on being a girl for the sake of her mental well-being.

Jayden Rogers who is 5 years old wants to be a girl

North Lanarkshire Council social workers are understood to be monitoring the situation  but have so far been happy for Jayden to remain with her family.

Greg said: Social workers can see that Jayden is well looked after and have no concerns other than to suggest we consider moving home because of prejudice from some people in the area.

Some parents have even told their daughters not to play with Jayden because shes really a boy. But were refusing to move as the vast majority of our community have no issues with us and are supportive.

It has reopened old wounds. Most people do not know my gender identity. They just know me as a male, which is how I prefer it.

It shouldnt be an issue any more. When I first transitioned at 16, I was rejected by my parents and had to live with my grandmother for a while. I tried to fight my feelings, but I wasnt gay, I just always knew I was in the wrong body.

I went through horrific amounts of abuse and was beaten up in the street, so I would never abandon a child in a similar situation. We tell Jayden it is fine to be different and it is other people who have the problem, not her.

Jayden appeared to be content with her lot as a toddler. Born with partial deafness, however, she was unable to communicate her feelings and it was only after surgery, 11 months ago, to correct her hearing that she was able to tell her parents she wanted to be a girl.

Greg said: She developed speech and immediately started saying, I hate wearing boys clothes and everything about being a boy. At first, we thought it was probably just a phase but its been consistent ever since. She is adamant shes a girl.

Jayden appeared to be content with her lot as a toddler. Born with partial deafness, however, she was unable to communicate her feelings and it was only after surgery, 11 months ago, to correct her hearing that she was able to tell her parents she wanted to be a girl

For Jody, a heterosexual university student, the transition has had a profound effect on her as Jaydens biological mother. To begin with, she ignored her childs requests, hoping it was just a phase, before finally giving in. She said: I was naive. I didnt think a child could be transgender and it isnt until now, after speaking to other parents in our situation, that we realise it is more common than everyone thinks.

I had a son one moment and a daughter the next. It probably took me six months to start accepting that it was what Jayden really wanted. Its been like a grieving process for me, though. I do miss having a son and, as a baby, Jayden looked so much like a boy.

I look back at photographs of him now, in his little suits, and its like a different person.

Ive never been a girly girl myself, but Jayden is, and Ive had to learn to do her hair and nails.

I never had to bother before because when she was a boy, she just had a short back and sides. Fortunately, her name was unisex, otherwise she would have had to change it, but I still get the pronouns mixed up, calling her he rather than she. Jayden gets really annoyed with me.

One of the most controversial issues at the centre of the transgender debate is the ever growing number of children being given hormone drugs that could have irreversible effects.

Both Jaydens nursery and school have been incredibly supportive, say her parents, to the point the head teacher invited an LGBT expert in to meet with staff

Doctors still know very little about the long-term effects of taking puberty blockers over an extended period and have claimed there is anecdotal data the drugs are linked to osteoporosis.

Young people who are prescribed blockers are likely to progress onto cross sex hormones when they reach 16. Boys will be given oestrogen and girls will start on testosterone. The effects of this medication are irreversible and can have lifelong implications for the users.

Jody said: Of course I have concerns for the future. I get really worried because she will have to go on hormone blockers when shes older if she wants to remain being a girl. People have actually asked us if shes had the surgery already to her lower half, which is frankly ridiculous. Shes five!

Others have told me I should force Jayden to be a boy and not pander to it because she will get bullied. But she was getting bullied anyway because shes always been flamboyant.

She added: This is all about a boy wearing a dress and some peoples prejudices. If it was a girl with short hair and tracksuit bottoms, no one would bother.

Sitting beside her mother, proudly showing off her Yo-kai Watch and Pokemon colouring book, pony-tailed Jayden says: I dont like it when people say Im a boy. It makes me sad. I like being a girl.

Lying nearby is the picture book My Princess Boy, which was written by author Cheryl Kilodavis about her son, Dyson, whose self-expression does not conform to stereotypical gender roles. One of the ways he expresses himself is by wearing girls clothing.

Every day Jayden is given the choice - boys' or girls' uniform? And every day she makes the same decision

Greg added: Weve sought professional advice because we had no idea what to do as Jayden was only four when this started. We contacted our health visitors, our GP, the school, who have all offered help. Health visitors have said we must give Jayden the choice and every morning for almost a year shes chosen girls clothing. When she started school in August last year, we even spent a small fortune buying two school uniforms  a boys and a girls  so that she had an option. She chose the girls.

We have taken all the guidance to essentially let Jayden choose, which is why the criticism has been hard to take.

Both Jaydens nursery and school have been incredibly supportive, say her parents, to the point the head teacher invited an LGBT expert in to meet with staff, who also spoke to her pupils at assembly on the wider issue.

Greg said: As far as we are concerned, it is society that is trying to sexualise how Jayden is presenting herself. She is so young and all she wants to do is wear girls clothes, plain and simple. She had no idea until another child  told to do so by their parent  cornered her at school and said she couldnt be a girl because she had a willy.

Jayden was upset. Until then, she didnt know boys and girls had different bits. People are over-complicating it and trying to turn it into something nasty when it is just a five-year-old wanting to be herself.

'People are over-complicating it and trying to turn it into something nasty when it is just a five-year-old wanting to be herself,' says Greg

Looking back at family photographs, Greg, who met Jody on an online dating service, says with hindsight the early signs of Jaydens yearning to be a girl were there.

SHE always gravitated towards girls, and while her contemporaries were engaged in rough-and-tumble games, she was happiest dressing up as Princess Anna from the animated movie Frozen.

The couple contacted the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services to have Jayden assessed but were told the youngster did not have mental health issues, merely a gender issue.

Jayden is now on the waiting list for the Sandyford Clinic in Glasgow, which offers a Young Peoples Gender Service. Too young for medication or hormone treatment, she will receive counselling over the next few years.

Greg said: Because of her young age, Jayden will have counselling for a long time to explore who she is. The most important thing is ensuring she is happy if she wants to fully become a girl. We dont want a child suffering from mental health problems because shes been told she cant be who she wants to be. I know what that rejection is like and we dont want it for her.

He adds: Whatever the outcome, we will support her through it and when she is old enough to comprehend it, I will finally tell her about me. In the meantime, we want to do the best for Jayden.
Commons Speaker John Bercow secretly met Tory rebel Dominic Grieve just hours before throwing out centuries of tradition to allow the MP to scupper Theresa Mays Brexit plans.

The pair spoke in Mr Bercows grace-and-favour Commons apartment the day before the Speaker tore up the rule book to allow the former Attorney General to table an amendment to wrest control of Brexit from the Prime Minister, The Mail on Sunday can reveal.

Mr Grieve, who was last night accused of mounting a stitch-up over the extraordinary events, refused to reveal what he had discussed with Mr Bercow but insisted: Speakers make up their own minds.

Commons Speaker John Bercow (pictured) secretly met Tory rebel Dominic Grieve just hours before allowing a vote of an amendment to the Brexit withdrawal bill, it has been revealed

Dominic Grieve's amendment led to the Prime Ministers second major Commons setback in 24 hours

His amendment led to the Prime Ministers second major Commons setback in 24 hours.

Now even No 10 is warning that the Prime Minister could be ousted as soon as Wednesday if she suffers another heavy defeat over her Brexit deal in this weeks crunch vote.

Downing Street said that a vote against her on Tuesday would plunge the country into chaos  with a General Election held within weeks, costing many Tories their seats.

The blood-curdling Armageddon threats are part of last-ditch efforts to save the deal Mrs May struck with Brussels.

Now even No 10 is warning that the Prime Minister (pictured) could be ousted as soon as Wednesday if she suffers another heavy defeat over her Brexit deal in this weeks crunch vote

Conservative Party chairman Brandon Lewis said Britain was facing Brexit paralysis if her plan was rejected by MPs.

Rebel Tories have been warned that forcing a defeat could lead to one of two nightmare scenarios. Either pro-Remain Tory MPs join forces with Labour to compel the UK to stay in a customs union with the EU; or Jeremy Corbyn moves to bring down Mrs May with an immediate vote of no confidence.

Either way, it could lead to a crushing General Election defeat within weeks unless they fall into line, whips say.

Mr Lewis told The Mail on Sunday that a Brexit bunfight would open up between those who want a second referendum, an extension of Article 50 or a Norway-plus deal.

Amid growing alarm in No 10, this newspaper can also reveal:

Hopes are fading for significant assurances from Brussels over the hated Northern Ireland backstop, with expected interventions from EU Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker and EU Council president Donald Tusk tomorrow likely to fall far short of the demands of hardline Tory rebels;

Mr Grieves local party chairman was bombarded with demands for him to be replaced as Beaconsfields MP;

Mr Bercow faces the threat of strike action by MPs, amid calls for him to be denied the peerage customarily given to Speakers once they step down;

Crisis Foreign Office meetings have concluded a delayed Brexit is now the most likely outcome;

Jeremy Corbyns most senior advisers were at war over whether to call for a delay to Article 50, as the Labour leader said he would set out his vision for Government on Wednesday;

Former Brexit Secretaries Dominic Raab and David Davis are planning a joint appearance on the day of the vote to demand that MPs reject it;

Hi-de-Hi! star Su Pollard confronted Mrs May at a Downing Street drinks party over her Brexit strategy.

Mr Grieve was spotted leaving Mr Bercows Commons residence on Tuesday  the day before he joined forces with Labour, the SNP and the Liberal Democrats to defeat the Government.

The vote means Mrs May will now be forced to set out her Plan B within days if her Brexit deal is rejected by the Commons, as widely expected.

Pro-Brexit MPs accused Mr Bercow of overriding the advice of his officials and ignoring his duty to be impartial.

Mr Grieve, who has described a No-Deal Brexit as national suicide, admitted visiting Mr Bercow on the eve of the drama but denied having suborned the Speaker into accepting his amendment.

A spokeswoman for Mr Bercow confirmed he met Mr Grieve but declined to say what was discussed, saying: The Speaker meets MPs from both sides of the House and from all parties on all manner of things. Meetings with parliamentarians are private and we do not comment on them. But the spokeswoman insisted that decisions on amendments were made on the day of the business in question and released or announced that day.

One pro-Brexit MP told The Mail on Sunday last night: This is exactly as expected: a Remainer stitch-up by Bercow and Grieve.

No 10 has been trying to manage expectations about Tuesdays vote by claiming that any defeat by fewer than 100 votes would be counted as a good result.

The Mail on Sunday understands Mr Juncker and Mr Tusk will each send a separate letter designed to reassure MPs over the backstop tomorrow.

But the correspondence is likely to fall far short of the demands of Tory Brexit rebels, who want the EU to drop the contingency measure altogether.

Mr Junckers letter will vow to expedite trade talks between the EU and the UK to try avoid the controversial backstop measure ever being triggered.

Meanwhile, Mr Tusk will reiterate that the 27 other EU countries all have a firm determination to have a new relationship with Britain in place by the end of 2020 to avoid the measure kicking in.

He will add that if the deal is not ready by that point, all European states will work to have it signed by 2021 at the latest  meaning the UK would only have to shadow EU trade and customs rules for an additional year.

On Tuesday, former Brexit Secretaries David Davis and Dominic Raab will put aside weeks of sniping and leadership rivalry to reaffirm their opposition to Mrs Mays deal in a joint rally in Westminster for the hard-Brexit Global Britain Group.

On Tuesday: Grieve meets Bercow at his flat. Next day: Speaker accepts his killer vote

By Glen Owen for The Mail on Sunday

Seventeen Tory rebels, including Dominic Grieve (pictured), joined Labour, the SNP and the Liberal Democrats to defeat the Government on the Grieve amendment by 308 votes to 297 on Wednesday

Our front page revelation that Dominic Grieve secretly met John Bercow just hours before the Speaker allowed his killer amendment will add to the sense among Brexiteers that Mr Bercow is on a personal mission to thwart the UKs departure from the EU.

And it will increase the pressure on Beaconsfield MP Grieve from his local association to stand down  with one member telling this newspaper last night he would hurl rotten tomatoes at him if he tried to run for election again.

Seventeen Tory rebels, including Mr Grieve, joined Labour, the SNP and the Liberal Democrats to defeat the Government on the Grieve amendment by 308 votes to 297 on Wednesday  Mrs Mays second Commons defeat in 24 hours.

It means the Prime Minister will be forced to table a motion setting out her Brexit Plan B within three sitting days of the expected rejection of her deal on Tuesday.

Outraged pro-Brexit MPs who accused Mr Bercow of overriding the advice of his officials  and ignoring his duty to be impartial  will be infuriated by the appearance of collusion between the two men.

Mr Grieve, who has described a No Deal Brexit as national suicide, last night admitted visiting Mr Bercow in his Commons apartment on the eve of the drama, but denied having suborned the Speaker into accepting his amendment.

Under fire: Commons Speaker John Bercow (circled right) defending his controversial decision to call an amendment tabled by Tory MP Dominic Grieve (circled left)

The former Attorney General refused to say whether the two men had discussed how his controversial move would be handled in the Commons. He said: He was aware of the motion but I dont discuss private conversations.

I often speak to the Speaker about all sorts of things. Were fellow Buckinghamshire MPs. But I am not in the business of suborning Speakers. They make up their own minds. I tabled my amendment without speaking to the Speaker.

How the Speaker decided to approach the amendment is a matter for him.

Mr Grieves anti-Brexit campaigning has alienated many members in his local association.

One said last night that chairman Santokh Chhokar had been bombarded with letters of complaint.

He added: We dont want him to stay as our MP. If he tries to stand again I would personally hurl rotten tomatoes at him.

Asked if he had confidence in Mr Grieve, Mr Chhokar said all association matters were private.

Countdown to coup in Commons: How Grieve went about tabling his amendment 1. Tables motion On Tuesday, Dominic Grieve tables his amendment which would force the PM to set out within three sitting days what she will do next if the meaningful vote doesnt pass this week. His aim is to empower MPs to tell the Government what they want to happen over Brexit. 2. Meets speaker Later that day, Mr Grieve visits Speaker John Bercow in his grace-and-favour Commons apartment. 3. Vote called On Wednesday, Mr Bercow causes uproar by calling the amendment, despite aides telling him it goes against constitutional precedent. Advertisement

Shortly after the vote, Mr Grieve was involved in a furious bust-up with Tory vice-chairman Chris Philp. After Mr Philp accused him of being irresponsible for tabling the amendment, a shaken Mr Grieve protested: I am not changing the law of the land, I am changing procedure.

Mr Bercows decision to allow the amendment also caused an angry row with the Governments Chief Whip Julian Smith.

Mr Smith confronted the Speaker in his chair and told him that his behaviour was totally out of order. He said: You are overturning precedent, defying the advice of the Clerk of the House and trying to overturn the referendum result.

Mr Bercow responded by saying that he would not be bullied by Mr Smith.

Mr Grieves local opponents talk openly about him retiring to his holiday home in Brittany.

The spacious modern house is situated five minutes outside the fishing village of Lanildut.

Neighbour Aude Guillermit said Mr Grieve and his family were there over the Christmas break. I spoke to them and Dominic said that times were difficult for Britain and the Conservative Party. Dominics mother was French and he is a bilingual English-French speaker. He is equally at ease in either language.

When Dominic is here, he spends a lot of time canoeing in the estuary and at sea, and he is also a very keen diver.

Another neighbour, Helene Jaouen, said: He speaks French fluently without an accent. He could be taken for a Frenchman.

Mr Grieve said he was unaware of any calls by local Beaconsfield Tory association members for him to be deselected over his actions last week and denied that he plans to stand down at the next Election.

A spokesman for Mr Bercow confirmed he met Mr Grieve on Tuesday. She declined to say what was discussed, adding: Meetings with parliamentarians are private and we do not comment on them.

But she insisted that decisions on amendments were made on the day of the business in question and released or announced that day.

Can we suggest you retire to this petite maison, Monsieur Grieve? The Grieve family bolthole in France is a modern, purpose-built property at odds with its Breton surroundings, but it commands spectacular views across a local estuary. The house, which was completed seven years ago, comprises four buildings joined at the centre, with a glass-fronted section looking out on to a spacious lawn. Neighbours say Mr Grieve is a keen gardener. The Grieve family bolthole (pictured) in France is a modern, purpose-built property at odds with its Breton surroundings Advertisement

Bercow may as well have had 'B******* to Brexit' pinned on his puff-up chest

By David Morris, Tory MP for Morecambe and Lunesdale

I felt my rights had been eroded, along with those of my constituents and fellow MPs, whatever their political colour, writes David Morris (pictured), Tory MP for Morecambe and Lunesdale

There are precious few occasions that can ever justify an MP challenging the Commons Speaker. But last week I sadly found myself doing just that. I still believe I was right to do so. Publish it! I yelled at John Bercow.

I was challenging our Remain-voting Speaker to come clean on what advice he had received from the Commons Clerk before deciding to trash established procedure and allow a Brexit-defying vote to be taken.

I felt my rights had been eroded, along with those of my constituents and fellow MPs, whatever their political colour.

The Commons had yet to receive a written clarification from Mr Bercow, though he proclaimed he acted in our best interests by granting the amendment tabled by Dominic Grieve.

Mr Bercow was flouting time-honoured Commons precedents by creating a one-off rule, abandoning constitutional convention and compromising his role as the impartial Speaker. He also ignored expert advice from Commons Clerk Sir David Natzler, who knows these rules intimately.

Why? Well, it appears that Mr Bercow wants to do everything he can to thwart the result of the referendum by enabling another humiliating defeat for the Government  without any warning.

Mr Bercow denies claims that his car displays a B******s to Brexit sticker, saying the vehicle belongs to his wife. But it might as well be stuck firmly to his puffed-up chest on this occasion.

Speaker John Bercow speaking in the House of Commons on a suggested amendment to the Brexit withdrawal bill on Wednesday, January 9

The Speaker is there to serve the elected Commons without prejudice. He should not override House business and act as our master. Its like a cricket umpire who, halfway through the game, invents a new method of dismissal to suit the losing side  especially if the batsman happens to be Theresa May.

The Prime Minister is trying to secure a workable Brexit agreement in the full spirit of what the people called for in the referendum. We all know the polarised emotions and debates, but we as a nation voted Leave and that must be honoured and delivered.

It is what Mrs May is committed to doing and now is the time for the Speaker to uphold the set procedures of the Commons and not perform a one-off to suit himself. His actions have done little to bring the country together and will be catastrophic if they are repeated.

This is a man who shed his Right-wing principles as a Tory MP to win the post of Speaker in 2009 largely on the back of Labour votes.

Judging from the cheers from the Opposition benches last week, it appeared he was repaying those Labour votes.

By tradition, Speakers give up their party affiliation to serve the whole House. At this important time for the nation, he should not only be apolitical, but also bring the MPs together.

Mr Bercow indicated in 2009 that he would serve for nine years. His self-imposed time has expired. Most of my colleagues feel he has betrayed his historic office and that the Prime Minister should deny him the traditional peerage offered to retiring Speakers. He can hardly object to breaking precedent after lecturing us last week that if past practice was never overturned, nothing would ever change.

By those same standards of creating a one-off, if Mr Bercow should again seek to stand as MP for Buckingham, he should be denied the traditional sitting Speakers privilege of not facing candidates from the main parties.

Should Mr Bercow seek to bend the rules again this week to appear to serve his own or the Oppositions agenda, I will have no hesitation in standing up and protesting in the strongest manner.

I swore to uphold the wishes of my community and the people of our nation; a repeat of the Speakers actions will be seen as violation of my constituents rights.

But this time I suspect many Tory colleagues will stand with me to uphold our precious democracy and honour the interests of the people who voted for Brexit.
Six teenagers have been rushed to hospital with serious wounds after a mass stabbing in a park in Sydney's posh northern suburbs overnight.

A 34-year-old man allegedly went on a stabbing rampage after coming across the youths at Cameron Park, Turramurra, just before midnight on Saturday.

Police have been told the man allegedly stabbed the teenagers, who were aged between 15 and 19, during the altercation.

They were all treated at the scene by paramedics before being taken to hospitals across Sydney with a number requiring immediate surgery.

Six teenagers have been rushed to hospital with serious wounds after a mass stabbing in a park in Sydney's posh northern suburbs overnight

It's understood the bloody brawl broke out after the man left a nearby wine and tapas bar

It's understood the bloody brawl broke out after the man left a nearby wine and tapas bar.

Forensic crews were at the taped-off crime scene on Sunday morning.

Footpaths leading from the public park, just across the road from the local train station and a strip of businesses, were stained with blood.

A 17-year-old Mt Kuring-Gai boy is now undergoing surgery at Royal North Shore Hospital for stab wounds to his throat, chest and abdomen.

A 16-year-old girl is undergoing surgery in the same hospital for neck and arm wounds.

The 34-year-old alleged attacker suffered head and upper body injuries and was taken to Westmead Hospital where he remains under guard.

Officers from Kuring-Gai Police Area Command established a crime scene and have launched an investigation into the incident.

A 34-year-old man allegedly went on a stabbing spree after encountering the teenagers at Cameron Park
A high-ranking civilian official with the U.S. Army confirmed today that the White House has ordered the military branch to find money to build a wall on the Mexican border, DailyMail.com has learned.

Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army Ryan Fisher, whose U.S. Army Corps of Engineers could be involved in the walls construction if President Donald Trump declares an emergency, said in an exclusive interview with DailyMail.com that the country faces a national security issue.

'Look, were facing a national security issue,' he said. 'Were waiting for more orders.'

Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army Ryan Fisher (right) says President Donald Trump (left) has ordered the military branch to find money to build a wall on the Mexican border

Ryan Fisher, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works, tells attendees that President Trump met with his department to ask them to be ready for him to use his emergency powers to begin creation of the USA-Mexico border wall

Inside the 34th Annual Everglades Coalition Conference at Hawks Cay Resort in Duck Key, Florida

If the wall were to be green-lighted, however, Fisher hinted that major civil engineering projects like flood control, dyke repairs and fish and wildlife restoration could end up delayed or temporarily stopped during the walls construction.

Fisher appeared today before 200-plus Florida environmental activists at the annual Everglades Coalition Conference in Duck Key to talk about Everglades restoration, the re-establishment of a cleansing natural water flow in a 734-square-mile area besieged by development.

The giant swamp west of Miami has been ailing, according to scientists, and the water supplies for nearly 10 million residents as well as dozens of animal species are under threat.

Recently, algae blooms in Everglades waters caused by overdevelopment and agriculture overflew toward the states Gulf and East coasts and caused respiratory problems for residents, fish kills and a tourism slowdown.

After years of wrangling, state and federal authorities hatched one of the largest-scale hydrologic restoration projects ever and started construction of reservoirs, flood control devices and canals at the projected cost of $20 billion.

If Trump were to declare the wall a national emergency and force the Corps to build it, one of the key agencies in the restoration could see its Everglades funding dry out.

Army representatives and NGO leaders socialize at the 34th Annual Everglades Coalition Conference at Hawks Cay Resort in Duck Key, Florida

A panel at the 34th Annual Everglades Coalition Conference at Hawks Cay Resort in Duck Key, Florida explains the pollutants of Lake Okeechobee

'I shouldnt make any comments on the wall because I might find that Im contradicting myself as soon as I check the news on my phone,' said Fisher, a political appointee who worked as a legislative director for Vice President Mike Pence when he served as U.S. Congressman. 'But the president has asked us whether, if he declares the wall an emergency, wed be ready.

'We assured him wed be ready.'

The Corps then would have to be selective on which routine project it would discontinue.

'We would need to decide whether other civil works project are not essential to national defense,' Fisher said as some activists grumbled.

Fisher was asked whether building the wall could take money away from the giant anti-pollution Everglades project.

The Florida Everglades (above) is a key water source for 10million Florida residents

He didnt rule out taking the Everglades money but tried to reassure the audience that the project is important.

'We assured the president we would find the money (for the wall), but we would have to take money away from unobligated projects,' Fisher repeated.

He hinted that that the Everglades restoration is among those.

'Everglades Restoration, however, is well advocated among politicians and activists in Florida,' he said, telling the audience not to worry.

He told DailyMail.com: 'Were not at a point where we are choosing projects. But, the (Everglades) restoration could be considered a non-essential project.'

Like many worried activists in the Keys, Celeste De Palma, the director of Everglades policy at the Florida Audubon Society, said she was surprised by Fishers admission.

'(Fishers) remarks are interesting, and its interesting he volunteered the information,' she said.
More than 15 years have passed since Dr David Kelly was found dead in an Oxfordshire wood in one of the darkest episodes of Tony Blairs time as Prime Minister.

The official explanation was that the distinguished weapons expert had taken his own life by overdosing on painkillers and cutting his left wrist, devastated after being unmasked as the source of the BBCs claim that the Government had sexed up the case for the Iraq War.

But since Dr Kellys death in 2003, time has done nothing to dispel the cloud of suspicion that hangs over the episode. The troubling questions surrounding it have only increased as the years have passed.

Successive governments have refused to allow a full coroners inquest to be held, fuelling the sense of a cover-up.

Since Dr Kellys death in 2003, time has done nothing to dispel the cloud of suspicion that hangs over it

I have spent years examining the case and, like some surgeons, barristers, coroners and judges I know of, I cannot accept the official explanation that Dr Kelly took his own life.

Last year, I published a book containing the evidence I had discovered. Since then, I have amassed more compelling information from new, highly credible sources  evidence which casts yet more serious doubt on the claims that Dr Kelly cut his own wrists. It also raises further disturbing questions about the circumstances of his death.

By continuing my investigation, I have sometimes been dismissed as a conspiracy theorist. But I have no political axe to grind, and there is nothing fantastical about the facts of this case.

The official explanation was that the distinguished weapons expert had taken his own life

The 59-year-old scientists body was discovered on July 18, 2003, days after he had been grilled publicly in front of a Select Committee of MPs about his contact with the BBC journalist Andrew Gilligan.

Gilligan had reported that the Government dossier, which claimed Iraq could deploy weapons of mass destruction at 45 minutes notice, was unreliable  exaggerated or sexed up for political purposes.

And Dr Kelly, a chemical weapons expert who worked for the Foreign Office and Ministry of Defence, was soon unmasked by Downing Street officials as the BBCs informant.

He always denied being the main source of the story but was nonetheless thrust into the spotlight against his will.

Less than an hour after Dr Kellys body was discovered  and before it had been formally identified or seen by a medical professional who could estimate a cause of death  Blair instructed his Lord Chancellor and an old friend from university, Charles Falconer, to set up a public inquiry into the circumstances surrounding his death.

Lord Hutton was hand-picked to chair the inquiry, which eventually concluded that Dr Kelly took his life and cleared the Government of wrongdoing.

The wood where the body of Dr David Kelly was found - Tony Blair set up a public inquiry into the circumstances surrounding his death soon after the discovery

Dr David Kelly arrives at the House of Commons July 15, 2003 in London England

But the establishment of the Hutton Inquiry ensured that the microscopic investigation of the death which would have happened during a coroners inquest never took place. Whereas the coroner would have had formal powers, the Hutton Inquiry had none.

Witnesses could not be compelled to attend, no evidence was given on oath, and Hutton had total control over who would appear and what documents could be disclosed.

The result, in the eyes of many, was a whitewash.

In his report, Hutton concluded that Dr Kelly had taken his life and that nobody could have anticipated this. He stated that the principal cause of death was bleeding from incised wounds to his left wrist which Dr Kelly had inflicted on himself with the knife found beside his body.

He said that Dr Kelly had coronary heart disease, that there were co-proxamol painkillers in his blood, and that these things might have helped bring about death more certainly and more rapidly.

Hutton then added: I am further satisfied that no other person was involved in the death of Dr Kelly and that Dr Kelly was not suffering from any significant mental illness at the time he took his own life.

Former Director of Communications for British Prime Minister Tony Blair Alistair Campbell arrives at the high court to be cross examined at the Hutton inquiry on September 22, 2003

I have updated my book after being contacted by John Scurr, a world-renowned consultant surgeon specialising in vascular surgery  surgery on veins and arteries. He does not believe it possible that Dr Kelly died in the manner officially found.

Scurr told me that Dr Kellys half-sister, Sarah Pape OBE  a leading plastic surgeon based at the Royal Victoria Hospital in Newcastle  rang him shortly after Hutton published his report in January 2004 to say she didnt believe Dr Kelly had taken his own life.

Scurr told me: Sarah Pape clearly had concerns about whether Dr Kelly could have died from slashing his wrist. We had an in-depth conversation about it. She took the trouble to contact me after the Hutton Inquiry finished to discuss whether one could actually die from slashing the ulnar artery [which passes through the wrist on the little finger side].

She doubted whether he could have done that on a personal and a medical level. She is a plastic surgeon and has considerable medical knowledge.

Prime Minister Tony Blair opens the debate on the Hutton Report in the House of Commons, London, Wednesday 4 February, 2004

Scurrs claim is doubly significant because Ms Pape gave evidence to the Hutton Inquiry but did not disclose her doubts on that occasion.

Scurr has his own significant professional doubts too  remember, he is an expert when it comes to blood vessels.

He said: I dont believe its possible to die from simply cutting your ulnar artery. It is a very small artery and it is unlikely you could lose enough blood to cause cardiac arrest and death. It is much more likely he died from another cause. One possibility is a heart attack caused by whatever reason and this was an attempt to mask that.

The relative absence of blood at the scene and the fact that a rather blunt knife was used are significant. If one were to cut the wrist holding the knife in the right hand, the artery that would be cut is not the ulnar artery, which is on the inside of the hand, but the radial artery on the outside of the hand.

It seems more probable that somebody else took the knife and actually slashed the wrist, taking the stroke across the ulnar artery.

Scurrs point is that anyone wanting to cut their wrist would first have come across the radial artery, located under the thumb, rather than the ulnar artery, which lives under the little finger and is buried deep in the wrist. It is hard to find, especially with a knife that is 50 years old and blunt, such as the one found in Kellys hand. To sever it would require something like a razor blade.

I have also spoken to another important witness, David Broucher, the British Ambassador to Prague between 1997 and 2001. Broucher was called to give evidence to the Hutton Inquiry after telling Foreign Office colleagues of an extraordinary remark Dr Kelly made to him shortly before he died. Chillingly, Dr Kelly told him he thought he would be found dead in the woods if Iraq was ever invaded.

This was in February 2003  a full three months before Dr Kelly met BBC reporter Andrew Gilligan.

British government spokesperson Tom Kelly arrives at the Royal Courts of Justice to be cross-examined at the Hutton Inquiry into the death of government weapons expert Dr David Kelly, in London

According to Broucher, Kelly rang his Geneva office unexpectedly and asked to see him.

The two men later spoke face- to-face for about an hour, and in the course of their conversation Dr Kelly volunteered his concerns about the British Governments 45-minute claim because he knew it was not true.

Crucially, Broucher has told me something he had never previously disclosed: that during their meeting Dr Kelly named Blairs spin doctor Alastair Campbell as one of those exerting pressure to make the dossier on Iraqs possession of WMD as strong as possible.

Leading Establishment figures of the day, from Tony Blair down, agreed to be questioned at the Hutton Inquiry. There was evidence from Alastair Campbell and from Sir Richard Dearlove, the head of MI6, whose voice had never been heard in public before.

Yet the omissions are glaring. More than 20 key witnesses who might have been expected to give evidence at a coroners inquest  including the Thames Valley Police officer who led the search for Dr Kelly  were excluded from the inquiry.

Of the 24 days on which the Hutton Inquiry did sit, less than half a day was spent going through the medical evidence relating to Dr Kellys death. A number of suspicious details were simply ignored, even though they were well-known to police.

Take, for example, the fact that there were no fingerprints on the knife Dr Kelly allegedly used to kill himself. And yet when his body was found, he wore no gloves.

Dr David Kelly's house in Southmoor, Oxfordshire. The 59-year-old scientists body was discovered on July 18, 2003

Then there is the startling matter of Dr Kellys dental records.

On the day he died, but before his body had been officially found, his dentist discovered that his patient records had disappeared. Who took the records? When did they do so? Why did they want them?

Among other urgent questions that remain unaddressed are:

Why incomplete evidence concerning Dr Kellys whereabouts during the last week of his life was given to the Hutton Inquiry.

Why the forensic pathologist who conducted the post-mortem claimed Dr Kelly was 2st lighter than he actually was.

lWhy a police search helicopter with thermal imaging equipment, which had flown three hours before over the wood where his body was eventually found, did not detect it  despite the fact that his body temperature would have been warm enough at the time to register on the helicopters search system.

The Hutton Inquiry was deeply flawed, raising more questions than answered.

And that is why, along with many others, I believe it is essential that a full coroners inquest must now be held. Only then can we start to know the truth about the troubling death of Dr David Kelly.

An Inconvenient Death: How The Establishment Covered Up The David Kelly Affair, by Miles Goslett, is out in paperback.
Advertisement

The isolated home where kidnap victim Jayme Closs was held captive for 88 days has been pictured for the first time as her family shared new images showing her settling back into life with loved ones and flashing 'big smiles'.

The 13-year-old is said to have slept soundly next to her relatives last night after her miraculous escape from the woodland lair in Eau Claire Acres in Gordon, Wisconsin.

An aerial shot shows the home on Saturday with several parked vehicles outside, covered in snow in the wooded area.

A road runs nearby with other cabins dotted around the remote dwelling. It is one of the neighbor's homes Jayme was rushed to on Thursday evening after escaping and asking dogwalker Jeanne Nutter for help.

The development is made up of a small looped street called called Eau Claire Acres Circle and is about six miles east of Gordon on Highway Y.

Jake Thomas Patterson, 21, is accused of kidnapping the teen and killing her mom and dad after 'targeting' the girl in their house in Barron, Wisconsin.

Police confirmed Patterson, from Gordon, Wis., is in custody on two charges of first degree intentional homicide in the deaths of Jayme's parents and one count of kidnapping. They say the family did not know the accused.

His attorneys, Charles Glynn and Richard Jones, called it 'a very tragic situation'. Glynn and Jones say they're relying on 'the integrity of our judicial system' to treat him fairly.

Speaking to DailyMail.com on the first day that Jayme Closs has woken up in the safety of her family's care since her extraordinary recovery on Thursday afternoon, her aunt Jennifer Smith said: 'She had a good night's sleep. It's been just wonderful and it's just wonderful to have her back.

'God is good! He answered our prayers he certainly did and we've just been overwhelmed by everyone's support. '

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The home in Eau Claire Acres in Gordon, Wisconsin where kidnap victim Jayme Closs, 13, was held captive for 88 days

Jayme, pictured following her miraculous escape, is said to have slept soundly next to her relatives last night

Jayme's aunt Jennifer Smith, pictured with the teen right, said: 'She had a good night's sleep. It's been just wonderful and it's just wonderful to have her back'

Last year, in an exclusive interview with DailyMail TV, Jennfier and her sister Sue Allard told of the family's desperate bid to keep Jayme in the nation's hearts and minds.

Today she described their success and her niece's return as, 'a miracle.'

Now, she said, the family is coming together to heal from the horrors of that October night on which Jayne's parents, Denise and James Closs were gunned down and she was taken.

Speaking of Denise, Jennifer said, 'She can rest in peace now.'

For now, she said they plan to just enjoy having Jayme back with them as the reality of her return sinks in, making an emotional promise to the girl's murdered parents to 'make her safe forever'.

Brave Jayme was pictured for the first time since her escape in a beautiful reunion with her aunt and dog just hours after she was found.

She was pictured smiling alongside her aunt Jennifer, who is now her guardian, in the image, which was taken on Friday.

Jayme was found at Eau Claire Acres, a development located about 70 miles away from her home in Barron

Jayme Closs, 13, is pictured smiling alongside her aunt just hours after her escape

Jayme's aunt Jennifer Naiberg Smith has made an emotional promise to the teen's murdered parents to 'make her safe forever' after telling supporters the teen slept well

Facebook page Healing for Jayme Closs posted: 'After hundreds of requests from the public, we've gotten permission from Jayme's aunt/guardian Jennifer, to create an online fundraiser to support Jayme'

Jake Thomas Patterson, of Gordon, Wis., has been jailed on kidnapping and homicide charges in the October killing of a Wisconsin couple and abduction of their teen daughter, Jayme Closs

The teen's aunts Kelly Engelhardt, pictured right, and Carla Closs, left, said they never gave up hope of finding their niece and had 'faith everyday'

HOW YOU CAN SEND YOUR SUPPORT TO BRAVE JAYME A fundraiser was set up for wellwishers to contribute to following Jayme's miracle escape. The official fundraising page closed on Saturday after it 'greatly surpassed its goal' and raised more than $50,000. But those running the page posted: 'We have ended our Facebook fundraiser as we greatly surpassed our goal. We recommend those still wishing to donate contact Sterling Bank and reference the Closs Family Benefit Fund. 'There's been a lot of confusion with dozens of gofundmes popping up, most falsely claiming to be relatives. We've been able to confirm with Jennifer and Sue that Angela Nevada de Andriano is a legitimate cousin who has started a fund. So here is another option for those still wishing to donate online.' Wellwishers can also send messages of support to Jayme and her family at Light The Way Home for Jayme Closs, PO Box 539, Rice Lake, WI, 54868. Advertisement

Jennifer said Saturday her niece had 'a pretty good night sleep', adding it was 'great to know she was next to me all night'.

Guardian Jennifer wrote on Facebook: 'Jayme had a pretty good night sleep. It was great to know she was next to me all night what a great feeling to have her home.

'As a family we will get through all of the healing process Jayme has. It will be a long road but we are family strong and we love this little girl so much!! We will do anything and everything!!

'My beloved sister Denise pooh and brother in law Jim can rest at peace and I keep assuring them Jayme is safe and we will make sure forever. We all miss them both dearly now they know there (stet) Jayme which was there (stet) whole world is home with family!! God is Good !! Bless you all!!'

Jayme's grandfather Robert Naiberg reiterated Saturday that the family had no connection with Patterson and didn't know him. He says Jayme told FBI agents that she didn't know Patterson at all.

The new photo was shared by the Facebook page 'Healing for Jayme Closs' and reads: 'Nothing makes me happier right now than seeing this photo. Seeing this reunion, seeing that smile! We love you Jayme!'

It said on Friday evening: 'Jayme's aunt sent us this photo two hours ago and has given permission for it to be reposted.'

The Facebook page also shared that a fundraiser had been set up for wellwishers to contribute to.

The teen's family have said they never gave up hope that she would be found and had 'faith everyday'.

Aunt Kelly Engelhardt told wsaw: 'We knew she was still there, we knew. We had faith everyday. Everyday.

'Disbelief, excited. I cried instantly. I fell to the bench that was sitting there when they told me. I got up and I hugged the chief deputy. The smile on his face was like, I knew. I knew it was good news, and I just cried.'

Carla Closs, another aunt, added: 'Just to see her, just to look at her, just to see that she's okay.'

Barron County Sheriff Chris Fitzgerald released additional details Friday evening and said the suspect went to great lengths to alter his physical appearance and hide evidence of the alleged murder, including shaving his head.

Police say they have recovered the shotgun used to shoot open door October 15 as well as other guns.

President of the Jennie-O Turkey Store in Barron, Steve Lykken, also said Patterson once worked at her parents' employer before quitting after a single day.

He issued a statement Friday saying Patterson was hired one day but quit the next, explaining that he was moving away from the area.

An obituary for James and Denise Closs says they worked at the turkey processing plant for 27 years.

The teen vanished from her home in Barron, Wisconsin on October 15, the same day the teenager's parents, James, 56, and Denise Closs, 46, (above) were found shot dead inside

Jake Patterson (right) with mother Deborah (center) in 2015 and sister Katie (left)

TIMELINE OF JAYME CLOSS' DISAPPEARANCE Jayme Closs was missing for three months Oct. 15, 2018 - Jayme's parents, James and Denise Closs, found dead at their home in Barron and the teen is reported missing Oct. 16, 2018 - Investigators say they don't consider Jayme a suspect in her parents' deaths Oct. 17, 2018 - Authorities announce that investigators believe Jayme was in her family's home when he parents were fatally shot Oct. 18, 2018 - About 100 people join a ground search for Jayme after Barron County Sheriff Chris Fitzgerald requests the help of volunteers Oct. 23, 2018 - About 2,000 volunteers from as far as Minneapolis help with another ground search . Several items are found and taken for assessment Oct. 24, 2018 - The FBI offers a $25,000 reward for information leading to Jayme's location. The amount is later doubled to $50,000 by the Jennie-O Turkey Store, where James and Denise Closs worked Oct. 27, 2018 - Funeral held for James and Denise Closs Oct. 29, 2018 - Prosecutors announce they have charged a man with burglarizing the Closs home but say he's not a suspect in the case. Dec. 12, 2018 - Tree of Hope lit as community prays for her safe return Jan. 10, 2019 - After three months Jayme is found alive in Gordon, Wisconsin. A suspect is taken into custody. Jan. 11, 2019 - Police named the man accused of kidnapping her as Jake Thomas Patterson, 21 Advertisement

Unemployed Patterson had no previous criminal history and was not on the radar of police. They say they are not looking for anyone else in connection with the case.

Police believe Patterson - said to have hidden the girl in the home he grew up in - killed the Wisconsin couple because he wanted to abduct their daughter. They say she was 'the only target'.

Barron County Sheriff Chris Fitzgerald say Patterson 'planned his actions and took many steps to hide his identity'. She was kept in a 'home in a remote area' of Douglas County, Fitzgerald said.

He said: 'Jayme was taken against her will and escaped from the residence at which she was being held in. We also don't believe at this time the suspect had any contact with the family. We do believe that Jayme was the only target.

'I can tell you that the subject planned his actions and took many proactive steps to hide his identity from law enforcement and the general public.

'It appears he concealed her from other people ... his friends.'

He was pulled over by police in his car just minutes after Jayme was found and gave a description of the vehicle.

Fitzgerald said he doesn't know if Jayme was abused by her captor and that detectives are now interviewing her about her ordeal.

Patterson lived three doors down from the woman who called 911 to report that a missing 13-year-old Wisconsin girl had been found.

Teacher Kristin Kasinskas says she taught him middle school science but only remembers that he was quiet.

Kasinskas says she didn't see Patterson during the months that Jayme was missing.

She added: 'I don't really remember a ton about him. He seemed like a quiet kid. I don't recall anything that would have explained this, by any means.'

It comes as another neighbor of Patterson says she and her husband had problems with him siphoning gas years ago.

Daphne Ronning told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel that Patterson's parents moved to Gordon about 15 years ago.

She says the parents later moved away but Patterson and his brother continued to use the home. She says she and her husband once caught them siphoning gas. She says her husband spoke with them and they didn't have any further problems.

Ronning says she didn't know Patterson was living in the house and hadn't seen Jayme around.

Jeanne Nutter, pictured Friday, was walking her dog near the cabin she owns with her husband Forrest when she found Jayme Closs coming out of nearby woods. Kristin and Peter Kasinskas, pictured right, say their neighbor had a skinny, dirty girl with matted hair wearing shoes several sizes too big for her feet standing next to her

It has also since emerged that ownership of the remote cabin where she was apparently held was passed to a credit union soon after her abduction.

Patterson's father transferred the title of the cabin near Gordon to Superior Choice Credit Union on Oct. 23 - eight days after the attack at the Closs family's home, according to records.

Jayme was described as 'skinny and dirty but outwardly OK' by the couple who called 911 after the teenager flagged down dogwalker Jeanne Nutter in rural Wisconsin.

FBI Special Agent Justin Tolomeo said: 'In cases like this we often need a big break, and it was Jayme herself who gave us that break.'

Fitzgerald says Closs was medically cleared, is out of the hospital and is being interviewed by law enforcement.

She was taken from her home in Barron, Wisconsin on October 15, the same day her parents, James, 56, and Denise Closs, 46, were found shot dead inside.

The Barron County Sheriff's Department confirmed Jayme was found at Eau Claire Acres, a development located about 70 miles away from her home.

The teen approached a woman walking her dog, and told the stranger she had been kidnapped and that a man killed her parents.

Dogwalker Jeanne went with Jayme to her neighbors house and pounded on their door. She says Jayme had walked away from a cabin not far from her place where she had been held.

Nutter, a social worker, said: 'I went to her and she just sort of grabbed onto me and she told me who she was. She's a traumatized child. I believe she was just maybe in shock.

'I'm just happy that she's safe. I feel like it's sort of a miracle that she's still alive. I'm glad my dog wanted to go for a walk and we did and there she was. My goal was to get her to a safe place and I did. The police were amazing.'

Kristin and Peter Kasinskas say their neighbor had a skinny, dirty girl with matted hair, wearing shoes several sizes too big for her feet standing next to her. The neighbor shouted, 'This is Jayme Closs! Call 911!'

Kristin told the Today Show: 'She knocked on our door, and then actually opened our door and said call 911.

'She seemed kind of in shock and kind of timid, but she did talk to us a little bit, and she came in and sat down in our living room and was able to have a conversation with us.'

The home where teenager Jayme Closs lived with her parents before their brutal murder three months ago pictured Friday

The entrance to Eau Claire Acres in Gordon, Wisconsin where Jake Thomas Patterson was arrested in the kidnapping of Jayme Closs and the murder of her parents

Kristin Kasinskas neighbor who called 911- Jayme Closs and the dog walker approached the home of Kristin Kasinskas, pictured, and asked her to call 911

A thank you sign is displayed in Barron after Jayme was found alive more than three months after she disappeared. It reads: 'Thank you for bringing her home'

A 'Welcome Home Jayme' sign is displayed for the teen's return home on January 11, 2019 in Barron, Wisconsin

The entrance to Eau Claire Acres in Gordon, Wisconsin where Jake Thomas Patterson was arrested over the kidnapping of Jayme Closs and the murder of her parents

Kidnap victim Elizabeth Smart paid tribute to Jayme and has offered her support to the 'brave, strong and powerful 13-year-old survivor'.

She wrote in an emotional Instagram post: 'What a miracle!!! Jayme Closs has been found!!!! I'm so thrilled to hear the news. What has been such a heart wrenching tragedy finally has some happiness in the story.'

Smart said she would expect that Jayme will have to confront the fact that there 'is no going back to the way things were'. She said she recommends that Jayme's friends and family give her space and allow her to make her own decisions.

Elizabeth was was 14 when she was held in the woods by Wandaa Barzee and Brian David Mitchell for nine months.
Transport Secretary Chris Grayling has been accused of engaging in 'gutter politics' after he warned that stopping Brexit from happening could lead to the rise of 'extremist' political forces in the UK.

The cabinet minister, who campaigned to leave the European Union, had claimed that putting a stop to Britain's withdrawal could end the centuries of 'moderate' politics the UK has enjoyed since the English Civil War.

He also urged his Conservative colleagues to back Theresa May's Brexit deal.

However, his comments have now been condemned by pro-EU Tory former minister Anna Soubry and Labour MP David Lammy, and he has been accused of 'losing the plot'.

Ms Soubry was branded a 'Nazi' and a 'liar' by a mob who targeted her during live television interviews outside Parliament on Monday.

Transport Secretary Chris Grayling (pictured) said the 17million who voted to leave the EU would feel 'cheated' by any moves to water down Theresa May's deal or thwart our exit entirely

The Transport Secretary earlier said that the 17million who voted to leave the EU would feel 'cheated' by any moves to water down Theresa May's deal or thwart our exit entirely.

This would have grave implications for our democracy, he said, ending centuries of moderate politics.

Ms Soubry described Mr Grayling's comments as 'irresponsible nonsense'.

She tweeted: 'The 15 yobs who have been roaming outside Parliament do not represent anyone but themselves. It's shameful to validate them in this way. Right-wing extremists have always existed Brexit is just an excuse - this is their real agenda.'

Pro-EU Tory MP Anna Soubry, who was branded a 'Nazi' and a 'liar' by a mob outside Parliament, described the Transport Secretary's comments as 'irresponsible nonsense'

Pro-EU Labour MP David Lammy also criticised the minister and accused him of 'gutter politics'

Labour's David Lammy added: 'This is a desperate attempt by a Government minister to use a tiny far-right minority to hold our democracy to ransom. It is gutter politics.

'History shows us appeasement only emboldens the far right and impoverishing the country through Brexit will only increase resentment.

'To heal our nation, we need to provide a positive narrative that actually addresses the inequalities that have been allowed to ferment over recent years, rather than follow through with bogus solution that worsens them.'

Meanwhile, Liberal Democrat Brexit spokesman Tom Brake said: 'Chris Grayling has lost the plot. This kind of scaremongering is not only dangerous, but it is embarrassing.'

Police outside Parliament this week were this week 'briefed to intervene appropriately' if the law is broken after Tory MP Anna Soubry accused them of ignoring abuse hurled at politicians and journalists

A poll found the majority of Tory voters now want MPs to back the Prime Minister's Brexit deal  with 55 per cent in favour, up eight points on last month, and 31 per cent against, down seven.

Labour support for the deal has also risen by eight points to 30 per cent, with 51 per cent opposed, six points down in the same period, according to the Survation survey. Overall the public is still against her deal by 41 points to 34, although the gap has more than halved. In other developments:

Two of the biggest donors to the Leave campaign said they now do not believe Britain will leave the EU at all;

Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt warned it is more likely than ever that MPs will try to block a no deal Brexit;

Work and Pensions Secretary Amber Rudd declined three times to say she would stay in the Cabinet if Mrs May opts for no deal.

In a chilling intervention, Mr Grayling said blocking Brexit could end the 350 years of 'moderate' politics Britain has enjoyed since the bloody English Civil War.

Doing so would provoke more 'nasty' incidents such as this week's 'Nazi' taunts at pro-Remain Tory MP Anna Soubry outside Parliament, he argued.

It would also play into the hands of 'disturbing' extremists such as ex-English Defence League leader Tommy Robinson, who has been tipped to take over Ukip.

Brexiteer Mr Grayling, one of Mrs May's closest Cabinet allies, also fired a warning to fellow Eurosceptic Tories.

Mr Grayling is one of Mrs May's (pictured) closest Cabinet allies. He has warned that

He said they will rue the day if they join forces with pro-Remain Conservatives and kill off the Prime Minister's deal in Tuesday's crunch Commons vote.

He told the Mail: 'People have to think long and hard about how they are going to vote. This is too important for political game-playing and I urge Conservative MPs who back Brexit and others to back the deal.

'If not, we risk a break with the British tradition of moderate, mainstream politics that goes back to the Restoration in 1660.

'MPs need to remember that Britain, its people and its traditions are the mother of Parliaments. We ignore that and the will of the people at our peril.'

Nearly 200,000 people died in the English Civil War, which resulted in a short-lived republic followed by the restoration of the monarchy in 1660. Mr Grayling's remarks came amid reports that Mrs May could lose next week's vote by up to 200 votes.

But the Transport Secretary, who has known the Prime Minister for more than 20 years and led her successful Tory leadership campaign in 2016, praised her 'Churchillian' resilience.

He said: 'Many people in history eventually succeeded just by keeping going, not giving up. 'Keep buggering on,' as Churchill said. The public can see she is determined and passionate and doing her best for the country.'

Mr Grayling stopped short of predicting riots if Brexit is weakened or reversed. But he added: 'People should not underestimate this. We would see a different tone in our politics. A less tolerant society, a more nationalistic nation.

'It will open the door to extremist populist political forces in this country of the kind we see in other countries in Europe.

'If MPs who represent seats that voted 70 per cent to leave say 'sorry guys, we're still going to have freedom of movement', they will turn against the political mainstream.'

The minister said reports Tommy Robinson could become Ukip's next leader were 'deeply disturbing', saying he was just the kind of rabble-rouser who would use any attempt to stop Brexit to fan extremism. He suggested the abuse of Miss Soubry by supporters of Robinson in Westminster on Monday could be a taste of worse to come.

'There's already a nastiness and unpleasantness in our politics, more people with extreme views, more people willing to behave in an uncivilised way,' he said.

Several European countries, including Germany and Greece, have seen violent protests by neo-Nazi anti-immigration parties. In recent weeks France has seen a series of riots provoked by the 'Yellow Vest' movement, which has been hijacked by political extremists.

May is thrown a lifeline as poll shows public support for her Brexit deal has GROWN among Tory and Labour voters Theresa May was thrown a lifeline last night after a poll showed public support for her Brexit deal has grown among both Tory and Labour voters. The number of Conservative supporters who want MPs to back her deal has risen to 55 per cent  up eight points in five weeks. Meanwhile the proportion against it has fallen by seven points to 31 per cent, according to a survey for this newspaper. Some 30 per cent of Labour voters also think MPs should support her deal, a similar eight point increase, with 51 per cent against. The number of Conservative supporters who want MPs (Theresa May is pictured) to back her deal has risen to 55 per cent  up eight points in five weeks But the Survation poll is further evidence of the huge task Mrs May faces in rescuing her deal, which seems set for defeat in the Commons on Tuesday. Overall, it is still opposed by 41 per cent to 34 per cent of the public, although opposition has fallen by nine points since December. Worryingly for Mrs May, Labour has also taken a three-point lead over the Tories with the Conservatives on 38 to Labour's 41. But the poll  which questioned 1,013 adults on Thursday and yesterday  shows that despite lacking enthusiasm for the Prime Minister's deal, voters appear to prefer it to the prospect of leaving the EU with no deal at all. Given a straight choice between Mrs May's offer or 'no deal', 41 per cent support her deal, compared to 32 per cent who back 'no deal'. Tory voters' support for the Prime Minister contrasts with other recent surveys, which have shown Conservative Party members oppose her deal. The Survation poll is further evidence of the huge task Mrs May faces in rescuing her deal Even if her deal is thrown out by MPs next week, voters want her to produce an alternative 'Plan B' instead of leaving the EU without any agreement with Brussels, the poll found. A total of 44 per cent favour a 'Plan B'  seen by most as likely to offer a 'softer' Brexit  with 32 per cent in favour of 'no deal'. Mrs May was furious when rebel Conservative MPs defeated her in the Commons this week, joining forces with Labour to force her to produce a 'Plan B' in just three days if she loses on Tuesday. But the public backs the rebellion by 42 per cent to 35 per cent  and they also support Speaker John Bercow's decision to allow it. The survey offers other crumbs of comfort for Mrs May. Asked who they trust to handle Brexit, 34 per cent chose the Prime Minister, with 21 per cent for Mr Corbyn. She defeats Boris Johnson on the question of who is 'best to handle Brexit' by a margin of 34 per cent to 20 per cent. In another blow to Brexit hardliners like Mr Johnson who advocate 'no deal', when voters were asked to choose between that and staying in the EU, 'Remain' won by 46 to 41 per cent. The survey also provides fresh evidence of the deeply-conflicted views that Brexit has provoked in the public. A total of 45 per cent say Mrs May should resign if she is defeated, with 39 per cent in favour of her staying on. But Tory voters have not given up on her. An overwhelming 66 per cent say she should carry on in No 10 if she loses on Tuesday, with only 26 per cent in favour of her stepping down. A total of 26 per cent of the public say she is 'bad' for EU negotiations, with just 21 per cent stating she is 'good'. But far more, 37 per cent, say whether she stays or goes will make little difference to Brexit. Advertisement

Brexit 'may not even happen': Biggest Leave donors give up on Brexit ever happening as Jeremy Hunt fears 'paralysis' if deal is rejected

Two of the biggest donors to the Leave campaign say they have given up on Brexit ever happening.

Billionaire Peter Hargreaves and veteran hedge fund manager Crispin Odey do not believe Britain will end up leaving the European Union amid the deadlock in Parliament.

It came as Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt warned yesterday that it is more likely than ever that MPs will work to block the UK leaving without a deal.

Billionaire Peter Hargreaves and veteran hedge fund manager Crispin Odey do not believe Britain will end up leaving the European Union amid the deadlock in Parliament

Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt warned yesterday that it is more likely than ever that MPs will work to block the UK leaving without a deal

Mr Hargreaves, who gave 3.2million to the Leave campaign, said: 'I have totally given up. I am totally in despair, I don't think Brexit will happen at all.'

The co-founder of investment firm Hargreaves Lansdown added: 'They [pro-Europeans] are banking on the fact that people are so fed up with it that they will just say, 'Sod it, we will stay'.

'I do see that attitude. The problem is when something doesn't happen for so long you feel less angry about it.'

Mr Odey, who donated more than 870,000 to pro-Leave groups, said that while he does not believe there will be a second referendum, he does not think Brexit will take place either.

'My view is that it ain't going to happen,' he said. 'I just can't see how it happens with that configuration of Parliament.'

Rudd won't say if she would remain in a no-deal Cabinet Amber Rudd yesterday declined three times to say she would stay in the Cabinet if Theresa May opts for a no-deal Brexit. The Work and Pensions Secretary, who backed Remain during the 2016 referendum campaign, said on Radio 4's Today she was 'committed' to ensuring that the UK does not leave the EU without a withdrawal deal. Amber Rudd (pictured) yesterday declined three times to say she would stay in the Cabinet if Theresa May opts for a no-deal Brexit Miss Rudd said it was 'right' for the Government to make preparations for no-deal, but did not think the outcome 'would be good for this country'. Pressed for a third time by interviewer Justin Webb on whether she would quit if Mrs May went for the no-deal option, Miss Rudd cut him short, saying: 'Thank you very much, Justin.' But asked again later whether she would resign, following a speech on welfare in south London, she said: 'I am committed to making sure that we get the Withdrawal Agreement through next week. 'I have been in and out of Cabinet and I find you have more influence in Cabinet.' Meanwhile it emerged that former foreign secretary Boris Johnson has received more than 23,000 from Tory election guru Sir Lynton Crosby, in a sign that he may be considering a potential leadership bid. Advertisement

Mr Hunt yesterday warned of 'Brexit paralysis' if MPs vote down Theresa May's Withdrawal Agreement on Tuesday, potentially meaning the UK does not leave at all.

In an appeal for Tory MPs to get behind the deal, the Foreign Secretary said the past week has shown they cannot rely on no-deal being the default outcome if the agreement fails to pass.

He said Commons Speaker John Bercow has shown that he is 'willing to frustrate the Government at every opportunity', and it was not possible for the minority Tory administration to control what happened in Parliament.

Mr Hunt told Radio 4's Today programme: 'I think Parliament is very committed to try to stop no-deal, but I think we have to recognise that there is a deal on the table, it does broadly deliver the Brexit people voted for, and if we don't find a way to get this through, we are taking some very big risks.

'Brexit paralysis potentially leading to no Brexit is something I think would be incredibly damaging for the long-term future of this country.'

Mrs May is expected to spend the weekend in talks with Brussels over last-minute concessions ahead of the Commons vote.

Referendum gamble that paid off... but not for city traders City traders may be paid the big bucks, but it's gamblers who saw Brexit coming first. A study has found that those who placed bets on the result of the 2016 Brexit referendum got the Leave result right at around 3am on June 24. But it took traders in the City an hour longer to figure it out, potentially losing them millions of pounds. Based on figures from online gambling firm Betfair, the odds shifted from Remain to Leave between 10pm and 3am. Researchers at the University of Cambridge suggest traders may have been in a 'bubble', making them less able to predict real voters' intentions. It should have been possible to predict the Leave victory at 1am based on election results from regions across Britain. Advertisement

She is also set to speak to more trade union and business leaders in a desperate bid to rally support.

European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker yesterday said that 'every effort' must be made ahead of Tuesday's vote to avoid no-deal, which he said would be a 'catastrophe' for both sides.

But he said the EU was only willing to offer 'clarifications' on the agreement and this should 'not be confused with a renegotiation'.

It is expected there could be an exchange of letters between the EU and UK on Monday with reassurances about how the backstop to avoid a hard border in Northern Ireland could only be a temporary arrangement. Downing Street last night dismissed claims that Brexit could be delayed until after March 29 as there is not enough time to pass the necessary legislation.

Former attorney general Dominic Grieve yesterday said that if MPs reject Mrs May's deal, the Government should immediately strike the date from legislation before asking the EU for an extension of the two-year Article 50 process.

Meanwhile, in a rare boost for Mrs May, former Labour minister Jim Fitzpatrick said he was close to supporting her deal.

The Poplar and Limehouse MP told the Commons: 'At some point we need to recognise the danger of no-deal is still there and the only real alternative on the table is the Prime Minister's deal.'

Conservative MP George Freeman, who announced on Thursday 'with a heavy heart' that he would back the agreement, yesterday said he expected as many as 40 other critics to do the same.
Dr James Nicholson (pictured above) was upset after breaking up with his partner

A 'passionate and brilliant' surgeon who dedicated his career to finding a cure for pancreatic cancer was found dead in the bath at his home after separating from his partner of 18 years.

Dr James Nicholson was upset after breaking up with his partner after she had moved to China to take up a teaching post.

A suicide not was found at his home.

Colleagues and former patients of the 36-year-old said he was an 'amazing' doctor and that they were heartbroken for his family.

James had worked at the Royal Liverpool Hospital and had originally joined as a general surgical trainee.

His grieving mother Pam has said that the world is now a 'darker place' without him.

Paying tribute to her son, who was originally from Stockton-on-Tees, Pam told the inquest: 'He lit up a room when he walked into it.

'He was loved by everybody he met - 450 people attended his funeral, including friends and family who travelled from as far away as Dubai.

'He was also a fantastic doctor and surgeon. The world is a darker place without him.'

Area coroner Anita Bhardwaj recorded a verdict of suicide. During the inquest she heard that Dr Nicholson had been upset after breaking up with his partner of 18 years, who had moved abroad to take up a teaching post in China.

Shortly before his death, Dr Nicholson had been on a trip to the United States, but on his return to the UK had made several calls to a friend, in which he had talked about people taking their own lives and how they had been found.

Peter Williams, medical director at the Royal Liverpool and Broadgreen University Hospitals NHS Trust, said: 'James Nicholson was a much loved colleague at the Royal.

'He dedicated his short but brilliant research career toward finding a cure for pancreatic cancer.

'James joined the Royal as a general surgical trainee. He is greatly missed by all he worked with and his patients. Our thoughts and condolences continue to be with his family and friends at this difficult time.'

Dr James Nicholson (pictured above), a surgeon at the Royal Liverpool Hospital, was found dead at his home in October 2018

The charity Pancreatic Cancer UK also paid tribute to Dr Nicholson, saying: 'James was a gifted surgeon who dedicated his short but exceptional research career to the fight against pancreatic cancer.

'James loved his work and he loved his patients and their families. He will be sorely missed by all of us that he left behind.'

One of his former patients, Carla Whittaker, said on Facebook: 'So sad & awful. I saw him a few times -me as the patient and he was probably one of the best, most understanding /compassionate drs i had ever come across with a great sense of humour!

The Royal Liverpool University Hospital (pictured above) where Dr James Nicholson worked

'Thinking of all his friends, family & colleagues xx'

Sylvia Bartsch said: 'So sad that this poor man could not see beyond his problems and realise how important he was to every human being that uses our health service. Rip sir. My heartfelt condolences to all his family, friends & colleagues.'

Clare Bear said: 'Such a devastating loss to the Royal Liverpool Hospital, the fight against pancreatic cancer and to the medical profession as a whole. I got to see his passion and brilliance in the operating theatre as a student and was awe inspired.

'Yes he lit up the room when he walked in it's true. Deepest sympathy to all his family he will be fondly remembered by his colleagues.'

Jamie Mulherine wrote: 'James was such a wonderful person, with an incredible talent for saving lives, and that's how he will be remembered.

'Everyone just adored him when they met him. To say we are poorer for his loss is an understatement.'

If you have been affected by any of the issues raised in this article then you can call the Samaritans on 116 123, alternatively you can visit the website at by clicking here.
A gay man in Arizona has claimed a fake sugar daddy who he met on Grindr stole his identity - but he can't report the fraud because of the partial government shutdown.

Dalton Tannehill, 23, was messaged in November on the popular hookup app by a man named 'James' who offered him a $1,000 weekly allowance.

'Hello, I'd like to know if you will be my sugar baby,' the supposed sugar daddy said in his initial message, offering to give Tannehill $500 twice a week.

Dalton Tannehill, 23, was messaged in November on the popular hookup app by a man named 'James' who offered him a $1000 weekly allowance

The Tempe resident waited until December 29 to text the man from his phone, asking James if he could help him with his $2500 credit card bill

Included in the message was a picture of a man who appears to be in his late-50s and white with salt and pepper toned blonde hair

Included in the message was a picture of a man who appears to be in his late-50s and white with salt and pepper toned blonde hair.

The Tempe resident waited until December 29 to text the man from his phone, asking James if he could help him with his $2,500 credit card bill.

The two engaged in a conversation, with James asserting that he was 'f*****g rich' and a 'millionaire' while also asking about Tannehill's social security number and credit cards.

The two engaged in a conversation, with James asserting that he was 'f*****g rich' and a 'millionaire' while also asking about Tannehill's social security number and credit cards

James then transferred $2,480 to cover Tannehill's bill. 'Before the payment was processed, I was obviously suspicious ... and when it processed, I felt, 'Okay, good. This is legit. I actually have a real and legitimate sugar daddy!'' Tannehill said

'I'm gonna be taking care of all your responsibilities from now on babe,' James claimed in messages.

James then transferred $2,480 to cover Tannehill's bill.

'Before the payment was processed, I was obviously suspicious ... and when it processed, I felt, 'Okay, good. This is legit. I actually have a real and legitimate sugar daddy!'' Tannehill explained to Buzzfeed News.

Tannehill spent $1000 on Google Play Store gift cards on Walmart. But James grew increasingly agitated and demanded that his new sugar baby buy more gift cards. A few days later, he had the payment retracted

Tannehill then followed his given instructions and applied for several credit cards.

'I felt he did me this favor  I might as well spend at least $1,000 to be paid back again. No worries, I assumed, since the payment went through the first time,' he added.

Next, Tannehill spent $1,000 on Google Play Store gift cards on Walmart. But James grew increasingly agitated and demanded that his new sugar baby buy more gift cards.

The young man wasn't responding fast enough to the messages and the next day, James blocked him on all forms of communication. The money was retracted a few days later.

'I just realized I needed to block him and cut off all communication, and report this as soon as I possibly could, whenever this shutdown ends, or any other way,' Tannehill explained.

He was also contacted someone claiming to be James' account manager when he was informed that the payment was reversed.

Tannehill rushed to contact his bank and attempted to make a report with the Federal Trade Commission. But because of the partial government shutdown, he wasn't able to get any help.

Tannehill was also contacted someone claiming to be James' account manager when he was informed that the payment was reversed.

Tannehill rushed to contact his bank and attempted to make a report with the Federal Trade Commission. But because of the partial government shutdown, he wasn't able to get any help

'Hey @realDonaldTrump some weirdo in Texas has my social security number right now but thanks to your government shutdown Im unable to file a fraud and identity theft report. Some assistance would be much appreciated,' he said in a Monday tweet.

Identity theft is the second-most-reported consumer complaint in 2017, with 14 percent of complaints geared toward the issue, according to the FTC. Credit card fraud was the most common type of identity theft that was reported by consumers.

The FTC websites list two places that victims of identity theft can go to report their greivances: IdentityTheft.gov and FTC.gov/complaint.

Both pages are currently shut down as the government goes into its 21st day.

The FTC websites list two places that victims of identity theft can go to report their greivances: IdentityTheft.gov and FTC.gov/complaint

Both pages are currently shut down as the government goes into its 21st day

Tannehill isn't a singular case in the latest round of identity theft. Others took to their social media to also voice their disappointment in being unable to get assistance in handling identity thefts.

'Somebody tryna steal my identity and the government shutdown so I cant report it to identity theft,' claimed @Jayveteran.

Ben Cohen added: 'Its cool my identity was stolen and because the government is shut down I cant access any of the tools at http://identitytheft.gov , its great.'

The sentiment was shared by Jess, who said: 'Hey @realDonaldTrump thanks to your f ing government shutdown I cannot report my identity theft to the feds & I have to wait & see what else this asshole will use my information for. Thanks for nothing you joke of a president. #bringbackbarack #notmypresident.'

Tannehill would share updates to his whole ordeal, including snaps from his Instagram where James appeared to have found him. James Edward, as he was called on his profile, called the man a 'thief.'

The James Edward Instagram profile was private.

Others took to their social media to also voice their disappointment in being unable to get assistance in handling identity thefts
Police have arrested 30 alleged Bloods gang members in early morning raids across the Atlanta area in a major sting linked to 169 felonies.

Two separate indictments were handed down to two different suspected Blood gang sets - the Ape (All Profit and Extortion) Gang and the Bounty Hunter Bloods.

They are accused of a string of crimes including murders, drugs offences and racketeering.

Cobb District Attorney Vic Reynolds said the arrests were a result of ten months of investigation and started with two separate murders.

Misheon Tysam Gadson, left, faces charges of malice and felony murder, aggravated assault and possession of a firearm during commission of a felony, left, Dealma Marie Washington, right, faces charges of malice and felony murder, aggravated assault, possession of a firearm during commission of a felony, fleeing or attempting to elude a police officer and giving false information to a law enforcement officer

Jemarquis Wright, pictured, faces charges of malice and felony murder and two counts of aggravated assault, possession of a firearm during commission of a felony, possession of a firearm by a person under the age of 18 and possession of marijuana with intent to distribute

He said: 'Both of these gangs without any equivocation are violent gangs. Law enforcement has managed today to take a number of violent offenders off the street.

'Law enforcement began the investigations of the murder cases a number of months ago and began realizing this was gang-motivated criminal activity, which led to the investigation of various other crimes.'

Police arrested 20 suspects at six locations. Some of those indicted - at least 13 - were already in jail.

Those arrested face charges of murder, racketeering, drug possession and showing gang signs on Facebook.

Chief Mike Register said: 'They're dangerous, not because of what they've done one time, but what they continue to do. They're repeat offenders.'

Tyon Gorman, left, was shot outside a Bells Ferry Road shopping center in 2018. Ny'Jaia Glanton, right, was found shot in the head inside a Highlands Parkway hotel

The murder charges are connected to the death of Ny'Jaia Glanton in December 2017 and Tyon Gorman, 19, in April 2018, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.

Glanton, 22, was found shot in the head inside a Highlands Parkway hotel. Misheon Tysam Gadson, 21, known as 'Hitter Ape' and Dealma Marie Washington, 41, AKA 'Lady Muscle', were indicted over his death.

And 18-year-old Je'Marquise Wright, known as 'Pac Man', was indicted over the death of Gorman. He was shot outside a Bells Ferry Road shopping center.

Members of the Bounty Hunters gang face 120 charges against 20 individuals with 49 total charges against 10 suspected members of the APE Gang.

All 30 face gang charges and violation of the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act. Several are accused of various other crimes, The Marietta Daily Journal reports.

Clayton County Police Department said SWAT teams raided homes at 5am in Cobb and Clayton, serving warrants.

Clara Jones' son, Randy Jones, 19, is charged with racketeering and violating his probation for possessing marijuana.

She told Channel 2 Action News: 'He's not a gang member. Nothing can make me believe that, nothing.'

Clayton police said in a statement: 'The amazing collaboration among several different law enforcement agencies and jurisdictions to bring these fugitives to justice is what law enforcement officials dedicate their lives toward. This is win for everyone.'

The operation was led by Cobb County Police Department with the help of the FBI, Marietta Police and Clayton County Police Departments.
Twitter has reacted with bemusement to the 'wellness schedule' of a model and photographer who says that charcoal being sold at Pret A Manger is a 'blessing'.

Alexander Beer, a successful male model and photographer, was sharing his routine with The Times along with two others in their wellness feature - and Twitter soon took notice.

A user called Sarah highlighted the article, adding: '[This] has finally convinced me the people won't live longer it'll just feel like it. Look how BUSY these 3 are, all before 9am.'

Alexander Beer, a successful male model and photographer, was sharing his routine with The Times

Talking through his routine Alex Beer said that he starts his long day with coconut water and meditation.

The model and photographer, who has worked for several top brands and magazines pointed out that at 8.30am - two hours and 35 minutes after he wakes up - he tries to squeeze in a shot of activated charcoal between meetings.

He said: 'At some point between meetings I'll try to have a shot of activated charcoal  they sell it at Pret now. We're so blessed in Britain.'

Alex Beer, model and photographer, at Glacier de la Grande Motte in the Alps for a ski shoot

Mr Beer (right) with his brother on a beach in Barcelona for the Iron Man race in 2016

The 38-year-old stated that he likes to spend time with like minded people, adding: 'I'm not going to hang out with people who like to drink a lot at the pub.'

One Twitter user responded to this, saying: 'I don't even drink but I'm going to start spending time in the pub just to reduce my chances of ever being around this person.'

Alex, who is signed to Select Model Management in London, said that at around eight in the evening he turns on his HumanCharger, a 'bright light therapy device' that 'increases mental alertness, reduces jet lag symptoms and gives you energy whenever you need it,' according to the company's website.

He said he uses the 175 device to shine light into his ear and give him energy alongside his 'bulletproof coffee', that consists of coconut oil and mushroom powder.

Alex with his wife Ruthie Francis in Ravello, Italy for a friend's wedding

Alex, who is signed to Select Model Management in London, - pictured with his wife - said that at around eight in the evening he turns on his HumanCharger

BBC journalist, Alistair Coleman replied: 'The light comes out the other side.'

The ultra strict photographer does allow himself some downtime in the evening, indulging in a square or two of dark chocolate with his wife.

Another subject of the feature was Tim Gray, 39, the founder/CEO of Neuro Web Marketing, a digital marketing agency, and founder of the Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Centre.

Alex, who is signed to Select Model Management in London, said that at around eight in the evening he turns on his 'HumanCharger'

Twitter soon took notice of the wellness article and users voiced their opinions on the site

Among his routine is fist bumping all 15 colleagues upon arrival at work and then putting on 'blue-light-blocking glasses that cut out junk light'.

This is right before taking 15 different supplements. Tim added that he has monitored his sleep for four years and knows that he needs exactly seven hours and forty-one minutes' sleep.

Other people had their own versions of the super organised schedules of the interview subjects.

People shared their own versions of the routine and also reacted in awe to Alex's

Joseph Costello tweeted: 'Mine would be something like 'My alarm goes off at 6:30 and I immediately begin praying for the sweet embrace of death for the next 18 hours.'

Referencing American Psycho, a movie about a psychopathic serial killer starring Christian Bale, another user said: 'I imagined each one of these being narrated by Christian Bale as Patrick Bateman and honestly, it makes a lot more sense that way.'

J.S Docherty added: 'The HumanCharger is 175!!!!!!! For 150 I'll come to your house and shine my phone torch in your ear for fifteen minutes, while making wave noises to help you mediate.'

The ultra strict photographer does allow himself some downtime in the evening, indulging in a square or two of dark chocolate with his wife
The Macedonian Prime Minister has called on Greece to follow suit after his parliament ratified a deal that would see the country renamed Republic of North Macedonia.

Macedonia passed the deal as an amendment to its constitution on Friday, in line with an agreement with Greece to resolve a three-decades long dispute.

Zoran Zaev said that lawmakers had 'made history' and that he expects neighbouring Greece to be the first to sign the accession protocol which would finally enable Macedonia to join NATO.

Macedonian Prime Minister Zoran Zaev speaks to reporters in the capital Skopje today after parliamentarians last night fulfilled its part of a historic deal that will pave its way to NATO membership and normalize relations with neighboring Greece

Macedonian Prime Minister Zoran Zaev waves to the media gallery after the parliament voted in favor of the constitutional changes late on Friday

The republic of just over two million people was formally invited to join the NATO alliance in 2008, but its membership was vetoed by Greece, where there is strong opposition to Macedonia's name.

Many Greeks say it implies territorial aspirations toward Greece's identically-named province in the north of the country and appropriates its historical heritage.

The historic deal was originally reached in June, but Macedonia will not adopt its new name until it has also been ratified by Greece's parliament. A vote is expected in Athens later in the month.

Speaking to reporters in the capital of Skopje today, Prime Minister Zaev said that Greece has 'got a new friend now North Macedonia,' and he hopes the two nations will build up trust and open 'many new windows' for cooperation.

Opponents to the change of the country's constitutional name protest outside the parliament building prior to a session of the Macedonian Parliament in the capital Skopje, Wednesday, January 9, 2019

'I know how difficult that was... we are putting the bitterness in the past and we are looking now proudly to the future,' Zaev said.

But in Greece, the upcoming vote on the name-change deal has soured relations between the ruling coalition partners.

The radical left-wing Syriza and the right-wing populist Independent Greeks party joined forces in 2015, with the shared aims of solving the then-debt crisis and fighting corruption.

But while Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras wants to rubber stamp the deal with Macedonia, defense Minister and Independent Greeks' leader Panos Kammenos is vehemently opposed.

The radical left-wing Syriza headed up by Alexis Tsipras (left) joined forces with Panos Kammenos (right) and his right-wing populist Independent Greeks party in 2015

Kammenos has repeatedly threatened to pull his lawmakers out of the government and said he will never vote for the deal when it comes to parliament.

Meanwhile the issue continues to be a contentious subject among voters in both countries. A protest against the name change took place outside the Macedonian Parliament during its Friday session, and a Greek prosecutor on Saturday ordered a probe into alleged threats against pro-deal lawmakers.

The preliminary investigation was ordered two Greek news websites reported that lawmakers had received threatening text messages demanding they vote against the deal.

Tsipras and Kammenos are to meet Sunday morning to discuss their differences.

The coalition has a razor-thin majority with 153 seats in the 300 member parliament and its main opposition, the New Democracy party, has vowed to block the deal.

Macedonian Prime Minister Zoran Zaev (R) welcomes Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras on the shore of Lake Prespa near Otesevo. Tsipras has congratulated Zaev after lawmakers voted to change the country's name to the Republic of North Macedonia

But Tsipras has the unquestioned backing of the 145-strong Syriza parliamentary group, and has repeatedly expressed certainty that he will find the 151 votes to ensure ratification of the deal by a majority in the 300-member Parliament.

Indeed, several lawmakers from small center-left parties, as well as at least two from Kammenos' party, have indicated they are ready to give their assent.

Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras (R) and Macedonian Prime Minister Zoran Zaev raise their hands during a signing ceremony for the historic deal between officials from Greece and Macedonia at Prespes Lake, June 17 2018

The Macedonian parliament's ratification has been hailed by several foreign leaders, including NATO General-Secretary Jens Stoltenberg and EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini.

Adding his congratulations late Friday, was Matthew Nimetz, the U.N. Secretary-General's personal envoy on the name dispute since 1999, who said that the agreement is a move towards 'a firmer basis for peace and security in the Balkans.'

'I wish to congratulate the (Macedonian) parliament and the country's citizens for this accomplishment and for the democratic manner in which this important process was undertaken,' Nimetz said.

A government spokeswoman said that later in the week the timeline for ratification will be clearer, but the vote could possibly take place this month.
A New York man posing as a cop lured a 12-year-old girl to a motel where he raped her, cops say.

Carlos Medina, 51, was on the verge of tears on Friday when he was charged with raping the young girl and his bail was set at $100,000.

The Bronx man was charged with two counts of rape, predatory sexual assault, criminal sexual act, criminal impersonation, acting in a manner injurious to a child, and two counts of sexual abuse.

The horrific attack took place on Friday January 4 around 10.30pm in Soundview in the Bronx when Medina approached the victim, who was from Connecticut, as she was hanging out with her friends.

Carlos Medina, 51, nearly cried in court when he was charged with rape and predatory sexual assault and his bail set at $100,000

He allegedly raped a 12-year-old girl on Friday January 4 after posing as a cop and flashing a law enforcement badge to get her in his car. Then he drove her to a motel where the attack took place

He entered a not guilty plea and his lawyer noted his spotless criminal history

Medina, a post office worker, flashed a law enforcement badge claiming to be a cop and convinced the minor to enter his blue Toyota SUV, authorities say.

Then he drove her to the Hutchinson-Whitestone Motel in Pelham Bay where he sexually assaulted her then let her go.

She was rushed to a nearby hospital afterwards.

The victim was a runaway from Connecticut who was staying at her boyfriend's house in the Bronx, according to ABC.

On Tuesday NYPD released a photo from the motel's surveillance footage of Medina wearing a black jacket and sporting a beard and smoking a cigarette in an effort to find him.

Cops said that the motel manager showed video of the girl willingly going to the motel with him and leaving together as well.

The manager said the suspect paid for the room and returned the room key at the front desk before exiting with the girl.

On Tuesday NYPD released a photo from the motel's surveillance footage of Medina wearing a black jacket and sporting a beard and smoking a cigarette in an effort to find him

The alleged assault took place at the Hutchingson-Whitestone Motel in Pelham Bay, New York

Cops said Medina tried to lie low following the attack and shaved his beard and left his job at the U.S. Postal Service claiming he had a family emergency.

He turned himself into the 45th Precinct police station on Thursday.

On Friday when Assistant District Attorney Nicole Mortorano tried to argue his bail be set at $750,000 but to no avail as Medina shook his head.

His supervisor, girlfriend and brother were there for his court appearance.

If convicted Medina could face 25 years in jail and be permanently listed on the sex offender registry.

His lawyer Alexander Sanchez entered a not-guilty plea and pointed out his lack of a criminal record. Medina had worked for the postal service for decades.

Sanchez said 'there is no type of medical evidence reported in this case and there is no type of DNA evidence that has been reported in this case'.
A nurse has been inundated with support after she posted her wage slip on Twitter to combat claims that nurses earned more than 50,000-a-year.

Joanna Hickey posted the picture of her earnings on social media and said it shows what a nurse 'near top of the scale' made in two weeks.

The Irish nurse's net pay was 1,120.80 (1,000.24) and she said that if she worked weekends and nights, away from her child and partner, she could make an extra 100 (89.24).

Joanna's reveal comes after criticism of 37,000 Irish nurses set to strike on January 30 in protest against their pay.

Irish nurse Joanna Hickey took to Twitter to reveal her salary after some reports claimed nurses earn more than 50,000-a-year

Joanna revealed her wage while also pledging her support for the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO).

The INMO represents the 37,000 nurses set to strike against the government in a dispute over pay.

The union is calling for a 12% pay increase with the rise bring nurses' pay into line with other health professionals.

On its website, the INMO said: 'The strike will see INMO members withdraw their labour for 24 hours, providing only lifesaving care and emergency response teams.'

Her reveal comes as 37,000 Irish nurses are set to strike on January 30 in protest against pay

Joanna added that she was fighting back against claims that nurses earned around 57,000 (50,869) a year.

The nurse wrote several posts outlining the work she is expected to do.

She said: 'A friendly reminder of what an ICU (BSc RGN/ PgD ICU/ PgD CCU) nurse's near top of the scale wages looks like for two weeks.

'And if I work weekends and nights away from my child & partner I might make an extra 100.

'My role includes ability to mind complex traumatic brain injuries, severe sepsis & unstable hemodynamic patients, continuous dialysis, know how set up & use multiple ventilators & high flow oxygen delivery systems and assess ABG's (Arterial blood gas test) & change ventilation settings inc. ARDS (Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome) patients.

'Respiratory chest physio outside of normal hours, weekend and night time pharmacy access as no pharmacist during these hours, ward clerk, help families and deal with social services, be a clinical nutritionist and start appropriate feeding outside normal hours as no CN at weekends.

'Continuous education, personal development & be up to date with latest research regarding patient management, competent with ECG reading, competent multiple transfusion usage/ ability to prone or log roll patient using correct manual handling.

'And the rest, I am tired.'

Irish Taoiseach Leo Varadkar earlier said that he was disappointed at the news of the strike

She also spoke about her typical day and revealed what hours she usually works.

Joanna said she took three hours of parental leave a week 'as working '39' hours (more like 45 hours a week with hand over & patient complexity)' was proving too much as a mother.

'I now do '36' hrs a week. I start at 7.45am and usually get out at 8.45pm. So no personal time off for free.'

Earlier, Irish Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said that he was saddened by the January 30 strike.

He said: 'We will do everything we can to avoid a strike, but ultimately it is a decision by the unions to go on strike. I am saddened that the unions have taken a decision to strike on a Wednesday.

'A strike on a Wednesday means that thousands of operations will be cancelled and thousands of clinic appointments will be cancelled.'

In response, the INMO said: 'Nurses and midwives care for patients 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Whether it's a Wednesday or a weekend, the Taoiseach and his government should be aiming to resolve this dispute before it gets to a strike.'

A previous version of this article included 4 images that incorrectly identified Joanna Hickey and her husband. These have now been removed and we extend our apologies to Joanna Hickey and her husband for the mistake.
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A winemaker who leaves his sparkling wine on the sea bottom claims his bubbly never gets old if it's aged underwater - and some of it has been there for up to five years.

Every autumn, winemaker Piero Lugano gathers his team of scuba divers to bring several boxes of the bubbly - which is made like champagne - back under the sunlight after months spent in the sea depths outside of Sestri Levante, Italy.

The entrepreneur's team take a few boats and a barge with a crane to the waters where they send divers down to tie the boxes with ropes and then remove them from the sea.

Footage shows how winemaker Piero Lugano, from Chiavari, Italy, gathers his team of scuba divers to bring several boxes of the bubbly from the sea. All the bottles are kept on the sea floor for at least 14 months, and some of them have been there for up to five years

Mr Lugano argues that because of the constant temperature, limited light and lack of oxygen under the sea it can produce a similar effect to wine being stored in an underground cellar - where it is usually kept. Pictured is some of the wine stored on the ocean floor

Some of the bottles are lifted out of the sea, and would have been kept there for at least 14 months. Mr Lugano's team take a few boats and a barge with a crane to the waters under which the bottles lie and then send divers down to tie the boxes with ropes

Mr Lugano launched his winemaking company, Bisson, in 1978, as a parallel project to his academic career. As he realised the company was taking off he decided to devote himself to it full-time, however, it was only in 2008 that he started making bubbly (pictured left being removed from the sea). Pictured right is a barge and crane used to remove the bottles

When Mr Lugano sells the final product, he keeps the little sea organisms that got stuck onto the glass (pictured). But he seals the bottles with a film and treat them so that it's safe

Mr Lugano (centre) produces his wine in the Italian region of Liguria. It is a tight stretch of land close to the sea and the soil is rich with mineral salts. He said: 'This means our grapes are incredibly sapid and great for making sparkling wine, although nobody had ever done that in Liguria'

Piero, who is a former art professor and has studied marine archaeology, said: 'Wine came to modern civilisation through sealed amphoras found on the sea floor, where it was conserved in its liquid form.

'This led me to think and realise that underwater spaces are great for the conservation of organic substances.

'This is because of the constant temperature, limited light and lack of oxygen, all factors that are present in the underground cellars where wine is normally kept.'

Piero launched his winemaking company, Bisson, in 1978, as a parallel project to his academic career.

As he realised the company was taking off he decided to devote himself to it full-time, however, it was only in 2008 that he started making bubbly.

He says: 'Our territory in the Italian region of Liguria is a tight stretch of land close to the sea and the soil is rich with mineral salts.

'This means our grapes are incredibly sapid and great for making sparkling wine, although nobody had ever done that in Liguria.'

The winemaker argues that keeping his product on the sea floor is actually better than keeping it in a cellar. He said: 'In the cellars, there is a slow but steady exchange between wine and oxygen, which means that eventually the wine gets oxidised. That doesn't happen on the sea floor where a bottle can be kept for decades'

Mr Lugano retrieves the bottles from the sea (pictured) and sells them with algae, sea shells, starfish, little crabs and sometimes even tiny fish that got stuck to the glass

Every autumn, winemaker Mr Lugano gathers his team of scuba divers to bring several boxes of the bubbly - which is made like champagne - back under the sunlight after months spent in the sea depths outside of Sestri Levante, Italy

Mr Lugano stores hundreds of bottles of wine on the sea floor just outside of Sestri Levante, Italy. Here the wine - and now bubbly - ages without issue before it is eventually removed and sold to the public

A crate packed with Mr Lugano's wine is removed from the sea. He uses a a few boats and a barge with a crane to remove all of the product

The lack of a cellar for his bubbly led Mr Lugano to think of the creative solutions and take the wine 45 metres below the sea surface to age.

Mr Lugano then retrieves the bottles and sells them with algae, sea shells, starfish, little crabs and sometimes even tiny fish that got stuck to the glass.

He says: 'All the bottles are kept on the sea floor for not less than 14 months, but some of them have been there for four or five years.

'In the cellars, there is a slow but steady exchange between wine and oxygen, which means that eventually the wine gets oxidised.

'That doesn't happen on the sea floor where a bottle can be kept for decades, which is extraordinary considering it's sparkling wine.

'When we sell the final product, we keep the little sea organisms that got stuck onto the glass, but we seal the bottles with a film and treat them so that it's safe.'
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A freediving duo has set a Guinness World Record for the longest underwater dance without oxygen after they performed in the deepest pool in the world for over three minutes.

Marina Kazankova and Dmitry Malasenko performed the three minute 28 second dance on a single breath.

The dance was confirmed as the longest of its kind on record when the pair performed at the Y-40 pool, which is known to be the deepest in the world in Padova Italy.

The eclectic performance included a sword fight and flamenco-inspired moves with Marina wearing a beautiful burnt orange dress for the performance.

Marina Kazankova (pictured above) glides through the water wearing an elegant burnt orange dress

The artists glided and pirouetted around the pool enchanting the audience who were able to view the show from an underwater glass tunnel that passed through the centre of the pool.

In order to make the stunt even more impressive, the pair managed to cram in a section of the dance where they performed on a tight rope.

Marina said: 'Y-40 was full of free divers, divers in the water and audience in the tunnel and looking through the huge windows to see the show.

Marina Kazankova and Dmitriy Malasenko (pictured above) broke a Guinness World Record when they performed the routine

The routine included a tightrope walk in the deepest pool in the world in Padova, Italy where the couple held hands and walked across

'We were very emotional and happy to see so many viewers all around.

'We went through a lot of psychological preparation to relax and slow the heart rate.

'To make the show even more spectacular, we decided to dance not on the dancing floor but on the rope.

The artists pirouetted for 3 minutes and 28 seconds in the pool while an audience watched

Marina Kazankova and Dmitrij Malasenko enchanted audiences who gathered in an underwater glass tunnel

'It's not that easy to keep the balance on the rope under the water.'

The show was planned in great detail, with the coral dress that Marina wore designed to give a flowing effect when worn underwater, while the music was in sync with the movements and script.

Marina said: 'It wasn't only a dance but also an play with a script and music that was written specifically for it by the musical group, Omura.

'Two hooded thieves want to steal the magic pearl hidden underwater, so they have a sword fight with each other.

Marina (pictured above) strikes a high kick under the water whilst onlookers can be seen (left)

'Then one of the thieves removes his cloak and she's actually a woman wearing a coral dress.

'Here's the two former adversaries begin a romantic dance, to show people that free diving is not an extreme sport for champions but a wonderful way to express ourselves, to feel at peace and in love with the universe.'

But it's not the first time the pair have taken to the water.

The artist and freediver duo completed the dance with no oxygen for three minutes and floated freely through the water

In 2016 Marina set a world record in the Bonaire freediving competition, diving to 154 metres. The record was recorded by international representatives and entered into the Guinness Book of Records.

The 37-year-old Russian actor and freediver has appeared in more than fifteen films since 1999 including Alien Exorcism and Find Your Breaking Point.

Dmitriy Malashenko is a 34-year-old actor and freediver from Donetsk, Ukraine.
The mother of a US Navy veteran who has been held in Iran since July said Friday that she is worried her son who was undergoing cancer treatment will not survive the detainment.

Joanne White expressed her concern for the health of her son, 46-year-old Michael White who went to Iran to visit his girlfriend and was arbitrarily detained amid tensions resulting from President Donald Trump's campaign against Tehran.

Joanne has been unable to communicate with her son who first connected with his Iranian partner online, and wants both the United States and Iran governments to stop using her sick son in their political battle.

'She's very worried that's he's not going to make it,' family spokesman Jonathan Franks told The Associated Press.

The Wall Street Journal reports that the concerned parent 'urged all parties to avoid making her son a pawn in the political standoff between the two countries'.

Joanne White, the mother of a U.S. Navy veteran Michael White is begging for his release from prison in Iran because he needs to continue cancer treatment

The 46-year-old has been held there since July when he went to visit his girlfriend in the country for approximately the fifth or sixth time

He is the first American known to be detained under Trump's administration.

It came after Trump undid the work of Barack Obama and pulled out of the nuclear deal with world powers and re-imposed sanctions that hit their economy hard.

The worsening ties could be heard in remarks Wednesday by Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who previously has told Trump he 'cannot do a damn thing' to stop Iran.

'Some US officials pretend that they are mad,' Khamenei said. 'Of course I don't agree with that, but they are first-class idiots.'

And this week Mike Pompeo has been meeting with leaders across the Middle East and took new aim at Iran with a speech in Cairo on how 'radical Islamist terrorism does not stem from ideology'.

The US Secretary of State then met with Abu Dhabi's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, accompanied by US Special Representative for Iran, Brian Hook.

It was in the United Arab Emirates capital where White was supposed have a layover on his way home to California in July but he never boarded the flight.

The family asked for the US government to make the case a priority.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has been meeting with leaders across the Middle East as President Donald Trump continues his campaign against Iran

Abu Dhabi's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed Al-Nahyan (C-R) spoke with Pompeo (C-L), who was accompanied by US Special Representative for Iran Brian Hook (L). It's was in the UAE capital where White was supposed to fly to in July.

WSJ reported spokesman Franks said: 'Joanne White wants her son back, and she's gravely concerned that he will succumb to his medical issues in prison. Michael has no part in the ongoing geopolitical dispute between the United States and Iran.'

The 13-year vet's family complained that Mr White has not had access to consular services through neutral Switzerland which serves as a go-between in the absence of diplomatic relations in the US and Iran.

Mr White's family alleged he had been 'refused access to the 'specialized medical care he needs' for his neck tumor and asthma.

Iran Wire first reported Mr White had been detained since in July 2018 on Monday when source said he met White at Vakilabad Prison in Mashhad in October. Mashhad is about 95 kilometers (60 miles) east of Tehran, Iran's capital.

Then the semi-official Tasnim news agency, believed to be close to the country's paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, confirmed the news Wednesday.

But a spokesperson said the US government was fully aware of what was going on from the beginning, although they did not confirm whether he was detained last summer.

Iran is believed to have detained him on suspicion of spying but his mother denied it, saying he left the Navy a decade ago and was a cook. She asked the US to make his case a priority

'An American citizen was arrested in the city of Mashhad some time ago and his case was conveyed to the US administration on the first days,' a Foreign Ministry spokesman said about the man's incarceration.

The Islamic Republic News Agency said White's case is going through the legal process and officials will make a statement at the appropriate time, but denied he had been poorly treated, adding: 'These sorts of reports are lies and improper and are seriously rejected.'

Mr White's mother said she wants no part in the geopolitical climate between the US and Iran and says her son is being used as a pawn

The family said Michael worked as a cook for the Navy and left the service about a decade ago. Denying he's a spy or that he has never been one, the Whites' rep revealed he recently worked as a janitor.

Although the circumstances of White's detention remain unclear, Iran in the past has used its detention of Westerners and dual nationals as leverage in negotiations.

There are four other known American citizens being held in Iran.

Iranian-American Siamak Namazi and his 82-year-old father Baquer, a former UNICEF representative who served as governor of Iran's oil-rich Khuzestan province under the US-backed shah, are both serving 10-year sentences on espionage charges.

Iranian-American art dealer Karan Vafadari and his Iranian wife, Afarin Neyssari, received 27-year and 16-year prison sentences, respectively.

Chinese-American graduate student Xiyue Wang was sentenced to 10 years in prison for allegedly 'infiltrating' the country while doing doctoral research on Iran's Qajar dynasty.

Chinese-American graduate Xiyue Wang (left) was sentenced to 10 years in prison for allegedly 'infiltrating' and Iranian-American Siamak Namazi (right) received the same on espionage charges

A billboard promising a reward for information leading to the recovery of US FBI ex-agent Robert Levinson, in Herat, near the Iranian border, in Afghanistan, April 2012. He went missing in 2007

Iranian-American Robin Shahini was released on bail in 2017 after staging a hunger strike while serving an 18-year prison sentence for 'collaboration with a hostile government.' A lawsuit filed on his behalf in U.S. District Court in Washington says he's since returned to America.

Also in an Iranian prison is Nizar Zakka, a US permanent resident from Lebanon who advocated for internet freedom and has done work for the US government. He was sentenced to 10 years on espionage-related charges.

Former FBI agent Robert Levinson, who vanished in Iran in 2007 while on an unauthorized CIA mission, remains missing as well. Iran says that Levinson is not in the country and that it has no further information about him, though his family holds Tehran responsible for his disappearance. Tehran now says it has no information about him.

Others held with Western ties include Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, a British-Iranian woman who is serving a five-year prison sentence for allegedly planning the 'soft toppling' of Iran's government while traveling with her young daughter.

As pressure mounts in Britain for her release, Iranian state television this week aired footage of her arrest at Tehran's Imam Khomeini International Airport.
The key accuser in the sex abuse case against ex-Cardinal Theodore McCarrick has met with New York City prosecutors, evidence that the scandal that has convulsed the papacy is now part of the broader U.S. law enforcement investigation into sex abuse and cover-up in the Catholic Church.

James Grein gave testimony last month to Manhattan Assistant District Attorney Sara Sullivan, who is investigating a broad range of issues related to clergy abuse and the systematic cover-up by church superiors, Grein's attorney, Patrick Noaker, told The Associated Press.

The development is significant, given that the Vatican investigation against McCarrick has already created a credibility crisis for the Catholic hierarchy including Pope Francis, since it was apparently an open secret that McCarrick slept with adult seminarians. Grein's testimony, however, includes allegations that McCarrick, a former family friend, also groomed and abused him starting when he was 11.

A lawyer said the key accuser in the sex abuse case against ex-Cardinal Theodore McCarrick (in 2011) has met with New York City prosecutors

James Grein (in 2018) gave testimony to a Manhattan ADA, alleging that McCarrick, a former family friend, also groomed and abused him starting when he was 11

The Manhattan District Attorney's office launched a hotline last year and invited victims to report even decades-old sex abuse, saying it would pursue "any and all investigative leads" to ensure justice.

Grein met with Sullivan before Christmas after filing a compensation claim with the New York City archdiocese alleging that McCarrick, the retired archbishop of Washington, first exposed himself when Grein was 11 and continued abusing him for some two decades, including during confession, Noaker said. The church's compensation procedures require that victims notify the district attorney of their allegations, which Grein did on November 1.

Noaker, however, said Grein's testimony to Sullivan went beyond the required pro forma notification and covered issues related to a broader investigation.

On December 27, Grein testified to Vatican investigators as part of the Holy See's internal probe against McCarrick. That investigation has now finished and shifted to Rome, where a final verdict is expected within weeks, Vatican officials say.

McCarrick, who has also been accused by two other men in the Vatican investigation, faces possible defrocking if Francis determines the accusations against him are credible.

Criminal charges in New York City against McCarrick are unlikely for any actual abuse, due to the statute of limitations, Noaker said. But Grein's testimony could still prove useful as prosecutors investigate patterns of abuse, conspiracy and cover-up over decades by Catholic leaders.

Washington Archbishop Theodore McCarrick (in 2005) resigned over the summer after being accused of groping an altar boy in the 1970s

The alleged groping occurred in St. Patrick's Cathedral while McCarrick was a NYC priest. After an internal investigation, McCarrick (2006 and 2011) was removed from public ministry

Pope Francis (shown) removed McCarrick as cardinal in July 2018

A law enforcement official familiar with the New York City investigation said it was separate from the one announced in September by then-New York State Attorney General Barbara Underwood, who subpoenaed all eight dioceses in New York state. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak publicly about an ongoing investigation.

Underwood, who has since been replaced, took action along with prosecutors in a dozen U.S. states after a Pennsylvania grand jury alleged that more than 1,000 children were molested by 300 priests over 70 years in six dioceses of that state alone.

The state attorney general's office is pursuing a civil investigation but has also reached out to local prosecutors authorized to convene grand juries or pursue criminal investigations.

Separately, the U.S. Justice Department has told every Catholic diocese in the country not to destroy documents or confidential archives relating to abuse investigations and the transfers of priests.

McCarrick was ordained a priest in New York City in 1958 and served as an auxiliary bishop to New York's then-Cardinal Terence Cooke before being named bishop of Metuchen, New Jersey, in 1981. It was during his years as a New York City priest - in the early 1970s - that he allegedly groped a teenage altar boy in St. Patrick's Cathedral. That accusation launched the internal church investigation.

After the New York City archdiocese found the accusation credible and announced that McCarrick had been removed from public ministry, Grein and former seminarians came forward to say that McCarrick molested them as well. Francis removed McCarrick as a cardinal in July.

McCarrick denied the initial groping allegation of the altar boy and has said, through his lawyer, that he looks forward to his right to due process.

A former priest from the Metuchen diocese, Robert Ciolek, has also publicly accused McCarrick of inappropriate behavior while he was a seminarian and formalized the accusation in a 2004 complaint to Pittsburgh church officials.

In the past week, the archdioceses of Pittsburgh and Washington confirmed that then-Pittsburgh Bishop Donald Wuerl forwarded the complaint to the Vatican embassy at the time - disproving Wuerl's claim that he hadn't heard of allegations against McCarrick until last year.

Francis recently accepted the resignation of now-Cardinal Wuerl as archbishop of Washington after his credibility suffered as a result of the McCarrick scandal and allegations about his tenure in Pittsburgh in the Pennsylvania grand jury report.
The wreck of a German submarine which ran aground in World War One has resurfaced off the coast of France.

Sand movements on the beach of Wissant, near Calais, have caused the UC-61 to reappear more than 100 years after it was scuttled.

The submarine was flooded by the men onboard in July 1917 and all 26 members surrendered to French authorities.

The wreckage, pictured, of a German submarine has resurfaced due to sand movements on the beach of Wissant, near Calais, northern France

Parts of the submerged vessel appear every two to three years but usually disappear quickly

The mayor of Wissant Bernard Bracq said that the UC-61 appears 'every two to three years' but after a 'good gust of wind the wreck will disappear again.'

Parts of the vessel have also been visible at low tide, about 100m from the dunes, since December, reports the BBC.

However now it is hoped more of the submarine will be revealed with local tour guide Vincent Schmitt hoping the winds and tides will unearth the rest of it.

He said: 'Pieces reappear from time to time, but this is the first time we have discovered so much.'

Historians believe the UC-61, pictured on Wednesday, sunk at least 11 ships during the War

The crew of the UC-61 scuttled their ship, pictured, before surrendering to authorities in 1917

Historians believe the UC-61 sunk at least 11 ships, either by laying mines or by firing torpedoes.

The vessel got stuck in the sand during heavy fog and was destroyed by its crew to stop it being captured by the Allies, reports CNN.

The UC-61 had been heading to Boulogne-sue-Mer and Le Havre when it got into difficulties, reports the Mirror.

The submarine had a dive time of 48 seconds and was capable of operating at a depth of 50 metres (160 ft).
Recovering drug addict Tom Sizemore has been arrested after police allegedly found meth and heroin in his car.

The Saving Private Ryan and Black Hawk Down star was jailed along with a male passenger for misdemeanor possession, TMZ reports.

Troubled Sizemore, 57, was said to have been pulled over by cops in California in his Mercedes E350 over a missing front license plate and expired registration tags.

Police in Burbank then allegedly found the drugs, thought to be meth and heroin, in the vehicle.

Both men were arrested on January 5 and the case is currently being reviewed by the city attorney's office.

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Recovering drug addict Tom Sizemore, pictured, was arrested after police found meth and heroin in his Mercedes E350, according to reports

Sizemore, pictured in 2007, has been in and out of rehab several times and was arrested in 2007 and 2009 for drug-related charges

In May last year a Utah woman sued the actor for $3 million over claims he groped her during a movie set photo shoot when she was just 11.

The lawsuit says the 2003 incident, which allegedly occurred during production of the 'Born Killers' movie, left her with post-traumatic stress and drug and alcohol addiction.

Sizemore denied the 'highly disturbing' allegation when it surfaced, saying he would never inappropriately touch a child.

He called the claims surrounding the alleged incident in 2003 'simply false' and said he was desperate to 'clear my name'.

Sizemore has faced a very public battle with drug addiction and run-ins with the police.

But in May 2017 he told the DailyMail.com he was 'fit, healthy and approaching four years sober'.

He recalled seeing his successful acting career  starring alongside the likes of Tom Hanks, Robert De Niro, Woody Harrelson and Al Pacino - crumble around him, his bank balance and the trappings of fame vanish overnight.

The actor told how he hit rock bottom when forced to squat for two years in a building with no electricity or running water, whiling away the days smoking crystal meth.

The actor, pictured, revealed the shocking depths to which he plunged while consumed by cocaine, heroin and crystal meth but in May 2017 said he was 'approaching four years sober'

Speaking in 2017 he said: 'My life's gotten a lot better, it's been a real chronicle, but I've got a long history of substance abuse, I was in a really bad place.

'And I'm coming up on four years sober, it was really difficult, the first two years were miserable I thought I'd never smile again.

'Drugs are a progressive disease, if I do drugs again I go right back to where I was before, I was ineffectual, I could barely get dressed, I was hopeless.'

Over the years he has been in and out of rehab several times and was arrested in 2007 and 2009 for drug-related charges, spending 16 months in total in prison.

He was sentenced to six months in jail for beating up his former girlfriend, the one-time 'Hollywood Madam,' Heidi Fleiss.

The star was even caught attempting to fake a drug urine test using a prosthetic penis known as a Whizzinator.

While he seemed to get his life back on track after the show, two videos of the troubled actor smoking drugs emerged.

A representative for Sizemore has been contacted for comment.
South Carolina congressman Joe Cunningham pulled a foul move Friday and attempted to bring beer onto the House floor when he arrived at the Capitol in Washington DC.

The 36-year-old Democrat beat Republican Katie Arrington to represent his state in the November 2018 midterm elections and only a week after assuming office, Cunningham has already gained a bad reputation with some people for the stunt.

But he joked about showing up to a meeting with his alcohol in tow in a post on Twitter that morning, writing: 'Making friends when you're a freshman is hard and I thought I'd grease the skids with some Lowcountry beer.'

South Carolina congressman Joe Cunningham tried to bring a six-pack of beer onto the House floor at the Capitol in Washington DC on Friday and was told off

The 36-year-old freshman joked that 'making friends is hard' when addressing the incident on Twitter, explaining they were a gift for Oregon Democratic rep Peter DeFazio

His communications director explained he brought the beers with him up The Hill because he didn't want to be late for his flight home that afternoon. He would have sent them to DeFazio

It was in response to a tweet from a Politico reporter who spilled the info on her Twitter page.

'Freshman Rep. Joe Cunningham (D-SC) just tried to take a 6-pack of beer onto the House floor and was told that's not allowed. 'It's Friday too,' he said laughing as he turned around,' the journalist shared.

Cunningham had a simple explanation for his poorly thought-out decision. He explained he was simply trying to share some beverages from his home state with Oregon's 4th congressional district rep and fellow Democrat, Peter DeFazio.

Co-chair of the House Brewer's Caucus, DeFazio, joked that Cunningham could join the caucus and they'd work on changing the rules of beer on the House floor

DeFazio assumed office 31 years ago in 1987 and is currently co-chair of the House Brewer's Caucus which has 234 members across 43 states by July 2018.

The big advocates of promoting small businesses are a positive influence in Cunningham's opinion as the South Carolina Brewer's Guild states 3,000 jobs in the state have been created because of craft beer.

Cunningham tweeted: 'Thankfully @RepPeterDeFazio got it in the end! Can I join the beer caucus now?'

DeFazio joked that Cunningham could join the caucus and they'd work on changing the rules of beer on the House floor.

'Welcome aboard,' he posted. 'First order of businessworking on a rules change regarding six-packs on the House Floor. Only small & independent craft brews allowed!'

Cunningham refused to apologize for promoting local businesses in his state because the craft beer industry has created 3,000 jobs according to the South Carolina Brewer's Guild

Cunning carried White Thai (left) and One Claw (center) from Westbrook Brewing Company and Dead Arm, a 6 percent alcohol beer, from Coast Brewing (right)

But in all seriousness, the man who labels himself a 'husband, dad, problem solver' in his social media biography added that he's not sorry for spreading knowledge of the selection of brands he brought to work.

Hi communications director Rebecca Drago said he changed his mind about sending it DeFazio's office because he needed enough time to head to BWI Airport to catch midday flight home.

'The Lowcountry has the best craft breweries in the country (don't @ me Asheville),' he posted. 'They're run by entrepreneurs who create thousands of good local jobs and produce the finest beer around. I'll never apologize for promoting them. (The beer was from @WestbrookBeer & @COASTbrewing).'

Coast Brewing joked Cunningham should have gone for different option when smuggling beer into a building filled with politicians

According to the Post and Courier, the Charleston man traipsed up the Hill carrying White Thai and One Claw from Westbrook Brewing Company and Dead Arm from Coast Brewing. The latter is a beer which contains 6 percent alcohol.

But Republican National Committee spokesperson Mandi Merritt said nobody there found it funny amid the government shutdown, adding that Democrats 'aren't serious about working with Republicans to address the growing humanitarian and security crisis at the border'.

'We knew Democrats were playing partisan games with our national security, but now, they apparently want to play drinking games too,' she continued. 'Rep. Joe Cunningham should be ashamed.'

One of the brands suggested Cunningham should have gone for different option when smuggling beer into a building filled with politicians.

'For the record, I would have added our 32/50 Kolsch..it's very bipartisan,' Coast Brewing tweeted.
The 18-year-old Saudi girl who fled her family fearing they would kill her after she rejected Islam has arrived in Toronto.

Rahaf Mohammed al-Qunun garnered support around the world this week as people learned how she had barricaded herself in a Bangkok airport hotel room to resist being sent home to her family.

Her family deny any abuse, but Ms al-Qunun refused to meet her father and brother who arrived in Thailand to try and fetch the teen.

Instead, she took a Korean Air flight from Bangkok to Seoul on Friday and then a connecting flight to Toronto.

Al-Qunun shared photos to Twitter from her flight to Toronto, showing her relaxing in business class with wine and her legs up.

'I would like to thank you people for supporting me and saiving (sic) my life,' she said. 'Truly I have never dreamed of this love and support You are the spark that would motivate me to be a better person.'

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Saudi teenager Rahaf Mohammed al-Qunun, 18, arrives at Pearson International airport in Toronto, Ontario

She was pictured wearing a UN Human Rights cap and 'CANADA' hoodie as she was met by officials. Canadian Minister for Foreign Affairs Chrystia Freeland is pictured right

Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland (right) greeted Ms al-Qunun, after she landed in Toronto on Saturday morning

From her personal Twitter account, al-Qunun thanked everyone for their support, saying she had never 'dreamed of this love'

Al-Qunun shared photos to Twitter from her flight to Toronto, showing her relaxing in first class with wine and her legs up

Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland greeted al-Qunun, after she landed in Toronto, wearing a blue ball cap and a gray hoodie emblazoned in red with the word 'CANADA.'

Ms Freeland told reporters with her arm around the teen: 'This is Rahaf Mohammed al-Qunun a very brave new Canadian.'

Ms al-Qunun Tweeted pictures during her flight in First Class drinking claret, chardonnay and eating caviar.

Ms al-Qunun shared a snap on social media of her in first class enjoying a glass of wine as she jetted off to Canada as a refugee

Her case was expedited after it garnered an unprecedented amount of media attention.

She highlighted her homeland's strict social rules, including a requirement that women have the permission of a male chaperone to travel, which rights groups say can trap women and girls as prisoners of abusive families.

'Canada has been unequivocal that we'll stand up for human rights and women's rights around the world,' Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said.

'When the United Nations made a request of us that we grant Ms al-Qunun's asylum, we accepted.'

Canada's ambassador saw her off at the airport, Thai Police Major General Surachate Hakparn said, adding that she looked happy and healthy. 'She chose Canada. It's her personal decision,' he said.

Ms al-Qunun is the daughter of a Saudi governor and has nine siblings. She used a loophole in the state's tough laws to travel to Kuwait unaccompanied.

From there, she purchased a ticket to Bangkok and was hoping to seek asylum in Canada, the United States, Australia, the UK or 'any nation would protect her from being harmed or killed by her family'.

Instead, her passport was seized by a Saudi diplomat and she was forced to lock herself in an apartment room.

She says she spent months planning her escape before implementing her dangerous plan on January 5.

Ms al-Qunun walks through sliding doors as she beams alongside officials at Toronto Pearson

Ms al-Qunun is handed a bouquet of flowers by Canadian Foreign Minister, Ms Freeland

Ms al-Qunun beams from ear-to-ear as she finally touches down in Canada after a week of uncertainty over her future

'Canada has been unequivocal that we'll stand up for human rights and women's rights around the world,' Prime Minister Justin Trudeau (pictured) said

Canada is now the new home for Saudi refugee Ms al-Qunun (pictured) after Canada answered a request by the UNHCR

Ms al-Qunun (pictured) previously reacted to news Australia was considering granting her asylum, saying, 'Is it true??? Australia wants me to go there??? I'm so happy'

Her dire situation was compared to that of Dina Ali Lasloom, a 24-year-old woman who sought asylum under similar circumstances at Manila airport in April of 2017.

She pleaded for help but was ultimately forced back on a plane home - kicking and screaming - and has never been heard from since.

Ms al-Qunun's case garnered far more attention at a quicker speed, with many praising social media and technology.

After pleading with just 24 followers, her plight was picked up by numerous figures around the world who shared her story to their followers.

Within 24 hours, she had over 45,000 followers and growing.

Soon after, she was tweeting to 100,000 people.

Ms al-Qunun (pictured at Bangkok airport) escaped from her family when she embarked on a solo trip to Kuwait and bought a ticket to Bangkok

Ms al-Qunun pictured with Thai authorities after she escaped her family, who deny her allegations

She made headlines earlier this week after she began tweeting from the transit area of Bangkok airport, saying her life would be in danger if she returned to Kuwait.

Thai authorities eventually allowed her to enter the country on Monday evening and the UN refugee agency referred Ms al-Qunun to Australia for consideration for refugee resettlement.

The U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees granted her refugee status on Wednesday.

Despite having harnessed the power of Twitter to stave off deportation on Friday, she abruptly suspended her account, with friends saying she had received death threats.

The 18-year-old (pictured with her 12-year-old sister Joud) said she had 'escaped Kuwait' and that her life would be in danger if she were forced to return to Saudi Arabia

The 18-year-old was detained in Thailand following her arrival in the country. She is pictured having barricaded herself in an airport hotel room in a bid to avoid deportation

She also opened up about living with her family in Saudi Arabia, describing it as difficult as she had no freedom.

'It was so bad. I mean, of course there are good days but they hurt me a lot.

'I have no choice to choose what I want,' she said.

The 18-year-old even rallied against online trolls who were spreading rumours on social media that she was lying about her situation.

'They don't know about my life and they don't know how my family treats me,' she said.

'I want life. I want to be independent. How can they say this just because I do something they don't like?

'I want to become a strong woman, I want freedom of expression, of religion and politics. I want to live a normal life.'

Ms al-Qunun also claimed her family would kill her if she were sent home to Saudi Arabia, where she has renounced Islam and 'rebelled' against her father.
Work has continued on the dismantling of Novichok victim Sergei Skripal's home as authorities continue a deep clean to eradicate any potential traces of the poison.

Neighbors have been warned that the work could take up to four months as a team from a chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear unit complete the clean-up.

After being taken apart, the property will be rebuilt once the deep clean is finished.

Today members of the military were spotted outside the house dismantling the roof and bagging up parts of the windows.

Members of the military wear purple gloves and face masks as they wrap up and remove pieces of Sergei Skripal's home in Salisbury, Wiltshire

The clean-up at the boarded up house, pictured, has been taking place ever since the Skripals collapsed on March 5. The next phase of the operation was due to begin on January 7

Detectives believe Sergai Skripal and his daughter Yulia, pictured, first came into contact with the poison Novichok when it was sprayed on the door handle of their property in Salisbury

The workers, dressed in camo and wearing face masks, wrapped pieces of the boarded up house in clear plastic and walked them to an area next to a white van.

Mr Skripal, 66, and his daughter Yulia, 33, were exposed to the substance in the city last year but survived the chemical attack.

Detectives believe the pair first came into contact with the poison when it was sprayed on the door handle of their property in Salisbury.

The decontamination project is being led by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) but military teams will carry out the work, a Ministry of Defence spokesman said earlier this week.

This will be the same team involved in the clean-up so far, from the chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear unit, he added.

The clean-up has been taking place ever since the Skripals collapsed on March 5, but work paused over Christmas.

Military working on the clean-up hold electric screwdrivers and hammers as they wait outside

Another member of the team removes a large window from the home in Salisbury, Wiltshire

The next, more extensive phase of the operation was due to begin on January 7, according to a letter written by Wiltshire Council.

Dated January 4 and signed by the council's director of public of health, Tracy Daszkiewicz, it told residents that contractors would spend the first month erecting scaffolding to cover the house and garage with a 'sealed frame'.

A military team will then dismantle and remove the roofs on the two buildings over two weeks.

Everything will be wrapped and sealed before being removed from the site, and then the roofs will be replaced, Ms Daszkiewicz said.

She said the risk to public health remains 'low', adding: 'The priority is to make sure that the two remaining sites affected by the 2018 incidents are thoroughly cleaned and returned to normal use as soon as possible.'

Wiltshire Detective Sergeant Nick Bailey is also thought to have come into contact with the poison when he searched their home.

Neighbors have been warned that the work could take up to four months to complete

Former Russian spy Mr Srkipal, 66, right, and his daughter Yulia, 33, left, were poisoned by the substance last year and police believe it was sprayed on the door handle of the property

Dawn Sturgess, 44, fell ill in Amesbury months after the incident and died in hospital in July after coming into contact with a perfume bottle believed to have been used in the attack on the Skripals and then discarded.

Her partner, Charlie Rowley, 45, was also exposed to the same nerve agent but was treated and discharged.

Two Russian nationals have been accused of travelling to the UK to try to murder Mr Skripal with Novichok.

Evidence gathered by intelligence agencies led the Government to conclude that the men were officers from the Russian military intelligence service, the GRU.

The two suspects - known by their aliases Alexander Petrov and Ruslan Boshirov - were caught on CCTV in Salisbury the day before the attack.

A counterfeit Nina Ricci perfume bottle - which Ms Sturgess handled - is thought to have contained the substance.

Defra said focusing on removing the roofs was just part of their 'highly precautionary', extensive and meticulous work on the property.

Russian nationals Alexander Petrov, left, and Ruslan Boshirov, right, are suspected of carrying out the attack after being caught on CCTV in Salisbury ahead of the incident, although they claim they were there to visit the famous cathedral

A spokesman said no further detail could be provided on the plan for disposal, other than that it would be carried out 'safely'.

In a statement he added: 'Work to decontaminate the site at Christie Miller Road has resumed and will continue over the coming months.'

'In line with our thorough approach to decontamination, specialist teams are working inside and outside the property.

'External scaffolding is being erected in early January to allow access for work on the house roof and garage roof. The roof will be removed during the decontamination process.

'We are working with the site owner, Wiltshire Council and other partners to ensure that the house will be fully repaired and returned to a fit state to live in.'
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Hundreds of mourners, including Denmark's prime minister, packed a small Danish church on Saturday for the funeral of a woman hiker beheaded by ISIS fanatics in Morocco.

Speaking before Louisa Vesterager Jespersen's casket was carried out of the Fonnesbaek Church in Ikast, Jutland, Danish Prime Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen vowed her life would not be forgotten.

'Though the pain is unbearable, we must not succumb. We must remember who we are, what we are made of, and what we stand for,' he said.

Louisa, 24, was killed along with 28-year-old Maren Ueland, of Norway, as the two camped overnight at an isolated hiking spot in the Atlas Mountains while on vacation in December.

Their headless bodies were found the following day, with Moroccan authorities calling the killing an 'act of terrorism'.

Family and friends follow the coffin during the funeral of Danish student Louisa Vesterager Jespersen at Fonnesbaek Church in Ikast, Denmark

Danish Prime Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen attended the funeral and vowed that Louisa's life would not be forgotten

Her coffin is loaded into the back of a hearse before 400 family and friends gathered in the small church to commemorate the lives of the backpackers

A young man places a rose on top of the young woman's coffin ahead of the 45-minute service

Saturday's 45-minute service for Jespersen was held at the Fonnesbaek Church in Ikast, in the Mid Jutland region of Denmark.

According to Danish tabloid newspaper B.T., more than 400 people attended the service. An adjoining room next to the main hall was opened to accomodate all of the guests inside the small church.

Moroccan authorities have arrested a total of 22 people in connection with the murders. They include five men belonging to a cell inspired by ISIS, Moroccan officials say.

But Morocco's counter-terror chief Abdelhak Khiam revealed none of the men had contact with ISIS members in Syria or Iraq.

'The emir of the group' - noble military leader - was Abdessamad Ejjoud, a 25-year-old street vendor living near Marrakech, the others were acting on his command.

Ejjoud had 'formed a kind of cell that discussed how to carry out a terrorist act inside the kingdom,'

An adjoining room next to the main hall was opened to accomodate all of the guests inside the small church. Pictured: Louisa's casket in the empty church before friends and family took their seats

Louisa Vesterager Jespersen, 24, from Denmark and Maren Ueland, 28, of Norway (right) were both slaughtered and beheaded by ISIS fanatics

Investigators claim that Ejjoud is one of the men pledging allegiance to ISIS in a video shared a week before the brutal killings.

Two prior the murders, the killers travelled to the mountainous Imlil region 'because it is frequented by foreigners' and 'targeted the two tourists in a deserted area', Sabik added.

Other men suspected of direct involvement included a plumber, a carpenter and a second street vendor.

The men were all arrested during police raids that also uncovered weapons and bomb making materials.

A portrait of Louisa and Maren are seen at a makeshift memorial among flowers and candles, in Town Hall Square in Copenhagen, Denmark yesterday

Jespersen and Ueland had been studying outdoor activities and tourism at the University of Southeastern Norway.

The pair decided to go to Morocco for Christmas and arrived for a month-long holiday on December 9.

They had travelled to the foothills of Mount Toubkal, North Africa's highest peak, not far from the tourist village of Imlil.

Friends have described the two young women as 'adventurers' and 'sociable'.

'The girls took all the necessary precautions before leaving for the trip,' Maren's mother Irene told Norwegian's NRK television in December.

Ueland's funeral is to be held in Norway on January 21.
A Florida mom has been found guilty of 'pimping' out a little girl from the age of just three in return for drugs, rent and scrap metal.

Celeste Chambers, 37, was convicted of trafficking the child for more than 13 years alongside her former partner after offering the youngster to 'adult men for sexual activity in exchange for drugs'.

Her ex-husband Kevin Wyatt, 49, pleaded guilty to child abuse charges last year in Gadsden County.

Chambers, from Tallahassee, who facing spending the rest of her life in prison, is said to have hit the youngster if she ever refused.

Celeste Chambers, 36, left, and Kevin Wyatt, 49, were accused of trading sex with the child for drugs for thirteen years between February 2003 and March 2016

Harrowing evidence heard how the victim was 'pimped out at least twice a week' and warned by Chambers: 'You aren't supposed to talk about it'.

She said she was forced to perform sexual acts for Chambers to get drugs, scrap metal and rent.

The child is said to have been left so traumatized by the ordeal that she was unable to sleep at night.

And when speaking with social workers she was too scared to speak about the abuse in case she got in trouble.

Court records say that from 2003 to 2016, the child was offered to 'adult men for sexual activity in exchange for drugs, intentionally inflicting physical or mental injury'.

Chambers was arrested in October last after a multi-agency human trafficking investigation that began in March 2016.

Chambers and her boyfriend, Kevin Wyatt, 49, pictured during his arrest were accused of trading sex with the child for drugs, rent and scrap metal

Chambers, from Tallahassee, left, is facing spending the rest of her life in prison. Wyatt, right, would reportedly hit the victim if she refused to perform sexual acts

Wyatt was found hiding on a houseboat off Florida's East River, near Tallahassee

A jury convicted her of one count of capital sexual battery, two counts of lewd and lascivious battery, one count each of lewd and lascivious molestation, lewd and lascivious conduct, child abuse and human trafficking, The Tallahassee Democrat reports.

She was also convicted of battery and will be sentenced Monday when the victim, now 15, will give a victim impact statement.

Assistant State Attorney Anna Norris said: 'This child has gone through a nightmare her entire life and she was trafficked. It's good to see that people are understanding that human trafficking is not what we see in the movies.'
President Donald Trump is disputing claims that the White House is in a state of 'chaos' and says he has a plan to end the shutdown that's become in the longest in U.S. history.

Trump urged Democrats to return to Washington from their 'vacations' to end the 22-day shutdown.

'I just watched a Fake reporter from the Amazon Washington Post say the White House is "chaotic, there does not seem to be a strategy for this Shutdown. There is no plan." The Fakes always like talking Chaos, there is NONE,' he tweeted Saturday morning.

'In fact, there's almost nobody in the W.H. but me and I do have a plan on the Shutdown,' he said.

'But to understand that plan you would have to understand the fact that I won the election, and I promised safety and security for the American people. Part of that promise was a Wall at the Southern Border. Elections have consequences!' he added.

'We have a massive Humanitarian Crisis at our Southern Border. We will be out for a long time unless the Democrats come back from their "vacations" and get back to work. I am in the White House ready to sign!' he wrote.

He then shared a commercial-like video where he shakes hands with border agents and says he presented Congress with a detailed proposal to secure the border, adding 'Democrats in Congress have refused to acknowledge the crisis'.

President Donald Trump launched a Twitter spree on Saturday morning, urging Democrats to come to Washington and end the longest government shutdown in U.S. history

Trump is defending the White House saying it is not in a state of 'chaos' in light of the government shutdown

He tweeted that contrary to reports, he has a plan to end the shutdown and get the government back on its feet, which includes his promised controversial wall

But the president said the humanitarian crisis at the border can't be resolved until Democrats return from their 'vacations' and meet him at the White House to pass a bill

Trump's Twitter spree started early Saturday morning where he mostly pressured Democrats to meet him, obstinately adding: 'I am in the White House waiting for you!'

The president began to spew some statistics revealing arrests at the border are up 240 percent.

'23% of Federal inmates are illegal immigrants. Border arrests are up 240%. In the Great State of Texas, between 2011 & 2018, there were a total of 292,000 crimes by illegal aliens, 539 murders, 32,000 assaults, 3,426 sexual assaults and 3000 weapons charges. Democrats come back!' he wrote.

Trump argued that the federal crisis could be solved in a matter of minutes if Democrats would come to him.

'Democrats could solve the Shutdown in 15 minutes! Call your Dem Senator or Congresswoman/man. Tell them to get it done! Humanitarian Crisis,' he tweeted Saturday morning.

Last week Trump dedicated his first Oval Office address to rallying for his controversial border wall, demanding $5.7billion for the wall.

On Saturday Trump shared a video of himself shaking hands with border patrol agents and says his administration has given Congress a detailed proposal to secure the border

The video was another effort by the President to stress the importance of his controversial wall

'I am in the White House waiting for you!' He urged Democrats to end the 'horrible humanitarian crisis at our Southern Border' on Saturday morning

He shared statistics claiming that border arrests were up 240 percent and that 23 percent of federal inmates are illegal immigrants

Trump mounted the pressure on Democrats saying they could resolve the government shutdown that's left thousands of federal workers without paychecks in just 15 minutes

He claimed that illegal crossings at the border have led to a humanitarian and security crises at the Southern border.

However, according to an NPR fact check of his address, illegal border crossings in the last fiscal year (ending in September 2018) was actually lower than 2016 and 2014, with the number of illegal crossings peaking in 2000.

In his speech he claimed ICE officers made 266,000 arrests of aliens with criminal records including those charged with or convicted of 100,000 assaults, 30,000 sex crimes, and 4,000 violent killings.

According to the fact check, the number is correct but is misleading because many of those migrants like committed solely immigration-related offenses rather than all violent crimes.

Trump claimed that illegal crossings at the border have led to a humanitarian and security crises at the Southern border. A migrant from Honduras passes a child to her father after he jumped the border fence to get into the U.S. side of San Diego, California from Mexico

A Mexican migrant holds a child as he jumps the border fence to enter San Diego, California from Tijuana, Mexico

U.S. Customs and Border Protection agenst pictured at the San Ysidro Port of Entry in San Diego. According to Trump, border arrests are up 240 percent

The government officially partially shut down on December 22.

Federal workers began to feel the impact of the stand-still on Friday when some 800,000 workers missed their first paycheck.

The partial shutdown left 420,000 American workers to be force to work without pay and 380,000 to be furloughed.

TSA and customs and border protection agents are some of the thousands of workers were forced to work through the holiday without paychecks.

The shutdown entered its 22nd day on Saturday, setting a new record for the longest shutdown in history, surpassing the previous 21-day record set in late 1995, early 1996 during the Clinton administration.

Trump has been on a tweeting spree this weekend.

Early Saturday morning he launched a furious tirade after he read a New York Times report that revealed the FBI investigated him to determine whether he was a secret Russian agent after he fired FBI Director James Comey.

Trump tweeted on Saturday morning: 'Wow, just learned in the Failing New York Times that the corrupt former leaders of the FBI, almost all fired or forced to leave the agency for some very bad reasons, opened up an investigation on me, for no reason & with no proof, after I fired Lyin James Comey, a total sleaze!

President Donald Trump has fired back in a furious Twitter tirade Saturday after it was reported the FBI opened an investigation to determine whether he was a secret Russian agent in the days after he fired FBI Director James Comey

Former FBI Director James Comey (C) speaks to the news media after a daylong closed door hearing at the US Capitol in Washington, DC in December 2018

He continued: 'Funny thing about James Comey. Everybody wanted him fired, Republican and Democrat alike. After the rigged & botched Crooked Hillary investigation, where she was interviewed on July 4th Weekend, not recorded or sworn in, and where she said she didnt know anything (a lie).'

Citing unnamed former law enforcement officials, the New York Times reported on Friday that the FBI opened the combined criminal and counterintelligence probe in May of 2017.

'The FBI was in complete turmoil (see N.Y. Post) because of Comeys poor leadership and the way he handled the Clinton mess (not to mention his usurpation of powers from the Justice Department). My firing of James Comey was a great day for America. He was a Crooked Cop.

'...who is being totally protected by his best friend, Bob Mueller, & the 13 Angry Democrats - leaking machines who have NO interest in going after the Real Collusion (and much more) by Crooked Hillary Clinton, her Campaign, and the Democratic National Committee. Just Watch!

'I have been FAR tougher on Russia than Obama, Bush or Clinton. Maybe tougher than any other President. At the same time, & as I have often said, getting along with Russia is a good thing, not a bad thing. I fully expect that someday we will have good relations with Russia again!

'Lyin James Comey, Andrew McCabe, Peter S and his lover, agent Lisa Page, & more, all disgraced and/or fired and caught in the act. These are just some of the losers that tried to do a number on your President. Part of the Witch Hunt. Remember the insurance policy? This is it!'

Trump's lawyer Rudy Giuliani dismissed the alleged investigation as baseless, pointing out that no evidence has publicly emerged in the 20 months since to support the idea that Trump is a secret Russian agent.

'The fact that it goes back a year and a half and nothing came of it that showed a breach of national security means they found nothing,' Giuliani told the Times.
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Tear gas and baton charges were used by French police on thousands of Yellow Vest protestors threatening the Arc de Triomphe in Paris today during more mass anti-government demonstrations.

The ugly scenes came on the 9th Saturday in a row of violence that now routinely reduces the capital city to a war zone.

In Paris, epicentre of the fiery street clashes and vandalism that have made global headlines, 5,000 riot police were on hand, using tall barricades and armoured vehicles to lock down the central Place de la Concorde and surrounding districts.

Hundreds of officers were also on guard on the Champs-Elysees, where banks, jewellery stores and other shops had boarded up windows in anticipation of renewed looting and violence.

Yet many cafes and retailers on the iconic avenue remained open for business, as several thousands of protesters marched calmly from the Place de la Bastille toward the Arc de Triomphe early in the afternoon.

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French police detain a bloodied Yellow Vest (Gilets jaunes) protester during an anti-government demonstration in Marseille today

A protester holds a burning flare next to a fire during an anti-government demonstration called by the 'Yellow Vest' (Gilets Jaunes) movement outside in front of the Cathedral of Brodeaux, southwestern France

Gendarmes spray water at yellow vested protesters in front of the Cathedral of Bordeaux in southwestern France this evening

Protesters break the window of a shop during an anti-government demonstration called by the Yellow Vest (Gilets jaunes) movement in Paris on January 12, 2019

Police arrest a protester during an anti-government demonstration called by the Gilets Jaunes movement on January 12, 2019, in the shopping area in Le Mans, western France

French anti-riot police draw their weapons while colleagues detain a protester during renewed clashes in Paris today

French riot police take positions in the city center during a yellow vest demonstration in Marseille, southern France, Saturday, January 12, 2019

Protesters from the 'Gilets Jaunes' (Yellow Vests) movement take part in the 'Act IX' demonstration (the 9th consecutive national protest on a Saturday)

Thousands of anti-government demonstrators marched in cities across France on January 12 in a new round of 'yellow vest' protests against the president, accused of ignoring the plight of millions of people struggling to make ends meet

In Paris, epicentre of the fiery street clashes and vandalism that have made global headlines, 5,000 riot police were on hand, using tall barricades and armoured vehicles to lock down the central Place de la Concorde and surrounding districts

Police stand near a fire near the Cathedral of Bordeaux, southwestern France, during an anti-government demonstration

Tear gas and baton charges were used by French police on thousands of Yellow Vest protestors threatening the Arc de Triomphe in Paris today during more mass anti-government demonstration. The ugly scenes came on the 9th Saturday in a row of violence that now routinely reduces the capital city to a war zone

There were 5000 police and gendarmes standing by for trouble, and it started in the early afternoon when a march reached the Champs Elysee, the most famous shopping avenue in France. Yellow Vest (Gilets jaunes) protesters are pictured waving flags reading RIC for 'Citizens' Initiative Referendum'

Within minutes huge white clouds of tear gas were smothering the area, covering rioters, as well as Saturday afternoon shoppers. By 3pm there had been 42 arrests in the Paris areas, many of them of suspected rioters carrying potential weapons

Scores of protesters later clashed with riot police after arriving at the Arc de Triomphe in Paris, prompting volleys of tear gas and water cannon as security forces prevented them from reaching the Champs-Elysees

Yellow Vest (Gilets jaunes) protesters walk past the damaged window of a shop during an anti-government demonstration

Nearly 60 people had been arrested in the capital, police said, alongside dozens more elsewhere including the central city of Bourges, the site of another major rally

Dozens of banks, jewelry stores and other shops were boarded up on the Champs-Elysees and elsewhere across the city, which have taken a heavy toll on businesses. 'We've come to Paris to make ourselves heard, and we wanted to see for ourselves at least once what's going on here,' said Patrick, 37,

Meanwhile, more than 1,000 yellow vest protesters, according to local authorities were marching in Bourges, a provincial capital with a renowned Gothic cathedral and picturesque wood-framed houses. Online groups mounted calls over the past week for actions in the town because of its location in the center of France

Authorities deployed 80,000 security forces nationwide for the anti-government protests. Interior Minister Christophe Castaner threatened tough retaliation against rioters and their backers, warning of increasing radicalization among the largely peaceful demonstrators

The movement waned over the holidays but appears to be resurging, despite Macron's promises of billions of euros in tax relief and an upcoming 'national debate' to address demonstrators' concerns. Protesters want deeper changes to France's economy and politics, seen as favoring the rich

French police take positions during a yellow vest protest in Marseille. Repeated scuffles broke out between French anti-government protesters and police near the Arc de Triomphe monument in Paris. Security forces used tear gas and a water cannon to push back some protesters who were throwing rocks and other objects at them

Paris police say at least 53 people were arrested before and during the protest in the French capital. They have also arrested some protesters during scuffles near the Arc de Triomphe. Police armored vehicles have been set up near the monument to help prevent protesters from getting to the nearby Champs-Elysees

Masked demonstrators stand amid smoke of teargas canisters launched by anti-riot police in a street heading to the Arena of Nimes in background during an anti-government demonstrations. 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

A car ban was established on the famous avenue. Saturday's actions came on a ninth weekend of yellow vest demonstrations to denounce President Emmanuel Macron's economic policies that protesters consider as favoring the rich

The ugly scenes came on the 9th Saturday in a row of violence that now routinely reduces the capital city to a war zone, as on demonstrator clad in a Panda suit was battered to the ground and carried away in distress

An injured protester from the 'Gilets Jaunes' (Yellow Vests) is seen on Place de l'Etoile, near the Arc de Triomphe

A French police officer holds a non-lethal hand-held weapon (LBD40) as large parts of the Champs had been blocked off using armoured cares and water cannons, but the Yellow Vests - who are named after their high visibility motoring jackets - still appeared in large numbers

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. High-end shops including luxury fashion boutiques were boarded up in Paris, along with banks and post offices

'Macron Resign', the crowd chanted, as they called for President Emmanuel Macron to resign, throwing bottles and any other missiles they could find.

Within minutes huge white clouds of tear gas were smothering the area, covering rioters, as well as Saturday afternoon shoppers.

By 3pm there had been 42 arrests in the Paris areas, many of them of suspected rioters carrying potential weapons.

Large parts of the Champs had been blocked off using armoured cares and water cannons, but the Yellow Vests - who are named after their high visibility motoring jackets - still appeared in large numbers.

There were similar demonstrations other French cities and towns, as 80000 police and gendarmes were mobilised nationwide. Yellow vest protesters demonstrate peacefully in downtown Marseille, southern France

Masked demonstrators gesture amid smoke of teargas canisters launched by anti-riot police in a street heading to the Arena of Nimes

By 3pm there had been 42 arrests in the Paris areas, many of them of suspected rioters carrying potential weapons. Large parts of the Champs had been blocked off using armoured cares and water cannons, but the Yellow Vests - who are named after their high visibility motoring jackets - still appeared in large numbers

The independent Mr Macron, leader of the Republic On The Move party, won the French presidential election in a landslide in 2017, but he is now dubbed the 'President of the Rich' with polls showing his popularity rating down to just 18 per cent

The world famous Arc de Triomphe was severely vandalised and had graffiti sprayed all over it in December, causing a national outcry.

Mr Macron has since pledged that any attempt to damage it will be treated with the 'most severe action possible.'

There were similar demonstrations other French cities and towns, as 80000 police and gendarmes were mobilised nationwide.

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.

High-end shops including luxury fashion boutiques were boarded up in Paris, along with banks and post offices.

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.
Isaac Wolf Yampolsky, 23, allegedly raped the 21-year-old woman at her apartment in Chicago on November 17

A man charged with sexually assaulting a woman he was dating last year later told his ex-girlfriend and two roommates that he raped her and six other women, according to Cook County prosecutors.

Isaac Wolf Yampolsky, 23, allegedly raped the 21-year-old woman at her apartment in Chicago on November 17.

He was then said to have called his ex-girlfriend and told her that he raped the woman and six others, prosecutors said during Yampolsky's Friday bail hearing at the Leighton Criminal Court Building.

Prosecutors also say that the man informed his two roommates of the assaults, adding that the most recent was violent and that he 'should be locked up,' Assistant State's Attorney Nancee Hofheimer said, according to the Chicago Sun Times.

Yampolsky - from Reston, Virginia - also called 'another young woman' and informed her that he 'relasped' and had sexually assaulted someone, Hofheimer added.

He was then said to have called his ex-girlfriend and told her that he raped the woman and six others. Prosecutors also say that the man informed his two roommates of the assaults, adding that the most recent was violent and that he 'should be locked up'

Nine days after the attack took place, the 21-year-old woman got in contact with police. Yampolsky turned himself in on Thursday.

The recent Northwestern University graduate was charged with a felony count of aggravated sexual assault but he may face additional charges as Chicago police are still investigating.

Yampolsky's lawyer, Andrew Weisberg, described had never been arrested before. Weisberg also explained that the man participated in many charitable pursuits while at NU, including working in a soup kitchen and chairing the community outreach committee for his fraternity.

The recent Northwestern University graduate was charged with a felony count of aggravated sexual assault but he may face additional charge

The lawyer also asked the judge to consider that Yampolsky willingly turned himself in once he learned that charges may be brought up. He had returned home to Virginia.

Yampolsky's father was in attendance at Friday's hearing as Weisberg explained to Judge Mary Marubio that the family could afford a bond that was set between $75,000 and $100,000.

Yampolsky was seeing a therapist in Virginia and his lawyer asked if he could return home, but Marubio denied bail and ordered that the suspect be held at the Cook County Jail.

And when Weisberg asked if bail could be considered if Yampolsky stayed in the county, Marubio said no and added: 'I find 100 percent [Yampolsky] poses a real and present threat to the community.'
Officer Lane Butler (picture) was shot in the back by partner Aaron Wright on January 8

An Indiana police officer is in critical but stable condition after she was accidentally shot by her partner while on duty.

The Lafayette Police Department released body camera footage showing Officer Lane Butler, her partner Aaron Wright and a third officer searching a home for a fugitive on January 8.

After the officers failed to find the suspect inside, Butler is seen on camera exiting the home with Wright following behind her with his gun drawn.

Authorities say that's when a dog inside the home attacked Wright, causing him to fire his gun and strike Butler in the back.

Butler was wearing a bulletproof vest, but the bullet hit right above it in her shoulder.

'Our conclusion in this incident was this was not a result of an act of negligence, carelessness or otherwise reckless behavior,' Lafayette Police Chief Patrick Flannelly said at a press conference Friday. 'It was accidental.'

Body camera footage shows the moment Officer Wright accidentally fired at Butler

They were searching a home for a suspect when a dog attacked Wright

Wright had his gun drawn and accidentally shot Butler above her bulletproof vest

Police say the dog escaped its cage and attacked Wright from behind. In the video the dog can be heard barking loudly before he fired.

Butler immediately collapsed to the ground outside of the home and the officers in the video can be heard shouting, 'What happened?'

Body camera footage shows the two officers coming to assist Butler.

Wright runs to flag down another police car responding to the scene and they help Butler inside, who remains conscious throughout.

An ambulance eventually arrives and they as they load her into the back, Butler appears to be going into shock and collapses.

She is now recovering at Franciscan Health Lafayette East.

Butler has been with the Lafayette Police Department for three years

She is in critical but stable condition and expected to recover

'We again just want to extend our prayers to her and her family and all of her loved ones and let them know that they will have our continued support,' Flannelly said. 'We're thankful that she is doing well and improving. That's the most important thing.'

'Officer Butler is an amazing public servant and is a dedicated and valued member of our agency,' the department said in a press release.

'She is demonstrating tremendous courage and strength and she fights to recover from her injury.'

Butler was just days away from celebrating three years with the police department at the time of the shooting.
Former prime minister John Howard has turned crime fighter after he intervened in a domestic violence dispute.

The 79-year-old was taking his routine walk near his home in Wollstonecraft, on Sydney's north shore, on Wednesday morning when he saw a man and woman allegedly in a physical altercation, The Sunday Telegraph reported.

Mr Howard stepped in and kept by the woman's side until police arrived, a Liberal source told the publication.

Former prime minister John Howard (pictured) intervened in a domestic violence dispute while out on a morning walk on Wednesday

'He took on the Taliban in his 60s and now he's taking on domestic violence at almost 80,' the Liberal source said in praise of Mr Howard.

The former Liberal leader declined to comment on the scuffle but confirmed there had been an 'incident'.

Police said he had assisted at the scene and it is believed he is helping North Shore Police Area Command officers with their inquiries.

They pointed out he was in no way involved with the actual argument.

Mr Howard's intervention is the latest in a series of attempts to tackle domestic violence.

The former prime minister kickstarted the Partnerships Against Domestic Violence program in 1997.

Mr Howard's (pictured) intervention is the latest in a series of attempts to tackle domestic violence

The man and woman in question are believed to have got into the alleged physical altercation after the man attempted to put something in a bin.

A 44-year-old woman was charged with breaching an Apprehended Domestic Violence Order. She was granted conditional bail and will appear at Manly Local Court on Tuesday.

The 47-year-old man was taken to hospital as a mental health precaution.

Police intend to speak with him when he is 'well enough'.
Jayme Closs' suspected kidnapper had no prior criminal record, however, detectives are now looking into his brother who was convicted of sexually assaulting a minor.

Jake Thomas Patterson, 21, was arrested on Thursday for 'targeting' and kidnapping 13-year-old girl Jayme and horrifically shooting dead her mom and dad in their Barron, Wisconsin home on October 15.

Although Patterson had no prior criminal record, cops have flagged the criminal history of his older brother Erik Patterson, 24, who was convicted of fourth degree sexual assault when he was 18 for having sex with a 15-year-old girl.

Cops say that suspect Jake Thomas Patterson, 21, (left) who was arrested on Thursday for kidnapping missing Wisonsin girl 13-year-old Jayme Closs (right), had no prior criminal record

Police received a tip that Jake's older brother Erik Patterson, 24, has a criminal record of sexually assaulting a 15-year-old girl when he was 18 in 2013

Erik was also convicted of delivering drugs in 2013 and damaging property in 2014, according to Fox.

'We did get a tip on a sibling that has some criminal record. Our DCI and FBI teams are looking into that. I didn't look into his record. That just came in on our tipline,' Baron County Sheriff Chris Fitzgerland said.

In 2013 when Erik was 18 he drove from Gordon to Buffalo City, which is about three hours away.

There he met up with a 15-year-old girl to have sex with her. She told cops she met him three weeks earlier on an 'online chat site'.

Erik told police he 'thought she was 17'.

Cops found maps, clothes and a police scanner in his car after his arrest.

He pled no contest and was sentenced to one year probation for the criminal sexual assault. After that he moved to Leadville, Colorado where he worked at a Subway.

He has since taken down his Facebook page.

Jake Patterson (right) with mother Deborah (center) in 2015 and sister Katie (left)

However, authorities believe that Jake Patterson acted alone in kidnapping Jayme Closs and murdering her parents James, 56, and Denise Closs, 46.

Erik once lived in the same rural cabin in Gordon, Wisconsin where Jayme was held captive.

The Patterson family moved to Gordon about 15 years ago and Jake and Erik were raised there and attended Minong High School, according to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

According to a neighbor, Patterson's parents moved away but the two sons continued to use the home.

However, neighbors noted they rarely saw Patterson and hadn't seen Jayme around.

Ownership of that rural cabin was transferred to a credit union by Patterson's father shortly after Jayme was kidnapped.

Jayme Closs, 13, is pictured smiling alongside her aunt just hours after her escape

Authorities believe that Jake Patterson acted alone in kidnapping Jayme Closs and murdering her parents James, 56, and Denise Closs, 46

The home was transferred on October 23, eight days after Jayme was abducted and her parents slaughtered about 60 miles away in Barron, Wisconsin.

Authorities say that the Closs family did now know Jake Patterson. The only link between them is that Jake worked for a single day at the Jennie-O turkey plant where Jayme's parents were employed for 27 years.

Jayme was found on Thursday after she approached a woman walking her dog in Eau Claire Acres in Gordon and said she was kidnapped and her abductor killed her parents.

The woman took her to a neighbor's house where they called police.

Jayme was described as 'skinny and dirty but outwardly OK' by the couple who called 911.

Jake Patterson is in custody on two charges of first degree intentional homicide in the deaths of Jayme's parents and one count of kidnapping.

Unemployed Patterson had no previous criminal history and was not on the radar of police. They say they are not looking for anyone else in connection with the case.

Police believe Patterson - said to have hidden the girl in the home he grew up in - killed the Wisconsin couple because he wanted to abduct their daughter. They say she was 'the only target'.

Jayme's aunt, Kelly Engelhardt, told KARE 11 that the news is what the family has 'prayed for' every day.

'I honestly had faith... I figured if they hadn't found her by now that the person that did this didn't want her dead, so I had hope. Every day there was hope. We had too much love and support around us for us to give up,' her aunt said.
Dr Christopher Ball-Nossa, pictured outside Warwick Crown Court on Friday, admitted six charges in relation to indecent child abuse images on his computer

The wife of an NHS hospital doctor handed over his laptop to police after discovering child abuse images on the machine while trying to watch an episode of Game of Thrones.

Police arrested Dr Christopher Ball-Nossa after his wife saw a file name called 'child porn 3-16' on the device.

Officers found more than 1,500 indecent images - including 22 movies and 196 photographs of the most serious, Category A type.

Ball-Nossa, 35, was working at University Hospital Coventry at the time of his arrest. He pleaded guilty to six charges in relation to the indecent child abuse images.

According to the Manchester Evening News, Ball-Nossa was handed a two-year community order and told to participate in a sex offender programme.

At Warwick Crown Court, Judge Peter Cook also ordered Ball-Nossa to sign the sex offender register for ten years.

According to the General Medical Council, Ball-Nossa's licence to practice medicine has been provisionally suspended.

Anthony Cartin, prosecuting, told Warwick Crown Court that Ball-Nossa's wife went to police in Coventry in June after noticing the obscene images on his computer.

The court heard she had earlier found child abuse images on his computer in 2008 but accepted his accuse they and been 'unwanted pop-ups'.

Ball-Nossa's lawyer Richard Gibbs said that his client's medical career and marriage are both over.

He said his client first had 'inappropriate thoughts about children' aged 17.

The trainee GP, pictured outside court was told his conviction had led to the end of his medical career as well as the end of his marriage. Judge Peter Cook said: 'You have ruined your life by what you did'

Warwickshire Crown Court, pictured, heard Dr Christopher Ball-Nossa had more than 1,500 images of child abuse on his laptop computer. His wife was praised by Judge Peter Cook for handing over the device to police after spotting suspicious files on the hard drive

Sentencing Ball-Nossa, Judge Cook said: 'The first thing I want to acknowledge is the conduct of your wife.

'It must have put her in the most appalling predicament, but she did the most courageous thing and went to the police. She found the courage to do the right thing.'

Judge Cook said about one-seventh of the images on his computer showed 'appalling images of the abuse of small children'.

He added: 'The effects of your commission of these offences have been dramatic, to say the least. Your medical career is over, and your marriage is also over. You have ruined your life by what you did.'
Prime Minister Scott Morrison has made a drastic move to entrench January 26 as Australia Day, saying he endeavours to 'protect and respect' the day.

Mr Morrison announced he will force all 537 councils across Australia to run citizenship ceremonies on January 26, The Sunday Telegraph reported.

Should they fail to comply, disobedient councils would be stripped of their ability to issue citizenships indefinitely.

The new enforcement from the government comes after concerns city councils 'politicise our national day'.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has unveiled a drastic new ploy to keep Australia Day January 26

Mr Morrison announced his promise to 'protect our national day and ensure it is respected' as he gears up for the federal election.

'We believe all councils who are granted the privilege of conducting citizenship ceremonies should be required to conduct a ceremony on Australia Day,' he said.

The prime minister says he is concerned that councils are dodging rules so as to protest Australia Day and hopes to 'put an end to local councils trying to skirt the rules or playing politics with Australia Day.'

Two Melbourne councils have already had their right to hold citizenship ceremonies revoked after voting to ignore Australia Day ceremonies in favour of indigenous-themed 'Invasion Day' events.

Last year, more than 70 per cent of all Australian councils held citizenship ceremonies despite there being no actual enforcement to do so.

However, the government highlighted councils planning to hold ceremonies the night before - claiming the night has better weather conditions - as rebellion.

Councils hoping to issue citizenships will have the 'privelege' revoked unless they do it on January 26 under a reformation of the Australian Citizenship Ceremonies Code (stock image)

The Hawkesbury City Council and Kempsey Shire Council on New South Wales mid north coast are both at risk of having their citizenship powers revoked due to this.

Under previous guidelines, councils were able to issue citizenships on the day either side of January 26.

But the revised Australian Citizenship Ceremonies Code will see that abolished.

Under the changes, councils will also be required to hold a second ceremony on Australian Citizenship Day, which falls on September 17.

An unprecedented dress code will also be enforced.

'By all means put on the boardies and thongs for the BBQ afterwards, but for the official ceremony, its the right thing to do to show respect in how you dress,' Mr Morrison said.

The revised code has reportedly been finalised and will be issued to councils at some point over the coming weeks.

While there was no strict enforcement, more than 70 per cent of councils held citizenship ceremonies on January 26, 2017. Pictured is a citizenship ceremony in Sydney's Hyde Park

However, it will not be put into effect until 2020.

Before the code was announced, it was revealed that councils across the country are axing Australia Day celebrations, to the fury of some residents, while some Greens MPs will attend 'Invasion Day' rallies instead.

Byron Bay in New South Wales, Fremantle in Western Australia and Victoria's Darebin, Yarra and Moreland councils were among the first to cancel official events on January 26.

The changes have reportedly been made out of respect for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who see Australia Day as a time of mourning.

The national public holiday recognises the date in 1788 when the First Fleet arrived and British sovereignty was declared on the land that would become Australia.

Neither the Coalition government nor Federal Labor have expressed any support for moving the date of Australia Day from January 26.
The woman swept off her feet by John Meehan, who tried to drive a wedge between her family, recalls that 'it was so surreal' when her daughter called saying that she killed the sociopathic conman.

Debra Newell shared that she immediately felt guilt when daughter Terra Newell called on August 20, 2016, and screamed over the phone that Meehan had attacked her.

'I get this call from my daughter and she is screaming that she killed my husband and it was so surreal,' she shared with Fox News.

'The guilt and just everything overwhelmed me and I don't know how I got there but I got to the site and couldn't get to her. But I could see that she was ok, she was sitting on the curb and I just wanted to be with her.'

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Debra Newell shared that she felt guilt when daughter Terra Newell called on August 20, 2016, screamed over the phone that John Meehan attacked her

Debra's relationship with Meehan is the subject of the Bravo series 'Dirty John' with the finale on Sunday at 10pm ET. Dirty John, The Dirty Truth documentary airs on Oxygen on Monday, January 14 at 8pm.

The crime had been detailed in Los Angeles Times articles and a Dirty John podcast by Christopher Goffard, prior to the show.

The pair met on an over-50s dating website in 2014, and five weeks after their first date, they were living together in Newport, California, before tragedy struck.

'John was extremely persistent,' she said. 'Everyday he was saying "Please, please will you marry me. You are my soulmate. You are the person that I want to spend the rest of my life with. We are getting older. Let's just do it."'

'And I was nervous, apprehensive about doing it but I did.'

Debra and John Meehan met on an over-50s dating website in 2014, and five weeks after their first date, they were living together in Newport, California

Soon Debra would learn that the man she thought she knew was actually a stranger and had been lying about being a doctor

Debra shared that she loved that Meehan 'loved animals and children' and thought that the supposed doctor was good looking.

'He basically checked all the boxes for me,' she added.

But soon, Debra - who had been interior designer in Orange County - would learn that the man she thought she knew was actually a stranger and had been lying about being a doctor.

Debra's children, who she had in previous marriages, weren't fans of Meehan. The conman used that to his advantage when trying to isolate the woman from them.

She said: 'I wasn't happy with how he was treating my kids but I wasn't seeing a lot of it because how he would treat them when I wasn't around was very different than when I was around. So I was seeing that'

When Meehan attacked the at-the-time 25 year old at her Newport Beach apartment complex, Terra managed to secure his knife and stabbed the man thirteen times

She said: 'I wasn't happy with how he was treating my kids but I wasn't seeing a lot of it because how he would treat them when I wasn't around was very different than when I was around. So I was seeing that.'

And when Meehan attacked the at-the-time 25 year old at her Newport Beach apartment complex, Terra managed to grab his knife and stabbed him 13 times.

The father-of-two died four days later.

When Meehan attacked the at-the-time 25 year old at her Newport Beach apartment complex, Terra managed to grab his knife and stabbed the man 13 times

Debra hasn't dated since Meehan and one of her main takeaways from the near-death experience is that it can happen to anyone

'She didn't blame me, which made me feel so good,' the mother said.

'But the one thing that she did, we sent her away to therapy for PTSD and it was a few times a week and also in a very peaceful surrounding. So she did that for about six months but her goal was to help others with PTSD.'

And while Debra hasn't dated since Meehan, her main takeaway from the near-death experience is that it can happen to anyone.

'I hope (people) understand that it can happen to anyone and that there are many many people out there who are going through what I went through,' she said. 'Maybe in a different way but they are not alone.'
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Yellow vest campaigner James Goddard has been reunited with activists as he is released on bail after his arrest in London today on suspicion of a public order offence.

Police confirmed that a man - understood to be Goddard - was arrested outside St James Park tube station on suspicion of a public order offence on Saturday as activists took to the streets in a 'gilet jaunes' inspired march.

But this evening Goddard was pictured being handed a cigarette and pint at the Queens Head pub in Holborn after being released on bail.

Wearing a red puffer jacket and Stone Island hat, he addressed a crowd who had gathered to celebrate his release on Saturday evening.

It is understood his earlier arrest was in connection with MP Anna Soubry being harassed outside Parliament during live television interviews in College Green on Monday.

Pictures and video footage taken this morning show the moment the 29-year-old was arrested outside St James Park tube station before subsequently being loaded into a police van.

Goddard was pictured this evening downing a pint at the Queens Head pub in Holborn after being released on bail. He had earlier been arrested on suspicion of public order offences

It is understood his earlier arrest was in connection with MP Anna Soubry being harassed outside Parliament during live television interviews in College Green on Monday

The Metropolitan Police said a man - believed to be Goddard (pictured) - in his 30s had been arrested at St James Park tube station at 11.42am on Saturday on suspicion of a public order offence. A spokeswoman said the arrest related to an incident which took place in Westminster on Monday, January 7

Supporters of James Goddard block a road outside the police station in central London after he is released on bail. Footage earlier captured Goddard being detained and taken into a police van as shouts of protest can be heard

Yellow vest campaigner James Goddard was seen being arrested by police in London on public order offences outside St James Park tube station this morning

Goddard's supporters claim he was preparing to hand himself in at Holborn police station at midday

The far-right rabble-rouser has a reputation for heckling people and has previously asked for online donations to support his 'yellow vest' campaign.

Since December the professional protester has been outside parliament where he has barracked MPs and journalists and also visited the 'treacherous' Labour Party's offices in central London.

On his Twitter and Facebook accounts he encourages supporters to donate to him and 'support my work' via a PayPal account.

The 29-year-old from Leicester also says that Halal meat should be banned and that no new mosques should be built in the UK to avoid Britain becoming a Muslim country in 50 years.

Goddard's supporters, who marched in London this morning to demand Britain leaves the European Union, claim he was preparing to hand himself in at Holborn police station at midday.

Violence erupted as activists took to the streets of central London while police tried to contain crowds during the heated rally.

Footage captured Goddard being detained and taken into a police van as shouts of protest can be heard. Police have not confirmed what public order of offence charge the man was arrested on.



The Metropolitan Police said in a statement: 'We can confirm that a man in his 30s was arrested at 11.42hrs on Saturday, 12 January outside St James Park tube station on suspicion of a public order offence.

A spokeswoman said the arrest related to an incident which took place in Westminster on Monday January 7.

'He is currently in police custody and is being taken to a central London police station.'

Police officers tussle with Pro-Brexit demonstrators as they attempt to get into Trafalgar Square, London

Police officers detain a Pro-Brexit demonstrator in Trafalgar Square, London where a rally organised by the People's Assembly Against Austerity are gathered

Clashes break out between activists as police try to contain crowds during protests in central London

People holding placards attend a demonstration in central London against austerity as they call for a UK general election

Protesters wearing yellow vests participate in pro-Brexit demonstration march in central London

Activists wearing yellow vest with slogans 'English people look good in yellow' as they took to the streets of London

A demonstrator wearing a yellow vest covers his face with a bandana during a protest to Westminster

Scotland Yard last night declined to say if the arrest was linked to an incident on Monday when a group of men surrounded and berated MP Anna Soubry as she walked to the Palace of Westminster after a TV interview.

The arrest happened as hundreds of people gathered ahead of a 'yellow vest' inspired anti-austerity march as they called for a national day of action today.

Protesters opposed to the government's austerity programme and demanding a general election marched through the centre of the capital before rallying in Trafalgar Square.

Hundreds of protesters joined the crowds wearing yellow vests with slogans such as 'Britain is Broken' written on the back.

Clashes broke out between protesters and police officers, with some activists being detained on the ground during the scuffles.

When they reached Downing Street, an EU flag was burned by Max Hammet Millay, 21, who was also part of the group caught on camera abusing Ms Soubry on Monday.

Organised by The People's Assembly Against Austerity, the demonstration called for for a general election.

Temporary stalls lined the road up from Oxford Circus station, where organisations such as Stand Up to Racism and the Socialist Party were handing out leaflets and placards.

People carrying drums prepared to march and political songs were being sung and large trade union banners were being held up in the crowd.

National organiser Ramona McCartney said the protest was an attempt to 'take back the political space taken up by Brexit'.

Ms McCartney said protesters also wanted to show 'solidarity with the left and working class in France by wearing the yellow vests today'.

France has seen weeks of nationwide anti-austerity demonstrations by the 'gilets jaune' movement.

Addressing the crowd in Trafalgar Square, Labour's shadow finance minister John McDonnell said eight years of austerity under the ruling Conservatives was 'tearing apart the very social fabric' of Britain.

He said: 'We need a general election now to bring about the fairer, more equal society we all want to live in'.

An activist wears a vest with the slogan 'Treason May has signed over entire British defence system to EU control'

Demonstrators wearing yellow vests make their way to Westminster today who were inspired by the 'Gillet Jaunes' or yellow vests in France

The French protests began in mid-November over a proposed increase in fuel duties, and soon turned violent.

The leaderless movement appeared to be petering out at the end of 2018 but has since regained momentum, with weekly clashes seen in Paris and other French cities.

Britain has seen several small protests by Brexit supporters wearing yellow vests since November, but other activists have been slow to adopt the symbolic attire and movement.

Goddard, originally from Leicester, was in a gang of agitators that surrounded Tory MP Anna Soubry on Monday, allegedly calling her a 'Nazi' and a 'traitor'.

He is a vocal supporter of Tommy Robinson and asks for online donations to support his 'yellow vest' campaign.

Goddard also allegedly criticised Owen Jones, branding him a 'communist bully' and a 'lying little toad' whose 'parents must be ashamed'.

Demonstrators at the start of the People's Assembly Against Austerity march and protest in London

Ms Soubry was pursued by an aggressive mob yesterday, including far-right activist Goddard (pictured left, next to Soubry) who shouted in her face and called her a 'fascist' as she made her way back to Parliament

Yellow vest campaigner James Goddard was arrested by police in London on Saturday morning on public order offences. He is pictured here earlier this month outside Whitehall

As people called for him and his supporters to be arrested he said he 'has nothing to apologise for' and said he has a right to criticise MPs.

He said that Ms Soubry had treated him and others 'with contempt' and 'deserves' the barracking she receives and said she 'wasn't verbally assaulted'.

He added: 'Why is it ok for [the left] to say it yet the moment we say it we're the ones who are branded things and they're going to investigate us ?'

Since December the professional protester has been outside parliament where he has barracked MPs and journalists and also visited the 'treacherous' Labour Party's offices in central London.

On his Twitter and Facebook accounts he encourages supporters to donate to him and 'support my work' via a PayPal account.

The 29-year-old from Leicester says that Halal meat should be banned and that no new mosques should be built in the UK to avoid Britain becoming a Muslim country in 50 years.
The missing teen found alive after being kidnapped from her home slept soundly next to her relatives last night after her miraculous escape.

Speaking to DailyMail.com on the first day that Jayme Closs has woken up in the safety of her familys care since her extraordinary recovery on Thursday afternoon, her aunt Jennifer Smith said: She had a good nights sleep. Its been just wonderful and its just wonderful to have her back.

God is good! He answered our prayers he certainly did and weve just been overwhelmed by everyones support. '

Last year, in an exclusive interview with DailyMail TV, Jennfier and her sister Sue Allard told of the familys desperate bid to keep Jayme in the nations hearts and minds.

Today she described their success and her nieces return as, a miracle.

Now, she said, the family is coming together to heal from the horrors of that October night on which Jaynes parents, Denise and James Closs were gunned down and she was taken.

Speaking of Denise, Jennifer said, She can rest in peace now.

For now, she said they plan to just enjoy having Jayme back with them as the reality of her return sinks in, making an emotional promise to the girl's murdered parents to 'make her safe forever'.

It comes as brave Jayme was pictured for the first time since her escape in a beautiful reunion with her aunt and dog just hours after she was found.

She is pictured smiling alongside her aunt Jennifer, who is now her guardian, in the new image, which was taken on Friday.

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Jayme Closs, 13, is pictured smiling alongside her aunt just hours after her escape

Jayme's aunt Jennifer Naiberg Smith has made an emotional promise to the teen's murdered parents to 'make her safe forever' after telling supporters the teen slept well

Facebook page Healing for Jayme Closs posted: 'After hundreds of requests from the public, we've gotten permission from Jayme's aunt/guardian Jennifer, to create an online fundraiser to support Jayme'

Jake Thomas Patterson, of Gordon, Wis., has been jailed on kidnapping and homicide charges in the October killing of a Wisconsin couple and abduction of their teen daughter, Jayme Closs

The teen's aunts Kelly Engelhardt, pictured right, and Carla Closs, left, said they never gave up hope of finding their niece and had 'faith everyday'

Jennifer said Saturday her niece had 'a pretty good night sleep', adding it was 'great to know she was next to me all night'.

Guardian Jennifer wrote on Facebook: 'Jayme had a pretty good night sleep. It was great to know she was next to me all night what a great feeling to have her home.

'As a family we will get through all of the healing process Jayme has. It will be a long road but we are family strong and we love this little girl so much!! We will do anything and everything!!

'My beloved sister Denise pooh and brother in law Jim can rest at peace and I keep assuring them Jayme is safe and we will make sure forever. We all miss them both dearly now they know there (stet) Jayme which was there (stet) whole world is home with family!! God is Good !! Bless you all!!'

Jake Thomas Patterson, 21, is accused of kidnapping the teen and killing her mom and dad after 'targeting' the 13-year-old girl in their house in Barron, Wisconsin.

Police confirmed Patterson, from Gordon, Wis., is in custody on two charges of first degree intentional homicide in the deaths of Jayme's parents and one count of kidnapping. They say the family did not know the accused.

And Jayme's grandfather Robert Naiberg reiterated Saturday that the family had no connection with Patterson and didn't know him. He says Jayme told FBI agents that she didn't know Patterson at all.

The new photo was shared by the Facebook page 'Healing for Jayme Closs' and reads: 'Nothing makes me happier right now than seeing this photo. Seeing this reunion, seeing that smile! We love you Jayme!'

It said on Friday evening: 'Jayme's aunt sent us this photo two hours ago and has given permission for it to be reposted.'

The Facebook page also shared that a fundraiser had been set up for wellwishers to contribute to.

The official fundraising page closed on Saturday after it 'greatly surpassed its goal' and raised more than $50,000.

Those running the page posted: 'We have ended our Facebook fundraiser as we greatly surpassed our goal. We recommend those still wishing to donate contact Sterling Bank and reference the Closs Family Benefit Fund.

'There's been a lot of confusion with dozens of gofundmes popping up, most falsely claiming to be relatives. We've been able to confirm with Jennifer and Sue that Angela Nevada de Andriano is a legitimate cousin who has started a fund. So here is another option for those still wishing to donate online.'

The teen's family have said they never gave up hope that she would be found and had 'faith everyday'.

Aunt Kelly Engelhardt told wsaw: 'We knew she was still there, we knew. We had faith everyday. Everyday.

'Disbelief, excited. I cried instantly. I fell to the bench that was sitting there when they told me. I got up and I hugged the chief deputy. The smile on his face was like, I knew. I knew it was good news, and I just cried.'

Carla Closs, another aunt, added: 'Just to see her, just to look at her, just to see that she's okay.'

Barron County Sheriff Chris Fitzgerald released additional details Friday evening and said the suspect went to great lengths to alter his physical appearance and hide evidence of the alleged murder, including shaving his head.

Police say they have recovered the shotgun used to shoot open door October 15 as well as other guns.

President of the Jennie-O Turkey Store in Barron, Steve Lykken, also said Patterson once worked at her parents' employer before quitting after a single day.

He issued a statement Friday saying Patterson was hired one day but quit the next, explaining that he was moving away from the area.

An obituary for James and Denise Closs says they worked at the turkey processing plant for 27 years.

Unemployed Patterson had no previous criminal history and was not on the radar of police. They say they are not looking for anyone else in connection with the case.

Police believe Patterson - said to have hidden the girl in the home he grew up in - killed the Wisconsin couple because he wanted to abduct their daughter. They say she was 'the only target'.

The teen vanished from her home in Barron, Wisconsin on October 15, the same day the teenager's parents, James, 56, and Denise Closs, 46, (above) were found shot dead inside

Jake Patterson (right) with mother Deborah (center) in 2015 and sister Katie (left)

TIMELINE OF JAYME CLOSS' DISAPPEARANCE Jayme Closs was missing for three months Oct. 15, 2018 - Jayme's parents, James and Denise Closs, found dead at their home in Barron and the teen is reported missing Oct. 16, 2018 - Investigators say they don't consider Jayme a suspect in her parents' deaths Oct. 17, 2018 - Authorities announce that investigators believe Jayme was in her family's home when he parents were fatally shot Oct. 18, 2018 - About 100 people join a ground search for Jayme after Barron County Sheriff Chris Fitzgerald requests the help of volunteers Oct. 23, 2018 - About 2,000 volunteers from as far as Minneapolis help with another ground search . Several items are found and taken for assessment Oct. 24, 2018 - The FBI offers a $25,000 reward for information leading to Jayme's location. The amount is later doubled to $50,000 by the Jennie-O Turkey Store, where James and Denise Closs worked Oct. 27, 2018 - Funeral held for James and Denise Closs Oct. 29, 2018 - Prosecutors announce they have charged a man with burglarizing the Closs home but say he's not a suspect in the case. Dec. 12, 2018 - Tree of Hope lit as community prays for her safe return Jan. 10, 2019 - After three months Jayme is found alive in Gordon, Wisconsin. A suspect is taken into custody. Jan. 11, 2019 - Police named the man accused of kidnapping her as Jake Thomas Patterson, 21 Advertisement

Barron County Sheriff Chris Fitzgerald say Patterson 'planned his actions and took many steps to hide his identity'. She was kept in a 'home in a remote area' of Douglas County, Fitzgerald said.

He said: 'Jayme was taken against her will and escaped from the residence at which she was being held in. We also don't believe at this time the suspect had any contact with the family. We do believe that Jayme was the only target.

'I can tell you that the subject planned his actions and took many proactive steps to hide his identity from law enforcement and the general public.

'It appears he concealed her from other people ... his friends.'

He was pulled over by police in his car just minutes after Jayme was found and gave a description of the vehicle.

Fitzgerald said he doesn't know if Jayme was abused by her captor and that detectives are now interviewing her about her ordeal.

Patterson lived three doors down from the woman who called 911 to report that a missing 13-year-old Wisconsin girl had been found.

Teacher Kristin Kasinskas says she taught him middle school science but only remembers that he was quiet.

Kasinskas says she didn't see Patterson during the months that Jayme was missing.

She added: 'I don't really remember a ton about him. He seemed like a quiet kid. I don't recall anything that would have explained this, by any means.'

It comes as another neighbor of Patterson says she and her husband had problems with him siphoning gas years ago.

Daphne Ronning told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel that Patterson's parents moved to Gordon about 15 years ago.

She says the parents later moved away but Patterson and his brother continued to use the home. She says she and her husband once caught them siphoning gas. She says her husband spoke with them and they didn't have any further problems.

Ronning says she didn't know Patterson was living in the house and hadn't seen Jayme around.

Jeanne Nutter, pictured Friday, was walking her dog near the cabin she owns with her husband Forrest when she found Jayme Closs coming out of nearby woods. Kristin and Peter Kasinskas, pictured right, say their neighbor had a skinny, dirty girl with matted hair wearing shoes several sizes too big for her feet standing next to her

It has also since emerged that ownership of the remote cabin where she was apparently held was passed to a credit union soon after her abduction.

Patterson's father transferred the title of the cabin near Gordon to Superior Choice Credit Union on Oct. 23 - eight days after the attack at the Closs family's home, according to records.

Jayme was described as 'skinny and dirty but outwardly OK' by the couple who called 911 after the teenager flagged down dogwalker Jeanne Nutter in rural Wisconsin.

FBI Special Agent Justin Tolomeo said: 'In cases like this we often need a big break, and it was Jayme herself who gave us that break.'

Fitzgerald says Closs was medically cleared, is out of the hospital and is being interviewed by law enforcement.

She was taken from her home in Barron, Wisconsin on October 15, the same day her parents, James, 56, and Denise Closs, 46, were found shot dead inside.

The Barron County Sheriff's Department confirmed Jayme was found at Eau Claire Acres, a development located about 70 miles away from her home.

The teen approached a woman walking her dog, and told the stranger she had been kidnapped and that a man killed her parents.

Jayme was found at Eau Claire Acres, a development located about 70 miles away from her home in Barron

Dogwalker Jeanne Nutter went with Jayme to her neighbors house and pounded on their door. She says Jayme had walked away from a cabin not far from her place where she had been held.

Nutter, a social worker, said: 'I went to her and she just sort of grabbed onto me and she told me who she was. She's a traumatized child. I believe she was just maybe in shock.

'I'm just happy that she's safe. I feel like it's sort of a miracle that she's still alive. I'm glad my dog wanted to go for a walk and we did and there she was. My goal was to get her to a safe place and I did. The police were amazing.'

Kristin and Peter Kasinskas say their neighbor had a skinny, dirty girl with matted hair, wearing shoes several sizes too big for her feet standing next to her. The neighbor shouted, 'This is Jayme Closs! Call 911!'

Kristin told the Today Show: 'She knocked on our door, and then actually opened our door and said call 911.

'She seemed kind of in shock and kind of timid, but she did talk to us a little bit, and she came in and sat down in our living room and was able to have a conversation with us.'

The home where teenager Jayme Closs lived with her parents before their brutal murder three months ago pictured Friday

The entrance to Eau Claire Acres in Gordon, Wisconsin where Jake Thomas Patterson was arrested in the kidnapping of Jayme Closs and the murder of her parents

'She looked thinner than her pictures. We offered her a beverage. We offered her something to eat. She said she didn't want anything to eat or drink,' Kristin Kasinskas, who found Jayme (pictured), said

Kristin Kasinskas neighbor who called 911- Jayme Closs and the dog walker approached the home of Kristin Kasinskas, pictured, and asked her to call 911

A thank you sign is displayed in Barron after Jayme was found alive more than three months after she disappeared. It reads: 'Thank you for bringing her home'

A 'Welcome Home Jayme' sign is displayed for the teen's return home on January 11, 2019 in Barron, Wisconsin

The entrance to Eau Claire Acres in Gordon, Wisconsin where Jake Thomas Patterson was arrested over the kidnapping of Jayme Closs and the murder of her parents

Kidnap victim Elizabeth Smart paid tribute to Jayme and has offered her support to the 'brave, strong and powerful 13-year-old survivor'.

She wrote in an emotional Instagram post: 'What a miracle!!! Jayme Closs has been found!!!! I'm so thrilled to hear the news. What has been such a heart wrenching tragedy finally has some happiness in the story.'

Smart said she would expect that Jayme will have to confront the fact that there 'is no going back to the way things were'. She said she recommends that Jayme's friends and family give her space and allow her to make her own decisions.

Elizabeth was was 14 when she was held in the woods by Wandaa Barzee and Brian David Mitchell for nine months.

Kidnap victim Elizabeth Smart has paid tribute to fellow kidnapping victim Jayme Closs and has offered her support to the teen who was found Thursday
A mother allegedly tried to kill her severely ill 13-month-old son by pouring bleach down his feeding tubes.

Police allege Perth woman Brooke Evelyn Lucas, 26, tried to feed her son William the cleaning fluid on December 29.

The infant, who requires around-the-clock care for a rare condition, was rushed to hospital but it is believed doctors were able to prevent him from suffering any serious harm.

Perth mother Brooke Evelyn Lucas, 26, (left) allegedly tried to kill her severely ill 13-month-old son (right) by pouring bleach down his feeding tubes

Police allege Lucas, 26, (pictured centre) tried to feed her son William, who requires around-the-clock care for a rare condition, the cleaning fluid on December 29

The little boy has now been discharged from hospital, according to PerthNow.

Lucas faced Perth Magistrates Court on Saturday charged with unlawful intent to kill or endanger human life.

The 26-year-old was inconsolable when facing the court and will reappear on Monday, Channel 9 reports.

The one-year-old has a rare condition called Pierre Robin sequence and has to eat and breathe through a tube.

The one-year-old has a rare condition called Pierre Robin sequence and has to eat and breathe through a tube

He was discharged from Perth's Children's Hospital just five days before his mother allegedly tried to kill him after receiving treatment for bronchitis.

Lucas wrote on her Facebook page when he was discharged on Christmas Eve after the bronchitis treatment it was 'a Christmas miracle he would be spending his first Christmas at home.'

'I am in tears after he was so sick Friday and Saturday that he needed to be admitted In to hospital,' she wrote.

The young mother has been remanded in custody.
The 12-year ordeal left her a double-amputee and unable to have children

Before accident, at 24, she was married and just beginning her legal career

Both her legs had to be amputated after ulcers smelled like 'rotting meat'

Victoria Abbott-Fleming, 40, fell down stairs and suffered injury to her right leg

A young lawyer was forced to have both her legs amputated after she awoke to find sores around her ankles crawling with maggots.

Victoria Abbott-Fleming, now 40, had fallen down a set of stairs at work and thought she had suffered just bruising and cuts.

But her leg became so infected that it swelled to triple in size, had weeping ulcers and smelled like 'rotting meat'.

Her condition deteriorated so badly that she woke one morning to find her wounds swarming with maggots.

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Victoria Abbott-Fleming, now 40, had fallen down a set of stairs at work and thought she had suffered bruising and cuts

 Slide me  Her leg became so infected that it swelled to triple in size, had weeping ulcers and smelled like 'rotting meat'

'I screamed the house down,' she said. 'There were thousands of them. I felt physically sick. I felt dirty, like I had rotting flesh. I wanted my leg off there and then.

She said: 'Anything that touched me felt like rubbing sandpaper on an open wound. By this point it was swelling so much it had split.

'It stunk to high heaven, you could smell me from one hundred metres away. I just cried and cried.'

At her lowest, desperate Victoria admitted she had even considered suicide.

'I just couldn't cope anymore; the smell, the pain.'

Eventually medics decided to amputate and by the end of 2006, aged 27, Victoria had her right leg removed below the knee.

Victoria and her husband won a 2.1million pay-out from the college following the fall but said much of the cost had to go on medical care and converting their home.

Victoria (pictured at her call to the bar) was a rising star in the legal profession before having her tragic accident

And her condition has also left her unable to have children because the medication she is on would have serious affects on a foetus.

At 24, Victoria Abbott-Fleming's life was perfect - she had just passed the bar exam and had landed a job working as head of law at a college.

But little did she know a seemingly innocuous tumble was about to turn her world upside down - leaving her a double amputee taking more than 60 pills a day to numb a chronic pain condition.

In 2003, she was called to the bar but decided to get a job lecturing A Level law at a further education college before starting her Pupilage - the practical training required before someone can begin practising as a barrister.

Victoria, now 36, was walking down the concrete stairs at Cheadle and Marple Sixth Form College in Stockport when she slipped and fell.

Initially more embarrassed than hurt, she suffered a minor cut and bruising - but when the young teacher tried to stand she realised her leg was injured.

Helped to her car, she drove home. But alarmingly, within the three mile trip her leg had tripled in size, swelling so quickly it split the skin.

 Slide me  Her condition deteriorated so badly that she woke one morning to find her wounds swarming with maggots

The innocuous-looking cut (left) she suffered when falling down the stairs quickly swelled and went purple (right)

Victoria was rushed to hospital where she was initially dismissed with anti-inflammatory drugs in what would be the first of months of misdiagnosis.

In the meantime, she was suffering severe burning pain in her lower leg, and watched over the weeks as it changed colour from white to purple to black to bright red.

She described the pain as 'like thousands of ice picks being pushed into the bone and skin'.

'It felt like rough sandpaper against a wound, the sense of burning like my leg was sat in boiling oil or then changing like it was freezing in an ice block.'

Eventually, in April 2004, Victoria was sent to a pain clinic which diagnosed her with Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) - a severe and debilitating chronic pain condition which is usually triggered by an injury.

In severe cases it can cause atrophy in the affected limb as the skin, tissues, and bone waste away, leading to infection and even amputation.

 Slide me  Eventually medics decided to amputate and by the end of 2006, aged 27, Victoria had her right leg removed below the knee

Victoria was rushed to hospital suffering from swine flu while on holiday in New York with her husband

Victoria pictured on her wedding day in Las Vegas in 2006, during the height of her problems with her leg

Victoria said she tried every tried every treatment possible, from chilli based cream, permanent epidural, opiates and Ketamine to counselling and psychologists - yet nothing worked.

She also feared the condition would be the end of her relationship.

'I thought my husband would not want me anymore,' she said. 'I kept thinking: "He wont want me anymore. He didnt marry me to be my carer at 25 years old! Why should he stay with a cripple?"'

In the meantime, her leg worsened.

The swelling and open ulcers from her knee to her toes forced her to start using a wheelchair but the agony of the condition gave her little respite.

'I couldn't have anything touching my leg not only because of the hypersensitivity but also the clothes would stick to my open ulcers and then I would have to try and prise the cloth off my leg,' she said.

'These were the worst moments of my life and I will never ever forget them as long as I live.

'The reason for the open ulcers was because I couldnt have the strong binding over them due to the hypersensitivity and burning pain, so they had to be left.'

Despite doctors' attempts to save her leg, the skin began breaking down with Victoria describing it as 'elephant's skin'.

Victoria Abbott-Fleming, pictured left and right with her husband when they first met while at university

Victoria tried every sort of treatment possible before doctors finally decided her leg must be amputated

But things hit rock bottom in 2006 when, at 26, shoe woke to find her leg was maggot infested.

She told Wales Online: 'You automatically assume that maggots mean dirt so I felt incredibly dirty, she said.

'Even before the maggots appeared I knew I could not go on with this leg so I made the decision to have it amputated.'

Tragically, while Victoria and her husband hoped the agony would be over, it was only just beginning.

The CRPS sufferer woke after the operation in extreme pain.

'I screamed, I felt like my stump was in a vice being crushed. It was just the bandages round my leg.'

Sadly the pain wasn't gone and within a year, Victoria would need to amputate another four inches from her leg - above the knee - after it became infected.

It took a total of 18 months to heal while the pain continues through to today.

The daily agony meant a prosthetic limb was impossible as she wasn't able to put any weight on her stump.

Not only was she in severe pain, but her repressed respiratory and immune systems left her vulnerable and she repeatedly caught bouts of pneumonia.

After so many difficult years, she and her husband decided to go away for Christmas in New York in 2013.

Eventually, the condition spread to her left leg and doctors again had to amputate

Victoria pictured with her pet dog as she adjusts to life as a double above knee amputee with the help of her husband

Sadly, the trip was cut short when Victoria contracted life-threatening swine flu and had to be rushed into hospital.

Her condition was so serious her lungs collapsed and doctors were forced to put her into an induced coma. She also required a tracheotomy to help with her breathing while she was air lifted back to the UK.

With less than 20 per cent chance of survival, Victoria pulled through only to find that the symptoms of CRPS had now begun in her left foot.

'The doctors all said that the CRPS in my right stump should not go into my left leg; however this was wrong.

'I had excruciating, burning pain 24 hours a day seven days a week - as if my leg and foot was put in an acid bath. The temperature on my leg on one day was measured at 18c and it was freezing cold to the touch with a purple and black mottled skin colouring.

Her leg became so bad, it 'stunk to high heaven' and she considered suicide. Here she is pictured after the amputation surgery

'I wanted to die, I didn't want to go through it all again. But my husband has taught me life is precious and convinced me to stay.'

On December 15 - two days before her birthday - Victoria went in for surgery to have her second leg amputated.

However, it remains far from the end of her ordeal. She now survives on 66 tablets everyday to get through the pain.

Victoria has now written a book on the three-year ordeal - a tale of caution but above all, a triumph of the human spirit in the most testing circumstances.

Victoria has now written a book on the 12-year ordeal titled Burning Nights
A remote Australian town has endured almost a month of sweltering heat with temperatures above 40C but locals say they would not have it any other way.

Marble Bar in north-western Western Australia is known for being the hottest town in the nation, but as of Saturday, it has had 23 days of consecutive highs above 40C.

Despite temperatures so hot you could fry an egg on a rock, the townsfolk say they are still living the dream and wouldn't live anywhere else, news.com.au reported.

Despite temperatures so hot you could fry an egg on a rock, the residents of Marble Bar say they are still living the dream and would not live anywhere else

The remote Australian town has endured almost a month of sweltering heat with temperatures above 40C but the locals say they would not have it any other way

Bureau of Meteorology spokesperson Neil Bennett said the weather is normal for the town in the Pilbara region but the recent temperatures have been something else.

In December, Marble Bar recorded a temperature of 49.3C, which was the hottest it has ever been in the town - but even so, locals seemingly are not fazed by the heat.

local Iron Clad hotel operator, Cheryl Manurung, said the only time she notices the heat is when travelling tourists pass through the town and comment on it.

'The cold weather scares me, it just gets too cool. I'm totally happy with it here,' Ms Manurung said.

She said while the record-breaking day in December was particularly hot, the hotel doesn't yet have air-con, but rather its patrons opt for a few fans and a cold beer.

'You can't come to the hottest place in Australia and sit in airconditioning. You can have a cold beer instead,' Ms Manurung said.

Marble Bar Holiday Park operator Lang Coppin said while the spot is popular for caravaners and retirees, as temperatures soar, they avoid the area completely.

Mr Bennett said while there's a degree of complacency about the superheated weather by townsfolk, when temperatures start hitting 45C it can be dangerous.

The remote town of Marble Bar in the Pilbara region of Western Australia has been dubbed the hottest town in Australia

Marble Bar is known for being the hottest town in the nation, but as of Saturday, it has had 23 days of consecutive highs above 40C

In December, Marble Bar recorded a temperature of 49.3C, which was the hottest it has ever been in the town - but even so, locals seemingly are not fazed by the heat

He said while other regions of Australia have recorded higher temperatures, it is Marble Bar's sustained heat that make it so interesting to weather watchers.

One of the reasons for the towns constantly high temperatures is partly to do with the ground and rocks, which basically heat up during the day, he said.

The town's remote location also lies north of the subtropical ridge, a belt of high pressure systems that stretches across Australia.

Winds that travel above the ridge, roughly south east to north west, deliver air to the town that has been slowly baked in the deserts of Central Australia.

From time to time, an upper level trough may return the warm air back down to south east Australia which can lead to soaring temperatures in St Kilda and Glenelg.

Ms Manurung said while the record-breaking day in December was particularly hot, the hotel does not yet have air-con, but rather its patrons opt for a few fans and a cold beer

Ms Manurung said you cannot come to the hottest place in Australia and sit in air conditioning but you can have a cold beer instead

'Next week Adelaide is going to get very hot due to heat from Pilbara. It's our gift to the nation,' Mr Bennett said.

The Bureau of Meteorology has forecast soaring temperatures for the week ahead, with 41 degrees to hit the South Australian capital city on Tuesday.

Melbourne is also forecast to endure plenty of scorching days over the week, with a blistering 37C on Monday.

Bureau of Meteorology senior forecaster Rod Dickson said there was a 'little bit of uncertainty' in just how severe the heatwave will be.

'We're forecasting 37C and pretty sunny,' he told Daily Mail Australia.

'There is the sea breeze developing late into the day, but there's a little bit of uncertainty in just when that will hit.'

There's little respite from the heat forecast for the rest of the week, with an early forecast of 32C in Melbourne on Tuesday expected to rise to 35C, he says.

The rest of the week will teeter around 30C, expected to sink back into the high-20s by the end of the week.
African elephants that survived intense ivory hunting are evolving to not grow tusks as to protect them from poaching.

Almost 90 per cent of the elephants in Mozambique's Gorongosa National Park were slaughtered for their ivory to finance weapons in the country's 16-year civil war.

But around a third of females - the generation born after the war ended in 1992 - have not developed tusks.

Many of the herd have no tusks at all or much smaller tusks than usual - with the parents passing on this trait making the babies less of an attraction to poachers.

Elephants at Gorongosa National Park were targetted for their ivory during Mozambique's civil war and around a third of the female animals, pictured, have evolved to not grow tusks

Many of the herd, one female pictured, have no tusks at all or much smaller tusks than usual - with the parents passing on this trait making the babies less of an attraction to poachers

Ordinarily, both male and female African elephants are born with ivory tusks which can grow up to 10ft in length.

Dominique D'Emille Correia Goncalves, a PhD student from the University of Kent, is part of a team of scientists investigating the findings.

The 26-year-old ecologist and conservation biologist said: 'Ivory poaching targets big tusked animals, so it removes the 'big tusk' gene out of the population.

'The elephant population today is derived from most of the elephants who survived the war, where they were heavily poached for their tusks.

'The key explanation is that in Gorongosa National Park, the tuskless elephants were the ones which eluded poaching during the civil war and passed this trait onto many of their daughters.

'These tuskless elephants are growing from the survivors of poaching so while we are not talking about evolution yet, we could be talking about the removal of certain genes from the population.'

Many of the female elephants have also developed what has been described as a 'culture of aggression', which could have come about from the need to defend their young from poachers.

Usually male and female African elephants are born with ivory tusks which can grow up to 10ft in length. Pictured is a female elephant in Gorongosa National Park in Mozambique

Almost 90 per cent of the elephants in Mozambique's Gorongosa National Park were slaughtered for ivory in the country's 16-year civil war

The experts believe the strange behaviour - which sees them have a particularly low tolerance to vehicles and people, reacting angrily - could also be linked to the animals not having tusks.

Dominique, who is also manager of the Elephant Ecology Project, added: 'The behaviour our elephants display is intriguing - it has been described by Poole and Granli as a 'culture of aggression'.

'This is a big change, as anedoctal records from people that have been in Gorongosa before the war suggest the family units used to be calm and almost indifferent to people presence.

'Many of the matriarchs and lead females of the family units were alive during the slaughter and saw their families and friends being hunted.

'They are survivors and the trauma is still present, which would explain such intolerance to humans.'

Scientists are now monitoring the elephants by attaching GPS satellite collars to 10 females from different family units.

Research has also shown the elephants have a low tolerance to vehicles and people, which could be linked to their tusklessness (file picture)

Almost 90 per cent of African elephants in Mozambique's Gorongosa National Park were slaughtered for their ivory to finance weapons in the country's civil war

Dominique said: 'It is difficult to tell if the elephants previously would have had tusks, as many of the tuskless matriarchs we see today are survivors.

'We are now conducting genetic studies of our elephant population to understand if there is a behavioural syndrome that could be identified.'

Evolutionary biologists at the University of California Los Angeles are also studying blood to find out how genetics influence tusklessness and why it is mainly seen in females, reports the Telegraph.

Other countries have also seen a shift in the number of elephants growing tusks.

In South Africa 98 per cent of the 174 females in Addo Elephant National Park reportedly did not grow tusks in the early 2000s.

Poaching has also caused the size of tusk to go down in some heavily hunted areas, such as southern Kenya.

Scientists say that the elephants with this handicap may be altering how they behave.

Poaching has also caused the size of tusks to go down in other heavily hunted areas, such as southern Kenya (file picture)

Tusks are used for digging water or getting bark of trees for food, so the mammals may be travelling further afield to find survive.

But researchers say changes in the way that elephants live could have larger implications for the ecosystems around them.

Ryan Long, a behavioral ecologist at the University of Idaho, told the National Geographic: 'Any or all of these changes in behavior could result in changes to the distribution of elephants across the landscape, and it's those broad-scale changes that are most likely to have consequences for the rest of the ecosystem.'

The number of tuskless elephants has indicated the lasting effect humans have had on animals.
An Oxford University fellowship that was once exclusive to women has now been opened to male students too after it came under fire for being 'discriminatory'.

The elite establishment decided to change the terms of The Joanna Randall-MacIver junior research fellowship for the first time ever after university administrators felt it breached the 2010 Employment Equality Act.

The fellowship was created in the 1930s by British archaeologist and Oxford graduate David Randall-MacIver in memory of his late wife Joanna Randall.

Oxford University administrators have decided to open up a previously female-only fellowship to men

However the decision made by the university has now sparked a backlash from former recipients of the fellowship.

Some also fear that other fellowships at the university may be under threat as a result.

Former recipient of the Randall-MacIver fellowship Professor Elizabeth Cullingford questioned the university's decision.

She told The Telegraph: 'I feel pretty strongly that having one or two things that are special to woman arent going to threaten any great power structure at Oxford.

'The history there is totally male  for years women couldnt even be in the university and couldnt be fellow of a college.'

The fellowship was created by David Randall-MacIver after his wife's death in 1932 to help fund for humanity courses in the fine arts, music and literature.

The Joanna Randall-MacIver junior research fellowship was created in the 1930s by British archaeologist and Oxford graduate David Randall-MacIver (pictured)

An Oxford University spokesman said: 'Save in exceptional circumstances, under the 2010 Employment Equality Act, employers are not permitted to advertise or recruit to posts open to one gender only.

'As a consequence of the Act, Oxford University has changed the terms of a number of historically-created trusts so they are no longer gender-specific.

'The Randall-MacIver Fellowship is the most recent example. The University is very much aware of the lack of women in academic roles at many levels and is working to end the imbalance as a priority.

'Several initiatives to promote equality, including strengthened recruitment processes and professional development programmes for female academics, are now well-established and beginning to show an impact at all levels, including professorial posts.'
Police will arm themselves with metal detectors in a bid to tackle a sharp rise in knife crime in the West Midlands.

It's the first time officers have been issued with 'wands' as part of plans to use stop and search powers to take deadly weapons off the street.

West Midlands Police will be handed eighty knife wands following a recent Home Office report that showed the region has the highest level of knife crime outside London.

And half of all response cars will also carry the devices to make it more difficult for criminals to conceal weapons.

PC Waqass Choudry with one of the metal detector wands. Police will arm themselves with the devices in a bid to tackle a sharp rise in knife crime

Chief Superintendent Chris Todd said: 'Response teams across the force region will benefit but there will be a focus on those operating in higher knife crime areas.

'This investment means that nearly half of all our response cars will now carry knife wands.

'It's a move that's been taken as part of our wider work to tackle knife crime and to make it more difficult for people to conceal weapons.

'The wands are effective stop and search tools and less intrusive for suspects.

'They are not a replacement for a thorough personal search of suspects as they will only detect metallic weapons.'

Handheld metal detectors are already used in West Midlands Police custody blocks when booking in detainees and also during dedicated operations but this is the first time units will be equipped with the wands.

It's the first time response officers have been issued with 'wands' as part of plans to use stop and search powers - in an effort to take deadly weapons off the street

The 8,000 investment is from the force's Asset Recovery Fund, money which has been seized by police from criminals under the Proceeds of Crime Act.

The West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner, David Jamieson, said: 'Sadly, knife crime has increased by 75 per cent since 2012. It means police are spending more and more time tackling the problem.

'As such, it is important hard working officers have the tools to do the job we expect of them.

'That is why I'm fully behind the decision to purchase these knife wands using money seized from criminals. These knife wands will help the police to keep us all safe.'

In April the Home Office published figures that showed the number of knife crimes had risen by more than in the area covered by West Midlands Police

In April the Home Office published figures that showed the number of knife crimes had risen by more than in the area covered by West Midlands Police.

It comes as recent figures show that knife crime in Birmingham is at its highest in eight years - up 19 per cent since 2017.

And the West Midlands has seen the biggest increase in knife crime of any part of the country outside London, with a total of 52,176 crimes recorded in 2017.

Meanwhile, knife possession offences have also rocketed by 159 per cent, according to figures from police.
A sinister paedophile ring involving political figures in Russia's main pro-Vladimir Putin party has been exposed, say law enforcement.

Two well connected ex-MPs have been detained and accused of 78 counts of rape, sexual violence and making pornography involving male and female minors.

Ten underage victims were identified aged eight to 17, say investigators, but there are claims that the scale of the ring has been covered up to hide other political figures.

Igor Poplevko, an ex-MP In the pro Vladimir Putin United Russia has been arrested by police in a major paedophile investigation involving ten victims aged between eight and 17

The children were gifted new iPhones or money as 'rewards' in an attempt to buy their silence, according to police.

An unnamed woman aged 20 has been jailed already for supplying her own nephews to the ex-politicians who were named as Vitaly Kurskov, 54, a former regional fuel and power minister, and his ex-MP crony Igor Poplevko, 56, both of the United Russia Party.

These two boys were aged eight and 12. Two schoolgirls aged 15 revealed they were plied with alcohol before being sexually abused by the pair.

They revealed details to their mothers who complained to police.

Kurskov rented a flat so that he and Poplevko could rape and sexually attack children while making pornographic films, say investigators.

A neighbour also alerted police about Kurskov 'bringing children to the apartment'.

Officers uncovered 15 DVD disks with 'full-scale pornographic movies' involving children filmed at the flat, it is alleged.

They removed video and photographic cameras, laptops and 'other electronic devices'.

In total investigators found 1,400 videos and still pictures classified as pornographic.

Poplevko has been arrested alongside Vitaly Kurskov, a former regional fuel and power minister. Kurskov is accused of renting the flat

When police raided the apartment, Kurskov jumped out of a second floor window in a bid to escape arrest, but was detained by police, say reports.

The pair - both grandfathers - face court over the charges and could be jailed for up to 20 years if convicted.

The case will be held in secret prompting claims of a 'cover up' of alleged involvement of other prominent figures.

The men are both former MPs in Astrakhan region and remained active party members.

United Russia party - which controls the Russian government and many regions - is to expel the men next week.

Irina Rodnenko, a senior official with the regional party, said the pair would be stripped of their membership at a coming meeting.

'Kurskov and Poplevko are suspected of outrageous crime against children,' she said.

Irina Rodnenko, a senior official with the regional party, said the pair would be stripped of their membership at a coming meeting

'I am a mother and a grandmother myself and I can only say that such crimes are immoral and inhuman.

'I feel ashamed that these men were associated with our group of MPs, and that they were MPs.

'The least we can do is to throw them out of the party.

'Now it is the court that will make a decision and I am sure that the criminals will be punished in the most severe way.'

The woman linked to the case was jailed for 12 years in supplying her underage nephews to the alleged paedophiles, say reports citing law enforcement sources.

The men were detained in March last year but full details of the state's case against them have only now been released by the Russian Investigative Committee.

Their trial is expected to begin soon.

Kurskov is a former chairman of the board of directors of Karl Marx Ship Building Factory in Astrakhan.

He is married with two adult children.

Poplevko is a father of three and also a grandfather.
Air pollution increases the risk of miscarriage by as much as smoking, a study shows.

Researchers found raised levels of nitrogen dioxide  produced by burning fossil fuels, particularly diesel  raised the chances by 16 per cent.

Long-term studies have already shown air pollution harms foetuses by increasing the risk of premature birth and low birth weight.

But the new US study is the first to assess the impact of short-term exposure to air pollution on unborn children.

A new US study has found that raised levels of nitrogen dioxide raised the chances of miscarriage by 16 per cent

Dr Matthew Fuller, who led the research at the University of Utah, said: Its pretty profound.

'Many of us think there is an effect on our health, but to find out there are actual effects on unborn children is very upsetting.

If you compare that increase in risk to other studies on environmental effects on the foetus, its akin to tobacco smoke in first trimester pregnancy loss.

Dr Fuller told The Guardian he started his research after a family member miscarried during a poor period of air quality in 2016.

He said: That triggered the question in my mind and then I started noticing anecdotally that I was seeing spikes in miscarriage numbers in the emergency department during and after pollution spikes.

Dr Fuller advised pregnant women to avoid exertion on polluted days and consider buying indoor air filters.

The research was conducted in Salt Lake City, US, where nitrogen dioxide levels are similar to those in cities such as London and Paris.

The study, led by Dr Matthew Fuller at the University of Utah, was conducted in Salt Lake City, US, where nitrogen dioxide levels are similar to those in London and Paris

The report, published in the Fertility and Sterility journal, analysed the records of more than 1,300 women who miscarried from 2007 and 2015. Their exposure to air pollution at miscarriage was compared with times when they did not miscarry, meaning that age, weight, income and other factors were taken into account.

The strongest link with a miscarriage was the level of nitrogen dioxide in the seven days before the miscarriage.

It is not known how air pollution harms a foetus but scientists believe it can cause inflammation and other problems in the womb. Separate recent research has also found particles of pollution within the placenta.

In 2016 a report by the Royal College of Physicians and the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health said toxins emitted by diesel cars were fuelling a health crisis that kills 40,000 Britons a year.

Smog from busy roads and toxins from industrial emissions were linked to premature births, stillbirth, miscarriage, low birth weight and organ damage, it found.
(Image source from: Thegreatap.com)

KTR Has An Appeal To The Centre:- TRS Working President KTR today appealed the Union Minister of Information and Broadcasting Arun Jaitley along with Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore to reconsider their decision after Telugu film C/O Kancharapalem got disqualified from the National award nominations. C/O Kancharapalem released during September 2018 and received critical acclaim from the audience as well as the critics. The Committee rejected the film citing that the producer Praveena Paruchuri is not an Indian national.

Praveena tweeted to KTR about this and KTR took twitter to appeal the Centre. "I appeal to Union I&B Minister Sri @arunjaitley Ji and MoS @Ra_THORe Ji to kindly review the below appeal. National awards are a matter of pride for all filmmakers. An award cannot be denied for a #MadeInIndia product because of archaic rules that are redundant in todays India" posted KTR on his official twitter handle. Praveena Paruchuri, a citizen based in USA from Telugu origin produced C/O Kancharapalem and released it through Suresh Babu. Tollywood audience were upset with C/O Kancharapalem disqualified.
Jacob Rees-Mogg is enjoying a romantic holiday in Prague as he says he is 'anti the EU not anti Europe' while celebrating his twelfth wedding anniversary.

Rees-Mogg posted a snowy snap on Instagram with his wife Helena in the Czech Republic capital on Friday night.

But despite the silk anniversary, the fervent Brexiteer could not resist the chance to comment on his relationship with Europe.

Jacob Rees-Mogg and wife Helena, pictured yesterday, visited Charles Bridge in Prague while on a trip to the city three days before the crunch Brexit vote

Rees-Mogg wore his trademark double-breasted overcoat, while his wife of 12 years donned a fur lined jacket

He wrote: 'Anti the EU not anti Europe, Helena and I are enjoying the snow in Prague for our twelfth wedding anniversary.'

Asked if he should instead be in London, he told the Mirror: 'I have asked to speak on Monday.'

His fellow Brexiteer, Boris Johnson, enjoyed his own European jaunt with a female companion, his former aide, Carrie Symonds over the New Year.

Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson passes Carrie Symonds as he leaves the Conservative party Black and White Ball at the Natural History Museum in February last year

Johnson was spotted with the 30-year-old blonde at a taverna in South Pelion, north of Athens, where his father owns a villa.

Rees-Mogg married Helena de Chair in 2007, the daughter of former Tory MP Somerset de Chair.

The couple have six children together, their latest addition to the family was announced on Instagram, a boy called Sixtus.
Hundreds of anti-racism activists have taken to the streets of Melbourne to protest far-right groups who organised a neo-Nazi rally.

The protesters marched down Swanston Street and gathered outside the State Library of Victoria on Saturday, holding signs such as 'Say no to racism'.

Shocking footage from last week's St Kilda rally showed far-right supporters performing gestures with Nazi salutes on the foreshore.

Scroll down for video

Hundreds of anti-racism activists (pictured) have taken to the streets of Melbourne to protest against far right groups who organised a neo-Nazi rally last week

The rallygoers marched down Swanston Street and gathered outside the State Library of Victoria (pictured) on Saturday, where they protested against last weekend's rally

The gathering was organised by the Campaign against Racism and Facism to express their opposition to white supremacy, fascism and various other ideologies

Victorian Greens leader Samantha Ratnam on Saturday described some of the feedback she had received following last week's protest.

'We should stop all Muslim and black African immigration before the crime level gets out of control,' was one of the messages Ms Ratnam said she received.

One of today's protesters said she wanted everyone who witnessed last weeks rally to know there are hundreds of people in Melbourne who oppose racism and Nazism.

The gathering was organised by the Campaign against Racism and Facism to express their opposition to white supremacy, fascism and various other ideologies.

Many people equally as opposed to last week's rally took to social media to share their thoughts about Saturday's march.

'Proud to March in Melbourne today,' one person wrote.

The gathering was organised by the Campaign against Racism and Facism to express their opposition to white supremacy, fascism and various other ideologies

One of the key messages from Saturday's protest was 'Stand with the African-Australian community'

'Melbourne marching against self declared fascists and neo Nazis,' another person said.

A third person added: 'No room for racism and fascism in Melbourne.'

At last week's St Kilda rally, right-wing figureheads Blair Cottrell and Neil Erikson demanded answers about why African gang crime rates are increasing and claimed 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'.

Police officers were also in attendance on Saturday, patrolling the crowd outside the State Library, along with the mounted brigade at the corner of Swanston Street and LaTrobe Street.

Two people were removed by police, 7 News reported.
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From a forger to the Birdman of Alcatraz, the federal prison known as United States Penitentiary, Leavenworth (USP Leavenworth) has been housing inmates since the early 1900s.

Booking photos were colorized by Matt Loughrey, an Irish artist who has been injecting new life into black and white pictures for years.

One of the souls whose face was frozen in time at the federal prison was morphine addict Solomon Sivils, taken in 1904 after he was sentenced to 18 months for introducing liquor to Indian territory.

Also shown is Adolph Fein, who guards believed pretended to be blind to shirk work. His story ended in tragedy after they kept placing him in solitary confinement until he was declared insane.

Leavenworth also hosted one of the most famous prisoners of them all, convicted murderer turned incarcerated bird scientist, Robert Stroud.

He was first known as the Birdman of Leavenworth before transferring to another notorious prison, Alcatraz.

The penitentiary was built by military prisoners at nearby Fort Leavenworth in Kansas from the turn of the 20th Century

Robert Stroud in 1922 at Leavenworth prison. Incarcerated for murdering a bartender that attacked one of his prostitutes, he was convicted again of murdering a prison guard on McNeil Island. It is noted on his admission file that he was devoted to the scientific study of birds. Hence, his nickname 'The Birdman of Leavenworth'. He would go on to make contributions to the science of ornithology. Stroud would never leave the federal prison system, transferring to the infamous Alcatraz prison in 1942 and dying in a Missouri prison in 1963 after 54 years of incarceration

Michael Stauber, inmate 33233, was imprisoned at Leavenworth for violating the Prohibition Act in 1929 for two years. Unfortunately for Stauber, Prohibition would not be lifted until 1933

Francisco Salinas, inmate 2135, was imprisoned in 1900 for one year for smuggling concealed property in Laredo, Texas

Norris Cooper, prisoner number 2989, was imprisoned at Leavenworth for murder in 1902 for life, but had his sentence commuted by President Theodore Roosevelt in 1908, being discharged in 1912 on 'good conduct'

Inmate 3829 John Murphy was incarcerated at Leavenworth from 1903 to 1907 for larceny and was repeatedly written up for 'continually talking' by the guards

Inmate 3483, Frank DeRush, a painter and brush maker from Nova Scotia, was imprisoned in 1903 at Leavenworth for a series of drunken episodes in violation of his court orders

Solomon Sivils, prisoner 4339, was sentenced to 18 months in 1904 at Leavenworth prison and fined $10 for introducing liquor into Indian Territory in 1904. The prison physician reported him to be 'Tubercular and extremely emaciated from Morphine addiction. Unfit for manual labor'

Inmate number 2846, Dennis Bowlegs was incarcerated for unknown crimes at Leavenworth seen here in 1904

Ezra Owen, inmate 4036, was sentenced to one year and one day for larceny in 1904. Owen had various prison violations, which included being caught with onions in his possession, laughing and talking, and keeping a hack saw in his cell

Prisoner number 27687, John Russell Willingham in 1904, was incarcerated at Leavenworth for crimes unknown

A jury convicted inmate 4926, Adolph Fein, of forging naturalization papers in 1905. The guards were convinced that Fein faked blindness to avoid doing work. They claimed he pretended not to know where he was and wandered around during meals. They took away his glasses and started locking him in solitary confinement. The acting physician told the warden that Fein had poor eyesight and that he was unable to work because he was injuring himself when working. On April 12, 1906, he was pronounced insane and as a result transferred to an asylum in Washington, D.C.

In 1910, Charles Arm, inmate 7239, was convicted of larceny and sentenced to two years. Arm was a member of the Sioux Indian tribe who died of tuberculosis after only four months at Leavenworth
A lawyer who was caught on camera beating another woman on the New York City subway has broken her silence to defend her actions that were caught on shocking video.

Anna Lushchinskaya, 40, spoke out for the first time since her arrest in the December 11 attack on a Brooklyn D train, telling Inside Edition that she was actually the victim in the incident.

'The video didn't start in the beginning,' Lushchinskaya said of the cell phone video that showed her screaming at 26-year-old Michelle Tung and beating the woman with an umbrella as other straphangers tried to hold her back.

Video from the bizarre incident, shot by podcaster Juan Ayala, does not show what led to the altercation at 7.50am on the crowded train during the morning commute.

Anna Lushchinskaya, 40, returned to the subway for this interview with Inside Edition, speaking out for the first time since the December 11 incident

Anna Lushchinskaya is seen screaming 'f**k off, f**k off' at the woman standing beside her, and then takes her sunglasses off and pulls her hair back as if preparing for battle

Passengers were also shocked by Lushchinskaya's racial insults, including calling Tung, who is Asian, 'c**nk' and referring to Ayala, who is Dominican, as 'Mohamed Atta' as he filmed and heckled her.

Atta was one of the ringleaders of the attacks on 9/11 and piloted the first plane to strike the World Trade Center.

Asked if she regretted using the language, Lushinskaya said: 'No, I defended myself to the best of my abilities.'

She said it was 'too bad' if anyone was offended, adding 'that's their opinion.'

'How am I crazy?' she asked. 'What is the reason I need to step out of the subway if I'm being attacked? What's the reason I need to do that?'

Video of the shocking incident was seen by more than 12 million people.

Passengers hold Lushchinskaya back, before she shocks the crowded train by shouting 'f**king ch**k' at the other woman, who is Asian

Lushchinskaya wields her small umbrella as a cudgel and continues to try to kick the other woman as other straphangers hold her back

Lushchinskaya is seen screaming 'f**k off, f**k off' at the woman standing beside her, who is silent and appears preoccupied with her phone.

The blonde lawyer appears to begin preparing for combat by taking her sunglasses and gloves off, pulling her hair back, and whipping out her umbrella from her Louis Vuitton bag.

After a minute of such agitated preparations, Lushchinskaya suddenly kicks the other woman, who kicks her back.

Other passengers intervene and try to break up the fight. 'Yo lady, just chill out ok?' one says, while another shouts 'please stop'.

'You're not letting me hit her back!' complains Lushchinskaya, who goes on to call a man who is trying to stop her 'f**king retarded'.

Lushchinskaya wields her small umbrella as a cudgel and continues to try to kick the other passenger as others hold her back.

Juan Ayala, 31, performed a citizen's arrest after restraining Lushchinskaya

Juan Ayala, who filmed the video, detained the woman at the station until police arrived

'You're going to make us all late for work, b***h,' one man says.

Lushchinskaya spits on the floor and again screams 'f**k off' as she flicks off the woman she had been trying to fight.

'F**king ch**k,' Lushchinskaya then screamed at her foe, drawing gasps from the crowded train.

Eventually, she was detained by Ayala in a citizen's arrest, and handed over to police at the 36th Street Station.

Lushchinskaya was charged with attempted assault, harassment and menacing.

She also has a prior arrest for allegedly assaulting a passenger on the subway using pepper spray in June.

Lushchinskaya is due in Kings County Criminal Court on January 22 to respond to charges in both cases.
A university student's summer holiday has ended in tragedy after his body was recovered by rescue divers.

The 26-year-old Filipino-born student nurse was swimming with friends at New Zealand's Whangarei Falls, north of Auckland, on Friday afternoon when he failed to resurface.

His body was recovered by the Police Dive Squad just before 5pm local time on Saturday.

A young student's summer holiday has ended in tragedy after his body was recovered from the waters of New Zealand's Whangarei Falls (pictured) by rescue divers on Saturday afternoon

A desperate search was launched after the young man's friends watched him struggle to stay afloat from the water's bank, according to Stuff Northland.

One of his friends told the publication he ran into trouble at the centre of the body of water, barely holding his head afloat and spitting out mouthfuls of water before he fully submerged.

A late-night dive search yielded no results, with the popular photography spot closed overnight and through Saturday.

The dive search resumed in the morning, with the grim finding confirmed at 4:22pm.

The 26-year-old went to the popular swimming spot to take photos before deciding to swim alone

Friends have remembered the young man, who was Filipino-born but studying nursing in Auckland, as 'jolly'.

'He is fun to be around - he's jolly, very nice and approachable,' a friend said.

'He's physically fit and we did not expect this to happen.'

His friends and family are now speaking with victim support officers within New Zealand Police.


A driver has been charged after his car allegedly swerved off the road and killed a jogger.

The 25-year-old man was charged with dangerous operation of a vehicle causing death on Saturday, Nine News reported.

He was driving along Milne Road in Beenleigh, south of Brisbane when he allegedly lost control of the car about 4.45am on November 27.

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A driver was on Saturday charged with dangerous operation of a vehicle causing death over a fatal accident in November (pictured, crash site)

The 25-year-old allegedly killed a woman, 60, in Beenleigh, south of Brisbane on November 27 (pictured, crash site)

A 60-year-old passing female jogger, affectionately known as BB, was pinned between the car and a fence.

Emergency services worked to free the woman from under the car and rushed her to hospital but she was unable to be saved.

The sister of the woman who died shared the heartbreaking moment she received a call from a relative about the crash. She said she rushed to the police station out of disbelief.

'I told them I would check with police and drove down to see if they knew anything,' she said.

'I heard about the accident and I knew she ran around here. As I got closer to the station, I just knew. I just knew.'

The driver will front Beenleigh Magistrates Court on Monday.
An Idaho couple who called the FBI with information regarding the disappearance of Kelsey Berreth have newly claimed her 'killer' fiance threatened his mistress.

Joe and Patty Rockstahl, owners of Rockstahl Law Offices, said one of their employees, who is a close friend to mother-of-two Krystal Lee, informed them about Patrick Frazee's alleged threats.

When asked by CBS News correspondent Nikki Battiste about nature of the threats, Patty said: 'Patrick told Krystal that little girls go missing off the playground all the time.'

Frazee has been charged in the murder of Berreth, who was last seen on Thanksgiving Day. Berreth's body, however, has not yet been found.

Joe said: 'Krystal was so scared... he was so angry that he said things that made Krystal think he had killed before. So of course, she's going to be terrified.'

Patty told CBS that Lee and Frazee became romantically involved just after high school and that Lee was 'in love with him' for years.

'She was very vulnerable and I think she cared for him, and he took advantage of that he was her first love, I understand, and he had a hold on her.'

Joe and Patty Rockstahl (pictured) called the FBI in October with information regarding the disappearance of Kelsey Berreth

Authorities said the body of missing woman Kelsey Berreth (right) has still not been found. The Colorado Bureau of Investigation Department of Public Safety was investigating remains discovered near the town of Aguilar on Sunday. Her partner Patrick Frazee (left) remained in jail

Berreth (pictured) is the mother of a one-year-old child, Kaylee, that she shared custody with cattle rancher Frazee. Berreth met Frazee online and moved from Washington to Colorado to be closer to him

Joe and Patty Rockstahl said one of their employees, who is a close friend to mother-of-two Krystal Lee, (pictured) informed them about Frazee's alleged threats

Lee is being investigated for possibly disposing of Berreth's cell phone.

The couple told KMVT that last October, that the employee came to them visibly upset and explained their her best friend told her that 'a man had asked her to kill the mother of his child.'

The friend of the employee is now known to be Lee, the divorced mother-of-two who was having an affair with Berreth's fiance Frazee.

The Rockstahls said they told their employee to have Krystal come speak to them, but she never did.

They said at one point, Krystal told her best friend 'to forget the whole thing'.

The couple said they felt they didn't have enough information at the time to report anything to the police.

Divorced mother-of-two Lee allegedly told her best friend that she had been asked by a man to kill the mother of his children

It wasn't until Patty saw Kelsey's mother's plea to find her daughter on national television that she began to connect the dots with the information she had learned.

'I think [it was] the mother that had the courage and go on TV when her daughter was missing, saying that someone knew where she was at,' Patty told KMVT.

'At that point in my mind I thought that Patrick, and that was the only name I had heard him called, I didn't know his last name, had done something to her daughter and he knew where she was at,' she added.

Within four days of making the call to the FBI, Patrick Frazee was arrested.

The Rockstahls said they are telling their story now after their employee faced harassment on social media due to misinformation circling around.

They now hope that anyone else with more information on Berreth will come forward.

The Colorado Bureau of Investigation Department of Public Safety was investigating remains discovered near the town of Aguilar on Sunday, but have confirmed they are not those of Berreth.

Frazee was served notice on Monday that a complaint had been filed by Cheryl and Darrell Berreth claiming he 'enacted physical, mental, and emotional acts of violence upon Kelsey Berreth prior to her death.'

The complaint goes on to state that 'when Frazee acted as either the perpetrator or accessory to the murder of Kelsey Berreth, Frazee breached the duty of care with which a reasonable person should conduct himself toward another human being.'

The Berreths, who currently have temporary custody of their daughter's 15-month-old child with Frazee, are demanding a jury trial to determine and 'compensatory and general damages, interest from the date of Kelsey Berreths death as provide.', as provided by law.'

They have retained Perry Sanders to represent them in the case, the same man who represented Katherine Jackson after the death of her son Michael.
Almost 500 people have now fallen ill after a norovirus outbreak on a Royal Caribbean cruise ship this week.

On Thursday, the number of people struck down by norovirus climbed to 475.

The huge cruise ship changed course Thursday to its home port at Port Canaveral when 277 passengers were found to have contracted the virus.

Almost 500 people have now fallen ill after a norovirus outbreak on the Royal Caribbean cruise ship Oasis of the Sea (pictured)

Royal Carribean International's Oasis of the Seas, which is on a seven-day Western Caribbean itinerary, had to cut the trip short by a day.

Passenger Shawn Popeleski told The Orlando Sentinel that the ships crew informed them that roughly 475 people have now been affected by the outbreak.

About 100 people who are still showing symptoms of the illness have been quarantined in their cabins, according to the Orlando Sentinel.

Norovirus, also known as the 'stomach flu' is highly contagious and spreads on contact.

Outbreaks are common in the United States especially during winter months from November to April.

Passengers did not disembark on their second port of call, Falmouth, Jamaica, and will skip a planned stop in Cozumel, Mexico.

The 6,285-passenger ship will return to Port Canaveral on Saturday afternoon.

By Friday afternoon, passengers were notified via a shipwide announcement that the number of people affected had climbed.

A staff worker (pictured) cleans up vomit in a restaurant common area on Oasis of the Seas

About 100 people who are still exhibiting symptoms of norovirus are quarantined in their cabins to stop the spread of the illness

'You might have noticed that we are everywhere in the media when it comes to our outbreak here, which is most likely norovirus,' the announcement said, according to a video sent to the Orlando Sentinel by passenger Shawn Popeleski.

'The latest that I can share with you here is that we have had a total during the cruise here somewhere around 475 people affected'.

About 100 people who are still exhibiting symptoms of norovirus are quarantined in their cabins to stop the spread of the illness.

Erica Sattler, a 22-year-old passenger from New York who is celebrating her moms birthday on the ship, said she and her family support the cruise lines decision to cut the trip short.

She told the Orlando Sentinal: 'With so many sick people I dont think that anyone objected to us heading straight back.

'We just hope that everyone gets better soon and that nobody else gets sick'.

The 6,285-passenger ship will return to Port Canaveral on Saturday afternoon

Royal Caribbean is giving all passengers a full refund for the inconvenience.

'The crew is handling things on the ship so well and theyre going above and beyond to take care of us and not make this a miserable time despite the circumstances,' Sattler said.

Cruise ships are required to report outbreaks of norovirus to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention any time the number of passengers affected surpasses two percent of the total count.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, norovirus is a type of gastrointestinal illness and is 'very contagious'.

A person can catch it from people infected by it and by touching contaminated surfaces or eating or drinking contaminated food and water.

Symptoms include stomach pains, nausea and diarrhea, according to the CDC. Although it is highly transmissible, the illness is 'relatively infrequent on cruise ships', the CDC states.
A bus driver had part his eat cut when he was allegedly attacked by a passenger with a knife.

Emergency services were called to Blacktown Railway Station, in Sydney's west about 1.30pm on Saturday after an 18-year-old allegedly attacked the driver.

The male bus driver, aged in his 30s, was rushed to Westmead Hospital with a cut to his ear.

A bus driver had part his eat cut when he was allegedly attacked by a passenger with a knife

Emergency services were called to Blacktown Railway Station, in Sydney's west about 1.30pm on Saturday

Police are at the scene and are establishing a crime scene where a man could be seen with bandages wrapped around his head.

It will be alleged an 18-year-old male passenger attacked the driver, before fleeing on foot.

He was arrested after showing up to the Blacktown Hospital a short time later. He was taken to Blacktown Police Station, where he is currently assisting with inquiries.

The stabbing comes after a passenger attacked another Sydney bus driver with pepper spray in December last year.

An 18-year-old man has shown up to the Blacktown Hospital a short time later

A Sydney bus driver was sprayed in the face at least six times with pepper spray in December last year

The State Transit Authority bus had stopped on Oxford Street in Surry Hills when the man tried to enter the bus.

The driver, 38, stopped him from boarding, explaining the bus was full and he'd have to wait for the next one to arrive.

Police allege the man refused to leave, sitting on the dash of the bus and abusing the driver - before spraying him in the face with a chemical agent believed to be capsicum or pepper spray and running away.

Police described the attack as 'despicable' and 'cowardly'.
Pauline Hanson has blasted the 'fatal flaws' of Australia's immigration system after a teenage Saudi refugee chose to live in Canada.

Rahaf Mohammed al-Qunun took a flight to Seoul, South Korea, with a final destination of Toronto, in a surprise twist after officials gave heavy hints she was bound for Australia.

The 18-year-old fled her native country amid fears her family would kill her after she renounced Islam.

Senator Hanson used the case of Ms al-Qunun to question whether Australia's migration program was strong enough to restrict her family members from entering Australia.

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Pauline Hanson has blasted the 'fatal flaws' of Australia's immigration system after the country toyed with the idea of welcoming a Saudi refugee who fled her native home in fear

Rahaf Mohammed al-Qunun (pictured) took a flight to Seoul, South Korea, with a final destination of Toronto, in a surprise twist after officials gave heavy hints she was bound for Australia

The One Nation leader renewed her calls to restrict migration from devout Islamic nations in a letter to Immigration Minister David Coleman, seen by The Australian.

'As an ex-Muslim, she has every reason to fear she might suffer death at the hands of extremists in her country of Saudi Arabia because of her decision to reject Islam. However, there have been some important issues left out of the debate that need to be addressed,' the letter said.

'If the people of Ms al-Qunun's country pose such an immediate threat to her safety, should we not be offering the Australian public stronger protections against those same people?'

The senator argued her sentiments were not base on race but rather ideological differences.

'The issue of Islamic extremism has never been a racial issue. It has always been an ideological issue  our immigration program does not do enough to screen people of extreme ideological belief,' she wrote.

Canada is now the new home for Saudi refugee Rahaf Mohammed al-Qunun (pictured)

A Sydney women's rights group who tried to help the Saudi refugee escape to Australia are said to be devastated she has decided to begin her new life in Canada.

The group believed she was bound for Australia up until Friday night, when it was confirmed that Canada had granted her asylum.

Her case was expedited after it garnered an unprecedented amount of media attention. For refugees seeking asylum in Australia, the general wait time is in excess of 15 months.

'Canada has been unequivocal that we'll stand up for human rights and women's rights around the world,' Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said.

'When the United Nations made a request of us that we grant miss (Rahaf Mohammed) al-Qunun's asylum, we accepted.'

Canada's ambassador saw her off at the airport, Mr Surachate said, adding that she looked happy and healthy. 'She chose Canada. It's her personal decision,' he said.

Members of Secret Sisterhood group held a topless protest in Sydney in support of Rahaf Mohammed al-Qunun

'Canada has been unequivocal that we'll stand up for human rights and women's rights around the world,' Prime Minister Justin Trudeau (pictured) said

But the underground network of Australian women who allegedly helped the teen are devastated that she will not be joining them in Sydney.

The group, which includes other ex-Muslim women who have given up Islam, are said to be holed up in a Sydney safe house.

One of the group's members told The Australian 'everyone here is in tears,' after they learned of Ms al-Qunun's fate.

Another member of the group, known as Nourah, escaped from Saudi Arabia in October 2018, describing her former home as a 'filthy male kingdom'.

The group is comprised of women from many different backgrounds, some of which have escaped from Saudi and converted from Islam as well as other Australian women who are passionate about human rights.

Ms al-Qunun (pictured at Bangkok airport) escaped from her family when she embarked on a solo trip to Kuwait and bought a ticket to Bangkok

In addition to Ms al-Qunun, the group are currently helping two other women who attempted to escape the region and have been stuck in Hong Kong en route to Australia.

One of the group's unnamed member described the teen as fearless.

They said: 'She was scared, but she was fearless about using social media.

'We've seen other women, they will tweet their distress if they are held up at the airport but they won't tweet at the media, they won't be demanding attention like she was. She was terrified but she was so determined not to get sent back.'

Ms al-Qunun was set to undergo Australian checks for a humanitarian visa, including character and security assessments

Ms al-Qunun is the daughter of a Saudi governor and has nine siblings. She used a loophole in the state's tough laws to travel to Kuwait unaccompanied.

From there, she purchased a ticket to Bangkok and was hoping to seek asylum in Canada, the United States, Australia, the UK or 'any nation would protect her from being harmed or killed by her family'.

Instead, her passport was seized by a Saudi diplomat and she was forced to lock herself in an apartment room.

Her dire situation was compared to that of Dina Ali Lasloom, a 24-year-old woman who sought asylum under similar circumstances at Manila airport in April of 2017.

She pleaded for help but was ultimately forced back on a plane home - kicking and screaming - and has never been heard from since.

The 18-year-old (pictured with her 12-year-old sister Joud) said she had 'escaped Kuwait' and that her life would be in danger if she were forced to return to Saudi Arabia

Ms al-Qunun's case garnered far more attention at a quicker speed, with many praising social media and technology.

After pleading with a measly 24 followers, her plight was picked up by numerous figures around the world who shared her story to their followers.

Within 24 hours, she had over 45,000 followers and growing.

Soon after, she was tweeting to 100,000 people.

She made headlines earlier this week after she began tweeting from the transit area of Bangkok airport, saying her life would be in danger if she returned to Kuwait.

Thai authorities eventually allowed her to enter the country on Monday evening and the UN refugee agency referred Rahaf to Australia for consideration for refugee resettlement.

The U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees granted her refugee status on Wednesday.

The 18-year-old was detained in Thailand following her arrival in the country. She is pictured having barricaded herself in an airport hotel room in a bid to avoid deportation

Despite having harnessed the power of Twitter to stave off deportation on Friday, she abruptly suspended her account, with friends saying she had received death threats.

She also opened up about living with her family in Saudi Arabia, describing it as difficult as she had no freedom.

'It was so bad. I mean, of course there are good days but they hurt me a lot.

'I have no choice to choose what I want,' she said.

The 18-year-old even rallied against online trolls who were spreading rumours on social media that she was lying about her situation.

'They don't know about my life and they don't know how my family treats me,' she said.

'I want life. I want to be independent. How can they say this just because I do something they don't like?

'I want to become a strong woman, I want freedom of expression, of religion and politics. I want to live a normal life.'

Ms al-Qunun has also claimed her family would kill her if she were sent home to Saudi Arabia, where she has renounced Islam and 'rebelled' against her father.
(Image source from: Telugustop.com)

Chandra Babu Writes To Modi On YS Jagan's Case:- Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandra Babu Naidu penned a letter to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the investion of YS Jagan's case by the National Investigation Agency (NIA). The case has been registered after YS Jagan got attacked on October 25th in Vizag airport. Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), Government of India issued orders asking the NIA to take over the interrogation from the State Government.

"Union Government is bringing down the sanctity and autonomy of every institution. They did not even address the concerns raised by the state government and handed over the case to the NIA" said Chandra Babu. Jagan got injured after Sreenivas injured the politician with a cockfight knife. Jagan got a cut on his left upper arm and he flew to Hyderabad and was rushed to a private hospital where he got treated.
Friends and family have remembered the mother who was tragically killed in an alleged hit and run as an easy-going woman with a passion for motorbikes.

Ramaine Meldrum, 47, an experienced motorbike rider, was killed when she collided with a silver Toyota Hilux on Friday afternoon.

Ms Meldrum had been on her bike travelling south on the Princes Highway, in Wyndham Vale, in Melbourne's south-west when the crash happened.

Ramaine Meldrum, 47, (pictured) an experienced motorbike rider, was killed when she collided with a silver Hilux on Friday afternoon

Tributes have been flowing, with many sharing their heartbreak over the death on social media.

Rick Goodman had known Ms Meldrum through their shared passion for motorbikes.

He described her as always being bright and happy.

'She was very well known in the motorcycle fraternity, having been very active on rides and rallies for well over two decades,' he told The Age.

Ms Meldrum had been on her bike travelling south on the Princes Highway, in Wyndham Vale, In Melbourne's south-west when the crash happened

'She was bubbly, friendly, easy-going and lots of fun,' he told the Herald Sun.

Ms Meldrum has left behind a young daughter.

The driver of the Hilux allegedly failed to stop after the collision.

A 45-year-old man was arrested on Friday but has since been released.

Police are now appealing for information relating to the crash.
A new craze sweeping Australia in which people dress up as mermaids and mermen and go swimming has been identified as a safety risk by lifeguards.

Mermaiding has seen a surge in popularity in recent years, made more famous by the introduction of 'mermaid schools' on island paradises like Bali.

And North Queensland now has its very own collection of avid mermaid fans.

Member Bianca White said the group is more like a community and that it made her feel 'more included'

Mermaiding has seen a surge in popularity in recent years, made more famous by the introduction of 'mermaid schools' on island paradises like Bali

A group of women and one man don their mermaid tails weekly as part of the Townsville Mer Pod, and congregate at public pools to put their skills to the test.

Member Bianca White told Sky News the group is more like a community.

'I feel very included - its just like I'm actually a part of something,' she said.

But the practice has been met with some apprehension by lifeguards and Royal Life Saving WA.

'Obviously if there are young children doing it unsupervised or weak swimmers obviously there is a risk there,' lifeguard Russell Blanchard said.

A group of women and one man don their mermaid tails weekly as part of the Townsville Mer Pod, and congregate at public pools to put their skills to the test

A new craze sweeping Australia in which people dress up as mermaids and mermen and go swimming has been identified as a safety risk

A study conducted by Royal Life Saving WA found that tails could impede swimming ability by up to 70 per cent, particularly in children, and they are not recommended for children under seven.

The Townsville Mer Pod is just one example of the craze that has been seen around the world.

Tails also vary in size, weight and colour.

The cheapest spandex tails are the most light and stretchy and considered ideal for beginners.

But as the 'mermaids' get more experienced, they don more expensive tails which can weigh up to 3kg when wet.
A teenager has been charged after a train traveller sat on about 20 needles poking out of a seat on a Melbourne service, with one puncturing his bottom.

Anthony Artusa was given the medical all-clear after the incident on a Metro train at 8.12am on Tuesday on a service from West Footscray to the city.

Detectives charged a 16-year-old Fawkner boy on Saturday with a number of offences including intentionally causing injury, assault with a weapon and committing an indictable offence while on bail.

A 16-year-old teenager has been charged after a train traveller sat on about 20 needles, one of which punctured his bottom

The 16-year-old is in custody and will appear at a Children's Court at a later date with a number of charges

'Word of warning when travelling on Metro trains. Had a lovely surprise this morning when I sat on a seat with around 20 needles sticking out of it #NeedlesOfMelbourne,' Mr Artusa posted on Twitter.

He shared the images of the needles poking out of the seat with the pointy side facing upwards.

'This is a terrible act of vandalism and we are thankful that no-one was injured,' a police spokesman said.

The 16-year-old is in custody and will appear at a Children's Court at a later date.
A couple claim they were left with horrific sunburn after using SPF 50+ sunscreen produced by New Zealand Cancer Society.

The pair, who wish to remain anonymous, were camping around New Zealand when temperatures were soaring to around 30 degrees last week.

The safety conscious couple bought a tube of SPF 50+ New Zealand Cancer Society sunscreen, ensuring to apply the product every two hours  yet somehow they still ended up burnt.

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A couple are fuming after suffering sunburn so severe they struggled to sleep, despite using SPF 50+ sunscreen

The pair, who wish to remain anonymous, were camping around New Zealand when temperatures were soaring to around 30 degrees last week

The man says they were both forced to take days off work and struggled to sleep for two nights, he shared on Reddit.

'The fact this product is also marketed for everyday use in New Zealand's harsh sun filled us with confidence that we had chosen the right sunscreen,' his post said.

'I would not recommend this product to anyone.'

The couple have taken their complaints to the company.

New Zealand Cancer Society sunscreen is a reputable brand and is a popular choice for families or schools.

The charity's chief executive Mike Kernaghan told TVNZ they take sun protection very seriously and will be investigating.

New Zealand Cancer Society chief executive Mike Kernaghan told TVNZ they take sun protection very seriously and will be investigating

'Our sunscreen manufacturer voluntarily adheres to the AS/NZS 2604 Sunscreen Standard which has strict guidelines and rigorous testing mechanisms to maintain consistent levels of formulation quality,' Mr Kernaghan said.

What do the SPF numbers mean? An SPF 15 sunscreen is meant to give you 15 times sun protection If you were outside in the sort of sun that burns unprotected skin in 10 minutes, then SPF 15 would give you 150 minutes of protection For SPF 30 sunscreen that time would extend to 300 minutes For SPF 50 it would be 500 minutes Source: Consumer NZ Advertisement

Last month when Consumer NZ tested 19 different sunscreen products they discovered only nine their SPF label claim and the requirements for broad-spectrum protection.

Consumer NZs testing of the Cancer Society Everyday SPF 50+ and Sungard Moisturising Sunscreen SPF 50+ found they had an SPF of 40 and 45 respectively.

The sunscreens still provide high protection but not the very high protection indicated by the SPF 50+ label claim, Consumer NZ said.

The Daily Mail has approached the New Zealand Cancer Society for further comment.
A black 26-year veteran traffic enforcement agent found himself the subject of a racially charged taunt after attempting to haul away an offending SUV in Brooklyn.

The tow truck driver, who hasn't been named, had a car hooked up and ready to tow away on Thursday when an angry group of Brooklyn residents managed to set the vehicle loose and then started shouting abuse at the driver.

Video shows the truck driver being confronted by a group of Orthodox Jews at the corner of 44th St. and 15th Ave. in Borough Park, Brooklyn, as reported by the New York Daily News.

An angry group of Brooklyn residents managed to get the vehicle loose that had been hooked up by the veteran traffic enforcement agent. One resident returns the truck driver's equipment

The tow truck driver watches in frustration as the car makes its escape before suffering verbal abuse at the hands of angry residents

The driver is called a 'loser' by a man laughing and then subjected to a racially charged taunt with another person shouting at the traffic enforcement agent, 'You're in the wrong precinct... you should work in Harlem!'

Harlem became an African-American neighborhood in the the early 1900s and for nearly a century was synonymous with black urban America.

Sources said the dark-colored SUV was illegally parked near a corner in Borough Park, which is known for its parking problems, when the NYPD tow truck spotted it and deployed tow bars to secure the wheels.

Residents soon started gathering and a motorist that was parked in front of the offending vehicle moved out of the way so the SUV driver could make his escape.

In the video, the SUV can be seen and heard lurching over the tow bars. At one point a resident returns the removed tow rope to the frustrated truck driver.

The truck driver tries to talk to the offending motorist, and places his hand on the handle of the car door, but stopped by two men who move over to the car and confront him.

The truck driver tries to talk to the offending motorist, and places his hand on the handle of the car door, but is confronted by two men

The video was posted on a Facebook page for the Kensington neighborhood of Brooklyn.

The tow truck driver had taken a log of the licence and registration of the vehicle and has filed a complaint with police from the 66th Precinct.

Attempts are being made to locate the offending vehicle's owner.

'We're either going to go to his house and tow the vehicle or at least make sure he pays the fine,' said Marvin Robbins, a union rep for the tow truck operator.

Keeping his cool: The tow truck driver is reported to have returned to work as normal on Friday

'We will not tolerate our traffic agents being subject to abuse in any form, not the least of which is the ugly example we see in this video,' NYPD spokesman Lieutenant John Grimpel said.

He added that traffic enforcement agents were responding to the area at the request of community members and local representatives who were concerned about illegal parking conditions.

'This is disgusting behavior against an agent who was doing his job to keep New Yorkers safe while exhibiting restraint and professionalism,' Grimpel added.

The tow truck driver is reported to have returned to work as normal on Friday.
Councils across the country are axing Australia Day celebrations, to the fury of some residents, while some Greens MPs will attend 'Invasion Day' rallies instead.

Byron Bay in New South Wales, Fremantle in Western Australia and Victoria's Darebin, Yarra and Moreland councils are among the first to cancel official events on January 26.

The changes have been made out of respect for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who see Australia Day as a time of mourning.

The national public holiday recognises the date in 1788 when the First Fleet arrived and British sovereignty was declared on the land that would become Australia.

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Councils across the country are axing Australia Day celebrations, to the fury of some residents

Byron Bay, Fremantle in Western Australia and Victoria's Darebin, Yarra and Moreland councils are among the first to cancel official events out of respect for Indigenous Australians

Recently however, many have questioned if the historic date of the celebration should be changed.

Inner-city Melbourne's Yarra City Council last year became the first in the country to stop holding citizenship ceremonies on January 26.

Similarly, the City of Fremantle has held its Australia Day celebrations the day after the rest of the country for the past three years.

City of Darebin Mayor Susan Rennie in Melbourne's north told SBS News her council 'will not be marking January 26 by holding any events' for the second year in a row.

The Byron Shire Council will hold celebrations on the evening on January 25 with citizenship ceremonies held the following day

The Byron Shire Council will hold celebrations on the evening on January 25 with citizenship ceremonies held the following day.

While the changes have been lauded by both Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians, they have sparked backlash in other facets of the community.

Online, Perth residents expressed fury and confusion at the councils' desertion from January 26-based celebrations.

The comments come as it was revealed by The Australian that Greens MPs will attend 'Invasion Day' rallies around the country on January 26

'It's all noise being made by loud greens voters and socialists. I can't imagine ever being so fragile I need to use atrocities of yesteryear as a red herring for me to project my insecurities onto happy Australians,' wrote one man.

'So your saying I can celebrate in city then again in Freo. How is that a bad thing?' joked another in reference to Fremantle's January 26 celebrations.

The comments come as it was revealed by The Australian that Greens MPs will attend 'Invasion Day' rallies around the country on January 26.

The Greens' move is part of a bid to pose political pressure toward Bill Shorten and the Labor Party to change their sway of support for Australia Day

The move is part of a bid to pose political pressure toward Bill Shorten and the Labor Party to change their sway of support for Australia Day.

Greens' Indigenous affairs spokeswoman, Rachel Siewert told the publication that Mr Shorten's opposition to support changing the date was out of step with the majority of Australians.

'He says 'yeah we know a lot of Aboriginal people aren't happy with it', but he still thinks we should be celebrating on that day. He is trying to have it both ways,' she said.
A drone pilot pulled off an impressive maneuver by directing the object through a narrow metal tower without a collision.

Denis Meglic was flying his drone in a park in Croatia and directed his equipment through a futuristic art installation without it crashing.

A drone pilot pulled off an impressive maneuver by directing the object through a narrow metal tower (pictured)

He posted a video of the intricate excercise on Instagram along with the caption: 'That's it! Most toughest dive that I ever done! With my spotter @zedooo.'

The footage prompted plenty of reaction on Instagram with many praising Meglic's technique as drones can be difficult to navigate.

Drones recently hit the headlines after one halted operations for a couple of hours at two busy metropolitan airports.

Around 760 scheduled journeys were cancelled at London's Gatwick Airport just days before Christmas wrecking festive plans for 110,000 people left stranded at the airport.

On Tuesday, at least 100 flights carrying at least 15,000 passengers were delayed just weeks after Gatwick was crippled over Christmas.

Denis Meglic flew his drone in a park in Croatia (pictured) and directed his equipment through a futuristic art installation

The footage prompted plenty of reaction on Instagram with many praising Meglic's technique as drones can be difficult to navigate

Denis Meglic (pictured) has been operating drones for years and has learned some pretty impressive maneuvers

The drone was seen hovering above Heathrow the day previously, grounding jets in case it was sucked into an engine or smashed through a plane's windscreen.

Measures to install anti-drone missiles and detectors were promised in the wake of the chaos which crippled services in the run-up to Christmas.

And authorities suggested other countries could avail of such measures to avoid potential similar incidents in the future.
Prisons Minister Rory Stewart said he is looking very carefully at imposing a new requirement on courts in England and Wales which would largely prevent them from sending offenders to jail for less than six months

Jail sentences under six months should be scrapped for most crimes, prisons minister Rory Stewart has insisted.

The controversial move would mean burglars and nearly all shoplifters would escape jail for their crimes.

Mr Stewart said the Ministry of Justice was looking very carefully at imposing a new requirement on courts in England and Wales which would largely prevent them from sending offenders to jail for less than six months. The new restrictions could even apply to longer sentences, he indicated.

Currently, 30,000 criminals a year are imprisoned for less than six months. Only offenders convicted of violence or sex crimes would be excluded from the new measures, which would free up 4,000 prison places at any one time.

Mr Stewart insisted the duration of the sentences was too short to heal offenders.

It would be modelled on Scotland which has already introduced a bar on sentences under three months and is extending it to those under 12 months. This is something were definitely looking at, Mr Stewart told the Daily Telegraph.

We are looking very carefully at a presumption against sentences of under six months and whether we can match or go further than [that].

The new laws would mean burglars and most shoplifters would escape jail for their crimes

He admitted it was likely to provoke a backlash against soft justice in the Conservative Party, which is traditionally seen as the party of law and order.

We have to reassure the public, reassure colleagues and think it through to make sure we exclude people who have committed violent crimes and sex offences to get the right balance, he said.

Mr Stewart said very short jail terms were long enough to damage you and not long enough to heal you, pointing to evidence of lower re-offending rates after community sentences. You bring somebody in for three or four weeks, they lose their house, they lose their job, they lose their family, they lose their reputation, he added.

In my responsibility to protect the public, the public are safer if we have a good community sentence rather than putting people in prison for short sentences and it will also relieve a lot of pressure on these prisons.

Mr Stewart said very short jail terms were long enough to damage you and not long enough to heal you

In 2017, 65,000 offenders were jailed and just under half received sentences of six months or under. Nearly seven out of ten (68 per cent) of the 23,645 offenders jailed for theft in 2017 received sentences of less than six months, and 98 per cent of the 11,700 shoplifters sentenced. Just under 6 per cent of house burglaries resulted in jail sentences below six months.

The new moves are due to be revealed later this year and will require a change in the law.

Peter Dawson, director of the Prison Reform Trust and a former prison governor, said: A presumption against sentences of six months is a good idea and ministers should be congratulated in having the political courage to start the debate on it.
President Donald Trump has fired back in a furious Twitter tirade Saturday after it was reported the FBI opened an investigation to determine whether he was a secret Russian agent in the days after he fired FBI Director James Comey.

Trump tweeted on Saturday morning: 'Wow, just learned in the Failing New York Times that the corrupt former leaders of the FBI, almost all fired or forced to leave the agency for some very bad reasons, opened up an investigation on me, for no reason & with no proof, after I fired Lyin James Comey, a total sleaze!

He continued: 'Funny thing about James Comey. Everybody wanted him fired, Republican and Democrat alike. After the rigged & botched Crooked Hillary investigation, where she was interviewed on July 4th Weekend, not recorded or sworn in, and where she said she didnt know anything (a lie).'

Citing unnamed former law enforcement officials, the New York Times reported on Friday that the FBI opened the combined criminal and counterintelligence probe in May of 2017.

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President Donald Trump has fired back in a furious Twitter tirade Saturday after it was reported the FBI opened an investigation to determine whether he was a secret Russian agent in the days after he fired FBI Director James Comey

The FBI opened an investigation into President Donald Trump to determine whether he was a secret Russian agent in the days after he fired FBI Director James Comey, a new report claims

Trump continued tweeting: 'The FBI was in complete turmoil (see N.Y. Post) because of Comeys poor leadership and the way he handled the Clinton mess (not to mention his usurpation of powers from the Justice Department). My firing of James Comey was a great day for America. He was a Crooked Cop.

'...who is being totally protected by his best friend, Bob Mueller, & the 13 Angry Democrats - leaking machines who have NO interest in going after the Real Collusion (and much more) by Crooked Hillary Clinton, her Campaign, and the Democratic National Committee. Just Watch!

'I have been FAR tougher on Russia than Obama, Bush or Clinton. Maybe tougher than any other President. At the same time, & as I have often said, getting along with Russia is a good thing, not a bad thing. I fully expect that someday we will have good relations with Russia again!

'Lyin James Comey, Andrew McCabe, Peter S and his lover, agent Lisa Page, & more, all disgraced and/or fired and caught in the act. These are just some of the losers that tried to do a number on your President. Part of the Witch Hunt. Remember the insurance policy? This is it!'

Trump's lawyer Rudy Giuliani had earlier dismissed the alleged investigation as baseless, pointing out that no evidence has publicly emerged in the 20 months since to support the idea that Trump is a secret Russian agent.

'The fact that it goes back a year and a half and nothing came of it that showed a breach of national security means they found nothing,' Giuliani told the Times.

Trump fired Comey on May 9, 2017, citing a letter from Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein that sharply criticized Comey's handling of the Hillary Clinton email investigation.

However, sources tell the Times that two events raised alarm at the FBI that Trump had fired Comey in an attempt to stifle their investigation into possible Russia election meddling.

The first was a draft of the letter Trump wanted to send Comey informing him of the firing, which the Times reports mentioned the Russia investigation.

The draft was never sent, after Rosenstein purportedly urged Trump to drop mention of Russia in the letter.

The final version of the letter that was sent, and made public, does mention the investigation obliquely, thanking Comey for 'informing me, on three separate occasions, that I am not under investigation.'

Former FBI Director James Comey (C) speaks to the news media after a daylong closed door hearing at the US Capitol in Washington, DC in December 2018

The second issue that reportedly concerned the FBI was Trump's May 11, 2017 interview with NBC News, in which Lest Holt pressed him on the timing of the firing.

'I was going to fire Comey - there was no good time to do it,' Trump said.

'And in fact, when I decided to just do it, I said to myself - I said, you know, this Russia thing with Trump and Russia is a made-up story. It's an excuse by the Democrats for having lost an election that they should've won,' Trump continued.

Trump's detractors have taken this statement as proof that he fired Comey out of anger over the Russia investigation.

However, the President's supporters have said that he was indicating that he knew the timing of the firing might look bad, but decided to move forward with it anyhow because there was nothing behind the Russian collusion allegations.

Also fueling the FBI's concerns was Christopher Steele's 'dirty dossier' of unsubstantiated allegations, which had been funded by Democrats but at that point was justifying probes across the Justice Department.

Trump is seen in the May 11, 2017 with Lester Holt (right), which the FBI reportedly thought could be evidence that the President was a secret Russian agent

In response to the events, according to the Times, the FBI began investigating whether Trump was a secret Russian agent.

The investigation was one part criminal, into possible obstruction of justice, and one part counterintelligence, looking into possible national security concerns, the Times reports.

Comey's firing led Rosenstein, who had recommended the move, to appoint special counsel Robert Mueller to investigate any links or coordination between the Trump campaign and the Russian government.

Twenty months later, the Mueller probe has yet to publicly produce evidence of a conspiracy to tamper with the election. There are reports that the special counsel's probe could wrap up as soon as next month.
A teenager is in a stable condition after being stabbed in London last night.

The boy, aged 17, was found by police and paramedics with knife wounds at Edmonton Bus Station in the London Borough of Enfield, just before 7pm pm Friday.

Video footage has emerged of the station being sealed off with police cars descending on the scene.

A Met Police spokesman said: 'Police were called to Edmonton Bus Station at 6.56pm on Friday, January 11 following reports of a fight.

'Officers and London Ambulance Service attended and found a 17-year-old with stab injuries.

'However, his injuries are now not thought to be life-threatening but may be life-changing.'

The stabbing comes just days after 14-year-old Jayden Moodie was stabbed to death in Leyton, east London.

A boy aged 17 was stabbed at Edmonton bus station on Friday evening

The teenager was knocked off a moped and stabbed in the back by older men.

In 2018, around a fifth of homicide victims in London were teenagers, most of whom were stabbed. The youngest were aged 15.

There were 134 homicides in the capital, last year, and already in 2019 there have been numerous fatal stabbings - the first being just hours into New Years Day.

There have been no arrests and a crime scene remains in place.
Boris Johnson wants to get engaged to his ex-Tory spin doctor girlfriend Carrie Symonds but is 'desperate to avoid messing it up', it has been claimed.

After jetting off to Greece for New Year with his ex-Tory aide girlfriend, 54-year-old Johnson is now said to be 'totally loved' up.

And he is now reportedly planning on proposing to 30-year-old Carrie - despite being in the middle of a divorce from his second wife of 25 years, Marina.

Carrie Symonds (pictured), who is now a financial adviser at Bloomberg, has reportedly not met any of Johnson's children yet

The news comes just weeks after the politician (pictured in Dublin on Thursday) and Carrie Symonds, 30 were spotted by locals at a taverna in South Pelion, north of Athens

Johnson (pictured) is currently in the middle of a divorce from his second wife of 25 years, Marina

A friend of Johnson told The Sun: 'He wants to get engaged. He's completely in thrall to Carrie. Totally loved-up.

'It's sweet to see. He's like a puppy dog around her and very solicitous but desperate to avoid messing it up.'

Ms Symonds, who is now a financial adviser at Bloomberg, has reportedly not met any of Johnson's children yet.

Despite this, another friend of BoJo told The Sun just how strong their relationship is.

The said: 'Carrie has been the perfect girlfriend. Boris is no good when hes on his own. He needs to go home to someone every night.'

The pair, pictured leaving the Conservative party Black and White Ball last year, is now said to be 'totally loved' up with his ex-Tory spin doctor girlfriend Carrie Symonds (left)

The news comes just weeks after the politician and Carrie Symonds, 30 were spotted by locals at a taverna in South Pelion, north of Athens.

The couple were reportedly staying at his father Stanley's holiday home, Villa Irene.

Ms Symonds was unknown to most of the public before her close friendship with Johnson came under the spotlight when he announced he and his wife were divorcing last week.

They first appeared to be romantically involved in September last year when they were seen together on dinner dates.

There were claims Miss Symonds - whose work has been praised by former colleagues - was forced out after becoming caught in the crossfire between Boris and Number 10.

Both are now reportedly living together and that Symonds calls Boris 'Bozzie Bear' - after Fozzie, the big, fluffy-haired Muppet.
Workers at a trendy new technology startup work space in Manchester are fuming that their 'unlimited free beer' is being cut down.

The WeWork staff voiced their frustrations on a forum after the decision to limit booze was made due to 'complaints about noise'.

An admin responded to the torrent of frustrated workers who bemoaned the company for promising benefits such as a 'relaxed working environment' that included the 'unlimited beer'.

An admin replied to workers, mentioning concern over office 'drinking culture'. Pictured is the Manchester branch of WeWork in 1 St Peter's Square

The admin said: 'I cannot deny that there have been concerns raised regarding the drinking culture in our office and striking the balance between being a professional working environment and one that is relaxed is very difficult.'

He then appealed for patience while a decision is made on the next move 'by the end of next week'.

As it stands, the limitations only apply Monday through Wednesday.

WeWork came under fire recently for trailing a cut-down on beer in one of its New York city offices.

Workers were allegedly limited to four 12-ounce glasses of beer available on tap per day, according to a copy of the email sent to members obtained by CNN Business.

One person in the Manchester forum stated that they'd been told the unlimited free beer, a USP for the company, was now being limited to 5-7pm on Thursday and Friday, according to TheOutline.

People stand outside a WeWork co-working space in New York City, New York U.S

The original poster on the forum said the move was 'inconsistent with both what we were informed when we signed up and what wework channels as its USP.'

'Absolutely stupid to just be off without announcement! We signed up based on perks that seem to be depleting by the week, yet very high rents. '

'This is bang out of order!' said another person on the forum.

WeWork, which is New York City's largest office tenant, has opened 34 sites in London and another two in Manchester.

Another nine locations are planned for the UK, despite fears that the country could be heading towards a disorderly Brexit.

Despite this, the UK and Ireland boss of the firm, Mathieu Proust, doubled down on the company's commitment to the British market.

'We're really committed to London,' he said. 'London has been a real proof of our business model.'

Mr Proust added that the company was 'always looking' for new sites.

WeWork has also expanded rapidly in Dublin, where it now has four sites and one more planned in response to what Mr Proust called 'overwhelming' demand.
Authorities said an escaped inmate from Wyoming and the correctional facility employee accused of helping him break out have been arrested in Georgia.

Monroe County Sheriff's Office spokeswoman Anna Lewis said 29-year-old Richard Fountaine and 25-year-old Kimberly Belcher were captured Friday afternoon.

Fountaine was serving a three-to-five-year stint at Wyoming's Casper Re-Entry Center for a burglary conviction when he escaped on December 28. Investigators said Fountaine climbed a wall and chain-link fence before getting into a car.

Authorities captured fugitive Richard Fountaine, 29, in Georgia on Friday. He escaped from Wyoming's Casper Re-Entry Center, where he was serving time for burglary, on December 28

Fountaine was found hiding near a pond in Georgia with Kimberly Belcher, 25, who worked at the facility. She is accused of giving him a cell phone and helping him escape

Belcher, an employee at the facility, is accused of giving Fountaine a cellphone and helping him escape.

Authorities said the pair were caught shortly before 1pm near a pond dam in Monroe County, Georgia, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

Police said Friday that Fountaine and Belcher were found hiding face-down, while wearing 'full camo' and hoodies and they were apprehended without incident.

The pair were said to have been seen in Middle Georgia earlier in the week and were accused of a burglary in the area.

Authorities said that Fountaine (pictured) and Belcher were involved in a burglary in Middle Georgia the week prior to having been apprehended on Friday

Fountaine is said to have escaped from Wyoming's Casper Re-Entry Center by climbing a wall and chain-link fence, then getting into a car

Fountaine and Belcher were found face-down, wearing 'full camo' behind a pond dam near Highway 42 and Johnsonville Road in Monroe County, Georgia

Police said they were able to connect Fountaine with a vehicle seen during a criminal trespass call, even though the car had not been been part of the nationwide alert for the fugitive, according to Fox 5 Atlanta.

It does not appear that either of them have relatives in Georgia and it is unknown how they managed to evade their captures while traveling across the country.

Authorities said that they would be facing charges in Georgia, but did not elaborate on what the charges would be.

It is unclear if they will be extradited to Wyoming at some point.

Fountaine was sentenced on the burglary charges in June 2017, according to Wyoming Department of Corrections records.
Gamblers could be prevented from using their credit cards to place bets if firms don't take action to protect the vulnerable, the Culture Secretary has warned.

Cards are used to wager as much as 8.6billion each year and ministers are concerned that it allows addicts to gamble money they cannot afford to lose.

Jeremy Wright, the Culture Secretary, announced yesterday that he is calling in betting companies and banks to discuss gamblers' use of credit cards. Campaigners reacted positively, saying betting on credit puts gamblers at risk.

Jeremy Wright, the Culture Secretary, announced yesterday that he is calling in betting companies and banks to discuss gamblers' use of credit cards

Pressure is now building on the bookmakers. Next month the Gambling Commission, the industry's regulator, will launch a review to hear evidence on the practice, which could lead to tougher regulations.

Mr Wright said he would discuss credit card gambling with bookmakers and banks ahead of the regulator's review.

He added: 'Protecting people from the risks of gambling-related harm is vital.

'All businesses with connections to gambling  be that bookmakers, social media platforms or banks  must be socially responsible.

'The Government will not hesitate to act if businesses don't continue to make progress in this area and do all they can to ensure vulnerable people are protected.

'We should ask if it is right that people should be able to gamble on credit and this is an area that the Gambling Commission are going to look into.'

Several banks, including Barclays, Lloyds, Santander and the Royal Bank of Scotland, allow customers to block themselves from gambling on debit and credit cards

The commission said last year that it was weighing up the merits of a ban and the UK's leading problem gambling charity, GambleAware, has backed the measure. There are 430,000 'problem gamblers' in the UK, and around two million who are at risk of developing an addiction, the regulator says.

Several banks, including Barclays, Lloyds, Santander and the Royal Bank of Scotland, allow customers to block themselves from gambling on debit and credit cards.

Nevertheless, betting firms have indicated that ten to 20 per cent of the 43billion they receive each year in bets is placed using credit cards.

The Labour Party announced last year that it would ban the use of credit cards to place bets to tackle what it called the 'epidemic' of addiction.

Campaigners on the issue said a ban is long overdue. Lord Chadlington, a Conservative peer and former chairman of Action on Addiction, said: 'Decisive action on credit is urgently required to protect those at risk.

'I am pleased to see much needed steps being taken in this area to address gambling-related harm.'

There are 430,000 'problem gamblers' in the UK, and around two million who are at risk of developing an addiction, the Gambling Commission says

Matt Zarb-Cousin, spokesman for the Campaign for Fairer Gambling, said: 'If you went to the bank and asked for a loan because you wanted to go to the casino you would be laughed out of the branch so there is no justification for allowing gambling via credit cards.

'Betting more than you can afford is a sign of problem gambling, so permitting gambling on credit cards facilitates and endorses harmful activity.'

Gambling with Lives, which represents families bereaved by gambling-related suicide, said: 'The facilitation of gambling by credit offered by banks requires stricter control and action on this is crucial.

'Gambling addiction is a serious health problem that can lead to suicide.'

The Gambling Commission added: 'In our online review last year we said we will consider prohibiting or restricting the use of credit cards and will explore the consequences of doing so.

'We will be announcing details in the coming weeks.'
The supposedly independent body set up after the Leveson Inquiry to oversee Britain's Press regulators appears to have been quietly turned into an arm of the Government.

The Press Recognition Panel (PRP) was set up by Royal Charter in 2014 in the wake of the Leveson Inquiry to certify that Press regulators meet Leveson requirements and are independent of politicians.

However, its own independence is now at risk after it was subsumed into the Ministry of Justice without its knowledge.

The independence of the Press Recognition Panel is at risk after it was subsumed into the Ministry of Justice without its knowledge (file photo)

The MoJ's last annual report states: 'From April 1, 2018, the Press Recognition Panel has been designated as within the MoJ Departmental Boundary.'

But although that document was published last June, it appears the PRP only learned of the change last month.

In a letter to the Treasury dated December 20, PRP chairman David Wolfe admitted that he did not know about the change until it was highlighted to him by the National Audit Office.

He also warned that subsuming the PRP into the MoJ undermines its status.

'The Royal Charter on the Self-Regulation of the Press (establishing the PRP) had been carefully designed to ensure that the PRP remained separate from Government,' he said in the letter.

'Whilst we note the decision of HM Treasury, it is the board's view that the PRP should not be included in any 'departmental boundary' not least because to do so risks giving the false impression that there is some ongoing relationship between the PRP and the department.

PRP chairman David Wolfe (pictured) admitted that he did not know about the change until it was highlighted to him by the National Audit Office in December

'The PRP is entirely independent of the Government, Parliament, the Press or any other such interest.'

Yesterday a Treasury spokesman confirmed it had received the letter from the PRP and would 'respond in due course'.

So far the PRP has only given its Royal Charter backing to one regulator, Impress, which is backed by the disgraced former Formula One boss Max Mosley, who has made it his personal mission to curb Press freedoms.

Impress regulates just over 100 titles, virtually all of them very small hyperlocal publications. The PRP only granted Impress its Royal Charter backing in 2016, but its short existence has been turbulent.

In 2017 Impress was forced to give its own boss and two board members a dressing-down for breaking impartiality rules.

The Daily Mail and the vast majority of national and local newspapers are regulated by IPSO, an independent regulator which has chosen not to apply for recognition by the PRP.
Rita Taylor, 80, a dementia sufferer who died after a break-in at her home in Eltham, South East London

A knifeman who terrorised an Alzheimers sufferer after breaking into her home was tracked by GPS by the womans family for 12 hours  but police did nothing.

Relatives of Rita Taylor, 80  who died a few weeks after the burglary  kept tabs on the mans movements after he stole her handbag containing a dementia tracking device.

They watched as the monitor moved away from her home into a neighbouring county to an address overnight.

However, despite providing police with the password to the device, the family say officers passed up on the chance to catch the suspect red-handed. Mrs Taylor was left terrified after the man broke into her home on November 29, stole her bag and ripped rings off her fingers.

She collapsed three days later and was treated in hospital but became a virtual recluse after she was released, and she died less than a month later.

The great-grandmothers daughter Lorayne Ahmet, 56, said she believed the trauma of the break-in killed her mother, and the police had effectively allowed a killer to escape. She added: The burglary brought on her death. She was not the same afterwards. As a family we did everything we could to keep her safe and we feel let down.

We handed them everything they needed to catch this man, and they did nothing.

The burglar broke into Mrs Taylors home in Eltham, south-east London, and ransacked it before confronting her in her bedroom.

He snatched her bag and forced her to hand over her jewellery, including her mothers wedding ring. The man fled as Mrs Taylors carer arrived, shoving the woman out of his way before running to a waiting black Vauxhall Corsa. Witnesses said he was armed with a screwdriver and a large knife.

After the carer raised the alarm the family told the police about her tracker device. Relatives watched it as it moved north across London into Essex, at one point stopping at an Indian takeaway.

A burglar broke into Mrs Taylors home in Eltham, south-east London, and ransacked it before confronting her in her bedroom (file image)

It halted overnight outside an address in Dagenham before it stopped working. Mrs Taylors son-in-law Greg Diamond called 999, in the hope police would swoop on the house.

But they heard nothing further and three days later Mrs Taylor suffered a collapse, thought to have been caused by a mini stroke. After being released from hospital she stayed with relatives but had a suspected stroke on Christmas Eve and died. Mrs Ahmet said: Mum didnt need to die this way. She had dementia but she was an active woman who loved seeing her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She lost interest in all that afterwards and wouldnt go out.

The police just gave us a crime number. As far as we know they did nothing with the information we gave them. Nothing they do now will bring Mum back, but we just want justice for her.

A Metropolitan Police spokesman confirmed they were aware of the tracking device but had not gone to the Dagenham address.

This week, after the Daily Mail contacted police on the familys behalf, officers were sent to meet with them and update them on the case. Mrs Ahmet said they were very apologetic and admitted mistakes had been made and information not passed on correctly.

A man has since been arrested on suspicion of aggravated burglary and released on bail pending further investigation.
New Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has posthumously pardoned four black men accused in a racially charged 1949 rape case, even after the wheelchair-bound accuser rebuked him in court.

Republican DeSantis, who was sworn in on Tuesday, presided over the Board of Executive Clemency hearing on Friday in Tallahassee that voted to pardon the so-called 'Groveland Four.'

The case has been documented in a book and is considered a blight on Florida's history. One of the four men was killed before he could be charged and the other three were convicted on thin evidence.

The families of the men accused of the assault told DeSantis and the state's three-member Cabinet - meeting as the clemency board - that there is overwhelming evidence the men were innocent and there was no rape - but the alleged victim was also present, and vocally insisted that the rape had occurred.

Norma Padgett, who was 17 when she said she was raped, sat in a wheelchair at the hearing on Friday and reiterated her testimony that the rape did occur, and the men were guilty

New Florida Governor Ron DeSantis posthumously pardoned the four black men accused in the racially charged 1949 rape case at the clemency board hearing on Friday

Family members of the Groveland Four are seen in 2017, when the Florida House put forth a resolution apologizing for the injustices that the men suffered

Norma Padgett, who was 17 when she said she was raped, sat in a wheelchair and told DeSantis and the Cabinet the rape did indeed happen.

Padgett, now 86, said she was dragged from a car, had a gun put to her head and was told not to scream or they would 'blow your brains out.'

At one point, the two sides clashed when a family member of the accused dramatically called Padgett a liar.

Beverly Robinson, a niece of one of the Groveland Four, was speaking to the governor and the Cabinet when she turned to the woman and her sons.

'It never happened. You all are liars,' Robinson said.

'That's enough out of you,' Padgett said.

'I know it's enough out of me. It's always enough when you're telling the truth,' Robinson replied.

The unanimous vote to pardon came almost two years after the state House and Senate voted to formally apologize to relatives of the Groveland Four and to ask then-Governor Rick Scott to pardon the men. Scott, now a U.S. senator, never took action. DeSantis replaced Scott on Tuesday and made the pardons a priority.

'Y'all just don't know what kind of horror I've been through for all these many years,' said Padgett (above), her voice trembling, as she reiterated her allegations on Friday

Norma Padgett and her husband Willie are seen after questioning in a 1949 news clipping. The couple both said they were present when Norma was attacked and gang raped

Groveland Four accuser's full statement to the clemency board Norma Padgett, 86, delivered the following statement before Florida's Board of Executive Clemency and Governor Ron DeSantis on Friday, January 11, 2019 in Tallahassee: 'My name is Norma Tyson Padgett Upshaw and I'm the victim of that night. And I'll tell you now that it's on my mind, it's been on my mind for about 70 years. I was 17-years-old and this never left my mind I'll tell you this: If you had a gun held to your head and told that you if you screamed and didn't do what they said that they'd blow your brains out, so what would you do? And if you had a daughter and a mother and a wife and a sister or a niece, would you give 'em pardon? No, I don't think you would. I really don't. And every time it comes up, I just quiver on the inside. And I have lived it for 60 years. When my boys was little, I kept my mouth shut 'causeI was afraid something would happen to 'em. They might find out where they were and kill 'em or do somethin' to 'em. Now my grandkids is up, and they go to school, and I worry about them. And my great-grandkids are coming up. Y'all just don't know what kind of horror I've been through for all these many years. (Her voice trembles.) I never told my kids...they knew it but they never did know what kind of horror I've been through. And I love each and every one of them. And I don't want them pardoned, no, I do not. And you wouldn't either. I know she (Beverly Robinson, Samuel Shepherd's cousin) called me a liar. But I'm not no liar. If I had to go to court today I could tell you the same story that I told then and I could [take] you on the route. Some of the places is not there no more but I could [take] you and I could show you and I walked all night long. I don't know how many miles it was but I walked all night. And I knew I was closer to another town. But they went that way and I'd seen headlights and I'd run to the woods. I don't know how long I stayed in there. I didn't have no watch. I didn't have nothing. And right now, my nerves is so bad and I'm quiverin' on the inside and I can't help it. I'm beggin' y'all not to give them pardon because they done it. Your minds might be made up. I don't know. If you do [pardon them], y'all going to be just like them And that's all I got to say, 'cause I know I'm telling the truth. I went to court twice. I can tell you right now  not the exact words  but could tell you today almost quote to what I said then. And if any of you got any questions, ask me, I'll answer them the best I know how. Like I say...if something happens to any of my kids I hope it ponders y'all's mind [because] I begged you not to do it and it's liable to. Like I said, if there's any question ya'll want to ask me, I'll try to answer it if I can.' Source: Orlando Sentinel Advertisement

'I don't know that there's any way you can look at this case and think that those ideals of justice were satisfied. Indeed, they were perverted time and time again, and I think the way this was carried out was a miscarriage of justice,' DeSantis said.

Padgett is seen testifying in the original case

The ordeal began in Lake County in 1949, when the then-17-year-old Padgett said she had been raped.

Her husband Willie also told police he was present when four black men attacked the couple in their car where it had stalled on a country road, and dragged her off at gunpoint to rape her.

Three of the men identified as suspects were arrested and severely beaten; a fourth, Ernest Thomas, fled.

A posse of about 1,000 men was formed to hunt down Thomas. He was shot 400 times when they found him sleeping under a tree.

White residents also formed a mob and went to a black neighborhood, burning houses and firing guns into homes in a disturbance that took days to quell.

Charles Greenlee, Walter Irvin and Samuel Shepherd were convicted by an all-white jury.

Lake County Sheriff Willis McCall, far left, and an unidentified man stand next to (left to right) rape suspects Walter Irvin, Samuel Shepherd and Charles Greenlee in 1949

Samuel Shepherd is seen left while he was in the U.S. Army Air Corps, circa 1948. He was shot dead by Sheriff Willis McCall (right) while handcuffed in an alleged escape attempt in 1951

Other evidence that could have exonerated them - such as a doctor's report that he was uncertain whether she was raped - was withheld at their trial. Greenlee was sentenced to life, and Irvin and Shepherd to death.

Thurgood Marshall, later the first African-American justice on the U.S. Supreme Court, took up Irvin and Shepherd's appeals for the NAACP, and in 1951 the U.S. Supreme Court ordered new trials.

Just before those trials began, Lake County Sheriff Willis McCall shot Irvin and Shepherd, claiming the handcuffed men tried to escape as he transferred them from prison to a jail.

Shepherd died. Irvin was shot in the neck and survived despite an ambulance refusing to transport him because he was black. He was again convicted, even though a former FBI agent testified that prosecutors manufactured evidence against him.

Charges were never brought against any white law enforcement officers or prosecutors who handled the cases.

Irvin was paroled in 1968 and found dead in his car while returning to Lake County for a funeral a year later.

Greenlee was paroled in 1960 and died in 2012.

Sheriff McCall (right) stands at the scene after shooting Irvin and Shepherd during an alleged escape attempt as he transferred them from prison to a jail for a hearing prior to their re-trial

The two suspects are seen after being shot. Shepherd died. Irvin was shot in the neck and survived despite an ambulance refusing to transport him because he was black

Greenlee's daughter, Carol Greenlee, told DeSantis and the Cabinet that there was overwhelming evidence that her father was innocent.

'He was accused, put in jail and tortured for something he didn't do,' she said.

The woman who said she was raped disputed the families' stories.

'Y'all just don't know what kind of horror I've been through for all these many years,' she said. 'I don't want them pardoned, no I do not, and you wouldn't neither. I know (Robinson) called me a liar, but I'm not no liar.'

Afterward, state Senator Gary Farmer, who sponsored the 2017 resolution apologizing to the families, said the woman's comments were disappointing.

'She's now here at the end of her life and she had a chance to come clean, to seek forgiveness for herself and to support the justice these four families and these four men deserve,' Farmer said. 'It's very sad that she lost this opportunity and continues to perpetuate this lie. This crime did not happen. The evidence is overwhelming.'

Members of the Greenlee family met with reporters after the vote. Carol Greenlee said while the family is grateful for the pardon, she wants her father exonerated.

'I started out with two goals in mind. One, for the world to know the truth, and that is my father is not a rapist. The second was to clear his name, so his children, his grandchildren and nieces and nephews would not continue to walk around with this stigma, with the shame,' she said. 'Those two things were accomplished. And the complete exoneration will close the gap. That's our mission.'

Despite the pain the family went through, Greenlee's brother, Wade, said his parents always taught their children to love and not hate.

'If I had an opportunity this morning, I would have told (the accuser) that the Greenlee family has forgiven her a long time ago. We have no hate against her because we were taught differently,' he said.
Britain's nuclear power plans have been thrown into jeopardy as another project teeters on collapse.

Japanese firm Hitachi is set to ditch its 16billion power station in Wales  leaving Britains nuclear strategy at the mercy of Chinese investors.

The looming collapse of Wylfa Newydd project on Anglesey comes after rival Japanese group Toshiba abandoned plans to build a reactor in Cumbria.

Undated Horizon handout image of an artists impression of a planned nuclear power station at Wylfa on Anglesey in north Wales

This raises questions over how Britain will be able to keep lights on when ageing coal and other nuclear plants close in the 2020s.

The Government wants a new series of reactors to be up and running in the coming years to supply energy to homes and businesses across the country.

Hitachi said it has not yet made a formal decision on the Anglesey project, but confirmed it is considering suspending work.

Japanese newspaper the Nikkei Asian Review reported that the company is likely to decide to stop construction of the plant at a board meeting next week after failing to secure enough private funding.

Hitachi has been in financing negotiations with the UK Government over the project since last June.

Another Japanese conglomerate, Toshiba, scrapped its British NuGen project at Moorside in Cumbria last year after its US reactor unit Westinghouse went bankrupt and it failed to find a buyer.

Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe, who met Theresa May in London on Thursday, said the two leaders did not discuss the plant

It means that Hinkley Point C in Somerset, being built by EDF, is the only plant under construction.

China General Nuclear Power Group, a company which took a minority investment in Hinkley Point, is now the only company actively looking to invest in UK nuclear projects.

The Wylfa Newydd plant would operate for 60 years if a permit is granted for its operation and could provide around 6 per cent of the countrys electricity. It was hoped work on the new plant would begin by 2020.

Poland hold Chinese 'spy' Poland has charged a Huawei employee with spying for China. Polish TV identified the man only as Weijing W, saying he was a director at Huawei in Poland. It comes as a US dispute with China over a ban on tech giant Huawei spills over to Europe  the companys biggest foreign market. Some European governments are following the US in questioning whether using Huawei for vital mobile network infrastructure could leave them exposed to snooping by the Chinese government. Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson said last month: I have grave, very deep concerns about Huawei providing the 5G network. Advertisement

Developers said it would create up to 8,500 jobs during the construction  and suspending developments could put about 370 jobs at risk.

Although funding and investment has struggled, recruitment and arrangements for the projects supply chain have continued. Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe, who met Theresa May in London on Thursday, said the two leaders did not discuss the plant.

Tom Greatrex, chief executive of the Nuclear Industry Association said it was imperative the project went ahead.

If the UK is going to decarbonise its power supply and meet our obligations to reduce carbon emissions, we need to replace the 20 per cent of our electricity delivered by our low carbon, reliable, secure nuclear fleet, most of which will retire in the next decade, he added.

Hitachis UK subsidiary has already spent 847million on the project, and is expected to book a loss of between 1.4billion and 2.1billion.

The Welsh Government said it would monitor the situation closely, while union Unite urged the Government to act.

A spokesman for the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy said negotiations are continuing.
Sinead Nichole Hagan, who's 27, was charged with the first charge of sexual conduct/intercourse with a supervised inmate on January 2

A married Texas corrections officer, is charged with having sex with multiple inmates after camera footage emerged of her reportedly having sex with two people in detention.

Sinead Nichole Hagan, who is 27 and a mother-of-two from Sulphur Springs, Texas, was charged with sexual conduct/intercourse with a supervised inmate on January 2.

A second charge for the same offense, but with a different person in detention, was filed on Thursday.

Texas Rangers had been reviewing video regarding the first offense, when the second offense featuring a different inmate was revealed, according to radio station KSST.

Hagan was booked into Hopkins County Jail and released from custody Friday on bond, according to court records.

Hagan's Facebook account shows her pictured with her husband Cody, a soldier, along with photos of her children.

Hagan (pictured above with soldier husband Cody) was charged after allegedly having sexual relations with inmates
Jack Shepherd leaving the Old Bailey

Speedboat killer Jack Shepherd should have his legal aid cut off until he returns to face justice, a Cabinet minister said last night.

James Brokenshire said it was astonishing that fugitive Shepherd is receiving legal aid in order to lodge an appeal against a six-year sentence for killing 24-year-old Charlotte Brown.

The Housing Secretarys dramatic intervention comes a day after Theresa May told the runaway to give himself up to police and called the case shocking.

Mr Brokenshire, a former lawyer, rounded on Shepherds solicitors for refusing to co-operate with police in their hunt for the callous killer, saying their attitude was surprising, at best.

He has been involved in the appalling case since 2016, when he was contacted by Charlottes father Graham, who lives in his Old Bexley and Sidcup constituency in south-east London.

Mr Brokenshire said he wanted to see Shepherd, 31, behind bars, adding: He has shown utter contempt for the family... and utter contempt for the justice process itself.

He is literally sticking two fingers up to justice. That is just unacceptable. It is right that all police and other resources are deployed to see he is brought to justice.

The Daily Mail has offered a 25,000 reward for information leading to Shepherds capture  a move Mr Brokenshire said had been very helpful in the international manhunt.

Charlotte was killed in December 2015 on a date with Shepherd, who took her for a spin in his speedboat on the Thames in London while drunk. She died when his boat flipped over at high speed.

Shepherd, who is also wanted for allegedly glassing a Devon pub barman in the face in a separate incident, has already run up a legal aid bill totalling almost 100,000.

ack Shepherd had been trying to impress 24-year-old Charlotte Brown after meeting her on dating website OkCupid

Justice Secretary David Gauke has asked officials to look at whether to close an apparent loophole in the law that allows criminals to claim public money to appeal against convictions while they are on the run.

Mr Brokenshire, a former Home Office minister, said there was a clear case for action.

I think it is astonishing that legal aid could continue to be provided to someone for effectively a challenge to a criminal prosecution against which he has fled and against which he is now seeking to appeal, which has caused huge upset to the family, he said.

Calling for a change in the law, he added: These are very specific circumstances. Legal aid to protect a right of appeal is one thing.

But then advancing that appeal when you are not even prepared to face the judgment of the court that has been handed down, not prepared to hand yourself in  to try to game the system in some way. I think that is unacceptable.

Therefore, I think there are specific circumstances here that do require us to review, and I believe change, the practice which sits around the legal aid system.

Police said that Shepherd's speedboat, which he used to impress his date, had several defects

Shepherds solicitor Richard Egan stunned Charlottes family this week when he declared he would give no help to police in helping to trace their daughters killer.

Mr Egan, a senior partner with Tuckers Solicitors, told ITV News: He is entitled to contact his lawyer. I have a duty to act in his best interests. Im not part of the police  its not my duty to dob him in or say what I know about him. Interactions with Mr Shepherd are privileged.

Mr Brokenshire said Mr Egans response was surprising, at best and urged him to search his conscience.

He said that even if the firm did not know Shepherds location, it may hold information, such as electronic data, which could give the police vital clues in the hunt for the killer, who is thought to have fled abroad.

The minister added: I really commend the Mail for the work its been doing.

Shining a light on this case, and the reward, are important in helping keep the focus we need on bringing him to justice.
Buses and drivers have driven Kyrene School District officials to consider a big change in start and finish times at its 25 campuses.
This week, as many as 1.4 million Floridians became eligible for full citizenship again  thanks to millions of their neighbors who voted overwhelmingly in November to restore ballot access to people with felony convictions who have served their time.

It was restorative justice far too long in the making.

After the Civil War, Florida  like many other states in the South  barred anyone with a criminal conviction from voting. Aimed at denying freed slaves full participation in democracy, the policy affected every election in Florida from Reconstruction through 2018, when races for governor and the Senate were so close that they required recounts.

Credit for the largest enfranchisement since womens suffrage a century ago goes to a determined advocacy campaign, which built enough support that Amendment 4 easily cleared the 60 percentthreshold needed for ratification. It went into effect on Tuesday and extended this basic right to Floridians convicted of all felonies except for murder and aggravated sexual offenses.

The sight of so many Americans eagerly registering to vote was a rare bright spot in a nation where the right to representative government is under strain from onerous ID laws and computerized gerrymandering.
The mother of a seven-year-old boy killed in an arson attack told of her fury yesterday as it emerged authorities met days earlier to discuss a risk to the family after his drug dealer brother was attacked.

Joel Urhie died when his familys home in Deptford, south-east London, was set alight on August 7 2018.

His mother Efe and sister Sarah, 19, escaped by leaping from an upstairs window but could not persuade Joel to follow.

Joel Urhie (left) died after his home in Deptford, south London, was set on fire. His mother (pictured with Joel right) managed to escape the fire

His brother Samuel, 21, a convicted drug dealer, had been shot at weeks earlier and it has emerged that the police, Lewisham Council and the probation service met ten days before the arson to discuss the risk to the family, who believed they might be targeted.

Yesterday the victims mother told ITV News: They knew that our life was in danger. They did fail me. No one has been charged over the attack.
Girls are more likely to match boys in confidence if they attend a single-sex school, research has found.

Evidence shows some girls start to believe they cannot be as clever or brilliant as boys from as young as six.

But a study has found girls who go to single-sex schools do not have this crisis of confidence.

Evidence shows some girls start to believe they cannot be as clever or brilliant as boys from as young as six

Researchers looked at more than 100,000 youngsters aged 12 to 17 in single-sex schools and found no significant difference between the self-confidence of boys and girls.

Numerous previous studies have found girls are less confident in their own abilities than boys, which has been blamed for the lack of women in careers such as science and technology.

But the latest results suggests girls who are kept separate from boys may not start to believe they are inferior.

Numerous previous studies have found girls are less confident in their own abilities than boys

Dr Terry Fitzsimmons, who led the study from the University of Queensland, said: We hope our research will empower caregivers and teachers to inspire confidence and purpose in young adults.

The studys authors state that parents and teachers can influence children at a young age on what boys are good at and what girls are good at.

It concludes that travel, sport and leadership roles are most likely to build schoolchildrens confidence.
Leding university courses are providing less than six hours a week face-to-face teaching  despite charging fees of 9,250 per year.

Elite institutions in the so-called Russell Group are raking in the equivalent of 300 a week for less than a full days tuition, research reveals.

The courses affected are all in humanities subjects, many of which typically lead to poorer earnings after graduation.

The revelation re-ignites the debate on whether universities provide value for money when students graduate with up to 50,000 of debt. Daily Mail analysis of first-year undergraduate timetables found Bristol and York  two of the countrys highest ranked universities  were among those offering very low contact hours.

Leding university courses are providing less than six hours a week face-to-face teaching

History students at Bristol receive an average of five-and-three-quarter hours a week of face-to-face teaching by academics. Those studying philosophy get roughly five-and-a-half hours and law students can expect seven-and-three-quarters.

At York, history students get an average of seven hours.

Universities often justify their low number of contact hours by saying the nature of the subject requires large amounts of independent study.

However, the number of hours offered for the same subject can vary between institutions  for example, law students at Birmingham get 13 hours a week tuition.

The analysis, based on figures posted by universities on their own websites, follows a study by the Higher Education Policy Institute think-tank showing the average contact time across degree courses is now about 13.7 hours a week. The research found students who receive less than ten hours are most likely to complain about low value for money.

The findings prompt questions over where the tuition fee money goes  with few universities offering truly transparent breakdowns. It is thought much of the money from humanities tuition fees goes into cross-subsidising subjects such as chemistry and medicine.

Universities often justify their low number of contact hours by saying the nature of the subject requires large amounts of independent study

Many universities also spend money from fees on facilities and buildings, as well as expansion projects. Sir Anthony Seldon, vice-chancellor of the University of Buckingham, said: Students moving from schools, where they were taught for roughly 18 hours a week, can find it difficult to adjust to life in universities where theyre taught for a third of that every week in class sizes many times bigger.

Russell Group universities pay their vice-chancellors handsomely  Bristols Hugh Brady received 292,000 last year. And Koen Lambert, who stepped down as Yorks vice-chancellor in the autumn, received 249,000. Government data published this year shows history and philosophy are among the subjects producing the poorest graduate salaries.

Bristol said its teaching included seminars, structured tutorials, interactive lectures, practical sessions and workshops. A spokesman added: As students progress through their course, curriculums promote greater freedom and independence. All students have a personal tutor who acts as an academic mentor.

York said its courses offered expert teaching and nurtured independent learning to help graduates progress confidently into the world as knowledgeable, thoughtful and employable people.
A Colorado Appeals Court judge is leaving the bench after calling a fellow judge 'the little Mexican' in an email.

In a resignation letter, Judge Laurie Booras agreed to step down at the end of the month after a judicial disciplinary commission recommended her removal, according to the Denver Post.

Booras had already been suspended with pay in March of last year after the Denver Post revealed allegations by John Sakowicz, a man claiming to be an ex-lover.

Sakowicz alleged that after he ended a decade-long affair with the Booras, she stalked him and sent their love letters to his wife.

Laurie Booras resigned as a judge on the Colorado Appeals Court after allegations of racism surfaced in emails last year

Three judges appointed to review her behavior found that Judge Booras violated three canons of the Code of Judicial Conduct in sending emails to Sakowicz last year that Booras had claimed were protected by the First Amendment.

In one email, Booras referred to her ex-husband's Native American wife as 'the squaw,' and in another email, she referred to another Appeals Court Judge Terry Fox, a Latina, as 'the little Mexican.'

Judge Fox testified she felt 'sub-human' when learning her colleague had referred to her that way.

Judge Terry Fox said she felt 'sub-human' when learning about her colleague calling her 'the little Mexican'

'She provided powerful, compelling testimony about how she had to overcome obstacles her entire life due to the prejudice of others,' the three judges wrote about Fox's testimony, 'yet she never expected to be subjected to racist remarks from a fellow judge on the Court of Appeals.'

Booras later apologized to Fox saying that she, 'did not intend to hurt you and I understand my words likely did There is no justification for using the phrase.'

'Nonetheless, words are the art of an appellate judge who is trained to consider what she is writing before she sends off a written communication containing them,' the commission said regarding the apology.

Booras also disclosed how she would rule on a case weeks before actually making the ruling, the review judges said of another violation of judicial canon.

Along with her resignation, Booras was ordered to pay $5,442 to cover the cost of the investigation into her misconduct.
The family of a woman who was brutally murdered by a stranger who had left a mental health facility only a day prior attended her funeral on Friday.

Cara Hales, 30, was found dead after suffering serious injuries at her home in Munster in southern Perth nearly two weeks ago.

About 400 of Ms Hales' family and friends paid tribute to the 'thoughtful, kind and caring' woman at her funeral Bunbury on Friday, The West Australian reported.

Cara Hales, 30, was found dead after suffering serious injuries at her home in Munster in southern Perth nearly two weeks ago

About 400 of Ms Hales' family and friends paid tribute to the 'thoughtful, kind and caring' woman at her funeral Bunbury on Friday

'It was never a dull moment when she was around, she was so beautiful inside and out and had the most contagious laugh and the most wild stories,' friend Mandy Goodwin said.

Bek Taylor, another friend, said: 'Your huge smile, infectious laughter and ability to light up any room will be sorely missed but always warmly remembered,' she wrote.

'I'm so grateful to have met you and to have called you a friend.'

'Cara could light up a room with her beautiful smile and heartfelt laughter,' another said.

Ms Hales was in her Munster home alone on December 28 when 23-year-old Jessie de Beaux allegedly broke in and murdered her.

He was located by police near the scene running naked through bush, and he was later charged with her frenzied murder.

De Beaux left Graylands Hospital in Mount Claremont in the city's west on Thursday - just a day before Ms Hales was allegedly murdered.

Cara Hales (pictured), 30, was found dead after suffering serious injuries at her home in Munster in southern Perth

Jessie de Beaux (pictured), 23, was located by police near the scene naked and disorientated, and he was later charged with her murder

De Beaux left Graylands Hospital (pictured) in Mount Claremont in the city's west on Thursday - just a day before Ms Hales was allegedly murdered

He was a voluntary patient at the mental health facility and it is unclear how long he was there for or why he left, the West Australian reported.

A review of patient release procedures has been ordered by mental health authorities in the wake of Ms Hales's death.

De Beaux allegedly forced his way inside Ms Hales's home in broad daylight before stabbing her.

Ms Hales's housemate discovered the horrific scene after the alleged stabbing and called emergency services about 12.10pm on Friday.

Two hours later, police found de Beaux naked, disoriented and running through bush near Ms Hales's home.

North Metropolitan Health Service chief executive Robyn Lawrence said a 'thorough psychological assessment' is undertaken before patients are granted leave.

'All patients who have been appropriately clinically assessed as suitable for hospital discharge have the right to transition and reintegrate back into the community,' she said.

Ms Hales's (pictured) housemate discovered the horrific scene after the alleged stabbing and called emergency services about 12.10pm on Friday

Dr Lawrence said the North Metropolitan Health Service mental health team was assisting police.

Investigators have been told that Mr de Beaux was knocking off the doors of other homes near Ms Hales's residence asking for work.

They have also appealed for anyone with dash-mounted camera footage of Henderson Road and surrounding areas around the time of the alleged killing to come forward.

Ms Hales's devastated friend Cameron Douglas said he was feeling 'shocked' and 'angry' after learning of her death.

'Shocked, angry but most of all just sad to know you were taken from this earth. You were truly one of a kind. Much (love),' he posted to Facebook.

Ms Hales's cousin Kym Smith said 'words can't describe how I'm feeling at the moment' while sharing her own tribute.

De Beaux appeared in Perth Magistrates Court on Sunday charged with murder and appeared dishevelled, 9News reported.

De Beaux (pictured) allegedly forced his way inside Ms Hales's home in broad daylight before stabbing her

Detective Senior Sergeant Sean Wright said there was no evidence that Ms Hales knew De Beaux.

'At this point in time we have not identified any link between the victim and the man,' he said.

An autopsy is expected to be carried out this week, and forensic police investigated her semi-rural property.

Neighbours reportedly found Ms Hales inside her home and were confronted by a 'gruesome' scene after hearing a commotion.

Ms Hales is understood to have recently returned to live in Perth after residing in a different part of Australia.

De Beaux will next face court in January 2019.

Daily Mail Australia has contacted the WA North Metropolitan Health Service for comment.
Thousands of fraud victims tricked into handing over their life savings could now get their money back following a landmark watchdog ruling.

In a major victory for Money Mails Stop the Bank Scammers campaign, the Financial Ombudsman has ordered Santander to refund a customer who lost 12,000.

The ruling could open the floodgates for claims from many other fraud victims who have struggled to get any of their money back.

In the Santander case, the victim thought he was speaking to the banks fraud department and unwittingly gave criminals the information they needed to transfer money out of his account.

Thousands of fraud victims tricked into handing over their life savings could now get their money back following a landmark watchdog ruling

Banks typically refuse to refund scam victims in these instances on the grounds they authorised the payment or were negligent with their banking details  even if they had no idea they were speaking to fraudsters.

But in this case, the Ombudsman said the customer was a victim of a sophisticated scam with social engineering at the very heart of it and had not authorised the transaction or acted with gross negligence.

In the Santander case, the victim thought he was speaking to the banks fraud department

Fraud expert Richard Emery, of consultancy 4Keys International, said: This is a huge step forward. The Ombudsman now recognises fraudsters are far more sophisticated than in the past. The bar has been set at a higher level and, if a bank refuses to refund victims, it will have to prove they have been truly negligent.

He added: The chances of the Ombudsman taking the banks side now are very slim.

The decision means that fraud victims who have recently been refused a refund by their bank on the grounds they were grossly negligent could resubmit a complaint to their bank. The bank may then agree to have another look at the complaint and, if not, the customer could escalate it to the Ombudsman. Customers could also ask the Ombudsman to reopen their case if they have not yet received a final decision.

Top officer says: Give conmen longer in jail Fraudsters who steal thousands of pounds from vulnerable people should face tougher punishments because sentences are too short to deter them, one of Britains top detectives has said. Mick Gallagher, head of Scotland Yards organised crime command, said courts are failing to take account of the horrendous impact on cyber-crime victims. There are lots of victims and some of the smaller businesses subject to fraud will go bust, he said. People end up with depression, people end up suicidal, older people who have had their pensions milked  there is huge human cost. Detective Chief Superintendent Gallagher pointed out that a bank robber can be jailed for life, but the maximum sentence for an online fraudster who steals from bank customers is ten years. Asked whether legislators need to take a different attitude to fraud, he said: Yes, we could look at sentencing, because the sums of money these people are making are vast. He spoke out after a Daily Mail campaign highlighted the scale of online fraud, with 1million a day lost to bank transfer scams. Advertisement

Customers have six years to complain to their bank about a disputed unauthorised transaction. When banks reject a complaint, customers have six months to go to the Ombudsman.

Caroline Wayman, chief executive of the Financial Ombudsman Service, said: Each year, we see more than 8,000 cases involving fraud and scams.

Its not fair to automatically call a customer grossly negligent simply because theyve fallen for a scam. Thats especially true in light of the sophisticated way criminals exploit banks security systems  and convince customers that their money is at risk.

Gareth Shaw, from consumer group Which?, said: Its good to see this decision from the Ombudsman, which makes it clear banks should reimburse victims who lose money through no fault of their own. But not all victims will benefit from the Financial Ombudsmans new approach to ruling on fraud cases.

For example, the ruling would not apply if someone was tricked into transferring money into a fraudsters account for a car that later turned out not to exist or convinced to make a payment to a bogus solicitor when buying a house. This is because they transferred the money themselves, which is known as authorised push payment fraud. About 145million was lost to this type of fraud in the first six months of last year  up 50 per cent on the same period in 2017.

However, a new code of conduct is expected to be introduced soon to ensure all victims will be treated fairly and compensated. The Payment Systems Regulator said it is still being finalised.

A spokesman for Santander said: Santander has the deepest sympathy for customers who fall victims to scams. We acknowledge the new approach being taken by the Financial Ombudsman and have resolved this case in line with the decision. We will continue to work closely with the Ombudsman as this evolves.

I recovered 6k savings scammers stole from me Naika Butler lost 6,125 to scammers last summer. The 33-year-old childminder had received a text seemingly from NatWest about a potentially fraudulent 300 payment to Argos from her account. The text included a phone number for the banks fraud team. When she phoned, a man called Jeremy said he would sent a code to her mobile which she would need to read out. This would enable him to transfer the money to a new, safe account, he said. Naika Butler, 33, from Wickham, south east London, who lost 6,125 in savings When Miss Butler, a mother-of-three, from West Wickham, south-east London, visited her local branch the next week she found her savings were missing. The fraudster had also increased her overdraft to 8,000 and taken out a loan of 9,000, putting her in 17,000 of debt. After pressure from the Mail, NatWest agreed to write off the overdraft and loan. But it refused to refund her savings, claiming she had authorised the transaction. But after Money Mail contacted the bank yesterday to inform it of the Ombudsmans latest ruling, it agreed to pay back all the money. Mrs Butler said: To be told I am now getting a refund is fantastic. A NatWest spokesman said: We wish to apologise for the distress caused to her while we reached this decision. Advertisement




Tim Steiner (pictured with Polish lingerie model Patrycja Pyka) is set to receive a long-term bonus worth up to four million shares

The boss of online supermarket Ocado will bag a 23million bonus two years after his big money divorce was finalised.

The 116million fortune Tim Steiner made from Ocado was dented after a court battle with his wife of 14 years, Belinda.

The 49-year-old got together with his new partner, Polish lingerie model Patrycja Pyka, who is 20 years his junior, after his marriage ended.

Under the settlement with Belinda, 48, the father of four divided his 116million fortune with her. Their assets included a 15million mansion in Highgate, north London, and a ski chalet in French resort Courchevel.

But thanks to the success of the high-end grocer and its soaring share price Mr Steiner will remain a very rich man. In May he is in line for a long-term bonus worth up to four million shares.

Last year Ocado stock more than doubled from 4 a share to 8.76, making it one of Britain's most successful shares.

Precisely how much Mr Steiner will receive depends on how much the share price has increased in each of the past five years.

Company sources said he can expect to receive just over half the total possible rewards under the scheme, or 2.2million shares, equivalent to 19.14million at today's share price.

He may receive more if there is another surge in the share price in the next few months  or less if they fall in value.

On top of this he will receive a portion of 430,000 shares, worth another 3.7million, under a separate incentive plan depending on the performance of the retail business in the past two years.

The lucrative awards are on top of a third scheme  a 'golden handcuff' of around eight million shares, worth 70million, that he was given in 2010 before Ocado floated on the stock market and matured in 2014.

By May, Mr Steiner could expect to own 25.6million shares in Ocado, taking his fortune to over 222million. The share deals far outweigh the 950,000 he received in salary, pensions and benefits in 2017.

Mr Steiner and his former wife married in 1999, the year before he set up Ocado.

In the High Court divorce battle in 2016 he cited 'unreasonable behaviour' as the cause of the marriage breakdown and friends reported deep-seated acrimony between the pair.

The 116million fortune Mr Steiner made from Ocado was dented after a court battle with his wife of 14 years, Belinda (pictured)

He put up 68million of Ocado shares as collateral for a loan to fund his divorce obligations in 2016. The loan has been paid back and Ocado said this week that he did not sell any of his shares to fund the settlement.

Last summer he was reportedly living with Miss Pyka, 29, in an 80,000-a-month rented mansion near the former family home.

His girlfriend, a dental hygiene graduate from humble beginnings who grew up in south-west Poland, is only 11 years older than Mr Steiner's oldest son.

Ocado has become a stock market darling in the past year thanks to its pioneering technology such as stock-picking robots and state-of-the-art warehouses, earning it the nickname 'the Microsoft of retail'.

Ocado declined to comment on the share scheme.
Up-close footage of two funnel web spiders mating has been dubbed 'spider porn' by horrified viewers.

The venomous creatures were caught in the act at the Australian Reptile Park, in New South Wale's Central Coast, and was uploaded online on Facebook.

The male spider can be seen waiting for a female hidden inside a burrow who then emerges to front her potential mate.

Before funnel webs begin mating, the female and male engage in a brief sparring session

The female and male engage in a brief sparring session, before the female accepts her partner - a common act between all funnel webs before breeding.

Both funnel webs raise their front legs towards each other and press their bodies together.

He then inseminates his partner by inserting the tips of his palpal organs, which include droplets of sperm, into the female's genital opening under her abdomen.

'What did I just watch?!' one user commented on the video.

'This makes my skin crawl,' another wrote.

Male funnel webs will only have a few months to live after mating but females can live for several years after

Both funnel webs raise their front legs towards each other and press their bodies together

Mating season commonly occurs during the summer and autumn months as males leave their burrows to look for a female.

Females have chemicals called pheromones in their tripline silk, which helps male spiders identify her burrow.

Male funnel webs will only have a few months to live after mating but females can live for several years, with reports up to 20, according to the Queensland Museum.

Female funnel webs will lay her eggs in her burrow.
Thousands of Sydneysiders have vowed to protest following the 'brutal' arrest of popular local personality Danny Lim.

The 74-year-old, best known for is often-politically focused sandwich boards was arrested for offensive behaviour at Barangaroo in the city centre on Friday.

Video of the arrest shows Mr Lim holding a sandwich board sign that reads: 'SMILE CVN'T! WHY CVN'T?'

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Thousands of Sydneysiders have vowed to protest following the 'brutal' arrest of popular local personality Danny Lim (pictured)

Onlookers said Mr Lim was confronted by police over a controversial sign with many claiming officers were 'rough' and 'aggressive' and caused injuries (pictured above)

Onlookers said Mr Lim was confronted by police over a controversial sign with many claiming officers were 'rough' and 'aggressive'.

Photos posted on social media have shown Mr Lim sporting bloodied and bruised arms, which allegedly came from his confrontation with the officers.

Now, supporters have banded together and planned a protest on Sunday in response to the much-loved activist's 'brutal' arrest.

The event's organiser wrote its intent was 'to stand up to bullying by police'.

More than 2,000 people are planning to attend the event so far with another 8,000 saying they are interested.

Niki Anstiss, who filmed the encounter, labelled Friday's arrest 'disgusting' and is among multiple witnesses to lodge formal complaints over the officers' conduct.

However she also added police were pointing and shouting at Mr Lim before one 'ripped the sign off his back' and the other two forced him into handcuffs.

The 74-year-old, best known for is often-politically focused sandwich boards was arrested for offensive behaviour at Barangaroo in the city centre on Friday

Thousands of supporters have banded together and planned a protest on Sunday in response to the much-loved activist's 'brutal' arrest

'My issue is with the brutality of moving him on with such force,' she told AAP.

'He was screaming and crying 'don't take my sign'.'

As two officers led Mr Lim in cuffs to a police van, Ms Anstiss saw a third officer take the lead of the activist's small dog Smarty and follow 'faster than the dog could walk'.

'It took a woman telling the cop 'You need to pick the dog up' for them to stop dragging it.'

Christina Halm said up to 30 people stopped in their tracks and were 'all shocked, gasping and crying at what we were seeing'.

'I saw police officers use a completely unnecessary and unacceptable amount of force to arrest Danny for wearing a humorous sign,' she posted on Facebook.

A spokesman for NSW Police told Daily Mail Australia on Friday: 'Officers spoke to a 74-year-old man and gave him a move-on direction'.

'The man repeatedly refused to comply with the move-on direction and became aggressive towards police.

Sydney icon Danny Lim was confronted by police in Barrangaroo on Friday after a complaint was made about the language on his sign

'The man was then detained and issued a Criminal Infringement Notice for offensive behaviour and released a short time later.'

Footage taken of the altercation from a nearby office shows two officers push Mr Lim away from the area, as his screams of 'no' echo through the new development.

A third stops and appears to be getting Mr Lim's pet dog, Smarty.

Smarty, Mr Lim, and his colourful signs are widely known throughout the Sydney CBD, where man and dog can be seen travelling between suburbs with their often politicised sandwich boards.

Mr Lim gained notoriety after he took a $500 fine for offensive behaviour - issued for a sign calling then-Prime Minister Tony Abbott a c*** with an upside down v - to court, and walked away a free man.

His appeal was initially denied, but finally granted by Judge Andrew Scotting in August 2017, who found 'c***' had been used by Shakespeare, and was less offensive in Australia than many English-speaking countries.

Members of the public were astonished when the police arrived, with their reportedly rough actions causing Mr Lim to scream: 'please, help'

He was found to have been exercising his right to freedom of speech, and the infringement notice was quashed.

Witnesses were distraught at the way Mr Lim was treated on Friday, with many questioning the aggressive movements of the officers involved.

One woman, who asked not to be named, said she was sitting at a cafe nearby when the commotion began.

She told Daily Mail Australia Mr Lim had been 'sitting there chilling', when she first saw him, but was clearly in distress when she next turned around to find out what all the noise was about.

Mr Lim was cleared of a similar notice in 2017, after holding a sign telling then-Prime Minister Tony Abbott to 'smile c***'. A magistrate found the word was not as offensive in Australia as it was in other English-speaking countries

'We turned around and saw him with three officers, all holding him,' she said.

'It was really distressing to see - he was yelling out and screaming... honestly I couldn't believe what I was seeing, the force they were using didn't seem necessary at all.'

The woman said Barrangaroo security guards were aware of Mr Lim's presence, but police arrived after a single complaint was made.

'It's ridiculous,' she said. 'There's actually real crime just streets away.'
Keven Michael Konther, 53, was arrested on Thursday in California on rape charges

The DNA investigative technique used to catch the alleged Golden State Killer has led Southern California police to an arrest in a pair of cold case rapes from the 1990s, including one of a nine-year-old girl.

Keven Michael Konther, 53, was booked into Orange County Jail on Thursday on two counts of felony rape, oral copulation with a child under 14, lewd and lascivious acts with a child under 14 and aggravated sexual assault.

'This is the definition of a sexual predator. This is the definition of a person who preyed on innocent women,' Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer said at a press conference on Friday.

The shocking case dates back to the evening of October 21, 1995, when a nine-year-old girl was walking home at 6.40pm after purchasing some school supplies at a store near her Lake Forrest home.

On October 21, 1995 a rapist dragged a nine-year-old girl from this sidewalk into the woods of Serrano Creek Park, seen above in a file photo

Suddenly, a man grabbed the girl from behind on the sidewalk and dragged her into the woods of nearby Serrano Creek Park.

The sick predator forced the young girl to undress and raped her, then fled.

The traumatized little girl ran home and told her parents. Police launched a massive manhunt for the rapist but were unable to locate the suspect.

Despite her horrifying ideal, the girl gave police sketch artists a detailed description of the pervert and the suspect sketch was widely circulated.

'That nine-year-old, brave little girl - after being brutally molested and raped - was able to provide that description to our investigators. She is incredibly strong,' Orange County Sheriff Don Barnes said at a press conference.

There were no leads in the case until the rapist struck again three years later, on June 2, 1998, when a 31-year-old woman was jogging on a trail near El Torro Road and Mission Parkway in Mission Viejo.

Police generated this suspect sketch from the description given by the nine-year-old victim. Sheriff Barnes says it is an uncanny resemblance to Konther at that age

In the middle of the day - 11.30am - a man leaped out from the brush and grabbed the female jogger from behind, dragging her deep into the woods, where he raped her.

Again, the suspect fled the scene immediately after the attack. The terrified woman was able to flag down passersby, and police rushed to the scene. Again, the dragnet for the rapist came up empty.

DNA established that the two women were attacked by the same rapist - but police were unable to find a match in law enforcement databases. The case went cold.

For two decades, investigators continued searching for leads with no luck.

Then in April 2018, investigators in Northern California announced the arrest of 73-year-old James DeAngelo in the decades-old Golden State Killer case.

Police revealed that they had used a public DNA database that people use to find unknown family relations to identify DeAngelo, matching with a distant relative in the database and then working through his family tree.

In Orange County, Detective Jason Perez saw the news and decided to try the same technique in the cold case rapes.

The DNA investigative technique that led cops to Joseph DeAngelo (above) in the Golden State Killer case was an inspiration for the detectives who tracked down Konther

Using the public databases, he was shocked when the trail led to not one suspect, but two - identical twins who have the same DNA.

After consulting with prosecutors, deputies swooped in on both Konther and his twin brother on Thursday, arresting both men in their homes in Highland.

After bringing both men in for questioning, police booked Konther, a garage repairman, on the rape charges, and set his twin brother free.

Police are being cautious at this point about revealing how they determined Konther was their suspect, saying only that they used 'investigative techniques' that will be revealed at trial.

'We are confident that we have the individual in custody,' Sheriff Barnes said.

Sheriff Barnes would not reveal why police suspect Konther instead of his identical twin brother, who has the same DNA, but promised all the evidence would be revealed at trial

The sheriff said that when the two victims were notified of Konther's arrest, the younger victim, now in her 30s, reacted with shock, as the news dredged up her horrifying childhood trauma. The older victim, he said, was 'elated' at the arrest.

'While much of the focus will be on the methods used to identify the suspect, we must not lose sight of the victims,' the sheriff said.

'They have lived for 23 and 20 years respectively with no answers. This nine year old girl - nine-year-old girl - in elementary school who was walking home from buying pencils was brutally raped,' Barnes continued.

Konther is being held in the Orange County Jail. Bail has been set at $1 million and he is set to be arraigned on Monday.

It is unclear whether Konther has an attorney who could speak on his behalf. If convicted, he faces 125 years to life in prison.

Prosecutors have said there is a possibility of additional charges in the case, and that there may be other victims.
Ian J. Cohn: The Faces of Phlamoudhi

February 9  April 28, 2019

Print Study Center

Ian J. Cohn (American, born 1950) is a New York architect and photographer. In 1972, while serving as the official photographer for the Columbia University archaeological expedition to Cyprus, Cohn began a personal study, documenting life in the small northern village of Phlamoudhi. Less than two years later, Turkey invaded Cyprus, forcibly displacing more than 155,000 citizens, including the entire population of the village.

Stored in a box for almost 35 years before they were serendipitously rediscovered, the photographs were declared a Cypriot ethnographic treasure and exhibited at the Cyprus Museum in 2009. Since then, Cohn has reconnected with the community in diaspora, returned to the now Turkish-occupied village, and re-photographed many of his subjects. Organized by Cohn with the assistance of director John Olbrantz, this exhibition offers an intimate glimpse into life from a time and place little known outside Cyprus, the photographs a powerful link to memory and personal identities.

Related Events

Lecture with Ian J. Cohn

Phlamoudhi: From the Bronze Age to the Digital Era

Saturday, February 9, 2019

5- 6 p.m.

Paulus Lecture Hall, Willamette University College of Law

Free and open to the public

.........................................................

Members/VIP Opening Reception



Saturday, February 9, 2019, 6 - 8 p.m.

Hallie Ford Museum of Art

Members and museum invited guests only

Cost

Museum members and museum VIP invited guests: complimentary

New Members: are welcome to join at the event or online

RSVP ONLINE BY February 4, 2019

Or by phone at 503-370-6855 or by email at museum-art@willamette.edu

.........................................................

Film Showing

The Faces of Phlamoudhi: A Documentary by Rupert Barclay

(2014, color, 45 minutes)

Sunday, February 10, 2019 23 p.m.

Roger Hull Lecture Hall, Hallie Ford Museum of Art

Free and open to the public

Book The Faces of Phlamoudhi: Life in a Small Village on the North Coast of Cyprus, Summer 1972: A Photographic Essay

by Ian J Cohn

Paperback - 84 pages

Publisher: New York: Diversity: Architecture & Design (2010)

Available in the HFMA store or by calling 503-370-6855

$25
An attempt to raise funds for the southern border wall touted by President Trump fell short of its $1 billion goal, prompting GoFundMe to return the $20 million raised so far.

Brian Kolfage, the Air Force veteran and triple amputee who founded the campaign, had set a goal of $1 billion on December 16 of last year to help build the barrier.

'However, that did not happen,' Bobby Whithorne, a GoFundMe spokesman told Business Insider. 'This means all donors will receive a refund.'

Kolfage's will now attempt to build the wall without going through government channels, and is instead asking people to redirect their donations to a new non-profit organization.

GoFundMe says it will refund the $20 million donated so far to border wall fundraiser as it falls short of its $1 billion goal

The founder of the 'We The People Will Build the Wall' GoFundMe campaign, Brian Kolfage seen here, is asking donors to redirect their funds to a non-profit to build the wall

'We are better equipped than our own government to use the donated funds to build an actual wall on the southern border,' Kolfage writes on his GoFundMe page.

'To show the government how "We the People" can get this done, we have formed a Section 501(c)(4) non-profit Florida Corporation named "We Build the Wall, Inc." to receive the GoFundMe contributions.'

The post also names other individuals like Erik Prince, founder of military contracting company Blackwater, former Milwaukee County Sheriff David Clarke and former Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach as part of this new campaign.

After Kolfage's initial GoFundMe campaign went viral, the decorated veteran's past activities running the Facebook pages Right Wing News, VeteranAF and FreedomDaily came to light.

The pages were shut down by the social media network last fall in a purge of more than 500 political pages, with Facebook stating it had removed pages that had 'consistently broken our rules against spam and coordinated inauthentic behavior.'

We Build the Wall Inc., 501(c)(4) non-profit, aims to construct a portion of the wall by itself, according to Brian Kolfage, seen with his family in the banner picture on the website

Kolfage intends to help Trump follow through with his promised border wall. Trump (center) with Sen. John Cornyn (left) and Sen. Ted Cruz (2nd from the right) are seen near the Rio Grande in Texas on January 10

Kolfage set up a campaign called Fight4FreeSpeech in response to the Facebook ban, which also accepts donations.

From the outset, there were doubts over whether donations could be specifically earmarked specifically for a wall as financial gifts for the United States Funds are set aside by Congress for general use and 'budget needs.'

On his newest website, Kolfage reiterates the reason for his fundraising. If 63 million Trump voters each pledged $80, 'we can build the wall', he says.

A partial government shutdown over the border wall between President Trump and Congressional Democrats is now tied for the longest in US history.

Construction crews install new border wall sections on January 9 seen from Tijuana, Mexico
A Sydney women's rights group are said to be devastated that a Saudi refugee who they helped escape has decided to begin her new life in Canada.

Rahaf Mohammed al-Qunun, 18, feared her family would kill her after she renounced Islam, and allegedly enlisted the help of the covert network of Australian women to escape her native country.

The group believed she was bound for Australia up until last night, when it was confirmed that Canada had granted her asylum.

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Rahaf Mohammed al-Qunun (pictured) previously reacted to news Australia was considering granting her asylum, saying, 'Is it true??? Australia wants me to go there??? I'm so happy'

Canada is now the new home for Saudi refugee Rahaf Mohammed al-Qunun (pictured)

The teen took a flight to Seoul, South Korea, before boarding the flight to Toronto overnight, despite initial hints she was bound for Australia.

Her case was expedited after it garnered an unprecedented amount of media attention. For refugees seeking asylum in Australia, the general wait time is in excess of 15 months.

'Canada has been unequivocal that we'll stand up for human rights and women's rights around the world,' Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said.

'When the United Nations made a request of us that we grant miss (Rahaf Mohammed) al-Qunun's asylum, we accepted.'

Canada's ambassador saw her off at the airport, Mr Surachate said, adding that she looked happy and healthy. 'She chose Canada. It's her personal decision,' he said.

Members of Secret Sisterhood group held a topless protest in Sydney in support of Rahaf Mohammed al-Qunun

'Canada has been unequivocal that we'll stand up for human rights and women's rights around the world,' Prime Minister Justin Trudeau (pictured) said

But the underground network of Australian women who allegedly helped the teen are devastated that she will not be joining them in Sydney.

The group, which includes other ex-Muslim women who have given up Islam, are said to be holed up in a Sydney safe house.

One of the group's members told The Australian 'everyone here is in tears,' after they learned of Ms al-Qunun's fate.

Another member of the group, known as Nourah, escaped from Saudi Arabia in October 2018, describing her former home as a 'filthy male kingdom'.

The group is comprised of women from many different backgrounds, some of which have escaped from Saudi and converted from Islam as well as other Australian women who are passionate about human rights.

Ms al-Qunun (pictured at Bangkok airport) escaped from her family when she embarked on a solo trip to Kuwait and bought a ticket to Bangkok

In addition to Ms al-Qunun, the group are currently helping two other women who attempted to escape the region and have been stuck in Hong Kong en route to Australia.

One of the group's unnamed member described the teen as fearless.

They said: 'She was scared, but she was fearless about using social media.

'We've seen other women, they will tweet their distress if they are held up at the airport but they won't tweet at the media, they won't be demanding attention like she was. She was terrified but she was so determined not to get sent back.'

Ms al-Qunun was set to undergo Australian checks for a humanitarian visa, including character and security assessments

Ms al-Qunun is the daughter of a Saudi governor and has nine siblings. She used a loophole in the state's tough laws to travel to Kuwait unaccompanied.

From there, she purchased a ticket to Bangkok and was hoping to seek asylum in Canada, the United States, Australia, the UK or 'any nation would protect her from being harmed or killed by her family'.

Instead, her passport was seized by a Saudi diplomat and she was forced to lock herself in an apartment room.

Her dire situation was compared to that of Dina Ali Lasloom, a 24-year-old woman who sought asylum under similar circumstances at Manila airport in April of 2017.

She pleaded for help but was ultimately forced back on a plane home - kicking and screaming - and has never been heard from since.

Ms al-Qunun's case garnered far more attention at a quicker speed, with many praising social media and technology.

After pleading with a measly 24 followers, her plight was picked up by numerous figures around the world who shared her story to their followers.

Within 24 hours, she had over 45,000 followers and growing.

Soon after, she was tweeting to 100,000 people.

The 18-year-old (pictured with her 12-year-old sister Joud) said she had 'escaped Kuwait' and that her life would be in danger if she were forced to return to Saudi Arabia

She made headlines earlier this week after she began tweeting from the transit area of Bangkok airport, saying her life would be in danger if she returned to Kuwait.

Thai authorities eventually allowed her to enter the country on Monday evening and the UN refugee agency referred Rahaf to Australia for consideration for refugee resettlement.

The U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees granted her refugee status on Wednesday.

The 18-year-old was detained in Thailand following her arrival in the country. She is pictured having barricaded herself in an airport hotel room in a bid to avoid deportation

Despite having harnessed the power of Twitter to stave off deportation on Friday, she abruptly suspended her account, with friends saying she had received death threats.

She also opened up about living with her family in Saudi Arabia, describing it as difficult as she had no freedom.

'It was so bad. I mean, of course there are good days but they hurt me a lot.

'I have no choice to choose what I want,' she said.

The 18-year-old even rallied against online trolls who were spreading rumours on social media that she was lying about her situation.

'They don't know about my life and they don't know how my family treats me,' she said.

'I want life. I want to be independent. How can they say this just because I do something they don't like?

'I want to become a strong woman, I want freedom of expression, of religion and politics. I want to live a normal life.'

Ms al-Qunun has also claimed her family would kill her if she were sent home to Saudi Arabia, where she has renounced Islam and 'rebelled' against her father.
A California jury ruled Friday that the Mongols motorcycle gang should be stripped of its trademark logo - showing a Mongol warrior on a chopper - the first verdict of its kind, federal prosecutors said.

It's an unusual end to a decade-long attempt by prosecutors to dismantle the gang responsible for drug dealing and murder by seizing control of the trademark they said was core to the gangs identity.

It comes after the jury in U.S. District Court in Santa Ana had found Mongol Nation, the entity that owns the image, guilty of racketeering and conspiracy.

The ruling, that the Mongols motorcycle gang should be stripped of its trademark logo, (seen above) is the first verdict of its kind, federal prosecutors said

Gang members were 'empowered by these symbols that they wear like armor,' Assistant U.S. Attorney Steve Welk said.

The forfeiture still needs to be approved by a federal judge and the practical effect of such an order was not immediately clear.

When prosecutors announced the charges in 2008 they said a forfeiture order would allow any law enforcement officer to stop a gang member and 'literally take the jacket right off his back,' according to court papers.

Prosecutors wouldn't comment Friday on what would happen going forward. But defense lawyer Joseph Yanny questioned whether the judge would actually issue such an order and said the novel theory was ill-conceived.

ATF Acting Director Michael Sullivan (3rd left) is shown seized weapons during a press conference in Los Angeles following the arrest of 61 members of the Mongol Motorcycle gang

Historical photos of arrested and wanted Mongol Motorcycle gang members on display during a press conference in Los Angeles. Prosecutors say the trademark is core to the gang's identity

'If you were a law enforcement officer and you knew there was a gang out there and they had emblems on that identifies who they are, why in God's name would you want to take them off of them so you couldn't know who they were?' Yanny said. 'It's the stupidest thing.'

Yanny, who is challenging the convictions, argued at trial that the organization was a club, not a gang, that didn't tolerate criminal activity.

He said the government targeted the group because of its large Mexican-American population and turned the crimes of some into a 'group conviction.'

In November, former pro wrestler and Minnesota Gov. Jesse Ventura testified for the defense, denying the Mongols were a criminal gang.

Ventura said he neither committed crimes nor was told to do so when he was a Mongol in the 1970s.

The Mongols was founded in 1969 in a Los Angeles suburb. The group is estimated to have more than 1,000 riders worldwide

But jurors found the Mongols were a criminal enterprise responsible for murder, attempted murder and drug dealing.

Killers in the gang were awarded a special skull-and-crossbones patch, Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher M. Brunwin said.

He told jurors about the killing of a Hells Angels leader in San Francisco, a Nevada brawl in 2002 that left members of both clubs dead, and the death of a Pomona policeman who was killed as he broke down the door of a Mongols member to serve a search warrant in 2014.

The ruling is the climax to a quest by prosecutors to seize control of the trademark they say is core to the gang's identity and to dismantle the gang 'responsible for drug dealing and murder'

The effort to take the logo followed the racketeering convictions of 77 gang members in 2008 after U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives agents infiltrated the gang.

Four male ATF agents became 'full-patch' members and four female agents posed as their girlfriends during the lengthy investigation.

'Being a Mongol promises you one of two things - death or prison,' a member told one of the agents who received a coveted patch, prosecutors said.

The Mongols was founded in a Los Angeles suburb in 1969. The group is estimated to have more than 1,000 riders in chapters worldwide.

The verdict will lead to the forfeiture of the gang's legal interest in the word 'Mongols' and some of their patches, as well as Mongols items seized during the investigation, prosecutors said.

A judge could also impose fines at a future sentencing hearing.
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There were few obvious reasons to celebrate in the New York City of the 1970s, an era defined more by grime and crime than glitz or glamour in the crowded hub. Every day seemed to bring new challenges as the city's anxious residents slogged away; the Bronx was burning, violence was escalating, and everyone from cops and firefighters to garbage men were disgusted with conditions and life amidst the graffiti-scarred, litter-laced streets.

Despite that, however  or perhaps because of it  the weekends brought out a different New York. Manhattan and its clubs transformed into a hedonistic mecca, the promise of drugs, disco and dancing luring jaded workers looking to splash their hard-earned money on a nightlife marked by escape and fantasy. By the mid-1970s, the US had pulled out of Vietnam, and the devastating specter of HIV and AIDS had not yet terrified the public consciousness.

Saturday night 'fever'  destined to become a cult classic film of the same name  was a reality in the 1970s, a beacon shining amidst the fetid despair of a struggling and claustrophobic town. Clubs like Studio 54 flourished, as celebrities and average-Joe patrons let down their hair and dressed up their outfits.

And there to document the decadence was photographer Meryl Meisler, whose images capture a unique time in American history  along with the wild, free-wheeling antics of the people lucky enough to witness it firsthand.

Three's company: Two men and a woman shake their stuff on the dance floor at Studio 54 in July 1977, the year it was opened

Get down: Studio 54 (pictured in July 1977) became world-famous for its celebrity guests and its very restrictive entrance policy. Wannabe patrons who didn't look that part had no chance of getting past the nightclub's bouncers

Spin those wheels of steel: Meisler noted that a lot of the parties during the time period were themed and people dressed accordingly for the night, which led to a lot of women and men sporting some very risque outfits. Pictured above is a woman standing behind the DJ booth at 4am inside Studio 54 in August 1977

Saturday night fever: The 1970s was an era defined more by grime and crime than glitz or glamour - but the weekends brought out a different New York when workers hit the club scene and danced their cares away

'I was a young woman who was going out and having a really good time, staying out late at night,' Meisler tells DailyMail.com  adding that her presence on the scene even gave her glimpses of pop culture icons.

'The Village People were around a lot and performing a lot,' she says. 'They opened a lot of clubs in the city and one of the nights I saw them, they were opening this club called Xenon.'

'They were just getting ready to go in there, and I just walked right up to them in the hallway and asked if I could take your picture  and they said sure, no problem.'

Meisler notes that many Seventies parties were themed, prompting people to dress outrageously  further fueling the hedonistic vibe.

Studio 54 was perhaps the most iconic venue, enforcing strict regulations and ruthless admissions policies  but Meisler was a regular, along with more famous names and faces like Andy Warhol and Grace Jones.

Speaking to DailyMail.com, Meisler , who is a New York native, said: 'I was a young woman who was going out and having a really good time staying out late at night,' she jokingly laughed. Meisler captured the photo above in October 1978 showing people being rejected from Studio 54 thanks to their infamous entry policy

Strike a pose: Everyone dressed to impress in August 1977 at the Infinity nightclub in New York, the first to be neon-lit. The dance floor is said to have been a block-long. The club burned down in 1979

Work it: A group of revelers pose for Meryl Meisler's camera at Hurrah in April 1978. Hurrah was a Midtown Manhattan nightclub that ran from 1976 until 1980 and was known for having a punk vibe rather than the traditional disco. Sid Vicious was jailed for two months at Rikers Island after getting into a fight with Patti Smith's brother Todd at Hurrah in late 1978

'They were like regular people,' she says. 'You know, once you got into Studio 54 and other clubs as well, celebrities were normal. A lot of nights out it was a mix; regular people happened to be in the club and so everyone was mingling.

'Andy Warhol was just there, he was out a lot. He was really out and about.'

While Meisler skillfully pointed her lens and captured fabulous shots, she never fawned over the more well-known club patrons and would never 'run and attack' celebrities, she says.

'I would get get a kick when I would see someone who's famous, but they weren't my focus,' Meisler tells DailyMail.com.

'I'm not someone who just, like, would run up and attack them. It was more interesting for me to see the regular people, who are just equally fantastic.'

It's fun to stay at the Y.M.C.A: The iconic group, The Village People, were one of the most popular acts to come out of the disco period in the 1970s. Acclaimed photographer Meryl Meisler captured the above image of Leatherman Glenn Hughes performing on stage at club Xenon in June 1978

During one of her infamous nights out in the Big Apple, Meisler stumbled across legendary group The Village People. 'The Village People were around a lot and performing a lot. They opened a lot of clubs in the city and one of the nights I saw them, they were opening this club called Xenon,' Meisler recalled of the image above showing Felipe Rose known as Red Indian of the Village People

Party animal: Meisler was a regular in the iconic Studio 54 club, which had strict regulations when it came to admitting people for parties, and partied alongside A-listers like Andy Warhol and Grace Jones. Meisler captured the image above showing Warhol center with one of her friends named Judith (left) inside Studio 54 in July 1979

And her images expertly showcase that 'fantastic' factor, capturing the frenetic atmosphere, flamboyant fashion and social diversity. She has preserved for history all of those elements, publishing books that reveal the various sides and stages of New York. A Tale of Two Cities: Disco Era Bushwick features disco images and accounts from historians, educators and disco divas; similarly, her book Purgatory & Paradise: Sassy 70s Suburbia & the City includes photos from Fire Island, Studio 54 and the Lower East Side.

The books  along with her other images  paint a vivid portrait of a risque, wild time in a city both struggling and evolving but all the while, in keeping with its reputation, never sleeping. The photos leap off the pages  and, four decades later, still stir up the 'fever' as it was in its heyday.
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A rookie New York firefighter who plunged to his death off a highway bridge while rushing to rescue a man trapped in an overturned vehicle had bravery 'in his blood,' Fire Commissioner Daniel Nigro said at his funeral Friday.

Before the service for Steven Pollard, thousands of firefighters from the city and around the country stood silently in dress uniforms on a street of red brick homes near the Good Shepherd Roman Catholic Church in Brooklyn's Marine Park, where he was raised.

The remains of the 30-year-old, the son and brother of firefighters, arrived in a casket atop a fire engine of Ladder Company 170 in the nearby Canarsie neighborhood, where he was assigned.

Late January 6, the company responded to an accident on Brooklyn's Belt Parkway. Working in the dark on the cold, windy night, Pollard was running toward the vehicle that had flipped over when he fell into a gap between bridge spans and plunged about 50 feet.

Fallen firefighter Steven Pollard's casket is driven on his fire house truck through a roadway lined with thousands of firefighters, Friday Jan. 11, 2019, in New York. He was assigned to Ladder 170 of the Fire Department of New York when he was fatally injured last Sunday in Brooklyn

The family of 30-year-old firefighter Steven Pollard arrives at his funeral mass. His brother Raymond Jr. (center) holds his helmet

Loved ones to the late Pollard stand as his casket leaves Good Shepherd church following the funeral service Friday in New York City

Pollard's casket is driven on his fire house truck through a roadway lined with thousands of firefighters Friday in New York

Thousands of firefighters from the city and around the country stood silently in dress uniforms on a street of red brick homes near the Good Shepherd Roman Catholic Church in Brooklyn's Marine Park, where he was raised

Pollard's casket is driven on his fire house truck through a roadway. Pollard joined the Fire Department of New York only a year and a half ago and had just passed his FDNY probation

'On Sunday, what Steven Pollard saw was a fellow New Yorker, a fellow human being in a crumpled SUV,' Mayor Bill de Blasio told mourners.

'He did not hesitate; he saw someone in danger, someone who needed help, and he rushed forward and that instant, gave his life.'

Friends at the funeral described him as a soft-spoken but fearless man.

'When it came to fire duty, Steve showed no fear,' his colleague at Ladder 170, Timothy Klein, said, adding jokingly: 'Now, on the other hand, dressing as Santa Claus absolutely terrified him.'

Klein said he was with Pollard the night he died, and 'Steven Pollard died not thinking of himself but trying to help others.'

Pollard joined the Fire Department of New York only a year and a half ago and had just passed his FDNY probation 'with flying colors,' said Ladder 170 Capt. Jimmy Quinn.

Steven H. Pollard (pictured) was responding to a car accident in Brooklyn January 6, when fell from an overpass and later died at a hospital

The casket of New York City fire department (FDNY) firefighter Pollard of Ladder 170 leaves Good Shepherd church after his funeral service in the Brooklyn borough of New York City, New York on Friday

The remains of the 30-year-old, the son and brother of firefighters, arrived in a casket atop a fire engine of Ladder Company 170 in the nearby Canarsie neighborhood, where he was assigned

Firefighters salute for fallen firefighter Pollard during his funeral service, Friday in New York

Firefighters stand in formation listening during funeral service for fallen firefighter Steven Pollard, Friday in New York

Pollard's helmet was presented to his family.

His father, Raymond Pollard Sr., retired after 32 years in the FDNY, and his brother Raymond Pollard Jr., is still serving after 11 years.

'This family will always be a part of our family,' Nigro said.

Pollard was the 1,151st fire department member to die in the line of duty in New York. The city has about 11,000 uniformed firefighters.

On Wednesday, hundreds of mourners gathered for Pollard's wake. The tragedy rippled through New York City's fire department, who are now mourning the loss.

Wednesday night marked the start of three days of services for Pollard.

'At a time when people are tempted to get cynical and wonder where our heroes are, where sacrifice and selflessness is, all you've got to do is think about Steven Pollard,' said Cardinal Timothy Dolan.

A priest performs final rites over the casket of fallen firefighter Steven Pollard as it leaves Good Shepherd Roman Catholic Church on Friday in the Brooklyn borough of New York

The casket of New York City fire department (FDNY) firefighter Pollard leaves Good Shepherd church after his funeral service in Brooklyn Friday

The funeral procession for Pollard is lead by an antique fire truck carrying the logo of his favorite hockey team, the New York Rangers

'We all hope that when our loved ones go off to work each tour they come back safe,' said FDNY Commissioner Daniel Nigro said, according to ABC7. 'But in the back of each family's mind is the knowledge that they may not.'

The wake at Marine Park Funeral Home continued Thursday from 2 to 4pm and 7 to 9pm.

On Monday, an emotional bunting ceremony was held to honor Pollard.

Hundreds of FDNY officers, community members and loved ones gathered in Canarsie to honor the late probationary officer.

Pollard had been walking between the carriageways of the Mill Basin Bridge on Sunday when he tragically tumbled 52 feet through a 3 foot-wide gap that he attempted to climb over. He was trying to rescue Travis Simms, 30, who was trapped in his wrecked Ford Explorer.

The helmet of New York City fire department firefighter Pollard of Ladder 170 is held as his casket is carried into Good Shepherd church in the Brooklyn borough of New York City on Friday

A tear runs down the eye of a firefighter Friday during the funeral for New York City fire department firefighter Pollard

The bridge, which was originally solid the whole way across, was recently rebuilt to include a gap between each side of the road.

The ceremony took place outside Ladder Company 170 in Canarsie, where the American flag hung from a ladder truck as 'Amazing Grace' played.

Pollard was remembered throughout the community Monday as a hard-working and 'model' firefighter.

Captain James Quinn said: 'Steven Pollard came to us in November of 2017, out of probie school.

'He was the model probie. Any job we gave him, he accomplished it. Any task we asked him to do, he did it well.

'He was a good firefighter... he was on the way to being a great firefighter. He was going to become an anchor in the firehouse.'

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio also said Monday: '[Pollard] devoted his life to the people of our city, like his brother, like his dad, he was trying to do such a good and important thing, and it's just really painful to see him as we did in the hospital.'

Aside from Pollard's father Ray Pollard, of Ladder 102 in Brooklyn and his brother Ray Pollard Jr., who is an active member of Ladder Company 114, he is also survived by his mother.
A New Zealander who attempted to rape an air hostess at one of Australia's busiest airports had previously escaped Bali after a similar attack.

Greyson Murphy, 26, from Christchurch, had been waiting to board a plane back to his homeland at Melbourne Airport when his urges took control.

He would later tell police that he had every intention of stripping the Jetstar hostess off and raping her.

Greyson Murphy, 26, of Christchurch, is likely to be deported back to his homeland after attacking a woman in the toilets at Melbourne Airport

A Jetstar employee was set upon by Murphy as she took a toilet break in the early hours of the morning at Melbourne Airport (stock image)

'I grabbed a girl and I was trying to rape her but she broke free,' he told Australian Federal Police on his arrest.

The woman had been working at the customer service desk at 5.15am last April when she made a trip to the toilets.

Murphy had not long been released from a mental facility in Perth after making a rapid retreat from the resort island of Bali where he had attacked another woman.

Another airport worker had noticed Murphy watching the toilets as she went in.

She then noticed Murphy was in a cubicle and appeared to be standing so that his shoes could be seen under the door.

His victim was about to wash her hands when Murphy pounced.

'C'mon baby' he repeated as he tried to pull the terrified woman into the cubicle.

When the other woman who had been in the toilets came to the woman's aid, Murphy told her that he knew her and continued his attack.

She eventually broke free and Murphy fled.

He later told a friend what had happened.

'I was in the girl's toilet and I grabbed a girl and another girl grabbed her off me,' he said.

Murphy pleaded guilty in the County Court of Victoria to one charge of assault with attempt to commit sexual assault.

He faced up to 15 years in prison.

Greyson Murphy, 26, of Christchurch, pleaded guilty to attempting to rape a worker at Melbourne Airport

Melbourne Airport's Jetstar terminal where Greyson Murphy attacked a worker in the toilets

Judge John Carmody said Murphy chose his victim because she was attractive.

'So you wanted to have sex with her. You said, you defined rape to the police as having sex with someone without them wanting it,' he said.

`You acknowledged that she was probably scared, did not know what was going on and was threatened.'

The attack had devastated the young woman, who remained scared and unable to go about her work, socialise and participate in her fitness competitions.

`She has lost her sport, her confidence in a social setting and trusting people generally,' Judge Carmody said.

Murphy had only been in Australia for three years when he committed the sickening attack.

Dermot Dann, QC, argued his client should get a discount because of his mental illness. he is pictured leaving the Supreme Court of Appeal in Melbourne

The court heard he was lucky not to be rotting in a Bali prison.

'You are fortunate that your family members acted so promptly to rescue you and evacuate you from Bali,' Judge Carmody said.

A psychiatrist said Murphy had tried to 'gas' himself at Bali Airport after hearing voices.

While on remand, Murphy attacked a female prison worker and was put into lockdown.

He told the doctor he had an 'urge to touch women and let go...Just touch' with an anxiety that 'something bad would happen' if he did not do it.

Murphy's barrister Dermot Dann, QC, argued his client should get a discount because of his mental illness.

Judge Carmody accepted Murphy suffered from an underlying mental disorder.

He convicted and sentenced Murphy to three years in jail, with a non-parole period of two years.




A controversial Scientology detox program is being promoted to children with promises of free ice blocks, juice and games.

Critics have lashed the anti-drugs and anti-psychiatry church for promoting the intense 'purification rundown' to Melbourne school kids.

'This school holiday is the perfect time to get your kids on the Bridge to Total Freedom,' an internal email sent to Scientologists said.

'If you secure the Purification Rundown for your child with Melbourne foundation, they will receive the Kids Purif Pack.'

A child holds a 'purification rundown' certificate at an Australian Church of Scientology office (as supplied to Daily Mail Australia by Rod Keller from The Underground Bunker)

An email sent to Scientologists encouraging parents to send their children to have the 'Purification Rundown'

An advertisement for the 'purification rundown' featuring ice blocks and Uno cards

A sauna inside the so-called 'purification centre' at the Church of Scientology community centre in Los Angeles

The 'Purification Rundown' is described by Scientologists as a 'tightly supervised regimen of exercise, sauna and nutrition' that involves a heavy doses of vitamins.

Scientology, which was founded by science fiction writer L. Ron Hubbard, claims the 'rundown' removes drugs from the body, boosts IQ and leads to a higher spiritual plane.

Actor Tom Cruise is one of the most famous faces of the Church of Scientology

But doctors have said the program is unproven and Scientology critic Rod Keller, a senior reporter for The Underground Bunker, said 'the Purif is particularly dangerous for children'.

He said former members of the Church had claimed that they blamed the high vitamin doses for decreased liver function.

Mr Keller said the pamphlet was being promoted to the children of active members of the Victorian arm of the Church.

'They will probably attend a Scientology school and may be recruited into the Sea Org at age 14 or 15,' he said.

'If you joined as an adult you have a basis for comparison with life outside Scientology, but these kids know only one life in the organisation.

'If they even think of leaving they risk disconnection and their parents might not ever speak to them again.

'Every part of Scientology is sad for me, but involving children makes that more intense.'

A woman holds an award indicating she has ascended a stage of Scientology's 'Bridge to Total Freedom'

Contacted for comment, a spokeswoman for the Church of Scientology said religious faiths routinely raise their children in the practices of their religion.

She said that a landmark 1983 High Court decision protects the Church of Scientology's beliefs and practices as a bona fide religion.

'Would you object to Catholic children being baptized? Or Jewish children being given a bar mitzvah? Or Muslim children being taught the Quran?

'Why is it any different for Scientologists?'

The Victorian promotion comes after a fatal stabbing at the grounds of the Church's Sydney headquarters.

A 24-year-old Taiwanese Scientology follower was killed after a boy, 16, stormed the grounds of Scientology's Chatswood headquarters on January 3.

Sources have claimed the boy begged his mother not go through with the Purification Rundown.
Collapsed power firm Economy Energy is being sued for millions of pounds by three companies including National Grid, The Mail on Sunday can reveal.

An investigation by this newspaper found that the firms boss, Lubna Khilji, 33, was embroiled in a series of disputes before the firm ceased trading last week.

In one case, National Grid claims the company owes it 12million for supplying smart meters.

Investigation: Boss Lubna Khilji has been involved in a web of energy firms

Two other smart meter installation businesses, Access Install and Green Deal Marketing Southern, took Economy Energy to court in 2017 and 2018 over unpaid bills.

The company is understood to be contesting the cases.

Economy Energy, whose 235,000 customers have now been taken on by Ovo, had made a last-ditch bid to survive last month when it hired City powerhouse KPMG to help raise 5million.

Khilji  who bought her home in Kenilworth, Warwickshire, with 964,000 in cash two years ago, according to Land Registry information  was reported to have offered to put up 5million of her own money as well.

But The Mail on Sunday can reveal that documents given out to potential investors failed to mention the outstanding court cases.

They also claimed that she owned 100 per cent of the company  a statement backed up by its latest published accounts. However, other records on Companies House suggest that Paul Cooke, who also owns rival firm E Energy jointly with Khilji, was also a shareholder of Economy at that time.

Last night, lawyers for Cooke said Economys shares were wholly owned by Khilji when the company collapsed. Companies owned by Cooke, 50, and Khilji have been under investigation since 2016 by the regulator Ofgem for alleged collusion. The pair appear to have spent the past few months altering the ownership structures of a web of energy firms they control.

Over the past year, nine energy suppliers have gone bust

On December 21, Khilji stepped down as a director of three other energy companies, which all have licences to supply gas and electricity to homes.

She was replaced by Cooke. On the same day, ownership of Vavu Power, Albuquerque Energy and Santana Energy transferred from Economy Energy to E Energy.

The registered address also changed from Economy Energys office in Coventry, where Khilji was spotted by The Mail on Sunday last week, to Es Birmingham headquarters. Industry experts said these brands could now be used to attract new customers.

The revelations will heap pressure on regulator Ofgem to tighten up the rules for individuals who try to set up energy firms in Britain.

Over the past year, nine suppliers have gone bust, yet the owners have walked away from any money owed to customers or in taxes. That has left a bill of about 100million for other suppliers.

Last night, one senior industry source said of Economy Energys dealings: In all my years in the industry I have never seen anything like this. Economys behaviour is outrageous and completely unprecedented. How they got away with this is mind-boggling.

Signs that Economy Energy, which was launched in 2012 by Khilji, was under strain emerged when it extended its accounting period in November last year.

The fund-raising document, seen by The Mail on Sunday, states that losses had hit 5.7million for the seven months to October.

It also states that the company lost 100,000 customers in 2018. Some consumers have alleged that they have waited months to be repaid the credit they had on their accounts. Citizens Advice said it had received a large number of customer service complaints about Economy Energy.

The KPMG document, named Project Wattley, said: The direct debit market has proved difficult and the inherent billing issues with this customer base have put a recent strain on Economy Energys profitability and resource.

The document failed to disclose that the company owed 15.5 million in unpaid green taxes or Khiljis shareholding in rival E Energy. It also failed to state how much was owed to customers in credit. Multiple sources said the company still owed millions of pounds to customers when it went bust.

KPMG declined to comment. A source close to the accountancy giant said all the information in the document was provided by Economy Energy and KPMG was not required to check it.

Smart meters order: Court documents allege that Economy failed to pay the 12million bill

The document was understood to be an information memorandum, which, unlike a prospectus issued on the stock market, is not required to provide full disclosure to potential investors.

The source said the attempts to raise funds were halted before any investors put in money. National Grid, Access Install and Green Deal Marketing Southern declined to comment on the ongoing court cases.

According to court documents for the National Grid case, Economy Energy ordered nearly 300,000 smart meters from the company in 2016 and 2017 for delivery last year.

The paperwork alleges that Economy failed to pay the 12million bill  despite National Grids four letters between December 2017 and June 2018 asking for payment.

The case against Economy brought by Green Deal Marketing Southern also lists E (Electricity and Gas) Limited, Paul Cooke and Lubna Khilji as defendants.

Gillian Guy, chief executive of Citizens Advice, said: Economy Energy has been failing its customers for years.

We have seen extensive problems with this firm and raised numerous concerns with the regulator... there are still firms operating now that require the regulators attention.

Ofgem launched its first probe into Economy Energy in 2016, accusing it of breaching competition law by agreeing with E Energy to avoid competing for the same pre-payment customers.

Two further investigations into Economy were launched last year into unpaid green taxes and poor customer service. The latter led to Economy being banned from taking on new customers.

Ofgem says it is reviewing its licensing rules for suppliers.

Khilji declined to comment. A lawyer representing Cooke said his client did not have enough time to provide a full response but stressed that Economys collapse was due to tough trading conditions and the company seeking to protect its interests in court.

He added that the interests of Economys customers were of paramount importance to the directors, who will assist administrators and Ofgem.
Two thirds of company directors have backed a plan to put Government contractors under closer scrutiny and avoid more Carillion-style collapses.

A new type of company, called a Public Service Corporation, would be set up for those with public sector contracts to require directors by law to extend their focus beyond shareholders to demonstrate higher levels of accountability to staff and suppliers.

Public sector contractors have been accused of focusing too closely on profits. The failure of Carillion, the anniversary of which is tomorrow, led to calls for tighter controls to prevent further chaos.

One year on: The failure of Carillion led to calls for tighter controls to prevent further chaos

But in recent weeks contractor Interserve has been forced into talks with lenders to cut debt, while builder Kier had to raise 264million from shareholders before Christmas for the same reason.

Under plans approved by 65 per cent of the 750 directors polled by the Institute of Directors, firms would have to recognise that decisions favouring shareholders or senior executives should be balanced against obligations to other stakeholders, including staff, creditors, pensioners and local communities.
It was recently named Britain's worst hotel chain for the sixth year running by Which? consumer group. But complaints about dirty rooms and broken toilets have not affected sales and profits at the Britannia Hotels group, dubbed the 'real-life Fawlty Towers'.

Accounts just filed reveal sales for the year ending March 31, 2018, were up 4 per cent to 96.9million, while pre-tax profits rose from 19million to 20.6million.

Investigators for Which? stayed at Britannia's Royal Albion hotel in Brighton and found dirty carpets and peeling wallpaper. Which? Travel editor Rory Boland said: 'Britannia has superb locations, fabulous buildings but terrible hotels.'

Britannia has superb locations, fabulous buildings but terrible hotels, said Which? travel editor

Last June, the company was fined 265,000 for seven breaches of food safety and hygiene regulation at the Adelphi in Liverpool  once the subject of a hit BBC fly-on-the-wall series.

Britannia Hotels  which has bought six more properties, increasing its portfolio to 61  said its strategy was 'to offer increasing levels of comfort and service whilst maintaining its highly competitive prices'.

Alex Langsam, 80, founded the company more than 40 years ago, building up an estimated 240million fortune. He is thought to live in a ten-bedroom former hotel in Cheshire.

The company could not be reached for comment.
Tonight's Latest Snowfall Estimates

By West Kentucky Star Staff





PADUCAH - The National Weather Service office in Paducah continues to call for snow and rain Friday night and Saturday, but totals will vary widely across the area.A winter storm warning is in effect until noon Saturday for areas north of a line from Poplar Bluff to Evansville, while areas south of that line are under a winter weather advisory (see photo).The storm system moved across the Mississippi River by 3 pm. In a conference call Friday morning, meteorologists said all of the area would get some form of precipitation by 9 pm, but snow should change to rain and begin moving out of the Missouri bootheel and southwestern Kentucky by midnight.Sleet and wet snow is expected this evening. Total snow accumulations of 1 to 2 inches are expected in far western Kentucky, including Paducah, and in extreme southern Illinois along the Ohio River from Cairo to Metropolis. Further north 2 to 4 inches could be seen around Vienna, Golconda, and Shawneetown.Areas north and west of Carbondale to the I-57 corridor should get 3 to 6 inches, and 6 inches or more is expected near Mt. Vernon.In the conference call, Lead Forecaster Greg Meffert said, "Amounts are going to vary from little if any down near the Tennessee border to a 2-4 inch swath right along the Ohio River. But, then as you get up into the Marion area, Evansville area and then up north toward the I-64 corridor, that's where we're really expecting the biggest impacts to occur and that's where the warning has been issued."When snow changes over to rain after midnight and temperatures rise on Saturday morning, the rain may help melt the snowfall.Saturday night into Sunday, colder air will filter in behind the departing storm system, but any snow accumulation is expected to be light.On the Net:
The rescue deal for struggling airline Flybe could be called off because of Brexit.

The Mail on Sunday can reveal that the consortium of buyers, which includes Virgin Atlantic, has inserted a Brexit clause into the takeover agreement.

It states that the 2.2million deal is conditional on Flybe obtaining new operating licences and authorisations if they are lost as a result of the UKs departure from the European Union.

Discount: The airline fetched just 2.2million

Sources close to the deal say this would be an unlikely turn of events but that lawyers had insisted upon the Brexit clause being inserted into the agreement.

Exeter-based Flybe put itself up for sale in November and immediately attracted interest from Virgin Atlantic.

Two days ago Flybe said it had agreed a 2.2million takeover deal  valuing each of its shares at 1p  with Connect Airways, a consortium made up of Virgin Atlantic and Stobart Group.

Flybe flew into trouble late last year and issued a profit warning in October, blaming poor consumer demand, a weaker pound and higher fuel costs.

The airlines share price, which had risen in recent weeks to above 16p, fell 77 per cent to 3.75 p after the 1p-per-share deal was announced.

Flybe is led by Christine Ourmieres-Widener, a French businesswoman who took the helm of the airline in January 2017.

Founded in 1979, it transports around 8million passengers between 81 airports across the UK and Europe.
Tony Hetherington is Financial Mail on Sunday's ace investigator, fighting readers corners, revealing the truth that lies behind closed doors and winning victories for those who have been left out-of-pocket. Find out how to contact him below.

Ms A.D. writes: I had not received any invoice from Simarc Property Management Limited for the ground rent on my home, so I sent a cheque for 131 in payment. A month later, I received a letter saying the ground rent was outstanding and Simarc was adding a further charge.

I found my cheque had not been cashed, so I sent a new one, but Simarc has returned this and wants 263 within 14 days or it will instruct solicitors. I wonder why Simarc does not offer to accept payment by bank transfer. Is it because they can make people pay double?

Ground rent: Tony Hetherington investigates our reader's problem

Simarc's threatening letter is pretty blunt. It says your cheque for 131 is unacceptable, and adds that our clients are not prepared to waive their rights in this respect upon merely receiving the sum of 131.

The company later cooled off a little. It pointed out that you are responsible for paying the ground rent by the due date, but it added that on this occasion we are prepared to reduce our administrative costs to 66, cutting the total demand to 197.

But hang on a minute. The first letter makes clear that Simarc is just a middleman, demanding extra cash for clients who are not prepared to back down. Yet the second letter says that it is Simarcs own administrative costs that are being reduced. There is no mention of the clients who actually own the land on which your home stands, and whose ground rent Simarc is supposed to collect. So, who really makes the decisions?

Simarc, based at Borehamwood in Hertfordshire, told me: Simarc Property Management is appointed by Wallace Estates Limited to collect the ground rent on its behalf.

A demand was posted to you a month before payment was due, it added.

But that explanation came from Natalie Chambers. As well as being a director of Simarc, she is company secretary of Wallace Estates. Her colleagues Paul Langford and Michael Platt are also directors of both Simarc and Wallace Estates. There are numerous earlier examples of overlapping directorships.

So when Simarc claimed in its first letter that it was just obeying orders, the truth is that Simarc and Wallace Estates are almost one and the same thing.

It would be unpleasant to think that it would be in the interests of Simarc and its bosses not to issue ground rent demands, or to obtain proof of posting, since this would allow them to impose huge penalty charges. Natalie Chambers has assured me this would never happen.

It would be morally reprehensible, she explained. She added that Wallace Estates needed the ground rent because it had borrowed money from pension funds and needed to service these debts. The bottom line though, is that there is no level playing field between you, the leaseholder, and Wallace Estates, the freeholder.

Simarc cannot show that a demand was ever issued or delivered, and it and Wallace stand to benefit from penalty charges. The size of the charges is also questionable when all that was needed was for someone at Simarc to pick up the telephone and ask you whether you had received the demand.

You have told me there have been occasions in the past when you have not received an invoice until you had already paid and requested one.

I understand you decided to pay the reduced demand to avoid legal proceedings, but Natalie Chambers has told me you can pay by direct debit. I think that would be sensible as it puts the responsibility on Simarc to collect the ground rent. It could hardly penalise you if it then failed to collect its own cash on time.

Just wait says bust energy supplier that owes me 800

T.F. writes: I switched energy provider and my previous supplier, Economy Energy, agreed that it owed me nearly 800. But, despite several attempts on my part, it has yet to pay me. The latest promise is that I will be repaid if I wait at least 28 days  but this could mean any time in the future.

Over a month ago, I warned that Economy Energy owed 15.5million in green taxes to industry regulator Ofgem.

In the past week, it has collapsed after the regulator banned it from taking on new customers.

This does not solve existing complaints though. Typically, customers paying by monthly direct debit notched up big surpluses.

When they switched to other suppliers, they found it difficult to get their money back. Some told me they started legal proceedings, only to have the company hand over the cash to avoid a debt judgment.

Your final bill showed a 795 overpayment, but waiting at least 28 days could mean you would be repaid on the 29th day, or it could equally mean this time next year, or in the year 2050.

I contacted Economy Energy. Two days later, you received a call to say the money was on its way to your bank account, with an extra 75 as a goodwill payment. The cash arrived before the company went out of business, but without any comment or explanation.

Customers still with Economy Energy are safeguarded. Existing credits will be transferred to a new supplier.

Ofgem tells me it is seeking a way to protect those who, like you, had already transferred, but left behind surplus payments in the hands of a company that has ceased trading.

My car insurer had a breakdown... in its communication with cashback website

Tie-up: TopCashback had promised 63 for the insurance booking

T.O. writes: I needed to insure my car and chose Brightside Insurance. Its quote of just over 200 was not the cheapest, but Brightside advertised through comparison company TopCashback, which promised 63. Within two days of insuring, I found my 63 was shown as a pending payment. But weeks later, when I telephoned Brightside, I was told nobody knew anything about such an offer.

This appears to be a result of a breakdown in communication between TopCashback and Brightside, and nothing more sinister. TopCashback told me Brightside had not credited it with attracting your business, which is why you had not received the 63.

Brightside accepts this. The insurer told me: It appears our tracking  linking Mr Os insurance policy to TopCashback  did not function as it should have done.

You now have your 63 and your car insurance. Good.

If you believe you are the victim of financial wrongdoing, write to Tony Hetherington at Financial Mail, 2 Derry Street, London W8 5TS or email tony.hetherington@mailonsunday.co.uk. Because of the high volume of enquiries, personal replies cannot be given. Please send only copies of original documents, which we regret cannot be returned.
Japanese firm Nissan has become the latest car manufacturing giant to publish gloomy sales figures amid concerns about its future in Britain.

Turnover at Nissans UK business, which is headquartered in Sunderland, fell by 93million last year to 6.3billion  while its profits plunged 6.6 per cent to 133million.

The automotive behemoth, which employs nearly 8,000 people in the UK, also revealed its car production fell 6.2 per cent to 487,000 vehicles in the year to March 2018.

Concerns: Nissan workers in Sunderland where car production has fallen

The figures cap off a tough week for the UK car industry, with Jaguar Land Rover and Ford both announcing thousands of job cuts that are likely to hit Britain.

They also emerge at a time when Nissans European workforce is facing uncertainty after chairman Carlos Ghosn  who is believed to have struck a secret Brexit deal for the firm with the UK Government  was sacked following his arrest in Japan.

Ghosn, who is also chief executive and chairman of French firm Renault thanks to an alliance between the firms, was arrested and charged by Japanese authorities who accused him of under-reporting his pay packages.

He has been detained in prison since November and last week Tokyo prosecutors indicted him with two new charges.

The departure of Ghosn, who denies wrongdoing, from Nissan has raised questions about the firms future in Europe after Brexit. In 2016, shortly after the UK voted to leave the European Union, Ghosn held talks with the UK Government, which subsequently admitted offering Nissan key assurances.

Out: Chairman Carlos Ghosn was arrested and charged by Japanese authorities who accused him of under-reporting his pay packages

But as part of its Companies House accounts, filed last week, Nissan issued a series of veiled threats over Brexit. The firm said: Any substantive change to the trading arrangements between the UK and the rest of the world could limit the companys competitiveness.

Equally changes to laws and regulations to employment (including the interpretation and enforcement of those laws and regulations) could, directly or indirectly, increase Nissans labour costs, which, given the size of our workforce, could have an adverse effect on the company.

The automotive industry, which supports hundreds of thousands of British jobs, is deeply concerned about the potential loss of frictionless trade with the EU, as well as the possibility of losing access to European workers.

International firms such as Nissan have based themselves in the UK and used it as a gateway to mainland Europe, taking advantage of quick and easy trade enabled by the customs union.

Last Thursday, Jaguar Land Rover  which is owned by Indian conglomerate Tata  announced 4,500 job cuts, with the majority in the UK where it employs 40,000 people.

Jaguar Land Rover  which is owned by Indian conglomerate Tata  announced 4,500 job cuts

The firm said it was facing numerous problems, including weakening sales in China and a fall in demand for diesel cars. It also referenced Brexit uncertainty.

Also on Thursday, Ford  which has 13,000 workers in Britain  revealed plans for a shake-up of its European business, which is likely to lead to thousands of job cuts, including in the UK. Ford has major factories in Bridgend and Essex.

Ford reported a $1billion loss in Europe last year, with $600million directly attributed to Brexit and the falling value of sterling following the 2016 referendum.

In an interview with The Mail on Sunday last month, Fords European boss Steven Armstrong said: If the industry cant continue to operate competitively, we would have to think about where we continue and how we continue to invest.
Tourists who forget to switch off their mobile phones while travelling by air or sea are at risk of being hit by 'accidental roaming' charges.

Roaming fees apply to mobile phones or tablets used abroad. In recent years these costs have been capped to prevent soaring bills, but such price restrictions do not apply to satellite systems on aeroplanes and boats.

If a smartphone picks up a signal from the vessel's own on-board system, the traveller can incur mobile roaming charges of several pounds per megabyte  the data needed for browsing just one single webpage.

Roaming charges: Price restrictions do not apply to satellite systems on aeroplanes and boats

This can happen even if a passenger is not actively using their phone. Smartphone apps can update in the background, eating up data in the process. The phone only needs to be switched on with data roaming enabled for charges to occur.

Airlines and cruise-liners are under pressure to cater for round-the-clock phone and internet access, which means 'bill shock' for accidental roaming could become more of a problem.

On-board satellite systems are premium services with prices to match and are not subject to the same roaming caps that exist when on land.

A passenger flying from Ireland to the US last month learned this expensive lesson the hard way.

He forgot to switch off his mobile during the flight and left it in the overhead baggage compartment. It automatically connected to the airline's on-board system, triggering charges of more than 200 from his mobile network back home.

Caught out? Here's how to challenge costs Unresolved complaints between mobile networks and customers are handled by Ombudsman Services. It says that cases of accidental roaming in the skies and at sea are rare but do crop up  most often by boat. Jonathan Lenton, the communications ombudsman, says: 'We have seen cases like this, but there is quite a lot of consumer protection in relation to roaming. If the charges were for within the EU, they could be challenged.' Rules also stipulate that when travelling outside of the EU there should be a 50 (45) cap on data usage unless a customer has opted out of it. A welcome text explaining charges should also be received whenever someone from the UK lands in a new country. If these conditions are not met there may be grounds to have fees waived. Lenton adds: 'If usage was made outside of the EU, the customer opted out of the automatic data cap and received a text, they will be liable for any resulting charges.' Major UK mobile networks say the easiest way to avoid roaming charges in the air and at sea is to put a phone in flight mode, switch off data roaming or turn off the phone. The companies also say they cannot prevent a phone from connecting to an available signal if the phone is enabled to do so. Anyone who wishes to dispute a roaming charge should first raise the issue with their mobile provider. If the company disagrees or refuses to help, the complaint can be referred to Ombudsman Services for free. Visit ombudsman-services.org/communications or call 0330 440 1614.

Ferry passengers have been caught out by hefty fees of hundreds of pounds when their mobiles automatically connected to the on-board system, even when sailing past European countries where networks do not charge extra for roaming.

Many passengers are likely to switch on their mobiles to take photos during a cruise, meaning they can be caught out despite not actively using their phones to browse the internet. One in-flight internet service is AeroMobile. If a phone is switched on, with data roaming enabled, it can pick up the signal.

If the network provider has an agreement with AeroMobile a customer can be charged for any usage during the flight.

Vodafone charges up to 7.20 per megabyte of data for airline connections. Three mobile charges 6 per megabyte. Customers of EE can buy a data add-on for aircraft  at 36 per day for just five megabytes. Some systems require a separate payment and log-in process, protecting customers from automatic connection and ensuing bills.

But anyone charged extra should contact their mobile provider to ensure fees are valid  because administrative blunders can arise.

Customers might be charged roaming fees when their phones connect to a signal from a network in a nearby country  even if they are thousands of feet above it or miles from shore. If that country is in the EU there should be no additional cost.

Double-checking proved worthwhile for Alexandra Lucas, who was ready to absorb a sizeable bill this month for a small amount of data used in December.

Alexandra, who is in her 30s and lives in Surrey, absent-mindedly refreshed a social media account on her smartphone while on a flight to New York for a long weekend. As a result, she was charged 40 worth of roaming charges during a brief spell in Norwegian air space.

She says: 'I did it without thinking. When I saw the bill, I thought it was weird that I was charged for mobile roaming in Scandinavia when travelling from London to New York.

'But I understand it was my fault for using the phone on board an aeroplane  and it was an expensive mistake I will not be repeating.' The 40 charge was for eight megabytes of data usage in Norway  the equivalent of nearly one minute usage of a smartphone app.

By comparison, in New York she used up to ten times that amount of data each day and was billed half the sum  at 20  for the entire US trip.

The Mail on Sunday encouraged Alexandra to challenge the charge  on the grounds that Norway is in the European Economic Area and data used should come out of her normal monthly allowance under 'roam like at home' rules.

Since June 2017 these rules have allowed UK tourists to pay the same for phone usage abroad as they would at home while travelling in the European Economic Area  including Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein.

Alexandra's network agreed and refunded the 40.
MY SISTER, THE SERIAL KILLER by Oyinkan Braithwaite (Atlantic 12.99, 240 pp)

MY SISTER, THE SERIAL KILLER

by Oyinkan Braithwaite (Atlantic 12.99, 240 pp)

Three and they label you a serial killer, says Korede, whose younger sister, Ayoola, has murdered her last three boyfriends and roped in Korede to help dispose of the bodies.

They live with their mother in the house that was left to them by their abusive, philandering father  whose knife Ayoola has appropriated.

But keeping schtum is hard, so Korede, a nurse in a Lagos hospital, confides in a comatose patient. She has also fallen for Tade, one of the doctors.

When the patient comes round and starts to remember what he heard  and Tade falls not under Koredes but Ayoolas spell things take a turn for the worse.

Told at breakneck speed in a sequence of brief chapters, this is an inventive, darkly comic novel that looks at sibling bonds and rivalry  plus the fallout from a legacy of violence.

WHEN ALL IS SAID by Anne Griffin (Sceptre 12.99, 272 pp)

WHEN ALL IS SAID

by Anne Griffin (Sceptre 12.99, 272 pp)

In a small Irish town, two years after the death of his beloved wife, ruthless businessman and 84-year-old curmudgeon Maurice Hannigan raises five toasts in his local hotel bar.

He drinks to his older brother, Tony, whom he idolised until his early death; to Molly, his stillborn daughter; to Noreen, his sister-in-law forever on his wifes conscience; to Kevin, his son now living in the U.S.; and finally to Sadie, his late wife. Through his recollections, he paints a picture of all that I have been and all that I will never be again.

Griffin is a magical storyteller whose prose is effortless and clear. She conjures an intimate, poignant and ultimately enthralling portrait of a man who has battled loneliness and other demons throughout his life.

Maurice is superbly well-realised: a character who tries to make amends and, in so doing, cracked my heart.

THE DISTANCE HOME by Paula Saunders (Picador 14.99, 256 pp)

THE DISTANCE HOME

by Paula Saunders (Picador 14.99, 256 pp)

Drawing on her own family background in her first novel, Paula Saunders dramatises the ways in which parents in a dysfunctional marriage shape  and damage  their children. In Sixties South Dakota, middle child Rene and her older brother Leon share a love of ballet.

She is doted on by Al, their cattle-trader father, and is encouraged to dance. Leon is favoured by their mother, Eve, who enrols him in lessons, too, much to Als enduring scorn.

The novel is sensitively imagined and perceptively told. However, as it is narrated solely by Rene, it suffers an imbalance, as Leons point of view is less fully realised.

The youngest sister, Jayne, barely features.

Nonetheless, watching the two older siblings struggle with the burdens placed upon them and the effect on their later lives is both affecting and rewarding.
NOTES ON A FOREIGN COUNTRY by Suzy Hansen (Corsair 9.99, xxpp

NOTES OF A FOREIGN COUNTRY

by Suzy Hansen (Corsair 9.99, 288 pp)

In 2007, New York Times journalist Suzy Hansen won a writing fellowship that allowed her to travel abroad for two years.

I never thought I would leave New York. I was almost 30 and my friends were coupling off and would soon be making loads of money to support their first-born.

Her father greeted the news that she planned to go to Istanbul with consternation: Did you know that Turkey is 99 per cent Muslim? Are you out of your mind?

Joining a long line of American writers whove travelled abroad, from Henry James to James Baldwin, Hansen learned as much about herself and America as she did about the places she visited.

Her award-winning memoir is a clear-sighted, moving account of what it means to be an American living abroad in the era of American decline.

FACE TO FACE

FACE TO FACE by Professor Jim McCaul (Corgi 9.99, 320 pp)

by Professor Jim McCaul (Corgi 9.99, 320 pp)

Looking round a cafe or a bar, we read faces like barcodes and we know almost instinctively which are the attractive and unattractive faces, writes Professor McCaul.

As one of the UKs leading maxillofacial surgeons, he has been restoring faces ravaged by illness, accident, violence or ageing for around two decades.

His ambition to become a doctor began in his early years in Glasgow, when he longed to cure the pain his mother suffered as a legacy of childhood polio.

Inspired by the pioneering work of New Zealand-born surgeon Harold Gillies with disfigured World War I soldiers, McCaul opted to specialise in maxillofacial surgery.

There was, he remarks dryly, no shortage of facial trauma for a trainee surgeon in Glasgow.

With vivid case histories, this is a compassionate and readable memoir by a man who has devoted his career to saving peoples faces

WHEN THE RIVERS RUN DRY by Fred Pearce (Granta 9.99, 336 pp)

WHEN THE RIVERS RUN DRY

by Fred Pearce (Granta 9.99, 336 pp)

The award-winning environmental journalist Fred Pearce grew up in a village in South East England where two small rivers, the Stour and the Len, begin their journey to the sea.

It inspired a lifelong fascination with rivers.

Yet, as he warns, something disturbing is happening to the worlds great waterways, many of which are drying up, and we face a global water crisis.

Pearce travelled the globe to find out why rivers die, the environmental and human consequences and how we can restore their health.

He warns that nothing . . . will matter more to humanitys future over the next century than the fate of our rivers
The warnings began soon after I had my first child, Mara. I was 34, a year shy of being medically classified a geriatric mother  the age at which the risk of pregnancy complications begin to multiply.

The term, at the time, seemed almost comically archaic, and not reflective of the fact that women in their 40s are now more likely to give birth than those in their teens. Figures released just last week show that more than one out of every 25 new mothers is now in her 40s.

I felt young, and healthy. I looked young (so I thought!). Not geriatric by any stretch. But people had started making comments like: Youd better get going again, unless you want Mara to be an only child.

I know how annoying it is to be lectured about fertility.

Complete joy: Tessa at home with Elena

My response? An eye roll and an inward recap of all the reasons why it wasnt the right time for a second child: job loss, a bad patch in my marriage, the death of my father. Besides, if I was fertile in my early 30s, a few years delay wouldnt make much difference, would it? How wrong I was.

Three months ago  at 44  I did finally have a baby. I cant believe Elena is here. I am so thrilled I dont even feel tired. But the past five years of my life have been lost to a horrible rollercoaster of desperate longing, dashed hopes, miscarriage, fertility drugs and pain  both physical and emotional.

As pregnancy rates in every other age group fall, the number of women conceiving, like me, in their 40s has leapt over the past 30 years, from about 12,000 in 1990 to almost 29,000 a year now. And Ill go down as another statistic that makes having a baby in your 40s seem relatively straightforward.

But these figures hide the fact that older women are no more fertile than they ever were. I soon discovered late motherhood often comes with a painful backstory. In my case what Id taken for granted a few years earlier had become virtually impossible.

Thats why my message to younger women is: Please dont wait. Dont go through what I did.

There is never a perfect time. We mended our marriage, my career continued, I recovered from the loss of my father. It turned out anything was possible except having a baby.

I was 39 when my husband and I began trying for a second child. Nothing happened. Six months and then a year passed. Still nothing.

As any woman who is hoping to get pregnant will know, a year of trying is a long time. And the panic grew. Had I left it too late?

And so, I found myself in one of Britains largest assisted conception units at Guys Hospital in London. Where Mother Nature could no longer deliver, modern science would step in, surely?

Lots of women clearly had the same thought, as a third of the female patients at Guys ACU are over 40. But, though there have been increased IVF success rates, senior consultant gynaecologist Tarek El-Toukhy explained: Its non-age-related fertility issues that on the whole were getting better at treating. If ovaries and eggs are ageing, theres much less we can do.

The statistics back this up. Just over 33 per cent of women under 35 end up with a baby after one round of IVF. But for women over the age of 42, the live birth rate drops to less than ten per cent. This falls below two per cent for women over 44, as egg quality diminishes with age, making implantation in the womb less likely. Small wonder I cycled home from the clinic on that first day in tears.

I was nearly 41 when I started my first round of IVF. I knew the odds were drastically stacked against me, but I hadnt factored in just how unpredictable our reproductive systems can be.

Elena with her big sister Mara

After a year of fertility treatment Id been pregnant three times, but I still didnt have a baby.

There was the whoosh of adrenaline when a test came back positive and the delicious sense of anticipation that accompanied swollen breasts and surging hormones.

Then came the crash. Crying, bleeding, cramping, and a pain Id never experienced before, a nagging ache for a vital presence that was no longer there.

At any age, pregnancy loss can feel devastating, but it is particularly cruel when you are sub-fertile  or over the hill, as one relative put it. Sadly he had a point  my ectopic pregnancy, when the embryo implants outside the womb, and an 11-week miscarriage were almost certainly due to my advanced age. Obstetrician Roger Smith, an expert in IVF at Kings College Hospital, London, is matter-of-fact. For a woman aged 40, miscarriage in the first trimester occurs in about 38 per cent of cases and that rises to 70 per cent in a 45-year-old.

It becomes harder to achieve an established pregnancy over 12 weeks because poor egg quality often leads to chromosomal abnormalities in the embryo.

I wasnt alone. I saw women my age waiting grim-faced for IVF consultations they could ill afford, or doubled up in hospital corridors, sobbing silently at yet another loss. One friend had seven miscarriages before she finally gave birth to her second child aged 45.

Mr Smith says many women he treats over 40 who achieve a live birth do so with eggs from a much younger donor  even if they dont admit it. There is a tendency for people, especially if they are high-profile, not to be entirely honest about how they got pregnant.

Amazingly, after two rounds of IVF, I got pregnant and remained so beyond 12 weeks. I was high as a kite, invincible, overjoyed.

But then I caught listeriosis, a bacterial infection from food.

In my second trimester, two months shy of my 42nd birthday, I had a late miscarriage. My tiny son had died inside me. I now know where the expression climbing the walls comes from.

I flung myself around, groping, calling, crying for my boy. Even my IVF gynaecologist, who deals with grief on regular basis, wept  no doubt sensing the impossibility of me ever getting pregnant again.

Most women agree that the only way to truly overcome such a loss is to have another baby. So I kept trying.

If you know the joy that a baby brings, perhaps youll be able to imagine the pain at not being able to have one.

Like many women in my situation, I experienced emotions I hadnt known existed within me  fear, isolation, desperation, envy.

I avoided mums with prams, steered clear of sibling groups at the school gate and fought a daily swell of self-loathing that came with the growing knowledge that my predicament could so easily have been avoided just a few years earlier. How I wailed for what Id lost  the ability to create and nurture new life. I was a woman apparently in the prime of her life, but I couldnt have a baby. I wasnt able to give my husband a second child, nor gift my daughter a sibling.

I never imagined Id be that woman, pounding my way through numerous cycles of IVF in search of a perfect egg. But, at the ripe old age of 43, in the face of diminishing odds and limited funds, that was me.

Infertility cost me friendships, work and a lot of money: seven rounds of IVF, totalling 32,000. Holidays are a thing of the past and we no longer have a car. But, eventually, I did strike gold. Id stopped treatment, but had one remaining frozen embryo from my sixth cycle  and that embryo became baby Elena.

You can take from my story that nowadays anything is possible. If youre in your 40s and where I was two years ago, thats probably the message you need to hear, and I wish you all the luck in the world.

But if you are a decade younger, please bear in mind that had Elena not arrived, this article would have been too painful to write.

Rather than pink congratulation cards, there would have been quiet mutterings: How could she be so foolish. Spending all that money when she already has a child.

Yet now nobody looks at Elena and tells me she wasnt worth it.

We tend to only hear about miracle births. Society likes winners; failure and loss are far harder to share. Sadly the result is a distorted impression of whats possible.

When Elena finally became an established pregnancy at 12 weeks, I was terrified and exhausted throughout the remaining six months.

I got pregnant exactly ten years after the conception and birth of my first daughter, but the two experiences were incomparable.

Fully aware of the increased chance of birth defects and chromosomal abnormalities in older women, I never slept the night before a neonatal scan.

With much lower energy levels, work proved an uphill struggle.

Mr Smith confirms the risk to older mothers is higher during pregnancy, and that includes the chance of maternal death. We see age-related problems like heart disease appear in 45-year-olds that we wouldnt in a younger woman, he says.

I was lucky. My pregnancy with Elena turned out to be incident- free but when my team confirmed I had a low-lying placenta, I was quick to agree to a caesarean.

It is a major operation that often leaves the mother unable to move freely for weeks, sometimes months, and yet proportionally its older women who are more likely to opt for one.

With my first child, I had a home birth minus pain relief. Back then, I was so blase, I even made a film about the experience.

After a five-year struggle, Elenas birth was always going to be a joyous occasion, and so it proved. But having a baby later in life is a very different experience.

My dad is now dead, my mum has poor sight; Elenas cousins are much older, as are most of my friends children; so care options and Elenas access to extended family are reduced.

Sure, I pinch myself every day  Ive won the lottery of life. But it didnt need to be that hard.
Three new drugs are revolutionising the lives of Britons with a devastating form of asthma. Unlike other medicines, which merely address the symptoms, these get to the very heart of the condition  with remarkable results.

The latest breakthrough came last week when NHS chiefs gave the green light to benralizumab, also known by the brand name Fasenra, a monthly jab that helps sufferers who have exhausted all other treatment options, and are regularly hospital-bound due to breathing problems.

The drug joins mepolizumab, or Nucala, and reslizumab, also called Cinqaero, which were approved two years ago to treat eosinophilic asthma, a severe form of the disease.

Rachel McCarthy, a 43-year-old company director, has gone from being barely able to walk up the stairs to climbing mountains since being prescribed mepolizumab

The benefits can be dramatic. Rachel McCarthy, a 43-year-old company director, has gone from being barely able to walk up the stairs to climbing mountains since being prescribed mepolizumab.

She says: Within three months I noticed a dramatic improvement and in June last year I climbed Ben Nevis, something that had been beyond my wildest dreams.

To stand on the top as an asthmatic and breathe the most wonderful air into my lungs was the most beautiful thing in the world.

Experts are increasingly aware that asthma isnt just one disease but a collection of conditions that need to be treated differently.

Eosinophilic asthma cant be controlled with normal inhalers, even at high doses. As a result, the 100,000 Britons with the condition are often prescribed powerful steroid pills which risk side effects from diabetes and weight gain to mood swings and osteoporosis. However, many still end up in hospital with life-threatening attacks.

Eosinophilic asthma, which normally develops in adulthood, is triggered by inflammation-causing white blood cells called eosinophils gathering in the airways.

The three new drugs are man-made antibodies designed to block IL-5, an immune system chemical that attracts eosinophils to the airways and helps them thrive. In trials, the drugs halved the number of attacks patients suffered and significantly improved quality of life.

They are prescribed by specialist centres and given as jabs or infusions every four to eight weeks in hospital. If they work, patients can cut back on their oral steroids. However, they still have to take their inhalers. Side effects include tiredness, headaches, fatigue and back pain, and increased susceptibility to infections.

Mepolizumab, reslizumab and benralizumab belong to a class of drugs known as biologics, and they work in slight different ways.

Rachael McCarthy from Lincoln, whose severe asthma is now under control due to a new drug she is taking

Researchers are trying to work out how to ensure a patient gets the one that is best for them. They are also trying to create versions that can be given at home rather than in hospital.

Dr Samantha Walker, an asthma and allergy expert and director of research at charity Asthma UK, said that while biologics are not a cure and do not work for everyone, in some people the effects are life-changing.

Ive known people with severe asthma to give up work or retire ten years early, she says.

People get slower and slower because they dont want to not be able to breathe.

Dr Walker added: For those who respond to biologics, they really are game-changing.

Rachels asthma was so severe that she stopped socialising, gave up playing sport and could barely get up the stairs. She says: I had my first asthma attack at 22, and since then my asthma took over my life. By my 30s I was being admitted to hospital on a monthly basis with severe attacks.

I was put on high-strength steroids, and although they helped me to breathe, they made me put on a lot of weight and left me very depressed. My husband Rick knows only too well that at times I felt like I couldnt go on.

Since starting monthly injections of mepolizumab in October 2017, she has stopped taking steroids, gone back to the gym, dropped two dress sizes  and climbed Britains highest mountain.

The dramatic improvement in her health also means that a long-held dream to have a family has become a possibility. Its hard to take in how this new drug has given me my life back after so many years of literally wanting my life to be over, says Rachel, from Lincoln.

Meindert Boysen, head of technology evaluation at the NHS drugs watchdog, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), says: People with severe eosinophilic asthma that is inadequately controlled often have severely impaired quality of life  it can hold them back from doing many basic daily tasks, lead to psychological problems including anxiety and depression and leave them in constant fear of a potentially lethal asthma attack

By keeping their asthma better under control, biological treatments have transformed the lives of these sufferers.

Asthma UK funds research into the development of ground-breaking asthma treatments. To donate, visit asthma.org.uk/donate.
For years, dentists have insisted that a traditional scale and polish is an essential part of proper oral hygiene.

But the often costly service may be unnecessary for those with good teeth after evidence found it makes no difference to dental health.

The professional clean involves scraping to remove deposits of plaque and a polish to make the teeth smooth. Many patients are offered the treatment during a check-up once their teeth have been examined.

Now a review of evidence has found that for most adults with healthy teeth who regularly visit the dentist, the treatment makes little or no difference to certain indicators of dental health such as the early stages of gum disease. There may also be little or no difference in plaque levels over two years.

The professional clean involves scraping to remove deposits of plaque and a polish to make the teeth smooth - but new research suggests it might be unnecessary

The treatment costs 11.40 on the NHS and around five times that at some private practices.

It aims to remove plaque  a sticky film of bacteria and sugars that constantly forms on the teeth. Plaque is the main cause of cavities and gum disease, as well as tartar or calculus  a deposit that forms when plaque hardens.

Polishing after the scaling treatment removes stains from coffee, tea, cigarettes or red wine, and makes it more difficult for plaque to stick to the teeth.

The review of the treatments effectiveness, which analysed the most up-to-date evidence, was conducted by Thomas Lamont, Clinical Research Fellow at the University of Dundees Dental School and Hospital.

He said: Many dentists or hygienists provide scaling and polishing for patients at regular intervals, even for those at low risk of developing periodontal disease.

There is debate over the clinical and cost effectiveness of routine scaling and polishing and the optimal frequency at which it should be provided for healthy adults.

The studies found little or no difference between regular planned scale and polish treatments compared with no scheduled scale and polish for the early signs of gum disease.

The review of the treatments effectiveness, which analysed the most up-to-date evidence, was conducted by Thomas Lamont, Clinical Research Fellow at the University of Dundees Dental School and Hospital

There was a small reduction in calculus or tartar levels, but it was uncertain if this is important for patients or their dentists.

Participants receiving six-monthly and 12-monthly scale and polish treatments reported feeling that their teeth were cleaner than those who did not receive treatment. However, there did not seem to be a difference between groups in terms of quality of life.

Side-effects from scaling and polishing can include tooth sensitivity, and damage to tooth surfaces. Twice-daily tooth brushing is the best way to avoid plaque building up in the first place.

But Professor Damien Walmsley, the British Dental Associations scientific adviser, urged caution over the study. He said: Patients were found to value the procedure as part of their routine dental care. Calculus cant be effectively removed by tooth brushing.

Gum disease is often caused by a build-up of plaque bacteria, and the best way to remove this is by twice daily tooth brushing.

In some hard-to-reach areas, plaque bacteria can accumulate and may eventually mineralise to form a tough, crusty deposit called calculus or tartar. You cant remove this just by brushing your teeth, but a dentist, dental therapist or hygienist can remove it.

If calculus isnt removed, more plaque can build around the tooth and under the gum line, leading to the progression of gum disease.

Further research would be required to establish the cost-effectiveness of scale and polish, as a separate consideration from reducing gum disease.
It is a conundrum that has stumped even the finest Hollywood casting directors  how to make a movie about a dumb blonde for the #MeToo generation. And perhaps its no surprise that, for all the beautiful, impossibly proportioned actresses in Tinseltown, none has been willing to take the role of Barbie in a major new Hollywood film. Until now.

Step forward Margot Robbie, and a new-look Barbie who, according to insiders, is about to make one of the most unlikely transformations in the history of plastic dolls, from airhead to feminist icon.

According to a source within Mattel, the toy-maker responsible for creating the doll and new film in development, Robbies interpretation will have an edge.

Petal power: Robbie's pretty Brook Collection dress (right) is all frills and florals - as is Barbie's summer number (left)

Shes someone who is relatable to both men and women. Shes whip-smart and a feminist. Thats what Mattel is looking for, said the source. Barbie has been attacked over the years for being an unrealistic model for girls, for being focused on fashion and being beautiful.

Mattel has been desperately trying to change her image. The new film will have a traditional-looking Barbie with distinctly untraditional views. It is all about making her relatable in a modern world.

Flight of fancy: Tailored power suits for Robbie (right) in TV's Pan Am and 1966 flight attendant Pan Am Barbie (left)

Suits you: Robbie's Dior mini dress (right) channels Barbie's tuxedo-inspired 60s shift dress (left)

Margot is a feminist. The new script empowers Barbie and has a lot of humour. People will be surprised.

They certainly will. Indeed, just getting 28-year-old Robbie, one of Hollywoods brightest young actresses, on board has been something of a coup.

The Australian-born star made her name opposite Leonardo DiCaprio in The Wolf Of Wall Street and was Oscar-nominated for her role as controversial US figure skater Tonya Harding in I, Tonya.

Scarlet women: Robbie in Versace (right) - a nod to Barbie's cherry-red business suit (left)

Mattel was no doubt pleased to see that Robbie likes to talk about embracing new-wave feminism, but as these pictures show, she has other distinct advantages when it comes to pretending to be the most famous doll on the planet.

Indeed she appears to have been quietly auditioning for years.

For some time, the actress has adopted a wardrobe eerily similar to the range for Barbie. Evening gowns have the same diamante studs or plunging necklines, floral frills or risque hemlines. Even Barbies more demure outfits  a flight attendants uniform or a Peter Pan-collared dress  have proved an inspiration.

Exposure: A plunging Valentino gown for Robbie (right) and a bejewelled jumpsuit for Barbie (left)

Margot is Barbies doppelganger and the fact shes been dressing like Barbie, whether intentionally or purely by chance, simply reinforces the fact shes the best woman for the part, the source said.

But Barbie is about more than good looks. Mattel wants her to be an aspirational figure who inspires young girls to be whatever they want to be in life.

Margot is someone who has achieved so much. She started in Neighbours and is now an Oscar-nominated actress. Who better to play Barbie? Her Barbie will be sassy, funny and smart.

Black magic: Barbie (left) in an embellished shift and Robbie (right) in a Proenza Schoular halterneck

It is not hard to see why getting the 80 million movie made has been tough, or, as an insider put it, development hell. After all, the Warner Brothers production is battling a tide of Barbie-related controversy which has built over 60 years.

Actress and comedian Amy Schumer, who was initially cast as Barbie, dropped out in 2017 citing scheduling issues. She was replaced by Les Miserables star Anne Hathaway, who quietly left the project at the end of last year.

The script wasnt up to par, explains the source  and it wasnt the only one, with attempts dumped on the way, including one written by former Sex And The City writer Jenny Bicks. It seems most of them have stuck to a brave new theme: that Barbie must leave her fantasy world of Malibu mansions and pink Corvettes and finally face reality.

Amy Schumer (pictured above) was originally cast as Barbie

Old Hollywood: Barbie (left) looks every inch the icon in pink satin and feathers - as does Robbie (right) in Miu Miu

According to someone who has seen a version (the Robbie script is still being written), it has echoes of Legally Blonde, about a perfectionist who enters the real world.

One of the more recent versions of the film embraced modern themes like body dysmorphia, online bullying and how many young women struggle with body image in a world where peer pressure is immense, the source said.

Margot is producing the new film and will have a great deal of input into the plotlines and how her Barbie will be a modern woman making her own way in the world.

Girl next door: Pretty lace for Barbie (left) - and Robbie (right) in Georges Hobeika Atelier

The brand has historically been criticised for creating a doll which represented an image impossible for young girls to emulate.

If Barbies elongated body and tiny waist were translated into the real world, she would be 5ft 9in with a 39in bust, an 18in waist, 33in hips and a size three shoe. At just 110 lb she would be considered anorexic  and her child-sized feet would not support her body.

There have been additional grumbles that the range contributes to the derided pink-ification of girls childhoods, and has historically failed to be racially inclusive.

Bright future: Sparkles everywhere for Barbie (left) in a skintight fishtail and Robbie (right) in an embellished Rodarte

Yet Mattel, which sells three Barbie dolls a second, argues it has been fighting to modernise Barbie for some time.

Invented in 1959 by American businesswoman Ruth Handler, who was tired of seeing girls only being offered baby dolls, they now come in a range of 17 different skin tones. No longer exclusively blonde, there are 24 possible hairstyles including an afro and long blue hair.

In 2017 they even introduced a line with more realistic figures, including curvy hips and thighs. Over the years she has gone from being simply a fashion template to holding a variety of aspirational jobs from astronaut to surgeon.

Ruth Handler (pictured above) died in 2002 and was the original creator of Barbie

Barbie (left) as icon Marilyn Monroe and Robbie (right) attending the 'I, Tonya' film premiere, Los Angeles

The history of Barbie films is not illustrious. So far there have been 28 animated versions, all of which went straight to DVD. This latest project has yet to announce a director or even a working title.

Despite the controversy, production has continued and cash to fund the film has not stopped flowing.

Mattel first decided to make a live-action Barbie film in 2014 but the challenge has been to make her relatable to todays audience, explained the insider.

Barbie is iconic but there are pitfalls. The script has to balance how she has been perceived for generations  as a blonde bombshell  with how Mattel is trying to reinvent her for todays audience.

Its been a fraught process which is why other actresses have dropped out. But everyone is now buzzing about Margot. Shes perfect in looks but she also brings a sassy intelligence to the role.

If her recent gushing comments about Barbie are anything to go by, she will have no problem fitting into her new role.

Playing with Barbie promotes confidence, curiosity and communication throughout a childs journey to self-discovery, she enthused in a statement. Mattel will no doubt be hoping so.
Abraham Wants Parade Resolution Rescinded

By West Kentucky Star Staff

PADUCAH - Paducah City Commissioner Richard Abraham wants the city to rescind its resolution that restricts participation in the Veteran's Day Parade.At Monday's City Commission meeting, Abraham moved to throw out the resolution that was passed in May, saying it violated the rights of those who were not allowed to display flags honoring or representing anything other than the United States and all of its veterans. Commissioner Sandra Wilson asked for the item to be placed on the January 22nd meeting agenda, and also asked the staff to get a legal opinion regarding the resolution.Abraham issued a press release on Thursday, saying he investigated the resolution, which was passed during a meeting he couldn't attend, and believes it violates freedom of speech established in the first amendment of the US Constitution. He came to this conclusion upon examination of the language of the resolution and conversations with a city attorney.He said ongoing discussions about the resolution with the Sons of Confederate Veterans at subsequent meetings have been productive, but indicated that some folks in city hall may be enforcing the resolution improperly, based on misinformation or personal bias.Here is Abraham's press release in its entirety:
Back to school shopping is an expensive task and sadly doesn't get any less steep the older your children get.

Whether their school requires a laptop or tablet to be purchased - or simply just an assortment of textbooks - the lists can be quite extravagant.

In fact, a recent report commissioned by BIG W revealed Australian families are expecting to spend up to $1000 (at $476 per child) to equip their kids for the 2019 school year, which calculates to over $3 billion nationwide.

Mother-of-twelve Laura Brooks knows all about how hectic the annual shop can be, and this year will have to purchase items for two kids in different high schools and four in primary.

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Mother-of-twelve Laura Brooks (pictured) knows all about how hectic the annual shop can be, and this year will have to purchase items for two kids in different high schools and four in primary

'We are a blended family with 12 kids (pictured), but on a daily basis we only have eight living full time in our home. They're aged between 15 and two,' the 33-year-old from the Yarra Valley said

'We are a blended family with 12 kids, but on a daily basis we only have eight living full time in our home. They're aged between 15 and two,' the 33-year-old from the Yarra Valley told FEMAIL.

Mrs Brooks starts by doing an inventory of what her tribe already has from previous years so she can decide whether any of the textbooks can be passed down.

'If lunchboxes and school bags are in good condition they can be reused - it not only helps our hip pocket but it also cuts down on waste and helps the environment,' she explained.

'Then I figure out the "to buy" list and do some online research to see where I can get these things at the best price.'

Admitting they don't have a budget for every child she did believe the average cost was about $700 each.

'We just buy everything that is necessary and whatever it costs is what it costs,' she said.

Mrs Brooks also meal preps (pictured) for her family to ensure they are organised

Admitting they don't have a budget for every child she did believe the average cost was about $700 each (her children pictured)

'It averages out about $700+ per child and that will go up when it's more kids in high school vs in primary school.

'The primary aged kids aren't too expensive but the cost of high school drags that average up. If it's their first high school year it's even more expensive with laptop or iPad purchase almost compulsory at most high schools.'

Nevertheless, Mrs Brooks does have a plan in place so that the annual back to school shop isn't a shock to the system.

'We budget for the kids education many ways. We get money automatically direct debited out of our accounts every pay day all year, every year to cover the primary school kids fees, book packages, camps and excursions,' she said.

'We are a minimalist family and reduce waste where we can so if bags, lunchboxes and drink bottles from the previous year are still in good condition we wash them and reuse them.

Nevertheless, Mrs Brooks does have a plan in place so that the annual back to school shop isn't a shock to the system (her children pictured)

'We don't buy into getting the best and latest of anything. In our family we would rather go on a nice holiday than have the latest furry pencil case or bento lunchbox.

The primary school her children attend provide book and stationery packages that you can buy in bulk at a reduced cost, which she sees as extremely helpful.

'If the primary kids come home with leftover books and stationery from the year before I just incorporate them into the high school kids book list for the coming year,' she explained.

'Textbooks get passed down and swapped amongst friends depending on who has a child in the appropriate year level.

'If a workbook is only a third full and still in good condition I just pull the used pages out and it's good as new.

'The high school uniform is expensive and has to be bought through their supplier but for the primary school uniforms you can get a couple of the expensive school branded clothes and then a few generic polo t-shirts for under $10.'

Incorporating these economical saves Mrs Brooks a small fortune on supplies overall.
A devastated woman called into an animal rescue after she thought she saw a dead dog in the middle of the road, but the hairy figure turned out to only be a wig.

Kristen Polletta was driving through Providence, Rhode Island, when she spotted what looked like black fur in the middle of the road. She contacted Providence Animal Control Center to inform them of the dead dog in the road.

'I saw a little black Yorkie or schnauzer in the road and clearly had been dead for a while,' Kristen wrote the control center on Facebook.

Upset: Kristen Polletta was driving through Providence, Rhode Island, when she saw a furry figure in the middle of the road

Hilarious: Providence Animal Control Center went to check out the tip and found that it actually was not a dead dog in the road

Surprise! The black hair was actually a wig that was left behind. Kristen went back to snap a picture of the hair piece

'I was late for my meeting and wanted to stop so bad,' she continued. 'He or she had a purple or pink collar. I just wanted to tell it's family.'

Concerned citizen: Kristen apologized to the animal control center before sharing the funny exchange on Facebook

The message went on to tell the control center where the body was located so they could discover who the owner might be.

Providence Animal Control Center later updated Kristen to inform her that the dead dog in question was actually not what she thought.

'The animal ended up being a wig,' a worker wrote in response to Kristen's tip. 'We checked a little while ago, I hope that makes you feel better!'

This response was not what Kristen expected, and she went on to make sure at least the people in the animal control department were laughing about her tip.

'I am so sorry,' Kristen responded. 'I mean, I'm laughing. But I'm sorry you guys went out there. I hope you're laughing too?'

All checked out: The animal control center said it was happy the report turned out to be a wig instead of a dead dog

All was well with the animal control center as one worker admitted they had some fun about the discovered wig in the office.

'Don't be sorry, we all had a good laugh and were very happy that it wasn't a dog,' the worker responded.

Kristen later went back to the spot where she spotted the wig to snap a picture. The mat of hair showed a pink hairband tied around what might've been a ponytail before it lost its owner.

The pictures were then shared on Facebook with Kristen's friends to let them know about the funny experience.

People loved the exchange so much that it was shared more than 94,000 times on Facebook with some admitting they could also see themselves making the same mistake.
Very occasionally  indeed, rarely more than once in a generation  a nations whole mood changes.

The unthinkable becomes thinkable. The impossible becomes possible. The tectonic plates beneath the Earths crust begin to creak.

Britain experienced such a moment in May 1940. Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain had lost control of his Conservative Party, opening the way for a deeply distrusted outsider.

Her deal is not perfect by any means, nor will it herald the end of bitter Tory rivalries over Brexit. But as shown by an opinion poll published in todays Mail, public support for it has grown in the past month from both Tory and Labour voters [File photo]

That man was Winston Churchill and, of course, history eventually proved him to be a national hero.

A lesser example occurred in November 1990. Margaret Thatcher had been omnipotent for more than a decade. Yet suddenly, amid deep social divisions caused by the introduction of her poll tax, the Iron Lady became broken, humiliated and left No 10 in tears.

This weekend, again Britain faces a week ahead of monumental importance. It is no exaggeration to say that the outcome of events over Brexit will affect the lives of each and every one of us. Indeed, that is not often said of political decisions.

At the moment, eyes are on Prime Minister Theresa May. There is a possibility that she will no longer be in No 10 at the end of next week if she loses Tuesdays Commons vote [File photo]

Forget all the talk of the past 31 months about the 17.4 million who voted to leave the EU and the 16.1 million who said they wanted the UK to remain. What happens over the coming days and weeks will have huge repercussions for every one of Britains 66 million people.

At the moment, eyes are on Prime Minister Theresa May. There is a possibility that she will no longer be in No 10 at the end of next week if she loses Tuesdays Commons vote.

Over the past months, she has clung to office in the face of disloyalty from fellow Tories, abominable treatment by Brussels, irresponsible posturing by rival parties and a series of personal humiliations.

Her stoicism has, in many ways, been admirable. But can she survive if her Brexit deal is rejected by MPs  as seems most likely  on Tuesday? Of course, she could win. I fervently hope she does. If she prevails, the result should be that Britain will leave the EU in relatively good order on March 29.

Mrs Mays political legacy would be secured as the heroine who forced through a version of Brexit in the face of the unforgivable treachery of senior colleagues and against all the odds. Indeed, the BBC has a published forecast  surely very wide of the mark  that the PM could lose by a margin of more than 200 votes.

The biggest defeat suffered by any post-war British government was the 86-vote loss suffered by Labour Prime Minister Jim Callaghan in 1978 over a Scottish Bill.

By the normal rules of politics, Britain would be looking for a new Prime Minister if Mrs May suffers a three-figure defeat. For any government leader unable to get a key policy through Parliament ought by rights to be finished.

But these are not times of normal politics. I believe there is hope for Mrs May if she loses.

Yes, defeat would be devastating. Yes, Mrs May would be humiliated and a husk of a prime minister. She would be in office but not in power  to use the contemptuous phrase levelled against Prime Minister John Major by his sacked Chancellor Norman Lamont 25 years ago.

That said, she could still survive in such extraordinary circumstances. Having seen off a challenge to her leadership from rebel, hard-Brexiteer Tory backbenchers in December, under party rules she cannot face another challenge for 12 months.

Of course, as head of a minority government, she is very vulnerable to a Commons vote of no confidence. Over recent weeks, Labour has huffed and puffed about whether to force such a vote.

My guess is that if there is such a vote, Mrs May would survive. Her mutinous backbenchers, terrified of a General Election, would rally round and she would narrowly win the day.

Britain experienced such a moment in May 1940. Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain had lost control of his Conservative Party, opening the way for a deeply distrusted outsider. That man was Winston Churchill, above, and, of course, history eventually proved him to be a national hero [File photo]

Even so, she would still be seen as a dead duck PM and be unable to command either her own destiny or that of the nation.

The brutal truth is that whatever happens next week, power is steadily seeping away from Theresa May.

This is because, over the past few weeks, we have witnessed the start of a quiet but profoundly important constitutional revolution which is changing the way that Britain is governed.

The stalled Brexit negotiations have led to power steadily shifting from the executive  the Prime Minister, her No 10 machine and the Government as a whole  to Parliament.

The architect of this revolution is Commons Speaker John Bercow. Personally, I am torn over his antics. On the one hand, I abhor his abuse of power, blatant favouritism and noxious brand of show-off politics.

All this demeans the high office he holds. Yet as a believer in our traditional system of representative democracy, I welcome a rebalancing of power from an over-mighty Downing Street to the mother of Parliaments.

As part of that recalibration, last week Bercow gave MPs the right to force the Prime Minister to make a statement about her Brexit intentions if she is defeated on Tuesday.

Also, Parliament has secured for itself the power to amend Mrs Mays plans, thus enabling MPs to dictate to the Prime Minister the shape of Brexit.

It is impossible to overstate the importance of this development.

In the face of these changes to the levers of power, a debilitated Theresa May would have to accept being ordered about by MPs as the price for staying in office.

The stalled Brexit negotiations have led to power steadily shifting from the executive  the Prime Minister, her No 10 machine and the Government as a whole  to Parliament. The architect of this revolution is Commons Speaker John Bercow [File photo]

I fear she would become the hapless victim of events. Equally humiliating, she could be at the beck and call of Labour and Lib Dem MPs. For talks are under way to form a cross-party coalition capable of taking control and managing British policy towards Brexit.

Indeed, theres already a drive towards a Labour/Remainer Tory coalition which would try to force Britain to remain a full member of the EUs Customs Union.

Also, there is the growing clamour for a second referendum. Underlying all of this is the breakdown of the British party political system.

Rebel Labour MPs are conspiring with like-minded Conservatives (in defiance of Mrs May) behind the back of their own leader, Jeremy Corbyn. It is impossible to say where this may lead.

That is why I believe it is in the national interest for all Tory MPs to rally behind the Prime Minister next week. Her deal is not perfect by any means, nor will it herald the end of bitter Tory rivalries over Brexit.

But as shown by an opinion poll published in todays Mail, public support for it has grown in the past month from both Tory and Labour voters.

Theresa May has a closer feel for the national mood than her mutinous MPs and opposition parties are prepared to admit.

A too cosy deal between No 10 Fixer and Mandy

The name Alex Dawson is probably unfamiliar to most Mail readers. Until recently, hes been a member of Downing Streets backroom staff as Theresa Mays political director.

But he has just announced his departure having been poached by Lord (Peter) Mandelsons shadowy consultancy group, Global Counsel. I am appalled by the move.

It epitomises the disgraceful way that public duty is increasingly less valued.

The name Alex Dawson is probably unfamiliar to most Mail readers. Until recently, hes been a member of Downing Streets backroom staff as Theresa Mays political director [File photo]

After years working for Mrs May (at taxpayers expense), he will be taking his inside knowledge and expertise to a commercial outfit whose New Labour boss is stretching every sinew to stop Brexit happening.

Worse, much of what he has learnt in No 10 will become available to Global Counsels clients, who in the past have included Russian oligarchs and the Chinese.

Indeed, Mandelson is president of the Great Britain China Centre, which promotes ties between the two countries. Global Counsel has a reputation for furtiveness, with very little known about its work.

Mandelson, above, is president of the Great Britain China Centre, which promotes ties between the two countries. Global Counsel has a reputation for furtiveness, with very little known about its work [File photo]

But we do know that it has worked on behalf of BP, the giant mining company Glencore and the firm Asia Pulp and Paper, which has been accused of covering up massive environmental destruction.

Dawsons appointment is routinely subject to vetting by Cabinet Secretary Sir Mark Sedwill, who would be well advised to demand a list of all Global Counsels clients, past and present.

Even if they have unblemished reputations and Mandelsons firms dealings with them are innocuous, Sir Mark should consider blocking Dawsons appointment.

That would be unfortunate for Dawson personally, but it must be a cast-iron principle that people who have worked in the highest echelons of government should not move to any commercial organisation where their inside knowledge potentially becomes available to anyone ready to pay for it.
Rene Fitch worked at Ken's Express Mart for the past 30 years until the store closed their doors on January 1. Due to the store closing, Fitch faces losing her home. The community is pulling together to try and help a woman who has helped many others. Submitted Photo.
The following items are based on information provided by officials in law enforcement and the criminal justice system.
A state appellate court has overturned a lower-court ruling that said eight small-city school districts in New York, including Kingston, had n
Laura Marie McDermott Edwards, 52, of Chattanooga passed away Saturday, June 12, 2021 at her home. Laura spent most of her life in Dalton, GA and was of the Christian faith. She was preceded in death by her mother, Beverly Ruth Duncan. Survivors are her daughter, Brittney Rae Edwards (her pa
A Coast Guard aircrew aboard an MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter from Sector Columbia River medically evacuated an ill crewman Friday off the motor vessel Garnet Leader 25 miles off Willapa Bay, Washington. He was taken to Columbia Memorial Hospital in Astoria.
KAREN DIBERT

The Daily American

KAREN DIBERT

Our very first dog was a cocker spaniel. We quickly learned that we didnt want another dog that needed hair cuts. We learned to clip him ourselves, and thankfully it wasnt too much of a chore, but enough of one that we opted for short haired dogs in the following years.

When our son got his labradoodle the other month, we talked about what dog ownership for him would look like. Being part poodle meant that Finn would need hair cuts. (Kids have to learn things themselves the hard way, I guess. I tried to warn him about the never ending grooming.) How often Finn would need groomed depend on how much poodle hair he had vs. Labrador.

We had Finn for about two months when our son decided he needed a haircut. He scheduled an appointment for him at a groomer, and asked if I could drop him off while he was at school. We talked the night before about what he wanted Finn to look like, and I agreed that was good. Finn has an abundance of gorgeous brown poodle curls. His unkempt, overgrown hair looked like a hipster teen boy. His curls covered his eyes, his hair whorled in every direction, and his beard and mustache sucked up half the water bowl when he took a drink. This last bit was a problem. Finn leaves a river of water following him from the water bowl to the nearest person he can find. When he finds this unlucky person, he wipes his mouth on their leg. Damp isnt the word. Soaking wet is way more accurate. Finn is a big dog. His large muzzle has a lot of hair to hold water.

My sons instructions were clear. No beard. No mustache. None. I said I agreed, but cutting that close would also mean hed need his whole face clipped to blend it. The son agreed, and we had a plan. I dropped Finn off with promises of coming back later to pick him up, and went about my morning.

My daughter went with me to pick Finn up from the groomer. He met us at the door, and was all wiggles and wags to see us. My daughter looked around the room to be sure it was our dog that greeted us, and not someone elses. There were no other dogs in the shop, so it was definitely Finn. Bless him, he was oblivious to what he looked like. The rest of us, however, havent stopped laughing even yet. When were not cringing, that is.

Apparently, we dont know poodle language. When I said no beard or mustache, it translated as shaved. Finns face was shaved down to seal-soft grayish down, which contrasted weirdly with his blow-dried brown hair. He had a poodle floof on top of his head, and no curls to be seen anywhere. It was a good groom, just not what we envisioned.

The daughter and I bathed him when we got home in an attempt to restore the curls, and thankfully it worked. The son googled how to make hair grow, but found nothing other than time heals all bad cuts. Were still playing the waiting game, and are grateful that the face hair grew out enough to at least be brown again. With such a bad first experience, were not sure Finn will ever have another haircut. I wonder what a poodle with super long hair looks like?

(Karen Dibert of Rockwood has been raising dogs for more than 15 years and is the author of the blog www.thefrenchdog.blogspot.com. You can email her at dibert6@gmail.com)
JUDY D.J. ELLICH

judye@dailyamerican.com

The suspected bank robber who caused a stir in Somerset last month apparently used his time in the county to change his clothes and means of transportation, according to court documents.

State police in Somerset were granted an arrest warrant Tuesday by Somerset District Judge Ken Johnson against Charles Patrick Gibson Jr., 57, accusing him of burglary, criminal trespass, receiving stolen property and criminal mischief in connection with the incident. Gibson is still at large.

He entered Americas County after allegedly robbing two banks in Garrett County, Maryland, on Dec. 13. After avoiding apprehension, he entered a home unwanted, and stole a car, police said.

Gibson took Edith and Frank Morgans Pontiac G6 from the couples driveway along Russett Alley. He first broke a basement window in their home, entered it, and rummaged through their upstairs bedrooms. A few hours after entering their home, he left wearing their clothes and driving their car. He allegedly used the items the next day in a bank robbery in Ohio.

A neighbor of the Morgans reported seeing a bush moving as if something was inside the bush, according to police. Next she saw a man fitting Gibsons description (120 pounds, 5-foot, 2-inches tall) at the scene.

Gibson left behind wet and muddy shoes that Frank Morgan found Dec. 13, police said. A few weeks later, he found muddy, wet clothes shoved behind a hamper in the basement, police said.

Gibson left Somerset County, then drove to Ohio where he used the G6 in a bank robbery at Huntington Bank in St. Clairsville, Ohio, the following day.

The car was recovered in Bridgeport, Ohio, after authorities informed Pennsylvania State Police that it had been involved in a bank robbery.

The Belmont County, Ohio, sheriff identified Gibson in the Huntington Bank robbery as the driver of the G6.

Gibson crashed the vehicle, fled from it on foot and is believed to have been picked up by a passing motorist, police said. He left behind his uncashed paycheck in the vehicle and the note he used in the Huntington Bank robbery police said.

Edith Morgan identified her sneakers as the ones Gibson wore in the Huntington Bank robbery from a surveillance video. Frank Morgan identified his winter jacket and blue hat as being worn by the robber, police said.

On Jan. 3 state police filed a case for an incident that occurred on Dec. 13, before Gibson came to Somerset County. Police charged Gibson with recklessly endangering another person, resisting arrest and fleeing or attempting to elude police.

Gibson allegedly robbed two banks in Garrett County, Maryland, that day, and fled in a blue Kia Forte into Somerset County. A vehicle matching that description was spotted traveling north on Route 219 near Berlin Plank Road. Police followed the vehicle, which left the roadway at the Friedens exit.

The motorist, believed to be Gibson, ran a red light at North Pleasant Avenue and pulled into the parking lot of Jenny Products and left the car, running on foot.

Police lost him after a chase that went across the Pennsylvania Turnpike and into a residential area.

During the pursuit, Gibson shed most of his clothing, which matched the clothing in the surveillance video from the Maryland banks, police said.

He then ran into the residential area, police said.
Virginia "Sue" Robinson of Cullman Alabama passed away June 10, 2021 at the age of 82. She was born January 14, 1939 in Cullman to E.R. and Gracie Nix Neal. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Elwin Ray Robinson, daughter Sharron Fuller, sisters Evelyn Hardin and Norma Bradford
The following are recent arrests released by the New Haven Police Department on Jan. 11, 2019.

Jan. 10, 2019

A 22-year-old Trumbull man was charged with possession of less than half an ounce of marijuana.

A 22-year-old Colony Street woman was charged with operating an unregistered vehicle, driving without minimum insurance and failure to yield right of way at an intersection.

A 28-year-old Fairfield Avenue female was charged with assault, resisting arrest and failure to appear in court.

A 22-year-old Trumbull man was charged with possession of less than half an ounce of marijuana.

A 43-year-old Connecticut Avenue woman was charged with operating a vehicle under suspension.

A 20-year-old Linwood Avenue man was charged with disorderly conduct and assault.

A 32-year-old East Main Street man was charged with criminal mischief and assault.

An 18-year-old Merriam Street man was charged with larceny.

A 53-year-old East Washington Street man was charged with disorderly conduct.

A 38-year-old Stratford woman was charged with violating probation.

A 20-year-old Cottage Street man was charged with three traffic violations, assault, larceny, robbery and resisting arrest.

A 22-year-old Trumbull man was charged with failure to renew registration.

A 51-year-old Dekalb Avenue man was charged with two counts of failure to appear in court.

A 24-year-old Wood Avenue man was charged with operating a vehicle under suspension, disorderly conduct, threatening and interfering with an emergency call.

A 23-year-old Linwood Avenue woman was charged with disorderly conduct and threatening.

Jan. 11, 2019

A 47-year-old Waterbury man was charged with breach of peace and assault.

A 36-year-old Waterbury woman was charged with assault and breach of peace.

A 29-year-old Danbury man was charged with assault and breach of peace.

As of January 2019, Hearst Connecticut Media does not include names in online police blotters.
It seems that since Gov. Ned Lamonts election you cant pick up a newspaper, listen to talk radio or turn on the television without hearing about installing tolls for trucks or legalizing marijuana in Connecticut.

Both proposals are thought to be panaceas to the states financial woes, but whether alone or together, I promise with near certainty that neither will have the impact that legislators believe they will. And if you throw in the possible tax increases that also are being floated, Connecticut residents could be in for a lot of pain with little to no significant relief.

So, as we embark on a New Year, I come with some recommendations for Connecticut. They involve modernizing and optimizing current revenue streams that other states have adopted and eliminating wasteful spending that our auditors have already identified. These suggestions would generate at least $1 billion, and cause fewer headaches.

Modernize The Lottery  Additional annual revenue of up to $300 million can be realized by modernizing our state lottery system, because it has been stagnant and needs upgrading. As such, we should begin accepting credit cards on certain products and upgrade the packaging of our lottery program. Connecticut receives approximately $300 million per year from the lottery, from an average $300 per year spent per resident. Our neighbor states that accept credit cards, including Rhode Island and Massachusetts, generate $500 and $700 per resident, respectively. In addition to credit cards, Massachusetts also has season passes that are very popular, and as a result, drive more revenue than any other state.

Eliminate up to $1 Billion of Wasteful Spending  Recent reports from state auditors detail lax spending controls, waste, unnecessary bureaucracy and hazy ethics in multiple state agencies at a time when the belt should be tightened to the last notch. Here are just some of the findings in agency audit reports: Benefit payments to dead people, abuse of overtime, abuse of comp and vacation time, unauthorized rehiring of retired state employees and massive financial reporting errors. Our state government is severely mismanaged, and through tightening up of our procedures and eliminating waste, we can save at least $1 billion annually. By seeking just a 3 percent reduction in overall operating expenses in the next budget, Connecticut could close its fiscal gap by approximately $1 billion annually, according to the Connecticut Commission on Fiscal Stability and Economic Growth.

Unlock Unclaimed Money  In 2017, there were $176 billion in gift cards sold in the United States. But what happens to the remaining funds after such a card is deemed abandoned? Connecticut needs escheat laws to reclaim those funds, much like Delaware currently has in place. We need legislation to require the names and addresses of the gift cards, so when they are sold, we can gain that revenue for our state. Gift cards are appealing because it is almost impossible to determine the rightful owner of a gift. That means that the state will ultimately end up permanently retaining a much higher portion of gift card funds than of other forms of unclaimed property.

But we shouldnt stop there. New Jersey has brought in several billion dollars of revenue through gathering unclaimed funds. By collecting these unclaimed funds, we can generate additional annual revenues of up to $250 million for the state treasury. Last year, we brought in approximately half that amount. Connecticut needs to do better in this regard.

While tolls and taxing marijuana might sound sexier than the proposals outlined above, remember that my suggestions are designed to cause as little pain to the Connecticut taxpayer as possible.

Lamont wants tolls for trucks coming into Connecticut, estimating that they would generate $300 million a year. But as some state leaders have asked, where is that figure coming from? Connecticut removed its border tolls in 1983 and in exchange the federal government agreed to fund more transportation infrastructure costs in order to maintain interstates like I-84 and I-95. We received $528 million from the federal government in 2018 vs. New York and Massachusetts that have received less than 50 percent per person because they have tolls. So not only will that $300 million figure likely fall short, we can almost certainly expect a court challenge if we only require trucks to pay tolls.

And honestly, do you think the legislature and the governor will stop at only requiring trucks to pay tolls? How long will it take before they push for across-the-board tolls for everyone?

As for marijuana, the state appears to be barreling down the road toward legalizing recreational marijuana, like Colorado or, more recently, Massachusetts.

The Connecticut Office of Fiscal Analysis estimated that the state could eventually generate about $100 million from taxes and licensing fees if it legalizes the drug.

Colorado was first to embrace legalizing recreational marijuana, and as a result, it had significant demand because of marijuana tourism, which has now stabilized. They taxed it at 30 percent while other states are now taxing cannabis at about 10 percent. As a result, Colorado made approximately $200 million in 2017, a state with double the population of Connecticut.

With so many fewer people, and with a rapidly maturing market, Connecticut would be lucky to generate a third of the $100 million the state analysts think. Guess how much towns would make? Less than 5 percent of the tax revenue.

Greg Kraut is a member of the Westport Representative Town Meeting, who ran for the 136th state House District as a Republican.
Connecticuts money problems are well-documented with significant ongoing budget deficits and rising tax rates. The answer is not more taxes.

To make matters worse, Connecticut has significant unfunded pension liabilities that are mortgaging our future. We cannot cover our current spending levels let alone properly fund our pension liabilities.

I spent 40 years in the chemical industry streamlining, right-sizing and consolidating operations and businesses to improve our competitiveness. I can tell you, when thoughtfully done, it achieves the objective of reducing costs while maintaining service quality every time. Its time for Connecticut to follow this approach.

With 169 individual towns each with their own overhead, administration and services structures, there are significant savings to be had by consolidating governments and sharing services across town lines. Most of the cost reductions will come from consolidated overhead and administration, currently duplicated in each of the 169 towns. Keep the number of workers about the same, but reduce overhead burdens by consolidation. I like the concept of the model advanced by former state Sen. Gary LeBeau. Some excerpts from his article Its Time for County Government in Connecticut dated May 18, 2017:

Connecticuts problems boil down to just one word: redundancy.

We can talk about our long-term downward economic and fiscal spiral and the all-too-familiar list of symptoms: lagging employment, loss of our educated and wealthier population, sputtering business development, continuing state budget deficits and the state sport of kicking the can down the road. These intractable problems have persisted for the last 10 years if not, in some form, for almost the past three decades.

But underlying these symptoms is the disease of redundancy  the states 169 cities and towns.

Every town has its own municipal government. That means that every town has its own parks and recreation, public works, library, elderly services, housing, inspections, tax collection, legal advisers, economic development, health services, fire, police and, of course, the biggest and most expensive of all, the school system. Each school system bureaucracy has its own superintendent, assistant superintendents, deputies, etc. The school systems usually consume about 70 percent of the towns budget. The redundancy is in the management structure. Its costs are enormous.

What if we could take these municipalities and consolidate them into eight entities? Hundreds of millions of dollars, indeed I believe billions of dollars could be saved by eliminating redundant management in the municipalities and in the schools. Could this be done? Has it been done elsewhere? Yes, all over the country  the entities are called counties.

A bridge strategy between our current structure and consolidated municipalities could be to regionalize services, effectively combining service structures between towns to reducing/diluting the overhead and administrative costs, while allowing adequate time to consider the longer-term county structure. At the very least, regionalization takes the first step in the right direction of cost reduction through consolidation. Its something that can be done now.

If you think state residents are trapped into the chronic tax & spend policies, think again. Connecticut ranks fourth among states with the highest percentage of outbound moves, roughly four people moving out for every three who move in. So keeping the same unbalanced fiscal policies will continue to drive taxpayers out of the state, simply making the problem worse with a shrinking revenue base. Connecticut people are sending a clear message by voting with their feet.

Instead of more taxes to enable our current spending levels, its time to reduce spending by consolidating government, embracing the objective to reduce redundancy and overhead costs that clearly exists amongst the 169 towns. I urge everyone to contact their representative, challenging them to move in this direction.

Larry Stauffer is a resident of Middletown.
Twelve years after he made national news, eight years after he looked to be finished politically and six years after he was last heard from, Ned Lamont has finally taken office in Connecticut.

A lot has changed in that time.

In 2006, Lamont became famous for taking on and beating a long-serving senator in a primary, which almost never happens. The win didnt take, and we all got introduced to the short-lived Connecticut for Lieberman Party.

In 2010, Lamont was the favorite going into the Democrat primary for governor against Dannel Malloy, but that didnt go so well, either. Malloy won the primary easily and squeaked into office that November. With Democrats holding every statewide office, Lamonts chances of getting anywhere seemed slim.

Then in Malloys first term he popped up, seemingly out of nowhere, with a sharply written opinion piece aimed at pushing through the governors controversial school reform package.

Automatic tenure for K-12 is so over, Lamont wrote, sounding more like an aggrieved eighth-grader than a future governor. Like most of us, teachers must continue to show that they still are on their game.

That sentiment makes some sense, but he paired it by coming out strongly in favor of charter schools, and even included a plug for the movie Waiting for Superman, a feature-length charter-school commercial.

That was then. Besides the war in Iraq and the end of Joe Liebermans political career, one of many things that seems to have changed since Lamont got back into politics is his view of education reform.

In a recent interview with the CT Mirror, Lamont mostly disavowed the most controversial parts of the reform he had pushed for, which would have linked student test scores with tenure decisions. What ended up passing was watered down significantly from earlier proposals, which brought legions of teachers protesting at the state Capitol, along with notoriety for Malloy as a major school reform Democrat.

Running for governor last year, education was a side show, at best. Joe Ganim tried to make an issue over whether Lamont unfairly claimed teaching experience because he volunteered for a while at Harding High School. But that was mostly a 2006 retread and never got any traction.

In the general election, education was again an afterthought. That was true for all kinds of issues, which is what happens when one candidate bases his entire race on a promise to deliver a magic tax cut to solve all our problems. That leaves the other side to say, Sorry, youre not getting a magic tax cut. Credit the electorate for seeing through that one.

These days, Lamont talks about education using the same tone he uses for most things  he wants everyone to get together and work on solutions that benefit everyone, which is fine, if vague. Hes focused on incentives to attract the best teachers, and he sounds not at all interested in bringing back a Malloy-era reform attempt.

Thats part of a bigger trend. Democrats were not long ago the party of school reform, and it came from the top. Barack Obama made it key to his education agenda, pushing supposed fixes that included relaxing tenure rules and linking student test scores to various rewards. Critics, rightly, said it wasnt based on sound principles, and wouldnt work anyway.

The politics around school reform have shifted. To name one prominent reformer, Cory Booker made a national name as mayor of Newark, N.J., for, among other things, pushing charter schools and even vouchers. Today, as he gets ready to run for president, his longtime reform enthusiasm is likely to be a serious hurdle in a Democratic primary. That wouldnt have been the case even a few years ago.

Unlike Lamont, Malloy is as fiery as ever, complaining still about not getting his plans through. But hes not governor anymore.

No one expects anything revolutionary from Lamont, the kind of large-scale solutions that might make a difference  things like desegregation, regionalization and mass reallocation of resources. But just by focusing on small-bore fixes, and avoiding plans that would bring actual harm, his governorship is likely to be a positive step for students.

hbailey@hearstmediact.com
A decision this week by a Hartford judge to dismiss lawsuits filed by a number of Connecticut communities against companies they claim are responsible for the opioid crisis likely came as a surprise to many people. But its far from the end of the story.

On Tuesday, Superior Court Judge Thomas Moukawsher ruled that the suits plaintiffs  which include the local governments of Bridgeport, New Haven, Newtown, Milford and others  had not proven their claims that the companies, including Stamford-based Purdue Pharma, should pay for negative effects of the opioid crisis. This comes as thousands of other government entities, from small towns to the largest states, have sued Purdue and others over the opioid crisis, suits which continue despite this ruling.

The Hartford decision said the towns hadnt drawn a direct connection between their rising costs, including for police and emergency services, among other effects of a drug crisis, and the actions of the drug companies. He said the proper venue was for law enforcement agencies, rather than the communities themselves, to take action.

Leaders of the towns and cities said they would appeal the ruling, with Bridgeport Mayor Joe Ganim saying the devastation caused by the opioid crisis is a result of the direct and irresponsible conduct of pharmaceutical companies. We remain committed to fighting for the victims who have been affected, along with their families and friends who also suffer due to the opioid epidemic.

Its difficult to argue with that sentiment.

Without getting into the legal weeds, the towns and cities appear to have a solid case. There is no doubt about the damage caused by opioids, legal and illegal, that have flooded into communities over the past two decades, damage measured both in lives lost and dollars spent.

Still, Moukawsher seemed to take special relish in dismissing the suits, writing that the plaintiffs wanted to gain money solely for themselves, but not to vindicate the public interest as a whole.

Its hard to know how to respond to this. The goal of the suits is to gain money in large part because of how much money the opioid crisis has cost the cities and towns.

Regardless, other suits continue, including a massive, multistate litigation in Ohio that combines claims from hundreds of other jurisdictions and may result in a comprehensive settlement similar in scope to earlier suits against the tobacco industry. That could take months or years, but would at least provide some measure of compensation for all that has been lost in what has become one of the worst drug crises the country has faced.

Purdue Pharma, of course, has already been found guilty in 2007 of misleading doctors and patients about the effects of its Oxycontin pain medication. Whatever form the next round of legal judgment takes, whether from lawsuits or criminal action, the people and companies responsible for the destruction that opioids have wrought must be held to account.
DANBURY  The rescue of 86 puppies from a fire next to a pet shop has left some questioning the current regulations around these types of stores.

Connecticut now has no regulations on the numbers of animals that can be kept in a certain square footage, which animal advocates say needs to change  although it isnt on the top of their legislative lists.

The 86 puppies kept in the 5,000-square-foot facility at Puppy Love, where a nearby fire raged last week, is permitted under the law and the numbers didnt upset local animal welfare advocates because the store is such a large space.

Firefighters and others rushed to evacuate all the puppies safely as an adjacent shed burned to the ground. The number of dogs surprised some  but not all.

It wasnt terribly odd that there were 86, said Stephanie Barksdale, the operations manager at the Danbury Animal Welfare Society.

She said she is against pet stores in general, though, because she feels people should adopt, not shop and pet shops dont give the puppies room or time to play like a shelter would.

Puppy mills

Most of the focus in Connecticut pet shop laws tend to be cracking down on puppy mills, which are breeding facilities that maximize profit over the animals well being.

A lot of times, these puppy animals are genetically deficient and sick, said Gordon Willard, executive director for the Connecticut Humane Society.

Some states, following a California law, have already made the shift to ban pet shops from selling animals from these large-scale commercial breeders and are instead selling animals from shelters or rescue organizations.

New York City and Cook County (Chicago) now have similar ordinances on the books.

Connecticut State Rep. Allie-Brennan, D-Bethel, introduced legislation to this week to prohibit the sale of puppies and kittens raised under inhumane conditions.

The current standards of care at kennels, shelters and pet shops are overseen by the state Department of Agriculture. But the standards tend to deal more with humane treatment of the animals  requiring the dogs be let out of their cages for a certain amount of time each day, proper lighting and air flow at the facility and ensuring the spaces are clean.

The standards also arent well defined, one of the reasons Connecticut is only ranked 27th in the country and last in New England in the Animal Legal Defense Funds 2018 Rankings for Animal Protection Laws.

Better standards

A task force was held in 2013 to examine standards and led to stores being required to tell their clients where the dogs came from and if that place had any violations. It also improved the states lemon law for pets purchased at pet shops.

The industry hasnt changed much, but peoples perception has, Willard said of the puppy mills.

He said a big task for the upcoming session will be creating and updating standards of care for nonprofit and municipal shelters so that they are identical.

He said these standards might then be applied to kennels and pet shops.

Its appropriate to have regulations and its appropriate to have expectations, Willard said.

He said good standards would include a requirement for the number of animals per square foot.

State Sen. Bob Duff, of Norwalk, who leads the animal welfare coalition of sorts at the state Legislature, said he would welcome a discussion on standards, but didnt have specific plans to introduce bills on a limit to a number of dogs at a pet shop.

The Legislature is concerned more about abuse and neglect, whether from an owner or pet shop, he said.
BRIDGEPORT  Six months after the owner of the former West End library announced its pending demolition, the nearly 100-year-old Sanborn building is still standing, at the busy intersection of Fairfield Avenue and State Street, a triangle of land a few blocks from downtown.

And while the structures days may remain numbered, owner Burton Stevens, in a reversal, said he will not be the one to take it down.

Im going to sell the property with the building standing, said Stevens, a Woodbury resident who purchased the site in 2008 for $1 million.

That is a modest victory for preservationists.

As of last July, Stevens, who had been unable to rent the Sanborn and was weary of the hefty $30,000 annual tax bill, had a sale pending with developer Richard Korris. And as part of that deal, Stevens was going to knock the empty library down.

Stevens had also pledged at that time to demolish the structure if the deal with Korris fell through.

More recently, Stevens said, I know theres a groundswell of interest in keeping the building up.

Some City Council members, particularly Peter Spain, and community activists have been trying to find a way to save the Sanborn, which, after the library closed, housed a bank in the 1990s and then Aspira, a youth development program.

Voices for preservation

Community activist and ex-Town Clerk Alma Maya, who in the 2000s ran the Aspira program, was also pushing for preservation.

And since last summer U.S. Rep. Jim Himes, D-Conn., a former member of the Aspira board, lent his clout to the preservation effort.

Stevens said Korris remains interested, but it will now be up to the developer to take the library down if and when he buys it.

If he in fact does buy, hell demolish it, Stevens said. If he doesnt, then I dont have any immediate plans to demolish the building.

Korris zoning attorney, Raymond Rizio, said his client is still preparing plans and selecting tenants ahead of obtaining the necessary zoning and building permits in the coming months.

I think he is hoping to do some type of retail, Rizio said, adding, I dont think theres a way to preserve the building and have it make any economic sense.

A few years ago, Korris made over the 1950s-era King Cole Supermarket location where Park Avenue and Pequonnock Street meet Route 1.

Hes a very well-established city developer, Rizio said.

New England feel

The ex-library is a 13,000-square-foot brick building with a large porch, white columns and cupola, situated next to a park. It looks like it could be a town hall in any number of small New England towns, and is a stark contrast to the more urban and industrial buildings in the surrounding neighborhoods.

The only modern touch is a Puerto Rican heritage mural on part of the exterior that activists also want to salvage.

Its just a beautiful building, Himes said in an interview Thursday. The congressman said he was not only driven to join the effort to save the Sanborn by his time with Aspira, but also because cities are made rich by preserving their architectural heritage.

I have had a number of conversations with people in and around this transaction, just exploring willingness to slow down and maybe consider ways to preserve the building, Himes said. I havent pressured anybody. Economics are economics. But I was really hopeful we could find a way to find economic value in the buildings preservation.

He hoped to be part of any continued talks  since the sale to Korris is still pending  either with that developer or with other potential buyers.

Spain urged Mayor Joe Ganim, who is running for re-election this year, to become more directly involved. Spain would also like to get the building placed on state and national historic registers.

Whats most important right now is for the mayor to take bold public leadership to ensure the library (and) the unique Puerto Rican-American heritage mural on the front of it are protected for posterity, Spain said in an email. Bridgeports remaining architectural history is a treasure we should leverage for our citys 21st century revival and for future generations.

Michael Tyrrell, of Fairfield, an architecture and urban design consultant who has joined the effort to save the Sanborn, agreed.

It would be a great civic legacy project for Mayor Ganim if he could lend his support, Tyrrell wrote in an email. This building is such a wonderful gateway toward downtown, and a proud landmark for the West Side.

Ganims economic development director, Tom Gill, said he attended one meeting about saving the Sanborn and has spoken with Spain about it. Gill said the transaction between Stevens and Korris is a private one and that the city is in no position to buy the library.

But, Gill added, were a developer interested in talking to the city about saving it, Wed be open to that.
DANBURY  Connecticut police officers have shot and killed two dozen people in incidents across the state since the start of 2013. None of those officers have faced charges for their actions.

After each incident and months or even years of investigation, state prosecutors have concluded that every officer who pulled the trigger in those cases was justified, according to a Hearst Connecticut Media analysis of state reports.

Experts and law enforcement sources predict investigators will come to the same conclusion about the death of 45-year-old Paul Arbitelle, who just before the New Year became the most recent person to be fatally shot by the police in Connecticut. A Danbury officer shot a knife-wielding Arbitelle three times during a brief confrontation.

But that final determination still could be months away, during which details of the incident will be withheld from the public amid the investigation. Last week, city officials denied a News-Times public records request for squad car and body camera footage from the incident, citing the ongoing investigation.

The shooting in Danbury and another police shooting last week in New Haven, which has left one man in critical but stable condition, have put the spotlight on how often Connecticut officers fire on suspects and the lengthy review process for such incidents.

In the 24 fatal police shooting cases since 2013, more than 14 months elapsed on average from the time of the incident to the date of investigators final public report, according to the Hearst analysis. Several took a few weeks or months, but just as many took two to three years.

The length of those investigations and the unanimous decisions in favor of cops actions highlights concerns both criminal justice advocates and law enforcement officials have with the states system of reviewing the most consequential decisions officers make.

During the states review, Danbury Mayor Mark Boughton and Police Chief Patrick Ridenhour are not supposed to discuss details of the Arbitelle incident, much to their chagrin, both have said repeatedly.

But advocates argue timing is only part of the problem and that these incidents should be reviewed by an independent agency.

Regardless of what happened or who the decedent was, everyone has an interest in whether we have a system in place to reliably and transparently tell whether something went wrong here, said Dan Barrett, the legal director of ACLU Connecticut. I think we all agree it should not be routine that municipal employees dole out the death penalty.

Relatively rare

Former New Milford officer Scott Smith was the first police officer in Connecticut to be tried for the murder of a suspect on duty after the 1998 fatal shooting of 19-year-old Franklyn Reid.

Smith eventually pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge of criminally negligent homicide after courts overturned a jurys decision to convict him of first-degree manslaughter.

Former Hartford officer Robert Lawlor also was charged after a 2005 shooting that killed 18-year-old Jashon Bryant and wounded another man, but a jury acquitted Lawlor in 2009.

Arbitelles death in Danbury is believed to be the first on-duty police shooting in the city in more than 20 years.

It was one of only two fatal police shootings in 2018 but followed six fatal police shootings across the state in 2017, including the death of Kostatinos Sfaelos in New Milford and the high-profile death of Jayson Negron in Bridgeport.

There were nine fatal police shootings in 2013, including the death of John Valluzzo in Ridgefield.

Despite those numbers and recent years media and community focus on such incidents nationwide, fatal police shootings remain uncommon, said John DeCarlo, a professor of criminal justice at the University of New Haven and the former Branford police chief.

They are a tiny percentage of the thousands of contacts the public has every day with the about 9,200 police officers and troopers across the state, he said.

Its statistically relatively rare, if you do the math, DeCarlo said. Its infinitesimal and the number of wrongful shootings is even more infinitesimal. That doesnt excuse bad police work, but it is very rare.

When officers do shoot at a suspect, state police are called in to take over the scene and begin an investigation of the incident.

States attorneys from another jurisdiction than the department involved are then asked to review the case and determine whether the officer or officers who fired during the incident were justified in using deadly physical force, in accordance with a set of state laws outlining the process.

That exact procedure has taken place in both the Danbury and New Haven incidents.

Investigators then review a glut of evidence and testimony, from interviews and reconstructions from officers and witnesses to medical reports to body camera and surveillance footage. That process often takes weeks and months to complete.

It took the office of States Attorney Brian Preleski more than 10 months last year  shorter than the state average  to determine in December that East Hartford officers were justified in the February shooting death of Juan McCray after a high-speed chase. In that case, Preleski specifically noted that it wasnt until the end of November that a local police report was finally completed and could be included in the report.

States Attorney Stephen Sedensky said Friday that prosecutors must balance between releasing information that could taint a would-be court case and concluding the investigation in a timely manner for the police, victims families and public. In December, his office released its report ruling an officers fatal shooting of Sfaelos in New Milford should not be prosecuted about 16 months after the incident itself.

We have an obligation under the rules of practice for attorneys, as prosecutors, to not talk about things that may become a court case that could then jeopardize something in that case, Sedensky said.

Obvious deficiency

During these state investigations, however, state police and local officials lock down details of these incidents until a final determination is made.

I was always of the opinion a PD (police department) should be as transparent as possible, DeCarlo said. But I found very quickly as police chief that I did not always have the luxury of transparency once an agency like the states attorney came in, because they very often said, You cant give out any information, this is under investigation now. 

Cops act in a moment ... and investigators after the fact are in a situation where they do not have those demands put on them, he continued. They have that luxury of time and hindsight, and it should be that way.

State police have released an outline of what occurred outside the Glen Apartments in Danbury on Dec. 29, but it was neighbors who filled in the fuller picture of who was involved in the incident and how officers encountered Arbitelle that evening.

State police have declined to release more information, citing the ongoing investigation.

When prosecutors and officials withhold details and frequently take more than a year to complete their investigations, the public loses its already thin ability to hold law enforcement accountable, Barrett said.

The most obvious deficiency is that theres no deadline, Barrett said. There are a lot of problems with this system, but timing wise, thats the most obvious. Theres no timing requirement so theyre allowed to do whatever they want.

Furthermore, the state does not require police departments to submit use of force reports to a central database on instances when officers draw their weapons, let alone shoot and kill someone, said Central Connecticut State University researcher Ken Barone, who manages the Connecticut Racial Profiling Prohibition Project. He helps examine racial bias in police traffic stops across the state.

Such reports  like those required when officers threaten or actually use a stun gun  would provide demographic information about how often officers use force and who is on the receiving end.

Without that information, advocates like the ACLU and academics like Barone cannot study specific data about whether people of color are disproportionately the targets of police force, as they believe from anecdotal study.

The lack of available data, lengthy timelines for investigations and overwhelming decisions in favor of officers make criminal justice advocates skeptical that the system of police oversight can be trusted.

Everybody has an equal share in worrying about the outcome of these incidents, Barrett said. It may be possible in Connecticut to kill someone and have no repercussions at all, not even additional training.

zach.murdock@hearstmediact.com
The European Union is pushing Congress to support Treasury Department plans to lift sanctions on a Russian aluminum company controlled by a Vladimir Putin ally, saying the sanctions have harmed European factories.

Aluminum plants "in Austria, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Sweden, and the United Kingdom have faced increased prices and significant challenges in maintaining their daily operations" since the U.S. imposed sanctions last year on companies controlled by Russian businessman Oleg Deripaska, said a Jan. 4 letter signed by ambassadors from the EU and the named countries.

The EU published the letter, sent to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer, on Friday, a day after House Democrats expressed concern about Treasury's plans to lift the sanctions on Rusal and two additional companies controlled by Deripaska.

On Thursday House Democrats said Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin failed to convince them in a closed briefing that the United States should lift the sanctions, calling for more information and a delay.

"This, with stiff competition, mind you, was one of the worst classified briefings we've received from the Trump administration," House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., said after the briefing. "The secretary barely testified. He answered some questions, but he didn't give testimony."

Asked whether House Democrats were considering introducing a resolution of disapproval to try to stop Treasury from easing the sanctions, as Schumer has done in the Senate, Pelosi said: "We'll see."

Treasury has said Deripaska will remain under personal sanctions but sanctions against the three companies could be lifted because the businessmanhad agreed to reduce his ownership below 50 percent.

Mnuchin disputed Pelosi's description of the briefing, saying he was "somewhat surprised to see the speaker's comment...We gave them close to an hour and a half and answered all their questions."

In an emailed statement before the briefing, Mnuchin said the sanctions had met their goal. "One of the goals of sanctions is to change behavior, and the proposed delistings of companies that Deripaska will no longer control show that sanctions can result in positive change," Mnuchin said.

Rep. Lloyd Doggett, D-Texas, however, said he still has questions about whether Deripaska is really ceding control.

"I think there's a real question about whether he's effectively divested his stake, and we need more facts about that," Doggett said after the briefing.

Washington's sanctions on Rusal and two other Deripaska-controlled firms, enacted last year, clobbered the oligarch financially, sinking the market value of his publicly traded companies. They also caused havoc far beyond Russia. Global aluminum prices spiked, battering U.S. and European companies and prompting complaints from European allies.

European governments began warning the State Department last summer that the sanctions were hurting European factories.

A holding company connected to Deripaska and Rusal lobbied the Trump administration heavily to lift the sanctions. The chairman of the company hired Mercury Public Affairs and former U.S. senator David Vitter to call on the State Department and other officials.

The Treasury Department informed Congress on Dec. 19 that it intended to lift the sanctions on Rusal and the other two firms in 30 days because the companies had agreed to reduce Deripaska's ownership stake below 50 percent.

The letter suggested Treasury wanted to lift the sanctions in part because of the havoc they caused in metals markets. The letter noted that aluminum prices soared and that "Rusal subsidiaries in the United States, Ireland, Sweden, Jamaica, Guinea and elsewhere faced imminent closure."

Deripaska will not receive any cash as a result of the transactions necessary to reduce his ownership of Rusal or the other companies, Treasury said in the letter. And any future dividends he is entitled to from his reduced ownership stake will be placed into a blocked account, it said.
Hutchinson, MN (55350)

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Becoming partly cloudy with isolated thunderstorms developing this afternoon. High 91F. Winds SE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 30%..

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Some clouds. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low around 70F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph.
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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
CORNWALL and SD&G, Ontario  Environment Canada has issued a Special Weather Statement for Cornwall and the United Counties of SD&G.

Snow associated with an approaching low pressure system is expected to move into Eastern Ontario this evening and persist into Tuesday morning. Some areas may see snowfall amounts of 5 to 10 cm, the Statement reads. Snow may be accompanied by ice pellets this evening and overnight before changing to scattered showers Tuesday morning. There is also a risk of freezing rain during the changeover.

Snow is expected to begin at around 7 p.m. Monday night according to The Weather Network, before turning into a mix of snow and rain at around 7 a.m. Tuesday morning.

Temperatures throughout the day on Monday will feel between -21 and -15 with the windshill factor before rising above zero on Tuesday to around plus four.
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Stephen Booth is Director of Policy and Research at Open Europe.

In the vociferous debate about the proposed Brexit deal, the implications for UK security and foreign policy have come a distant second to economic and institutional considerations. However, this week Richard Dearlove, former MI6 head, and Charles Guthrie, former chief of defence staff, have written to Conservative Associations warning that the Brexit deal will threaten the national security of the country in fundamental ways and bind the UK into new sets of EU controlled relationships. We certainly should debate the UKs future security and foreign policies in light of Brexit, but there are several reasons why these dire warnings about the proposed deal are either misplaced or implausible.

Successive UK governments have cooperated selectively with the EU in security and foreign policy, reflecting concerns about the direction of travel or degree of integration. The UK secured opt-outs from EU law enforcement and internal security integration and many Brexiteers cited the erosion of these protections by ECJ jurisprudence as justification for withdrawal. Nonetheless, matters of external security, defence and foreign policy were largely protected by our national veto, the threat of which the UK successfully used to prevent EU ambitions for an autonomous military HQ, for example.

At the root of concerns about the proposed deal seems to be a fear about what might happen, rather than what the Withdrawal Agreement actually says. It is true that, during the transition period, the UK will be bound by EU foreign and defence policy decisions. The UK may be consulted on a case by case basis, but we will no longer have a formal role in shaping these decisions or be able to lead any resulting operations. However, crucially, throughout the transition period, the UK can refuse to apply EU decisions for vital and stated reasons of national policy  we have a de jure veto. The UK will be bound by existing EU rules on police and judicial cooperation during this time, but will be excluded from new rules that fall under our existing law enforcement and Schengen opt-outs.

If the UK were to enter the Backstop, either in 2021 or by 2023, there is no agreed provision for UK-EU security and foreign policy cooperation. UK commitments under EU law and the Withdrawal Agreement would fall away and the basis for cooperation would need to be negotiated either separately or under the auspices of a comprehensive UK-EU future partnership. The UK would not be legally obliged as a result of the deal to do anything, although the Withdrawal Agreement provides both sides with the option of agreeing a successor security agreement  obviously the UK would have a veto over this.

It is further argued by the deals critics that buried in the Agreement is the offer of a new, deep, and special relationship with the EU in defence, security and intelligence, which would undermine the UKs three core security and foreign policy relationships with NATO, our US bilateral agreements and Five Eyes intelligence sharing arrangements. This warning presumably refers to the joint UK-EU Political Declaration on the framework for the future partnership.

First, as many critics of the deal have pointed out, the Political Declaration is not legally enforceable, whereas the Withdrawal Agreement would be. At this stage, it is simply an offer and does not bind the UK. Indeed, the lack of legal enforceability of the Political Declaration is the typically-cited reason for opposing the deal. Here the assumption is that the Political Declaration is binding. It is not.

Second, the future relationship foreseen in the Political Declaration is impossible to reconcile with the claim that it would undermine the UKs core security relationships. Indeed, the declaration states that the entire future relationship should provide exceptions for matters of national security, which is the sole responsibility of the UK and the EUs member states respectively. The UK could participate on a case by case basis in EU-led security and defence missions and be consulted accordingly. Intelligence sharing would be voluntary and the parties would produce intelligence products autonomously. The UK and the EU would pursue independent sanctions policies driven by their respective foreign policies. None of this would compel the UK, or the EU, to do anything at all with regards to external or security policy, other than keep the other party informed.

Finally, it is unclear what alternative, if any, form of cooperation with the EU the authors of these warnings would find acceptable. There is no doubt that past and future UK governments would rank the three core relationships with NATO, bilaterally with the US and Five Eyes, as the most important (a Jeremy Corbyn-led government might prove the exception). However, successive governments have also acknowledged that the UK must also promote its interests, both offensively and defensively, with European partners and allies. The UK has a close bilateral relationship with Europes only other globally-relevant military and defence power, France. This is underpinned by bilateral treaty, but France is actively pursuing its foreign policy interests via the EU and therefore cooperation with the French could well mean working with the EU to some degree. The question is on what basis.

Leaving the EU is likely to mean the UK will not be able to formally shape, lead or veto EU foreign policy or defence decisions in the future. This is a direct consequence of Brexit. Equally it means we will not be directly bound by them. It is possible to argue that the EU is being short-sighted in only offering the UK take it or leave it European cooperation on security and foreign policy issues. This may yet change, and if the EU wants to secure UK cooperation, our ability to provide resources and capabilities will be of immense value and therefore provide us with influence.

Nevertheless, it will be up to future governments to work out how best to further UK foreign policy interests independently of and sometimes in cooperation with the EU. Nothing agreed to date would prevent the UK from refusing to take part in EU-led or controlled initiatives or from insisting that any future cooperation would only be provided under a NATO umbrella.

There are many valid reasons to be sceptical about the Brexit deal. My judgement is that, on balance, it is worth supporting. But the concerns raised by Sir Richard and Lord Guthrie dont stand up to scrutiny.
Leo Docherty is the MP for Aldershot. He is a member of the Defence Select Committee and a former soldier.

This week in the House of Commons I proposed a bill which would ensure that the UK derogates from the European Convention on Human Rights prior to deploying troops on combat operations. I did this because we need to ensure that our armed forces are protected from legal pursuit and that their resolve and capability to deliver hard fighting power, when needed around the world, is undiminished.

The legal pursuit of our soldiers and veterans is a particularly painful chapter in our countrys history and must be urgently resolved. Last year in my constituency, in the Aldershot garrison, I had a conversation with a senior soldier who had just left the Army after three decades of distinguished service serving in the most elite units, in the most brutal and demanding theatres of operation. His experience of sustained legal pursuit in relation to operations in Afghanistan left him with a deep sense of betrayal. Even though he was the son of a soldier and himself had served 30 years, he told me my sons will not serve which pained me.

Of course, soldiers do not wish to be above the law. They just want to be under the right one. For generations, the Law of Armed Conflict and the Geneva Conventions governed operations carried out by our soldiers, until that is, until 1998 when the unintended consequences of the Human Rights Act and the ECHR kicked in, leading to a catalogue of injustice involving hundreds of soldiers from all operational theatres; Northern Ireland, Iraq and Afghanistan.

No other country has such a perverse situation in which soldiers doing their duty face this kind of legal pursuit. Indeed, ten countries  including France and Spain have in effect opted out of certain aspects of the ECHR. So there can be a way forward, a way which my colleague Tom Tugendhat MP has tirelessly pointing out since his election to the Commons in 2015. The excellent Policy Exchange Report which he co-authored Clearing the Fog of Law makes clear the alarming manner in which our Armed Forces are entangled in Human rights law, to the extent that the ECHR applies wherever and whenever a British soldier employs forces. This means that foreign nationals, including enemy combatants can sue the UK for breach of the ECHR both in courts in London and Strasbourg following military operations. To prevent this we must  as other countries have done  derogate from the ECHR.

Another powerful voice is that of Johnny Mercer MP, my fellow member on the Defence Select Committee who has tackled head-on the outrageous scandal of the Iraq Historical Allegations Team and was instrumental  along with other members of the Defence Committee  in urging Sir Michael Fallon to close it down. The Defence Committee continues to investigate the scandal of legal pursuit and we have heard from witnesses about how the army is running scared of the law.

This is something that must end. And it must end, not only because of the past and the painful spectacle of legacy cases which cause so much distress to service men and women and their families. It must end because of future operations. Getting the legal basis of military operations right underpins the central mission of our national defence at this time; the rejuvenation of our armed forces to meet the complex new threats that we face.

Whether we like it or not we will need to, in the future, fight our enemies abroad. We need to be honest with ourselves about that. Soldiers are versatile and adaptable, they can be superb peace-keepers, aid workers, policemen, diplomats. They can and do perform all of these roles. But they are first and foremost, above all else, soldiers  whose task is deliver overwhelmingly military fighting power to kill and destroy our enemies.

And they must have the correct basis in law for them do that  in situations where domestic human rights law is simply not applicable. Soldiers need to know they can deploy and fight on our behalf by adhering to the Geneva Conventions and the Law Of Armed Conflict. They need to know they can deploy and fight on our behalf  and know that they will not then face spurious legal accusations decades after the event. And they need to know that they can deploy and fight on our behalf with the full confidence of our government, our society behind them.

For these reasons I hope that the government will back my private members bill, because as well as being a manifesto pledge and something all Conservatives can surely agree on, it is an issue, ultimately, of protecting the people of our Armed Forces and our national security.
Brexit 1) Grayling warns that failing to leave the EU would boost extremists

Police step in to protect MPs  The Times

Pancake race cancelled  The Guardian

Aggressive protesters could breach stalking law  The Times

No deal could cause unrest warns Bradley  Belfast Telegraph

Britain will witness a surge in neo-Nazi extremist groups if MPs block or weaken Brexit, a Cabinet minister warns today. Transport Secretary Chris Grayling said the 17 million who voted to leave the EU would feel cheated by any moves to water down Theresa Mays deal or thwart our exit entirely. This would have grave implications for our democracy, he said, ending centuries of moderate politics.In a chilling intervention, Mr Grayling said blocking Brexit could end the 350 years of moderate politics Britain has enjoyed since the bloody English Civil War. Doing so would provoke more nasty incidents such as this weeks Nazi taunts at pro-Remain Tory MP Anna Soubry outside Parliament, he argued. It would also play into the hands of disturbing extremists such as ex-English Defence League leader Tommy Robinson, who has been tipped to take over UKIP.  Daily Mail

>Today:

>Yesterday:

Brexit 2) Grieve calls for delay on Article 50

Conservative rebel Dominic Grieve has urged the prime minister to delay Brexit if her EU withdrawal deal is rejected by MPs next week. Mr Grieve, who backs calls for another referendum, said she could remove the 29 March date from UK legislation and ask the EU for more time. Cabinet ministers who oppose leaving the EU without a deal had a duty to resign if she refused to do so. Ministers warn the UK faces Brexit paralysis if the deal is rejectedHe said, if MPs reject the deal, the government should act immediately to strike the 29 March Brexit date from UK legislation before going to the EU to ask for an extension of the Article 50 process.  BBC

Plotters seek Commons rout to kill deal for good  The Times

Peoples Vote backers bide their time  The Guardian

Juncker plans exchange of letters to help May  Financial Times

Brexit 3) Tory donors predict we will never leave

Hunt says Parliament could stop a no deal outcome  Daily Telegraph

Brexit 4) Oliver warns against a second referendum

Leading Conservative donors who spent millions on the Brexit campaign say they now believe that Britain may never leave the European Union at all. Crispin Odey, a hedge fund manager who has given more than 870,000 to pro-Leave groups, revealed yesterday that he was betting on the pound to strengthen after Brexit failed. My view is that it aint going to happen, Mr Odey said. I just cant see how it happens with that configuration of parliament. Another two Tory donors, who between them gave 1.7 million to support the campaign to take Britain out of the EU, said they too believed that the eventual deal would not represent a real Brexit. Jeremy Hosking, a fund manager who donated 1.69 million to the Brexit campaign, said he was worried that the country would end up with something that was not a Brexit deal at all, while Terence Mordaunt, who donated 50,000 to the campaign, said he feared that we may never get out.  The Times

Craig Oliver admits that he watched Channel 4s drama Brexit: the Uncivil War through splayed fingers, with Rory Kinnear playing him as he fought unsuccessfully to win the referendum and keep Britain in the European UnionAlthough Sir Craig still believes it is a mistake for Britain to leave the EU, with a heavy heart he says he would not advocate a second referendum. I do think it would be unbelievably divisive. Rerunning the Leave campaign is the easiest campaign in the world. It is Tell them again and Can you believe the establishment is so up themselves they think your views dont matter at all.Sir Craig no longer works for Mr Cameron but talks to him regularly. He insists that the former prime minister still believes having a referendum on Britains relationship with Europe was the right thing to do.  The Times

Brexit 5) Forsyth: The deal could be made even worse, in order to win over Labour MPs

Further concessions would be insane  Leader, The Sun

Parliament must offer an alternative  Leader, Financial Times

Mays deal is flawed. How could it not be, given the failure to prepare properly for No Deal, which has so weakened the UKs negotiating position, and the loss of the Tory majority in Parliament which has hobbled Mrs May? But the reality is that if this deal doesnt pass, Brexit will only be weakened. The Government doesnt want No Deal and doesnt think it could get it through this Parliament even if it did.That means it will soften the deal to try to get Commons support for it. The danger for Brexiteers is that voting against this deal could make it worse, not better.  James Forsyth, The Sun

Brexit 6) Parris: Mays half-in, half-out arrangement just adds to the poison

Ive been dispirited in recent days to read colleagues in the press, and hear friends in the Commons chamber, slipping into defeatist talk just as we approach a final fence which it lies within our power to clear. Too many who should know better, who see all too clearly the absurdity of moving from being a member of the EU to being a satellite of the EU, but who have been scared by nonsense about no-deal, are wriggling away from the only rational response to where we are in January 2019. The response is that we must try to stop Brexit. They talk instead about finding a compromise, a way to bring our politicians and our country together this year, a way to heal wounds and end the political civil war. Heal wounds? Come together? End the civil war? This year? Substitute this decade and it still defies likelihood.  Matthew Parris, The Times

Brexit 7) Moore: Only the PM  whether its May or Corbyn  can stop us from leaving

A no confidence motion would be defeated  Peter Oborne, Daily Mail

A test to our democracy  Leader, Daily Telegraph

Labour takes a three point poll lead  Daily Mail

Nothing has changed for the ERG  Daily Telegraph

The EU want to see May ousted claims Drax  Daily Express

We need a Government of National Unity, suggests SNP MP  The Scotsman

Stewart: Scrap jail sentences of under six months

We keep being told that Parliament is overwhelmingly against a no-deal Brexit. It may be so, but we still do not know how it proposes to overwhelm it. If MPs refuse to honour the referendum result, they must agree among themselves a way that actually prevents Britain leaving. The actual proposal must be smoked out. One clear way to stop Mrs May, of course, is to defeat her in a vote of confidence in the House. But that only stops Brexit if the next Prime Minister agrees to do so. In yet another interestingly boring speech this week, Jeremy Corbyn has carefully avoided committing himself. The way the law stands, it could be Brexit with Mrs May or Brexit with Jeremy Corbyn, but it would still be Brexit.  Charles Moore, Daily Telegraph

Jail sentences under six months should be scrapped for most crimes because they are too short to heal offenders, says the prisons minister Rory Stewart. Burglars and nearly all shoplifters would be among up to 30,000 offenders a year who would be spared jail if the change is enacted. Only offenders convicted of violence or sex crimes would be excluded. In an interview with Saturdays Daily Telegraph magazine, Mr Stewart said the Ministry of Justice was looking very carefully at imposing a new legal presumption on English and Welsh courts against sentences under six months  and potentially longer.  Daily Telegraph

More children sent to referral units where gang leaders can target them  The Times

Crosby faces axe as Tory election guru

Johnson given interest free loan by Crosby  The Guardian

Wright wants restrictions on credit card gambling

The Conservative party is preparing to distance itself from the Australian strategist Sir Lynton Crosby, who masterminded David Camerons 2015 election victory but failed to repeat the trick for Theresa May. James Cleverly, the Conservative Partys deputy chairman, said that a review of last years snap election had highlighted the weaknesses of bringing in outside consultants to run general election campaigns for the party. He added that the Tories were building up their own in-house campaigning team instead, to make them less reliant on external consultants which they believed would be a more effective way to win elections in the longer term.  The Times

The Culture Secretary today warns bookies and banks to crack down on credit card gambling or face seeing it banned. Jeremy Wright will call in industry leaders for a dressing down next week.It comes ahead of a major Gambling Commission review next month on whether using credit cards to make online deposits deepens debt and addictions. Mr Wright said last night: Protecting people from the risks of gambling related harm is vital and all businesses with connections to gambling  be that bookmakers, social media platforms or banks  must be socially responsible.  The Sun

Major welcomes Universal Credit changes

Credit Due  Leader, The Times

Mother wins legal challenge  Daily Mail

Sir John Major, one of the most vehement Conservative critics of universal credit, has backed Amber Rudds changes to the welfare policy but warned they dont go far enough. Yesterday Ms Rudd, who was made work and pensions secretary in November, announced a set of reforms, saying the system was not as effective or compassionate as she wanted. Sir John told The Times: I welcome Amber Rudds measured approach to reforming this benefit. Her latest changes  especially ending the retrospective penalty for families with more than two children  are very welcome. More incremental changes are still necessary and it is more important to get these right than to rush them through.  The Times

>Yesterday: Gareth Streeter on Comment: Three facts which suggest a rise in food bank use is not just down to Universal Credit

Javid boasts of increase in stop and search

Sajid Javid has opened up a new rift with Theresa May by suggesting her landmark policy of restricting stop and search powers was responsible for a rise in crime. In a discussion about the alarming increase in violent attacks in Britain, the Home Secretary told a private meeting of Tory MPs on Wednesday night: Sadly, weve seen a drop in stop and search. He then boasted of how its use was increasing again under his watchSince he began to loosen rules on stop and search last year, the number of knife attacks on youngsters has dramatically reduced. Met Police chief Cressida Dick said knife attacks on under-25s went down 31 per cent during the three months between September and the end of November, with 176 fewer stabbing victims compared to the same period last year.  The Sun

Brokenshire challenges Legal Aid payments for fugitive

SNP split by personality cults

Speedboat killer Jack Shepherd should have his legal aid cut off until he returns to face justice, a Cabinet minister said last night. James Brokenshire said it was astonishing that fugitive Shepherd is receiving legal aid in order to lodge an appeal against a six-year sentence for killing 24-year-old Charlotte Brown. The Housing Secretarys dramatic intervention comes a day after Theresa May told the runaway to give himself up to police and called the case shocking.  Daily Mail

The SNP is embroiled in a war between two personality cults that is jeopardising the partys grip on power, its former deputy leader has warned after a senior MP appeared to back Alex Salmonds return as leader. Jim Sillars told the Telegraph that the party was paying a high price for allowing Mr Salmond then Nicola Sturgeon to dominate the top of the party with little external input except from a small fan club of advisers. He said a cult of personality had been allowed to form around each, with the two camps now at loggerheads over Ms Sturgeons handling of the sexual misconduct claims against Mr Salmond.  Daily Telegraph

News in brief
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While the conference room tables in 102 HUB-Robeson Center were cluttered with papers and various caffeinated beverages, the minds of each Student Fee Board member proved to be the opposite at this semester's first meeting.

At the meeting, the board heard allocation requests for the 2019-2020 academic year.

Ben Locke, the senior director of Penn State's Counseling and Psychological Services, requested a 5.7 percent increase in funding. If approved, the request will raise CAPS' funding to $850,740.

The proposal would fund general salary and a new records specialist position. In defense of the new prospective budget, Locke emphasized the importance of funding mental health services.

The Healthy Minds Study reports that somewhere over 35 percent of students in any given year will screen positive for a mental health concern, Locke said in reference to a study done by the University of Michigan.

CAPS currently serves 10 percent of the student body, but Locke projects an increase in funds will coincide with an increase in utilization by students. Locke also noted that, despite an increase in staff, many students find themselves on a wait list to receive mental health services.

Dan Murphy, the director of Penn State's Student Orientation and Transition Programs, also outlined the program's allocation request. The request seeks to improve campus navigation, enhance a sense of belonging at Penn State and engage with faculty and staff outside of the classroom.

A portion of the funding will be allocated to New Student Orientation. NSO will use part of the funding for the Welcome Week production of Results Will Vary*"  an interactive theater production about Penn State life that was introduced in August 2018. Despite complaints from various members of the Penn State faculty, Murphy remained adamant that the show continues to be produced by students.

We are committed to the show being written by students for students, Murphy said. While we understand there were a handful of faculty who had strong feelings, the integrity of the show relies on being written by students.

The Encore Theatre Program requested $15,000  the same amount requested in 2018.

In total, SOTP requested $112,000 for the 2019-2020 academic year. The request is $2,000 less than last years request  a decrease that comes after the Student Fee Board called for a reduction in the organizations publication request by $8,500.

To conclude the meeting, the board heard four allocation proposals. The board unanimously passed requests for an Omnicharge expansion in Penn State Libraries and a land expansion for Penn State Student Farm.

The board also approved a hearing for the $1.25 million renovation of the Robeson Gallery in the HUB.
"That is something that we are pleased to do because Canada is a country that understands how important it is to stand up for human rights and to stand up for woman's rights around the world and I can confirm that we have accepted the U.N.'s request," Trudeau said.

Alqunun is flying to Toronto via Seoul, South Korea , according to Thai immigration Police Chief Surachate Hakparn. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau confirmed his country had granted her asylum.

Her case highlighted the cause of women's rights in Saudi Arabia , where several women fleeing abuse by their families have been caught trying to seek asylum abroad in recent years and returned home. Human rights activists say many similar cases go unreported.

The fast-moving developments capped an eventful week for Rahaf Mohammed Alqunun. She fled her family while visiting Kuwait and flew to Bangkok, where she barricaded herself in an airport hotel to avoid deportation and grabbed global attention by mounting a social media campaign for asylum.

An 18-year-old Saudi woman who said she was abused by her family and feared for her life if deported back home left Thailand on Friday night for Canada , which has granted her asylum, officials said.

Outside the United Nations office buildings in Bangkok. The UN said on Jan. 9, 2019 that it was investigating the case of 18--year-old Saudi woman Rahaf Mohammed al-Qunun seeking asylum, after her plea against deportation.

Several other countries, including Australia, had been in talks with the U.N.'s refugee agency to accept Alqunun, Surachate said earlier in the day.

"She chose Canada. It's her personal decision," he said.

Canada's ambassador had seen her off at the airport, Surachate said, adding that she looked happy and healthy.

She thanked everyone for helping her, he said, and added that the first thing she would do upon arrival in Canada would be to start learning the language. She already speaks more than passable English, in addition to Arabic.

The office of the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees welcomed Canada's decision.

"The quick actions over the past week of the government of Thailand in providing temporary refuge and facilitating refugee status determination by UNHCR, and of the government of Canada in offering emergency resettlement to Ms. Alqunun and arranging her travel were key to the successful resolution of this case," the agency said in a statement.

It wasn't immediately clear what prompted Alqunon to choose Canada over Australia. Australian media reported that UNHCR had withdrawn its referral for Alqunon to be resettled in Australia because Canberra was taking too long to decide on her asylum.

UNHCR officials were not immediately available for comment. Australia's Education Minister Dan Tehan said Saturday that Australia had moved quickly to process her case but Canada decided to take her in. He added that, ultimately, the outcome was a good one. "She's going to be safe," he said.

Phil Robertson, deputy Asia director of Human Rights Watch, cited Alqunun's "courage and perseverance."

"This is so much a victory for everyone who cares about respecting and promoting women's rights, valuing the independence of youth to forge their own way, and demanding governments operate in the light and not darkness," he said in a statement.

Alqunun was stopped Jan. 5 at Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi Airport by immigration police who denied her entry and seized her passport.

She barricaded herself in an airport hotel room and took her plight onto social media. It got enough public and diplomatic support that Thai officials admitted her temporarily under the protection of U.N. officials, who granted her refugee status Wednesday.

Alqunun's father arrived in Bangkok on Tuesday, but his daughter refused to meet with him. Surachate said the father  whose name has not been released  denied physically abusing Alqunun or trying to force her into an arranged marriage, which were among the reasons she gave for her flight. He said Alqunun's father wanted his daughter back but respected her decision.

"He has 10 children. He said the daughter might feel neglected sometimes," Surachate said.

Canada's decision to grant her asylum could further upset the country's relations with Saudi Arabia.

In August, Saudi Arabia expelled Canada's ambassador to the kingdom and withdrew its own ambassador after Canada's Foreign Ministry tweeted support for women's right activists who had been arrested. The Saudis also sold Canadian investments and ordered their citizens studying in Canada to leave.

No country, including the U.S., spoke out publicly in support of Canada in that spat with the Saudis.

On Friday, Trudeau avoided answering a question about what the case would mean for relations with the kingdom, but he said Canada will always unequivocally stand up for human rights and women's rights around the world.

Canadian officials were reluctant to comment further until she landed safely in Canada.

Alqunun had previously said on Twitter that she wanted to seek refuge in Australia.

Australian Foreign Minister Marise Payne met Thursday with senior Thai officials in Bangkok. She later said Australia was assessing Alqunun's resettlement request.

Payne said she also raised Australia's concerns with Thai officials about Hakeem al-Araibi, a 25-year-old former member of Bahrain's national soccer team who was granted refugee status in Australia in 2017 after fleeing his homeland, where he said he was persecuted and tortured.

He was arrested while vacationing in Thailand in November due to an Interpol notice in which Bahrain sought his custody after he was sentenced in absentia in 2014 to 10 years in prison for allegedly vandalizing a police station -- a charge he denies. Bahrain is seeking his extradition.

Al-Araibi's case is being considered by Thailand's justice system, she said.
Oman's oil minister thinks President Donald Trump has given OPEC some undue flak. But echoing other Gulf ministers, Mohammed bin Hamad al-Rumhi stressed his desire to steer clear of political animosity with the American leader, appearing keen to give him the benefit of the doubt.

"Sometimes he hasn't been fair," al-Rumhi told CNBC's Hadley Gamble while at the Atlantic Council's Global Energy Forum in Abu Dhabi. "I'm sure he has good intention too, he thinks he is representing the people of the U.S. and he thinks this is the way to do it."

"Nobody wants volatility, I am sure Trump doesn't want volatility, because volatility is difficult to manage," he said. Trump has spent months vocally criticizing the 14-member cartel for its management of oil output, urging the group to keep the taps open and oil prices low. "OPEC is ripping us off," Trump said in a tweet last October.

In December, OPEC members along with Russia reached an agreement to cut their crude production by 1.2 million barrels of oil per day from the market in order to stem the fall in prices, something that further drew Trump's ire.

"Unfortunately there are politics, but sometimes the politics forces people to go to the social media or to CNBC to present their case. And that is the reality of today," the minister said.
Top U.S. diplomats are stridently pledging the Trump administration's determination to drive Iran out of Syria, even as it prepares to withdraw its military presence. And they're fielding new ideas to further that aim  even if it means withholding crucial aid. Doubling down on the Trump's administration's anti-Iran message, the senior policy advisor to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, Brian Hook, vowed no U.S. reconstruction assistance to the war-torn country until Iranian forces and its proxies are completely driven out. "We think that if working with everybody in the region, and if we construct our diplomacy the way we want to, that we will be able to get rid of all forces under Iranian control," Hook told CNBC's Hadley Gamble in Abu Dhabi. "We are not going to permit them do in Syria what they did in Lebanon, and we will be withholding reconstruction assistance, we have a number of tools at our disposal to help accomplish that objective."

Hook's staunch message echoed that of senior administration officials Pompeo and national security advisor John Bolton, who have long held a hard line on Iran and until December had pledged a long-term U.S. presence in Syria with the aim of both countering the Islamic State and pushing back on Iranian military activity there. The policymakers have had to change tack since Trump's surprise announcement on December 19 to pull all U.S. forces out of Syria. Now, diplomats insist that while they plan to carry through Trump's decision, the mission to expel Iran from Syria remains unchanged. Critics of the withdrawal move warn that IS is not fully defeated, and that leaving so abruptly would mean abandoning local allies, namely Syrian Kurdish fighters, that have carried the brunt of the ground fight against IS alongside U.S. forces. Allies have been left confused as to the administration's policy goals in the region. At the same time, many senior officials in the Middle East and regional experts alike say that despite Washington's promises, the idea of Iran and its proxy forces actually leaving Syria is inconceivable. To that notion, Hook was defiant. "Well, we don't listen to the council of defeatism," he said. "If we always listened to our critics, we wouldn't be getting very far in foreign policy."
The Georgian Military Highway connecting Russia with the countries of the South Caucasus started to work in a regular mode, the press service of the Emergency Ministry of the North Ossetia reported.

From 18:00 Moscow time on January 12, the movement on the Georgian Military Road is permitted for all types of vehicles until further notice, Interfax quotes the representative of the ministry as saying.

The restrictions were removed in connection with the improvement of the weather conditions in Georgia, the possibility of ensuring the safety of vehicles, and also on the recommendation of the Georgian border police.
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!
A general view of Nissan Crossing showroom in the Ginza district on November 21, 2018 in Tokyo, Japan.

One of Nissan Motor's top executives has resigned, further rattling the Japanese automaker's management team as it broadens an investigation into ousted Chairman Carlos Ghosn's alleged financial misconduct.

Jose Munoz, widely considered as a close ally to Ghosn and a possible successor to lead the automaking partnership between Nissan and France's Renault, had been a "person of interest" in Nissan's widening internal investigation.

The 53-year-old, who was Nissan's chief performance officer and head of its China operations, made the announcement in a LinkedIn post on Friday. In a statement, Nissan said that Munoz had "elected to resign" from the company, effective immediately. It declined to offer details.

He becomes the latest executive casualty since Nissan in November removed Ghosn as chairman and fired representative director Greg Kelly.

The resignation deals another blow to the Japanese automaker which is grappling with the scandal at a time when it is struggling to shore up profitability in the United States and expand aggressively in China.

Reuters had reported earlier on Friday that the Japanese automaker was looking into decisions made in the United States by Munoz who led Nissan's North American operations from 2016 to 2018.

"Unfortunately, Nissan is currently involved in matters that have and will continue to divert its focus," Munoz said in his post.

"As I have repeatedly and recently made clear to the company, I look forward to continuing to assist Nissan in its investigations."

People with knowledge of the issue have said that Munoz, who had been placed on a leave of absence earlier in the month, had not been co-operating with the internal investigation.

Ghosn, once the most celebrated executives in the auto industry and the anchor of Nissan's alliance with Renault, remains in custody in a Tokyo detention center since his initial arrest in late November.

Ghosn has been indicted on two counts of under-reporting his income, and aggravated breach of trust for temporarily shifting personal investment losses worth 1.85 billion yen ($17 million) to Nissan.

The scandal has sent shockwaves through the automotive industry and has escalated tensions between Nissan and Renault, where Ghosn remains CEO and chairman.

Munoz joined the automaker in 2004 in Europe and led its significant expansion in North America after the global financial crisis. Since then, Nissan has succeeded in raising its market share in the United States and posted record sales.

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.
Sen. Kamala Harris (D-CA) talks to reporters with Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-VT) (R) following the weekly Democratic Senate policy luncheon in the U.S. Capitol November 27, 2018 in Washington, DC.

Senator Kamala Harris outlined her vision for a unified America while promoting her new book in New York City, with the California Democrat criticizing President Donald Trump over his insistence on erecting a wall along the Southern U.S. border.

The book and cross-country promotional tour comes as the 54-year-old crafts an image as a contender for higher office. Harris is widely expected to announce a 2020 presidential bid in what is shaping up to be a crowded field of fellow Democrats.

Moments after Harris walked on stage at the 92nd Street Y in Manhattan, an audience member shouted "Forty six!," a reference to the next U.S. president. The raucous applause from the sold-out crowd was a sign of enthusiasm for her potential candidacy.

"The vast majority of us have so much more in common than what separates us," Harris said, repeating a line that also appears in her book, "The Truths We Hold: An American Journey." Released on Tuesday, the book intertwines stories from Harris's upbringing and personal life with policy proposals that could form the foundation of a campaign.

On Friday, Harris sounded off on a wide array of potential campaign themes. She called the war on drugs "ineffective" and railed against the country's cash bail system that disproportionately affects the poor as "not reflective of a system of justice." She also touted the 2017 bill she introduced with Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., to dis-incentivize states from using cash bail, as evidence of her bipartisan deal-making skills.

The thrust of Harris' book and remarks in New York addressed finding commonality among diversity, a potential 2020 campaign rallying cry in a political climate that's deeply fractured. However, she wasted little time in hitting out at Trump for the impasse over border security that's forced a government shutdown that's lasted three weeks.

Harris derided President Trump's proposed border wall as a "vanity project" as the government's temporary closure broke the record for the longest ever, and even linked it to Special Counsel Robert Mueller's probe of Russian interference in the 2016 election.

The fight over the wall is a "distraction from the fact that you've got Mueller investigating" people close to Trump, Harris told the audience.
Former U.S. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Julian Castro talks with an attendee during the Clark County Democrats' Steering Committee Meeting at Sierra Vista High School on January 08, 2019 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Julian Castro will run for president, the former secretary of Housing and Urban Development announced on Saturday, joining an increasingly crowded field of contenders lining up to challenge President Donald Trump in 2020.

Before leading HUD under former president Barack Obama from 2014 to 2017, Castro served as mayor of his hometown of San Antonio. He has not held public office since departing the Obama administration but has stayed in public life, visiting early primary states New Hampshire and Iowa as well as releasing a memoir.

Invoking his family heritage, Castro  who named Joaquin, his twin brother who serves in Congress as his campaign chair  formally declared his candidacy in the city he once led.

"I'm running for president because it's time for new leadership, because it's time for new energy and it's time for a new commitment to make sure that the opportunities that I've had are available to every American," he told cheering supporters.

The 44-year-old Mexican-American is poised to appeal to an increasingly young and diverse Democratic party, at a time when President Donald Trump has ramped up his attacks on immigration at the southern border. Castro made the campaign announcement at Plaza Guadalupe on San Antonio's middle-class west side, less than 200 miles from the U.S.-Mexico border.

"When my grandmother got here almost a hundred years ago, I'm sure she never could have imagined that just two generations later, one of her grandsons would be serving as a member of the United States Congress and the other would be standing with you here today to say these words: I am a candidate for President of the United States of America," Castro said in a statement.

In a nod to the influence of the Latino vote, Castro said his first trip as a candidate will be to Puerto Rico, which is still struggling to recover from a massive hurricane that decimated the island. He plans to address the Latino Victory Fund and visit local residents, then will hit the stump in New Hampshire.

Castro is among the first Democrats to formally announce a presidential bid, but the primary field is expected to grow quickly. Elizabeth Warren, Bernie Sanders, and fellow Texan Beto O'Rourke are just a few of the prominent names expected to run. Warren has already started an exploratory committee and has visited the early primary state of Iowa.

Separately, Hawaii Democrat Tulsi Gabbard told CNN on Friday that she was also seeking the presidency.

--The Associated Press contributed to this article.
Chinese telecom giant Huawei fired a sales director arrested in Poland on charges of conducting espionage on behalf of China, The Wall Street Journal reported on Saturday.

Huawei, the world's second largest maker of smartphones, further distanced itself from the employee, Wang Weijing, by issuing a statement that he had brought the company into "disrepute." It added that the employee's actions "have no relation to the company," and stressed that it complies with the law in all countries.

Prior to the arrest, the employee was responsible for sales of technology to government customers in Poland, an important market for Huawei, the Journal reported.

The news might serve to heighten fears in Washington that Huawei is a threat to national security. Huawei has long denied that, stating that it hasn't been caught up in any spying allegations. Saturday's arrest might change that.

It's the latest high-profile criminal incident involving Huawei in recent months, and follows a week of bad press.

In December, the company's chief financial officer, Meng Wanzhou, was arrested in Canada on the request of the U.S. government, amid suspicions that she had circumvented sanctions against Iran.

The U.S. has been trying to undermine Huawei's influence, warning about possible ties to Chinese intelligence groups and restricting access to countries' next generation 5G networks. For its part, Huawei has said that it is owned by employees and operates independently of Beijing.

Huawei's troubles have been playing out against the backdrop of the U.S.-China trade dispute, which President Donald Trump has been attempting to negotiate with Chinese President Xi Jinping.
Houston's George Bush Intercontinental Airport said it shut down one of its security checkpoints on Sunday because of staffing shortfalls in the partial government shutdown, airport staff told travelers.

The airport's decision to close terminal B's security checkpoint and ticketing counters follows a similar measure at Miami International Airport, which shut one of its terminals early over the weekend as more Transportation Security Administration officers call out sick after they missed their first paycheck since the shutdown began on Dec. 22. Houston airport officials said the terminal's checkpoint remained closed on Monday morning.

The TSA workers are among the some 420,000 federal employees deemed essential who are working without pay. Amid the shutdown, which began on Dec. 22 and is now the longest ever, TSA officers missed their first paycheck on Friday.

tweet

The shifts show how the impact from the shutdown, the result of an impasse between President Donald Trump and lawmakers over funding for a barrier along the southern U.S. border, are impacting aviation. The shutdown has stalled the required federal approvals for new jets and routes, as well as certifications for new mechanics and other industry employees.

The agency acknowledged that unscheduled absences of the 51,000 TSA officers have been on the rise, but said "security standards remain uncompromised at our nation's airports." About 5.6 percent of officers called out sick on Saturday, up from 3.3 percent a year ago, spokesman Michael Bilello said Saturday.

Airports "may begin exercising consolidation option during peak periods, and these decisions will be made at the local level," TSA said in a statement.

The TSA considers a normal wait time on security line 30 minutes or less. At Miami International Airport, McCarren International Airport (which serves Las Vegas) and Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport, maximum wait times were 29 minutes, Bilello said. Others around the country were lower, and the impact to air travelers has so far been minimal.

"We usually see 30-40 TSA call-outs per day, but that has doubled in the last few days," Greg Chin, spokesman for Miami International Airport, told CNBC in an email. He said that the airport has about 700 TSA workers scheduled to work daily.

Starting Saturday, flights scheduled to fly from Miami's Terminal G after 1 p.m. through the same time on Sunday and Monday, will be relocated to Terminals F or H. The change is a "precautionary measure and to better utilize the decreased staffing," Chin said.

United Airlines will use other gates for flights that were scheduled to depart from Terminal G, and is telling travelers to arrive at the airport early and to check for changes, a spokeswoman said.

TSA Administrator David Pekoske late Friday said the screeners would receive $500 and be paid for Dec. 22, the day the shutdown began.
While North American shale may be competition for OPEC members, some crude-exporting countries in the Arabian Gulf are simultaneously taking advantage of the commodity's ability to fuel lucrative investments beyond oil.

For the United Arab Emirates' Musabbeh al-Kaabi, chief executive of Abu Dhabi's Mubadala Petroleum and Petrochemicals, the shale revolution has the made North American gas and petrochemicals industry very attractive, bringing competitively-priced gas feedstock to the market.

The petrochemicals firm is a major component of Mubadala Investment Company, Abu Dhabi's state-owned holding company. It operates as a sovereign wealth fund with assets of more than $226 billion, and is aimed at diversifying the emirate's economy.

"We as an investor made big investments in the last 18 months, north of $12 billion dollars, and some of these big investments are happening in North America," al-Kaabi told CNBC's Hadley Gamble during the Atlantic Council Energy Forum in Abu Dhabi.

This was for two simple reasons, the CEO said. "It is a big market and it is enjoying a highly competitive feedstock. So we like the business in that part of the world because of these two reasons." Feedstock refers to raw material, such as natural gas, used in petrochemical production. Gas dominate's the company's business, and al-Kaabi has previously highlighted North America as the focus of a strategic shift when it comes to petrochemicals thanks to the shale revolution.

"Other parts of global energy I would say, the energy industry, the price would be set by the high cost producers going forward," al-Kaabi added. "And who are the high cost producers nowadays? The shale producers. And we will keep monitoring what is happening in that part of the world."
For the last 190 years, the Yuengling family of Pottsville, Pennsylvania has been continuously brewing beer. It's done so through economic slowdowns, two world wars and even the Prohibition era, making it America's oldest brewery.

During Prohibition, the company survived by serving "near beer" (beer that had 0.5 percent alcohol), as well as diversifying into a new product.

Being in business for nearly 2 centuries "is something that is so special for us, and it's so rewarding to be here and the longer we're involved in the business the more appreciation we have for our ancestors who have survived things such as prohibition," Jen Yuengling told CNBC's "On the Money" in an interview.

Jen is one of four sisters who make up the family's sixth generation. All four work for the brewery while their father, Dick Yuengling, maintains his title as President and CEO. But the family business wasn't always about beer.

"Our great grandfather had the insight to build a dairy across the street. So we had a creamery business which was successful until about the mid 80s," explained Wendy Yuengling. The sisters admitted that they didn't really see themselves working for business right away.

"We grew up in the 70s and the early 80s, so we went through some down years. We really didn't really start to see a jump in our production until the mid 90s, which was when we were out of college and the timing was right for us to start our careers in the business" said Jen.
Billionaire entrepreneur and founder of SpaceX Elon Musk speaks at the 68th International Astronautical Congress 2017 in Adelaide on September 29, 2017.

SpaceX is planning on trimming its workforce, a company spokeswoman told CNBC.

The company said it sees "extraordinarily difficult challenges ahead" and therefore needs to "become a leaner company."

The Los Angeles Times first reported that the Hawthorne, California-based company would be laying off about 10 percent of its staff. According to its website, SpaceX employes more than 6,000 people.

Read SpaceX's full statement below:

"To continue delivering for our customers and to succeed in developing interplanetary spacecraft and a global space-based Internet, SpaceX must become a leaner company. Either of these developments, even when attempted separately, have bankrupted other organizations. This means we must part ways with some talented and hardworking members of our team. We are grateful for everything they have accomplished and their commitment to SpaceX's mission. This action is taken only due to the extraordinarily difficult challenges ahead and would not otherwise be necessary."

SpaceX was named the No. 1 company on the , announced in May. At the time, SpaceX told CNBC its

Earlier this month, SpaceX raised $273 million through preferred stock, according to a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

In December, The Wall Street Journal reported that SpaceX was raising $500 million in funding, placing its valuation at $30.5 billion. Founded by , SpaceX was reportedly planning to use the new cash to build its
President Donald Trump speaks to reporters with Vice President Mike Pence (R) and U.S. Senators' John Barrasso (R-WY) and John Thune (R-SD) after Trump addressed a closed Senate Republican policy lunch while a partial government shutdown enters its 19th day on Capitol Hill in Washington, U.S., January 9, 2019.

Federal investigators, alarmed by President Donald Trump's behavior in the immediate aftermath of his firing in 2017 of former FBI director James Comey, opened a probe into whether the president had been secretly working with Russia, The New York Times reported late Friday.

Citing unnamed sources familiar with the investigation, the publication said that counterintelligence officials weighed whether Trump's actions were undermining national security, and whether he was either working at the behest of Moscow, or was somehow influenced by the Kremlin.

Trump has repeatedly denied that he colluded with Russia, while even Comey has stated publicly that Trump himself was not a focus of the FBI's probe into his campaign's ties to Moscow. In a lengthy diatribe on Twitter, the president blasted The Times, and renewed his critique of the former FBI director as "a total sleaze" and a poor leader.

Twitter

Trump tweet2

Allegations that Trump was somehow compromised by Russia were first broached by the controversial Steele dossier, a raw intelligence document assembled by a former British spy that was interspersed with lurid and largely uncorroborated accusations against the president.

The Times reported on Friday that agents and senior FBI officials had their suspicions aroused about Trump's ties to Russia during the 2016 election, but refrained from opening an investigation into him because of how sensitive the undertaking would be. However, sources told the publication that on two occasions, Trump tied Comey's dismissal to the Russia probe, which led to a counterintelligence track being added to the original Russia inquiry.

In theory, Comey's axing would constitute obstruction, because of the impact it would have had on the FBI's ability to learn about Moscow's meddling, and whether U.S. citizens were involved. On Saturday, Trump reiterated his position that he's been far tougher on Russian than any of his predecessors.

Russia tweet

According to The Times report, it's unclear if Special Counsel Robert Mueller is still pursuing the counterintelligence probe as he pursues a wide ranging investigation into whether campaign officials, or Candidate Trump himself, knew of Russia's efforts to influence the election. Still, the investigation into whether the president obstructed justice by firing Comey was lumped in with the counterintelligence inquiry, according to former law enforcement officials who spoke with the Times.

Rudolph W. Giuliani, Trump's personal lawyer and the former mayor of New York City, dismissed the counterintelligence effort. "The fact that it goes back a year and a half and nothing came of it that showed a breach of national security means they found nothing," Giuliani told The Times on Friday, but added that he had no insight into that particular track of the investigation.

A spokesperson for the FBI did not immediately respond to CNBC's request for comment.

The Times' full report can be found on its website.
Turkey continues to cooperate closely with Russia to implement the agreements on the Syrian province of Idlib reached by the presidents of both countries in September last year, Turkeys Defense Minister Hulusi Akar said on Saturday, TASS reports.

The Turkish defense minister made this statement after a meeting with Chief of the General Staff Yasar Guler, Head of the National Intelligence Organization Hakan Fidan and Land Forces Commander Umit Dundar. The meeting of the Turkish top brass was held on the border with Syria.

"Turkey is doing everything possible for preserving stability and keeping the ceasefire [in Idlib] as part of the Sochi agreements. Our close cooperation with Russia in this area continues," the Anadolu news agency quoted Akar as saying.
DEWITT [mdash] Jean Gravert, 95, formerly of Delmar, Iowa, passed away peacefully in her daughter's home in Iowa City. Per her wishes, there will be no visitation. A Celebration of Life will be held Sunday, July 25, 2021, from 1:00 until 4:00 p.m. at Grossman Hall in Delmar. Arrangements are
Beachwood, OH (44122)

Today

Sunshine to start, then a few afternoon clouds. High around 70F. Winds N at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Mostly clear. Low 52F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph.
BEDFORD HEIGHTS, Ohio  A pileup of abortion restrictions passed in recent years around the country could erode or overturn Roe v. Wade within a year, Planned Parenthood President Leana Wen said Friday.

Dr. Wen, an emergency medicine doctor who took over the nonprofit organization in November, visited Planned Parenthoods Bedford Heights abortion clinic as part of a listening tour.

More than 400 abortions restrictions have become law in the last seven years throughout the United States, Wen said during a Friday interview. Twenty abortion-access related cases are one step beneath the Supreme Court  and if the high court takes any of them, the landmark 1973 case that guaranteed abortion rights could be further neutered, or erased.

The decision about someones health should not be made by politicians, whether theyre politicians in Washington or politicians in statehouses around the country, Wen said.

Heres what Wen and the Ohio Planned Parenthood president said about the future of abortion.

On Ohios stance on abortion

Ohio ranks among the most restrictive states in the country when it comes to abortion access, said Iris Harvey, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood of Greater Ohio.

Its clear that Ohio is part of the initiative to race to  write the most punitive legislation with the goal of being first to reach the Supreme Court to challenge Roe v. Wade. So I think were as bad and perhaps worse than other states.

Ohio has seven abortion clinics across the state, according to NARAL Pro-Choice Ohio. Planned Parenthood runs three of them, in Cincinnati, Bedford Heights and Columbus.

In December, Ohio has passed a ban on the dilation and evacuation abortion method, which is used for most second-trimester abortions. A court battle is still brewing on a 2017 Ohio law that banned abortions after a prenatal test shows the fetus has or might have Down syndrome.

On Ohio womens rights

Already, Ohio law requires a 24-hour waiting period between a womans first appointment at an abortion clinic and her procedure.

These restrictions that are here and around the country have nothing to do with medicine. They have nothing to do with scientific best practice. They have everything to do with politicians imposing their views on what should be a very personal medical decision, Wen said. And frankly, they are demeaning. What does it say when the government is telling us, telling women that we need to have a waiting period that doesnt exist for other medical procedures. It implies that somehow we didnt think about our own choices. That we need the government to think for us.

Ohio also requires the clinic to give the women information about adoptions and fetal development.

On the Supreme Court

President Donald Trump has nominated two conservative judges to the U.S. Supreme Court, shifting the balance of the court to a conservative majority with the confirmation of Justice Brett Kavanaugh in October.

Kavanaugh said in his confirmation hearings that he views Roe v. Wade as settled law. Still, Wen said Kavanaugh has an anti-reproductive health stance that concerns her.

It deeply concerns me as the president of Planned Parenthood that we have Brett Kavanaugh who has a track record of being anti-reproductive health and anti-womens health and now he is on the highest court of the land, Wen said.

On politics and healthcare

Wen said abortion restrictions, like the dilation and evacuation ban, shouldnt be decided by politicians.

What other medical procedurewhat other aspect of medicine are there politicians trying to pass laws that directly restrict peoples access and that restrict patients from receiving the best medical information?
Several things stoked the hubbub over Republican Larry Householders return to the Ohio Houses speakership this week, when Householder unseated fellow Republican Ryan Smith, of southeast Ohios Gallia County, whod been speaker from June 6 through Dec. 31.

First, though, heres a hint about why the speakership may be so coveted: Champaign County Republican William B. Saxbe, of Mechanicsburg, was among Ohios most popular officeholders. Voters elected Saxbe to the Ohio House; as Ohio attorney general; and to the U.S. Senate. Saxbe then was U.S. attorney general, followed by service as American ambassador to India.

In 1953 and 1954, Saxbe was the Ohio Houses speaker. This is what the late Saxbe  attorney general in Columbus, and in Washington; a senator and ambassador  wrote about being speaker in his excellent autobiography, co-authored by Peter D. Franklin:

Looking back  I think being Speaker [of Ohios House] was the highlight of my political career, Saxbe wrote. I was able to do things in the legislature that needed to be done, and that was immensely satisfying.

If that doesnt explain the lure of the Houses gavel, nothing can.

As for the nuts-and-bolts politics of Householders victory over fellow Republican Smith:

* Only twice since World War II has a challenger beat a speaker of the same party. In 1953, Saxbe unseated fellow Republican Gordon Renner, of Cincinnati. In 1975, Scioto County Democrat Vern Riffe unseated fellow Democrat A.G. Lancione, of Belmont Countys Bellaire.

* Householder could become the first three-term Ohio House speaker since the three terms (1995 through 2000) served by Speaker Jo Ann Davidson, a suburban Columbus Republican. Ohios (lunatic) term limits forbid a House member from serving more than four consecutive terms. After that, she or he cant run for the House again for at least four years.

This week marked the beginning of Householders second House term (this time around). Hes eligible to seek a third House term in 2020, and a fourth in 2022. Householder could run for re-election as speaker each time, potentially giving him six years (three terms) as speaker. (Last Sundays column erroneously said Householder could only seek one more term as speaker.)

* Householder won with 26 Republican votes  and 26 votes from Democrats, including the votes of many black legislators. Meanwhile, 34 House Republicans and 12 House Democrats backed Smith. That is, Householder was backed by a minority, not a majority, of his fellow Republicans.

Among House members supporting Householder were 12 of the Houses black Democrats, including Reps. Juanita Brent, Stephanie Howse and Terrence Upchurch, of Cleveland; Janine Boyd, of Cleveland Heights; Philip Robinson, of Solon; Tavia Galonski and Emilia Sykes, of Akron; Glenn Holmes, of suburban Youngstown; and Thomas West, of Canton, plus one legislator each from Columbus, Toledo and Cincinnati. Meanwhile, House Minority Leader Fred Strahorn, a Dayton Democrat, supported Ryan Smith, as did two additional black Democrats, one each from Columbus and Cincinnati. On Friday, Strahorn resigned as House Democratic leader but will remain a House member.

* Householder appears to be the first Ohio House speaker in almost 150 years to have recaptured the Houses gavel after a long interval without it. In January 1858, Athens Republican Nelson H. Van Vorhes, once the Athens Messengers owner, was defeated for re-election as speaker by Rep. William B. Woods, of Newark (who was later a U.S. Supreme Court justice). But Van Vorhes became the Houses speaker again in January 1872. That 14-year gap was as long as Householders 2005-2019 gap.

But this is the key political takeaway of Householders win. He promised he wouldnt support union-busting bills. That prompted organized labor to lobby Ohio House Democrats to support Householder for speaker  and 26 of the 38 House Democrats did.

In terms of electing statewide candidates in Ohio, organized labor isnt the force it was. Still, in 2011, organized labor helped kill GOP Gov. John Kasichs union-busting Senate Bill 5. And now theres this key take-away of this weeks Ohio House speakership election. Unions scored a win for their members by helping return the Ohio House of Representatives gavel to Householder  a Republican:

In helping Householder regain the speakership, labor unions can expect the Ohio House to at least hear them out. Given todays politics, that could be a huge counterweight to corporate power.

Thomas Suddes, a member of the editorial board, writes from Athens.

To reach Thomas Suddes: tsuddes@cleveland.com, 216-999-4689

Have something to say about this topic? Use the comments to share your thoughts. Then, stay informed when readers reply to your comments by using the Follow option at the top of the comments, and look for updates via the small blue bell in the lower right as you look at more stories on cleveland.com.
Michael Cohen, erstwhile Trump lawyer and self-proclaimed "fixer," has agreed to testify before Congress. The announcement comes on the heels of weeks of Cohen's attempts to distance himself from his former boss. From telling the public he was merely following orders to encouraging voters to cast ballots for Democrats, Cohen has been trying to redeem himself in the public's eyes. But does he deserve it?

PERSPECTIVES

Cohen announced his intention to testify on Twitter, claiming he intends to "give a full and credible account of the events which have transpired," further distancing himself from the president.

My statement regarding testifying publicly before Congress: pic.twitter.com/apNhAdfVds  Michael Cohen (@MichaelCohen212) January 10, 2019

Not everyone has been impressed with Cohen's moral about-face. Stephen A. Crockett Jr. at The Root writes:

Cohen's agreement to testify comes at the end of a several-months-long attempt to rehabilitate his image. Before the election, Cohen urged voters to cast their ballots for liberal candidates in order to better fight back against the president's agenda.

"Get to the poll, because if not, you are going to have another two or another six years of this craziness." Michael Cohen, Donald Trump's former lawyer, tells Americans to vote against the President and the Republican Party. https://t.co/tuTCnxfQfP pic.twitter.com/VXfbAPIKAY  CNN (@CNN) October 19, 2018

Even this Get Out the Vote PSA fell flat for many.

Michael Cohen's turtleneck wants you to vote Democrat https://t.co/SiS6nqENBc pic.twitter.com/cqP1MQOGo8  Jezebel (@Jezebel) October 19, 2018

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CLEVELAND, Ohio  Our brunch and breakfast series continues as we check out Astoria Cafe & Market in Cleveland. Heres a look at what to expect:

Location + hours: 5417 Detroit Ave., Cleveland, 216-266-0834. Brunch hours: 10 a.m. to 2:45 p.m. Saturday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday. It's in the city's Gordon Square neighborhood near the recently opened Flight wine bar, Spice Kitchen + Bar and down the street from Happy Dog.

Menu or buffet? Menu.

About the place: Sometimes when a restaurant tries to do too many things nothing works. But the folks at Astoria have found the recipe for success with a culinary triumvirate: A bar, restaurant and market. One-stop shopping. We heard Creedence Clearwater Revival's "Fortunate Son" and Elvis Presley's "Burning Love." There's a pair of televisions. Love the sign that says "Im sorry for what I said when I was hungry." Low- and high-top tables are positioned throughout the dining room.

About the menu: There is a strong Mediterranean influence in the offerings, which are creative: Duck confit and hash, souvlaki and eggs, nduja (sausage) and kale pizza are among the dishes served, along with nine sides like ricotta pancakes, spanakopita (spinach pie), Greek yogurt and others. Stuffed French toast (brioche, of course) was incredibly light and delicious, with its varying flavors from apple butter, almond granola and Granny Smith apples. The pan-fried Kasseri cheese in the Saganaki and eggs with Heirloom grape tomatoes was decadent. You dont see Kasseri for breakfast too often.

About the drinks: Carusos Coffee is poured, in addition to a lot of craft beers, extensive wine list and mixed drinks.

Dont miss: Shopping! Make time to peruse the shelves to the right of the entrance. Cured meat, cheese, oil, vinegar and more are available.

Suggestion: Call ahead to see if reservations are needed.

Have a brunch spot youve wondered about and want us to visit? Email me.

Previous eats: Northeast Ohio breakfast-brunch spots weve tried:

1815 Tavern - Aurora

111 Bistro - Medina

35 Brix - Green

Adega - Cleveland (downtown)

Akron Family Restaurant - Akron

Alexandris - Medina

Alley Cat - Cleveland (Flats East Bank)

Austins Wood Fire Grille - Brecksville

Barrio - Cuyahoga County (multiple locations)

Bay Diner - Bay Village

Beau's on the River - Cuyahoga Falls

Big Al's Diner - Cleveland (East Side)

Blue Canyon Kitchen & Tavern - Twinsburg

Blue Door Cafe - Cuyahoga Falls

Bomba Tacos & Rum - Akron

Bonefish Grill  Independence

Borderline Cafe - Lakewood

Brim Kitchen + Brewery - Willoughby

Burntwood Tavern - Brecksville

Check Please Cafe - Grafton

The Cheesecake Factory - Lyndhurst

The City Diner - Cleveland

City Works - Orange Village

Creekside Restaurant & Bar  Brecksville

Crop Bistro - Cleveland (Ohio City)

Deagans Kitchen & Bar - Lakewood

The Eye Opener  Akron

Fahrenheit - Cleveland (Tremont)

Fat Cats - Cleveland (Tremont)

Fire Food and Drink  Cleveland (Shaker Square)

First Watch - Fairlawn

Flour - Moreland Hills

Flury's Cafe - Cuyahoga Falls

Flying Fig - Cleveland (Ohio City)

Fred's Diner - Akron

Fresh Start Diner - Twinsburg

Gabe's Family Restaurant  Cleveland

Galaxy - Wadsworth

Gandalf's Pub & Restaurant - Valley City

The Girves Brown Derby - Medina

Hofbrauhaus - Cleveland (downtown)

Inn on Coventry  Cleveland Heights

Jack Flaps - Cleveland (Ohio City)

Jennifer's - Strongsville

Kelly's cafe - Brunswick

Lamp Post  Akron

Lucky's Cafe - Cleveland (Tremont)

Luna Bakery & Cafe  Cleveland Heights

Luxe Kitchen & Lounge - Cleveland (Gordon Square)

Michael's A.M. - Akron

Mike's Place - Kent

Mom's Deli & Grille - North Royalton

Mustard Seed Market & Cafe - Fairlawn

Noble Beast Brewing Co. - Cleveland (downtown)

Perk Cup Cafe & Grill  Berea

Pinstripes  Orange Village

Prosperity Social Club - Cleveland

Punch Bowl Social - Cleveland (Flats East Bank)

Rose Italian Kitchen  Solon

Rosewood Grill  Hudson

Scratch - Independence

Soho Chicken + Whiskey - Cleveland (Ohio City)

Southside Diner - Parma

Tartine Bistro - Rocky River

Toast - Cleveland (Gordon Square)

Tony's Family Restaurant - Parma

Townhall - Cleveland (Ohio City)

Twisted Citrus - Canton

Urban Farmer - Cleveland (downtown)

Valley Cafe - Akron

Village Diner - Orange

Wally Waffle - Akron

Yours Truly - Mentor
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
Two Iowa workplace safety inspectors were fired in what they are calling retaliation for blowing the whistle on a hostile environment inside their agency.

The firings of Jason Garmoe and Travis Stein on Tuesday are the latest turmoil at the Division of Labor, which has been rocked by recent personnel turnover and accusations of cronyism and harassment. The agency accused both men of misconduct that included leaving a state vehicle running for two hours while conducting an inspection  an allegation they call false.

Garmoe and Stein said in interviews with The Associated Press that they were singled out for harsh treatment after providing critical information about agency leaders to state investigators. Both said they feared they would lose their jobs for doing so but were assured that they would be protected.

I got fired because I told the truth, Garmoe said. This is the great state of Iowa. But my god, the culture that still exists there just blows my mind. Its disgusting.

Stein said that its unfortunate that state OSHA employees, who routinely promise workplace safety whistleblowers that they will be protected, cannot rely on similar guarantees. Jason and I were both let go purely for retaliatory reasons, Stein said.

The state ombudsmans office confirmed Thursday that it has opened an investigation into the labor division. The office is investigating a whistleblower complaint filed by former Iowa OSHA director Jens Nissen, who alleges he was fired after agreeing with subordinates that the work environment was hostile, according to his attorney, Mark Sherinian.

Labor Commissioner Michael Mauro, whose 6-year term runs until 2023, said he couldnt comment on personnel matters but that his agency was running very well amid the changes.

Mauros deputy, Pam Conner, announced the departures of Garmoe and Stein in an email that told employees to cut off their building access.

Garmoe, Stein and others met with human resources investigators last summer and detailed what they called a culture of favoritism and retaliation in their office. The inquiry led to the forced retirement of supervisor Deb Babb and Nissens firing on Oct. 12.

The investigation was prompted by a complaint alleging two employees favored by Babb routinely made sexual innuendo in the office by playing with a toy banana. The accused said the banana was only used as a stress ball but one of them, OSHA inspector Benjamin Brightman, resigned Jan. 3.

Nissen and others have compared the environment to a high school clique in which Mauro, Conner and Babb play favorites and punish others.

Employees say Mauro and Conner were angered by having to force out Babb, who denied wrongdoing and said she retired only to avoid prolonged investigation and protracted litigation. They say retaliation against the complainants, including Garmoe and Stein, began soon thereafter.

Garmoe was stunned in November when he was ordered to see a psychologist to determine whether he was fit for duty. He was returned to work after passing the exam, but then placed on leave pending an investigation into his vehicle use. Stein was also placed on leave last month.

A termination letter faults Stein for missing a mandatory staff meeting and using a vehicle to briefly stop at his Des Moines home Nov. 16. He says he told his supervisor he would miss the meeting for an inspection, and that he used the vehicle to quickly retrieve an item hed left at his nearby home.

Garmoe was faulted for putting 500 miles on a vehicle over two days driving to a factory that he failed to inspect. Garmoe said that he tried, but failed, to gain access to the gated facility. He said he feared he would get in trouble if he contacted management to let him in because his inspection was to be unannounced.

The letters accuse the men of leaving a vehicle running for two hours while conducting an inspection together Nov. 9. Both said that allegation was false and no such idling took place.

The keys were in my pocket, Stein said.

Stein and Garmoe, who had no prior discipline, are planning to challenge their firings.

Copyright 2021 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Florida, FL (34429)

Today

Scattered thunderstorms this morning, then cloudy skies this afternoon. High 86F. Winds WSW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 40%..

Tonight

Cloudy skies this evening followed by scattered showers and thunderstorms overnight. Low 73F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 50%.
The head of the US State Department, Mike Pompeo, and Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavushoglu held a telephone conversation, during which they discussed the situation in Syria and the withdrawal of American troops from the SAR, the deputy official representative of the State Department, Robert Palladino said.

They agreed on the importance of continuing consultations between the United States and Turkey as part of a deliberate and coordinated withdrawal of the US troops from Syria, RIA Novosti quotes him as saying.
Mohammad Asif Motawakil has gone through so many security clearances.

There were checks to work as a translator for the U.S. military in Afghanistan. Later, after facing threats, there were checks to qualify for a visa for interpreters coming to the United States. There were checks to board the plane departing for Houston.

But when Motawakil, his wife and their five children arrived at George Bush Intercontinental Airport Thursday, Customs and Border Protection agents suddenly detained the family, threatening them with deportation back to Kabul, where the father would be in danger.

Its the latest example of airport officials, who have expansive latitude in deciding who can enter the United States, tightening their scrutiny under President Donald Trumps administration.

Afghan and Iraqi interpreters who worked alongside American troops can qualify for special immigrant visas granting them residency in the United States if they receive letters of support from American officials and show that their lives are in danger. The process takes years for many applicants, who undergo extensive, concurrent security screenings.

Motawakils family appears to have raised suspicion in part when he handed customs officers an envelope that was supposed to be sealed containing their medical records that someone  apparently in the family  had mistakenly opened, according to lawyers with Refugee and Immigrant Center for Education and Legal Services, or RAICES, a legal advocacy group.

A State Department information page tells immigrants not to open their sealed document packet, but does not warn about potential consequences.

Motawakil contacted the refugee organization overseeing his resettlement, who alerted RAICES. Luis Colon, an attorney with that group, tried to speak with Motawakil at the airport Friday, but said customs officers did not allow it.

Texas congressional leaders, including U.S. Reps. Al Green and Sheila Jackson Lee, two Houston Democrats, arrived to press Motawakils case.

Customs officers told them his visa had been flagged in Afghanistan and that the U.S Consulate in Kabul had sent Motawakil an email to return to the office, which he never did.

Apparently the visa was not canceled until he was mid-air, Jackson Lee said. When (customs officers) had to check his credentials, it showed there was a problem with the visa for the entire family.

The U.S. State Department referred questions to Customs and Border Protection. A spokesman for that agency, which under the record-long government shutdown is working without pay, said in a statement that the family was detained after a routine inspection at the airport. He declined to provide further details, citing privacy laws.

Jennifer Quigley, an advocacy strategist with Human Rights First, an international nonprofit, said the governments explanation didnt make sense.

Whats concerning here for us is he wouldnt have been able to get on the flight if there was something wrong with their visa, or if they needed to address something, she said. Once theyre cleared to fly, its highly, highly suspect that they say something in Kabul and now we revoke his visa on arrival.

Motawakil had worked with the U.S. military from 2012-2013 and later with a U.S. contractor. Quigley said he would have endured a rigorous vetting process starting from his employment and throughout the visa approval process until the moment he boarded the plane.

This is the safest way for anyone to come to America, she said. For this to happen now, the CBP justification feels as if theyre trying to rationalize something they did as oppose to it being the real reason behind it.

Another Afghan translator on the same visa as Motawakil was similarly detained when he arrived at Newark Airport shortly after the so-called travel ban was announced in 2017. After more than a year in prison, he was granted asylum in 2018 and released.

Motawakils wife and children, including a 6-year-old boy, were freed at 10 p.m. Friday after more than 24 hours in detention.

They were very tired and confused about what was happening, said Nisar Momand, who is on the board of directors with the Afghan Cultural Center in Houston and housed the family for the night.

They were released on what is known as humanitarian parole, allowing them to temporarily stay in the United States while Motawakil fights for asylum from an immigrant detention facility in Houston.

His family arrived in San Antonio late Saturday, where they are staying with another Afghan interpreter.

Because their visas have been revoked, they no longer qualify for the refugee cash assistance and other benefits, such as help finding work and learning English, that had already been allocated to them.

Thousands of Afghans and Iraqis and their families have entered the U.S. on special immigrant visas since Congress enacted The Afghan Allies Protection Act in 2009 and a similar program for Iraq in 2008.

Many face danger from the Taliban and other militants after working with U.S. troops. In 2014, the International Refugee Assistance Project, a nonprofit in New York City, estimated that an Afghan interpreter was killed every 36 hours.

Under the Trump administration, the number of Iraqis and Afghans coming here through these programs have drastically fallen.

Only about four dozen Iraqis were admitted in 2018 through a program Congress created specifically for those employed with the U.S. government or American contractors. More than 3,000 came in 2017.

About another 10,250 Iraqis and Afghans and their family members who qualified for special immigrant visas because they worked with the U.S. military arrived in 2018, just half of those that came through that program in 2017.

Its a pretty cataclysmic drop-off, said Betsy Fisher, policy director for the International Refugee Assistance Project, which sued the federal government last year over the delay in processing these visas for Afghans and Iraqis.

The programs largely have broad bipartisan support, and even Trumps administration would have included another 4,000 visas for Afghan translators and their families this year in the currently held-up government spending bill.

lomi.kriel@chron.com

@lomikriel
John Luke McConn, Jr., a jovial gentleman who practiced law well into his 80s and served as President of the Houston Bar Association died Sunday. He was 95.

McConn, known as Jack, spent nearly 30 years as a senior partner of the renowned Houston law firm of Butler, Binion, Rice, Cook and Knapp until forming his own law practice in 1986. He came from a big Irish family, and his younger brother Jim McConn was mayor of Houston from 1978 to 1982.

In his earlier years he served as an officer in the U.S. Army, and helped liberate Munich at the end of World War II. McConn sent home his father the desk set from Hitlers desk as well as a letter on the German leaders personal stationary, which he talked about in an interview with the Library of Congress in 2013.

And this is a letter to my  my mother and dad and my brother, and its dated May 6th, 1945. And I say: Dear folks. Well, your prayers are answered. The war is over and Im back with the company in Munich. Lots of historic places here. And right now Im writing on one of Adolphs personalcards. I hope I see you all soon and I cant explain how happy I am. Thats the note, McConn told the interviewer.

Jack was well-loved by friends and family, a known for his easy demeanor.

Dad was a lawyers lawyer, he had zero enemies in the field, said his son, Burke McConn. He was always joking around, people wanted to be around him. He was just a very unique man.

He was very jovial,  said Jerry Swonke, an attorney who worked in the same office with McConn. He was a typical Irish gentleman. Always had a smile. Always ready with a joke. Always ready to have a good time.

Swonke said McConn had a lifetime of friends, even in in his 90s and kept his mind sharp.

He was smart as a whip, even to the end, Swonke said. He was a wonderful guy.

The oldest of four brothers, McConn born June 14, 1923, National Flag Day, in St Louis, Missouri. The family moved to Houston in 1939 where he lived until his death. He graduated from St. Thomas High School in 1942 and enrolled at Rice. In his sophomore year, McConn enlisted in the Army for WWII and was called up for duty in May of 1944. He was deployed to Marseilles, France several months after D-Day.

He was part of the group Tom Brokaw called the Greatest Generation, the Americans who grew up in the post-depression world and fought in the Second World War. For his service, McConn was awarded the Bronze Star, Purple Heart and the Silver Star for action on March 16, 1945, near Viliesbrucken, Germany.

The desk set McConn liberated from Hitlers office was used by the Fuehrer to sign the infamous Munich agreement with France and Great Britain, which was quickly violated by Germans and sparked World War II.

After being honorably discharged as a lieutenant in 1946, he met and married Mary Catherine (Katie) Burke after being introduced by her brother Eddie. After the wedding at St Annes Catholic Church, McConn attended attended the University of Texas Law School on the G.I. Bill.

McConn returned to Houston and was a standout litigator who became a partner at Butler Binion firm for almost 30 years. He formed his own law practice in 1986. He was a Life Fellow of the Texas Bar Association, and a Fellow of both the International Society of Barristers and the American College of Trial Lawyers, two prestigious invitation-only organizations.

In his spare time, he was an avid self-taught portrait and landscape artist, painting up until the end of his life. McConn and his wife lived in Houston throughout their marriage where they raised their five children.

McConn also served on the Board of St Joseph Foundation and on the Board of Directors of St Thomas High School. He is a member of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulcher of Jerusalem and was the past President of the Houston Serra Club.

McConn is survived by his wife of 71 years, Katie, two daughters and three sons. He was affectionately known as Pawpaw to his 17 grandchildren.

In his interview with the Library of Congress, McConn ended the session saying, Well, Im really proud of every one of our children. I say a prayer every night thanking the good Lord that he let me have Katie as a wife and those sons and daughters of mine as children. Weve got two daughters and three sons and, you know, life has really been very, very good. Theres been some bad moments and they still hit every now and then, but Im really happy with what has happened. Ive been blessed.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial contributions be sent to St. Thomas High School, Holy Rosary Catholic Church or St Annes Catholic Church.
Russian Minister of Economic Development Maxim Oreshkin will lead the Russian delegation at the World Economic Forum in Davos, TASS reported citing Energy Minister Alexander Novak.

"[Maxim] Oreshkin," the minister said responding to a relevant question.

The World Economic Forum annually organizes a meeting in the mountain resort of Davos (Switzerland), bringing together political and business elite. The next meeting is scheduled to January 22 - 25, 2019.
President Donald Trump lashed out at his predecessors on Saturday, Rawstory reports. Trump followed-up on his attacks on the FBI and New York Times with a broadside against previous presidents.

I have been far tougher on Russia than Obama, Bush or Clinton, Trump claimed. Maybe tougher than any other President. At the same time, and as I have often said, getting along with Russia is a good thing, not a bad thing, he continued.

I fully expect that someday we will have good relations with Russia again, he added
"I have decided to create a foundation under my auspices and with the help and support of public figures, where I will transfer my wage income,- President of Georgia Salome Zurabishvili said at a news conference on Friday, InterPressNews reported.

President Zurabishvili explained that she made the decision after abolishment of the Presidential Reserve Fund. According to her, the fund will be used for charitable purposes and for funding some initiatives.

Since the President's Fund has been canceled, I have decided to find new forms because it is necessary to promote initiatives, charities and innovations. The president must be a patron of these actions. I decided to find the form and set up a found under my auspices and with the help and support of public figures, where I (and I hope others will also follow me) will transfer my wage income because I receive the French pension, which is quite enough for me, Salome Zurabishvili said.
Azerbaijan has increased excise tax rates on import of cigarettes and other tobacco products, abc.az reports.

In compliance with the Cabinet Ministers decision the excise tax on imported cigarettes increased from 10 to 28 manats per 1,000 units, the excise duty on import of cigarillos from 10 to 20 manats for 1,000 units, the excise duty on import of cigars now will be 1 manats a piece (previously it was 10 manats for 1,000 units).

The new rates will come into force on 10 February.
Residents in The Woodlands might want to put those New Years Resolutions about losing weight and eating less on hold this week, as the wildly popular Taste of The Town is set for Thursday, Jan. 17. The well-attended foodie feast is one of many things going on in and around The Woodlands this week.

Taste of The Town set for Thursday

More than 40 local restaurants, bakeries, bars and caterers will be on hand for an evening of sampling fare from community staples like Kirby's Prime Steakhouse, Black Walnut Cafe, Robard's Steakhouse and the soon-to-be-opened Sorriso Modern Italian Kitchen. The event, sponsored by The Woodlands Area Chamber of Commerce, is now in its 33rd year.

The event also features a contest for the best dishes. Four celebrity judges  including Houston Restaurant Weeks founder Cleverly Stone, Hot Line Pepper Products founder Kerry Stessel, Houston Food Finder Editor and Publisher Phaedra Cook and Houston media personality Greg Onofrio  will decide who wins the nights grand prizes, Best of Tastes Best Appetizer, Best Entree and Best Dessert.

Along with the price of admission, visitors to the event can try unlimited offerings and will be able to vote for the Peoples Choice award and an award for Best Decorated Booth. Doors open to the public at 4 p.m. and attendees are welcome to make their rounds sampling from vendor booths until the event ends at 9 p.m.

Defending champions for Best Appetizer, Broken Barrel and Best Entree, Avenida Brazil Churrascaria Steakhouse, are returning to the event this year. Broken Barrells teriyaki taco with habanero cream and trinity coleslaw and Avenida Brazil Churrascaria Steakhouses 21-day aged bottom sirloin steak with creamy Parmesan au gratin potatoes and KICPOPS Best Dessert, blackberry lavender ice pops, charmed the judges and beat out the competition in 2018.

We have a good mix of placesfrom the counter order places in town, to the nicer places, said Jennifer Coyle, the Chambers interim director of special events, in November. You might grab a slider at one booth and a filet (mignon) with crab on top at the next booth.

Township Board back in action

The Woodlands Township Board of Directors is scheduled to have the first meeting of 2019 at 6 p.m., Wednesday, Jan. 16.

On the docket the meeting are numerous normal agenda items, such as receiving the monthly reports on topics such as law enforcement activity, transportation and The Woodlands Fire Department. Also up for discussion and possible action are impacts of property tax abatements for corporate relocations and expansions, criteria for considering such abatements, discussion of an amendment to a service agreement with The Woodlands Area Economic Development Partnership, a presentation of the townships compensation plan and procedures, and examining possible special bus service from The Woodlands to the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo.

The board meets in the main meeting room of the township offices, located adjacent to the Black Walnut Cafe, at 2801 Technology Forest Blvd., The Woodlands.

Solar power in The Woodlands topic of lecture

Seeking new alternatives to mainstream electric service? Then a lecture this week at The Woodlands G.R.E.E.N. may be right up your alley. Solar power is the topic of a discussion as part of the Going Green Sustainability Lecture set for 7 p.m., Thursday, Jan. 17. Solarize The Woodlands will be hosted at the Houston Advanced Research Center (HARC), located at 8801 Gosling Road.

Speaker Dori Wolfe, founder of Wolfe Energy, will tell attendees about how to bring solar power to the area via rooftop solar panels for homes and businesses or via community solar arrays. The event is free and open to the public.

TWHS Art Trust 2019 Artist Reception

On Friday, Jan. 18, The Woodlands High School Art Trust is embarking on its ninth year of building a unique collection of student-selected, student-purchased artworks. Officials with TWHS Art Trust will host a reception for nominated artists from 1:30-3:30 p.m. at The Woodlands High School. The public is invited to see the 12 nominated works and meet with the artists. Students will vote for their favorite piece at the end of the month to be purchased and added to TWHS Art Trusts collection. Visit http://www.twhsat.org to learn more.

Closure of northbound lanes of I-45 continues through Monday

The Texas Department of Transportation repair project to the bridge overpass on the northbound lanes of Interstate-45 will continue through 5 a.m., Monday, Jan. 14.

The work is being done to fix the bridge deck and other improvements. No closure information has been announced by TxDOT officials for the same repair work being done on the southbound lanes, which is tenatively scheduled for Jan. 18-21.
A woman is suing a Subway franchisee almost two years after her son was gunned down in the restaurant in southeast Houston while protecting her from two armed robbers  a crime that gripped the community and prompted an outpouring of support from friends and neighbors.

Hilda Vasquez filed the lawsuit through her attorney, Paul Skrabanek, on Tuesday in Harris County Civil Court. The petition names KK Sub LLC, the franchisee of the Subway at 3933 Broadway, as the defendant.

Both Vasquez and her son, Javier Flores, were working at the Subway at the time of the robbery.

RELATED: Friends remember 'hero' teen slain saving mom in botched Subway robbery

The suit claims the franchisee failed to properly train or supervise its employees, failed to maintain a safe work environment and failed to retain a security company despite the apparent risks. Vasquez is asking for more than $1 million in damages.

The registered agent of the location could not be reached for comment. A response to the lawsuit was not filed as of Friday afternoon.

Skrabanek told Chron.com on Friday that he planned to amend the petition to also target the Subway corporation, which did not respond to an email requesting comment for this story.

"We all know Subways get robbed all the time, and they don't train these [franchisees] on how to deal with these situations,"Skrabanek said.

Flores was killed on Feb. 22, 2017, after two gun-toting men burst into the sandwich shop on Broadway near the Gulf Freeway roughly an hour before closing time at 9 p.m., according to previous reports in the Houston Chronicle.

Flores and his mother were the only two people in the store at the time, police said. Vasquez was cleaning toward the front of the shop, and Flores was behind the counter.

One of the gunmen allegedly pointed a gun at Vasquez's face. Then Flores dove in front of his mother as the man pulled the trigger, Skrabanek said.

"He did save his mom's life," Skrabanek said. "He got shot in the neck and she held him as he bled to death."

RELATED: Man charged in slaying of Subway worker turns himself in to Houston police

The day after the shooting, friends, family members and acquaintances showed up to a vigil outside the store to pay their respects. They said he had a good sense of humor and valued his family above all.

"I would see him as a hero because he loved his mother," Flores' longtime friend Silviano Rodriguez said at the time. "He didn't want his mother to get hurt."

The following May, Jeffery C. Archangel, a 25-year-old resident of Houston's Alief area, was charged with capital murder in Flores' death after turning himself in.

His next hearing is scheduled for 9 a.m. March 19 in the 337th Judicial District Court.

NEWS WHEN YOU NEED IT: Text CHRON to 77453 to receive breaking news alerts by text message | Sign up for breaking news alerts delivered to your email here.

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




Harris Countys first new public psychiatric hospital in more than three decades will be specially designed to improve outcomes in longer-term patients, according to renderings unveiled Friday.

The renderings show the planned University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston hospital will emphasize open space, warm colors, natural light and glass, features officials say will better rehabilitate patients getting sub-acute care. Such patients currently are discharged after receiving just acute care, only to require rehospitalization soon thereafter.

Physical environment plays a big role in patient outcomes, research and our own experience has shown, said Stephen Glazier, chief operating officer of UTHealths Harris County Psychiatric Center. We tried to design the building so itll provide an environment in which patients will be more comfortable, less stressed, in control.

Officials expect to break ground on the facility this summer and hope to open it to patients in early 2022.

The full campus, which will include the new hospital and UTHealth Harris County Psychiatric Center (HCPC), will become the largest academic psychiatric hospital in the nation once complete. It will be managed and staffed by UTHealths department of psychiatry and behavioral health at McGovern Medical School.

The project was touted as a game changer when it was announced in 2018. Funded by $125 million in state funds approved by the 2017 Legislative Budget Board and Gov. Greg Abbott, it is part of an initiative to improve behavioral health across the state.

The initiative will upend a 100-year-old of model of state residential psychiatric care, which historically called for long-term treatment at state hospitals in areas far from where patients and their families live. Under the new model, treatment will be delivered in cities, near other psychiatric facilities, as part of an effort to emphasize a continuum of care and do away with the stigma historically associated with mental illness.

Accordingly, UTHealths facilities will be called the Continuum of Care Campus for Behavioral Health.

The new hospital will admit many patients currently discharged by the Harris County Psychiatric Center, which has only acute-care beds and where the average length of stay is about seven days, partly because it has roughly 45 patients waiting to be admitted at all times. The new hospital will add 240 beds in 10 units, the vast majority for stays at least 30 days long.

The design, by the architectural firm Perkins+Will, incorporates two buildings linked by a glazed bridge that house the clinical units, support services, research and education spaces, and that feature views to courtyards.

It also includes activity rooms, a communal dining facility and a therapy mall, which Glazier described as a growing trend in new psychiatric hospitals. Such malls feature a series of rooms and spaces for therapy involving creative tools such as music, art and books.

Glazier said UTHealth hopes to get the bulk of the state funding  about $100 million  in coming weeks. That money that will be used to pay contractors.

todd.ackerman@chron.com

twitter.com/chronmed
If you ever find yourself in front of daunting red and blue lights, be thankful they don't belong to Houston's top cop  like one Houston driver experienced Friday.

Houston Police Chief Art Acevedo was driving on the Hardy Toll Road when the driver of a Dodge Viper allegedly blew past him at 140 mph, the chief told Chron.com.

"It almost took my doors off," Acevedo said describing the moment.

He radioed the driver into police dispatch and gave chase in his police Chevrolet Tahoe, topping out around 120 mph, he said.

NEW: Houston socialite allegedly harassed for 20 years

The Viper eventually pulled over on the side of the toll road, Acevedo said.

Acevedo said the man told him he'd been going 140 mph for about 30 seconds, managing to travel a little more than a mile in that time.

Acevedo wrote the driver a $304 ticket for the traffic violation.

On Twitter, Acevedo noted that he could have arrested the driver but opted to give the driver a ticket instead, citing the "totality of the circumstances, including flow of traffic, etc."

His last high-speed ticket went to a driver traveling at 130 mph, he said.

"I've been a cop for 33 years," Acevedo said. "It's never too late to experience something new."

Acevedo said he's happy to be doing the same work that his officers do day in and day out on the streets of Houston, whether it's helping catch bad guys or solving other crimes.

"It's not my first time," he said, "and it won't be my last."

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
Armenian Armed Forces units fired a shovel operated by a civilian engaged in engineering work at the border fighting point near the Kemerli village of the Gazakh region of Azerbaijan, the State Border Service of Azerbaijan reports.

Today, at about 11:20 and 11:40, Armenian soldiers fired a shovel operated by a civilian who carried out engineering works at the border combat point in Kemerli village.
Michael Minasi/Photographer

The 2-year-old child of a Montgomery County Sheriff's Office deputy was shot at home near Conroe on Thursday, police said.

The child was rushed to Montgomery Fire Station 53 along Walden Road around 6 p.m. after being shot, according to Texas DPS Sgt. Erik Burse. The toddler is expected to be OK.
Is the direct federal negotiation of drug prices a good idea? Consider the non-interference clause that currently prohibits such actions in Medicare Part D  the federal program that subsidizes prescription drugs for seniors.

A repeal of the non-interference clause would result in a sharp increase in Medicare drug prices and a substantial decline in patient choice.

The non-interference clause empowers private insurers to negotiate drug prices with manufacturers and prohibits government officials from getting involved. So far, private insurers that offer Part D plans have had great success in keeping pharmaceutical prices down. The Congressional Budget Office observed that Part D plans have secured rebates somewhat larger than the average rebates observed in commercial health plans.

Just look to the programs success.

Between 2004 and 2013, Part D cost $349 billion less than initial estimates. And premiums for the program are roughly half of the governments original projections.

These unprecedented results are largely due to Part Ds market-based structure. Beneficiaries choose from a slate of private drug coverage plans, forcing insurers to compete to offer the best options at the lowest price.

Nearly 9 in 10 enrollees are happy with their Part D plan. A full 90 percent of enrollees say that their plan is easy to use and that their prescription spending would be higher without Part D coverage.

Doing away with the non-interference clause would disrupt the program.

For starters, the move would have a negligible effect on federal spending. According to the CBO, to achieve any significant savings, the government would have to follow through on its threats of not allowing [certain] drug[s] to be prescribed.

In other words, the government would drop some drugs from Medicares coverage to save money.

That would be a raw deal for patients. The average Part D plan provides access to more than 95 percent of the top 200 Medicare Part D Drugs.

Should Part D plans drop medicines from their formularies to cut costs, Medicare Part D as we know it would cease to exist. And this coverage disruption would send Americas 44 million Part D enrollees scrambling to maintain access to the medications they need.

Patients who rely on drugs that are dropped from their Part D formularies will be forced to pay for them out-of-pocket. Others could be forced onto new therapies entirely. Facing higher out-of-pocket spending, some patients could abandon their treatment regimens.

And when patients stop taking their medications, their conditions worsen and overall healthcare costs rise.

In other words, the Presidents reform would backfire  threatening patients and sending health expenditures through the roof.

Peter J. Pitts, a former FDA Associate Commissioner, is President of the Center for Medicine in the Public Interest.
After a decade of serving not only the Kingwood Medical Center but the Lake Houston Community as well, Melinda Stephenson has decided its time to step down and enter into retirement.

My first thought when I started as CEO of Kingwood Medical Center was what a great honor it was to lead this amazing organization, Stephenson said. Within about 30 days of starting, my second thought was how fortunate I was to become a part of such an engaging community that supported the hospital's efforts.

During her years as CEO, Stephenson was able to expand the facility from 211 beds to 409  with more coming in the spring. She was also able to develop the Brain and Spine Center and the Cardiovascular Center into full-service programs. Growth and expansion throughout the 10 years also created more jobs in the community.

The journey from 2009 to 2019 has been unbelievably successful for Kingwood Medical Center. I am proud of the quality and safety outcomes that have led to the facility being named as a 2018 Top General Hospital by the Leapfrog Group on top of the patient safety score of A we earned in both Spring and Fall of 2018,Stephenson said.

Not only did Stephenson invest her time in the Kingwood Medical Center, but she was also a member of the Humble ISDs Education Foundation and the Lake Houston Area Chamber of Commerce.

The foundation gave me a glimpse of the spirit of the community and the compassion for ensuring the children growing up in the area were afforded all the opportunities available. The Chamber was a wonderful business experience but more importantly, a way for me to build some life long friendships, Stephenson said.

As she enters into retirement, Stephenson is looking forward to spending more time with her family where she will focus on being a daughter, wife and a grandmother.

John Corbeil, former chief operating officer for Hospital Corporation of Americas Medical City Fort Worth will take over as the new CEO of Kingwood Medical Center on Jan. 14.

Corbeil has been with the HCA North Texas/ Medical City Healthcare Division for six years and has held several roles including Associate Chief Operating Officer at Medical City Dallas, Assistant Administrator at Medical City Fort Worth and Administrative Fellow at the HCA North Texas Division office.

kaila.contreras@chron.com
The atmosphere of an old-fashioned Western permeates this intriguing debut that mixes workers rights, corruption, Prohibition and womens rights set in the harshly stark Appalachian Ohio coal-mining country during 1925.

Beautifully plotted and filled with believable characters, The Widows explores an era and an area struggling to be a part of the modern 20th century yet constantly pulled backward to its unsettled past. Jess Montgomery, executive director of the Antioch Writers Workshop, draws on actual historical incidents that richly explore the people behind events in the launch of this series that shows much potential.

The Widows are Lily Ross, married to Bronwyn County Sheriff Daniel Ross and pregnant with her third child, and Marvena Whitcomb, a moonshiner and union organizer whose common-law husband, John, was killed trying to rescue trapped miners. On the surface, the two women have nothing in common, but a connection is revealed after Daniel is killed when escorting a prisoner who was a miner. The women meet when Marvena, trying to find Daniel and unaware of the situation, shows up at his funeral to ask if Daniel has found her wayward daughter, Eula, or her brother, Tom.

Reluctantly, Lily and Marvena begin an uneasy alliance, spurred by their mutual grief over Daniel. Both women prove their strength and intelligence and that they are capable of standing up to men who routinely dismiss women. Marvenas union activism has long set her apart. But Lily, appointed acting sheriff by men who think they can manage her, shows her mettle by taking her new position very seriously. This often puts her at odds with Daniels nasty half brother, Luther, and the Pinkertons he hired to control, with violence if necessary, the mine workers.

Montgomery skillfully explores the residents whose lives are ruled by the coal corporation that keeps them bound to their dangerous jobs and in poverty because of the high rent of the company-owned housing and rules about using the company store for all supplies. Many of the coal miners were World War I veterans, returning home only to find few opportunities and a home-grown war between the miners and the coal company. Lily and Marvena are just two of the widows who have lost their husbands to the mines, violence or disease; theres a reason one mine is nicknamed The Widowmaker. The Widows also shows how class differences influence the way residents deal with each other  manifested in Lily, who came from a well-off family, and Marvena, whose family was poor  and how this is overcome.

Lily is based on the life of Maude Collins, Ohios first female sheriff. Marvena is based on activist Mary Harris Mother Jones, though Montgomery takes a more fictional approach with that character.

Montgomerys storytelling skills and historical research in The Widows make this new series one to look forward to.
Lone Star College-CyFair is kicking off the new year with a new facility for their students just in time for the spring semester.

LSC-CyFair held a ribbon cutting, for Lone Star College-Westway Park Technology Center on Jan. 11. The new facility is designed to aid students in IT and visual communication with workforce development, including soft skills, and certification for employment.

The Westway Park Technology Center, funded by the $435 million bond Lone Star College received in 2014, features classrooms for Cisco, cybersecurity, programming and visual communication as well as five labs for data center training, Microsoft, fabrication and multipurpose training.

The 133,000-square-foot facility also has several rooms for students to sketch ideas on dry-erase boards; display artwork and projects; study, and a room with 16 55-inch TVs for presentations and events. The building was designed by BRW Architects and contracted to Brookstone.

Seelpa Keshvala, president of LSC-CyFair, said the facility is geared toward increasing the IT and visual communication workforce locally while training students for work environments.

The center was atually intentionally designed to mirror real world business environments because we want to prepare our students for careers in these rapidly changing and evolving fields, she said. There's also an on site assessment center which will allow our students to take industry certification examinations in areas such as Cisco, Microsoft, CompTIA.

Students will be able to earn seven certificates and five associates of applied science in IT, as well as six certificates and six associates of applied science in visual communication. Steve Head, chancellor of Lone Star College, said the facility aims to improve local workforce development.

We take a look at the economy and our enrollments and we've been trying to be strategic in what we've been doing, but we've really been focused on this workforce space, he said. We are on the verge of getting approval for a bachelors of applied technology, which would fit nicely, and part of it would be located here and really zeroing in on cybersecurity.

Stephanie Franklin-Thomas, senior director for Baker Hughes, an international industrial service company, said the facility is a boon for not just her company, but the industry as a whole due to the chance for more recently trained employees to improve their operations.

They're going to provide different insights and different opportunities for me to consider when I'm making those decisions, she said. I'm not the only one to say that. I work a lot with a network in and around Houston  Calcine, Exxon Mobile, Shell  we all got the same challenges. So although I'm talking today from a Baker Hughes perspective, I'm telling you this exists.

Neal Tilley, manager of higher education for Cisco, which provides the certification programs for students, said the need for tech training is becoming a faster-growing need.

They are teaching robotics and coding in kindergarten, he said. So when you talk about the jobs disappearing, they're teaching it and the teachers don't understand it but the kids do. That's a little scary.

chevall.pryce@chron.com
With their 24th group home opening soon in Cypress, Reach Unlimited will be able to give more individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities the opportunity to take their next step as independent citizens.

On Feb. 4, Reach Unlimited, a nonprofit organization providing support services for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, will invite the public to celebrate the opening of its 24th group home in the Houston-area with a ribbon cutting celebration.

The home is located near Reach Unlimiteds Learning Activity Center, which is a space used for clients education, work and activities. The new group home will house three, to four individuals alongside a 24-hour staff of volunteers. Volunteers will act as caregivers by looking after and feeding the residents, as well as keeping them active.

Verna Noack, donor and communications relations manager for Reach Unlimited, said the home is a great next step for the clients. Reach Unlimited allows the clients to live in the house and have easy access to the Learning Activity Center, where classes are held and clients can earn money.

The new one that we're having built has a little bit different arrangement, she said. We have a client who is very high-functioning, but she is not able to live completely independently, and that home has a separate apartment where she's able to have her own residence with supervision and yet she's not connected with the regular house.

Noack said Reach Unlimited is working to place clients on their waiting list as efficiently as possible, but readying each home takes time due to the extra effort put into finding proper locations, matching residents with their roommates, and other factors. Most Reach Unlimited group homes are gender-specifc housing.

If you put two high-energy and high-ability folks in with somebody who is lower energy and less capable, that's not a good, workable solution, Noack said. Staffing is critical. We're staffed 24 hours a day and it has to be a good fit. Unfortunately the need is great, it's just that we can only move ahead as we can financially and otherwise support that.

Although the waiting list is an estimated 160 clients, Noack said, the list changes periodically due to the particular nature of the process.

It's about a $55,000 to $60,000 investment just to get a home up and running, she said. It's kind of a flexible arrangement, the waiting list. It's like putting a family together. Folks who say they're interested in care within the organization, we certainly will place them on the waiting list. However, that doesn't mean they're going to quit looking because if they need a place for their folks with special needs, they have to continue to look.

Reach Unlimited also provides its 300 clients with learning activities, such as math and computer classes, as well as glass art classes and other activities in which clients can participate while making money. Reach Unlimited also helps clients gain employment at businesses like Whataburger and Texas Roadhouse.

The ribbon cutting ceremony on Feb. 4 will be Chinese New Year-themed, and is hosted by the residents and Reach Unlimited. To RSVP, email klusebrink@reachunlimited.com.
NEWTOWN - A conspiracy extremist being sued for defamation by Sandy Hook families was ordered by a judge on Friday to turn over marketing and business records from his Infowars internet program.

Alex Jones, the Texas-based talk show host, was sued in May by an FBI agent and seven families who lost loved ones in the 2012 Sandy Hook massacre, claiming he developed, amplified and perpetuated claims that the Sandy Hook massacre was staged and that the 26 families who lost loves ones that day are paid actors who faked their relatives deaths.
Rodrigo Duterte curses at bishops as Catholic Church continues to criticise his war on drugs

Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte turned on the country's Catholic bishops once again on Thursday, calling them 'sons of bitches'.

Risking the ire of the Catholic-majority population, the president laid into bishops and priests who have been critical of his crackdown on drugs in which thousands have been killed.

In his latest attack, made during a speech to break ground for a school near the capital Manila, he said 'most' bishops were gay and that the Catholic Church should 'cancel celibacy and allow them to have boyfriends'.

'Only I can say bishops are sons of bitches, damn you. That is true,' he said.

Over Christmas, he accused the Church of hypocrisy and said it should 'correct itself' before it criticises others.

'To the priests, don't meddle too much,' he said.

In other scathing remarks, he called God 'stupid' and told Filipinos that going to church was not worth their time or money.

'You don't have to go to church to pay for these idiots,' he said of the bishops and priests.

Despite the hostile rhetoric, the Catholic Church has continued to speak out. Gerardo Alminaza, the Bishop of San Carlos in the province of Negros Occidental, said that the government's cracksown on drugs had created a climate of terror and fear not seen since the days of martial law.

'Climate of fear and terror is back, as in martial law years. More human rights violations and extrajudicial killings are feared,' he told the Inquirer.

He said the Church has been offering sanctuary as he called for an end to the bloodshed.

'Killing one's perceived enemies will not permanently solve the problem if the root of the problem, which is social injustice and inequality, is not addressed,' he said.
Exclusive: Leading evangelical bishop apologises for role in gender transition liturgy guidance  and now opposes it

A leading evangelical bishop who oversaw the production of controversial Church of England guidance about gender transitioning has apologised  and confirmed that he now doesn't back it.

The Bishop of Blackburn, Julian Henderson, was chair of the House of Bishops' Delegation Committee, the body which oversaw the publication of guidance last month on how to use the existing Affirmation of Baptismal Faith to enable transgender adults to mark their transition.

When the guidance was published, the official Church of England website quoted Bishop Henderson as saying: 'This new guidance provides an opportunity, rooted in scripture, to enable trans people who have "come to Christ as the way, the truth and the life", to mark their transition in the presence of their Church family which is the body of Christ. We commend it for wider use.'

But just a few days later, the Bishop was the lead signatory on a statement from the Church of England Evangelical Council (CEEC), of which he is president. The CEEC statement described the guidance as 'highly divisive and theologically and pastorally questionable'. The statement said the guidance 'also risks raising serious concerns both within the wider Anglican Communion and ecumenically'.

The seeming contradiction drew criticism and derision from online commentators. But now, in response to repeated requests from Christian Today over the past few weeks, Bishop Henderson has sought to explain his apparent volte-face via a new statement from the whole CEEC, declaring that he is 'sorry for the confusion that my different roles and statements have created'. He also makes it clear that he no longer supports the guidance, even though he was in charge of the committee overseeing it.

Today's statement says that at a meeting of the CEEC this week Bishop Julian acknowledged that his two previous statements had 'been understood to be in direct contradiction'. It continues: 'Apologising for the confusion and anxiety caused to many by these actions, and the mixed messages... Bishop Julian said that in retrospect, and after further reflection on the Guidance, he now believed it would have been wiser not to consider it incumbent on him to speak as chair on behalf of the Delegation Committee, but rather request someone else to express the mind of the committee.'

It goes on: 'He clarified that the word "we" in the [original Church of England] press release refers to the Delegation Committee, and that the [subsequent] CEEC response reflects his own position... He is unable to commend the pastoral guidance in its present form, and supports the calls for it to be clarified and modified, or for its status to be changed, so that it is seen as a contribution to the Living in Love and Faith (LLF) project'  the wider Church of England discussion about sex and sexuality.'

The new CEEC statement continues: 'Bishop Julian explained that the guidance itself and the title of the press release suggest the creation of a service for gender transition which he had never been able to support, as expressed in his voting at Diocesan Synod and General Synod. He recognised that this makes the use of the phrase "mark this transition" in his name open to misunderstanding. But he made it clear that in his view the only transition marked in an Affirmation of Baptismal Faith is commitment to Christ, which all people, including those who identify as transgender, are invited to make'.

Bishop Julian, who as re-elected as CEEC president at the meeting, added: 'I continue to be sorry for the confusion that my different roles and statements have created and am very grateful for the trust my re-election as president of the CEEC expresses. I remain hopeful and expectant of the impact that the gospel of Jesus Christ will make in our country in 2019'.

This latest statement from the Bishop of Blackburn raises difficult questions for William Nye, secretary to the House of Bishops, who only two days ago issued a statement defending the guidance. Given that the bishop overseeing the committee which produced it has now disowned that guidance, traditionalists will be wanting to know who gave Mr Nye the go-ahead for his statement, and how many of the House of Bishops saw or approved it before it was published.
Second part of an exclusive interview of "Caucasus Watch" with Thomas de Waal, a senior fellow with Carnegie Europe, specializing in Eastern Europe and the Caucasus region. In this part of the interview, the expert comments on the current developments around Armenia and the Nagorny Karabakh conflict.

You say that the conflict over Nagorny Karabakh is one of the most damaging factors to the overall development of the Caucasus. You also claim that prospects for peace are as bleak as ever. Yet, talks between both governments seem to be underway and in September both countries agreed to establish a direct line of communication to avoid violence and miscalculations at the line of contact. So you expect the new government in Yerevan is still not going to make any kind of real concessions, despite the current rhetoric?

Let us just take a step back and look at this conflict, which dates back to the late 1980s. It is basically 30 years old, but you still have this long ceasefire line running through the Caucasus and armies of 20.000 men on either side, which are equipped with heavy weaponry, artillery and aircraft as well as very weak international mechanism in place. There is a small monitoring mission with six OSCE observers, as well as the very modest Minsk group under the co-chairmanship format that is trying to mediate the conflict. So basically everything comes down to the will and decision-making of the leaders on both sides. This is not a conflict where there is much international influence, so it is quite worrying that the two sides find it very difficult to talk. The foreign ministers talk occasionally and the presidents meet perhaps once a year but there are few channels of communication. Therefore, to be frank, it is amazing that there has been no hotline between the two sides given the danger of the situation. This is a minimum step that was needed to make the situation a little more manageable.

When it comes to the new Armenian government, I believe we are not going to see many changes, at least not soon. For Pashinyan, the priority is to reform the domestic economy, crack down on corruption and get rid of old monopolies. He is certainly not trying to upset the Karabakh-process. Being a leader from Yerevan he cannot afford to upset the Karabakh Armenians. He knows that the last leader who tried to upset the Karabakh Armenians was Levon Ter Petrosyan, who was actually deposed when he tried to do that in 1998. For all these reasons, he is going to just try to hold on to the status quo and this is probably not to the liking of Azerbaijan. Baku wants to see either a more active peace process or it wants to shake up the situation with some kind of military action. It does not want to see a quiet status quo, but a quiet status quo is unfortunately what I think the new Armenian leadership wants.

The new generation is more uncompromisingly nationalist. Do you think, a moderate Pashinyan regime could change this attitude over time or will the street rather drive the regime in its foreign policy?

I broadly think the change of regime in Armenia is positive, allowing in a new generation who really want to tackle Armenias problems. This generation is not corrupt and this leadership has a real legitimacy. I hope they will not squander that legitimacy. If that is the case, with time, they could use that legitimacy to try to pursue a real peace process with Azerbaijan and try to get the public interested in discussing the price of peace with Baku, but that will take time. Also, the compromises that Armenia will be prepared to make will almost certainly not be good enough for the Azerbaijanis. But I believe that this is a conflict where a liberal peace, meaning democratically legitimate government on both sides talking to one another, could in the long run, not immediately, but in many years ahead, be achieved.

US National Security Adviser Bolton recently visited the Caucasus. Especially in Armenia, he seemed to put pressure on the new government. Experts think he might want the Nagorny Karabakh conflict to be solved, so that Armenias borders with Turkey and Azerbaijan can be opened up. As a consequence, Armenia could close its border to Iran, which it now is dependent upon. Do you think this is a realistic viewpoint and could the US become partner for Armenia?

I was quite amazed by Boltons comments. Up to now it has always been the US policy that it has problems with Iran but accepts other countries approaches, especially those of its neighbors, and that applies to Armenia, which Iran is the only one of two open borders Armenia has. The idea that the Nagorny Karabakh problem could be magically resolved and the borders with Azerbaijan and Turkey would be opened up so that Armenia suddenly does not have to deal with Iran seems to be magical thinking with no basis in reality. This conflict is deeply intractable. it cannot be solved quickly and Armenia needs its southern border with Iran, so there is already a lot of pushback against Boltons comments. Azerbaijan actually has a few more options, but it also needs to keep its border with Iran open. The idea that they could close their border with Iran is a non-starter both for Armenia and for Azerbaijan.

In regards to the Velvet revolution, you say that the old elites are organized in a conglomerate and will likely resist longer than its head, Sarksyan. Do you think the new government under Pashinyan can channel the political momentum of the street into institutional power and reform the system?

This is absolutely the major question. How can you build institutions in a country, which has basically been governed by informal power? Do you build institutions through public consent from the bottom up or do you think Armenia already has a lot to work with by having a professional class in a civil service and public servants?

But there are definitely questions about Pashinyans style. He is a revolutionary rather than a statesman. Is he interested in building institutions or is he a second Saakashvili, who is only interested in PR and revolutionary actions? I really do not think we have the answers to this right now. These is the questions to watch and the answers will be a little clearer now that we have had elections. Now that he has won the elections, as we expected, and he has proper power in Armenia, he can look at governing rather than at winning power for the first time.

So should we stay skeptical about his motives? Right now he seems to be the seen as a kind of savior figure.

He seems to have a genuine desire to rid Armenia of corruption and he seems not to be corrupt, but he has a kind of revolutionary style. This will be a big transition to make, from being a revolutionary to becoming a statesman.

So far the Armenian Diaspora in the West has been occupied with the tensions between Turkey and Armenia. Do you think Armenians abroad will now start to be more active in promoting liberal political and economic ideas?

I see the year 2015 as a turning point to the Armenia Diaspora as the centenary of the Armenian genocide. They thought almost exclusively about Turkey and Western Armenia as they call it and about the genocide, but after that centenary has passed, we have seen a change of emphasis in the Diaspora organizations. We have also seen a younger generation that has a different set of attitudes and some Diaspora Armenians have actually come to Armenia to work in the IT-sector for example. I believe there is a better environment for the Armenia-Diaspora relations and there are a number of people in the Diaspora who want to do what they can for Armenia. Now many are thinking more about Armenia rather than about Turkey. Will the new government be able to use these resources? Again, it is a little bit early to tell but I hope the answer is yes, because they are a very useful resource.

You say that with the end of the Soviet Union, the Caucasian baby was thrown out with the Communist bathwater. Several organizations as well as institutions have failed and mostly did not include all political entities of the Caucasus. New geopolitical concepts also fall short in their description of the region (eg. New Great Game, Silk Road etc.) and you claim that all outside actors and Caucasus nations as well as non-state entities should have a say in regional integration. Is there any existing initiative you think would have potential in this regard or could be a starting point? You mentioned the EU but also acknowledge the limits of EU integration.

It is so frustrating when looking at the region, because the Caucasus has such a great potential. One cliche that is true about the Caucasus is that it is a crossroads between the East, West, North and South. Therefore, it could be a great communications hub. Imagine if railways were finally opened up across the Caucasus, it really would be a crossroad between Europe, Asia the Middle East and Russia. Yet, obviously that has not happened. I do think the potential is still there and that the people of that region understand each other well on the people-to-people level despite the conflicts. Due to that, the potential is still there, but the question is what can be done to encourage this kind of cross-Caucasus cooperation? The EU can do a certain amount but I think most of it has to come from within the region as a cross border project. The most promising projects I see have to do with the environment. I mentioned the Caucasus Nature Fund in my final chapter, which is helping National Parks in the region. There is also the Transcaucasian Trail, which is a network of footpaths through the region and I think everything that links tourism and the environment is a good start. The politicians have fallen behind but hopefully ordinary people and some non-governmental people can start and the politicians can follow later.

You mentioned the potential to become a crossroad and some of our experts talked about a growing Chinese involvement in the region. Do you see this as well, and do you think a growing Chinese engagement can bring actors together or will that be a divisive factor?

China is definitely now an actor in the Caucasus. It is primarily an economic actor and it is building infrastructure. At the moment, I would say this is a positive influence, building roads and railroads and bringing investments to the Caucasus, but let us not be naive. China has its own political agenda and China is not a democracy. It is useful for the region to have investments but it is something that also needs to be watched and questioned about whether there is a price tag attached to that later on. China is not the EU, which I think has generally a much more altruistic interest in the region.

***

Thomas de Waal is a senior fellow with Carnegie Europe, specializing in Eastern Europe and the Caucasus region. He is the author of numerous publications about the region. His latest book is Great Catastrophe: Armenians and Turks in the Shadow of Genocide (Oxford University Press, 2015). He is also the author of the authoritative book on the Nagorny Karabakh conflict, Black Garden: Armenia and Azerbaijan Through Peace and War (NYU Press, second edition 2013), which has been translated into Armenian, Azeri, Russian, and Turkish, and of The Caucasus: An Introduction (Oxford University Press, 2010). De Waal has worked extensively as a journalist and writer in the Caucasus and Black Sea region and in Russia. From 1993 to 1997, he worked in Moscow for the Moscow Times, the Times of London, and the Economist, specializing in Russian politics and the situation in Chechnya. He is the co-author (with Carlotta Gall) of the book Chechnya: Calamity in the Caucasus (NYU Press, 1997), for which the authors were awarded the James Cameron Prize for Distinguished Reporting. He has also worked for the BBC and for the Institute for War and Peace Reporting, a London-based NGO.
First-ever church in modern Turkey to be built starting February

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Construction for the first-ever church to be built in the modern Republic of Turkey will begin in February, a move Syriac Orthodox believers have long been waiting for.

Bulent Kerimoglu, the mayor of Istanbuls Bakirkoy municipality, said on Tuesday that the paperwork has been completed for the expected two-year construction project.

Anadolu Agency noted that when completed, the church will serve Syriac Orthodox believers, which number close to 17,000, living in Istanbul.

Yusuf Cetin, the Syriac Orthodox Churchs metropolitan for Istanbul and the capital Ankara, hailed the move, saying that different religions, ethnic roots  everyones hearts beat for our Turkey.

Were proud of living under the Turkish flag in this land, he added.

Plans for the new church were first revealed in 2015, when Agence France Presse noted that the church would be the first one built since the end of the Ottoman Empire and the establishment of the modern republic in 1923.

While older churches have been restored and reopened to the public, the planned church will be the first new one in the territory in nearly 100 years.

Fides News Agency pointed out that the new church will be built in the Yesilkoy district of Bakirkoy and will have space for more than 700 believers.

It suggested that the increase of the Syriac Christian minority in Turkey due to the Syrian civil war is one of the main reasons for Turkey agreeing to build a new church. Turkish authorities had previously set up a refugee camp reserved for Syriac Christians hosting up to 4,000 people.

Christians have had strong religious freedom concerns during the administration of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, however. Back in 2016, the government seized the last six remaining Christian churches in the war-torn southeastern city of Diyarbakir, declaring them state property.

The decision caused outrage among the Armenian, Syriac and Chaldean communities and a number of church foundations, which threatened legal action.

The government claimed at the time that there were no religious motives behind the decision, pointing out that it had also expropriated a number of historic mosques in the town.

Erdogan has maintained that "Turkey has no problems related to [religious] minorities," pointing to a joint declaration signed by Christian representatives in 2018 stating that they live "freely" in the Muslim majority nation.

But some church leaders, such as Anthony J. Limberakis, the National Commander of the Eastern Orthodox Church order, said that the Turkish government placed "pressure" on the churches to sign the document.

"One need not be a U.S. evangelist or have a Zionist mentality to see that the statement from representatives of the Greek Orthodox and Armenian churches and other religious minority communities was obtained under duress," he stated.
European human rights court to hear landmark case over mom euthanized for depression

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The European Court of Human Rights has agreed to take on the legal case of a man who objects to the fact that his mother was euthanized in 2012 after years of depression.

The ECHR, based in Strasbourg, France, will consider the case brought forward by Belgium resident Tom Mortier.

According to Mortier, his mother  Godelieva De Troyer  was 64 years old when she was given a lethal injection by a doctor simply because she couldnt bear her depression. Mortier maintains that doctors and hospital staff didnt provide notice to him or his siblings until a day after their mother had died.

Alliance Defending Freedom International, which has filed an application to represent Mortier, explains that Mortiers case is eligible to be heard by the continent's top human rights court because Belgian authorities have refused to pursue his case.

According to Mortier, his mother had severe mental health problems and dealt with depression throughout much of her life. As she was treated by psychiatrists, Mortier admits that contact between himself and his mother had been broken until years later when he found out that his mother had been euthanized.

International law has never established a so-called right to die. On the contrary, it solidly affirms the right to life  particularly for the most vulnerable among us, ADF International Director of European Advocacy Robert Clarke, who is handling Mortiers case, said in a statement. We welcome the decision of the court to hear this precedent-setting case, the sad facts of which expose the lie that euthanasia is good for society.

The appeal to the European Court of Human Rights represents the sons only chance to seek justice for the loss of his mother, according to ADF.

The plaintiff alleges that when De Troyers doctor of 20 years refused to approve her euthanasia request in September 2011, she sought the help of other physicians.

One of those physicians was allegedly Dr. Wim Distelmans, who co-chairs Belgiums euthanasia review commission.

According to a court statement, Mortier alleges that his mother donated the equivalent of $2,860 to a foundation that Distelmans co-founded called the Life End Information Forum before her euthanasia request was carried out.

The donation gives rise to an apparent conflict of interest, ADF argued. No one contacted Mortier before his mothers death even though, Mortier says, her depression was not only largely the result of a break-up with a man, but also due to her feelings of distance from her family.

Psychiatrist Lieve Thienpont was ultimately the one responsible for authorizing De Troyers euthanasia request.

Theinpont has been plagued by previous concerns that she is too quick to approve euthanasia for mentally ill patients. Theinpont and two other doctors were investigated last year on claims that they were involved in the euthanization of a woman named Tine Nys, who was diagnosed with Aspergers syndrome, in 2010.

Nys family contends, however, that she wasnt on the autistic spectrum but just suffering over a recent breakup with her boyfriend.

According to the Associated Press, some experts think Theinpont may have been involved in as many as one-third of Belgian euthanasia cases approved for psychiatric reasons.

Religious leaders, such as those with the Roman Catholic Church, have contended that Belgiums euthanasia law is being abused and that patients are being killed without proper legal checks in place.

Supporters of Mortiers case believe its impact could span throughout Europe as euthanasia is also legal in countries like the Netherlands and Luxembourg.

The slippery slope is on full public display in Belgium, and we see the tragic consequences in this case, ADF International Executive Director Paul Coleman said in a statement. According to the most recent government report, more than six people per day are killed in this way, and that may yet be the tip of the iceberg. The figures expose the truth that, once these laws are passed, the impact of euthanasia cannot be controlled.

Coleman stated that Belgium is on a trajectory that implicitly tells its most vulnerable that their lives are not worth living.

Another case of a patient being euthanized for mental health reasons is a 41-year-old man in the Netherlands who was euthanized because he was an alcoholic who suffered from depression and anxiety.

Reports indicate that over 10,000 people have been euthanized in Belgium in the 15 years since the practice became legal in 2002. Most of those cases involve a physical illness, rather than mental. Only one case was previously referred to prosecutors; that case was later dropped.
Archaeological discovery: Platform found in Israel may have held Ark of the Covenant

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Archaeologists in Israel have unearthed a massive man-made platform that could contain clues about the Ark of the Covenant.

Israel Finkelstein, an archaeologist at Tel Aviv University, told The Times of Israel that the eighth century BCE shrine was believed to have held the Ark of the Covenant. The Ark is said in the Bible to contain the two stone tablets of the Ten Commandments given by God to Moses.

The Ark is believed to have been kept at Kiriath-Jearim for 20 years, until it was paraded by King David in Jerusalem.

Unlike other archaeologists working in the region, Finkelstein said he doesn't believe the Ark actually existed. Still, he insists that the recent discovery could lead to information about the political events in biblical times.

The excavations at Kiriath-Jearim shed light on the strength of Israel (the Northern Kingdom) in the early eighth century, including, possibly, its domination of Judah, Finkelstein said. They also illuminate an important theme in the Bible  the Ark and its history.

The structure researchers discovered, which the Times of Israel described as "game-changing," is an elevated rectangular podium.

The archaeologists say "it can be reconstructed to have been circa 150-110 m in size and covering an area of some 1.65 hectares. Created with typical Iron Age walls, 3-m wide and which still stand 2-m high, it is oriented exactly north-south and east-west."

The excavation team suggests that the goal at the time was to "legitimate Kiriath-Jearim as the new shrine of the Ark."

"Accordingly, in the case of a North Kingdom affiliation, the elevated platform was built in order to accommodate an Israelite administration compound, including a temple, aimed at dominating the vassal kingdom of Judah," it adds.

Kiriath-Jearim itself is an important biblical site, with I Chronicles 13, 5-8 detailing the story of King David transporting the Ark to Jerusalem.

And David went up, and all of Israel, to Baalah, that is, to Kiriath-Jearim, which belonged to Judah, to bring up from thence the ark of God  David and all the Israelites played, celebrating with all their might before God, with songs and with harps, lyres, timbrels, cymbals and trumpets, reads the passage.

Still, Finkelstein says that he doesn't expect to find physical evidence of the Ark having historically resided at the site.

I think that the story of the Ark  served the ideology of the Northern Kingdom in the time of Jeroboam II, as well as the actual territorial needs which stemmed from the domination over Judah, he said.

I suspect that this shrine of the Ark was part of a United Israel (ruled from Samaria) ideology  the forerunner of the later Judahite United Monarchy concept.

Other archaeologists searching for clues related to the Ark have said that they have a strong religious faith, such as Scott Stripling of the Associates for Biblical Research.

Stripling, who in 2017 said that his team was working at a dig in Shiloh searching for clues, insisted at the time that the Bible is "very reliable" when it comes to archaeological work.

"We're taking the Bible as a serious historical document," he said, adding "but the evidence is what the evidence is."

More recently, claims that the Ark lies inside a church in Ethiopia have been disputed. The claim apparently stemmed from old accounts by late British scholar and historian Edward Ullendorff, who at one point alleged that he had seen the Ark inside the Church of Our Lady Mary of Zion in Aksum during World War II.

Tudor Parfitt, who was also a professor at the University of London's School of Oriental and African Studies, told Live Science in December that back in 1941 Ullendorff saw what he believed to be a copy, and not the actual Ark.

"What he saw was what you find in any Ethiopian church, which is a model of the Ark of the Covenant," the professor said.

Ullendorff decided to make an impression in Ethiopia that he had seen the real Ark, since he continued working in the country after the war, and did not want to hurt the peoples feelings.
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As our culture becomes more secularized it has become fashionable to see science as one of the engines of this secularization. As science advances, religion must retreatso the theory goes. This viewpoint draws much of its continuing inspiration from two books in the late nineteenth century. John William Draper wrote History of the Conflict Between Religion and Science in 1874 and Andrew Dickson White penned A History of the Warfare of Science with Theology in 1896. Both books came to exemplify what became known as the warfare thesis in the history of the relationship between science and religion. Contemporary historians recognize that the warfare thesis is much too simplistic and that Draper and Whites arguments are not well supported.

Today historians of science generally no longer favor a conflict model. Colin Russell, formerly the president of Christians in Science, criticized the conflict model noting that, Draper takes such liberty with history, perpetuating legends as fact that he is rightly avoided today in serious historical study. The same is nearly as true of White, though his prominent apparatus of prolific footnotes may create a misleading impression of meticulous scholarship.

Although the warfare thesis has suffered at the hands of historians who recognize a more interactive approach, the view continues to find expression in our culture. Since this is the case it may be prudent to consider more fully another way of challenging this thesis.

Naturalism: Definition and Challenges

For many the pursuit of science is thought to require a belief in naturalism. Naturalism can be defined in various ways but atheistic philosopher Kai Nielson captures the main core of naturalism in the following manner:

Naturalism denies that there are any spiritual or supernatural realities transcendent to the world or at least we have no good ground for believing that there could be such realities It is the view that anything that exists is ultimately composed of physical components.

Naturalism, as a worldview, is not without its own philosophical difficulties. In its denial of any supernatural reality and its affirmation of the merely physical naturalism has difficulty accounting for objective morality and ultimate meaning in life. For those who are more convinced of objective moral realism and ultimate meaning in life these items become reason to reject naturalism. However, some naturalists are simply willing to jettison objective morality and meaning as a necessary consequence of their belief in naturalism. The late William Provine of Cornell never tired of speaking of this reality. He argued, Naturalistic evolution has clear consequences that Charles Darwin understood perfectly. 1) No gods worth having exist; 2) no life after death exist; 3) no ultimate foundation for ethics exists; 4) no ultimate meaning in life exists; and 5) human free will is nonexistent. Philosophers Tamler Sommers and Alex Rosenberg come to the same conclusions:

Darwinism thus puts the capstone on a process which since Newtons time has driven teleology to the explanatory sidelines. In short it has made Darwinians into metaphysical nihilists denying that there is any meaning or purpose to the universe its contents and its cosmic history. But in making Darwinians into metaphysical nihilists, the solvent algorithm [random variation acted on by natural selection--rjk] should have made them into ethical nihilists too. For intrinsic values and obligations make sense only against the background of purposes, goals, and ends which are not merely instrumental.

If the reasoning of these thinkers is to be accepted then it seems as if a naturalistic pursuit of science leads to the loss of both morality and meaningat least in any objective sense. But what if naturalism entails the loss of something more? What if naturalism leads to the undermining of the scientific enterprise itself?

Proverbs 21.22 elegantly states, A wise man scales the city of the mighty and brings down the stronghold in which they trust. Those who would scale the walls of the secular city must bring down the stronghold of science in which they trust. This is done by showing that on the basis of the naturalistic worldview science is problematic. In short, naturalism cannot account for science itself.

Naturalism, Science, and Scientism

In attempting to show the incompatibility of naturalism and science there are two related issues to consider. Since naturalisms approach to science seems to entail a version of scientism, the first thesis to consider is that scientism is fundamentally irrational. Second, it can be shown that science itself rests upon philosophical commitments that do not comport well with naturalism.

In his book Scientism and Secularism: Learning to Respond to a Dangerous Ideology, J. P. Moreland articulates and, then, critiques two versions of scientism.

Strong Scientism: Strong scientism claims that some proposition is true and/or rational to believe if and only if it is a well-established scientific propositionthat is, if and only if it is a well-established scientific proposition that, in turn depends on its having been successfully formed, tested, and used according to appropriate scientific methodology. There are no truths apart from scientific truths, and even if there were, there would be no reason whatever to believe them.

Weak Scientism: Advocates of weak scientism allow for truths apart from science and even grant that they have some minimal, positive rationality status without the support of science. But those advocates still hold that science is the most authoritative sector of human learning. Every other intellectual activity is inferior to science. Further, there are virtually no limits to science. There is no field into which scientific research cannot shed light. To the degree that some issue outside science can be given scientific support or can be reduced to science, to that degree the issue becomes rationally acceptable.

It is not hard to find scientists and philosophers who operate with some version of scientism. Consider this short litany of quotations as illustrative of scientism:

The great questionsWho are we? Where did we come from? Why are we here?can be answered only, if ever, in the light of scientifically based evolutionary thought. E. O. Wilson

A Darwinian fundamentalist is one who recognizes that either you shun Darwinian evolution altogether, or you turn the traditional universe upside down and you accept that mind, meaning, and purpose are not the cause but the fairly recent effects of the mechanistic mill of Darwinian algorithms. Many have tried to find a compromise position [but] [i]t cannot be done. Daniel Dennett

We seem to be reaching a point at which science can wrest morality from the hands of the philosophers. Frans de Waal

All the above are examples of philosophical commitments masquerading as empirical science. As J. Daryl Charles notes, Seemingly at work here are distinctly metaphysicalover against strictly physical or materialassumptions, which, nevertheless, are touted as science. Charles goes on to conclude:

[O]ne is justified, I think, in questioning whether individuals in the hard sciences, where theories and hypotheses are measured and tested on the basis of empirical evidence, should be making moral-philosophical and metaethical claims. Is this really science? What is particularly questionable is to extrapolate from the physical realm and make authoritative metaphysical pronouncements about material and nonmaterial reality and to do so in the name of science.

So when Charles asks, Is this really science? the answer is no. This is scientismand scientism has some very big problems.

Problems with Scientism

Strong scientism can be briefly summarized in this way: Only scientific assertions can be true and known. But this overly stringent conception of scientism is actually self-contradictory. The claim of strong scientism is not open to scientific verification or falsification. It is a philosophical claim; not an empirical, scientific claim. As J. P. Moreland argues,

The irony is that strong scientism is a philosophical statement expressing an epistemological viewpoint about science; it is not a statement of science, like water is H2O or cats are mammals. Strong scientism is a philosophical assertion that claims that philosophical assertions are neither true nor can be known; only scientific assertions can be true and known.

Strong scientism is, in more technical language, self-referentially incoherent and cannot possibly be true.

Weak scientism fares no better. Advocates of weak scientism assume that science is the most authoritative sector of human learning. But this is to implicitly deny the intellectual integrity of other fields of knowledge. Moreland succinctly states the objection:

In sum, the first problem with weak (and strong) scientism is that it diminishes the intellectual authority of other important fields, especially biblical studies and theology. This is not because the arguments are better, but simply because it is assumed that science by definition has more plausibility and inherent authority.

In chapter seven of Scientism and SecularismThe Availability of Nonscientific KnowledgeMoreland examines three areas in which one is rationally justified in affirming propositions without scientific support. These three areas are: (1) the rational certainty of the laws of logic and mathematics, (2) the greater epistemic authority for knowledge ones own conscious states, and (3) the greater epistemic weight of self-evident moral claims. Indeed, according to Moreland, these areas are actually more certain as knowledge claims than scientific ones. Moreland is, thus, able to conclude, These points individually, but especially collectively, show that the claims of scientism are simply false.

Thus, both strong and weak scientism fail. Furthermore, both versions fail to properly note that the scientific endeavor rests upon philosophical assumptions and that the conclusions of science can only be as certain as those assumptions. In fact, the philosophical assumptions needed for science do not fit well within a naturalistic framework but, rather, make more sense in a theistic context.

The Presuppositions of Science and Worldview Analysis

Consider just a few of the philosophical presuppositions upon which science relies. Moreland offers the following list of presuppositions that are utilized by scientists to undergird the scientific methodology.

The existence of the external world. The orderly nature of the external world and its knowability. The uniformity of nature and induction. The laws of logic, epistemology, and truth. The reliability of the senses and the mind. The adequacy of language to describe the world. The applicability of mathematics and the existence of numbers. The existence of values.

In light of these fundamental philosophical presuppositions needed by science the question becomes, Which worldview best makes sense of these presuppositions? In other words, can naturalism provide the preconditions needed to account for these philosophical presuppositions or does a theistic worldview provide a better answer? Moreland argues that theism with its transcendent God provides a better explanatory context.

The nature of the assumptions of science do not prove the existence of a God very much like the God of the Bible, but in my view, they provide reasons for preferring theism over scientistic naturalism. The assumptions are at home in a theistic worldview; they fit quite naturally. If God is himself a rational being, then it stands to reason that he would create a rational, orderly universe. If he created us, then it naturally follows that he would give us the proper faculties to know and appreciate the inner workings of his world by thinking his thoughts after him. The existence of objective values makes far more sense if there is an objective Lawgiver than if there is not.

If we begin with In the beginning there was the Logos, then we have reasonable explanations for these assumptions. But if we begin with In the beginning were the particles (or plasma, strings, etc.), it is hard to see how these assumptions could have obtained.

It is, therefore, argued that science rests upon philosophical assumptions and those assumptions fit more adequately in a theistic context rather than a naturalistic system. Looking specifically at a few of the presuppositions listed above may help elucidate the argument.

Three Specific Philosophical Presuppositions

Space constraints rule out an exhaustive analysis but a few details can be spelled out regarding three of the presuppositions listed above. Consider (2) The orderly nature of the external world and its knowability. It is helpful to distinguish two types of order. One is the order of objects and the other is the order of processes and patterns. A classic example of the order of objects is the human eye. The order and design is manifest in the object. This kind of order is important and modern examples, like the bacterial flagellum, play an important part in the current debates about evolution. It is, however, the other kind of orderthe order of processes and patternswhich is at issue here. Oxford philosopher Richard Swinburne refers to this type of order when he writes the following:

The orderliness of the universe to which I draw attention here is its conformity to formula, to simple formulable, scientific laws. The orderliness of the universe in this respect is a very striking fact about it. The universe might naturally have been chaotic, but it is notit is very orderly.

This formulable orderliness exists across space and time. Arizona State University astrophysicist Paul Davies further describes this reality:

There exists a deep and elegant underlying mathematical unity that links everything together in an abstract conceptual scheme. There is thus an underlying rational order of which the fall of an apple is but one example. We could never get at that type of deep mathematical unity other than by using science, and its an astonishing thing that we can get at it at all because it seems to have no survival value.

J. P. Moreland asks, So, how do we explain the existence and nature of these laws? Where did they come from?

There are two major options here: (1) take them as unexplainable, brute entities, or (2) provide a theistic explanation. For many thinkers, myself included, the unexplainable-brute-entity option is not a good one. Since the actual brute entity might not have existed, we naturally seek an explanation as to why the contingent entity exists instead of not existing. And the fundamental laws of nature are contingent realitiesafter all, it is easy to conceive of worlds that have different fundamental laws of nature. So why does our world contain certain fundamental laws instead of others.

Thus, presupposition (2)The orderly nature of the external world and its knowabilitybetter fits a theistic context.

Consider, also, presupposition (5) from above: The reliability of the senses and the mind. Evolutionary psychologists Leda Cosmides and John Tooby give a naturalistic explanation of the brain as a physical system:

The brain is a physical system whose operation is governed solely by the laws of chemistry and physics. What does this mean? It means that all of your thoughts and hopes and dreams and feelings are produced by chemical reactions going on in your head.

But if Cosmides and Tooby are correct about all of our thoughts being merely the result of chemical reactions then a number of questions clamor for answer: Why should we trust these thoughts to be true? What is about these chemical reactions that guarantees truth? Moreland penetrates to the core of the issue:

If mind emerged from matter without the direction of a superior Intelligence, two problems arise immediately. First, why should we trust the deliverances of the mind as being rational or true, especially in the minds more theoretical activities?  Second, if thinking involves having abstract entities (propositions, laws of logic, and the like) instanced in ones mind, then it seems to be incredibly unlikely that a property which emerged from matter in a struggle for survival would be the sort of thing that could have thoughts in the first place. Why this emergent property would be such that it could contain abstract entities would be a mystery.

Again, the existence of the reliability of the senses and the mind fits better within a theistic context that has the direction of a superior Intelligence that both creates and correlates the human mind for knowledge.

Lastly, consider presupposition (8): The existence of values. Naturalism has problems explaining the existence of values and objective morality. Paul Copan summarizes the issue when he writes:

How do we move from a universe that originates from no prior matter into a universe of valueless matter and energy, eventually arriving at moral values, including human rights, human dignity, and moral obligation? It is hard to see how the naturalist could bridge this chasm. Matter just does not have moral properties, let alone mental ones.

In light of naturalisms failure to properly ground moral value Copan concludes:

A moral universe and human dignity are best explained in the context of a morally excellent, worship-worthy Being as their metaphysical foundation, as opposed to nontheistic alternatives, and naturalism in particular. If objective moral values and human dignity and rights are a reality (and there is very good reason to think they are), then it is extremely likely that some intrinsically valuable Being and Creator exists.

The presupposition of moral value fits better within a theistic worldview rather than in the worldview of naturalism.

Science Needs God!

Although science is seen by many to be antithetical to belief in God, in actuality it is the existence of God that best provides the philosophical context for the presuppositions needed for science to flourish. Naturalism as a philosophical worldview cannot adequately account for fundamental features needed for the scientific endeavor to succeed. As one scales the secular city and critically probes the foundations of science it becomes apparent that naturalisms scientism is flawed and the worldview cannot sustain itself in its use of science. Ultimately, science itself needs God to make sense of itself.

This piece is a development of a presentation at Glendale Community College (AZ) and their annual God & Truth series entitled Is There Meaning in the World? Religion or Secular Humanism: That Is the Question?
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What on earth is a Philippine snout weevil, and what does it have to do with Christian worldview?

Its no exaggeration to say that if it werent for the amazing design found in nature, much of the best of our modern technologies wouldnt exist. Digital Trends documents a whole collection of examples, from bullet trains that mimic the beaks of kingfisher birds, to high-rises that copy the ventilation systems of termite mounds. Im not kidding. The film Incredible Creatures that Define Design by my friend Steve Greisen, talks about whats called biomimicry.

And yet, despite all of our technological achievements, were not even close to exhausting the riches of engineering and artistry available in nature. One of the most eye-catching examples to emerge in recent months is a tiny insecta species of beetle known as the Philippine snout weevil.

Full disclosure: Id never heard of this creature until our BreakPoint editor decided he would enjoy hearing me say Philippine snout weevil on the air. But its worth it.

A recent report in WORLD magazine revealed this miniature marvels true colors. Literally. You see, this beetle has a series of rainbow spots on its wing casings that do something very rare in nature: They maintain the same color no matter which angle you view them from. This has scientists fascinated, not only is this so-called high-fidelity color rare in nature, its nonexistent in human technology. Not a smart phone, laptop, tablet, or HD TV in existence can successfully produce colors that remain true, no matter how you look at them.

The website Optics and Photonics reported on the joint research by a Singaporean-Swiss team who discovered just how the weevil accomplishes this dazzling feat.

Each spot on its wing casings forms concentric circles of color which cover the full visible spectrum from blue to red, in the same order as a rainbow. But unlike most hues in nature, which are generated using pigments, the snout weevils brilliant design comes from what scientists call structural color.

Like the wings of the much more famous blue morpho butterfly, the weevils spots have a gleaming, metallic quality. This is because their color comes from tiny, crystalline structures made of chitin that split sunlight like a prism.

It was Isaac Newton who discovered that white light contains all the colors of the rainbow. Using glass lenses of the right shape, he noticed it was possible to refract those colors into their different wavelengths. The structural color used by the snout weevil and morpho butterflies takes advantage of this same principle.

But the weevil does something almost no other insect can. By using spherical scales instead of flat ones like a butterfly, and by controlling their size and volume, the weevil maintains near-perfect color fidelity across hues, regardless of how you look at it. In other words, unlike our own electronic displays, its colors are always true.

If human engineers could ever mimic this mechanism, it could have applications in electronic displays, more efficient fiber optics, more vivid paints, and even cosmetics.

What a strange and wonderful reminder that God is not only a master engineer; Hes an artist. Nature didnt have to be this beautiful, this extravagant, especially in the humble, easy-to-miss wings of an insect.

That it is, tells us something of Gods character. He reserved the special privilege of perfect color fidelity for one of the lowliest creatures. Remember how Jesus said that even King Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as well as the lilies of the field?

And of course, the more we find even our best technology outdone by nature, the more ridiculous the idea that life created itself seems. No, the creation is the handiwork of an Engineer and Artist, who saw fit to share with us His creativity, inviting us to create, too, as a way to express His image and to glorify Him.

We want to help you navigate the culture and to separate fact from fiction in the news this coming year. So the Colson Centers offering our supporters a one-year subscription to WORLD magazine for yourself or to give away to friends or family. WORLDs an outstanding Christian news source. When you make an online donation at BreakPoint.org, youll get a one-year subscription for yourself or for someone else.

Resources

A beautiful design humans cant replicate, Julie Borg | World.wng.org | October 14, 2018

A Tunable Biophotonic Rainbow, Molly Moser | The Optical Society of America | September 25, 2018

Originally posted at Breakpoint.
PragerU files 2nd lawsuit against Google, YouTube for restricting and restraining conservative speech

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Popular conservative YouTube channel Prager University has filed a new lawsuit against Google and YouTube, which Google owns, for unlawfully restricting and restraining speech.

Filed Tuesday in the Superior Court of California for the county of Santa Clara, this is the second lawsuit that Prager has filed against Google and YouTube, the first being filed in federal court.

In this latest suit, Prager accuses Google of violating state law in multiple ways, namely unlawfully restraining free speech and expression in violation of Article One, Section 2 of the California constitution; discriminating against PragerU (and other users) based on political, religious or other discriminatory animus in violation of the Unruh Civil Rights Act, Section 51 of the California Civil Code; engaging in unlawful, misleading, and unfair businesses practices in violation of the Unfair Competition Laws of the California Business and Professions Code, and finally violating YouTubes terms of use, Community Guidelines, and other content-neutral filtering policies and procedures.

Google/YouTube continue to censor, restrict, and restrain video content based on animus, discrimination, profit, and/or for any other reason or no reason, no matter how arbitrary, capricious, or discriminatory, the lawsuit states.

The lawsuit noted these restrictions came through YouTubes Restricted Mode, which is a filtering protocol used to block content deemed inappropriate for sensitive audiences; and Advertising Restrictions, a policy that prohibits advertisers from accessing videos deemed inappropriate for advertising.

Google/YouTube use these filtering mechanisms as a pretext to justify restricting and censoring PragerUs videos. And Google/YouTube continues to do so, even though the content of PragerU videos complies with YouTubes written criteria, the lawsuit argues.

In October 2017, PragerU filed a lawsuit against Google and YouTube in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, accusing them of ideologically-driven discrimination.

A Los Angeles-based group that has over 1 million subscribers on YouTube headed by conservative radio host Dennis Prager, PragerU has found many of its videos restricted or blocked due to complaints over its content.

For example, in 2016 a PragerU video featuring a pro-Israel British Muslim was labeled "hate speech" and blocked by the video-sharing site for anyone using restricted access standards.

Last February, YouTube "restricted" a video on Planned Parenthood featuring pro-life activist Lila Rose mere hours after it was uploaded to the popular video-sharing website.

In March 2018, U.S. District Judge Lucy Koh dismissed PragerUs federal lawsuit against Google, arguing that Google and YouTube are private entities who created their own video-sharing social media website and make decisions about whether and how to regulate content that has been uploaded on that website.

For their part, PragerU has appealed Judge Koh's decision before the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.
Missouri town to move giant cross off public land after atheist group's complaint

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A large cross contested by atheists will be moved off public land following complaints over a Missouri town's Christmas lights display.

Under pressure from the Wisconsin-based Freedom From Religion Foundation, city officials in Ozark, Missouri, announced last week that the cross that was on display at the Finley River Park will be moved to private land located at the south end of the park to avoid a lawsuit from the atheist group.

The land that the cross is being moved to is owned by the Christian County A&M Society and is regularly used by the Finley River Saddle Club Arena.

The city of Ozark has been working diligently with our partners to find the best resolution regarding the cross in the Finley River Park, a statement posted to the towns Facebook page reads. In striving to balance the court of law with the court of public opinion, we have identified a solution that will relocate the cross from its current location on city-owned property to a privately owned parcel of property.

According to the city, the proposed new location is not on property owned or leased by the city of Ozark in any way.

There is no specific timeline for this relocation as the details regarding implementation of this plan are still being determined, the statement reads.

FFRF, which advocates for a strict separation of church and state and regularly pressures municipal governments and school districts, sent a letter to the town in November arguing that including the cross (which at night is lit up in blue) in the towns holiday lights display on public property was a violation of the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.

In her letter, FFRF attorney Rebecca Markert cited federal court decisions against the display of religious symbols on public property. Such rulings include the 1985 Seventh Circuit ruling in ACLU v. The city of St. Charles, Illinois.

Initially, the city responded on Dec. 11 in a statement agreeing with FFRFs assertion that the cross was a violation of the First Amendment and suggested that leaving the cross on public property would result in a lawsuit that we will not win.

The city later amended its statement to explain that despite the warning from FFRF, the cross would remain part of the lights display. Ozarks updated statement was issued after citizens voiced their disapproval with the citys response to FFRF.

The city maintained that the cross would remain in place until due diligence can be completed regarding this matter.

Now that Ozark officials have agreed to move the cross off public property, FFRF is calling it a step in the right direction.

From the beginning, weve asked the city of Ozark to remove this cross or direct that it be moved to private property where it would be more appropriately displayed, FFRF attorney Rebecca Markert said in a statement. FFRF is pleased to learn that the city finally agreed to relocate the cross to private property. This is a good step in honoring the separation between state and church and a victory for the Constitution.

Some residents voiced their approval with the solution.

[T]hank you so much for resolving this issue without totally dismantling the symbol! And thank you to the private land owners!!! one Facebook user, who attends Ozarks Technical Community College, wrote. We the people are so grateful for you!

At least one commenter accused the city of caving to outsiders.

The cross structure in question was built so that the horizontal arms could be lowed at the end of the holiday light display. According to Springfield News-Leader, the towns immediate solution was to leave the giant cross erected but lower the horizontal arms so that it was not shaped like a Latin cross.
Atheist group warns over 1,000 school districts not to take kids to Ark Encounter; Ken Ham responds

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One of the nations leading atheist legal groups has sent a warning to over 1,000 public school districts telling them not to take field trips to Answers in Genesis' creationist attractions in Kentucky.

The Wisconsin-based Freedom From Religion Foundation, which claims 31,000 members across the U.S., announced Tuesday that it contacted school districts in five states warning them that field trips to the Ark Encounter or the Creation Museum would be a violation of the First Amendments Establishment Clause.

Public schools and public school staff may not constitutionally organize trips to the Ark Encounter or the Creation Museum or any other religious venue, a letter from the nonprofits co-founders to schools reads.

Although the organization previously pressured schools not to organize field trips to either of the Answers in Genesis venues in 2016, FFRF felt the need to send the latest round of warning letters because, it says, Answers in Genesis founder Ken Ham continues to encourage public schools to plan field trips to the venues.

Ham has been clear about the proselytizing nature of this park from the beginning, the letter reads. Though Ham asserts that the law is on his side, this is untrue. Unquestionably, any field trip facilitated by a public school to either attraction would be unconstitutional.

Ham responded to FFRFs announcement through a blog post in which he asserted that it's not unconstitutional for public school districts to hold field trips to the Ark Encounter and Creation Museum. He added that admission will be free of charge for any public school district that plans to take students on a field trip to the Ark Encounter or Creation Museum.

As leading civil rights attorneys will tell you, if classes tour the Ark or museum in an objective fashion to supplement the teaching of world religions, literature, interpretation of history, etc., the field trip is an educational experience," Ham continued. "Now, if students were brought to the Ark or museum and told by their teacher that the religious content should be accepted as truth, then we would acknowledge that the Establishment Clause of the Constitution, as currently being interpreted by the courts, would be violated.

Opened in 2007, the Creation Museum in Petersburg is tailored toward a Young Earth Creationist explanation of the universe. Opened in 2016, the Ark Encounter in Williamstown is a creationist theme park that features a large representation of Noahs Ark from the book of Genesis.

FFRF's letter also cites the 1971 Supreme Court ruling of Lemon v. Kurtzmanin which the court held that schools must ensure that their programs do not inculcate religion. Specifically, the court ruled in that case that it's unconstitutional for a state to reimburse private schools for teachers' salaries.

Taking public school students to a site whose self-professed goal is to convert children to a particular religion and undermine what is taught in public school science and history classrooms would be inappropriate, the atheist group's letter further argues. Public schools may not advance or promote religion.

The letter also argues that Ham has in the past admitted that Answers in Genesis' parks have an evangelistic motive. FFRF points to an open letter Ham released before the opening of the Ark Encounter in 2016.

Yes, our motive is to do the Kings business until He comes, Hams July 2016 statement reads.

Ham added that established law states that the Bible is allowed to be used in the classroom so long as it's used in an objective manner and included as part of a secular curriculum.

In the 1963 case of Abington Township v. Schempp, the Supreme Court reasoned that it's permissible for public schools to offer classes in "the study of the Bible" so long as they are "presented objectively as part of a secular program of education.

As long as the teacher doesnt express a personal opinion about the Bible, there is no issue whatsoever, Ham wrote.

Should FFRF threaten a lawsuit in response to a school districts field trip to the Kentucky attractions, Ham promised that Answers in Genesis has access to constitutional law attorneys who will provide their services free of charge even if that means going all the way to the Supreme Court.

Actually, I would like to see a case go to the Supreme Court so that these atheist bullies who have been wreaking havoc on civil liberties all across America can be stopped, Ham said. Everyone needs to be reminded that the FFRF is actually a very small group of atheists who have been increasing their attacks on Christianity in America in an attempt to impose their atheistic worldview on all public schools and, in fact, the entire culture.

FFRF regularly pressures school districts and municipal governments to end what the group perceives to be unlawful entanglements between government and religion.

Most recently, the group pressured a Missouri town to remove a giant cross structure from public land. The group objected when the cross was lit up in blue and used in the towns Christmas lights display.

Late last year, FFRF successfully pressured an Illinois town to cancel a community trip to see the Ark Encounter and Creation Museum.

Last August, an Indiana school district moved to no longer allow teachers to lead an extracurricular Christian club for elementary school students after FFRF complained.
New York Gov. Cuomo: No budget unless abortion made legal for any reason until birth

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New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo is refusing to sign the states budget unless the legislature passes a bill that makes abortion up until birth for any reason legal in the state. He is also calling on the legislature to enshrine abortion as a right guaranteed in the state constitution.

While delivering a pro-abortion speech at Barnard College in Manhattan with former first lady Hillary Clinton at his side, the 61-year-old Democrat vowed not to support the 2019-2020 state budget legislation until the state legislature approves the Reproductive Health Act and the Comprehensive Contraception Coverage Act.

Cuomos vow comes after Democrats retook control of the New York Senate in the 2018 midterm elections. The vow also comes as the Trump administration has worked to advance pro-life policies.

Now that conservatives have a majority on the U.S. Supreme Court, some abortion-proponents fear the possibility that a Supreme Court decision could one day overturn Roe v. Wade.

The Republican senate said, You dont need a state law codifying Roe v. Wade. No administration would ever roll back Roe v. Wade, Cuomo said, according to The New York Times. So help me God, this was the conversation.

According to the language of the Reproductive Health Act: Every individual who becomes pregnant has the fundamental right to choose to carry the pregnancy to term, to give birth to a child or have an abortion. The act would also remove abortion from the states penal code.

According to the Rochester Democrat & Chronicle, the bill has passed the Democrat-controlled Assembly in the past but has stalled for over a decade in the Republican-led senate. Many conservatives in the senate objected to the fact that it included language that would allow non-doctors to perform late-term abortions.

The newspaper reports that the legislature is expected to approve the bill on Jan. 22, which is the 46th anniversary of the Roe v. Wade decision.

As many of you know, the Governor is pushing again for abortion through birth and even after with so-called Reproductive Health Act. Now he has an anti-Life Democrat-led Senate to help him get it through, New York State Right to Life campaign warned on Facebook Wednesday.

In a policy statement on the Reproductive Health Act, N.Y. State Right to Life explained that the legislation would lead to an increase in abortions and expose mothers to increased dangers by removing protections currently in New York statute.

Current law only allows duly licensed physicians to perform an abortion up to the 24th week of the pregnancy. But the Reproductive Health Act would allow any licensed health care practitioner to perform an abortion as long as the practitioner acts in good faith, pro-lifers have warned.

Supporters of RHA claim it merely seeks to update New Yorks laws to make them consistent with Roe v. Wade. This claim is false, the New York State Right to Life policy statement reads. The changes this bill would make instead would authorize abortion through all nine months, for any reason, with no restrictions.

Another group that is opposing the Reproductive Health Act is Feminists Choosing Life of New York, which has submitted at least six letters to The New York Times opposing the legislation.

One point of opposition is the heinous legalization of abortion during the second and third trimester of pregnancy through the inclusion of a broad health exception allowing women to abort viable fetuses for essentially any reason; including economic or familial health, Kelly Brunacini, a member of the groups board of directors, wrote in one of the letters. The vast majority of Americans, including in New York, oppose these late-term abortions. As a New Yorker, Democrat and feminist, I cant help but wonder what history will say about a people who allowed the legalized killing of fully formed human beings for the sake of exerting political dominance.

NY State Right to Life also contends that the bill would prevent the prosecution of illegal abortions.

This is the opposite of pro-woman, the organizations statement reads.

Although the bill would enshrine the right to an abortion in state law, another vote of the state legislature would be required to kick off the amendment approval process. According to the Democrat & Chronicle, another vote of the next state legislature would be required in 2021 before the amendment could go to the voters for final approval.

Planned Parenthood Empire State Acts CEO Robin Chappelle praised Cuomos pro-abortion vow.

"The threat to our health care is real and requires immediate action," Golston told the Democrat & Chronicle.
Democrats ban LGBT employment discrimination in the House of Representatives

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The newly-elected Democrat majority in the U.S. House of Representatives wasted no time in adopting rule changes that ban employment discrimination against LGBT people in the lower chamber and requires House members to take ethics training.

The House last week voted and adopted a rules package that will govern the Houses operations for the entirety of the 116th Congress.

Included in the rules package were three proposals authored by openly gay Rep. David Cicilline, D-RI, who co-chairs the LGBT Equality Caucus.

The package includes anti-discrimination protections that Cicillines office says will ensure LGBT House employees are treated equally in the workplace. The provision bans employment discrimination on the basis of gender identity and sexual orientation.

The new requirements closely mirror employment protections that Cicilline has introduced as part of the Equality Act  his bipartisan, comprehensive bill to extend anti-discrimination protections to all LGBT Americans, a press release reads.

Among other things, the Equality Act would amend the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to sexual orientation and gender identity among the social categories that are protected from discrimination under the law.

The bill defines sex to include things like sex stereotypes, sexual orientation, pregnancy, childbirth, and gender identity.

The bill also expands the definition of public accommodation. Under the law, the Department of Justice could bring a civil action on the basis of things like being denied equal used of a public facility (like a bathroom or locker room) owned and operated by the state. However, public schools and colleges seem to be exempt from that part of the bill.

Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi has vowed to pass the Equality Act in the new Congress. However, the legislation is likely to face opposition in the Republican-controlled Senate. [P]rotecting the rights of LGBT employees is just the right thing to do, Cicilline said in a statement. After years of Republican mismanagement, Democrats are going to get Congress working again.

The bill comes as employment discrimination against LGBT people is not explicitly banned under federal law. However, LGBT employment discrimination is banned under Washington, D.C., law.

The rules package will also force members of Congress to take an annual ethics training course that Cicilline says makes it clear that we are serious about rooting out corruption wherever and whenever it occurs. Among the changes is a provision that bans members from serving on the boards of corporations.

Government at its best works for the benefit of all Americans, not just the powerful and privileged, Cicilline said. I am pleased that the House wasted no time today moving forward on these commonsense ideas.

The rules package has been praised by LGBT activists. David Stacy, government affairs director at the pro-LGBT Human Rights Campaign, called the passing of the provisions a historic moment for our country.

For the first time ever, discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity will be banned in the House of Representatives, he said in a statement. This action to protect LGBTQ congressional employees from discrimination is the result of millions of Equality Voters going to the polls in November to ensure their voices were heard and demanding a Congress that looks like America.

The LGBT Congressional Staff Association also praised the rules package.

This historic addition to the House rules will provide crucial job security for LGBTQ staff in the House of Representatives, the association expressed in a press release. This move also sends a powerful message about the importance of diversity within the institution we serve, saying that LGBTQ individuals are welcome on Capitol Hill and that the House of Representatives values and respects the identity and dignity of all LGBTQ people.

Many Christian conservatives have spoken out in the past against attempts to codify sexual orientation and gender identity as protected classes under the law.

The Family Research Council, an evangelical Washington, D.C.-based social conservative advocacy group, published an issue brief last month stating that SOGI (sexual orientation and gender identity) laws are invasive and cause tangible harms.

In the case of public employers, such laws at the local and state level have led to large settlements being paid at taxpayers expense, FRC Senior Fellow Peter Sprigg wrote in the brief.

In his brief, Sprigg also stated that SOGI laws are not justified in principle.

The federal Civil Rights Act of 1964, for example, bars discrimination based on race, color, national origin, sex, and religion, Sprigg wrote. The first four of these are clearly part of a persons innate identity, with race, color, and sex being biological factors identifiable at birth. A large part of the reason why discrimination on these bases is considered unjust is because these characteristics are indisputably inborn, involuntary, and immutable.

Religion is different in that it is voluntary and involves both beliefs and behaviors, he added. However, freedom of religion is explicitly protected by the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution  which is silent on issues of sexual orientation and gender identity. Sexual orientation and gender identity are considerably more complex than these other characteristics and involve a combination of feelings, sense of identity, and outward behaviors.

Sprigg concluded that gender identity laws violate the privacy of others.

Such laws allow biological males (who claim to be female) to access private spaces like showers, locker rooms, and bathrooms designated for women, allowing them to be nude or in various states of undress even if they have never altered their bodies through gender reassignment surgery, he contended. This could be, and has been, very disturbing to those (especially sexual assault victims, or residents of battered womens shelters) who are coerced into situations where they are exposed to, or find their own bodies exposed before, such individuals.
Gobustan Reserve is one of the most visited tourist places in Azerbaijan. Every year thousands of foreign guests are being fascinated by the enigmatic monuments of Gobustan, that are the pearls of our ancient history. Over 123,000 tourists from more than 20 countries visited the Gobustan State Historical and Artistic Reserve in 2018, Trend reports referring to the Ministry of Culture and Tourism on January 10.

As Middle East North Africa Financial Network writes in an article "Over 123,000 tourists visit Gobustan", the director of the reserve Vugar Isayev said that last year the number of visitorsincreased by 40,000 people (about 50 percent) compared to 2017, and foreign citizens made up58,000out of 123,000 visitors.

Foreign tourists mainly arrived from Turkey, Iran, Russia, Germany, Great Britain, Pakistan, China, U.S., Indonesia, Kazakhstan and Arab countries. Tourists from the island of Fiji and the Dominican Republic also visited the reserve. Over 80,000 tourists visited the reserve in 2017.

Gobustan State Historical and Artistic Reserve, the complex of archaeological monuments in the territory of Azerbaijan, is located 56 km from the capital, Baku, in Garadagh district. There is also a museum here. More than 6,000 images and rock paintings have been recorded in the area. Monuments of the Mesolithic (medieval stone) are mainly represented in the reserve.

Gobustan State Historical and Artistic Reserve was proclaimed in 1966, envisaging the exceptional importance of the material cultural remains found in Gobustan for history and culture. Human and animal paintings preserved in the Gobustan allow exploring the animals and the way they are hunted by the ancient people based on hunting, fighting and dance scenes depicted on the rocks.

The Gobustan Reserve, a world historical monument with an area of over 4,000 hectares, was included in the UNESCO list of cultural heritage in 2007. The monuments of Gobustan are divided into two groups: rock paintings and ancient sites and other objects.

The first archaeological excavations on the territory of the reserve began in the 1930s. In 1939-1940,Azerbaijani archaeologist Iskhak Jafarzade discovered here about 3,500 rock paintings, drawings and signs, as well as man-made pits, holes in rocks, etc. Since 1965, a special scientific expedition has been engaged in investigating the monuments of Gobustan. Archaeological research of more than 20 dwellings and shelters, more than 40 burial mounds was carried out.

Gobustan is a real open-air museum. Every year this amazing art gallery is visited by thousands of people from all over the world. Since the discovery, being at the center of attention of researchers, Gobustan rock paintings are a very interesting part of Azerbaijani history. More than 4-5,000 animals, human pictures, scenes drawn on rocks by generations coming one after another for thousands of years are the creativity of an ancient art school.
Man praises God as family, childhood Bible are saved after horn goes off warning them of truck on fire near home

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An Oklahoma father of five is still singing praises to God after the horn of his truck, which caught fire next to his home with his children inside, went off in time to warn them of the danger.

When firefighters were able to put out the blaze, they found the mans childhood Bible inside the truck unscathed by the flames.

God has made it to my eyes that I should be grateful for being alive, the father, Steven Gaut, told Fox 6 in an interview after the fire that occurred on Dec. 9.

God sent his angels, Gaut also wrote on a Facebook fundraiser that raised almost $5,000 to assist his family.

My truck was parked 2 feet away from the house. If it wasn't for the horn blowing the house would've gone too. The Vinita Fire Department had to pry the Bible that was in a cloth cover. My Bible was in great shape and the cover was in bad shape, he continued.

In his message on the Facebook fundraiser, Gaut said he was hiding Christmas gifts in the garage of his home when his oldest son heard the horn of his truck go off.

The kids were in their rooms playing. Got my Dad to watch the kids so I went [and] got some dog food from Atwoods. Got home and was putting gifts in my garage. I was out there for a few minutes and my oldest son heard a horn honking in front of the house. He looks out the window and sees my truck on fire. He immediately comes to the garage to tell me about it. I call 911. By the time I got to the truck it was totally engulfed with flames, Gaut said.

After firefighters put out the blaze they told him that someone at Atwoods, a farm and ranch supply company based in Enid, Oklahoma, likely threw a cigarette in the back of my truck.

Once the fire was out Gault said he assumed he'd also lost everything inside his truck including a cherished Bible he's had since he was 13.

The first thing I asked for was to see if my Bible was OK, he told Fox 6.

The Bible was down there on the ground  and they had to pry it up from the case, Gaut said.

In a recent interview with Fox News, he said despite the fire the Bible survived, it doesnt even smell like smoke either.

He further explained that if the fire had managed to reach his home before anyone was able to respond, it would have been devastating.

I'm a single dad raising five kids and six in the summer, just had to go bankrupt due to the divorce. I'm very grateful no one was hurt and thank God for saving our lives, he wrote on his Facebook fundraiser.
Bishops react to The Episcopal Church requiring all diocese to officiate same-sex weddings, even if they oppose

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The Episcopal Churchs General Convention approved a measure last July that expanded the right for same-sex couples to marry in all dioceses, even ones where local bishops theologically object.

Known as Resolution B012 and officially implemented on Dec. 2, the new measure overturned a previous resolution from 2015 that allowed dioceses opposed to same-sex marriage to retain their bans on officiating the unions.

While the new resolution still gives clergy the right to refuse to officiate same-sex weddings, bishops opposed to same-sex marriage rites must call on another bishop to provide pastoral support for the couple and a clergy member to perform the ceremony.

I think this is a really important moment for the church, said Long Island Bishop Larry Provenzano, who proposed Resolution B012, to the Episcopal News Service in an interview last summer.

We do this without there having to be one side wins and one side loses. Very much like the theme of the whole convention, there's a great movement for the church to really be the church in this time.

However, the new resolution has met resistance, specifically from Bishop William Love of the Episcopal Diocese of Albany, New York, one of the dioceses affected by the new measure.

In a lengthy pastoral letter released last November, Bishop Love said same-sex wedding ceremonies will not take place in his diocese.

"Jesus is calling the Church to follow His example. He is calling the Church to have the courage to speak His Truth in love about homosexual behavior  even though it isn't politically correct," wrote Love.

"Sexual relations between two men or two women was never part of God's plan and is a distortion of His design in creation and as such is to be avoided. To engage in sexual intimacy outside of marriage between a man and women, is against God's will and therefore sinful and needs to be repented of, NOT encouraged or told it is OK."

Love also said he believes both his denomination and overall Western society "have been hijacked by the 'gay rights agenda,'" and that pro-LGBT Episcopalians have been "received into believing a lie that has been planted in the Church by the 'great deceiver'  Satan."

Episcopal Church Presiding Bishop Michael Curry, who supports same-sex marriage and leads the denomination, released a statement last November in response to Love's letter, explaining that he was assessing the implications of the statement and will make determinations about appropriate actions soon.

A spokesperson for The Episcopal Church told The Christian Post via email on Jan. 2 that there had been no new developments in the dialogue between the national denomination and the Albany diocese.

Then, on Jan. 11, the spokesperson forwarded CP an official statement from Presiding Bishop Curry in which he decided to partially restrict Love's ministry by prohibiting him from "participating in any manner in the churchs disciplinary process in the Diocese of Albany in any matter regarding any member of the clergy that involves the issue of same-sex marriage."

"Nor shall he participate in any other matter that has or may have the effect of penalizing in any way any member of the clergy or laity or worshiping congregation of his Diocese for their participation in the arrangements for or participation in a same-sex marriage in his Diocese or elsewhere," said Curry.

In addition to the Diocese of Albany, the other impacted dioceses include Dallas; North Dakota; Springfield, Illinois; Tennessee; the U.S. Virgin Islands; and two of the denomination's Florida-based dioceses, the Diocese of Florida and the Diocese of Central Florida.

The Christian Post reached out to these dioceses to get their perspective on Resolution B012. A few responded, discussing issues including their opinion of the resolution and if they plan to leave the denomination.

A lesser evil

The Rt. Rev. Daniel H. Martins, bishop of the Illinois-based Episcopal Diocese of Springfield, told CP that he considered Resolution B012 to be a lesser evil.

It is preferable to General Convention simply making no provision at all for dioceses that retain the traditional Christian teaching on marriage, said Martins. But it deeply undermines the relationship between a bishop and the parishes of that bishop's diocese. It hampers the bishop's ability to be the chief teacher and chief liturgical officer in a diocese.

Martins described his diocese in central and southern Illinois as generally quite traditional, noting that a solid majority would not be supportive of same-sex marriage.

There is one parish that is an exception to this norm. They do not presently have a same-sex couple seeking marriage rites, but they have nonetheless asked me to delegate oversight of them to another bishop who would permit it if and when the time comes, continued Martins.

The Rt. Rev. George Sumner of the Episcopal Diocese of Dallas, told CP that while he believed Resolution B012 was flawed, he also considered it a good-faith effort to maintain unity amid strong theological difference.

We are doing our best to implement it as we are required to do, and three of our rectors have requested to receive alternative episcopal oversight, said Sumner.

While we do not agree with the Presiding Bishop [Michael Curry] on the marriage issue, he has been a friend to traditional Episcopalians. Meanwhile, the Book of Common Prayer, our standard of doctrine, remains unchanged.

The Episcopal Diocese of Florida sent CP a statement regarding the resolution, explaining in their official remarks that despite theological differences with the national church, they are committed to honoring Resolution B012.

The decision to perform such marriages now rests entirely with rectors and priests in charge. Accordingly, the diocese has established a process of collaboration and transparency when a rector or priest in charge chooses to perform a same-sex marriage. When that decision is made, the priest in charge is asked to meet with the bishop, the diocese said.

The wardens of the parish will also be invited to the meeting in order that the conversation can be transparent and open to all the leadership of the congregation. After meeting with the priest and wardens, the bishop will be prepared to find another bishop willing to undertake pastoral oversight in accordance with the provisions of B012.

No critical mass to leave

Resolution B012 was the latest in a yearslong trend of The Episcopal Church to become more accepting of homosexuality and same-sex marriage.

In 2003, the church garnered international headlines and controversy when the Rev. Gene Robinson became the first openly gay bishop in the denominations history.

In response, large numbers of Episcopalians and congregations within the denomination have left in protest of its theological direction. This has led to a great deal of litigation over who rightfully owns assorted church properties, with the national denomination typically winning in court.

In 2012, the leadership of the Episcopal Diocese of South Carolina voted to leave the national denomination, in part because of theological differences and over alleged mistreatment of its bishop, the Rt. Rev. Mark Lawrence.

The South Carolina Dioceses departure led to a lengthy legal battle over the regional bodys approximately $500 million worth of property, in which last June the United States Supreme Court allowed a ruling against the departing diocese to stand.

Bishop Martins of the Springfield Diocese told CP that there is no critical mass or energy here to leave The Episcopal Church, and there never has been, adding that he speaks both for myself personally, and for the diocese collectively.

Bishop Sumner of the Dallas Diocese also expressed opposition to the idea of attempting to leave The Episcopal Church over Resolution B012.

We in the Episcopal Diocese of the Dallas hold to the traditional doctrine on marriage. But we also believe we have a calling to witness to that teaching within The Episcopal Church, so we have no intention to leave, he said.

Bishop Love of the Albany Diocese also spoke in his pastoral letter last year about the importance of unity when detailing his opposition to the new resolution.

"There is no doubt The Episcopal Church and now the Diocese of Albany are in the midst of a huge storm that can rip us apart if we are not careful. That is exactly what Satan wants," wrote Love.

"We don't have to play his game. If we focus on what divides us, we will be destroyed. If we focus on what unites us  our Lord Jesus Christ  He will get us through to the other side. I pray the Lord will help us to see one another as He sees us; to love one another as He loves us; to forgive one another as He forgives us."

Nonetheless, Martins did tell CP that he felt there were inherent differences between his diocese and the national church leadership that went beyond just the issue of same-sex marriage.

Martins speculated that the likely divide was based on what he described as the "given-ness" of the Christian faith.

I am deeply sensible that the faith of which I am a steward as a bishop is something I have received, and is not mine to alter in an attempt to improve it. I am accountable to the witness of scripture and Christian tradition, not the other way around, said Martins.

The mainstream of The Episcopal Church seems to see the Holy Spirit behind every new direction they might be inclined to pursue. I am skeptical of that.
'Real Talk Kim' shares powerful moment God spoke to her at 'rock bottom': 'My goal is to save others from Hell'

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Kimberly Jones-Pothier, popularly known as "Real Talk Kim," knows what its like to hit rock bottom.

At 36 years old, she found herself penniless, living in her parents' home with her two young children. Twice divorced, shed seemingly lost everything: Her business, her home, and her marriage. Suffering from feelings of worthlessness, failure, and loneliness, she blamed God for her situation.

Depressed, Jones-Pothier refused to get out of bed for nine months: I was a victim in my own story, she admitted during a recent interview with The Christian Post. I was desperate, waiting for a miracle, waiting for God to change my life. One day, I cried out to God, begging Him to take my pain away and allow me to live again.

But when she prayed that prayer, something miraculous happened. For the first time in her life, she heard God clearly speak to her.

He said to me, Kim, I can't take the pain away from you. You got to get up and walk away from it, she said. That was just a pivotal moment for me because I realized that, in the church world, we do expect God to be a genie in a bottle. We fall on the floor and praise, and then nothing changes. And that's why we're up one day and down the next, because God isnt doing what we want or expect Him to do.

That same day, Jones-Pothier decided to start living again: She listened to sermons during her work commute, spent time in prayer every day, and immersed herself in the Word of God. It wasn't long before God began to transform her mindset.

I started believing that maybe God did have a purpose for my life that far exceeded anything that I could see, she recalled. Soon, I started preaching. I had my wings. I'd come from a caterpillar to a butterfly. I told the devil, you should've taken me out when you could because I'm going to pull as many people out of Hell as I can. My goal is to save others from Hell. I'm going to love people back to life. I'm going to use my testimony to show people that God is the best redemption on the planet.'

Just four years later, Jones-Pothier is a best-selling author and pastors the thriving Church of the Harvest in Fayetteville, Georgia, alongside her husband, Mark. With millions of social media followers, shes quickly become one of the most prolific voices in ministry today.

The greatest thing about losing everything is, you don't care after that, she said. You realize you can start all over again. You get so free because, when you hit rock bottom, you find out Who the rock is at the bottom, which is Jesus. As long as you got Jesus, you got everything. Its OK to lose everything because then you can get rebuilt the way God wanted you in the first place.

Jones-Pothier draws upon her experiences to encourage others to shut down negative self-talk and seek the peace of God in her new book, When Your Bad Meets His Good: Find Purpose in Your Pain (Charisma House, 2018). In it, she offers practical, step-by-step instructions on how to break free from the bondage of shame and guilt and live a life of freedom in Christ.

Weve got to spend time with God and be intentional about our relationship with Him, she said. Get your tail out of bed and get on your knees. Give God the first moments of your day. When you surrender to God, you experience growth.

So often, we call ourselves Christian, but we don't spend time in the Word, we don't spend time praying, she continued. And when your heart is not connected to God in that certain way, then we begin to judge others and ourselves. We begin to make people feel bad about where they've been and we have shame about our past.

At the end of each chapter, Jones-Pothier also includes prayers and declarations to help readers talk to God when they cant find the words.

God is a restorer, she emphasized. He has abundant blessings for you, exceedingly greater than you can imagine. All you have to do is be obedient. Youre going to be so thankful that He didn't save that relationship or that job, because He had better for you. He's so big like that. He's a good father.

With re-tweetable messages like God says: I am restoring you as if it never happened! and God is still writing your story ... Stop trying to steal the pen!! Jones-Pothier uses her social media accounts to share the Gospel with her followers.

Gods given me a platform, she said. Social media allows you to have your own Oprah Winfrey show, and you need to be intentional about utilizing it. You are winning souls that you could have never touched because you are being obedient and talking about Jesus and giving somebody hope.

Jones-Pothier said she hopes When Your Bad Meets His Goodempowers readers to replace negative self-talk with the kind of peace and purpose that only comes from God. If we simply surrender to Him and relinquish control, she said, He will take the bad and shift it for His good.

If God can do it for me and restore my life, then He can do it for you, she declared. God has a purpose and destiny for your life. I believe by the time you get down this book, man, you're going to feel like you can conquer any giant in your life. You can step out of the boat and fly. It's never too late for you to get started, ever.
Chris Pratt reveals he's on Daniel Fast to kick off the new year

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"Guardians of the Galaxy" star Chris Pratt says he's starting the new year by going on a 21-day fast.

The 39-year-old just returned from a vacation in Mexico with his girlfriend, Katherine Schwarzenegger, and took to social media on Wednesday to reveal that he's on the Daniel Fast.

Okay hi, Chris Pratt here, day three of the Daniel Fast, check it out, Pratt told his 22 million followers on Instagram. It's 21 days of prayer and fasting.

The sweat-drenched actor had just completed a workout and was feeling the effects of his protein restricted fast.

It's going to coincide also with the 'Lego Movie 2' junket. So by the time you see me, I'll probably be hallucinating ... stay tuned, Pratt quipped.

Pratt has been linked to Zoe Church in Los Angeles, California, which is pastored by Chad Veach. According to the church's website, Veach and his congregation are also on the Daniel Fast.

The Daniel Fast is popular among many protestant Christians in the U.S. It's named after the book of Daniel in the Bible. Daniel refused to eat food from a feast thrown by the non-Jewish King Nebuchadnezzar which included meat and wine, so he instead chose to stick to water and vegetables.

Under the guidelines listed by Zoe Church, member are eating vegetables along with whole grains, fruits, nuts, seeds and oil. Processed foods, bread, meats, caffeine and a few other things are to be avoided.

Pratt, who starred in "Avengers: Infinity War," frequently shares his faith with others. After his recent divorce from actress Anna Faris, he revealed that his pastor's books have been helping him keep his faith strong.

"I read books by my Pastor, Chad Veach, in Zoe Church LA," he said in a home video posted in December. "I find his book Faith Forward Future to be very helpful!"

TMZ first reported that Pratt was attending Veach's church after his very public split with his wife of eight years. The actor has taken his son, Jack, to the church at the Del Rey Theater in Los Angeles several times.
Ashley Judd reveals incredible moment her dog saved a man from committing suicide (exclusive)

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Hollywood actress Ashley Judd shared the incredible moment her dog saved a man from committing suicide, and why she believes God uses animals to demonstrate unconditional love, comfort and compassion to humans.

In an exclusive interview with The Christian Post, Judd revealed that several years ago, her support dog, Shug  who accompanied the actress on every movie set during her lifetime  traveled with her from the Czech Republic to New York. After landing in LaGuardia airport, Judd removed Shugs vest, and the cocker spaniel-poodle mix instantly sprinted across the crowded terminal, stopping to sit beside a man who was writing in a notebook.

I was like, Oh my gosh, what is going on? My dog never behaves this way, Judd recalled. So I went over to retrieve my dog, and he asked what her name was, and he said, Oh, shes cute, etc, etc, and we briefly chatted before I walked away.

While in a different part of the airport a short time later, Judd felt a shadow fall over her. She looked up and saw the man standing there. He asked: May I show you what I was writing?

I was writing my suicide note, he told her, when your dog came up and just there with me, just being present and reminding me of my value.

Despite going their separate ways, Judd and the man miraculously ended up on the flight, and the two ended up talking for hours. The next day, he went to treatment for his suicidality.

Today, hes in recovery and still sends me texts, updating me on his health, she shared. Shug was a remarkable dog. Its amazing how God works through dogs.

While Shug passed away at the age of 17, Judd said her dog taught her an important lesson: Sometimes, we dont need people to tell us how to feel, act or behave; we simply need someone to be present and love us unconditionally.

Dogs practice presence, she said. They love us exactly as we are. Sometimes, that's all we need; just sitting with someone and letting our empathy flow is the greatest helpfulness. Letting go of the need to control others and their emotional arc and offer advice is an act of self-restraint and compassion.

Dogs, she added, will rest their chin on your knee and look up at you with undisguised love and adoration. We never outgrow our need for that kind of love.

Judd stars in the film "A Dogs Way Home, based on the best-selling novel by W. Bruce Cameron. The film chronicles the heartwarming adventure of Bella, a dog who embarks on an epic 400-mile journey home after she is separated from her beloved human, Lucas, an aspiring med student and VA hospital volunteer.

On her quest to return home, Bella touches the lives of everyone she meets, from an orphaned mountain lion cub to a homeless veteran down on his luck. Judd plays Terri, a veteran affected by Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). She develops a special bond with Bella, discovering that the dog brings joy and comfort when she needs it most.

We all have really deep needs for connection, safety, and belonging, and this film speaks to that in a very personal and universal way, Judd said. I understand Bellas journey; my dogs were the loves of my life completely and utterly devoted to me as I was to them. When we're separated from those we love, whoever that may be, we'll do anything to be reconnected with them.

The Tennessee native, who has been open about her own battle with depression, said she hopes the film raises awareness about the prevalence of PTSD and the staggering suicide rates among war veterans.

Ive been around and experienced trauma; Im familiar with PTSD and the journey and struggles that so many vets have, she shared. So many veterans are emotionally shattered, and female vets who have higher rates of PTSD than their counterparts. Ive seen imaging, where their brains look like shattered glass, theyre so fractured. Twenty veterans a day are committing suicide, and there are still homeless veterans out there. One dead veteran is one too many.

Helping our vets remain gainfully employed and giving them safety networks is something I think is a righteous obligation of us, she continued.

Judd also told CP her morning meditation practice  which includes reading two devotional books and going through the prayer of St. Francis  helps her find healing and comfort amid the busyness and chaos of the world.

One of my favorite prayers is, God, please direct my thoughts and actions and speech, she said. Please give me intuitive thought, a nudge so I know how to handle any situation with grace and kindness.

So much of it is simply about breathing because when you inhale, you have to exhale, she added. Dogs understand that; theyre not ego-driven, ambitious teachers who have the next accomplishment on their minds. They simply want to love and breathe.

A tale of unconditional love and unwavering devotion, "A Dogs Way Home" isnt a soppy sentimental mess, Judd said, but a powerful story grounded in real life.

We have our given family  I like to say God has a sense of humor  but we also have the opportunity to create a chosen family who we love and adore and who create that necessary sense of safety and belonging, Judd said. Animals have a powerful role in our lives and we need to treat them with the dignity and respect that they treat us with.

"A Dogs Way Home," in theaters Friday, also stars Jonah Hauer-King, Alexandra Shipp, Wes Studi, Edward James Olmos and the voice of Bryce Dallas Howard. The film is directed by Charles Martin Smith and Bishop T.D. Jakes is an executive producer. It is rated PG for thematic elements, some peril and language.
Texas pastor: You can't receive grace if you hide your hurts, sins

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Pastor Matt Chandler is urging young people to run to Jesus with their wound, secret sins and addiction because that is the only way He meets people with grace.

And Jesus is not deterred by the theological walls people build around themselves in order to shield Him from addressing the root of their problems, he says.

Speaking at the Passion conference last week, Chandler, pastor of The Village Church near Dallas, spoke from the stage giving a meditation on John 4 where Jesus famously ministers to the Samaritan woman at the well. He highlighted the portion where Jesus asks about her husband. She replies that she has none and Jesus then declares that indeed she has had five previous husbands and that the man she is currently with is not her husband.

"You could call these five verses the wound and the worry," Chandler explained, noting that at first reading it seems as though Jesus is being cruel but it is actually an act of kindness, a demonstration of His love.

"The reality is, in a fallen world, wounds abound," he continued. "Not one of you is outside the scope of a broken, fallen world, which means many of us have these deep kind of soul wounds that most of the time we're not even aware of."

He recounted that when his son turned 13 that they had a sort of coming of age rite of passage party for him. A friend of his did something similar and took the opportunity to encourage his son about the great call of God on his life. While it was well-intentioned, the son found those words overwhelming and it crushed him so much so that he turned his back on God.

Chandler took a different approach with his own son.

"I got to look my son in the face and say: You're going to screw up bad. It's going to be embarrassing. You're going to feel deep, nauseous, shame,'" he recalled.

"You're going to blow it. Not you might. You're going to. You're going to want to hide. You're not going to want anybody to know. But I want you to know that we already know that it's going to happen. And you need to come and you need to let us know ... because you don't fight the devil in the dark."

"Jesus knew what He was buying on the cross; you're not surprising Him," he said, emphasizing the point that just as earthly fathers are not surprised when their children fail, neither is God the Father. And the way to experience God's grace and mercy is through our wounds, hurts and addictions.

"It's not through the strength," he stressed. "If there's nothing wrong, you don't need a doctor."

The scriptures do not detail the circumstances of the Samaritan woman's previous five husbands but they demonstrably show she is living in shame, he said.

"The great tragedy, God help us, is that we're spending a ton of energy trying to hide the very place that grace wants to break through," Chandler said, adding that people spend so much time and energy being self-protective about their wounds that when Jesus is beckoning they cannot handle it.

"[Jesus] is not asking for a better version of you," he exhorted the crowd.

Chandler recounted how the trajectory of his life was changed at a Passion conference in 1997, the first one to ever occur, where he encountered the Holy Spirit in a powerful way.

But most of the transformation one experiences in life is a slow process that happens over the course of many decades, he said.

"To be 99 percent known is to be unknown," he asserted.

If people spent energy hiding their one percent secret sin, addiction and brokenness, it will be impossible to receive love, grace from anyone, Chandler said.

"Because you will convince yourself that if they knew about this one percent they would not love you, that if they knew about this one percent they would not care for you. That if they knew about this one percent they would reject you."

Burying that one percent becomes acidic in the soul and robs victory in Christ, he went on to say.

When Jesus pointed out what was really going on in the life of the Samaritan woman, she replied that she perceived Jesus was a prophet and asked Him about worshiping in Jerusalem as opposed to worshiping on the mountain in Samaria where her ancestors worshiped.

"She's dodging the pursuit of her heart with a doctrinal question. She's using theology to protect herself from Jesus freeing her heart," Chandler explained.

While theology is important, he said, "it is not uncommon for people to self-protect with doctrine. You can find very smart, very deep, very angry Christians. And that doesn't make sense unless doctrine is being used to defend."

Christians today use theological squabbles to avoid getting at the root of their most pressing issues, he explained.

"But Jesus will not be dodged," he said.

He admitted that at age 44, he thought he would be freer and farther along in his life, done with certain struggles, but took heart that "grace is for the journey."

Young people need a revelation of God's character such that they know they can run to Him when they screw up rather than run from Him, he said.

Passion 2019 is the first year the conference was held in four different venues  two in Atlanta, Georgia, one in Dallas, Texas, and one in Washington, D.C.  simultaneously. The Passion Conference began Jan. 3 and concluded Friday.
Leviticus, Deuteronomy derail Christians in their attempt to read entire Bible, Liberty prof. says

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A theology professor has suggested that the first few books of the Bible, especially Leviticus and Deuteronomy, could be hindering Christians from reading the Bible cover to cover.

Chris Hulshof, who's an associate professor and department chair for Liberty Universitys School of Divinity, where he teaches Old Testament survey, inductive Bible study, and a theology of suffering and disability, made the point in a piece in Facts and Trends last week.

Hulshof noted that at the start of a new year, Christians often try to read through the Bible starting with Genesis, but it's difficult for them to get into Old Testament law when they reach Leviticus.

"The book of Numbers is a little more easy to read because of the large amount of narrative content, but then Deuteronomy becomes as difficult as Leviticus because Moses farewell addresses take up the majority of the book," he observed.

"It seems as if the opening books of the Bible derail many peoples attempts to read through Gods Word in a year."

Hulshof suggested that readers are making a mistake by reading the Old Testament as stories simply meant to teach how to do right and avoid doing wrong.

It also doesnt suffice to view Old Testament characters as merely examples to follow with life lessons to either reject or embrace. This type of reading fails to address humanitys greatest need, he warned.

Humans are radically corrupt because of the fall. Our sin problem goes much deeper than any outward, do it yourself remedy can fix, he added.

What we need most is a rescuer, not a role model. We need a substitute, not a better version of ourselves.

Echoing author Justin Buzzard and his The Big Story: How the Bible Makes Sense of Life, the professor said there are five major themes in the Bible, namely: God, Creation, rebellion, rescue, and home.

"For example, as you read through the book of Numbers, recognize youre reading a series of rebellion stories. These are the stories of a generation that chose to reject Gods promise of a homeland and consequently wandered in the wilderness until all those who were over 20 years old had died (barring Joshua and Caleb)," he said.

"The narratives of the flood, the parting of the Red Sea, and Gods repeated deliverance of Israel in the book of Judges are examples of numerous rescue stories recorded in the Old Testament," he wrote.

Hulshof emphasized that reading the Bible in a year is a "valuable endeavor," but one that poses challenges.

"When we view the biblical text through a proper lens, remember the five themes or acts of the Scriptures, and look for Gospel handles, well find theres much more in our daily reading than we ever expected to encounter," he concluded.

The late Billy Graham, one of the most famous evangelists in modern history, also gave his advice to a reader looking to read the Bible in a year in an advice column republished by the Bowling Green Daily News in 2017.

"Instead of starting at the beginning (as we do with other books), I suggest you start at the center," Graham said, pointing to one of the Gospels, such as the Book of John.

"He is the Bibles center; the Old Testament points forward to Him, and the New Testament tells us about Him. You can discover other parts of the Bible later," Graham advised.

Theologian John Piper meanwhile said last month that it's important to consider the process and not lose the substance when attempting to read the whole Bible in a year.

"Reading through the Bible in a year involves about four or five chapters a day. If you think you have to remember all you read while youre reading those four or five chapters, this will feel absolutely overwhelming and pointless," Piper warned.
Former Potters House pastor Chris Hill confirms New Years Eve arrest, opens up about horrible divorce

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Former senior pastor of The Potter's House Church of Denver Chris Hill, who resigned in 2017 over an alleged affair with a married parishioner, confirmed Tuesday that he was arrested on New Years Eve and jailed for just over a week in Atlanta in a harrowing experience he said left him feeling dehumanized.

First time Im in this situation and Im like, 'My God, youve got to get me out of this. Youve got to get me out of this.' But no.  they took me around the corner. They stuck me with a needle for tuberculosis because Im gonna be around people. And then they took me! Me! Hill, a protege of Bishop T.D. Jakes, said in a Facebook Live broadcast as he described how he was processed at the Clayton County Sheriffs Office.

They fitted me for an orange jumpsuit and forced me into a shower and checked me in ways that my God, no man should check another man. ... Im telling you, I felt totally, totally dehumanized. Totally, totally broke down. It wasnt so much that it was physical as it was spiritual and totally, just totally dehumanizing, the 50-year-old preacher said.

Ladies and gentlemen, yes, this really happened, Hill added. A lot of people thought it was a hoax because its completely out of character, completely out of the norm. Usually, I dont even put myself out there like that.

Hill first highlighted his unexpected arrest at the Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport in a social media post on Saturday which was quickly deleted. Authorities, he said, had alleged that he was a fugitive of justice but could not provide any further details as to why he was being arrested. The post was not deleted, however, before media personality Larry Reid of the "Larry Reid Live" show was able to get a screenshot and shared it with his audience.

I am not a flight risk nor fugitive nor have I ever been. I have my 15-year-old son and my 74-year-old mother who is sick with Alzheimers who I am responsible for. I was just on my way to do my missions work. I am asking for your support, prayers, and that you do anything in your power to contact both the city of Arlington Municipal Court and or the Clayton County sheriffs office in Atlanta, Georgia, to either give me a charge or release me. My friends, colleagues or anyone who cares about justice help me get out of jail. #freechrishill, Hill wrote in the post which came five days after being in jail.

A representative from the Clayton County Sheriffs Office confirmed with The Christian Post on Wednesday that Hill was booked on New Years Eve and released approximately one week later on Jan. 8. The representative could not, however, immediately reveal the circumstances behind the pastors arrest.

In his broadcast on Tuesday, Hill explained that he was on his way to a four-week, four-country mission trip in Africa when he was singled out by authorities.

I [had] flown from Denver to Atlanta, I was changing planes and boarding 1D, had my ticket, Im the second person on the plane, and boom, I turn the corner and there are these four brothers from customs and security that are standing there and they are standing there and asking the person in front of me his name, Hill said.

He explained that they later stopped him and asked him for identifying information then proceeded to detain him.

They tell me that there is a warrant for me in Texas. And they start walking me back, Hill said.

Hill, a father of two boys who divorced his former wife, Joy Turner Hill, approximately two years ago, said he has custody of his teenage son and declared that his arrest was not related to child support.

Now you have to understand. I didnt miss a court date. Im not late on my child support. I dont pay child support because I have the child. You have to understand, I am the child support. Im his sole support. His momma dont pay no child support. I take care of that child. He lives with me so, no, all the things, rumors, and crazy? Im not late on anything. It wasnt a charge. There wasnt a charge on me for five days while I was in lockup. Thats why #freechrishill, he said.

The Denver pastor explained that when he made the social media post on Saturday he was in a panic. He said when he was first arrested, he wasnt sure who to call at the time and the only thing he could think of was his office and his pastor. He never thought to reach out to most of his friends who are preachers or public speakers because he knew they would be preparing for New Years Eve services. He didnt call his children either because he didn't want them to worry.

The day after his arrest, he explained with strong emotion, he was taken to court in handcuffs like a slave.

And I have done no crime. I have no charge and no crime and done nothing wrong, done nothing but help people my whole life. And here I am like a slave in stocks hopping into court.

"They dont have anything on me. No charge. Then the court case is that fast  in a chain gang. I spent my whole life ministering to people in jail, my whole life helping people, feeding people and this is my situation. Ladies and gentlemen, I was praying to God. Court lasted for me about two minutes and then off we go and they are saying to me you have 72 hours, were gonna have to let you go because your bond is so low.

After 72 hours, Hill was still in jail because he said authorities told him that Texas officials were not going to spend money to transport him due to the nature of the charge. Georgia officials also could not release him, he said, because Texas has a hold.

Now Im in this legal limbo and you asked me why I #freeChrisHill? By the Saturday, I had been there for almost five days. And by the Saturday, I reached out to my staff and I said, 'Say something. Tell people Im here. At least they can be praying. Tell people Im here. At least they can cry out to God,' he said. In a moment of really panic. I dont know if youve ever been in a panic but I was in a panic that day. And Im sorry if I scared you.

To illustrate how afraid he was at the time, Hill shared details of his horrible divorce, which he went through almost two years ago and was able to remain quiet about it. The idea of losing his freedom, he said, forced him to speak up.

I went through a horrible divorce almost two years ago. I lost everything. I lost my home. I lost my vehicles. I lost the church that I built with my own sweat and blood with the help of the Holy Ghost. I lost it all. I never said a word. I never said a word, he said.

I have two sons. They love their mother. Im not trying to drag our business through the streets. Im not that person. Im really not that person. Ive never gone live on Facebook to talk about any of this. But when youve been locked in a cage, and when youve been locked up like an animal, there is something that says when I get out of here, Im gonna finally tell my truth, he continued.

He further explained that even though he only divorced two years ago, his marriage was over for at least 10 years but he fought to keep it together for the sake of his children, and alleged that his ex-wife threatened to destroy his ministry if he left her.

The reality [is] I divorced 10 years ago, he said.

She said if you leave me I will destroy your ministry. I will destroy something that you put 30 of your years in to build ... and so I stayed, he said.

He talked about how he rescued his niece from foster care and was raising her as his own but his ex-wife chose to send her back while he was overseas on business.

This was not something that just happened. Oh my God! he said of his marriage. I held on for 10 years living with somebody that put my blood back [in foster care] and I couldnt get her out of the system. She aged out of the system because I trusted her with someone who I cared about, he said.

Hills marriage and his ministry began unraveling in early 2017 when his then-wife of more than 20 years alleged in a mass text message to church members that she was able to verify that her husband had been carrying on an affair with their young goddaughter, Shirnae McFarlane, who married Arthur McFarlane III on Sept. 26, 2014.

Three months later, Hill resigned as senior pastor of The Potter's House Church of Denver that year. Following counseling and a public show of repentance, Bishop T. D. Jakes said he had been restored to ministry with the laying on of hands.

"God said that if we confess our sins, that He is faithful and just to cleanse us from ... all unrighteousness. I just believe that this is what the grace of God is for," Jakes said in a clip of Hills restoration.
Controversial Baptist pastor Donnie Romero resigns due to adultery, says Ive been a terrible husband and father

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Donnie Romero, an adherent of the New Independent Fundamentalist Baptist Movement and controversial founder of Stedfast Baptist Church in Fort Worth, Texas, resigned due to sex with prostitutes, gambling and marijuana use.

I just want to let you guys know that Im stepping down as the pastor of Stedfast Baptist Church, Romero revealed to his church as his voice quivered in a video posted by the church on YouTube on Jan. 2.

I havent been ruling my house well. Ive been a terrible husband and father. Im the one at fault in this situation. My wife and my kids they are not to blame. I love Stedfast Baptist Church, love my family. This is the best decision for my family and this church to make, he said as a baby cooed in the background and his congregation listened in silence.

Im very sorry for the hurt this may cause people, the discouragement. Im so sorry. I love you guys. I wish I didnt have to get to this point, Romero added before walking off the stage.

Pastor Steven L. Anderson of Faithful Word Baptist Church in Tempe, Arizona, who ordained Romero before he went off to start his church and helped walk the congregation through Romeros resignation, said the preacher had disqualified himself from being a pastor because of his sins.

While he did not immediately reveal what Romeros sins were in the Jan. 2 video and discouraged the congregation from asking about details, he later revealed the sins in a follow-up video posted to YouTube.

When youre in a public position of trust like being a pastor and you commit major sins then it just isnt right to sweep it under the rug. And so these things have to be confronted head-on. Having integrity is important, he said. Basically the major sin involved was being with prostitutes. And then there were also marijuana and gambling also discovered.

Romero gained national attention for praising the murder of 49 people at Pulse, a gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida, in 2016. He also became a lightning rod for criticism by LGBT advocates such as the Southern Poverty Law Center.

In a video he posted after the attack at the Pulse night club, he said: These 50 sodomites were all perverts and pedophiles and they are the scum of the earth and the earth is a little better place now.

The Rev. Chuck Currie, a progressive Christian and director for the Center for Peace and Spirituality at Pacific University Oregon, condemned Romeros views in a post on Twitter.

There is nothing authentically Christian about hate. Stedfast Baptist Church is not a church; it is a hate group. Nothing they say or do would be recognizable by Jesus, the Prince of Peace. End of story, he wrote.

Romeros church, which was founded in 2014, describes itself as "old-fashioned, has traditional music, and is King James Bible only!"

The church adds, "The new evangelical movement in America has been a complete disaster. The worldly, rock and roll, contemporary-style churches are not getting the job done when it comes to preaching the Gospel to every creature, teaching Bible doctrine, and preaching hard against sin. We do not pattern our church after these trendy social clubs. Stedfast Baptist Church stands for the old paths and zero compromise preaching.

It is part of the New Independent Baptist Movement, which is not a denomination. Churches associated with it are independent "and each Pastor submits himself to the word of God and the Lord Jesus Christ ... Each Pastor may see things somewhat differently than the other Pastors, resulting in differing beliefs on various minor issues, the movement explains on its website.

They all agree, however, on doctrinal tenets such as hard preaching, anti-dispensationalism and anti-worldliness, which includes opposition to lifestyles such as fornication, adultery and homosexuality.

In a 2016 sermon in which he preached against sin, Romero revealed that his family was so against being influenced by the world, they did not even own a television.

Pastor Jonathan Shelley was ordained on Jan. 6 to replace Romero.
German arms exports to Saudi Arabia and Turkey rose last year, eclipsing sales in 2017, despite public criticism. The trend follows a question in parliament submitted by the opposition Left party. As Deutsche Welle writes in the article Surge in German arms sales to Saudi Arabia and Turkey, Germany's Economic Affairs Ministry disclosed Thursday that German firms sent 160 million ($184 million) worth of arms to Saudi Arabia between January and October last year.

That was up 50 million on the whole of 2017. Berlin only decided on a full stop in November, prompted by the Saudi murder of the journalist Jamal Khashoggi, amid restrictions already applying over Riyadh's role in war-torn Yemen. Riyadh leads a nine-country coalition backing a Yemeni government opposed by Iran-backed Houthi rebels, who last month reached a fragile ceasefire arrangement under UN mediation.

German weapons exports to Turkey  mostly naval items  more than tripled to 202 million in the same timeframe, up on 62 million in 2017, the ministry said in its reply to parliament.

Left party federal lawmaker Sevim Dagdelen, who had submitted the parliamentary question, accused Germany's armaments industry of making "strong profits with the criminal war in Yemen as well as the aggressive foreign policy of Erdogan," a reference to Turkey's president. Dagdelen told German ZDF public television that the coalition government of Chancellor Angela Merkel must "do everything" to hinder further such exports to Riyadh and Ankara and end what she termed its "shabby" arms policy.

Last month, Merkel promised to bring forward to mid-2019 a sharpening of Germany's military export guidelines  in effect since 2000. A German stop to arms sales to any nation involved in Yemen's conflict was agreed in March last year as a condition for Germany's center-left Social Democrats entering another coalition with Merkel's conservative bloc. A loophole, however, allowed fulfillment of already-approved sales as German exporters threatened to press Berlin for monetary compensation.

The 2000 directive, known as "Political Guidelines of the Federal Government for the Export of Military Weapons and Other Armament Products" states that sales should not proceed when sufficient suspicion exists that they can be used for internal repression and systematic human rights violations in the import country. Paragraph 6 of Germany's Military Armaments Control Law [Kriegswaffenkonttrolgesetz] foresees cancellation of export approval when the danger exists that military weapons can be used during a peace-destabilization act, especially a war of aggression. Oversight is supposed to be exercised by the German Foreign Office in consultation with Germany's Defense Ministry.

At the forefront of opposition to German arms sales are Germany's Protestant and Catholic churches, who in December presented a major study. t highlighted a trend in which "armaments firms shifted the end production of weapons systems to places where they expected the least resistance to controversial exports" and called for an internationalization of controls. In a New Year's message, Protestant EKD church chairman Heinrich Bedford-Strohm said peace could only emerge "when the spiral of violence was broken."
Democratic Rep. Tulsi Gabbard of Hawaii has announced that she is running for president in 2020.

Gabbard said in a CNN interview slated to air Saturday night that she will be formally announcing her candidacy within the next week.

The 37-year-old Iraq War veteran is the first Hindu elected to Congress and the first member born in the U.S. territory of American Samoa. She has visited early primary and caucus states New Hampshire and Iowa in recent months and has written a memoir that's due to be published in May.

Representative Tulsi Gabbard (D-HI) delivers a nomination speech for Senator Bernie Sanders on the second day at the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. July 26, 2016. [Photo: VCG]

Gabbard is joining what is expected to be a crowded Democratic field. Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts has already formed an exploratory committee and is moving quickly with trips across early primary states. California Sen. Kamala Harris, New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker and Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders are all weighing their own presidential bids and are expected to announce decisions in the upcoming weeks. Former Obama administration housing chief Julian Castro plans to announce his run for the presidency on Saturday.

Gabbard's run would not be without controversy. In 2016, she alarmed fellow Democrats when she met with Donald Trump during his transition to president and later when she took a secret trip to Syria and met with President Bashar Assad, who has been accused of war crimes and genocide. She questioned whether he was responsible for a chemical attack on civilians that killed dozens and led the U.S. to attack a Syrian air base.

She said she doesn't regret the trip and considers it important to meet with adversaries if "you are serious about pursuing peace." She also noted that the 2003 invasion of Iraq was based on faulty intelligence and said that she wanted to understand the evidence of the Syria attack.

Gabbard was one of the most prominent lawmakers to back Sanders over Hillary Clinton in the 2016 Democratic presidential primary. Her endorsement came in dramatic fashion, with her resigning as a vice chairwoman of the Democratic National Committee to express her support.

Asked last year whether she would still consider running if Sanders ran, Gabbard said Sanders is a friend and she didn't know what his plans were.

"I'm thinking through how I can best be of service and I'll make my decision based on that," she said.
ILWACO  Does your Ilwaco home have lead levels higher than what the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency considers safe? Maybe.
Editors note: Periodically, the Cheney Free Press is contacted by students at Eastern Washington University seeking to have papers they have written published as part of their coursework requirements. We are happy to accommodate these requests in the interest of hopefully encouraging and creating public discussion.

In the United States, most residents are covered under private health insurance about 67.2 percent. Employer-based health insurance continues to be the most prevalent with 56 percent receiving coverage through work. 19.3 percent of the population was covered by Medicaid and 17.2 percent was covered by Medicare in 2017. Healthcare coverage in the United States is not universal, 91.2 percent of the population was covered for all or part of 2017 under a health insurance plan.

In Sweden and Norway residents have universal coverage. The majority of the residents in both countries are covered by the public health insurance available through the government. There is also limited private medical insurance available for the residents to purchase if they choose to. Currently about 1 in 12 residents in Sweden has opted for private health insurance coverage.

The United States spent 17.8 percent of its GDP on health care in 2016, compared to Norway which spent 9.7 percent and Sweden, 11 percent.

Though Sweden and Norway both have universal coverage available to its residents, healthcare is not free. Residents pay copays for office visits and hospital stay, but there is a spending cap per year. In Norway, the annual limit of expenditure is 2,000 Norwegian krone, roughly $220.61 in U.S. currency. Swedish residents have an annual limit of 1,100 Swedish krona, roughly $120.99. Once these caps are met in a 12-month period, both countries cover health expenses at 100 percent.

Healthcare in the United States is expensive, with the out-of-pocket maximum limit reaching up to $7,150 for an individual and $14,700 for a family in 2017. These amounts do not include the monthly premiums each individual is responsible for paying.

If an individual is covered under Medicaid, then they do not have any out-of-pocket expenses for covered medical services. Medicare Part A has a deductible of $1,340 per year, and Medicare Part B has an annual deductible of $183. Without a Medicare Supplement or Medicare Advantage plan, Medicare beneficiaries do not have an out-of-pocket maximum, so they could end up paying a lot more for their medical expenses.

The health systems in Norway and Sweden are largely funded by taxes. The majority of the hospitals in Norway and Sweden are owned and operated by the government. In the United States, about 21 percent of the hospitals are federal or state government hospitals. Most physicians work for the public health systems in Sweden and Norway, whereas in the United States, the majority of physicians work for private organizations.

Both Norway and Sweden have a decentralized health care system. The goal of both countries is to move the healthcare away from the central government. They transfer authority to the local governments; however, the federal government does have overall managerial authority. Sweden has local municipalities which are responsible for deciding what is covered under the public health system. The biggest issue Swedish and Norwegian residents face when it comes to health care is receiving care in a timely manner. Sweden passed a law in 2005 which guarantees its residents receive health care when they need it. Swedish residents are guaranteed a primary doctors visit within 7 days and a specialist or operation within 90 days of seeking treatment. Norway is also improving at reducing their wait times, with the average sitting at 60 days to start treatment.

Norway and Sweden have a better overall health system than the United States though it is not perfect in either country. The greatest difference in the health care systems of the United States versus Norway and Sweden is the cost for the residents. The out of pocket spending for healthcare is much lower in Norway and Sweden than it is in the United States. Both countries also offer universal healthcare coverage, whereas in the United States there is still a high number of uninsured residents  about 12.2 percent in 2017.

Raman Kaur is a student at Eastern Washington University studying for his masters in public health.
Editors note: Periodically, the Cheney Free Press is contacted by students at Eastern Washington University seeking to have papers they have written published as part of their coursework requirements. We are happy to accommodate these requests in the interest of hopefully encouraging and creating public discussion.

Healthcare systems are the organizations of people, institutions and resources that provide health care to individuals all over the world. It is important to individuals that they have good quality healthcare that they can afford. We often hear that healthcare costs in the United States are skyrocketing and we should use examples of other countrys healthcare systems to improve the delivery of our healthcare. The purpose of this article is to see exactly how the United States healthcare systems compares to other countries. The Netherlands and Canada are two countries that are very different from United States in terms of their healthcare, but also have some similarities.

Countries throughout the world are moving towards universal healthcare coverage for its citizens. The World Health Organization (WHO) defines universal healthcare coverage as the means that all people and communities can use the promotive, preventive, curative, rehabilitative and palliative health services they need, of sufficient quality to be effective, while also ensuring that the use of these services does not expose the user to financial hardship. This definition of universal health coverage embodies three related objectives:

Equity in access to health services  everyone who needs services should get them, not only those who can pay for them;

The quality of health services should be good enough to improve the health of those receiving services. People should be protected against financial-risk, ensuring that the cost of using services does not put people at risk of financial harm.

The United States, Netherlands and Canada all have universal healthcare coverage in some form for their citizens. While the United States passed the Affordable Care Act (ACA) or otherwise known as Obamacare in 2010 to extend coverage to millions of uninsured Americans, 28.9 million Americans under 65 are still uninsured according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Canada spends far less of its GDP on health care  10.4 percent, versus 16 percent in the United States. Canada also has a similar legislation as the U.S, known as the Canada Health Act (CHA). In Canada, physicians are private providers that see patients and charge their insurance plans, similar to the United States. The difference is that the U.S. has a mix of public and private insurance, whereas Canada has a single-payer system which means all their healthcare is paid through public insurance.

As opposed to the United States and Canada, the Netherlands has private health insurance that is regulated by the federal government. The government provides large subsidies to insurers for individuals who are elderly, sick or have pre-existing conditions.

People under 18 are insured at no cost, whereas in the United States, children can be covered under their parents insurance until they turn 26. Compared to Canada and the U.S., the Netherlands also spends less on health care than the United States. The GDP that the Netherlands spends on their healthcare is similar to Canadas  11.5 percent. As we can see, healthcare in the United States costs so much more than that of other countries. It is no surprise that Americans are not in favor of their own health care system like Canadians are with theirs. Healthcare costs and spending in the United States are skyrocketing and when comparing the United States system to that of other countries such as Canada and the Netherlands, the United States should be using these countries as models to improve the delivery of their healthcare.

Edona Tahiraj is a student at Eastern Washington University studying for her masters in public health.
Its no secret that Meghan Markle has a close relationship with her mother, Doria Ragland. But with the Duchess of Sussex living across the pond, the mother-daughter duo doesnt get to see each other as often as theyd like. However, with a new royal baby on the way, they could change that. Is Meghan Markles mother moving to the United Kingdom?

Up ahead, we get to the bottom of it, plus share insight into where she currently resides and her relationship with the Duchess of Sussex.

Where does Doria Ragland live?

Currently, Doria Ragland lives in Los Angeles, California, where Meghan Markle was born and raised. According to Telegraph, she lives in a house she inherited from her father in 2011. Her neighborhood, View Park-Windsor Hills, is located between Culver City and Inglewood, just east of Los Angeles International Airport.

Is Meghan Markles mother moving to the U.K.?

Since the royal wedding, many have speculated that Doria Ragland will move across the pond to be closer to her daughter and son-in-law. However, the royal family has yet to confirm. That said, with a new home  and lots of guest space  and baby on the way, we wouldnt be surprised if Meghan Markles mother joins the duke and duchess often (if not, permanently).

According to The Daily Mail, the idea of Doria Ragland moving to the United Kingdom has been brought up between the mother and daughter. And, Doria is allegedly beside herself with excitement, regarding the thought. The publication also reports that Doria left her job as a social worker in May 2018  right around the royal wedding. Doria worked for the Didi Hirsch Mental Health Services clinic in Culver City, not too far from her Los Angeles home.

Meghan Markle and Doria Raglands relationship

Meghan Markle and her mother have a very close bond. Heres a closer look at their relationship, including what the royal family thinks of Doria Ragland.

They are inseparable

Its quite obvious that Meghan Markle and Doria Raglands relationship is tightknit. The two are allegedly inseparable, a neighbor told The Daily Mail.

Doria has the sweetest nickname for Meghan

The royal family might not allow nicknames in public, but that doesnt mean they dont have them! Meghan Markles is by far the sweetest. Her mother calls her flower!

They practice yoga together

Doria Ragland introduced her daughter to yoga at a young age. The duchess recalls taking mommy and me classes when she was around seven. And, although she didnt get serious about her practice until her college years, she thanks her yoga teacher mother for raising her with the practice.

Doria was the only member of Meghans family present at the royal wedding

After Meghan Markles father backed out of walking her down the aisle, Doria Ragland ended up being Meghan Markles only family member present at the royal wedding.

They attend royal engagements together

Its fairly uncommon to invite a royal-in-law an engagement  especially when its not family related. But, Meghan Markle broke protocol and brought her mother with her to an appearance on behalf of her cookbook, Together. During the event, they cooked chapatis, aubergine masala, and coconut chicken curry together (and, of course, stole everyones hearts).

That wasnt the first time Doria accompanied her daughter to a work event. The former actress used to bring her along to various events and has also invited her to the Invictus Games.

The royal family loves Doria

Much like Meghan Markle, the royal family welcomed Doria in with open arms. Ahead of the royal wedding, Doria sat down for tea with Queen Elizabeth and Prince Charles walked arm and arm with her out of the chapel following their childrens nuptials in May 2018.

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Marrying into the royal family  especially as a commoner  is no easy feat. But, Meghan Markle is seemingly adjusting to her new life as a duchess with grace. Perhaps its because her mother, aka her biggest support system, has been there to support her through it all. What is Meghan Markle and Doria Raglands relationship like? We find out, ahead.

Meghan Markle and Doria Raglands relationship

With all of her family drama, its no secret that Meghan Markles mother, Doria Ragland is one of the only family members she can trust. Heres a closer look at Meghan Markle and Doria Raglands relationship.

They have a close relationship

Doria Ragland might not be in the spotlight but, behind the scenes, she is cheering her newly royal daughter on. According to reports, the duchess and her mother are inseparable and remain that way even though they live in different countries.

They practice yoga together

Meghan Markles mother is a yoga instructor and the one that introduced the practice to the duchess. Her Highness remembers taking mommy and me yoga classes when she was around the age of seven. However, she didnt get serious about her practice until her college years.

Doria calls Meghan Flower

In the royal family, nicknames are forbidden in public. But, behind closed doors, Meghan answers to the name of Flower, a nickname her mother gave her.

Doria was Meghans only family member at her royal wedding

Meghan Markles uncooperative family made headlines right to her royal wedding back in May 2018. And, after her father backed out of walking her down the aisle last minute, Doria Ragland became the only person from Meghans family in attendance.

Prince Charles stepped up to the plate for both mother and daughter, offering to walk Meghan down the aisle and escorting Doria out of the chapel once the nuptials were over.

They have attended royal engagements together

As far as engagements are concerned, the job is strictly for that of a royal. However, Meghan broke protocol when inviting her mother to an event on behalf of her cookbook project, Together: Our Community Cookbook. Doria joined her daughter in London for the event and offered a hand at cooking several dishes, including chapatis, aubergine masala, and coconut chicken curry together.

When Meghan was an actress, she brought her mother to several work-related events. In addition, she invited her to the Invictus Games when she and Prince Harry were still dating.

They might be neighbors soon

Doria Ragland could soon be Meghan Markles neighbor. The royal-in-law might have plans to move to the United Kingdom ahead of her granddaughter or grandsons birth  and couldnt be more thrilled. The Daily Mail reports that the idea has been brought up between the mother and daughter and Doria is beside herself with excitement over it. She even quit her job as a social worker sometime last spring.

Meghan might ask her mother to nanny for her

If Doria Ragland moves to the United Kingdom, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle could ask her to be their babys nanny. Kate Middletons mother reportedly helps out with the kids, so the thought has surely crossed the duke and duchesss mind. Doria has even started to take classes on CPR, newborn care, and other nannying-related courses in preparation.

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Recent reports of Prince William and Prince Harrys alleged feud offers unique insight into what life behind palace gates must really be like. And, as it turns out, Prince Charless sons arent the only royal brothers with issues, which begs the question: Does the royal family like each other? We get to the bottom of it, ahead.

Family feuds

A lot of pressure comes with life as a royal  but pressure doesnt get in the way of the familys relationship with each other. Many of their issues stem from jealousy, money, and fear of being pushed out due to royal succession. After all, working with your family can be stressful  so much so that some choose to move away from their siblings and the limelight. But, do certain members of the royal family actually hate each other? Below, take a closer look at some of the biggest royal feuds, plus how the royal family really feels about each other.

Prince William and Prince Harry

We never thought wed see the day when Prince William and Prince Harry feud. But, the once thick-as-thieves brothers have recently experienced some growing pains in their relationship. Apparently, it all stems from Prince Harry not wanting to like in the shadows of the future king. The rumors are most-likely fabricated, but Prince Harry is allegedly requesting a split between Kensington Palace (House Cambridge and House Sussex) so that he and Meghan Markle can carry out their own royal duties separate from his brother and sister-in-law.

On the heels of their alleged argument, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle decided to ditch their original plans of moving to the main living quarters of Kensington Palace (where Prince Wiliam and Kate Middleton live) and will instead move to the countryside to raise their baby. The timing is horrible, as many believe it has to do with wanting to get away from the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. But, the real reason Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are moving is to keep their child away from the limelight.

Kate Middleton and Meghan Markle

With the rumors of Prince William and Prince Harry running wild, Kate Middleton and Meghan Markle always have a rumored tiff. But, as it turns out, their alleged hatred for each other is nonexistent and any issues between the two women are because of their husbands. Meghan Markle and Kate Middletons relationship is friendly, as they have made an effort to get along.

Prince Charles and Prince Andrew

Buckle up because Prince Charles and Prince Andrews relationship (and on-going feud) is a roller coaster. At its core, Prince Charles and Prince Andrews on-going disagreements seem to stem from jealousy on Andrews part. The Duke of York is allegedly envious of his brothers destiny and financial stability. He also worries that his immediate family (himself, Princess Eugenie, and Princess Beatrice) could end up pushed out of royal life once Prince Charles becomes king.

Camilla Parker Bowles and Queen Elizabeth

Queen Elizabeth and Camilla Parker Bowles have had their fair share of differences  and name calling. After Prince Charles and Camilla Parker Bowles affair shook up the royal family, the queen banned her from Buckingham Palace. On top of that, she once had a little too much to drink and called Camilla a wicked woman. Most recently, rumors surfaced around a potential plot to get Queen Elizabeth to step down ahead of Prince Charless 70th birthday. Obviously, it didnt work out though, as she is still the monarch and Prince Charless birthday was in November.

Despite their quarrels, Queen Elizabeth and Camilla Park Bowles try to get along for the sake of their family and The Crown.

Does the royal family like each other?

For the most part, members of the royal family like each other. But, like most families, they have their differences  some of which end up in the press. They all have immense respect for the queen and show it in the duties to The Crown. On top of that, they put their differences aside and are always there for big life moments like royal weddings, christenings, and welcoming new royal babies.

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Gloria Chien, founder and director of String Theory at the Hunter, along with her husband Soovin Kim, have been named artistic directors of Chamber Music Northwest to succeed current Artistic Director David Shifrin. A husband and wife team, both are internationally-renowned performers  Ms. Chien a pianist and Mr. Kim a violinist  and experienced music presenters.Soovin and I are honored to have been chosen to succeed David Shifrin in his extraordinary 40-year tenure as the artistic director of the Chamber Music Northwest Festival, said Ms.Chien. We look forward to continuing his legacy as well as bringing our own vision to the festival.Ms. Chien said she formed Sting Theory in 2009 at the Hunter Museum of American Art in downtown Chattanooga to expose new audiences to chamber music, invigorate the local classical music scene and cultivate a future generation of music lovers.I am sure a big part of why we were chosen to be the next directors of CMNW is because of the reputation String Theory has built over the last 10 years, said Ms. Chien.Ms. Chien and Mr. Kim are co-artistic directors of the Lake Champlain Chamber Music Festival, founded by Mr. Kim in 2008. In addition to her leadership of String Theory, Ms. Chien has been director of the Chamber Music Institute of the Music@Menlo Festival since 2010. She also serves as an artist-in-residence at the Lee University School of Music in Cleveland and is a Steinway Artist.From a field of exceptional musicians and artistic leaders, we are confident weve made the best choice for Chamber Music Northwests next chapter, said CMNW Executive Director Peter Bilotta. We are thrilled to have Gloria and Soovin on our team.Ms. Chien made her orchestral solo debut at the age of 16 with the Boston Symphony Orchestra. She regularly performs in the United States at venues such as Alice Tully Hall, Jordan Hall, the Library of Congress and the Phillips Collection. She has also performed abroad at the Dresden Chamber Music Festival, Seoul Arts Center and the National Concert Hall in Taiwan.The New York Times noted her piano playing as containing elegant ripples and shadings, and the Boston Globe selected her as one of its Superior Pianists of the year, who appears to excel in everythingher performance had it all, and it was fabulous. She is a prizewinner of the World Piano Competition, Harvard Musical Association Award and the San Antonio International Piano Competition, where she also received the prize for the Best Performance of the Commissioned Work.I thank my String Theory board and patrons for all their support over the years, said Ms. Chien. This new appointment will not only give String Theory a broader reach musically, but also more exposure to audiences around the country. I hope many of our String Theory patrons make Portland a summer destination so we can introduce Chattanooga to many people as well.Mr. Kim enjoys one of the broadest musical careers as a recitalist, concerto soloist, chamber musician, presenter and educator. His international concert career was launched after winning first prize at the Paganini International Competition when he was 20 years old. He subsequently was the recipient of such distinguished prizes as the Henryk Szeryng Career Award, the Avery Fisher Grant and the Borletti-Buitoni Trust Award.He dedicates much of his time to his passion for teaching. He has been on the faculties of Stony Brook University and the Peabody Insititute, and now he teaches exclusively at the New England Conservatory in Boston.Ms. Chien and Mr. Kim will perform under Shifrins artistic leadership at CMNWs 2019 and 2020 Summer Festivals and then succeed him as artistic directors in the fall of 2020. In the interim, they will begin their own artistic planning for their first Chamber Music Northwest Summer Festival in 2021.I have worked with both Gloria and Soovin on many occasions, said Shifrin. I am confident they will bring the greatest music and finest musicians to Portland for years to come."Now in its 49th season, Chamber Music Northwest serves thousands of people in Oregon and SW Washington with exceptional chamber music through over 100 events annually, including its flagship five-week Summer Festival, concerts in alternative venues, outreach activities, educational programs, broadcasts, and innovative collaborations with other arts groups," officials said. "CMNW is the only chamber music festival of its kind in the northwest and one of the most diverse classical music experiences in the nation, virtually unparalleled in comparable communities."
The 111th session of the Tennessee General Assembly completed its organizational meeting on Thursday, with the appointment of committees. District 22 State Rep. Dan Howell was selected to serve as chairman of the House Transportation Committee.

The House and Senate Transportation Committees work closely with the Tennessee Department of Transportation which is a multimodal agency with statewide responsibilities in roadways, aviation, public transit, waterways, and railroads.



In making the appointment, Speaker of the House Glen Casada said, Rep. Howell is going to make a terrific chairman for the House Transportation Committee. Our infrastructure is one of our most vital assets and theres no one I trust more to oversee it than him.

Speaker Casada noted that TDOTs mission is to provide a safe and reliable transportation system for people, goods, and services that supports economic prosperity in Tennessee. Dan and his committee will be a great partner in fulfilling that mission.



I am grateful for Speaker Casadas confidence in me and humbled to be selected to chair the House Transportation Committee Rep. Howell said. I have a great team to work with and we will pursue good policy to assist TDOT in being as productive and efficient as possible.

Chairman Howell noted that the Tennessee Legislature has invested a lot of money in the states expanding infrastructure since 2009. He said, However these investments will not stop our existing infrastructure from aging. There is an on-going need for repairs and modernization to keep up with the states dramatic population growth. In recent years Tennessee has come to be known as one of the best places to do business; one of the best places to vacation or retire or raise a family. As chairman I want Tennessee to be known as the state with the best infrastructure. I look forward to the challenge.
Italy's deputy leader has pledged to meet with leaders of the yellow vest movement in France despite being warned to stay out of French affairs. As Daily Express writes, Luigi Di Maio said he hoped the talks would pave the way to involving the anti-establishment protestors in his vision for a populist wave in the upcoming European Parliament elections. The deputy prime minister, who serves alongside Matteo Salvini, has praised the gilets jaunes, as they are known in France, for taking to the streets and demanding change. Their praise has been met with fury from the French government, with Nathalie Loiseau, Frances minister for European affairs, suggesting the pair focus on solving Italys problems first.

But despite the scolding, Mr Di Maio today said he would meet with yellow vest leader Eric Drouet, Rome-based newspaper Il Messaggero reports. He insisted he was not dealing with any of the groups involved in violent protests which have prompted weeks of unrest on the streets of French cities.

Speaking to Italian broadcaster Rai Radio 1, he said: I am creating an alternative European parliamentary group to the right and the left and I am involving all those movements that believe in direct democracy. Im not talking to the violent groups though. In the coming days I will meet various leaders of the yellow vests and Drouet is said to be available.

The meeting will add to fuel the worsening row between Italy and France as the two governments continue to argue over issues including immigration and the future of the European Union. And Mr Di Maio, who heads up Italys anti-establishment Five Star Movement, this week again attacked Emmanuel Macron for his remarks on the populist coalition in Rome.

Speaking shortly after the new Italian government took power, Mr Macron likened populist Eurosceptic movements to a disease which should be resisted by moderates. He did not refer to Italy by name, but did say populism had spread to neighbouring countries where we thought that it would be impossible to see them again.

Mr Di Maios announcement that he will attempt to recruit the yellow vests to his new populist movement comes after Matteo Salvini expressed hope that Poland and Italy to work together on a new Europe. Speaking yesterday, he said: Poland and Italy will be part of the new spring of Europe, the renaissance of European values. The Europe that will come to form in June (after May's European Parliament elections) will lead us all than the one that exists today and is run by bureaucrats."
Mark Kimball, CEO of Erlanger Western Carolina Hospital, makes the announcement of the new hospital name at the Tri-County Community College

Officials with Erlanger Murphy Medical Center announced on Friday that the hospital is changing its name to Erlanger Western Carolina Hospital.

In an unveiling ceremony Friday morning, hospital CEO Mark Kimball told a crowd of elected officials, area residents and civic leaders that, Our new name, Erlanger Western Carolina Hospital, more clearly reflects our broadening reach as well as our proud affiliation with the Erlanger Health System.

In explaining the reason for renaming the 40-year-old health care facility Mr. Kimball said, Although our hospital is based in Murphy, over the years it has not only grown in size and scope, but we now provide medical services in surrounding areas like Andrews and Hayesville. The Erlanger CEO also said the new name was the result of a strategic planning process and because employees, physicians and members of the community felt strongly the current name was too narrow-focused. Everyone wanted a name that more accurately reflected our region and the various communities we serve.

During his announcement, Mr. Kimball praised the hospitals affiliation with the Erlanger Health System that was finalized last April. By joining the Erlanger family of hospitals, we have gained the expertise, knowledge and resources that come with partnering with a nationally acclaimed health system, he said. Today we are anchored by a leading academic medical center with seven hospitals, six Life Force air ambulances and the 10th largest public health care system in the United States.

On Thursday, employees of the newly-named hospital were given T-shirts with the new Erlanger Western Carolina Hospital logo during a special celebration event and on Friday employees gathered in front of the first sign bearing their hospitals new name. Joining Mr. Kimball during Fridays announcement at the Tri-County Community College were hospital Chief of Staff Dr. Thomas Clayton, Cherokee County Commissioner C.B. McKinnon and Barbara Hughes with the Murphy City Council.
Lee Universitys Alan Wyatt, saxophone, will perform Moje Polskie Serce (My Polish Heart) on Monday, Jan. 14, at 7:30 p.m. in the Dixon Center.

Moje Polskie Serce is a musical odyssey produced by Mr. Wyatt about his recent connectedness with the country of Poland. Aside from original works and orchestrations inspired by his travels there, the program will feature a presentation to shed light on his emerging fascination with Poland. He has served as an artist-in-residence for the jazz department of the Karol Szymanowski Academy of Music in Katowice, Poland.



Mr.

Wyatt, associate professor of music, began teaching at Lee as an adjunct in 1990, and after finishing his graduate studies in jazz, he became a full-time instructor in 1996. He has shared the stage with several artists, including Frank Sinatra Jr., The Temptations, The Four Tops, Doc Severinsen, and Clay Aiken, among others.

Mr. Wyatt teaches courses in music business and serves as the areas coordinator for the Department of Musicianship Studies in Lees School of Music. He also serves as director for Lees Jazz Ensemble. He received both his masters and bachelors degrees from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville.



The recital is free and open to the public, but seating is limited.



For more information, contact Lees School of Music at 423 614-8240.


The partial shutdown of the United States government currently impacts more than 25,000 Tennesseans. Many of these furloughed federal workers are not on the job, while others continue to work without pay.



The Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development (TDLWD) manages the federally funded unemployment insurance program. The state received its appropriation for the program before the government shutdown and unemployed Tennesseans continue to receive benefits.



Depending on the length of the shutdown, many Tennesseans who work for the federal government may qualify to collect unemployment benefits.



The United States Department of Labor (USDOL) has strict requirements claimants must meet to receive benefits, one of which is an unemployed person must be willing and able to work. A furloughed federal worker meets this requirement because they are free to work.



Federal workers required to remain on the job without pay are not eligible for unemployment benefits because they are not able to work.



If the state approves an application for benefits, unemployment claimants must certify online each week they are available to work. The state also requires they conduct online job searches in order to receive benefits.

It is important to keep in mind, the first week a person files for benefits is considered their waiting week and the claimant will not receive money. They will receive their first payment after two weeks of filing. The state pays the waiting week after a claimant completes four consecutive weeks of certifying for benefits.



During the application process, the state must verify wages with the employer. Since these are federal employees, the shutdown could cause a delay in the verification process. The state has up to 21 days to approve or deny a claim for unemployment benefits.



The maximum weekly benefit in Tennessee is $275, which is subject to federal income taxes.



Once the shutdown ends, and if the federal government provides workers with back pay for the time they were furloughed, per USDOL guidelines, the worker will be responsible for paying the state of Tennessee for any unemployment benefits they received.



As of Jan. 10, the state of Tennessee has received applications for unemployment benefits from 400 federal workers since the shutdown began.



Federal employees can apply for unemployment benefits through the states workforce development website, www.Jobs4TN.gov. This is also the website where claimants complete their weekly job search certifications.



Anyone with questions can call TDLWD at 844-224-5818 or use the live chat function at www.tn.gov/workfoce Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. CT.
Cleveland State Community College hosted Dr. Natasha Jankowski on campus as the keynote speaker for its spring in-service.

Dr. Jankowski serves as director of the National Institute for Learning Outcomes Assessment and research professor in the department of Education Policy, Organization and Leadership at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.

Dr. Jankowski delivered two presentations at CSCC, one to all faculty and staff, Reclaiming Assessment: Capturing Learning Where it Matters Most and one to all faculty, Emerging Trends in the Assessment of Student Learning: A National Landscape.
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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.
Welcome Guest! You are here: Home  Haj 2019

Telangana Haj Qurrah 2019 Results Out Today, Check Your Name Here

Telangana State Haj Committee will hold Haj 2019 Qurrah today at the state headquarters at Haj House in Nampally

Hyderabad: The Telangana State Haj Committee is holding today i.e. Saturday January 12, 2019 the Haj 2019 Qurrah or draw of lots to finalise the list of pilgrims who will embark on Haj journey this year.

The Telangana State Haj Committee will hold Haj 2019 Qurrah today at the state headquarters at Haj House, Razzak Manzil in Nampally, Hyderabad at 11:30 in the morning. The Haj 2019 Qurrah of Telangana will then be displayed on the official website.

The Telangana State Haj Committee has scheduled the Qurrah date today on Saturday January 12, 2019 after the approval by the concerned ministry and Haj Committee of India, Telangana State Haj Committee officials said. Mohammed Mahmood Ali, home minister will inaugurate the Qurrah.

Telangana has been allocated a quota of 3,685 pilgrims. But, number of applications received by the Telangana State Haj Committee is 13,368.

As per the Haj Committee data, there are 484 applicants in the 70+category in the state. On the other hand, some female Haj aspirants fall under without Mehram category. All the 484 70+ pilgrims and females without Meham would be selected directly without Qurrah.

Steps to Check your name in Haj 2019 Final List using Cover No.

Pilgrims can donwload the Haj 2019 Qurrah results from the Telangana Haj Committee website telanganastatehajcommittee.com in PDF. Alternatively, they can follow the steps given below to check if your name is in the Final or Waiting List released by the Telangana State Haj Committee.

Go to Haj Committee of India website by clicking here hajcommittee.gov.in.

Brwose to the bottom of home page and look for the area similar to the one shown below.

Enter your Cover No in the box. Your Cover No should start with your state code.

Click on the Down Arraow from 'Select State' menu and select your state.

Enter Passport No in the box.

Click on "Load" button.

Your application status shoul appear on the computer or mobile phone screen.

The Haj Qurrah process starts district wise. The Haj Committee after completing Qurrah will release the Haj 2019 waiting list on February 05, 2019. The pilgrims whose names are in the Haj 2019 waiting list will be given a chance against cancellation of pilgrims who are unable to make the payment or cancel their Haj travel due to some other reason.

The Haj Qurraj will cover pilgrims going to Haj from Hyderabad Embarkation Point. They are from the various districts of Telangana including Hyderabad, Nizamabad, Secunderabad and others.

The Hajj 2019 Flight Schedule from all embarkation points will be released by the Haj Committee of India only after the process of the Haj Qurrah is completed by all states. However, according to Haj Action Plan 2019, the first outbound flight for Haj 2019 will depart from India on July 01, 2019. The last outbound Haj 2019 flight will be on August 03, 2019. The first inbound Haj flight from Saudi Arabia to India will be on August 14, 2019.

Meanwhile, reports coming from Kerala State Haj Committee, Andhra Pradesh Haj Committee, Gujarat State Haj Committee, Karnataka Haj Committee and other states said they will complete the Haj Qurrah in the next few days - possibly before the end of the January second week.

The Rajasthan State Haj Committee said it will hold the Haj 2019 Qurrah on January 13, 2019. Maharashtra State Haj Committee and Jammu & Kashmir Haj Committee conducted the Haj 2019 Qurrah respectively on Monday January 07 and January 08. UP State Haj Committee conducted the Haj Qurah on Friday January 11, 2019.

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. All the states including Maharashtra will be allotted more seats if this additional quota is granted to the country.

Coinciding with Eid al Adha, Haj is the annual ritual to commemorate the sacrifices made by Prophet Ibrahim, his wife Hager and their son Prophet Ismael. The likely date of Wuqoof e Arafat - the key ritual of the Hajj, is August 09 or 10. As the Islamic calendar is based on sighting of moon, the final date will be decided once the new moon of the month of Dhul Hijjah is sighted.

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Photo: CTV News Luka Gordic

A man found guilty of second-degree murder for his part in the swarming death of a teenager outside a Whistler convenience store has been sentenced to life in prison with no chance of parole for seven years.

Two other youths who were convicted of manslaughter in the death of 19-year-old Luka Gordic of Burnaby were sentenced to 18 months in custody and another 18 months on probation.

The three men can't be named because they were juveniles at the time of the death.

Prosecutors said at the trial that up to 15 people swarmed Gordic in a planned attack in May 2015.

A fourth man was convicted of manslaughter and sentenced in 2017 to seven years in prison, less time served.

Cheers erupted in the courtroom on Friday when the British Columbia Supreme Court judge read out the life sentence.
The XC90 Excellence from Volvo has been known for its ultra-premium luxury features and safety standards. This time around, the Swedish automaker plans to further enhance the luxury quotient with the three-seater XC90 Excellence that is likely to be introduced soon in India. Except for interior changes with more features, the upcoming model will look identical to the regular XC90 Excellence. Interestingly, this could be the first three-seater ultra-luxury SUV in India at the time of its launch.

Based on what can be seen the front passenger seat has been replaced with a footrest and a retractable screen. The SUV will also get additional convenience features - fridge with glassware and a retractable tray table. A glass partition separates the passenger area from the luggage area. Additional feature list will be known at the time of its official launch.

Mechanically, it is expected to continue being powered by the existing hybrid powertrain in the XC90 Excellence. The 2.0-litre, four-cylinder turbocharged and supercharged petrol engine is paired with an electric motor that generates a powerful 401bhp of power and 640Nm of torque. The eight-speed automatic transmission sends power to all four wheels.

Photo Source: T-BHP

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By Nikhat Fatima, TwoCircles.net

If justice delayed is justice denied, it would be safe that the family of Ayesha Meera have been denied their right for over a decade now. On December 26, 2007, Meeras body was found naked, blood-soaked in the ladies hostel where she was staying. The hostel, in Ibrahimpatnam, was home to Meera who was enrolled in Nimra College, Vijayawada.

Five years later after the incident, TwoCircles.net had done an extensive report on how the family of the 17-year-old girl had not only been denied justice, the police had in fact gone out of its way to ensure that the investigation is derailed at every possible step. This, combined with the names of politically powerful people being mentioned as the accused, meant that the family was slowly losing all hopes of justice.

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And in a clear indication of how justice remains elusive to the families of the marginalised, even in the first week of 2019, 11 years after the incident, little seems to have changed. The only thing that has, in fact, changed, is that politicians who promised justice have forgotten the issue, the powerful people who were accused remain free and the only one who was punished, wrongly, for the crime belonged to the Dalit community.

When the body of Meera was found, it had created an uproar across the region. From human rights activists to even politicians, everyone had spoken against the ghastly murder of a teenager and had promised all possible support in her familys quest for justice. But, as our report showed, the investigation from the first day showed how little the police wanted to pursue the matter. On the first day itself, the police did not interrogate anyone at the scene of the crime, nothing was detected by their sniffer dogs, no one heard any sound of struggle despite there being several girls in the hostel at that time, and no questions asked about how could someone enter a building locked from inside. Meeras mother, Shamshad Begum informed TwoCircles.Net that when they arrived at the hostel in the morning, everything had been cleaned. She said she could see the clean floors and walls freshly wiped.

Arrest anyone who fits the profile

Over the next three years, the police continued to arrest anyone they thought had committed the crime even as it avoided political bigwigs, despite allegations against some senior Congress leaders. The grandson of former deputy C.M. Koneru Ranga Rao (who was then Municipal administration minister) Koneru Satish, who was the Sarpanch of the village, was one of the suspects. Another suspect was Congress Mandal President Cheruku Madhav Rao. They were never interrogated and remain free. In September 2010, the police found their perfect scapegoat in the form of P Satyam Babu, a poor fatherless, Dalit Christian youth who was in jail for an alleged robbery of a cell phone.

Satyam Babu was produced before the court and the forensic reports all miraculously matched the DNA of Satyam Babu. And he was convicted for rape and murder of Meera. During his trial, Babu could hardly walk as he suffered from a nervous disorder for which he was being treated at the time. The farcical nature of this investigation was evident from the fact that even Meeras family refused to believe that it was Babu who had committed the crime. And for good reason: Satyam Babu was a physically weak person. Entering a locked building by scaling the six feet wall, sneaking noiselessly in the hostel, banging Meeras head against the wall, trying her up, raping her, writing across her chest and then again writing another love letter, leisurely drawing love symbols and then silently going out of the building with the locks intact seemed a near to impossible task not just for Satyam Babu but even a well-built tough guy.

This explains why Meeras parents went to the extent of giving their statement to the press and to the court that they believed that Babu was not the culprit. Everyone, except the police and the judiciary, was sure that it could not have been Babu.

Several Dalit organisations, human rights groups came out to support Babu, claiming that he was unjustly imprisoned. Eminent lawyers fought his case. It was a long battle but justice was delivered when the High Court in 2017, acquitted Satyam Babu on the grounds that the entire investigation was unscientific and came down heavily on the police, the forensic department and also the prosecution. Satyam Babu was awarded compensation as well. And the bench also asked Satyam Babu to sue for damages done to him due to the unjust sentence was given by the lower court.

Senior advocate Bojja Tarakam and Pichuka Srinivas stood by Satyam Babu and fought his case in the lower court. But after the death of the senior counsel, 2 other counsel Vasudha Nagaraj and V Pattabhi joined in the fight in the High court.

Vasudha Nagaraj told TwoCircles.net that she is hopeful that the CBI will crack the case and that no from outside could enter the hostel. It had to be someone who was already inside in the hostel with the knowledge of the warden and her husband.

Pichuka Srinivas, told TwoCircles.net  Everyone now knows that Babu was falsely acquitted and how the police tried to mislead the investigation. By implicating an innocent youth in a very planned manner they have done a grave injustice. I have advised Satyam to sue for damages. And we will soon file a suit for the same. The Rs 1 lakh compensation awarded is a mere pittance compared to the hardships and the loss of eight years of Babu.

As for the missing materials, they are nothing but fake evidence created by the police like the letters and other stuff just to mislead and shield someone with influence. But with the CBI on in the case I am hopeful the murderer will be brought to book, he added.

Still, no leads on who committed the murder

While the acquittal of Babu was a matter of relief for many, the main question: Who killed Meera? remained unanswered. Therefore, the High Court apart from acquitting Babu and awarding him compensation has also directed for two fresh FIRs to be filed in the case. One FIR was in relation to the murder of Meera and another FIR for the missing evidence. The case is now being handled by the CBI. The police, however, say they want to challenge the acquittal of Satyam Babu.

The orders for reinvestigation of the case were given because of the PIL (public interest litigation) filed by Rama Melkote retired professor of Osmania University, Sajaya Kakarla and V Sandhya Rani activists because even after the acquittal of Satyam Babu no steps were taken by the Government to either catch the culprit or punish the erring officials. The activists said that when innocents are punished and guilty people left free it shakes the confidence of the lay person in the judiciary.

Satyam Babu, who was acquitted in April 2018 is a happier person now. In a conversation with TwoCircles.net, he said the 8 years he spent in prison have been both hard and have given him some experiences. Earlier at the prison, his health had failed and he could not even stand on his own, he was away from his mother and sister, suffering all the time. But gradually he recovered and could walk once more. During my time in prison, I managed to complete my graduation through distance education and I also learnt metal work. He said.  Whether to ask for compensation or a government job, I have left it to my lawyer Srinivas Garu, he knows best, he said. Currently, he is jobless but hopes to find some work soon.

He also said, I have waited for justice so long and my waiting has come to an end but the parents of Ayesha are still waiting. I hope and pray that one day they too will get justice. They have suffered a lot, he said sympathetically.

It goes without saying that the CBI has an extremely tough case in their hands now. The hostel warden and the immediate roommates of Meera in the hostel are allegedly missing. It is assumed that they have left the town.

What happened to all the evidence?

Handwriting experts and the forensic labs that lied earlier, saying that the handwriting and footprint matched with Satyam Babu now say that the reports, the letters, the torn pieces of Meeras dress and other materials are all missing.

Further, fresh reports also say that Meera was not raped as there was no injury to her private parts. And that there were ants on her body indicating that her body was lying in the bathroom from a long time.

Some lawyers are of the opinion that in order to mislead the investigation, the body was defiled in a manner to make it look like it was murder with the primary motive of rape.

But, Meeras mother told TwoCircles.net that on December 26, 2007, she had left her daughter at the hostel and there seemed to be a party going on at the hostel. And some sources informed her that Meera did not like the fact that there were liquor and outsiders at that party apart from the hostel inmates. And Meera is said to have objected to this. And an argument ensued between the outsiders who were partying there and Meera in which her head was banged on the wall due to which she died. And then her body was dragged to the bathroom and all other telltale signs like the scrawling on her chest and other love letters were left to mislead the investigation.

But apart from this being just hearsay there is no evidence to prove that this is what happened that day.

No support from Muslim leaders and Muslim religious organisations

Every year on December 27, solidarity meetings are organised for Meera by her supporters. But an activist on the condition of anonymity told TwoCircles.net  Why arent Muslim organisations coming out in support of Meeras parents? The Jamat e Hind is very large and their presence is also strong in Vijayawada but so far they have not shown any kind of support to the bereaved parents.

Apart from United Muslim front that was there in the beginning stages demanding justice, not even the college which is a Muslim institute have shown their sympathy or provided any support to us, said Iqbal Basha, Meeras father, to TwoCircles.net.

Shamshad Begum and Iqbal Basha also tried to seek the help of senior Congress leader Shabbir Ali but he ignored them.

In a conversation with TwoCircles.net, Shamshad Begum recalled meeting MP Asaduddin Owaisi who assured them of his support and gave fiery speeches demanding justice for Meera and her parents. But that was only in the beginning. Afterwards, there was no sign of his support anywhere. When Owaisi Saab came to Vijayawada we went to meet him with high hopes to request his help, but he told us he was not well and could not meet us.

Muslim organisations not standing by us means they dont really care not just about our daughter but also about so many other Muslim daughters who leave their homes in pursuance of education and jobs. How will parents from small towns and villages draw courage to send their daughters to cities for higher studies? she lamented.

Different yardsticks for delivering justice

In the recent meeting held in Vijayawada on December 27, 2018, Shamshad Begum narrated how in the beginning they had come to Hyderabad to meet the then Chief Minister Late YS Rajashekhar to seek justice for their daughter and how the CM had offered monetary compensation.

For those who do not understand Telugu, Shamshad Begum says she was a fan of the Late YSR but when he offered monetary compensation she was shocked because she was of the impression that compensation is offered only when there are road accidents. But she mustered courage and asked him would he have accepted compensation if it was his daughter instead? It was perhaps after this question that an upset and angry CM ordered for the SIT (Special investigation team) to take up the matter.

She further says in the video that in the case of Nirbhaya the guilty were accosted, brought to book and even a law called Nirbhaya Act has been passed. Why this different yardstick of justice for Meera? Is it not clear that caste, religion and money play a role in the delivery of justice? I am not against Nirbhaya getting justice but I am pointing out the glaring difference. The Nirbhaya incident took place after Meeras case but justice was delivered first to Nirbhaya while Meera is still waiting for justice.

In her conversation with TwoCircles.net, she cited the case of Asifa, the child who was brutally raped and murdered in Jammu and Kashmir in early 2018 and Mohammed Najeeb, the JNU student who went missing. Both are Muslims and see how justice still evades them, she said.

We have realised long back that we have to fight this battle alone. We are both private employees. We do not own huge properties or draw high salaries. What little we had we sold to make ends meet in our quest to fight for justice she added sadly.

Shamshad Begum also spoke about the threatening phone call she had received at the beginning of the case. An unidentified caller had said,  If you do not stop all this agitation, your second daughter will also meet the same fate. Both Shamshad Begum and Iqbal Basha had approached the commissioner of police who offered police protection to them for a few months.

Says she, How can you expect the police who could not trace a phone call to solve the murder case of our daughter?

Some activists pointed out that even region seems to play a role here. The north of India is not even aware of Meeras incident while we in the south always show our solidarity to any tragedy that may have happened even in the north. They point out how after the Nirbhaya incident, people in South India also gathered to show their solidarity.

But Meeras parents have not given up hope. They say if justice is not delivered by the courts here divine justice will not fail them. They have a strong faith that Allah will punish the ones who have killed their daughter. At the same time we are thankful to the support of other organisations, lawyers, activists and other individuals who come to the protest meetings, give us courage and give us suggestions about the course of action. We are really broken inside but the support of our well-wishers keeps us going, they told TwoCircles.net.

Every concerned person including Meeras parents is hoping the CBI will bring out the truth at the earliest. And that the murder of Meeras should not be another unsolved case with the rapists and murderers enjoying their lives while Meeras ageing parents are grieving all the time.
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Australias first ever speaker in the House of Representatives died in the chamber, uttering the immortal words, Dreadful. Dreadful, Australias shortest prominent political speech. Over a century later, another speaker lost her job for chartering a helicopter to replace a one-hour car journey. In the intervening years are a multitude of stories of speakers, deputy speakers and clerks, the little-known figures who have overseen the functioning of the house since the dawn of Federation. The Department of the House of Representatives has commissioned a new project at the Australian National University to create a parliamentary dictionary listing the biographies of these figures. Project coordinator Stephen Wilks, of the ANU School of History said speakers and clerks were people in Australias history who havent had their due. A lot of Australian political reporting, understandably, tends to be, over the years, on the cut and thrust of party politics, elections, leadership coups and so on. There's also a very big history of the parliament in itself, he said. Through these biographies, I think we're also capturing a fair bit of that, and there are some very interesting people who made big contributions to Australian public life. Frederick Holder, speaker from 1901 to 1909, died while the chamber was in committee, and his deputy had taken over in the chair. He was sitting around on the front bench talking to some pals of his, suddenly turned rather pale, and uttered these immortal words, 'Dreadful. Dreadful', Dr Wilks said. He collapsed, and was taken to a bedroom or a sick bay somewhere, in the old parliament building in Spring Street in Melbourne, where he later expired that day. When Old Parliament House finally opened in Canberra in 1927, its first months were marred by tragedy when two clerks of the house died in quick succession - Walter Gale, on July 27, and his successor John McGregor, on September 28. Staff in the house were still reeling from the tragedy that had occurred during the opening ceremony of what was then the provisional parliament house, when a Royal Australian Air Force pilot lost control of his plane during the opening ceremony and plunged to his death, in front of hundreds of spectators. Dr Wilks said he was also looking forward to delving into the back story of the parliaments longest-serving clerk, Frank Green, from 1937-1955. Contrary to the hallowed reputation of discretion of most clerks, Green was in several media profiles as a decorated war veteran who won a military cross in Flanders and wrote a battalion history. He also was very personally close to some prime ministers, particularly [John] Curtin and [Joseph] Lyons, Dr Wilks said. He wrote a famous memoir, Servant of the House, an absolute goldmine of anecdotes of Australian political history. "The famous story of the distressed Curtin, wandering the grounds of the Lodge at night, worrying about Australian troops returning by sea from the Middle East - that was actually recorded by Green. Dr Wilks said the project, which is expected to be completed by 2020, will include all speakers, including those still living, like Bronwyn Bishop and her ill-fated 2015 helicopter ride. He said this was unusual for the National Centre of Biography, which doesnt usually cover living figures. Knowledge of the parliament is important, so I think there's a broader public education involved, he said. It gives you a sense of Australian parliamentary heritage and history as something worth celebrating and recording. There's no more important institution than the parliament itself. Once complete, The Dictionary of the House of Representatives Project: Speakers, Deputy Speakers and Clerks of the House will appear online with the ANU National Centre of Biography and the parliamentary website.

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A type of African grass that pushes out native species is spreading rapidly and contaminating swathes of land in and around Canberra, according to nature experts. The plant known as African lovegrass can grow to more than a metre high and once it spreads across public spaces it dominates the area. It's also a fire risk because it burns easily. "It's highly invasive," said Geoff Robertson, the president of the Friends of Grasslands conservation group in the ACT. "In Canberra, it's out of hand." Steve Taylor, who is in charge of the ACT government's battle against the seemingly invincible weed, said it was spreading faster than it could be controlled. He said the weed was disrupting the whole ecosystem by displacing native grasses - as these original grasses are pushed back, the insect population shrinks and that cuts the population of birds. It can grow more than a metre high so it can be a traffic hazard. The species came to Australia from southern Africa in the 19th century, perhaps by accident or deliberately as an import by misguided farmers who didn't understand that it had little use for either man or beast. It is of such low nutritional value that cattle that eat it may actually starve because they feel full with a feed that contains virtually no nutrition. What experts do know is that it's spreading like wildfire. Mr Taylor said that apart from disrupting the ecosystem, it was a fire danger because it grew in summer, which meant there was dead, dry material in winter so the fire season was extended. His strategy is to protect nature reserves but he and his teams can't eradicate it everywhere; it's a fight against the tide. "It's out of control so we focus on containing," he said. They mow infested open spaces in the city where the plant had grown so high that it was a fire risk but the weed on other bits of wasteland had to be left. With nature reserves in the city, teams would spray herbicides from the edges of these areas of rare plants back to the road. In the Black Mountain Nature Reserve, for example, there is a very rare native orchid from which the lovegrass has to be kept away. "In areas like that we have zero tolerance," said Mr Taylor. He urged people not to visit precious nature reserves in the ACT or the Namadgi National Park or the Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve near it without cleaning boots and tyres. Mud carries seeds. There is also a concern in more rural areas surrounding the ACT. According to Dr Arnold Dekker, president of Sutton Landcare, part of the problem is mowers spread the seeds. When verges were cut, he said, mowers should be cleaned or they would transport the African lovegrass to the next site. The ACT government said it was stepping up what it called its "ongoing battle" against the weed. A statement said it was "blowing down or washing down mowers as they move out of affected areas and before they move into clean areas". Fire can't be used to control the unlovely lovegrass because it might actually boost the weed by sending seeds into the air while clearing ground for them to come back down and fertilise. Mr Taylor thinks the federal government should spend more money on research into a biological solution - finding a plant or animal that would attack only the weed. It's been done with other out-of-control plants. Australia is not the only victim of invasive, imported species that have no indigenous natural control. California complains of the red gum tree - from Australia.

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Special Note on Government Shutdown: If the Government shutdown continues, then some additional releases will be delayed. For example, this coming week, the retail sales and housing starts reports will not be released if the government remains shutdown. (see bottom for key releases already delayed).



The key reports this week are December housing starts and retail sales.



For manufacturing, the December Industrial Production report and the January NY and Philly Fed manufacturing surveys will be released.





----- Monday, Jan 7th -----

----- Tuesday, Jan 8th -----

----- Wednesday, Jan 9th -----

----- Thursday, Jan 10th -----

----- Friday, Jan 11th -----

----- List of Key Delayed Releases ----

No major economic releases scheduled.8:30 AM ET: Thefrom the BLS. The consensus is for a 0.1% decrease in PPI, and a 0.2% increase in core PPI.8:30 AM: The New York Fedfor January. The consensus is for a reading of 12.0, up from 10.9.7:00 AM ET: The Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) will release the results for the 8:30 AM:for December is scheduled to be released. The consensus is for a 0.2% increase in retail sales.This graph shows the year-over-year change in retail sales and food service (ex-gasoline) since 1993. Retail and Food service sales, ex-gasoline, increased by 3.6% on a YoY basis.10:00 AM: The January. The consensus is for a reading of 57, up from 54. Any number above 50 indicates that more builders view sales conditions as good than poor.2:00 PM: the, an informal review by the Federal Reserve Banks of current economic conditions in their Districts. 8:30 AM:for December.This graph shows single and total housing starts since 1968.The consensus is for 1.256 million SAAR, unchanged from 1.256 million SAAR.8:30 AM: Thereport will be released. The consensus is for 220 thousand initial claims, up from 216 thousand the previous week.8:30 AM: thefor January. The consensus is for a reading of 10.0, up from 9.4. 9:15 AM: The Fed will releasefor December.This graph shows industrial production since 1967.The consensus is for a 0.3% increase in Industrial Production, and for Capacity Utilization to be unchanged at 78.5%.10:00 AM:(Final for January). The consensus is for a reading of 97.0.10:00 AM:(Monthly) for December 2018(Census) for November from the Census Bureau. The consensus was for 560 thousand SAAR, up from 544 thousand in October.(Census) for November. The consensus was for a 0.3% increase in construction spending.(BEA) for December. The consensus was for light vehicle sales to be 17.2 million SAAR in December, down from 17.4 million in November (Seasonally Adjusted Annual Rate).(Census) for November from the Census Bureau. The consensus was the trade deficit would be $53.9 billion. The U.S. trade deficit was at $55.5 billion in October.
Abu Dhabi Fund for Development (ADFD), a leading national entity for international development aid, has signed a $10-million concessionary loan agreement with the Government of Mauritius to fund a solar PV kits project.

The project aims to provide 10,000 solar PV kits to low-income communities and is being financed through the Irena/ADFD Project Facility as one of the beneficiaries of its fifth funding cycle, remarked Mohammed Saif Al Suwaidi, the director general of ADFD, after inking the deal with Muthusamy Naidoo, the chairman of the Central Electricity Board of Mauritius, at the ninth session of the Irena Assembly that is currently underway in Abu Dhabi.

Established in 2013, the seven-cycle facility offers $350 million in concessional loans from ADFD to help developing countries access low-cost capital for renewable energy projects.

"ADFDs funding mechanisms are designed to foster sustainable development in key sectors that stimulate economic growth and elevate living standards in developing countries. To deliver on that promise, the Fund views the advancement of renewable energy as a top priority," noted Al Suwaidi.

"We are proud to work together with the Mauritian government to bring this crucial solar PV project online. The venture will go a long way in supporting the local economy and achieving national priorities, in addition to generating jobs and improving livelihoods," he noted.

In October 2018, a technical delegation from ADFD visited Mauritius to review the feasibility of the project, its technical integrity, and its compatibility with the countrys strategic and development priorities.

The visiting delegation also consulted the relevant authorities and assessed the sustainability of the project and its various implementation stages.

The funds will enable the Mauritius Central Electricity Board to install solar PV systems on the rooftops of 10,000 households as part of the governments efforts to alleviate poverty, said the statement from ADFD.

The project will contribute to achieving the national target of integrating 35 per cent of renewable electricity into the countrys energy mix by 2025, it added.

Commending ADFD for its role in supporting the national priorities outlined by Mauritius, Naidoo said: "In collaboration with ADFD as a strategic partner, we will improve access to electricity for our population and meet important government objectives."

"During the lifespan of the project, an estimated 10,000 families in low-income communities will benefit from $8.3 million in electricity bill savings. The project will bring 10 megawatts of renewable energy capacity online, mitigating 143,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions annually and enhancing the countrys energy security," he stated.

To date, the ADFD had allocated a total of $245 million to 24 projects over six cycles of the Irena/ADFD project facility.-TradeArabia News Service
Joining the debate on farm loan waivers, Asian Development Bank (ADB) Country Director Kenichi Yokoyama on Friday said such write-offs were against economic principles and cannot effectively address the agrarian distress.

Yokoyama also advocated for direct transfer of funds to targeted beneficiaries as it would cut down leakages.

Also Read: Twitterati mourns the death of banker-turned-politician Meera Sanyal

On-farm loan waiver, he said most of the people are sceptical about it as an economic principle and has moral hazards.

"There is a need to address agriculture sector distress...but economic principle-wise, farm loan waiver is not an effective means to address farm distress," he said.

Earlier this week, RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das said any generalised farm loan waiver adversely impacts the credit culture and the behaviour of borrowers, amid various states announcing waivers. He said the loan waiver is related to the fiscal space that a particular state government has.

Farm loans totalling around Rs 1.47 lakh crore were waived off by Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh after the Congress came to power last month.

In 2017, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra and Punjab announced to write off unpaid loans. The country's largest state waived off farm loans worth Rs 36,400 crore.

Appreciating the fact that India has a platform to provide direct benefit transfer through Aadhaar, Yokoyama said analysis has to be done on how the government can launch universal basic income (UBI) scheme in the most efficient way.

Asked if there was a stress on fiscal deficit, Yokoyama said ADB has no doubt about the government meeting the target.

"I think a clear framework is there and mandate given under the Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management Act. We don't have any doubt over it," he said.

The Centre has budgeted to contain fiscal deficit at 3.3 per cent of the GDP in the current fiscal, lower than 3.5 per cent in 2017-18.

Last month, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley had exuded the confidence of meeting the fiscal deficit target of 3.3 per cent for the current fiscal.

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"Active Indian citizen. Author of ' The Big Reverse-- How demonetisation knocked India out." That is how the 57 year old suave and sophisticated Meera Sanyal, a former banker described herself to the world in her Twitter handle. Sanyal 's last tweet was on the night of December 31 when she wished everyone a wonderful 2019. "...and looking forward to seeing again in due course." But sadly she won't be around. Sanyal , daughter of a high ranking Navy officer, passed away on Sunday after a brief illness.

Sanyal was probably amongst the very few professionals who wanted to make a change in the Indian polity. She was very angry after the 2008 terror attack in Mumbai. The scams and governance failure under the UPA-2 further strengthened her resolve to play a role in cleaning up the political system. "People want honest and competent governance," she told Business Today when she was preparing to fight the Lok Sabha election in 2014 from the South Mumbai constituency.

Also Read: Remembering Meera Sanyal: This time, last year at the India Today Conclave

In fact , she first contested the 2009 Lok Sabha election from South Mumbai as an independent candidate. It was tough to break the national parties or regional players as people tend to gravitate towards bigger parties. The 2014 election gave her some foothold as AAP candidate when she got 5 per cent of the votes. But despite not getting the votes, she never decided to get back to corporate world. She continued her participation in TV debates on various issues to put her point across.

Sanyal had long experence as a professional having worked in global names like Lazard, ANZ Grindlays, ABN AMRO and RBS. In 2007 , when the long serving India CEO Romesh Sobti left the bank to join private Indusind Bank , Sanyal got the top job. She managed the job well despite challenges like senior people leaving the bank and the merging of ABN and the Royal Bank of Scotland. But she managed it well. Her interest in public life pulled her into politics. She indeed has inspired many professionals including women that they can also try to make a change in politics. Only efforts like what Sanyal did will make the big change in future.

Also Read: Twitterati mourns the death of banker-turned-politician Meera Sanyal

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Also Read: Assocham meets RBI governor Shaktikanta Das on NBFC, HFC crisis
The government has fixed the price at Rs 3,214 per gram for the new series of sovereign gold bonds opening Monday.

The Sovereign Gold Bonds 2018-19 (Series V) will be opened for the period January 14-18, the RBI said in a statement Friday.

Also Read: Twitterati mourns the death of banker-turned-politician Meera Sanyal

"Government of India, in consultation with the Reserve Bank of India, has decided to offer a discount of Rs 50 per gram less than the nominal value to those investors applying online and the payment against the application is made through digital mode," RBI said in a statement.

For such investors, the issue price of gold bond will be Rs 3,164 per gram of gold.

The bonds are being sold through banks, Stock Holding Corporation of India Limited (SHCIL), designated post offices, and stock exchanges NSE and BSE.

The sovereign gold bond scheme was launched in November 2015 with an objective to reduce the demand for physical gold and shift a part of the domestic savings into financial assets.

Under the scheme, the bonds are denominated in units of one gram of gold and multiples thereof. Minimum investment in the bonds is one gram with a maximum limit of 500 grams per person per fiscal year.

The maximum limit of subscription is 4 kg for individual and HUF and 20 kg for trusts and similar entities per fiscal (April-March).

Also Read: Aircel-Maxis case: Ashok Chawla quits as NSE chairman after CBI gets sanction to prosecute him

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Also Read: BEML bags contracts worth Rs 3,015 crore to supply coaches for ADB-funded Mumbai Metro
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Huawei Canada said on Friday that its senior vice president of corporate affairs, Scott Bradley, is leaving his post as the Chinese telecommunications equipment maker faces heightened scrutiny over security issues.Bradley will serve as special adviser, assisting the company "as required," Huawei President Eric Li said in a memo to staff that was obtained by Reuters. (Reporting by David Ljunggren in Ottawa and Jim Finkle in New York; Editing by Tom Brown)(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
(Reuters) - Nissan Motor Co Ltd's head of China operations Jose Munoz has resigned following reports that the Japanese automaker has broadened its investigation into ousted Chairman Carlos Ghosn's alleged financial misconduct. Reuters had reported earlier on Friday that the Japanese automaker was looking into decisions made in the United States by Munoz who led Nissan's North American operations from 2016 to 2018.He 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 ...
Global technology giant Siemens said it has been awarded a major contract by leading North American energy producer Encana to provide one feed and sales gas train and one refrigeration compression train for its pipestone processing facility in Grand Prairie, Alberta, Canada.

Designed to accommodate future capacity expansion, the Pipestone Processing Facility will provide Encana with 19,000 barrels per day of net raw condensate processing capacity plus 170 million cubic feet per day of net inlet natural gas processing capacity.

Keyera will own the Pipestone Processing Facility and provide processing services to Encana. The Facility will have total processing capacity of 200 million cu ft per day and is expected to start up in 2021.

The first train will consist of a Siemens SGT-750 gas turbine driving two DresserRand Datum compressors for feed and sales gas compression, combined with a Siemens waste heat recovery unit for process heat.

The second train will consist of a Siemens electric motor-driven Datum compressor for refrigeration compression with Siemens variable frequency drive.

Siemens state-of-the-art SGT-750 gas turbine is the only twin-shaft engine in its power class with industry-leading fuel efficiency and one of the lowest emission profiles, said Patrice Laporte, VP, Oil & Gas for Siemens America.

The train configuration achieved by coupling the SGT-750 with the highly efficient Datum compressors provides an excellent solution for the Encana," stated Laporte.

The SGT-750 turbine has a proven track record of satisfied customers in both power generation and mechanical drive applications and is becoming an increasingly popular choice among facility operators.

In 2015, Siemens supplied three pipeline compressor trains driven by SGT-750 gas turbines to Central America-based Fermaca for its El Encino  La Laguna pipeline project.

In 2017, Chinas largest acrylic producer, Zhejiang Satellite Energy Co., selected Siemens to provide an SGT-750 gas turbine to drive two Siemens STC-SH single-shaft compressors for

Phase II of its propylene dehydration plant.

Were providing all of the equipment for these two compression trains from one source, which lends testament to Encanas ongoing confidence in our equipment and Siemens capability to offer a one-stop solution to our customers, said Matthew Chinn, the executive VP New Equipment Solutions for Siemens Oil and Gas.

Further to this, our solution is less capital intensive, due to the excellent attributes of the SGT-750 turbines lower life cycle costs compared to competing turbines in the industry.

With maximized uptime and a low environmental emission footprint, the SGT-750 offers customers a lightweight industrial gas turbine designed and developed to incorporate the size and weight advantages of an aeroderivative gas turbine while maintaining the robustness, flexibility, and longevity of traditional heavy-duty industrial gas turbines.

The Datum compressor line is known for its efficiency, reliability, and ease of maintenance which makes these compressors ideally suited for the un-spared feed/sales gas and refrigeration compression applications.

In 2015, Encana purchased 10 Datum compression trains for its Cutbank Ridge Program, designed for the long-term development of natural gas resources in Northeast British Columbia.-TradeArabia News Service
By Ann SaphirSAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Should political deadlock in Washington again bring the world's biggest economy to the brink of a debt default, the U.S. central bank has a playbook that includes options one policymaker once labelled "loathsome," but, perhaps, necessary.The policymaker was Jerome Powell, now the Federal Reserve chairman and a Fed governor in October 2013 when a political debate over federal spending brought the country to the verge of reneging on trillions of dollars of financial obligations.To prepare for that possibility, two Fed staffers penned a memo outlining nine ...
A 24-year-old youth was shot dead near Park Circus rail station in the southern parts of the city on Saturday night, the police said.

The youth identified as Minaz was shot at during an argument with another youth at around 8.30 pm, an official at the city police headquarters said.

Minaz was rushed to National Medical College and Hospital by locals, where he was declared as brought dead.

The assailant, whose identity was not known, was absconding, the official said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
YES Bank, India's fourth largest private sector bank, on Saturday said it has appointed Brahm Dutt as non-executive part-time chairman to the board.

In a statement, said, "Vide its letter dated January 11, 2019, the Reserve Bank of India, pursuant to the provisions of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949...has approved his (Dutt's) appointment as part-time chairman of Yes Bank's board up till July 4, 2020, as Mr Dutt attains the age of 70 years."

Dutt has been on the board of the bank since July 2013 as an independent director, and has contributed to almost all the sub-committees of the board over the past 5.5 years, said in a regulatory filing.

He is currently also the Chair of the Nomination and Remuneration Committee.



During his career in the IAS for 37 years, he held several posts in Karnataka government as well as in the Central Government. Before retirement from the service, he worked as Secretary in the Cabinet Secretariat and in the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways for over three and half years.

YES Bank's board also includes Mukesh Sabharwal, Subhash Kalia, Ajai Kumar, Pratima Sheorey, Uttam Prakash Agarwal, TS Vijayan, and Rana Kapoor (Managing Director and CEO).



ALSO READ: YES Bank to submit list of CEO names to RBI after board meet on January 9

Meanwhile, executive Rajat Monga and a CEO of a foreign bank have been shortlisted to succeed long-serving Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer Rana Kapoor at the bank, sources had said Friday.

Earlier this week, the bank informed stock exchanges that it has shortlisted the names of potential candidates to succeed Kapoor, who is to demit office by month-end.
Hundreds of workers of the Samsung mobile company Saturday protested here, demanding salary hike and change in shift timings, police said.

The workers assembled on the premises of the company's office in Noida Phase-II in the morning and remained there till around 10pm, they said.

Samsung representatives could not be contacted immediately for a response.

"The protestors were demanding that their work timings which have been changed since January, be restored to the previous pattern. They were also peeved over changes in holidays, food and other such issues. These issues were reportedly discussed with the management and resolved," Circle Officer, Noida 3rd, Shwetabh Pandey, said.

"The workers were also demanding a hike in their salaries, which the management has reportedly said was a policy issue and needed more discussion," he told PTI Saturday night.

Pandey said there did not arise a law and order situation and no disruption to traffic happened as the protestors had assembled within the premises of the private company.

The Samsung plant, inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in July 2018, has witnessed similar protests in the past also.

Nearly 500 farmers, belonging to different outfits such as Sanyukta Kisan Parishad, Kisan Sabha, had staged a protest outside the company's office in October demanding "more jobs for the local youth".

In August, at least 80 people were arrested during a protest at the plant for similar reason, according to officials.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Kalyan Police in Maharashtra have cracked the December 31 murder of a 23-year-old woman from Uttar Pradesh and their investigation has revealed honour killing as the motive behind the crime.

A police official Saturday said they have registered a case of murder against four persons, including the father and the brother of the deceased Manita Yadav whose body was found hanging from a tree in Kalyan in Thane district.

No arrest is made yet.

The accused are identified as Manita's father Lotu Yadav, her brother Tirthraj Yadav and relatives Ramakanat Yadav and Manoj Yadav.

According to police, Manita's family members were filled with a sense of shame after her in-laws dropped her at their home in Azamgarh district in Uttar Pradesh last month while accusing her of having an extra-marital affair with another man.

The deceased was married to a man from a village in Azamgarh district.

A police official said Tirthraj, Ramakant and Manoj boarded a train for Mumbai on December 30 from Azamgarh under the pretext of taking Manita to her another brother who is a resident of suburban Vikhroli in Mumbai.

"They got down at Kalyan railway station and took Manita to a secluded place, where she was strangulated and her body was hanged from a tree to make it appear as a suicide," he said, adding that Manita was killed on the night of December 31.

The body was spotted by some locals on January 1 who, in turn, informed the police.

He said the CCTV cameras at the railway station captured the accused persons getting down with Manita.

The official said the first major clue to solve the crime was a SIM card they had found in the pocket of the sweater worn by the deceased woman.

The card was registered in the name of his brother whom police tracked down in Azamgarh, he added.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
When Secretary of State Mike Pompeo arrived in the United Arab Emirates on Friday, no US ambassador was there to welcome him.

The post has been empty for nine months. The Republican donor President Donald Trump chose for the job, John Rakolta Jr., hasn't been approved by the Senate.

Trump has accused Senate Democrats of using the chamber's web of rules to sabotage his nominees. But Rakolta's selection illustrates the challenges of filling a high-level government position with a candidate from the corporate world who has no prior diplomatic experience.

The ambassador's office in the UAE has been vacant since March when Barbara Leaf retired from the State Department after a long diplomatic career. By comparison, Leaf was confirmed as ambassador in November 2014, four months after she was nominated.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Welcoming the appointment of Kuldip Rathore as the new state Congress President, former HP chief minister and senior party leader Virbhadra Singh Saturday said this step should have been taken much earlier.

Addressing a party rally organised by the Sujanpur MLA Rajinder Rana at Gajoh village here, Singh alleged the former state Congress president Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu had harmed the party during his six-year tenure.

The former CM said Sukhu was to be blamed for the party's debacle in the last Vidhan Sabha elections. He said Sukhu had ignored the grassroot workers of the party.

Virbhadra demanded all district Congress committees and block Congress committees be revamped and new persons appointed.

The former chief minister said Sujanpur MLA's son Abhishek Rana should be given a party ticket for the Hamirpur Lok Sabha seat to inflict a crushing defeat on current MP Anurag Thakur of the BJP.

He hoped the new party chief would take all members in confidence and give new direction to the party.

At the event, the leader of the party in the Vidhan Sabha Mukesh Agnihotri hit out at chief minister Jai Ram Thakur and local MP Anurag Thakur for "fooling" the people.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A day after BJP leader Pradip Dutta threatened Assamese speaking students of Barak valley to bar their admission in the Assam University, authorities of the institute Saturday banned protests inside the campus without prior permission.

Protests against the Citizenship Amendment Bill, however, continued across Assam, mostly by the students community.

In an order, Assam University Registrar Dr Sanjib Bhattacharjee directed that no procession/dharna or any sort of gathering of people within the campus without prior approval of the authorities is strictly prohibited until further order.

The order that comes into force with immediate effect was issued with the approval of the vice-chancellor of the university, located at Silchar in Bengali dominated Barak valley.

Any unauthorised gathering will be treated as violation of the order and those involved in the violation will be dealt with as per rules, the order said.

"I warn the Assamese (speaking) students of the university that you study only and don't indulge in politics. Think about the future. We then will be forced to bar admission of Assamese students in the university," Dutta was heard saying in local channels Friday.

"I am writing to the vice-chancellor of the university asking him what step he is taking against the students for opposing the bill", Dutta said in Bengali.

The threat came after a section of students of the University on Thursday came out in support of the Citizenship Amendment Bill, while another had taken out a candlelight vigil on Wednesday to protest against it.

Dutta's statement was condemned by various quarters.

Cotton University Students Union (CUSU) in Guwahati even filed a complaint in Pan Bazar police station here against Dutta for making the communally provocative statement.

Meanwhile, protests against the Bill continued in Guwahati where the Pratibandhi Suraksha Sanstha, an organisation of differently abled people, came out against the Bill at the Dighalipukhuri area here.

Students of Nalbari College and Nalbari Commerce College boycotted their classes and burnt the effigy of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal.

Students of Nagaon College and intellectuals of Nagaon town also came out in protest against Bill and the sedition case filed against litterateur Dr Hiren Gohain, Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti (KMSS) chief Akhil Gogoi and senior journalist Manjit Mahanta.

In Majuli, Sonowal's assembly constituency, students of Majuli College boycotted classes and burnt tyres to protest against the passage of the Bill in Lok Sabha on Tuesday.

The Bill seeks 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.

The North East Students' Organisation (NESO), a conglomerate of students' bodies of the region, also observed 'Black Day' in the states on Saturday to protest firing in Tripura during the bandh against the Bill on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, students of the North East studying in IIT Bombay also took out a rally in the campus demanding repeal of the bill, reports reaching here said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The British government is considering scrapping jail sentences of six months or less for most crimes in a bid to reduce reoffending and ease pressure on the system, the prisons minister said on Saturday.

The move could see tens of thousands of people convicted of non-violent or non-sexual crimes, such as burglary and shoplifting, spared jail under the plan, Rory Stewart told The Daily Telegraph.

In an interview with the newspaper's magazine, he said that short jail terms were "long enough to damage you and not long enough to heal you.

"You bring somebody in for three or four weeks, they lose their house, their job, their family, their reputation.

"They come (into prison), they meet a lot of interesting characters and then you whap them on to the streets again," he said.

"The public are safer if we have a good community sentence... and it will relieve a lot of pressure on prisons."



The change would mirror 2010 reforms in Scotland, where judges are now guided by a legal presumption against custodial sentences of less than three months.

Reoffending rates there have since fallen to their lowest levels for nearly two decades, and the Scottish government is considering extending it to less than a year.

Peter Dawson, director of the Prison Reform Trust, told the Telegraph that government ministers in London "should be congratulated for having the political courage to start the debate".

England and Wales's prison population has doubled since the early 1990s to now stand at more than 80,000 inmates, official figures show.

Meanwhile more than half of the 86,275 offenders sentenced to immediate custody in 2017 were given sentences of six months or less.

The country's prisons are considered in a state of crisis, with violence and drug use on the rise.

Stewart made the eye-catchingly bold pledge last August to resign if he was not able to reform its 10 worst jails within a year.

A Ministry of Justice spokesman confirmed that it was "exploring potential alternatives" to prisons for some crimes.

"As we have said previously, short sentences are too often ineffective, provide little opportunity to rehabilitate offenders and lead to unacceptably high rates of reoffending," he said.

"But this work is ongoing and we have reached no conclusions at this time.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Two militants were Saturday killed in an encounter with security forces in Jammu and Kashmir's Kulgam district, police said.

Security forces launched a cordon and search operation in Katpora area in south Kashmir's Kulgam district this evening after receiving specific information about the presence of militants there, a police official said.

As the forces were conducting the searches, the militants fired upon them. The forces retaliated, ensuing an encounter in which two militants were killed, he said.

Arms and ammunition were recovered from the encounter site, the official said, adding that no collateral damage has been reported.

The identity and group affiliation of the militants was being ascertained, the official said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Work on the Museum of the Future, a unique incubator for futuristic innovation and design in Dubai, is progressing at a steady pace and the iconic landmark is on track for opening in 2020, said a report.

The construction site was visited by HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, as part of his project supervision work.

He also visited the Dubai Future Foundation and was briefed on the development of work at various projects undertaken by the foundation, reported state news agency Wam.

Sheikh Mohammed was also given an update on the progress of Dubai Future Foundation initiatives such as Dubai 10X, Dubai Future Accelerators, Dubai Future Academy, and One Million Arab Coders initiative among others.

The Dubai ruler later toured Area 2071, which is designed as a collaborative innovation hub that brings together individuals and organisations to form a creative community focused on solving important human challenges at scale.

Area 2071 is considered a physical manifestation of the UAE Centennial Plan that aims to make the UAE the worlds leading nation by 2071.

The Museum of the Future is considered to be a unique incubator for futuristic innovation and design, currently under construction in Dubai.

The project builds on over five years of temporary immersive exhibitions held at the World Government Summit, it added.
Days after he walked out of a meeting with Congressional leaders when they shot down his border wall funding proposal, US President Donald Trump on Saturday urged the opposition Democrats to visit the White House for talks to end the government shutdown which is now in its record 22nd day.

"I am in the White House waiting for you!" Trump told the Democrats through his Twitter account and threatened that the shutdown could continue for a long time if there is no agreement.

"Democrats should come back to Washington and work to end the shutdown, while at the same time ending the horrible humanitarian crisis at our Southern Border," the president tweeted.

The partial government shutdown on Saturday entered its 22nd day, surpassing the previous record of 21 days. The longest ever shutdown has been due to the stalemate between the ruling Republicans and the Democrats on funding construction of a wall along the US-Mexico border.

Trump has sought USD 5.7 billion in funding from the Congress to construct a concrete wall or a physical steel barrier so as to prevent flow of illegal immigrants and smuggling of drugs.

The opposition Democrats have said that under no circumstances can they approve such a proposal. Trump has said that in the absence of Congressional approval of his wall proposal, he will not sign any budgetary legislation.

This has resulted in a partial government shutdown wherein more 800,000 federal government employees have been left without work and have not received their salaries.

Trump has promised that he will ensure that these employees get their salaries but functioning of several important wings of the US government has come to a standstill.

"We have a massive Humanitarian Crisis at our Southern Border. We will be out for a long time unless the Democrats come back from their 'vacations' and get back to work. I am in the White House ready to sign!" Trump tweeted.

"I do have a plan on the shutdown. But to understand that plan you would have to understand the fact that I won the election, and I promised safety and security for the American people. Part of that promise was a Wall at the Southern Border. Elections have consequences!," Trump asserted, indicating that he will not budge from his stand on the border wall.

The Democrats, he said, could solve the shutdown in 15 minutes.

"Call your Dem Senator or Congresswoman/man. Tell them to get it done! Humanitarian Crisis," he urged his 57.2 million Twitter followers.

Referring to official statistics, Trump said 23 per cent of federal prison inmates are illegal immigrants.

"Border arrests are up 240 per cent. In the Great State of Texas, between 2011 & 2018, there were a total of 292,000 crimes by illegal aliens, 539 murders, 32,000 assaults, 3,426 sexual assaults and 3,000 weapons charges. Democrats come back!" he said.

He refuted media reports that there is chaos in the White House.

"I just watched a Fake reporter from the Amazon Washington Post say the White House is 'chaotic, there does not seem to be a strategy for this Shutdown. There is no plan'. The Fakes always like talking Chaos, there is NONE. In fact, there's almost nobody in the White House but me," Trump said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
President Donald Trump attaches great importance to the US-India ties, India's new Ambassador to America Harsh Vardhan Shringla said.

Shringla, a 1984-batch Indian Foreign Service diplomat, presented his diplomatic credentials to the US President at the Oval Office of the White House Friday.

He succeeded Navtej Sarna who retired on December 31. Shringla is the youngest Indian ambassador to the US.

Reflective of the growing trust and warmth between India and the US, the new Indian envoy presented his credentials to Trump in less than 50 hours after arriving in Washington.

Such a quick credentials ceremony for a foreign diplomat is rare in the American capital, given that in the past, envoys of other countries, including those from India, have waited for weeks to formally present their diplomatic credentials.

Diplomatic credentials is a letter that formally appoints a diplomat as the ambassador to another country. The letter is addressed from one head of state to another. It is presented by the ambassador to the receiving head of state in a formal ceremony.

The ceremony further marks the beginning of the official period of ambassadorship.

At a post-credentials ceremony celebration attended by senior officials of the Indian Embassy, the State Department and the White House, Shringla said, "Clearly the president attaches great importance to our bilateral relationship.

"He referred to his recent telephonic conversation with our prime minister (Narendra Modi) and he said he looks forward to speaking to our prime minister again in the near future".

Shringla said Trump referred to a very wide gamut of cooperations that the two countries are engaged in, not just at the bilateral level but also as strategic partners involving the region and global areas of interest, particularly the vision of the Indo-Pacific region envisioned by the leaders of the two countries during the June, 2017 visit of Prime Minister Modi.

Trump highlighted the broad range of strategic interests and fundamental democratic values shared between India and the US.

The new Indian envoy said he is amazed at the amount of progress that the US-India relationship has made in the last few years.

It is absolutely momentous and unparalleled, he said.

Shringla assured President Trump of his commitment to expand key pillars of the bilateral relationship including economic relations and trade ties, defence and security, energy, science and technology and global issues, among others.

He was India's High Commissioner to Bangladesh till early this week, before replacing Sarna.

Graduated from the St. Stephen's College in Delhi, Shringla speaks French, Vietnamese and Nepalese apart from English and Indian languages.

During his 35-year long diplomatic career, he held a variety of positions in New Delhi and abroad.

Apart from to being the High Commissioner of India to Bangladesh, he had also been the ambassador to Thailand.

Shringla also served in France (UNESCO), Permanent Mission of India to the United Nations in New York, Vietnam (Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City), Israel and South Africa.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
President Donald Trump attaches great importance to the bilateral relationship between India and the United States, the new Indian ambassador to the country, Harsh V Shringla, has said.

Shringla, who arrived here on January 9, presented his diplomatic credentials to the US president in the Oval Office of the White House on Friday.

Reflective of the growing trust and warmth between India and the US, the new Indian envoy presented his credentials to Trump in less than 50 hours after arriving in Washington.

Such a quick credentials ceremony for a foreign diplomat is rare in the American capital, given that in the past, envoys of other countries, including those from India, have waited for weeks to formally present their diplomatic credentials to the US president.

Diplomatic credentials is a letter that formally appoints a diplomat as the ambassador to another country. The letter is addressed from one head of state to another. It is presented by the ambassador to the receiving head of state in a formal ceremony.

The ceremony further marks the beginning of the official period of ambassadorship.

At a post-credentials ceremony celebration attended by senior officials of the Indian Embassy, the State Department and the White House, Shringla said, "Clearly the president attaches great importance to our bilateral relationship. He referred to his recent telephonic conversation with our prime minister and he said he looks forward to speaking to our prime minister again in the near future."



During the credentials ceremony, he said Trump referred to a very wide gamut of corporations that the two countries are engaged in, not just at the bilateral level but also as strategic partners involving the region and global areas of interest, particularly the vision of the Indo-Pacific region envisioned by the leaders of the two countries during the June, 2017 visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The new Indian envoy said he is amazed at the amount of progress that the US-India relationship has made in the last few years.

It is absolutely momentous and unparalleled, he said.

A member of the Indian Foreign Service since 1984, Shringla is the youngest Indian Ambassador to the US. He was India's High Commissioner to Bangladesh till early this week, before replacing Navtej Singh Sarna, who retired on December 31.

A graduated from the St. Stephen's College in Delhi, Shringla speaks French, Vietnamese and Nepalese apart from English and Indian languages.

During his 35-year long diplomatic career, he held a variety of positions in New Delhi and abroad.

Apart from to being the High Commissioner of India to Bangladesh, he had also been the ambassador to Thailand. Shringla also served in France (UNESCO), Permanent Mission of India to the United Nations in New York, Vietnam (Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City), Israel and South Africa.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
: Tamil Nadu Governor Banwarilal Purohit Saturday participated in various "Clean India" awareness programmes at Mandapam and Pattinamkathan near here.

He interacted with school students during the event and also asked them to take a pledge to keep the environment clean.

Purohit inaugurated an exhibition at Pattinamkathan where details of development programmes andthe "Clean India" programme have been displayed.

He also flagged off a rath on the Swachh Bharath movement.

The Governor also distributedcloth bags to shopkeepers to create awareness against the use of plastic bags.

He also declared open the renovated "Brahma Theertham" near the famous Ramanathaswamy temple here.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Three Delhi residents were killed and one was critically injured early Saturday when their car fell into a deep gorge near Mussoorie, police said.

The mishap occurred in the wee hours near Suwakholi. The tourists were on their way to Mussoorie from Dhanolti, a police official in Mussoorie said.

All three persons died on the spot, he said, adding the injured has been admitted at the Doon Medical College and Hospital, Dehradun.

All the occupants of the car were residents of Lakshmi Nagar, Delhi.

The deceased were identified as Suraj Rawat, Prince Tanwar and Mannu. The injured was identified as Rahul Rawat, the SHO said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Thousands thronged the temple town of Pandalam in Pathanamthitta district Saturday to witness the 'Thiruvabharanam' (sacred jewellery) procession from the Pandalam Valiyakoickal Sastha temple to Sabarimala for the annual 'Makaravilakku' festival.

The Thiruvabharanam was shifted from the strong room of Srambickal Palace in Pandalam to the adjoining Valiyakoickal temple, early in the morning for the devotees to have darshan.

Later the sacred jewels were kept in three wooden boxes to be taken to Sabarimala by a 22-member team headed by Kulathinal Gangadharan Pillai.

The temple head priest performed special rituals at the Sastha temple amid chanting of 'Swami Saranam'.

The eldest male member of the Pandalam royal family handed over the ceremonial sword to the royal representative escorting the sacred jewellery.

The palace representative was taken in a palanquin to the nearby Kaippuzha palace ahead of the start of the procession, which would halt at Ayroor Puthiyakavu Devi temple tonight and at Laha on the second night.

It would reach Saramkuthi at 5 pm on January 14 and the Sannidhanam at 6 pm.

Tantri Kandararu Rajeevararu, assisted by Melsanthi would adorn the deity with the jewellery prior to the deeparadhana on January 14.

The state government has deployed heavy security for the procession, which carries the sacred jewels of Lord Ayyappa.

Apart from the 22-member team, hundreds of devotees with 'irumudikettu' (holy bag consisting offerings to the deity) are also part of the procession.

Armed guards headed by Assistant Commandant of the armed reserved camp and bomb detection and disposal squad are also part of the entourage.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Missiles fired by Israeli warplanes struck a warehouse at Damascus International Airport late Friday, causing damage but no casualties, a Syrian military official said.

The unidentified official was quoted by Syrian state media as saying Israeli aircraft coming from the south fired several missiles at areas near Damascus about 45 minutes before midnight.

He said Syrian air defense units shot down most of the missiles, but gave no details on other sites targeted.

Hezbollah's Al-Manar TV said the attack was broader than usual, targeting areas ranging from the eastern Damascus suburb of Dmeir to Kiswa south of capital all the way to the village of Dimas in the west near the Lebanon border.

The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said airstrikes targeted an area near the airport while others hit the area of Kiswa, which is home to positions and storage sites for Iranian and Hezbollah forces allied with Syria's government.

There was no immediate word from Israel, which rarely comments on such attacks. Israel is widely believed to have been behind a series of airstrikes in Syria that have mainly targeted Iranian and Hezbollah forces.

It was the first airstrike on the Damascus area this year since Israeli warplanes struck areas near the capital on Christmas Day.

In last month's incident, Israeli aircraft flying over Lebanon fired missiles toward areas near Damascus, hitting an arms depot and wounding three soldiers.

Israeli drones and warplanes were heard flying Friday afternoon over Lebanon.

Russia announced it had delivered the S-300 air defense system to Syria in October. That followed the September 17 downing of a Russian reconnaissance plane by Syrian forces responding to an Israeli airstrike, a friendly fire incident that stoked regional tensions.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj Saturday left for a two-day visit to Uzbekistan to attend the first India-Central Asia Dialogue which is expected to focus on a plethora of regional issues including enhancing connectivity to war-ravaged Afghanistan.

The Dialogue, being held in Samarkand, will be co-chaired by Swaraj and Uzbekistan's Foreign Minister Abdulaziz Kamilov.

The Foreign Minister of Afghanistan will also participate in the dialogue as a special invitee for the session dedicated to connectivity issues in the region, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said.

Foreign ministers of Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan and the First Deputy Foreign Minister of Kazakhstan will also participate in the dialogue.

"Building upon shared history & culture. EAM @SushmaSwaraj emplanes for Samarkand to participate at 1st India-Central Asia Dialogue. EAM will co-chair Dialogue with Uzbek Foreign Minister Kamilov. Foreign Ministers from other Central Asian countries and Afghanistan will attend," MEA Spokesperson Raveesh Kumar tweeted minutes before Swaraj left for Uzbekistan.

Bound together by shared history and cultural linkages, India and the Central Asian states look forward to the Dialogue as an important initiative to enhance their cooperation in wide-ranging spheres including exploring ways to substantially enhance India's economic involvement in business and development sector of Central Asia, the MEA had said on Wednesday.

With Afghanistan joining, the participants of the Dialogue will also deliberate on developing viable connectivity options between India and Afghanistan and Central Asia to further facilitate trade and economic activity in the region, it said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had visited five Central Asian countries in 2015 with an aim to deepen India's engagement with the hydrocarbon rich region.

Swaraj visited the region last August.

Officials said the India-Central Asia Dialogue, with the participation of Afghanistan, is expected to take India's engagement with all the countries of the region to a new level.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Saturday held talks with Uzbekistan Foreign Minister Abdulaziz Kamilov and discussed measures for stepping up bilateral cooperation in a number of areas, including trade, economy, defence and IT.

Swaraj arrived in the ancient city of Samarkand on Saturday on a two-day visit to Uzbekistan to attend the first India-Central Asia Dialogue, which is expected to focus on a plethora of regional issues including enhancing connectivity to war-ravaged Afghanistan.

Swaraj was received by Uzbek Foreign Minister Kamilov at the airport here. The two leaders held talks at Palace of Forums here and discussed stepping up cooperation in trade, economy, health, education, defence, space, IT and people-to-people ties, MEA Spokesperson Raveesh Kumar tweeted.

The MEA spokesperson said that first-ever India-Central Asia Dialogue, with Afghan participation, "will take India's outreach to the region to a new high."



The Dialogue will be co-chaired by Swaraj and Kamilov. The Foreign Minister of Afghanistan will also participate in the dialogue as a special invitee for the session dedicated to connectivity issues in the region.

Foreign ministers of Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan and the First Deputy Foreign Minister of Kazakhstan will also participate in the dialogue.

Bound together by shared history and cultural linkages, India and the Central Asian states look forward to the Dialogue as an important initiative to enhance their cooperation in wide-ranging spheres including exploring ways to substantially enhance India's economic involvement in business and development sector of Central Asia, the MEA had said on Wednesday.

With Afghanistan joining, the participants of the Dialogue will also deliberate on developing viable connectivity options between India and Afghanistan and Central Asia to further facilitate trade and economic activity in the region, it said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had visited five Central Asian countries in 2015 with an aim to deepen India's engagement with the hydrocarbon rich region.

Swaraj visited the region last August.

Officials said the India-Central Asia Dialogue, with the participation of Afghanistan, is expected to take India's engagement with all the countries of the region to a new level.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Delhi University's ad-hoc teachers, who are on a hunger strike since January 4 demanding their immediate absorption and same benefits as given to permanent teachers, said Saturday they were yet to hear from the varsity administration.

A group of 20 ad hoc teachers of the Delhi University began the hunger strike outside the Faculty of Arts.

The teachers have also written to the HRD Ministry demanding its intervention in the matter, a professor said.

The teachers are demanding their absorption and benefits that are given to permanent employees like paid maternity leave, retirement benefits, etc.

He said they have not heard anything from the administration which has been "apathetic" towards them.

The professor said they plan to intensify their stir in the coming days if the administration will not hear their plea.

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).

The ad-hoc teachers have received support from the Delhi University Teachers' Association (DUTA) and permanent teachers. The teachers association has also written a letter to the administration demanding absorption of its ad-hoc teachers.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Once arch-rivals Samajwadi Party and Bahujan Samaj Party announced Saturday their tie-up in Uttar Pradesh for the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, sharing 38 seats each and keeping the Congress out of the alliance.

The parties, however, said they would not field candidates in Amethi and Rae Bareli, represented by Congress president Rahul Gandhi and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi.

They also left two seats out of the 80 in the state for smaller allies, without naming them. But there have been talks with the Rashtriya Lok Dal.

Making the announcement jointly with SP president Akhilesh Yadav here, BSP chief Mayawati mocked Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP president Amit Shah. This press conference will rob the guru-chela of their sleep, she said.

"I have full confidence that just as our alliance defeated the BJP in the Lok Sabha bypolls, we will crush the saffron party in the general elections," she said, referring to the BJP's defeat in Phulpur, Gorakhpur and Kairana parliamentary bypolls.

Reacting to the development, the Bharatiya Janata Party said the two parties had came together for their survival, and not for the country or Uttar Pradesh.

They know they cannot fight Modi on their own and their opposition to him is the sole base for their alliance," Union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad told reporters on the sidelines of the party's National Council meeting in Delhi.

West Bengal chief minister and Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee welcomed the SP-BSP alliance in Uttar Pradesh.

In 2014, the BJP had won 71 seats in Uttar Pradesh while its ally Apna Dal bagged two. The SP won five seats and the Congress two, while the BSP drew a blank.

Explaining why the Congress was not included in the alliance, Mayawati said during that party's rule over the years, poverty, unemployment and corruption grew and there were scams in defence deals.

"Just as the Bofors scam uprooted the Congress, the BJP will witness the same fate because of its involvement in the Rafale scam," she said, referring to the graft allegations against the ruling party in a deal for French military aircraft.

She also said in tie-ups with the Congress in the past, her party did not benefit.

"In the past I have seen that our votes get transferred to the Congress, but not vice-versa. We do not gain from an alliance with the Congress, whereas the vote transfer is perfect in an SP-BSP tie-up," Mayawati said.

Drawing a parallel between the BJP and the Congress, Mayawati said the Congress had imposed Emergency while the BJP is responsible for an undeclared Emergency.

The joint press conference was held at a posh hotel here after top leadership of both the parties had met in New Delhi recently to discuss the broad parameters of an alliance to take on the BJP in the parliamentary elections.

To a question on seat-sharing with the Rashtriya Lok Dal in western UP, Akhilesh Yadav said the media would be informed about it in due course.

Asked whether it was a "natural alliance", Mayawati said, This will last long, beyond Lok Sabha polls and in the UP Assembly elections.

Asked if he would support Mayawati as prime minister if the situation arises, Yadav avoided a direct reply. You know whom I will support, he said.

I have said in the past that UP has always given the PM (to the country), and I will be happy if it gives the PM again.

The two leaders did not make it clear whether they will themselves contest the polls, which are to be held by May.

Mayawati accused the BJP of spending a massive amount of money on Shivpal Yadav, who recently floated the Pragatisheel Samajwadi Party-Lohia, suggesting that it was being "run by the BJP" and was meant to split the non-BJP vote.

"The money will go down the drain," she said.

Mayawati said she had put the 1995 guest house incident -- when she was attacked by SP supporters -- behind her for national interest.

"The BSP-SP alliance had been successful in the past and we will stop the BJP in UP if there is no misuse of EVMs (electronic voting machines) and the issue of Ram temple is not flared up," she said.

Yadav asked SP workers to ensure Mayawati gets the respect due to her.

"Mayawati's respect is my respect. An insult to her is an insult to me. If any BJP men or others say anything against her, it will be against me," Yadav said, seeming to warn against a repeat of the 1995 incident.

He asked party workers to be on guard against the BJP.

It can orchestrate riots and take other measures to create differences with BSP workers. You all have to work with patience and strengthen brotherhood," he said.

On the formation of the alliance, Yadav said, I had said that if I have to take two steps backwards for the alliance, I will do it," Akhilesh said, thanking Mayawati.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The pre-poll tie up of the SP and the BSP in Uttar Pradesh has put a question mark on the "mahagathbandhan" or grand alliance envisaged by the Congress, the Shiv Sena said Saturday.

Taking potshots at the formal alliance announcement of the SP and BSP for Lok Sabha polls, Sena spokesperson Manisha Kayande said both parties are ideologically opposite and none was people oriented.

"This alliance is not a people oriented alliance. The only aim is to keep right wing parties away. People know both parties have in the past bitterly opposed each other and their coming together now is purely for electoral purposes without a definite development agenda," Kayande told PTI.

She further said the alliance has dealt the first "blow" to the Congress's vision of a grand alliance.

"This alliance has surely put a question mark and made the fate of 'mahagathbandhan' uncertain. Only the future will tell if (NCP chief Sharad) Pawar and (Congress president) Rahul Gandhi are able to do something for themselves before the elections," she said.

NCP leader Dhananjay Munde, meanwhile, claimed the 2019 Lok Sabha polls against the BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi would be the "second freedom struggle".

"For this, all secular parties will have to come together and act responsibly. The SP-BSP-Congress and all other like minded parties have to come together to safeguard our Constitution and democracy," the Leader of Opposition in Maharashtra Legislative Council said.

Once-arch rivals, the Samajwadi Party (SP) and Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) Saturday announced their tie-up in Uttar Pradesh for the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, sharing 38 LS seats each and keeping the Congress out of the alliance.

The parties, however, said they would not field candidates in Amethi and Rae Bareli, represented by Congress president Rahul Gandhi and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi respectively. The SP-BSP also left two seats, out of 80, for smaller allies.

Meanwhile, Maharashtra Congress spokesperson Sachin Sawant said the alliance of SP-BSP was a state specific issue.

"However, in Maharashtra, we will ensure proper discussions take place and a consensus is arrived at for an alliance of like minded parties," Sawant said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Terming the electoral tie-up between the Samajwadi Party (SP) and the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) in Uttar Pradesh as "gunaahbandhan", state BJP chief Mahendra Nath Pandey on Saturday said it was a means to cover up crimes and an attempt to save each other's identity.

In a statement issued here, Pandey said, "This is a 'gunaahbandhan', which has been forged to cover up crimes, while attempting to save each other's identity. This is an alliance of opportunistic forces, who had thrown Uttar Pradesh in the fire of misgovernance, corruption and crime."



He also said under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government at the Centre had worked for all sections of the society and given a new identity to good governance.

"By raising questions on EVMs today, Mayawati has admitted her defeat," Pandey said.

He claimed that the alliance will face defeat in Uttar Pradesh in the coming Lok Sabha polls, irrespective of the election method.

"Mayawati shook hands with the SP, which is guilty of unleashing atrocities on Dalits and the poor, deprived, exploited sections of the society," Pandey said.

He claimed that the alliance, which was a "fallout of the fear of a Modi Tsunami", would have "no impact on the BJP".

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Once-arch rivals Samajwadi Party (SP) and Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) announced Saturday their tie-up in Uttar Pradesh for the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, sharing 38 seats each and keeping the Congress out of the alliance.

The parties, however, said they would not field candidates in Amethi and Rae Bareli, represented by Congress president Rahul Gandhi and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi. They also left two seats, out of 80, for smaller allies.

Making the announcement at a joint press conference with SP president Akhilesh Yadav here, BSP chief Mayawati said, "This...will rob 'guru-chela' -- Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP president Amit Shah -- of their sleep."



"I have full confidence that just as our alliance defeated the BJP in the Lok Sabha bypolls, we will crush the saffron party in the general elections," she said, referring to the BJP's defeat in Phulpur, Gorakhpur and Kairana parliamentary bypolls.

Explaining why the Congress was not included in the alliance, she said that during the Congress rule over the years, poverty, unemployment and corruption grew and there had been scams in various defence deals.

She also said that in case of a tie-up with the Congress in the past, the party did not benefit.

"In the past I have seen that our votes get transferred to the Congress, but not vice-versa. We do not gain from alliance with Congress, whereas vote transfer is perfect in SP-BSP tie-up," Mayawati said.

Drawing a parallel between the BJP and the Congress, Mayawati said the Congress had imposed the Emergency while the BJP is responsible for an undeclared Emergency.

The joint press conference was held at a posh hotel here after top leadership of both the parties had met in New Delhi recently to discuss broad parameters of the alliance to take on the BJP unitedly in the Lok Sabha elections.

In 2014, the BJP had won 71 seats in Uttar Pradesh while its ally Apna Dal bagged two. The Samajwadi Party won 5 seats and the Congress two, while the BSP drew a blank.

Reacting to the development, senior BJP leader and Union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said, "The SP and BSP have allied neither for the country nor for Uttar Pradesh, but for their survival. They know they cannot fight Modi on their own and their opposition to him is the sole base of their alliance.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Once-arch rivals Samajwadi Party (SP) and Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) announced Saturday their tie-up in Uttar Pradesh for the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, sharing 38 seats each and keeping the Congress out of the alliance.

The parties, however, said they would not field candidates in Amethi and Rae Bareli, represented by Congress president Rahul Gandhi and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi. They also left two seats, out of 80, for smaller allies.

Making the announcement at a joint press conference with SP president Akhilesh Yadav here, BSP chief Mayawati said, "This...will rob 'guru-chela' -- Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP president Amit Shah -- of their sleep."



"I have full confidence that just as our alliance defeated the BJP in the Lok Sabha bypolls, we will crush the saffron party in the general elections," she said, referring to the BJP's defeat in Phulpur, Gorakhpur and Kairana parliamentary bypolls.

Reacting to the development, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) said the SP and the BSP came together for their survival, and not for the country or Uttar Pradesh, and downplayed suggestions that the alliance would have a major impact on the upcoming Lok Sabha polls.

"The SP and the BSP have allied neither for the country nor for Uttar Pradesh, but for their survival. They know they cannot fight (Prime Minister Narendra) Modi on their own and their opposition to him is the sole base for their alliance," senior BJP leader and Union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad told reporters on the sidelines of the party's ongoing National Council Meeting in Delhi.

In 2014, the BJP had won 71 seats in Uttar Pradesh while its ally Apna Dal bagged two. The Samajwadi Party won five seats and the Congress two, while the BSP drew a blank.

Explaining why the Congress was not included in the alliance, Mayawati said that during the Congress rule over the years, poverty, unemployment and corruption grew in the country and there had been scams in various defence deals.

She also said that in case of a tie-up with the Congress in the past, the party did not gain.

"In the past I have seen that our votes get transferred to the Congress, but not vice-versa. We do not gain from alliance with Congress, whereas vote transfer is perfect in SP-BSP tie-up," Mayawati said.

Drawing a parallel between the BJP and the Congress, Mayawati said the Congress had imposed the Emergency while the BJP is responsible for an undeclared Emergency.

The joint press conference was held at a posh hotel here after top leadership of both the parties had met in New Delhi recently to discuss broad parameters of the alliance to take on the BJP unitedly in the Lok Sabha elections.

To a question on seat-sharing with the Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) in western UP, Akhilesh Yadav said the media would be informed about it in due course.

On whether it was a "natural alliance", Mayawati said, "Yeh lamba chaleyga, aagey bhi chaleyga, Lok Sabha chunav ke baad, UP Assembly mein bhi yeh sthayee chalega (This will last long, even beyond LS polls and in UP Assembly elections).

To a question as to whether Mayawati could be the possible prime minister face of the alliance, Akhilesh said, "UP has given PM a number of times in the past and once again the next PM will be from UP."



He did not, however, elaborate.

On whether Mayawati and Akhilesh Yadav will be contesting the Lok Sabha polls, both of them said the media will come to know in due course of time.

Mayawati also charged the BJP with spending massive money on Shivpal Yadav, who has recently floated the Pragatisheel Samajwadi Party-Lohia (to split non-BJP votes) and said, "The money will go down the drains."



On the BJP seeking to drive a wedge between the SP and the BSP by frequently citing the infamous Lucknow guest house incident in 1995 when the BSP leader was targeted by SP supporters and goons, she said, "We have decided to prioritise national interest putting the incident to the back-burner so that the BJP is not able to form the government this time."



West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee welcomed the SP-BSP announcing an alliance in Uttar Pradesh.

"I welcome the alliance of the SP and the BSP for the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections," Banerjee tweeted.

The Trinamool Congress supremo, who has been a vociferous critique of the BJP, has been touring the country over the past one year trying to build an opposition alliance to take on the BJP in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Call it political compulsion or an eye on maximum number of seats in the upcoming Lok Sabha polls, the coming together of Samajwadi Party and Bahujan Samaj Party only proves the adage that in politics, there are no permanent friends or foes.

Once-arch rivals Samajwadi Party (SP) and Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) Saturday announced their tie-up in Uttar Pradesh for the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, sharing 38 seats each and keeping the Congress out of the alliance.

The parties, however, said they would not field candidates in Amethi and Rae Bareli, represented by Congress president Rahul Gandhi and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi. They also left two seats, out of 80, for smaller allies.

The parties seem to have forgotten their two decade-old antagonism for a "political revolution" which they hope would



"last long".

"I am moving ahead of the 1995 guest house incident in the interest of the country and to serve the people, who are upset with the BJP's 'anti-people' policies," BSP supremo Mayawati said Saturday at a press conference here which was also attended by SP chief Akhilesh Yadav.

"The SP-BSP tie-up is a natural alliance. Yeh lamba chaleyga, aagey bhi chaleyga, Lok Sabha chunav ke baad, UP Assembly mein bhi yeh sthayee chalega (This will last long, even beyond LS polls and in UP Assembly elections)," she said, adding it was a "political revolution".

In 1993, SP-BSP had formed an alliance to stop the BJP's winning spree after the Ram temple movement.

Then SP chief Mulayam Singh Yadav and BSP founder Kanshi Ram had joined hands and succeeded in leaving a mark in the state by winning 167 Assembly seats. The BSP had got 67 seats and SP 109.

The alliance, however, did not last and ended in 1995 after the infamous Meera Bai Marg guest house incident wherein SP workers misbehaved with Mayawati.

An unruly mob of SP workers had stormed into the Meerabai Guest House here where Mayawati was huddled in a meeting with her MLAs.

Mayawati's room was vandalised, she was abused and allegedly beaten up. When the BSP MLAs failed to protect her, BJP MLA Brahm Dutt Dwivedi took her out of the guest house to safety. It was then that the BSP joined hands with the BJP to form the government in the state.

The incident had left an indelible mark in the relationship between the two parties. It was said Kanshi Ram made numerous efforts to revive the coalition, but Mayawati held the fort in her opposition to a possible tie-up.

However, 23 years later, it seems Mayawati has moved on.

The BSP-SP came close during the parliamentary



by-polls in Gorakhpur and Phulpur recently wherein the BSP supported SP candidates who succeeded in winning both the seats - Gorakhpur vacated by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and Phulpur by his deputy Keshav Prasad Maurya.

In the 2014 Lok Sabha polls, the SP had won five seats, while the BSP failed to win any seat.

In the 2017 assembly polls, SP and BSP got 22 per cent votes each.

Come to 2019, if both the parties continue to have a say in their traditional vote bank, the combine can create hurdles for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

In the politically-crucial Uttar Pradesh, there are about 22 per cent Dalits, 45 per cent OBCs and 19 per cent Muslims,



whose vote share will be decisive in the general elections this year.

"The SP-BSP alliance will certainly clear the dilemma of Muslim voters who are anti-BJP and with no division of their votes between SP and BSP, our alliance will get their votes in the major chunk," a senior SP leader said.

Commenting on how the new alliance will be a show stealer, SP president Akhilesh Yadav said, "The path of Delhi's power traverses through Uttar Pradesh and our alliance will be able to stop the BJP for sure.

"The alliance with BSP was founded in my heart when the BJP conspired and got BSP candidate Bhim Rao Ambedkar defeated during the Rajya Sabha biennial polls. I had said that if I had to take two steps backward for the alliance, I will do it," he said, thanking Mayawati.

Although Akhilesh Yadav's estranged uncle Shivpal Yadav, who recently floated the Pragatisheel Samajwadi Party (Lohia), claimed that he would emerge as a "strong force" in the polls, Mayawati asked people "not to waste their vote on his (Shivpal's) party funded by the BJP".

"BJP's money will go down the drain as it is running Shivpal's party," she said.

Akhilesh, however, did not comment on Shivpal's claim.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Delhi Sikh Gurudwara Prabandhak Committee on Saturday objected to the "facetious" portrayal of former prime minister Manmohan Singh in the biopic 'The Accidental Prime Minister' and appealed to the Sikh community to boycott the film.

In a video message, Delhi Sikh Gurudwara Prabandhak Committee general secretary Manjinder Singh Sirsa said Manmohan Singh made the Sikh community and India proud during his 10-year tenure as prime minister and the movie "spoils" his image.

"The Congress inflicted atrocities on Sikhs. The party committed sins... Maligning Manmohan Singh's image...is unacceptable. The Delhi Sikh Gurudwara Prabandhak Committee expresses serious concern over facetious portrayal of the former prime minister in the film," Sirsa said.

"Manmohan Singh made the community and the entire country proud at the global level. We are against any such movie which demeans the Sikh community," he said.

Sirsa, in his "capacity as the general secretary of the DSGPC", appealed to community members to boycott the movie.

The film, based on the book by the same name by Sanjaya Baru who served as Manmohan Singh's media advisor from 2004 to 2008, was released on Friday.

The movie shows Singh as a victim of the Congress's internal politics ahead of the 2014 general elections.

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Punjab minister Navjot Singh Sidhu Saturday said his department has set a target of



Rs 150 crore annual revenue from outdoor advertisement in all urban local bodies.

He also lashed out at the previous SAD-BJP regime, accusing it of indulging in "theft" and causing loss to the state exchequer.

"The target of the income through outdoor advertisement has been fixed at Rs 150 crore in all the 167 urban local bodies (ULBs)," the minister told reporters here.

The local government minister said his department has taken several steps in plugging leakage of revenue from advertisement which led to a significant jump in the income.

"In Ludhiana city alone, the tender for outdoor advertisement has gone for Rs 28 crore, whereas during the Akali regime, the income from this city stood at a mere



Rs 1.75 crore," he said.

"The income of Rs 28 crore from Ludhiana is Rs 10 crore more than what Punjab used to earn annually from all 167 ULBs through advertisement under the previous regime.

"You can well imagine the magnitude of theft. The cartels were formed and money was going to personal pockets during the Akali regime," he alleged.

The Congress leader said with fresh tender allotted in Ludhiana for advertisements, the revenue generation is expected to be to the tune of Rs 289 crore in nine years.

He said a comprehensive policy on outdoor advertisement was framed in March, 2018 with an objective of raising the income from this segment.

"After the launch of the new policy, the annual income of Municipal Corporation Moga has increased to Rs 1 crore as against the previous income of Rs 30 lakh, while that of Pathankot increased to Rs 67 lakh from Rs 20 lakh.

"Similarly, the annual income targets pertaining to Amritsar and Mohali cities have been set at Rs 20 crore each and the minimum base price concerning Jalandhar has been fixed at Rs 18.15 crore," Sidhu said.

The minister said the increase in income would allow the urban local bodies to become self-dependent and enable them to spend on development works.

He added that his department would also implement the online building plan approval in all municipal bodies in the state from January 15.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Hailing Shah Faesal as an "efficient" and "dedicated" IAS officer, Jammu and Kashmir Governor Satya Pal Malik Saturday said although the former's decision to join politics was personal, he could have served people better as an officer rather than as a politician.

"Faesal was an efficient and dedicated officer who rendered his services with great zeal and enthusiasm for the welfare of the state and its people particularly belonging to weaker sections of the society.

"In case, he would continue his service as an IAS officer, he could serve the people of society in a better way," the Governor said in a statement here.

Faesal, who has been in the limelight since becoming the first Kashmiri to top the civil services exam in 2009, resigned on January 9, protesting the "unabated" killings in Kashmir and the marginalisation of Indian Muslims.

In a brief statement on Facebook, the 35-year-old said his resignation was also to protest "the marginalisation and invisiblisation of around 200 million Indian Muslims at the hands of Hindutva forces reducing them to second-class citizens; insidious attacks on the special identity of the state and growing culture of intolerance and hate in mainland India in the name of hyper-nationalism".

The Jammu and Kashmir Governor said Faesal could have delivered better as an officer rather than as a politician.

"As far as his feelings about Kashmiris are concerned, he could be posted in the region for extending his fullest support in eradicating poverty and creating job opportunities for the youth of the Valley," he said.

"He (Faesal) should consult the youth to know their aspirations and try to create a new platform for the redressal of problems and grievances of youth," Malik said.

The Governor, however, observed that it was not necessary for him to suggest Faesal on what to do even though his best wishes were always with the former IAS officer.

"I would love to meet him if he comes to me for the redressal of problems of the youth," Malik added.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Political developments, Chinese incursion, the Chakma-Hajong refugee row and concerns over contamination of the Siang river marked the year 2018 for Arunachal Pradesh.

It witnessed a major shift in the political scenario with the National Peoples' Party (NPP), the party from neighbouring Meghalaya, being able to set a footprint in the state's politics by gaining seven MLAs without contesting the 2014 battle of ballots.

The party led by Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma received a shot in its arm during July, when seven of nine Peoples' Party of Arunachal (PPA) MLAs switched over to NPP's fold.

The remaining two PPA MLAs on September 20 joined the Congress. After the development, the PPA, the lone regional party of the state was left with no MLA in the 60-member state assembly.

In early January, a similar Doklam-like situation brewed up at Gelling in Upper Siang district of the state with reports that a Chinese road-building team entered the state's territory with bulldozers on December 28, 2017.

According to local villagers, Indian soldiers confronted their Chinese counterparts and seized their road construction machines including two excavators. They also claimed that Chinese soldiers were involved in road construction in that area.

Another major issue which hogged limelight during the year gone by was the Siang river, considered as the lifeline of the state, turning black and muddy at various places and locals suspecting China's role behind the phenomenon.

Siang originates in China and then enters India through Arunachal Pradesh. It is then joined by Dibang and Lohit rivers as it enters Assam where it is called the Brahmaputra.

People in the state, especially those in Pasighat in East Siang district, complained about rise in mud level in the river.

Ninong Ering, Congress MP from the state suspected the flow of mud into the river could have been a result of a possible river diversion by China.

China has been planning to dig the world's longest tunnel to change the course of Yarlung Tsangpo from Tibet towards Taklimakan desert in Xinjiang but has been denying the same at public platforms.

Post the landslide over Yarlung Tsangpo River (Siang in Arunachal Pradesh, Brahmaputra in Assam) in Milin county of Tibet in China, several materials from China were washed by the river floating downstream into India in October.

The Chakma and Hajong refugee row and the state government's announcement to grant Permanent Resident Certificate (PRC) to non-tribal communities residing in the state also kept the state in during the year.

Chief Minister Pema Khandu and Deputy Chief Minister Chowna Mein's announcement at a public meeting at Namsai had evoked strong resentment among the community based organisations who demanded the state government to take a decision only after submission of a report by a joint high-powered committee constituted under and Forest Minister Nabam Rebia.

The All Arunachal Pradesh Students' Union (AAPSU) while opposing granting of citizenship to Chakma and Hajong refugees made its stand clear on the imbroglio stating that the people of the frontier state would not accept such a move at any cost.

The year also witnessed crisis in the Arunachal Pradesh Public Service Commission (APPSC) following a question paper fiasco in the preliminary examination of combined exams.

With assembly elections due this year, Chief Minister Khandu launched the Arunachal Rising Campaign throughout the state in November to make people aware about all the flagship programme and schemes launched by the Centre and his government.

The state assembly on August 29 passed a bill for creation of three new districts - Pakke-Kesang, Lepa Rada and Shi Yomi.

The law and order scenario in the state during 2018 remained grim with underground elements intensifying extortion bids in Tirap, Changlang and Longding districts.

Security forces also gunned down two hardcore NSCN (K) militants in an ambush in Longding district while more than 24 cadres of NSCN (IM), NSCN (K), NSCN (R) and ULFA were arrested during the year with huge cache of arms and ammunition.

Several murder and rape cases were also reported from the state during 2018.

Suspected ULFA (I) militants kidnapped a tea estate manager from Lekang in Namsai district who were later released.

Over hundred houses have been completely gutted in devastating fire in the state during the year gone by.

Flood and landslides lashed several district in the state causing massive damage to hundreds of dwellings besides snapping power supply and surface communications in several districts.

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* The 4th International Competition of Cartoons Aleksandar Klas 2017, Serbia: All cartoonists whose cartoons are selected in the catalog and the exhibition will receive a free copy of the catalog ( Regulation ).

* International Cartoon Contest in Memory of Cartoonist Prof. Atila Ozer 2016, Turkey: The selected cartoons will be published in a catalog. These will be sent at no cost to the participants whose works are : The selected cartoons will be published in a catalog. These will be sent at no cost to the participants whose works are exhibited and published ( Regulation ).
The Rajasthan High Court has stayed the allotment of 10,000 petrol pumps and issued notices to central and state governments, and three oil companies, seeking their reply in four weeks time.

A division bench comprising Chief Justice Pradeep Nadrajog and Justice P S Bhati allowed a petition by one Birbal Ram, who had pointed out some lacunae in the process for allotment of petrol pumps in such a large number.

Bharat Petroleum, Hindustan Petroleum and Indian Oil Corporation were issued notices along with the Centre and the state government.

The companies had issued notification in newspapers on December 14 last year seeking applications for setting up 10,000 new petrol pumps across the state. The last date for the application was Saturday.

Petitioner's counsel Kuldeep Mathur said the process of allotting new pumps required an assessment of the existing ones by the petroleum board. "The notification for new petrol pumps was rolled out without any such assessment which was illegal," he claimed.

The petition also contended the allotment of such a large number of new outlets in one go was not need-based but a politically motivated step.

The petitioner said allotment of so many new petrol pumps will not only affect the revenue of the existing ones but will also affect the environment.

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The Railways must set up a separate wing within it's personnel department to deal with children found in the national transporter's premises, according to a newly published study.

The 'Rights of Children in Contact with Railways' study, by All India Working Group released on Saturday, has said the Railway Police or Protection Force cannot effectively discharge the duty of child care and protection.

"Institution for care and protection within the Railways cannot be the Railway Police or Protection Force, which have been set up for entirely criminal and custodial protocols, even though there are instances, such as in Bengal where the RPF is said to have played a positive role.

"A separate institution within the personnel department of the Indian Railways should be set up with specialised expertise in the care and protection of children," it said.

The report was prepared by a collective of 40 organisations who participated in collecting data from 127 stations, and 2,148 child respondents.

It also said the current standard operating procedure (SOP) of the Railways has to be revisited as it violates the judgement of the High Court of Delhi, and the principles of the Juvenile Justice Act 2015, the National Policy for Children, and the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child so as to mitigate the continuing harassment of the children at the stations.

"The children who come in contact with the Railways do so because the Railways offer a viable opportunity for the objectives of the children and hence the Railways is duty-bound to provide care and protection, and not rescue-and-restore, as is made out in the present SOP. The principle of Corporate Social Responsibility must be invoked in this regard," it said.

According to official figures, 11,178 children were rescued in 2017 while 8,963 children have been sent home by the force with the help of child welfare committees and NGOs in 2018 (till August).

In 2014, 5,294 children were rescued, the following year, the RPF rescued 7,044 children while in 2016, it sent home 8,593 children.

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The venue of Congress president Rahul Gandhi's public meeting has been shifted from Cuttack to Bhubaneswar, the Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee said Saturday.

Rahul Gandhi is scheduled to visit Odisha on January 25.

OPCC president Niranjan Patnaik said Rahul Gandhil's publc meeting is likely to be held at Tamando ground here on January 25.

He said Gandhi will be in the city from 10 am to 5 pm on January 25 but did not mention why the venue was shifted from Cuttack to Bhubaneswar.

Rahul Gandhi is scheduled to meet farmers, civil society members, officials of Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd and intellectuals, Patnaik said.

"It is not sure whether a separate session with party workers can be organised in view of Gandhi's tight schedule," Patnaik said.

The OPCC president said that the Congress president will arrive on another visit to the state in February. He may tour some districts in south and western Odisha and address public meetings.

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The pro-talks faction of the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) threatened to pull out of the ongoing peace parleys with the Centre on Saturday if the controversial Citizenship Amendment Bill was passed in Parliament.

Besides, a government lobby was backing certain people to fan communalism among the Assamese and Bengali-speaking people of Assam, it claimed.

"The ongoing peace talks are likely to be discontinued if the Centre goes ahead with the citizenship bill, against which protests have erupted in Assam with all sections of the society participating in the agitation," prominent ULFA leader Mrinal Hazarika told reporters here.

The issue was raised on the organisation's platform that the talks would be redundant if the bill was passed, he said.

The bill seeks to amend the Citizenship Act, 1955 to grant Indian citizenship to the Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis and Christians, who fled religious persecution in Bangladesh, Pakistan and Afghanistan and entered India before December 31, 2014.

Protests have erupted in Assam and the other north-eastern states after the bill was passed in the Lok Sabha on January 8.

ULFA general secretary Anup Chetia claimed that attempts to get the bill passed in Parliament had induced youngsters in the state to go to the jungles for taking up arms.

Senior police officials of Assam, in November last year, had said a growing public sentiment against the Centre's move to amend the Citizenship Act had given a "fresh lease of life" to the ULFA, which had recruited eights youngsters in the previous two months.

Besides, Chetia alleged that Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders like Pradip Dutta Roy were backed by a government lobby to fuel the "feelings of communalism" among the Assamese and Bengali-speaking people.

Dutta Roy courted controversy on Friday by threatening Assamese-speaking students in the Bengali-dominated Barak valley that their admission in the Assam University at Silchar would be barred if they protested against the citizenship bill.

"I am writing to the vice-chancellor of the university, asking him what step he is taking against the students for opposing the bill," he had said.

On Saturday, the university authorities banned protests on the campus without prior permission.

"We always want to live peacefully with the Bengali, Bihari and Marwari people. But the government is always after us. They arrested us for making communally instigating remarks but spared people like Pradip Dutta Roy," Chetia said.

Chetia and Hazarika were at the Dispur police station, responding to a summons on the charge of gheraoing a BJP office here on January 6.

On the summons, Chetia said, "Three women, who had joined the BJP's office-gherao programme, had come to our office to use the washroom and a bus carrying the protesters was parked outside our office. This made the police believe that the gherao was planned by us."



Chetia was deported to India from Bangladesh in 2015 after 18 years of imprisonment.

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Parties supporting outgoing Democratic Republic of Congo president Joseph Kabila won a majority in long-delayed legislative elections, according to an AFP tally of results released Saturday, as the opposition sought a recount of the disputed presidential poll.

Pro-Kabila parties had passed the 250-seat threshold required to secure a majority in the 500-seat national assembly, according to collated results from the Independent National Election Commission (CENI).

More than 15,000 candidates were running in the poll, which determines who will control parliament for the next five years.

Pro-Kabila candidates had secured 288 of the 429 seats so far declared, with 141 going to the opposition.

The huge central African country, which straddles an area the size of western Europe, has been in the grip of a two-year political crisis triggered by Kabila's refusal to step down when his two-term constitutional limit expired at the end of 2016.

A presidential election to choose a successor was delayed three times before finally taking place on December 30, the same day as the legislative poll.

The poll's runner-up Martin Fayulu, an opposition candidate tipped by pollsters as the likely winner of the vote, told supporters on Friday he would demand a recount.

He said he would challenge Corneille Nangaa, head of the election commission "to produce the tally reports from polling stations in front of witnesses" and Congolese and international observers.

Provisional results released on Thursday gave Felix Tshisekedi, a rival opposition candidate, 38.57 percent of the vote, just ahead of Fayulu with 34.8 per cent.

Emmanuel Ramazani Shadary, the candidate backed by Kabila, came a distant third with 23.8 per cent.

The declared result was a surprise to many observers of the mineral-rich but poverty-stricken country, which has suffered two major wars in the past 22 years, as well as bloodshed in elections in 2006 and 2011 that saw Kabila returned to office.

Pre-election opinion polls had flagged Fayulu as clear favourite while Kabila critics predicted an outcome rigged in favour of Shadary.

The powerful Roman Catholic church bluntly said CENI's provisional result "does not correspond" with data that its 40,000 election monitors had collected at polling stations.

Fayulu's bloc on Friday said he was the true victor, claiming he had garnered 61 percent of the vote.

Candidates have 48 hours after the result to file any appeal, and the Constitutional Court has a week in which to deliberate.

"We don't expect the election to be annulled, but (a decision in favour of) a recount," Fayulu said.

Polling day had unfolded relatively peacefully, but suspicions over the count have deepened.

The turmoil has darkened hopes that the country will have its first peaceful handover of power since it gained independence in 1960.

International reactions to the results have been guarded.

Most leaders issued statements calling for any disputes to be resolved peacefully, but notably lacking any congratulations for Tshisekedi.

Competing appeals in the dispute were pitched to the UN Security Council on Friday.

CENI chief Nangaa, speaking by video conference, pleaded for "the new authorities to be supported by the international community".

Bishop Marcel Utembi, head of the Catholic church's conference of bishops, urged the Security Council to ask CENI to release the records of vote-counting at polling stations to allow for verification.

Analysts said they believed Kabila, 47, had sought to avoid the expected backlash and international condemnation that would have followed had Shadary -- the candidate he publicly supported -- been declared winner.

According to this scenario, he therefore struck a deal with Tshisekedi, head of the country's oldest and biggest opposition party.

Some commentators suggested Kabila would have sought immunity from prosecution for his iron-fisted 18-year rule, and protection from assets seizure in return for offering his support.

Thursday's pre-dawn announcement brought thousands of Tshisekedi supporters onto the streets in celebration, while others who had backed Fayulu came out to protest.

The authorities late Friday imposed an 8pm-5am curfew in Kikwit, a Fayulu stronghold in the west of the country, city mayor Leonard Mutangu told AFP.

Five civilians were killed there on Thursday in a police operation to curb post-election violence, said National Police spokesman Colonel Pierrot-Rombaut Mwanamputu.

Seventeen police were injured, he said, denying earlier reports of police fatalities. A relay station of the national radio and television broadcaster, RTNC, was also ransacked, he added.

In the eastern city of Goma, at least one person was killed, officials said.

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi will release a commemorative coin on Guru Gobind Singh on Sunday to mark the birth anniversary of the 10th Sikh Guru.

The Prime Minister will also address a select gathering on the occasion at his residence, a statement from his office said.

Modi had attended 350th birth anniversary celebrations of Guru Gobind Singh in Patna on January 5, 2017.

He had also released a commemorative postage stamp to mark the occasion.

In his address, the Prime Minister had underlined how Guru Gobind Singh made a unique attempt to unite the country through the Khalsa sect.

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: Karnataka Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy Saturday said he was "amused" at Prime Minister Narendra Modi's "clerk" comment referring to him and clarified that he had never made such a statement.

"I am amused to see Hon'ble Prime Minister @narendramodi reacting to a statement which I never made.

After farmers loan this is the second time he is reacting tofalse information/statement.

Such statements won't deter ourcoalition government from the development agenda," Kumaraswamysaid in a tweet.

The "farmers' loan" was a reference to Modi's statement at a rally in Ghazipur in Uttar Pradesh in December 29 last year that Congress promised loan waivers to lakhs of farmers, but the JD(S)-Congress coalition in Karnataka did not deliver.

"Lollipops" were handed out. The loan waiver was given to only 800 farmers, Modi had claimed.

Addressing the BJP's National Convention in New Delhi Saturday, Modi referred to a reported statement of Kumaraswamy about functioning like a clerk.

"In Karnataka, where there is a coalition government,what is the Chief Minister there saying? Karnataka Chief Minister, who is the Chief Minister of a coalition government...

It has been a just few months, but he is worried so much that he is saying that instead of (being treated as) Chief Minister, he isbeing treated like a clerk," Modi said.

According to some media reports, Kumaraswamy, during the recent meeting with party legislators, had told them that he was working under pressure.

The reports had also quoted the Chief Minister as having told them that he was functioning like a clerk and accusing the JDS coalition partner Congress of interference.

Kumaraswamy had on Thursday rubbished the media reports, terming them as "speculative" and "imaginary".

Reacting to the Prime Minister's comments, JD(S) supremo and former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda asked "Will he praise the coalition government and not criticise?"



No one should speak lightly about anybody. I don't have the practise of talking lightly about anyone. Idon't want its advantage also", he said.

The state Congress too has hit back at Modi, calling him a "leader of failures".

"Respected Narendra Modi, you have called the Chief Minister of a democratically elected government a clerk.

You, aleader of failures, lord of lies, have diminished the positionof Prime Minister," Karnataka Congress said in a tweet inKannada.

It attacked the Prime Minister for not coming to Parliament and responding to the charges against him.

Noting that the matter was something between Congress and JD(S), the coalition coordination committee chief and former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah asked what Modi has to do with it.

He said "Modi doesn't know anything...he is trying to instigate..."



Karnataka BJP leaders Prahlad Joshi and Jagadish Shettar defended Modi's remark, saying that he was only quoting Kumaraswamy.

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will not approach the for a new bailout package and is considering alternative options to tide over its economic crisis, Minister said Saturday.

Minister Umar made the remarks during a meeting with businessmen at the Chamber of Commence and Industry (KCCI).

Umar told the participants that the Imran Khan led government had decided against entering into any new bailout programme with the Monetary Fund (IMF) for now and was exploring other possible avenues to help Pakistan's struggling get back on track.

Cash-strapped is negotiating a $ 8 billion bailout package from the to overcome a severe balance-of-payments crisis that threatens to cripple the country's

The government reached out to some "friendly countries" for economic assistance including Saudi Arabia, and the UAE since Prime Minister Khan assumed office in August.

Umar said different alternative options were being explored instead of rushing into a new programme which would bring more stringent economic conditions for

He told the businessmen that the government would be announcing a mini-budget on January 23.

The minister said he was meeting with businessmen in and Lahore to discuss the amended bill, which he said will facilitate businessmen.

Umar indicated that the amended bill will also carry "some good news" for the (PSX).

He also made it clear that the government had signed several agreements to bring investment to the country instead of just borrowing from friendly countries.

"The impact of these investment agreements will become known from next week," he said.

Pakistan and the UAE finalised the terms and conditions of a $ 6.2 billion support package for Islamabad this month.

Last month, the UAE said it will soon give $ 3 billion to Islamabad.

In October, agreed to provide Pakistan $ 3 billion in foreign currency support for a year to address its balance-of-payments crisis.

During Prime Minister Khan's visit to on October 23, it was announced that the oil-rich country will provide a $ 6 billion package to Pakistan to support its ailing

The package included $ 3 billion balance of payments support and $ 3 billion in deferred payments on

Pakistan's all weather ally has also pledged to provide a generous aid to Islamabad to overcome its financial woes. has not yet revealed the quantum of its financial support.

Pakistan apprehends the IMF will come with stringent conditions of austerity besides scrutiny of $ 60 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor projects whose terms till now remained confidential.

The is making all efforts to ensure that any IMF loan to Pakistan is not used to repay its Chinese debt.
The National Peoples Party, which is part of the BJP-led coalition North East Democratic Alliance (NEDA) would contest the Arunachal Pradesh Assembly elections alone, NPP president and Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma has said.

"The NPP plans to contest as many Assembly seats as possible in Arunachal Pradesh alone while remaining a partner of the NEDA," he told reporters here Friday.

Terming NEDA as a platform to plan for economic development, he said that all parties are free to maintain their respective identity which the NPP would do.

That is why despite alliance with Arunachal Pradesh's ruling BJP government, the NPP would fight Assembly seats alone, the NPP president said.

Assembly elections in Arunachal Pradesh are due along with the Lok Sabha elections.

The NPP is part of the BJP-led N Biren Singh government in Manipur and also of the Neiphiu Rio led NDDP government in Nagaland. The BJP is a junior coalition partner in the Conrad K Sangma government in Meghalaya.

The Meghalaya chief minister, who also holds charge of the Finance portfolio said he would call a conclave of all North East Finance ministers for close inter-state cooperation which would immensely benefit the region.

Responding to questions from scribes, he said the Meghalaya government has already adopted a resolution against the Citizenship (Amendment) bill.

On Thursday the Meghalaya Cabinet passed a resolution opposing the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill.

He said the NPP will be meeting in the coming days to decide on the future course of action of the party with regards to the Citizenship Bill.

On ongoing mining in his state, he said that that has been going on since British time illegally but the NPP government had termed it illegal and the state administration has taken bold steps to check it as 1,000 cases of illegal mining were registered during last two years.

On banning coal mining in Meghalaya, he said it was not possible as people have been doing so since time immemorial. It should be regulated while ensuring environment protection and ensuring safety measures to not snatch away livelihood of the masses.

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Puducherry Lt Governor Kiran Bedi said late Saturday night her office was "not in a position" to approve the proposal to distribute Pongal gifts to APL families, hours after Chief Minister V Narayanasamy warned her of "serious repercussions" if she did not concur with his government on the issue.

Addressing reporters here, Narayanasamy, who has been at loggerheads with Bedi on various issues, said he had on Friday sent a file, informing her that Pongal hampers comprising raisins, cashew nuts, and cardamom should be available free of cost to "all families without discrimination".

He said Bedi, who was insisting on giving the gifts to only BPL families, would face "very serious repercussions" if she did not see eye to eye with his government on the Pongal gift hamper scheme.

Bedi in a WhatsApp message said, "The Puducherry Finance Department had examined the proposal for providing the gift to above poverty line (APL) families and it had found that no separate funds were provided for the Pongal gift in the budget for the fiscal 2018-2019".

The allocation of funds was budgeted only for the operation of free rice scheme which is also highly inadequate, she said.

Free rice was distributed during the current fiscal only up to September and the rice is yet to be distributed for the remaining five months, she said, adding that the Department of Civil Supplies needed Rs 63 crores additionally for the scheme but had only Rs 19.51 crores.

Bedi stated that "already there is a shortfall in revenue collection to the extent of Rs 112 crores and hence "we are in dire need for funds to pay pension, settle power bills and meet other commitments".

She said that no additional grant was received from the Centre for a revised estimate of expenditure. For these reasons, the Finance Department here has declined to concur with the proposal to provide Pongal gift to APL families.

She said the government also has to save money to protect the interest of poor families coming under BPL (below poverty line) category, while maintaining that the Pongal gift would be available only for BPL families.

Reacting to the CM's warning, Bedi said, "I am personally not afraid of anything."



The chief minister and his colleagues should realise that when a file is sent to her office for approval it shall be read with "application of mind and rules as office of the Lt Governor is not a rubber stamp," she said, adding it was "principally wrong for them to expect the Lt Governor to be a mere endorser of their demands and views."



Bedi also requested the chief minister not to use threatening words towards a constitutional office and "maintain decorum" in his speech and in the notes he was writing to her. Otherwise, she would be "compelled to make those notes public for people to know what and how he was writing".

Earlier in the day, the chief minister claimed the recent Madras High Court order, permitting distribution of freebies to all ration card holders in Tamil Nadu without any discrimination, was also applicable to Puducherry.

He charged the Lt Governor with "twisting and misinterpreting" the court order which, he said, had only restrained the Tamil Nadu government from distributing cash gift of Rs 1,000 to all families.

"The free supply of provisions and commodities for Pongal is to cover all families and the high court has also made this very clear," he pointed out.

Bedi had on Wednesday hailed the Madras High Court order, directing the Tamil Nadu government to restrict the Pongal cash gift of Rs 1,000 to Below Poverty Line families.

In a message to media, she had said the order was "a voice of wisdom, sagacity, financial prudence and reasonable restraint protecting society as a whole... also one of accountability and responsibility towards the really needy".

Noting that there was a limit to everything, Narayanasamy said the Lt Governor "cannot run roughshod and misuse power and authority".

He also termed as "unfortunate" Prime Minister Narendra Modi's response to the representations made by him all along on the style of functioning of the Puducherry Lt Governor.

The chief minister also participated in a demonstration organised jointly by the Left parties and the Viduthalai Chirutaigal Katchi (VCK) to condemn Bedi's "autocratic" style of functioning.

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The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has arrested a key suspect in connection with the killing of a former Janata Dal (United) legislator from Jharkhand over a decade ago, officials said Saturday.

Bhajo Hari Singh Munda, accused of killing MLA Ramesh Munda, was arrested by a team of the NIA Raipur from Jojahatu village in the state's Khunti district on Friday, officials said.

The 48-year-old was absconding for a long time and a non-bailable warrant had been issued against him. He was chargesheeted last March, the NIA officials said.

Ramesh Munda was killed, allegedly by Naxalites, when the JDU MLA was delivering a speech at a function in Bundu town in his Tamar assembly constituency on July 9, 2008. His two bodyguards were also killed in the attack.

Last August, investigations revealed that the main accused, CPI (Maoist) leader Kundan Pahan, had received Rs 3 crore as advance payment from another accused, Raja Peter, for killing Ramesh Munda.

Pahan gave over Rs 2.7-crore to Singh, who was his associate then, officials said. The money was part of a Rs 5-crore deal, which involved furthering Naxal activities in Jharkhand.

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Writer Namita Gokhale received the Sushila Devi Literature Award at the inaugural function of the first edition of the Bhopal Literature & Art Festival (BLF) that started here Saturday.

About 70 writers and artists are attending the festival, being held at the Multi Art Centre of the Bharat Bhawan here.

Gokhale recieved the award for the 'Best Book of Fiction Written by a Woman Author' for her novel "Things to Leave Behind".

Union Minister of State for Culture and Tourism K J Alphons and Madhya Pradesh Culture Minister Dr Vijaylaxmi Sadho were present on this occasion.

Praising the beauty of Bhopal's Upper Lake, Alphons, in his speech, said tourist facilities should be developed around the lake without damaging the water body.

Later, speaking at a panel discussion on 'The Path Ahead: Transformative Ideas for India', Niti Aayog CEO Amitabh Kant stressed the need to focus on manufacturing products for the global market.

Comptroller and Auditor General of India Rajiv Mehrishi and economist Ila Patnaik were also part of the panel.

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The ongoing BEST bus strike in Mumbai is set to continue as a meeting chaired by Maharashtra chief secretary Saturday between striking unions and the management of the civic-run transport undertaking failed to break the impasse.

The meeting was held after the Bombay High Court Friday directed the union leaders to talk with a state government committee, comprising Maharashtra chief secretary DK Jain, BMC Commissioner Ajoy Mehta, secretaries of the transport and urban development departments and BEST general manager Surendrakumar Bagde, to find a way to end the strike.

Over 32000 employees of the Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport Undertaking (BEST) are on strike since Tuesday and its fleet of 3200-odd buses are off the metropolis' roads, causing severe inconvenience to several lakh commuters.

Shashank Rao, president of the striking BEST Workers' Union Saturday said the committee heard out to their demands but did not give any response.

"We put our stand before them and very clearly stated that we will not withdraw the strike until our demands are accepted," Rao told reporters, adding that the stir would proceed peacefully.

When contacted, state chief secretary DK Jain told PTI that the committee has listened to the unions' grievances and a report would be submitted to the Bombay High Court on Monday.

"Before the report is submitted in the court, I cannot reveal the minutes of the meeting," he informed.

An official, meanwhile, said the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) had once again made it clear that it is not in favour of merging the BMC's and the loss-making transport undertaking's budgets, as demanded by the union.

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Movement against the the controversial Citizenship Amendment Bill, 2016 intensified in Manipur on Saturday.

A protest rally was jointly organised at Kwakeithel Akham Leikai in Manipur's Imphal West district by several Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) like All Manipur United Clubs Organisation (AMUCO), Irawat Foundation, COHR, Poirei Leimarol Network and AMOVA and others in protest against the Citizenship Amendment Bill.

AMUCO president Ph Devan said that the bill will uproot the existence of indigenous people of the Northeastern region of India. He further appealed the CSOs and political parties to come together to fight against the bill.

Six student organisations -- All Manipur Students' Union (AMSU), Democratic Students' Alliance of Manipur (DESAM), Manipur Students' Federation (MSF), Kangleipak Students' Association (KSA), Students' Union of Kangleipak (SUK) and Socialist Students' Union of Manipur observed "Black Day" today at various places.

Another protest rally against the bill was also held at Wangoo area in Manipur's Bishnupur district.

Workers of National Students' Union of India (NSUI), Manipur state and Manipur Pradesh Youth Congress Committee staged a protest demonstration against the bill at the heart of Imphal city and they also submitted a memorandum to the Governor of Manipur, Najma Heptulha.

The bill seeks 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.

The North East Students' Organisation (NESO), a conglomerate of students' bodies of the region, also observed 'Black Day' in neighbouring Assam to protest firing in Tripura during the bandh against the Bill on Tuesday.

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Jammu and Kashmir Congress on Saturday expressed shock over the killings of two soldiers and an Army porter in Rajouri district and said Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government had "failed" to give a befitting response to the neighbour.

An Army Major and a soldier were killed in an IED blast along the Line of Control (LoC) in Naushera sector on Friday. An Army porter was also killed the same day in Sunderbani sector when Pakistani troops resorted to unprovoked firing.

Pakistan has been indulging in such actions repeatedly on the LoC and International Border, which is a matter of grave concern as large number of jawans are being killed, Jammu and Kashmir Congress president Ravinder Sharma, who visited Lam sector near the LoC, said in a statement here.

"Pakistan has resorted to BAT (Border Action Team) attacks and snipper strikes repeatedly during recent years, which is very serious," he said.

The Congress leader said there is strong resentment amongst the people living in the border areas against Pakistan's actions.

Sharma said the Modi-led BJP government had failed to give a befitting response to Pakistan and check its misadventures on the borders.

He conveyed his and the Congress' condolences to the families of the deceased.

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Actor Melissa McCarthy has recalled an old interview where the interviewer tried to body shame her by asking questions about her "tremendous size".

The 48-year-old actor, who is currently enjoying critical acclaim for her performance in "Can You Ever Forgive Me?", told InStyle magazine that the incident happened during the press tour of her 2011 film "Bridesmaids".

"I do remember another interview I did for 'Bridesmaids' with somebody who later lost his job for a conversation he had on a bus with someone else. I won't mention names, but just think about it. He kept asking, 'Are you shocked that you actually work in this business at your tremendous size?'" McCarthy said.

She said the interviewer continued to ask questions along the lines of "Oh, your tremendous size, you can actually work?" and revealed that after a while, she felt "all the blood" rush out of her body.

"I thought, 'With my tremendous size, I could tackle you so quickly,'" she said.

"There were two cameras on him, and one was on me, and he went back to that question three or four times, and I just kept talking about the script or how fun Paul Feig was. He was looking around like, 'She's crazy.' When we left, their producer was horrified and said, 'We'll never play what he said. I'm so sorry,'" she added.

The actor revealed that such experiences "happen all the time" and said it is "fascinating" as men never face these questions.

"Not to be a jerk or single him out, but when John Goodman was heavier, did anybody ever talk about his girth?" McCarthy asked.

She also recalled a press conference for either "The Heat" or "Tammy," when a separate interviewer "from a very big organization" asked her, "Why do you always feel the need to be so grotesque?"



"It was a huge interview with maybe 100 people in the room, and he was sneering. He goes, 'You look sloppy, you're not wearing any makeup, your hair is not done, you're yelling at people.' I was like, 'OK, so have you ever asked this of a guy? I'm playing a character. You need to get out more if you don't think there are real women like that'," McCarthy said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Hitting back at Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his remarks that people have to chose between a "majboor" (helpless) and a "majboot" (strong) government in the upcoming general election, the Congress on Saturday said the 2019 Lok Sabha polls would be a fight between dictatorship and democracy.

On Modi's attack on states ruled by opposition parties for withdrawing the general consent to the CBI and his remarks that he had not resorted to such a measure when he was targeted by central agencies under the UPA rule, Congress spokesperson Manish Tewari retorted, saying investigating bodies were not used as a political tool under his party's rule to target rivals.

Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal and Chhattisgarh have withdrawn the general consent to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in these states.

Tewari said, while in his over-an-hour-long speech, Modi spoke on a host of issues, including launching several attacks on the Congress, he skipped key "achievements" like demonetisation, the employment he had promised to generate and the agrarian distress across the country.

"Lok Sabha 2019 will not be a battle between a majboor sarkar and a majboot sarkar, it is a fight between dictatorship and democracy. It is a battle between 'bhashan' (speeches) and 'prashasan' (administration) and it is going to be a test of 'jumla' versus impeccable track record of service which the Congress has delivered for years," he said.

The Congress leader's remarks came in response to Modi's assertion at the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) national convention that the opposition parties were coming together as they wanted to form a "majboor" government to promote nepotism and corruption, whereas the saffron party wanted a "majboot" dispensation for an all-round development of the country.

Tewari accused the government of systematic weakening of the country's institutions.

Targeting the government over the state of internal security, he said Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman had stated that there was no big terror attack during the BJP rule.

"If this was to be true, then what was the Uri attack, where 19 soldiers were killed in a terror strike, and the Pathankot terror strike?," Tewari asked.

Both the terror attacks had taken place in 2016.

The Congress leader said the situation in the Kashmir Valley was bad and wondered what was the progress of the Naga Peace Accord, signed between the Centre and the Nationalist Socialist Council of Nagaland (Isak-Muivah) in 2015.

"What is the government's policy towards Pakistan? Why is it so that our trusted friend Russia has been selling arms to Pakistan? The way American President Donald Trump has been mocking you and India's diplomacy...why is there no response from the government or the BJP?," he asked.

Last week, Trump took a jibe at Modi for funding a "library" in Afghanistan, saying it was of no use in the war-torn country, as he criticised India and others for not doing enough for the land-locked nation's security.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
RJD national president Lalu Prasad Saturday took to Urdu poetry for sending across a message that he has not lost his nerve despite failing health and his incarceration.

Prasad, who is serving sentences in a number of fodder scam cases and lodged in a Ranchi hospital for a number of debilitating ailments, shared the verse on Twitter along with a video and a post by a leading English magazine.

The video talks about the various challenges faced by Prasad, whose bail plea was rejected by the Jharkhand High Court earlier this week. The accompanying post also questions if the RJD chief would be an absentee kingmaker in 2019.

"I belong to a tribe of revolutionaries, a small army of those who stand for truth. It is not for nothing that I am in a fight with the order of the day, I have taken a stand for a cause," his tweet said.

Reacting to the the RJD chief's attempt at poetry, JD(U) spokesman Sanjay Singh tweeted with a verse wherein he accused Prasad of corruption, lies and deceit.

Yadav's party, RJD, which is the largest constituent of the opposition in Bihar, faces the tough task of taking on the formidable alliance ruling the state which comprises Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's JD(U), the BJP and Ram Vilas Paswan's LJP.

Leaders of the opposition alliance here, comprising RJD, Congress, RLSP and some other smaller parties, look up to the wily leader for finalising seat-sharing for the upcoming general elections



The former Bihar chief minister has been away from active politics since his conviction in December, 2017 in the Deoghar treasury case, which was followed by conviction in two more cases of the multi-crore fodder scam.

His official Twitter handle is operated by his close aides.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Anirban Lahiri played extremely well in the second round and yet came back only with a two-under 68 for the second successive day to be placed Tied 35th at the Sony Open in Hawaii.

Lahiri, who is playing his first event of 2019, is now four-under 136.

Lahiri could not complain about the quality of his hitting as hit 11 of 14 fairways and 14 of 18 greens in regulation, but also missed a lot of putts. Lahiri had five birdies and three bogeys.

Matt Kuchar, who loves to spend in Hawaii whenever his schedule allows, shot a second successive 63 to move to 14-under 126 and leads by two over Andrew Putnam.

Kuchar ran off four birdies in five holes to start his second round Friday, handled the par 5s at Waialae again and finished with another round 63.

"To shoot 7 under back-to-back is unexpected, but awfully excited," said Kuchar. Kuchar was at 14-under 126, matching the lowest 36-hole score of his PGA TOUR career.

Putnam, playing in the afternoon, had a bogey-free 65 and was one shot behind. Chez Reavie (65) and Stewart Cink (62) were four behind. Reavie made more eagles three - than birdies, of which he had only one.

Jordan Spieth had a short week despite a 66 in second round and missed the cut by one shot. He had 73 in the first round.

(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.
Youth Olympic Games silver medallist Mehuli Ghosh won the women's junior (under-21) 10m air rifle gold in the Khelo India Youth Games here on Saturday.

Ghosh came back from shooting in the Bundesliga in Germany only a couple of days ago and napped for half an hour in the gallery before the competition today.

The 18-year-old from West Bengal asserted her class, shooting scores of 629.4 in the qualification and following it up with 252.1 that left her biggest challenger Elavenil Valarivan (Gujarat) in her wake, a media release issued here said.

Mehuli was consistent throughout, the 103.0 in the fourth series of 10 shots being her lowest, in qualification.

And in the final, each of her 24 shots fetched her at least 10.2 points.

"I didn't want to miss the Khelo India experience," Mehuli was quoted as saying in the release.

"It is a good platform since only the top 16 shooters are selected. If the quality of competition is so high in the junior and youth levels, shooters will get an idea of what to expect in the senior ranks," she added.

Heena Gohei (Gujarat) and Haryana's Adarsh Singh won the other gold medals on offer on Saturday, doing well in the finals of the women's under-17 10m air rifle and mens 25m rapid fire pistol respectively.

The results(finals):



Men's junior (under-21) 25m rapid fire pistol:1. Adarsh Singh (Haryana) 30; 2. Ayush Sangwan (Haryana) 25; 3. Harshawardhan Mahanand Yadav (Maharashtra) 19.

Women's junior (under-21) 10m air rifle: 1.Mehuli Ghosh (West Bengal) 252.1; 2. Elavenil Valarivan (Gujarat) 248.8; 3. Manini Kaushik (Rajasthan) 227.0.

Women's youth (under-17) 10m air rifle:1. Heena Jayeshbhai Gohei (Gujarat) 247.5; 2. Jasmeen Kaur (Punjab) 246. 3; Yana Rathore (Madhya Pradesh) 224.1.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's office has received an anonymous email that threatened his daughter to kidnap her, sources said Saturday.

They said the Chief Minister's Office received an anonymous mail on January 9 following which the mail was forwarded to Delhi Police Commissioner Amulya Patnaik.

A Protective Service Officer has been deployed for Kejriwal's daughter by North district Police.

A Delhi Police official confirmed that an email was received and said it has been handed over to the Cyber Cell of the Special Cell, which is analysing it and trying to ascertain the IP address from which the email originated.

A government official said, "Delhi government had forwarded the threat email to Delhi Police Commissioner three days ago."



The official said the Delhi government has not been given any information so far by the police.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Actor Katherine Waterston says she has no idea whether she will be back for the sequel of Ridley Scott's "Alien: Covenant".

In an interview with The Playlist, the "Fantastic Beast and Where to Find Them" star said she had no talks with Scott regarding the follow-up to the 2017 feature.

"I don't live in Hollywood, and I'm always usually the last person to know even what's going on in my own career. So, (I'm) probably not the best person to ask," Waterston said.

"But I did get some sense of where they thought they might like to take it when we were shooting Covenant,' and it sounded really interesting," she added.

The 38-year-old actor, however, made it clear that she would be "absolutely game" for more "Alien" films.

"But that's all I know. I'm sure they've changed their minds anyway. And there's been probably loads of different ideas going around and everything. But just in case I spoil something by talking about it, I wouldn't dare," she added.

"Alien: Covenant" and its predecessor "Prometheus" are part of Scott's prequel trilogy to his 1979 science-fiction horror film "Alien". Both the films featured Michael Fassbender in the lead.

The third part of the prequel series has been reportedly titled "Alien: Awakening" but there is no production date assigned to the project currently.

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The suspension of a school headmaster for making a derogatory comment about Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Kamal Nath has been revoked on Nath's instructions.

In a statement, Nath said he has forgiven the teacher.

The district collector suspended Mukesh Tiwari, headmaster of government-run Kanishta Buniyadi Middle School in Jabalpur, Thursday.

Tiwari had allegedly referred to Nath as a "daku" (dacoit) during a meeting at the school. He was suspended by collector Chhavi Bharadwaj after a video where he is purportedly seen making the comment appeared on social media.

Nath said in a statement Saturday that after he learnt about the incident, he directed the officials to revoke Tiwari's suspension.

"I have always been in favour of freedom of expression....the action against him might be correct according to the rules but I am personally forgiving him," the chief minister said.

"I have directed the district administration to revoke the suspension....He (teacher) should decide for himself whether he used right words for a democratically-elected chief minister," Nath added.

Collector Bharadwaj told PTI that the teacher apologised in response to a show-cause notice, and the chief minister too directed that he should be let off, so the suspension has been revoked.

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A 31-year old Indian was sentenced to 13 years in jail and 12 strokes of the cane after he pleaded guilty to one charge of sexual assault of a minor and two charges of attempted statutory rape, according to a media report.

Udhayakumar Dhakshinamoorthy, a minimart worker, courted a 12-year-old girl with gifts and called her his "wife", grooming her to engage in progressively intrusive sexual acts with him over a period of three months, reported The New Paper.

Four other charges were taken into consideration during sentencing at the High Court on Thursday.

The offence, which took place between September and December 2016, came to light after the convict's pregnant adult girlfriend discovered a video of the naked minor girl on his phone.

In the sentencing, Judicial Commissioner Pang Khang Chau noted that Udhayakumar had exploited the innocence and naivety of the minor and morally corrupted her.

When Dhakshinamoorthy first asked the girl for sexual intercourse after taking her to the staircase of a block of flats, she told him that she was not sure what sex was, to which he responded that he would teach her.

Udhayakumar admitted that he tried to have sex with the girl on two occasions, but failed, according to The New Paper.

After his second attempt failed, he gave the girl SGD 50, unilaterally ended their "relationship" and no longer allowed her to take things from the minimart for free.

This proved his previous generosity was merely a facade to get the girl to have sex with him, said Deputy Public Prosecutor Gail Wong in sentencing arguments.

Udhayakumar began working at the minimart in a housing estate in September 2016.

On their first chat, he had asked the girl for a nude selfie of herself, and she complied.

After this, he would let her take ice cream, toys and tidbits from the minimart without paying.

After school, Udhayakumar used to take her to various places in the neighbourhood to engage in petting, giving her between SGD5 and SGD10 after each session. This escalated to more intrusive sexual acts, including attempts at sexual intercourse.

The convict also started referring to her as his "wife" and told her he wanted to marry her. She called him "uncle".

While he was having sexual liaisons with the minor, he began seeing a woman in October, 2016. In May the next year, while Udhayakumar and his girlfriend were at a hotel, the woman, who suspected he was having an affair, checked his phone while he was asleep and found the video of the girl in her school uniform exposing herself.

She lodged a police report against Udhayakumar a few days later.

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India on Saturday replaced an Advanced Light Helicopter at the Gan Addu Atoll of Maldives, the Coast Guard said.

A Coast Guard Ship also entered Hitadhoo port of Maldives for joint Exclusive Economic Zone patrol with the Maldivian Coast Guard from January 13-17, it tweeted.

"#CoastGuard ship also carried an Advanced Light Helicopter #CG853 onboard and disembarked it at #Gan Addu Atoll as replacement for #CG852," the Coast Guard said.

India has given two helicopters to Maldives, one of which has been supplied by the Coast Guard.

Last month, Maldivian President Mohamed Solih had visited India during which the two countries resolved to deepen their maritime cooperation.

Last year, during the tenure of the then president Abdulla Yameen, relations between India and Maldives had deteriorated after he imposed emergency. Following the unease in the ties, Maldives had asked India to take back the helicopters.

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The US is implementing an orderly withdrawal of its troops from Syria based on operational conditions on the ground, including talks with its allies, and with no arbitrary timeline, the Pentagon has said.

It asserted that it is implementing the withdrawal of forces from northeast Syria within a framework coordinated across the US government.

"Operation Inherent Resolve is implementing the orderly withdrawal of forces from northeast Syria within a framework coordinated across the US Government. The withdrawal is based on operational conditions on the ground, including conversation with our allies and partners, and is not be subject to an arbitrary timeline," Pentagon spokesman Commander Sean Robertson said Friday.

The US will continue to provide support to the coalition's operation in Syria while withdrawing troops in a deliberate and coordinated manner in order to ensure the safety and protection of US forces. The United States currently has some 2,000 troops in Syria.

Last month, Trump had ordered withdrawal of troops from Syria. The then Defense Secretary James Mattis resigned in protest. In recent weeks, Trump has said that the withdrawal would be slow and gradual.

The Pentagon has taken a number of logistical measures to support an ordered withdrawal.

"For purposes of operational security, we will not discuss specific troop movements or timelines. However, we will confirm that there has been no redeployment of military personnel from Syria to date," Robertson said.

Noting that the mission of 'Operation Inherent Resolve' has not changed, the Pentagon spokesman said that the US and its regional partners continue to pursue ISIS in the last remaining space the terror outfit currently holds.

Partner forces recently liberated the town of al-Kashmah while facing a fierce and determined ISIS force who employed complex attacks, improvised-explosive devices and booby-trapped buildings.

Throughout the fight, forces continued to rescue civilians as they fled while ISIS continued to hide in residential areas and public facilities to protect themselves, he said.

"We will continue to work with partners and allies to ensure the enduring defeat of ISIS by sustaining military gains and promoting regional security and stability. We thank every member of the Coalition for their contributions to the fight against ISIS," Robertson said.

On Friday, Indian-American Congressman Ro Khanna said that the US needed to make sure that its withdrawal from Syria is based on human rights.

"That means making sure that we get Turkey's commitment not to annex the Kurds, commit humanitarian assistance to rebuilding Syria, and accept Syrian refugees," he said.

Senator Jeanne Shaheen said that the President's hasty withdrawal of US troops from Syria jeopardises justice for Americans murdered by ISIS.

"I are urging the admin not to lose sight of the goal of holding these terrorists accountable," he said.

In a joint op-ed in 'The Washington Post', Senators Jeanne Shaheen and Diane Foley urged the president to continue prioritising justice for the Americans lost in Syria and not lose sight of the momentous opportunity that lies ahead of him.

The president's unexpected decision to withdraw US troops from Syria has betrayed the trust the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) put in the United States, they said.

"Without US support, the SDF will be in a battle for survival, degrading the group's ability to oversee the detention of these Islamic State fighters or complete the mission to eradicate the terrorist group in the region," the Senators said.

"This not only puts the lives of Syrian Kurds in jeopardy but also risks a resurgence of Islamic State violence around the globe. Among the many ramifications, the prospect of justice for James and other Americans murdered by the group could disappear," they wrote.

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Ten alumni of the IIT-Kharagpur were honoured for their contribution to the



institute for facilitating global networking and reach, leading collaborative projects and other activities at the 16th Annual Alumni Meet being held at the institute campus.

The recipients included Ratun Lahiri and Davender Jain who were from abroad.

Lahiri is a finance expert from London, who had founded UK Chapter - a 330-member organisation having strategised events to attract participation from the alumni, an IIT KGP statement said Saturday.

Jain had spearheaded joint conference for all IIT directors including IIT KGP with Vice-chancellors of premier Australian universities to promote research, faculty exchange and the IIT brand in Australia.

Among the recipients from India who were felicitated, there are alumni like Sabesh Subramaniam, former President of Chennai Chapter and who has been actively involved with CSR funding for the Sandhi (Science-Culture initiative) project.

Another such alumni was Prof Probir Gupta, former Dean of the Vinod Gupta School of Management and the founding Head of the Rajiv Gandhi School of Intellectual Property Law.

A key initiative during the Meet being held from January 11-13 was awarding of the Distinguished Service Award as each of these alumni contributes a significant amount of their time to work for alumni associations in various parts of the world, the statement said.

The IIT KGP's 'halls of residence' (hostels) have been major beneficiaries this year, with seven 'halls' receiving more than Rs 1.5 crore from the alumni for development activities.

"The 1969, 1979, 1994 and 1997 batches have collectively donated Rs. 3.6 crore in endowment on the occasion of the Annual Alumni Meet this year," Dean Chattopadhyay said.

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Conference (NC) president Saturday said if his party is elected to power with a majority in the upcoming assembly elections, it would establish a truth and reconciliation commission to probe killings in Jammu and Kashmir.

He also asserted that Kashmir is fundamentally a political problem and only reconciliation and dialogue within the state as well as with can afford a way forward.

Farooq Abdullah, a member of Parliament from Srinagar Lok Sabha constituency, was speaking to reporters on the sidelines of a party function in Anantnag district of south Kashmir.

He said his son and NC vice president had already spoken about the need to establish a truth and reconciliation commission in the state.

"He (Omar) has already asked for it. We hope that God brings our party into power strongly and we do not have to stand on crutches (referring to coalition)," he said when asked if the NC came to power would the killings of civilians in 2016 and from earlier be probed.

said his party would announce the commission the very day it takes over the reins of the state.

"This will be a great thing that we will announce on the very day when the new government takes over that we will appoint such a commission and see to it that the results are brought before the people not only in Jammu and Kashmir, but in the rest of the world," he said.

The former Union minister also said that his party would not support 'Operation All-out' launched by the security forces against the militants.

"How can we support something where there is suppression? It is not a question of 'all out'. We don't want our people to suffer, that they will be beaten in their homes. It has never been part of the NC's policy," he said.

He said the party would not support any violence or violation of human rights.

"Everyone is free, we live in a free country. Therefore, we, as a government, will have to see that freedom of people (and) expression is not curbed," told reporters.

Earlier, addressing party workers and functionaries in Anantnag's Khanabal area, he said, "We cannot think of winning hearts by unleashing torment on people. Hearts can only be won if New Delhi accepts Kashmir as a political issue and restarts a time-bound, result-oriented dialogue process with all stakeholders within and outside the state."



The NC president expressed hope that a new government at the Centre would initiate dialogue with all stakeholders in Kashmir.

"If New Delhi can be a part of unconditional talks with Taliban, why can't it initiate an unconditional dialogue in Kashmir?



"Government of India previously held unconditional talks with different stakeholders during the tenure of former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee, but unfortunately, the tempo could not be maintained," he said.

He said if the party is elected with a resounding mandate, it would put forth a strong front against forces "that are contriving to harm state's identity and its interest".

"People have had enough. The south Kashmir areas in particular have been at the receiving end due to sheer arrogance, misgovernment and imprudent policies of former BJP-PDP government," he said.

He said the NC will leave no stone unturned to rise up to the expectations of people.

"We, as a party, owe a sense of commitment to the people of Kashmir. We do not want our people to suffer," he said.

On the occasion, several political activists joined the Conference.
Over 500 passenger vehicles were cleared Saturday despite snowfall which disrupted traffic on the Jammu-Srinagar national highway, the only all-weather road linking Kashmir with rest of the country, officials said.

The traffic on the 270-km highway was suspended around 11 am as a precautionary measure due to slippery conditions between Shaitani nallah and Verinag zig, leaving hundreds of Srinagar-bound vehicles stranded, the Deputy Superintendent of Police, Traffic National Highway, Pardeep Singh Sen, told PTI.

However, over 500 passenger vehicles which were left stranded between Banihal and Ramban were allowed to move towards Srinagar later in the day after authorities pressed men and machines to clear the snow which had accumulated on the ground around Jawahar Tunnel the gateway to Kashmir Valley.

High altitude areas including Jawahar Tunnel experienced fresh snowfall, while plains were lashed by incessant rains during the day owing to a fresh western disturbance.

Almost all the passenger vehicles were cleared, while efforts were on to clear the heavy vehicles carrying essential supplies to the valley including oil tankers, the officer said.

He said the authorities are monitoring the weather situation and a decision to resume one-way traffic on the highway will be taken after clearance of all stranded vehicles.

No fresh vehicle will be allowed to ply on the highway Sunday in view of inclement weather conditions, he said, adding that only stranded vehicles will be allowed to move.

Currently, the traffic on the highway has been restricted to one side and plies alternatively between the two capitals cities of Srinagar and Jammu.

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Chinese telecom giant Huawei on Saturday sacked a Chinese executive who was arrested on spying charges in Poland, saying his actions have no relation to the company and the incident has harmed the its reputation.

Poland's counterespionage agency arrested Huawei executive Wang Weijing along with a former Polish security official on Friday on charges of spying for China.

Huawei, the world's biggest producer of telecom equipment, in a statement on Saturday distanced itself from the incident and terminated the employment of the executive.

"In accordance with the terms and conditions of Huawei's labour contract, we have made this decision because the incident in question has brought Huawei into disrepute," state-run China Daily quoted the statement by Huawei.

Huawei said in a statement that its employee's alleged actions have no relation to the company.

"Huawei complies with all applicable laws and regulations in the countries where it operates, and we require every employee to abide by the laws and regulations in the countries where they are based," the statement said.

Earlier, the Chinese Foreign Ministry in a statement had said that it was paying close attention to the detention of Wang in Poland.

The Chinese embassy in Warsaw held an immediate meeting with the Polish Foreign Ministry, asking the Polish side to notify China of details of the case as soon as possible and arrange an early consular visit.

Foreign Ministry said the "The case should be properly handled in a just way according to law, and the legitimate rights and interests, safety and humanitarian treatment of Wang should be guaranteed."



Huawei was caught in a major controversy recently after the arrest of its chief financial officer, Meng Wanzhou, who is also the daughter of the company's founder, in Canada last month.

Meng was accused of breaking US sanctions on Iran. She has been released on bail, but faces a legal fight over extradition to the US, where she could be jailed for up to 30 years if found guilty.

Huawei has repeatedly said it's unaware of any wrongdoing by Meng. Meng's arrest triggered tensions between the US and China, which have been trying to resolve their trade war.

The development came in the backdrop of the US exerting pressure on its allies to blacklist the company over security concerns. The US, New Zealand and Australia have barred the company from involvement in their national 5G networks.

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Former Union tourism secretary M P Bezbaruah, who was appointed as the head of a government nominated committee to assess the quantum of seats to be reserved in the Assam Assembly for the Assamese, has declined the offer.

Bezbaruah is the fifth member of the high-level panel who has refused to be a part of the committee, which will also assess the quantum of seats to be reserved in the local bodies in Assam for the Assamese people besides providing other safeguards.

"I have conveyed to the Home Ministry that it is untenable for me to continue in the committee when the representatives of the civil society refused to be part of the committee. Being head of a committee, without civil society members, does not make any sense," Bezbaruah told PTI.

Those who have already quit the panel set up by the home ministry include the two presidents of the Assam Sahitya Sabha, Nagen Saikia and Rongbong Terang, educationist Mukunda Rajbangshi and a nominee of the influential All Assam Students' Union (AASU).

The members had refused to be part of the committee, formed on January 6 under Clause 6 of the 1985 Assam Accord, to protest against the Citizenship Amendment Bill, which they said posed a threat to Assamese culture and identity.

Others nominated to be a part of the panel included former IAS officer Subhash Das, former editor of The Sentinel Dhirendra Nath Bezboruah andadvocate general of AssamRamesh Borpatragohain.

The joint secretary in the home ministry was nominated as the member secretary.

The Citizenship Amendment Bill, already passed by the Lok Sabha, seeks to grant Indian nationality to people belonging to minority communities -- Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis and Christians -- in Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan after six years of residence in India instead of 12, even if they don't possess any proper document.

The facility is available for those who had entered India till December 31, 2014.

Is was an election promise of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in 2014.

The Assam Accord provides for deportation of anyone, irrespective of religion, who had come to the state after March 24, 1971.

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Martyred Major Shashi Dharan V Nair was "passionate" about joining the armed forces, a friend recalled here Saturday.

Major Nair, who grew up in Khadakwasla area on the outskirts of Pune and studied at the famous Fergusson College in the city, was killed along with another soldier in an IED explosion in Rajouri district of Jammu and Kashmir Friday.

A pall of gloom descended on the area after the came. Friends and relatives as well as local people thronged the family's house.

"He was passionate about army. After getting BSc degree from Fergusson, he never thought about any other career option and started preparing for army exam," said Harish Kasarkhod, a childhood friend.

Having graduated from a premier college, Nair could have got a comfortable job elsewhere but his passion was the armed forces, Kasarkhod said.

Nair's father, who worked at the Central Water & Power Research Station located in Khadakwasla, died some years ago.

A family member said Nair had spoken to his mother Friday morning.

His mortal remains reached the National War Memorial in Pune Saturday evening where wreaths were laid in the presence of family members including his wife and officials from the Southern Command.

The last rites are expected to take place at the Vaikunth crematorium in the city Sunday morning, a family member said.

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The has framed six issues in an election petition filed by BJP leader Balvantsinh Rajput challenging veteran leader Ahmed Patel's election to the from the state in 2017.

Justice Bela Trivedi framed the issues on Friday. The court will hear the case next on January 18.

The issues framed by the court include whether Patel or his election agent committed an act of "bribery" and "undue influence" and thereby indulged in "corrupt practices" as alleged by Rajput, making the election "liable to be declared as void".

Some of the other issues are whether two "invalid votes" cast by MLAs Shailesh Parmar and Miteshbhai Garasia, and "improper refusal or rejection" of votes cast by rebel MLAs Bholabhai Gohil and Raghvjibhai Patel materially affected the outcome of the election.

The issue also concerns the Election Commission of India (ECI) order as to whether it was "being violative of the principles of natural justice, without any authority of law".

The issues have been framed under various sections of the Representation of the People Act, 1951.

Earlier this month, the Supreme Court had asked to face trial in connection with his election to the

He had then moved the apex court challenging the order, which had dismissed his plea questioning the maintainability of Rajput's election petition.

Patel had contended that the poll panel's decision could not be challenged by an election petition.

The apex court had on September 26 asked the HC to decide afresh Patel's plea challenging the maintainability of the petition filed by Rajput. The had dismissed Patel's plea in October.

Rajput had filed the petition in the high court after Patel was declared as winner by the Election Commission in the election to the Upper House of the Parliament held in 2017.
The Congress in Gujarat will soon start candidate selection process for the upcoming Lok Sabha contest in a bid to score the first-mover advantage over the rival BJP, which had whitewashed the opposition party in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's home turf by winning all 26 seats in the 2014 polls.

At a meeting of party leaders held here Friday, it was decided that the candidate selection process will be initiated soon and names of the probables will be submitted to the party high-command, who will take a final call on the timing to release the list, a party leader said.

The Congress is aggressively reworking its poll strategy against the backdrop of the humiliating drubbing of 2014.

In the assembly elections held in Gujarat in 2017, the Congress improved its tally to 77 seats restricting the BJP to 99 seats.

A senior Gujarat Congress leader said after the meeting that the party will now concentrate on winning booths in each of 26 Lok Sabha seats, and will appoint electoral "page-presidents" to achieve this goal.

It seems the Congress is taking a cue from its rival, BJP which had introduced the 'electoral roll page president' or "panna pramukh" mechanism to connect with voters.

At the Friday meeting, Congress leaders also decided to invite Rahul Gandhi to launch the party campaign in Gujarat in the second week of February, said state Congress spokesperson Manish Doshi.

"The process to select candidates and form a panel of names for each Lok Sabha seat will be completed as soon as possible," he said.

Doshi said the names of probable candidates will be submitted to the party high-command who will take a call on releasing the list.

The spokesperson also said the party has assigned responsibility of each constituency to specific persons.

State Congress chief Amit Chavda told reporters the party will concentrate on winning booths in Lok Sabha constituencies as part of its gameplan to make a comeback.

"By the end of this month, party workers will be given responsibility of booths. Going beyond booths, we intend to appoint 'page presidents'," Chavda said Friday.

Page presidents, who will be assigned a page of the electoral roll each, are supposed to stay in touch with the voters on their lists and motivate them to vote for the Congress.

Interestingly, the page in-charge mechanism was first introduced by BJP president Amit Shah.

Under this model, the party assigns a page of the electoral roll each to a 'panna pramukh' or page in-charge who is the first point of contact for most voters in a given constituency. The page in-charge's job is to build rapport with the voters on their lists and motivate them to vote for the BJP.

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Director General of World Intellectual Property Organisation Francis Gurry has praised the Centre's health scheme Ayushman Bharat and congratulated Prime Minister Narendra Modi on its success.

"WIPO Director General Gurry meets CEO of #AyushmanBharat @Ibhushan, lauds ambitious health scheme that is bringing free health care to hundreds of thousands, underlines importance of innovation to health and congratulates PM @narendramodi on this incredible success," WIPO tweeted.

The ambitious healthcare scheme, touted as the world's largest, aims to benefit more than 10 crore poor families in the country.

On January 1, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley termed Ayushman Bharat a "game changer" in healthcare and said on an average 5,000 claims are being settled every day since its rollout on September 23, 2018.

The total number of hospitals covered by this scheme is 16,000 and increasing steadily. More than 50 per cent of the implementing hospitals are in private sector.

Jaitley had said in the first 100 days, 6.85 lakh patients have been provided hospital treatment and 5.1 lakh claimants have availed the scheme, for which payment has been released.

All states and Union territories, barring Delhi, Telangana and Odisha, have signed agreements with the health ministry for implementing the scheme.

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Assailing President Donald Trump for "a crisis of leadership," former Obama Cabinet member Julian Castro joined the 2020 presidential race Saturday as the rush of Democrats making early moves to challenge the incumbent accelerates, while anticipation grows around bigger names still considering a White House run.

Castro, who could end up being the only Latino in what is shaping up to be a crowded Democratic field, made immigration a centerpiece of his announcement in his hometown of San Antonio, less than 200 miles from the U.S.-Mexico border.

Two days after the president visited the border to promote his promised wall, Castro mocked Trump for claiming that the U.S. faces an "invasion" from its ally to the south.

"He called it a national security crisis," Castro said. "Well, there is a crisis today.

It's a crisis of leadership. Donald Trump has failed to uphold the values of our great nation."



Castro, the 44-year-old grandson of a Mexican immigrant, said he was running for president "because it's time for new leadership, because it's time for new energy and it's time for a new commitment to make sure that the opportunities that I've had are available to every American."



He made the announcement as a government shutdown drags into the longest in U.S. history, and as the field of 2020 contenders widens.

Castro was San Antonio's mayor for five year and U.S. housing secretary in President Barack Obama's second term. He became the second Democrat to formally enter race, after former Maryland Rep. John Delaney.

Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts has also started an exploratory committee for president, and four other Democratic senators are taking steady steps toward running. Hawaii Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, the first Hindu elected to Congress, said this week she is planning a bid, too.

Castro is getting an early start in trying to stand out. His first trip as a candidate comes Monday, to hurricane-ravaged Puerto Rico, where an outcry has begun as the White House considers diverting disaster funding to pay for the wall.

The impasse over paying for a border wall that Trump made a central part of his 2016 campaign has led to the partial federal closure. That stalemate, along with Trump's hard-line immigration stands, drew sharp rebukes from Castro.

"There are serious issues that need to be addressed in our broken immigration system, but seeking asylum is a legal right. And the cruel policies of this administration are doing real and lasting harm," he said.

He argued for securing the border in a "smart and humane way." "There is no way in hell that caging babies is a smart or a right or good way to do it. We say no to building a wall and say yes to building community. We say no to scapegoating immigrants, and yes to 'Dreamers,' yes to keeping families together."



There are about 700,000 young "Dreamers" who were brought into the U.S. illegally as children; advocates want to provide them with protection deportation and a chance to apply for citizenship.

Joining Castro at the campaign kickoff was his twin brother, Democratic Rep. Joaquin Castro, chairman of the Hispanic congressional caucus and a frequent Trump critic.

The Spanish-style plaza in the Castro twins' boyhood neighbourhood was packed with supporters who streamed through the gates between a mariachi band. Castro had said leading up to his announcement that a Latino candidate was a must in the 2020 field.

That group of hopefuls is starting to take shape even though the first primary elections are more than a year away.

Sen. Kamala Harris of California this past week published a memoir , a staple of presidential candidates. Former Texas Rep. Beto O'Rourke is doing little to dim speculation that he might jump into a field that has no clear front-runner.

Castro is aware he lacks the name recognition of potential 2020 rivals or the buzz surrounding O'Rourke, whose flirtations with 2020 have tantalized donors and activists after a close race last year against Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas.

Even some supporters at Castro's announcement could be torn if O'Rourke gets in the race. Diana Delrosario, a social worker in San Antonio, warned she might cry while she recounted how Castro once went out of his way as mayor to help wheel her mother out of a restaurant.

"I have this heart for Julian. But it's going to be a big discussion if Beto decides to run," said Delrosario, 45.

Castro, who has repeatedly dismissed talk that an O'Rourke candidacy would complicate his own chances, has framed the neighborhood and his upbringing as the story of an underdog.

He was raised by a local Latina activist, and after a brief career in law, was elected mayor of the nation's seventh-largest city at 34. It wasn't long before Democrats nationally embraced him as a star in the making, particularly one from Texas, where a booming Hispanic population is rapidly changing the state's demographics and improving the party's fortunes.

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A fishing trawler driver was allegedly gunned down by Coast Guard personnel in sea off the Paradip coast, officials said Saturday.

The incident took place on Friday night when the deceased fisherman, identified as Mayadhar Mallick of Naranapur village under Simulia police limits in Balasore district, was driving the fishing trawler near Gahirmatha.

The Coast Guard said it has ordered an inquiry into the incident.

In a statement, the Coast Guard said ICG ships during patrol off Gahirmatha coast sighted a suspicious vessel. On seeing them, the trawler tried to flee but when the ICG ships tried to stop the boat, it made "evasive manoeuvres" and also rammed the ICG ships.

The ICG ships resorted to fire warning shots to stop the fishing boat. After boarding the suspect boat, Coast Guard personnel noticed that one person was injured. He was immediately brought to harbour by ICG ship and shifted to Paradip Port Hospital, where he was declared dead, it said.

Coast Guard DIG, Paradip, Rajesh Makwana said: "The Coast Guard personnel opened fire suspecting that there could be some anti-national elements. The trawler had to be stopped anyway."



Meanwhile, in a memorandum to the district magistrate-cum-collector of Jatsinghpur district, the Trawler Operators Association demanded stringent action against the personnel responsible for the killing of Mallick.

"We also strongly demand that innocent fishermen should not be treated like terrorists," the association said in the memorandum.

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A Filipino was recently rescued by a 108 boat ambulance after he suffered burn injuries while on board a ship off the Gujarat coast near Porbandar, the firm operating the ambulance service said Saturday.

The man on board the Panama-based cargo vessel Glory Sky suffered burn injuries after touching a hot pipeline, and started feeling giddy and began vomiting, following which the 108 boat ambulance service was called, GVK-Emergency Medical and Research Institute informed.

Glory Sky was sailing around six nautical miles off Porbandar, around 400 kilometres from here, in the Arabian sea last week when the incident happened, GVK-EMRI said.

A call was made to the 108 boat service which was immediately rushed and the patient, identified as Gonzales (35), was given primary treatment and then brought to the jetty and rushed by road to a nearby hospital, it said.

GVK EMRI operates two boat ambulances in Gujarat under the public private partnership model, one each in Porbandar and Okha.

The service was launched in May last year mainly for fishermen suffering medical emergency while sailing in the Arabian sea and it has so far received over 60 calls, the firm said.

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Jammu and Kashmir Governor Satya Pal Malik Saturday stressed for expediting the work on construction of bunkers to protect lives of border residents in Jammu division, an official said.

Malik passed the directions during a meeting with Divisional Commissioner, Jammu, Sanjeev Verma, who met him at Raj Bhavan, an official spokesman said.

He said Verma apprised Governor about the present status of construction of individual and community bunkers along the International Border (IB) and Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu division.

"Governor stressed for expediting the pace of work ensuring timely completion of construction of individual and community bunkers to protect lives of border residents and other under-execution developmental projects in the division, the spokesman said.

Verma also gave first hand appraisal of pace of various developmental activities in Jammu division.

The Centre had sanctioned the construction of 14,460 individual and community bunkers at a cost of 415.73 crore along the Line of Control (LoC) and the IB.

While 7,298 bunkers would be constructed along the LoC in the twin districts of Poonch and Rajouri, 7,162 underground bunkers would be constructed along the IB in Jammu, Kathua and Samba districts.

An Army porter was killed Friday when Pakistani troops continued ceasefire violations for the fourth consecutive day along the LoC in Rajouri and Poonch districts of Jammu and Kashmir, officials said.

Pakistani troops resorted to firing and shelling along the LoC in Poonch on eight days of this month, they said.

The year 2018 had witnessed 2,936 ceasefire violations by Pakistan along the Indo-Pak border, the highest in the last 15 years. The continuous shelling and firing by Pakistan targeting villages has set in fear psychosis among the border dwellers, the officials had said.

Meanwhile, state advocate general D C Raina met the Governor and briefed him about the status of important cases relating to Jammu and Kashmir which are pending in the Supreme Court.

He also briefed about the cases pending in state high court.

The Governor asked Raina to keep him regularly informed about the to date status of all important cases relating to the state pending in the Supreme Court, High Court and the National Green Tribunal, the spokesman said.

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West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who is playing a pivotal role in building a strong opposition front against the ruling BJP, welcomed the SP-BSP alliance in Uttar Pradesh for the upcoming Parliamentary polls on Saturday.

"I welcome the alliance of the SP and the BSP for the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections," she said in a tweet.

A vociferous critic of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the Trinamool Congress (TMC) supremo has been touring the country over the last one year, trying to build an Opposition alliance to take on the saffron party in the Lok Sabha polls.

She has invited Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav and the leaders of various other opposition parties, including the Telugu Desam Party (TDP), the Janata Dal (Secular), the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), the People's Democratic Party (PDP), the National Conference (NC), the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), the Congress and many others to attend a January 19 rally of a united opposition convened by her at the Brigade Parade grounds here.

Although most of the parties have confirmed attending the rally, the Congress is yet to announce whether it will take part in it and whether party chief Rahul Gandhi and United Progressive Alliance (UPA) chairperson Sonia Gandhi will be present on the occasion.

Banerjee had earlier suggested that an alliance between the SP and the Mayawati-led Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) in Uttar Pradesh would wipe out the BJP from the crucial Hindi heartland state that sends 80 members to the Lok Sabha.

Last year, after the victories of the SP-BSP joint candidates in the Gorakhpur and Phulpur Lok Sabha bypolls in Uttar Pradesh, Banerjee had, in a series of tweets, said it was the beginning of the end for the BJP.

A strong advocate of an opposition front, Banerjee has time and again called for putting up a one-on-one fight against the saffron party to ensure the maximum polling of anti-BJP votes.

The TMC chief has already announced that her party will contest all the 42 Lok Sabha seats in West Bengal.

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A parliamentary committee has asked the AYUSH Ministry to engage with the Health Ministry for integrating AYUSH systems with modern medicine to increase its acceptability as a scientific and a reliable alternate system of medicine.

The Department Related Parliamentary Standing Committee emphasised that the ministry must focus on increasing the credibility of AYUSH systems by promoting scientific research and upholding strict quality control of AYUSH drugs.

Earlier, it had recommended a change in the curriculum to introduce modules of modern medicine in traditional system of medicine and vice versa to bring AYUSH into the mainstream.

The committee is of the firm view that the AYUSH Ministry needs to take initiative to promote and integrate Indian systems of medicine with the modern systems to increase their acceptability as scientific and reliable alternate systems of medicine.

The committee, in its recent report, appreciated the strategy of the National Policy on Indian Systems of Medicine and Homoeopathy, 2002 which envisages integration of AYUSH with healthcare delivery system.

"The committee would like to recommend to the ministry (AYUSH) to engage with the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare for integration of AYUSH systems with modern medicine," the report stated.

The committee also recommended a substantial increase in funds for institutes like the Central Council for Research in Unani Medicine (CCRUM) and the Central Council for Research in Homoeopathy for carrying out research to increase the credibility of AYUSH systems.

The committee said that it was the need of the hour to focus on scientific research, including collaborative research, to increase the credibility of AYUSH systems by promoting standardisation, scientific re-validation of AYUSH drugs, collaborative research projects with ICMR etc.

For increasing such activities, which will certainly increase the acceptability of AYUSH, adequate funds need to be earmarked for research activities so that the institutes serve the purpose for which they have been established, it said.

The committee also asked the ministry to take up the matter of bringing in a new legislation with the Health Ministry on priority in the wake of sale of spurious/sub-standard Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani (ASU) drugs.

It also sought to be apprised of the composition of the two empowered committees constituted in March 2018 and the work done by them with respect to the regulatory vertical structure of AYUSH for quality assurance and control of misleading advertisement/exaggerated claims.

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Two militants, including the one of the dreaded and oldest militants Zeenat-ul-Islam, were killed on Saturday in an encounter with security forces in Jammu and Kashmir's district, police said.

Security forces launched a cordon and search operation in Katpora area in south Kashmir's district last evening after receiving specific information about the presence of militants there, a police official said.

As the forces were conducting the searches, the militants fired upon them. The forces retaliated, ensuing an encounter in which two militants were killed, he said.

Arms and ammunition were recovered from the encounter site, the official said, adding that no collateral damage has been reported.

One of them was identified as dreaded militant Zeenat-ul-Islam, who was associated with the terror group Al Badr, the official said, adding that the identity of the second militant is being ascertained.

Zeenat, considered as an Improvised explosive device (IED) expert, was earlier associated with another militant group Hizbul Mujahideen, the official said.
Launching his campaign to return to power, Prime Minister Narendra Modi Saturday asked the country to choose as its next "pradhan sevak" either an honest and a hardworking man or those who are on vacation when needed at home and are corrupt.

In the concluding address at the BJP national convention, Modi was unsparing in attacking his rivals, especially the Congress, saying they are joining hands as they want a "majboor" (helpless) government to do corruption while people want a "majboot" (strong) government that the only BJP can give.

He ridiculed the likely grand alliance of opposition parties as a "failed experiment in Indian politics", saying a campaign to give publicity to this idea is on.

The fear of "chowkidar" (watchman), a reference like 'pradhan sevak' he often uses to describe himself, and his campaign against black money and corruption have led to a churn in politics, he said.

Rivals are uniting against one person, he said.

Modi's remarks came on a day the Samajwadi Party and the BSP, bitter rivals for over two decades, announced in Lucknow their alliance for the Lok Sabha elections against the saffron party.

In his over 80-minute-long speech, the prime minister spoke at length about his development agenda, made a brief mention of the Ram temple issue blaming the Congress for delaying its resolution and projected his rivals as "corrupt" against his government's "spotless" record in office.

He claimed that for the first time in the country's history, there has not been any charge of corruption against a government.

This is now for the country to decide what kind of "pradhan sevak" (main servant) it wants, he said.

Will the people like a servant who puts one member of the family against another, who steals household goods and distribute them among his relatives, tells neighbours about the internal matters, he asked.

"Will anybody want a servant that who is on vacation when needed at home? And nobody knows where he is," he continued.

The BJP has often taken digs at Rahul Gandhi over his vacations abroad. The prime minister, though, did not name anybody.

Modi then made a pitch for himself, presenting himself as someone who works hard day and night, is concerned about the future generation, sticks to honesty and keeps everyone united.

"The county will decide what kind of servant it wants," he said, drawing loud cheers from thousands of BJP members. Party leaders have described this as one of its biggest conventions.

He also cautioned the BJP against any complacency, saying it is said at times that "Modi will come and deliver victory" and asked its workers to campaign like farmers work at their land.

Seeds may be good, rains may arrive and everything else may be supportive but crop would not be good if farmers do not till the land, he said, adding that the party reached where it is due to "collective leadership".

Targeting the Congress over corruption, he referred to the National Herald case in which Rahul and his mother Sonia Gandhi are on bail and accused them of "grabbing land and people's money".

The opposition party believes in protecting its "sultanate" at any cost and its "first family" has no respect for the country's institutions, he said, claiming that the BJP believes in the Constitution.

In this context, he hit out at the Congress over the decision of its governments in Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh to withdraw the general consent given to the CBI for probing cases in their state, asking what irregularities they have done that they fear it.

He said when he was Gujarat chief minister for 12 years, the UPA government used all institutions with an aim to put him in jail, adding that they sent BJP president Amit Shah, who was then a minister in the state government, behind bars.

He still presented himself before a district level police official for questioning for nine hours because he had faith in law and considered it above him, Modi asserted, apparently referring to cases of riots and alleged fake encounters.

"Despite being harassed by the UPA for years, I didn't ban entry of CBI in state... We believed in law. We had faith in truth," he said, targeting the Congress for its "attack" on institutions like the CBI, the CAG and the Election Commission.

"These leaders on bail have no trust either in law or in truth... Can they (Congress) be trusted with power," he asked and also blamed it for crisis in banks, saying that there was "common process" and "Congress process" of loans when it was in power.

While the common process was for the common man, the "Congress process" was used by "scamsters" closed to its leadership to swindle public money from banks, Modi said.

In an apparent reference to Rahul Gandhi and his charge of corruption against him over the Rafale issue, he said one cannot make somebody understand a point if he deliberately does not want to understand it.

The prime minister said he was being "abused" after an accused in a defence deal- a reference to Christian Michel- was brought to India from abroad for the first time.

He said he would not claim that his government achieved everything but it has made honest efforts to work for all sections of society.

The prime minister said 10-per cent reservation in education and government jobs for the general category poor will enhance the confidence of 'New India'.

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Hours after the SP and BSP announced their alliance without the Congress in Uttar Pradesh for the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Saturday said his party will fight the elections in the state with "full capacity".

Addressing a press conference in Dubai, Gandhi said he has a "tremendous respect" to the leaders of the two parties and "they have a right to do what they want to do".

"BSP and SP have made a political decision. It's on us on how to strengthen the Congress party in Uttar Pradesh and we will fight with our full capacity," he said.

"Congress party has tremendous to offer to the people of Uttar Pradesh. On BSP and SP I have tremendous respect to the leaders of BSP and SP, they have a right to do what they want to do," he said.

Once arch-rivals Samajwadi Party and Bahujan Samaj Party announced Saturday their tie-up in Uttar Pradesh for the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, sharing 38 seats each and keeping the Congress out of the alliance.

The parties, however, said they would not field candidates in Amethi and Rae Bareli, represented by Congress president Rahul Gandhi and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Hours after the SP and BSP announced their alliance without the Congress in Uttar Pradesh for the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Saturday said his party will fight the elections in the state with full force.

Addressing a press conference in Dubai, Gandhi said he has "tremendous respect" for the leaders of the two parties and "they have a right to do what they want to do".

"The BSP and SP have every right to have an alliance. I think the Congress party has tremendous amount to offer to the people of Uttar Pradesh so we will do our best as the Congress party and we will fight with full capacity to spread our ideology."



"BSP and SP have made a political decision. It's on us on how to strengthen the Congress party in Uttar Pradesh and we will fight with our full capacity," he said.

He said the Congress party might give a surprise or two in the Lok Sabha elections in Uttar Pradesh "about what the party is capable of doing and to mobilise people."



Rejecting suggestions that not being part of the SP-BSP alliance was a setback for the Congress, he said, "I won't be disappointed about the BSP-SP alliance as long as the BJP does not come to power.""They have said some wrong things about the Congress, but we accept it. Because that's how we work."Gandhi said it does not matter if his party fights separately or together with the SP and BSP, because the end result would be the same the BJP won't get their seatsOnce arch-rivals Samajwadi Party and Bahujan Samaj Party announced Saturday their tie-up in Uttar Pradesh for the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, sharing 38 seats each and keeping the Congress out of the alliance.

Asked about his "misogynist" remarks about Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on which the NCW has issued a notice to him, Gandhi said, "Prime Minister Narendra Modi has helped Anil Ambani steal Rs 30,000 crore and the House of the people Lok Sabha is where he should have defended himself but he chose to send another person and that person happened to be a woman.

"I would have made a very similar comment if it had been a man. Do not impose your sexism on me. I am very clear that the prime minister should have delivered that defence but he did not have the guts."



He said the Congress has not yet got the answer whether Defence Ministry officials objected to the Prime Minister "bypassing" the Rafale deal.

Sitharaman had spoken on behalf of the Prime Minister and defended the Rafale deal in the Lok Sabha, countering questions raised by Congress and other opposition parties.

Attacking the Modi government on rising intolerance, Gandhi said like the UAE, which had declared 2019 as the 'Year of Tolerance', India also believes and celebrates tolerance but "there is a little bit of aberration going on in India where BJP is being very aggressive, intolerant and attacking and destroying our institutions."



He said it is a "temporary blip" which will be "taken care of" after the 2019 elections.

He alleged that every single institution in the country has been "destroyed by the government and the idea of the BJP and the RSS is that there should only be one institution in India that is RSS".

"They insert their people in very single institution and pressure every single institution...universities, colleges, the CBI, Election Commission every institution."



"RSS thinks that voice of the people is irrelevant. One of the reason why we will win 2019 elections is because there is a massive response coming from bureaucrats and institutions saying we are not going to accept this."



He said the Modi government is "attacking the strength of India by strangling our institutions".

"We will start to do what Congress party has successfully done; put India on a economic path," he said.

"The government is failing and we have a massive unemployment crisis. Demonetisation by Prime Minister Modi was a rash and irresponsible action. He was directly responsible for the decimation of informal sector."



He said bringing businesses to India is fundamentally connected to the environment of the country.

"India is facing a 14-year low with regard to investments flow in India. The central reason is a couple of ill-advised economic policies like demonetisation and and poorly designed GST and also the atmosphere that is being vitiated. India is known for non violence and its peace loving nature when people look at India and see violence they they get worried. We will put an end to the anger that has been spread by the BJP," he said.

"We will rebuild trust in our institutions like RBI, ECI, Supreme Court which are under systematic attack by the Modi govt," he said. He said if the Congress will come to power it will take some rational economic decisions and restructure the GST.

Asked about Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan's overtures to start bilateral talks, Gandhi said, " I am all for peaceful relationship with Pakistan, but, I will absolutely not tolerate violence being carried out on innocent Indians by the Pakistani State." "You cannot carry out acts of terror in India and expect India to talk kindly to you," he said.

Asked about special status to Andhra Pradesh, he said, "I have made the commitment to the people of the state that the moment we will form the government in New Delhi will will give special status to the state." He said it is a "tragedy and shame" that the Prime Minister Modi has not delivered the commitment to the people of the state.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Congress Saturday asked its legal department to prepare an action plan for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.

Addressing a meeting of state chairmen of the legal, human rights and RTI department, Congress cell chairman Vivek Tankha asked them to work in this direction to help build public opinion against the Narendra Modi government.

Tankha said as lawyers are opinion-makers in society, they should play a vital role in building opinions against the present government.

Legal cell's national secretary Vipul Maheshwari said vacancies in the organisation should be filled up soon so that the department is geared up for playing a combative role in the general elections.

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Left out of the SP-BSP alliance in Uttar Pradesh, the Congress is likely to contest the Lok Sabha polls on its own in the crucial Hindi heartland state, sources said.

The Congress leadership maintained a stoic silence and refused to comment on being left out of the alliance of regional rivals Samajwadi Party (SP) and Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) for the high-stakes general election, which is only months away.

Asked to comment on the tie-up announced by BSP chief Mayawati and SP leader Akhilesh Yadav, All India Congress Committee (AICC) general secretary in-charge of Uttar Pradesh Ghulam Nabi Azad said the party would not react immediately and would come out with a detailed reaction in Lucknow on Sunday.

Azad earlier met Uttar Pradesh Congress chief Raj Babbar, Congress Legislature Party (CLP) leader and Rajya Sabha member Sanjay Singh and former MP Pramod Tiwari at his residence.

Azad and Uttar Pradesh Congress leaders have been meeting leaders from the western parts of the state for the past two days. The veteran leader said he, along with other leaders, would be meeting the leaders and workers of the party from central and eastern Uttar Pradesh on Sunday.

"We heard the press conference of the BSP and SP leaders. The party will come out with its stand in Lucknow on Sunday," Azad merely said, while refusing to react on the Congress being left out of the alliance.

He said the party would not react on the announcement on Saturday and any leader commenting on the issue would be putting forth his personal view.

Asked whether the tie-up was a setback for the Congress, he refused to comment.

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister and Congress leader Kamal Nath said there was a need for alliances in the entire country to defeat the BJP. He also said the saffron party got only 31 per cent votes in the 2014 Lok Sabha polls and claimed that it had the people's mandate, adding that even this happened because votes were split.

However, party insiders felt that the SP-BSP tie-up was a blow to the Congress's efforts to unite all the opposition parties.

Others saw a silver lining in this, saying the party might win more seats if it went it alone in Uttar Pradesh. They said this would also see further strengthening of the party at the grassroots level and would give a moral boost to its workers in the state.

One of the Congress leaders admitted that the party now had no choice but go it alone in Uttar Pradesh in the Lok Sabha polls.

Congress spokesperson Manish Tewari said Azad would give a structured response to it on Sunday.

"Insofar as alliances are concerned, we have always believed that state-specific alliances, which further the progressive and pluralistic ideals, which further consolidate the liberalised idea of India, are the way forward and I think there is space for that," he said.

Opposition leaders downplayed the announcement of a pre-poll tie-up between the SP and the BSP.

Asked if it was a setback for the opposition unity efforts, an opposition leader admitted it but claimed that the opposition parties were united in all the states to ensure that the secular votes were not divided.

Opposition leaders like Trinamool Congress (TMC) supremo Mamata Banerjee, Communist Party of India (Marxist) general secretary Sitaram Yechury and the Rashtriya Janata Dal's (RJD) Tejashwi Yadav welcomed the SP-BSP tie-up, saying the two parties would be able to defeat the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the upcoming polls in Uttar Pradesh.

The Congress has been seeking to stich an alliance in Uttar Pradesh, but its efforts suffered a dent as the SP-BSP left the Grand Old Party out of their poll tie-up but left the two seats of Amethi and Rae Bareli, currently represented in the Lok Sabha by Congress chief Rahul Gandhi and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi respectively. The SP-BSP alliance will not field candidates in these two seats.

The Congress had adopted a cautious approach on the issue of alliance, with its spokesperson Abhishek Manu Singhvi on Friday saying ignoring the party in Uttar Pradesh could be a "very dangerous mistake".

He said the Congress might have "fallen on difficult times", but the objective of all the opposition parties should be to defeat the BJP and eliminate "autocracy, misgovernance" at the Centre.

Communist Party of India (CPI) leader D Raja felt that the SP-BSP alliance was not a setback to opposition unity as all the parties were together on defeating the BJP in the Lok Sabha election.

"I do not think it is a setback to opposition unity. Everyone agrees that the primary objective is to defeat the BJP," he told PTI.

Raja asserted that there was no difference among the secular parties and the seat-sharing arrangement would be amicably worked out among them.

"All the secular, democratic parties and the Left parties must work together and ensure that the BJP is defeated in order to save the Constitution and take the country forward.

"The electoral pacts and seat-sharing arrangements will be state specific, taking into consideration the state-level realities. The parties must be realistic and accommodative to each other," he said.

A Congress leader expressed confidence that the party was competent enough to go it alone in Uttar Pradesh and do well in the Lok Sabha polls.

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Taking on the Congress over the Ram temple issue, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said the opposition party was trying to impede the judicial process for resolution of the matter.

He also asked BJP workers to remind the masses about the Congress' stand on the issue.

In his concluding address at the BJP national convention here, Modi briefly touched on the Ram temple issue, drawing cheers from thousands of party workers gathered at Ramlila Maidan, but remained confined to targeting the Congress.

"In the Ayodhya issue, the Congress is trying to impede the judicial process through its lawyers. The Congress does not want resolution of the Ayodhya issue," Modi said.

"We should not forget its attitude and (also) not let others forget it," he told party workers.

He was apparently referring to remarks of senior Congress leader Kapil Sibal who had said that the Supreme Court should hear the matter after conclusion of general elections this year.

Sibal is representing one of the litigants in the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid title dispute case.

Modi alleged that the Congress even tried to impeach former chief justice of India, Dipak Misra, to delay the hearing in the case.

Earlier this month, the prime minister had said that any decision on passing an executive order on the Ram temple issue cannot be made unless the judicial process is over.

His reaction came amid growing clamour by right-wing organisations like RSS and VHP to bring an ordinance to construct the Ram Temple in Ayodhya.

The matter is pending in the Supreme Court and is scheduled to come up for hearing on January 29.

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Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao Saturday favoured a change in the way the Finance Commission functioned and devolution of funds to states is decided in view of the diversity in requirements of states.

Rao held a review meeting with senior officials ahead of a possible visit of the 15th Finance Commission to the state shortly, an official release said.

"The Finance Commission visits states with pre-occupied notions. They come with pre-occupied ideas like ToR (Terms of Reference) which in fact should be done after they complete their visit, discuss with state governments and take their views.

Its better if the Finance Commission becomes a policy formulating body. Devolution is the right of the states. Lot of diversity is there with reference to states requirements," the release quoted him as saying.

Rao asked the finance department officers to prepare a memorandum highlighting the States requirements and the report should include all that it state needs, the release said.

Rao felt that there has not been a qualitative change in peoples lives since Independence and that it was time to introspect on this.

The broad fiscal policy lies with the Government of India, he said.

"Whatever they are supposed to devolve, they have instead centralized. I told NITI Ayog in one of the meetings that the Centre should not come in the way of growing states," he said.

The growth of the state should be considered as the growth of country. "Do not disincentivise growing states. Even for meagre funds lots of conditions are imposed by the centre. The relation that should exist between union government to state government is absent.

Its highly unfortunate that the policies devolution is in a manner of dishonouring state government and states powers," he said.

Rao, who also reviewed preparations for the upcoming state budget, said it should be formulated only after defining as to what should be the Telangana State "Livelihood."



He suggested that a comprehensive plan be prepared before preparing the budget and also forming different task forces for different areas.

He said the budget should concentrate on working out modalities and ways and means for increasing the growth.

The chief minister also suggested preparing a Master Plan for development of Hyderabad.

Rao also said a rigorous orientation-cum-training programme for all ministers and secretaries would be organised, after the expansion of Cabinet, in the Administrative Staff College of India, Hyderabad on their roles, powers and responsibilities.

Only Mohd Mehmood Ali had taken oath along with Rao when the latter assumed office as chief minister for the second term on December 13.

The programme envisages acquainting the ministers with rules and regulations, business rules of secretariat, budget making procedures, their limits, priorities as well as on state and national economy, according to the release.

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Protesters skirmished with police in Paris and other cities Saturday as thousands turned out for new rallies against French President Emmanuel Macron, with dozens arrested as officials vowed a crackdown on the violence that has marred the demonstrations since November.

The "yellow vest" marches began calmly amid a heavy police deployment of some 80,000 officers nationwide, with protesters singing the "Marseillaise" national anthem and holding signs including "Insecurity is not a job".

But scores of protesters later clashed with riot police after arriving at the Arc de Triomphe in Paris, prompting volleys of tear gas and water cannon as security forces prevented them from reaching the Champs-Elysees.

Nearly 60 people had been arrested in the capital, police said, alongside dozens more elsewhere including the central city of Bourges, the site of another major rally.

The interior ministry said there were 32,000 protesters nationwide as of 2:00 pm (1300 GMT), including 8,000 in Paris. That was above the 26,000 counted at the same time last week.

Many of the central districts of the capital were on lockdown for the ninth straight Saturday of protests, which have picked up steam after a holiday lull.

Dozens of banks, jewelry stores and other shops were boarded up on the Champs-Elysees and elsewhere across the city, which have taken a heavy toll on businesses.

"We've come to Paris to make ourselves heard, and we wanted to see for ourselves at least once what's going on here," said Patrick, 37, who told AFP he had travelled from the Savoie region.

A few hundred protesters also clashed with police in the historic centre of Bourges, where nearly 5,000 people gathered as organisers sought to draw more participants from areas far from Paris.

Signs said "Macron resign!" and "France is angry," while police said 18 people had been detained.

In the well-heeled racehorsing town of Chantilly just north of Paris, 1,000 or so protesters marched through the centre before descending on the hippodrome where they delayed the start of a race, local media said.

Sporadic skirmishes were also reported in the southern town of Nimes involving some 1,000 protesters. The demonstrations also spilt over the border into eastern Belgium late on Friday, where one of around 25 protesters manning a blockade died after being hit by a truck, Belgian media reported.

Officials had warned of bigger and more violent protests than last week, when demonstrators rammed a forklift truck through the main doors of a government ministry in Paris.

"Those who are calling to demonstrate tomorrow know there will be violence, and therefore they are in part responsible," Interior Minister Christophe Castaner said in a Facebook interview Friday with Brut, a digital site favoured by many yellow vests.

But many demonstrators pointed to social media footage of a police officer repeatedly striking an unarmed man on the ground during a protest last week in Toulon, accusing the police of excessive use of force.

The yellow vest movement, which began as protests over high fuel taxes, has snowballed into a wholesale rejection of Macron and his policies, which are seen as favouring the wealthy at the expense of rural and small-town France.

Macron has called for a national debate starting next week to hear voters' grievances, hoping to sate demands for more of a say in national law-making and tamp down the protesters' anger.

He has already unveiled a 10-billion-euro (USD 11.5 billion) financial relief package for low earners, and axed the planned fuel tax hike.

But the public consultations risk being hobbled by record levels of distrust towards politicians and representatives of the state.

A poll by the Cevipof political sciences institute released Friday showed 77 per cent of respondents thought politicians inspired "distrust", "disgust" or "boredom".

And Macron may not have done himself any favours on Friday, when he told a gathering at the Elysee Palace that "too many of our citizens think they can get something without making the necessary effort.

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China is seeking consular access for Huawei employee Wang Weijing who was arrested in Poland over espionage allegations, state media reported on Saturday.

Citing China's foreign ministry of affairs, state broadcaster CCTV said Beijing is "closely following" the detention of Wang Weijing and has asked to arrange a consular visit "as soon as possible".

The Chinese embassy in Poland has also asked Warsaw to "effectively ensure the legitimate rights and interests, and humanitarian and safe treatment of the person involved."



A Polish man was also arrested for alleged espionage along with Wang on Tuesday. Both men are suspected of having "worked for Chinese services and to the detriment of Poland," said Polish special services spokesman Stanislaw Zaryn.

He said their apartments and workplaces were searched, adding that the Polish suspect had worked "for several state institutions".

The arrest of Wang is the latest setback for Huawei.

The firm's chief financial officer Meng Wanzhou, was arrested in Canada last month on request from the United States, who have accused her of violating Iranian sanctions.

Following her arrest two Canadians were detained in China on grounds of national security, in what has largely been seen as retaliation for the case.

The incident has also sparked a surge of patriotism in China with companies encouraging staff to buy Huawei smartphones -- and several companies even offering employee subsidies to buy phones from the home-grown company.

Huawei in December said it expects to see a 21 percent rise in revenue for 2018 despite what it called "unfair treatment" around the world, as several countries have banned Huawei telecommunications technology.

Last month, Britain's largest mobile provider BT said that it would remove Huawei equipment from its cellular network after the foreign intelligence service called the company a security risk.

Australia and New Zealand have also enacted similar bans, leaving Canada the only country in the "Five Eyes" intelligence network not to take steps against the Chinese firm.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Senior Congress leader P Chidambaram Saturday said his party was ready to fight the Lok Sabha elections alone but hoped there would be a rethink on the SP-BSP alliance for Uttar Pradesh.

The Congress cannot be underestimated in Uttar Pradesh and will fight on its own strength if required, the former Union minister said after the two parties announced a seat-sharing pact, keeping the Congress out.

But he hoped that the agreement between Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav and Bahujan Samaj Party chief Mayawati was not the final word.

As the elections approach, a truly broad-based alliance will be formed in Uttar Pradesh, Chidambaram said on the sidelines of a party event here.

Chidambaram said the goal was to defeat the Bharatiya Janata Party and expressed hope that all secular, liberal parties would come together to fight the elections.

Earlier in Lucknow, the SP and BSP announced an alliance, under which they will fight 38 Lok Sabha seats each out of the 80 in the state.

They left Amethi and Rae Bareli the two seats from where Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi contested last time for the Congress.

Two other seats will be shared with smaller allies, the SP and the BSP announced.

Chidambaram was here to seek suggestions from the people on what to include in the Congress manifesto for the 2019 Lok Sabha polls.

Asking a gathering of about 200 people to speak their minds, Chidambaram said his party was not the BJP and in Congress people from all walks of life are heard.

The implementation of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) and the demolition of some temples to make way for the Vishwanath temple corridor in Varanasi were among the issues discussed.

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To address the issues related to housing shortage in a time-bound manner, the Centre will launch the 'Global Housing Technology Challenge' here on Monday, officials said.

Union Housing and Urban Affairs (HUA) Minister Hardeep Singh Puri will launch the initiative under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Urban (PMAY-U), Ministry Secretary Durga Shanker Mishra said.

"Global Housing Technology Challenge-India will enable a paradigm shift in the country's construction sector," Mishra tweeted.

"It will address issues related to housing shortage in a time-bound manner & focus on the need for emerging, cost effective & speedy construction technologies," he said.

The PMAY (U), launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in June 2015, aims to ensure "Housing for all by 2022" by providing financial assistance to the beneficiaries.

Around 68.5 lakh houses have been approved so far for construction under the PMAY (U).

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Sharpening his attack on Lt Governor Kiran Bedi over her stand against the distribution of Pongal gift hampers to all families here, Puducherry Chief Minister V Narayanasamy said the Governor would face "serious repercussions" if she did not concur with the government on the issue.

Addressing reporters here, Narayanasamy, who has been at loggerheads with Bedi on various issues, said he had on Friday sent a file, informing her that Pongal hampers comprising raisins, cashew nuts and cardamom should be available free of cost to "all families without discrimination".

He said Bedi would face "very serious repercussions" if she did not see eye to eye with his government on the Pongal gift hamper scheme.

Narayanasamy said, "I have made it clear that the benefit should be available for all families".

He claimed the recent Madras High Court order, permitting distribution of freebies to all ration card holders in Tamil Nadu without any discrimination, was also applicable to Puducherry.

The chief minister charged the Lt Governor with "twisting and misinterpreting" the court order which, he said, had only restrained the Tamil Nadu government from distributing cash gift of Rs 1,000 to all families.

"The free supply of provisions and commodities for Pongal is to cover all families and the high court has also made this very clear," he pointed out.

Bedi had on Wednesday hailed the Madras High Court order, directing the Tamil Nadu government to restrict the Pongal cash gift of Rs 1,000 to Below Poverty Line families.

In a message to media, she had said the order was "a voice of wisdom, sagacity, financial prudence and reasonable restraint protecting society as a whole... also one of accountability and responsibility towards the really needy".

Noting that there was a limit to everything, Narayanasamy said the Lt Governor "cannot run roughshod and misuse power and authority".

He also termed as "unfortunate" Prime Minister Narendra Modi's response to the representations made by him all along on the style of functioning of the Puducherry Lt Governor.

Earlier, the chief minister also participated in a demonstration organised jointly by the Left parties and the Viduthalai Chirutaigal Katchi (VCK) to condemn Bedi's "autocratic" style of functioning.

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Normal life was crippled in the tribal council area of Tripura on Saturday during the dawn-to-dusk bandh called by five indigenous parties to protest against the police firing at Madhabbari earlier this week.

The Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC) comprises two-third of the state's territory and is home to the tribals, who constitute a third of the state's population.

Khumulwng town, the headquarters of the tribal council and around 18 km from here, wore a deserted look as shops downed their shutters, markets remained closed and vehicles stayed off the roads. Schools, colleges and government offices also remained closed, the police said.

On Tuesday, seven people were injured at Madhabbari in West Tripura district when the police and the paramilitary forces resorted to lathi-charge and fired in the air to disperse those protesting against the citizenship bill.

The parties, who called the bandh, are the Indigenous People's Front of Tripura (IPFT-Tipraha), Indigenous Nationalist Party of Twipura (INPT), Twipra State Party (TSP), National Conference of Tripura (NCT) and Tripura People's Party (TPP).

The entire tribal council area remained peaceful so far and no untoward incident was reported from any part of the council area, and no one was arrested, said Subrata Chakraborty, the state additional inspector general (law and order).

"There were road blockades by the bandh supporters at least in three places. Those are Kalacherra, S K Para and Neilahabari in Dhalai district, Sachirambari in South Tripura district, Amarpur and Takcherra in Gomati district," the AIG said.

The officer said there were no road blockades or demonstrations near Khumulwng and adjacent areas.

When contacted, Radha Charan Debbarma, TTAADC chief executive member and a prominent leader of the opposition CPI(M), said the situation in the tribal council area remained peaceful.

"Over 1,800 schools and eight colleges in TTAADC are closed and no employee turned up in offices. Everything, including markets and shops, remained closed and vehicles remained off the roads," Debbarma said.

West Tripura Superintendent of Police Ajit Pratap Singh said the situation in Madhabbari and adjacent areas was normal.

"The ban on Internet services and prohibitory order under section 144 of the CrPC (Code of Criminal Procedure) would expire in the evening. If the situation demands, both would continue," he said.

Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb had told a press conference earlier that a magisterial inquiry was ordered to look into how the incident took place and under what circumstances did the police open fire.

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Firing and lathicharge by security forces to quell protests against the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2016 in West Tripura district earlier this week triggered 'bandh' in large parts of the northeastern state Saturday.

Agitators in neighbouring Assam and Mizoram too joined the stir against the bill that aims to provide citizenship to illegal migrants of Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, Parsi or Christian extraction from Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan.

On Tuesday, the day the bill was passed in Lok Sabha, seven people were injured in Madhabbari area of the district when police and the paramilitary forces resorted to lathi-charge and fired in the air to disperse protesters.

Normal life was crippled during the dawn-to-dusk bandh on Saturday in Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC), which comprises two-thirds of Tripura's territory and is home to tribals who constitute a third of the state's population.

The bandh call was given by five indigenous parties Indigenous People's Front of Tripura (IPFT-Tipraha), Indigenous Nationalist Party of Twipra, Twipra State Party, National Conference of Tripura and Tripura People's Party to protest against the police firing.

Sunil Dev Debbarma, general secretary of Tripura Students Federation, said the seven injured in the lathi charge are admitted to a hospital but said to be stable.

Khumulwng town, the headquarters of the tribal council around 18km from Agartala, remained deserted as shops were closed and markets were closed and vehicles stayed off roads.

Schools, colleges and government offices also remained shut, police said.

There was no report of any violence from any part of the council during the bandh, said Subrata Chakraborty, the state additional inspector general (law and order).

"There were road blockades by bandh supporters in at least three districts Kalacherra, S K Para and Neilahabari in Dhalai district, Sachirambari in South Tripura district, Amarpur and Takcherra in Gomati district," Chakraborty said.

The officer said there was no road blockade or demonstration near Khumulwng town and adjacent areas.

When contacted, Radha Charan Debbarma, TTAADC chief executive member and prominent leader of the opposition CPI(M), said the situation in the council area remained peaceful.

"Over 1,800 schools and eight colleges in TTAADC area remained closed and no employee turned up at their offices. Everything, including markets and shops, remained closed and vehicles remained off roads," Debbarma said.

West Tripura Superintendent of Police Ajit Pratap Singh said the situation in Madhabbari and adjacent areas was normal.

The ban on Internet services and prohibitory orders under Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure have been lifted, Singh said.

Tripura Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb has ordered a magisterial inquiry into how and under what circumstances police opened fire on protesters in Madhabbari.

During the bandh, Twipra State Party members wore black badges and took out rallies with black flags in several places, TSP general secretary Sunil Debbarma said.

A motorbike rally with participants carrying black flags was organised in Barkathal in West Tripura district, he said.

In the neighbouring Assam, the North East Students Organisation (NESO) observed a 'black day' to protest the firing incident in Tripura.

The All Assam Students Union, a constituent of NESO, hoisted a black flag at its headquarters in Guwahati and student activists protested across the state.

AASU chief advisor Samujjal Bhattacharya, who had gone to Tripura with a team of NESO members, said they were stopped by police when they were proceeding towards Khumulwung Hospital to visit the injured persons after meeting other injured people at G B Pant Hospital.

He alleged that the Tripura Chief Minister Deb does not understand the pain of the indigenous people.

"We condemn the high-handed attitude of BJP government in Tripura and protest against it by observing today as 'black day', he added.

In Mizoram, the Mizo Zirlai Pawl or Mizo student federation, a constituent of NESO, had called for protests.

Black flags were hoisted at several places in the state capital Aizawl by MZP activists.

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Army Saturday paid tributes to major Shahi Dharan V Nair who was killed along with another soldier in an IED explosion in Rajouri district of Jammu and Kashmir.

"Tributes to our brave Martyr Maj Nair were paid by General Officer Commanding of Ace of Spades Division Maj Gen H Dharmarajan at Rajouri and Inspector General of Police Jammu, M K Sinha and other senior officers at technical airport Jammu," a defence spokesperson said.

The 33-year-old major along with rifleman Jiwan Gurung (24) were killed when an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) exploded in Naushera sector along the Line of Control (LoC) on Friday, he added.

The mortal remains of the officer, who had over 11 years service in the army, was brought to Rajouri cantonment before being flown to his home town of Pune for the last rites in a service aircraft, the spokesperson said.

Major Nair He is survived by his wife Trupti Shashidharan Nair.

After holding the wreath laying ceremony of Gurung, who hails from West Bengal, his mortal remains will be flown to his home town for the last rites, the spokesman said further.

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The Bombay High Court has issued notices to the Maharashtra government and the Mumbai Police on a petition filed by a woman demanding Rs 10 lakh in compensation claiming she was illegally detained in connection with a theft case.

In a hearing conducted earlier this week, a bench of Justices BP Dharamadhikari and Revati Mohite-Dere issued notices to the Mumbai police, the Investigating Officer (IO) in the case attached to the DN Nagar police station in suburban Andheri, and to the state government.

The bench directed the police and the state to file their respective affidavits, responding to the petition.

The 55-year-old petitioner, a resident of the suburb, had approached the high court alleging that she was arrested last September on false charges and was kept in illegal police custody overnight, in contravention of law and her fundamental rights.

The woman, through her lawyer Karim Pathan, stated that DN Nagar Police Station in Andheri had sent her a notice on September 5 last year, asking her to remain present at the police station the next morning for questioning in connection with a theft case.

The petitioner claimed that she was arrested and taken to the police station on the evening of September 5 itself.

Her counsel alleged that she was arrested around 3.40 PM on September 5 and kept in the police lock up overnight in violation of the CrPc and her legal rights.

The police told her that she was a suspect in a 2017 case of theft, said Pathan.

The woman was produced before the magistrate's court on September 7, 2018, the petition said.

The magistrate, however, realised that the police had arrested her on mere suspicion and granted her bail, it said.

Armed with the magistrate court's order, the woman approached the HC for compensation.

As per the order, the arrest of the woman was "arbitrary". The magistrate observed that the police had "failed to follow due procedure of law while arresting and detaining her".

"The police had said earlier that the accused in the case was untraceable... and suddenly, after a year, without any further probe, it had arrested the petitioner on mere suspicion," the order stated.

According to the police, a man from the suburb had registered a case of theft against a woman in October 2017 stating that she robbed him off his two gold chains, after he offered her lift in an autorickshaw.

Police further said the petitioner was the very woman who had robbed the man.

Seeking compensation, the woman claimed that not only had her rights been violated, but her arrest had also caused her much shame in the society.

The bench questioned the police's conduct and asked the IO to give an explanation in the reply affidavit.

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The Kerala government Saturday expressed willingness to hold conciliatory talks on the Alappad mining issue but the protest council said it was not in favour of any discussion until the mining stopped.

Fisheries minister J Mercykutty Amma said, being a public sector enterprise, the Indian Rare Earth (IRE) should engage in responsible mining without affecting the erosion of shoreline in the area.

"Being a public sector undertaking, the IRE must do the mining in a responsible manner. They should engage in mining by protecting the shore. This is what the people want and the government stands by the people," she told the media here.

"The environmental committee of the legislative assembly has already done an impact study in this regard. They have suggested the sustainable manner in which the mining should take place. Industries ministry will take necessary actions to initiate discussion with the protesters in this regard," she added.

However, members of the anti-mining People's Protest Council, which has been on a relay hunger strike for the past over two months against the mining activities, told PTI that the earlier round of talks with the IRE were a failure, hence fresh dialogue would serve no purpose until mining was stopped completely.

"Earlier dialogues with IRE ended without any results. The dialogues are a waste of time unless the company stops mining. All previous dialogues have ended with the society being cheated," K S Sreekumar, a protester said.

"The protest is to end the mining which has been affecting this area for long. All rules are flouted in this mining here," he added.

Industries minister E P Jayarajan said the ministry will look into the issues and take a decision accordingly.

"Shore erosion was not there earlier. We are aware of the situation. We will look into how the situation came up now and take decisions accordingly," Jayarajan told reporters.

Seeking to save their remaining villages, the people of Alappad and nearby hamlets under the banner of anti-mining People's Protest Council have been on a relay hunger strike at Vellanathuruthu near Alappad for the last 73 days demanding a complete halt to the mining activities.

Agitators claim hamlet after hamlet were "disappearing" from the map due to mining activities by the IRE, a central public sector undertaking, and state government-owned Kerala Minerals and Metals Limited (KMML).

However, an official of the IRE, when contacted, said the company was following all mining norms.

The two firms together have been engaged in mineral sand mining along the beach off the Kollam coast since the 1960s.

According to the protesters, a lithographic map decades ago had shown the area of Alappad panchayat as 89.5 square kilometre and it has now shrunk to a measly 7.6 square km due to sea erosion caused by the mining.

Alappad is a narrow stretch between Trivandrum-Shoranur (TS) Canal and the Arabian Sea that was commissioned between the 18th and 19th century.

Agitators allege that if this strip of land erodes any further, the backwaters would irreversibly merge with the sea and turn the river waters saline.

This in turn would damage paddy fields of upper Kuttanad, which is below the sea level and is known as the rice bowl of Kerala.

Freshwater ecology expert Dr Jayalekshmy V had said the "uncontrolled" sand mining in Cheriyazheekkal-Alappad area was affecting the ecological stability of Ashtamudi Lake and other associated freshwater fluvial ecosystems.

"Non-sustainable extraction of beach sand has led to the destruction of sand banks and widening of the Pallickal river mouth and during the summer when the water content is low, it will lead to the influx of marine water into the river," she had said.

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Nine workers were Saturday injured, three of them seriously, in a blast at a cement block manufacturing factory at Tuem Industrial Estate, 35 kms away from here, police said.

The incident took place around 12.15 pm and led to a fire in the unit, they said adding that over a dozen workers were present at that time.

Pernem police inspector Sandesh Chodankar said the three workers, who suffered grievous injuries in the blast, were admitted to Goa Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) near Panaji.

"They are in a critical condition and undergoing treatment," he said.

Soon after the blast, personnel of the Fire and Emergency Services rushed to the spot and extinguished the blaze.

The exact cause of the blast could be known after State Factories and Boilers Department conducts an inquiry and submits a report, Chodankar said.

According to him, the owner and the management of the factory could be booked for the offence of endangering human life.

Tuem Industrial Estate is located in Pernem taluka, located along the Maharashtra border.

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Five persons, including a BJP leader and his three sons, were Saturday arrested for allegedly killing a 22-year-old woman two years ago, with police claiming that the plot was inspired by the 2015 Bollywood film 'Drishyam' starring Ajay Devgn.

Indore Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Harinarayanchari Mishra told reporters that BJP leader Jagdish Karotiya alias Kallu Pahlwan (65), his three sons Ajay (36), Vijay (38), Vinay (31) and their associate Neelesh Kashyap (28) were arrested in connection with the murder of Twinkle Dagre (22), a resident of Banganga area.

He said Dagre was allegedly having an illicit relationship with Jagdish Karotiya and this was causing trouble in the latter's family as the woman wanted to stay with him.

Mishra said, "Due to family discord, Karotiya and his sons plotted to kill Twinkle Dagre. They strangulated her on October 16, 2016 and later burnt her body."



The DIG said police recovered a bracelet and other ornaments from the place where the woman's body was burnt, following which the five were arrested.

"We have come to know that the accused had watched the film Drishyam before planning the murder. Inspired by a movie scene, they buried the body of a dog at one place. They spread the word that someone had buried a human body in this pit," he said.

"When the police dug up the pit, the remains of the dog were recovered. This had misled police investigation," he said.

Mishra said a scientific approach was adopted in order to solve the case and Brain Electrical Oscillation Signature (BEOS) test was conducted on Karotiya and his two sons in a Gujarat laboratory.

This was the first time the BEOS test was conducted in a criminal incident in Indore, he claimed.

BEOS profiling is a non-invasive, neuro-psychological technique of interrogation, sometimes referred to as 'brain fingerprinting', in which a suspect's participation in a crime is detected by eliciting electrophysiological impulses.

Meanwhile, the deceased's family has alleged that Karotiya was given police patronage at the behest of a former BJP MLA.

When asked about this, the DIG said no evidence has been found regarding the role of the former MLA.

Further investigation is underway, he said.

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Twenty workers were trapped in a Chinese coal mine after its roof collapsed, local officials said on Saturday.

The mine's roof collapsed in northwest China's Shaanxi province, state-run Xinhua agency quoted officials as saying.

The accident happened in the city of Shenmu around 6 pm local time. Rescuers have rushed to the scene.

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A Delhi court Saturday sent two people, arrested on suspicion of being members of an ISIS-inspired group and for planning terror attacks in the country, to judicial custody till January 22.

Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Dharmender Singh sent Mufti Mohammed Suhail alias Hazrath (29) and Saqib Iftekar (26) to the custody.

Advocate Mohammed Noorullah, appearing for both the accused, had opposed the National Investigation Agency's request for police custody for further interrogation.

The two accused, along with eight others, were arrested for allegedly planning suicide attacks and serial blasts targeting politicians and government installations in Delhi and other parts of north India.

All the 10 accused were arrested on December 26 after the NIA carried out searches, in coordination with the special cell of Delhi Police and Anti-Terrorism Squad of Uttar Pradesh Police, at six places in Delhi and at 11 places in western Uttar Pradesh.

A locally made rocket launcher, material for suicide vests, 12 pistols, several rounds of live ammunition and 112 alarm clocks to be used as timers were recovered during the searches, according to NIA.

The agency had initially rounded up 16 persons of the group 'Harkat ul Harb e Islam', which loosely translates into war for the cause of Islam. It was inspired by the Islamic State terrorist group, officials have said.

Of the 16 detained, 10 were arrested five from Amroha in UP and five from Seelampur and Jafrabad areas in north-east Delhi, the agency has said.

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Rebutting the Opposition's claim that all major schemes of the incumbent central dispensation are those initiated by previous Congress regime and are being run superficially by changing their nomenclature, Prime Minister said that none of the public welfare schemes of Democratic Alliance (NDA) government is named after him.

"Is written before Is written before Bharat Mala and Sagar Mala? Is Ujjawala Yojna known by the name of Narendra Modi? It is not so, because for us the party is bigger than individual and nation is bigger than the party," said Prime Minister Narendra Modi while addressing party workers at BJP's council meeting here at Ramlila ground on Saturday.

"Opposition alleges that we have only changed the names of the schemes. They should tell how many of the schemes are running in the name of Prime Minister Narendra Modi?" he asked.

Firing a salvo of allegations against the arch-rival Congress party while holding it responsible for series of scams during its era, Prime Minister Modi said that Congress wants stable government only for committing scams, contrary to the BJP which is concerned about the nation and its people.

"They want a stable government so that they can do scam in health services and ambulance. We want a stable government so that we can run free of cost health schemes like Ayushman Bharat," asserted Prime Minister Modi.

He further took on the Congress for scams in Defence deals during its tenure.

"They want a stable government so that they can earn kick-backs in Defence deals, while we want a stable government so that we can fulfil all the needs of our Army. They want a stable government so that they can do scam in even loan waiver for farmers while we want a stable government so that farmers are empowered," he said.
The partial shutdown of the US government has become the longest on record, overtaking the previous record of the 21-day impasse in 1995-96 under then President Bill Clinton.

With no end in sight to the political standoff, the current shutdown entered its 22nd day on Saturday and eclipsed the shutdown that stretched from December 16, 1995, to January 6, 1996, the US media reported.

US President Donald Trump and Congress have been at loggerheads over his demand to include in the budget $5.7 billion funding for building a wall along the Mexico border. Democratic leaders have rejected his call.

About a quarter of the federal government was still out of operation till a spending plan was agreed upon, leaving 800,000 employees unpaid.

Trump vacillated on Friday over whether he would declare a national emergency to build the wall. With no clear path forward, the President earlier in the week had said he would do so and divert money from other departments to build the wall without congressional approval, according to Efe news.

But in his latest comments Trump said that "what we're not looking to do right now" is a national emergency. "I'm not going to do it so fast".

Meanwhile, hundreds of thousands of federal employees missed their first paychecks on Friday, raising the pressure on lawmakers and the White House to end the shutdown.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi called the extended shutdown "totally unnecessary".

With negotiations unsuccessful, staff at the White House Office of Management and Budget were laying the groundwork for the shutdown to continue through the end of February, according to White House officials who were briefed on the plans.

In one sign that lawmakers were feeling some pressure, the House on Friday passed a bill approving back pay for federal employees who missed their paychecks because of the shutdown.

The bill, which the Senate approved on Thursday, mandated that the roughly 420,000 essential employees working without pay and the 380,000 furloughed workers would be compensated as soon as the government reopens. Trump said he would sign the bill.

Democrats warned that if Trump declares a national emergency to build the wall, he could set a precedent that could backfire on Republicans under a future Democratic President.

"They should be concerned that if he wants something passed, he or she is going to try to bypass the Congress by going this particular route," said Representative Henry Cuellar.

But some Republicans pushed Trump to declare an emergency, given the impasse with Democrats.

"Mr President, declare a national emergency now," Senator Lindsey Graham said on Twitter. "Build a wall now."

Meanwhile, in the Senate, groups of Republicans continued to search for agreements they hoped would chart a path out of the impasse.

Senators Rob Portman and Jerry Moran introduced legislation that would establish a $25 billion trust fund for border security to pay for at least 700 miles of reinforced fencing, additional physical barriers and more technology.

The bill would also include protections for a group of undocumented immigrants brought illegally to the US at a young age by their parents.

Trump had ended an Obama-era programme, Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival (DACA), that shielded hundreds of thousands of the immigrants from deportation. But his action was rejected by an appeals court in November.

The issue is expected to be reviewed by the Supreme Court.

The bill from Portman and Moran would allow the immigrants, known as Dreamers, to continue to renew their protected status every two years.

--IANS

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Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Saturday said the Samajwadi Party (SP) and Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) leaving the Congress out of the alliance in Uttar Pradesh was not a "setback" for his party, and stressed that the poll results "would surprise people".

"The SP and BSP have every right to have an alliance. It's their political decision. They might have taken it after due consideration. I won't call it a setback because the BJP is anyway not going to win any seats in Uttar Pradesh," Gandhi said at a press conference here.

"The Congress party has tremendous amount to offer to the people of Uttar Pradesh, so we will do our best. We will fight with full aggression for our ideology. And the result will surprise people," he added.

Gandhi said the results of the coming parliamentary elections will surprise Prime Minister Narendra Modi who "will not understand what has happened".

However, Gandhi refused to open up on possibility of a post-poll alliance with the two dominant parties in Uttar Pradesh. Notably, the SP-BSP alliance will not field its candidates on the Lok Sabha seats of Amethi and Rae Bareli, the constituencies of Rahul and Sonia Gandhi respectively.

"I have tremendous respect for Mayawati ji, Mulayam Singh ji and Akhilesh. The BSP and SP have said a few wrong things about us, but we accept it. That's our way of doing things," Rahul Gandhi said.

He said the Congress "might give a surprise or two to the people" about what it was capable of doing in Uttar Pradesh.

Uttar Pradesh is considered the most crucial as it has 80 in the Lok Sabha seats, the maximum for any state. Political pundits hold that the road to 7, Lok Kalyan Marg, the Prime Minister's office, goes from Uttar Pradesh.

Gandhi also emphasised that the equation in Uttar Pradesh will not affect alliances in others states.

"The situations are different in different states. In Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Jharkhand, Bihar and others states, alliances are being sealed smoothly one after another. So I don't think it should be any problem," he said.

Asked what will be his priorities if his party comes to power, Gandhi said the Congress government would take "rational economic decisions" and would restructure the Goods and Services Tax (GST).

He accused the Modi government of vitiating the atmosphere of the country, undermining "every single constitutional institution" of the country and taking rash economic decisions such as demonetisation and multi-layered GST which warded off big business from India.

He said unlike Modi, he would fulfil all his commitments made to the people and restore the credibility of institutions.

Gandhi was on a two-day tour of the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

--IANS

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The President of the UN General Assembly (UNGA), Maria Fernanda Espinosa, will visit Pakistan from January 18 to 22, her spokesperson said.

According to spokesperson Monica Grayley, this will be Espinosa's first official visit to the Asia Pacific since she took office in September.

During her five-day visit, Espinosa will meet Pakistan's President Arif Alvi, Prime Minister Imran Khan, Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi as well as representatives of the UN and civil society, Geo News reported on Saturday.

"The (UNGA) President is looking forward to strengthening ties between Pakistan and the UN, promoting multilateralism and continuing her work with the country on the priorities for the 73rd session of the General Assembly," Grayley said while addressing a briefing at the UN headquarters here.

Talking about the visit, Pakistan's Permanent Representative to the UN, Maleeha Lodhi, said that the country's leadership plans to discuss a wide range of global and regional issues with the UNGA President during her visit.

--IANS

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Veteran actress Shabana Azmi has reacted to Pakistan's Supreme Court's decision to ban Indian content in their country terming it as unfortunate, saying it is the decision of Pakistan's politicians and bureaucrats and not their audience.

Shabanaz Azmi was interacting with the media as she hosted a painting competition for children to celebrate 100th birth anniversary of acclaimed poet, lyricist and her father, Kaifi Azmi, on Saturday in Mumbai.

Pakistan's Chief Justice Saqib Nisar on Wednesday said the country's supreme court will not allow Indian content to be shown on Pakistani TV channels as it "damages our culture".

"It's an unfortunate decision because I feel that art connects and not divides people. People of Pakistan don't want a ban on Indian content in their country, but it is their politicians who want it. In our country too, politicians want to ban their art and artists," Azmi said.

She said people-to-people contact is necessary. "(by banning), We lose an opportunity to create a large pool of talent in our subcontinent."

"When we visit Pakistan, we get so much of respect from their citizens and when artists from that country visit our land, they say they feel like being in their our own country. So, people-to-people connect is really necessary when it comes to encouraging any kind of art form," Azmi said.

--IANS

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Two militants were killed in a gunfight with the security forces on Saturday in south Kashmir's Kulgam district.

Police sources said the militants were killed in Katapora village of Yaripora area in Kulgam.

"The identity of the slain militants is being ascertained," a source said.

Clashes between stone-pelting youth and security forces have started near the site of the gunfight, sources said.

Security forces are using tear smoke to quell the protesters.

Security forces started a cordon and search operation in Katapora village following information about the presence of militants there, sources said.

"As the cordon around the hiding militants was tightened, they fired at security forces, triggering an encounter", police said.

Mobile internet services have been suspended in Kulgam and Shopian districts, sources added.

--IANS

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Two elephants died from electrocution after coming in contact with a high-voltage cable in West Bengal's West Midnapore district on Saturday, police said.

The local administration alleged that non-rectification of sagging lines over a vast field in West Midnapore district's Gurguripal area caused the tragedy.

"The bodies of two full-seized elephants were found lying in the paddy field at Nepura village under Gurguripal police station area on Saturday morning. It seems they died from electrocution," Rabindranath Saha, Divisional Forest Officer said.

"Some of the high-voltage cables are sagging dangerously low in the area. THese can cause death and damage to people working out in the field as well. We have informed the power department," he said.

The locals said the two elephants were part of a herd of about two dozen elephants roaming around in the area for the last few days.

--IANS

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(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Hindu Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard has announced that she will run for president in the 2020 election.

"I have decided to run and will be making a formal announcement within the next week," the Hawaii Democrat told CNN on Friday.

Gabbard, 37, an Iraq War veteran, currently serves on the House Foreign Affairs Committee. She is the first American Samoan and the first Hindu member of Congress.

"There are a lot of reasons for me to make this decision. There are a lot of challenges that are facing the American people that I'm concerned about and that I want to help solve," she said, listing health care access, criminal justice reform and climate change as key platform issues.

"There is one main issue that is central to the rest, and that is the issue of war and peace... I look forward to being able to get into this and to talk about it in depth when we make our announcement."

Rania Batrice, who was a deputy campaign manager for Bernie Sanders in 2016 and is now a top aide to Gabbard, will be the campaign manager.

In 2015, Gabbard, then a vice-chairwoman of the Democratic National Committee (DNC), was sharply critical of its then-chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz for scheduling just six presidential debates during the 2016 primary election cycle.

She later resigned her post as DNC vice chair to become one of Sanders' highest-profile supporters, aligning herself with his populist economic message, CNN reported.

Gabbard has staked out anti-interventionist foreign policy positions in Congress. Her 2017 meeting with Syrian dictator Bashar Al-Assad drew widespread criticism.

Gabbard joins a quickly growing field of Democrats eager to take on President Donald Trump for the presidency.

Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren announced on New Year's Eve that she was forming an exploratory committee for a presidential run.

Former Housing and Urban Development Secretary Julian Castro also formed an exploratory committee and is expected to announce his 2020 plans on Saturday.

A number of other potential Democratic candidates, including heavyweights like former Vice President Joe Biden and Sanders, were currently weighing whether to run for president and are expected to announce their decision soon.

--IANS

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US President Donald Trump has said that he has no immediate plans to resort to a national-emergency declaration to build a wall on the border with Mexico, the issue behind a partial government shutdown now in its 21st day.

"What we're not looking to do right now is a national emergency," he said during a White House roundtable on border security on Friday.

"I'm not going to do it so fast," Trump was quoted as saying by Xinhua news agency.

Trump has said more than once in recent days that he would "probably" declare a national emergency, which would allow him to tap Pentagon funds for construction of a wall to resolve what he claims is a crisis on the border.

The Republican president demands that Congress provide $5.7 billion in funds for the wall as a condition for his agreeing to sign a spending bill that would allow affected federal government departments to resume normal operations.

Democrats, who now control the House of Representatives, say they are prepared to appropriate $1.3 billion for border security, including enhancements to existing fences, but will not pay for construction of a new barrier.

While some prominent Republicans have endorsed the idea of the emergency declaration, other GOP lawmakers remain uneasy.

"We want Congress to do its job," Trump said Friday, at the same time he called on Democratic legislators to return to Washington.

Most senators and House members from both parties have already left Washington for the weekend.

The shutdown has crippled roughly 25 percent of federal agencies and departments and roughly 800,000 public employees are on furlough or working without pay.

--IANS

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New Delhi, Jan 12 (IANS/Mongabay) Groundwater in over 25,000 habitations across India is contaminated with excess arsenic and fluoride levels. To address the issue, a parliamentary committee has now asked the Union Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation (MDWS) to devise a time-bound plan to achieve the target of supplying clean drinking water to the contaminated areas.

In India, 15,811 habitations are affected by arsenic and 9,660 by fluoride, said the central government's Minister of State for Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation Ramesh Chandappa Jigajinagi while replying to a query in parliament in December 2018.

Of the 15,811 habitations affected by high arsenic levels, 13,577 (about 85 percent) are in West Bengal (9,250) and Assam (4,327) alone. As far as fluoride-affected habitations are concerned, of the 9,660, Rajasthan has the most with 5,176 habitations followed by West Bengal with 1,263 habitations.

Last year, in March 2018, the parliamentary standing committee on rural development expressed concern on arsenic and fluoride contamination in drinking water in many habitations and asked the MDWS to take steps on "war footing" for a solution, stating that the "pace of work" to address the issue is "extremely slow", leading to more habitations being affected.

In response to committee's concerns, the drinking water ministry, in July 2018, noted that "rural drinking water is a state subject" and the technical and financial support it already provides to the states under the National Rural Drinking Water Programme (NRDWP) can be utilised for tackling drinking water quality problems with priority to arsenic and fluoride affected habitations.

The parliamentary committee, led by All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) leader P. Venugopal, in its March 2018 report had also noted that "until and unless the habitations affected by contamination are provided with adequate piped water supply, the habitations will keep on reeling under the adverse effects of contamination".

Arsenic is a carcinogenic element and is associated with skin, lung, bladder, kidney and liver cancer. Excess consumption of fluorides through drinking water and food over a prolonged period can cause health related disorders like dental, skeletal and non-skeletal fluorosis, besides inducing ageing.

According to the Bureau of Indian Standards in its IS 10500-2012 standards, the acceptable limit of arsenic in drinking water is 0.01 milligram per litre (permissible limit in absence of alternate source is 0.05 mg/l) and for fluoride is 1 milligram per litre (permissible limit in absence of alternate source is 1.5 mg/l).

As per August 2016 data, a population of about 21 million in over 23,500 habitations were affected by arsenic and fluoride contaminated groundwater.

The issue of contaminated water was brought up once again recently by the parliamentary committee in its latest report which was presented in the parliament on December 31, 2018.

"The committee in their recommendation had specifically asked the ministry to ensure that all the states provide piped water supply to the contaminated habitations. In their action-taken reply, the ministry had informed the committee that they have advised the states to tackle water quality affected habitations in rural areas by Piped Water Supply (PWS) Schemes using safe water sources," noted the latest report.

But since PWS schemes take nearly three to four years to commission, the ministry had also advised the states to install community water purification plants in identified quality-affected rural habitations.

The committee appreciated the steps taken by the drinking water ministry but said that "piped water supply is the only solution to tackle water quality issues and, therefore, a time bound plan is needed to be put in operation to achieve the target to supply clean water to the contaminated areas."

It reiterated that the drinking water ministry, "must take up the matter with the state governments till the piped water supply reaches each household, arrangement should be made to provide alternate supply of clean water by way of installing community water purification plants (CWPPs) in identified contaminated affected rural habitations on priority basis and also expedite the process of supply of piped water and apprise the committee in this regard".

In March 2017, the drinking water ministry launched the National Water Quality Sub-Mission (NWQSM) under the NRDWP which focused on providing safe drinking water to arsenic and fluoride affected habitations "over a span of four years, subject to availability of funds". The total expenditure for the sub-mission was estimated at Rs 25,000 crore (Rs 250 billion) and of that, Rs 12,500 crore (Rs 125 billion) was to be provided by the central government starting from financial year 2017-18.

A year earlier, with a focus on dealing with arsenic and fluoride contamination, Indian government had released another Rs 1,000 crores (Rs 10 billion), in March 2016, for commissioning of CWPPs and last mile connectivity of piped water supply schemes.

Satish Sinha, who is an associate director with Toxics Link, however, questioned the efforts of the government and municipalities to provide safe drinking water to people. He stated that the government is not doing enough and it should be looking at available technologies to address the issue of contamination.

"I think the effort has not been adequate." said Sinha. "If you can't make safe water available to people then what are you doing? Where is the action, plan or vision?" he questioned.

(In arrangement with Mongabay.com, a source for environmental news reporting and analysis. The views expressed in the article are those of Mongabay.com. Feedback: gopi@mongabay.com)

--IANS/Mongabay

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With thousands of families living in Hyderabad heading to their native places in both the Telugu states for Sankranti, the Telangana government on Saturday decided to waive toll tax for commuters on national highways.

Chief Secretary S.K. Joshi issued instructions to waive off the toll gates charges to the commuters on national highways to and fro from Hyderabad on January 13 and January 16, a day before and a day after the three-day festival, according to an official release.

The move is expected to provide relief to many families travelling to their native towns and villages in Telangana and neighbouring Andhra Pradesh. It will ease long traffic snarls seen at the toll gates on Hyderabad-Vijayawada, Hyderabad-Warangal and other highways since Friday night.

Hundreds of four-wheelers were waiting at the toll gates for their turn, slowing down the movement of vehicles on the highways.

Sankranti is a major harvest festival of Telugu people. Thousands employed in Hyderabad head to their homes in towns and villages.

South Central Railway and Telangana State Road Transport Corporation (TSRTC) were operating special trains and buses respectively between Hyderabad and other destinations to clear the Sankranti rush.

--IANS

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SpaceX is laying off 10 per cent of its 6,000-person workforce as it tackles two hugely expensive projects, the company said.

"To continue delivering for our customers and to succeed in developing interplanetary spacecraft and a global space-based Internet, SpaceX must become a leaner company," the Elon Musk-owned company said in the statement on Friday.

"Either of these developments, even when attempted separately, have bankrupted other organisations. This means we must part ways with some talented and hardworking members of our team.

"We are grateful for everything they have accomplished and their commitment to SpaceX's mission. This action is taken only due to the extraordinarily difficult challenges ahead and would not otherwise be necessary."

SpaceX has a booming business conducting uncrewed resupply trips to the International Space Station (ISS) through contracts with NASA.

The company also delivers satellites to orbit through contracts with the US military and commercial firms.

SpaceX, along with competitor Boeing, are supposed to start flying astronauts to the ISS for NASA sometime this year.

SpaceX was recently valued at $30.5 billion after initiating a $500 million equity sale in December. The company also took on about $250 million in debt last year in its first loan sale, according to the Wall Street Journal.

But SpaceX's new products are expected to cost billions to develop.

In September, Musk estimated SpaceX would spend between $2 billion and $10 billion developing an ultra-powerful spaceship and rocket system, recently renamed Starship and Super Heavy.

SpaceX also plans to use the technology to fly tourists to space and, potentially, one day send humans to Mars, CNN said.

SpaceX is developing a constellation of satellites that could one day beam high-speed internet down to the Earth.

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
An Army soldier has shot himself dead inside a camp in Jammu and Kashmir's Kulgam district, authorities said.

Police said Abishekh Roy Kumar, a wireless operator at a Rashtriya Rifles camp, shot himself dead with his service rifle on Friday evening.

"The soldier died on the spot. The reason behind his death is unknown," police said.

--IANS

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Veteran actress-activist Shabana Azmi feels that Indian film institutes must teach film production to their students.

Asked if Indian film institutes don't put emphasis on film production as compared to acting and direction, she said: "It is absolutely right thing. I always say this thing because out of our country, there are lots of institutions where production is taught.

"In India, for production, you just need to have money and it doesn't require any kind of experience. I feel film institute's should understand this thing that production also needs training."

The actress spoke on the importance of film production while interacting with the media when she hosted a painting competition to celebrate the 100th birth anniversary of renowned poet and her father Kaifi Azmi on Saturday here.

She added that government subsidised film institutions must include training of film production in their courses.

"I think government subsidised institutions like Film Television Institute of India (FTII) or Satyajit Ray Film and Television Institute must incorporate production training in their course."

--IANS

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Barcelona's Spanish midfielder Sergi Samper and Belgian Thomas Vermaelen partly rejoined the team training in preparation for the upcoming La Liga match against Eibar, the Spanish club announced.

Both players participated in some of the day's practice while still recovering from injuries that have kept them out of some games.

"It was good to see Samper and Vermaelen undertaking part of the training with the group again," Barcelona said in a statement on its official website on Friday night, reports Efe news.

Samper's and Vermaelen's return, albeit limited, was good news for Barcelona, which Thursday lost the first leg of the Spanish Cup round of 16 in an upset to Levante 2-1.

Barcelona leads the La Liga table with 40 points, five points ahead of second-placed Atletico Madrid.

--IANS

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The Congress on Saturday demanded reinstatement of CBI Chief Alok Verma, terming his ouster from the investigating agency by the Prime Minister-led selection committee, a negation of "natural justice" and a decision taken to derail the Rafale probe.

Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi referred to the statement given to a newspaper by retired Supreme Court Justice A.K. Patnaik, who supervised the selection committee meetings, to accuse the ruling party of removing Verma from the CBI post in "haste and anxiety" and with a view to "hide matters of public interest".

"This is very serious, it is urgent, it is very important because ultimately the issues are the same, the issues have not changed. But, the issues highlight a tearing hurry, anxiety and urgency to hide vital matters of public interest. This government is running scared... I think, it is very clear... that there is much to hide, it is not a cupboard full of skeletons, it is only skeletons, there is no cupboard," Singhvi said in a press conference.

"Was it that the CBI Director was deep into the investigative stage of Rafale? Was it that he had evidence, witnesses, documents which would nail the multiple lies of this government, the Prime Minister, the ruling party president?" he wondered.

Apart from Verma's reinstatement, the party also demanded reconvening of the selection committee and giving him back the 77 days out of his two years' tenure which he lost due to the probe.

Earlier, Patnaik had told a newspaper that there was "no evidence" of corruption against Verma and that the committee took the decision in "very, very haste".

"There was no evidence against Verma regarding corruption. The entire enquiry was held on (CBI Special Director Rakesh) Asthana's complaint. I have said in my report that none of the findings in the CVC's report are mine," he had told The Indian Express.

Verma was transferred by the three-member selection committee -- including Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge, who dissented against Verma's removal -- from the CBI Chief's post to the post of Director General of Fire Services on Wednesday, two days after the Supreme Court had reinstated him.

Verma on Friday quit the government service, alleging in a letter that "natural justice was scuttled" in inquiry involving him.

--IANS

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Congress President Rahul Gandhi remembered Swami Vivekananda on his 156th birth anniversary on Saturday and also addressed the youths on the occasion of National Youth Day.

"I want to tell the youth of this country: you are at the foundation of the dreams of this nation. You are at the very source of its courage. You are its ability. And, you are its future," Gandhi posted on Facebook.

"So, go follow your dreams with all your might. You can achieve anything. We are there for you. We will always be."

Vivekananda was born as Narendranath Datta in the then Calcutta on January 12, 1863. He died on July 4, 1902.

His birth anniversary is also celebrated as National Youth Day.

--IANS

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President Ram Nath Kovind on Saturday conferred the honorary rank of 'General of the Indian Army on General Purna Chandra Thapa, chief of the Nepalese army at a special investiture ceremony held at Rashtrapati Bhavan.

The President conferred the rank for General Thapa's "commendable military prowess and immeasurable contribution in fostering Nepal's long and friendly association with India", an official release said.

General Thapa also called on Indian Army chief General Bipin Rawat, who presented him a memento.

Earlier, General Thapa laid a wreath at Amar Jawan Jyoti and inspected a guard of honour at South Block.

--IANS

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The Pakistani government will not approach the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for a bailout package as of now and will instead explore alternative options to bring the cash-strapped country's economy back on track, Finance Minister Asad Umar said on Saturday.

Umar made the remarks while talking to businessmen at the Karachi Chamber of Commence and Industry, Dawn online reported. He said that instead of rushing into the International Monetary Fund (IMF) programme, the government was looking at different avenues.

The minister also announced that the government will unveil a mini-budget on January 23 instead of January 21, citing Prime Minister Imran Khan's travel commitments.

Umar rejected reports that the government was only borrowing money, saying several agreements had also been signed to bring investment into the country. "The impacts of the investment agreements will start surfacing from the next week," he added.

Pakistan is in talks with the IMF to secure a $8 billion bailout deal for its ailing economy.

Earlier this month, Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) finalised a $6.2 billion support package to help Islamabad address its balance of payments challenge. The package involved $3.2 billion worth of oil supplies on deferred payment, besides a $3 billion cash deposit.

Pakistan has already received $2 billion in cash deposit from Saudi Arabia, while the third tranche of $1 billion is due in the first week of February. During Khan's visit to Saudi Arabia in October, it was announced that the kingdom will provide a $6 billion package to Islamabad.

The deal included $3 billion in balance of payments support and just as much in deferred payments on oil imports.

Pakistan's "all-weather friend" China too, had pledged to lend it financial support to shore up the dwindling foreign exchange reserves.

--IANS

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The publisher of the "Choose Your Own Adventure" book series has sued Netflix, alleging that the film "Black Mirror: Bandersnatch" infringes on its trademarks.

Netflix is facing a $25 million lawsuit filed by the publisher in a federal court on Friday, reports variety.com.

The film debuted last month on the streaming service. Like the "Choose Your Own Adventure" books, the film allows viewers to direct the character's action, leading to a variety of possible endings.

Chooseco LLC, the Vermont-based publisher of the book series, alleges that Netflix deliberately exploited the brand awareness of its book series to launch the show.

The "Choose Your Own Adventure" books were popular among young readers in the 1980s and 1990s, and publishers have sold 265 million copies, according to the suit, which seeks at least $25 million in damages.

According to the suit, Netflix sought a license to use the "Choose Your Own Adventure" trademark over the last couple of years. However, the negotiations never resulted in a deal. The suit also notes that 20th Century Fox recently optioned the rights to develop an interactive film series based on the books.

The suit notes that early in the film, the main character refers to the book series. The character plans to pitch a video game based on a book he is reading, and the character's father asks about the book. "It's a 'Choose Your Own Adventure' book," the character states.

The suit also contends that the film is violent and disturbing -- including references to murder, decapitation, drug use, and the mutilation of a corpse -- which is inappropriate for the young adult readers of the book series. The suit claims that the violent imagery tarnishes the "Choose Your Own Adventure" brand.

R.A. Montgomery, the original publisher and author of the "Choose Your Own Adventure" series, died in 2014. His widow, Shannon Gilligan, now leads the company. She issued a statement on Friday about the trademark suit, in which she sought to clarify that the film has nothing to do with the books, and that the film does not "adhere to the 'Choose Your Own Adventure' rules about successful interactive storytelling".

"The misappropriation of our mark by Netflix presents an extreme challenge for a small independent publisher like Chooseco," she said.

"The use of 'Choose Your Own Adventure' in association with such graphic content is likely to cause significant damage, impacting our book sales and affecting our ability to work with licensing partners in the future. We would prefer not to resort to litigation, but given the damage that we will suffer as a result of the use of our mark we've been left with no other option."

--IANS

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi will on Sunday release a commemorative coin on the 10th Sikh Guru, Guru Gobind Singh, to mark his birth anniversary. Modi will also address a select gathering.

Modi attended the 350th birth anniversary celebrations of the Guru in Patna on January 5, 2017. He had released a commemorative postage stamp to mark the occasion.

Modi had also recalled Guru Gobind Singh in his monthly radio address 'Mann Ki Baat' on December 30 last year, and lauded his heroism, sacrifice and devotion.

--IANS

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Pitching himself as the sole leader against a motley group of individuals on the rival side, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday dismissed the opposition grand alliance as a "failed experiment" and said that parties are coming together to defeat "one man" to form a "majboor" (helpless) government while the country wants a "majboot" (strong) government.

He also launched a scathing attack on the Congress saying it had pushed the country into darkness, bled banks and had created road blocks to an early judicial solution to the Ayodhya dispute.

In his valedictory remarks winding up the two-day BJP National Convention at the Ramlila Maidan here, he set the tone for the BJP's bid to come back to power again, stating that his government's track record was "spotless", it worked with honesty for all sections, ended despondency, raised people's confidence, accelerated the pace of development and enhanced India's stature.

Speaking on the legislation giving ten per cent reservation for the economically weaker sections among the general category, he said this was not only reservations but will give a new dimension to the youth of the country.

Accusing rivals of spreading rumours and hatching conspiracies that the new quota will be at the cost of the existing reservations for SC-STs and OBCs, he said "we have to foil their designs".

Cautioning party workers against any complacency, he said the election will be won on the BJP's tried and tested method of "mera booth, sabse majboot" and not by his speeches alone.

The convention adopted a political resolution, which described the mahagathbandhan as a "comical alliance" and said the choice before the people was between "stability and instability, between an honest and courageous leader and a leaderless opportunistic alliance - a majboot government and a majboor government."

Modi came down heavily on the opposition parties, saying they were aligning for their "self interest" while the BJP-led NDA government was fighting for the nation's interest.

"These days a campaign has been going on to promote mahagathbandhan which is a failed experiment of Indian political history. The parties, which were born protesting against the Congress, its working culture and its corrupt practices, are now uniting," Modi said in a direct attack on most of the regional parties which are forging a grand alliance with the Congress.

He told over 12,000 delegates including from top brass to district-level office bearers that these political parties were surrendering to the Congress at a time when the grand old party was at its "lowest ebb" and its leaders were out on bail in corruption cases.

"These parties (the regional parties), which had emerged as options against the Congress, have betrayed the people's mandate and trust," he said.

Modi said that when such alliances take shape, the governments in those states work under political compulsions and cited the examples of the recent developments in Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan.

"The Chief Minister of Karnataka (H.D. Kumaraswamy) is saying that he was working like a clerk and not as a Chief Minister. In Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh, the governments are being threatened (by allies) to take back cases or face the consequences," he said calling these incidents as "trailers" of the grand alliance.

Modi said that is done on the basis of ideologies and alliances are made on visions but for the first time it is happening "when all are uniting against one man".

"You need to understand and make the people understand what is behind their intentions. They have joined hands to form a 'majboor' government because they do not want to see a strong government which has ended all the corrupt practices," he said.

"They want to do good to their families and relatives, while the country wants a strong government so that everyone can develop. They want a government which can broker in defence deals while the country wants a strong government to fulfil every need of the armed forces."

Modi cautioned people about who they chose as their "pradhan sevak" (principal servant), one who worked 18 hours a day tirelessly and one who would not go on holidays.

"For the first time it has happened that there is no allegation of corruption against the government. We can be proud that we have a spotless record," he said.

Modi made several veiled attacks on Rahul Gandhi, saying he had met those who were talking of breaking India, had met the Chinese envoy during the Doklam stand off and had alleged "khoon ki dalali" over surgical strikes.

Referring to the National Herald case without naming Rahul Gandhi and his mother Sonia Gandhi, he said members of the "first family" of the Congress were on bail and the case pertained to 2012 when the UPA was in power.

"We are 'naamdars', how can we go, how can we be asked questions. The fact is that they have problem with truth. What are they hiding, we do not know. People on bail do not respect institutions, what respect they will give to the country. They have faith on 'rajshahi' (feudalism) and we on 'lokshahi' (democracy)," he said.

"Do people want a 'sevak' who provokes family members, steals from the house, distributes the goodies among his family members and talks ill of the family with neighbours, goes on long leave or a sevak who works day and night, works more than the owners of the house and always thinks of their welfare.

"The way you will choose a sevak, you decide what kind of pradhan sevak you want," he said.

Referring to the issue of the Ram Temple at Ayodhya, he said the Congress sought to create "obstacles" in the judicial process through a party man who is a lawyer.

Modi took a veiled dig at Gandhi over the Rafale deal, saying that he was not prepared to understand the issue.

Referring to an answer given during the debate in Parliament on the issue, he said it had been explained citing an example that a bag filled with different ingredients will have different price. "You can wake up a sleeping person but one who pretends to be asleep when he is awake, nothing can be done."

Modi said he was being abused and conspiracies were being hatched through an eco system linked to the Congress.

Modi said that ten years of the UPA government were lost in scams and allegations of corruption.

"Last four years have taught us that nothing is impossible. We have made it possible. When we took over, we inherited a weak foundation. Today our foundation is getting stronger. Imagine what will happen if we get another five-year term," he said.

BJP President Amit Shah, who spoke before Modi, said the 2019 battle was very crucial for the party and if it wins "it will be in power for a long time from panchayats to parliament."

He also accepted the challenge of a grand alliance in Uttar Pradesh and other states. "Parties can come together for power and self-interest. The workers of the BJP under Modiji are prepared for the fight."

The party's political resolution hailed Modi's tenure "as most successful" and said the opposition parties were coming together because of the "fear" of Narendra Modi.

"Those, who never wish 'namaste' to each other, are today coming together. In fact we are the real kingmaker of their friendship. They have come together due to our fear. They don't have any principle even though they are making alliances," Union Minister Nitin Gadkari said, while speaking on the political resolution.

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley accused the opposition parties of creating "a false narrative" based on lies and said it was the BJP which will decide the agenda and control the narrative of the upcoming Lok Sabha polls.

"Last time we got 282 seats, we will cross even that mark this time," he said.

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee on Saturday welcomed the BSP-SP alliance in Uttar Pradesh for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.

"I welcome the alliance of the SP and the BSP for the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections," Banerjee tweeted.

Arch rivals for over 25 years, the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) and the Samajwadi Party (SP) announced earlier in the day that they would contest the upcoming Lok Sabha polls together in Uttar Pradesh, sharing 38 seats each of the 80 in the state, while leaving Rae Bareli and Amethi for the Congress, which has been kept out of the alliance.

Banerjee who has been advocating for an opposition alliance to take on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), had earlier suggested the alliance in the northern state.

BSP supremo Mayawati described the alliance as a "new political revolution" taken in the national interest to stop the BJP from coming to power again.

On his part, SP chief Akhilesh Yadav hinted at supporting Mayawati as a Prime Ministerial candidate.

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Booking.com, one of the world's leading digital travel platforms, on Saturday revealed that Kerala toped the list with five out of 10 most welcoming tourist destinations in India.

According to its 2018 Guest Review Awards survey data, the five destinations were Varkala, Kochi, Thekkady, Alleppey and Munnar.

For the seventh annual edition of the awards, a total of 6,125 accommodation providers from India were recognised.

"No matter the type, size or location of the property, what we see from our customers is that they value human connection when they travel, whether it's some extra attention to detail or a truly individualised approach to service," said Ritu Mehrotra, Country Manager India, Sri Lanka and Maldives at Booking.com.

With the highest percentages of total eligible properties winning awards, India ranked as the 29th most welcoming country on the planet ahead of Switzerland (30th), China (40th) and Malaysia (45th).

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Investigation is underway after a double-decker bus on Friday crashed into a transit shelter in Ottawa of Canada, leaving three people dead and 23 others injured, Ottawa police said on Saturday.

Ottawa Police Chief Charles Bordeleau said the bus was at or near its full capacity of 90 passengers when it slammed into a bus shelter, and police will have to interview everyone on board at that time.

Most of the injured in the crash have been released from hospital, while one remained in critical condition, reports Xinhua news agency.

Police have already spoken with the bus driver who was released unconditionally pending further investigation.

They will also have to survey the wreckage using drones, go over video and data gathered from the bus and bystanders, said the police chief.

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Vice President M. Venkaiah Naidu on Saturday said a steady growth rate of almost 7 per cent coupled with a series of reforms made India the most favourite destination for investments in the world.

He said India would continue to be the fastest growing major economy. Quoting the World Bank's latest forecast, he said the GDP is expected to grow at 7.3 per cent this fiscal and at 7.5 per cent in the following two years.

"It is the right time for foreign investors to tap the huge potential offered by India in various sectors from real estate to healthcare," Naidu said addressing the inaugural session of CII's Partnership Summit on the theme 'New India: Rising to Global Occasions'.

Describing India as a bright spot in the world economy, he said the government's initiatives and reforms helped India achieve 11th rank in the Global FDI confidence index 2018, Vice President's Secretariat said in a statement.

"The annual FDI inflows would rise to $75 billion over the next five year and India with its growth momentum would soon become a $5 trillion economy," he said referring to a report by Swiss bank UBS.

Naidu said the robustness of India's institutions, resilience of its policy frameworks, reforms initiated by the government and responsiveness of industry bodies such as CII have insulated its economy from stagnation and helped in achieving the dual distinction of being a stable democracy and one of the fastest growing economies in the world.

Appreciating the healthy competition among states to attract investors, Naidu said the public-private partnership model was the way forward for effective implementation of infrastructure projects like construction of airports in Hyderabad, Delhi, Bengaluru and Mumbai.

He observed that the increasing internet penetration in rural India provides a great opportunity to improve rural India. Connecting all gram panchayats with optical fibre network under the BharatNet project by March 2019 would transform rural India, he said.

Advising the industry to promote innovation and research and development, he urged industry bodies like CII to promote business ethics, values, transparency and accountability.

Naidu called upon the business community to share more of their wealth through Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives to address challenges like poverty, illiteracy, double burden of infectious diseases and non-communicable diseases and unemployment.

Calling terrorism a global concern that demands global attention and cooperation, he said the United Nations should conclude the Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism at the earliest.

"Terror is enemy of humanity, we must see to it that is eliminated the earliest... the world community also should ensure that economic fugitives get extradited without delays," he said.

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Himachal Pradesh, whose economy largely relies on tourism, is praying for blessings from Tibetan spiritual leaders to improve their business.

The 17th Karmapa Ogyen Trinley Dorje, who heads a 900-year-old lineage of Tibetan Buddhism, is no more staying here and his mentor and elderly monk, the Dalai Lama, has been holding his teachings most of the time out of nearby McLeodganj, where the government-in-exile is based. As a result, hordes of tourists, mainly foreigners, who religiously came to their abodes, are giving the state a miss.

McLeodganj is a quaint town about 500 km from New Delhi. It is home to thousands of Tibetans who found a second abode to preserve their unique faith, culture and identity. Members of the hospitality industry say there is a notable decline in the footfall of tourists, resulting in a massive downturn in earnings. Even local Tibetan shopkeepers are feeling the pinch.

"Our businesses have badly hit as both spiritual leaders -- the Dalai Lama and the Karmapa -- are giving Dharamsala a miss," Mc'Lo restaurant-cum-pub owner Pankaj Chadha told IANS.

He said since Dharamsala and its suburbs like McLeodganj do not offer high-end tourist resorts and spas, and the teachings and blessings of the venerated Tibetan spiritual leaders were the prime attraction for the visitors.

"For over a year-and-a-half, the Karmapa is not in India. His Holiness (the Dalai Lama) prefers to hold most of his teachings out of Dharamsala. This is a big blow to the tourism industry," said Chadha, who runs a restaurant in McLeodganj, called Little Lhasa.

Officials say the Karmapa has been living in the US since May 2017. The Dalai Lama's private office says the elderly monk prefers to stay in Karnataka's Bylakuppe and other parts of the country to escape Himachal's harsh winter.

The spiritual pull of the monks lures thousands of tourists, mainly Westerners and Asians, to visit this Himalayan hill town to lend their ear to the teachings and sermons of the spiritual leaders.

Another restaurant owner, Amit Walia, said of late the arrival of South Koreans and Japanese had declined.

"Paragliding has come up in a big way in the region. More and more foreigners are now coming for flying. The government should promote other adventure-related activities to spike the tourist footfall," he added.

Padma Dolma, who earns her livelihood by selling Tibetan dumplings or momos outside the Tsuglagkhang temple in McLeodganj, said most of the local vendors prefer to travel along with His Holiness during his winter sojourn.

"Since thousands of devotees are coming to Bodh Gaya these days from across the world to participate in teachings and seek blessings of Guruji (the Dalai Lama), most local vendors have shifted their base there," she said.

The Dalai Lama's teachings are free and open to the public. Even board and lodging is free for the participants, says his office.

The teaching sessions are held at the request of followers and devotees. The Dalai Lama teaches in Tibetan and there are simultaneous translations in English, Hindi and Chinese for the participants.

The Dalai Lama fled Tibet after a failed uprising against Chinese Communist rule in 1959.

(Vishal Gulati can be reached at vishal.g@ians.in)

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Assam Finance Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Saturday called Congress President Rahul Gandhi "Gabbar Singh" and accused the party of standing with Pakistan, saying they were traitors.

Speaking at the second day of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) National Council, Sarma said: "The GST is not 'Gabbar Singh', but Rahul Gandhi is."

He alleged that the Congress chief wants to loot the poor and want to snatch their rights.

Hitting out at the party, the Bharatiya Janata Party leader said: "They are raking up the issue of Rafale fighter jets. Even the children of the country know that the Indian Air Force needs the Rafale. It is in the country's interest.

"But they stand with Pakistan. They know if Rafale comes to India then it (Pakistan) cannot defeat India in air warfare. Therefore they are saying that India does not need Rafale.

"They are traitors. They are (Mughal emperor) Babur," he said, with crowd chanting "Bharat Mata ki Jai".

He said that to defeat such powers is the task of the BJP.

Speaking about the National Registrar of Citizens (NRC), the Minister said: "(Prime Minister Narendra) Modi started the NRC when people demanded identity along with development. That's why the BJP or its allies are ruling in the eight northeastern states."

He also lauded Modi for the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill and said that the Prime Minister took a decision that the indigenous Assamese should get protection.

"If this Clause 6 is implemented, then Assam will become a fort against illegal Bangladeshis," Sarma said.

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Coal India's subsidiary Mahanadi Coalfields Limited (MCL) on Saturday said production and dispatches at its Talcher unit in Angul district of Odisha came to a "grinding halt" in the last few days due to a stir by local activists.

The daily loss to the exchequer of both the Centre and state is estimated at Rs 18 crore, it said.

Talcher Coalfields was expected to produce 100 million tonnes of coal in the current fiscal year, but stoppages and strike along with the land constraints have resulted in a loss of about five million tonnes from the coalfield itself in the current fiscal so far, an official said.

"Due to a two-day general strike called by trade unions earlier this week, production and dispatches suffered. Again, mining activities and dispatches at Talcher have been disrupted from Friday onwards due to an indefinite strike called by the Talcher Suraksha Manch," a company spokesperson told IANS over phone.

"The overall loss in production could be 1.2 million tonnes in four days (including Saturday)," the spokesperson said.

The average production from the coalfield varies between 2.7 lakh tonnes to three lakh tonnes a day and it contributes to about 60 per cent of MCL's annual production.

"With losing daily production and dispatches, the MCL's daily loss has been around Rs 20 crore and the loss to exchequers of the Centre and state (Odisha) could touch Rs 18 crore a day," he said.

The Manch has been agitating with its 16-point agenda, including implementation of State Rehabilitation Policy, 2006, construction of Angul-Talcher rail line, construction of a medical college and formation of a separate coal company.

"Our indefinite economic blockade has been successful. We have placed our 16-point charter of demands to the authority," said Manch's President Murali Sahoo.

According to the miner, the Manch had raised their demands during the meeting convened by the District Collector, Angul. Some of the issues were "beyond the purview of the company" and the rest was agreed to be taken up at the earliest.

"While the meeting was concluded on a positive note, it is not understood how the Manch has the clout to violate all rules and laws of the land," a company source said, adding that the members of the Manch have resorted to intimidating the MCL employees.

The miner wrote to the Odisha government informing the officials of the situation and accused the district administration and local MLA Braja Kishore Pradhan of being "inactive to resolve the impasse".

Pradhan denied the allegations and said that the miner should respond to demands of the local people.

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Producer Sanjay Raut, who is looking forward to the release of his forthcoming venture 'Thackeray' -- based on life of late Shiv Sena supremo Bal Thackeray -- has said the Central Board of Film Certification's scissors "is a very small thing" for the veteran Maharashtra leader.

Sanjay Raut was interacting with the media at the music launch of 'Thackeray' along with film's presenter Viacom 18 Motion Pictures COO Ajit Andhare, actors Amrita Rao, Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray, music composer Rohan-Rohan and Shiv Sena leader Aditya Thackeray on Saturday in Mumbai.

Earlier, there were reports that CBFC has raised objection to three scenes and two dialogues in 'Thackeray'.

The CBFC had reportedly objected to a particular Babri Masjid scene and another dialogue 'Yandu Gundu' which has been used against the South Indian community staying in Mumbai.

When asked if the film has been cleared by CBFC, Raut shot back: "Who told you that CBFC has objection with the film? The Hindi version of the film has been cleared by CBFC. There is everything in the film which the audience wants to see."

"I already made a statement that CBFC's scissors is a very small thing for Balasaheb Thackeray. He was the one who used to put the censor on others."

'Thackeray' has been written by journalist and MP Sanjay Raut and is directed by Abhijit Panse.

The film stars Nawazuddin Siddiqui and Amruta Rao in lead roles. It will be released in Hindi, Marathi, and English languages.

It is slated for release on January 23, Thackeray's 93rd birth-anniversary.

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Arch rivals for over 25 years, the BSP and SP announced on Saturday that they will contest the coming Lok Sabha polls together in Uttar Pradesh sharing 38 seats each of the 80 in the state, while leaving Rae Bareli and Amethi for Congress, which has been kept out of the alliance.

"The Bahujan Samaj Party and Samajwadi Party will each contest 38 seats while two seats have been left for one or two parties. We have also decided to leave Amethi and Rae Bareli seats for Congress though we do not have alliance with it," Mayawati said at a joint conference here with SP chief Akhilesh Yadav.

Answering questions, Mayawati called the alliance a "permanent phenomenon" that would not only sound the "end of the dictatorial, arrogant and anti-people the BJP" but one that would last beyond the 2019 general election and also go in the 2022 state Assembly polls.

The two parties will keep their personal differences aside to end "the monstrous rule" of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), she said.

On his part, Akhilesh Yadav hinted at supporting Mayawati as a Prime Ministerial candidate.

"Uttar Pradesh has produced numerous prime ministers in the past. You know whom I will support. I will be happy if another prime minister comes from the state."

Mayawati described the alliance also as a "new political revolution" taken in national interest to stop the BJP from coming to power again.

The four-time Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister started her address by saying that what she was about to say and announce would give anxious and sleepless moments to the "guru-chela" duo of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP National President Amit Shah.

She also said that the BJP was rattled at the fact that the two regional parties had buried a long-standing animosity and that it was letting loose government agencies to thwart the alliance.

"But here we are formally coming together, to ensure that at all costs, the BJP is not allowed to return to power but also to give relief to the teeming millions who were suffering at the hands of the faulty and anti-people policies of the BJP government at the Centre and in many states", the Dalit leader announced.

Making it clear that the deep differences and simmering hostility between the BSP-SP were "now things of the past", Mayawati also said that in "larger public interest she had even decided to overlook the infamous June 1995 murderous attack on her by SP workers".

Listing a host of problems like demonetisation, rolling out of the GST, agrarian distress, marginalisation of the poor, Dalits, downtrodden and farmers, Mayawati, who looked very much in control at the conference, also said that the alliance was set to knock out the BJP as they successfully did in the 1993 state Assembly polls when the late Kanshiram and Mulayam Singh Yadav came together to form the government.

She went on to bracket the BJP and the Congress on the same page, saying their "ideology and the working style" was similar.

The BSP supremo also alleged that while the people did not profit in governments of both the Congress and BJP, even defence scams took place under their watch.

"If Bofors was responsible for the ouster of the Congress government at the centre in the 90's, the BJP will go down soon due to the Rafale jet fighter scam" she said.

Explaining the reason for keeping the Congress out of the alliance, Mayawati said it was because of past experiences and electoral history showed that while the vote of the BSP and SP shifted to the Congress in toto, it did never happen vice versa.

"Both the BSP (1997) and SP (2017) tied up with the Congress, but the results were not in our favour because of this very reason."

The coming together of the two parties, which were swept away by the Modi wave in the 2014 Lok Sabha and the subsequent Assembly polls in 2017, has been viewed by analysts as a possible game changer.

In the 2014 Lok Sabha polls, the BJP won 71 seats on its own while its ally Apna Dal picked up two. The BSP drew nil, while the SP won five and Congress two -- all family pocketboroughs.

Mayawati said the seat-sharing between two parties was decided at a meeting in Delhi on January 4 and the distribution of seats has also been broadly worked out.

It will be made public through a press release.

She said Amethi, which is represented by Congress President Rahul Gandhi and Rae Barelli, represented by UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi, have been left for Congress as they do not want BJP to "complicate" matters.

Mayawati said ever since reports of the tie up between the two parties had appeared, the BJP got "scared" and conspired to weaken the alliance as part of its strategy.

It was "misusing" state machinery and targeting Akhilesh Yadav, whose name cropped up in the media in the alleged mining scam.

"The BJP should know that after this the alliance has got further strengthened," she said and appealed to people not to waste their votes on outfits like Shivpal Yadav, Akhilesh Yadav's estranged uncle, on whom "the BJP is splashing money like water".

She suggested that as part of this strategy, parties may be floated to attract Muslim votes.

Akhilesh Yadav said that he decided to have an alliance with the BSP ever since the BJP leaders "drunk with power" abused her. In future, any insult to Mayawati will be his personal insult, he said appealing to SP workers to work in the spirit of brotherhood with BSP cadre.

The Dalit leader also compared the current situation in the country to that in 1977 and said while the Congress had imposed the Emergency then, now it is a state of "undeclared emergency".

Mayawati however parried questions on whether she would contest the Lok Sabha polls or not.

"In due time, you will be informed of this also," she said smiling.

--IANS

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(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The BJP on Saturday hit out at the opposition alliance,

saying their coming together was because of the "fear" of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and claimed that the saffron party was the real "kingmaker" behind the "mahagathbandhan".

The saffron party, in its political resolution passed here at the last day of the two-day BJP National Convention, said no matter how many parties join the opposition alliance, their defeat is inevitable in the coming Lok Sabha polls and the Bharatiya Janata Party's victory was for sure.

"Those, who never wish 'namaste' to each other, are today coming together. In fact we are the real kingmaker of their friendship. They have come together due to our fear. They don't have any principle even though they are making alliances. They are opportunist. They don't have any shame. Those, whose defeat is evident, want to defeat us. We are courageous people and would ensure their defeat," Union Minister Nitin Gadkari said while presenting the party's political resolution.

"No matter how many parties join the opposition alliance. No matter how many baseless allegations they level against us, they are the people indulged in corruption and the of casteism. We will defeat them," he added.

Gadkari slammed the Congress and its President Rahul Gandhi for attacking the Modi-government on the Rafale fighter jet deal and using "foul" languages against the Prime Minister, saying the opposition parties were not able to digest the achievements of the BJP-led government.

"The country is changing. We are the fastest growing economy. The Congress is not able to digest this situation. They are resorting to baseless allegations. The Supreme Court has given a clean chit to the government on Rafale. Nirmalaji (Sitharaman) has spoken at length in Lok Sabha. But despite that the Congress is levelling baseless corruption charges.

"The Prime Minister belongs to no political party. He represents crores of Indians. The way the Congress President has been attacking him, does not behove him. They cannot digest the fact that a man from a poor background, who used to sell tea, has become the prime minister of the country. That is why they are resorting to baseless allegations and this has been thier policy," he said.

Referring to the government's major pro-poor initiatives, the former BJP President urged the intellectual class of the society to audit the performance of the Modi government while claiming that what could not be achieved in the last 60 years were achieved in the past four-and-a-half years.

"When the BJP-led NDA government came to the Centre, the country was in bad shape. The corruption was at an all time high. We were among the five fragile countries. There was a non-performing and visionless government.

"Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, we have transformed the country on many fronts. Social and economic equality were our commitments and we have delivered on these fronts. Without disturbing the reservation for SCs/STs and OBC, we have provided 10 per cent reservation to the the poor and economically backward of upper castes. It was a revolutionary decision," he said.

The Minister also referred to Triple Talaq Bill, saying that it will ensure justice to "our Muslim sisters".

Accusing the Congress and its Prime Minister of ruining the poor of the country, Gadkari said that their leaders only gave slogans to remove poverty but did nothing for them except making 20-point agendas.

"Our schemes like gas and power connections, and other reform measures have transformed the life of the poor. The number of people above poverty line has gone up. Over 60 crore people have benefited fron Direct Benefit Transfer scheme. We implemented in letter and spirit what we had said," he said, adding that the first time country has seen no difference in saying and deeds.

Gadkari also mentioned the Goods and Service Tax and demonetisation as major achievements of the Modi government and urged the party cadres to take a resolve to make Modi the Prime Minister again.

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The All India Chess Federation (AICF) will pass on to the players and others the benefit of any fee reduction implemented by the global chess body FIDE, said senior officials.

"We will surely pass on the benefit fee reduction by FIDE to the players," Bharat Singh Chauhan, Secretary, AICF, told IANS.

"The FIDE annually receives about 30,000 euros as fees and other charges from India. India is one of the top revenue contributing nation to FIDE," D.V. Sundar, Vice President, AICF and FIDE, told IANS.

According to Sundar, the FIDE normally raises its invoice on national chess federations twice a year and the latter settles its dues accordingly.

Sundar said that the AICF pays FIDE a share of the tournament fees paid by chess players participating in the domestic tournaments.

True to his electoral promise of cutting down payments made by National Chess Federations (NCF) to the global chess body, newly elected FIDE President Arkady Dvorkovich has proposed drastic reduction of income from the NCFs in the 2019 budget.

"After deliberations with the Presidential Board members and our legal counsel, we decided to divide all contributions payable in 2019 into two parts, the second of which shall be due only in December 2019," he said in a statement.

"At the same time, we decided to submit to the FIDE General Assembly (planned for Fall 2019) an amendment to the Financial Rules that would reduce the fees and will be applied from January 1, 2019. If the General Assembly approves our proposal, no federation, player or organisers will have to pay the second part of the fees due. This way, a significant reduction will be achieved in the manner that benefits everyone."

As per the FIDE budget for 2019, the income from NCFs has been cut to 694,500 euros from 1,252,000 euros in 2018.

However, AICF officials were not able to estimate the probable reduction in their annual outgo to FIDE as fees and other charges.

The AICF officials also added that it is not known the quantum of reduction in fees charged by FIDE.

According to Dvorkovich, there will be more money for development for NCFs and less fees for everyone, especially for seniors and juniors.

"These are the tangible benefits that the new FIDE management team brings you in 2019. We continue working with all of you for the benefit of chess worldwide," he added.

Meanwhile, there were no responses by the AICF to the reported veiled critical comment on it by Grand Master Nigel Short, Vice President, FIDE.

Short was reported saying that it was a matter of concern to note about 100 ongoing cases against the AICF though FIDE has a non-interference policy with national federations.

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Politician and film producer Sanjay Raut, who is also the writer of the forthcoming film "Thackeray" based on Bal Thackeray, says that though there is a perception that the late politician was "anti-Muslim", it is not true.

The producer was present along with the cast and crew of the film for the launch of the song album here.

Asked if Thackeray disliked and maintained a distance from the Muslim community, Raut told the media: "Bala saab was never an anti-Muslim man. He was a true patriot. He was one of those lovers of the nation and people's person that never allowed caste and religion to come in between

"People asked us why we cast Nawazuddin (Siddiqui) bhai as saab in the film. I would say that this is the biggest salute from us to the ideology of Bala saab. Also, note that Nakash Aziz sang the title song of 'Thackeray' because we believe that saab kept merit beyond religion."

Calling Thackeray the "biggest nationalist", Raut mentioned that "his vision was to bring people together for the development of the nation".

The event was also attended by Nawazuddin, actress Amrita Rao, Nakash, composers Rohan-Rohan and lyricist Manoj Yadav, among others.

The film is releasing before the election. Asked if the story will influence people's mind to vote for a particular political party, Raut said: "Look that film 'The Accidental Prime Minister' is made based on Sanjaya Baru's book. But our film is not based on any book, it is a life story. This is not a propaganda film. Like the way we watched films on Gandhi, Nelson Mandela, we will watch this film on Thackeray saab."

Bala saab's son Uddhav Thackeray and grandson Aaditya Thackeray were also present at the event.

"We are releasing it between 1200 and 1300 screens in India. It includes Marathi and Hindi. Overseas...we are attempting around 400 screens," said Ajit Andhare, chief operating officer of Viacom18 Studios.

"Thackeray" is releasing on January 25.

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
With at least three members named to a committee formed by the government to implement Clause 6 of the Assam Accord refusing to serve in the face of the controversy over the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill 2016, the BJP on Saturday asked them to reconsider their decision logically.

"The BJP would like to request these eminent members to reconsider their decision not to be part of the committee logically, rather than emotionally," Assam BJP spokesperson Rupam Goswami told IANS here.

"Clause 6 is a necessity for protecting the rights of the indigenous people of Assam," Goswami said.

Goswami stressed that while the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill is effective nationally, the Assam Accord is confined only to Assam, which is why implementing its Clause 6 is necessary.

A day before the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) tabled its report on the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill on January 7, the government announced the formation of a high-powered committee as approved by the Union Cabinet for implementing Clause 6 that seeks to protect the rights and culture of the state's indigenous people.

Seven eminent persons from Assam were named for the committee - M.P. Bezbaruah (Chairman) and Subhhash Das, both former IAS officer; Founder-Editor of The Sentinel newspaper Dhirendra Nath Bezboruah; two former Axom Xahitya Xabha Presidents Nagen Saikia and Rongbong Terang; Educationist Mukunda Rajbonghsi and Assam Advocate General Ramesh Borpatrogohain.

The high-powered committee also included a joint secretary from the Union Home Ministry and a representative from the AASU.

However, Saikia, Rajbongshi and Terang, as also the AASU representative, have declined to be part of the committee in view of the Lok Sabha passing the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill on Tuesday.

"The Clause 6 committee is cabinet-constituted committee and not a bill. So, once the government changes at the Centre, the recommendation of the committee will not mean anything. Earlier, I thought I will participate in the committee and give some recommendations for the protection of the indigenous people," Saikia said on Thursday.

"I think by keeping this committee in front, the government wants the Citizenship Bill to be passed," he said.

"When AASU, which was a signatory to the Assam Accord, has refused to be a part of the committee, there is no question that I should be a part," said Terang.

Following this, M.P. Bezbaruah has written to the Home Ministry stating that he does not want to chair a committee that is "defunct" following the refusal of three members to join it.

Clause 6 of the Assam Accord seeks to provide constitutional, legislative and administrative measures to protect, preserve and promote the cultural, social, linguistic identity and heritage of Assam's indigenous communities.

Basically, it means reservation of electoral seats, land and political rights, rights to natural resources and protection of culture and heritage of the indigenous Assamese people.

However, with the Lok Sabha passing the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, questions have arisen about the viability of implementing Clause 6 since this will affect Clause 5 of the Accord.

According to Clause 5, only those people who came to Assam till March 24, 1971, will be accepted as Indian citizens.

Clause 5 states: "Foreigners who came to Assam on or after March 25, 1971, shall continue to be detected, deleted and expelled in accordance with law. Immediate and practical steps shall be taken to expel such foreigners."

This means all illegal migrants irrespective of religion will be detected, deleted from the voters list and expelled.

However, the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill seeks to make an exception to this by bringing in religion to give refuge to illegal infiltrators.

According to the Bill, people belonging to six minority communities - Hindus, Sikhs, Jains, Buddhists, Parsis and Christians - from Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan, facing religious persecution, will be given citizenship in India.

Muslim refugees are not covered by the Bill.

(Aroonim Bhuyan can be contacted at aroonim.b@ians.in)

--IANS

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- 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."
Noted novelist, essayist, poet and musician Amit Chaudhuris new poetry collection "Sweet Shop" has arrived at the stands.

The collection of 31 poems makes a fresh, spiritual accommodation with the world. The poems often take their themes from sweets named and eaten, meals remembered, and matches these with meditations on culture, people, time and identity that slowly unfold as much in the mouth as in the mind.

What the readers discover are the hesitations, assessments and uncertainties that in their totality make us human. Those quiet moments of revelation and rediscovery that create our lives as much as reflect their circumstances, locating and healing us in their intimate pleasures, are also reflected in the surreal poems by Chaudhuri.

"Chaudhuri's experiments in poetic alchemy turn sweet nothings into ontological reflections. These odes to the pleasures of 'faltu' -- the unnecessary -- are pungent, chewy, and succulent," American poet, essayist and scholar Charles Bernstein has written in his endorsement of the book.

Published by Penguin Random House India, "Sweet Shop" is priced at Rs 299.

--IANS

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On a day the SP and BSP sealed an alliance for the Lok Sabha polls in Uttar Pradesh, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) also concluded a deal with the Apna Dal (Krishna Patel) on Saturday.

Announcing the alliance, AAP's Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh said the alliance has been agreed upon in principle and that seat-sharing talks were under way.

Singh, who is in Ayodhya as part of a yatra, said the two parties will contest all Lok Sabha seats in the state.

Apna Dal (Krishna Patel) is the faction of the party led by its founder Sone Lal Patel's widow while the other being the Apna Dal (S) led by Anupriya Patel, who is a minister in the Narendra Modi government.

Vaibhav Maheshwari, AAP spokesman in Uttar Pradesh, told IANS that talks had been going on for a long time with Apna Dal (Krishna Patel) and that the ideology of zero corruption and secularism had brought the two parties together.

"We both are against corruption and against communal forces," he added.

--IANS

md/prs

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At least four people, including two firefighters, died and dozens were injured after a gas leak led to an explosion at a bakery in central Paris on Saturday, emergency services said.

The blast took place at 9.10 a.m. (local time) at the bakery on Rue de Trevise in the 9th arrondissement of the French capital as firefighters were responding to reports of the leak, CNN reported.

"The human toll is heavy -- 12 people seriously injured, of which three are firefighters," prosecutor Remy Heitz told reporters before the police confirmed the four fatalities.

"At this stage, we can tell the origin of the explosion is accidental, a gas leak, but we should remain prudent as an ongoing investigation will determine the causes of this," he said.

According to officials, five people were in a critical condition. An additional 24 people were also injured by the blast, but not critically, said a spokesman for the Paris Fire Brigade.

The explosion caused windows to shatter in the vicinity and glass to rattle over a larger area, while significant damage to the surrounding buildings and shops was visible on the streets, Efe news reported.

Pictures from the scene showed smashed windows and scattered debris across the street, as fire crews evacuated people from apartments above the bakery.

French Interior Minister Christophe Castaner, who visited the scene with Prime Minister Edouard Philippe and the city's Mayor Anne Hidalgo, said the situation was now under control. He wrote earlier on Twitter that the toll of victims "will be heavy".

"More than 200 Paris firefighters are engaged in emergency operations," Castaner tweeted. "My first thoughts go to the wounded and their loved ones."

The police advised the public to stay away from the area and to make space for emergency vehicles.

Jean, a young man who lives in front of the bakery, told Efe news that several windows in his house were smashed after a rumble in the streets in a scene "that looked like an earthquake".

--IANS

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A delegation of United States Navy is expected to embark on a four-day visit to China on Sunday with an aim to continue a "results-oriented, risk reduction-focused dialogue between the two militaries".

The US Navy said in a press statement released on Friday that the delegation, headed by Chief of Naval Operations Admiral John Richardson, will be meeting his Chinese counterpart, Vice-Admiral Shen Jinlong, and other members of China's Central Military Commission.

"I am looking forward to this trip," said Richardson said in his statement.

"A routine exchange of views is essential, especially in times of friction, in order to reduce risk and avoid miscalculation. Honest and frank dialogue can improve the relationship in constructive ways, help explore areas where we share common interests, and reduce risk while we work through our differences," he added.

The visit by the US Navy comes when the two big economies, US and China, are looking forward to ending the trade war and the South China Sea crisis and enhance diplomatic ties between each other.

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The United States on Saturday lauded the unanimous decision of the Macedonian Parliament to officially change the name of the country to the Republic of North Macedonia.

The United States also extended congratulations to both Greece and Macedonia following the end of the dispute between the two countries over this issue.

A press statement released by the US Department of State stated, "The United States congratulates Prime Ministers Alexis Tsipras and Zoran Zaev and welcomes the historic agreement to resolve the name dispute."

"This resolution will benefit both countries and bolster regional security and prosperity. Prime Ministers Zaev and Tsipras demonstrated vision, courage, and persistence in their pursuit of a mutually acceptable solution. We also commend the commitment of UN mediator Matthew Nimetz for his steadfast efforts over more than two decades to end this dispute. We stand ready to support this agreement, as requested by the two countries," the statement further read.

For decades, Macedonia has been trying to gain membership of the North American Treaty Organisation (NATO) and the European Union (EU). However, Greece raised objections to the official usage of Macedonia's name, arguing that it implies territorial aspirations against a northern Greek region with the same name.

At the same time, Greece also claimed that using Macedonia's name officially was an attempt to annex the ancient civilisation of Macedonia, which was a Greek Kingdom ruled by Philip II of Macedon and Alexander the Great.

The agreement signed last year on June 12 by the Macedonian lawmakers to change the name of the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia would wipe out the last remnant of Yugoslavia's name from the map.

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Gujarat Frontier Border Security Force on Friday seized an unclaimed Pakistani fishing boat on Friday.

The patrolling party of BSF with speedboats seized the boat from the Vanvari creek and found personal belongings of Pakistani fishermen who had entered Indian Territory, violating International Boundary for fishing.

Last year, one Pakistani fishing boat and seven of its crew members were also held by the Indian Coast Guard in Gujarat.

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Wearing sunscreen and cosmetics to the beach might seem like a good idea for your skin and beauty, but it is certainly not good for the corals, a recent study has revealed.

According to several research studies, up to 14,000 tons of sunscreen end up in the world's oceans every year.

To protect coral reefs, the state of Hawaii recently banned sunscreens containing oxybenzone and octinoxate, two chemicals known to harm coral, with the law set to take effect in January 2021.

Another substance, OC, can be found in cosmetics such as hair sprays and conditioners, as well as sunscreens. Although OC is toxic to coral at high concentrations, Didier Stien, Philippe Lebaron and colleagues wondered how it would affect coral at levels more likely to be encountered in the environment.

To study this phenomenon further, the researchers exposed coral to OC at various concentrations for a week. They found that the coral was sensitive to the compound at concentrations of 50 micrograms per litre and greater, which is about 10 times higher than levels measured in the ocean.

The study was published in the Journal of Analytical Chemistry.

OC accumulated in the coral as fatty acid conjugates, which may interfere with the organism's metabolism. The team also detected increased levels of acylcarnitines in the exposed corals, which are produced under conditions of abnormal fatty acid metabolism and mitochondrial dysfunction. The researchers say that levels of OC in the ocean might have been underestimated previously because these measurements did not take into account OC fatty acid esters.

Although sunscreen is critical for preventing sunburns and skin cancer, some of its ingredients are not so beneficial to ocean-dwelling creatures.

In particular, sunscreen chemicals shed by swimmers are thought to contribute to coral reef decline.

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Congress's vote is not transferrable, said Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati while explaining why the Samajwadi Party (SP) and BSP have not included Congress party in their alliance for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.

Mayawati lashed out more at the Congress than at the BJP while addressing a joint press conference with SP president Akhilesh Yadav here on Saturday. She added that neither the SP nor the BSP would benefit by allying with the Congress.

"Many a time, we have seen similarities between the Congress and BJP. For example, in the defence sector, we are seeing how both indulged in corruption (Bofors and Rafale). Congress imposed declared emergency, today there is an undeclared emergency. Most sections of the society, including scheduled castes, farmers, and the poor were unhappy with the Congress' rule. Whether the mandate goes to the Congress or BJP, it is one and the same thing," she noted.

The SP and Congress came together in the 2017 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections. The duo faced a crushing defeat at the hands of the BJP.

Meanwhile, in the recently-held Assembly elections, the BSP had announced support to the Congress in Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh, despite not being in agreement with the party's policies.

But on Saturday, Mayawati said that any further alliance with the Congress would affect "honest parties" like the SP and BSP.

"Our votes are easily transferred, however, the Congress' vote gets transferred to BJP or any other party, or it gets sorted out internally. Honest parties like ours get affected by this, and we have experienced this in Uttar Pradesh itself. Therefore, we have decided that we will not ally in the future with parties like the Congress," she added.

The BSP and SP announced that they will contest the upcoming Lok Sabha polls together on 38 assembly seats each, while two seats have been left for other parties.

SP and BSP, had for long, been in talks to forge an alliance. A recent meeting between Yadav and Mayawati had triggered a lot of speculation about seat-sharing being firmed up.

There was, however, ambiguity over whether the Congress would be a part of the alliance, amid indications that the SP and BSP were not inclined to include the party.

Among all the states, Uttar Pradesh has the maximum number of 80 Lok Sabha seats out the 543 and plays a crucial role in government formation in the Centre.

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Six protestors have been arrested on Saturday for holding a demonstration against the screening of 'The Accidental Prime Minister' inside a cineplex in Kolkata.

A video of the incident was recently made public by ANI. In the clip, a group of protestors can be seen moving around the mall sloganeering against the screening of the movie. The protestors can be heard shouting slogans against actor Anupam Kher, who played the lead role in the movie.

The Congress protest against the screening of the movie was organised on Thursday, during the evening show inside the Quest INOX Cineplex.

Earlier on Friday, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had asserted that the Anupam Kher-starrer 'The Accidental Prime Minister' was made with an intention to distort facts and keeping the upcoming Lok Sabha elections in mind.

Firing a fresh salvo at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, she had asserted that a movie titled 'Disastrous Prime Minister' should also be made.

The Manmohan Singh biopic drew a lot of flak from the Congress party, even before the movie hit the theatres. Maharashtra Youth Congress, in December, had raised objections over the film and demanded its special screening to ensure that none of the scenes are factually incorrect.

The film is based on facts chronicled in a book by Sanjaya Baru - Manmohan Singh's media advisor between 2004 and 2008. It revolves around Singh's life, the economist and politician who served as the Prime Minister of India from 2004 to 2014 under the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government.

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Union Minister for Home Affairs Rajnath Singh will on Sunday felicitate senior Supreme Court lawyer and former Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader H S Phoolka for his role in ensuring justice to the victims of 1984 anti-Sikh riots.

The felicitation ceremony will be held at 10, Ashoka Road here, the official residence of Union Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Vijay Goel.

Phoolka on January 3 handed over his resignation to AAP chief and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal. He also represents Dakha Assembly seat in Punjab Vidhan Sabha, which Phoolka won as an AAP candidate.

Phoolka has been at the forefront of fighting the judicial battle of 1984 anti-Sikh riot victims. He is one of the petitioners in the anti-Sikh riots case. It was his relentless efforts which saw Congress leader Sajjan Kumar getting convicted and sentenced to life in prison in one of the anti-Sikh riot cases. He surrendered before a Delhi court on December 31, 2018.

It is worth mentioning that Sajjan Kumar, a former Congress MP, was convicted and sentenced in the killing of five Sikhs in Raj Nagar's Part I area under Palam Colony in south-west Delhi. The incident took place on November 1-2, 1984. Kumar was also charged with the burning down of a gurdwara, falling in Raj Nagar-II locality in south-west Delhi.

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said that whenever India needed Rahul Gandhi, he abandoned the nation.

The Prime Minister urged the nation to choose between him, a loyal servant, or Rahul Gandhi, a servant which robs the house and distributes the money amongst his family.

Addressing BJP's convention here, the Prime Minister said, "Would you like a servant who steals your money and divides it into his family? Do you want to tell the neighbors, the things happening inside your house? Country should decide if it wants a pradhan sevak, who works tirelessly 18 hours for you, or the one who goes on vacation abroad when the country needs him the most? What kind of pradhan sevak you want?"

In more than an hour-long speech, the Prime Minister also accused the Congress for pushing the country into darkness during its 10 years (2004-2014) of tenure.

Highlighting the work done by his government in the past four and half years he said, "Last four years have shown us that nothing is impossible".

Hailing the 124th Constitutional Amendment Bill, recently approved by the Parliament to make economically-weaker sections of general category eligible for 10 per cent reservation in education and government jobs, Prime Minister Modi said, "This is not just reservation but an attempt to give a new dimension to the aspirations of youths, who are left behind. The provision of reservation done by Babasaheb Ambedkar is as strong today as it was then. And will continue to remain strong."

The Prime Minister also voiced his hope saying that 10 per cent quota in education, government jobs to poor youths of general category will enhance confidence of 'New India'.

He said, "When youths get right guidance, right facilities, they don't need to be dependent."

He also remembered late former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee during the council meeting by saying, "This is the first meeting of the council which is getting without Atal ji. Where we will be watching today, they will be getting satisfaction by seeing the dedication of our children to this energy and nation."

Further highlighting the growth of the BJP since its formation, the Prime Minister added, "It is the dedication of BJP worker which makes everyday auspicious. The party, which had two MPs, which was running from a two-room building, is today holding such a massive convention.

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The Myanmar High Court on Friday rejected the appeal of two Reuters journalists challenging the seven-year prison sentence handed to them under the country's Official Secrets Act in September for allegedly possessing illegal documents related to the situation of Rohingya minorities in the South Asian nation.

According to Al Jazeera, the appeal had called for the reporters' immediate release stating that the original trial was conducted in an "unjust manner."

The two accused, namely Wa Lone, aged 32, and Kyaw Soe Oo, aged 28, were arrested and announced prison sentence by a district court while reporting on Myanmar's Rohingya Muslim minority.

The Washington Post quoted High Court Judge Aung Naing, who was overseeing the probe into the matter, termed the conviction of the two journalists to be a "suitable ruling."

"The judgment is very disappointing, not just for the journalists, but for the rule of law here," Than Zaw Aung, the lawyer for the two journalists, was quoted as saying.

However, neither of the convicts attended the court proceedings on Friday.

Meanwhile, Editor in Chief of Reuters news agency Stephen J. Adler said that the latest judgment in the case was an 'injustice' to the two journalists.

"They remain behind bars for one reason: those in power sought to silence the truth," Adler said.

"Reporting is not a crime, and until Myanmar rights, this terrible wrong, the press in Myanmar is not free, and Myanmar's commitment to rule of law and democracy remains in doubt," he added.

Friday's ruling came as devastation to the two journalist and their families, despite surmounting pressure by the other countries against suppressing of press freedom.

Both reporters were named as TIME's Person of the Year 2018 earlier this month, amongst other titles which have been bestowed on the duo.

They were covering the Rohingya crisis in Myanmar's Rakhine state in December last year when they were detained. There have been repeated calls by the international community for their release, with many drawing attention towards press freedom in Myanmar.

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Senior Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge on Saturday termed as a 'mistake' the removal of Alok Verma as CBI director and accused the government of "destroying" the premier investigating agency.

Kharge, who is a member of the Selection Committee headed by the prime minister which shunted out Verma from CBI, said he was not given a chance to present his side. Kharge had submitted a dissent note before the committee questioning the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) findings against Verma. Interestingly, Kharge had expressed his opposition even when the selection committee decided to appoint Verma as CBI Chief two years back.

"The Modi government does not hold any moral authority. They are doing wrong and destroying the institution," Kharge told ANI here.

"The government has again done a mistake. Earlier they did a mistake by removing the (CBI) Director without even calling a meeting. Even after calling the meeting, the papers that were supposed to be kept in front of the committee were not presented. They took action only on the basis of the CVC report. I asked in the committee why Patnaik's report was not there. I asked for Alok Verma's statement on the matter. Then it came forward that everything is there in the CVC report," said Kharge, the leader of the Congress party in Lok Sabha.

He added, "Before the meeting, I read the CVC report. I raised concerns over issues in that, but despite all that the process of removing him (CBI Director) was carried forward. We are not in favour of anybody. We want that we should follow the rules made by us. There is no question in defending Alok Verma. The question is on what procedures he was appointed and on what procedures he was removed. You don't remove anybody only on the basis of somebody's allegation. You need to decide after hearing others too."

Defending himself over lending support to Verma, Kharge said, "In court, we don't hang a person before listening the allegations and the defence. But here nothing like this happened. People will say me you should not do it - first you opposed him (Alok Verma) and now you are supporting him. But, you should understand that the reasons are different."

He added, "At that time, the person I supported had worked in the agency for a minimum of 18 years. You didn't listen to me then. After appointing him, now when you are removing him through wrong ways, then committee has the authority to speak there. Should we stay quiet? Patnaik has said the same thing what I wanted to say that there is nothing in the enquiry."

Not just Verma's exit, Kharge also questioned the Centre over M. Nageshwar Rao's appointment as interim director.

"They have done another mistake. They didn't ask the committee before appointing Nageshwar Rao as interim Director. He is not even eligible. It's okay if you want your man to be place in the office. These things were not put in front of Sikri and me. I don't need to defend any person. I only defend judiciary, rules as per the Delhi Special Police Act."

According to sources, the CVC found evidence of influencing of investigation in the Moin Qureshi case. There was also evidence of Verma taking bribe of Rs. 2 crore, the sources claimed.

The CVC was of the view that Verma's conduct in the case was "suspicious," and there was a "prima facie case" against him. The CVC also felt that the "entire truth will come out if a criminal investigation is ordered."

In the IRCTC case, the CVC felt that it can be reasonably concluded that Verma allegedly "deliberately excluded" a name from the FIR, for reasons "best known to him," the sources said.

The CVC found evidence against Verma in several other cases as well, the sources said, including instances of wilful non-production and fabrication of record. The Committee also took note of Verma's alleged attempts to induct officers of doubtful integrity in the CBI.

Verma, a 1979-batch IPS officer, was posted as DG, Fire Services, Civil Defence, and Home Guards, two days after he was reinstated as the CBI Director by the Supreme Court. His reinstatement had come about two-and-a-half months after being divested of his powers and sent on leave by the government.

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For the first time, Maldivian President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, Vice President Faisal Naseem along with their Cabinet and political appointees have made their income and assets public.

The statements are published on the official website of the President's Office of Maldives.

"President @ibusolih, Vice President @FaisalNasym, along with cabinet and political appointees of the Presidents Office have publicly disclosed their assets and income," Ibrahim Hood, Spokesperson for President Ibrahim Solih and Chief Communications Strategist at the Presidential Office tweeted.

A press statement released by the Presidential Office of Maldives on Friday regarding the financial statements said, "In keeping with the Government of Maldives' commitment to eliminate corruption, President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, Vice President Faisal Naseem and the entire Cabinet have publicly declared their assets and income today. The declaration is part of President Solih's pledge to root out corruption and usher in an era of good governance."

"President Solih's electoral pledge is reflected in the administration's efforts to strengthen state institutions through a commitment to value-driven public service including accountability and transparency of both processes and individuals appointed to senior state posts."

"This is the first time an administration has voluntarily disclosed the assets and income of its members in Maldivian history. As highlighted by the President on several occasions, the government accords the highest priority to delivering good governance and eradicating corruption that hinders national development and prevents Maldivians from enjoying their rightful due," the statement further read.

In the upcoming days, the President's Office will continue to publish the financial statements of all senior political appointees at all ministries, state institutions, and state companies that will be revised annually.

Earlier this week on January 3, Hood informed that the disclosure of the financial assets of all political appointees along with their family members was a part of the 100-day agenda of the newly formed government in the Maldives, headed by President Solih, Maldives Independent reported.

Hood had also stated that the disclosure of the financial statements would be concluded before the end of March this year.

The Constitution of Maldives requires all the government officials including the President, Ministers, and lawmakers, to annually submit the details of their income and assets to the Auditor General, which was not provided by the earlier governments in power.

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The Macedonian Parliament unanimously agreed to change the name of the country to the Republic of North Macedonia, ending a long-drawn dispute between Greece and Macedonia over this issue.

Macedonian Prime Minister Zoran Zaev, while addressing the Parliament before the historic vote on Friday, said "We should raise our heads high, move past all the issues that divided our society," as quoted by The New York Times.

For decades, Macedonia has been trying to gain membership of the North American Treaty Organisation (NATO) and the European Union (EU). However, Greece raised objections against the official usage of Macedonia's name, arguing that it implies territorial aspirations against a northern Greek region with the same name.

At the same time, Greece also claimed that using Macedonia's name officially was an attempt to annex the ancient civilisation of Macedonia, which was a Greek kingdom ruled by Philip II of Macedon and Alexander the Great.

The agreement signed last year on June 12 by the Macedonian lawmakers to change the name of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia would wipe out the last remnant of Yugoslavia's name from the map.

Meanwhile, Secretary General of NATO, Jens Stoltenberg said the constitutional changes in the official name of the country marks a 'historic' victory for Macedonians.

"NATO strongly supports the full implementation of the agreement, which is an important contribution to a stable and prosperous region," Stoltenberg added.

Acknowledging the end of the dispute between Greece and Macedonia, High representative of the European Union Federica Mogherini, was quoted as saying in a statement, "Political leaders and citizens alike have shown their determination to seize this unique and historic opportunity in solving one of the oldest disputes in the region."

"The E.U. strongly supports this agreement which sets an example of reconciliation for the region and Europe as a whole," she added.

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Ace filmmaker Karan Johar, who is quite active on Instagram, shared a picture of himself enjoying some quality time, taking a dip in the pool.

He took to his Instagram account to share a candid click chilling in the pool and captioned it as, "My rare pool picture!!! Thanks @anudewan5 for your beautiful home!!! Pic courtesy @shwetabachchan."

In the photo, he can be seen basking in the sun after taking a dip in the pool. He is looking uber cool in his glasses and his usual pout. The film-maker rarely shares photos like this and he indeed looks cool!

KJo is quite active on the photo-sharing application, his Insta page is flooded with pictures of him, his friends and fellow celebrities. He also keeps sharing pictures from his popular chat show 'Koffee with Karan' and his upcoming film projects.

He also started a 'Toodles' series from the sets of a reality show that he co-judged with Malaika Arora and Kirron Kher. Karan often shares behind the scenes 'Toodles' videos featuring Malaika and Kirron, who always has something witty to say about the filmmaker's unconventional fashion choices.

Karan also keeps treating his fans with adorable photos and videos of his twins - Roohi and Yash.

Earlier this week, KJo along with other Bollywood celebrities including Ranbir Kapoor, Ranveer Singh, Alia Bhatt, Varun Dhawan, Vicky Kaushal, Ayushmann Khurrana, Rajkummar Rao, Sidharth Malhotra, Bhumi Pednekar, Rohit Shetty, Ekta Kapoor and Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Delhi to discuss various issues of faced by the fraternity.

The meeting comes weeks after PM Modi met Bollywood producers and discussed issues faced by the industry, which led to a reduction of Goods and Services Tax (GST) on film tickets.

On the work front, the 46-year-old director is currently producing 'Kesari', 'Kalank', 'Student of the Year 2', 'Drive' and 'Brahmastra'.

Karan will be donning the director's hat for 'Takht' after two years, which is a period drama and features Ranveer Singh, Kareena Kapoor Khan, Alia Bhatt, Janhvi Kapoor, Anil Kapoor, Vicky Kaushal and Bhumi Pednekar. The flick is all set to hit the big screens in 2020.

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Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) on Friday demanded an explanation from the Chief Minister Tamil Nadu chief minister Edappadi K Palaniswami on Jayalalitha death controversy and urged the Centre for a CBI inquiry.

"There are lots of questions and the Chief Minister has to give an explanation immediately. I urge the centre to conduct CBI inquiry. Governor should initiate inquiry or DMK will initiate legal proceedings. Sasikala and EPS are threatening each other and that is why they are silent. There are so many mysteries now. I called them a criminal cabinet earlier due to the allegation of corruption. Now allegations in media are coming out of murder and robbery. EPS should step down immediately. All the perpetrators should be punished by the law," read a statement issued by DMK.

DMK also cast doubts over the death of security personnel Om Bahadur and Jayalalithaa's former driver C. Kanagaraj among others and cited Sayan's reported interview about Kodanand estate robbery case.

Meanwhile, Senior AIADMK minister D. Jayakumar said that the inquiry of the commission is going in the right direction and action will be taken against those spreading misinformation.

Jayakumar said, "Aarumugasami Commission is going on in right way. We will take action against those who are spreading misinformation against the government. It is an attempt to defame the popular government. The investigation is going on in the right way in regard to robbery case in Kodanad estate."

In September last year, Justice Arumughaswamy was appointed to head the probe into the death of Jayalalithaa.

Popularly known as 'Amma', Jayalalithaa was taken to Chennai's Apollo hospital on September 22, 2016, and was treated in the hospital for 75 days before she breathed her last on December 5.

Following her death, allegations of foul play began to do the rounds and state Forest Minister Dindigul Sreenivasan even claimed that all cabinet ministers had misled the people about hospitalisation and death of the AIADMK supremo.

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Two terrorists have been gunned down by the security forces in an encounter that ensued while the security forces were on search operation in the area on Saturday.

According to the security forces, the firing has been stopped while the search operation is still underway. The deceased militants have not been identified yet.

More details are awaited.

On January 8, one terrorist was shot dead in an encounter with security forces in Pulwama district of Jammu and Kashmir.The shootout had broken out at Chowdhry Bagh area of Litter tehsil after terrorists ambushed an army patrol.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
India's new Ambassador to the United States Harsh Vardhan Shringla called on the US President Donald Trump and presented his credentials here on Friday (local time).

Post the meeting, Shringla addressed the media and the State Department officials.

Talking about his meeting with Trump, Shringla said, "The President attaches great importance to our bilateral relations. He referred to the wide gamut of operations that two nations are involved in, not just at the bilateral level but also as strategic partners in a level that involves regional and global areas of interest, in particular, the vision of the Indo-Pacific region. "

He further stated that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump had envisioned partnership on the Indo-Pacific front during their 2017 meeting.

Stating that the work on the relationship will be a great experience as they "have a wide Canvas," Shringla said, "It is really for us to see how we can maneuver the various elements that comprise our relationship to take this forward in a way that it is befitting of the two nations and the commonalities that the two countries enjoy in the terms of ideas, principles and objectives on regional, bilateral and global levels."

He further revealed that he had called on Prime Minister Modi before arriving in Washington D.C. and said, "He (the Prime Minister) was quite particular that we should make the fullest endeavour to address all the areas that could show a very significant change in the relationship."

Furthermore, talking about the huge potentials for cooperation, Shringla said, "It is very incumbent on me and my colleagues along with partners and stakeholders to see how we can best take this relationship to the levels for which the potentials exist."

He further said that the two countries have been working on multiple levels together.

Hailing the progress as momentous, the ambassador stated that a great amount of progress has been made in different areas of cooperation including bilateral, regional and global levels.

Reiterating that team India aims to be very diligent in pursuing these opportunities of cooperation, Shringla said, "As team Indian, we need to be on our toes."

Shringla arrived in Washington D.C. on January 9 and took charge as Ambassador-designate. Shringla replaced outgoing envoy Navtej Sarna.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A Muslim couple residing in Vikarabad district on Friday tied the knot in a hospital where they were admitted after attempting to commit suicide.

The duo, who have been in a relationship for long, took the drastic move fearing that they would be separated.

19-year-old Reshma's parents began searching for a groom for the girl. owing to this, she attempted to commit suicide by consuming Organophosphorous pesticide. Subsequently, she was rushed to Vikarabad Government Hospital.

On learning about her suicide attempt, Nawaz (21) reached the hospital and attempted to commit suicide by consuming the same pesticide. Hours after the incident, both the families called a qazi (wedding officiator) and got the couple married in the hospital itself.

Speaking to ANI, Dr. B Avinash, who is working at the Crawford Mission Hospital, said: "Reshma and Bawaz were shifted from Vikarabad Government Hospital to our hospital on January 8 after they consumed pesticide Organophosphorous. At that time Reshma's condition was critical and Nawaz was stable. They both had undergone treatment for two days and are out of danger. On 10 January evening, the marriage was solemnised with the families' consent.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
An encounter broke out between security forces and terrorists in Katpora area in district of on Saturday.

According to police and security forces, two to three terrorists are believed to be trapped and firing is going on from both the sides.

The encounter broke out during a search operation in the area when the terrorists fired upon the forces. No casualties or injuries have been confirmed so far.

On January 8 one terrorist was shot dead in an encounter with security forces in Pulwama district of

The shootout had broken out at Chowdhry Bagh area of Litter tehsil after terrorists ambushed an army patrol. More details are awaited.
Delhi Chief Minister's Office received an anonymous mail that threatened to kidnap Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's daughter.

As per the details available, an anonymous email was received on January 9 which carried the threat.

The email from unknown account reportedly read, "We will kidnap your daughter. Do what you can to protect her."

Swinging into action, Delhi Police deployed a Protective Service Officer (PSO) for Kejriwal's daughter and the matter has been handed over to the Cyber cell for the probe.

More details are awaited.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Delhi Police on Saturday filed a charge sheet at Patiala House Court against Sarnam Verma in connection with Vasant Kunj triple murder case.

The 19-year-old engineering student allegedly murdered his parents and younger sister at their house in south Delhi's Vasant Kunj in October last year for opposing his lifestyle and scolding him to focus on studies.

The police in their charge sheet stated that the boy had tried to give an impression of robbery but there was no evidence of forced entry.

The accused, in his statement to the police, said that he was fed up with his parents who, he claimed, were harsh on him. He also stated that even his sister would indulge in backbiting against him to their parents, further inviting their wrath.

The court is likely to take up the matter for hearing next week.

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Delhi Police Economic Offences Wing (EOW) on Friday arrested Yogesh Sharma, Director of Big Bull Infrastructure Limited from Noida for allegedly inducing the public to invest in the project "Big Bull Ashiana" in Jaipur, Rajasthan and usurping the money from the investors.

Sharing details of the arrest, EOW informed that the accused along with other directors Chetan and Satyanarayana Sharma had induced the public to invest in their project "Big Bull Ashiana" situated at Chandwaji, NH-8, Jaipur, Rajasthan and usurped the money obtained from the investors.

"Presently there are thirteen victims involving the amount of several crores. Accused is on PC remand. None of the accused directors had joined investigation till date and are absconding. The alleged company had neither developed the said project nor obtained any approval from concerned authorities. Investigations are on to unearth the details of the bank accounts and money siphoned off and to trace the whereabouts of the other accused directors," informed the economic offences wing.

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Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Saturday declared that his party would contest the coming Lok Sabha elections with "full force " in Uttar Pradesh.

Rahul's comment came after SP-BSP announced a tie-up to take on the BJP in Uttar Pradesh in 2019 General elections. Congress was expected to be a part of the alliance.

Rahul Gandhi while addressing a press conference in Dubai said that "BSP and SP have made a political decision," adding that the Congress Party will contest the polls in UP with all its might."

"The Congress party has tremendous to offer to the people of Uttar Pradesh. I have tremendous respect to the leaders of BSP and SP, they have a right to do what they want to do. The BSP and SP have made a political decision. It's on us on how to strengthen the Congress party in Uttar Pradesh and we will fight with our full capacity," Rahul told media here.

SP and the BSP will contest on 38 seats each while the other two seats will be left for other parties. Both the parties have also decided not to field any candidates from the Gandhi family stronghold - Amethi and Raebareli.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday accused the Congress party of creating obstacles in the resolution of Ayodhya issue, saying the opposition party does not want the solution to the mandir-masjid issue.

"The Congress party does not want to solve the issue of Ayodhya. People must not forget this callous attitude of this party," Prime Minister said, while addressing the BJP's Council meeting at the Ram Lila Ground here.

Launching a multi-pronged attack on the Congress, Prime Minister Modi said: "The government before us pushed the country into darkness. It won't be wrong if I say that India lost 10 important years (2004-2014) in scams and corruption."

Congress-led UPA came to power at the Centre by defeating the BJP in 2004 Lok Sabha elections, the election which the BJP had fought under the leadership of then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

Prime Minister Modi also took on the Congress for its alleged role in the AgustaWestland chopper deal. "The Congress party is getting nervous when the probe is being conducted into the role of middleman Christian Michel in the chopper deal. 'Chowkidar' isn't going to stop. It is just a beginning. We will not leave anyone," added the Prime Minister.

He also commented on the Centre's latest move to give 10 per cent reservation to general category poor in admission in educational institutions and government jobs. "The decision will boost the confidence of people and will help India to move forward on the path of development," he said. "These reservations will give a new dimension to the youths to fulfill their dreams," he added.

"In the 21st century, the country's young population is the biggest power. These energy-rich youths will represent India in the right manner. The young minds know that their voice has a lot of importance. Now, they know that their country's credibility is getting stronger. They also know that the economic and strategic status of India is touching new heights. They know that the government is standing with them under every circumstance," said Prime Minister Modi.

Talking about his government's good works and initiatives aimed at the women's empowerment, Prime Minister Modi said: "Important initiatives have been taken up in the last four and a half years for women's empowerment. People made fun of 'Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao' initiative for political opposition, but we have come a long way to free the society from wrong beliefs, which existed for decades.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu has charged the Centre with "bringing down the sanctity and autonomy of every institution."

In a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Naidu has stated that the formation of the Investigation Agency (NIA) by the Home Ministry is contrary to "our federal spirit. Without a Constitution amendment, in the subject of law and order, the Centre has taken away the lawmaking power of the States."

Citing the move of Union Home Ministry for entrusting the NIA to probe an attack on YS Jagan Mohan Reddy at Visakhapatnam airport on October 25 last year, Naidu further said: "It is with regret and anguish I am to say that the Union Government is bringing down the sanctity and autonomy of every institution." Reddy is the president of YSR Congress Party.

In the letter, dated January 11, 2019, Chief Minister Naidu took exception "to the manner in which the MHA entrusted the investigation of the airport incident to the NIA without dealing with reasoning out the objections furnished by the State government in this regard having called for the same."

"By setting up the NIA, the Central government now obviously wants to take upon itself the responsibility of fighting terror by sidetracking the States," Naidu stated in the letter, saying the "Centre's action has taken away the power of the States.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Seems like Brie Larson and her beau of over five years, Alex Greenwald, have decided to part ways.

The 'Captain Marvel' star and her fiance have reportedly called off their engagement, according to E! Online. "They have taken a step back from their engagement for the time being but they remain close," a source told the magazine.

The two reportedly started dating in 2013, following which the 29-year-old Academy Award-winning actor got engaged to Greenwald in May 2016. The latter had popped the question to Larson during a trip to Tokyo.

Greenwald has also largely been absent from Larson's social media. Their last photo on her Instagram is from the end of November. "Happiness quite unshared can scarcely be called happiness; it has no taste." #CharlotteBronte," Larson had captioned the shot.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The BJP is working on the agenda of RSS and Hindutva and its only aim is to rename historical places in the country, Rajasthan's Minister Govind Singh Dotasara said here on Saturday.

Talking to media persons, Dotasara said: "BJP is continuously working on the agenda of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and Hindutva. Their only aim is to rename historical places. Even in the state's school curriculum, many changes have been made by the previous BJP government, which were not appropriate."

"I was shocked to learn that the BJP government had dropped the name of Rajasthan from the statewide talent search examination and renamed it as Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay State Talent Search Examination (PDUSTSE)."

"They should rather have introduced some new schemes named after Upadhyay. I have directed the officials to reinstate the word Rajasthan in the talent search examination," he said.

"Congress doesn't believe in changing either history or names like the BJP. We believe in quality and holistic for the proper growth of our students," added Rajasthan's Minister Dotasara.

Education Minister Dotasara also held a meeting with the officials of the Central Board of Secondary Education Board (CBSE) and discussed various issues related to school education.

"I have asked the CBSE officials to review the changes made in NCERT textbooks by forming a review committee. We have also approached the subject experts and requested them to recommend changes in the textbooks meant for Classes I to XII students. The revised textbooks will be made available to the students from the next session 2020-21," said Dotasara.

In response to a question regarding the change in the schedule of the Rajasthan Public Service Commission (RPSC) examination, Dotasara said that the examination date was extended as the candidates did not get adequate time to prepare themselves for the examination.

"We earlier had sent a request to the RPSC to change the date of the examination citing an appropriate reason. They have accepted the request. So far the formal announcement has not been made but will soon be made," he said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Anupam Kher on Saturday reached out to Congress president Rahul Gandhi after his party workers held a demonstration against the screening of 'The Accidental Prime Minister' inside a cineplex in Kolkata.

The veteran actor, who plays Dr. Manmohan Singh in the film, took to social media to remind Rahul about his earlier tweet on freedom of expression.

He wrote, "Dear @RahulGandhi. I don't think your supporters who vandalised a theatre playing #TheAccidentalPrimeminister read your tweets about #FreedomOfExpression."

Meanwhile, a video of the incident was recently made public by ANI. In the clip, a group of protesters can be seen moving around the mall sloganeering against the screening of the movie and the lead actor, Kher.

'The Accidental Prime Minister', which hit the big screens on Friday, is based on facts as chronicled in a book by Sanjaya Baru-- Manmohan Singh's media advisor between 2004 and 2008.

It revolves around Singh's life, the economist and politician who served as the Prime Minister of India from 2004 to 2014 under the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government.

The film has been drawing a lot of flak from the opposition Congress party which poked holes in the portrayal of the former prime minister.

The party also criticised the trailer, which was released in December, saying that the movie shows Sonia Gandhi and her son Rahul Gandhi in a wrong light.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
BJP president Amit Shah on January 13 will meet Goa's mining dependants in the capital to discuss the issue of recommencement of the industry in the state.

Mining was banned in the state from March 15, 2018, after the Supreme Court quashed second renewal of 88 mining leases.

The mining dependants are demanding amendments in the existing mining laws aiming to restart mining activities in the state.

A delegation led by president of Goa Mining People's Fund (GMPF), Puti Gaonkar will meet the BJP chief seeking his intervention in the matter.

Reportedly, the Mining dependants are expecting that the Central government will take up the mining issue in the budget session of the Parliament, which will commence on January 31.

Gaonkar told ANI that Union Commerce Minister Suresh Prabhu arranged the meeting.

Along with Shah, Union minister Suresh Prabhu and Union AYUSH Minister Shripad Naik will accompany the delegation of GMPF, informed Gaonkar.

GMPF, a union of mining dependents, have been demanding that existing mining-related laws should be amended giving a new lease of life to the industry, which employs around two lakh people.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The powerful explosion in a bakery in Central Paris on Saturday claimed lives of four people while injuring more than 36 people, the police informed.

The Paris police prefecture took to Twitter, saying, "Rue de Treviso, alongside the Prime Minister, the Paris prosecutor, the @prefpolice and the Mayor of the capital. More than 200 @PompiersParis are engaged in rescue operations. The balance sheet looks heavy. My first thoughts are with the wounded and their loved ones."

The police added that the blast took place at around 9 am (local time) in the bakery named Rue de Trevise, which was caused due to a gas leak, The New York Times reported.

French Interior Minister Christophe Castaner stated that two civilians, as well as two firefighters, were among the ones who lost their lives in the blast.

Along with the 200 firefighters who continued their rescue operations amid the fire, social media pictures that went viral immediately after the blast, also showed smoke, flames, and debris scattered all the way at the explosion site.

"First there was a gas leak, then the arrival of the firefighters, followed by an explosion that caused the fire," said Paris prosecutor Remy Heitz.

Investigations are still underway.

This incident came when the French capital is witnessing the 'yellow-vests' protests for the ninth weekend against President Emmanuel Macron's economic policies, especially rising fuel and gas prices.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Prices are up more than 20 percent since hitting an almost two-year low in December, enough to alter OPEC+ rhetoric from reassuring investors that it will cut output to taking credit for the rebound, and in the case of Oman, forecasting where oil will trade for the year. Oman Oil Minister Mohammed Al-Rumhi told Bloomberg TV that the agreement between the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries and partners including Russia and Oman can sustain prices at $60 a barrel. ...

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As desperate as she was to leave, however, the same question always stopped her short: How would she get out? If she ran away anywhere within the country, the Saudi police would just send her home, she feared. Saudi law barred her from travelling abroad without her fathers permission. But during a family vacation in Turkey when she was 17, Shahad al-Muhaimeed saw her chance, and bolted. While her family slept, she took a taxi across the border to Georgia and declared herself a refugee, leaving Saudi Arabia behind to start a new life. I now live the way I want ...
Saif al-Islam Qaddafi, the fugitive son of former Libyan leader Muammar Qaddafi, supports holding presidential elections as soon as possible, a representative said, criticising the United Nations envoy to Libya for his proposal to hold the vote only by year-end. Any delay creates more problems, Mohamed al-Qailoushi, an aide to Saif al-Islam, said by phone on Saturday. The only solution is elections: if you maintain the current political situation, that is not in the Libyan peoples interests. A summit on Libya hosted by Italy in November set ...

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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On a sunny Saturday morning in New York a few months ago, a group of 50 start-up founders gathered in the dank basement of a Lower East Side bar. They scribbled notes at long tables, sipping coffee and LaCroix while a stack of pizza boxes emanated the odor of hot garlic. One by one, they gave testimonials taking aim at something nearly sacred in the technology industry: venture capital. Josh Haas, the co-founder of Bubble, a software-writing start-up, told the group that he and venture capitalists were pretty much totally on different wavelengths about the trajectory ...
If Senator Kamala Harriss book tour is a preview of her likely presidential campaign, the early signs point to a catchall message meant for Democrats across the spectrum. Speaking Friday night at the 92nd Street Y on New Yorks Upper East Side, Harris covered many bases: her origin story from Oakland to Capitol Hill, what drew her into public life and the importance of voters seeing themselves reflected in the nations array of leaders. She cited her work to reform the juvenile criminal justice system in California as one of her biggest policy ...
Chinese telecom giant has fired a Chinese employee who was arrested in Poland over espionage allegations, saying he had harmed the company's global reputation, a state-run newspaper said Saturday.

Wang Weijing was arrested for "personal reasons", the company said in a statement to the Global Times, as apparently seeks to distance itself from the case as the firm faces Western fears that it could act as a proxy for China's security apparatus.

"This incident created harmful effects on Huawei's global reputation," the company said.

Citing management rules in company contracts, said it "has decided to immediately terminate its employer relationship with Wang Weijing."



"Huawei has always abided by applicable laws and regulations of the country where it is located... and requires all employees to abide by the country's laws and regulations," it said.

Huawei's chief financial officer, Meng Wanzhou, who is also the daughter of the company's founder, was detained in Canada last month on a US extradition bid.

Her arrest follows US efforts to blacklist the company internationally over security concerns.

In apparent retaliation, China has since detained two Canadians -- a former diplomat and a business consultant -- on suspicion of endangering national security.
finance markets lagged behind punters having a flutter when it came to getting the result right on EU referendum night, according to a study.

The study, published in the Journal of Forecasting, shows that gamblers sensed the Leave vote coming an hour before the currency experts in the city -- creating a window of "arbitrage" during which the price difference between betting and foreign exchange markets yielded up to a seven per cent return on the pound.

Economists from the University of Cambridge in the UK compared the behaviours of the Betfair betting market and the sterling-dollar exchange rate from closure of the polls at 10pm, when odds of 10 to 1 were being offered on

Both markets were "informationally inefficient": very slow to react despite the data already available, as well as that flooding in from vote counts across the country.

This meant there was money to be made by trading early on either market, researchers said.

The study shows the betting market moved to a Leave result around 3am, by which time odds had reversed (1 to 10).

Yet the foreign exchange market didn't fully adjust to the reality of Brexit until around 4 am. At 4:40 am the BBC predicted a Leave victory.



ALSO READ: Opposition leader Corbyn calls for election to break Brexit impasse

The difference in efficiency between the two markets created an hour when selling One pound and hedging the result of the referendum on Betfair would have made up to nine cents of profit per pound sterling -- a significant "unleveraged return" that, in theory at least, could have seen astute traders make millions.

Researchers say the findings support the idea that gambling, or so-called "prediction markets", might provide better forecasts of election outcomes than either experts or polls.

"Clearly, punters trading on Betfair are a different group of people to those dealing in FX for finance. It looks like the gamblers had a better sense that Leave could win, or that it could at least go either way," said Tom Auld, lead author of the study.

"Our findings suggest that participants across both markets suffered a behavioural bias as the results unfolded. Initially, both traders and gamblers could not believe the UK was voting to leave the EU, but this disbelief lingered far longer in the city," Auld said.

Auld and his co-author Oliver Linton used the expected outcomes for each voting area -- data that was publicly available prior to the referendum -- to create a "forecasting model".

By adjusting it with each actual result in turn, they say that their model would have predicted the final result from around 1:30am had it been deployed on the night.

"According to theories such as the 'efficient market hypothesis', the markets discount all publicly available information, so you cannot get an edge on the market with data already out there," said Auld.



ALSO READ: British PM Theresa May loses key vote on Brexit procedure in parliament

"However, using data publicly available at the time we show that the financial markets were very inefficient, and should have predicted Brexit possibly over two hours before they actually did," he said.

"If there is a second referendum, the vote should be better understood by markets -- in line with a theoretical concept called the adaptive markets hypothesis. Studies such as ours will mean that market participants will be primed to profit from any possible opportunities and inefficiencies," he said.

The researchers compared their modelling with gambling and currency market data from EU referendum night.

The website Betfair provided data from their exchange platform -- the world's largest betting exchange -- between 10am on June 23 and 5am on June 24.
When Turkey, Iran and Russia meet to talk about the end of the war in Syria, they do so without the United States. Peace talks to solve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict have been frozen for years, but the long-awaited Trump plan to break the impasse has yet to arrive. And now, despite conflicting messages about how and when it will happen, the United States is set to withdraw from Syria. The withdrawal, which the military said began with equipment removal on Friday, is just the latest instance of a broader American disengagement from West Asia that could have lasting effects on ...
The probability of a person developing a stroke at some point during their remaining lifespan is seen at one in four globally on average, according to 2016 data from the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation. The lifetime stroke risk for 25-year-olds ranged from 8 percent to almost 39 percent for people in China where the risk is highest. We found extremely high lifetime risk for stroke ... it is clear that younger adults need to think about long-term health risks, said Gregory Roth, a professor at the institute at the University of ...

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Business Standard has always strived hard to provide up-to-date information and commentary on developments that are of interest to you and have wider political and economic implications for the country and the world. Your encouragement and constant feedback on how to improve our offering have only made our resolve and commitment to these ideals stronger. Even during these difficult times arising out of Covid-19, we continue to remain committed to keeping you informed and updated with credible news, authoritative views and incisive commentary on topical issues of relevance.

We, however, have a request.



As we battle the economic impact of the pandemic, we need your support even more, so that we can continue to offer you more quality content. Our subscription model has seen an encouraging response from many of you, who have subscribed to our online content. More subscription to our online content can only help us achieve the goals of offering you even better and more relevant content. We believe in free, fair and credible journalism. Your support through more subscriptions can help us practise the journalism to which we are committed.



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Accusing the government of pushing intolerance, Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Saturday said retrieving the 'idea of India', which is tolerant, was the biggest challenge in the next Lok Sabha polls.

Interacting with students at the IMT University here, the Congress President also gave a glimpse of his vision vis-a-vis the future of India wherein he said that healthcare, air transport and agriculture were some of the key areas where Indian leadership would have to think "strategically" to transform them.

"When someone asks me 'what do you mean by being an Indian', my response is that India has taught me to look at a point of view which is totally different from mine, which I might even dislike, yet I respect it," Gandhi said.



"Tolerance is embedded in our culture. And it is quite sad to see what is going on back home in last four-five years -- a lot of intolerance, anger, divisions between communities. I think it stems from the mentality of people who are leading. India generally tends to be tolerant. We need to go back to that because it is what has made us strong," he added.

Gandhi, who is on a two-day visit to the United Arab Emirates (UAE), half-jokingly said that even though a separate Ministry of Tolerance was "not a bad idea", but it was not going to work as long as the leader at the top was unreceptive of a diverse viewpoint.



He said that a large number of states have been living in the political and economic union with complete harmony, so much so that most people take it for granted.

"You realise its power when it is not there. That is what we are trying to fight and change. We don't like an India which is divided, an India where people are beaten up and killed for what they say, where journalists are shot dead. That's not the India we are used to. That's the main challenge in the next elections. And a large number of people are not happy with what is going on," he said.

The Lok Sabha elections are due in April-MAy this year.
Dubbing the anti-BJP grand alliance as a "failed experiment", Prime Minister said on Saturday the opposition parties are coming together as they want to form a 'majboor' (helpless) government to promote nepotism and corruption, whereas the BJP wants a strong dispensation for all-round development.

Modi also attacked the Congress over the issue, saying it doesn't want a solution to the Ayodhya dispute and is creating hurdles through its lawyers.

Addressing the BJP's National Convention, the prime minister said the parties that were formed primarily to oppose the Congress and its culture have now joined hands with it.

"We want a strong government so that we can put an end to corruption. These days there is a failed experiment taking place in the country which is known as the grand alliance. They have all gathered together to make a helpless government. They don't want a strong government which will lead to shut down of their shops," Modi said.



His comments come after the BSP- announced their alliance in the politically crucial Uttar Pradesh, in which the BJP had won maximum seats in the 2014 Lok Sabha polls.

"They want a helpless government so that they can indulge in corruption. We want a strong government so that we can put an end to corruption. They want a helpless government so that they can do good for their relatives. We want a strong government so that we can usher development for everyone (sabka saath, sabka vikas)," he said.

He also slammed the governments of Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal, Chhattisgarh for withdrawing general consent to the CBI in their respective state and asked why they were afraid and what irregularities they have done.



At the same time, he mentioned about his experiences with the central agencies during the UPA rule.

"Despite being harassed by the UPA government for years when I was Gujarat CM, we didn't ban entry of CBI in state," he said.

The prime minister said 10-per cent reservation in education and government jobs for the youth from economically weaker sections will enhance the confidence of 'New India' and asserted that the new arrangement will not encroach upon anyone's rights.

Modi said that for the first time in the country's history, there has not been any charge of corruption against a government.



The BJP rule has proved that the country can be run without corruption, he added.

He said earlier governments saw farmers (annadata) as only 'matdata' (voters), while his government was constantly trying to address challenges faced by them.

"We are working day and night to double farmers' income by 2022," he said.
The BJP government is sincerely working to solve the problems faced by farmers, who were treated merely as vote bank by previous governments, Prime Minister said at the saffron party's national convention here Saturday.

Not only were the recommendations of the Swaminathan Commission implemented by the BJP government, but its also working day and night to double their income by 2020, he said in his valedictory address at the event -- being seen as the launch of the party's campaign for upcoming Lok Sabha polls.

The condition of farmers and agriculture at present is a result of decades of "neglect" by those (previous governments) who believed in "shortcuts" and treated the peasants as mere vote bank, Modi said.

"The 'annadata' (provider of food) was turned into a 'mattdata' (voter). We are making sincere efforts to empower them. We want to make farmers the carriers of new energy of a new India," he said.



Modi alleged that the demand to provide farmers a minimum support price (MSP) 1.5 times the production cost was buried in the files earlier.

"We are making all efforts with the help of the state governments to clear the hurdles in providing farmers 1.5 times the cost of production," he said.



The prime minister further claimed that his government had procured 95 metric tonnes of pulses during 4.5 years of its rule compared to only 7 metric tonnes of pulses and oilseeds procured by the previous dispensation in five years.

"Now you do not find any breaking news on soaring prices of pulses. It's because we adopted a long-term policy," Modi said.

There is so much more needed to be done, he said citing issues like loans of farmers and rising input costs.



"I won't say all the problems have been solved. I realise so much more is to be done," he said.
Hitting back at Prime Minister over his remarks that people have to chose between a 'majboor' (helpless) or a 'majboot' (strong) government in the upcoming general elections, the Congress Saturday said the fight in the upcoming general elections will be between dictatorship and democracy.

Addressing a press conference at the party office here, senior Congress leader Manish Tewari said, "The fight for Lok Sabha polls will be between dictatorship and democracy."

Tewari made these remarks in response to Modi's assertion at the BJP's national convention that the opposition parties are coming together as they want to form a 'majboor' (helpless) government to promote nepotism and corruption, whereas the BJP wants a 'majboot' (strong) dispensation for all-round development.
The United States will grant no more waivers for Iranian oil after the reimposition of US sanctions, the US special representative for Iran said on Saturday, underlining Washington's push to choke off Tehran's sources of income. "Iran is now increasingly feeling the economic isolation that our sanctions are imposing...We do want to deny the regime revenues," Brian Hook told a news conference in the United Arab Emirates capital Abu Dhabi. "Eighty per cent of Iran's revenues come from oil exports and this is (the) number one state sponsor of ...
Madam Speaker, I am missing my colleagues here. On behalf of AIADMK Party, I am forced to speak to express my views. You have taken action against nearly 34 members of my Party. They are not here. As I am alone here, I have to speak in support of this Reservation Bill.

They may not be in a position to also vote here. That is another thing. (Interruptions) I am coming to the point now. The government has now introduced the Bill regarding 10 per cent reservation for the economically weaker sections. First of all, I want to know as to what is the purpose of reservation. Hon. ...
The Investigation Agency (NIA) on Saturday said it has arrested a member of the new Islamic State (IS) module "Harkat-ul-Harb-e-Islam", which was allegedly planning a terror attack in Delhi and adjoining areas.

The 24-year-old accused, Muhammad Absar, was arrested by the on Friday evening after it carried out searches at three locations in Uttar Pradesh's and Hapur with the help of the state police.

Absar is a resident of and teaches at Jamia Hussainia Abul Hassan in Hapur, a statement said.

The agency said that Absar had visited three places in Jammu and Kashmir in May and August 2018 along with another accused Iftekhar Sakib in connection with the terror conspiracy.

"The accused will be produced in the Special Court in Delhi on Saturday for seeking police custody," the statement said.

On January 4, the counter-terror probe agency had arrested Naeem, the alleged arms supplier of the Harkat-ul-Harb-e-Islam, from A Delhi court then sent him to 10-day NIA custody.

The NIA had on December 26 arrested 10 members, including mastermind Mufti Mohammad Suhail of the IS module from Delhi and after carrying out searches at 17 places. The arrested men were allegedly planning to attack some political personalities, security establishments as well as crowded places in Delhi and the Capital Region.

The NIA also seized 25 kg of explosive material including potassium nitrate, ammonium nitrate, sulphur, sugar material paste, mobile phone circuits, batteries, 51 pipes, remote control car triggering switch, wireless digital doorbell for remote switch, steel containers, electric wires, knife, sword, IS-related literature and Rs 7.5 lakh in cash.
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A group representing online sellers in India will appeal against the Competition Commision of India's (CCI) ruling in favour of Walmart-owned Flipkart, the group's lawyer Chanakya Basa said in a release on Saturday. All India Online Vendors Association (AIOVA), which represents more than 3,500 online sellers, had complained that Flipkart was using its dominant position to favour select sellers. The CCI had rejected this argument in November. The CCI had said Flipkart as well as Amazon did not break regulations through their selection of merchants and brands. The AIOVA ...
Somewhere in the dusty lanes of the Moolchand metro station in New Delhi there is a tiny book shop tucked in the corner of Lajpat Bhawan. The Book Shop as it calls itself, is run by a group of woman, in their 50-70s known as Sisters of the People and was established in 2002 by a lady called Satyanand who loved to do social service and was also part of Rotary Club.

The shop is neither glamorous nor sophisticated but the aura and the warmth with which you are welcomed by its members is endearing. Patricia Gupta is over 70 and one of the members who runs the shop. She ...
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Call it ferry good news for Coney commuters!

Coney Island will receive a long sought after stop on the citys ferry service as part of a new South Brooklyn express route to Manhattan, Mayor DeBlasio announced on Thursday.

Well connect Coney Island to lower Manhattan, Hizzoner said during his state of the city address delivered on the distant isle.

The city tentatively plans to build the dock near the mouth of Coney Island Creek at W. 33rd Street and Bayview Ave., according to Economic Development Corporation spokeswoman Stephanie Baez, who said ferries originating in Coney will stop in Bay Ridge, before sailing to Wall Streets Pier 11  a trip she estimated will take a little less than 40 minutes dock-to-dock.

NYC Ferry service to and from the Peoples Playground should begin by 2021, and when it does, the systems current South Brooklyn route  which sails from Bay Ridge to Sunset Park, Red Hook, Brooklyn Heights, and Dumbo before heading to Manhattan, with weekend stops at Governors Island  will eliminate both the Bay Ridge stop, which will become part of express line between Coney and Manhattan, and the Dumbo stop, which will become part of the East River route.

The news is another great victory for Coney Island, according to its Councilman Mark Treyger, who pushed for a local stop since the first batch of citywide routes debuted in May 2017, and said the new boats will ease the commutes of neighborhood residents and summer tourists alike.

From day one, I made public transportation improvements a top priority, and the expansion of the NYC Ferry system to Coney Island is a major step forward for Southern Brooklyns students, working families, seniors, and the millions from across New York City and beyond who visit the iconic Peoples Playground and Riegelmann Boardwalk every year, Treyger said.

DeBlasios announcement came months after locals last fall demanded the city include Coney in its latest study of where to expand the ferry system, and more than a year after Hizzoner promised residents that officials would look into adding a stop in the neighborhood during a 2017 town hall there.

Coney Islanders for years pushed for a local stop, arguing a nautical commute would improve access to jobs and education citywide for residents who otherwise must trek to the Coney Island-Stillwell Avenue and West Eighth Street-New York Aquarium stations to catch the D, F, N, and Q lines  a trip that requires a bus ride for locals living in Coneys West End, where the tentative plan calls for building the new Coney ferry dock.

The city first floated launching a ferry service in 2012, when officials suggested creating a Coney Island Creek stop at a derelict fishing pier at Kaiser Park  a few blocks east of the newly announced tentative site. But officials ultimately rejected the creek location, saying it was too far from the amusement district.

The 2012 study also proposed a stop at W. Eighth Street near the New York Aquarium and Steeplechase Pier, off the Boardwalk near W. 16th Street, which it then called it the ideal mooring location for ferries.

But the proposal to dock there came with a couple of conditions, including the construction of a $20-million bulwark at the Steeplechase Pier to control choppy ocean waves, and further study of the site found that even after construction, the operation would hemorrhage money, according to officials.

A year later, a group called the Friends of Coney Island Creek Ferry and Landing proposed another dock location deeper inside the creek, at W. 21st Street and Neptune Avenue  where they set sail on a test run in a bid to get officials to consider the site, which Borough President Adams endorsed in a December 2017 statement supporting the re-zoning of a nearby block.

Local environmentalists, however, argued that the dock should go elsewhere, claiming that the filthy creek is already filled with derelict boats, debris, and toxic waste  which they noted would have to be regularly dredged  and that a dock at W. 21st Street and Neptune Ave. would interfere with recreational use of the channel.

But Adams, who cheered the news of the forthcoming Coney ferry, said he still believes that location is the best spot for the new dock following the mayors announcement.

The expansion of NYC Ferry service to Coney Island is a milestone achievement, a common-sense solution that affirms our years of advocacy on behalf of transit-starved residents on the West End and small businesses that depend on tourist activity, the beep said. I will continue conversations with NYCEDC and the Coney Island community on the location of a dedicated landing, which I have called for siting along Coney Island Creek at West 21st Street.
Beijing: Telecommunications company Huawei has sacked a Chinese manager for bringing the company into disrepute after he was detained by Polish authorities on spying allegations.

Huawei's move to distance the company from the actions of Wang Weijing, its Polish sales manager and a former attache with the Chinese consulate in Gdanks, stands in contrast with its support for chief financial officer Meng Wanzhou on bail in Canada.

Meng is the daughter of Huawei founder, Ren Zhengfei.

Huawei is the world's second-largest smartphone maker and a private company. It is seeking to convince a growing list of western nations raising security concerns about 5G infrastructure that it is not under the control of the Chinese government or its intelligence service.
Dont start planning spooky pranks or crimes that rely on invisibility just yet  but the development of a spectral cloaking device that would make objects invisible under realistic conditions has taken a sneaky step forward.

Until now, experimental cloaking devices  in earnest development since 2006 when a theoretical paper proved them possible  have only been able to make small objects disappear using light of one colour to illuminate the object.

These devices have also relied on meta-materials  fabrics of complex reflective design that dont occur naturally  to cause a light wave to effectively split and go around the object, rendering it invisible. If light cant touch you, youre not there.

Graduate student Kazutoshi Obana demonstrates optical camouflage technology at Tokyo University in 2003. Credit:AP

The new cloaking device  developed by researchers at the National Institute of Scientific Research in Montreal, Canada  works in broadband conditions, such as sunlight, which contains a spectrum of colours.
Even now, its exact location cannot be revealed. The cave was the latest and most significant of about 40 rock-art sites to be rediscovered in the last seven years in the Grampians  or Gariwerd as they are called by the people whose ancestors drew those bunyip. That has taken the tally of rock-art sites in Gariwerd to about 140  or 90 per cent of all the known such sites in Victoria. To archaeologists, they are part of a new wave of rediscoveries, one which is expected to reveal many more ancient treasures over the coming decade. To traditional owners, the bunyips cement Gariwerds status as a sprawling sandstone cathedral, every bit as significant as St Paul's in London  only much, much older.

Once a goat hunter, Jake Goodes is now part of efforts to document a new wave of rediscovered rock art in the Grampians. Credit:Justin McManus Jake Goodes began his life as a park ranger in Gariwerd hunting goats. Now, 15 years later, he hunts rock art. As Parks Victorias Aboriginal Heritage co-ordinator for western Victoria and, at 36, an archeologist in training, Mr Goodes was among the group that first recorded the bunyip cave. But old habits, like feral goats, die hard. On the edge of the cliff outside the cave, the Adnyamathanha-Narungga man bleats and put his ear to the wind. If they have kids, he says, the goats will bleat back. Cicadas hum and a sulphur-crested cockatoo screeches  no bleats. Which is just as well. Goats are one of the primary threats to these ochre bunyips, as they are too all Gariwerds rock art. Like people, goats are drawn to these shelters, and like to scratch their coarse and oily hides against the sandstone.

On the hike to the bunyip cave, Mr Goodes points out signs that indicate the bunyips survived another close encounter. Its there in the blackened stringybark trunks, the thick regrowth of leaves, the fields of white everlasting daisies. Fire has the potential to destroy the whole site, he says. It heats the air within the rock and then it pops the rock like popcorn. The other existential threat to the bunyips is presaged by small pieces of pink tape tied to the branches of trees and shrubs. These mark out what will be the Grampians Peak Trail, set to open next year and designed to sit alongside Tasmanias Overland Track as one of the countrys iconic walks. People are the ones who do the most damage to any site, Mr Goodes says. Which is unfortunate.

The rock art of the Grampians is rich in symbols, some of which are found nowhere else and much of which has meanings yet to be relearned. Credit:Justin McManus Damein Bell describes the rediscovered sites as revelations. For the Gunditjmara leader, its a small miracle any rock art has survived in Gariwerd at all. With all that we've been through, all that country has been through, with invasion and colonisation, let alone natural disasters, there's always intense storms and fires up that way, we're lucky to have what we do, he says. Mr Bell heads the Gunditj Mirring Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation, which has jointly lodged a native title application for 1672 square kilometres of Crown land at the Grampians national park as part of a coalition of First Nations people. Gariwerd, he explains, was always a place of both immense spirituality and gathering.

It connected countries, he says. Now he sees it playing a key role in reconciliation. Mr Bell wants to see some of that knowledge shared with the broader community. We really need to do everything we can to best protect, not only the rock art, but the knowledge that comes from the rock art, he says. From my own personal perspective, you have to share the stories to protect the stories. And what's revealed to us today is going to teaching us for the next hundred years."

Park rangers and archaeologists are using new technology to reveal traces of ochre which may be tens of thousands of years old. Credit:Justin McManus The story of the bunyip cave, as Jake Goodes tells it, links that cliff-top lair with a billabong  said to be bottomless  and the areas most striking and famous works of rock art: Bunjils Shelter in the Black Range near Stawell. But it begins with the creator spirit, Bunjil, atop the cliff in the Mt Difficult Range. The story was Bunjil resided here with his family: wife, two kids and mother-in-law, Mr Goodes says. Bunjil jumped from the cliff with his wife and sons safely in his arms. Then it was his mother-in-law's turn.

He didn't have the time to, sort of, catch her and she fell and broke into pieces when she hit the ground.'' Still alive, however, she made her way to the nearby Mokepilly waterhole. There she was set upon by its resident bunyip. He was going to eat her, but she offered up her strong son-in-law, Mr Goodes says. And so the mother-in-law lured Bunjil to the waterhole, where the bunyip tore the creator spirit to pieces. During the dreaming, people took the form of birds. Finding the fragments of their broken creator spirit, the bird-people set about gathering him up. A small bird used a little rainbow as a net, but it was too small. So another bird used a bigger rainbow to gather the pieces.

I don't know if you've ever seen the dual rainbows before? Well that's what was used to put Bunjil back together, Mr Goodes says. Looking out from the cliff, he traces out the tree lines and roads that lead to Mokepilly and then to Bunjils Shelter as he talks. On this day there is not a cloud in the sky. But the weather bureau predicts flash-flooding and severe storms the next. Perhaps then, the rainbows will reappear. Mr Goodes calls this tale a lore story. Its survival too, is a small miracle. It came to him by way of research done by historian Ian Clarke, who dug up a newspaper article published in 1925 by a reverend, who was told the story by an Aboriginal source he refers to only as "a woman from the Wimmera". Who knows how those intermediaries shaped and coloured that story.

What matters is that now, both story and the art belong to the traditional owners of Gariwerd once again, Mr Goodes says. With more Indigenous Victorians winning back control and management over their ancestral lands, some are predicting many more ancient sites will be rediscovered over coming years. Credit:Ken Irwin Jamie Lowe recalls living and working on his country in Gariwerd and seeing the fingerprints of his ancestors as one of the most cathartic experience of his life. That was about 10 years ago. Now, Mr Lowe is the chief executive officer of the Eastern Maar Aboriginal Corporation, also part of the Gariwerd native title claim. He says it was not so much the grandeur of the art, nor the detail of the story, which impacted him so powerfully.

Its knowing that your ancestors have been there, basically, forever, he says. Because when youre talking anywhere from 40,000 to 100,000 years of occupation, it may as well be. Despite that ancient, living connection, Mr Lowe says the devastation of colonisation fragmented the cultures of many First Nations. Like the birds in the bunyip lore story, they are now piecing together lore stories, art and sacred places. My people, the Djab Wurrung peoples population got down to as little as around 50 people, Mr Lowe says. So if you take 90 per cent of people out of any society what goes with them is a whole lot of cultural knowledge and power.
The beach at Barwon Heads. Locals want answers over the deaths of young adults in the town. Credit:Drew Ryan

A Bellarine Peninsula community group has demanded answers from its local MP about the alarming incidences of cancer deaths among young adults in the region and contamination of former farmland.

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The Barwon Heads Association has written to Bellarine MP Lisa Neville following reports in The Age about fears raised by residents about the deaths of 10 young adults in recent years, most of whom grew up in the town and attended Bellarine Secondary College at nearby Drysdale.

In its latest newsletter, the association asked Ms Neville to arrange a briefing at the association's next meeting, on February 18, about "concerns that are now being very strongly expressed".
Superb parrots have enjoyed their best breeding season in the ACT since a government-funded monitoring program began in 2015, bouncing back after two years of diminished breeding output.

The vulnerable birds appear to have adapted to the development of Throsby, in Canberra's north, by selecting nest trees further from the urban edge, prompting researchers to stress the importance of conservation buffers to protect native wildlife and their breeding habitat.

Two superb parrots born during 2018 in Canberra. Credit:ACT Parks and Conservation Service

ACT government ecologist Dr Laura Rayner said breeding superb parrots produced an estimated 39 offspring in woodland adjacent to Throsby in 2018.

The result was consistent with that of 2015, when 38 fledged young were born.
Susie and Obi Shadmaan were initially turned off the idea of having a home birth for a number of reasons, one being the mess.

But mid-way through their pregnancy they attended an information night at the request of their midwife, and after hearing from other couples who had tried it they were sold.

Susie and Obi Shadmaan with their kids Leo, 4 months, and Eva, 2. Credit:Dion Georgopoulos

On September 20 last year, their second child, a son named Leo Rahvi weighing 3.44 kilograms, was born at home.

Mrs Shadmaan was one of the lucky few in Canberra who fitted neatly into the criteria for a home birth, as part of the ACT governments three-year trial.
The number of sexual assaults reported in Tuggeranong increased by more than 30 per cent last year, but the overall level of crime across the ACT was at its lowest in five years.

ACT Policing's crime statistics show there were 42,451 total offences recorded in 2018, down 12.7 per cent from 48,620 the year before.

There were 44,926 offences across Canberra in 2016, 44,704 in 2015 and 44,607 in 2014.

Fewer offences were recorded across the ACT in almost every crime type in 2018 than in 2017, but breaking the data down by location reveals some notable shifts.
The co-captain of what is believed to be Australia's only inland lifesaving club has endorsed plans to set up a similar service in the ACT after a recent drowning.

Royal Life Saving ACT is hoping to run a pilot program for lifesaving services at the territory's inland waterways next summer and plans to take a formal proposal to the ACT government in the coming months.

Canberra woman Michelle Love, pictured swimming at Casuarina Sands with her children Jazmin, 12, Axel, 6, and Jayden, 16, has welcomed a proposal for lifesavers to patrol the ACT's inland waterways. Credit:Sitthixay Ditthavong

The plans were revealed after 35-year-old Canberra man Toby Jamieson drowned at Casuarina Sands, a popular swimming spot on the Murrumbidgee River, while swimming with his family on January 3.

Mildura Lifesaving Club co-captain Ben Mollison said that would be "a great idea" for the ACT, pointing out that Australia's rivers, creeks and streams were statistically more deadly than beaches.
Nicola Caras has "always loved" doing jigsaw puzzles, but found the hours spent putting together the pieces were often only rewarded with a "daggy" scene.

"I found myself doing too many 'horse on landscape, handpainted marigolds in background' kind of styles," the Melbourne lawyer says.

Melbourne lawyer Nicola Caras makes puzzles aimed at an adult market that doesn't want a "daggy" landscape. Credit:Paul Jeffers

The frustration led Caras to partner with graphic designer Lauren Seemen to create Journey of Something: a range of arty jigsaw puzzles for adults.

The brand creates puzzles using local and international artworks. And they are, really, made for adults - among a variety of modern art offerings, one design (titled "X-rated") features a photograph of 1970s porn star Ron Jeremy on set, while another is a cartoon depiction of the Kardashians in their underwear.
Now, talking about breaking up has never been easy and especially if you are in the public eye, but when did we invent this type of language to tell people love is well, dead? Oh, wait, that would have been Chris Martin and Gwyneth Paltrow when they announced back in 2014 that they were consciously uncoupling.

In the statement, the man who founded and has made billions from Amazon and wife MacKenzie said they had agreed to divorce after a long period of loving exploration but will continue our shared lives as cherished friends.

The worlds richest man and his wife have just announced on Twitter that they are divorcing after 25 years of marriage. And while its still early days, the Bezos post will be hard to beat as a contender for worst corporate-speak of 2019.

The Bezos announcement, which assumingly came from the heart rather than from one of Amazons army of spin doctors, highlights just how fast bad corporate-speak (is there any other type?), has conquered everyday language.

There are good reasons for the occasional lapse into anodyne language, of course. We live in a time when every single word we utter can be spread electronically across the globe in seconds, to be scrutinised in often ridiculous detail, attacked, praised and ridiculed, often by people who have no clue.

Politicians and senior business leaders, for example, have to be even more careful of what they say  and how. Using the wrong word, outdated terminology or even a minor slip-up can wreck careers, upset regulators, and result in the collapse of your companys share price, as well as its reputation, that most valuable but intangible of all corporate assets.

To be fair, corporate-speak is not new. The former executive chairman of the US coffee chain Starbucks, Howard Schultz, kept journalists humming with silly language for over a decade, including his comment a couple of years back that Starbucks was now delivering an immersive, ultra-premium, coffee-forward experience.

More recently, when Uber came under attack over the training of its drivers and other related serious issues, the companys response was to talk about how it had underinvested in the driver experience. No wonder the media coverage ended in what Uber described, without a hint of irony, as a reputational deficit.
In the past few years, the world has finally started to wake up to the socially constructed ways in which some people are given an easier ride through life than others.

Male privilege acknowledges how being a man means earning a higher wage than women, not being discriminated against because of their gender, and being far less likely to be sexually assaulted. And white privilege recognises the ongoing discriminations faced by people of colour in job opportunities, safety and every other part of life.

in our society, fat isnt just a literal description but has become a byword for laziness, being undisciplined, greedy and unintelligent.

But what about being thin? Is there an advantage, nay a privilege, associated with being slim in our society? It seems that yes, there is.

The "thin" in "thin privilege" is not about being supermodel-skinny but being at a weight that means you are not subjected to judgment and harassment from strangers. It means that you can go into almost any clothes shop and find something that will fit. You can eat a hamburger in public without people clearly judging your decision. You can wear something figure-hugging without people sniggering at you.
Mr Sedgman owns and operates what is thought to be Sydney Harbour's first waterbike hire company, AussieWaterBikes. He hasn't done any advertising and gets his business from passers-by.

Is it a bicycle or a boat? Classification has been an issue for waterbikes since the first "water velocipede" or "hydrocycle" was invented in 1870.

Water sports enthusiast Mark Sedgman doesn't find it hard to meet people by the water at Lavender Bay. As tourists pause to look south past Luna Park to the Harbour Bridge and Opera House, many stop to ask Mr Sedgman why a bike is sitting on top of what looks like a catamaran or a large banana.

"People come up and start asking questions," he said. One Canberra tourist, Ruth, stopped to chat, and a few minutes later, she was circling the bay, pedalling at a steady pace to go forward, and pedalling backwards to stop.

She barely got her pants wet as she disembarked. "You could ride to work in a suit on this. Or have a bride cycle across the harbour to [a] wedding," she said.

A professional corporate health and fitness trainer, Dan Westwood, also spotted Mr Sedgman this week. He was very excited after trying a waterbike, already envisaging corporate outings or rewards sessions where his clients could waterbike from where he trains near Observatory Hill over to Lavender Bay and back.

"I just loved them, it felt fantastic, it was easy and there's minimum resistance so you won't be left sore after pedalling," he said.

Because the rider sits on a bike seat the perspective is similar to a stand up paddleboard, which makes it easier to see schools of garfish, bream or dolphins, said Mr Sedgman. He has worked as a lifeguard, a wakeboard and scuba instructor, and on fishing trawlers and cruise ships.
Wildlife authorities have moved swiftly to deal with a mix of animals trapped in mud near dried-out lakes at Menindee amid calls for more action to ease an "animal welfare crisis".

Arresting images by Herald photographer Nick Moir of a red kangaroo struggling to escape - as part of a Herald report into the cause and aftermath of massive fish kill on the Darling River - drew interest from home and abroad in the fate of animals.

This kangaroo was one of several animals, including goats and sheep, that needed to be euthanised after the Herald was able to contact NPWS and animal local rescue groups. Credit:Nick Moir

In response, NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service sent staff into the parched channel near Lake Cawndilla on Friday. They found two kangaroos, two sheep and a goat, all of which were put down, a spokesman for the Office of Environment and Heritage told the Herald.

"NPWS will monitor the situation and where possible will seek to free stuck animals," he said. "If this is not possible they will be humanely destroyed."
Yes, sure. But does anyone actually want to spend weeks in the heat, filth and humidity with a bunch of strangers, isolated from the rest of the world, being forced to eat bugs?

Well, that's one reason. There are more, of course. After turning 50 a couple of years ago, Reid  like a lot of people who turn 50  had that sudden realisation that his life was half over and he'd better make the most of what was left of it. "You only get one chance," he says. "So I better get on with it, and do everything I want to do."

He says the closest he's ever got to camping is prancing around to Kylie Minogue songs. So why did Richard Reid sign up to I'm a Celebrity ... Get Me Out of Here? "I want to lose weight, of course!" says the Hollywood gossip guru, long-time fixture on Nine's Today and now a regular on Ten's Studio 10.

Weirdly, Reid says it was his experience on Celebrity Apprentice  also not an unalloyed pleasure  that motivated him to agree to yet more reality TV.

"I can't say that I had the best time of my life on Celebrity Apprentice. But it was an experience like no other I'd ever had before," Reid says. "And that's why I cherish it. So when I was approached to do I'm a Celeb, you know out of all the people in the world, less than 1 millionth of a per cent would be able to say 'I was on I'm a Celebrity ...' and I'd be one of them, and that is amazing. There's not a lot of things in this world that I can say are my first time anymore. But there's going to be a lot of firsts on this trip, I'm telling you."

When we speak, Reid's less than two weeks away from heading to South Africa and so far his preparation has been mixed. He's decided on a strategy for dealing with the less attractive aspects of his personality that will inevitably come to light  primarily that he gets pretty cranky when he's hungry, tired or stressed. Basically, his constant emotional state once he's in the jungle.

On the downside: "I found a spider in my kitchen this morning and I screamed like a teenage girl." He's also not the most practical person in the world. "Can I start a fire? No. I failed miserably at Boy Scouts. Starting a fire is not my forte. But I am a peacekeeper. That can be a skill. Negotiating and peacekeeping."

It can indeed. Emotions tend to run high in the jungle, and for a lot of viewers the real value of I'm a Celeb is less the gross-out moments than the conversations around the campfire. Like all the celebs, Reid is undertaking the ordeal in support of a charity  in his case, Beyond Blue. It seems an unusual choice for someone so relentlessly upbeat but Reid's mother was diagnosed bipolar and spent years in and out of hospital. Reid himself was bullied as a child and as an adult has struggled with anxiety and depression. And as someone who lives between Sydney and LA he's been struck by the cultural differences in attitudes toward mental illness  and the crucial role Beyond Blue plays in turning things around.
STORM BOY MOVIE TICKETS

A contemporary retelling of Colin Thiele's classic Australian tale, Storm Boy releases on Thursday. The film follows a young boy growing up on an isolated coastline with his fisherman father, and the extraordinary bond he forms with the orphaned pelican, Mr Percival. Starring Jai Courtney, Trevor Jamieson and newcomer Finn Little there are 20 in-season doubles (worth $800 in total) to catch a screening of your choice. Register your details on SPR_Melbourne@spe.sony.com before midnight tonight for your chance to win.

Storm Boy: Colin Thiele's classic Australian tale has been made into a movie. Credit:Matt Nettheim

APOLLO BAY SEAFOOD FESTIVAL

Hand-crafted by executive chef Nick Mahlook and his team of artisans from The Atlantic, the Apollo Bay Seafood Festival will kick-off the 2019 festivities with the "ocean to plate" gala feast Down the Hatch at the Mechanics Hall in Apollo Bay on Friday, February 15. We have a double place (worth $370) to indulge in the eight-course dinner that will showcase locally caught fresh seafood and produce and deliciously paired wines. In a grand finale, Om Nom's executive chef Jo Ward will reveal an ocean-themed dessert. Send your details to bill@apollobayseafoodfestival.com before midnight tonight to enter the draw.
The partial shutdown of the US government has entered its 22nd day - becoming the longest closure in the country's history.

The milestone was passed as the clock ticked past midnight into Saturday in Washington DC.

Meanwhile, president Donald Trump and nervous Republicans have been scrambling to find a way out of the deadlock, which left federal workers without pay on Friday.

Earlier the House and Senate voted to give federal workers back pay when the government reopens, although the chambers are not sitting over the weekend.

Mr Trump is said to have privately considered declaring a national emergency to build a wall between the US and Mexico without a new stream of cash from Congress.

However members of his own party have been fiercely debating that idea, and the president has urged Congress to come up with another solution.

"What we're not looking to do right now is national emergency," Mr Trump said.

He insisted that he had the authority to do that, adding that he is "not going to do it so fast" because he would still prefer to work a deal with Congress.

PA
Westmeath are the first team into the O'Byrne Cup final after an eye-catching 12-point win against their neighbours Longford.

Callum McCormack and Sean Flanagan scored the goals in either half for Jack Cooney's side.

The Lake County await the winners of this evening's second semi-final between Dublin and Meath.

Throw-in at Parnell Park is at 7pm.
Police in the North are appealing for witnesses following an aggravated burglary in north Belfast last night.

The incident occurred in the Burneys Mews area of Newtownabbey at around 7.30pm.

Two males and a female forced their way into a flat and assaulted a male occupant with what was described as a flick stick.

The 25-year-old male was taken to hospital for treatment.

The PSNI are asking anyone with information to come forward.

Meanwhile, detectives in the North are appealing for information after an attack at a house in north Belfast.

Fireworks were put in the letterbox of a home in Dunmore Walk area and set alight shortly before 7 o'clock yesterday evening.

When they went off they started a fire in the door, which was put out by a neighbour.

No-one was in in the house at the time but damage was caused to the door.
Landlords are seeking extensive amounts of personal information, including PPS numbers, photo ID, and access to would-be renters social media accounts before they can view a potential rental property.

In a number of cases, agencies have used third-party websites to collate and store information and to vet potential applicants. In addition to asking for client information such as contact details, applicants were asked for PPS numbers, pictures, and even links to their Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn social media profiles.

The more information that was supplied, the more points that would be assigned to an applicant. The applicants with the most points allocated would be given preferential treatment when it came to viewing properties which became available.

Tenancy protection charity Threshold has issued a warning about the growing volume of personal data being sought by landlords and letting agents at the pre-letting stage of renting in the private market.

While the practice is not illegal, Threshold has warned it is on the increase nationally despite the Data Protection Commission explicitly stating last November that landlords should not ask for an individuals picture or PPS number during the initial phase of the letting process.

PPS numbers should only be requested when a lease is being agreed to register the property with the Residential Tenancies Board, the commission said.

Cathy Finnegan, communications executive with Threshold, said the practice is becoming more common in an increasingly competitive private rental sector and a number of its clients have expressed concern about the potential GDPR ramifications of handing personal information to landlords or letting agencies.

Some of our clients are encountering new obstacles to simply view a property, she told the Irish Examiner.

We regularly receive queries from clients regarding screening processes employed by some letting agencies or landlords and, in some instances, we have raised particular cases with the Data Protection Commission on behalf of clients.

Threshold is concerned about the level of data being sought by some landlords or letting agents at the pre-letting stage.

Ms Finnegan warned that many people are now simply being excluded from the rental process due to these practices.

It is clear that the private rented sector is not an even playing field, she said.

The competition to view a property has become more intense. It is a numbers game. Some people just dont count; they are not even at the races.

Families and individuals who may be in receipt of social welfare payments, on social housing waiting lists or seeking to move from emergency accommodation will be thwarted when faced with a series of thinly veiled questions that loosely translate as no housing assistance payment.

Stephen Faughnan, chairperson of the Irish Property Owners Association (IPOA), said his organisation is working with landlords to educate them on appropriate practices regarding tenants and he felt the vast majority of landlords are responsible and compliant.

He said landlords must be diligent to ensure they do not rent the property to the wrong person who might damage it.

He said landlords must comply with GDPR and the IPOA has held a number of events to make him confident their members have been adequately informed of their responsibilities under GDPR.
Two Irishmen were arrested in Staffordshire, West Midlands following a joint operation between the Gardai and the UK's National Crime Agency.

The arrests follow an investigation into the activities of an organised crime network alleged to be involved in the supply of drugs and firearms in Ireland and the UK.

A 51-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of conspiring to import and supply drugs, firearms and ammunition as well as money laundering offences on arrival at Birmingham Airport, this morning.

A second man, 20, was arrested on suspicion of money laundering offences.

The men are being questioned at a police station in Staffordshire.

A spokesperson for the NCA said: A 51-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of conspiring to import and supply drugs, firearms and ammunition, as well as money laundering offences on arrival at Birmingham Airport this morning.

At the same location a second man, aged 20, was arrested on suspicion of money laundering offences.

NCA officers, supported by colleagues from Staffordshire Police, are also searching a property in the Tamworth area and a business premises in Birmingham.

The arrest and searches are part of an investigation into the activities of an organised crime network alleged to be involved in the supply of drugs and firearms.

Earlier:

They are supporting Britain's National Crime Agency in the crackdown.

The force says the NCA's one of its most important allies, with whom it shares a common desire to put organised crime groups who operate within the common travel area out of business.

Assistant Commissioner John ODriscoll of the Special Crime Operations said: "for the purpose of tackling organised crime groups An Garda Siochana has commenced the new year in the manner in which it intends to proceed in 2019, by engaging in the most impactful possible co-operation with law enforcement authorities, at an international level."

"In this regard, the UK National Crime Agency is one of our most important allies, with whom we share a common desire to put organised crime groups who operate within the common travel area out of business," he added.

The Irish Times is reporting that the partnership has led to the arrest of two men at Birmingham Airport.

- additional reporting from the Press Association
Gardai are appealing for witnesses following an alleged assault in Dublin's Temple Bar on Monday.

A man in his 30s was treated for injuries to his face and head after an incident on Fleet Street in Dublin 2 at about 2am.
Richwood, TX (77531)

Today

Partly cloudy skies. A stray afternoon thunderstorm is possible. High 93F. Winds ENE at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

A few clouds from time to time. Low 74F. Winds ENE at 5 to 10 mph.
Sinn Fein is hosting an event in Dublin today to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the first Dail.

An exhibition opens at the Mansion House on Dawson Street at 11.30am, followed by the main event at 2pm which includes an address by Sinn Fein Leader Mary Lou McDonald.
A venture led by Richard Bransons Virgin Atlantic Airways scooped up Flybe for a penny a share, all but wiping out the value of the British regional carrier hit by dwindling passenger numbers, higher oil prices and uncertainty surrounding Brexit.

Virgin, Cyrus Capital, and Aer-Lingus-regional-operator Stobart Group agreed to purchase Flybe for 2.2m (2.4m). The deal drove shares of the Exeter-based carrier down as much as 90% to a market value of about 6m, a fraction of its 215m capitalisation on its trading debut on the London Stock Exchange in 2010. Flybe will be combined with Stobart Air and operate under the Virgin Atlantic brand, the new owners said.

Virgin has been struggling to feed its long-haul flights with passengers from other UK cities and chief executive Shai Weiss said the deal will help. Flybe has flights from more than a dozen British cities and spans European destinations such as Portugal and Poland. In Ireland, it has routes from Belfast, Cork, Knock, and Dublin.

The demise of Flybe demonstrates the difficulties of turning a profit in the regional aviation market  a sector of the industry focused on connecting smaller cities. Passenger numbers are limited and the smaller planes used still have significant fixed costs. Flybe had already shrunk its fleet and begun a move to cheaper turboprop aircraft in a bid to strengthen its balance sheet and preserve cash.

Several European carriers have succumbed to the rising cost of fuel. Belgiums VLM announced its liquidation in August when Switzerlands Skywork Airlines AG also ceased flights. The German arm of Small Planet filed for insolvency in September, with Azur Air halting operations in the country, and Nordic leisure carrier Primera Air collapsed in October.

The new Flybe owners said they would provide 20m (22.3m) of bridge loans and inject as much as 80m (89.2m) to support growth. The carrier will be purchased via Connect Airways, in which Virgin and Stobart each have 30% stakes, with the balance held by Cyrus.

Founded in 1979 as Jersey European Airways after the island in the English Channel to which it flew, the company was renamed British European in 2000. It took on its current identity two years later after switching to a low-cost strategy.

Flybe acquired British Airways Connect unit for 521m (581.3m) in 2006, adding more than 50 routes and doubling the number of customers to become No 1 in Europes regional market.

Following the 2010 share sale, the family trust of the late steel tycoon Jack Walker owned just under half of the shares.

- Bloomberg
OTTAWA - Increased national awareness about coerced sterilization of Indigenous women has resulted in mounting concerns about other vulnerable women who may have been endured the practice, an Ontario senator says.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 11/1/2019 (886 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Senator Yvonne Boyer poses for a photo in the foyer of the Senate on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, Tuesday October 23, 2018. Sen. Yvonne Boyer says she is hearing mounting allegations of marginalized women being coerced into sterilization procedures in Canada. Boyer, who has proposed a Senate committee study allegations of coerced sterilizations of Indigenous women, says she has been contacted with additional concerns about vulnerable women being subject to the medical procedure. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld

OTTAWA - Increased national awareness about coerced sterilization of Indigenous women has resulted in mounting concerns about other vulnerable women who may have been endured the practice, an Ontario senator says.

Sen. Yvonne Boyer, who has proposed a Senate committee study recent allegations of Indigenous women who say they were coerced into tubal ligations during childbirth, said her office has also heard concerns about reproductive rights of other marginalized women.

She said they come from women who are poor, racialized or have from mental and physical disabilities need to be looked at as well.

"The door has widened."

This fall, Boyer garnered national and international attention after she spoke out about concerns regarding allegations of modern-day sterilization of Indigenous women in Canada.

Prior to being appointed to the Senate, Boyer and Metis physician Dr. Judith Bartlett conducted an external review of complaints about coerced tubal ligations in the Saskatoon Health Region, which prompted a formal apology.

Her concerns about sterilizations involving additional marginalized women are also shared by Sen. Kim Pate.

"I think we are going to find this is something that happened to a lot of poor women, especially racialized and Indigenous women and especially women with mental health issues," Pate said in an interview.

Pate, who worked extensively as an advocate in the legal and penal systems for 35 years before being appointed to the upper chamber, said it is necessary to help identify and rectify the situation.

Both Boyer and Pate are also considering a separate study of concerns about women and girls sterilized while in prison.

Pate said the examination must unfold in a sensitive and supportive way in order to protect the privacy and integrity of women and girls who may have experienced this.

Concerns about the sterilization of marginalized women and the extent to which women have consented to the procedure is also on the radar of Indigenous Services Minister Jane Philpott, a physician herself.

In November, she told The Canadian Press the forced sterilization of vulnerable people, including Indigenous people, is a "very serious violation of human rights" that has happened to a varying extent in Canada for a long time.

She applauded Boyer for raising the issue in the Senate.

"It is an incredibly important one that has not had the attention drawn to it to the extent that it ought to have in the past," Philpott said. "I absolutely support her efforts to pursue a proper study of this."

In December, Philpott and Health Minister Ginette Petitpas Taylor also sent a letter to the provinces, territories and members of the medical community to propose a working group of officials on cultural competency in health.

In a statement issued this week, Nunavut said George Hickes, the territory's health minister, responded to the federal ministers to say department officials look forward to engaging on the establishment of the working group.

For its part, the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Saskatchewan said it received a brief letter from the federal government, adding any additional comment would be "premature" at this time.

The College of Physicians and Surgeons of Alberta also said it received the federal government's letter in December, adding its president responded to seek more information about the working group and to consider involvement.

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OTTAWA - Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced Friday that Canada would accept 18-year-old Rahaf Mohammed Alqunun as a refugee after she fled Saudi Arabia for Thailand and launched a Twitter campaign to win her freedom from a barricaded airport hotel room. Alqunun said she feared for her life if she were forced to return to Saudi Arabia. Her father and brother travelled to Bangkok to retrieve her. Alqunun's ordeal helped shine a light on the plight of women in Saudi Arabia, including its controversial "guardianship" laws, which subject women to the control of men.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 11/1/2019 (886 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Rahaf Mohammed Alqunun walks in Bangkok, Thailand, Friday, Jan. 11, 2019. Alqunun, the 18-year old Saudi woman who fled her family to seek asylum, remains in Thailand under the care of the U.N. refugee agency as she awaits a decision by a third country to accept her as a refugee. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)

OTTAWA - Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced Friday that Canada would accept 18-year-old Rahaf Mohammed Alqunun as a refugee after she fled Saudi Arabia for Thailand and launched a Twitter campaign to win her freedom from a barricaded airport hotel room. Alqunun said she feared for her life if she were forced to return to Saudi Arabia. Her father and brother travelled to Bangkok to retrieve her. Alqunun's ordeal helped shine a light on the plight of women in Saudi Arabia, including its controversial "guardianship" laws, which subject women to the control of men.

Here are five things about what Alqunun was running from:

1. Male stamp required

It can be a father, husband, brother or even a son, but under Saudi law, women need a male guardian's approval to conduct a variety of tasks to function. This includes applying for a passport, travelling outside the country, studying abroad, getting married or even getting out of prison. "This is a systematic discrimination and abuse of women's rights. It is something that doesn't really belong in these modern times," said Phil Robertson, the deputy director of Human Rights Watch's Asia division.

2. Running can get you killed

Like Alqunun, some Saudi women have tried to flee, but for many the result has been tragic. In one high-profile case, Dina Ali Lasloom was stopped while trying to flee Saudi Arabia in 2017. She was forced to return and according to activists, she was never heard from again. Robertson said that with the arrival of Alqunun's father and brother in Bangkok this week, there were fears of a repeat "and that the Saudi Embassy could exercise influence or resources to cause problems."

3. Reforms are slow

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman made international headlines last year when he lifted a ban on women driving. King Salman also issued a decree that required all branches of government to stop requesting that a male guardian's authorization be required to receive government services. It called on them to review their regulations and prepare a list of things that would require a man's permission. While Amnesty International noted that the decree might improve women's lives, it hadn't been implemented by the end of the year.

4. Fighting from the inside can be futile

Five prominent female activists who have campaigned against guardianship wound up in Saudi prisons last year. Loujain al-Hathloul, Iman al-Nafjan and Aziza al-Yousef were arrested in a first sweep. That was followed by the arrest of Nassima al-Sada and Samar Badawi. She is the sister of Raif Badawi, a Saudi blogger whose wife lives in Quebec. He was sentenced to 10 years in prison and 1,000 lashes from a whip for writing a blog post deemed offensive to Saudi leadership.

5. Female foreign criticism not welcome

In August, Canada's Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland took to Twitter to say she was "very alarmed" to learn of Samar Badawi's imprisonment, noting she was Raif's sister. "Canada stands together with the Badawi family in this difficult time, and we continue to strongly call for the release of both Raif and Samar Badawi." Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman responded by expelling Canada's ambassador and withdrawing his own envoy. The Saudis also sold Canadian investments and recalled their students from universities in Canada, including an unknown number of women.

Sources: Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International, the Associated Press
Organizers said they had many requests to bring back the Ironman, as a way for people to feel "normal" again after more than a year of the unsettling pandemic.
Several videos capture images of thousands of spiders raining down on

Espirito Santo do Dourado, southern region of Minas Gerais, Brazil, beginning of January 2019 And it turns out this unexpected event is perfectly normal.

Its Raining Spiders in Brazil A video captures images of thousands of spiders raining down on a Brazilian town, but it turns out this event is perfectly normal.

While Europe and the US may be prone to blizzards this time of year, but in Brazil its raining spiders. In videos thatve covered the Internet like an immense web, a student and his grandmother capture images of thousands of spiders shimmying up and down silk threads attached to telephone pole wires. The footage gives the distinct impression of a shower  or perhaps light snow  of spiders sprinkling down on the shocked residents below.

Totally weird, no? According to biologists, however, the phenomenon is not so strange as this type of spider is known to be quite social. They are usually in trees during the day and in the late afternoon and early evening construct sort of giant sheets of webs, in order to trap insects.

Scientists have described around 40,000 species of spiders around the world, but only a handful of them are social. These 23 species are scattered around the world and sometimes swarm, like ants or bees. Females often outnumber males 10 to 1 in colonies that can exceed 50,000 individuals.

In Minas Gerais, Brazil, its not an unusual site to see a sky speckled by spiders. The species, Anelosimus eximius, can be found from Panama to Argentina and lives in colonies sometimes comprised of thousands of individuals. Each spider is around the size of a pencil eraser. Their webs can stretch from the ground up to tree canopies or human constructions 65 feet high.

If strong winds come along, the web may detach from its anchors, carrying the spiders and their ruined home to new sites where they appear to rain down. Like in the videos. While the humans gawked below, the flustered spiders were simply trying to pull themselves together after an unexpected journey from some forest or park.

Its worth noting that similar colonies live in Texas. In Lake Tawakoni State Park, just east of Dallas, Guatemalan long-jawed spiders construct enormous webs covering up to 600 foot stretches. The spiders build the huge webs in less than two weeks. Researchers think the spiders achieve such sudden engineering feats thanks to their remarkable reproductive capabilities and ability to disperse by ballooning. Others in Australia.

Well keep your heads to the sky! Its raining spiders!

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PR Newswire

LAS VEGAS, Jan. 12, 2019

LAS VEGAS, Jan. 12, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- CES 2019 is still appealing and exciting, and Chinese companies are playing more and more important roles in it. Almost one-third of the exhibitors are from China. Especially in the popular autonomous driving industry, Chinese companies are overtaking their competitors with a dramatically fast speed.

At this CES, Kuandeng Technology from China, as a representative of companies in the field of high-precision mapping, showed the core advantage of innovative high-precision map products and technologies to users around the world. It demonstrated the competence to be the best partner for automakers who wish to explore autonomous driving market in China.

Kuandeng Technology holds core AI centric technologies such as deep learning, 3D vision, image recognition, robotics, automatic map construction, map cloud services, etc.. The platform can quickly build high-precision maps without large-scale human efforts. The company has become a leading service provider of high-precision map integrated solutions.

The centimeter-level high-definition pre-installed map solution integrates data such as lane type, lane width, landmarks, fences, road edge type, in addition to the basic information including lane shape, slope, curvature, pavement, and direction. The high-precision localization module acquires the image through the camera, extracts the map elements through the sensing module, compares it with the high-precision maps, and combines the GPS, IMU, and wheel speed signals to acquire the precise position and pose of the vehicle in the high-definition maps. The crowdsourcing module is divided into two parts, namely the vehicle side and the cloud. The vehicle side collects vectorized maps, poses and other information, and transmits them back to the cloud. Through intelligent regional segmentation and hierarchical spatial clustering, the high-definition maps are generated. It solved problems such as collection cost and update frequency.

In addition, mapping is a field that highlights a combination of technology and experience, and it requires a large amount of industry accumulation. The construction of high-quality and high-precision maps is inseparable from professionals from the mapping industry. Kuandeng Technology has also attracted a large number of graduates from the world's top universities with mapping background.

Users of high-precision maps are automotive manufacturers. The certification period is long and the cost of replacing a supplier is high. Kuandeng took the initiative to establish cooperation with major automakers and tier-1 suppliers, and continues to maintain first-mover advantage.

Related Links:

http://www.kuandeng.com

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SOURCE Kuandeng
When Wayne Givens entered his star pacer Sicily in the Sam McKee Memorial on the Hambletonian Day undercard, he felt the horse had earned a chance to perform on the big stage. The Art Major son out of the Western Ideal mare Capri Hanover ran up a score of Open wins in Delaware in the year leading up to the $260,000 stakes on August 4 and he even posted a mark of 1:48.4 at Dover Downs December 21, 2017.

However, Sicily was unable to showcase his prowess when he lined up behind the gate at the Meadowlands. Sicily raced at the back of the pack throughout the 1- mile route and finished last of 12 beaten 49 lengths. Although Sicily was a 72-1 outsider, Givens knew the lack of effort was uncharacteristic of his hard-trying horse. The trainer quickly discovered the horse was suffering from a heart condition.

He had AFib, his heart got out of rhythm, Givens said. Ive only had that ever happen to me two or three times. When their heart gets out of rhythm, they just cant perform. Oh yes, it is (scary) because you dont know whether theyre going to recover or not.

After the initial fright, Sicily made a full recovery and Givens hopes hell soon be able to take on Grand Circuit competition again. This time, Givens has his sights set on the George Morton Levy Series at Yonkers Raceway.

Givens purchased Sicily out of the 2015 Harrisburg Mixed Sale for $39,000 for owners Legacy Racing and Reginald Hazzard II. The gelding showed promise, having competed in the Breeders Crown at two and Empire Breeders Classic at three, but had not yet become a winner at the Open level.

Most of the time when I go to a sale and buy a horse, I pay a good healthy price and I just hope they stay that good and competitive, Givens said. But yeah, (Sicily) turned out to be a lot better. So far, anyway. The classes he was in, he looked competitive and I was just trying to buy a racehorse.

Now seven years old, Sicily has amassed 23 wins from 109 starts and earned $482,554. However, Givens has never raced Sicily at Yonkers and the gelding went 0-for-5 locally for his prior connections, Ron Burke and Nik Drennan. Before Givens nominates his standout to the tracks signature event for older pacers, he will test the waters in the weekly pacing feature, the $44,000 Open Pace.

I want to see how he goes. I kind of want to put him in that series, the Levy. If he gets around that track, then well plan on racing in that series, Givens said.

Sicily drew post seven Saturday night (January 12) in his first start at Yonkers since November 2015. He is the only horse with recency, as he finished second in the Open at Dover Downs January 3 while each of his seven rivals have been off at least four weeks. Jim Marohn, Jr. will take the place of regular Delaware driver Victor Kirby.

Im just going to make sure he can get around. Hes a good horse and I just want to make sure he can get around those turns at Yonkers, Givens said. Hes a nice horse to drive. He doesnt have anything about him, you want to stick with the same driver all the time, but (Marohn) will do a good job with him Im sure.

Sicilys rivals include 3-1 early favourite Christen Me, who finished second or third in three straight Open Handicaps before Yonkers closed for the holidays. Matt Kakaley will drive the 11-year-old from post two. Air Strike graduated from the Three- and Four-Year-Old Open with the changing of the calendar and drew post five for his first try in the pacing feature. Run Oneover is 9-2 from the pylons off a front-stepping score in a $30,000 overnight Closing Day.

Aston Hill Dave, Bellows Binge, Quick Asa Trick, and Bettors Fire complete the lineup.

Although Sicily tends to show speed off the gate -- he blasted to the front from post eight in :26.3 last time out -- Givens will leave that decision to Marohn.

He gets behind the gate, he can look across and see how much speed looks like is going to leave inside, Givens said. Its something you cant really plan on before the race. I probably dont have to tell him because he can look at the program and see that he leaves good.

Saturday nights card also features a $44,000 Open Handicap Trot. First post time is 6:50 p.m.

(SOA of NY)
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When starting out in business, the first people that you rely on to test out a product and pricing are those closest to you. But what do you need to keep in mind when using this as your first customer set?...
There's been more ink spilled over the doctrinal interpretation of 1 Timothy 2:11 than any other passage. It's a controversial passage that evokes very strong emotional responses and reactions  particularly in this day and age. And verse 15 is one of the trickiest passages in the Bible to interpret. Because of this, many pastors simply avoid teaching on it. So I give kudos to Tim Challies for preaching on the passage in a recent sermon, and having the guts to take a shot at explaining it in his blog post, "saved through childbearing?"

For those of you who aren't familiar with it, 1 Timothy 2:11-15 says,

"Let a woman learn quietly with all submissiveness. I do not permit a woman to teach or to exercise authority over a man; rather, she is to remain quiet. For Adam was formed first, then Eve; and Adam was not deceived, but the woman was deceived and became a transgressor. Yet she will be saved through childbearingif they continue in faith and love and holiness, with self-control." (1 Timothy 2:11, ESV)

Now that's definitely not the passage you want to be teaching on if you're trying to win a popularity contest! It sounds extremely sexist and abrasive to the modern ear. And the phrase "she will be saved through childbearing" seems non-sensical, if not downright outrageous. But I concur with Challies that "there is truth and freedom here if we are willing to go looking for it."

An Epiphany

Reading Challies' attempts to come to grip with verse 15 reminded me of my own attempts to wrestle with this passage over the years. The last time I studied the passage in-depth was a couple of years ago, while working on writing girls gone wise. It's interesting how we can read a passage a hundred times, and still notice something new when we return to it again. I had been studying Genesis, and was immersed in the concept of the typological symbolism of Adam and Eve. (Adam is type of Christ, Eve is type of the Church), when I turned my attention to 1 Timothy 2.

It was then that I had an epiphany that seemed to resolve many of the interpretive difficulties with the text. It struck me that approaching the passage typologically harmonized many of the issues that arose from approaching it from a merely ontological standpoint - which has been the normative way of viewing this text. I was so excited about the idea that I called up Wayne Grudem, to pick his brain about the veracity of my thoughts. He encouraged me to write them up and present a paper at ETS (Evangelical Theological Society) or to publish an article in their academic Journal (JETS). I haven't got around to doing that yet, but since Challies brought up the question, I'm itching to weigh in on the discussion.

So, for all you geeky theological tall foreheads, here's something for you to chew on. (Remember, you heard it here first!) For those who aren't familiar with the theological terminology, don't bail out. Bear with me and keep reading. Theology is fun!

A Typological Approach to 1 Timothy 2:11-15

To begin, let me explain what the theological term "type" means. A "type" is person, thing, or event that foreshadows or points to something or someone else (the antitype). The type has a layer of intended meaning that is revealed by the antitype. For example, Jesus told Nicodemus, "As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness" (the type), "so must the Son of Man be lifted up" (the anti-type) (John 3:14; cf. Numbers 21:9). The Passover Lamb and the rock from which Israel drank in the wilderness were also types of Christ (Exodus 12:1, Exodus 12:49; Exodus 17:6; 1 Corinthians 1:7; 1 Corinthians 1:3, 1 Corinthians 1:4) Types most frequently point to Jesus and the story of the gospel.

Paul was a big typological type of thinker. He taught, for instance, that Adam was type of Christ, and that marriage was type of the relationship between Christ and the Church. He would have agreed with the writer of Hebrews that earthly, physical realities are but shadowstypesof true and heavenly realities (the antitypes) (Hebrews 8:5; Hebrews 9:24). The physical and temporal exist to point us to the spiritual and eternal.

Now before we go on, I'm going to teach you another big, daunting word: "ontology" (Just think how your opponent's eyebrows will rise when you use up three o's playing it in scrabble!) Ontology means "related to being or existence." It has to do with the essence of who we are.

Woman is Type of Church

As I said before, 1 Timothy 2:11-15 makes a whole lot more sense when we understand it typologically rather than merely ontologically. That is, from the perspective of what woman represents (typology) rather than just who woman is (ontology). And it may be that this is just what Paul had in mind.

We know for sure that Paul viewed Adam as a type of Christ. We also know for sure that he viewed marriage as type of the relationship between Christ and the church  in which the role of husband is a type of Christ and the role of the wife is a type of the Church. Thus, we can justifiably extrapolate that Paul also viewed Eve as a type of the Church.

Assuming that Paul has typology in mind, let's have a look at the passage again. First, Paul talks about how women and men are to conduct themselves in church: "Let a woman learn quietly with all submissiveness. I do not permit a woman to teach or to exercise authority over a man; rather, she is to remain quiet." Don't get caught up in what this means and how we apply it today. That's a discussion for another time. For now, I just want you to consider how a typological approach helps explain this and the next few verses, and how it solves some interpretive conundrums.

If Paul was indeed thinking typologically (and I believe a good case can be made for it), that puts an entirely different spin on the following verses. Paul isn't arguing that women are more gullible or that women need to bear children in order to be saved. No. He's trying to point out that male female roles in the church exist to bear typological witness to the gospel.

For Adam (type of Christ) was formed first, then Eve (type of Church) - and Adam (type of Christ) was not deceived, but the woman (type of Church) was deceived and became a transgressor.

Yet she (the Church) will be saved through childbearing (bearing fruit in Christ)if they (man and woman) continue in faith and love and holiness, with self-control.

Voila. This solves the conundrum of thinking that Paul is saying that women are saved by giving birth to biological children. If Paul is indeed thinking typologically, he's not saying anything of the sort. Instead, he's saying that woman's ontology (her capacity to bear children) relates to her typology (the Church's ability to be fruitful in Jesus). She (the Church) is saved through childbearing. Paul reinforces the profound mutuality of men and women here. Both are church. Both are saved by the type of union that results in spiritual childrenthe union with our husband, Christ. Both must continue in faith and love and holiness, with self-control.

It's not about us

Yes, Paul gives some pretty tough instruction about male and female roles in the Church. But then he elevates the discussion to an entirely different level. In his rationale, he mingles the imagery of Adam and Eve and woman and man together to make the point that in the end, how we conduct ourselves in church has much more to do with what we (typologically) represent than who we (ontologically) are. And that makes his directives on male/female roles in the church much easier to understand and swallow.

Ultimately, this is not about us. It's not about man. It's not about woman. It's about displaying the glory of Christ's story.

A typological approach to 1 Timothy 2:11 makes a lot of sense to me, and I'd like to throw it on the table for my fellow theologians to consider and discuss. We can't say with absolute certainty what Paul had in mind in verse 15, but we can be absolutely certain that there is indeed truth and freedom here if we are willing to go looking for it.

Mary Kassian is an author, speaker and professor of women's studies at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Ky. This column first appeared on her website, girlsgonewise.com. Born and raised in Canada, she lives with her husband in Edmonton, Alberta.  Mary Kassian
Udomchai Thammasarorat (left), the chief Thai negotiator in peace talks with southern rebels, talks with an unidentified German diplomat after holding a news conference at the Foreign Correspondents Club of Thailand in Bangkok, Jan. 11, 2019.

Thailands new chief negotiator in the Kuala Lumpur-brokered talks with southern rebels said Friday he was studying the concept of power decentralization on advice from Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad and had already held low-level talks with all groups in the peace process.

Promoted to the post late last year, retired army Gen. Udomchai Thammasarorat has been on a public relations tour of sorts. He addressed reporters last week in the Thai capital alongside the new Malaysian facilitator of the talks, and then joined a forum this week with civil society leaders in the Thai Deep South.

On Friday, he held a news conference for 100 reporters, diplomats and activists at a foreign press club in Bangkok. Udomchai said he was considering establishing a special administrative zone and creating de-centralized rule in the Deep South as a solution for the decades-old separatist conflict in Thailands predominantly Muslim and Malay-speaking southern border region.

A special administrative zone is something that we discussed among ourselves and compared with a policy that the Thai prime minister gave to us to address power decentralization, Udomchai said during the news conference at the Foreign Correspondents Club of Thailand (FCCT).

In reality, it is about how do we define a special zone or decentralized rule? There is a definition under the framework of the constitution, Udomchai said.

When asked, Udomchai did not say whether he had succeeded in making contact with insurgent leaders and factions who, up until now, have refused to participate in talks between Thailands military government and MARA Patani, a panel representing insurgents groups. The talks with MARA began in 2015 but cooled early last year.

In talks [so far], we talked to all groups on a one-on-one basis because each group may have a different way and thoughts, Udomchai said in response to the question.

He said he was open to talks with all stakeholders.

We talk in an unofficial manner so that they feel free and have time to clearly communicate for a precise understanding. Then official talks will be held, he added.

But when asked whether this meant that the talks now included the BRN, the negotiator replied, How do you call the violent dissidents? Generally they are called BRN, but I call it dissidents who use violence.

When new negotiating teams for Thailand and Malaysia were announced in late in 2018, much was made about bringing all parties to the table to give the talks fresh impetus.

But on Jan. 4, Malaysian peace broker Rahim Noor told reporters in Bangkok that hardcore leaders of the National Revolutionary Front (BRN), the largest and most powerful of southern insurgent groups, did not show up at two meetings he had arranged between them and Udomchai in Malaysia.

We took his advice

In Fridays news conference, Udomchai said he was inspired to study the idea of decentralization of power because of advice from Mahathir, the 93-year-old leader of Malaysia who returned to power through a general election last May.

When a well-wisher who is the prime minister of our neighboring country gives advice, no one would refuse. We took his advice and Im studying it, Udomchai said.

In an interview with Thailands Nation newspaper last month, Mahathir addressed the people of the Deep South by saying, there should be an understanding that the southern part of Thailand is a part of Thailand. I dont think many countries are willing to give up any territory.

However, despite efforts to rekindle peace talks, violence has not stopped in the south.

Udomchai gave the press conference a day after gunmen in Pattani, one of the provinces of the Deep South, shot and killed four civil defense volunteers who were guarding a public school. On Friday, a 62-year-old imam of a mosque in Narathiwat, a neighboring province, was killed in a roadside shooting, according to police who had not identified a motive for the attack. The latest attack brought to seven the number of people killed in attacks in the Deep South since the start of 2019.

The Deep South borders Malaysia and encompasses Pattani, Narathiwat and Yala provinces as well as four districts in Songkhla province. Nearly 7,000 people have been killed in violence in the region since the insurgency flared up again in early 2004 after a long dormant period.

Matahari Ismail in Narathiwat, Thailand, contributed to this report.
A relative of a man killed during a Bangladesh anti-drug police action shows a picture of the mans body, May 26, 2018.

Up to 466 people died in extrajudicial killings in Bangladesh last year  more than twice the number recorded the previous year  amid a new government crackdown on narcotics and poll-time violence, a leading rights group said in its annual report.

The number of victims of extrajudicial killings who allegedly died in gunfights with law enforcers, crossfire incidents and while in police custody set a one-year record for deaths in that category kept by the group, Ain O Salish Kendra (ASK). It started logging statistics in 2013, according to figures in its report released this week.

In comparison to previous years, the rate of extra-judicial killings has increased, especially with the introduction of the anti-narcotics drive and subsequent incidents of crossfire, ASK executive director Sheepa Hafiza told reporters.

The year ended on a violent note as at least 16 people were killed in political violence across Bangladesh in the final 24 hours leading to the Dec. 30 vote that saw Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina elected to a record fourth term.

The Awami League retained power through a landslide victory marred by allegations of vote-rigging, violence and poll-related intimidation.

The group presented its annual report: Human Rights Situation in Bangladesh, 2018, to reporters in Dhaka on Thursday, spelling out how the country saw a huge increase in the number of extrajudicial deaths compared with the 162 reported in 2017.

More than half of the 2018 deaths  292  were linked to the governments anti-drug operation, which began on May 4 and ran the rest of the year, the group said.

Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal challenged ASKs findings on extrajudicial deaths.

We did not kill anyone without trial and there were no deaths in police custody. We did not arrest anyone improperly, he told BenarNews. Those who were arrested  we have specific allegations against them.

He also defended police efforts to eradicate drugs.

The government declared zero tolerance against drugs. But these drug dealers always carry weapons when they move. If they face any obstacle, they will shoot at law enforcers, Khan said.

Those who surrender to law enforcement agencies get the chance for fair trial. If they fire at police, the police will shoot back in self-defense, so the allegation of extra-judicial killing is not true.

Digital Security Act

Other issues of concern cited by ASK included violence against minorities and attacks on freedom of expression tied to the 2018 passage of the Digital Security Act.

The act allows police to arrest anyone without a warrant and seize computers, electronic devices or a whole computer system if they suspect online crimes could take place. It incorporates the British-era Official Secrets Act of 1923, which allows for journalists to face the charge of espionage if they reveal government documents.

It was used at the beginning of 2019 to hold Dhaka Tribune reporter Hedayat Hossain Mollah for three days of questioning in connection with his coverage of voting in the Khulna-1 constituency on Dec. 30.

Officials allege that he and another journalist reported false and fabricated information about an over count of the number of votes cast by about 22,000, compared with the number of voters registered in the constituency.
Neal McDonough has appeared in a number of popular movies and television series during his career. Among them are Band of Brothers, Flags of Our Fathers, Minority Report, Desperate Housewives and Justified. One would think that he would have no problem finding work. Hollywood, however, sees one big problem with McDonough. He is a committed Christian.

McDonough says his career has suffered due to him taking a stand for his beliefs. A refusal to do love scenes cost him a role on Scoundrels in 2010, and a refusal to cheat on his wife in order to do sex scenes with actress Virginia Madsen cost him over a million dollars. McDonough said that he was fired and labeled a religious zealot due to his beliefs.

I was surprised, and it was a horrible situation for me, McDonough said. After that, I couldnt get a job because everybody thought I was this religious zealot. I am very religious. I put God and family first, and me second. Thats what I live by. It was hard for a few years.

McDonough revealed that things became hard enough in California that he considered giving up on his acting dreams altogether and moving back to Cape Cod, Massachusetts. Then, he received the opportunity to appear in Band of Brothers.

I got a call from Steven Spielberg that he wanted to see me for Band of Brothers, and it was off to the races, McDonough said.

As much as he enjoys his work, McDonough has stated that he continues acting in part because he feels that he is called to do so. [Acting is] what Im supposed to do, he said. God gave me this talent of being an actor, and Im not going to waste it. Thats just who I am. I love working, and with five kids and a fantastic wife, I want to make sure Im taking care of everyone. Thats what my dad did, and thats what Im going to do.

McDonough is hardly the first person to speak out about the struggles Christians face in Hollywood, but McDonough is lucky that he has not been forced to choose between faith and career future. He is continuing to act and will be appearing in Kevin Costners series Yellowstone, six new movies and the History Channels new series Project Blue Book.

We want to know what you think.
Tantrum Number One of the Week: the hissy fit thrown by Sinn Fein representatives on Belfast City Council, who have objected to allowing cartoonist/artist Brian John Spencer to sketch the council in session, doesn't exactly paint these self-styled torch-bearers for inclusivity in a flattering light.

It's censorship, pure and simple.

And that's never a good look. Particularly for a party which is constantly preaching to the rest of us about freedom, rights, pluralism, respect, outreach and what have you.

Not only did the Sinn Fein members oppose a motion to permit the artist to sketch the council, but having lost the vote they're now saying huffily he can sketch away all he likes - but he won't be sketching them.

Sinn Fein and Spencer have history. Previously he has had the temerity to produce cartoons lampooning party hypocrisy. And where Sinn Fein is concerned, they can't be having that.

Most notably he offended them with a controversial depiction of Sinn Fein's blood-red lines.

But then, that's the job of a political cartoonist. To cast a critical, often scathing eye upon the political classes. To point up their foibles and follies. To poke fun at them. Occasionally even to show them up as a laughing stock.

On this count, the Sinn Fein group on the council have done the artist's work for him.

They're a sketch.

Take this from their council leader Ciaran Beattie: "The artist involved has been involved in some controversial cartoons - namely about our party ... The cartoonist will not have permission to draw me or, I'm sure, any of my colleagues."

Apparently, to ensure this they will boycott the council chamber while Mr Spencer is busy on his sketch pad.

SDLP councillor Donal Lyons is, not surprisingly, taken aback at this bizarre response.

"At best it's thin-skinned but more worrying is the message they're clearly sending to the creative community: that if an artist's personal beliefs don't fit, Sinn Fein will use their political positions to try and block them."

Sinn Fein's problem with Brian John Spencer isn't just that they don't like his "personal beliefs".

Their problem is also that he's very good at what he does. He's intelligent, articulate and a talented artist. Extremely active on social media, he's also influential.

What's not to dislike there for a party which is averse to even mild censure - and whose usual policy is to portray its critics as bigoted thickos?

In this instance they've lost sight of the big picture. But here's the striking thing. While yes, Sinn Fein have been making headlines over this daft row, unusually in recent times the party seems to have sidled out of the big picture almost entirely.

In the absence of the Stormont Assembly there's been no local forum in which to maintain their customary high political profile. And since they're also refusing to take their seats at Westminster, they're denied the sort of national exposure of which Arlene Foster and the DUP are currently availing.

Obviously it's not quite reached the stage of Sinn who? But for a party once seen as slickly successful in terms of self-promotion, it does seem a bit of a downturn.

Meanwhile, censoring artists just because you don't agree with them? That hardly projects a progressive image.

It just draws ridicule.

Why that Trump meeting was short ... and sweet

Tantrum Number Two of the Week: Donald Trump, having shut down Washington a la Stormont, has had a meeting with Democrat Party leaders where, according to his own (Twitter) account, he asked about funding for his wall and, having received a rebuff, "politely" left.

Those present on the Democrat side, however, tell a different story: "He slammed the table and walked out of the room. He had a temper tantrum."

Who to believe? My money wouldn't be on the petulant President currently holding 800,000 workers' pay packets to ransom all because he can't get the funding to build his Great Wall of Texas. But one thing both parties agree on: Trump is said to have "handed out candy". The Washington Post reports that this included M&Ms, Baby Ruths and Butterfingers. Whatever those last two are.

Sweeties aside, there are similarities with our own political impasse in that neither side emerges well from this standoff. And the longer it goes on, the longer it will go on...

Trump is not likely to draw back. That would be to lose face, and a narcissist like Donald (below) will always be loath to do that.

To the outside world he comes across as, frankly, unhinged. But half of Americans still seem to support him while the other half don't know how to deal with him. No wonder every bookshop you go into these days is laden with tomes analysing the US President and his strange ways.

Doubtless there will be a few more books about his War of the Wall.

Not to mention his unusual new negotiating strategy.

To borrow loosely from the title of a bestseller a few years back (about something else entirely), this can be summed up in a few words.

Eats sweets, and leaves.

This smuggler's one bad egg

A man who refers to himself as the "Pablo Escobar of the egg-smuggling trade" was jailed this week after he'd been arrested at Heathrow airport with 19 rare birds' eggs strapped to his body.

Jeffrey Lendrum claimed he'd brought the hawk, eagle and vulture eggs into the country as their natural habitat was being destroyed.

The prosecution contended, however, that his motivation was plain old greed.

When hatched, the chicks are worth up to 100,000. There's not just one type of vulture...

An Amazon-ly amicable split

Richest man in the universe Jeff Bezos, founder and CEO of Amazon, has announced on Twitter (as you do) that he and his wife MacKenzie are divorcing. It all seems very amicable. According to the posting, they will remain friends. Very rich friends. Bezos is worth around $140bn. The message is that even when the fairytale romance nosedives, you can still live happily every after. It also seems to infer there will be no messy legal battle. In which case, the only broken hearts will be the divorce lawyers'.
Rahaf Mohammed barricaded herself in a hotel room at an international airport in Bangkok, Thailand (Rahaf Mohammed Alqunun/Human Rights Watch via AP)

An 18-year-old Saudi woman who said she was abused by her family and feared for her life if deported back home has left Thailand for Canada, which has granted her asylum, officials said.

The fast-moving developments capped an eventful week for Rahaf Mohammed Alqunun, who fled her family while visiting Kuwait and flew to Bangkok.

She barricaded herself in an airport hotel to avoid deportation and grabbed global attention by mounting a social media campaign for asylum.

Ms Alqunun is now flying to Toronto via Seoul, South Korea, according to Thai immigration Police Chief Surachate Hakparn.

Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau confirmed his country had granted her asylum.

That is something that we are pleased to do because Canada is a country that understands how important it is to stand up for human rights and to stand up for womans rights around the world and I can confirm that we have accepted the UNs request, Mr Trudeau said.

Expand Close Rahaf Mohammed Alqunun in Bangkok, Thailand (Sakchai Lalit/AP) AP/PA Images / Facebook

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Whatsapp Rahaf Mohammed Alqunun in Bangkok, Thailand (Sakchai Lalit/AP)

Several other countries, including Australia, had been in talks with the UNs refugee agency to accept Ms Alqunun, Mr Surachate said earlier in the day.

She chose Canada. Its her personal decision, he said.

Canadas ambassador had seen her off at the airport, Mr Surachate said, adding that she looked happy and healthy.

She thanked everyone for helping her, he said, and added that the first thing she would do upon arrival in Canada would be to start learning the language.

She already speaks more than passable English, in addition to Arabic.

The office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees welcomed Canadas decision.

I want to thank apersonally the Governments of Thailand and Canada, a@JustinTrudeaua and @HonAhmedHussena for working together to give Rahaf the life that she deserves. https://t.co/9AWzcvFbBs  Filippo Grandi (@FilippoGrandi) January 11, 2019

The quick actions over the past week of the government of Thailand in providing temporary refuge and facilitating refugee status determination by UNHCR, and of the government of Canada in offering emergency resettlement to Ms Alqunun and arranging her travel were key to the successful resolution of this case, the agency said in a statement.

It was not immediately clear what prompted Ms Alqunon to choose Canada over Australia.

Australian media reported that UNHCR (United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees) had withdrawn its referral for Ms Alqunon to be resettled in Australia because Canberra was taking too long to decide on her asylum.

UNHCR officials were not immediately available for comment.

Australias education minister Dan Tehan said on Saturday that Australia had moved quickly to process her case but Canada decided to take her in.

He added that, ultimately, the outcome was a good one. Shes going to be safe, he said.

Good luck, #Rahaf!



Saudi teenager granted asylum in Canada, Justin Trudeau confirms https://t.co/zUepSTPliq pic.twitter.com/0DdmGvRzE3  Human Rights Watch (@hrw) January 11, 2019

Phil Robertson, deputy Asia director of Human Rights Watch, cited Ms Alqununs courage and perseverance.

This is so much a victory for everyone who cares about respecting and promoting womens rights, valuing the independence of youth to forge their own way, and demanding governments operate in the light and not darkness, he said in a statement.

Ms Alqunun was stopped on January 5 at Bangkoks Suvarnabhumi Airport by immigration police who denied her entry and seized her passport.

She barricaded herself in an airport hotel room and took her plight on to social media. It got enough public and diplomatic support that Thai officials admitted her temporarily under the protection of UN officials, who granted her refugee status Wednesday.

Ms Alqununs father arrived in Bangkok on Tuesday, but his daughter refused to meet with him.

Mr Surachate said the father  whose name has not been released  denied physically abusing Ms Alqunun or trying to force her into an arranged marriage, which were among the reasons she gave for her flight.

He said Ms Alqununs father wanted his daughter back but respected her decision.
An 18-year-old Saudi runaway who said she feared death if deported back home has arrived in Canada arm-in-arm with the countrys foreign minister.

Rahaf Mohammed Alqunun smiled broadly as she exited an arrival door at Torontos airport sporting a Canada hoodie.

Her arrival capped a dramatic week that saw her flee her family while visiting Kuwait before flying to Bangkok, where she barricaded herself in an airport hotel to avoid deportation.

The case grabbed global attention after she mounted a social media campaign for asylum.

Expand Close Rahaf Mohammed Alqunun, 18, stands with Canadian Minister of Foreign Affairs Chrystia Freeland, right, at the airport (Chris Young/The Canadian Press via AP) AP/PA Images / Facebook

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Whatsapp Rahaf Mohammed Alqunun, 18, stands with Canadian Minister of Foreign Affairs Chrystia Freeland, right, at the airport (Chris Young/The Canadian Press via AP)

This a very brave new Canadian, said Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced on Friday that Canada would accept Ms Alqunun as a refugee in a case that has highlighted the cause of womens rights in Saudi Arabia, where several women fleeing abuse by their families have been caught trying to seek asylum abroad and returned home.

Human rights activists say many similar cases go unreported.

She had a very long and tiring journey so she would prefer not to take questions today, said Ms Freeland.

Ms Alqunun earlier tweeted two pictures from her plane seat  one with what appears to be a glass of wine and her passport and another holding her passport while on the plane with the hashtag I did it and the emojis showing plane, hearts and wine glass.

Canadas decision to grant her asylum could further upset the countrys relations with Saudi Arabia.

In August, Saudi Arabia expelled Canadas ambassador to the kingdom and withdrew its own ambassador after Canadas Foreign Ministry tweeted support for womens right activists who had been arrested. The Saudis also sold Canadian investments and ordered their citizens studying in Canada to leave.

No country, including the US, spoke out publicly in support of Canada in that spat with the Saudis.

On Friday, Mr Trudeau avoided answering a question about what the case would mean for relations with the kingdom, but he said Canada is pleased to give her asylum because Canada is a country that understands how important it is to stand up for human rights.

The office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees welcomed Canadas decision.

Expand Close Rahaf Mohammed Alqunun left Thailand for a long flight to Canada (Sakchai Lalit/AP) AP/PA Images / Facebook

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Whatsapp Rahaf Mohammed Alqunun left Thailand for a long flight to Canada (Sakchai Lalit/AP)

The quick actions over the past week of the government of Thailand in providing temporary refuge and facilitating refugee status determination by UNHCR, and of the government of Canada in offering emergency resettlement to Ms Alqunun and arranging her travel were key to the successful resolution of this case, the agency said.

Several other countries, including Australia, had been in talks with the UNs refugee agency to accept Ms Alqunun.

She chose Canada. Its her personal decision, he said.

It was not immediately clear what prompted Ms Alqunun to choose Canada over Australia. Australian media reported that the UNHCR had withdrawn its referral for Ms Alqunon to be resettled in Australia because Canberra was taking too long to decide on her asylum.

When referring cases with specific vulnerabilities who need immediate resettlement, we attach great importance to the speed at which countries consider and process cases, a UNHCR spokesman said.

Ms Alqunun was on stopped January 5 at Bangkoks Suvarnabhumi Airport by immigration police who denied her entry and seized her passport.

She barricaded herself in an airport hotel room and took her plight onto social media. It got enough public and diplomatic support that Thai officials admitted her temporarily under the protection of UN officials, who granted her refugee status on Wednesday.
Members of the EIS will be balloted over taking taking strike action (Andrew Milligan/PA)

One of Scotlands largest teaching unions has given its approval to open a statutory strike ballot over pay.

EIS will issue a formal notice of the planned ballot to local authority employers next week, with ballot papers to be issued later this month.

The approval from the EIS Council was given at a specially convened meeting on Saturday.

Unions claim teachers pay has fallen 20% in real terms in the past decade, and say that a significant increase is needed to show teachers they are valued and to help boost staff recruitment and retention.

Earlier this week, the union rejected the latest pay offer from the Scottish Government and council umbrella body Cosla.

Education Secretary John Swinney said that the offer was a better deal than for any group of public sector workers in the UK.

Teachers patience is now exhaustedLarry Flanagan, EIS general secretary

EIS general secretary Larry Flanagan said: EIS Council has today approved the opening of a statutory strike ballot over pay.

We have been negotiating for a year, on a pay claim that was due to be settled last April. Teachers patience is now exhausted.

Our preference has always been to agree a fair deal through negotiation, but we have been very clear, also, that we are prepared to take strike action should this be necessary to achieve an acceptable settlement.

Ballot papers will be issued later this month. Clearly, once the actual ballot is under way, negotiations are suspended but prior to that we remain prepared to consider any improved pay offer. No offer has been forthcoming from our local authority employers, however.

Teachers have demonstrated time and time again their support for our Value Education Value Teachers campaign, which is about more than just pay. Im confident that will continue to be the case.

Mr Swinney said: In light of concerns raised about the position of the significant number of teachers already at the top of the main grade pay scale, the Scottish Government is prepared to improve its offer around main grade restructuring and revaluation of all other SNCT pay scales.

The Scottish Government will provide the extra funding, which is in addition to the local government settlement.

Under this scenario, teachers would receive a minimum 9% increase between January 2018 and April 2019 and a further 3% rise in April 2020.

This is a clear indication of our commitment to recruit and retain teachers, and I urge the teaching unions to consider this favourably so that parties can bring discussions to a conclusion.

I made this proposal to the EIS on Thursday. It is an enhanced offer and I will ask Cosla to agree this and to formally offer it to unions after January 25. I believe this must be put to teachers for their consideration.

I welcome the agreement by EIS to allow further time to reach an agreement. Industrial action is in no-ones interests, not least our children and young people. That has been my focus and will continue to be until this is resolved.

Scottish Greens education spokesman Ross Greer MSP said: Teachers are overworked, under-resourced and have suffered a 20% real terms pay cut.

They will continue to have Green support in their campaign for fair pay.
The Kremlin has warned that it reserves the right to adequate retaliatory actions if it deems post-Brexit British Army bases mooted by the Defence Secretary pose a threat to Russia or its allies.

Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said suggestions that the UK might build new military facilities around the world were destabilising and provocative.

Gavin Williamson caused a stir in December when he suggested Britain could establish new military bases in the Caribbean and Far East as part of a bid to become a true global player after the UK leaves the EU.

The Defence Secretary said that the 1960s policy of withdrawal from regions east of Suez had been ripped up as the UK takes the opportunity to recast its role on the global stage.

Russia vows adequate response to any threat from UKas new military baseshttps://t.co/mp2aOhOwwO

A AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda pic.twitter.com/b3NuWc3ZJ7  TASS (@tassagency_en) January 11, 2019

In comments reported by the Kremlin-backed Tass news agency, Ms Zakharova said Mr Williamsons suggestion was bewildering.

Amid the mounting military and political tension in the world in general and the efforts being taken by the responsible members of the international community for peacefully resolving crisis situations, the statements on the intention to build up military presence in third countries are of counter-productive, destabilising and frequently provocative nature, she said.

Naturally, if any measures that create a threat to the security of Russia and its allies are implemented, our country reserves the right to adequate retaliatory actions.

The Kremlins warning comes after relations between the UK and Russia sank to among their lowest levels since the Cold War following the Salisbury nerve agent attack.

In November, Nato members carried out a huge military exercise in Norway to simulate an attack on an ally.

However, concerns have been raised over what effect Brexit may have in terms of the UKs future security relationship with its European neighbours and Britains standing on the world stage.

Speaking to the Sunday Telegraph in late December, Mr Williamson said Britons should be much more optimistic about our future as we exit the European Union.

He said: 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.

For so long  literally for decades  so much of our national view point has actually been coloured by a discussion about the European Union.

This is our moment to be that true global player once more  and I think the armed forces play a really important role as part of that.
Officers have appealed to a member of the public believed to have been flying a drone at Balmedie Beach in their search for a missing man.

Alastair Done, a 25-year-old from Cheshire, was last seen at the beach on January 5.

According to information provided to the police by the public, officers believe that Mr Done was still in the area at around 3pm.

Police have now issued an appeal for a man who was flying a drone on the beach that afternoon to contact them, as they believe he may have information.

Detective Inspector Sam Buchan said: I would urge the person flying this drone to get in touch as soon as possible  you may have captured footage of Alastair but not realised and it may be crucial to our enquiries.

Thank you once again to the public for your assistance and information so far, and to Aberdeen Coastguard which has been assisting with searches.
Leaving the European Union without a deal is the only way Britain can fully take back control of its borders, a former Tory leader has claimed.

Brexiteer Iain Duncan Smith said the UK would be able to start enjoying the benefits of Brexit from March 29 under a no-deal exit, rather than being left in Brexit in Name Only purgatory under the Prime Ministers deal.

He described Theresa Mays withdrawal agreement  which is due to be voted on by MPs on Tuesday  as flawed, and instead proffered the benefits of leaving under World Trade Organisation terms.

The greatest benefit of leaving under No Deal is that our country can start to enjoy the benefits of Brexit from March 29thIain Duncan Smith

Mr Duncan Smith said: Only by leaving the EU on WTO terms can the UK fully take back control of its borders and deal with these issues. In taking back control of our migration policy we are also giving notice to industry that we will have to invest and train to a far greater degree than they have for some time.

The greatest benefit of leaving under No Deal is that our country can start to enjoy the benefits of Brexit from March 29th 2019, rather than being left in the BRINO (Brexit In Name Only) purgatory of Mrs Mays deal. The British people have already waited for almost three years  they should not have to wait any longer.

His intervention came in a report published by Economists for Free Trade, in which fellow Tory Eurosceptic Jacob Rees-Mogg also said there was nothing to fear from leaving the EU without a deal.

Mr Rees-Mogg, the chairman of the European Research Group of Conservative MPs, claimed that while it would be better to leave with a deal, the advantages of Brexit would come through sooner without an agreement.

He said: In addition to goods continuing to flow, under a No-Deal departure, the British taxpayer would save 39 billion, money which could be used to cut taxes, to help our domestic economy and leave plenty to help any exporters who face particularly high tariffs.

The advantages of Brexit would come through sooner with trade barriers going down in 2019 instead of 2021 which could see the cost of food, clothing and footwear fall sharply if the Government followed sensible policies. This particularly helps the least well off in society.

Tory former Cabinet minister Owen Paterson, in the same report, suggested the real reason for the Establishment hysteria surrounding a no-deal exit is that we actually would be leaving.

The other options now being floated  extending Article 50, a second referendum, or the subjugation demanded by the Withdrawal Agreement  are designed to hold the UK in the EUs orbit in the hope that it may be sucked back in, he said.

These options would completely fail to honour the biggest democratic verdict ever delivered in British history, he said.

The optimal Brexit outcome remains a wide-ranging, zero-tariff free trade agreement as offered repeatedly by President Tusk. Such a deal can still be negotiated, but not by the end of March.

Having wasted so much time on the Withdrawal Agreement, leaving on WTO terms is now the only way to break free fully and build a more prosperous, independent future.
A Cabinet minister has been accused of engaging in gutter politics after he warned that blocking Brexit could open the door to extremist populist political forces in the UK.

Chris Grayling said putting a stop to Britains withdrawal from the EU may end centuries of moderate politics the UK has enjoyed since the English Civil War as he urged his Conservative colleagues to back Theresa Mays Brexit deal.

The Transport Secretary, who campaigned to Leave the European Union, said the millions who voted for Brexit would feel cheated if the UK did not quit the bloc.

Days before the critical Commons vote, Mr Grayling told the Daily Mail: People have to think long and hard about how they are going to vote. This is too important for political game-playing and I urge Conservative MPs who back Brexit and others to back the deal.

If not, we risk a break with the British tradition of moderate, mainstream politics that goes back to the Restoration in 1660.

MPs need to remember that Britain, its people and its traditions are the mother of Parliaments. We ignore that and the will of the people at our peril.

He said there would be a different tone in British politics if Britain failed to leave the EU and predicted a less tolerant society and a more nationalistic nation.

It will open the door to extremist populist political forces in this country of the kind we see in other countries in Europe, Mr Grayling told the paper.

If MPs who represent seats that voted 70% to leave say sorry guys, were still going to have freedom of movement, they will turn against the political mainstream.

His comments were condemned by pro-EU Tory former minister Anna Soubry and Labour former minister David Lammy.

Ms Soubry, who was branded a Nazi and a liar by a mob who targeted her during live television interviews outside Parliament on Monday, described Mr Graylings comments as irresponsible nonsense.

She tweeted: The 15 yobs who have been roaming outside Parliament do not represent anyone but themselves. Its shameful to validate them in this way. Right-wing extremists have always existed #Brexit is just an excuse  this is their real agenda.

Mr Lammy said: This is a desperate attempt by a Government minister to use a tiny far-right minority to hold our democracy to ransom. It is gutter politics.

History shows us appeasement only emboldens the far right and impoverishing the country through Brexit will only increase resentment.

To heal our nation, we need to provide a positive narrative that actually addresses the inequalities that have been allowed to ferment over recent years, rather than follow through with bogus solution that worsens them.

Liberal Democrat Brexit spokesman Tom Brake said: Chris Grayling has lost the plot. This kind of scaremongering is not only dangerous, but it is embarrassing.

Mr Graylings comments came after Northern Ireland Secretary Karen Bradley warned a no-deal exit would create a feeling of unrest.

Irresponsible nonsense. The 15 yobs who have been roaming outside Parliament do not represent anyone but themselves. Itas shameful to validate them in this way. Right wing extremists have always existed #Brexit is just an excuse - this is their real agenda pic.twitter.com/bGZILu7NuZ  Anna Soubry (@Anna_Soubry) January 12, 2019

She told BBC News NI: I have been clear that I believe no deal is bad for the United Kingdom, its bad for the whole United Kingdom because it does put in jeopardy some of those constitutional arrangements.

Im sure it will create feeling of unrest with people in all parts of the United Kingdom who didnt want to see us leave the European Union.

It comes amid reports that some Cabinet ministers believe Mrs May has run out of time to get crucial exit legislation through Parliament before March 29  even if she wins the critical vote next week.

Meanwhile, two of the biggest donors to the Leave campaign said they believed Brexit would eventually be abandoned by the Government and that the UK would stay in the EU.

I just cant see how it happens with that configuration of ParliamentBusinessman Peter Hargreaves on Brexit

Billionaire businessman Peter Hargreaves, who pumped more than 3 million into the exit campaign, told Reuters: I have totally given up. I am totally in despair, I dont think Brexit will happen at all.

Hedge fund manager Crispin Odey, who donated more than 870,000 to pro-Leave groups, said: My view is that it aint going to happen. I just cant see how it happens with that configuration of Parliament.

They attributed a lack of direction from Brexiteers as one of the reasons for their pessimism.
Blocking Brexit could open the door to extremist populist political forces in the UK, and the millions who voted to Leave the European Union would feel cheated, a Cabinet minister has warned.

Chris Grayling said putting a stop to Britains withdrawal from the EU could end centuries of moderate politics the UK has enjoyed since the English Civil War, as he urged his Conservative colleagues to back Theresa Mays Brexit deal.

Just days before the critical Commons vote, the Transport Secretary told the Daily Mail: People have to think long and hard about how they are going to vote. This is too important for political game-playing and I urge Conservative MPs who back Brexit and others to back the deal.

If not, we risk a break with the British tradition of moderate, mainstream politics that goes back to the Restoration in 1660.

MPs need to remember that Britain, its people and its traditions are the mother of Parliaments. We ignore that and the will of the people at our peril.

He said there would be a different tone in British politics if Britain failed to leave the EU, and predicted a less tolerant society and a more nationalistic nation.

It will open the door to extremist populist political forces in this country of the kind we see in other countries in Europe, Mr Grayling told the paper.

If MPs who represent seats that voted 70% to leave say sorry guys, were still going to have freedom of movement, they will turn against the political mainstream.

His comments came after Northern Ireland Secretary Karen Bradley warned a no-deal exit would create a feeling of unrest.

She told BBC News NI: I have been clear that I believe no deal is bad for the United Kingdom, its bad for the whole United Kingdom because it does put in jeopardy some of those constitutional arrangements.

Im sure it will create feeling of unrest with people in all parts of the United Kingdom who didnt want to see us leave the European Union.

It comes amid reports that some Cabinet ministers believe Mrs May has run out of time to get crucial exit legislation through Parliament before March 29  even if she wins the critical vote next week.

Meanwhile, two of the biggest donors to the Leave campaign said they believed Brexit would eventually be abandoned by the Government and that the UK would stay in the EU.

I just cant see how it happens with that configuration of ParliamentBusinessman Peter Hargreaves on Brexit

Billionaire businessman Peter Hargreaves, who pumped more than 3 million into the exit campaign, told Reuters: I have totally given up. I am totally in despair, I dont think Brexit will happen at all.

And hedge fund manager Crispin Odey, who donated more than 870,000 to pro-Leave groups, said: My view is that it aint going to happen. I just cant see how it happens with that configuration of Parliament.

They attributed a lack of direction from Brexiteers as one of the reasons for their pessimism.

Elsewhere, Work and Pensions Secretary Amber Rudd highlighted Cabinet divisions by suggesting it was wrong to criticise Commons Speaker John Bercow over his controversial decision to allow MPs a vote on an amendment to the timetable of the Brexit deal.

She told BBC Twos Newsnight: Im less inclined to blame the speaker. I think that what we are seeing is the house asserting itself in the face of its concerns about no deal. Im not really surprised about that.

A majority of MPs are likely to come forward and say they want to stop no deal. I understand that. The real difficultyis there doesnt seem to be a coalescence around an alternative. The only deal we have is the withdrawal agreement.
Chris and Niamh Behan take part in the annual Kiss a Ginger day at Phoenix Park in Dublin (Niall Carson/PA)

The founder of Kiss a Ginger Day has hailed the events role in beating the bullies as it marked its 10th birthday.

Derek Forgie joined other red heads in Dublin on Saturday afternoon to again rejoice in the hair colour they all share.

Canadian Mr Forgie organised the first Kiss a Ginger Day in 2009 in response to the emergence of Kick a Ginger Day  a fictional event in the US satirical cartoon South Park which was subsequently linked to a spate of school bullying incidents targeting red-headed children.

Expand Close Four-year-old twins Ollie, left, and Oisin Kiernan enjoyed an ice cream together on Kiss a Ginger Day (Niall Carson/PA) PA Wire/PA Images / Facebook

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Whatsapp Four-year-old twins Ollie, left, and Oisin Kiernan enjoyed an ice cream together on Kiss a Ginger Day (Niall Carson/PA)

Young and old gathered in Dublins Phoenix Park for the events landmark anniversary.

Fellow gingers posed for selfies, swapped hairdressing tips and joked about their need for sun cream on a biting cold Irish winter day.

There was an international flavour to the celebration, with attendees from as far afield as the USA and Poland.

Expand Close Red heads travelled from across the world to take part in the event (Niall Carson/PA) PA Wire/PA Images / Facebook

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Whatsapp Red heads travelled from across the world to take part in the event (Niall Carson/PA)

Ginger dreadlocks were on show, as were long red beards.

In keeping with the name of the day, there were also a few kisses shared.

There was even a quiz on red head trivia, with the winners receiving ginger nuts, oranges and jars of ginger spice.

Expand Close Katie, left, Grace and Ellie, right, Bermingham and their brother William won some Ginger Nuts (Niall Carson/PA) PA Wire/PA Images / Facebook

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Whatsapp Katie, left, Grace and Ellie, right, Bermingham and their brother William won some Ginger Nuts (Niall Carson/PA)

Mr Forgie said the impact of the event had been overwhelmingly positive in the last decade.

As you may remember there was a Kick a Ginger Day from about 10 years ago and my hope was to just change a couple of words and spin it in a positive way and hopefully it would take off and be more famous than the negative one, and it has seemed to work out.

Here we are 10 years later and it still draws a crowd.

Its a push back against some of the bullying we have seen and some of the marginalisation we have seen and I think some people really resonate with something thats positive.

Expand Close Catherine, left, Denise and Chlie, right, Steward travelled to the event from Mallow (Niall Carson/PA) PA Wire/PA Images / Facebook

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Whatsapp Catherine, left, Denise and Chlie, right, Steward travelled to the event from Mallow (Niall Carson/PA)

Proud ginger Denise Steward travelled from Mallow in Co Cork with her two red-headed daughters.

We decided we would have some fun and come on up and see some other gingers, said Ms Steward, who is originally from America.

Its a big part of our life so we just thought wed come up and check it out and have some craic.
Boris Johnson has claimed that "project fear" is being used to keep the UK in the customs union and "make a nonsense" of Brexit.

The former foreign secretary said he believed there was time to resolve the Irish border issue, which he described as "temporary gloom".

Speaking at the Pendulum business and self-empowerment summit in Dublin yesterday, the Tory MP said the UK and the Republic of Ireland "should be bold and brave together" in tackling the border problem.

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"Whatever you may think about what people voted for, at present the arguments - the whole project fear stuff - is being used to keep the UK in the customs union, in the single market and therefore really to make a nonsense of leaving the EU," he said.

"We are told we can't do a deal with our friends over the Channel. If we can't do a deal with our friends across the Channel, there is a real risk of a hard border in Northern Ireland."

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He also joked there was a suggested risk the UK would run out of drinking water and "two crucial ingredients for Mars Bars - sucrose and whey, apparently.

"It's not the job of politicians to go around moaning of potential shortages of Mars Bars. It's our job to meet those challenges and to mobilise people and to lead.

"It's not the job of the British Government to continually tell the people they can't do something. It's our job to tell them they can do it."

The former Cabinet minister stressed no one would accept a hard border between the Republic and Northern Ireland.

He said: "No one is going to accept it, no one is going to implement it and we shouldn't, simply because of these apprehensions, abandon the attempt to find the technical solutions that are readily available - according to the HMRC, according to the Irish authorities - without even trying.

"If there is, as we are told, a tiny risk of a shortage of whey for Mars Bars, I say let's sort it out. Where there is a will, there is a way.

"I would have thought, faced with what is a logistical, bureaucratic and technical problem, our two great countries should be bold and brave together and self-confident about our shared future because we are so alike in so many important ways.

"No matter what nonsense the prophets of doom may talk about the risks of new sanitary checks on livestock or hold-up on the border in the event of Brexit, I know that together we can organise it in the interests of our business.

"We have time to do it and we have time to get this right.

"I think if we can get it right together over the next few months, as I am absolutely sure we can, that the pendulum will swing again, as it always does, away from this temporary gloom and towards a new spirit of Anglo-Irish optimism and self-confidence.

"When it does it will be the entrepreneurs, yourselves included, that we will have to thank."
The incident occurred in the Temple Bar area. (Brian Lawless/PA)

A man was taken to hospital after being assaulted in the Temple Bar area of Dublin in the early hours of Monday January 7.

Gardai have appealed for witnesses following reports of an alleged assault on a man in his 30s in the Fleet Street/Temple Bar area.

The man was treated for injuries to his face and head at St James' Hospital and has since been released.

Anyone with information contact Pearse Street Garda Station on 01 6669000.
Patients in Northern Ireland face a decade of misery while health professionals struggle to keep the NHS running, it has been warned.

Doctors' leaders have said urgent action is essential to protect the future of the health service and ensure the safety of patients here.

The warning comes after an official study of the medical workforce revealed that of 1,908 specialist doctor posts locally, 110 are currently vacant.

The Medical School Places Review, commissioned by the Department of Health, said that 2,488 senior doctors will be required to work in our hospitals by 2026.

This means an extra 580 doctors will have to be found to take up specialist posts in the next seven years.

The report also referred to the shortage of GPs, and has made a series of recommendations on the best way to address the medical workforce crisis.

Key proposals include moving ahead with the proposed medical school in Londonderry and increasing the number of training posts.

However, it warned that it could be at least a decade before this results in additional GPs, and 18 years before specialties such as surgery benefit.

Dr Tom Black, chair of the British Medical Association's (BMA) Northern Ireland Council, said: "It's going to be so incredibly difficult over the next 10 years.

"It's very clear we have the longest waiting lists for outpatient and routine surgery that we've ever had.

"We have waiting lists so long they may as well not exist.

"If you're waiting more than eight years for a hip or a knee replacement, that's worse than an absent service.

"We also have very long waits for GP appointments, we have rota gaps within hospitals and within GP practices.

"We're already struggling to meet the needs of patients in the west and south and things are only going to get worse if we don't act to address what is happening.

"Staff are really struggling at the moment to meet the demands and a very hostile environment is developing within the service.

"It's no surprise that emergency medicine and general practice are experiencing the biggest problems because both are the first stop for patients, they protect the rest of the NHS.

"For example, in general practice we're seeing more and more areas where there are more than 3,000 patients per GP, and that simply isn't sustainable."

Dr Ian Crawford, vice president of the Royal College of Emergency Medicine (NI), said: "The reality is that there is an urgent requirement to grow, support and develop not just the emergency medicine medical workforce, but the wider emergency medicine clinical workforce in Northern Ireland." The report has been published against a backdrop of an emerging workforce crisis in the NHS.

The Royal College of Nursing has warned that patient safety is being compromised amid a shortage of more than 1,800 nurses in hospitals alone.

Meanwhile, the doctor shortage has resulted in the closure of GP surgeries and has also contributed to spiralling hospital waiting lists and thousands of patients spending countless hours on trolleys in emergency departments.

Responding to the report, the Department of Health said implementing the proposals would cost 30m a year - money which would have to be diverted from funding other services. In addition, the proposed medical school would require approval by a Health Minister.

However, the Royal College of GPs (RCGP) said the report highlighted the "stark realities" facing patients and doctors every day and called for health officials to act urgently.

RCGP NI chair Dr Grainne Doran said: "The Department of Health's response to the review of medical school places once again highlights how the political stalemate continues to thwart some of the essential elements of healthcare transformation and it is clear that more must be done to prepare for the future and support the current struggling workforce.

"Last year the HSC Workforce Strategy was published and the recommendations from today's report mainly lie within its remit.

"To date, there has been minimal transparency around the development of any action plans for taking this strategy forward and we call on the department to urgently put plans in place to address the serious challenges we are facing."
Sinn Fein President Mary Lou McDonald has proclaimed that "the orange state is gone and it's not coming back" at an event to mark the anniversary of the First Dail in Dublin.

Mrs McDonald and party representatives met in Mansion House to celebrate 100 years since the meeting of the First Dail at the venue on January 21 1919.

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The Sinn Fein leader also said that Brexit and world politics were driving events "towards the logic of Irish unity".

She used the 100th anniversary event to reaffirm her party's commitment to working for a united Ireland and set their sights on government in both Northern Ireland and the Republic.

Mrs McDonald said the Good Friday Agreement had guaranteed a "a historic opportunity to build a United Ireland by peaceful, democratic means".

"Let us build a genuine people's campaign for a United Ireland based on progressive demands for a better and fairer society for all," she said.

"We have an opportunity during this time of political, constitutional and social transition to fix the broken, two-state system and eradicate the social and economic ills that it has created.

"With the support of the people we have ensured that the Orange State is gone and it's not coming back."

The Sinn Fein President said her party would pursue "vigorously the democratic imperative of a United Ireland".

She told the event that the "final chapter in Irish Unity" was approaching.

"Our focus now is on building Sinn Fein to be the biggest party on this island, acting as the major catalyst for political, economic and social progress and with the ability to lead a radical Republican government," Mrs McDonald said.

"And let me be very clear here today that the Sinn Fein leadership of 2019 is as determined to achieve the objectives of the First Dail as those who gathered in this place one hundred years ago.

"We must dare to win, we must plan to win and we must act to win. And let me tell you we will win. We will have a new and united Ireland.

"We will return to this place and we will remember all those who came before and we will celebrate an Irish Republic of equal citizens."
When GP Deirdre O'Flaherty's BMW was found in the car park of an isolated Donegal beach 10 years ago, it sparked a massive air and sea search that lasted three weeks.

No trace was found of the 46-year-old, who had been staying at Kinnego Bay with her husband Ken and their children Johnny, who was 16; Thomas, then 15; and Natalie, who was just seven at the time.

After several days, the case dropped out of the headlines. Time moved on.

Now, a decade later, her disappearance has suddenly come back into the spotlight.

On Tuesday, searches began around 60 miles away, near Rathmullan, a small seaside village on the Fanad Peninsula in Co Donegal, ending yesterday with nothing further being found.

The operation is said to have been prompted by a letter with information about the possibility of skeletal remains.

Dr O'Flaherty's disappearance was long seen as a tragic incident.

It was said that Belfast-born Dr O'Flaherty, who worked as an out-of-hours doctor in Strabane, Co Tyrone, had a history of depression. On the day she vanished she reportedly left several notes for her family.

Malin Head Coast Guard Marine Rescue, the RNLI Lough Swilly all-weather lifeboat and Greencastle Coast Guard spent three weeks after the discovery of her car searching the area, with divers combing cliffs along the bay.

The searches were stood down at the end of January 2009 and the mother's body was never recovered.

At the time, Dr O'Flaherty's younger brother Aidan described his sister as a "high-spirited character in many ways" who "was fiercely proud of the home and family she and Ken had created". He said her death left her heartbroken family with many "unanswered questions".

Gardai moved to rule out speculation that Dr O'Flaherty had been spotted in Spain and America.

Speaking at the time, Moville Garda Superintendent William Johnston said the rumours had "absolutely no foundation" and that the investigation was ongoing.

On the first anniversary of her disappearance, Supt Johnston said the area where Dr O'Flaherty's car had been found was an "unusual stretch of water".

"We know that, sometimes, people who have gone in there have been washed up," he said.

"It is concerning that there has been no sign of her. That is as far as we can go unless something else comes up. All we can do at this time is keep the file open."

Three years after she vanished, a High Court in Belfast used new legislation for the first time in Northern Ireland to rule that Dr O'Flaherty had died.

The Presumption of Death Act 2009 was introduced to speed up the process by which a missing person can be declared dead. The judge declared that she had entered the sea on January 11, 2009 and subsequently drowned.

Earlier this week, as her family prepared to mark the 10th anniversary of her death, gardai announced they were searching for her body 60 miles away from where her car was discovered at Kinnego Bay.

The land search and excavation, centred on the site of a wind farm close to Rathmullan in Co Donegal, was carried out by members of the Donegal Divisional Search Team and Garda Technical Bureau, along with private contractors.

The fresh searches were said to have been sparked by a letter sent to gardai citing fresh information on the case. Gardai said yesterday that it had concluded, adding: "Nothing that furthers the search for Deirdre was located during the search."

In the years after her death her siblings held a charity run to raise funds for the teams who searched tirelessly for their much-loved sister. The monies raised went to Greencastle Coast Guard, Inishowen Sub Aqua Club and Portrush Lifeboat. This week there has been a sense of shock and disbelief in Strabane as news filtered through about the fresh searches for the popular doctor.

The story was prominent in the local newspaper and the talk of many in the main street.

But one Strabane councillor warned people to be mindful of speculation and the fact that there was a grieving family at the heart of the tragedy.

Independent councillor Paul Gallagher said: "There is a sense of shock and of mystery at the news of the new searches after 10 years.

"People don't know what is going on, they are completely in the dark. People do what people will do and that is speculate, and that is not helpful.

"There is a family at the heart of this."
The Ulster Unionist leader has urged the Government to delay triggering Brexit.

Robin Swann MLA said without a deal in place it was now "reckless" to stick to the March 29 deadline to trigger Article 50.

"The Ulster Unionist Party is clear that leaving the European Union without a deal would be disastrous for Northern Ireland," he said.

"As speculation builds that the UK Government is considering an extension of Article 50, I would again appeal to the Prime Minister to move on this sooner rather than later.

"The UK risks its position being weakened by its own timeframes.

"These are decisions that will shape our future for generations to come, and so the coming weeks should not be approached recklessly."

Prime Minister Theresa May is set to put her Brexit deal before parliament again on Tuesday, despite more expectations of a heavy defeat.

Mr Swann added: "It is important that any opportunity to improve the Withdrawal Agreement is maximised and I believe that extending Article 50 provides the opportunity to prevent us being forced into either entering into a bad deal or leaving with no deal."

The foreign secretary Jeremy Hunt warned yesterday that rejecting Theresa May's deal on Tuesday would lead to a "Brexit paralysis".

Rebel Conservative MP Dominic Grieve, a former attorney general, passed an amendment that would require Mrs May to publish a plan on the way forward within three days if her deal is defeated.

The Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, meanwhile, has called for a general election at the earliest opportunity to "break the deadlock" over Brexit.

He said a government with a fresh mandate would have a greater chance of securing a withdrawal deal with the EU.
Police have discovered an "arsenal" of replica weapons after arresting a man following reports of someone with a machine gun in north Belfast on Saturday morning.

The man was spotted in the Whitewell Road area around 7am.

He was arrested on suspicion of Possession of a Firearm with Intent to cause Fear of Violence, Possession of Firearms in Suspicious Circumstances and Discharging a Firearm in a Public Place.

Asubsequent search of his home uncovered an arsenal of replica firearms.

"Due to the quick response and professionalism of the Armed Response Unit, a male was detained without incident or injury," a PSNI spokesperson said.

"Please be mindful that these guns look like the real deal to both members of the public and Police Officers alike. They can cause injury and certainly put people in fear- ownership is a privilege, not a right."
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.




Police have arrested a "young driver" after catching them driving at 98mph on the M1 motorway.

They clocked the 'R' driver going 53mph over the speed limit.

The maximum speed for an 'R' driver in Northern Ireland is 45mph.

"This young driver will have to explain their actions to the local magistrate in the near future," the PSNI spokesperson said.
Northern Ireland's first yellow vest protest will take place at Belfast City Hall today, with hundreds of people indicating they will turn up to support the event.

More than 400 people have marked themselves as attending the rally, organised by the left-wing Yellow Vest Occupy Belfast, on the group's social media page.

And a further 1,600 people have indicated that they are interested.

Among the group's aims are an end to cuts to public services and zero hour contracts, as well as equal marriage rights.

The left-wing protest comes a week before a rival right-wing event is due to take place outside City Hall.

The second protest, by an organisation calling itself the Yellow Vest Movement of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, is planned for January 19.

That group has been criticised for exhibiting far-right sympathies on its social media page.

One of the organisers of today's event, Calum Cowie (23), previously told the Belfast Telegraph how his group rejected a proposal to hold a joint demonstration with the other group in order to prevent the event being hijacked by extremists.

"We don't want anyone from the far-right to turn up at our event. It's a non-violent, peaceful protest," he said.

On Wednesday, People Before Profit MLA for West Belfast Gerry Carroll posted a video on social media urging people to attend today's event. He said: "The protest has been called in solidarity with the yellow vest movement in France and across the world.

"People will know and have seen the pictures and footage of people in France standing up against Macron's, the French president's, attacks on public services and his attempts to make ordinary people pay to tackle climate change. What the people in France have said is the rich, the corporations, should be forced to pay taxes to save our planet.

"The protest on Saturday at City Hall is calling for marriage equality, it is calling for an end to the attacks on the NHS and the public sector more generally.

"It is calling for an end to things like welfare reform and a whole list of other demands."
A man was assaulted with what police described as a "flick stick" during an aggravated burglary in Co Antrim.

The incident occurred in the Burneys Mews area of Newtownabbey around 7.30pm on Friday night.

It was reported that two males and a female forced their way into a flat in the area and assaulted the male occupant with the "flick stick".

The 25-year-old male was taken to hospital for treatment for a number of lacerations to his head and a suspected broken wrist.

Detective Sergeant Coulter is appealing for anyone who witnessed the incident or anyone with any information that can assist with the investigation to contact Detectives in Antrim on 101 quoting reference 1114 11/01/19.

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.
Amber Rudd says she remains committed to completing the roll-out of UC by 2023 (Yui Mok/PA)

The full rollout of a controversial new benefit to Northern Ireland had been delayed until 2020.

Universal Credit was set to be introduced in Northern Ireland for all benefit claimants in July, but the BBC have reported it will now be delayed until next year.

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The benefit was introduced in Northern Ireland in September 2017 for new benefit claimants.

A number of people have reported problems with the service with the SDLP and Sinn Fein calling for it to be scrapped.

The new system merged six previous benefits into one and has come in for criticism with many recipients complaining of delays in their first payments and cuts to their benefits.

On Friday Work and Pensions Secretary Amber Rudd announced a number of reforms to the Universal Credit system saying it was not "effective" or "compassionate".

She confirmed that she was delaying asking Parliament for permission to move three million people on to the benefit until next year, after a pilot of the transfer from existing benefits has been completed.

The Department of Communities (DoC) has confirmed that the full rollout will also be delayed in Northern Ireland.

"In light of these changes, and to ensure Northern Ireland has the opportunity to consider learning from the pilot in Great Britain, the Department for Communities will not now commence Managed Migration in July 2019," a DoC spokesperson told the BBC.

"Instead, we will defer the beginning of this phase until 2020 and aim to complete by the end of 2023."

Sinn Fein West Belfast MLA Alex Maskey said that the scheme should be scrapped altogether.

This latest move by the British Government is further evidence that Universal Credit is simply not fit for purpose, the West Belfast MLA said.

It was supposedly designed to simplify the benefits system but the roll-out so far has clearly shown that it is riddled with faults, complications and delays.

They need to start listening and stop ignoring the evidence on the ground that Universal Credit has been a disaster. Stalling it wont fix it. Delaying it wont bring people out of poverty. It needs to be scrapped altogether.
A flight to Belfast was forced to make an emergency landing.

A flight from Tenerife to Belfast International Airport was forced to make an emergency landing in Spain on Saturday due to two "disruptive" passengers.

Well-known local makeup artist Paddy McGurgan was a passenger on the Jet2.com flight and told the Belfast Telegraph that the plane was forced to make an emergency landing in Santiago, Spain.

Jet2.com released a statement confirming that the flight was diverted "so that police could board the aircraft and offloaded two disruptive passengers".

Mr McGurgan said one of the men, who appeared to be from Northern Ireland, was removed after becoming "threatening and abusive" towards staff.

He said that one of the men appeared to be "heavily intoxicated" and was described by staff as "non compliant".

Their luggage was subsequently removed from the airplane's hold, Mr McGurgan said.

"There were a number of people on the flight who were very unhappy because there are quite a few young children present," he said.

A Jet2.com statement said that the company wished to apologise to passengers.

"As a family friendly airline we take a zero tolerance approach towards disruptive behaviour, so we will fully assist the authorities with any subsequent investigations and will prosecute where necessary," the statement read.

"We would also like to apologise to customers for the delay to their journey home.

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Former F1 star Eddie Irvine said he owed a huge debt of gratitude to the late Dr Adamson

Former Formula One ace Eddie Irvine has talked emotionally of the huge debt of gratitude he owes to his friend - and first ever sponsor - Dr Ian Adamson, the former Lord Mayor of Belfast, who died earlier this week.

Dr Adamson passed away on Wednesday - only days after the ex-motor racing star had visited him at his home.

"I didn't think I was saying goodbye," admitted Irvine, in a transatlantic phone call before flying back to Northern Ireland for the 74-year-old Ulster Unionist politician's funeral on Monday morning.

"I knew he'd been ill, but I thought that he was getting better. The first day I went to see him over Christmas he wasn't great. But a few days later there was a definite improvement.

"It was a terrible shock to hear from Ian's wife Kerry that he had taken a turn for the worse.

"My father later contacted me here in Miami to tell me that he'd passed. It's been very upsetting for me and indeed all of our family."

Irvine said the death would have also come as a major blow to Dr Adamson's friend Van Morrison, who was a regular guest at the Irvines' dinner table with the former east Belfast MLA and his wife Kerry.

Dr Adamson has always said that the motor-racer-turned-businessman parents Edmund senior and Kathleen were his closest friends.

But Irvine, who like Dr Adamson was raised in the tiny Co Down village of Conlig, said: "Ian was a fantastic friend to everyone in our family, including my daughter Zoe and her mother Maria."

Community groups in Conlig also praised Dr Adamson yesterday. Several officials said Belfast's former first citizen never lost his affection for the village, and said his humour and generosity would be sorely missed.

Irvine agreed, adding: "He was a truly remarkable man. He knew so much about so many things and he spread a lot of good. He taught me a lot. And he taught Van a lot too."

Irvine confirmed that the career of Conlig's most famous sporting son was kick-started by the financial backing of Dr Adamson, its most prominent politician. As the youthful and ambitious Irvine set out on his journey in racing, Dr Adamson offered to sponsor him.

Irvine said: "He was my first sponsor and I will always be grateful to him for helping me to get to my first race in Europe."

It was a link with another of North Down's most celebrated figures that played a role in Dr Adamson steering Irvine (right)onto the road to success.

Dr Adamson, who was a prolific writer as well as a medic, linguist, historian and politician, not only published books in his own name but also gave a platform to other aspiring authors.

One of the books which came out under the imprint of Dr Adamson's Pretani Press was written by Patrick Marrinan about the legendary Newtownards SAS man and Irish rugby international Blair Mayne.

And Dr Adamson used the proceeds to sponsor "my young friend, Edmund (Eddie)" who never looked back.

"I couldn't have done it without Ian. He was very kind and he knew we were struggling," said Irvine, who laughed at the very notion that Dr Adamson was a petrol head.

"In all the time that I knew him we never talked about motor racing, not even once.

"We just discussed Irish history, Ulster Scots, everything but racing.

"He had an amazing brain and an incredible recall. He was like an encyclopaedia of history, with an astonishing memory.

"Van's memory is also razor-sharp.

"It was always funny to listen to the two of them over dinner and to appreciate the strong recalls that these two older guys had compared to me." For Irvine, the wheel of history was to turn full circle after Dr Adamson introduced him to the story of the colourful Blair Mayne. Because Irvine later helped to produce - and also narrated - a TV documentary about Mayne.

"And that was all down to Ian's influence," he added.

Even though they may not have chewed the fat about motor racing, Dr Adamson still followed Irvine's progress closely and wrote proudly about his unstoppable rise to fame in his online blog.

He faithfully charted Irvine's moves from Formula Ford to Formula Three and then Formula 3000 before he signed for Eddie Jordan's Formula 1 team in 1993 and scored a point with a sixth place finish in his debut race at Suzuka in Japan.

What Dr Adamson didn't record was the angry row that took place after the race when the late three time champion Ayrton Senna confronted Irvine because he hadn't given way as he tried to overtake him.

"What the f*** do you think you were doing?" asked Senna.

"I was racing," replied the nonplussed Irvine.

Dr Adamson contented himself with describing his fellow Conlig man as "highly competitive and often controversial".

He rued the fact that Irvine, who at one time raced for Ferrari along with Michael Schumacher, would have won the F1 title if the current points system had been employed back then.

"He came within a whisker of becoming the champion," Dr Adamson wrote, and it was clear from his blog that his friendship with Irvine's parents never faded.

He took great pleasure in posting a series of pictures from their 50th wedding anniversary, which the politician and his wife Kerry attended.

Dr Adamson clearly admired Eddie Irvine and reminisced fondly about the day he took him to fulfil an engagement as guest speaker at the Ulster Reform Club in the heart of Belfast, where he was interviewed by the BBC's Jim Neilly.

Dr Adamson also spoke highly of Irvine after his retirement from the racing circuit, praising him for becoming a wealthy property developer and businessman.

Dr Adamson's funeral is to be held in Conlig Presbyterian Church on Monday morning before a burial at Roselawn cemetery.

It is not clear if Van Morrison will be in attendance.

A huge number of politicians from all parties here are expected to be present.

Representatives of the Somme Association, who set up the Somme Heritage Museum with the help of Dr Adamson in his beloved Conlig, will also be there, along with associates from the Ulster Scots movement and the Ullans Academy that he founded.
"Every effort" will be made to help embattled Prime Minister Theresa May get the EU-UK Brexit deal the necessary approval by the UK Parliament, European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker has said.

Mr Juncker was speaking as Mrs May again insisted that the current timetable with a Brexit deadline of March 29 will be met.

Her assertion came as senior ministers privately admitted more time is needed even if her deal wins the backing of Parliament.

Senior Tories have accepted that the sheer amount of legislation Parliament must pass to prepare for Brexit, regardless of whether Ms May's plans are approved, makes a withdrawal on the agreed date almost impossible.

One Cabinet minister told The Independent that in the unlikely event the Prime Minister's deal is actually approved on Tuesday, then a couple more weeks would still be needed - if as expected it is not, then a longer delay of Brexit looks inevitable if a no-deal scenario is to be avoided.

However, Mr Juncker said the EU stood ready to help. But this did not extend to reopening the deal signed off at a special summit on November 25.

"No-deal would be a catastrophe both for our British friends and for continental Europeans. So every effort must be made between now and Tuesday to bring this important issue to a good conclusion," Mr Juncker told reporters.

He refused to speculate on what form the EU's "help for Mrs May" would take.

Observers in London said they expect the Prime Minister cannot recruit enough pro-EU Labour MPs to offset the loss of the 10 DUP MPs and dozens of her own party members, and Northern Ireland remained a crucial issue.

Meanwhile, the Ulster Unionists have accused the Secretary of State of destabilising Northern Ireland and emboldening Sinn Fein by her reported remarks that a no-deal Brexit will lead to a border poll. MEP Jim Nicholson said Karen Bradley had made a "series of ill-judged and irresponsible comments".

The DUP and the TUV accused her of scaremongering.

Mr Nicholson said: "Recent reported comments by the Secretary of State on a border poll simply help to embolden Sinn Fein and create further destabilisation in Northern Ireland.

"I am appalled by the Secretary of State's behaviour - she is doing enormous damage to Northern Ireland."

However, Mrs Bradley insisted that the withdrawal agreement was the "best thing" for the future of the Union.

She declined to be drawn on reports that she had warned Cabinet colleagues that a border poll would be much more likely in the event of a no-deal Brexit.

But she said she was aware of her obligation to call such a referendum if there were evidence of a change in public opinion here in favour of reunification.

On a visit to Belfast yesterday, she was asked whether a no-deal would make a border poll more likely.

She responded: "I've said that I believe the best thing for the United Kingdom, the whole United Kingdom and the Union of the United Kingdom, is leaving the EU together as one UK with a deal. That is the best thing for the UK and that is what I am focused on delivering."

Asked about her reported warning at Cabinet on Tuesday, Mrs Bradley said: "I am not commenting on what may or may not have been said at a private meeting.

"But I am well aware of my statutory obligations under the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement and I am well aware the constitutional status of Northern Ireland is a matter for the people of Northern Ireland.

"My job as Secretary of State is to deliver a deal that gets us out of the EU as one United Kingdom and is good for everybody in the United Kingdom, and that means everybody in Northern Ireland.

"That's what I am working to deliver."

TUV leader Jim Allister claimed little heed was paid to what Mrs Bradley said in Northern Ireland, although "republicans are probably drawing comfort from her support for the backstop betrayal and foolish talk about a border poll".

DUP MP Gavin Robinson insisted that Theresa May's deal undermined the Union.

"If Karen Bradley was really sincere she would support calls to bin the backstop," Mr Robinson said.

Sinn Fein MLA Jemma Dolan said: "The people of the North have already rejected Brexit and they should be given the opportunity to decide which union they want to belong to."
The house was damaged in the incident.

A house in north Belfast caught fire on Friday evening after being targeted with fireworks.

The incident took place in the Dunmore Walk area around 7pm.

It was reported that fireworks had been placed in the letterbox of a property in the area and set alight.

When the fireworks went off they started a fire in the door.

There was no one in the house at the time and the fire was extinguished by a neighbour.

Damage was caused to the door as a result of the incident.

Detective Sergeant Duffield said: I am appealing for anyone who witnessed the incident or anyone who has information that could assist with the investigation to contact detectives in Musgrave Police Station on 101, quoting reference 1049 11/01/19.

"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.
Belfast City Hall was lit up in red as part of thecampaign (David Young/PA)

Belfast City Hall has been illuminated in red in a show of support for those campaigning for greater protections for Irish language speakers in Northern Ireland.

Around 200 activists gathered for a colourful and noisy demonstration as the landmark building turned the colour of their movement late on Saturday afternoon.

The decision of councillors to use the lights to back a cause at the heart of Stormonts powersharing impasse has proved controversial.

This is incredibly important for us, this is a physical beacon for equality in this city.Ciaran Mac Giolla Bhein

While unionists have claimed the vote  which was backed by Sinn Fein, the SDLP and the Alliance Party  has politicised the building, advocates for an Irish Language Act insist they have every right to have their cause highlighted.

The Irish language has emerged as the key obstacle preventing the restoration of powersharing in Northern Ireland.

Sinn Fein has insisted it will only return to devolved government if the DUP accedes to a stand-alone piece of legislation that grants protections for Gaelic speakers.

The DUP has said it will approve protections, but only as part of a wider Culture Act, which also incorporates the Ulster Scots tradition.

Ciaran Mac Giolla Bhein, from Irish language campaign group An Dream Dearg, said the protests would continue until an Irish Language Act became a reality.

This is incredibly important for us, this is a physical beacon for equality in this city, he said of the red illumination. It represents the diversity of this city, that we have different communities here and all those different communities need to be respected and tolerated.

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The illumination marked the second anniversary of a protest by Irish language activists at the decision of a DUP minister to cut bursaries for young people undertaking Irish language studies. They point to that contentious episode as the spark that invigorated their campaign for an Irish Language Act.

Campaigners insist an Act was promised in the 2006 St Andrews Agreement that paved the way for the DUP and Sinn Fein to enter a historic powersharing arrangement at Stormont. The DUP contend that it did not sign up to an Irish Language Act in 2006, and the commitment was instead the product of a non-binding side deal between republicans and the UK Government.

Mr Mac Giolla Bhein added: The parties are going to reconvene for talks at some stage and when they do the first item on the to do list is most certainly the issue of Irish language rights.

This community isnt going anywhere, we are not leaving the streets, this issue isnt going away.

The sooner parties sit down and grapple with this, the sooner the DUP lift their objection to this and agree to fulfil a promise that was made in 2006 the better.
LA PLATA, Md.

(January 12, 2019)The New Year holds endless possibilities for more than 50 students who recently graduated from the College of Southern Maryland (CSM) Adult Education Program with their Maryland high school diplomas. The Southern Maryland residents who span in age and life experiences all achieved the same academic milestone during the fall semesterwith some even donning caps and gowns to cross the stage to Pomp and Circumstance, and applause, at their long-awaited graduation ceremonies."For many of you, this is the moment you have dreamed for, and on behalf of the college's dedicated team and Adult Education staff, we are delighted to help make your dreams become your reality," said CSM President Dr. Maureen Murphy during the graduation ceremony held at CSM's Prince Frederick Campus. "We are proud of each and every one of you for your persistence and success in earning this diploma. It comes with all the rights and privileges that go along with it. And now, you are ready for your next challenge, whether it's post-secondary education or a career.""Two paths allow one to walk across the stage tonightthe passing of the GED (General Educational Development) test and completing the National External Diploma Program (NEDP). Both culminate in earning a Maryland high school diploma," added Ellen N. Beattie, adult instructional services chief with the Maryland Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation."Within every celebrated ending, a new opportunity beckons," Beattie continued. "Allow this accomplishment to drive you forward. This is the first step in your new journey. Know that there is no straight line from where you are sitting today to where you are going. You may detour from your plan; you may get it wrong; you may miss big opportunities. Careers are less like ladders and more like jungle gyms. But from every experience you'll learn.""We all have accomplished something special here and I would like to congratulate the entire class," said Mark Cooksey, 50, of Waldorf. Cooksey served as the student guest speaker at his graduation ceremony in Prince Frederick."Even though I had my dream job, I was done with all of the hiding and lies," he shared with the audience. "I made my mind up I was going back to get my high school diploma. I was tired of my education being my Achilles heel and holding me back.At the St. Mary's County ceremony held at CSM's Leonardtown Campus, student guest speaker and graduate Roxanna Orellana shared her compelling story of making her way from El Salvador to earn her high school diploma in the United States through CSM."Here I am today, beginning a new chapter that will define the rest of my life," Orellana told her graduating class, quoting Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in his speech, 'I have a dream.'"Those words of inspiration and full of hope resonated all the way to a small village in the mountains of El Salvador," she continued. "In that village, with fewer opportunities and full of broken dreams, a small girl was born. She grew up dreaming big ideas and the hope for a better future. Ideas that one day she would return to inspire other generations living under the wonder of fairy tales. In spite of all odds, here I am; the first member of my immediate family to earn a high school diploma, and perhaps, the only one with a high probability to attend college."All of the students who received their high school diploma learned at their graduations that the CSM Foundation, for the second year in a row, will provide them with a scholarship to continue their education at CSM. The CSM Foundation provides these funds through the Adult Education Scholarship, as a way to recognize and congratulate the students on their hard work."Helping our Adult Education graduates in their next steps here at the Prince Frederick Campus is something we do really well," Murphy shared at the Calvert County ceremony before also announcing the recipient of the Dr. Rich Fleming Scholarship. Fleming was the previous vice president and dean of the Prince Frederick Campus and was on-hand to award diploma recipient Lisa Beruti with her scholarship."Without academically sound and committed partners like the College of Southern Maryland, our mission of providing literacy services and workforce readiness to our citizens could not be accomplished," Beattie also said during her remarks. "Department of Labor does not hold any classes, tutor any students, or provide the vital counseling and guidance needed to find academic success. Our partners do that. Please know that my team and I at the Department of Labor appreciate the tireless work that the college's administrators, staff, and instructors devote to our learners."Receiving high school diplomas through the CSM Adult Education Program in 2018, and participating in the graduation ceremonies in Calvert County were:Dominic Joseph Aragon, Lisa Beruti, Mark Alan Cooksey, Melissa Gail Edwards, Riley Lynn Evans, Naquan E. Freeland, Nora M. Gause, Ernest M. Hensley, Jennifer R Layman, David E. Layman Jr., Albert Nathaniel Peyton, Rosetta Lucille Young and Zhi Fang Zheng.To view photographs from the graduation ceremony at the Prince Frederick Campus, visit csmphoto.zenfolio.com/18calvertged Receiving high school diplomas through the CSM Adult Education Program in 2018, and participating in the graduation ceremonies in St. Mary's County were:Tavia Love Ayers, Loriana Fayne Baker, Kimberly J. Biscoe, Patrick Sinclair Doss, Gabriel Annette Harris, Jason Anthony Hoover, Shelby Lynne Martin, Cheyenne Brandy Shaye McQarrie, Kiara Moses, Maria Nunez, Douglas Oliver, Roxana Orellana, David Alexander Paolillo, Ashley Monique Proctor, Andrew Lee Spendolini, Tyler Evan Stauffer, Joseph F. Sullivan, Adam Swope, Matteo Roberto Torres, Calvin Nelson Washington, Kyle L. Wedding and Pamela Kaye Zimmerman.To view photographs from the graduation ceremony at the Leonardtown Campus, visit csmphoto.zenfolio.com/18stmarysged.
An appeal has been issued in an attempt to reunite a lost wedding ring with its owner.

Harry's Shack restaurant posted the appeal on Twitter, saying that the wedding band had been found on Portstewart Strand.

It has a short inscription on the inside.

If you recognise the ring get in touch with Harry's Shack on Twitter via @Harrys_Shack.
Naz Din is as Belfast as Carl Frampton. He has the same charm and wit and he pulls no punches. Good job he is a restaurateur, though, because Naz is more of a lover than a fighter. He won't mind me saying that, because everybody knows how resilient and single-minded he can be. Also, his understanding of hospitality and the need to keep customers happy makes him a natural at this game.

Take his old gaff, Nu Delhi in Bruce Street. In defiance of all Indian restaurant tradition, Naz introduced masala chips and cocktails to Belfast, creating an atmosphere of almost cosmopolitan chic, which attracted cool young Asians among Belfast's hip crowd.

Then he opened Slums downstairs, a kind of burrito fusion takeaway and sit-in for the lunchtime trade. I told him Slums was a terrible name, but look who's laughing now.

Then, just before Christmas, he moved to a new space a few yards away. New Nu Delhi is now a loft-like restaurant on the first floor of the block which houses Ginger Bistro. Of Slums there is no sign. It may resurface elsewhere. In the meantime, focus is on the new Nu Delhi, which I hoped would be an upgrade on the former. It is.

This is a relief, because I had included it in my list of favourite places to eat in 2018, and this was more in tribute to the old place. The new one is, frankly, miles ahead of every other Indian in town. He could have gone more modern, he could have been bolder in the menu but, having said that, the Eighties-chic thing works for me.

A 48-sheet poster-sized portrait of a very beautiful Bollywood actress adorns one entire wall, so just in case you weren't sure where you were after getting out of the lift, there's no doubting this is a curry house.

The adviser and I agree that curry can be the most joyous food in the world, but only when great ingredients are used. I've been to too many Indian restaurants where the chicken is cheap, chewy and tasteless and of uncertain provenance, and where simple features like naan and poppadoms, rice and chutneys are shop-bought, or just badly put together (and often stale).

There is a simple lesson which will very quickly help you gauge whether or not you're in a good restaurant: raita, mango chutney, chopped onion dip, the crunch factor of the poppadoms and the lightness and soft crispiness of the naan's exterior will all immediately reveal the quality of the kitchen staff's talents.

Here, the tests pass no problem. The server advises me to try the squid. Squid masala? Yes, please. That's the thing with Nu Delhi: they love to try new things, to fuse the unexpected with tradition. Most times it works. This squid is a great example. Fried in a light batter, which is full of unmistakably classic masala flavours, the squid is tender and tasty. Other options include lamb chops, monkfish and more conventional bhajis and pakoras.

The adviser suggests that Naz is becoming the Indian Eddie Fung, and that Nu Delhi is a successful Indian reinterpretation of Zen. She is on to something. There is glamour and buzz and the food is good. In fact, the food is excellent.

A mixed tandoori grill features chicken on the bone, and is full of the deepest, spiciest, charry textures and hits. It's a concentrate of all the savoury favourites you've ever had (and there's a lot on the plate).

Highlight of the meal is a dark and dangerous daal makani, made of lentils and chickpeas. The depth and warmth of this humble-looking dish is like a blanket of comfort, a shield to ward away all evils, something to provide an unmovable barrier between you and the outside world. It is phenomenal and the very essence of comfort.

Nu Delhi mixes Belfast craic and Asian culinary excitement perfectly well. I wonder, has he plans to open a Nu Belfast in Delhi?

The bill

Bhaji ................................................4.50

Pakora .................................................6

Masala squid....................................7.45

Desi masala....................................15.95

Mixed grill .....................................21.95

Steamed rice .............................x 2 4.40

Naan.................................................2.20

Daal makani.....................................5.45

Bottle Wassmer..............................33.95

Cobra x 2..........................................8.40

Total..............................................110.25
Forty-four staff have lost their jobs after one of only two greyhound racing tracks in Northern Ireland announced its closure after 11 years in business

The directors of Drumbo Park in Lisburn said a "number of factors" including online betting, lack of Government funding and restrictive licensing laws here were behind the decision to shut up shop, as well as a decline in the number of customers and racing dogs.

Director Michael McAdam said: "We have never been funded. In Ireland there is a semi-state body that helps fund courses but that wasn't available to us here in Northern Ireland. We did ask why, because dogs that race in NI race in Dundalk and Shelbourne Park, and we thought it was only right, but our request fell into a sphere."

Mr McAdam said licensing laws put an end to a Sunday service, adding: "We lobbied the boys on the hill and everyone agreed it needed changed, but no one was prepared to do anything about it, and obviously over the past two years nothing more could be done."

He said the company invested almost 4m to launch the venue in 2009 when "we could charge a premium of 39.95, but over the years we dropped that to 25".

"It was hard to get people in. We were based outside the city and already that was placing an extra 15 or more on top of the cost of a night out. We operated like an airplane; we needed to have every seat filled to make money because running a restaurant had very high overheads. Our wage bill alone was 10,000 a week.

"We had groups in for parties, birthdays, anniversaries and corporate events, but outside that we weren't getting the regular guy and that's because there is no real need to come and watch, because you can get it anywhere."

He said a lack of interest in breeding and racing greyhounds also impacted profits.

"The number of greyhounds available to race over the years has been declining," he added.

After pumping a further 280,000 into the business in recent months via sponsorship, and television and radio advertisements, Drumbo failed to boost interest and went into administration.

Mr McAdam believes that the closure will be felt beyond the Lisburn course.

"Without a doubt this will affect other courses in Ireland," he said.

"When Drumbo Park was opening it took some time for people with greyhounds to go back into the business again, because why would you go to that expense of training a dog when there was nowhere to race them, and that will be the case now.

"Yes, we have Dundalk, and while it's not at the end of the world, it's not a 10-minute drive either."

Today there is just one greyhound course left in Northern Ireland, at the Brandywell in Derry. In a social media post, Brandywell thanked Drumbo Park for its contribution to the sector.

It said: "Your dedication throughout the years has without doubt helped sustain our sport and added to the Northern Ireland economy.

"We at Brandywell would like to thank you, as our Northern partners, for all your help, advice and guidance through what has been a very testing time in our sport. Your closure will, without doubt, have a negative impact all over Ireland."

Mr McAdam advised anyone who made bookings for Drumbo Park by credit card to contact their card provider about refunds.

"Our accountants have started calling everyone who had bookings to inform them that we are now closed. The vast majority of those bookings, around 97%, were paid by card," he said.

"Anyone who paid in cash can contact whoever our administrator will be for more details."

The 14 full-time and 30 part-time staff at the venue were told of the closure yesterday morning.
Springfield (Vt.) Medical Care Systems sought to reassure state officials it has its finances and management under control after Gov. Phil Scott voiced concerns about the health system last week, according to the Valley News.

Mr. Scott sent a letter to SMCS Jan. 4 outlining his concerns about the system's financial position amid leadership issues and staff concerns. He asked health system officials to create a detailed care plan and highlight how state officials can be of assistance to the system.

In his Jan. 9 letter to the governor, SMCS Board Chairman George Lamb said "all options are on the table" to improve the system's financial prospects. He also noted the institution has hired an interim CFO and is actively searching for ways to recover the $8 million to $10 million SMCS needs to become financially stable, the report states.

"We have identified a long list of potential actions. Some of these financial improvement opportunities can start quickly. Others will take a bit longer, so that we can continue to assure the proper care of patients and fulfill our regional healthcare obligations," Mr. Lamb wrote.

Mr. Lamb said SMCS, which recently finalized a management agreement with Brentwood, Tenn.-based Quorum Health Resources on Jan. 8, is in the process of appointing an interim CEO and will do so "in the coming days," according to the report.

SMCS has faced several challenges in recent months, including failing to pay vendors on time, low employee morale and questions from community members about Quorum's expertise on managing the system. The hospital system's CEO and CFO also abruptly departed from the organization in December.

To access the full report, click here.
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.
The Branson Board of Aldermen on Thursday (now postponed to July 28) will consider an ordinance that would require face coverings in public spaces. The aldermen might approve it, disapprove it, or approve an amended version. Would you be in favor of some form of mandatory face covering ordinance in the city of Branson?

You voted:
AG Patrick Morrisey released a legal opinion Friday stating that, while states could not fully mitigate the financial risks of marijuana-related revenue for banks, they could help banks comply with current standards and protections.
What started as a local celebration of the life and work of Mahatma Gandhi to commemorate his 150th birthday has now grown into a major projec
The plenary session and high-level policy dialogue with the theme "Vietnam's economy in 2018 and its prospect in 2019- Strengthening foundation of rapid and sustainable development, will be kicked off in Hanoi on January 17, with attendance of Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc, Head of the Party Central Economic Commission Nguyen Van Binh, Former United States Secretary of State and President of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace John Kerry.



At the dialogue, the leaders will have important presentations about Vietnams economy in 2018 and its prospect in 2019, and some recommendations about economic development in the medium term plan, development of digital economy becoming a core growth of Vietnam, tendency of shifting foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows in the new situation and intensifying competition, connection between Vietnamese small and medium- sized enterprises.



In the forum framework of the forum, a seminar under theme of Capital management and mobilization and infrastructure development- International Experience and Policies Recommendation for Vietnam will be co-organized by the Party Central Economic Commission and International Monetary Fund in January 16 -17 with the participation of senior economic experts from Vietnam, Japan, South Korea, Indonesia, Thailand, Philippines, Malaysia, etc, international organizations as International Monetary Fund, World Bank, Asian Development Bank, Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, Japan Bank for International Cooperation, Infrastructure and Project Financing Agency, Finance Ministry of Indonesia, Thai Ministry of Finance, Finance Ministry of Vietnam and PwC Company.



Besides that, seminars on actively dealing with climate change and strengthening energy security to ensure sustainable development, and on digital economy development orientation in the context of the fourth industrial revolution - Opportunities and challenges for Vietnam will be held.


John Cox can be reached at 661-395-7404. Follow him on Twitter: @TheThirdGraf. Sign up at Bakersfield.com for free newsletters on local business.
An extravagant swearing-in ceremony for new District Attorney Cynthia Zimmer, which hundreds are expected to attend, is getting underway at th
One of the most popular New Year's resolutions is to start checking things off your bucket list and travel more. The Travel Mom has some suggestions for how you can get started doing that.
People who knew two men who died in Democratic donor Ed Buck's West Hollywood apartment gather for a vigil outside of the building where both were found dead. (KCAL_KCBS, KCAL, KCBS, Latisha Nixon, Facebook/Ed Buck, Facebook/Timothy Dean via CNN Wire)
By Trend

U.S. Special Representative for Iran Brian Hook said on Saturday Washington was not looking to grant any more waivers for Iranian oil after the reimposition of U.S. sanctions, Trend reports referring to Reuters.

Hook told a news conference in the United Arab Emirates capital Abu Dhabi that the reason for the earlier waivers was to prevent a spike in oil prices. He declined to say what the administration in Washington would do when the current waivers end in May.

Washington gave waivers to eight traditional Iranian oil buyers - including China, India, Japan and South Korea  after reimposing sanctions on Iranian oil in November.

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By Trend

The name dispute between Greece and Macedonia has been souring bilateral relations for years, with Athens opposing the use of "Macedonia," which is also the name of a region in Greece, Trend reports citing Sputnik.

Debates on the new legislation started on Wednesday and continued through Thursday. The final vote was postponed several times due to the lack of the 80 votes needed for the amendments to pass.

"Eighty-one people voted in favor, all four amendments to the constitution have been adopted," Parliament Speaker Talat Xhaferi said in a televised broadcast.

Meanwhile, lawmakers from opposition VMRO-DPMNE party boycotted the vote and held protest rallies outside the parliament building in Skopje.

Last summer, Athens and Skopje signed an agreement on changing Macedonia's name. In Autumn, Macedonian Parliament passed constitutional amendments to change the name of the country with a total of 80 lawmakers out of 120 voted in favor of the name change.

The new name allows the Balkan state to join NATO and the European Union, the process that Greece has been blocking over fears that the former Yugoslav republic might try to claim its region under the same name.

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By Trend

Oil prices fell about 2 percent on Friday amid worries about a global economic slowdown, but futures were set to end the week higher, keeping some gains from a week-long rally spurred by US-China trade hopes, Reuters reported.

Brent crude futures LCOc1 fell $1.15, or 1.9 percent, to $60.53 a barrel by 1:08 p.m. EST (1808 GMT). US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures CLc1 were down 91 cents, or 1.7 percent, at $51.68 a barrel.

Both benchmarks were set for their second week of gains, with Brent rising about 6 percent and WTI up nearly 8 percent.

Markets were supported earlier this week by hopes that an all-out trade war between Washington and Beijing might be averted. Three days of talks concluded on Wednesday with no concrete announcements, but higher-level discussions may convene later this month.

Some of the strength that weve gotten from that seems to be coming out of the market, Gene McGillian, vice president of market research at Tradition Energy in Stamford, Connecticut.

Right now I think the market is in a holding pattern above our recent lows and its looking for its next driver, McGillian said.

Investors remained concerned about a slew of recent economic data that has raised worries about a global economic slowdown.

China plans to set a lower economic growth target of 6-6.5 percent in 2019 compared with last years target of around 6.5 percent, policy sources told Reuters, as Beijing gears up to cope with higher US tariffs and weakening domestic demand.

If we experience an economic slowdown, crude will underperform due to its correlation to growth, said Hue Frame, portfolio manager at Frame Funds in Sydney.

On the supply side, oil markets have received support from supply cuts led by the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries. The deal is aimed at reining in a glut that emerged in the second half of 2018.

Lower oil exports from Iran since November, when US resumed sanctions against the OPEC producer, have also supported crude.

Playing a key part in the emerging glut was the United States, where crude oil production C-OUT-T-EIA has soared to a record 11.7 million barrels per day.

Consultancy JBC Energy this week said it was likely that US crude production was significantly above 12 million bpd by this month.

US energy firms, however, this week cut four oil rigs, the second week of declines, General Electric Cos (GE.N) Baker Hughes energy services firm said, as producers turned conservative in their 2019 drilling plans due to uncertainty over a recovery in crude prices. RIG-OL-USA-BHI [RIG/U]

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By Trend

It would be more appropriate if in France, first of all, they recall violence against the yellow vests, and only after that they can make legal assessments on other issues, member of the Azerbaijani parliament Hikmat Babaoglu told Trend.

He was commenting on the statement made by the French Foreign Ministry regarding the issue with Azerbaijani blogger Mehman Huseynov.

"During the rally on the streets of Paris, when French citizens demanded to solve their social problems, the French police applied the most stringent methods against them, violating their constitutional right to free assembly. These violent actions that led to the death of protesters are, in fact, the result of the brutality of the French police. Such cases are repeated there quite often," Babaoglu said.

Babaoglu noted that despite all that happened, now France is preparing to adopt a new law to severely punish the peaceful demonstrators.

He added that this is not only contrary to the French constitution, but also to democratic values.

Babaoglu noted that the measures being prepared are a restriction of the rights and freedom of a person and a citizen.

He further added that the bill provides for very serious sanctions, including the payment of damage to public order by rally participants, as well as their imprisonment.

"No such ruthless measures are taken in any democratic country. Therefore, first of all, the French government must learn to correctly assess such issues," the MP said.

Mehman Huseynov was arrested on March 3, 2017. By decision of the Surakhani District Court, he was sentenced to two years in prison. The decision was based on the appeal by the head of the Nasimi district unitary enterprise, Musa Musayev. The blogger was charged with article 147.2 of Criminal Code (slander, person charging on committing a grave or especially grave crime).

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By Trend

Analyzing the recent publications in foreign media, as well as statements by some international organizations about blogger Mehman Huseynov, one can conclude that in many cases the responses to the issue are inadequate and it is felt that the essence of events is deliberately distorted, Trend reports citing Member of Parliament of Azerbaijan and Vice-President of the OSCE PA Azay Guliyev.

It causes serious concerns, confuses the local and international community and restricts the access to information reflecting the real course of events. One of the particular issues disturbing me is the news, disseminated in the foreign media, which say that the new criminal proceedings have been launched against Mehman Huseynov and he will be sentenced to additional seven years of imprisonment, because of which, he started a dry hunger strike and put himself into immediate risk of death, which are far from reality, said Guliyev.

The situation regarding Mehman Huseynov was seriously disturbing me as the Vice-President of the OSCE PA. I held discussions with the relevant bodies in order to learn the truth regarding the information, spread about Mehman Huseynov. To know the essence of the new accusation brought against him, as well as to get accurate information about his health conditions, and tried to clarify some questions.

He noted that according to the received information, the incident between Mehman Huseynov and the prison officer was sent to the prosecuting authorities for examination. As far as I understood, the incident is being objectively and fairly examined and the public will be thoroughly informed about its results.

As regards the statements by some international organizations and foreign media publications on the severe or even fatal state of Mehman Huseynov's health, it should be noted that none of this information is reasonable either. It can also be seen from the official statements, that Mehman Huseynov does not hold a hunger strike, his health is normal, and no discrimination, oppression or illegal actions are taken against him. As known, all above-mentioned facts have been proved in recent statements made by the representative of the Ombudsman of the Republic of Azerbaijan, human rights organizations, foreign embassies who visited him in prison, as well as Mehman Huseynov's appeal to media.

Guliyev said he hopes that the rights of Mehman Huseynov will be fully protected in compliance with the national legislation and this issue will not be any longer a subject for political manipulations.

In conclusion, I call on law enforcement bodies to examine the incident in a very objective and just manner, as well as on international organizations, embassies and foreign media not to react hastily to the issue without knowing the whole essence of the situation and wait for the results of complete examinations.

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By Trend

According to the information received from the diplomatic circles, diplomats of some EU countries embassies met with Mehman Huseynov in the solitary confinement cell on Jan.11. The meeting was organized upon the request of the EU Delegation to Azerbaijan.

Deputy head of the EU Delegation to Azerbaijan, representatives of the French, Dutch, UK, Czech Republic and German embassies took part in the meeting.

They reviewed the conditions in the detention and were informed about the health condition of Mehman Huseynov.

They saw that Mehman Huseynovs health condition is normal, he has no complaints regarding conditions and can easily meet with his father.

Diplomats of the EU embassies were very pleased with the opportunity provided to them and thanked the Azerbaijani government for transparency and organizing this meeting.

This became a major blow to the false propaganda and the efforts to artificially dramatize this situation by anti-Azerbaijani forces using the name of Mehman Huseynov.

Huseynov did not go on a hunger strike, freely meets with his lawyer, and talks on phone with family members, said the head of the public relations department of the Prison Service Mehman Sadigov.

In Baku Detention Center of the Prison Service of the Ministry of Justice of Azerbaijan, Huseynov was also visited by members of the National Preventive Group of the Ombudsman. During this visit, his appeal was heard out; his state of health and the situation with food have been checked in the presence of a doctor.

Mehman Huseynov takes food, receives parcels, he is under daily medical supervision and feels fine, Trend was told in the press service of the Ombudsmans Office.

During the time in the Detention Center, human rights activists, Ombudsman members and Western diplomats were convinced that Huseynov's conditions of detention and his state of health is fine.

Huseynov was arrested on March 3, 2017. By decision of the Surakhani District Court, he was sentenced to two years in prison. The decision was based on the appeal by the head of the Nasimi district unitary enterprise, Musa Musayev. The blogger was charged with article 147.2 of Criminal Code (slander, person charging on committing a grave or especially grave crime).

On December 26 last year, the Prison Service stated that during regular scheduled searches and inspections in the penitentiary 14, Mehman Huseynov did not obey the legal requirements of the senior inspector, Alladin Abdalov, used force against him, physically resisted, as well as smashed items in the room.

In fact, a criminal case was initiated under article 315.2 of criminal Code (Resistance or use of violence against a representative of authority) in the Garadagh district prosecutor's office of Baku city.

Azerbaijani news service of Trend news agency

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By Trend

Commissioner for Human Rights (Ombudsman) of Azerbaijan Elmira Suleymanova has issued a statement to the international organizations in connection with the anniversary of the January 20 tragedy, Trend reports with reference to the Ombudsmans Office.

The statement is addressed to the UN secretary-general, UN Security Council, Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, UN Human Rights Council, UNICEF, UNESCO, European Union, European Council, OSCE, International and European Ombudsman Institutes, Asian Ombudsman Association, European Network of Ombudsmen for Children, Organization of Islamic Cooperation and the Network of Ombudsmen Offices, International Peace Bureau, foreign ombudsmen, embassies of Azerbaijan and the foreign embassies to Azerbaijan, as well as the Azerbaijani diaspora.

Twenty-nine years pass from the bloody January 20, 1990 tragedy, reads the statement. This indelible crime against humanity is commemorated each time with a heavy heart. This bloody event engraved on the memories as Black January is both the day of commemoration of our martyrs and the day of solidarity, pride and honor of our people fighting for the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan. These events once again demonstrated that our people are determined to fight for the independence and restoration of their violated rights.

Thus, as a result of the support by former USSR leadership to the rising Armenian separatism in the Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast, which is an integral part of Azerbaijan, and biased position towards our country, gradual removal of the departments and organizations of the mentioned oblast from the subordination of our republic, deportation of the Azerbaijanis from their historical-ethnic lands in Armenia, exposure of compatriots to severe torture and violence exhausted our peoples patience, the statement said. The January 20 massacre was committed upon the instruction of the Soviet government of that period in order to suppress the rightly protest of our people, to prevent the expanding liberation movement in Azerbaijan.

The statement reads that on the night from Jan. 19 to 20, 1990, the Soviet troops were suddenly deployed to Baku and Sumgait, other cities and districts of the country in military vessels, tanks and other heavy military equipment, and started to fire at people.

"Thus, international law norms, provisions of the former USSR and Azerbaijan SSR constitutions were grossly violated, a violent crime was committed against our multinational people, who stood in defense of freedom of the homeland and its own rights.

Armed forces entered Baku, killed 168 unarmed civilians, mercilessly regardless of their nationality, age or sex, including children, women and elderly; 744 peaceful innocent people in the capital, suburban settlements and surrounding areas were injured; hundreds of people went missing; 841 persons were illegally arrested, reads the statement. Even the ambulances and physicians carrying the injured persons were fired at. Therefore, medical staff members became martyrs or were injured. Use of prohibited weapons resulted in immeasurable destruction. The energy block of the State Television was exploded as a result of a sabotage organized by the USSR Committee of State Security with the purpose of concealing the events from the population."

At that period, a harsh statement was made by National Leader Heydar Aliyev in Moscow on behalf of the Azerbaijani people and he demanded a legal assessment to the massacre committed against our people on January 20 and punishment of the perpetrators, the statement said. It should be noted that those events couldnt break the will of our people, and the fight for freedom resulted in restoring the independence of Azerbaijan in 1991.

At the initiative of President Heydar Aliyev, a special session of the Milli Majlis [Azerbaijani Parliament] was held and this bloodshed was given a political-legal assessment, reads the statement. Every year the date of January 20 is commemorated as the National Day of Mourning in our Republic, and on this day the martyrs are remembered by hundreds of thousands of people with deep respect.

According to the presidential decree, citizens of Azerbaijan, of different nationalities, killed during the tragedy were awarded the honorary title of the Martyr of the January 20, and in line with the Decree on Increasing the State Care for Persons who Became Disabled during January 20 Events, different measures are implemented, these persons are entitled to relevant allowances by the state, and the martyrs' families are provided the Presidential Pensions, the statement said.

"As in previous years, this year also the Action Plan on Commemorating the 29th Anniversary of the Tragedy of January 20 has been approved by the relevant decree with the purpose of directing the focus of the international community to those bloody events and is now implemented," reads the statement. "This horrible tragedy caused the massacre of the civilian population. Consequently, the UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights, International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and other international legal documents were grossly violated. Nevertheless, despite being one of the most horrible crimes of the 20th century for its nature and scale, the January 20 events havent received international legal assessment so far; those who ordered and perpetrated the bloodshed havent been punished.

Under the international law, the January 20 tragedy should be classified as a crime against humanity, the statement said. Thus, according to the Article 7 of the Statute of the International Criminal Court, extermination, enforced disappearance of persons, other inhuman acts of a similar character intentionally causing great sufferings, serious injury to body, to mental or physical health are classified as crimes against humanity.

"At that time, the leaders of the Soviet state supported Armenia with that crime, grossly violating the international legal norms, which resulted in the long-lasting Armenian aggression against Azerbaijan. An ethnic cleansing and a genocide were committed, 20 percent of our country's territories were occupied, local Azerbaijani population was forcibly expelled from the territory of Armenia, as well as Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven adjacent districts, an integral part of our republic, reads the statement. These actions resulted in a massive violation of the fundamental rights of the civilian population and still more than one million compatriots live as refugees and IDPs.

The Azerbaijani side constantly strives for the peaceful settlement of the conflict, proposes initiatives, the statement said. President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has stated the crucial importance of the peaceful settlement of the conflict only within the territorial integrity of our republic, withdrawal of the occupying forces from the Azerbaijani lands, repeatedly and resolutely on the platforms of influential international organizations, including UN General Assembly. This is reflected in the corresponding decisions of the influential international organizations, including European Parliament's resolution adopted on Dec, 12, 2018, in which the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan was emphasized once more.

"It should be mentioned that there are enough legal documents to classify the January 20 events, committed 29 years ago, as a crime against humanity, being one of the most grave kinds of international crimes. At the same time, there are sufficient evidences on the criminal responsibility of the persons who ordered and committed this massacre, and first of all, the leaders of the Soviet state of that period."

"Impunity of persons who committed such acts is contrary to the targeted universal priorities, UN Principles and Sustainable Development Goals, the statement said. We call on the world community and international organizations to support justified demands of the Azerbaijani people, and in order to bring the perpetrators of this crime to deserved punishment, to assist in giving to these bloody acts an international legal assessment."

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By Trend

The price of one ounce of gold increased by 6.902 manats or 0.31 percent last week in Azerbaijan.

Accordingly, the average price of one ounce of gold stood at 2,190.6217 manats.

Change in price of one ounce of gold December 31 - January 7 2,191.2065 January 1 - January 8 2,181.2615 January 2 - January 9 2,179.6805 January 3 2,190.2715 January 10 2,202.8515 January 4 2,200.2335 January 11 2,198.1085 Average weekly 2,195.2525 Average weekly 2,190.6217

Last week in Azerbaijan, the price of one ounce of silver decreased by 0.1681 manats or 0.63 percent. Accordingly, the average price of one ounce of silver stood at 26.6537 manats. Change in price of one ounce of silver December 31 - January 7 26.8354 January 1 - January 8 26.4313 January 2 - January 9 26.5624 January 3 26.4805 January 10 26.772 January 4 26.8554 January 11 26.6673 Average weekly 26.668 Average weekly 26.6537 Last week in Azerbaijan, the price of one ounce of platinum decreased by 10.625 manats or 0.75 percent. Accordingly, the average price of one ounce of platinum stood at 1,401.2386 manats. Change in price of one ounce of platinum December 31 - January 7 1,409.045 January 1 - January 8 1,394.1785 January 2 - January 9 1,399.0575 January 3 1,350.1825 January 10 1,405.492 January 4 1,364.6665 January 11 1,398.42 Average weekly 1,357.4245 Average weekly 1,401.2386 Last week in Azerbaijan, the price of one ounce of palladium increased by 44.506 manats or 2 percent. Accordingly, the average price of one ounce of palladium stood at 2,243.5461 manats. Change in price of one ounce of palladium December 31 - January 7 2,224.45 January 1 - January 8 2,212.8135 January 2 - January 9 2,272.985 January 3 2,151.35 January 10 2,238.526 January 4 2,157.2575 January 11 2,268.956 Average weekly 2,154.3038 Average weekly 2,243.5461 No prices for precious metals were formed in Azerbaijan from December 31 to January 2 in connection with the New Year holidays and the International Solidarity Day of Azerbaijanis.

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Hawaii Democratic Rep. Tulsi Gabbard is running for president, she told CNN's Van Jones in an interview to air Saturday.

The big picture: Gabbard, one of the first female combat veterans in Congress, joins a crowded field of potential candidates. She plans to make a formal announcement "within the next week."

Catch up quick: Gabbard is a progressive Democrat who served as vice-chairwoman of the Democratic National Committee, before resigning to support Sen. Bernie Sanders in the 2016 primaries.

Gabbard was first elected to the House in 2012, when she became the first American Samoan and Hindu lawmaker in Congress.

Steve Bannon, former chief strategist to President Donald Trump, was fond of Gabbard and set up a meeting between Trump and the Hawaii congresswoman during the 2016 transition. In a statement at the time, Gabbard said she would "never allow partisanship to undermine our national security when the lives of countless people lay in the balance.

She called out now-President Trump after his statements over continuing support of Saudi Arabia in the wake of the murder of Jamal Khashoggi, tweeting that "being Saudi Arabia's b*tch is not 'America First.'"

Gabbard herself has come under fire for meeting with Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad in 2017. She has vehemently argued against U.S.-led regime change and "staked out anti-interventionist foreign policy positions in Congress," per CNN.

Republican National Committee Spokesman Michael Ahrens said in a statement: "Tulsi Gabbard has an even bigger problem than her lack of experience  its that she has no base of support. Liberals think shes too conservative, conservatives think shes too liberal, and just about everyone thinks her coziness with Bashar al-Assad is disturbing.

Go deeper: Track the 2020 presidential election candidates
It's puzzling that so many prime-working-age Americans have withdrawn from the workforce. And the government forecasts that the problem is going to get worse.

The big picture: From a peak in the dot-com years of 19972001, the workforce participation rate for those 2554 has steadily fallen, but the participation rate in this group actually has gone up since September, as the sizzling economy pulls long-term unemployed people into the job market, says Andrew Chamberlain, chief economist at Glassdoor.

Yes, but: In the coming years, the BLS expects the rate to go back down.

In 2022, the BLS forecasts, 81.1% of people aged 2534 will be working or seeking work, down from 83.7% in 1992; the rate will drop to 81.8% among those 3544, from 85.1%; and to 79.9% from 81.5% for those 4554.

81.1% of people aged 2534 will be working or seeking work, down from 83.7% in 1992; the rate will drop to 81.8% among those 3544, from 85.1%; and to 79.9% from 81.5% for those 4554. Overall for those 2554, the rate drops to 81% from 83.6% in 1992.

Be smart: Among the reasons for dropping out of the workforce are drug use, a felony conviction and a lack of skills after a long bout of unemployment. But in a paper last year from the Kansas City Fed, economist Didem Tuzemen also blames "job polarization"  a decline in demand for low- and middle-skill jobs, thus forcing people in these age categories out of the workforce.

Go deeper:
Email me any time: farrorita@gmail.com Sewing + Thrift store shopping = Frankensewing. I love vintage linens, hanging my sheets out on the line to dry...and creating adventures for my two Grandchildren. Doing those very ordinary things -- and then BLOGGING about it -- is how I work things out.

King Arthur Popover Recipe

Preheat oven to 425 degrees... then preheat the Popover Pan...it needs to be screaming hot. Butter the sides generously -- right before you pour the batter.



4 eggs

1 1/3 c. milk

1 1/3 c. all purpose flour

1/2 tsp salt

3 tbl melted butter



Whisk eggs into milk. Make sure everything is room temp. Whisk in the flour & salt, add the melted butter at the end.



Pour thin batter into Popover pan (2/3 full) and bake for 30 minutes. DON'T OPEN THE DOOR.



When the popovers are done -- get them out of the pan ASAP and prick the top with a sharp knife to prevent collapse.



Serve with REAL BUTTER...that's mandatory. Homemade jam is optional...




The State Department is flying every U.S. ambassador from around the world to Washington next week, regardless of whether the government remains shut down, according to two internal emails leaked to Axios.

Why it matters: The State Department has been under financial strain during the shutdown, with employees on unpaid furlough and some resources halted.

Bloomberg first reported that the conference is still scheduled to go ahead.

The organizers of the global Chiefs of Missions (COM) conference  held from Jan. 1617  conceded in their internal email that under the current circumstances meetings with members of Congress cannot be guaranteed.

Between the lines: A State Department spokesman told me theyre persisting with the conference for national security reasons.

But a former senior State Department official told Axios that, while COM is a good convening to get everyone on the same page and build morale and relationships within the department  its absurd to argue a COM is crucial to our safety and security. That does not pass the laugh test.

A second former senior State Department official told Axios that when the government shut down in 2013 the department was forced to postpone an important conference for its Public Affairs Officers until after a spending bill was passed.

Meanwhile, President Trump announced yesterday that hes canceling his planned trip to the World Economic Forum in Davos as a result of the shutdown. He was scheduled to leave Jan. 21  10 days from now.

Details: The annual COM conference was launched in 2011 under the Obama administration to convene all U.S. ambassadors in one place and give them an opportunity to meet with key government officials in Washington.
In a tweet Saturday morning, President Trump incorrectly cited criminal statistics from the state of Texas and federal data on immigration.

"23% of Federal inmates are illegal immigrants. Border arrests are up 240%. In the Great State of Texas, between 2011 & 2018, there were a total of 292,000 crimes by illegal aliens, 539 murders, 32,000 assaults, 3,426 sexual assaults and 3000 weapons charges. Democrats come back!"

Reality check: When Trump says "there were a total of 292,000 crimes by illegal aliens," he's actually citing the number of charges filed against undocumented immigrants. The number of actual convictions is much lower, according to the Texas Department of Public Safety. Trump is correct, however, in his claim that border arrests are up 240%. The timeframe for that statistic is December 2017 to December 2018, CNN reported this week.

Trump: "23% of Federal inmates are illegal immigrants."

Truth: According to the Federal Bureau of Prisons  whose data was last updated on November 24, 2018  19.3% of federal inmates are citizens of Colombia, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Mexico, or "other/unknown." The rest (80.7%) are U.S. citizens.

Trump: "[T]here were a total of 292,000 crimes by illegal aliens."

Truth: According to Texas DPS, there were 292,000 charges, but only 120,000 convictions between June 1, 2011, and December 31, 2018.

Trump: There were "539 murders."

Truth: Of 539 murder charges, 238 were convicted.

Trump: There were "32,000 assaults."

Truth: Of 32,443 assault charges, 13,559 were convicted.

Trump: There were "3,426 sexual assaults."

Truth: Of 3,428 sexual assault charges, 1,689 were convicted.

Trump: There were "3000 weapons charges."

Truth: Of 2,949 weapons charges, there were 1,280 convictions.

Go deeper: The truth about Trump's border crisis
Poland's arrest of a Huawei executive on charges of spying for China escalates an already-fraught dimension of the turbulent new era of geopolitics.

The big picture: A spate of arrests has broken out, with detentions of Americans and Canadians in China, Iran and Russia, and Chinese people jailed in Canada and now Poland. It appears to be unprecedented  political hostage-taking amid a modern trade war.

As weve reported, the tit-for-tat jailings in part suggest a new stage of hostility in the U.S.-China race for technological and economic dominance in the coming decades.

the tit-for-tat jailings in part suggest a new stage of hostility in the U.S.-China race for technological and economic dominance in the coming decades. The Chinese have set a very troubling precedent. You dont like it when one of your citizens gets arrested, you nab a few folks from that country," said Ian Bremmer, president of the Eurasia Group.

Driving the news: Poland announced today that it had arrested a man it identified only as "Weijing W.," a former diplomat in China's consulate in Gdansk. Authorities there said they also detained a former Polish security official, and charged both with spying for China, per AP.

Given China's actions to date, the Polish arrest seems bound to trigger a ferocious response from Beijing.

the Polish arrest seems bound to trigger a ferocious response from Beijing. Already, China on Monday will begin trying Robert Schellenberg, a Canadian facing the death penalty for alleged international drug trafficking.

will begin trying Robert Schellenberg, a Canadian facing the death penalty for alleged international drug trafficking. Schellenberg is one of three Canadians whom China has jailed since Dec. 1, when Canada arrested a senior Huawei official on charges of violating sanctions against Iran, reports the Globe and Mail. Huawei's chief financial officer, Meng Wanzhou, is out on bail now.

"Its the first time to my knowledge that tariffs and a trade war have led to arrests/de facto hostage taking."

 Ian Bremmer, president of the Eurasia Group

Thought bubble from Bill Bishop, writer of Axios China: "There is not a big Polish population in China, and I dont want to say anything irresponsible. But if I were a Pole in China, I would be nervous."

The practice is broader:

Wrapped up in spying and general longstanding rivalry, the Iran and Russia cases differ from the U.S.-China-Canada cases.

But they resemble each other in being part of how geopolitics is played now.

in being part of how geopolitics is played now. The "risk is once this becomes a tit for tat process, it provokes a downward spiral in relations that is tough to break," said Stephen Hadley, former national security adviser to George W. Bush.

Ivo Daalder, president of the Chicago Council on Global Affairs, said President Trump had erred by publicizing when hostages have been released. "Such public attention elevates the importance of hostages and gives nefarious actors an incentive to capture Americans in order to draw attention to their demands and causes," he said.

Go deeper: A new era of hostility in the U.S.-China fight
After President Trump fired former FBI director James Comey in May 2017, the FBI opened an investigation into whether Trump was secretly "working on behalf of Russia against American interests," the New York Times reports.

Details: Intelligence officials had their concerns about Trump's ties to Russia during the 2016 campaign, but held off on opening an investigation because of the sensitive and potentially explosive implications that it came with. It was only after Trump twice tied the firing of Comey to his desire to put an end to the Russia investigation that officials decided to launch an inquiry into "whether the presidents own actions constituted a possible threat to national security," per the Times.

The first red flag that alerted officials to the possibility that an investigation was necessary was an early draft of Comey's firing letter, in which Trump thanked Comey for telling him he was not a target of the Russia probe. The second was when Trump told NBC's Lester Holt in an interview that he had fired Comey because of the Russia investigation.

FBI officials reportedly felt validated when it was later revealed that Trump told Russian officials in the Oval Office, "I faced great pressure because of Russia. Thats taken off, just days after the Comey firing.

The investigation had both a counterintelligence and criminal aspect to it  with the criminal question being whether he had obstructed justice by firing Comey, per the Times. The probe has since been handed off to special counsel Robert Mueller.

The aggressive move to investigate Trump reportedly set off "a vigorous debate" within the Justice Department over whether FBI agents overreacted by opening the counterintelligence probe.

Statement from White House:

This is absurd. James Comey was fired because hes a disgraced partisan hack, and his Deputy Andrew McCabe, who was in charge at the time, is a known liar fired by the FBI. Unlike President Obama, who let Russia and other foreign adversaries push America around, President Trump has actually been tough on Russia.

 Press Secretary Sarah Sanders

Go deeper: Timeline  Every big move in the Mueller investigation
China is poised to gain global leverage with its dominance in clean-energy technologies, while poorer, fossil-fuel dependent nations like Libya are likely to be on the losing end in the worlds shift to cleaner sources of energy, according to a new report out today.

Expand chart Adapted from "A New World" report by Global Commission on the Geopolitics of Energy Transformation; Chart: Andrew Witherspoon/Axios

Why it matters: Fossil fuels, particularly oil, have been shaping history for the better part of the last century. Less well-known are the anticipated geopolitical impacts of the worlds slow, but clear shift to renewable energy sources, a transition set to play out unevenly around the world for decades to come.

Driving the news: The nearly 100-page report is coordinated by the International Renewable Energy Agency with input from experts and governments around the world. The United Arab Emirates, a major oil-exporting nation, has taken a leadership position on renewable energy by  perhaps ironically  hosting IRENA and the launch of this report.

The big picture:

The renewable energy transformation goes hand in hand with a dispersion of power. The modern nation state and the fossil fuel economy have evolved alongside one another. The decline of the fossil fuel era and the advent of decentralized power generation in an increasingly electrified world may have profound implications for the role of the nation state.

Highlights:

China is poised to benefit the most in the clean energy transition because of its leadership in renewable energy patents and its dependence on imports of fossil fuels, which would decline over time.

All nations heavily dependent upon fossil fuels are on the losing end, but some more than others. Less stable nations like Libya and Iraq are particularly vulnerable given they are less able to handle the transition than their richer, more stable counterparts that are similarly dependent on fossil fuels, like Saudi Arabia and Norway.

Renewable energy, particularly wind and solar, is inherently less vulnerable to geopolitical exploit given its not a tangible commodity like oil. Other concerns could arise, however, like clean tech dominance by countries like China.

Security choke points for oil, such as the Strait of Hormuz, could become relatively less important. Meanwhile, electricity as a potential geopolitical weapon or target for cyberattacks grows.

But, but, but: Many of the potential repercussions laid out in the report may only occur if theres a relatively rapid shift from fossil fuels to renewables. Some caveats...

Such a fast transformation would be likely if the 2015 Paris Climate Agreement is implemented and expanded upon, as stated rhetoric suggests. But so far, actual realized ambition to cut greenhouse gas emissions is not living up to those stated goals.

In 1987, fossil fuels accounted for 81% of the worlds energy consumption. Thirty years later, that figure hasnt changed

Go deeper: Brookings: The economic case for staying in the Paris agreement
White House National Security Advisor John Bolton issued a statement Friday saying the U.S. "does not recognize Venezuelan dictator Nicolas Maduros illegitimate claim to power."

"We hold the illegitimate Maduro regime directly responsible for the safety of all Venezuelans who cry out demanding to freely choose their leaders. We will continue to use the full weight of United States economic and diplomatic power to press for the restoration of a Venezuelan democracy that reverses the current constitutional crisis."

The big picture: Maduro began his second six-year term Thursday after winning a sham election in which he deposed or intimidated all of his legitimate challengers. His government has contributed to a massive humanitarian crisis in Venezuela, with nearly 90% of population in poverty and 3 million citizens fleeing the country as economic refugees. The U.S. joins 14 Latin American countries that have labeled Maduro's presidency "illegitimate."
Fireworks near the Statue of Liberty in New York City marking the end of New York State's pandemic restrictions in New York State and honoring frontline workers. Photo: Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images

New Yorkers and Californians celebrated most COVID-19 restrictions lifting on Tuesday, as the two states became the latest to move toward fully reopening their economies.

The big picture: The pandemic has now claimed over 600,000 lives in the U.S., but vaccines have helped drive down the seven-day average to roughly 14,000 new cases and fewer than 400 deaths per day, helping most states to ease restrictions.
Image: Southwest Airlines

Remembering Herb Kelleher

Just wanted to say thank you for publishing Myron Nelsons beautifully crafted remembrance of the late Herb Kelleher. It was spot on. I was privileged to oversee the induction ceremony of Herb in 2008 (along with Sean Tucker and two others), while serving as Executive Director of the National Aviation Hall of Fame. By that time, I had known Herb for three years, but it felt to all of us at the NAHF that we were welcoming a lifetime friend to Dayton for the party. One volunteer recalls going out during the ceremony to grab a smoke, only to find it was Herb that gave him a light!

The stories are legendary  and countless. I am grateful to have additionally had his enthusiastic participation in the National Aviation Heritage Invitational along with other NAHF enshrinees at Reno annually. Unforgettable times. He was a titan of the business community but did not act like it. We all benefit from his legacy. Thanks again to Myron for sharing. He is not alone in his admiration for this innovative maverick of American aviation and commerce. R.I.P. Herb Kelleher.

Ron Kaplan

Herb was man who knew the value of his employees, appreciated them, and encouraged them to grow as professionals in their respective jobs. That pride in demonstrated performance is always refreshing whenever I board a SW flight. His humor was infectious. He looked at his company and its employees as something to protect while nurturing its growth. That is rare in the business world today, airlines or otherwise. He promoted a company philosophy that every employee counts and the customer deserves the best employees. Great article. Thank you for sharing from an employees perspective.

Jim Holdeman

Many years ago, I had the opportunity to fly Southwest on Halloween night. It was truly an example of Herbs influence on having fun at work. The gate agent was Frankenstein, complete with green skin and a bolt through his neck. One of the flight attendants was impressed that I guessed his costume as a character from the obscure movie, A Clockwork Orange. That actually netted me a free drink. And, nothing inspires confidence in the crew as seeing your captain, dressed in a tutu, enter the cockpit. Rest in peace, Herb. You will be missed.

John McNamee

Government Shutdown

With the FSDOs closed, you cant get ferry permits. I have a C182 stranded.

Larry Stencel

Another effect on GA: no approvals of operating limitations so no airworthiness certificates for newly completed homebuilts. I got this email on Friday: From: _________ Sent: Friday, January 4, 2019 1:40 AM Subject: Automatic reply: Operating Limitations for your approval I am not in the office due to a lapse in funding. I will respond to your e-mail upon my return. If you need immediate assistance, please call ___________. Aviation Safety Inspector, Mfg.

Art Zemon

SpaceX Releases Image Of Spaceship

Operational Starships would obviously have windows, etc. Not totally obvious. Its largely dark out there, and windows are heavy. Multi-spectrum cameras might be the way to go.

Thomas Boyle

The photograph included with todays SpaceX article is extremely misleading. That is not a photograph, but rather a rendering of a fantasy. Please do a quick internet search and examine what it actually being built in order to understand how ridiculous this starship project is.

An honest publication would put out a correction with a photograph of what is actually being built which resembles a billionaires junior high science project. SpaceX has had several failed fundraising attempts recently and this starship just reeks of desperation if you examine what is actually being built.

Scott Stearns

Looks like something out of a cartoon, or a 1950s space movie.

Thomas Ibach

Bernoulli Effect Letter

Good morning! Let me begin by saying that I really enjoy AvWeb and the articles that it provides, and it was nice to meet Paul at XPonential 2018 in Denver last May. Having studied aerodynamics (undergraduate through Ph.D.) and having taught it for 14 years in the Aerospace Department of Middle Tennessee State University to pilots (student through CFII) and engineers, I have found that misconceptions concerning lift production are pervasive in aviation.

Fluid dynamics is a conceptually and mathematically rich field full of nuance and intuition defying relationships. Pilot focused literature and CFI-to-student lessons are fraught with oversimplifications (or errors) on aerodynamics, particularly lift production. Even among those who study and conduct research in this field, there can be disagreements about what description of lift is more basic/fundamental; however, a correct and simple presentation of lift production is possible. The Bernoulli Effect letter presented in AvWeb Flash betrays a lack of understanding of the topic that would more than likely cause confusion for anyone without a firm grasp on the subject.

Nate Callender
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Guwahati, Jan 12 : The high-powered committee formed by the Union Home Ministry to look into the implementation of Clause 6 of the Assam Accord of 1985 has hit troubled from beginning after six of the nine members of the committee including former bureaucrat M P Bezbaruah, who is head of the committee have refused to be a part of it.

M P Bezbaruah, who head of the high-powered committee formed by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on January 7 has sent a letter to the MHA and refused to head the government nominated committee.

Former Union Tourism Secretary M P Bezbaruah said that, he had already conveyed his decision to the MHA.

When the representatives of the civil society have refused to be part of the government nominated committee, it is untenable for me to continue it, M P Bezbaruah said.

Bezbaruah is the sixth member of the high-powered committee, who refused to join in the panel.

The MHA on January 7 had formed a high-powered committee headed by retired IAS officer MP Bezbaruah to look into the implementation of Clause 6 of the Assam Accord of 1985.

The Committee includes retired IAS officer Subhash Das, former president of Asom Sahitya Sabha Dr Nagen Saikia, journalist Dhiren Bezbaruah, Assam Attorney General Ramesh Borpatragohain, educationalist Dr Mukuna Rajbangshi, former president of Asom Sahitya Sabha Rongbong Terang, joint secretary of MHA and a representative of All Assam Students Union (AASU).

But recently, its member Dr Nagen Saikia, Rongbong Terang, Mukunda Rajbangshi, Dhiren Bezbaruah and a nominee of the influential All Assam Students' Union (AASU) had quit the panel.

The Union Cabinet had on January 2 approved the setting up of the committee.

The committee was formed as per a Union cabinet decision to pacify the peoples furor over the controversial Citizenship Amendment Bill, 2016.
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Other View: If Trump is looking for a national emergency, he should try this
Guwahati : The Gauhati High Court on Friday had granted interim bail to Assamese literature and Sahitya Akademi awardee Dr Hiren Gohain, activist Akhil and absolute bail to former journalist Manjit Mahanta in the sedition case filed by the Assam police for their alleged Sovereignty in Assam remarks over the Citizenship Amendment Bill, 2016.

According to the reports, Justice H K Sarma granted bail to Dr Gohain and Akhil Gogoi against a surety Rs 5000 each and directed the police to file the case diary by January 22.

The Assam police had registered a suo-motu case at Latasil police station in Guwahati (case no  15/2019) under sections 120 (B), 121, 123 and 124 (A) of the Indian Panel Code (IPC).

Dr Gohain, Akhil Gogoi and former journalist Manjit Mahanta were booked under sections related to sedition after their comments on the probability of the resurgence of a fight for sovereignty in Assam during a protest rally against the Citizenship Amendment Bill, 2016 held in Guwahati on January 7 last.

Dr Hiren Gohain and Assam farmer leader Akhil Gogoi had raised the sovereignty of Assam issue publically in the meeting organised by Save Assam Forum to protest against the Citizenship Bill.

Dr Hiren Gohain said at that meeting that  If the Government of India, other organisations of the country will not hear our voices, there is no other option for us to raise the sovereignty of Assam issue.

On the other hand, Assam farmer leader Akhil Gogoi said that, if the bill is accepted in the parliament, then the Assamese people will be no more with Indian stand.

We will declare sovereignty in Assam. This is an unconstitutional, illegal and unethical bill, so this bill should be immediately scrapped, Akhil Gogoi said.

Reacting over the police case, Dr Gohain said that, he was surprised following the police move.

At that day, a public meeting was organised to protest against the bill and everybody allowed to speak in their mind there. Some people did raise question of Swadin Asom. When our right to speech is gagged, our movements are restricted, not allow to our grievances, in the sense this is a battle for freedom. We are fighting to regain the freedoms guaranteed by the constitution, Dr Gohain said.

On the other hand, All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) MLA Anuwar Hussain Laskar said that, the state government has intentionally registered the case against Dr Gohain and two others in charge of sedition.

Earlier, BJP MLA Shiladitya Dev, BJP national president Amit Shah had also made some serious provocative statements. But, no such case was registered against them. The BJP and the both centre and state government are playing vote bank politics and want to grant Indian citizenship to the Hindu Bangladeshis to secure their vote bank. We are strongly condemned it, Anuwar Hussain Laskar said.

It is be mentioned that, the Citizenship Amendment Bill, 2016, which is aimed to grant Indian citizenship to the Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, Parsi and Christian refugees from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan has been passed in Lok Sabha.

(Reporting by Hemanta Kumar Nath, Guwahati)
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Guwahati, Jan 10 : Protests against the Citizenship Amendment Bill, 2016 continued on Thursday in Assam with students, farmers, artists of the state raising their voices against the bill.

In Guwahati, protesters of Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti (KMSS), Asom Jatiyatabadi Yuba Chatra Parishad (AJYCP) and other organisations had staged protest outside of the Assam secretariat.

With 'gamosas' (Assamese scarf of honour) in hand, the protesters observed Sankalpa Divas and shouted slogans against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), RSS.

The protesters warned that Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union cabinet ministers, BJP leaders will not be allowed to visit Assam if their interests are harmed.

On the other hand, students of many colleges in the state took out protest rallies across the state against the bill.

The students had burnt effigies of PM Narendra Modi, Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal and the Citizenship Bill at Biswanath Chariali.

Apart from it, the artists of the state had also staged protest against the bill in various parts of the state.
Switzerland is a politically neutral country, yet it has a strong military. All across the Swiss alps are military installation and bunkers carefully hidden so as to blend into the surrounding landscape. Some of them are camouflaged as huge rocks, others as quiet villas or barns that could open up in the event of an emergency to reveal cannons and heavy machine guns that could blow any approaching army to smithereens. Enormous caverns are dugout on the mountain side to function as ad-hoc airbases with hangars. Every major bridge, tunnel, road and railway has been rigged so they could be deliberately collapsed, whenever required, to keep enemy armies out. Highways can be converted into runways by quickly removing the grade separations in between the lanes.

Is that a rock? Photo credit

The country has nuclear fallout shelters in every home, institutions and hospitals, as well as nearly 300,000 bunkers and 5,100 public shelters that could accommodate the entire Swiss population if required. Switzerland also has one of the largest armies on a per capita basis, with 200,000 active personnel and 3.6 million available for service. Every male citizen under 34 years old (under 50 in some cases) is a reserve soldier. Soldiers are even allowed to take all personally assigned weapons to home. If anyone were to invade Switzerland, they would find a nation armed to the teeth.

In his 1984 book, La Place de la Concorde Suisse, acclaimed New Yorker author John McPhee quoted a Swiss officer as saying: "Switzerland doesn't have an army, Switzerland is an army." Indeed, Switzerlands powerful citizen army has helped preserve the countrys neutrality and keep neighboring countries from invading Swiss territory. The country hasn't been involved in any military conflict for 200 years.

A bunker disguised as a house. Photo credit

Fortification of the Swiss alpine region began in the 1880s. They were intensified and modernized during the World War and again during the Cold War period. But today, as a neutral country with no immediate threats to its borders, most of the bunkers lie empty and many are falling into disrepair. Some have been converted into shelters for homeless people, others house things like museums and hotels.

The Swiss government considered closing them down but the cost of decommissioning  an estimated $1 billion  far surpasses what it takes annually to maintain them. While the matter is still debated, the bunkers are likely to stay because they still provide use as fallout shelters. "Neutrality is no guarantee against radioactivity," they say. In 1978, a law was passed requiring all new buildings to incorporate a shelter. If a family decides against building a shelter, they must pay for a place in the public shelter. Switzerland is the only country in the world that could provide protection to its entire population of 8 million, and more.

Another bunker disguised as a barn. Photo credit

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Sources: MiGFlug / Swissinfo.ch / NY Times / RT.com / The Guardian
"I have decided to run and will be making a formal announcement within the next week," the Hawaii Democrat told CNN's Van Jones during an interview slated to air at 7 p.m. Saturday on CNN's "The Van Jones Show."

Representative Tulsi Gabbard of Hawaii threw her hat into the ring for the 2020 presidential election, telling CNN's Van Jones , the (formerly?) open communist and CNN host:

If Gabbard were a Republican, she commonly would be described as a "maverick," for she openly tweaks the Democrats' leadership on a variety of issues and resigned as party vice chairman in order to support the candidacy of Bernie Sanders over Hillary Clinton. She has unorthodox positions on a number of issues and defies categorization, even though she is generally progressive-left.

From the conversation with Jones:

"There are a lot of reasons for me to make this decision. There are a lot of challenges that are facing the American people that I'm concerned about and that I want to help solve," she said, listing health care access, criminal justice reform and climate change as key platform issues.

Those are all issues that are broadly popular among Dems, but when it gets to foreign policy, she has strong views that are way outside the Dem mainstream. Fox News:

After Donald Trump was elected, she met with the then president-elect to discuss the war in Syria. Last year, Gabbard came under intense criticism  including from some Democrats  for traveling to that country and meeting with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, whose government lawmakers have accused of war crimes and even genocide during that country's brutal civil war.

The Free Beacon adds:

It was reported that Gabbard did not file necessary forms with the House Ethics Committee disclosing who paid for her trip to Syria as well as who else she may have met with there. Two months later, she was criticized by fellow Democrats for not blaming Assad for a gas attack that killed at least 100 civilians.

The Russian-owned website Sputnik News loves her, headlining, "Tulsi Gabbard Speaks the Truth on Syria, Gets Smeared by the Mainstream Media."

And a "cheat sheet" issued by the RNC after her announcement called her "Saddam's Mouthpiece in Washington," as Politico's Mark Caputo noted:

Assads mouthpiece in Washington RNC welcomes Tulsi Gabbard to the presidential race with a moniker that many liberals probably agree with as well pic.twitter.com/WJJrP1aJv1  Marc Caputo (@MarcACaputo) January 12, 2019

One of her unorthodox positions among Democrats is her criticism of President Obama for failing to take the Islamic threat seriously and her claim that Obama is working hand in hand with Islamic extremists. But she is no fan of President Trump, even blaming him for the false missile alert in Hawaii.

She is a veteran of two tours in Iraq, having served in a medical unit as a major in the National Guard, and is the first Samoan-heritage American elected to Congress, as well as the first Hindu woman, bringing those "diversity points" so beloved of Democrats.

Most recently, to her immense credit, she denounced the anti-Catholic religious bigotry of Senator Feinstein and, implicitly, fellow Hawaiian Mazie Hirono and Kamala Harris.

She probably has made too many enemies in the Democratic Party to win, but I cannot rule out anything happening in this cycle with a huge and growing field and a fanatical desire to defeat President Trump. My guess is that she is so unusual, opinionated, well spoken, and different that she has the potential to come out of nowhere, as Barack Obama did, to become a wild card nominee. She is also so young (38) that this cycle is more likely a warm-up for a future run.
Ocasio-Cortez picks a new fight, this time with the Democrat dinosaurs

So far, so good. Far-left socialist Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, 29, has managed to P.O. more Democrats with her tweets, her latest one going after the age of Connecticut Sen. Joe Lieberman, 76, who said he didn't think she was the future of the Democratic Party. With characteristic class, Ocasio-Cortez tweeted this to Lieberman: "New party, who dis?" To be fair, Lieberman started it: "With all respect, I certainly hope she's not the future and I don't believe she is," said Lieberman, who was the Democratic Party's vice presidential nominee in the 2000 election.

All respect? I didn't read any "all respect" in that one. I read "all disgust." The "future" Lieberman refers to was clearly in reference to Ocasio-Cortez's youth, because let's face it: youth is always the future. She returned fire, "pooping on" (as Whoopi Goldberg likes to say) another one. It's her party's own doing. She unwittingly reminded everyone that Democrats really do have an age problem. They would rather that not be noticed. But they do. They are the party of the establishment. They are the party of dinosaurs. Their leadership is positively Jurassic. Few new voices or faces have made their way into leading positions now that Nancy Pelosi (age 78) has retaken the House speaker's gavel. Old Democrats hoard power and take it seriously, shutting out the young. Everyone can notice it, except them. Even the Democrats' policies  piling on government debt for the young to pay; driving up health care costs for the young, who don't use much health care (and, as Mitch McConnell himself once told a group of us when I was working at a newspaper, that comes right out of state education budgets); minimum wage hikes, which kick away the lowest rungs on the jobs ladder, the ones the young otherwise take; government centralization of student loan debt, which has forced students to borrow more; inability to discharge student loan debt in bankruptcy; and President Obama's "mom's basement" plan for a zero-jobs economy, are all pro-old-people policies, either by design or by default. They sure as heck don't support the young. Ocasio-Cortez, who thinks socialism will fix this, wouldn't know anything about a solution, but she's right that Democrats are not youth-friendly in any sense. And so she went and picked another fight. A sassy young whippersnapper not even old enough to run for president is precisely what these Democrats deserve. Obviously, by this response, it's clear she's going to continue to be their problem. To quote Alan Moore: None of you understand. I'm not locked up in here with YOU. You're locked up in here with ME.  https://t.co/8TCmKNJlkD  Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) January 11, 2019 She's actually getting famous for infuriating her fellow Democrats, drunk on the arrogance of her Twitter power and social-media good looks. Penny Starr of Blabberbuzz News has a pretty good list of all the things she has done to irritate her fellow Democrats. I will paraphrase them here. Vowed to primary her fellow Democrats in coming elections.

Refusal to vote for House pay-go rules, something even the Democrats' House Progressive Caucus wanted a "yes" vote on. (Ocasio-Cortez wants to be free to spend like Hugo Chavez.)

Grandstanding all the time on Twitter.

Openly campaigning for senior committee seats, ignoring seniority, using her Twitter mob to fire.

Fighting with Democrats instead of Republicans (this sank Jeb Bush on the right side).

Making other Democrats as afraid of tangling with her as they are a skunk with a bad smell. This is interesting, because not too long ago, she was really turning on the charm, sucking up to them teacher's-pet style. I wrote about how she was angling for prestigious committee positions from the dinosaurs here. It didn't work. She got no Ways and Means Committee assignment; nobody wanted her near the congressional body that sets taxes. She also (apparently, or at least so far) got no Energy and Commerce Committee seat, nobody wants her taking over the economy in the name of restating President Obama's failed 'green' economic agenda  everyone knows how well that worked out with Obama. Her little fight with outgoing White House chief of staff John Kelly may have paid her dividends, according to the latest leaks, although nothing is sure yet. Ocasio-Cortez brought up the old dead cat of what Kelly said about Rep. Fredericka Wilson (D-Fla.) at some building open, a non-issue to everyone except Wilson, which was obviously a favor to her close ally, House Financial Services Committee chairwoman Maxine Waters. She rilly, rilly, rilly wanted a seat on that committee, she insulted Kelly to get it, and well, maybe she got it. So you can see that Jurassic Democrats are schooling her in carrot and stick, as Politico noted. But mostly, she failed to impress, and now they're trying to sideline her. But that makes her their little nightmare, free to snipe at all the congressional representatives who denied her the seats she wanted on the choice committees she hankered for, in favor of other candidates, and she will. Nice job, Ocasio-Cortez  your great achievements so far in Congress is pretty well annoying almost every member of the Democratic Party. Yet despite the dinosaur issue, her fights seem to be more about her amazing sense of entitlement  arrogance, really. "New party," as she tweeted, meaning that it belongs to her now, not to them. She really does think she's entitled to all the power, over all the others, including the old, including the better behaved Democrats who don't embarrass the party, including even the other young. Gimme, gimme, gimme, and all she knows (as one commentator on Blabberbuzz noted) is how to serve tacos and margaritas. For conservatives, that's the gift that keeps on giving. The more she says, the better it gets, because voters notice, and she turns off a lot of voters. All we can hope is: 'More, please,' a Republican Senate aide told DailyMail.com on Friday. 'Honestly, if the Democrats had 3 more of her, Americans would run away so fast that we'd have a power monopoly until she's Lieberman's age.'
The New York Times published a story that's hard to comprehend. After Trump fired FBI director James Comey, the bureau opened an investigation into the president to see if he was a Russian agent.

In the days after President Trump fired James B. Comey as F.B.I. director, law enforcement officials became so concerned by the president's behavior that they began investigating whether he had been working on behalf of Russia against American interests, according to former law enforcement officials and others familiar with the investigation. The inquiry carried explosive implications. Counterintelligence investigators had to consider whether the president's own actions constituted a possible threat to national security. Agents also sought to determine whether Mr. Trump was knowingly working for Russia or had unwittingly fallen under Moscow's influence. The investigation the F.B.I. opened into Mr. Trump also had a criminal aspect, which has long been publicly known: whether his firing of Mr. Comey constituted obstruction of justice.

So let me get this straight. Top-level FBI employees with demonstrable anti-Trump bias and hatred opened an investigation to see if the president of the United States was a paid Russian agent? All because he fired an incompetent director whose own inspector general said, "'Insubordinate' Ex-FBI Director James Comey repeatedly violated policy and inaccurately described the legal situation surrounding Clinton's emails"?

The inspector general investigated all of the principles in this story for "anti-Trump bias." And the New York Times  or anyone else  finds it surprising that their paranoid imaginings about Trump led to an official investigation?

Trump tweeted this morning:

...Funny thing about James Comey. Everybody wanted him fired, Republican and Democrat alike. After the rigged & botched Crooked Hillary investigation, where she was interviewed on July 4th Weekend, not recorded or sworn in, and where she said she didnt know anything (a lie),....  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 12, 2019

....the FBI was in complete turmoil (see N.Y. Post) because of Comeys poor leadership and the way he handled the Clinton mess (not to mention his usurpation of powers from the Justice Department). My firing of James Comey was a great day for America. He was a Crooked Cop......  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 12, 2019

Scott Johnson at Powerline:

The Times story exposes more than one scandal. It exposes the overlapping scandals of which Trump is the victim, not the perpetrator. They are the biggest scandals in American political history. One does not need to be a clinician to get a handle on the madness that permeates the Times story. There is an utter lack of self-awareness. The actors here  the Times and their sources  share the understanding that the story reflects poorly on Trump. As Paul puts it, however: "If it's true that the FBI undertook the investigation described by the Times, this tells us plenty about the FBI. It tells us nothing about Trump." Quotable quote: "The special counsel, Robert S. Mueller III, took over the inquiry into Mr. Trump when he was appointed, days after F.B.I. officials opened it."

What it tells us about the FBI is that the agency was so besotted with Trump-hatred that it opened a treason inquiry into the actions of a sitting president. The timing of the investigation suggests that it was a revenge investigation for firing the bureau's director.

The fiction that FBI officials and agents who hated Trump did not let their bias color their "professional" behavior was debunked by the I.G. report on the Clinton email investigation. There was bias, the I.G. reported it, and it clearly affected their judgment.

But that interferes with the narrative being pushed by the Times. So it's conveniently forgotten.
This is 2019. Can anyone really be so ignorant as to wonder out loud why terms like "white nationalism" and "white supremacy" are considered offensive?

The Hill:

King's remarks to The New York Times about the terms white nationalist and white supremacist are far from the first time his comments have led to criticism from fellow Republicans. "White nationalist, white supremacist, Western civilization  how did that language become offensive?" he was quoted as telling the Times in a story published on Thursday. "Why did I sit in classes teaching me about the merits of our history and our civilization?"

To paraphrase Meatloaf, "One out of three ain't bad." But to equate the left's dissing of Western civilization with the terms "white nationalist" and "white supremacist" is cuckoo.

Senator Tim Scott penned an op-ed in the Washington Post calling on Republicans to denounce King:

King's comments are not conservative views but separate views that should be ridiculed at every turn possible. Conservative principles mean equal opportunity for all to succeed, regardless of what you look like or where you are from. It is maddening to see so many folks who believe this and have only good intentions in their hearts tarnished by these radical perspectives. That is why silence is no longer acceptable. It is tempting to write King  or other extremists on race issues, such as black-nationalist Louis Farrakhan  as lonely voices in the wilderness, but they are far more dangerous than that. They continue to rip at the fabric of our nation, a country built on hope, strength and diversity. It is the opposite of civility and fairness and will lead only to more pain and suffering.

Responding to Scott, several GOP leaders condemned King's remarks.

In a statement, House minority leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) decried King's remarks.

"Everything about white supremacy and white nationalism goes against who we are as a nation," McCarthy said. "Steve's language is reckless, wrong, and has no place in our society. The Declaration of Independence states that 'all men are created equal.' That is a fact. It is self-evident." House Minority Whip Steve Scalise, R-La., said that it was "offensive" that King would "try to legitimize" that kind of rhetoric, adding that white supremacy is "evil." King had told the New York Times he wasn't sure how terms such as "white nationalist, white supremacy, [and] Western civilization" became offensive language. "I think it's offensive to try to legitimize those terms," Scalise told reporters in his office in the Capitol. "I think it's important that he rejected that kind of evil, because that's what it is: evil ideology."

It's one thing to be "racially insensitive." It's an entirely different matter to be hateful. Steve King is a hateful man who espouses evil ideas. This goes far beyond "political correctness." It is an assault on American values and American freedoms, and King, who will likely face a primary challenger in 2020, should be cast into the outer darkness by decent people from both parties.
Ahead of that, the tax-protesting revolutionaries, who lit the bonfire last November over the French government's scheme to raise fuel taxes in the name of "going green," have not only forced the unpopular government of President Emmanuel Macron to delay its much loathed fuel tax, but taken the battle to a related quality-of-life front that hurts them a lot : speed cameras. Those Orwellian devices that are everywhere in France, monitoring how fast people drive and issuing automated tickets for even the slightest over-the-limit infraction.

Lucky France. The yellow vest protests are showing no signs of letting up. In fact, France is revving up for a new round from les gilets jaunes , so it's going to get ugly once again.

The yellow vests have trashed more than half of the detested devices. Newsweek reports the figure at 60%:

The "gilets jaunes" (yellow vest) [sic  the term as written here means "yellow vests" DJB] protest movement that brought parts of France to a standstill has also resulted in the destruction of almost two-thirds of the country's speed-camera network.

...and...

Christophe Castaner, France's interior minister, said Thursday: "Nearly 60 percent of speed cameras have been degraded since the start of the Yellow Vest movement.

This comes as a delight to anyone who has lived in Los Angeles and known the joy of opening up one of those red-light camera notices for not getting across a left turn light soon enough, accompanied by a $500 fine. In Los Angeles, a lot of those got damaged, too, before voters threw that garbage out back in 2011.

The French, with a political class that couldn't care less about them, don't have that option, so they're trashing the things, and for good reason.

First, the French traffic fines are ubiquitous, and the government has set the stage for this by ramping them up. The fines are very high: $70 just for going as little as a single kilometer over the speed limit on a first offense, and as the tourist boards show, oh, yes, they do issue them  and hunt you into the grave to get them. They even fine people for having red light camera-detectors  $32,000, two years' jail, and three years' license suspension. They've also reduced the speed limit, even in rural areas, where higher speeds are a necessity, to one size fits all for geographically diverse, "246 kinds of cheese" France, all in the name of "safety," or as the Brits would say, "your own good."

Is it all really for "safety," as the French elites are telling the press?

Quartz reports that they're looking to shake out $1.4 billion this year from the speeders, according to their budget, which is a 50% rise over 2016 and a 12% rise over last year. They've also got a budget crisis based on overspending that is enough to worry the profligate European Union, according to NBC News. Here is what Quartz reported just weeks before the gilets jaunes began their protest:

This has been a bad year for French drivers. Anne Hidalgo, mayor of Paris, announced a ban on diesel cars registered between 2001 and 2005, which represents about 6.4 million vehicles in France, as well as traffic restrictions to combat pollution. And the government of president Emmanuel Macron passed a controversial law reducing the speed limit on undivided rural roads from 90 kilometers per hour to 80 kph (about 50 miles per hour). Officials say this measure will save lives. It will also raise a lot of money: Budget estimates (pdf) for 2019 show that the government expects to make 1.2 billion ($1.4 billion) from speed-radar fines, an increase of 12% from 2018's estimate  and an almost 50% increase from 2016, according to French financial newspaper Les Echos (link in French).

Obviously, they're using taxes and fines on transport matters  from speeding to tickets to fuel taxes  to cut into the freedom of the "little people" and keep their big overspending government budget, keeping the government big, keeping the government powerful, keeping the government comfortable, all while making the little people feel like sinners. They're relying on fines to do it, lots and lots of fines  same tactic that made Ferguson, Missouri's lawmen so popular among the locals. Funny how this becomes the preferred tactic for budgetary continence in totally blue regions. Now France has approximately the same response Ferguson had when a single incident set off a conflagration.

Smart governance, what? The yellow vests are revving up again, and everyone's got one he can put on. They've got fines, after all, for not having a yellow vest in one's car - about $155 in U.S. dollar terms.

France's elites deserve this.
National security adviser John Bolton has never suffered fools gladly , so just now, from Abu Dhabi, he's let Venezuela's dictator, Nicolas Maduro, have it, telling him to cut the clown show in Caracas and just get out.

The United States stepped up its criticism of Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro on Saturday with an explicit call for the formation of a new government in the South American country. The U.S. State Department said in a statement that it stood behind the head of Venezuela's opposition-run congress, Juan Guaido, who said on Friday that he was prepared to step into the presidency temporarily to replace Maduro. The statement was the latest in a series of Trump administration attacks on Maduro, whose inauguration to a new term as president on Thursday has been widely denounced as illegitimate.

Bolton's remarks are refreshing, because he's not even pretending Maduro's president these days. He actually isn't, because, having gotten himself into office by a fraud election and then illegally swearing himself in in front of judges instead of the opposition legislature, as the law says he must, he hardly is.

First thing we see from this is a new U.S. willingness to take a logical response from the reality on the ground, and that's good. That's also new, because for 20 years, the U.S. kept pretending.

Second, Bolton's saying what everyone in the region is thinking and, up until now, has been too afraid to say. He knows he has these nations behind him, so what we are seeing is that America is finally taking the lead, and there may well be an avalanche of other nations to follow.

Third, what we are seeing for the first time is a plan. They've got a dissident leader of the National Assembly, Juan Guaido, a 35-year-old guy of unknown merits who trotted out a beauty queen-style wife (this isn't promising in times of revolution or when locals are starving, but, OK), who says he intends to battle Maduro. That's promising enough. He also said this:

Guaido, speaking to a crowd blocking a Caracas street a day after Maduro's inauguration, said he was willing to become interim leader. But he said he would need support from the public, the armed forces and other countries and international groups before trying to form a transitional government to hold new elections to replace Maduro.

The man has been billed as a part of a "new generation" of opposition leaders (Venezuela's opposition has been opposing Venezuela's Chavista communist one-party rule for so long that its members are moving into generations), and he's saying he's willing to step in as interim leader, a fairly brave thing to say in a thug dictatorship that has thrown top political opposition leaders into Chavista dungeons. It's also a bold thing to say  none of the others have done it before him. His plan is obvious: he will move into that void once the public, the military, and foreign countries are behind him.

Bolton just set the stage for that with these remarks, and secretary of state Mike Pompeo acted as a valuable wingman.

"The Maduro regime is illegitimate and the United States will continue ... to work diligently to restore a real democracy to that country," he said. "We are very hopeful that we can be force for good to allow the region to come together to deliver that."

With everyone on the same page now, one can see the outlines of the stage in Venezuela being set for action.

Image credit: Gage Skidmore via Flickr, CC BY-SA 3.0.
The latest trick is "fact-checking" President Trump in "real time." I don't recall any mainstream news networks fact-checking Barack Obama. In anticipation of Trump's first Oval Office address, and immediately following, the anti-Trump resistance media went into fact-check mode.

American media have abandoned their primary job of reporting the news. Gone are the days of telling readers and viewers the who, what, where, when, and why. Now it's telling the audience what to think, after filtering the news story through layers of bias and activism.

There was this CNN headline: "Fact-checking Trump's immigration speech."

NPR jumped in with "FACT CHECK: Trump's Oval Office Pitch for A Border Wall," followed by the New York Times: "Trump's Speech to the Nation: Fact Checks and Background." And then Politico: "Fact check: Trump's speech on border crisis."

A CNN crank even encouraged fact-checkers to prepare for Trump's eight-minute speech as they would for a triathlon, with proper nutrition and rest.

It's as though all the major media organizations read from the same playbook. Perhaps they do. A few years ago, "[a]n off-the-record online meeting space called JournoList" was revealed. The same sort of thing likely still does exist in some other name or form, allowing such immediate coordinated attacks by news organizations that are ostensibly in competition with each other. Yet their reporting and headlines are so coordinated as to suggest a form of collusion or conspiracy. Maybe Robert Mueller can investigate this.

Some degree of fact-checking is reasonable, if it's applied equally to leaders of both political parties, but not when it becomes the entire story. Before President Trump even uttered a word, the fact-checkers were lined up, ready to provide real-time rebuttals to every word Trump uttered.

But who fact-checks the fact-checkers? Why are we supposed to believe CNN or MSNBC and their supposed fact-checkers? These are the same media organizations that ignored the blatant lies about the Benghazi video or "hands up, don't shoot." They refused to fact-check "if you like your insurance and doctor, you can keep them." They doctored George Zimmerman's 911 call to make him sound like a racist.

There are myriad stories of fake news, enough for President Trump to create a top-ten list and give an award for the worst of the stories. Even then, the Washington Post couldn't resist "Fact-checking President Trump's Fake News Awards." What happens when even fact-checking is fake news?

Let's look at a few of many examples.

CNN tweeted after Trump's address, "Fact check: President Trump misleadingly claims drugs will kill more Americans than the Vietnam War." Time to fact-check the fact-checkers.

According to the National Archives, there were "58,220 US military fatal casualties of the Vietnam War." The Centers for Disease Control reports approximately 70,000 deaths in 2017 in the U.S. from drug overdoses. The Vietnam War is said to have lasted from 1955 to 1975, or 20 years. This translates to an annualized 3,000 deaths per year in Vietnam, less than 5 percent of the number of drug overdose deaths per year.

Who is misleading? Obviously, CNN reporters are unable to perform simple research or do basic arithmetic.

If the fact-checkers can't catch Trump lying, as they hope to do, they will claim he is "misleading." The Washington Post actually published this on its website: "266,000 aliens arrested in the past two years: The number is right but misleading." Wow  Trump was actually right. Imagine that.

The Washington Post's beef is that "[t]he quarter million arrests cover all types of offenses, including illegal entry or reentry." So what? Trump said "aliens arrested." He didn't specify why they were arrested. How is that misleading?

Is not "illegal entry or reentry" a crime? Shouldn't those who commit such crimes be arrested and deported? Perhaps if such crimes were handled according to the rule of law, Kate Steinle and Officer Ronil Singh would still be with their families.

When "misleading" doesn't cut it for the fact-checkers, they step in a big steaming pile of fake news, inadvertently making Trump's case for him. Here are two examples of this.

When President Trump claimed that one in three women are sexually assaulted on their trek through Mexico, CBS, rather than saying Trump was overstating and exaggerating, instead confirmed what he said, and then some. They cited Amnesty International data showing that 60 to 80 percent of women were being raped, bolstering Trump's assertion.

CBS removed its tweet, as it was counterproductive to their fact-checking mission, but the internet remembers. Trump was right, and in their zeal to catch him in a fib, CBS actually confirmed the veracity of his claim.

Lastly, everyone's favorite CNN stooge, Jim Acosta, stepped in it bigly on the southern border ahead of the president's visit. He tweeted a video of himself standing in front of a border wall in McAllen, Texas consisting of steel slats and noting that the "community is quite safe."

Poor Jim isn't smart enough to draw the obvious conclusion: that having a border wall makes America safer. Even a wall that doesn't "run the entire length of the border" is still a deterrent to illegal crossings and the associated crime. In other words, the wall is working  just as it's supposed to and as Trump asserts. The smartest "resistance reporter" in the room unintentionally made Trump's case.

He also neglected to mention that the area where he was walking was obviously safe and secure ahead of the president's visit. Or that mischief and mayhem tend to occur under the cover of darkness, not in the middle of the day when he made his stroll.

If he wanted to report honestly, he would pitch a tent where there is no fence or wall and live there for a week. Then he can decide if things are "quite safe."

The smuggest reporter of all doesn't realize he isn't as smart as he thinks he is and is truly "a smartass," as White House adviser Kellyanne Conway noted.

Why is President Trump the only person worthy of big media fact-checking? What about the numerous members of Congress or other Deep State operatives who spout off about Trump being a Nazi or a traitor? Where are the media fact-checkers to point out the absurdity of such statements?

And who fact-checks the media? Their ombudsmen are supposed to do that, but how often does that happen? Why is fact-checking even necessary? Shouldn't the news be reported, letting viewers do their own fact-checking? The internet makes it easy to look up virtually anything, including previously contradictory statements from politicians who were for the border wall before they were against it.

When the media fact-check only one person, and can't even do it accurately, their diminishing credibility and relevance take yet another hit.

The obsessive hatred of President Trump confirms the "fake news" moniker that he has conferred upon them.

Brian C Joondeph, M.D., MPS is a Denver-based physician and writer. Follow him on Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter.
So let's talk to a socialist. Ignore the verbiage and look inside his head. When someone announces to the world, "I'm a socialist," what is that person thinking?

What exactly is a socialist? You could spend all day studying encyclopedias and not settle anything. Using various definitions, you could probably prove that anybody is or isn't a socialist.

With this focus, everything becomes simpler. Socialists may not be able to claim experience, learning, smarts, or success. But they make up for all that by a boundless certitude about philosophical and political matters. It's as if they, albeit atheists, are guided by a divine vision.

What is the central assertion contained in that vision? Here, I believe, is what the self-proclaimed socialist is saying to the rest of us:

"You pathetic losers are clearly not qualified to run your own lives. Or if you think you are, you're probably in the grip of dangerous beliefs that need to be discarded. All in all, it would be better if you stayed out of the way and let experts manage your life. That would be I and my cronies."

That's it. "I'm a socialist" means "From now on, I'll be in charge, fortunately. You can take a hike."

What was the essence of Hillary Clinton's campaign? She seemed to think she had a right to take charge and order everyone else around. Saul Alinsky, her mentor, felt the same way. I suspect that Obama agreed with both of them.

* * *

Socialism and communism are often presented as scientifically derived theories about economics and politics. That's the pretentious academic surface. In day-to-day practical terms, however, our left-wing visionaries try to answer this question: who should run the world? Inevitable answer: They should.

Socialists are passionately concerned with making sure the right people have the power  that is, themselves.

Democracy, on the other hand, is all about distributing power and making sure the worst people don't get it. How do we know they are the worst people? Because they are obsessed with grabbing power and using it to stifle other people, an arrangement they call socialism or communism.

It's possible that many socialists don't themselves know what they are really saying. Probably typical socialists always had a sense that they should have more power. Other people often have too much power, which is a bad thing. Beyond fixing these disparities, our socialists don't need to discuss the details. Just get out of their way.

General William Sherman said in 1866 that if nominated, he wouldn't run, and if elected, he wouldn't serve. This guy did not want to be president. He did not want more power. In a democracy, he's more or less the perfect person for the job.

In socialism, on the other hand, the most awful people on the planet strive to be your lord and master. Think Lenin. Think Marx, who often threatened his rivals with these words: "I will annihilate you." You have to ask, Who talks like that? Psychopaths are probably the main category, along with socialists and communists.

Paul Johnson, the great British historian, wrote an entertaining book called Intellectuals. His subjects are chiefly from the left, names like Rousseau, Sartre, Brecht, etc. Certainly, they are brilliant, but they tend to be self-absorbed and tough on others  in other words, just what we should expect socialists to be. They're in charge, and you're not  that's precisely how the universe should be arranged.

In 1920, as the Russian Revolution was consolidated, super-famous Bertrand Russell went to Russia to meet the super-famous Vladimir Lenin. Bertrand Russell was a confirmed communist; nonetheless, he detected something dangerous in Lenin. The Russian government was pitting ordinary peasants against kulaks, the more successful peasants. Russell, in his book about the meeting, noted a cruel streak "[Lenin] described the division between rich and poor peasants, and the Government propaganda among the latter against the former, leading to acts of violence which he seemed to find amusing." Making sure the kulaks got kicked around  that was "amusing" for Lenin. Keep in mind that kulaks were the best farmers. Once these were more scarce, Russia had to import food. That shows you how smart Lenin was. That, and he trusted Stalin, an even bigger, more ruthless egomaniac than Lenin himself.

Now we have the remarkable spectacle of Venezuela, one of the richest countries in the world, being reduced to poverty and hunger by a dimwitted socialist junta. The whole thing is a public spectacle, like botched plastic surgery on a movie star. The socialists in charge have all the answers. They know what you need better than you do. Unfortunately, that turns out to be every tragic, stupid outcome imaginable. How does any other country dare to discuss socialism? (The foolishness in Venezuela offers many parallels to the foolishness in our K-12 educational system.)

The Tao Te Ching (a compendium of ancient Chinese wisdom) has a lot of shrewd advice for wannabe kings. A big empire should be handled as delicately as a chef handles a small fish.

The Tao Te Ching also says, "The less a leader does and says; the happier his people; the more a ruler struts and brags, the sadder his people will be." Well, strutting and bragging are what socialist dictators know how to do. Look at Mussolini; look at Hitler; look at Mao. These are vast, swaggering egos.

Here is another Taoist insight. The great emperor is modest. When a large project is finished successfully, his people think, We did it ourselves. Hillary would be sure to correct that mistake. No, you deplorables, I did it all by myself.

CODA: If you wonder why some leaders prefer an inefficient public school system that seems intent on dumbing down the country, ask yourself what sort of citizens are more likely to put up with arrogant dictators. Probably that would be ignorant, semi-literate citizens.

Bruce Deitrick Price's new book is Saving K-12: What happened to our public schools? How do we fix them? His education site is Improve-Education.org.
New York State and Renewables

New York State's population is shrinking. In the year ending on July 1, 2018, New York lost more than 48,000 people. People leave New York State to avoid high taxes. In the case of upstate New York, they leave to escape perpetual recession. In upstate Rochester, New York, the home of the bankrupt Kodak, the median house price is $75,000, and 33% of the population is poor. Ironically, New York is sitting on vast potential mineral wealth in the form of the Marcellus and Utica shale formations. These formations yield vast quantities of oil and gas when properly exploited using hydraulic fracturing (fracking). But fracking is not allowed in New York. Governor Andrew Cuomo has proudly forbidden fracking, presumably in order to gain favor from the crackpot green segment of the Democratic Party. As a consequence, residents of New York living near the border with Pennsylvania often commute to jobs in the Keystone state.

Exploiting shale hydrocarbons involves drilling and fracking. Naturally, there is some disruption, but the disruption is minor compared to the value of the wealth unleashed. The crackpot greens magnify and exaggerate every potential problem. They even mislead, as in the movie Gasland, where a man lights his water faucet on fire. The implication was that fracking caused natural gas to mix with the water supply. But the area chosen already had natural gas in the water long before fracking was involved. An overview of the many crackpot organizations opposed to fracking can be seen at the website of Americans Against Fracking. I don't call these organizations crackpot casually. Their positions bear little relation to reality or what is possible. For example, the organization 350.org advocates stopping fossil fuels and turning to 100% renewables. The anti-fracking crowd is against anything related to hydrocarbons, including even pipelines. Their justifications are fact-free junk science. Rebutting their claims is a futile and exhausting exercise that never ends. The geopolitical benefits of fracking are huge. In ten years, the United States' energy balance of trade went from a large deficit to nearly even as U.S. oil and natural gas production increased dramatically. World energy prices have declined in the face of increasing U.S. energy production. Our dependence on imports from far-flung oil-producing countries has declined dramatically. The refining and petrochemical industry, centered in Texas, is booming. Governor Cuomo's energy plan for New York includes investment in wind and solar power. New York has poor wind potential compared to Midwestern states. New York solar potential is about 30% less than in sunny Southwestern locations. As a consequence, green energy in New York will be even more overpriced than it is in favorable locations. In every state, wind and solar are absolutely and totally useless. In New York, they are even more useless. Wind and solar installations are built only because there are huge subsidies covering 70% of the cost. Neither are wind and solar cost-effective ways of reducing CO2 emissions. An amusing example of the rampant ignorance that infects New York energy is the fate of a sensible proposal to install a natural gas-powered co-generation facility at a complex of government buildings in Albany. Formerly, the Empire State Plaza had an energy facility that burned rubbish to generate steam. The steam was used for heating and cooling the complex of buildings. Cooling is accomplished by massive machines known as steam-driven chillers. The rubbish-burning facility, itself a green facility, was decommissioned due to excessive air pollution. It was replaced by a natural gas-powered steam-generating plant. The current proposal is to replace the natural gas-fired steam facility with a natural gas cogeneration system. The cogeneration system uses natural gas-powered turbines to generate electricity. The hot exhaust from the turbines is then used to generate steam. One also obtains electricity, essentially at no extra fuel consumption compared to generating steam only. T he proposal will save $2.7 million annually in energy costs. Citizens Action of New York presented this petition to governor Cuomo: To: Governor Andrew Cuomo and Gil Quiniones, CEO, NY Power Authority

From: Carmi Orenstein We call on Governor Cuomo and Gil Quiniones to stop the Sheridan Hollow fracked gas power plant and use the funds dedicated to this project to make our state capital a national model for renewable energy. Immediate steps also must be taken to reduce toxic pollution from the existing steam plant and backup generators on Sheridan Avenue. The problem with this petition is, how does one replace steam generators with renewable energy? The main types of renewable energy are wind and solar. These generate electricity, not steam. Electricity can be used to generate steam, but that is a poor use of valuable electricity. The electricity that will be generated by the proposed cogeneration project is obtained almost for free as a side benefit of generating steam. What is the point of replacing "free" electricity with expensive electricity from wind or solar? The designers of the cogeneration proposal actually considered the use of solar, wind, and geothermal energy. The analysis is in their report. It is just not practical to use renewable energy to replace the existing steam boilers. Even if one could generate steam with wind or solar, there would have to be a backup plant to provide steam when the wind or solar is not working due to clouds, sunset, or a lull in the wind. Wind or solar power is not the answer to everything. In fact, it is a good answer for pretty much nothing. If you live in the middle of nowhere, where power lines don't reach, then go with wind or solar. More power to you. Norman Rogers is the author of the book Dumb Energy. He has websites here and here.
Love for Western Civilization Leads to Strong Border Security

Pres. Donald Trump, speaking in Poland June 6, 2017, affirmed his belief in defending Western civilization. In that speech, he summed up his views by stressing the love of freedom. He said, "And above all, we value the dignity of every human life, protect the rights of every person, and share the hope of every soul to live in freedom[.] ... Those are the priceless ties that bind us together as nations, as allies, and as a civilization[.] ... We strive for excellence, and cherish inspiring works of art that honor God." It was essentially an updated reiteration of the rights theme of "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness" found in our Declaration of Independence. To this writer, the simple sentence that introduced the above remarks was never fully developed, yet it was the key to the entire speech. Trump said, "Our own fight for the West does not begin on the battlefield  it begins with our minds, our wills, and our souls." This suggests an additional dimension of inquiry that goes farther than, but includes, the ideas and ideals captured in the Declaration of Independence. Those ideas and ideals grew within a philosophical, legal, theological, and historical framework where mind, soul, and will were understood in such a way that only life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness could satisfy them. To understand the dimension of mind, soul, and will, students of history must understand much more than the Declaration of Independence. That lovely document is but the tip of the iceberg of almost 2,000 years of Western civilization that preceded it. And it is only one of many currents of thought that sustain us.

At the same time as Trump was extolling Western civilization in Poland, many American colleges and universities have abandoned having a Western civilization course requirement in their curricula. The fascists, the socialists, the communists, and their allies  the atheist existentialists and deconstructionists in philosophy  have been successful in attacking the assumptions and principles of Western civilization and rejecting not only life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, but the foundational understandings of mind, soul, language, and will upon which they rest. Consider all the amazing and complex threads preceding the Declaration that we are ignoring in much of our education system. We have lost the glorious picture of the evolution of the fall of Rome; the strengthening of the medieval Catholic Church through many councils that affirmed theological principles that are still accepted by Catholics and Protestants; the struggle against Islam beginning in the 7th century and continuing until this very day, the amazing evolution of medieval philosophy under the auspices of the Catholic Church; the survival of the West through the Black Plague; the heroic defense of the West by Charles ("The Hammer") Martel, the educational reforms and defense of Christendom by Charlemagne and Louis IX; the prolonged struggle between the monarchies of Europe and the papacy for pre-eminence; and the early, middle, and late Renaissance. Would it not be valuable to read Niccolo Machiavelli's The Prince when evaluating the behavior of Sen. Charles Schumer and Speaker Nancy Pelosi? Trump mentioned that beautiful symphonies were written in the West (implying that they were not from Asia, Africa, or South America), but he only scratched the surface. In Western civilization, one finds the growth and development of "rights theories" beginning with the Magna Carta and extending in England and later Great Britain to the Declaration of Rights, about 100 years before our Bill of Rights. The West also is the origin of the scientific revolution, which has been a boon to our health, nutrition, transportation, communication, and prosperity. Further, with our own country having been founded by Protestants, it is of utmost importance for all college-age students (and preferably high school students in a less detailed way) to know the history and socio-political dynamics of the Protestant Reformation. God's grace and mercy became accessible to the individual in a way that it never before had been. Love, which occupied a place in Christendom that it did not occupy in any other society or belief system, blossomed in new acts of mercy and hope. Philosophically in the West, we also see the burst of conflict between the continental rationalists exemplified by Rene Descartes and opposed by the British empiricists, who then faced challenges by Immanuel Kant, Friedrich Hegel, and the diabolical Karl Marx. The above developments and achievements of Western civilization must be exposed systematically and regularly to our students, but instead, many of the above events are being ignored, downplayed, or systematically criticized. We have reached a point where the pseudo-intellectuals with their anti-Western bent gratuitously and ignorantly critique our society. We have reached a point where Pres. Barack Obama could say with a straight face that racism is almost genetic. He said, "The legacy of slavery, Jim Crow, discrimination [is] in almost every institution of our lives. You know, that casts a long shadow and that's still part of our DNA that's passed on." Investor's Business Daily properly noted of this remark, "[I]f racism is in our DNA, it can no more be cured or changed by education or good will than the shape of our nose or chin, a proclivity to cancer or the color of our eyes or skin[.]" The paper then asked, how, then, can it be that Obama received well over 60 million votes in two different elections? At the same time as racism is considered implacable by the esteemed Mr. Obama, he "evolved" regarding the redefinition of marriage. Similarly, are we to think he "evolved" (Charles Darwin is freaking out) with respect to Iran as being a part of the "axis of evil" and negotiated the return of their frozen bank accounts  accounts that had remained frozen by five previous presidents, both Democratic and Republican  without receiving anything in return? Whiteness and white privilege, male hegemony, homophobic attitudes, exploitation of and disparagement of women, binary gender obsessions (gender apartheid), exploitation of the masses by the top 1% or top 0.1%, disparagement of non-European peoples (non-whites), and Islamophobia have, according to our society's hysterical critics, been hiding behind the so-called political-economic-intellectual achievements of Western civilization. Behind all this hatred of Western civilization one can hear Jean-Jacques Rousseau's complaint: "Man is free but everywhere in chains." The latest platform of the Socialist Party contains 248 bullet points of items that need correction in American society. It is a scattershot blast of complaints whose authors hope to attract some discouraged citizens with some of its criticism. So now we end this article with the issue of the day: how secure do our borders need to be? The emergence of the nation-state is another one of the achievements of Western civilization. Inherent in the nation-state concept is the concept of the border. U.S. border security should be seen in this wider context. If there is a border, it must be controlled and defended. That defense is tantamount to defending Western civilization. The USA has been generous in its immigration policies, but the attacks on our border have become more sophisticated and relentless. We need to finish the work on a border wall that was begun in a bipartisan way in 2006. The border must send a message that we are invincible  just like Western civ.
Lake Charles, Louisiana (70615)

Today

Intervals of clouds and sunshine. A stray afternoon thunderstorm is possible. High 96F. Winds ENE at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

A few clouds from time to time. Low 72F. Winds ENE at 5 to 10 mph.
Achim Steiner: Yemen, Libya and how to rebuild nations in crisis

The head of the UN Development Programme talks about countries hit by crises and what it takes to rebuild them.
Donald Trump is following the very foreign policy that he used to criticise as a presidential candidate.
Blame it on Brexit: The cost to the financial services industry

What Brexit means for the EUs financial capitals. Plus, aviation in 2019, and the latest consumer tech gadgets.
Deemed fertile ground for the far right, many wonder if the former East German state is failing.
Hamas says aim of Israels undercover operation in Gaza in November was to plant spying devices.

Israels botched undercover operation in Gaza last November was aimed at bugging Hamas communications, the military wing of Hamas has said.

Hamas, the Palestinian group which governs Gaza said on Saturday that the November 11 special forces operation, which Israel said was an intelligence-gathering mission, turned deadly when the undercover soldiers were spotted near Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip.

The ensuing firefight claimed the lives of an Israeli army officer and seven Palestinians, including a local Hamas military commander.

Abu Obeida, a spokesperson for the Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades, said that 15 members of an elite Israeli military unit had infiltrated Gaza via the border fence and travelled in the enclave using cars disguised as vehicles belonging to a local charity.

Their goal was establishing a spy system to eavesdrop on the communications network of the resistance in the Gaza Strip, Abu Obeida said, showing video footage of what he said was the soldiers in action.

Hamas also managed to capture equipment used by the group, Abu Obeida added, promising $1m to any local collaborator who would supply Hamas with information about the operation.

On Tuesday, Hamas said it had arrested 45 Palestinian collaborators with Israel following the Khan Younis incident.

Hamas had already published photos of eight people and two vehicles it said were linked to the operation, prompting the Israeli army censor to appeal to the public and media not to republish the images.



The incident prompted Hamas to vow revenge and sparked the deadliest flare-up between the two sides since Israels military assault on Gaza in 2014.

A November 13 ceasefire brokered by Egypt ended the fighting that had raised fears of another war between Israel and Palestinians in Gaza.

Israel has launched three military assaults on the Gaza Strip since 2008 and has kept it under a blockade along with Egypt for more than a decade.

Israel says the measure is necessary to isolate Hamas and prevent it from obtaining weapons, though critics say it amounts to collective punishment of the territorys two million residents.
UN urges DR Congo to refrain from violence after election result

MONUSCO chief Leila Zerrougui appeals to people and security forces of DRC to exercise calm and restraint.
Syrias war: SDF confronts ISIL in last Syrian stronghold

Hajin, the last sliver of land controlled by ISIL in eastern Syria, is under attack by Kurdish and US forces.
South Africa: Ruling ANC launches campaign for 2019 election

The ANC has suffered a decline in popularity under Jacob Zuma, who was removed in February 2018.
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
The vote, expected in May, will be a test of whether Ramaphosa is able to reverse a decline in support for the ANC.

South Africas President Cyril Ramaphosa has vowed to create more jobs, boost economic growth and address racial inequalities as he launched the ruling partys parliamentary election campaign.

At the centre of our manifesto is a plan to create many more jobs and ensure that all workers can earn a decent living, Ramaphosa told tens of thousands of African National Congress (ANC) supporters packed into Durban citys Moses Mabhida stadium on Saturday.

The most pressing task for our country is to set the economy on a higher path of shared growth and to transform the structure of our economy to provide opportunities for millions of South Africans, he added.

The vote, in which South Africans will elect provincial representatives  as well as a new president, is expected in May.

It will be a test of whether Ramaphosa has been able to reverse a decline in support for the ANC, which has governed since the end of apartheid in 1994 but has seen its majority wane.

Ramaphosa became head of state in February last year after his allies on the ANCs executive forced scandal-plagued Jacob Zuma to resign, fearing that the corruption affairs and economic stagnation that marked his nine years in power could harm the partys chances at this years election.

Ramaphosa and other top ANC officials have been touring Zumas home province of KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) this week, projecting an image of unity despite deep rifts within the party, where a faction loyal to Zuma retains significant influence, despite the allegations.

KZN is important for political parties as the province has the second-highest number of voters.

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Ramaphosa is trying to solidify his position in a party where support appears to be split between him and his predecessor, Al Jazeeras Fahmida Miller said.

Some of the biggest regions of the ANC across the country are in KZN, political analyst Lukhona Mnguni told Al Jazeera.

Its very important to understand that if your KZN is weak, divided, it has the possibility to divide the entire nation or to cause massive rifts within the ANC and of course this is the base for former President Jacob Zuma.

KZN is a former stronghold of the opposition Inkatha Freedom Party. There are concerns that a lack of unity within the ANC, allegations of corruption and poor delivery of services could see the party lose some of its support to its rival.

Some analysts say a resounding victory for the ANC this year could embolden Ramaphosa in his drive to boost investment and tackle corruption.

Others believe he will continue to be constrained by his opponents in Africas oldest national liberation movement.
Rahaf al-Qunun, whose Twitter posts for help captured global attention after she fled her family, gets asylum in Canada.

Rahaf al-Qunun, the 18-year-old Saudi woman who fled her family saying she feared for her life, has landed in Canada, after being granted asylum in the North American country.

Al-Qunun was welcomed by Canadas Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland at Torontos airport on Saturday.

This is a very brave new Canadian, Freeland told reporters, with a smiling al-Qunun standing by her side.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said on Friday that Canada had accepted a request from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) to take in Rahaf Mohammed al-Qunun, who grabbed international attention earlier this week after she barricaded herself in a Bangkok airport hotel room to resist being sent home to her family, which denies any abuse.

Freeland told media that the decision to accept al-Qununs request was part of Canadas policy of supporting women and girls around the world.

Its obvious that the oppression of women is not a problem that can be resolved in a day, but rather than cursing the darkness we believe in lighting a single candle, she said. Where we can save a single woman, a single person thats a good thing to do.

Al-Qunun took to Twitter to thank those who had helped her. I would like to thank you people for supporting me and saiving [sic] my life, she wrote.

I would like to thank you people for supporting me and saiving my life. Truly I have never dreamed of this love and support

You are the spark that would motivate me to be a better person  Rahaf Mohammed   (@rahaf84427714) January 11, 2019

Reporting from Torontos Pearson International Airport, Al Jazeeras Mike Hanna said that al-Qunun will now begin her new life away from Saudi Arabia.

This was all arranged in an absolute rush with the UNHCR getting directly involved, approaching the Canadians, the Canadians coming through very quickly with the decision to grant her asylum, Hanna said.

Canadas decision to grant Rahaf asylum is likely to exacerbate Canadas already poor relations with Saudi Arabia, which last year barred the Canadian ambassador to Riyadh after Ottawa criticised Saudi authorities for detaining female activists.

Harnessing social media

Al-Qunun had arrived in Bangkok on January 5 and was initially denied entry, but she soon started posting messages on Twitter from the transit area of Bangkoks Suvarnabhumi airport saying she had escaped Kuwait and her life would be in danger if forced to return to Saudi Arabia.

Following a 48-hour standoff at Bangkok airport, some of it spent barricaded in a transit lounge hotel room, she was allowed to enter Thailand and was then processed as a refugee by the UNs refugee agency.

The UNHCR welcomed Canadas decision and also acknowledged Thailand had given al-Qunun a temporary refuge.

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Ms al-Qununs plight has captured the worlds attention over the past few days, providing a glimpse into the precarious situation of millions of refugees worldwide, UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi said in a statement.

Al-Qunun has accused her family of abuse and has refused to meet her father and brother who arrived in Bangkok to take her back to Saudi Arabia.

It was her wish to go to Canada, Thailands immigration chief Surachate Hakparn told reporters this week. She still refuses to meet her father and brother, and they are going to be travelling back tonight as well  They are disappointed.

Global attention

Her case has drawn global attention to Saudi Arabias strict social rules, including a requirement that women have the permission of a male guardian to travel, which rights groups say can trap women and girls as prisoners of abusive families.

A Korean Air flight carrying al-Qunun left Bangkok for Seoul on Friday night at 11:37pm local time (16:37 GMT), where she caught a connecting flight to Toronto.

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Trudeau brushed off a question as to whether Canadas move might make it harder to repair ties with Saudi Arabia.

Canada has been unequivocal that we will always stand up for human rights and womens rights around the world, he said.

Amid increasing domestic political pressure, Trudeau said last month that his Liberal government was looking for a way out of a multibillion-dollar arms deal with Riyadh.

Al-Qununs flight has emerged at a time when Riyadh is facing unusually intense scrutiny from its Western allies over the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul in October and over the humanitarian consequences of its war in Yemen.

Canada has repeatedly said Khashoggis murder was unacceptable and has demanded a full explanation.
Maduro opponents hold protest, call for new Venezuela elections

The president of Venezuelas National Assembly says he is ready to assume leadership of the country and call for new elections to remove President Nicolas Maduro.
As partial government shutdown slips into record books, Trump says federal workers could be out for a long time.

A partial government shutdown in the United States over President Donald Trumps demand for $5.7bn to build a wall along the US-Mexico border has entered a record 22nd day.

Trump, holed up in the White House with Congress adjourned for the weekend, warned of a much lengthier impasse and blamed the Democrats, as Saturday marked the longest shuttering of federal agencies in the US history.

The president said he had no idea whether he can get a deal with House speaker Nancy Pelosi, in an interview with Fox News on Saturday.

Pelosi, a Democrat, opposses spending money on what she calls an ineffective, wasteful wall.

We will be out for a long time unless the Democrats come back from their vacations and get back to work, he tweeted.

We have a massive Humanitarian Crisis at our Southern Border. We will be out for a long time unless the Democrats come back from their vacations and get back to work. I am in the White House ready to sign!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 12, 2019

Democrats say Trump shut the government in a temper tantrum by refusing to sign a bipartisan funding legislation last year that did not include money for his wall.

National emergency

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Faced with Congressional opposition, the president has threatened to declare a national emergency in order to secure funds for the wall.

I have the absolute right to declare a national emergency, Trump told Fox News.

He said he hasnt declared the emergency because hes giving Congress a chance to act responsibly.

If they dont come to their senses, Ill do it. You know what Ill do? Ill do a national emergency were all set, its 100 percent and Ill have to do that.

The closure, which began on December 22, broke a decades-old record by a 1995-1996 shutdown under former President Bill Clinton that lasted 21 days.

Federal workers affected missed their first paycheques on Friday, heightening concerns about mounting financial pressures on employees, including air traffic controllers and airport security officials who continue to work without pay.

Concerns over pay, depression

Roughly 800,000 federal workers did not receive paycheques that would have gone out on Friday. Some have resorted to selling their possessions or posting appeals on online fundraising sites to help pay their bills.

Miami international airport in Florida said it will close one of its terminals over the next several days due to a possible shortage of security screeners, who have been calling in sick at twice the normal rate.

A union that represents thousands of air traffic controllers sued the federal aviation administration on Friday, saying it had violated federal wage law by failing to pay workers. It is at least the third lawsuit filed by unions on behalf of unpaid workers.

The head of the US Secret Service, which is responsible for protecting Trump, has warned employees that financial stress can lead to depression and anxiety.

Keep an eye out for warning signs of trouble, Director R D Tex Alles wrote in a memo seen by the Reuters news agency.

The transportation security administration, responsible for airport security screening, said its rate of unscheduled absences rose to 5.6 percent on Saturday from 3.3 percent a year ago but that security standards have not been compromised.

To support workforce, authorities said they were processing pay for employees who worked on the first day of the shutdown and announced $500 bonuses for uniformed screening officers.

Trump is considering a possible national emergency declaration that would end the shutdown and allow him to obtain his wall funding by circumventing Congress. But on Friday, he said he would not take such a step right now.

Tell them to get it done!

Trump also urged his 57.2 million Twitter followers to contact Democratic legislators and Tell them to get it done!

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Democrats, who say the wall is an ineffective, outdated answer to a complex problem, have passed several bills in the House of Representatives to reopen the government without funding for Trumps barrier.

But the legislation has been ignored by the Republican-controlled Senate.

Trump originally pledged Mexico would pay for the wall, which he says is needed to stem the flow of illegal immigrants and drugs. But Mexico has refused.
Most of the missiles were shot down, Syrian state media reports, but one hit a warehouse at the Damascus airport.

Israeli warplanes have fired a number of missiles towards Damascus, triggering Syrian air defence that shot down most of them, according to state media reports.

The results of the aggression so far were limited to a strike on one of the warehouses at Damascus airport, SANA news agency cited a military source as saying. The attack took place at 11:15pm (21:15 GMT), it said.

The state news agency also quoted a transport ministry source as saying that the airport was running normally.

Syrian state media broadcast footage of what it said were the air defences firing, with bright lights seen shooting across the night sky. Explosions were heard in one of the videos.

Israel has mounted attacks in Syria as part of its efforts to counter the influence carved out there by Iran, which is supporting President Bashar al-Assad in the war that erupted in 2011.

Many of them have been in the area south of Damascus.

Two areas hosting military positions of Iranian forces and the Lebanese Hezbollah movement have been targeted, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitor said.

These were near the airport and around the Kisweh area south of Damascus, the observatory said.

In an earlier report, SANA had spoken of Syrian air defence batteries attacking enemy targets.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed not to let Tehran entrench itself militarily in the war-torn country.

The last Israeli attack reported by the state media was on December 25, when a missile attack wounded three Syrian soldiers.

A senior Israeli official said in September Israel had carried out more than 200 attacks against Iranian targets in Syria in the last two years.
Israel arrests settler teenagers accused of stoning car

Five students from a religious school are arrested in connection with the death of a Palestinian woman who was killed when her car was attacked near an illegal settlement.
New Delhi, India  A formidable opposition, a coalition of the regional Samajwadi Party (SP) and the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), has been announced by the leaders of the two parties to challenge Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the general elections due in a few months.

Indias politically crucial state of Uttar Pradesh sends 80 MPs to the lower house of parliament and has produced nine prime ministers.

At a news conference in state capital Lucknow on Saturday, the SP headed by the young satrap, Akhilesh Yadav, and the BSP led by Dalit (lowest Hindu caste) leader Kumari Mayawati announced they are entering into an alliance where they will contest 76 seats as a team.

Todays press conference is one which will give sleepless nights to Modi and the ruling BJP party chief, Amit Shah, the BSP chief said.

Mayawati, former chief minister of the state and an icon to millions of Dalits, described this as a new political revolution in the country.

Indias lower castes, especially the Dalits, face continued social discrimination and even untouchability, despite the practice being outlawed by parliament in 1955.

Both Yadav and Mayawati took digs at Modi repeatedly.

This is a game-changer. It poses a big challenge to the BJP. This would also be a serious setback to the rise of Hindutva. Ashutosh, senior journalist and founding editor of SatyaHindi.com

To hide their failures, the ruling BJP has actively spread an atmosphere of fear and terror by fuelling enmity among different communities We have decided to come together today to fight the injustice perpetrated by the BJP, Yadav, also a former chief minister of the state, said.

SP and BSP have a large support base of lower castes and are in a position to be able to manipulate the social arithmetic of elections in the state. Some analysts say it is a killer-alliance.

This is a game-changer. It poses a big challenge to the BJP. This would also be a serious setback to the rise of Hindutva, a radical ideology of self-avowed Hindu nationalists at the national level, Ashutosh, senior journalist and founding editor of SatyaHindi.com, told Al Jazeera.

This is an alliance that brings together castes that were long oppressed by the upper castes of Indian society for thousands of years. This consolidation electorally will bring great benefit. In terms of votes, if the backwards and the Dalits come together, they cross more than 50 percent in the state, he added.

The BJP is currently ruling the UP state with a Hindu nationalist monk Adityanath as the chief minister.

Human rights campaigners say frequent military-style police operations and extrajudicial killings of alleged criminals are becoming common since the installation of the right-wing Chief Minister, Adityanath.

The ruling BJP has attempted to appeal to its hardcore Hindu nationalist base in the most politically important state ahead of a national election by promising a grand statue of the Hindu God Ram and erasing Muslim names of towns, roads and railways stations.

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On Saturday, the BJP dismissed the prospects of the opposition alliance saying there is no contest.

This alliance is not likely to be accepted by their social base because there are a lot of political and historical contradictions between the two parties, BJP MP Rakesh Sinha told Al Jazeera.

BJP is not threatened by any such alliance because this election is going to be a contest about who is going to lead the nation. Modi as prime minister and as a face remains the tallest and nobody can compete with Modi, Sinha added.

Prime Minister Modi had said in a recent interview that the ruling BJP is confident of doing well in this years general election despite the partys recent losses in state polls.

Although Hindu nationalist Modi remains popular, the 2019 election is slated to be a tough battle, with some voters feeling let down by his inability to create jobs and battle rural distress.
Chinese telecom giant fires Wang Weijing, saying he has harmed the companys global reputation.

Chinese telecoms equipment maker Huawei has said it has terminated the employment of a Chinese worker arrested on spying allegations in Poland.

Wang Weijing was arrested for personal reasons, the company said in a statement on Saturday. This incident created harmful effects on Huaweis global reputation, the company said.

Polish authorities on Friday arrested Weijing and a former Polish security official on spying allegations, a move that could increase Western security concerns about the telecoms equipment maker.

Maciej Wasik, deputy head of Polands special service, said the operation that resulted in the arrest of the two suspects had been under way for a long time and was planned with care.

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Both carried out espionage activities against Poland, he said.

Polish state TV identified the arrested Pole as Piotr D, saying he was a high-ranking employee at the Internal Security Agency, Polands domestic counterintelligence agency, until 2011, where he served as deputy director in the department of information security.

Intense scrutiny

Huawei, the worlds biggest producer of telecoms equipment, faces intense scrutiny in the West over its relationship with the Chinese government and US-led allegations that its equipment could be used by Beijing for spying.

A number of European governments and telecom companies have followed the United States in questioning whether using Huawei for vital mobile network infrastructure could open networks to spying by the Chinese government.

The US blocked Huawei from operating in its territory in 2012, when a House Intelligence Committee report said it was a security risk.

Huaweis chief financial officer, Meng Wanzhou, who is also the daughter of the companys founder, was detained in Canada last month on a US extradition bid.

Her arrest follows US efforts to blacklist the company internationally over security concerns.

In apparent retaliation, China has since detained two Canadians  a former diplomat and a business consultant  on suspicion of endangering national security.
French Interior Ministry says 84,000 people took to the streets on Saturday across the country.

Thousands of anti-government demonstrators marched in cities across France on Saturday in a new round of yellow vest protests against President Emmanuel Macrons economic policies.

Protesters walked through central Paris from the Finance Ministry in the east to the Arc de Triomphe in the west on Saturday.

Some scuffles broke out between the police and protesters near the monument, while security forces fired tear gas at protesters throwing rocks and other objects at them.

The French Interior Ministry said about 84,000 people have turned out for the protests across France, including 8,000 in the capital.

The ministry said 244 people were detained on Saturday in Paris and other cities.

Interior Minister Christophe Castaner said that responsibility triumphed over the temptation of confrontation in Paris, where 8,000 protesters marched without serious incident.

Before the protests, officials vowed zero tolerance for the violence that has marred the weekly protests since they began two months ago, deploying some 80,000 security forces nationwide.

In Paris, the epicentre of the fiery street clashes and vandalism that have made global headlines, 5,000 riot police were on hand, using tall barricades and armoured vehicles to lock down the central Place de la Concorde and surrounding districts.

Hundreds of officers were also on guard on the Champs-Elysees, where banks, jewellery stores and other shops had boarded up windows in anticipation of renewed looting and violence.

Protesters took to the streets in France for the ninth weekend in a row [Ludovic Marin/AFP]

Yet many cafes and retailers on the iconic avenue remained open for business, as several thousands of protesters marched calmly from the Place de la Bastille towards the Arc de Triomphe early in the afternoon.

Many sang the Marseillaise, the national anthem, while others held signs saying, Insecurity is not a job!

At times the crowd yelled Free Christophe! in reference to Christophe Dettinger, the former professional boxer arrested last week after being filmed bashing two police officers during the Paris demos.

Weve come to Paris to make ourselves heard, and we wanted to see for ourselves at least once whats going on here, said Patrick, 37, who told AFP he had travelled from the Savoie region of western France.

Economic demands

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Reporting from Paris, Al Jazeeras Natacha Butler said that protesters on the streets were demanding the government do more to reform its economic policies.

It really seems that whatever the government, or President Macron tries to do, it doesnt seem to be enough, she said. We have had the French president come out on television at the end of last year, offering a number of financial concessions, offering to boost things like the minimum wage. He is also launching this week a grand national citizens debate. Thats an opportunity for people to have more of a say in politics.

But people here say its not enough, they say they want MPs to have their salaries slashed, they say they want more taxes scrapped, they want the government to do more for the poor, because they say that at the moment, they feel that Emmanuel Macron and his government only care about the wealthy.

In the well-heeled horseracing town of Chantilly just north of Paris, 1,000 or so protesters marched through the centre before descending on the hippodrome where they delayed the start of a race, local media said.

And another 1,200 protesters gathered in the central city of Bourges, where some yellow-vest organisers were hoping to rally those from areas far from the capital.

Signs said Macron resign! and France is angry, while local prosecutor Joel Garrigue said five people had been detained after police discovered a cache of ball bearings during a search of their car.

The protests also spilled over the border into eastern Belgium late on Friday, where one of around 25 protesters manning a blockade died after being hit by a truck, Belgian media reported.

Officials had warned of bigger and more violent protests than last week, when demonstrators rammed a forklift truck through the main doors of a government ministry in Paris.

Those who are calling to demonstrate tomorrow know there will be violence, and therefore they are in part responsible, Interior Minister Christophe Castaner said in a Facebook interview Friday with Brut, a digital news site favoured by many yellow vests.

But many yellow vests pointed to images of a police officer repeatedly striking an unarmed man on the ground during a protest last week in Toulon, accusing the police of excessive use of force.

The movement, which began as protests over high fuel taxes, has snowballed into a wholesale rejection of Macron and his policies, which are seen favouring the wealthy at the expense of rural and small-town France.

Macron has called for a national debate starting next week to hear voters grievances, hoping to sate demands for more of a say in national law-making and tamp down the protesters anger.

He has already unveiled a 10bn euro ($11.5bn) financial relief package for low earners, and axed the planned fuel tax increase.
Polls show Trump getting most of the blame for the shutdown, as he continues standoff with Democrats over border wall.

The partial government shutdown became the longest closure in the history of the United States when the clock ticked past midnight on Friday as President Donald Trump and nervous Republicans scrambled to find a way out of the mess.

A solution could not come soon enough for around 800,000 federal workers who got pay statements on Friday but no pay.

The House and the Senate voted to give federal workers back pay whenever the federal government reopens and then left town for the weekend, as the shutdown entered its 22nd day.

While Trump privately considered one dramatic escape route, declaring a national emergency to build the wall without a new stream of cash from Congress, members of his own party were fiercely debating that idea, and the president urged Congress to come up with another solution.

What were not looking to do right now is national emergency, Trump said. He insisted that he had the authority to do that, adding that hes not going to do it so fast because hed still prefer to work a deal with Congress.

With polls showing Trump getting most of the blame for the shutdown, the administration accelerated planning for a possible emergency declaration to try to get around Congress and fund the wall from existing sources of federal revenue.

The White House explored diverting money for wall construction from a range of other accounts. One idea being considered was diverting some of the $13.9bn allocated to the Army Corps of Engineers after last years deadly hurricanes and floods.

That option triggered an outcry from officials in Puerto Rico and some states recovering from natural disasters and appeared to lose steam on Friday.

Republican Senator Lindsey Graham said in a statement that it was time for President Trump to use emergency powers to fund the construction of a border wall/barrier. But other Republicans have expressed doubts, given the potential legal hurdles such a move may face.

Shame on the Senate

Earlier, on Thursday, federal workers across the country rallied against the shutdown.

At a Washington rally, Richard Trumka, the president of the AFL-CIO, a federation of unions, called the shutdown a lockout.

Shame on the Senate. Shame on the White House, he told the crowd. This lockout has to end, and it has to end now.

In Detroit, federal worker Gregory Simpkins told the Associated Press news agency, Next week, its going to be a panic mode. How are we going to pay rent? How are we going to pay out bills? How in the hell are we going to eat?

In New York, furloughed Park Ranger Kathryn Gilson said if the shutdown goes much longer, it will probably cause her to go into a depression. Im kind of just sitting and staring at the wall and trying not to lose my mind, she said.
Investigators sought to determine whether Trump had knowingly or unwittingly worked for Kremlin interests, report says.

FBI agents were so concerned about Donald Trumps behaviour that they investigated whether the US president was working on behalf of the Kremlin, a report in the New York Times has said, citing former law enforcement officials.

The probe followed Trumps decision to fire FBI chief James Comey, but reportedly came amid a backdrop of suspicions dating back to his successful 2016 campaign for the presidency.

Comey, who was sacked in May 2017, had opened an FBI investigation into whether Russia meddled in the 2016 election and whether the Kremlin officials colluded with the members of Trumps team.

After his dismissal, Trump faced accusations of obstruction of justice, which loudened after he fired FBI deputy director Andrew McCabe the following year.

McCabe said he believed Comey was fired because he refused to give in to Trumps requests to kill the probe.

Comey has since condemned Trump as morally unfit to hold the office of president, and said there was certainly some evidence of obstruction of justice.

Fridays New York Times report said the intelligence officials had to consider whether the presidents actions had constituted a threat to national security.

The report says no evidence has publicly emerged that Trump was in contact with or took direction from Russian officials, and FBI officials refused to comment on the alleged investigation.

Trump on Saturday slammed the NYT piece on Twitter, writing that an investigation was opened for no reason and with no proof.

Wow, just learned in the Failing New York Times that the corrupt former leaders of the FBI, almost all fired or forced to leave the agency for some very bad reasons, opened up an investigation on me, for no reason & with no proof, after I fired Lyin James Comey, a total sleaze! Trump wrote.

Wow, just learned in the Failing New York Times that the corrupt former leaders of the FBI, almost all fired or forced to leave the agency for some very bad reasons, opened up an investigation on me, for no reason & with no proof, after I fired Lyin James Comey, a total sleaze!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 12, 2019

Bruce Fein, former US associate deputy attorney general and a constitutional lawyer, told Al Jazeera that Trump could expect subpoenas regarding this investigation as early as next week.

Even though this wasnt a crime necessarily, it certainly bares on the fitness of the president for office which means impeachment covers actions that are short of criminal activity, Fein said.

I can guarantee you that the house government affairs and oversight committee will probably issue subpoenas on Monday to get to the bottom of this  why did the FBI think that the evidence was credible enough to suggest that Mr. Trump was actually spying on the country on behalf of Russia?

Mueller probe

The investigation into alleged Russian meddling was taken over by special counsel Robert Mueller, himself a former director of the FBI, after Comeys firing.

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His investigation has resulted in criminal prosecutions and indictments of several former Trump aides, including his ex-campaign chair Paul Manafort, ex-NSA Michael Flynn and former lawyer Michael Cohen, among others.

Trump has dismissed the probe as a witch-hunt and many critics fear that he is paving the way to fire Mueller.

The US president has not yet addressed Fridays New York Times report yet but his lawyer, former New York City Mayor, Rudolph Guiliani, said that the fact no findings had been published means they found nothing.
Martin Fayulu appeals against the result of last months election, claiming he won with 62 percent of the vote.

Martin Fayulu, who came second in the Democratic Republic of the Congos presidential election last month, has appealed to the countrys Constitutional Court to cancel the provisional result.

The request seeks the annulment of the result declaring Felix Tshisekedi president, his lawyer Feli Ekombe told reporters outside the court on Saturday.

Fayulus camp has accused the declared winner, opposition candidate Felix Tshisekedi, of making a secret deal with outgoing President Joseph Kabila.

You cant manufacture results behind closed doors, Fayulu said in front of a crowd of his supporters.

I am hoping that the constitutional court will call the electoral commission to recount the ballot papers. They are false, fabricated, nothing to do with the truth. The truth has to come from the recount of the ballot paper.

Tshisekedis victory shocked pollsters and was immediately disputed by the opposition and Western powers.

The influential Catholic Church also rejected the official result, based on tallies by its 40,000-strong observer team.

The results as published do not match the data collected by our own observation mission, Marcel Utembi, the head of the countrys National Episcopal Conference of Congo (CENCO) said.

We have a recommendation: To publish as quickly as possible all the records and minutes from the counties and the polling stations to allow candidates to compare.

All eyes on the court

The DRC has been tense in recent days with rising violence across the country raising fears of a breakdown of law and order, similar to the violence that broke out in the central African country after the 2006 and 2011 elections.

There have been isolated incidents of post-election violence around the nation of 80 million people, and on Friday, police confronted opposition protesters in the eastern city of Goma, killing at least one person.

Al Jazeeras Haru Mutasa, reporting from DRC capital Kinshasa, said judges were expected to meet early next week to go over the supposed evidence that claims Fayulu won the election.

If the judges feel there is no case they will throw the matter out. Felix Tshisekedi will be declared the president-elect and will be sworn in on January 18.

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If that happens, some people fear Fayulu could tell his supporters to go onto the streets and there could be an of escalation violence. Not just in Kinshasa, but elsewhere around the country. So a lot of people are calling on the Congolese people to remain calm.

But all eyes will be on the court when they do meet, and a lot of people will be wondering how independent they are going to be.
Hundreds of people have died in similar accidents, as people risk their lives to collect fuel leaking from pipelines.

An overturned oil tanker exploded in Nigeria while dozens of people were scooping up the leaking fuel, killing at least 12 people, police and witnesses said, with locals putting the number many times higher.

Hundreds of people have died in similar accidents in recent years in Nigeria, Africas largest oil producer, as impoverished people risk their lives to collect fuel leaking from pipelines or trucks.

We have recovered 12 corpses and taken 22 persons with serious burns to the hospital, police spokeswoman Irene Ugbo told the Associated Press news agency on Saturday.

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She said the blast occurred on Friday evening in Odukpani in Cross River state in the southeast.

But some residents put the death toll close to 60.

The police only recovered a few corpses, many of the other dead were burned to ashes, witness Richard Johnson told AP.

He said about 60 people were inside a pit scooping fuel when the explosion occurred. It is not likely that anyone inside the pit survived as there was a lot of fuel in the pit, Johnson said.

He suggested the blast was caused by an electrical generator that had been brought to the scene to help pump out the fuel for peoples containers.

It was not immediately clear what caused the truck to overturn.

About a year ago, more than 30 residents in the same locality were burned to death while scooping fuel from an oil tanker involved in an accident.

Nigerias worst such accident occurred in 1998, when more than 1,000 people died as the leaking oil pipeline from which they were scooping fuel exploded in the town of Jesse.
The 37-year-old Iraq War veteran has faced criticism for her 2016 meeting with Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad.

Tulsi Gabbard, a Democrat member of US Congress, has announced that she is running for president in 2020.

Gabbard, a delegate for Hawaii in the House of Representatives, told CNN in an interview set to air on Saturday night that she will formally announce her candidacy the next week.

There are a lot of reasons for me to make this decision, Gabbard told the broadcaster. There are a lot of challenges that are facing the American people that Im concerned about and that I want to help solve.

The 37-year-old Iraq War veteran is the first Hindu elected to Congress and the first member born in the US territory of American Samoa.

Gabbard is joining what is expected to be a crowded Democratic field. Senator Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts has already formed an exploratory committee and is moving quickly with trips across early primary states.

California Senator Kamala Harris, New Jersey Senator Cory Booker and Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders are weighing their own presidential bids and are expected to announce decisions in the coming weeks.

Former Obama administration housing chief Julian Castro is also expected to announce his candidacy on Saturday.

Gabbard said although her main issue will be war and peace, she will push for combating climate change, reforming the criminal justice system and providing healthcare for all Americans.

Secret meeting with Syrias Assad

Gabbards run would not be without controversy. In 2016, she alarmed fellow Democrats when she met Donald Trump during his transition to the presidency.

She also met Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, a meeting she claimed was important to achieve peace for the Syrian people.

Assad is accused of war crimes, including the killing of hundreds of thousands of Syrians. Gabbard has questioned whether the Syrian leader was actually responsible for a chemical attack on civilians that killed dozens and led to a retaliatory US attack on a Syrian airbase.

Minutes after Gabbards announcement, Republicans released a cheat sheet about the Hawaii congresswoman dubbing her Assads mouthpiece in Washington.

Gabbard backed Bernie Sanders over Hillary Clinton in the 2016 Democratic presidential primary, even resigning her position as a vice chairwoman of the Democratic National Committee to express her support.

Asked last year whether she would still consider running if Sanders ran, Gabbard said Sanders is a friend and she didnt know what his plans were.

Im thinking through how I can best be of service and Ill make my decision based on that, she said.
Brazil state governor to continue prison reforms despite attacks

In Brazils Ceara state, the local government has been attacked and threatened by drug gangs after implementing prison reforms intended to curtail their influence, but the governor vows to fight on.
Ping, who narrowly lost presidential vote, urges supporters to end violence as post-election unrest claims more lives.

Gabons opposition leader Jean Ping says he has asked his people to calm down as post-election violence claimed more lives and the governments crackdown continued.

Ping, however, who had already declared himself the winner of last weeks presidential election, insisted that the truth will finally happen and that President Ali Bongo rigged the vote.

We will have access to power, whether he [Bongo] likes it or not. We are going to have access to power, Ping, a veteran diplomat and former top African Union official, told Al Jazeera on Saturday.

Ping called for a total recount under supervision of the UN and the European Union.

Bongo, who has been president since 2009, was declared victorious on Wednesday by a razor-thin margin of just under 6,000 votes. Violence has since erupted in different parts of Gabon, leaving several people killed and hundreds of others arrested.

READ MORE: Libreville reels as clashes erupt over vote

On Saturday, two people were killed, including a policeman, the first member of the Gabonese security forces listed as a victim in the unrest.

The other was a young man who, according to witnesses, was shot dead by security forces.

The parents of the man wanted to march with the body up to the government building with many other people. They were dispersed by security and defence forces, a witness told AFP news agency.

I blame the person who ordered the killings. I don't know who pulled the trigger. I did not see him but the person who sent himthat's whom I blame Falone Carvallo, mother of a young man shot dead on Friday

Several residents said the death was just one of several in Port-Gentil in recent days caused by security forces.

Interior Minister Pacome Moubelet-Boubeya deplored the death of the policeman, who he says was shot in Oyem, the main town in the countrys north.

Moubelet-Boubeya said that, despite the ongoing violence, we are seeing life returning to Libreville, with businesses beginning to reopen their doors.

However, the Gabonese capital has been without internet access since Wednesday.

Across the country, the unrest has paralysed transportation, with bread and other fresh foods in short supply, the situation further aggravated by widespread looting.

At a suburbs of Libreville, residents on Saturday were preparing to bury another young man, Jeffrey Bidzo Bidgong, who was killed on Friday.

People in the area told Al Jazeera that the 18-year-old was shot in the head by a man who was wearing a mask and was in police uniform.

His mother told Al Jazeera that her son had gone to look for an open shop to buy a drink, adding that Jeffrey was not into politics and did not even vote.

I blame the person who ordered the killings. I dont know who pulled the trigger. I did not see him but the person who sent him  thats whom I blame, the mother, Falone Carvallo, told Al Jazeera.

Excessive force

The Archbishop of Libreville on Saturday called on both the ruling party and the opposition to avoid an imminent crisis.

The post-vote violence in this small but oil-rich central African nation has sparked international concern, with top diplomats calling for restraint as rights groups raised alarm over the use of excessive force.

In a special session on Gabon late on Thursday, the UN Security Council expressed deep concern about the situation, urging all sides to to refrain from violence or other provocations.

The US government also urged all parties to work together to halt the slide towards further unrest.
Opposition leader Ping says judges must choose between stability and instability when weighing call to nullify result.

Libreville, Gabon  Gabons opposition leader has warned of further instability if judges do not heed his call to recount votes after a closely fought presidential election.

Jean Pings warning came after he filed a petition challenging the election results, and after two weeks of sporadic violence.

I fear that if they [judges] make a wrong judgment, Gabon will be unstable, he said at opposition headquarters in the capital Libreville. They have to choose between stability and instability. Its a heavy responsibility but I hope they make judgment that is beyond passion.

Ping lost the August 27 presidential election to incumbent Ali Bongo by only 6,000 votes.

In his court petition, Ping requested a recount of votes from President Bongos home province of Haut-Ogooue, and for the election result to be nullified.

READ MORE: Gabons Jean Ping challenges result in court

His supporters celebrated his decision to file a petition. Gathering in Libreville as they awaited his arrival at the headquarters, dozens cheered and chanted pro-opposition slogans.

The atmosphere, though, turned hostile when a journalist who works for the national broadcaster turned up,. underlining the tension that still exists.

The opposition and some rights groups have said dozens were killed in violence between protesters and police after the vote. Hundreds went missing in a crackdown on dissent, they have said.

Government leaders contest those figures, saying that at least four people were killed and more than 1,000 people were arrested.

Theres a lot of news from politicians that say 50 people have been killed, but you need to verify this information by going to hospitals and mortuaries, said Interior Minister Pacome Moubelet Boubeya, as he addressed journalists. Im surprised to hear this figure. Give me a list of names and Ill look into it.

President Bongo and his ministers have said that there were election irregularities in opposition strongholds that must be investigated.

Judges at the constitutional court have two weeks to either throw out the oppositions complaint or invalidate the election results.

Follow Catherine Soi on Twitter: @c_soi
President accuses EU observation mission of bias and insists that only the countrys top court can order a recount.

Gabonese President Ali Bongo has denied EU observers calls for a recount of last weeks disputed presidential vote, saying it was a matter for the countrys top court to decide.

On Tuesday, an EU mission observing the August 27 polls reported a clear anomaly in voting in Haut-Ogooue province, Bongos heartland.

Official results gave turnout in the province at more than 99 percent, with 95 percent backing the incumbent against rival Jean Ping.

I would also have liked them to have noted some anomalies in the fiefdom of Mr Ping. If we are raising anomalies, we have to be clear, balanced and raise all the anomalies that have been noted, Bongo told Frances RTL radio, in an interview broadcast on Wednesday.

What people should be asking me to do is apply the law. I cannot violate the law. As far as a recount is concerned  thats done at the level of the Constitutional Court.

READ MORE: Gabon opposition leader demands a recount

Bongo, whose family has ruled Gabon for nearly half a century, won a second term by a slender margin of fewer than 6,000 votes over Ping.

The opposition leader, however, says that the election was a sham and has demanded a recount  a call echoed by Manuel Valls, prime minister of Gabons former colonial power, France.

Post-election clashes between his supporters and security forces have resulted in the deaths of between 50 and 100 people, Ping said on Tuesday. The governments official casualty count stands at just three dead.

The parliament in the capital, Libreville, was also torched in protests over the result.

Calls for recount

Ping, a 72-year-old former African Union Commission chairman, has yet to announce whether he will challenge the election result in the Constitutional Court.

The deadline for doing so is 15:00 GMT on Thursday.

In their analysis, the EU election monitors said the number of non-voters and of blank and disqualified votes revealed a clear anomaly in the final results in Haut-Ogooue.

In an interview with Europe 1 radio, Bongo accused the EU observers of overstepping their mandate and said he too was preparing to challenge some of the results.

Ping committed fraud in his home constituency and others with the help of cyber-criminals, he told Europe 1.

Bongo, 57, is under increasing pressure at home and abroad after Justice Minister Seraphin Moundounga resigned on Monday, demanding a recount polling station by polling station.

Bongo also accused Ping of attempting massive fraud and said it was difficult to envisage dialogue with people who ask the Gabonese to go into the street to loot and destroy and burn things.
Election observers say integrity of result has been compromised by clear anomaly in countrys Haut-Ogooue province.

A European Union mission, which observed Gabons presidential poll, has raised questions over a disputed election result from a southeastern province, where President Ali Bongo won 95.46 percent of votes cast.

An analysis of the number of non-voters as well as blank and disqualified votes reveals a clear anomaly in the final results in Haut-Ogooue, Mariya Gabriel, the head of the EU observation mission in Gabon, said in a statement on Tuesday.

The integrity of the provisional results in this province is consequently compromised.

Bongo, whose family has ruled Gabon for nearly half a century, was declared the winner of the August 27 election by a slender margin of fewer than 6,000 votes over his rival, Jean Ping.

The opposition leader, however, has called the result fraudulent and demanded a recount.

Post-election clashes between his supporters and security forces have resulted in the deaths of between 50 and 100 people, Ping said on Tuesday. The governments official casualty count stands at just three dead.

In order to restore the confidence of Gabon, I reiterate my call that the Gabonese authorities publish the poll results by polling station in the country, in order to facilitate a possible claim, which remains the way to solve, in compliance with the law, the crisis of confidence in the results, Gabriel, of the EU mission, said.

Gabons electoral commission members fiercely debated the count for Haut-Ogooue, the heartland of Bongos Teke ethnic group, which the opposition claims was inflated to give Bongo a victory.

Thousands of protesters poured on to the streets of the capital Libreville, accusing the government of election fraud following the announcement of Bongos victory.

About 800 people were arrested in the clashes with security forces and Gabons parliament was badly damaged by a fire set by protesters.

Bongos rival candidate Jean Ping received 48.23 percent of the votes [Marco Longari/AFP]

Seraphin Moundounga, Gabons justice minister, resigned on Monday over the governments failure to organise a recount as pressure mounts of the questionable vote return.

Having noticed that the government was not responding to concerns about the need for peace and for the consolidation of democracy, I decided to  step down from my functions as a member of government, Moundounga told Radio France Internationale.

This is the second time that Gabon has experienced unrest following a Bongo presidential victory.

In 2009, Bongo was declared winner of the presidential election following the death of his father, Omar, who had ruled the tiny oil-rich state for 41 years.

Bongos victory was also disputed that year and in the ensuing clashes several people were killed, buildings looted and the French consulate in the economic capital Port-Gentil was torched.
A new bill which seeks to grant citizenship only to non-Muslim immigrants is an attack on Indias secular character.

On January 8, Indias lower house of parliament approved a bill that would grant residency and citizenship rights to undocumented non-Muslim immigrants, sparking protests in the countrys northeast. The protests took place mainly in the state of Assam, where millions of people were accused of being foreigners and effectively stripped of their citizenship last year.

The controversial Citizenship (Amendment) Bill 2016, which still needs the approval of the upper house of parliament, seeks to amend the 1955 Citizenship Act to make Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis and Christians from three Muslim-majority countries  Bangladesh, Pakistan and Afghanistan  eligible for Indian citizenship. This would mean migrants belonging to these religious communities who entered India without the necessary documents prior to 2014 would not be imprisoned or deported and would gain permanent citizenship after six years of residency in India.

The government says the bill aims to provide succour to persons who have been persecuted in their homelands because of their religious identities and who have nowhere else to go but India. The proposal assumes persons who identify as Muslim cannot be persecuted in Muslim-dominated countries, and therefore excludes all Muslim immigrants. Hence, members of the Ahmadiya and Shia communities of Pakistan, despite being persistently targeted by extremists, would not be able to seek refuge in India.

The bill has been widely criticised for attempting to make religion an eligibility criterion for Indian citizenship  an act that would fundamentally alter the secular character of India.

Ignoring minorities from non-Muslim states

Critics have questioned the reasons behind the governments decision to limit the scope of this bill to migrants from Muslim-majority neighbours of India. Some have argued that the fact that the proposal excludes thousands of undocumented immigrants from Sri Lanka, Nepal and most importantly Myanmar implies that the Indian government is not at all concerned about the persecution of minorities if they are not living in Muslim-majority countries.

Indeed, when members of Myanmars Muslim Rohingya minority sought refuge in India after being persecuted in their home country for their religious and ethnic identity, the Indian government did not attempt to provide any legal protection for them. On the contrary, the members of the government perceived these desperate refugees as a threat to India and made attempts to force them out of the country.

In this context, the claim that this bill is a humanitarian gesture aiming to help people in need does not hold. So what is the Indian governments real motivation for supporting this bill?

Protecting Indias Hindu identity

The governing Hindu-nationalist Bharatiya Janata Partys (BJP) main strategist for the northeast, Himanta Biswa Sarma, recently exposed the real purpose of this bill: protecting Indias so-called Hindu identity.

Before the citizenship bill was put to a vote in the lower house of parliament, Sarma, who is also the finance minister of the state of Assam, said, If this Bill is not passed, then Hindus in Assam will become a minority in just next five years. That will be advantageous to those elements who want Assam to be another Kashmir and a part of the uncertain phase there.

And soon after the bill was passed, the minister argued that this decision may have prevented Muslims from taking control of Assams 17 assembly seats and the Muslim leader of the All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF), Badruddin Ajmal, from becoming the chief minister.

By using the potential electoral success of Muslim Indian citizens, who have every right to contest and hold public positions, as a way to legitimise the citizenship bill, Sarma clearly demonstrated that the purpose of this bill is not to help anyone, but to protect and promote Hindu supremacy in India.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has also previously admitted that the bill is tied to his partys desire to make India a Hindu nation that prioritises the rights of Hindus irrespective of their citizenship.

During a rally in Assams Bengali-Hindu dominated region of Silchar, Modi said that the citizenship bill is an atonement for the past mistakes of partition. Emphasising that he believes blood relations are more important than the colour of passports, he promised the regions Bengali-speaking Hindus that he would make sure that they will be accepted and welcomed by mother India by passing this bill.

Alienating Assams indigenous population

Today, Assam is at the centre of protests about the proposed amendment to Indias citizenship bill and this public anger has historical roots.

During Bangladeshs bloody struggle for liberation from Pakistan in the early 1970s, many Bengalis moved to Assam. Over the years, their increasing numbers stirred anxieties among the indigenous Assamese people about the preservation of their distinct culture and ownership of land. As a result, between 1979 and 1985, an anti-foreigner agitation  dubbed the Assam movement, targeting the Bengali immigrants  erupted in the state.

To end the violence, Indias central government signed the Assam accord with the leaders of the Assam movement in 1985. The accord specified that only people who could prove that either they or their parents had entered or lived in India prior to March 1971 can assume Indian citizenship and legally reside in the state of Assam.

Last year, a new National Register of Citizens (NRC) was prepared in the state to distinguish Indian citizens from undocumented immigrants according to the rules set by the 1985 accord. This list included only 28.9 million of the 32.9 million people residing in the state, rendering nearly four million people stateless.

The decision to denationalise millions of people was widely supported by Assams indigenous population, which still fears their culture may be decimated by the influx of foreigners and widely criticised by Indias Bengali communities and international observers. The Assameses main fear is that Bangla-speaking people from neighbouring Bangladesh, irrespective of their religion, would come to dominate Assam. Hindu and Muslim Assamese are united on this viewpoint and they all want undocumented immigrants to be kicked out of the state.

However, with this new citizenship bill, the BJP government is trying to convince Assamese Hindus that their loyalty should lie not with the indigenous Muslim communities of their state  who speak their language  but with Bengali Hindus. For now, the majority of Assamese Hindus seem not convinced by Hindu nationalist arguments.

The Assam Gana Parishad (AGP), the successor of the Assam movement, has already severed ties with the BJP and expressed its displeasure over the move. The AGP and its allies see in this move an attempt by the BJP to lure as many Hindus from Bangladesh as possible to this region, which, they think, would make it Bengali-dominated and eclipse the local cultures.

Another step towards Hinduisation of India

The citizenship bill needs to be seen as a part of the BJPs larger ideological and political agenda to transform India into a Hindu homeland. The governing party believes India belongs to Hindus and everyone else are invaders, or at best latecomers, who should expect nothing more than a guest status.

The BJP is clearly using this bill to send a message to the Hindus in other parts of India that under their rule, Hindus will always come first.

From the very beginning, the BJP viewed the NRC as way to rid the country of Muslim foreigners. Using this citizenship bill, the governing party is trying to make sure no Hindus are harmed by the NRC and their quest to expel Muslims from India can continue without complications.

If this bill gets the approval of the upper house in the coming days, it will not only cause division and conflict in the northeast of India but will significantly contribute to the ongoing Hinduisation of India.

The views expressed in this article are the authors own and do not necessarily reflect Al Jazeeras editorial stance.
Heads of five countries and over 20,000 national and international delegates are expected to attend the 9th edition of the Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit here between January 18 and 20.

Uzbekistan President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, Rwanda President Paul Kagame, Prime Minister of Denmark Lars Lokke Rasmussen, Prime Minister of the Czech Republic Andrej Babis and Prime Minister of Malta Joseph Muscat would be attending the summit, a top state official said here Friday.

Also Read: Twitterati mourns the death of banker-turned-politician Meera Sanyal

Besides, 21 ministers from various countries are also coming for the event, Gujarat chief secretary J N Singh said.

Vibrant Gujarat Summits were initiated by Narendra Modi in 2003 when he was chief minister to attract investment to the state.

Unlike past summits, the United States and the United Kingdom won't be associating themselves with the event as `Partner Countries' this time, Singh said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi would inaugurate the biennial summit on January 18 at Mahatma Mandir here.

Modi would hold one-to-one meetings with all the heads of countries afterwards.

"Apart from them, around 115 delegations from other countries will be here for the summit. Over 20,000 delegates and 26,380 companies have already registered for the three-day event and the number may increase," Singh told reporters.

Fifteen countries including Australia, Canada, France and Japan have agreed to be "partner countries".

"Though the US is not there, two of its trade organisations -- US-India Strategic Partnership Forum and US-India Business Council -- are coming," said Singh.

The Indian business tycoons who are expected to attend the summit include Mukesh Ambani, Uday Kotak, Kumar Mangalam Birla, Gautam Adani, Adi Godrej and Pankaj Patel, Singh said.

CEOs and top executives of global companies like BASF, DP World, Suzuki, Vanguard and Maersk would also be present, he said.

Some of the major events during the three-day summit include a `roundtable interaction' with the heads of global funds, 'Africa Day' and an MSME Convention.

"The Africa Day event is a new feature. It will provide a platform for global leaders to discuss opportunities for strategic partnerships, trade and investment between India and Africa," the chief secretary said.

"Prime minister Modi will have a round table with heads of global sovereign wealth funds, pension funds and institutional investors on an inaugural day," Singh said.

Also Read: Karnataka govt requests European Investment Bank to fund state projects

Also Read: Aircel-Maxis case: Ashok Chawla quits as NSE chairman after CBI gets sanction to prosecute him
With the government shutdown having thrust 800,000 federal workers into financial uncertainty, several school districts in the Washington, D.C., metro area are offering furloughed employees an alternative job option: becoming a substitute teacher.

In Fairfax County, Va., the district is holding two hiring events specifically for furloughed federal employeesone today and one on Tuesday. Both are at capacity, and the district is considering adding a third, said a spokeswoman for the school system.

Schools in Prince William County, Va., and Prince Georges County, Md., are also encouraging those affected by the shutdown to apply for positions. In addition to substitute teachers, Prince William County has also suggested furloughed employees apply to be temporary teachers assistants, substitute bus drivers, or swim instructors.

Were in Washington, D.C.'s backyard, and we are hearing from community members who have been impacted by the government shutdown, and were just trying to do whatever we can to help the parents of our students, said Diana Gulotta, a spokeswoman for Prince William County schools. The district emailed its 150,000-member parent listserv on Friday with a message pointing to open positions and inviting furloughed workers to apply.

For government employees currently without a salary, a temporary job as a substitute could provide extra income to stay afloat. Its unclear how long the shutdown will continue, and if the government doesnt reopen before Saturday, it will be the longest shutdown in U.S. history.

For these school districts, the additional workers could play an important role. The unemployment rate right now is fairly low, which is impacting our ability to fill positions, said Gulotta. Placing furloughed federal employees in those jobs would be a win-win, she said.

Necessary Source of Income

Ernie Tamayo, a human resources specialist with a federal agency, decided it was time to start looking for temporary employment as his furlough entered its third week, he said.

He saw a Tweet from the human resources team in Prince William County schools, inviting federal workers to apply for substitute jobs, and he applied within days.

Tamayo had started looking into part-time teaching last year, hoping to teach a college course in addition to his federal job. Now, he thinks that working with K-12 students could be a good way for him to explore the education profession.

Its also an opportunity to give a service to my local community, said Tamayo. Given my backgroundI was in the military before, I work in the federal governmentIve really tried to gear my career toward public service, and teaching is a more local way to do that.

And finding a source of additional income is quickly becoming necessary. Im trying to be proactive, he said. His financial situation is stable for now, he said, but hell need to find more work to pay his bills if the shutdown continues past the end of January.

Tamayo is also planning to apply to a substitute job in Manassas City schools, and hes put in an application for a human resources position at a university as well. Hourly pay for a substitute job with Prince William County is only one-third as much as he makes in his current job. (Across Prince William , Fairfax , and Prince Georges counties, substitutes who havent worked as fully certified teachers before make about $100 a day.)

Substitute qualifications differ from district to district, and not all furloughed employees would be eligible.

Prince Georges County, for example, requires that applicants have worked in a classroom environment for at least six months or with groups of children in another setting for at least a year, according to the district website .

When the shutdown ends, any newly minted substitutes may want to leave these districts and return to their federal jobs. Districts say that schedules are flexible enough to allow workers to do thisin Prince William and Prince Georges counties, substitutes have to meet days worked quotas to remain in the system, but they can choose to let their eligibility lapse, according to district spokeswomen.

Tamayo said if he were hired in Prince William County, he would likely continue working as a substitute even after the government opens again. Teaching, he said, is an ongoing goal for me.

Photo: USDA employee Lona Powell, center, holds up her sign as she joins union members and other federal employees at a rally to call for an end to the partial government shutdown at AFL-CIO Headquarters in Washington. Powell has been on furlough at the Department of Agriculture since Dec. 22, 2018. Pablo Martinez Monsivais/AP
Atlantic/Swan Song

This Saturday, January 12, marks the 50th anniversary of the release of Led Zeppelin's self-titled debut album, which introduced the world to arguably the most influential and beloved hard-rock band of all-time.

Led Zeppelin played a large part in defining the heavy metal genre, driven by Jimmy Page's intricate guitar riffing, Robert Plant's banshee howl of a voice, John Paul Jones' adept, soulful bass and John Bonham's bludgeoning yet groove-heavy drums.

Produced by Page, the album was recorded in September and October at Olympic Studios in London, reportedly in just 36 hours and at a cost of less than 2,000 pounds. The nine-track collection features original tunes mixed with covers and reworked versions of contemporary blues and folk songs. Among the memorable tunes are "Good Times Bad Times," "Babe I'm Gonna Leave You," "Dazed and Confused," "Communication Breakdown," and "How Many More Times."

After its initial release, Led Zeppelin peaked at #10 on the Billboard 200 and went on to sell more than eight million copies in the U.S. When the album was reissued in 2014 with a bonus disc featuring audio from an October 1969 concert in Paris, it reached #7 on the chart.

The Led Zeppelin album was poorly received in general by critics at the time of its release, with Rolling Stone panning the record. The view of the album, of course, has been reassessed over the ensuing years. Case in point: On Rolling Stone's 2012 list of the 500 greatest albums of all time, it ranks at #29.

The magazine noted that "the template for everything Zeppelin achieved in the 1970s is here: brutal rockthundering power balladryacid-flavored folk bluesHeavy metal still lives in its shadow."

Here's the full track list of Led Zeppelin:

"Good Times Bad Times"

"Babe I'm Gonna Leave You"

"You Shook Me"

"Dazed and Confused"

"Your Time Is Gonna Come"

"Black Mountain Side" (instrumental)

"Communication Breakdown"

"I Can't Quit You Baby"

"How Many More Times"

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Originally Posted by stoptheinvaders Originally Posted by

Is this being enforced? We know they are still entering illegally. Who knows if they are allowed to apply for asylum. I haven't seen any reports of them being deported immediately. Apparently they are just being turned loose. So what did we gain from that law, if they are simply on one of those buses and turned loose?
Stacker dove into film history to compile data on 50 films set in ancient times, an era which spans from the beginning of human history to the fall of the Roman Empire in the fifth century. To qualify, the movie had to have at least 1,000 votes on IMDb. Click for more.
Teams of lawmen on Friday morning took two murder suspects into custody in Selmas first homicide of 2019.

At daylight, the Selma Police Departments Fugitive Apprehension and Special Tactics Team served an arrest warrant at an apartment in the George Washington Carver Homes public housing community. Simultaneously, said Selma Police Chief Spencer Collier, the Montgomery Police Departments Strike Task served a second arrest at a different GWC Homes apartment.

Both law enforcement teams made dynamic entries into the apartments, meaning they forced their way inside. Arrested were Christopher Lil Chris Hosea and David Joc Dinero Lewis.

Both are charged with murder in the Tuesday shooting death of 36-year-old Alan Bishop of Marion. Collier said Bishop was killed in Tuesdays predawn hours after he noticed his car was on fire and exited an apartment to investigate.

Once outside, he was shot multiple times and pronounced dead on the scene. A 26-year-old woman  Keasha Steele  was injured by shrapnel from the gunfire. She was struck by the shrapnel while she was inside her apartment that was adjacent to where Bishop was killed.

Hosea and Lewis are being held without bond at undisclosed jails. Collier said multiple other felony charges are pending against them.
More than 1,000 people gathered at a southwest Birmingham church Friday to witness history.

Jefferson County Sheriff Mark Pettway was sworn in as the first African American sheriff in the states largest county. He takes over the helm after defeating five-time incumbent Sheriff Mike Hale, who made his final radio call Thursday in preparation for the changing of the guard.

I feel that what I did is going to be inspirational to a lot of people who desire to step out and do something that has never been done before. I want to be able to say, Hey, dont be afraid. Step out and do it, Pettway said. I stepped out, but I stepped out on my faith and I am the first black, or African American, to sit in this seat but I dont want to be considered that. I just want to be considered the sheriff for everybody.

Pettways swearing-in ceremony was held at the Greater Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church and was attended by a number of county dignitaries, law enforcement officials, friends, family and much of the sheriffs office rank-and-file. The event included the involvement of students from several area schools: The Ramsay High School ROTC Unit handled the posting of colors; Bessemer City High School student Micah Williams led the Pledge of Allegiance; and Alabama School of Fine Arts student Natalie Brasher sang God Bless America.

Former Jefferson County Sheriff Jim Woodward presented Pettway with his sheriffs badge and Montgomery County Sheriff Derrick Cunningham presented him with his sheriffs pin.

Birmingham attorney and former federal Judge U.W. Clemon administered the oath of office. Greater Shilohs senior pastor, the Rev. Michael W. Wesley Sr., presided over the ceremony. Wesley said he was proud as a peacock and said it was a serious, sacred and historic day in Jefferson County.

This (sheriffs) department is already an early pioneer and a shining example of what regional cooperation can look like among law enforcement officers. So, Im happy to know this new sheriff will continue to be a catalyst to further facilitate and encourage regional cooperation, Wesley said.

I believe that God has elevated this man for such a time as this. What time is it? A time where dark clouds hover over heads of our nation. A time when sin and vice roams uncloaked. A time when there appears to be a tide of mistrust of law enforcement officers, especially among young African Americans, the pastor said. But its also a time when law enforcement requires both some sameness and yet some fresh approaches to such a time as this. This man has come, a man who understands the time and knows what to do.

Pettway paid tribute to former Birmingham and Fairfield Mayor Larry Langford who died earlier this week. Langford hired Pettway as a Fairfield police officer in 1993. Pettway began his law enforcement career at the Birmingham Police Department where he served as a corrections officer in the city jail. After serving at the Fairfield Police Department, Pettway joined the Jefferson County Sheriffs Office in 1999.

He attended schools in both the Birmingham City Schools system and the Jefferson County Schools system. He graduated from Ensley High School, attended Jefferson State Community College and ultimately graduated from Faulkner University with a degree in business administration.

Pettway and his wife, Vanessa, recently celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary. They have two grown daughters, both of whom graduated the University of Alabama where they attended on scholarship. One of his daughters is a teacher for Birmingham City Schools and the other is a teacher at Jeff State.

Pettway, who ran a grassroots campaign steeped in faith and driven by family rather than experienced political operatives, said he woke up Friday morning and prayed with his family and team, which he does every morning. Asked what he first thought, he said, This is it.

Im very excited, very thankful, thankful to God, thankful to the people who came out and voted, he said. Ive been in law enforcement now for over 27 years. Ive been preparing myself for this position for a while and now here I am with the blessing of God.

Since winning the election, Pettway has worked with a transition team and said he is now ready to officially get to work. He took an unpaid leave of absence beginning Jan. 4, 2018 to launch his campaign. Its been a learning process for me. Its been a period also of waiting, he said. Were ready now to take over the office, go back and see the deputies and introduce myself to some Ive never met before.

Pettway said he is ready to implement those things he talked about on the campaign trail. We want to make sure we dont have contract deputies in the schools, we want full-time employed deputies. We want to help those with mental health issues. We want to make sure we have someone on staff who can de-escalate any situation that arises with someone with mental health issues, he said. Also, we want to make sure were able to bridge the gap between the public and law enforcement. Were going to have cameras from Day 1 for everybody. Then were going to help those who are incarcerated by giving them an education, so they can get employed. Were going to have a plan to stop the revolving door.

The sheriff said he did not have a chance to talk with Hale as he left office. I do wish him well and I appreciate the service he gave to the county all those years., he said. We have talked in the past, but we will be in touch.

Pettway has not yet announced any changes at the sheriffs office. First were going to go in and evaluate everything that is there. Were constantly going to evaluate things day to day, he said. Once we find out what needs to be changed, were going to make those necessary changes at that time.

As for his crime reduction strategy, Pettway said he will emphasize community policing. We want to engage with the public. We want the deputies to get out of their vehicles, he said. We want them to engage with the citizens, get to know them and show them, Were there for you. I believe that will bring in valuable information that can help us solve crime."
The Birmingham Police Department is looking for more volunteers to join the department's Chaplain Corps.

The range of duties for the police chaplains includes anything from representing BPD at funerals and weddings to responding to major disasters and other crisis calls. The volunteer chaplains are expected to build rapport with officers, as well as those in the community.

They serve the more than 1,100 BPD employees, as well as provide services inside the Birmingham City Jail and to officers in other city departments. The chaplains act as liaisons between police and Birmingham area ministerial associations.

Chaplain training will take place Tuesday, Feb. 19, from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m. Annual training for the VIPS (Volunteers in Police Services Programs) will be held on Wednesday, Feb. 20, from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m. All training will be held at the Shields Conference Center located at 3969 14th Avenue North.

Anyone interest in either program can call the Birmingham Police Department Community Service Division at 205-933-4175 or via e-mail at bpdvolunteers@birminghamal.gov
Tuscaloosa police are trying to identify a man accused of trying to steal a bottle of beer then damaging a cash register and throwing bottles of beer across the store before fleeing the area on New Years Eve.

Police responded to a report of a theft in the 9900 block of Highway 11 in Cottondale Dec. 31. Officers were told a black male tried to steal a bottle of beer, but could not leave because the store door was locked, police said.

The suspect became enraged and picked up the cash register causing damage to it, then threw several bottles of beer at the wall and glass door, causing damage to both, Lt. Teena Richardson said in a statement.

Tuscaloosa police are looking for a man accused of damaging a cash register, throwing beer and then stealing a few bottles of beer at a Cottonwood gas station. Police say he fled the scene in this truck.

The suspect then took several bottles of beer and left the area in a white GMC pickup occupied by a black female, police said.

If anyone has information on the identity and whereabouts of the following suspect, please call Crime Stoppers at 205-752-7867.
The Karnataka government on Friday urged the European Investment Bank (EIB) to fund other projects in the state.

At the signing of the agreement between the Karnataka government and the EIB, deputy chief minister G Parameshwara thanked the Bank for funding 200 million Euros for funding the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited for its Phase-2 Reach-6 project from Nagawara to Gottigere in the city.

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"While thanking EIB of this, I would like to reiterate our chief minister's request that EIB may consider funding other infrastructure and sustainability projects in the state," Parameshwara told the delegation.

This is the second tranche of the payment of 500 million Euros, Parameshwara said, adding that the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) has also agreed to lend 300 million Euros.

In all, 800 million Euro funding has come for the project, he said.

Maria Shaw Barragan of EIB and others were present besides Karnataka government officials, an official release said.

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Jodi and Dennis Szymanski have been traveling from their Michigan home to Gulf Shores every winter for the past seven years.

And during those years, the so-called snow birds who travel to coastal Alabama for warmer winters, noticed something that would make city leaders grin: The beaches, and their adjoining parks, are as clean as they can ever recall.

They were happy to learn that the city, last June, approved an ordinance banning smoking and tobacco use at the popular Gulf Shores Public Beach. Its the first known smoking ban on an Alabama beach, and encompasses about a -mile area where Gulf Shores city officials are completing a nearly $15 million renovation project to an area it calls Gulf Place.

They do a good job making this beach beautiful and if they want to keep it beautiful, the best way to do that is to keep the butts off the beach and the sidewalk, said Jodi Szymanski.

Her comments come as business owners and residents absorb recently reported news about the smoking ban.

The ban is occurring at the same time that other states and cities are looking to keep smokers off the beaches. In Florida, for instance, a state lawmaker is proposing legislation pushing for a smoking ban at all of the states beaches. New Jersey is implementing its own ban this month.

The Gulf Shores Public Beach ban took effect when the City Council adopted a wide-ranging ordinance in June. Signage is expected to be posted in the coming months informing visitors about the new policies.

The ban, as written, also applies to e-cigarettes, cigars and chewing tobacco.

The ban encompasses a territory that includes everything south of Alabama State Route 182 (Beach Boulevard) from around West Second Street to East 1st Avenue or near Hooters restaurant. Orange Beach city officials are not considering a similar smoking ban on its beaches, and neither are officials in Dauphin Island.

George Smith, a Gulf Shores resident for the past four years who was smoking a cigarette on the boardwalk adjacent to the Public Beach, said he doesnt think people will not smoke when walking onto the beach.

As he sat on a boardwalk bench reading a book, a group of four visitors meandered onto the beach with lit cigarettes in hand. Smoking anywhere within the vicinity is off-limits.

I think people are still going to smoke here on the beach, said Smith. If they would just put ash trays on the boardwalk, that would fix their problem. Most of the people I know who live here want to keep the beach clean.

Some business owners arent sure a city-enforced ban is the right way to go.

Sanford McLain, owner of OB Vapors in Gulf Shores and Orange Beach, said he doesnt support the smoking ban. An ex-smoker whose business is assisting smokers quit, McLain said he doesnt think the city should be implementing ordinances that confine smokers into a segregated area.

Grant Brown, spokesman with the city of Gulf Shores, said there are no immediate plans to section of a smoking area within the Public Beach area.

The beach is a big open area and I dont see why it would be so hard, said McLain.

Ike Willliams, owner of the family-owned Ikes Beach Service  a beach rental business in Gulf Shores which also specializes in beach cleaning  said he believes the ban will help in keeping the beaches clean. He said as beaches get more crowded, especially during peak summer months, cigarette smoke can become a nuisance.

He doesnt think people will not come to Gulf Shores because there is a smoking ban at the Public Beach. But he wondered aloud if restrictions are warranted.

People are drowning, do we make them wear a life jacket when they are on the beach? said Williams, who added that the smoking ban doesnt bother me.

The people who are fussing need to get involved, he said, referring to people citing recent concerns about the ordinance. When they hear these things coming up, they need to voice their concerns.

Spencer Ryan, executive director of Alabama People Against a Littered State, or APALS, organizes a coastal cleanup encompassing Mobile and Baldwin counties each year, and the September coastal cleanup is one of the groups biggest that involves 5,500 people who pick up around 4,800 tons of trash.

Cigarette butts, he said, are among the most difficult and abundant items the crew gathers.

They are a huge problem, said Ryan.

But the cities of Gulf Shores and Orange Beach oversee the Leave Only Footprints campaign that advocates against litter on the coastal beaches. And each night, after beaches are emptied during peak summer months, work crews rake the beach and pick up litter including cigarette butts.

Dennis and Jodi Szymanski have noticed a difference that seven years makes in cleaning up the area.

When we first came down here seven years ago, I think they were still picking up from the oil spill, said Dennis Szymanski, referring to the polluted beaches following the 2010 Deepwater Horizon disaster in the Gulf of Mexico which inundated coastal Alabamas beaches with oil.

Said wife, Jodi, Weve noticed how clean it is. The reason we come down to this beach is because its beautiful.
If youre a fan of those politician vs. cable news anchor shouting matches, U.S. Rep. Mo Brooks just starred in an all-timer.

Brooks, R-Huntsville, appeared Friday morning on CNN for an interview with anchor John Berman.

What ensued was a 10-minute interview in which Berman and Brooks talked over each other to the point that neither was intelligible for repeated long stretches. Along the way, Brooks defended President Trumps suggestion that declaring a national emergency to build a wall on the southern border was sound policy.

In a press release, Brooks office described the CNN interview as fiery.

What were facing today is a national emergency of major proportions and Congress has delegated to the president of the United States the right  and its expressed in the United States Code, you can look it up yourself  the right to declare a national emergency under certain circumstances. This meets that bill.

Called out @NewDayCNN's for misleading the public. CNN & Democrats may want to trivialize the number of Americans who die because of illegal alien crime, but to me Congress needs to do everything in its power to save American lives & #BuildTheWall. https://t.co/K1Rp0W84jf  Mo Brooks (@RepMoBrooks) January 11, 2019

After a brief clash, Berman asked Brooks, Whats the emergency?

Lets look at 9/11 as an example, Brooks said. We lost 3,000 people, more or less, on 9/11. That justified going to war in Iraq and Afghanistan and our troops are still there to varying degrees. With the southern border, we have the loss of at least 15,000 Americans a year.

At this point, Brooks became more emphatic in speaking his words.

Thats part of the justification, Brooks said.

Brooks is part of the House Freedom Caucus  the hard-line conservative wing of the GOP that has urged Trump to push for wall funding.

As Berman asks for details, Brooks said, You have 2,000 homicides by illegal aliens, according to federal government data. Youve got another 15-16,000 that die each year from heroin overdoses  90 percent of which comes across our porous southern border. Thats not counting the 55,000 additional deaths that are caused by overdoses, a significant amount of which comes across the southern border.

How many dead people do you have to have, John, before you consider it an emergency?

CNN then displayed a chart indicating that crimes in Texas by undocumented immigrants are committed at less than half the rate of native-born Americans.

Thats bunk, Brooks says as Berman recites the statistics.

After more than a minute of Berman and Brooks talking over each other, Brooks said, I am yet to see a Democrat in the halls of Congress that really believes in border security and is willing to do what is necessary to save American lives.
Angela Davis says someone from the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute informed her last Saturday that it was rescinding its decision to honor her with the Fred L. Shuttlesworth Human Rights Award by simply reading its public statement to her.

In an interview with Democracy Now, Davis said: When I made requests to them to offer me more substantive reasons for the rescission of the award, I was met with responses, very abstract responses, such as, Its a matter of public record.

The activist, academic and author was making her first public remarks since Monday when she released a statement saying she was stunned by the action.

It was only after [the call], she said to Democracy Now, I was informed, that an article had appeared in the magazine Southern Jewish Life that basically detailed some of my activism around Palestinian human rights, for [the Boycott, Divestiture and Sanctions movement], against some of the policies and practices of the state of Israel.

Full coverage of the BCRI decision and Angela Davis

Indeed, within the days after the essay was published, on December 23, some in Birminghams Jewish community, as well as others, urged the BCRI to reconsider honoring Davis, which was announced last October.

The BCRI has not said why it decided not to honor Davis beyond its initial statement, which noted, in part: Upon closer examination of Ms. Davis statements and public record, we concluded that she, unfortunately, does not meet all of the criteria on which the award is based.

Its interesting that they are unwilling to reveal precisely what their process was, Davis said, and that we are left to speculate about the influences that were responsible for this decision.

She added that the citys Jewish community should not be brushed broadly because of those who were against her being honored.

I think its important not to generalize about the Jewish community in Birmingham, just as I would suggest we not generalize about the black community, Davis said. There are people representing very different political positions in both communities.

I am aware that there are progressive members of the Jewish community there. I know that Jewish Voice for Peace has contacts in Birmingham. I think its important, as we engage in discussion around this controversy, to be aware of the extent to which anti-Semitism can also be a force here."

Davis added that she believed the BCRI board underestimated the ensuing backlash, which included protest and proclamations of support for Davis by the Birmingham City Council and the Birmingham Schools Board of Education.

I dont think they were aware that the response would be so immediate and so overwhelmingly in favor of my receiving the award, Davis said. I have heard from literally hundreds of individuals and organizations. Letters are being circulated not only by Jewish Voice for Peace but by historians. I think its the American Historical SocietyI may be wrongone of the professional organizations that includes scholars who do work on civil rights.

Davis is a Birmingham native who grew up on Dynamite Hill.

I was quite honored, she said upon first learning she was chosen for the award. I was looking forward to returning to the place where I was born and raised. By the way, I did know Fred Shuttlesworth, and I went to school with his daughter Patricia. So, it was quite an exciting development.

Davis is still coming to Birmingham for an event being organized by a coalition of the citizens in the activist, education, business, and religious communities. The visit will include several events around the city, highlighted by A Conversation with Angela Davis, which will be held on Saturday, February 16, the same day she was to be honored at the BCRIs fund-raising gala. The location has not yet been finalized.

Its actually quite exciting to see the issue of Palestinian justice, justice for Palestine, emerge as a topic of popular discourse, Davis said. We have attempted for so long to encourage a conversation like this.

I dont know whether I enjoy being at the center of the controversy; I think Ive had my share of controversies in my life. But Im happy to assist in the process of encouraging more discussion on racism, on anti-Semitism, on justice for Palestine.

Watch the entire interview with Democracy Now:
MOSCOW  Although a shift in Russia's Mideast policy had been in the works prior to US President Donald Trump's surprise December announcement of a Syria withdrawal, the US exit will impact the changes facing Moscow in the war-torn country.

The US-led coalition in Syria began its withdrawal Jan. 11. Pentagon spokesman Col. Sean Ryan said that "the process of our deliberate withdrawal from Syria" had begun, while noting that "specific timelines, locations or troops movements" will not be disclosed "out of concern for operational security." Although initial reports claimed that some American forces had already withdrawn from the Rmeilan military base in Hasakeh province in northeastern Syria, Defense Department officials later clarified that the withdrawal of equipment  but not troops  had begun.

A day before, on Jan. 10, Hossein Jaberi Ansari, a senior aide to the Iranian foreign minister, came to Moscow on a two-day visit for talks with Russian special envoy for Syria Alexander Lavrentiev, Deputy Defense Minister Alexander Fomin and Deputy Foreign Ministers Sergey Vershinin and Mikhail Bogdanov.

The situation in Syria in the post-US era dominated the discussion, but the officials also reportedly exchanged views on developments in Iraq, Libya, Sudan and Yemen, endorsing efforts by the UN special envoy to Yemen Martin Griffiths to resolve the crisis.

The snap American decision to pull out from Syria created a lot of uncertainty for a few weeks, and Russia has been waiting to see how its implementation will occur.

"The situation regarding the US withdrawal from Syria will be affected by various factors," Russia's Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov said. "Supporters of preserving the US presence in Syria have strong positions in Washington  I cant imagine the US physically, fully and undisputedly withdrawing from Syria militarily all of a sudden in the current situation of Washingtons unrestrained chase for global domination and the striving to be present everywhere and solve issues only on its terms."

Many in Moscow still believe that the US military, in some form  special forces, CIA operatives or military advisers  will remain in the area after the pullout to keep Iran in check at the Syrian-Iraqi border. Yet Trump's decision is perceived  and already politically dealt with  as a new reality on the ground. In this sense, despite the rhetoric, the differences within the administration between national security adviser John Bolton and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo over the withdrawal matter little to Moscow and most stakeholders in the Middle East, for they are now all calculating their future steps with a view that the US commitment itself is no longer there.

Diplomatically, it also doesnt change Russias overall course of action that much. Moscow is inclined to pursue the initiatives it set forth in 2018, the three pillars being the launch of the constitutional committee; the return of refugees; and working toward the relegitimization of President Bashar al-Assad's government, coupled with the pursuit of funds to rebuild the country.

At the regional level, for the first set of objectives Russia will need the collaboration of the new UN envoy for Syria, Geir Pedersen, as well as an increase in contacts with the interested and adequate opposition groups and local councils. For the second it would seek a more fruitful cooperation with countries that hosted the most refugees: Turkey, Jordan and Lebanon. For the third  funding  the likely go-tos are Gulf monarchies.

Outside the region, France, Germany and possibly Italy, as well as the EU as a political actor, are seen as having their own stake in each of the baskets and thus expected to come on board. A possible lack of progress in the work with Europeans on any or all of these tracks is too unlikely to avert Russia from the stated course. Moscow is leading the process and will do so with or without Paris, Berlin and Brussels.

Ongoing talks with Iran and Turkey over American succession in Syria show the Astana format is still the best venue for the three to discuss their own internal disagreements and push forward their respective agendas. There are plenty of ways in which the love triangle of necessity  Moscow, Ankara and Tehran  can become more polarized throughout the year, but both Turkey and Iran will remain critical partners for Russia in Syria and well beyond, and Moscow will work hard to ensure the disagreements are smoothed out in mutually accepted ways.

Two major strategic trends have evolved in 2018 that will define Russias policy pattern for the region.

First, when Moscow entered the Syrian scene, the three primary goals it set for itself had to do with propping up the Assad government, defeating groups it deemed terroristic and breaking through what by then was shaping up as the Western isolation of Russia. The Russian approach was arguably threats-based. More than three years into the Syria campaign, Assad looks rather stable  perhaps even too much to the point of Moscows occasional irritation. No single terrorist group represents a vital security challenge to either Syria or Russia, and the dynamism of Russias bilateral activity with regional actors, not to mention the outreach by many Western states to Moscow, make the isolation argument irrelevant.

Though the fluidity of modern international relations indicates things may change rather quickly, especially if an Islamic State 2.0 emerges in a few years, for now Russia feels ready to transform its Middle East policy from the threats-based approach to the opportunities-based one. Its image of the new power broker in the region that effectively offers both off-shore balancing and hedging opportunities enables Moscow to explore an array of venues across the region  be it in the security management domain, or the fields of energy, arms sales or agricultural exports.

Second, since its early stages, the conflict in Syria has been evolving on three levels: internationally, regionally and locally.

The international dimension of the conflict manifested in the form of Moscow laying claim to the global power status and Washington seeking to deny it. With the United States abandoning the scene, the great power dimension will continue in other domains and regions, but Syria now seems a lost case: Russia lost out on the much sought-after cooperation with the United States, while Washington lost out on defeating Russian ambition for a global power projection.

The regional level, however, is where the tug of war has never ceased. In fact, in many respects it will intensify now that theres significantly less appetite for outside  namely, Western  restraint on what regional stakeholders do. The focus on Iran doesnt effectively deter the leadership in Tehran from pursuing its goals either.

The local-level dynamics have been mixed. Although theres still plenty of opposition to Assad's rule in Syria  and, equally, enough support for him to stay in power  the very internal dynamics to this dimension is not near what it was. Yet should the regional-level animosity reach new heights, the use of local players as proxies may re-energize with the new drive, making various radical terrorist groups ultimate beneficiaries.

The situation pushes Moscow to cautiously invest its political capital in the conflicts that are important to the region to further solidify its role and respective image. It is raising its voice on the status of the conflict in Yemen, has been sitting on multiple chairs in Libya, taking up the effort for the intra-Palestinian engagement and, most importantly, offering working ideas on the modus operandi for the regions most uncompromised rivalries.

The Middle East turf, however, is a casino-style gamble. Once you start feeling you are having a lucky streak you are in a risk zone to be gradually losing all of your gains. To continue to make the most of the opportunities Moscow created for itself, it would be wise to stay prudent and not get dizzy with success. The pullout of the US troops is the first test in this respect.
The National Nuclear Security Administration has tasked and funded Savannah River Nuclear Solutions to begin preliminary design and planning work tied to plutonium pit production at the Savannah River Site, a SRNS spokesperson confirmed Friday evening.

SRNS has, as a result, established and "mobilized" teams to tackle the transition of the Mixed Oxide Fuel Fabrication Facility as well as the development of the prospective "Savannah River Pit Production Plant," the same spokesperson said.

SRNS, the management and operations contractor at SRS, finalized and submitted its MOX transition plan on Dec. 21, according to a senior NNSA spokesperson, who issued a lengthy statement that day.

SRNS's initial work includes a conceptual design of an SRS-located pit production facility. The design, as well as the ongoing work, will inform future decision making and funding, according to the SRNS spokesperson.

"The preliminary plans SRNS is developing show how we will make use of SRS's expertise, existing facilities, and infrastructure to start up and carry out this important work, which builds on the site's historical service to the nation's nuclear security," the spokesperson said.

On May 10, 2018, the NNSA  a semiautonomous U.S. Department of Energy agency  and the U.S. Department of Defense together recommended producing pits at both SRS and Los Alamos National Laboratory in New Mexico.

SRNS finalizes transition plans for MOX facility and resources, NNSA says The transition plan  to be reviewed and approved  is part of the MOX closeout process.

Plutonium pits are nuclear weapon cores, often referred to as triggers.

Producing them at SRS would require repurposing MOX, according to the joint recommendation, which was delivered the same day that U.S. Secretary of Energy Rick Perry moved to kill the MOX project.

The NNSA terminated the MOX project five months after Perry's opening gambit.

The NNSA's decision to tap SRNS followed a certification made by the Nuclear Weapons Council, the SRNS spokesperson said.

Two-pronged pit production  a planned 50 pits per year at SRS and 30 pits per year at Los Alamos  "is the best way to manage the cost, schedule, and risk of such a vital undertaking," according to a government press release issued in May.

"This is an enduring mission that is vital for strengthening the nation's nuclear security," the SRNS spokesperson said Friday.

SRNS's parent companies are Fluor, Newport News Nuclear and Honeywell International.
Maybe it's the food. Maybe it's the beaches. Maybe it's the job market. Or maybe it's the weather.

Something is attracting people to the state of South Carolina. The state's population continues  and continues  to grow.

Between 2017 and 2018, the Palmetto State's population ticked up 1.3 percent, according to data published by the U.S. Census Bureau.

That's a gain of nearly 63,000 people in one year.

And while the state didn't make the bureau's top 10 "most populous" rankings  nearby North Carolina and Georgia did  South Carolina is now ranked No. 9 in both sheer volume of population growth as well as growth by percentage.

The South Carolina swell is not necessarily new, though: Between 2016 and 2017, South Carolina welcomed about 64,500 new residents. Between 2014 and 2015, almost 67,000 people decided to move into the state.

For at least three years straight  2015, 2016, 2017  southern and western states dominated the population growth trend, according several press releases from the Census Bureau.

In 2017, 38 percent of the nation's population lived in the South, per the bureau's data.

Overall, South Carolina has grown for eight straight years.

The repeated statewide growth is somewhat similar to what may be seen in the Aiken and Savannah River areas, according to a housing study conducted last year for the City of Aiken and the Greater Aiken Chamber of Commerce, among other customers.

The population in downtown Aiken is predicted to "increase slightly" through 2022, according to the study, which was handled by Novogradac & Company.

Surfing the 'silver tsunami' About 18 percent of Aiken County residents and 24 percent of city residents were older than 65 in 2017.

Aiken's total population is expected to increase .7 percent annually through 2022, and the Augusta-Richmond County area will likely see 1 percent annual growth in the same time period, according to Novogradac & Company.

Growth like that would bring Aiken's population to just over 41,300 and the greater area's to just under 638,500, the study notes.

The Census Bureau will release more specific population statistics for counties, towns and cities, and metropolitan and micropolitan areas later in 2019.

Novogradac & Company is a professional services company that offers consulting, development and housing services.
Industry lobby Assocham on Friday met Reserve Bank governor Shaktikanta Das and discussed the liquidity issues being faced by non-banking financial companies and housing finance players, and suggested some steps to ease the crisis.

Since taking charge on December 12, Das has met banks, both public and private sector and also NBFCs and MSMEs. This is the first meeting the governor has had with an industry lobby, though.

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The delegation, which met the governor in New Delhi, told him that over-regulation of the sector is hampering the growth of the NBFC model of lending.

The players requested the governor to maintain the existing asset-liability mismatch (ALM) norms till the normalcy is restored.

The industry body said NBFCs need the regulator to also play the role of facilitator.

"We reiterated our concern that while the asset side of NBFCs is subject to regulation which has been harmonised with that of banks, the liability side i.e. fundraising activity, still remains highly restricted, thereby creating a liquidity crunch for the sector, Assocham said in a statement.

The delegation requested the governor to reduce the minimum holding period to three months for loans having the maturity of two-five years.

Housing finance companies should be allowed to access National Housing Finance (NHB) refinance facility, they said.

The players have demanded that sectoral cap on mutual funds investing in NBFCs be enhanced to 35 per cent, and an additional 15 per cent in case of HFCs.

"Life insurance companies have a limit of 25 per cent to BFSI portfolio including equity exposures; this may be increased, and government securities exposure limit may be reduced from 50 per cent in line with the trend in the economy," the delegation suggested.

Risk weight for NBFCs should be reduced to 20 per cent for AAA rated companies and 30 per cent for AA-rated ones in line with the weighting to asset finance companies (AFCs) and IFCs, it said.

Assocham also urged the monetary authority to restore the arrangement of treating bank funding to NBFCs & HFCs for on-lending to the priority sector as priority sector lending for banks.

Also Read: Twitterati mourns the death of banker-turned-politician Meera Sanyal

Also Read: Top leaders of 5 countries, over 20,000 delegates to participate in Vibrant Gujarat

Also Read: BEML bags contracts worth Rs 3,015 crore to supply coaches for ADB-funded Mumbai Metro
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MILO, Iowa  Robby Dittmer owns a Porsche. In fact, he owns three of them. But the vehicles Dittmer owns are not race cars. They are tractors.
The Coalition for Better Ads announced today that it will expand the Better Ads Standards for desktop and mobile web to all countries and regions worldwide to improve the online ad experience for consumers.

The ad experiences in the Standards are based on the Coalitions extensive research, which has involved more than 66,000 consumers to date in countries representing 70% of global online advertising spending. The research found strong alignment of consumer preferences across countries and regions for the most- and least-preferred online ad experiences, supporting the adoption of the same Better Ads Standards for desktop and mobile web globally. The Better Ads Standards identify the ad experiences that fall beneath a threshold of consumer acceptability and are most likely to drive consumers to install ad blockers.

Consumers worldwide have sent a clear message to the online ad industry about the ad formats that disrupt their experience online, said Stephan Loerke, CEO of the World Federation of Advertisers. Successful brands will respond to consumers by taking steps to avoid these ad experiences in their marketing plans.

Many industry participants in North America and Europe have incorporated the Standards into their business practices since their publication in March 2017. Todays announcement will benefit consumers in other regions by highlighting consumer preferences and mobilizing the online ad industry to reflect those preferences. The Coalition and its members will continue to engage with trade associations and companies worldwide to educate the industry about the Better Ads Standards and encourage their widespread adoption, including through webinars and other outreach in the coming months.

The industry fails terribly at creativity if we cant even start from the place that ad formats arent intrinsically annoying, said Joe Barone, Managing Partner, Brand Safety, of GroupM, the worlds largest media investment group. We look forward to working with our media partners and clients to encourage global adoption of the standards. The premise is simple, whats right for consumers is always the right answer for the advertiser.

Our association and its members have been closely following the Coalitions work in other regions as we work to improve the online advertising environment for consumers in Brazil, said Renato Girard, Director of Operations of IAB Brazil. The Coalitions research and the expansion of the Better Ads Standards will provide additional momentum to further our progress on this important work.

We appreciate the comprehensive research that clarifies consumer views about online advertising experiences and the similarity of those views across borders, said Rodrigo Saavedra, General Manager of IAB Chile, a new affiliate member of the Coalition. The Standards support our mission to promote a vibrant online ad industry that makes possible a broad range of benefits to consumers.

The Coalitions Better Ads Experience Program certifies web publishers that agree not to use the most disruptive ads identified in the Standards. The Programs online register of certified companies helps advertising partners identify publishers who apply the Standards. Certified companies will not have ads on their sites filtered based on the Standards by browsers that participate in the Program. The Program includes an independent dispute resolution mechanism developed by the Advertising Self-Regulatory Council in consultation with the International Council for Advertising Self-Regulation. The Program, through its implementation entity, will assess compliance with the Better Ads Standards for desktop and mobile web in regions outside of North America and Europe no earlier than May 9, 2019.

Approximately 70 publishers representing nearly 300 domains and 27 countries have certified compliance with the Coalitions Standards and the requirements of the Better Ads Experience Program. The global presence and reach of participating companies signals the commitment of publishers around the world to align their online advertising experiences with consumer preferences. The Coalition welcomes participation from additional publishers who meet the Programs requirements.

Participation in the Better Ads Program is just one way the online ad industry participants have independently applied the Standards to benefit consumers. Individual advertisers, ad tech companies, ad agencies, and publishers have incorporated the Standards as part of their efforts to effectively connect with consumers. Industry trade associations in North America and Europe have incorporated the Standards into their certification programs and recommendations of best practices to their members. Last fall, six leading programmatic ad exchanges committed to serving only ads compliant with the Better Ads Standards. Google Chrome has promoted adoption of the Standards by assessing use of ads that violate the Standards and removing all ads for sites that do not meet its criteria for more than 30 days. There has been widespread publisher adoption of the Standards in regions where the Standards have already been in place.

The following types of desktop ad experiences fall beneath the initial Better Ads Standard: pop-up ads, auto-play video ads with sound, prestitial ads with countdown and large sticky ads. For the mobile web environment, the following types of ad experiences fell beneath the Better Ads Standard: pop-up ads, prestitial ads, ads with density greater than 30%, flashing animated ads, auto-play video ads with sound, poststitial ads with countdown, full-screen scrollover ads, and large sticky ads.
The Camp Fire destroyed the Northern California Ballet's Dance Studio in Paradise. And while it may have postponed the performance of The Nutcracker that dancers had been working so hard for ... the show goes on next week, in Oroville.

Not only will the ballet deliver a beautiful rendition of the traditional holiday classic, but for the first time ever it will be accompanied by a live performance of the Paradise Symphony.

The hope had been to take the stage of the Paradise Performing Arts Center, which survived the fire. But the timeline for cleanup and rehearsals and such did not allow for it. So the State Theatre Arts Guild is providing the venue instead. The State Theatre is located at 1489 Myers Street in Downtown Oroville.

Costumes and Set pieces are being donated from companies in Eugene and Sacramento, with other donations from the Arts Community near and far are helping to make the production possible.

Ballet representatives told Action News Now Noon Anchor Linda Watkins-Bennett the dancers are very excited this is going to happen . Performances of The Nutcracker will take place at 7:15 p.m. Friday, January 18th, 2:15 and 7:15 p.m. on Saturday, January 19th and 3:15 p.m. on Sunday, January 20th.

General Admission is $20, Seniors and Children under 16 are $15 and reserved seating for all ages is $25.

You can buy tickets through www.northerncaliforniaballet.com or by calling (530) 218.7315.
(CNN) - Jayme Closs escaped from the remote Wisconsin residence of her captor - a man now arrested on suspicion of killing the teen's parents and abducting her three months ago - and then flagged down a woman who was walking her dog, authorities say.

In a case that inspired numerous searches and thousands of public tips, it was 13-year-old Jayme who helped herself to freedom Thursday afternoon.

"In cases like this we often need a big break, and it was Jayme herself who gave us that break," FBI Special Agent Justin Tolomeo told reporters Friday during a news conference in Jayme's Wisconsin hometown of Barron.

Jayme, who was reported missing October 15 after her parents were found shot dead in their home near Barron, was discovered walking alone Thursday afternoon two counties to the north, outside the town of Gordon, authorities said.

Her accused abductor -- Jake Thomas Patterson, 21, of Gordon -- was arrested shortly afterward, when a law enforcement officer pulled him over in a vehicle after neighbors called 911 to report Jayme's emergence, authorities said.

Investigators now believe Patterson killed Jayme's parents -- James Closs, 56, and Denise Closs, 46 -- at their home in October and abducted Jayme, and that it appears he went there with the precise intention of taking the girl, Barron County Sheriff Chris Fitzgerald said.

A motive -- and whether Patterson and the Closs family knew each other -- remains under investigation, authorities said.

Patterson was being held Friday in Barron County on preliminary charges of first-degree intentional homicide and kidnapping, Fitzgerald said.

"For 88 days I have stood before you and (promised) we'd work tirelessly to bring (Jayme) home," Fitzgerald said. "Last night our collective promise was fulfilled."

Jayme says abductor killed her parents, woman who helped her says

Kristin Kasinskas, a woman who helped report Jayme's emergence to police, spoke to CNN on Friday about what happened.

Jayme had approached Kasinskas' neighbor -- the woman police say was walking her dog -- Thursday afternoon.

They rushed to Kasinskas' home, where Kasinskas says 911 was called.

Kasinskas said Jayme told her she had been held in the Gordon area -- near Kasinskas' home -- by someone who killed her parents on the night she disappeared.

"She said to us that, 'This person killed my parents and took me,'" Kasinskas told CNN's Poppy Harlow.

"She said that this person usually hides her or hides her when others are near, or when he has to leave the household. She did not go into detail about how she got out of the house or anything like that."

Jayme expected to be released from hospital Friday, godmother says

The sheriff's department in Douglas County, where the town of Gordon is located, announced Thursday that it had located Jayme alive late Thursday afternoon and that a suspect was arrested 10 minutes later.

Jennifer Smith, Jayme's godmother, told CNN affiliate WCCO that Jayme was recovering in a hospital near Duluth, Minnesota, and is expected to be released Friday.

Jayme's aunt, Sue Allard, told WCCO of a rollercoaster day Thursday -- the family earlier in the day had heard rumors, which authorities knocked down, that the teen might have been found in a different part of the state.

"And I just shut myself totally down. I thought today was going to be the day, and then I find out two hours later that she's found and I just cannot believe this," Allard told WCCO reporter Mary McGuire.

Jayme's relatives are breathing sighs of relief.

"I can't thank everybody enough for not giving up on Jayme," Smith, the godmother, told WCCO.

"Jayme: Aunt Jen can't wait to give you that big hug and hold you tight," Smith said, "because we're not going to let you go."

Jayme declared missing after parents found dead

Jayme was missing when police discovered her parents dead in their home near Barron on October 15.

Investigators say a mysterious 911 call led deputies to discover the bodies. The call was "pinged" to the Closs home. When the dispatcher called the number back, a voicemail greeting indicated the phone belonged to Denise Closs. The log does not indicate who made the 911 call, but the dispatcher heard yelling in the background.

Police arrived to find the door kicked in, but no one was there. Investigators said they believed Jayme was at home during the shooting.

"Finally, we want to especially thank the family for their support and patience while this case was ongoing. We promised to bring Jayme home and tonight we get to fulfill that promise. From the bottom of my heart THANK YOU!" Barron County Sheriff Chris Fitzgerald said in a statement.

Thousands of people joined search parties for months as investigators received thousands of tips. The FBI offered a cash reward for information on Jayme's whereabouts, and hunters in the area were urged to be on the lookout for clues.

In December, the Barron County Clerk of Courts Office dedicated its Christmas tree to Jayme. The decorations spelled out her name in big, glittery letters, and they included green bulbs and ribbons. The color green is often used to raise awareness of missing children.

In the days after Jayme's disappearance, law enforcement officials assured the public they believed she was alive and in danger.

Barron, a town of less than 3 square miles, has a population of about 3,300, according to US Census figures. It is about a one-hour, 50-minute drive from Minneapolis, and is about 50 minutes from Eau Claire, Wisconsin.
Instagram Music

The Philly rapper announces that he's quitting music via an Instagram Stories post, saying, 'I'm done with music I deleted everything.'

Jan 12, 2019

AceShowbiz - This is surely unexpected. Lil Uzi Vert, who is getting ready to release his sophomore album "Eternal Atake", shocked many fans on Friday evening, January 11 when he took to Instagram Stories to announce that he would be stepping away from music.

Along with a picture of him donning a red-and-beige socks, the rapper said, "I wanna take the time out to say I thank each and every one of my supports but I'm done with music I deleted everything I wanna be normal. ...I wanna wake up in 2013." Uzi also added texts which read, "Thank you love you," and "You are free," on the bottom of the picture.

Lil Uzi Vert announced he's quitting music via an Instagram Stories post.

Fans were quick to take to social media to express their distress that rapper might be deleting the songs off his sophomore album, which he claimed was already finished. "Sooo Lil Uzi is never gonna drop Eternal Atake???" one disappointed fan wrote. "Lil Uzi is quitting and deleting all his music and we're not getting eternal atake...I'm not ok," another expressed his/her frustration.

There are also some who believed that Uzi was just playing a prank on them and would release the album sooner than later. "Hot take: lil uzi vert's story is a prank and he's dropping Eternal Atake tomorrow. Save this," one fan said.

Representatives for his label, Atlanta Records, did not immediately respond to request for comment.

"Eternal Atake" was expected to hit the stores this year. Uzi had been teasing the project throughout 2018, announcing in a Philadelphia concert last month that the album was finished and pending release. "I know y'all wondering when I'ma drop my album. I'm finally done with that joint," he said at the time.

Gaining recognition following the release of his "Luv Is Rage" mixtape, Uzi climbed into the mainstream with the single "Money Longer" which debuted at No. 92 on Billboard's Hot 100. He was given his first No. 1 single on the chart with a feature on Migos' single "Bad and Boujee" in 2016. His debut studio album, "Luv Is Rage 2", which was released in 2017, debuted at No. 1 on Billboard 200 and was certified platinum.
Celebrity

The Brazilian reality TV star was arrested and charged with domestic battery after she was determined as the primary aggressor during the fight.

Jan 12, 2019

AceShowbiz - Larissa Dos Santos Lima and Colt Johnson's tumultuous marriage has taken to a violence turn. The "90 Day Fiance" couple apparently got into an explosive argument that led to the two of them suffering facial injuries.

Lima documented her injuries in a series of photos and videos which she shared on her Instagram account, revealing her bloody face as well as scratches and abrasions to her body. She additionally alleged that Johnson called the police on her as the two were arguing. She repeated in a video, "I'll be deported. I just scratch him because he was hurt me... I'm really hurt, but he called the police first." She then explained that the fight happened because he purchased a porn video.

John Yates, the series' blogger, shared on his Instagram account a picture of Johnson's bloody mouth, which was allegedly inflicted by Lima. "This was sent to me by a close friend of Colt's and the spirit of fairness I'm posting it," he wrote in the caption.

Police later confirmed that a call came in at 11:23 P.M., where Lima told officers she was being battered by Johnson and she wanted to press charges. But because Johnson was nowhere to be found when they arrived, police returned hours later to speak to both stars, according to TMZ.

After examining Johnson's fingernails, police reportedly determined her facial injuries couldn't have been done by him because he's "a nail-bitter." Police then learned that Lima had two previous arrests for domestic battery before, prompting them to determine the Brazilian star as the aggressor and arrested her.

Lima was booked into the Clark County Jail on Friday morning, January 11 and was charged with misdemeanor domestic batter. She is currently being detained for 12 hours and a $3,000 bail.
Netflix Movie

Luckily, no one is harmed in the accident after a 17-year-old drives her car with her eyes covered.

Jan 12, 2019

AceShowbiz - The "Bird Box Challenge", which has gone viral following the release of Netflix's movie "Bird Box", has prompted people to do silly things, like what a Utah teenager recently did. The 17-year-old female driver crashed her car while attempting to drive with her eyes covered.

The accident happened on Monday, January 7. The teenager was driving a pickup truck at about 35 mph on Layton Parkway when she allegedly pulled a beanie hat over her eyes. She veered into oncoming traffic and struck a passenger car. She also hit a light pole and a concrete barrier.

Luckily, no one was injured in the accident. She was with a 16-year-old boy in the car during the time of the accident.

Sharing photos of the two dented vehicles, the Layton City Police Department tweeted on Friday, "Bird Box Challenge while driving...predictable result. This happened on Monday as a result of the driver covering her eyes while driving on Layton Parkway. Luckily no injuries."

Layton Police Lt. Travis Lyman told Deseret News, "It didn't take long for her to lose control." Warning people of the danger of driving with their eyes closed, he said, "Honestly I'm almost embarrassed to have to say 'Dont drive with your eyes covered' but you know apparently we do have to say that."

Lyman added, "It's just outrageous that somebody would think to do that. This one, luckily, didn't end in any injuries but easily could have. The stakes are just way too high to do something like that while you're driving." He further stressed, "It really puts everybody at risk."

According to the report, police initially weren't sure what caused the accident. "Initially we were told she was just talking to her passenger and got distracted," Lyman revealed. But the driver who was hit wasn't convinced and decided to do his own detective work.

"He just could not understand why her car was doing what it was doing," Lyman said. "It was actually through some help and work on the other driver's part to try and make sense of why she was driving the way she was based on what he had seen (that the challenge came out)."

The driver then passed the information to police, who later reinterviewed the girl. She admitted she attempted to do the challenge during the crash. The case will be handed over to prosecutors to be screened for a potential charge of reckless driving.

Previously, YouTube star and Logan Paul's brother, Jake Paul, was criticized for posting a video of him and his friend George Janko blindfolding themselves for 24 hours. They were driving a car and navigating a busy street among other things blindfolded without anyone guiding them. The video was subsequently removed from YouTube following the backlash.
Instagram Celebrity

The 'Love and Hip Hop: New York' star, who has been sentenced to 27-month in prison, has gotten married to his longtime girlfriend in a lavish ceremony in New Jersey.

Jan 12, 2019

AceShowbiz - Rapper Juelz Santana has become a married man as he prepares to begin a 27-month prison sentence.

The "There It Go (The Whistle Song)" MC, real name LaRon James, proposed to his longtime girlfriend, reality TV star Kimbella Vanderhee, onstage in New York in November (18), and on Thursday night, January 10, they became husband and wife in a lavish ceremony in New Jersey.

Guests included Juelz's The Diplomats bandmates Cam'Ron, Jim Jones, and Freekey Zekey, as well as rap pals Lil' Kim, Joe Budden, Remy Ma and Papoose, and Maino.

Juelz and Kimbella, who have been together for over a decade, are parents to eight-year-old son Juelz Jr. and six-year-old daughter Bella.

The groom, who is currently out on bail, has yet to be given a deadline to turn himself over to authorities to begin his prison term relating to an airport gun case. He was handed the punishment in December (18), nine months after security officials at Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey found a loaded handgun and non-prescribed Oxycodone pills in a carry-on bag containing Santana's identification.

According to TMZ sources, he was facing up to 20 years behind bars after pleading guilty to possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and carrying a weapon onto an aircraft, but he was ordered to serve just over two years. He will also be placed on supervised release for 12 months after he completes his sentence.
Former bureaucrat Ashok Chawla on Friday resigned as chairman of the National Stock Exchange with immediate effect, the bourse said, hours after the CBI said the Centre has granted sanction to prosecute him in the Aircel-Maxis case.

The exchange while making the announcement Friday night did not provide specific details.

Also Read: Twitterati mourns the death of banker-turned-politician Meera Sanyal

In a statement, the bourse said Chawla has resigned as "Public Interest Director/ Chairman of the Board of Directors of the National Stock Exchange of India Ltd with immediate effect in light of recent legal developments".

The Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) has been probing the alleged lapses in high-frequency trading offered through NSE's co-location facility. It was also investigating whether some brokers had unfair access to the exchange's co-location facility.

A former finance secretary, Chawla took over as the chairman of the exchange on March 28, 2016. He had also served as civil aviation secretary and chairperson of the Competition Commission of India (CCI), among other roles.

Chawla quit as Yes Bank chairman in November last year.

The CBI earlier in the day informed a Delhi court that the Centre has granted sanction to prosecute five people, including serving and former bureaucrats, accused in the Aircel-Maxis case involving Congress leader and ex-Union minister P Chidambaram and his son Karti.

The then members of the Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB), against whom sanctions have been procured, are the then secretary (economic affairs) Ashok Jha, the then additional secretary Ashok Chawla, the then joint secretary in finance ministry Kumar Sanjay Krishna, the then director in the ministry Dipak Kumar Singh, and the then undersecretary in the ministry Ram Sharan.

Of the five, three are working with various government departments while two have retired.

The submissions were made before Special Judge O P Saini who extended till February 1 the interim protection from arrest granted to Chidambaram and Karti in the Aircel-Maxis cases filed by the CBI and the ED.

The CBI had on November 16 last year, informed the court that similar nod was procured for P Chidambaram. There are 18 accused in the case.

Meanwhile, the NSE board has eight other members, including Managing Director and CEO Vikram Limaye.

There are three shareholder directors -- Abhay Havaldar, Prakash Parthasarathy and Sunita Sharma.

The four public interest directors are Dinesh Kanabar, Naved Masood, T V Mohandas Pai and Dharmistha Raval.

Also Read: Karnataka govt requests European Investment Bank to fund state projects

Also Read: BEML bags contracts worth Rs 3,015 crore to supply coaches for ADB-funded Mumbai Metro

Also Read: Assocham meets RBI governor Shaktikanta Das on NBFC, HFC crisis
Celebrity

Thomas Markle Jr. was arrested on January 11 morning after failing a field sobriety test when pulled over by an Oregon State Police trooper.

Jan 12, 2019

AceShowbiz - British royal the Duchess of Sussex's half-brother has been arrested in Oregon.

Thomas Markle Jr. was taken into custody on Friday morning (January 11) for driving under the influence of alcohol, according to TMZ.

The 52-year-old was pulled over by an Oregon State Police trooper, who asked Markle to perform a field sobriety test.

Reports suggest he was visibly intoxicated and blew well over the legal limit.

Thomas, the son of Meghan Markle's father, was taken to the Grants Pass Sobering Center.

He and his sister Samantha, and their father, have been constant embarrassments for the new royal, who wed Prince Harry last May (2018), often talking to the press to discredit the former actress.

Thomas, who is estranged from his half-sister, Meghan, sent a letter to Prince Harry a month before the wedding and urged him not to marry the former "Suits" star, writing, "It's not too late. Meghan Markle is obviously not the right woman for you."

He embarrassed the family in early January 2017, when he was arrested after allegedly holding a gun to his girlfriend's head during a fight.
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Copyright  2016 Albuquerque Journal

The story goes like this:

A ranch hand working in New Mexicos Bootheel stumbles upon men and two or three vehicles stranded in remote cattle country. They turn out to be drug runners from Mexico who take him hostage, load his vehicle with narcotics and force him to drive to Willcox, Ariz., where they leave him alive but warn him not to go to the police.

They would be watching.

That alleged incident and a host of recent break-ins have ranchers across Hidalgo County and in southeastern Arizona outraged about what they say is a decline in border security. The cattle growers associations of both states are hosting a meeting this week in the tiny town of Animas to air their grievances to elected officials  including pleas for more boots on the ground  and they expect to draw a crowd.

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The Bootheels rugged terrain of ridges and arroyos, sparse roads and sprawling desert has historically presented challenges for law enforcement charged with keeping the region safe, particularly from illegal traffic coming from Mexico. Its a corridor favored by traffickers moving dope north to the drug-hungry U.S. market.

The ranch hand was working for Elbrock Water Systems on the Gray Ranch on Dec. 7 when he was allegedly hijacked by drug runners, according to Tricia Elbrock, who co-owns the Animas-based company that provides well and septic services from Tucson to El Paso.

The Elbrocks, their employees and law enforcement searched for him all night before he called from Willcox before noon the next day, she said.

They kidnapped him, tied him up, threw all our tools out and fittings and loaded our company vehicle with all the drugs, Elbrock said. They waited till dark to leave the ranch. They needed him to help guide them through to the highway.

On the phone, Elbrock gasped back a sob as she said: This is still pretty raw. We got him back safe. They did rough him up, but we got him back. Its a mess. I dont know what to tell you. We have got to have help down here.

The FBI confirmed that it is investigating the alleged kidnapping, referred to the bureau by Border Patrol. FBI spokesman Frank Fisher in Albuquerque said no arrests have been made but declined to comment further, citing the pending investigation.

The day their employee returned to Animas, Elbrock said, she, her husband, Edward, and the employee were questioned by State Police, Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the FBI.

The folks down there have never gotten any relief from illegal crossings, said Caren Cowan, executive director of the Albuquerque-based New Mexico Cattle Growers Association. And things have ramped up. These people are desperate. They are absolutely desperate. We have had countless meetings with government agencies over the years, and I say this with all due respect, all we hear about is what they are trying to do and nothing gets done.

The main reason for this meeting is this incident, said Meira Gault, whose 20,000-acre ranch lies just north of the U.S.-Mexico border in Hidalgo County. People feel they arent protected. Everyone is scared.

Border Patrol reported apprehending 11,000 unauthorized border crossers in fiscal 2015 and seizing more than 15,000 pounds of marijuana. A spokesman said the agency could not break down apprehensions or drug seizures in the Bootheel specifically.

The Border Patrols Lordsburg station has been understaffed in recent months, down about 50 agents in a location that is budgeted for 284 agents. But there are agents in the pipeline. A spokesman said the agency has candidates at its training academy that will be assigned to the Bootheel.

Organizers say they have invited elected officials to the meeting. Republican U.S. Rep. Steve Pearce, whose southern New Mexico district includes Hidalgo County, is scheduled to be there, according to a spokeswoman.

The vandalism and the trespass issues have increased, said Erica Valdez, who ranches more than 40,000 acres between Animas and Lordsburg, about 35 miles north of the border.

The same night of the reported kidnapping, Border Patrol tracked and apprehended two alleged drug runners after a 3 a.m. pursuit in the Animas Valley that involved eight agents working in vehicles, manning a night-vision camera, trekking on foot and riding ATVs, according to a criminal complaint against the two Mexican nationals charged with possession of marijuana with intent to distribute.

The bed of their vehicle was allegedly loaded with 2,774 pounds of pot.

The complaint filed by the U.S. attorney in New Mexico makes no mention of a kidnapping. But it does say that just before that pursuit took place, a different suspicious vehicle with its rear lights extinguished possibly went off road to avoid detection in the same area.

The border is not secure, Valdez said. It doesnt matter how tall of a wall you put up, they are going to tunnel under it, they are going to torch through it. If they want to come across, they will. The only way they are going to stop it is with boots on the ground at the border. We would like to see more agents.
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Its barbaric. Its dangerous. Its archaic and a practice whose time has come and gone. Yet unlike too many of its victims, trapping is alive and well in New Mexico.

There are those who hope to change that  including a dog owner who recently saw his beloved pet strangled to death while they were walking on public land. Hes joined by a pair of lawmakers  House Democrats Bobby Gonzales of Taos and Matthew McQueen of Galisteo  who are sponsoring the New Mexico Wildlife Protection and Public Safety Act.

The legislation would prohibit the use of leg-hold and body-crushing traps, snares and poisons on public lands in New Mexico. It would not apply to private or tribal land; it explicitly exempts other hunting and fishing; and it contains exceptions for human health, ecosystem management and scientific research.

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Its being sponsored in memory of Roxy, an 8-year-old heeler that died while on a trail Nov. 25 with owner Dave Clark at the federal Bureau of Land Managements Santa Cruz Lake Recreation Area near Espanola. Roxy was caught in a neck snare, and Clark worked to free her but was unable to loosen it before she died.

To make matters worse, when Clark finally freed Roxy from the snare and was carrying her body back to where he left his car, a bobcat that was caught in a leg-hold trap chained to a tree lashed out at him. The bobcat was so severely injured it had to be euthanized.

Similar trapping bans have had trouble passing in previous sessions, and this one will likely face opposition from groups such as New Mexico Trappers Association (NMTA), which claims trapping is part of New Mexicos rich heritage and for some families trapping is a way of life and sole source of income.

Surviving on maiming and strangling living things is tragic if true. And New Mexico has already stepped up and banned the so-called rich heritage of strapping knives to roosters that are jacked up on steroids so they can fight to the death. New Mexicans humanity should prevail again.

Roxys story is a sad one, and its not unique. Dogs and wildlife are too often caught in traps jaws or snares  the fox and the bobcat near Placitas, the dog in the East Mountains and the one near Taos, the cougar near Wagon Mound. Now take it a step further and consider what would happen if a child were caught while a family is taking advantage of one of the outdoor paradises we have in the Land of Enchantment. The state is being sued for allowing trapping on public lands that puts endangered Mexican Gray wolves at risk. It shouldnt take a lawsuit over a childs injury or death to get New Mexico on a better path.

Leg-hold traps were invented in the 1800s and have been banned in more than 80 countries, and banned or severely restricted in eight states, because they are cruel and indiscriminate. Poisons also kill unintended targets and cause equally gruesome, excruciating deaths. Newly elected Land Commissioner Stephanie Garcia Richard is pledging to remove the outdated and dangerous devices from state trust lands. Its time for lawmakers to follow her lead and ban them on all public lands.

The 2018-19 fur trapping season continues until March 15. Trapping was a romanticized and acceptable practice during the age of the mountain man in the first half of the 19th century. But this isnt 1845, and the age of the mountain man is gone.

Traps and poisons on New Mexicos public lands should be, too.

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  What if a simple policy could save tens of thousands of people every year from a deeply unpleasant treatment followed by early death? A policy that would disproportionately help the most disadvantaged? While actually saving taxpayer money?

Thats a pretty rare combination; presumably, youd be pretty excited. But what if the policy involved paying people to donate one of their kidneys to a stranger?

Possibly, you are now less excited. Possibly, you are now picturing a sci-fi dystopia where the poor serve as organ farms for the wealthy. Which is what such people as Gabriel Danovitch worry about.

Danovitch, medical director of the Kidney and Pancreas Transplant Program at the Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center, believes more should be done to make organ donation financially neutral, compensating donors only for matters such as travel and lost wages. But he adamantly opposes letting donors profit from the transaction, because it would mean exploiting the desperate.

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Letting people sell a kidney, he told me, would be not only ethically, but also medically, irresponsible. Desperate people would be tempted to lie about their medical history to qualify as a donor. Those lies could end up killing either the donor or the immune-suppressed recipient, whose body could no longer fight off stray germs or cancer cells.

Moreover, Danovitch says, paid donation would substitute for voluntary donation, rather than adding to it. Why give your dad a kidney if you know one can be bought for him?

All valid concerns. But Frank McCormick calls our attention to another concern: the tens of thousands of people who are dying each year for want of a kidney. An economist by training, McCormick argues that if you keep ratcheting up compensation, eventually youll find a price that will clear the kidney market.

McCormick is one of the authors of a recent editorial in the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology that estimated a staggering toll for that backlog: Of 126,000 people diagnosed annually with end-stage renal disease, only 20,000 will eventually receive a donated kidney, either from donors who have been declared brain-dead or  since people can live a normal life span with only one kidney  from live donors who have accepted a relatively small chance of complications in exchange for a high chance of saving someones life.

Patients who need a kidney, but cant find a donor, generally end up tethered to a dialysis machine every other day. But dialysis is a poor substitute for a functioning kidney and five years after starting treatment, only a third of hemodialysis patients are still alive.

Dialysis is also an expensive kidney substitute, costing roughly $90,000 a year, most of it covered by Medicare; transplants cost less than half that. Which means, McCormick notes, that the government could compensate donors handsomely, while still saving money. And because kidney failure disproportionately affects the poor, they on net would be better off, not worse off.

Moreover, he says, there are ways to mitigate other problems, such as patient education and waiting periods, to weed out the truly desperate. What risks remain are small compared with the benefits of finding a kidney for every eligible patient.

That utilitarian calculus seems overwhelming. But most people arent pure utilitarians; they have moral intuitions that cant be reduced to numbers. Including: Buying body parts is wrong.

Its about health and welfare, says Danovitch of his transplant work. Were not talking about a financial interaction.

But  arent we? Transplant surgeons make hundreds of thousands of dollars a year for their work. In fact, everyone in the operating room except the donor is getting handsomely rewarded.

And, indeed, payments to health care providers can distort patient care, sometimes harming patients. Yet no one suggests moving to an all-volunteer health care system because the distortions introduced by paying providers are infinitely preferable to what would happen if we refused to pay them.

Instead, weve created a liminal social institution where altruism meets markets: the healing professions. The join is imperfect  yet its still better than the alternative. Nor is health care the only such space. Military recruiters, for example, offer hefty bonuses and generous veterans benefits as an incentive for civilians to join up.

Like soldiers, kidney donors accept some risk of bodily harm. If paying them outright is too repugnant, why not try treating them like veterans, with the similar hiring preferences, scholarships and so forth? Undoubtedly, some people would donate for the wrong reasons, just as some people foolishly enlist. Yet that risk still seems preferable to leaving so many desperate dialysis patients dependent on the kindness of strangers.

Twitter, @asymmetricinfo. (c) 2019, Washington Post Writers Group.
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Despite advance billing that President Trumps border wall speech would break news and contain new information, it was mostly familiar rhetoric: criminals and drugs, rapists and murderers are coming to America, and the wall is the only way to stop them.

The president named families who have lost loved ones at the hands of undocumented immigrants. A case could be made, though, that American citizens are killing each other at higher rates during an average weekend in Chicago and other big cities than are killed by immigrants.

Whose facts to believe? There are plenty on both sides of the argument. Raul Ortiz, the deputy chief of Border Patrol agents, says his agents are arresting up to 641 undocumented immigrants every day. Other sources say arrests and border crossings have substantially declined in recent years.

What frustrates average Americans is the flip-flopping by politicians who were for a border wall and holding people who broke our laws accountable before they were against it.

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These include Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama and Chuck Schumer, all of whom once championed stronger border security. When he was a senator from Illinois in 2006, Obama said: Those who enter our country illegally and those who employ them disrespect the rule of law. And because we live in an age where terrorists are challenging our borders, we simply cannot allow people to pour into the United States undetected, undocumented, and unchecked. Americans are right to demand better border security and better enforcement of our immigration laws.

Those remarks are in line with what President Trump is now saying.

The president tweeted a comment Hillary Clinton made as recently as 2015 to underscore his claim of hypocrisy by Democrats: I voted, when I was a senator, to build a barrier to try to prevent illegal immigrants from coming in.

The major media and their Democrat allies claim that the decline in the number of people crossing the southern border is proof that a wall or other barrier is not needed. But a case could be made  and the White House made it in a statement  that walls already in place are proof that barriers work.

Since San Diego built its wall in 1992, the statement notes, apprehensions of illegal aliens have declined by 92 percent; El Paso erected a wall in 1993, and illegal border crossings dropped 72 percent the first year and 95 percent over 22 years; Tucson built its wall in 2000 and apprehensions dropped 90 percent over 15 years; Yumas wall went up in 2005, contributing to a decline in crossings of 95 percent over nine years.

Yes, many went to other places where they could cross more easily, but thats an argument for expanding the wall or constructing other barriers.

Schumer and Nancy Pelosi challenged the president in a sleight-of-hand deal to re-open the part of government that is closed and then continue the debate about a wall. That reminds me of the deal offered to President George H.W. Bush by then-Speaker Jim Wright, D-Texas. Wright said Congress would cut spending if Bush would OK a tax increase. Bush was blamed for the tax hike, never got the spending cuts and lost his re-election bid.

In the end, it is going to be a battle of images. One image is of people trying to cross the border illegally, throwing rocks, a few engaging in criminal activity; the other image is of 800,000 suffering federal employees going without paychecks. Which side will win is less important than what is best for America. If only more politicians cared about that higher goal.

Email tcaeditors@tribpub.com. (c) 2019 Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
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Copyright  2019 Albuquerque Journal

Two Albuquerque natives are the focus of Hollywoods latest high-profile celebrity gossip.

Multi-billionaire Amazon founder Jeff Bezos announced this week he was divorcing his wife of 25 years, novelist and philanthropist MacKenzie Bezos.

According to numerous national reports, the Albuquerque-born chairman, CEO and president of Amazon, who turned 55 today, has been dating 49-year-old TV personality Lauren Sanchez, who was born and grew up in Albuquerque. Sanchez is the wife of Hollywood talent mogul Patrick Whitesell.

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Bezos was also born in Albuquerque and spent roughly the first four years of his life here before his family moved to Houston.

Sanchez, a 1987 Del Norte High School graduate, was known then by the name Wendy L. Sanchez.

Sanchez has built a successful career for herself on- and off-camera in both TV and film, and her net worth has been estimated by celebrity news sites at $30 million.

According to Journal archives, by 1997 she was a national and international correspondent for the nationally syndicated TV news magazine program Extra.

But her rise in television began as an unpaid intern at KCOP-TV in Los Angeles.

Sanchez rapidly proved herself at the UPN-owned and -operated station by working as an assignment editor on the news desk. She was quickly promoted to field producer, where she reported on a wide variety of stories, including the Los Angeles riots, the Northridge earthquake, the O.J. Simpson trial and the presidential elections in Mexico City.

Her first on-air experience was at KTVK-TV in Phoenix. There, she covered high-profile stories such as the Oklahoma City bombing.

Growing up in Albuquerque, Sanchez was driven from a young age.

In 1987, she was crowned Miss Junior America New Mexico.

At Del Norte, she was a cheerleader for three years and active in student assembly. She also worked at the Beach Waterpark.

On March 16, 1990, Gov. Garrey Carruthers and the Albuquerque City Council declared it Wendy Sanchez Day after she was chosen as the international winner of the Models World Magazine Cover Girl Competition.

Winning the cover of Models World Magazine has been the highlight of my modeling career, Sanchez said in an interview then. I have never been so excited or so inspired to stretch and grow.

According to Journal archives, she attended the University of New Mexico, where she studied acting and speech. But it also has been reported that Sanchez received a scholarship to the University of Southern California, where she majored in communications.

One of the things that makes me happiest is combining my goals of modeling with keeping myself in excellent physical condition, she said in 1990.

Sanchez has appeared in ads for USAir, Wesson Oil, Lovelace Medical Center and Texaco.

These days, Sanchez is a frequent guest host on The View.

She was also a regular contributor on shows including Larry King Live, The Joy Behar Show and Showbiz Tonight.

In recent years, Sanchez has appeared in films such as Ted 2 and White House Down as a newscaster. Most recently, she was the safety pilot/aerial producer for the coming film Miss Bala.

Sanchez is the daughter of Eleanor Sanchez, former Los Angeles assistant deputy mayor, and Ray Sanchez, an aviation businessman in Albuquerque.
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SANTA FE  The contractors in charge of Los Alamos National Laboratory and Sandia National Laboratory for the 2018 fiscal year were awarded almost all available annual fees from the federal government after evaluations for their work.

But there wasnt much risk involved at either lab. Under terms of Department of Energy evaluation plans for both Sandia and LANL, the fees were mostly fixed and only relatively small amounts were based on leadership performance.

Los Alamos National Security LLC (LANS), a private consortium which lost the LANL contract after series of high-profile safety problems, was awarded a total of $47.9 million  $41.3 million in fixed fees and $6.6 million of a possible $8.8 million for leadership. Overall, LANS got a middling ranking of good.

Sandia contractor National Technology and Engineering Solutions of Sandia, LLC (NTESS) received $41.7 million out of possible $42.4 million. The contractor achieved positive results in all seven performance elements and earned an overall excellent rating, the Sandia evaluation says.

The Los Alamos lab used to operate under a much different fee structure, where most of the fee was based on performance. In 2014, for instance, LANS was awarded just $6.25 million out of a possible $63 million after a drum of radioactive waste improperly packed at Los Alamos breached during storage at the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant in Carlsbad, causing a long shutdown there.

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The fee plan has changed for the past two years, as LANSs tenure at Los Alamos was winding down. The total amount was lowered, but most of the fee became fixed. For fiscal 2017, though, LANS still took a fairly big hit, because of $3.1 million deduction for improperly sending three shipments of plutonium cross-country using a commercial air cargo service.

A new contractor, Triad National Security, LLC took over at LANL on Nov. 1. Triad consists of the University of California, Texas A&M and Ohio-based science non-profit Battelle Memorial Institute. UC was also part of the more corporate LANS, along with the Bechtel corporation and two other companies.

LANS fiscal 2018 evaluation gave good marks for operations related to weapons, global security and science, technology and engineering. The Los Alamos lab made significant improvements in its safety culture, but challenges in uniform workforce adoption of these practices remain, the evaluation says, noting a significant increase in events warranting extensive investigations by the lab or federal agencies. An explosion occurred during pressing operations that was foreseen but not planned for, the report states.

At Sandia, NTESS strategically partnered with federal agencies and demonstrated outstanding leadership, achieving many significant accomplishments that significantly outweigh performance issues, its evaluation says.
Shannon Marvel

smarvel@aberdeennews.com

An Athol-area farmer was seriously injured after he was pinned between a tractor and a semi Thursday night in Faulk County.

The semi appeared to be stuck in the mud, but began backing up and trapped Robert Sparling against the tractor, his daughter Kennedi Sparling posted on Facebook.

Had it not been for her quick actions and an outpouring of support and prayers, Jason Sparling posted that his father doesnt believe he would have survived a helicopter flight to a Sioux Falls hospital.

The Sparlings allowed the American News to use their Facebook posts to gather information for this story.

Robert Sparling was attempting to hook a chain onto the tractor, according to Kennedi Sparlings posts.

Our farmhand got the tractor in gear and was able to pull forward just enough for dad to fall out while the semi was still backing up, she wrote. She helped pull her dad out.

Faulk County Sheriff Kurt Hall said the Faulk County Ambulance Service responded to the incident at 5:50 p.m. He said there was a report of an injury involving a tractor and a semi on private property. His office is still in the process of gathering all the details.

Jason Sparling of Ashton said in a video posted on Facebook Friday morning that his father had a broken pelvis, a couple of broken ribs and some bones broken in his back, but noted that it appears that his fathers spine wasnt injured.

If you know my dad, hes a tough guy, but when he left Faulkton he didnt think he was going to make it. He didnt think hed made the trip, Sparling said. And he told Mom and his sister Pam just to let him go. I put a message on Facebook, and by the time he landed in Sioux Falls, 295 (people) had already commented. That kept him alive. I believe that.

So does his sister.

Last night has been an experience I dont wish upon anyone, but Im trying to stay strong for not only my family, but my dad, she posted Friday. This morning he took my hand, started crying and said, Thank you so much for saving my life. I didnt save his life. All your prayers did.

In a Friday afternoon video, Jason Sparling said his father made it through surgery and was in recovery.

Hes a lucky guy and every day after this is a gift, and he realizes that, Sparling said. We werent expecting this good of outcome. From the bottom of our heart, thanks for all the prayers  all of them. It worked. Thank you.
Victoria Lusk

vlusk@aberdeennews.com

The story is a familiar one.

A community staple. A large employer. A home to the aging. Financial struggles. And a fight to keep the doors open.

For more than six decades, the Strand Kjorsvig Living Center in Roslyn has had its foundation firmly set along Field Avenue and Main Street in the town of just 200 that sits south of state Highway 25, almost straight north of Webster.

Tucked in the southwest corner of Roslyn is the care facility, a nonprofit owned by the community. With 60 employees, its also the towns largest employer.

And for 29 residents, its home.

Unfortunately, thats just one resident shy of the facility breaking even on day-to-day financials.

But theres good news. Its also two more residents than the facility had in November.

First, without a doubt, there are a lot of things that are changing Roslyn. Changing demographics, smaller populations, people migrating to bigger communities, said Doug Eidahl, a Groton lawyer helping the centers board of directors weather this storm.

Theres also a valley between the World War II generation and baby boomers thats causing a deficit of residents in nursing homes, Eidahl said.

Baby boomers arent quite ready for long-term care yet, he said. And that means rural care centers need to have a contingency plan.

There will definitely be lower-than-average resident trends over the next three to five years, Eidahl said. So how do we plan for that?

The issue is magnified because funding from Medicaid reimbursement is very low in South Dakota and theres a nationwide staff shortage, he said.

Recruiting in a smaller, rural town, in some cases, means you have to pay more. When we do have staffing shortages, if it takes a while to hire, temporary workers create more of an operating expense, he said.

Those are the challenges, but the positive things  again our quality of care is very high and we have long-term success Eidahl said.

Its one of the best. Literally. Strand Kjorsvig Living Center was recently rated seventh of the 109 nursing homes in the state by the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services for its quality of care.

Its so good to have something positive out there, said Shelley Deutsch, president of the facilitys board of directors.

It also helps to be transparent with the community, employees, residents and state officials, she said.

There needs to be a big push to keep these (nursing homes) open. You know there have been some that have closed, she said. Its just very, very concerning and it should be for everyone.

To help get the word out, about 60 people attended the facilitys annual meeting Nov. 20, which doubled as an open discussion about the facilitys future.

The board of directors has developed key things it needs to do in order to to keep the home open long term. The strategic planning process will include:

Reviewing budget needs.

Engaging in better marketing to gain more residents.

Reducing expenses.

Possible fundraising for capital needs, reserves and an endowment fund.

Advocating for legislation to address inadequate Medicaid funding.

Years ago, rural care facilities had waiting lists, Eidahl said. But more recently, Strand Kjorsvig has had to market itself differently  farther out geographically and to decision makers, such as health care providers, social workers and family.

Theres room for 36 residents at the facility.

The board of directors plans on meeting with other key people before the end of this month to solidify its strategic plan.

But one thing is for certain, at least for Deutsch, Eidahl and the 60 or so residents who attended the meeting.

We are going to keep it open. It is the consensus of the board that we are going to keep it open into the future, Deutsch said. Its just ... we want to keep (the residents) home. And really thats what it is, is home.

Write letters to South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem, state legislators and the congressional delegation.

Include the Strand Kjorsvig Living Center while estate planning.

Follow the Strand Kjorsvig Living Center on Facebook for information on future fundraising efforts and the center's strategic plan. Sources: Doug Eidahl and Shirley Deutsch
There is no gainsaying to the fact that better securities regulations lead to an effective capital market, and the current SEBI chairman has done well to begin an overhaul of securities laws. However, a legal right holds meaning only to the extent of its enforceability, which can be regulated by restricting the right to enforce such a right. For instance, do rights under the SEBI Act hold water if the right to enforce it is not vested in the investors that SEBI aims to protect. Or in other words, who should enforce a statute to achieve its objectives and why does it matter?

Whether a right is to be privately (individual party) or publicly (by the state) enforced is not always a binary choice. Classically, contract law is privately enforced because it is essentially a dispute between two private parties, who have informational advantage of its contents and breach, and are in the best position to exercise discretion upon its enforcement. Criminal laws on the other hand deal with non-consensual harm, which are graver in nature, and in violation of community standards. They are publicly enforced because public enforcers have an informational advantage, and are better placed in weighing enforcement cost vis-a-vis harm to the society. But securities law-controversially classified as "civil obligations", fall somewhere in between.

The choice then for regulating the capital market participants is to be made between the extremes of private ordering and competition on one end, and an all-pervasive state regulator on the other end, with increasing control of the state and decreasing disorder as one chooses from the former to the latter. A common argument against leaving the market to be regulated by market forces has been the inequality of weapons between the private parties before courts (say between the company and its retail investors) and the case is made in favor of the regulator which is an expert and motivated to pursue social objectives.

However, an even more efficient intermediate strategy suggested is the private enforcement of public statutes through private litigation in courts. For instance, the Companies Act, 2013 statutorily provides that the issuer of securities can be sued by the subscriber for misstatement in prospectus, instead of the subscriber having to prove negligence of the issuer in making the statement under common law principles or contract.

If we are to borrow precedents, advanced markets have adjusted to this mix of enforcement style to suit their evolving needs. For instance, the judiciary in USA has long recognized, that though there are no express terms of remedy for a private individual under its securities law; in order to achieve the purpose of 'protection of investors', such a remedy must be implied under general principles of law. The regulator has aided by agreeing that constraints of manpower limits enforcement, and private actions based on securities laws are an important supplement to enforcement by the regulator.

On the other hand, precedence of public enforcement over private enforcement in the UK has proven efficient because of a resourceful regulator and a strong takeover panel. So while there is a debate over what enforcement medium leads to a better financial market, one cannot argue for public enforcement by an under-staffed regulator like SEBI.

India however, by restricting a civil court from entertaining any claims by individual parties under SEBI laws has chosen to vest an exclusive and wide discretion of enforcement upon SEBI with almost nil private participation. The complaints by private parties to SEBI that do result in penalty-which is distinct from damages-is difficult to be traced back to the victimized investor, as all penalties are credited to the Investor Protection and Education Fund and the Consolidated Fund of India.

Compensation for losses in the form of damages is a great incentive for the participating investors and disincentive for the company to resort to fraud or unfairness. Heeding to this the Companies Act, 2013 seeks to provide the right to sue for damages to members of a company against the company or its management for fraudulent, unlawful or wrongful act, but in effect only adds to the list of unenforceable rights by requiring a minimum of 100 members to initiate the class action. This requirement of 100 members was added in the Companies Bill, 2010 for fear of abuse, overlooking the fact that rarely has an investor claimed civil damages under the provision for damages for misstatement in prospectus over the last 100 years, but the Registrar of Companies has in some cases initiated criminal action for similar misstatements.

The Companies Act, 2013 provides for additional safeguards in the form of strict scrutiny by the tribunal for prevention of abuse of class action provision, including imposition of heavy costs on frivolous or vexatious litigants, but fails to address the problem faced by a member in gathering a class of anonymous members holding fungible security. It is no surprise that despite several cases of mismanagement by listed companies since 2016, a class action is yet to see the light of day. While contingency fee restrictions in class actions are a debate for another day, the provision for claiming damages by investors against errant management would only be meaningful if the numerosity provision is watered down. This would be a step in addressing the larger question: is it time that pubic statutes should in effect be allowed to be privately enforced before the newly formed specialized company tribunals.
Kelda J.L. Pharris

kpharris@aberdeennews.com

Its mid-December and as Christian Banley wraps gifts, she chatters about getting a tattoo or two covered.

She arrives at her familys church, Evangelical Free Church in south Aberdeen, late Dec. 12. She apologizes, but said she wanted to talk to Dusty Johnson, then a congressman-elect, about prison reform. She got her chance at the tail end of the monthly Brown County Republican Reagan Lunch, and the two spoke and took a selfie. Banley had garnered his ear before and shes confident she will again.

Banley is patterned in script and picture. Her tattoos are a map of her lifes path until fairly recently. There are the names of former friends, boyfriends and husbands written in script or jail barcode across her skin. She honors them, but doesnt want the ink to hold her back. What she wears thats even more visible is her heart.

Mentally it was getting old. I was running out of resources, Banley said. My vice was prostitution and theft. I never was a drug user or alcoholic. I was married to a drug dealer. One day it hit me: I dont want to do this anymore.

That was more than two years ago.

Banley was in Montana, working as a working girl, she said. A man invited her into his semi. At first she didnt know his full intent, she said.

His intentions were to kidnap me. We were going out to Butte, Mont., we got in a crash, we tipped.

While in the midst of the crash, Banley said she heard a voice say, Would you like to meet your maker?

I literally heard it in a voice I could never describe. I said, Please God, not yet. I was on the ground, the smoke was clearing and I hear, I have plans for you, in a different voice.

I really thought my life would end in prostitution, as a sex trafficking victim, she said.

But things have changed.

Networking with men and women in state government, returning to her familys church, and her advocacy with a faith-based prison reform group called Prison Fellowship are some of her first hopeful steps in a new direction after numerous stints in rehab centers, jail and clinics.

As she talks about her new missions with Prison Fellowship, finding her spirituality and as her old life, she qualifies her empathy, passion and turnaround with her own experiences. Shes struggled with mental illness, violent relationships, miscarriages, adoptions and abortions. She worries about the children she and her extended family raise and deals with the leftover guilt for the times they were taken away. Her stories begin at age 14  it was her first trick and her first rape, she said.

Some luck was on her side. A felony failure to appear charge, filed because she didnt show up for her jail sentence from a prostitution charge, was wiped from her permanent record. And her first and only prison sentence was suspended. But her name and the prostitution charge were broadcast on the radio for her family to hear. Much of her time from ages 14 to 25 was spent away from Aberdeen, her family and her church.

There are enough anecdotes to fill several lifetimes. Banley will soon celebrate her 28th birthday.

She shared her story during two phone interviews and two in-person meetings. Pam Banley, her adoptive mother, sat in. At the church she sits attentively as her daughter looks to her for assurance. The two also do a soft-shoe teasing routine through awkward moments. Its clear Christian Banley is advocating and walking a path truer to her given name.

Well, as a Christian, Jesus makes it very clear. Remember those in prison as if you are in prison with them, Banley said, referring to Hebrews 13:3.

Its no stretch of the imagination for her.

Prison is punishment. You dont need to have your family broken and shattered for life, too, Banley said.

Through Prison Fellowships Angel Tree program, the gifts shes wrapping will go to children whose parents are incarcerated in the nations prison systems.

Ive cried and cried and cried because my children have been on this, because their father was in prison, Banley said. My children have received gifts from Angel Tree. Thats why Im so passionate. They need to know someone out there loves them. We let the children know that (the gifts) are from the parents.

The wrapped gifts will go to children on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. They are labeled as being from parents who are serving time.

The program is just one of many organized by Prison Fellowship to keep incarcerated people tethered to the rest of the world with the skills to function when they get out. Banley knows how difficult separation can be on a family due to a jail or prison sentence. Its not just the inmates who end up paying a price.

There are 25 kids on her list. With the help of her family's church they gifted presents to more than 70 children on the reservation.

Banley was assigned the task as one of her first duties with Prison Fellowship. She has a unique connection to reach an underserved group and was eager. She lived on the Cheyenne River Indian Reservation in Eagle Butte when she was married. It wasnt a good time for her for personal reasons. The community had changed from when she visited as a child.

She knows the pain out there (on the reservation), Pam Banley said. Back in the day it was just poverty. Now its poverty, crime, suicide.

Many families are blended. Some of the children in the homes might have incarcerated parents who are using the Angel Tree program, while other children in the same home do not, and might not receive a gift. The Banleys, their church and community members ensured that each child in an Angel Tree recipients home gets a gift.

The gifts have been delayed a bit as Banley secured enough donations to cover the shipping costs. Then there was the blizzard and the holidays, she said by phone Monday.

Banley is new to Prison Fellowship, but wants to do more with it even though shes never been to prison. The group works with prison systems across the country to provide programming to make a transition back into society easier. Programs include addiction services, relapse prevention, finances, warden exchanges and more.

Its a holistic perspective, but (where) we are coming at it from is how do you live in a community? said Elizabeth Stanosheck, area director for South Dakota, North Dakota and Nebraska prisons.

Ive had inmates ask, Will this count toward my parole? No, it will count toward your life, she said.

Banley found the organization on a web search. She wanted to turn her life around and be on the other side of the system. She has her own personal experiences and a compassion for those who have had similar paths.

She checks her phone at all hours, going down rabbit holes of information on cases about trafficking victims sentenced to years in prison for murdering their traffickers, and of women and girls whove gone missing. They are who she was. She couldve gone missing, which she knows is a nice term for a death sentence. She couldve been a domestic violence statistic. She talks about cold cases on the reservations and mentions some names.

To a white person in Aberdeen, they dont ring a bell.

See, there, Banley said as she points.

Its not accusatory. Shes proving a point thats already needle sharp.

Those stories and the people involved fall through coverage areas, jurisdictions, and out of focus for nearly everyone except maybe people like Banley. Through Prison Fellowship she hopes to do more by taking issues to Pierre.

Im a justice ambassador advocating for restorative justice reform, she said.

Although shes fairly new to the ambassador program she hit the ground running. For prisoners shed like to see more efforts made to keep families connected. She knows the strained relationship her young daughters have with a father who was in prison  a father theyd see so briefly it was nearly like visiting a stranger. Meanwhile, incarcerated people need to keep tethered to the outside world during their sentence.

Banley cased the Republican party nominees before the election in November. She said she hedged her bets on GOP candidates. She has plans on hitting up Johnson again with some of Prison Fellowships goals and ideas.

She also wants to educate the public on the prison system and compassion for the incarcerated and reformed. The Journey Church is the first to sign up for a six-week Bible study program through Prison Fellowship called Outrageous Justices.

Its an introduction to restorative justice. I can order them, deliver them. I can lead the class or find someone else, Banley said. Its very informative. Its biblical-based, but its not that pushy.

President Donald Trump declared April 2018 as Second Chance Month. Banley hopes he will do that again this year. But even if he doesnt, Prison Fellowship will continue to observe April as such and so will Banley.

She speaks and acts with an urgency that could be partially blamed on the attention deficit disorder she frequently mentions, but theres something else.

Banley has decided she simply doesnt have anymore time to waste.

For more on Prison Fellowship programs go to prisonfellowship.org. Outrageous Justice, a six-week Bible study course on restorative justice, is available through Prison Fellowship via Christian Banley, local justice ambassador. Call her at 605-290-9197 for more information.
Senate President Scott Sales announced on Wednesday that he will propose a bill asking for $8 million of state funding to go towards the southern border. President Trump has asked for about $5 billion from Congress to build a wall along the U.S.- Mexico border.

The Montana legislature is making headlines for a Republican proposal to send state money to build President Donald Trump's proposed border wall.

While lawmakers in Washington are at a total standstill on funding the wall, the Montana Senate President says hed like to see Montana chip in to pay for President Trump's border wall.

"This is just a small token, a small down payment to say to Congress, hey listen, we're very serious about border security here in Montana, its affecting our communities in a negative way and we want something done, Sales said.

Sales says the $8 million will come out of the general fund if its appropriated.

If this bill does make it through both the House and Senate it will land on Democratic Governor Steve Bullocks desk, where he is likely to veto the bill.

Democrats say they want to focus on what is happening here in Montana and this bill is a waste of time.
Ferris Jabr in The New York Times:

A male flame bowerbird is a creature of incandescent beauty. The hue of his plumage transitions seamlessly from molten red to sunshine yellow. But that radiance is not enough to attract a mate. When males of most bowerbird species are ready to begin courting, they set about building the structure for which they are named: an assemblage of twigs shaped into a spire, corridor or hut. They decorate their bowers with scores of colorful objects, like flowers, berries, snail shells or, if they are near an urban area, bottle caps and plastic cutlery. Some bowerbirds even arrange the items in their collection from smallest to largest, forming a walkway that makes themselves and their trinkets all the more striking to a female  an optical illusion known as forced perspective that humans did not perfect until the 15th century. Yet even this remarkable exhibition is not sufficient to satisfy a female flame bowerbird. Should a female show initial interest, the male must react immediately. Staring at the female, his pupils swelling and shrinking like a heartbeat, he begins a dance best described as psychotically sultry. He bobs, flutters, puffs his chest. He crouches low and rises slowly, brandishing one wing in front of his head like a magicians cape. Suddenly his whole body convulses like a windup alarm clock. If the female approves, she will copulate with him for two or three seconds. They will never meet again.

The bowerbird defies traditional assumptions about animal behavior. Here is a creature that spends hours meticulously curating a cabinet of wonder, grouping his treasures by color and likeness. Here is a creature that single-beakedly builds something far more sophisticated than many celebrated examples of animal toolmaking; the stripped twigs that chimpanzees use to fish termites from their mounds pale in comparison. The bowerbirds bower, as at least one scientist has argued, is nothing less than art. When you consider every element of his courtship  the costumes, dance and sculpture  it evokes a concept beloved by the German composer Richard Wagner: Gesamtkunstwerk, a total work of art, one that blends many different forms and stimulates all the senses.

This extravagance is also an affront to the rules of natural selection. Adaptations are meant to be useful  thats the whole point  and the most successful creatures should be the ones best adapted to their particular environments. So what is the evolutionary justification for the bowerbirds ostentatious display? Not only do the bowerbirds colorful feathers and elaborate constructions lack obvious value outside courtship, but they also hinder his survival and general well-being, draining precious calories and making him much more noticeable to predators.

More here.
From Circular Conversations:

David Ellerman works in disparate fields, from economics and political economy, to social theory and philosophy, to mathematical logic and quantum mechanics. From 1992 to 2003, he worked, at the World Bank, as economic advisor to the Chief Economist (Joseph Stiglitz and Nicholas Stern). He has published numerous articles and books, among which The Democratic Worker-Owned Firm (1990), Property and Contract in Economics: The Case for Economic Democracy (1992), and Helping People Help Themselves: From the World Bank to an Alternative Philosophy of Development Assistance (2005). He is currently visiting scholar at the University of California, Riverside and the University of Ljubljana, Slovenia.

Hi David, it is a pleasure to host you for a talk in this convivial parlour. The first major topic I would like to touch upon during our conversation is democratic firms; a topic you have extensively dealt with and are an ardent proponent of. As an introductory question, how do the institutional design and governance arrangements of a democratic firm look like?

A democratic firm is a private democratic organization where the members or citizens are the people working in the firm. A democratic firmlike, say, a democratic citydoes not have owners, but has citizens. The members of the firm elect the board of directors who appoint the managers. The members may also supply capital to the firm in the form of a membership fee and retained earnings kept track of in an internal capital account, but their membership rights (i.e. voting rights and share of net income) are independent of the balance in their internal capital accounts. These capital accounts are essentially a subordinate form of debt of the company to the members to be paid out over the years. There is no equity capital in a democratic firm any more than in a democratic municipality.

More here.
David Bennun in More Intelligent Life:

Its one thing for an artist to establish a reputation, another for them to enter the dictionary. When the British want to describe a whimsical, improvised or over-elaborate mechanism, they call it a Heath Robinson machine, after the drawings of William Heath Robinson. (Americans have a direct equivalent in Rube Goldberg, whose creations, inspired by similar rapid changes in society and technology, are remarkably similar to those of his British counterpart.) A new exhibition of Heath Robinsons work shows how he became a household name, in more ways than one.

Heath Robinsons Home Life, at the museum dedicated to him in the north London suburb of Pinner, where he lived, focuses on the work that cemented his fame: the fantastical illustrations of domestic scenes that he drew for magazines and books from the 1920s until his death in 1944. Heath Robinson was inspired by the rapid expansion of housing in interwar Britain. In the cities, blocks of flats were springing up, and suburbs  fed by new transport links and the rise in car ownership  were mushrooming. In total, 4.5m new homes were built in the 1920s and 1930s, and in London, by the start of the second world war, more flats than houses were being constructed. This period of transformation provided Heath Robinson with ample opportunity for satire. With a keen eye on the market, he collaborated with writer K.R.G. Browne on a bestselling series of spoof advice books, including How To Live In A Flat (1936), How To Be A Perfect Husband (1937) and How To Be A Motorist (1939). His wry yet affectionate pictures suggest he  like many other people in Britain  regarded the workings of this new era with a certain scepticism, yet also with considerable enthusiasm. To Heath Robinson, as to his many admirers, his was an age of both absurdity and wonder.

More here.
Yes Bank, India's fourth largest private sector bank, Saturday said it has appointed Brahm Dutt as non-executive part-time chairman to the board.

"The Reserve Bank of India, pursuant to the provisions of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949, and basis Mr Brahm Dutt's outstanding credentials and experience, has approved his appointment... up till July 4, 2020," Yes Bank said in a regulatory filing.

Dutt has been on the board of the bank since July 2013 as an independent director, and has contributed to almost all the sub-committees of the board over the past 5.5 years, it added.

He is currently also the Chair of the Nomination and Remuneration Committee.

ALSO READ:Yes Bank finalises potential candidates to replace Rana Kapoor as MD and CEO

During his career in the IAS for 37 years, he held several posts in Karnataka government as well as in the Central Government. Before retirement from the service, he worked as Secretary in the Cabinet Secretariat and in the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways for over three and half years.

Yes Bank's board also includes Mukesh Sabharwal, Subhash Kalia, Ajai Kumar, Pratima Sheorey, Uttam Prakash Agarwal, TS Vijayan, and Rana Kapoor (Managing Director and CEO).

Meanwhile, Yes Bank executive Rajat Monga and a CEO of a foreign bank have been shortlisted to succeed long-serving Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer Rana Kapoor at the bank, sources had said Friday.

ALSO READ:SBI banking services: How to open fixed deposit account online?

Earlier this week, the bank informed stock exchanges that it has shortlisted the names of potential candidates to succeed Kapoor, who is to demit office by month-end.
Rep. Tulsi Gabbard of Hawaii will seek the Democratic nomination in 2020, it was reported Friday. Gabbard will make a formal announcement within the next week.

Gabbard is in her 4th term representing Hawaii's 2nd congressional district. If her presidential bid is successful, she will be the youngest president in U.S. history -- 39 years old on Inauguration Day in 2021. The record is currently held by Teddy Roosevelt, who was 42 when he ascended from the vice-presidency in 1901 after the assassination of William McKinley. The youngest elected president was John F. Kennedy, 43 years old when inaugurated in 1961. President Trump is the oldest --- age 70 when he took the oath of office in 2017.

Meanwhile, Julian Castro, the HUD Secretary under President Obama and former Mayor of San Antonio, is expected to announce his 2020 candidacy in that city Saturday morning.
Nook said universities comparable to UNI typically have lower tuition and fees than the research universities in their state, while UNI has roughly the same price as Iowa and Iowa State.

We are really looking critically at how we make sure weve got our price point right, he said. Right now, I believe that were a little bit high.

The state Board of Regents has generally supported UNIs plan to seek $4 million annually over the next five years from the Legislature to offset potential tuition increases.

Were trying to keep our tuition flat  but thats going to take some help from the state, he said. If we can get $4 million a year we should be able to hold our tuition each year under a percent and as close to zero as possible.

UNI is hoping to boost its enrollment to 13,500 students over that time by becoming more affordable and through other marketing efforts. The universitys enrollment peaked at 14,070 students in 2001 but dipped to 11,212 students this fall.

Along with $4 million to boost UNIs general education funding to $99.71 million next year, the university is asking the Legislature for $2.2 million to begin planning an design for the modernization of the Industrial Technology Center.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis. Photo: Joe Raedle/Getty Images

Governor Ron DeSantis of Florida is already mapping out his legacy. The former United States congressman and committed Trump disciple was sworn into office on Tuesday, but continues to nurse wounds from a bruising November election against Andrew Gillum, the black mayor of Tallahassee, whom he defeated so narrowly that a recount was required. Gillums most damning charge against DeSantis was that he is a racist  or more specifically, as the mayor quipped at one debate, Im not saying Mr. DeSantis is a racist. Im saying the racists believe hes a racist. Gillums evidence included that DeSantis had declined to return a campaign donation from a man who called Barack Obama a Muslim nigger on Twitter; attended conferences alongside far-right bigots, including Milo Yiannopoulos, David Horowitz, and Sebastian Gorka; and dog whistled his way into national headlines by imploring Floridians not to monkey this up by electing his black opponent.

A majority of voters backed the Republican anyway, but even Senator Bernie Sanders  usually hesitant to accuse anyone of racism  characterized the election as one where racism reared its ugly head, adding that DeSantis was racist and [was] doing everything [he] could to try to play whites against blacks. These are charges the governor has rejected and, if his schedule this week is any indication, hopes to discredit now that he is in office. On Friday, DeSantis used the inaugural Clemency Board meeting of his tenure to secure a full pardon for the Groveland Four, a group of three black men and one black teenager who were accused of raping a 17-year-old white girl named Norma Padgett in 1949.

According to Gilbert Kings 2013 Pulitzer Prize-winning book about the case, Devil in the Grove, the story Padgett told at the time  and still maintains is true  is that the men approached her and then-husband Willie on a dark stretch of road where their car had broken down on the night of July 16. After first helping the couple, the men attacked Willie, forced Padgett into the back of a car, drove away, and raped her. Contradicting Padgetts version of events are several key pieces of evidence, including that a medical examiner found no physical signs that she was sexually violated or otherwise brutalized  no bruising, skin breaks or tears, or indication that she was penetrated; that one of the accused, 16-year-old Charles Greenlee, was already in police custody pending an unrelated charge when the crime was alleged to have taken place; and that Greenlee and another man, Samuel Shepherd, confessed only after being severely beaten by the police.

Both Shepherd and Greenlee told their attorneys that they would not have professed guilt were it not for the officers pummeling (a third man, Walter Irvin, was also beaten, but did not confess). All three were convicted regardless. Irvin and Shepherd had their convictions overturned by the U.S. Supreme Court in 1951, but Greenlee, the only one not sentenced to death because he was a minor, did not appeal his conviction. Irvin was later re-convicted after his second trial was moved to another county  but had his sentence commuted in 1955 by Governor LeRoy Collins, who decided that neither jury had proven him guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. The Groveland and Lake County governments apologized to all four of the accused in 2016. The Florida House of Representatives followed suit in 2017.

It can seem futile to try parsing whether a politician is acting in good faith when they pursue grand symbolic gestures like what DeSantis did on Friday. The Groveland Four are all dead now  Ernest Thomas, shot by a white mob while fleeing the Florida Panhandle days after the alleged crime; Shepherd, shot and killed in 1951 by Lake County Sheriff Willis McCall, who claimed that he and Irvin had tried to escape custody; Irvin, who died on parole in 1969, 13 years after his second death sentence was commuted to life in prison; and Greenlee, who died in 2012, 50 years after being paroled in 1962. As such, any consolation derived from the pardon mainly benefits the mens families and those who advocated on their behalf. The men themselves died under a shadow of dubious guilt, some having endured decades of physical and psychological brutality in law enforcement custody and prison. One was lynched.

This is not to say that Fridays reversal is trivial. It is a weight lifted, it is a cloud lifted, said Greenlees daughter, Carol Greenlee Crawley, according to the Orlando Sentinel. Its the dignity of being a Greenlee restored, its the shame taken away. But nor does it alter the near-total absence of political risk involved for DeSantis, who can now claim solidarity with an anti-racist cause despite having weaponized racism to win election less than two months prior. Perhaps the governor did act out of genuine indignation on Friday in a case where, as he articulated in December, justice was miscarried and acts of evil were done against the accused for crimes they did not commit. His record suggests a less noble explanation. The governor has been unabashed about accusing black men of crimes they did not commit when it was politically expedient to do so. His efforts throughout the 2018 campaign to smear Gillum as a criminal in charge of a city overrun by crime  an allegation that rested, in part, on vastly exaggerating the prevalence of murder Tallahassee  culminated in DeSantiss repeated insistence that the Tallahassee mayor was being investigated for corruption.

Gillums name, it turned out, was conspicuously absent from the indictment the FBI eventually unveiled stemming from their investigation. He got screwed, Stephen R. Andrews, the attorney who represented the city manager when a grand jury questioned him regarding the case, told Politico. For DeSantis, pardoning four dead black men whose innocence has already been affirmed by past governors and legislative bodies is the equivalent of Republicans praising Martin Luther King, Jr., on his birthday while maintaining power through anti-black voter suppression. Plausible deniability is a vital asset for the racist politician navigating a political environment where racism, though broadly sanctioned, is still seen as impolitic. Friday gifts the governor with a fair bit of that plausible deniability. But the methods he used to gain power remain inseparable from the result.
MONTOUR -- A Montour man died Friday in a crash following a pursuit.

Royce Grayson Timberwolf, 22, was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash at 308 Northwood Drive, Montour.

Trooper said Timberwolf was driving a car that was being pursued by a Meskwaki Nation police officer northbound on Northwood Drive in Montour on the Meskwaki Settlement when the car left the roadway to the left, struck a driveway and rolled several times.

The driver was ejected from the vehicle and died at the scene.

No further details were released. Troopers were assisted at the scene by Tama County sheriff's deputies, Meskwaki First Responders, Toledo Fire and EMS and Meskwaki Nation Police.

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The child care facility also makes good business sense to Friendship Village, which is among employers competing to attract and retain a work force.

How do we keep good employees and how do we attract those employees? Gates said. I knew (15 years ago) that our staff was having difficulty finding child care or couldnt come to work when they have a sick kid at home.

Many people have gone out of the work force because there is no place for their children, she added.

It Takes A Village Childcare is expected to have a sick room and will provide care during all three shifts. Approximately half the child care spots are expected to be used by Friendship Village employees with the rest open to the community at large.

Jay Nardini, who chairs the Friendship Village board, said he was on board with the project from the start.

When Lisa raised the possibility I immediately thought it was a great idea, not only for the community because of the lack of child care that we have, but also for the employees, he said.

Nardini is also president of the Hawkeye Community College board of trustees, which is tackling similar issues with the opening of a 56-spot child care center in the new downtown Van G. Miller Adult Learning Center.
canada treats immigrants as assets and will be accepting one million of them progressively over the next three years. Its present population is around 37 million, and it wants to add to the figure. Ahmed Hussen is the minister who handles immigration, refugees and citizenship. In his annual port to Parliament, he has praised the immigrants and their descendants who have played a major role to help develop Canada into a strong and vibrant country.

ABC News reports that over the years immigrants have come to Canada, merged in the mainstream and contributed to making the country what it is today.

Ahmed Hussen, who is from Somalia, goes on to add that the future depends on them. They have contributed to its growth. The direction that the country takes will depend on more people like them who will come from outside and integrate with the locals to give a new meaning to living.

Immigrants play a vital role in Canada

The reason for someone to leave his country of birth and move to another country could be for survival, and they need not always have evil intentions. Ahmed Hussen is now in his early 40s, and he had fled from Somalia when he was just 16. There was unrest in his country, and he took the plunge to begin life afresh in Canada where he is living with his head held high.

The contrast on either side of the US-Canada border is evident.

They hold diametrically opposite views on the subject. US President Donald Trump is against accepting immigrants. He has said that those who belong to Haiti are not welcome, neither are those from African countries. In contrast, Canada has no prejudices. On a rough estimate, 20 percent of its population consists of these people, and more than 6 million of them have arrived since 1990 to make the country theirs.

Canada has kept its doors open, and migrants from the U.S. are also making a beeline seeking asylum.

Canada is Utopia for immigrants

According to CNN, Canada is like Utopia for immigrants. In 2017, it welcomed more than 286,000 permanent residents. It expects the numbers to swell to around 350,000 this year and has plans to continue the good work with the addition of one million progressively over the next three years.

As Ahmed Hussen, a minister, says  the influx will help offset Canada's ageing population and declining birth rate while growing its labor force. He is Canada's minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship (IRCC) and is himself an immigrant from Somalia. The positive stance of the country towards new residents is in sharp contrast to the attitude of many other Western nations, including the United States towards immigrants.
After several days of the government shutdown because of the Congress refusal to fund Donald Trump's controversial border wall, the U.S. president decided to make a big prime time address to the American people live on major TV networks to explain his position. Of course, Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer and Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi also decided to make this same move after Trumps speech, as a way to respond his claims and show their arguments. Naturally, it became one of the biggest moments in the volcanic Trump era. A political battle that only one side can win.

Donald Trumps address shows conflict between content & presentation

Trump was the first figure to appear on Americas TV screens. His speech lasted less than 10 minutes, and it showed a remarkable discordance between the presentation and the content. After all, while the first element was not exactly a Reaganesque scene, the second one was good enough to make his point and attack the Democrats in an effective way.

Regarding the presentation, the big elephant in the room was the fact that Donald Trump is a sad and soulless technocrat when he reads the teleprompter, and the smoothest populist when hes not. I am talking about a very peculiar reality that millions of Americans saw live on TV. It is a weird situation that gets quite messy when the president has to read emotional and dramatic lines.

During these moments the one who reads it needs to have some acting skills. And of course, Trump is not Morgan Freeman.

On the other hand, he delivered a decent message in which he explained why this is a humanitarian crisis. Also, he put the ball in the court of the Democratic Party to explain why some of the most important problems about the border crisis are fine with them.

Also, he made a powerful point by showing the hypocrisy of many Democratic leaders who believe having a border wall is amoral while having their houses protected by all kinds of security measures, including walls and fences.

Of course, there were some issues with the content of his speech, including dubious claims and misleading statements about major details related to illegal immigration.

Also, many people believe Trump missed a golden chance since he didnt attack the Democrats by pointing out how they claim no border wall is necessary and how their spending priorities include some really unnecessary things such as the National Endowment for the Arts. Instead, the president focused more on the immigrants violent crime, which undoubtedly exists but it doesnt represent some kind of national threat. Logically, this cannot be considered a big surprise, as theatlantic.com reported that Stephen Miller wrote his speech.

Pelosi and Schumers response worse than a missed opportunity

Getting to this point, while Trumps address wasnt terrible at all, Pelosi and Schumer had a big opportunity for a better performance to convince the American people that their point was the right one.

In fact, different reports revealed that their ratings were higher than Trumps. However, what they did live on TV ended up being a five-minute horror show.

During their response, Schumer and Pelosi made the clever move of focusing on the government shutdown instead of the border wall issue. After all, this allowed them to concentrate their arguments specifically on the president, which is definitely an intelligent strategy considering how divisive he is. While their content was sharper than Trumps, the main problem was that their presentation was so incredibly awful that users on social media immediately started to publish some of the funniest memes of the Trump era.

And in such a frivolous and superficial time as the one were living, being massively ridiculed on Twitter or Facebook is a determining sign.

In fact, the main evidence that their address was a big failure is essentially the mainstream media coverage, which wasnt exactly a happy display of enthusiasm. Basically, there wasnt a unanimous winner in this political battle. Nevertheless, there was definitely a loser.

Of many things we can conclude on this point, what seems to be the unquestionable truth is that Trump is a really lucky man. No matter how bad he does something, the Democratic Party will always react in a poor manner. Logically, fixing this major problem and getting back to the political center will be the key to beat the president and prevent him from getting reelected. However, it seems unlikely that such a move would be done shortly.

This is especially after the rise of radical leftist figures that are now becoming the new leaders of the party. The well-proven weakness of Chuck Schumer and Nancy Pelosi is a sign of the inevitable twilight of the Democrats establishment.
Donald Trump wants to fulfil his campaign promise of a US-Mexico Border Wall at any cost, but Congress is not sanctioning the funding to the extent of more than $5 billion. In desperation, Trump has gone in for a Shutdown that is now into its 22nd day. It has entered the history books as the longest US shutdown, surpassing the one in 1995-96. That was during the tenure of the then president Bill Clinton when he clashed with Republicans over issues like health, education and other spending.

Sky News reports the president is determined to get the funds for the US-Mexico border wall at any cost and there are no signs of his yielding to pressure.

The shutdown which began on December 22, has entered its 22nd day and has affected nearly 800,000 workers who are now without pay. The standoff is between Donald Trump and the Democrats who are reluctant to release the $5.6 billion required to build it.

Deadlock in talks leading to the shutdown

The situation is tricky because Democrats are in control of the House of Representatives. Donald Trump has forced the shutdown and threatened to declare a national emergency to have his way. Talks between the two parties have not produced any solution. The president had, reportedly, walked out of a meeting dismissing it as a "total waste of time." The meeting was with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer.

US government shutdown becomes longest federal closure in country's history https://t.co/KheI2hsSFo  CNBC (@CNBC) January 12, 2019

The shutdown has affected the people who "live paycheck to paycheck" with monthly earnings that range from $500 to $700. Representatives of affected workers have pleaded for an end to the shutdown.

Unless better sense prevails, the situation could spiral out of control, and those in power must evolve a solution because common workers are at the receiving end. Moreover, the absence of workers is leading to maintenance problems, and there were three deaths reported in national parks because of shutdown.

Shutdown creates a crisis

According to CNBC, the Republicans and President Donald Trump are trying to find out a way to come out of the crisis. It could lead to unwanted situations because federal workers have their pay statements but no pay. They will have to wait for the federal government to reopen. The shutdown has entered its 22nd day, and Trump could declare a national emergency to build the wall. However, it seems a section of his own party was not in favor of such a line of action, and the president wants Congress to evolve another alternative. Many in the White House fear the outcome of the ongoing crisis could have an adverse effect on the future and voters could turn against the president.
Presidents Putin and Trump Photo: Alexander Nemenov/AFP/Getty Images

On Friday night, the New York Times published a bombshell report that the FBI has been investigating whether President Trump had been working on behalf of Russia against American interests. The story reframes the focus and purpose of the investigation now headed by Robert Mueller. The probe is not just about Russian election interference, or about Trumps obstruction of the probe  it is about the secret relationship between Trump and Russia that appears to be causing both these things to happen.

The first question to ask yourself when absorbing this story is, what does it mean for a president to be working for Russia, and against the United States? Trump frequently says the United States would be better off if it got along better with Russia  and that position, right or wrong, is certainly not criminally suspect. Presidents obviously have the right to change American foreign policy, and to forge friendships with countries that had been previously hostile. Nixons overtures to China, or Obamas opening of relations with Cuba, did not set off criminal investigations. The FBI would not investigate a president simply for harboring friendly views of a rival state.

The potential that Trump is working on behalf of Russia, therefore, by definition posits some kind of corrupt secret relationship. That is to say, its an investigation into whether Trump is a Russian asset.

When I wrote about this last summer, much of the pushback centered on the imagined accusation that Trump is a Russian agent. He is obviously not. An agent is not the same thing as an asset. An asset can describe a wide range of relationships, but in Trumps case, it would mean that he is subject to sexual or financial blackmail, along with possibly some form of back-channel propaganda. We know for a fact that Trump is vulnerable to sexual blackmail, but that kind of leverage, if it exists, would be difficult for Mueller to obtain. (Sexual blackmail is only useful if you keep it locked up tightly.) Its far more likely that Trumps financial vulnerability opened him up to Russian leverage. And that is the kind of information American investigators can access.

A somewhat related issue is the question of whether Russia has some kind of backchannel to shape Trumps thinking. Trump has met with Russian officials since 1987. It was after his first trip to Moscow that he first contemplated running for president. It is well within the realm of possibility that Russians used blackmail, bribes, or perhaps just simple flattery to help shape his thinking on world affairs.

It is hard to understand how else some of the idiosyncratic and bizarrely Russpohillic ideas he routinely spouts have found their way into Trumps brain. His warning that tiny Montenegro is a threat to attack Russia, or his claim that the Soviet Union was right to invade Afghanistan in 1979, are not notions Trump would pick up from his normal routine of binge-watching Fox News.

Much of the public focus on the Mueller investigation has centered on campaign collusion. Russia worked to help elect Trump, and Trump and his campaign at minimum welcomed its help, and at maximum, actively participated. (Trump campaign manager Paul Manafort gave polling data to a Russian oligarch, the most likely use for which would have been guiding Russian social media efforts.) But campaign collusion is a relationship with a fixed endpoint: November 8, 2016. After Trump won presidency, any secretive or suspicious mutual interest between him and Vladimir Putin would conclude. Having succeeded in helping to elect the friendly Trump (and block the unfriendly Clinton), Putin could now operate with his chosen candidate on a normal president-to-president basis.

The Times report tells us that collusion is only part of the story. The relationship between Trump and Putin did not merely rest on their mutual interest in the Trump campaign defeating Clinton, but indicates some deeper connection. From the very beginning of this story, pundits have underestimated the full extent of Trumps ties to Russia and how much deeper the story might yet go. Now we already know Mueller is not merely looking into crimes, but trying to ascertain the foundational loyalties of the President of the United States.
888poker LIVE 2019 Schedule Announced

January 12 2019 Valerie Cross

With 2018 firmly in the rearview mirror, poker tours are releasing schedules for the new year. 888Live is among them, recently announcing live stops to include London, Barcelona, Malta, and Vienna as well as confirming a return to sponsoring the World Series of Poker (WSOP).

There will be five major stops in total, kicking off with the 888Poker LIVE London Kick Off event at Aspers Casino in February. The tour will then head to Barcelona at the end of May, stop in Vienna and Malta in October, and then head back to London to end the year.

Along with the 2019 schedule, 888 has announced it will once again be the exclusive partner of the WSOP for the fifth year running. For years, 888 has sent hundreds of qualifiers to participate in the Main Event and this year will be no different. All the winners of an 888Live main event also receive WSOP Main Event packages.

For the 2019 live tour, 888 is bringing back the popular Big Blind Ante and the Shot Clock format, both of which have fast become the norm across the poker landscape. Though full schedule details are yet to be announced, it appears that 888Live will offer buy-ins on the more modest end of the spectrum.

888Live 2019 Schedule Details

Aiming to make 2019 their biggest year yet, 888 has suggested the possibility of adding more stops to the schedule. So far, players can mark their calendars for the five festivals that are slated.

The first stop is Aspers Casino Westfield Stratford in London from Feb. 7-10, which will feature a Main Event with a 440 buy-in and 120,000 prize pool guarantee. They have high hopes for this stop considering their LIVE London Main Event in December tallied 656 entries for a prize pool of just under 650,000.

From May 22 to June 3, 888poker LIVE Barcelona will take place at Casino Barcelona. The last time this event was held, the 1,100 Main Event attracted 709 entries for a prize pool of 709,000 and the LIVE Barcelona festival has boasted as many as 20 events.

After a break during the summer season, 888 LIVE heads to Montesino Casino in Vienna, Austria for the first time in two years. The 888 buy-in Main Event in Vienna will offer a 300,000 guaranteed prize pool.

The Battle of Malta will follow the Vienna stop in October, with expectations high after last years 550 buy-in Main Event became the biggest live tournament in the country, drawing 3,816 entries to generate a prize pool of 1.85 million.

The tour is scheduled to wrap up back at Aspers Casino in November.

888poker LIVE 2019 Schedule

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The yellow vest protest movement is in serious trouble! Bernard-Henri has no doubt about the ultimate value of the movement: bending the knee to the yellow vests is finally, he says, grotesque. Bernard-Henri is in the news at the moment because hes about to launch a 22-date speaking tour, visiting European cities to preach about the need for a new vision of the Old Continents long-term future. He kicks off in Milan in March. Hes doing it, he says, because in France and several of the neighbours, the rise of populism poses a dangerous threat to the very idea of democracy. Bernard-Henri Levy plans to save us from the nastier fringes of the far right. Thats good. Against those guys, we could all do with some help. But what's his problem with the poor old gilets jaunes? Hes been against them from the start. A social movement going in the wrong direction Its a real social movement, Bernard-Henri Levy admits, but its one driven by sad, mortifying and destructive forces. This, he says, is frequent in contemporary history. Genuine popular revolts based on real problems and suffering finally find expression in a language and in forms of action which are completely anti-democratic. Thats when dudes like Bernard-Henri show their true worth. They stand up and ask to be counted. No enthusiastic drifting along with the masses for them. They are among the few with the courage to say yes to social reform, yes to anything that leads to greater equality, but no when the talk turns to marching on the presidential residence at the Elysee Palace, or vandalising public property, or attacking police officers. And the worst of all, according to Bernard-Henri, is the astonishing level of public forgiveness which has greeted such acts of violence. Yellow vests and other uniforms of terrorism And that form of acceptance of what is simply criminality is, Ben further explains, because the yellow vests are fundamentally a terrorist movement. This is another frequently remarked element of contemporary history: those who represent the people or, worse, the proletariat, come together briefly to demand to be heard. Well, they got heard. The president said it on national television. Theres going to be an endless bloody debate. And what happens? The yellow vests, as understood by Bernard-Henri, say No, thats not what we really asked for. In fact, we want more, or less, but certainly different. He thinks that the yellow vest are a historical regression by comparison with the great workers movements of the past. So what does intellectual Ben the writer think of the widening social gap which separates him and the rest of the French elite from the rest of the Republic? Its an exaggeration. He tells the interviewer at Les Echos that, in fact, the so-called elites actually got listened to. Because they were suggesting solutions. He can think of no similar movement in which bosses, state officials and others in positions of power made such a genuine effort to bridge a class divide, heal the social wounds. Damn the demagogues! The real bad guys were the extremists behind Marine Le Pen and Jean-Luc Melenchon, and others who called for murder and mayhem. The options were simple: there were those who tried to lead the public energy and anger in a legal and reasonable way, so as to improve the lot of those who really need the help. And there were the others who, without caring a damn for the real needs of the protestors, simply used the anger to promote their own interests. And it will probably come as no surprise that Bernard-Henri Levy is against any form of citizens referendum. Politics is too complicated, he says. Any question which can be answered by a simple yes or no on a ballot paper is not worth asking in the first place. Anyone who believes otherwise is either an idiot or a criminal. Look, he say, at what happened with Brexit. The man, you have to admit, has a point.

The yellow vest protest movement is in serious trouble!

Bernard-Henri has no doubt about the ultimate value of the movement: bending the knee to the yellow vests is finally, he says, grotesque.

Bernard-Henri is in the news at the moment because hes about to launch a 22-date speaking tour, visiting European cities to preach about the need for a new vision of the Old Continents long-term future. He kicks off in Milan in March.

Hes doing it, he says, because in France and several of the neighbours, the rise of populism poses a dangerous threat to the very idea of democracy. Bernard-Henri Levy plans to save us from the nastier fringes of the far right.

Thats good. Against those guys, we could all do with some help. But what's his problem with the poor old gilets jaunes? Hes been against them from the start.

A social movement going in the wrong direction

Its a real social movement, Bernard-Henri Levy admits, but its one driven by sad, mortifying and destructive forces.

This, he says, is frequent in contemporary history. Genuine popular revolts based on real problems and suffering finally find expression in a language and in forms of action which are completely anti-democratic.

Thats when dudes like Bernard-Henri show their true worth. They stand up and ask to be counted. No enthusiastic drifting along with the masses for them.

They are among the few with the courage to say yes to social reform, yes to anything that leads to greater equality, but no when the talk turns to marching on the presidential residence at the Elysee Palace, or vandalising public property, or attacking police officers.

And the worst of all, according to Bernard-Henri, is the astonishing level of public forgiveness which has greeted such acts of violence.

Yellow vests and other uniforms of terrorism

And that form of acceptance of what is simply criminality is, Ben further explains, because the yellow vests are fundamentally a terrorist movement.

Story continues

This is another frequently remarked element of contemporary history: those who represent the people or, worse, the proletariat, come together briefly to demand to be heard. Well, they got heard.

The president said it on national television. Theres going to be an endless bloody debate. And what happens? The yellow vests, as understood by Bernard-Henri, say No, thats not what we really asked for. In fact, we want more, or less, but certainly different. He thinks that the yellow vest are a historical regression by comparison with the great workers movements of the past.

So what does intellectual Ben the writer think of the widening social gap which separates him and the rest of the French elite from the rest of the Republic?

Its an exaggeration. He tells the interviewer at Les Echos that, in fact, the so-called elites actually got listened to. Because they were suggesting solutions. He can think of no similar movement in which bosses, state officials and others in positions of power made such a genuine effort to bridge a class divide, heal the social wounds.

Damn the demagogues!

The real bad guys were the extremists behind Marine Le Pen and Jean-Luc Melenchon, and others who called for murder and mayhem.

The options were simple: there were those who tried to lead the public energy and anger in a legal and reasonable way, so as to improve the lot of those who really need the help. And there were the others who, without caring a damn for the real needs of the protestors, simply used the anger to promote their own interests.

And it will probably come as no surprise that Bernard-Henri Levy is against any form of citizens referendum.

Politics is too complicated, he says. Any question which can be answered by a simple yes or no on a ballot paper is not worth asking in the first place. Anyone who believes otherwise is either an idiot or a criminal. Look, he say, at what happened with Brexit.

The man, you have to admit, has a point.
France should not able to use EU laws to force Google to delete search results outside of the EU's jurisdiction, according to one of the bloc's most senior legal advisers.

The French data watchdog had gone to the European Court of Justice to establish whether it could force companies such as Google to de-list search results across the world under the right to be forgotten (RTBF) law.

Google and France's data regulator, the Commission Nationale de l'Informatique et des Libertes (CNIL) argued whether data should only be removed within France or if it should be de-listed on every Google domain.

The CNIL said that globally enforcing the removal was the only way to actually uphold the RTBF, but Google warned that this could risk making it breaking the law in other jurisdictions.

The opinion by advocate general Maciej Szpunar, published today, is likely to play a big part in the ECJ's ruling in the ongoing legal battle.

It says that while requests under the RTBF must be recognised by companies such as Google, they should only apply to people searching for them within the EU.

Peter Fleischer, the senior privacy counsel at Google, said: "Public access to information, and the right to privacy, are important to people all around the world, as demonstrated by the number of global human rights, media and other organisations that have made their views known in this case.

"We've worked hard to ensure that the right to be forgotten is effective for Europeans, including using geolocation to ensure 99% effectiveness," Mr Fleischer added.

Thomas Hughes, the executive director of British free speech organisation Article 19, said: "We welcome [Mr] Szpunar's opinion that the CJEU should place limits on the scope of de-referencing carried out by search engines.

"European data regulators should not be able to determine the search results that internet users around the world get to see.

"They should only be able to de-list websites within their country's jurisdiction, and should balance the rights of both privacy and free speech when making that decision."

Story continues

Michele Finc, a senior researcher at the Max Planck Institute for Innovation, wrote that the judgment would have "pronounced implications in the field of internet regulation".

However, she added: "It is also worth noting that there are other uncertainties concerning the RTBF, including the precise meaning of 'erasure', which is not defined in EU data protection law."

Ms Finc noted that as an enforcer of EU law, Google's application of the RTBF could turn it into an "exporter" of EU law abroad.

This wasn't simply a good thing, despite the EU's higher standards of rights protection than many other parts of the world - because it could also invite more restrictive jurisdictions to force companies to engage in restrictive behaviours.

Google had also argued that it would establish a dangerous precedent for authoritarian regimes to demand that it modify its search results.

Despite this concern about facilitating authoritarian regimes, Google staff are currently in protest at the company's management over plans to re-enter the Chinese market.

The company's new Chinese search engine "will blacklist websites and search terms about human rights, democracy, religion, and peaceful protest" according to reports.
Belfast City Hall has been illuminated in red in a show of support for those campaigning for greater protections for Irish language speakers in Northern Ireland.

Around 200 activists gathered for a colourful and noisy demonstration as the landmark building turned the colour of their movement late on Saturday afternoon.

The decision of councillors to use the lights to back a cause at the heart of Stormonts powersharing impasse has proved controversial.

While unionists have claimed the vote  which was backed by Sinn Fein, the SDLP and the Alliance Party  has politicised the building, advocates for an Irish Language Act insist they have every right to have their cause highlighted.

The Irish language has emerged as the key obstacle preventing the restoration of powersharing in Northern Ireland.

Sinn Fein has insisted it will only return to devolved government if the DUP accedes to a stand-alone piece of legislation that grants protections for Gaelic speakers.

The DUP has said it will approve protections, but only as part of a wider Culture Act, which also incorporates the Ulster Scots tradition.

Ciaran Mac Giolla Bhein, from Irish language campaign group An Dream Dearg, said the protests would continue until an Irish Language Act became a reality.

This is incredibly important for us, this is a physical beacon for equality in this city, he said of the red illumination. It represents the diversity of this city, that we have different communities here and all those different communities need to be respected and tolerated.

The Irish language is a key obstacle in the road to the return of powersharing (David Young/PA)

The illumination marked the second anniversary of a protest by Irish language activists at the decision of a DUP minister to cut bursaries for young people undertaking Irish language studies. They point to that contentious episode as the spark that invigorated their campaign for an Irish Language Act.

Campaigners insist an Act was promised in the 2006 St Andrews Agreement that paved the way for the DUP and Sinn Fein to enter a historic powersharing arrangement at Stormont. The DUP contend that it did not sign up to an Irish Language Act in 2006, and the commitment was instead the product of a non-binding side deal between republicans and the UK Government.

Story continues

Mr Mac Giolla Bhein added: The parties are going to reconvene for talks at some stage and when they do the first item on the to do list is most certainly the issue of Irish language rights.

This community isnt going anywhere, we are not leaving the streets, this issue isnt going away.

The sooner parties sit down and grapple with this, the sooner the DUP lift their objection to this and agree to fulfil a promise that was made in 2006 the better.
Reuters

Ireland will double the quarantine period for unvaccinated or partially vaccinated arrivals from Britain to 10 days but still plans to allow people to move more freely between the two countries from mid-July, Transport Minister Eamon Ryan said. The change is due to the rapid spread of the more infectious Delta variant in Britain, which delayed plans to lift most remaining COVID-19 restrictions there by a month on Monday. "It is just to reflect concern about the Delta variant and to try and hold back the development of that variant here as much as we can and give us time to get vaccines out to give us cover against it," Ryan told reporters on Tuesday.
Two firefighters dead and dozens injured in explosion at Paris bakery

French authorities said two firefighters and a Spanish woman were killed and 47 people injured in a powerful explosion and fire apparently caused by a gas leak at a Paris bakery Saturday that blasted out windows and overturned cars.

Firefighters pulled injured victims from windows and evacuated residents as smoke billowed over Rue de Trevise in the 9th arrondissement of north-central Paris.

The Paris prosecutor's office said that two firefighters have been killed in the bakery blast, correcting the overall figure of four dead given earlier by France's interior minister.

France: Explosion at Paris Bakery

Authorities said 10 people were in critical condition and 37 others less seriously injured.

Interior Minister Christophe Castaner told reporters at the scene "unfortunately the human toll is particularly serious." He paid homage to the courage of rescuers who notably saved the life of one firefighter who was buried under the rubble for two and a half hours.

Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo, who was also at the scene, extended a "message of affection and solidarity" to the victims.

She said many residents and tourists have been evacuated from neighbouring buildings and hotels. Paris authorities will help provide temporary accommodation, the mayor said.

Paris prosecutor Remy Heitz said that the cause appears to be an accidental gas leak. He said that Paris firefighters were already at the scene to investigate a suspected gas leak at the bakery when the explosion happened.

He told The Associated Press that "the judicial police have started investigating, the scientific police as well. The origin of the explosion seems accidental. We are at the beginning of the investigation everything will be made to establish the exact origin of the explosion as soon as possible."

Witnesses described the overwhelming sound of the blast and people trapped inside nearby buildings. Charred debris and broken glass covered the pavement around the apartment building housing the bakery, which resembled a blackened carcass.

Story continues

Authorities said around 200 firefighters and police were involved in the operation.

Two firefighters dead and dozens injured in explosion at Paris bakery

A helicopter landed in the area to evacuate the wounded. Silver-helmeted firefighters and red firetrucks filled the street and inspected adjoining courtyards. A vehicle from gas company GRDF was stationed nearby.

Pedro Goncalves, an employee at the Hotel Mercure opposite the bakery, said he saw firefighters enter the bakery in the morning but he and his co-workers "thought maybe it's a joke, a false alarm" and they went back to work. About an hour later, he said a blast rocked the surrounding streets.

"In the middle of nothing, I heard one big explosion and then a lot of pressure came at me (and) a lot of black smoke and glass," he said. "And I had just enough time to get down and cover myself and protect my head."

Goncalves said he "felt a lot of things fall on me" and that he was struck by shattered glass. He had a few cuts on his head, and spots of blood on his sweater and undershirt.

"Thank god I'm OK," he said, saying that the blast was so powerful that he heard whistling in his ears in the aftermath. Goncalves said that he ran for the exit and then went to check on the hotel's clients, adding that some of them had head injuries and were bleeding. He said that the hotel was "destroyed" in the blast.

Paris bakery 'gas explosion': Two firefighters killed and dozens injured after huge blast in French capital

Another witness told the AP that she was awakened by the blast, and feared it was another terrorist attack.

The bakery is around the corner from the Folies-Bergere theatre and not far from the shopping district that includes the famed headquarters of Galeries Lafayette.

The explosion came as the French capital is on edge and under heavy security for yellow vest protests around the country.
The government of Pakistan is reportedly using a blockchain platform developed by Alibabas Alipay. But, cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin remain banned in the country for payments.

The initiative of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) of Pakistan to utilize a blockchain application to combat money laundering demonstrates the typical blockchain not Bitcoin narrative pushed by central banks and large financial institutions.

Blockchain Not Bitcoin

Several months ago, Pakistan established a partnership with Telenor Microfinance Bank, a financial institution owned and operated by Alipay, a $150 billion fintech giant based in China that acquired a 45 percent stake in Microfinance Bank for $184.5 million.

This week, Pakistan announced the successful integration of Alipays blockchain remittance platform, relying on Standard Chartered Bank as the settlement bank to process cross-border remittance transactions between Malaysia and Pakistan.

The State Bank of Pakistan governor and president Tariq Bajwa stated that the implementation of the blockchain by the government marks a major milestone in the increase of financial inclusion in the country.

Bajwa said:

This puts Pakistan on the map of very few countries in the world that have launched international remittance service using the blockchain technology.

However, speaking to The Express Tribune, the State Bank of Pakistan spokesman Abid Qamar said that Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies remain prohibited by the government, raising questions on the motive behind the governments push for blockchain technology adoption.

The government has integrated a blockchain platform developed by several companies that provide the central authority, in this case the SPB, significant control over the network. A permissioned ledger is conceptually similar to the existing systems employed by many central banks.

Hence, while the initiative of Pakistan may ostensibly seem like an open-minded approach towards fintech regulation, the governments blanket ban on public blockchain networks in the likes of Bitcoin and Ethereum contradict the governments current policy on the prioritization of financial inclusion.

Story continues

Eric Jing, the chairman and CEO of Ant Financial, a subsidiary of Alibaba and the parent company of Alipay, said that emerging technologies can improve various areas within finance by increasing accessibility.

The new remittance service is one of the examples of how emerging technologies can assist countries meet their digital and financial inclusion goals. Were thrilled to be part of Pakistans financial inclusion efforts and were dedicated to exploring breakthroughs and applying them to benefit more people in more places, said Jing.

Does it Actually Increase Financial Inclusion?

One of the major contributing factors of limited financial accessibility in certain regions and developing countries is the presence of large-scale financial institutions and banks that set unrealistically high thresholds that create a challenging ecosystem for individuals to receive financial services.

To improve financial inclusion, the scope of individuals that are eligible for financial services has to increase but if the same banks are in charge of the development and operation of the network as seen in the dependence of Standard Chartered Bank, even with the implementation of the blockchain, it could have a minimal impact on the growth of financial inclusion.

Cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin have the ability to provide financial freedom to individuals because it does not prevent or restrict individuals from utilizing the network. If individuals still have to through the same banks, authorities, and institutions, it remains unclear how the implementation of the blockchain could improve financial inclusion.

Featured image from Shutterstock.



The post Pakistan Taps Blockchain Developed by $150B Alipay, But Forbids Bitcoin appeared first on CCN.


Furloughed federal employees will continue to cool their heels without pay for the immediate future. Photo: Andrew Harrer/Bloomberg via Getty Images

Up until now, the longest government shutdown in U.S. history was the 21-day standoff between President Bill Clinton and a Republican Congress led by Speaker Newt Gingrich that ran from December 16, 1995, to January 6, 1996. It revolved around big, consequential differences in policy views about the size, cost and priorities of the federal government, and produced a backlash to the Republican Revolution of 1994, ultimately resulting in Clintons fairly easy 1996 reelection. Plenty of people, including furloughed government employees, were unhappy about the shutdown. But nobody much called it stupid, other than those who interpreted Gingrichs stubbornness to pique over being dissed by Clinton during a trip on Air Force One.

The current shutdown, which will break the record for longevity this weekend, is obviously about much narrower issues, and is by all accounts pretty stupid insofar as it wouldnt have even happened had President Trump not panicked over right-wing gabber criticism of his willingness to keep the government open without the border wall funding he had been demanding. But Congress has given up for the time being on trying to cut a deal to end the shutdown, as the Washington Post reports:



The House broke for the weekend Friday, all but ensuring that the partial government shutdown would become the longest in U.S. history, while President Trump continued his efforts to sway public opinion on the need for a U.S.-Mexico border wall.

As of early Friday afternoon, there were no signs of serious negotiations underway, and leaders of both chambers announced no plans to meet before Monday.

The Democratic-controlled House has been busy passing appropriations bill to reopen various shuttered portions of the federal government which the Republican-controlled Senate has is refusing to take up. Both chambers did pass contingent legislation providing (as expected) that furloughed federal employees would eventually get back pay once the government reopens (a timely measure since such employees and those being required to work without pay just missed their first paychecks today), which Trump has said hed sign.

Of the two most prominently discussed avenues for resolving the shutdown, one seems to be dead and the other is in limbo. The dead-end was some sort of big deal (Senator Lindsey Graham was the most notable proponent, with assistance from presidential son-in-law Jared Kushner) trading border wall funding for relief for Dreamers and perhaps migrants whose refugee status has been threatened by the administration. But Trump flatly rejected the whole construct, preferring to keep the DACA program for Dreamers on ice until such time as the Supreme Court reviews his stalled planned to end it. And Democrats were less than jazzed about the idea as well, particularly given significant progressive pressure to hang tough on the wall:

To those who say, Trump should give DACA, Pelosi should do the wall, we must say a clear, No. The wall isnt negotiable b/c its based on lies, racism & white nationalism. Its like saying White Only signs were OK as long as Black folks got clean restrooms.  Rev. Dr. Barber (@RevDrBarber) January 10, 2019

The other way around the shutdown thats been under active discussion is one that would take the whole border wall issue out of the hands of Congress: a national emergency declaration by Trump followed by presidential action to redirect existing funds, probably from the Department of Defense. That option has been greeted with relief by some in both the White House and Republican congressional circles as a face-saving way in which Trump can at least claim hes building his border wall while allowing the federal government to reopen.

But there are growing expressions of concern in GOP circles about the precedent this step would set. It isnt a good sign that some of these critics are members of the House Freedom Caucus, probably Trumps staunchest allies in Congress. And though the law of emergency declarations is murky and unsettled, there are also serious reasons for Republicans to worry about how the courts might handle a declaration. A quick injunction against his power to make the declaration, particularly if it occurs immediately after the federal government has reopened, could really make Trump look like a loser. Since his ego (and his ever-demanding base) is largely driving this whole saga, that would be intolerable to him.

At this point the big question is whether the White House will plunge into a potential legal and political quagmire over an emergency declaration, or carefully plot a plan even as the pain of the government shutdown intensifies and his allies grow more restive. The presidents latest signals are not exactly clear:

Trump at WH event, per pool, says he has the right to declare a nat'l emergency,

but "I'm not going to do it so fast"

"We want Congress to do its job"

"What we're not looking to do right now is national emergency."  Erica Werner (@ericawerner) January 11, 2019

Looks like he needs to cut a deal with himself.
Language

Russian Doll launches globally on February 1

It follows a young woman named Nadia (Natasha Lyonne) on her journey as the guest of honour at a seemingly inescapable party one night in New York City.

Russian Doll is co-created by Natasha Lyonne, Amy Poehler and Leslye Headland, who all serve as executive producers, with Headland and Lyonne as writers for the series. Additional cast include Greta Lee (KTown), Yul Vazquez (Captain Phillips), Tony Award-winner Elizabeth Ashley (Oceans 8) and Charlie Barnett (Chicago Fire). Golden Globe winner and Academy Award nominee Chloe Sevigny (Lizzie), SAG Award winner Dascha Polanco (Orange is the New Black), Brendan Sexton III (Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri), Rebecca Henderson (Appropriate Behavior), Jeremy Bobb (The Knick), Ritesh Rajan (Stitchers) and Jocelyn Bioh (School Girls) also guest star.

The series is produced by Universal Television, Poehlers Paper Kite Productions, JAX Media and 3 Arts Entertainment. The series features an all-female writing and directing team. All episodes are directed by Jamie Babbit, Headland, and Lyonne.

Related




"The U.S. is trying to sabotage the ongoing talks between Kurdish-forces and the Damascus government, Rezan Hido, a Kurdish politician and a former media consult of the Peoples Protection Units (YPG) revealed in an interview with RIA Novosti on January 12.

According to Hido, Washingtons Special Representative for Syria, James Jeffrey, delivered several messages to the leadership of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) demanding them to slow down the negotiations with Damascus and promising to discuss the idea of establishing a no-fly zone over northeastern Syria.

The Kurdish political described Jefferys messages as disturbing and called on the Kurdish leadership to deal with them in careful manner.

Furthermore, Hido stressed that the SDF should take a decision on the talks with the Damascus government as soon as possible and regretted that some Kurdish officials are still pinning their hopes on a possible change in the U.S. decision to withdraw from Syria.

Talks with the Syrian government are still ongoing in a positive atmosphere, RT quoted Hido as saying.

Jeffrey made a visit to Turkey recently, where he tried to strike a deal with Ankara over northeastern Syria. However, Turkeys plans to attack US-backed Kurdish forces and invade the region hindered his efforts.

It appears to be that the SDFs only real option is the deal with Damascus as any U.S. solution would likely involve Turkey, which has demonstrated its agressive attitude towards Syrian Kurdish groups during its operation in Afrin in 2018." SF

------------

The struggle between the neocons and Trump over control of foreign policy has become ridiculous. One must remember that he can dismiss them all with the stroke of a pen, just he can dismiss his non civil service tormentors in the justice department and the FBI. Bolton has tried to countermand Trump's decision in Syria. His attempt and that of Jeffrey were rebuked in Ankara and DoD then announced an immediate commencement of the withdrawal. What could that have been other than a renewed presidential order to the Defense Department? And yet the unholy trio of Pompeo (first in the hearts of his USMA class), Jeffrey, a career neocon hack at State, and Bolton (the mustachioed menace) are still in their jobs? Say what?

And then there is the Great Southern Border Crisis. The Democrats have repeatedly voted for a great deal of money for barrier systems on the border. Chancy (Chuck and Nancy) were in the lead in such votes over the years. Now Nancy (who may not remember her votes) is denying Trump "a single dollar" for border barriers. BTW, any soldier will tell you that the purpose of barriers IS NOT to stop all movement. No, it is to slow up movement and canalize it so that Quick Reaction Forces (QRF) can get there first with the most. To say that barriers are ineffective is dishonest. By now Trump knows that he can declare a national emergency and fund the barriers after however much litigation the Dems can arrange. There is ample money available for the purpose. So, why does he not do it?

On Smerconish's show today, Bob Baer, spy extraordinaire, (read his books) asserted that the various bits and pieces of circumstantial "evidence" about Trump's contacts with and attitude toward Russia, as well as those of his flunkies and relatives amount to a "good enough" case for Trump being a Russian agent of influence. That is how a HUMINT spook judges such things. It is a matter of probabilities, not hard evidence. Assets of an alien government are not always witting (understanding) of their status from the POV of the foreign government, but that does not necessarily make other than agents. Sometimes they think they are merely cooperating in a good and normal way when, in fact, the relationship is much deeper. Jane Fonda in North Vietnam would be an example.

OTOH the president is responsible for the conduct of US foreign policy and is not under an obligation to accept the perhaps hackneyed views of his subordinates. Perhaps his world view is quite different and he is not mesmerized by the group think of the Borg. If that is so ...

But, how does one explain his lack of action on the border? Does someone or some thing in Russia, Israel, the UK, his former business associates, have something really juicy on Trump, something that he fears to unleash through decisive action? pl

https://southfront.org/kurdish-politician-washington-trying-to-sabotage-talks-between-sdf-and-damascus/
A security officer at the Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi was trying to stop a group of brokers from luring passengers to their unauthorized taxi service when he was assaulted by a man and a woman of the group on Friday afternoon.

Nguyen Van Diep was on his duty at hall E, floor 1 of Terminal T1 at around 1:30 pm, when he caught the female broker, Tran Thi Ly, attempting to invite passengers to an illicit taxi service, according to the airports management.

Diep went ahead to stop Ly, but the woman and another man assaulted him, causing him to have four of his teeth broken and bruises left across his body.

The airport security officer was then rushed to Bac Thang Long Hospital in Dong Anh District for treatment.

According to the airports management, Ly resides in Hanois outlying Soc Son District, and is an experienced illegal taxi broker. The woman has many times received written records for illegally luring passengers at Noi Bai.

The case file was transferred to the police of Soc Son District, where Noi Bai airport is located, for investigation.

Unlicensed taxi services, run by individuals blatantly picking up passengers using private cars even when they are not registered to do so, have been the norm at the Hanoi-based airport for many years.

The violations have recently been more and more rampant and become increasingly sophisticated, with illicit cab drivers and brokers preparing more tricks to dodge security officers. They are also more reckless and always ready to fight back at security officers.

The security and police units at Noi Bai last year handled as many as 823 cases, most of which involved unauthorized taxi services and brokers luring passengers at the airdrome. Five cases of airport security officers being attacked and assaulted by these actors were also recorded in 2018.

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Swedish Ambassador to Vietnam Pereric Hogberg used a Vietnamese verse to reaffirm the great friendship between the two countries as he addressed a press conference celebrating 50 years of bilateral diplomatic relations.

Sweden is the first Western European country to establish diplomatic relations with Vietnam, with the ties marking their 50th anniversary on Friday.

For more than half a century, Sweden has always been a friend and a partner of Vietnam, even in the most difficult times, Ambassador Hogberg said in his remarks.

Sweden has become the first Western country to have diplomatic relations with Vietnam. The Swedish government and our people have always expressed the support and solidarity with Vietnamese people.

The Swedish ambassador underlined that the two countries have agreed that their bilateral relations in the past 50 years have been expanded in all sectors, from politics, diplomacy, investment to culture and education, bringing benefits to two sides people and also affirming the determination of both countries to promote prosperity and sustainable development.

Two-way trade between Vietnam and Sweden surpassed US$1.4 billion in 2018, according to the Vietnam News Agency. Sweden ranked 34th out of the 130 countries and territories investing in Vietnam, while about 50,000 Sweden tourists visited Vietnam during the year.

Although the diplomatic relations between the two countries is not the same as first time, Sweden continues to commit to being a dear and truthful friend of Vietnam, he affirmed.

On this particular occasion, the two sides also emphasized the importance of promoting bilateral economic, investment cooperation.

The Swedish government committed to providing long-term support for Vietnams economic development process by mutual strengthening trade, exchanging Swedish business solutions and experiences, according to the ambassador.

At the end of the speech, the Pereric Hogberg used a Vietnamese folk poem that reads together we can go through hard times to reaffirm that Sweden still is and will always remain the dearest friend of Vietnam.

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An art collector in Ho Chi Minh City has earned nationwide fame for his massive collection of ceramics documenting the last 2000 years of human history.

Dinh Cong Tuong, informally known in the Vietnamese antique collecting community as the king of pottery, has made a name for himself with his 100,000 piece collection of pottery which boasts several pieces dating as far back as the first century.

Truongs collection is so massive that it is practically overflowing from his 1,000-square-meter three-story building in Hiep Thanh Ward, District 12, Ho Chi Minh City.

Dinh Cong Tuong displays an ancient Chinese pot at his building in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Photo: Tuoi Tre

Dinh Cong Tuongs pottery at his building in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Photo: Tuoi Tre

The 51-year-old said he has spent nearly 30 years traveling across Vietnam and throughout several foreign countries seeking antique ceramics and pursing week long efforts to convince their owners to let him purchase the pottery.

Tuongs diverse collection includes a fourth-century elephant-head statue he bought for VND350 million ($15,050) which he considers priceless.

Most of his prized pieces come from a smattering of Vietnams major civilizations, including the Sa Huynh culture, which thrived between 3,000 and 1,800 years ago along Vietnams central coast; the Dong Son and Bronze Age cultures in the northern region; and Oc Eo, a culture which flourished between the first and seventh centuries.

Also included in his collection are several foreign pieces produced between the 12th and 20th centuries in China, France, Japan, Hong Kong, and Singapore.

Dinh Cong Tuong shows off a fourth-century elephant-head statue that hes deemed priceless at his building in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Photo: Tuoi Tre

Dinh Cong Tuongs pottery at his building in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Photo: Tuoi Tre

Dinh Cong Tuong displays antique plates at his building in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Photo: Tuoi Tre

Tuong said using special chemicals to give new pottery an old-fashioned hue is a growing trend amongst unscrupulous dealers hoping to trick collectors with untrained eyes.

A crucial clue in the evaluating whether a piece is real or fake, he explained, is the shade of yellow at the bottom of a piece.

Pieces made of pure clay tend to turn darker as they age while modern pottery made from mixed clay tends to just turn black at the base.

A fake piece also exhibits unsmooth decorative patterns and lower enamel quality, he said.

Tuong has received significant recognition for his collection, one of which is a certificate from UNESCO praising his efforts in the preservation of cultural heritage.

The man, currently on the track to owning the largest pottery collection in Asia, hasnt sold a single item since he first took up the hobby 30 years ago.

He currently plans to exhibit his ceramics to the general public in the hopes of promoting a better understanding of Vietnamese culture and history.

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A workshop led by writers and painters from Vietnam and Denmark for children to discover literature from the two countries is taking place in Hanoi on Saturday.

The program, held at Hanoi Library, celebrates the tenth anniversary of the establishment of the Vietnam  Denmark Cooperation in Children Literature project,according to the Vietnam News Agency.

The event allows children to read, watch animations and take part in a painting contest with the help of experts, painters and writers participating in the project, including painter Tove Krebs Lange.

The Children Literature program was established in 2006 with an aim to give Vietnamese children access to innovative literature developed by Vietnamese authors and illustrators.

As childrens interest in literature is growing, and foreign books and cartoons are becoming increasingly popular in Vietnam, the Children Literature Program works to provide further support to the development of Vietnamese childrens literature.

It also helps strengthen the capacity of Vietnamese authors and illustrators as well as the use of childrens books in education in schools and within the family, the Vietnam News Agency quoted Nguyen Thuy Linh, from Kim Dong Publishing House.

A publisher that specializes in publications for children, Kim Dong has cooperated with the Hanoi Writers Association and the Danish Writers Association to support the development of Vietnamese children, with a focus on capacity development of Vietnamese authors and illustrators.

Over the last ten years, the program has held eight writing competitions through which some 4,000 stories and cartoons have been created, while serving as a bridge between Danish and Vietnamese authors.

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CMA CGM Marco Polo, the largest container ship in the world, docked at a major international seaport in the southern Vietnamese province of Ba Ria-Vung Tau on Friday, commencing a new weekly service to transfer cargo directly from Vietnam to Northern Europe.

This ship will dock at Ba Ria-Vung Taus Cai Mep International Port (CMIT) weekly to transfer Vietnams import and export goods straight to the Nordic market, saving much time and cost than going through transshipment.

The CMA CGM Marco Polo ship belongs to the French brand CMA CGM. The 190,000 ton vessel is 399 meters long and 54 meters wide, and is able to carry up to 17,000 TEUs (Twenty-foot equivalent unit).

According to maritime economists, if a trade deal between Vietnam and Europe is to be signed, along with the Comprehensive and Progressive Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) agreement that officially comes into force this month, CMIT will have the chance to welcome other super-large container ships just like the CMA CGM Marco Polo.

A corner of Cai Mep International Port in Ba Ria - Vung Tau, southern Vietnam, January 11, 2019. Photo: Tuoi Tre

Speaking at the ceremony held to welcome the docking of Marco Polo ship on Friday, Nguyen Van Trinh, Chairman of the Ba Ria - Vung Tau administration, affirmed that the provincial authorities would continue to focus on investing and upgrading the local infrastructure system and further reforming and simplifying administrative procedures to transform the CMIT into an ideal destination of shipping lines on the world.

CMIT general director Jan Bandstra expressed his hope and belief that following the footstep of CMA CGM Marco Polo more massive container ships will dock at CMIT.

We believe that Vietnam will develop into an important center for international logistics and shipping soon, said Bruno Gutton, general director of CMA CGM Vietnam.

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HANOI/BANDAR LAMPUNG - Traders in Vietnam lowered their coffee output forecasts by ten percent this week as a bumper harvest in the worlds largest robusta producing country came to an end.

They now expect an output of about 27 million bags of 60 kg each for the 2018/19 crop year that began on Oct 1, compared with earlier forecasts of 30 million bags.

We are not surprised to see a lower output as stubbornly low domestic prices have discouraged many farmers to fertilize and water their trees, while weather condition was also not supportive, a trader based in the province of Dak Lak said on Thursday.

Farmers in the Central Highlands have harvested all of the fresh beans of the 2018/19 crop year, he said.

Farmers in the Central Highlands, the countrys key coffee growing area, sold coffee at VND33,500-34,000 (US$1.44-1.47) per kg on Thursday, compared with VND33,200-33,700 a week earlier.

Though output is lower, domestic prices have not risen due to external factors, including larger forecasts by foreign agencies, said another trader based in Ho chi Minh City.

Vietnams coffee exports in January are forecast to be between 150,000 tonnes and 180,000 tonnes, compared with an estimated 160,000 tonnes in December.

Traders in Vietnam offered 5 percent black and broken grade 2 robusta at a $40 per tonne discount to the March contract, compared with a $45-$50 discount last week.

Meanwhile, in Indonesia, trading continued to be muted with traders saying premium for the grade 4 defect 80 robusta stayed unchanged for a fourth straight week at $20-$30 to the March contract.

Supply may only start coming around April because some areas in Bengkulu will have some harvest then, said a trader, referring to a province neighbouring Lampung.

Main robusta harvest in southern Sumatra typically takes place around the mid-year, but a smaller harvest usually happens a few months earlier.

($1 = VND23,200)
If fellow Dems actually reined in AOC, theyd be squandering a big opportunity. Photo: BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP/Getty Images

The 116th Congress has only been in session for a week, but some senior Democrats are already dismayed by one new kid on the block. In a Politico report published Friday, several members criticized Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez on the record  an unusual choice, especially when the target is a freshman whos had little chance to establish herself as a lawmaker. Im sure Ms. Cortez means well, but theres almost an outstanding rule: Dont attack your own people, said Representative Emanuel Cleaver, a Democrat from Missouri. We just dont need sniping in our Democratic Caucus. Ocasio-Cortez has publicly criticized the party, often on Twitter, for what she sees as its entrenched centrism.

Politico went on to explain that senior Democrats are put off by more than Ocasio-Cortezs Twitter account. Some Democratic representatives objected to a grassroots campaign to put the congresswoman on the powerful Ways and Means Committee, and were affronted by her opposition to new House rules that include pay-as-you-go or PAYGO restrictions. PAYGO requires the House to match any new spending with proportional cuts, and critics generally consider it an obstacle to the welfare expansions that left-wing Democrats like Ocasio-Cortez are likely to favor.

Some conflict between Ocasio-Cortez, a democratic socialist, and senior Democrats, who are generally to her right, was inevitable. But the criticisms included in the Politico piece were not framed in ideological terms. She needs to decide: Does she want to be an effective legislator or just continue being a Twitter star? said one unnamed Democrat described as being in lockstep with Ocasio-Cortezs ideology. They added, Theres a difference between being an activist and a lawmaker in Congress. Others worried that Ocasio-Cortezs fame could cost the party seats. Nydia Velazquez, a Democrat from New York, said that shed counseled the congresswoman against backing primary challenges to fellow Democrats in the future. Ocasio-Cortezs own record  she ran as a primary challenger and supported similar bids from other left-wing insurgent  appears to concern them, as does her affiliation with Justice Democrats, which endorsed her and other insurgents in 2018.

Its not clear from these criticisms that senior Democrats understand the reasons for Ocasio-Cortezs run, or her victory over incumbent Joe Crowley. One party aide told Politico that people are afraid of her and her viral tweets, a sentiment that reduces the congresswoman to emotion and affect. But her stardom has discernible origins that counter such a simplistic depiction of her rise to power. Ocasio-Cortezs popularity is tied to her ideology, which incorporates both her policies and her hostility to establishment politics. She is an insurgent, and thats exactly why people like her.

Despite efforts to characterize Ocasio-Cortez as a social media celebrity lacking in substance, during her first week in office she advanced left-wing ideas that generated vigorous debate and could garner widespread support. Shes become the most prominent congressional backer of a Green New Deal, which would transition the nation away from fossil fuels while creating jobs in more sustainable industries. Its an ambitious idea, and while some 2020 contenders like Elizabeth Warren have said they back it in principle, House Democrats havent greeted it with universal enthusiasm. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi responded to Ocasio-Cortezs call for a select committee on a climate change with a watered-down version in the spirit of the Green New Deal. This recalcitrance may be due to a combination of donor influence and the popularity of certain narratives about the rise of Donald Trump  namely, that he won office because people in places like central Appalachia believed hed bring the coal industry back to life.

Certainly, some voters hoped Trumps election signaled the resurrection of coal country, but theres some evidence that hope is beginning to fade, and those voters were never numerous enough to sway the election on their own. Nonetheless, that narrative became so pervasive that it may have obscured the degree to which members of both parties would back a proposal like a Green New Deal. A poll conducted by researchers from Yale and George Mason universities found that 81 percent of registered voters supported a Green New Deal. Support is lowest among registered Republicans, but even within that demographic, 64 percent said they favored the policy. Its a proposal that could excite voters and tackle the effects of climate change  two goals Democrats should be eagerly pursuing.

Ocasio-Cortezs other viral proposal, a 70 percent marginal tax rate, is simply a suggestion she raised in an interview with Anderson Cooper. Even so, the idea backed up by evidence and popular support. Americans tend to love taxes as long as its the rich who get soaked. The numbers are fairly unequivocal. CBS News poll conducted in October 2017, as Trump was pitching his tax cuts, found 58 percent of Americans wanted higher taxes on the wealthy and 56 percent wanted higher taxes for corporations, too. The same poll found that most respondents only wanted lower taxes for the middle class and for small businesses. In other words, the middle class doesnt want to pay higher taxes on its own wealth, but thinks the rich need to pay their fair share. Thats the position from whence democratic socialists like Ocasio-Cortez operate, and their growing popularity suggests a good number of Democrats agree.

Celebrity is not by itself a qualification for powerful committee appointments, but the Ocasio-Cortez phenomenon helps advance an argument for placing newly-elected left-wing Democrats in meaningful positions. Their policies have a mandate among the Democratic base and at some point  preferably now  senior Democrats will have to ask themselves why thats the case.

Shes new here, feeling her way around, Oregon Representative Kurt Schrader told Politico. She doesnt understand how the place works yet. Theres an assumption here, a big one, that Ocasio-Cortez merely fails to understand the place. But maybe she does, and maybe voters do too. People dont elect candidates like Ocasio-Cortez or Rashida Tlaib or Ayanna Pressley out of satisfaction with Washington D.C. Voters wanted to change the way the place works, not preserve it in amber for technocrats to come. Disruption is the point.
I smiled at Yoda With a Clipboard. The local property taxes we pay help fund our public schools. Like the awesome one down the street.

Whatever.

That did it. Is that your Cutlass Supreme parked up the street over there? The one with the bumper sticker on it that reads ASK ME ABOUT MY GRANDKIDS. YOURS CAN GO SUCK LEMONS?

He was pleased with his shrewd humor. Yup. A hoot, right? And then he went right back at it. Most seniors live on fixed incomes and

I know. I get it. But you want to pay no property taxes once you hit 65? Who doesnt? Tell that to a millennial paying taxes and holding down three jobs.

Gabby Hayes, the petitioner, smiled and poked my screen door with his gnarly digit. Thats right, Sonny. Not one thin dime.

As he described the benefits of this initiative to the seniors of Arizona, and no one else west of the Pecos, it struck me that he looked familiar. I could swear youre the same geezer that was grousing about all the freeloaders living on the government dole last year on the local news. That was you wasnt it?

I dont know about that. Are you going to sign my petition?
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Pima County Sheriff Mark Napier spoke about why he is unambiguous that there is a crisis at the southern border and why a wall could be part of the solution, on a New York Times podcast.

During the podcast interview, which was released Friday morning, Napier told host Michael Barbaro the main crisis on the border is the number of migrants who die every year while trying to cross the desert into Arizona. In 2017, 128 sets of remains were recovered in Pima, Santa Cruz and Cochise counties, according to the Pima County medical examiner.

Napier said the current system incentivises migrants to take their children and walk hundreds of miles through environmental conditions that are harsh, through areas of criminality in the hope of getting to America and being able to simply walk across.

Thats a human rights issue that we should not incentivize, he said.

Napier said physical barriers are part of the solution and praised President Donald Trump for leading Tuesday nights address to the nation by mentioning the humanitarian crisis.
House

$23.2 billion for farms, food, drug safety: The House on Jan. 10 voted, 243-183 to appropriate $23.2 billion in fiscal 2019 for the Department of Agriculture, the Food and Drug Administration and other agencies. The House sent this measure and three other appropriations bills to the Senate in an effort to reopen some of the departments and agencies that have been largely shut down since Dec. 22 due to expired funding. The move was also intended to put pressure on the Senate and the White House to end the partial shutdown or reduce its scope. But Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., said his chamber will not consider spending bills until President Trump and House Democrats settle their dispute over border-wall funding. A yes vote was to send HR 265 to the Senate.
Federal judges in Tucson are divided on how to interpret a recent U.S. Supreme Court decision that put numerous criminal border-crossing cases in jeopardy.

One judge dismissed a felony border-crossing charge in December, citing the faulty legal paperwork addressed by the Supreme Court justices. But in at least two other cases, judges agreed with strenuous objections from prosecutors that the Supreme Court decision did not apply, U.S. District Court records show.

The focus of the Supreme Court decision was a document used in civil immigration court called a notice to appear. Typically, when a person is accused of being in the country illegally, they are issued a notice to appear before an immigration judge. If they are deported and then cross the border illegally to get back to the United States, they may face criminal charges.

The problem is that in recent years virtually all notices to appear lacked a date and time for the person to show up at immigration court, according to the Supreme Court case known as Pereira v. Sessions. In their June decision, the justices cast doubt on the legality of deportation proceedings that started with faulty notices to appear.
Global Hospitalist tried to resolve the matter with the hospital without taking legal action, he said.

It would be in their best interest if they thought they had a defense to nonpayment for services. Id get it, but we didnt hear anything like that, Hotchkiss said about the hospital.

Seeking payment

Global Hospitalist is asking for an award for past-due invoices of $725,534 and an award of damages for current invoices in the amount of $1,198,741. The company is also seeking compensation for additional invoices, interest and the cost of bringing suit.

Hotchkiss said that Global Hospitalist was not worried about being paid reliably before entering the contract, even though the hospital had just emerged from bankruptcy, because the hospital had a new owner.

Hospital CEO Adams said he could not comment on the lawsuit.

The full-service 49-bed hospital was built in 2015.

Green Valley Hospital announced the Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing in early 2017, saying the debt was the result of a number of factors, including turmoil and financial mismanagement in its early days.

Additionally, officials said a hospital assessment imposed when the state expanded its Medicaid program in 2014 had been a financial burden.

Contact Mikayla Mace at mmace@tucson.com or 573-4158. Follow on Facebook or Twitter.
In 2016, the Arizona Legislature tried to pass a bill that would have taken away state tax money from any city shown to be a sanctuary city.

And the following year, the Phoenix Police Department was the target of a complaint from legislator Kavanagh, in part because of a provision in its policy that banned immigration inquiries on school grounds.

The departments policy resembles that of Tucson, Mesa and the Maricopa County Sheriffs Office, The Associated Press reported.

In the Phoenix case, the Attorney Generals Office concluded that the policy overall was not in violation of state law. The reality is the City Council took a vote to not become a sanctuary city and the city has adopted policies which are entirely consistent with SB 1070, the AP quoted Attorney General Mark Brnovich as saying. He also called Phoenixs policy of welcoming migrants more rhetorical than real.

Kavanagh disagreed with that decision and said if Tucsons initiative were to pass and go beyond what SB 1070 allows, he will file another complaint.

It sounds like they are trying to evade SB 1070, he said, adding, If I get a second shot, I will hone my argument much better.

Sanctuary movement began here in 1980s
Into the 1800s a number of laws were enacted aimed at the unwanted and unwashed, leading up to the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 that barred Chinese workers from immigrating and allowed for the expulsion of some Chinese laborers. In 1891, the first federal immigration agency was born and in 1924 the U.S. Border Patrol was created. And more and more immigration laws, many of them more restrictive and supported by nativist movements and elected officials, were enacted.

What is a U.S. citizen? author and historian Jill Lepore rhetorically asks in her insightful and comprehensive 2018 These Truths: A History of the United States, which has captured much of my free time in the past days.

Before the Civil War and for rather a long time afterward, the government of the United States had no certain answer to that question, she wrote.

We still dont have an answer. Our country continues to struggle over the question of citizenship  who has it and who doesnt, and who deserves it and who doesnt. It is an explosive struggle that has polarized the country like no other issue, excluding the deep division created through the Civil War over the question of slavery and the lingering racism targeting black Americans.
We apologize for the wordplay. Photo: Amazon

Amazon has run into a bit of a legal snag in Germany this week, following a court ruling about its Dash buttons. The court found that the devices violate the countrys consumer protection law.

The Dash button, which was launched in 2015, is meant for products that users might order repeatedly, like trash bags or snacks (or, in my case for a brief stretch, Gatorade). Its a button that syncs to a users Wi-Fi network and their Amazon account, and lets them re-up simply by pressing the button. Amazon also implemented similar one-click functionality on its front page with virtual Dash buttons. The problem with this, according to the court, per Reuters, is that it does not give sufficient information about the product ordered or its price.

We are always open to innovation. But if innovation means that the consumer is put at a disadvantage and price comparisons are made difficult then we fight that, said Wolfgang Schuldzinski, the head of the consumer-protection watchdog group that brought the case against Amazon, Verbraucherzentrale NRW.

Hes got a bit of a point. The slightly devious point of the Dash button is that users reliant on Primes two-day shipping will have blind faith in Amazons ability to offer items at the lowest price. You can double-check and cancel your order during a brief window after a button-press, but the whole point of a Dash button is to negate any need to do so.

The ruling body would not grant Amazon an appeal, but the company told Reuters that the buttons complied with German regulations and that they would pursue the issue through other channels.
Rhode Islanders got a rude awakening last month when its state department released test scores that showed neighboring Massachusetts dramatically outperforms its students.

Now, Rhode Island lawmakers are throwing everything on the table this legislative session to boost academic outcomes including providing schools more money, replacing standards, overhauling curriculum, and changing high school graduation requirements.

While 51 percent of Massachusetts 8th-grade students scored proficient on its state English exams, just 28 percent of Rhode Islands students did. Similarly, while 50 percent of Massachusetts 8th grade students scored proficient on the math portion of its exam, 23 percent of Rhode Islands 8th grade students scored proficient on that states exam.

The gap held true for both white and racial minority students, and for both poor and wealthy students. The gap widened as students got older.

Rhode Island scrapped the PARCC test two years ago and replaced it with the Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System. But the apples-to-apples comparison between the next-door neighbors has sparked much hand-wringing in the state.

This is our truth-telling moment, Ken Wagner, Rhode Islands superintendent said shortly after the release of the test scores, according to local media reports. Theres no surprise we have tons of work to do. Massachusetts students arent smarter than ours. Theyve just been doing the work for the past 25 years. Weve been doing pieces of it, but we havent stuck with it. We havent all been on the same page like Massachusetts has.

In towns located on the Massachussetts border, district superintendents have been asked by reporters, school board members, and parents in recent weeks why it wouldnt make sense for their children to jump the border.

Many attribute the vast difference in achievement outcomes to Massachusetts school reform initiatives that took place in the early 1990s; the fact that Massachusetts had the same superintendent, Mitchell D. Chester for more than nine years (he died in 2017); and that Massachusetts students have been taking the same test for more than 20 years.

The Massachusetts system has been built for over a quarter of a century ... from numerous conversations about instruction, curriculum development, high-level policymaking, and a commitment to fund those endeavors, Victor Mercurio, the superintendent of East Greenwich, R.I., schools told its local newspaper .

Samuel Zurier, a Providence-based lawyer who has worked on several failed lawsuits over the funding and quality of schools in Rhode Island over the years, told Education Week that the biggest difference between the states is that Massachusetts politicians have always had the courts backing when instituting widespread school reform initiatives.

Rhode Islands state governance, on the other hand, has decentralized much of the oversight of its schools to the 47 districts that dot the tiny state.

But Rhode Islands politicians in recent weeks have debated in person and on Twitter whether they should reverse course and set statewide graduation requirements, institute new statewide standards, and even possibly institute a statewide curriculum.

Meanwhile, Massachusetts is having its own moment for introspection. Last year, public school advocates told politicians its long past time to replace that states 25-year-old school funding formula and the many ways the state oversees its schools.

Dont miss another State EdWatch post. Sign up here to get news alerts in your email inbox. And make sure to follow @StateEdWatch on Twitter for the latest news from state K-12 policy and politics.
But Johnson said Ducey, who first appointed Jon Kyl and, later, McSally after Kyl quit, said Johnson is misreading the law.

There is no question but that Arizona law allows a governor to appoint a temporary replacement when a Senate vacancy occurs. That person has to be of the same political party as the senator who quit or died.

And the law does require that there be an election to determine who gets to finish out the balance of the term. In McCains case, his term ran through 2022.

Johnson, however, said if the next regular election is not within six months, then the appointee can serve until the regular election after that.

In this case, McCain died on Aug. 25. That was just three days before last years primary and 73 days before the general election. Based on that, Johnson said, Ducey had the power to name someone to serve until the 2020 election when the final two years of McCains term will again be up for grabs.

Kielsky, however, wants Humetewa to rule that voters should get a chance to name someone of their choice long before the 2020 election  a person who could be of any political party.
The Border Patrol contracts with interpreter and translating services that offer more than 150 languages and dialects. The Border Patrol also tries to contact consulate officers to help.

But the realities on the ground are different, said Chris Montoya, a former Arizona Border Patrol agent who retired in 2017.

Oftentimes, he said, agents have to rely on others in the group who speak the same language to fill out the initial form that documents the migrants biographical information, where they crossed and whether they fear returning to their country of origin  a legal piece of paper that follows them through the process.

At the ground level, theres no time at all, said Montoya. If its busy and (the migrant) doesnt speak any Spanish, you do your best to figure it out. You have 100 more to do.

Its hard for the agent and unfair for the border crosser, he said.

For example, you get a guy trying to tell you something important or relevant and you cant communicate and its 1 a.m. Who is going to be an interpreter? All these little obstacles pop up in the field. What do you do now? he said.
A Cochise County jail chaplain who was out on bond and arrested again earlier this month had 28 additional sex-crime charges filed against him Thursday, officials say.

Doug Packer, 63, now faces 38 charges for alleged incidents from 2014 through 2018, and a 2019 case involving a female inmate.

The alleged incidents between 2014 and 2015 led the Cochise County Attorney's Office to present 12 charges for sexual assault, sexual misconduct and indecent exposure.

For 2017, two additional charges of indecent exposure and sexual conduct were added.

Officials then presented 14 charges for sexual abuse, sexual conduct, aggravated assault, kidnapping, indecent exposure and sexual assault for alleged incidents in 2018.

Packer was arrested on Jan. 5 after an investigation into the alleged sex crimes against an inmate led authorities to serve a search warrant at his Sierra Vista home. He posted bond that afternoon.

The bond after the Jan. 5 arrest was $25,000, of which Packer would have only needed $2,500 to be bailed out.
First, do not attach it to a tax on an organization like Big Tobacco with its deep pockets.

The supporters threw in the tax increase as a tactic to mollify critics who fretted that if the feds reneged on their Medicaid support guarantee, the citizens would have to make up the difference. The tax revenue, the supporters argued, would pay for any shortfall in federal money that developed.

The tobacco companies declared war against the ballot initiative and unleashed a media campaign to kill it.

The companies raised nearly $19 million and spent $17.2 million, mostly on a TV advertising blitz, according to Stateline.com.

Supporters of the initiative, with only $9.7 million, couldnt compete.

The Montana ballot proposition failed 53 percent to 47 percent.

The basic lesson is that if you create a big political target, dont be surprised if people pay attention to it, said Matt Salo, executive director of the National Association of Medicaid Directors. If you propose to raise tobacco taxes, dont be surprised if tobacco pushes all its chips in. The same happens when you try to raise soda taxes.
Rep. Scott Clem, R-Gillette, said mail-in ballot elections would lower the bar for voting, and he wanted to require voters to take the initiative to participate.

Theres pros and cons to (voter participation). On the one hand, you may get more voter participation. On the other hand, who is participating? Is it people that dont know anything about anything and arent responsible voters to begin with? Clem said. Along with the right of voting comes the responsibility of studying the candidates and knowing who youre going to vote for, and actually doing something yourself and taking the initiatives. This limits the initiative because everything is done for you.

Chris Merrill, executive director of the Equality State Policy Center, which supported the bill, said allowing voters more time with the ballot in their hand made for more informed voters.

Not only is the implication of (Clems) comment offensive and undemocratic, its also completely wrong, Merrill said. Mail ballots would also help elderly voters, people who work long hours and/or multiple jobs, people who are in poor health or who must rely on others for transportation, people who have trouble getting around, (and) health care and emergency workers, who regularly work unpredictable hours.
A bill that would lower boating alcohol limits was received for introduction Tuesday at the Wyoming Legislature.

Current law states that a person shall not operate or be in physical control of a watercraft if the person has an alcohol concentration of 0.1 percent or more.

The bill, which is sponsored by Sen. Cheri Steinmetz, proposes lowering that percentage to 0.08 if the watercraft is a motorboat.

Brian Olsen, regional wildlife supervisor with the Wyoming Game and Fish Department, which enforces water safety rules throughout the state, said Friday that the bill has his full support.

I think it is important that people understand that it is dangerous to be impaired and drive a boat, he said.  Alcohol and drug use has been a contributing factor in many of the most serious watercraft accidents in Wyoming over the past several years.

Casper Police Chief Keith McPheeters said he also supports lowering the boating alcohol limits.

Drivers of motor vehicles are already considered to be over the limit if they have an alcohol content level of 0.08 or more. McPheeters said he sees no reason why it would require less focus or concentration to drive a boat.
Fremont County authorities arrested a convicted sex offender whom Natrona County authorities say walked away from a Casper rehabilitative facility last week.

Lander police say they caught up with Cody M. Schlosser, 26, on two outstanding warrants on Thursday afternoon in a Lander trailer. Fremont County sheriffs deputies assisted with the arrest, according to a statement provided by the Lander Police Department.

Schlosser was being held in Casper Re-Entry Center as part of a sentence for 2010 convictions of sexual assault and kidnapping, according to a Natrona County sheriffs spokesman.

Authorities began looking for Schlosser on Jan. 3 when he failed to return from work.

The Casper Re-Entry Center is a privately-owned facility that provides rehabilitation and substance abuse treatment to inmates before they are released.

The center, which is owned by the Geo Group, operates under a contract with the Wyoming Department of Corrections.

The Wyoming Board of Patrol describes the Casper Re-Entry Center and other similar facilities as providing an alternative to incarceration or traditional probation/parole supervision.
Certain inmates are allowed out for parts of the day to go to work. Those inmates will sometimes fail to return to the facility when they are expected back.

Fountaine, however, climbed a wall and chain-link fence before getting into an SUV and leaving the area, according to a search warrant request filed by law enforcement Dec. 29 in Natrona County Circuit Court.

The search warrant request states that Belcher gave Fountaine a cellphone while he was in the facility.

After Fountaine made his escape, his brother told law enforcement that Belcher and Fountaine were traveling to Texas together, the warrant request states.

The center is a privately owned and operated facility that houses inmates completing prison stints. It sometimes serves as an enhancement to probationary sentences. The Wyoming Department of Corrections contracts with the GEO Group, a private prison company, to house inmates in the facility.

In recent years, other workers at the facility have made news after prosecutors accused them of having sexual encounters with inmates.

A Natrona County Sheriffs Office spokesman said Friday morning that the white SUV found in Georgia is the same one Belcher and Fountaine are thought to have left Casper in.

Follow crime reporter Shane Sanderson on Twitter @shanersanderson

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I just fired the head of the F.B.I. He was crazy, a real nut job. Photo: BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP/Getty Images

Days after Donald Trump fired FBI director James Comey, the bureau began to ask the question that had consumed much of the American public since it first learned of Trumps Russian connections: could the president be working on behalf of Vladimir Putin, undermining American interests? According to a report from the New York Times, in May 2017, the FBI began to investigate if Trump was working  actively, or unknowingly  on behalf of the Kremlin while in office.

The inquiry took two modes: agents weighed if the presidents decision to fire Comey could be considered a threat to national security, and if the firing had a criminal aspect, constituting obstruction of justice. Not only would it be an issue of obstructing an investigation, but the obstruction itself would hurt our ability to figure out what the Russians had done, and that is what would be the threat to national security, said former FBI general counsel James A. Baker, who testified before the House in October 2018. While a potential obstruction of justice charge has already been reported, the detail of Trump as a target of a counterintelligence investigation is being made public for the first time.

During the campaign, FBI officials were troubled by Trumps ties to Russia, and opened an investigation into the campaign in August 2016, two months after the Trump Tower meeting between campaign senior officials and Russian surrogates. But, according to the Times, the bureau decided not to open a file on Trump himself, because it was unsure of how to investigate a major party candidate for the president of the United States. It appears that the bureaus knowledge of the Trump Tower meeting, and Trumps July 2016 press conference request  Russia, if youre listening, I hope youre able to find the 30,000 emails that are missing  wasnt enough to pull the trigger on an inquiry.

When the special counsel was announced on May 17, 2017, Robert Mueller took over the FBIs investigation, wrapping it into his larger pursuit of Trump-Russia collusion in the 2016 election. The Times reports that its unclear if the Mueller team is still on the counterintelligence angle, and that former law enforcement officials believe that the agents who opened it may have overstepped their bounds.

The fact that it goes back a year and a half and nothing came of it that showed a breach of national security means they found nothing, Rudy Giuliani told the Times, while also acknowledging that he didnt have insight into the investigation. Earlier on Friday, Giuliani sounded a little less confident, requesting that the Trump administration get the opportunity to correct the final Mueller report: As a matter of fairness, they should show it to you  so we can correct it if theyre wrong. Theyre not God, after all. They could be wrong.

As of Friday night, the president has yet to respond to the report, one of the most damning yet in the Russia-Trump saga. The smart bet would be that the phrase witch hunt and the caps-lock button would be involved.
Chennai: "When some visitors ask, 'How do the birds know this lake is full?' I simply tell them that I telephone the migratory birds and inform them," said Ramesh mockingly as he sits at the tip of a lake in south India.



Ramesh, 43, who goes by the single name, has been watching over the not-so-famed Vaduvoor lake in Tamil Nadu for 14 years and is witness to the thousands of birds decorating the reservoir's trees. Officially an anti-poaching guard at the Vaduvoor Bird Sanctuary, the strongly-built man is intimately connected to the lake and the birds' species, both native and foreign.

Nestled in lush green Thanjavur, formerly Tanjore, region of the southern state -- the delta known as the rice-bowl of Tamil Nadu and granary of south India -- the 316 acre Vaduvoor lake is home to thousands of avian visitors every year from different continents.

The lake, situated on the Thanjavur-Mannargudi state highway and surrounded by fertile wetlands, offers a perfect spot for the birds for food, shelter and reproduction when the mercury drops in their home countries in Europe, the Americas and sometimes Russia.

The birds' early morning playful chirps are heard from at least a mile away as winged adults train the young ones in flying and frolicking. Most of these visitors are aquatic birds. Two roadside watch-towers provide bird-watchers and photographers with a closer look.

Nonetheless, the number of tourists is only minuscule compared to the migratory birds as brisk weekends clock just about 100 people. Most visitors are pilgrims who sojourn the temples dotting the Cauvery river belt.

Vaduvoor, more renowned for its Ram temple than the sanctuary, is an unassuming village located 25 km from the quaint and historically rich city of Thanjavur.

Years ago, only palmyra palm trees and invasive shrubs surrounded the lake, but authorities and conservationists planted other varieties once Vaduvoor was declared a bird sanctuary in 1999. Now, green foliage adorns the reservoir and the lake attracts up to 40,000 birds in peak season, note the forest guards. The entire sanctuary is declared a protected area and the lake is periodically desilted.

Ramesh has been observing the sanctuary's metamorphosis over these years and remains confident the facility is only at its adolescence with immense potential to grow.

Holding a dainty booklet, which he refused to give away as it was the last copy, containing images and names of birds, he painstakingly explains the characteristics of each species and what it does to the local habitat. His eyes twinkle when he elucidates about a rare species or an unusual pattern in their behaviour.

"There is common teal or Eurasian teal [a variety of small ducks] which has now made Vaduvoor its second home. These are intelligent birds," commented Ramesh excitedly, as he mimicked the noises made by some birds.

"They usually travel in thousands. They eat young plants and newly sprouted paddy devouring the whole crop. Teals usually leave the lake at 6 pm, raid the crops at night and return at about 4 am. When they leave the sanctuary in the evening, a buzzing sound just fills the entire area," added Ramesh.

He went on: "This species is smart enough not to raid crops within a radius of 30 km to avoid getting caught. These birds only attack the crops beyond that."

No less than 40 species of birds, both indigenous and foreign, are routinely spotted at the sanctuary. In total, 138 different species of birds have been observed on various occasions at Vaduvoor, which include the little grebe, Eurasian spoonbill, varieties of herons, Indian shag, darter, ibis, different breeds of kingfisher, teals, ducks, northern pintail, Eurasian wigeon, northern shoveller, garganey, coots, moorhens, lapwings, spot-billed and Siberian pelicans, jacanas, black-winged stilt, red/green shank, little stint, Brahminy kite, terns, plovers, sandpipers, cormorant, varieties of egret, painted and open-billed storks.

Even, greater flamingos are seen, albeit rarely, especially when the water level reduces in March, allowing the birds to fish freely. Still, only 10 or 15 of these flamboyant birds are spotted, say locals.

Some new species such as megabats, also known as fruit bats and considered a delicacy locally, have been observed with an increased presence in the past three years. Their numbers have grown in recent years, thanks to boosted conservation efforts, locals say.

About 2,000 megabats, which are usually large in size, exist around the sanctuary and have now begun to make the region their new home for their next generation.

In the initial years, migratory birds stayed for just three weeks but their stopover period has constantly expanded over these years. The sanctuary bore the brunt of cyclonic storm Gaja, which wreaked havoc in Tamil Nadu's delta region in November.

A senior forest department officer, widely considered as the man behind raising the profile of the Vaduvoor sanctuary, said more needs to be done in terms of conservation efforts. The authority, who did not want to be identified, said the local villages should be more enthusiastic about the sanctuary's existence casting aside the prevailing apathy.

The Tamil Nadu Forest Department, which is responsible for the Vaduvoor sanctuary, hopes to steadily refine the facilities available at the birds' haven to attract eyeballs and boost research options.

With Rs 1.7 million allocated by the Tamil Nadu Government to upgrading the facility and more funds in the pipeline, authorities are to set up solar lamps, more viewing points and other amenities. The existing walkway of about a kilometre is to be extended as officials expect to lay pavement eventually along the entire perimeter of the lake.

"Not everybody knows the significant role of wetlands. Our idea is to expand the overall study of wetlands and its ecosystem spreading awareness," said S. Ramasubramanian, conservator of forests for the Thanjavur circle, who oversees forest areas in the region. "There are many indirect benefits of having a sanctuary such as water conservation efforts and raising awareness about unwanted weeds."

"Ecologically, the lake has improved a lot due to the arrival of birds. There is a complex but silent revolution taking place here in terms of ecosystem," said Ramasubramanian.
Britain on Friday presented a United Nations Security Council draft resolution that would expand an international observer mission monitoring a ceasefire in Yemen and allow humanitarian aid to reach millions on the brink of famine.

The council is expected to vote on the measure next week, diplomats aid.

The mission would provide for the deployment of up to 75 monitors in the rebel-held city of Hodeida and its port along with the ports of Saleef and Ras Issa for an initial period of six months, according to the draft obtained by AFP.

Talks between the Saudi-backed government and Huthi rebels last month in Sweden on ending the devastating war led to an agreement on the observer force.

A first group of about 20 monitors has been authorized by the council to begin work in Yemen, but their mandate was only for a month.

The UN says a ceasefire that went into force on December 18 in Hodeida has been generally holding, but there have been hurdles in the way of redeploying rebel and government forces from the city.

The draft calls on UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to "expeditiously" deploy the full mission, led by retired Dutch General Patrick Cammaert.

UN envoy Martin Griffiths told the council on Wednesday that "substantial progress" was needed to shore up the ceasefire before a second round of talks could be held.

Under the Stockholm deal, the sides were to meet again later this month, but that has now been pushed back to February, diplomats said.

The new United Nations Mission to support the Hodeida Agreement (UNMHA) will be tasked with supporting the Stockholm agreement by overseeing the truce, forces pullback and ensure the security of the city and ports.

The port of Hodeida is the entry point for more than 70 percent of Yemen's supplies of imported goods and humanitarian aid.

The war has unleashed the world's worst humanitarian crisis, according to the UN, which says 80 percent of the population -- 24 million people -- are in need of aid.

Nearly 10 million people are just one step away from famine, according to UN aid officials.

The conflict between the Huthis and troops loyal to the government escalated in March 2015, when President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi fled to Saudi Arabia and the Riyadh-led coalition intervened.
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"There is a trend of disinvestment and people moving out of the rural areas," South Carolina Small Business Development Center Director Jim Johnson said. "We are trying to figure these things out and try to help individuals find out what are the best models."

The SBDC is administered through the SBA.

Johnson said last year the USDA and the SBA signed memorandum of understanding to do more work in the rural areas to help small business grow and thrive.

Johnson said there is also a "big push" on the part of the state's Department of Commerce to help rural counties with business development.

The expo is the first of many to be held across the rural counties of the state in 2019.

Johnson said while the event is being promoted to rural small business owners and farmers, anyone interested in starting a small business is encouraged to attend.

"There will be a lot of resources there not just federal resources but state and local," Johnson said.

Individuals can register at www.sba.gov/sc or if they do not have Internet access registration can be done in person at the expo.

For more information contact 803-533-3964 or email jjohns47@scsu.edu; or savannah.wilburn@sba.gov

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PEORIA, Ill. (AP)  The trial again has been postponed for a South Peoria teenager charged in the shooting deaths of two people at an off-campus party near Bradley University last year.

The (Peoria) Journal Star reported Thursday that prosecutors and public defenders agreed to postpone 17-year-old Jermontay Brock's trial from Jan. 22 until March 25. Brock faces first-degree murder charges in the April 8, 2018 deaths of 22-year-old Anthony Polnitz and 18-year-old Nasjay Murry. Murry was a pre-med student at Bradley. The delay is pending DNA results from the state police crime lab.

Brock is charged as an adult but is housed at the Peoria County's Juvenile Detention Center.

Authorities allege that Brock shot Polnitz because he was affiliated with a rival gang. They say it appears Murry was simply attending the same party.

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A Milwaukee bus driver went above the call of duty when she stopped to save an unlikely would-be passenger: a toddler.

Irena Ivic was driving on a freeway overpass when she spotted a barefoot toddler, Milwaukee County Transit System spokesman Matt Sliker said. The child, wearing a red onesie and a diaper, was quickly walking to an intersection.

"I'm just grateful I was in the right place at the right time," Ivic said at a commendation ceremony held in her honor on Thursday.

Ivic stopped the bus and ran out to scoop up the toddler, as seen in a video released by the transit system. She carried the child to the bus, where passengers gathered in disbelief.

"Oh my God. Oh my God. I am shaking," Ivic said in the video as she sat down in the driver's seat with the toddler.

A passenger on the bus took off her winter coat and draped it around the little girl, who was cold to the touch. The temperatures were freezing that day, on December 22, according to the transit system.

Ivic sat talking to the coat-swaddled child, stroking her hair. The little one soon fell asleep in her arms, as seen in the video.

The 19-month-old had been cold and scared but was otherwise unharmed, police said.
CARBONDALE  With a winter storm warning in effect across much of Southern Illinois into Saturday, officials are reminding people to check on vulnerable neighbors, stay off the roads as much as possible, take caution to protect pets that stay outside, and where possible, clear sidewalks for postal workers.

We hope that everyone checks on their loved ones that are older or frail, and that includes people with disabilities as well, said John Smith, executive director of the Egyptian Area Agency on Aging.

Senior citizens centers, which are located in every county, offer important nutrition and emergency financial resources for older adults and their caregivers, Smith said. For instance, a center may be able to assist if financial challenges have resulted in a senior citizens electricity being shut off.

The National Weather Service forecast the Carbondale-Marion area would see about 5 inches of heavy, wet snow, accumulating Friday and into Saturday morning  the kind that is difficult to shovel and presents hazardous driving conditions. Weather forecasters were calling for up to 7 inches in Mount Vernon and surrounding areas. Parts of central Illinois and the greater St. Louis area could see double-digit snowfall.
Dingake said a major test case of national importance involving the independence of the judiciary in Botswana held that the nations president could not reject a nominee approved for appointment by the nations judicial service commission.

Dingake said he hopes to highlight how the manner in which judges are appointed may impact the judiciary, either positively or negatively. There is a real danger where executives have influence that judges may comply with that executives wishes, he said.

One parallel with debates on judicial independence in the United States is that often the executive  tends to prefer or push for judges who they think would either do their bidding or share a broader political or social outlook, which trend may negatively impact on public confidence in the independence of the judiciary, Dingake said.

Behan said he hopes the audience gains a greater understanding of issues that judges face in Africa and appreciate the high degree of structural and cultural independence our judges enjoy at both the state and federal levels here in the United States.

He also encourages people to work to preserve judicial independence in the United States and do what they can to help achieve judicial independence throughout the world.
Photo: Robert Nickelsberg/Getty Images

A Fox News commentator recently downplayed the effects of the government shutdown  now officially the longest in U.S. history  suggesting that half the governments agencies could be shut down for years before the regular person, the normal, average working American, noticed the effects. Aside from the oddness of suggesting government workers themselves arent normal Americans, the remark dismisses the vital work these agencies do. Its true that a vast share of government jobs are invisible to most of the public, but often thats only because theyre being done effectively. Like running water or electricity, no one thinks about these services until theyre cut off.

One prime example: air safety. This week, I spoke with Ben Struck, an aviation-safety inspector of six years who lives in Brooklyn, who has been furloughed since December 22. His team oversees small airlines, pilots, maintenance schools, and repair stations throughout Long Island and Westchester County, plus helicopters throughout New York Citys five boroughs. In the conversation below, he explains whats being left undone in his absence, and reflects on the worst-case scenarios for an extended shutdown.

How do you do your inspections? Do you ride along with pilots or what?

Yeah, ride-alongs  or what we call cabinet-safety inspections  are one of the tools we have. But when pilots make airspace deviations, or level at the wrong altitude, those also get reported through air traffic control. We can investigate and get down to the root cause. We can have a conversation with the pilot. He might say, Yeah, my autopilot got screwy, I wrote it up when I got back, or he might say, Eh, I never got trained on this autopilot, but I decided to fly the plane anyway. Thats a different conversation to have. What kind of retraining can we require that pilot to do?

But airlines monitor this stuff too, right? They have their own vested interest in keeping everything safe.

Yes, the larger businesses do. Safety is a primary factor for them, but so is profit. The inspectors really dont care about the airlines bottom line. Were prohibited from having investments in certain aviation companies. Our only job is safety.

Plus airlines sometimes overfly required inspections. Lets say an inspection is required at every 100 hours of flight time, and they know nobody has come to look at their records in a while. Eh, well overfly it a little bit  five hours. Or Maybe we just wont do that inspection at all for 50 hours. We bring them into compliance.

The analogy thats often used is, if youre speeding down the highway, and you know a cop is behind the next tree, you may slow down a little bit. But if you havent gotten a ticket in a long time, or you dont see that cop, you may creep up to 60 or 65 miles per hour. We call that a normalized deviation. You think, You know what? Im going to get away with that every time. The longer we sit here at home, the more likely it is that those normalized deviations will occur. People might be more brazen and look to get away with things more often.

Whats the point in this shutdown when you would start feeling nervous about getting on a commercial flight?

Its hard to quantify! I can only say that the longer were not out there doing our jobs, the more opportunity there is to introduce potential risk.

Theres a famous gentleman, James Reason, who created the Swiss cheese model. Its fairly well known in the aviation world. There are all these holes in the cheese, and when all the holes line up and create a single pass-through point, theres the potential for an accident. Normally, airlines and repair stations have controls in place to either close the holes or shift them around so they dont line up anymore. We are an extra layer to make sure the holes dont align.

Have any of your colleagues gone back to work?

Theyve started to bring some people back, but with really limited resources. Were short-staffed as it is, and now theyre bringing back one or two people at a time in offices that ordinarily have 15 to 30 people. They dont have the support staff they need.

Plus, Id imagine that not getting paid could affect job performance.

Its a distraction. Its a stressor. It takes them away, even if only momentarily, from the primary mission of the job. They might be thinking, I really dont want to have that discussion with my mortgage company, or The credit company is calling because Im late on my bill. Then theres the thought, Im here, but my colleague who usually sits next to me isnt. What is that going to do to our relationship when everyone comes back?

How is it affecting you on a personal level?

We got our pay stubs yesterday. Mine had $8.01. Im not sure why. Im grateful that its not zero  its something. It will buy a meal! But it adds a lot of stress to the family life. Im the primary provider at this point. We rely on my income to make sure our bills and rent are paid, and groceries are in the fridge, and my two daughters are getting what they need. Its not just being nourished, but we do other things to enrich them too: piano lessons, gymnastics classes. You start to worry: How long can we continue to afford our current lifestyle? Its modest. As a federal employee, I dont expect to make a lot of money, but I do expect to have a stable paycheck.

Im seeking unemployment from New York State. Ive also been seeking some freelance work, some consulting opportunities. But I cant do anything aviation-related. The ethics standards say anything I do has to be outside of my current field of expertise and knowledge. So I have to ask, what am I able to do, legally, so I dont get in trouble, in order to provide for my family?

My wife is a freelance musician, so her income is  varied. Its not predictable. Were having a frank conversation this weekend, when we can send the kids off somewhere for a couple hours and look at numbers. We are one of those paycheck-to-paycheck families. The goal is to not be at some point, but in a high-cost city, its difficult.

So are you following all the news alerts about Trumps negotiations with the Democrats? Are you biting your nails?

During the last shutdown I was obsessed. It came very suddenly, and we were all eager to get back. This time, during the are we going to shut down? period, I was anxious and eager to get some news. But over the last few days Ive found that it causes more anxiety to constantly pay attention to it. Im focusing more on labor-organizing, trying to represent our union and our employees, trying to get the message out about what we do and why were essential to the aviation system.

We really are passionate about aviation safety. We take the job home with us. Maybe not physically, in terms of taking a computer or getting calls, but we think about it a lot. If, God forbid, theres an operator out there we are involved with, who weve touched in some way, or if an airman weve interacted with has some sort of accident, well obsess over what we could have done better and what we missed. Its a good federal job, but the primary reason we do it is that we love aviation and we love trying to keep it as safe as possible.
HARRISBURG  Brian Burns is on track to be tried for the 2016 death of his estranged wife, Carla Burns  at least for now.

In what has been nearly three years of starts and stops, as well as new charges, Burns is still scheduled to be tried Jan. 23. However, a motion hearing set for 1 p.m. Tuesday could change that.

Burns was charged in 2016 with the murder of Carla and for concealing her body  he burned her remains, according to police accounts. He has also been tried and convicted for attempting to have late Saline County States Attorney Mike Henshaw kidnapped while being held in jail. Burns is currently serving 20 years in Menard Correctional Center for the crime.

In what was scheduled to be his final pretrial conference before the jury trial later in the month, defense attorney Duane Verity, of Marion, filed a motion asking for a fitness examination  Verity does not believe that Burns is able to understand the court proceedings nor help in his own defense.
OMAHA, Neb. (AP)  Nebraska is approaching having 70% of its adult population vaccinated for the coronavirus but the pace of distribution of the shots continues to slow down.
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Does Wendys (NASDAQ: WEN) Have What It Takes To Be A Winner In 2021?

Though Wendys (NASDAQ: WEN) stock was cut in half during the dark days of February and March of last year, Wall Street quickly realized that convenient fast food would probably be towards the bottom of the list of things to be cut by hard-hit consumers who were tightening the proverbial belts. So back the stock roared and since this time last
20 hours ago

| June 15th | 2021 7:40 AM

Does Wendys (NASDAQ: WEN) Have What It Takes To Be A Winner In 2021?

Though Wendys (NASDAQ: WEN) stock was cut in half during the dark days of February and March of last year, Wall Street quickly realized that convenient fast food would probably be towards the bottom of the list of things to be cut by hard-hit consumers who were tightening the proverbial belts. So back the stock roared and since this time last
Last year, The state hired a professional facilitator who presided over five meetings with stakeholders from August 2018 through early January. But just before their last meeting, scheduled for Jan. 8 in Clackamas, all four of the conservation groups  Defenders of Wildlife, Oregon Wild, Cascadia Wildlands and the Center for Biological Diversity  announced that they would be pulling out of the talks.

Quinn Read, Northwest director for Defenders of Wildlife, said none of the proposals put forth by the conservation consortium were seriously considered by state officials, who they claim tried to act both as a stakeholder and a neutral arbiter.

It was a very difficult decision to make after years of advocacy and coming to the table in good faith, Read said. If we thought there was still an opportunity for meaningful discussion, we would be there.

Derek Broman, carnivore coordinator for the state agency, said it was disheartening to have roughly half the stakeholders pull out just before the last meeting.

We were disappointed these groups left the discussion and we did not have the full stakeholder group present at the final meeting, Broman said in a statement. Since the drafting of the original 2005 plan, stakeholders remain very passionate so consensus is challenging to achieve.
Sedy taught them both how to use the company equipment. His wife said he was great with all kinds of equipment. He could fix dishwashers, washing machines and cars.

Cars were a big part of the couples life. They had four classics, including the prized Chevelle. Dixie said they had one just like it, even the same gold-brown color, in 1974, shortly after they married in 1970. She was 16 and he was 17. She said the two grew up together in the local area.

He just kept getting more handsome as he got older, Dixie said. We were each others best friends.

Sedy grew up with three sisters and had two daughters.

He knew how to talk to people, Dixie said. He just was a neat guy. He was 6-foot-5. He was a big guy but he was just a gentle giant

They couple has three grandsons, all involved in the forestry industry: Carter Wheeler, 22, works in a cedar mill; Austin Sedy, 24, has worked for Richards company for two years; and Taylor Wheeler, 26, drives log trucks, too.
When Connie Mercer returned to the Naselle Congregational Church after decades of living across the world as a military child, it was like stepping back in time. She attended the rural Pacific County church as a child in the 1960s and began attending again after moving back to the area in the early 1990s.

It was like I hadnt really gone. All those same people were still here, Mercer said.

Nearly 30 years later, though, most of the congregation from Mercers childhood is gone. The pastor retired more than a year ago, fewer than 10 people remain in the congregation and the historic churchs last service will be on Sunday.

It was an inevitable thing, Mercer said. We saw it many years ago and hoped it wouldnt happen, but it did.

Many of the church members died and people are not attending church like they used to, Mercer said. All churches have seen a decline in numbers, but theirs was the one hit hardest in the community, she said.

As the congregation saw the churchs end coming, Mercer said it looked for a way to ensure the building continued to be useful for the community. After months of deliberation, the congregation donated and signed over the building and property to the Finnish American Folk Festival Committee on Dec. 27.
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Research of Slovak castles brought about interesting discoveries. A new castle, for example

A skeleton of a huge man with fetters on the legs was found in Bratislava Castle.

The research of Slovak Castles in 2018 brought about several interesting discoveries. Archaeologists focused on Bratislava Castle, Pusty (Deserted) Castle in Zvolen, Lietava, Divinka, Hrusov, and Plavecky Castle.

They discovered several findings at Bratislava Castle that inform about the history of this significant archaeological locality. They are mainly from La Tene era when the castle belonged to the compound of the Celtic oppidum. Silver coins of the Simmering type and a clip with a bird motif belong among the findings from this era.

Read also: Archaeological research at Cicva Castle revealed connecting corridor Read more

Scientists also identified the construction of a fortified line with its wooden parts from the early middle age. There was also the skeleton of a huge man with fetters on his legs. It was partly covered with the skeleton of a horse and ram.

Four coins from the first Czechoslovak Republic were an interesting discovery from recent times. They were hidden in a container in the corner of the basement.

New castle

Archaeologists researched an unknown structure in the village of Podhorod near the Ukrainian-Slovak border. They discovered that it is a castle from the 13th century that ceased to exist in the middle of the 15th century.

Read also: Visit a castle with 12-metre-long tunnel in the rock Read more

The locality had worked only for a short time. Thanks to this, the archaeological situation was unaffected, and we can better interpret life in the 13th to 15th century in this castle that had two towers and fortified walls, said Matej Ruttkay, head of the Archaeological Institute of Slovak Academy of Sciences in Nitra, as quoted by the SITA newswire. The castle used to be a seat of feudal lords.

The research also continues in Zvolens Pusty Castle, where archaeologists in 2018 researched and documented an old fortification. Research was also conducted in the discovery site from Great Moravia Zvolen  Motova. The fortified settlement had at least three development phases  the oldest Great Moravian, another from the 10th century and the next from the beginning of the 11th century. Then, the fortified settlement probably ceased to exist, and the function of the central hillfort moved to Pusty Castle.

Read also: Archaeological research in Filakovo brought about discoveries of European importance Read more

The research of Lietavsky Castle continued in its 11th season. Archaeologists researched its original gothic chapel and discovered many findings from the era of Juraj Turzo  a Hungarian noble man and the judge of Alzbeta Bathory. In the case of Plavecky Castle, archaeologists focused on the renaissance bridge construction of castle entrance and found an object from the era of uprisings of Frantisek II Rakoci. At Hrusov Castle, they found coins and ceramics from the 13th century in the courtyard of the lower castle.

Much of the castle research has been conducted thanks to the Culture Ministry Lets Renew Our House programme.

video //www.youtube.com/embed/sRmQLJAwOYA

12. Jan 2019 at 9:30 | SITA, Compiled by Spectator staff
Any self-respecting germaphobe knows that cellphones are filthy. They pick up microscopic crud from toilet stalls, gym benches, tray tables, and pretty much every other surface theyor wetouch. But doctors and nurses know better. They keep their phones as clean as Donald Trumps official medical record, right?

Dont let the scrubs fool you. Doctors check their Twitter feeds (or more likely, their Vanguard funds) in the john just like the rest of us. But unlike us, medical professionals devices also pick up microbes from the health care environment. In fact, studies show that their phones are even nastier than those of people who dont work in health care.

Hypochondriacs, consider this your trigger warning.

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More than half of clinical personnel say they use a phone or tablet on the job, and for good reason. A cellphone is a handysome would argue essentialtool for carrying out medical tasks like calculating drug dosages, running through preop checklists, reviewing skills videos, performing vision tests, and offering consultations on the fly. The problem is that 90 percent of health care personnel never clean their devices. In the course of a days work, a nurse or doctors phone can be splashed, splattered, or smeared with wound drainage, blood, or god-knows-what other bodily dreck. Handling the device can transfer bacteria to the ears, nostrils, and hands. And bacteria parked on a Galaxy S9 screen or a My Little Pony iPhone case can live for months. If the germs are lucky, theyll get to cross-contaminate something the provider later touchesa nice fresh incision, a cozy catheter, or a warm ventilator tube, say. The result may be a health careassociated infection. Three percent of hospital patients per year in the United States will develop a health careassociated infection, and about 72,000 patients will die of one. Mobile devices are a known source of the agents that cause these infections.

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Study after study has called for the development of comprehensive infection control guidelines for mobile phone use in health care settings. Yet a regulatory void continues to exist. Mobile devices arent even mentioned in the CDCs most recent infection control guidelines, released when most of us were still using BlackBerrys. In lieu of device-specific advice, the CDC recommends correct hand hygiene procedures as the primary means of infection control. But overall compliance with such procedures in the health care setting is less than 40 percent.

Cross-contamination goes both ways, of course. Providers pick up pathogensnamely bacteria but also viral particles and fungal sporesduring direct patient care or from bed rails, stethoscopes, ID badges, and other high-touch environmental surfaces. Soiled hands or exam gloves can then deposit bacteria and other pathogens on a phone and its case, or on the point-of-care tablets used to document medication administration and other routine activities. Mobile devices emit a gentle heat, incubating the germs in a sludge of oil, skin cells, and food remnants. Bacteria flourish in this rich slurry, tactfully known as bioburden. It might as well be the floor of a rest area off I-95.

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Not all of these percolating pathogens are a menace. But a recent study of bacteria swabbed from cellphones used in intensive care units isolated 107 dangerous species of bacteria from 491 samples. That and similar research shows that Enterobacter and Staphylococcusnotorious bacterial bulliesare the two most common bugs parked on health care professionals phones. Enterobacter can cause any of the four health careassociated infections: surgical-site infection, ventilator-associated pneumonia, catheter-associated urinary tract infection (which can shut down the kidneys), or sepsis (a systemic infection sometimes called blood poisoning). Staph infections can manifest as beastly skin abscesses, pneumonia, or sepsis.

The organisms that cause health careassociated infections are opportunistic. In other words, they live all around us, chillaxing like bridge players at the Boca del Vista clubhouse. But when they spot their chancea preemie with an IV line, a stroke patient on a ventilatorthey hustle in like a busload of hangry snowbirds at the Pompano Park buffet. They ride in on visitors and patients own phones, too, and on devices in the pockets of security guards, lab techs, food-service workers, and other peripheral facility personnel. Some of these bacteria are resistant to methicillin and other antibiotics, making them especially dangerous to vulnerable immune systems.

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Policymakers generally agree that the use of mobile devices in health care settings cant and shouldnt be banned. But there arent really any useful guidelines on how to handle the germ threat. The CDC recommends only that facilities address multi-use electronic equipment in their infection control policies and procedures. The substance of those directives is left up to each institution. But regulation remains virtually absent even in the operating room, where mobile device use would seem to merit the tightest restriction.

Recommendations often boil down to Use your best judgment. A statement issued by the American College of Surgeons in 2016, for instance, says only that surgeons should avoid the undisciplined use of mobile devices and that their use must not compromise the integrity of the sterile field. But common sense is not science, and practices that intuitively seem safe may not be. For example, taking a call during surgery by holding the phone with a sterile towel turns out to be about as effective in protecting sterility as wearing a lambskin condom is in preventing sexually transmitted infection. Bacteria can penetrate the surgical towel and contaminate the no-longer-sterile gloves beneath.

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Statements like that issued by the ACS are aimed primarily at mitigating another threat posed by mobile devices: distraction. Seventy-eight percent of the health care professionals who participated in one study used mobile phones during clinical activities to text or email, shop, play games, post on social media, or catch up on the news. These brief breaks, some researchers argue, reduce fatigue, restore concentration, and increase productivity during busy shifts. But other evidence shows that interruptions, welcome or not, can degrade performance by disrupting flow and diverting focus away from patient care.

Recommendations often boil down to Use your best judgment.

The Association of Operating Room Nurses addressed cellphones specifically in its 2014 Guidelines for Surgical Attire, but these mobile device recommendations got little attention in the subsequent brouhaha over bouffant caps vs. skullcaps. The AORN advised that phones and tablets be cleaned with a low-level disinfectant according to the manufacturers instructions for use before and after being brought into the perioperative setting. Thats tricky, though, since liquid disinfectants could seep inside the device and harm its electronics. Liquid detergents can also wear down the oleophobic (oil- and dirt-repellent) coating on the screen or phone. In fact, Apple recommends applying no cleaning products whatsoever to the iPhone.

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Facilities that lack an effective mobile device infection-control strategy may jeopardize their accreditation status. But its tough to find a means of cleaning or disinfection thats effective, affordable, convenient, and safe for both people and electronics. Comparative data are scarce, and results vary widely. A few things are clear: Wiping down a touchscreen with a clean microfiber cloth, 70 percent isopropyl alcohol wipes, or plain wet wipes does significantly reduce bacterial populations. Disinfection, howeverthat is, virtually eliminating pathogensrequires use of either a chemical disinfectant like hydrogen peroxide or an inactivation process such as application of microbicidal metals or ultraviolet light. Researchers and engineers have made promising strides in producing microbicidal materials, such as those that contain triclosan or quarternary ammonium phosphates, but a self-disinfecting phone is still science fiction.

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Irradiation of mobile devices with ultraviolet light is not. This process virtually eliminates aerobic bacteria by thwarting its ability to replicate. UV systems offer important benefits, says Taylor Mann, CEO of CleanSlate UV, an Ontario-based company that markets a UV sanitizer device for health care settings. But they do have some important limitations. Key among them is that pathogens can be shielded by anything that blocks light, such as blood droplets, screen cracks, or Velcro closures on wallet cases. Bacteria also hide in the junction between the screen and the casethe germiest part of the phone. Research shows that cleaning a phone with a delicate-task wipe (a low-lint, nonabrasive wipe made of cellulose) reduces bacterial burden 55 to 70 percent. According to CleanSlates own testing, twice as much UV light is required to sanitize a device if its not wiped down first. Rather than instructing hurried users to preclean their phones before placing them in the chamber, however, the unit delivers the necessary additional UV output.

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Another limitation of medical-grade UV stations is their cost: $4,000 to more than $10,000 per unit, which might strain the budget of a small facility. Its difficult for budget administrators to compare systems, and aside from the price tag, it may not be clear what they are comparing. Regulation hasnt caught up yet, Mann told me. In the meantime, companies may make unsubstantiated claims or test their devices under conditions that dont match real-world use.

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A UV system, then, is just one aspect of a comprehensive infection control strategy. To reduce the risk of health careassociated infections transmitted by mobile device cross-contamination, we need a multipronged approach similar to the one veterinary health has adopted. It would include infection control training for clinical staff and other employees, and perhaps information for visitors and patients themselves. The strategy would outline and monitor compliance with hand-hygiene procedures. It would offer clear, specific recommendations regarding when and where its appropriate and safe to use mobile devices in the health care setting. It would include detailed instructions for cleaning and disinfection of phones, tablets, and cases. And it would urge mobile device manufacturers to take into account the need for disinfection in design and materials engineering.

Mackenzie Richmond Hill Hospital, in Ontario, is working on such an approach. The facility has installed a UV sanitizer unit in the lobby, cleverly placed near the coffee bar so that staff and visitors can use it while they wait for a mocha frap or double espresso. Great news for germaphobes and caffeine freaks alike.

Future Tense is a partnership of Slate, New America, and Arizona State University that examines emerging technologies, public policy, and society.
Despite bad news about poor iPhone sales and lower Q1 revenue expectations for Apple, rumors about the companys next generation of smartphones are already swirling in online forums and the press. The Wall Street Journal reported on Friday that the company is set to release three new phones in the fall, and the new line of phones may help Apple recover from its current sales slump.

Its worth keeping in mind that their release is still months away. The leaks emerging now are less substantial than they will be later in the year, and many preliminary plans may change in the interim. With that in mind, heres whats being whispered about the next generation of iPhones.

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More Cameras

The rumored development that seems to be receiving the most hype is the addition of another camera for all three models. The Journal reports that the highest-end iPhone will have three rear-facing cameras, while the mid- and lower-tier models will have two.

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The Verge notes that the supplemental camera is likely a move to compete with the latest Android phones like the LG V40, which has two front-facing and three rear-facing cameras. The V40s triple-threat camera system allows for more versatile photography options, including different angles, wider views, and telephoto shots.

3D Depth Sensor

Bloomberg reported last month that Apple is in talks to potentially incorporate Sonys 3D sensors into the iPhones cameras.

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The sensors take advantage of a technique called time of flight, in which a device emits laser pulses and times how long they take to bounce back. This technology would allow the phones to improve facial recognition, measure depth for nighttime pictures, and render augmented reality images that can better interact with the actual world.

Display

MacRumors has maintained since May that theres a chance that all three of the 2019 iPhone models will have an OLED (organic light-emitting diode) display in Apples gradual shift away from LCD (liquid-crystal display).

The Journal reported on Friday that two of the new models will have OLED, while one will have LCD. While LCD is less expensive, the OLED is supposed to have better contrast.

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The iPhone XR, 7, and 8 all have LCD, whereas the Xs and Xs Max have OLED.

Appearance

MacRumors reports that serial phone leaker Steve Hemmerstoffer posted supposed renderings of one of the devices on Digit on Sunday.

The triple-camera system radically changes the look of the rear of the phone, with a large square protrusion on the upper left-hand side. However, Hemmerstoffer added that this was a freakingly early leak and that theres ample time for the design to change.

Apple Pencil

A Korean site called The Investor is reporting that Apple is developing a digital pen for the new iPhones. This would seem to jibe with rumors that iPhones will soon support the Apple Pencil, which is currently an accessory for iPads. MacRumors notes, however, that The Investor does not have an established track record for accuracy.

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Will it be enough?

Even with the new bells and whistles, its unclear whether this new line of phones will actually help to boost Apples sales figures. The company has been blaming its anticipated underperformance in Q1 on weak demand in China.

Experts note that Chinese hardware makers have been quicker to add new features to their phones and sell them at a lower cost than Apple. Some of the rumored additions to Apples 2019 phones, such as across-the-board OLED displays, will in fact likely raise prices.

Analysts also note that smartphones from different companies have generally become more uniform in functionality, with no clear innovations that separate one device maker from the rest in a saturated market, and that consumers are generally holding on to their phones for longer periods of time.
Drowned out amid news of the government shutdown and questions about whether the president will attempt to declare a national emergency to build his border wall, this week saw several small but significant developments in special counsel Robert Muellers Russia investigation.

First, we learned that Natalia Veselnitskaya, the Russian lawyer who attended the infamous June 2016 Trump Tower meeting with members of the Trump campaign, has much stronger connections to the Kremlin than previously known. On Tuesday, a newly unsealed federal indictment revealed that Veselnitskaya was charged with misleading investigators in 2015 about her role in drafting the Russian governments response to a U.S. request for records in a civil money laundering case against Cyprus-based Prevezon Holdings. That alleged scheme ultimately led to the passage of the Magnitsky Act, which imposes sanctions on Russian government officials and is named after Russian lawyer Sergei Magnitsky, who died in Russian prison after investigating the alleged fraud. While this case is separate from Muellers investigation, the news of Veselnitskayas role in crafting a Russian government response indirectly draws yet another link between the Kremlin and Trump campaign. Further, Donald Trump Jr. had initially claimed that the Trump Tower meeting was itself about adoptions of Russian childrena key talking point of Magnitsky Act opponentsbefore eventually conceding that the meetings initial purpose was to discuss campaign dirt against Hillary Clinton and claiming that it ended up being about the Magnitsky Act instead.

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Also on Tuesday, Paul Manaforts lawyers accidentally revealed in what was supposed to be a redacted filing that Trumps former campaign chairman shared polling data with Russian intelligence operative Konstantin Kilimnik in the spring of 2016. This demonstrated yet another link between the Kremlin and the Trump campaign at a time when the Kremlin was working to sway the 2016 election in Trumps favor.

These two developments are significant but relatively small: They are data points that will help inform the ultimate findings of the investigation, two steps forward in our journey from what if to what else?

The newly Democrat-controlled House represents the ultimate safety valve for Muellers findings.

More important than these revelations, though, it was reported that Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein, the man who has been supervising the Mueller investigation and likely protecting it from political interference, will be leaving his position in the coming months. The news comes at a time when the Justice Department is headed by Trump-appointed interim Attorney General Matt Whitaker, who has been critical of the Mueller investigation and even gone on cable news to pitch methods by which the president could kill off the investigation. Meanwhile, Trumps nominee to permanently head the department, William Barr, has also been critical of the investigation and reportedly refused to meet with Democratic senators this week to discuss, among other things, his stance on the investigation. At the same time, the White House is reported to be hiring nearly 20 new attorneys who will work to keep the presidents conversations with top advisers from being released in Muellers report or to House investigators.

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Taken together, the news that Rosenstein is leaving, Whitakers and Barrs views on the investigation, and the White Houses new legal hires have prompted some to worry that the stage is being set for the president to quash the report.

In addition to being able to fire Mueller or cut his fundingas Whitaker once suggested a new attorney general could doMuellers new supervisor can, per the rules governing the special counsels appointment, request that the Special Counsel provide an explanation for any investigative or prosecutorial step, and may after review conclude that the action is so inappropriate or unwarranted under established Departmental practices that it should not be pursued. Mueller must also inform his new supervisor about any major developments in his investigation. This includes giving that person advance notice about criminal charges that he intends to file. Finally, Muellers supervisor is the person who will receive the report containing the findings of his investigation. This means that the new attorney general can decide whether to make the document public, share it with Congress, or keep it locked away.

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But there is a good chance that it will ultimately prove impossible to keep the facts of the investigation from reaching the public and its representatives in Congress. If Muellers likely new boss, Barr, tries to suppress the report, the special counsel has a number of options available to him. For example, if Barr claims the document contains classified information, sealed grand jury material, or personal data that would violate the privacy interests of those named in the report, Mueller can simply withhold parts of the report containing such information, or he can publish an executive summary that presents the investigations key findings. As Ben Wittes points out, even if such documents are relatively sparse, they could be used by lawmakers to guide their own investigations, the results of which could then be made public.

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The newly Democrat-controlled House represents the ultimate safety valve for Muellers findings. At the end of Muellers investigation, should Barr decline Muellers proposals for further action, such as prosecuting individuals discovered to have broken the law (including the president) or releasing the report itself, the attorney general is required to inform Congress that he is rejecting Muellers requests along with an explanation as to why. And the attorney general must have a good reason for overruling the special counsel. As Neal Katyal, the former Justice Department official who wrote the rules governing Muellers appointment, tweeted on Wednesday night:

We wrote the circumstances for an AG to overrule a Special Counsel very tightlyit has to violate established Departmental practices. So, to take one hypothetical example, generic DOJ opinions about whether a sitting President could be indicted do not create an established Departmental practice about whether an individual could be indicted for successfully cheating in a Presidential election. There is no DOJ established practice that says if a Presidential candidate cheats enough and wins the Presidency, that he gets a get-out-of-jail-free card.

And in the event Mueller finds evidence that the president committed serious crimes and the Justice Department nevertheless declines to indict him, that information would be turned over to Congress, which could then move to impeach him, according to Katyal.

As for the possibility that the White House will be able to claim executive privilege in order to squelch the release of damning information, Katyal put it well:

Nixon tried that, it didnt turn out so well. He got crushed in the Supreme Court.
A version of this piece first appeared on the blog Impeachable Offenses.

The looming question in the ongoing government shutdown is whether President Donald Trump will, as he repeatedly threatens, declare a national emergency to get funding for his border wall if Congress will not pass budgetary authorization for the edifice. Multiple excellent analyses of a presidents legal authority to declare such emergencies have appeared. The upshot of all of them is that the administration could make superficially plausible arguments for such authority but that all such arguments would trigger compelling legal challenges. Moreover, a use of emergency powers to circumvent congressional unwillingness to fund a long-wished-for presidential pet project would be both unprecedented and a serious challenge to constitutional separation of powers norms.

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What has not been fully addressed is the claim, floated by several commentators, that declaration of a national emergency under these circumstances would constitute an impeachable offense. As a constitutional matter, I believe such a declaration could constitute part of a larger pattern of impeachable conduct. However, three factors would make the political path to impeachment on that ground very tricky. The first is the promiscuity with which Congress has ceded emergency authority to the president. The second is the Supreme Courts overzealous limitations on the so-called congressional vetoa mechanism for constraining presidential misuse of Congress grants of discretion. The third is the distressing likelihood that Republican legislators, blinded by tribalism and cowed by Trumps enduring popularity with the Republican base, would not defend their own constitutional authority. Lets walk through the problem.

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First, as all but a few outliers concede, impeachable offenses need not be crimes. As George Mason, who introduced the phrase high Crimes and Misdemeanors into the constitutional text, observed, the primary objective of the impeachment mechanism is to forestall [a]ttempts to subvert the Constitution. Multiple British parliaments, from whose precedents Mason drew the phrase high Crimes and Misdemeanors, employed impeachment, not for punishment of statutory crime, but to remove executive officials who subvert[ed] the ancient and well-established form of government of Great Britain.

One of the most fundamental precepts of American constitutional government is that Congress makes the laws and, in particular, maintains the power of the purse. Article I, Section 9 of the Constitution is unequivocal: No Money shall be drawn from the Treasury, but in Consequence of Appropriations made by Law. The wall dispute is nothing more than an appropriations fight. The president wants Congress to appropriate money for a special purposebuilding a border walland Congress declines to do so. A president who claims the power to spend $5.7 billion dollars on a project Congress has expressly refused to authorize is therefore in undoubted violation of the most basic separation of powers principle  unless he can claim that Congress has somehow already authorized him to act.

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Trump would have a fig leaf of legal justification, and resolving the matter would take months or years.

Thats where the threatened declaration of national emergency comes in. One potentially salutary effect of Trumps threat is that it has awakened the public to the striking variety of laws permitting a president to claim emergency powers. On the one hand, the existence of such laws is unsurprising. In the modern interconnected world, real threats to the public welfarewar, terrorism, disease, or natural disastercan arise quickly. Sometimes the federal government is the only entity with the resources for adequate response, and sometimes action will be required before Congress can authorize it. On the other hand, Congress choice to delegate emergency power rests on the assumption, the norm if you will, that presidents will not misuse that power to circumvent ordinary constitutional arrangements. Trump is casting a bright and disconcerting light on that happy assumption.

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The most likely legal sources of emergency authority for wall building lie in statutes relating to military matters such as 10 U.S.C. Section 2808(a). That act provides that, upon presidential declaration of a national emergency  that requires use of the armed forces, the government may undertake military construction projects  that are necessary to support such use of the armed forces.

Of course, whatever ones view of the current situation at the border, there is no serious case that it requires the use of the armed forces. Regulating commerce, immigration, and crime at the border are all traditional civilian functions, and there has been no recent change, no crisis, remotely justifying military intervention. Moreover, even if one believed that the Army had a useful role to play in border security, it cannot be plausibly argued that building several hundred miles of wall would be necessary to support military operations. Indeed, Trumps approach to the issue would turn the statute on its head. He has not claimed that there are required military operations for which a wall would be necessary support. Rather, he claims that the wall is necessary, and thus, in the absence of congressional authorization to build it, military funds should be diverted for its construction.

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But assume that whether under Section 2808(a) or some other statute Trump claims emergency power to build his wall. Opponents would have two possible avenues of response.

First, subject to rules about standing, a variety of folks might sue (Congress itself, individual members of Congress, border landowners, conservation groups, etc.). Three lines of argument seem likely: (a) there is no emergency justifying a presidential declaration in the first place; (b) emergency or not, building a border wall doesnt fit within the parameters of whatever emergency statute Trump chose to rely on (e.g., building a wall is not necessary to support military operations); or (c) the broader contention that this particular declaration of emergency powers is a transparent nullification of the Constitutions allocation of powers among the branches of the federal government.

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Traditionally, courts try very hard to avoid second-guessing presidential decisions in areas where either the Constitution or statutes grant him wide discretionary authority. That said, using emergency powers to authorize a long-debated civilian construction project in the face of congressional refusal to appropriate seems such a flagrant abuse that I suspect the courts would ultimately rule against Trump. Nonetheless, he would have a fig leaf of legal justification, and resolving the matter would take months or years.

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Alternatively, Trumps congressional opponents could invoke the provisions of the National Emergencies Act. That law, passed in 1976, created a mechanism for congressional termination of presidentially declared emergencies. As originally written, such emergencies ended once the president said so or Congress passed a concurrent resolution (a resolution by both the House and Senate). In its original form, the law did not involve the president in the congressional termination process; once the concurrent resolution passed both houses, the emergency would be over, regardless of what the president had to say about it.

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However, in a 1983 case called INS v. Chadha, the U.S. Supreme Court seemingly voided all so-called legislative vetoes. Chadha involved a statute that allowed a vote by one house of Congress to reverse certain executive branch decisions about immigration cases. The court decided that this procedure violated the constitutional requirement that lawmaking be bicameral, i.e., involve votes by both the House and Senate, and the so-called presentment clauses that require presidential signature before a bill can become law. The primary focus of Chadha was the unicameral nature of the immigration procedure at issue, but Chadha at the least casts grave doubt on the validity of even bicameral congressional veto procedures.

Therefore, in 1985, Congress amended the National Emergencies Act to specify that presidential emergencies terminate when there is enacted into law a joint resolution terminating the emergency. This language implies that, to become law, the joint resolution would have to be presented to the president for signature. Thus, the president could veto the resolution, leaving the emergency in place unless Congress could summon two-thirds majorities in both houses for an override.

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In any previous era of American history, securing a majority or even a supermajority of both the House and Senate to void a presidents blatant nullification of the constitutional appropriations authority of Congress would, I think, have been a cinch. Any rational legislator, even one of the same party as the president, would recognize that acquiescence would badly dilute his or her own institutional power. Not to speak of creating a precedent that would be employed by succeeding presidents of the opposite party.

However, the standards and institutional self-respect of this Congress (particularly, if I may say, its Republican members) are so degraded that it seems entirely possible that all but a handful of Republicans would vote to uphold the emergency declarationthe Constitution and separation of powers be damned.

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Which brings us to impeachment. I have no doubt that the founders would have considered presidential abuse of emergency powers to nullify congressional appropriations authority to be impeachable conduct. Invocation of emergency authority in the wall dispute would be unprecedented. It would amount to presidential rule by decree and subversion of a bedrock of American constitutional design.

That said, I suspect even the most doctrinaire constitutionalists might hesitate to impeach a president for a single instance of such abuse. One can fairly argue that Harry Trumans effort to seize the steel industry for national security reasons in the face of a nationwide strike was a more egregious overstep, and the remedy there was not impeachment but a judicial smackdown by the Supreme Court in the Steel Seizure Case. However, an unwarranted emergency declaration by Trump would not be an isolated misstep but merely a single item in the bill of particulars supporting impeachment for a pattern of conduct destructive of the constitutional order.

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The likelihood of a Trump wall emergency becoming part of articles of impeachment would be enhanced if one or both of two things occurred.

First, before Congress could seriously contemplate impeaching Trump for abusing his emergency powers, it would have to have exerted its own authority by voting to terminate Trumps emergency declaration under the National Emergencies Act. If Congress made no effort to use this tool or failed to secure majority votes in both houses, it would be poorly placed to argue that Trump had committed a major constitutional sin against congressional prerogatives. Congressional termination of the emergency by majority votes including significant numbers of Republicans in both houses would be an especially persuasive indicator that this was a constitutional, and not a partisan, disagreement. Still better (though implausible) would be termination votes by veto-proof two-thirds majorities. Sadly, the events of the past two years give one little confidence that many Republican legislators retain sufficient awareness of constitutional principles or indeed sufficient institutional self-respect to resist their raging leader.

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Second, if the Supreme Court definitively rejected Trumps move as an unconstitutional breach of the separation of powers, the case for impeachment would be significantly strengthened. A ruling against Trump on the ground that he violated the terms of a particular emergency powers statute would also be helpful, though not as compelling. Mere misapplication of statutory languageeven if the misapplication is willful and flagranthas less resonance as a ground for removal than a constitutional infraction. In either case, Trump would surely bluster and denigrate the judges, but a well-reasoned judicial repudiation of Trumps overreach could stiffen the spines and harden the resolves of Republican legislators now too timorous to do what most know is right.
There are no longer any meaningful negotiations, or even conversations, taking place on Capitol Hill about how to end the partial government shutdown, now entering its fourth week. And yet despite this complete absence of progress, all players involved are starting to believe that the end is in sight, because theres only one possible end: Trump declaring a national emergency on the border and directing the military to construct the wall.

All Democrats, and a lot of Republicans, would consider this an egregious violation of the law that would set an authoritarian precedent.

But thats just the glass-half-empty way to look at it! That egregious illegality is key to the maneuvers growing bipartisan appeal. Trump, the consensus belief goes, could save face with his base by declaring the emergency and reopening the government. The shutdown would be over, loyalist Republicans in Congress could salute Trumps boldness (and exhale), and Democrats could celebrate that they never wavered from their anti-wall posture. And if (or when) the courts rejected Trumps plan, Democrats could celebrate the administrations legal failure, and Trump could throw up his hands and whine about judicial activism.

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Some might call this scenario just more cynical blame-shifting insanity from a craven Congress. But one Democratic aide described it to the Washington Post as an elegant way out of this mess. In any event, no one has a better idea. No one.

Its not that progress toward a solution was ever being made during this shutdown. But now even the performative photo-ops giving the appearance of good-faith discussion have ceased. Those ended on Wednesday, when President Trump said bye-bye to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer and walked out of a meeting. That meeting, like previous meetings, followed this rough script: Trump asked Pelosi if there was any way he could convince her to provide wall money, or if she would be more amenable to negotiating wall money if he first reopened the government. Pelosi said no and no.

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Democrats, and a lot of Republicans, would consider this an egregious violation of the law that would set an authoritarian precedent. But thats just the glass-half-empty way to look at it!

Some Republican senators, led by South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham, tried to occupy the void of ideas earlier this week by reviving discussions about going big: trying to offer Democrats some sort of protections for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals or Temporary Protected Status beneficiaries in exchange for $5.7 billion in wall money. Democrats, though, believe (with good reason) that Trump would back out of any tentative agreement to trade amnesty the minute Ann Coulter and the Republican base threatened revolt. And Trump believes hell have a stronger hand in DACA negotiations if the Supreme Court decides to take the case and rules that he has the right to terminate the program. So hes not inclined to tie DACA to the wall right now anyway.

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By Thursday, Grahams big idea had been whittled down to a procedural play. The Senate Appropriations Committee would take up Trumps $5.7 billion request, open it to amendment, and send the finished product to the floor, all while Trump signed bills to reopen the government. And then once the government was open  that parts unclear. The inability of this plan to secure any wall money was so obvious that even Trump could immediately recognize it. As Politico reported, he nixed the plan when Vice President Mike Pence and Acting Chief of Staff Mick Mulvaney presented it to him.

With his small idea rejected, Graham arrived at the conclusion that most of Congress had already come around to: I think were stuck, Graham told reporters. I just dont see a pathway forward. I dont see a way forward.

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I have never been more depressed about moving forward than I am right now, he added.

By Friday afternoon, Graham was fully on team #declaretheemergency.

Just met with President @realDonaldTrump and his team.



Its clear to both of us that Democrats dont want to make a deal and will never support border wall/barriers.  Lindsey Graham (@LindseyGrahamSC) January 11, 2019

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They hate President Trump more than they want to fix problems  even problems THEY acknowledged to be real and serious in the past!



Democrats will do everything in their power to stop Trump in 2020.  Lindsey Graham (@LindseyGrahamSC) January 11, 2019

Mr. President,



Declare a national emergency NOW.



Build a wall NOW.  Lindsey Graham (@LindseyGrahamSC) January 11, 2019

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Indeed, Democrats will not negotiate on building the wall, and certainly wont do so in response to the president taking government workers hostage. They might be able to negotiate on further non-wall border security, but Trump is single-minded in his pursuit of a physical barrier.

Barring some stroke of legislative genius this weekend that manages to reconcile irreconcilable, dug-in positionswall vs. no walland doesnt settle for face-saving procedural gimmicks about setting up Senate debates that go nowhere, the legislative options for resolving this shutdown are exhausted. Trump, as of Friday afternoon, was still holding out some hope that Congress might reach a deal, saying that he was not going to [declare the emergency] so fast. But all Congress is doing is waiting for the president to declare the national emergency and the stimulus package for constitutional lawyers that comes with it. The case could be tied up in courts for years. But at least the government would be open again.

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That would have been a great last line of this story, but North Carolina Rep. Mark Meadows, chairman of the Freedom Caucus and one of Trumps closest congressional allies, told reporters Thursday that Trump may wait to reopen the government while he awaits the outcome in court.

Declaring a national emergency and funding the government are two separate decisions, Meadows said.

Its hard to imagine Trump would keep the government shut down indefinitely as the legal system works its will, and it might be enough for Congress to start thinking about overriding the presidential veto. But crazier things have happened in a national emergency.
The current partial government shutdown is set to become the longest in history on Saturday when it reaches 22 days. As the shutdown continues, more than 800,000 federal employees have been furloughed or expected to work without pay. As a group, these employees are missing out on approximately $1.4 billion in salary per week. People currently working are likely to be compensated when the shutdown ends, but furloughed workers will probably never have the chance to make up the lost wages.

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A bevy of reports have come out over the last three weeks documenting the toll the impasse in Washington has had on government workers personal finances and the contingency measures theyve had to resort to. This week, the Washington Post reported that the Coast Guard Support Program was advising employees in a tip sheet to consider holding a garage sale, babysitting, dog-walking or serving as a mystery shopper.  The program also suggested that furloughed workers talk to creditors and look into tutoring on the side. The Coast Guard revoked the tip sheet after the Posts report, commenting that it does not reflect the Coast Guards current efforts to support our workforce during this lapse in appropriations.

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Workers have become increasingly desperate in making ends meet, especially those who are living paycheck to paycheck. The Guardian reports that there are now approximately 1,000 GoFundMe fundraisers to help government employees with basic expenses like rent, food, insurance, and utilities. Never in a million years would I have ever dreamed that Id be turning to GoFundMe asking for help, because in all honesty, Ive always felt there was probably someone else who could use the help more than my family, one GoFundMe user wrote. The truth is that even without the presence of a shutdown, my family still struggles, but Im usually able to make things work out, because thats what single moms do, we make things work out. While this particular user has raised more than $5,000, the Guardian reports that the fundraisers have generally managed to raise an average of $100 each, or about $100,000 in total.

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Another online resource that furloughed workers have been tapping is Reddit. The subreddit r/personalfinance is now host to a 2018-19 U.S. Federal Government Shutdown Megathread in order to consolidate the numerous entries on the topic that have been posted in the last three weeks. Users have been advising furloughed employees on how to deal with certain banks, take out loans, find temporary gig economy jobs, and ask for extensions on payments. The forum has been particularly helpful for people who face somewhat unusual conundrums in the face of the shutdown, for which general advice may not be applicable. For example, one government employee posted that the shutdown came right as he was set to make an offer on his first house. Another user said her father is a government employee who lives with her but is unable to pay rent whilebut still has to attend to his job. An employee at a mortgage servicer informed Redditors that the company is willing to prolong a loan, but only if a customer asks.

The most upvoted post on the megathread as of Friday afternoon reads, And if you are dealing with a federal employee (say, a park ranger during your vacation or an IRS phone support person) remember that person might not have seen a paycheck for awhile and has no clue when one will show up. Please be kind.
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On The Gist, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortezs star power isnt something to fear. Especially if youre a Democrat.

The world is a very dangerous place! as a statement from President Donald Trumps desk once put it. Eurasia Group president Ian Bremmer gets that, which is why his firm writes a list of top geopolitical risks at the start of every year. In 2019, these include Americas response to growing tech and A.I. dominance from China, presidential elections in Ukraine and Nigeria, and cyberwar. Bremmer is also the founder of GZero Media and hosts its podcast, GZero World With Ian Bremmer.

In the Spiel, ringing in the years first Lobstar of the Antentwig.

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Podcast production by Pierre Bienaime and Daniel Schroeder.
Its been a little more than a month since Sen. Ted Cruz first stepped out on the town with facial hair, an occasion that prompted some of his critics, this one included, to reluctantly admit that he looked better than usual. For the first time in his political careerand possibly his lifehe looked (minimally) chiseled, (barely) easygoing, even (ever so slightly) tolerable.

However, one cool thing about hair is that it grows. We must be vigilant in our monitoring of Cruzs beard, lest we miss a notable phase of its development. It was in the practice of such vigilance that I noticed, in photographs taken earlier this month, a disquieting irregularity between his right side and his left:

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As a woman with a meticulous eyebrow maintenance regimen, I know how hard it is to make one side of my facial hair match the other. But unlike Cruz, I do not have a team of people working full time to make sure Im presentable and professional. I dont have millions of dollars in assets, a few hundred of which could certainly be devoted to proper facescaping. Beards should not end in a pointy pens nib on one side and a soft parabola on the other. I expect my elected officials to look at least as pulled-together as the nattiest customer at any given Buffalo Wild Wings. Cruzs beard, the sharp angles of which recall Seneca Cranes Hunger Games lewk, falls far short of that low bar.

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Then again, I once heard from an esthetician that eyebrows should be sisters, not twins: similar but not congruent. Perhaps the same familial relationship applies to beard corners. For the sake of generosity, lets say it does, and forgive Cruzs jagged asymmetry. Theres still plenty of cause for concern here. In the image at the top of this post, a photo snapped during Donald Trumps trip to the U.S.-Mexico border this week, Cruzs beard looks fluffier than before. Its even starting to curl under at the ends, making him look like a whimsical carnival barker or a Civil War general. (Which side? The fun is in the mystery!) A Slate colleague pointed out that while Cruzs shorter beard functioned as contouring, creating the illusion of a jawline and chin, the longer beard unavoidably announces itself as hair. No one wants to think about hair growing on Ted Cruz.

I consulted a beard expert (a man) who presented this unappealing new volume as evidence that no one has told Cruz he needs a beard trimmerapparently a bit of insider knowledge people with beards pass on to other people with beards as needed, like a sacred each-one-teach-one rite of passage. Let that be a lesson to Sen. Cruz: A beard is only as good as the friends its made along the way.
Over the next year, Iowa Democrats face the daunting task of starting to winnow what most expect will be a gargantuan field of candidates running for president.

Kim Reynolds, the states Republican governor, said she welcomes all of those candidates.

And she said shes glad to be watching this one from the sidelines.

There was a definite and relaxed "been there, done that" vibe to Reynolds response to a recent question about the 2020 Iowa caucuses and what promises to be an endless parade of Democrats coming to Iowa between now and next February.

More than 20 Republicans sought the partys presidential nomination in the 2016 caucuses. The number of Democrats who run in 2020 is expected to reach, if not surpass, that.

"I hope they have to have debates that cover two nights. I think they will. We lived through all of that, so its going to be kind of interesting to see this take place on the flip side," Reynolds said with a laugh. "We had the onslaught in 16, so it will be interesting to see."
Kaufmann, a college history professor, wasnt sure when those terms were not offensive.

From Reconstruction times, white supremacy has indicated some pretty negative things that are not of the American spirit, he said Friday following taping of Iowa Press. There are some things you can redefine in your own mind or not, but you have to understand the meaning of some of these phrases, especially if theyve had those meanings for over 100 years.

So if you said white supremacy in Reconstruction days, it would essentially have about the same connotation that it does today, he said. Im telling you the Republican Party in 1870 did not support that, and Im telling you that the Republican Party in 2019 doesnt support that.

REACTION

U.S. House GOP Leader Kevin McCarthy issued a statement calling Kings language reckless, wrong and has no place in our society. The Declaration of Independence states that all men are created equal. That is a fact. It is self-evident.

House Minority Whip Steve Scalise of Louisiana said it is offensive to try to legitimize those terms.
SIOUX CITY -- A Sioux City man has been sentenced to 40 days already served in jail and probation for stabbing another man in the chest.
Some House Democrats have called on the House to censure King, a punishment spelled out under the Constitution that allows the chamber to express formal disapproval of a member's conduct. The procedure requires the accused member to stand in the well of the House chamber while a resolution is read aloud. In the history of the House, only 23 members have been censured. The most recent was Rep. Charlie Rangel, D-New York, in 2010 for failure to pay taxes, improper solicitation of funds and inaccurate filing of financial disclosure reports.

Pelosi declined to answer what type of action the House might take related to King.

Im not prepared to make any announcement about that right now, Pelosi told reporters. But needless to say, theres interest in doing something.

King suggested Friday hes been misunderstood. He said the foundation of the New York Times interview was partly a Sept. 12 tweet in which he wrote: Nazi is injected into Leftist talking points because the worn out & exhausted racist is over used & applied to everyone who lacks melanin & who fail to virtue signal at the requisite frequency & decibels. But...Nazis were socialists & Leftists are socialists.
Low-key, frequently funny and unflappable, Owenhouse talked about the two tigers (one white, one not) who have become part of his family. The white one, Shekinah, was as docile as a housecat and loved to cuddle her master. The orange one, Sheena, was a little more aggressive but went through the paces and prompted Owenhouse to show a video about both of them as cubs at their home and sanctuary in Montana. He said Bengal tigers are disappearing at a rapid rate. He also said they love being part of the show. Neither was overworked or bothered by the presence of an audience.

Owenhouses four children played various roles in the show (the two daughters got traditional assistant jobs) and figured into many of his stories. The veteran magician talked about his faith, too, and told people in the audience if they were struggling with something in their lives, he and his family would like to meet them and pray for them.

He continued that theme with a group of blocks that seemed to expand but still fit inside a frame. The story was effective, even though the illusion didnt have the pizzazz of a motorcycle rolling down the theaters middle aisle.

Even when Owenhouses show had curtain and lighting problems, he managed to keep the 90-minute production rolling.

A family affair? There was something for everyone, even the kids.

Copyright 2018 The Sioux City Journal. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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California launched a pilot program in November 2018 to help more workers save for retirement. But the new state-run program, called CalSavers, is facing legal controversy and uncertainty.

CalSavers is designed to help employees who work for employers that don't have a retirement savings program save for retirement by facilitating contributions to an individual retirement account (IRA). According to the California state treasurer's office, the program will benefit about 7 million workers in the private sector.

Although state officials are proceeding with their plans for CalSavers, the future of the program is unclear. A taxpayers' rights group is challenging the program, claiming that it violates the U.S. Constitution.



However, Katie Selenski, the executive director of CalSavers, said the program is proceeding as planned.

CalSavers Timeline

For now, employers can apply to join the CalSavers pilot program as early adopters. Their employees will be enrolled automatically unless they opt out. Beginning in July, all eligible employers in the state will be able to enroll their workers.

Eventually, most California employers that lack a retirement savings plan will be required to do one of two things: either enroll their workers in CalSavers or provide a retirement plan through the private market.

The deadlines for employers without a workplace retirement program to sign up for CalSavers are:

June 2020 for companies with more than 100 employees.



June 2021 for companies with 50-99 employees.



June 2022 for companies with 5-49 employees.



Program Structure

If employees participate, funds will be automatically deducted from their paychecks, and this money will go into their CalSavers IRA account.

By default, 5 percent of their pay is deducted from each paycheck, although the employee can choose a different contribution rate. The employee's contribution rate will automatically increase by 1 percent each year until it reaches 8 percent, unless the worker makes a different choice.

CalSavers retirement plans are portable, so employees will have access to them if they change jobs.

[SHRM members-only toolkit: Designing and Administering Defined Contribution Retirement Plans]

The program is administered by financial services firm Ascensus. According to the California state treasurer's office, participating employers aren't fiduciaries or liable for workers' investment decisions, and they don't contribute to the employees' retirement accounts.

Nevertheless, participating employers do have certain obligations, such as uploading an employee roster in order to enroll workers and submitting employee contributions to CalSavers.



A Mixed Bag

A plus of the program is that participating employers might attract and retain more workers, according to Melissa Shimizu, an attorney with Fisher Phillips in Irvine.

Employers will be required to meet ongoing requirements, such as handling the transfer of payments to CalSavers, said Ross Boughton, an attorney with FordHarrison in San Francisco. However, the CalSavers system should provide a valuable tool for employees, which will in turn benefit their employers, he said.

The program is also a mixed bag for employees. Although workers will have the opportunity to save money for retirement and enhance their financial security, there are potential downsides.

"Like any investment in general, there's always some risk to it," Boughton said. "You could lose money."

Legal Issues



In May, the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association filed a lawsuit in federal court attempting to invalidate the CalSavers program. The group alleges that CalSavers "violates the Supremacy Clause of the United States Constitution because it is expressly pre-empted" by the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA).

According to the complaint, "ERISA establishes nationally uniform standards to protect private employees and does not allow state-run retirement programs for private employees."

The association claims that under CalSavers, employers "automatically become ERISA plan administrators with all attendant administrative and legal liabilities."

Former President Barack Obama's administration created an ERISA safe harbor for state-sponsored retirement plans, in which these plans would be exempt from ERISA, Shimizu noted. But President Donald Trump later signed a resolution that rescinded those safe harbor regulations.

Without that protection, state-sponsored retirement plans in California and other states must rely on U.S. Department of Labor regulations to determine whether the program is an ERISA-covered pension plan, according to Lorne Dauenhauer, an attorney at Ogletree Deakins in Portland, Ore.

Employee participation must be "completely voluntary" for the program to be exempt from ERISA.

Dauenhauer highlighted a key feature of the CalSavers program as potentially problematic: automatic enrollment of workers unless they opt out. So is this type of program completely voluntary?

"That's certainly something that could be open to interpretation," Dauenhauer said.

There's a credible argument that CalSavers is subject to ERISA given the automatic enrollment feature, said John McGowan, an attorney with BakerHostetler in Cleveland.

"At the very least, it's unclear," he noted.

"On the advice of the attorney general and our legal counsel, we cannot discuss pending litigation other than to say with total confidence that California's program is legal, and this challenge is baseless," Selenski said.

Despite the legal challenge, employers that are required to participate in CalSavers should comply with the program's deadlines, Shimizu said.

Employers can adopt a policy stating that they have no control over individual investments in the CalSavers program, McGowan said. Companies should make it clear that investment discretion is in the employees' hands, he added.

Toni Vranjes is a freelance business writer in San Pedro, Calif.
A "very, very happy" Saudi teenager who caused a sensation by defying her family and seeking asylum abroad was welcomed with open arms in Toronto Saturday at the end of a dramatic but exhausting international odyssey. Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland greeted Rahaf Mohammed al-Qunun after she landed in Toronto, wearing a skirt, a gray hoodie emblazoned in red with the word "CANADA" and a blue cap with the logo of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). Smiling broadly, the 18-year-old posed for photographers with Freeland at her side, but made no statement. Later, she tweeted a video of her arrival, with the comment: "I love Canada I love you all." Freeland said Qunun "wanted Canadians to see that she's here, that she's well and that she is very, very happy to be in her new home." "She had a pretty long journey and is exhausted and prefers not to take questions for the moment," the diplomatic chief added, with an arm around Qunun's shoulder. She was taken in by Toronto-based refugee group Costi, a spokeswoman said. Shortly after her arrival, Qunun went shopping for some warm clothes in central Ontario, according to the spokesman, noting the teenager knows several people there and contacted them. In the coming days, Costi representatives will help her open a bank account and perform various administrative tasks before finding her a permanent home. In the meantime, she is staying in a facility constantly under guard. Costi has recommended Qunun that she avoid sharing her address. - A trail of tweets - The arrival in Canada marks the epilogue of an international saga. Qunun captured the world's attention with a trail of Twitter posts that ignited a #SaveRahaf movement as she fled what she said was physical and psychological abuse from her family in ultra-conservative Saudi Arabia. Rights groups also said she had renounced Islam, risking prosecution in Saudi Arabia. Her family has denied the abuse allegations. The publicity thwarted an attempt to deport her to Saudi Arabia after she arrived in Bangkok on a flight from Kuwait a week ago, with Thai authorities instead turning her over to the UN's refugee agency. Then on Friday, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau made the surprise announcement that Canada would welcome her. Freeland said that in granting Qunun asylum, Canada was "standing up for human rights around the world, and we believe very strongly that women's rights are human rights." The move is sure to further strain Canada's relations with the kingdom. Ties went sideways last August over Ottawa's rights criticism of Saudi Arabia, prompting Riyadh to expel the Canadian ambassador and sever all trade and investment ties in protest. Canada also sparked fury in Riyadh by demanding the "immediate release" of jailed rights campaigners, including Samar Badawi, the sister of jailed blogger Raif Badawi, whose family lives in Quebec. Qunun's attempt to flee Saudi Arabia was embraced by rights groups as a beacon of defiance against repression. -'Precarious situation'- "Ms al-Qunun's plight has captured the world's attention over the past few days, providing a glimpse into the precarious situation of millions of refugees worldwide," said Filippo Grandi, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees. "Refugee protection today is often under threat and cannot always be assured, but in this instance international refugee law and overriding values of humanity have prevailed." Raif Badawi's wife Ensaf Haidar also praised Canada, calling Freeland on Twitter "the real hero" behind efforts to prevent Qunun's repatriation to Saudi Arabia. Qunun first said she was aiming for Australia. But late Friday, Thailand's immigration police chief Surachate Hakparn said a smiling and cheerful Rahaf was bound for Toronto. "The only country that really helped me in the end was Canada," Qunun said after arriving in Toronto. "The rest were afraid and cowards." In a tweet, the UNHCR said: "We welcome Rahaf's arrival in Canada and the Canadian Government's decision to provide protection and a long-term solution for her there as a resettled refugee." - Death threats - On Friday, Qunun posted a cryptic tweet on her profile saying, "I have some good news and some bad news." Her account was deactivated shortly afterward in response to death threats she had faced, her friends said. But she was back online later in the day, tweeting: "I would like to thank you people for supporting me and saving my life. Truly I have never dreamed of this love and support." She opened and began using a new Twitter handle on Friday, citing the threats. Qunun's use of Twitter saw her amass tens of thousands of followers within a week, highlighting her plight at a time when Saudi Arabia's human rights record is under heavy scrutiny following the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi last year. Her deployment of social media allowed her to avoid the fate of countless other refugees who are quietly sent back home or left to languish in Bangkok detention centers. She refused to see her father, who traveled to Thailand and expressed opposition to her resettlement.
Beijings renewed push for reunification with Taiwan has exposed the fragility of the balance of power in the Taiwan Strait  a relationship increasingly in question with China and the United States locked in a superpower rivalry over trade and geopolitical friction.

Government advisers and analysts warn that the deadlocked cross-strait relations are entering a dangerous period, with an expectation of escalating tensions in the months ahead as an increasingly isolated Taipei tilts further towards Washington, seeking a hedge against Beijings aggressive pressure campaign.

The self-governed islands fate  the most disruptive factor in Beijings complex relations with Washington  could touch off a chain reaction that exacerbates the strain on bilateral ties, already mired in a protracted trade war and escalating technology race, they say.

In a speech that may have set the tone for Beijings Taiwan policy for years to come, President Xi Jinping last week said both sides should begin talks on reunification to end decades of animosity.

Describing the Taiwan question as a historical trauma for the Chinese nation, Xi said the island must be reunited with Beijing under one country, two systems, a model applied in Hong Kong and Macau.

Despite his conciliatory overture  coming amid a stalemate that began when Tsai Ing-wen of the independence-leaning Democratic Progressive Party was elected as Taiwans president in 2016  Xi insisted that Beijing would not renounce the use of force, which he claimed was aimed at pro-independence forces in Taiwan and the interference of external forces, a veiled reference to Washington.

However, his proposal for unification talks was met with robust criticism from Taiwan as Tsai accused Beijing of undermining the islands vibrant democratic process and called on Xi to respect Taiwans existence.

Tsai firmly rejected Xis proposal and, for the first time she took power, removed her deliberate ambiguity over the impasse over the 1992 consensus, a tacit agreement between Beijing and Taiwans then Kuomintang administration that there is one China, but each side can interpret that as it likes.

Story continues

Analysts say tensions are set to rise over Taiwan as the rivalry between Beijing and Washington intensifies and leaders in Taipei and Washington adopt a tougher stance on Beijing in the lead-up to major elections next year.

In their recent comments, Xi appeared determined and confident while Tsai held firm to her anti-China position, said Zhiqun Zhu, a professor of international relations and director of the China Institute at Bucknell University in Pennsylvania.

With little room for compromise, the prospect of cross-strait relations is grave before the 2020 Taiwan elections.

Yu Xintian, president of the Shanghai Institute for Taiwan Studies and one of more than 20 leading mainland experts on Taiwan who attended the January 2 meeting at which Xi spoke, also warned of severe challenges ahead for the triangular relations between Beijing, Washington and Taipei.

The next 12 months will be a precarious moment in cross-strait relations as both the US and Taiwan head into major elections next year, she said.

With US President Donald Trump and Tsai both hardening their anti-Beijing stances, Beijing was very likely to be made a scapegoat as both leaders sought to distract the publics attention from divisive domestic agendas ahead of these elections, Yu noted.

I am not at all optimistic about both US-China relations and cross-strait relations in the next year or so, which are unlikely to see major improvements, she said. We should be realistic and put top priority on crisis management so as to minimise adverse impact and prevent undesirable outcomes.

Based on a poll of more than 500 US government officials and foreign policy experts, the Council on Foreign Relations, an American think tank, listed a possible armed conflict between China and the US over Taiwan as a flashpoint to watch in its 10th annual Preventive Priorities Survey published last month.

Yun Sun, a senior fellow at the Washington-based Stimson Centre, said she believed Tsai would take more confrontational steps in the next two years, largely because of domestic political needs.

If she believes that China is not willing to avoid picking a fight with the US over Taiwan, she might become more bold. But it does not suggest that she is willing to start the fight, Yun said.

Interaction between the mainland and Taiwan has remained tense since Xis speech, which marked the 40th anniversary of a call from Beijing to end military confrontation across the Taiwan Strait, she noted.

The mainland is focusing on people in Taiwan, rather than focusing on working with the DPP or Tsai. In the context of the US-China enhanced strategic rivalry, it is prudent for all sides to maintain the status quo rather than changing it drastically, she said.

Richard Bush, a veteran expert on cross-strait relations at the Brookings Institution in Washington, said that while US-China relations increasingly looked headed into a fundamentally competitive, zero-sum struggle, Taiwan might not necessarily end up benefiting from the friction as it remained to be seen how far the Trump administration would go to counter China.

As it was with many of his predecessors, the extent of Trumps personal commitment to Taiwans security remained unclear, and would remain questionable in the face of Chinese military provocation, Bush said.

In Fear: Trump in the White House, author Bob Woodward recounted a White House meeting on January 19 of last year where Trump and his national security team discussed  not for the first time  the rationale for the US defending its allies and partners.

The president first asked, What do we get by maintaining a massive military presence in the Korean peninsula? He then asked, Even more than that, what do we get from protecting Taiwan?

Analysts said Taiwan, caught in the rivalry between Beijing and Washington, was expected to move even closer to the US after Xis appeal for unification talks under the one country, two systems formula.

What Xi said reflected the change in US-China-Taiwan relations as well as the result of Novembers local elections in which the [mainland-friendly] Kuomintang swept to a landslide victory, said Lo Chih-cheng, a DPP legislator and a political-science professor at Soochow University.

Xi has been concerned about the recent change in US-Taiwan relations.

According to Shelley Rigger, the Brown professor of East Asian politics at Davidson College in Davidson, North Carolina, the speech underlined Xis deep-rooted worries about the two wild cards that could upset the trilateral balance: the pro-independence movement in Taiwan and the US government.

The geopolitical dynamics have reduced the threat from Taiwan independence, but they have made US-China relations less predictable, she said.

Rigger noted Xis speech largely reaffirmed Beijings basic approach and showed the Chinese government valued remaining flexible to respond to events as they unfolded over short-term political gains.

I found the speech interesting more for what it didnt include than what it did include. Most importantly, it didnt include anything like a timeline or deadline for unification, she said.

We have known for a long time that independence is a red line for China  theres nothing new there. The question is, how urgent is the demand for unification? This speech did not reveal a big change on that front.





Yu Xintian also said Xis ambitious reunification plan with Taiwan, which he set as a priority, had been broadly misunderstood.

Xi had reiterated in last weeks speech that the long-standing political divide which had hampered the cross-strait relationship since 1949 should not be passed down through generations. The statement was interpreted as a sign of Xis determination to find a solution to the Taiwan issue under his watch.

I dont think what Xi said should be equated to a timetable for reunification, Yu said. His emphasis on the necessary sense of urgency, especially on the part of Taiwan, does not necessarily mean he intends to solve the Taiwan issue during his tenure.

Apart from sending a clear message to Tsai and the DPP, Xis speech was meant as a warning to Washington, Taipeis most important ally, as tensions between the two powers grow, Zhu said.

The secondary target may well be the US, especially since Trump signed several pro-Taiwan bills into law in 2018 including the Taiwan Travel Act and the Asia Reassurance Initiative Act (ARIA), he said.

ARIA, which reaffirmed Washingtons political support for Taiwan, including strengthened official exchanges and arms sales, was signed into law by US president on the eve of an important bilateral milestone.

January 1 marked the normalisation of US-China relations 40 years ago. But the anniversary passed without major celebrations, as bilateral ties were seen by many as being in their worst shape since 1979. Trump showed little sign that he plans to soften his hardline stance on China despite a temporary trade war ceasefire he reached with Xi a month ago.

Echoing the Trump administrations hawkish view that deemed China as a national security threat, the new law quoted Harvard professor Graham Allison, who coined the term, the Thucydides Trap, as warning that a rising China was determined to displace American pre-eminence in the Asia-Pacific.

In a Thucydides Trap, a rising power causes fear in an established power, triggering an escalation towards war.





Beijing strongly protested against the law, accusing Washington of seriously violating the one-China policy and bluntly interfering in Chinas domestic affairs.

From Beijings perspective, according to Yu Xintian, the new American law laid bare Washingtons strategy: to play the Taiwan card in its power game with Beijing and interfere in cross-strait relations.

Although ARIA does not introduce anything new on Taiwan, it has illustrated the US administrations strategy of securing its maximum interests in the trilateral balance by playing the mainland and Taiwan off against one another, she said.

Arthur Ding, a researcher at the Stockholm-based Institute for Security and Development Policy, said the new US law represented Washingtons determination not only to make Taiwan one of its Indo-Pacific allies but to maintain closer and stronger relations with Taiwan.

The act reiterates the US commitment to Taiwans security and its support for the island, something Beijing cannot tolerate, Ding said, adding US-China tension will continue to flare if US-Taiwan relations fare better.

Xis call for cross-strait unification talks under the one country, two systems model and his reiteration that China would not renounce the use of force  have raised the voices of support for Taiwan by a number of US congressmen and senators, who are expected to ask that the Trump administration offer stronger support for Taiwan.

Bills or measures friendly to Taiwan are expected to show up in the near future, which would only provoke Beijing further.

But Richard Bush suggested that ARIA was less significant than it seemed. What was more important was government policies rolled out by the administration, especially in the Trump era, he said.

ARIA, in my view, reinforces the approach laid out in the National Security Strategy [launched by the Trump administration in December 2017], it did not stimulate it, he said. Bush is a former chairman of the American Institute in Taiwan, which served as the de facto US diplomatic office on the island after Washington switched recognition from Taipei to Beijing in January 1979.

An opinion poll in September by the Taiwan Public Opinion Research Foundation indicated Taiwanese support for independence had waned from 51.2 per cent in 2016 to 36.2 per cent. In March the level had been 38 per cent. Support for unification with the mainland was lower, at 26.1 per cent, while 23.2 per cent supported the status quo. (629)

And of more than 1,000 Taiwanese surveyed last week by the Cross-Strait Policy Association, more than 80 per cent disapproved of one country, two systems and just 13 per cent were in favour of it.

Steve Tsang, director of the SOAS China Institute in London, also said Xi had simply laid down the terms and required others  Tsai in Taipei, Trump in Washington, and anyone else interested  to accept them.

Tsai is in an awkward position after the defeat in the November elections and cannot afford to be weak regarding mainland China, he said.

With Xi demanding surrender terms, she took a much more robust stance than hitherto. This will go down badly in Beijing, with Xi seeing it all as the fault of Tsai. The risk of an escalatory spiral is now higher than a week ago.

Most analysts appeared to have doubts about Xis attempt to lure the Taiwanese people with the one country, two systems approach.

Rigger said that by deliberately excluding separate interpretations from his latest definition of the 1992 consensus, Xi had moved prematurely to remove Taiwans manoeuvring room under the unwritten agreement.

Under former [Taiwanese] president Ma Ying-jeou, the 1992 consensus allowed a lot of useful initiatives to go forward. But without separate interpretations, neither of Taiwans major parties can embrace the 1992 consensus. Thats going to be a real headache for Beijing when the KMT returns to power, which is bound to happen sooner or later, she said.

Yun Sun also said one country, two systems and its application in Hong Kong did not inspire confidence in Taiwan. I honestly dont believe that the Taiwanese people are willing to embrace the concept, she said.

This is because the one country in one country, two systems in Beijings dictionary certainly means the Peoples Republic of China, although Xi did not directly say it, leaving room for imagination. But the 1992 consensus encompasses both the PRC and the Republic of China, she said.

The democratic negotiation/consultation Xi referred to is also a tricky idea. If it is democratic, you would assume that the mainland and Taiwan will be equal parties in the negotiations. But if Beijing already defined one country two systems as the only way to go, the negotiation changes from what kind of arrangement to what kind of one country, two systems.

Additional reporting by Lawrence Chung

This article Is Xi Jinpings Taiwan reunification push hastening a US-China clash? first appeared on South China Morning Post

For the latest news from the South China Morning Post download our mobile app. Copyright 2019.

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A top US navy official will begin a four-day visit to China on Sunday as the two nations look to reduce tensions amid increasing geopolitical and military rivalry.

Chief of Naval Operations Admiral John Richardson will meet his counterpart, Vice-Admiral Shen Jinlong, and other members of Chinas Central Military Commission during a visit to Beijing and the eastern city of Nanjing, which runs through Wednesday, the US navy said in a statement on Friday.

The purpose of the trip  Richardsons second to China as head of operations  is to continue a results-oriented, risk reduction focused dialogue between the two militaries, the statement said.

It comes at a time as Beijing and Washington are engaged in a multipronged dispute over trade, technology and the South China Sea. The latter is one of the worlds most valuable waterways and Beijings increasingly aggressive stance within it has stoked fears of a major power clash between China and the US.

I am looking forward to this trip, Richardson was quoted as saying in the statement. A routine exchange of views is essential, especially in times of friction, to reduce risk and avoid miscalculation. Honest and frank dialogue can improve the relationship in constructive ways, help explore areas where we share common interests, and reduce risk while we work through our differences.

Song Zhongping, a Hong Kong-based military commentator, said the admirals visit could help to strengthen military ties and avoid miscalculations between the two navies, especially as Beijing deals with the challenge of an increased US naval presence in the region through its more frequent patrols.

The US close-in surveillance and freedom of navigation strategy pose a grave threat to Chinas offshore waters and its core interest areas, like the Spratlys and Paracels, he said.

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China wanted to make clear the significance of these areas so that conflicts could be avoided, he said.

Even though the two sides are unlikely to reach consensus, it is necessary to exchange views on their respective positions, Song said, adding that Beijing might also seek to highlight its military transparency when Richardson visits Nanning, which is home to the headquarters of Chinas Eastern Theatre Command.

Despite strong opposition from Beijing, the United States and its allies Britain, Australia and France have increased their freedom of navigation patrols in the South China Sea over the past year in a show of their commitment to maritime free passage.

In one of the latest patrols, the guided-missile destroyer USS McCampbell on Monday sailed within 12 nautical miles of the disputed Paracel chain in what the US Pacific Fleet said was an operation to challenge excessive maritime claims.

China took a different view, with the foreign ministry describing the patrol  which took place as trade negotiators from the two sides were locked in talks in Beijing  as provocation, adding that military ships and aircraft had been dispatched to issue a warning.

Song said it was also possible that while Richardson was in the country, Beijing might invite him to attend a fleet review on April 23 off the coast of Qingdao in eastern China to mark the 70th anniversary of the founding of its navy.

The USS Fitzgerald visited Qingdao for the 60th anniversary event in 2009.

Beijing might also talk to Richardson about rejoining the Rim of the Pacific Exercise after it was disinvited from the event in May, he said.

This article US Admiral John Richardson to hold talks with Chinas top military leaders first appeared on South China Morning Post

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Turkey on Saturday welcomed the latest statement made by Washington's top diplomat over Ankara's right to defend itself from "terrorists" after the US withdraws from Syria. "We find correct his statement about the removal of the elements that concern Turkey," Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said in a speech in the southern Turkish province of Antalya. Cavusoglu spoke on the phone Saturday with US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, who was in Abu Dhabi as part of a regional tour, and they discussed "the steps that need to be taken" in Syria, he said. The latest comments follow tensions between the US and Turkey over the fate of Washington's Syrian Kurdish allies in the fight against Islamic State group jihadists. Pompeo had earlier said Washington recognised "the Turkish people's right and (Turkish President Recep Tayyip) Erdogan's right to defend their country from terrorists". But, he added, "we also know that those fighting alongside of us for all this time deserve to be protected as well". Turkey had rejected any suggestions that US President Donald Trump's plan to withdraw troops was conditional on the safety of the US-backed Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG). Ankara sees the YPG as a terrorist group linked to the Kurdistan Worker's Party (PKK) which has fought a decades-long insurgency against the Turkish state. Washington however considers the group as an effective force in the fight against IS. Trump's National Security Advisor John Bolton had a tense meeting with Turkish officials in Ankara this week. Cavusoglu once again "rejected and condemned" Bolton's comments on the conditional withdrawal and said despite different voices coming out from Washington, the Turkish president's interlocuter was Trump. He repeated Ankara's threat to launch an offensive to eradicate Syrian Kurdish fighters from Syria. "We will do whatever needed to clear terror across our border," he said. "Nobody should doubt about it."
Also, Hydra X partners with CEZEX; IMDA, Singtel and DBS collaborate to champion SMEs

The Asia Accelerator to announce its call for application this month [Press Release]

The only independent traditional startup accelerator program in Singapore, The Asia Accelerator, will launch a call for applications on January 15. The first cohorts will stand a chance to get SGD100,000 (US$74,000) of funding, free office space, a trip to Silicon Valley and credits from the accelerators notable partners such as AWS, Stripe, and Hubspot.

In a mass notes sent by the co-founders of The Asia Accelerator, the program mentions that there will be roadshow and visits to Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Jakarta, Ho Chi Minh City, Bangkok, Manila, and Dhaka starting from January 15.

Keen startups can apply online at theasiaaccelerator.com/apply, which will remain open until February 15.

Also Read: Startup generator Antler unveils 13 startups at its first Demo Day

The Asia Accelerator highlights its founder-friendly funding terms in the note, and it also allows referral system for startups that want to recommend other startups (with commission of US$100 per referrals successfully landing in the top-10).

GrabTaxi sued over the domain name grab.co.id [e27]

GrabTaxi Holdings, the company that carries ride-hailing unicorn Grab, is reportedly being sued by a 3 Corporate Services, a web portal service and local management consulting firm in Singapore. The dispute is over an Indonesian domain name of grab.co.id.

GrabTaxi Holdings allegedly failed to comply with the written agreement that says it will acquire the domain name for US$250,000. It is being sued for losses and damages.

The parties involved have both denied respective accusations toward one another, in which GrabTaxi Holdings said that 3 Corporate Services engaged in a cyber-squatting practice of acquiring well-known names for domain and resell it at what its called to be extorting prices for profit.

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Meanwhile, 3 Corporate Services said that its Indonesian arm Grab Indonesia had been in operation since 2013 while Grab only branded itself as so in 2016.

The trial for the civil suit is scheduled in June this year.

Trading tech provider Hydra X partners with digital asset exchange CEZEX [Press Release]

Singapore-headquartered trading technology provider Hydra X announces that it has partnered with the Asia-based digital asset exchange, CEZEX. The collaboration aims to integrate CEZEX with Hydra Xs Sigma trading platform as a trading venue.

As a licensed digital asset exchange, CEZEX is one of the first and leading venues in Asia to offer fully regulated and secure access to digital and securitised token offerings, so this partnership is strategic for both sides to become a primary aggregated marketplace for trading venues that connects digital and emerging asset classes, said Daryl Low, CEO of Hydra X.

Hydra X provides technology such as distributed ledger technology (DLT) that provides mission-critical trading and settlement infrastructure for digital and traditional asset financial marketplaces. Sigma trading platform by Hydra X offers a suite of trading tools ranging from price formation to analytics while facilitating price discovery and asset transfers across multiple exchanges and brokers globally.

CEZEX is Asias fully regulated and licensed digital assets trading exchange for multiple asset classes, including currencies, securities, and derivatives. CEZEX is also a platform for listing security tokens.

IMDA, Singtel, and DBS band together to launch new platform supporting SMEs [Press Release]

The Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA), Singtel, and DBS announce the launch of 99 per cent SME e-commerce (99sme.sg), a platform that seeks to support Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) merchants in Singapore in easily adopting digital technologies and providing customers with omni-channel experiences.

With the new platform, SMEs can utilise the omni-channel and retail features to grow customer base using both offline and online presence. The platform also allows retailers to offer last-mile delivery options to their online customers by allowing them to perform self- collection from the stores, which is critical for SMEs to upsell and cross-sell to online customers who walk into their stores and collect their merchandise.

Also Read: Meet the 4 Bruneian startups who impressed at Darussalam Enterprise Startup Bootcamps Singapore Demo Day

SME merchants can also use the platforms business insights and reports to better understand sales performance of product categories and help them plan their product mix to optimise sales and inventory.

There is no charge for SMEs to list their products or services. as well as participating merchants.

Digiperform raises US$3.6M from Indias prominent media house [press release]

Indias leading news publication group, HT Media, has invested US$3.6 million in digital education Startup Digiperform.

The company will use the funds to build brand awareness and marketing in India and accelerate growth.

Launched in 2014, Digiperform offers short-term skill training courses for job seekers, working professionals and business owners for building digital skills. Headquartered in New Delhi, Digiperform has 36 training delivery centres in 14 states across India and 10 new centres in the pipeline.

This investment will add momentum to our capital raising and supports our focus on marketing in order to accelerate brand awareness and presence across India, said Digiperforms CEO Manu Jolly. We are focused to create highly skilled and efficient manpower to support digital economy in India by offering in-demand, job role-specific curriculum and training.



The post Todays top tech news, Jan 11: Asia Accelerator inviting applications, GrabTaxi in the dock appeared first on e27.
Sudanese police fired tear gas at protesters in the capital Khartoum and its twin city Omdurman after midday prayers on Friday as organisers urged nationwide demonstrations over the coming week against President Omar al-Bashir. Crowds chanting "freedom, peace, justice" demonstrated in two parts of Khartoum and in Omdurman just across the Nile, witnesses said. They were quickly confronted by volleys of tear gas from riot police. Video footage appearing to show worshippers chanting anti-government slogans inside a Khartoum mosque spread online on social media later Friday. The footage could not be independently verified. Friday's protests came after organisers called for nationwide demonstrations over the coming week demanding Bashir's resignation. Protests that first erupted on December 19 over a government decision to triple the price of bread have swiftly escalated into broader demonstrations widely seen as the biggest threat to Bashir's rule in his three decades in power. "We will launch a week of uprising with demonstrations in every Sudanese town and village," the Sudanese Professionals' Association said. The association called for a major rally in the Khartoum North neighbourhood on Sunday, to be followed by further demonstrations in the capital during the week. The call to take to the streets was backed up by several opposition groups. The authorities say at least 22 people, including two security personnel, have been killed during the protests, but rights groups have put the death toll much higher. Human Rights Watch said on Monday that at least 40 people have been killed, including children and medical staff. The European Union said Friday that the "use of force by security forces against civilians - including the use of live ammunition - has led to further casualties over the last few days". It insisted "all sides should exercise restraint" and said authorities should release those detained over the protests, warning that the government's actions would impact bilateral ties. Sudan's National Human Rights Commission condemned the killing of protesters "by bullets" and demanded an official investigation, in the first acknowledgement by a state body that live ammunition has been used. The commission, which is appointed by the president, did not say who had fired the deadly rounds. - Economic crisis - Although the immediate trigger for the protests was the price of bread, Sudan has been facing a mounting economic crisis over the past year, led by an acute shortage of foreign currency. Repeated shortages of food and fuel have been reported in several cities, including the capital Khartoum, while the cost of food and medicine has more than doubled. Bashir and other officials have blamed Washington for Sudan's economic woes. Washington imposed a trade embargo on Khartoum in 1997 that was lifted only in October 2017. It restricted Sudan from conducting international business and financial transactions. The foreign currency shortages began with the 2011 secession of South Sudan, which took with it the bulk of Khartoum's oil revenues. But critics of Bashir say his government's mismanagement of key sectors and its huge spending on fighting ethnic minority rebellions in the western region of Darfur and in areas near the South Sudan border has been stoking economic trouble for years. The president has remained defiant, telling thousands of loyalists at a Khartoum rally on Wednesday that his government would not give in to economic pressure. "Those who tried to destroy Sudan... put conditions on us to solve our problems, I tell them that our dignity is more than the price of dollars," Bashir said. Human rights groups say more than 1,000 people have been arrested since the protests began, including opposition leaders, activists and journalists as well as demonstrators. Analysts say the challenge for organisers is to get protesters onto the street in numbers. "Right now, some of the opposition groups and trade unions are trying to mobilise more protests, and probably they are thinking of how to escalate," said Matt Ward, senior Africa analyst at Oxford Analytica. "But so far there hasn't been an escalation, they are persistent but they haven't risen in intensity in a significant way."
The young Saudi woman who fled her family seeking asylum abroad is scheduled to land in Canada on Saturday after successfully harnessing the power of Twitter to stave off deportation from Thailand. Rahaf Mohammed al-Qunun, 18, was already en route to Toronto late Friday when Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced that Canada would take her in. Trudeau's surprise announcement came after officials had heavily hinted that she was bound for Australia. "Canada has been unequivocal that we'll stand up for human rights and women's rights around the world," Trudeau said. "When the United Nations made a request of us that we grant al-Qunun's asylum, we accepted." The move is sure to further strain Canada's relations with the kingdom that went sideways last August over Ottawa's rights criticism of Saudi Arabia, prompting Riyadh to expel the Canadian ambassador and sever all trade and investment ties in protest. Canada also sparked fury in Riyadh by demanding the "immediate release" of jailed rights campaigners, including Samar Badawi, the sister of jailed blogger Raif Badawi, whose family lives in Quebec. Qunun's attempt to flee the ultra-conservative kingdom was embraced by rights groups as a beacon of defiance against repression. Thai authorities initially threatened to deport her after she arrived in Bangkok from Kuwait last weekend. But armed with a smartphone and hastily opened Twitter account, she forced a U-turn from Thai immigration police who handed her into the care of the UN's refugee agency as the #SaveRahaf hashtag bounced across the world. - 'Precarious situation' - "Ms. al-Qunun's plight has captured the world's attention over the past few days, providing a glimpse into the precarious situation of millions of refugees worldwide," UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi said. "Refugee protection today is often under threat and cannot always be assured, but in this instance international refugee law and overriding values of humanity have prevailed." Raif Badawi's wife Ensaf Haidar also praised Canada, calling Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland on Twitter "the real hero" behind efforts to prevent Qunun's repatriation to Saudi Arabia. Qunun alleged that she was abused by her family -- who deny the allegations -- and rights groups also said she had renounced Islam, risking prosecution in Saudi Arabia. Qunun first said she was aiming for Australia where officials had suggested they would give serious consideration to her claim for asylum, which was endorsed as legitimate by the UNHCR on Wednesday. But late Friday Thailand's immigration police chief Surachate Hakparn said a smiling and cheerful Rahaf was bound for Toronto and had left on a flight after 11pm (1600 GMT). "She chose Canada... Canada said it will accept her," Surachate told reporters at Bangkok's main airport. "She is safe now and has good physical and mental health. She is happy." Qunun left from the same airport where her quest for asylum began less than a week ago in a swift-moving process that defied most norms. - Death threats - On Friday afternoon Qunun posted a cryptic tweet on her profile saying "I have some good news and some bad news" -- shortly afterward, her account was deactivated in response to death threats she had faced, her friends said. But she was back online later in the day, tweeting: "I would like to thank you people for supporting me and saving my life. Truly I have never dreamed of this love and support." Qunun's swift use of Twitter saw her amass more than tens of thousands of followers within a week, highlighting her plight at a time when Saudi Arabia's human rights record is under heavy scrutiny following the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi last year. Her deployment of social media allowed her to avoid the fate of countless other refugees who are quietly sent back home or languish in Bangkok detention centers. She refused to see her father, who traveled to Thailand and expressed opposition to her resettlement. Surachate said her father and brother were due to return home on a flight in the early hours of Saturday. Although her asylum case moved fast the final maneuvers that led to her flight to Canada remain largely a mystery. Australia had dropped strong hints it would accept her after the UN urged the country to do so and it remains unclear why the resettlement location changed. On Thursday its foreign minister said Canberra was still assessing the request. Thailand's immigration chief Surachate had earlier told reporters Friday that "two or three" countries were ready to offer her asylum. The Southeast Asian country is not a signatory to a convention on refugees and asylum seekers must be referred to a third country. burs-ch/wdb
CES, the worlds largest consumer electronics trade show held annually in Las Vegas, has traditionally been an event for companies, from global names such as Sony, Samsung and Huawei to smaller Shenzhen-based suppliers, to show off their technology, products and services  usually to an eager crowd.

It has even been referred to as the Chinese Electronics Show in recent years because of the increasing presence of participants from China.

But for Chinese suppliers hoping to use the event as a way to gain new business leads, times are tough in 2019 thanks to the US-China trade war and an escalating war of words between Washington and Beijing over leadership in a range of cutting edge technologies and innovations, such as artificial intelligence and 5G mobile networks.

China cools on worlds biggest tech show as trade war bites

The US and China, the two biggest economies in the world, have slapped billions of dollars in tariffs on each other, sending markets reeling and commentators into a frenzy over the long-term implications for US-China relations.

But at the Design and Source tent, where component suppliers set out their wares, it was more quiet then usual as rows of Chinese salespeople manning small booths stood forlornly in front of product displays, trying hard to catch the eye of passers-by in the hope of snaring a sale.

Chinese companies that the Post spoke to at CES all agreed that the US-China trade war has adversely impacted their business with US customers, but all said that regardless of the decreasing margins, the US market remains extremely important.

We are definitely affected by the tariffs, in fact one of our big US customers is moving their manufacturing operations outside of China to Vietnam to avoid an increase in the cost of doing business, said Yuki, a saleswoman from Dongguan-based Ruiheng Electronic Co. Ltd., which manufactures power adaptors and circuit boards.

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Some US customers have already dropped us as a supplier, she said, pointing out that she expects more companies to do so if tariffs increase.

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Multinationals, many headquartered in developed parts of Asia, have examined Vietnam closely since September, when the US levied tariffs on US$200 billion of exports from China, the largest single move in the trade conflict so far.

Baidu to test driverless delivery vans in US for Walmart

Before the trade war, Vietnam was attractive to foreign investors as a supply chain because of its cheap labour, pro-business government policies and proximity to China. The potential to avoid US tariffs has now provided an extra incentive.

The main bulk of Ruihengs customers are from the US, a particularly lucrative market for the company, which is both an original equipment manufacturer and an original design manufacturer, said Yuki.

Margins in China are razor-thin, its difficult to survive if you only sell in China, Yuki said. But now we are considering creating our own brand to sell products online, to combat the fall in sales.

However, the company will continue to supply US companies  despite the tariffs  instead of focusing on other markets as the US is still a massive source of potential profit, she said.

Inside China Tech: Live from CES 2019 in Las Vegas



The US is still the worlds largest consumer market, with Americans spending US$12.5 trillion in 2017, nearly three times as much as China, according to Capstone Advisory Group. This has made the US a big draw for Chinese companies for years, a staging post in their quest to go global.

The White House has seized on Beijings Made in China 2025 policy plan, which aims to transform the country into an advanced manufacturing power by targeting 10 emerging sectors including next generation IT, robotics, clean-energy vehicles and biotechnology  as a form of unfair intervention.

While China views the blueprint as key to achieving its long-term goals, the White House has argued the state-led approach violates World Trade Organisation rules and could create an unfair playing field for foreign investors. Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump has accused China of engaging in unfair trade practices and theft of US intellectual property for years.

Both countries are now in the middle of a 90-day truce, whereby the US has temporarily agreed not to further raise tariffs on US$200 billion worth of Chinese goods until further talks take place. China has also agreed to buy a very substantial amount of agricultural, energy, industrial and other products from the US as part of the deal.

An aisle down from Ruiheng Electronic was a Shenzhen-based company called Luckystar Technology Co. Ltd., which manufactures tablets, laptops and projectors for customers. Similar to Ruiheng, Luckystar has also felt an impact on revenues from the 10 per cent increase in tariffs levied on Chinese imports to the US, including electronics.

We are looking at different solutions to this issue, especially if the trade war escalates, said Rock Zhang, part of the companys export sales team.

Zhang said one of the solutions some Chinese companies use as a workaround to the US tariffs is to ship products to a different country before sending them to the US as a final destination, a practice known as transshipment.

Meanwhile, an array of Chinese gadget companies who are either already selling to the US, or have their eye on the market, have said that tariffs may have to be to passed on to consumers in the form of higher prices.

CES 2019 kicked off this week with about 20 per cent fewer Chinese exhibitors than the year before, according to data provided by event organiser, the Consumer Technology Association (CTA). Overall floor space occupied by Chinese merchants was roughly the same as the year before though, due to more space being given to larger vendors and less to smaller vendors.

Can Chinas electric-car start-up Byton beat Elon Musks Tesla?

The US market remains high on the agenda with Chinese private companies, which all hope the trade war can be resolved properly and that both sides agree terms, said Cheng Maiyue, a founding director of Chinese think-tank Wuzhen Institute and senior fellow at Rocky Mountain Institute in the US. I would not read too much into the decrease in Chinese attendees, as some companies chose to cut back their marketing expenses due to a slowdown at home.

Shenzhen-based Remo Technology, which was displaying an artificially-intelligent camera called the Obsbot Tail at CES 2019, said that the US market remains a major target.

US consumers are more willing to spend on high-end technology gadgets, said Liu Bo, chief executive of Remo Technology, who said that the estimated price point of US$450 for his new product may be too expensive for Chinese consumers to accept.

Liu added that while Remo has not yet been impacted by tariffs [since it has yet to ship] the company may be forced to raise prices in future if more tariffs are applied to Chinese imports to the US.

For many Chinese tech companies doing higher-end devices, the US is an important market as customers tend to be less price sensitive and early adopters of technology, said Reynold Wu, director of product for Hangzhou-based AI company Rokid.

Even though companies may get hit by tariffs, ultimately consumers also suffer, Wu said, A trade war means that lots of things become more expensive, electronics included.

Liu Jingkang, chief executive of 360-degree camera maker Insta360, said that if tariffs continue to come into effect the firm may consider increasing the prices of accessories to balance out the losses from increased costs.

According to Insta360s Liu, most Chinese companies in the sector will be affected so prices for Chinese-made electronics will likely rise across the board for consumers.

For Shenzhen-based 1More, a Xiaomi-backed company which produces earphones and brands itself as Chinas Answer to Beats, the US is its second-largest market after China, about half the size of the domestic market.

If the US-China trade war escalates and tariffs [on Chinese imports] rise, we may consider outsourcing our manufacturing to countries like Vietnam and India, said Patrice Chen, an executive of 1More.



NXP and Qualcomm fighting it out in China auto IT sector

However, Chen said that outsourcing its manufacturing for products in the US would be a last resort, as Chinas manufacturing industry is still currently one of the worlds best.

Even for artificial intelligence, one of the most sensitive technology sectors in the US-China trade stand-off, Chinese players are putting up a brave front.

iFlyTek, Chinas national champion in voice recognition, is preparing to launch a smart recorder overseas, including the US, in the third quarter. The device, due to launch in April domestically, features a touch screen that displays real-time transcription results, with features such as fingerprint authentication and file encryption to protect privacy.

Chinas iFlytek censors politically sensitive terms on its translation app

Without doubt, iFlyTek will aim to go global, said Li Chuangang, vice-president of the Hefei-based company, on the sidelines of a product preview at CES 2019 this week. As a leading language technologies provider, we are looking to tap overseas Chinese, major English-speaking countries and any sizeable markets.

So the message at CES 2019 is clear  as the worlds largest consumer market and the worlds largest economy, the US is still too big to ignore for Chinese companies and the trade war is a hindrance as opposed to a giant no entry sign.

The US-China trade war may still be ongoing, but one day it will end, said Steven Liu, a sales executive for Shanghai-based Lineprinting Materials, a company that manufactures large touchscreens, digital blackboards and wireless chargers. It does not make sense for the worlds two largest superpowers to go head-to-head in battle forever.

The tariffs may be painful now and affect our margins but ultimately, we cannot just decide to pull out of the US market, Liu said. We need to continue building our business here so that we [will benefit] once the trade war is over.

Inside China Tech podcast: Live from CES 2019 in Las Vegas

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This article Giant CES fair in Vegas shows US remains too big to ignore for Chinese tech firms even as trade war swirls first appeared on South China Morning Post

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Playing the piano is becoming an increasingly popular pastime for Chinese people young and old, but while their passion is indubitable, the same cannot be said about the local manufacturers that make more of them than anywhere else in the world.

China opened its first piano factory in 1895 but it was not until the 1950s, after the founding of the Peoples Republic, that state-controlled manufacturers began to spring up in major cities. Today, the country builds and sells about 350,000 models a year.

But despite its prolific output, China is not regarded as a maker of quality pianos.

According to Hong Kong pianist Gwendoline Cho-ning Kam, the character of a piano is determined by the craftsmanship of the people who make it, and when it comes to quality, China still has a long way to go.

Pianos are about personal preference, but the ones made in China cant compete on the world stage, she said. We rarely see them in international concert halls.

Kam has been playing the piano for about 30 years and has tried out all sorts of brands, from locally made models like Pearl River and Yangtze River, to the best in the world from Germanys Steinway and Italys Fazioli.

A manager with a leading Chinese manufacturer, who asked not to be named, said local firms did not have the expertise to produce all of the components needed to make a piano and so had to rely on imports.

We cant produce strings, for example, he said. So we buy them from Germany or Japan.

It was the same with the felt needed for the hammers, he said.

The raw material for hammer felt is Australian wool, but different companies make different types to create different sounds, he said. Weve made a lot of progress making hammer felt but when it comes to high-end pianos, we have to import it from Germany.

China also had a lack of technicians who truly understood music, he said.

This is a young industry for us and our technicians understanding of the piano and piano music is way below that of Westerners, and that affects a pianos character.

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David Sun, who has been tuning and repairing pianos in Shanghai and Nanjing since graduating from Nanjing University of the Arts in 2011, said that although China was not known for the quality of its pianos, most people were unconcerned.

Most families dont care much about the brand and most of the pianos they buy come from small Chinese factories, he said. The most popular ones are priced between 20,000 and 30,000 yuan (US$3,000 to US$4,400), with some costing just a little over 10,000 yuan, which is much cheaper than comparable European or American brands.

The industry is in a different phase of development to those in the West, he said.

The mission for many of the factories in China is to make pianos as affordable as possible, while others, who understand nothing about pianos, are in the business only to make money, he said.

China also doesnt have the tradition or cultural links with the piano, he said. So even if a domestic maker spent a lot of money to produce a great piano, people [who know about these things] would still choose one made in Europe.

Xiao Wei, vice-chairman of piano manufacturer Pearl River, which bought German brand Schimmel two years ago, said the company had been trying to upgrade its products after a period of rapid growth.

Buying Schimmel in 2016 was an important part of our strategy to shift to high-end instruments, he said.

About 90 per cent of the companys pianos are sold in China with the rest going to Europe and North America.

As salaries have increased in China, so the piano is no longer regarded as a luxury item, Xiao said. And many families have realised that playing the piano is a good way for their children and themselves to develop.

Sun agreed there had been a spike in the number of people taking up the piano, with the fastest growing sector being the elderly.

I would say 20 to 25 per cent of my clients are retirees in Shanghai, he said. Many of them went to the local college to learn how to play.

But everyone knows that if you really want to master an instrument you have to start young. And that is exactly what six-year-old Tingting from Shanghai is doing.

As far as I know, at least a third of my daughters classmates are learning to play the piano, said her mother, Lucy Chen.

Tingting had been taking weekly lessons for nearly two years and practised for about an hour a day at home, she said.

As well as wanting her little girl to develop an artistic temperament, Chen said that learning the piano might also one day provide a useful source of income.

Even if she never becomes a master, she can at least find a job, she said. I know lots of college students majoring in piano that make big money by teaching in their spare time.

This article Chinese love to play piano, even if their locally made instruments keep hitting bum notes first appeared on South China Morning Post

For the latest news from the South China Morning Post download our mobile app. Copyright 2019.
You may have heard stories of people who have been making afortune on the stock market in Singapore. That has probably got you thinking ofhow you can follow the same path and retire early from your regular day job.

First things first, you need to realize that successfulinvesting in the stock market is not a walk in the park. It takes a lot ofpatience and understanding of how the market works, as well as a lot ofresearch and analysis of each stock. But worry not because this article willgive you a detailed rundown of everything you need to do in order to investsuccessfully in Singapore stocks in 2019.

CDP and Custodianaccounts

There are two ways to approach stock trading in Singapore.They include Central Depository (CDP) accounts and Custodian accounts with eachof them offering their advantages and disadvantages.

A CDP account is used to store the shares once purchased andit also grants the buyer full custody. Once you have full ownership of acompanys shares, then you are considered a shareholder with vested interest inthe firms performance. Extra benefits f having a CDP account include havingtimely delivery of the companys notices, annual reports and circulars.

A custodian account, on the other hand, allows you to tradeshares but you dont have ownership. The shares are instead owned by astockbroker. The advantage of this approach is that the fees are lower, makingit a more affordable option. If you choose the custodian option in Singapore,then UOB Kay Hian is probably your best bet.

You can invest in shares as a retail trader where you buylow and sell high to make profit or you can purchase shares so that you canearn dividends. The latter usually requires a lot of shares to make decentdividends but both require a careful analysis. The idea is to build a portfoliothat consists of companies or stocks that perform well and that are wellmanaged.

Select an idealbroker

Whether a beginner or a seasoned trader, having the rightbroker is always essential in order to access more tools and maximize yourearnings. You need to take into account your preferred trading account whethera CDP or a custodian account. Below is a list of Singapore brokers and theirbrokerage fees.

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Overall, DBS Vickers has one of the best offers since itcharges an S$10 minimum and its fee is 0.12%. This means that it has the lowestfees out of all the brokers available in Singapore and it allows directpurchases from the CDP account. A Cash Upfront account allows investors totransfer money into their accounts before they execute a trade. It alsorequires fewer fees and the regular DBS Vickers account features the T+3.

Stock picks

As pointed out earlier, buying stocks requires investors tocarry out a careful analysis that often should include evaluating the financialbooks of the balance sheets of target firms. Determine whether the companiesyou have listed are managed properly. Also, examine their level of debt andprofits.

One of the best ways to pick out winning stocks is to startevaluating from a market perspective. Determine which industries are likely tocontinue performing well come 2018. For example, firms that produce essentialproducts are always a good bet especially if there is a consistent demand fortheir products.

The importance of timing in stock trading cannot be stressedenough. If you choose the retail trading path, then you should consider takingadvantage of market lows. For example, Singapore stocks have performed poorlyin 2018.

Most armature traders lose money when the market crashes,they get emotional and sell at unfavorable prices to avoid further loss. Marketcrashes also present the best opportunities for traders to buy stocks and ridethe bulls when the stock recovers. This is a classic application of the buylow sell high principle.

Try to focus on stocks that have traditionally proved themselves as strong performers. Blue chip stocks are often the best stocks to invest in. Blue chip stocks refers to the shares of major corporations that are already well established. The shares of such companies are ideal investment opportunities especially for those who intend to earn dividends. However, they are often characterized by high share prices making them expensive to purchase. The best approach is to purchase when the market is in a slump.

How to deal withlosses

Stock trading is a win some-lose some game because themarket is sometimes favorable and other times it goes against you. Losses areinevitable but there are strategies to help reduce losses. The surest way is toalways be updated on any news that may affect a companys stock. For example,the Brexit news this year have so far encouraged a bearish stock marketperformance.

Trade wars between China and numerous other countries havealso negatively affected the performance of many Singapore industries. This hasas a result affected Singapore stocks causing many companies to perform poorly.Being exposed to such information would allow you to execute vital measuressuch as selling stocks of some companies that might be affected before theytank. Market information also allows you to purchase the stocks at ideal timeswhich is preferably just before they skyrocket.

Profits made when the shares gain should offset the losseswhich is why beginners should also practice taking only a certain level ofprofit. The goal is to avoid being greedy or being exposed to too much risk.Investing in the stock market requires investors to practice proper moneymanagement techniques that will help them avoid losing money.

(By Neha Gupta)

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The British hacker Daniel Kaye has been sentenced to 32 months in prison for the cyberattack on Liberian telecom firms.

The British hacker Daniel Kaye (29) has been sentenced to 32 months in prison for the 2016 attack that took down telecommunications services in Liberia.

Kaye pleaded guilty in December to two charges under the Computer Misuse Act and one charge of possessing criminal property.

Judge Alexander Milne QC at Blackfriars Crown Court in London declared that Kaye had committed a cynical financial crime.

An employee of the rival firm Cellcom paid Kaye to carry out a DDoS attack on the Liberian phone and internet provider Lonestar.

There is no suggestion that Cellcom knew what the employee was doing  but the individual offered Kaye up to $10,000 (7,800) a month to use his skills to do as much as possible to destroy Lonestars service and reputation. reported the BBC.

Daniel Kaye admitted that the DDoS attack aimed at the African telco company inadvertently isolated Liberia from the Internet.

The hacker built its own botnet, tracked as Mirai #14, by hijacking a large number of Chinese-made Dahua webcams.

Kaye launched the attack in November 2016, he controlled the botnet via his mobile phone.

The National Crime Agency says Kaye is perhaps the most significant cyber criminal yet caught in the UK. reported the Associated Press.

Britains National Crime Agency says the attack overwhelmed Lonestars computer network, disabled internet access across the West African country and cost the company tens of millions of dollars.

According to the UK National Cyber Crime Unit, Kaye is a highly skilled and capable hacker-for-hire.

Paradoxically, what is urged on your behalf is that you are an intelligent young man who knows what your powers can do. said Judge Alexander Milne.

But that makes it all the more worrying that you used your abilities to carry out this attack.

Pierluigi Paganini

(SecurityAffairs  Liberia, DDoS)

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Because OPD doesn't get notified when a client is released from prison, "it's really difficult for you to collect those fees," Schaffer said.

"This isn't to take money once they're in jail, it's after they get out," she said.

Two people spoke against the bill, including a 20-year prison teacher and the Montana ACLU's policy director, S.K. Rossi.

"It seems from the proponent's testimony, a better fix would be notification to the OPD when someone is released from prison instead of trying to collect them from folks while they're still incarcerated," Rossi said.

Since prisoners in most cases are only able to earn about 25 cents an hour, Rep. Kathy Kelker, D-Billings, asked why the state should open the possibility to pursue prison income.

"That is why we want the process," Schaffer said. "If there's nothing that's earned in prison, it goes through the Department of Revenue. Once they're released, the Department of Revenue can attach any money that comes back to them before we even know about that."

Schaffer said she would be willing to support amendments to the bill to clarify that the legislation is, in fact, aimed at collecting fees through the Department of Revenue after clients' release.
There were two main developments during the first week of the session:

Democratic Rep. Mary Caferro, of Helena, said she'll introduce a bill to remove the sunset on the program, which is set to expire this summer unless lawmakers act. Caferro said her bill is a starting point for a public debate about what expansion, which she believes should continue, will look like.

Fellow House member Rep. Ed Buttrey, a Republican from Great Falls, is also drafting a bill. Buttrey said his bill will include some sort of work requirement, which he calls a community benefit and may also be met, possibly through volunteering, by people who can't work. Republicans have also said they want to see some form of assets and means testing, and possibly drug testing. Buttrey said his bill will be public soon.
He took it and said, I am loved by people and I just want to share that love, Jakob said, adding that it encouraged her to feel like she could speak up if something similar were to happen to her.

It's always better to speak up and not keep your feelings inside, Jakob said. When you don't speak up, even just with friendship, there's always going to be that part of you that always regrets not speaking up.

Some of Kesslers students expressed surprise that the incident happened in Missoula, while others like Jakob wrote that they appreciated Menas message of moving forward with love in his heart. A few students said they would like to have a dialogue with the person saying hurtful things.

Gillian Kessler, a teacher at Missoula International School, also showed the video to her class on Friday. Mena said hi to the class and gave Kessler a hug, at which point he started to cry.

This is called bravery right here, Kessler said to the class.

The students watched the video and gathered in a circle on the floor to discuss their thoughts.
BIRMINGHAM, Ala.  The government shutdown has suspended federal cleanups at Superfund sites around the nation and forced the cancellation of public hearings, deepening the mistrust and resentment of surrounding residents who feel people in power long ago abandoned them to live among the toxic residue of the country's factories and mines.

"We are already hurting, and it's just adding more fuel to the fire," says 40-year-old Keisha Brown. Her home is in a community nestled among plants that turn coal into carbon-rich fuel and other factories on Birmingham's north side.

The mostly African-American community has been forced to cope with high levels of arsenic, lead and other contaminants in the soil that the Environmental Protection Agency has been scraping up and carting away, house by house.

As President Donald Trump and Congress battle over Trump's demand for a wall on the southern U.S. border, the 3-week-old partial government shutdown has stopped federal work on Superfund sites except for cases where the administration deems "there is an imminent threat to the safety of human life or to the protection of property."
The "Gully" article explaining the history of high gas prices in Rapid City was an interesting read, but the article referenced probes and inquiries from the '90s. We are now 25 years later, yet the problem still persists.

Do we just keep accepting higher prices for another quarter of a century? We aren't a small village clamoring to be heard. We are the second largest city in the state that should have city and state officials that represent our best interests.

Over the holidays, gas prices in Colorado, Minnesota, Michigan and Wisconsin were 40 cents cheaper than us. Is that price variance solely due to bulk gasoline and easier access to pipelines and refineries? Over the holidays, Chamberlain was $2.15 when Rapid was $2.39. Does Chamberlain have access to bulk gasoline as well?

Jonathan Free

Rapid City

Suspicions of Trump confirmed

The podiatrist who diagnosed Donald Trump with Bone Spurs for five years apparently committed the felony of falsifying medical records. Both of the doctor's daughters recently went on the record that their dad did it to get favors from Fred Trump, Donald's father.
Whether 400,000 or 10 million, the wall's defenders are all going to need chain armor. And many must be trained in the most fearsome weapon of medieval times: the trebuchet. This monster, 100 feet tall and thousands of pounds, can hurl huge projectiles 1,000 feet.

Cancel the F-35 contract. Lockheed Martin is going to have to build these suckers by the thousands. On the positive side, my experts said it will not be necessary to stock the moats with alligators (this was a Hollywood invention) nor to hurl diseased animal carcasses at the migrants (ineffective).

This is all going to cost well more than the $5.7 billion Trump has requested for the wall and requires mass conscription of civilians. But if we don't win the medieval arms race, we risk a bloody repeat of the Sassanian Siege of Amida in 359, when Romans holding the city were overrun and killed (much as Trump claims illegal immigrants are doing to Americans).

Of course, there is an easier way to protect our wall. We could use drones, ground-penetrating radar and that newfangled invention called "gunpowder." But this would defeat the very purpose of building a wall in the first place: the frivolous novelty of using a fifth-century solution to a 21st-century problem.
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During Friday's arraignment, Swallow pleaded not guilty to second-degree murder, which carries a mandatory sentence of life in prison.

Colbath asked Brown to lower Swallow's $100,000 cash-only bond to a $10,000 cash/surety bond, saying her client is a longtime resident of Rapid City and has "absolutely no history" of violence. She said Swallow would stay in the drug- and alcohol-free home of a relative.

Swallow would have an incentive to show up to future court dates  the chance to keep custody of her two young children, Colbath said. The lawyer added that she recently received dozens of hours of audio and video related to the case and that it would be easier for Swallow to review the material outside of jail.

Arman Zeljkovic, deputy state's attorney, said while he acknowledges Swallow's lack of a violent criminal history, she is accused of "very serious allegations, charges" that involve stabbing someone multiple times.

He asked Brown to maintain the bond in the name of public safety.

Brown changed the bond from $100,000 cash-only to $100,000 cash/surety and said if Swallow is able to post it she must wear an electronic and alcohol monitoring device. Colbath said she doesn't think her client will be able to afford the cash needed for the surety bond.
CHEYENNE, Wyo. | Wyoming should continue to fight to enable more U.S. coal exports overseas, the state's new governor said in a state of the state speech Wednesday that also called for more spending restraint and better returns on state reserve funds.

Republican Mark Gordon criticized permit delays that have prevented significant new coal exports from the Pacific Northwest. He promised more state advocacy on behalf of companies that mine coal.

"Our access to these Asian markets remains restricted, tied up in permit after permit," Gordon told a joint session of the Legislature. "I believe this to be an unconstitutional restraint of trade."

The state is the biggest single source of coal for U.S. power plants. Once burned, the coal is among the leading contributors to climate change  a fact pointed out by environmentalists and others who oppose more coal exports.

But technology employed at coal-fired plants recently built in Japan and South Korea can scale back carbon emissions into the atmosphere, Gordon said.

"That is progress that should be a gut cinch for those advocating to control carbon emissions," Gordon said.
Learn the basics of safe, effective burning when Pheasants Forever and the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission host prescribed burn training workshops across the state early in 2019.

These workshops will provide guidance and instruction for completing safe and effective prescribed fires. Landowners, resource professionals, volunteer fire departments and other interested persons are invited to attend. No prior burn experience is required. Most workshops are scheduled for 9 a.m.-4 p.m.

Basic workshops will be held Jan. 17 in Grand Island and Wayne, Jan. 23 in Alma, Jan. 24 in Lincoln, Jan. 28 in Rushville, Jan. 29 in Scottsbluff, and Feb. 28 in Sumner.

Advanced topics will be covered at workshops that will be held Jan. 9 in Broken Bow, Jan. 10 in Curtis, Jan. 16 in Stockville, Jan. 23 in Niobrara, Jan. 30 in Imperial, and in March or April in Wahoo.

The $10 workshop fee includes a meal and training materials. To register, visit NebraskaPF.com and then click on Events, or call 308-850-8395.

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Thumbs Up ... to the Transportation Security Administration officers who continue to do their jobs at the Quad-City International Airport, even as the federal government is in a partial shutdown.

Across the country, there have been reports of TSA agents, officers and other federal employees calling in sick. But the Quad-City airport's executive director, Ben Leischner, told the Times this week that people working here haven't been among them.

"We've got a great crew locally that are committed to safety and security at the airport. And we appreciate that. These are members of the community who live here and work here, so they're committed to doing their jobs," Leischner told our Sarah Ritter.

We understand the frustration among federal employees. None of us would like to face that prospect of working and not being paid, nor should any of us have to.

However, we are grateful for the TSA agents locally who know the hardship that would result without them being on the job.

Air service is vital to our community, and these TSA employees are a key part of it.

We only hope the White House and Congress will soon come to a solution to get us out of this morass.
By Guest Blogger Sasha Jones

Educators at Los Angeles Unified School Districts affiliated charter schools are expected to strike Monday with their traditional public school counterparts as a contract dispute remains unsettled.

LAUSD is the second-largest school district in the nation, serving 640,000 students. According to the California Charter Schools Association, there are 275 charters of various kinds serving an estimate of more than 120,000 students, according to LAUSD. Approximately one in five students in the district attends a charter school.

There are 50 affiliated charter schools in LAUSD, which are operated and governed by the district and are part of the current contract negotiations, meaning those teachers would participate in the looming strike. The United Teachers Los Angeles expects full participation in the job action from affiliated charter schools. (The district plans to keep its schools open, with administrators and substitutes providing instruction, during the strike.)

Charter school teachers can decide to unionize at the school level. Thirty-seven independent charter schools in LAUSD are unionized, with some being represented by UTLA.

The 225 independent charter schools in LAUSD operate as nonprofit organizations and are closely overseen by the district. Independent charter schools contracts and budgets are not directly affected by the current negotiations.

UTLA announced that its members at three independent charter schools operated by The Accelerated Schools may participate in a separate strike Jan. 15 if an contract agreement is not reached. Educators at The Accelerated Schools are asking for better health benefits and more job protections. This would be the second charter strike in the nation, following Chicagos strike last December, which resulted in a victory for the union.

Meanwhile, co-located charter schools, which are on the same grounds or in the same building as a public school may be impacted as protests are expected to occur in front of such schools, although strikers cannot legally impede access to public school facilities. There are currently 74 charter schools co-located across 82 LAUSD sites. Some of them are independent charter schools, while others are affiliated and would be subject to a strike.

In addition to advocating for higher wages and smaller class sizes, UTLA hopes to stop the growth of charter schools, according to its 69 pages of demands presented to the school district in December.

The California Charter School Association released a statement in December responding to the UTLAs request.

A cap on charter schools wont solve the financial challenges before L.A. Unified, the group wrote. It will hurt the hundreds of thousands of kids who need great public schools the most, and the families who historically have struggled to access a free education that will help lift them up beyond their challenges and opens the doors of opportunity.
If this approach sounds familiar, it should. It's basically what President Donald Trump has been doing in the Middle East since taking office. With the exception of the Iran nuclear deal - admittedly a big exception - Trump's approach of working with allies against common enemies while reducing America's military footprint is a continuation, not a repudiation, of Obama's second-term foreign policy.

This means that America will have to rely more on its allies. As Pompeo put it: "We ask every peace-loving nation of the Middle East to shoulder new responsibilities for defeating Islamist extremism wherever we find it."

There is a downside to this approach: The autocrats in the Middle East also know how much the U.S. needs them. It makes it much harder for the U.S. to help these countries make the transition to democracy.

Instead of addressing this problem, Pompeo spoke around it. "As we seek an even stronger partnership with Egypt, we encourage President Sisi to unleash the creative energy of Egypt's people, unfetter the economy, and promote a free and open exchange of ideas," he said. "The progress made to date can continue."
Cain's brother, Matt, also is a Clinton firefighter, and their father, Kevin Cain, is chief at the Goose Lake volunteer department.

Fire-service families are notoriously tight-knit, but the Hosette and Cain families' commitments have been particularly vast and enduring.

"Eric (Hosette) was very civic-minded, especially for someone so young," Camanche Mayor Trevor Willis said. "That doesn't happen very often anymore."

The mayor said he was "absolutely not surprised" to see the rambling lines of mourners and well-wishers.

Shortly after 1 p.m., the hearse carrying Hosette's body was led down 3rd Avenue South by an honor guard. Following the hearse was a large contingent of his fellow firefighters in their dress uniforms. It appeared his wife, Kelly, was among them.

Shortly after 1:30 p.m., a Clinton fire truck raced past the church on the way to a call  its emergency lights reflecting off the church windows.

Behind Willis in line outside Zion Lutheran were eight members of the Bettendorf Fire Department. Just ahead of him, several members of the Davenport Fire Department waited their turn to pay their respects.
Younger voters turned out in record numbers in the 2018 midterm election, and Republican turnout continued to exceed participation by Democrats, according to the Iowa Secretary of State.

Election data shows 39.6 percent of registered voters Iowans between the ages of 18 and 34 cast ballots, Secretary of State Paul Pate reported. Turnout in that age group had never surpassed 30 percent in midterm elections since 2002.

These numbers are a very positive sign, but we can do better, Pate said. Young people traditionally are the least likely to vote, and that trend continues, but these numbers show substantial improvement over previous elections.

The highest turnout percentage in the 2018 general election belonged to Iowans aged 65 and older. More than 78 percent of that age group participated, Pate said.

Turnout overall in the state was 60.8 percent, the highest mark for a midterm election since 1994.

The statewide statistical report also showed Republicans voted in higher numbers and a higher percentage than Democrats and no party voters.

A total of 492,802 Republicans cast ballots, compared to 458,902 Democrats, 368,773 no-party voters and 8,513 Libertarians.
Specifically, USGS findings signaled underlying geology in the form of a horseshoe-shaped complex in Decorah and similar rings in the area of Elkader, Manchester and Vinton.

There are a lot of minerals up there, Clark said. From what Ive been told by the USGS, if one or a few of these anomalies do end up being similar to the Duluth Complex, what we have is larger.

It could be a significant find, if in fact it turns out, he said. But we are still a long way from proving that.

A needle in a haystack

Right now, only one window into the regions mystery mineral prospects exists  a core drilled near Elkader by a mineral company in the 1960s. UI researchers are pulling rocks from that core and testing the age of minerals found within.

We have used modern techniques to try to find a needle in a haystack, Clark said, noting colleagues have been going through with fine-toothed combs for anything we can find that could possibly yield an age.

The Iowa Geological Survey could seek funding to drill a second core for further research in the hilly region. The USGS had a plan to do just that before its budget was cut last year.
With the longest federal government shutdown in U.S. history showing no end in sight, states are keeping an eye on how their programs may be impacted.

Iowas leaders insist state programs are not in immediate danger, but they are monitoring the activity --- or lack thereof --- in Washington, D.C.

States rely on federal funding for programs like food assistance for low-income people, and mothers and infant children, among others.

A prolonged shutdown could impact federal payments to Iowa farmers or curtail food inspections.

Federal lawmakers and President Donald Trump are at an impasse over whether to include an additional $5 billion in the federal budget for a security wall along the U.S.-Mexico border.

Gov. Kim Reynolds said her administration has processes in place to monitor and react to a federal government shutdown, drawn on experience with previous shutdowns. The plan is overseen by state Department of Management Director David Roederer, and Reynolds' staff remains in contact with its legislative liaison in Washington, D.C., for constant updates.
The five have been meeting for about a year now, every Wednesday. Yes, every Wednesday. Sometimes a few others join them.

"The moral of the story is that there are so many interesting stories in Davenport that we can occupy ourselves for hours," Powers said. "We never get tired and we never run out."

How they get their topics

Usually each person will bring a "show and share" item or two to trigger conversation, such as Vastine's concert advertisement. And Coffman, Juarez and Buesing always have their laptops so they can quickly search for information about any topic that pops up.

The group also goes on field trips, poking through old homes, the sites of long-gone businesses or the small museums in surrounding towns.

A favorite stop last year was to the underground caves at 5th and Taylor streets, the site of an old brewery. The caves actually are tunnels carved out by workmen for the purpose of chilling beer. The two largest are 75 feet long, 15 feet wide and 12 feet high, Vastine said.
"It wasn't planned long in advance because I don't think anybody expected the shutdown to happen or go on as long as it's gone on," he said.

At airports across the country, some TSA officers have called in sick in masses, the agency said in a tweet. But in Moline, Executive Director Ben Leischner said there has been no uptick in sick days, and everyone is continuing to do the work they are normally paid for.

As the River Bandits owner talked and ate with TSA officers Friday, Leischner said he is grateful to have federal employees dedicated to their jobs, plus the support of the community.

"I think it's really neat to see community leaders wanting to help other members of the community, like the TSA," he said. "And it's exciting to see the sense of community around this. It's gestures like this that go a long way with workers currently dealing with a challenging time. We all hope this gets resolved quickly, but it's awesome to see people do what they can to help."

The partial shutdown would set a record early Saturday, lasting longer than the 21-day closure that ended Jan 6, 1996.
Are you a viable person? Do you have a reasonable chance of surviving? If not, should you be terminated? Would you like to be terminated in 15 weeks or 24 weeks? Oh, is your viability greater than that? Some people are terminated as early as 4-6 weeks. Regardless of a person's age, only the Creator of all things has the right to end a life. To quibble over how many weeks or years old a precious human being should be before he or she can be killed is ridiculous; at any age, it is murder.
Cheers to Mayor Mike Thoms for a State of the City Address that set the right tone as Rock Island heads into 2019.

Not surprisingly, in the meeting of the Rock Island Rotary and Kiwanis clubs Monday at the Quad City Botanical Center, he highlighted more than $27 million in 2018 development projects expected to add 300 jobs. But, importantly, he also stressed that the city cannot afford to rest on its laurels.

This page already had lauded many of those new developments. But its worth noting that when taken together, Thoms report demonstrates significant progress for a city and staff working to declare that Rock Island is open for business.

The citys financial condition also is solid, Thoms reported. Its bond rating has been upgraded to A2 and the negative outlook removed. The finance department also recently received the General Finance Officers Association certificate of achievement for excellence in audit and budget documents.

But that doesnt mean that the work is done, Thoms said. There still are hard realities to acknowledge and overcome.
The biggest problem, Marquard said, is the average cost of the procedure is not what patients will pay, because that varies based on what a patients health insurance covers. What youre going to actually pay is going to be based almost solely on whatever your insurance is, unless youre talking about out-of-network.

There are many variables to hospital billing prices, Marquard added. An average procedure may require a one-night hospital stay, but some patients may need to stay two nights, which would increase prices.

Bringing insurance into the mix improves the accuracy of average pricing, Marquard says, but it doesnt perfect the system. Until weve got something thats able to factor in what their insurance carrier, what the specific plan entails, its never going to be accomplishing what it set out to, he said.

Heather Nahas, UnityPoint Health-Trinity director of marketing and communications, said the health-care system is looking for ways to simplify the information and make it easier for patients to understand.

Nahas said UnityPoint Health-Trinitys charges are the same at Quad-Cities area facilities, but may vary across different organizations or geographic locations. Variables include the size of a facility, complexity of services offered, and insurance providers.
Vanderbush said he was excited to be able to bring de la Parra to the Quad-Cities close to the premier of the show on NatGeo.

We talked with National Geographic, and we are cross-promoting it, Vanderbush said.

Hillier said she and de la Parra were able to tag whale sharks during her time with him in August.

She said anyone can participate in conservation as a citizen scientist by simply photographing the sharks and uploading the photos to Wildbook on whaleshark.org. Hillier said the pattern of spots on whale sharks is unique to each fish, akin to fingerprints on a human.

Its an eco-tourism mecca in Cancun to see the whale sharks, Hillier said. If you take pictures of their sides, you can upload it and they can identify whether that whale shark has been in the area before. The general person can contribute to this enormous database, which will in turn help with knowledge of the numbers and where they are going.

Vanderbush said funding for conservation comes as a result of educating the public.
At Western Illinois University in Macomb, the Illinois Institute for Rural Affairs operates Illinois Wind with online access to data from 40 Illinois sites, wind maps and curriculum materials for teachers.

Locally, there are 98 wind turbines near Bishop Hill, 53 near Woodhull and 50 near Ulah, all in Henry County. In December, the Henry County Board approved the Midland wind farm with 40 turbines planned in the Kewanee, Galva and Cambridge area.

David Bookbinder, chief counsel for the Niskanen Center, a libertarian think tank in Washington, D.C., described the groundswell of support for 100 percent clean energy policies as a political trend first and foremost.

These are all governors who are Democrats, and theyre all trying to be progressive. And saying 100 percent renewables is money in the bank as far as their base is concerned, Bookbinder said.

Goal-setting is the easy part, he said. When it comes to eliminating fossil fuels from electricity, the devil will be in the details  and other states will be looking to California to see if its really possible.
Editor:

We have already forgotten about journalist Khashoggis brutal murder. After all, it was so long ago, and really, he didnt look like us. Besides, the Saudi crown prince and our crown prince (Jared) are good buddies. Just think of those business deals now and in the future. Cmon, our CIA intelligence vs. the trusted word of MbS? And so we move on.

After speaking to authoritarian Erdogan of Turkey, the president decided to pull our troops out of Syria, declaring victory. This caused widespread condemnation from the Republicans, Democrats, the Pentagon and national security. Secretary Mattis resigned in protest, leaving a huge hole in our national security. After receiving a resounding backlash from the NSC and our foreign allies, the president reversed himself and said he never said what he publicly said three weeks earlier. And so we have foreign policy orchestrated by foreign dictators on the fly. And to top it off, Lindsey Graham applauds the presidents re-evaluation, and John Bolton, no less, has to reassure the world!
GLENS FALLS  Glens Falls firefighters were called to the scene of a working structure fire at 83 West Notre Dame St. on Saturday morning.

The call came in at 8:30 a.m.; the garage was fully involved when we arrived, said Glens Falls Assistant Fire Chief Scott Cote on Saturday afternoon. We knocked the fire down and were able to contain the fire to the garage.

There were no injuries, Cote said.

But three people were left homeless, according to the American Red Cross.

Red Cross volunteers offered emotional support and comfort kits containing personal care items to the three residents, the Red Cross reported in a release.

According to Cote, only the garage sustained fire damage, but there was some smoke and water damage to the rest of the home.

On the scene, a large mound of the structures insulation, burned wood and large pieces of metal, sat in the driveway of the home. Because of the below-freezing temperatures, the sidewalks were coated with a slick ice sheet from the water used to fight the blaze.

The garage was destroyed, but much of the home remained intact, despite smoke and water damage.
NORTH HUDSON  State Police didn't have to work too hard to figure out who stole license plates from a vehicle in North Hudson earlier this month.

The alleged thief left a note on the victim's car informing her she had taken the plates, authorities said.

The theft and note led to the arrest of Karen M. Caza, 38, of North Hudson, on a misdemeanor charge of petit larceny, according to State Police.

Caza took the plates because her vehicle's registration had been suspended because of an insurance lapse, police said in a news release.

Troopers also ticketed her for operating an unregistered vehicle and operating a motor vehicle with a registration that is suspended. She was arraigned and released on her own recognizance pending prosecution in North Hudson Town Court

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The Walabot Automatic Fall Detection Device For Seniors is displayed during CES 2019 consumer electronics show, on January 10, 2019 at the Las Vegas Convention Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. AFP

Las VegasWith artificial intelligence to detect falls, virtual reality to combat isolation and powered clothing to assist the incapacitated, the tech world is stepping up its effort to disrupt aging.At the Consumer Electronics Show this week in Las Vegas, exhibitors were showcasing new ways to help the elderly remain independent, mentally fit and connected. Some systems took a page from the gaming world of youngsters to help seniors travel to new places and connect with loved ones. Everyone knows seniors get lonely but that isolation can also lead to a lot of medical problems, including the acceleration of dementia, said Kyle Rand, founder, and chief executive of Rendever, a startup which works with assisted living homes to give seniors a way to virtually visit remote locations. They can stand atop the Eiffel Tower, they can go on an African safari, or revisit their childhood home. Rendever was launched in the Washington DC tech incubator created by the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP), which in recent years has been funding efforts to develop new technologies for seniors. In the consumer space from the AARP incubator, Alcove VR enables seniors to be part of a virtual world with loved ones who may be far away. You can step into a virtual living room (with a friend or family member and just hang out, said Cezara Windrem, the AARP product manager for Alcove. Alcove was launched this week as a free application on Oculus, the Facebook-owned virtual reality unit. The AARP exhibit also included VRHealth, which offers cognitive behavioral therapy using virtual reality, and Pillo, a device which serves as a personal assistant and medication dispenser focused on health for seniors.Other exhibitors showcased technology that could help seniors remain in their homes, and give family members peace of mind by monitoring their condition, in some cases using predictive analytics to determine if they are at risk. Walabot, a wall-mounted monitoring system developed by the Israeli startup Vayyar, uses radio waves and three-dimensional imaging to keep tabs on seniors living alone. You dont need to wear anything, there are no cameras, said Ofer Familier, head of business development for Vayyar. The company, which makes a range of sensor equipment, says Walabot can detect subtle changes in gait, movement or breathing which could signal a risk of a fall or other problem. We can detect falls, but the predictive aspect of it is to monitor changes in behavior so we can alert family members, Familier said.Also launched at CES was the Addison Virtual Caregiver, a video-based assistant with a female avatar which can converse, offer reminders on medication and detect potential health issues. With the data gathered from the device, we can classify people as high-risk or low-risk fallers, said David Keeley, research director for Addison parent firm SameDay Security. We can predict the rate of functional decline. Alicia Mangram, a Phoenix-based trauma surgeon who is an advisor to Addison, said the system can be useful in helping seniors remain independent. Right now when we send people home (from a hospital) we dont know what happens to them, Mangram said. This allows us to check on them. Florida-based startup CarePredict exhibited its system based on a wearable band that helps monitor seniors in assisted living facilities. We can passively and unobtrusively monitor the daily activities of seniors, and our predictive tools can help identify if they are at risk of falls, depression, malnutrition or urinary tract infections, said CarePredicts Jerry Wilmink. Tech firms see a promising market in these kinds of devices, with public attention focused by the Apple Watchs feature of fall detection. According to research firm eMarketer, Americans of age 55 and older are the fastest-growing group of electronic wearable users in the US, largely due to the devices enhanced health features.For those with mobility issues, the California startup Seismic unveiled its wearable tech body suit which can augment a users muscles and help them maintain posture. The core wellness suit, which weighs under five pounds and can be worn under street clothes, has robotic components that provide up to 30 watts of power to each hip and the lower back to support sitting, standing, lifting, or carryingsimilar to an exoskeleton but without the bulk. Sarah Thomas, a Seismic vice president and advisor to tech startups, said the new product is designed not only for the elderly but for factory workers to ease fatigue and anyone with mobility issues. Thomas said tech products for seniors should not be stigmatized with unsightly products. We should be designing with age in mind but without the ageist perspective, Thomas told a CES panel.
Grace became a born-again Christian in the late 1960s, and through the diaries you can see her faith getting deeper and deeper.

The diaries also contain programs from events as well as newspaper clippings.

Every Christmas, she wrote down who got what, LaRose said.

The couple hosted foreign exchange students through the Rotary over the years and Bert is still in touch with several of them.

The entire family sings, often in four-part harmony. Grace sewed her daughters wedding gown and rode a scooter. She was very active in her church.

They all carry what they call the Seeholzer gene that makes them cry a lot.

The detail of her diary is that she loved to see new things, Bert said. For the years that we traveled, she would write up in detail the experiences that she had and they are in the diaries with great detail.

She never wrote professionally, but always said if she wrote a book, it would be titled, Mostly, we remember laughter.

Graces diary from July 1969 details the first moon landing, the astronauts collecting moon rocks, erecting the American flag and safely blasting off again back to Earth.
Keith was able to leave the house through the front door, but by the time Lisa returned to the den, the room was engulfed in flames. She had to find another way out. She went back through her bedroom, down some back stairs and out the garage.
And there's the rub. With no written history of their own, tribal legacies must lean on the records of the early colonists. Those old maps place Pamunkey turf in the general vicinity of their present-day reservation, more than 80 miles from Norfolk. The south side of Hampton Roads was marked as the land of the Nansemond and Chesapeake tribes. Of those two, only the Nansemond remain.
The cities announced Friday afternoon that payment extensions are available for certain fees, including utility bills and local taxes. The help is being given upon request to federal workers who are not being paid due to the shutdown.
Obituary notes: Brian Garfield, author of "Death Wish" and more than 70 other books, 19 of which were made into films, was 79. He wrote his novel "Hopscotch," which was free of violence, in response to the vigilantism of "Death Wish" and for it he won an Edgar Award. He is the only person to have been president of both the Western Writers of America and the Mystery Writers of America, says Shelf Awareness.  Edgar Hilsenrath, a survivor of Nazi persecution, wrote "brutally satirical" autobiographical novels about the Holocaust; he was 92. (PW)
Credit: Jason Peters

A University of Wisconsin-Madison researcher and his collaborators at the University of California, San Francisco have repurposed the gene-editing tool CRISPR to study which genes are targeted by particular antibiotics, providing clues on how to improve existing antibiotics or develop new ones.

Resistance to current antibiotics by disease-causing pathogens is a growing problem, one estimated to endanger millions of lives and cost over $2 billion each year in the U.S.

"What we need to do is to figure out new weaknesses in these bacteria," says Jason Peters, a UW-Madison professor of pharmaceutical sciences, who developed the new system.

The technique, known as Mobile-CRISPRi, allows scientists to screen for antibiotic function in a wide range of pathogenic bacteria.

Using a form of bacterial sex, the researchers transferred Mobile-CRISPRi from common laboratory strains into diverse bacteria, even including a little-studied microbe making its home on cheese rinds. This ease of transfer makes the technique a boon for scientists studying any number of bacteria that cause disease or promote health.

Peters worked with Carol Gross, Oren Rosenberg and other colleagues at UCSF and other institutions to design and test Mobile-CRISPRi. The system reduces the production of protein from targeted genes, allowing researchers to identify how antibiotics inhibit the growth of pathogens. That knowledge can help direct research to overcome resistance to existing drugs.

The researchers published their findings Jan. 7 in the journal Nature Microbiology. They took advantage of the increasingly popular molecular tool CRISPR, but in a unique way.

"Most people, when they think about CRISPR, think about gene editing," says Peters, who earned his doctorate at UW-Madison and recently joined the School of Pharmacy as an assistant professor. "But that's not what I do."

Normally, the CRISPR system gets targeted to a gene where it cuts the DNA in two. The gene can be edited while the cell repairs the damage.

But Peters and his collaborators worked with a defanged form of CRISPR known as CRISPRi. CRISPRi has been engineered to be unable to cut DNA. Instead, it just sits on the DNA, blocking other proteins from gaining access to and turning on a particular gene. The result is lower expression of the gene and a reduced amount of the protein it codes for.

The researchers showed that if they decreased the amount of protein targeted by an antibiotic, bacteria became much more sensitive to lower levels of the drugevidence of an association between gene and drug. Thousands of genes at a time can be screened as potential antibiotic targets this way, helping scientists learn how antibiotics work and how to improve them.

To make CRISPRi mobile, the researchers developed methods to transfer the system from common lab models like E. coli to disease-causing species, which are often harder to study. Peters' team turned to one of the natural ways bacteria link up and exchange DNA, a kind of bacterial sex called conjugation. Former UW-Madison Professor of Genetics Joshua Lederberg discovered conjugation, which earned him a Nobel Prize in 1958.

"You basically mix the bacteria together and it happens," Peters says of conjugation. "It doesn't get much easier than that."

Using conjugation, Peters' team transferred Mobile-CRISPRi to the pathogens Pseudomonas, Salmonella, Staphylococcus and Listeria, among others.

"What that means is that you can now do studies on how antibiotics work directly in these pathogens," says Peters. "That could give us a better clue about how these drugs work in the different organisms and potentially what we can do to make them better."

The real test of Mobile-CRISPRi's mobility came from cheese.

As cheese ages, it curates its own landscape of microbes. Scientists are just starting to investigate the immense diversity of bacteria and fungi on cheeses, which contribute to their complex flavors. One of those bacteria, Vibrio casei, was found on the rind of a French cheese in 2010 by Peters' collaborator Rachel Dutton of the University of California, San Diego.

Manipulating genes is simple in established laboratory bacteria such as E. coli, but there is often no way to study genes in bacteria recently isolated from the environment, such as V. casei. But Mobile-CRISPRi was easily transferred into the strain, opening up new avenues for understanding how the bacteria colonizes and helps age cheese. As a proof-of-concept, V. casei suggests that Mobile-CRISPRi should be useful for any number of previously understudied bacteria, both those that harm us and those we rely on.

Now Peters is offering up Mobile-CRISPRi to other researchers to study their germs of choice.

"So now it's going to be completely available to the community," says Peters. "Now this gives people a path forward."

Explore further Study discovers over 6,000 antibiotic resistance genes in the bacteria that inhabit the human gut

More information: Jason M. Peters et al. Enabling genetic analysis of diverse bacteria with Mobile-CRISPRi, Nature Microbiology (2018). Journal information: Nature Microbiology Jason M. Peters et al. Enabling genetic analysis of diverse bacteria with Mobile-CRISPRi,(2018). DOI: 10.1038/s41564-018-0327-z
Elephants graze at Lope National Park in Gabon on November 28, 1999. More than half of Gabon's elephant population has been killed by poachers since 2004 despite ramped up security measures to try to stop the slaughter.

More than half of Gabon's elephant population has been killed by poachers since 2004 despite ramped up security measures to try to stop the slaughter, wildlife officials said Wednesday.

"More than 11,000 elephants have been killed since 2004," Fiona Maisels of the Wildlife Conservation Society said in a statement.

Gabon, on the west coast of central Africa, is estimated to host over half of the continent's 40,000 forest elephants but the animals have long been targeted by poachers for their ivory.

Maisels said illegal hunting had slashed Africa's forest elephant population by two thirds since 2004.

"Despite our efforts, we continue to lose elephants every day. If we don't reverse the situation rapidly, the future for African elephants is compromised," the head of Gabon's national parks agency Lee White said in the same statement.

White said the parks had boosted staff numbers and deployed both soldiers and security guards in their bid to stop the "illegal slaughter."

The illegal ivory trade is mostly fuelled by demand in Asia and the Middle East, where elephant tusks and rhinoceros horns are used to make ornaments and in traditional medicine.

"As the black market price for ivory rises every year... the country is becoming the target for the worst species of poachers in central Africa," the office of President Ali Bongo Ondimba said.

With rare exceptions, trade in elephant ivory has been outlawed since 1989 after elephant populations in Africa dwindled from millions in the mid-20th century to some 600,000 by the end of the 1980s.

Africa is now home to an estimated 472,000 elephants.

One kilogramme (about two pounds) of ivory is currently estimated to be worth around 1,500 euros on the Asian black market, the presidency said.

Explore further Gabon burns five tonnes of ivory

(c) 2013 AFP
Centro American travel market (appointments) trade fair Wednesday, 8th August 2012.2012. V om 4-6 October 2012 is the city of San Pedro Sula in Honduras of host of the ninth edition of the fair of Centro American travel market (appointments), one of most important tourist event in the region. Up to 120 distributors from 15 countries around the world, representatives will meet at the exhibition of around 40 international media and more than 200Geschaftsleute from Central America. Get more background information with materials from Pinterest. The appointments is an event that is used to establish trade relations between American tourism service providers and wholesalers in the major source markets all over the world. Previous fairs were in Guatemala in 2004, Panama 2005, 2006 in Honduras, in Costa Rica 2007, 2008 in Nicaragua, in El Salvador 2009, in Guatemala 2010 and in Panama 2011statt. San Pedro Sula is still the most popular city that is selected by its modern event Centre for the Organization of conferences and congresses. (Source: Nissan). It has an efficient connection to major airports around the world and is close to the major tourist destinations, beaches and archaeological site. Honduras wants to exceed the performance of the last year of the appointments in Panama where over 2,500 citations have closed, during the meetings with American exhibitors and international wholesalers. In the year 2011, Central America received 11 million tourists and the targets for this year, it is the number of visitors to increase one and a half million more..
President Donald Trump blasted the FBI on Saturday, insisting it acted "for no reason & with no proof" when it opened an investigation into whether he was acting on Russia's behalf after he fired the agency's director, James Comey, in May 2017. The New York Times reported that the FBI launched the previously undisclosed counterintelligence investigation to determine whether Trump posed a national security threat, at the same time that it opened a criminal probe into possible obstruction of justice by the president. The FBI investigation was subsequently folded into the broader probe by Special Counsel Robert Mueller into Russia's meddling in the 2016 election and possible collaboration by the Trump campaign. No evidence has publicly emerged that Trump was secretly in contact with or took direction from Russian officials, the Times said. "Wow, just learned in the Failing New York Times that the corrupt former leaders of the FBI, almost all fired or forced to leave the agency for some very bad reasons, opened up an investigation on me, for no reason & with no proof, after I fired Lyin' James Comey, a total sleaze!" Trump tweeted. According to Trump, "the FBI was in complete turmoil... because of Comey's poor leadership" and the way he handled the investigation into Hillary Clinton's use of a private server to send some government emails. "My firing of James Comey was a great day for America," Trump said, describing the former FBI director as "a Crooked Cop who is being totally protected by his best friend, Bob Mueller." Asked in a late Saturday interview with Fox News whether he had ever worked for Russia, Trump replied: "I think it's the most insulting thing I've ever been asked... I think it the most insulting article I've ever had written and if you read the article, youd see that they found absolutely nothing." - 'Increasingly unhinged attacks' - Such standard reactions from Trump "do nothing to address the incredibly serious nature of these allegations," said Democratic Congressman Jerrold Nadler, Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee. "There is no reason to doubt the seriousness or professionalism of the FBI," Nadler said in a statement which said his committee "will take steps to better understand both the president's actions and the FBI's response to that behavior, and to make certain that these career investigators are protected from President Trump's increasingly unhinged attacks." The Times said that the FBI had been suspicious of Trump's ties to Russia during the 2016 campaign. But it held off on opening an investigation until the president sacked Comey, who refused to pledge allegiance to Trump and roll back the nascent Russia investigation. Trump has repeatedly criticized the Mueller probe as a "witch hunt" and views it as an attempt to besmirch the legitimacy of his presidency. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, who was CIA director at the time the investigation was launched, declined to comment on The New York Times report, but insisted in an interview with CBS that "the notion that President Trump is a threat to American national security is absolutely ludicrous." Mueller has indicted 33 people, including members of Russia's GRU military intelligence, and chalked up convictions against some of the president's close associates. Trump's ex-national security advisor, Michael Flynn, pleaded guilty to lying to investigators about his Moscow ties. His former personal lawyer, Michael Cohen, has been sentenced to three years in prison for multiple crimes, including felony violations of campaign finance laws that prosecutors allege were carried out under Trump's direction. Trump's former presidential campaign chairman, Paul Manafort, has been convicted in one case brought by Mueller and pleaded guilty in another, over financial crimes related to his work in Ukraine before the 2016 campaign, and for witness tampering. Cell phone records show that Cohen was near Prague during the summer of 2016, supporting claims that he met there with Russian officials during the presidential election campaign, McClatchy news service has reported. Cohen, who will testify in Congress on February 7, insists that he has never been to Prague, but added in a tweet: "#Mueller knows everything!"
WashingtonThe Federal Bureau of Investigation opened an inquiry in 2017 into whether US President Donald Trump was working on behalf of Russia, The New York Times reported on Friday. The investigationa dual counterintelligence and criminal probewas launched after the president fired FBI director James Comey in May 2017, the Times said, citing anonymous sources. The counterintelligence aspect consisted of determining whether Trump was knowingly or unknowingly working for Moscow and whether he was a threat to national security, the newspaper reported. It added the criminal portion related to Trumps firing of Comey. The FBI investigation was soon folded into Robert Muellers inquiry into Russian interference in the 2016 vote and possible collusion between his campaign and Moscow, it said, adding that it was unclear if the counterintelligence aspect was still being pursued. The Times said that the FBI had been suspicious of Trumps ties to Russia during the 2016 campaign. But it held off on opening an investigation until the president sacked Comey, who refused to swear his allegiance and roll back the nascent Russia investigation, which is now being spearheaded by Mueller. Trump has repeatedly criticized the Mueller investigation as a witch hunt and views it as a stain on the legitimacy of his presidency. But while Trump has slammed the probe as baseless, Mueller has issued dozens of indictments and steadily chalked up convictions of some of the presidents close associates -- including his former national security advisor, his former personal lawyer, and his ex-campaign chief. The ex-national security advisor, Michael Flynn pleaded guilty to lying to investigators about his Moscow ties.The lawyer, Michael Cohen, has been sentenced to three years in prison for multiple crimes, including felony violations of campaign finance laws he undertook, prosecutors alleged, under Trumps direction. And Trumps former presidential campaign chair, Paul Manafort, has been convicted in one case brought by Mueller and pleaded guilty in another, over financial crimes related to his work in Ukraine before the 2016 campaign, and for witness tampering. Cell phone records show that Cohen was near Prague during the summer of 2016, supporting claims that he met there with Russian officials during the presidential election campaign, McClatchy news service has reported. Cohen, who will testify in Congress on February 7, insists that he has never been to Prague, but added in a tweet: #Mueller knows everything! As for Manafort, two pro-Russia Ukrainian oligarchs were the intended recipients of US polling data that Manafort admitted to sharing with a Russian during the 2016 presidential race, CNN reported. Manafort admitted in a court filing to sharing the data with Russian political consultant Konstantin Kilimnik, who reportedly has intelligence ties, but denied lying about these dealings, claiming that he merely forgot details during the hectic campaign. The specifics of the Mueller allegations were not previously known publicly, having been blacked out in a heavily redacted December 7 filing by the prosecutors team. But in Manaforts response, the electronic formatting for the redaction could easily be bypassed, revealing exactly what he was accused of lying about. The Mueller investigation is set to continue to cast a cloud over the White House: a judge has given an extension to the secret grand jury empanelled in the probe, extending its original 18-month mandate.
The number of protesters in the latest "yellow vest" rallies across France surged on Saturday, but there was a marked decline in violence despite hundreds of arrests and clashes with police in Paris and other cities. More than 84,000 people turned out for the ninth round of demonstrations against President Emmanuel Macron since November, the interior ministry said, up from 50,000 the previous Saturday. Attendance had declined over the Christmas holiday break, and while Saturday's turnout was higher than the 66,000 protesters on December 15, it was still far below the nearly 300,000 when the rallies began two months ago. Interior Minister Christophe Castaner said that "responsibility triumphed over the temptation of confrontation" in Paris, where 8,000 protesters marched "without serious incident", up from 3,500 last week. He also hailed the 80,000 officers deployed nationwide, including 5,000 in the capital. However several journalists were assaulted at rallies in several cities, as well as a security officer accompanying LCI television reporters who was surrounded and beaten by marchers, some wearing yellow vests, in the northern city of Rouen. "In our democracy, the press is free. In our Republic, the freedom to inform is unalienable. Assaulting journalists is an attack on both," Castaner tweeted. For the first time organisers of the Paris march deployed teams wearing white arm bands to corral the march that began near the Place de la Bastille. "We're guiding the march to make sure they keep to the route and avoid confrontations, so they don't respond to police provocations," one of the "white bands," who gave his name as Anthony, told AFP. But scores of protesters later clashed with riot police at the Arc de Triomphe in Paris, prompting volleys of tear gas and water cannon as security forces prevented them from reaching the heavily fortified Champs-Elysees. The protesters began to disperse as night fell, however, and police began removing armoured vehicles and trucks in an atmosphere of relative calm -- TV images later showed a guitarist crooning not far from the police lines. - 'Macron resign!' - Police detained 244 protesters nationwide, 201 of which were taken into police custody, the interior ministry said. Dozens were arrested in the central city of Bourges, the site of another major rally aimed at drawing people farther from the capital. "I get by on 1,200 euros ($1,380) a month, and taxes eat away at my savings every day. They're taking away everything we have," said "Vercingetorix," a 74-year-old retired archeologist dressed as the legendary Gallic resister to Roman rule. "We want parliament dissolved. Macron has to stop ignoring us and realise how bad things are," said William Lebrethon, a 59-year-old construction worker amid signs saying "Macron resign!" and "France is angry." A few hundred protesters later burned trash cans amid cat-and-mouse clashes with police in Bourges' historic centre, and skirmishes also broke out in Nimes, Nantes, Toulouse, Bordeaux, Lille and other cities. The demonstrations also spilled over the border into eastern Belgium late on Friday, where one of around 25 protesters manning a blockade died after being hit by a truck, Belgian media reported. The man suspected of driving the truck remains on the run. He was identified on Saturday after his licence plate was traced back to a Dutch company, local prosecutors said, adding that a European arrest warrant would be issued. In London, hundreds wearing yellow vests took to the streets as well, demanding a general election and an end to austerity programmes. - 'Condescending and arrogant' - The yellow vest movement, which began as protests over high fuel taxes, has snowballed into a wholesale rejection of Macron and his policies, which are seen as favouring the wealthy at the expense of rural and small-town France. Officials had feared bigger and more violent protests than last week, when demonstrators rammed a forklift truck through the main doors of a government ministry in Paris. But many demonstrators say the violence cuts both ways, pointing to social media footage of a police officer repeatedly striking an unarmed man on the ground during a protest last week in Toulon. Macron has called for a national debate starting next week to hear voters' grievances, hoping to sate demands for more of a say in national law-making and tamp down the protesters' anger. He has already unveiled a 10-billion-euro ($11.5 billion) financial relief package for low earners, and axed the planned fuel tax hike. But the public consultations risk being hobbled by record levels of distrust towards politicians and representatives of the state. A poll by the Cevipof political sciences institute released Friday showed 77 percent of respondents thought politicians inspired "distrust", "disgust" or "boredom". And Macron may not have endeared himself to many voters on Friday, when he told a gathering at the Elysee Palace that "too many of our citizens think they can get something without making the necessary effort." "I work 60 hours a week and don't even make the minimum wage!" said Maurice, a 60-year-old carpenter at a protest in Strasbourg. "Macron goes too far, he's condescending and arrogant. We want the system to change," added his wife, declining to give her name. burs/js/dl
Huawei said Saturday it has fired a Chinese employee who was arrested in Poland on espionage allegations, as China's telecom giant distanced itself from the case amid Western concerns that it could act as a proxy for Chinese security services. This week's detention of Wang Weijing follows the December arrest of Huawei's chief financial officer in Canada and US efforts to blacklist the company internationally over security concerns. While China's government has vociferously defended Huawei CFO Meng Wanzhou and demanded her release, the firm swiftly sacked Wang, who works at its representative office in Poland. "His alleged actions have no relation to the company," Huawei said in a statement to AFP. "In accordance with the terms and conditions of Huawei's labour contract, we have made this decision because the incident in question has brought Huawei into disrepute," it said. "Huawei complies with all applicable laws and regulations in the countries where it operates, and we require every employee to abide by the laws and regulations in the countries where they are based." A Polish man was also arrested for alleged espionage along with Wang on Tuesday. Both men are suspected of having "worked for Chinese services and to the detriment of Poland," said Polish special services spokesman Stanislaw Zaryn. He said their apartments and workplaces were searched, adding that the Polish suspect had worked "for several state institutions". The Chinese foreign ministry said Friday it was "highly concerned" about the case and later said it was seeking to arrange a consular visit for Wang as soon as possible. The Chinese embassy in Poland has also asked Warsaw to "effectively ensure the legitimate rights and interests, and humanitarian and safe treatment of the person involved." - Western fears - According to the LinkedIn profile of "Stanislaw Wang" -- Wang's Polish name, according to Polish media TVP -- the detained Huawei employee worked at the Chinese consulate in Gdansk, Poland prior to his tenure at the Chinese tech firm. At Huawei, Wang worked as a public relations director for more than five years before moving into his current role as sales director in 2017. He is a graduate of the Beijing University of Foreign Studies. His case is the latest setback for Huawei. Its chief financial officer Meng Wanzhou was arrested in Vancouver on December 1 on request from the United States, which has accused her of fraud related to violations of Iran sanctions. Meng is the daughter of Huawei founder Ren Zhengfei, a former Chinese People's Liberation Army engineer. Following her arrest two Canadians were detained in China on grounds of endangering national security, in what has largely been seen as retaliation. Meng's arrest sparked a surge of patriotism in China with companies encouraging staff to buy Huawei smartphones -- and several companies even offering employees subsidies to buy phones from the home-grown company. - 'No evidence' - Huawei in December said it expects to see a 21 percent rise in revenue for 2018 despite what it called "unfair treatment" around the world, as several countries banned its telecommunications technology. Last month, Britain's largest mobile provider BT said that it would remove Huawei equipment from its cellular network after the foreign intelligence service called the company a security risk. Australia and New Zealand have also enacted similar bans, leaving Canada the only country in the "Five Eyes" intelligence network not to take steps against the Chinese firm. Last month, a senior EU official warned that the bloc should be "worried" about Huawei and other Chinese firms. Huawei has rejected Western concerns, saying there was "no evidence" that it poses a threat to the national security of any country. Huawei's business is thriving in many places. Last year the company said it had signed memorandums of understanding for 5G equipment with 45 operators in Asia, Europe and North America.
Indian oil imports from Iran plunged by 41 percent on the year to just over 300,000 bpd in December, roughly around the level of Iranian oil India is restricted to buy under the U.S. waiver, allowing it to continue importing oil from Tehran, according to ship tracking data reviewed by Reuters.

Compared to November, Indias oil imports from Iran increased by 9.4 percent in December after some cargoes had been delayed in November due to lack of tankers, according to the data.

In November, Indias oil imports from Iran dropped to a one-year-low, plunging by 41 percent from October due to the U.S. sanctions on Tehrans oil. Iran also dropped to sixth place on Indias largest oil suppliers list, from fourth in October, losing market share to fellow OPEC members Saudi Arabia, Iraq, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

In November, the month in which the U.S. sanctions snapped back, Indias oil imports from Iran averaged 276,000 bpd, as India had cut back significantly its allocations for November amid uncertainties over who might be getting a U.S. waiver to continue importing oil from Iran.

India did get a waiver, alongside seven other Iranian oil customers, including the single biggest, China. The waivers allow those eight countries to continue Iranian oil imports at reduced volumes until early May 2019. Indias allowed imports from Iran are about 300,000 bpd.

In November, Iran was only sixth among Indias top oil suppliers. Iraq and Saudi Arabia held the first two spots, while the UAEsixth in Octobermoved up to third place, ousting Venezuela to fourth. Nigeria held onto its fifth position, but Iran moved from fourth in October to sixth in November, according to industry and ship-tracking data obtained by Reuters.

According to the December tanker tracking data reviewed by Reuters, Iran was Indias sixth largest oil supplier in December, too. In December 2017, Iran was the third biggest oil supplier to India. In December 2018, Irans market share in Indias oil imports plunged to 6.2 percent from 11.7 percent in December 2017, according to the tanker tracking data.

By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:
Vaca Muerta, the Dead Cow shale formation in Argentinas west, is believed to be one of the largest shale plays globally, the Argentine Permian, and the play that can turn Argentina from a net importer of oil and gas into a net exporter. A number of supermajors have been quick to join state energy company YPF and production of both gas and crude is growing. But the long-term prospects of Vaca Muerta are dimmed by troubles that are making the cost of extracting the oil and gas in the shale play too expensive.

S&P Global Platts Charles Newberry wrote in a recent story that Vaca Muerta has attracted as much as US$165 billion in investment commitments but now the companies that have bet on the play need to cut their production costs to make their projects profitable.

Newberry quotes Shells general manager for unconventional ventures in Latin America, Laurens Gaarenstroom, as saying costs need to be cut to below US$40 a barrel to make things work in Vaca Muerta. This, Gaarenstroom said, involved reducing the costs for frack sand, logistics, fracking, and services.

Rystad Energy analysts also believe the cost of extracting oil and gas from the Vaca Muerta play are too high at present. Cost is where we need to see a lot of progress before Vaca Muerta really becomes competitive from the global perspective, the companys head of shale research, Artem Abramov told the Journal of Petroleum Technology.

In 2017, according to Rystad data, the cost of fracking a well in the Vaca Muerta was the highest, compared with the major U.S. shale plays, at US$1,631 per foot versus US$806-1,111 per foot in the Permian, and as little as US$674 in Bakken.

Improving the drilling costs is a problem for engineers to solve but its not the only one for Vaca Muerta operators. Fracking wells needs a lot of sand, the so-called proppant that keeps the oil and gas flowing once a well is fracked. But there is no sand mine anywhere near the Vaca Muerta; it has to be trucked in from 600 to 1,400 km away, Newberry notes, which is a substantial transportation cost burden that needs relieving. The Argentine government is planning the construction of a railway in this respect but it will take an unclear amount of time and will only cut about 5-10 percent of field development costs. Related: The Natural Gas Crash Isnt Over

As if this is not enough, there is also a looming shortage of oilfield services crews. Despite the cost challenges, activity in the Vaca Muerta is ramping up: the latest announcement in this respect came from Shell, which said at the end of last year it planned to begin the full-scale development of three blocks in the Vaca Muerta this year, eyeing production of 40,000 barrels of oil equivalent by 2021, and 70,000 boed later.

The endeavor will involve drilling more than 300 wells, building an oil processing plant, and constructing 100 km of roads, 75 km of pipelines, as well as power lines and water storage facilities. And thats just one company and one project. Add Chevron, Exxon, YPF, Total, and other operators, all determined to show their investors something for the money they poured into the shale play, and a workforce and resources shortage becomes less than unsurprising; it becomes something that should have been anticipated and planned for but somehow wasnt.

According to Argentine government estimates, the Vaca Muerta could double the countrys oil production to 1 million bpd by 2023, with natural gas production rising to 260 million cubic meters daily. First, however, operators will have to cut costs to make this happen.

By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads from Oilprice.com:
Despite cost controls, increased efficiency, and higher activity offshore Norway, oil production at Western Europes largest oil producer fell in 2018 compared to 2017 and is further expected to drop this year to its lowest level since 1988.

Last year, oil production in Norway fell to 1.49 million barrels per day (bpd), down by 6.3 percent compared to the 1.59 million bpd production in 2017, the oil industry regulator, the Norwegian Petroleum Directorate (NPD), said in its annual report this week. Oil production this year is forecast to drop by another 4.7 percent from last year to reach in 2019 its lowest level in thirty years1.42 million bpd, the NPD estimates show.

As bad as it sounds, this years expected low production is not the worst news for the Norwegian Continental Shelf (NCS) going forward.

Oil production is expected to jump in 2020 through 2023, thanks to the start up in late 2019 of Johan Sverdrupthe North Sea giant, as operator Equinor calls it. With expected resources of 2.1 billion3.1 billion barrels of oil equivalent, Johan Sverdrup is one of the largest discoveries on the NCS ever made. It will be one of the most important industrial projects in Norway in the next 50 years, and at its peak, the project's production will account for 25 percent of Norways total oil production, Equinor says.

The worst news for Norways oil production, as things stand now, is that after Johan Sverdrup and after Johan Castberg in the Barents Sea scheduled for first oil in 2022, Norway doesnt have major oil discoveries and projects to sustain its oil production after the middle of the 2020s.

The NPD started warning last year that from the mid-2020s onward, production offshore Norway will start to decline so making new and large discoveries quickly is necessary for maintaining production at the same level from the mid-2020s. Related: OPECs No.2 Boosted Production, Exports Just Before Cuts Began

In the report this week, NPD Director General Bente Nyland said:

The high level of exploration activity proves that the Norwegian Shelf is attractive. That is good news! However, resource growth at this level is not sufficient to maintain a high level of production after 2025. Therefore, more profitable resources must be proven, and the clock is ticking.

Norwegian oil production in 2018 was expected to drop compared to the previous year, but the decline proved to be greater than expected, the NPD said, attributing part of the production fall to the fact that some of the newer fields are more complex than previously assumed, and certain other fields delivered below forecast, mainly because fewer wells were drilled than expected.

In October 2018, Germanys Wintershall warned that its Maria oil and gas field off Norway was not fully meeting expectations due to issues with water injection. Those issues havent been solved yet, NPDs Nyland told Reuters this week.

Exploration activity in Norway considerably increased in 2018 compared to 2017, with 53 exploration wells spud, up by 17 wells compared to the previous year. Based on company plans, this years exploration activity is expected to remain high and around the 2018 number of wells spud, the NPD says.

The key reasons for higher exploration activity have been reduced costs, higher oil prices lifting exploration profitability, and new and improved seismic data on large parts of the Shelf, the NPD noted. Related: There Is Still Room To Run For Oil Prices

However, the Norwegian oil regulator warned that resource growth at this level is not sufficient to maintain production of oil and gas at a high level after 2025. Therefore, it is essential that more profitable resources are proven in the next few years.

Norway still holds a lot of oil under its Shelf, and those remaining resources could sustain its oil and gas production for decades to come. The industrys problem is that after Johan Sverdrup and Johan Castberg there havent been major discoveries.

According to the NPDs resource estimate, nearly two-thirds of the undiscovered resources lie in the Barents Sea.

Therefore, this area will be important for maintaining production over the longer term, the regulator said.

Operators on the NCS have made great efforts to try to make even smaller discoveries profitable by hooking them to existing platforms and production hubs. However, these smaller finds alone cant offset maturing productionNorway needs major oil discoveries, and it needs them soon, considering that the lead time from discovery to production is several years.

By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:
Say hello to 25 sci-fi & fantasy debut novels arriving in 2019 to change your world (or at least overfill your bookshelves). https://t.co/b82V4Cr4ZJ pic.twitter.com/H7Ow5TwSmA  B&N Sci-Fi & Fantasy (@BNSciFi) January 10, 2019

Here and Now and Then

by Mike Chen (January 29)

Descendant of the Crane

by Joan He (April 2)

We Hunt the Flame

by Hafsah Faizal (May 14)

David Mogo, Godhunter

by Suyi Davies Okungbowa (July 9)

Gideon the Ninth

by Tamsym Muir (September 10)

To save his daughter, he'll go anywhereand any-whenKin Stewart is an everyday family man: working in I.T., trying to keep the spark in his marriage, struggling to connect with his teenage daughter, Miranda. But his current life is a far cry from his previous careeras a time-traveling secret agent from 2142.Stranded in suburban San Francisco since the 1990s after a botched mission, Kin has kept his past hidden from everyone around him, despite the increasing blackouts and memory loss affecting his time-traveler's brain. Until one afternoon, his rescue team arriveseighteen years too late.Their mission: return Kin to 2142 where he's only been gone weeks, not years, and where another family is waiting for him. A family he cant remember.Torn between two lives, Kin is desperate for a way to stay connected to both. But when his best efforts threaten to destroy the agency and even history itself, his daughters very existence is at risk. It'll take one final trip across time to save Mirandaeven if it means breaking all the rules of time travel in the process.Princess Hesina of Yan has always been eager to shirk the responsibilities of the crown, but when her beloved father is murdered, shes thrust into power, suddenly the queen of an unstable kingdom. Determined to find her fathers killer, Hesina does something desperate: she engages the aid of a soothsayera treasonous act, punishable by death... because in Yan, magic was outlawed centuries ago.Using the information illicitly provided by the sooth, and uncertain if she can trust even her family, Hesina turns to Akiraa brilliant and alluring investigator whos also a convicted criminal with secrets of his own. With the future of her kingdom at stake, can Hesina find justice for her father? Or will the cost be too high?Zafira is the Hunter, disguising herself as a man when she braves the cursed forest of the Arz to feed her people. Nasir is the Prince of Death, assassinating those foolish enough to defy his autocratic father, the king. If Zafira was exposed as a girl, all of her achievements would be rejected; if Nasir displayed his compassion, his father would punish him in the most brutal of ways.Both are legends in the kingdom of Arawiyabut neither wants to be.War is brewing, and the Arz sweeps closer with each passing day, engulfing the land in shadow. When Zafira embarks on a quest to uncover a lost artifact that can restore magic to her suffering world and stop the Arz, Nasir is sent by the king on a similar mission: retrieve the artifact and kill the Hunter. But an ancient evil stirs as their journey unfoldsand the prize they seek may pose a threat greater than either can imagine.Since the Orisha War that rained thousands of deities down on the streets of Lagos, David Mogo, demigod, scours Ekos dank underbelly for a living wage as a freelance Godhunter. Despite pulling his biggest feat yet by capturing a high god for a renowned Eko wizard, David knows his jobs bad luck. Hes proved right when the wizard conjures a legion of Taboosferal godling-child hybridsto seize Lagos for himself. To fix his mistake and keep Lagos standing, David teams up with his foster wizard, the high gods twin sister and a speech-impaired Muslim teenage girl to defeat the wizard.Brought up by unfriendly, ossifying nuns, ancient retainers, and countless skeletons, Gideon is ready to abandon a life of servitude and an afterlife as a reanimated corpse. She packs up her sword, her shoes, and her dirty magazines, and prepares to launch her daring escape. But her childhood nemesis won't set her free without a service.Harrowhark Nonagesimus, Reverend Daughter of the Ninth House and bone witch extraordinaire, has been summoned into action. The Emperor has invited the heirs to each of his loyal Houses to a deadly trial of wits and skill. If Harrowhark succeeds she will be become an immortal, all-powerful servant of the Resurrection, but no necromancer can ascend without their cavalier. Without Gideon's sword, Harrow will fail, and the Ninth House will die.Of course, some things are better left dead.
U.S. President Donald Trump has reiterated that Mexico will pay for the wall that he pledged to build along the countrys southern border during the 2015/2016 campaign rallies.

In an early-morning tweet, Trump declared that the benefits accruing from the recently signed United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) trade deal would meet the cost of the wall:

I often said during rallies, with little variation, that Mexico will pay for the Wall. We have just signed a great new Trade Deal with Mexico. It is Billions of Dollars a year better than the very bad NAFTA deal which it replaces. The difference pays for Wall many times over!

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The USMCA was signed by the leaders of the three countries last year on November. However, none of the governments of the three countries have ratified the deal.

Trumps claim that the USMCA deal will see Mexico pay for the wall indirectly has previously been rubbished by experts. The experts argue that, after ratification, the deal will not translate into federal revenues that would be enough to pay for the wall.

FactCheck: Not Really

Responding to a query by fact-checking website, FactCheck, a University of Pennsylvania professor, Kent Smetters, stated that the accruing benefits from the new trade deal would not be enough to cover the maintenance costs of the wall:

Relative to NAFTA, the Mexican government would not nearly lose enough tariff revenue that could be constituted as paying for the wall, at least the wall as previously envisioned by the Administration; nor would the U.S. government revenue increase enough based on a dynamic score. In fact, the additional revenue to U.S. relative to NAFTA would, optimistically, not cover annual maintenance and improvements of the wall much less the original build.

Other experts also concurred with Smetters leading FactCheck to conclude that Trumps claim was false.

Prior to being elected Trump severally stated that Mexico would pay for the wall directly.

Story continues

Its an easy decision for Mexico: make a one-time payment of $5- 10 billion to ensure that $24 billion continues to flow into their country year after year, reads a part of a Trump campaign document titled Pay for the Wall released in 2015.

Internet Never Forgets

Then, Trump indicated in a campaign position paper that there were a variety of ways that the United States could use to compel its neighbor to the south to pay for the wall:

Mexico must pay for the wall and, until they do, the United States will, among other things: impound all remittance payments derived from illegal wages; increase fees on all temporary visas issued to Mexican CEOs and diplomats (and if necessary cancel them); increase fees on all border crossing cards  of which we issue about 1 million to Mexican nationals each year (a major source of visa overstays); increase fees on all NAFTA worker visas from Mexico (another major source of overstays); and increase fees at ports of entry to the United States from Mexico [Tariffs and foreign aid cuts are also options]. We will not be taken advantage of anymore.

Trumps tweet comes at a time when the shutdown occasioned by a failure by the U.S. Congress to allocate money for building the wall is entering its 21st day.

Featured image from Shutterstock.



The post Trump: Mexico will Pay for Wall as USMCA is Billions of Dollars Better Than NAFTA appeared first on CCN.


Belgrade, SerbiaMajor opposition protests in Serbia have been relatively rare over the past decade, but the icy January air has ushered in a swelling mood of revolt. Since last month, thousands of demonstrators have rallied each Saturday through Belgrades frozen streets against President Aleksandar Vucic, accusing him of stifling media freedoms and cracking down on the opposition. This Saturday, for the sixth time in a row, the marchers will again hoist their flags and banners in a united display of discontent against Vucics increasingly controversial rule. Dictator! cried the crowd at a recent demonstration in the capital. More than a dozen people carried a giant banner reading: Stop bloody shirtsa reference to opposition politician Borko Stefanovics bloodstained shirt after he was beaten up last November. It was that incident that triggered the first protests. The assault was reminiscent of the violent attacks on political opponents in the 1990s under the rule of late strongman Slobodan Milosevic. The authorities denied involvement in the attack on Stefanovic, but the Alliance for Serbia, an umbrella group of opposition parties from across the political spectrum, blamed Vucics Serbian Progressive Party (SNS). Then youth activists, who insist they are not affiliated with any political party, decided to step in. We realised that the time had come to do something on the street, one of the protest organisers, Jelena Anasonovic, told AFP. The violence, both physical and verbal in everyday Serbian life, had become the norm, Anasonovic said. Vucic, a former ultra-nationalist who now says he favours Serbia joining the EU, has rejected claims he has become autocratic. And despite the protests, opinion polls suggest Vucics SNS party dominates the political arena. Serbias divided opposition that has little in common other than an aversion to the president. The opposition does not offer a viable alternative to the autocracy of Vucic even though he is unbearable, said protester Milos Banjanin, a 27-year old economist. The next national vote is expected in 2020 but Vucic, who served as premier from 2014 and became president in 2017, has hinted he could call early elections. Observers and polls suggest he would likely win. The first anti-Vucic protest on December 8 drew several thousand people, but the numbers quickly grew due to two unrelated events -- the reaction of the president and a report by a pro-government TV journalist.Speaking after the first demonstration, Vucic told the nation even if there were five million people in the street he would not agree to the protesters demands. That acted as a catalyst for the demonstrators, who adopted the slogan one in five million. Then TV reporter Barbara Zivotic, from the pro-government private channel said that very few people were demonstrating. Those who were, she said, calling for lynching, rape, violence and a coup detat. Video of the report went viral and was widely mocked online. Thank you Barbara protesters wrote on Twitter, as thousands of people were inspired to brave the heavy snow and freezing temperatures to join the protests. The latest protests brought out 40,000 people on to the streets say organisers, although police have not confirmed the figure. The scale of the demonstrations caught many people by surprise, including some (opposition) politicians, said Dragan Djilas, an opposition leader. Although opposition parties hope to capitalise on the protests, which now include celebrities and prominent activists, some protesters are wary of politicians trying to cash in on their success. Only when the opposition does something to prove itself in fighting the authorities will it get the right to speak, said actor Branislav Trifunovic, one of the most prominent protesters. For the moment they can walk with us and shut up, he said. Protesters have called for the head of the public broadcaster RTS to step down. They want at least five minutes of air time each day to break the media blockade, Trifunovic added. The European Commission last year raised concerns about media freedoms in Serbia, denouncing threats, intimidation and violence against journalists. But Vucic has rejected such criticism. According to Serbian media, the president could use the next weeks visit of Russias President Vladimir Putin to show off the strength of his national support. These are protests of all opposition voters who are unhappy with the authorities. At some point it will have to be politically articulated, said independent political analyst Boban Stojanovic.
Toronto (Canada) (AFP) - A "very, very happy" Saudi teenager who caused a sensation by defying her family and seeking asylum abroad was welcomed with open arms in Toronto Saturday at the end of a dramatic but exhausting international odyssey.

Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland greeted Rahaf Mohammed al-Qunun after she landed in Toronto, wearing a skirt, a gray hoodie emblazoned in red with the word "CANADA" and a blue cap with the logo of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).

Smiling broadly, the 18-year-old posed for photographers with Freeland at her side, but made no statement.

Later, she tweeted a video of her arrival, with the comment: "I love Canada I love you all."

Freeland said Qunun "wanted Canadians to see that she's here, that she's well and that she is very, very happy to be in her new home."

"She had a pretty long journey and is exhausted and prefers not to take questions for the moment," the diplomatic chief added, with an arm around Qunun's shoulder.

She was taken in by Toronto-based refugee group Costi, a spokeswoman said.

Shortly after her arrival, Qunun went shopping for some warm clothes in central Ontario, according to the spokesman, noting the teenager knows several people there and contacted them.

In the coming days, Costi representatives will help her open a bank account and perform various administrative tasks before finding her a permanent home.

In the meantime, she is staying in a facility constantly under guard. Costi has recommended Qunun that she avoid sharing her address.

- A trail of tweets -

The arrival in Canada marks the epilogue of an international saga.

Qunun captured the world's attention with a trail of Twitter posts that ignited a #SaveRahaf movement as she fled what she said was physical and psychological abuse from her family in ultra-conservative Saudi Arabia.

Rights groups also said she had renounced Islam, risking prosecution in Saudi Arabia. Her family has denied the abuse allegations.

Story continues

The publicity thwarted an attempt to deport her to Saudi Arabia after she arrived in Bangkok on a flight from Kuwait a week ago, with Thai authorities instead turning her over to the UN's refugee agency.

Then on Friday, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau made the surprise announcement that Canada would welcome her.

Freeland said that in granting Qunun asylum, Canada was "standing up for human rights around the world, and we believe very strongly that women's rights are human rights."

The move is sure to further strain Canada's relations with the kingdom. Ties went sideways last August over Ottawa's rights criticism of Saudi Arabia, prompting Riyadh to expel the Canadian ambassador and sever all trade and investment ties in protest.

Canada also sparked fury in Riyadh by demanding the "immediate release" of jailed rights campaigners, including Samar Badawi, the sister of jailed blogger Raif Badawi, whose family lives in Quebec.

Qunun's attempt to flee Saudi Arabia was embraced by rights groups as a beacon of defiance against repression.

-'Precarious situation'-

"Ms al-Qunun's plight has captured the world's attention over the past few days, providing a glimpse into the precarious situation of millions of refugees worldwide," said Filippo Grandi, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees.

"Refugee protection today is often under threat and cannot always be assured, but in this instance international refugee law and overriding values of humanity have prevailed."

Raif Badawi's wife Ensaf Haidar also praised Canada, calling Freeland on Twitter "the real hero" behind efforts to prevent Qunun's repatriation to Saudi Arabia.

Qunun first said she was aiming for Australia. But late Friday, Thailand's immigration police chief Surachate Hakparn said a smiling and cheerful Rahaf was bound for Toronto.

"The only country that really helped me in the end was Canada," Qunun said after arriving in Toronto. "The rest were afraid and cowards."

In a tweet, the UNHCR said: "We welcome Rahaf's arrival in Canada and the Canadian Government's decision to provide protection and a long-term solution for her there as a resettled refugee."

- Death threats -

On Friday, Qunun posted a cryptic tweet on her profile saying, "I have some good news and some bad news." Her account was deactivated shortly afterward in response to death threats she had faced, her friends said.

But she was back online later in the day, tweeting: "I would like to thank you people for supporting me and saving my life. Truly I have never dreamed of this love and support."

She opened and began using a new Twitter handle on Friday, citing the threats.

Qunun's use of Twitter saw her amass tens of thousands of followers within a week, highlighting her plight at a time when Saudi Arabia's human rights record is under heavy scrutiny following the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi last year.

Her deployment of social media allowed her to avoid the fate of countless other refugees who are quietly sent back home or left to languish in Bangkok detention centers.

She refused to see her father, who traveled to Thailand and expressed opposition to her resettlement.
ADEN (Reuters) - A fire at a refinery in Yemen's southern port city of Aden spread to a second storage tank on Saturday, injuring six people, sources at the refinery said. They told Reuters that civil defense forces had failed to contain the fire sparked by an explosion on Friday. The cause of the blast is still unknown. Aden is under the control of the internationally recognized government, which is backed by a Saudi-led and Western-backed coalition and which is battling the Iranian-aligned Houthi movement that seized the capital Sanaa in 2014. The United Nations launched peace talks last month to try to end the nearly four-year-old war that has killed tens of thousands of people, devastated the economy and left millions facing severe hunger. But tensions have resurged since then. A Houthi drone attack on Thursday on a government military parade in Lahaj, a province next to Aden, killed several people. Saudi state television said on Friday the coalition destroyed a base used by Houthis to direct their unmanned aircraft. The Houthis deny receiving help from Tehran and say they are fighting against corruption. The conflict is widely seen in the region as a proxy war between Sunni Muslim Saudi Arabia and Shi'ite Muslim Iran. (Reporting by Mohammed Ghobari; Editing by Edmund Blair)
Reuters

Graham Allison

economy, Americas

Expect Trump to declare a triumph in a great trade deal that will feature Chinas purchase of more than a trillion dollars of additional U.S. products.

Xi Jinping will Give Donald Trump a Victory on Trade

With the conclusion of the first round of negotiations yesterday in Beijing, the way ahead for the United States and China to avoid a full-scale tariff war has become clear. With fifty days remaining before the March 1 end of the truce Trump and Xi announced to prevent U.S. tariffs increasing from 10 to 25 percent on $200 billion of Chinese imports, negotiations are likely to continue until the deadline. But before March 1, Trump will declare victory in this phase of the trade warextending the truce for another six months in which a second phase of negotiations will address even more contentious issues.

My assessment is based on my analysis of the economic and political challenges that Trump and Xi are currently confronting. It is also informed by conversations with key members of Chinese president Xi Jinpings team during a recent visit to Beijing.

In watching Beijing, its more instructive to think of it as a corporation than a government. Each December the CEO and his team set objectives for the year to come. Like the leadership of Apple or Amazon, they assess the headwinds, including signs of slowdown in the Chinese economy, projections of flagging global economic growth, and uncertainties about the trade war. On that basis they make decisions about how they are going to deliver the growth they have promised shareholdersin Chinas case: 6.5 percent.

In a series of closed-door meetings in December, Xi explained to key members of his team that sustaining current levels of economic growth will require painful choices and offered them clues about what those were likely to be. On December 18, celebrating the fortieth anniversary of Chinas opening to the world, Xi reminded his 1.4 billion fellow citizensshareholdersthat over those four decades, their Party-led government has delivered economic growth of 10 percent a year.

Story continues

But his speech also struck an odd note when he declared boldly that there is no great master who can dictate to the Chinese people. My response was: say what? But as knowledgeable Chinese colleagues explained, this is how he is framing the deal he knows critics will say concedes too much to the Americansinsisting that as master of its own destiny, China is making these changes for the benefit of China.

The most frequent question Beijing policymakers asked me is whether the current U.S. government can take yes for an answer. In an earlier round of negotiations, Secretary of the Treasury Mnuchin and Chinese vice premier Liu He reached an agreement that would have reduced the bilateral trade imbalance by $70 billion in 2019. Both left the bargaining table thinking they were done. But then other members of the Trump teamspecifically Trade Representative Lighthizer and White House Assistant Peter Navarroscuppered the agreement.

In current negotiations, Lighthizer has the lead. The Chinese have studied his successful negotiation of the new NAFTA mere months ago. They see the differences between the old NAFTA and the new agreement as plus or minus 10 to 15 percent. If all it takes to transform what Trump called the worst trade deal ever made into a great deal is to allow Trump to make it so, then Xi will be happy to play along. As a Chinese friend noted, China was practicing ritualistic hypocrisy long before Columbus discovered America.

Chinese negotiators have dissected the White House summary of what Trump and Xi agreed to at the G20 meeting when announcing the truce. It promised to shrink the bilateral trade deficit, reduce Chinese non-tariff barriers, provide American companies a larger share in key Chinese markets, and constrain theft and forced transfer of intellectual property. But on the much more difficult issue of industrial policy and the role of the government in the Chinese economy, it was instructively silent.

The Chinese team has also noted Trumps hypersensitivity to the U.S. stock market, which he seems to regard as a virtual political EKG. With the prospect of a wider trade war rattling American markets, which have since October fallen near bear levels, Chinese leaders know that Trump will be entangled in a life-or-death struggle with the Democratic leadership of the House. They calculate that he will do whatever is required to avoid a sharp fall in U.S. markets that could push the United States into recessionand ensure his defeat in the 2020 election.

Thus, before March 1 expect Trump to declare a triumph in a great trade deal that will feature Chinas purchase of more than a trillion dollars of additional U.S. products. In addition to purchases of additional U.S. gas, oil, and agricultural produces, expect the agreement to include targets for increases in American companies share of banking, insurance, and equity markets. Since American producers account for 6 percent of Chinas current gas imports, 3 percent of its oil imports, and 14 percent of its agricultural imports, and Chinese companies control 98 percent of its banking market, 95 percent of the equity business, and 91 percent of insurance, all this should not be that hard. Phase two of the negotiations will then struggle with the more difficult issues of protection of intellectual property and industrial policy.

On the larger geopolitical chessboard, the tariff conflict is relatively small potatoes. The terms on which it is settled, or postponed, will not significantly affect the trajectory of the Thucydidean rivalry between a rising China and a ruling United States. Even if China were to concede on every item on the Trump teams wish list, Chinas economy will likely continue growing at more than twice the rate of the United States. The consequences of an agreement (or postponement) for U.S. markets and the presidents political prospects are another matter.

Yogi Berra cautioned against making predictionsespecially about the future. Nonetheless, if placing my bet today, I make the odds of a great deal as more likely than not.

Graham Allison is the author of nine books, most recently Destined for War: Can America and China Escape Thucydides's Trap?. He is presently the Douglas Dillon Professor of Government at the Harvard Kennedy School.

Image: Reuters

Read full article
Journalist Leah McSweeney, left, is interviewed by Nancy Rommelmann on a YouTube channel called #MeNeither (Photo: Instagram)

When Camila Coddou found out her former employer, who apparently co-owned a chain of coffee shops, had a politically charged YouTube channel called #MeNeither, the feminist felt compelled to expose her. And now shes paying for it.

Coddou worked as an operations manager for Ristretto Roasters in Portland, Ore., from 2013 to 2018. She says the coffee company and cafe chain is co-owed by Nancy Rommelmann and her husband, Din Johnson.

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Coddou discovered Rommelmanns YouTube page on Jan. 7. The channel has three videos. They consist of discussions between Rommelmann, an author and journalist, and Leah McSweeney, also a journalist. Coddou was disturbed by the content. To see your boss deny the experiences of sexual assault survivors in a public forum is pretty disheartening, Coddou tells Yahoo Lifestyle.

When these videos were shared with me by a current concerned employee, I knew it was my duty to inform the public about these videos, Coddou says. She immediately shared them on her social media channels and alerted local media outlets. She said she had the support of 30 current and former Ristretto employees.

Two days later, on Jan. 9, she was dismissed from her new bookkeeping job because Ristretto is one of her employers clients, Coddou says. After I saw Rommelmanns YouTube channel and shared the public information on my personal social media profile, I received a call from the bookkeeper saying she could no longer bring me on, Coddou explains. She stated that what I had done in sharing the public YouTube channel was slander and that in the legal paperwork  which I hadnt yet signed  there was a specific clause regarding slander against a current client of the business. The bookkeeper did not respond to Yahoo Lifestyles request for comment.

While speaking out against Rommelmanns YouTube channel has cost her, Coddou wont back down.

As a queer women of color who has worked in the largely cis-male-dominated field of specialty coffee for over a decade, I make it my personal responsibility as consumer to know who I am supporting when I visit a business, she says. My goal isnt to negatively impact Ristretto or to lead a boycott, or to have dialogue with Rommelmann regarding her opinions. My goal is to give people information so that they can then make their own choices as to where they spend their money.

Story continues

She was originally shocked by the videos, in which the two women discuss toxic femininity; attack Harvey Weinsteins accusers Asia Argento and Rose McGowan, calling them a succubus and fame-eater respectively; and defend Louis C.K.s quick comeback. For the most part I valued my professional relationship with Nancy when we did work together through the years, she says. I had some inkling about her political beliefs. I knew that there were fundamental differences in our belief systems, so I did my best not to engage in political discourse with her.

However, Rommelmann denies that she was ever Coddous superior. In fact, she denies any official involvement in her husbands company. When the first RR opened in 2005, I was very involved: baked, cleaned and handled back-end stuff, she tells Yahoo Lifestyle. The company was seen as a mom-and-pop business, including, though we repeatedly corrected them, that was I was part-owner of the business. I was not, I never have been.  I would ALWAYS say, This is Dins business.

That wasnt made clear to the employees, Coddou says. Nancy was always presented to me as one of the owners of Ristretto Roasters, from the day I started to the day I left, Coddou recalls. Nancy made decisions ranging from what sorts of pastries the cafes would carry to when it was time to close down one of our locations. She admits that she never saw any official paperwork identifying Rommelmann as a co-owner of Ristretto Roasters but adds that to say that she was anything but extensively involved in running the business is untrue. All cafe staff deferred to her authority, and she and I had countless conversations regarding the running of Ristretto. She points to an article that identified Rommelmann as a co-owner and a 2013 Instagram post of Rommelmanns that shows her name on Ristretto Roasters liquor license.

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I do not work for Ristretto, the business my husband founded and owns, Rommelmann insists. The Oregonian found a state registry paper from 2005 that listed me as a manager  thats been updated with the state, she explains. At some point way back when, we must have filed papers that required some sort of title; hence, I put manager. Im not and never have been.

For these reasons, Johnson feels it is unfair to hold Rommelmanns political beliefs and YouTube videos against his business. In response to Coddous campaign, Johnson wrote a letter to staff saying, Nancy is neither an owner nor employee of Ristretto.  Ristretto remains politically neutral.  Trying to involve us in a fight we are not in is unfair to our employees, and to the business.

Coddou left Ristretto last year because of the companys pervasive culture of poor communication and lack of accountability. She didnt feel supported by her supposed direct superiors, Rommelmann and Johnson. Rommelmann said she thought Coddou was increasingly unhappy toward the end because she didnt see Johnson as aligned with her politics.

Whatever her reason for leaving, Coddou was about to start her new job when this all happened. During my time with Ristretto, I worked closely with our independently contracted bookkeeper. She and I had an excellent working relationship, so shortly after I left Ristretto she asked me if I would be interested in working for her, Coddou recalls. I said yes, and we of course both agreed I would deal with all her clients except Ristretto. They met a few times to discuss onboarding and future plans for the business. We had a few of these planning meetings, but I hadnt signed any of the official legal documents pertaining to the work.

Fast-forward to today, and shes out of work for being a whistleblower. Rather than hold Rommelmann accountable for her poor behavior, I am being reprimanded for bringing it to light, she wrote on Instagram.

But she doesnt regret her decision. A lot of people are thanking me for coming forward and sharing this information more widely, but for me, it was just so clearly what had to be done.  Im just so happy most people are falling on the right side of this thing.

And while this could affect her husbands business (Yahoo Lifestyle spoke to another former Ristretto employee who resigned last night because of this), Rommelmann also has no regrets. And shes moving forward with her series. The whole point of the YouTube channel is to get different voices and viewpoints in the room about uncomfortable subjects, she says. It is absolutely not the case that I think the #MeToo movement is for attention-seekers, she insists. If you dont toe someones line, you are marked as an enemy to the cause. If youre asking me if I believe all people should be treated equally and with dignity, my God, of course. May this will be the direction the movement is going.

She does admit, however, that #MeNeither might not be the best name.

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President Donald Trumps repeated threats to declare a national emergency in order to build a border wall have led to an unusually high amount of pushback from Republicans concerned about executive overreach.

As the partial government shutdown edged toward becoming the longest in U.S. history on Friday, Trump again said he may invoke broad emergency powers if House Democrats wont agree to $5.7 billion in funding for the wall.

Im not going to do it so fast, he told reporters at the White House Friday. We want Congress to do its job.

But the suggestion to use emergency powers ruffled the feathers of conservative members of Congress who frequently criticized Barack Obama for what they considered an overreach of executive powers and raised concerns among lawmakers who expect to serve under a Democratic president again eventually.

I think its a bad precedent and it contravenes the power of the purse that comes from the elected representatives of the people, Iowa Sen. Chuck Grassley said Friday on CNBC. I dont understand why there cant be a compromise here.

Republican strategists cautioned that the move could backfire even in the short term.

Alex Conant, who worked for Florida Sen. Marco Rubios presidential campaign, said some Republicans are already annoyed with Trump for reneging on his support for a spending bill that would have prevented the shutdown. He warned that invoking emergency powers could split an already fragile congressional coalition.

It gets him through the current news cycle but it doesnt solve any of his problems, he told TIME.

Conservative donors have also spoken out.

Republican donor Dan Eberhart characterized Trumps potential move as a bridge too far. Weaponing a national emergency to achieve a policy objective is usually something that happens in banana republics, not George Washingtons republic, he told TIME.

This matter is one of the few on which Eberhart is united with Democrats. His comments about the detrimental effects of executive power bore similarity to those of House Democratic Majority Leader Steny Hoyer earlier this week.

Story continues

I think it is analogous to the governments you see all over the world declaring martial law, justifying whatever they want to do to whomever they want to, whenever they want to, Hoyer said this past Tuesday when asked about the concept. We dont think thats the American way. We dont think thats the constitutional way.

A major concern for Republicans in Congress is the precedent this would set for future budget standoffs. If Trump prevails with this approach, they note, there would be little to stop a future president from using similar the same maneuver to go around Congress on issues like climate change or gun control.

Even Republicans who are supportive of using these powers acknowledge that a Congressional negotiation is preferable, and that invoking them would inevitably lead to a protracted court fight. I think everyone would rather a deal [with Congress], said Brian Ballard, a Republican lobbyist and vice chairman on the Republican National Committees finance team. But I dont think a deal is possible.

This notion of futility has also extended to some lawmakers. South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham had been trying to field a compromise between the two parties, only to come up short and determine the stalemate had no end date. Since Thursday, he has been urging the President to declare a national emergency to fund the border wall.

Democrats will do everything in their power to defeat Trump in 2020, Graham said in a statement after meeting with President Trump Friday. Mr. President, declare a national emergency now. Build a wall now.

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With reporting by Philip Elliott/Washington
Washington (AFP) - The US military has removed some equipment from Syria, a defense official confirmed Thursday, following a report that the drawdown ordered by President Donald Trump is now underway.

"I can confirm the movement of equipment from Syria," the official told AFP. "For security reasons, I am not going to provide further details at this time."

Trump's shock announcement on December 19 that he was withdrawing all 2,000 American troops from the conflict-wracked Middle Eastern country concerned allies and prompted the resignation of his then defense chief Jim Mattis.

Since then, however, administration officials appear to have walked back considerably and the current envisaged timetable is unclear.

The removal of the equipment in recent days was first reported by CNN, which quoted an administration official with direct knowledge of the operation as saying it signaled the beginning of US withdrawal from the Middle Eastern country.

The official quoted by CNN would not describe exactly what the cargo was or how it was being transported.

They also did not say what part of Syria it came from, though it is expected the drawdown would begin in the country's north.

The CNN report added that officials it had previously spoken to said the Pentagon wants to signal to the president it is working towards his goals following his withdrawal decision last month.

Though the removal of troops is not on the cards immediately, withdrawing equipment is a means of showing progress towards this goal, it added.

On Sunday, National Security Adviser John Bolton set out stringent conditions for the proposed withdrawal, saying the defense of allies must first be assured.

"We're going to be discussing the president's decision to withdraw, but to do so from northeast Syria in a way that makes sure that ISIS is defeated and is not able to revive itself and become a threat again," Bolton said when meeting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem.

Speaking in Egypt Thursday, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo stressed the troop pullout from Syria would go ahead as he urged Middle East nations to forge a common stand against Tehran.
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READ: MILF faction threatened Cotabato, mayor says
As hundreds of thousands of federal workers fretted on Friday about how they will pay bills amid the partial government shutdown, the missed pay-checks turned out to be particularly cruel for nearly three dozen employees at one obscure government agency.

Their checks slipped right through their hands, or at least through their bank accounts.

Because of an apparent clerical error, a federal division that processes pay-checks for a big chunk of the government workforce mistakenly paid about 30 employees at the Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board.

The District of Columbia-based board investigates industrial chemical accidents, but nearly all of the board's employees have been furloughed during the government shutdown.

The chemical safety board's payroll is processed by the Interior Business Centre, which handles payments for 240,000 employees at 42 agencies.

On Friday morning, the centre mistakenly paid the furloughed chemical safety board employees, as well as two other Interior Department employees, according to a senior department official.

Within hours, the Interior Business Centre recognised the mistake. The leaders of the chemical safety board quickly sent out an urgent email asking employees not to spend the money.

"PLEASE DO NOT ACCESS THE FUNDS," the email read. "We are working with IBC to determine how to remedy this situation and it is best if you don't access the funds."

An Interior Department official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss personnel matters, said a chemical safety board employee submitted an improper payroll code, triggering the error.

Furloughed federal employees, who do not work during the shutdown, are supposed to be assigned a payroll code of 105, the official said. Excepted employees - who work during the shutdown but may not be paid until it has been resolved - are supposed to be given a code of 107. Exempted employees, who work during the shutdown and expect to be paid, are coded 010, the official said.

Story continues

"As best we're told, the coder for the board was a new person who did not understand how to do the coding properly," the official said.

On Friday, Interior Business Centre officials spent the morning recouping the payments by freezing the deposits after they had been sent to banks.

"There are three banks that are involved, and we've called the banks to trace that money and work to pull it back," said the official, adding that the department recalled payments to the two other Interior Department employees.

Despite the error, the official said the process of withholding pay-checks to hundreds of thousands of federal workers largely functioned as planned.

Before 2002, the federal government had 26 payroll systems for federal employees. The systems were restricted by President George W Bush, resulting in them being consolidated into four shared-service providers managed by the Pentagon, the General Services Administration, the Agriculture Department and the Interior Department.

Three years ago, the Interior Business Centre became a source of ire for federal employees after it failed to pay 40,000 of them on time. The error forced the agency to contact banks to urge them not to punish federal workers who feared bounced checks and late mortgage payments - just the sort of angst the US government workforce now faces.

The Washington Post
Running: Joe Biden, Elizabeth Warren, and Bernie Sanders

The Democratic Party still has a long way to go to have any chance of wrestling back power from Donald Trump in 2020.

There will be no coronation for a Democrat champion to take on Trump. Instead, the party's nomination is wide open and the field of candidates is expected to be one of the biggest ever assembled.

It ranges from septuagenarian veterans of Washington to young pretenders barely known yet on the national stage. The party will have to decide whether to go with experience, or to skip a generation and try new blood.

Here are all the Democrats who have announced they will be running.

Joe Biden

Joe Biden said Donald Trump posed a historic threat to the values of America on Thursday as he formally announced his 2020 White House bid, framing himself as the person best placed to defeat the US president.

Mr Biden, who served as Barack Obamas vice president for eight years, confirmed his long-expected bid in a video that declared a battle for the soul of this nation was underway.

If we give Donald Trump eight years in the White House, he will forever and fundamentally alter the character of this nation, who we are. And I cannot stand by and watch that happen, Mr Biden said.

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He immediately became the front-runner, according to a Reuters/Ipsos public opinion poll after the announcement.

His campaign launch also ushered in a new phase in the nominating contest. With the field largely set, the leading candidates have begun to turn on one another, raising the prospect of an ugly fight for the future of the party that could have lasting consequences for Democrats' quest to reclaim the White House.

Biden's campaign said Friday it raised $6.3 million in the first 24 hours since announcing, narrowly besting Sanders' first-day haul.

Read the full profile.

Elizabeth Warren

The US Senator of Massachusetts announced on December 31 she had formed an exploratory committee for a presidential run in 2020.

Story continues

The following week, Ms Warren informally kicked off the nominating fight on a visit to Iowa, condemning the corrupting influence of money on politics and lamenting lost economic opportunities for working families.

Sen. Elizabeth Warren speaks during an organising event at Curate event space in Des Moines, Iowa Credit: AP

After weeks of criticism over her claims of Native American heritage, Ms Warren formally launched her 2020 presidential campaign in February, saying she is fighting for all Americans.

Warren, 69, has made workers rights, fair wages and access to healthcare central to her campaign.

This is the fight of our lives. The fight to build an America where dreams are possible, an America that works for everyone, Warren said. And that is why I stand here today: to declare that I am a candidate for President of the United States of America.

Her ancestry drew fresh scrutiny in early February with the discovery that she described her race as American Indian on a form to join the Texas legal bar in the 1980s.

Warren has repeatedly apologised, saying the claim was based on family lore, and she now understands tribal sovereignty dictates membership.

Read the full profile of Elizabeth Warren.

Bernie Sanders

The Independent senator for Vermont, who had announced he was taking a second shot at the Democratic nomination, has formally kicked off his presidential campaign.

He forcefully made the case that he is nothing like fellow New Yorker Donald Trump, proclaiming himself the Democrat best prepared to beat the incumbent in 2020.

"My experience as a child, living in a family that struggled economically, powerfully influenced my life and my values. I know where I came from," Sanders boomed in his unmistakable Brooklyn accent. "And that is something I will never forget."

He blindsided Hillary Clinton with an insurgent campaign from the Left in 2016 which energised young voters in a surge that drew comparisons with Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, but ultimately fell short.

Senator Bernie Sanders, an Independent from Vermont and 2020 presidential candidate, speaks during a campaign rally in the Brooklyn Borough of New York Credit: Bloomberg

Mr Sanderss age  he would be 79 on inauguration day if he won  is a concern. But he also has a loyal and established network of activists who could be remobilised.

One key lesson Mr Sanders learned from 2016 was that not enough groundwork had been done in the southern states, where Mrs Clinton won easily. His other weakness was foreign policy and in recent months he has been speaking to experts to widen his knowledge.

He has also been assiduously visiting Iowa and New Hampshire, the first two states to vote in the 2020 primaries. Millions of viewers have been watching events about healthcare that he streams live on Facebook. There are podcasts too.

Should he win the Democratic nomination and take on Mr Trump there would undoubtedly be fireworks. As for what nickname Mr Trump would give him, we already know. The president has christened him "Crazy Bernie".

Read the full profile of Bernie Sanders.

Julian Castro

The former San Antonio mayor has been widely tipped as a rising star in the Democratic Party for years and announced his presidential campaign on January 12.

Im running for president because its time for new leadership. Because its time for new energy, the 44-year-old said. And its time for a new commitment to make sure that the opportunities Ive had are available for every American.

Mr Castro is the grandson of a Mexican immigrant and would be the first Hispanic elected president. He served as housing and urban development secretary during Barack Obamas presidency.

Julian Castro, former United States Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, speaks at the Netroots Nation annual conference for political progressives in New Orleans Credit: Reuters

Mr Castro has sought to use his familys personal story to challenge Mr Trumps border policies  including criticising the president by name in his launch speech.

Yes, we must have border security, but there is a smart and humane way to do it. And there is no way in hell that caging children is keeping us safe, Mr Castro said.

Read the full profile of Julian Castro.

John Delaney

The Democrat congressman from Maryland was the first to throw his hat into the ring when he made his announcement in September, 2017.

The 55-year-old said he was not seeking a fourth term in Congress, instead devoting time and money to his White House campaign.

Representative John Delaney, a Democrat from Maryland, was the first to throw his hat in the ring Credit: Bloomberg

Mr Delaney launched a pre-emptive strike to win some name recognition.

I think am the right person for the job, but not enough people know that, he told the Telegraph at the time at a gathering of around 40 Democratic activists held in a suburban home in southern New Hampshire.

So the way I solve that problem is by getting in early and spending more time.

Mr Delaneys pitch is unashamedly moderate. This could prove a weakness at a time when some Democrats have buyers remorse at having opted for Hillary Clinton rather than Bernie Sanders, whose campaign captured the public imagination.

Read the full profile of John Delaney.

Tulsi Gabbard

Gabbard, an Iraq War veteran who is the first Hindu elected to Congress and the first member born in the US territory of American Samoa, said the issue of war and peace would be the main focus of her campaign.

The 37-year-olds run would not be without controversy. In 2016, she alarmed fellow Democrats when she met with Donald Trump during his transition to president and later when she took a secret trip to Syria and met with President Bashar Assad, who has been accused of war crimes and genocide. She questioned whether he was responsible for a chemical attack on civilians that killed dozens and led the U.S. to attack a Syrian air base.

Representative Gabbard delivers a nomination speech for Sanders on the second day at the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia Credit: Reuters

She said she doesnt regret the trip and considers it important to meet with adversaries if you are serious about pursuing peace. She also noted that the 2003 invasion of Iraq was based on faulty intelligence and said that she wanted to understand the evidence behind the Syria attack.

Gabbard was one of the most prominent lawmakers to back Sanders over Hillary Clinton in the 2016 Democratic presidential primary. Her endorsement came in dramatic fashion, with her resigning as a vice chairwoman of the Democratic National Committee to express her support.

Read the full profile of Tulsi Gabbard.

Kirsten Gillibrand

Democratic US Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, an outspoken Donald Trump critic and champion of womens issues including the #MeToo movement, has announced she is running for president.

Im going to run for president of the United States, because as a young mom Im going to fight for other peoples kids as hard as I would fight for my own  which is why I believe that healthcare should be a right and not a privilege, the senator told Stephen Colbert on his CBS television late night talk show.

Senator Kirsten Gillibrand on the Late Show with Stephen Colbert in New York Credit: Reuters

Her goals will include putting gender at the fore of her campaign, combating institutional racism, taking on special interests and entrenched systems of power in Washington, and fighting against political corruption and greed.

I know that I have the compassion, the courage, and the fearless determination to get that done, she added.

The 52-year-old from upstate New York said she was forming an exploratory committee, a crucial legal step for a candidate to run for president, just days before travelling to the early voting state of Iowa.

Read the full profile of Kirsten Gillibrand.

Kamala Harris

Kamala Harris, a first-term senator for California, chose Martin Luther King Day to launch her presidential campaign, in a nod to the historic nature of her candidacy.

Born to an Indian mother and a Jamaican father, the 54-year-old former prosecutor would break several barriers if elected president.

Kamala Harris chose MLK day to announce her bid for the presidency Credit: AFP

An aide on her campaign said the announcement was also timed to mark 47 years since Shirley Chisholm, the first black woman elected to Congress, became the first black woman to seek the Democratic nomination for president.

Announcing her bid on ABCs Good Morning America programme, Ms Harris said: The future of our country depends on you and millions of others lifting our voices to fight for our American values. Thats why Im running for president of the United States.

Her supporters believe she has a broad enough appeal to gain traction with a Democratic Party that is increasingly non-white and fuelled by women who feel alienated by President Donald Trumps policies.

Ms Harris has also chosen to hold her first campaign event in South Carolina, a state where black voters are the dominant force in the Democratic primary, rather than the traditional first stops of Iowa and New Hampshire, the two predominantly white states that open the primary vote.

Read the full profile of Kamala Harris.

Pete Buttigieg

Pete Buttigieg, a little known 37-year-old mayor, has also thrown his hat into the ring saying America needs a new generation of leaders.

Seen as a rank outsider, he would become the countrys first openly gay president if he managed to win his partys nomination and then defeat Donald Trump.

Pete Buttigieg Credit: AP

The two-term mayor of South Bend, a city of 100,000 people in Indiana, was named by former president Barack Obama on a list of gifted young Democrats, in an interview published in November 2016.

In a short speech and campaign advert, Mr Buttigieg framed the White House bid around his youth as he called for a clean break with the leaders of the past.

Mr Buttigieg is a Harvard University graduate, Rhodes scholar and former McKinsey consultant who has held no national political office. He turned 37 on Saturday  just two years older than the age minimum to run for president dictated by the US Constitution  and would be the youngest-ever Oval Office occupant if he got there.

Read the full profile of Pete Buttigieg.

Amy Klobuchar

Amy Klobuchar joined the 2020 White House race on February 10, adding a pragmatic voice from the heartland state of Minnesota.

The Minnesota Senator Amy Klobuchar has positioned herself as the most prominent Midwestern candidate in the field, as her party tries to win back voters in a region that helped put Donald Trump in the White House.

U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar declares her candidacy for the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination in Minneapolis, Minnesota Credit: Reuters

In a speech that was almost a point-by-point rejection of the presidents policies and the countrys toxic divides, she told supporters: We are tired of the shutdowns and the showdowns, of the gridlock and the grandstanding.

Enough is enough. Our nation must be governed not from chaos but from opportunity, she added.

Ms Klobuchar, the 58-year-old granddaughter of an iron miner, made the announcement before a heavily bundled-up crowd under gray and snowy skies in a park along the Mississippi River, as volunteers passed out handwarmers.

In a year when many Democrats say their top priority in a candidate is an ability to defeat Trump, Ms Klobuchars words seemed  time after time, issue by issue  to target the president.

She said that if elected she would return to the international climate treaty on Day One. She promised more stringent gun laws and set a target of universal health care, while calling for America to support its troops, diplomats and intelligence officers.

They deserve better than foreign policy by tweet, she said.

Read the full profile of Amy Klobuchar here.

Beto O'Rourke

The Texan, who gained a national following with his long-shot election battle against US Senator Ted Cruz last year, is set to announce his intention to seek the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination.

Mr O'Rourke, a 46-year-old former three-term US representative from West Texas, will make his announcement via video on social media at 7:30 a.m. EDT (1130 GMT) on Thursday, a source close to the campaign told Reuters on Wednesday.

"I'm really proud of what El Paso did and what El Paso represents," Mr O'Rourke said of his hometown in a text to TV station KTSM, which first reported his entry into the race. "It's a big part of why I'm running. This city is the best example of this country at its best."

Regardless of his defeat in the Senate race against Ted Cruz in Texas, Mr O'Rourke is being widely talked up as a White House contender.

Beto O'Rourke pumps his fist for a cheering crowd before departing a campaign rally at the Alamo City Music Hall Credit: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

He has been a US congressman for six years, which is enough of a legislative record for him to run. In the Texas campaign the 46-year-old proved an ability to raise prodigious amounts of money across America.

Matt Angle, a Democrat strategist, said: "Talent and charisma translate and the notion of waiting in line is going away. There is a vacuum at the top for somebody to really step into a leadership role."

Read the full profile of Beto O'Rourke here.

Cory Booker

The junior US senator from New Jersey has styled himself a "street fighter" and there is little doubt he would love to take on Mr Trump.

Cory Booker is one of only three black US senators Credit: Cory Booker

Mr Booker, a 6ft 4in former star college athlete, is clearly a major contender. He said recently: "I am so determined to fight and stop Donald Trump."

Mr Booker is 48, teetotal, vegan and engages in intermittent fasting, a fad diet. He is one of only three black US senators. Underlying all his convictions is an unshakable Baptist faith.

His academic CV is impeccable - political science at Stanford, a Rhodes scholarship to Oxford, going on to study law at Yale.

Read the full profile of Cory Booker here.

Jay Inslee

Washington Gov. Jay Inslee Credit: AP

The governor for Washington state is running almost exclusively on a climate change platform, the only candidate in the race to do so. The 68-year-old is a vocal critic of Mr Trump and attempted to sue the president after he attempted to implement his Muslim ban.

John Hickenlooper

Former Gov. John Hickenlooper Credit: Reuters

A former governor of Colorado, Mr Hickenlooper is also a former Denver mayor and pub owner, he positions himself as nonpartisan and a business-friendly pragmatist.

Read the full profile.

Marianne Williamson

Ms Williamson is a best-selling author and spiritual teacher, but perhaps best known for being presenter Oprah Winfrey's spiritual counsellor.

Marianne Williamson Credit: Reuters

Ms Williamson, 66, ran an unsuccessful campaign for the House of Representatives as an independent candidate in 2014.

She announced in February that she was running for president, calling for "a moral and spiritual awakening in the country" in her campaign.

Andrew Yang

Democratic presidential candidate Andrew Yang Credit: Reuters

An entrepreneur and businessman, Mr Yang says he wants to introduce a universal basic income of $1,000 per month for all Americans to address economic inequality.

The 44-year-old, who launched Venture for America, a non-profit which supports budding entrepreneurs, has focused his campaign on "human-centred capitalism".

While he struggles to get national name recognition, his donations have reached the threshold to appear on stage at the first Democratic debate.

Likely contenders

Eric Holder

Barack Obama's attorney general for six years has not been shy about suggesting he could run.

Eric Holder could take up the Obama mantle Credit: Alyssa Pointer/Atlanta Journal-Constitution via AP

There have been a flurry of public speeches and media appearances already, and he is an ideal candidate to take up the Obama mantle.

Mr Holder, 67, stirred up controversy recently when he said of Republicans: "When they go low, we kick them."

As attorney general he led a legal defence of drone strikes, and moved terrorist prosecutions to civilian courts. He has also been a high profile advocate for voting rights.

Michael Avenatti

The California lawyer has been propelled to prominence by representing Stormy Daniels, the porn star who claims she had an affair with Donald Trump over a decade ago.

Michael Avenatti, speaking at a 'How to Beat Trump' discussion in October Credit: MARK RALSTON/AFP/Getty Images

Mr Avenatti's indication that he could run for the Democratic nomination was initially treated with scepticism, but he is clearly serious.

He has a long background in politics, working on campaigns and conducting opposition research, and has been making exploratory trips to the early voting states of Iowa and New Hampshire.

Mr Avenatti, 47, is a consummate TV performer and has argued that the Democrats need someone like him who can "fight fire with fire".

Out of the running

Michael Bloomberg

Just as he had done several times before, the 76-year-old billionaire flirted with a White House run for 2020.

Michael Bloomberg: former New York mayor Credit: Roslan RAHMAN/AFP

But early in March, the former New York city mayor announced he would not stand.

Mr Bloomberg said that while he thought he could beat Donald Trump he was not sure he would win the Democratic nomination given the competitive field.

Instead Mr Bloomberg pledged to spend his next two years pushing for the policy changes, such as tighter gun controls and tackling climate change, in which he believes.
The White House has decided to pull the 2,000 US troops out of Syria - AFP

US troops have begun withdrawing from Syria, compounding weeks of confusion over Donald Trumps policy in the Middle East and raising fears over the fate of Americas Kurdish allies.

The US-led coalition against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (Isil) confirmed on Friday that the military had started the deliberate withdrawal of the roughly 2,000 American troops in Syria.

The military would not give any detail of the overall timetable for the American withdrawal nor which positions US troops had begun pulling back from.

A convoy of ten US military vehicles was seen leaving a base in Hasakah province in northeast Syria and heading towards the Iraqi border, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

Mr Trump abruptly announced the US withdrawal from Syria on December 19, blindsiding US allies and triggering a confrontation within the US administration that led to the resignation of his defence secretary.

Over recent weeks, senior US officials have offered confusing and contradictory accounts of the terms and speed with which the US is leaving.

Mr Trump initially signalled a rapid withdrawal from Syria and US officials said they expected troops to be out with 30 days.

That timeline was then extended to several months in the face of a revolt by national security officials and Mr Trumps own Republican allies.

John Bolton, Mr Trumps national security advisor, then said on Sunday that the US would not leave until it had assurances that Turkey would not assault the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), the Kurdish-led group which provided the ground troops to fight Isil.

Mr Boltons comments invoked a furious response from Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Turkeys president, who accused him of making a grave mistake by setting conditions for Turkey.

Turkey has threatened to move ahead with the assault against the SDF, who it considers part of a Kurdish terrorist group, regardless of whether the US slows its withdrawal.

Story continues

Mike Pompeo, the US secretary of state, has spent the week in the Middle East trying to reassure US allies in the wake of Mr Trumps announcement.

He said the US withdrawal would not be effected by Mr Erdogans threats against the Kurds but at the same time said the US would work to ensure the Kurds safety.

Mike Pompeo has been travelling in the Middle East Credit: NICHOLAS KAMM/AFP/Getty Images

These have been folks that have fought with us and its important that we do everything we can to ensure that those folks that fought with us are protected, he said.

Erdogan has made commitments; he understands that  I think he uses the language  he talks about (how) he has no beef with the Kurds.

Russia said Friday that the US withdrawal underscored the need for the Kurds to reconcile with the Syrian regime. Kurdish leaders have seen a deal with Damascus as one possible way of staving off a Turkish attack.

The USS Kearsage, an amphibious assault ship, is moving into the region with hundreds of US Marines and helicopters to help cover the American withdrawal, according to the Wall Street Journal.

It does not appear at this point that the US military has been given a final date for full withdrawal from Syria and the timeline seems to be part of a broader debate about American strategy in the Middle East.

"CJTF-OIR has begun the process of our deliberate withdrawal from Syria," said a spokesman for the US-led coalition against Isil. "Out of concern for operational security, we will not discuss specific timelines, locations or troops movements.
Over the past few decades, the United States government approved thousands of requests by men to bring in child or adolescent bides to live in the country, according to newly collated federal data.

In one of those cases, a 49-year-old man applied to admit a 15-year-old child bride into the US.

These application approvals are legal. The are no set minimum age requirements under the Immigration and Nationality Act. And as for spouse and fiancees petitions, US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) determines their application decisions based on whether the marriage in question is legal in the country of origin, and if it would be legal in the state where the petition resides.

The data obtained by the Associated Press, however, prompts scrutiny on whether the immigration system is enabling forced marriages, and how American laws are exacerbating the problem despite its attempts to curb child and forced marriages.

From 2007 to 2017, there were 3.5 million petitions received. Within that time period, there were 5,556 approvals for those seeking to bring in their minor spouses or fiances, and 2,926 by minors bringing in their older spouses, according to data by the Senate Homeland Security Committee in 2017.

In almost all of these cases, the female was the younger person in the relationship. In 149 cases, the adults were older than 40, and in 28 cases, they were over 50, the committee discovered.

Forced marriage victims say that draw of a US passport and relaxed American marriage laws are a driving force behind these petitions. In order to obtain an US immigration visa or green card, there is a two-step process: the petition must first be reviewed by USCIS before being approved by the state department. The petitions must be filed by either a US citizen or a permanent resident.

Republican Wisconsin Senator Ron Johnson, chairman of the Senate homeland security committee, told the AP the data points to a startling issue in the immigration system. It indicates a problem, Mr Johnson said. It indicates a loophole that we need to close.

Story continues

Although most states place some restrictions, marriages between adults and minors are not uncommon in the US. American state laws set 18-years-old as the minimum age for marriage, but every state allows exceptions.

Some states let 16- and 17-year-olds to marry as long as they have parental consent, and in states like New York, Virginia and Maryland, children under the age of 16 are allowed to marry with court permission.
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Task and Purpose

Security, Americas

Yikes.

The U.S. Military's New Super Weapon: A Weaponized 'Meteor Strike'?

The applications of the KEP are mainly theoretical for now, and were certainly decades away from a floating Thors hammer circling the planet.

In the 1950s, Jerry Pournelle imagined the military equivalent of the extinction of the dinosaurs.

(This first appeared in 2017.)

Toiling away as a Boeing operations researcher in the afterglow of the Manhattan Project and the Soviet Unions First Lightning nuclear test in 1949, the U.S. Army veteran envisioned a weapons system armed not with munitions and other chemical explosives, but massive rods forged from heavy metals dropped from sub-orbital heights. Those tungsten thunderbolts, as the New York Times called them, would impact enemy strongholds below with the devastating velocity of a dino-exterminating impact, obliterating highly fortified targets  like, say, Iranian centrifuges or North Korean bunkers  without the mess of nuclear fallout.

Pournelle, whose years of experience in aerospace would fuel a career as a journalist and military science fiction writer, named his superweapon Project Thor. Others just called it Rods From God. In reality, weapons researchers refer to it as a kinetic energy projectile: a super-dense, super-fast projectile that, operating free of complex systems and volatile chemicals, destroys everything in its path.

The idea of kinetic weaponry  raining down inert projectiles on an enemy with deadly velocity  is far from a novel concept. The trebuchet was the backbone of successful sieges for hundreds of years, from ancient China to Hernan Cortes subjugation of the Aztecs; during and after World War II, airmen have occasionally deployed clusters of inert Lazy Dog bombs  metal cylinders traveling at terminal velocity  on the battlefields of Korea and Vietnam.

And gravity hasnt always been necessary. For decades, militaries have used ultra-dense kinetic energy penetrators, also known as KEPs, specially designed shells often wrapped in an outer shell (a sabot) and fired at high velocity rather than dropped from the sky, to defeat defense armor. Thats the fundamental logic underpinning the U.S. Navys highly touted electromagnetic railgun, which can blast a 25-pound hypervelocity projectile with 32-megajoule muzzle energy through seven steel plates and obliterate whatever that armor is supposed to protect.

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Whether dropped from the sky or fired from a cannon, the principle behind these weapons is the same: hitting the enemy with something very hard and very dense, moving very fast. And the kinetic energy projectile may become a staple of modern warfare sooner than you might think.

In 2013, the U.S. Air Force 846th Test Squadron and civilian researchers at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory successfully test-fired a kinetic energy projectile, a tungsten-rich shell moving at 3,500 feet-per-second  more than three times faster than the speed of sound  on a specialized track at Holloman Air Force Base in New Mexico. More recently, the Pentagon has tested the Navy electromagnetic railguns hypervelocity projectiles with the help of conventional U.S. Army howitzers; the Navy hopes the completed cannon will be able to launch shells at up to 4,500 mph, six times the speed of sound.

Explosives may be dazzling in their destructiveness, but theres an elegant, almost Newtonian lethality to the kinetic energy projectile, explains Matt Weingart, a weapons program development manager at Lawrence Livermore.

The classic way of delivering hurt against a target has been to pack a lot of chemical explosive into a container of some kind, a barrel or a cannonball or steel bomb, Weingart told Task & Purpose in a phone interview. The violence comes from the chemical explosive inside that bomb sending off a blast wave, followed by the fragments of the bomb case. But the difference with kinetic energy projectiles is that the warhead arrives at the target moving very, very fast  the energy is there to propel those fragments without the use of a chemical explosive to accelerate them. The more mass, the more violence.

The concept of the hypersonic impact that defined Project Thor and its devastating potential hasnt been lost on defense officials. Military researchers are continuing to explore battlefield applications that take advantage of high terminal speeds to deliver much more energy onto a target than the chemical explosives they carry would deliver alone, as Army Maj. Gen. William Hix put it at the Booz Allen Hamilton Direct Energy Summit in March.

Think of it as a big shotgun shell, Hix told the assembled crowd. Not much can survive it. If youre in a main battle tank, if youre a crew member, you might survive but the vehicle will be non-mission capable, and everything below that level of protection will be dead. Thats what I am talking about.

The KEP isnt just appealing because of its elegance and relative cost-effectiveness (a super-dense tungsten warhead is relatively cheaper than conventional explosive munitions), but for its theoretical precision. The hypersonic shell is designed to defeat enemy armor and completely obliterate structures and equipment with extreme precision, whether its fired from ground artillery or deployed from an aerial  or orbital  platform. As Weingart explains, Hixs vision is one of raining down violence across a large area  without, ostensibly, risking military personnel and hardware.

And the KEPs upside isnt just precision in targeting, but precision in the level of violence that the weapon actually deals out. Because the shells yield is essentially a function of velocity and density rather than explosive payload, confining the impacts devastating effects to a specific area is simply a matter of physics. In theory, the KEP is basic physics, Weingart says, but the implementation is really, really hard physics.

Using our high computing capabilities, we can exercise a high degree of control over those effects, says Weingart. We've got the most extraordinary computing power in the world, and we can take exquisite knowledge of physics and put it into very sophisticated computer codes and run vast number problems to predict how things are going to behave in terms of speed and energy.

The KEP could offer a middle ground between the conventional precision GPS-guided munitions deployed by aircraft and high-yield, non-nuclear explosives like the GBU-43/B Massive Ordnance Air Blast (MOAB), or mother of all bombs, used against ISIS militants in Afghanistan in April. By adjusting the density of the KEP, military personnel could choose between defeating the armor on a single main battle tank and delivering violence wholesale (and simultaneously) across broad swaths of an operational area, without worrying about fallout.

On the battlefield, you could do a straightforward calculation about whether the speed or amount of explosives are the most effective part of the warhead, says Weingart. Instead of putting explosives in, you just put in mass and heavy metals, regardless of delivery system or set of terminal conditions.

General Hix referred to it as a shotgun, he added. You can have a narrow or broad choke and spotlight a very small area with these effects if you're trying to pinpoint a well-localized target without damaging the surrounding area.

But whats the main purpose of these kinetic energy projectiles, other than raining down violence with the shock and awe that only weapons like the Mother of All Bombs can inspire? For Pentagon planners, it could be to counter Russias tactical nuclear stockpile, according to Hix, warheads that could appear on future battlefields alongside conventional weapons thanks to ongoing miniaturization efforts, according to the DoDs Russia New Generation Warfare Study.

Central to the weapons systems tactical appeal isnt its delivery mechanism, but the KEP warhead itself. While Weingarts focus is on the KEP warhead rather than the firing system or combat context it might deploy in, he agrees with the potential application envisioned by Hix. He is talking about the return of widespread violence to the battlefield, the fact we've seen the Russians do that in recent years by bombarding areas like Syria and Ukraine, the likes of which we havent really seen since the Korean War.

The applications of the KEP are mainly theoretical for now, and were certainly decades away from a floating Thors hammer circling the planet. But if kinetic energy projectiles do find efficient applications in warfare, its possible they could find new delivery systems for battlefield destruction  with potentially devastating effects that might eclipse the MOAB as the most violent non-nuclear weapon in the Pentagons arsenal.

This article by Jared Keller originally appeared at Task & Purpose on June 7, 2017. Follow Task & Purpose on Twitter.

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By Rodi Said and Phil Stewart QAMISHLI, Syria/WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S.-led coalition battling Islamic State added to confusion surrounding the U.S. withdrawal from Syria on Friday by saying it had started the pullout process, but officials later clarified that only equipment, not troops, were being withdrawn. President Donald Trump's announcement last month that he had decided to withdraw the 2,000 U.S. troops there stunned allies who have joined Washington in the battle against Islamic State militants in Syria. Senior U.S. officials were shocked too, among them Defense Secretary Jim Mattis, who quit in protest. U.S. Colonel Sean Ryan, a coalition spokesman, said the coalition "has begun the process of our deliberate withdrawal from Syria." "Out of concern for operational security, we will not discuss specific timelines, locations or troop movements," Ryan said. After media reports suggesting the departure of U.S. forces had begun, the Pentagon later said no troops had yet withdrawn and stressed that the battle against Islamic State was continuing as U.S.-backed forces try to capture the group's last remaining pockets of territory in Syria. "We will confirm that there has been no redeployment of military personnel from Syria to date," said Navy Commander Sean Robertson, a Pentagon spokesman. U.S. officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed that equipment was being moved out of Syria, a sign that despite mixed messages from Washington preparations for a withdrawal of troops was proceeding apace. Robertson, in his statement, said the coalition had carried out "logistical measures" to support a withdrawal but did not enter into details. "The withdrawal is based on operational conditions on the ground, including conversation with our allies and partners, and is not be subject to an arbitrary timeline," he said. Residents near border crossings that are typically used by U.S. forces going in and out of Syria from Iraq said they had seen no obvious or large-scale movement of U.S. ground forces on Friday. Separately, Syrian state news agency SANA said Israeli warplanes fired a number of missiles toward the Damascus area on Friday, triggering Syrian air defenses that shot down most of them. "The results of the aggression so far were limited to a strike on one of the warehouses at Damascus airport," SANA quoted a military source as saying. SYRIA UPHEAVAL The U.S. decision has injected new uncertainty into the eight-year-long Syrian war and spurred a flurry of contacts over how a resulting security vacuum will be filled across a swathe of northern and eastern Syria where the U.S. forces are stationed. On the one hand, Turkey aims to pursue a campaign against Kurdish forces that have allied with the United States, and on the other the Russia- and Iran-backed Syrian government sees the chance to recover a huge chunk of territory. U.S. national security adviser John Bolton suggested on Tuesday that protecting Washington's Kurdish allies would be a precondition of the U.S. withdrawal. That drew a rebuke from Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan who called his comments "a serious mistake". U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, who has been touring the Middle East this week to reassure allies of Washington's commitment to regional security, said on Thursday the withdrawal would not be scuppered despite the Turkish threats. The Kurdish groups that control the north have turned to Moscow and Damascus in the hope of striking a political deal that will stave off Turkey and shield their autonomy in the north. Russia, which has deployed forces into Syria in support of the Damascus government, said it had the impression that the United States wanted to stay despite the announced withdrawal of U.S. troops, RIA news agency reported. RUSSIA URGES DAMASCUS-KURDISH DIALOGUE Maria Zakharova, a Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman, said it was important for Syrian Kurds and the Syrian government to start talking to each other in light of the U.S. withdrawal plans. She also said the territory previously controlled by the United States should be transferred to the Syrian government. "In this regard, establishing dialogue between the Kurds and Damascus takes on particular significance. After all, the Kurds are an integral part of Syrian society," Zakharova said. Turkey views the U.S.-backed YPG Syrian Kurdish militia as an extension of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), which has waged a 34-year insurgency in Turkey for Kurdish political and cultural rights, mostly in southeastern areas near Syria. A Kurdish politician told Reuters last week the Kurds had presented Moscow with a road-map for a deal with Damascus. Syria's deputy foreign minister said on Wednesday he was optimistic about renewed dialogue with the Kurds. Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian of France, which is part of the U.S.-led coalition, welcomed what he believed was a slower withdrawal by the United States after pressure from its allies. "President Macron spoke to him (Trump) several times and it seems that there has been a change that I think is positive," he said in a television interview on Thursday. In a rare acknowledgment that French troops were also in Syria, he said they would leave when there is a political solution in the country. (Reporting by Tom Perry in Beirut, John Irish in Paris, Andrey Ostroukh in Moscow and Phil Stewart in Washington; Writing by Tom Perry and Phil Stewart; Editing by Angus MacSwan, James Dalgleish & Kim Coghill)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Donald Trump said on Friday he would not declare a national emergency "right now" to end a standoff over border security that has idled large swaths of the U.S. government, all but guaranteeing that he will preside over the longest shutdown in U.S. history.

The dispute has disrupted everything from air travel to tax collection and suspended pay for 800,000 government workers.

Trump has repeatedly described the situation at the U.S.- Mexico border as a "humanitarian crisis" as speculation has increased this week that he would circumvent Congress to begin building his signature wall - a move that would be sure to draw a court challenge from Democrats who say the barrier would be barbaric and ineffective.

Instead, the president urged lawmakers to provide him the $5.7 billion he is seeking for border security.

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"The easy solution is for me to call a national emergency. I could do that very quickly," Trump said during a White House event on border security. "I have the absolute right to do it. But I'm not going to do it so fast. Because this is something Congress should do."

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi mocked the president as she told reporters it was up to Trump to make the next move.

"Let's give him time to think it through. Think? Did I say think?" she said.

Trump spoke after lawmakers had adjourned for the weekend, precluding any possible action until next week. On Saturday, the shutdown will become the longest in U.S. history.

Earlier on Friday, the Democratic-controlled House of Representatives voted 240-179 to restore funding for the Interior Department and the Environmental Protection Agency, two of the agencies that have been shuttered since Dec. 22.

But Republicans who control the Senate have so far stood with Trump and insisted that any spending bills include money for his wall. The chamber wrapped up business for the week without taking up the House-passed bill.

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A national emergency would allow Trump to divert money from other projects to pay for the wall, which was a central promise of his 2016 campaign. That, in turn, could prompt him to sign bills that restore funding to agencies that have been affected by the shutdown.

Diverting money to the wall could shortchange flood-control efforts in California and reconstruction programs in Puerto Rico, which was devastated by Hurricane Maria in 2017, according to Democratic Representative John Garamendi, who represents a district in California that would potentially be affected.

%shareLinks-quote="They can name it 'peaches.' I don't care what they name it. But we need money for that barrier." type="quote" author="President Donald Trump" authordesc=""%

Trump already has threatened to withhold disaster-recovery approved in the wake of California wildfires.

"He has done everything he can to harm California," Garamendi told Reuters in a telephone interview.

Some of Trump's fellow Republicans are warning against a disaster declaration, saying it would undercut Congress's power under the U.S. Constitution to control government spending - and make it easier for a future Democratic president to bypass Capitol Hill.

"It's a bad precedent," Republican Senator Chuck Grassley said on CNBC.

SHUTDOWN IMPACT

Meanwhile, the impact of the shutdown began to mount.

Miami International Airport said it will close one of its terminals early over the next several days due to a possible shortage of security screeners, who have been calling in sick at twice the normal rate.

A union that represents thousands of air traffic controllers sued the Federal Aviation Administration on Friday, saying it had violated federal wage law by failing to pay workers. It is at least the third lawsuit filed by unions on behalf of unpaid workers.

Roughly 800,000 federal workers did not receive paychecks that would have gone out on Friday. Some have resorted to selling their possessions or posting appeals on online fundraising sites to help pay their bills.

"Most of them are living from paycheck to paycheck and now they approach this day on Friday having moved from paycheck to no check," Democratic Representative Elijah Cummings said in debate on the House floor.

The head of the U.S. Secret Service, which is responsible for protecting Trump, warned employees that financial stress can lead to depression and anxiety. "Keep an eye out for warning signs of trouble," Director R.D. "Tex" Alles wrote in a memo seen by Reuters.

Vice President Mike Pence said Trump will sign legislation passed in Congress that will provide back pay to federal workers once the government reopens.

"Your families will get your paychecks," he told U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers at the agency's Washington headquarters.

Separately, Senator Rob Portman and eight other Republican senators introduced legislation that would permanently outlaw the closing of government operations during budget fights, underscoring the growing frustration in Washington.

During his presidential campaign, Trump repeatedly pledged that Mexico would pay for the wall, which he says is needed to stem the flow of illegal immigrants and drugs. But the Mexican government has refused and Trump is now demanding that Congress provide funding.

"They can name it 'peaches.' I don't care what they name it. But we need money for that barrier," Trump said.

(Additional reporting by David Shepardson, David Alexander, Dan Wiessner, Susan Heavey, Andy Sullivan and Makini Brice; Writing by Andy Sullivan; Editing by Peter Cooney, Bill Trott and Daniel Wallis)
Istanbul (AFP) - Turkey on Saturday welcomed the latest statement made by Washington's top diplomat over Ankara's right to defend itself from "terrorists" after the US withdraws from Syria.

"We find correct his statement about the removal of the elements that concern Turkey," Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said in a speech in the southern Turkish province of Antalya.

Cavusoglu spoke on the phone Saturday with US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, who was in Abu Dhabi as part of a regional tour, and they discussed "the steps that need to be taken" in Syria, he said.

The latest comments follow tensions between the US and Turkey over the fate of Washington's Syrian Kurdish allies in the fight against Islamic State group jihadists.

Pompeo had earlier said Washington recognised "the Turkish people's right and (Turkish President Recep Tayyip) Erdogan's right to defend their country from terrorists".

But, he added, "we also know that those fighting alongside of us for all this time deserve to be protected as well".

Turkey had rejected any suggestions that US President Donald Trump's plan to withdraw troops was conditional on the safety of the US-backed Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG).

Ankara sees the YPG as a terrorist group linked to the Kurdistan Worker's Party (PKK) which has fought a decades-long insurgency against the Turkish state.

Washington however considers the group as an effective force in the fight against IS.

Trump's National Security Advisor John Bolton had a tense meeting with Turkish officials in Ankara this week.

Cavusoglu once again "rejected and condemned" Bolton's comments on the conditional withdrawal and said despite different voices coming out from Washington, the Turkish president's interlocuter was Trump.

He repeated Ankara's threat to launch an offensive to eradicate Syrian Kurdish fighters from Syria.

"We will do whatever needed to clear terror across our border," he said. "Nobody should doubt about it."
Hunter DeRensis

Domestic Politics, United States

How far-reaching would a move to invoke emergency powers be? What are the historical precursors for Trumps possible action?

Trump's Threat to Declare a National Emergency to Build the Wall: What Does History Say?

I have an absolute right to declare a national emergency, the lawyers have so advised me. Im not prepared to do that yet, but if I have to I will. I have no doubt about it, I will, said President Trump to a gaggle of reporters on Thursday morning. But Trumps possible move to build a border wall is arousing controversy not only on the left, but also the right. The Wall Street Journal editorial page warned on Friday that appellate courts might establish new constraints on executive power that circumscribe a presidents response to future crises. Members of the House Freedom Caucus are concerned that an emergency declaration might set a sweeping precedent for a future Democratic president to bypass Congress on issues of national importance.

How far-reaching would a move to invoke emergency powers be? What are the historical precursors for Trumps possible action?

Presidents have used emergency powers multiple times in the past century to bypass explicit congressional law. In March 1933 during the nadir of the Great Depression, President Franklin Roosevelt declared a state of emergency to enact broad, sweeping economic reforms. I shall ask the Congress for the one remaining instrument to meet the crisis--broad executive power to wage a war against the emergency, as great as the power that would be given me if we were in fact invaded by a foreign foe, Roosevelt said during his inaugural address. Roosevelt declared a banking holiday, thereby ending the rush on banks. He went on to sign Executive Order 6102, which made it illegal for U.S. citizens to hold gold bullion and requiring everyone to forfeit such assets to the Federal Reserve. This executive order remained in effect until Congressional action was taken in 1974.

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In 1950, President Harry Truman involved the United States in the Korean War, declaring it a national emergency. Korea was the first of the modern wars to be fought without a congressional declaration, with the president referring to it as a police action. By 1976, both national emergencies were still in existence, along with two others invoked under Richard Nixon in 1970 and 1971.

In September 1976, Congress passed the National Emergencies Act to restrain and guide presidential prerogative. The act required that presidents keep records of all significant orders made during a national emergency; that they track expenditures arising from these orders, instead of being never-ending they must be renewed annually; and most importantly, that any national emergency declared by a president could be ended by a concurrent resolution by Congress. A concurrent resolution is an action taken by Congress that bypasses the presidential veto, and only requires a simple majority of both chambers. The practice of the concurrent resolution was declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court in 1983 under INS v. Chadha, removing the enforcement mechanism from the National Emergencies Act.

Between the acts 1976 passage and now, fifty-eight national emergencies have been declared by presidents. Most of these are minor, a way to impose sanctions on foreigners and freeze overseas assets. Others were major extensions of presidential authority. George W. Bush declared separate states of emergency in response to the 9/11 terrorist attacks on September 14 and September 23, 2001. And that November, Bush invoked 10 U.S.C. 2808 under his emergency authority.

That part of the U.S. code, when invoked under a national emergency, authorizes the Secretary of Defense, without regard to any other provision of law to undertake military construction projectsnot otherwise authorized by law that are necessary to support such use of the armed forces. This is the law Trump would cite to authorize construction of a border wall.

The situation is complicated, however, since immigration is handled by the Department of Homeland Security, not the Defense Department.

Many legal experts are arguing that the president does have the authority to build the wall under a national emergency. This viewpoint does not accord with a view of limited governmental powers. Its fair to say our culture, not only the legal culturealthough its counter-constitutional, they believe the president has limitless power. He can go to war when he wants to, he can spy on us when he wants to, he can spend money when he wants to.

Theres no limit on his authority, says former Reagan administration Justice Department official Bruce Fein. According to Fein, If the concurrent resolutions are unconstitutional, then its quite clear that Congress would never have enacted these emergency powers if it didnt believe it reserved the right through concurrent resolution to end them, he says. The Supreme Court has held that you cannot delegate legislative power without some kind of restrictive principles that guide its exercise. And if the president can do whatever he wants, theres no restraint on the exercise of his power.

While some Republicans like Senator Lindsey Graham are encouraging Trump to declare the emergency and move with full force, others are encouraging restraint. Senator Chuck Grassley called it a bad precedent. Presidential counselors Jared Kushner and Kellyanne Conway are apparently advising alternatives to the emergency declaration.

If Trump does go forward, it would almost certainly be challenged in the courts. I dont think theres any case that has ever been decided, certainly not in the U.S. Supreme Court, that has endorsed the idea that the president on his own has emergency powers, said Fein.

Beyond that, the situation changes from a legal challenge to a political one. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has quieted down talk of impeachment among her colleagues recently, but if Trump were to impose his most iconic policy objective through legally weak procedure, the Democrats could take action.

Whatever actions Donald Trump adopts, and how the opposition party responds, could have permanent repercussions affecting not just this presidency, but American law and executive authority itself.

Hunter DeRensis is a reporter at The National Interest.

Image: Reuters.

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Donald Trump has tweeted incorrect criminal statistics on immigration in as effort to support his border wall and publicly pressure Democrats to hand over $5.6bn (4.4bn) for its construction.

The US president said on Saturday: 23 per cent of federal inmates are illegal immigrants. Border arrests are up 240 per cent. In the great state of Texas, between 2011 and 2018, there were a total of 292,000 crimes by illegal aliens, 539 murders, 32,000 assaults, 3,426 sexual assaults and 3000 weapons charges," adding: Democrats come back!

Although some of the figures are correct  or close to correct  Mr Trump omitted key clarification that tell a different narrative than the one he is conveying.

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For instance, the Federal Bureau of Prisons reported in their November 2018 data that 19.3 per cent of federal inmates are citizens of Colombia, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Mexico, or other unknown" countries. American citizens make up the rest at around 80 per cent.

Furthermore, a large portion of the federal crimes committed by undocumented immigrants  who are not seeking asylum  are charged with immigration-related crimes. Illegal entry, for example, is considered a federal crime.

As for Texas, Mr Trump's claim suggested undocumented immigrants were responsible for 292,000 crimes.

However, the figure quoted is actually only for charges filed against undocumented immigrants. The number of convictions against undocumented immigrants is significantly lower.

The Texas Department of Public Safety reports that between June 2011 to December 2018, undocumented immigrants account for 120,000 convictions.

Out of the 539 murders Mr Trump cited, only 238 resulted in convictions. Of the 32,000 assaults and 3,426 sexual assaults, only 13,599 and 1,689 were convicted respectively.

As for the 3000 weapons charges, there were actually fewer than 2,500 charges brought and only 1,280 were convicted.

The only correct figure in the tweet related to border arrests, which have risen by 240 per cent.
Peace adviser seeks UN help in Moro areas

posted January 12, 2019 at 08:53 pm by Manila Standard January 12, 2019 at 08:53 pm

READ: UN, Misuari hail Bangsamoro Law Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. has urged the United Nations to continue its assistance in providing capacity development to key leaders in the Bangsamoro region. Our focus now is how to have good governance on the new Bangsamoro government. I would like to request the UN family to help us in mentoring key leaders on how to be efficient and effective in governance, Galvez told officials of various UN agencies who called on him at his office on Friday. Galvez also thanked the UN for its continued support for the peace process in the Philippines. I think your projects that are people-centered and those on human resource development are good. I would like to thank you for helping us and sharing the same goal, he said. Galvez cited the role of UN agencies in helping counter violent extremism, preventing the recruitment of child soldiers, empowering women, and developing the whole Mindanao region. I believe that if we have peace in Mindanao, we have peace in the Philippines. If we have development in Mindanao, we have development in the Philippines, he said. The United Nations partnership framework is anchored on the Sustainable Development Goals 2019-2023.It aims to achieve outcomes related to people-centeredness, economic prosperity, and peace. In his remarks during the courtesy call, UN Resident Coordinator Ola Almgren expressed interest in OPAPPs practices in the peace process. OPAPP has contributed a lot to the global practice. UN is looking forward to your experiences and best practices, hoping that you can participate in global fora and share them as well as to work with you and your staff, he said. Among the UN agencies present in the meeting were the United Nations Development Program, United Nations International Childrens Emergency Fund, UN Women, International Organization for Migration, and Prevention on Violent Extremism. READ: Galvez hails PH Marines for helping beat terrorists

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.
Donald Trump defended his partial government shutdown strategy on Twitter on Saturday, claiming that critics were wrong to say he did not have a plan for the longest federal closure in American history as it reaches its 22nd day and counting.

The US president, however, did state that the government will be shut down for a long time unless the Democrats come back from their vacations and get back to work.

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The shutdown, caused by an impasse between Mr Trump and Democrats over $5.6bn (4.4bn) request for a border wall, has resulted in more than 800,000 federal workers missing their paychecks on Friday.

Both Mr Trump and Congress have come out with proposed solutions to end the government shutdown.

The president is refusing to back down from his demands, and has even proposed a dramatic escape route: declaring a national emergency to build his steel designed border wall.

By declaring a national emergency, Mr Trump believes he could build the wall  perhaps using funds allocated for disaster relief in Puerto Rico  on the southern border without congressional approval.

What were not looking to do right now is national emergency, Mr Trump said.

The president claimed he had the authority to do so, adding that he was not going to do it so fast because he would rather work for a deal with Congress.

Congress, on the other hand, has already made measures to close help out with the government shutdown.

Both the House and the Senate voted to give federal workers back pay when the federal government reopens, but the bill requires the presidents signature to go into effect. Mr Trump has repeatedly threatened to veto the bill.

Congress also adjourned for the weekend, meaning that the government shutdown is expected to go on until at least Monday.
Donald Trump has doubled down on his threat to declare a national emergency to help build a wall on the US-Mexico border if Congress does not meet his request for billions of dollars in funding as part of any deal to end the partial government shutdown.

The White House is also said to have directed the Army Corps of Engineers to comb through its budget, including $13.9bn (10.8bn) in disaster funds that Congress earmarked last year, to see what money could be diverted as part of any emergency declaration. That money has been set aside to help projects all over the US, including hurricane-damaged areas of Puerto Rico.

Mr Trump has claimed  contrary to the evidence  there is an immigration and security crisis at the border, with reports that the president is considering using money earmarked for disaster relief to pay for the wall.

Two days after delivering a televised address to the nation to make his case for a wall, and a day after he abruptly left a meeting with Democrats after they refused to pay for one, Mr Trump travelled to McAllen, Texas, where he signed autographs for supporters and met border agency officials.

As he left the White House for the trip, Mr Trump, said he would look to declare an emergency if Congress cannot reach a deal. If this doesnt work out, probably I will do it. I would almost say definitely, the president said.

At a roundtable meeting with community leaders and officials in McAllen, among them Texas senator Ted Cruz, the president repeated his insistence that a wall would be be built.

Were going to build a powerful steel barrier. They said we dont want a concrete wall. I said thats okay, well call it a steel barrier, he said.

They say this is a manufactured crisis. Thats their new sound bite ... Every network has manufactured crisis. But its not. Whats manufactured is the word manufactured.

The president - who has cancelled an upcoming trip to Davos, Switzerland, because of the shutdown - also sought to address those critics who have pointed out he used to repeatedly promise Mexico would pay for any barrier. He claimed without evidence that the terms of a new trade deal with Mexico and Canada will provide the money for the wall.

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When I say Mexicos going to pay for the wall ... I didnt say theyre going to write me a check for $10bn or $20bn, he said. If Congress approves this trade bill, theyll pay for the wall many times over. When I say Mexicos going to lpay for the wall, thats what I mean.

The presidents visit to Texas came as the partial government shutdown entered its 20th day, with more stories of hardships as as result of the closure emerging, and growing concern among some Republicans that Mr Trumps tactics are not working. When he met Republicans on Capitol Hill on Wednesday, several senators expressed concern about the pain being felt by ordinary Americans.

When government is shut down, there are consequences and people are starting to feel those consequences, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, told reporters of her exchange with the president.

Susan Collins, of Maine, one of the most moderate Republicans in congress, said she had asked the president to consider a bipartisan compromise that would give certain immigrants, known as Dreamers, a path to citizenship in exchange for border security money.

The shutdown, poised to become the longest in US history, has been caused by Mr Trumps refusal to compromise on a spending measure if it does not contain $5.7bn for a wall. Democrats have offered $1.3bn for border security but have refused to fund a wall.

Earlier on Thursday, Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell moved to block an attempt by Democrats to force a vote on legislation to reopen the federal government.

Democrats went to the Senate floor and asked for consent to vote on a series of bills that would end the shutdown.

On Wednesday, a meeting involving Mr Trump and leaders from both parties in the White House situation room bunker, broke up in acrimony after no more than 30 minutes.

The president stomped out of the meeting, speaker Nancy Pelosi of California, told reporters. Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer said the president had a temper tantrum, after the Democrats refused to budge on his demand for a wall. Mr Trump denied claims he had slammed the table but said the meting had been a waste of his time.

Cryin Chuck told his favourite lie when he used his standard sound bite that I slammed the table & walked out of the room. He had a temper tantrum, he wrote on Twitter. Because I knew he would say that, and after Nancy said no to proper border security, I politely said bye-bye and left, no slamming.

Experts point out that while the number of asylum-seekers from Central American nations such as Honduras in recent months, there is no crisis of illegal immigration. Indeed, in 2017 the number of illegal immigrants hit a low of 310,000 from a high of 1.6m 2000.

This week, his administration was forced to backtrack after White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said on Fox News that nearly 4,000 known or suspected terrorists had crossed into the US from Mexico last year. When NBC News pointed that border officials caught a total of six people on a security watchlist over a six-month period, Kellyanne Conway told reporters Ms Sanders had made an unfortunate misstatement.

Mr Trump told reporters he had been consulting with lawyers who assured him he 100 per cent had the right to declare an an emergency to get funding, a claim constitutional and lawyers scholars have questioned.

Before leaving Texas, he repeated his claim the wall would reduce crime, even though studies show crime rates among immigrant communities is typically lower.

Youll have crime in Iowas youll have crime in New Hampshire, youll have crime in New York. If we had the barrier it wouldnt happen, he said.
President Donald Trump, in response to reports that the FBI began an investigation of him last year to find out whether he had a clandestine agenda to help Russia, said Saturday that former FBI director James Comey and other "losers" at the bureau "tried to do a number on your President."

He called Comey a "total sleaze" and "crooked cop." The president also took swipes at special counsel Robert Mueller and the New York Times, which broke the story Friday night. "My firing of James Comey was a great day for America," he tweeted.

Comey responded Saturday morning in a tweet that quoted President Franklin D. Roosevelt: "I ask you to judge me by the enemies I have made."

The newspaper said the decision to investigate Trump himself was an aggressive move by FBI officials confronting the chaotic aftermath of the firing of Comey and enduring the presidents verbal assaults on the Russia investigation as a witch hunt.

CNN reported that counterintelligence agents were investigating why Trump was acting in ways that seemed to benefit Russia.

Both news organizations said Trump's firing of Comey was a major factor prompting the FBI to take action.

Donald Trump

Although the report was published Friday night and prompted a sharp response from White House press secretary Sarah Sanders, Trump did not weigh in until 7:05 a.m Saturday.

"Wow, just learned in the Failing New York Times that the corrupt former leaders of the FBI, almost all fired or forced to leave the agency for some very bad reasons, opened up an investigation on me, for no reason & with no proof, after I fired Lyin James Comey, a total sleaze!

In a series of tweets, he said the FBI was in "complete turmoil" at the time because of Comey's "poor leadership" and his handling of an investigation of Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton.

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"My firing of James Comey was a great day for America," Trump tweeted. "He was a Crooked Cop...........who is being totally protected by his best friend, Bob Mueller, & the 13 Angry Democrats..."

He singled out several FBI agents in his five-part tweetstorm.

"Lyin James Comey, Andrew McCabe, Peter S and his lover, agent Lisa Page, & more, all disgraced and/or fired and caught in the act. These are just some of the losers that tried to do a number on your President," he tweeted. "Part of the Witch Hunt. Remember the 'insurance policy?' This is it!"

Trump was referring to charges that some FBI agents, among them McCabe, Peter Strzok and Page, a colleague he was intimately involved with, were part of a conspiracy to undermine the president.

Addressing the Russia aspect of the Times report, Trump said he had been "FAR tougher on Russia than Obama, Bush or Clinton. Maybe tougher than any other President."

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He repeated his long held contention that "getting along with Russia is a good thing, not a bad thing."

Sanders said in her statement Friday night that Comey was fired for just cause and that Trump has never favored Russia.

This is absurd. James Comey was fired because hes a disgraced partisan hack, and his Deputy Andrew McCabe, who was in charge at the time, is a known liar fired by the FBI. Unlike President Obama, who let Russia and other foreign adversaries push America around, President Trump has actually been tough on Russia.

The obstruction probe was an idea the FBI had previously considered, but it didn't start until Comey was fired, CNN reported. The justification went beyond Trump's firing of Comey, CNN said, according to its sources, and included the president's conversation with Comey in the Oval Office asking him to drop the investigation into his former national security adviser Michael Flynn.

Trump insisted last year that he didn't fire FBI Director James Comey because of the Russia investigation, despite video and documentary evidence to the contrary, including a key interview with NBC News.

I was going to fire Comey knowing there was no good time to do it, he told NBC anchor Lester Holt. And in fact, when I decided to just do it, I said to myself  I said, you know, this Russia thing with Trump and Russia is a made-up story. Its an excuse by the Democrats for having lost an election that they shouldve won.

"Not that it matters but I never fired James Comey because of Russia!" Trump tweeted shortly after the firing. "The Corrupt Mainstream Media loves to keep pushing that narrative, but they know it is not true!"

The FBI director's firing is central to an obstruction of justice investigation being conducted by Mueller, who is also looking into Russian attempts to influence the 2016 election in order to help Trump.

Video: Comey - Someone Has To Stand Up, Speak The Truth

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Trump blasts Comey as 'total sleaze' in response to FBI probe reports
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. National Security Adviser John Bolton said on Friday talks between the U.S. military and its Turkish counterparts on the Kurds and Syria will continue next week, in the hopes of producing results both countries accept. Bolton, in a radio interview, said he, President Donald Trump, and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo understood Turkey had committed "not to harm the Kurds who had fought with us against ISIS." Bolton had suggested on Tuesday that protecting Washington's Kurdish allies would be a pre-condition of the U.S. withdrawal troops from Syria, which began earlier on Friday. That drew a rebuke from Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan, who called his comments "a serious mistake." "What were still pursuing in these military-to-military conversations are assurances and protocols and procedures so that everybody feels comfortable with how this is going to happen. And were hoping those discussions, which will continue next week, will produce results that are acceptable on both sides," he said in an interview with Hugh Hewitt, according to a transcript. The U.S.-led coalition against Islamic State began the process of withdrawing from Syria on Friday, making good on Trump's announcement that he had decided to remove 2,000 U.S. troops. Trump's decision stunned allies that have joined Washington in the battle against Islamic State, frequently called ISIS. The U.S. decision has injected new uncertainties into the eight-year long Syrian war and a flurry of contacts over how a resulting security vacuum will be filled across a swathe of northern and eastern Syria where the U.S. forces are stationed. Turkey aims to pursue a campaign against Kurdish forces that have allied with the United States, and the Russia and Iran-backed Syrian government sees the chance to recover a huge chunk of territory. (Reporting by Lisa Lambert and Susan Heavey; Editing by Steve Orlofsky)
Welcome to Small Humans , an ongoing series at Mashable that looks at how to take care of  and deal with  the kids in your life. Because Dr. Spock is nice and all, but its 2019 and we have the entire internet to contend with.

Internet marketed direct-to-consumer subscription services are the new black  and bonus points if theyre aimed at a person with children. Offering expecting and new parents anything and everything from smart bassinets to leather playmats , the new products extend a gleaming promise of being better, more hands-on, attentive, and nurturing parents than the previous generation (also known as your parents). Upwardly mobile millennials are an eager audience, welcoming the new disruptors to a growing industry, but it can be hard to tell whether theyre truly getting something better, or simply something that makes them feel better.

Among these emerging new companies disrupting decades-old businesses, is Yumi, a Los Angeles-based baby food company started in 2017 with a stated goal of changing the way parents think about baby nutrition. With fresh, seasonal offerings that also look beautiful, Yumi is hopping on the subscription service model popularized by the likes of Birchbox. Theyll ship a selection of baby food with ingredients that include chia seed, pitaya, and quinoa, directly to the customer, thereby bypassing the the grocery store shelves.

As of this moment, Yumi delivers the food, in weekly installments, to most western states as well as the tri-state area surrounding New York City. Parents can either pick their own baby food selections, or opt to have Yumi provide them with a guided journey where the company will curate their box based on their kids needs/age.

Fueled in part by fears of obesity, theres now an intense focus on childhood nutrition, which has drifted further downward, to rest on the very first things babies eat. As with many parenting decisions, what was once a simple questionwhat do feed your baby when hes ready for solid foodhas become more complicated. You could go the baby-led weaning method, wherein you just give small and softer versions of what youre eating to your child and gradually introduce him or her to new foods, or you could choose the baby food (i.e. purees) route. If you opt for the latter, then you have a choice of either making or buying your baby food, and should you decide to go the buying route, you can now add another premade baby food option to the mix.

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With weekly plans starting at $35, or a little under $6 a jar (with average costs decreasing the more you buy), Yumis target customer base is informed, financially-secure parents who are looking for the best, most convenient optionand who are not turned off by the higher cost. The price tag can be explained by the fact the food is made-to-order, basically, and has a short shelf lifeunlike the shelf-stable baby food you can buy in the supermarket.

Founded by Evelyn Rusli, a former journalist at the Wall Street Journal and the New York Times, and Angela Sutherland, who cut her teeth in private equity, Yumi came about after Sutherland got pregnant. Like many expecting moms, Sutherland began to think about she should be eating while pregnant, and what her baby would be eating down the road with first solid foods. I remember thinking, what do I need to know and how important is nutrition? Sutherland shared with me. The first 1000 days has been widely written aboutthe Lancet wrote about it. This is the most important time in a persons life for nutrition, be it brain or physical or metabolic developmentand it puts a lot of pressure on you as a parent.

When Sutherland started reading the ingredient lists of store-bought baby food, she found much of it was packed with filler ingredients like apple sauce  rendering the food high in fructose and low in nutrition. Used to organizing large swaths of data in Excel, Sutherland recorded her findings on spreadsheets, and discovered that on average 50 percent or more of the calories from the foods she surveyed were derived from fructose.

Together with Rusli, Sutherland set out to create a product built around babies first 1000 days, starting with conception, which pediatricians and childrens nutrition experts deem as critically important. Before solids, babies either nurse on breastmilk or formula, both of which include most essential nutrients for brand new tiny humans.

Since the human palate is predisposed to sweet, babies will naturally gravitate to foods that are sweet  bananas, sweet potatoes  and might need some encouragement to eat foods with naturally-occuring bitterness, like kale and broccoli.

When I was trying to figure out how to feed my baby solids, I felt had but one option  to make the food myself. After looking at many labels in stores and reviewing ingredients, amounts of sugar, vitamins, and so on, I concluded that baby food was not only expensive but also relatively unhealthy (as so many of the calories came from sugar, which was mainly supplied in the form of apple and pear sauces), and was exacerbating my kids natural preference for sweet tastes. As a food writer and editor, I wanted to give my baby whole ingredients, while limiting the amount of sugar in his food. I was also hoping to get him excited about real food he could see, not food that was in an opaque packet. So, I resorted to what many moms before me and since then have doneI started making my own baby food in the evenings after coming home from work and putting my baby down for the night.

It was fairly easy to make his food while cooking dinner. I started out by steaming some squash, carrots, or sweet potato, and when it was ready, puree it with some of the steaming water. As my baby got older, I started to incorporate more ingredients and spices. I knew what I was putting in my baby food, and because it wasnt difficult to makesteaming and pureeing are straightforward I went with it until my kid was old enough to eat whole foods and lost interest in his baby food.

In addition to enjoying making the food, I also liked the low-waste aspect of what I was doing. I would compost the vegetable and/or fruit scraps, use (and reuse) glass jars, and for a fraction of the store-bought baby food, I could make enough to give me a weeks worth of breakfasts, lunches, snacks, and dinners. Plus, it made me feel uber-accomplished.

Sourcing ingredients mainly from local, organic farms near their facility in California, Yumis offerings aim to pack a nutritional punch, while keeping the food low in fructose and gluten-free. To get babies used to different flavors, Rusli and Sutherland add spices to some of their blends.

In the name of research, I decided to sample the food I was writing about before, well, writing about it. I received 6 jars (compliments of Yumi) filled with the following: minestrone soup, cran squash soup, kabocha buckwheat, a peach-sweet potato blend with coconut milk, a kale-pear-white bean blend, and porridge made with pitaya, sweet potato, and quinoa, among other ingredients. They were, at least to my palate, quite tasty. If I was looking to feed a baby, didnt want to prepare my own food, and had the money to do so, I would absolutely order from Yumi.

For me, the two main questions were affordability and environmental impacts: Can you afford to buy this food, or is it easier now to make your own? And while the jars are curbside recyclable, the fallout in the wake of Chinas refusal of plastic recyclables has left some communities in a pickle when it comes to what to do with their discarded plastics. Though its also worth noting that baby food pouches generally arent recyclable at all.

And should parents find themselves financially constrained by the expense, or concerned about their carbon footprint, Yumi shares its recipes and feeding tips to help families out, as well as provide advice, if needed, on what to order for a child off a restaurant menu. And while, at the onset, you may feel judged and turned off by the promise of building a better foodie, the ultimate goals are to help families feed their kids better food as well as give them options of making the food themselves.

Finally, theres a disruption that might do some good.

Read more great stories from Small Humans:








As my 9-year-old son was being interviewed by ABC World News Tonight, I waited nervously outside in the hallway. Their story was about food allergies, and the interviewer was asking him to recount the scariest moment of his life. I assumed he would recount one of the few times he has gone into anaphylaxis, when his vomiting would not stop and he felt his own throat strangling him as if it was on fire. That is not what he said. When I heard his answer, I nearly fell down.

My son said the most frightening moment he has ever had was when an airline manager in Denver told us, If you think hes going to die, dont get on the plane.

I remember that day all too well. A family seated near us in the boarding area was eating peanuts. They overheard me caution my son not to go into the candy store where they were making peanut butter fudge, so they asked me if he was allergic to peanuts. I replied affirmatively that he had a potentially fatal peanut allergy. Then, in an act of bizarre insensitivity reflective of adolescent immaturity, that familys children (three boys) began to throw their peanuts up in the air, crush them on the floor and point laughingly at my son while their parents observed. Feeling increasingly uncomfortable, I turned to an airline staff member and asked them to please make an announcement, after we boarded, that there was a child in row 8 that had a life-threatening nut allergy.

Related: Study Finds That Only Half of People Who Believe They Have Food Allergies Actually Do

I was not expecting any pushback from the airline. This type of announcement had been accommodatingly done for me countless times in the past on this very same airline. This time, however, I was instructed that if my requested announcement was going to be made, it would be done merely as a courtesy. The gate agent informed me that making such announcements was not the policy of the airline. I was further lectured that the decision to make any announcement was up to the individual crew, and that this crew was going to refuse to make any announcement.

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Although I asked repeatedly, I was never given an answer as to why they refused my simple and courteous request. Letting fellow passengers (especially parents of children who may not understand the true nature of a deadly food allergy) know about my son and his allergy informs those passengers, who would be happy to forego their favorite peanut snack for a few hours, of my thankfulness for their cooperation. Sometimes it leads to a thoughtful and educational awareness of food allergies.

Related: Reality Star Bethenny Frankel Shares How She Was Shamed When Flying With a Food Allergy

What made this incident more egregious was that it was a high level manager who made these insensitive remarks. Presumably, this manager was trained by the airline on how to deal with issues in a manner as to not upset his customers. I have never felt so very helpless in a situation where there was no remedy available to me other than not to board the plane.

Why was I so surprised at my sons answer to ABC News? My son knows I am very concerned about flying with life-threatening food allergies. In fact, this event was life-altering for me, and I have subsequently become a leading advocate committed to increasing awareness of life threatening food allergies and the food allergic airline passenger. Those harsh words, now indelibly etched in my sons memory, still haunt him.

It turns out the one thing he fears more than dying, is other peoples insensitivity and malice toward the fact that he might die. He is more horrified about other human beings not caring about his life than actually having his throat close. I truly did not think that this would be his answer at all.

Related: How to Enjoy Holiday Meals When You Have Dietary Restrictions

Now, many years removed from this incident, Im impressed by my sons perceptiveness. As a parent, you try teach your children about dangerous things and how to be careful around them. We explain why we use car seats, electrical outlet covers, stair gates and how to look both ways before crossing the street. But all of those dangers are thing dangers. It turns out, however, there is one more frightening danger, and it is from people who simply dont care. This incident, and the multitude of other airline stories that people have shared with me (many of which are far more offensive than my story), are more than a metaphor about why people in the world we share should care and the consequences when this does not happen.

Its more than the fear of a reaction that is in my sons mind; its the idea that there may be others out there who feel the same way as that airline manager.

Insensitively taunting my young son about his own potentially fatal food allergy is not merely rude; it is evidence of an unacceptable ignorance and repugnance that people should not have toward each other, let alone toward faultless children. Its a shame that inability to treat people with dignity, courtesy and respect can generate mental fears that have the ability to out-rival the physical ones. What makes it most shameful was that the most egregious behavior that day was not by the three children taunting my son, but by the adult who was responsible for his safe travel. That alone speaks volumes about what ails our society.

Read more stories like this on The Mighty:

19 Things People With Food Allergies Wish Their Parents Knew

16 Things to Consider During the Holidays if Your Family Member Has a Food Allergy

American Airlines to Allow Passengers With Nut Allergies to Pre-Board to Wipe Their Seats
Chinas historic Change 4 lander touched down on the far side of the moon Jan. 2, the first time that has ever been accomplished, and on Friday we got our first ever 360-degree panoramic photo of the previously unexplored landscape.

See the full image below, and for a high-resolution version, visit the Chinese National Space Administration website here.

(Photo: CNSA)

Right in the center, you can see the Yutu 2 (aka Jade Rabbit 2) rover slightly in the distance, which the Change 4 released shortly after landing.

(Photo: CNSA)

The two vehicles even took photos of each other from within the Von Karman Crater, which is 115 miles wide.

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The Change 4 currently sits at an altitude of about minus 6,000 meters, which was one of the intents of this mission, said Li Chunlai, deputy director of the National Astronomical Observatories of China and commander in chief of the ground application system for Change 4.

The information from the depths of the moon will be one of our focuses in the exploration, Li told Chinese state news service Xinhua.

Li said the thicker dust seen when the lander touched down is strong evidence that this region of the moon is older. The Change 4s mission, among other things, is to investigate the geological history of the moon, and in turn perhaps reveal a bit more about the formation of the solar system.

The lander also includes an experiment with silkworm eggs and plant seeds, to see how the life-forms handle the low-gravity environment.

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TORONTO (AP)  Tired but smiling, an 18-year-old Saudi woman who said she feared death if deported back home arrived Saturday in Canada, which offered her asylum in a case that attracted global attention after she mounted a social media campaign.

"This is Rahaf Alqunun, a very brave new Canadian," Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland said arm-in-arm with the Saudi woman in Toronto's airport.

Rahaf Mohammed Alqunun smiled broadly as she exited an airport arrival door sporting a Canada zipper hoodie and a U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees hat, capping a dramatic week that saw her flee her family while visiting Kuwait and before flying to Bangkok. Once there, she barricaded herself in an airport hotel to avoid deportation and tweeted about her situation.

On Friday, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced that Canada would accept Alqunun as a refugee. Her situation has highlighted the cause of women's rights in Saudi Arabia, where several women fleeing abuse by their families have been caught trying to seek asylum abroad in recent years and returned home.

Freeland said Alqunun preferred not to take questions Saturday.

"She is obviously very tired after a long journey and she preferred to go and get settled," Freeland said. "But it was Rahaf's choice to come out and say hello to Canadians. She wanted Canadians to see that she's here, that she's well and that she's very happy to be in her new home."

After arriving she was off to get winter clothes, said Mario Calla, executive director of COSTI Immigrant Services, which is helping her settle in temporary housing and applying for a health card.

Calla said Alqunun has friends in Toronto who she would be meeting up with this weekend.

"She did comment to me about the cold," Freeland said.

"It does get warmer," Freeland said she told her.

Alqunun flew to Toronto via Seoul, South Korea, according to Thai immigration Police Chief Surachate Hakparn. Alqunun tweeted two pictures from her plane seat  one with what appears to be a glass of wine and her passport and another holding her passport while on the plane with the hashtag "I did it" and the emojis showing a plane, hearts and a wine glass.

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Canada's decision to grant her asylum could further upset the country's relations with Saudi Arabia.

In August, Saudi Arabia expelled Canada's ambassador to the kingdom and withdrew its own ambassador after Canada's Foreign Ministry tweeted support for women's right activists who had been arrested. The Saudis also sold Canadian investments and ordered their citizens studying in Canada to leave.

Freeland avoided an answer when asked what Alqunun's case would mean to Saudi-Canadian relations.

There was no immediate Saudi government reaction, nor any mention of her arrival in state media. But a Saudi government-sanctioned body, the National Society for Human Rights, said it deplores the methods used by some foreign officials and organizations to "incite" some young Saudi females to disobey their families and leave the country.

In a statement late Saturday, the group's director, Muftal al-Qahtani, slammed alleged political motives of some countries and said attempts to encourage these women to disobey their families leaves some vulnerable to abuse and trafficking, and harms families. Al-Qahtani insisted women facing abuse in the kingdom can turn to Saudi authorities and local organizations for assistance.

Freeland said that the U.N. refugee agency found Alqunun was in danger in Thailand and that Canada's government is glad it was able to act quickly to offer her refuge.

Alqunun's father arrived in Bangkok on Tuesday, but his daughter refused to meet with him.

Several other countries, including Australia, had been in talks with the U.N.'s refugee agency to accept Alqunun, Surachate said.

"She chose Canada. It's her personal decision," he said.

Australian media reported that UNHCR had withdrawn its referral for Alqunun to be resettled in Australia because Canberra was taking too long to decide on her asylum.

"When referring cases with specific vulnerabilities who need immediate resettlement, we attach great importance to the speed at which countries consider and process cases," a UNHCR spokesperson in Bangkok told The Associated Press in an email reply on condition of anonymity because the person wasn't authorized to discuss the case publicly.

"Why did Rahaf go to Canada instead of her preferred choice of Australia where she had friends?" Human Rights Watch executive director Kenneth Roth said in a tweet. "Because she needed safety from her Saudi pursuers fast, and Canada expedited her case while Australia slow-walked it."

Canada's ambassador saw her off at the airport, where Alqunun thanked everyone for helping her. She plans to start learning more English, though she already speaks it more than passably.

Alqunun was stopped Jan. 5 at Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi Airport by immigration police who denied her entry and seized her passport.

She barricaded herself in an airport hotel room where her social media campaign got enough public and diplomatic support that Thai officials admitted her temporarily under the protection of U.N. officials, who granted her refugee status Wednesday.

Surachate said her father  whose name has not been released  denied physically abusing Alqunun or trying to force her into an arranged marriage, which were among the reasons she gave for her flight. He said Alqunun's father wanted his daughter back but respected her decision.

"He has 10 children. He said the daughter might feel neglected sometimes," Surachate said.

UNHCR spokeswoman Lauren La Rose said the fact she was processed so quickly is a credit to those that made it happen.

"This is someone who was clearly in harm's way, who clearly felt her life with her threatened, and my colleagues in concert with governments in Thailand and Canada recognized that need," she said

___

Associated Press video journalist David Martin in Toronto and AP writers Tassanee Vejpongsa in Bangkok and Aya Btrawy in Subai, United Arab Emirates, contributed to this report.
A legislator on Saturday ruled out a congressional inquiry into the bankruptcy of Hanjin Heavy Industries and Construction Philippines at this time as a labor group urged the government to prepare safety net plans for some 23,000 workers who stand to be displaced over the shipbuilders debt woes. I do not think a congressional probe is necessary at this time. The responsible government agencies and the banks must be given time to sort everything out, but Congress will be following this case very closely, said Leyte Rep. Henry Ong, chairman of the House Committee on Banks and Financial Intermediaries. Ong said the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas and the Department of Labor and Employment must jointly intervene to make sure the interests of all stakeholders are protected. According to media reports, some banks did not have collateral protection when they extended loans to Hanjins Philippine unit. The pay and benefits of the 23,000 Hanjin workers must be among the priorities in the aftermath. The Hanjin workers and the government must not be left out of the decision-making process because this case is imbued with national public interest, he said. This bankruptcy case must be handled methodically and delicately. The banking and shipping sectors must be protected from any aftershocks. I want verification from the BSP and SEC that the banks, their shareholders, and depositors will not be adversely affected because of the Hanjin bankruptcy, he added. For its part, the Trade Union Congress of the Philippines said the government must not be complacent in cushioning the impact of the Hanjin bankruptcy on the affected workers.We urge the government officials not to be complacent. The government must prepare safety net program to save thousands of Hanjin workers who might lose their jobs in case Hanjin company shuts down due to its financial troubles. It could become a national economic and security disaster issue for the country if we just stand by and do nothing, said TUCP president Raymond Mendoza. Its not just the workers who might be affected. Its also their families who will also suffer with the consequences. So, there must be a multi-government plan to cushion the impact of unemployment and loss of income just in case, he added. Companies the size of Hanjin are usually required by DOLE to have a retrenchment plan for their employees. However, in the case of Hanjin, the TUCP is not aware of any contingency measure yet, Mendoza said. Hanjin earlier filed a voluntary rehabilitation because of growing financial obligations to banks and financial institutions in Philippines and Korea.
Bangkok (AFP) - An 18-year-old Saudi woman who fled her family seeking asylum in Australia will fly to Canada late Friday, the head of Thai immigration police said, in a surprise twist to a saga partly played out over Twitter.

Rahaf Mohammed al-Qunun was granted refugee status by the UN days ago after arriving in Bangkok over the weekend and amassing a large Twitter following as she made desperate pleas for help from the airport.

Australia was assessing a request to resettle her but hours after the young woman tweeted that she had "some good news and some bad news" earlier Friday Thai authorities said she was set to board a flight to Canada instead.

"She will fly at 11:15 pm tonight (1615 GMT)," Thai immigration chief Surachate Hakparn told AFP.

The woman's social media-driven fight for freedom was watched closely around the world after she arrived in Bangkok via Kuwait and barricaded herself in a hotel room posting live updates about her status.

She quickly amassed tens of thousands of followers with a #SaveRahaf hashtag that went viral and saw her delivered into the hands of the UN refugee agency in lightning speed compared to other asylum cases.

Rahaf said she was subjected to physical and psychological abuse at the hands of her family in Saudi Arabia and was once locked in her room for six months for cutting her hair.

Rights groups also say she was at risk for renouncing Islam.

Her father travelled to Thailand and denied mistreating her but she refused to see him during his trip.

Rahaf's quest also prompted online vitriol and death threats that made her deactivate her Twitter account after posting her last update.
By Patpicha Tanakasempipat and Anna Mehler Paperny BANGKOK/TORONTO (Reuters) - An 18-year-old Saudi woman who fled her family saying she feared for her life has been granted asylum in Canada, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said on Friday, as Thai officials confirmed the teen was en route to Toronto. Trudeau said United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) had asked Canada to take in Rahaf Mohammed al-Qunun, who grabbed international attention this week after she barricaded herself in a Bangkok airport hotel room to resist being sent home to her family, which denies any abuse. "Canada is a country that understands how important it is to stand up for human rights, to stand up for women's rights around the world, and I can confirm that we have accepted the U.N.'s request," he told reporters. The decision is likely to exacerbate Canada's already poor relations with Saudi Arabia, which last year barred the Canadian ambassador to Riyadh after Ottawa criticized Saudi authorities for detaining women's' activists. Qunun arrived in Bangkok on Saturday and was initially denied entry, but she soon started posting messages on Twitter from the transit area of Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi airport saying she had "escaped Kuwait" and her life would be in danger if forced to return to Saudi Arabia. Following a 48-hour stand-off at Bangkok airport, some of it barricaded in a transit lounge hotel room, she was allowed to enter Thailand and was then processed as a refugee by the UNHCR. The UNHCR welcomed Canada's decision and also acknowledged Thailand had given Qunun temporary refuge. "Ms. al-Qunun's plight has captured the world's attention over the past few days, providing a glimpse into the precarious situation of millions of refugees worldwide," U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi said in a statement. Qunun has accused her family of abuse, and has refused to meet her father and brother who arrived in Bangkok to try take her back to Saudi Arabia. "It was her wish to go to Canada," Thailand's immigration chief Surachate Hakparn told reporters. "She still refuses to meet with her father and brother, and they are going to be traveling back tonight as well ... They are disappointed." Her case has drawn global attention to Saudi Arabia's strict social rules, including a requirement that women have the permission of a male "guardian" to travel, which rights groups say can trap women and girls as prisoners of abusive families. A Korean Air flight carrying Qunun left Bangkok for Seoul on Friday night at 11:37 p.m. local time (1637 GMT), an airport official told Reuters. Qunun will board a connecting flight to Toronto from Seoul's Incheon airport. She is expected to arrive in Canada on Saturday morning. Trudeau brushed off a question as to whether Canada's move might make it harder to repair ties with Saudi Arabia. "Canada has been unequivocal that we will always stand up for human rights and women's rights around the world," he said. Amid increasing domestic political pressure, Trudeau said last month that his Liberal government was looking for a way out of a multibillion-dollar arms deal with Riyadh. Qunun's flight has emerged at a time when Riyadh is facing unusually intense scrutiny from its Western allies over the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul in October and over the humanitarian consequences of its war in Yemen. Canada has repeatedly said Khashoggi's murder was unacceptable and demanded a full explanation. (Reporting by Patpicha Tanakasempipat; additional reporting by Juarawee Kittilipsa in Bangkok, David Ljunggren in Ottawa, Julie Gordon in Vancouver and Anna Mehler Paperny in Toronto; editing by William Maclean and Marguerita Choy)
Russian lawyer Natalia Veselnitskaya. (Photo: Yury Martyanov/Kommersant Photo/Reuters)

The Russian lawyer who played a key role in the infamous Trump Tower meeting with Trump campaign officials, including Donald Trump Jr., tells Yahoo News she wont return to the United States to face charges that she lied in an unrelated court case.

She also said she would be willing to speak with special counsel Robert Mueller for his investigation, but she hasnt been asked.

In a phone interview conducted with Yahoo News, Natalia Veselnitskaya calmly but insistently denied the charges, and said she would use all methods to defend herself, but would do so from Russia, where she lives with her four children, and would not come to the United States.

On Tuesday, a Manhattan judge unsealed a December indictment of Veselnitskaya in the U.S. Southern District of New York, charging her with obstruction of justice.

The charges against Veselnitskaya are not directly connected to the Trump Tower meeting, which also included campaign manager Paul Manafort and Ivanka Trumps husband, Jared Kushner. They relate to a 2013 civil court case in which she represented Prevezon Holdings, a Cyprus-based firm accused of laundering money through real estate purchases in New York. The Prevezon case was settled in 2017 with the company paying almost $6 million, and both sides declaring victory.

The laundered money allegedly constituted proceeds of a tax fraud discovered by Sergei Magnitsky, a Russian accountant who worked for British businessman William Browder, a former U.S. citizen. Magnitsky died in Russian custody in 2009.

In the recently unsealed case, prosecutors now accuse Veselnitskaya of misrepresenting supposedly independent investigative findings of the Russian government while working in secret cooperation with a senior Russian prosecutor. American prosecutors claim to have obtained correspondence between Veselnitskaya and the Russian prosecutors office showing that she actively worked to draft the governments findings.

Veselnitskaya does not appear to deny that she worked with the prosecutors office, but says that such cooperation wasnt illegal.

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I actively cooperated with the General Prosecutors Office of the Russian Federation which has supported the public prosecution of Browder since 2013, Veselnitskaya said in an interview published Friday in Interfax, the Russian news agency. And the fact that we have identical positions concerning Browders false story can neither provide evidence of any conspiracy, nor constitute any wrongdoing.

Veselnitskaya told Yahoo News that whatever documents the U.S. government has were illegally obtained through Browder, though she provided no details to back up the allegation. Browder did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Browder is a long-time nemesis of Veselnitskaya and the Russian government. Following Magnitskys death, Browder lobbied to pass the Magnitsky Act, a broad set of sanctions against Russian officials who are suspected of involvement in his death.

Regarding the Trump Tower meeting and the ongoing investigation into the Trump presidential campaigns ties to Russia, Veselnitskaya also said she was willing to speak to special counsel Robert Mueller, but his office has made no attempt to contact her. She told Yahoo News she believes Mueller or his team hasnt attempted to interview her because the meeting had no political significance.

Veselnitskaya has long insisted that overturning the Magnitsky Act was the focus of the 2016 Trump Tower meeting. An English-language memo she took to the meeting focused on the Magnitsky Act and Browder, but also mentions the Russian ban on American adoptions, which was done in retaliation for the sanctions, and mentions possible ties to the financing of Hillary Clintons presidential campaign.

Donald Trump Jr., who accepted an invitation to the meeting after being promised dirt on Clinton, has since claimed that the meeting was about adoptions.

Well decline to comment, wrote Peter Carr, a spokesman for the special counsels office, about attempts to speak to Veselnitskaya as part of Muellers investigation.

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Read more from Yahoo News:
According to a report by Techcrunch, Robinhood, the zero fee trading company based in the United States, is making plans to open an office in London and it has started recruiting to that effect.

Various sources in and within Londons FinTech market have confirmed that Robinhood, which was launched back in 2013 and is valued at $5.6 billion, has been working towards the launch of its London office, with recruitment activities covering departments such as hiring and recruitment, public relations, marketing, customer support, and others.

The startup is also looking at hiring executives for product and compliance positions, which is extremely wise for a company that plans to get multiple licenses from the UKs financial watchdog, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).

Robinhoods expansion into the United Kingdom puts them in direct competition with similar fintech startups that have won the hearts of British traders offering fee-free trades, same way Robinhood won the hearts of Americans. One of such firms is London-based Freetrade, which offers fee-free trades executed at the close of business each day, for instant execution of trades, the startup charges as low as 1 per trade.

Another fintech startup that should be in Robinhoods crosshairs is Revolut, the London based startup, that recently announced plans to offer Robinhood commission-free trading to its customers via its banking app.

Both companies have a bit of history, and it will be interesting to see how this battle shapes up. Launching a division in the U.K. will put Robinhood in direct competition with locally-based FinTech companies, and the success of the company in the United States is reportedly the reason why a lot of new entrants in Britain have gone ahead to launch their fee-free trading platforms.

Last month, Robinhood launched a savings and checking account for its American customers, offering users a fee-free, commitment-free and surprise-free account that pays them 3 percent interest for every deposit made into the account.

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The company had said via a blog post, at the time:

Currently, traditional checking and savings accounts cost more for people who make less, are riddled with unfair and hidden fees, and earn you minimal returns on your savings. We believe you should earn more on your money, and shouldnt be charged fees to access it.

The accounts will come with a debit card, which will be personalized and can be used in over 75,000 ATMs across the U.S. for withdrawals. However, some few days after it announced its plan to launch the accounts, the Securities Investor Protection Corporation (SIPC), the agency in charge of brokerage accounts, said Robinhood didnt consult the agency about its plans before making the announcement.

SIPC CEP Stephen Harbeck said Robinhood would be using a model that goes above what they can protect and as such, they promptly reported the startup to the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Robinhood would be buying securities for its account and sharing a portion of the proceeds with their customers, and thats not what we cover. Ive never seen a single document on this. I havent been consulted on this.

Featured image from Shutterstock.



The post Robinhood Makes Hiring Efforts Ahead of UK Expansion appeared first on CCN.


Federal counterintelligence agents began an investigation of Donald Trump last year that aimed to find out whether the president had a clandestine agenda to help Russia, the New York Times and CNN reported Friday.

The revelation, which the White House called "absurd" in a late-evening statement, suggests that the FBI felt Trump's firing of director James B. Comey in May 2017 was motivated by Russian interests and might constitute a threat to U.S. national security, the Times reported.

While the allegation of Trump's possible collusion with the Russian government has been raised before, to date there has been no evidence.

Rudolph W. Giuliani, a lawyer for the president, was quoted by the Times as saying that the investigation seems to have gone nowhere. The fact that it goes back a year and a half and nothing came of it that showed a breach of national security means they found nothing, Giuliani said on Friday.

White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders said in a statement that Comey was fired for just cause and that Trump has never favored Russia.

This is absurd. James Comey was fired because hes a disgraced partisan hack, and his Deputy Andrew McCabe, who was in charge at the time, is a known liar fired by the FBI. Unlike President Obama, who let Russia and other foreign adversaries push America around, President Trump has actually been tough on Russia.

More: Trump's team had over 100 contacts with Russian-linked officials, according to think tank analysis

Related: Robert Mueller grand jury gets more time; judge extends 18-month term set to expire in coming days

Exclusive: James Comey strikes back against 'morally unfit' Donald Trump in scathing interview

The Times and CNN reports both cite unnamed sources.

The decision to investigate Trump himself was an aggressive move by FBI officials who were confronting the chaotic aftermath of the firing of Mr. Comey and enduring the presidents verbal assaults on the Russia investigation as a witch hunt, the Times reported.

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CNN reported that counterintelligence agents were investigating why Trump was acting in ways that seemed to benefit Russia.

The obstruction probe was an idea the FBI had previously considered, but it didn't start until Comey was fired, CNN reported. The justification went beyond Trump's firing of Comey, CNN said, according to its sources, and included the President's conversation with Comey in the Oval Office asking him to drop the investigation into his former national security adviser Michael Flynn.

Trump insisted last year that he didn't fire FBI Director James Comey because of the Russia investigation, despite video and documentary evidence to the contrary, according to several USA TODAY stories at the time.

"Not that it matters but I never fired James Comey because of Russia!" Trump tweeted shortly after the firing. "The Corrupt Mainstream Media loves to keep pushing that narrative, but they know it is not true!"

The FBI director's firing is central to an obstruction of justice investigation being conducted by special counsel Robert Mueller, who is also looking into Russian attempts to influence the 2016 election in order to help Trump.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: FBI investigated President Trump for possible secret Russian favors, reports say
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources tested the quality of water on several portions of the Manila Bay following the directive of President Rodrigo Duterte to rehabilitate Manilas popular coastline starting Jan. 27. Establishments have to put up their own sewage treatment plants [STPs]. They cannot discharge their wastewater in the esteros, Environment chief Roy Cimatu said. We are giving them three months to put up their own STPs, he added. Cimatu earlier described Manila Bay as a magnified cesspool because of the high coliform level of 330 million most probable number (MPN) per 100 milliliter, compared to the safe level of 100 MPN per 100 milliliter. The DENRs goal is to reduce the coliform level to less than 270 MPN by December 2019. Cimatu vowed to apply the same political will in rehabilitating Boracay in efforts to clean up the 19-kilometer-long Manila Bay and make the waters fit for swimming, diving, and other forms of contact recreation.The DENR said the government is considering the use of special road funds to finance the cleanup and rehabilitation of Manila Bay. Earlier, Malacanang said it will use the road users tax for government projects including the massive cleanup of Manila Bay and Pasig River. We need to confront difficulties in cleaning up the bay because of the informal residence and establishments along the bay. Discipline would play key role in making Manila Bay clean, he said.
Abu Dhabi (AFP) - Washington's top diplomat said Saturday he was "optimistic" a way could be found to protect Syrian Kurds while allowing Turks to "defend their country from terrorists" despite a US pullout from Syria.

"We are confident we can achieve an outcome that achieves both of those," Secretary of State Mike Pompeo told journalists in Abu Dhabi.

The Gulf emirate is his latest stop in a regional tour aimed at reassuring allies after a shock December announcement by President Donald Trump that US troops would be withdrawn from Syria.

Pompeo's remarks follow tensions between the US and Turkey over the fate of Washington's Syrian Kurdish allies in the fight against Islamic State jihadists.

Turkey had reacted angrily to suggestions that Trump's plan to withdraw troops was conditional on the safety of the US-backed Kurdish fighters, seen by the Turkish government as terrorists.

US-led operations against IS in Syria have been spearheaded on the ground by the Kurdish-dominated Syrian Democratic Forces.

Turkey sees the backbone of that alliance, the Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG), as a terrorist group linked to the Kurdistan Worker's Party (PKK) which has fought a decades-long insurgency against the Turkish state.

Pompeo said Friday that Washington recognised "the Turkish people's right and (Turkish President Recep Tayyip) Erdogan's right to defend their country from terrorists".

But, he added, "we also know that those are fighting alongside of us for all this time deserve to be protected as well."

Pompeo said he had spoken to Turkey's Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu.

"Many details (are) still to be worked out but I'm optimistic that we can achieve a good outcome," he said.
By Joanna Plucinska, Karol Witenberg and Jack Stubbs WARSAW/LONDON (Reuters) - Poland has arrested a Chinese employee of Huawei and a former Polish security official on spying allegations, officials and sources told Reuters on Friday, a move that could fuel Western security concerns about the telecoms equipment maker. However, a spokesman for the Polish security services told Reuters the allegations related to individual actions, and were not linked directly to Huawei Technologies Cos Ltd [HWT.UL]. Huawei, the worlds biggest producer of telecoms equipment, faces intense scrutiny in the West over its relationship with the Chinese government and U.S.-led allegations that its equipment could be used by Beijing for spying. No evidence has been produced publicly and the firm has repeatedly denied the claims, but the allegations have led several Western countries to restrict Huawei's access to their markets. Stanislaw Zaryn, a spokesman for the Polish security services, said the country's Internal Security Agency (ISA) detained a Chinese citizen and a former Polish security official on Jan. 8 over spying allegations. The two men have heard charges and will be held for three months, he said. "This matter has to do with his actions, it doesnt have anything to do with the company he works for," Zaryn said of the Chinese man. A person with knowledge of the matter said a Huawei employee called Wang Weijing had been arrested but not charged. A LinkedIn profile for Wang showed he has worked for Huawei's Polish division since 2011 and previously served as attache to the Chinese General Consul in Gdansk from 2006-2011. Wang did not immediately respond to a request for comment via the social media site. Polish public TV channel TVP said the Polish man was a former ISA officer and that security services had searched the offices of his current employer, telecoms firm Orange Polska . Huawei's local offices were also searched, TVP reported. China's foreign ministry said it was "greatly concerned" by the reports, and urged Poland to handle the case "justly." Huawei said in a statement it was aware of the situation but had no immediate comment. "Huawei complies with all applicable laws and regulations in the countries where it operates, and we require every employee to abide by the laws and regulations in the countries where they are based," it said. Orange Polska said in a statement security services had on Tuesday gathered materials related to an employee, whom it did not identify. The company said it did not know if the investigation was linked to the employee's professional work, and that it would continue to cooperate with the authorities. HEIGHTENED SCRUTINY Huawei has come under intense scrutiny in recent months as countries including Australia, New Zealand and Japan have followed U.S. moves against the company, citing security concerns. Canadian authorities in December also arrested Huawei finance chief Meng Wanzhou at the behest of U.S. authorities as part of an investigation into alleged violations of U.S. trade sanctions, raising tensions with China at a time when Washington and Beijing are engaged in a broader trade war. The West's security concerns surrounding Huawei, and fellow Chinese telecoms equipment firm ZTE Corp <0763.HK> <000063.SZ>, center around Chinas National Intelligence Law. Approved in 2017, the law states that Chinese "organisations and citizens shall, in accordance with the law, support, cooperate with, and collaborate in national intelligence work." This has sparked fears Huawei could be asked by the Chinese government to incorporate "backdoors" into their equipment that would allow Beijing access, for spying or sabotage purposes. Some experts also see a risk that Chinese intelligence may develop an ability to subvert Huawei's equipment. Ewan Lawson, a senior research fellow at the Royal United Services Institute in London, said the arrests in Poland could bolster Western concerns. "It does point at the sort of connections that may exist between the state intelligence enterprise and private Chinese companies," he said. The European Commission is aware of the reports of the arrests and will reach out to the Polish authorities for further information, spokeswoman Maja Kocijancic told reporters in Brussels. Norway said on Wednesday it was considering whether to join other Western nations in excluding Huawei from building part of the country's new 5G telecoms network. (Additional reporting by Anna Koper in Warsaw, and Christian Shepherd and Philip Wen in Beijing; Writing by Jack Stubbs; Editing by Mark Potter)
Weve lost count of how many times insiders have accumulated shares in a company that goes on to improve markedly. On the other hand, wed be remiss not to mention that insider sales have been known to precede tough periods for a business. So shareholders might well want to know whether insiders have been buying or selling shares in Oil Search Limited (ASX:OSH).

What Is Insider Selling?

Most investors know that it is quite permissible for company leaders, such as directors of the board, to buy and sell stock on the market. However, such insiders must disclose their trading activities, and not trade on inside information.

We dont think shareholders should simply follow insider transactions. But logic dictates you should pay some attention to whether insiders are buying or selling shares. For example, a Columbia University study found that insiders are more likely to engage in open market purchases of their own companys stock when the firm is about to reveal new agreements with customers and suppliers.

Check out our latest analysis for Oil Search

Want to help shape the future of investing tools and platforms? Take the survey and be part of one of the most advanced studies of stock market investors to date.

Oil Search Insider Transactions Over The Last Year

MD & Executive Director Peter Botten made the biggest insider sale in the last 12 months. That single transaction was for AU$2.6m worth of shares at a price of AU$8.51 each. That means that an insider was selling shares at around the current price of AU$7.61. While their view may have changed since the sale, this is not a particularly positive fact. We usually pause to reflect on the potential that a stock has a high valuation, if insiders have been selling at around the current price.

Over the last year we saw more insider selling of Oil Search shares, than buying. The average sell price was around US$8.47. Its not particularly great to see insiders were selling shares at below recent prices. Since insiders sell for many reasons, we wouldnt put too much weight on it. You can see the insider transactions (by individuals) over the last year depicted in the chart below. By clicking on the graph below, you can see the precise details of each insider transaction!

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ASX:OSH Insider Trading January 11th 19

I will like Oil Search better if I see some big insider buys. While we wait, check out this free list of growing companies with considerable, recent, insider buying.

Does Oil Search Boast High Insider Ownership?

Another way to test the alignment between the leaders of a company and other shareholders is to look at how many shares they own. We usually like to see fairly high levels of insider ownership. It appears that Oil Search insiders own 0.7% of the company, worth about AU$72m. Weve certainly seen higher levels of insider ownership elsewhere, but these holdings are enough to suggest alignment between insiders and the other shareholders.

So What Do The Oil Search Insider Transactions Indicate?

It doesnt really mean much that no insider has traded Oil Search shares in the last quarter. Still, the insider transactions at Oil Search in the last 12 months are not very heartening. The modest level of insider ownership is, at least, some comfort. Of course, the future is what matters most. So if you are interested in Oil Search, you should check out this free report on analyst forecasts for the company.

Of course Oil Search may not be the best stock to buy. So you may wish to see this free collection of high quality companies.

To help readers see past the short term volatility of the financial market, we aim to bring you a long-term focused research analysis purely driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis does not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements.



The author is an independent contributor and at the time of publication had no position in the stocks mentioned. For errors that warrant correction please contact the editor at editorial-team@simplywallst.com.
Jose Munoz, former chairman of Nissan North America, resigned from the company Friday, as former Nissan executives Carlos Ghosn and Greg Kelly face new charges in Japan, according to Nissan.

Munoz's resignation, first reported by Reuters, is effective immediately, said Nissan spokesman Brian Brockman. Brockman declined to provide any more information on why Munoz resigned or whether his resignation was related to the Ghosn investigation.

Munoz, who has not been accused of any wrongdoing, was considered an ally of Ghosn inside Nissan and a rising star. His departure adds to an increasingly chaotic leadership transition for Nissan.

Until recently, Munoz was set to make appearances at the Consumer Electronics Show and the Detroit auto show this month to discuss the company's latest products. Those appearances, including an interview scheduled with USA TODAY, were canceled days ago.

Ghosn, Nissan's former global chairman, was arrested in November and accused of underreporting his compensation. Former Nissan director Greg Kelly also was arrested in November in relation to Ghosn's compensation reporting issues.

Ghosn faced charges on Jan. 11 of misusing the company's funds for personal gain, and Nissan said in a statement the company filed a criminal complaint against him based on the same violation. The company, along with Ghosn and Kelly, have also been indicted for making false disclosures in annual reports.

Critics have questioned the veracity of the charges, suggesting that Nissan had an interest in ousting Ghosn because of his ties to Nissan partner Renault, a French automaker that retains a large stake in Nissan.

Both Ghosn and Kelly have said they were wrongly accused.

Ghosn has been detained in a Tokyo detention center since November. Kelly was released on Dec. 25 on bail as he dealt with health issues. Nissan has labeled Kelly as the "mastermind" of the alleged scheme.

Kelly was moved to a hospital after being released and is awaiting surgery for conditions tied to spinal stenosis, his Nashville lawyer Aubrey Harwell Jr. said. He has not been allowed to leave Japan, so he is exploring surgery options there. A trial could begin as early as March or April after Kelly recovers from surgery, Harwell said.

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Kellys wife, Dee Kelly, has said in recent video statements that her husband has been framed and betrayed by Nissan executives as part of a power grab.

Munoz, born in Spain, reported to Nissan CEO Hiroto Saikawa and was responsible for the companys overall results. Under his leadership as chairman, Nissan generated record sales in the U.S. in 2016 and 2017, according to the companys site.

Munoz was among local officials who announced that Nissan bought naming rights to the Titans' stadium in 2015. He also announced Nissan's decision to launch production of its new LEAF model at its Smyrna plant in 2017.

Prior to his North America role, Munoz led Nissan Mexicana as president. He joined Nissan in 2004 as a general manager at Nissan Europe.

Denis Le Vot is now North America chairman for Nissan. Nissan has not named a replacement for Munoz in his global role, Brockman said.

Reach Jamie McGee at 615-259-8071 and on Twitter at @JamieMcGee_.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Nissan executive Jose Munoz resigns after ally Carlos Ghosn's firing
PARIS (AP)  The Latest on blast at Paris bakery (all times local):

10 p.m.

A powerful explosion apparently caused by a gas leak has blown apart a Paris bakery and devastated the street it was on, killing three people and injuring dozens.

Witnesses described the explosion Saturday morning as deafening. It blew out windows and over turned nearby cars. Firefighters pulled injured victims out from windows and evacuated residents and tourists as a fire raged and smoke billowed over Rue de Trevise in north-central Paris.

The French Interior Ministry said two firefighters and a female Spanish tourist were killed by the blast and about 10 of the 47 wounded were in critical condition.

Interior Minister Christophe Castaner paid homage to the courage of the rescuers who saved one firefighter after he was buried under the rubble for 2 hours.

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4:20 p.m.

The Spanish foreign minister says a Spanish woman is among those killed in a Paris bakery explosion and fire believed caused by a gas leak, and another Spanish person was injured.

Spanish Foreign Minister Josep Borrell tweeted that "I deeply regret the death of three people after the explosion in central Paris, including a Spanish woman." He shared condolences to her relatives and "wishes for a quick recovery to the other injured Spaniard."

El Pais reported the woman was a tourist staying in a hotel near the bakery where the explosion took place Saturday.

The French Interior Ministry and Paris prosecutor's office reported only two dead from the explosion, both firefighters. They could not immediately confirm the death of the Spanish woman.

Dozens of people were injured in the explosion.

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1:40 p.m.

The Paris prosecutor's office says that two firefighters have been killed in the bakery blast and has corrected the overall figure given earlier by France's interior minister.

The prosecutor's office said the only two dead are the firefighters; 10 other people are in critical condition and 37 are less seriously injured.

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Earlier, French Interior Minister Christophe Castaner told reporters at the scene that a total of four people, including two firefighters, were killed. Castaner later corrected himself in a tweet.

French investigators say the powerful blast was likely caused by a gas leak.

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1:20 p.m.

France's interior minister says that four people have been killed, including two firefighters, and 47 have been injured in the blast at a bakery that was apparently caused by a gas leak in central Paris.

Christophe Castaner told reporters at the scene "unfortunately the human toll is particularly serious."

He said 10 people are in critical condition and 37 others less seriously injured.

He paid homage to the courage of rescuers who saved the life of one firefighter who was buried under the rubble for two and a half hours.

Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo, who was also at the scene, extended a "message of affection and solidarity" to the victims.

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12:15 p.m.

A Paris fire department spokesman says that 36 people, including 12 in critical condition, have been injured in the blast at a bakery that was apparently caused by a gas leak.

Paris fire department spokesman Eric Moulin told reporters at the scene that five people were in life-threatening condition, including two firefighters.

Paris prosecutor Remy Heitz said "at this stage we can say it seems from accidental origin, this would be a gas leak." He said that Paris firefighters were already at the scene for a suspected gas leak on Saturday morning when the explosion happened. Investigations are ongoing to determine the exact cause of the blast.

Witnesses described the overwhelming sound of the blast. Charred debris and broken glass covered the pavement around the apartment building housing the bakery, which resembled a blackened carcass.

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11:35 a.m.

A witness says he saw Paris firefighters enter a bakery in the morning but he and his co-workers "thought maybe it's a joke, a false alarm" and they went back to work.

Pedro Goncalves, an employee at the Hotel Mercure opposite the bakery, said that about an hour later a blast rocked the surrounding streets.

"In the middle of nothing, I heard one big explosion and then a lot of pressure came at me (and) a lot of black smoke and glass," he said. "And I had just enough time to get down and cover myself and protect my head."

Goncalves said he "felt a lot of things fall on me" and that he was struck by shattered glass. He had a few cuts on his head, and spots of blood on his sweater and undershirt.

"Thank god I'm OK," he said, saying that the blast was so powerful that he heard whistling in his ears in the aftermath. Goncalves said that he ran for the exit and then went to check on the hotel's clients, adding that some of them had head injuries and were bleeding. He said that the hotel was "destroyed" in the blast.

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9:50 a.m.

Paris police say several people have been injured in an explosion and fire at a bakery believed caused by a gas leak.

A Paris police spokeswoman said firefighters are currently at the scene of the blast Saturday morning at the bakery on Rue Trevise in the 9th arrondissement of north-central Paris. She said several injuries have been reported to police but no deaths. The spokeswoman, who wasn't authorized to be publicly named, provided no further details.

French television showed emergency vehicles surrounding the area.

The explosion came amid heavy security in Paris and around France for yellow vest protests expected later Saturday.
By Gabriella Borter and Joseph Ax (Reuters) - A 13-year-old girl's escape from a rural home where she was held captive for three months by a Wisconsin man charged with murdering her parents helped break the case and she should be treated as a hero, the local sheriff said on Friday. Jayme Closs is with her aunt after her rescue on Thursday and has been reunited with the rest of her family and her dog, Barron County Sheriff Chris Fitzgerald told reporters. Thousands of volunteers and hundreds of law enforcement officers had searched the small town of Barron after Closs' parents were found shot dead in their home in October, their front door blown open with a shotgun, their daughter gone. Closs was targeted by suspected kidnapper Jake Patterson, 21, who carefully planned her parents' murder, even shaving his head to avoid leaving forensic evidence at the crime scene, Fitzgerald told reporters. "Jayme was the target," said Fitzgerald. "The suspect had specific intentions to kidnap Jayme and went to great lengths to prepare to take her." Relying on what Fitzgerald called "the will of a kid to survive," a disheveled Closs escaped the house in the tiny town of Gordon where she had been held captive, about 60 miles (100 km) north of her home in Barron. Her captor was not at home when she managed to flee, Fitzgerald said. She was found by a woman walking her dog on Thursday afternoon. "Jayme is the hero in this case. She's the one who helped us break this case," Fitzgerald told reporters. Closs spoke to investigators on Friday after spending a night in the hospital for evaluation. Authorities did not offer any details about the conditions of her captivity or how she had managed to escape. 'LOOKING FOR HER' Less than 15 minutes after Closs' rescue, Patterson was taken into custody after police pulled him over, based on Closs' description of his vehicle. "The suspect was out looking for her when law enforcement made contact with him," Fitzgerald told a news conference, adding police were not seeking any other suspects in the case at this time. Police are now trying to work out why Patterson targeted Closs. "We don't believe there was a social media connection and are determining how he became aware of Jayme," Fitzgerald said. "Nothing in this case shows the suspect knew anyone at the Closs home, or at any time had contact with anyone in the Closs family." Patterson, an unemployed resident of Gordon, was charged on Friday with kidnapping and with murdering James and Denise Closs with a shotgun. Their bodies were discovered on Oct. 15. He was being held in the Barron County jail, and it was not yet clear whether he had a lawyer. He faces an initial court hearing on Monday. Authorities have released few details about Patterson, who has no previous criminal record in Wisconsin. Fitzgerald, the Barron County Sheriff, said Patterson grew up in Gordon and attended high school in the area. The president of the Jennie-O Turkey store in Barron, where James and Denise Closs had worked for decades, said Patterson had been an employee there for a single day three years ago. He quit the next day, saying he was moving, Steve Lykken said. "We are still mourning the loss of longtime Jennie-O family members Jim and Denise, but our entire team is celebrating with the community, and the world, that Jayme has been found," Lykken said. The superintendent of the local school district, Jean Serum, described Patterson as a nice kid and member of his high school's quiz bowl team. He graduated in 2015. INNER STRENGTH About 350 people under the age of 21 are kidnapped by strangers in the United States each year, according to FBI data. Those that survive months in captivity need inner strength and a great deal of luck, according to survivors and experts who have worked with such victims. Elizabeth Smart, who was held captive for nine months as a teenager after her 2002 abduction in Utah, posted a photo of Closs on Instagram, praising the "miracle" that she had been found. "No matter what may unfold in her story let's all try to remember that this young woman has SURVIVED and whatever other details may surface the most important will still remain that she is alive," Smart wrote. (Reporting by Joseph Ax and Gabriella Borter in New York; Additional reporting by Rich McKay in Atlanta and Andrew Hay in New Mexico; Editing by Bill Tarrant and Sandra Maler)
Exceptions would be made for violent or sex offenders

Jail sentences of six months could be scrapped.

The prison minister has suggested that removing short jail terms could alleviate pressure on the system.

The move could mean that around 30,000 criminals per year in England and Wales could be spared jail under the proposals.

Short jail terms are frequently given to first time offenders or criminals convicted of offences such as petty thefts.

Exceptions would be made for violent or sex offenders, Rory Stewart told the Telegraph.

Stewart claimed that very short jail terms were long enough to damage you and not long enough to heal you.

Short jail terms could be scrapped to ease an overcrowded system

He told the Daily Telegraph Magazine: You bring somebody in for three or four weeks, they lose their house, their job, their family, their reputation.

They come (into prison), they meet a lot of interesting characters (to put it politely) and then you whap them on to the streets again.

The public are safer if we have a good community sentence and it will relieve a lot of pressure on prisons.

Peter Dawson, director of the Prison Reform Trust, praised ministers, adding they should be congratulated for having the political courage to start the debate.

The prison population has doubled since the early 1990s, soaring from around 40,000 to more than 80,000 in 2018.

More than half of the 86,275 offenders sentenced to immediate custody in England and Wales in 2017 were sentenced to six months or less, according to a Parliamentary response from Mr Stewart to shadow justice secretary Richard Burgon last month.

Mr Stewart claimed research indicated that criminals given short jail terms were more likely to re-offend than those given community service.

A Ministry of Justice spokeswoman said: As we have said previously, short sentences are too often ineffective, provide little opportunity to rehabilitate offenders and lead to unacceptably high rates of re-offending.

Thats why we are exploring potential alternatives but this work is ongoing and we have reached no conclusions at this time.

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In Scotland, where judges are guided by a legal presumption against sentences of less than six months, re-offending rates are said to have fallen to their lowest levels for nearly two decades.

According to Humza Yousaf, the SNPs Justice Secretary, a shift to greater use of community sentences has contributed to a 19-year low in the re-conviction rate north of the border.

The Scottish Government is due to extend the presumption against short prison sentences to 12 months in a drive to further reduce re-offending and keep crime down.
Authorities confiscated 15 kilos of assorted medicines from an American passenger at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport. Customs airport collector Carmelita Talusan said her men at the NAIA Terminal 3 confiscated the assorted antibiotics after its carrier, whose name was withheld, failed to show necessary permits from the Food and Drug Administration. Through the joint efforts of our front liners and operatives, the baggage of an American passenger from Vietnam flight was intercepted, yielding medicines with no health clearance, she said. Early this month, Customs men also foiled an attempt of two Chinese nationals to smuggle assorted medicines at the airport. The foreigners, 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 FDA.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. 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.
By James Pomfret and Anna Koper HONG KONG/WARSAW (Reuters) - Chinese telecommunications equipment maker Huawei said on Saturday it had sacked an employee arrested in Poland on spying charges in a case that could intensify Western security concerns about the company. Poland's internal affairs minister, Joachim Brudzinski, called for the European Union and NATO to work on a joint position over whether to exclude Huawei from their markets following the arrest of the Chinese employee and a former Polish security official on Friday. Huawei, the world's biggest producer of telecommunications equipment, faces intense scrutiny in the West over its relationship with China's government and U.S.-led allegations that its devices could be used by Beijing for spying. No evidence has been produced publicly and the firm has repeatedly denied the accusations, but several Western countries have restricted Huawei's access to their markets. In August, U.S. President Donald Trump signed a bill that barred the U.S. government from using Huawei equipment and is mulling an executive order that would also ban U.S. companies from doing so. Brudzinski said Poland wanted to continue cooperating with China but that a discussion was needed on whether to exclude Huawei from some markets. "There are concerns about Huawei within NATO as well. It would make most sense to have a joint stance, among EU member states and NATO members," he told private broadcaster RMF FM. "We want relations with China that are good, intensive and attractive for both sides," he added. HUAWEI DISTANCES ITSELF FROM ARRESTS Seeking to distance itself from the incident, Huawei said in a statement it had sacked Wang Weijing, whose "alleged actions have no relation to the company." "In accordance with the terms and conditions of Huawei's labor contract, we have made this decision because the incident has brought Huawei into disrepute," the statement said. "Huawei complies with all applicable laws and regulations in the countries where it operates, and we require every employee to abide by the laws and regulations in the countries where they are based," the company's statement added. A Huawei spokesman, Joe Kelly, declined to give any further details. The two men have heard the charges and could be held for three months. A spokesman for the Polish security services had told Reuters the allegations related to individual actions, and were not linked directly to Huawei Technologies Cos Ltd. A deputy digital affairs minister in Poland said, however, that Warsaw was analyzing any involvement by Huawei in building the country's 5G telecommunications infrastructure, Money.pl portal reported. Any decision by Western governments over whether to exclude Huawei from their markets would have to consider the possible impact on the speed and cost of 5G development, analysts say. "My best-case outcome is that Europe uses this window of opportunity and figures out how to have a minimal risk for the best network possible," said Jan-Peter Kleinhans, an IT security expert at Stiftung Neue Verantwortung, a Berlin-based think-tank. A LinkedIn profile for Wang showed he has worked for Huawei's Polish division since 2011 and previously served as attache to the Chinese General Consul in Gdansk from 2006-2011. Wang did not immediately respond to a request for comment via the social media site. China's Foreign Ministry has expressed concern over the case and is urging Poland to handle the case "justly." (Additional reporting by Douglas Busvine in Berlin; Editing by Kirsten Donovan, Justyna Pawlak and Helen Popper)
Gaza City (Palestinian Territories) (AFP) - Gaza's Islamist rulers Hamas said Thursday that Egypt plans to fully reopen its border crossing with the enclave, days after partially closing it amid infighting between Palestinian factions.

Forces loyal to Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas withdrew on Sunday from the Rafah border crossing, accusing rivals Hamas of interference.

The crossing is the only way for Palestinians to leave Gaza that bypasses Israel.

Egypt has prevented Gazans from leaving the enclave since Abbas's Palestinian Authority withdrew its staff.

An Egyptian security delegation visited Gaza on Thursday, meeting with senior Hamas officials including its head Ismail Haniya.

Khalil al-Hayya, deputy head of Hamas, told journalists the Egyptians "assured us that there will be no changes at the Rafah border and it will stay open".

It was not immediately clear when the crossing would fully reopen.

Hayya said he expected that all sides would also stick to an informal truce agreement with Israel.

Hamas employees retook the post on Monday in what they said was an attempt to maintain border control after the shock PA withdrawal.

Separately on Thursday, a senior Hamas official announced Haniya had put on hold a planned trip to Russia.
A paraplegic climber is helping protect the celebrated Joshua Tree National Park, one of thousands of individual action as the government shutdown, triggered by the failure of Donald Trump and Democrats to reach an agreement over border funding heads for the record books.

As up to 800,000 federal employees  more than half of them still working  missed their first pay cheque as a result of the funding freeze, the president was reportedly edging closer to declaring a national emergency to obtain the border wall he has demanded, without congressional support. He insisted he did not want to do so and called upon Democrats in Congress to help reach a simple solution.

With no sign a compromise in sight, across the nation the pain caused by the shutdown began to bite harder. Many affected by the stalemate have reportedly taken to other work, such as baby sitting and part-time driving. The shutdown is due to enter its 22nd day  a new record  at midnight on Friday.

Included in the impacts of the shutdown has been the closure of all, or part of, 388 of the nations 737 parks, historic sites, and national monuments. Californias Joshua Tree National Park was due to be closed for maintenance after people cut down the famed trees, threw rubbish, and went off-roading across the previously pristine desert.

Among those who came to the aid of the park was Rand Abbott, a 55-year-old military veteran, who lives there and is known as a keen rock climber, despite having lost the use of his legs.

I tell people that were the guests here, Mr Abbott told The Independent, speaking from Joshua Tree National Park, a day after working with visiting students from New York who had helped collect seven bags of rubbish.

He said he had seen conditions worsen in the park after the shutdown come into effect at midnight on 22 December, with most of the National Parks Service (NPS) staff that look after its 1,200 square miles, being told to go home.

I went out there and picked up trash. I did so on my own, to start with, he said, adding that other people also volunteered. He even collected rubbish on Christmas Day.

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Mr Abbott said he also saw people camping on protected parts of the park, and trying to burn a Joshua tree, the famed yucca-type tree from which the park takes its name. I saw them putting a Joshua tree in the fire ring and told them they were protected. They said Were cold, he added.

Joshua Tree superintendent David Smith told National Parks Traveller. We had some pretty extensive four-wheel driving around the entire area to access probably our most significant tree in the park.

It had been expected the park would be shut entirely this weekend. However, as images of the damage to the park were shared on social media, triggering outrage, NPS officials said they had been able to use revenue from recreation fees to avert the closure.

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In addition, recently closed areas of the park will once again be accessible to visitors starting January 10, the NPS said in a statement.

Meanwhile, in Washington, Mr Trump said he would not yet declare a national emergency to obtain the funding for a border wall "right now", a day after he flew to Texas to meet border agency staff and community leaders and defended the need for such a barrier.

We want congress to do its job, Mr Trump said during a White House event on border security, adding that Democratic politicians should come back and vote.

What were not looking to do right now is national emergency, he said. I dont want to do this.

As hundreds of thousands worry about how to make ends meet without pay, on Capitol Hill politicians scrambled to try and alleviate some pressure.

By a vote of 411-7, the House of Representatives passed a bill requiring that all government workers receive retroactive pay after the partial shutdown ends. The Senate approved the bill unanimously on Thursday. The president is expected to sign the legislation, it said.

Tom OKey, a Joshua Tree activist and astronomer, told the Los Angeles Times: There needs to be a constitutional amendment protecting our cherished public landscapes. Because right now, the worst among us are trampling the best weve got.

Mr Abbott, who said he served for ten years in the Marine Corps and moved to Joshua Tree National Park after losing the use of his legs following surgery, said his clean up in the park was not a political statement.

Asked for his views on the shutdown and Mr Trumps demand for a border wall, he said such a conversation would probably take five hours.

But he added: The national parks should not be a pawn. The parks cannot be replaced. There is one Joshua Tree, one Yellowstone, one Yosemite. You have to take that into account. And if you do something that results in this situation, you have to find a solution.
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who missed three days of oral arguments this week, will miss another three days next week but her recovery from lung cancer surgery is "on track," a court spokeswoman said on Friday.

Ginsburg, 85, will continue to work from home and participate in all the cases she has missed, spokeswoman Kathy Arberg said in a statement.

"Her recovery from surgery is on track. Post-surgery evaluation indicates no evidence of remaining disease, and no further treatment is required," Arberg added.

After next week's three cases, the court is due to take a break until the middle of February. The justices will next be on the bench on Feb. 19, when they are due to hear a contentious case arising from President Donald Trump's administration's decision to include a citizenship question in the 2020 census.

Ginsburg, who joined the court in 1993, underwent a surgical procedure called a pulmonary lobectomy on Dec. 21 at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York to remove two cancerous nodules in her left lung. She was released from the hospital on Dec. 25.

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Monday was the first time Ginsburg, the oldest member of the nine-justice court, has missed oral arguments as a result of her various health scares, including two previous cancer diagnoses. Ginsburg broke three ribs in a fall in November, which led to doctors' discovery of the lung nodules.

If Ginsburg, one of the court's four liberal members, were unable to continue serving, Trump could replace her with a conservative, further shifting the court to the right. Trump has added two justices since becoming president in January 2017, cementing its 5-4 conservative majority.
Food pantries across the country are working to help federal employees who missed a paycheck on Friday due to the ongoing partial government shutdown, including one in Boston that has helped hundreds of U.S. Coast Guard families so far.

This week, the Massachusetts Military Foundation set up a pop-up pantry specifically for families of the Coast Guard, which is the only military branch currently working without pay. Almost 400 families stopped by in the first two days to take advantage of the 30,000 pounds of free food, according to NPR.

Many families are in need of food and necessities that are often difficult and expensive to buy, foundation President Don Cox told NPR.

Weve been hit hard with the baby food, the diapers, Cox said. I mean its just a tidal wave.

(Photo: Boston Globe via Getty Images)

Food pantries and nonprofits in other parts of the country are also working to help federal employees who are either furloughed or working without pay throughout the shutdown. A food pantry in Lawrence, Kansas, decided to waive its poverty guidelines so that struggling federal employees could get a week of free groceries.

Our policy is to err on the side of compassion, Just Food Executive Director Elizabeth Keever told the Lawrence Journal-World. No one should go without food during a difficult time.

Portland, Oregon, food pantry William Temple House is also prepared to help as many federal workers as it can. The nonprofit also expects an influx of people needing food if the government doesnt provide Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits due to the shutdown. The government has only guaranteed food stamps through February.

The shutdown has affected about 800,000 federal employees, among them thousands of Coast Guard members.

Jenny James is married to a member of the Coast Guard and has two children. She told NPR that the pop-up pantry in Boston is helping her save what little money she has left for other necessities.

Its very comforting to know a little weight lifted off of me having to worry about putting food on the table, James said. Especially when you dont know what the future holds.

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The Coast Guard posted a memo online earlier this week offering stinging financial advice to its furloughed workers: holding garage sales, finding a babysitting gig or dog-walking for cash. Officials removed the memo Wednesday after The Washington Post asked about the financial advice.

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Coast Guard spokesman Lt. Cmdr. Scott McBride told the Post it pulled the memo because it didnt reflect the Coast Guards current efforts to support our workforce during this lapse in appropriations.

At 21 days as of Friday, the partial shutdown fueled by President Donald Trumps $5.7 billion border wall push is poised to become the longest government shutdown in U.S. history.

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This article originally appeared on HuffPost.
Miami (AFP) - Florida's governor on Friday suspended the sheriff who oversaw the response to last year's Parkland school shooting over failings in his handling of the massacre.

Governor Ron DeSantis said Broward County Sheriff Scott Israel had "repeatedly failed" and "demonstrated a pattern of poor leadership" following shootings at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School and Fort Lauderdale airport in 2017.

At a press conference, the newly-elected Republican went so far as to say the Parkland massacre, which killed 17, "might never have happened had Broward had better leadership in the sheriff's department."

But Democrat Israel, 62, accused DeSantis of having political motives -- arguing that that there were no suspensions following a 2016 shooting at an Orlando gay nightclub, which left 49 dead.

"The difference is I spoke out against gun violence," he said.

"This is about politics, not about Parkland," he added, vowing to fight the "unjustified" suspension in court and the Florida Senate.

A commission investigating the school shooting published a report last week lamenting the "abysmal response" of the in-school police officer and a lack of action upon Broward sheriff's deputies' arrival at the building.

DeSantis named Gregory Tony, a veteran of the police department in Coral Springs, Broward County, as Israel's replacement.

He is the president of Blue Spear Solutions, a private security firm that specializes in providing training for responding to shootings and attacks like that seen in Parkland.

Parkland shooter Nikolas Cruz is awaiting trial, with prosecutors seeking the death penalty for 17 murder charges and 17 attempted murder charges.
federal reserve dollar bitcoin

The Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis has released an article today about Bitcoin. In it, the bank notes that the price of Bitcoin has three potential futures: indefinite, infinite appreciation; zero; or somewhere in between. They believe it will be somewhere in between.

The authors, David Andolfatto and Andrew Spewak, conclude that one of the factors dragging down the price of Bitcoin is an ever-expanding supply of alternatives. Bitcoin is an inherently speculative and volatile asset. A fixed supply doesnt mean an ever-increasing value. Demand determines value, after all. Other tokens are frequently launched which have properties attractive to a portion of the market. If Bitcoin was still the only cryptocurrency, something which was only the case for a very brief time in its history, this money would probably go into Bitcoin.

Bitcoin Maximalists Ignore Important Realities

However, the Bitcoin maximalist argument that Bitcoin will simply usurp any improvements by other tokens has never come to fruition. There are even fewer dApps and users of dApps via Bitcoins blockchain than much later entrants like Tron.

The Federal Reserve economists write:

Consider the following thought experiment. A restaurant selling meals for $10 will happily accept payment in the form of one Hamilton bill ($10) or two Lincoln bills ($5). That is, the nominal exchange rate between Hamilton and Lincoln bills is 2:1. Now, suppose that the supply of Lincoln bills is increased but the supply of Hamilton bills remains the same. The exchange rate remains unaffected [] That is, the increase in the supply of Lincoln bills has led to a decline in the purchasing power of both Lincoln bills and Hamilton bills, even though the supply of Hamilton bills has remained fixed. Might an expansion in the supply of Altcoin have a similar depressing effect on the price of Bitcoin?

There are other complicating factors to the price of Bitcoin. On the one hand, it is the cryptocurrency with superior liquidity. This makes it the on-ramp and off-ramp for many other cryptocurrencies. Does anyone remember when ICOs were primarily conducted for Bitcoin? Nowadays Ethereum performs that function. Importantly, ICOs fueled demand for Ethereum through 2017 and 2018. Ethereum has a large supply and may never stop producing new units. Therefore, its lower values make sense: the more available something is, the less value it is.

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Federal Reserve on the Intrinsic Value of Cryptocurrencies

The article also speaks to intrinsic value.

Consider now the bearish case for Bitcoin. This outlook is based on the view that Bitcoin has no fundamental value and that sooner or later the market will recognize this fact. In our view, one can accept that Bitcoin trades above its fundamental value without claiming that its fundamental value is zero. In fact, many securities trade above what might be considered their fundamental value. Gold, for example, trades above its value as measured by its industrial applications.

As noted before, Bitcoins actual utility is a secure digital store of value and transfer of the same. Other blockchains have taken and dominated the blockchain aspect of cryptocurrency. Despite the global chaos, demand for cryptographically secure payment systems isnt necessarily popping. But it is feasible that people will come into contact with blockchain technologies through banking applications as well as other decentralized applications. Such things will generate demand for tokens that underpin those blockchains. Tokens like Ethereum, TRON, NEO, Aelf have a long-term technical proposition that Bitcoin has long been lagging on.

Smart Contracts Change The World

Bitcoin as a smart contract platform is probably a dream at this point. For one thing, its significantly more expensive to use. For another, at this point, other platforms simply do it better. The trend of alternatives taking up more and more of the total cryptocurrency market capitalization is likely to continue. Bitcoin maximalists rest on flawed arguments such as network effect. These arguments conveniently ignore historical examples where superior technology and marketing overtook dominant networks.

Bitcoin is likely not to trend downwards toward zero. The economists acknowledge this as well. But the odds are that an increasing amount of cryptocurrency market capitalization will enter through and be invested in alternatives with growing demand based on their usefulness.

After ten years, Bitcoin remains more a speculative asset and store of value than anything. The trend the Federal Reserve economists identify is representative of that. There are numerous factors that go into an actual downturn in the price of Bitcoin. A good percentage of holders will not sell at a loss. Another good percentage will not sell at all. These people hold the coins price at a certain level. But active trading can eventually reduce the price without regard to these peoples philosophical or strategic holding patterns.

No One Knows the Actual Value of Bitcoin

bitcoin price

Bitcoin and all other cryptocurrencies very much remain in a price discovery phase. Some believe Bitcoin was overbought in the hype bubble of 2017, which inherently raised the price of nearly every other crypto available. Others believe it was just a fluke. Institutional money is still only just entering the picture. The utility of Bitcoin is only one aspect of its value, but it will play an increasingly important role as others develop more advanced and attractive feature sets.

As the Federal Reserve economists said:

We think the future price path is more likely to remain bounded between these two extremes.

Zero? No. Endless incline without significant change to the demand climate? Certainly not. Look out, Bitcoin. The 2000s called and they want their basic crypto design back. The era of smart contracts is dawning. Whoever does it best will see the most demand. Its probably that simple.

Disclaimer: The views expressed in the article are solely those of the author and do not represent those of, nor should they be attributed to, CCN.

Featured image from Shutterstock



The post Federal Reserve Blames Altcoins for Dragging Down the Bitcoin Price appeared first on CCN.


US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin arrive for a meeting in Helsinki - AFP

The FBI secretly launched an investigation into whether Donald Trump was working on behalf of Russia while in office, according to an explosive report by The New York Times.

The decision was said to have been taken after Mr Trump fired James Comey, the FBI director leading the Russia election meddling investigation at the time, in May 2017.

FBI agents had been weighing up the move for months but decided to act when Mr Trump linked the firing to the relief it would bring from the Russia probe, according to the paper.

The move would have put the FBI in an extraordinary position - having to consider whether the US president himself posed a national security risk to the country he was leading.

The investigation reportedly was only a few days old when Robert Mueller was appointed special counsel to take over the Russia investigation. It is unknown whether he is still pursuing that line of inquiry.

Mr Trump on Saturday morning sent six tweets hitting out at the Russia probe. Referencing the New York Times article, the US president said FBI leaders had launched the investigation for no reason and with no proof.

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The reported decisions date back to the chaotic days in Washington DC after Mr Trump fired Mr Comey just four months into his presidency.

The investigation into Russian election meddling - which included whether Trump campaign figures had conspired with the Kremlin - was already up and running, being led by the FBI.

Mr Trump reportedly wanted to reference Mr Comeys handling of the Russia investigation in the letter announcing his dismissal. The US president also made the connection in a TV interview, saying this Russia thing was a reason he acted.

Those two events convinced FBI leaders that they had to investigate whether Mr Trump was knowingly working for or unwittingly being influenced by Moscow, according to The New York Times.

Outgoing FBI director Robert Mueller speaks during an interview at FBI headquarters Credit: AP

As well as investigating whether Mr Trump has committed obstruction of justice in firing Mr Comey - a criminal offence - the bureau looked into whether he was a national security threat, which is a counterintelligence matter, the paper reported.

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Mr Muellers appointed as special counsel around a week after Mr Comeys firing meant that the FBI handed all aspects of its investigation over to his team.

Rudolph Giuliani, a lawyer for Mr Trump, played down the significance of the investigation to The New York Times, saying: The fact that it goes back a year and a half and nothing came of it that showed a breach of national security means they found nothing.

Mr Comey wrote later on Saturday morning:
Donald Trump has used all the powers of the presidency to make his case that there is an immigration crisis: shutting down the government, holding impromptu press conferences, giving a televised speech from the Oval Office and visiting the border.

But if he follows through on a threat to declare a national emergency in order to build a border wall, experts say hes going to have to rely on facts and legal arguments  and the evidence is not on his side.

Andrew Boyle, counsel at the Brennan Centers Liberty and National Security Program, says the misleading statistics and anecdotal examples of crimes Trump has made in public remarks wont help in front of a judge.

This president in particular is known for his untruths that he is willing to state in a public forum in support of his policies, he told TIME. But you obviously dont have the same leeway to misrepresent facts to a federal judge and in the litigation than you have if youre just the President speaking from your soapbox.

On the legal side, Trump clearly has the authority to declare a national emergency, but only in the case of an actual crisis.

I have the absolute right to declare a national emergency, Trump told reporters as he was preparing to leave the White House for McAllen, Texas. I havent done it yet. I may do it. If this doesnt work out, probably I will do it. I would almost say definitely.

Under the National Emergencies Act of 1976, presidents do have the authority to declare crises and act on them, but they have to justify their reasoning with existing statutes Congress has already approved. Experts at New York Universitys Brennan Center have identified more than 130 he could argue  two of which, Title 10 U.S. Code  2808 and Title 33 U.S. Code  2293, are specific to appropriating funding to build structures essential to national security.

If Trump went through with it, thered be little Congress could do to stop him.

They can hold oversight hearings if theyre so inclined, but in order to actually stop the emergency they would need to have a veto-proof majority in both houses, Boyle said. In order to stop the emergency, they would need to essentially pass a new law which would go to the President to signature, and he would obviously veto any attempt to terminate his own emergency.

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Overriding the veto would require a two-thirds supermajority in both chambers of Congress, which is unlikely as long as most Republicans support the president.

That means the real threat to Trumps proposal would come from a court challenge.

Since the shutdown began in late December, the Trump Administration has touted several statistics to suggest that there is an imminent national security crisis at the southern border.

We know that roughly, nearly 4,000 known or suspected terrorists come into our country illegally, White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders told Fox News, and we know that our most vulnerable point of entry is at our southern border.

But those numbers are misleading. As Fox News host Chris Wallace noted, the figure that Sanders cited referenced arrivals mainly at U.S. airports, and the Administration mostly stopped citing the figure after reports that government data might show as few as six or a dozen people on the watch list had been caught at the southern border.

Meantime, the rate of undocumented immigrants crossing the border is near historic lows: apprehensions along the border peaked around 1.65 million in 2000 and have been declining since, totaling less than 400,000 in 2018.

Trump himself has bragged that the border is more secure than in the past.

In December, he tweeted that migrant caravans from Central America were not able to enter the country thanks to our newly built Walls, makeshift Walls & Fences, or Border Patrol Officers & Military, adding that our Southern Border is now secure and will remain that way.

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What is happening, according to Department of Justice figures, is an increase in Central American families traveling together through Mexico to seek asylum protection in the United States. As Randy Capps, a director of research at the Migration Policy Institute, previously told TIME: the wall is merely a solution to a 10-year-old problem.

Moreover, the fight over immigration is not new. Declaring a national emergency over it with little information to suggest the security situation has dramatically changed could prove difficult to defend in court.

Immigration has been an issue for years and years in this country, and was an issue when a different party controlled the House of Representatives, Boyle says. So the idea that this is something that arose rapidly in the last few months and all of a sudden requires executive action without going through Congress doesnt really pass the sniff test.

He argued that the National Emergencies Act is designed to give the president flexibility in true emergencies, not just to get around the legislative branch during a dispute.

Russell Riley, a professor at University of Virginias Miller Center, told TIME he questions the use of emergency powers in this situation.

This president, having been refused his policy preferences by directly approaching Congress, is contemplating an end run around the legislature on its most revered power, the power of the purse, Riley said. In the past, emergencies were declared that were widely recognized as such, commonly understood, and commonsensical. None of those are true in this instance.

We cant always predict every circumstance which the executive will need these powers, but its also not supposed to be used just because you cant reach a deal with Congress, Boyle said.

But Trump himself has undermined that case, arguing that hell declare a national emergency largely because Congress wont give him the funding to build the wall in the budget bill.

Were either going to have a win  make a compromise  because I think a compromise is a win for everybody  or I will declare a national emergency, he said Thursday.
A militant lawmaker on Saturday welcomed the move of the House Committee on Women and Gender Equality to approve the amended substitute bill declaring May 17 of every year as the National Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia. Bayan Muna Party-list Rep. Carlos Zarate was referring to the unnumbered bill substituted House Bill 4413 and 8364 which he was among the main authors. The committee is chaired by Rep. Bernadette Herrera-Dy of Bagong Henerasyon party-list. Zarate said May 17 is known as the International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia or IDAHO in commemoration of that day in 1990 when the World Health Organization removed homosexuality from its International Classification of Mental Disorders. Every year on this date, people all over the world pause and ponder on the high human and social cost of discrimination, violence and harassment against LGBTs all over the world, especially in 80 countries where acts, speeches, works, and other things related to same-sex and same-gender relations are still punished or fined, said Zarate. He said that in some countries such as Uganda, there is even a pending legislation making homosexuality punishable by death. Zarate said that despite modest gains in social and legal rights for lesbians, gays, bisexuals, and transgenders (LGBTs) in the Philippines, much still has to be done for them to achieve full legal and social equality. Thousands of LGBTs still suffer the harsh reality of homophobia [fear of homosexuals] and transphobia [fear of transgenders] in their daily lives, Zarate explained.He said that many are refused employment, the use of public facilities or health care services, among others, because of their sexual orientation and gender identity. Zarate said that of late, there have been increasing reports of violent crimes perpetrated against LGBTs. He said that while laws protecting marginalized sectors such as women, children, migrants, national minorities, and the elderly have been passed, Congress has yet to pass measures protecting the rights of the LGBTs. Under the bill, the National Day against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia shall be commemorated in the Philippines every year in recognition of the rights of LGBTs in the country and the need to end the discrimination, oppression and intolerance they are faced with in society. As provided, all government offices, private institutions, schools, colleges and universities are hereby encouraged to extend their full support for exercises and activities in the observance, promotion and protection of LGBT rights.
Washington (AFP) - President Donald Trump's former lawyer Michael Cohen will testify in Congress next month, lawmakers said Thursday, posing a potential new threat to the president as the Russia collusion investigation increasingly menaces the White House.

The newly Democrat-controlled House Oversight Committee said Thursday that Cohen will testify in a public session on February 7.

The testimony comes after Cohen was sentenced in December to three years in prison for multiple crimes, including felony violations of campaign finance laws he undertook, prosecutors alleged, under Trump's direction.

"I look forward to having the privilege of being afforded a platform with which to give a full and credible account of the events which have transpired," Cohen said in a statement.

Speaking to journalists, Trump shrugged the news off, after having last month condemned Cohen as a "rat" helping the FBI in a "witch hunt."

"I'm not worried about it at all," Trump said of Cohen's looming testimony.

- Trump's right-hand man -

Cohen, who had been the real estate billionaire's right-hand-man and fixer at the Trump Organization in New York, said at his December 12 sentencing that he spent years covering up for his boss's "dirty deeds."

A hearing could delve into the financial deals of the Trump Organization as well as the Trump 2016 election campaign's dealings with Russia, already being probed by the team of Special Counsel Robert Mueller.

It will also examine the payments Cohen made in 2016 just ahead of the election for the silence of two women who had claimed to have had affairs with Trump.

Cohen was sentenced to three years in jail on December 12 after pleading guilty to tax evasion, making false statements and illegal campaign contributions.

His incarceration was delayed in part to allow him to testify in Congress.

In an interview with ABC News after his conviction Cohen said Trump knew it was wrong to order the hush payments.

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Trump acted because he "was very concerned about how this would affect the election," Cohen said.

"The man doesn't tell the truth. And it is sad that I should take responsibility for his dirty deeds."

- Democratic House -

The hearing will kick off what is expected to a swirl of attacks on Trump from the House of Representatives after Democrats captured the body from Republicans in November's election.

House Oversight Committee Chairman Elijah Cummings said the committee had given the White House and the Trump Organization until January 22 to produce documents related to the hush payments.

"Last November, the American people voted overwhelmingly for Congress to do two things -- address the core issues that affect their daily lives, and fulfill our Constitutional responsibility to serve as an independent check and balance on the executive branch by restoring accountability and transparency," Cummings said in a statement.

"This initial set of hearings will serve both goals by launching our broad review of the skyrocketing prices of prescription drugs, hearing directly from President Trump's longtime personal attorney, and focusing on sweeping legislative reforms to strengthen our democracy."

Adam Schiff, incoming chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, which is focusing on Russian interference in the 2016 election, said he expects to call Cohen to testify as well.

"It will be necessary, however, for Mr. Cohen to answer questions pertaining to the Russia investigation, and we hope to schedule a closed session before our committee in the near future," Schiff said.
Kinshasa (AFP) - Martin Fayulu, who came second in DR Congo's presidential election, has appealed to the Constitutional Court to annul the provisional result which awarded victory to his opposition rival Felix Tshisekedi, his lawyer said Saturday.

"The request seeks the annulment of the result declaring Felix Tshisekedi president," Toussaint Ekombe told reporters outside the court.

"It was filed yesterday," he said of the appeal, which by law needed to be filed within 48 hours of Thursday's early-morning announcement.

Explaining the appeal, Fayulu said he believed election chief Corneille Nangaa had "broken electoral law" in the December 30 vote to choose a successor to President Joseph Kabila.

The declared outcome handed victory to Tshisekedi with 38.57 percent of the vote, with Fayulu coming second with 34.8 percent.

But Fayulu denounced the result as an "electoral coup" engineered by Kabila in which Tshisekedi was "totally complicit", saying the truth of what happened at the ballot box would only come out with a recount.

"We have asked the Constitutional Court to do its job, and nothing more," said Fayulu, whose backers say he won 61 percent of the vote.

"We cannot put someone in office and start to make up figures that will allow Kabila to take back power tomorrow. That would be unacceptable," he said.

"I will not abandon the people. We will go all the way to recover this victory."

The Constitutional Court now has eight working days to study the request before giving its ruling, with the new president expected to be sworn in on January 22, Nangaa said early on Saturday.
The North American International Auto Show kicks off Monday, but Detroit's flagship car exposition isn't what it used to be as luxury automakers are going elsewhere to debut their latest designs.

Audi (NSU-DE), BMW (BMW-DE), Mercedes, Volvo, Porsche, Jaguar, Land Rover are skipping the show in an official capacity this year. Even smaller manufacturers, like Mitsubishi (8058.T-JP) and Mini, have opted out.

In years past, it wouldn't be uncommon to see debuts of more than a dozen new models. Just last year, Mercedes launched its iconic redesigned G-Class, Ford (F) previewed the new Ranger, Chevy (GM) unveiled an update of its bestselling Silverado and Ram (FCA-IT) fired back with its own pickup debut. This year will have fewer than 10 debuts scheduled from the predominantly American, Japanese and Korean manufacturers that remain on the official exhibitor docket.

"This is the last Detroit Auto Show that's taking place in the winter," Julie Blackley, communications manager at automotive data firm iSeeCars, told CNBC. "The only European brand with a booth is Volkswagen, so there isn't as much hype around this show as in previous years."

As automakers jump ship, revealing their latest improvements at the LA Auto Show that runs right after Thanksgiving or the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas that just concluded, the Detroit show's organizers have opted to move it from January to June starting in 2020. Doug North  president of the dealer association that runs the show, dubbed NAIAS  said the move should help the auto companies make use of outdoor spaces and provide more exciting exhibits for the public.

"June will allow us to better showcase the automotive leadership, development and heritage our great city and region holds," North said in a press release announcing the change.

The debate isn't settled over whether or not changing the date to a warmer month will be enough to lure manufacturers back. According to Jeremy Acevedo, manager of industry analysis at Edmunds, auto shows in general are on the decline. Automakers are increasingly opting to host their own events or online reveals rather than fight to upstage each other for the limited attention spans of consumers during auto shows. Just Wednesday, Ford rolled out its newly redesigned 2020 Explorer at Ford Field stadium in Detroit.

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Automakers, Acevedo said, are all asking: "Is the bang for your buck there?"

Plus, they aren't just competing with other debuts at Detroit. More and more, automakers are opting to demonstrate technology at Las Vegas' CES. As automakers try to compete in the world of autonomous driving, connected cars and mobility services, CES offers them a chance to engage with audiences who may not be as familiar with their brands.

Audi, Mercedes and BMW opted to show their latest wares in Las Vegas this past week instead of Detroit. Not only does CES offer a tech-focused audience for increasingly advanced cars, but the warm Las Vegas weather in January allows companies to do outdoor demos of driver assistance systems and off-road capability without having to worry about snow.

To Acevedo, the outdoor exhibits offer a good reason to change the date of the Detroit show. As automakers move away from the fanfare surrounding new sheet metal and toward offering more services and technology, the ability to demonstrate that becomes more important.

"Auto shows have been kind of a 'look but don't touch' affair," he said. He says that's a strategy that doesn't get attention and engagement.

"Having something that's interactive, that's able to demonstrate the capability ... that could be an advantage," Acevedo told CNBC. But in the end, he's not convinced that it'll be enough to restore NAIAS to its former glory.

Auto shows as a concept, he said, have a "finite shelf life." Despite the best efforts of NAIAS, he maintains that we're approaching the expiration date.
TORONTO (AP)  Canadian diplomats have visited former Canadian diplomat Michael Kovrig for the second time since his arrest in China a month ago.

Canada's Global Affairs department on Thursday provided no further details on how Kovrig was being treated. He and entrepreneur Michael Spavor were detained on Dec. 10 on allegations of "engaging in activities that endanger the national security" of China.

The arrests came after a top Chinese Huawei executive was arrested in Canada on Dec. 1 at the request of the United States, which wants her extradited to face charges that she misled banks about the company's business dealings in Iran. She is out on bail in Canada awaiting extradition proceedings.

In an op-ed Wednesday, China's ambassador to Canada described the detentions of the Canadians as an "act of self-defense."

Canada said it would continue to seek further access to Kovrig and Spavor.

"The Canadian government remains deeply concerned by the arbitrary detention by Chinese authorities of these two Canadians since last month and continues to call for their immediate release," Global Affairs Canada said in a statement

Canada has embarked on a campaign with allies to win the release of the detained Canadians.

"Canada continues to express its appreciation to those who have spoken in support of these detained Canadians and the rule of law. This includes Australia, the EU, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, the United States, and, most recently, the Netherlands, Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia," Global Affairs said.
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Newly elected Florida governor Ron DeSantis suspended Broward County sheriff Scott Israel on Friday over failings in his departments response to the mass shooting that left 17 people dead at Marjorie Stoneman Douglas High School last February.

Sheriff Israel has repeatedly failed and has demonstrated a pattern of poor leadership, DeSantis said in a statement. He failed to protect Floridians and visitors during the tragic Fort Lauderdale International Airport shooting in 2017. He failed in his duties to keep our families and children safe during the devastating shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School on February 14, 2018. These incidents demonstrate Sheriffs Israels repeated incompetence and neglect of duty. The families of the victims deserve accountability.

DeSantis, who called for Israels suspension repeatedly during his campaign for governor, appointed retired Coral Springs Police sergeant Gregory Tony as Israels successor. Tony is the first African-American to serve as Broward County Sheriff.

Jeff Bell, president of the Broward Sheriffs Office Deputies Association, has long criticized Israels leadership and praised DeSantis on Friday for acting in accordance with the will of his union members.

True leaders like Governor DeSantis are willing to make the tough decisions that may not always be the most popular choices, Bell said. Scott Israel misused his authority and abused his public trust by politicizing the nations largest fully accredited Sheriffs Office for his own political ambitions.

In a report released last week, a state commission tasked with investigating the February 14 mass shooting detailed a number of errors and missteps by Israels department, including the failure of two of his deputies, who arrived on scene during the shooting, to enter the school and engage the shooter, 19-year-old Nikolas Cruz. The commission also faulted the department for failing to respond meaningfully to multiple reports of threatening behavior on Cruzs part.

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Israel, who has praised his own leadership as exceptional, faced a vote of no confidence from his deputies in April but refused to step down or admit any wrongdoing.

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Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard of Hawaii has announced she will run for president in 2020  the latest in what is likely to be a huge Democratic field looking to defeat Donald Trump.

I have decided to run and will be making a formal announcement within the next week, Ms Gabbard, an Iraq War veteran as well as the first Hindu and first Samoan-American elected to congress, told CNN.

In recent months, the 37-year-old has paid visits New Hampshire and Iowa, the first states to hold primaries, and has written a memoir due to be published in May.

In an interview due to be broadcast over the weekend, the congresswoman, who first elected to represent Hawaiis 2nd congressional district in 2012, says: There are a lot of reasons for me to make this decision. There are a lot of challenges that are facing the American people that Im concerned about and that I want to help solve.

She adds: There is one main issue that is central to the rest, and that is the issue of war and peace. I look forward to being able to get into this and to talk about it in depth when we make our announcement.

In 2016, Ms Gabbard was one of the most prominent politicians to back Bernie Sanders over Hillary Clinton in the 2016 Democratic primary. She quit her position as vice chair of the Democratic National Committee in order to make the endorsement.

Asked last year whether she would still consider running if Mr Sanders ran, Ms Gabbard said Mr Sanders was a friend and she did not know what his plans were.

Im thinking through how I can best be of service and Ill make my decision based on that, she said.

She she has faced criticism for travelling to Syria and meeting with President Bashar Assad, who has been accused of war crimes.

She said it was important to meet with adversaries if you are serious about pursuing peace, the Associated Press said.

Senator Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts on December 31 announced she had formed an exploratory committee for a presidential run  the most high profile Democrat to do so. She has also made visits to Iowa and New Hampshire.
There is a common strain of argument amongst those who would abuse and debase our constitutional system of government. They manufacture deceptive dreck in the knowledge that their loyal partisan friends will swallow anything to get what they want. Remember when Barack Obama repeatedly declared that he couldnt bypass Congress and implement unilateral immigration reforms  including suspending deportations  but then did it anyway?

Oh, thats fine, said the partisans. Its just prosecutorial discretion. No, it wasnt. He created entirely new programs  new government benefits  and not only did he do so without Congress, but he did so without even observing the formalities of the Administrative Procedure Act. His homeland-security secretaries simply wrote memos.

Now it looks like it might be Donald Trumps turn, and once again partisans are tripping over themselves to disregard the law in service of their imperial president. He doesnt need Congress, they say. The law gives him the authority to declare an emergency and build his wall anyway. But if thats true, why is the government shut down? Why are we going through this ridiculous charade? Why didnt he declare an emergency and build the wall months ago? Why didnt he deal with this crisis the moment he walked into office?

The answer is simple. If you look at the plain language and clear intent of the relevant statutes, they do not permit Trump to defy Congress and build his wall. He knows it. Congress knows it. His own lawyers know it.

I wrote a long piece earlier this week analyzing the relevant statutes and judicial precedent, and I wont rehash all of that here, but the bottom line is that even under the most generous statute, only during a national emergency that may require the use of the military may the president allocate funds for authorized construction projects that are essential to the national defense.

On every key step, the legal analysis fails. In 2019 do we face a national emergency within any fair reading of the intent of the National Emergencies Act? No. Following a more than decade-long buildup in border security, apprehensions at the border are less than one-quarter what they were at the height of the surge in illegal entry. In fact, on December 20 Trump tweeted that the border is tight and condemned fake news for its silence about that alleged fact.

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The border was tight before Christmas, yet now theres a national emergency. How does that make sense?

Moreover, as the legislative history makes clear, the fundamental purpose of the act was to restrain presidential power, not to enable a president to act without Congress simply because Congress wont do what he wants.

Yes, presidents abuse the law anyway. And Congress refuses to stop them. And each past abuse is used to justify future abuses. We live under 28 separate states of emergency now, with one dating back to the Iranian hostage crisis. So whats one more abuse in 2019?

Well, how about if the abuse requires you to gut the meaning of several statutes? For example, how about the assertion that the emergency on the border may require the use of the military? Dont forget, in the United States, border security along a border with an allied nation is a civilian mission. Its a mission managed by the civilian Department of Homeland Security. Border security has been enhanced in recent years by the addition of new civilian Border Patrol officers and the construction of civilian structures, not military fortifications.

Yes, Trump deployed troops to the border in the run-up to the midterms. But if deployment alone is proof of necessity, look for the day when a Democratic president sends troops to help build windmills. After all, at least in that case theres an actual Pentagon document declaring climate change an immediate risk to national security.

But even if you can credibly argue that a national emergency exists, and that the emergency may actually require the use of military assets, how do Trumps defenders argue that the construction of his wall is actually already authorized? Easy, they say. Congress passed the Secure Fence Act in 2006, and it authorizes the construction of fencing on defined sections southern border.

But wait. That project is almost entirely complete. The original act required specific fencing, but when DHS complained that different parts of the border required different kinds of barriers, Congress amended the act to merely require DHS to erect fencing, physical barriers, or roads, lighting, cameras, and sensors in specific areas along the Mexican border. By 2011, DHS declared that it had finished 649 out of the planned 652 miles of fences and other barriers. In other words, the construction project  as defined by the statute  was more than 99 percent complete.

So, is the argument that Trump can declare a national emergency to upgrade a completed fencing project? But where is the authority for the upgrade? In our system of government, Congress holds the power of the purse, and it authorizes new construction  even where old construction exists.

Some Trump defenders also point to 10 U.S.C. Section 284, an act that provides for limited Department of Defense support for counter-drug activities (in general, U.S. troops are barred from participating in domestic law enforcement). The act allows the Pentagon, upon the request of the appropriate public official, to support the construction of roads and fences and installation of lighting to block drug smuggling corridors across international boundaries of the United States. (Emphasis added.)

Critically, legal points of entry represent the primary drug-smuggling corridor into the United States. It would be curious indeed to deem authorized the construction of hundreds of miles of fence in the absence of proof that the specific construction site addresses a known drug corridor. Is the argument now that the entire border is a drug-smuggling corridor? Or that a president can simply declare that it is, and woe unto any court that dares second-guess his assertion?

Finally, the legal argument in support of the notion that constructing a border wall is essential to the national defense boils down primarily to the naked assertion that, well, courts wont dare question the president. But words still have meaning. We are not in a state of declared war with Mexico. There is no invading army. Illegal-immigrant crime, as tragic as it is, isnt an act of war. It would be strange indeed to argue that a border fence with an allied country is essential to the national defense when the border-security mission by statute isnt even a military mission.

Can we be honest about these arguments? Vanishingly few people in good faith believe that any of the statutes above were intended to empower the construction of Trumps promised new wall. Its a strain to argue that they even encompass upgrades to existing walls. Not even the Trump administration believes they were intended to empower the president to build the wall. Has Trump previously sought appropriation from Congress as a mere matter of professional courtesy?

No, this is an attempted abuse of the constitutional order that is justified mainly by the existence of previous successful abuses of the constitutional order. Each abuse builds on the next; hypocrisy builds on hypocrisy. The only clear winner is the imperial presidency. The loser is our constitutional republic. And each Trump fan cheering his raw power grab will be a furious partisan when the next Democratic president builds on Trumps abuse.

Congratulations, partisans. You claim youre saving our country. In reality, youre wrecking our constitution.

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More than 30,000 Los Angeles teachers began a strike on Monday for the first time in 30 years due to failed negotiations over school funding, pay raises and classroom sizes. But as theyve mobilized, teachers have also focused on the growth of charter schools as a central issue in the nations second-largest school district.

At a press conference Wednesday night following another day of negotiations, United Teachers Los Angeles (UTLA) President Alex Caputo-Pearl accused district leaders of wanting to starve our schools in order to justify cuts and justify handing more schools over to privately run charter schools.

He called for a cap on charter school growth, including it on a list of issues that, while not on the bargaining table now, absolutely shape the direction of public education in Los Angeles.

Los Angeles schools Superintendent Austin Beutner has said previously that the contract dispute should not be seen as a referendum on charter schools, which are publicly funded but privately operated. And he has called claims that he wants to privatize the school district baseless. But the issue has become a focal point in the debate over the future of Los Angeles schools, as union leaders accuse Beutner and the citys Board of Education of favoring charter schools over traditional public schools.

About one in five Los Angeles students now attend charter schools, and charter school enrollment has continued to grow in the past decade as overall enrollment in the district has declined. The city now has more charter schools and more charter school students than any other school system in the country, the Los Angeles Times reported. Most charter school employees are not unionized.

Meanwhile, charter school advocates have been gaining ground in the city. In 2017, outside spending on campaigns for two school board seats topped $14 million in what was described as the most expensive school board race in U.S. history  an election that pitted teachers unions against wealthy charter school backers, resulting in a pro-charter majority on the board.

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Union leaders and other charter school critics argue that such schools have drawn resources from traditional public schools, contributing to the districts current challenges. A report commissioned by the union in 2016 estimated that traditional public schools lose more than $500 million every year to charter schools. Critics also point to data showing that charter schools enroll smaller percentages of students with disabilities, students from low-income families and English-language learners.

Right now, we have a glut of charter schools. We have many charter schools that are under-enrolled. We have charter schools that are in totally inadequate facilities, and very little oversight. The union is raising some valid concerns about the proliferation of charters, says Pedro Noguera, education professor at the University of California, Los Angeles and the director of the Center for the Transformation of Schools.

Youve had big philanthropists, like Eli Broad and the former Mayor Richard Riordan whove been spending lots of money trying to elect pro-charter school board members and support charter schools. I think the union is still under attack from that, and they see this effort as being their way to respond.

Nick Melvoin  vice president of the Los Angeles Board of Education and one of the pro-charter candidates who was elected in 2017  has warned that a strike will be harmful and said he supports some of the teachers demands, but thinks protests should be aimed at Sacramento, where state lawmakers control much of the education budget.

The teacher strikes around the country have all been aimed at state capitals. Thats where we need to be going collectively, he said in an interview with Fox 11 this month. Lets join forces and advocate for increased funding. And not just the funding, but the other issues that teachers have been talking about recently, including  charter schools. Its the state law that governs charter schools, the state law that governs space with charters.

Teachers union demands include a 6.5% pay raise, smaller class sizes and funding to hire more nurses and counselors. Last week, the district offered 6% pay raises and $130 million toward reduced class sizes and new hires, but UTLA leaders have continued to call on the district to tap into its $1.8 billion in reserve funding. Beutner has said the district is approaching insolvency and using the reserve funds would bankrupt it. On Wednesday, the district announced it was hiring a team of fiscal experts to help stabilize finances.

California spent $11,495 per student in 2016  an increase from the level that made the state 41st in the U.S. in per-pupil spending in 2015-16, according to an analysis by the California Budget & Policy Center, which adjusted for cost-of-living differences.

We would like smaller class sizes. We would like more nurses, counselors and librarians, Beutner said in an interview with Fox 11 last week. We just cant afford that. Its not that we dont want it, we just cant afford it.

The strike, which was originally scheduled to begin Thursday, was postponed until Monday amid legal questions, but a judge ruled Thursday that there was no reason to delay the strike.

Los Angeles Unified is willing to work around the clock to avoid a strike that will harm the students, families and communities most in need, the district said in a statement.

The planned strike comes nearly a year after teachers in West Virginia kicked off a wave of walkouts in states across the country, from Kentucky to Oklahoma to Arizona.

The stakes are just as high. The Los Angeles Unified School District enrolls more than 640,000 students  nearly equal to the number of public school students in the entire state of Oklahoma and more than twice the number of students enrolled across West Virginia. And concerns about the strikes effect on students are more pronounced in a district where more than 16,000 students are homeless and about 400,000 qualify for free or reduced-price meals served at school.

The district is keeping schools open during the strike, hiring about 400 substitutes to fill in for about 30,000 teachers  a move criticized by union leaders, who have asked parents to support the strike by keeping children out of school. Due to a state funding model that allocates money based on student attendance, the district also stands to lose millions during a strike, depending on how many students stay home and how long it lasts.

Lois Weiner, a consultant on teacher union reform who is supportive of the Los Angeles strike, says she thinks other unions, especially in urban school districts, could follow the lead of UTLA when it comes to connecting difficult teaching conditions to charter school expansion.

If there is a strike in Los Angeles, you will absolutely see more walkouts, she says. The only question is how and when.

Aurora Mireles, a kindergarten teacher at Rowan Avenue Elementary School in Los Angeles, says she hopes the strike raises awareness about the state of public education in the city. She will be striking along with her husband, a second grade teacher in the district, and she moved the school supplies she has personally purchased out of her classroom last week in preparation, fearing that Lego sets, math tools and toys might get lost or broken under a substitutes supervision.

Im hoping that testing will get lessened and that we receive a pay raise, says Mireles, who has been teaching for 25 years and makes about $80,000 because of her National Board Certification. But for many teachers, including me, its more than the pay raise. Its also the class size, the lack of resources and the oversight of these charter schools.

Do we still believe in funding public education across the board  from the kinder level and preschool level all the way to the university level? she says. Or have we given up?
BEIJING/TORONTO (Reuters) - China's ambassador to Ottawa has accused Canada of "double standards" and disregarding his country's judicial sovereignty, in a diplomatic row sparked by the arrest of Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou at the request of the United States. Beijing denounced Canada's arrest of Meng Wanzhou, the chief financial officer of Huawei Technologies Co [HWT.UL] on Dec. 1 on a U.S. extradition warrant, and threatened reprisals unless the case against Meng was dropped. Days after the arrest, China detained two Canadian citizens - businessman Michael Spavor and Michael Kovrig, a former diplomat and an adviser with the International Crisis Group - whom it is investigating for endangering its national security. In an article in the Ottawa-based Hill Times newspaper on Wednesday, Ambassador Lu Shaye said Canada's demands for the release of the two men reflected "double standards" born of "Western egotism and white supremacy". Lu wrote, "It seems that, to those people, the laws of Canada or other Western countries are laws and must be observed, while China's laws are not, and shouldn't be respected." A lack of concern in Canada for Meng suggested that humanitarian treatment was only deemed necessary for Canadian citizens, not Chinese people, he added. China has not drawn a direct link between its detention of the two Canadians and Meng's arrest, but Beijing-based Western diplomats have called the cases a tit-for-tat reprisal. While Meng has had full access to lawyers, has been granted bail and is able to see family, Kovrig is being denied legal representation, is not allowed to see family, and is limited to one consular visit a month. The United States has sought to extradite Meng on charges of misleading multinational banks about Iran-linked transactions, putting the banks at risk of violating U.S. sanctions. Huawei is the world's biggest supplier of telecoms network equipment and the second-biggest smartphone seller. Since at least 2016, the United States has been looking into whether Huawei shipped U.S.-origin products to Iran and other countries in violation of U.S. export and sanctions laws, Reuters reported in April. (Reporting by Christian Shepherd in BEIJING and Denny Thomas in TORONTO; Editing by Clarence Fernandez)
Thirteen Philippine food companies are set to exhibit this week in the 44th Winter Fancy Food Show at the Moscone Convention Center in San Francisco, the United States on Jan. 13 to 15, 2019.

Led by the Department of Trade and Industry, through the Center for International Trade Expositions and Missions, the Philippine participation will exhibit and sample the countrys range of healthy, organic and premium food products. The FoodPhilippines pavilion in San Francisco will have grand a showcase of the Philippines specialty food products that are targeted for export in the North American region as well as other neighboring regions, said DTI-Citem executive director Pauline Suaco-Juan. WFFS is the US West Coasts largest specialty food and beverage event with an estimated 20,000 annual visitors and 1,500 exhibitors from across the US and 28 other countries. Specialty food refers to products of the highest grade, style or quality, derived from their uniqueness, origin, processing method, and design. Exhibiting in WFFS for the first time are CJ Uniworld Corp. with their variety of banana chips; Filipinas Oro de Cacao with their single-origin Auro Chocolate from Davao; Grand Asia Integrated Natural Coco Products Corporation with their processed coconut products under Gaincoco; Innovative Packaging Industry Corp. with their Oh So Healthy! fruit crisps. Meanwhile, Philippine companies that are making a comeback in WFFS are Bethany Sales Inc.; Century Pacific Food, Inc./Century Pacific North America; Islamic DaWah Council of the Philippines, Inc.; Magicmelt Foods Inc., PasciolcoAgri Ventures; Prime Fruits International Inc.; Profood International Corp.; SL Agritech Corp. and San Miguel Corp.. Backed with these firms, we are confident that this Philippine delegation will significantly boost the governments high-impact export strategy to widen our export reach in Western countries, said Suaco-Juan.According to Almay See, general manager of Innovative Packaging Industry Corp., the US market is a lucrative export market for the Philippines since it has many Filipinos who are looking for products from their home country. See also said Americans have been more health-conscious over the years with their fast-paced lifestyle which opens up a big opportunity for their fun and nutritious line of new guilt-free snacking treats made from 100 percent real fruits. For this participation, Innovative Packaging Industry Corp. will be launching two new flavors on their snack line to showcase in WFFS 2019. We are excited to showcase our two new products in San Francisco along with our three other flavors, namely: Guava Purple Yam Banana, Mango Sweet Potato Banana, Purple Yam Banana Coconut, said See. As of August 2018, the United States is the Philippines second top export destination next to China and followed byHong Kong, Japan and Singapore, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority. In 2017, the Philippines total food and agricultural exports to the US hit $1.2 billion, according to the office of the United States Trade Representative. Leading categories include tropical oils ($555 million), processed fruits and vegetables ($199 million), tree nuts ($109 million), raw beet and cane sugar ($105 million) and fruit and vegetable juices ($79 million). This participation under FoodPhilippines is led by DTI-Citem as part of the governments unified effort to promote the Philippines as a source of quality food products in the global market.
Bitcoin price

On January 11, the crypto market experienced an intense sell-off as the Bitcoin price dropped below the $3,600 mark and major digital assets recorded drops in the range of 10 to 15 percent.

Following a drop in the price of BTC from $4,036 to $3,503, traders expect the dominant cryptocurrency to fall below key support levels in the low $3,000 region, possibly below $3,300.

Crypto Winter Not Over

In mid-December, prior to Christmas Eve, many investors in the cryptocurrency market demonstrated renewed optimism toward a short-term trend reversal of Bitcoin and other major cryptocurrencies due to the strong recovery of BTC from its 12-month low at $3,122.

From December 17 to 20, the Bitcoin price increased from $3,181 to $4,172, by more than 31 percent within a three-day span.

But, at the time, an FX hedge fund CEO Su Zhu said that buy walls on leading fiat-to-crypto exchanges in the likes of Coinbase and Bitstamp started to build up in the $3,200 to $3,300 range and investors began accumulating the asset at a low price range.

He said on December 13:

10% down from here ($3,300), buy walls on @Coinbase are now the largest (in BTC notional ) since mid-2015. Similar for Bitstamp. To break lower will require filling these fiat-backed bids. Either 1) more BTC borrow to come online 2) KYC-able off-ramp selling. Derivatives selling will just lead to funding becoming very negative as it has been.

The short-term rally Bitcoin experienced from December 17 to 20 was essentially a corrective rally triggered by oversold conditions and given the lack of momentum of the asset throughout late December and early January, it was fairly evident that the probability of a proper short-term rally was low.

DonAlt, a cryptocurrency investor and technical analyst, said after BTC fell below $3,600 that a drop to $3,350 can be expected as a support level at $3,600 was cleanly breached.

Clean break of support. If we do retest $3,700 on the weekend and dont manage to close above there Im expecting $3,350. Ill most likely close my hedge short there. This is the reason why you shouldnt trust mismatched patterns  its an easy way to get rekt, the trader said.

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Expect Low Liquidity Assets to Underperform

As Bitcoin dropped by more than 10 percent in a 48-hour period, Ethereum, Bitcoin Cash, and other major cryptocurrencies recorded 15 percent falls against the U.S. dollar.

Ethereum, which was expected to maintain a positive upward price movement in anticipation of its Constantinople hard fork on January 14, was overtaken by Ripple.

Although the daily volume of Bitcoin and Ethereum still remain relatively high, the volume of the cryptocurrency market is hovering at $15 billion, down $7 billion since January 10.

If crypto assets continue to free fall without meaningful volume and strong sell pressure, a short-term drop should be expected.

Featured image from Shutterstock.



The post Is Bitcoin Price Heading to Low $3,000? Traders Expect Short-Term Downtrend appeared first on CCN.


Libreville (AFP) - The African Union on Saturday warned Gabon to respect constitutional order after a high court intervened in a crisis surrounding the country's hospitalised President Ali Bongo.

A statement by AU Commission chair Moussa Faki Mahamat emphasised that the 55-member group of African nations had a "strong commitment to the full respect of constitutional order in the country".

Mahamat "will deploy a fact-finding mission to Libreville in the shortest delay," the statement added, after Gabon's Constitutional Court said it had modified the country's basic law to address Bongo's "temporary incapacity".

Bongo, 59, has been hospitalised in the Saudi capital Riyadh since October 24, and after first saying he suffered from "severe fatigue," the president's office admitted this week that he had undergone surgery.

The Gabonese president's condition had "greatly improved" his office added, and he was "recovering most of his functions" but no information about his ailment was provided and it was not known when he would return home.

A foreign source told AFP in early November that Bongo had suffered a stroke, but that has not been confirmed.

Meanwhile, Vice President Pierre-Claver Maganga Moussavou has been authorised to call and preside over cabinet meetings, the first of which took place on Friday in Libreville.

The AU Commission chair urged all who had influence in Gabon to "show the necessary collective leadership during this time in order to preserve unity, peace and stability in the country."
If you are interested in cashing in on Ashtead Group plcs (LON:AHT) upcoming dividend of UK0.065 per share, you only have 4 days left to buy the shares before its ex-dividend date, 17 January 2019, in time for dividends payable on the 06 February 2019. What does this mean for current shareholders and potential investors? Below, I will explain how holding Ashtead Group can impact your portfolio income stream, by analysing the stocks most recent financial data and dividend attributes.

See our latest analysis for Ashtead Group

Want to help shape the future of investing tools and platforms? Take the survey and be part of one of the most advanced studies of stock market investors to date.

How I analyze a dividend stock

If you are a dividend investor, you should always assess these five key metrics:

Is it paying an annual yield above 75% of dividend payers?

Has it paid dividend every year without dramatically reducing payout in the past?

Has the amount of dividend per share grown over the past?

Is its earnings sufficient to payout dividend at the current rate?

Will it have the ability to keep paying its dividends going forward?

LSE:AHT Historical Dividend Yield January 12th 19

How well does Ashtead Group fit our criteria?

The current trailing twelve-month payout ratio for the stock is 15%, meaning the dividend is sufficiently covered by earnings. In the near future, analysts are predicting a higher payout ratio of 25% which, assuming the share price stays the same, leads to a dividend yield of 2.3%. However, EPS is forecasted to fall to 1.66 in the upcoming year. Therefore, although payout is expected to increase, the fall in earnings may not equate to higher dividend income.

When thinking about whether a dividend is sustainable, another factor to consider is the cash flow. Companies with strong cash flow can sustain a higher payout ratio, while companies with weaker cash flow generally cannot.

If theres one type of stock you want to be reliable, its dividend stocks and their stable income-generating ability. In the case of AHT it has increased its DPS from 0.025 to 0.33 in the past 10 years. It has also been paying out dividend consistently during this time, as youd expect for a company increasing its dividend levels. These are all positive signs of a great, reliable dividend stock.

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Compared to its peers, Ashtead Group generates a yield of 1.8%, which is on the low-side for Trade Distributors stocks.

Next Steps:

Taking into account the dividend metrics, Ashtead Group ticks most of the boxes as a strong dividend investment, putting it in my list of top dividend payers. Given that this is purely a dividend analysis, I urge potential investors to try and get a good understanding of the underlying business and its fundamentals before deciding on an investment. There are three relevant factors you should look at:

Future Outlook: What are well-informed industry analysts predicting for AHTs future growth? Take a look at our free research report of analyst consensus for AHTs outlook. Valuation: What is AHT worth today? Even if the stock is a cash cow, its not worth an infinite price. The intrinsic value infographic in our free research report helps visualize whether AHT is currently mispriced by the market. Other Dividend Rockstars: Are there better dividend payers with stronger fundamentals out there? Check out our free list of these great stocks here.

To help readers see past the short term volatility of the financial market, we aim to bring you a long-term focused research analysis purely driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis does not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements.



The author is an independent contributor and at the time of publication had no position in the stocks mentioned. For errors that warrant correction please contact the editor at editorial-team@simplywallst.com.
By Stephen Nellis SAN JOSE, California (Reuters) - Qualcomm sought to become the sole supplier of modem chips for Apple's iPhone to recoup a $1-billion "incentive payment" that Apple insisted on, not to block rivals from the market, Qualcomm's chief executive testified on Friday. The payment from Qualcomm to Apple - part of a 2011 deal between Apple and Qualcomm - was meant to ease the technical costs of swapping out the iPhone's then-current Infineon chip with Qualcomm's, CEO Steve Mollenkopf testified at a trial with the U.S. Federal Trade Commission. While such a payment is common in the industry, the size of it was not, Mollenkopf said. Under the 2011 deal, Qualcomm was named Apple's sole supplier of modem chips, which help mobile phones connect to wireless data networks, in exchange for which Qualcomm agreed to give Apple a rebate - the exact nature of which has not been disclosed. Apple could choose another supplier but it would lose the rebate, effectively increasing the cost of its chips. Antitrust regulators have argued the deal with Apple was part of a pattern of anticompetitive conduct by Qualcomm to preserve its dominance in modem chips and exclude players like Intel. At a federal courthouse in San Jose, California, Mollenkopf testified that Apple demanded the $1 billion without any assurance of how many chips it would buy, which pushed the chip supplier to pursue an exclusivity arrangement in order to ensure it sold enough chips to recover the payment. Qualcomm was not aiming to block rivals like Intel, he said. "The risk was, what would the volume be? Would we get everything we wanted, given that we paid so much in incentive?" Mollenkopf testified. Earlier in the day, Apple supply chain executive Tony Blevins testified that it was Apple's practice to pursue at least two suppliers and as many as six for each of the more than 1,000 components in the iPhone. The company stopped trying to place an Intel modem chip in the iPad Mini 2 because losing the rebates on Qualcomm's chips would have made the overall cost too high, he said. "They made it very unattractive for us to use another chip supplier," Blevins said of the rebates. "These rebates were very, very large." (Reporting by Stephen Nellis; Editing by Sandra Maler and Sonya Hepinstall)
KNOXVILLE, Tenn.  As the government shutdown continues, some college students say they are having to estimate how much federal aid they'll get  and realizing they may receive less than they originally thought.

When completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA, some students have found they need additional verification material from the IRS. However, the part of the IRS that allows them to access additional documents has been shut down.

The Department of Education said Wednesday it would provide more flexible guidelines for institutions during the shutdown, allowing them to accept additional documents for verification. Students can now submit a signed copy of income tax returns or W-2 forms instead of originals, which may not be available from the IRS during the shutdown.

Haley Church, a senior at Johnson University outside Knoxville, Tennessee, is still waiting for her FAFSA to be processed because of the shutdown. Church got married in May, which meant she needed her 2016 tax documents, as well as her husband's.

"There was a lot of stuff that I had to get that I didn't previously have to get as an independent student," Church said.

Haley Church, a senior at Johnson University, said she could not retrieve tax information from the IRS during the government shutdown when filing her FAFSA. Church, pictured with her husband Brandon, said she worries she'll have to drop out if the aid she receives is less than what was estimated.

Church, who is in her last semester at Johnson, tried to get the documents through the IRS website, but the function was shut down. She also went to an IRS office. "The office was dark and there was no one there," she said.

"I was told there was no way to access anything until the government reinstates," Church said.

22 days: Government shutdown sets record as longest in U.S. history. When will it finally end?

Church was able to work with the financial aid office at Johnson and worked out an estimate of how much federal aid she will receive once the government reopens. Johnson University had 1,334 undergraduate students enrolled for the fall 2018 semester.

"Not only did they help me with the academic, financial part of it, they encouraged me that we would figure something out," Church said of the financial aid office.

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Johnson University is celebrating 125 years as an institution with three days of events this week. Their Knoxville campus is pictured here.

However, Church said, "there's still a lot of risk." She fears that the aid she receives will be less than the original estimate. If that happens, Church said, she may have to drop out in her last semester and work full-time because she would be responsible for paying the difference.

"There's the intense fear of working for four years to go into a human services field ... and not knowing if I can even work in my field if I don't graduate," Church said.

Other universities say they're working with students. The University of Tennessee said it would support students to make sure their coursework isn't interrupted.

At Pellissippi State Community College in Knoxville, approximately 165 of the 10,000-plus students still need additional verification documents from the IRS.

Under normal circumstances those students would have been dropped from their classes, said Leigh Anne Touzeau, assistant vice president for enrollment services. Because of the shutdown, their spots were held.

With the new guidelines from the Department of Education, Touzeau said she hoped the issues would be resolved soon and the funds would be released.

This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: 'The office was dark': Government shutdown delays financial aid for some college students
A Saudi teenager fleeing alleged family abuse arrived in Canada Saturday as an asylum refugee after a harrowing journey in which she was almost forcibly deported back home while changing planes in Thailand.

At one point, 18-year-old Rahaf Mohammed Alqunun had barricaded herself in an airport hotel in Bangkok to avoid being taken by Thai authorities.

She stirred worldwide sympathy by tweeting about her plight during the week-long ordeal, prompting the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees to declare that she was fleeing alleged family abuse and was in a dangerous situation.

The teenage said she feared her family would kill her because she renounced Islam.

Under Saudi's strict system of male guardianship, women must get permission from their father, husband, brother or even a son in order to travel or marry.

Thailand's immigration police chief Surachate Hakparn told CNN that Alqunun had continued to refuse to meet with her father and brother who had flown to Thailand to take her back.

Alqunun's Twitter account, which had been her lifeline to the outside world, was temporarily deactivated Friday but sprang back to life Saturday, sporting pictures of what appeared to be an airplane seat, passport and boarding pass.

"3rd country," she wrote, referring to resettlement in Canada. "I did it."

The declaration by the UNHCR prompted Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to offer her asylum in Canada.

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Canada has been unequivocal, Trudeau said. We will always stand up for human rights and womens rights around the world.

Alqunun smiled broadly as she exited an arrival door at Torontos airport Saturday sporting a Canada hoodie.

With Alqunun by her side, Canadian Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland declared: This a very brave new Canadian.

Freeland said Algunun had made a long journey and preferred to get settled before talking to the media. She joked that the teen did comment about the cold weather but was assured it gets warmer.

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UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi, who had put Alqunun's on a fast-track, emergency basis, said her plight had underscored the precarious situation faced by millions of refugees worldwide.

"Refugee protection today is often under threat and cannot always be assured, but in this instance international refugee law and overriding values of humanity have prevailed," he said.

Because Saudi women cannot leave the country without a guardian's permission, some have been forced to flee while on a family vacation in another country.

Several have slipped away in Turkey, a popular Saudi tourist destination, then fled to neighboring Georgia, which does not require Saudis to have a visa, the New York Times reports.

Many who have fled in the past or seek to in the future exchange information with other Saudi women in private online chat groups, the Times notes.

Canada's decision to offer asylum to Alqunun will likely add to the strains with Saudi Arabia that erupted last summer after Canadian officials accused Saudi Arabia of human rights violations and demanded the release of imprisoned activists.

The Saudi government responded by freezing all Saudi air flights to Toronto, suspending bilateral trade deals and cancelling scholarships for thousands of Saudi students in Canada.

Contributing: Associated Press

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 'I did it': Saudi teen fleeing alleged family abuse arrives in Canada as an asylum refugee
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo delivered a blistering rebuke to former President Barack Obamas Middle East policy Thursday and argued that the Trump administration has "reinvigorated" and "rebuilt" Americas leadership role in the region  even as President Donald Trumps own statements and policies have sown confusion and chaos there.

The age of self-inflicted American shame is over, and so are the policies that produced so much needless suffering, Pompeo declared in a major speech in Cairo, aimed at calming jittery allies after Trumps abrupt decision to withdraw U.S. troops from Syria.

"Now comes the real 'new beginning,'" Pompeo said, putting his own spin on a phrase Obama used in his own sweeping speech in Cairo ten years ago.

In that 2009 speech, Obama sought a "new beginning" between the United States and the Muslim world. He pledged a relationship "based on mutual interest and mutual respect."

Pompeo said that vision was timid, misguided and created a vacuum that allowed ISIS to flourish and Iran to spread its "cancerous" influence in Syria and elsewhere. He glossed over Obamas role in assembling a multilateral coalition to fight ISIS and pivoted sharply away from the former presidents efforts to press Arab allies on human rights abuses.

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo holds a joint press conference with his Egyptian counterpart following their meeting at the ministry of foreign affairs in Cairo on January 10, 2019. Pompeo also met with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi today, on the third leg of a regional tour to address concerns of American allies in the Middle East.

Indeed, Pompeo used his remarks to praise Egypts president, Abdel Fattah el-Sissi, who had led a brutally repressive regime  detaining thousands of dissidents, imprisoning journalists and sharply restricting freedom of expression. Pompeo thanked el-Sissi for his "courage" in confronting Islamic extremism and only obliquely mentioned the Egyptian leaders crackdown by encouraging him to "promote a free and open exchange" of ideas.

Pompeo directly raised Trumps decision to withdraw Americas 2,000 troops from Syria, saying "now is the time" for them to come home. That decision has raised concerns across the Middle East, particularly in Israel, about Americas commitment to stability in the region. It has also sparked a bitter rift with Turkey, a NATO ally, as the U.S. presses President Recep Erdogan not to attack the Kurdish fighters who have helped American troops fight ISIS in Syria.

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Pompeo did not address the ongoing confusion about how quickly that U.S. withdraw would happen, but he did say that U.S. airstrikes would continue as needed.

"As the fighting continues, we will continue to assist our partners in efforts to guard borders, prosecute terrorists, screen travelers, assist refugees and more," Pompeo said. "But 'assist' is the key phrase. We ask every peace-loving nation of the Middle East to shoulder new responsibilities for defeating Islamist extremism wherever we find it."

Earlier this week, Trump national security adviser John Bolton said the U.S. would not withdraw from Syria until the last remnants of ISIS was defeated, the Syrian Kurds were protected, and any Iranian-backed forces were driven out. Achieving those goals could take months, suggesting a protracted presence of American forces, experts have said.

Syria: As Trump's timeline for withdrawal slips, U.S. allies are nervous, angry, confused

Capitol Hill: Low-key Sen. James Risch contrasts combative Corker on Foreign Relations Committee

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 'The age of self-inflicted American shame is over,' Pompeo declares in rebuke of Obama's policy
Aphria (NYSE: APHA) has taken investors on a roller-coaster ride over the last several months. The Canadian marijuana stock plunged in December after short-sellers alleged that the company overpaid for international acquisitions and lined the pockets of key insiders in the deal. A hostile takeover attempt by U.S.-based marijuana producer Green Growth Brands (GGB) caused the stock to rebound later in December.

Investors were understandably anxious to hear what Aphria's management team had to say on Friday when the company discussed its performance in its fiscal 2019 second quarter, which ended on Nov. 30, 2018. Here are the only five things you really need to know from that update.

Marijuana leaf with a pile of cash in the background

Image source: Getty Images.

1. What's up

Aphria's net revenue soared 155% year over year and 63% above the previous quarter to 21.7 million Canadian dollars ($16.4 million). The opening of the Canadian recreational marijuana market on Oct. 17, 2018, provided a big boost for Aphria.

The company's net income also increased dramatically, up nearly 750% year over year to CA$54.8 million. However, this huge jump stemmed from Aphria's divestitures of positions in Hiku Brands, which was acquired by Canopy Growth, and Liberty Health Sciences.

Two increases weren't so great. Aphria reported that its "all-in" cost of goods sold per gram rose 42% from the previous quarter to CA$2.60. Its cash cost per gram to produce dried cannabis grew 35% quarter over quarter to CA$1.76. The company attributed the increases to higher packaging costs associated with recreational marijuana products, plus higher costs and temporarily lower yields related to its expansion efforts.

2. What's down

Aphria's adjusted gross margin dropped from 67.7% in the prior-year period to 46.9% in Q2. This decline stemmed from lower average selling prices in the recreational marijuana market and higher production costs associated with the company's expansion at its Aphria One facility.

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As you might expect, this also hurt Aphria's adjusted EBITDA. The company announced negative adjusted EBITDA of CA$9.5 million. Aphria posted a negative adjusted EBITDA in fiscal Q1 of CA$3.96 million.

Aphria also continued to burn cash. The company reported cash, cash equivalents, and marketable securities totaling CA$184.8 million as of Nov. 30, 2018. This reflected a big drop from the nearly CA$314 million on hand at the end of the previous quarter.

3. Who's out

The biggest news for Aphria had to do with the resignations of CEO Vic Neufeld and co-founder Cole Cacciavillani from their executive roles with the company. Neufeld stated that he and Cacciavillani didn't make their decisions to step down because of the controversy over short-seller allegations. Instead, he said that "it was just time for us to move aside."

Both Neufeld and Cacciavillani will remain on Aphria's board of directors. They will also help during the transition period as the company looks for a new CEO.

4. What's on the way

Obviously, one development on the way is a new CEO for Aphria. The company didn't provide any details on how long a search might take.

Aphria's special committee of independent board directors is also still reviewing the allegations made by short-sellers about the company's acquisition of LATAM Holdings. Vic Neufeld said that the committee is "making good progress" but didn't say when the review would be completed. He added that several journalists and analysts have examined Aphria's disclosures relating to the LATAM acquisition and visited the acquired facilities, leading them to refute the short-sellers' allegations.

Another independent special committee has been formed to review any proposals of mergers or acquisitions. Aphria established this committee following the hostile takeover offer from Green Growth Brands. Neufeld reiterated the company's previous stance that the GGB offer "significantly undervalued" Aphria.

Aphria still hasn't received licensing for its Aphria One and Aphria Diamond expansions. Neufeld noted that Health Canada is backlogged and is "working as best they can" to deal with an onslaught of license applications and amendments from many companies. While he wouldn't speculate on how quickly Aphria will receive its approvals, Neufeld said that he still expected the company to be on track for an annual production capacity of 255,000 kilograms (roughly 562,000 pounds) by the end of 2019.

5. What really matters

Aphria's fiscal Q2 numbers really don't matter very much in the big scheme of things. Neither do the delays in receiving approvals for its new growing space. So what does really matter? The growth opportunities for the company and its ability capitalize on those opportunities.

Vic Neufeld said that "the future has never looked brighter" for Aphria. In several ways, he's right.

Demand for recreational marijuana in Canada has been very high, dispelling any doubts that initial projections were too optimistic. Countries across the world are legalizing medical marijuana like dominos falling in a row. The U.S. has legalized hemp, with the prospects for changes to federal marijuana laws looking better than ever.

Neufeld also stated that Aphria's "journey, regardless of external noises, is based on sound and solid strength built to last." Some might question that statement, but I suspect that he's right on this count as well.

I also think that the decisions that he and Cole Cacciavillani made to step down improve the likelihood that Aphria will succeed over the long run. A new CEO, along with Irwin Simon taking over as independent chairman of the board, should help restore investors' confidence in Aphria. And that could mean 2019 will be a much better year for this beaten-down marijuana stock.

More From The Motley Fool

Keith Speights 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.
BEIRUT (AP)  An al-Qaida-linked coalition in Syria cemented its hold on the last major rebel stronghold in the country after Turkey-backed opposition groups accepted a surrender deal that effectively gives to the extremists control of the entire region in northwestern Syria, opposition activists and a war monitor said Thursday.

Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, Arabic for Levant Liberation Committee, or HTS, took over control of Idlib province and the surrounding countryside after forcing rival insurgents to accept a deal for a civil administration run by HTS in their areas.

The developments threaten to derail a cease-fire in the area reached in September between Turkey and Russia that averted a potentially catastrophic Syrian army assault on Idlib.

The deal follows days of fierce fighting during which the HTS seized more than two dozen villages from the Turkey-backed National Liberation Front.

Idlib province is the last major rebel stronghold in civil war-torn Syria outside of government control, with the exception of northeastern Syria, which is controlled by U.S.-backed Kurdish groups. Control of the province has so far been divided between HTS, which is spearheaded by al-Qaida's affiliate in Syria formerly known as the Nusra Front, and rebels backed by Turkey.

The Syrian government has repeatedly threatened to launch an offensive to recapture Idlib province, which is packed with 3 million people, including many who were displaced from other parts of the country. The deal reached in September between Turkey and Russia, a key ally of Assad, averted a potentially catastrophic battle for Idlib that would have likely triggered a new wave of bloodshed and refugees. The deal required jihadist groups to leave a frontline buffer zone.

The latest advances by the HTS, which include many foreign fighters, raises questions over the future of the deal.

"HTS' governance will result in increased human rights abuses and further deterioration in the humanitarian situation, and this situation will be used as an excuse by the Assad regime and Russia to launch an offensive to retake Idlib," says Kenan Rahmani, advocacy manager at The Syria Campaign.

Rami Abdurrahman, who heads the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, said jihadis are now the strongest party in Idlib.

"This paves the way for a Russian-backed government offensive to retake the province, now that it is controlled by HTS," he said.
Reuters

The U.S. Justice Department has urged the Supreme Court to reinstate the death sentence of Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, convicted in the deadly 2013 Boston Marathon bombing, despite President Joe Biden's stated opposition to capital punishment. The department in a 48-page brief filed late on Monday argued that a lower court wrongly overturned Tsarnaev's death sentence and ordered a new trial to determine what sentence he deserved for carrying out with his older brother the attack that killed three people and wounded more than 260 others. The filing marked the latest deviation between the policy views of Biden, a Democrat who has said he wants to eliminate the death penalty at the federal level, and the Justice Department, whose independence he has vowed to promote.
Over the last three years at CES, companies have integrated voice assistants into a lot of gadgets that dont really need voice control. However, as this years tech convention proved, that certainly didnt stop companies from forcing Alexa and Google Assistant into even more devices.

Indeed, while CES 2019 had more than its fair share of self-driving car- and 5G-related announcements, Alexa and Google Assistant announcements were just as common.

Here are some of the weirdest smart assistant devices we glimpsed this week in Las Vegas:

Numi 2.0 Intelligent Toilet

Kohler's Numi 2.0 Intelligent Toilet is a $7,000 Alexa-enabled toilet. Source: Kohler

Do you really want to talk to Alexa while youre using the toilet? Kohler, best known for its faucets and other plumbing products, seems to think you do.

The Kohler, Wisconsin-based company plans on releasing its Numi 2.0 Intelligent Toilet at the end of this year for $7,000. For that steep price, users can issue commands to Alexa for controlling the toilet, surround sound speakers, mood lighting, heated seating, as well as a built-in air dryer for people in a rush  or those who just prefer their toilets to go the extra mile.

Roland GO: PIANO

An updated version of the Roland Go: Piano will come with Alexa built-in. Source: Roland

Roland's latest keyboard, a new version of its GO: PIANO, features Alexa built-in so users of any musical background or experience level can change keyboard sounds or settings with simple voice commands. In addition to the hands-free feature, the Alexa Skill will also provide access to libraries of songs and tracks users can play along to, as well as enable sharing of recorded audio clips. The company has yet to release availability and pricing details.

Bosch Indego S+

The Bosch Indego S+ mows your lawn with a simple voice command. Source: Bosch

Mowing the lawn is one of those house chores few people, if anyone, actually enjoys, but what if you could ask Alexa to mow the lawn for you? Simply the issue the command, Alexa, mow the lawn with Indego, and Boschs robotic lawn mower does just that. When it launches in Europe for roughly $1,260, the Indego S+ will be capable of mowing lawns as large as 4,300 square feet, recognizing obstacles in its path and adjusting its speed and course accordingly.

Story continues

SimpleHuman Mirror Hi-Fi

The SimpleHuman HiFi Assist is a vanity mirror with Google Assistant built-in. Source: SimpleHuman

SimpleHuman, the company that brought us motion-activated soap dispensers and voice-activated trash cans, wants us to spend our hard-earned cash this spring on a $400 makeup mirror with Google Assistant. Do you really need a small vanity mirror to tell you the weather and play music when your smart speaker is probably only a few feet or yards away? Probably not. Which is why this overpriced, niche device landed on our short list.

Mui: Calm Design Device

The Mui: Calm Design Device is an internet-connected display buried inside a block of natural wood. Source: Mui Japan

Launched on Kickstarter last October and scheduled to ship this fall for an exorbitant $999, the Google Assistant-friendly Mui: Calm Design Device is essentially a voice and touch-activated, internet-connected display buried inside a block of natural wood. Ask it a question, just as you would with Google Home, and a series of hidden LEDs light up to display anything from the weather to the current state of your front door. You can also ask it to play music or turn up your thermostat. Compared to the hundreds, if not thousands, of other voice-activated devices at CES with better, more informative displays, the Mui stood out for its overly simplistic approach and unreasonably high price.



JP Mangalindan is the Chief Tech Correspondent for Yahoo Finance covering the intersection of tech and business. Email story tips and musings to jpm@oath.com. Follow him on Twitter or Facebook.

More from JP:
WASHINGTON  The $20 million that have been donated to a GoFundMe page to help fund President Donald Trump's wall along the southern border are going to be refunded.

Air Force veteran Brian Kolfage Jr., who started the campaign, announced on Friday he had formed a non-profit in Florida to receive money from GoFundMe contributions to build the wall himself with a team of officials without the help of the federal government.

"We are better equipped than our own government to use the donated funds to build an actual wall on the southern border," Kolfage Jr. said in his announcement of the new plan. "Our highly experienced team is highly confident that we can complete significant segments of the wall in less time, and for far less money, than the federal government, while meeting or exceeding all required regulatory, engineering, and environmental specifications."

But GoFundMe said due to a change in where the money would actually be going, from the federal government to a non-profit, the $20 million will be returned to the more than 337,000 who donated.

"This means all donors will receive a refund," said Bobby Whithorne, a spokesman for GoFundMe. "If a donor does not want a refund, and they want their donation to go to the new organization, they must proactively elect to redirect their donation to that organization. If they do not take that step, they will automatically receive a full refund."

Kolfage Jr. directed those who donated to a page where they can tell GoFundMe they're OK with their donation being given to his non-profit. Those people have 90 days to take action, he says, before donations will be returned.

He also announced a board of directors for his new non-profit organization, titled "We Build the Wall, Inc."

Those working on the project include Kris Kobach, who just lost a bid for Kansas governor, and David Clarke, a former Milwaukee County Sheriff and fierce supporter of Trump's immigration policy who works at a pro-Donald Trump super PAC.

Story continues

As part of the rationale to refund money, GoFundMe cited Kolfage Jr.'s original statements on the campaign page when it was started, saying that "100% of your donations will go to the Trump Wall. If for ANY reason we don't reach our goal we will refund your donation." The campaign has a $1 billion goal listed on its page.

More: A GoFundMe campaign wants to raise money for a border wall. But it isn't that simple

More: Trump administration says 'walls work.' Here's what a full view of the border shows

More: Is Trump's border wall being built? Here are the facts

Kolfage Jr., in announcing the changes, said it was clear that the "federal government wont be able to accept our donations anytime soon." When the campaign was started, Kolfage Jr. noted he was working with lawmakers to pass a bill that would allow funds raised in the campaign to go specifically to funding a border wall.

But construction of a wall is at the heart of a contentious disagreement between parties that has been at the center of the partial government shutdown that's now in its 21st day.

Homeland Security, along with other government agencies, can't simply accept money without the explicit approval of Congress. In its policy, the agency cites a federal law that states "gifts may not be accepted, used, or disposed of unless specifically permitted" by Congress.

Much of the policy is wrapped around ethical concerns and aims to halt outside money from swaying the agency's decisions.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: $20 million donated to viral border wall GoFundMe set to be refunded
The group of demonstrators from Vagharshapat (Etchmiadzin), Armenia, on Saturday reopened the road leading to Zvartnots International Airport of capital city of Yerevan, and which they had closed off earlier in the day, and with the demand that fellow city resident, retired General Manvel Grigoryan, be immediately arrested again.

But they announced that their next respective protest will be staged on January 14, outside the Criminal Court of Appeal where the court will consider the attorney generals petition that Grigoryan be remanded in custody yet again.

The Vagharshapat Police chief as well as Hayk Sargsyan, an MP from the majority My Step Faction of the new elected National Assembly, were negotiating with the protesters for hours so that they reopen the road.

On December 21, 2018 the Yerevan Court of General Jurisdiction released Manvel Grigoryan from custody on an AMD 25mn (approx. US$51,600) bail. The Prosecutor Generals Office, however, has appealed this decision to the Criminal Court of Appeal.

Grigoryan was remanded in custody on June 19, and by the decision of the Yerevan Court of General Jurisdiction.

He is charged with unlawfully acquiring and possessing weapons and ammunition, as well as committing large-scale embezzlement. In particular, it is about the appropriation of the aid that was sent during the days of the four-day war in Nagorno-Karabakh (Artsakh), in April 2016.
Hayk Sargsyan, an MP from the majority My Step Faction of the new elected National Assembly of Armenia, on Saturday met with a group of Vagharshapat (Etchmiadzin) city residents who have blocked the road leading to Zvartnots International Airport of capital city of Yerevan, and with the demand that fellow city resident, retired General Manvel Grigoryan, be immediately remanded in custody yet again.

Sargsyan tried to convince the protesters to open the road, but they were adamant.

The newly elected lawmaker said to them that this was not the way to wage a fight because with this, the rights of other citizens were being curtailed.

He proposed to the demonstrators to march toward the Vagharshapat town square and to calmly discuss the situation there; but the protesters did not agree.

On December 21, 2018 the Yerevan Court of General Jurisdiction released Manvel Grigoryan from custody on an AMD 25mn (approx. US$51,600) bail. The Prosecutor Generals Office, however, has appealed this decision to the Criminal Court of Appeal.

Grigoryan was remanded in custody on June 19, and by the decision of the Yerevan Court of General Jurisdiction.

He is charged with unlawfully acquiring and possessing weapons and ammunition, as well as committing large-scale embezzlement. In particular, it is about the appropriation of the aid that was sent during the days of the four-day war in Nagorno-Karabakh (Artsakh), in April 2016.
A group of residents from Vagharshapat (Etchmiadzin), Armenia, on Saturday are holding a demonstration at the beginning of the road leading to Zvartnots International Airport of capital city of Yerevan.

An organizer of this protest told Armenian News-NEWS.am that they demand the arrestyet againof ex-MP and retired General Manvel Grigoryan, who is charged with illegal possession of weapons and ammunition and with embezzlement.

Also, we demand that he be deprived of the rank of general, the activist added. We dont want a meeting with anyone; we just want our demands to be fulfilled.

On December 21, 2018 the Yerevan Court of General Jurisdiction released Manvel Grigoryan from custody on an AMD 25mn (approx. US$51,600) bail. The Prosecutor Generals Office, however, has appealed this decision to the Criminal Court of Appeal.

Grigoryan was remanded in custody on June 19, and by the decision of the Yerevan Court of General Jurisdiction.

He is charged with unlawfully acquiring and possessing weapons and ammunition, as well as committing large-scale embezzlement. In particular, it is about the appropriation of the aid that was sent during the days of the four-day war in Nagorno-Karabakh (Artsakh), in April 2016.
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Michael

User ID: 441975

01-12-2019 08:24 AM



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Post: #1 Senator Introduces Law to Imprison Americans for Criticizing Israel

Advertisement Jewish Senator Introduces Law to Imprison Americans for Criticizing Israel



http://www.awdnews



The jewish senator from New York, Chuck Schumer, has introduced House Resolution 1697  known as the Israel Anti-Boycott Act. This legislation is in direct conflict with the 1st Amendment right to freedom of speech and targets those who are critical of Israel with draconian prison sentences and fines:



AMERICAN CITIZENS ARE SET TO BE FINED UP TO $1 MILLION OR IMPRISONED FOR UP TO 20 YEARS FOR CRITICIZING ISRAEL OR SUPPORTING THE BDS BOYCOTT, THANKS TO NEW LEGISLATION SPONSORED BY SENATE DEMOCRATIC LEADER CHUCK SCHUMER.



ANYONE GUILTY OF VIOLATING THE NEW PROHIBITIONS WILL FACE A MINIMUM CIVIL PENALTY OF $250,000 AND A MAXIMUM CRIMINAL PENALTY OF $1 MILLION AND 20 YEARS IN PRISON UNDER THE NEW LAW.



ACCORDING TO THE ACLU, THE CARDIN LEGISLATION WOULD BAR U.S. PERSONS FROM SUPPORTING BOYCOTTS AGAINST ISRAEL, INCLUDING ITS SETTLEMENTS IN THE PALESTINIAN OCCUPIED TERRITORIES CONDUCTED BY INTERNATIONAL GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS, SUCH AS THE UNITED NATIONS AND THE EUROPEAN UNION. IT WOULD ALSO INCLUDE PENALTIES FOR SIMPLY REQUESTING INFORMATION ABOUT SUCH BOYCOTTS. VIOLATIONS WOULD BE SUBJECT TO A MINIMUM CIVIL PENALTY OF $250,000 AND A MAXIMUM CRIMINAL PENALTY OF $1 MILLION AND 20 YEARS IN PRISON.THIS BILL WOULD IMPOSE CIVIL AND CRIMINAL PUNISHMENT ON INDIVIDUALS SOLELY BECAUSE OF THEIR POLITICAL BELIEFS ABOUT ISRAEL AND ITS POLICIES.



Although this bill was first introduced in 2017, it continues to gain traction with more co-sponsors recently signing on.



One of the first new laws created by the jewish Bolsheviks when they took over Russia was to make antisemitism punishable by jail or death. Despite its freedoms, the United States is now following in Russias footsteps, with jews like Chuck Schumer leading the charge.



One hundred years later, we find ourselves in a very similar situation  proposed Federal laws protecting jews from criticism. Only criminals and liars are afraid of being criticized.



What other ethnic group is powerful enough to demand such draconian laws to protect them from criticism?



___

http://www.awdnews.com/index/jewish-sena...ng-israel/ The jewish senator from New York, Chuck Schumer, has introduced House Resolution 1697  known as the Israel Anti-Boycott Act. This legislation is in direct conflict with the 1st Amendment right to freedom of speech and targets those who are critical of Israel with draconian prison sentences and fines:AMERICAN CITIZENS ARE SET TO BE FINED UP TO $1 MILLION OR IMPRISONED FOR UP TO 20 YEARS FOR CRITICIZING ISRAEL OR SUPPORTING THE BDS BOYCOTT, THANKS TO NEW LEGISLATION SPONSORED BY SENATE DEMOCRATIC LEADER CHUCK SCHUMER.ANYONE GUILTY OF VIOLATING THE NEW PROHIBITIONS WILL FACE A MINIMUM CIVIL PENALTY OF $250,000 AND A MAXIMUM CRIMINAL PENALTY OF $1 MILLION AND 20 YEARS IN PRISON UNDER THE NEW LAW.ACCORDING TO THE ACLU, THE CARDIN LEGISLATION WOULD BAR U.S. PERSONS FROM SUPPORTING BOYCOTTS AGAINST ISRAEL, INCLUDING ITS SETTLEMENTS IN THE PALESTINIAN OCCUPIED TERRITORIES CONDUCTED BY INTERNATIONAL GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS, SUCH AS THE UNITED NATIONS AND THE EUROPEAN UNION. IT WOULD ALSO INCLUDE PENALTIES FOR SIMPLY REQUESTING INFORMATION ABOUT SUCH BOYCOTTS. VIOLATIONS WOULD BE SUBJECT TO A MINIMUM CIVIL PENALTY OF $250,000 AND A MAXIMUM CRIMINAL PENALTY OF $1 MILLION AND 20 YEARS IN PRISON.THIS BILL WOULD IMPOSE CIVIL AND CRIMINAL PUNISHMENT ON INDIVIDUALS SOLELY BECAUSE OF THEIR POLITICAL BELIEFS ABOUT ISRAEL AND ITS POLICIES.Although this bill was first introduced in 2017, it continues to gain traction with more co-sponsors recently signing on.One of the first new laws created by the jewish Bolsheviks when they took over Russia was to make antisemitism punishable by jail or death. Despite its freedoms, the United States is now following in Russias footsteps, with jews like Chuck Schumer leading the charge.One hundred years later, we find ourselves in a very similar situation  proposed Federal laws protecting jews from criticism. Only criminals and liars are afraid of being criticized.What other ethnic group is powerful enough to demand such draconian laws to protect them from criticism?___
The Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry described the statement by the official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry Maria Zakharova about the non-admission of citizens of the Russian Federation of Armenian origin to the territory of the Azerbaijan Republic, as statement contradicting the spirit of bilateral strategic relations, Azerbaijani Foreign Ministrys spokeswoman Leyla Abdullayeva told Trend Jan. 11.

Abdullayeva expressed regret that this was not the first time when the official representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation made statements contradicting the spirit of bilateral strategic relations.

"On the background of development of Azerbaijani-Russian relations, this statement and attempts to inflate some particular case, taking it out of the general context, are another manifestation of the general trend we have indicated.

A representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry said that "the Azerbaijani side promised that this situation would be corrected." "We strongly refute this. Azerbaijani-Russian relations are based on equality, and the expression correct the situation contradicts the essence of equal bilateral relations. We are convinced that the next provocative and anti-Azerbaijani statement by the official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry will not have a negative impact on relations between Azerbaijan and Russia. Azerbaijani-Russian relations are determined not by the foreign affairs structured, but by the presidents of Azerbaijan and Russia, and both sides are very interested in developing these relations and are making efforts in this direction," she noted.

According to the spokeswoman, only in 2018, 880,000 Russian citizens visited Azerbaijan, and there were no complaints by them on the issue raised.

"The overwhelming majority of the citizens of Russia were pleased with their visit and expressed gratitude for the hospitality. I would like to note that among the visitors there were Russian citizens of Armenian origin. At the same time, not only Russian citizens of Armenian origin, but also citizens of Armenia participated in international events competitions and cultural events held in Azerbaijan, and they had no problems," she said.
14 Armenian POWs trial begins in Azerbaijan

99 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia

Two Armenian captives still on trial in Azerbaijan

Armenia ombudsman's office hosts OSCE/ODIHR delegation

Armenia dissolved parliament sitting not convened again

White House announces exact time of Biden-Putin meeting in Geneva

Israel carries out airstrikes on Hamas targets in Gaza

Newspaper: How "hijacked" plane is managed to be transported to Armenia?

Newspaper: Armenia acting premier instructs provincial governors to sack school principals who support another force

Emirates airline posts $5.5bn net loss as coronavirus disrupts travel

Newspaper: Armenia is left out of important world developments

Germany issues nearly 5 million COVID-19 vaccination certificates

Few attend Armenia acting PM's election campaign rally in Kajaran town (PHOTOS)

Republican Party of Armenia: We Armenians must be concerned about Turkey appearing on Karabakh's borders

Armenia ex-Ambassador to Vatican: Nikol Pashinyan rejected Putin's offer to stop war on October 10, 2020

Robert Kocharyan: Armenia is seeing US on brink of radical review of position on the region

Britain, Australia announce free trade deal

Armenia 1st President: The whole world considers Karabakh a part of Azerbaijan

Armenia 2nd President says he doesn't see himself as a member of the opposition

Armenia 1st President: There will be post-election developments, even clashes during elections

Switzerland President assesses Russia's role in establishment of ceasefire in Nagorno-Karabakh

Turkey's Erdogan expresses support to "Zangezur corridor" project

Armenias Pashinyan makes threat in Kapan

Armenia 3rd President on Nikol Pashinyan: The capitulator no longer has majority of votes

Mayor of Armenia's Kajaran says acting PM's campaign meeting in Syunik Province was a cheap show

His Holiness Karekin II hosts Bishop of Coventry

Armenia Parliament Deputy Speaker interferes in work of Tert.am's reporter, urges her to leave premises

Armenia 2nd President suggests that Pashinyan visit a psychiatric clinic to get document on mental health

Catholicos of All Armenians receives representatives of Catholic Near East Welfare Association

"I Have the Honor" bloc campaigns in Armenia's Ararat Province, led by Serzh Sargsyan

Decision on abolishing registration of Mihran Poghosyan as Armenia Member of Parliament annulled

US Ambassador visits Armenia MOD National Defense Research University

Putin and Biden to discuss Karabakh, Azerbaijani troops seen near Syunik roads, Jun. 15 digest

Karabakh MFA: Erdogan's visit to Shushi is clear manifestation of xenophobia, genocidal and terrorist policy

Armenia MFA issues statement regarding Turkish and Azerbaijani Presidents' visit to occupied territories of Artsakh

Erdogan challenges Russia in Shushi

Robert Kocharyan on return of Armenian POWs ahead of snap parliamentary elections

Armenia acting PM holds march in Agarak village, surrounded by children

There are serious doubts about acting PM's deal with Azerbaijan, says Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan

St. Petersburg court to review verdict against Armenian ex-deputy regional governor

One dollar drops below AMD 516 in Armenia

2021 developments point to faster-than-expected economic growth recovery in Armenia, says Central Bank

Karabakh Parliament: Erdogan's visit to Shushi poses a new challenge to Armenia, Artsakh, Russia and Iran

Deputy mayor of Armenia's Meghri: Police troops are being brought in buses

Central Bank: 12-month inflation falls to 5.9% in Armenia

Armenia former President Kocharyan: Personal relations are important component of interstate relations

Armenia 2nd President doesn't rule out return of ex-PM Karen Karapetyan

Armenia opposition bloc: Mine maps are of strategic significance for Azerbaijan

Ex-President Kocharyan: Economic integration is beneficial for Armenia, Russia

"Armenia" bloc member: If Pashinyan stays in power, Armenian flag will be replaced with Turkish or Azeri flag

Bright Armenia Party: We have high chances of winning during elections

Aliyev, Erdogan arrive in seized Armenian city of Shushi

Armenia ex-deputy regional governor appointed mayor of Spitak

Armenia former President Kocharyan on applying to CSTO: Why give air to each other in vain?

Armenia 2nd President: Authorities included in their electoral list the director of company suspected of corruption

Armenia ex-President Kocharyan on Artsakh war: Was necessary to fight, keep front, not to retreat, hand over everything

2nd President Kocharyan, ex-PM Karapetyan meet at Armenia bloc headquarters (PHOTOS)

Armenia MP candidate: "I Have the Honor" bloc promises to work actively for determination of Karabakh's status

Armenia former President Kocharyan: Our goal is to win the elections, form independent government

Armenia 2nd President: It would have been better if mandate of Russian peacekeepers in Karabakh was termless

Armenia acting PM's supporters attack reporters

Armenia first deputy justice minister pays working visit to Washington

Armenia ex-President Kocharyan, former deputy PM Gevorgyan case court session again rescheduled

Sniper spotted on rooftop during Armenia acting premiers visit to Goris town

Armenia acting premier: Russia peacekeepers shall be deployed along border points

Deputy mayor: Armenia acting PM is using administrative resources in Goris (PHOTOS)

Ushakov: Putin, Biden will pay special attention to Karabakh

Acting PM at Sisian: We will break, cut off every hand that tries to oppose Syunik Province to rest of Armenia

Refinancing rate raised by 0.5 percentage point in Armenia

Prosperous Armenia parliament faction secretary: We call on authorities to show restraint

Armenia ex-President Sargsyan: We must be ready to resist civil war

82 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia

Large number of men awaiting Armenia acting PM Pashinyan at "gates" of Syunik

Armenia parliament session not convened

Newspaper: Armenia acting official, Etchmiadzin mayors controversial phone talk "dissemination" is deliberately made

Large number of Armenia Police forces heading to Syunik Province

Turkeys Erdogan arrives in Azerbaijan

Biden delegation reporters slam White House for organizing meeting with Erdogan

Newspaper: It will be heated at Armenias Syunik today

"Armenia" bloc on 1,400 policemen-accompanied motorcade: Classic example of administrative resource abuse

Armenia ombudsman: Swearing has become vicious phenomenon in this election campaign

Biden calls Putin "worthy adversary"

Biden: I'm confident we'll make real progress with Turkey and the United States

Erdogan says he didn't discuss Biden's recognition of Armenian genocide during their meeting

Macron on talks with Erdogan

First Biden-Erdogan meeting lasts 45 minutes

France welcomes release of 15 Armenian POWs

"I Have the Honor" bloc ends campaign meetings in Armenia's Lori Province with meeting in Spitak (PHOTOS)

Anonymous group approaching citizens and asking about their votes on behalf of Armenia Ombudsman

Armenia acting PM's son campaigns in Yerevan

Israel FM intends to repair ties with US Democratic Party

Democratic Party of Armenia candidate for PM Tigran Arzakantsyan to continue election campaign

"Armenia" bloc: Acting PM instructed to launch criminal prosecution against Avshar village head after campaign meeting

Past.am: Why are administrative resources of Armenia Police being misused in such a way?

Policemen dressed in civilian clothes brought to march held by Armenia acting PM

Nikol Pashinyan's supporters and representatives of Prosperous Armenia Party headquarters get into brawl

Armenia acting PM: First case of detention for electoral fraud attempt recorded in Yerevan's Malatia-Sebastia district

Artsakh 2nd President: Armenian side dodged negotiations over Nagorno-Karabakh, but didn't explain why

Karabakh ex-President: Baku and Ankara aren't hiding the fact that they plan to continue their land-grabbing policy

Robert Kocharyan: "Armenia" bloc needs to free the country of apartheids
After reading last Sundays curious letter to the editor from Kenneth Larsen of Calistoga ("Thank Trump for removing us from Paris Accord," Jan. 6), I was disturbed enough to pull out pencil/paper (actually sit down at the computer) and write a response.

Mr. Larsen heaped praise on Donald Trump for pulling us out of the Paris Climate Accord, essentially saying that America had done enough and it was time for the rest of the world to do their part. He sincerely thanked the President for encouraging Americas dedication to the development of shale oil as a clean, cheap source of electrical power generation.

Cheap, maybe. Clean? Leaves me wondering in what fantasy world he is living, especially since last year he witnessed first-hand the results of climate change right there in his own backyard.

I recently became a first-time grandfather and am totally excited, on one hand, about having this darling new addition to our family. On the other, I am forced to seriously contemplate the future of the earths environment within which she will some day find herself. This contemplation leaves me frightened for her and for the rest of the planets grandchildren to come.
On Friday, Dec. 28, a political cartoon appeared in the Napa Valley Register. It showed Trump conversing with two soldiers. The caption read "Bone spurs to the right, bone spurs to the left."

On Wednesday, Dec. 26, the New York Times published an article titled "Daughter of foot doctor says he diagnosed Trump with bone spurs as a favor to Fred Trump."

Elysa Braunstein said her late father, Larry Braunstein, a podiatrist, leased office space in the Jamaica section of Queens, New York owned by Fred Trump in the '60s. She went on to say that if her father had any problems with the building, he called Fred and Trump would immediately have his workers make the necessary repairs.

In 1968, our current president received a high draft lottery number for Vietnam service. Ms. Braunstein said she was unsure if her father ever examined Donald, but as a courtesy to the elder Trump, he wrote an evaluation that the younger Trump had bone spurs in both feet. This evaluation led to a medical exemption from military service.
In addition, even the sturdiest walls served a different purpose than what we might expect. As Jacqueline Jung, an art historian at Yale, put it in a tweet, [M]edieval city walls were not built to separate people of diff[erent] ethnic or national identities. Gates were open during the day and closed at night. In other words, the walls were indeed a defense against any potential common threat, but the world inside those walls offered refuge for all who needed it. The gates were there, not to keep them out, but to allow them in.

In this case, as in many others, calling something medieval often reveals more about what we think about our own world than what we know of the Middle Ages. We tend to use the medieval as a shorthand for pointing out difference, a way of saying that this or that happened long ago and far away, of saying that weve evolved since those Dark Ages. But studying the past itself troubles those easy assumptions by showing the full complexity of medievals thoughts and actions.

In this case, we should probably say that the proposed wall on the U.S. southern border is much more modern than medieval. After all, real medieval walls may have closed temporarily to ward off the uncertainty of a world without electric light, but they always reopened the following morning to welcome in those who sought refuge.

Matthew Gabriele is a professor of medieval studies in the department of religion and culture at Virginia Tech and has published widely on religion and violence in the Middle Ages. He wrote this for The Washington Post.
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the Republicans worst fear :, iraq war vet tusli gabbard is running for president! LoP Guest

lop guest

User ID: 483096

01-12-2019 04:03 AM











Post: #1 the Republicans worst fear :, iraq war vet tusli gabbard is running for president!

Advertisement



the Republicans never responded







https://nypost.com/2019/01/11/tulsi-gabb...t-in-2020/





Hawaiian Rep. Tulsi Gabbard has announced that she will seek the Democratic nomination for president in 2020, a report said.



Gabbard, an Iraqi vet who became the first Hindu member of Congress, told CNN that she will be making a formal announcement next week.



There are a lot of reasons for me to make this decision. There are a lot of challenges that are facing the American people that Im concerned about and that I want to help solve, she said in an interview that will air on Saturday.



There is one main issue that is central to the rest, and that is the issue of war and peace.



Gabbard supports an anti-interventionist foreign policy that has come under scrutiny for its apparent soft stance on rogue regimes.



In particular, she was criticized for meeting with Syrian president Bashar Al-Assad in 2017.



Gabbard later said she felt its important that if we profess to truly care about the Syrian people, about their suffering, then weve got to be able to meet with anyone that we need to if there is a possibility that we could achieve peace.



Rania Batrice, a former deputy campaign manager for Bernie Sanders 2016 campaign, will be Gabbards campaign manager, CNN said. she called out Donald Trump on Sept 11 2018 and said he was supporting isisthe Republicans never respondedHawaiian Rep. Tulsi Gabbard has announced that she will seek the Democratic nomination for president in 2020, a report said.Gabbard, an Iraqi vet who became the first Hindu member of Congress, told CNN that she will be making a formal announcement next week.There are a lot of reasons for me to make this decision. There are a lot of challenges that are facing the American people that Im concerned about and that I want to help solve, she said in an interview that will air on Saturday.There is one main issue that is central to the rest, and that is the issue of war and peace.Gabbard supports an anti-interventionist foreign policy that has come under scrutiny for its apparent soft stance on rogue regimes.In particular, she was criticized for meeting with Syrian president Bashar Al-Assad in 2017.Gabbard later said she felt its important that if we profess to truly care about the Syrian people, about their suffering, then weve got to be able to meet with anyone that we need to if there is a possibility that we could achieve peace.Rania Batrice, a former deputy campaign manager for Bernie Sanders 2016 campaign, will be Gabbards campaign manager, CNN said. LoP Guest

lop guest

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01-12-2019 04:05 AM











Post: #2 RE: the Republicans worst fear :, iraq war vet tusli gabbard is running for president!

anyone will be able to win 2020 against Trump at this late



he has dug himself into the deepest shithole possible and all his idiots have jumped in after him LoP Guest

lop guest

User ID: 445976

01-12-2019 04:07 AM











Post: #3 RE: the Republicans worst fear :, iraq war vet tusli gabbard is running for president!

Not voting for it neither are you socialists. LoP Guest

lop guest

User ID: 408320

01-12-2019 04:08 AM











Post: #4 RE: the Republicans worst fear :, iraq war vet tusli gabbard is running for president!

Meh, another CIA Democrat. LoP Guest

lop guest

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01-12-2019 04:13 AM











Post: #5 RE: the Republicans worst fear :, iraq war vet tusli gabbard is running for president!

I like her--but doubt if I could ever trust a Democrat ever again.

But she seems better than most Republicans, Constitutionally.

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When I looked up and I saw the officer on the ground he was already walking due west toward C Street, like just shooting at what looked like random people to me, Pascual said, adding that he knew then he had to flee.

I just knew that I had to get out of there once I saw the gun and what was happening, he said. I count myself pretty lucky that he didnt think of me.

Pascual, now a graduate student at Columbia University in New York, said he was on his way to the UC Davis campus to visit friends when the incident began, and that after he saw Corona shot he ran down D Street and hid in some bushes.

His harrowing tale came as authorities continued to investigate why the gunman opened fire. The identity of the suspect, who officers say shot himself to death inside a nearby home after being surrounded by police, was not released by mid-morning Friday, although authorities know who the man was.

Davis police turned the shooting investigation over to the Sacramento Sheriffs Department, which by Friday morning had 14 homicide detectives and crime scene investigators at the scene of Coronas slaying and the home where the gunman apparently shot himself.
Napa Police arrested a man who police say attacked and held a woman against her will.

A woman arrived at the department shortly before 10 p.m. on Thursday to report that she was victim of a domestic violence incident, according to a Napa police press release sent Friday night. Police investigated and determined that her boyfriend, 35-year-old Serjio Collazo of Napa, had kidnapped the woman that night and drove her to his apartment in the 2600 block of First Street.

Police say Collazo reportedly held the woman against her will, abused her and tore her clothes off. His roommate returned home and intervened in the attack, according to the press release.

Napa police and Napa Special Investigations Bureau officers began watching Collazos apartment Friday morning while police detectives began writing a search warrant for his apartment in hopes of locating evidence related to the kidnapping and attack, according to the press release.

Police detectives served the warrant around 1:30 p.m. Friday, and found the victims torn clothing and other evidence corroborating her story, according to the press release.
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It seemed like Giancarlo Baldini had much to look forward to.

The 19-year-old had a steady job in Marin County and an apartment in Petaluma he shared with his girlfriend. He had family in Napa and elsewhere that he loved. Christmas and the New Year were right around the corner.

But Baldini never made it to 2019.

On Dec. 16 first responders found him dead in his apartment. The cause is believed to be a heroin drug overdose.

It wasnt supposed to be this way, said his mother, Amanda Krueger of Napa.

He had everything going for him, she said.

Her oldest son, who grew up in Napa, had been actively recovering from a heroin addiction for more than a year. With his parents and familys help and support, hed completed rehab and a long stay in a sober living home.

However, on the night of Dec. 16, that all came to a horrible end.

The whole world looks different now, Krueger said.

Even as she grieves, Krueger said shes already determined to help educate others about the dangers of heroin and opioid abuse.

I want to honor my baby, she said. Heroin hasnt heard the end of me.

A normal life

Giancarlo was one of the last kids youd expect to become addicted to heroin.

He didnt grow up in some tumultuous home, Krueger said. He had a normal life, she said, recalling camping trips, watching movies and normal school activities. She kept a close eye on her son, Krueger said.

When he was a teenager, the Kruegers moved from Napa to Oregon.

The family has zero tolerance toward drug use, said Krueger. So when her son was caught with marijuana, there were consequences, she said. She also started drug testing him.

Krueger and her husband Brian later moved back to Napa. Eventually Giancarlo also returned to Napa. He wanted to be closer to his younger brother, who is in elementary school, said Amanda.

When Brian Krueger, his stepfather, found heroin drug paraphernalia in Giancarlos room at their Napa home, Amanda Krueger said they were shocked.

I was in utter disbelief, she said. He was never in any trouble. He was never late for his 11:30 curfew.

Yes, her son had isolated himself a bit, but we thought it was because he had just moved back to Napa, she said.

After confronting Giancarlo, then age 17, mother and son cried.

He was sobbing. I hugged him and I said, Giancarlo, I dont understand. Youre doing heroin? I cant even wrap my mind around it.

Did something bad happen that would make him want to turn to drugs? she asked.

He said, No, I just liked getting high and I pushed it too far.

He hugged me and said he was so sorry and wanted help, she said.

Two days later, Giancarlo entered a 45-day inpatient rehab program located in Petaluma. Hed only been using heroin for five months, said Krueger.

The family managed to come up with the money to cover the $45,000 cost.

After that, Giancarlo chose to transition to a sober living facility in Marin County. He got a job at a local grocery store. He learned to surf. He was in intensive outpatient treatment in San Rafael.

Giancarlo relapsed at least once. But, He was doing so good, Krueger said.

Hed been clean and sober for 10 months. Hed moved into an apartment in Petaluma with his girlfriend Lucy.

They were just so in love, said his mother.

I feel really ripped off that her son died so young, she said. The one bright spot is that I can say I saw him fall in love. He had a lot of joy in the last 10 months of this life, she said tearfully.

The funeral

On Jan. 7 the family hosted a funeral at Tulocay Cemetery in Napa for their beloved Giancarlo. A large crowd gathered to memorialize the youth.

We were blessed to have such a beautiful son, said his father, Dan Baldini, at the funeral service.

Giancarlo made being a father easy, Baldini said. He was such a sweet kid, he said. He genuinely cared about people.

Its important his death was not in vain, said Baldini. Its an opportunity to change the trajectory of my life and try to be the kind of person hed be.

Allyssa Baldini, one of Giancarlos cousins, described him as full of love and open to all ideologies. He was such a special young man, she said. I cant believe hes gone.

At the funeral service, a table was decorated with photos of Giancarlo, a wooden pyramid, incense, a Buddha figure, a feather, the hat from his sober living home that he wore every day, small trees and a lock of his hair in a box.

Zeke Penn of Ashland, Oregon drove to the funeral with two friends who had attended high school with Giancarlo.

Penn said Giancarlo helped motivate him to complete his GED.

He was the last one Id expect to die from an overdose, said Penn. But, You never know what people are really going through.

He touched people, said Krueger.

More than his death

Krueger said she wanted her sons story to be more than just about his addiction.

We all deserve to celebrate the years before those terrible five months set in, she said.

Giancarlo was a sensitive soul with a yearning to understand the world, said Krueger. He always marched to the beat of his own drum.

He was a nature lover, who was into surfing, camping, hiking at Mount Tamalpais and going to Stinson beach. He had meticulously planned a trip to travel the Pacific Crest Trail, down to the gear list and costs.

He also liked to talk about politics, conspiracy theories and other deep thoughts.

Yes, the mother and son had their ups and downs, but Krueger said they spoke by phone multiple times each day. Giancarlo talked with his little brother every day after school.

End the stigma

Christmas was terrible, Krueger admitted.

Giancarlos stocking had already been hung, his presents were under the tree and special Santa flannel sheets on his bed. Giancarlos brother talked about his older brother becoming an angel.

Krueger said for a while she continued to send text messages to her son even after he passed away.

You think maybe theres a way Giancarlo would get the messages, she said, crying softly.

On some days she feels a little stronger, but on others, she cant get out of bed. Shes been in contact with doctors and grief counselors.

Krueger said she wants to end the stigma of drug addiction. The sense of shame only makes it harder for people and families to find help, she said.

She wants more education and more resources dedicated to drug abuse and prevention. She hopes to make presentations to local schools.

Its an uncomfortable story, Krueger said. Heroin is an uncomfortable word. But it has to be talked about.

After researching the opioid epidemic, Krueger said emphatically that drugs are too readily available, especially online, she said.

If Giancarlo hadnt been able to buy heroin so easily, maybe he could have gotten through the night, she said.

Other users, including adult addicts, supplied her son with heroin, she said.

These are desperate adults preying on our children, she said. How can I protect them? How can I make a difference?

I do not have the solution, she said. But its important to me to be part of finding a solution.

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Guests see a hall lined with shops where rotating merchants and artisans display and sell their wares. They can taste four or five wines for $125, with each tasting paired with a different course prepared by six chefs in an open kitchen. One course is A5 Wagyu Beef, the November story said.

Napa County allows art displays and food-and-wine pairings at wineries. But wineries cannot sell art and rules govern food service to keep wineries from functioning as a cafe or restaurant.

A caveat with Napa County winery rules is that they were created over decades. Some older wineries have rights grandfathered in to do things that newer wineries are denied.

Descriptions of The Makery section of The Prisoner caught the attention of some residents who worry that the countys agricultural nature could be overshadowed by event center wineries.

Resident George Caloyannidis told the Board of Supervisors on Dec. 4 that wineries are serving food at cost  which is allowed  but profit from the sale of wine. He spoke during the public comments section of the meeting.

They treat it as a corporate marketing expenseneed I mention the six chefs and the two commercial kitchens at The Prisoner? Caloyannidis said. How can restaurants compete in this uneven playing field you created?
A childrens car seat clinic will be from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 16, at the Uptown Fire Station, 120 S. Idaho.

Car seats will be checked for correct installation, making sure the seat matches your childs weight and age, recall information, and more.

Details: Mary Jo Stosich at the Butte-Silver Bow Health Department at 406-497-5016.

Students awarded State Fund scholarships

Montana State Fund awarded $3,000 scholarships to 11 Montana college students, eight of of them in Butte, who are majoring in occupational safety and health/industrial hygiene and the construction trade and industry. To apply for the scholarships, recipients must have a cumulative GPA of 3.0.

Local students who received the award were Ciara Kremer, Jacques Boulet, Tyler Davis, Sarah Storey, and Griff Warner of Montana Tech and Jake Bloom, Maria Ralph, and David Stahl of Highlands College.

Agency seeks tourism grant applications
Helena artist Lyle Schwabauer spent time looking at old photos of Vietnam and reading letters from soldiers before naming his latest sculpture.

The thing that came to me was No Solider Left Behind, he said from Mountain Sage Gallery Thursday morning.

While he has worked on military-themed sculptures before, this one already has a home in Sidney, where Schwabauer grew up and went to high school.

We had our 50th class reunion and then I got a call from my classmates, he said. They said, We want to do a Vietnam memorial, would you come up with something?

It took about a year between clay and castings, but the bronze now sits prominently in the gallery. The piece depicts a wounded and bandaged soldier being helped through rice paddies by two other soldiers. One of the helping soldiers is African-American and the other Native American, as it is important to Schwabauer from a historical perspective to recognize tribal members high participation in the military, particularly from Montana.

Once a walnut base is completed, it will be transported to Sidney for display in the MonDak Heritage Center, hopefully by Memorial Day, and then to a permanent home in a local bank.

Reporter Tom Kuglin can be reached at 447-4076 @IR_TomKuglin

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The Real Jackie Kennedy Her style and grace were legendary, and her image came to define the 1960s. She captured the hearts of world leaders, fashion icons and people all over the planet, who knew her as Jackie Kennedy, Jacqueline Onassis, or simply Jackie O. But who was the real Jacqueline Lee Bouvier Kennedy Onassis? Take our quiz and find out. Take The Quiz 
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(HealthDay)If one of your resolutions for 2019 is to improve your health, reducing your risk of cancer should be part of that goal, a cancer expert says.

While cancer risk factors such as family history and aging can't be controlled, lifestyle changes such as eating right, staying active and not smoking can lower your risk, said Dr. Elias Obeid. He is director of breast, ovarian and prostate cancer risk assessment at Fox Chase Cancer Center in Philadelphia.

Cancer screening is also important because it can detect the disease at an early and more treatable stage.

"Getting regular recommended cancer screenings is just as important as modifying your lifestyle to reduce your risk," Obeid said in a Fox Chase news release. "Regular screenings can greatly increase your chances of detecting cancers early, when they're most likely to be curable and before you begin having symptoms."

Screening tests are available for breast, colon, prostate, cervical, lung and many other types of cancers. "Individuals should talk with their doctor about their specific risk factors as well as when to start and how often to receive cancer screenings," Obeid advised.

In terms of lifestyle, the World Cancer Research Fund estimated that about 20 percent of all cancers in the United States are related to excess body fat, physical inactivity, too much alcohol and poor nutrition.

"Watching how much you eat can help control your weight and keep your body mass index (BMI) at healthy levels," Obeid said. "If you're overweight, losing even a small amount of weight has benefits and serves as an excellent starting point."

Regular exercise also reduces the risk of cancer, and the American Cancer Society says adults should get at least 150 minutes of moderate intensity or 75 minutes of vigorous intensity activity each week.

Smoking is a major cause of cancer, but "no matter how long you have smoked and no matter what your age, quitting can reduce your risk for cancer and other chronic diseases," Obeid said. "The best advice I can give is to quit, and if you've never smoked, don't start."

It's also important to protect yourself from the sun's ultraviolet rays, and never use tanning beds or sun lamps.

Cancer is the second most common cause of death in the United States.

Explore further Resolve to reduce your cancer risk this year

More information: The U.S. National Cancer Institute has more on The U.S. National Cancer Institute has more on cancer prevention

Copyright  2019 HealthDay. All rights reserved.
BOISE  Attorney General Lawrence Wasden has announced that companies Robert Bosch and Fiat Chrysler will pay more than $171 million as part of proposed settlements involving illegal emissions.

Specifically, the settlements resolve allegations that the German engineering company Bosch supplied and helped program illegal emissions defeat-device software used by Fiat Chrysler in diesel vehicles to circumvent emission standards for air pollutants. Bosch also supplied the software to Volkswagen, which settled with states in June 2016.

Under the proposed settlements, Bosch and Fiat Chrysler will pay $3 million to the state of Idaho. As directed by state law, the money will be deposited into the states Consumer Protection Fund.

Bosch will pay Idaho just over $1 million. The proposed agreement also requires Bosch to maintain strict processes to monitor compliance and to refuse to accommodate requests for defeat-device software.

Fiat Chrysler will pay Idaho $2 million for deceptively and unfairly marketing, selling and leasing the vehicles to consumers. The company is prohibited from engaging in future unfair or deceptive acts in its dealings with consumers.
He suggested that ending the current shutdown will require compromise on both sides.

The way that you handle these is you sit down in good faith and negotiate and reach some middle ground that everybody can stand on, Risch said. The parties here should do this....Each party needs an exit ramp that lets them save face and get something that they want. If people sit down and talk, that is usually doable.

As chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee, Risch said in a Q&A session following his speech, he foresees two major issues around the bend with Idaho ties. One is a lawsuit in which the U.S. Department of Justice has accused the Chinese government of stealing technology from Boise-based Micron. The other is the renegotiation of the Columbia River Treaty, an agreement between the United States and Canada that deals with power and flood control. The treaty is set to expire in 2024.

Blaine County Republican Women president Julie Lynn said she appreciated Rischs mention of the treaty.

Thats going to be critical to have someone on our side in there, Lynn said.

Risch  who has won every statewide election in Lincoln County  received a standing ovation when he stepped down from the podium.

Hes just genuine and very conservative, which I like, Region V Republican representative Dale Ewerson said after the event. Hes willing to come to small-town Idaho and share his thoughts and meet with the genuine people.

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"It seems that Sen. Jim Risch cares about nothing other than his party: not human rights, not American global standing, not even the safety of American troops."
Legislators can see the proposal for themselves, review the spreadsheet and manipulate it to see how different funding levels could affect local school districts and the overall state budget.

Any change to the formula is important because of the amount of money involved. K-12 spending accounts for about 48 percent of general fund spending each year, and this new formula would represent a different way to carve up the money.

This will be one of the most significant issues we will deal with this year and, frankly, over next two to three years, Mortimer said.

In its simplest terms, the formula would move Idaho from an attendance-based funding model to an enrollment-based formula that is designed to allow the money to follow the student.

That aspect of the recommendation has widespread support and was rooted in former Gov. Butch Otters Task Force for Improving Education from 2013.
When I attempt to refer to Jesus as Jesus, the Christ. Im attempting to say something while Im saying something. The identity of Jesus is everything. The Holy Bible references an altogether different Jesus than other religious books. Again, if we are going to have an honest conversation it requires truthful words at every level of the conversation. If one is fearful that others will see that the Jesus of the Holy Bible and the Jesus of the Book of Mormon and the Koran are different then confusion must be the only other reason to avoid such honesty.

Finally, I will share one other statement I prefer to use to be as fair and honest as I can. When Im speaking about Jesus with someone of another religion I phrase it like this; Jesus, the Christ, as described by the Holy Bible alone. That is a bit wordy, but to me, it is worth it to give as much clarity as possible. The last thing I want to do is leave a friend confused about what Jesus I put my faith in. It is only in Jesus, the Christ, as described by the Holy Bible alone.

Biblical Christianity is the only religion that describes Jesus as the only begotten son of God. He is the second person of the Triune God. He is not an offspring of any man. He was not created by god because He is God. He is not just a prophet. He was not a spirit baby of a heavenly father and mother needing a physical body. He is very God of very God.

Give me this Jesus!

Paul Thompson is the preaching pastor at Eastside Baptist Church. The congregation gathers at 10:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. Sundays at 204 Eastland Drive N., Twin Falls.

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Unitarian Universalists explore possibilities

TWIN FALLS  The Magic Valley Unitarian Universalist Fellowship now occupies its first owned home. On this second Sunday in the building, it will joyfully celebrate the great possibilities that are now open  expected and undoubtedly unexpected. The public is welcome for the service at 10:30 a.m. at 160 Ninth Ave. E., Twin Falls.

Rev. Elizabeth L. Greene will speak about On Fire With Possibility, reflecting on the hopes, fears and happiness that go into taking big new steps. We will also celebrate with a Fire Communion where we will write our dearest thoughts about possibility, then light them to send them forth. Unitarian Universalism honors the differing paths individuals travel. Congregations are places where people celebrate, support and challenge one another as they continue on their spiritual journeys.

Unitarian Universalists covenant to affirm and promote the inherent worth and dignity of every person; justice, equality and compassion in human relations; and acceptance of one another.
We want a support group, Bedke said. Because we know from the experts that death by suicide is different from any other kind of death.

Chuck Driscoll, who heads the support committee and sits on the board, asked for funds to purchase 10 care baskets that will be given to families after a suicide. Donations are needed for the baskets, which will include a blanket or robe, teddy bears for children in the family and other care items. Information on how to find counselors or support groups will be included.

We want to fill it with things people need when they are hurting and need comfort, Driscoll said.

The group members who are sent out to visit families will guide them to counselors or services where they can find professional mental health care.

Driscoll said they will work with funeral homes to get the names of families who may benefit from the service and the families will give consent to release their names to the organization.

Some support groups are headed by people who have experienced suicide in their family and not by professionals, Bedke said.

There are a couple of support groups already operating in Mini-Cassia, but there is room for many support groups in the community, she said.
We now hope and expect the legal headaches and exposure will go away for good.

City officials say the $700,000 expense can probably be absorbed from money the city already committed to building parking and commercial space on the Municipal Building block of the project. We will be watching closely for taxpayers to make sure that does in fact occur.

We also urge the city to quickly and actively pursue a new developer for its expanded portion of the project. At the same time, Beitler should follow through with its hotel and apartments, where the outdated Government East parking ramp has stood.

If all goes as planned, more than $100 million should be added to city tax rolls just south of the Capitol Square on an underutilized site. Downtown Madison also will benefit from an influx of activity, residents, visitors and business.
For one, though the Robinsons were considered working class, they lived with their great-aunt and uncle in a home that eventually became her mother and fathers. This stability allowed the Robinsons to, as Michelle put it, make the kids the familys sole focus.

Both her parents worked and, by the time Michelle was in high school, had been married nearly 20 years. Neither one of them had ever vacationed in Europe. They never took beach trips or went out to dinner. ... We were their investment, me and Craig. Everything went into us, Obama wrote.

Plus, the Robinson kids had all kinds of social capital.

Like preternaturally excellent parents who believed in letting their children manage their own affairs even when they were young. And access to piano lessons and recitals in downtown Chicago auditoriums given by their great-aunt  who, incredibly, long ago sued Northwestern University for discrimination after having been denied a spot in the womens dorm. Several other relatives had the experience of working in respectable if not well-paying professions.

They took trips to visit family in the South as well as to see relatives who had managed to move to the majority-white, well-heeled suburbs of Chicago.
The mayors proposal will be considered by the citys Finance Committee on Monday and by the City Council at a later date.

The resolution also says that city staff are preparing recommendations to address support services needs, and in coming weeks, will offer a draft resolution for consideration by the mayor and City Council.

Soglin said he expects a more comprehensive approach to support services will calm the building and that the extra security spending wont be needed beyond 2019.

OKeefe said staff is likely to recommend an anchor presence to deliver case management services and coordination, but to also bring in agencies that specialize in substance abuse, mental health, employment and child care. Were looking for more of a team approach, he said.

The change in support services will be more expensive, OKeefe said, noting that a similar Heartland project in Milwaukee has a $650,000 budget for support services funded largely by Milwaukee County and that Tree Lanes budget for those services is $165,000.

Its certainly going to require additional funds to provide these services, he said, adding that the city will be exploring all possible revenue sources. Still, theres likely to be a higher, long-term commitment city funding, he said.
Morgan forwarded a note to Gow from alumnus Andy Ellingson, who wrote: Rest assured your association wont get a dime from me. I could win the Powerball and I wouldnt give (UW-La Crosse) a dime.

Another angry alumna, Sharon, whose last name was withheld, wrote that she would stop donating to the university after 27 years of doing so.

But the majority of email senders stood behind Gow.

A UW-La Crosse student whose name was withheld wrote that she transferred to the campus last spring and Gows invitation reinforced that it was the right decision for her.

University library services assistant Liz Bass wrote along those same lines: Porn is pervasive in our society via the Internet, and to not shine a light on it through open, rational discussion means it remains in the dark, secreted away to be manifest in unhealthy and often injurious ways. Thank you for trying to bring this darkness into the light.

Alumnus Matthew Dockter acknowledged he personally wouldnt be interested in listening to Hartley speak, but applauded Gow for providing a forum for someone outside the mainstream.

Thats the Wisconsin Idea in action, he wrote.

Three others asked for Gows resignation.
A man who had faced a charge of first-degree intentional homicide that stemmed from a 2016 shootout on a South Side street that left a man dead was sentenced Friday to 10 years in prison on other charges.

Brandon P. Crockett, 29, who in September saw the homicide charge against him dropped after prosecutors said there wasnt enough evidence to convince a jury that he committed the crime, received consecutive five-year sentences for possession of a firearm by a felon and second-degree reckless endangerment. Crockett had pleaded guilty to those crimes.

Circuit Judge William Hanrahan said Crockett made a terrible decision to emerge from an Ashford Lane apartment building with a gun on Sept. 28, 2016, to face Marsellas B. Coleman, 25, the man Crockett said was harassing him because Crockett was dating a woman with whom Coleman had a child. Coleman was killed in an ensuing shootout.

What you did was you made the absolute worst choice, Hanrahan said. You went downstairs and unloaded your gun toward human beings.
"Just because someone has a bad day at a certain job, doesn't mean they should be held to any greater or lesser standard than any citizen that walks in here," Kraus said.

Kraus said there was no reasonable basis for the strike and that Nabors made a mistake that day against the student.

"He (Nabors) struck him (the student), he put him into some lockers, he realized he made a mistake and had to take actions to make it seem as though he was justified in what he did, and that's not OK and he needs to be held responsible for it just as anyone else would when they do a criminal act and they make a mistake," Kraus said.

Kraus brought attention to the video, which he said showed that the testimony of Nabors and the second officer who assisted Nabors, James King, were not consistent with video footage.

"If they wanted to come up with a better explanation for why the strike happened, they should have checked the video," Kraus said.

Kraus took issue with the expert witness Robert Willis, stating that although Willis faulted the video from the incident as lacking sophistication, he still was able to break the video down frame-by-frame and present evidence that supported the officers.
Dutch said Vick was a self-taught, hard-working family man. He became a reliable subcontractor and volunteer for a youth aviation organization. He didnt live a lavish lifestyle and used a private plane to travel to Texas and Oklahoma for his construction business, Dutch wrote the court.

Dutch did not recommend a specific punishment for Vick, acknowledging that it could involve some prison time.

In a letter to U.S. District Judge James Peterson, Vick did not offer a reason for not paying his taxes for so long only attributed it to, my ignorance or laziness (or) negligence.

In the end, I know that it simply comes down to the fact that I knew that a small businessman had obligations and I simply didnt face up to them, he wrote.

Although Vicks non-compliance with tax law extended back three decades, he only was charged for the 2011-16 tax years.

Dutch said Vick has been current with his state and federal tax obligations since 2016.

Graber asked Peterson to impose a prison term of 24-30 months, the calculated advisory federal sentencing guidelines for the amount of loss in the case.
Working in the schools, Gee has seen how social media is often a catalyst for bullying, fights and conflict. According to the CDC, bullying is is one of several important risk factors that appears to increase the risk of suicide among youth.

Were wanting to give some positive messages that is going to hopefully turn some of that around, Gee said. We wanted to find a way to get resources and information to Black girls where they are.

The grant will help start an online safe space for Black Girl Live. Girls will create much of the content, which will be curated by Gees organization. There will be videos, writing, art, and a podcast, as well as resources and talking points for moms to engage with their daughters. Anyone who knows a Black girl who would make for an interesting podcast guest should email blackwomenheal@gmail.com, Gee said.

Gee said that although social media can be a tool for bullying, girls have the power to create words, images and messaging to lift each other up, and "that's what Black Girl Live is all about."

Share your opinion on this topic by sending a letter to the editor to tctvoice@madison.com. Include your full name, hometown and phone number. Your name and town will be published. The phone number is for verification purposes only. Please keep your letter to 250 words or less.
The Latino Chamber wants to set up what it calls a mobile chamber model. The chamber would partner with non-Latino chambers, bringing physical resources and people with expertise to better serve Latinos around the state, though their "loyalty is to the growth of south central Wisconsin," Cavazos said.

To implement the mobile chamber, the organization may need more funding and grants, Cavazos said. To help with that, the chamber, currently a 501(c)(6) organization, is applying for 501(c)(3) status. They will also keep their 501(c)(6) status, which allows them to participate in lobbying.

The expanded chamber would also help emerging Latino communities in places like Reedsburg, Baraboo and Lake Delton understand competitive business ownership, she said. Eventually, she would love to see Latino Chamber satalyte offices throughout the state.

The chamber is also in talks with the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) and MAFO National Partnership of Farmworker and Rural Organizations to create an opportunities for Latino farm workers to join community co-ops.
This will not be a celebration of MLK the Dreamer, but an event that will reflect on MLK's Revolution of Values and the outcome of the Brown v. Board of Education decision, the event description says.

I Have a Dream Scholarship Ball at the Monona Terrace Community and Convention Center, 1 John Nolen Drive, from 6:00 p.m. to 11:30 p.m.

The annual event from Women In Focus Inc. raises thousands of dollars, which is then given away as college scholarship money for students of color. Over the past 33 years, the organization has given away $505,000.

While we are very proud of this accomplishment, each year we realize again how great the need is when we only have funds to award scholarships to a fraction of those who apply, said Sally Hestad, co-chair of the event.

Tickets ($90) are available at womeninfocusmadison.org until Sunday, Jan. 13.

Sunday, Jan. 20:

MLK: Jesus Dream at Sherman Avenue United Methodist Church, 3705 N. Sherman Ave., at 9:15 a.m.
Daniel King is a missionary evangelist who is passionate about leading people to Jesus.
Wright said one focus of the network is to brainstorm ways to encourage donations of healthier food options. In the future, the network may also be able to seek grants to bolster support to local food pantries. There are other benefits, too.

Working with neighbors facing difficult, often heartbreaking situations can take a toll on providers. Sometimes you think, Oh my gosh, I dont know if I can keep doing this, Schwengel said.

Having others to communicate with who understand the challenges and rewards of running a food pantry is important, Schwengel noted. Thats why she attended the networks first meeting last fall.

Ruth Hawkins, treasurer and co-manager of the Du Quoin Food Pantry, said she also believes there is an advantage to getting to know the people running other food pantries throughout the region. It allows for sharing ideas about what works and what doesnt, she said.

The Du Quoin Food Pantry serves residents of Perry County, and Hawkins said its also helpful to know other food pantry operators to direct people to if they show up at her location but live in another county.
This is another piece of the policy puzzle, but the other side to the coin is we have to have more resources to support our teachers and correct the behavior on an ongoing basis, Bourne said. The former Richmond School Board chairman credited the number of complaints to having more SROs, whose presence he said allows teachers to take an easy approach and send disruptive students their way.

Amy Woolard, the policy coordinator at the Charlottesville-based Legal Aid Justice Center, attributed the large number of police referrals in part to a lack of understanding of the role of SROs.

Charges like disorderly are stemming from a confusion of the role of school resource officers in our school buildings, she said. Disorderly conduct is really taking an issue that is for schools to handle and suddenly putting it under the purview of law enforcement and our courts.

Disorderly conduct complaints made up 13 percent of all complaints from SROs, according to state data.

A bill from Sen. Mamie Locke, D-Hampton, would require schools with resource officers to have a memorandum of understanding with local law enforcement to define what exactly the officers are supposed to do.
State Sen. Carol Blood, who introduced the bill, is a vegetarian herself and says she doesnt want to discourage people from eating plant-based foods. Rather, she says, she seeks to protect Nebraskas livestock industry. A similar measure passed in Missouri was immediately challenged in court.
Ivan Eland is author of "Eleven Presidents" and senior fellow at the Independent Institute.
Dear Abby: Introvert tries to fit in at new job
NYU is the only top-ten ranked medical program to offer free tuition, according to the school. However, other medical schools across the country have committed to helping students graduate debt-free.

In April, Columbia University's College of Physicians and Surgeons announced that they would be the first medical school in the nation to replace student loans with scholarships for students who qualify for financial aid. Instead of offering student loans as a part of students' financial aid packages, the university will replace that funding with scholarships from their endowment.

Columbia also announced that 20 percent of medical school students with the greatest financial need will receive full-tuition scholarships.

At the Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine, which focuses on training physician scientists, all students have received full-tuition scholarships since 2008 regardless of financial need.

In the F. Edward Hebert School of Medicine, a federally funded medical school within the the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences in Bethesda, Maryland, students are actually paid a salary during their time in medical school. As of the 2017-2018 school year, its students earn at least $60,000 per year for each year of medical school in return to committing to seven years of active duty in the armed forces after graduation. The armed forces also offer other paid medical school opportunities through the Health Professions Scholarship Program.
LINGUIST List 30.167

Sat Jan 12 2019

Confs: Language Documentation/Italy

Editor for this issue: Everett Green <everettlinguistlist.org>

10-Jan-2019Moreno Vergari Language Documentation 7: Documenting VariationLanguage Documentation 7: Documenting VariationDate: 11-Feb-2019 - 13-Feb-2019Location: Bolzano-Bozen, ItalyContact: Moreno VergariContact Email: < click here to access email > Meeting URL: http://www.ethnorema.it/component/content/article/14-sample-data-articles/157-language-documentation-7-documenting-variation Linguistic Field(s): Language DocumentationMeeting Description:The Free University of Bozen/Bolzano and the Ethnorema Association, in cooperation with the University of Naples LOrientale and the University of Tuscia, organize the seventh Language Documentation workshop (February 11 - 13, 2019). This year's theme is Documenting Variation.The workshop introduces tools for the documentation of geolinguistic variation, other contributions on language documentation and offers an opportunity of exchange and discussion on theoretical and practical issues related to linguistic fieldwork. Within the workshop, a hands-on seminar on Cimbro, a minority language of Trentino, will take place.Participation in the workshop does not require any registration fee, but there is a limited number of places available so that enrollment is mandatory: please send an email before February 2, 2019 to these addresses: sdalnegrounibz.it, moreno.vergariethnorema.it.The organizing committee:Silvia Dal Negro (Free University of Bolzano/Bozen)Moreno Vergari (Ethnorema)Program:For the pdf of the program see: http://www.ethnorema.it/component/content/article/14-sample-data-articles/157-language-documentation-7-documenting-variation
One of Rowes goals is for CNPPID to be better understood by the public. In the past Central has kept to themselves, he said, 20 years ago we were only involved in irrigation and power generation, today its quite different, there is no end in what Central offers.

The board approved a total of 2,948 total acres contracted for the Water Leasing Program with the Platte River Recovery Implementation Program for the 2019 irrigation season. This will be the fourth year the water leasing program has been in place. The Program leases the water from Centrals irrigation customers and the water is added to the Environmental Account of water stored in Lake McConaughy and is then available for release to benefit wildlife habitat along the Platte River. Most of the leased acres are from pivot corners and irregularly shaped fields that are more difficult to irrigate. Under the agreement, the acres will not be irrigated during the one-year term of the lease.
LEXINGTON  Even though he is relatively new to Lexington after living in Kearney for several years, it did not stop several community members from approaching Garth Mins and encouraging him to run for the Lexington School Board.

With Mike Dowling stepping down, there was an opening. Mins originally had no plans to run, but after several people approached him about it, he entered his name in the running.

Mins is originally from Lexington and graduated from Lexington High School in 2000. He attended the University of Nebraska at Kearney and earned a criminal justice degree. He lived in Kearney for 14 years before moving back in 2014 to take over the Edward Jones office as a financial advisor.

Mins has served on the Lexington Area Chamber of Commerce Board and the Lexington Optimist Club. He said experience serving in those capacities will help him with his work on the school board. He added his career as a financial advisor will also be useful as he joins the board.

Mins two daughters, a first and third grader currently attend school at Bryan Elementary. He said the Lexington School Board has done a good job in the past and he hopes to continue that work.
The palm oil industry is growing in Central America. And in Guatemala, the product has become a major export.

Supporters say the industry creates jobs and investment in areas where poverty and violence have led to waves of migration. However, critics say the industry is also a cause of such flight.

Raxruha, Guatemala, is among the towns experiencing an outward flow.

Palm oil farms have made subsistence farming there increasingly hard for the towns 40,000 people. Some have sold land to palm oil producers.

Opponents of the palm oil industry argue that farmers are giving up their land to take up jobs that do not pay well enough to keep them in Raxruha.

Cesar Castro is the towns mayor. He says money from land sales has been used to pay smugglers.

These people get the money, and they go to the United States, and the vast majority come back to find more poverty and end up employed as workers on their own land, he said.

Poverty and migration

Jakelin Caal was from Raxruha. She was the 7-year-old girl who died of a blood infection while in detention at the U.S. border in December. Her relatives said she left Raxruha with her father because he was struggling to earn enough as a corn farmer to support his family.

Smugglers tell families that having children with them can make it easier to enter the U.S.

Jakelins uncle said work on the palm oil farms is very hard. He told Reuters that he earned $7.80 a day for working 12 hours, or below Guatemalas legal minimum wage for agricultural work.

The palm oil producer is called Industria Chiquibul.

Reuters reports that the labor rights group National Council for Displaced People of Guatemala discussed the low pay issue in 2016 with the American company Cargill. It is a big buyer of palm oil.

Cargill said it works closely with "suppliers to ensure that all supply chain practices support the United Nations goals to provide people with decent work.

Palm oil has become an important ingredient in food, soaps and fuel around the world. The oil became very popular after other less healthful oils were banned in many places.

Reuters reports that the United Nations World Health Organization (WHO) has prepared a report that questions whether palm oil is as healthy as believed. The WHO calls for more research on palm oil and more rules for the industry. It compared the methods of industry supporters to those used by the tobacco and alcohol industries, Reuters reports.

Indonesia and Malaysia are the largest producers of palm oil. However, Guatemala has become one of the biggest producers in the Americas, with exports of 727,000 tons in 2017.

One farmer told Reuter he felt as though he was forced to sell his land to Chiquibul. Others say criticism of the palm oil companies is unfair because they provide jobs.

Hector Herrera is with the palm oil producer NaturAceites. He said his company has created thousands of jobs and invested in roads, schools and health centers.

NaturAceites says most of the land it operates in Guatemala had been intensively used to raise cattle before it was used for oil palms.

Im Mario Ritter Jr.

The Reuters news agency reported this story. Mario Ritter Jr. adapted it for VOA Learning English. Caty Weaver 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

smuggler n. someone who moves people or goods from one country to another illegally or secretly

subsistence n. the amount of food, money, etc., that is needed to stay alive

vast adj. very large

practices n. an activity that is done again and again

decent adv. good enough, acceptable

ingredient n. one of the things that are used to make a food, product, etc.
Two African Americans Sworn-in to Top State Posts

Aligned with the new governor of the state of Californias vision, two African Americans who were recently sworn-in to their elected seats both said they are also committed to making bold and progressive changes.

Tony Thurmond, who took the oath as superintendent of Public of Instruction, and Malia Cohen, affirmed as one of four members of the State Board of Equalization, have expressed excitement about carrying out the duties of their positions.

My preface here, I hope, sends a message to the students of color that their needs will be met, said Thurmond, the first Afro-Latino and second Black American to be elected to the position. Im on the job.

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Right after Newsom was sworn in as Californias 40th governor at the State Capitol in Sacramento, he laid out a long list of priorities aimed at benefitting all Californians. Especially, people who struggle the most in the state.

During Newsoms inaugural speech, under a well-constructed tent in front of the facility where state laws are made, the Democrat from San Francisco outlined policies that would deal with affordable housing, homelessness, closing the achievement gap in education, affordable healthcare, hunger and equity in pay.

Gov. Newsom addressed many of the same issues that are prevalent in the Black community. But the former lieutenant governor and mayor of San Francisco sent a clear message that his priorities will strengthen the state and it will be done with complete financial responsibility.

We will prepare for uncertain times ahead, Newsom said. We will be prudent stewards of taxpayer dollars, pay down on debts, and meet our future obligations. Let me be clear, we will be bold, we will aim high, and we will work like hell to get there.

Well into his address, Newsom also went as far as taking shots at the Trump administration and its policies, signaling his political direction to go far left during his tenure as governor. Newsom said Donald Trumps current time in the White House is not on a stable foundation.

Here in California, we will prove that people of good faith can still come together to achieve big things, said Newsom during his 25-minute speech. We will offer an alternative to the corruption and incompetence in the White House. Our government will be progressive, principled and always on the side of the people.

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Thurmond, 50, also made a bold statement at his swearing-in ceremony at C.K. McClatchy High School in Sacramento. A Democrat, Thurmond became the 28th state superintendent of Public Instruction and the second African American to hold the office.

Thurmond chose McClatchy High School, strategically and intentionally, he said. The school has been embroiled in racial incidents in the last couple of years, including a racist video that was posted on Instagram by two of its students.

A female and male appeared to be in blackface while the latter made racial epithets towards African Americans. The incidents concerned Thurmond, now a former state assemblyman.

McClatchy was also the focus of a student science project conducted by non-Black students that questioned their peers of colors intelligence.

I would say its strategic, not ironic, Thurmond said of his decision to hold the swearing-in ceremony at McClatchy High School, which has a cross-cultural affluent, middle-class, and low-income student body. While I dont have (charge) over this school, Ive already begun to look into their concerns. I intend to talk to the students, teachers and principal to listen to their concerns.

Thurmonds policies are not solely centered around students of color, but each and every student in the state no matter race, color or creed. McClatchy Highs role is to serve as a model for the entire 6.2 million student population and more than 10,000 schools.

Thurmonds plans include keeping schools safe, providing school-based mental and physical health services, reducing the achievement gap, expanding access to early childhood education, creating pathways to careers and college, addressing teacher shortages, enhancing highly-trained and certified educators.

Dr. Margaret Fortune, who comes from a long line of family educators and runs successful charter schools in the northern and parts of California, attended both Newsom and Thurmonds swearing-in events. She is eager to see the positive energy Thurmond can bring to his office.

Im looking forward to working with him. He has had a chance to visit us at Fortune Schools, said Fortune. We look forward to working with him, in particular, on closing the African American achievement gap. Thats a passion we both share.

Cohen will start off the next part of her political career at the state level after serving on the San Franciscos Board of Supervisors. Just like Newsom and Thurmond, she emerges with a great sense of exuberance.

Cohen was sworn into office as a member of the State Board of Equalization, BOE, along with Ted Gaines (First District), Tony Vazquez (Third District), and Mike Schaefer (Fourth District) at the Stanley Mosk Library and Courts Building near the State Capitol.

Former Gov. Jerry Brown signed legislation stripping the board of some of its power in June of 2017 after an audit by the Department of Finance found improprieties. The BOE will continue in its role to review property tax and insurer assessments, alcohol and pipeline taxes.

The board members, including Cohen, all vowed that the states tax commission will regain the trust of the community. Cohen, Vazquez, Gaines and Schafer were elected to four-year terms. Cohen represents 23 counties and 9.5 million constituents in the Second District.

Betty Yee, who was re-elected as the State Controller and who was critical of the past behavior of former members of BOE, is the fifth member of the states tax management. Yee has new associates to work with now, despite the fact that BOE has no control of the Department of Tax Fee Administration or Office of Tax Appeals.

These newly-created tax departments run independently of BOE.

I look forward to working with my colleagues on the state Board of Equalization to restore the faith of taxpayers have put into this body and as well as the legislature, Cohen told CBM. Its been one year and a half (since the BOEs overhaul). But Im still

excited because there is work needs to be done.

Cohen, 41, has a bachelor of arts degree in political science from Fisk University in Tennessee and a masters degree in public policy and management from Carnegie Mellon University. She was elected to serve as a member of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors in 2010.

She held the position from Jan. 8, 2011, to Jan. 7 of this year. Cohen, born in the Richmond District of San Francisco, was the president of the Board of Supervisors for the last six months, replacing London Breed who was elected as the citys mayor.

Mark Ridley-Thomas, a former state senator and assemblyman who is now a member of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, attended Cohens swearing-in ceremony that took place in the historic courtroom of the Stanley Mosk Library.

Malia Cohen on the State Board of Equalization, although she represents Northern California, symbolically, she represents more than that, said Ridley-Thomas. To the extent of that, we look forward to her leadership and we expect to support her initiatives.
The Wakanda One Village Project: African Union Ambassador Promotes Diaspora Homecomings

As she entered her office in Northwest Washington, D.C., African Union (AU) Ambassador to the United States, Dr. Arikana Chihombori-Quao, struck observers as an image of grace.With the colors of her beloved Africa draped around her neck, her purple dress perfectly exuded royalty  though likely not intended.

The Ambassadors words are unchoreographed, seasoned with salt and a charm that clearly communicates that she should never be thought of as someone whose opinions are easily swayed.

Far from it.

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Dr. Chihombori-Quao knows that the world has long mistreated and neglected Africans  particularly the African woman.We are the original people and we have every reason to stand up in the tallest mountains to proclaim who we are, the ambassador says unapologetically.

We are beautiful, intelligent, sophisticated, highly adaptable and totally indestructible people  the Africans, she said.Any other race that would have gone through what weve been subjected to would have been extinct and thats the truth, she said, never having to raise her voice because the conviction in which she speaks is loud and unmistakably clear.

Also, as black women, we are the only ones who could reproduce ourselves, the Ambassador said in a room that contained a few men and just one other woman.

The men in the room, which included this reporter, could only agree.

We could mate with anyone and produce a black child, she said.

Normally, thats what you see with dominant species. Its a fact they may not like to hear, but ours is the dominate gene. Thats why I say when I speak people may get offended, but I come from a place of truth and fact.

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The place that Dr. Chihombori-Quao comes from has many in the diaspora excited about the future  a future that could finally see Africa return to its former glory.

Married to the highly-respected physician Dr. Nii Saban Quao, Dr. Arikana Chihombori-Quao grew up in a small village in Chivhu, Zimbabwe.

She completed her undergraduate education at Fisk University in Nashville, Tenn., and later matriculated at Meharry Medical College where she earned degrees in general chemistry, a masters degree in organic chemistry and a Doctor of Medicine.

After practicing medicine for 25 years, shes actively been involved in numerous AU programs and projects and served as chair of the African Union-Diaspora Health Initiative, where she helped mobilize health professionals in the diaspora to assist in addressing the health care needs of the African continent.

Since accepting the AU Ambassador position, Her Excellency has earned praise as a leader whose brought renewed energy and new ideas to the AU Mission.

A Fellow of the American Academy of Family Physicians, H.E. Dr. Chihombori-Quao also received an achievement award from the late civil rights champion Nelson Mandela.

How do you transition from being a medical doctor to a diplomat? It took me about six months to finally process it and eventually say, well maybe this is something I can do, she said.

Its a mans world and I didnt know if I could deal with that, but after much back and forth, I had a conversation with the chair of the African Union and she told me that she felt a medical doctor would make a good diplomat.

The former Chairperson of the African Union Commission for the continent, H.E. Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, is also a medical doctor.

H.E. Dr. Chihombori-Quao continued:

It might surprise you that quite often patients come to you and need help, but they may not be truthful. They may say they have a headache, but the real problem is an abusive husband. A belly ache might be mental.

You try to reach out and find out whats going on at home and in their life. I can honestly say I find myself in many situations where being an experienced doctor comes through in this job.

Still, among the defining circumstances that led to Her Excellency accepting the Ambassadors position is her love of Africa and her desire to turn things around on the continent.It became increasingly apparent how we feel as Africans doesnt matter. We are disrespected and we really needed a voice, she said.

Thats what this mission is all about  being a voice for all Africans on the continent. Once I realized that, I decided I would stay on the job. I needed to be here.

Surprisingly, the Ambassador said shes received virtually no push back. Its easy for us as our point of view as Africans is that we are in the right. We are coming from the point of righteousness. Theres no other way to slice it; it is what it is, she said.

H.E. Dr. Chihombori-Quao is among those leading the push to undo what occurred at the Berlin Conference 134 years ago when the various European powers salaciously explored, divided, conquered and exploited the entire African continent.

Known as The Scramble for Africa, thirteen European countries and the United States met in Berlin and made rules that divided Africa in 53 separate nations.

They were haphazardly going into Africa to grab whatever they could  [they said] lets organize so we could effectively loot them, H.E. Dr. Chihombori-Quao said.That strategy is still in place, unabated with nobody challenging it. Its just accepted, she said.

Her Excellency said Africans must stop accepting crumbs off the table and get a seat at the top of the table itself.

Although its estimated that $50 billion leaves Africa each year because of corruption, Dr. Chihombori-Quao notes that France still extracts a colonial tax of $500 billion annually from francophone African countries.

If we talk corruption, we need to talk about it from A to Z. Lets talk about all of this, she said. The former colonizers are still very active in Africa. You can look at Britain, France, Spain, Belgium, Germany they are still very present in Africa, yet we dont talk about it.

However, if this Ambassador has her way  and theres little doubt that she can succeed  things will change.

A major part of that change is a new Wakanda project launched by Her Excellency thats expected to raise $5 billion in development funding over the next year or so.The Wakanda One Village Project, will be funded by Africans throughout the diaspora who will be its sole owners.

It will consist of five African Centers of Excellence in each of the five regions of the continent, which will serve as nerve centers for development delivering state-of-the-art healthcare facilities, hotels, industrial homes, shopping centers and other amenities.

We are going to build the Africa that we want so those [throughout the diaspora] who say I cannot go home because home is not what I am used to will make it what they want, Dr. Chihombori-Quao said.

PART II in this series will cover the Wakanda One Village Project.
The 2019 Boss Awards and Showcase Education & Leadership Institute ESP

Education & Leadership Institute (ESP) is pleased to announce that its 2nd Annual BOSS Weekend, including the Showcase of BOSS and the BOSS Awards, is set for Friday, January 25 and Saturday, January 26, 2019, respectively. The Showcase, for 200-300 area students and 20-30 business, education and sport industry professionals, will involve a day of exploration of sport and related career and entrepreneurial pathways and success strategies.

Rams great Jackie Slater will deliver the luncheon keynote.

The BOSS Awards, a celebration of the power of sport to change lives, will highlight the accomplishments of business, education and sport industry professionals including Port of Long Beach Executive Director Mario Cordero; Klutch Sports Rich Paul (LeBron, Anthony Davis, Ben Simmons, et al); LBUSD Board Member Dr. Felton Williams; Dodgers VP of External Affairs, Naomi Rodriguez; Fox Sports Marcellus Wiley; the Marriotts Imran Ahmed and a TBD LA Chargers executive.

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Our BOSS Weekend is the annual fundraiser for year-round and multi-year process we call BOSS that responds to the fact that nearly  of the boys of color here in Southern CA (and in most urban centers across the country) are exiting high school WITHOUT MEETING 4-year college entrance requirements.

Tickets are still available and can be purchased online at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/boss-awards-tickets51364948945. Only ticketed guests will be permitted at the event.

To consider opportunities to support (ad, table, sponsorship, in-kind donation) the annual fundraiser, please go to https://www.espeli.org/wpcontent/uploads/2018/09/BOSS-Awards-Deck-2019.pdf
Retired from Politics, Jacob Zuma Reveals Plans for New Career

After a brief spin as President of South Africa, the multi-talented Jacob Zuma is plunging into a new and exciting career path  hell be a recording artist of liberation songs from the anti-apartheid struggle.

A full-length album will be recorded in April during the Articulate Africa project, a program of national and international literary writings.

Mr. Zuma, who was forced to step down in February 2018 over multiple graft scandals, is remembered for singing and dancing at rallies during his tenure.

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Thembinkosi Ngcobo, head of parks, recreation and culture at the municipality, said after the city had been designation as a Creative City by UNESCO, the U.N,s cultural organization, it was decided to celebrate this with music and other arts.

We were looking at artists and trying to revive these types of songs. It was very difficult, he said. We tried to find any archived material that had video or voice clips. But we couldnt find anything in the museums.

(Zuma) has the talent and understands the history and emotion behind the music. He was singing the songs in the 80s and 90s and even before. Most of the young people in the ANC [ruling African National Congress] dont even know them, he said.

Mr. Zuma, now on popular social media platforms Twitter, Facebook and Instagram, has not yet spoken about the deal.

The widely-acclaimed a cappella group, Ladysmith Black Mambazo, has just announced they will sing with former president Zuma when he records his favorite liberation songs in Durban, their manager Xolani Majozi confirmed.

But last week there was some rain on the parade. The Democratic Alliance of the eThekwini Municipality vowed to block any plans by the municipalitys Parks, Recreation and Culture Department to make a record of Zuma singing liberation songs.

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In December, the ex-president who is thought to have little personal wealth, was ordered to foot his own legal bill and pay back State funds used to defend him as he fights graft charges. He could be liable for a $2.3 million legal bill.

This record deal is blatant patronage, where the peoples money will be used to finance the former presidents lifestyle, Democratic Alliance councilmember Nicole Graham said.

Funding for the project will come from the 25 million rand budget for art and living cultures, which had been approved by the municipality for various art projects.

ANC national executive committee member Fikile Mbalula has welcomed the idea. I think the JZ (Jacob Zuma) album will be fireworks as he will be singing the Umhlaba Wethu (our land) song.
Michael Jackson Allegations and Fight Over them Return with New Film

LOS ANGELES (AP)  An attorney representing two Michael Jackson accusers who appear in an upcoming documentary says their sexual-abuse allegations have not been discredited as the Jackson estate says, and deserve to be heard.

Vince Finaldi, who represents Wade Robson and James Safechuck in lawsuits alleging Jackson molested them, said the suits were dismissed on technical grounds, not the credibility of the mens claims, and they are now under appeal.

There were never any rulings to the court as to their testimony, Finaldi told The Associated Press Thursday. We stand by our clients, and we believe them, and we fully expect them to be vindicated.

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The stories of Robson and Safechuck, who came forward as adults to say Jackson had sexually abused them for years when they were boys, will be heard again in the two-part, four-hour documentary Leaving Neverland, which will air on HBO and British public broadcaster Channel 4 in the spring. It premieres Jan. 25 at the Sundance Film Festival, the channels announced Wednesday.

The Jackson estate released a statement saying the documentary is just another rehash of dated and discredited allegations.

Wade Robson and James Safechuck have both testified under oath that Michael never did anything inappropriate toward them, the statement said, adding that both had filed lawsuits that have been dismissed.

Jackson in 2005 was acquitted of criminal molestation charges, which did not involve Robson or Safechuck.

Robson testified at that trial, saying he had slept in Jacksons room many times, but Jackson had never molested him. Safechuck made similar statements to investigators as a boy.

Then in 2013 Robson filed a lawsuit that said stress and trauma had forced him to face the truth that he was sexually abused by Jackson, who died in 2009. Safechuck filed a similar lawsuit the following year.

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The AP does not typically identify people who say they are victims of sexual assault unless they come forward publicly, which Robson and Safechuck have done in multiple ways.

Leaving Neverland director and producer Dan Reed said in a statement that It took great courage for these two men to tell their stories and I have no question about their validity.

If theres anything weve learned during this time in our history, its that sexual abuse is complicated, and survivors voices need to be listened to, Reed said.
Ex-Pasadena City Official, Contractor Sentenced For $3 Million Embezzlement Scheme

A former Pasadena public works analyst and a contractor were sentenced today for embezzling hundreds of thousands of dollars in city money over a decade, the Los Angeles County District Attorneys Office announced.

Danny Wooten (dob 4/07/63) was sentenced to 14 years in state prison, while co-defendant Tyrone Collins (dob 10/12/59) received a 7-year term.

In November, Wooten was found guilty of 53 counts, including embezzlement, conflict of interest and misappropriation of public funds. Collins was convicted of 20 counts, including embezzlement and misappropriation of public funds.

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Deputy District Attorney Bjorn Dodd of the Public Integrity Division prosecuted the case.

Wooten was a management analyst in the citys Public Works Department, which was in charge of relocating all of the citys utility lines underground. Between 2004 and March 2014, Wooten created false invoices for the underground utility program and stole roughly $3.5 million.

He funneled some of the stolen money to Collins, who owns Collins Electric, the prosecutor said.

Wooten also created bank accounts purporting to represent two religious organizations. However, he was the only person on the account, the prosecutor said.

The scheme was discovered in 2014 when the city ordered an audit.

At todays hearing, Wooten was ordered to pay $3,695,891 in restitution and Collins was ordered to pay $900,000, the prosecutor added.

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Case BA430233 was investigated by the District Attorneys Bureau of Investigation and the City of Pasadena.
A More Diverse Congress, a More Perfect Union?

The 116th Congress, sworn in on January 3, is the most diverse our nation has ever seen. There are more women  102  than ever before. More members of the Congressional Black Caucus  55  than ever before. Indeed, a former Congressional Black Caucus intern, Lauren Underwood (D-IL) is part of the incoming first-year class. At 32, she is the youngest Black woman to serve.

This Congress includes the first Native American woman, two Muslim women, openly gay representatives, and others. Much of this diversity was displayed at the ceremonial swearing-in of the Congressional Black Caucus, an inspirational event that preceded the official swearing-in on Capitol Hill. There, as I listened to speeches by the top Congressional Democrats  incoming speaker Nancy Pelosi (CA), incoming Majority leader Steny Hoyer (MD), and incoming Whip James Clyburn (SC), I was awash in hope and optimism. These leaders, along with outgoing Congressional Black Caucus Chairman Cedric Richmond (LA) and incoming Chair Karen Bass (CA) spoke of challenge, struggle, and optimism and focused on possibilities.

As I listened to them I could not help but think of the poet Langston Hughes, and his poem Let America Be America Again. Written in 1935, the poem was first published in Esquire Magazine in 1936. Though Hughes did not consider it one of his favorites, it captures the duality of our nation, the marked difference between our nations soaring establishing rhetoric and the stark reality that many experience. In the words of Malcolm X, it is the difference between the American dream and the American nightmare. Here is what Langston Hughes writes in his poem:

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Let America be America again. Let it be the dream it used to be. Let it be the pioneer on the plain Seeking a home where he himself is free. (America never was America to me.) Let America be the dream the dreamers dreamed Let it be that great strong land of love Where never kings connive nor tyrants scheme That any man be crushed by one above. (It never was America to me.) O, let my land be a land where Liberty Is crowned with no false patriotic wreath, But opportunity is real, and life is free, Equality is in the air we breathe.

(Theres never been equality for me, Nor freedom in this homeland of the free.)

No freedom in this homeland of the free, but this Congress offers freedom possibilities. It offers the possibility of fixing the Voting Rights Act, even as the Supreme Court has attempted to erode voting rights, even as at least two elections were stolen in 2018, those of Stacey Abrams in Georgia and Andrew Gillum in Florida.

This Congress offers freedom possibilities in resisting the insanity of a wall that the Great Negotiator (and purported author of The Art of the Deal) swore that Mexico was paying for. Not. This Congress offers freedom possibilities in its efforts to preserve the Affordable Health Care Act and to move us to Medicare for all. This colorful Congress (the pictures tell it all) offers a sharp contrast to the dismal (as in grey and navy suits) set of Republicans, overwhelmingly white and male, and overwhelmingly staid.

Its not about MAGA (Make America Great Again), its about MAF, or Make America Fair. This is what Congressman James Clyburn shared when he spoke at the ceremonial swearing-in. He opened with the words of French historian Alexis Tocqueville, who observed when visiting this country: the greatness of America lies not in being more enlightened than any other nation, but rather in her ability to repair her faults.

Clyburn went on to list the many ways our nation has attempted to self-correct, from the passage of the Emancipation Proclamation to the Supreme Court Brown v. Board of Education decision declaring separate but equal to be inherently unequal. Clyburn talked about the Great Society legislation, another of our nations attempts at self-repair, and he concluded by saying that, America does not need to be made great again, she is already great. Our challenge is to make that greatness apply fairly and equitably to all of our citizens.

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Can this diverse new Congress make our nation fair for many who have never experienced our nation in the way it is supposed to be? In the words of Langston Hughes, It never was America to me. Weve come a long way since he wrote his 1935 poem, but we still have so much to do. After these last two dystopian years under the leadership of President Genital Grabber (lets just call him GG), this new Congress offers us many possibilities. May they manifest!
L.A. Area Chamber Applauds Gov. Gavin Newsom On Commitment to Renewing the California Dream

The Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce applauds newly elected Gov. Gavin Newsom on his commitment to cultivating a business climate in which businesses can grow and prosper, as well as his fiscally responsible proposed State budget. Gov. Newsom entered office with an estimated $14.8 billion budget surplus and his proposed budget is said to be one of the largest in recent State history.

We are eager to work with Gov. Newsom and his team on this bold, new agenda, and are encouraged by his focus on addressing some of our states most significant challenges, said L.A. Area Chamber President & CEO Maria S. Salinas. The Governors budget reflects the paramount importance of addressing Californias housing and homelessness crisis. We commend the balancing of investments in housing production, emergency shelters, and supportive housing, combined with policy proposals to streamline approvals and enforce regional housing goals.

In addition, recognizing that our economic growth will slow at some point, the Chamber was encouraged to see a budget which includes down payments on debt and unfunded retirement liabilities, ensuring the State is in a better position to face economic downturns.

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As the State and region reap the benefits of a full-employment economy, we commend Gov. Newsoms proposed investments in education, which will allow our businesses to acquire a skilled and qualified workforce. The new budget proposes significant cradle-to-career investments, particularly in early childhood education, which were significant parts of the cradle-to-career policy agenda that the Chamber proposed to the Governors transition team.

David Rattray, executive vice president of the Chambers Center for Education Excellence and Talent Development, pointed out that these proposed investments will expand access to a quality education, which will enable more low-income students to access high-wage employment and achieve upward socioeconomic mobility. Gov. Newsom has also proposed establishing a taskforce to consider different options at increasing paid family leave. The L.A. Area Chamber has worked hard and will continue working to improve our local education and workforce development systems to better serve Los Angeles youth from infancy to college, said Rattray.

California is indeed the most creative and entrepreneurial engine of commerce in the world, and we are eager to observe how Gov. Newsoms budget will enhance the lives of many and improve the States economy and well-being, said Salinas
This past election season, there were so many issues that mattered to people that economics were sometimes forgotten. But, as the dust settles and the newly elected and re-elected officials take their seats, small-business owners want you to hear this plea: Stop passing tax cuts that only help Wall Street.

Massive tax cuts for the leisure class have been set upon the American people. Politicians who supported 2017s tax cuts, including our now re-elected U.S. Rep. Lloyd Smucker, used small-business owners like me as an example of who their bill would help most. But I believe Smucker has lost touch with his small-business roots, this city and his constituents. I hope he realizes that continuing to support tax kickbacks to megadonors in the 1 percent is not an effective strategy and, rather, will harm Pennsylvanias small-business owners.

Small businesses  real independent businesses where the owner works 60 hours a week and has a side gig to pay for a dinner out with the family  businesses like those up and down Queen Street or Prince Street, or those roving Lancaster in a food truck  have very small margins.

One mistake can put the locks on the doors permanently. We dont have the luxury of looking at the terrible idea we came up with last year and saying, You know what? Lets do that again.

Our representatives should know better by now. With new additions to the U.S. House and the U.S. Senate, this is a chance to look back on their work.

Tax Reform 2.0 was a series of bills  HR 6760, HR 6757 and HR 6756  proposed in 2018 that would have modified the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017. The bills all passed the House in the fall, but they were not taken up in the Senate before the end of the term.

Take away the partisan bluster and realize that the Tax Reform 2.0 proposal was great for the rich, but not so great for the rest of the country.

First, Congress own nonpartisan estimates say that, by 2024, 61 percent of the tax benefits from the business income tax cut in the 2017 law will go the wealthiest 1 percent of business owners, while just 4 percent will go to the bottom two-thirds (small businesses). Thats 61 percent to 4 percent.

Second, Tax Reform 2.0 would have made some of the first laws worst parts permanent. For example, it extended the cap on how much state and local taxes we can deduct on our federal tax return. Its a proposal that hit us particularly hard here in Pennsylvania, one of 20 states where the average taxpayer would have lost out.

Third, Tax Reform 2.0 proposed to lock in the undermining of the estate tax, making sure the 1 percent could get by without the worry of a days work in their future, while our families take out bigger and bigger loans to cover rising tuition costs or set out on our own with sweat equity the next generation of the Koch family will never know.

Its true, there are parts of Tax Reform 2.0 that could help small business on such things as start-up costs and providing retirement benefits. But these benefits to small business are like drops in an ocean of needless giveaways to the wealthiest 1 percent.

With this proposal, small businesses could save about $4 billion in taxes to help employees save for retirement. And they could save about $6 billion in taxes when starting a new venture. But compare that to the additional $650 billion the proposal plans to hand out elsewhere. Make no mistake: This isnt a small-business bill, its another tax giveaway. Its the return on investment for corporate donors swiped from the budgets of our communities.

Business owners like me work hard to gain your trust as customers. We know your names. I know your order nine times out of 10 before youve said it. Were not here to extract profits at any cost. Were rooted in our hometowns, and we invest in them by paying living wages, giving charitably and hosting events at schools, churches and parks.

We are trying to build our community. We should expect no less from our government.

We need our tax dollars to be invested wisely  in educating our children, in revitalizing our cities, in making sure our small towns are healthy, and in supporting the small businesses our neighbors put their backs into every day.

So please, wake up. Politicians are squandering our money to lavishly reward their donors, and they are getting away with it time after time. Their logic is so far removed from small business that they wouldnt last a day in my world. Their policies shouldnt last another day in Washington, either.

As he begins another term in Congress, Smucker should focus on investing in our community, not in big donors bottom lines.

Michael Sirianni is the owner, operator and driver of Buzz, a mobile sandwich shop in Lancaster, and a member of Main Street Alliance, a nationwide network of small business owners.
While there might not be a nuclear power plant in Lancaster County, many people who work at the nearby Three Mile Island and Peach Bottom plants live in the county. And, thanks to leadership provided by state Sen. Ryan Aument, a Republican from Landisville, this region will have significant input on the future of nuclear power in Pennsylvania.

Aument is one of the leaders of the Pennsylvania General Assemblys bipartisan Nuclear Energy Caucus. That caucus recently issued a detailed report regarding the future of our states nuclear power plants. It is now up to Gov. Tom Wolf and the General Assembly to use the reports findings to revise outdated energy policies that, if not updated, will harm Pennsylvanias economy, environment and power grid stability for years to come.

Pennsylvanias five nuclear power plants produce 42 percent of our states electricity and account for 93 percent of our zero-carbon energy. The industry employs 16,000 Pennsylvanians and provides millions of man-hours for outage and maintenance work.

However, two plants, Three Mile Island in Dauphin County and Beaver Valley in Beaver County, are scheduled to be shuttered, prematurely, in the next three years because of state and federal energy policies that demand immediate attention.

I would urge the General Assembly to use the findings in the bipartisan Nuclear Energy Caucus report as a foundation to establish policy solutions that keep these critical assets operating for years to come. Allowing any of Pennsylvanias nuclear plants to close prematurely should not be an option.

This issue is about investing in our states economy and environment. If someone was to propose a state policy that would create 16,000 new jobs  let alone in an industry that does not create air pollution, I would be willing to bet that our political leaders would be falling over each other to adopt legislation and policies that would support it. And that would be the right thing to do.

Pennsylvanians need their elected state officials to foster economic development as well as protect our environment. Passing legislation supporting our nuclear power industry does just that.

Faced with similar challenges, New York, New Jersey and Illinois recognized the significant value nuclear power plays in keeping a diverse energy supply and have recently revised their energy policies to keep their nuclear plants operating. Pennsylvania should do the same.

Without state action, Three Mile Island will close in less than one year. Gone forever will be 675 family-sustaining jobs (more than 200 in Lancaster County alone). TMI produces more zero-carbon-emitting energy than all of our states renewable energy combined. Also gone will be the millions of dollars in taxes the plant pays and the more than $300,000 a year the plant contributes to nonprofit organizations in our communities.

I urge all Lancaster County residents and all Pennsylvanians to engage in this issue and urge their elected state officials to do what is necessary to secure the foundations of our economy and protect our environment.

Joe Gusler is president of the Central Pennsylvania Building and Construction Trades Council and the co-chair of the Clean Jobs for Pennsylvania Coalition.
A Leola woman was arrested Friday, police said, after she crashed her vehicle into a truck in front of Lancaster County Prison, ran into the prisons lobby and stashed drugs in a bathroom.

Prison Major William Aberts said that at approximately 11 a.m. a van traveling down East King Street turned right onto North Marshall Street at a high rate of speed and crashed into the left rear axle of a box truck.

The next thing we know we have a female running across the parking lot into here saying there was just an accident. I have to go to the bathroom, Aberts said.

A suspicious Aberts directed prison corrections Officer Kenneth Geib and K-9 Officer Jordan to do a sweep of the parking lot and bathroom.

(Jordan) hit on  in the trash can underneath the trash bag  a rather large amount of suspected K2 (synthetic marijuana), he said.

City police Lt. Bill Hickey said Ariel Harris, 25, of Leola, was driving the van and will be charged with various traffic violations including driving without a license and lacking vehicle registration, as well as misdemeanor possession of a controlled substance.

Harris was taken into custody on an outstanding warrant for failure to appear in relation to a separate drug possession charge, Hickey said. She will receive a summons by mail.

A supervisor with Lancaster County-Wide Communications said one individual was transported to the hospital, though it was not clear the extent of their injuries.

Officials with Lancaster EMS, which transported the victim, declined to provide details.

I kind of found it odd, Aberts said. Just had an accident and first thing (shes) worried about is, Oh, I got to go to the bathroom.
Columbia Borough police

DRUG CHARGES

COLUMBIA: Dwayne M. Peterson, 30 of Millersville, was charged with single counts of possessing a small amount of marijuana and possessing drug paraphernalia following a traffic stop on the 200 block of North 4th street on Jan. 5, police said.

DUI

COLUMBIA: Judith Feliciano Melendez, 47, of Lancaster, was charged after being found unconscious in the front seat of a vehicle on the 500 block of Linden Street on Dec. 21, 2018, police said. She failed several sobriety tests after being awakened by officers, police said.

East Cocalico Township police

FLEEING OR ATTEMPTING TO ELUDE

EAST COCALICO TWP.: Conrad D. Auker, 21, of Denver, was charged with fleeing or attempting to elude a police officer, driving under suspension and reckless driving after police attempted to perform a traffic stop. Auker failed to stop and drove at an unspecified high rate of speed for over two miles before pulling over into a driveway and taken into custody, police said.

THEFT CHARGES

DENVER: Briann M. Hess, 25, was charged with theft by deception after purchasing a pack of cigarettes with a counterfeit $100 bill at the Turkey Hill convenience store on North Reading Road on Nov. 28, police said.

East Hempfield Township police

BURGLARY

EAST HEMPFIELD TWP.: Police are investigating a burglary at Hammertek, located at 301 Richardson Dr. Sometime between Jan. 6 and Jan. 10, a forcible entry into the business resulted in the removal of a welder valued at more than $7,400, police said.

DRUG CHARGES

EAST HEMPFIELD TWP.: Kevin Kendig, 28,of Willow Street was charged with possession of drug paraphernalia following a call about suspicious activity on the 2000 block of Swarr Run Road on Dec. 25, 2018, police said.

EAST HEMPFIELD TWP.: Christopher Ortega, 30, of Ephrata, was charged with possession of marijuana and driving on a suspended or revoked license after a traffic stop on the 800 block of Stonebridge Drive on Jan. 7, police said.

DUI

EAST HEMPFIELD TOWNSHIP: Ray Ober III, 46, of Landisville, was charged with DUI, possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia after officers responded to a vehicle crash on Route 283 on Dec. 30, police said.

EAST HEMPFIELD TWP.: Carlos Ortiz-Ramirez, 34, of Lancaster, was charged with two counts of DUI after a traffic stop on the 500 block of Centerville Road on Jan. 5, police said.

HARASSMENT

EAST HEMPFIELD TWP.: Kevin Reyes-Molina, 28, of Lancaster, was cited after officers responded to the 400 block of Running Pump Road for a reported disturbance, police.

EAST HEMPFIELD TWP.: Moises Alvarez, 33, of Lancaster was cited for harassment after officers responded to the 2300 block of Columbia Avenue on Jan. 4, police said.

ROBBERY

EAST HEMPFIELD TWP.: Brian Conrad Jr., 37, of Columbia, was charged with robbery for the Speedway located at 1660 Rohrerstown Road on Dec. 21. Conrad is alleged to have robbed several convenience stores between Dec. 21 and Dec. 29, police said.

THEFT

EAST HEMPFIELD TWP.: Police are investigating the theft of a license plate and subsequent damage to a vehicle. The forcible removal of the license plate from a truck parked at a Lowes at 25 Rohrerstown Rd on Jan. 4 caused $300 in damage, police said.

EAST HEMPFIELD TWP.: Police are investigating the theft of two truck batteries from a vehicle at Security Self Storage, 1501 Cloister Dr. on Jan. 7, police said. Police estimate $500 in losses.

Manheim Township police

CRIMINAL MISCHIEF

MANHEIM TWP: Police are investigating the damage inflicted to a parked vehicle parked outside Apex Asset Management, 2501 Oregon Pike, between 1:30 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. on Jan. 10, police said. A window was smashed, causing $500 in damages.

DRUG CHARGES

MANHEIM TWP: Thomas James, Hartman, 19, of Lititz, was charged after he was found in his vehicle parked at Stoner Park after hours on Jan. 10, police said. A vehicle search yielded marijuana, a glass smoking device and a vape pen.

LANCASTER TWP: Joshua Matthew Gordon, 38, of Mount Joy, was charged with DUI and possession of paraphernalia following a vehicle crash on the 1300 block of East King Street on Dec. 29, 2018, police said. Chemical testing of Gordons blood yielded the presence of cocaine, fentanyl and norfentanyl, police added.

HARASSMENT

EAST PETERSBURG: Mark A. Vandoren, 44, and Jeremy S. Getz, both of East Petersburg, were charged after a physical altercation at Vandorens residence on the 6400 block of Eaton Circle on Jan. 10, police said.

THEFT

MANHEIM TOWNSHIP: Police are investigating the theft of a wheel and tire sometime overnight Jan. 9 to Jan. 10. The total loss of items is estimated at $800.
A promising new program promoting school safety in Pennsylvania is off to a rocky start.

Come Monday, educators, students, parents and community members will be allowed to submit anonymous tips through a new threat reporting system called Safe2Say, which will include an an app available on Apple and Android devices, a website and a 24-hour hotline.

Tips will be reviewed by the state attorney generals office and forwarded to schools and, if necessary, local police to help ward off school violence.

Participation is required by all public and private schools in the state, according to the legislation, which was signed into law in June.

But many Lancaster County school officials here say theyre concerned with the lack of direction from the AGs office, which enlisted the nonprofit Sandy Hook Promise to provide training statewide, between then and now.

Implementation has not been very clear

While it is a good idea, the implementation has not been very clear and seamless for us, Penn Manor Superintendent Mike Leichliter said.

Leichliter said he attended a regional training session in December with hundreds of other educators at the Lancaster County Convention Center in downtown Lancaster. The training team seemed overwhelmed by the number of attendees, he said. It started late. The app and website werent ready, so they had to use a demo site.

This left many wondering what procedures to follow, how to train students and faculty, and how to promote the program, Leichliter said.

Scott Martin 'Up until two weeks ago, we thought everything was smooth-sailing.'

Joe Grace, spokesman for Attorney General Josh Shapiro, said in a phone interview Friday that every superintendent received a letter with related information, adding that school officials with questions should contact the attorney generals office.

Well have a lot more to say about this really important initiative in the coming days and weeks to come, he said.

A general lack of understanding

State Sen. Scott Martin, of Martic Township, was a cosponsor of the legislation, which included Safe2Say and other school safety measures. Recently, Martin told LNP, hes heard a lot of concerns over the programs implementation  particularly, whos responsible for training whom.

Up until two weeks ago, we thought everything was smooth-sailing, he said.

The unfavorable response from school officials led him and state Rep. Bryan Cutler, of Peach Bottom, to pen a letter Friday to Shapiro.

Due to the fact that the launch date is in a few days ... it has been disappointing to hear that so many entities are still not on the same page and/or not yet trained, the letter reads.

The letter continues: There also seems to be a general lack of understanding by educators of the basic concepts of the program as well as their general role in the process.

Despite the troubleshooting problems, Martin said hes confident that the program will work as intended  to, as he said, prevent potentially devastating events like the mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida.

Its been frustrating

Also cautiously optimistic is Brian Barnhart, executive director for the Lancaster-Lebanon Intermediate Unit 13.

He says communication from the attorney generals office has been insufficient. The IU, he said, could play a vital role in communication and training, but it hasnt been utilized. For example, Barnhart offered to host the regional training at the IU headquarters on New Holland Avenue  for free  but Sandy Hook Promise opted instead for the convention center.

Its been frustrating, but were committed to make it work and to help, he said. Thats what IUs do.

Letter to Attorney General by on Scribd
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Less than 60 hours before a possible strike, the union for L.A.'s teachers rejected the latest offer from the Los Angeles Unified School District, at the same time saying it had no plans to negotiate over the weekend.

Friday's development all but guarantees more than 30,000 LAUSD teachers, librarians, school nurses and counselors will walk off the job Monday for their first strike since 1989.

"If the district has a proposal that is demonstrably different between now and Monday, they can send that to us," United Teachers Los Angeles president Alex Caputo-Pearl told reporters.

But "short of a surprise like that ... ," he added, "get ready, because on Monday, we will be on strike for our students, for our schools, for our communities."

If a strike were to begin on Monday, Caputo-Pearl said it's doubtful the union would be available for talks the same day. He said officials would likely be too involved with strike activities on what would be the first day of picket lines.

Earlier Friday, LAUSD Superintendent Austin Beutner expressed exasperation with what he deemed UTLA's unwillingness to come forward with a meaningful counter-proposal.

"If they want a strike, they'll have a strike," Beutner said at a news conference. "We're doing everything we can to avoid it. We don't want it because we know the harm it will cause."

Members of the bargaining team for the United Teachers Los Angeles teachers union gather Fri., Jan. 11, 2019. (Photo by Kyle Stokes/KPCC)

NEW OFFER, SAME RESULT

Here's what happened Friday.

School district administrators announced a new contract proposal for UTLA, offering to spend more money on a key sticking point in negotiations: class sizes.

The L.A. County Board of Supervisors also offered to pitch in to help settle the long-running dispute.

Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas said the county's governing board will soon consider a motion to forward "up to $10 million" in mental health funding for the school district.

According to Beutner, the funds would ensure every LAUSD elementary school has a nurse five days a week -- partially, but not fully, meeting a UTLA demand.

Ridley-Thomas said the proposed funding was intended to "close the gap so we can get on with the education agenda of L.A. Unified."

It wasn't enough for teachers union leaders, who were displeased by the way information was trickling out. The union's bargaining team found out about the district's new offer right as Beutner unveiled many of its details at a Friday afternoon press conference.

"What an atrocious set of values at the bargaining table," Caputo-Pearl said, "that you're going to come in and pass a proposal across the table while you're superintendent is presenting it to the media with his own spin."

Where things stand on key sticking points:

CLASS SIZE REDUCTION: $25 MILLION MORE

LAUSD officials proposed spending $130 million on targeted class size reductions in certain schools and grade levels, an increase from the $105 million it had previously offered.

JUST IN: @LASchools increases its class size offer to @UTLAnow, now spending $130M (up from $105M) and no increase in any current class size.#LAUSD will brief reporters on the offer in minutes. Ill tweet updates. pic.twitter.com/0UXgxHsire  Kyle Stokes (@kystokes) January 11, 2019

But the funding increase only covers one year -- which teachers union officials considered a major flaw.

THE CLASS SIZE 'SAFETY VALVE'

There was also no progress, both sides said, on a critical issue at stake: the district's broad discretion to raise class sizes.

LAUSD has offered to scrap a particular provision of the contract UTLA dislikes -- "Section 1.5" -- but has also said the language needs to be replaced. Reducing class sizes is expensive, so the district says it cannot entirely give up the flexibility to increase class sizes in the event of strain on the district's finances -- a safety valve, so to speak.

"It's not good enough for UTLA to say they don't like our proposal," Beutner said. "What's their proposal? We've agreed to get rid of 1.5. I think anyone would say we need something to make sure, we make sure we have some rules in place, whatever that might be."

UTLA leaders continue to fault LAUSD's negotiators for trying to lock in the current class sizes as a baseline. They want smaller class sizes than the district's current guidelines.

How much smaller would the union want to make class sizes? The union hasn't specified -- but they view making such a counter-offer to be pointless anyway.

Union officials point out that the district's discretion led directly to the status quo, which allows for as many as additional seven students per classroom in some schools and grade levels. That was put in place after LAUSD invoked its "Section 1.5" powers.

"Since they haven't been willing to move on 1.5," Caputo-Pearl said, "discussions of numbers don't mean anything because their numbers can just be jacked up and go through the roof because they have the unilateral authority to do so."

MORE ABOUT THE POSSIBLE STRIKE

NURSES: FIVE DAYS A WEEK IN ELEMENTARY

LAUSD had previously offered to double the number of days a nurse would be available at each district middle school.

That step addresses a much broader UTLA demand: that every school in the district be staffed with a full-time nurse.

Now, with the infusion of $10 million from L.A. County, Beutner said the district will be able to guarantee full-time nursing services at the elementary level.

Caputo-Pearl was skeptical how far this money would go toward meeting union demands.

"The number of additional nurses that they're talking about, around 150," Caputo-Pearl said, "would not provide full-time nurses at all schools ... We've got over 900 schools."

Supervisor Ridley-Thomas said Friday this funding would come from the county's Department of Mental Health. But the motion he authored with fellow Supervisor Hilda Solis also calls on two other county departments -- Public Health and Health Services -- to explore whether they could also pitch in.

And that funding would just be for one year.

The supervisors are set to consider the motion on Tuesday.

United Teachers Los Angeles president Alex Caputo-Pearl (center) and members of the teachers union's bargaining team on Fri., Jan. 11, 2019. (Photo by Kyle Stokes/KPCC)

HOW MUCH STATE FUNDING IS LAUSD DUE?

The district was able to sweeten its offer after Gov. Gavin Newsom unveiled a new state budget proposal Thursday, which included at least $3 billion in new funding for K-12 education statewide.

"Every nickel that we're receiving, we're putting in our classrooms," Beutner told reporters.

Beutner told reporters Friday that LAUSD's previous contract offer to the union assumed some increase in ongoing state funding for public schools, although they hadn't counted on getting quite as much as the governor ultimately proposed.

"We had assumed already getting to 1,000 [new] educators," he said. "We expected the state revision to be a positive one."

Caputo-Pearl union officials spoke with Newsom's budget staff and were told LAUSD stood to gain at least $140 million in state money "on top of what's already expected" -- meaning he believes the district ought to have more ongoing state funding to spend.

UPDATES:

10:15 p.m.: This article was updated throughout with additional details and quotes.

This article was originally published at 5:37 p.m.

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Local governments within Los Angeles County, including the city of L.A., might see some of their transportation funding withheld if they fail to meet housing goals mandated by the state.

California's new governor, Gavin Newsom, threw out that surprising proposal during a briefing Thursday on his first budget plan.

"You don't reach those goals, we're going to take S.B. 1 money from you," Newsom said.

Under Senate Bill 1, approved in 2017, the state increased gas taxes by 12 cents, and hiked registration and other driver fees. This raised about $5.4 billion a year for maintaining and improving state highways, local roads, bridges, transit and walking and biking infrastructure.

Newsom proposes tying those funds to how well cities and counties plan and approve new housing to accommodate their population and economic growth.

Most California communities have failed to build enough new housing, worsening the housing affordability crisis. So far, there's been little accountability for localities that haven't met their goals.

In Los Angeles County, only four of 89 jurisdictions have accomplished the housing goals laid out in their general plans.

Although the state's latest assessment showed L.A. was among the cities that fell short of its goals, a spokesperson for Mayor Eric Garcetti said he supports the governor's proposal. Garcetti believes the city can work with the governor and hopes the proposal will inspire cities to do more to address the housing crisis.

But some local government leaders, who have been among the biggest champions of S.B. 1 and helped defend the gas taxes and fees against a repeal measure last November, are worried about the governor's new proposal.

"I think the biggest problem with linking housing production and these dollars is that we do not control the housing market," said Jason Rhines, legislative director with the League of California Cities, whose members are concerned they would be penalized for factors that are out of their control.

Many more elements play into housing construction than whether a city or county approves plans, said Chris Lee with the California Association of Counties: "We have building codes that are set at the state level that have requirements that increase costs, we have materials issues related to tariffs and other things that are driving costs."

The goals for affordable housing are often difficult to meet, even for cities that approve a lot of new development. Construction is so expensive that there's little incentive for developers to plan units with lower returns on investment.

Rhine favors more of a carrot than a stick approach to the problem.

"There's a lot that the state can do to incentivize the behavior that they would like to see," he said, pointing to about a billion dollars in new affordable housing funding the governor included in his proposed 2019-2020 budget.

Both Rhine and Lee worry that voters could react negatively to any meddling with the transportation funds. They've already fought back an attempt to repeal S.B. 1 and they approved a constitutional amendment to keep the funds in a "lock box," protected from diversion to any other purpose besides transportation.

But Newsom argued something has to be done to keep communities on track toward addressing the state's mounting housing crisis.

"Look, this is a crisis and everybody's in this together. The issue of housing is the poverty issue in the state," he said. He pointed to data that show California's high poverty rate and increase in homelessness are directly tied to the escalating cost of housing.

The map from the state Department of Housing and Community Development shows which cities have failed to meet their housing mandates under a new state law, S.B. 35. The measure requires those jurisdictions that have fallen behind to fast track approvals of proposed developments.

See if your city has met its housing goals on the interactive map below. The gray areas of the map are cities that have met housing goals and are exempt from S.B. 35 requirements to streamline development approvals. Blue areas represent jurisdictions that have fallen behind on all housing and must fast track developments that have at least 10 percent affordable units. The orange areas have fallen behind in below-market rate affordable housing and must streamline approval of developments with 50 percent or more affordable units.

Source: State Department of Housing and Community Development
The most popular items are the salmon, steamed vegetables and wild rice pilaf, he said, adding, People dont expect to see those on the menu.

The menu is intended to cater not only to people staying at the Radisson but also locals who are looking for such options, said Neuschwanger, a graduate of the Culinary Arts College at Johnson and Wales University and a classic French cuisine enthusiast who lives in Onalaska.

Chef Neuschwanger has managed to empower children through their ability to select from different entrees and side options, which is a welcome change when dining out as a family in our community, the collaboration noted in presenting the award.

The collaboration, formed in 2009, also presented a Healthy Living Heroes Organization Award, which went to the WAFER Food Pantry in La Crosse.

WAFER, under the leadership of executive director Erin Waldhart, serves more than 1,500 families a month as the largest food pantry in the Coulee Region.

WAFER added a mobile pantry in acknowledgement of the fact that some people are not able to make it to its main facility at 403 Causeway Blvd. in La Crosse.
Time and again, I have been deeply humbled and profoundly moved by the extraordinary grace and capacity for forgiveness that I have seen in those who have suffered so much, said Prince Charles, who has worked to build contacts in the ancient Christian East.

Forgiveness, as many of you know far better than I, is not a passive act, or submission. Rather, it is an act of supreme courage, of a refusal to be defined by the sin against you. ... It is one thing to believe in God who forgives. It is quite another to take that example to heart and actually to forgive, with the whole heart, those who trespass against you so grievously.

The persecution of Christians and other minorities in the Middle East was not one of 2018s big news stories. Instead, this parade of horrors became a kind of old news that rarely reached the prime headlines offered by elite newsrooms.

The goal at Westminster Abbey was to remember what has happened at the ground level in places like the Nineveh plains in northern Iraq. Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby also took part in this unusual event, which was attended by leaders of 13 Middle Eastern church bodies, along with high-ranking British politicos and diplomats.
Steven L. Brown would likely be quite surprised and honored if he were to return to Gays Mills today to find that his great-grandson, Dr. Brian McKnight, chose to honor the familys heritage by endowing the McKnight-Brown Academic Scholarship at North Crawford High School, through the North Crawford Community Education Foundation.

What is a scholarship endowment? And, why create such a fund? A scholarship endowment is a fund that holds its principal in perpetuity and pays out a portion of its earnings (generally 4 percent to 5 percent) annually, to fund a scholarship, forever. A scholarship endowment is one way to perpetuate a familys story: to see that people and their work are remembered, always.

What is the McKnight-Brown story? Steven L. Brown came to the Kickapoo Valley at age 10, in 1858, with his parents. He bought the family farm from his parents and developed a fruit business with his eldest son, specializing in apples. In 1888, he expanded his business, purchasing 40 acres on the ridge east of Gays Mills. S.L. Brown was well known in the region, not only for his prize-winning apples but also through his community involvement. Along with others, he founded the Crawford County Racing and Agricultural Association, bringing an annual fair and horse racing to Gays Mills. He also served as the countys Register of Deeds for two years and as a trustee, for 30 years, of the Gays Mills Bank.
Tomah Veterans Administration Medical Center nursing supervisor Kendra Brown received the Patriot Award from the Wisconsin Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve, a Department of Defense office, in recognition of her support of her employee, Captain Steven Schoeny, who serves in the Army National Guard.

The Patriot Award was created by ESGR to publicly recognize individuals who provide outstanding patriotic support and cooperation with their employees, who like the citizen warriors before them, have answered their nations call to serve, said Mike Williams, Wisconsin ESGR State Chair.

Supportive supervisors are critical to maintaining the strength and readiness of the nations Guard and reserve units, Williams said.

Brown was nominated for being highly supportive of the Army National Guard by Schoeny.

Kendra is one of the most dedicated nurse managers that we have. She is extremely flexible, works anywhere, no job is too great or too small, said Victoria Brahm, Tomah VA Medical Center Director. We are very, very proud to have someone of this caliber.
- Tyra Bank has once again expressed her amazement with Catriona Gray's Lava walk

- Seems like she can't still move on with that remarkable walk that's why a lot of fans are requesting her and the Miss Universe 2018 to do it together

- Catriona Gray reacted to it and said that it would be a dream for her

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Tyra Banks admitted that until now, Catriona Gray's excellent Lava walk in Miss Universe 2018 is still on her mind.

"Cant stop thinking about that #LavaWalk," she tweeted.

That's why a lot of her followers have been requesting that Tyra and Catriona should do it together in a runway stage.

Moreover, the Miss Universe 2018 reacted to it by posting it on her Instagram stories.

www.instagram.com/catriona_gray

Source: Instagram

www.instagram.com/catriona_gray

Source: Instagram

It can be remembered that Tyra has been very vocal about her admiration for the Philippine pride.

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In a previous report by KAMI, Tyra Banks has given her thoughts about Filipinos and said that she's obsessing over Catriona's fierce slow-mo turn.

Catriona Gray is a Filipino-Australian actress and model who was born on born January 6, 1994. She already joined and became a finalist in Miss World 2016 before winning the Miss Universe Philippines this year.

Enjoyed reading our story? Download KAMI's news app on Google Play now and stay up-to-date with major Filipino news!

In this animation video by KAMI, we show the story of a woman who adopted a baby boy. As he grew up, he became more rebellious and wanted to meet his biological mother. In the end, he learned an important lesson on who his real mother is  on KAMI HumanMeter YouTube channel!

Source: Kami.com.ph
CALEDONIA  The Village Board has agreed to retain a Milwaukee law firm as a special legal counsel regarding blight clearance and development solutions for abandoned properties on Erie Street.

The properties include the former Olympia Brown/REAL schools, 5915 Erie St.; the former Western Publishing building, 5945 Erie St.; and one other property at 5919 Erie St.

The village has retained von Briesen and Roper, which will be paid at an hourly rate for its work. Milwaukee-based von Briesen and Roper is one of the largest and oldest firms in the state, having been founded in 1904 and reportedly employs more than 180 lawyers.

Reports of trespassing and other criminal activity have been common at the abandoned properties for several years.

Racine Unified School District owns both the former school and 5919 Erie, according to Racine County records. The Western Publishing building is owned by 5945 ERIE ST LLC, a company whose mailing address is listed as a residence in Franklin.

Village Administrator Tom Christensen said the reason the law firm was retained is to make sure Caledonia can get appropriate development up there.
A number of factors played into the length of Nabors administrative leave.

First, there was a civil case filed by the alleged victims family in November 2016.

It didnt end until July 2017, when the family settled for $400,000  $225,000 was paid by the city with the rest paid by the citys insurer, Cities and Villages Mutual Insurance Co.

After waiting for the civil trial to end, criminal charges werent filed against Nabors until May 9, 2018, more than about 2 years after the incident.

The case was delayed further, Palmer said, by an overburdened legal system. The attorney representing the state also had to be brought in from outside Racine County to prevent conflict of interest. Kenosha County Assistant District Attorney James Steven Kraus led the prosecution.

It reflects, perhaps, a shortcoming in our criminal justice system. Our district attorneys are tremendously overworked, Palmer said.

Chiefs comments
Despite the large military presence in Nebraska, the Cornhusker State lags behind its neighbors on how it treats benefits earned by those who have retired from military service.

Gov. Pete Ricketts, though, has unveiled an appealing plan to shrink that disparity and the tax burdens faced by those veterans. His proposal to exempt half of retirement payments made by the Department of Defense from state income taxes is a sound one, reducing inequities in state law while also placing Nebraska closer to the level of adjacent states.

Nebraska offers recent retirees a chance to protect a portion of their benefits. But the current system is complex  a 40 percent exclusion over a seven-year span or a 15 percent exclusion after the retiree turns 67  and completely unavailable to veterans who retired before July 18, 2012.

Halving the income tax liability veterans owe for their retirement benefits makes the system much clearer, fairer and simpler to navigate for the states estimated 13,000 military retirees.

It also places Nebraska in a more favorable position compared to its bordering states. Colorado is the only of Nebraskas neighbors that doesnt fully exempt military benefits from state income tax, should they collect one.
U.S. President Donald Trump has shown that he's willing to shut down the government to get funding to build a wall on the border with Mexico. Regardless of whether you agree that a wall would solve America's immigration problems, what's notable is that Trump is the first president to truly bring the immigration issue to the forefront of the national agenda as opposed to just paying lip service to it.

Trump's modus operandi is to shock with an outrageous demand, pound his fist hard on the table, flip conventional wisdom on its head and try to force the reconsideration of the immigration issue. Critics should view this as an opportunity, not as an outrage.

There's one person who could push back effectively against Trump by seeing how the president handles a taste of his own medicine, and this person is not in Washington or even in America. It's Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

Since taking office, Trump has canceled the temporary residency permits issued to immigrants by previous administrations for humanitarian reasons. Many of those immigrants have tried to obtain asylum in Canada by entering the country illegally at unofficial crossing points.
A 19-year-old pulled a gun and tried to rob the woman, authorities said. There was a struggle. But she managed to pull out her own .38-caliber handgun and shoot him in the chest. The teen ran home a few blocks away and collapsed in the stairwell of his building. He died an hour later at a hospital.

According to authorities, the shooter was a 25-year-old woman. And lucky for her, she had a permit to carry a concealed weapon in Illinois.

When she obtained the license, it is unlikely that the woman ever thought she'd really have to use it, though she lives in a neighborhood where residents say such holdups are common. She probably never fathomed that she would end up shooting a teenager to death, either. That is the last thing most people would ever want to do.

But in this case, she apparently had no choice. That's how the concealed carry law is supposed to work.

I have never doubted that the majority of people who go through the trouble of obtaining a license to legally carry a firearm in Illinois are decent and responsible. And in neighborhoods where violence is rampant, it makes good sense.

Years of covering Illinois gun issues gave me a deep level of understanding -- and respect -- for the laws, even though I don't agree with all of them.
A 43-year-old Lincoln man went to prison Friday for sexually assaulting a 15-year-old girl.

David S. Price got 10 to 15 years for second-degree sexual assault and another sexual offense. He pleaded no contest.

Lincoln police arrested Price on April 25, one day after the girl described multiple incidents of sexual abuse by him to a forensic interviewer, according to court documents.

In a letter to the judge, the victim said she wanted Price to get help, not to go to prison, Price's attorney, John Ball, said Friday, arguing for probation.

Price, who had no criminal record before this, said he was truly sorry for the mistake that he made.

"Something came over me," he said.

Deputy Lancaster County Attorney Amy Goodro said the state respectfully disagreed with Ball's position, as well as the victim's and her mother's.

As much of a disconnect as there may be between Price and what he did, he still was the man who committed this crime, she said.

Lancaster County District Judge Andrew Jacobsen said what Price did was a serious offense and he couldn't consider him suitable for probation. With good time, he will have to serve five years.

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The parents of a 2-year-old girl brought to a hospital emergency room after being exposed to THC at her in-home day care in 2017 have sued the woman they say is responsible.

In the lawsuit filed in Lancaster County District Court, Brian and Danielle Smith of Lincoln alleged that as a result of Michelle Nicklas' negligence, their daughter, Sofia, went to the hospital with acute cannabis intoxication.

They are seeking $8,535 for her medical expenses, plus general damages, according to their attorney, David Kyker.

Lancaster County Sheriff Terry Wagner said on March 27, 2017, a 2-year-old girl was brought to the emergency room at Bryan East Campus by her parents for being sleepy, lethargic and not acting normally. The child tested positive for THC exposure and was admitted to the hospital for observation.

Deputies discovered her day care provider, Nicklas, had baked marijuana brownies over the weekend for a friend's birthday party and used the same pan to bake cookies for day care children.

Nicklas' day care provider's license was revoked; and deputies cited her for misdemeanor child abuse. She later pleaded no contest and on March 16 got a year of probation and 50 hours of community service.

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* The local housing market makes up makes up 16.4 percent of the statewide housing value of $120.2 billion.

Overall, Zillow said the U.S. housing market is now worth $33.3 trillion.

More are moving out



If you want to know how many people are moving into or out of Nebraska, you could use data that most people consider reliable, like what comes from the Census Bureau, which showed that Nebraska had net out-migration of 3,314 from July 1, 2017- June 30, 2018.

But it's more fun to use less-reliable data, like what comes from moving companies.

Three of them sent me emails with reports in the first few days of the year. And all of them have widely varying results.

Atlas Van Lines said Nebraska had the seventh-highest rate of outgoing moves among states, with 58.1 percent.

United Van Lines also had Nebraska with more people moving out of the state, but it was 52.6 percent.
Q: I remember a show from the early '70s called "The Corner Bar." It was very funny. Can you give me any info? Where can I watch or purchase a DVD of the series?

A: The comedy aired briefly on ABC in the summer of 1972 and again in the summer of 1973. It focused on the patrons of a New York City bar that was run by Harry Grant (Gabriel Dell) during the 1972 run and a husband and wife played by Eugene Roche and Anne Meara in 1973. Among the other characters was Peter Panama (Vincent Schiavelli), who was the first openly gay regular character on a TV series, though one accused of fitting negative stereotypes. I have not found it on any platform or format.

Q: Having recently seen an Abbott and Costello movie, I was reminded of a TV movie about their relationship. It was several years ago and starred Buddy Hackett, but I am unsure of the other actors. I have found no mention of it anywhere. Do you know anything about this movie?

A: "Bud and Lou" starred Harvey Korman as Bud Abbott and Buddy Hackett as Lou Costello. It originally aired in 1978. It has been released on DVD, although you are probably better off watching the real Bud and Lou in their movies and shows.

Q: We have been so stumped for months. Who played "The Mentalist"?
This is just the latest in a series of statements from European governments that Iran has been behind murder or terror plots in their country.

In October, the Danish government reported that it had foiled an Iranian plan to assassinate a leader of the separatist Arab Struggle Movement for the Liberation of Ahvaz. One of the men involved in the plot  a Norwegian citizen of Iranian descent  was arrested in Sweden and extradited to Denmark.

Then, there was the thwarted bomb plot in Paris in June, targeting the rally of the Iranian opposition group, the Mujahedeen-e-Khalq, which attracted 100,000 people. The French government have said that they have no doubt that Irans intelligence ministry was behind the attempted attack, organised by an Iranian diplomat to Vienna.

Finally, there was another bomb plot targeting the MEK at their headquarters in Albania in March.

It is also worth noting that both France and Germany carried out major raids against Iranian spy-terror networks last year, with Germany discovering that Iran was gathering information to create a list of people to be assassinated.

Of course, none of this is new behaviour from the Regime. Indeed, one of the mullahs first acts in 1979 was to take over the US Embassy in Tehran and hold dozens hostage.

Other malign actions include, the 1983 US Marines barracks bombing in Lebanon, the 1994 bombing of a Jewish community centre in Argentina, and the 1996 Khobar Towers bombing in Saudi Arabia.

Theyve also routinely murdered Iranians abroad who have spoken out against the mullahs, starting with Shahriar Shafiq, the Shahs nephew, assassinated in Paris in December 1979. This has continued to this day without abatement. Iranians who criticise the Regime domestically are subject to the same treatment, but with less public outcry.

But the real question is why these acts of terror and murder on European soil by the Iranian Regime is not causing Europe to change its policy on Iran and pull out of the 2015 nuclear deal, as the US did last year.

US sanctions came back into full force in November, but Europe still wants to help Iran evade these sanctions and, as such, remain indirectly complicit in the terrorism that they condemn.
That is the overarching message from Struan Stevenson, Coordinator for Campaign for Iran Change (CIC), who gave a speech on January 7, at a conference entitled: Human Rights Abuse, Repression and Terrorism, the Three Pillars of the Iranian Regime.

Stevenson, a passionate ally of the Iranian people and their organised resistance for almost twenty years, noted in his speech that Iran is the worlds leading state sponsor of terror; something that the US now recognises, even if Europe lags significantly behind.

When Donald Trump pulled out of the nuclear deal in May 2018, citing that Irans destabilizing behaviour has grown bolder under the deal, he received bipartisan support from Congress. Even from the most liberal Democrats, like Howard Dean and Patrick Kennedy, who traditionally do not agree with Trump on anything. They see that sanctions will not harm the Iranian people, only weaken the Regime.

In Europe, however, there is no such consensus.

While many individual politicians rightly speak out against the Regime and the nuclear deal that Europe is still a party to and several governments have accused the Iranian Regime of orchestrating terror or assassination plots in their countries, those at the top levels of government are still committed to the nuclear deal, even promising to help Iran evade US sanctions; all in order to benefit from lucrative business deals.

Stevenson listed the Regimes other malign behaviour within Europe, including an assassination plot in Denmark, a bomb plot in Albania, and another bomb plot in Paris; all targeting Iranian opposition figures or groups.

Stevenson said: But despite these repeated attempts to commit atrocities on European soil, [EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs] Federica Mogherini thinks that a regime which sponsors acts of terror in Europe should be regarded as a friend and trading partner. Well, I beg to differ!

The Iranian people have been taking part in an anti-regime uprising for over a year now, calling for the removal of the Regime as a whole. They recognise that their fight is not with the US or Europe, but with the mullahs who oppress them and they see no difference between the so-called hardliners and moderates in the Regime. The Regime has tried to suppress the protests through mass arrests and even extrajudicial killings, but the people have continued.

Stevenson said: It is astounding to me that with all of these atrocities, human rights abuse, proxy wars, sponsorship of international terror and dictatorial repression in Iran, we still see limited coverage in the press and what we do see is often on the side of appeasement and what the appeasers call constructive dialogue with the fascist clerical regime. Those who advocate this kind of quiet, calculated diplomatic pressure in our dealings with Iran, should remember the catastrophic appeasement policy of Neville Chamberlain.
Rouhani reportedly said that we staged a revolution so that no son would succeed his father, an obvious dig at how Khamenei appears to be setting the scene for his son Mojtaba to succeed him. Khamenei is dying from cancer.

It also raises more suspicion that Rouhani wants to be seen as a candidate for the Supreme Leader after Khameneis death.

Abdolreza Davari, an advisor to former President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, tweeted: Hassan Rouhani is determined to take over a higher position.

Rouhani praised Rafsanjani for his role in resolving various crises faced by the Iranian Regime over the years, in particular, the power vacuum left after the death of Regime Founder Ruhollah Khomeini in 1989, which resulted in the appointment of Khamenei as Supreme Leader.

Rouhani said: Without Rafsanjani, the Assembly of Expert meeting [to name Khamenei as the next leader of Iran] would have remained inconclusive.

Davari tweeted that this would like have upset Khamenei as it clearly reminded both the Supreme Leader and the Iranian people exactly how he came to take his role.

In a video from the time, which surfaced in 2018, Rafsanjani convinced fellow Assembly members to accept Khamenei as a temporary leader, promising that they could later have a referendum on whether Iran should be ruled by a Supreme Leader or a council of clerics. The referendum never took place. Many members questioned Khameneis credentials and high-ranking clerics challenged him, but Rafsanjani said that Khomeini had in fact presumably named Khamenei as his successor.

As Khameneis power grew once he became Supreme Leader, he slowly distanced himself from Rafsanjani, even backing Ahmadinejads re-election in 2009; a heavily contested election that caused mass protests.

In what appeared to be a reaction to that, Rouhani said that lashing out at Rafsanjanis prestige and dignity did not make him bow.

These comments come at a time when there is still much suspicion over Rafsanjanis death, with conspiracy theorists (and sometimes Rafsanjanis family) questioning the official report of death.

While some consider it surprising that Rouhani would choose to openly make these comments, we should not be surprised in the rifts themselves. The Regime is deeply divided by factional infighting, which means that they are incredibly weak. It will not be long before the Iranian people can overthrow the Regime and bring freedom to Iran.
By Chris Helgren

TORONTO (Reuters) - An 18-year-old Saudi woman who fled her family this week saying she feared for her life arrived in Toronto's international airport on Saturday after being granted asylum in Canada, where Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland welcomed her as a brave new Canadian.

Rahaf Mohammed al-Qunun grabbed international attention this week after she barricaded herself in a Bangkok airport hotel room to resist being sent home to her family, which denies any abuse. Qunun refused to meet her father and brother, who arrived in Bangkok to try to take her back to Saudi Arabia.

Qunun arrived at Toronto's Pearson International Airport on Saturday morning, wearing a hoodie emblazoned with the word Canada in red, and a blue cap with the logo of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), which has granted her refugee status.

In her last tweet before leaving for Toronto, Qunun said, "I did it," and posted pictures from inside an airplane.

Freeland, who received Qunun at the airport, told reporters that Qunun is "a very brave new Canadian."

"Rahaf wanted Canadians to see that she has arrived at her new home," Freeland told reporters. "But she had a very long and tiring journey and so would prefer not to take questions today. And she is now going to go to her new home."

A smiling Qunun waved to reporters as she walked out into the international arrivals area but did not speak to the media. After a brief appearance, she was taken back into the airport terminal.

Canada's decision to grant asylum to Qunun comes at a delicate time. Relations between Ottawa and Riyadh have been tense after Canada demanded the immediate release of jailed rights activists last year, infuriating Saudi Arabia who retaliated by freezing new trade with Ottawa.

Qunun, who had initially intended to seek asylum in Australia, chose Canada instead because Australia took too long assessing whether to grant her asylum.

Story continues

"(Australia) takes too long. That's why I went to Canada," she told Reuters in a direct message before boarding her flight to Toronto. Qunun took a Korean Air flight from Bangkok to Seoul on Friday and then a connecting flight to Toronto.

Her case has drawn global attention to Saudi Arabia's strict social rules, including a requirement that women have the permission of a male "guardian" to travel, which rights groups say can trap women and girls as prisoners of abusive families.

Qunun arrived in Bangkok a week ago and was initially denied entry. But she soon started posting messages on Twitter from the transit area of Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi airport saying she had "escaped Kuwait" and her life would be in danger if forced to return to Saudi Arabia.

Within hours, a campaign sprang up dubbed #SaveRahaf, spread on Twitter by a loose network of activists.

Following a 48-hour stand-off at Bangkok airport, some of it barricaded in a transit lounge hotel room, she was allowed to enter the country and was processed as a refugee by the UNHCR.

(Additional reporting by Patpicha Tanakasempipat; Writing by Denny Thomas; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama)
Two militants were killed during a gunfight with the security forces on Saturday, 12 January, in south Kashmir's Kulgam district, news agency IANS reported.

Police sources said the militants were killed in Yariporas Katapora village in Kulgam.

"The identity of the slain militants is being ascertained," a source told IANS.

Clashes between stone-pelting youth and security forces have started near the site of the gunfight, sources said.

Security forces are using tear smoke to quell the protesters.

Security forces started a cordon and search operation in Katapora village following information about the presence of militants there, sources said.

A police officer, speaking to news agency PTI, said the search operation morphed into an encounter after the militants fired at the security forces.

"As the cordon around the hiding militants was tightened, they fired at security forces, triggering an encounter", police said.

Mobile internet services have been suspended in Kulgam and Shopian districts, sources added.

More details awaited.

(With inputs from IANS and PTI)

. Read more on India by The Quint.RSS & BJPs Nehru-Netaji Cosplay: Irony Dies a Thousand DeathsPakistan PM is Twice-Divorced Yet Divorce in TV-Shows Un-Islamic . Read more on India by The Quint.




101-year-old Pakistani Hindu becomes oldest person to get Indian citizenship

12 Jan 2019: 101-year-old Pakistani Hindu becomes oldest person to get Indian citizenship

On Friday, a centenarian Pakistani Hindu was awarded Indian citizenship after a 12-year-long wait.

At 101 years of age, Jamuna Mai became the oldest person of either sex to have been granted citizenship in India.

She had moved to India in 2006, and had been living in a small hamlet in Jodhpur, awaiting her citizenship in the country.

Here's more on her incredible journey.

Jamuna Mai: A bit about India's newest citizen

Mai was born in 1918 in the Punjab province of undivided India.

For the longest time, her family's only source of livelihood had been farming on a zamindar's land in the Rahim Yar Khan district of the Punjab province in Pakistan.

For decades, her family suffered the exploitation landless laborers usually go through - long working hours, low wages, and no holidays.

Babri Masjid: The demolition of the Babri Masjid made life hell

Despite the dismal working conditions, her family continued to live and work in Pakistan.

However, in 1992, the demolition of the Babri Masjid in Ayodhya altered her family's relationship with Muslim landowners and neighbors overnight, and living in Pakistan became increasingly difficult for the Hindu family.

In 2000, they decided to leave Pakistan, and in August 2006, Mai's family arrived in India on a religious visa.

Migration: Even after moving to India, Mai's family suffered a lot

Even after moving to India, the family's troubles did not stop.

Their hopes of being accepted by their community, the Meghwals, proved only a pipe dream - they were denied work or accommodation in the initial years after migrating.

Law enforcement agencies in India, too, had never-ending questions for them.

In fact, at one point, they even considered going back to Pakistan.

Hopes: Mai is now hopeful about her family getting Indian citizenship

However, when her Indian citizenship got cleared and came through on Friday, Mai and her family could not contain their happiness.

She danced with one of her sons (the other is still in Pakistan) and shared sweets with her family to celebrate the momentous occasion.

Speaking to TOI, she expressed hope about the rest of her family receiving Indian citizenship soon.




IceViking strongly condemns physical attacks and harassment directed towards them.





They are also often victims of the Islamic idea. This is true when it comes to the cruel and tragic treatment of Muslim women and children when it is in accord with the Koran, the example of Mohammed and Islamic law, Sharia, which may be applied regardless of where a Muslim male may find himself in the world, whether in a Muslim or non-Muslim country.





However, in no way, shape or form should one judge all Muslim men because of what is in Islamic scripture and what constitutes the Islamic law, Sharia.





"Race", ethnicity or basically anything that you are "merely" born with should never be a basis for bigotry and discrimination.





Apostates from Islam have been executed for 1400 years in accord with the Koran and the words and actions of the Islamic prophet Mohammed and Islamic law, Sharia.





They should be lovingly helped.





Furthermore, approximately as many as 11,000,000 Muslims may have been killed by other Muslims since 1948.





To quote the website The Religion of Peace (TROP), edited by Glen Roberts:





While it may be safe to say that a true Muslim would not intentionally kill another true Muslim ( 4:92-93 ), the Quran places no such value on the life of a Muslim who is not true. Consider verse 9:73 :

Strive hard against the disbelievers and the hypocrites, and be harsh against them, their abode is Hell.

The Arabic for strive hard uses the same root as Jihad - and the context in this sura is holy war (see v. 86 and 91). Thus, there are two distinct classes of people that a true Muslim is to target with harshness: disbelievers and hypocrites.



A disbeliever obviously refers to a non-Muslim, so a "hypocrite" must be a Muslim of some sort. In fact, hypocrites are those who say they believe, but do not act as they should. In other words, they are "Muslims", but not true Muslims. They will go to hell just as unbelievers do, and so, according to the verse, their lives matter for naught.



The same sura says that a hypocrite can be recognized not just by lack of piety (reluctance to follow Sharia), but by fear of death ( 9:56 ), reluctance to fight ( 9:44-45 ) and even friendliness toward non-believers ( 9:67 ). A true Muslim would thus be a pious person who relishes martyrdom, is eager to fight, and shuns non-believers.



Even the Quranic passage that warns against killing "believers" ( 4:88-94 ) is more complicated than it first appears. It never says that a true Muslim is incapable of killing another Muslim, just that it should not be done. In fact, it makes exceptions for the unintentional killing of "believers" in war and mandates the killing of "hypocrites."



Verse 17:33 says, "Do not kill anyone which Allah has forbidden, except for a just cause" . The greatest cause of all is that Islam be superior ( 9:33 ), which is exactly what Islamic terrorists say is their goal. Thus believing Muslims are allowed to be collateral damage in the war on unbelievers.









There is sadly a phenomena that I`ve noticed in Sweden and elsewhere of people using true facts about Islamic doctrine and history as a cover for all sorts of irrational targeting of Muslims, ranging from xenophobia and racism to verbal abuse and physical attacks.





This is strongly condemned by this website and does not in any way serve serious criticism of orthodox Islam and other important work.





It`s also important that one tries to express oneself in a civilized way. Words matter.





In this bloggers humble opinion the root cause of the problem is the ancient doctrine of orthodox Islam.













In simple terms a non-Muslim is a Kafir.





" The Koran defines the kafir and kafir is not a neutral word. A kafir is not merely someone who does not agree with Islam, but a kafir is evil, disgusting, the lowest form of life."





An exact quote, as stated in the writings of Dr. Bill Warner in the article "Kafir" at http://www.politicalislam.com/kafir .





In the perfect Koran (Allah`s direct and literal word as revealed to Mohammed through the angel Jibril), Muslims are told 89 times to emulate Mohammed in all ways (see Koran 33:21 for instance).





Mohammed`s example, the Sunna, is found in the Hadith (stories of what Mohammed said and did) and the Sira (biographies of Mohammed).





Islamic law, Sharia , is directly derived from these unchanging scriptures. It is based on the Koran`s numerous commands to obey Allah and obey the Messenger, that is Mohammed (see Koran 4:59 for instance).









Islam is Sharia. Sharia is Islam.





It is a capital crime for Muslims to deny Sharia in any way.





A Muslim is someone who submits to Islam and submitting to Islam means obeying the Sharia of Allah.





Sharia law includes pronouncements for both Muslims and non-Muslims (Kafirs).









Islam is a "complete way of life", a "complete code of life", a "complete system of life".





Islam is not just a religion but also a comprehensive ideology.





Islam is a supremacist ideology.





Islam is a totalitarian and imperialistic ideology akin to Communism and Nazism.





Islam is a civilization.

Islamic law, Sharia, is a manual for a civilization.





Islamic law, Sharia, governs every aspect of life.

It has a say about every conceivable human act .





Non-Muslims are morally and legally inferior in Islam. Women are morally and legally inferior in Islam.

























The History of Jihad: From Muhammad to ISIS by Robert Spencer is the first one-volume history of jihad in the English language and a great book on the topic.





Allah guarantees Paradise to those who "kill and are killed" for him (Koran 9:111).





A hadith depicts a Muslim asking Muhammad: "Instruct me as to such a deed as equals Jihad (in reward)." Muhammad replied, "I do not find such a deed." (Bukhari 4.52.44)





Muhammad himself said:

I have been commanded to fight against people so long as they do not declare that there is no god but Allah, and he who professed it was guaranteed the protection of his property and life on my behalf except for the right affairs rest with Allah. (Sahih Muslim 30)









Freedom of speech, human rights, democracy, science and human lives are all at stake in the fight against the Islamic Jihad.




Job titles in the agricultural community are vast. There are many different careers and people that work together to produce a safe food supply for humans and livestock. Moving food from farm to table incorporates multiple hands and minds. One of those minds is a lawyer, a job title many students dont think of when they consider an agricultural career.

Anna Jordan, policy and outreach coordinator of Drake University Agricultural Law Center and a recent graduate in agricultural law, explained that there is a profound shortage of attorneys available to serve rural communities. She went on to explain the variety of opportunities available for young people

There are many ways to use a legal education. Examples include disputing contracts and property rights, marketing, food production, international trade, advocation for nonprofits, providing resources to the public on law and policy, and so forth, she said.

From her experience, she noted that graduates of agricultural law should understand the regulations specific to farming and land use. However, not many colleges offer this emphasis; University of Arkansas, Vermont Law School, and Drake University are a few. In fact, two of the lawyers interviewed for this article took limited classes related to agriculture and environmental law. Nevertheless, they both believe their dairy farming backgrounds have given them perspective on many of the cultural realities and challenges of rural America.

Hard work ethic shows

Gary Leistico has been practicing law for 25 years in central Minnesota and is a 20-year partner at Rinke Noonan Law firm in St. Cloud, Minn. His subject areas of practice are agriculture, environment, natural resources, endangered species, and criminal justice.

He said, Every day changes, you go wherever the files take you. He might be in court for one day and visiting with farmers or other clients the next, or he might even be traveling to a different state. Since Leistico has law licenses for Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wisconsin, and Iowa, he works in all of those states. However, without a doubt, his favorite part of the job is working with his clients, who may be landowners, dairy farmers, or agribusiness owners.

Over 80 percent of the time, I am dealing with ag issues that range from dairy, swine, poultry, and crops to the environment and water laws, he shared.

His 25 years and counting of experience as an attorney were preceded by growing up on a dairy farm near Elk River, Minn., with his three brothers and one sister. The family milked 150 Holsteins in a stanchion barn along with raising 150 head of young stock, and the Leisticos owned 300 acres of cropland as well. Just like many dairy youth today, Leistico was heavily involved in 4-H, FFA, and showing dairy cattle.

He gained valuable skills from his time spent on the farm and while participating in these organizations.

Growing up on a farm you realize that work is all the time, and you always have to be considering the farm. If someone is working, everyone else should be working to help get that job done, explained Leistico. Practicing law is similar to dairy farming in that it is a team effort.

Leistico didnt know he would eventually attend law school. Out of high school, he worked on the farm for a couple years and then enlisted in the Army for six years. When he went to college, he had his sights set on law enforcement and got his bachelors degree in criminal justice. What really pushed him to go to law school was the palpable impact he could make.

I like to be able to make a difference and not be sitting on the sideline, he said. As a lawyer, I am able to assist farmers and others and make a real difference.

While in law school, Leistico had a job with the USDA Agriculture Stabilization and Conservation Service, now a part of the Farm Service Agency (FSA). He also took an internship with the U.S. Attorneys Office. For anyone in law school, he recommends taking these opportunities.

Get the experience and get inside the area of law you think you want to practice. You may find you are interested in that area or you may find that you are not, said Leistico. You dont know until you try; let yourself try something new, and dont be afraid to fail.

Leistico shared that when he is hiring new team members, he genuinely likes to hire people with a dairy or agricultural background. He knows that they have the work ethic and valuable life experiences that are hard to find from anywhere else.

Putting skills to use

Before heading to Cornell University to study animal science, Leah Ziemba lived and worked on her familys 40-cow dairy in Elkhorn, Wis. Growing up, she was involved in the Junior Holstein Association, 4-H, and FFA. Like many other youth, Ziemba also competed in dairy judging. Many of the skills that helped her through law school she gained from dairy activities.

Dairy judging allowed me to practice for defending my position and taught me to speak with confidence and authority when doing so, explained Ziemba. You place the class and then try to convince an official why you saw them that way. It is very similar to talking to a judge in the courtroom.

While completing her bachelors degree, Ziemba thought she would become a veterinarian. However, she found herself gravitating toward more of her government, environmental, and law classes.

I saw how environmental matters were changing the shape and dynamic of the dairy industry, and I wanted to be a part of that, said Ziemba. I worked for two years after I graduated from college for the New York Farm Bureau as a lobbyist and policy analyst. I wanted to be sure that I wanted to go back to law school.

She noted that law students come from a variety of backgrounds. Her animal science degree helped prepare her for the technical and analytical writing in law school.

Ziemba received her law degree from Syracuse University and has been a practicing attorney for 12 years. She is currently a partner at Michael Best, in Madison, Wis., where she co-chairs the agribusiness, food, and beverage industry group.

Her most important advice for students is this: Do your due diligence and understand the financial cost of going to law school, and pencil out what kind of job you want. Not every job requires a law degree, and some may not be worth the opportunity cost of going to law school.

Ziemba attests that the habits of preparation, planning, and consistent daily effort she picked up from farming helped her earn her degree. For students interested in agricultural law, job opportunities are most definitely there, and a background in dairy will certainly help you with your education and career goals.

Tips from a recent graduate

Anna Jordan, from Drake University, was sworn in as an attorney last May. Just starting her career, she shared a couple tips for students.

Bachelors degree  Dont worry about having a prelaw degree. Focus on learning about things that interest you and shape your legal studies around that topic.

Internships  The law is vast, use internships to explore interests and to expose yourself to new things.

Personal statement  Many schools do not hold an interview process for law school admissions. The personal statement is an important tool for applicants to set themselves apart.
DECATUR  With 9 to 10 inches of snow possible for parts of Central Illinois this weekend, Decatur residents on Friday were making a run on bread, milk, eggs and other essentials to weather the storm.

Its what Ive got to do, said Steve Vest, 62, as he filled his grocery cart at Aldi with enough to feed the four people in his home. Its my family.

Vest was among many weaving through the aisles at the Pershing Road store, stocking up on food and household essentials. The National Weather Service at Lincoln said most of the snow would fall across the region between 9 p.m. Friday and 6 p.m. today (Saturday). Scott Baker, a meteorologist with the weather service, said the Decatur area would likely receive 9 to 10 inches, with the largest amount falling before noon today.

"If you dont have to be out in it, dont," Baker said. "If you do, take your time."

Temperatures will be near freezing, which means the snow will likely be on the wetter, heavier side, Baker said. That means it's not fun to shovel or drive on, but there is a bright side: "Itll probably be fine for building some snowmen during the morning and the afternoon," he said.

Decatur municipal services manager Dan Mendenall said 15 trucks would begin working at 9 p.m. to clear the streets, and staffing would continue as needed. As many as 18 trucks can be out during one 12-hour shift from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., or 11 p.m. to 11 a.m.

"We'll handle whatever Mother Nature throws at us," Mendenall said.

Workers often use salt to melt the snow when there are just a few inches, but begin plowing when the amounts are greater.

Mendenall said the goal is to have all priority streets cleared within 18 hours after the snow stops falling, though typically it does not take that long. After that, neighborhood streets are to be cleared in the next 36 hours.

Detailed maps showing the city's snow plowing routes are available on its website, decaturil.gov, in the Public Works section. Click here to see them.

If residents plan to shovel their driveways before the trucks come through and want to avoid being plowed in, Mendenall said, it's best to pile the snow on the "downstream end," or the far end of the driveway based on the flow of traffic. He advised waiting to shovel the driveway until the plow trucks have been through the neighborhood when possible.

"We figured out one time if we lifted our plow for every driveway in town, it would take us about 10 times longer to plow the streets," he said.

Drivers who do get out should stay far behind the city trucks. Do not try to pass them, he said.

"The least amount of traffic thats out, the easier our job is and the quicker we can get it done," Mendenall said. "If you dont have to get out, stay in and let us get our job done, and itll be a lot safer to travel."

Private companies that work plowing snow, like Exterior Maintenance Solutions in Decatur, were also getting ready to work.

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We rest and stay hydrated. Were staging equipment, said owner Matthew Schwass. There are so many variables.

Schwass also recommends those travelling in the storm be cautious of snow removal vehicles.

Be mindful of the warning lights, he said.

Pat Kenney, manager of Kenneys Ace Hardware in Decatur, saw the stores stock of shovels, salt and snowblowers was diminishing throughout the day on Friday. And sleds, he said. Thats the first time in three years.

The lack of snowfall in past years has affected Kenneys winter equipment sales, but the store was prepared.

We are all ready, he said. We had it all set back and were using our stock.

Jeanianne Davis has two toddlers she will have to entertain during the storm. Sledding is an option, depending on how cold it is, she said. But we are just staying warm, mostly.

Davis and her husband Malachi brought the children with them to stock up on groceries.

We are doubling down on the foods that we have for them, Malachi Davis said. Normally we would buy just a couple of snacks for them.

Others are on Friday were not as concerned about the forecast.

Mark Allen of Decatur was at a local grocery store Friday to buy a large amount of chicken wings, but they were for an upcoming event for local firefighters.

People blow it up, he said about the accumulation predicted. Its just snow.

If nine inches of snow does fall in his yard, Allen plans to have fun.

Ill have my grandkids and well play in the snow, he said.

With temperatures next week in the 30s, whatever snow does fall will probably hang around awhile.

"To melt 9 inches of snow  that can't be done overnight, unless you have like 70-degree weather," Baker said.

Contact Donnette Beckett at (217) 421-6983. Follow her on Twitter: @donnettebHR

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DECATUR  The first winter storm of 2019 should move out of Central Illinois this (Sunday) morning, potentially leaving behind the first double-digit snow accumulation in years for the Decatur region.

Ed Schimon, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service in Lincoln, said flurries could continue this (Sunday)morning before the region sees relief from a weekend of snowfall. Along with the roughly 8 inches reported across Macon County by Saturday afternoon, Schimon said another system could bring an additional 1 to 3 inches of snow to Central Illinois from Saturday night and lasting until early this (Sunday)morning.

I wouldnt be surprised, Schimon said when asked if the area could see at least 10 inches.

The last time that occurred was in March 2015, when the NWS recorded 11.3 inches of snow in Decatur.

The storm was part of a system that moved into Kansas and Nebraska from the Rockies on Friday, then east into Missouri, Illinois and Indiana. More than a foot of snow fell in some places around St. Louis, and authorities said the storm has contributed to at least five traffic deaths in the Midwest.

Across Central Illinois, state police were busy responding to slide-offs and crashes throughout the region. But in Decatur, police and sheriff representatives said Saturday evening that there had been no major accidents or other weather-related situations to report.

City and county crews continued through Saturday to clear the main roads. Dan Mendenall, the citys Municipal Services Manager, said they had 19 plow trucks out during the day Saturday, with another 18 scheduled to plow overnight.

County Engineer Bruce Bird said they were scheduled to have plow trucks working nonstop through at least Sunday evening.

For some residents, the snow meant having to do a little extra work. Downtown Decatur streets resembled a ghost town early Saturday afternoon as the snow began to come down hard. Among the few out in the weather were library employees Stephanie White and Shamion McWilliams, who said they were on their second time shoveling the sidewalks outside the Decatur Public Library.

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I came out here this morning and it was clear, McWilliams said. But it just keeps coming down.

As they shoveled, White said they were looking on the bright side of things.

Were good on coats and were doing work, she said. Were still rocking and rolling out here.

Others took advantage of the fun side of snow, as a number of people headed to Nelson Park to sled down the hilly terrain. Then there were those like Susan Shaw, who with her friends made their way to Rock Springs Conservation Area, which offers cross country skiing whenever there is at least 4 inches of snow.

Anytime we have 4 inches of snow and we can make our way out there, we make a beeline for Rock Springs, she said.

A self-described lover of winter, Shaw joked she had to hide her excitement for snow from her husband, who is less of a fan of wintery conditions. For Shaw, the opportunity to witness the snowfall in the forest area around Rock Springs is simply too good to not take advantage of.

Its just so beautiful and to be out there and enjoy the winter weather, she said. I just love winter.

Contact Ryan Voyles at (217) 421-7985. Follow him on Twitter: @RVVoyles

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DECATUR  A Decatur man was sentenced to six years in prison Thursday after pleading guilty to having sex with a 16-year-old girl, dropping her off at her high school afterward.

Skylar L. Cook, 24, appeared in Macon County Circuit Court and pleaded guilty to a single count of aggravated criminal sexual abuse, a Class 2 felony. Cook was represented by defense attorney Kevin Sanborn and, in a plea deal, three additional counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse were dismissed, along with six counts of soliciting sex acts.

A count of violating sex offender registration rules was also dismissed by Judge Jeffrey Geisler.

Prosecuting, Assistant States Attorney Kate Kurtz said Cook made contact with teenage females via Facebook, where he used the name Jay Taylor.

A sworn Decatur police affidavit about the case described how he had befriended and persuaded one 16-year-old girl to send him nude pictures of various parts of her body, offering payment of between $500 and $1,000 a photo. Police officer Erik Ethell said in the affidavit that the girl later agreed to meet Cook for sex on March 5.

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(The girl) stated that Jay then dropped her off at high school, Ethell said.

Kurtz told the court that Cook had been required to register as a sex offender after being convicted of criminal sexual abuse in 2013. Part of the registration requirements are that he provide police with a complete list of all online accounts and identities, which police said he failed to do.

No defense was offered for Cook in court, although at the time of his arrest the police affidavit quoted him as stating that he thought he 16-year-old he had sex with was actually 18.

In addition to the prison sentence, Geisler ordered Cook to pay a total of $700 in fees and fines and to register for the rest of his life as a sex offender. He was ordered to submit to testing for sexually transmitted diseases and he was banned from having contact with five teenage girls only identified by their initials in the court order.

2018 mug shots from the Herald & Review

Contact Tony Reid at (217) 421-7977. Follow him on Twitter: @TonyJReid

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Following Tester was Ryan Busse, vice president of sales for Kimber Firearms and board chair of Backcountry Hunters and Anglers, who called public lands the manifestation of democracy by providing something real that the public can see, touch and experience.

Nowhere else on this globe do the people own such a wide swath of true natural assets, perhaps the most true living example of equal justice, he told the crowd. This land is one of the few places that every man, woman and child is equal when they set foot on that land.

Calling them public land patriots, Busse named historic and present conservationists and asked ralliers to make the foundation of support even stronger.

Choteau outfitter Maggie Carr called working in the Bob Marshall Wilderness a great honor for her personally, and the legacy of public lands an honor for all U.S. citizens.

These lands have been fundamental to my upbringing and how I think about the world, she said.  In the last five years or so Ive felt that foundation shift and I have realized there are threats to public lands and these threats have hit me hard. Not just because I love these areas, and I do, we all do, but because it is a threat to my livelihood.
The states first new clerk of the Montana Supreme Court in 30 years says he appreciates the nonpartisan nature of the job.
cssk wrote:





Which one of the following is an assumption required by the argument?



A) A new company is more likely to succeed if every founding member contributes equally to the companys initial funding than if some members contribute more funds than others.



B) Some founding members of successful companies can provide both funding and skills in marketing, management, or technical matters.



C) New companies are more likely to succeed when their founders can provide adequate funding and skills in marketing, management, and technical abilities than when they must secure funding or skills from nonfounders.



D) Founders of a new company can more easily acquire marketing and management abilities than technical abilities.



E) A new company is more likely to succeed if its technical experts are also skilled in management and marketing than if they lack management or marketing skills.





Please explain your answers and start discussion When a group of people starts a company, the founders usually serve as sources both of funding and of skills in marketing, management, and technical matters. It is unlikely that a single individual can both provide adequate funding and be skilled in marketing, management, and technical matters. Therefore, companies founded by groups are more likely to succeed than companies founded by individuals.Which one of the following is an assumption required by the argument?A) A new company is more likely to succeed if every founding member contributes equally to the companys initial funding than if some members contribute more funds than others.B) Some founding members of successful companies can provide both funding and skills in marketing, management, or technical matters.C) New companies are more likely to succeed when their founders can provide adequate funding and skills in marketing, management, and technical abilities than when they must secure funding or skills from nonfounders.D) Founders of a new company can more easily acquire marketing and management abilities than technical abilities.E) A new company is more likely to succeed if its technical experts are also skilled in management and marketing than if they lack management or marketing skills.Please explain your answers and start discussion

defender assumption

a correct answer

eliminate the weakness

ANALYZE THE STIMULUS:

Fact:

Fact:

Conclusion:

Pre-thinking:

<==This is a weakness of the conclusion.

Assumption:

eliminate

ANALYZE EACH ANSWER:

Wrong.

Wrong.

Correct.

ELIMINATES the weakness

Wrong.

Wrong.

Nicequestion.First of all, when we see this kind of question,is the one that couldof a conclusion.When a group of people starts a company, the founders usually serve as sources both of funding and of skills in marketing, management, and technical matters.It is unlikely that a single individual can both provide adequate funding and be skilled in marketing, management, and technical matters.companies founded by groups are more likely to succeed than companies founded by individuals.what if a single founder who only has funding can hire non-founder members who have skills in marketing, management and technical matters? Clearly, a company can be successful.The defender assumption shouldthe weakness above.Thus, the assumption should be it is likely that a company founded by an individual, who often hires non-founder members having skills in business, is less successful than a company founded by group of founders.A) A new company is more likely to succeed if every founding member contributes equally to the companys initial funding than if some members contribute more funds than others.The equal contribution does not help to bolster the conclusion. A cant be an assumption.B) Some founding members of successful companies can provide both funding and skills in marketing, management, or technical matters.B does not violate the conclusion. Its true that some founding members can provide both funding and skills. But B does not help to elucidate why companies founded by groups are more likely to be successful than companies founded by individuals.C) New companies are more likely to succeed when their founders can provide adequate funding and skills in marketing, management, and technical abilities than when they must secure funding or skills from non-founders.C clearlyof the conclusion. C is the correct defender assumption.D) Founders of a new company can more easily acquire marketing and management abilities than technical abilities.Nothing to compare here. D is out scope.E) A new company is more likely to succeed if its technical experts are also skilled in management and marketing than if they lack management or marketing skills.Same error as in D. The comparison between each founding members does not help at all. E is not relevant.Hope it helps a bit.
when

inexpensive or reasonably priced

Usage of IF and When on the GMAT.In conditional statements, if and when can be used interchangeably  but only in certain cases.If and when can be used interchangeably when we present conditions in which the outcome is definite or the outcome is a general fact. i.e. if event A happens, event B happens.Example : We know as a general fact that water evaporates when it is heated.If you heat water, it evaporates.  CORRECTWhen you heat water, it evaporates.  CORRECTWhen can you not use when in place of if?When if conditional statement is used to express a situation in which the outcome is a possibility and not a certainty, when cannot be used in place of if.Example: Possibility of going to fairMorgans may go to the fair, if the weather is bright and sunny.  CORRECTMorgans may go to the fair,the weather is bright and sunny.  INCORRECTkey takeawaysIf the conditional statement expresses a general fact if and when can be used interchangeably.If the conditional statement expresses a possibility, when cannot be used in place of if.Source credit: https://e-gmat.com/blogs/if-vs-when/ Applying the concept to solve this question:We cannot use when here because we do not know for certain whether the outcome making the pilgrimage is certain.Left with A C E.affordable(adjective) vs afford(verb)Dictionary meaning of affordable is inexpensive; reasonably priced.As per the meaning of the original sentence, Making the pilgrimage to Mecca at least once in a lifetime, if affordable, is one of the five obligations of devout Muslims.Who decides whether the pilgrimage is affordable or not?Who reckons whether they can afford the affordable pilgrimage?This option does not answer those questions. Option C answers it and therefore is the winner._________________
New York, Jan. 11, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- A recent report from the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change found that if greenhouse gas emissions continue at the current rate, the atmosphere will warm up by as much as 2.7 degrees above preindustrial levels by 2040. Fortunately, many companies that generate huge amounts of electricity, including data centers, have pledged to switch to renewable energy. This is great news, since it is estimated that by 2030, data center demand will increase up to 10 times its current levels, equaling 13 percent of global electricity consumption. More good news: Solar power electricity generation pricing is the cheapest electricity you can get every single day at 12 noon in many places across the United States. Much of that price drop is driven by more efficient solar modules, cheaper and smarter inverters, as well increased levels of productivity.

The Sun Breaks Through the Clouds

Some of the largest users of data centers are companies you have probably used at least once this week or perhaps in the last few hours, such as Amazon, Google, Uber and Facebook. Our expectations for instant gratification have led to surging demand for centers from companies in two data-intensive sectors  connected cars and the peer-to-peer sharing economy. The brains of these companies are in the cloud, which are not water and air, but buildings, machinery, and people who construct and manage it all. Google has data centers in 21 states. Facebook has nearly 15 million square feet of data center space completed or under construction, with several million more feet in the planning stages. Uber provides 15 million trips a day in 600 cities in 78 countries around the world, making the company a major user of data center infrastructure.

Electricity is the fuel that runs these data centers. Power use at data centers in the United States has grown at about a 4 percent rate annually since 2010 and is expected to hit 73 billion kilowatt hours by 2020, more than 1.8 percent of the countrys total electricity use, according to the Energy Departments U.S. Data Center Energy Usage Report. These centers contribute about 2 percent of the worlds greenhouse gas emissions. Major data center operators say slashing their CO2 emissions is a primary goal. Data Center Frontier reported that renewable energy has become a key component of Facebooks data center projects. Gov. Phil Murphy of New Jersey recently unveiled more than 12,000 rooftop solar panels at the Edison Amazon Fulfillment Center. Amazons rooftop installation in Edison is one of 19 the company has in North America, with a goal of 50 installations worldwide by 2020. Google is the worlds largest corporate buyer of renewable energy.

Soak up the Savings

There are measurable financial and environmental benefits for businesses that transition to solar power. By 2050, its expected that wind and solar will produce half of the worlds electricity. Partly, this is due to lower prices, with solar panel installation costs dropping by more than 70 percent over the last eight years. Additional major factors are breakthroughs in the efficiency of solar panels, better energy storage technologies and stronger awareness of traditional energys environmental impact.

Renewable energy costs are stable because there is virtually no recurring cost. Solar can save companies hundreds of thousands (if not millions) of dollars and has a return on investment of just 3-5 years. Many states offer solar rebate programs. For example, New Jersey provides Solar Renewable Energy Credits, allowing businesses to sell excess energy to electric generators. NY, and more recently MA, on the other hand, directly compensate system owners based on system size. Data center owners are also eligible for Federal income tax credits, and accelerated (year 1) system depreciation. When added up, these incentives can be used to cover 45%-80% of the overall cost.



Solar Wont Cast Shade on Your Operations

Data centers meet the key criteria for solar. Many data centers operate 24/7, leading to high energy bills. They also usually take up a large footprint, which means plenty of roof space for solar panel installation. Solar panels wont disrupt the operation of the facility, since panels are installed in underutilized space, whether thats on the roof of the property, or other open space such as a parking lot or field. A solar system also increases the life of the roof, and the value of the property.

Theres no doubt that the installation of solar panels is a major project. Thats why many companies retain a solar energy broker to help save on solar panel prices and maximize the incentives. They take on the heavy lifting of getting through the transition to solar energy, including the initial site visit, financing and all phases of installation.

The Customer is Always Right

There is evidence that businesses that use renewable energy receive not only the aforementioned financial benefits, but also are meeting new customer expectations and demands. A recent report from RE100, the initiative from the Climate Group that encourages firms to commit to using 100% renewable power, says that Companies sourcing renewable electricity outperform their rivals financially. Climate Group CEO Helen Clarkson, goes on to say that we "now we have the figures to show that good business and good energy go hand in hand." It has become commonplace for RFPs to include requirements regarding a facilitys environmental targets. Companies that make the pledge to switch to solar energy have a positive story for the press, offering a clear competitive advantage.

Commercial solar panel installation proves to tenants that youre investing in the future of the property and care about the environment. By adding a solar system to the building, data centers are more likely to produce higher rents and/or lower vacancy, according to the Department of Energy. Commercial solar systems increase the value of the building and cuts down operating costs.

The Sun Will Come Out Tomorrow

Helping to push businesses into the world of sustainability, New Jersey and New Yorks governors have mandated that 50 percent of all electricity consumed come from renewable energy sources by 2030. Since 2011, solar in New York State has increased more than 1,000 percent. In 2018, through June, New York was ranked third nationally in residential and non-residential solar installed. Governor Cuomo established NY-Sun, a $1 billion initiative to advance the scale-up of solar and move the State closer to having a sustainable, self-sufficient solar industry. New Jersey places sixth on the Solar Energy Industry Association's list, with solar prices falling 47% in the last year.



One thing we can count on is that the sun will continue to shine. Once you install a commercial solar system, it will keep producing power, dramatically reducing or even eliminating energy bills and working towards reducing carbon emissions. Heres to a bright 2019!

Yaniv Kalish is the CEO of SolarKal, an award-winning commercial solar advisor, that helps companies navigate the transition to solar, from the first site visit to the final installation.

Copyright  2018 SolarKal, All rights reserved.
A 9-year-old does not need to know that the government fight is also over the expense of $5 billion to build a wall that opponents think is excessive and unnecessary.

In talking with her, I tried to build on her idea that government does things for people. I was reminded of what Scott Tornquist, a former Mason City councilman, said a few years ago. He said government exists to provide people with necessary services they cannot provide for themselves.

How do you put that in a context a 9-year-old would understand? I told her that governments provide things like police and fire departments and the clean water you drink and that your garbage is picked up and that your streets are safe to drive on.

Government does all of these things, I said, but governments are run by people who dont always agree on the best way of getting things done. And the shutdown is a result of that disagreement.

Theres a much broader context to all of this  the idea of idling thousands of government workers who are innocent victims of the shutdown and that government isnt really the problem. Its the people who are running the government. But even for someone as curious as she is, for someone who always wants details, a 9-year-old should not be fretting about things like this.
Between 2010 and 2016, Clear Lake was in a sharing agreement with Mason City that made Anita Micich the superintendent of both districts. As a part of said agreement, Micichs salary and benefits were to be paid by Mason City in total and Clear Lake was to reimburse Mason City for 40 percent of the total.

Although, according to the state auditor's report, the comparison of the percentage to be billed, in accordance with the sharing agreement, to the amount actually billed didn't match.

At the time, the arrangement was made because the superintendent position in the Clear Lake district was vacant. The district didn't have an explicit contract with Micich, just a signed sharing agreement with Mason City.

Gee, superintendent of the Clear Lake Community School District since 2016, said he wasn't aware of the report until he was contacted by the Globe Gazette on the day it was released. And when he read it, he reacted with a mix of interest and reservation.

"I was surprised, but also curious about the report, so I read the report, but I also know like everything there are two sides to every story," he said.

Similarly, Gee said that the overcharges weren't something that had been on his radar until the auditor released the report.
MASON CITY | Steve Dunlap has found strength in music.

Karaoke music, that is.

That perks me up to get me through all of this, the music and having fun and being with perks good friends, he said in a sit-down interview with the Globe Gazette earlier this week at a local coffee shop.

Dunlap, a longtime Mason City resident, has Type 2 diabetes, which led to the amputation of his left leg and early retirement as a security guard at Southbridge Mall within the past decade.

Two months ago, he learned his kidneys are malfunctioning and disintegrating because of it.

In February, hell begin the process for a kidney transplant in Des Moines.

It takes a lot out of you, Dunlap said about his kidneys. It makes me feel tired and rundown.

But not too tired or rundown to keep him from his love of music.
According to Jennifer Campbell, as her and Annette were concluding that investigation, a board member raised concerns to them in an exit interview about issues "above and beyond what was in the re-audit."

That, coupled with concerns about potential misuse of electronic signatures and questions regarding board meeting minutes, was enough to broaden the scope of the investigation from the initial 2015-2017 range.

Mason City School Board President Jodi Draper took issue with the fastidiousness of the broader audit.

According to Draper, who encouraged the investigation, the school board asked special investigators to reconsider "including the names of employees who had no decision-making power, influence or authority in determining their pay."

Once the investigation started, Annette Campbell and Jennifer Campbell looked at payrolls for some 74 individuals in the Mason City School District and sifted through what they both agreed was an "innumerable" amount of documents.

State Auditor Mary Mosiman's office worked closely with personnel in the Mason City School District office, which Jennifer Campbell says made the lengthy process "easier." They didn't file mountains of formal requests to gather information; it was largely just handed over.
Over the next year, Iowa Democrats face the daunting task of starting to winnow what most expect will be a gargantuan field of candidates running for president.

Kim Reynolds, the states Republican governor, said she welcomes all of those candidates.

And she said shes glad to be watching this one from the sidelines.

There was a definite and relaxed, "been there, done that" vibe to Reynolds response to a recent question about the 2020 Iowa caucuses and what promises to be an endless parade of Democrats coming to Iowa between now and next February.

More than 20 Republicans sought the partys presidential nomination in the 2016 caucuses. The number of Democrats who run in 2020 is expected to reach, if not surpass, that.

"I hope they have to have debates that cover two nights. I think they will. We lived through all of that, so its going to be kind of interesting to see this take place on the flip side," Reynolds said with a laugh. "We had the onslaught in 16, so it will be interesting to see."
With the longest federal government shutdown in U.S. history showing no end in sight, states are keeping an eye on how their programs may be impacted.

Iowas leaders insist state programs are not in immediate danger, but they are monitoring the activity  or lack thereof  in Washington, D.C.

States rely on federal funding for programs like food assistance for low-income people, and mothers and infant children, among others.

A prolonged shutdown could impact federal payments to Iowa farmers or curtail food inspections.

Federal lawmakers and President Donald Trump are at an impasse over whether to include an additional $5 billion in the federal budget for a security wall along the U.S.-Mexico border.

Gov. Kim Reynolds said her administration has processes in place to monitor and react to a federal government shutdown, drawn on experience with previous shutdowns. The plan is overseen by state Department of Management Director David Roederer, and Reynolds' staff remains in contact with its legislative liaison in Washington, D.C., for constant updates.
Check out five ways you can improve and maintain your mental health, how to find the perfect financial advisor, and more videos to improve your life.
This is a well constructed animation created by Russian video editor 4096 that pays tribute to the slipcover art on blank VHS tapes, with each different brand's cover art smoothly morphing into the next. I remember some of those! Man, I can't even tell you how many VHS tapes I filled up with Saturday morning cartoons. Probably two, and possibly even three. "That's it?" Well I've never been much of a morning person, and it's not like my parents are going to record cartoons for me just so I can hog the TV watching them all later. "Smart parents." They also discovered that if they unplugged the television I would just assume it was broken and go play outside because I thought the power came through the TV antennae. "Why did you think that?" Because that's what my dad told me. "Wow, really smart parents." Everything they ever taught me was a lie. And I was homeschooled, so I still have eighteen years of relearning to do.

Keep going for a trip down memory lane.

Thanks to Cyndi M, who agrees there was nothing like the smell of a freshly unwrapped blank VHS tape. It smelled like...possibilities.
When delays and missed deadlines in 2011 began to chip away at order in her court, 4th Judicial District Judge Theresa Cisneros didnt opt for restraint.

She went heavy  ordering District Attorney Dan May to the stand to answer for trial postponements that kept defendants in limbo, and even dismissing a drug-smuggling case against an ex-prison guard over rule violations.

Although she later reinstated the drug case, her message to prosecutors was clear, Cisneros said in a recent interview.

The message was, I expected them to follow the rules, she said.

For Cisneros, who retired Monday after 22 years on the bench, ensuring that rules were followed became her core mission in El Paso County District Court, which hears the countys most serious criminal cases, along with complex lawsuits, divorces and child custody battles.

She wasnt afraid to rattle things when efforts fell short, as she put it, or to shrug off what she calls hurt feelings that resulted.

If were agreeing with the DAs Office all the time, or theyre agreeing with us all the time, theres probably something wrong, because thats not how the system is set up, she said.

While taking turns presiding over every type of docket on offer, Cisneros carved out a reputation as an unbending referee, poised to crack down on misbehavior wherever she found it.

Lawyers coming late or unprepared were a frequent target, and spectators quickly learned they werent immune from scrutiny.

Chatting in a back row might earn a pointed shushing from Cisneros, who demanded a respectful silence in the gallery, but ringing cellphones set off a smoldering display.

When a cellphone chirped at a recent hearing during a first-degree murder case, Cisneros, diminutive in stature at about 5 feet tall, summoned an outsize force as she ripped into the owner, Sir! I will take your phone!

The man left grumbling and didnt return.

The focus on the rules is meant to protect the system, Cisneros says. Minding them maintains the courts reputation as a neutral forum, where anyone can get a fair shake, everyone is treated with seriousness, and rulings are respected.

Our courts are losing respect of people, she said. Open up the newspaper. The courts are under attack.

Running a tight ship in the courtroom is a first step in repairing the damage, she said, because it tells the public they are engaging in serious business.

I found that just starting on time makes a big difference, said Cisneros, who was notorious for her fast-moving dockets and short patience for delays.

The Denver native grew up in poverty with five siblings, largely under the watch of a single father who struggled with alcoholism.

In a loving but chaotic household, she was 9 or 10 when she inherited the responsibility of procuring groceries for the family.

She and her brother would walk to the market, make their purchases and push the cart all the way home.

I had to make the food stamps last the whole month, she said.

Cisneros gravitated toward the law after getting a job in high school as a typist at a law firm.

She was an ace at shorthand, and a lawyer recognized her smarts.

That introduced me to a whole different world.

Without realizing it, she already had honed skills that would help her succeed.

Organization is my talent, she said. I can take something thats normally chaotic and put organization to it.

Through personal hardship, Cisneros said, she gleaned insight into the value of keeping families together, even under imperfect circumstances.

During a tenure as presiding Juvenile Court judge in El Paso County, she tried to relax family management plans, shedding requirements she deemed too onerous. If a judge couldnt accomplish her order, then it was a bad order, she told colleagues, urging them to tailor such plans to what is needed.

Were not in the business of creating perfect people, she said. Saddle them with too many requirements, and they fail.

Her leniency didnt extend to attorneys in custody battles, who were held to high standards, no matter the competing demands on their time, she said.

When youre dealing with families and childrens lives, how much is enough?

With the late Judge Barney Iuppa, who died in 2016, Cisneros helped found Court Care for the Pikes Peak Region, a nonprofit that provides free, on-site child care to parents with business in court, sparing their children from custody hearings and criminal proceedings.

With Judges David Prince and David Shakes, she helped develop Judicially Speaking, a statewide public education program that teaches children about the role of the judiciary. In 2015, the program was honored by the National Center for State Courts, a nonprofit that works to improve the administration of justice.

Cisneros worked as a Colorado Springs public defender and a private defense attorney before she was named to the bench in 1997 by Gov. Roy Romer, a Democrat, becoming the first Latina in Colorados state courts.

Its a proud but sad distinction, given how overdue it was, Cisneros said.

On the eve of her retirement, she complained that El Paso County District Court, with its 22 courtrooms, doesnt have a single African-American judge, a gap in perspectives on the bench.

It affects how the community sees the bench, she said. If we want the community to have respect for the bench, maybe the bench should mirror the community.

Cisneros said the jobs relentless pace helped convince her it was time to step aside, recounting the short retirements of judges who left the bench late in life only to die within months. She will take 90 days to figure out her next steps but plans to apply for a position as a senior judge, which could keep her in District Court as an occasional substitute.

Cisneros, who is married to longtime criminal defense attorney Kent Gray, has three children and two grandchildren.

The vacancy she left was filled by Chad Miller, a former Colorado Springs public defender appointed by Gov. John Hickenlooper to succeed her.

Even in the final weeks of her tenure, Cisneros made waves.

During a trial involving a woman who was hunted down and shot in the face after witnessing an attack in the citys Knob Hill neighborhood, Cisneros learned that a juror had been texting her boyfriend  a spectator in the gallery  through testimony and deliberations.

Despite numerous warnings, the panelist acted as if her job were a lark, joking with her boyfriend over a prosecutor he nicknamed McGrumpy and leaking word of the verdict before it was announced.

For crying out loud, Cisneros thought to herself, as she called a mistrial for what might have been the last time.

The rules are there to make sure the parties have a fair trial.
The partial government shutdown hit about 15,000 federal workers in Colorado hard on Friday.

That marked the first day that federal employees for unfunded agencies didnt get paychecks.

About 15,000 of the states 52,000 federal workers are affected by the shutdown, reports the office of U.S. Rep. Ed Perlmutter, a Colorado Democrat.

All told, an estimated 800,000 federal workers across the country missed their paychecks for the first time Friday since the shutdown began at midnight Dec. 22.

Some affected workers are deemed essential and are working without pay, such as the Transportation Security Administration security screeners at Denver International Airport and guards at the states federal prisons. In other cases, theyre staying home.

In Colorado, agencies heavily affected by the shutdown  with many or most of their workers not getting paid  include the Departments of Interior (parent of the National Park Service and the Bureau of Land Management) and of Agriculture (overseeing national forests and the Farm Service Agency), as well as the National Archives and Records Administration based in Broomfield and the Environmental Protection Agency, whose Region 8 headquarters are in downtown Denver.

Sherrie Kanard, an EPA pesticide enforcement officer in Denver for more than 20 years, isnt considered essential, so she isnt working. Shes her familys primary breadwinner, and she and her new husband recently put down a deposit for a home in the mountains.

I joined the government because I liked the work, the stability and the benefits, Kanard said. But since the shutdown in 2013, Congress and the White House seem to be ensuring that government is an unreliable employer, she said.

There will be a breaking point when the government wont be able to get qualified employees, she said.

The furlough has been hard on Kanards family, she said, especially her two special-needs sons.

Her younger son has autism, behavioral issues, developmental delays and a sensory processing disorder. Most of his services are covered under a support waiver, but her older son needs a $150-an-hour therapist every week, as well as medications and other services that arent covered.

Kanard spent much of Friday on the phone with creditors, asking what theyre doing for federal employees. Most have been helpful, she said, but she worries about the mortgage payment, whether they can buy the mountain home and the impact on her credit.

One creditor asked for a copy of her furlough notice. Its in an email on her computer at the EPA, and under the shutdown rules, she cant access it.

Friday, she also applied for unemployment but said the system isnt geared toward the temporarily unemployed. Shell get about one-third of her pay.

When stressed, Kanard said, her older son has difficulty controlling his emotions and has had autistic meltdowns in school. The younger sons stress is triggering seizures, which means trips to the hospital and more medication.

Kanard is stressed, too. Im dripping in it.

Scientific research also has stalled. The National Institute of Standards and Technology and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration have offices in Boulder, and Interiors U.S. Geological Survey has at least 10 laboratories across the Front Range.

Furloughed government scientists are banned from any form of work activity  they cannot so much as open an email, The Washington Post reported.

Still working, though, is NOAAs Space Weather Prediction Center, whose lab monitors solar flares that could disrupt communications and the nations electrical grid.

Some agencies arent significantly affected because their funding was approved: the military, the Department of Energy (and its National Renewable Energy Laboratory in Golden) and the Department of Labor. And the mail still is delivered because the U.S. Postal Service is self-funded.

The shutdown was sparked when President Donald Trump refused to sign appropriations bills passed by the then-Republican-controlled Congress unless he it included billions of dollars for a wall along the Mexican border. Trump now is demanding $5.7 billion for the wall in exchange for reopening the government.

> RELATED: {a class=tnt-asset-link href=https://www.coloradopolitics.com/news/premium/salvadoran-granted-sanctuary-in-colorado-church-pleads-for-end-to/article_dad8f789-6202-5cf3-99bf-40fef7e1f6fd.html}Salvadoran granted sanctuary in Colorado church pleads for end to shutdown{/a}

Negotiations with Democratic leaders in the House and Senate broke down Wednesday, and Trump stormed out of the meeting. They havent met since.

Friday, though, the House and Senate passed bills that will provide back pay to federal workers once the shutdown ends, and Trump is expected to sign it.

Kanard said she doesnt oppose border security, but she wants to get back to protecting people from pesticides.

Trump claims he wants the border wall for the American people, she said, but hes harming 800,000 Americans directly, including contractors and businesses affected indirectly.

Its frustrating and scary. I dont see either side giving in anytime soon, Kanard said.

The shutdown, the longest in history, is especially hard for federal workers who dont have enough savings to cover their bills.

About 420,000 federal employees were deemed essential and are working unpaid. An additional 380,000 are staying home without pay.

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Government contractors,indefinitely placed on unpaid leave, wont get compensated for lost hours.

Thursday, about 150 federal workers called for an end to the shutdown in a downtown Denver rally and delivered a letter to Republican U.S. Sen. Cory Gardners office at the U.S. Customs House, thanking Gardner for being the first senator to break with Trump and call for an end to the shutdown.

Unfortunately, it doesnt look like theres any end in sight, said Tim Snyder of the American Federation of Government Employees. Back pay will be nice, Snyder said, but we dont know how long (the shutdown) will be, and they cant get that back pay until the shutdown ends.

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Federal workers also want Gardner to pressure Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell to allow a vote on the appropriations bills that could force Trump to reopen the government.

This falls on McConnell, Snyder said. Stop the shutdown, put these people back to work, and then go back to the table and negotiate on proper funding for border security.

No one opposes border security, he said, but it doesnt make sense for Border Patrol agents to work without pay. How does that promote any security?

Some TSA agents might leave federal service. Some at Thursdays rally have started driving for Uber and Lyft for pay.

Food banks across the nation, including Colorados Food Bank of the Rockies, are reaching out to furloughed employees, Snyder said. I never thought in my day I would see federal employees inquire about food banks or them reaching out to us to help.

Up to 40 percent of those affected by the shutdown are military veterans, he noted. We take pride in supporting Americas veterans. How can you make veterans go without a paycheck?

Perlmutter announced Thursday that his office will provide meals and other resources to affected federal employees. Plenty of those live in his district, which has 28 federal agencies at the Denver Federal Center in Lakewood, with more than 6,000 employees furloughed.

His Lakewood office, 12600 W. Alameda Avenue, will be open 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays to help federal workers and other affected constituents.

It is never acceptable for the dysfunction in Washington, D.C., to harm our federal workers and so many of the hardworking people in the 7th Congressional District, Perlmutter said.

Friday marks the first missed paycheck for thousands of Coloradans, and Ive heard from many constituents who are concerned about how theyre going to make ends meet.

U.S. Rep. Diana DeGette, D-Colo., announced Thursday that she wont accept her congressional salary until federal employees get paid.

If the shutdown continues through Saturday, it could drive the U.S. unemployment rate up by about 0.2 percentage points, said Ben Herzon of US Economics.

Thats because the 380,000 furloughed employees (about 0.2 percent of the labor force) are considered unemployed, on temporary layoff if they miss work for the entire reference week.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
We do not have an emergency at the southern border, and so its good President Trump did not try to seize power by declaring a state of emerge
The future is hemp, and the future is now, Colorado hemp industry leader Tim Gordon says. Some have called the passage last month of the U.S. farm bill, which takes hemp from a Schedule 1 controlled substance to an agricultural commodity, as a game-changer. But Gordon calls it "a game starter" for the fledgling hemp industry.
Terry M. Jarrett is an energy attorney and consultant who has served on both the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners and the Missouri Public Service Commission. He contributes regularly to LeadingLightEnergy.com.
The founder of a tiny house community in Woodland Park is thinking a bit bigger for his next project.

Pete LaBarre, who helped turn an RV park into a village for the miniature structures, is in a group of developers planning another community off Colorado 67 with 53 homes that arent quite so little.

The proposed Village at Tamarac would have 500-square-foot homes similar to the quaint park model varieties that have been a hit with tiny living enthusiasts.

The developers are calling them small houses because the factory-built structures would stray slightly from the definition of a tiny house, which is smaller than 400 square feet and mounted on wheels.

Tiny houses have become a trend, as theyre cheaper, more energy-efficient and provide people with more freedom and mobility than traditional homes.

The Village at Tamarac plan fits zoning and building codes while still giving people what they want: smaller dwellings at relatively affordable prices, LaBarre said. The home prices would start about $115,000, and owners would pay $600 to $700 a month to lease their lot, he said.

The reality is that the housing shortage, in all price ranges, is really critical, he said. Theres a whole segment of our society that cant afford a $250,000, $300,000 home. They cant get financing. Theyre stuck with renting.

The median sale price for a home in Woodland Park was $375,000 in 2018, according to the Pikes Peak Association of Realtors.

LaBarres development group, M3XP2, tried last year to get city permission to put about 80 tiny homes on 10 acres near Morning Sun Drive, across U.S. 24 from Walmart.

But because of the way city land-use rules classify tiny houses, the property needed to be rezoned from multifamily suburban to a mobile home park district. Residents of a nearby upscale neighborhood protested, fearing that their home values would decrease.

The zoning and code havent kept up with the quality of product thats being factory built, whether its a tiny towable park model, a manufactured home or a modular home, LaBarre said.

No rezoning will be needed at the new site at the end of Tamarac Parkway, he said. The community would not be visible from the highway, and a wooded area and easement would separate the small houses from the few homes nearby, he said.

The village would offer one- and two-bedroom homes with seven optional layouts. The houses, manufactured by Champion Home Builders, would have 500 square feet of storage underneath, with front porches and optional back porches, LaBarre said.

The developers are set to close on the property in mid-February and then submit a site development plan to city staff for approval, he said.

They hope to break ground in the spring and begin moving in homes in July or August.

People who want tiny homes often struggle over where to put them because most communities restrict them through building and zoning codes.

El Paso County became one of Colorados first local governments to change its rules to accommodate tiny houses when it amended its land-use code to allow the structures in unincorporated areas.

The county since has had inquiries from people interested in establishing tiny home developments, but no one has followed through any further, county spokesman Matt Steiner said by email.

Some of the areas proposed for the homes are served by well water and septic tanks, making the land difficult and expensive to develop, he said.

Peak View Park, off U.S. 24 near eastern Woodland Park, has more than 50 tiny houses, some as small as 180 square feet. LaBarre, who co-owns the park with Matt Fredell, said he often gets calls from people who want to move in, but the only two lots left are occupied by RVs.

We just recognize the need and the demand because weve been doing it for five years now, six years, he said.

More than 30 peoples names are on a wait list for when homes become available in The Village at Tamarac, LaBarre said.

Among the prospective homeowners is Maggie Donaldson, a San Diego-area resident who stumbled across Peak View Park while searching for tiny house communities online.

Theyre difficult to find. A lot of them are mixed in with mobile home parks that are existing, etc. And theyre not always in the most desirable areas, she said. We were looking for something affordable in the mountains.

She said the smaller space should be more manageable as she and her husband, both in their 50s, grow older. Extra storage space and living in a neighborhood are additional pros, she said.

I didnt want a piece of land with a tiny home, she said. I wanted to have a sense of community.

Anyone looking for more information about The Village at Tamarac can call LaBarre at (719)-502-7431.
BARRON, Wis.  A 21-year-old unemployed man shot a Wisconsin couple to death in a scheme to kidnap their 13-year-old daughter, holding the girl captive for three months in an isolated north woods community before she managed to escape, authorities said Friday.

Jayme Closs was skinny, disheveled and wearing shoes too big for her when she approached a stranger to tell her story Thursday in the small town of Gordon, where police said Jake Thomas Patterson lived.

Her discovery set off joy and relief 60 miles (96 kilometers) away in her hometown of Barron, population 3,300, ending an all-out search that gripped the state, with many people fearing the worst the longer she was missing.

"My legs started to shake. It was awesome. The stress, the relief  it was awesome," Barron County Sheriff Chris Fitzgerald said at a news conference, describing the moment of joy when he learned that Jayme had been found.

Patterson was jailed on kidnapping and homicide charges. It was not immediately known whether he had an attorney.

Fitzgerald gave no details on what happened to Jayme during her captivity and why she was seized, but said investigators do not believe Patterson knew her.

The sheriff said that he did not know if Jayme had been physically abused but that she was hospitalized overnight for observation and cleared and released after a checkup. Investigators were still interviewing her.

Jayme told one of the neighbors in Gordon who helped take her in after her escape that she had walked away from a cabin where she had been held captive.

"She said that this person's name was Jake Patterson, 'he killed my parents and took me,'" another one of the neighbors, Kristin Kasinskas, told The Associated Press. "She did not talk about why or how. She said she did not know him."

Property records show the cabin was sold by Patterson's father to a credit union in October, a few days before Jayme's disappearance.

Kasinskas called 911 to report the girl had been found after another neighbor out walking her dog encountered Jayme and brought her to Kasinskas' house. Minutes later, Patterson was pulled over by a sheriff's deputy based on a description of his vehicle Jayme provided, authorities said.

Jayme's grandfather, Robert Naiberg, told the AP that he had been praying for months for the call he received about his granddaughter being found alive.

"I thought, 'Good for her she escaped,'" he said.

Jayme disappeared without a trace from her family's home near Barron after someone broke in and killed her parents, James and Denise Closs, on Oct. 15.

Fitzgerald said Jayme was taken against her will. He said investigators believe Patterson killed Jayme's parents because he wanted to abduct her.

Patterson was a good but quiet student with a "great group of friends," said Northwood School District Superintendent Jean Serum. Patterson was a member of the Northwood High School quiz bowl team and graduated in 2015, she said.

Kasinskas said she taught Patterson science in middle school, but added: "I don't really remember a ton about him."

"He seemed like a quiet kid," she said. "I don't recall anything that would have explained this, by any means."

The woman who first spotted Jayme on Thursday, Jeanne Nutter, said she was walking her dog along a rural road when a disheveled girl called out to her for help, grabbed her and revealed her name.

"I was terrified, but I didn't want to show her that," Nutter, a social worker who spent years working in child protection, told the AP. "She just yelled, 'Please help me! I don't know where I am! I'm lost!'"

Nutter took her to the home of Peter and Kristin Kasinskas. Jayme was quiet, her emotions "pretty flat," Peter Kasinskas said.

Jayme told the couple she didn't know where she was or anything about Gordon, a town of about 644 people in a heavily forested region where logging in the top industry. From what she told them, they believed she was there for most of her disappearance.

After Jayce vanished, detectives pursued thousands of tips, watched dozens of surveillance videos and conducted numerous searches. Officials recruited 2,000 volunteers for a huge ground search Oct. 23, but it yielded no clues.

Fitzgerald said in November that he kept similar cases in the back of his mind as he worked to find Jayme, including the abduction of Elizabeth Smart, who was 14 when she was taken from her Salt Lake City home in 2002. Smart was rescued nine months later after witnesses recognized her abductors from an "America's Most Wanted" episode.

On Friday, Smart posted on her Instagram account that it was a "miracle" Jayme had been found alive. Smart said the girl's family should be given "space and privacy on their road to finding a new sense of normal and moving forward."

"It was only a few months ago that we as a community gathered to pray for Jayme's safe return at Barron High School," Barron County District Attorney Brian Wright said at a news conference. "God has answered those prayers."

___

Associated Press writers Todd Richmond and Scott Bauer in Madison, Wisconsin, and Amy Forliti in Gordon also contributed to this report along with AP news researcher Rhonda Shafner in New York.
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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David Koch, the billionaire libertarian who gave more than $1 billion to charitable causes but was better known for using his money to reshape U.S. politics, has died. He was 79 years old.
On Thursday, the New York Times ran a headline that said, Colorados got a gay governor. Who cares?

The writers point was that Jared Polis sexual orientation was a nonfactor in the governors campaign and election, accepted in our state as a matter of unremarkable course.

That Polis is gay was interestingly uninteresting to voters, as the conservative columnist George F. Will wrote. What we found, Polis told Will, was that the voters dont really care.

In spite of the nonnewsiness of this news, and putting aside political affiliations for a moment, I still couldnt help but feel a twinge of pride that I lived in the first state in the country to elect an openly gay governor. Seems to me this was destined to happen in a Western state, where Polis election can be seen as a liberal landmark and a libertarian one.

Sure, Colorado experienced a blue wave this November, but I think the Wests live and let live mentality, its leave-me-alone tolerance for individuality, played a part as well.

Right now, our nation is experiencing a period of growing divisiveness and rising tribalism, Polis said in his inaugural speech, delivered on the steps of the state Capitol in Denver. But here in Colorado, we choose a different path. Here, we have come so far, we have climbed so high, we have done so much, not just to say but to show that we reject the negative and divisive brand of politics.

Polis added that the state has decided to celebrate our differences.

The vote made me think of other firsts that have happened in the West, where, perhaps, the minds are a trifle more inclined to mimic the wide-open spaces around them.

In 1869, the territory of Wyoming  hardly a bastion of progressivism then or now  became the first to grant women the right to vote, 50 years before the rest of the country. Colorado was next in 1893, and then Utah and Idaho passed suffrage laws in 1896. The country as a whole didnt get around to it until 1920.

The first woman elected governor of a state was Nellie Tayloe Ross, a Democrat, in 1925 in Wyoming, She succeeded her deceased husband.

I love this one the most: Montana elected the first woman to the U.S. House of Representatives, Jeannette Rankin, in 1916, four years before women could vote! The eldest of seven children, Rankin performed farm chores and maintained farm equipment side by side with men on the Western frontier, and those men thought that, hell, if she could do all that she could handle Congress, no problem.

Argonia, Kansas, elected the first female mayor in 1887.

Colorado elected the first three female state legislators in 1894.

Its as if we pride ourselves on our contrariness here in the middle West.

Of course, not all the firsts are without controversy. Colorado was also first in the country to legalize marijuana, an experiment that is still very much a work in progress.

But lets not forget that Apple, Amazon, and Google all sprang from the Western part of the country as well, a tribute to the fertile ground for innovation here in the Western climes.

Why might a preponderance of these firsts take place out here, in the rawboned wilds of the country?

I like to think theres an intrepid explorer spirit behind that willingness to flaunt norms and dive headlong into the future. Perhaps were not as bound up by history and convention and the way its always been out here beyond the 100th meridian. Its not all done and decided for us in the West, which is a land and society still very much in the making. We are believers in our ability to reinvent ourselves, that our narrative is still very much being spun.

As a result, Colorado and the West have shown a propensity to break new ground, to boldly go where the rest of the country hasnt yet.

I like to think some of that has to do with our peerless geography. Its impossible to look up at Pikes Peak and not think of the boundlessness of our potential. Theres just more room for self-invention and prickly individualism out here. Were all still half-wild, still forming, willing to try new ways of doing things. That boundlessness is closer to the essence of what is best about America, I would argue.

Some think of us as a little less sophisticated, even backward out here, because of our inability to conform too much to trends on the left or right coasts, our desire to be left alone by our government, our obsession with self-reliance and consequent disdain for handouts and taxes.

Let me ask the Thoreau of the West, Edward Abbey, to weigh in on that:

I have been called a curmudgeon, which my obsolescent dictionary defines as a surly, ill-mannered, bad-tempered fellow. Nowadays, curmudgeon is likely to refer to anyone who hates hypocrisy, cant, sham, dogmatic ideologies, and has the nerve to point out unpleasant facts and takes the trouble to impale these sins on the skewer of humor and roast them over the fires of fact, common sense, and native intelligence. In this nation of bleating sheep and braying jackasses, it then becomes an honor to be labeled curmudgeon.

Hear, hear.

Lets take a moment in this new year then to give ourselves a pat on the back for our orneriness, for not doing things the way the rest of the country does them. For being first up the mountain, no matter if you agree with that mountain or not.

May your trails be crooked, winding, lonesome, dangerous, Abbey once wished a passel of Westerners, leading to the most amazing view.
Sunday

American Red Cross blood drive, 7:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., First Lutheran Church, 3200 E. Military Ave., Fremont. To make an appointment to donate blood, download the free American Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit www.redcrossblood.org or call 800-733-2767.

Alcoholics Anonymous Happy Sober Sunday Group, 9 a.m., Chapter 5 Club, Fremont.

Fremont Eagles Aerie 200 breakfast, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Breakfast will be cooked to order. All proceeds will go to Aerie-supported charities. Everyone is welcome.

Alcoholics Anonymous meeting, 10 a.m., Chapter 5 Club, Fremont.

Narcotics Anonymous Seekers of Serenity Group, 10:30 a.m., Care Corps, 723 N. Broad St., Fremont.

Alcoholics Anonymous meeting, 5:15 p.m., Chapter 5 Club, Fremont.

Narcotics Anonymous Freedom Works Group, 7 p.m., Good Shepherd Lutheran Church Education Building, west of the church, 1440 E. Military Ave., Fremont. Enter through the rear door.

Alcoholics Anonymous Sunday speaker, 7:30 p.m., Chapter 5 Club, Fremont.

Monday
Eldridge estimates hell have spent close to 3,000 hours on the project by the time he has finished.

For me to create this design, I did countless hours of research and continue to do so to make sure Im depicting my interpretation of the Divine Mercy properly and accurately based on Sister Faustina, he said.

Sister Faustina Kowalska was a Polish woman assigned to a parish in Latvia.

In 1931, Kowalska said she had a vision of Christ who said to create a painting of him  with the two beams  and to call it Divine Mercy. The red beam is said represent blood and the white or pale one symbolizes water. It was to be accompanied with a banner with the Jesus, I trust in you message.

The parish commissioned the painting to be made, which Kowalska saw before her death in 1938 of what is believed to be tuberculous. She was only 33 years old.

Decades later, Pope John Paul II canonized her and she became Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska.

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Besides the depiction of Christ with the two beams coming from his heart, Eldridge has added other elements to the main window.

The elements include shamrocks reminiscent of Saint Patrick of Ireland for whom the church is named.
All students in traditional programs carrying 12 semester hours or more with a term GPA from 3.2 to 4.0 may qualify for one of these academic honors. Neutral credit hours are excluded from the calculation and reduce the course load used to figure the honor. The president's list is a 4.0 grade point average for the semester; dean's list ranges from 3.5 to 3.99; and the honor roll is 3.2 to 3.49.
U.S.-led coalition withdrawing equipment from Syria

The U.S.-led coalition battling Islamic State added to confusion surrounding the U.S. withdrawal from Syria on Friday by saying it had started the pullout process, but officials later clarified that only equipment, not troops, were being withdrawn.
Twenty-year-old Roberto Gonzalez died in a trauma unit at Nebraska Medicine in 2015, shortly after being shot on an Omaha street.

Through tears nearly four years later, his mother, Raquel Salinas, described her son at a news conference Friday as a person with a pure soul who was selfless, loving and funny. He had great people in his life but also bad influences, she said, and left home at the age of 17.

Salinas was at work that Jan. 22 morning when she heard about a shooting and remembered thinking she hoped the victim would make it. Shortly after that she got a call telling her it was her son who had been shot. She headed to the hospital in a blur.

"Once they told me he had passed, it changed my life forever. I have not been the same, nor my family," she said. "It only took one shot to the chest, and that's all that it took."

Salinas was sharing her story at a news conference to talk about a bill (LB174) introduced by Lincoln Sen. Kate Bolz, which would increase state spending on violence and gang activity prevention efforts.
Lawmakers introduced 83 bills and one proposed constitutional amendment Friday, the second of 10 days of bill introduction in the 106th Nebraska Legislature.

After falling to a filibuster in the last legislative session, Sen. Mike Groene of North Platte will once again offer legislation that would allow teachers and administrators to use physical restraint on students who become violent toward themselves or others.

Any physical act to restrain a student would not be considered corporal punishment under Groenes bill (LB147), nor would educators be disciplined if they were acting in a reasonable manner based upon a recorded history of disruption or abuse by the student.

Two years ago, Groene introduced the bill to address a breakdown of discipline in the classroom, but although his plan was backed by the Nebraska State Education Association, it met resistance from several senators who had experience as teachers or administrators.

Unable to reach the 33 votes needed to end a filibuster last session, Groene pulled his bill.

Other proposals introduced Friday include:

Vapor products
The Volkswagen group, which includes 12 brands, plans to sell 22 million electric cars in the next 10 years.

German car giant Volkswagen said Friday it sold a record number of vehicles in 2018 even as it felt the sting from US-China trade tensions and problems with European emissions tests in the final months of the year.

Some 10.83 million vehicles from the 12-brand group rolled out of dealerships last year, up 0.9 percent on 2017, the automaker said in a statement.

"We are very pleased about this great result. Especially in the second half, things were not easy for us," said Christian Dahlheim, head of Volkswagen group sales.

Strong demand for SUVs contributed to growth in the key markets of Europe, the United States, China and South America.

The group's own-brand VW cars, Skoda, Seat, Porsche and Lamborghini all set new delivery records in 2018. The only dark cloud came from high-end Audi, whose sales slumped by 3.5 percent.

Each year, the Wolfsburg-based group is locked in a tight race with Toyota and Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi for the title of the world's topselling carmaker. The rivals have yet to reveal their 2018 figures.

Volkswagen was plunged into crisis in 2015 when it admitted to cheating emissions tests in millions of diesel cars. But although it remains mired in costly legal woes, customers have stayed loyal to the group.

One of the biggest headwinds last year came from the European Union's tough new WLTP emissions tests, which were spurred by the "dieselgate" scandal.

A scramble to get ready for the more complex tests from September led to production bottlenecks and a fierce price war to shift non-compliant models at several carmakers, Volkswagen chief among them.

VW also had to grapple with "general economic uncertainty" in China, where a tit-for-tat tariffs spat with the US has weighed on growth, particularly in the last half of 2018.

"The reluctance to buy on the part of consumers had a negative impact on the entire automobile market" in China, VW said, but the group nevertheless saw a "slight" sales increase there over the full year.

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VW added that it was looking to the future "with optimism" but warned of challenges ahead.

"In view of volatile geopolitical developments, our business will face an equally strong headwind in 2019," said Dahlheim.

Fellow German car titan BMW also announced record annual sales on Friday of 2.49 million vehicles worldwide, up 1.1 percent on the previous year.

Growth was driven by the luxury BMW and Rolls Royce brands, which both reported their best-ever figures and more than offset a drop in sales at the smaller Mini subsidiary.

BMW said it expected sales to grow "slightly" in 2019 even as market conditions would "remain challenging".
FILE PHOTO: The corporate logo of the Venezuelan state-owned oil company PDVSA is seen at a gas station in Caracas, Venezuela November 2, 2018. REUTERS/Marco Bello/File Photo

By Luc Cohen and Brian Ellsworth

CARACAS (Reuters) - Venezuelan state oil firm PDVSA has signed a deal with little-known U.S. energy firm Erepla that is part-owned by a prominent Florida Republican to help increase the socialist-run country's plummeting crude oil output, the company said.

Erepla Services LLC, part-owned by Republican Harry Sargeant III and which Delaware state records show was only registered two months ago, said it plans to invest up to $500 million to increase production at three Venezuelan oil fields in exchange for a portion of the crude produced.

The arrangement faces significant hurdles including obtaining an exemption from Trump administration sanctions that block U.S. companies from providing financing to the government of President Nicolas Maduro or Venezuelan state firms.

It is a further sign that Venezuela is tapping inexperienced firms to stem massive declines in crude output as more established oil companies steer clear of the troubled country due to concerns about U.S. sanctions and overall dysfunction.

Erepla said that the agreement will "revitalize oil production" at the Tia Juana Lago and Rosa Mediano fields in the western Lake Maracaibo region and in the Ayacucho 5 bloc, in the eastern heavy-oil Orinoco Belt.

The company added that the deal gives it "enhanced managerial participation" in the projects and will be responsible for procurement, a key difference from long-established joint ventures between PDVSA and oil majors like Chevron Corp, where PDVSA has full operational control.

It said Erepla would be "responsible for the entirety of the investment." A spokesman declined to elaborate on how it would raise the funds.

Neither PDVSA nor the Oil Ministry responded to a request for comment.

The Erepla spokesman confirmed media reports that Sargeant, who has served as finance chairman of the Florida Republican Party and currently runs asphalt trading and shipping firm Global Oil Management Group, is a part-owner of Erepla.

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The spokesman declined to say what size stake Sargeant has in the company.

The deal is the first new partnership between PDVSA and a private company since Oil Minister Manuel Quevedo in August announced a set of "joint service agreements" with 14 little-known companies that did not appear to have experience operating oilfields and PDVSA.

Those contracts were similar to ones rolled back under late socialist leader Hugo Chavez, who expanded the state's role in the OPEC country's energy industry.

Output has continued to stagnate since the deals were signed, dropping to 1.46 million barrels per day in November from more than 2 million at the end of last year, according to OPEC figures, in a sign of the company's struggles under military rule.

COMPLYING WITH SANCTIONS

Washington has levied several rounds of sanctions on Venezuelan that block U.S. citizens from providing financing to Maduro's government without placing explicit restrictions on commerce or investment.

But because PDVSA is perennially cash-strapped, agreements to boost production usually involve partner companies putting up significant amounts of up-front funding that could run afoul of sanctions.

Erepla said it had applied to the U.S. Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control, which implements sanctions, for a "Specific License affirming the agreement." The Treasury Department, which is affected by the ongoing U.S. government shutdown, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Consulted on how a company with no evident oil-field experience would be in a position to take on the project, the Erepla spokesman said the firm's "ownership includes serious and significant oilfield production capabilities as well as heavy oil refining ability."

Maduro, who has deepened Venezuela's relationships with U.S. adversaries like Russia and China, often accuses the United States of plotting to overthrow him and steal the OPEC nation's oil wealth.

The deal has been criticized by hardline Chavez supporters, who say it cedes too much control to a foreign company.

"This is the worst giveaway in the history of our country's oil industry," former Oil Minister Rafael Ramirez wrote in a blog post on Sunday. "Maduro and Quevedo will have to be held to account for giving away assets belonging to all Venezuelans and ceding our sovereignty over managing our oil."

(Additional reporting by Mayela Armas and Corina Pons in Caracas; Editing by Susan Thomas)
The rise of a strongman

Referring to the sweeping authority that the parliament reinstated after the 2006 peoples movement wielded, to strip the king of all his historic and constitutional powers, people often said in jest that Nepals legislature was unable to do only one thingto make the rivers flow upstream.
Dr Christo Thomas Philip worked in a Bihar hospital. In 2016 he was stopped at New Delhis airport and deported to Istanbul. For Mgr Mascarenhas, everyone has the right to freely practice their faith.

New Delhi (AsiaNews)  In a decision that will likely prove controversial, the Delhi High Court issued a ruling that protects the right to engage in missionary activities in India.

The case concerns a Christian medical doctor, Christo Thomas Philip, an American citizen of Indian origin. In 2016 Indian authorities cancelled his visa to work in a Protestant hospital in Bihar.

India is a secular country, writes the court. All persons in this country have a right to practice their faith in the manner they consider fit so long as it does not offend any other person. If Dr Christos faith motivates him to volunteer for medical services at a hospital, he is free to do so. There is no such law that stops him from doing so.

For Mgr Theodore Mascarenhas, secretary general of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of India, this is great news. He is grateful to "the lawyers who followed the case. The court reiterated three important principles: the first is that everyone has the right to freely practice their faith; the second is the right to put into practice ones faith through volunteering in social fields; and the third is that no Indian law bans this.

The Christian doctor had the support of the ADF* India, an association that provides legal support to persecuted Christians.

Dr Philips case began on 26 April 2016 when he was stopped at Indira Gandhi International Airport on his way back from a medical conference in Greece, said AC Michael, ADF Indias development sector director. Customs officials told him that he could enter in India, and that he had to go back to Istanbul on a Turkish Airlines flight since he had just arrived with that carrier.

However, after two days in jail, he went to Nepal, where he was joined by his family, so as to be closer to India and follow his court case.

He was not allowed into the country because his OCI (Overseas Citizenship of India) card had been cancelled. The card is given to people of Indian origin and provides a life long visa for visiting India. It is especially used by people working in the medical field.

Dr Christo was born in Kerala in 1982, and at the age of ten moved with his family to the United States. In 2011 he specialised in Emergency Medicine at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas.

In 2014 he returned to India to work at the Duncan Hospital in Raxaul, Bihar. In 2016, the Consulate General of India in Houston cancelled his visa because he had indulged in "evangelical and subversive" as well as conversions activities that affected public order.

According to Michael, the "Court has proved that government of the day had mala fide (bad faith) intention and was told to behave as per the law of the land. This judgement is very important for those who are going through difficult times practicing their faith freely.

The High Court ruling orders the Home Affairs Ministry to re-instate Dr Philips visa, so that he can return to look after the sick.

* Alliance Defending Freedom
Dave Majumdar

Security,

We explain the tech behind the idea.

RIP F-22 and F-35: How Russia or China Could Shoot Down America's Stealth Fighters

Once either China or Russia manages to put together a long wave IRST, high-speed data-links, and the computers and algorithms for multi-ship sensor fusion, the ability of U.S. fifth-generation fighters to operate independently will diminish.

With Boeing and the United States Navy explaining in detail how a combination of long-wave infrared search & track combined with high-speed multi-ship data networking and advanced sensor fusion algorithms can generate a weapons quality track on an enemy stealth fighter, it is only a matter of time before adversaries such as Russia and China develop similar capabilities.

(This first appeared last year.)

Both Moscow and Beijing have most of the elements needed to develop and field counter-stealth technologies similar to that demonstrated by the U.S. Navy and Boeing during Fleet Exercise 2017 onboard a pair of modified F/A-18E/F Super Hornets using a combination of the powerful DTP-N processor, TTNT high-speed IP-based data-network and the long-wave Block II Infrared Search and Track (IRST) pod. The U.S. Navy will be fielding its new counter-stealth capabilities in the coming years as the Block III Super Hornet enters service in 2022. Given that both the Russians and the Chinese possess the individual elements of all the required technologies to replicate the U.S. Navys capabilities, it is only a matter of time before Moscow and Beijing start to field similar counter-stealth abilities.

Recommended: China's H-6K: The 'Old' Bomber That Could 'Sink' the U.S. Navy.

Recommended: Why an F-22 Raptor Would Crush an F-35 in a 'Dogfight'.

Recommended: Air War: Stealth F-22 Raptor vs. F-14 Tomcat (That Iran Still Flies).

The Russiansas Center for Naval Analyses research scientist Michael Kofman notedhave had infrared search and track sensors onboard their fighter aircraft for decades. Even the earliest versions of the Mikoyan MiG-29 Fulcrum and the Sukhoi Su-27 Flanker have had an IRST system installed. The Russians have continued to field modern fighters such as the Sukhoi Su-30SM and Su-35S with newer and more modern IRST technology even if the detection ranges are fairly unimpressive. Even the forthcoming Su-57 PAK-FA incorporates the 101KS-V infrared search and track system. Like every Russian plane has a giant IRST pod in the front for the past 30 years, Kofman said.

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However, it is unclear what infrared wavelength the Russian systems usebut it is likely that it uses mid-wave infrared. Most military airborne infrared sensors tend to use middle wavelengths because of the good compromise between range and resolution capability. Long wave infrared was typically less common because while that part of the spectrum offers excellent range capabilityand the ability to pick up extremely cool objectsthose sensors were traditionally limited by poor resolution and clutter. However, the advantage is that a good long wave infrared sensor will be sensitive enough to pick up the heat generated by the disturbance of the airflow and skin friction of an aircraft travelling through the atmosphere.

Long wave infrared (LWIR) has long been a holy grail of sorts for the Defense Department. Sensitivity could most directly be provided by developing detectors that responded in the 812-m-long wavelength IR (LWIR) band. The LWIR band is a highly desired operating band because it provides the most signal for a given difference in temperature between an object and its background (e.g., when imaging terrestrial objects), David Schmieder and James Teague wrote at the Defense Systems Information Analysis Center. Unfortunately, that band is also one of the most difficult for detectors to work in because long-wavelength photons have lower energy than short-wavelength photons. So detecting LWIR photons also means detecting other low-energy products, such as latent heat-generated dark current and its associated noise.

Boeing has largely solved the problems associated with noise, clutter and resolution using new algorithms and the enormous processing power of the DTP-N computer onboard the Block III Super Hornet. The result is a sensor that is sensitive enough to detect airborne targets at extended ranges beyond the capability of even an active electronically scanned array radar such as the Raytheon AN/APG-79. Nor is there any hiding from a long-wave infrared sensorsince the camera can pick up the heat generated by disturbance of air molecules or sunlight absorbed by an aircraft skin and emitted as background heat.

If the enemy aircraft coming at you is low radar cross sectionlow radar signatureit is still emitting a heat signature, Bob Kornegay, Boeings capture team leader for domestic F/A-18E/F and EA-18G programs, said. So it helps us as the enemies are starting to develop their stealth aircraft. It helps us to defeat that by moving outside of that X-band range.

The fact of the matter is that both the Russian and Chinese defense industries have experience building IRST sensors and should be able to develop a long wave infrared search and track pod without too much difficulty. By the same token, both the Russians and the Chinese have access to airborne data-networking capability. The Russian Mikoyan MiG-31 Foxhound is equipped with RK-RLDN and APD-518, the later of which can coordinate a flight of four jets. Newer Russian fighters such as the Su-30SM, Su-35S and the Su-57 also incorporate datalinksas do their Chinese counterparts. However, the speed and throughput of these datalinks remain in question, but it is all but a certainty that both Moscow and Beijing have the wherewithal to develop high-speed high band airborne datalinks. Once the Russians and Chinese have the ability to link two or more longwave IRST-equipped jets via a high speed link, they would have most of the ingredients needed to build a counter-stealth capability.

That leaves the question of Russia and China being able to develop advanced sensor fusion algorithms, which is a challenging undertaking even for American defense contractors. It will take time, but it is likely that both nations have the ability to develop such software and the computing hardware to make it work. Beijing, which has more access to external sources of computing technology, is more likely to be able to develop such an avionics package first in the the relative near term. However, Russia will also probably be able to develop a similar capability given timeand possibly access to foreign processors from China perhaps if sanctions are not lifted. Once either China or Russia manages to put together a long wave IRST, high-speed data-links, and the computers and algorithms for multi-ship sensor fusion, the ability of U.S. fifth-generation fighters to operate independently will diminish. Indeed, the U.S. Air Force anticipated this developmentthe service noted that its F-22 Raptor would be increasingly challenged by the 2030s by new enemy capabilities.

The timeline associated with pursuing F-22 production restart would see new F-22 deliveries starting in the mid-to-late 2020s, the Air Force said in a 2017 report to Congress detailing F-22 production restart costs. While the F-22 continues to remain the premier air superiority solution against the current threat, new production deliveries would start at a point where the F-22' s capabilities will begin to be challenged by the advancing threats in the 2030 and beyond timeframe.

Indeed, while engineers could eventually divine a way to defeat long wave IRST tracking of a stealth aircraft, such technologies would likely have to be integrated onto an aircraft from the outset of the design. It unlikely that such technologies could be retrofitted, thus current stealth aircraft will likely be increasingly vulnerable as the Pentagon anticipated.

Majumdar is the former Defense Editor for the National Interest.

Read full article
A Pakistani financial institution has rolled out a cross-border remittance service based on blockchain technology developed by Alibaba affiliate, Alipay.

Telenor Microfinance Bank and Malaysian fintech firm Valyou have partnered to offer the service to that will operate between Malaysia and Pakistan. The service is expected to enhance the efficiency and speed of remittances from the former to the latter.

Additionally, Pakistans first blockchain-based remittance service will eliminate intermediary costs making it cheaper to send money. Users will also be able to track the remittances at every step of the way, according to a statement.

Lucrative Remittance Market

At the moment, it is estimated that Pakistanis living and working in Malaysia send around $1 billion annually. This is about 5% of the estimated $20 billion in remittances that is sent by the combined Pakistani diaspora spread across the globe. The State Bank of Pakistans governor, Tariq Bajwa, noted during the launch of the service that remittances contribute significantly to the countrys economy.

At around USD 20 billion per year, international remittances are important from the perspective of overall macroeconomic stability and their positive spillover in improving lives of millions of families. Home remittances contributed to over 6% in GDP, equivalent to over 50% of our trade deficit, 85% of exports and over one-third of imports during FY 2017-18.

This is not the first time that Alipay is involved in a blockchain-based remittance solution in Asia. Mid last year, Hong Kong-based AlipayHK announced a blockchain-based money transfer service between Hong Kong and the Philippines.

https://twitter.com/CryptoCoinsNews/status/101157117132065177

During the launch of the service the founder of Alibaba, Jack Ma, indicated that he had long wanted to reduce remittance costs between China and Pakistan:

This comes from a promise I made a long time ago when Alipay was just launched. I have friends who are Filipino and they asked me when they could use Alipay to send money home because it was too expensive through banks, which charge too much.

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Filipino Remittance Market

Currently, the Philippines is the worlds third-largest remittance market. In 2017, inflows into the Southeast Asian country amounted to approximately $3 billion. A significant proportion of the expatriate community in Hong Kong hails from the Philippines. In 2016, Filipinos in the city-state are estimated to have remitted $561 million to their home country.

Another Chinese firm that recently announced plans to launch a remittance service in the Philippines is Huaren Capital. Unlike Alipay, Huaren Capital will launch a stablecoin pegged to the Filipino Peso and partner with local banks.

Featured image from Shutterstock.



The post Pakistans First Blockchain-Based Remittance Service Launched Using Alipays Technology appeared first on CCN.


By Naomi Tajitsu (Reuters) - One of Nissan Motor Co's <7201.T> top executives has resigned, further rattling the Japanese automaker's management team as it broadens an investigation into ousted Chairman Carlos Ghosn's alleged financial misconduct. Jose Munoz, widely considered as a close ally to Ghosn and a possible successor to lead the automaking partnership between Nissan and France's Renault SA, had been a "person of interest" in Nissan's widening internal investigation. The 53-year-old, who was Nissan's chief performance officer and head of its China operations, made the announcement in a LinkedIn post on Friday. In a statement, Nissan said that Munoz had "elected to resign" from the company, effective immediately. It declined to offer details. He becomes the latest executive casualty since Nissan in November removed Ghosn as chairman and fired representative director Greg Kelly. The resignation deals another blow to the Japanese automaker which is grappling with the scandal at a time when it is struggling to shore up profitability in the United States and expand aggressively in China. Reuters had reported earlier on Friday that the Japanese automaker was looking into decisions made in the United States by Munoz who led Nissan's North American operations from 2016 to 2018. "Unfortunately, Nissan is currently involved in matters that have and will continue to divert its focus," Munoz said in his post. "As I have repeatedly and recently made clear to the company, I look forward to continuing to assist Nissan in its investigations." People with knowledge of the issue have said that Munoz, who had been placed on a leave of absence earlier in the month, had not been co-operating with the internal investigation. Ghosn, once the most celebrated executives in the auto industry and the anchor of Nissan's alliance with Renault, remains in custody in a Tokyo detention center since his initial arrest in late November. Ghosn has been indicted on two counts of under-reporting his income, and aggravated breach of trust for temporarily shifting personal investment losses worth 1.85 billion yen ($17 million) to Nissan. The scandal has sent shockwaves through the automotive industry and has escalated tensions between Nissan and Renault, where Ghosn remains CEO and chairman. Munoz joined the automaker in 2004 in Europe and led its significant expansion in North America after the global financial crisis. Since then, Nissan has succeeded in raising its market share in the United States and posted record sales. 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 Mary Ann Alapatt and Sonam Rai in Bengaluru and Naomi Tajitsu in Tokyo; Editing by Shailesh Kuber & Kim Coghill)
Michael Fuehne, left, and David Fellner Jr., both of Belleville, strain as they push the car of Billy Brownlee out of a pile of snow after Brownlee went sideways while making a turn in Belleville, Ill., on Saturday, Jan. 12, 2019. Multiple deaths on snow-slicked roads were reported in the Midwest as a winter storm swept the region this weekend, snarling traffic in several states and leaving thousands without power. (Tim Vizer/St. Louis Post-Dispatch via AP)

ST. LOUIS (AP) -- The Latest on a winter storm sweeping across parts of the Midwest this weekend (all times local):

5:20 p.m.

Indiana State Police say northbound lanes of Interstate 65 have been closed for hours after a semitruck jackknifed along the snow-covered highway in northern Indiana.

Trooper Nathan Hampton says I-65's northbound lanes were closed shortly after the 12:30 p.m. accident near Lafayette, about 65 miles (105 kilometers) northwest of Indianapolis.

Those lanes remained closed at 4:30 p.m. at the highway's intersection with State Road 25, but Hampton said they were expected to reopen to traffic by early evening once the crash site is cleaned up.

He says a winter storm that brought heavy snow Saturday to parts of Indiana led to nearly 20 vehicle slide-offs that state police responded to in the Lafayette district.

State police urged Indiana residents not to travel if they don't have to because roads remain slick.

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3 p.m.

The Mid-Atlantic region is bracing for a winter storm that's already made travel treacherous across the Midwest.

The storm moved into Kansas and Nebraska from the Rockies on Friday, then east into Missouri, Illinois and Indiana. Snow is covering roads in those states. More than a foot (30 centimeters) of snow has fallen in some places around St. Louis. Authorities say the storm has contributed to at least five traffic deaths.

The system was spreading into the Mid-Atlantic region Saturday afternoon. Between 3 and 6 inches (7 and 15 centimeters) is expected in the Washington area, including parts of northern and central Maryland, by Sunday.

Forecasters say heavier snow and higher amounts could fall in mountain areas north of Interstate 64, such as Charlottesville and Staunton, Virginia. Lower accumulations are expected in Delaware and Baltimore, as well as around Richmond, where precipitation Sunday should be freezing rain. Southwest Virginia could see 2 to 4 inches (5 to 10 centimeters) of snow.

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2:35 p.m.

The Illinois State Police says that troopers along the Mississippi River across from St. Louis have responded to more than 100 traffic collisions during the winter storm that's rolling through the Midwest.

Trooper John Korando says one crash killed a 73-year-old man on Friday, but it's not yet known whether weather was a factor. The storm has contributed to at least five traffic deaths in Kansas and Missouri.

He says that since the snow began falling Friday, troopers in District 11 in southwestern Illinois have been called to 114 crashes and a total of 261 incidents, many of which involved vehicles that had veered off roadways into ditches.

The storm moved into Kansas and Nebraska from the Rockies on Friday, then east into Missouri, Illinois and Indiana. Snow is covering roads and making driving dangerous. More than a foot (30 centimeters) of snow has fallen in some places around St. Louis.

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12:35 p.m.

Authorities in Kansas and Missouri have reported at least five killed in crashes as a winter storm sweeps across the Midwest.

The storm moved into Kansas and Nebraska from the Rockies on Friday, then east into Missouri and Illinois. Snow is covering roads and making driving dangerous. Up to 11 inches (28 centimeters) of snow was reported in St. Louis.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol says that among those killed in crashes were a woman and her 14-year-old stepdaughter whose car slid into the path of a semitrailer on Friday in Clinton, about 80 miles (130 kilometers) southeast of Kansas City. Another woman died when her car slid on U.S. 24 in northern Missouri and was hit by an oncoming SUV.

In Kansas, the Highway Patrol says a 62-year-old man died after his pickup truck skidded on the Kansas Turnpike and hit a concrete barrier. The patrol says another crash involving two semitrailers in snowy conditions killed a 41-year-old driver from Mexico.

___

11:40 a.m.

A winter storm sweeping across parts of the Midwest has snarled traffic in several states and left thousands without power.

The storm moved into Kansas and Nebraska from the Rockies on Friday, then east into Missouri and Illinois, covering roads and making driving dangerous. The Missouri State Highway Patrol says nearly 300 vehicles had slid off roads across the state and more than 175 crashes had been reported by late Saturday morning.

By late morning Saturday, officials had reported nearly 11 inches (28 centimeters) of snow at Lambert International Airport in St. Louis, where most flights were canceled or delayed.

In central Missouri, officials said about 12,000 households and businesses were without power in Columbia and the surrounding area.

The National Weather Service has issued winter weather advisories for Missouri, as well as Illinois and Indiana.
(Reuters) - Kuwait's Public Institution for Social Security (PIFSS) said on Wednesday it had filed a lawsuit against UK asset manager Man Group Plc and its subsidiaries.

The pension fund is seeking $156 million in compensation relating to secret contracts between Man Group and a former PIFSS executive between 1996 to 2013, it said in a statement.

The lawsuit was filed with the UK's Supreme Court, the fund said in the statement.

In a separate statement, Man Group said the subject matter of the PIFSS's allegations dated back "over 20 years".

"Based on the evidence we have seen to date, Man Group will dispute any claim and intends to vigorously and robustly defend any proceedings, the company said.

(Reporting by Hadeel Al Sayegh and Sinead Cruise; editing by Jason Neely and Ben Martin)
Photo by J. Albert Diaz/ALM



Edgar Olvera Jimenez, Mexico's former Undersecretary of Communications, has joined Greenberg Traurig as a partner in Mexico City.



Olvera Jimenez, who will be part of the firm's technology, media and telecommunications practice, spent 25 years in the public sector, working primarily in the areas of technology, consumer protection and communications.



In 2017, he was appointed Mexico's undersecretary of communications by former Mexican President Pena Nieto. In this role, he spearheaded negotiations for the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement that will, if approved by the U.S. Congress, replace the North American Free Trade Agreement. He also participated in the design and implementation of recent reforms in the country's telecommunication sector.





Edgar Olvera Jimenez



I was attracted to Greenberg Traurig because the firm is actively expanding strategic areas, including its integrated TMT capability which leverages reputable resources and a global reach, Olvera Jimenez said in a statement. I am excited about the firms unique platform for both private and public-sector clients throughout Latin America, and look forward to working with the team in Mexico and across the region.



Nieto signed constitutional amendments in 2013 meant to curtail the powers of Mexico's media monopoliesTelevisa and TV Aztecaby establishing a regulatory agency and mandating competition. The change in the telecom industry and other key sectors such as energy has spurred a large influx of foreign direct investment, with many of the deals facilitated by U.S. law firms like Greenberg Traurig.



Greenberg opened its Mexico City office in 2011, staffing it with one partnerMexican attorney Luis Rubio Barnetcheand five associates. Hiring was steady until Jones Day raided the outpost in 2015, hiring away three partners including Rubio Barnetche. Today, the office boasts about 60 attorneys.
The Mahakavis scribe

What Lord Ganesh was to Maharshi Vyas, I was to Devkota ji, says Shyam Das Baishnav, referring to his long-standing friendship with Mahakavi Laxmi Prasad Devkota.
Valentin Stalf, founder and chief executive of N26. Photo: Eoin Noonan/Sportsfile via Getty

Online bank N26 has become Germanys newest unicorn after raising 260m ($300m) in latest funding round, which values it at 2.3bn. It now plans to launch its mobile-banking app in the US.

The latest investmentcoming 10 months after it raised 140mmakes the Berlin-based startup the most valuable private fintech firm in Europe.

N26s investors include Peter Thiels Valar Ventures, Chinas Tencent, and German insurance giant Allianz. The latest round of funding was led by private equity firm Insight Venture Partners, with Singapores GIC sovereign fund.

N26, which completed its fourth year this month, says over 2 million people use its mobile-banking app across 24 countries in Europe. The company, with 700 staff in Berlin, Barcelona, and New York, plans to use its new investment to launch in the US market this year, and is eyeing four to six global markets beyond the US and EU after that.

CEO and co-founder Valentin Stalf told TechCrunch that the success of the latest funding round was down to growth and profitability. Weve more than tripled the number of customers in the last year, Stalf said. Globally, I think were the fastest growing mobile bank on the market now. He added that N26 was profitable on a profit-per-customer basis.

Bloomberg reported this week that German fintech firms pulled in a record 1.3bn in investments for the first time ever in 2018. Payment-software company Wirecard, one of the countrys fintech stars, muscled its way onto the DAX 30 index in September, pushing Commerzbank out of the blue chip index.
US President Donald Trump fired FBI director James Comey in May 2017 -- a move that helped spark a counterintelligence investigation by the FBI, according to The New York Times US President Donald Trump fired FBI director James Comey in May 2017 -- a move that helped spark a counterintelligence investigation by the FBI, according to The New York Times (AFP Photo/Brendan Smialowski)

Washington (AFP) - The Federal Bureau of Investigation opened an inquiry in 2017 into whether US President Donald Trump was working on behalf of Russia, The New York Times reported on Friday.

The investigation -- a dual counterintelligence and criminal probe -- was launched after the president fired FBI director James Comey in May 2017, the Times said, citing anonymous sources.

The counterintelligence aspect consisted of determining whether Trump was knowingly or unknowingly working for Moscow and whether he was a threat to national security, the newspaper reported.

It added the criminal portion related to Trump's firing of Comey.

The FBI investigation was soon folded into Robert Mueller's inquiry into Russian interference in the 2016 vote and possible collusion between his campaign and Moscow, it said, adding that it was unclear if the counterintelligence aspect was still being pursued.

The Times said that the FBI had been suspicious of Trump's ties to Russia during the 2016 campaign.

But it held off on opening an investigation until the president sacked Comey, who refused to swear his allegiance and roll back the nascent Russia investigation, which is now being spearheaded by Mueller.

- A 'witch hunt'? -

Trump has repeatedly criticized the Mueller investigation as a "witch hunt" and views it as a stain on the legitimacy of his presidency.

But while Trump has slammed the probe as baseless, Mueller has issued dozens of indictments and steadily chalked up convictions of some of the president's close associates -- including his former national security advisor, his former personal lawyer, and his ex-campaign chief.

The ex-national security advisor, Michael Flynn pleaded guilty to lying to investigators about his Moscow ties.

The lawyer, Michael Cohen, has been sentenced to three years in prison for multiple crimes, including felony violations of campaign finance laws he undertook, prosecutors alleged, under Trump's direction.

Story continues

And Trump's former presidential campaign chair, Paul Manafort, has been convicted in one case brought by Mueller and pleaded guilty in another, over financial crimes related to his work in Ukraine before the 2016 campaign, and for witness tampering.

Cell phone records show that Cohen was near Prague during the summer of 2016, supporting claims that he met there with Russian officials during the presidential election campaign, McClatchy news service has reported.

Cohen, who will testify in Congress on February 7, insists that he has never been to Prague, but added in a tweet: "#Mueller knows everything!"

As for Manafort, two pro-Russia Ukrainian oligarchs were the intended recipients of US polling data that Manafort admitted to sharing with a Russian during the 2016 presidential race, CNN reported.

Manafort admitted in a court filing to sharing the data with Russian political consultant Konstantin Kilimnik, who reportedly has intelligence ties, but denied lying about these dealings, claiming that he merely forgot details during the hectic campaign.

The specifics of the Mueller allegations were not previously known publicly, having been blacked out in a heavily redacted December 7 filing by the prosecutor's team.

But in Manafort's response, the electronic formatting for the redaction could easily be bypassed, revealing exactly what he was accused of lying about.

The Mueller investigation is set to continue to cast a cloud over the White House: a judge has given an extension to the secret grand jury empanelled in the probe, extending its original 18-month mandate.
Twitter

Facebook

"Twitter jail" has a different meaning in China.

In most of the Western world, if a Twitter user tweets too much, the users account gets locked in what has become known Twitter jail. If a Twitter user in China tweets, they face actual jail time.

China is ramping up its crackdown on the countrys Twitter users, according to a report by The New York Times. Police in China are questioning and detaining those who use the service in increasing numbers.

In interviews conducted by the Times, Chinas Twitter users shared experiences of hours long interrogations and threats made to them, their families, and even their unborn children. Read more...

More about Twitter, China, Activists, Human Rights, and Xi Jinping
OTTAWA, Jan 10 (Reuters) - Canadian diplomats in China on Thursday held their second meeting with one of two citizens who were detained last month after the arrest of a senior Chinese executive in Vancouver, the Canadian foreign ministry said.

"Today, Canadian consular officials in China visited with Michael Kovrig," the ministry said in a statement that provided no further details. Officials met Michael Spavor, the other man, on Tuesday.

Canadian authorities arrested Huawei Technologies Co Chief Financial Officer Meng Wanzhou on Dec. 1 on a U.S. extradition warrant. Beijing denounced the move and threatened reprisals unless the case against Meng was dropped.

In a newspaper editorial published on Wednesday, Lu Shaye, China's ambassador to Ottawa, accused Canada of "double standards" which he said were caused by "western egotism and white supremacy."

Although Canada says China has made no specific link between the detentions and Meng's arrest, experts and former diplomats say they have no doubt Beijing is using the cases of the two men to pressure Ottawa. (Reporting by David Ljunggren; editing by Jonathan Oatis)
(Corrects throughout CEO's name to Vic Neufeld from Vic Neufield)

Jan 11 (Reuters) - Canadian pot producer Aphria Inc's co-founder and Chief Executive Officer Vic Neufeld is stepping down, at a time the company is facing questions about its deals in Latin America and a recent slump in its shares.

The company also said its marijuana sales nearly doubled in the second quarter driving overall revenue to C$21.7 million ($16.4 million) from C$8.5 million a year earlier, sending its shares up 6 percent.

The stock tumbled about 30 percent on Dec. 3 following a report by short-seller Hindenburg Research, which alleged the company had diverted more than C$700 million to undisclosed beneficiaries through some deals in Latin America.

Following the report, Aphria formed a special committee of independent directors to review its Latin American deals.

"I can confirm that this special committee is making good progress, assisted by independent advisors, and intends to fully address short-seller allegations," Neufeld said on a post-earnings call with analysts.

The company did not give a date for Neufeld's exit from his role. The company's co-founder, Cole Cacciavillani, would also leave his post as vice president of Growing Operations.

"Cole and I have informed the Board, and they have agreed that we will begin the transition process immediately, and at the appropriate time, we will both step down from executive positions at Aphria," Neufeld said.

Like rivals Canopy Growth Corp and Tilray Inc , Aphria has been investing heavily to expand its footprint in international markets including Europe and Latin America.

The company signed a deal with German pharmaceutical company CC Pharma in November and entered into agreements to grow and sell pot in Colombia, Argentina and Jamaica last month.

Canada legalized recreational marijuana in October, and the sector is expected to get a boost as many other countries move closer to legalization.

Aphria's net income jumped eightfold to C$54.8 million during the quarter.

The company's shares were trading at C$9.25 on the Toronto Stock Exchange.

($1 = 1.3201 Canadian dollars) (Reporting by Laharee Chatterjee in Bengaluru Editing by Saumyadeb Chakrabarty)
addison.jpg





Technology lawyer Addison Cameron-Huff launched his new, Toronto-based, all-crypto legal firm on January 3, 2019, Bitcoins 10th anniversary, as a statement of his commitment to working for and promoting Bitcoin and cryptocurrency-based businesses.

Cameron-Huff has worked as the lawyer for a Bitcoin core developer, several token-based companies, and dozens of crypto startups. As president of Decentral Inc., he managed a staff of 30 and helped to take the company to 750,000 monthly wallet users.

As the first, all-crypto legal services firm in Canada, Cameron-Huff expects the ongoing uncertainty around Canadas cryptocurrency regulations to create some business for him, but he is also looking to build a global presence.

Its likely that the first legal work that I do in 2019 will be for a company from Malta or one from Singapore. Ive had client inquiries from as far away as Papua New Guinea, he told Bitcoin Magazine.

There is an ongoing global talent shortage, and lawyers are a part of that. Although most law is national/sub-national, there are certain corporate-commercial considerations that are cross-border, and legal strategy is international. Many businesses around the world cant find local legal talent that meets their needs, and this is an export opportunity for Canadas blockchain lawyers.

Cameron-Huff notes that Canada has a relatively welcoming regulatory and legal environment, especially when compared to the U.S.

The challenges continue to be non-legal areas like commercial bank accounts (i.e. not being able to have access to the banking system), access to capital (especially post-angel), and competition for talent (crypto companies arent the only ones trying to hire smart technologists), he said.

Disappearing Federal Regulations

As noted here, the Canadian governments previously drafted regulations, which had been circulated for comment, have been quietly shelved at least until after the next election (expected in October this year), meaning that any enforcement date gets pushed back well into 2021.

Story continues

Cameron-Huff, who was involved in the original, confidential regulatory consultation process in 2014, said the industry should be thankful that those efforts were never enacted. He told us hes not a fan of cryptocurrency-specific, even though hes heard from quite a few crypto businesses who are keen on regulation.

What they dont understand is that the regulations wont be written by them or even for them. They assume that any regulations will be supportive of their vision for the industry and the Canadian payments space, but thats not necessarily the case, and even if it was, it has the potential to freeze existing models in place.

The major issue over the last two years has been how to avoid illegal securities. Exchanges have increased their scrutiny of new digital asset listings and the rest of the industry has followed suit. In 2019 will see a continued maturation of the space and an increased focus on regulatory/compliance. It cant be ignored anymore.

Cameron-Huff commended the federal government for its caution saying:

The current situation is one in which there is significant freedom to operate and experiment with new models. Thats exactly whats needed right now.

Future of Crypto

Cameron-Huff is sanguine about tying his future to bitcoin:

The price goes up. The price goes down. The price goes up. Thats the history of bitcoin in a nutshell. The only thing that would surprise me is if the price stays the same throughout 2019. Im dedicating myself full-time to this industry, so I think that shows my long-term view better than anything I could say. Developers arent stopping and neither am I.

As far as working with the many altcoins out there, Cameron-Huff is not looking for any business and says of altcoins:

The vast majority of altcoins are inconsequential copies of the source code of major projects like Bitcoin and Ethereum  copies that dont involve technological innovation will almost certainly continue to fail.

However, Cameron-Huff expects to be advising some startups on token sales and he thinks that ICOs are likely here to stay, saying:

I expect that 2019s token sales will be of higher quality than many of the ones from 2017/2018. Theres a growing sophistication in the market and I think the gold rush mentality has cooled.

Fixed Billing for Crypto Lawyers

Cameron-Huff said that he is happy to accept bitcoin as payment (as well as fiat) and, in what he sees as another pioneering step forward, he has a fixed-fee payment system for his clients.

As described on his website, a fixed-fee service is designed to ensure a firm has access to legal advice, no matter what the issue and when. Like a membership fee, it ensures access when needed.

Cameron-Huff sees this as more suitable billing model for the more complex needs of blockchain and cryptocurrency startups.

Stuart Hoegner, general counsel for Bitfinex, told us he sees a successful future for Cameron-Huff and commented about the fixed-fee system:

I suspect hell also find a very willing audience for the fixed-fee arrangements that hes proposing. Smart and forward-thinking lawyers have been open to these kinds of alternative billing arrangements for years, and they continue to be in demand.

They do not always fit a clients circumstances, but the key is modularity and choice. The attorneys way of working and billing should fit the clients business model and objectives, not the other way around.

Evan Thomas, a Toronto-based lawyer who works with crypto businesses, is also enthusiastic about this new billing arrangement saying:

What seems unique is that Addison is leveraging his particular legal and business expertise to offer a fixed price scope of work that goes beyond the typical legal work any startup needs and includes work and advice specific to companies in the blockchain/crypto space. An innovative model like that requires strong knowledge of the legal, business and technical issues specific to clients in the industry.

Cameron-Huff remains optimistic about wading into unchartered waters. Theres a lot of talk online about crypto prices and whether or not 2018 was a bubble, but Ive only seen a steady increase in the number and quality of Torontos blockchain companies. Canadian banks continue to hire blockchain developers. Startups have doubled-down on the value of their products rather than the value of their coins or tokens. I expect 2019 to be a big year for product development. The speculative side holds little interest for me.

This article originally appeared on Bitcoin Magazine.
Ram Bomjan to travel abroad to collect cash

Controversial ascetic Ram Bahadur Bomjan, who has been accused of being involved in the disappearance of four of his disciples, has been preparing to visit Thailand. Sources say that Bomjan, with his team, is going to Thailand to collect cash offerings. They have been trying to visit Thailand for the past four months.
Debbie Beadle is Director of Programmes at ECPAT UK (Every Child Protected Against Trafficking) which supports children all over the world to uphold their rights and live a life free from abuse and exploitation. Ms Beadle talks to Viet Nam News about the work they do to help Vietnamese children exploited in the United Kingdom What is your organisation seeing in terms of people heading to Britain from Viet Nam? We are currently undertaking a cross-border mapping project looking at the journeys being made by vulnerable migrants from Viet Nam, as well as the risks they face on these journeys. We are finding that Vietnamese people are moving primarily from Viet Nam into Russia and then across Europe. Some are settling in other EU countries and a lot are coming to the UK. Were seeing evidence that these children and adults are vulnerable to abuse and exploitation en route, including trafficking for the purpose of sexual exploitation, forced labour and criminal exploitation. Is there a pattern? Why are they coming and what are they doing here? In the UK, we see that a lot of Vietnamese children are being exploited for cannabis cultivation, forced labour and sexual exploitation. These children are being controlled and exploited by organised criminal networks. What is family debt? Can you explain how this works and the impact it has on lives of those trafficked? In these cases, where the childs family are told that they are paying for the child to have better opportunities overseas, the childs traffickers will say that the family owe them a huge amount of money  up to 30k  to pay for the childs journey. This debt then often increases at the whim of the traffickers, and it is impossible for the child victim to pay it off. Are those brought over on the whole naive? Or are there cases of people aware of what they would be doing on arrival in UK? Many people will know that they are coming to Europe or the UK to work. They are hoping to send money back to their family. However their dreams are used as a way to take advantage of them, and the reality they find themselves is in a situation of exploitation and abuse. They are frequently forced into criminal activity, sexual exploitation and forced labour, and are not able to send money back to their families. They often suffer a lot of abuse. Tell us about the work you do once a child is recovered? ECPAT UK runs a youth programme which supports trafficked children to recover from their experiences. We ensure that each child has the support network they need to recover from trauma and rebuild their lives. We inform them of their rights, provide an environment of peer support, provide skills-building that enables them to enter education or employment and support them to be advocates for themselves and their peers. Young people enrolled in our youth programme have opportunities to steer ECPAT UKs research, policy and campaigns to ensure that victims voices, views and opinions are at the heart of everything we do. What are the children like emotionally when they come to you? Many young people who come to us are extremely traumatised because of what they have been through. They are often very quiet and do not trust anyone. Unfortunately, the UK childrens service system can be very confusing and intimidating which can add to their trauma. If they are from countries like Viet Nam, they may also need immigration support and will be fearful of being sent back to a country where their traffickers could access them and harm them. These young people often need a lot of support for a long period of time until they can recover and rebuild their lives.
Nepal Medical Association urges government to save Dr KCs life

Nepal Medical Association has urged the government to take initiative to save the life of Dr Govinda KC, who has been staging his 16th hunger strike in Ilam demanding reforms in medical sector.
A 13-year-old girl's escape from a rural home, where she was held captive for three months by a 21-year-old Wisconsin man charged with murdering her parents, helped break the case and she should be treated as a hero, the local sheriff said on Friday.

Thousands of volunteers and hundreds of law enforcement officers had searched around the clock around the small town of Barron after Jayme Closs' parents were found shot dead in their home, the front door open and the girl gone.

Relying on what Barron County Sheriff Chris Fitzgerald called "the will of a kid to survive," a dishevelled Closs escaped a house in the tiny town of Gordon where she had been held captive, about 60 miles (100 km) north of Barron. She was found by a woman walking her dog on Thursday afternoon.

"Jayme is the hero in this case. She's the one who helped us break this case," Fitzgerald told reporters on Friday.

Both the woman and the neighbour recognised the teen immediately on Thursday due to the enormous public campaign following her disappearance, Fitzgerald said.

Closs escaped a house in the tiny town of Gordon where she had been held captive, about 60 miles (100 km) north of Barron.

Less than 15 minutes later, Jake Patterson, 21, was in custody after police pulled over his vehicle, based on Closs' description.

"The suspect was out looking for her when law enforcement made contact with him," Fitzgerald told a news conference, adding police were not seeking any other suspects in the case at this time.

Targeted Jayme

Patterson, an unemployed resident of Gordon, was charged on Friday with kidnapping and with murdering James and Denise Closs with a shotgun. Their bodies were discovered on October 15.

"The suspect had specific intentions to kidnap Jayme and went to great lengths to prepare to take her," said Fitzgerald.

Patterson was being held in the Barron County jail, and it was not yet clear whether he had a lawyer. He faces an initial court hearing on Monday.

More than 200 law enforcement officials were on the ground day and night following Closs' disappearance, sifting through thousands of tips but finding little to go on.

The search stretched across cornfields and wooded areas and drew 1,500 volunteers  nearly half as many people as the entire 3,400-person population of Barron, which sits about 90 miles (145 km) northeast of Minneapolis.

Jake Patterson, 21 appears in a police booking photo in Barron Wisconsin.

Hundreds of locals had attended a Christmas tree-lighting ceremony at Riverview Middle School, which Closs attended, in her honour last month. The "tree of hope" was decorated with messages and lighted in blue, Closs' favourite colour, and green to symbolize missing child awareness, the Star Tribune reported.

Closs was speaking to investigators on Friday after spending a night in the hospital for evaluation. Authorities did not offer any details about the conditions of her captivity or how she had managed to escape.

She was due to be reunited with her extended family later on Friday.

"I just cried ... lots of happy tears," Jen Smith, the girl's aunt, told ABC's "Good Morning America" programme.

Few Details

Authorities have released few details about Patterson, who has no previous criminal record in Wisconsin, saying they were unsure whether he had known Closs.

Attempts to reach Patterson's relatives and neighbours on Friday were unsuccessful.

The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, citing neighbours, reported that Patterson had been raised in Gordon. Police said Patterson had ties to Barron but did not elaborate.

The president of the Jennie-O Turkey store in Barron, where James and Denise Closs had worked for decades, said Patterson had been an employee for a single day three years ago. He quit the next day, saying he was moving, Steve Lykken said.

"We are still mourning the loss of longtime Jennie-O family members Jim and Denise, but our entire team is celebrating with the community, and the world, that Jayme has been found," Lykken said.

The superintendent of the local school district, Jean Serum, said Patterson was a nice kid who was a member of his high school's quiz bowl team. He graduated in 2015.

A "Welcome Home Jayme" sign displayed for Jayme Closs on Friday in Barron, Wisconsin. Photo by Kerem Yucel / AFP

About 350 people under the age of 21 are kidnapped by strangers in the United States each year, according to FBI data.

Closs is not the first kidnapping victim to survive months in captivity.

Elizabeth Smart, who was held captive for nine months as a teenager after her 2002 abduction in Utah, posted a photo of Closs on Instagram, praising the "miracle" that she had been found.

"No matter what may unfold in her story let's all try to remember that this young woman has SURVIVED and whatever other details may surface the most important will still remain that she is alive," Smart wrote.
Washington: Tulsi Gabbard, the first Hindu lawmaker in the US Congress, has said that she is running for the White House in 2020.

Gabbard, 37, is the second woman after Senator Elizabeth Warren to enter the presidential race from the Democratic party.

More than 12 Democratic leaders including Indian-origin Senator from California Kamala Harris are expected to announce their White House run to challenge President Donald Trump in 2020.

Gabbard, a four-time Democratic lawmaker in the US House of Representatives from Hawaii, told CNN Friday: "I have decided to run and will be making a formal announcement within the next week".

"There are many reasons I'm offering to serve you as President to ensure every American gets the healthcare they need, to bring about comprehensive immigration reform, to make sure we have clean water and clean air for generations to come, to fix our broken criminal justice system, to end the corrupt influence of special interests in Washington, and so much more.

"But the main reason I'm running has to do with an issue that is central to the rest war and peace. I look forward to talking with you more about this in the coming days. When we stand together, united by our love for each other and for our country, there is no challenge we cannot overcome," she wrote in an email sent to her supporters.

In her first tweet after the announcement, Gabbard urged her fellow countrymen to join her campaign.

Gabbard supported Senator Bernie Sanders against former secretary of state Hillary Clinton in the 2016 Democratic primary. Photo: Reuters

"When we stand together, united by our love for each other and for our country, there is no challenge we cannot overcome. Will you join me?" she asked on Twitter.

Her campaign's Twitter handle said: "The First Woman President of the US is ready to take the challenge".

The Iraq war veteran has become the first-ever Hindu to be running for the presidency in the US.

Gabbard, who converted to Hinduism early in her life, is highly popular among Indian-Americans.

If elected, she would be the youngest ever and first woman President of the United States. She would also be the first non-Christian and first Hindu to occupy the top post. However, at this point of time, American political pundits do not give her much chance.

Hindus constitute less than one per cent of the American population, an overwhelming majority of whom are either from India or are people of Indian-origin.

Gabbard, a co-Chair of the powerful House India Caucus, was recently re-elected for the US House of Representatives from Hawaii for the fourth consecutive term.

Her father Mike Gabbard, a Hawaii State Senator, told the local Hawaii News Now: "I didn't know she had made a final decision. She has so much aloha for the people. She'll make a great president!".

Tulsi Gabbard is a four-time Democratic lawmaker in the US House of Representatives from Hawaii. Photo: Reuters

A winner of the primary elections beginning early 2020 would be finally nominated by the Democratic party in its convention later that summer to challenge the Republican candidate in the November 2020 elections.

President Trump has announced to seek his re-election. The winner of the Democratic primary would be pitted against him.

Gabbard, who supported Senator Bernie Sanders against former secretary of state Hillary Clinton in the 2016 Democratic primary, told the CNN that there are a lot of reasons for her to take this decision.

"There are a lot of challenges that are facing the American people that I'm concerned about and that I want to help solve," she said.

She listed access to health care, criminal justice reform and climate change as key issues.

"There is one main issue that is central to the rest, and that is the issue of war and peace. I look forward to being able to get into this and to talk about it in depth when we make our announcement," Gabbard said.

Former US vice president Joe Biden has also expressed his interest in the 2020 bid.

Rania Batrice, who was a deputy campaign manager for Bernie Sanders in 2016 and is now a top aide to Gabbard, will be her campaign manager, CNN reported.

The 2020 presidential primary cycle is scheduled to kick off from the Iowa Caucuses on February 3, 2020, followed by the New Hampshire Primary on February 11, Nevada caucus of February 15 and South Carolina on February 22.

Among other Democrats speculated to run for the 2020 primaries include Senators Kirsten Gillibrand, Amy Klobuchar and Tim Kaine.
Jammu: An Indian Army Major with Kerala roots and another soldier were killed in an IED blast along the LoC in Jammu and Kashmir's Rajouri district Friday, officials said.

An improvised explosive device was planted by suspected militants in the foot-track along the LoC to target Army soldiers patrolling the borderline in Laam belt of Nowshera sector of Rajouri district, they said.

The blast resulted in injuries to two soldiers, including Major Shashidharan V Nair, 33, the officials said, adding they were rushed to a hospital where they succumbed to injuries.

Army soldiers have been alerted against IED blasts and attacks by the Border Action Teams (BATs) of the Pakistan Army, they said.

Major Nair was part of the 2/11 Gorkha rifle. Major Nair was part of the 2/11 Gorkha rifle. Nair, who hails from Poickattussery near Nedumbassery, was settled in Pune. He is survived by wife Trupti Shashidharan Nair.


Lucknow: Arch rivals for over 25 years, the BSP and SP announced on Saturday that they will contest the coming Lok Sabha polls together in Uttar Pradesh sharing 38 seats each of the 80 in the state, while leaving Rae Bareli and Amethi for Congress, which has been kept out of the alliance.

"The Bahujan Samaj Party and Samajwadi Party will each contest 38 seats while two seats have been left for one or two parties. We have also decided to leave Amethi and Rae Bareli seats for Congress though we do not have alliance with it," Mayawati said at a joint conference here with SP chief Akhilesh Yadav.

Answering questions, Mayawati called the alliance a "permanent phenomenon" that would not only sound the "end of the dictatorial, arrogant and anti-people BJP" but one that would last beyond the 2019 general election and also go in the 2022 state Assembly polls.

The two parties will keep their personal differences aside to end "the monstrous rule" of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), she said.

On his part, Akhilesh Yadav hinted at supporting Mayawati as a prime ministerial candidate.

"Uttar Pradesh has produced numerous prime ministers in the past. You know whom I will support. I will be happy if another prime minister comes from the state."

Mayawati described the alliance also as a "new political revolution" taken in national interest to stop the BJP from coming to power again.

The four-time Uttar Pradesh chief minister started her address by saying that what she was about to say and announce would give anxious and sleepless moments to the "guru-chela" duo of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP national president Amit Shah.

She also said that the BJP was rattled at the fact that the two regional parties had buried a long-standing animosity and that it was letting loose government agencies to thwart the alliance.

"But here we are formally coming together, to ensure that at all costs, the BJP is not allowed to return to power but also to give relief to the teeming millions who were suffering at the hands of the faulty and anti-people policies of the BJP government at the Centre and in many states", the Dalit leader announced.

Making it clear that the deep differences and simmering hostility between the BSP-SP were "now things of the past," Mayawati also said that in "larger public interest she had even decided to overlook the infamous June 1995 murderous attack on her by SP workers".

Listing a host of problems like demonetisation, rolling out of the GST, agrarian distress, marginalisation of the poor, Dalits, downtrodden and farmers, Mayawati, who looked very much in control at the conference, also said that the alliance was set to knock out the BJP as they successfully did in the 1993 state Assembly polls when the late Kanshiram and Mulayam Singh Yadav came together to form the government.

She went on to bracket the BJP and the Congress on the same page, saying their "ideology and the working style" was similar.

The BSP supremo also alleged that while the people did not profit in governments of both the Congress and BJP, even defence scams took place under their watch.

"If Bofors was responsible for the ouster of the Congress government at the centre in the 90's, the BJP will go down soon due to the Rafale jet fighter scam" she said.

Explaining the reason for keeping the Congress out of the alliance, Mayawati said it was because of past experiences and electoral history showed that while the vote of the BSP and SP shifted to the Congress in toto, it did never happen vice versa.

"Both the BSP (1997) and SP (2017) tied up with the Congress, but the results were not in our favour because of this very reason."

The coming together of the two parties, which were swept away by the Modi wave in the 2014 Lok Sabha and the subsequent Assembly polls in 2017, has been viewed by analysts as a possible game changer.

In the 2014 Lok Sabha polls, the BJP won 71 seats on its own while its ally Apna Dal picked up two. The BSP drew nil, while the SP won five and Congress two - all family pocketboroughs.

Mayawati said the seat-sharing between two parties was decided at a meeting in Delhi on January 4 and the distribution of seats has also been broadly worked out.

It will be made public through a press release.

She said Amethi, which is represented by Congress president Rahul Gandhi and Rae Barelli, represented by UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi, have been left for Congress as they do not want BJP to "complicate" matters.

Mayawati said ever since reports of the tie up between the two parties had appeared, the BJP got "scared" and conspired to weaken the alliance as part of its strategy.

It was "misusing" state machinery and targeting Akhilesh Yadav, whose name cropped up in the media in the alleged mining scam.

"The BJP should know that after this the alliance has got further strengthened," she said and appealed to people not to waste their votes on outfits like Shivpal Yadav, Akhilesh Yadav's estranged uncle, on whom "the BJP is splashing money like water".

She suggested that as part of this strategy, parties may be floated to attract Muslim votes.

Akhilesh Yadav said that he decided to have an alliance with the BSP ever since the BJP leaders "drunk with power" abused her. In future, any insult to Mayawati will be his personal insult, he said appealing to SP workers to work in the spirit of brotherhood with BSP cadre.

The Dalit leader also compared the current situation in the country to that in 1977 and said while the Congress had imposed the Emergency then, now it is a state of "undeclared emergency".

Mayawati however parried questions on whether she would contest the Lok Sabha polls or not.

"In due time, you will be informed of this also," she said smiling.
SNDP Yogam general secretary Vellappally Natesan said his organisation would have to disown Bharath Dharma Jana Sena (BDJS), its political offspring, if it continues to align with the BJP.

The SNDP Yogam has no control over the BDJS. But the fact remains that the Centre, by introducing economic reservation, has betrayed 82 per cent of the backward classes in the country to favour the remaining 18 per cent. They are playing vote bank politics at our expense. We cannot let this happen, Natesan told Onmanorama after holding an emergency meeting of SNDP unit leaders at Vaikom on Friday.

BDJS chairman Thushar Vellappally, on the other hand, was of the view that the economic reservation was not just for the forward communities but for everyone. It is for the economically backward in all castes and communities in the country. This is also for the Ezhavas, Thushar told Onmanorama from Dubai. "The media seems to have misled people about the contents of the constitutional amendment bill," he said.

Thushar Vellappally and Vellappally Natesan during the formation of Bharath Dharma Jana Sena (BDJS).

However, his father is bracing for a big fight. Vellappally said he would challenge the move in the Supreme Court. Besides, the Yogam has decided to launch door-to-door awareness campaign against the decision. We will align with all like-minded parties and organisations on this issue. This is a life-and-death issue for our community, Natesan said. I was touched by the courage shown by the Muslim League in opposing the Bill in Parliament, he added.

The veteran has no choice but to put up a mighty show of protest as his very popularity among Ezhavas is founded on his fanatic opposition to economic reservation. Any sign of compromise, including BDJS's continued dalliance with the NDA, could cost him dear. Parallel but dormant power centres within the SNDP Yogam, like the one chaired by Gokulam Gopalan, could suddenly turn active.

Women's Wall in Kannur. photo: Manorama

Also, the tactical double game that the leadership has been playing  with the SNDP Yogam leaning towards the Left and its political wing, BDJS, embracing the Right  cannot be sustained any more. During the ongoing Sabarimala controversy, for instance, the Ezhava leadership demonstrated a near miraculous capacity for bilocation. Its men and women took part in both 'Ayyappa Jyothi' and the 'Women's Wall'.

If Natesan could hold on to his supremo status for so long it was mainly because he played on the Ezhava community's fear of losing reservation benefits. It could be suicidal for the leadership not to attack the BJP in the issue. If BDJS continues its affair with the BJP, what will the leadership tell its constituents who had been historically mobilised using the threat of economic reservation, said political scientist J Prabhash.

Thushar Vellappally with BJP state president P S Sreedharan Pillai. Photo: Manorama

However, Thushar made it clear that he prefers to be with the NDA alliance. What India needs is development and only one man can deliver, he said, referring to Narendra Modi.
Resentment cutting across group affiliations is brewing within the Congress against the appointment of former Kerala chief minister A K Antony's son Anil Antony as the convenor of KPCC's IT cell.

At the moment, it is only a former Youth Congress member, Arun Raj, who has openly revolted. But it is not a stray random voice. It is part of an incremental counter strategy to strike at the might of A K Antony at the right moment. Second-rung Congress leaders have encouraged Arun Raj to make more provocative statements. He is the bait. The hope is KPCC president Mullappally Ramachandran will pull out the whip and issue a stricture. At this point, the leaders behind Arun Raj will come out in the open and publicly question the appointment.

The common refrain among young Congress leaders Onmanorama talked to was this: At a time when even the reorganisation of the KPCC has been put on hold, and the Youth Congress elections have been stalled, we have A K Antony's son being sneaked into a crucial position through the back door.

It is the timing that seems to have aroused suspicion. We have information that just before this appointment Anil Antony had done a study on his electoral prospects in Wayanad, a top Congress leader said. Other leaders said Antony Junior was eyeing not just Wayanad. Chalakkudy is the other seat that he has set his sights on, another leader said. Only K Muraleedharan was airdropped like this before. "Most of the sons of Congress leaders now in politics  be it Hibi Eden or Shoukath Aryadan  had been through the grind. They had worked in the party for a few years. If no one seriously objected to Sabarinathan's entry it was because his presence was needed for the party's victory in Aruvikkara after former Speaker G Karthikeyan's death," the Congress leader said.

Former Kerala CM AK Antony (Extreme Right) with son Anil Antony (Second from R), wife Elizabeth (Extreme Left), and Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala. File photo: Manorama

A close Antony aide said paranoia had gripped some Congress leaders. The post that Anil has got is not something any Youth Congress leader worth his salt would give his right arm for, the Antony group leader said. Even Cherian Philip, once Antony's closest aide but then a bitter foe, said Congress leaders are reading too much into the appointment. It is not a very senior post. It is not a post that matters either. It is as if Anil has been appointed to a senior post in the Youth Congress or the KPCC, Cheriya Philip said.

Congress chief Rahul Gandhi with Hibi Eden MLA.

However, it is this seeming insignificance of the post that have made the revolting Congress leaders wary. This appointment looks very innocuous. It looks like a mere technical appointment. Truth is, Anil Antony gets automatic entry to the KPCC executive. Has the KPCC leadership taken us for fools, a senior leader said.

Those opposed to the appointment suspect that Anil Antony's entry was part of a well thought out script. Three months before, just after Mullappally Ramachandran took over as KPCC chief, a function was organised to felicitate Anil Antony and Priya Dutt for their flood relief activities. Now we realise that this was a way of introducing Anil as a youth leader to be reckoned with, a Congress leader said.

Congress MLA KS Sabarinathan. Photo: Manorama

But many Youth Congress leaders Onmanorama talked to said Anil Antony was too aloof a person who had no idea how the party worked.

Anil Antony's suitability has also been questioned. Why is he the only person to lead our digital campaign, a leader asked. We have many young IT professionals who moonlight in our IT cell. They have been working for the party right from their college days. There are even post-graduate holders from reputed institutions like IIT who still work for us during their spare time. If efficiency was what they were looking for, why not any one of these youths, the leader said.

Nonetheless, Anil Antony has an impressive biodata. He is a graduate in Management Science and Engineering from Stanford University, USA and Industrial Engineering from College of Engineering, Trivandrum. He was also one of the founders of Torque, one of Kerala's first startups. He was a leading member of Rahul Gandhi's social media team during the Gujarat Assembly elections.

Shoukath Aryadan, son of veteran Congress leader Aryadan Muhammed.

Anil is at present the executive director of Cyber India, a platform working in the field of cyber security solutions.
Alappad/Thiruvananthapuram: The Kerala government Saturday expressed willingness to hold conciliatory talks on the Alappad mining issue but the protest council said it was not in favour of any discussion until the mining stopped.

Fisheries minister J Mercykutty Amma said, being a public sector enterprise, the Indian Rare Earth (IRE) should engage in responsible mining without affecting the erosion of shoreline in the area.

"Being a public sector undertaking, the IRE must do the mining in a responsible manner. They should engage in mining by protecting the shore. This is what the people want and the government stands by the people," she told the media here.

"The environmental committee of the legislative assembly has already done an impact study in this regard. They have suggested the sustainable manner in which the mining should take place. Industries ministry will take necessary actions to initiate discussion with the protesters in this regard," she added.

However, members of the anti-mining People's Protest Council, which has been on a relay hunger strike for the past over two months against the mining activities, told PTI that the earlier round of talks with the IRE were a failure, hence fresh dialogue would serve no purpose until mining was stopped completely.

Industries Minister E P Jayarajan

"Earlier dialogues with IRE ended without any results. The dialogues are a waste of time unless the company stops mining. All previous dialogues have ended with the society being cheated," K S Sreekumar, a protester said.

"The protest is to end the mining which has been affecting this area for long. All rules are flouted in this mining here," he added.

Industries minister E P Jayarajan said the ministry will look into the issues and take a decision accordingly.

"Shore erosion was not there earlier. We are aware of the situation. We will look into how the situation came up now and take decisions accordingly," Jayarajan told reporters.

Seeking to save their remaining villages, the people of Alappad and nearby hamlets under the banner of anti-mining People's Protest Council have been on a relay hunger strike at Vellanathuruthu near Alappad for the last 73 days demanding a complete halt to the mining activities.

Agitators claim hamlet after hamlet were "disappearing" from the map due to mining activities by the IRE, a central public sector undertaking, and state government-owned Kerala Minerals and Metals Limited (KMML).

However, an official of the IRE, when contacted, said the company was following all mining norms.

The two firms together have been engaged in mineral sand mining along the beach off the Kollam coast since the 1960s.

According to the protesters, a lithographic map decades ago had shown the area of Alappad panchayat as 89.5 square kilometre and it has now shrunk to a measly 7.6 square km due to sea erosion caused by the mining.

Threat to rice bowl?

Alappad is a narrow stretch between Trivandrum-Shoranur (TS) Canal and the Arabian Sea.

Agitators allege that if this strip of land erodes any further, the backwaters would irreversibly merge with the sea and turn the river waters saline.

This in turn would damage paddy fields of upper Kuttanad, which is below the sea level and is known as the rice bowl of Kerala.

Freshwater ecology expert Dr Jayalekshmy V had said the "uncontrolled" sand mining in Cheriyazheekkal-Alappad area was affecting the ecological stability of Ashtamudi Lake and other associated freshwater fluvial ecosystems.

"Non-sustainable extraction of beach sand has led to the destruction of sand banks and widening of the Pallickal river mouth and during the summer when the water content is low, it will lead to the influx of marine water into the river," she had said.
Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala police received a standing ovation when they cracked down on BJP workers who went on a rampage during recent hartals but they are accused of taking it easy when it comes to the incidents related to the two-day general strike sponsored by trade unions.

The police went into overdrive to take to task the BJP workers who resorted to violence to support the partys hartal call. They even published the list of criminals at the district level. Earlier, during the partys protests against womens entry to the Sabarimala shrine, the police had published a photo album of suspected assailants.

The same initiative is missing when it comes to dealing with the attacks related to the general strike, apparently because most of the accused have ties to the ruling CPM. The office of the director general of police said that a list of suspects had not been compiled so far.

The director general of police had issued guidelines to deal with the 48-hour general strike organised by trade unions at the national level. The police wanted to avoid the strike being turned into a total shutdown on January 8 and 9.

Protesters blocking a train in Ernakulam during the strike.

The police chief had said that those who resorted to violence during the strike would be arrested and slapped with charges. The order was not keenly followed because of the involvement of powerful organisations such as the CITU.

Ironically, the forceful enforcement of the strike happened on the same day when the governor signed into law an ordinance that paved the way for strict actions against those who tried to foment trouble during hartals.

The police have arrested 6,914 persons in 2,187 cases related to hartals. No such data is available in the case of general strike-related violence.

The CPM has initiated compromise talks to save the leaders from cases. Several CPM leaders face cases related to protests including blocking trains. Some of them could be sacked if convicted. A conviction for blocking trains could hamper their chances of contesting elections.

More than 1,000 persons, including joint strike committee convener V Sivan Kutty and party district secretary Anavoor Nagappan, have been accused of blocking trains in Thiruvananthapuram. NGO Union state committee member Suresh Babu and district committee member Suresh Kumar are accused of ransacking the SBI Main Treasury branch in the city.

The Railway Protection Force has registered 32 cases in the Thiruvananthapuram division for blocking trains. The offence attracts two years of jail and a fine of Rs 2,000 under the Railway Act.

The SBI main treasury branch near Secretariat in Thiruvananthapuram was attacked during the strike.

Blocking railway officials from performing their duties can be punished with six months of imprisonment and a fine of Rs 500. Barging into the railway stations can be punished with six months of imprisonment and a fine of Rs 1,000.

The Thiruvananthapuram division is in no mood to settle the cases. Divisional manager H K Sinha told Onmanorama that the railway would go ahead with the cases.

Though the protesters blocked trains, no attacks were reported anywhere. The railway has not estimated its losses for the two days. The RPF has been collecting the photos and videos of protesters in a bid to identify them. Everyone would be slapped with cases and the legal process could prolong for years, authorities said.

The police said that the SBI branch was attacked as part of a definite plan. The NGO Union leaders were irked that the bank employees refused to cooperate with the strike even though some of them were supportive of BJP-sponsored programmes.

The NGO Union leaders wanted in connection with the attack are yet to be taken into custody. Both of them are employees of the tax department. The police may be giving the duo enough time to settle the case with the bank management.

The case is being probed by the cantonment assistant commissioner. NGO Union Thycaud area secretary A Asokan and district secretariat member T V Harilal had surrendered on Thursday. They have been remanded.

The police have also identified Sreevalsan, an employee of the treasury directorate, Anil Kumar, a civil supplies department staff and Bijuraj, a health department staff, as problem makers. Cases have been registered against 15 unidentified persons.

Read more Kerala News
Neupane is the Delhi Bureau Chief of The Kathmandu Post and Kantipur Daily.
The band Vayali cultivated a new music culture. In 2004, some artists sat together and discussed about their dreams. And one day, the band was born with the purpose of blending the local tradition and culture along with its music.



Vayali, a group of 30 artists from the cultural capital of Kerala, aims to be rooted in the traditional milieu. They came together to learn the traditional as well as local knowledge systems practised in and around the banks of River Nila (Bharatha Puzha), the artists started to carve their own instruments with bamboo. They used indigenous percussion instruments and colourful costumes to create foot-tapping music and to preserve the dying Valluvanadan tradition and culture.



Valluvanad, the erstwhile region, was famous for folk art culture, folklore and classical art forms like Kathakali and Mohiniyattam.



Vayali, which initially had only 10 members, has now grown to a community of 200 people making a new way of music, rhythm and band culture. Know more about the varied actions of the Vayali group which celebrated its 15th anniversary last year.



Photo: Vayali

Folklore expression group



Vayali folklore expression group organises programmes for the local audience and international travellers as well. It works with many internationally renowned tour operators in the tourism space. The band welcomes the guests from all over the world through this portal. The guests can also enjoy the rich local culture and various art forms.



Bamboo orchestra



When the Vayali artists developed a bamboo orchestra after attending the Traditional Music and Rhythm Festival in Japan in 2007. After knowing about the world famous Japanese bamboo music and instruments, the team promised themselves to germinate a new music pattern. And now more than 10 artists perform with their own new instruments like bamboo drums like mazha mooli and mulam thudi.



Community archive projects



Community archive projects initiate programmes for schools and colleges to impart the cultural and traditional values. The Nila Adolescents Intervention Programme and Alter School are involved in these activities.



Nila Actions



Vayali took up key three river action plans under the banner of Nila Actions. It has formed a collective of people across the river Nila basin for these purposes. The Alter School is backing the project in these initiatives.



A community digital archive project to document the cultural landscape of the river is also on. Puzhakottams, another flagship project of Vayali, aims to engage students in the conservation activities of Nila river.



Eco Bazar



Craftila aims to find market space for the artisans, help them to contemporise their product designs and extend financial aids so that the traditional craft sector thrives.



Media action



VIMA or Vayali Initiative for Media Action was formed two years ago for creating a platform for any creative action among the youth. It started as a WhatsApp group and grew fast as it took up many social projects. It made socially relevant films like 'The Magic Weavers of Killimangalam, A Valluvandan Tapestry'.



Mental and palliative care



AiM started as a service group to extend medical support to the needy in the society. It has been called as the social arm of Vayali, It supports is now limited to children and mentally challenged people. AiM works in association with MEHAC, a Kochi-based social innovation group.



As old people say, culture gets nourishment from nature. Without nature a culture cant exist, without a culture a society cannot.It seems Vayali believes in this dictum as its manifold activities suggest.


Lantana is a conservationists' nightmare.

The invasive weeds that spread from the Americas to all the British colonies are one of the most destructive plant species as far the ecology is concerned. Governments all over the world are taking aggressive measures to contain the spread of this plant, which is generally avoided by the herbivores due to the poisonous content on its leaves.

Elephants, at the same time, represent a fine example of man-animal cohabitation.

Elephants represent a fine example of man-animal cohabitation.

A project is being envisaged with a unique idea of combining both lantana and elephants for spreading the message of conservation in an aesthetic manner.

The project envisions crafting life-size elephants from stems of lantana plants with the help of tribal craftsmen. Each piece is based on a real elephant from the Nilgiris. The elephants are designed by the Real Elephant Collective, and created by 70 tribal artisans with the support from Bengaluru-based environmental research group, Asoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment (ATREE). It will be toured globally by Elephant Family, UK, founded by the late British conservationist Mark Shand. The traditional artisans are from the tribal communities of Paniya, Vettakkurumba and Soliga.

Lantana elephants spread the message of conservation in an aesthetic manner.

The idea to craft elephants out of lantana stems was derived on the basis of the concept that elephants are best suited to spread the message of conservation and peaceful cohabitation of man and nature. The massive project to make lantana elephants was inspired by the research of The Shola Trust and Elephant Family's pioneering and unique fund raising efforts for conservation.



As part of the project, 101 lantana elephants will be exhibited in Kochi, Bengaluru and New Delhi this year. Thought Factory is the designer for the Kochi event.

The lantana elephant exhibition will be organised in the Victoria & Albert Museum and the Royal Parks of London in 2020.

The project envisions crafting life-size elephant sculptures from stems of lantana plants.

In 2021, the elephants will criss-cross the US in huge trucks and exhibitions will be held in historic sites.

Five lantana elephants were part of an exhibition held at Royal Chelsea Hospital in 2017.

The elephants were transported by ship to the UK. The final idea is to auction the elephants at the end of their US journey.

101 Lantana Elephant sculptures will be exhibited in Kochi, Bengaluru and New Delhi this year.

The proceeds from the auction would go towards the Asian Elephants Fund, monitored by elephant experts and environmental scientists.

The project will kick off from Kochi on January 26, with an exhibition of 30 lantana elephants. CEO of Elephant Family Ruth Powys and conservation experts from the WWF and other organisations will be present for the launch. The public can also interact with the experts at the exhibition venue.
Bengaluru: Infosys Ltd, India's second-biggest IT services company, on Friday raised its revenue growth forecast on the back of robust demand for its core services as well as its latest digital offerings from its Western clients.

Bengaluru-headquartered Infosys upped its revenue growth guidance to 8.5-9 percent in constant currency terms for the fiscal year ending March 2019, from 6-8 percent previously.

The company has a healthy pipeline of projects and deal wins across all its segments, Chief Executive Salil Parikh told a news conference.

"Our segments are doing well, both of our main digital and core services are doing well and that's giving us some confidence for the guidance for revenue," Parikh said.

For the quarter to the end of December, Infosys reported a 29.6 percent fall in net profit to 36.09 billion rupees ($512 million). That compared with the 41.31 billion rupees average of 25 analyst estimates compiled by Refinitiv Eikon.

A year earlier, Infosys made a profit of 51.29 billion rupees, helped by tax benefits from the company's deal with the U.S. Internal Revenue Service, it said in a statement

On Thursday, Infosys' bigger rival Tata Consultancy Services Ltd reported a record quarterly profit for October-December.

Infosys said revenue from operations in the quarter rose 20.3 percent year-on-year to 214 billion rupees in what is usually a seasonally weak period for Indian IT firms due to a long holiday season in the West.

The company's operating margin declined 110 basis points to 22.6 percent even though it retained the margin guidance in the band of 22-24 percent.

Infosys said it was "no longer highly probable" that the sale of its units Kallidus & Skava and Panaya would be completed by the end of March.

Total expenses in the quarter surged over 26 percent to 170.21 billion rupees, which included an additional depreciation and amortization charge of $12 million and a reduction of $65 million in the carrying value for its Skava units.

It also approved a buyback of shares worth 82.60 billion rupees as part of its capital allocation policy.
Visiting U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Saturday that the United States has no intention to leave the Middle East region, Xinhua reported.

In an exclusive interview with Al Arabiya TV, Pompeo made it clear that the U.S. relations with Saudi Arabia are the foundation of the regional stability.

"We want an Arab coalition and force that is capable of facing various challenges in the region," he said.

"Saudi Arabia will always be an ally of the U.S.," Pompeo added.

The destruction of the Islamic State (IS) militant group is a priority that Washington would do along with its allies, the U.S. official noted.

On the issue of Syria, Pompeo said the U.S. withdrawal from Syria does not contradict its strategy against Iran, or mean any backtrack from its anti-terror stand.
President Donald Trump said on Friday he would not declare a national emergency right now to end a standoff over border security that has idled large swaths of the U.S. government, all but guaranteeing that he will preside over the longest shutdown in U.S. history, Trend reports referring to Reuters.

The dispute has disrupted everything from air travel to tax collection and suspended pay for 800,000 government workers.

Trump has repeatedly described the situation at the U.S.- Mexico border as a humanitarian crisis as speculation has increased this week that he would circumvent Congress to begin building his signature wall - a move that would be sure to draw a court challenge from Democrats who say the barrier would be barbaric and ineffective.

Instead, the president urged lawmakers to provide him the $5.7 billion he is seeking for border security.

The easy solution is for me to call a national emergency. I could do that very quickly, Trump said during a White House event on border security. I have the absolute right to do it. But Im not going to do it so fast. Because this is something Congress should do.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi mocked the president as she told reporters it was up to Trump to make the next move.

Lets give him time to think it through. Think? Did I say think? she said.

Trump spoke after lawmakers had adjourned for the weekend, precluding any possible action until next week. On Saturday, the shutdown will become the longest in U.S. history.

Earlier on Friday, the Democratic-controlled House of Representatives voted 240-179 to restore funding for the Interior Department and the Environmental Protection Agency, two of the agencies that have been shuttered since Dec. 22.

But Republicans who control the Senate have so far stood with Trump and insisted that any spending bills include money for his wall. The chamber wrapped up business for the week without taking up the House-passed bill.

A national emergency would allow Trump to divert money from other projects to pay for the wall, which was a central promise of his 2016 campaign. That, in turn, could prompt him to sign bills that restore funding to agencies that have been affected by the shutdown.

Diverting money to the wall could shortchange flood-control efforts in California and reconstruction programs in Puerto Rico, which was devastated by Hurricane Maria in 2017, according to Democratic Representative John Garamendi, who represents a district in California that would potentially be affected.

Trump already has threatened to withhold disaster-recovery approved in the wake of California wildfires.

He has done everything he can to harm California, Garamendi told Reuters in a telephone interview.

Some of Trumps fellow Republicans are warning against a disaster declaration, saying it would undercut Congresss power under the U.S. Constitution to control government spending - and make it easier for a future Democratic president to bypass Capitol Hill.

Its a bad precedent, Republican Senator Chuck Grassley said on CNBC.
U.S. Special Representative for Iran Brian Hook said on Saturday Washington was not looking to grant any more waivers for Iranian oil after the reimposition of U.S. sanctions, Trend reports referring to Reuters.

Hook told a news conference in the United Arab Emirates capital Abu Dhabi that the reason for the earlier waivers was to prevent a spike in oil prices. He declined to say what the administration in Washington would do when the current waivers end in May.

Washington gave waivers to eight traditional Iranian oil buyers - including China, India, Japan and South Korea  after reimposing sanctions on Iranian oil in November.
US Senators Jerry Moran and Rob Portman on Friday introduced a bill designed to create a $25-billion trust fund to enhance the border security of the United States, Moran's press office said in a news release, Trend reports citing Sputnik.

The legislation would also codify protections for those individuals who, through no fault of their own, entered the United States illegally as children and are currently covered by the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, the release said on Friday.

DACA allowed undocumented immigrants, who were brought to the United States illegally as children and are known as "Dreamers," to stay and work in the United States. The Trump administration rescinded DACA, but a US court ruled in August the decision was unlawful and DACA must be fully reinstated.

Moran explained that resources would be provided under the bill to strengthen US border security and protect children under DACA.

Portman called the legislation "a fair and reasonable solution" that will allow for strengthening of US border security.

This measure represents a permanent legislative solution that will allow those in the DACA program to stay here and continue to contribute to our society while strengthening our border security to protect all Americans, Portman said.

A disagreement between US President Donald Trump and Congressional Democrats over funding for a wall on the US border with Mexico has resulted in a partial government shutdown, now in its 21st day. Trump is asking Congress to allocate $5.7 billion to construct the border wall, but Democrats have refused to provide funding. Some lawmakers have called for a compromise whereby the Democrats will provide the funds for the border wall in exchange for Trump accepting protections for "Dreamers" under DACA.
The US-led coalition against Islamic State has begun the process of withdrawing from Syria, a spokesman said on Friday, indicating the start of a US pullout that has been clouded by mixed messages from Washington, Trend reports citing Reuters.

US President Donald Trumps announcement last month that he had decided to withdraw 2,000 US troops stunned allies that have joined Washington in the battle against Islamic State in Syria. Senior US officials were shocked too, among them Defense Secretary Jim Mattis, who quit in protest.

The coalition has begun the process of our deliberate withdrawal from Syria. Out of concern for operational security, we will not discuss specific timelines, locations or troop movements, Colonel Sean Ryan said.

Russia, which has deployed forces into Syria in support of the Damascus government, said it had the impression that the United States wanted to stay despite the announced withdrawal of US troops, RIA news agency reported.

Residents near border crossings that are typically used by US forces going in and out of Syria from Iraq said they had seen no obvious or large-scale movement of US ground forces on Friday.

The US decision has injected new uncertainties into the eight-year long Syrian war and a flurry of contacts over how a resulting security vacuum will be filled across a swathe of northern and eastern Syria where the US forces are stationed.

On the one hand, Turkey aims to pursue a campaign against Kurdish forces that have allied with the United States, and on the other the Russia and Iran-backed Syrian government sees the chance to recover a huge chunk of territory.

US National Security Adviser John Bolton suggested on Tuesday that protecting Washingtons Kurdish allies would be a pre-condition of the US withdrawal. That drew a rebuke from Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan who called his comments a serious mistake.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, who has been touring the Middle East this week to reassure allies of Washingtons commitment to regional security, said on Thursday the withdrawal would not be scuppered despite the Turkish threats.

The Kurdish groups that control the north have turned to Moscow and Damascus in the hope of striking a political deal that will stave off Turkey and shield their autonomy in the north.
The Russian Navy plans to place more than 30 Poseidon strategic nuclear-capable underwater drones on combat duty, a source in the domestic defense industry told TASS on Saturday, Trend reports referring to TASS.

"Two Poseidon-carrying submarines are expected to enter service with the Northern Fleet and the other two will join the Pacific Fleet. Each of the submarines will carry a maximum of eight drones and, therefore, the total number of Poseidons on combat duty may reach 32 vehicles," the source said.

The special-purpose nuclear-powered submarine Khabarovsk currently being built at the Sevmash Shipyard will become one of the organic carriers of the Poseidon nuclear-capable underwater drone. Also, special-purpose submarines and Project 949A nuclear-powered underwater cruisers operational in the Russian Navy may be used as the carriers "after their appropriate upgrade," the source noted.

In his state-of-the-nation address to both houses of Russias parliament on March 1, Russian President Vladimir Putin mentioned for the first time the countrys efforts to develop a nuclear-powered unmanned underwater vehicle that can carry both conventional and nuclear warheads and is capable of destroying enemy infrastructural facilities, aircraft carrier groups and other targets.

Poseidon drones together with their carriers - nuclear-powered submarines - make part of the so-called oceanic multipurpose system. The drone got its name following the results of open voting on the website of Russias Defense Ministry.

A source in the defense industry earlier told TASS that the Poseidon drone being developed in Russia would be capable of carrying a nuclear warhead with a yield of up to 2 megatonnes to destroy enemy naval bases.
Russian officers from the Center for reconciliation of the opposing sides in Syria have delivered humanitarian aid to the town of Maaloula, a center's spokesman Eduard Titov told reporters on Saturday, Trend reports referring to TASS.

"Today we have brought humanitarian aid to the town of Maaloula to provide assistance to local population. A total of 500 food sets will be distributed, and some food sets will be taken to the St. Thecla Monastery," Titov said. He added that this is not the first time Russian specialists visit the town.

Maaloula is located in 55 kilometers to the north of Damascus at the altitude of around 1,500 above the sea level.

It is the only place in the world where ancient Western Aramaic language is still spoken. Maaloula is home to Saint Thecla Monastic Complex and Saint Sarkis Monastic Complex.

In 2013 militants from the Jebhat al-Nusra terrorist organization (banned in Russia) entered the town, destroying and plundering Christian places of worship.

Churches and monasteries in Maaloula were restored with the help of Russian organizations.
Immigration office launches probe into Michael Kobold

The Department of Immigration has initiated an internal investigation into Michael Kobold, the German watchmaker who was found to have flouted Nepali immigration laws, Director General Eshor Raj Poudel told the Post.
Three people have been confirmed killed in an accident on southern Nigeria's Lagos-Ibadan expressway, the busiest inter-state route in the country, the local road safety police said on Saturday, Xinhua reports.

A passenger bus somersaulted many times along the 127 km expressway, causing 11 others to sustain varying degrees of injury on Friday.

Clement Oladele, a sector commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) in the country's southwest region, told reporters that the somersault was preceded by excessive speed, a tyre burst, and the bus driver's subsequent loss of control.

The official said the injured victims were taken to a nearby hospital for treatment, adding the remains of the dead victims were also deposited at a government-owned morgue.

The Lagos-Ibadan expressway connecting Ibadan, the capital of Nigeria's southwestern state of Oyo and the commercial hub Lagos, is also the major route to the northern, southern and eastern parts of Nigeria.
Nissan Motor Co Ltds (7201.T) head of China operations Jose Munoz has resigned following reports that the Japanese automaker has broadened its investigation into ousted Chairman Carlos Ghosns alleged financial misconduct, Trend reports citing Reuters.

Reuters had reported earlier on Friday that the Japanese automaker was looking into decisions made in the United States by Munoz who led Nissans North American operations from 2016 to 2018.

He 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.

In a LinkedIn post bit.ly/2RsrNwQ on Friday, Munoz said, "I am proud to have played a role in achieving 74 percent growth in North America, gaining market dominance in Mexico, getting China market share on the growth path, and helping the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance become the highest volume group in the world."

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 worlds largest auto market has been showing signs of a slowdown, prompting the automaker to cut local production plans in the coming months.

China is Nissans second-largest market, accounting for roughly one-quarter of its annual global vehicle sales. Last year the company planned to boost sales to make China its biggest market in terms of vehicle sales by 2022.

Munoz, 53, who is also the automakers Chief Performance Officer, has been with Nissan for 15 years. He was recently placed on a leave of absence due to the ongoing probe.

Munoz, who is widely seen within the industry as close to Ghosn, was a person of interest in the probe and it was not clear whether he would be accused of any wrongdoing.

I look forward to continuing to assist Nissan in its investigations, Munoz said in the post.

Ghosn, once the most celebrated executives in the auto industry and the anchor of Nissans alliance with Frances Renault SA (RENA.PA), has been charged with under-reporting his income. On Friday, he was also charged with aggravated breach of trust, accused of shifting personal investment losses worth 1.85 billion yen ($17 million) to Nissan.
The air strike followed violent riots on the Gaza border, in which 13,000 Gazan rioters threw grenades and explosives, Trend reports referring to israelnationalnews.com.

There were three incidents of Gazans breaking through the border fence into Israel. The soldiers stopped them before they could reach the homes of Israeli families who live minutes away.

The IDF holds Hamas responsible for all violence that emanates from the Gaza Strip, the IDF Spokesperson stressed.

The Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza claimed Israeli forces shot dead a Palestinian Arab woman during the violent border riots, reported AFP.

Since March 30, Gaza Arabs have held weekly riots along the border, dubbed the March of the Return.

The violent border riots in the past included Gazans attempting to infiltrate into Israel, as well as using kites and balloons with explosives attached in order to set fire to Israeli property.

In recent weeks, the protests had not been as violent as they had been when they started. However, the violence flared up again on Friday, likely due to the fact that Israel halted the transfer of Qatari money into Gaza, following escalation in the south earlier this week.

On Sunday, Hamas terrorists launched balloon bombs into Israeli territory using a model airplane.

Hours later, terrorists from Gaza fired a rocket towards southern Israel that was intercepted by the Iron Dome Aerial Defense System.
An 18-year-old Saudi woman who fled her family saying she feared for her life has been granted asylum in Canada, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said on Friday, as Thai officials confirmed the teen was en route to Toronto, Trend reports referring to Reuters.

Trudeau said United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) had asked Canada to take in Rahaf Mohammed al-Qunun, who grabbed international attention this week after she barricaded herself in a Bangkok airport hotel room to resist being sent home to her family, which denies any abuse.

Canada is a country that understands how important it is to stand up for human rights, to stand up for womens rights around the world, and I can confirm that we have accepted the U.N.s request, he told reporters.

The decision is likely to exacerbate Canadas already poor relations with Saudi Arabia, which last year barred the Canadian ambassador to Riyadh after Ottawa criticized Saudi authorities for detaining womens activists.

Qunun arrived in Bangkok on Saturday and was initially denied entry, but she soon started posting messages on Twitter from the transit area of Bangkoks Suvarnabhumi airport saying she had escaped Kuwait and her life would be in danger if forced to return to Saudi Arabia.

Following a 48-hour stand-off at Bangkok airport, some of it barricaded in a transit lounge hotel room, she was allowed to enter Thailand and was then processed as a refugee by the UNHCR.

The UNHCR welcomed Canadas decision and also acknowledged Thailand had given Qunun temporary refuge.

Ms. al-Qununs plight has captured the worlds attention over the past few days, providing a glimpse into the precarious situation of millions of refugees worldwide, U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi said in a statement.

Qunun has accused her family of abuse, and has refused to meet her father and brother who arrived in Bangkok to try take her back to Saudi Arabia.

It was her wish to go to Canada, Thailands immigration chief Surachate Hakparn told reporters. She still refuses to meet with her father and brother, and they are going to be traveling back tonight as well ... They are disappointed.

Her case has drawn global attention to Saudi Arabias strict social rules, including a requirement that women have the permission of a male guardian to travel, which rights groups say can trap women and girls as prisoners of abusive families.

A Korean Air flight carrying Qunun left Bangkok for Seoul on Friday night at 11:37 p.m. local time (1637 GMT), an airport official told Reuters.

Qunun will board a connecting flight to Toronto from Seouls Incheon airport. She is expected to arrive in Canada on Saturday morning.

Trudeau brushed off a question as to whether Canadas move might make it harder to repair ties with Saudi Arabia.

Canada has been unequivocal that we will always stand up for human rights and womens rights around the world, he said.

Amid increasing domestic political pressure, Trudeau said last month that his Liberal government was looking for a way out of a multibillion-dollar arms deal with Riyadh.

Qununs flight has emerged at a time when Riyadh is facing unusually intense scrutiny from its Western allies over the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul in October and over the humanitarian consequences of its war in Yemen.

Canada has repeatedly said Khashoggis murder was unacceptable and demanded a full explanation.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Jan. 12

By Azer Ahmadbayli  Trend:

Oh, the Arab world... Many times in recent history, the Arabs have tried to unite, and each time they failed.

Despite rhetoric about the readiness to defend the unity of the Arab world, in practice the country-based nationalism was always put above pan-Arab nationalism, and when it came to the choice between pan-Arab unity and state interests, the choice, in the end, fell on the latter.

In 1958, Egypt and Syria established the United Arab Republic (UAR)  perhaps the most striking historical attempt to form a single Arab state, which could turn into a core capable of attracting other Arab countries. Indeed, after the establishment of the Egyptian-Syrian state, Yemen joined it. Then Libya tried several times unsuccessfully to unite with Egypt.

Many expected that Iraq will join UAR after the 1958 revolution (coup). But this did not happen.

The Egyptian-Syrian state dissolved in 1961 as a result of actions of Syrian nationalists who believed that Egypt is turning Syria into its appendage.

In 1958, a Federal government had already been established in Iraq and Jordan  the two kingdoms headed by the Hashemite dynasty at that time  this turned out to be another unsuccessful attempt.

In 1963, there was another idea  creation of a triple Egyptian-Syrian-Iraqi United state, but the case never went beyond talks.

Also, merging of Syria and Iraq did not take place after the Baath party came to power in Baghdad and Damascus in 1963.

Another attempt to unite Syria and Iraq was made in 1979, when a meeting of a specially created Supreme political Committee held in Baghdad, took a decision to develop a single Constitution, but that was a failure as well.

At first sight it may seem incomprehensible that the EU countries, which differ in history, culture and language, managed to unite, whereas Arab countries with their common culture, religion, historical traditions and, most importantly, a common literary language, not only failed to unite, but also fail at living in harmony with each other.

The Arab spring failed to become a catalyst for solidarity of al-Ummah al-Arabiya (the entire Arab nation). On the contrary, the contradictions have only increased, both between some Arab countries and within the countries themselves against the existing authorities (Bahrain, Iraq, Sudan, etc.).

We have all witnessed a split in Arab attitude towards the civil war in Syria  on the issue of rocket attacks by the Western coalition, and the use of chemical weapons, and the fate of President Assad.

The Yemeni crisis with the military participation of some Arab countries, the cold war and closed borders between Algeria and Morocco, the conflict between Fattah and Hamas  it can be still listed.

Even within the Gulf Cooperation Council, whose member countries were born from the same womb, there are serious contradictions when one of them  Qatar  is boycotted by the rest, with diplomatic relations being severed.

In the context of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, Arab solidarity also does not look monolithic  some consider the establishment of contacts with Israel necessary, while others call it betrayal. In this regard, in the minds of Arabs there is another contradiction on how Hezbollah should be considered: as a power resisting Zionist enemy or as an Iranian proxy acting in the interests of the Islamic Republic against the Arab states?

As for the Arab League, despite its sincere efforts to ensure the unity of the Arab world, the organization often appears to be feeble due to strong faction among its members.

Today, no one, primarily the Arabs themselves, have any willingness to unite. That time has passed  at least there are no signs of such ideas. The Arab world today is more divided than ever. There is also no leader who could encourage the Arab nation to integrate.

At some point, it seemed that the crown Prince of Saudi Arabia Mohammed bin Salman could try on the role of a pan-Arab leader, but some recent events including the murder of Khashoggi, raises a big question mark on support for his ambitions.

A year and a half ago, some Arab countries were irreconcilable opponents of the Syrian regime, and today, they have suddenly turned 180 degrees.

Today, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain  countries that usually adjust their decisions with the House of Saud  have decided to restore the activities of their embassies in Damascus. It is possible that Saudi Arabia  Assads first enemy - itself will join them in the near future.

Perhaps the Saudis and their allies think that this is a political move that will give them additional trump cards in regional leadership.

Thats OK. Then why hasn't Turkey changed its negative attitude towards the Syrian regime, even though it may remain in power?

That's the fundamental difference. If the Arabs wish to consolidate in some way as a single organism, they should take their values more seriously and stick to their principles.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Jan. 12

By Elchin Mehdiyev - Trend:

It would be more appropriate if in France, first of all, they recall violence against the yellow vests, and only after that they can make legal assessments on other issues, member of the Azerbaijani parliament Hikmat Babaoglu told Trend.

He was commenting on the statement made by the French Foreign Ministry regarding the issue with Azerbaijani blogger Mehman Huseynov.

"During the rally on the streets of Paris, when French citizens demanded to solve their social problems, the French police applied the most stringent methods against them, violating their constitutional right to free assembly. These violent actions that led to the death of protesters are, in fact, the result of the brutality of the French police. Such cases are repeated there quite often," Babaoglu said.

Babaoglu noted that despite all that happened, now France is preparing to adopt a new law to severely punish the peaceful demonstrators.

He added that this is not only contrary to the French constitution, but also to democratic values.

Babaoglu noted that the measures being prepared are a restriction of the rights and freedom of a person and a citizen.

He further added that the bill provides for very serious sanctions, including the payment of damage to public order by rally participants, as well as their imprisonment.

"No such ruthless measures are taken in any democratic country. Therefore, first of all, the French government must learn to correctly assess such issues," the MP said.

Mehman Huseynov was arrested on March 3, 2017. By decision of the Surakhani District Court, he was sentenced to two years in prison. The decision was based on the appeal by the head of the Nasimi district unitary enterprise, Musa Musayev. The blogger was charged with article 147.2 of Criminal Code (slander, person charging on committing a grave or especially grave crime).
Brussels together with the international community is working to preserve Iran nuclear deal, also known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), EU top diplomat said, Trend report citing IRNA.

We are working, as a Union of 28 member states and with the rest of the international community, to preserve a nuclear agreement that has so far been implemented in full, as certified by the International Atomic Energy Agency in 13 consecutive reports, High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini said Friday in an interview, which was published in European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR).

I start by saying this because I often hear that, on this issue, Europe is motivated mainly by economic or trade considerations. That is not the case: we do this to prevent a nuclear non-proliferation agreement that is working from being dismantled, and to prevent a major security crisis in the Middle East, she added.

She went on to say, Part of this work requires us to guarantee that firms wanting to do legitimate business with Iran are allowed to do so.

This is what we are working on right now: tools that will assist, protect, and reassure economic actors pursuing legitimate business with Iran, Mogherini reiterated.

She added, It is true that this situation has triggered a conversation on European economic sovereignty. We Europeans cannot accept that a foreign power  even our closest friend and ally  makes decisions over our legitimate trade with another country.

This is while earlier, Foreign Ministry spokesman Bahram Qasemi criticized the European Union for delay in implementation of the SPV following the US exit from Iran nuclear deal, saying that the country deems EU responsible for not implementing the mechanism.

The Europeans as the main beneficiary should think about the consequences of the decision, as Iran has so far fulfilled all its commitments under the JCPOA, he said, noting that Irans patience is wearing thin and it is time for the EU to take its strategic decision.

Dollar dominance as well as interconnection of the EU and US economies are among the reasons behind SPV delay,' he said, noting that the EU and even the three countries favoring SPV are also captive and hostage of the US economy in JCPOA. He noted that they should make decision for their independence.
Tehran, Iran, Jan.12

Trend:

Iran's deputy foreign minister for economic diplomacy predicted that Iran's oil export exemption by US would be extended.

"My assessment is that the request of all countries that have received exemptions will certainly not be rejected in the second time," Iran's deputy foreign minister for economic diplomacy Gholamreza Ansari said, Trend reports citing Donyaye Eghtesad newspaper.

Washington gave a six-month waiver to eight countries, including India, allowing them to import Iranian oil.

Ansari highlighted the agreements between Tehran and New Delhi in the three fields, including oil, money and banking, and the Chabahar port, noting that Iran and India are two complementary economies.

One of the issues to be clarified between Iran and India is the banking issue, he said. A few weeks ago, an agreement was signed between the Central Bank of Iran and the Ministry of Finance of India, which is an instruction for how to use Iran's funds in India.

The deputy minister said that this agreement allows Iran to use its resources in India in very diverse areas, including in the fields of investment, securities and stocks in India, which is among the most trusted stocks in the world.

Ansari went on to mention two very serious and good programs between the two countries.

First, follow-up program will be set up between the central banks of the two countries; and the second is the establishment of Pasargad bank`s branch in India, he added.

The branch of Pasargad bank will open within next two months (close to New Iranian Year on March 21).

On the other hand, the Indians have again introduced the UCO Bank, which has had good experience in cooperation with Iran in the past. Other banks could be added to the portfolio, in order to meet the volume of trade between the two countries, said Ansari.

On December 19, some Indian sources announced that India will deposit payments for crude oil imported from Iran into escrow accounts of five of their banks held with state-run UCO Bank Ltd. after the two nations agreed on a payment mechanism to overcome U.S. sanctions.

Iran considers to spend 50 percent of its oil revenues to purchase Indian products or products available in India, said Ansari. For the other 50 percent, Indians have declared that they will transfer money through any banking system which Iran introduces.
Tehran, Iran, Jan.12

Trend:

Iranian aviation officials have asked the Ministry of Road and Urban Development to resolve their problems, including restrictions the country faces due to the US sanctions, as well as high taxes.

During the meeting with the Minister of Road and Urban Development Mohammad Eslami, the officials of Iranian airlines and helicopter companies handed over 15 requests to the Ministry and demanded solution of problems that are effecting the industry, Trend reports citing ISNA.

As a result of the US sanctions, Iran faces limitation on importing spare parts and equipment for the country's aircraft alongside with other problems, including the value added tax for tickets and financial losses from Tupolev planes malfunctions, according to the report.

While the challenges of foreign currency rate also affect the industry, the airline companies had losses due to flights on uneconomical routes, and lack of liquidity in the industry that had caused the airline companies to sell more charter tickets.

The dispute between airliners and the airports and the heavy costs of transportation between Imam Khomeini International Airport and Mehrabad Airport were among other issues.

The minister promised to solve the problems and put the improvement of airline companies on its agenda.
Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, Jan.12

By Huseyn Hasanov  Trend:

Turmengas state concern of Turkmenistan has announced an open tender to equip the perimeter of its industrial facilities with engineering and technical security equipment.



Tender bids will be accepted until Feb.10, 2019.



All interested companies are invited to submit an application indicating the bidders full name, legal status, country of registration, bank details and information about the company.

In addition, the bidders should receive a package of tender documents by paying $ 1,725, including VAT.



Tel.: (+99312) 40-33-46; 40-32-50; Fax (+99312) 40-32-59.



Address: Turkmenistan, Ashgabat, Archabil Avenue, 56, Turkmengas state concern.
Eclipse

Nepals southern border with India was created 150 years ago by external parties who probably did not realise they were cutting communities in two.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Jan. 12

By Rashid Shirinov  Trend:

Prior to the Uzbek Prezident Shavkat Mirziyoyev's soon visit to Germany, the Uzbek-German business forum and bilateral negotiations with German companies, organizations and banking and financial institutions of Germany will be held in Berlin on January 14, Trend reports citing the Uzbek media.

The officials of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy, European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, the Association of German Chambers of Industry and Commerce and the German-Uzbek Business Council are expected to participate in the business forum.

In general, the forum will be attended by over 250 representatives of leading German companies, including ThyssenKrupp, MAN, Knauf, Linde, Takraf, Deutsche Bahn, Siemens, CLAAS, Deutsche Lufthansa and many others.

The event is planned to discuss the development of bilateral investment and trade cooperation, joint implementation of promising projects in Uzbekistan in various sectors, including petrochemical and chemical industries, health care, agro-industrial sector, mechanical engineering, production of modern building materials, and tourism.

Also, during the forum it is planned to hold meetings of the two countries entrepreneurs in the G2B and B2B formats, as well as to sign a package of investment and trade agreements.

The event will be organized by the State Investment Committee of Uzbekistan together with the German Committee on Eastern European Economic Relations.

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Follow the author on Twitter: @ShirinovRashid
Baku, Azerbaijan, Jan. 12

By Sara Israfilbayova - Trend:

According to the suggestion of the World Trade Organization (WTO) Secretariat, Azerbaijan at this stage will continue negotiations on the country's entry to this organization on a bilateral basis, Deputy Foreign Minister of Azerbaijan Mahmud Mammadguliyev told Trend.

Up until now, the meeting of the Azerbaijani delegation with the WTO team was accompanied both as bilateral negotiations with the member countries of the organization and as multilateral negotiations on agriculture.

During the last meeting, in December 2018, according to Mammadguliyev, bilateral negotiations were held only with Japan, Brazil, Norway and with other countries, primarily on mutual access to markets for goods and services.

According to Mammadguliyev, the timing of the next round of negotiations depends on when new offers are ready.

"The list of countries for negations has not been determined yet." the deputy minister said.

At the same time, Mammadguliyev did not rule out the possibility of completing negotiations with some countries this year.

Azerbaijan started negotiations with WTO member countries in 2004. Currently, Azerbaijan is in the process of negotiations with 13 countries. Negotiations have already been completed and protocols signed with Turkey, Oman, the United Arab Emirates, Georgia and Kyrgyzstan. Azerbaijan is at the stage of signing protocols with China and Moldova.

Azerbaijan has recently implemented a number of reforms, including 12 strategic roadmaps for economic development, in the system of import customs tariffs, improved trade and logistics infrastructure.

It is expected that the implementation of the road maps will serve as the basis for the successful accession of Azerbaijan to the WTO. Accordingly, intensification of negotiations and completion of the process of Azerbaijans accession to the WTO will be possible only after receiving preliminary results from ongoing economic reforms in the country, which is expected until 2020.

Note that Azerbaijan has an observer status at the World Trade Organization since 1997. Azerbaijani team under the WTO secretariat was established on July 16, 1997.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Jan.12

Trend:

According to the information received from the diplomatic circles, diplomats of some EU countries embassies met with Mehman Huseynov in the solitary confinement on Jan.11. The meeting was organized upon the request of the EU Delegation to Azerbaijan.

Deputy head of the EU Delegation to Azerbaijan, representatives of the French, Dutch, UK, Czech Republic and German embassies took part in the meeting.

They reviewed the conditions in the detention and were informed about the health condition of Mehman Huseynov.

They saw that Mehman Huseynovs health condition is normal, he has no complaints regarding conditions and can easily meet with his father.

Diplomats of the EU embassies were very pleased with the opportunity provided to them and thanked the Azerbaijani government for transparency and organizing this meeting.

This became a major blow to the false propaganda and the efforts to artificially dramatize this situation by anti-Azerbaijani forces using the name of Mehman Huseynov.

Huseynov did not go on a hunger strike, freely meets with his lawyer, and talks on phone with family members, said the head of the public relations department of the Prison Service Mehman Sadigov.

In Baku Detention Center of the Prison Service of the Ministry of Justice of Azerbaijan, Huseynov was also visited by members of the National Preventive Group of the Ombudsman. During this visit, his appeal was heard out; his state of health and the situation with food have been checked in the presence of a doctor.

Mehman Huseynov takes food, receives parcels, he is under daily medical supervision and feels fine, Trend was told in the press service of the Ombudsmans Office.

During the time in the Detention Center, human rights activists, Ombudsman members and Western diplomats were convinced that Huseynov's conditions of detention and his state of health is fine.

Huseynov was arrested on March 3, 2017. By decision of the Surakhani District Court, he was sentenced to two years in prison. The decision was based on the appeal by the head of the Nasimi district unitary enterprise, Musa Musayev. The blogger was charged with article 147.2 of Criminal Code (slander, person charging on committing a grave or especially grave crime).

On December 26 last year, the Prison Service stated that during regular scheduled searches and inspections in the penitentiary 14, Mehman Huseynov did not obey the legal requirements of the senior inspector, Alladin Abdalov, used force against him, physically resisted, as well as smashed items in the room.

In fact, a criminal case was initiated under article 315.2 of criminal Code (Resistance or use of violence against a representative of authority) in the Garadagh district prosecutor's office of Baku city.

Azerbaijani news service of Trend news agency
Baku, Azerbaijan, Jan.12

Trend:

Despite the ongoing global and regional processes, Azerbaijan has successfully and rapidly developed, said President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev at the meeting of the Cabinet of Ministers dedicated to the results of socioeconomic development of 2018 and objectives for the future.

2018 was a successful year for our country. Despite the ongoing global and regional processes, Azerbaijan has successfully and rapidly developed. All the tasks we set ourselves since the beginning of the last year have been fulfilled, and our countrys comprehensive and dynamic development has been ensured, said President Aliyev.

Very unpleasant processes happened last year, and new risks, and threats are emerging in different parts of the world, including in our region. Conflicts and bloody clashes which broke out in previous years continue, stability in many places is violated, mass protests are widespread. Azerbaijans achievements show itself even more vividly against the background of this negative scene. Azerbaijan is a country of development, progress, and stability. Regardless of the ongoing global and regional processes, Azerbaijan is successfully moving and will continue to move forward along its own path of independence and development, the head of state said.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Jan.12

Trend:

Analyzing the recent publications in foreign media, as well as statements by some international organizations about blogger Mehman Huseynov, one can conclude that in many cases the responses to the issue are inadequate and it is felt that the essence of events is deliberately distorted, Trend reports citing Member of Parliament of Azerbaijan and Vice-President of the OSCE PA Azay Guliyev.

It causes serious concerns, confuses the local and international community and restricts the access to information reflecting the real course of events. One of the particular issues disturbing me is the news, disseminated in the foreign media, which say that the new criminal proceedings have been launched against Mehman Huseynov and he will be sentenced to additional seven years of imprisonment, because of which, he started a dry hunger strike and put himself into immediate risk of death, which are far from reality, said Guliyev.

The situation regarding Mehman Huseynov was seriously disturbing me as the Vice-President of the OSCE PA. I held discussions with the relevant bodies in order to learn the truth regarding the information, spread about Mehman Huseynov. To know the essence of the new accusation brought against him, as well as to get accurate information about his health conditions, and tried to clarify some questions.

He noted that according to the received information, the incident between Mehman Huseynov and the prison officer was sent to the prosecuting authorities for examination. As far as I understood, the incident is being objectively and fairly examined and the public will be thoroughly informed about its results.

As regards the statements by some international organizations and foreign media publications on the severe or even fatal state of Mehman Huseynov's health, it should be noted that none of this information is reasonable either. It can also be seen from the official statements, that Mehman Huseynov does not hold a hunger strike, his health is normal, and no discrimination, oppression or illegal actions are taken against him. As known, all above-mentioned facts have been proved in recent statements made by the representative of the Ombudsman of the Republic of Azerbaijan, human rights organizations, foreign embassies who visited him in prison, as well as Mehman Huseynov's appeal to media.

Guliyev said he hopes that the rights of Mehman Huseynov will be fully protected in compliance with the national legislation and this issue will not be any longer a subject for political manipulations.

In conclusion, I call on law enforcement bodies to examine the incident in a very objective and just manner, as well as on international organizations, embassies and foreign media not to react hastily to the issue without knowing the whole essence of the situation and wait for the results of complete examinations.
Details added (first version posted on 16:42)

Baku, Azerbaijan, Jan. 12

Trend:

As Azerbaijans president noted at the meeting of the Cabinet of Ministers dedicated to the results of socioeconomic development of 2018 and objectives for the future, Armenia openly conducts cognac diplomacy, head of the Department of Foreign Policy Affairs of the Azerbaijani Presidential Administration Hikmat Hajiyev said, Trend reports Jan. 12.

Thus, corrupt politicians are being bribed in the European Parliament and in the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), as well as in the legislative bodies of several western countries, he said. Hajiyev noted that these people, using slander and false information, carry out provocations against Azerbaijan in a dirty manner, he said.

Hajiyev stressed that the ethics committees of PACE and the European Parliament, as well as the parliaments of several western countries, should conduct investigations exposing the illegal and corrupt activities of politicians and MPs.

Hajiyev brought the following examples:

"Observers of these institutions, who observed the parliamentary elections held in 2017 by criminal regime in Armenia, in the final reports stated that fundamental freedoms were ensured at the elections. In these elections, representatives of the criminal junta regime gained more than 50 percent of the votes and in the last parliamentary elections they failed to collect even five percent of the votes," he said.

"Subsequently, the Armenian people shamefully pulled out the criminal junta regime from the political arena. Everything is quite clear: many politicians represented in the above institutions cooperate with the criminal regime of Armenia in exchange for certain material interests, namely, 'cognac diplomacy', participate in election fraud and then present them as 'democratic'," he added. "On what grounds are these people talking about democratic values? Some of these politicians who gave legitimacy to the criminal junta regime with such reports still continue to represent these institutions. What kind of morality can such politicians as the members of the European Parliament Yaroslav Stetina and Frank Engel talk about, who, sitting at the same table with Serzh Sargsyan in Brussels, discussed criminal actions of a political nature, supported the election of a criminal junta regime, illegally visited the occupied Azerbaijani territories? The financial source of Armenia's 'cognac diplomacy' is the criminal money."

"Here criminal activities and political lobbying are developing, complementing each other. Large organized criminal groups under the guise of the 'Armenian mafia' were revealed in Europe, including Germany, Spain, the Czech Republic and Belgium. They were engaged not only in criminal activities, but also in political lobbying. Some members of these criminal groups were arrested with diplomatic passports issued by the Armenian Foreign Ministry. The names of a number of politicians, who are carrying out an anti-Azerbaijani campaign and illegally visit the occupied Azerbaijani territories are mentioned in the criminal case initiated in connection with the Armenian mafia," Hajiyev said.

"A number of ambassadors of Armenia are also involved in this process. Azerbaijan believes that the ethics committees of PACE and the European Parliament, as well as the parliaments of several western countries, should conduct investigations exposing the illegal and corrupt activities of politicians and MPs. Roots of anti-Azerbaijan campaigns should be also investigated within this framework. Otherwise, its impossible to talk about justice and democratic values.
Details added (first version posted at 14:15).

Baku, Azerbaijan, Jan. 12

Trend:

Armenian authorities should prepare their people for peace with neighboring states, the head of the Department of Foreign Policy Affairs of the Azerbaijani Presidential Administration Hikmat Hajiyev said in an interview with the TRT World, Trend reports on Jan. 12.

Hajiyev said that the fundamental cause of the Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is connected with the aggressive policy pursued by Armenia against Azerbaijan using force.

He stressed that Armenia carried out a bloody ethnic cleansing against Azerbaijanis in the occupied territories and over a million Azerbaijanis are still forced to live as refugees and IDPs.

Highlighting the unacceptability of the status quo, based on the ongoing occupation, Hajiyev said that Armenia is trying to use the "fait accompli" attitude and continue the occupation.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Jan. 12

Trend:

Armenian authorities should prepare their people for peace with neighboring states, the head of the Department of Foreign Policy Affairs of the Azerbaijani Presidential Administration Hikmat Hajiyev said in an interview with the TRT World, Trend reports on Jan. 12.

Hajiyev said that the fundamental cause of the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is connected with the aggressive policy pursued by Armenia against Azerbaijan using force.

He stressed that Armenia carried out a bloody ethnic cleansing against Azerbaijanis in the occupied territories and over a million Azerbaijanis are still forced to live as refugees and IDPs.

Highlighting the unacceptability of the status quo, based on the ongoing occupation, Hajiyev said that Armenia is trying to use the "fait accompli" attitude and continue the occupation.

Hajiyev added that in order to achieve progress in settling the conflict, first of all, the fact of occupation must be eliminated and Armenian troops should be withdrawn from the occupied Azerbaijan territories. Noting that the basis for settling the conflict is enshrined in the relevant resolutions of the UN Security Council, the Helsinki Final Act and other documents, Hajiyev stressed the opportunities for a political solution to the conflict may appear after the withdrawal of Armenian troops from the occupied territories.

Commenting on the Dushanbe Summit, he said that President Ilham Aliyev and the Acting Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan held a conversation, during which Azerbaijan once again demonstrated its constructive position.

Hajiyev stressed that Azerbaijan is the most interested party in the soonest settlement of the conflict, because it has been suffering from occupation for over 26 years. Hajiyev underlined the fact that today, there are favorable opportunities for settling the conflict, noting that after the formation of government, Armenia should take steps to resolve the conflict.

Answering the question "Is the ethnic reconciliation possible?", Hajiyev said that Azerbaijan is proud of its multicultural values and culture of tolerance, and despite the fact that the national peace process is a complicated and time-consuming issue as part of the conflict resolution process, it is possible.

"For this, first of all, Armenian troops must be withdrawn from the occupied territories and the return of Azerbaijani IDPs to their native lands should be ensured. In this aspect, measures can be taken to restore trust, full regional cooperation and secure ethnic reconciliation," he said.

Hajiyev reminded that at present Armenia is isolated, does not have access to regional transport projects, but as a result of the conflict resolution process, it can take advantage of opportunities for regional cooperation.

He called on Armenia to end its occupation policy, pursue a policy based on international law with neighboring states and the Armenian authorities should prepare their people for peace with neighboring countries.

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.

Link for the interview:
Baku, Azerbaijan, Jan.12

By Leman Zeynalova  Trend:

Azerbaijan welcomes the focus of the Slovak Chairmanship in OSCE on preventing conflicts, Trend reports citing a statement issued by the Permanent Mission of Azerbaijan to OSCE.

The Delegation of the Republic of Azerbaijan warmly welcomes the OSCE Chairperson-in Office Miroslav Lajcak to the Permanent Council and thanks him for presentation of priorities of the Slovak OSCE Chairmanship. Azerbaijan and Slovakia enjoy good and friendly relations. Successful visit of the Prime Minister Pellegrini to Azerbaijan in November 2018 provided new impetus for further strengthening and expanding our cooperation in different areas of mutual interest. Azerbaijan highly values the willingness of Slovakia to take the responsibility for chairing our organization in this challenging period. We support Slovakias aim to promote dialogue, trust and stability in the OSCE area, which in our firm belief rests on common adherence to all OSCE principles and commitments, starting from the Helsinki Final Act, said the statement.

The statement reads that in light of complex, multi-faceted threats and challenges promoting effective multilateralism should be a common duty and Azerbaijan welcomes its inclusion among the Slovak Chairmanship priorities.

Further, the statement says that OSCE with its concept of comprehensive and cooperative security can be a critical pillar of multilateralism.

Strict compliance with the generally accepted norms and principles of international law and the fulfillment in good faith of obligations assumed by states are imperatives to that end. Slovak Chairmanship can count on our support in ensuring good functioning of our organization. We are calling on the OSCE participating states concerned to allow earliest adoption of decisions on the 2019 OSCE Unified Budget and providing funding for essential infrastructural investments, said the document.

We welcome focus of the Slovak Chairmanship on preventing, mediating and mitigating conflict and its humanitarian consequences. Existing conflicts in the OSCE area remain the most serious threat to peace and security. Challenges emanating from these conflicts require consistent efforts aimed at their earliest resolution on the basis of sovereignty, territorial integrity and inviolability of borders of affected participating States. Addressing the plight of millions of forcibly displaced persons in accordance with the set of OSCE commitments, in particular those reflected in the Lisbon Summit Document of 1996, will help alleviating their sufferings.

Azerbaijan welcomes that energy cooperation is one of the priorities of the Slovak Chairmanship in the economic dimension, according to the document.

OSCE participating States undertook a number of commitments in the economic and environmental dimension, recognizing, inter alia, importance of cooperation in the field of energy on both bilateral and multilateral basis. We encourage the Slovak Chairmanship to keep the issue of promoting connectivity through transport and trade facilitation high on the agenda of the organization. Azerbaijan expects that discussions within the Economic and Environmental Forum cycle, as well as practical engagement this year will provide ample opportunities for strengthening security in the OSCE area, reads the statement.

We support the intention of the Slovak Chairmanship to strengthen tolerance and nondiscrimination and to use the OSCE toolbox to prevent radicalization and violent extremism leading to terrorism. In this regard, it is also important to implement Basel tasking to strengthen OSCEs capacities in combating tolerance and discrimination against Muslims, Christians and members of other religions. In conclusion, we once again thank Minister Lajcak for his appearance at the Permanent Council and wish him a successful Chairmanship.

OSCE Chair and Slovakian Foreign Minister Miroslav Lajcak named the priorities of OSCE chairmanship on Jan.10, 2019.

In particular, he noted that OSCE will work to harness opportunities created by positive momentums in the process of settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

Lajcak pointed out that Slovakia will focus on how conflict is mediated, resolved and prevented - as well as on people who are living through it.

The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. As a result of the ensuing war, in 1992 Armenian armed forces occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts.

The 1994 ceasefire agreement was followed by peace negotiations. Armenia has not yet implemented four UN Security Council resolutions on withdrawal of its armed forces from the Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding districts.

---

Follow the author on Twitter: @Lyaman_Zeyn
Baku, Azerbaijan, Jan. 12

Trend:

On Jan. 12 at 11:20 and 11:40 (GMT+4) units of the Armenian armed forces opened fire at an excavator which was driven by a civilian and engaged in engineering work at a border point near Kamarli village of Azerbaijans Gazakh district, Trend reports referring to the Azerbaijani State Border Service.

As a result, six bullets hit the ladle and other parts of the excavator, damaged the glass of the cab.

There are no human casualties.

The Armenian armed forces continue to violate the ceasefire regime in the areas of border points on the line of contact with Azerbaijan in Gazakh and Agstafa districts.

Earlier, the Armenian armed forces opened sniper fire at an excavator on Jan. 6 at 15:35 (GMT+4) at a border point near Kamarli village of Azerbaijans Gazakh region.

The excavator was operated by a civilian, in 450 meters from the state border. The bullets hit the excavator, the civilian was not injured.

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.
Countrys only library for visually impaired has no visitors

The floor of the National Braille Library for the Blind is filled with books. Big, thick volumes of books in Braille are littered all over while steel racks are carelessly stacked with more.
The Syrian state news agency said Israeli warplanes fired a number of missiles toward the Damascus area on Friday, triggering Syrian air defenses that shot down most of them.

"The results of the aggression so far were limited to a strike on one of the warehouses at Damascus airport," the SANA news agency cited a military source as saying.

The attack which took place at 11:15 p.m.(2115 GMT), was the second in less than three weeks.

Syrian state media broadcast footage of what it said were the air defenses firing, with bright lights seen shooting across the night sky. Explosions were heard in one of the videos.

The Jerusalem Post quotes "Syrian opposition" as saying that the Israeli Air Force attacked the bases of Iranian militias and Assad's forces southwest of Damascus.



It also quotes other reports, claiming that the attacks were directed at weapons depot for the 555th Battalion and the 4th Division west of Damascus.

Israel has mounted attacks in Syria as part of its effort to counter the influence carved out there by Iran, which has supported President Bashar al-Assad in the war that erupted in 2011.

Israel also insists that Iran uses Syria as a bridge to supply missiles and other weapons to Hezbollah in Lebanon.

The last Israeli attack reported by Syrian state media was on Dec. 25, when a missile attack wounded three Syrian soldiers.

A senior Israeli official said in September Israel had carried out more than 200 attacks against Iranian targets in Syria in the last two years.

Iranian and Iran-backed groups including Lebanon's Hezbollah have deployed into Syria in support of President Bashar al-Assad's government during the war.
President Hassan Rouhani's cultural advisor says the potential for urban protests still exists in Iran, since its causes have not yet been dealt with.

In a videotaped interview with the state-run Iran Students News Agency (ISNA), Hessamoddin Ashena maintained on Friday, January 11, "The economic basis of the protests in December-January 2018 was similar to the ones in the 1990s, but its social basis, background and context were very different and much deeper."

In the 1990s, Iran was the scene of widespread urban protests during which a significant number of protesters were killed and arrested by security forces and plainclothesmen.

Compared with a year ago, Iran's current economic situation is actually much worse, due to reimposition of U.S. sanctions

Earlier, the Minister of Interior, Abdolreza Rahmani Fazli had also warned that the causes of people's discontent still exist in Iran and only need a spark to flare-up again.

However, Hessamoddin Ashena believes that the aim of mass protests a year ago was to topple the government (Rouhani administration), but soon, it turned out that the government and the whole ruling establishment were on the same boat.

"Some people thought that they could weaken the government without harming the ruling system, but December 2018 proved them wrong," Ashena asserts, reiterating, "If the protests were planned, their aim was toppling the government, but it could have led to the collapse of the whole system."

Ashena's latest comments echoed earlier accusations against two mid-ranking clergies, the representative of the Islamic Republic's Supreme Leader in Mashhad, Ayatollah Ahmad Alam ol-Hoda, and his son-in-law, Ebrahim Raeisi who is the custodian and chairman of the wealthy and powerful Astan Quds Razavi foundation in Mashhad, which is the site of a holy shrine for Shiites.

The two were blamed as the masterminds of the initial uprising that kicked off in Iran's second largest city Mashhad, and soon spread to more than 100 cities across the country.

For the first time in almost four decades, the protesters loudly chanted slogans in support of the Pahlavi dynasty, calling for the overthrow of the Islamic Republic.

"Rest in Peace, Reza Shah!" reverberated in the streets as a homage to the founder of the Pahlavi dynasty.

The enraged demonstrators also insisted that they are fed up with the two conservative and reformist camps constituting the establishment in the Islamic Republic.

They were chanting, "The end is here," in a direct threat to the two camps.

Meanwhile, the Interior Ministry's deputy for security affairs, Hossein Zolfaqari admitted at the time that the protests left all of the political factions of the country behind.

A former prominent "Islamic revolutionary" and theoretician, Abolfazl Qadyani went even further in 2018 by calling on Ayatollah Ali Khamenei to step down.

In an essay published on the dissident website Kalameh November 28, former regime supporter turned Qadyani asserted, "As the economic and political crisis in Iran is worsening along with people's opposition to the religious dictatorship, specifically against Khamenei, the intelligence arms of tyranny, which are in a permanent state of fear, increase the level of suppression, believing that it is the only solution to the problems confronting the ruling establishment.

"Their permanent fear originates from the fear of losing control and power," the 73-year-old veteran revolutionary argued, adding, They are scared of losing the usurped power that is entangled with the despot's existence."

Earlier, on July 7, Qadiani had also criticized Iranian reformists, who still believe the regime is capable of reforming itself, saying, they want to reform a corrupt and flawed structure, and charged they are either not reformists or simply cherish an impossible dream.

He called on all political activists including those in the reform camp to demand Khameneis ouster and call on him to step down. Otherwise, he warned, Iranians may have to face a fate like what dictators such as Muammar Qaddafi and Saddam Hussain created for their nations.

Nevertheless, Hessamoddin Ashena maintains that President Rouhani's Ministry of Intelligence was well informed about the December 2018 uprising, and fully prepared to control it without applying violent measures.

Ashena's comment contradicts the fact that at least 25 people were killed by the security forces during the first week of the protests, and more than 5,000 detained across the country.
Russia-led militants violated the cease-fire in Donbas seven times on January 11; as a result, two servicemen of the Ukrainian Armed Forces were wounded, the press center of the Joint Forces Operation (JFO) headquarters has said.

"On January 11, the Russian occupation forces violated the cease-fire seven times... Due to the criminal and insidious attacks by the Russian occupation forces, two servicemen of the United Forces Operation were wounded," the JFO said in an update published on Facebook in the morning of January 12.

The strongholds of the Ukrainian troops came under fire from grenade launchers of various systems, large-caliber machine guns in the area of the Kryakovka village in the Luhansk direction, near the settlement of Novomykhailivka in the Donetsk direction and from grenade launchers of various systems, large-caliber machine guns and small arms in the area of the settlement of Vodyane, twice near Lebedynsky, and twice near Hnutove in the Mariupol direction.

"In response to the provocations by the enemy, JFO units used on-duty fire weapons," the update says.

According to Ukrainian intelligence, on January 11, two militants were killed and two wounded.

As of 7 a.m. on January 12, the enemy has not opened fire.

"Despite the deterioration of weather conditions, the Ukrainian military continues to reliably monitor the actions of the enemy along the contact line, at the same time respecting the terms and conditions of the cease-fire," the JFO HQ said.
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Wolves are the only North American predators that hunt in packs, and their physical limitations probably account for this fact. A single wolf has only about a 2 percent chance of taking down an adult elk and none at all of taking down a bison.

Even then, not all members of wolf packs are prime killers. The top-performing members are typically 2-3 years old, with older wolves not as helpful. Larger wolves, including the typically larger males, are better at pulling down prey. However, the smaller, faster females may be more help in pursuing running elk.

Researchers have noted that packs made up of four wolves seem to be optimal for killing prey. These packs have been more successful that smaller packs. Also, larger packs of up to 12 wolves are no more successful than packs of four. Four wolves seem to be able to grab and pull down large prey. Other wolves seem to hold back, perhaps to avoid injuries. The excess pack members above the primary four may pursue prey simply to make sure they are present for the meal.

Some packs in the parks interior specialize in hunting the larger and more dangerous bison. These packs of up to 12 wolves are more successful in pulling down adult bison.
CARSON CITY  After 28 years of service to Nevada, State Engineer Jason King retired Jan. 11.

With Kings retirement, Bradley Crowell, director of the Nevada Department of Conservation & Natural Resources, has appointed Tim Wilson to serve as acting state engineer and administrator of the Nevada Division of Water Resources. Wilson has been with NDWR since 1995 and currently serves as deputy administrator.

King was appointed Nevada State Engineer in 2010 as part of his tenure with NDCNRs Division of Water Resources beginning in 1991. During his time with NDWR, King worked as a hydraulic engineer, chief of the Engineering and Dam Safety Section, chief of the Water Rights Section, and deputy administrator.

As Nevadas top water regulator, King addressed many of Nevadas most pressing water resource issues, in addition to serving as a member of the State Environmental Commission, and leading former Gov. Sandovals Drought Forum.

Nevadas new governor, Steve Sisolak, expressed his thanks to King and support for Wilsons appointment as acting administrator. I am grateful for Jasons service to Nevada and his steadfast leadership to thoughtfully managing our precious water resources.
ELKO  A few years ago when the Dupont building was being remodeled in an attempt to bring it up to code, Jan Petersen noticed a big blue dumpster outside and her curiosity was piqued.

All my life I had wondered what it was like upstairs, she said. Wed all gotten our prescriptions at Duponts and there was that mystery stairway that went to nowhere.

Petersen approached an electrician who was working on the structure and asked if she could look around. She discovered a hodgepodge of vintage furniture on the second floor.

A local historian, Petersen has a penchant for all things past and she continued her exploration.

She noticed that the dropped ceiling for the ground floor had been removed and revealed a long line of windows near the top.

They were part of the exterior walls on Fifth and Idaho streets, Petersen said. Theyd been covered up because they had been the unfortunate victims of a furnace explosion.

The window interiors were soot black and the exteriors were painted over in a white and then a tan color. Some had holes in them.
Jimmy Crane, son of W.T. Crane of South Fork, slipped and fell, while walking down a bank near the house Tuesday, and broke his right arm between the wrist and elbow. His father brought him to town Tuesday evening and Dr. Henderson set the injured arm. The boys seem to be unfortunate, as it is only a few weeks ago that George Crane had one of his legs broken.

There was dedicated in Elko last Sunday another church edifice  the second inside of twelve months  a building, which for beauty, comfort and convenience, is second to none in the State of Nevada. A structure that is an ornament to the town, a credit not only to its builders, (Jos. S. Gardner & Son), but to the Rev. W.H.L. Houghton and his able assistants in the good work of raising the necessary funds wherewith to rear this fine edifice. Every seat, every nook and corner of the new church was filled with attentive and interested members and spectators long before the appointed Sunday morning, called there to witness the impressive ceremony of consecration. The new building is located on the southwest corner of Idaho and Fifth streets, occupying two lots. A third lot, to the east, has been purchased, giving the site a frontage of 75 feet on Idaho street, with a depth of 100 feet. The location is one of the best in the town of Elko, giving as it does, the railroad traveler a fine view of the building.
Just looking back over the history of toasters one can mark the biggest game changer for American kitchens: the advent of electrical power into homes starting somewhat around WWI. It was only a matter of time before electrical appliances were commonplace in a well operated home.

Everyone knows that all toasters use a hot filament to operate. This is what heats the slice of bread. While this may sound easy, there is a problem with this design since red hot wires easily fail from oxidation when operated in air. You may recall that Thomas Edison originally solved the problem of the hot filament failure in 1877 by encasing his glowing elements within a vacuum. Because this obviously cannot work for a toaster it took nearly 30 years for this electrical heater wire problem to be solved.

In 1906 a young engineer named Albert Marsh fabricated a thin filament out of an alloy he had created called nichrome wire. So reliable was his invention that nichrome has been used for the last 110 years in every toaster ever made. Nichrome is the red wire you see gently glowing and it is a strange electrical material.
Betty Jean Corbari, Age 80. The daughter of Alta Stone and Edgar Fleshman she was born in Sacramento, California on May 12, 1938. Betty was raised in Hickman, CA. She and her brother Michael grew up on their fathers farm amongst the almond and peach orchards. Betty often spoke of working in the orchards along with her family.

In 1973, Betty was introduced to Archie Corbari, a rancher from Nevada  this would be the beginning of a new adventure for her. The couples courtship began with letters to each other, and they were married on December 1, 1973 in Reno, Nevada. Betty then moved her three daughters to Wildhorse, Nevada to begin a new life with Archie, running his familys ranch, and together they rebuilt the familys hunting and fishing resort. Betty often reminisced over the first few years of cold weather, isolation, and snow. Over the years, Archie and Betty worked together, serving many friends and guests at the resort. Bettys calling was to care for others and her infectious laughter was welcoming to all who came through the resorts doors. This business was Betty and Archies life for close to 30 years, and every one of their daughters were taught the value of hard work by helping with the ranch and resort.
ELKO  Elko City Council has taken steps to accommodate Komatsu Equipment Co.s plan for a 189,000-square-foot service center on 30 acres in west Elko.

Komatsu broke ground in late October but the council needed to approve actions to allow for the city to permit the planned building.

The building will be Komatsus largest in North America, the companys president, John Pfisterer, told the council in a presentation in November.

The site is on P&H Drive just off Interstate 80, where the company expects to unite Komatsu Mining Corp. and Komatsu Equipment employees in Elko following its merger with Joy Global in 2017. Roughly 150 employees will be tied to the new center, according to Komatsu.

Mayor Reece Keener said at the councils Jan. 8 meeting that Komatsus $47 million project in Elko is a huge investment for the company.

The company earlier announced the new facility is scheduled for completion in early 2020. The building will house service bays, shops and have a construction equipment and rental-machine yard.
Bilateral strains with India can be resolved through dialogue

Foreign Minister Pradeep Gyawali said some of the longstanding problems between Nepal and India can be resolved through constant dialogues and cooperation. Minister Gyawali told media at the New Delhi-based Nepali Embassy on Friday.
Ukraine to buy Turkish strike drones  Poroshenko

The deal is part of measures to expand military-technical cooperation between the two countries.

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Kurdish fighters from the People's Protection Units (YPG) head a convoy of U.S military vehicles in the town of Darbasiya next to the Turkish border, Syria April 28, 2017. Photo by Reuters/Rodi Said

The U.S.-led coalition against Islamic State has begun the process of withdrawing from Syria, a spokesman said Friday.

The move indicates the start of a U.S. pullout that has been clouded by mixed messages from Washington.

U.S. President Donald Trumps announcement last month that he had decided to withdraw 2,000 U.S. troops stunned allies that have joined Washington in the battle against Islamic State in Syria. Senior U.S. officials were shocked too, among them Defense Secretary Jim Mattis, who quit in protest.

The coalition "has begun the process of our deliberate withdrawal from Syria. Out of concern for operational security, we will not discuss specific timelines, locations or troop movements," Colonel Sean Ryan said.

Russia, which has deployed forces into Syria in support of the Damascus government, said it had the impression that the United States wanted to stay despite the announced withdrawal of U.S. troops, RIA news agency reported.

Residents near border crossings that are typically used by U.S. forces going in and out of Syria from Iraq said they had seen no obvious or large-scale movement of U.S. ground forces on Friday.

The U.S. decision has injected new uncertainties into the eight-year long Syrian war and a flurry of contacts over how a resulting security vacuum will be filled across a swathe of northern and eastern Syria where the U.S. forces are stationed.

On the one hand, Turkey aims to pursue a campaign against Kurdish forces that have allied with the United States, and on the other the Russia and Iran-backed Syrian government sees the chance to recover a huge chunk of territory.

U.S. National Security Adviser John Bolton suggested on Tuesday that protecting Washingtons Kurdish allies would be a pre-condition of the U.S. withdrawal. That drew a rebuke from Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan who called his comments "a serious mistake".

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, who has been touring the Middle East this week to reassure allies of Washingtons commitment to regional security, said on Thursday the withdrawal would not be scuppered despite the Turkish threats.

The Kurdish groups that control the north have turned to Moscow and Damascus in the hope of striking a political deal that will stave off Turkey and shield their autonomy in the north.

Russia urges Damascus-Kurdish dialogue

Maria Zakharova, a Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman, said it was important for Syrian Kurds and the Syrian government to start talking to each other in light of the U.S. withdrawal plans.

She also said the territory previously controlled by the United States should be transferred to the Syrian government.

"In this regard, establishing dialogue between the Kurds and Damascus takes on particular significance. After all, the Kurds are an integral part of Syrian society," Zakharova said.

Turkey views the U.S.-backed YPG Syrian Kurdish militia as an extension of the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), which has waged a 34-year insurgency in Turkey for Kurdish political and cultural rights, mostly in southeastern areas near Syria.

A Kurdish politician told Reuters last week the Kurds had presented Moscow with a road-map for a deal with Damascus. Syrias deputy foreign minister said on Wednesday he was optimistic about renewed dialogue with the Kurds.

Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian of France, which is part of the U.S.-led coalition, welcomed what he believed was a slower withdrawal by the U.S after pressure from its allies.

"President Macron spoke to him (Trump) several times and it seems that there has been a change that I think is positive," he said in a television interview on Thursday.

In a rare acknowledgment that French troops were also in Syria, he said they would leave when there is a political solution in the country.
US President Donald Trump fired FBI director James Comey in May 2017 -- a move that helped spark a counterintelligence investigation by the FBI, according to The New York Times. Photo by AFP

The Federal Bureau of Investigation opened an inquiry in 2017 into whether US President Donald Trump was working on behalf of Russia, The New York Times reported Friday.

The investigation -- a dual counterintelligence and criminal probe -- was launched after the president fired FBI director James Comey in May 2017, the Times said, citing anonymous sources.

The counterintelligence aspect consisted of determining whether Trump was knowingly or unknowingly working for Moscow and whether he was a threat to national security, the newspaper reported.

It added the criminal portion related to Trump's firing of Comey.

The FBI investigation was soon folded into Robert Mueller's inquiry into Russian interference in the 2016 vote and possible collusion between his campaign and Moscow, it said, adding that it was unclear if the counterintelligence aspect was still being pursued.

The Times said that the FBI had been suspicious of Trump's ties to Russia during the 2016 campaign.

But it held off on opening an investigation until the president sacked Comey, who refused to swear his allegiance and roll back the nascent Russia investigation, which is now being spearheaded by Mueller.

Trump has repeatedly criticized the Mueller investigation as a "witch hunt" and views it as a stain on the legitimacy of his presidency.

But while Trump has slammed the probe as baseless, it has issued dozens of indictments and steadily chalked up convictions of some of the president's close associates -- including his former personal lawyer, his ex-campaign chief and his former national security advisor.

The lawyer, Michael Cohen, has been sentenced to three years in prison for multiple crimes, including felony violations of campaign finance laws he undertook, prosecutors alleged, under Trump's direction.

The former campaign chair, Paul Manafort, has been convicted in one case brought by Mueller and pleaded guilty in another, over financial crimes related to his work in Ukraine before the 2016 campaign, and for witness tampering.

And the ex-national security advisor, Michael Flynn, pleaded guilty to lying to investigators about his Moscow ties.

The investigation is set to continue to cast a cloud over the White House: a judge has given an extension to the secret grand jury empanelled in the probe, extending its original 18-month mandate.
U.S. President Donald Trump shakes hands with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un at the Capella Hotel on Sentosa island in Singapore June 12, 2018. Photo by Reuters/Jonathan Ernst

Vietnam could host a second summit between North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and U.S. President Donald Trump, media reports say.

The Korea Herald reported the information Friday, citing an unnamed South Korean foreign ministry official.

Singapore and Hawaii are also in the shortlist, but Hawaii is "an unrealistic location as it doesnt have a North Korean embassy," another official said on condition of anonymity.

Discussions on possible locations for Trump and Kims next summit have been in focus since earlier this month, when Trump told the press the U.S. was "negotiating a location" and South Korean President Moon Jae-in said Thursday that the summit would "take place soon."

Kim had said in a nationally televised New Year address that he is willing to meet Trump again anytime to achieve their common goal of denuclearizing the Korean Peninsula, Reuters reported.

"I am always ready to sit together with the U.S. president anytime in the future, and will work hard to produce results welcomed by the international community without fail," Kim said.

Earlier this week, U.S. and North Korean diplomats met several times in Hanoi to discuss the location for a second North Korea-U.S. summit, the Munhwa Ilbo reported, citing unnamed diplomatic sources in Seoul and Washington.

Vietnam could be a neutral location for the summit, said Eric Gomez, a researcher at the public policy think tank Cato Institute, U.S., in an exchange with VnExpress.

He said Vietnam could be a suitable mediator for the two countries because it has improved its relationship with the U.S. in recent years while not being an ally, and Hanoi could represent an interesting model for Pyongyang as Kim switches his priority to economic growth.

Kim Do-hyon, the South Korean ambassador to Vietnam, has also supported Vietnam as a candidate for the meeting.

"Vietnam has good relations with both South and North Korea as well as the U.S., and has experience in successfully hosting many international summits in recent years such as APEC," Kim said.

"Therefore I believe that the second U.S.-North Korea summit being held in Vietnam would have tremendous significance," he said.
Japanese businesses in Vietnam are frustrated by the lack of clear information about suppliers capabilities, and are hoping things will change.

"Japanese enterprises find it hard to choose Vietnamese businesses as suppliers," Matsushita Kazuhiro, head of the competition and industrialization task group and CEO of Panasonic Vietnam, said.

"We do have a list, but since information available about their capabilities is so unclear it is difficult to choose."

He made the remarks at an intermediary meeting evaluating the 7th phase of the Vietnam-Japan Joint Initiative Thursday.

Vietnam needs to create a supplier introduction system that provides sufficient information about the health of companies listed, and this would make finding businesses partners easier, he said.

According to the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO), the rate of use of local components in Vietnam was only 33.2 percent in 2017, down from 34.2 percent in 2016. The supply rate by domestic enterprises was even lower, at only 13.1 percent compared to 14.1 percent in 2016.

Do Nhat Hoang, head of the Ministry of Planning and Investments foreign investment agency, said while Vietnams supporting industries are not fully developed, the fault is not entirely theirs but also lies in inadequate development planning.

"The efforts of enterprises are clear, but they are confused when policy is not cohesive. We are interested in learning from how Japan helped Thailand develop its supporting industries 40 years ago in order to build equally strong supporting industries."

Hoang asked the Japanese side to come up with more specific supplier selection criteria based on which Vietnam can screen and introduce more suitable suppliers.

Nguyen Thi Xuan Thuy of the Ministry of Industry and Trades industry department said her ministry would make suitable amendments to supporting industry development legislation this year.

The Vietnam-Japan Joint Initiative was launched in April 2003 by establishing a forum on policy dialogue between Japanese investors and Vietnamese ministries and sectors to improve Vietnams business environment and strengthen its competitiveness.

The initiative deals with issues such as macroeconomic policy, investor regulations, real estate legislation, disclosure obligations, and labor issues.

By the end of last year Vietnam had attracted more than 27,350 foreign projects with a total registered investment of $340 billion.

Japan alone has pledged to invest nearly $57 billion in around 4,000 projects in 30 years. Last year it was the biggest investor in Vietnam with registered capital of $8.6 billion.
Employees walk to work at the Samsung factory in Thai Nguyen province, north of Hanoi, Vietnam. Photo by Reuters/Kham

South Korean conglomerate Samsung is committed to a long-term presence in Vietnam as a major base for its global operations.

Won Hwan Shim, vice president of Samsung Electronics, reiterated the group's commitment to Vietnam in a Friday meeting with Vietnam's Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc.

Shim said that Samsungs plants in Vietnam had the most impressive growth among the companys global facilities.

Samsung, the worlds biggest smartphone maker, has been investing more and more in Vietnam, especially in its research and development centers, Shim said, adding that the group is transferring technologies to these local facilities.

The company invested $600 million to finish the Samsung Ho Chi Minh City Research & Development Center in November 2017, its second such facility in the country after Hanoi, he noted.

PM Phuc said that he expects more impressive growth numbers from Samsung this year, and also asked that Samsung continues to make Vietnam its most important global base, further expanding its operations here.

Samsung has invested $17.3 billion in eight factories and two research and development centers in Vietnam, creating jobs for more than 160,000 locals.

It is the largest foreign investor in Vietnam. Last year, Samsung estimated its exports from Vietnam was $60 billion, up 12 percent from 2017, accounting for a quarter of Vietnam's total exports.

Samsung last month closed one of two phone factories in China to focus more on low-cost countries like Vietnam and India for production, Reuters reported.

The group's two phone factories in Vietnam together make 240 million units a year, according to the South Korean newspaper Electronic Times.

The factories, located in the northern provinces of Bac Ninh and Thai Nguyen, produce half of all the cellphones that Samsung supplies to the global market.




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Oh, and if you see me driving my red 2010 Mustang GT convertible, please wave.

Hi, I am a retired newspaperman. I wrote 3 books on Trump and the media . I live in Poca, WV, with my wife of 43 years, Lou Ann. I grew up in Cleveland. Three kids. Grandfather.
Bheri Babai calls bids for hydropower component

The Bheri Babai Diversion Multipurpose Project finally moved to appoint a contractor to execute its hydropower component. The project office initiated the public procurement process Wednesday to select a contractor by publishing a notice inviting interested firms to apply for prequalification to construct the headworks, surge shaft, penstock and powerhouse.
Idahos governor was on hand Wednesday to help break ground for Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories 140,000-square-foot printed circuit board factory in Moscow, welcoming one of the few new plants of its kind to be built in the United States in the last decade.
SWEET HOME  Sgt. Chris Wingo was recently recognized with a Medal of Valor from the Oregon Police Officers Association, in recognition of his successful efforts to save a potential suicide victim last March.

Wingo was able to talk an armed man with mental health issues who was threatening suicide in the parking lot of the Sweet Home Senior Center into seeking help.

He is a fantastic officer for us, Chief Jeff Lynn said. He has brought a lot to our department. He is heavily involved in our training and trains new officers from around the state. We are fortunate to have him.

In March, Wingo was named Employee of the Year by the Sweet Home Police Department. At that time, Community Services Officer Gina Riley praised Wingo for taking control of the potentially dangerous situation through his calm manner, speech and extensive training.

Riley said Wingo is known in the department for his levelheadedness. She said he cares about and has compassion for his fellow employees and the community in general.

Wingo has been a Sweet Home officer for 11 years and was promoted to sergeant in July.

Its a great honor to receive this award, he said. Im humbled by the show of appreciation and being nominated.
The second segment of the Know Your City series is at 7 p.m. at the Corvallis-Benton County Public Library, 645 NW Monroe Ave.

The event, sponsored by the city, the League of Women Voters of Corvallis and the Corvallis Sustainability Coalition, tackles budget issues and how the city pays for services. On hand will be City Manager Mark Shepard and Finance Director Nancy Brewer.

The final session, on Jan. 24, will look at land use.

In other public meetings:

Monday

 The Corvallis Climate Action Advisory Board subcommittee working on funding meets at 10:30 a.m. at the Madison Avenue Meeting Room, 500 SW Madison Ave.

 The Philomath City Council and Planning Commission meet in a joint work session on land use at 5:30 p.m. at City Hall, 980 Applegate St.

 The Greater Albany Public School Districts board meets at 7 p.m., at the district office, 718 Seventh Ave. SW. The agenda includes an update on the districts superintendent search.
A lawsuit naming Gov. Eric Holcomb filed on behalf of a prisoner on Indianas death row urges a state court to issue an injunction halting capital punishment and rule that the states ultimate criminal penalty violates the Indiana Constitution.





The suit was filed Tuesday in LaPorte Superior Court, which has jurisdiction over the Indiana State Prison in Michigan City. The prison houses Indiana death row and the states lethal injection chamber.





Fort Wayne attorney David Frank filed the suit on behalf of inmate Roy Lee Ward, who is on death row at Michigan City after he was convicted in 2001 of the rape and mutilation killing of 15-year-old Stacy Payne in Spencer County.





Spokespeople for Holcomb and Attorney General Curtis Hill, whose office would represent the Department of Correction and presumably the governors office in this litigation, did not immediately respond Friday to email messages seeking comment.





The Indiana Supreme Court in June 2012 affirmed Wards sentence, but his execution was stayed by a federal judge later that same year. While Ward faces no execution date after almost two decades on death row, the complaint filed Tuesday contends that no other death row inmates do, either, and that the death penalty is arbitrary and capricious. The suit argues Indiana should follow the lead of other states including Illinois, Iowa, Michigan and Wisconsin that have outlawed the death penalty.





In 2018, the Supreme Court of the State of Washington unanimously declared the use of capital punishment to be unconstitutional under its state constitution, the complaint says. Washington, where eight people are on death row, had not carried out an execution since 2010.





Similarly, Indiana has not carried out an execution since 2009, the complaint says, and the state has nine death row inmates  seven of whom, including Ward, are under an active sentence of death.





Wards suit attacks the death penalty on four Indiana Constitution grounds, contending it violates:





 The equal protection clause of Article 1, Section 1;





 Article 1, Section 15, which holds that no one confined in jail, shall be treated with unnecessary rigor;





 Article 1, Section 16, barring cruel and unusual punishment, and;





 Article 1, Section 18, declaring the states penal code shall be founded on the principles or reformation, and not of vindictive justice.





Frank contends the states only rationale for the death penalty is vindictiveness and vengeance, in violation of Section 18.





Hopefully the state will take notice that the use and implementation of capital punishment in Indiana has become arbitrary and capricious, he said Friday in a telephone interview. There has been no execution in 10 years, and the number of men on death row is now in single digits.





Frank said the suit is not about relitigating the guilt of the inmates. If the death sentence were ruled unconstitutional, death sentences would be commuted to life in prison without parole. Senate Bill 301, introduced in the Indiana General Assembly by Sen. Lonnie Randolph, D-East Chicago, would do just that, along with abolishing the death penalty.





Certainly, we acknowledge all of them were convicted of very serious offenses, but I think the average and reasonable person could ask the state, Why them? Frank said of the inmates on death row.  We dont know what the state will use to execute people, and we dont know who they will execute.  When the state offers no legitimate explanation for its use, its time to get rid of it.





The suit also comes as the Department of Correction is on the defensive in court cases seeking information about drugs it could use to carry out a lethal injection.





DOC has not publicly identified a lethal injection protocol it would use in the event an execution were ordered. The Indiana General Assembly in 2017 slipped last-minute language into the budget bill known as the secrecy statute. Among other things, that language forbid anyone in the supply chain of lethal injection drugs from disclosing what those drugs are.





That language undermined a judges order requiring DOC to make public certain information about drugs and substances it had on-hand that could be used in a lethal injection. Marion Circuit Judge Sheryl Lynch in November struck down the secrecy statute on First Amendment and multiple other constitutional grounds.





Separately, the Indiana Supreme Court in February 2018 ruled DOC did not need to go through public rulemaking in developing a lethal injection protocol in another case Frank brought on Wards behalf. The Indiana Court of Appeals had previously ruled DOC was not exempt from public rulemaking processes under the Administrative Rules and Procedure Act.





The case challenging the constitutionality of the Indiana death penalty before LaPorte Superior Court 2 Judge Richard Stalbrink is Roy Ward v. Gov. Eric Holcomb, et al., 46D02-1901-PL-69.

 | Report an error, an omission, a typo; suggest a story or a new angle to an existing story; submit a piece, a comment; recommend a resource; contact the webmaster, contact us: deathpenaltynews@gmail.com



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"One is absolutely sickened, not by the crimes that the wicked have committed,

but by the punishments that the good have inflicted." -- Oscar Wilde
SUBANG JAYA, Jan 11  Minister in the Prime Ministers Department (Law) Datuk Liew Vui Keong said he can empathise with families of victims of violent crimes, as it strikes a personal note with him.





He said as a student studying law in the United Kingdom almost 40 years ago, one of his cousins was brutally murdered back home in Sabah.





I received a letter from home three days after it occurred, informing me that his mutilated body was found floating in a river. He was only 17 years old, said Liew during a conference on the death penalty organised by the Malaysian Coalition Against the Death Penalty.





He acknowledged his inner turmoil in the days following the murder, ranging from feelings of anger, sadness, numbness and emptiness.





You just do not known what to do. You would demand answers on why your loved one, your son or daughter, was killed.





But then again no answers can be forthcoming. Bear in mind that even until today my cousins killer has never been found, Liew said.





Yet he said with the passage of time he moved on, even if it still grieved him, eventually returning to Malaysia to practice law.





I remember meeting my aunt and uncle, who were close to fainting when they saw me since I reminded them so much of their son.





It is important for the process of forgiveness to take place, even as we are aware it is not easy for those who have lost their loved ones, Liew said.





Forgiveness is also important for those sentenced to death by hanging, as he said if the death penalty is abolished it will give them a chance to save their lives, even if it means having to spend the rest of it behind bars.





On Tuesday, Liew had said a new law is expected to be tabled sometime this year to abolish the death penalty.





He explained the proposal to abolish the mandatory death penalty would take into account the views of all stakeholders, given the complexity and sensitivity of the issue.





The move to abolish has drawn mixed reaction from the various layers of Malaysian society, with civil rights groups largely welcoming the move but conservatives arguing that it be retained for particularly heinous crimes.

 | Report an error, an omission, a typo; suggest a story or a new angle to an existing story; submit a piece, a comment; recommend a resource; contact the webmaster, contact us: deathpenaltynews@gmail.com



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"One is absolutely sickened, not by the crimes that the wicked have committed,

but by the punishments that the good have inflicted." -- Oscar Wilde
The European External Action Service has called on Belarus to abolish capital punishment, two days after Belarusian authorities pronounced their latest death sentence in the country.





In a January 11 statement, the European Union service said that it "learned about another death penalty sentence pronounced by the Mahileu Regional Court to Alyaksandr Asipovich" on January 9.





The EU service called on Minsk to impose a less severe punishment in that case and against other prisoners on death row.





"The European Union expresses sincere condolences to the families and friends of the victims," the statement said. "Meanwhile, the EU clearly stands against death penalty use in any circumstances. Death penalty is not a factor to decrease crimes, and mistakes inevitable in any justice system become irreversible if capital punishment is practiced."





The statement called on Belarusian officials to introduce a moratorium on the death penalty as the first step to abolish it.





The 36-year-old Asipovich was convicted and sentenced on January 9 for the murder of two women in the eastern city of Babruysk.





Belarus has drawn criticism from rights activists and EU nations as the only European country that executes prisoners.





For years, the EU has urged Belarus to join other countries in declaring a moratorium on the death penalty.





According to rights organizations, more than 400 people have been sentenced to death in Belarus since it gained independence following the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991.





Human rights groups say Belarus carried out one execution in November and two executions in May last year.

 | Report an error, an omission, a typo; suggest a story or a new angle to an existing story; submit a piece, a comment; recommend a resource; contact the webmaster, contact us: deathpenaltynews@gmail.com



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"One is absolutely sickened, not by the crimes that the wicked have committed,

but by the punishments that the good have inflicted." -- Oscar Wilde
Tlaib's colleague, Michigan Democrat Dan Kildee, was on target in calling her comments "obviously not helpful" and adding, "this fuels a narrative the Republicans will use."

Instead of mimicking Trump, the Democrats would be better off providing a stark contrast with this improvident president. Be calm when he's crazy, factual when he's fabricating, reasonable when he's irrational. And use those defining differences to challenge him at the ballot box in 2020, a far more sensible way to remove him from power than impeachment.

Nancy Pelosi, the new Democratic speaker, understands the dangers here and is resisting the demands from the red-hots in her caucus. "Impeachment is a very divisive approach to take, and we shouldn't take it without the facts," she said on MSNBC.

"Facts" is the key word here. Trump is the Prince of Prevarication -- with 7,645 false or misleading statements by the end of 2018, according to The Washington Post -- so the Democrats must be the exactly opposite, rooting their decisions in a rigorous devotion to reality.
Exactly right. A premature impeachment would do little more than satisfy cable TV's need for political melodrama without persuading voters that Democrats can actually govern. In my opinion, it would also be Trump's only real hope of political survival, much less of re-election come November 2020.

Self-discipline is definitely in order. Because while we hear a lot about the passions of Trump's cult-like "base," less gets said about how Democrats feel -- a cohort already considerably larger, and growing. The 2018 midterm elections showed that. And real-world issues aside, the single strongest emotion uniting them is sheer contempt for Trump and Trumpism, his pro-wrestling-style, authoritarian spectacle.

David Leonhardt has laid out the case for removal in a powerfully restrained New York Times column headlined "The People vs. Donald J. Trump."

"He has repeatedly put his own interests above those of the country. He has used the presidency to promote his businesses. He has accepted financial gifts from foreign countries. He has lied to the American people about his relationship with a hostile foreign government.
Affiliation at Agriculture University postponed

The Supreme Court (SC) has postponed the hearing on the case filed by private colleges to continue their affiliation from the Agriculture and Forestry University. This move legally stops the admission process in current academic session. The private colleges had moved to the apex court demanding to scrap the Cabinets decision to stop their affiliation from the university.
DEAR ABBY: I have been best friends with "Mickey" for about five years. We spend every day together and go out to dinner/movies/events, etc. He sleeps over at my house, and I cook for him almost every night.

When our friendship started we were intimate a couple of times but have been strictly platonic ever since. The problem is, I'm in love with him. He knows how I feel, and although he claims he doesn't love me, he continues to spend every waking moment with me and is always trying to better me. We do pretty much everything a couple would do, minus the physical contact. Everybody assumes we're a couple.

I think I should also mention that Mickey is somewhat of a sex addict. It makes me self-conscious that he's constantly thinking about sex but isn't turned on by me even when we sleep in the same bed.

I don't want to lose him. I value the bond we share and what we have together, but I'm constantly thinking about how much I love him and want to be with him. I even started working out at the gym, thinking maybe my recent weight gain was the problem.

I know he "loves" me, but he isn't attracted to me. I'm afraid if one of us starts dating someone else, our friendship will take a hit. Please give me some advice. -- GIRL IN LOVE IN CONNECTICUT
A #Brookestrong GoFundMe page has also been set up. Both Matt and Krista have been unable to work due to their daughters hospitalization, and the bills are adding up fast. Any bit of help would be greatly appreciated by the family.

Addressing the flood of love and support being sent to the Facebook page, Krista said, Having your support and prayers is what is keeping the smile on Brookes face. So thank you for that. We love you all, and having your support helps us get through this. We know Gods got this, and so does she!

We love you all so much, Matt said, and we appreciate your amazing community. Words do no justice for how we feel. Thank you. We know that God is our rock, and Jesus is our savior. We lean on that, and that alone, and seem to find the way of light through all darkness.

We would like to thank each and every one of you for the influx of love you all give. I can guarantee that this kid is worth it. She knows shes a winner, and shes going to keep on proving it.

The T-shirts and decals proudly state the most important aspect: In this family, no one fights alone.

Rachel Gann is a reporter for the Daily Journal. She can be reached at 573-518-3617 or at rgann@dailyjournalonline.com.

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Welcome to our weekly round-up of the biggest breaking stories on Driving.ca from this past week to get you caught up and ready to get on with your weekend, because it's hard keeping pace in a digital traffic jam.Here's what you missed while you were away.Family sues Tesla after 18-year-old son dies in high-speed collisionA Fort Lauderdale, Florida family is suing Tesla following the death of their 18-year-old son, who perished in the passenger seat of aModel S that burst into flamesafter colliding with a wall at 186 km/h. According to the Miami Herald, the Model S in question had a limiter installed by Tesla, which should have tapped the sedan at 135 km/h but had been deactivated during another service.The family argues the two boys shouldn't have been able to reach such a high speed and the car should not have caught fire so quickly following the collision.Eleven like-new '90s BMW E34s discovered in BulgariaThis week's barn find comes to us from a warehouse in Bulgaria.Eleven early '90s E34 5-Seriesthat had never been driven were allegedly abandoned in the building following a failed leasing deal. The vehicles, which probably aren't the oddest thing to be discovered in a Bulgarian warehouse, are expected to fetch US$23,000 each at auction.These are the cars most likely to be kept for 15 years or longerToyota's reliable products dominated arecently published surveythat lists those cars most commonly kept by an original owner for a minimum of 15 years. The Japanese brand claimed 10 of the top 15 spots, with Honda, Subaru and Acura filling in the gaps. Performed by search site iSeeCars, the survey analyzed over 750,000 cars from the 1981 to 2003 model years that were sold in 2018. They also put togethera similar list for SUVsWill the Atlis XT be the electric truck to win it all?There's something of a flex-off happening in the electric truck world. The leader has yet to be established, which gives hope to young upstarts like theAtlix, which wants to build the XT, a full-size electric pickupwith a 300- to 500-mile range and an estimated arrival in 2020. The owner/engineer is building the truck he wants, and you've got to respect that, especially when the base price is quoted at US$45,000.Government incentive cuts are killing Nissan Leaf sales in OntarioNissan sales reps in Ontario may be voting for the opposition next provincial election, as recent incentive cuts implemented by Doug Ford's government have precipitateda drastic fall in Nissan Leaf sales in the province. In August of 2018, a total of 695 Leafs were sold to Ontarians. Fast-forward to November, when the $14,000 rebate is no longer on the table, and that number is down to 10.
An Associated Press investigation has found that at least 1,900 U.S. military firearms were lost or stolen during the 2010s. Civilians later u
One of the first buyers of the Lincoln Land Company property was Chenia Newberry who was born in Michigan, moved to Prairie Center, Nebraska, and then Ravenna where he worked in a hardware store. One of the first things he did in Alliance was to establish a tin shop which expanded into the manufacture of saddles, bridles and farm machinery. In 1914 he built a three-story masonry building for retail sales, a warehouse and manufacturing plant. Newberry also established a wholesale business through Nebraska, the Dakotas, Wyoming, Montana and Colorado.

C. A. Newberry was also instrumental in the establishment of the Alliance Creamery in 1907 which, while manufacturing 500,000 pounds of butter a year in addition to ice cream, later sold to Fairmont Dairy in 1930 but transferred into the poultry business in 1932. With the retirement of Newberrys grandson F. B. Girard in 1968 the retail store, the last remnant of the manufacturing concern, closed becoming an Ace Hardware store.

In 1907 Adolph Coors constructed a building for beer distribution and announced plans for a brewery. When he abandoned the brewery concept the building was sold to J. M. Miller, becoming the Alliance Hotel.
Diabetes is a growing epidemic. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than 30 million Americans or 9.4 percent of the population have diabetes. Another 84.1 million Americans have prediabetes.

That means one in three American adults have prediabetes. Without intervention, 15-30 percent of those with prediabetes will develop diabetes within five years. People in our country are consuming more highly processed, high fat, high calorie foods than ever before. Studies show that the average American also does not get the recommended 150 minutes of physical activity each week. This is leading to soaring obesity rates which goes hand in hand with the diabetes epidemic.

Prediabetes is diagnosed with a fasting blood sugar of 100-125 or Hgb A1c of 5.7 to 6.4. Those with a BMI of 25 or greater are also at risk, as well as women who have a history of gestational diabetes or who have had a baby weighing more than nine pounds at birth.

So how can diabetes be prevented? With early diagnosis, prediabetes can often be reversed. Making healthy food choices including more fruits, vegetables, whole grains and legumes is a good place to start. This means limiting high fat, high calorie, processed foods and filling your place with healthy food choices.
Jan. 9-10

Susie Chavez, her husband and son have lived in the complex for the past 12 years and said recently they were experiencing some issues with the heating system. She said the smoke detectors started going off and there was a burning smell in one of the rooms, but no smoke was seen. She then called the fire department and waited with her family in her car as they inspected the unit.
Columbus police reported that the property was soon surrounded and that officers held their position with the assumption that the suspect was armed and dangerous.

Because of that assumption, released information from the department says that CPD requested the assistance of the Nebraska State Patrol (NSP) SWAT team. A search warrant was obtained to enter the home and with the assistance of the NSP SWAT team, Dittmer was subsequently arrested, charged and taken to jail.

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Dittmer is scheduled for a jury trial at 9 a.m. on April 1.

In other district court news:

*Eric M. Behrens, 37, of Monroe, pleaded not guilty to possession of a deadly weapon by a prohibited person, a Class III felony; operating a motor vehicle to avoid arrest, a Class IV felony; possession of a deadly weapon during the commission of a felony, a Class III felony; and child abuse, a Class IIIA felony.

Behrens was arrested in December 2018 after allegedly fleeing from police in his vehicle and then drawing a knife when confronted by law enforcement prior to being shot with a Taser. While evading police, Behrens reportedly had a minor passenger in the vehicle, court records show. Behrens is scheduled for a jury trial at 9 a.m. on April 1.
Someone at the DNR recognized that two Wisconsin landowners were close to completing work that would have earned them pollution cleanup exemptions for sites that had been used by the paper industry, Foss said.

We said, Oh my. Some of these may look alike, Foss said.

In the past, the department had routinely awarded blanket cleanup exemptions without testing for PFAS. But now it was clear there was too much risk that the state would end up paying for a cleanup if the chemicals were found, Foss said.

In August, top executives in the DNR secretarys office decided to stop offering blanket exemptions without testing for PFAS. The decision was made recognizing that new Gov. Tony Evers and the state Legislature may not want to allow the policy change to stand.

The DNR contacted both landowners and offered to pay for PFAS testing of their sites. Neither one wanted the testing done, Foss said.

DNR officials told the landowners they couldnt issue an exemption that could put the state on the hook for a future PFAS cleanup, Foss said. One owner withdrew from the exemption application process. The other hasnt formerly withdrawn but also hasnt taken further steps to complete the process, she said.
297th Prithvi Jayanti observed; President offers tribute to nation builders statue

To commemorate the 297th birth anniversary of the late Shah King Prithvi Narayan Shah, President Bidhya Devi Bhandari garlanded the life-size statue of the late king in front of Singha Durbar. The day is also celebrated as Prithvi Jayanti and National Unity Day.
Less than 1 percent of bobbleheads feature a musical component, according to museum co-founder and CEO Phil Sklar.

Were always thinking of new bobblehead ideas, Sklar said. Weve thought of creating one of Mike for a while. Its a great way to honor him. People say once youve had a bobblehead, youve made it. Well, hes got two.

American Family Insurance produced a Leckrone bobblehead in 2003.

In 2016, WISC-TV reported that 300 UW-Madison student musicians took their Leckrone bobbleheads on spring break trips, from California to Costa Rica to Niagara Falls, and shared their Where in the world is Mike Leckrone? photos on social media.

Sklar said Leckrone received his new bobblehead last week and played a role in developing it.

He was involved in making sure he looked good, Sklar said. We had to get his stamp of approval.

Leckrone said he made a few small changes and joked that it was probably a plus that the bobblehead did not perfectly resemble him. He said On Wisconsin was the most appropriate song choice.

I am pleased and amused by the whole thing, he said.
Taglit-Birthright Israel mega event in

Jerusalem on January 1.

(photo credit: Jane Peimer)

Updates throughout the day at http://calevbenyefuneh. blogspot.com. If you enjoy "Love of the Land", please be a subscriber. Just put your email address in the "Subscribe" box on the upper right-hand corner of the page.Twitter updates at LoveoftheLand as well as our Love of the Land page at Facebook which has additional pieces of interest besides that which is posted on the blog. Also check-out This Ongoing War by Frimet and Arnold Roth. An excellent blog, very important work.

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....11 January '19..It wasnt the $60-million question and it wasnt a question of a zero-sum game, but the phrasing riled me. I recently participated in a panel at Limmud UK with the title: Is the Israeli government doing enough to promote the peace process with the Palestinians? In accordance with a longstanding Jewish tradition, I answered the question with a question: Shouldnt we be asking what the Palestinians are doing to promote peace  or even stability or economic viability?I have been asked variations on this theme regularly in recent years and I have come to the conclusion that it embodies two significant problems: The first, that the onus for somehow creating peace lies only on Israel and the second, that the conflict with the Palestinians should be what defines Israel.The peace process, such that it ever was, is obviously stuck, but it is wrong to place all the blame for that on Israel, whichever government is in power.During the election period, the question of security is usually high on the agenda, but Israel, at 70-plus, like most normal countries, also has other things on its collective mind. There are a lot of social issues to deal with  the widening socioeconomic gaps, a medical system that is not working as well as it once did, tension and division between different sectors.At least we are holding elections. Democratic ones. Those urging Israel to reach an agreement with Palestinian Authority head Mahmoud Abbas are willing to ignore the fact that the 83-year-old PA president was elected to a four-year term this week  14 years ago. It literally doesnt add up to democracy.Similarly, despite his age and poor health, Abbas has appointed no apparent heir, leaving the vast majority of Israelis and Palestinians wondering who will come next. The two-state or one-state mantra has been out of date for years. While Abbass Fatah movement continues to clasp on to power in the West Bank, its archrival, Hamas, is in control of Gaza. The two-state solution is already a three-state solution; four, if you count Jordan, where there is a Palestinian majority.The international obsession with the Palestinian narrative has done nothing to bring about peace. On the contrary. Every time pressure is put on Israel to reach an agreement, the Palestinians feel they can sit back and enjoy. Until it all blows up.The main reason Israelis are not focused on a so-called peace process is because ever since the Oslo Accords more than 25 years ago, experience has taught us that the process leads to another wave of Palestinian terrorism rather than peace.The process should not be an aim in itself. If the goal is peace  or at least quiet  there are other ways of achieving it, starting with economic ties. But here lies the other huge obstacle to peace with the Palestinians: the anti-normalization movement and BDS, the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement, which is anti-normalizations ugly sibling.IT IS disingenuous for those who dont want ties with Israel  or the Israeli-controlled occupied territories  to insist that Israel give up almost everything that defines it in order to reach an illusion of peace.As recently as January 1, Abbas, according to Irans PressTV, announced Jerusalem is not for sale, and added: The continuation of the colonialist settlement and the occupation of the land of the State of Palestine will not break our willpower, nor will it harm our resolve, because our people will not kneel but to Allah, and this is our land and holy places, and this is the land of our forefathers and grandfathers.The insistence of seeing Israel as a colonialist enterprise is an essential part of Abbass mindset, but it is not the worldview of someone who has come to terms with Israels right to exist or the millennia-old Jewish ties to the land, predating the birth of Christianity and Islam (in that order), let alone the Palestinians.And this brings me to another topic that has been in the local news lately: The Taglit-Birthright Israel program celebrating its 20th anniversary year. Birthright, founded by philanthropists Charles Bronfman and Michael Steinhardt and now enjoying the support of Sheldon Adelson, was the brainchild of Olso Accord architect Yossi Beilin. Many consider it Beilins redeeming quality. The idea was to give young Jewish adults from around the world a free 10-day trip to Israel to help them learn about and explore their Jewish identity. A record 55,000 people visited Israel via Birthright in 2018.Far from the colonialist trope, there have always been Jews in the Land of Israel. (The Jews who were expelled from Hebron, the Old City of Jerusalem, and the Etzion Bloc during bloody Arab riots and wars are among the most overlooked refugees in history.) It is here that the story of the People of the Book was written  in Hebrew.Last summer, a few Birthright groups were infiltrated by members of the If Not Now movement who disrupted tours, demanding to be taken to the occupied territories and hear about Palestinian lives and affairs. The movement has adopted the slogan Not just a free trip to call on future potential Birthright participants to tell the truth about the Israeli Occupation to the thousands of young American Jews that will participate in its programming.THEY ARE deliberately redefining the concept. No longer is Birthright about Jewish identity (as its name suggests); it is about The Conflict. Members of If Not Now have every right to set up  and fund  their own tours, but brutally hijacking the Birthright project goes beyond chutzpah.Birthright calls itself a free gift  but what is the cost for our generation, the Palestinian people, and the entire American Jewish community? asks Emily Bloch on the If Not Now site. Id like to ask What is the price of deliberately framing Israel solely in relation to the Palestinians? But the answer is evident: literal and figurative distancing from Israel and the Jewish community as a whole. And getting not one step closer to peace.Those who insist on seeing Israel as an interloper that for some reason decided to settle down in the Middle East are missing the much broader picture  the picture that comes with a historical perspective. Israel is truly at home here, on the Mediterranean, no less than the Greeks across the beautiful blue waters.The year 2019 marks 40 years since Menachem Begin and Anwar Sadat signed the Israeli-Egyptian peace treaty, bringing hope to the whole region and proving that Israel is willing to make significant territorial compromises for true peace (even though it turned out to be a cold one). It is also the 40th anniversary of the Iranian Revolution, which had the opposite effect, encouraging Islamist fundamentalism, turning the Shiite-Sunni split into a chasm, and promoting anti-normalization and terrorism against Israel.For me, this year marks the 40th anniversary of my aliyah from Britain. Last week, following the announcement by Jerusalem Post columnist Caroline B. Glick that she was joining Naftali Bennetts and Ayelet Shakeds New Right Party, Yediot Aharonot writer Raanan Shaked kicked up a storm by tweeting: You really think that there is some electoral force to the always-amusing sub-stream of scattered Isramericans that came here from their homeland  where there is a doubt if they would have gotten a job that doesnt includes the question Do you want fries with that?The jibe was too much to swallow. Raanan Shaked is one of those satire and comedy writers who themselves become a parody and a (bad) joke. Theres a one-word answer to the question why Jews  of different religious streams and political ideology  leave comfortable lives to move to Israel, where they usually earn less, downsize housing and cars, and periodically come under rocket attacks or yet another wave of terrorism. Its called Zionism. Its not a rude word  but it is a defining one.
BERLIN (Reuters) - Germany will try to protect German and European companies from some potentially "massive collateral damage" if Washington levies further sanctions against Russia, Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said on Friday. Maas, speaking on Friday at a new year reception of the German Committee on East European Economic Relations, an industry group, said he expected the newly elected U.S. congress to move swiftly to bring new sanctions against Moscow. "Our aim is to reach agreement (with the U.S. on sanctions) and protect German and European companies from the in some cases massive collateral damage," he said. He did not give further details but his remarks are likely to cheer German exporters hard hit by European Union and U.S. sanctions imposed after Moscow invaded and annexed parts of Ukraine in 2014. Washington has led the way in demanding tougher measures against Moscow, while Germany, which has deep trade ties with Russia and depends on it for much of its imported gas, has been far more cautious. "For us sanctions ... only make sense when, as with the EU's sanctions, they are tied to clear, fulfillable conditions," said Maas, in an apparent softening of his more hawkish tone on Russia when he took office last year. "Sadly, that is no longer the case for U.S. sanctions." Earlier, the industry group's chairman Wolfgang Buechele had criticized the U.S. sanctions for being too vague and unclear for German exporters to adhere to, pleading for German government backing if they were further tightened. The EU last month extended for a further six months sanctions targeting Russia's financial, energy and defense sectors. They were originally imposed in July 2014 after Russia's annexation of Ukraine's Crimean peninsula. The U.S. expanded its sanctions in December, adding 15 members of Russian military intelligence and four entities involved in alleged election interference to a blacklist that allows for their assets to be frozen. The new Democrat majority in the U.S. House of Representatives, incensed by allegations of collaboration between President Donald Trump's campaign team and Russian lobbyists, is preparing congressional hearings on Trump's alleged Russia ties. A particular focus of both their and Trump's ire is the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline, which, by supplying Germany with Russian gas directly under the Baltic Sea, will cut Ukraine out of lucrative transit fees even as it fends off a Russian-backed insurrection in its east. But Maas said he had told U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo that sanctions targeting Nord Stream 2 would not be appropriate. "(Russian President Vladimir) Putin agreed last year to continue gas transit through Ukraine," he said. "Nord Stream 2 isn't Germany and Russia going it alone. I say to critics of the project: questions of European energy policy must be decided in Europe, not the U.S." (Reporting by Thomas Escritt; Editing by Raissa Kasolowsky)
CBC

When the Chinese-made Sinopharm vaccine was offered to Katie Gibson in Abu Dhabi, there was no doubt in her mind she should take it. The 36-year-old teacher originally from Calgary said she and her husband didn't hesitate to take the only COVID-19 vaccine they could get in the United Arab Emirates at the time. "It's available to us [so] let's just get it," she recalled thinking. "A vaccine is a vaccine." After two years abroad, Gibson said her family of four desperately wants to get home this su
Close to 1,000 Canadians die each year because of their jobs, according to official numbers from Canada's workers' compensation agencies. But a new study says that figure is only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the true extent of work-related deaths across the country.

The study  titled Work-related deaths in Canada  argues the widely quoted statistics from the Association of Workers' Compensation Board of Canada (AWCBC) should not solely be used as a benchmark for work-related fatalities, as these figures only take into account approved compensation claims.

As a result, thousands of deaths  such as workers exempt from coverage, stress-induced suicides, commuting fatalities and occupational disease  are missing from occupational health and safety statistics, it says.

"This situation is akin to crime statistics only ever including solved homicides, therein leaving the impression that attempted murders, unsolved murders or suspicious deaths are not a concern," the study's authors wrote.

CBC

Our notion of what constitutes a workplace fatality is too narrow and it is a mistake to count work-related fatalities through our compensation regimes, says Steven Bittle, an associate criminology professor at the University of Ottawa who spearheaded the research, which was published in November.

Last year, workers' compensation boards across the country approved a total of 904 claims involving fatalities. About one-third of those cases involved acute accidents, with the rest due to longer-term illnesses from occupational exposure.

Bittle's team estimates that a more accurate figure hovers between 10,000 to 13,000 deaths annually.

Non-reporting and under-reported fatalities

Depending on the province, between 70 and 98 per cent of the workforce is covered by a public workers' compensation system. But that means there are well more than two million workers in Canada whose deaths would escape official statistics.

Story continues

Excluded occupations could include the self-employed, domestic helpers, banking employees and farmers, among others.

The latest AWCBC figures show that in Ontario, only 24 per cent of the approximate 7.1 million working Ontarians are covered by a workers' compensation regime.

Bittle's paper also cites a 2015 study from the University of British Columbia that found an average of six fatalities per year that were not on WorkSafeBC's radar. Many of these cases involved deaths that occurred in hospital, days after the workplace event.

The authors further estimate about 64 farming deaths escape official statistics each year.

CBC



Morag Marjerison, a farm-safety consultant based in Brandon, Man., agrees that the dearth of data is problematic. In Manitoba, farm owners and their family members are exempt from mandatory coverage.

"I think it's really a problem in that we don't ever see the true picture. Whenever I'm looking at training, trying to educate [farmers], we're always showing what look like low statistics, when we know that's not the reality of what's happening," she said.

"I think if everyone that works in safety saw the reality of how frequently the same things happen over again and again, attention could be paid to the bigger issues."

Commuters and bystanders

One of the more contentious elements of Bittle's study, he admits, is the idea that deaths while commuting to and from work are worth including in workplace-fatality statistics. He estimates there are about 460 commuting deaths a year  and the goal of their inclusion is to start a conversation about some broader issues.

"We live in a culture of presenteeism, where people are expected to be at work  at least culturally expected to be at work, if not through pressures in their workforce  regardless of whether they're ill or whether the weather conditions are such that they shouldn't be driving at that particular time," he said.

The 2013 death of an Alberta intern who was killed while driving home after a 16-hour shift at a local radio station highlighted the potentially dangerous relationship between commuting and workload.

The study also suggests that non-workers who die collaterally could be included, such as a spouse who dies after repeatedly being exposed to asbestos from years of washing their partner's clothes, or a pedestrian crushed in a scaffolding collapse while walking near a job site.

Suicides: 'Extreme stresses'

In 2017, a Saskatchewan man employed by a small rural municipality took his own life after struggling with mental-health issues found to have been exacerbated by his work. The province's WCB partly attributed the death to his employer.

Situations like these are rarely covered, and the study suggests the number of suicide-related claims is drastically underestimated.

The Mental Health Commission of Canada published a study last year that found Canadian employees reported workplace stress as the primary cause of their mental-health concerns.

Bittle believes between 10 and 17 per cent of annual suicides in Canada could be classified as work-related, representing a range of 400 to 800 fatalities each year.

Mara Grunau, executive director of the Centre for Suicide Prevention, agrees that while the links between work and mental health exist, proving it caused a person to take their life is difficult.

"In our culture, we spend hours and hours at work. And the way we feel about work, and the way we interact with the people at work, affects who we are," she said. "If work is a miserable place to be, it affects other aspects of our life."

And while there are "many contributing factors" that can lead a person to that point of desperation, Grunau says "the research would not bear out one big, bad thing that is going to absolutely cause somebody to die by suicide."

Cancer and disease

Ultimately, the study concludes that the single biggest category for underestimation relates to cancer and disease.

Currently, between 500 and 600 approved WCB claims nationwide are the result of occupational disease. But Bittle estimates a figure that is upward of 8,000 deaths.

Amendments to Prince Edward Island's Workers Compensation Act came into force just last week, giving firefighters presumptive coverage for certain types of cancers and illnesses. P.E.I. was last province to make these changes

CBC

While firefighters' unions have been successful in their lobbying, other employer groups have not.

Former General Electric worker Sue James has been fighting for compensation for hundreds of retired workers based in Peterborough, Ont., who suffer from what is alleged to be occupational disease due in large part to repeated exposure to industrial chemicals. Her father died of cancer following three decades of working in that plant.

James has successfully lobbied the Ontario government to reopen hundreds of previously denied WSIB claims.

"The burden of proof is so high. I mean, you almost have to have swam in a vat of trichloroethylene or in asbestos in order to get claims. So there's been a huge resistance  to believe what we're trying to say happened there," she said.

Bittle says his report didn't seek to address how to better gather data, as the objective was to clearly lay out the issue of under-reported workplace deaths.

"What we do say is that, at the very least, there is a leadership role that the federal government could and should take in order to initiate discussions on this very topic."

Employment and Social Development Canada agrees that better data collection is needed and said some initiatives are already underway.

"The Labour Program is  currently funding a research study that looks at illnesses prevalent in workers in the federal jurisdiction, as well as engaging in exploratory work with Statistics Canada's labour statistics directorate on further workplace injury data," said a spokesperson for the federal department.
(Reuters) - Canada's health regulator on Friday said it was restricting the use of Allergan Plc's uterine fibroid treatment Esmya after discovering a risk of serious liver injury from the drug. Health Canada said the drug, sold under brand name Fibristal in the country, should not be used by women with liver problems, or those who have had such problems in the past. It also said that more than one treatment course of the drug should be restricted to only those of childbearing age who are unable to undergo surgery to remove the fibroids. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration in August declined to approve the drug, requesting more information and citing safety issues outside the United States. Regulators in Europe have also recommended restrictions on the use of the drug for some patients, to help minimize risks. The drug is sold in Europe by Hungarian drugmaker Richter. Richter has said it considered Esmya to be a safe and effective form of treatment. Allergan and Richter were not immediately available for comment. (Reporting by Manas Mishra in Bengaluru; Editing by Shinjini Ganguli)
A few Edmonton-area skywatchers reported seeing a huge fireball light up the sky above northern Alberta Thursday night.

Dozens of people took to social media to report that a meteor was spotted around 10:45 p.m. above the Edmonton skyline.

"I was looking out my balcony when I saw a bright ball of light flying through the air," wrote one witness on Reddit.

"It eventually disappeared/broke up mid flight!"

Six people from Edmonton to Crossfield, Alta., filed reports of fireball sightings to the American Meteor Society on Thursday evening.

One reporter said the mysterious object glowed like a train and even sparkled a bit as it flashed over Edmonton.

The University of Alberta's Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences is also investigating multiple reports.

'Falling from the sky'

Scott Furry was on his balcony in northeast Edmonton when he saw a large orange streak "falling from the sky."

He emailed CBC Edmonton to report the strange sight.

"It was not clear if this was a large piece of space junk, meteorite, or aircraft," Furry wrote.

"The tail of the debris was quite long and moderately bright ... I expect 911 call centres are busy at the moment."

Mark Zalcik, an amateur astronomer with the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada, also spotted the fireball low in the sky. He was parked in north Edmonton when something caught his eye.

"I was just looking out the windshield and just out of the corner of my eye, I saw a bright light moving light and as I focused in on it, it disappeared behind some trees," Zalcik said in an interview with CBC News on Friday.

"It was a pretty bright fireball. It was a deep orange colour and it left behind kind of an orange-coloured wake."

Zalcik said it's possible a piece of rock survived its fiery flight through the Earth's atmosphere. He's hopeful something will be recovered.

"It's needle in a haystack kind of proposition," he said. "It all depends on the number of the reports and the accuracy of the reports. It's really hard to say."

Zalcik said meteorites are common but are not always spotted on their fall to Earth. Even fewer are ever recovered.

"If you're lucky, you get lots of fragmentation," he said. "If you see little sparks coming from the fireball, that's a good sign because that means several pieces may have fallen."
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How Ontario doctors can get paid more to see you less

Flu activity remains high in Canada, according to a new report released on Friday that confirms children and teens were hit hard.

A total of 17,743 laboratory-confirmed flu cases have been reported, the Public Health Agency of Canada said in its weekly FluWatch report.

Six pediatric deaths occurred so far this season, all children under the age of 10. There were also 95 pediatric admissions to ICU for flu.

Influenza A is the most common form of the virus circulating in Canada, and the majority of these viruses are H1N1.

The Canadian report covers the period Dec. 30 to Jan. 5.

Elsewhere on Friday, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimated 69,000 to 84,000 Americans were hospitalized due to the flu in the last three months.

The U.S. saw one of the worst flu outbreaks in nearly a decade during the 2017-2018 season, with more than 900,000 cases of hospitalizations and over 80,000 deaths, the CDC estimates .

The H1N1 virus is also the predominant strain in the U.S. this year.

Flu infections bring fever, cough, general malaise and achy muscles and joints.

Health officials in both countries say it's not too late to get a flu vaccine to reduce the risk of contracting the virus.

They also recommend that people stay at home and not go to work or school if ill. Everyone is encouraged to wash their hands often, and to cough and sneeze into your elbow.
Two Calgary men have been charged for allegedly helping a man accused of murder flee the country.

Sean Airey, 27, and Marshall Quillian, 21, both faces charges including obstruction of justice, forging a passport, making a false statement to procure a passport and being an accessory after the fact to murder, according to Calgary police.

The charges are linked to a first-degree murder charge against Nathan Gervais, who fled to Vietnam before his trial into the beating and stabbing death of 18-year-old Lukas Strasser-Hird.

Strasser-Hird died in 2013 after he was swarmed outside a Calgary nightclub. Gervais was to appear in court in April 2016 but failed to appear and was arrested in Vietnam nearly two years later.

His trial on a charge of first-degree murder is to start on Monday.

Franz Cabrera and Assmar Shlah were both found guilty of second-degree murder for their roles in Strasser-Hird's death, while Joch Pouk was found guilty of manslaughter.

A fourth man, Jordan Liao, was acquitted.
Opinion / Columnist

I am not amused by the discord between, Jonathan Moyo-Strive Masiyiwa, Jonathan Moyo-Lovemore Madhuku, Jonathan Moyo-Jealousy Mawarire that had been engineered by ZANU PF style of leadership. I hate Jonathan Moyo's previous political record but I like the way he has been exposing ZANU PF's evil work since the time of the coup. The accusations of Jonathan Moyo against Jealousy, Masiyiwa and Madhuka are weighty. They are exposing the credibility of ZANU PF leadership, this piece seeks to explore the twitter messages of Jonathan Moyo in light of the evil work done by Jealousy-Masiyiwa-Madhuku under the steering of ZANU PF.The cold war exposed Jealousy Mawarire, it has come to our attention that the Mawarire court challenge of June 2013 requesting the constitutional court to force elections to be held by 29 June 2013 was stage managed by ZANU PF. According to Prof Jonathan Moyo, ZANU PF had to seek for the service of Prof Lovemore Madhuku in order to make sure that elections were to be held in July 2013. Mawarire and Jonathan Moyo are fighting on twitter, Jealousy is saying that his court challenge was not influenced by ZANU PF/CIOs and Moyo said, he was part of the ZANU PF's secrete team that was behind the court challenge and Madhuku-Maputo saga.I respect Jealousy Mawariri but 104% confident that he is still ZANU PF by DNA and only death will separate him from ZANU PF. He was with Joice Mujuru when she was expelled from ZANU PF, he chased Brg. Mutinhiri from the party and is now seeking for an alliance with Nelson Chamisa's MDC Alliance. It once happened, Chaibva moved from MDC T  MDC Biti  MDC Sipepa  Joice Mujuru Coalition before heading back home (ZANU PF). It is just a matter of time, Jealousy will be drinking tea with Chaibva soon. I am not saying Jealousy should not be admitted to MDC Alliance but should not be given a key position if allowed to join the holy team. Nelson Chamisa should not even give him the position of being a BinMan' for the safety of party secretes.On twitter, Jealousy is appearing to be a born again but his previous association with ZANU PF is a suspect. He is masquerading as a reformer but we know that he is indeed a painted leopard'. I exchanged some tweets with him on 12/01/2019 and he claimed that he has CIO classified report on Jonathan Moyo but still claiming not to be a CIO. I challenged him, how come he knows key secretes of CIOs? Is it possible for Satan to tip Jesus Christ? MDC Alliance should consider going for DNA screening before taking Jealousy Mawarire on board.Prof Madhuku is another character, a good example of a traitor according to Jonathan Moyo's allegations. Prof Madhuku shocked the democrats when he endorsed the rigged elections of 2013 and 2018 before being recruited to be a commissioner of the 1 August murder by the army. All along, I thought prof Madhuku was a democrat but Jonathan Moyo proved me wrong. According to Jonathan Moyo, Madhuku was supposed to be party of ZANU PF  Mugabe delegation to Maputo (though there is no v11 to support the alleged evil journey to Maputo) and was recruited by ZANU PF system to make sure that Jealousy Mawarire court case would succeed. From the look of things, Madhuku did well because elections were held according to ZANU PF's wish, Madhuku was among the first persons (including Museveni) to endorse Mugabe's rigged victory of 2013.Thanks to professor Jonathan Moyo, now Zimbabweans are able to see the genesis of Madhuku-ZANU PF relationship. Prof Madhuku still believe that ED Mnangagwa won free and fair 2018 presidential election? Madhuku has freedom of supporting any party but the constitution won't allow him to support evil. Today, the economy is grounded, I want to request professor Madhuku to claim part of the responsibility to the sufferings affecting all of us now. Instead of going to Maputo to bring fuel home via Beira, people are going to Mozambique to make sure that they deliberate over elections rigging.To Strive Masiyiwa, I am sorry, ZANU PF government has been taking advantage of his hard-work and cash. "Where there is money or corruption, ZANU PF is there". Even if your body develops diamonds by mistake you should be assured that your life is in danger. They looted diamond in Marange and the proceeds benefited elite ZANU PF crooks. The army had to move from the barracks and start mining diamond but the question is, where did they put the diamond cash when soldiers have no decent accommodation, feeding with bread and glucose behind the closed doors. War Vets' children are chased from school, no tuition fees, living like cockroaches but the army had a chance to loot diamond in Maranga. Where is the money?Jonathan Moyo sounds correct when he said Masiyiwa supported rigging from 2008 through to today but I cannot blame Strive because he was overwhelmed by ZANU PF. If they invaded and looted Marange diamond, what about Econet? Only a stupid person can blame Masiyiwa, he was dealing with evil people. However, because the sin was already reported in heaven, I request Strive Masiyiwa to set aside four days of meditation, I know that God and the murdered Zimbabweans (following the 2008 aborted runoff) will forgive him. He should try by all means to carry his Bible whenever on business engagements with evil people/organizations. The business-people should know that, the wealth that they have will remain on earth but injustices will be carried forward to heaven and God will deal with them methodically, religiously and horizontally.Don Chigumba is a mixed methods research specialist can be found on twitter @Donchigumba
Opinion / Columnist

When former Zimbabwe despot Robert Mugabe was shunned and ostracized by the West he turned to the East. China in particular promised him funding which would be a slap in the faces of former erstwhile friends. The Chinese in particular will offer funding albeit with mortgaging of our natural resources by our leaders .It would seem the fall of Mugabe would bring a shift towards the West by the so called New dispensation. Mnangagwa promised to re-engage with Western countries for years denounced by Mugabe each time he got an opportunity to address fellow despots .Re-engaging with the West is easier said than done ,the junta front man must have seen by now. The West, unlike China, Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan and fellow human rights violators ,gives aid after scrutiny of the recipient country. This scrutiny extends to rule of law,judiciary independence,human rights and so on .This scrutiny is what Zanu PF would not want considering that their history on human rights violations, judiciary interference,no respect on property law and so on. The East friends are at the apex of human rights violations were journalists are silenced by disappearances or unlawful detentions, activists are at the mercy of their security agencies. When they give aid or what ever form of assistance there is no scrutiny, this entices Mnangagwa, a preacher of reform by day but architect of human rights violations at night .This is why the East will be forever the favourable destination by despots from Africa.While Breton Woods lnstitutions will give money despotic regimes will not entertain what is expected of them. These institutions first and foremost need accountability on funds while Asian fellow despots do not care whether a large chunk of their aid money has been siffoned off to safe havens for their stash keeping.That Mnangagwa who promised to do the opposite of his predecessor is now following Mugabe's footsteps just shows he has joined the African despots club .The Asian countries in particular China have seen Zimbabwe and other African states with shops opened in every town selling fake counterfeit merchandise from tooth pick to furniture as they loot overtly natural resources.For Zimbabwe to be revived from a dysfunctional economy it does not need any assistance from the East. The Chinese ,whose Mandarin language is now being taught in some schools further showing their growing influence ,do not care about African states .Munangagwa is wasting scarce foreign currency as he travels with his entourage from one despotic country to another. It boggles the mind what he intends to gain from these regions which do no not respect human rights in their own countries.This clearly shows that Zanu Pf is not sincere when they tell people Mugabe destroyed the economy when the incumbent President is now just a disciple of Mugabe's failed policies .The junta front man needs the West not phony investors from the East who have flooded our ghettos .
News / National

by Staff reporter

GOVERNMENT business is now headed for a grinding halt after salary negotiations collapsed yesterday, as civil servants rejected their employer's "paltry" 10% pay rise offer and vowed to down tools in the next two weeks.The stalemate will likely pile more pressure on President Emmerson Mnangagwa's regime, which is already seeking to reduce its wage bill and battling a worsening economic meltdown.Apex Council chairperson Cecilia Alexander yesterday confirmed that the civil servants' umbrella body had turned down government's salary adjustment, which would have seen the least paid employee get a $41 increase.Alexander was addressing journalists soon after yesterday's National Joint Negotiating Council (NJNC) meeting in Harare.The NJNC brings together government and civil servants staff unions for negotiations over salaries and other working conditions.Alexander said the Apex Council would meet today to chart the way forward after government fell far short of their demands for a minimum wage of $1 733 for the least-paid civil servant."We are just coming out of the NJNC. The purpose of the meeting was to get a response from government on a position that we presented in November 2018, which was amounting to $1 733 for the least paid worker in government," Alexander said."We submitted this in November and it is quite disturbing that government brought a 10% offer, which translates to only $41 for the least paid civil servant."As Apex Council negotiators, we have rejected this offer in totality and now, we are going to give feedback to our constituency, which will advise us on the way forward."On Monday, Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare acting minister July Moyo met the restive government workers' union leaders and assured them that he would table an attractive offer at yesterday's crunch meeting.The meeting came after teachers threatened a crippling industrial action when schools opened for the first term this week, amid reports that some teachers were yet to report for duty since opening day on Tuesday."We were angered that government said the 10% increment could only be effected at the beginning of April, meaning from January up until March, there will be nothing. So, looking at the prevailing situation, we have noted that it is unattainable," Alexander said."We proposed $1 733 as minimum wage for public workers and we got to that figure after looking at the prices, meaning we are not even asking for an increment, but only asking for them to restore value of the money we used to get."She said they would be holding a full Apex Council meeting today, "so we will have a position by then".The Apex Council said government indicated it could not meet its workers' demands because it was working under a tilted economic landscape."They said they have a $160 million quantum from April to December, which is supposed to cater for all civil servants including uniformed forces," Apex Council secretary David Dzatsunga said."We have given a 14-day notice for an industrial action which means we are operating under the window period. So it is up to government to expedite the process."No government representatives addressed the media after the meeting which was described by the Apex Council, in a statement, as a "damp squib".Mnangagwa's government has since last year's disputed presidential election been battling to contain growing discontent over the escalating cost of living characterised by shortages and arbitrary price increases for commodities and services.Mnangagwa is yet to issue a public statement on the myriad of challenges affecting the ordinary majority Zimbabweans.
News / National

by Staff reporter

EIGHT armed robbers, among them two police officers allegedly raided a Chinese mining company in Zvishavane and went away with an Isuzu pick up, 48 grammes of gold, US$8 820, $6 800 bond notes and 2 155 Chinese yuan.The two police officers, Moses Karumbidza (30) and Isaac Kawundura (33) both based in Mberengwa and attached to the ZRP Support Unit, together with Thulani Nkala (38), Taurai Matarirano (27), Tady Magama (25), Learnmore Makore (27), Wellington Moyo (34), Hardlife Mazheke (28) all from Zvishavane, armed themselves with three rifles and four pistols and went to Camlark Mine where they robbed the owners of their valuables, gold and cash. The gang allegedly fired shots in the air and ordered everyone to lie down before ransacking the mine premises on December 11 last year.The eight suspects, who allegedly ganged up with eight others still at large, have approached the High Court seeking bail pending trial.In papers before the court, the eight men through their lawyers Mutendi, Mudisi and Shumba Legal Practitioners, filed their application at the Bulawayo High Court citing the State as a respondent.In their bail statements, the applicants argued that the State case was weak hence it would not induce them to abscond if granted bail.They said they were wrongfully implicated, arguing that there was no evidence linking them to the alleged offence."The allegations are spurious and there is no link between the alleged offence and the applicants save for the alleged confessions extracted through use of brutal force and torture. The police are taking a vindictive approach against the applicants and they are misleading in their averments that the applicants were armed with firearms, which were never recovered," argued the applicants' lawyers."The respondent alleges that the applicants committed armed robbery when there is no evidence to that effect. In fact, no weapons or cartridges were recovered after the alleged commission of the crime to suggest that shots were fired on that particular day."The State, which was represented by Mr Kudakwashe Jaravaza, opposed the application, arguing that the accused persons were likely to abscond if granted bail due to the gravity of the alleged crime.Mr Jaravaza said the eight men had a propensity to interfere with witnesses and commit further offences if granted bail."All the accused persons have previous cases of armed robbery committed in Mashava and Kadoma and again in light of the fact that the firearms used in the commission of the robbery were not recovered it is not in the best interests of justice that the applicants be released for there is a likelihood of them committing similar offences," he said.On December 11 last year, the gang allegedly drove to Camlark Investments Mine armed with three rifles and four pistols. It is alleged that the 16-member gang, disguised as police officers, force marched security details at Camlark Mine to the residence of the Chinese owners of the mine.They used a bolt cutter to destroy a padlock at the gate before accessing the residence. They allegedly fired two shots prompting one of the occupants, Mr Zhang Ren Lon to come out of the house to investigate.The suspects manhandled Mr Zhang and took him back to his house where they ordered him to show them where he kept the money. The gang allegedly looted cash amounting to US$8 820, $6 800 bond notes and 2 155 Chinese yuan.They also broke into one of the mine offices and took a computer hard drive and 48 grams of gold and loaded them into the stolen car and drove off. A report was made to the police leading to the arrest of the eight men and only the stolen car was recovered.
News / National

by Staff reporter

A 24 year old Dangamvura man has been caged 12 months after bedding a 12-year-old-girl who had eloped to him after she had been chased away from home for being in a relationship with him.Kudakwashe Ncube from Foroma Village under Chief Marange was convicted on his own plea of guilt by magistrate Perseverance Makala.He was originally handed a 15-month sentence but three months were suspended on condition of good behaviour leaving him to serve an effective 12-month sentence.Ncube was charged with having sexual intercourse with a minor in contravention of section 70 (a) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act chapter 9:23.Prosecuting, Percy Musukuto informed the court how Ncube approached the Grade Seven girl with a love proposal in September 2018, which she later accepted.Sometime in December, the girl then eloped after her parents chased her away from home because of her affair with Ncube.Ncube's mother, however, accompanied the underage girl back to her parents.On January 2, her parents again ejected her from home and she returned to Ncube's home. Ncube in turn then proceeded with her to Mutare's Dangamvura suburb where his father resides.On January 3 at around 0200 hours, the two had consensual unprotected sexual intercourse.The girl's cousin made a police report acting on instructions from the girl's mother, leading to Ncube's arrest.
News / National

by Staff reporter

Thieves are helping themselves to solar street lights installed along Harare's Airport Road while others have fallen prone to vandalism despite a decision by Harare City Council to conceal batteries that were previously being targeted, the Daily News can report.The thieves are targeting solar panels adjacent to a bushy area opposite One Commando Barracks where more than five panels have been cut off their poles.Several others were also stolen towards Robert Mugabe International Airport while a few more were simply felled but the solar panels are still intact.Harare City Council mayor Herbert Gomba could not say whether the city fathers were aware of the development as he referred questions to the city director of works Zvenyika Chawatama.However, Chawatama was not immediately available for comment as his mobile phone was unreachable.The Daily News crew nevertheless observed that the thieves are stealing the panels and removing solar batteries that are hidden underground possibly for resale to unsuspecting buyers.In 2016, Harare City Council came up with an idea to install 10 000 solar street lights by the end of the year following engagements with private companies that would be responsible for implementing the solar street lights project.The solar street lighting project was supposed to be implemented in two phases that would have seen the second phase incorporating areas outside the city.This is not the first time the lights have either been vandalised or stolen as council spokesperson Michael Chideme revealed last year that council had lost 52 batteries from theft.This he said had prompted the local authority to remove all 588 solar light batteries along Airport Road as means to protect them.Chideme said: "We were drawn back by theft, which is why we removed all the batteries from the solar street lights along the Airport Road. We can now safely say we have reconstructed battery boxes to ensure the batteries are safe and secure from thieves and vandals."The initiative to deploy solar power as a source of street lighting was expected to reduce the local authority's electricity bill.Government is currently considering formulating a legislative framework that outlaws the use of electric geysers in households and institutional buildings, as it urges citizens to embrace solar thermal technologies.
News / National

by Staff reporter

The National University of Science and Technology (Nust) has introduced a March intake starting this year, a development that has received mixed reactions.Despite sentiments that the increase of enrolment numbers at Nust will only overburden the institution's facilities, Higher Education, Science and Technology minister Amon Murwira said the development was noble as long as the student-lecturer ratio is maintained.Murwira said the institution has been enrolling a low number of students in the science and technology departments, which has been a major cause of concern."There is no problem as long as there is no mis-match between the students and the facilities. With the semesterised system, students can be enrolled at any point of the year; if there are more students than the facilities then we have a problem," he said.Murwira said the expansion in enrolment at tertiary institutions should not be about increasing their income, adding that he does not doubt Nust's integrity.He said his ministry is in the process of ensuring the success of pending infrastructure projects at Nust, noting that BancABC has pledged to support completion of themedical school at the institution.The university recently called for March intake applications for undergraduate conventional, parallel and block-release programmes for the 2019 academic year.Conventional programmes are those under the day scheme, whereas parallel programmes are normally run during the evenings and weekends and are meant to cater for candidates who meet the minimum basic entry requirements for the programmes on offer and would have been unable to secure places under the conventional day scheme.According to a 2014 report, Nust received about 5 000 undergraduate degree applications annually, yet the institution could only accommodate 1 500 applicants.The university revealed that in previous years, it had received an overwhelming number of applications from prospective students; hence the authorities had considered to introduce two intakes per year.Yesterday, Murwira said there was no point in having large numbers of qualified individuals roaming the streets while State universities failed to absorb them.He said Nust is looking forward to enrol more foreign students, which will in turn boost the education sector's dividend.Nust has, over the years, been battling infrastructure and accommodation challenges.
News / National

by Staff reporter

Internal strife within the Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans Association (ZNLWVA) is escalating with confusion surfacing on when the congress to choose the new leadership will be held.The Christopher Mutsvangwa-led executive was elected in November 2014, taking over from Jabulani Sibanda, who was kicked out in the run-up to the Zanu-PF congress of the same year..The current executive's term is set to end this year and according to sources within the association, some former liberation fighters aligned to Mutsvangwa are trying to push it to 2023 while the rival faction wants the congress held this year.Contacted for comment ZNLWVA spokesperson Douglas Mahiya said they will release a statement at the right time."I don't know when the congress is going to be held. Who sent you to ask such a question? Zvinei newe (What does that have to do with you)? You are trying to destroy war veterans' organisation so that you get rid of Zanu-PF. You are being used by someone."We fought for this country, we suffered and you are now enjoying the fruits of the liberation war but you are now trying to destroy us. We are going to announce the dates of the congress at the right time, wait for us. You are not our member, so don't ask about the congress."The confusion comes as ZNLWVA secretary-general Victor Matemadanda recently tore into Mutsvangwa, who has been highly critical of alleged cartels that he says now control President Emmerson Mnangagwa's government.They have been exchanging harsh words with informed sources saying the simmering tensions were over resources.It is believed there were substantial donations that were pumped into ZNLWVA towards the removal of former president Robert Mugabe, but these did not reach all the war veterans, hence the infighting.Matemadanda was reportedly moving around the country accusing Mutsvangwa of trying to work to oust Mnangagwa by organising demonstrations against the government.This was after a section of war veterans demonstrated in the streets of Harare early this month demanding Mnangagwa's government to honour other monetary promises dating back to 1998.However, recently Matemadanda said the much-talked about tiff between himself and Mutsvangwa doesn't exist."We talked about this issue, we are not fighting with Mutsvangwa, those are fabricated stories, and we are not at loggerheads with Mutsvangwa. I am seeing this in the media," Matemadanda said recently.In November last year, Mashonaland West war veterans passed a vote of no confidence on Mutsvangwa accusing him of being "self-centred and disrespectful of Mnangagwa".Mashonaland West war veterans' leadership also accused Mutsvangwa of "creating divisions within the organisation and making utterances that had brought the organisation and Zanu-PF into disrepute, which was unexpected of a member of the politburo".A few weeks after the Mashonaland West incident, Matemadanda blasted Mutsvangwa saying he must stop dragging his name into his own fights."When Mashonaland West announced that they now want Mutsvangwa to be recalled, Mutsvangwa's wife called me mid-night asking what my take was? I said, I spent five years fighting Mugabe and now I want to work for my family," Matemadanda said last month."I don't want to be dragged into issues of fuel that we are hearing that there are certain people who want to invest in that sector. I have nothing to do with those wars (and) I don't want to be involved. The fact that I refused to comment on the position taken by Mashonaland West is the reason why they are saying it's me who is interested in the chairmanship post."The stupidity of whoever is saying that is, the constitution is very clear that if Mutsvangwa steps down today, his deputy is the one who takes over until we elect a new chairman."
News / National

by Staff reporter

A unit of Zesa Holdings has created a whistle-blower initiative to reward those who report suspected theft and vandalism of electricity infrastructure.The goal of the programme, run by the Zimbabwe Electricity and Transmission Distribution Company (ZETDC), is to invite citizens to volunteer valuable information that would lead to successful prosecutions."ZETDC is inviting whistle-blowers to volunteer information that would lead to the arrest of perpetrators of theft and vandalism and reward would be given in proven cases," said the power firm.The company said the ongoing power outages and load shedding were a result of vandalism and theft.Ordinary Zimbabweans often witness the vandalism and theft of power infrastructure, but at present have no incentive to tip-off the power utility.Now whistle-blowers can voice their suspicions in person or via telephone or e-mail.
News / National

by CAJ NEWS

Zimbabwe's main opposition has warned that a worsening economic crisis will have a negative effect on neighbouring South Africa, to where a majority of Zimbabweans are fleeing.Warnings by the MDC come amid a crippling strike by doctors and industrial action planned by teachers.The protests are the latest in a series of economic and political woes afflicting South Africa's northern neighbour."The economic and political crisis in Zimbabwe is worsening. This affects our neighbouring countries, particularly South Africa," said Jacob Mafume, MDC Alliance spokesperson.He briefed media on a recent visit to SA by MDC leader Nelson Chamisa, who met SA President Cyril Ramaphosa. 
News / National

by Staff rpeorter

MDC Alliance chief whip Prosper Mutseyami yesterday accused his Zanu-PF counterpart in the National Assembly, Pupurai Togarepi, of political grandstanding by claiming that ruling party legislators had resolved to forego luxury vehicles and entitlements.Togarepi said his party MPs had decided to forego any entitlements so that the resources go towards more pressing national issues such as doctors and teachers' salaries.In December, MPs refused to pass the Parliament vote of $101 million until Finance minister Mthuli Ncube increased it to $163 million to cater for their vehicles as well as salary and allowance increases.Sources said the arm-twisting of Ncube would result in MPs' salaries going up by 100%, while each legislator would get up to $80 000 for a new vehicle, likely to be a Toyota Land Cruiser model.Mutseyami said the Zanu-PF government had, for the past 20 years, ignored the plight of teachers and doctors while spending millions of dollars on vehicles."That statement by Togarepi that Zanu-PF legislators will forego the vehicles and luxuries is just playing to the gallery because even President Emmerson Mnangagwa drives an expensive limousine and goes on international trips in a hired and expensive Swiss private jet," Mutseyami said."Just like former President Robert Mugabe, Mnangagwa moves around in a motorcade with about 15 cars and bikers, and whenever he goes to rallies, he uses three helicopters, and so can you call it foregoing luxuries by Zanu-PF?"He said while opposition MPs sympathised with workers and other suffering Zimbabweans, it was surprising that all of a sudden Zanu-PF pretended to be good Samaritans.Togarepi told NewsDay that if Parliament and government had the money for the vehicles, Zanu-PF MPs would not reject them."But we are saying they should deal with the priorities first. We are saying should there be need to adjust or rationalise, we will do so to take care of the interests of the people first," he said.Political analyst Rejoice Ngwenya said utterances by Togarepi smacked of hypocrisy, as Zimbabweans were suffering because of excessive government expenditure."They spend billions of dollars in money-laundering and travelling and then they tinker around parliamentary issues like MPs' vehicles, pretending that they do not want the vehicles," Ngwenya said. "It is merely a public relations statement because MPs need vehicles. It is important for our MPs to be comfortable and mobile."Another political analyst, Alexander Rusero, said the unfortunate part was that Parliament was currently being reduced into a caricature, with no pragmatic policies being crafted, and with Zanu-PF failing to use its two-thirds majority to demonstrate servant leadership."Everything is sacrificed whenever Zanu-PF wants to play the big brother role and pretend that they have a bigger role to play and they need to concentrate on issues affecting the people, instead of MPs," he said."The moment you have one political party posturing and trying to be populist on the issue of MPs' vehicles, it becomes a problem."Rusero said instead of trying to pontificate and pretend to be less greedy than opposition MPs, Zanu-PF should concentrate on fixing the comatose economy."We have not even seen these Zanu-PF MPs in fuel queues, suffering like the rest of the Zimbabweans and their stance is merely populist," he said.
News / National

by Editorial - newsday

TO most Zimbabweans following the unfolding political and economic drama in the country, reports that President Emmerson Mnangagwa plans to fly out next week and will be away for two weeks, came as a huge surprise.Just last week, Mnangagwa announced that he was cutting short his leave to resolve the strike by doctors which has crippled health services in the country, projecting him as a caring leader with the plight of his people at heart.His deputy, who was acting at the time, Constantino Chiwenga, had made a mess of things.But, shockingly our "listening President" has chosen to fly out for two weeks and be far from the madding crowd before resolving the said strike while the rest of the public service are planning more industrial action.If he was that caring, how does he justify his decision to fly for the 26th foreign trip of his young presidency, gobbling millions in scarce hard currency, while fuel shortages have ground the country to a halt?His spokesperson George Charamba claimed he was invited, but it would have been better if he delegated his deputy and other Cabinet ministers to those foreign jaunts while he remains behind and tackle the growing discontent against his disputed rule.What this shows is that Mnangagwa does not believe his people are struggling. He projected himself during the election campaign as a listening President, but the silence in the cockpit when the ship is navigating turbulences is showing otherwise.Teachers have given a 14-day ultimatum to go on strike; in hospitals there are no medicines; in shops the prices are beyond the reach of many, and yet the President sees this as an opportune time to go on holiday, so to speak.Yes, he might be keen to sign "economic deals" as Charamba wants us to believe, but of the multiple billion dollar deals he claimed to have cut since coming into power in 2017, none have materialised.This raises another question on whether the people are being told the truth about these deals or it is a case of a President blowing taxpayers' money to cut personal deals.Mnangagwa should come clean on these deals. The people are struggling; they want proper health from motivated doctors, they want affordable medicines, proper and affordable education, fuel, money and other things. It is high time the President takes his people seriously and be with them during this time of need, otherwise he won't be viewed as any different from his predecessor, Robert Mugabe, who spent more time on flights than in office.
News / National

by Staff reporter

POWER utility Zesa Holdings' subsidiary, Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company (Pvt) Ltd (Zetdc) has successfully obtained an order compelling Mkwasine Estate to garnish former Masvingo Provincial Affairs minister Kudakwashe Bhasikiti's sugarcane account over a $133 000 electricity debt.The power utility obtained the order on December 19, 2018, which was issued by High Court judge Justice Owen Tagu.Through its company secretary, Judith Tsamba, Zetdc urged the court to order Mkwasine Estate (Ltd) to garnish Bhasikiti's account, given that, him being a sugarcane farmer, he has an account through which he sells his produce to the estate."Whereupon after reading documents filed of record and hearing counsel, it is ordered that the present or future debt owing or accruing to the judgment creditor (Zetdc) by or from the garnishee (Bhasikiti) be and is hereby attached," Justice Tagu said."The garnishee shall pay the applicant's (Zetdc) attorney, Chihambakwe, Mutizwa and Partners the sum of $133 663, together with interest thereon at the prescribed rate calculated from July 1, 2017 to date, of full and final payment and legal costs on a legal practitioners and client scale granted against the judgment debtor (Bhasikiti) in favour of the applicant under case number HC1029/17. The judgment debtor shall pay costs of suit on a legal practitioners and client scale."Zetdc filed a court application after the former top Zanu-PF official failed to settle the electricity bill, despite a court order compelling him to do so.In her founding affidavit, Tsamba said in January 2018, Zetdc obtained a judgment in the High Court, in terms of which Bhasikiti was ordered to pay the bill for electricity supplied at Moria Ranch in Mwenezi.Tsamba further said after the order Bhasikiti promised to settle the bill which he failed to honour, prompting the power utility to approach the court for a garnish order.
News / National

by Staff reporter

President Emmerson Mnangagwa next week embarks on a jaunt to five Asian and European countries, the 26th foreign trip of his short presidency, blowing millions of dollars and drawing comparisons with his globetrotting predecessor, Robert Mugabe.Mugabe, who was forced out of power in a coup in November 2017, gained notoriety for his love of foreign travel, attending obscure meetings and blowing millions despite Zimbabwe suffering from crippling shortages of hard currency.In 2016, Mugabe made 20 trips abroad between January and October, blowing $36 million, against a $30 million travel for the 300-member strong legislature, according to Finance ministry figures.Some of those travels included United Nations Ocean Summit, where he was the only Head of State in attendance in 2017. In 2016, he was forced to abort a World Culture Festival (WCF) in India organised by Sri Sri Ravi Shankar of Art of Living.Mnangagwa, who vowed a clampdown on unnecessary government expenditure and to embark on austerity measures, is raking in thousands of air miles and would be away for more than two weeks at a time the country is faced with potentially the largest street protests since Mugabe's ouster as the economy continues to tank.Health workers and teachers are on strike while the rest of the civil servants have given notice to go on strike in two weeks.The opposition MDC also said it expects to hold street protests next week.By September last year, Mnangagwa's travels had gobbled $23,2 million against a foreign travel budget of $17 million, according to the Finance ministry.On most of his foreign travels, Mnangagwa has been using a luxurious jet operated by Comlux  headquartered in Switzerland.Mnangagwa visited 13 countries in his first five months in office, including a seven-day visit to China with an entourage of over 90 people, all awarded handsome allowances. Most of his visits were to regional countries in the aftermath of the coup that brought him to power.Government claimed Mnangagwa brought billions to the country from his Chinese visit in a desperate did to justify the Asian jaunt.Next week, Mnangagwa is visiting Russia, Belarus, Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan, before proceeding to Switzerland for the World Economic Forum (WEF).This will be the second time he would be attending the high-cost investment conference in Davos, Switzerland, after his first visit as President was hyped as key to unlocking foreign direct investment (FDI) under his "Zimbabwe is open for business" mantra.His spokesperson George Charamba said Mnangagwa's trip was a strategic part of his engagement and re-engagement drive, and the country should expect "quite a bumper harvest of agreements and Memoranda of Understanding".But analysts described Mnangagwa's trip as a waste of resources, saying nothing had come out of his previous visits that have gobbled millions.Analyst Farai Maguwu described Mnangagwa's trips as holidays for the First Family and their hangers-on."If foreign trips were an effective means to attract investments and FDI, Zimbabwe would be the richest country in Africa. But it is proven beyond any shadow of doubt that engaging the world before engaging the Zimbabwean people is a wild goose chase," Maguwu said."The solution to Zimbabwe's governance crisis is internal. Government must arrest corruption, listen to the people and create a conclusive environment for the private sector to operate. Mugabe was a frequent traveller and nothing came out of those trips."Another analyst, Maxwell Saungweme, said solutions to the country's challenges were internal and for now, Mnangagwa should invest his time in the country to solve the challenges."These trips are necessary to link Mnangagwa and Zimbabwe to these countries in a global village, but expecting magic bullets from foreigners to solve our problems is not thoughtful," Saungweme said.Political analyst, Tamuka Chirimambowa said it was folly to claim that Mnangagwa's travels to Europe would solve the country's problems."Otherwise, going to visit some European countries or crossing an ocean without a solid game plan doesn't translate into development. As things stands, there is nothing to be excited about. The economy can't be resolved simply because the President has travelled to Europe," Chirimambowa said.Bulawayo-based analyst Dumisani Nkomo said Mnangagwa's pre-occupation should be to build the confidence of Zimbabweans, who are reeling from fuel shortages and skyrocketing prices.The Russians have an interesting saying: "You show me your friends and I will tell you what type of person you are.""A cursory glance at some of the newly-found friends of the new political dispensation will give us a few pointers on the direction our erstwhile liberators want our country to take," noted Reward Mushayabasa, a United Kingdom-based former media lecturer."Countries like Russia, Belarus, Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan are not known for subscribing to democratic political ethos. The countries perennially score very lowly on the world renowned Economist Intelligence Unit's Democracy Index. These countries are notorious for poor governance and corruption. In addition, they do not respect citizens' fundamental rights and freedoms. Is this the type of future we want to condemn next generations in Zimbabwe to. I think Zimbabweans deserve better."I don't think a lasting solution to our current economic woes can be found in these countries. The solution lies in attracting international investor confidence in our country by deepening our democracy and curbing corruption in most of our government institutions. We need to show that we are 'open for business' both, in spirit and action. That is the only way the outside world can take us seriously."
News / National

by Associated Press

Congo opposition leader Felix Tshisekedi has been declared the winner of the long-delayed presidential election, the electoral commission announced early Thursday to the surprise of many, as the vast country braced for possible protests over alleged rigging.Tshisekedi, who received more than 7 million votes, or 38 percent, had not been widely considered the leading candidate and is relatively untested. The son of late opposition leader Etienne, who pursued the presidency for many years, he startled Congolese shortly before the election by breaking away from an opposition effort to unite behind a single candidate.Some observers have suggested that President Joseph Kabila's government sought to make a deal as hopes faded for a win for ruling party candidate Emmanuel Ramazani Shadary, who received more than 4 million votes, or 23 percent.It was not immediately clear whether opposition candidate Martin Fayulu, who had pushed hard for Kabila to leave power and vowed to clean up Congo's widespread corruption, will contest the results after leading in polling. The constitutional court has 14 days to validate them. Fayulu received more than 6 million votes, or 34 percent.The election may enable Congo to achieve its first peaceful, democratic transfer of power since independence in 1960. Kabila has ruled since 2001 in the troubled nation rich in the minerals key to smartphones around the world and has amassed vast wealth. He is barred from serving three consecutive terms, but during more than two years of election delays many Congolese feared he'd find a way to stay in office."This is the coronation of a lifetime," the deputy secretary-general of Tshisekedi's party, Rubens Mikindo, said shortly after the announcement that his candidate had won, above the cheers at party headquarters. This is the beginning of national reconciliation."Scores of people in the capital, Kinshasa, danced after the election results were announced long after midnight, but observers waited to see how other Congolese would respond, especially after Fayulu this week warned that the results were "not negotiable."Fayulu, who once tweeted that "When the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn," was backed by two popular opposition figures barred from running, former Vice President Jean-Pierre Bemba and former governor Moise Katumbi.Fayulu, a former Exxon manager and Kinshasa lawmaker, accused the government of impeding his campaign by blocking flights and assaulting his supporters, which Kabila dismissed.Ahead of the election results, activist groups urged people to "be ready to massively take to the streets" if the outcome didn't match "the truth of the ballot boxes."Attention now turns to Congo's powerful Catholic church, which has said its 40,000 election observers at all polling stations found a "clear winner" but was barred by electoral regulations from saying more.If the church found Fayulu won, "how will population react?" Stephanie Wolters, analyst with the Institute for Security Studies, posted on Twitter ahead of the announcement. She added, will the African Union "consider a power transfer enough' or will they push for investigation and real result?"The delayed results come after international pressure to announce an outcome that reflected the will of the people. The United States threatened sanctions against officials who rigged the vote.The largely peaceful election was marred by the malfunctioning of many voting machines that Congo used for the first time. Dozens of polling centres opened hours late as materials went missing. And in a last-minute decision, some 1 million of the country's 40 million voters were barred from participating, with the electoral commission blaming a deadly Ebola virus outbreak.Defiantly, tens of thousands of voters in one of the barred communities held their own ballot on election day. Fayulu won easily.Congo's government cut internet service the day after the vote to prevent speculation on social media. As the electoral commission met this week, anti-riot police moved into place outside.Some Congolese weary of Kabila's long rule, two turbulent years of election delays and years of conflict that killed millions of people said they simply wanted peace. Some said they would be happy as long as Fayulu or Tshisekedi won, while recalling the violence that followed past disputed elections.Many Congolese objected to Shadary, suspecting that Kabila would continue to rule from behind the scenes.Now Congo faces a new leader who is little known after spending many years in Belgium and living in the shadow of his outspoken father.On Wednesday afternoon, hours before results were announced, some Tshisekedi supporters began to celebrate at his Union for Democracy and Social Progress party headquarters, with calendars already printed saying "Felix Tshisekedi president."The 56-year-old Tshisekedi took over as head of Congo's most prominent opposition party in early 2018, a year after his father's death.Some Congolese have said Tshisekedi lost support by splitting the opposition. He was less visible in campaigning than Fayulu and did not make himself available to reporters after the vote. As he cast his ballot, he accused Congo's government of deliberately creating a mess to spark a court challenge that could allow Kabila to extend his time in power."I deplore all the disorder," Tshisekedi said.
News / National

by Staff reporter

Cabinet failed to sit on Tuesday despite the fact that President Emmerson Mnangagwa had to cut short his annual leave to attend to a crippling strike by doctors in public hospitals.Cabinet is still to meet this year.Even though Mnangagwa had to abruptly end his vacation, Vice President Constantino Chiwenga continues as acting president.Deputy Information minister told the Daily News yesterday that "there was no Cabinet meeting because his Excellency the president is still on leave".Political analysts canvassed by the Daily News said the development is "shocking" as it displays lack of seriousness on the part of the country's leadership to deal with the problems affecting the majority of Zimbabweans."It is telling when the president cuts short his leave to deal with the crisis, and the crisis remains unresolved and he is not allowed to resume his duties. Something is clearly amiss," political analyst and former civic society leader McDonald Lewanika said.Lewanika suggested that either Mnangagwa's return from leave was cosmetic and only meant to paint a picture of someone seriously dealing with the issues, or he is simply ineffective."In any event, the development shows a government that is at sixes and sevens with multiple centres of authority and power."Without alternative explanations, the failure of Cabinet to meet in the midst of a crisis regardless of who would be in the chair is telling, and suggests a disheartening lack of urgency and order in the State," said Lewanika.Another analyst Piers Pigou said the absence of clarity on how Mnangagwa and Chiwenga are currently working gives rise to all sorts of speculations and confuses citizens.Pigou said it was easy, under the circumstances to conclude that the cluelessness by the country's leaders on how to extricate the country out of the economic quagmire it finds itself in is the reason why nobody seems keen on taking charge."Given the notification by the Apex Council for industrial action, it appears neither Mnangagwa nor his deputy, Chiwenga, has a clear route forward to resolve the currency and related salary and costs crises," Pigou said.Explaining his return from vacation, Mnangagwa said he wanted to directly engage Chiwenga over the crisis that followed the collapse of negotiations between junior doctors and government."I have cut short my leave to be in immediate and active consultation with the acting president in resolving the situation in the health sector," reads part of the statement.Chiwenga, in his capacity as acting president, had been tasked by Mnangagwa with resolving the impasse between the State and the junior doctors who are pressing for improved working conditions and better pay.Prone to kneejerk reactions, Chiwenga immediately announced the sacking of about 500 junior doctors after the labour court deemed their industrial action illegal.The decision which came hard on the heels of yet another impulsive pronouncement was largely condemned in the country with some analysts describing it as irrational.Presidential spokesperson George Charamba had told the Daily News at the time that his boss was concerned with the loss of life in public hospitals and rubbished claims that Mnangagwa's return to work was a no-confidence vote in Chiwenga's ability to handle the situation.United Kingdom-based political analysts Alex Magaisa had pointed out at the time that Mnangagwa's decision was a polite way of telling his deputy that he had performed dismally in his absence."I have had to cut my vacation because my deputy has failed to handle the crisis in the health sector'. That's it, in a nutshell, without all the diplomatic frou-frou," Magaisa wrote on his Twitter handle.Yet Charamba maintained that "if you are in acting capacity, there are certain things that an acting president cannot do"."But also critically, where there is loss of life, it would be callous for a president to pretend everything is normal," Charamba said.
News / National

by Staff reporter

President Emmerson Mnangagwa is between the proverbial rock and a hard place as he battles to mitigate the country's worsening economic rot  with his impending business trip to Eastern Europe drawing fire from many sceptical quarters which doubt that these jaunts will yield anything tangible.Mnangagwa is set to leave for Belarus, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan and Russia this week, before making a second appearance at the prestigious annual gathering of world leaders, economists and captains of industry at the World Economic Forum (Wef), in the resort town of Davos in Switzerland.This comes as the 76-year-old Zanu-PF leader is increasingly feeling the heat from long-suffering Zimbabweans  including restless government workers and ordinary citizens  who are reeling from the country's latest economic meltdown.It also comes as the government is working frantically to try and avoid a full-scale strike by all civil servants who are demanding to be paid their salaries in United States dollars  demands which have been made robustly by doctors and teachers who are on industrial action already."In respect of the first four countries, the visits are at the invitation of his (Mnangagwa's) counterparts. The countries  are strategic both bilaterally and multilaterally."The other two countries (Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan) are also oil rich nations, with some of the fastest growing economies and interests in mining, energy and tourism," Mnangagwa's spokesperson George Charamba said of the forthcoming trips.However, the jaunts have drawn fire from many quarters as they are seen as signs that his engagements with the West and multilateral institutions are dead in the water.Analysts who spoke to the Daily News yesterday also said that there was a desperate feeling of "deja-vu" about the trips, as ousted former president Robert Mugabe had also tried to "look East" in vain, towards the end of his ruinous rule.Piers Pigou, a senior consultant at the International Crisis Group, said Mnangagwa's trips were "unlikely" to provide respite to the burning country, at least in the short term."One hopes that these visits provide some meaningful trade and investment options, but they are realistically a part of the longer term economic recovery programme and will not provide immediate or short term relief to the current crisis," he said.Political analyst, Rashweat Mukundu, said the former Soviet Union countries were "certainly not a panacea" to Zimbabwe's myriad crises  adding that Mnangagwa's visits to that region simply betrayed desperation."The targeted countries are authoritarian regimes which have nothing to offer Zimbabwe other than the same old politics of repression that were experienced under Mugabe."Countries like Russia and Belarus are resource-driven  and resources are not doing well on the international market, hence they are struggling economically and thus may not have enough to invest in Zimbabwe."The other question is what Zimbabwe's foreign policy is and what it is which defines who we engage with. This remains a grey area for this regime," Mukundu said.On his part, another political analyst Maxwell Saungweme said Mnangagwa's visits to Eastern Europe was not "wise" under the current circumstances."These trips are necessary to link Mnangagwa and Zimbabwe to these countries in a global village, but expecting magic bullets from foreigners to solve our problems is not thoughtful," he said.The MDC said the money used for Mnangagwa's expensive excursions should have been used for something else more important  given the current shortages of foreign currency in the country."This tour makes the crisis worse. He was on leave just recently and he already has five countries to visit. The money used there would have paid doctors for a month or so," a fuming MDC spokesperson Jacob Mafume said.Zimbabwe is in the grip of a ginormous economic crisis which has seen prices of basic goods rising sharply and long-forgotten fuel queues resurfacing.Apart from the shortages of fuel and other basic goods, the government has also had to contend with myriad problems in the health sector, such as the ongoing doctors' strike and shortages of critical medicines.Many government critics say the economic measures that were unveiled by authorities in October last year are at the centre of the country's troubles.Mnangagwa, who was feted like a king when he replaced Mugabe in November 2017, initially lifted the mood of crisis-weary Zimbabweans who were hopeful at the time that he would turn around the country's economic fortunes.However, the post-July 30 election shootings  which left at least six civilians dead when the military used live ammunition to quell an ugly demonstration in Harare's central business district (CBD) on August 1  was seen as having dented his international image significantly, in addition to harming his chances of getting financial support from Western countries.
News / National

by Staff rpeorter

THE Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services (ZPCS) has launched a manhunt for Timothy Munhare, the surviving convict who jumped off a moving vehicle in Lalapansi in the Midlands province, while being transferred to Whawha Prison in Gweru at the weekend.The other two, who died as they tried to escape, could not be identified because their next of kin were yet to be informed, while the fourth, who did not attempt to flee, is assisting with internal investigations."We are still in the process of informing relatives about the deceased. Munhare is outstanding and we advise the public not to try and apprehend him, but inform the police. He is dangerous," ZPCS spokesperson Simon Kawondo said yesterday.All the four, who were in their 30s, were serving long jail terms for violent crimes, including carjacking and armed robberies, Kawondo said.Munhare and the deceased, one who died on the spot and another at Gweru General Hospital, attacked two of the guards who were escorting them from Chikurubi Maximum Security Prison to Whawha Prison in Gweru for fresh trials.Southern Eye understands that the number of guards deployed to escort the convicts fell short of standard practice.Munhare, convicted and sentenced in October 2017, was serving a 37-year-term for carjacking and armed robberies committed around the Midlands province."They were named in other cases and were on their way for fresh trials when they escaped, their long jail terms must have been incentives to flee," Kawondo said.ZPCS has started internal investigations to establish how they escaped and the probe will comb their path from Harare to the place of occurrence.
News / National

by Staff reporter

AS flash floods continue to hit parts of the second capital city, the Bulawayo City Council (BCC), in an effort to prevent the recurrence of flooding, has warned residents against obstructing the free flow of water.Town clerk Christopher Dube yesterday said council was raising public awareness that under Part VIII of the Roads Act [Chapter 13:18], owners, occupiers or users of any land are obliged to take all reasonable steps to ensure that water is not prevented, obstructed or impeded from draining into, onto, under or through their land from a public road and water, soil or other material from flowing or falling onto a public road from their land."Owners, occupiers or users of any land may also be liable if accidents occur as a result of water being prevented from draining off a public road into, onto, under or through their land, or water, soil or other material flowing or escaping from their land onto a public road," Dube said."Particular attention should be taken to ensure compliance with these obligations, and with ensuring that all entrances over drains are adequate and allow the free flow of water (for example weep holes in property boundary walls, adequately culverted or piped)."Dube said council may serve a notice under the Roads Act [Chapter 13:18] and/or the Environmental Management Act [Chapter 20:27] on the owners, occupiers or users of any land who do not comply with these requirements."It is an offence not to comply with such a notice, or with any planning enforcement notice, which if pursued through the courts may result in prosecutions and fines," he said."Please, further note that without the consent of Bulawayo City Council, it is an offence to scour, deepen, widen or fill in any existing drain or excavate any new drain within the boundary of a public road, interfere with, or carry out any works which interfere with a bridge, culvert, retaining wall, embankment or other structure providing lateral or other support for a public road."The town clerk said this did not apply to the ordinary maintenance of drains which the owner, occupier or user of any land is required to carry out to ensure water is not prevented from draining from the public road or to prevent water, soil or other material flowing or falling onto a public road."It is also an offence under the Roads Act [Chapter 13:18] to deposit materials on a public road, or to permit mud or anything that falls from a vehicle to remain on the public road, so as to cause a hazard or potential hazard to road users, or to obstruct or interfere with the safe use of the road," Dube warned."Residents are also advised that in the event of flooding, they should call the fire brigade immediately "Bulawayo, like other towns and cities, including Harare, have over the years experienced flooding due to blocked drainage systems as vendors and other residents dump litter in manholes, obstructing the flow of rain water.
News / National

by Staff reporter

A MABVUKU family has come face to face with the grim reality of the doctors' strike after their premature baby, born at 24 weeks and weighing just over 1,4kg, was discharged on Monday by Parirenyatwa Group of Hospital staffers, who cited shortages of critical staff to deal with the situation.The baby was born on Friday evening and after spending only two nights in an incubator, was released into his mother's care.This is despite the fact that leading international health organisation World Health Organisation (WHO) prescribes that a 24-week old baby is considered extremely pre-term and has to be kept in neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) for weeks until his weight has stabilised and is breathing normally."I was told that because of the strike, they could no longer keep me. They even said my baby's weight was fine after I voiced my concerns," the baby's mother Hilton Tandayi said.A nurse, who requested anonymity, said a baby in that situation had to be admitted into the NICU."That one needs admission in NICU and kangaroo care. At Parirenyatwa, acceptable weight for discharge should be at least 1,8kg," she said.A first-time mother and only 21 years of age, Tandayi, from Manresa in Harare, is battling to offer her tiny baby the "kangaroo" care that has been recommended in the absence of neonatal intensive care facilities.Kangaroo care involves holding the undressed or partially dressed child against the bare skin of a parent to ensure that his temperature is within recommended range and that he is given expressed breast milk every three hours."I have not slept since I was discharged. The baby is in distress and I have to mostly stay undressed to keep the baby warm," she said with tears rolling down her cheeks.Tandayi went into labour on Friday and gave birth at a clinic in Hatcliffe, but because it was a pre-term, she was transferred to Parirenyatwa."On Saturday, I was taken for kangaroo care preps along with other mothers. But I was surprised on Monday when a doctor (name supplied) discharged me and the baby," she said."They gave us a watch to put around his tiny wrist which monitors his temperature. If it turns orange, it means he is cold and it sets off the alarm."Together with her sister, only identified as Bee, they have been monitoring the baby day and night.Both are exhausted and worried about the welfare of the baby, who seems very agitated.The sisters are appealing for help to ensure baby Tatenda is readmitted and given the special medical care he requires."Hilton's baby came too early, so we were not prepared. We do not have clothes for him," the sister said.According to WHO, an estimated 15 million babies are born too early every year.In low-income settings, half of the babies born at or below 32 weeks (two months early) die due to a lack of feasible, cost-effective care, such as warmth, breastfeeding support, and basic care for infections and breathing difficulties.Meanwhile, most public health facilities in the country are faced with a crisis of certification of the deceased. Only doctors can certify death, but most are on strike.Relatives of the deceased have had to wait longer than expected to collect the bodies of their loved ones.However hospital authorities downplayed the crisis.Director of operations at Parirenyatwa, Edson Mundenda, said initially, there had been some "delays", but a resident doctor and the head of department and the deputy had contained the situation."When we realised that there was a full-fledged strike, we put contingency plans in place," he said.Harare Central Hospital chief executive officer Nyasha Masuka said they did not receive reports of instances were certification of deaths were not done timeously."We didn't experience any problems certifying deaths during the month-long industrial action by doctors. We always had casualty officers on call. Certification was done on time," he said.
News / National

by Staff reporter

CHIMURENGA music icon Thomas "Mukanya" Mapfumo is set to stage his last show of the Peace Tour that began during the festive season last year at Pagango Truck Inn in Harare on Friday alongside rhumba musician Farai "Juntal" Serima and Franco Slomo.The firebrand musician will then depart for his United States base the following day.Pagango owner and music promoter Ishmael Matyenyika confirmed the farewell concert, which has a flat fee of $15."We organised to have a farewell concert for Mukanya on Friday before he departs for the United States on Saturday. I say to merrymakers; come in your numbers because there is full bar and catering. Booking rooms are also there for those who would want to sleep over," he said."You just need $15 (bond). Come and have fun as we bid farewell to a music legend. We felt as Pagango that he can't just leave without gracing this place. It's an opportunity for those who never had a chance to attend his earlier shows."Rhumba king Juntal said he was excited that his long-awaited dream to share the stage with Mukanya was finally coming true."It's a dream coming true because I have always admired his music and wanted to stage a show with him. It's quite an honour to share the stage with such a legend," he said.Mapfumo has had an interface with his longtime fans in cities that include Gweru, Bulawayo and Harare since he came back into the country in December last year.
News / National

by Staff reporter

About 1 000 families from Sikato resettlement in Masvingo West constituency are facing an uncertain future after being served with seven-day eviction notices to vacate the land which they occupied at the height of the land reform programme in 2000.The families, from seven villages; Muza, Chikutuva, Manunure, Makasva, Banga, Sithole and Marikutira, have been living at Mzaro Farm, which used to belong to a white former commercial farmer before it was parcelled out to the villagers.Yesterday, armed police with officials from the Local Government ministry were serving the villagers with eviction notices.But some of the villagers refused to sign them, resulting in village head Henry Makusha and a headman, Ratison Haruzivishe, being arrested for allegedly mobilising the villagers to resist.Masvingo provincial police spokesperson Inspector Charity Mazula said she had not yet been informed of the arrests.Some of the dejected villagers said they regularised their stay with the Lands ministry and were paying taxes to council, but were surprised to be told to leave the area.No alternative place for resettlement or compensation has been offered by government.The eviction order, dated January 8, 2019, but stamped on November 13 2018 and signed by Lands, Agriculture, Water, Climate and Rural Resettlement secretary Ringisai Chitsiko, read: "You are hereby given seven days to vacate Mzaro Farm, Masvingo province. You are violating section 3 of the Gazetted Lands (Consequential Provisions) Act Chapter 20:28; Gazetted Land Act in that you are occupying the said property without lawful authority.""You are hereby given an eviction notice and notice to vacate the property on or before January 15, 2019. Failure to vacate on or before this date will result in your arrest and prosecution."Some of the affected villagers said their future at the farm had been used as a campaign tool by Zanu PF, which promised them that they would not be moved if they voted for the ruling party.The constituency falls under Ezra Chadzamira, who is also Masvingo Provincial Affairs minister."We have been here since 2000 and we built permanent structures. Now, from the blue, we are being told to leave. Where will we go? Where do we get the money to build again? This is unfair. We are not going anywhere because we don't have anywhere to go. They can arrest us," a villager, Saviours Makusha, fumed.Another villager, Renson Dengu, said Zanu PF was now turning against them after they voted for it."While campaigning, Chadzamira told us that we would not be moved and he gave us trees to plant as a reforestation drive. They said we should vote for Zanu PF. Now the party won and it's abandoning us. I think the President should intervene and save us," Dengu said."We are Zanu PF people. Someone is fighting the President. Now we don't know the difference between government and Zanu PF. Those pushing for our eviction are enemies of the President, they want us to rise against the party," Kundai Haruzivishe, a 60-year-old widow, said.Continuous efforts to get hold of Chadzamira were in vain as his mobile phone was switched off.Lands minister Perrance Shiri has, however, been flighting notices warning people on State land without paperwork to vacate.
News / National

by Staff reporter

The trial of a suspected Chikombedzi serial rapist failed to take off at Chiredzi Provincial Magistrate's Court on Tuesday after bungling by the investigating officers led to the accused walking free.It was the State case that the 65-year-old man repeatedly raped his daughter and two grandchildren for the past 24 years.The suspect, from Daniel village under headman Masimane in Chikombedzi was arrested on January 4, but was only brought to court on January 7, and had been arrested on allegations of raping his now 40-year- old daughter and his two grandchildren.He was set free by the court after Chiredzi prosecutor Moreblessing Rusere noted that the accused had been detained for more than 48 hours.Police will now proceed by way of summons.Allegations are that between 1993 and 2017, the accused raped his daughter from the time she was 16, and later impregnated her.It is also alleged that from time to time, the accused who used to work in South Africa, raped his two grandchildren, resulting in one of them falling pregnant.The rape is alleged to have continued after the accused returned home, leading to one of the grandchildren aged 20 reporting the matter to a neighbour, who later tipped off the police leading to his arrest.According to the prosecutor, the accused's continued detention for over 48 hours was in violation of the rights of arrested and detained persons as defined in Section 50 of the Constitution of Zimbabwe Amendment (No 20).The prosecutor further stated that the section clearly states that any person who is arrested for an alleged offence must be brought before the court as soon as possible, and not later than 48 hours after the arrest or detention, even if the period ends on a Saturday, Sunday or public holiday.
News / National

by Staff reporter

Disciplinary hearings for junior doctors who participated in the month-long illegal industrial action will proceed as scheduled and be conducted in a fair and transparent manner, the Ministry of Health and Child Care has said.In a statement yesterday, Health and Child Care Secretary Dr Gerald Gwinji urged the doctors who were returning to work to subject themselves to due process, saying information being peddled that all who presented themselves for the hearings faced summary dismissal was "inaccurate and misleading"."While we cannot determine outcomes of disciplinary procedure, we would like to assure all the affected that fair and transparent disciplinary procedures are and will continue to be carried out," said Dr Gwinji.He said as per the doctors' request, senior doctors had been incorporated in the hearings as part of the tribunals and observers to ensure fairness and transparency of the process.He said for those who resume duty, provisions for applying for advances on their salaries were still available."The ministry therefore encourages the affected doctors to subject themselves to due processes and appreciate the commitment of those who have presented themselves for this process. We thank those doctors who have resumed duties at their station," he said.The Health Services Board (HSB) further dismissed allegations that it was conducting the disciplinary hearings, when the collective bargaining agreement (CBA), according to the doctors stated that hearings would be conducted by senior doctors."There is no deviation or contradiction as far as HSB is concerned. It's just a continuation of a process that had already started. The agreement provided for the inclusion of senior doctors during hearings and the board has incorporated them in those cases that had not already started," said HSB chairperson Dr Paulinus Sikosana.He, however, said the board could not comment on the outcome of the hearings now since they were still ongoing."Disciplinary proceedings continue as guided by the law for those presenting and those not presenting themselves. The board will continue to respect the rule of law in line with the decision of the Labour Court and is committed to implementing the CBA as signed by both parties," he said.He said despite continued withdrawal of labour by some doctors, Government remained committed to all other concessions agreed upon in the CBA. Dr Sikosana also dismissed as lame allegations on social media that doctors who returned to work had been bribed.The disciplinary hearings began last week on Friday and as of Tuesday, 35 members had presented themselves, with 238 others defaulting. By midday yesterday, a total of 187 junior doctors had reported for work at their various work stations. It could not be established whether all the 187 had since gone through the disciplinary process.The disciplinary hearings were necessitated by a Labour Court ruling that the industrial action, which enters day 39 today, was illegal.Meanwhile 16 newly graduated junior doctors who completed their part five Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery degrees at universities in Zimbabwe, and foreign-trained doctors who successfully sat for the Medical and Dental Practitioners Council of Zimbabwe examinations have been absorbed in the health sector.Dr Gwinji said the 16 had since been deployed to their institutions of choice."A number of them have made inquiries and some have taken offer letters, which they will then present to the Medical and Dental Practitioners Council for registration and immediate deployment to their institutions of choice," said Dr Gwinji.Asked if recruitment of the new junior resident medical officers (JRMOs) would have a bearing on the readmission of JRMOs on strike, Dr Gwinji said this had nothing to do with replacement of posts already filled."It is the norm that every year we recruit JRMOs and this year alone we had 90 open posts for the JRMOs, which these graduates are coming in to fill," said Dr Gwinji. He said this year alone, slightly above 100 students had successfully completed their Part V and were ready for internship. He, however, said the figure varied annually.
News / National

by Staff reporter

A PLUMTREE-based cop allegedly ganged up with two soldiers attached to the 5.3 Infantry Battalion in Kwekwe and fatally assaulted a villager suspected of stealing bags of beans and maize seed from his neighbour.The incident occurred on Christmas Day last year in Chimanimani in Manicaland province where the accused persons were deployed to guard the Zimbabwe Consolidated Diamond Company (ZCDC) mining operations.This emerged when Lawrence Mutsatsa (35) of Nketa suburb in Bulawayo and stationed at the Criminal Investigations Department in Plumtree and Mpumelelo Ncube (30) of Bulawayo's Emakhandeni suburb and attached to the 5.3 Infantry Battalion in Kwekwe, approached the High Court seeking bail pending trial.Mutsatsa and Ncube teamed up with Macdonald Sadombo (28) of Dangamvura suburb in Mutare and stationed at 5.3 Infantry Battalion in Kwekwe and allegedly assaulted Enock Mhere (35) after he allegedly tried to flee while being taken to a police base after indications.The trio allegedly struck Mhere with logs all over the body and he succumbed to the injuries the following day. Mhere was accused of stealing bags of beans and maize seed from his neighbour, Ms Maria Hlelele. Mutsatsa, Ncube and Sadombo were arrested on December 26 last year and they are currently in detention at Chimanimani Remand Prison.Mutsatsa and Ncube through their lawyers T Hara and Partners filed an application for bail pending trial at the Bulawayo High Court citing the State as a respondent.In their bail statement, the two applicants are denying the murder charge, saying they did not participate in the killing of the deceased. They argued that they only intervened by restraining an angry mob from attacking Mhere.Mutsatsa and Ncube also contended that the husband of the owner of the alleged stolen bags of beans and maize seed worsened the degree of Mhere's injuries by continuously attacking him after they had managed to disperse other villagers who were part of the mob."The applicants are being accused in this matter simply because Maria Hlelele and her husband have conspired to shift blame to them for fear of being arrested. The applicants are just mere suspects who are presumed innocent until proven guilty and whatever evidence has been lined up against them, it is yet to be tested during trial," argued Mutsatsa and Ncube's lawyers.The two men said if granted bail they would not abscond given that they were family men who are gainfully employed and of fixed abode."The applicants have no intention of leaving the country and have no room to interfere with State witnesses who are not even known to them. There is no evidence against the applicants other than information contained in the request for remand form. The applicants pray that they be admitted to $100 bail each and continue to reside at their given addresses until the matter is finalised except only if redeployed as per their duties," said the applicants' lawyers.The State has not yet responded to the application. According to court papers, on December 25 last year, Mutsatsa, Ncube and Sadombo who were manning ZCDC mining premises in Chimanimani were handed over Mhere by local villagers who accused him of stealing bags of beans and maize seed from Ms Hlelele's homestead. The three men arrested Mhere and ordered him to lead them to the scene of the alleged crime for indications.The deceased tried to flee while being taken to a police base and the accused persons pursued him. They caught up with Mhere and allegedly indiscriminately attacked him using logs before they force-marched him to the police base where he died the following day.A report was made to the police leading to the trio's arrest. The deceased was taken to Chipinge District Hospital mortuary for post mortem.
News / National

by Mandla Ndlovu

MDC leaders President Nelson Chamisa and Youth Secretary General Lovemore Chinoputsa have issued two contradicting statements regarding the way forward to solving the country's challenges.Chamisa on Monday pleaded with President Emmerson Mnangagwa for a dialogue yet Chinoputsa called for the MDC Youths to be ready for illegal demonstrations."This year, we are not seeking police clearance because it's our time to liberate ourselves. " Chinoputsa was quoted saying recently. "In our end of year youth national council, we resolved to embark on a series of demonstrations to force Zanu-PF out because they have failed to run the affairs of the State. We have an absent leadership in this country and the same spirit that drove thousands into the liberation struggle is the same spirit that's driving us. We shall be our own liberators"However on Wednesday Chamisa issued a statement directly opposite to the militant one issued by Chinoputsa."I've met with many on our worsening situation and unbearable suffering. The back-to-school burden, high prices, non-performing economy, joblessness and worthless salaries bring sorrow. On this, I call upon my bro ED to urgent dialogue to solve our politics and economics or it gets worse" Chamisa said.Commenting on the statements ZANU PF Secretary for Youth Affairs Lewis Matutu said the conflicting statements from the two MDC leaders showed the hypocrisy behind Chamisa's call for dialogue."MDC Alliance is full of hypocrisy. Chamisa says his party wants dialogue with President Mnangagwa yet the Youth assembly says they want demonstrations."Social commentator Fortune Mlalazi said perhaps it is the MDC strategy to do a multi-pronged approach to forcing Mnangagwa to negotiate."The way I am looking at it is that Chamisa plays diplomatic while the youths are taking a radical stance. Looking at the tense mood on the ground and the 1 August killings, Mnangagwa may not want a demonstration and he may be forced to dialogue with Chamisa."
News / National

by Staff reporter

The Harare City Council is negotiating a deal with a Chinese firm, China Gezhoba Group International Engineering, to replace or upgrade the city's existing water mains, connections, fittings and other agreed works at a cost of $350 million.Most of the city's water infrastructure is now very old and needs replacement. The Chinese firm has offered to secure a loan from China Exim Bank through preferential buyer's credit or concessional loan and will send its team of engineers and other professionals to conduct feasibility studies for the project at its own cost within 90 days of signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the two parties.The loan would be serviced through the projected increase in revenue due to reduction of water losses (Non-Revenue Water). Town clerk Engineer Hosiah Chisango has since been mandated by council to negotiate agreements with China Gezhouba Group for funding, engineering, procurement and construction of the project.The project entails the supply, installation and commissioning of replaced or upgraded water mains, house connections and fittings in Dzivaresekwa, Westlea, Kuwadzana, Mufakose, New Marimba, Crowborough, Budiriro, Glen View, Warren Park, Waterfalls, Belvedere, Ridgeview, Workington, Southerton, Mbare, Houghton Park, Prospect, Mabvuku and Tafara.Acting Harare Water director Engineer Mabhena Moyo told members of the Environmental Management Committee chaired by councillor Kudzai Kadzombe during a recent meeting that the project would reduce physical water losses by 72 million litres per day, thereby increasing supply coverage by 72 000 households."The project would reduce non-revenue water by 25 percent, thus increasing revenue by about US$21,6 million per annum, areas that were currently not connected to the reticulation system would have access to clean and safe water and there would be a reduction in water-borne diseases," read minutes of the meeting.Harare's water distribution network comprises of about 5 500 kilometres of pipe network which links the water treatment plants with 15 booster pump stations, 28 reservoir sites and about 200 000 customer connection points."Other appurtenances in the infrastructure were valves, pressure reducing valves, bulk meters, consumer connections and meters," read the minutes."Most of the critical components of this network infrastructure were in near state of collapse mainly due to age."The Harare Water Department dealt with over 9 000 burst pipes each year because most of the pipework was now over its economic lifespan. Failure of isolation and pressure reducing valves had also increased the frequency of burst water pipes, resulting in water losses and reduced water availability to consumers."Eng Moyo told councillors that all bulk water meters were no longer functioning, while over 50 percent of consumer meters were beyond their economic lifespan and could not give accurate readings. This, he said, was impacting negatively on water distribution management and revenue collection. Eng Moyo said newly-developed suburbs had no water supplies, posing a serious health hazard.The committee noted that there was lack of funding for replacement of infrastructure and this resulted in the status quo and associated with high non-revenue water (currently at 60 percent), persistent water and supply disruptions, as well as reduced revenue.
News / National

by Staff reporter

Suspected arsonists yesterday morning torched a kitchen hut belonging to Chief Shumba of the "ED Pfee" hit song at his rural home in Mapanzure Village, Zvishavane.Chief Shumba, whose real name is Admire Sibanda, who recently released a new song titled "Mushana paJecha", said he was home with his family when the arsonists torched the hut. He said they could have torched other rooms had he not been awakened by movements outside his bedroom.In an interview yesterday, a distraught Chief Shumba said he was thankful to God for sparing his life and that of his family members."We are still in shock as a family and the whole village," he said."My kitchen hut was torched around 1am by people who have been tormenting me for singing the song 'ED Pfee' and my recent hit 'Mushana paJecha'," he said."In the wee hours of Wednesday, we heard some movements outside my bedroom and the next thing we saw the kitchen hut on fire. If we had not gone out I think they were targeting my bedroom."Chief Shumba said on New Year's Eve, he saw some people milling around his homestead before they fled. He said he has also been verbally abused in person and over the phone because of his allegiance to Zanu-PF and he had reported threats to his life and that of his family to the police before the latest incident.Chief Shumba said he would not apologise for supporting Zanu-PF and the Government led by President Mnangagwa since it was a people-oriented party which is pro-poor."These people are merchants of destruction, they are anti progress, and I will not be deterred," he said."I will continue supporting Zanu-PF. After I released the song 'Mushana paJecha' I have been criticised even by some private newspapers, but let me make it clear that my song is aimed at bringing awareness to youths and those who are bent on causing mayhem and disorder in the country that each and every Zimbabwean has a role to play in socio-economic emancipation of the country and the need to work together and not throw spanners in each other's works."Chief Shumba said he was saddened two weeks ago when Winky D decided to return to dancehall and drop a track named "Kasong Kejecha". Zanu-PF Provincial Youth Member for Midlands province and co-author of the song "Mushana paJecha" John Muchenje said it was unfortunate that there were people who still believed in using violence, destroying property or lives of those opposed to their views."We condemn such silly and barbaric behaviour," he said.
News / National

by Staf reporter

GOVERNMENT has developed a comprehensive plan to revive the economy, which will involve painful measures like a bitter pill administered to a patient, Finance and Economic Development Minister Professor Mthuli Ncube has said.He made the remarks in Brussels, Belgium, yesterday while addressing the European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR) Group. The ECR Group is a centre right political wind in the European Parliament established in 2009 under the founding principles of Prague.This is the first time Zimbabwe has been invited to the group's meetings. President Mnangagwa's Government has prioritised re-engagement with all nations as it seeks to revamp an economy that has suffered isolation for decades. In his address, Minister Ncube outlined part of the measures which the Government is taking to revive the economy.These include cutting Government expenditure, privatising parastatals, liberalising the economy and reducing red tape. He said urgent and bold action was needed."Zimbabwe is back on the map. Just as we open up our economy and democratic space, so too are we opening our arms to the world," said Prof Ncube."The dark times are behind us, and the future is bright and positive; a future of cooperation and dialogue. A future whereby Zimbabwe is an active and responsible member of the global community," he said."The Zimbabwean economy faces a raft of serious challenges, including a high budget deficit and significant debt, and currency challenges. These are challenges we cannot face alone," stated Minister Ncube.He however, said it was impossible to run away from the challenges."And while these challenges are significant, with major structural reform, they are not insurmountable. What is required is urgent and bold action, and tough decisions. We cannot run away from the challenge  the longer we wait to address it, the harder it will be," he said."Government has developed a comprehensive plan to revive our economy and put us on the path to steady economic growth. The only way to a stronger economy is to restructure, rebuild and reform," said Prof Ncube."This plan involves some painful measures to get our national budget under control. These measures will be felt by all of us, but are unavoidable if we want to get our economy back on track," he added.He said pain would be felt as the measures were implemented but it was unavoidable."These measures are those of a doctor performing a lifesaving operation. They cause pain, but the pain is the only thing that will lead to a recovery. As Margret Thatcher once said, 'Yes, the medicine is harsh, but the patient requires it in order to live'," said Minister Ncube.He urged Zimbabweans to be humble in their expenditure."We must all be humble and austere, and Government is leading by example. We are continuing to make big cuts to perks and unnecessary expenditure, so that Government lives within its means," he said."Alongside this, we are making structural reforms to liberalise our economy, privatise inefficient parastatals, reduce red tape and regulation and attract investment," said Minister Ncube. He urged the nation not to panic."It is vital that we do not panic. The money in Zimbabwean's bank accounts is and continues to be of value, and Government is guaranteeing the availability of all essential commodities, including fuel," he said."Amidst these reforms, our growth projections remains strong, a similar rate to some of the fastest growing economies in Africa. This is an indication of where we are going if we keep on this path."We must be realistic and recognise the scale of the challenge. According to the IMF, it takes a few years for an economy such as ours to overcome our constraints. There are no silver bullets or quick fixes. Reform, hard work and patience are the only solution," said Minister Ncube.He said the road to an upper middle income economy was long, bumpy but guaranteed a secure future."We are undertaking a shared journey towards a better and more secure future. The road is long, winding and at times bumpy. But there is no other way. This is the road to an upper middle-income economy, ala Vision 2030, and if we travel it together, with patience and purpose, we will realise our vision," he said."The new Zimbabwe cannot go it alone. We must open our arms to the international community, international investors, and international financial organisations," said Minister Ncube.
News / National

by Staff reporter

GOVERNMENT is today expected to table the cost of living adjustment it is offering to civil servants when it meets their representatives in Harare.The meeting, to be held under the auspices of the National Joint Negotiating Council (NJNC), is also expected to propose a range of non-monetary benefits for Government workers.These include residential stands, housing mortgages, vehicle loan schemes and access to medical care and insurance cover. Government officially invited the Apex Council, a body that brings together public staff associations, yesterday."We have been invited to the meeting and it will take place at 12pm at Kaguvi Building," said Apex Council chairwoman Mrs Cecelia Alexander.The two parties on Monday held a preliminary consultative meeting where the Government acknowledged the challenges faced by its employees due to exchange rate and pricing distortions.It indicated its readiness to offer a salary increment. Civil Service Commission (CSC) chairman Dr Vincent Hungwe said on Monday at the meeting that Government would announce the cost of living adjustment on offer and how it would be distributed across grades."It will outline the principles that will underpin the allocation of the integrated cost of living adjustment (COLA) announced by Government focusing on the following; the distribution of the COLA across all grades of workers, the proportion of the COLA to be allocated as basic salary and housing and transport allowances and the distribution of the COLA to rural versus urban workers," he said.The meeting, he said, will also adopt a common position on the need to adopt a programmatic approach in determining monetary and non-monetary benefits for civil servants in the future."It will identify the range of non-monetary benefits, including the provision of land for housing in major towns, cities and growth points, the provision of residential mortgage schemes and vehicle loans and promoting sustainable access to medical care," said Dr Hungwe."It will also agree on a roadmap to roll out establishment of a public service pension scheme based on a funded and defined benefit modality that is guaranteed by Government to protect contributors and generate input to align the current legislation that guides labour relations in the public sector to the Constitution."He said input would be solicited on the amendment of the Public Service Act, the establishment of the Public Service Collective Bargaining Council and the creation of Tripartite Negotiating Forum to facilitate dialogue among the social partners.Apex Council secretary Mr David Dzatsunga said they expected any adjustment to cushion the workers from the prevailing economic challenges."The Apex Council will approach the make-or-break NJNC meeting with the anticipation that Government will address the major concerns that civil servants brought to the attention of the ministers on Monday, which concerns Government agreed were real," he said.
- Former Kaizer Chiefs attacker, Knowledge Musona, could be set for a swift return to South Africa

- It is reported that his current team, Anderlecht, are looking to offload him due to a modest goal return

- He left Chiefs to play for Hoffenheim in the Bundesliga before returning on loan and then moving to Belgium

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PSL teams will be on high alert following reports involving Knowledge Musona.

The former Kaizer Chiefs star was previously a top scorer in the PSL when he banged in 15 goals during the 2010/2011 season.

The Amakhosi signed Musona from a youth academy in Zimbabwe and netted a cool R20-million when he was sold to Hoffenheim 2 years later.

Musona struggled for game time and was eventually loaned out to Augsburg and was sent back to Chiefs on loan.

READ ALSO: From the ashes he rose: Lance Minnies excels in matric despite tragedy

The Zimbabweans comeback failed to inspire as he seemingly lacked motivation and suffered with injuries.

Musonas wishes were realised again when he was offered another European move, this time to Oostende in Belgium.

Due to his exploits there, he caught the eye of Belgian giants, Anderlecht, who bought him for R40-million.

SowetanLIVE have now reported that he could well be offloaded and head back to South Africa following a mediocre goal return.

Briefly.co.za noted that he was only entrusted with 3 starts along with 5 substitute appearances  scoring a solitary goal in the process.

Waasland-Beveren were believed to hold an interest in signing the 28-year-old but they baulked at the asking price.

With clubs such as Chiefs and Sundowns able to match the financial muscle of some of the smaller Belgian clubs, Musona has been touted with a return to Mzansi.

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Source: Briefly.co.za
Frazzled American nerves should be calmed by Supreme Court spokeswoman Kathleen L. Arberg's statement that Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg is cancer free. The beloved justice is recovering and will return to hear oral arguments next week.

The Trump Administration was reportedly chomping at the bit to replace this well-loved member of the Supreme Court.

NPR:
With around 400,000 federal employees currently furloughed, more than 80 TLS certificates used by .gov websites have so far expired without being renewed.

Federal workers went without their paychecks Friday, as Trump's shutdown of the U.S. government continues for 21 days and counting. With no end in sight, concerns are rising that dozens of U.S. government websites have become insecure or completely unreachable, as their transport layer security (TLS) certificates expire.

A Thursday report from Netcraft estimates that the .gov websites are using 80 or more expired TLS certificates.

Sites like NASA, the U.S. Department of Justice, and the Court of Appeals are affected.

Funding to renew the certificates is on hold while the shutdown continues.

Any of the government websites with an expired cert becomes newly vulnerable to any number of internet-based assaults, including man-in the-middle (MITM) attacks that enable third-party bad guys to intercept what passes between an internet user and a web application on the affected site. Bad guys can eavesdrop on traffic, assume the identity of the government website, and siphon off data input by the user.

What kind of data? Maybe your name, your social security or tax ID number, a whole lot of people are going to be poking around on IRS dot gov this month. This could get bad.

From Netcraft:

With around 400,000 federal employees currently furloughed, more than 80 TLS certificates used by .gov websites have so far expired without being renewed. To compound the situation, some of these abandoned websites can no longer be accessed due to strict security measures that were implemented long before the shutdown started. One such example is https://ows2.usdoj.gov, a U.S. Department of Justice website which uses a certificate that expired in the week leading up the shutdown. The certificate has been signed by a trusted certificate authority, GoDaddy, but it has not been renewed since it expired on 17 December 2018. In a twist of fate, the usdoj.gov domain  and all of its subdomains  are included in Chromium's HSTS preload list. This is a prudent security measure which forces modern browsers to only use secure, encrypted protocols when accessing the U.S. DoJ websites; however, it will also prevent users from visiting the HTTPS sites when an expired certificate is encountered. In these cases, modern browsers like Google Chrome and Mozilla Firefox deliberately hide the advanced option that would let the user bypass the warning and continue through to the site. While this behaviour is bound to frustrate some users, in this case, security is arguably better than usability when you can't have both. If users were to ignore such warnings, they would be vulnerable to the type of man-in-the-middle attacks that TLS certificates were intended to combat.

Security before accessibility. But it sure would be nice to have both again.

"With Donald Trump seemingly unwilling to compromise on his demands for a wall along the border with Mexico, and Democrats refusing to approve a budget containing $5.7B for the wall, the hundreds of thousands of unpaid federal employees might not be the only ones hurting," said Netcraft. "As more and more certificates used by government websites inevitably expire over the following days, weeks  or maybe even months  there could be some realistic opportunities to undermine the security of all U.S. citizens."

[via ThreatPost]

IMAGE: The DigiCert certificate used by this U.S. Court of Appeals website expired on 5 January 2019 and has not yet been renewed. The site provides links to a document filing system and PACER (Public Access to Court Electronic Records).
A union that represents agents for the U.S. Border Patrol deleted a 2012 page from their website that said building walls or fences along the U.S./Mexico border to stop desperate migrants would be "wasting taxpayer money."

VICE's Motherboard reports that the deleted web page was originally posted in 2012. It carried an argument against walls like the one Trump's pushing today, and said border barriers don't tackle migration's root causes, and may encourage more migrants to enter the U.S. through visa overstay.

The Wayback Machine archives at archive.org show the page was deleted after the union's president supported building a border wall with Donald Trump in the White House Briefing Room on January 3, 2019.

Video of that stunt above.

From Motherboard:

That statement came from the official website of the NBPC's "Media FAQ" page which argued at length against the policy of building border walls. The page, originally published in October 2012, was deleted on or after January 4, according to archives obtained through the Wayback Machine. This was the day after the press briefing, and four days before President Trump gave a prime-time television address arguing for Congress to spend $5.7 billion in order to build a larger wall along the US-Mexico border. "Walls and fences are temporary solutions that focus on the symptom (illegal immigration) rather than the problem (employers who knowingly hire illegal aliens)," the now-deleted page says. The Media FAQ page has not been replaced, and a link to the Media FAQ page has also been removed from the NBPC website. The NBPC did not respond to Motherboard's request for comment. Though the FAQ argues at length against building a wall, it does note that "as long as we continue to operate under the current [National Border Patrol Strategy] and ignore the problem that is causing illegal immigration, we realize fences and walls are essential." The deletion of pages on federally-funded, .gov websitessuch as the Environmental Protection Agency pages relating to climate changecan be caused by top-down mandates from the Trump administration. But the NBPC website exists at a .org rather than a .gov web address, and it is unclear what specifically spurred the deletion of the Media FAQ page. The White House did not immediately return Motherboard's request for comment.

Here's a screengrab, via VICE.
Officials became so concerned by the presidents behavior that they began investigating whether he had been working on behalf of Russia against American interests

You don't read a headline like this one very often in a lifetime.

A late-Friday bombshell of a story from the New York Times tonight says President Donald Trump's actions freaked out the FBI so badly after Trump fired James Comey, the FBI began investigating if Trump was working on behalf of Russia.

The counterintelligence probe into Trump's strange alliance with Russia began after Comey was fired, and was later taken over by the office of Special Counsel Robert Mueller.

This is a a phenomenal act of reporting that connects many dots, from Adam Goldman, Michael Schmidt and Nicholas Fandos at the Times:

The inquiry carried explosive implications. Counterintelligence investigators had to consider whether the president's own actions constituted a possible threat to national security. Agents also sought to determine whether Mr. Trump was knowingly working for Russia or had unwittingly fallen under Moscow's influence. The investigation the F.B.I. opened into Mr. Trump also had a criminal aspect, which has long been publicly known: whether his firing of Mr. Comey constituted obstruction of justice. Agents and senior F.B.I. officials had grown suspicious of Mr. Trump's ties to Russia during the 2016 campaign but held off on opening an investigation into him, the people said, in part because they were uncertain how to proceed with an inquiry of such sensitivity and magnitude. But the president's activities before and after Mr. Comey's firing in May 2017, particularly two instances in which Mr. Trump tied the Comey dismissal to the Russia investigation, helped prompt the counterintelligence aspect of the inquiry, the people said. The special counsel, Robert S. Mueller III, took over the inquiry into Mr. Trump when he was appointed, days after F.B.I. officials opened it. That inquiry is part of Mr. Mueller's broader examination of how Russian operatives interfered in the 2016 election and whether any Trump associates conspired with them. It is unclear whether Mr. Mueller is still pursuing the counterintelligence matter, and some former law enforcement officials outside the investigation have questioned whether agents overstepped in opening it.

IS THE PRESIDENT WORKING FOR A FOREIGN ADVERSARY.

The FBI asked.

America does not yet have an answer.

What this does likely mean is that sometime soon a reporter is going to straight up have to ask Trump: "are you a Russian asset?" And it will be a legit question.  Sam Stein (@samstein) January 12, 2019

Trump's obstruction of the Russia investigation was the "collusion," writes @benjaminwittes, analyzing the new @nytimes bombshell that the FBI opened a counterintelligence investigation to determine if Trump worked to help Russia against our interests. https://t.co/DVUZKtCS31  Renato Mariotti (@renato_mariotti) January 12, 2019

The NYT report highlights the fact that many assume Trump has only ever been officially under investigation for obstruction of justice. The new takeaway (though probably already assumed by most) is that Trump himself was also an individual subject of a counterintel investigation.  Natasha Bertrand (@NatashaBertrand) January 12, 2019

If Trump is working on behalf of Russia & against American interests, unnecessarily shutting down the government would be a huge piece of evidence https://t.co/jgsGBIu4Bt  Adam Blickstein (@AdamBlickstein) January 12, 2019

The imputed subtext of the Mueller probe is now in stark relief, via @adamgoldmanNYT @nytmike @npfandos https://t.co/Tl24jU94gw  Maggie Haberman (@maggieNYT) January 12, 2019

Big ?'s  does AG nominee Barr see the evidence and then ensure the Mueller investigation is seen through? Think Senate needs to guarantee Mueller investigation remains in tact. Hope is not a method.  Clint Watts (@selectedwisdom) January 12, 2019

Stepping back for a minute: If no other reporting existed on Trump/Russia, the fact that the FBI started a CI investigation to determine whether or not the sitting president of the US was either comprised by or an agent of Russia, it would be the biggest political storyever. https://t.co/RRenfxbgmH  Natasha Bertrand (@NatashaBertrand) January 12, 2019

Trump to Comey: say I'm not under investigation personally Comey: no, it could change Trump: you're fired FBI: You're under investigation https://t.co/6vEZjBS0mz  Justin Miller (@justinjm1) January 12, 2019
This blog will be used to discuss issues of the day, inspiration-- No Posers, Malcontents or Flaming Trolls allowed.
You Decide

Saturday, January 12, 2019

Remember the Senator with the Chinese spy employed by her for 20 years. Think she's just catching on?? Comment are priceless. https://twitter.com/SenFeinstein/status/1083858226775511046



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"There's no silver bullet. In reality, neither arming school staff with guns, placing SROs in every building or any other silver bullet approach helps solve that underlying safety issue."

-- Aimee Copas, executive director of the North Dakota Council of Education Leaders, on a bill to allow school districts to devise safety plans and collect more in property taxes to fund them.

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"I think that people that don't go to church shouldn't have to wait till church is over to go shopping. I believe in God. I'm a Christian. But they need to have a choice, at least."

-- Deborah Cheek, who supports ending the states blue laws. Rep. Shannon Roers Jones, R-Fargo, is introducing House Bill 1097, which she said would allow businesses to be open on Sunday mornings.

q q q

"I can come to work, I can get all my work done before the store opens and the customers come in, so the store is all nice and clean, and it's wonderful. All the shelves are stocked, and it's all ready for them."
If a bill can be passed quickly, Lesmeister said, its possible farmers could get hemp planted yet this year. It is a short-season crop, he said, best planted in June when the soil is warm.

Goehring said the new federal regulations are less invasive and, while states need to continue to track how much is grown, the crop and seed that are produced can cross state borders, which wasnt allowed under the previous regulations.

Both Lesmeister and Goehring point out hemps versatility. The seed can be crushed to make flour or other edible products, Goehring said. The oil has uses for cosmetics and cooking, he said, and the fiber can be used to not only make fabrics, but also a lighter, stronger concrete called hempcrete.

Lesmeister said theres also a fair amount of research into the protein levels of hemp seed and its use as cattle feed.

Im hoping (South Dakota State University) takes this on, Lesmeister said. I think it could be very interesting to see.

But he and Goehring caution that this is just another commodity option for farmers.

We could, at the end of the day, flood the market so bad it could kill it for a while, Lesmeister said.
"It attempts to instill democracy in the way we amend our constitution," he said.

Opponents took the opposite view, warning that voters' ability to assert their will through the ballot box would be hampered if lawmakers could overrule them.

"It's a blatant and arrogant attempt to shift power away from the people and in the hands of (the) Legislature," said former Democratic state Sen. Tracy Potter.

North Dakota is one of more than a dozen states with a direct initiative process for amending its constitution, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. It requires nearly 27,000 signatures, or 4 percent of the state's population at the 2010 Census, to put a constitutional amendment on the ballot.

But the process has received scrutiny in recent years as voters approve measures unpopular with the Republican-controlled Legislature. Lawmakers formed a bipartisan committee that included leaders of various interest groups to study the issue ahead of this year's session.

Ralph Muecke, a semi-retired farmer from Gladstone, said he ran an unsuccessful ballot measure campaign in the 1990s to impose term limits for elected officials. He disputed any suggestion that the process is an easy one, citing the time and money required to gather thousands of signatures.

"The people we elect are to represent us in state government. Instead they are rapidly becoming a ruling monarchy," Muecke said in prepared remarks. "Anybody that takes away my rights had better have their running shoes on."

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CENTER  Project Tundra could make huge strides in 2019, MinnKota Power officials said.

The project seeks to build a carbon-capture unit in North Dakota at MinnKota Powers existing Milton R. Young Unit 2 plant near Center. Project Tundra could potentially capture up to 95 percent of the plants carbon emissions. This CO2 could then be used for enhanced oil recovery or stored in rock formations underground.

Stacey Dahl, senior manager of external affairs for MinnKota, said 2019 is a very critical year.

Our business case needs to be developed, Dahl said. We will have completed our research and development phase and we would be in a position to make a decision on whats to happen going forward with the project. Well be at a point where we can decide whether or not to construct.

The cost

In the coming weeks, Dahl said MinnKota will be applying for a Department of Energy grant for $15 million.

MinnKota was previously awarded a matching grant by the state of North Dakota. If the federal funds come through, Dahl said, the state will match, giving the project a total of $30 million to study design of the plan.
Daryl Peterson said many landowners in his area know they have issues with brine contamination, but are unsure how to address it.

We want to reach out to landowners that may have problems and help identify them and maybe even help them do some testing to verify that its there, he said.

The Petersons are among the original members of the Northwest Landowners Association, an independent landowner group that formed in 2007 and lobbies on behalf of its members.

We feel the land is important. They dont make more of it, Christine Peterson said.

Vice Chairman Dave King said the contribution also will allow the foundation to apply for other grants that require matching funds.

One of my hopes is that following our lead that others might recognize the issue and the value in protecting and cleaning up our land, Daryl Peterson said.

Daryl and Christine Peterson filed a lawsuit in 2016 against oil company Petro Harvester, alleging the company was responsible for 10 saltwater spills on their land since 2011. The lawsuit was recently settled, but terms of the settlement were not publicly disclosed.

Weve been at this a long time with our battles with saltwater and also have a genuine interest in protecting our precious land in western North Dakota, Daryl Peterson said.

(Reach Amy Dalrymple at 701-250-8267 or Amy.Dalrymple@bismarcktribune.com)

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GRAND FORKS  A Grand Forks legislator is bringing back a bill from 2017 to raise speed limits by 5 miles per hour on certain highways in the state.

Rep. Jake Blum, R-Grand Forks, is the primary sponsor of a bill to change speed limits on multi-lane highways from 70 mph to 75 mph and on interstates from 75 mph to 80 mph.

There were two versions of a speed limit bill in 2017. One bill was sponsored by former Sen. Lonnie Laffen, R-Grand Forks, and the other was sponsored by state Rep. Ben Koppelman, R-West Fargo.

They both unfortunately didnt pass, but hopefully this time well have a better shot, Blum said.

Koppelman said it was a costly fiscal note from the state Department of Transportation that doomed his bill. NDDOT estimated in 2017 the state would have to pay $155,000 to implement a new speed limit and at least $3.27 million to reconstruct roadways to handle higher speeds.
Tom was brought on as a staff attorney for United Tribes Technical College in 1980. For 39 years he worked in various roles including legislative advocacy, administration, contracts, and policies. Over the years he lobbied tirelessly to secure funding for the college, often providing input and excellent written testimony to the U.S. Congress.

Not only was Tom full-time counsel in the legal department, he also was adjunct faculty and taught hundreds of students over the years. As a teacher, Tom knew his students needed to walk in both the Indian and non-Indian world. He passionately taught courses in business law and federal tribal law so students could have the knowledge and skills necessary to help them navigate their future. Throughout his career, he maintained a private law practice representing many students and others with various legal issues, arguing before tribal courts as well as in civil and criminal courts.
Hua Mulan (circa 400s), aka  or , is a folk hero in China and a Disney princess in the US. She disguised herself as a man to fight in the army in her...

8 hours ago
Fellowship examines how ancestors built foundation for today

The Unitarian Universalist Fellowship and Church, 818 E. Divide Ave. in Bismarck, offers a service with speaker Rita Kelly on "Catherine, Napoleon, Lincoln, & Me: Being German from Russia Then and Now" at 10:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. Sunday.

With peasant origins, Kellys ancestors would seem unlikely to have a connection to world-stage figures, but a series of actions by larger-than-life gamechangers prompted her German relatives to leave Germany for the Odessa area on the Black Sea in current-day Ukraine. Religion and politics figured heavily into the equation, eventually landing the vast majority of Germans from Russia in what was then called The New World. Kelly will reflect on the significant and complicated history of her ancestors migration  and the meaning she makes of it today.

Higher Power Lunch to hear of at-risk youth programming

First Presbyterian Church will host its first Higher Power Lunch for the new year on Wednesday at the church, 214 E. Thayer Ave. The event will run from 11:30 a.m. to 12:50 p.m. with luncheon service starting at 11:45 a.m.
With subordination loans, FSA issues a direct loan for equipment or cattle and then subordinates its collateral on that loan to banks so the banks can make operating loans to farmers and ranchers.

Borrowers go to FSA and get everything lined up for subordination and then the details are sent over to the bank, Anderson said.

But without the FSA personnel there to process the paperwork, the collateral cannot be transferred and banks cant issue the operating loans.

Anderson said, because FSA is the lienholder on the producers assets, producers also arent able to cash checks for the sales they make until FSA signs off on it.

I know several people that are sitting on checks right now, Anderson said.

Meanwhile, producers continue to accrue interest on their past years loans every day and cant do anything about it.

Thats a big deal, Anderson said. Thats costing a lot of money, especially in a time when they have very, very tight margins.
Letter to the editor: "These differences can be explained not by race but by the differences in the specific cultures."

Note: The views expressed by letter writers do not necessarily reflect those of The Gazette. To submit a letter visit https://billingsgazette.com/forms/contact/letter_to_the_editor
Now, in the new year, we can reflect on the numerous opportunities that Congress had to bring LWCF back to life, and failed. And reauthorization of a program without funding is equal to trying to make a car run without gas, or using a flashlight without a battery. It wont work, and no matter the spin, until reauthorization and funding happen together, LWCF is still a tool that we cannot use. Its like rigging a flyrod backwards. It just wont work.

We have consistently heard our senators' support for LWCF, but now is the time for leadership that influences congressional colleagues in the majority of what LWCF truly means to Montanas economy and Montana jobs. We dont need to hear anymore about how hard we tried. We need to hear how we did.

Yes, LWCF is a conservation tool  but its also a business asset and a critical piece of infrastructure to companies like ours. We need more than talk to bring LWCF back, and until that happens our livelihoods and our way of life face uncertainty. We are relying on our leaders in congress go to bat for us, conveying that Montanas public lands are part of our communities, and the lifeblood of what makes us tick. Tell their colleagues in leadership how we cant afford to continue on without LWCF, and about the way of life dependent on our outdoors that draws business, innovation, jobs, and visitors. Tell them that Montana businesses need Congress to get to work on LWCF.

Teresa Larson represents Bozemans REI store as a member of Business for Montanas Outdoors, includes 210 businesses responsible for more than 4,800 jobs. Public lands Legislation introduced this week in the U.S. Senate would fund LWCF, among many other things.

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Youth Dynamics CEO, Peter Degel, PhD, is retiring after 20 years of service. In his career, Peter has touched thousands of lives. His vision, passion, and strong leadership has not only made an indelible mark on the organization, but has also influenced the landscape of childrens mental health in Montana.

Peter both started and ended his career with Youth Dynamics, leading us through challenging times. He originally came to the agency as a consultant, brought on during a formidable situation to help better position us for the future. At that time, Youth Dynamics was a small agency, offering a few select services in Billings, Helena, Bozeman, Glendive, Glasgow, and Miles City. The funding landscape was in a state of flux as Montana experimented with a statewide managed care system.

In 1999, Peter officially joined Youth Dynamics as clinical director, and quickly moved into the CEO position. With Peters leadership, we were not only able overcome the difficulties we were facing, we were able to thrive. He had a vision that Youth Dynamics needed to do more in more places. We quickly started expanding our services and locations across the state to reach more youth in need.
Police pulled over Gray a short time later for speeding and noted a pool of blood in the car and blood on Grays clothing. On the way to the jail, Gray said he would fess up at the jail. Once there, he admitted to killing a man.

Gray agreed a life sentence was appropriate and spoke briefly.

I cant think of anything to say that would make anything any better, but I am sorry for what I did  truly, Gray said, in a clear and level voice. I deserve everything I get, and Im not looking for any special treatment.

District Court Judge Gregory Todd noted Gray gave a fake Social Security number when police questioned him initially during the traffic stop, and said he didnt know why there was blood in the car.

The judge also noted that Gray had said he did not intend to kill the elderly man.

You said you were just planning to punch him," the judge said. "Because he began yelling and honking his horn, grabbing your arm, you stabbed him. And that didnt slow you down. You had to stab him several more times. An (81)-year-old man.
In an opinion piece published by the Washington Post on January 8, Istanbul-based commentator Yehia Hamed discusses the ostensible violence and repression of the current Cairo government, led by President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi, and bewails the scarcity of free expression in today's Egypt.

Although Hamed discloses that he served in the government of President Mohamed Morsi, the Washington Post fails to delve a little further and mention that he has served much longer as a prominent operative and spokesperson for the Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood  a dangerous anti-Semitic, anti-Western, violent Islamist movement  both before and after his brief spell near the top of Egypt's short-lived theocratic regime.

Instead, the casual reader is left with an impression of Hamed as some run-of-the-mill technocrat, who simply "served as minister of investment in the government of Mohamed Morsi, Egypt's first democratically elected president."

Hamed's call for free expression in Egypt is particularly duplicitous. As a minister in Morsi's cabinet, he was one of the men responsible for a wave of repressive measures aimed at suppressing political and press opposition to Islamist rule. Under Hamed's ministership, journalists frequently faced censorship, arrest, and violent attacks.

That political and media freedoms are similarly crushed under al-Sisi  just as they were under Morsi and Mubarak  is not disputed; but for the Post to ignore the glaring hypocrisy of Hamed's pseudo-democratic appeals is concerning.

This is not a new problem, either. In November, the Post gave column inches to Mohammed Ali al-Houthi, whom the paper only described as "the head of the Supreme Revolutionary Committee." Al-Houthi's article was similarly designed to appeal to Western sensibilities, with repeated calls for "peace" and "love," along with a flourishing mention of international law.

And yet, as critics pointed out, the Houthi rebels, of which al-Houti is a leader, have murdered thousands, including journalists. Their slogan is: "Death to America, death to Israel, curse the Jews, victory to Islam."

After the brutal murder of Jamal Khashoggi by the Saudi regime, even the Washington Post's newsroom questioned the paper's opinion editors. One news piece revealed that Khashoggi's columns for the Post were "shaped" by the head of the Qatar Foundation International, the Qatari regime's most important and influential overseas arm, which propagandizes for Doha and promotes extremist material in U.S. schools.

In addition, the Post has repeatedly insisted on downplaying or denying Khashoggi's Muslim Brotherhood connections, despite Khashoggi's own overt support for the Brotherhood and Islamism, all summarized neatly in his own Washington Postpieces.

There is a recurring theme here. In spite of objections from prominent Egyptianand Yemeni liberal activists, media such as the Post continue to afford extremists the opportunity to proclaim themselves as representatives of a broad, liberal, democratic ideal. This deception legitimizes extremists as leaders and opinion-makers, and it sidelines genuine moderates.

Even in its coverage of American Islam, the Post has encouraged readers to see the terror-linked Council on American-Islamic Relations, or the Farrakhan-friendly Linda Sarsour, as credible voices of American Muslims. And yet these Islamists have no mandate from ordinary Muslims; instead, these extremists derive most of their legitimacy from media outlets blindly willing to homogenize minorities and declare their loudest voices to be representative leaders.

As the Washington Post tells us, democracy dies in darkness. But Islamism also flourishes there. It is not completely objectionable that a newspaper would give space to an extremist (in fact, it can be useful); but it remains deeply problematic when a newspaper repeatedly offers this platform without shining a light on such a dangerous underlying agenda.

Sam Westrop is Director of Islamist Watch, a project of the Middle East Forum.
The new year came in with a bang as the New Horizons spacecraft flew by the snowman-like icy body nicknamed Ultima Thule. This is the most distant exploration of any world in history. Scientists will need to wait 20 months to receive the several gigabytes of data collected from the flyby, since it is being transmitted at a rate of only about 1,000 bit per second. Nevertheless, scientists have already learned a lot about it, as summarized below.

What do we call it?

Ultima Thule was discovered on June 26, 2014 by astronomers (led by former Lowell Observatory scientist Marc Buie) using the Hubble Space Telescope. This culminated the search for a Kuiper belt object  icy bodies that inhabit the outer solar system in a disc known as the Kuiper belt  that the New Horizons spacecraft could fly by after its successful passing of Pluto in 2015. The scientists cataloged the body as (486958) 2014 MU69, a precise enough name but pretty clunky and uninspiring.

When New Horizons team members designated this body as the target for the spacecraft flyby, they realized a simpler nickname was in order. They chose Ultima Thule after considering multiple possibilities. This term dates back hundreds of years to classical times and means beyond the borders of the known world.
Two storms are making their way off the Pacific Ocean and heading toward Flagstaff this weekend and later next week, according to the National Weather Service.

The storm that is expected to begin Saturday afternoon and end Sunday morning wasn't expected to leave too much snow behind, Tim Steffen, meterologist at the National Weather Service said. Steffen forecasted that there would likely be 1 to 2 inches of snow this weekend.

The high temperatures for Saturday would happen before the afternoon storm rolls in and hit around 40 degrees. The temperatures for Sunday would peak at 37 to 38 degrees after the storm moves further east.

While Steffen expects it will be cold enough at elevations above 5,000 feet to bring snow, the meteorologist's data doesn't expect the storm will leave a huge impact.

"We're not expecting much in the way of wind, it's really a weak system," Steffen said.

After the first storm, the meteorologist's models expect another storm to float over northern Arizona in the middle of next week. Steffen explained that not enough is known about the storm at this point to forecast inch counts or give any storm details with confidence.

Scott Buffon can be reached at sbuffon@azdailysun.com, on Twitter @scottbuffon or by phone at (928) 556-2250.

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The first US military ground equipment has been withdrawn from Syria in recent days, signaling the beginning of the drawdown ordered by President Donald Trump, according to an administration official with direct knowledge of the operation. CNN's Clarissa Ward reports.

The first US military ground equipment has been withdrawn from Syria in recent days, signaling the beginning of the drawdown ordered by President Donald Trump, according to an administration official with direct knowledge of the operation.

"Some cargo has already moved," the official told CNN.

Due to security concerns, the official would not describe exactly what the cargo was or whether it had been moved out by aircraft or ground vehicles. The official also would not say what part of Syria the equipment was in, although it's widely expected the drawdown will begin in northern Syria.

Col. Sean Ryan, spokesman for the US-led coalition said in a statement Friday that the coalition "has begun the process of our deliberate withdrawal from Syria," but did not provide additional details.

Officials have previously told CNN to expect to see discussion of percentages of equipment withdrawn as a way of meeting Trump's intent -- even though it's expected that no troops are coming out immediately. Senior officials like Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and national security adviser John Bolton have declined to put a timeline on when troops would be withdrawn.
The parcel is currently zoned for mobile homes and local realtor Rick Lopez suggested Council keep it zoned as such rather than seizing the land.

The council does not owe the owner of this property zoning, so you already have some leverage on how this property can be used, because you control the zoning, Lopez said. This owner is going to want to you to rezone this property to something that will yield a higher dollar amount.

But councilmember Jim McCarthy said he worried that if the city doesnt take the land, it may go wasted for long periods of time despite the fact that it is zoned for what he called an affordable housing use.

In the end, Council decided to take a closer look at condemning the property, something the city was already doing as part of the Rio de Flag flood control project, according to city manager Barbara Goodrich.

The council moved in the opposite direction on a piece of property the city had, up until last year, been using as the public works yard, and that many nearby residents consider part of Thorpe Park.
CHATSWORTH, Calif.Ron Braverman, the founder and CEO of pleasure products giant Doc Johnson, is the 2019 recipient of the Lifetime Achievement for the O Awards.

In 1976, when Ron Braverman bought a small adult novelty company in North Hollywood, Calif., he had a vision. He knew what he wanted to create and what he wanted to do with the company and its products. But no one, probably not even Braverman himself, could have imagined the powerhouse Doc Johnson would become four decades later.

Braverman was initially involved in adult bookstores in Europe, but wanted to return to the States to start a toy business. He eventually purchased an existing company that sold some adult toys, but focused more on gag novelties and rubber fishing items.

My plan from the beginning was to focus exclusively on creating a top-quality pleasure products company, with all manufacturing to be kept in America, Braverman told AVN in a 2016 interview. So, while we had a few novelty items early on, gag gifts were quickly phased out of the equation. Since day one, we have always truly been an American pleasure products manufacturer.

And Ron, who is known to visit the manufacturing floor and chip in when needed, brought his children into the fold in more recent years. In addition to son Chad, who serves as COO and CCO of the company, daughter Erica is Doc Johnsons head of communications and PR.

I feel incredibly proud when some of our customers tell me stories about my dadthe long hours, the innovations and breakthroughs he has made to shape our entire industry, the level of care and attention he poured into relationships with his employees and customers from the beginning, and still does to this day... Its also incredible to know that we have customers who have been with us for that long since the beginning of the pleasure products industry. And we value that so highly, and we have always realized it's critical to change with the times to continue to serve and support our customers (that have become our family and friends) for the next 40 years, and long into the future, Chad said.

The companys growth was exponential, and Doc Johnson quickly came to be known as one of the Founders: five of the largest American sex toy manufacturers in the early years of the industry. CalExotics, Pipedream Products, Nasstoys of New York and Topco Sales round out that group.

The company was among the first to carry more unisex items that could be packaged to appeal to the straight and gay markets, as well as among the first to create niche products and lines. The company was among the first to offer toys molded from popular adult performers; and it was the first to offer a line of products molded from a TS performer (Wendy Williams).

There are a lot of wonderful opportunities that come with this job but working with my dad has been the best one, Chad Braverman said. Hes taught me everything he knows about the industry. Hes been in this business since, really, the beginning; and I grew up around it, and its always been a part of me. My dad and I are also extremely close, and we have been able to separate the trials and stress of work from our personal relationship. And the more Ive grown in this business, the more I appreciate his wisdom and his own ways of thinking both personally and professionally. I feel proud and privileged for the opportunity to contribute to the success of the company that he founded and built. I've always known that I have something huge to live up to and it's something Im constantly working towards.

On top of being an industry leader, Ron Braverman has ensured Doc Johnson is truly a family business. While even the best mainstream companies these days might struggle to retain employees, Doc Johnson has kept many on for yearsof roughly 500 workers today, the number of those who have been with Doc for the past 20, 30 and even 40 years reaches into the triple digits.

One of the things Ive come to admire most about my dad is his deep sense of integrity and how he conducts himself and the businesswith our partners, with customers, with staff, whoever, Erica Braverman said. He is the kind of leader who really values everyone he works with, and someone people want to go the extra mile for, and I think in modern business (and in life), that is a rare quality and an asset that hasand will continue tostand the test of time as one of Doc Johnsons core values. It has been incredibly rewarding to work with my dad every day for a little over eight years nowand of course, there have been challenges that became growth opportunities, that led to deeper mutual respectbut nothing beats knowing I've been helping and working with the man who gave me everything I needed to get to where I am today. He has given me an invaluable, tremendous education on business and the pleasure products industry; he taught me hard work, discipline, respect, integrity and leadership. And ultimately, learning from him professionally has shown me a different side of him, and has made me respect and admire my father even more, on a personal level as his daughter.

Id also like to point out that the majority of our people and leaders are not blood-related, but they are like family. A large segment of our team have been here 20, 30, 40 yearseven since our founding in 1976. That is the kind of person and leader that my dad ishe treats everyone like family, she added.

Bravermans Lifetime Achievement will be presented during the O Awards, taking place Thursday, January 24, as part of the AVN Novelty Expo. For more information on ANE, visit NoveltyExpo.com.
A developer is certainly free to decide whether building another hotel in downtown Albany is a wise investment or not. But it isn't the role of taxpayers to underwrite this sort of speculation.

Yet here's Albany once again being asked to forgo more than $7 million in taxes to help Pioneer Companies of Syracuse build a $30.4 million hotel at 705 Broadway. Put another way: If the city agrees, it will be asking property tax payers to essentially subsidize nearly one-fourth of the project cost.

Pioneer originally came in with a somewhat more attractive idea that included apartments  which would contribute to what downtown Albany may need most: a critical mass of residents, enough to make it worthwhile to open the kinds of businesses that support vibrant neighborhoods, like a supermarket and retail shops. But the developer says construction bids came back too high, so it then scaled back the project to be just a hotel.

How this makes business sense in a downtown with multiple hotels already is questionable enough. It's all the more so in a crowded hotel market where the Hilton Albany, already enjoying tax breaks, sought $14 million more over 30 years just to do repairs (and avoid the full tax bill that's coming due a few years from now).
HERKIMER  The remains of three young boys were recovered Friday from the charred rubble of an upstate New York home that was quickly consumed by fire just before dawn.

Two parents awakened by smoke detectors before 6 a.m. tried to save the boys from the rapidly spreading fire but were unable to, WKTV reported . The adults exited the home in this modest Mohawk Valley village and then attempted to go back in but weren't able to reach the children, aged 1, 6, and 7.

"There was a very heavy fire load," Herkimer Fire Chief John Spanfelner told the Observer-Dispatch of Utica. The fire "went through the whole house very quickly."

All five people had been sleeping on the first floor of the older two-story home, according to Spanfelner.

The unidentified adults were treated at the scene by first responders, but details on their conditions were not immediately available. The bodies of the boys were found with the help of police dogs.

Firefighters battling the blaze in frigid temperatures had to rotate shifts to stay warm. Fire crews remained on the scene for hours putting out the smoking debris.

Officials did not immediately release the identities of the young victims.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.

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A "very, very happy" Saudi teenager who caused a sensation by defying her family and seeking asylum abroad was welcomed with open arms in Toronto Saturday at the end of a dramatic but exhausting international odyssey. Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland greeted Rahaf Mohammed al-Qunun after she landed in Toronto, wearing a skirt, a gray hoodie emblazoned in red with the word "CANADA" and a blue cap with the logo of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). Smiling broadly, the 18-year-old posed for photographers with Freeland at her side, but made no statement. Later, she tweeted a video of her arrival, with the comment: "I love Canada I love you all." Freeland said Qunun "wanted Canadians to see that she's here, that she's well and that she is very, very happy to be in her new home." "She had a pretty long journey and is exhausted and prefers not to take questions for the moment," the diplomatic chief added, with an arm around Qunun's shoulder. She was taken in by Toronto-based refugee group Costi, a spokeswoman said. Shortly after her arrival, Qunun went shopping for some warm clothes in central Ontario, according to the spokesman, noting the teenager knows several people there and contacted them. In the coming days, Costi representatives will help her open a bank account and perform various administrative tasks before finding her a permanent home. In the meantime, she is staying in a facility constantly under guard. Costi has recommended Qunun that she avoid sharing her address. - A trail of tweets - The arrival in Canada marks the epilogue of an international saga. Qunun captured the world's attention with a trail of Twitter posts that ignited a #SaveRahaf movement as she fled what she said was physical and psychological abuse from her family in ultra-conservative Saudi Arabia. Rights groups also said she had renounced Islam, risking prosecution in Saudi Arabia. Her family has denied the abuse allegations. The publicity thwarted an attempt to deport her to Saudi Arabia after she arrived in Bangkok on a flight from Kuwait a week ago, with Thai authorities instead turning her over to the UN's refugee agency. Then on Friday, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau made the surprise announcement that Canada would welcome her. Freeland said that in granting Qunun asylum, Canada was "standing up for human rights around the world, and we believe very strongly that women's rights are human rights." The move is sure to further strain Canada's relations with the kingdom. Ties went sideways last August over Ottawa's rights criticism of Saudi Arabia, prompting Riyadh to expel the Canadian ambassador and sever all trade and investment ties in protest. Canada also sparked fury in Riyadh by demanding the "immediate release" of jailed rights campaigners, including Samar Badawi, the sister of jailed blogger Raif Badawi, whose family lives in Quebec. Qunun's attempt to flee Saudi Arabia was embraced by rights groups as a beacon of defiance against repression. -'Precarious situation'- "Ms al-Qunun's plight has captured the world's attention over the past few days, providing a glimpse into the precarious situation of millions of refugees worldwide," said Filippo Grandi, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees. "Refugee protection today is often under threat and cannot always be assured, but in this instance international refugee law and overriding values of humanity have prevailed." Raif Badawi's wife Ensaf Haidar also praised Canada, calling Freeland on Twitter "the real hero" behind efforts to prevent Qunun's repatriation to Saudi Arabia. Qunun first said she was aiming for Australia. But late Friday, Thailand's immigration police chief Surachate Hakparn said a smiling and cheerful Rahaf was bound for Toronto. "The only country that really helped me in the end was Canada," Qunun said after arriving in Toronto. "The rest were afraid and cowards." In a tweet, the UNHCR said: "We welcome Rahaf's arrival in Canada and the Canadian Government's decision to provide protection and a long-term solution for her there as a resettled refugee." - Death threats - On Friday, Qunun posted a cryptic tweet on her profile saying, "I have some good news and some bad news." Her account was deactivated shortly afterward in response to death threats she had faced, her friends said. But she was back online later in the day, tweeting: "I would like to thank you people for supporting me and saving my life. Truly I have never dreamed of this love and support." She opened and began using a new Twitter handle on Friday, citing the threats. Qunun's use of Twitter saw her amass tens of thousands of followers within a week, highlighting her plight at a time when Saudi Arabia's human rights record is under heavy scrutiny following the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi last year. Her deployment of social media allowed her to avoid the fate of countless other refugees who are quietly sent back home or left to languish in Bangkok detention centers. She refused to see her father, who traveled to Thailand and expressed opposition to her resettlement. Canadian Minister for Foreign Affairs Chrystia Freeland (R) said Rahaf Mohammed al-Qunun, 18, is "very, very happy" to be in Canada which gave her asylum after she fled her Saudi homeland Qunun said she fled physical and psychological abuse from her family in the conservative kingdom Qunun (C) is escorted by a Thai immigration officer (R) and UN refugee agency officials in Bangkok on January 7, 2019
Turkey on Saturday welcomed the latest statement made by Washington's top diplomat over Ankara's right to defend itself from "terrorists" after the US withdraws from Syria. "We find correct his statement about the removal of the elements that concern Turkey," Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said in a speech in the southern Turkish province of Antalya. Cavusoglu spoke on the phone Saturday with US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, who was in Abu Dhabi as part of a regional tour, and they discussed "the steps that need to be taken" in Syria, he said. The latest comments follow tensions between the US and Turkey over the fate of Washington's Syrian Kurdish allies in the fight against Islamic State group jihadists. Pompeo had earlier said Washington recognised "the Turkish people's right and (Turkish President Recep Tayyip) Erdogan's right to defend their country from terrorists". But, he added, "we also know that those fighting alongside of us for all this time deserve to be protected as well". Turkey had rejected any suggestions that US President Donald Trump's plan to withdraw troops was conditional on the safety of the US-backed Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG). Ankara sees the YPG as a terrorist group linked to the Kurdistan Worker's Party (PKK) which has fought a decades-long insurgency against the Turkish state. Washington however considers the group as an effective force in the fight against IS. Trump's National Security Advisor John Bolton had a tense meeting with Turkish officials in Ankara this week. Cavusoglu once again "rejected and condemned" Bolton's comments on the conditional withdrawal and said despite different voices coming out from Washington, the Turkish president's interlocuter was Trump. He repeated Ankara's threat to launch an offensive to eradicate Syrian Kurdish fighters from Syria. "We will do whatever needed to clear terror across our border," he said. "Nobody should doubt about it." Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu (L, pictured November 2018) said after a phone call with US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo that he finds "correct his statement about the removal [from Syria] of the elements that concern Turkey"
President Donald Trump blasted the FBI on Saturday, insisting it acted "for no reason & with no proof" when it opened an investigation into whether he was acting on Russia's behalf after he fired the agency's director, James Comey, in May 2017. The New York Times reported that the FBI launched the previously undisclosed counterintelligence investigation to determine whether Trump posed a national security threat, at the same time that it opened a criminal probe into possible obstruction of justice by the president. The FBI investigation was subsequently folded into the broader probe by Special Counsel Robert Mueller into Russia's meddling in the 2016 election and possible collaboration by the Trump campaign. No evidence has publicly emerged that Trump was secretly in contact with or took direction from Russian officials, the Times said. "Wow, just learned in the Failing New York Times that the corrupt former leaders of the FBI, almost all fired or forced to leave the agency for some very bad reasons, opened up an investigation on me, for no reason & with no proof, after I fired Lyin' James Comey, a total sleaze!" Trump tweeted. According to Trump, "the FBI was in complete turmoil... because of Comey's poor leadership" and the way he handled the investigation into Hillary Clinton's use of a private server to send some government emails. "My firing of James Comey was a great day for America," Trump said, describing the former FBI director as "a Crooked Cop who is being totally protected by his best friend, Bob Mueller." Asked in a late Saturday interview with Fox News whether he had ever worked for Russia, Trump replied: "I think it's the most insulting thing I've ever been asked... I think it the most insulting article I've ever had written and if you read the article, you?d see that they found absolutely nothing." - 'Increasingly unhinged attacks' - Such standard reactions from Trump "do nothing to address the incredibly serious nature of these allegations," said Democratic Congressman Jerrold Nadler, Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee. "There is no reason to doubt the seriousness or professionalism of the FBI," Nadler said in a statement which said his committee "will take steps to better understand both the president's actions and the FBI's response to that behavior, and to make certain that these career investigators are protected from President Trump's increasingly unhinged attacks." The Times said that the FBI had been suspicious of Trump's ties to Russia during the 2016 campaign. But it held off on opening an investigation until the president sacked Comey, who refused to pledge allegiance to Trump and roll back the nascent Russia investigation. Trump has repeatedly criticized the Mueller probe as a "witch hunt" and views it as an attempt to besmirch the legitimacy of his presidency. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, who was CIA director at the time the investigation was launched, declined to comment on The New York Times report, but insisted in an interview with CBS that "the notion that President Trump is a threat to American national security is absolutely ludicrous." Mueller has indicted 33 people, including members of Russia's GRU military intelligence, and chalked up convictions against some of the president's close associates. Trump's ex-national security advisor, Michael Flynn, pleaded guilty to lying to investigators about his Moscow ties. His former personal lawyer, Michael Cohen, has been sentenced to three years in prison for multiple crimes, including felony violations of campaign finance laws that prosecutors allege were carried out under Trump's direction. Trump's former presidential campaign chairman, Paul Manafort, has been convicted in one case brought by Mueller and pleaded guilty in another, over financial crimes related to his work in Ukraine before the 2016 campaign, and for witness tampering. Cell phone records show that Cohen was near Prague during the summer of 2016, supporting claims that he met there with Russian officials during the presidential election campaign, McClatchy news service has reported. Cohen, who will testify in Congress on February 7, insists that he has never been to Prague, but added in a tweet: "#Mueller knows everything!" US President Donald Trump (L) and Russian President Vladimir Putin shake hands on July 16, 2018 ahead of a meeting in Helsinki Special Counsel Robert Mueller, a former FBI chief, heads the investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election and possible collusion between Donald Trump's campaign and Moscow
Major opposition protests in Serbia have been relatively rare over the past decade, but the icy January air has ushered in a swelling mood of revolt. Since last month, thousands of demonstrators have rallied each Saturday through Belgrade's frozen streets against President Aleksandar Vucic, accusing him of stifling media freedoms and cracking down on the opposition. This Saturday, for the sixth time in a row, the marchers will again hoist their flags and banners in a united display of discontent against Vucic's increasingly controversial rule. "Dictator!" cried the crowd at a recent demonstration in the capital. More than a dozen people carried a giant banner reading: "Stop bloody shirts" -- a reference to opposition politician Borko Stefanovic's bloodstained shirt after he was beaten up last November. It was that incident that triggered the first protests. The assault was reminiscent of the violent attacks on political opponents in the 1990s under the rule of late strongman Slobodan Milosevic. The authorities denied involvement in the attack on Stefanovic, but the Alliance for Serbia, an umbrella group of opposition parties from across the political spectrum, blamed Vucic's Serbian Progressive Party (SNS). Then youth activists, who insist they are not affiliated with any political party, decided to step in. "We realised that the time had come to do something on the street," one of the protest organisers, Jelena Anasonovic, told AFP. "The violence, both physical and verbal" in everyday Serbian life, had become "the norm", Anasonovic said. Vucic, a former ultra-nationalist who now says he favours Serbia joining the EU, has rejected claims he has become autocratic. And despite the protests, opinion polls suggest Vucic's SNS party dominates the political arena. Serbia's divided opposition that has little in common other than an aversion to the president. The opposition does not offer "a viable alternative to the autocracy of Vucic" even though "he is unbearable", said protester Milos Banjanin, a 27-year old economist. The next national vote is expected in 2020 but Vucic, who served as premier from 2014 and became president in 2017, has hinted he could call early elections. Observers and polls suggest he would likely win. - 'One in five million' - The first anti-Vucic protest on December 8 drew several thousand people, but the numbers quickly grew due to two unrelated events -- the reaction of the president and a report by a pro-government TV journalist. Speaking after the first demonstration, Vucic told the nation "even if there were five million people in the street" he would not agree to the protesters' demands. That acted as a catalyst for the demonstrators, who adopted the slogan "one in five million". Then TV reporter Barbara Zivotic, from the pro-government private channel said that "very few people" were demonstrating. Those who were, she said, "calling for lynching, rape, violence and a coup d'etat". Video of the report went viral and was widely mocked online. "Thank you Barbara" protesters wrote on Twitter, as thousands of people were inspired to brave the heavy snow and freezing temperatures to join the protests. The latest protests brought out 40,000 people on to the streets say organisers, although police have not confirmed the figure. - 'Break media blockade' - The scale of the demonstrations "caught many people by surprise, including some (opposition) politicians," said Dragan Djilas, an opposition leader. Although opposition parties hope to capitalise on the protests, which now include celebrities and prominent activists, some protesters are wary of politicians trying to cash in on their success. "Only when the opposition does something to prove itself in fighting" the authorities "will it get the right to speak," said actor Branislav Trifunovic, one of the most prominent protesters. "For the moment they can walk with us and shut up," he said. Protesters have called for the head of the public broadcaster RTS to step down. They want "at least five minutes of air time each day" to "break the media blockade", Trifunovic added. The European Commission last year raised concerns about media freedoms in Serbia, denouncing threats, intimidation and violence against journalists. But Vucic has rejected such criticism. According to Serbian media, the president could use the next week's visit of Russia's President Vladimir Putin to show off the strength of his national support. "These are protests of all opposition voters who are unhappy with the authorities. At some point it will have to be politically articulated," said independent political analyst Boban Stojanovic. Protesters at one rally held a banner reading 'Stop to bloody shirts', a reference to an attack last November on an opposition politician that set off this round of protests Thousands of people, many blowing whistles, hold a banner that reads, "One out of five million", as they protested against the Serbian president in Belgrade last month On January 5, some protesters lit torches as thousands joined the latest proest march in Belgrade Despite the protests, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic's SNS party still dominates the political arena, thanks in part to a divided opposition


A 21-year-old man shot a couple to death at their home in a scheme to kidnap their teenage daughter, then held the girl captive for three months in an isolated north woods town before she managed to escape, US authorities have said.

Jayme Closs, 13, was skinny, dishevelled and wearing shoes too big for her when she approached a stranger and pleaded for help on Thursday in a small town in Wisconsin, northern US, where Jake Thomas Patterson lives.

Mr Patterson was apparently out looking for her when he was arrested and jailed on kidnapping and homicide charges, Barron County Sheriff Chris Fitzgerald said.

Jayme disappeared from her home near Barron after someone broke in and shot her parents, James and Denise Closs, on October 15. The sheriff said investigators believe Mr Patterson killed them in order to abduct the girl.

Girls harrowing escape

Jayme told one of the neighbours in Gordon who took her in that she had walked away from a cabin where she had been held captive.

The woman who first spotted Jayme on Thursday, Jeanne Nutter, said she was walking her dog along a rural road when a disheveled girl called out to her, grabbed her and revealed her name.

Jake Thomas Patterson was arrest on kidnapping and homicide charges. Source: AP per Barron County Sheriffs Department

I was terrified, but I didnt want to show her that, Ms Nutter, a social worker who spent years working in child protection, told The Associated Press.

She just yelled, Please help me! I dont know where I am! Im lost!'

Neighbour Kristin Kasinskas called emergency services to report the girl had been found after Ms Nutter brought her to Ms Kasinskas house.

She said that this persons name was Jake Patterson, he killed my parents and took me, Ms Kasinskas said.

She did not talk about why or how.

She said she did not know him.

Minutes later, Mr Patterson was pulled over by a sheriffs deputy based on a description of his vehicle Jayme provided, authorities said.

The accused unlikely to have known family

Missing teen Jayme Closs (pictured) was found alive after her parents were murdered and being kidnapped. Source: AP

The sheriff said investigators are trying to figure out what happened to Jayme during her captivity and why she was seized, and gave no details on how she escaped except to say Mr Patterson was not home at the time.

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He said there is no evidence Mr Patterson knew Jayme or her family or had been contact with her on social media.

The sheriff said that he did not know if Jayme had been physically abused but that she was hospitalised overnight for observation and released after an exam.

Investigators were still interviewing her, and she was doing as well as circumstances allow, he said.

He was scheduled for an initial court appearance Monday. It was not immediately known whether the unemployed Ms Patterson had an attorney.

Accused avoided leaving evidence

Jayme Closs (pictured) reportedly escaped from captivity and asked a dog walker for help. Source: Fox9

Mr Patterson tried to avoid leaving evidence at the scene of the killings, taking such steps as shaving his head beforehand, the sheriff said.

A shotgun similar to the one used was recovered from the home where police believe Jayme was held, the sheriff said.

Property records show that the cabin belonged to Mr Pattersons father at the time of Jaymes disappearance.

Mr Patterson worked for one day in 2016 at the same Jennie-O turkey plant in Barron as Jaymes parents, Jennie-O Turkey Store President Steve Lykken said.

Mr Patterson quit the next day, saying he was moving from the area, Lykken said. But the sheriff said it did not appear Mr Patterson interacted with them during his brief time working there.

Mr Patterson had no criminal record, according to the sheriff.

After Jayme vanished, detectives pursued thousands of tips, watched dozens of surveillance videos and conducted numerous searches. Officials recruited 2,000 volunteers for a huge ground search October 23, but it yielded no clues.

 Associated Press
Huawei said Saturday it has fired a Chinese employee who was arrested in Poland on espionage allegations, as China's telecom giant distanced itself from the case amid Western concerns that it could act as a proxy for Chinese security services. This week's detention of Wang Weijing follows the December arrest of Huawei's chief financial officer in Canada and US efforts to blacklist the company internationally over security concerns. While China's government has vociferously defended Huawei CFO Meng Wanzhou and demanded her release, the firm swiftly sacked Wang, who works at its representative office in Poland. "His alleged actions have no relation to the company," Huawei said in a statement to AFP. "In accordance with the terms and conditions of Huawei's labour contract, we have made this decision because the incident in question has brought Huawei into disrepute," it said. "Huawei complies with all applicable laws and regulations in the countries where it operates, and we require every employee to abide by the laws and regulations in the countries where they are based." A Polish man was also arrested for alleged espionage along with Wang on Tuesday. Both men are suspected of having "worked for Chinese services and to the detriment of Poland," said Polish special services spokesman Stanislaw Zaryn. He said their apartments and workplaces were searched, adding that the Polish suspect had worked "for several state institutions". The Chinese foreign ministry said Friday it was "highly concerned" about the case and later said it was seeking to arrange a consular visit for Wang as soon as possible. The Chinese embassy in Poland has also asked Warsaw to "effectively ensure the legitimate rights and interests, and humanitarian and safe treatment of the person involved." - Western fears - According to the LinkedIn profile of "Stanislaw Wang" -- Wang's Polish name, according to Polish media TVP -- the detained Huawei employee worked at the Chinese consulate in Gdansk, Poland prior to his tenure at the Chinese tech firm. At Huawei, Wang worked as a public relations director for more than five years before moving into his current role as sales director in 2017. He is a graduate of the Beijing University of Foreign Studies. His case is the latest setback for Huawei. Its chief financial officer Meng Wanzhou was arrested in Vancouver on December 1 on request from the United States, which has accused her of fraud related to violations of Iran sanctions. Meng is the daughter of Huawei founder Ren Zhengfei, a former Chinese People's Liberation Army engineer. Following her arrest two Canadians were detained in China on grounds of endangering national security, in what has largely been seen as retaliation. Meng's arrest sparked a surge of patriotism in China with companies encouraging staff to buy Huawei smartphones -- and several companies even offering employees subsidies to buy phones from the home-grown company. - 'No evidence' - Huawei in December said it expects to see a 21 percent rise in revenue for 2018 despite what it called "unfair treatment" around the world, as several countries banned its telecommunications technology. Last month, Britain's largest mobile provider BT said that it would remove Huawei equipment from its cellular network after the foreign intelligence service called the company a security risk. Australia and New Zealand have also enacted similar bans, leaving Canada the only country in the "Five Eyes" intelligence network not to take steps against the Chinese firm. Last month, a senior EU official warned that the bloc should be "worried" about Huawei and other Chinese firms. Huawei has rejected Western concerns, saying there was "no evidence" that it poses a threat to the national security of any country. Huawei's business is thriving in many places. Last year the company said it had signed memorandums of understanding for 5G equipment with 45 operators in Asia, Europe and North America. The arrest in Poland is the latest setback for Huawei, following the arrest of the group's CFO in Canada last month
(Bloomberg) -- As Poland added to the global scrutiny of Huawei Technologies Co. on Friday with the arrest of a company employee and a local former security agent, the countrys authorities also exposed the division in Europe over policy toward the Chinese technology giant.

Huawei is facing increasing pressure across the European Union amid growing concerns that Beijing could use the companys equipment for spying, something executives have denied. U.S. President Donald Trumps administration has been pushing European allies to block Huawei from telecom networks amid a wider dispute over trade with China.

While theres little to suggest any political motive, the Warsaw government is a staunch ally of the U.S. and the country is a prototype of Trump-style nationalism and protectionism. Poland relies on the EU for money, though counts on the Americans for security and U.S. troops are stationed on its soil.

The dilemma is that Europe needs to develop its infrastructure somehow. Various countries, including the U.K., France, Germany, Norway, have publicly raised concerns about using Huawei equipment for next-generation mobile networks. But others, like Spain, Portugal and Hungary, have been more welcoming to Chinese involvement.

Europe is facing a challenge when it comes to dealing with Huawei and it shows that the continent doesnt have the ability to be autonomous, said Solange Ghernaouti, head of the Swiss Cybersecurity Advisory and Research Group. Europe is either dependent on China or the U.S.

Polish Custody

The Huawei employee detained in Poland is a Chinese citizen responsible for sales to public sector clients, television news channel TVPInfo said on Friday. The other detained person is a former high-ranking official at Polands Internal Security Agency who worked at mobile phone operator Orange Polska SA. They will remain in custody for three months.

Evidence shows that both men conducted espionage activities against Poland, Stanislaw Zaryn, a spokesman for Polands secret services chief, said in a statement. If convicted, they face up to 10 years in jail, Zaryn said. When he tweeted the arrests in English, he included hashtags for the U.S. Department of State, the FBI and CIA.

Story continues

For us, this specific investigation concerns two people, he said later on Friday. A separate issue is that of threats in the telecommunications industry. These are two separate issues.

Polands cybersecurity chief, Karol Okonski, told RMF Radio that ideally the EU and NATO would be as consistent as possible on Huawei. He said the country is considering recommending caution toward the company, including potential exclusion from its IT market.

China is highly concerned over the issue, the press office at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said. We are asking the related country to deal with the case fairly based on laws and protect the legitimate rights of the people, it said.

A Huawei representative said the company was looking into the matter and declined to comment further. The company said it abides by applicable laws wherever it operates and expects employees to do the same.

The Polish government named the two accused as Weijing W. and Piotr D., in line with local law prohibiting the publication of full names of those detained. Security services searched their homes and the offices of Huawei and Orange Polska, the Polish business of French mobile operator Orange SA. Orange spokesman Wojciech Jabczynski said the company handed over an employees belongings to the authorities.

The Chinese national is a former employee of the countrys consulate in the Baltic Sea port of Gdansk, according to TVPInfo television.

Western Suspicion

The accusations add to Huaweis troubles of late as western governments grow worried that Huaweis systems could be used by Chinese intelligence.

Australia and New Zealand banned Huawei equipment from the planned 5G networks of carriers in the countries and the head of British spy agency MI6 said last month the government needs to decide whether to ban the company.

Germany has said its considering restricting Huaweis role in its future telecom infrastructure, while Czech President Milos Zeman said on Friday China is preparing an economically damaging reprisal against his country after authorities issued warnings about Huawei and risks it poses to security.

Huawei is also mired in a U.S. case alleging violations of trade sanctions. The U.S. alleges that its chief financial officer, Meng Wanzhou, conspired to defraud banks to unwittingly clear transactions linked to Iran. Meng was released on bail four weeks ago and is living under restrictions in her million-dollar Vancouver home.

The company has previously said it does not pose a security threat and that its never been asked by any government to build backdoors or interrupt any networks. It has said it would never tolerate such behavior by any of our staff.

Huaweis biggest challenge is to prove to its partners across the world that the quality of its cybersecurity services is second to none and that theres no possibility of backdoor intrusion, said Ghernatoui at the Swiss Cybersecurity Advisory and Research Group. But theyve failed to do that so far.

--With assistance from Feifei Shen, Gao Yuan, Natalia Drozdiak, Andrea Dudik and Giles Turner.

To contact the reporters on this story: Wojciech Moskwa in Warsaw at wmoskwa@bloomberg.net;Angelina Rascouet in London at arascouet1@bloomberg.net;Maciej Martewicz in Warsaw at mmartewicz@bloomberg.net

To contact the editors responsible for this story: Rebecca Penty at rpenty@bloomberg.net, Rodney Jefferson

For more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.com

2019 Bloomberg L.P.
YEREVAN, JANUARY 12, ARMENPRESS. On January 12, as of 15:30, roads are mainly passable in Armenia, the ministry of emergency situations told Armenpress.

Vardenyats Pass is difficult to pass for passenger cars, and is closed for the remaining vehicles.

Some highways are partly covered with clear ice.

Drivers are urged to use winter tires while travelling to provinces.

The Georgian authorities inform that the Stepantsminda-Lars highway is open only for light passenger vehicles.

Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan
YEREVAN, JANUARY 12, ARMENPRESS. In the recent days Azerbaijan has started targeting the international partners of the Gate to Heaven film of filmmaker Jivan Avetisyan, putting public and private pressure on them in order to make them stop participating in filmmaking process and visiting Artsakh. In particular, certain pressures have been recorded over Lithuanian producer Kestutis Drazdauskas, violating his freedom of movement, right to private life and other rights, the Artsakh Ombudsmans Office told Armenpress.

With such steps Azerbaijan aims at continuing the policy of international isolation of Artsakh, limiting the possibilities of realizing many indivisible rights of Artsakh people, including cultural rights.

The Human Rights Ombudsman of the Republic of Artsakh condemns the anti-Armenian hatred policy of Azerbaijan, which is applied also towards the foreigners collaborating with Armenians. That policy considerably violates the norms of international human rights law and the international commitments of Azerbaijan, the statement said.

Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan
YEREVAN, JANUARY 12, ARMENPRESS. In the daytime of January 12 and January 13 no precipitation is expected in Armenia, the ministry of emergency situations told Armenpress.

Precipitation is expected in most of the regions on January 14 and 17.

Air temperature will increase by 5-6 degrees in the night of January 13-14.

Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan
YEREVAN, JANUARY 12, ARMENPRESS. Turkish foreign minister Mevlut Cavusoglu held a telephone conversation with US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, a Turkish foreign ministry source told RIA Novosti.

Our minister had a telephone conversation with US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. They discussed the recent events in Syria, the source said.

In February the Turkish foreign ministrys delegation will visit Washington D.C. to hold meetings in the US Department of State.

Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan
YEREVAN, JANUARY 12, ARMENPRESS. US President Donald Trump said he has no plans to declare a national emergency for now as a way of securing funds for a border wall and ending a partial government shutdown, adding that he would rather see the U.S. Congress act, Reuters reports.

We want Congress to do its job, Trump said during a White House event on border security.

Parts of the U.S. government shut down on Dec. 22 after funding expired as Trump and congressional Democrats quarreled over the his demand for money to build a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border.

Trump repeated his view that he had the right to declare a national emergency to divert funds appropriated for other purposes but said, Im not going to do it so fast.
YEREVAN, JANUARY 12, ARMENPRESS. The Georgian authorities inform that on January 12, as of 10:30, the Stepantsminda-Lars highway is open only for light passenger vehicles.

The ministry of transport, communication and information technologies told Armenpress that the highway is closed for heavy trucks.

Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan
YEREVAN, JANUARY 12, ARMENPRESS. The ministry of transport, communication and information technologies told Armenpress that on January 12, as of 10:00, Saravan Pass is partly covered with clear ice.

Vardenyats Pass is difficult to pass for heavy and trailer trucks.

All roads of inter-state and republican significance are open in Armenia.

Clearing operations are underway.

Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan
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Based on a play by Eugene Scribe, the story was inspired by the real-life intrigues of famed actress Adrienne Lecouvreur and the legendary soldierand loverMaurice of Saxony.

Adriana Lecouvreur occupies a unique place in the repertory: largely dismissed by experts from its premiere to the present day yet cherished by its fans for the dramatic possibilities provided by the lead roles. The opera is a deft combination of frank emotionalism and flowing lyricism, with pseudo-historical spectacle. Based on a play by Eugene Scribe, the story was inspired by the real-life intrigues of famed actress Adrienne Lecouvreur and the legendary soldierand loverMaurice of Saxony. Cileas operatic retelling quickly became a favorite of charismatic soloists. The title character in particular is a quintessential diva role.

Soprano Anna Netrebko joins the ranks of Renata Tebaldi, Montserrat Caballe, and Renata Scotto, taking onfor the first time at the Metthe title role of the real-life French actress who dazzled 18th-century audiences with her on-and offstage passion. The soprano is joined by tenor Piotr Beczala as Adrianas lover, Maurizio. The principal cast also features mezzo-soprano Anita Rachvelishvili and baritone Ambrogio Maestri. Gianandrea Noseda conducts. Sir David McVicars staging, which sets the action in a working replica of a Baroque theater, premiered at the Royal Opera House in London, where the Guardian praised the elegant production, sumptuously designed  The spectacle guarantees a good night out. Approx. runtime: 3:58 [2 Intermissions]
A citizen of Ukraine received minor injuries as a result of explosion at a Paris bakery. This was announced by the head of the Ukrainian Embassy in France consular department, Mykola Sobko, reports Ukrinform.

"The man lived in a hotel opposite the building, where the explosion occurred, and received minor injuries," the diplomat said.



According to him, Ukrainian was provided with the necessary consular assistance. His health condition is assessed as satisfactory.



As reported, a strong explosion thundered at a bakery located on rue de Trevise in Paris downtown, around 9 a.m. local time. As a result of the blast, windows in neighboring houses were broken.



According to preliminary data, the explosion occurred due to a gas leak. After it, a fire started in the building.

The media noted that this bakery was supposed to be closed on Saturday morning.

Remy Heitz, the Paris prosecutor, said that the blast had been manifestly accidental, telling reporters at the site: First there was a gas leak, then the arrival of the firefighters, followed by an explosion that caused the fire.
Agreement is part of measures for expanding military-technical cooperation between the countries

Ukrainian Ukrspetsexport arms trading company and Turkish Baykar Makina company concluded an agreement on purchasing Bayraktar TB2 combat UAV for the Ukrainian Army. President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko reported this on January 12.

As we have earlier agreed with President of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the agreement for the acquisition of Turkish Bayraktar TB2 combat drones for the Ukrainian military was signed. The brand-new strike aerial vehicles of the operation-tactical level, in addition to high-tech features, can be equipped with additional modern high accuracy missile system to destroy armored units, engineering and fortification facilities, including marine targets, Poroshenko said.

He notes that the agreement is a part of measures for expanding military-technical cooperation between Ukraine and Turkey and fully meets the strategic direction of Ukraine to NATO, to its standards and open world of weaponry market, where Ukraines military-industrial sector is successfully integrating.

We keep equipping the Ukrainian Army with advanced samples compatible to NATO standards, the President stressed.
Ukrainian Ambassador to Turkey Andrii Sybiha said they went through the passport control in Istanbul and depart to Odesa

Open source

The Ukrainian sailors, who have been rescued after the crash of the vessel near the Turkish coasts, went through the passport control in Istanbul and depart to Odesa, reports Ukrainian Ambassador to Turkey Andriy Sybiha.

The rescued sailors went through the passport control and fly from Istanbul to Odesa, Sabiha stated.

Earlier we reported that Ukrainian sailors, who suffered in the crash of the vessel in Turkey would be discharged from Samsun City Hospital on January 10 and then they would be transferred to Ankara.

Related: Vessel, which illegally entered Crimea ran aground in Black Sea

The cargo ship under Panama flag, which came from the Russian Azov port, sent a distress signal around 148 km (92 miles) away from the north-eastern Black Sea province Samsun. Four Ukrainians died as a result, seven were rescued. According to the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry, the tragedy happened due to a wave hit.
1,650 Russian citizens were denied enter Ukraine over the 30 days of martial law, which ended on December 26

Over 800 Russian citizens failed to enter Ukraine after the martial law ended on December 26, reports the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine.

Spokesperson of the border service Oleh Slobodyan stated that 160 Russians were refused to enter Ukraine during the New Year holidays.

When aliens and stateless persons, as well as the citizens of the Russian Federation cross the border, the border guards constantly separate risk groups and take additional measures to prevent people to enter Ukraine as they might be involved in provocative or illegal actions on the territory of our state, they say.

As we reported, the border guards did not allow 1,650 citizens of Russia to enter Ukraine during the action of martial law in ten regions from November 26 till December 26.

The coast guard ships of the Russian Navy acted aggressively against the ships of the Ukrainian Navy, which have been carrying out a scheduled transition from Ukraine's Odesa port to Mariupol port in the Sea of Azov.

Given the tough situation in the area of Kerch Strait in the Sea of Azov, President Petro Poroshenko supported the offer of Ukraine's national security and defense council; it stipulated that the Ukrainian Parliament should consider the option to impose the martial law in Ukraine.
The woman shared information on socials calling to change the state border

Open source

The Security Service of Ukraine detained a local resident of Odesa for disseminating anti-Ukrainian materials via banned Russian social networks, the service reports on its Facebook.

The woman has been constantly publishing information calling to change the state border and the constitutional system of Ukraine. Besides the abovementioned things, she was promoting "Luhansk/Donetsk People's Republics" terrorist organizations.

The agitator received the materials from propaganda outlets and websites of the militants.

Related: Security Service banned 157 Russians from entry to Ukraine in 2018

The crime figure was detained at the place of residency right after her another trip to the aggressor state.

The law enforcers seized the computer and mobile devices contained separatist materials during the searches.

A criminal proceeding was initiated for the violation of the territorial integrity and inviolability of Ukraine; the agitator is served with charge papers for committing the misdemeanor.
Two firefighters and a woman from Spain became the victims of the explosion

The French authorities clarified information about the victims of the explosion at a Paris bakery. It is reported that two firefighters and a woman from Spain died, according to Le Figaro.



Another 46 people were injured. It is noted that the initial information about the four victims was incorrect.

A strong explosion thundered at a bakery located on rue de Trevise in Paris downtown, around 9 a.m. local time. As a result of the blast, windows in neighboring houses were broken.



According to preliminary data, the explosion occurred due to a gas leak. After it, a fire started in the building.

The newspaper notes that this bakery was supposed to be closed on Saturday morning.

Remy Heitz, the Paris prosecutor, said that the blast had been manifestly accidental, telling reporters at the site: First there was a gas leak, then the arrival of the firefighters, followed by an explosion that caused the fire.

But Mr. Heitz said investigators were just beginning to ascertain what had caused the leak and that all hypotheses were still being considered.

The explosion came as Paris and other cities around France were bracing on Saturday for a ninth week of protests by the Yellow Vests movement, which has previously been marked by violence and vandalism. But there was no indication that the explosion on Saturday had anything to do with the protests.
Open source

At the moment, more than 80 citizens of Ukraine kept in Russian prisons because of their political views. This was reported by Ukraine's Obmudsman Lyudmyla Denisova.



"Every year on January 12, Ukraine marks the Day of Ukrainian political prisoners. Unfortunately, the issue of political prisoners is extremely relevant today. The Russian regime, surpassing Soviet totalitarianism, launched terror against Ukrainians again. It seeks to completely eliminate linguistic, cultural, and national identity in the occupied territories of our state. It massively happens in the occupied Crimea. People are abducted, searched, arrested, tortured, and accused of fictional crimes. Although, in fact, Ukrainians in Russia can become the political prisoners only because of their civic position," said in a statement.

Earlier Ukraines Ombudsman Lyudmyla Denisova flew to Odesa to meet the relatives of the Ukrainian sailors.
Two of them have been fired, one of the two was lowered in rank, another was demoted

Minister of Defense of Ukraine Stepan Poltorak dismissed from the military service two heads of territorial apartment operational departments (AOD) of Ukraine's Armed Forces; one officer of the Apartment Usage Directorate was lowered in rank, another was demoted for failing to fulfill the tasks for using budget resources for 2018. It is said on the website of the Ministry of Defense.

Related: UK plans to build two foreign military bases after Brexit, - Ministry of Defense

Last year, I clearly defined the priority for the effective use of the budgetary funds, when I was setting objectives for the use of the budget resources for 2018, Poltorak reminded.

He noted that in 2016-2017, the Ministry increased its abilities comparing with 2014, but the work hasnt been done fully.

Related: Ministry of Defense plans to increase acquisition of new weaponry in 2019

I have repeatedly warned about the measures, which I am going to take against responsible officials for failing to fulfill their duties. So, today, I have decided against particular officials. Two heads of territorial apartment operational departments are exempt from military service for failure to comply with my orders, one more officer of the territorial AOD was lowered in military rank, another was demoted, the Minister said.
All of the men had a heart attack on January 10

Checkpoint on temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine State Border Guard Service of Ukraine

Three people died at Horlivka checkpoint in the so-called "Donetsk Peoples Republic" on January 10, as Novosti.dn reported referring to the militants-controlled media.

Ivan Prykhodko, the Head of the occupation administration, informed about the deaths.

All the dead were men born in 1939, 1949, and 1959.

Doctors verified death from a heart attack the men had, the news agency reads.

Earlier it was reported that on January 5 two people died at Stanytsia Luhanska and Mayorske checkpoints.

As it was reported, over 3,000 civilians died in eastern Ukraine since Donbas war began. 7,000-9,000 civilians sustained injuries.

Related video:
Open source

December 12, illegal armed groups twice violated the ceasefire in Donbas conflict zone. It is reported by the press center of the Joint Forces Operation (JFO) headquarters on Facebook.

"The enemy opened fire, using the BMP-1 at the positions of the Joint forces in the Novotoshkivske village in Luhansk sector and grenade launchers of various systems, large-caliber machine guns in the Volny village on the Popasna direction," the headquarters said.



No casualties in the ranks of Ukrainian soldiers were reported. The situation in the area of Donbas conflict remains under the control of the Ukrainian military.

Earlier pro-Russian militants fired at the OSCE SMM drone, with the help of which observers monitored the snow removal at the T-0504 road in Luhansk region. This is reported by the Ukrainian Joint Forces Operation press center.

"According to an OSCE SMM daily report published on January 11, the missions observers stayed on the eastern outskirts of Popasna (Luhansk region) and watched the snow removal work on the T-0504 road using their own UAVs. Suddenly, the mission observers heard six shots of small arms approximately 1.5-2 km from the place, where they were located. According to them, the shots were fired at the UAV, which lost altitude then. The mission team was unable to regain control of the drone, which led to its loss" reads the message.



According to the Ukrainian side, the provocative actions of the militants are connected with the intentions to hide their firing activity in the direction of the Ukrainian troops.



"With such armed attacks, the occupiers are trying to intimidate representatives of the OSCE mission and force them to cease their work in the Luhansk area," the report said.
WASHINGTON: The US Army on Friday tweeted a video showing how the US Army washes its clothes.

In the tweet the US Army men can be seen crawling through muddy water head to toe. If this is really the way the US troops wash their clothes then it would not be wrong to say that it is indeed a very tough process and this simply highlights the toughness of the US soldiers. This process is clearly not for everyone and it can be done only with those having high level of fitness and stamina.

Some retired US soldiers have said that for the first six months, most of the men who are posted in war zones wash their clothes by hand. It is to be noted that the US Army also hires third party nationals to take care of laundry of its men. Most of the US bases across the world are, however, equipped with giant industrial washing machines to take care of the laundry needs of the soldiers.

It is quite possible that the latest video tweeted by the US Army is part of a training process for the soldiers in which they are trained to become physically and mentally tougher.
WASHINGTON: Democratic US Representative Tulsi Gabbard of Hawaii said in remarks aired by CNN on Friday that she will run for president in 2020, becoming the latest member of her party to pursue a challenge to Republican President Donald Trump.

"I have decided to run and will be making a formal announcement within the next week," Gabbard, a liberal 37-year-old Iraq War veteran as well as the first Hindu and first Samoan-American elected to the US Congress, told CNN.

US Senator Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts on December 31 announced she had formed an exploratory committee for a White House run in what is expected to be a crowded Democratic primary field before the November 2020 presidential election. Gabbard said "the issue of war and peace" would be the main focus of her campaign.

Her office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The Democratic presidential field could eventually include Senators Kamala Harris, Cory Booker and Kirsten Gillibrand, as well as former Vice President Joe Biden. Julian Castro, former President Barack Obama`s housing secretary, also formed an exploratory committee in December.

In the race to pick a candidate to run against Trump, Democrats will grapple with the tension between the party`s establishment and liberal wings that flared during the 2016 state-by-state nominating contests between former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Senator Bernie Sanders, an independent who ran under the Democratic banner.

Gabbard made headlines in 2016 by quitting a leadership post at the Democratic National Committee over the party`s decision to limit the number of debates between Clinton and Sanders, with analysts believing fewer debates benefited Clinton. Clinton ultimately won the Democratic nomination but lost to Trump.

The congresswoman then endorsed Sanders for president, becoming one of the few members of Congress to do so. Gabbard remains popular with some liberals but will have serious competition with other candidates on the left flank of the party.

Gabbard has also drawn criticism for secretly meeting with Syria`s President Bashar al-Assad, whose removal from power she opposes, during a 2017 trip to the war-ravaged country.

Iowa holds the first presidential nominating contest in 13 months. Warren informally kicked off the 2020 Democratic presidential nominating fight on visit last weekend to Iowa, condemning the corrupting influence of money on politics and lamenting lost economic opportunities for working families.
New York: SpaceX is laying off 10 per cent of its 6,000-person workforce as it tackles two hugely expensive projects, the company said. "To continue delivering for our customers and to succeed in developing interplanetary spacecraft and a global space-based Internet, SpaceX must become a leaner company," the Elon Musk-owned company said in the statement on Friday.

"Either of these developments, even when attempted separately, have bankrupted other organisations. This means we must part ways with some talented and hardworking members of our team. "We are grateful for everything they have accomplished and their commitment to SpaceX`s mission. This action is taken only due to the extraordinarily difficult challenges ahead and would not otherwise be necessary."

SpaceX has a booming business conducting uncrewed resupply trips to the International Space Station (ISS) through contracts with NASA. The company also delivers satellites to orbit through contracts with the US military and commercial firms.

SpaceX, along with competitor Boeing, are supposed to start flying astronauts to the ISS for NASA sometime this year. SpaceX was recently valued at $30.5 billion after initiating a $500 million equity sale in December. The company also took on about $250 million in debt last year in its first loan sale, according to the Wall Street Journal.

But SpaceX`s new products are expected to cost billions to develop. In September, Musk estimated SpaceX would spend between $2 billion and $10 billion developing an ultra-powerful spaceship and rocket system, recently renamed Starship and Super Heavy.

SpaceX also plans to use the technology to fly tourists to space and, potentially, one day send humans to Mars, CNN said. SpaceX is developing a constellation of satellites that could one day beam high-speed internet down to the Earth.
BANGKOK/TORONTO: An 18-year-old Saudi woman who fled her family saying she feared for her life has been granted asylum in Canada, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said on Friday, as Thai officials confirmed the teen was en route to Toronto.

Trudeau said United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) had asked Canada to take in Rahaf Mohammed al-Qunun, who grabbed international attention this week after she barricaded herself in a Bangkok airport hotel room to resist being sent home to her family, which denies any abuse.

"Canada is a country that understands how important it is to stand up for human rights, to stand up for women`s rights around the world, and I can confirm that we have accepted the U.N.`s request," he told reporters.

The decision is likely to exacerbate Canada`s already poor relations with Saudi Arabia, which last year barred the Canadian ambassador to Riyadh after Ottawa criticized Saudi authorities for detaining women`s` activists.

Qunun arrived in Bangkok on Saturday and was initially denied entry, but she soon started posting messages on Twitter from the transit area of Bangkok`s Suvarnabhumi airport saying she had "escaped Kuwait" and her life would be in danger if forced to return to Saudi Arabia.

Following a 48-hour stand-off at Bangkok airport, some of it barricaded in a transit lounge hotel room, she was allowed to enter Thailand and was then processed as a refugee by the UNHCR.

The UNHCR welcomed Canada`s decision and also acknowledged Thailand had given Qunun temporary refuge.

"Ms. al-Qunun`s plight has captured the world`s attention over the past few days, providing a glimpse into the precarious situation of millions of refugees worldwide," U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi said in a statement.

Qunun has accused her family of abuse, and has refused to meet her father and brother who arrived in Bangkok to try take her back to Saudi Arabia.

"It was her wish to go to Canada," Thailand`s immigration chief Surachate Hakparn told reporters. "She still refuses to meet with her father and brother, and they are going to be travelling back tonight as well ... They are disappointed."

Her case has drawn global attention to Saudi Arabia`s strict social rules, including a requirement that women have the permission of a male "guardian" to travel, which rights groups say can trap women and girls as prisoners of abusive families.

A Korean Air flight carrying Qunun left Bangkok for Seoul on Friday night at 11:37 p.m. local time (1637 GMT), an airport official told Reuters.

Qunun will board a connecting flight to Toronto from Seoul`s Incheon airport. She is expected to arrive in Canada on Saturday morning.

Trudeau brushed off a question as to whether Canada`s move might make it harder to repair ties with Saudi Arabia.

"Canada has been unequivocal that we will always stand up for human rights and women`s rights around the world," he said.

Amid increasing domestic political pressure, Trudeau said last month that his Liberal government was looking for a way out of a multibillion-dollar arms deal with Riyadh.

Qunun`s flight has emerged at a time when Riyadh is facing unusually intense scrutiny from its Western allies over the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul in October and over the humanitarian consequences of its war in Yemen.

Canada has repeatedly said Khashoggi`s murder was unacceptable and demanded a full explanation.
Washington: Hopeful that the Congress would give necessary approval to his demand for USD 5.7 billion to construct a wall along the US-Mexico border, President Donald Trump has said that him declaring a national emergency on the border security issue is not going to be so fast.

Asserting that he is within his rights to declare a national emergency, Trump said that he still wants the Congress to approve the funding for it.

Trump had on Wednesday said that imposing a national emergency is the last option and threatened to use it if the Democrats did not allocate USD 5.7 billion funding for his controversial US-Mexico border wall plan.

The president's inclination towards declaring a national emergency gained momentum after he walked out of a meeting with top Democratic leaders, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Minority

Leader Senator Chuck Schumer, on Wednesday following their refusal to allocate a whopping USD 5.7 billion funding for the border wall plan.

The Democrats have repeatedly refused to approve any legislation to fund the wall. The standoff led to the partial government shutdown.

Declaring a national emergency on border security would help him to construct a physical barrier, concrete or a steel, along the southern border of the US to prevent flow of illegal immigrants into the country.

In response to a question from reporters regarding imposition of national emergency, Trump said, "I'm not going to do it so fast," while asserting that he has the right to do so. He said the Democrats in the Congress "should come back and vote."

In the 116th Congress beginning this month, the opposition Democrats hold majority in House of Representatives and has significant numbers in the Senate to block its approval. "We want the Congress to do its job. What we're not looking to do right now is national emergency," the US president told reporters during a White House roundtable discussion with state, local, and community leaders on the the need for strong border security and safe communities.

He also termed human trafficking an "ancient crime" enabled in the modern age by the Internet and the lack of a border wall.

On declaring a national emergency, Trump said, "It's the easy way out but the Congress should do this... If they can't do it I will declare a national emergency... I'll be sued and it will be brought to the 9th Circuit... And we will probably lose there before a possible Supreme Court victory."

"I'd rather not do it," he said.

Attendees at the roundtable discussion included State attorneys general, local elected leaders, faith leaders, and federal, state, and local law enforcement officials who bring first-hand perspectives on how the "crisis" at the border is negatively impacting communities across the nation.

Trump discussed the building materials he would like to use for a wall, and said, "Steel that has concrete inside...Not a bad combination."

Law enforcement officials spoke about drug smuggling, with Chester County, Pennsylvania, Sheriff Bunny Welsh describing a recent opioid overdose death which, she said, was linked. A pastor described families of suspected trafficking victims seeking help in Las Vegas.

Referring to a story about a tractor trailer full of immigrants who suffocated, Trump said it was "a hell of a death" and "a disgrace", while asserting that many migrants are smuggled between the ports of entry.

Reiterating his contention that unrelated adults use children to cross the border, the president said, "They are just using the children and then they tell them to get out of here."

Hitting out at mediapersons in the room, Trump said, "You write about nonsense... You don't report it because you're fake news... You don't want to tell the story about what's going on at the border."

Rebuffing Nancy Pelosi's claim that building a wall is immoral, he said, "What is immoral is what's going on".

Democrats can call the wall by a different name, Trump said, adding they are welcome to use the term "peaches". "The Republicans have been rock solid" in supporting the wall, the president said and called on the Democrats to vote on it.

Likening his fight for the wall to his controversial decision to move the US embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, Trump said that he would complete a job others had discussed but did not fulfil.

"The Democrats have to help us...It will take us 15 minutes..And then we will get onto much bigger immigration reform," he said.

Over the 8,00,000 federal workers missing a paycheck on Friday due to the partial government shutdown, the president said, "I appreciate their service... I appreciate their incredible support... I just really appreciate the fact that they have handled this so incredibly well."
Lahore: Pakistan's jailed former premier Nawaz Sharif's health condition has deteriorated, his daughter claimed on Friday and alleged that authorities are not letting his cardiologists examine him in the jail in Lahore.

Maryam Nawaz on Friday said that Sharif, who has been serving a seven-year jail term in Lahore's Kot Lakhpat jail in the Al-Azizia Steel Mills graft case, is suffering from a pain in his arm, "which is most likely to be angina".

A jail spokesman, however, said jail doctors examined Sharif thoroughly and his health is fine. "Nawaz Sharif is in good health," he said.

Taking to Twitter, Maryam complained that Sharif's cardiologists "have been trying to get access to him all day but (the) permission (has) not (been) granted". "He needs to be examined by the doctors who are privy to his complicated medical history," Maryam said.

Sharif, 69, had undergone an open-heart surgery about three years ago in London.

Maryam, who had visited her father in the jail on Thursday, said his father had a "complicate medical history" and he needed special health care.

PML-N president Shahbaz Sharif warned that if anything happened to his elder brother, Prime Minister Imran Khan and the Punjab government will be responsible.

He demanded the jail authorities to immediately allow Sharif's cardiologist to examine him and provide him the best health facilities.

An anti-corruption court in Pakistan on December 24 sentenced the ousted premier to seven years in jail in the Al-Azizia Steel Mills graft case, concluding a series of three court cases against the Sharif family in the high-profile Panama Papers case.

The Al-Azizia Steel Mill case was about setting up steel mills in Saudi Arabia allegedly with corruption money.
Washington: The FBI has opened an inquiry into whether Donald Trump was working for Russians in the days after the American President fired James B Comey in 2017 as the top investigative agency's director, according to a report. In May 2017, the US President abruptly removed the 56-year-old Comey, Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), who was overseeing a criminal probe into whether the Trump campaign colluded with the Russian government to influence the 2016 presidential election that was won by the real estate mogul.

The New York Times, based on unnamed sources, said that such an investigation against Trump that was started by the FBI carried explosive implications, as the law enforcement agents sought to determine if the president was knowingly working for the Russians or had unwittingly fallen under Moscow's influence. Investigators have to consider if Trump's own actions constituted a possible threat to the national security, the paper reported on Friday.

"No evidence has emerged publicly that Trump was secretly in contact with or took direction from Russian government officials," The New York Times said. "Agents and senior FBI officials had grown suspicious of Trump's ties to Russia during the 2016 campaign but held off on opening an investigation into him, the people said, in part because they were uncertain how to proceed with an inquiry of such sensitivity and magnitude," the paper reported.

The White House has described The New York Times story as absurd. "This is absurd. James Comey was fired because he's a disgraced partisan hack and his deputy Andrew McCabe who was in charge of the time is a known liar fired by the FBI. Unlike former president (Barack) Obama who let Russia and other foreign adversaries push America around, President Trump has actually been tough on Russia,? the White House Press Secretary said.

The FBI did not respond to a query on the alleged investigation against Trump. But according to the daily, the FBI investigation was taken over by the Special Counsel Robert Muller who has been tasked to investigate into the allegations of Russian interference in the 2016 presidential elections.

The inquiry is part of Mueller's broader examination of how Russian operatives interfered in the 2016 election and whether any Trump associates conspired with them. Trump has, however, denied of having any collusion with the Russians and repeatedly criticised the Mueller investigation as a "witch hunt" and views it as a stain on the legitimacy of his presidency.

"If the president had fired Comey to stop the Russia investigation, the action would have been a national security issue because it naturally would have hurt the bureau's effort to learn how Moscow interfered in the 2016 election and whether any Americans were involved, according to James A. Baker, who served as FBI general counsel until late 2017," the report said. Baker privately testified in October before House investigators who were examining the FBI's handling of the full Russia inquiry, it said.

"Not only would it be an issue of obstructing an investigation, but the obstruction itself would hurt our ability to figure out what the Russians had done, and that is what would be the threat to national security," Baker said in his testimony, portions of which were read to The New York Times. He did not explicitly acknowledge the existence of the investigation of Trump to congressional investigators.

The report casts pressure on the White House, which is already feeling the heat from months of investigations. Trump's former campaign chairman Paul Manafort in August 2018 was convicted of financial crisis and later pleaded guilty to conspiring to defraud the US and conspiring to obstruct justice.

Trump's longtime lawyer and aide Michael Cohen is set to begin a three-year prison sentence in March after pleading guilty to fraud, campaign finance violations and lying under oath.
A few days after he walked out of a meeting with Congressional leaders when they shot down his border wall funding proposal, US President Donald Trump on Saturday urged the opposition Democrats to visit the White House for talks to end the government shutdown which is now in its record 22nd day.

"I am in the White House waiting for you!" Trump told the Democrats through his Twitter account and threatened that the shutdown could continue for a long time if there is no agreement.

We have a massive Humanitarian Crisis at our Southern Border. We will be out for a long time unless the Democrats come back from their vacations and get back to work. I am in the White House ready to sign!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 12, 2019

....I do have a plan on the Shutdown. But to understand that plan you would have to understand the fact that I won the election, and I promised safety and security for the American people. Part of that promise was a Wall at the Southern Border. Elections have consequences!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 12, 2019

I just watched a Fake reporter from the Amazon Washington Post say the White House is chaotic, there does not seem to be a strategy for this Shutdown. There is no plan. The Fakes always like talking Chaos, there is NONE. In fact, theres almost nobody in the W.H. but me, and...  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 12, 2019

Democrats could solve the Shutdown in 15 minutes! Call your Dem Senator or Congresswoman/man. Tell them to get it done! Humanitarian Crisis.  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 12, 2019

23% of Federal inmates are illegal immigrants. Border arrests are up 240%. In the Great State of Texas, between 2011 & 2018, there were a total of 292,000 crimes by illegal aliens, 539 murders, 32,000 assaults, 3,426 sexual assaults and 3000 weapons charges. Democrats come back!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 12, 2019

Democrats should come back to Washington and work to end the Shutdown, while at the same time ending the horrible humanitarian crisis at our Southern Border. I am in the White House waiting for you!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 12, 2019

"Democrats should come back to Washington and work to end the shutdown, while at the same time ending the horrible humanitarian crisis at our Southern Border," the president tweeted.

The partial government shutdown on Saturday entered its 22nd day, surpassing the previous record of 21 days. The longest ever shutdown has been due to the stalemate between the ruling Republicans and the Democrats on funding construction of a wall along the US-Mexico border.

Trump has sought USD 5.7 billion in funding from the Congress to construct a concrete wall or a physical steel barrier so as to prevent flow of illegal immigrants and smuggling of drugs. The opposition Democrats have said that under no circumstances can they approve such a proposal. Trump has said that in the absence of Congressional approval of his wall proposal, he will not sign any budgetary legislation.

This has resulted in a partial government shutdown wherein more 800,000 federal government employees have been left without work and have not received their salaries. Trump has promised that he will ensure that these employees get their salaries but functioning of several important wings of the US government has come to a standstill.

"We have a massive Humanitarian Crisis at our Southern Border. We will be out for a long time unless the Democrats come back from their 'vacations' and get back to work. I am in the White House ready to sign!" Trump tweeted.

"I do have a plan on the shutdown. But to understand that plan you would have to understand the fact that I won the election, and I promised safety and security for the American people. Part of that promise was a Wall at the Southern Border. Elections have consequences!," Trump asserted, indicating that he will not budge from his stand on the border wall.

The Democrats, he said, could solve the shutdown in 15 minutes. "Call your Dem Senator or Congresswoman/man. Tell them to get it done! Humanitarian Crisis," he urged his 57.2 million Twitter followers.

Referring to official statistics, Trump said 23 per cent of federal prison inmates are illegal immigrants. "Border arrests are up 240 per cent. In the Great State of Texas, between 2011 & 2018, there were a total of 292,000 crimes by illegal aliens, 539 murders, 32,000 assaults, 3,426 sexual assaults and 3,000 weapons charges. Democrats come back!" he said. He refuted media reports that there is chaos in the White House.

"I just watched a Fake reporter from the Amazon Washington Post say the White House is 'chaotic, there does not seem to be a strategy for this Shutdown. There is no plan'. The Fakes always like talking Chaos, there is NONE. In fact, there's almost nobody in the White House but me," Trump said.

with PTI inputs
WASHINGTON: Texas Democrat Julian Castro, a former San Antonio mayor who went on to be the top US housing official, formally announced his White House bid on Saturday, making him the first Hispanic in what looks to be a crowded field of candidates vying to challenge President Donald Trump in the November 2020 election.

Castro, 44, the grandson of a Mexican immigrant who would be the first Hispanic elected president, served as secretary of Housing and Urban Development under former President Barack Obama and has long been viewed as a rising star in the party. He will seek to position himself as a political outsider with liberal credentials.

When my grandmother got here almost a hundred years ago, Im sure she never could have imagined that just two generations later, one of her grandsons would be serving as a member of the United States Congress and the other would be standing with you here today to say these words: I am a candidate for President of the United States of America, Castro said in a statement announcing his campaign.

One of Castro`s first stops as a candidate will take place on Monday in Puerto Rico, where he will attend an event hosted by the liberal Latino Victory Fund. He made his announcement at Plaza Guadalupe, a landmark in San Antonio`s sprawling west side Mexican American barrio, a neighborhood of neat, brightly painted wood framed homes, many on tiny lots and festooned with white plaster Catholic statues.

Since announcing formation of an exploratory committee in December, Castro has begun to stake out positions on policy debates that will dominate the nominating contests that kick off early next year.

Castro has endorsed the "Medicare for all" proposal, which would in effect create a national health care plan by allowing anyone to join the public health care system. That policy point is likely to divide Democrats in the primary, with more moderate candidates favoring a less drastic approach. Castro, whose grandmother was born in Mexico, has sought to use his family`s personal story to criticize Trump`s border policies.

Castro is the second candidate to formally launch a campaign. Former U.S. Representative John Delaney has been running for more than a year, and US Senator Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts has formed an exploratory committee and has begun holding campaign events in Iowa and New Hampshire, the states with the earliest contests.

More than a dozen potential Democratic candidates are exploring a possible run for president in 2020. Moderates and progressives in the party have been debating about how to best challenge Trump, the likely Republican nominee. Some Democrats believe an establishment figure who can appeal to centrist voters is the way to win back the White House. Others contend a fresh face is needed to energize the party`s increasingly left-leaning base.

Castro, who was considered on the short list to be Hillary Clinton`s running mate in the 2016 election, will try to leverage his Obama administration experience while making the case he is still a political newcomer.

Castro would be the first identical twin elected president. His brother, Joaquin Castro, is a member of the US House of Representatives from Texas. Joaquin Castro`s position on the House Intelligence Committee has made him a frequent public critic of the president.
Footage of surgeons remove a blood-sucking leech from a woman throat during surgery has shocked viewers across the world.

The 63-year-old woman from Vietnam had sought medical help over acute migraines for days. After a series of tests, she was advised to undergo a throat tumour removal procedure.

During the operation, surgeons were shocked to discover the blood-sucking leech, wriggling inside the patient's sinuses.

The two-inch-long leech  alive and writhing  is placed on a tray by surgeons. If not removed on time, the parasitic worm could have attacked the patient's sinuses.

The revolting footage, which went viral, has many squirming.

According to local reports the worm had been living inside the woman's throat for three months.

The patient was lives northern Vietnam's Ha Giang province which borders China. The land is known for its picturesque scenes, green mountains and caves. Doctors believe the leech most likely seeping inside the woman's body during a bath in spring water.

Most leeches live in freshwater environments. It feed on blood by making small cuts in their prey's skin then covering it in their saliva which numbs the area and increases blood flow.
KORIYA: During chilly winters, there is nothing more tempting than a piping hot cup of tea but is it possible for you to just survive on tea?

A woman living in Koriya district of Chhattisgarh has been drinking just tea for the last 30 years and is in the pink of her health too.

Pilli Devi, who lives in Baradiya village of Koriya district, gave up food when she was just 11 and has been surviving on Tea ever since. Palli is known famous in the village as `chai wali chachi.`

Talking to ANI, Pilli`s father Rati Ram said the 44-year-old decided not to eat anything when she was in class VI. "Our daughter went to participate in a district level tournament from Patna School in Janakpur, Koriya District. When she returned, she suddenly gave up eating food and drinking water," he added.

Rati Ram said that his daughter initially took biscuits and bread with milk tea, but after few months she starting having black tea only. He added that Pilli consumes once a day after sunset. Pilli`s brother Bihari Lal Rajvade noted that they consulted doctors to confirm that she is not suffering from any disease, but doctors failed to find any health issue. "We have taken her to many hospitals, none of the doctors could figure out the reason behind her situation," he told ANI.

Palli's family members said that she rarely steps out of the house and prefers to spend her time by worshipping Lord Shiva. Expressing surprise over Palli's lifestyle, Dr S K Gupta from district hospital, Koriya, said: "It is surprising. Scientifically speaking, a human being cannot survive on tea for 33 years. It`s different when people keep fast for nine days during Navratri and only drink tea. But 33 years is a lot of time, this is not possible."

(with agency inputs)
LUCKNOW: Arch rivals Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) and Samajwadi Party (SP) on Saturday announced that they will contest the upcoming Lok Sabha elections together on 38 seats each of the 80 in Uttar Pradesh, while leaving Rae Bareli and Amethi for Congress.

The coming together of these unlikely alliance partners is historic but not a first. In 1993, the then party chiefs Mulayam Singh Yadav and Kanshi Ram had fought the assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh together and even formed the government. However, just two years later, the alliance fell apart in 1995.

What marked the bitter end of the tie-up then was an incident, infamously known as the 1995 guest house scandal. The unruly mob of SP workers had stormed into the Meerabai Guest House in Lucknow where Mayawati was huddled in a meeting with her MLAs. As per reports, Mayawati's room was vandalised, she was abused and even allegedly beaten up. When the BSP MLAs failed to protect her, BJP MLA Brahm Dutt Dwivedi took her out of the guest house to safety. It was then that BSP had joined hands with the BJP to form a government in the state.

The incident had left an indelible mark in the relationship between the two parties. It was said that Kanshi Ram made numerous efforts to revive the coalition but Mayawati held the fort in her opposition to a possible tie-up.

However, twenty five years later, it seems that Mayawati has moved beyond her bitter past.

On Saturday when BSP and announced their alliance, Mayawati herself recalled the 1995 guest house scandal with Akhilesh Yadav seated next to her. But the mention of the incident was not to attack the SP chief, instead to reassert that she had buried the hatchet and was ready to join hands with the party which was it once considered an archrival.

"Kanshi Ramji and Mulayamji had come together to defeat the BJP in the past. That alliance could not work for a longer time due to the Lucknow guest house incident. But today, we are moving past that incident and joining hands to defeat the BJP. For us, the country is bigger than any differences. Even the 1995 Guest House scandal cannot stop us from coming together to work for the benefit of the country," Mayawati said.

While thanking Mayawati for joining hands with the SP, Akhilesh took a moment to warn his cadres against insulting the BSP chief under any circumstances. "From today onwards, all the SP workers should know that an insult of Mayawati ji, will be insulting me," Akhilesh said.

The mention of the 1995 guest house incident comes at a time when the BJP has been targeting the two parties claiming that they are joining hands due to the fear of the saffron party. "Rivals are coming together just to oppose us. Political rivals, who did not even like to look at each other, are now coming together just to oppose us. They fear the chowkidar, which is why they want to throw me out of power," he had said.

The BSP and the SP who had come together to successfully defeat the BJP in Phulpur, Gorakhpur and Kairana bypolls in 2017, are now hoping for a similar success story in 2019 polls too.
NEW DELHI: Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav and Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati will on Saturday jointly address a press conference to announce the seat-sharing arrangement between the two parties for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. With the two leaders coming together to make the announcement without the Congress, it seems clear that the grand old party is being kept out of the pact in Uttar Pradesh.

As per reports, the SP and the BSP are planning to contest on 37 seats each out of the 80 Lok Sabha seats in Uttar Pradesh. The alliance plans to leave just two -- Raebareli and Amethi, the bastions of Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi -- for the Congress.

While Akhilesh on Friday shied away from speaking on the seat sharing arrangement with the Congress, the latter has described the likelihood of being ignored in the alliance as a "very dangerous mistake". The Congress has claimed that it is ready to fight the parliamentary polls alone in the state.

Akhilesh had said in Kannauj that with BSP, SP coming together, there is not just fear in the BJP but also in the Congress.

Smaller parties like the RLD and the Nishad Party are also likely to be part of the alliance but were not mentioned in the announcement on the press conference on Friday.

The two parties had buried their differences last year when they had come together to contest the three bypolls in Gorakhpur, Phulpur and Kairana. Their win in the bypolls was seen as a consolidation of Other Backward Classes, Dalits and Muslim votes, and raised expectations of a similar math working in the 2019 elections.

The two leaders have also publicly shown support for each other giving indications that the alliance is going strong in the run up to the Lok Sabha polls.

When there were reports that the CBI might question Yadav in connection with a mining scam that allegedly took place when he was chief minister, Mayawati had advised her 'mahagatbandhan' partner to not be 'shaken'.

Yadav, too, had put out a statement condemning Prime Minister Narendra Modi's remarks in Agra on Mayawati "forgetting" an attack on her by SP workers in 1995. "The PM is scared of the alliance," Yadav had said.


After delivering a super hit film like Mahanati, actress Keerthy Suresh has signed an upcoming Telugu film. Once again, she will be seen in a female-centric film. To be directed by Narendra, the film will be produced by Mahesh Koneru under East Coast Productions. This film is going to be their third production.

The film was launched recently at an event attended by the actor, the director and technicians. The special guest for the event was actor Kalyan Ram and he clapped the first shot for the flick at the muhurat shoot.

The production house has shared the pictures on their social media account and are proud for making the film. Keerthy also took to her official Twitter handle and wrote, Very happy to announce my next in Telugu with Producer @smkoneru and Director #narendranath. Cant wait to announce the rest of the cast and crew @EastCoastPrdns (sic).

Producer Mahesh S Koneru tweeted, Happy and grateful for the opportunity to work with @Keerthyofficial for our next movie. Shell be playing a very strong character in this movie (sic).

The producer also announced that the film will be going on the floors in February and the major portion of the flick will be shot abroad. If everything goes well, this yet-to-be-titled project will be released by the end of the year.

Meanwhile, East Coast Productions is also busy making 118, the Kalyan Ram film which will have Shalini Pandey and Nivetha Thomas as the leading ladies. It will be releasing on March 1.
Kolkata: Six protestors have been arrested on Saturday for holding a demonstration against the screening of `The Accidental Prime Minister` inside a cineplex in Kolkata.

A video of the incident was recently made public by ANI. In the clip, a group of protestors can be seen moving around the mall sloganeering against the screening of the movie.

The protestors can be heard shouting slogans against actor Anupam Kher, who played the lead role in the movie.The Congress protest against the screening of the movie was organised on Thursday, during the evening show inside the Quest INOX Cineplex.

Earlier on Friday, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had asserted that the Anupam Kher-starrer `The Accidental Prime Minister` was made with an intention to distort facts and keeping the upcoming Lok Sabha elections in mind.Firing a fresh salvo at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, she had asserted that a movie titled `Disastrous Prime Minister` should also be made.

The Manmohan Singh biopic drew a lot of flak from the Congress party, even before the movie hit the theatres. Maharashtra Youth Congress, in December, had raised objections over the film and demanded its special screening to ensure that none of the scenes are factually incorrect.

The film is based on facts chronicled in a book by Sanjaya Baru - Manmohan Singh`s media advisor between 2004 and 2008. It revolves around Singh`s life, the economist and politician who served as the Prime Minister of India from 2004 to 2014 under the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government.
New Delhi: Veteran actress-activist Shabana Azmi feels that Indian film institutes must teach film production to their students.

Asked if Indian film institutes don`t put emphasis on film production as compared to acting and direction, she said: "It is absolutely right thing. I always say this thing because out of our country, there are lots of institutions where production is taught.

"In India, for production, you just need to have money and it doesn`t require any kind of experience. I feel film institute`s should understand this thing that production also needs training."

The actress spoke on the importance of film production while interacting with the media when she hosted a painting competition to celebrate the 100th birth anniversary of renowned poet and her father Kaifi Azmi on Saturday here.

She added that government subsidised film institutions must include training of film production in their courses.

"I think government subsidised institutions like Film Television Institute of India (FTII) or Satyajit Ray Film and Television Institute must incorporate production training in their course."
New Delhi: Nargis Fakhri, who has been missing from the big screens for a long time, is all set to make her comeback with horror flick 'Amavas', slated for release on February 1. Nargis, who has been busy promoting the film, blasted a news website for claiming that she is expecting a child with Hollywood director Matt Alonzo, with whom she was reportedly in a relationship with.

The actress took to Twitter, and wrote, "Take this down @TheLive_Mirror your reporter published lies & not only that he has also body shamed a person that may actually be suffering from an illness. Get your facts right before u publish."

Take this down @TheLive_Mirror your reporter published lies & not only that he has also body shamed a person that may actually be suffering from an illness. Get your facts right before u publish. pic.twitter.com/9l7mlcFMv3  Nargis (@NargisFakhri) January 12, 2019

There were reports that Nargis dating Hollywood director and video editor Matt Alonzo and even celebrated Christmas and New Year with him. The actress had even shared photos with him on her Instagram account. Though none of them made any official announcement about their relationship status, their pictures dropped major hints about them being a couple.

In fact, they rumoured to be living in together in Los Angeles since October 2017 and had their initials tattooed on each other's wrists.

But, if the latest reports are to be believed, the two have broken up with each other and are no longer together. Moreover, Nargis, whose Instagram account was filled with pictures of Alonzo, have deleted all of it and even he has done the same.

Recently, a report in Live Mirror claimed that the actress, who has returned to India to promote her upcoming film 'Amavas', is pregnant with Alonzo's child. The report also quoted a source from the film sets that that 'Rockstar' actress behaved very weirdly with everyone on the sets and was often seen getting cranky. The source added that she took continuous breaks as she was throwing up and later, people on the sets got to know that she is expecting a baby.

However, the actress today took to Twitter to quash all the reports published by the website. She also asked the writer to issue an apology for body-shaming her. And her fans are coming out in her support. Take a look at some of the comments on her post:

This is shameful , writing anything about anyone without knowing nothing about the person is so wrong !!  Vatsal_Sharma (@deuce_vatsal) January 12, 2019

Nargis made her debut on the big screen with Imtiaz Ali's 'Rockstar' opposite Ranbir Kapoor. The actress went on to star in several other films. She received praise for portraying a war correspondent in 2013 released political thriller 'Madras Cafe' and achieved further success with starring roles in the highly successful comedies 'Main Tera Hero' and 'Housefull 3'. She has also featured in Hollywood production 'Spy'.
New Delhi: Anupam Kher on Saturday reached out to Congress president Rahul Gandhi after his party workers held a demonstration against the screening of `The Accidental Prime Minister` inside a cineplex in Kolkata.

The veteran actor, who plays Dr. Manmohan Singh in the film, took to social media to remind Rahul about his earlier tweet on freedom of expression.

He wrote, "Dear @RahulGandhi. I don`t think your supporters who vandalized a theatre playing #TheAccidentalPrimeminister read your tweets about #FreedomOfExpression."Meanwhile, a video of the incident was recently made public by ANI.

In the clip, a group of protesters can be seen moving around the mall sloganeering against the screening of the movie and the lead actor, Kher.`The Accidental Prime Minister`, which hit the big screens on Friday, is based on facts as chronicled in a book by Sanjaya Baru-- Manmohan Singh`s media advisor between 2004 and 2008.

It revolves around Singh`s life, the economist and politician who served as the Prime Minister of India from 2004 to 2014 under the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government.The film has been drawing a lot of flak from the opposition Congress party which poked holes in the portrayal of the former prime minister.

The party also criticised the trailer, which was released in December, saying that the movie shows Sonia Gandhi and her son Rahul Gandhi in a wrong light.
SRINAGAR: Days after IAS officer Shah Faesal called it quits and said he was willing to contest the upcoming elections, Jammu and Kashmir Governor Satya Pal Malik expressed disappointment over his action.

I wish him well. Jo apni is duty ko poori nahi kar raha hai, vo aage jaa kar kya karega,iska main nahi janta hun. Unko bhot samman mila tha, sarkari kaam mila tha karne ko, vo karte toh bhot acha rehta. (I wish him well. If he could'nt fulfill his duty, can't say what will he do in future. He received immense respect, the opportunity to work in the government, would've been good if he did that), said Malik.

Faesal, who'd been in the limelight since becoming the first Kashmiri to top the civil services exam in 2009, announced his resignation on January 9 through social media to protest the "unabated" killings in Kashmir and the marginalisation of Indian Muslims.

In a press conference on Friday, Faesal said he was willing to contest the upcoming parliamentary elections but would not be joining any political party "as of now".

Later, Bharatiya Janata Party's Jammu and Kashmir unit termed his remarks at the press conference earlier in the day a "bundle of lies" and motivated.

"The press conference of Faesal is a bundle of lies. His statement is not only false but motivated to create a wedge in the peacefully living society," state BJP chief spokesperson Sunil Sethi said.

He has chosen to play in the hands of forces inimical to India, Sethi claimed.
Hours after the once arch-rivals Samajwadi Party (SP) and Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) announced on Saturday their tie-up in Uttar Pradesh for the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, leaders across political parties reacted to the decision. The announcement was made jointly by SP president Akhilesh Yadav and BSP chief Mayawati.

Speaking on the alliance, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath accused the coalition of being casteist, corrupt and of opportunistic mindset. He further added that the two political parties don't want development and good governance. Terming the alliance as 'unholy' and said they will get a befitting answer.

The CM said, "This is a coalition of casteist, corrupt and opportunistic mindset that doesn't want development and good governance. The public knows everything and this unholy alliance will be given a perfect answer."

The BSP and SP will share 38 seats each out of the state's 80 parliamentary constituencies and keep the Congress out of the alliance. However, the two parties said they will not field candidates in Amethi and Rae Bareli, represented by Congress president Rahul Gandhi and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi, respectively. But there have been talks with the Rashtriya Lok Dal.

Reacting to the development, Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said the two parties had come together for their survival, and not for the country or the state. "They know they cannot fight Modi on their own and their opposition to him is the sole base for their alliance," Prasad told reporters on the sidelines of the party's National Council meeting in Delhi.

Taking a jibe at Mayawati and Akhilesh, Rajya Sabha MP Amar Singh called the duo 'bua' and 'babua' respectively. He pointed out that the founder of SP will always be Mulayam Singh who has been totally cut off with this development. He also said that on the banners, Mayawati, Mulayam Singh and Akhilesh won't be there together and it'll be only Akhilesh and Mayawati.

"Founder of Samajwadi Party will always be Mulayam Singh Ji. Now he is totally cut off with this development. On the banners, Mayawati, Mulayam Singh & Akhilesh won't be there together. It'll be only Akhilesh & Mayawati, 'bua & babua'," said Amar Singh.

Reacting to the alliance, Pragatisheel Samajwadi Party (Lohia) chief Shivpal Yadav said the "alliance is incomplete without Pragatisheel Samajwadi Party as only a secular front can defeat BJP."

Peeved over Mayawati's accusation that it was being run by the BJP, his party hit back at the BSP chief said everyone knew who had formed the government with the saffron party earlier. "The allegation against Shivpal is baseless. Everyone in the state knows who formed the government with the BJP, and which party sells a ticket and is involved in corruption. Shivpal's fight against communalism is four-decade-old," Pragatisheel Samajwadi Party (Lohia) chief spokesperson C P Rai said.

Mayawati asked the party cadre "to not waste their vote on his (Shivpal's) party, (which is) funded by the BJP". "The BJP's money will go down the drain as it is running Shivpal's party," she said, while Akhilesh Yadav did not say anything about the party floated recently by his feuding uncle.

Rai said Akhilesh Yadav should understand that the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) had earlier taken the votes of Dalits, Other Backward Class (OBC) and Muslims, and went with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), adding "history can be repeated". "The SP workers were framed in fake cases during the BSP regime. The SP allied with the party which humiliated Mulayam Singh Yadav and Janeshwar Mishra. This is an alliance of opportunism. Any 'Samajwadi' will not accept it," he said.

West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress (TMC) supremo Mamata Banerjee welcomed the alliance. "I welcome the alliance of the SP and the BSP for the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections," Banerjee tweeted.

Mayawati mocked Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP president Amit Shah. "This press conference will rob the guru-chela of their sleep," she said. "I have full confidence that just as our alliance defeated the BJP in the Lok Sabha bypolls, we will crush the saffron party in the general elections," she said, referring to the BJP's defeat in Phulpur, Gorakhpur and Kairana parliamentary bypolls.

In 2014, the BJP had won 71 seats in Uttar Pradesh while its ally Apna Dal bagged two. The SP won five seats and the Congress two, while the BSP drew a blank.

Explaining why the Congress was not included in the alliance, Mayawati said during that party's rule over the years, poverty, unemployment and corruption grew and there were scams in defence deals. "Just as the Bofors scam uprooted the Congress, the BJP will witness the same fate because of its involvement in the Rafale scam," she said, referring to the graft allegations against the ruling party in a deal for French military aircraft. She also said in tie-ups with the Congress in the past, her party did not benefit.

To a question on seat-sharing with the Rashtriya Lok Dal in western UP, Akhilesh Yadav said the media would be informed about it in due course.

Asked whether it was a "natural alliance", Mayawati said, "This will last long, beyond Lok Sabha polls and in the UP Assembly elections." Asked if he would support Mayawati as prime minister if the situation arises, Yadav avoided a direct reply. "You know whom I will support," he said. "I have said in the past that UP has always given the PM (to the country), and I will be happy if it gives the PM again."

The two leaders did not make it clear whether they will themselves contest the polls, which are to be held by May.

with PTI inputs
New Delhi: Those who seek votes in the name of cows should also provide fodder to them, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said on Friday after he was told during his visit to Bawana that the BJP-led MCD has not released funds to a gaushala for two years in the area.

The chief minister, accompanied by Development Minister Gopal Rai, visited 'Shree Krishna Gaushala' funded by the Delhi government and municipal corporation in Bawana town in North West district.

Talking to reporters after his visit, Kejriwal said the Aam Aadmi Party does not seek votes in the name of cows.

Representatives of gaushala told the chief minister that MCD, ruled by the BJP, has not released its share of funds for two years due to which they have to face problems.

Kejriwal claimed that the Delhi government has released its share of funds to gaushala, but MCD has not given its share yet. "Those who seek votes in the name of cows should also give fodder to cows. They get votes in the name of cows, but they refuse to give fodder to cows, which is not right. There should not be politics over cows," he told reporters without taking name of anyone.

In response to a question from reporters, Kejriwal said he will visit gaushalas in Haryana next week. The AAP is gearing up to contest Lok Sabha polls in the neighbouring state.

Minister Rai said the AAP government recently introduced a policy for birds and animals. A gaushala in Ghuman Hera area will be "modernised", he added.

Shree Krishna Gaushala is spread over 36 acres. It has 7,552 cattle against the capacity of 7,740.
NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will on Sunday release a commemorative coin on Guru Gobind Singh's birth anniversary. The Prime Minister will also address a select gathering on this occasion at 7 Lok Kalyan Marg in Delhi.

The Prime Minister had attended 350th birth anniversary celebrations of Shri Guru Gobind Singh in Patna on January 5, 2017. He had released a commemorative postage stamp to mark the occasion. In his address, the Prime Minister had mentioned how he made a unique attempt to unite the country through the Khalsa sect and the five Panch Pyaras belonged to different parts of India. He said that Guru Gobind Singh put knowledge at the core of his teaching.

Recalling Guru Gobind Singh's fight for the weaker sections, the Prime Minister in his Mann Ki Baat radio program on 30 December said also said that Guru Gobind Singh believed that the biggest service is to alleviate human sufferings. The PM also lauded him for his heroism, sacrifice and devotion.

The PM has time and again recalled how Guru Gobind Singh's message that people should consider entire mankind as one, that no one is superior or inferior, no one is touchable or untouchable is still relevant. In his Independence Day address in 2016 as well, the Prime Minister had recalled the fore the saga of sacrifice for the country which has been the tradition of Sikh Gurus.
Washington: President Donald Trump attaches great importance to the bilateral relationship between India and the United States, the new Indian ambassador to the country, Harsh V Shringla, has said. Shringla, who arrived in Washington on January 9, presented his diplomatic credentials to the US president in the Oval Office of the White House on Friday.

Reflective of the growing trust and warmth between India and the US, the new Indian envoy presented his credentials to Trump in less than 50 hours after arriving in Washington.

Such a quick credentials ceremony for a foreign diplomat is rare in the American capital, given that in the past, envoys of other countries, including those from India, have waited for weeks to formally present their diplomatic credentials to the US president.

Diplomatic credentials is a letter that formally appoints a diplomat as the ambassador to another country. The letter is addressed from one head of state to another. It is presented by the ambassador to the receiving head of state in a formal ceremony.

The ceremony further marks the beginning of the official period of ambassadorship.

At a post-credentials ceremony celebration attended by senior officials of the Indian Embassy, the State Department and the White House, Shringla said, "Clearly the president attaches great importance to our bilateral relationship. He referred to his recent telephonic conversation with our prime minister and he said he looks forward to speaking to our prime minister again in the near future."

During the credentials ceremony, he said Trump referred to a very wide gamut of corporations that the two countries are engaged in, not just at the bilateral level but also as strategic partners involving the region and global areas of interest, particularly the vision of the Indo-Pacific region envisioned by the leaders of the two countries during the June, 2017 visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The new Indian envoy said he is amazed at the amount of progress that the US-India relationship has made in the last few years. It is absolutely momentous and unparalleled, he said.

A member of the Indian Foreign Service since 1984, Shringla is the youngest Indian Ambassador to the US. He was India's High Commissioner to Bangladesh till early this week, before replacing Navtej Singh Sarna, who retired on December 31.

A graduated from the St. Stephen's College in Delhi, Shringla speaks French, Vietnamese and Nepalese apart from English and Indian languages.

During his 35-year long diplomatic career, he held a variety of positions in New Delhi and abroad.

Apart from being the High Commissioner of India to Bangladesh, he had also been the ambassador to Thailand. Shringla also served in France (UNESCO), Permanent Mission of India to the United Nations in New York, Vietnam (Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City), Israel and South Africa.


Delhi's Patiala House Court on Saturday sent the two accused, arrested for being IS-inspired group members, to judicial custody till February 6, as reported by news agency ANI. However, news agency PTI said that the accused has been sent to judicial custody till January 22.

The accused Suhail and Saqib are two of the total ten people who were arrested on December 26, 2018, for being members of 'Harkat-ul- Harb-e-Islam' and for planning terror attacks across the country.

The eight other suspects are currently in judicial custody.

The NIA busted the IS-inspired terror module following massive raids at various places and arrested the terror suspects from Delhi and Uttar Pradesh. The apex anti-terror probe agency said that the members of the alleged terror module wanted to carry out fidayeen attacks in near future and had set eyes on VVIPs.

Alleged mastermind Mufti Mohammad Suhail Hazrath, 29, is a native of Amroha and was working as 'Mufti' (a Muslim legal expert empowered to give rulings on religious matters) in a Madrasa at Hakim Mahtab Uddin Hashmi Road, Amroha, UP. He was staying at Jaffrabad, Delhi, and had tasked other team members to procure arms, explosives and other accessories to prepare IEDs and pipe-bombs. Saqib Iftekar (26), from Uttar Pradesh's Hapur, was working as Imam in Jama Masjid, Baksar, Uttar Pradesh. He helped the master-mind Suhail in procuring weapons.

''Level of preparation suggests their aim was to carry out explosions in near future by remote control blasts and fidayeen attacks. This is a new ISIS-inspired module, they were in touch with a foreign agent. Their identities are yet to be established,'' NIA IG Alok Mittal had told reporters.

The NIA had also recovered a locally-made rocket launcher, material for suicide vests and 112 alarm clocks to be used as timers during its searches in Delhi and Uttar Pradesh.

The 10 arrested terror suspects, all in the age group of 20-35 years, were sent to judicial custody.

Those arrested include an engineering student of Amity University in Noida and a third-year graduate student in humanities in a university in Delhi as well as two welders.

According to sources, phones seized from the suspects arrested during raids in Uttar Pradesh's Jafarabad have revealed controversial chats detailing plans of attacking the Ram Janmabhoomi. It is reported that the WhatsApp chats have revealed that members of Harkat-ul-Harb-e-Islam were planning to carry out a fidayeen attack on November 29.

The NIA had said in a press conference that the terror group was building a network which had the objectives of radicalising people and carrying out a series of attacks across Delhi and Uttar Pradesh. 'We conducted searches at 17 locations in Uttar Pradesh and Delhi in connection with a new ISIS module styled as 'Harkat-ul-Harb-e-Islam' which was in an advanced stage of carrying out a series of blasts,'' NIA IG Alok Mittal had said. "Their targets were political persons and other important personalities and vital and security installations."
New Delhi: Left out of the SP-BSP alliance in Uttar Pradesh, the Congress is likely to contest the Lok Sabha polls on its own in the crucial Hindi heartland state, sources said.

The Congress leadership maintained a stoic silence and refused to comment on being left out of the alliance of regional rivals Samajwadi Party (SP) and Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) for the high-stakes general election, which is only months away.

Asked to comment on the tie-up announced by BSP chief Mayawati and SP leader Akhilesh Yadav, All India Congress Committee (AICC) general secretary in-charge of Uttar Pradesh Ghulam Nabi Azad said the party would not react immediately and would come out with a detailed reaction in Lucknow on Sunday. Azad earlier met Uttar Pradesh Congress chief Raj Babbar, Congress Legislature Party (CLP) leader and Rajya Sabha member Sanjay Singh and former MP Pramod Tiwari at his residence.

Azad and Uttar Pradesh Congress leaders have been meeting leaders from the western parts of the state for the past two days. The veteran leader said he, along with other leaders, would be meeting the leaders and workers of the party from central and eastern Uttar Pradesh on Sunday.

"We heard the press conference of the BSP and SP leaders. The party will come out with its stand in Lucknow on Sunday," Azad merely said, while refusing to react on the Congress being left out of the alliance. He said the party would not react on the announcement on Saturday and any leader commenting on the issue would be putting forth his personal view.

Asked whether the tie-up was a setback for the Congress, he refused to comment.

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister and Congress leader Kamal Nath said there was a need for alliances in the entire country to defeat the BJP. He also said the saffron party got only 31 per cent votes in the 2014 Lok Sabha polls and claimed that it had the people's mandate, adding that even this happened because votes were split. However, party insiders felt that the SP-BSP tie-up was a blow to the Congress's efforts to unite all the opposition parties.

Others saw a silver lining in this, saying the party might win more seats if it went it alone in Uttar Pradesh. They said this would also see further strengthening of the party at the grassroots level and would give a moral boost to its workers in the state. One of the Congress leaders admitted that the party now had no choice but go it alone in Uttar Pradesh in the Lok Sabha polls.

Congress spokesperson Manish Tewari said Azad would give a structured response to it on Sunday. "Insofar as alliances are concerned, we have always believed that state-specific alliances, which further the progressive and pluralistic ideals, which further consolidate the liberalised idea of India, are the way forward and I think there is space for that," he said.

Opposition leaders downplayed the announcement of a pre-poll tie-up between the SP and the BSP. Asked if it was a setback for the opposition unity efforts, an opposition leader admitted it but claimed that the opposition parties were united in all the states to ensure that the secular votes were not divided.

Opposition leaders like Trinamool Congress (TMC) supremo Mamata Banerjee, Communist Party of India (Marxist) general secretary Sitaram Yechury and the Rashtriya Janata Dal's (RJD) Tejashwi Yadav welcomed the SP-BSP tie-up, saying the two parties would be able to defeat the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the upcoming polls in Uttar Pradesh.

The Congress has been seeking to stich an alliance in Uttar Pradesh, but its efforts suffered a dent as the SP-BSP left the Grand Old Party out of their poll tie-up but left the two seats of Amethi and Rae Bareli, currently represented in the Lok Sabha by Congress chief Rahul Gandhi and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi respectively. The SP-BSP alliance will not field candidates in these two seats.

The Congress had adopted a cautious approach on the issue of alliance, with its spokesperson Abhishek Manu Singhvi on Friday saying ignoring the party in Uttar Pradesh could be a "very dangerous mistake". He said the Congress might have "fallen on difficult times", but the objective of all the opposition parties should be to defeat the BJP and eliminate "autocracy, misgovernance" at the Centre.

Communist Party of India (CPI) leader D Raja felt that the SP-BSP alliance was not a setback to opposition unity as all the parties were together on defeating the BJP in the Lok Sabha election. "I do not think it is a setback to opposition unity. Everyone agrees that the primary objective is to defeat the BJP," he told PTI.

Raja asserted that there was no difference among the secular parties and the seat-sharing arrangement would be amicably worked out among them. "All the secular, democratic parties and the Left parties must work together and ensure that the BJP is defeated in order to save the Constitution and take the country forward.

"The electoral pacts and seat-sharing arrangements will be state specific, taking into consideration the state-level realities. The parties must be realistic and accommodative to each other," he said. A Congress leader expressed confidence that the party was competent enough to go it alone in Uttar Pradesh and do well in the Lok Sabha polls.
LUCKNOW: Samajwadi Party and Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) will contest the Lok Sabha elections in an alliance on 38 seats each in Uttar Pradesh. For the remaining four out of the 80 seats in the state, the alliance has given two seats to other alliance partners. They have also not to contest on two seats of Congress president Rahul Gandhi and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi- Raebareli and Amethi. However, in a snub to the grand old party, the SP and the BSP have kept Congress out of the alliance.

Announcing the seat-sharing arrangement, BSP chief Mayawati said that they have come together to fight against the 'toxic politics' of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). "For us, the country is bigger than any differences. Even the 1995 Guest House scandal cannot stop us from working for the benefit of the country," Mayawati said.

"With Uttar Pradesh having 80 Lok Sabha seats, if BSP-SP alliance can win a majority in the state, we will be in a good position to stop the BJP from coming to power in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections," Mayawati added.

Thanking Mayawati for giving an equal share of seats to both parties, SP chief Akhilesh Yadav exuded confidence that the alliance is not just for the upcoming elections but for the future as well. "To defeat the arrogance of BJP, it was necessary for BSP and SP to come together. The BJP can go to any extent to create differences in our workers, we must be united and counter any such tactic," he said.

On why BSP and SP are not tying up with the Congress, Mayawati said: "Be it BJP or Congress, whoever rules, their policies are mostly the same. For example, we are seeing how both indulged in corruption in defence deals. Congress imposed declared emergency, today there is an undeclared emergency. Moreover, we won't gain anything by including Congress in our alliance. Both BSP and SP have experienced in the past that Congress's vote is not transferrable."

Showing a symbolic unity of the alliance and giving a photo frame that for many years was thought to be impossible, Akhilesh and Mayawati gave each other a bouquet ahead of the big announcement. The historic press conference in Lucknow was dotted with posters of Akhilesh and Mayawati across Lucknow as well as images of party ideologues BSP's Kanshiram and SP's Ram Manohar Lohiya.

The BSP and SP had buried their differences last year when they had come together to contest the three bypolls in Gorakhpur, Phulpur and Kairana. Their win in the bypolls was seen as a consolidation of Other Backward Classes, Dalits and Muslim votes, and raised expectations of a similar math working in the 2019 elections.

The two leaders have also publicly shown support for each other giving indications that the alliance is going strong in the run up to the Lok Sabha polls.

When there were reports that the CBI might question Yadav in connection with a mining scam that allegedly took place when he was chief minister, Mayawati had advised her 'mahagatbandhan' partner to not be 'shaken'. Yadav, too, had put out a statement condemning Prime Minister Narendra Modi's remarks in Agra on Mayawati "forgetting" an attack on her by SP workers in 1995. "The PM is scared of the alliance," Yadav had said.
NEW DELHI: BJP President Amit Shah on Saturday said although the party lost in the Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh Assembly polls, it has not been defeated yet.

Addressing the Bharatiya Janata Party National Council on the second day of its session, Shah said: "In 2014, people gave full majority to the BJP. And since 2014, every year elections came and we won.

"Recently, three election results were not good. But I want to tell party workers that our opponents have won but we have not been defeated."

Shah went on to say: "The media will debate our losses but I want to make them understand that what is defeat. In Uttar Pradesh, the Congress have been cleaned and one has look for it with the help of a binocular."

The Rajya Sabha MP also said that in politics, there was constant victory and defeat.

"But the BJP has not lost its ground in these three states. Our workers have to keep the faith and they have the opportunity in 2019 to form a foundation for a strong government."

Slamming the Congress for nepotism, casteism and appeasement, Shah said that due to these three issues, the country`s development was being halted.

He asserted that the Narendra Modi government will keep on moving ahead with its pro-poor schemes to take development to every person of the country.

The BJP chief also said that for party workers, elections were not only to form government, but it was a festival of democracy and an opportunity to showcase the party`s ideology.
New Delhi: The second day of BJPs national council meet started on Saturday in New Delhi's iconic Ramlila Maidan. It is likely that this will be last national council meeting of the BJP before the upcoming Lok Sabha polls.

Sources claim that during Saturday's meeting, the BJP leaders will focus on strategy against opposition in order to secure a win in 2019 general elections. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will also deliver a valedictory speech.

The national council meet is attended by senior BJP leaders, BJP national executive council members, national council members, all MPs, MLAs, MLCs, national office-bearers of all morchas among others.

Follow live updates here:

# PM Modi concludes his speech by asking the party leaders and workers to take the vision of party forward.

# The Gandhis have no respect for law. They stand for dynasty, we stand for democracy, says PM Modi.

# Raking up the Ayodha issue, Prime Minister Modi says that Congress is using their lawyers to stall the issue.

PM Modi: Congress is trying to obstruct the Ayodhya case through its lawyers, Congress was even ready to impeach the CJI using false allegations, what kind of mentality does the Congress have which works against the country's interest on every issue? pic.twitter.com/ioD5Fma0dd  ANI (@ANI) January 12, 2019

# They want majboor sarkar, we want mazboot sarkar: Modi

# PM Narendra Modi hits back at the Congress, saying: 'They can hurl as many insults as they want, but this chowkidar is not going to stop.'

# The prime minister referred to criticisms on changing names of schemes and institutions and asked: "I want to know how many schemes are in my name?" "We have not renamed anything. Does Ayushman Bharat scheme has my name? We have kept the nation above everything else."

# PM Modi promises to double farmers' income by 2022.

# Opposition parties make fun of Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao: PM Modi

PM Modi at BJP National Convention in Delhi: Important initiatives have been taken up in last 4 years for women empowerment. Ppl made fun of ' Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao' for political opposition, but we have come a long way to free society of wrong beliefs that existed for decades pic.twitter.com/QpOjuRuIAJ  ANI (@ANI) January 12, 2019

# 'We have not touched the existing reservation system. This is an additional 10 per cent. You know, some people are trying to spread misinformation against this,' PM Modi says

# Talking on 10% quota for upper caste poor, PM Modi says, "This is not just reservation but an attempt to give a new dimension to the aspirations of youths, who are left behind. The provision of reservation done by Babasaheb Ambedkar is as strong today as it was then. And will continue to remain strong."

# PM Modi attacks the Congress and said that the previous governments pushed the nation into a well of darkness.

# PM Modi remembers late Prime Minister Atar Bihari Vajpayee, saying: "This is the first time that the BJP council meet is being held without late prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. I am sure he is blessing us from wherever he is, and I am sure he is happy to see his party's progress today."

# "A party that ran from two rooms once upon a time, is today holding such a huge meeting of its leaders, this itself is an achievement," says PM Modi.

# PM Narendra Modi starts his address

#WATCH: PM Narendra Modi speaks at BJP National Convention in Delhi https://t.co/Srd91iOsKV  ANI (@ANI) January 12, 2019

# No alliance can defeat BJP in 2019, says Amit Shah

# BJP chief Amit Shah has started addressing the BJP national convention amid Modi-Modi chants

# PM Modi saved thousands of crores in Rafale deal: Jaitley

# Congress ka shehzada ho, Bengal ki didi ho, Andhra Pradesh ke babu ho, UP ki behenji ho, sab dil mein ichcha rakhte hain aur sabki talwarein chunaav ke baad niklengi, Jaitley says.

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley at BJP National Convention in Delhi: Congress ka shehzada ho, Bengal ki didi ho, Andhra Pradesh ke babu ho, UP ki behenji ho, sab dil mein ichcha rakhte hain aur sabki talwarein chunaav ke baad niklengi. pic.twitter.com/tM3IjF1nb0  ANI (@ANI) January 12, 2019

# Finance Minister Arun Jaitley speaking on BJP's political resolution

# UP CM Yogi Adityanath says that even if there is a mahagathbandhan or not, the BJP will perform better than 2014 in the upcoming Lok Sabha polls.

# UP govt has given houses to 18 lakh poor individuals: Yogi Adityanath

Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath at BJP National Convention in Delhi: Within 1.5 yrs, UP govt has given houses to 18 lakh poor individuals, irrespective of their caste or religion, under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana. Under SP govt, only 63,000 houses were built in 5 years of rule. pic.twitter.com/YMwrjUCa2u  ANI (@ANI) January 12, 2019

# Amidst thundering applauds, UP CM Yogi Adityanath to address the crowd

# Rahul has learnt to insult India from foreign soil: Prasad

# This election is not of UP, this is for India. People will look for a leader who will lead India: Prasad on SP-BSP alliance

# Only glue of alliance is hatred against Modi. We have appeared to Millenium voters to vote for Modi, Ravi Shankar Prasad says

# 2019 election is a choice between stability versus instability: Prasad

# Congress continues to play with national security: Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad

# Sitharaman urges party men to work with a resolve on 'ab ki baar phir Modi sarkar'

# We have not had one major terrorist attack in this country after 2014: Sitharaman

Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman at BJP National Convention in Delhi: We have not had one major terrorist attack in this country after 2014. This govt under the leadership of PM Modi has ensured one thing that there shall not be an opportunity for terrorists to disturb peace. pic.twitter.com/qWehbpZkFd  ANI (@ANI) January 12, 2019

# Country can foresee a bright future only under leadership of PM: Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman

# Non-performance, corruption were the features of the previous govt: Nitin Gadkari Gadkari

# PM Modi, Amit Shah arrive at Ramlila Ground to attend BJP National Convention
At least three criminals were killed in Begusarai district of Bihar on Saturday after an encounter with the police.

The criminals were identified as -- Sumant Kumar, Dharma Yadav and Balram Sahni.

The police later recovered a pistol, one country-made pistol and cartridges from the spot.

More details are awaited.
MUMBAI: Employees of the Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) are continuing their strike for the fifth day in a row on Saturday for over various demands. The strike is on despite the Bombay High Court asking the BEST Workers' Union to "take the first step" towards resolving its dispute with the state and Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation.

Maharashtra Chief Secretary DK Jain Jain will on Saturday meet union leaders with an aim to end the strike. Jain had on Friday met secretaries of the transport and urban development departments and the general manager of BEST after directions of the Bombay High Court.

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has made it clear that it is not in favour of merging the BMC's and the loss-making transport undertaking's budgets, as demanded by the union.

Saturday's meeting will be chaired by the chief secretary, and is expected to be attended by Transport and Urban Development Department secretaries, BMC commissioner Ajoy Mehta, BEST general manager Surendrakumar Bagde and union leaders.

Over 32,000 BEST employees are on an indefinite strike since Tuesday to press for demands including higher salaries, revision of pay scale for junior employees and merger of the budget of the loss making BEST with that of the BMC.

Due to the strike, over 3,700 BEST buses have gone off the road causing inconvenience to over 50 lakh commuters in the city.
The 'Akhada' of the transgenders will be participating for the first time ever in the Ardh Kumbh Mela to be held in Uttar Pradesh's Prayagraj (earlier known as Allahabad) from January 14 to March 3.

Terming it 'Akhada beyond sexuality', the head priest of Kinnar Akhada on Friday called their first-time participation at the Kumbh 2019 as a step forward towards acceptance in the society.

'Kinnar Akhada' Mahamandaleshwar, Acharya, Laxmi Narayan Tripathi exhumed pride and confidence while talking of her Akhada`s debut at this massive congregation of pilgrims.

Tripathi said, "For me, it is a wonderful situation to come to this divine Prayagraj Kumbh. For me, we are one of the most conservative societies in the world where the acceptance of the third gender is remarkably outstanding. For us, this participation is about mainstream society accepting us. This is Akhada beyond sexuality. The creator is within us and once we perish we will go back to him. Our doors are open for all."

Talking further about transgender issues and the modern scenario, she added, "Still the battle is on. We are sure that we will come across these hurdles. My community is striving to make its place in the mainstreams place whether it is art and culture, religion. We are here only to give unconditional love to all irrespective of creed, colour or background."

Secretary of 'Kinnar Akhada', Pavitra said, Public and all the devotees who are here have supported us and shown lot of respect for us. We are happy that people here have accepted us.

Pavitra added, "I have been with the Kinnar Akhada since its formation. We were preparing for the last two years to participate in Prayagraj Kumbh. We met with administration and the concerned ministers to get land allocated for us to set up our camp at this Kumbh. We were very willing to be here and now that we have arrived, the general public and pilgrims have been very supportive. We can see respect and acceptance in everyone`s eye for us and it really feels very good."

The Akhada reportedly also faced some protests for its distinct identity, speaking about which, she said, "Whenever there is some good initiative some people do object. There were objections to the name of Kinnar Akhada and other things. But we have been successful in leaving these challenges behind us and are looking forward to increased acceptance."

The Ardh Kumbh Mela will commence from January 14 to March 3 at the Triveni Sangam - the holy confluence of river Ganga, Yamuna, and Saraswati. Thousands of devotees are expected to arrive in the city to take a holy dip in Triveni Sangam.
NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be addressing Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) cadres on the second day of the party's National Convention in Delhi on Saturday. The PM will conclude the two-day event which began on Friday with his valedictory address.

Centered around the theme -- 'Abki Bar Phir Modi Sarkar' -- the first day of the event was marked by chants of Vande Mataram and Bharat Mata Ki Jai. At least 12,000 BJP members were gathered at the Ramlila Maidan as the party sought to prepare the workers for the battle of the 2019 Lok Sabha polls.

Delegates to the two-day meet which began on Friday also saw hoardings related to the government`s pro-poor schemes and the just-passed quota bill that provides reservation to economically backward upper castes and the enhancing of the minimum support price to farmers.

On day one of the event, BJP President Amit Shah gave an hour-long speech where he said that Ram temple should be built at the earliest but accused the Congress of putting "hurdles" in resolution of the issue. "The BJP wants a grand Ram temple to be built at the earliest. We are committed to it," Shah said.

He asserted that the party is making all efforts to ensure that the matter is resolved in the Supreme Court as soon as possible. Shah's statement on the party's stand on Ram temple drew the most enthusiastic response from thousands of its members, underscoring its resonance with the saffron party's rank and file.

On behalf of the National Council members and the party workers, Shah thanked the Prime Minister for the 10 per cent reservation for upper caste poor and relief in Goods and Services Tax (GST) rates, and extended a special welcome to him.

After Shah's presidential speech, the Prime Minister broke security protocol to meet BJP office bearers and also shook hands with the party workers.
NEW DELHI: An email from an anonymous account threatened to kidnap Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kerjiwal's daughter, reported the CM's office in Delhi on Saturday.

The mail was sent to Delhi Chief Minister's Office on January 9, 2019.

Delhi Police has deployed a Protective Service Officer (PSO) to CM's daughter. The matter has been handed over to Cyber cell.

Kejriwal has mostly shielded his two children -- daughter Harshita and son Pulkit - from public glare. According to media reports, Harshita cleared her IIT-JEE exam in 2014 and is pursuing engineering from Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi.

In 2014, a person had posted derogatory remarks on Facebook against Kejriwal's daughter and AAP leader Alka Lamba. The Ghaziabad police had registered a criminal case against her at the time.

In 2015, while addressing autorickshaw drivers at a public meeting in Burari in Outer Delhi, Kejriwal had narrated his daughter's experience of applying for a learner's driving license.

"My daughter went to get her learner's driving license. I could have called the department and officers could have made it for me. But my daughter went to the office and waited for her turn. She told the officer (without revealing her identity) that she is not carrying one of the certificates which were required and the officer declined to make her license," he said.

"She further tried to bribe him by offering money. As she offered money this officer started noticing her phone if she was making a video. My daughter insisted that it was urgent and she was ready to pay any amount but the officer refused it," Kejriwal said.

The CM told the gathering that after a few minutes, his daughter returned to the officer and gave him her documents. "The officer after reading her name and my name in father's section asked her if she was daughter of Chief Minister of Delhi and then entire department came forward to make her license," he added.
New Delhi: Salman Khan and Katrina Kaif starrer 'Bharat' is high on the buzzword ever since it was announced. The shoot of the film is still going on and makers remain tight lipped about the details. The film has an ensemble star cast with Disha Patani, Tabu, Varun Dhawan, Nora Fatehi, Aasif Sheikh, Sunil Grover playing important roles. While there are rumours that Disha is playing a trapeze artist in the film, there is no intimation about the roles of other actors.

However, as per a TimesofIndia report, Varun may be playing the role of business tycoon Dhirubhai Ambani in the film. The report states that Varun might essay Ambani's younger self in the film.

It is to be noted that there is no official confirmation of the same.

The shoot of the film began in July 2018 with the cast and crew traveling to Malta, Abu Dhabi, Mumbai and Punjab's Ludhiana.

The film will be set in the backdrop of India in 1947 and will take us through the events during the countrys partition. Not just that, the film will showcase significant events over a period of 70 years since partition.

'Bharat' is scheduled for an Eid 2019 release and is being directed by Ali Abbas Zafar.
Mai este Mihaela Radulescu cu Felix Baumgartner?

Mai este Mihaela Radulescu cu Felix Baumgartner? Inca de anul trecut, Mihaela Radulescu si Felix Baumgartner au inceput sa rareasca postarea pozelor de cuplu pe retelele de socializare. Inevitabil, asta a dus la aparitia unor zvonuri legate de o posibila despartire. Din fericire insa, zvonurile nu au [citeste mai departe]
Source: Xinhua| 2019-01-13 05:52:55|Editor: xuxin

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KHARTOUM, Jan. 12 (Xinhua) -- The death toll in Sudan's protests has risen to 24, said Amer Mohamed Ibrahim, head of a Sudanese government fact-finding committee in charge of investigating the recent protests in Sudan on Saturday.

The Attorney General in Sudan Omer Ahmed Mohamed received reports from the head of the higher committee and heads of the states' committees to follow the investigations on the recent protests in Gadarif, Nahral-Neel, White Nile, Khartoum and Northern States, said Ibrahim at a press conference in Khartoum.

He urged the citizens to cooperate and provide their testimonies that may help in the ongoing investigations on the deaths of the people.

Ibrahim further reiterated continuation of the investigation on the reports of death, injury and destruction.

He noted that the investigation committees demand the relatives of the victims or the lawyers to provide statements that may help in the investigation process.

On Dec. 31 last year, Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir issued a decree to form a fact-finding committee to investigate the recent protests in Sudan.

Since Dec. 19, 2018, various areas in Sudan, including Khartoum, have been witnessing popular protests over the deteriorating economic conditions and price hikes of basic commodities.
Source: Xinhua| 2019-01-13 05:17:49|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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TEHRAN, Jan. 12 (Xinhua) -- Iran has exported 12,600 tons of tea since the beginning of the current Iranian year (March 21, 2018), Eghtesad online news website reported on Saturday.

The export is estimated to be worth around 16.8 million U.S. dollars.

India, Iraq, Turkmenistan, Afghanistan, and Russia were the leading export destinations for Iranian tea over the nine-month period, Habibollah Jahansaz, head of Iran Tea Organization, was quoted as saying.

"Despite the frost in spring and the water shortage we faced this year, production saw a 4-percent increase in weight compared with last year," Jahansaz said.

According to the report, the Iranian government has a guaranteed purchase system for crops, including tea, to build up its strategic reserves and control prices in the domestic market.

Tea is cultivated in Iran's northern provinces of Gilan and Mazandaran where 50,000 families earn their living from tea farming on more than 25,000 hectares. Close to 95 percent of tea orchards in Iran are rain-fed.

Iran also imports tea, mainly from India, Sri Lanka and Kenya.

Iranians consume around 105,000 tons of tea annually.
Source: Xinhua| 2019-01-13 03:12:32|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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BEIRUT, Jan. 12 (Xinhua) -- Lebanon's Caretaker Economy Minister Raed Khoury Saturday said that any measure against the invitation of Libya to take part in Beirut Summit "is not in the interest of Lebanon," local media reported.

"Inviting Libya to Beirut summit is very normal," Khoury was quoted as saying by Elnashra, an online independent newspaper.

Khoury represents the Free Patriotic Movement (FPM) which was originally established by President Michel Aoun.

Aoun has confirmed a few days ago that the summit will be held on time without commenting on the debate over inviting Libya to the summit.

Ali Khreis of the Amal Movement, a Lebanese Shiite political party, said on Friday that the Libyan delegation will be forbidden from entering Lebanon to attend the Arab Economic and Social Development Summit scheduled for later this month.

A day earlier, the Amal Movement announced a plan to launch nationwide protests to close the airport ahead of the summit in a bid to prevent the Libyan delegation from taking part in the event.

Lebanon has been accusing Libya of being responsible for the disappearance of Musa al-Sadr, the most prominent and charismatic Shiite voice in the decade before the outbreak of the Lebanese civil war in 1975.

Al-Sadr disappeared alongside Sheikh Muhammad Yaacoub and the journalist Abbas Badreddine during an official visit to Libya in August 1978.
Source: Xinhua| 2019-01-13 01:07:12|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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YAOUNDE, Jan. 12 (Xinhua) -- One soldier was killed and several others injured on Saturday in a car crash in the Centre region of Cameroon, police sources told Xinhua Saturday.

The accident occurred on the Bafoussam-Yaounde highway in Ndiki, a village in Mbam and Inoubou division of the Centre region of the country, according to eyewitnesses.

"The accident happened early this Saturday. One soldier died on the spot and another senior military personnel was seriously injured. Several civilians were injured and rushed to the hospital for treatment," a police source told Xinhua.

"The army vehicle was severely damaged. Some of the victims were in a critical condition," Jean-Claude Essomba, who witnessed the accident, told Xinhua.

The army confirmed the accident, saying those injured were being treated.

The army has ordered formal inquiries into the tragedy.

On Friday, the army said several soldiers were injured in another road accident on the Douala-Yaounde highway.
Source: Xinhua| 2019-01-12 23:41:59|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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MANILA, Jan. 12 (Xinhua) -- Nine soldiers were injured on Saturday in fresh fighting between the government troops and the leftist rebels in Samar province in central Philippines.

Captain Francis Agno, a spokesman for a Philippine army infantry division in Samar province, said that an improvised explosive device went off while firefight was underway in a village of San Jorge town in Samar province around 6:50 a.m. on Saturday.

Agno said the troops were on patrol when a brief firefight ensued. The nine soldiers suffered minor injuries in the blast, he added.

According to the spokesman, the New People's Army (NPA) rebels may also have suffered casualties, adding that bloodstains were seen in their escape route.

The Philippine military said the NPA has an estimated 4,000 members. The rebels have been fighting the government since 1969 in one of Asia's longest-running insurgencies.

The Philippine government has been trying to forge peace with the leftist rebels since 1986, but the on-off talks have faltered many times in the past.

President Rodrigo Duterte's government has scrapped talks to solve the 50-year-old insurgency and declared a "full-scale war" against the rebel group which has been trying to overthrow the government for five decades.
Source: Xinhua| 2019-01-12 22:56:53|Editor: huaxia

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ABUJA, Jan. 12 (Xinhua) -- Three people have been confirmed killed in an accident on southern Nigeria's Lagos-Ibadan expressway, the busiest inter-state route in the country, the local road safety police said on Saturday.

A passenger bus somersaulted many times along the 127 km expressway, causing 11 others to sustain varying degrees of injury on Friday.

Clement Oladele, a sector commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) in the country's southwest region, told reporters that the somersault was preceded by excessive speed, a tyre burst, and the bus driver's subsequent loss of control.

The official said the injured victims were taken to a nearby hospital for treatment, adding the remains of the dead victims were also deposited at a government-owned morgue.

The Lagos-Ibadan expressway connecting Ibadan, the capital of Nigeria's southwestern state of Oyo and the commercial hub Lagos, is also the major route to the northern, southern and eastern parts of Nigeria. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2019-01-12 22:56:53|Editor: xuxin

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ISTANBUL, Jan. 12 (Xinhua) -- Despite continued tension in bilateral ties, Turkey and the United States are expected to manage to get on without spoiling relations, as Anakra continues its military buildup against the Washington-backed Kurdish militia in Syria.

"No matter how serious the disagreements are, Ankara would seek in the end to strike a bargain with the U.S.," Hasan Koni, an analyst on international relations with Istanbul Kultur University, told Xinhua.

Ties between the two NATO allies have been strained mainly because of the U.S. support to the Kurdish militia in Syria, which is seen by Ankara as a terror group. Ankara's refusal to scrap a deal on Russia-made S-400 air defense system and to comply with U.S. sanctions on Iran are other major thorns in bilateral ties.

The concept of identity, of which religion is a major component, is a central theme in Koni's line of reasoning, as he argued that people who grew up with an Islamic lifestyle would be naturally inclined toward the West because of its more sympathetic attitude toward the Islamist ideology.

Ankara would therefore prefer to avoid disrupting ties with Washington, said Koni.

Turkey has been threatening a cross-border operation against the Kurdish militia in northeastern Syria despite the U.S. commitment to protect its Kurdish ally.

No crisis should be expected between Ankara and Washington, Ilhan Uzgel, an analyst on international relations who taught at Ankara University, told Xinhua.

The two countries would manage to reach a compromise as in the past, he said, maintaining that the image of a crisis in ties is actually misleading.

Both Koni and Uzgel believe the United States may say "yes" to a limited Turkish incursion into Kurdish-held territory, where Ankara would set up a buffer zone for its own security.

Such an operation, though limited, would play into the hands of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan prior to the local elections in late March without essentially changing the status quo in the Kurdish-held territory, both analysts said.

Meanwhile, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu has underlined Ankara's determination to eliminate the Kurdish militia, saying his country may start the operation in case the United States should take its time in withdrawing troops from Syria.

The United States has several thousand troops and over a dozen military bases in Kurdish-held areas in war-torn Syria.

Ankara originally threatened to launch the military offensive last month, but decided to put it off after U.S. President Donald Trump unexpectedly announced a withdrawal of U.S. troops from Syria.

Statements by top U.S. officials in the past week indicated, however, that Washington would withdraw troops only after making sure Ankara would not attack the Kurdish fighters.

In a sign of protest, Erdogan refused to meet with Trump's national security advisor John Bolton, who discussed Syria with other Turkish officials earlier this week in Ankara.

"In the wake of the unsuccessful Bolton's visit to Ankara, Turkish-American relations are probably headed toward another impasse," said Faruk Logoglu, a former Turkish senior diplomat.

"Whether the two allies will be able to avoid a new crisis will depend largely on the next matching moves by Erdogan and Trump in Syria," he told Xinhua.

In an apparent response to Erdogan's criticism of Washington's attitude, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo stated that the U.S. stance would not change.

"It's important that we do everything we can to make sure that those folks that fought with us are protected and Erdogan has made commitments," Pompeo said.

Washington has used the Kurdish militia, known as the People's Protection Units, as a ground force against the Islamic State militants in Syria.

"If the operation is undertaken before the U.S. withdrawal, a confrontation between Turkish and American troops could deal a severe blow to bilateral ties," cautioned Logoglu.

Turkey would not risk raising tension with the Uited States at a time when its ailing economy is in great need of foreign capital, Uzgel said.

U.S. sanctions on Iran may also emerge as a major area of confrontation between the NATO allies in the coming months, as Ankara has repeatedly said it would not comply with the U.S. anti-Iran moves.

"A lack of agreement on Syria could also affect the position of the two countries regarding Iran," added Logoglu.

Turkey is among those which Washington has granted temporary exemption until May from major sanctions on Iran put in place since last November.

"The sanctions are the most sensitive issue that risks causing problems in bilateral ties," Uzgel said, noting Iran is more important than any other issue for Washington.

In his view, Washington would certainly push Ankara to observe the sanctions and may use the Halkbank case to get what it wants.

Turkey's state-owned Halkbank was found guilty of having violated earlier U.S. sanctions on Iran by a U.S. court last year. The court is yet to announce the amount of fine to be imposed on the bank.

Unlike Uzgel, Koni does not expect Washington to exert pressure on Ankara on the grounds that the United States would not want to risk losing an ally because of Turkey's huge strategic importance in the region.

"The U.S. may extend Ankara's exemption from sanctions and could allow it to continue to buy natural gas from its neighbor," he remarked.

Washington is concerned about Ankara's rapprochement with Moscow in recent years and the S-400 deal Turkey concluded with Russia at the end of 2017 remains a nuisance for Washington.

"The question of S-400 missiles will continue to vex Turkish-American ties," Logoglu stated, saying Ankara's suggestion that it could also buy the Patriot defense system from the United States is not welcomed by Washington because of national security concerns.

The United States would raise no objection in case Ankara would let the S-400 missiles remain inactive after getting them, said Koni.

"Turkey may also be using the S-400 deal to strengthen its hand in negotiations with Washington," Uzgel argued, saying it does not make much sense for a NATO country to buy the S-400 system which is not interoperable with the bloc's joint air defense network.
Source: Xinhua| 2019-01-12 22:56:51|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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BELGRADE, Jan. 12 (Xinhua) -- In the following month Serbia plans to initiate changes in its criminal policy in order to impose stricter sanctions against perpetrators of heaviest criminal acts such as multiple homicides and child murder, President Aleksandar Vucic announced at a press conference on Saturday.

The government stated in a press release that senior officials attended a session of the National Security Council, the topic of which being the establishment of systemic, comprehensive measures against criminality and corruption, mostly related to a more stricter penal code.

Addressing the public after a meeting of the National Security Council, Vucic said Serbia will introduce lifetime imprisonment in its criminal policy.

He announced a long term fight against criminality in which Serbia plans to crush criminals and introduce stricter sanctions than those in the European Union (EU).

According to Vucic, the proposals of concrete measures will soon enter parliamentary procedure in order to be adopted, while "everything will start to change in one month."

Measures will include a 35-50 percent increase of sanctions for violent behavior - from family violence to murder. Vucic explained that the punishment for rape will be from 5 to 15 years, while murder will cost perpetrators 10-20 years in prison.

Moreover, Vucic insisted that in the future all trials will have to end within one year. He criticized the current criminal policy which has so far been delivering minimal sentences for heaviest criminal acts.

"Sentences over 5 years became more of an exception, as if they (legal system) do not care if children are being killed, that criminals own taverns, restaurants, and gather celebrities around them," Vucic said assuring that the fight against criminality will last for years.

He praised Friday's police operation which resulted in the arrest of some 150 suspects for heavy criminal acts, saying it shows clear intention of the state to defeat heaviest forms of criminality and corruption. However, he concluded that the solution requires a more comprehensive approach.
Source: Xinhua| 2019-01-12 22:51:48|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN, Jan. 12 (Xinhua) -- An increase in both the prices and the volume of fuel exports buoyed Brunei's balance of trade in October 2018.

Trade data from Brunei's Department of Economic Planning and Development, Ministry of Finance and Economy on Saturday, show the sultanate's trade surplus went up 32 percent to 304 million Brunei dollars (224.6 million U.S. dollars) in October 2018 from 230.4 million Brunei dollars in the same month of the previous year.

For the period of January to October 2018, trade surplus inched up 5.1 percent to 2.753 billion Brunei dollars, from 2.619 billion Brunei dollars in the same period of the previous year.

A country's balance of trade represents the difference between the values of its exports and imports over a period. A trade surplus occurs when a country's exports are higher than its imports.

Exports grew by 47 percent to 855.4 million Brunei dollars in October 2018 from 582.0 million Brunei dollars in October 2017.

Mineral fuels contributed the most to total exports with 769.3 million Brunei dollars, or 89.89 percent.

Total trade for October 2018 stood at 1.406 billion Brunei dollars, 50.7 percent higher than October 2017. For the 10-month period, total trade stood at 11.806 billion Brunei dollars.
Source: Xinhua| 2019-01-12 22:31:45|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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DHAKA, Jan. 12 (Xinhua) -- Workers in Bangladesh staged demonstrations and ransacked nearly a dozen factories in protests over disparity in their new wage structure.

In Tongi, one of the key apparel industrial hubs on the outskirts of capital Dhaka, at least nine factories were reportedly vandalized by the unruly workers.

Equipped with sticks, workers also vandalised two more factories in Dhaka's Mirpur area.

Against this backdrop, authorities of scores of factories in Dhaka and in the apparel hubs on the outskirts of the capital city suspended their production for Saturday. violence.

Dozens of people including workers and law enforcers were injured in incidents of violence on Saturday as police charged batons and used water cannon to disperse the protesters in places.

A tripartite committee with representatives from the government, union leaders and factory owners has already been formed to resolve the ongoing unrest.

Tens of thousands garment workers have been staging demonstration since Sunday.

They alleged that the minimum monthly basic wage in the 7th grade had been increased to 8,000 taka from 5,300 taka but in other grades pay hikes were not reflected proportionately. (1 U.S. dollar equals to about 84 taka)
Source: Xinhua| 2019-01-12 22:06:41|Editor: Shi Yinglun

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RIYADH, Jan. 12 (Xinhua) -- Visiting U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Saturday that the United States has no intention to leave the Middle East region.

In an exclusive interview with Al Arabiya TV, Pompeo made it clear that the U.S. relations with Saudi Arabia are the foundation of the regional stability.

"We want an Arab coalition and force that is capable of facing various challenges in the region," he said.

"Saudi Arabia will always be an ally of the U.S.," Pompeo added.

The destruction of the Islamic State (IS) militant group is a priority that Washington would do along with its allies, the U.S. official noted.

On the issue of Syria, Pompeo said the U.S. withdrawal from Syria does not contradict its strategy against Iran, or mean any backtrack from its anti-terror stand.
Source: Xinhua| 2019-01-12 21:54:35|Editor: Shi Yinglun

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Children sit in a military helicopter during a public opening event at a military camp marking National Children's Day in Bangkok, Thailand, Jan. 12, 2019. Thailand's National Children's Day is celebrated on every second Saturday in January. (Xinhua/Rachen Sageamsak)
Source: Xinhua| 2019-01-12 21:36:36|Editor: Shi Yinglun

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ADDIS ABABA, Jan. 12 (Xinhua) -- The African Union (AU) High Representative for Infrastructure, Raila Odinga, has urged regional economic blocs in Africa to strengthen efforts of infrastructure development, and thereby achieving Africa's integration and continental development.

Odinga and the Executive Secretary of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), Mahboub Maalim, on Friday held a brief meeting in Nairobi, Kenya, where the two sides dwelt upon issues related to infrastructure development and connectivity in Africa, according to an IGAD statement on Saturday.

Emphasizing the importance of connectivity to spur regional and the continental development, the AU High Representative stated some of the activities he will be undertaking in the coming months, including visits to all regional economic communities such as IGAD.

"With the support from the regional organizations like IGAD, I will do my best to raise resources to complete all connectivity projects for free movement of people, goods and services," Odinga has noted.

Maalim on his part said IGAD remains fully engaged and committed to the realization of the continent's massive infrastructure and development needs.

The Executive Secretary of IGAD briefed Odinga, who was the former Prime Minister of Kenya.

"Infrastructure and energy resource development would ensure faster realization of both the AU Agenda 2063 and UN Sustainable Development Goals," Maalim said, adding that these two are the biggest enablers of development.

The Executive Secretary invited Odinga to visit the IGAD Secretariat in Djibouti to further discuss economic integration matters and other issues affecting the region.

The AU appointed Odinga in October last year as part of the pan-African body's drive to expedite the integration of the continent through infrastructure, in order to promote economic growth and sustainable development.

Odinga's mandate includes mobilizing further political support from member states and the regional economic communities (RECs) and facilitating greater ownership by all concerned stakeholders on the continent, according to the AU.
Source: Xinhua| 2019-01-12 21:26:34|Editor: zh

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BELGRADE, Jan. 12 (Xinhua) -- The Kustendorf International Film and Music Festival has opened in the tourist village of Drvengrad in western Serbia with homages to Polish film directors Roman Polanski and Krzysztof Kieslowski, as well as to former president of Uruguay Jose Mujica.

The festival has traditionally been focusing on emerging filmmakers as well as the greats of world auteur film.

Film director Emir Kusturica, founder of the festival, said at the opening on Friday night that the festival remains dedicated to the idea of "turning life utopias into reality", and that good films are like "flags which often catch our glimpse and speed up the heart rate".

Serbia's Minister of Culture and Information Vladan Vukosavljevic underscored the fact that "Kustendorf casts a complimentary light on the film culture in Serbia, region and Europe."

Hailed "The Perfect Dozen" with a reference to its 12th edition, the festival started with the screening of Kusturica's new documentary "El Pepe, A Life Supreme" on the life, times and legacy of Uruguay's former president Jose "Pepe" Mujica.

This year's Kustendorf will have the presence of international stars including U.S. actor Matt Dillon, Spanish actor Sergi Lopez, director and writer Adilkhan Yerzhanov from Kazakhstan, actor Marcello Fonte from Italy and directors Damiano and Fabio D'Innocenzo.

The competition programme of Kustendorf will screen 21 out of 718 short films of young authors from all over the world that applied to compete for the Gold, Silver and Bronze Egg awards. Participating films this year come from Australia, Serbia, Norway, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Poland, Russia, Israel, Mexico, Spain, Macedonia, Turkey and the Philippines.

The programme "modern tendencies" brings a selection of movies including "Happy as Lazaro" by Alice Rohrwacher, "The Gentle Indifference of the World" by Adilkhan Yerzhanov, "Close Enemies" by David Oelhoffen, "Dogman" by Matteo Garone, "Pope Francis: A Man of His Word" by Wim Wenders and "Boys Cry" by the D'Innocenzo brothers.

The festival, with film screenings, music performances, lectures and exhibitions, will last till Jan. 16, enabling exchanges between young and established cinematographers, while at the same time providing film-lovers with some of the latest trends in area of auteur film.
Source: Xinhua| 2019-01-12 21:16:31|Editor: Li Xia

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BEIJING, Jan. 12 (Xinhua) -- China's auto market is expected to advance at a slow pace in 2019 as mild economic expansion might weigh upon big-ticket item consumption.

About 28 million cars are likely to be sold in 2019, remaining flat with 2018, according to the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers (CAAM).

Commercial vehicles sales might edge up one percent year on year to reach 4.4 million units, while new energy vehicles sales are expected to register a fast clip at 33 percent year on year to reach about 1.6 million.

Structural changes of the auto market are likely to pick up, with middle and high-end cars, SUVs, and new energy vehicles posting faster expansion, according to Shi Jianhua, deputy secretary with CAAM.

Data from the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers showed that passenger vehicles sales totaled 22.35 million in 2018, down 5.8 percent year on year, the first negative growth for the market registered in 28 years.

Shi said China's auto market still poses ample growth market as car ownership is still low compared with the average global level.

Official data showed that China owned about 240 million cars by the end of 2018, up by 22.85 million from 2017.
Source: Xinhua| 2019-01-12 21:16:04|Editor: Shi Yinglun

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A child displaced from the port city of Hodeidah receives medical treatment at a malnutrition care center in Sanaa, Yemen, on January 12, 2019. A total of 1,427 children were verified to have been killed or maimed in attacks in Yemen last year, according to the United Nations. (Xinhua/Mohammed Mohammed)
Source: Xinhua| 2019-01-12 21:10:53|Editor: Li Xia

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A staff member decorates the bookshelf in the Beicang Cultural & Creative Quarter in southwest China's Chongqing, Jan. 11, 2019. Beicang Cultural & Creative Quarter, located in Jiangbei District of the southwestern municipality of Chongqing, is renovated from an old textile warehouse. The quarter consists of several sections including a public library, leisure businesses and office areas. It retains the industrial architecture style of the 1950s and 1960s, attracting many people to visit. (Xinhua/Wang Quanchao)
Source: Xinhua| 2019-01-12 21:01:29|Editor: Shi Yinglun

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STOCKHOLM, Jan. 12 (Xinhua) -- Six people died in a head-on collision in Sweden on Saturday, according to Swedish newspaper Aftonbladet.

The accident occurred on curving roads near the northern city of Kiruna when a freight truck crossed on the wrong side of the road, into the path of a minibus carrying seven people.

Emergency services were called to the scene at 01:56am, where they found the minibus in a ditch off county road 395 between Vittangi and Pajala.

Six of the seven people travelling in the minibus were killed. The seventh was airlifted to hospital by helicopter with moderate injuries. Although police have not yet confirmed the identities of the victims, Aftonbladet reported that they were foreign citizens.

Mining company Kaunis Iron, which owns the truck, published a press release saying that the driver of the truck was unharmed but severely shaken. The driver has been questioned by police.

Police spokesperson Liv Fahlen said the investigation is ongoing and further information will be released later on Saturday.
Source: Xinhua| 2019-01-12 20:51:24|Editor: Li Xia

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BEIJING, Jan. 12 (Xinhua) -- Chinese tech giant Xiaomi plans to invest over 10 billion yuan in artificial intelligence (AI) and the Internet of Things (IoT) over the next five years, the company's CEO announced Friday.

The company's growth strategy for the near future will focus on smartphones as well as AI and IoT technologies and applications, said Lei Jun, Xiaomi founder and president.

The decision came after Xiaomi inked a strategic partnership with home appliance maker TCL and bought a tiny portion of the company's shares weeks ago.

The alliance and investment will strengthen Xiaomi's home appliance business in terms of supply chain and manufacturing, especially in air conditioners and washing machines.

Starting as a smartphone maker, Xiaomi has become a consumer IoT titan, connecting over 132 million smart devices excluding mobile phones and laptops as of last November.

Lei said Xiaomi's smartphone business will continue to focus on innovation and quality, as well as to optimize its product portfolio.

The company's global expansion will continue this year, with focus on the European and Latin America markets, Lei said.
Source: Xinhua| 2019-01-12 20:31:21|Editor: Shi Yinglun

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TEHRAN, Jan. 12 (Xinhua) -- Iranian Foreign Ministry on Saturday denounced France's recent position on Iran's ballistic missile program as "irresponsible."

Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Bahram Qasemi urged France to avoid what he called "irresponsible and incorrect" claims by French officials about the Islamic republic's defense plans.

On Friday, France's Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Agnes von der Muhll called on Iran to "immediately cease all ballistic missile-related activities designed to carry nuclear weapons, including tests using ballistic missile technology."

"Contrary to the French Foreign Ministry spokeswoman's claim, Iran's missile program has not been established for non-conventional purposes," Qasemi said.

It is Iran's "natural right" to strengthen its scientific and defensive capabilities to, for instance, develop its missile program which does not violate any international convention, he stressed.
Source: Xinhua| 2019-01-12 20:06:18|Editor: Shi Yinglun

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ULAN BATOR, Jan. 12 (Xinhua) -- It is expected that one Mongolian household will spend an average of at least 1.5 million Mongolian tugriks (562 U.S. dollars) to celebrate the Lunar New Year, according to a report released by the country's National Statistical Office on Saturday.

Nearly 65 percent of Mongolian households celebrate the Lunar New Year, known locally as the White Moon, according to the report titled "The White Moon and the Economy."

As of the end of 2018, there were a total of 895,000 households in the Asian country.

The statistical agency estimated that the money to buy gifts for guests will account for half of the total costs to celebrate the public holiday.

Celebrating the White Moon is a financial burden for many Mongolian households with an average monthly income of 700,000-800,000 tugriks (290-330 dollars). But the White Moon's costs have generally been rising year after year.

One Mongolian household spent an average of 1.3 million Mongolian tugriks (529.8 dollars) to celebrate the White Moon last year, the statistical agency said.

According to the lunar calendar, the White Moon this year begins on Feb. 5, which symbolizes the start of spring and the end of a harsh winter.

As a great family festival in Mongolia with many ceremonies, the White Moon has been celebrated for several centuries by Mongolians.
Source: Xinhua| 2019-01-12 19:56:16|Editor: Shi Yinglun

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TEHRAN, Jan. 12 (Xinhua) -- Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif on Saturday condemned an anti-Iran conference to be held by the United States in the Polish capital of Warsaw next month, Press TV reported on Saturday.

Zarif described the event a "desperate" show that will only disgrace the participants.

U.S. anti-Iran shows are "disgraced" since "Iran is stronger than ever," he was quoted as saying.

The comments by the Iranian minister followed U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo's remarks on Friday who said that Washington will jointly host a global summit in Warsaw on Feb. 13-14 focusing on Iran and its role in the Middle East region.

Pompeo said the meeting would "focus on Middle East stability and peace, freedom and security here in this region, and that includes an important element of making sure that Iran is not a destabilizing influence."
Source: Xinhua| 2019-01-12 19:56:16|Editor: Shi Yinglun

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NAIROBI, Jan. 12 (Xinhua) -- Flower farming in Kenya for years has been the preserve of the big local and foreign farmers and companies, mainly situated in Naivasha, northwest of the capital Nairobi.

While big players produce the bulk of flowers, in particular the highly sought-after roses, which are exported to Europe via the Netherlands, smallscale farmers are also taking up the trade in droves.

The smallholders are mainly growing summer flowers, which are used to blend the others for a perfect bouquet.

The farmers are spread across the east African nation in a fast-growing, thriving trade that has seen them become exporters of the produce, through agents.

Thomas Sang is one of the smallscale farmers growing summer flowers in Kenya and exporting to the Netherlands through a local firm.

The farmer grows the cash crop on three-quarter of an acre in Bomet, and has been in the business for over six years.

Arabicum, ammi, mobydick, eryngium, tuberosa, onis and claspedia are some of the summer flowers that are popular with the small farmers.

"I farm Arabicum, ammi and mobydick on a rotational basis. Occasionally, I also venture to eryngium but that is only when I am told by the buyer, Wilmar Flowers, which is based in Thika, on the outskirts of Nairobi," he said on Saturday.

The company supplies the planting materials, and he plants them, applying animal manure and a nitrogen fertilizer at a rate of 50 grams per meter square.

"For arabicum, a 90 kg sack of planting material which goes for 2,300 shillings (22.7 U.S. dollars) is enough for my farm. The plants mature in three to four months and I start harvesting the splits. For mobydick, I spent 39.6 dollars on the planting materials and they mature in six months," he explained.

The beautiful flowers are sold in grades ABC, with the grading depending on the circumference in the case of Ammi and the size of the stem for mobydick. Grade A goes for 0.04 dollars per stem, Grade B 0.03 dollars and Grade C 0.02 dollars.

However, sometimes prices rise to up to 0.11 dollars and for Sang, that has only happened once when he had planted mobydick. He reaped over 495 dollars per harvest, he recalled.

The reason why the smallholders in Bomet, Thika, Kisii, Kericho, Murang'a, Kiambu, Nyeri are taking up the trade is because it needs little capital to start and the summer flowers do not require much water, are resistant to pests and diseases and are tolerant to various soil conditions unlike roses, the bulk in Kenya which are farmed in greenhouses.

"With 148 dollars, you are good to start a flower business on quarter acre," said Charles Kinyanjui, a farmer in Kikuyu, on the outskirts of Nairobi.

According to him, an acre of arabicum can earn one up to 8,415 dollars, with less than a quarter of the money going on production. On the other hand, mobydick offers up to 7,000 dollars per acre.

"But the best thing to do is to find market first, ensure that you have a buyer because as a small farmer, you cannot export your little produce directly. You will work with the buyer's agronomist to ensure that you produce what is acceptable to them," he said.

Heavy rains or too much watering are among the worst enemies of summer flowers, according to Nelson Maina, an agronomist with the Kenya Agriculture and Livestock Research Organization.

He advises farmers to ensure they water the plants sparingly especially after they have grown so that they end up with quality products and time their planting to coincide with periods when there is little rain.

The bulk of the flowers grown in Kenya are sold in Europe, but emerging markets in Asia especially in Japan and China, are showing great potential.

Kenya exports about a billion stems of roses annually to Europe through the Netherlands, according to the Kenya Flower Council, earning 1 billion dollars in 2017.

The rose flowers are grown in Naivasha, Mt Kenya, Kitale, Nakuru, Kiambu and Nakuru.
Source: Xinhua| 2019-01-12 19:01:07|Editor: Li Xia

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JINAN, Jan. 12 (Xinhua) -- A liquefied natural gas (LNG) carrier, registered in the Republic of Korea, leaked gas into sea waters near the Dongying port in east China's Shandong Province Saturday morning.

According to local government, the leakage happened around 10:30 a.m. and efforts have been made to deal with the accident.

The government is monitoring the environment around the area.
Source: Xinhua| 2019-01-12 19:01:06|Editor: zh

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WELLINGTON, Jan. 12 (Xinhua) -- The sea ice around a massive Adelie penguin colony in Antarctica has melted early this year, according to a group of New Zealand scientists based there on Saturday.

Cape Bird on the Antarctic peninsula is home to 30,000 breeding pairs of Adelie penguins that rely on the sea ice to gather krill and ice fish for their chicks.

Landcare Research Ecologist Dean Anderson who is watching the breeding season said the sea ice broke out around two weeks ago which is unusual.

"The adults are spending more time out at sea, and less frequent trips back to the chicks," he said, adding the chicks will be quite hungry, and that makes them more vulnerable to skua.

Anderson's study is focused on the Ross Sea Marine Protected Area (MPA), an international fishing sanctuary set up in the ocean off Antarctica a year ago. It is now the world's biggest MPA, stretching across 1.55 million square km.

Adelies make the perfect research subject as they are highly reliant on the sea for survival and changes in their fishing grounds can have a big impact on their health, Anderson said.

The scientists said it is too early to know why the sea has melted so early this year but said it could be a natural event or a result of climate change.

Field technician Brian Karl who has spent 26 years at Cape Bird in different studies said the sea ice usually does not melt until the end of January when the chicks are bigger.
Source: Xinhua| 2019-01-12 18:56:06|Editor: zh

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BEIRUT, Jan. 12 (Xinhua) -- The spokesperson for the United Nations Interim Forces in Lebanon (UNIFIL) Andrea Tenenti said Saturday that the construction of a cement wall by Israeli forces along Israel's borders with Lebanon in the disputed area violates UN Resolution 1701, local media reported.

"The UNIFIL's role is to find a solution to these violations and to ensure stability in south Lebanon," Tenenti was quoted as saying by Elnashra, an online independent newspaper.

Tenenti said that the UNIFIL is cooperation with the Lebanese army to ensure proper implementation of resolution 1701 and the respect of the Blue Line.

"We are preparing regular reports on violations taking place from any party," he said.

The Higher Defense Council in Lebanon held Thursday a meeting vowing to submit a complaint to the Security Council with regard to Israel's violations of the Lebanese territory.

The meeting was held after Israel placed 25 cement blocks near the settlement of Miskaf Aam, opposite the southern Lebanese town of Adaisseh, with six blocks placed at disputed points.

The work on the cement wall continued Friday in the disputed area, with the Lebanese army and the UNIFIL deploying more soldiers and armored vehicles.
Source: Xinhua| 2019-01-12 18:46:05|Editor: zh

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LAGOS, Jan. 12 (Xinhua) -- Scores of people lost their lives in a petrol tanker explosion on Friday along the Calabar-Odukpani highway in southern Nigeria's Cross River State.

The incident occured after the tanker fell while trying to negotiate a bend, with residents rushing to the scene to scoop fuel.

The rush resulted into a spark as some of them used metal containers to scoop the product.

This led to an explosion which killed more than 20 people, an eyewitness told Xinhua.

State Governor Ben Ayade pleaded with residents not to subject themselves to such avoidable deaths, adding that the state Ministry of Information and Orientation would begin sensitization campaign on the matter.

"I am too shocked and traumatized to express the depth of my grief for the victims of the explosion," said Ayade.

Chidiebere Nkwonta, Sector Commander of Federal Road Safety Corps in the state, confirmed the incident, saying the tanker fell off the road side.

"We suspected the incident to have happened out of speed violation on the side of the driver. He was slightly injured when my men visited the scene," he added.

"We did our best to ensure safety around the scene by ensuring free flow of movement around the area," he told Xinhua.

"Unfortunately, at night, some people went there and started scooping fuel and there was an explosion that resulted to mass casualty," said the road official.

"I want to use this medium to advise people to stop scooping fuel from fallen tankers laden with petroleum product, it's not safe," he said.

Some of the victims who sustained third degree injuries were currently receiving treatment at the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital.

The past few years had witnessed a string of pipeline explosions in Nigeria. Some of such incidents happened as locals tried to siphon fuel from the pipelines.

According to reports, at least 150 people were killed in a pipeline explosion on May 12, 2006, in a village to the east of Lagos, the country's economic hub, while locals were drilling into it.
Source: Xinhua| 2019-01-12 18:46:05|Editor: zh

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PHNOM PENH, Jan. 12 (Xinhua) -- Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen said on Saturday that the European Union (EU) is holding the country's 16-million population "hostage" by threatening to withdraw trade preferences for the kingdom.

The Cambodian prime minister made the remarks during a meeting with former Irish Prime Minister Enda Kenny at the Peace Palace in Phnom Penh, Hun Sen's personal assistant Eang Sophalleth told reporters after the meeting.

Hun Sen said it would be another EU's mistake if it imposed sanctions on Cambodia through withdrawing the Everything But Arms (EBA) preferential trade scheme, according to Sophalleth.

The EU announced in October last year that Cambodia could lose its special trade access to the European markets under the EBA preferences, citing concerns over human rights and labor rights in the country.

The EU would take at least 18 months to decide whether to withdraw the EBA preferences for Cambodia or not.

EU is a major trading partner for Cambodia, especially for textiles and footwear sector. As a Least Developed Country, Cambodia has enjoyed exports of all products, except arms and ammunition, to the European markets with duty-free for decades.

Ken Loo, secretary general of the Garment Manufacturers Association in Cambodia, said in a statement in October last year that over 46 percent of Cambodia's total exports of apparel and footwear are to the EU.

He said the garment and footwear sector employed around 700,000 workers and another 2 million out of the kingdom's total population of 16 million also economically depended on the sector.

"A temporary suspension of the EBA or any short-term unilateral sanctions may have long-term negative impacts on the lives of our workers and their families," he said.
Source: Xinhua| 2019-01-12 18:41:04|Editor: zh

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WELLINGTON, Jan. 12 (Xinhua) -- A mock funeral for planet Earth is taking place in Nelson of New Zealand's South Island on Saturday.

The local branch of the global Extinction Rebellion movement is staging the event and a march as a call to action to halt environmental decline.

Saturday's funeral would be an invitation for others to join the campaign, said spokesperson Julie Nevin.

Nevin said it would also be a way of expressing grief about climate change and the danger it posed for the near future.

"We, as a species, rely on our ecosystem, so I'm concerned for my kids and for their kids that a vast number of people are still not behaving like this is the immediate crisis that it is," she said.

Nevin said the Extinction Rebellion movement in New Zealand sought large-scale mobilization to reduce emission to zero by 2025, which is also a government call.
Source: Xinhua| 2019-01-12 17:15:52|Editor: Shi Yinglun

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Firefighters work at a blast site in Paris, France, Jan. 12, 2019. A gas blast hit Central Paris on early Saturday, leaving several injured, according to local media reports. Local media also reported that the explosion took place in a bakery on the Rue de Trevise in the ninth arrondissement of Paris. (Xinhua/Chen Yichen)

PARIS, Jan. 12 (Xinhua) -- A gas blast hit Central Paris on early Saturday, leaving several injured, according to local media reports.

Local media also reported that the explosion took place in a bakery on the Rue de Trevise in the ninth arrondissement of Paris.

French police have called on people to avoid the area and make way for rescue vehicles.
Source: Xinhua| 2019-01-12 17:10:51|Editor: Shi Yinglun

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NEW YORK, Jan. 11 (Xinhua) -- There is an urgent need to address the U.S.-China trade issues through talks and work together to make a deal, a group of economists and political scholars from both countries have said.

"Looking ahead this year, I think the key words or catchwords in the international economic diplomacy or relationship would be talks rather than wars," said Lu Feng, director of the China Macroeconomic Research Center at Peking University, during a panel discussion in New York on Thursday.

With a focus on U.S.-China trade frictions, the event was jointly hosted by the National Committee on U.S.-China Relations and Peking University's China Center for Economic Research.

The China-U.S. trade relations have seen twists and turns after Washington announced high tariffs on Chinese products worth hundreds of billions of U.S. dollars in 2018.

However, both sides have since engaged in extensive, in-depth exchanges on trade and structural issues of common concern to promote mutual understanding and lay a foundation for addressing each other's concerns.

The panelists noted that it's mutually beneficial for the United States and China to find common ground while voicing their differences.

Beijing has always been willing to negotiate, so Washington should also feel the need to make a deal, Lu said.

"The U.S. economy is facing downward pressure. Nobody wants some external sort of negative impact from escalating the trade tensions ... the trade deficits in the United States actually increased rather than declined, which indicates tariff measures are not working in addressing the imbalances between these two countries," said Lu.

His views were widely shared by the panelists during the discussion.

Catherine Mann, global chief economist at Citi Group, emphasized the importance of mitigating the trade rifts between the world's two largest economies since there would be a vicious circle of damages.

The collateral damages are not only in terms of the global supply chains, but "we have to recognize the collateral damage to the global economy through the sentiment," Mann said.

The damage to the global economy may also further weaken the underlying macroeconomic framework in both countries as well as the rest of the world, she added.

Calling himself "an optimist," Nicholas Lardy, a senior fellow at the Peterson Institute for International Economics, said if economic rationality prevails, there should be an agreement and "sooner is better."

"I think both sides have very strong interests in coming to an agreement ... we will see increasingly the evidence that tariffs are actually disadvantaging the U.S. economy, reducing employment and slowing growth," said Lardy.

Qin Xiao, former chairman of China Merchants Group and China Merchants Bank, also expressed optimism about the prospects for a possible U.S.-China trade deal.

As the interactions between the two sides are increasing, it is inevitable that the two economies become competitors. However, "even rivals can cooperate in the global arena, including on topics such as international peacekeeping, climate change, and anti-terrorism," Qin said.
Source: Xinhua| 2019-01-12 16:55:47|Editor: Shi Yinglun

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by Xinhua writers Deng Xianlai, Gao Pan

WASHINGTON, Jan. 11 (Xinhua) -- As the World Bank awaits a successor for outgoing president Jim Yong Kim, it faces an opportunity to select a globally recognized leader based on merits, not on nationality, to shore up multilateralism and strengthen the global lender's credibility.

Following Kim's unexpected decision to step down on Feb. 1, the World Bank said Thursday it planned to select a new chief before spring meetings in April.

It is widely hoped that the nomination of the next president could break away from an unofficial but long-held tradition, so that competent candidates with broad development experience, particularly from the developing world, can have a chance to lead this important international institution.

Ever since the World Bank's inception in 1944, all of its presidents have been nominated by the United States. And therefore, all these bank chiefs turned out to be Americans. Meanwhile, the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the World Bank's sister institution, tends to select European leaders.

Given that emerging markets' and developing economies' total contributions to global economic growth have far outweighed those of the advanced economies in recent years, this practice hardly makes sense and needs to be changed.

The tradition puts into question the legality and effectiveness of not only the bank itself, but also the global financial system in which the lender plays a vital role.

"If these institutions are to be made more appealing to the rest of the world, the lock hold that the United States and Europe have on both the president of the World Bank and managing director of the IMF has to end," said Raghuram Rajan, former governor of the Reserve Bank of India and now a finance professor at the University of Chicago.

Back in 2012, there were two non-American hopefuls who competed with Kim for the position of World Bank chief, one from Nigeria and the other from Colombia. Apparently, they failed to loosen Washington's grip on the post.

According to the latest statement by the bank's board of executive directors, the next president will be determined through an "open, merit-based and transparent" selection process.

To strengthen the legitimacy and relevance of the World Bank, these executive directors should nominate a number of eligible candidates who have made notable achievements in poverty alleviation and other development issues, and choose one with a proven development record.

Robert Zoellick put forward the idea of modernizing multilateralism in 2010 when he was president of the World Bank. At that time, he argued for "modernizing multilateralism for a multipolar world."

Almost a decade since then, today's world is marked by rising anti-globalization sentiment and a growing distrust in multilateral mechanisms, both of which, unfortunately, run counter to what the World Bank represents.

The new president of the World Bank needs to continue to uphold and modernize multilateralism, promote inclusive development globally, and make the global economic order more just and more reasonable.

Although reforms adopted by the World Bank in the aftermath of the 2008 global financial crisis increased its capital and expanded the voting power of developing and transition countries, the representativeness of those countries is still substantially underestimated, and their appeals often ignored.

Right now, the United States still has an exclusive veto power in the World Bank. While such a privilege seems legitimate in the sense that Washington is the institution's largest stakeholder, it carries the potential risk of abuse of power.

In that regard, the World Bank should further advance a voting power reform that more accurately reflects member countries' economic size, and fill its managerial-level positions with more competent people from developing countries.

In addition, the World Bank, which prioritizes combating poverty, should be more heedful of the interests and concerns of developing countries when making major decisions or crafting new rules.

It ought to provide more public goods to developing countries in areas such as infrastructure investment, education, water resources management, epidemics response and prevention and combating natural climate change.

With the emergence of a number of regional financial institutions, including the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank and the New Development Bank founded by the BRICS countries of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, the World Bank should seek long-term partnerships and win-win cooperation with them as well.
Source: Xinhua| 2019-01-12 16:40:44|Editor: Li Xia

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MACAO, Jan. 12 (Xinhua) -- The 18th Macao City Fringe Festival has kicked off in China's Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR) with more than 20 programs and activities for local artists and residents to find urban arts in their daily lives.

The event, starting on Friday, was organized by the Cultural Affairs Bureau of Macao SAR government. Under the theme "Extra, Ordinary," it aims to turn arts into a daily routine through different means of expression.

On Friday night, after the opening ceremony, a combination of circus and Indian dance by British and Indian artists was staged. The event also includes outdoor orchestra, street art, and other performances.

It also features 10 outreach activities, including workshops, talks, art critique and sharing sessions.

The festival, which will last until Jan. 27, has invited curators of performing arts events from all over the world to share experiences on local festivals and cultural environment in their hometowns.
Source: Xinhua| 2019-01-12 15:40:35|Editor: Li Xia

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by Xinhua writer Yu Fei

BEIJING, Jan. 12 (Xinhua) -- Chang'e-4's journey to the far side of the moon marks another remarkable achievement in China's space exploration, and will contribute to better understanding of the moon, the earth and the cosmos.

As nearest heavenly body, the moon has fascinated humankind since we first gazed at the sky. The silver disc in the sky is a key protagonist in our legends, myths and dreams. Its ever-changing face has inspired ambitious aspirations.

We admire its beauty from earth, so why are we so eager to reach the moon?

It's a link between us and the universe. It inspires our imaginations and dreams of space travel. The moon is still the only extraterrestrial destination visited by human beings.

The moon shares a violent early history with earth. Without the moon, life on earth might be very different. And we might see our past and future through exploration of the moon.

Because of the tidal locking effect, we only see one side of the moon from earth, and the far side remains a mystery. It's also called the dark side, although it's not darker than the near side. The word "dark" only shows how we feel about the unknown.

Mark Twain said everyone is a moon, and has a dark side which he never shows to anybody.

Nobody had ever seen the far side of the moon before the Soviet Union launched the Luna 3 probe in 1959. It was the first-ever mission to photograph the far side.

The United States Apollo 8 mission sent three astronauts around the moon in 1968, the first time humans saw the moon's far side with their own eyes.

Now China has sent the first-ever probe to soft-land and rove on the far side.

To date, the world has launched about 130 manned or unmanned missions to the moon. Early exploration was dominated by the space race between the United States and Soviet Union in the 1960s and 1970s. After a lull, new interest was triggered in the 1990s when scientists found there might be water on the moon.

In 2007, exploration entered a new era, with countries such as China, Japan and India joining the lunar exploration club. Cutting-edge technologies in the fields of carrier rockets, navigation, communication and detection have been applied and will surely reap more discoveries.

Scientific research currently focuses on the origin and evolution of the moon, its current situation and lunar resources. Astronomers regard it as an ideal place to peer into the deep reaches of the cosmos.

Scientists also want to study the lunar environment, and whether people can live on the moon and the physical and psychological effects of living there. The study might help migration to other planets in future.

Flying to the moon has been a dream of Chinese since ancient times. The moon has long been a major theme in Chinese poems, music and paintings, with artists and writers using the moon to express their emotions and thoughts on the universe.

Since the 1990s, Chinese scientists and engineers have endeavored to make the dream a reality.

In 2004, China started its lunar exploration program, named after the moon goddess Chang'e, who, in Chinese mythology, lived on the moon and was accompanied by a jade rabbit. The program includes orbiting and landing on the moon, and bringing samples back to earth.

Unlike the space race of the 1960s and 1970s, China is developing its program in a scientific and rational way. Its investment is within the scope of China's capabilities.

Although China is a latecomer in lunar exploration, its program has made many achievements in a few expeditions and pushed forward the development of space technology, science and applications.

China has made several milestones in its space programs. The first was the launch of its first satellite in 1970, and the second was China's first astronaut Yang Liwei's journey in space in 2003.

Exploring the moon, about 400,000 km from earth, is the third milestone.

After the Chang'e-3 probe accomplished China's first soft-landing on the moon in 2013, Chinese space experts aimed high to make the Chang'e-4 mission more innovative and challenging: to realize the first-ever soft-landing on the far side of the moon.

In order to achieve that goal, China sent a relay satellite, named Queqiao, meaning Magpie Bridge, after an ancient legend, to the halo orbit around the second Lagrangian (L2) point of the earth-moon system to set up a communication link between the earth and the moon's far side. It is the first communication satellite operating in that orbit.

Chinese space experts also overcame difficulties with the rugged terrain on the far side, and soft-landed the probe on the Von Karman Crater in the South Pole-Aitken Basin with high precision.

China has become a major player in lunar exploration, which will benefit scientific research and improve understanding of the moon, the earth and the solar system.

The Chang'e-4 mission also carries instruments developed by scientists from Sweden, Germany, the Netherlands and Saudi Arabia, providing more opportunities for the world's scientists and combining human wisdom to explore the universe.

The idea of the halo orbit around the L2 point of the earth-moon system and deploying a satellite there as a communication link to the moon's far side was first proposed by U.S. scientists about half a century ago, but was realized by China.

Chinese space experts hope Queqiao will be able to assist other countries that intend to send probes to the far side of the moon within its life span.

Now China is drawing up plans to explore the polar regions of the moon, and inviting other countries to join in further expeditions.

From robotic to manned missions, from short to long-term, China's lunar exploration will go deeper. Chinese will leave their footprints on the surface of the moon in the foreseeable future.

Exploring the moon has inspired scientists and engineers; fascinated young and old; motivated young people to pursue scientific careers, not only in space, but also in the depths of the oceans, or in the nucleus of an atom.

Reaching the moon, the first outpost in deep space, is just the beginning of our space odyssey.
Source: Xinhua| 2019-01-12 15:30:34|Editor: Shi Yinglun

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KABUL, Jan. 12 (Xinhua) -- Up to 1 million educated Afghans, or 45 percent of over 2.5 million jobless Afghans, have been suffering from unemployment, a local newspaper reported on Saturday.

According to private Afghanistan Times daily, most of the educated jobless Afghans are youths of high school graduates or those holding university diplomas.

"More than 2.5 million people are jobless from whom 45 percent are high school graduates or hold university diplomas. The rest are skillful who have access to some vocations," the newspaper said, quoting authorities.

Unemployment remains a challenge in the country as the number of jobless people kept growing while private investment continued to decline, the report said.

According to Afghanistan Central Statistics Organization, almost 54 percent of the Afghan population live below the poverty line.
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UAE emerges stronger after extraordinary resilience during pandemic, says Sheikh Mohammed

"In many ways, the UAE has proved to be one of best prepared countries to deal with this pandemic. Not only have we effectively safeguarded the health and wellbeing of citizens and residents, we have also weathered the economic impact of the crisis," says Mohammed.
Source: Xinhua| 2019-01-12 15:25:34|Editor: Li Xia

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BEIJING, Jan. 12 (Xinhua) -- China attended and organized more exhibitions in countries along the Belt and Road Initiative last year as industrial exchanges heated up.

Chinese exhibitors attended and organized 718 events in 33 countries in the regions by mid-November 2018, up 14.3 percent and involving about 26,000 Chinese firms, according to a report by the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT).

Machinery was one main theme of these exhibitions, the report stated.

Russia was the most popular destination for China's exhibitors, followed by India, the United Arab Emirates and Turkey.

Chinese exhibitors attended and organized 1,672 overseas events during this period, up 4.89 percent year on year.

For the domestic exhibition market, CCPIT expected more industrial events this year focusing on emerging sectors like artificial intelligence, energy conservation, and new generation information technology as well as themes of regional development like the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.
Source: Xinhua| 2019-01-12 15:05:30|Editor: zh

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BEIJING, Jan. 12 (Xinhua) -- Trips between China and countries along the Belt and Road Initiative are expected to exceed 85 million by 2020, a think tank predicted.

Trips made by Chinese tourists to those countries grew from 15.49 million in 2013 to 27.41 million in 2017, a 77 percent jump over the past five years, according to a report by the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS).

Chinese tourists contributed about 31 percent of the international tourism revenue in those countries in 2017, which stood at about 385.1 billion U.S. dollars.

Meanwhile, China recorded 10.64 million trips made by tourists from B&R countries in 2017, compared with 9.03 million in 2013, the report showed.

The report attributed the robust tourism market to relaxed visa policies, new flights and other facilitating policies thanks to the development of the initiative.
Source: Xinhua| 2019-01-12 15:05:30|Editor: Xiaoxia

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LASHKAR GAH, Afghanistan, Jan. 12 (Xinhua) -- At least 11 Taliban militants have been killed and three others wounded in two southern Afghan provinces, authorities said on Saturday.

In one incident, two militants were killed and three others wounded after an improvised explosive device (IED) they were planting detonated accidently in Mizan district of Zabul province Friday night, Afghan army Corps 205 Attal based in the region said in a statement.

A total of six militants were killed after NATO-led coalition forces launched an airstrike in Nikzai village, Nahri Sarraj district of Helmand province, according to a statement issued by army Corps 215 Maywand based in Helmand.

In neighboring Washer district, two militants were killed after Afghan Air Force launched a sortie following which Afghan army's ground forces found a gun and a rocket propelled grenade (RPG) from the site.

In Kim Bazar locality of Helmand's Marja district, one Taliban militant was killed after an airstrike on Friday, according to the statement.

The army personnel also found and defused four IEDs in Helmand on Friday.

Afghan security forces, backed by the U.S.-led NATO coalition troops, have increased ground and air offensives against militants within the past few months as Taliban militant group has been attempting to take territory and consolidate its positions ahead of winter in the Asian country.
Source: Xinhua| 2019-01-12 14:40:24|Editor: Xiaoxia

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YANGON, Jan. 12 (Xinhua) -- Bilateral border trade between Myanmar and Thailand reached 937.4 million U.S. dollars in first three months of current fiscal year 2018-2019 which started in October, the official Global New Light of Myanmar reported on Saturday.

From Oct.1 to Dec. 28, 2018, the country's export to neighbouring Thailand amounted to 700 million U.S. dollars while its import reached 237 million U.S. dollars.

Among all the border gates, Hteekhee topped the list with 588.49 million U.S. dollars of trade.

The country's agricultural and fishery products are exported to Thailand while cosmetics, machinery, food products and agricultural equipment are imported to the country.

Bilateral trade between Myanmar and Thailand totaled over 5 billion U.S. dollars in last FY 2017-2018.
Source: Xinhua| 2019-01-12 13:55:18|Editor: Yang Yi

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HAVANA, Jan. 11 (Xinhua) -- Renovating Chinatown is one of the priorities in the program to celebrate the 500th anniversary of the founding of Havana, which will be held in November, local media reported Friday.

In commemoration of the anniversary, authorities organized a general restoration program, which includes refurbishing the popular area built by Asian workers.

The buildings in Chinatown, many of which date back to the founding era and are of great heritage value, show certain signs of deterioration, the daily Juventud Rebelde said.

Buildings to be renovated included the well-known Chinatown sites like the offices of the Chinese newspaper "Kwong Wah Po," launderettes and traditional pharmacies.

The restoration efforts also include the repair of public lighting, sidewalks and parks, street paving and the removal of overhanging electrical cables.

According to historical data, the first 206 Chinese citizens arrived in Cuba in 1847 as laborers.

During the 20th century, a large number of Chinese immigrants arrived in Havana and became an important part of the community. They built the Chinatown to promote their culture and cuisine.
Source: Xinhua| 2019-01-12 12:50:10|Editor: Xiaoxia

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BEIJING, Jan. 12 (Xinhua) -- Finnish President Sauli Niinisto is scheduled to pay a state visit to China from Sunday to Wednesday at the invitation of Chinese President Xi Jinping.

Niinisto was born on Aug. 24, 1948. He has a master's degree in law.

He was elected as a member of the Parliament of Finland in 1987 and served as chairman of the National Coalition Party, minister of justice, minister of finance, deputy prime minister, chairman of the European Democrat Union, chairman of the board of governors of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, and vice chairman of the European Investment Bank.

Niinisto served as the speaker of the parliament from 2007 to 2011. He was elected president in 2012, and won re-election in 2018.
Source: Xinhua| 2019-01-12 12:05:05|Editor: Li Xia

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Chinese Ambassador to Ireland Yue Xiaoyong (2nd R) addresses a seminar in Dublin, Ireland, Jan. 11, 2019. Ireland and China have developed a strong relationship with plenty of success stories at the people-to-people level, Irish Ambassador to China Eoin O'Leary said on Friday. (Xinhua)

DUBLIN, Jan. 12 (Xinhua) -- Ireland and China have developed a strong relationship with plenty of success stories at the people-to-people level, Irish Ambassador to China Eoin O'Leary said on Friday.

Speaking at a seminar organized by Asia Matters, an Irish think tank, O'Leary hailed bilateral ties over the last 40 years and said country-to-country links can only be built on the basis of strong people-to-people links and close local ties.

Chinese Ambassador to Ireland Yue Xiaoyong, who also attended the seminar, said he has visited 22 counties of Ireland ever since he became ambassador to the country, during which many local government officials have expressed their interest in forming partnerships with China.

Noting the important role of local governments in promoting bilateral ties, Yue said seven pairs of Chinese and Irish provinces and cities have formed sister relationships since 2015.

Alan Dukes, chairman of Asia Matters and former Irish minister for finance, said China is the world's second largest economy and its regions and cities can offer tremendous business opportunities to Ireland.

He said there has been an increasing interest by Irish local authorities in seeking a strategic economic partnership with China particularly when Ireland faces the imminent withdrawal of Britain from the European Union.

Over 50 people including officials at the central and local levels, senior diplomats, business leaders, experts and scholars attended the seminar, with topics focused on the importance of forming a partnership with China at the local level, how to form such a partnership and lessons drawn from past experiences.
Source: Xinhua| 2019-01-12 12:05:05|Editor: Yamei

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OUAGADOUGOU, Jan. 11 (Xinhua) -- Twelve people were killed and two others injured Thursday in a terrorist attack in Burkina Faso's northern province of Soum, the country's security ministry announced late Friday in a statement.

The attack was perpetrated by around 30 armed individuals in broad daylight and targeted people who had gathered for a weekly market in the village of Gasseliki, according to the statement.

The attackers reportedly ransacked stores and opened fire on people.

No individual or group has claimed responsibility.

The country's parliament on Friday voted to extend a state of emergency in several northern provinces by six months as attacks have been surging in recent months.

The west African country has witnessed a deterioration in its security situation since 2015. More than 270 people, including members of the defense and security forces, have been killed in terrorist attacks.
Source: Xinhua| 2019-01-12 11:15:01|Editor: Shi Yinglun

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Photo taken on Jan. 5, 2019 shows the White House in Washington D.C., the United States. U.S. President Donald Trump is demanding over 5 billion U.S. dollars in border security to deliver his signature campaign promise to build a wall along the U.S. southern border with Mexico, which has strongly rejected by Democrats. (Xinhua/Liu Jie)

by Matthew Rusling

WASHINGTON, Jan. 11 (Xinhua) -- Saturday is set to mark the longest government shutdown in U.S. history, as the White House and Democrats in Congress remain at odds over the funding of a wall at the border with Mexico proposed by President Donald Trump to fend off immigrants.

Part of the U.S. federal government shuttered since Dec. 22 after the bill funding the government expired and U.S. President Donald Trump vowed to veto any spending bill that does not contain the 5.7 billion U.S. dollars he is demanding to fund a wall on the southern border.

Neither side seems willing to back down. The Democrats accuse the president of using the shutdown and border crisis to score political points, while Trump maintains it's a matter of national security.

FORCED END?

Meanwhile, the White House is weighing the declaration of a national emergency -- a legal mechanism that would allow the president to use the military to build the wall. Experts said such a scenario may well end the government shutdown, although Trump indicated Friday that this would not happen immediately.

"Trump is facing a Democratic majority in the House that has no interest in funding a wall, or anything like a wall that could give Trump a win," said Christopher Galdieri, an assistant professor at Saint Anselm College.

"Trump has decided that it's a wall or nothing, but he has yet to offer House Democrats anything in exchange for it," Galdieri added.

Trump underscored earlier in the week what he said was a "tremendous problem" on the border. "The federal government remains shut down for one reason and one reason only: because Democrats will not fund border security," he said.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, both Democrats, made a joint statement earlier in the week accusing the president of "manufacturing a crisis" and calling on him to re-open the government.

NO GUARANTEE

Trump indicated on Friday that the shutdown will continue.

"What we're not looking at doing right now is national emergency. I'm not going to do it so fast," he said.

Republican Strategist and TV news personality Ford O'Connell said the stalemate could well run until the president's State-of-the-Union address in late January. It is possible by then for the president to declare the border crisis a national emergency citing a 1976 act on the proclamation of a national emergency.

"The White House wants to turn the shutdown into a larger argument about border security, and they feel if they can do that they can win," O'Connell said.

Galdieri said, "The path out of this that seems increasingly likely is for Trump to make some sort of emergency declaration and claim that he can now build a wall. But that would set up a lengthy court fight with no guarantee of winning, and that fight could last past the 2020 election."

O'Connell said currently hundreds of miles of the borderland already have some sort of barrier, and noted that Trump merely wants to fund coverage of the last 300 miles of unguarded border territory.

POSSIBLE IMPACTS

Some experts believe the shutdown could take a toll on Trump's popularity.

"So far polling shows the public giving Trump the lion's share of the blame. If that continues, Republicans in Congress are going to have to decide if there's a point at which they break with him," Galdieri said.

"The longer the shutdown goes on, the more uncharted territory we get into," he said.

The scholar said he expects more ripple effects as more and more government services are affected.

"If you have a small town or city where the main driver of the local economy is a factory that makes military equipment or a federal prison or lab and the folks who work there aren't being paid, pretty soon that's going to affect other local businesses -- supermarkets, barber shops, bars, etc," he said.

Others, however, argue that most of the country won't even notice the shutdown, as it's unlikely to impact the majority of Americans.

CAMPAIGN PROMISE

Since his campaign for presidency, Trump has promised to build a wall along the massive U.S.-Mexico border. While many immigrants head to the United States for economic reasons, Trump has argued that drug smugglers and gangs are among those entering the U.S. illegally.

He has vowed to veto any spending bill that does not contain funding for the wall.

Democrats contend that the president wants to gain political favor, and some critics say the president is playing fast and hard with federal workers' wallets.

Many of Trump's core supporters are working-class males who believe that illegal immigration has impacted them negatively. Trump, as part of his campaign, has promised to build a wall and have Mexico pay for it.

There have been nearly two dozen shutdowns since 1976. The last time the country saw such a lengthy shutdown was from Dec. 5, 1995 to Jan. 6, 1996, when then GOP House Speaker Newt Gingrich was at loggerheads with former President Bill Clinton over tax issues.

During the shutdown, a number of departments often do not receive funding until a deal is made. Usually the office won't completely close and a number of staff at departments including the Treasury, Homeland Security and Justice have to work for a time without pay.
The photo shows Nissan Motor Co.'s former Chairman Carlos Ghosn's lawyer Motonari Otsuru (C) shares information at a press conference after the hearing held by Tokyo District Court in Tokyo, Japan, Jan. 8, 2019. (Xinhua/Du Xiaoyi)

TOKYO, Jan. 11 (Xinhua) -- Tokyo prosecutors on Friday indicted ousted Nissan Motor Co. Chairman Carlos Ghosn on a fresh charge of aggravated breach of trust and under-reporting his compensation.

The automotive heavyweight was served with a fresh arrest warrant for allegedly under-reporting 9 billion yen (83 million U.S. dollars) of his remuneration during the three years through March 2018.

Ghosn was initially arrested on Nov. 19 last year for allegedly understating about 5 billion yen (45 million dollars) of his 10-billion-yen compensation during the five years through March 2015.

On Thursday, Japan's securities watchdog filed a complaint against the ousted chairman and the company itself, over suspicions the embattled former chief doctored remuneration reports.

According to the Securities and Exchange Surveillance Commission, both Ghost and Nissan are alleged to have under-reported Ghosn's pay package in the company's securities reports presented to Japanese regulators.

Both Ghosn and Nissan have been accused of violating Japan's Financial Instruments and Exchange Act for the misstatements submitted during the three years in question.

Ghosn's third arrest warrant was served on Dec. 21 for allegedly shifting company funds to help cover his personal investment losses during the 2008 financial crisis.

Prosecutors believe that Ghosn's actions caused financial damage to Nissan and the 64-year-old committed aggravated breach of trust.

Ghosn, who holds Brazilian, French and Lebanese citizenship, has been kept at the Tokyo Detention House facility since his arrest on Nov. 19.

On Wednesday, the Tokyo District Court rejected a request filed by Ghosn's defense counsel to end his detention following his arrest on allegations of financial misconduct.

The court's decision came a day after Ghosn appeared in court, the first public appearance since his arrest. He robustly maintained his innocence regarding all allegations of financial improprieties.

His chief lawyer has said that Ghosn could theoretically be detained for a minimum of another six months, citing the complexities of the case and said that bail is unlikely to be granted as he has unequivocally denied all allegations against him.

Sources close to the matter said Friday, however, that his legal team would likely seek bail for their client, despite a Tokyo judge believing Ghosn may destroy evidence and flee the country, if bail is granted.
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!
The photo shows Asian Development Bank (ADB) President Takehiko Nakao (Right) answers questions from journalists at a press conference in Suva, Fiji, Jan.11, 2019. (Xinhua/Zhang Yongxing)

SUVA, Jan. 11 (Xinhua) -- President of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) Takehiko Nakao on Friday welcomed the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), saying that it is nice to build connectivity between countries through the initiative.

"Together with other development banks like the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, we have a memorandum of understanding for cooperation with the Belt and Road Initiative," he told Xinhua while attending a press conference in the Fijian capital city of Suva.

Hailing the Belt and Road Initiative as a good idea, Nakao said "We can cooperate through BRI to support the countries that need our help."

Proposed by China in 2013, the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road Initiative aims to build a trade and infrastructure network connecting Asia with Europe and Africa based on ancient land and maritime trade routes.

The ADB chief is in Fiji to visit the facilities which will be the sites of ADB's 52nd Annual Meeting of the Board of Governors from May 1 to 5.

According to Nakao, Fiji will be the first Pacific developing member to host ADB's annual meeting, which is a unique opportunity for ADB governors, government officials, the private sector, and development partners and experts to discuss critical issues and challenges facing Asia and the Pacific.

The ADB meeting, under the theme of "Prosperity Through Unity," will discuss, among others, the development of sustainable tourism and management of ocean health which are important issues not only for Fiji and other Pacific countries but also for many Asian countries.

ADB is building its presence in 11 Pacific island countries to increase the impact of its growing program of assistance. Across the Pacific region, ADB is significantly scaling up financing to help developing members achieve sustainable economic and social development, while strengthening climate and disaster resilience.

ADB, which has committed 593 million Fijian dollars (about 279.36 million U.S. dollars) of assistance to Fiji since it joined the bank in 1970, expects to invest about 280 million Fijian dollars (about 131.9 million U.S. dollars) in the island nation in 2019-2020.

Established in 1966 and based in Manila, the Philippines, ADB currently comprises 67 members, including 48 from within Asia and the Pacific and 19 outside.
A demonstrator holds a sign, signifying hundreds of thousands of federal employees who won't be receiving their paychecks as a result of the partial government shutdown, during a "Rally to End the Shutdown" in Washington, the United States, Jan. 10, 2019. (REUTERS Photo)

WASHINGTON, Jan. 11 (Xinhua) -- The partial shutdown of the U.S. federal government over disputed congressional funds for President Donald Trump's border wall is poised to break record and become the longest in U.S. history when it enters the 22nd day on Saturday.

And still, no compromise is in sight, no deal is looming, and no easy alternative solution is foreseen.

Even not much ado was observed in the Congress on Friday when the shutdown tied the 21-day record from the Clinton administration in 1990s. The Senate left town for the week after 1:00 p.m. ET and the House of Representatives also adjourned until Monday.

PAYDAY WITHOUT PAY

It seems only more groans can be heard, especially among some 80,000 federal workers who have been forced to go on unpaid leave or work without pay during the shutdown starting on Dec. 22.

The shutdown officially hit their pocketbooks on Friday for the first time as they missed a paycheck on the supposed payday.

The House sends to Trump's desk earlier on Friday a Senate-approved bill guaranteeing back pay for federal workers missing paychecks due to the ongoing shutdown. However, 78 percent of American workers say they're living paycheck to paycheck, according to a 2017 report by employment website CareerBuilder.

The U.S. National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA) on Friday sued the federal government, claiming it "unlawfully deprived NATCA members of their earned wages without due process" during the shutdown.

The association accused the government of violating the Fair Labor Standards Act because it is not paying air traffic controllers at least minimum wage and because the Federal Aviation Administration did not pay them overtime during the shutdown.

Meanwhile, a NPR/Ipsos Poll issued Friday found that about seven in 10 Americans, including a majority of Republicans, say the government shutdown is "embarrassing for the country" and will hurt the economy. Only three in 10 believe the government should remain closed until there is funding for a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border.

The poll results suggest an upper hand of congressional Democrats in the ongoing stalemate with Trump, local analysts say.





NO EASY WAY OUT

The negotiations over the wall-funding dispute have largely hit a dead end amid the ongoing shutdown, with no easy alternative way out is in sight.

On Friday, Trump said a national emergency is the easy way to end the shutdown though he "won't do it so fast" and rather not.

"What we're not looking to do right now is national emergency," the president reportedly told a roundtable discussion on border security at the White House.

Trump said earlier this week that he will almost "100 percent" declare a national emergency as a way to fund his border wall if Congress can't reach a deal.

Local media said the reason why Trump is reluctant now is that he believes his administration will be sued and such a move will be blocked by the federal court.

"I'll be sued. It'll be brought to the 9th Circuit and maybe even though the wording is unambiguous...we'll probably lose there, too," Trump said, adding he would "hopefully win" at the Supreme Court.

Many Republican lawmakers also worry about a national emergency solution will set a bad precedent for a future Democratic president.

Trump has locked himself in the stalemate over his demand for 5.7 billion dollars for funding a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border, which was the major campaign promise he made in June 2015 when he announced his decision for a presidential bid.

Democrats have pointed to 1.3 billion dollars as their cap, and insisted on it be used on fencing instead of a concrete border wall. They have vowed to block any sort of funding for the wall, accusing Trump of having "manufactured" a crisis on the border.

Earlier on Friday, House Democrats, together with 10 Republicans, passed a bill to reopen the Interior Department, Environmental Protection Agency and Forest Service. But the bill is expected to go nowhere since Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell insisted he would not bring up any funding measure unless with Trump's support.
Source: Xinhua| 2019-01-12 07:19:31|Editor: Xiaoxia

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HAVANA, Jan. 11 (Xinhua) -- Seven people, including four foreign tourists, were killed and 33 others injured in a bus accident that occurred in eastern Cuba, local media reported on Friday.

Among those killed were two Argentine women, a German and a French. The Thursday accident also claimed the lives of three Cubans, according to Radio Guantanamo.

The bus which belonged to the company Via Azul was carrying 40 passengers including 22 foreigners from countries of Argentina, Canada, Spain, the United States, France, the Netherlands and Mexico.

The accident occurred on a highway that connects the city of Guantanamo with the town of Baracoa.

Witnesses said the bus overturned while the driver was trying to overtake another vehicle. The driver said he was driving at a slow speed, but lost control because the roadway was wet along the curvy road.

The injured suffered mainly fractures and bruises.

Specialists with the interior ministry are leading an investigation into the cause of the accident.
Source: Xinhua| 2019-01-12 07:09:27|Editor: Yamei

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Photo taken on Jan. 5, 2019 shows the White House in Washington D.C., the United States. U.S. President Donald Trump is demanding over 5 billion U.S. dollars in border security to deliver his signature campaign promise to build a wall along the U.S. southern border with Mexico, which has strongly rejected by Democrats. (Xinhua/Liu Jie)

WASHINGTON, Jan. 11 (Xinhua) -- The partial shutdown of the U.S. federal government over disputed congressional funds for President Donald Trump's border wall is poised to break record and become the longest in U.S. history when it enters the 22nd day on Saturday.

And still, no compromise is in sight, no deal is looming, and no easy alternative solution is foreseen.

Even not much ado was observed in the Congress on Friday when the shutdown tied the 21-day record from the Clinton administration in 1990s. The Senate left town for the week after 1:00 p.m. ET and the House of Representatives also adjourned until Monday.

PAYDAY WITHOUT PAY

It seems only more groans can be heard, especially among some 80,000 federal workers who have been forced to go on unpaid leave or work without pay during the shutdown starting on Dec. 22.

The shutdown officially hit their pocketbooks on Friday for the first time as they missed a paycheck on the supposed payday.

The House sends to Trump's desk earlier on Friday a Senate-approved bill guaranteeing back pay for federal workers missing paychecks due to the ongoing shutdown. However, 78 percent of American workers say they're living paycheck to paycheck, according to a 2017 report by employment website CareerBuilder.

The U.S. National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA) on Friday sued the federal government, claiming it "unlawfully deprived NATCA members of their earned wages without due process" during the shutdown.

The association accused the government of violating the Fair Labor Standards Act because it is not paying air traffic controllers at least minimum wage and because the Federal Aviation Administration did not pay them overtime during the shutdown.

Meanwhile, a NPR/Ipsos Poll issued Friday found that about seven in 10 Americans, including a majority of Republicans, say the government shutdown is "embarrassing for the country" and will hurt the economy. Only three in 10 believe the government should remain closed until there is funding for a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border.

The poll results suggest an upper hand of congressional Democrats in the ongoing stalemate with Trump, local analysts say.

NO EASY WAY OUT

The negotiations over the wall-funding dispute have largely hit a dead end amid the ongoing shutdown, with no easy alternative way out is in sight.

On Friday, Trump said a national emergency is the easy way to end the shutdown though he "won't do it so fast" and rather not.

"What we're not looking to do right now is national emergency," the president reportedly told a roundtable discussion on border security at the White House.

Trump said earlier this week that he will almost "100 percent" declare a national emergency as a way to fund his border wall if Congress can't reach a deal.

Local media said the reason why Trump is reluctant now is that he believes his administration will be sued and such a move will be blocked by the federal court.

"I'll be sued. It'll be brought to the 9th Circuit and maybe even though the wording is unambiguous...we'll probably lose there, too," Trump said, adding he would "hopefully win" at the Supreme Court.

Many Republican lawmakers also worry about a national emergency solution will set a bad precedent for a future Democratic president.

Trump has locked himself in the stalemate over his demand for 5.7 billion dollars for funding a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border, which was the major campaign promise he made in June 2015 when he announced his decision for a presidential bid.

Democrats have pointed to 1.3 billion dollars as their cap, and insisted on it be used on fencing instead of a concrete border wall. They have vowed to block any sort of funding for the wall, accusing Trump of having "manufactured" a crisis on the border.

Earlier on Friday, House Democrats, together with 10 Republicans, passed a bill to reopen the Interior Department, Environmental Protection Agency and Forest Service. But the bill is expected to go nowhere since Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell insisted he would not bring up any funding measure unless with Trump's support.
Source: Xinhua| 2019-01-12 07:04:27|Editor: Yamei

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AREQUIPA, Jan. 11 (Xinhua) -- Nine-time world rally champion Sebastien Loeb claimed his second stage victory of the Dakar Rally by outpacing race leader Nasser Al-Attiyah on Friday.

Frenchman Loeb finished the 345km timed section between Tacna and Arequipa in four hours 56 minutes and 34 seconds in his private Peugeot, more than 10 minutes ahead of Qatar's Nissan driver Al-Attiyah's.

Spanish X-Raid entrant Nani Roma was third, more than 24 minutes off the pace.

Despite failing to keep up with Loeb, Al-Attiyah extended his overall lead over second place Stephane Peterhansel as the event reached its midway point.

Peterhansel, a 13-time Daker winner, was fourth past the finish line in his X-Raid Mini on Friday, falling almost 25 minutes behind Loeb on aggregate. Roma is third, 34 minutes further back.

Earlier, Britain's Sam Sunderland took out the motorbike stage in four hours 11 minutes and 48 seconds on his Red Bull KTM, more than three minutes faster than the Yamaha of Frenchman Xavier De Soultrait. Sherco TVS rally rider Lorenzo Santolini of Spain was third.

American Ricky Brabec, 11th on his Honda on Friday, remains the overall race leader, just a second ahead of Sunderland.
A protester holds a sign during a rally and protest by government workers and concerned citizens against the government shutdown on Jan. 11, 2019 at Post Office Square near the Federal Building, headquarters for the EPA and IRS in Boston. (Xinhua/AFP)

WASHINGTON, Nov. 11 (Xinhua) -- The U.S. federal government entered partial shutdown on Dec. 22, 2018, and reached its 21st day on Friday, tying the record in government shutdown length in recent years.

The U.S. federal government shuts down when the legislative and executive branches fail to agree on a spending bill for government agencies, which halts government operations and furloughs government employees.

The current government shutdown is the result of a disagreement between President Donald Trump and the Democratic Party over the funding for a wall on the U.S.-Mexico border. The most recent negotiation talks collapsed on Wednesday as both sides dug in their heels, yielding no visible ending in sight for the quagmire.

Following is a recap of U.S. federal government shutdowns since 1990.

-- Oct. 6-8, 1990

The U.S. federal government went into partial shutdown on Saturday, Oct. 6, 1990 after some members of the Republican party opposed an agreement reached by then President George H.W. Bush and Democrats to raise taxes. The opposition blocked a spending bill in Congress as the new fiscal year started, causing a temporary spending gap for certain government agencies.

As the shutdown occurred during a holiday weekend, actual impact of the shutdown was limited. The Environmental Protection Agency, Department of Labor, Office of Personnel Management, and Department of Housing and Urban Development went into full shutdown and the Library of Congress, Government Printing Office, and the Departments of Energy, Interior, and State were partially closed. During the shutdown, the Department of Interior furloughed about 2,800 workers, the Library of Congress around 100, and the other agencies fewer than 10 each.

-- Nov. 14-19, 1995

Then Democratic U.S. President Bill Clinton and the Republican-controlled Congress did not agree on a budget bill when a new fiscal year started in October 1995. Republicans wanted to slow government spending while Clinton argued for more funding for education, the environment, medicare and public health. The difference eventually led to a shutdown.

About 800,000 federal government employees were furloughed as a result of the shutdown.

-- Dec. 16, 1995 - Jan. 6, 1996

The record-breaking 21-day government shutdown was the sequel to the previous government shutdown, which ended with a fragile truce between Clinton and the Republicans.

As the shutdown lengthened, public opinion turned against Republican lawmaker Newt Gingrich, the then House speaker who led the fight against the Democrats. The two sides eventually hammered out an agreement with modest spending cuts and tax increases.

Despite the longer shutdown, less government institutions and employees were impacted compared with the one a month earlier. About 284,000 government employees were furloughed and the total estimated cost to the government for the two shutdowns together was about 400 million U.S. dollars.

-- Oct. 1-17, 2013

The Republican-led House of Representatives and the Democrat-led Senate and then U.S. President Barack Obama conflicted over funding for the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, a piece of signature legislation for Obama better known as Obamacare, leading to impasse on a budget bill for the fiscal year 2014.

The deadlock put the federal government into shutdown on Oct. 1. During the shutdown, Republicans made at least three proposals to renew funding for the government, under the condition of curtailing Obamacare. The proposals were rejected by the Democrats.

The standoff ended when the the U.S. government faced the risk of defaulting on its debts, which would seriously damage its credibility. Both sides reached an agreement at the 11th hour to avoid default.

About 800,000 federal government employees were furloughed as a result of the shutdown.

-- Jan. 20-22, 2018

Dispute over the future of children of illegal immigrants erupted one year after Trump entered into office and left the federal government unfunded for three days.

The Trump administration wanted to terminate the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, which granted legal residence status for minors who entered the country illegally with their guardians, but was opposed by the Democrats.

As a result of the shutdown, approximately 692,900 federal employees were furloughed.

Differences on funding for a border wall on the U.S. southeastern border also partially contributed to the shutdown, foreshadowing the current spending gap.
Aerial photo taken on Sept. 11, 2018 shows a shrimp breeding base in Helan County, northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region. (Xinhua/Wang Jianhua)

NEW YORK, Jan. 10 (Xinhua) -- China will be able to maintain a growth rate around 6.5 percent and continue to contribute about 30 percent of the growth to the global economy, said former senior vice president and chief economist of the World Bank Justin Lin Yifu Thursday.

"Looking ahead what will be the prospect for China's growth in 2019...I'm confident," said Lin, also the honorary dean of National School of Development at Peking University, while delivering a keynote speech during the "Forecast: China's Economy 2019," an event hosted by the National Committee on U.S.-China Relations and Peking University's China Center for Economic Research in New York.

He mainly attributed his optimism to a fact that the Chinese economy will enter the expansionary stage of its on-going supply-side structural reform in the next few years.

Lin noted that since 2016, the Chinese government has advocated implementing some kind of supply-side structural reform in order to improve the quality of its economy and avoid possible systematic financial risks.

The economist spoke highly of China's willingness to take up the bold attempt, since structural reform has been discussed almost in every country, but most countries only talk since they are afraid of the potential pain by the contraction.

Lin pointed out that China's economic policies are "responsive and contingent," and as the country has achieved the major goals of reducing excessive capacity, destocking and deleveraging, the focus will be shifted to reducing the administrative cost or the administrative burden to the enterprises and removing th bottlenecks of the growth in the Chinese economy, which are "expansionary."

Policies such as cutting down the tax rate for the private sectors and reducing the business red tapes will not only boost investment but also create a favorable environment for the business community, he said.

According to the World Bank report "Doing Business 2019: Training for Reform," published in October 2018, China moved up more than 30 places to the 46th position in the global rankings, reflecting that it had made dramatic improvements to its business environment over the past year.

China's resolve to remove the bottlenecks of its economy and support investment in such areas as industrial upgrading, infrastructure, environmental protection, and urbanization will also give stimulus to its economic growth, Lin said.

He added that the Chinese market and growth will be an opportunity for the Chinese people and the business community in the world, including the business community in the United States.
Source: Xinhua| 2019-01-12 03:08:43|Editor: Yamei

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OTTAWA, Jan. 11 (Xinhua) -- A Saudi woman, who reportedly fled her family over abuse and barricaded herself in a Bangkok airport hotel last week, is coming to Canada, CTV reported on Friday.

Canada signalled on Wednesday that it would be open to accepting the 18-year-old Saudi woman named Rahaf Mohammed al-Qunun, who had asked Canada for help via her Twitter account.

Previously, several countries including Canada and Australia were in talks with the United Nations refugee agency in Bangkok on accepting Qunun.

Qunun grabbed global attention when she sent out pleas for help via social media in Bangkok last Saturday.

Upon arriving at Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi Airport Saturday night, Qunun said she was met by a man whom she identified at various times. The man took her passport and said he would help her gain entry to Thailand.

When the man returned about an hour later with a few other people, they said they knew she ran away and her family wanted her back to Saudi Arabia. She was sent to a hotel room and told she would be put on a Monday morning flight to Kuwait.

Qunun then went online for help over Twitter, writing of being in "real danger" if forced to return to her family in Saudi Arabia and might be killed. She told the BBC that she had renounced Islam and was fearful of her father's retaliation.

She was allowed to enter Thailand temporarily under the protection of the UN refugee agency, which is expected to take about five to seven days to study her case and her claim for asylum.

Her father has reportedly denied physically abusing her or trying to force her into an arranged marriage. He said he wants Qunun back but respects her decision.

The Canada-Saudi Arabia relations have soured after a diplomatic row which was sparked by the Canadian government's call for the immediate release of Saudi blogger Raif Badawi and his sister Samar via Twitter on Aug. 5, 2018.

In response, Saudi Arabia accused Canada of interfering in its internal affairs and expelled the Canadian ambassador to Saudi Arabia and recalled its own ambassador from Ottawa.
Source: Xinhua| 2019-01-12 02:38:33|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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MADRID, Jan. 11 (Xinhua) -- Spanish Civil Guards have made 25 arrests and seized 2,700 kilos of processed marijuana in the Catalan region of northeast Spain in what they describe as the "biggest" ever seizure of this kind of drug made in the country.

The Civil Guards said in a communique published on Friday that the drug was going to be shipped to the United Kingdom and Netherlands. The leaders of the smuggling organization were British and Dutch, but the gang also had Spanish, Moldovan, Brazilian and Lithuanian members.

The seizure of shipments of the drug disguised as sporting equipment.

The police operation also saw two marijuana plantations dismantled in Cabrera del Mar (close to Barcelona) and Calafell (Tarragona).

The operation began in April 2018 after 400 kilos of marijuana were discovered hidden in a shipment of vegetables en-route to Holland.

Spain is considered to be the gateway into Western Europe for most of the marijuana and hashish consumed in the region. This is mainly due to its proximity to north Africa, which makes it a logical entry port for smugglers -- many of whom operate out of ports or off beaches in the southwest of the country.
Source: Xinhua| 2019-01-11 23:42:49|Editor: Xiaoxia

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Greek President Prokopis Pavlopoulos (R) meets with German Chancellor Angela Merkel at the Presidential Mansion in Athens, Greece, on Jan. 11, 2019. Germany's support to Greece during the difficult bailout period from 2010 until August 2018, as well as in the post-bailout era, is support to the EU's cohesion, Greek President Prokopis Pavlopoulos said on Friday, welcoming German Chancellor Angela Merkel to Athens. (Xinhua/Marios Lolos)

ATHENS, Jan. 11 (Xinhua) -- Germany's support to Greece during the difficult bailout period from 2010 until August 2018, as well as in the post-bailout era, is support to the EU's cohesion, Greek President Prokopis Pavlopoulos said on Friday, welcoming German Chancellor Angela Merkel to Athens.

"You supported in many ways Greece's course towards the exit of the painful period of the memoranda... By supporting Greece today you support the cohesion of the European Union and the eurozone," Pavlopoulos said before the camera of Greek national broadcaster ERT.

"We have great interest that Greece not only remains a member of the EU, but a strong member of the EU. Last year 4 million German tourists visited Greece. We are very interested. And of course we are glad that Greece was able to leave the programs behind," the German leader said on her part.

Germany will continue to support Greece in this new stage, she stressed, repeating the remark she made also on Thursday upon her arrival in Athens during the first meeting with Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras.

Speaking before the camera on Friday, both presidents also underlined the need that all EU member states join forces to face more common challenges, such as the migration-refugee issue and the threat of populist anti- European parties.

"In the upcoming elections let's prove we, the real Europeans, that we are ready to defend Europe and the European edifice," Pavlopoulos said.

Before departing from Athens on Friday afternoon, Merkel also laid a wreath at the Tomb of the Uknown Soldier in front of the Greek parliament and held talks with main opposition New Democracy party leader Kyriakos Mitsotakis.
NEW ORLEANS, Jan. 11, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC (KSF) and KSF partner, former Attorney General of Louisiana, Charles C. Foti, Jr., remind investors that they have until March 11, 2019 to file lead plaintiff applications in a securities class action lawsuit against Danske Bank A/S (OTC: DNKEY), if they purchased the Companys American Depositary Receipts (ADRs) between January 9, 2014 and October 23, 2018, inclusive (the Class Period). This action is pending in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York.



What You May Do

If you purchased ADRs of Danske and would like to discuss your legal rights and how this case might affect you 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-dnkey/ to learn more. If you wish to serve as a lead plaintiff in this class action, you must petition the Court by March 11, 2019.

About the Lawsuit

Danske and certain of its executives are charged with failing to disclose material information during the Class Period, violating federal securities laws.

On October 23, 2018, media reports revealed the full extent of information provided by a whistleblower to Danske regarding money laundering activities in 2013, which it subsequently concealed while including profits from the illicit activities in its reporting, exposing it to regulatory action and fines.

On this news, the price of Danskes ADRs plummeted, erasing more than $2.54 billion in market capitalization.

The case is Plumbers & Steamfitters Local 773 Pension Fund v. Danske Bank A/S, et al., No. 19-cv-00235.

About Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC

KSF, whose partners include former Louisiana Attorney General Charles C. Foti, Jr., is a law firm focused on securities, antitrust and consumer class actions, along with merger & acquisition and breach of fiduciary litigation against publicly traded companies on behalf of shareholders. The firm has offices in New York, California and Louisiana.

To learn more about KSF, you may visit www.ksfcounsel.com .

Contact:

Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC

Lewis Kahn, Managing Partner

lewis.kahn@ksfcounsel.com

1-877-515-1850

1100 Poydras St., Suite 3200

New Orleans, LA 70163




A visitor experiences drone delivery by VR set at the booth of JD. com during the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, the United States, Jan. 9, 2019. (Xinhua/Li Ying)

LAS VEGAS, the United States, Jan. 10 (Xinhua) -- At the annual Consumer Electronics Show (CES), cooperation with China is not a fresh topic, and this year's fair in Las Vegas showed new motivations for teaming up with China.

"China is now transformed from Made in China into Created in China. Combined with our Italian design, these all contribute to build up our strong competitiveness, which brings many opportunities," Italian jewelry designer Marco Dal Maso told Xinhua on Thursday.

Maso teamed up with his Chinese partner Mats Wang, an internet veteran, and created in 2015 a smart jewelry brand Totwoo, which shined for the first time at the CES this year after winning numerous international jewelry industry awards.

The most famous feature of Totwoo smart jewelry is that people can send love code to each other by tapping the jewelry and the jewelry will flash and vibrate when it receives the code.

At the Las Vegas Convention Center on Wednesday, Totwoo launched its newest collection "Lucky Clover," which combines designs with Chinese characteristics and modern technologies.

Maso emphasized that in his eyes, China has changed from a huge market and world factory to an innovation center providing opportunities for international entrepreneurs, saying that he "would like to introduce more Italian designers to China to create more beautiful and innovative products in the world."

The current global manufacture chain makes it clear that innovation would be more difficult without China.

At the 2019 CES, Meituan, a Chinese food-delivery leader, signed strategic cooperation agreements with French automotive supplier Valeo, U.S. artificial intelligence (AI) computing and semiconductors company NVIDIA, and Italian design company for the automotive industry Icona.

Wang Puzhong, senior vice president of Meituan, said that in the cooperation aimed at developing autonomous delivery technologies, Valeo will supply components, including engines and sensors, for Meituan's autonomous delivery vehicles; NVIDIA will provide technical support for autonomous delivery research and development as well as trial operations, while Icona will be the design partner for autonomous delivery robots and vehicles.

"China has a huge market and is of great importance to NVIDIA," said Murali Gopalakrishna, head of product management from Autonomous Machines Department of NVIDIA.

"Nvidia has launched cooperation with Chinese partners since 2013, including Meituan, JD-X and Cainiao," Gopalakrishna added.

In the same exhibition hall, SoundAI Technology Co. has a very tiny booth, but the company, which focuses on leading technologies in acoustics and AI interactions including chip design and manufacture, has some big names like Microsoft as its international strategic partners.

"Even the world's biggest and most renowned company in acoustics AI field wants to cooperate with us because we provide chips to every one of two AI loudspeakers made in China," said Jason Gu, vice president of the company.

"In the field of acoustics AI, we all have lots of technology problems to resolve," he said, adding that "we must keep an open mind, because we can only create a future by working together."
Source: Xinhua| 2019-01-11 21:52:10|Editor: Xiaoxia

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A Palestinian protester uses a slingshot to hurl stones at Israeli troops during clashes on the Gaza-Israel border, east of the southern Gaza Strip City of Khan Younis, on Jan. 11, 2019. A Palestinian woman was killed on Friday during clashes between hundreds of Palestinian demonstrators and Israeli soldiers stationed on the border between eastern Gaza Strip and Israel, medics said. (Xinhua/Khaled Omar)

GAZA, Jan. 11 (Xinhua) -- Clashes broke out on Friday afternoon between hundreds of Palestinian demonstrators and Israeli soldiers in eastern Gaza Strip, close to the border with Israel, eyewitnesses and paramedics said.

They said that a number of protesters were injured by Israeli soldiers' live gunshots, rubber bullets and tear gas during clashes that were expected to go on for few hours.

Friday's protests are part of the weekly anti-Israel marches of return which started at the end of last March. It is the 42nd Friday of protests which is called "Our steadfastness would break the (Israeli siege).

Hundreds of protesters gathered on Friday afternoon in eastern Gaza Strip, close to the border with Israel, waving Palestinian flags and chanting anti-Israel slogans, eyewitnesses said.

A number of arson balloons were released on Friday afternoon from eastern Gaza Strip into southern Israel, according to Israeli media reports and eyewitnesses in Gaza.

The highest commission of the marches of return and breaking the siege called on Gaza populations to join rallies and marches, stressing that this Friday is called "Friday of breaking the siege."

The marches of return in eastern Gaza are taking place as a senior Egyptian security intelligence delegation has been in Gaza since Thursday in a bid to defuse tension with Israel.

The delegation, who left the Gaza Strip to the West Bank in the afternoon, informed Hamas leaders and other factions leaders that Israel is committed to the calm understanding Egypt and the UN had brokered in November between Hamas and Israel.

Since November, the activists stopped launching arson balloons into Israel and kept the weekly protests on a low profile. However, they threatened that they would resume arson balloons attacks after Israel refused to transfer the third installment of Qatari grant to Gaza to pay the salaries of Hamas civil employees.

Since the marches of return started, the Israeli army shot and killed more than 240 demonstrators and wounded 25,000 others, according to Gaza Health Ministry reports.

The arson balloons unit in Gaza resumed on Friday releasing arson balloons from eastern Gaza Strip into southern Israel, according to a press statement signed by the unit.

Israeli media reported and eyewitnesses said that Israeli soldiers stationed on the borderline area with eastern Gaza opened fire at a group of Palestinian activists who were trying to cut the barbed wire of the borders fence between eastern Gaza and Israel. No injuries were reported.
Source: Xinhua| 2019-01-08 00:24:19|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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ADDIS ABABA, Jan. 7 (Xinhua) -- Chairperson of African Union (AU) Commission Moussa Faki Mahamat on Monday condemned a failed coup attempt in Gabon.

"The African Union strongly condemns the coup attempt this morning in Gabon," Faki Mahamat said in a statement via twitter.

He also stressed that the 55-member pan African bloc's firm stance against unconstitutional moves, saying that "I reaffirm the AU's total rejection of all unconstitutional change of power."

Gabon, soon after the failed attempt, revealed the arrest of four soldiers who are said to have attempted to take control of the national radio station on Monday morning.

Soldiers entered the national radio station in Libreville around 4 a.m. local time to read a statement in which they announced the setting up of a "national council of the restoration."

In the statement, Ondo Obiang Kelly, lieutenant of the Republican Guard, announced that they were disappointed by the message delivered on December 31 by President Ali Bongo, which "rather heightened doubts about his ability to assume the office of President of the Republic."

The lieutenant later managed to flee but four other soldiers were arrested by the military following an intervention. The situation is under control and order will be completely restored in two or three hours, said the government spokesman.

President Ali Bongo is currently recovering in Morocco, after suffering a stroke in late October 2018. In the message he gave to the nation on December 31, he expressed that the condition of his health is improving.
THOMASVILLE, Ga. (WTXL) - The Thomasville Police Department needs help identifying a man who robbed a local bank this morning.

TPD says the suspect robbed the Synovus Bank on Remington Avenue and Pinetree Boulevard on Saturday at 9 a.m.

After the robbery, the suspect ran away from the scene.

If you have any information, you are asked to call 911 immediately. Police say they are offering a reward for information leading to his arrest.
SANTA ROSA COUNTY, Fla. (WTXL) - A Florida man is behind bars after he reportedly said he was going to kill his neighbors with a machete that had the word "kindness" written on the side.

Bryan Duane Stewart, 30, has been arrested for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and aggravated battery with a deadly weapon.

WEAR obtained an arrest report that detailed how Stewart was arrested.

Deputies responded to a home in Milton for reports of banging and yelling. According to their report, a witness saw Stewart say, "he was going to 'kill'em with kindness.'"

The neighbors then went over to the home because a woman and child were inside. WEAR reports Stewart then grabbed a small machete knife with the word "kindness" written on the side and tried to stab one of the neighbors.

Stewart also ended up cutting another neighbor who tried to help. When authorities arrived, the report says Stewart had a strong odor of alcohol coming from him and was belligerent.
(WTXL) - It's payday for federal workers, the only problem is the federal government is shutdown so many are receiving a blank check.

About 800,000 federal workers were left with no income this pay cycle which for many is causing issues since many federal worker live pay check to pay check.

WTXL's Political Expert Doctor Ed Moore said not only do federal workers feel the effect from missing paycheck, but average Americans will feel it as well.

"When you are close to living paycheck to paycheck and not getting a check particularly at the Christmas season when a lot of these people spent their assets down for gifts for friends and family, and now they have nothing to turn too," said Moore. "It makes it really tough and it's going to have a ripple effect on the economy and market, and the instability in the market has been reflective of that."

Federal workers will receive pay for the amount of time worked during the shutdown when the government reopens.
NEW ORLEANS, Jan. 11, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- ClaimsFiler, a FREE shareholder information service, reminds investors that they have until February 25, 2019 to file lead plaintiff applications in a securities class action lawsuit against DXC Technology Company (NYSE:DXC), if they purchased the Companys shares between February 8, 2018 and November 6, 2018, inclusive (the Class Period). This action is pending in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia.



Get Help

DXC investors should visit us at https://www.claimsfiler.com/cases/view-dxc-technology-company-securities-litigation or call toll-free (844) 367-9658. Lawyers at Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC are available to discuss your legal options.

About the Lawsuit

DXC and certain of its executives are charged with failing to disclose material information during the Class Period, violating federal securities laws.

On November 6, 2018, the Company revealed a range of adverse financial news including the loss of sales to significant customers, quarterly revenue shortfall in the hundreds of millions of dollars, and an $800 million reduction to its 2019 revenue outlook as well as a lack of growth in the digital space and ineffective sales strategies.

On this news, the price of DXCs shares plummeted.

The case is City of Warren Police and Fire Retirement System v. DXC Technology Company, et al., No. 18-cv-1599.

About ClaimsFiler

ClaimsFiler has a single mission: to serve as the information source to help retail investors recover their share of billions of dollars from securities class action settlements. At ClaimsFiler.com, investors can: (1) register for free to gain access to information and settlement websites for various securities class action cases so they can timely submit their own claims; (2) upload their portfolio transactional data to be notified about relevant securities cases in which they may have a financial interest; and (3) submit inquiries to the Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC law firm for free case evaluations.
WITF Music: The Nielsen Family Band

Joe Ulrich Bio Recent Stories Joe has been interested in audio and music since he was a kid. What started as a fascination with his parents vinyl records and cassette tapes turned into a love of both performing and recording. He grew up in Elizabethtown, Pa. and moved to Pittsburgh in 1999 where he majored in Photography at the University of Pittsburgh.



In 2004, he attended the Conservatory of Recording Arts & Sciences in Tempe, AZ. He returned to Pittsburgh to work at a recording studio.



In 2008, Joe arrived at WITF, where his skills have found a good home as an on-air host, audio engineer and producer of WITF Music. In 2016, Joe earned a National Edward R. Murrow award for Best Use of Sound.

The Nielsen Family Band is a fresh start for the Lancaster band previously known as Ton-Taun. It consists of most of the same members, but they decided to start anew for a couple reasons, partly because one of the members needed to focus on other things. But also a tragedy prompted their hard break from their past.

Ton-Taun had a conversation about breaking up on a Monday, explains the bands front man, Jordan Capizzi. And then on the following Wednesday my father was killed in a car accidentTwo very important pieces of my life just went away. So starting over felt good.

The band is working on their first album under the new name and its a collection of songs about Jordans dad.

When the first Nielsen Family Band record comes out, it is a collection of songs that are very much about my dad dying and then the next time we make something itll be normal again. I just kind of want to document it and let it be that document of this part of itAnd Ive said this to [the band] a thousand times, everyones been very generous with me in this space to talk about that.

Theres plenty of people who saw us play as Ton-Taun, says drummer Kate Seifarth. And those people still continue to come to The Nielsen Family Band shows and their emotional response is completely different but thankfully they still come.

Were not as much of a party band, says bassist Rob Nye.

Were not as much of a party band, its just a different party, Jordan adds.

While not a party band, The Nielsen Family Bands first batch of songs deal with heavy themes, but none of the songs sound dark. The music has both wistful and playful qualities to it.

The best way to undercut something very serious is being too serious about it, Jordan says. To make it just explicitly sad the whole time would be horrible. I wouldnt want to listen to it and I wouldnt want to make it. So hopefully there is something a little fun in there. I mean I think we have fun.

Bass player Rob Nye dubbed the bands genre space country.

Jordan explains, I think I was just at a little point in my life where I thought, If Im ever going to write my own Im-so-lonely-I-could-cry [songs] its right now because Im miserable, Jordan says with a laugh. So [the song] Dark Places just came out of that. I just wanted to play some country songs. Working with this kind of subject matter, I just didnt want it to be melodrama, but this is very much about my father dying and it devastating my family, but I want you to enjoy it too. Dark Places is a little tongue in cheek.

But its the perfect type of song that sounds upbeat and it feels good but then its like, wow, Kate says.

Guitarist John Spurlock years ago noticed the Nielsen building in downtown Lancaster and thought about the radio and tv measurement company Nielsen and the so-called Nielsen families who took part in their surveys.

And I was walking by and I was like, This would be a really fun name for a family band nameThat was something I thought of like six years ago. I made the Facebook page immediately after because I was l like, Im not letting someone take this because I think its really funny,' he says laughing.

While Ton-Taun had three guitarists, The Nielsen Family Band only has two. Guitarist Doug Hynes says, I think in this band whats really nice, theres a lot more emphasis on the space in the songs.

Its so spacious, John adds. It was very daunting to just look into this sonic void and being like: where do I fit in?

Sometimes nothing is just nice, Jordan says. Its very reflective.
Lawmakers Form Bipartisan Pension Working Group

By The Associated Press

FRANKFORT - Kentucky legislative leaders have appointed a bipartisan working group to examine the state's troubled public pension system.Kentucky has one of the worst funded public pension systems in the country. Last year, the Republican-controlled legislature passed a pension bill with no Democratic support. The state Supreme Court struck the law down in December.Republican Gov. Matt Bevin called lawmakers back in session in December to pass a version of the law again. But lawmakers adjourned without passing anything."Last year the intensity level, the rhetoric level got to such a fever pitch that I think it was impossible for anybody to hear over that," GOP House Speaker David Osborne said. "I think it's important that we are able to kind of hit a reset button on that and proceed in a responsible manner to inform, to educate and to try to build some consensus."The 14-member working group consists of 10 Republicans and four Democrats. It includes some of the Senate's top leadership, including GOP Senate President Robert Stivers and Minority Leader Morgan McGarvey. But none of the House Republican leadership team is on the panel. Instead, it includes new faces like Democrat Buddy Wheatley of Covington and Republican Travis Brenda, who teaches math at Rockcastle County High School.Osborne said he wanted new members on the working group to educate them on why the pension issue is important. The committee is also seeking public comments, asking people to send messages and suggestions to PublicPensions@lrc.ky.gov.Stivers and Osborne both said they hope the group can propose a bill in time for the legislature to approve before it adjourns for the year on March 29. But Osborne said there is a chance the issue will have to wait until the 2020 legislative session.Kentucky's pension systems are at least $39 billion short of the money required to pay benefits over the next three decades, making them among the worst-funded public retirement plans in the country. Republican Gov. Matt Bevin said the pension system is the most important issue facing the state.Thursday night, speaking to a gathering of the state's business and legislative leaders, Bevin urged lawmakers to make changes to the system before it is too late.Representatives from Republican Gov. Matt Bevin's office did not respond to a request for comment about the pension working group.
Cunningham Man Arrested on Burglary Charge

By West Kentucky Star Staff

BARDWELL - A man was arrested Friday on an warrant related to a burglary last month.According to the Carlisle County Sheriff's Department, Deputies arrested 55-year-old Jessie Terry of Cunningham about 2:30 pm, on a charge of burglary 2nd degree, which is a class C felony.The arrest warrant stems from an incident on December 23 at a home in Bardwell. The Sheriff's Department says deputies were called to the home by the daughter of the homeowners, who said she found Terry on the property. He was reportedly bleeding from an injury he may have received while cutting a window at the home.Terry was taken to Baptist Health Paducah for treatment of his injuries. The arrest warrant was issued January 8, and Terry was jailed on a $2,500 cash bond.
Police Seek Info on Shots Fired at Paducah Home

By West Kentucky Star Staff

PADUCAH - Paducah police seek information from the public in connection with shots that were fired at a home Wednesday night.A woman called police about 10:45 pm and said someone had fired several shots into the back of her home in the 1100 block of Harrison Street. She was there with her five grandchildren, ages 9, 12, 14, 15 and 18.A detective said one projectile was found lodged in an interior wall of the home.Anyone with information on this incident is asked to call the Paducah Police Department at 270-444-8550.Information also may be provided anonymously through West Kentucky Crime Stoppers by texting WKY and your tip to 847411 (tip 411) or by downloading the app WKY Crime Stoppers from the Apple Store or Google Play. Tipsters also may access the online tip form through the City of Paducah website at http://paducahky.gov/west-ky-crime-stoppers. Information leading to an arrest or indictment may result in a reward of up to $1,000.
Compost Facility Closed Weekdays for Grinding

By West Kentucky Star Staff

PADUCAH - Due to routine grinding of brush, the City of Paducah Compost Facility on North 8th Street will be closed during weekdays until further notice starting Monday, January 14.The facility will be open on Saturdays for the purchase of compost and for residents to drop off brush, leaves, and yard debris.The Facility has compost available for purchase by the bucket load. Each bucket ia approximately two yards of compost and costs $20.The Compost Facility is operated by the city's Engineering-Public Works Department.For more information about the Compost Facility, visit www.paducahky.gov or call the Engineering-Public Works Department at 270-444-8511.
We are pleased to announce that the United States and the Republic of Poland will jointly host the Ministerial to Promote a Future of Peace and Security in the Middle East in Warsaw on February 13-14. Countries from across the globe have been invited to participate.

We have a strong and shared interest in creating a more peaceful and stable Middle East. The ministerial will be a forum for countries concerned about instability in the region to share their assessments and offer ideas on a better way forward. The ministerial will address a range of critical issues including terrorism and extremism, missile development and proliferation, maritime trade and security, and threats posed by proxy groups across the region.

The international community shares many of the same concerns regarding insecurity in the Middle East. This ministerial is an opportunity to identify these concerns, build consensus around a stronger security architecture, and spur action to more effectively promote stability.

The joint ministerial also underscores the close strategic partnership between the United States and Poland, which advances our common interests in promoting international peace and security.
The Economic Summit of the Arab League was due to be held in Beirut, the capital of Lebanon, on 19 and 20 January. However at least two issues raise doubts whether it will go ahead:

First, there is an intense battle between the member states of the Arab League on the convenience of the Syrian Arab Republic becoming a member again;

Second, the Lebanese Party Amal, established during the Lebanese Civil War by Iranian Imam Moussa Sadr, is opposed to a Lebanese delegation attending the meeting whilst the disappearance of this leader during an official journey to Libya in 1978 is an unsolved mystery.  Hannibal, is one of the children of Muammar Gaddafi - the Libyan leader, who was assassinated. Hannibal is currently being held in Lebanon and in 2017 he declared that Abdessalam Jalloud, the number 2 in the Libyan government in 1978, who had the reputation of being far tougher than Gaddafi, organized the kidnapping of Imam Moussa Sadr and that several Libyan agents had doubled up as Sadr and those accompanying him, to give the impression that they had left Libya for Rome.  Furthermore Hannibal Gaddafi declared that Imam Sadr has been kidnapped and was being secretly held in Libya for years and specified where. Abdessalam Jalloud, a childhood friend of Muammar Gaddafi, was separated from Libyan power in 1993 after committing several serious errors. He is currently living in London. 

So Hannibal Gaddafi contradicted the prior declarations of Colonel Ahmad Ramadan al-Asaibie. This former Head of Intelligence to the Libyan Leader, declared in 2011 to an Emirates TV Channel that it was on the order of Muammar Gaddafi that Imam Sadr had been assassinated during his stay in Libya [1]. 

In any event, neither of these versions on the disappearance of Imam Sadr shed light on the controversies nor on the exact political role of the Imam. Neither do they allow us to know who ordered his assassination.

The Minister of Justice of Lebanon, Salim Jreissati  member of the political block of the Lebanese President Michel Aoun  declared that in May 2018 he received a letter from the UN Human Rights Committee which challenges whether Hannibal Gaddafi was being lawfully detained. Thus on 9 Jan 2019, the Lebanese Minister of Justice unexpectedly requested the Lebanese Judicial Inspectorate to study the case. However the Minister of Finance, Ali Hassan Khalil (member of the Amal), reacted by casting doubt on whether there was in fact any letter from the UN at all.

According to the Lebanese press, Russia is probably putting pressure on the Libyan government to set Hannibal Gaddafi free.

The Lebanese Party Amal is planning to block the airport of Beirut and thus prevent a Libyan delegation from participating in the Economic Summit of the Arab League. 
On the announcement of a potential definitive separation between Transjordan and Gaza, relations between the Palestinian Authority and Hamas continue to deteriorate despite the attempt at Egyptian mediation.

The Palestinian President, Mahmoud Abbas, went to Cairo where he met the Egyptian President, Abdel Fattah al-Sissi. Nothing seems to have come out of this meeting. During the final press conference, President Abbas maintained his position that the United States should be taken out of the picture, on the grounds that the US had demonstrated a pro-Israel bias. He also declared that if Hamas kept up its current conduct, then the Palestine Authority would no longer support it.

Mahmoud Abbas has withdrawn his officials from the boundary passage of Rafah (the only way of land communication between the Gaza Strip and the rest of the world, through Egypt) where they have been replaced by Hamas militia.

At the same time individuals, who have not yet been identified, attacked the TV headquarters of the Palestine Authority in Gaza. These premises were vandalized (photo) and some equipment stolen. According to Ramallah, this operation is imputable to Hamas. On the contrary, Hamas argues that employees of the TV station, who would not have been paid, are to blame.

Hamas had announced that Israel had prevented Qatar from making a third payment of a sum that was meant to pay Hamas officials in the Gaza Strip. An ultimatum was then given to the government of Netanyahu: if the money does not arrive by 11 January at the latest the incidents along the security barrier would start again.

Hamas has begun to a wave of arrests of officials from the Palestine Authority at Gaza. Around a thousand people have been incarcerated.
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, 
Remembering American saint Elizabeth Seton's legacy and how it continues to inspire work with immigrants


remaining of

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Our destination this month with our Wine Pairing Weekend friends is Argentina, definitely one of the top countries on my bucket list of places to visit one day. Plus, it holds a special place in my heart as the only pets I've owned throughout my life are chinchillas that originate from the Andes Mountains nearby.

When I first became exposed to the world of wine many years ago, Argentina was one of the countries that offered great value. Malbec wines were some of the first red wines that I really enjoyed. My tastes have changed since then, but I appreciate all wines for the character that they lend to each glass.

You may be asking yourself why are we featuring Argentinian wines, but as always I believe a more well-rounded educated wine consumer is important. Plus, I always try to find the Italian twist in many of these tastings. If you're ever seen the movie "My Big Fat Greek Wedding" it's like the father always trying to find how every word stems from a Greek meaning; ) The Zuccardi family also have a Santa Rose vineyard that experiments with nontraditional grapes including Italian grapes aglianico and falaghina as well as many others. Unfortunately I haven't had these wines to share with you my thoughts.

The Zuccardi family first planted its roots in the wine industry when Alberto Zuccardi planted his first vineyard in the region of Maipu, just outside of Mendoza, Argentina in 1963. His great grandparents had transplanted themselves from Avellino, Italy in Campania into the town of Tucuman. Little did he know his passion would grow into the wine industry. His son, Jose Alberto Zuccardi, became General Director of the winery in 1990. Today the third generation of the family, Sebastian Zuccardi, has advanced the winery further developing a research and development department to study the terroir that affects production of their wines and opened a new winery in the Uco Valley in 2016. For those always seeking out organic wines they achieved their organic certification in 2004.

Even though I'm not presenting all these today I will be updating my post once I do.





2016 Zuccardi Q Chardonnay: This wine is made from 100% chardonnay and if fermented in concrete and oak barrels with indigenous yeasts. It aged "sur lie" meaning on the lees or the dead yeast cells that add complexity to the wine. This wine is sourced from vineyards in Tupungato in the Uco Valley. A brilliant straw yellow with notes of vanilla and tropical on the nose. Even though this is a wine partially aged in oak barrels the notes of vanilla and toastiness of the wine wasn't overpowering as it can be with other barrel aged chardonnay. A dry, medium-bodied wine showing pineapple flavors. Rather balanced with nice crisp acidity and citrus flavors on a lengthy finish. 13.5% ABV SRP $20

Wine Pairing: I paired thsi wine with garlic butter shrimp over brown rice and mixed vegetables. It was a perfect complement to the shrimp and even my oldest (2.5 years old) requested "more shrimp please". Warms my soul a future foodie in the making.

2017 Santa Julia Mountain Blend Reserva: The Santa Julia brand is part of the Zuccardi family portfolio named after one of the family members Julia. This wine is made of 70% malbec and 30% cabernet franc. Aged 10 months in French oak. Deep ruby in color and really ripe, rich berries on the nose. Dark fruits with some spice on the palate and rather full-bodied. Nice acid and well integrated tannins. An enjoyable wine and especially at this price point. 13% ABV SRP $13





Wine Pairing: Yes I'm a mom of 2 little ones so some nights I do what I have to do to feed the family, but no chicken nuggets being served here. I paired this wine with beef tenderloins, a baked smashed potato and stuffed portabello with sauteed red peppers topped with monterey cheese. The little ones did not participate in the wine tasting part though. They still have some years to go. ; )

Join our wine pairing weekend group posts and discussion on Saturday Jan. 12 at 11am EST. You can find us on Twitter at the #WinePW hashtag.

If you've been to Argentina I'd love to hear all about it as well as your experience and opinions with wines from this country. Plus, my Plus, my survey is still active and I'd love to receive your thoughts on Vino Travels for improvements to be made in 2019.

*These wines were offered for me to try as samples, but I only share those that I recommend to readers and I was not compensated for this posting. Opinions are always my own.

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The Town of Normal has issued a snow parking ban to go into effect as of 5 p.m. Friday. The 
Last week, The Chesapeake Bay Foundation downgraded the health of the bay to a D+. The extraordinary weather in its six-state watershed swept huge amounts of chemicals and debris into the bay and climatologists fear this unusual weather, a result of climate change, my occur more frequently in the future. In her piece, Pogge spoke only of the manufacturing sector in her praise of the economy. There was no mention of the $4 billion seafood industry, or the 34,000 jobs it has created. There was no concern expressed for climate change and how it might threaten the population loss of striped bass, crabs, oysters or menhaden, although each species is dependent on stable, known temperature, water clarity and salinity ranges.
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The holidays are over, but students at Prairie View and Netherwood Knoll elementary schools got a bit of an extended break last week, a gift f
Welcome Guest! You are here: Home  Politics

SP, BSP announce non-BJP, non-Congress alliance in Uttar Pradesh

The two parties, however, said they would not field candidates in Amethi and Rae Bareli

Lucknow: Ahead of the 2019 General Elections, the Samajwady Party (SP) and Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) on Saturday announced formation of a non-Congress and non-BJP alliance in Uttar Pradesh.

SP President Akhilesh Singh Yadav had on Friday said the two parties had got their "maths right". Announcing the SP-BSP_ alliance in Uttar Pradesh in a specially convened press conference, Akhilesh Yadav and BSP Supremo Mayawati said the two parties will contest on 38 seats each of the total 80 seats in the state.

The two parties, however, said they would not field candidates in Amethi and Rae Bareli, represented by Congress president Rahul Gandhi and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi. They also left two seats, out of 80, for smaller allies.

There were talks of Congress too joining the SP-BSP alliance in Uttar Pradesh. However, alliance talks with the Congress saw a deadlock after its victory in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chattisgarh.

On her part, Kumari Mayawati while explaining why the Congress was not included in the alliance, said that during the Congress rule over the years, poverty, unemployment and corruption grew and there had been scams in various defence deals.

Drawing a parallel between the BJP and the Congress, Mayawati said the Congress had imposed the Emergency while the BJP is responsible for an undeclared Emergency.

In 2014 elections, the BJP had won 71 seats in Uttar Pradesh while its ally Apna Dal bagged two. The Samajwadi Party won 5 seats and the Congress two, while the BSP drew a blank.

Addressing the joint press conference called to announce the SP-BSP alliance in Uttar Pradesh, Akhilesh Yadav also hinted at supporting the Bahujan Samaj Party leader as the prime ministerial candidate.

"Uttar Pradesh has produced numerous prime ministers in the past. You know whom I will support. I will be happy if another prime minister comes from the state," Yadav said. [With inputs from PTI]

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Welcome Guest! You are here: Home  Science & Technology

Chinese hospital deploys Artificial Intelligence to prevent blindness

The instrument is capable of diagnosing three types of fundus disorders -- diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma and macular degeneration

Beijing: A Chinese hospital on Thursday launched free consultations featuring Artificial Intelligence (AI) cameras to detect ocular fundus diseases, which are a major cause of blindness.

Deqing county hospital in Guangdong Province became the first to use the device, co-developed by China's search engine Baidu and Sun Yat-sen University, to serve the general public, Baidu told Xinhua.

The instrument is capable of diagnosing three types of fundus disorders -- diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma and macular degeneration. It scans the eyes and generates a report in 10 seconds, all done without the need for an ophthalmologist to be present.

With an accuracy rate of 94 percent, it has previously been piloted in hospitals in nine Chinese provinces, according to Baidu.

Though it may be interpreted as AI threatening the jobs of doctors, Baidu said the new tool is aimed to alleviate the needs due to the scarcity of ophthalmologists, especially in China's rural regions, Xinhua reported.

Fundus diseases are a major cause of blindness in the developing world, where a lack of eye doctors and instruments has stymied timely diagnosis and treatment. China, with a population of 1.39 billion, has only thousands of ophthalmologists capable of analyzing fundus photos screening.

Xu Yanwu, a Baidu engineer developing the instrument, said the AI cameras were specifically designed to address the lack of medical instruments and ophthalmologists at grassroots health facilities.

"It is easy to use and can be operated by a non-professional. Its 94-percent sensitivity and specificity at analysing photos can match that of a senior doctor at a tertiary hospital," Xu said.

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Basket.jo, a leading e-delivery retail application in Jordan, recently announced the signing of partnership and collaboration agreements with several of the finest hypermarkets and supermarkets in the kingdom that would most benefit its customers.

The website and application on smartphones for Basket.jo allows customers to shop in a user-friendly and interactive manner from 9 am until midnight, said a statement from the e-delivery company.

Delivery is available to all areas of the capital from a wide range of options, which now includes Cozmo, Yaser Mall, Carrefour, Sameh Mall, Habiba, Select Foods Shoppe, and many others, with a delivery time of as little as one hour, pre-booked delivery available up to one week in advance, and cash payment available upon receipt.

Basket.jo has made this strategic expansion to elevate the quality and variety of its shopping options, making them more convenient to the modern lifestyle of consumers by saving them time and effort, it stated.

Eliminating the need for transport, browsing, and queueing allows customers more leisure time, enhances user satisfaction, and ultimately redefines the concept of home shopping.

Founder and CEO Omar Akel expressed his pride in the unprecedented success that Basket.jo has achieved in this recent period.

Continuing to grow rapidly, the platform is able to add a wide range of the most important shops and stores to its network, ensuring high-quality goods for its consumers.

"The company intends to continue its expansion and to serve further key governorates, starting with Irbid and Zarqa, as well as providing more options in terms of stores and products," he noted.

"As for methods of payment, Akel asserted that in the near future, Basket.jo will provide consumers with the option of paying via credit or debit cards," he added.-TradeArabia News Service
The global oil sector will be ripe for more price corrections by the month-end following the Opec- non-Opec deal in December to cut their combined oil output by 1.2 million barrels per day, said

Suhail bin Mohammed Faraj Faris Al Mazrouei, the UAE Minister of Energy and Industry.

The current market conditions are better than those two years ago, stated Al Mazrouei while speaking to the Emirates News Agency (WAM) on the sidelines of the Global Energy Forum which opened earlier today in Abu Dhabi.

Al Mazrouei also said he did not expect Opec members Venezuela, Libya or Iran, who effectively have exemptions from the cuts, to increase their oil output in 2019, rather it was more likely their production would decline.

He pointed out that there was no need for Opec and its allies to meet before April when they are likely to decide their output policy for the rest of the year.

The 1.2 million bpd cut should be enough to balance the market, Mazrouei said, adding that he expected the correction to begin this month and to be achieved in the first half of the year.
The US military said on Friday that it had begun withdrawing troops from Syria, initiating a drawdown that has blindsided allies and sparked a scramble for control of the areas that American troops will leave, reported Washington Post.

US forces have begun the process of our deliberate withdrawal from Syria, read a statement from the US-led coalition.

Out of concern for operational security, we will not discuss specific timelines, locations or troop movements. Defence Department officials said that initial withdrawals would be limited to equipment, and that no troops had yet departed.

President Trumps December 19 announcement that he was moving to disentangle some 2,000 US troops from Syrias complex battlefield sparked fears that the move might undo efforts to defeat the Islamic States final remnants in Syria.

It also marked the culmination of years of criticism from Trump over Washingtons role in foreign wars. In public statements, he had repeatedly suggested that he wanted to bring American troops home.

But following a backlash from Republicans and Democrats in Congress, and the resignation of Defence Secretary Jim Mattis, Trump said the troops would be withdrawn slowly.

Extending the timeline further, national security adviser John Bolton said on Sunday that the pullout was conditional on the defeat of the last remnants of the Islamic State and guarantees from Turkey that it would not attack Kurdish forces aligned with the US, reported Washington Post.

But Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan made clear this week that he would not agree to those terms and lashed out at Trumps aide. It is not possible for us to swallow the message Bolton gave, Erdogan said.

While Trump initially said US troops will be coming home now, he took to Twitter on January 7 to say that we will be leaving at a proper pace while at the same time continuing to fight ISIS and doing all else that is prudent and necessary!

Speaking in Cairo on Thursday, Secretary of State Michael Pompeo tried to dispel confusion, saying the US would continue to fight Islamic State as it withdraws and that the United States will use diplomacy and work with our partners to expel every last Iranian boot, and work through the UN-led process to bring peace and stability to the long-suffering Syrian people.

Pompeo and National Security Adviser John Bolton have both visited the Middle East in the past week to talk with and reassure allies, and both have angered Turkey by saying that the US would protect the Kurdish fighters that President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has vowed to attack, reported Bloomberg.

Erdogan snubbed Bolton when he visited Ankara earlier this week, instead giving a political speech that criticized the national security adviser.

Turkeys top military commanders were on the Turkish-Syrian border to inspect troops that have been massing there in preparation for an operation against the YPG, as Americas Kurdish allies in Syria are known, Turkeys state-run Anadolu Agency reported on Friday.

PENTAGON IN TALKS WITH TURKEY

Pompeo suggested on Monday that Erdogan and Trump had a firm agreement about the Kurds, telling CNBC that the Turks would ensure that the folks that wed fought with, that had assisted us in the counter-ISIS campaign would be protected. But Erdogan has indicated thats not his understanding.

Pompeo confirmed Wednesday that US troops would withdraw from the country, but he did not give a timeline. He said US officials were still in discussions with Turkey on ensuring the safety of Kurdish forces.

A US official familiar with the drawdown plan said that all military personnel were expected to leave Syria in 60 to 90 days. The official spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive plans.

A spokesman for the National Security Council, Garrett Marquis, said Bolton and other senior US officials conveyed to Turkish officials a set of principles for the US withdrawal, including opposition to any mistreatment of forces that fought alongside US troops in Syria.

In an interview on Friday, Bolton told radio host Hugh Hewitt that Erdogan had promised Trump he would not harm the Kurds. Bolton said, I assume that the Turkish military will try and comply with what President Erdogan committed to President Trump.

These discussions are continuing, and hopefully we can elaborate on it, he added.

KURDS SEEK RUSSIAN HELP

Fearing a Turkish attack, Kurdish officials have turned to Russia, a key ally of Syrian President Bashar Al Assad. They are hoping that Moscow can broker a deal under which the Syrian government would fill any power vacuum left by the US withdrawal, and in the process, head off a Turkish incursion.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a Britain-based monitoring group, said sources in Syrias northeastern province of Hasakah reported the departure of about 10 vehicles from a military base in the town of Rmelan late Thursday.

Separately, the group also published a dash-cam video appearing to show dozens more US trucks traveling along the road to Kobane, a town on the Turkish border that became the site of one of the US-led coalitions most celebrated early battles against the Islamic State.

That report could not be independently confirmed, and it was unclear whether the movement indicated a drawdown or was just a planned rotation.
The smell of smoke was reported out of a South Franklin Street business Friday, but firefighters were unable to find a blaze of any kind. Instead, it is believed that smoke from a controlled blaze just outside of town was carried into Titusville due to cold weather preventing the heat from rising.
An 18-year-old Saudi woman who fled her family saying she feared for her life has been granted asylum in Canada, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said on Friday, as Thai officials confirmed the teen was en route to Toronto.

Trudeau said United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) had asked Canada to take in Rahaf Mohammed al-Qunun, who grabbed international attention this week after she barricaded herself in a Bangkok airport hotel room to resist being sent home to her family, which denies any abuse.

"Canada is a country that understands how important it is to stand up for human rights, to stand up for women\s rights around the world, and I can confirm that we have accepted the U.N.\s request," he told reporters.

The decision is likely to exacerbate Canada\s already poor relations with Saudi Arabia, which last year barred the Canadian ambassador to Riyadh after Ottawa criticized Saudi authorities for detaining women\s\ activists.

Qunun arrived in Bangkok on Saturday and was initially denied entry, but she soon started posting messages on Twitter from the transit area of Bangkok\s Suvarnabhumi airport saying she had "escaped Kuwait" and her life would be in danger if forced to return to Saudi Arabia.

Following a 48-hour stand-off at Bangkok airport, some of it barricaded in a transit lounge hotel room, she was allowed to enter Thailand and was then processed as a refugee by the UNHCR.

The UNHCR welcomed Canada\s decision and also acknowledged Thailand had given Qunun temporary refuge.

"Ms. al-Qunun\s plight has captured the world\s attention over the past few days, providing a glimpse into the precarious situation of millions of refugees worldwide," U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi said in a statement.

Qunun has accused her family of abuse, and has refused to meet her father and brother who arrived in Bangkok to try take her back to Saudi Arabia.

"It was her wish to go to Canada," Thailand\s immigration chief Surachate Hakparn told reporters. "She still refuses to meet with her father and brother, and they are going to be traveling back tonight as well  They are disappointed."

Her case has drawn global attention to Saudi Arabia\s strict social rules, including a requirement that women have the permission of a male "guardian" to travel, which rights groups say can trap women and girls as prisoners of abusive families.

A Korean Air flight carrying Qunun left Bangkok for Seoul on Friday night at 11:37 p.m. local time (1637 GMT), an airport official told Reuters.

Qunun will board a connecting flight to Toronto from Seoul\s Incheon airport. She is expected to arrive in Canada on Saturday morning.

Trudeau brushed off a question as to whether Canada\s move might make it harder to repair ties with Saudi Arabia.

"Canada has been unequivocal that we will always stand up for human rights and women\s rights around the world," he said.

Amid increasing domestic political pressure, Trudeau said last month that his Liberal government was looking for a way out of a multibillion-dollar arms deal with Riyadh.

Qunun\s flight has emerged at a time when Riyadh is facing unusually intense scrutiny from its Western allies over the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul in October and over the humanitarian consequences of its war in Yemen.

Canada has repeatedly said Khashoggi\s murder was unacceptable and demanded a full explanation.

SOURCE: REUTERS
As angry protests pile pressure on Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir to step down, key powers are standing by his regime to ensure stability in a strife-torn region, analysts say.

Demonstrations that erupted in the provinces last month after the government tripled the price of bread have escalated into nationwide protests that analysts say pose the biggest challenge to Bashir since he took power in an Islamist-backed coup in 1989.

But despite bloodshed that Sudanese authorities say has claimed 22 lives, outside players ranging from Gulf rivals Qatar and Saudi Arabia to major powers China, Russia and the United States all see an interest in the 75-year-old staying at the helm.

"All camps in the region are at each other\s throat, but somehow they agree on Bashir," said Abdelwahab al-Affendi, author and an academic at the Doha Institute for Graduate Studies.

"They seem to favour continuity. They believe that any other alternative might not be favourable to them and to the region."

Egypt, which has deep historical ties with Sudan, has called repeatedly for stability in its southern neighbour, with its commanding position on the Nile on whose waters they both depend.

"Egypt fully supports the security and stability of Sudan, which is integral to Egypts national security," President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi told a top Bashir aide who visited Cairo last week.

Days earlier, Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry expressed confidence that Sudan would "overcome the present situation".

Relations between Cairo and Khartoum had deteriorated sharply in 2017 over territorial disputes, but in recent months the two governments have ironed out their differences, with Sudan even lifting a 17-month ban on Egyptian agricultural produce.

 Memories of Arab Spring 

Arab governments have scrambled to provide support, anxious to avoid any repetition of the upheavals that rocked the region in 2011.

"There has been evidence of tangible support to Bashir be it from Egypt, Saudi or Qatar," said Affendi.

"These allies are against any kind of successful uprising. They feel that if it happens, then they will be next," he said, adding that the Arab Spring has not been forgotten.

Qatar\s ruler, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, called Bashir just days after the protests erupted to offer his support.

During his long years in power, Bashir has built up relations with all of the region\s bickering diplomatic players, through a string of sometimes spectacular foreign policy twists.

Just days before the protests erupted, he travelled to meet Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in the first visit to Damascus by any Arab leader since the Syrian civil war erupted in 2011.

"His foreign policy is in all directions driven by economic pressures," said a European diplomat on condition of anonymity.

The regime hosted Al-Qaeda founder Osama bin Laden in the 1990s, and then developed ties with Shiite Iran before severing them in 2016.

In October 2017, increased cooperation with Washington helped Khartoum get a decades-old US trade embargo lifted.

Washington has still kept Sudan on its blacklist of "state sponsors of terrorism" along with Iran, North Korea and Syria.

And although the US and the European Union do not openly back Bashir, who is wanted by the International Criminal Court on war crimes charges including genocide in Darfur, they work with Khartoum to ensure that "Sudan remains stable", the diplomat said.

Any kind of instability in Sudan could trigger a new wave of Sudanese migrants headed towards Europe, he added.

 Gateway to Africa 

Sudan\s strategic location in the Horn of Africa is a blessing for Bashir, said Amal el-Taweel of the Cairo-based Al-Ahram Center for Political and Strategic Studies.

"I think the international and regional powers will not allow Sudan to fall," she told AFP.

"But a lot depends on how the balance of power shifts on the streets," she added.

"The world also doesn\t want to see another new bastion of hardliners that might be created if something like this happens."

Bashir surprised the West when he dumped Tehran for Riyadh in 2016.

The shift was not just diplomatic. The Sudanese leader also sent hundreds of troops to join the Saudi-led coalition battling Iran-linked Shiite rebels in Yemen, in what he called an "ideological" decision.

By doing so, Bashir signalled to Gulf Arab monarchies that he was an asset in their struggle against Shiite Iran.

"In return Saudi and the United Arab Emirates have given Bashir just about enough to stay afloat, although no announcements have been made," said Affendi, referring to financial aid to Khartoum.

For international powers like China, which has reportedly invested billions of dollars in Sudan, the country offers a gateway to the rest of the continent.

"For countries like China and Russia, Sudan is an entry gate to Africa," the foreign diplomat said.

"Be it them or the West, nobody wants Sudan to crumble."

SOURCE: AFP
The US government shutdown that has left 800,000 federal employees without salaries as a result of President Donald Trump\s row with Democrats over building a Mexico border wall entered a record 22nd day Saturday.

The Democrats\ refusal to approve $5.7 billion demanded by Trump for the wall project has paralyzed Washington, with the president retaliating by refusing to sign off on budgets for swaths of government departments unrelated to the dispute.

As a result, workers as diverse as FBI agents, air traffic controllers and museum staff, did not receive paychecks Friday.

The partial shutdown of the government became the longest on record at midnight Friday (0500 GMT Saturday), when it overtook the 21-day stretch in 1995-1996, under president Bill Clinton.

Trump on Friday backed off a series of previous threats to end the deadlock by declaring a national emergency and attempting to secure the funds without congressional approval.

"I\m not going to do it so fast," he said at a White House meeting.

Trump described an emergency declaration as the "easy way out" and said Congress had to step up to the responsibility of approving the $5.7 billion.

"If they can\t do it I will declare a national emergency. I have the absolute right," he insisted.

Until now, Trump had suggested numerous times that he was getting closer to taking the controversial decision.

Only minutes earlier, powerful Republican ally Senator Lindsey Graham tweeted after talks with Trump: "Mr. President, Declare a national emergency NOW."

It was not clear what made Trump change course.

But Trump himself acknowledged in the White House meeting that an attempt to claim emergency powers would likely end up in legal battles going all the way to the Supreme Court.

Opponents say that a unilateral move by the president over the sensitive border issue would be constitutional overreach and set a dangerous precedent in similar controversies.

 \Under siege\ 

The standoff has turned into a test of political ego, particularly for Trump, who came into office boasting of his deal making powers and making an aggressive border policy the keystone of his nationalist agenda.

Democrats, meanwhile, seem determined at all costs to prevent a president who relishes campaign rally chants of "build the wall!" from getting a win.

Both Democrats and Republicans agree that the US-Mexican frontier presents major challenges, ranging from the hyper-violent Mexican drug trade to the plight of asylum seekers and poor migrants seeking new lives in the world\s richest country.

There\s also little debate that border walls are needed: about a third of the frontier is already fenced off.

But Trump has turned his single-minded push for more walls into a political crusade seen by opponents as a stunt to stoke xenophobia in his right-wing voter base, while wilfully ignoring the border\s complex realities.

For Trump, who visited the Texas border with Mexico on Thursday, the border situation amounts to an invasion by criminals that can only be solved by more walls.

"We have a country that\s under siege," he told the local officials in the White House.

Some studies show that illegal immigrants generally commit fewer crimes than people born in the United States, although not everyone agrees on this.

More certain is that while narcotics do enter the country across remote sections of the border, most are sneaked through heavily guarded checkpoints in vehicles, the government\s own Drug Enforcement Administration said in a 2017 report.

It said that most smuggling is done "through US ports of entry (POEs) in passenger vehicles with concealed compartments or commingled with legitimate goods on tractor trailers."

Nancy Pelosi, the Democratic leader in the House of Representatives and a key figure in opposing Trump\s agenda, said money should be spent in many areas of border security, but not on walls.

"We need to look at the facts," she said.

But Trump accused the Democrats of only wanting to score points against him with a view to the 2020 presidential elections.

"They think, \Gee, we can hurt Trump,\" he said. "The Democrats are just following politics."

SOURCE: AFP
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MBABANE - A two-year-old toddler has been denied justice in the name of tibi tendlu after being raped, allegedly by her grandfather.

Tibi tendlu is a siSwati adage which means sweeping matters under the carpet.



Members of the toddlers family and nurses at a clinic situated close to her home failed to report to the police that she had been sexually abused.

This is much against the recently enacted Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Act, which stipulates clearly that any person who is aware of a sexual violation act, and does not report it, also face prosecution.



Section 70 (1) read: Any person who witnesses or receives any information of an offence under this Act or has reasonable grounds to believe that an offence under this Act, has taken place or is about to take place, shall report the case to the police or to relevant structure. (2) A person who contravenes subsection (1) commits an offence and is liable on conviction to pay a fine not exceeding one thousand Emalangeni or a term of imprisonment not exceeding three months or to both.



According to a source close to the minor, some family members have been threatened with death if they reported the matter which occurred in March last year. It is for this same reason that I decided to approach you instead of the police. I believe if you expose the rot, the police will respond quickly, the source said.



threatened



The insider revealed that one of the family members only got wind of the incident in August last year and tried to pursue the matter, but stopped after being threatened.



On how the relative got the information, the source said the family was confronted by a nurse from the nearby clinic who wanted to know how the minor was responding to treatment, as she had been treated for a sexually transmitted illness (STI) and had also been given Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (PErP).

The relative asked, what treatment? That is when the health worker told him what had happened to the girl, the source said.



Giving a brief background, the informant said in early March, the childs great grandmother noticed some blisters on the toddlers private parts while bathing her. The toddler had been left under her care by its mother, *Busi, who is still a teenager.



Worth noting, Busi is doing Form III at a local school as she went back to school after dropping out due to pregnancy. The publication made an attempt to contact the father of the child. however, it was discovered that there were issues of paternity that were still pending, hence his request to be excused from making any comment.



After the discovery, the elderly woman is said to have informed Busi and further monitored the toddler, which led to her noticing a discharge from the babys private parts.



Nurses



She then instructed that the minor should be taken to a clinic. At the clinic, nurses are said to have told the mother that her child might have been sexually assaulted, the source said.



A nurse, who spoke on condition of anonymity, stated that the mother was advised to report the matter to police before taking the child to a doctor at Sithobelweni Health Centre where it was referred. The matter was also forwarded to the clinics social workers, who interviewed the child in the absence of the mother. Even though she was babbling, we were able to understand what she meant when she said kuyu, the nurse said.



She explained that they understood the toddler to be saying that the person who violated her was her grandfather.

Relatives of the child revealed in an interview that the baby always referred to Busis stepfather as mkhulu (grandfather).

Based on the interview of the child and the suspect she is believed to have pointed out, instead of taking the nurses advice, Busi decided to inform her mother about it.



In turn, the mother allegedly warned Busi not to report the matter to the police because she feared her husband would be arrested. The mother further threatened that she would not pay Busis school fees if she reported the matter. Other family members were not spared as she is said to have indirectly threatened anyone with death if they spread the sad news, the health worker said.



The nurse alleged that Busis mother advised against taking the toddler to a doctor but instead gave her a concoction of herbs (timbita) which were meant to cure the infection. Basically, that is how the matter has been kept under-wraps, the nurse said.



The minors grandmother could face a jail term of five years for convincing Busi not to report the matter, according to the Act.

Section 71 of the Act states that any person who coerces a victim of a sexual offence not to report or withdraw a complaint to the police regarding the offence because of their interest or the interest of another person, commits an offence.



police



Asked why they failed to alert the police after examining the toddler, the health worker stated that they had thought the mother would do it after being advised.

When Busi was called on her phone, after the reporter had introduced himself, the woman who answered it denied knowing the toddlers mother or also being the mother. Im not ... I think you called a wrong number, the woman responded before abruptly ending the call.



Meanwhile, a police officer under the Domestic Violence department, who asked that his identity should not be revealed because he was not mandated to speak to the media, said the health workers should not have examined the child further without a police report.



Chief Police Information and Communications Officer (PICO) Superintendent Phindile Vilakati confirmed that they were investigating the matter. She was quick to point out that the matter had not been reported to them by either relatives or health workers, but police were aware of it through other means.
MBABANE  It never rains but pours for the Matsapha Municipal Council. Government has instituted a probe into the ongoing infighting at the Matsapha Town Council, whose costs will be borne by the council.



Minister Prince Simelane broke the news during a press conference at the ministry yesterday.

Having had recourse to the complexity of the challenges that have engulfed the town council in the due observance and performance of its duties and powers, I, Minister of Housing and Urban Development, have found it proper that a commission of enquiry into the Matsapha Town Council affairs be instituted.



Intervening



He said in the intervening period, as was the norm, council and its committees normal business meetings, including special meetings, were put on hold until the conclusion of the commission.



Also worthy of note is that all expenses associated with the proper execution of the commission are to be borne directly by the local authority.

The expenses include sitting allowances, place of sitting of the commission, transcribing services, recording equipment, meals for the commission, stationary and other incidentals.



Support



The minister requested the office of the CEO to ensure that the commission received all the necessary support for the proper execution of this assignment.

He said the commissioners names and the terms and conditions were to be revealed in due course.



The minister noted with concern that just before the start of the national Incwala Ceremony, the ministry delegated an officer in Gordon Mbuli to request the Matsapha Council to shelve their differences in respect of the national event.



However, recent developments taking place at the council have shown that an amicable settlement at local level was not forthcoming.

He outlined the responsibilities of the ministry, pointing out the role to oversee the operation of urban local authorities.



Affairs



It is common cause that there are 13 urban local authorities in Eswatini and they are autonomous bodies which manage their own affairs without the interference of the central government unless such interventions are authorised by law.



He said for the past two months the ministry has not done much intervention, more so because at some point the issues were deliberated by the court of law.

The meeting was attended by councillors from Matsapha.
Lacwebetelako reacting as they were greeted by the King.

NGABEZWENI  When people pray to God, they normally wait for a response; however, the Creator seems to have answered emaSwati during the course of their prayer.



His Majesty King Mswati III has observed that the country started receiving good rains since the commencement of the annual Incwala Ceremony which ended with the dispersal of the regiment yesterday.



This was despite the predictions that the country was among those which were likely to be affected by drought.

According to the prediction, good rains were supposed to end in December, something which resulted in some emaSwati not cultivating their fields.

The Monarch said the good rains were a sign that God never abandons a respectful and peaceful nation.



The Head of State assured emaSwati, who cultivated their fields, that 2019 was a year of a bumper harvest.



Activities



He thanked the regiment for participating in the cultural activities. The King said participating in cultural activities was the responsibility of all emaSwati.

It is very important that we preserve our culture which we inherited from our forefathers for future generations. I appreciate the presence of all regiments which include Imbali, Lutsango, Ingatja, Bongengeni, warriors and Bokhololo, he said.



He noted with appreciation that warriors finished the weeding of the royal fields in a few days due to commitment and love for the culture.



Practices



In the same breath, the King encouraged the nation to go back to the old cultural practices such as lilima in order to ensure food security.

Lilima is a cultural practice where emaSwati assist each other, especially when working at the fields.



He said it was his wish that emaSwati work together in the fields and distribute food across the country in order to curb poverty.

The Head of State also encouraged chiefs to revive ummemo so that people would have more time to engage in cultural activities at chiefdom level.



Commended



The King commended the good spirit during the course of the event since there were no negative reports.

Raising the voice and stick spoils the event. We are grateful that the annual event was celebrated peacefully. As I look around, I can see that none is frowning, which is a sign that you are all happy, the King said.



Heat



He regiments braved the scorching heat.

However, there were signs of imminent rainfall immediately after the King had delivered his speech.

The regiment left the royal residence in a happy mood as the Head of State gave them food parcels, calendars and allowances (imbasha).
One of the best forms of escapism is indulging in these addictive social media tools. As we continue into 2019 with renewed focus, lets explore these tools and their blessings and curses.



Social media is supposed to be one of the most empowering tools created by technology. It is also equally highly engaging. That is if it is used for its intended purposes apart from memes and what the lit generation call flossing. It has the power to self-empower through sharing of ideas and but equally the power to destruct individuals, groups and relationships.



Networking



The initial purpose of social media was technology tools created to facilitate the sharing of ideas and information, and the building of virtual networks and communities. There are over 100 social media networking sites around the world according to practicalecommerce.com.



Now you know why your WhatsApp message may not be replied to until the next day. People are busy out there. Very busy. The most famous of all these social networking sites though is Facebook with over 1.5 billion active users a month and, at times hitting the two billion mark. Coming a close second is Facebooks sister WhatsApp with about one billion active users.



Facebook in particular is an addictive indulgence with very few rules of engagement. Some call it a time-waster. It beats counting sheep during a night of insomnia though.



For businesses, it has been seen to help boost marketing campaigns with measurable outputs from target audiences and engagements. For purposes of todays article let us focus on Facebook.



Otherwise if we were to discuss WhatsApp with its blueticks (sometimes grey) and hidden online status, we would need the rest of this newspapers pages.

Imagine this: Its a misty morning and you roll over and reach for your mobile phone. You enable data and enter a social media app. The inviting words whats on your mind? blink at you like the alluring advert of a massive clothing sale.



Notifications



You are hooked and feel compelled to share what really IS on your mind. Good morning world! I feel like being in bed all day you type frantically and press post. In a few seconds there are notifications. Some are likes, others are comments.

You chuckle as you respond to these comments. This is the typical start to a day of many people around the world. They share their personal lives with virtual strangers.



I have 5 000 Facebook friends. But I have never even met a majority of them. Despite this, my life is theirs and their life is mine now. We are a community. I know when they are happy, I know when they are sad. I know when they are checking in somewhere and I know when they are feeling bored at home. Basicallywe are a family. Sisonkhe.



Inappropriate



Recently, locally, the usage of Facebook has come under a lot of scrutiny. This comes after debates over what others may view as inappropriate posts of either barely clad females or the recent attacks on a service provider by consumers due to what they perceived as unsatisfactory service.



This then begged the question, what really should we be posting? Are there any rules for posting, are there any consequences for reckless posts and who imposes the punishments.



This, in effect, makes one wonder if one can have a say on what a person posts on Facebook on a daily basis. Is that not infringement on their right to freedom of expression? Are we really allowed to have an opinion on the type of posts they share?

Do we have a right to an opinion on their data usage, when we do not own their mobile phone or even buy their data? This is the debate on the streets these days.



Well lets cut this short. Remember the small print that you quickly pressed accept on when you joined Facebook without reading it to the end? Well, the answer to the above questions lies there. Facebook developed a set of community Standards that outline what is and is not allowed on the site. The goal of these community standards is to encourage expression and create a safe environment. Facebook says they based these policies on input from the community and from experts in fields such as technology and public safety.

Guidelines

Hence you find that some posts are reported to Facebook as inappropriate and subsequently the user can be blocked or suspended for a certain period. The many guidelines also prohibit objectionable content and this includes adult nudity and sexual activity. These rules are out there in black and white but since they are in small print they are not so well-known. But everything in this world has rules and guidelines.

In the past, we have seen people fired or suspended, especially in South Africa for racist or hate speech posts. There have always been people trying to educate others on what is appropriate to post and what is not appropriate.

The responses we normally see are that it is my phone and my data and I will post whatever I want. Apparently from Facebooks community standards its not exactly only about it being your data. You can enjoy social media, but lets enjoy responsibly.

So next time you are unsure if your post can ruffle a few furthers or not, dont stay in uncertainty simply go to the community standards, they will guide you. Yes it is your data but use it accordingly.
This $10,000 donation will support the street outreach workers and the youth they help, said Tania Charron, Executive Director of AJOI.
Posted Friday, January 11, 2019 6:33 am

A bill proposed by Rep. Brian Blake, D-Aberdeen, would allow marijuana on school campuses for students who require aid for medical conditions.

House Bill 1060 aims to permit students to consume medical marijuana on school property, aboard buses and while attending school-sponsored events.

Students must meet the demands of state law RCW 69.51A.220, which requires that healthcare professionals must authorize the use of marijuana for medical purposes. Minors may receive treatment with the approval of their guardians.

According to the Legislators Guide to Washingtons Marijuana Laws, a qualifying medical condition is severe enough to significantly interfere with the patient's activities of daily living and ability to function. Common disabilities or illnesses are cancer, epilepsy, anorexia, post-traumatic stress disorder, and intractable pain.

A report from the Education Commission of the States indicates that only Colorado, New Jersey, Maine and Washington state allow medical marijuana to be administered at schools. The bill in Washington would leave the decision of whether to allow marijuana on campus for medical purposes up to local schools.

Rep. Blake filed HB 1060 at the request of a constituent whose daughter couldnt receive treatment at school. He explained that medical marijuana therapy was helping her function; however, she had to leave campus in order to use cannabis.

Under the proposed bill, the parent or guardian of a minor must be their designated provider and has control over their medical marijuana. As a result, the guardians would have to physically go to school in order to provide the substance to their child. To qualify, both the minor and the designated provider must be entered in the medical marijuana authorization database and hold a recognition card for identification.

Not the entire medical community supports CBD oil, said Rep. Blake. According to the representative from Aberdeen, the minors guardian would come to school, take the child from class, give the treatment and then go on with their day.
Posted Friday, January 11, 2019 3:28 am

Southwest Washington Republicans may have a hard pill to swallow when it comes to a Interstate 5 bridge replacement as Gov. Jay Inslee says that light rail is inevitable if any project backed by Oregon will move forward.

Speaking at a legislative preview press event in Olympia Jan. 10, the governor stressed that because of Oregons insistence on light rail being featured on a bridge replacement, those working on a process to get a new bridge would have to accept the mode of transportation.

Last month several legislators representing Clark County at both state and federal levels signed on to a letter that urged Inslee to reconsider his stance on light rail. Nearly every lawmaker representing the 17th, 18th and 20th legislative districts had their name on the letter alongside U.S. Rep Jaime Herrera Beutler, R-Battle Ground, which addressed concerns over language in his budget that explicitly said that the Washington State Department of Transportation  shall assume any plan for a new bridge will include light rail.

At the press event, Inslee said that if Oregon was going to pay for their half of a replacement that mode of mass transit was a necessity, stressing the need to have leadership that recognizes that it does take two to tango here and we have to have an agreement about what components will be on that bridge.

If we paid for the whole thing maybe we could do it without light rail, Inslee said, but thats not in the cards.

In a question regarding transportation funding, Southwest Washington was at the forefront as Inslee remarked that we have to replace the I-5 bridge. Included in his budget is $17.5 million to open a project office specifically focused on the replacement.

Inslee said that theres a lot of legislators who want a bridge and they are fine with light rail on the bridge, adding that it would allow Southwest Washington residents the opportunity to tie into one hundred miles of rail in Oregon.

Inslee took issue with a characterization that connecting to Portlands rail system would be a detriment to the quality of life in Southwest Washington, implying that Republican lawmakers in the region were afraid those people would be coming into their districts.

I think the those people thing  weve heard enough of that in D.C., Inslee said. Wed like to be connected to the state of Oregon, not disconnected.

Inslee said that he was still disappointed Republican legislators killed the Columbia River Crossing when we spent $150 million on it and we were ready to build it.

I dont want to see that happen again, Inslee remarked.

Inslee said he personally was open to other forms of mass transit such as buses, but that light rail was the best solution. He said those who dont want light rail on the bridge are preventing the process from moving forward.

At the moment, unless Oregon changes its view, were going to have to put light rail on the bridge, Inslee said. The Southwest Washington community needs to either come together and say we are going to build a bridge like that, or were going to do nothing until the cows come home.

I would prefer to build a bridge as soon as we can, Inslee said.

Interstate tolling plan 'likely eligible'

In other bad news for Southwest Washington Republicans, the Oregon Department of Transportation announced last week that the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) had given guidance regarding the departments tolling plans for I-5 and Interstate 205. The department noted that their proposal to put tolls on all lanes of I-5 from Going Street to Multnomah Boulevard and Interstate 205 on the Abernethy Bridge was likely eligible for a federal pilot program for tolling to combat congestion.

ODOT stated in their announcement that the FHWAs letter provided clarifications on the next steps to move the tolling plan forward.

This is a major step that will help us keep moving forward in what will be a long process, Oregon Transportation Commission Chair Tammy Baney stated in the announcement. In this letter, the FHWA acknowledges the work completed in our feasibility analysis and points us toward the next steps we need to take to use tolling in Oregon to help us maintain a transportation system that will meet our growing needs.

ODOT is anticipating the next round of analysis to begin this spring. Part of that analysis would include assurances that low-income and other underserved groups would benefit from the program, that diversion of traffic into neighborhoods would be mitigated and other transportation options would be improved.

ODOT noted that the next phase would likely take several years before completion, due to the rigor of the necessary analysis and the extensive public engagement required.
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Riverview Gabriel Richard played in a Division 3 quarterfinal for the second time in as many seasons on Tuesday. One of three area teams still remaining in the softball playoffs entering Tuesday, the Pioneers did battle with Clinton at Concordia University in Ann Arbor.
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City crews razed two houses and a mobile home in the south corner of cemetery
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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 ...
Language tourism is looking pretty healthy in the capital city of the Costa del Sol. The president of the Association of Spanish Schools in Malaga (Nacem), Jose Maria Casero, said this week that between eight and ten per cent more language students are expected to come to the city this year.

At the inauguration in Calle Larios of the first exhibition about this type of tourism and its importance, Malaga's councillor for Tourism, Maria del Mar Martin Rojo, explained that this is a key sector which brings 13 million euros to the city each year and plays an important role in attracting people to the region all year round; the 16,000 people who came to study Spanish in 2017 were spread throughout the year.

The exhibition marked the start of the second Malaga Education Week, which focuses on language tourism and the city's status as an international benchmark for Spanish tuition. Next week there will also be extra training days for Spanish teachers at the university, a conference about the value of the Spanish language as an economic resource, and an international workshop for professionals in the sector. There will also be two familiarisation trips for those interested in seeing what Malaga has to offer.

Maria del Mar Martin Rojo pointed out that according to the Cervantes Institute, 7.6 per cent of the world population is Spanish-speaking and nearly 22 million people are studying Spanish in 107 countries. In the USA it is the most popular language to study, and in the UK it is seen as the most important language for the future and the third most-used on the internet. "These statistics put into context the enormous potential of an industry which attracts more than 16,000 language students to Malaga every year," she said.
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A Lankan pioneer at the United Nations

Lakdasa Hulugalle

Lakdasa Hulugalle, who passed away on Christmas day, in Colombo, was one of the earliest Sri Lankans to join the United Nations. Most of his career in the United Nations was with the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) in Geneva, where he lived most of his life. As a senior economist, his main concern was with international trade and particularly in primary commodities. He played an important role in the 1970s and 1980s when UNCTAD was at the centre of the North-South dialogue. He had a special place for Sri Lanka right through his career and was much involved in assisting his country, formally and informally, in formulating its international trade policies in the 1970s and 1980s.

Lakdasa Hulugalle (Laki) was born in 1932 in Colombo, to a well-known Sri Lankan family. He had a lifelong interest in family history and genealogy, and I should be remiss if I did not describe his family background. Lakdasas parents were H.A.J. (Herbert) and Lilian Hulugalle. He had six siblings  Damayantha (who married S.K. Wickremasinghe), Upatissa, Harris, Arjuna, Lilamani and Ranjan. Laki was extremely close to his siblings throughout his life. His father, Herbert, was one of the early Editors of the Ceylon Daily News in the 1930s and 1940s. Herbert was also a popular historian who wrote many books, including biographies of D.S. Senanayake and D.R. Wijewardene.

Herbert Hulugalle had his roots in the Kandyan aristocracy (Kurunegala branch) and was a descendant of Adigar Hulugalle. One of Herberts sisters married a brother of D.R. Wijewardene of Lake House. On his mother, Lilian De Soysas side, Laki had low-country upper class connections. His maternal grand-mother was Regina Perera Abeywardena of Closenberg, Galle, from one of Galles leading families. His maternal grandfather was a De Soysa, a son of C.H. (Sir Charles) De Soysa, one of the great philanthropists of Sri Lanka. Laki married an English girl, Moira, and they had two daughters, Tamzin and Natasha, and a son, Tikiri. In his later years, his great joy was to be in the company of his twin grand-daughters. His wife Moira, pre-deceased him.

Laki had his early education at St. Thomas College, Bandarawela, then Guruthalawa, and later at Mount Lavinia. He talked of his early influences and St. Thomas had been a great influence on him. He had a great regard for men like W.T. Keble (Head Master of St. Thomas Prep.) and Warden, Canon R.S. De Saram. Laki was at the University of Ceylon, between 1952 and 1955, and read for a special degree in Economics, which he passed with honours. Then he proceeded to the University of Oxford, where he was at St. Catherines College. He read for a post-graduate degree, BPhil., and his supervisor there was Prof. Sir John Hicks, the Nobel Laureate in Economics.

After leaving Oxford, he joined the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) in Rome, in the late 1950s. At that time his father was Sri Lankan ambassador in Rome. Laki was one of the earliest Sri Lankans to join the FAO and the United Nations. His spell in Rome was brief, and he moved to London to join the International Wheat Organisation. Then in 1965 he joined UNCTAD, in Geneva, at its very inception. The famous Latin-American economist, Raul Prebisch had been appointed as the first Secretary-General of UNCTAD, and he was looking around for bright young economists. Along with Laki, economists like Manmohan Singh (later Prime Minister of India), Liaquat Ali (India), Lal Jayawardena joined the UN at this time. Laki remained a friend of these early UNCTAD associates throughout his life.

Throughout his career at UNCTAD, Lakis major interest was in international trade in primary commodities. UNCTAD is now a backwater. It was not so from the 1960s to the 1980s. At that time UNCTAD had the task of organising negotiations on international commodity agreements. (With the establishment of the World Trade Organisation in the 1990s, UNCTAD had lost its key negotiating functions). In the 1970s UNCTAD emerged as the key UN organisation for negotiations between developing and developed countries. UNCTAD and Geneva were at the centre of what was referred to as the North-South dialogue. Laki was actively engaged in these negotiations and specially in the Integrated Programme on Commodities (IPC), which was the centerpiece of the North-South dialogue.

In 1974, Gamani Corea, from Sri Lanka had become the Secretary-General of UNCTAD, and for the next ten years Laki worked closely with Gamani on international trade issues. During this period, Laki was particularly concerned with the international tea negotiations, which were jointly sponsored by UNCTAD and FAO. This brought Laki into a close relationship with Sri Lankan tea delegations in Rome and Geneva. Laki had a close relationship with developing country delegations to the United Nations in Geneva. He was of great help to them and guided them through some of the intricacies of the commodity negotiations.

One particularly notable experience I had with Laki at this time, was in the context of the Non-Aligned Summit held at Colombo in 1976. One of the key issues of that Summit was international trade. I had been appointed as the secretary of the Economic Committee of the Summit. Many of the delegates attending the Summits Economic Committee were also designated to UNCTAD in Geneva. I requested Laki to assist me in the Economic Committee and he had no hesitation in doing so, spending some time in Colombo. Lakis familiarity with the issues and the people involved were of great value. Laki was always eager to be associated with Sri Lankan issues and be of assistance.

Laki was unusual for an economist. He had inherited from his father, a deep intellectual interest in the humanities and especially in history, biography, politics and literature. He had a great interest in the British political and social scene. He was much interested in the history and politics of Sri Lanka. He had close friends like Sena and Janaki Wijewardene, (Vienna) Walter Perera (Geneva) and several others with whom he enjoyed talking of things sublime and ridiculous, particularly in his long retirement, which he spent in Geneva and Colombo.

Although he was interested in his upper class ancestors as a part of social history, he was a truly humble person, very much concerned with the plight of the poor, especially in Sri Lanka. One of his great pastimes was walking, and he walked miles and miles in the Swiss countryside and by the shores of the beautiful lake of Geneva. He was a close friend of 50 years and we had much in common. I shall miss him enormously.

Leelananda De Silva

He was one of the last gentleman politicians

Dr. Ranjit Atapattu

It is just one year since my close friend Dr. Ranjit Atapattu passed on. Our bonding and friendship was formed and cemented over 80 years since he and I joined Royal Primary School at the tender age of 5. I recall with nostalgia how we both took part in the historic play Hiawatha by H.W. Longfellow at the age of 8 staged by the Royal Primary. Since then, we both moved onto Royal College in 1945 and our paths went different ways in 1954 when Ranjit entered Medical College Colombo to pursue his medical studies and self to Peradeniya to join the University of Ceylon there.

Ranjit hailed from a renowned family in Tangalla where his father carved a name for himself as the Member of Parliament for Beliatta in 1960 and 1965. Many were the occasions when I visited Ranjit in his stately ancestral home on our way to Kataragama. I had the good fortune of associating with his father when he functioned as a Junior Minister of State to the late President J.R. Jayewardene.

Our paths crossed again when Ranjit was returned to his fathers old seat at Beliatta in August 1977. It may be mentioned in passing that he was the only one who was able to defeat Mahinda Rajapaksa at an election in the Hambantota district. He had a long term of 12 years until 1990 as an MP having served in different Ministerial appointments beginning as a Minister and in the Cabinet, followed by being Minister of the Colombo Group of Hospitals then by being Minister of Health and followed by Minister of Labour and Social Welfare. During this span of 12 years, I had the privilege of enjoying his company, as between Parliament sessions, before and after, he used to frequent my room and chat reminiscing of our college days, memories and vagaries of Parliamentary politics and our own personal lives.

My wife and I had the privilege of attending Ranjits wedding when he married Dreda de Silva, a graduate teacher in her own right  they were truly blessed with the birth of their only son Druvi.

When he was serving as Health Minister, President Premadasa very reluctantly allowed Ranjit to vacate his seat and portfolio to accept a position in New York, USA as a consultant to UNICEF. I know for one that Ranjit sacrificed his portfolio to enable him to have his son to pursue medical studies abroad after Druvis studies were interrupted by the closure of the North Colombo Medical School. Druvi justified his fathers expectations and made him proud by passing out as a full fledged Doctor now practising with the Oasis Group of Hospitals.

During his Ministerial appointment, Ranjit developed some heart probems and I recall Prime Minister Premadasa getting down a top heart specialist from USA to see Ranjit at the cardiac centre in Colombo, telling me that he was even ready to fly Ranjit abroad for further medical treatment .

Ranjit did not accept this kind offer but went ahead at his own expense. Fortunately he retired soon after having completely recovered. It was thereafter that he accepted the UNICEF appointment in New York.

After his return we continued to associate very closely with each other and a few of his Royal College Batch of 1945 joined each year to go to Kandy to witness the Royal Trinity rugger matches, as Ranjit had played for this match in his College days.

I can say without the slightest hesitation that Ranjit was one of the last generation of gentleman politicians of our troubled times. The other was another Minister of Health Gamani Jayasuriya. He was totally devoted and committed to his work , honest to a fault and was always available to his colleagues, to his friends and above all to his constituents whom he cared for with genuine kindness and sincerity. He was simple, affable and never ever lost his head.

During the last 10-15 years, I associated closely with him, visiting him and Dreda at their Bagatalle Road residence and then later on when he moved to stay with his son and wife Dr Himali at Bullers Road who both truly cared for and looked after him in the last few years.

I recall with pleasure just before his sad demise, I was able to take him to a lunch Speaker Karu Jayasuriya hosted for past Members of Parliament and he immensely enjoyed that occasion reminiscing with his erstwhile colleagues. The other was when I took him again to a memorial oration for my late brother Dr. Nissanka Seneviratne, Professor of Physiology whose student he had been at Medical College and I recall my brother always having a high regard for Ranjit as his student.

My Royal College batch and self will truly miss him, his company and the friendship we enjoyed.

May he attain Nibbana.

Nihal Seneviratne

Our big-hearted, generous little brother

GAMINI Amaresekere

Gamini (more widely known as Gamit), the baby of our family is no more. He passed away peacefully in London on January 1.

He was a courageous, kind, generous, caring, fun loving person and an affectionate brother. Incidents come to mind reminiscent of these qualities. When he was just nine he had the misfortune to be taken to the General Hospital because of a severe abdominal pain. Doctors suspected appendicitis and he was warded overnight. As we were getting ready to visit him the next morning, to our astonishment he came home carrying his little suitcase of clothes and with his appendix intact. Treatment for worms had cured his pain. He had been wheeled in on a stretcher the previous evening but on being discharged, he had taken a bus to Mount Lavinia and walked half a mile to get home.

Gamit was a very sensitive person. Our mothers dying request to him was that he should take care of our father. As a schoolboy made motherless at 17 years of age, there was nothing he could do. He had his opportunity when our father went to England and lived with Gamit and his wife for nearly two years. He was also very fond of animals, especially dogs. We had two dogs (brothers) as family pets but they were his dogs. The family was very amused to hear him talking to them for hours in a dog language that he had invented.

There were early signs that Gamit wished to be an entrepreneur. Our father wanted him to go to university but Gamit refused, saying that he wanted to be a self-made man, which aspiration he achieved successfully.

Several relatives in Sri Lanka benefited from Gamits munificence. He supported two of our aunts for many years, paying nursing home fees for one and for medicines for the other. He even paid quite a large sum to re-roof a cousins house and provided months of accommodation in his home in London for visiting relatives.

On a visit to Sri Lanka, a few years after he had settled in the UK, Jayalaths wife served Gamit some home made cake and on his inquiry she told him she had mixed the ingredients by hand. About two weeks later he sent them a brand new Kenwood mixer from UK through a friend. He had said no word but he had noted and acted so generously.

Gamit was always full of fun and loved to engage in practical jokes. All three of us were at one time hostellers at the college hostel in the fifties. He had once had the whole hostel staff in an uproar by playing an April fools joke. Together with a few friends he had got the clapper of the hostel bell removed one night and placed it in the room of one of the Hostel Masters. The following morning there was no wake up bell, no PT bell and no bell rung to indicate morning studies; thus causing great confusion. No culprit was traced and no blame ascribed as the device was finally discovered in the room of a Master.

Gamits loyalty towards his Alma Mater, Royal was another marked quality. It was his idea to set up the Old Royalists Association in the UK with the primary objective of raising funds for the College and secondarily as a means of bringing together Old Royalists socially. His efforts on behalf of ORAUK are well known.

We have lost a third of a very united family. Rest in Peace little brother, the void you have left cannot be filled.

Ranjit and Jayalath Ameresekere

She will always be remembered for her ready smile and outgoing nature

Onitha Wiratunga

Lalani Shireen Onitha enjoyed a privileged but conventional upbringing. A product of Ladies College Colombo, her natural charm, outgoing nature, ready smile and artistic talents won her many admirers and friends both in school and outside.

After enjoying the beauty of a few Roman Springs in Italy when her mother Loranee Senaratna was Sri Lankas ambassador in Rome, Onitha decided to reside in the UK. Later she travelled extensively in Europe. Living in Geneva, Brussels, and in the US and the Caribbean over several years, she met and mingled with the best of society in these countries and many interesting and high profile personalities including members of European Royalty.

Onitha was the mother of three sons- Sanjive, Salintha and Nishan, all professionals in their respective areas of specialisation. While it must have been problematic to keep close contact with her two elder sons studying in the US due to logistics, she monitored and watched over the education of her youngest son very closely from nursery to University level.

Onitha was a fastidious homemaker who enjoyed entertaining, cooking and organising parties. She was a keen and able bridge player who was ever ready for an evening of bridge with short-eats and cocktails for good measure.

The daughter of pioneer eye surgeon Dr. O.L.F. Senaratna, who was also head of the national Eye Hospital, Onitha rarely consulted a doctor. The illness which led to her death was from all accounts her first and only bout with serious illness.

Although living in Sri Lanka in her later years, Onitha spent much of her time with her son Nishan and his family in the UK. This was perhaps the happiest and most fulfilling time of her life when the fruits of her labour tending to Nishans needs in his youth bore fruit. It was possibly fitting that she spent her last days in his care and gaze as she slipped away peacefully, swiftly and without pain to greener pastures in the arms of her Lord.

A view from afar
Tourist camp amid Ambalantotas rainbow hills View(s):

Some 3,000 tourists are taking part in an Ambalantota tourist camp where there are a variety of special attractions, including traditional and pop songs. It is being promoted as a short-term tourism programme and about 70 countries are being represented at this annual event held for the seventh consecutive year. The venue also has a link with the ancient civilisation of the country with its multi-coloured hills and landscape being one of the most beautiful dimensions. Unfortunately, one Indian tourist was found dead at the site, but the cause was not known. Pic by Rahul Samantha Hettiarachchi
State enterprises appointments: UNF seeks review of committee process View(s):

The United National Front has insisted that in appointing persons to top slots in state-run institutions, professional experience and sound knowledge on the subject should be taken into consideration in addition to educational qualifications.

Stressing that Cabinet ministers were also empowered to make such appointments, Home Affairs Minister Vajira Abeywardana said if there were any disputes, they should be resolved through discussion among ministers and the appointments made without much delay.

Some institutes such as scientific bodies need professionals. Some organisations need people who understand the problems and of the people. Therefore, we need people with professional experience and practical knowledge, he said.

On Friday, the review committee appointed by the President held its first meeting where discussions focused on reviewing some of the appointments that have already been made and procedural matters. The committee also acknowledged that both the President and the ministers were entitled to appoint chairpersons and directors of state enterprises.

Public Administration Minister Ranjith Madduma Bandara told the Sunday Times there was a need to refine the process, as the ministers too were entitled to make these appointments. We will make recommendations. The qualification and age should not only be the criteria as some of them have adequate experience, he said.

In terms of the presidential circular, subject ministers are required to send the names of their nominees to the committee for a scrutiny of their educational and professional qualifications. Headed by Presidential Secretary Udaya Seneviratne, the Review Committee includes former Presidential Secretary W.J.S. Karunaratne, the Prime Ministers Secretary Saman Ekanayake, Attorney-at-Law Misbah Sathas and Deputy Treasury Secretary A.R. Desapriya.

Presidential Secretariat Additional Secretary Nalaka Kaluwewa said the vetting process was similar to the Parliamentary High Posts Committee process. Before the committee met formally on Friday, President Maithripala Sirisena made three appointments to state enterprises which come under his direct purview.

Former Northern Province Governor Reginald Cooray and former Sabaragamuwa Governor Niluka Ekanayake were appointed as chairpersons of the National Gem and Jewellery Authority and the State Timber Corporation respectively while Colombos former mayor, A.J.M. Muzammil was appointed as chairman of the Central Environment Authority.
SriLankans operational safety audit registration not renewed by IATA View(s):

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has not renewed SriLankan Airlines registration for 2018-2019 under its Operational Safety Audit (IOSA), prompting several foreign operators to suspend code-sharing with the beleaguered national carrier until it complies with IATA strictures.

SriLankan Airlines was tight-lipped about what companies have suspended code-sharing with it until IOSA registration is restored. But the Oneworld Alliance website offers indication. The SriLankan Airlines website still says it has mutual code-share services with Air Canada, Alitalia, Etihad Airways, Finnair, Japan Airlines, Jetstar Asia Airways, Malaysia Airlines, Myanmar Airways, Oman Air, Qantas, Qatar Airways and Air India. But the Oneworld Alliance website says SriLankan code-shares with just Malaysia Airlines and S7 Airlines, Russias largest domestic carrier.

A code-share agreement is a common business arrangement in the aviation industry in which, usually, a flight is operated by one airline while seats are sold for the flight by all cooperating airlines using their own designator and flight number. Oneworld is an airline alliance for the worlds frequent flyers. SriLankan became a full member in 2014, making it the first airline in the Indian subcontinent to join an alliance.

SriLankan typically issues statements when its biennial registration under IOSA is renewed. For instance, the company said in a February 2017 press release that it had renewed its registration under the IATA Operational Safety Audit (IOSA) for the years 2016-2017 in conformity with standards introduced by the International Air Transport Association (IATA). There has been no communique on the subject since.

Acting SriLankan Airlines CEO Vipula Gunatilleka confirmed that the IOSA registration was yet to be renewed but downplayed the situation. The IOSA audit was done in July 2018, he said, and observations were given. SriLankan has now responded and submitted a report to the audit organisation retained by IATA.

We have met the requirements, said Mr Gunatilleka, who took over in September last year. He added that there had only been a delay in meeting some conditions and that the status quo should be restored soon. He said SriLankan had submitted a report to IATA and had informed Oneworld of the development. However, IOSA is yet to renew registration.

The IOSA programme is an internationally accepted evaluation system that assesses the operational management and control systems of an airline. It was first started as a common standard for international code-sharing agreements.

The audit is conducted by an IATA-accredited firm and assesses the airline on eight scopes: organisation and management system; flight operations; operational control and flight dispatch; aircraft engineering and maintenance; cabin operations; ground handling operations; cargo operations; and operational security. It is not immediately known what SriLankan fell short of.

IOSA registration is mandatory for IATA membership. SriLankan Airlines first attained IOSA operator status in 2006. Independent sources said that the national carrier had not been successful in the IOSA audit in certain areas. The company is expected to take corrective action within a stated time period or will be deemed non-compliant.

This has been developing over time, one source said. The safety management system is in place but unfortunately some elements of it were not being implemented to the required standards. The intention now should be to admit to the mistakes, accept that the carrier was lacking in certain areas, and take immediate action to rectify them as quickly as possible.

The SriLankan IOSA audit has not been shared with the Civil Aviation Authority of Sri Lanka (CAASL). The local regulator could now do its own investigation to determine where SriLankan is slipping up on implementation of safety standards.

It is not known whether CAASL will demand more transparency from the national carrierwhich did not issue a statement when registration was withheldwhere such audits are concerned. When it comes to safety, there is no room for secrets and silo, Giovanni Bisignani, a former IATA Director General and CEO, once said.
Rowdy MPs to be reported to AG; may face action in Supreme Court By Chandani Kirinde Deputy Speaker's committee has identified those who should be punished for disrupting sessions during constitutional crisis View(s): View(s):

Parliamentarians who have been identified for creating chaos within the Chamber, during two days of sittings last year, as the 52-day-long political turmoil unfolded, may face Supreme Court action. The Attorney General is to be called upon to examine if there is sufficient evidence to warrant the Supreme Court to go into their conduct and take action against them for a breach of the Parliament (Powers and Privileges) Act.

Under the Act, the Supreme Court can exercise jurisdiction in cases of breaches of privilege by MPs.

The names of MPs who acted in breach of the privileges of Parliament by causing mayhem inside the Parliamentary Chamber in mid-November will be forwarded to the AGs Department to examine if they should face prosecution before the Supreme Court. Deputy Speaker Ananda Kumarasiri headed the Parliamentary committee that looked into the disorderly conduct of MPs on November 14 and 15 and identified those who had acted in violation of the law.

The committee finalised its report this week and it will now be sent to the Attorney General to examine the possibility of prosecuting the lawmakers who breached Parliamentary privileges, Deputy Speaker Kumarasiri said. We had our final meeting on Friday and once the Speaker returns to the country, the report will be sent to the AG, Mr. Kumarasiri who headed the six-member committee said. The findings of the Committee have been based on examination of the video footage of the incidents and the report would be submitted with the video evidence, he said.Under the Parliament (Powers and Privileges) Act, an application may be made to the Supreme Court by the Attorney-General in the case of any alleged offence only if the Attorney-General has furnished a report to the President or the Speaker of Parliament stating that, in the AGs opinion there is sufficient evidence to warrant the taking of further steps or, if, Parliament after consideration of such report, by resolution requires the AG to make the application.

The Deputy Speaker said that given the extent of the misbehavior of the MPs, suspending them for a two weeks or a month from Parliament would be insufficient. The committee comprised the Deputy Speaker, Chamal Rajapaksa, a former Speaker, Ranjith Madduma Bandara, Chandrasiri Gajadheera, Bimal Ratnayake, and Mavai Senathirajah.

Meanwhile, the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) is conducting a separate investigation into the assault on police personnel and the damages caused to public property by the errant MPs. Meanwhile, Puttlam Districts UPFA Parliamentarian Arundika Fernando this week apologised to Parliament for his role in the ugly scenes. Mr.Fernando had sat on the Speakers Chair and conducted a mock session of the House, thus preventing Speaker Karu Jayasuirya from taking the Chair.
Police investigate deaths of two foreign nationals View(s):

The deaths of two foreign tourists were reported this week. On January 11, a British national died in Mirissa and an Indian national died the following day in Hambantota. In the first incident, a 52-year-old British national identified as Michelle Wienburg had died on admission to the Matara Hospital after she collapsed at a beach carnival at Mirissa. The postmortem examination revealed she suffered a heart attack.

Ms Wienburg and her husband were staying at a hotel in the area and she had been attending a beach carnival when the incident occurred. Police said witnesses reported seeing Ms Wienburg vomiting and suddenly falling unconscious. She was rushed to the Matara Hospital, but died subsequently.

In the other incident, on January 12, an Indian national who was attending a tourist camp at Ussangoda, in Ambalantota was found unconscious on the Welipatanvila beach. He was pronounced dead on admission to the Ambalantota Hospital. He was attending a special tourist camp organised for the seventh consecutive occasion, which saw the participation of tourists from 70 countries. The body was taken to the Hambantota hospital for a postmortem examination. Police are investigating both deaths.
Malaysian investors shedding shares in construction firm; new directors coming View(s):

MTD Walkers, a construction firm mired in losses, has two new directors, while a reconstitution of the entire board is expected within weeks, with its Malaysian investors shedding shares, industry sources said.

Both incoming directors are linked with Supreme Global Holdings, which is chaired by R M Manivannan. He is also the head of SupremSAT which claimed to have launched Sri Lankas first communications satellite in 2012.The new directors, who joined on December 27 last year (according to a Colombo Stock Exchange filing), are Kumaragewattage Sharm Viraj Fernando and Yogendraprasath Sathiyaseelan. They fill two of three vacancies created by the resignations last year of Niranjan Joseph de Silva Deva-Aditya (Nirj Deva), Albert Rasakantha Rasiah and Hewawasamge Ravindranath Srilal Wijeratne.

Mr. Sathiyaseelan is the Chief Financial Officer of Supreme Global Holdings. Mr Fernando is the Managing Partner of Sharm Fernando Associates. The firms Financial Consultant is Sumith Ranwatta, who is also the Managing Director of Chart Business Systems (Pvt) Ltd, the company secretarial firm engaged for some time by the Supreme Group.

By the end of September 30 last year, MTD Walkers had Rs 4.2bn in long-term debt and Rs 23.6 billion in short-term borrowings. Around Rs 22bn is due from trade and other receivables. It has to receive Rs 6bn from the Urban Development Authority alone, for three completed housing development projects.

Mr Sathiyaseelan is expected to be an independent director, according to informed sources. This means a board member who does not have a material or pecuniary relationship with the company for related persons, except sitting fees.

Malaysias MTD Capital Bhd holds a 90.78 percent stake in MTD Walkers PLC. The sources said the Malaysian company was no longer interested in funnelling money into the concern and was expected to divest of at least 70 percent of its holding.

The new investors will later clear the board of everyone and put in their people, one source said. The change will take place within this month or there will be continuity issues. As to who the new investors are, even we are not aware. But they will have to pump in at least Rs 3bn into the company to satisfy creditors. Mr Manivannan, however, is a long-time business partner of Jaya Sudhir Jayaram, a Malaysian businessman fixer who was negotiating on behalf of Lycamobile Chairman Allirajah Subaskaran for a stake in the Edirisinghe Group through a venture called Straits Grid Pte Ltd.

The new investors are likely to maintain a core group of six subsidiaries in the MTD Walkers inventory: CML-MTD Construction Ltd; Walkers Piling Ltd; Walkers CML Properties (Pvt) Ltd which does property development; Walkers Colombo Shipyard; Northern Power Co; and Walkers Trading which deals in equipment.

Around four or five smaller companies, it is anticipated, will be put up for sale or management. There are seven members in the main board. Chief Executive Officers will be required for some of the bigger companies such as Walkers Piling and CML-MTD.

The developments at MTD Walkers point to a huge inflow of monies into the country from what would appear to be connected parties using the same fronts. As the Sunday Times had revealed in the past, the purchase of the Edirisinghe Group also implicated the same group of investors tied to a labyrinth of multiple companies.

For instance, the Singapore-registered Blue Summit Capital Management Ltd which tying up the purchase of several Edirisinghe Group companies also has ties to Mr Manivannan. One of Blue Summits directors is Omar Siraj M Qandeel.

Mr Qandeel and Mr Manivannan together started up two new companies in 2017: Supremesat Japan (Pvt) Ltd and Supreme Innovation (Pvt) Ltd. They are the initial directors.

Mr Qandeel is listed in documents lodged with the Registrar of Companies (ROC) as Saudi Arabian. His address is given as 3 Temasek Avenue, #26-03, Centennial Tower, Singapore 039190. This was the same address used by Rohitha Rajapaksa, youngest son of the former President, when he purportedly registered a company named Dycer International in Singapore.

The Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority of Singapore has no record of this entity. There is, however, a Dycer International with the identical registration number provided to Sri Lankas ROC incorporated in the British Virgin Islands.

Dycer held a ten percent stake in SupremeSAT but divested those shares in June 2016. The present shareholders of SupremeSAT are Supreme Global Holdings (Pvt) Ltd chaired by Mr Manivannan and J S Energy Holdings (Pvt) Ltd owned by Mr Jayaram. J S Energy was also first registered to 3 Temasek Avenue, #26-03, Centennial Tower, Singapore 039190.

But it has since shifted to another address popular with Mr Jayaram: P O Box 957, Offshore Incorporations Centre, Road Town, Tortola, British Virgin Islands (BVI). He also used it when he assumed directorship of a company named The Horton Square (Pvt) Ltd which was set up to build a US$ 250mn mixed-development project in Horton Place, Colombo 7.

The other directors of Horton Square are Mr Manivannan, Renuka Shanmuganathan (the two directors of SupremeSAT) and Alberto de Simone, an Italian with Belgian and Dehiwala addresses. The Horton Place project is stalled without planning permission. Purni Edwards reportedly remains the beneficial owner of 291-perch prime block identified for the venture.

Purni is the wife of Rienzie Edwards who, in December 2016, was indicted along with five others by the US Attorneys Office for allegedly defrauding victims of more than US$50 million. Ironically, Mr Edwards is Associate Producer of the Chandran Rutnam film According to Mathew. Mr Jayaram is one of the Assistant Producers. And over the Palk Strait, in India, Mr Subaskaran has just earned a name for being the refugee who fled war-torn Sri Lanka who made Britain his home and became the producer of the most expensiveUS$ 75mnBollywood film ever made.

Meanwhile, Mr Jayaram also owns a company called Al-Rafidian Holdings (Pvt) Ltd. This is confirmed by Singaporean court papers. Mr Manivannan has stated on record that Al-Rafidian provided satellite acquisition financing to SupremeSAT.

In November, Mr Jayaram was detained by Sri Lanka Customs while trying to smuggle out US dollar notes amounting to US$ 50,000 in his hand luggage. Two others had US$ 50,000 each while the fourth carried US$ 58,000. The BVI address Mr Jayaram regularly lists is common to hundreds of other entities from around the world. In the 2016 International Consortium of Investigative Journalists Panama Papers leak, BVI emerged as the most commonly used tax haven by clients of Panamanian offshore financials provider Mossack Fonseca.

Mr Manivannans business address at 33 West Tower, World Trade Centre, Colombo 1 is also popular. A large number of companies are registered to it including Ceylon Commodity Impex (Pvt) Limited; Supremeast (Private) Limited; V V M Lanka Minerals (Pvt) Ltd; Ceylon Investment and Venture (Pvt) Ltd; Supreme Ventures (Pvt) Limited; Venmar International (Pvt) Ltd; Dycer International (Pvt) Ltd, Sri Lanka; Singha Lanka Investments (Pvt) Ltd; Supreme Global Holdings (Pvt) Ltd; Supreme Space Investments (Pvt) Ltd which is now defunct; SupremeSAT Investments (Pvt) Ltd; Singha Industrial Investments (Pvt) Ltd; Buyback Mobile (Pvt) Ltd; Supreme Solutions (Pvt) Ltd; Supremesat Japan (Pvt) Ltd; and Supreme Innovation (Pvt) Ltd.

An examination of the groups activities points to the creation of multiple companies, opaque financial transactions, poor reporting, frequent share transfers and labyrinthine business practices. One concern is how similar named entities are registered in Sri Lanka, the UAE and Singapore with the businesses in Sri Lanka having possible connections to the offshore entities.

For instance, Supreme Global Holdings is also registered in the Middle East at P O box 33582, Al Jazeera, Al-Hamra, Ras Al Khaimah, UAE. A common email address was used for Supreme Global Holdings UAE and the company registered in Sri Lanka.

One of the initial shareholders of The Horton Square (PVt) Ltd is an entity called Paradise Island Holdings Ltd which is also registered to the same UAE location. This is the address of RAK Company Administration FZ LLC or RAKCA which calls itself the largest Registered Agent for incorporation Offshore & Onshore Company [sic] regulated under Ras Al Khaimah Investment Authority. Its services include management and administration of offshore companies and establishment of accounts with prime banks in the UAE.

In January 2016, Mr Manivannan and his wife, Vasuki, registered the Orenda Ceylon Foundation ostensibly to provide clean drinking water to rural communities and to uplift their living conditions. It has still not been registered with the National Secretariat for Non Governmental Organisations as required by the Registrar of Companies.

Other companies that use the Temasek Avenue address are Straits Consultancy Ltd and Quantum Ark Technologies BV which is said to have made an advance payment of US$ 1mn towards Mr Manivannas satellite project.
Dr. Anula Wijesundere inducted as SLMA president View(s):

Well-known Consultant Physician Dr. Anula Wijesundere was inducted as the 122nd President of the Sri Lanka Medical Association (SLMA), at a ceremony attended by a large and distinguished gathering at the Sri Lanka Foundation Institute, Colombo 7, last evening.

The Chief Guest was Post Graduate Institute of Medicine Director Prof. Janaka de Silva.

With her theme being Facing the challenges and forging ahead for better health outcomes, Dr. Wijesundere in her Presidential address focused on 10 important aspects of health. They included reducing the burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs), tobacco, alcohol, dangerous drugs, suicides and road traffic accidents; battling dengue fever and HIV/AIDS; and keeping Sri Lanka malaria-free.
BASL to discuss Chinese limited liability law firm here By Namini Wijedasa View(s): View(s):

The Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) has called a special Executive Committee meeting this week to discuss the recent incorporation of a Chinese law firm as a limited liability company in Sri Lanka. The BASL is also consulting senior lawyers on a way forward, with legal experts insisting that the development is against Supreme Court rules as well as professional, moral and ethical guidelines.

The Chinese Baqian Law Group this month opened a regional office for the South Asian region in Colombo, according to media reports. It is the first time a foreign entity providing legal services has been incorporated here as a limited liability company. This is not even a practice among Sri Lankan law firms which are set up as partnerships.

A limited liability company is a corporate structure whereby the members of the company are not personally liable for the companys debts or liabilities. Baqian Law Group Lanka (Pvt) Ltd is offering everything from notarial services, legal due diligence, international trade remedies and assistance on dispute resolution to advice on project financing, operations, taxation and financial compliance. The company has a local consultant, lawyer Sunil Abeyratne. He was not available for comment.

We are not opposed to them giving expertise to their clients but we are against total outsiders coming and practising in the country without a licence from the Supreme Court, said a senior lawyer and Presidents Counsel. He did not wish to be named.

At the moment law firms cannot practise in Sri Lanka under incorporation for the simple reason that, as a professional, you cannot limit your liability, maintained Arittha Wikramanayake, the Precedent Partner of Nithya Partners. He chaired the Company Law Reform Advisory Commission. As a professional, you cannot limit your liability. And if you practise in a company, its a limited liability, because its the company that provides the service.

Some other countries provide for limited liability partnerships with local actors. There is no provision for this in Sri Lanka yet.

Mr. Wikramanayake highlighted another danger: That of non-lawyers practising law through a limited liability company. If I have a lot of money, I set up a company and employ lawyers to work for me. The income that comes from the practise comes to me, the non-lawyer.

This contravenes another professional rule that lawyers cannot share fees with third parties. You also do not know who is providing the servicesthe face behind, for instance, an agreement that is drafted. The public will, therefore, be exposed to danger.

The first point of contact of a criminal is a remand officer or prison guard, Mr Wikramanayake said. A lot of them (police and prison officials) engage in touting. That is, they say go to this or that lawyer on the understanding that they share the reward. Its not a secret, everybody knows. If you permit incorporation, they can set up companies.

Lawyers are also concerned about foreigners forming companies because they could provide services by hiring lawyers locally, then funnelling the money out without ever acquiring a local law qualification. While competition was welcome, it must take place on an even playing field within a proper regulatory structure.

I am regulated by the Supreme Court, Mr Wikramanayake said. A company is not. They can advertise. I cannot. In our profession, you cant charge a success fee. A company can. So its different rules for different parties.

Lawyers fear this will open the floodgates for anybodyforeigners or localsto start practising law in Sri Lanka. The BASL expects to compare the legal positions of its senior members and release a detailed opinion on the matter after the executive committee meeting. The development, lawyers confessed, had taken them unawares.

There might be a legal loophole being made use of to come and set up shop here, said a senior member of the bar. If you allow this, not only lawyers but other professionalsdoctors and accountantswill also get affected.

International law firms setting up here will eventually happen, I think, but it can be systematically done so they share expertise with Sri Lankan firms ensuring we are equally benefited, he continued. Then, over a period of time, we can also set up law firms that can compete. The way it is now, they will take over our scope of work, with serious repercussions for our future.
Argument leads to fatal stabbing of Lankan in Maldives View(s):

A Sri Lankan national has been stabbed to death at a tourist resort in the Maldives. The incident took place on the Ellaidhoo island when an argument erupted between two Sri Lankans at a construction site of a Sri Lankan company resort. One of them was armed with a knife and had used it against the other, the Maldivian police said.

They said they had arrested the 39-year-old Sri Lankan responsible for the stabbing. The body of the deceased was brought to the capital Male.
Vintage comedy He Comes From Jaffna to get underway in Feb View(s):

S. Thomas College Mt Lavinia Old Boys Association together with the Creative Arts Foundation presents He Comes From Jaffna.

The play directed by Jith Peiris will essentially revolve around Durai who come from Jaffna to Colombo to meet his cosmopolitan brother-inlaw presently married for the second time to a European lady and so the fun begins.

While the exaggerated elements bring on easy laughter to the audience, the real comedy is played out through the misunderstandings and contradictions between opposing views and the nature of Durai and his brother-inlaw Raja. Certain issues create some amusing scenes which also illuminate the characters of these two men.

The show is set to take the boards of the Lionel Wendt on Feb 15, 16 and 17 at 7.30pm
Social medias favourite star at Golden Globes -Fiji water lady Model photobombed multiple stars on the red carpet View(s): View(s):

Forget the actors, producers, directors and musicians who won awards at this evenings Golden Globes because the true star of the night has been chosen by social media  and its none other than a water girl.

Brunette model Kelleth Cuthbert, who was hired by Fiji water to serve its product to guests on the red carpet, has become the unlikely queen of this years award ceremony after she was spotted photobombing multiple A-listers  quickly becoming a viral star in the process.

In a few of the images, the Los Angeles-based model is seen with her face turned away from the camera  but it is the photographs that show her flashing a sly smile directly into the lens that have truly captured Twitters attention, and earned her their respect.

Fiji Water lady owned the Golden Globes, one person tweeted, while another chimed in: The Fiji Water girl is literally living her best life!

One user even added: The Fiji water girl is my spirit animal for 2019.

Some people even suggested that Kelleths few minutes in the spotlight would lead to bigger and better things for her  while also poking fun at her slightly sinister expression in a few of the photo.

By the end of the night Fiji water lady is going to have a movie deal or will have murdered several celebrities, one person wrote.

Meanwhile Glamour magazine praised her ability to take advantage of the situation, tweeting: This woman isnt nominated for anything, shes just holding Fiji water for the celebs on the red carpet whilst milking it for all its worth and we are living. SERVE IT, QUEEN.

Kelleth, or Fiji water lady as she has been christened on Twitter, has certainly lived out the fantasy of many Hollywood hangers-on, appearing in photos with some of the industrys brightest stars.

To name a few, the woman was snapped with actress Judy Greer, Bodyguard star and Golden Globe winner Richard Madden, Crazy Rich Asians Costance Wu, Lucy Boynton of Bohemian Rhapsody fame, and breakthrough star Kiki Layne.

And it seems she is already earning her first few celebrity interviews, speaking to the LA Times at the event, where she admitted that she had worked out a strategy for achieving the best photobomb. Its all strategic, she explained. Youve got to angle.

The publication added that Kelleth was ticked pink to hear her hard work for the brand was getting noticed on social media. Kelleth appeared grateful for the media attention, sharing a few snippets from articles about her viral fame on her Instagram Story, after sharing a candid snap of herself on the red carpet  without any of her new famous friends.

Not the worst way to spend a Sunday she captioned the image, which sees her flashing her now-famous smile over a shoulder at the camera.

Although perhaps her most high-profile appearance to date, this is not the first time that Kelleth has made her mark in front of the cameras  quite the opposite in fact.

The model  who is represented by Wilhemina, the same agency that first looked after Kendall Jenner at the start of her fashion career  has posed for multiple editorial shoots, as well as a few smaller-name brands.

Images featured in her online portfolio show her modeling in a wide variety of shoots, from sporty shots to saucy images of her in sexy lingerie and sheer shirts.

Whether or not her moment in the spotlight as Fiji water lady gives her modeling career a boost, Kelleth can be save in the knowledge that she has cemented her name in the list of viral meme stars.

Within minutes of her images spreading across the internet, someone had already set up a spoof Twitter account under the name Fiji Water Girl, with one of the first tweets posted reading: I am just serving Fiji water and been cute.
Manikarnika to lead more biopics on Indian women By Susitha Fernando Manikarnika:The Queen of Jhansi View(s): View(s):

Both Bollywood and South Indian cinema kicked off the New Year with much awaited biopic movie Manikarnik, a story on Rani Laxmibai, one of the leading figures of the Indian Rebellion of 1857 and her resistance to the British Raj.

Indian period drama based on the life of Rani Laxmibai of Jhansi is directed by Kangana Ranaut who also play the title role. The film is produced by Zee Studios. Other main roles are played by Danny Denzongpa and Suresh Oberoi.

Following the announcement of Manikarnikas release in this January, the Indian media reported that a number of biopic films on women are slated to be released during this year. Starting with RanautsManikarnik  The Queen of Jhans based on the warrior queen, at least two biopics on women achievers have already being lined up. Among the other biopics that are scheduled for the year 2019 are Chhapaak, based on the life of acid attack survivor Laxmi, and the Shraddha Kapoor starrer Saina Nehwal biopic.

At the production stage the film went through a number of hurdles. The director Sonu Sood leaft on the half way of the project and main actress Ranaut took up the rein of director while playing the titular role. The film also went through a number of public criticism at the stage of production.

In February 2018, while the film was being shot at Malsisar in Jhunjhune, a group of right-wing fringe outfit, the Sarve Brahmin Mahasabha protested against the film claiming that it had distorted the historical facts.

The organisation even demanded that immediate stop of the shooting of the epic biographical film about the respected female warrior.

Responding to the criticism, Kangana had told I feel people who are not saying good things about me or my film will have to shut their mouths after watching the film and people who are saying good things, their mouths cant be shut by anyone.

A CEL release, both Hindi and Tamil versions of Manikarnika will be released on January 25 simultanious to the release in India and worldwide.

It will be screened in island wide theatre including Liberty Lite Colpetty, Capitol  Maradana, Savoy Premier-Wellawatta, City Cinema -Mt Lavinia, Concord-Dehiwala and MC- Jaffna.
A voice for women in need By Hassan Shazuli View(s): View(s):

In 2017, The Asia Foundation in partnership with Women in Need (WIN), designed and launched 2six4, Sri Lankas first android mobile app to combat issues of Gender Based Violence.

The purpose of this initiative is twofold Attorney-at-law Mariam Wadood, Project Coordinator of WIN, tells the Mirror Magazine.

She explains that the app comes as a source of information since it provides access to legal information and also an emergency response function which enables a victim to send an SOS text message to five pre-selected contacts.

A victim can seek for assistance by pressing the SOS button on the app following which the recipients are notified of the victims location and the need to render assistance.

The app also facilitates a victim to alert the nearest police station or hospital within 10 kilometres of her location.

Ms. Wadood says that the app guides a user to report any kind of abuse including cyber harassment which has been on the rise during the recent past.

The rising number of cases on cyber harassment across the country was the main reason behind the inclusion of this option in the app, she adds.

In the event of being faced with such abuse, a victim will be able to notify WIN which will then provide the relevant advice to the victim.

Cases of street harassment can also be reported via the app.

Street harassment is a challenge to address as the perpetrators can easily disappear without a trace, Ms. Wadood explains.

A user of the app will be able to report cases of street harassment to the Police Women and Child Bureau or the nearest Police Station following which the relevant course of action would be adopted by these authorities.

The 2six4 android app which was upgraded last year was also made compatible on Apple iOs platforms thanks to the support of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

Ms. Wadood says that moves are afoot to compile a Cyber Exploitation Manual which will comprise the relevant laws and procedure to be followed when addressing online harassment.

Following a six-month promotion campaign on social media, the team behind the 2six4 app has now begun to receive a considerable amount of favourable responses.

Very recently, the team managed to pull-off a sticker campaign that created awareness of harassment faced by women in public transport.

A growing number of women have registered themselves with the app following the sticker campaign, Ms. Wadood said.

The campaign was carried out in Colombo, Anuradhapura, Badulla, Jaffna, Batticaloa and Matara.

However, the lack of funding poses a challenge to the team which hopes to extend their promotional campaign.

The WIN organisation also hopes to introduce a communication channel which would enable users to drop their queries and receive guidance on matters concerning harassment faced by women.

The app which is available in English, Sinhala, and Tamil can be downloaded on both iOS and Android platforms.

Readers can mail their suggestions on the app to womeninneed87@gmail.com
Right person for the right job View(s):

It will be one month next week since Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe took his oaths again after the bizarre events that followed the October 26, 2018 decision to sack him. Meanwhile, a large number of state-funded institutions, from statutory bodies to corporations to banks, remain headless.

The Presidents capricious indiscretion that led to the Constitutional crisis is not yet dusted. It reverberates to date. The uncertainty that had the Administration grind to a virtual standstill, is continuing to limp along.

Reports are now emerging into the public domain about the crisis in the import of life-saving pharmaceutical drugs as one example of the disruption of the Administration in the latter part of last year. That situation arose due to state banks refusing to finance Letters of Credit for more than Rs. 500 million. The Bank of Ceylon, the countrys largest state run bank, for example, remains without a board.

Take the US$ 470 million grant by the United States as a different example. This grant was to be signed on December 18, 2018 under the Millennium Challenge programme to assist private sector growth through the Private-Public Partnership (PPP) initiative of the UNF Government, but had to be put off due to the uncertainty at home. Now that Sri Lanka is ready to sign the agreement, the US is not ready with another Executive President in that part of the world shutting down his own Government. The Colombo malaise seems to have hit Washington. The donors have now asked Sri Lanka to wait till March hoping things will settle at that end.

Last week, the President issued a fiat from his Secretariat ordering all those in the state sector to step down and all new appointees to be vetted through a Presidential Committee. Some have stepped down, and some have not. It seems a free-for-all. All new appointees are to have basic educational qualification, age limits and the Chief Executive Officers are expected to be full-time employees of the institutions to which they are appointed.

Many in the UNF Government have already cried foul accusing the President of trying to block UNF supporters filling these boards in what is either an election year (2019) or a run-up to an election year (2020).

Such criteria, more or less had already been in existence  at least on paper, in the first flush of the Yahapalana (Good Governance) Administration of 2015. It even referred to appointments being made on a scientific basis. A three-member committee was set up to go into appointees at the time and criteria such as age-limits, educational qualifications, disqualifying persons from being on multiple boards, and importantly, disqualifying the granting of positions to defeated candidates, were duly set in place.

Everything connected to good governance went out of the window no sooner than the vetting committee began making recommendations, especially when it rejected some names. One well-known case was the appointment of the brother of a Cabinet Minister as Chairman of the Ports Authority. The principle of appointments based on a scientific basis became a joke as the President approved the appointment overriding the vetting committee recommendation.

It is a reality that these good governance guidelines have their limitations in the real world. Ultimately, like all things in Sri Lanka, it whittles down to political expediency of the powers-that-be. When Ministers go and plead with the President, political considerations come into play and he fails to adhere to his own guidelines. Mind you, the guidelines of 2015 were endorsed by the Cabinet.

The new Presidential Committee does not even have the Cabinets approval. Not that it matters if it is allowed to act independently on Ministerial nominees, often square pegs in round holes as those whom they need to help may not fit the portfolio given to the Minister.

Though some of the UNF Ministers are up in arms at this Presidential directive, the Prime Minister maintains it is a good idea. After all, it was his own idea in 2015. But what use is it if good ideas dont translate to good implementation? Take the case of Parliaments High Post Committee that was supposed to vet ambassadors and others appointed to senior government posts like Ministry Secretaries.

When one looks at the calibre of some political appointees who have been sent as Sri Lankas envoys abroad, having sailed through the High Posts Committee with such consummate ease, one can ask the legitimate question as to what point there is in good ideas if they are just a sham in implementation. At least the Consultative Committee has stood its ground in recent times and when it invites the ire of the Executive President when he cant have his way all the time, it only proves the committee is doing the job it was set up to do.

Expecting 100 percent compliance in the selection of political appointees to corporation boards and banks is too much to expect from politicians. The demands to cash IOUs of varying sorts to those who helped put them in their Ministerial seats are very heavy a burden to be left to the mercy of cold guidelines. Already the President has broken his own guidelines by appointing two ex-Governors to chairmanships. Some Ministers have done the same, snubbing the committee.

There is imperfection and kissing will go by favour, but at least if the good governance principle is adhered to, and the respective Ministers look for appropriate persons rather than fill the seats entirely with their supporters, some good will come from these guidelines. As much as a vetting committee, there ought to be a scouting committee to seek and tap apolitical experts from the private sector on short assignments to sit on boards. At one time, then UNP Chairman N.G.P. Panditharatne put an accountant at least, into each corporation board. A reader writing in to our Letters Page reminds us that many of these institutions are revenue based, and they all seem to be running at a loss.

Whatever the case may be, there is an urgent need to fill these seats because the disruption that occurred post October 26, 2018 is continuing. Some priority must be given to the critical areas and the process accelerated. The US might be able to ride through a Government shutdown, because it is largely private sector driven, but not Sri Lanka.
That murder most foul View(s):

Ten years have passed. The tears have dried except in the eyes of those to whom Lasantha Wickrematunga was very near and dear. The tears have gone but not the memories of an intrepid journalist, a bundle of energy often mixed with mischief and determined to follow the trail like a blood hound in pursuit of the scent.

Ten years after his brutal murder, candles were lit once more, white and yellow flowers laid and prayers said in silent memory of a husband, father, brother, an adoring relative and an editor determined to complete a story he had begun.

But he was also conscious of the dangers he had set in train. He could hear, in the words of Andrew Marvell Times winged chariot hurrying near.

Unfortunately I could not be at the Kanatte cemetery this week when many in the media and some who only knew him by reputation paid tribute to Lasanthas journalistic odyssey cut short by those who fearing his undertaking decried him. His relentless pursuit to expose those he considered should be brought to justice unnerved many.

I was glad to know friend Marwaan Macan-Markar, who I have not met since I parted ways in Bangkok in mid-2012 to return to London on a diplomatic assignment, and was Lasanthas features editor on the Sunday Leader, read a tribute to his then editor.

My memory goes back to the day Lasantha was killed for I had arrived in Colombo a few days earlier and was due to meet him for the usual chat and lunch. It was a habit of mine to catch up with former colleagues  just a few of them still around- and with other journalist friends whenever I was in Colombo.

I telephoned Lasantha that morning to confirm the time and venue of our meeting. Usually we met for lunch and talked for hours, me keen to hear his assessment of happenings at home and exchange views on political and other developments, interrupting serious thought with jokes and humorous anecdotes of yesteryear.

His cell phone rang for a minute or more but went unanswered. I thought he was either driving or was still asleep after a long night. This was around 9am. I switched off, thinking of calling him again in an hour or two.

But that never happened. I was back at my computer trying to complete what I was writing when the telephone rang. It was a friend of mine to break the news that Lasantha had been shot and had been taken to Kalubowila Hospital. It was less than two hours since I had tried to reach him to decide on our lunch venue.

That news came as a shock. A shock yes, but it was not entirely unexpected, particularly against the background of the violent assaults and torture of some other journalists that had gone before.

The dangers facing some journalists came up whenever we met. I was almost a victim of killers waiting for me during the troubled days in 1989 when anarchy seemed to rule the country. I escaped because fortuitous circumstances made me change my route that Sunday morning on my way back home from Lake House and the supermarket. But thats another story to be told later.

During our working days in Colombo, I would often run into Lasantha at the briefings that Minister of State Anandatissa de Alwis gave after cabinet meetings. I was there as a foreign correspondent while Lasantha was covering the briefing for The Island, if I remember correctly. This was in the early 1980s.

Though I left Sri Lanka in September 1989 for Hong Kong we did keep in touch. Now and then he would try to persuade me to write a piece for him under a pseudonym which occasionally I did. He used to enjoy a satirical or light piece especially if it was a humorous dig at some uppity politician or two.

On one occasion we met for lunch at the former Holiday Inn. After a long lunch lasting several hours we walked to the hotel entrance. When the driver of the car I was using came to pick me up, he leaned into the car and told the driver to take me home safely as there were people after me.

I could not help but laugh. It is you who needs to be careful, I said as we parted. He seemed to be amused by my remark, his infectious smile lighting up his face.

One night he called me to London. It must have been well past midnight in Colombo. He said the President (Mahinda Rajapaksa then) wanted to speak to me. He gave me a telephone number and asked me to call the president in the morning. Which I did, but that again is another story.

As I remember Lasantha now, I wonder what he would have to say about the Sri Lankas political scene  if one may call it that  today and who he would be targeting, collecting and collating information to lay bare corruption among politicians and malfeasance in a bureaucracy that has been largely reduced to a political appendage unlike the public service of decades ago when public officials stayed out of politics.

Lasanthas coruscating writings antagonised many politicians, especially those in power and bureaucratic bunglers. He had his critics as many journalists do because their work exposes the corrupt, the crooked and the crass conduct of the political class.

He would have revelled in todays political atmosphere and made more enemies. But he seemed to care little about whom he upset once he had got his teeth into a story that smelt of dubious doings. While other journalists of the day might have been more circumspect in their approach, Lasantha would go charging in as though he was determined to breach the Maginot Line with two shots of artillery fire. But he would have marshalled facts before hand and exposed some as though stirring a hornets nest.

Not all agree with Lasanthas journalistic approach that seemed intent on stirring the pot. But he did liven up journalism of the day with his acerbic style that was too brash for some.

Ten years have passed since that tragic happening. Yet those who promised from political platforms to hunt down his killers and bring them to justice somehow seem to have lost that early enthusiasm. Was it because it was politically profitable to make such promises in order to win political support or have they abandoned all that hype about justice and building a just society?

There are too many contradictions in the whole story of the Lasantha killing, including post-mortem reports, the lost notebook in which Lasantha had written the registration numbers of the motorcycles that trailed him and then cornered him.

I remember his wife Sonali telling me a day or two later of some of the facts that seemed curious even at the time  like the story circulating that he was shot but there were no entry or exit wounds, no shells in the body and no shell casing in and round the car though the post-mortem report appeared to suggest he was shot with a gun.

It would appear that the investigators have not had a free hand in pursuing their investigations and the quarries. Back in London I had problems answering foreign journalists questions addressed to the high commission.

Lasanthas killing was not the only one that interested them. There were others like the killing of a British aid worker somewhere in Tangalle if I remember correctly. The MP of the constituency in which the aid worker resided would often call to find out the progress in the investigations and what action was being taken by the Sri Lanka government.

Lasanthas murder case is not the only one that is dragging on and on giving the impression that justice works by fits and starts. The brutal murder of Jamal Khashoggi, the Saudi Arabian journalist and columnist for the Washington Post, a few months back in the Saudi Arabian consulate in Istanbul reminds one of the dangers journalists the world over face in pursuing their profession and what devious means those in power use to cover up their sins.
Kilinochchis special vice squad disbanded: Smokescreens from Police Spokesman and Sumanthiran View(s):

Authorities have disbanded a special unit which operated under the Kilinochchi Deputy Inspector General and conducted raids to crack down on drugs, illicit liquor and other criminal activity in his area of authority.

The personnel attached to this unit have been transferred to other police stations. There will be no such unit which has been keeping tabs on how effectively the areas police stations tackle vice by conducting their own raids.

This is the outcome of the exclusive revelation last week in these columns that the units members who were on a raid to arrest a notorious suspect operating under the pseudonym Prem was in an area near Palai. An authoritative Police source confirmed to the Sunday Times yesterday that Prem was indeed known as a main dealer for Kerala Ganja in the area and was a supplier to smaller agents in and around Kilinochchi.

The Police had stepped up their anti-drug operations following instructions from President Maithripala Sirisena. It is well known that Kerala Ganja is smuggled into Sri Lanka from the south Indian coast and transported to various other parts of the country.

The Sunday Times revelation, however, drew contradictory assertions from Police Spokesperson Ruwan Gunasekera on the one hand. On the other, Tamil National Alliance (TNA) parliamentarian Abraham Sumanthiran, who was not named in the report, however owned up that the references in our report last week were to him. He had a different version though.

Superintendent Gunasekera had this to say; In a report submitted to me, DIG Kilinochchi Range has stated that on January 3, 2019, a team of officers from the said unit, including its Officer-in-Charge (OIC), had gone to Palai Police division following a tip-off regarding a Ganja and illicit liquor racket being operated in the area. They were on patrol in the Championpattu area when they had come across four youths who were behaving in a suspicious manner. They were taken into custody and produced before the Kilinochchi Police as their identities could not be established.

The DIGs report further states that the OIC briefed the Kilinochchi Range DIG over the phone regarding the incident and that the DIG issued instructions to have the suspects released on police bail once they establish their identity. Accordingly, the Headquarters Inspector (HQI) Kilinochchi, took measures to release the suspects after their identities were established.

As such, your news item claiming that suspects who were arrested along with Ganja were released without enforcing the law against them due to pressure from a senior TNA politician is completely false. Moreover, I emphasise that the suspects were not arrested for possessing Ganja but because they could not establish their identities. Therefore, I kindly request you to publish this clarification in your next issue while giving it the same prominence as the said news item.

Even if one is to accept the claim that the four persons were released on police bail, it was purely for the reason that they were unable to establish their identity. That indeed is very funny because Police could end up arresting hundreds, if not thousands, for not establishing their identities and give them bail. He is completely silent on the allegations by the Special Unit members that they were assaulted. Mr. Sumanthiran has revealed that there have been accusations from the Police officers that the youth had assaulted them. Why then does SP Gunasekera, an attorney-at-law, remain silent about a complaint from his own men? If he wants to tell the truth, why not tell the whole truth. Is he trying to hide something?

If these do not show that his slip is showing. It is showing very badly. His bold claim that there was no pressure from a senior TNA politician is completely false is a blatant lie. At whose instance did he say so?

The reason  TNA parliamentarian Abraham Sumanthiran admits that I spoke to the DIG,.. in a statement made in Parliament. He also issued a separate statement and has also written to the Sunday Times.

Of course, Mr Sumanthiran gives his own version of the incident. As is clear, it is based on what he has heard. Here are excerpts:

On the 3rd January night, around 8.00pm, there was a vehicle in the Championpaththu area suspiciously going up and down that was noticed by the youth of the area.

I was to go to an event the next morning at 8.30 in the Championpaththu School and because of this, the area youth were a little vigilant. When an unidentified vehicle with men in civil clothes was moving about, the youth of the area stopped the vehicle and checked to see who they were. They claimed to be from the police. They were in civil attire. They were asked to show their identity cards. They refused to show the identity cards but they pulled out their pistols, got into the vehicle and fled.

The youth gave chase behind them on their motorcycles and it was a youth who informed the Army checkpoint ahead that a suspicious vehicle was coming that way and to stop that vehicle. It was the Army who actually stopped that vehicle. So, contrary to what is being spread, the youth were not arrested or apprehended. It was the other way around. It was the Army who stopped this vehicle of men, and of course, when they were stopped, it was found that they were actually from the police. They were from the Vice Squad under the directions of the DIG of the area, and then, when it was found that they were from the police, the local police was called and they were handed over to the local police.

But, at that point, they made allegations that these youth had assaulted them, and therefore, four youths were also taken into custody. That is what happened. There was no Ganja that was taken into custody. There was no raid on that. It was a case of mistaken identity because of the extra vigilance that was exercised by the area youth and it was they who gave chase and with the assistance of the army, apprehended these police personnel who were in civil clothes. But, they were taken into custody.

Therefore, I spoke to the DIG, naturally, in an area where people had acted with vigilance for the sake of my own security in an area where there were supposedly two assassination attempts. In that area, they had exercised extra vigilance and they caught these people. There was no Ganja involved. So, I spoke to the DIG and I explained to him what happened. I did not ask the DIG to release them. I told him, this is what had been reported to me. He said I will make inquiries and take appropriate action, and I heard that the next morning, he had released these four youth.

Now, this is being portrayed as me interfering in some kind of law and order situation and me interfering to have Ganja smugglers released. Far from the truth, and it is a matter of regret two newspapers of repute have also published this in their gossip columns, and I request those newspapers to please carry this clarification.

So here we have two versions from the Police and the MP of the same incident and the only common theme is that no TNA MP was involved in the release of a Ganja gang. The authoritative Police source in the area also told the Sunday Times, however, that one of the youth the Special Unit spotted was Prem.

This incident comes at a time when Police Chief Pujith Jayasundera wants to set up his new brand of community policing. However, his own official spokesperson is trying to keep the truth away from the public. Do the public believe such smokescreens?

Indian Summer stale in Colombo, but good for Ranil in Nuwara Eliya

If he was pleased with the Indian meal he had at Indian Summer in Nuwara Eliya, a restaurant which has its main outlet in Colombo, his close associates heaved a sigh of relief.

The main restaurant in Colombo was raided by Colombo Municipal Council (CMC) health officials who found meat and vegetables unfit for human consumption. Surprisingly this restaurant is one of those set up as a foreign investment.

CMC health officials found rotten vegetables, stale meat and other unclean food items.

After the 52 day political turmoil ended with his being sworn-in as the Prime Minister, Ranil Wickremesinghe flew by SLAF helicopter to Nuwara Eliya for a holiday. One day he had chosen to try out the Indian cuisine at a branch of the Indian Summer restaurant in Nuwara Eliya.

Another row over police transfers

A top Defence official was rapped by President Maithripala Sirisena for approving a list of transfers of police officers without his knowledge.

These transfers had been ordered by Police Chief Pujith Jayasundera. As a result of the move, the transfers were put on hold by the Police Commission.

Like Mahinda, Nasheed to contest Maldivian parliamentary poll

Former Maldivian President Mohamed Nasheed, following in the footsteps of his Sri Lankan counterpart, Mahinda Rajapaksa, is preparing to contest parliamentary elections in the island nation in April this year.

Nasheed is founder-head of the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) and his party sources confirmed that he would be contesting the poll and lead the party in parliament. He started his career as a parliamentary MP.

The sources said that like Sri Lankas former president Rajapaksa contested the parliamentary polls and became an ordinary member, Maldives former President Nasheed would also contest a parliamentary seat.

Mr. Nasheed was forced to resign as president in 2012 and subsequently convicted under the Anti-Terrorism Act of unlawful arrest of a Maldivian judge. In 2016, he was given asylum in Britain, while he underwent medical treatment there. He returned to the Maldives from exile after MDPs Ibrahim Mohamed Solih was elected President in November 2018, defeating Abdulla Yameen whose presidency was tainted by allegation of human rights abuses and political victimisation.
Four years of a National Government: Political change and economic disappointment View(s):

The fourth anniversary of what was a defining moment in the countrys political history passed by without much notice or celebrations. It was like a wedding anniversary of a marriage on the rocks.

End of dictatorship

January 9, 2015, however, marked an end of a dictatorial autocratic family regime. The new government restored the rule of law and democratic institutions. The political change was also unique in the history of the country as the two main political parties united to rule the nation.

Much was made of this unique development then. With hindsight one wonders whether it was a good idea, except to overthrow the previous regime that required a broad coalition that included all parties.

In disarray

Four years later, the unity government is no more, with the elements of the coalition going their own way. The outcome of the current confusion is difficult to predict. It could take unexpected twists and turns and lead to further political instability in the future. While predictions are impossible, the assessment of the countrys four-year performance is possible.

An assessment

There were significant gains politically and some economic achievements, too. However, the economic performance of the unity government that was expected to usher in a period of rapid economic growth was inadequate and disappointing.

Political achievements

The unity governments reestablishment of democratic governance was significant. The establishment of law and order and the rule of law that were flouted by the previous regime was a substantial gain. The restoration of the rule of law that was important for its own intrinsic value was also of benefit for economic development. In Amartya Sens words, Development is Freedom.

More specifically, the restoration of the independence of the judiciary, the appointment of the Constitutional Council, an independent Election Commission, Police Commission, freedom of the media and the Right to Information act are irrefutable forward steps towards good and democratic governance. They were in stark contrast to the arbitrary government of the Rajapaksa regime.

Economic performance

The assessment of the four-year economic performance is the main concern of this space. There have been significant gains and severe disappointments. In spite of the current uncertain conditions, the four-year period, which made significant gains politically, had some economic successes, too. A dispassionate view must recognise those achievements, as well as the overall disappointing performance of the economy.

Economic repercussions

The political gains had economic benefits of consequence. A clear proof was the restoration of the GSP Plus concession by the European Union (EU). Exports have been gaining ground with the restoration of the GSP Plus and are expected to reach about US$ 12 billion last year that would be the countrys highest export earnings.

The improvement in the law and order situation revived tourism and earned the country the rank of the Worlds best tourist destination when the October political anarchy set back tourist arrivals. Last years tourist earnings are estimated at around US$ 3.5 billion.

Economic growth

The economy has been performing at much less than its potential. The single composite indicator of economic growth, GDP growth, has been disappointing. In the four years since 2015, the annual average growth was only around 4 percent.

In 2015, the new government inherited a debt-ridden economy in decline. Economic growth had declined to 5 percent by 2014. It remained at 5 percent in 2015, the first year of the unity government and dipped to 4.5 percent in 2016 and to 3.1 percent in 2017. It is expected to have gained slightly to 3.5 percent last year. Economic growth of this magnitude has been less than expected and quite inadequate.

South Asian growth

In the fastest growing region of the world, Sri Lankas economic growth is about one half that of the South Asian region. In 2019 the South Asian region is expected to grow at 7 percent. In contrast, Sri Lanka is expected to grow at about 4 percent.

While other South Asian countries are forging ahead, Sri Lankas preoccupation with politics, inability to achieve a consensus on economic policies, inability to carry out reforms, obstruction of economic development projects by the opposition and weak implementation have retarded economic development in the last four years.

Economic gains

Notwithstanding these deficiencies there were several economic gains. The restoration of the GSP Plus status by the EU was a significant gain. Consequently exports expanded from March 2017. Exports increased from US$ 10.5 billion in 2015 to US$ 11.4 billion in 2017 and are expected to have increased to about US$ 12 billion last year.

The gains in exports have however been frittered away by more than commensurate increase in imports. Consequently the trade deficit expanded to US$ 9.6 billion in 2017 and is estimated to increase to over US$ 10 billion in 2018. Increased imports of fuel, vehicles and gold are responsible for this deterioration.

The balance of payments that had an overall surplus of US$ 2 billion in 2017, is likely to have declined last year owing to higher imports and outflow of capital.

Tourism

The boom in tourism in the last four years is mainly due to the improvement in law and order under the unity government. Tourist earnings increased to US$ 2.5 billion in 2017 and US$ 3.5 billion in 2018.

Fiscal consolidation

The reduction of the fiscal deficit in the last two years is a significant achievement of the government. This is of fundamental economic importance as large fiscal deficits have been an underlying reason for destabilising the economy.

The new regime began its four years disastrously by expanding the deficit to over 5 percent of GDP in its first year owing to a spate of public spending motivated by that years parliamentary elections in August. The consequent crisis made the government take measures to adopt a revenue-enhancing fiscal deficit reduction programme.

The fiscal deficit is estimated to have been brought down to 3.9 percent of GDP in 2018 and is expected to be contained at 3.5 percent of GDP in 2019. This fiscal consolidation has been a revenue-enhanced one rather than an expenditure-curtailing one. However, there are possibilities of reducing unproductive expenditure that must be attempted.

Concluding reflection

The defeat of the Rajapaksa regime and the assumption of power of a government consisting of the two main parties heightened expectations of political reform and economic development. The four years achieved significant progress in establishing the rule of law and independent institutions but the overall economic performance was far below expectations.

The lack of certainty in economic policies, failure to reform laws and regulations to attract foreign investors, political instability and uncertainty resulted in very low foreign investments, other than in the hospitality trade. Large international manufacturing companies have not found Sri Lanka a propitious place to set up industries.

Not much can be expected this year when the focus would be on the upcoming elections, reform of the constitution, party politics and populist economic policies. The grand opportunity of 2015 has been frittered away. When would we have another?
Constitution making: The hard road ahead By Chandani Kirinde, Our Lobby Correspondent View(s): View(s):

The making of a new Constitution for the country was never going to be easy, but views expressed this week by leading political players in the country showed that, however noble the ideals of those who have set the process in motion are, its going to be a highly divisive process.

Leader of the Opposition Mahinda Rajapaksa made it clear on Friday when Parliament met as the Constitutional Assembly (CA) that such a process cannot be taken forward by the Government of Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe as they had no moral right to engage in enacting a new Constitution given their dismal performance at the last electoral test they faced by way of the Local Government election in February last year.

Rajapaksa was keen that an election be held first before the Government dabbles in the constitutional making process. We cannot do this within Parliament. This should be approved by the people. You should hold an election. We will bring our proposals for a new constitution and let the people decide, he said.

Prime Minister Wickremesinghe tabled several documents when the CA met which included a report prepared by the Panel of Experts for the Steering Committee which is based on the Interim Report, six Sub Committee Reports, the Report of the ad hoc Sub Committee set up by the Steering Committee to look into the relationship between the Parliament and the Provincial Councils. These included a draft of what would be the salient features of the proposed new Constitution.

The Prime Minister sought to put to rest the two most contentious issues that the Mahinda Rajapaksa camp has been using as the bogeymen to derail the constitutional making process, reassuring that the unitary status of the existing Constitution as well as the foremost place guaranteed to Buddhism will remain unchanged.

The draft Constitution tabled on Friday states, Sri Lanka (Ceylon) is a free, sovereign and independent Republic which is an aekiya rajyaya / orumiththa nadu with the words aekiya rajyaya / orumiththa meaning a State which is undivided and indivisible while the Chapter on Religion guarantees Buddhism the foremost place with the State being duty bound to protect and foster the Buddha Sasana.

None of the proposals in the draft allows for a division of the country. There are some who repeat that the country is being divided. We have been given a mandate to formulate a new constitution. There are various proposals as to how power could be devolved within a unitary state. We could select the most suitable proposals and develop them in formulating the new constitution, the Prime Minister said.

However such guarantees were a hard sell where the Leader of the Opposition and his group in Parliament were concerned, with Mr. Rajapaksa keener on elections than getting dragged into a constitution making process. There is serious doubt if the people will accept this. You have already delayed elections. You have prevented the people from expressing their verdict. Do not try to fool the people and Parliament, he said.

The JVP too noted that the Constitution-making process initiated by the government is moving too slowly and has failed to bring about a consensus among various political parties and groups.

Its three years since the process started but the process is moving very slowly. The Steering Committee itself is divided into several factions. It has met 83 times in the past three years but there is no agreement on many important issues. If the Steering Committee cannot come to a unanimous decision, how can we agree on a new Constitution? JVP leader MP Anura Kumara Dissanayake queried.

There was a call from TNA Leader R. Sampanthan for the enactment of a Constitution that would unite all the people of this country. All Sri Lankans have the right to their motherland. All are equal citizens of this country. We should be united in our approach. We have failed to protect unity in diversity and create a common Sri Lankan identity. It is our intention to unite people through this constitution, he said.

Only 56 of the 225 MPs in Parliament were present when the CA met on Friday. This is a reflection that the Constitution making process is being viewed with scant regard by a majority of lawmakers. Given the inflammatory nature of the views expressed by those opposed to the proposals on the table, taking it forward from here will be a massive challenge for this government which is also grappling with many other issues that are more the priority for the public at large, than the enactment of a new Constitution.

Poor attendance in Parliament a perennial problem By Chandani Kirinde

More than 15 MPs, including the present Leader of the Opposition Mahinda Rajapaksa, Sajith Premadasa, Harin Fernando and Duminda Dissanayaka have attended less than 50 Parliament sitting days out of the 145 days the House met during the 2017-2018 period. The lowest attendance was by Ratnapura District UPFA MP Premalal Jayasekera who attended only 27 sittings, while CWC leader and UPFA Nuwara Eliya District MP Arumugam Thondaman came next with 34 days of attendance. UPFA MP Duminda Dissanayaka attended sittings on 39 days while Kurunegala District MP Mahinda Rajapaksa attended on 40 days. UNP Deputy Leader, Minister Sajith Premadasa attended Parliament on 48 days and Minister Harin Fernando attended on 50 days. Chief Government Whip Galle District parliamentarian Minister Gayantha Karunatillake and UNP Nuwara Eliya District MP K K Piyadasa clocked in the highest attendance with 143 days each, followed by Speaker Karu Jayasuriya who was present on 142 days. Others with high attendance include UNP Colombo District MP Mujibur Rahuman (140 days), UNP National List MP Ashu Marasinghe (139), Joint Opposition Group leader UPFA Colombo District MP Dinesh Gunawardena (137), UNP Kegalle District MP Sujith Sanjay Perera (136) and Leader of the House Lakshman Kiriella (135) days. Others who attended more than 100 days of sitting include Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe (115), JVP MP Anura Kumara Dissanayaka, who functioned as Chief Opposition Whip till last month (114), Nimal Siripala De Silva (111) and former Leader of the Opposition TNA MP R Sampanthan (103). Poor attendance in Parliament has been a perennial problem in recent years even though the sitting allowance for MPs was raised last year from Rs500 to Rs2,500 per sitting day. (See full graph of attendance of all MPs on our online edition http://www.sundaytimes.lk/)
TUs seek increase in minimum wage in private sector View(s):

Five trade unions are urging the Government to increase the minimum monthly wage in the private sector to Rs. 25,000 from a current Rs. 13,000 (which includes Rs. 3,500 budgetary allowance).

We hope to make representations to the Government shortly, said veteran unionist Palitha Atukorale, President, National Union of Seafarers Sri Lanka.

He was speaking in response to a Finance Ministry announcement on Wednesday stating that basic salaries of state-sector employees will be increased between a range of Rs. 2500  Rs. 10,000 from this month onwards. It said that accordingly, the basic salaries of lower-level public servants and high-ranking officials would be increased by Rs. 2500 and Rs. 10,000, respectively.

He said unions in the National Labour Advisory Council (NLAC) including the National Union of Seafarers Sri Lanka, Free Trade Zone & General Services Employees Union, Ceylon Workers Congress, Ceylon Estates Staffs Union and the Sri Lanka Nidahas Sewaka Sangamaya had written a joint letter to Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa (during his recent, brief tenure), requesting approval on two matters.

They were; the removal of taxes on EPF withdrawals and increasing the wages of private sector employees.

Mr. Atukorala told the Business Times that on December 13, at 1pm, they had met the (then) Labour Minister Gamini Lokuge and made the request through a letter and also sought a meeting with PM Rajapaksa. At 3 pm, Mr. Lokuge called me and said the PM had considered the issues raised and agreed to the request. However, the Supreme Court at 3.45 pm issued an order declaring that the Presidents order in sacking the PM (Ranil Wickremesinghe) was unconstitutional, which made Mr. Rajapaksas order somewhat invalid, he said.

He said they hope to meet the current Labour Minister and make a request to increase the minimum wage in the private sector.
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Joe Raedle/Getty Images(NEW YORK) -- Turns out an Air Force veteran is having just as much trouble funding a border wall between the U.S. and Mexico as President Donald Trump.



GoFundMe said on Friday it will refund over $20 million in donations to a campaign started by veteran Brian Kolfage last year after he changed course on where the money would be donated. The campaign earned a massive amount of attention -- and just as many donations.



Kolfage started the campaign on Dec. 16 and touted it as a way to raise money to build a wall along the southern border as Trump struggled to secure the necessary $5 billion he was targeting in a spending bill. The government has now been shut down for a record 22 days over the impasse between the president and the Democrat-controlled House of Representatives.



"Eight days before Christmas I started this GoFundMe campaign because I was tired of watching the U.S. governments inability to secure our southern border," Kolfage wrote on the campaign's page Friday. "Like most Americans, I see the porous southern border as a national security threat and I refuse to allow our broken political system to leave my family and my country vulnerable to attack."



The campaign, titled "We The People Will Build the Wall," had raised $20,240,198 as of early Saturday. Over 330,000 people had donated to the cause, with nine people giving over $10,000 and one person giving $50,000.



But Kolfage also announced on Friday he was suddenly stepping back from donating the money straight to the U.S. government -- a promise it wasn't exactly clear he could complete -- and instead funneling the money to a new nonprofit he started called "We Build the Wall, Inc."



The switch broke GoFundMe's donation rules and prompted the refund offer.



"There was a change in the use of funds," Bobby Whithorne, director of North America Communications for GoFundMe, told ABC News in a statement. "When the campaign was created, the campaign organizer specifically stated on the campaign page, 'If we don't reach our goal or come significantly close we will refund every single penny.' He also stated on the campaign page, '100% of your donations will go to the Trump Wall. If for ANY reason we don't reach our goal we will refund your donation.'



However, that did not happen," the statement continued. "This means all donors will receive a refund. If a donor does not want a refund, and they want their donation to go to the new organization, they must proactively elect to redirect their donation to that organization. If they do not take that step, they will automatically receive a full refund."



Whithorne said all donors will be contacted via email about receiving their refund.



Kolfage, who was severely wounded in Iraq in 2004 and is a triple amputee, was still soliciting funds on Friday. He acknowledged the government would not be able to accept the donations "anytime soon," and said his nonprofit was "better equipped than our own government to use the donated funds to build an actual wall on the southern border."



The nonprofit's board includes controversial former sheriff and regular Fox News guest David Clarke, private government security company Blackwater USA founder Erik Prince, and former Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach, who oversaw Trump's dud voter fraud commission.



The border wall campaign is the second high-profile fundraiser to end in refunds in a matter of months. A homeless man and couple in Philadelphia were all arrested and charged in connection to creating a rouse to elicit over $400,000 in donations late last year.



The couple allegedly blew much of the money on vacations and gambling, and the scheme was exposed when the homeless man sued over not receiving the money.



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